Truman State University tmn.truman.edu SPORTS | Baseball team plays opening weekend games Page 14
FEATURES | Ash Wednesday holds significance to Christian students Page 7
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 tmn.truman.edu
@TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork
Truman adds online grad programs
BY RAQUEL PITTY-DIAZ Staff Writer
Truman State University plans to add two online graduate degree programs, which will be the first completely online degrees the University offers. The new programs — Master of Arts in Counseling: Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in Counseling: School Counseling — will be set up in six eightweek blocks built around the academic year. The course work will overlap between degree programs and offer separate courses specific to each degree. “We think there is definitely a need,” Associate Provost Kevin Minch said. “There’s a shortage of qualified counselors, particularly in the mental health field in the country. If you look at projected growth and recent growth in both degrees being offered in mental health and also job advertisements for that field, it’s going way up.”
The new programs are part of an effort to increase enrollment and generate revenue by appealing to graduate students through online courses, as many adultlearner students don’t have the ability to physically relocate to Kirksville. There is more national need for adult-learners and graduate students who happen to already be in the workplace looking to change careers or add skill sets, Minch said. Minch said Truman worked with an external company to appeal to the adult learner. The University found when taking online courses, the adult learner prefers to take one or two courses at a time, so their attention is very focused on one experience for a shorter timespan. “You can start pretty much at any time of the year,” Minch said. “You can do one course at a time and get finished at about the same pace as you would get finished if you were doing a regular, semester-based degree.”
Kirksville represented at State Capitol events
Members of the Truman State University community traveled to the state Capitol, in company with A.T. Still University and the City of Kirksville, to bring awareness to the University and Northeast Missouri. See JEFF CITY, page 5
Existing Truman faculty will teach the new programs, but the University is expected to hire new faculty as well. As a requirement for accreditation, the University will need to hire full-time counseling faculty dedicated to the programs. Truman will partner with A.T. Still University because it has experience developing online health programs. Jeanne Harding, Truman interim dean of health sciences and education, said this is a partnership Truman will continue to build upon. “We can learn from the expertise [ATSU has], they can learn from the skills and pieces we have to offer, and I really think that makes it a very distinctive program,” Harding said. Harding said, there is support for the new programs as well as a need to better the community. Truman looks to implement the new programs by January 2019.
Truman, SLU discuss joint law degree BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer
Truman State University and Saint Louis University began discussing the possibility of developing a program in which Truman students could transfer to SLU to study law. The conversations between the two universities began in December 2017. Janet Gooch, vice president for academic affairs and provost, said the universities are discussing a 3+3 program, meaning students would attend their first three years for an undergraduate degree at Truman, then transfer to SLU where their first year of law school would count as the final year of undergraduate studies. Gooch said the students are expected to take six years of schooling total — three years at Truman pursuing an undergraduate degree and three years of law school at SLU pursuing a law degree. “It’s a nice opportunity, both for students here at Truman, and then also there are advantages for SLU to get high-quality students into [its] law program,” Gooch said. Right now, the discussion with SLU is only about a law program, Gooch said, but there are similar types of articulation agreements in other fields at other schools. She said Truman is working on programs in which students at community colleges can transfer to Truman and where Truman students can transfer to other schools for postgraduate degrees. Gooch said it is unclear when the law program would become available for students because discussions started last December and those details have not been determined. “This would be another [articulation agreement] of a little different appeal into an area that we haven’t been before, but there are a lot of undergraduate majors that could take advantage of this,” Gooch said. “So [the program] would be very marketable — I would think we would have a lot of interest here on campus in something like that.”
Kirksville applies for grant to complete FLATS project BY ELISABETH SHIRK Staff Writer
The City of Kirksville has applied for a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to construct a .3 mile trail to connect the sidewalks of downtown Kirksville to what will be a new Forest Lake Area Trail System trailhead.
The grant, offered through the Recreational Trails Program, funds up to $150,000 and requires a 20 percent match from the recipient. The city submitted the application Feb. 16, and if the city receives the grant, the city estimates the total cost to be about $148,000. Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said the section of the trail which the City of Kirksville is
Roads Trail Connection to existing trail
es
W
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 20 © 2018
et Stre thy pa teo Os
Proposed expansion to FLATS, connecting the trail system to downtown Kirksville
rth No
tM i
Street ouri ss
applying for will connect the city’s existing sidewalk system to Thousand Hills State Park’s existing trail system. Young said the trail will run from the 300 block of West Washington Street — along the southern edge of Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery — and cross Osteopathy Street, connecting it to the new FLATS trailhead at the intersection of Osteopathy and Missouri streets. Young said if the grant application is accepted, the impact on Kirksville residents should be minimal during the trail’s construction because the city wouldn’t necessarily have to close West Washington Street to do the work, and if it did, it would only be for a short period of time. The city applied for the same grant last year and did not receive it. City Manager Mari Macomber said the biggest factor was cost. “We had lighting — a much more aesthetically pleasing trail last year, with lights and fencing, and we have eliminated the extra, and we’re going to put in the conduit for the lighting — but we aren’t going to put in West Washington Street as many lights,” Macomber said. “We had it all in one phase, and now we’re breaking it up into two phases.” See FLATS, page 5
Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery
The Index
2
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Chinese acrobats perform at Truman
Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN Above: The Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at Trumam State University Saturday, Feb. 17. The group is from Cangzhou, China. Left: The acrobats have toured the United States since 1978 and have performed on Broadway. They came to Kirksville as the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series’ final performance of the 2017-18 season. Bottom Left: The group performed in front of a sold-out crowd in Baldwin Auditorium. The acrobats are trained in a 2,500-year performance tradition. Bottom Right: The acrobats’ recent performance was their second at Truman, — they previously performed as part of the Lyceum Series in 2014. The next season of the Series will be announced in fall 2018.
staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief Brently Snead Assistant Editor Johanna Burns News Editor (Text) Nicolas Telep Features Editor (Text) Rachel Fechter Opinions Editor Morgan Gervais 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, Travis Maiden, Ryan Pivoney, Dana Bartch, Gordon McPherson, Justin Newton, Aura Martin, Lindell Sconce Sales Manager Joey Iaguessa Copy Editors Molly Thal, Bethany Spitzmiller, Ellen Thibodeau, Allyson Lotz, Elise Hughes, Cara Quinn
Cartoonists Annie Kintree, August Davis Designers Georgia Gregory, Maddie
Kamp, Emmett Divendal, Emily Taylor, Kaitlyn Farmer Photographers Lawrence Hu, Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Daniel Degenhardt, Hannah Ahlenius, Samantha Garrett Distribution Representatives Greta Roettegen, Amanda Claywell Adviser Don Krause
The Index
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
3
COLUMN | Don’t form opinions based on sound bites BY NICOLAS TELEP News Editor
Before Truman State University President Sue Thomas even finished her State of the University address last week, people were outraged. As I slipped out of the third row while Thomas was wrapping up a few minutes before 4 p.m., I checked my phone. My Twitter and Facebook feeds were loaded with 280-character versions of the points I would later struggle to appropriately sum up in a 1,200-word article for The Index. Not long after, the comments started — and they didn’t stop for the next few days. Posts about the address racked up dozens of shares and retweets, as well as paragraphs-long analyses on Facebook. This surprised me because I could count fewer than 10 students at the address who were not part of Student Government. I spent much of Tuesday evening typing up my article — which is probably the most comprehensive analy-
sis of the speech available, sourced directly from my notes and those of senior assistant editor Johanna Burns. It was disheartening to know that long before those words hit newspaper stands on Thursday, many people would have already made up their minds about the address without being there or knowing the full scope of topics discussed. One comment in particular that gained a lot of traction on social media was when Thomas pointed out that more than half of Truman students come from households with incomes of more than $110,000 per year. This statistic itself is, honestly, sort of meaningless. I didn’t even find it important enough to put in my story. Yes, that figure is a little surprising given we are a fairly affordable school — although solidly middle-of-the-pack as far as Missouri public schools go, according to state data — but it’s the truth. The greater point of that section of the speech was about how Truman would
Stu Gov
Buzz
COLUMN | Student government works with Career Center to host Women’s Leadership Conference Student Government will be hosting the inaugural Truman State University Women’s Leadership Conference this Saturday, Feb. 24th from 1-5 p.m. in Baldwin Hall. The conference will open with remarks from Truman State University President Sue Thomas,
like to use its scholarship funds more efficiently. The Index has run two stories on that process — including one last week — and it’s been clear from the beginning that Truman does not want to discourage any potential students from attending. Additionally, any plans to change scholarship distribution will not include changes to current students’ scholarships. If anything, my personal interpretation of that statistic is that Truman can afford to give more financial aid to students who do not fit that top category. This was a 30-second talking point from a speech that lasted more than an hour. Most of the speech wasn’t even pertinent to student interests. Instead it spoke to faculty and staff about how the University plans to get through this budget crunch. Except for the surcharge during spring 2017 — which there has been no talk of repeating this semester — students have been largely unaffected by budget cuts. Through institutional excel-
lence committees, the Truman community has done a lot of soul searching, and we have determined and preserved the most important parts of this school. While academic departments were saved from cuts, other departments have not been so lucky. Maintenance and repair and Pickler Memorial Library, to name a few, have been left with large gaps to fill. That being said, overall, Truman has done a good job weathering the storm. However, there’s another storm coming, and we all have to be prepared for what’s going to happen. As students, our voices will not be worth much if we make assumptions based on tweets and sound bites. If we attend as many meetings as we can, read as many articles as we can and educate ourselves about the situation, our input will count for so much more. I have personally spoken to Thomas, Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, Dave Rector, vice president
Student Government President Kyra Cooper, and Women’s Leadership Conference chair Elisabeth Blotevogel. The afternoon will feature a number of panels and speakers, including the mayors of Jefferson City and Pleasant Hill, the director of the Kirksville Economic Development Institute, members of the United States Marshal Service, Truman’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for Enrollment Management, and a panel of women who have accomplished careers in various legal professions. Additionally, Truman’s Career Center will be hosting interview, resume, and networking workshops by appointment during the conference. A full schedule of events and rooms, as well as sign-ups for the Career Center events, can be found on the Student Government facebook page. The intent of this conference is to allow Truman students to learn from the experiences of women who are leaders in their professional fields. Attending the talks at the conference will be both a valuable professional resource and a
for administration, finance and planning, and Gina Morin, vice president for enrollment management, and I assure you they are all as upset about Truman losing funding as students are. The Truman community is a great one — we have the resilience to get through this. If we, as students, turn our backs on the administration and do not trust them to do the best for this institution that we and they all love, we’re all going to be unhappy. I’m not trying to tell you to blindly follow the powersthat-be or that they can do no wrong. Ask any of my friends — I have major issues with authority, especially institutional hierarchies. None of us students will agree with every decision the administration makes. However, I do think we have allies who can really make a difference. Throwing away those partnerships by tossing around blame based on unsubstantiated information on the Internet is not how we will move forward and survive as a University and a community.
source of empowerment for the Truman students that attend. While the conference celebrates women in leadership and almost all of the speakers are women, the women speaking at this conference are invaluable role models for anyone, regardless of gender. All are welcome. Truman’s education instill its students with the knowledge required to succeed in their chosen careers; however, learning from the advice and stories of the women who have been successful in their chosen careers is a crucial part of developing the leadership skills that students need to not just succeed, but to excel in their future careers; to overcome the challenges that come with being a minority in a position of authority; and to become the next generation of leaders. Student Government would like to welcome all Truman students to attend this conference. Please feel free to contact the Women’s Leadership Conference chair at eab6124@truman.edu. BY ELISABETH BLOTEVOGEL
Florida shooting sparks local mental health talks BY JOHANNA BURNS Assistant Editor Alleged shooter Nikolas Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. The shooting has brought issues of gun control to the forefront of people’s minds, but this time a greater concern for mental health is being discussed in Kirksville. Following the mass shooting, high school students in Southern Florida have participated in walkouts in support of Parkland and as a call to action for legislators to increase gun control, according to a Feb. 20 South Florida Sun Sentinel update. The student protests join calls from law enforcement and school administrators for gun control and mental health reform. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates have argued in statements to media that state and national gun laws and mental health privacy laws are too lenient, according to the Miami Herald. Law enforcement officials are lobbying for laws that keep AR-15s out of the hands of citizens, and they argue mental health privacy laws prevent officers from confiscating weapons from individuals with reported history of warning signs, as was the case with Cruz. But the debate isn’t just happening in Florida, nor is it only a national issue. On Tuesday, hundreds of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America members lined the hallways of the Mis-
souri Capitol, lobbying for stricter gun control laws. It has also become a topic of concern for local schools in Kirksville as mental health awareness rises. In the past few years, the Kirksville community has lost several students to suicide at the high school level and in the Truman State University community. In a recent school board meeting, the Kirksville R-III School District board addressed what the district could do to focus on mental health issues in light of the recent shooting. District officials said the schools have already begun to implement training programs that educate staff about being trauma sensitive, according to a Feb. 14 article in the Kirksville Daily Express. Randy Mikel, Kirksville High School principal, said it was important to see an initiative starting at the school board level, according to the same article. His statement was echoed by school board member Jeremy Houser in the article. “It sounds like it’s something that needs to be enrolled into our vision, and the district say, ‘Here’s where we want to be with this, be proactive to reduce our chance of ever having an oncampus shooting, reduce the chance of suicide and all these things,’” Houser said in the article. Houser was reported to have pushed for the formation of a committee to address these issues as soon as possible, according to the article. For more information concerning the Florida shooting and local responses, pick up The Index next Thursday, March 1.
Photo by Brently Snead/TMN A group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America activists line a hallway of the state Capitol. The group is part of national, state and local lobbying efforts.
30
Follow us on Instagram @Ktrm_fm
4
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
[ Our View] The Index responds to University address Recently, President Sue Thomas delivered her State of the University address, where she discussed the future of our school. Thomas specifically addressed budget issues and how the deep cuts recently proposed by Gov. Eric Greitens will have a toll on the University. It was clear this was an address tailored to personnel and faculty as an action call to help make decisions. While we commend the administrators for wanting to include everyone in the decision making process, we, The Index Editorial Board, think there should already be a plan in place. From the student perspective, we, The Index Editorial Board, are shocked with how Thomas presented these future changes. There was talk about how administrators have been discussing fixes and creating committees to determine a plan of action. Then there was talk about how everyone should be playing a role in addressing these problems. But there wasn’t a lot of talk about what those plans are, nor what those plans will look like in action. In hindsight, there has been a lot of talk about the challenges that are currently facing the University, and that leaves students to wonder... It’s the end of February, and the new budget will take effect July 1, so not hearing any concrete plans concerns us. We, The Index Editorial Board, want to know what plans are actually in the works because, at this point in time, we have yet to see anything. We want to know how the specific plan is intending to deal with cuts that will affect every member of this University and ultimately the future of the University we attend. If these plans are happening behind the scenes, we need to know. We often ask for transparency, but we’re asking for the University to take initiative in discussing its plans rather than only creating another committee or having another discussion. We’re past that and to the point where decisions will have to be made, and while that might terrify us, we’re ready.
In wake of Florida shooting, plan of action required on gun control issue I need to hear your plan. I grew up in this congressional district, just north of the Missouri River in Kansas City. One hundred-fifty people were murdered in KCMO last year, most by gunshot. I have lived in Kirksville for nearly 20 years now. Bullets took lives here in 2017, too. Yesterday, children were shot and killed at a high school in Florida. Nationwide, over 15,000 people died from gunfire last year. An additional 22,000 people died from suicide with a gun in this country. That is over 37,000 people in the United States of America who died last year from gunshot wounds. You and I are on opposites ends of the political spectrum. We differ on much, just as all Missourians do throughout this district. Having and working with differing views is
American. I would fathom a guess those differences extend to our thoughts on reducing gun-related deaths. You disagree with me on expanding background checks, increasing taxpayer-funded mental health support and banning firearms that are designed to rapidly kill multiple people. You and I disagree. I need to hear your plan. If not my ideas, what are yours? We cannot prevent all gun-related deaths, but how about a plan from you to reduce that number by 20,000 people a year? We can surely agree that a plan with real efficacy could do that, right? When can the voters of Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District expect to read an advance of your bill with a comprehensive strategy? When will you and your co-sponsors bring this bill to the floor of the
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 opinions editor and/or editor-inchief. 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 email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will be taken into consideration.
House? When is the Rose Garden signing ceremony slated for? I will tune in to watch the President sign his name to your bill. What we cannot abide is inaction… again… on the part of the US Congress. Show us and fight to pass a plan that works to save 20,000 lives a year, and I will be a liberal Democrat out there urging voters to support you at every campaign rally from Palmyra to Platte City. I’d be honored to support that kind of political courage. I need to hear your plan, Congressman. We all do. Simply doing nothing to comprehensively reduce gunrelated deaths just isn’t cutting it. This piece was written by Zac Burden on Feb. 15, 2018 as a letter to Congressman Sam Graves.
Contact tmn.truman.edu
660-785-4449
index.editor@gmail.com
ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 660-785-4449 or jai6847@truman.edu.
VOLUME 109
ISSUE 20
tmn.truman.edu
www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork
@TrumanMediaNet
© 2018
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
The Index
5
JEFF CITY | Community lobbies for University, city BY BRENTLY SNEAD Editor-In-Chief
Photo by Brently Snead/TMN Preferred Family Healthcare and A.T. Still University set up tables in the third floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 20. Representatives from Truman State University were also in Jefferson City lobbying for the University’s interests.
Northeast Missouri made its presence known to legislators in Jefferson City Tuesday. It is tradition for members of Truman State University to attend Truman’s Day at the Capitol each year to lobby in support of Truman. In addition, the City of Kirksville, A.T. Still University and other community groups visited the Capitol to encourage awareness of Northeast Missouri. The students who made the trip toured the Capitol Building and sat in the gallery during the House’s hearings. Some of the students attending were Student Government members who visited the offices of representatives and senators to share information on Truman and lobby to gain support for the University and Northeast Missouri. Truman staff members attending included University President Sue Thomas and Heidi Templeton, director of public relations, who both assisted students in their activities throughout the day. One point Templeton made while briefing Student Government members prior to their lobbying efforts was to emphasize how Kirksville, Truman and ATSU have withstood time, each celebrating major landmark anniversaries this year. There were also members of the admissions and advancement offices present to speak to those who stopped by Truman’s information table. The advancement office hosted a follow-up event for Truman alumni Tuesday night in the treasurer’s quarters. For Student Government’s take on Truman Day at the Capitol, check out tmn.truman.edu.
FLATS | City applies for grant to complete next project phase Continued from page 1
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN FLATS plans to build a trail along Washington Street near Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery to connect the trail to downtown Kirksville. The city is applying for a grant to help fund the project.
Macomber said the city did not include donors or other sources of funding for the trail in last year’s grant application, so the city is currently working with FLATS to make sure the grant application is completed properly. Royce Kallerud, FLATS board of directors chair, said FLATS is currently working on a .7 mile section of trail. The .3 mile section would connect to the .7 mile section as parts of the whole 4-mile trail from Thousand Hills to downtown Kirksville. Other parts of the 4-mile trail have been completed in previous years. Kallerud said the .3 mile section the City of Kirksville is proposing would be critical in linking downtown Kirksville to the .7 mile section FLATS is working on. “I think if you look at where the phase that the city is working on goes, it connects A.T. Still University, the hospital and Truman State University, and those are three of the major employers in town, and so we’re really excited about this,” Kallerud said. Kallerud said trails like this one come with public health and economic development impacts. “When you have amenities like this, businesses are more willing to locate into a place and people are more likely to stay,” Kallerud said. “And with public health, you need facilities for people to have good and different opportunities to be active and to enjoy the outdoors.”
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The entrance to FLATS near the intersection of Osteopathy and Missouri streets in Kirksville. The area currently contains a picnic table. After the proposed trail section from The Square is completed, FLATS plans to build a trailhead and facilities on the land.
calendar Truman Theater “Extremities”
Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival
Budget Cuts Town Hall Meeting
Feb. 22-24 8 p.m.
Feb. 23 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 2-4 p.m.
James G. Severns Theater
Baldwin Auditorium
Violette Hall 1000
The Truman State University theatre department will perform “Extremities” by William Mastrosimone. The dramatic play takes on the aftermath of a rape scene, as characters struggle with whether or not to involve the police in the situation or take matters into their own hands. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Ophelia Parrish Box Office. The play includes adult language and themes, and children under 18 will not be admitted.
The Adam Larson Quartet will be the featured artists at Phi Mu Alpha’s 50th annual Jazz Festival. Truman jazz ensembles will also perform. Admission is free for Truman faculty, staff and students. General admission is $10.
In the wake of Truman’s budget crisis, Students for a Democratic Society is sponsoring a town hall meeting Feb. 24 to discuss the budget situation and plan for the future. According to SDS, Truman’s current monetary situation could lead to a higher tuition price, more fees for students, and cuts to programs and departments.
Could You Survive? Trivia Night
Career & Internship Expo
David Elliott Reading
Feb. 28 7 p.m.
March 1 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
March 1 6 p.m.
Student Union Building
Student Union Building
Baldwin Hall Little Theater
Truman’s Student Activities Board will be hosting a wilderness survival-themed trivia night. The three highest-scoring teams will receive prizes. Free food will be available.
Truman students of all years and majors are encouraged to attend Truman’s Career & Internship Expo March 1 in the SUB. Students can interact and make connections with recruiters at the expo and learn about possible employment opportunities.
Award-winning author and poet David Elliot, who has written numerous children’s picture books and young-adult novels, will host a reading March 1. Elliot’s works include “The Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle,” “Finn Throws a Fit,” and the “This Orq!” series. He also has an upcoming book of poetry, “In the Past.”
The Index
6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Student Government hopes to renovate campus pit BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer
The Truman State University Student Senate is currently working on turning the pit outside Pickler Memorial Library into a welcoming place for the community. In years past, the pit was used as a gathering place for students, but was only recently closed off because of drainage. Senior Kyra Cooper, Student Senate president, asked the Physical Plant if the pit could be reopened and has since been working with Student Senate members to transform it into another hidden gem on campus. “We were looking at different underutilized areas on campus,” Cooper said. “Here, at Truman, we don’t quite have as much [permanent art]. We get those little art projects that pop up that the introduction to sculptures classes do every semester, but we don’t really have any permanent displays of art, and we thought one of the areas that could really use that is the pit.” Senior Sarah Holtmeyer, Student Senate vice president, said the Senate wants to create an area on campus to serve as a welcoming space for current and incoming students to hang out and enjoy fellow students’ art. Cooper and Holtmeyer said the Student Senate is collaborating with the sculpture and ceramics classes on campus to put student art in the space. The Senate plans for the ceramics class to contribute small pieces each year to continually add art in the pit, creating a sort of mosaic. The Senate is hoping to complete its project by the end of the semester, once both the sculpture and ceramics classes have finished their art work. The pieces will stay in the pit and continue to be supplemented by future Truman students in coming years.
Courtesy of University Archives, Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University Science Hall, shown here in 1905, sat on the site of the pit until it was demolished in the 1980s. The building, also known as Laughlin Hall, was damaged by a fire in 1918, six years before the original Baldwin Hall burned.
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The pit is located adjacent to Pickler Memorial Library underneath the University’s clock tower, surrounded by a white fence. Student Government is working on a project to fill the space with art.
Heritage House Rentals
L.L.C.
Leasing Office
215 W. Jefferson
heritagehouserentalsllc.com
Now Leasing For
2017-2018 School Year
660.665.2787 E-mail—manager@ heritagehouserentalsllc.com Scan & Go To Listed Properties
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Water pools at the bottom of the pit on a rainy day. The pit has been a student gathering area in the past but was closed recently because of problems with the drainage system.
Vista Heights Apartments vistaheightsapts.com Now Leasing For 2017-2018 School Year 1 Bedroom—720 Sq. Ft. 2 Bedroom—940 Sq. Ft. Water & Trash Provided Pet Friendly/With Pet Lease Lot Of Natural Light In A Park Like Setting
Affordable Student Housing
660.665.9224 E-Mail
manager@
vistaheightsapts.com
Travel smarter.
Serving Fresh, Local Food & Drinks
With food made from scratch, our menu features locally-raised beef and pork. We also use local produce as much as possible. Wednesday - Saturday 5-9 p.m. Sunday Brunch Menu 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday Evenings 5-8 p.m. Check out out on Facebook for our daily specials. Reservations required for parties of 7 or more. 202 S. Hwy 63, Greentop, MO www.sebrees.com 660-949-2130
St. Louis
29
$ from
Vista Heights Apartments Rentals Get to and from school faster by hopping on an affordable Heritage House
*
each way
L.L.C.
flight from Kirksille. Parking is vistaheightsapts.com free, and connections in
Leasing Office
St. Louis are a breeze with single Now itinerary ticketing, Leasing For
215 W. Jefferson
and speedy baggage and TSA 2017-2018 checks. School Year
heritagehouserentalsllc.com
Now Leasing For
2017-2018 School Year
660.665.2787 Enjoy the ride.
E-mail—manager@ heritagehouserentalsllc.com
1 Bedroom—720 Sq. Ft. 2 Bedroom—940 Sq. Ft. Water & Trash Provided Pet Friendly/With Pet Lease Lot Of Natural Light In A Park Like Setting
Affordable Student Housing
660.665.9224
*Including all taxes and fees. Fares are subject to availability and other conditions. Fares may change
Scan & Go To Listed Properties
manager@
Kirksville
St. Louis
capeair.com without notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed.
800-CAPE-AIR
life
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Beneath the ashes
Photo by Bethany Travis/TMN
Newman Center volunteer Maguire Radosevic puts ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead of a woman attending mass. This is a tradition on Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, symbolizing the start of Lent.
Lent holds significance to Christian students
... I find that Lent always comes at the time “when I most need it in my self-loathing or my
perfectionism and says, ‘hey, you can’t be perfect right away, and possibly never even in this lifetime, but let’s be good, let’s work on this area and be better than we’ve been’... - Sophomore Adam Schmitz
BY JUSTIN NEWTON Staff Writer Lent is sophomore Adam Schmitz’s favorite time of year. “I love the solemn aspect, the aesthetic that goes with the season,” Schmitz said. “The hymns are different. The church is different.” Every year, 40 days before Easter, many Christians observe Ash Wednesday. The previous day, many people might have celebrated Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season, particularly important to many students and perhaps not as well understood by others. Chris Korte, Catholic Newman Center director of campus ministry, explained the season’s significance for Catholics. Sitting on the couch in the Newman Center main lounge, he leaned slightly forward and spoke with quiet enthusiasm. Korte said Lent is about preparing for Easter, the day that commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. “It’s like a bookend,” Korte said. “Ash Wednesday is one end, and Easter is the other end — and so it’s all part of a greater piece.” Korte said Lent is a time for examining life, seeing where there’s room for improvement and being more open to God’s love and mercy. In the history of Christianity, there is a tradition of a 40-day preparation for baptism. Lent is also related to the historical process of reentrance into the church for those who had renounced Christianity under persecution, said Korte. Korte said Lent is a time to repent but not about suffering to earn God’s love. “God already loves us, but how do we let that love and His grace work in us?” Korte said. “. . . But it’s more than giving up candy. It’s giving up selfishness — that’s the real thing.” Korte said Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of marking churchgoers’
VOLUME 109
ISSUE 20
foreheads with the sign of the cross in ash. Korte said ashes are a reminder of human frailty and a way of signifying death to sin. Korte said the signing with the cross harkens back to Easter and baptism, when people are signed with a cross of oil. Schmitz, who practices Catholicism and follows many of the traditions Korte explained, spoke about how the season helps him grow personally. “I am the kind of person who — I’m never happy with myself unless I’m perfect, and oftentimes I let that get in the way of my even being good,” Schmitz said. “And I find that Lent always comes at the time when I most need it in my self-loathing or my perfectionism and says, ‘Hey, you can’t be perfect right away, and possibly never even in this lifetime, but let’s be good, let’s work on this area and be better than we’ve been.’ And so my experience is that Lent is a welcome opportunity to cut out what’s bad and replace it with what’s good, and I couldn’t do without, honestly.” Schmitz also spoke about how Catholic Lenten dietary restrictions can provide an opportunity to share his faith with other students. Catholics usually abstain from eating meat on Fridays, particularly during Lent. “That becomes an opportunity for dialogue, and sometimes people are like, ‘Well, why don’t you just not eat meat the rest of the year and be vegan or vegetarian or whatever?’”Schmitz said. “But the point is that I think it’s a sacrifice, and I’m supposed to miss out on something good, something that is helpful and enjoyable to me.” Unlike Schmitz, senior Emily Merkle is Methodist. She said that Methodists might choose to give something up or work to improve themselves in some other way, but there is no obligation to do anything specific. Merkle said she started getting more serious about Lent in her sophomore year of
tmn.truman.edu
7
”
high school. “Every year since, I have either picked something to give up or picked a habit to work on cultivating, and a lot of that has been focusing on health and getting my body in better shape, I guess, so I can then turn that around and use that to serve God,” Merkle said. “So I’ve given up pop before, which was horrible because I have caffeine running through my veins … I’ve given up sugar. This year I’m working on returning to not cursing, which has been a struggle.” Merkle said being a religious person at a public university has had its difficult moments, but those moments have helped to strengthen her faith. She said meeting people outside her faith has been a good experience for her. “I guess at times it can be challenging, when you’ve got a lot of people around you who are like, ‘Oh, I don’t believe the same thing, and I think it’s kind of silly,’” Merkle said. “I’ve learned a lot and learned to look deeper at my faith and understand what it is that I believe about my faith and why it is that I believe that way.”
www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork
@TrumanMediaNet
© 2018
The Index
8
Top 5 Best Magazines
As told by Rachel Fechter, Features Editor
NY
1. The New Yorker
Whether you’re looking for a satirical piece with an absurdly orange Donald Trump cartoon or an in-depth report on a niche topic, The New Yorker never fails to entertain while informing its audience in creative and innovative ways.
2. The Atlantic
No matter what subject, The Atlantic has proven it is unafraid to tackle difficult topics from gerrymandering to genocide, and tell those stories in a compelling, new light.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
$
3. The Economist
This publication has well-researched and thought-out articles but writes them in an accessible way. Even people like me, who still panic about what to put on the x- and y-axes of the graph, can understand.
4. Time
The writing in Time has a hardhitting news feel but with the indepth coverage of a magazine or researched academic journal while maintaining the digestible aesthetic of a features story.
5. Cat Fancy
There are pictures of cats. Enough said.
New publication begins chapter at Truman BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer Sophomore Orielle Heilicher’s boyfriend has a problem — he’s too fond of McChicken sandwiches. “I mean, they taste really good, but they are not exactly the healthiest thing,” Heilicher said. This prompted her to write an article about how unhealthy McChicken sandwiches are, which included a recipe for a healthier sandwich. The publication for her article is Spoon University, a global organization where writers can submit content about food and lifestyle. Many campuses, including Truman State University, have their own chapters. In fact, Heilicher founded the one here when she transferred from University of Colorado Boulder to Truman this year. Heilicher’s interest in food and healthy eating stemmed from a young, age because her mother was a chef. When Heilicher’s mom was very young she started writing a narrative cookbook that interweaves recipes with stories about her kids and from her own childhood, helping influence Heilicher to start writing about food in college. Going to college on her own left Heilicher in a bit of a conundrum. She admitted, while in college, she didn’t always have the healthiest habits, but she learned how to adopt a healthier lifestyle throughout time — especially with food. “I learned to stay healthy by getting my own food, shopping in the produce aisles and really looking at what was on the labels of what I was buying,” Heilicher said. Heilicher understood the challenges of balancing nutrition while being a college student and realized it was a fun project to help college students become healthy. Heilicher said it’s a goal of her’s to help other kids who struggle to find healthier options. Heilicher thinks it is important for college students to learn how to eat healthy because many might have never learned how to cook. She also thinks it is possible to eat well while staying on a budget. “When you make something that’s healthy, it can be the best thing you’ve ever tasted,” Heilicher said. Junior Michaela Fellows became a contributing writer of Truman’s Spoon University chapter because her family instilled in her a love of food and learning about different cuisines. She is the daughter of two food scientists who encouraged her to make her own recipes. Fellows said a food scientist studies how to make foods healthier while also retaining a longer shelf life. Fellows said her mother has worked with cheese and her father has worked with bread. She once made a collection of smoothie recipes and gave it as a gift to her grandmother. Her family hosted three foreign exchange students who introduced her to new ingredients she’d never heard of, and that’s when she realized sharing knowledge about food with others was fun. While at Truman, Fellows’ interest turned to writing, and she joined Notes from the Underground. Sophomore Orielle Heilicher, an avid lover of food from a young age, Even though she knew she couldn’t is spearheading a new publication on campus — Spoon University. cook in the residence halls like she Heilicher hopes to use Spoon University as an artistic catalyst for did at home, her passion for food spreading healthy eating habits to the Truman community.
Submitted Photos never died. Fellows took an internship at Take Root Cafe, where she said she can begin developing her goal of becoming a grant writer, preferably for a non profit organization. She plans to write articles for Spoon University about her experiences at Take Root Cafe. Fellows said becoming a member of Spoon University allows her to explore food writing, which was a new experience for her. She recognized it would be a good way for her to combine her love of writing and food. “For Truman students who love writing, as well as food, health and wellness, being a writer for Spoon University is a fantastic opportunity to expand their skills and get their work published to a large audience of college readers interested in the same things,” Fellows said. Heilicher hopes to build up Spoon University as an organization. “My goal is to create a presence on campus and give students an opportunity to become a part of it because I think it’s really great,” Heilicher said. “I hope that Spoon becomes a big thing because I think it can really bring something fun to this campus.” There will be an informational session at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Take Root Cafe in the conference room upstairs.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Public Speaking
The Index
Tip of the Week
9
“Sometimes the secret to public speaking is as easy as picking the right topic. When you speak about a topic you truly care about, you are advocating, not just speaking. Public speaking is a chore; advocacy is a calling, an honor and a human right.”
Courtesy of Director of Forensics Christopher Outzen
THROWBACK THURSDAY
Printed in September 14, 1995 edition of The Index
The infamous Roller Hockey—Physical Plant beef of ‘95 During 1995, Truman State University had a Cold War-esque conflict between the roller hockey team — and yes, there was a roller hockey team — and the Physical Plant Office. For about eight years, Kirk Gym was open for anyone to play hockey, including the roller hockey team, until fall 1995 when the gym — in pretty bad shape at the time — got a new lacquer floor. The roller hockey team was barred from practicing in the gym by the Physical Plant director, who said the players had caused excess amount of damage to the gym floor, stage and windows with their flying pucks. Gene Schneider, then Physical Plant director, said hockey was mainly to blame for the damage and used that as grounds to kick the roller hockey team out. “Skating in the gym caused a lot of damage,” Schneider said in the Sept. 14, 1995, issue of The Index. “There was 10 times more damage after we started allowing skating in Kirk. They broke glass, damaged tables and broke plywood parts of the stage. Hard pucks do that.” The roller hockey players agreed that the gym was damaged, but they disagreed on just how much of that damage was caused by their team. “I don’t think the quality of the gym got any worse while we were there,” said Kevin Joseph, then hockey club vice president, in the Sept. 14, 1995, issue of The Index. “The wheels used by the members of the team are made for indoors and outdoors. Some-
times people don’t have the right bolts in their skates, which can scratch the floor, but I don’t think the condition of the gym got any worse while we were there.” Additionally, the team asserted its players were not the only ones who played hockey in the gym before the team was banned ,and the damage could not possibly fall squarely on the team’s shoulders. “It is tough to say how much of the damage we did,” said Sean Doherty, then hockey club president, in the Sept. 14, 1995, issue of The Index. “Damage to the front part of the stage is stuff we did. Other things like knocking out the rails, breaking windows and doors is stuff I know we did not do while I was there.” Regardless, the roller hockey team was kicked out, allowing for the men’s volleyball team to practice and play more games in the gym instead. The volleyball team did express sympathy. “I would like to see them stay,” Then middle blocker Rich Torres said in The Index. As a result of not having a place to play, the roller hockey team had to look to other places, like Macon, to practice. The roller hockey team, as well as many other athletic clubs on campus that year, advocated for a recreation center to be built on campus, and one of the specific requests was that the Student Recration Center have a multi-purpose floor for skating.
“Black Panther” adds refreshing social critique to Marvel
This movie gets 4/5 black panther paws
BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer
Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” is a stylish, immersive film that has more to say about modern society than any Marvel movie yet. Taking place immediately after the events of 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War,” “Black Panther” centers around T’Challa, portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, who returns to his technologically advanced nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king after his father’s death. Wakanda is a utopian nation in East Africa completely invisible to the outside world. The government maintains an isolated mindset in fear of the discovery and exploitation of its exclusive resource, Vibranium. Unfortunately for T’Challa and the people of Wakanda, an uncompromising new adversary appears named Killmonger, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, whose lust for the throne could spark global war. Being the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Black Panther” needed to stand out from previous films to be worth the price of admission. “Black Panther” shines in large part because of Coogler’s vision of Wakanda. Wakanda is a futuristic nation infused with lore, presented with tactile authenticity which makes it feel like a living, breathing society. The costumes, based on African tribal attire with futuristic flair, further viewers’ investment in Wakanda. The outstanding, amazing, flawless soundtrack perfectly captures the film’s cultural atmosphere. Unlike other recent Marvel films — I’m looking at you, “Thor: Ragnarok” — “Black Panther” isn’t afraid to take a slower, more deliberate approach to developing Wakanda and its central characters. Coogler respects the audience. He hasn’t crafted a film which simply entertains viewers as they toss popcorn into their mouths. Rather, Coogler establishes context for the fol-
lowing action, as well as viewers’ emotional attachments to the characters, particularly concerning the three-dimensional antagonist. Without venturing into spoiler territory, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger is a masterful villain, whose viewpoints are understandable and surprisingly agreeable. With condescending boastfulness and unexpected volatility, Killmonger almost outshines T’Challa himself. Killmonger also has a large role in the film’s social commentary, but viewers will have to discover this for themselves. Coogler’s previous filmography, such as 2013’s heartbreaking “Fruitvale Station,” has frequently brought attention to the injustices minorities face in modern society. “Black Panther” doesn’t shy away from these themes either, presenting Wakanda as a flawed, narrow-minded utopia. The film’s numerous female characters, especially Lupita Nyong’o’s fierce Nakia, have large roles in the film’s plot and action sequences. Hopefully, more films will take Coogler’s approach and continue to give actresses substantial roles. Cinema would be all the better for it. While the complex setting and progressive viewpoints cement the film as a must-see, “Black Panther” isn’t without it’s problems. For a comic book film, it’s surprising that the action sequences are its weakest aspect. While exciting, Coogler puts the camera too close to the actors. This renders a couple one-on-one fight scenes disorienting and difficult to follow. However, a car chase in the film’s first half is one of the most exhilarating chase sequences to hit the big screen in quite a while. The film’s comedic relief occasionally breaks viewers’ immersion. Luckily, the film still has a decidedly grim tone compared to other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Few comic book films have matched the complexity and distinct feel of “Black Panther.” It’s hard to imagine a more relevant, layered Marvel film releasing in 2018. “Avengers: Infinity War” has some lofty expectations to meet.
The Index
10
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Questions on The Quad Should Truman get a curling team, and if they did, would you go to their games?
Descha Stewart, sophomore
Veronica Jewell, junior
Which do you prefer — tests, papers, or projects, and why?
What upcoming event are you looking forward to this semester?
“I don’t know what curling is. I think I would probably branch out to it, though, because I think that it would be something new on campus and just to get that experience just to see what it consisted of — I would give it a shot.”
“I would probably consider writing a paper, even though it takes a while to write a paper, I think that the more time that I put into it, the more my feelings … about the particular subject is gonna come out, so I’d be more open to different ideas and suggestions that I can give out that would probably encourage another person.”
“Absolutely. Yes. Curling is fascinating. I mean, it’s kind of boring, but it gets you on the edge of your seat because the thing goes closer and closer to the check mark, you know? It’s like ‘Oooo, will they make it?’ Heck yeah. I’d join, probably. I’ve always wanted to curl.”
“I prefer projects because, I mean, I’m not good at writing, so I don’t really like papers, and that always stresses me out. I just like something that I can visually see and present. I’m good at public speaking, and that’s my strong suit, that’s what I like doing. And usually if it’s a group project, I like collaborating with other people … it’s more creative, I think.”
“Yeah, it sounds interesting.”
“Probably just taking a test. I’m not really good at writing papers. I’ll take tests.”
“Namaste Nepal is organizing Himalayan Night … I’m excited about it … I’m from Nepal, I’ve been here for three years.”
“I don’t know what curling is, but sure. It’s kind of hard for me to go to things like that because my schedule is so busy. I try to come out to the football games when I can. I’m in Purple Pride so I kind of have to … if it was interesting enough I might as well.”
“I would prefer doing a project because I’m more hands-on, and I like to be creative with what I’m doing. I don’t particularly enjoy group projects, though, those can be a hassle. Overall, I would rather do a project than sit and write a paper because it takes me five years to write a paper.”
“I’m excited for the fashion show that’s hosted by the Association of Black [Collegians,] through the [Multicultural Affaris Center,] and to be one of the people organizing that. It’s gonna be really cool — we’re gonna have contestants come up, and have speakers and performances throughout, and people are going to be showcasing the fashion show.”
“I feel like that’d be fun to have a curling team. I don’t know if anybody would go to the games, though, but it’d be fun.”
“I prefer taking a test over writing a paper because I don’t particularly enjoy writing papers, and definitely a test over a project because it’s an individual thing you can do as a test, — projects you usually do in a group.”
“I would say the Special Olympics that [Students Supporting the Exceptional Community] puts on … [It’s happening] in April.”
“We’re having a Unique Week, part of Unique Ensemble Gospel Choir at Truman, in the month of April, and throughout the whole week we’ll just be hosting different activities, seminars, game nights, different things that people can be involved with. It’s the week of April 12th to the 20th.”
“I’m in [Alpha Kappa Psi] and [Alpha Gamma Delta] and I’m kind of in Circle K, which is a service organization. I’m excited about AGD formal. This next weekend, my best friend’s coming for our AGD best friend’s weekend.”
Sashi Thapa, junior
Chetanae Ellison, sophomore
Jessalyn Holtz, freshman
mail room can now ship personal packages Open to all students, staff and faculty Monday through Friday from 12 to 3 Credit and debit only Packages have to be wrapped and ready to go *Convience fee will apply*
Kirksville Property Management, LLC has a variety of rentals still available for the 2018-2019 school year. Call us or drop in to make an appointment. We have studios close to campus, 5 bedroom houses, and everything in between. Take a look at our website to see all of our listings. www.KirksvillePropertyManagement.com 660- 665- 6380 office@kirksvillepropertymanagement.com 1605 S. Baltimore, Ste D.
30
The Index
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
11
’Dogs back in GLVC contention BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer The Truman State University women’s basketball team was able to keep its GLVC Championships hope alive with two big wins last week. The team is on a three-game winning streak after losing seven in a row. Last Thursday, the Bulldogs dominated at home with a win against University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a final score of 71-40. After a 32-4 run, the Bulldogs created an insurmountable deficit for the Rangers. Among the 13 Bulldogs who scored in the contest, sophomore guard Sloane Totta led with 15 points. The Bulldogs didn’t miss a step as they entered Saturday’s game against a resistant Bellarmine University team, winning 75-67. The teams matched the other’s shooting percentage, but the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Knights 47-29. Totta led the Bulldogs again, this time scoring 14 points. Three other Bulldogs were able to reach double-digits in the matchup — junior forward Rachel Edmundson scored 12, senior forward Ashley Hartwig scored 11, and freshman center Katie Jaseckas added 10 more points along with 11 rebounds to earn herself a double-double. Truman’s hot streak could not have come at a better time, as the Bulldogs needed wins in the last four games of the season to make it into the GLVC tournament. Two of those are in the books, with the last two coming this weekend. Head coach Amy Eagan said the Bulldogs are looking to forget about the pressure and focus on their defense. “The biggest thing for this team is just to relax and not overthink and not put pressure on themselves,” Eagan said. “I think an easy way to do that is to concentrate on defense and getting stops and just let the offense come to us.” Eagan said she is very proud of the way her players were able to handle the situation and grow during their
seven-game losing streak. During this slide, the Bulldogs only managed to score an average of 55 points, a significant drop compared to their season-long average of 67, which ranks 7th in the GLVC. During this stream of wins, the Bulldogs have averaged 73 points, while holding opponents to 56. Eagan was switching up lineups every game trying to find what worked best, which she said was aimed at getting the team more consistent on the defensive end and creating better execution. Eagan said redshirt junior guard Brooke Bailey played a huge role in helping the team during its struggles through her “losing is unacceptable” mentality that really resonated with the team and became contagious around the locker room. Coming out of their scoring woes in the last week and a half, the Bulldogs featured a balanced scoring attack during the last few games. Senior guard Ashley Hartwig attributes this to the unselfish play of the team. “Offensively, the ball has just moved so much better,” Hartwig said. “We have been really unselfish lately, and that shows in the balanced scoring we have had the last few games.” Hartwig said the team’s intensity and energy has really stepped up and aided the players on this win streak when it matters most, and she said the team needs to continue the streak if it wants to reach the tournament looming ever closer. Hartwig also said the overall mood of the team has really turned around, and more positivity around the locker room has led to better communication and overall play on the court. The Bulldogs finish up the last two regular season games tonight against William Jewell College and Saturday against University of Illinois-Springfield, both on the Bulldogs’ home court of Pershing Arena. If everything goes according to plan, the ’Dogs will start tournament play March 1.
Freshman guard Tiffany Davenport takes the ball down the floor. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the floor and limited Wisconsin-Parkside to 21 percent.
FOR RENT: 1 bedroom apts at 314 N Florence St. Landlord pays water, trash and yard work. $325 per month For more information call 660-341-4989. Listed on Zillow
Want to advertise with TMN? Contact us at 660-785-4449 advertising.trumanmedia@gmail.com
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Sophomore guard Sloane Totta goes for a layup. The Bulldogs defeated University of Wisconsin-Parkside to begin a 3-game winning streak.
Freshman center Katie Jaseckas guards a Bellarmine University defender. The Bulldogs had 18 more rebounds than the Knights, including Jaseckas’s 11.
30
The Index
12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
’Dogs send 32 to GLVC Championships
Sophomore Hannah Sells Junior Eddie Barrett Pole Vault Triple Jump Freshman Cassie Jennings Junior Connor Allen Pole Vault 800-Meter Race Freshman Katie Reeves Freshman Kaitlin Lewis Pole Vault 600-Meter Race Junior Eddie Barrett Barrett, Allen, 200-Meter Dash Henderson and Junior Junior Mitch Henderson Elijah Farrales 800-Meter Race 4x400-Meter Relay Freshman Branden Schaff Freshman Maya Mile Race Wasserstrom, Senior Heather Hughes, Junior Marissa Gress, Freshman Grace Feeney 4x400-Meter Relay
2nd 1st 3rd
Bulldog Podium Appearances at Missouri Collegiate Challenge RECRUITS | Football achieves 85% commitment rate for 2019 class Continued from page 14 This committed recruiting class is well balanced as it brings Truman 11 offensive players and 12 defensive players. Kellen Nesbitt said the team usually ends up being balanced throughout the positions because the coaches never solely look at what the team currently needs, but also for the long-term health of the program. This forces them to bring in players from all positions nearly every year, but in his eight years here, Kellen Nesbitt said this year’s is one of the most balanced recruiting classes. Gregg Nesbitt said he is not one to get excited about recruits because he is a firm believer that, as a coach, you must develop your players, but he said there is something very special in this class. “I really believe this may be the best recruiting class we’ve had, for a guy that doesn’t get too excited,” Gregg Nesbitt said. “Everything just seemed to line up with the balance in terms of what we needed, and I think 70 percent or more have the potential to be multi-year starters for us.” Kellen Nesbitt said the coaches were happy about a couple players in particular committing after competitive battles with other schools. In his eight years of being here, he has learned it really doesn’t matter until these players are seen on the field with other college competition. He said some of the best players the team has had were players the coaches didn’t necessarily jump up and down for after they signed, but they were guys who had the talent and drive to succeed.
BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer The Truman State University track and field team had one final meet to prepare for the Indoor GLVC Track and Field Championships this weekend. Truman headed down Interstate Highway 63 to Columbia, Missouri, where they competed at the University of Missouri Friday afternoon in the Missouri Collegiate Challenge. In total, 11 ’Dogs from the men’s and women’s teams combined earned a spot in the top 3 to get to the podium. The Truman women dominated the pole vault category, led by sophomore Hannah Sells, who set a personal best with a mark of 11 feet 2.25 inches. The podium bled Purple and White in the event, however, as Sells’ teammates freshmen Cassie Jennings and Katie Reeves tied for second place at 10 feet 6.25 inches. Sells qualified in pole vault and will represent the Bulldogs at the GLVC Championships. She said she hopes her jumps from this season will continue in the conference meet so she can score points for her team. Junior Hannah Oberdiek qualified as well, but is unable to attend because of injury. She said her focus now is to heal and get ready for outdoor conference. “As far as the team goes, I am really hoping to see some great things from my teammates at conference,” Oberdiek said. “Whatever happens in indoor, good or bad, they need to take that and build and continue to get better for the outdoor season.”
Junior Eddie Barrett stood out for the men, appearing on the podium in three events. Barrett finished second in the 200-meter dash at 22.83 seconds, third in the triple jump, and third as part of a the 4x400-meter relay with juniors Connor Allen, Mitch Henderson and Elijah Farrales. Freshman Bobby Campbell qualified for the weight throw along with senior Sam Stewart. In total, six Bulldog throwers will head to conference. Although Campbell said indoor season is not his favorite, his goal is to place at conference and score points as a freshman which will help the team. “I’m really excited for outdoor,” Campbell said. “Discus has always been my thing, and I’m excited to get back to it.” Looking forward to outdoor season, Campbell said his ultimate goal is to make it to nationals and break school records in both discus and javelin. The ’Dogs now head back to Indianapolis to compete for the second time this month, qualifying 18 women and 14 men to compete in the GLVC Indoor Championships. The Bulldogs’ last trip to Indianapolis offered success, with 11 personal and season bests. Junior Cassidy Smestad led the way for the Bulldogs Feb. 10, with her shot put throw which surpassed the NCAA provisional mark. Smestad is among 18 Truman women going to the GLVC Indoor Championships this weekend. Thirteen of the 32 total athletes advancing for the Bulldogs are competing in field events.
BASEBALL | Bulldogs open season with split at Washburn University
Kellen Nesbitt said senior defensive back Jordan Brown was not targeted much in the recruiting process because he was considered to be undersized. After his Bulldog career, Brown can claim to be a three time All-GLVC player and among the alltime leaders in tackles for loss.
“Everything just seemed to line up with the balance in terms of what we needed, and I think 70 percent or more have the potential to be multi-year starters for us.” -Head coach Gregg Nesbitt
The next step for the Bulldogs is to begin spring ball March 20. Gregg Nesbitt said this is when they start from ground zero and teach football 101 in all three phases of the game. Gregg Nesbitt said after 15 practices, the coaching staff will have a pretty good feel for who is ready to be on the travel squad of 60 players in the fall. “This is also a time where we crunch the numbers from the fall to see if we are really who we think we are,” Gregg Nesbitt said. “We can see what facets of the game we must improve on. We’re always tweaking who we are, who we’d like to be, identifying playmakers on offense and identifying different skill sets on each side of the ball, and spring ball helps us work at these improvements.”
Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Junior outfielder Mason King watches the infield action during a game last season. King started all 48 games in centerfield last season. Continued from page 14 “Overall, I think we played really good, and I’m really excited about it because when we do get our full lineup in and those young guys have experience, I think it’ll be really, really good,” Davis said. Regardless of these circumstances, the team is determined to be competitive against opposing teams, and that all starts with the returning players. Davis said the veterans have done a great job of leading the younger players and serving as teachers for them. “It’s fun having the guys who have been with me for a long time because they know what is expected,” Davis said. “It’s a good, calming effect for the team.” He said ultimately, all the older players are doing a great job of stepping up.
Among the veteran leaders is junior catcher Jon Lyons, who had a great weekend, Davis said, catching two games and coming up with a clutch hit for the Bulldogs. Lyons said this senior class was lucky enough to have seniors their freshman year that represented a laid-back mentality, yet held everyone accountable and challenged everyone to do their best. He said he thinks this senior class embodies that same philosophy. “For the catchers, I try to pass on what I have learned through my years of playing — especially from the catchers prior to me,” Lyons said. Truman baseball hits the road again this weekend for four games against Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.
Now Renting for Next Year “White Apartments” and other close locations
• Nice 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments • Great location • Dedicated office and maintenance staff • Variety of floorplans Call: 660-627-2060
Apply Online
www.TheWhiteApartments.com
The Index
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
’Dogs streak ends at 4 BY PAUL PROVINCE Staff Writer
The end of the regular season is nearing for the Truman State University men’s basketball team, as the squad only has two games left before the postseason tournament kicks off. Last week, the Bulldogs faced off against conference opponents University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Bellarmine University. The ’Dogs started well against Wisconsin-Parkside, going on a 20-0 run, fueled by a flurry of 3-pointers. Wisconsin-Parkside cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 10 in the first half, but the Bulldogs elevated their play and cruised to an 89-60 victory. Redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer led Truman with 23 points and 11 rebounds — his 14th double-double of the season. Along with Fischer, four other Bulldogs reached double digits in points. “We made a lot of shots early, which was great,” head coach Chris Foster said. “Our defense was good, and we stopped the ball consistently. That allowed us to get into transition offense, and that’s when we are at our best.” The Bulldogs’ 29-point margin of victory was the largest they’ve
Junior guard Nathan Messer shoots a 3-pointer. Bellarmine and Truman made a combined 23 in the game.
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt sophomore guard Brodric Thomas launches a shot against Bellarmine University. The Knights’ defense limited the Bulldogs to 28 first-half points. had since Jan. 4, when they beat Missouri University of Science and Technology 101-66. With the win against WisconsinParkside, the Bulldogs’ record improved to 16-8 overall and 11-4 in the GLVC. This win was the Bulldogs’ fourth in a row. Unfortunately, their streak didn’t last long, as GLVC first-place Bellarmine put an end to it Saturday. With a rocky start, the Bulldogs could not overcome their deficit against the nationally-ranked Knights, as Bellarmine held the Bulldogs to just 28 points in the first half. The ’Dogs had three scorers in double figures, including redshirt sophomore guard Brodric Thomas’ 21, junior guard Jake Velky’s 19 and Fischer’s 10, but was not enough to give Truman the push it needed. Bellarmine’s defense forced a season-high 16 turnovers by the Bulldogs. “Bellarmine is one of the top teams in all of Div. II,” Fischer said. “They
are one of the best defensive teams that we have seen, and we got off to a bad start and were just never able to overcome it.” Fischer said what makes Bellarmine such a deadly team is the players’ ability to move the ball and create space for one another. The Bulldogs have two games left in the regular season and are looking to secure a spot in the GLVC tournament with these final matchups at home. Truman is currently fourth in the conference standings. The ’Dogs face William Jewell College tonight at 7:30 p.m. — who they defeated 81-80 two weeks ago — and University of Illinois-Springfield for their Senior Day game Saturday at 3 p.m. “At this point in the season, we are looking to clean up some of our mistakes,” Velky said. “We’re trying to add a few wrinkles offensively and defensively to improve and ready ourselves for the rest of the season.”
13
February
23
Friday
24
saturday
25
Sunday
Softball 2 p.m. in Evansville, Ind. at Midwest Region Crossover
Track and Field TBA in Indianapolis, Ind. at GLVC Indoor Championships Wrestling TBA in St. Cloud, Minn. at NCAA Super 3 Regional Softball 10:30 a.m. in Evansville, Ind. at Midwest Region Crossover Baseball 1 p.m. in Joplin, Mo. vs. Missouri Southern State University — Doubleheader Women’s Basketball 1 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of Illinois-Springfield Men’s Basketball 3 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of Illinois-Springfield
Track and Field TBA in Indianapolis, Ind. at GLVC Indoor Championships Wrestling TBA in St. Cloud, Minn. at NCAA Super 3 Regional Softball 11 a.m. in Evansville, Ind. vs. Ferris State University Women’s Tennis 1 p.m. in St. Louis, Mo. vs. Bellarmine University Baseball 1 p.m. in Joplin, Mo. vs. Missouri Southern State University — Doubleheader
March
1 Thursday Basketball TBA in Edwardsville, Ill. at 2018 GLVC Tournament
SOFTBALL | Truman’s record evens after losing doubleheader
Submitted Photos
Left: Freshman catcher Mackayla Gordon takes a swing against Missouri University of Science and Technology. The Bulldogs have scored the seventh most runs in the GLVC through 8 games. Top Right: Junior pitcher Lauren Dale winds up for a pitch. In Truman’s second game against Missouri S&T, Dale allowed one run in six innings. Bottom Right: Sophomore infielder Alyssa Rivera fields a ground ball. The Bulldogs lost their first doubleheader last Sunday against Missouri S&T.
ATHLETE o f
t h e
w e e k
Junior Eddie Barrett earned a spot on the podium in three events at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge Friday in Columbia, Missouri. Barrett finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.83 seconds. He had two third-place finishes in the 4x400-meter relay and the triple jump.
Eddie Barrett
14
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Football signs 2018 class Quarterback
Ryan Novak
Running Back
Cody Schrader
Wide Receivers
Drew Hill Ricky McLaughlin Billy Pierce Zack Zerwig
2018 Truman Football Recruiting Class BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer Truman State University football achieved an 85 percent commitment rate for the 2018 recruiting class after 29 out of 34 players committed. Twenty-four signed a National Letter of Intent Feb. 7 to represent the Purple and White this fall. Associate head coach Thomas Kearney said this commitment percentage is pretty typical for the ’Dogs. This is usually because Truman offers potential student athletes a highly competitive degree for post-college life and a strong football pro-
Tight Ends
Matt Hall Blake Weakley
Kicker/Punter Josh Scheiderer
Athlete
Antonio Nelson gram. Kearney said the campus always surprises recruits because they enjoy the family-style atmosphere. “The campus size and the feel is something they can’t usually tell from driving in — they don’t know what to expect,” Kearney said. “Then once they get here, they realize this is actually a very nice campus, and our players do an outstanding job of hosting them, too.” The recruiting process never ends for coaches. Defensive coordinator Kellen Nesbitt said it is a continuous process, as they are already preparing for next year’s recruiting class even
Offensive Linemen Braden Kidd Brayden Swope
Defensive Linemen Alec DeVecchi Robert Greco Jack Hunziker Cade Rohler
Linebackers Josh Boyd Ryan Robbins
Defensive Backs
Devin Devres Zach Nadle Michael Prewitt Daniel Terry Armon Tindle Anthony Wilson
despite signing this class two weeks ago. The process begins in May, when the coaches evaluate players’ film and start building a ranking system of their prospects. The coaches split recruiting into geographic areas and find well-rounded recruits for the positions. Then coaches evaluate the players’ positions to ensure a good fit. Once the season begins, recruiting is not the main focus, but the coaches still make phone calls, emails, texts and mail-outs to keep in touch with their recruits. Once the season is finished in December, coaches finalize
the players they want to target so they can set up official visits in January. Kearney said official visits keep recruits busy. They receive a meal in Ryle Hall, a few words from head coach Gregg Nesbitt, a campus tour, and — the parents’ favorite part — a player panel. This is when coaches leave the room and the recruits and their parents can speak to a panel of 8-9 current players. Once this is done, the players go to their host’s house and meet as many of the players as they can to make sure they can see themselves fitting in. See RECRUITS, page 12
Warning track completed for baseball BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer Bulldog Baseball Park now has a warning track after the Truman State University Board of Governors approved the project in spring 2017. The warning track is the part of the baseball field that is closest to the wall or fence and is typically made of dirt instead of grass or artificial turf. It runs parallel to the ballpark’s wall and looks like a running track. The purpose of the warning track is to act as an alarm system, alerting a player chasing a ball they are nearing the fence. Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the total cost for the project was $58,762. This number included advertising for bids and minor fence repair down the first base line, around the bullpen. He explained the project was funded through the athletic fee. Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering said the warning track was an important and necessary project for the athletic department because it is highly recommended in the NCAA rules book that a warning track exist in front of the outfield fence, backstop and dugout areas. The project was completed in August 2017 so it would be ready for Truman’s baseball season this spring. The company that constructed the warning track was Houska Inc., a landscape company based out of Foristell, Missouri. The company also specializes in golf course construction and landscape construction.
Young roster splits opening weekend BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer Truman State University baseball opened its 2018 season this weekend with four games against Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and split even with the Ichabods. Despite being a generally young team, head coach Dan Davis said the Bulldogs anticipate a competitive team with new faces filling key roles and returning veterans leading the charge. “I think our guys honestly really like each other,” Davis said. “The word ‘culture’ is thrown around a lot, but these guys really click together. Two guys who are competing for the same position are rooting each other on to do well because they know it’s gonna help our team. I think that’s the biggest key of having a great team, is having kids that really care about each other and really want each other to have success and are unselfish.” Davis said he knew from the beginning this team had a chance to be competitive despite how young the players are. He said they needed some of the younger guys to step up for the team to perform at a higher level, and he said this weekend they did. Among them was freshman outfielder Noah Schrader, who scored the first run of the season. Schrader joined the Bulldogs from Hampshire High School in Pingree Grove, Illinois. He also drove in a run in the second game of Truman’s four-game stretch. “He’s a true freshman, and we put him in a really important spot,” Davis said. “He’s a leadoff hitter now, and his first day was tremendous.”
VOLUME 109
ISSUE 20
Davis said freshman infielder Ethan Kleinheider also had a good performance on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball this weekend. Kleinheider hit .308 on the weekend, collecting two hits in the Bulldogs’ opening day victory and one of Truman’s two RBIs in the series finale. On the defensive side of the ball, Kleinheider carried a .947 fielding percentage with only one error. Davis said a lot of credit also must be given to the Bulldogs’ bullpen, which relied heavily on its young pitchers to help carry the team through the four-game weekend.
points in games,” Young said. “They weren’t nervous at all. Actually, they wanted the ball in their hand and couldn’t wait to get on the mound.” Not only is this team young, but there are several injuries currently keeping players from the starting lineup. Senior infielder Brendan Trimble is currently unable to
throw, limiting him to the designated hitter position. Davis said Trimble typically plays second base, which allows them to get another freshman, Zach Spencer, in the lineup. While this is good experience for Spencer, Davis said Spencer was one of the best hitters during the fall, and he had planned to have him as the
designated hitter. Davis said this is like taking another batter out of the lineup. Davis said junior outfielder Mason King is out with a hamstring injury. King started as the leadoff batter and center fielder last year for the Bulldogs, and he said he is a big contributor to the team’s success. See BASEBALL, page 12
“Two guys who are competing for the same position are rooting each other on to do well because they know it’s gonna help our team. I think that’s the biggest key of having a great team ...” -Head coach Dan Davis
“We are pretty young on the mound,” Davis said. “We had a senior, Kent Frantz, start game one, but then we had [sophomore] Rian Markes, [sophomore] Blake Bagenstos and [redshirt sophomore] Bryan Clark.” Davis said the athletes he pulled out of the bullpen, with the exceptions of seniors Peter Young and Matt Tometz, were all freshmen. Young said he is very happy with the pitching staff overall. “We had young guys step up and pitch very well at key
tmn.truman.edu
Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Sophomore shortstop Evan Kayser fields a ground ball at practice last season. The Bulldogs opened 2018 last weekend at Washburn University with a 2-2 split. www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork
@TrumanMediaNet
© 2018