Truman State University tmn.truman.edu
Second Place
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 tmn.truman.edu
Best Overall Newspaper
@TrumanMediaNet
MCMA Newspaper Division 2
TrumanMediaNetwork
first Place Website
MCMA Newspaper Division 2
School of science and math plans for budget cuts BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer
Editor’s Note: This is the second instllment in a continuing series about how proposed state budget cuts would affect different academic departments. Truman State University’s budget for the School of Science and Mathematics will be cut by $600,000 if
Incumbent Biston wins second term BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor
Phillip Biston won a second term on the Kirksville City Council in the municipal and county elections last Tuesday. Additionally, a ballot proposition regarding the Adair County Ambulance District passed. Two people were also elected to the Kirksville R-III School District Board of Education — incumbent Vice President Gay Nichting was re-elected and Michael Bishop II won his first term. Almost 14,000 people are registered to vote in Adair County and about 1,700 voters cast ballots. This is the lowest voter turnout in a municipal and county election since 2015. In both 2016 and 2017, more than 2,500 people voted. In the three-way race for a single open seat on the Kirksville City Council, Biston got 687 votes, while Glen Moritz and Kevin Alm got 456 and 71, respectively. One of the 1,215 votes was a write-in. Only precincts within the City of Kirksville voted in the City Council election. The ballot proposition allowing the Ambulance District to continue collecting sales tax on vehicle titles from certain dealerships passed with 1,444 ballots in favor and 250 cast against. All ballots in Adair County carried the proposition. The passage of the proposition means continuing the existing sales tax, not raising or creating new taxes. Voters were instructed to vote for two candidates in the three-way race for two open seats on the Kirksville R-III Board of Education. Nichting led the tally with 977 votes, Bishop came in second with 890 and Matthew Copeland collected 714. Nichting and Bishop will serve on the Board. Seven of the 2,608 votes cast were write-ins. Full results of all April 6 elections in Adair County are available on the Adair County Government website.
April 3 Elections Results do not include write-ins
Kirksville City Council Phillip Biston Glen Moritz Kevin A. Alm
56.54% 37.53% 5.84%
Kirksville R-III School Board Gay Nichting Michael Bishop Matthew Copeland
38.23% 34.13% 27.38%
Ambulance District Proposition Yes No
85.24% 14.76%
Gov. Eric Greitens’ proposed $3.5 million budget cut is goes into effect during the 2018-19 school year. If passed, 60 percent of the $3.5 million proposed budget cut will come from Academic Affairs, resulting in cuts from each academic department. The specific cuts are up to the individual departments, and department heads have met during the course of the spring 2018 semester to determine and finalize these cuts. Because the state budget has until June 30 to be finalized, there is a pos-
sibility it could be less than $3.5 million. However, Truman administration is preparing for the full amount to be taken out of the University’s funding for the 2018-19 year. “We’re building the budget under what we call ‘worst case scenario,’ which is [what will happen] if the governor’s budget holds,” said Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning. “The biggest factor concerning the budget cuts is the uncertainty.” See SCIENCE AND MATH, page 3
State House asks for restored higher education funding
Photos by Nicolas Telep/TMN The Missouri House of Representatives recently passed a budget proposal to restore $68 million in funding to the state’s higher-education budget. Many members of the Missouri General Assembly have spoken against Gov. Eric Greitens’ budget proposal since it was submitted in January. BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer The Missouri House of Representatives passed a plan that would reverse the $68 million cut to highereducation funding proposed by Gov. Eric Greitens. The House passed a budget plan of $27.8 billion for the 2019 fiscal year, which includes restoring funding for higher education provided universities cap tuition increases at 1 percent. The budget includes a $99 million increase in funding for K-12 schools and an additional $163 million for the Department of Transportation. If the Senate passes the budget and the governor signs, the budget for the 2019 fiscal year will go into effect July 1. Republican Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, House Budget Committee Chair, said he supports the increase in funding and thinks the Senate wants to see higher education funding restored as well. “I felt the cuts the institutions experienced last year were pretty significant and to double down on those without seeing administrative cuts in state government at a comparable level would not be a very genuine way to move forward,” Fitzpatrick wrote in a statement. “I wanted to make sure we weren’t simply shifting cost to families and students in the state.” Rep. Nate Walker, a Republican from District 3 representing Kirksville, also said he supported reinstating funds to higher education. Since they were proposed in January, Walker said he has opposed Greitens’ cuts to higher education and thinks Greitens is being shortsighted. “Higher-education funding and support of the mission of Truman State University remain my top prior-
ity as 3rd District State Representative,” Walker wrote in a statement, “I will continue to support additional funding for higher education as we continue the budget process in the Missouri General Assembly. The Missouri House of Representatives acted responsibly to increase funding for higher education by $68 million this week, above what the Governor had previously recommended. A strong higher education system in the state of Missouri is key for our economic growth and for a positive future for Missouri.” See HOUSE, page 3
Under the Governor’s budget proposal, Truman State University would lose $3.5 million in state funding. The House proposal would restore funding to Truman and other schools.
Truman community celebrates 150th anniversary Saturday Holman Family Distinguished Speakers Series
The final installment of the Holman Family Distinguished Speakers Series will feature “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Daymond John at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 13 in the Baldwin Hall Auditorium. John is known internationally as a supporter of entrepreneurship through his work as a presidential ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship and his time on the ABC series “Shark Tank.” John first made his mark as a branding expert and is now an award-winning author and public speaker. The Holman Family Distinguished Speakers Series is named in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman.
Sesquicentennial Presidential Celebration
The legacy of Truman State University’s 16 presidents will be recognized at a special event at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 14 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The celebration will be followed by a reception at 5 p.m. in Pickler Memorial Library Presidential Reading Room, where all the University president portraits are on display. Former University President Troy Paino’s portrait will be unveiled before the celebration in a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. in the SUB Hub.
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 25 © 2018
Sesquicentennial Plaza Project
As part of the 150th anniversary celebration, Truman State University plans to continue the renovation of The Mall into the plaza area located in front of the Student Union Building. Community members, alumni and students can help contribute to the renovation costs and buy a personalized brick for $150 or a personalized paver for $500. Part of the project also includes a renovation of the fountain. Donors can also name items included as a part of The Mall renovation, including gardens, benches and the Library Patio.
Spring Commencement
The Spring 2018 Commencement Ceremony will be at 2 p.m. May 12 at Stokes Stadium. Graduates will gather for a photo before the procession and graduation ceremony. Seating is first come, first seated, and doors open at noon.