The Index Vol. 109 Issue 28

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu

Check out the best of Spring 2018 throughout this week’s issue!

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork

LAST ISSUE OF SEMESTER Catch us again on Wednesday, August 15th

Kirksville to install recycled park equipment

BY NICOLAS TELEP Managing Editor

The Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department is planning to replace some benches and tables in city parks with new equipment made of recycled materials.

Sadler said the requested equipment includes picnic tables, park benches and dugout benches. He said the majority of the new equipment will be installed at North Park Complex and Rotary Park.

Rodney Sadler, Parks and Recreation director, said the city requested bids for the project that would use recycled materials or something comparable. He

Asher begins job as new registrar

BY ELISABETH SHIRK Staff Writer

Nancy Asher started her duties as Truman State University’s registrar on Tuesday.

Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, offered Asher the job in early April after receiving a recommendation from the search committee.

Asher holds a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting and has been working for the University since 1987.

She said the analytical thinking and number-crunching skills she has gained from her education and previous jobs will be transferable to her job as registrar.

Before being hired as registrar, Asher was the Director of Testing and Reporting and Associate Budget Officer. She also served as the interim registrar about 10 years ago.

“I really enjoyed the [registrar] job while I was there, so I already knew that I was interested in the position,” Asher said.

Asher said she will be taking the reporting responsibilities as registrar, while Arletta Nelson, administrative assistant in the office of administration, finance and planning, will be taking over her previous budget responsibilities, and Testing Coordinator Jeremy Hopkins will pick up additional testing and assessment responsibilities.

Asher said the first thing she will do as registrar is sit down with the interim registrar to get up to speed on where the previous registrar left off.

“Right now it’s just a matter of talking with each of the different members that are already in the office and getting a feel for everything that’s being done,” Asher said.

Mathematics department chair Susan Scheurer, the chair of the six-member search committee, said the other members of the committee were Faculty Senate President Vaughan Pultz; Kasey Graves, Information Technology Services operations officer; Nelson; Dawn Howd, assistant director of admissions; and academic advisor Jennifer McNabb.

See REGISTRAR, page 2

said Play By Design, an Oklahoma-based playground manufacturer, submitted two bids for the project. One of the bids proposed using a partially recycled metal material, and the other bid proposed using fully recycled plastic. Sadler said the City Council approved the more expensive recycled plastic bid, but the Northeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District did not approve it. He said the department will go through another bidding process which should be presented to the City Council by the end of May. “We are going to narrow down exactly what we’re looking for with the recycled content, and we’re going to re-bid this project,” Sadler said. “It’s just kind of

disappointing that we didn’t get to move forward. We are going to re-bid it, though, so that way we get the best value for the city.”

Recycled tires and milk bottles are used in park benches and picnic tables all over the country. Sadler said the recycled materials last a long time, and recent innovation in pigments keeps the colors from fading, which means they do not have to be repainted. The materials are also more resistant to vandalism than traditional wood, because it is harder to carve into them. They are also heavier, which makes them harder to steal, Sadler said.

Alumni leave their mark on the plaza

BY RYAN PIVONEY News Text Editor Truman State University is hosting a fundraiser as part of the 150th anniversary celebration for which donors can name and personalize parts of the plaza and fountain area.

The current fundraising project is designed to pick up where the renovation of The Mall stopped in 2015. Director of Engagement Stacy Tucker-Potter said the fundraiser engages people with different donation capacities to personalize items and help improve the area along the plaza. Donation levels range from $150 for a personalized brick to $1 million to name the entire plaza.

Other items available to Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN personalize and name The Office of Advancement is operating a campaign to remodel the plaza. include large pavers, Donors can purchase and personalize different items in the area. benches, bike racks, garden plots, the library patio and the fountain.

“That’s part of the reason why it was important to Tucker-Potter said the area needs significant up- engage people at all ends of the donor tree there bedates and the fountain needs repair, so the goal of the cause if we were able to get somebody at the $500,000 project is to engage with donors and create a change point, obviously it would be a whole lot easier to do to the space. She said the project is scalable, meaning a fountain than it were if we were to do it $150 at a the scope of the renovation project will depend on time,” Tucker-Potter said. how much money is raised.

See PLAZA, page 2

Truman debate team takes fourth in nationals

BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer

Last week, Truman State University’s debate and forensics teams returned from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where six of the nine debaters moved to the elimination rounds and the team placed fourth overall in debate sweepstakes.

At the National Forensic Association National Championship Tournament, about 100 debaters who qualified for nationals from across the country came to compete. There were six preliminary rounds, and those with winning records advanced to elimination rounds.

No members of the speech team broke to elimination rounds, but Director of Forensics Chris Outzen said there were students that were very close. “Looking at the growth from year to year and where we started, overall we actually improved considerably on our [speech] scores from last year,” said Outzen.

Of the six Truman debaters that broke to elimination rounds, freshmen Peyton Gilbert, Maguire Radosevic and Cami Smith placed in the Top 32 as double octofinalists, junior Johnny Christy and senior Connor Stewart placed in the Top 16 as octofinalists, and junior Tyler Behymer placed in the Top 8 as a quarterfinalist.

Radosevic said each debater participated in Lincoln-Douglas debate and debated the same topic — reformation of state and local police departments by the federal government — for the entire year. Radosevic said the team spends three hours each week preparing together and an additional three hours researching on their own.

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 28 © 2018

“Even though [debate is] an individual activity, it really is a team thing where we all split up the research, we’re all finding stuff for each other,” Radosevic said. “There’s a lot of collaboration, and as a result of that I’ve become really close with a lot of the other people on the team.”

The speech and debate teams consist mainly of younger competitors who will return next year and continue to compete. Outzen said all three of the debaters who qualified in the Top 32 as double octo-

finalists are freshmen, and he is looking forward to what the team can achieve next year. “[The debate year] was good,” said Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics and debate coach.

“It was a big, big improvement from the year before, and we have debaters that will be returning next year that people will be watching out for. We are really going to be a high-end competition next year. There’s going to be four big schools next year that will be competing, and we’ll be one of them.”

Submitted Photo Truman State University debate and forensics teams posed with awards after the National Forensic Association National Championship Tournament. The debate team won fourth place.

The Index

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

SAB hosts the Final Blowout

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN

Above: Students ride a carnival ride at the Final Blowout sponsored by the Student Activities Board.

The Final Blowout is a large event hosted by SAB at the end of every academic year with activities students might not have access to during the year.

Right: Junior Danielle Wolstadter decorates a T-shirt. In addition to decorating T-shirts, students could ride carnival rides, play games, listen to live music and watch the fireworks that concluded the event.

Truman to offer data science graduate certificate program

BY RYAN PIVONEY News Text Editor

Truman State University will offer a 15-credit-hour online Data Science Certificate program beginning next year.

The computer science department will offer the graduate certificate through a series of five online courses.

According to the Truman Catalog, the Data Science Certificate gives students the ability to manage, analyze, and draw conclusions from large amounts of data, then apply it to fields in science, business, government, engineering, and health care, among other disciplines.

Jon Beck, computer science department chair, said the five 600-level courses will focus on an introduction to the field of data science, working with big data, data mining and machine learning. The program will conclude with a project-oriented course similar to a capstone. He said experts in the field who have taught similar courses at the undergraduate level were brought in to develop the program.

Beck said the courses are eight weeks long and 3 credit hours each. There are a variety of starting times for the courses. Beck said this was designed to be a more efficient program for already-working professionals and recently graduated students entering the workforce and looking to gain extra skills.

“It is a very hot area,” Beck said. “Companies are just scrambling like crazy to hire people who

have skills in data science in order to use those newly emerging technologies to improve their company’s performance.”

Beck said after talking to University alumni and companies in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, he can see there is a demand for a data science program.

Associate Provost Kevin Minch said the data science graduate certificate requires students to have a bachelor’s degree, basic statistics and introduction to computer science or equivalent courses.

“Data science is becoming so ubiquitous out there,” Minch said. “So many different companies are looking for people that have the skills to analyze data that what we’re hearing from employers is that they may have someone who has a statistics degree, but has no background in computer programming, or they might have somebody with the right programming knowledge, but not the right background in statistics. This kind of blends the two together.”

Minch said the idea for the program started with a pilot version of the certificate offered several years ago. Previously, the program was competency-based, but it later adopted a traditional grading system because it was easier to implement, he said. Several other colleges in the state are offering data science programs, but Minch said while others are offering master’s degrees in the field, Truman’s certificate allows for a quicker application of the learned skills in the workforce.

Minch said the cost of the data science certificate is the same as graduate tuition, which is currently $5,542.50 per semester. Tuition is the same for in- and out-of-state students because the program is online.

Tentative Calendar for 2019-2020 Semester Spring 2019 - Start 1 - Dec. 31, 2018 Spring 2019 - Start 2 - Feb. 25, 2019 Summer 2019 - Start 1 - April 22, 2019 Summer 2019 - Start 2 - June 17, 2019 Fall 2019 - Start 1 - Aug. 19, 2019 Fall 2019 - Start 2 - Oct. 14, 2019 All terms are 8 weeks except Fall 2019 - Start 2, which has an additional week to incorporate the Thanksgiving holiday.

PLAZA | Restoration to be funded by donors REGISTRAR | Asher started on Tuesday Continued from page 1 Tucker-Potter said a similar brick campaign was successful when renovating Magruder Hall in the early 2000s. She said since then, donors have asked about personalizing bricks, so the University thought it would be a good idea to let donors make their mark on campus. TuckerPotter said she expects more naming opportunities for donors in the future, which can improve other areas on campus.

Charles Hunsaker, interim director of advancement, said the campaign started early last July with emails and electronic publications sent to alumni and everyone connected to the University. He said promotion of the cam-

paign continued at events, on social media, in the Kirksville community and to parents of students.

Hunsaker said he hopes the brick campaign will generate excitement and participation among donors for the sesquicentennial. He said donations have been steady since the fundraiser began, and the campaign has raised over $175,000 so far.

“It’s a really cool opportunity,” Hunsaker said. “The school only turns 150 once, so you know, it’s been a great way to celebrate … By participating in this, you’re kind of joining hands, if you will, with a whole bunch of other people in that same kind of celebration.”

The fundraising portion of the project will conclude at the end of June 2018.

Continued from page 1 “People had different strengths and different ideas,” Scheurer said. “Everyone was cordial and respectful, and I think we had a great outcome and found a wonderful person to be registrar.”

Scheurer said the search committee created a rubric to assess all the applicants.

Among the preferred qualifications, Scheurer said, were an advanced degree, experience in a related field and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information in a professional manner.

“She’s very organized, detail-oriented and she works well with other people,” Scheurer said.

The committee also set up interviews and met with the candidates on their interview day, Scheurer said. Open fo-

rums were part of the interviews.

Scheurer said the committee created a survey for those who attended the open forums to give their feedback of each candidate.

“We took that data, looked at it and compared it to our original rubric, and then we made a recommendation to the provost,” Scheurer said.

Gooch said she meets with the registrar on a monthly basis, but members of their offices interact daily. She said Kim Titus had been serving as interim registrar.

Gooch said she has no doubts Asher will do her very best in the position and give it her all.

“There will be some things that she’ll need to learn, of course, but Nancy will have no problems,” Gooch said. “She’s a critical thinker and a problem solver.”

staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief Brently Snead Managing Editor Nicolas Telep News Editor Ryan Pivoney Features, Opinions Editor Morgan Gervais Sports Editor Rachel Steinhoff Sports Multimedia Editor Jeremy Jacob Copy Chief Allyson Lotz Photo Editor Daniel Degenhardt Design Chief Emmett Divendal

Distribution Manager Jessica Rose Sales Manager Joey Iaguessa Distribution Representatives Greta

Roettegen, Amanda Claywell Cartoonists Annie Kintree, August Davis, Brittany Schenk Designers Georgia Gregory, Emily Taylor, Kaitlyn Farmer Photographers Lawrence Hu, Kara Mackenzie, Julia Siebecker, Damian Soane, Kara De Burin

Staff Writers Jase Willhite, Ashley

Murphy, Kennedy Martin, Paul Province, Patrick Pardo, Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Travis Maiden, Dana Bartch, Gordon McPherson, Justin Newton, Aura Martin, Elisabeth Shirk Copy Editors Molly Thal, Bethany Spitzmiller, Ellen Thibodeau, Elise Hughes, Cara Quinn, Jenna Faulkner Adviser Don Krause

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

A case for more collectivism in journalism

BY RACHEL FECHTER Former Features Editor

I’ve been a journalist ever since I dabbled in my elementary school newspaper. It was called “The Scoop,” and I published a story on a thunderstorm three days after the event that caused minimal damage.

My journalism career has since skyrocketed from retroactive hit pieces on the weather. I’ve now been a writer for The Index for three years and a section editor for news and features for two of those years. Next year I’ll be executive editor at Detours Magazine.

I have grown to love being a section editor and seeing my writers grow as journalists and as people week after week. This has taught me an important lesson about the world of journalism. Not only is every story we cover in some way valuable, but so is every staff member writing that story. Managing a staff of writers for two years has taught me a lot about journalism and life. The biggest lesson I learned pertaining to both is that people are weird. Everyone brings something interesting, innovative and thoughtful, and has different entry points, opinions, biases and skill sets — both the journalists covering the stories and the people in those stories.

This brings me to the main point of my argument — a case for more journalism collectives.

I acknowledge there is quality content that comes out of traditional, mainstream media in hierarchical journalism workplaces. However, I’d also like to acknowledge some of the horizontal and collectivized efforts taking place by journalists around the country and around the world that are doing wonderful things for journalism.

While journalism collectives can be tough to define, as they come in many different forms and emerge from many different entry points, there are some common threads between these types of media outlets.

Journalism collectives are non-hierarchical, meaning every member of the media outlet does an equal amount of work and has an equal amount of say over content, revenue, compensation and hours.

They often also are community-oriented and are not only in tune with the public they serve, but also tend to utilize crowdsourcing techniques more than traditional media outlets.

Journalism collectives are also generally not profit-driven. The end goal of journalism collectives is to serve the community and produce truthful, factual content free of corporate biases and interests. This can be accomplished in many ways, such as members choosing to work on a volunteer basis, or as freelance writers for other publications to make their income while still producing content at their respective collectives

for free. Many journalism collectives will choose not to sell advertisements and instead operate on the basis of donation, though some will accept ads but refuse to run ones promoting exploitative businesses for ethical reasons.

The democratic, horizontal structure of journalism collectives can do wonders for the journalistic process, the quality of content and the community a media outlet serves.

On a national scale, many large cities have formed journalism collectives to tackle hard-hitting topics. Many times these largely urban journalism collectives form under the collaboration of multiple media outlets coming together to create converged, high quality media. Take Detroit Journalism Cooperative, for example, which consists of Bridge Magazine, Detroit Public Television, Michigan Radio, WDET Radio and New Michigan Media. Because of their collaborative structure, these outlets can share content knowing they are telling the most innovative and far-reaching stories possible and not repeating the same echo-chambered, surface-level narratives — a common limitation to the competitive nature of journalism today.

On a more international scale, Greece has largely benefited from journalism collectives. Because of political unrest and a huge financial recession, journalists in Greece have lost their jobs. Historically, worker cooperatives and collectives are more resilient in times of crisis, typically performing better than their non-cooperative counterparts, according to a study done by scholars Johnston Birchall and Lou Hammond Ketilson.

This sentiment has rung true in Greece as more of the recently laid-off journalists have chosen to form their own journalism collectives. There are currently seven cooperative media enterprises and 26 cooperative news outlets in Greece.

I’m personally really drawn to the collaborative, democratic aspect of journalism collectives, and I hope to work for one someday.

There is a curtain of agenda setting placed between traditional, mainstream media outlets and the citizens they are supposed to be serving. Why can’t we lift that curtain? Why can’t we produce quality, ethical and factual journalism with collectivism from fellow journalists and input and interaction from fellow community members?

Journalism should not be a desk job. Ever. If you work at a media outlet and you are sitting in meetings or staring at a computer screen all day, in my opinion, you are doing it wrong. For an editor whose eyes are alienated from the story, making a change could be taking something out of context or distorting its meaning altogether, an all-too-common problem in traditional, mainstream media that I think is eliminated in a purely democratic and collaborative structure. In such environments, everyone is doing the groundwork and is listening to the pulse within the heart of the community they are serving.

Assistant editor’s love letter to The Index

BY JOHANNA BURNS Former Assistant Editor I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to start this column. I can’t quantify the number of side tasks I’ve done in an effort to avoid writing these words — although the editors currently breathing down my neck probably could.

But how do I sum up four years of the most “transformational” experience into four hundred words? I can’t, and I won’t.

Unless you’ve been one of the heroes who sat in this office, the office where I currently sit writing the last article for The Index I’ll ever write, you can’t hope to fully understand what it means to be a part of this team. I can’t hope to explain to you in the few hundred words of space I have how truly special this team, this family, is to me.

That’s a challenge I’ve often faced during my time with Truman Media Network. I never made a conscious decision to become a journalist. I only ever knew I wanted to live my life in service to others, to my community. Combine that with a voracious reading addiction and a predilection for putting thoughts down on paper, and somehow I wound up in the world of journalism.

It’s not the most romantic of stories, I know. But sometimes the greatest love affairs aren’t dramas built of grand aspirations. Instead, they quietly knit themselves into your life until they become the fabric of who you are. That is the story of my life at The Index.

Here I have the chance to serve my community in what I consider one of the noblest pursuits a writer can make.

Here, I’ve told the stories that matter.

Here, I’ve told the stories that touched my heart. Here, I’ve grown not just as a writer but also as a member of my community. I’ve laughed with you in joy, Truman State University, and I’ve cried with you through your many sorrows.

Today I want to tell you one more story. Always there has stood beside me the many heroes who comprise the world of TMN. There are the editors who came before me, talented young men and women who I’m proud to say taught me everything. Bethany and Austin first welcomed me into this family. I watched Austin guide

this paper through some tough times all without losing his smile. Emily guided me through the confusing and overwhelming world of InDesign. It was she who first showed me what it means to be an editor.

There are many different kinds of service. For a journalist, that could mean pouring yourself into writing and researching an article your audience needs to hear, or investing a few hours into helping a new writer develop their skills.

That’s what the editors in this room do every week. They serve the community and they serve one another, and through these services they have built a family I’m proud to call home.

But now it’s time to say goodbye. I wish I could mention every person who has touched my life by name, but that would take many more columns. So, I’ll content myself with a few short notes.

To my darling, crazy copy desk friends, thank you for always being a light in the office. Thank you for correcting the mistakes I couldn’t see. And finally, I beg you to reconsider your stance on the Oxford comma.

To the editors who came before me, the ones I helped to train, and those who will surely come after us, know that what you do matters. Journalism is a service, one the world doesn’t always recognize it needs.

Dear, sweet, eager writers — you are the lifeblood of this organization. Thank

[Our View]

you for giving me the honor of working with you. Look to your editors, for you might one day be in their shoes, and they have a lot to teach you.

Finally, to my brave Brently, know that I’m proud of you. What you and Seth did last semester amazed me, and what you’ve managed to do on your own is nothing short of miraculous.

Imagine what you and Nick will be able to do next year. Normally, I’d say something cheesy here about having big shoes to fill, but the truth is, it is your shoes that someone will one day have to grow into. I have treasured every moment of watching you grow into your role as EIC, just as I treasure every moment of your friendship.

Four years ago I ran from Dobson Hall to Barnett in a torrential September thunderstorm, nervously clutching a portfolio of five articles from my high school newspaper, to interview for a position as a news writer for The Index.

My time here at Truman has been bittersweet, but I will carry my time at The Index with me as not only the cornerstone of education, but as the family that shaped me into what I am today.

Four years later, I walk out of this place with a digital portfolio that includes hundreds of articles, several multimedia packages and a family of journalists who’ve become one of the most precious communities I’ve ever had the privilege of serving.

Alumni, donors help the University thrive With the recent success of the TruCare initiative and the Pursue the Future Campaign, it is obvious all members of the Truman State University community care about both the University and the City of Kirksville. For the TruCare initiative, Truman alumni, students, professors and parents logged over 12,000 hours of community service in and out of town. The Pursue the Future Campaign hit its $40 million goal several weeks before the June deadline. The dedication to constant improvement from every member of the community is admirable.

We, The Index Editorial Board, believe this positive engagement is symbolic of a commitment to the community that makes Truman great. By forming a good relationship with the City of Kirksville and supporting our institution for years to come, students, alumni, faculty and staff fulfill the values of liberal arts education and show how important they are for the future. The care and passion that are so integral to Tru-

man’s liberal arts education display themselves not only in academics, but in service and involvement as well. The hard work and dedication Truman demands fosters an environment in which service and community can thrive. The University instills these qualities in its students, leading to a deep and lasting connection to the school.

As state funding is reduced, Truman might have to rely on alumni donations more in the future. It is comforting to know many enthusiastic alumni consider a Truman education worth their money. They consider the liberal arts education Truman provides to be important enough to current and future students to give money and make it happen. It is also comforting to know there are thousands of members of the Truman community around the country and the world who care enough about Truman and their home communities to serve as part of the TruCare initiative. Even as tough times hit the University, the Bulldog spirit is alive and growing.

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions.

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

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

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online at tmn.truman.edu.

Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken in consideration.

Contact Submit corrections or contact the editor.

index.editor@gmail.com

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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 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu.

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The Index

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

Copy chief says farewell

BY MACKENNA PALAZZA Former Copy Chief I’ve thought about writing this column for a long time now — since I saw then Editor-in-Chief Bob Overmann send an eloquently written piece through copy desk my freshman year. I’ve learned a lot in my time at Truman State University, and so much of that personal and professional growth has come from my time with Truman Media Network. The late hours, endless mistakes, and lack of sleep have all been offset by cute animals, tasty snacks, and countless laughs. I think there were many times my roommates thought I was crazy for working at The Index for so long, but these past four years wouldn’t have been the same without working here. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I guess you could say I’ve been at TMN since the beginning of my college career. My first interaction with student media was during Truman Week, when I met former EIC Bethany Boyle. She told me to apply online and, believe it or not, my first interview for staff was with the sports section. For those who don't know me, I have a very limited knowledge of sports, and my first task to recap a baseball game did not turn out a complete piece of writing. It’s safe to say sports was not my interest, but I really wanted to do something with the newspaper and didn't know what yet.

I don't remember who exactly told me about copy editing — it might have been the sports editors when I had to tell them I couldn't actually write for sports, but I ended up on copy desk early in my time here. I wrote a features story that ended up being irrelevant, but I also did photography for a while. I helped edit with Detours Magazine, and this year, I’ve spent more time helping with TMN TV. I’ve always liked helping out in different areas because working for TMN has taught me so many different skills, and I always got to work with fun people — my peers and some neat advisers.

I’d definitely say my favorite part about working for TMN has always been the people. The people I currently work with have taught me a lot about making work more efficient while I was building my management and decision-making skills, among other things. The people I worked with as an underclassman encouraged me and showed me so much about production and editing — the AP Stylebook and Twitter account quickly became new friends. I often think about the past student journalists who have sat at this table before me, the people who have paved the foundation for my learning development here — we wouldn’t be a publication without you. Finally, though, it’s not just the people I work with but the people I interact with because of the job — readers and sources are community members and sometimes friends, which is fun to connect with work, but the most valuable part is when the job teaches us something we wouldn’t have otherwise learned on our own. This is something I hope comes across in our newspaper.

I’ve worked at The Index for so long, it is hard to imagine my life without the weekly intake of news and local events at the convenience of my workplace. I know it sounds cliche, but I’ve spent so much time in this media center that it feels like another room at my home.

All of Barnett Hall has a homey atmosphere to me. I’ve grown accustomed to the typically cold temperature, incessant beeping and rustling of machines and students working, and I’ve mastered washing my hands in the women’s main-floor bathroom without getting water sprayed all over my shirt. I know Barnett is sometimes the joke of campus, sitting all alone atop a hill removed from campus’ center, but after I leave Kirksville, I’m gonna miss this hall and this media center most of all.

Best of Spring 2018

Truman lacks healthy identity

BY JOHANNA BURNS Assistant Editor

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Feb. 15 issue of The Index.

We talk a lot about identity here at Truman State University. Who am I? Where do I come from? How does my identity shape who I will become and what I will do? How do we as Truman students relate to each other? We’re still exploring what it means to be a liberal arts university.

With the focus on personal identity, I am surprised that in the four years I’ve been here, I’ve never heard anyone address the negative aspects of the communal identity of what it means to be a Typical Truman Student.

When I stop and think about the TTS, I picture someone who walks the dangerous line between productive stress and debilitating stress. They’re overworked and under-rested, and they’re competitive about it. To be a good student here means to be all these things — the more stressed you are, the more dedicated you are.

That TTS identity is not one we should be encouraging. It’s unsustainable. Ultimately, an identity that is built around stress is destructive, though many of us might not realize the danger until the damage has already been done.

We can offer all the mental health resources in the world, but we can’t make people use them. What we can do is work with each other to create a balance between personal and academic expectations; where the expectation of achievement is not outweighed by the expectation of personal health.

Instead of perpetuating this identity, let’s build a community of students, professors and administrators that value balance and make it the priority of their interactions.

Let’s become students who know how to create boundaries between work and actual life. Understand that sometimes, saying no to another responsibility or asking for help is the more responsible path.

Professors, set that example for your students by following through with policies that encourage students to ask for help. Realize that for a student to ask for an extension often means they’ve had to admit to themselves they weren’t able to meet your, or their, expectations. Administrators, set the standards of those policies. Instead of being a community that glorifies stress as the evidence of dedication, let’s recognize it for the symptom of the failing system it is.

In the last year, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time addressing how Truman can offer better mental health resources to its students. That’s a great conversation to be having, but I think it’s also important that students and faculty start thinking about how we contribute to the process of building a more healthy identity.

Community is such a vital aspect of identity. It can be easy to neglect community building. We’re too busy, too stressed, too focused on the responsibilities we’ve taken on in the name of ambition. But maybe if we take the time to focus on being part of a positive community, we’ll start to develop a healthier school identity.

One way to do that is to immerse yourself in the events that represent the Truman community. Go to sporting events. We might be a primarily academic school, but you only have to look to the Winter Olympics to see the power sports have to bring people together. Celebrate your peers’ accomplishments — even if you don’t personally know someone, be proud that a member of your school has done something worthy of honor. Participate in the university bonding events like Purple Fridays that serve as simple reminders we are all a part of one community. Too often, we are so immersed in our struggles, we become disconnected from Truman and from Kirksville, so much so that milestones such as Homecoming or the 150th anniversary of our University go by with little acknowledgement from the majority of the student body. Connect with your community and become part of something bigger than yourself.

Four years from now, when I picture TTS, I want to envision someone who is proud to bleed purple and white. Be someone who recognizes their value isn’t measured by their level of stress; someone who can look back at their time in college and see proof of their growth, not only as a scholar, but as a person.

The Index

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

5

Best of Spring 2018 City could demolish or restore old high school

BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: This story originally ran in the Feb. 15 edition of The Index.

Within the next few years, the City of Kirksville might have to demolish the building which previously housed Kirksville High School if the property is not brought into compliance with city codes or redeveloped soon.

The building, located at the corner of Mulanix and McPherson streets, was built in 1914 and served as the city’s main high school until 1960, when it became a meeting place for the Kirksville Board of Education until 1978. Since then, several owners have purchased the high school, but it has not been well-maintained and is currently being considered for demolition. Currently, the high school ranked at No. 5 on Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation’s 2017 “Historic Places in Peril” list, which was created in an effort to bring awareness to important historical places around Missouri which could be saved from demolition.

Kirksville City Manager Mari Macomber said two city departments, the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Codes and Planning, have been working with the owners of the building to determine the future of the building.

“It’s kind of like an internal battle,” Macomber said. “We’ve got Community and Economic Development, who’s doing everything they can to try to find somebody who’s willing to invest in improving it, and then on the other side, we have codes, who have to make sure it’s safe and that the neighborhood is secure.”

Macomber said action must be taken immediately to address the building’s issues, such as boarding up broken windows — of which there are more than 70 in the building — and securing the site. Macomber said the city applied for and received a grant to redevelop the building site several years ago, but the grant would not cover the cost of the redevelopment plan. Macomber said the lack of security and the possibility of falling bricks and tree limbs makes the building and site unsafe for the neighborhood, and the building will need to be demolished if no improvements or renovations are made.

In Missouri Preservation’s description of the Kirksville High School, it

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The old Kirksville High School building was built in 1914 and has deteriorated throughout the years. The building is located at the corner of Mulanix and McPherson Streets. says the school is built in an Elizabethan/Collegiate Gothic style — the last building of this style in Kirksville.

Not only is the school a rare architectural site, but many older Kirksville residents attended the high school, making it a treasured memory within the community.

“It’s a very important building, not only because it’s a pretty old building, but also because of what it represents,” said Bill Hart, executive director of Missouri Preservation. “It’s the embodiment of a lot of memories for a lot of Kirksville residents who went to school there. It’s important because it was the first high school in Kirksville, because

Courtesy of Violette-McClure Missouriana Collection, Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University Kirksville High School as it appeared in the 1950s. The building served as a high school until 1960 and has been vacant since 1978.

it’s a part of the community’s aspirations for learning.”

Hart said despite many who want to save the building, it is in rough shape — from broken windows to holes in the roof — and would require a lot of work to make the building usable again. Hart said if the building were to be redeveloped, it could be used for any number of things, such as an office building or student apartments. Hart said the Traveler’s Hotel is an example of a historic building in Kirksville that was saved from demolition by being redeveloped into a hotel, so he said the old Kirksville High School has the potential to be saved and repurposed.

Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said the city’s goal is not to have the building demolished, but if the current owners do not bring it to meet city compliance codes, or if another buyer does not purchase the school to redevelop it, the city has no choice but to do what is safe for the residents of Kirksville.

“Ultimately, the goal is to do what’s best for the community,” Young said.

“Unfortunately, if the property isn’t redeveloped, what is best for the community is that the building is demolished.

But it would be better to redevelop the property than demolish it if we can find a developer who’s willing to do so.”

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The building has several code violations, including more than 70 broken windows and is in danger of being demolished. The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation has made an effort to save the building.

30

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The Index

6

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

calendar Kiwanis Farmers’ Market May 5 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Square

Lavender Graduation May 6 4-6 p.m.

SUB Activities Room

Spring Commencement May 12 2 p.m.

Stokes Stadium

The Kiwanis Club of Kirksville will host a farmers’ market every Saturday morning starting May 5 and ending in October. The market will feature a variety of locally produced goods including produce, baked products, eggs, meats and crafts. The market is open to the public and interested vendors can contact the Kiwanis Club of Kirksville.

Truman State University Multicultural Affairs Center will host the first Lavender Graduation on campus. The event is designed to provide a safe space for LGBTQ students to celebrate academic achievements and present themselves as they like. The ceremony gives students the opportunity to express themselves in the identities they prefer.

Truman State University will host the May 2018 Spring Commencement at Stokes Stadium. Alumna Corinne Brinkerhoff, TV writer and Hollywood producer, will provide the commencement address. Tickets are not required to attend the event. Family seating is available starting at noon on a first-come, first-seated basis. Following the ceremony, the University will host a reception with drinks on The Mall.

news in brief Fries Wins Journalism Development Competition Senior William Fries was part of a five-person team who developed VeriPixel, a program that won the Reynolds Journalism Institute Student Competition. The competition asks students to develop tools that could help solve journalism challenges. The team, comprised of Fries and four University of Missouri students, developed a photo verification solution to restore trust in news images. Previously, the competition was only available to Mizzou students.

Truman Rec May Interim Hours May 7 to June 3 May 7-9 May 10-11 May 12-13 May 14-18 May 19-20 May 21-25 May 26-28 May 29-June 1 June 2-3

9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Closed 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed

Educator of the Year, Research Mentor of the Year Announced Chad Mohler was named Educator of the Year and Bill Miller was named Research Mentor of the Year at the April 17 Accolades of Academics Banquet. Mohler is a philosophy and religion professor and Miller is an assistant professor of chemistry. Students nominated faculty members, and a student-driven committee selected the winners.

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life

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

7

Bad Acids finds passion in printing

Photos by Aura Martin/TMN Members of the Bad Acids printmaking club work in the printing lab. The group allows its members to gain experience they might not get in their regular classes by printing T-shirts.

BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer Senior Nick Phan, Bad Acids president, is used to seeing a Department of Public Safety officer every so often, but not because he is regularly in trouble with the law. Phan regularly stays late Tuesday evenings in the printmaking studio in Ophelia Parrish, doing homework or helping Bad Acids members.

Around 11:45 p.m., a DPS officer usually arrives and tells Phan to leave because the building closes at midnight, but sticking around after hours is worth it to Phan because he gets to offer assistance to those in need.

“I enjoy teaching people printmaking because I want to be a teacher someday,” Phan said. “It’s pretty much like being a teacher now, since people come in and I show them these cool things.”

Phan and other members cultivate a learning environ-

Freshman Lauren Haught and senior Nick Phan work on a printing project in Ophelia Parrish. Bad Acids specializes in screen printing T-shirts for other Truman organizations.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 28

tmn.truman.edu

ment in Bad Acids, Truman’s printmaking club. They are best known for printing Tshirts for other clubs. It is a club where students have the opportunity to produce art.

Bad Acids is a great option for students wanting to take art classes but not having the time to fit them within their schedule, said Laura Bigger, faculty adviser of Bad Acids.

The process of printing a shirt involves making a stencil then pushing ink repeatedly through the stencil using a squeegee in the same spots on the T-shirt, Bigger said.

The money received from shirts goes to fund activities Bad Acids members complete over the semester, Phan said. At the beginning of the spring semester, they decided they wanted to do linoleum cutting, stamp printing and coasters. Typically, they finish up the semester with paper-making and Japanese and European bookbinding, which is a cool souvenir to bring home, Phan said.

One of Phan’s favorite projects at Bad Acids was making coasters. One of them was of a samurai warrior with “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” captioned “protect the table.”

There are no handouts for students to do these projects, and all Bad Acids members complete their own projects.

As a result, they are able to do more than in a normal class, Bigger said, especially considering they choose their own projects and receive assistance from more experienced members.

Bad Acids members are also able to sell their works if they wish. Many sell their art at the Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival, which takes place every September in Kirksville. Bad Acids usually gets a table and sells sketchbooks, small prints and coasters, Bigger said.

Membership is not limited to art majors. There are a variety of majors who join the club. Half of the current members are print majors,

I enjoy teaching people print“making because I want to be

a teacher someday. It’s pretty much like being a teacher now, since people come in and I show them these cool things.

-senior Nick Phan

”

but there are some with different majors such as biology, linguistics and business, Phan said.

Freshman Evan Meyer is a linguistics major and a Bad Acids member. He was always interested in art and found the group’s table at the activities fair intriguing and decided to join. He remained because he found the work engaging and fun.

“I liked the things that they did like making notebooks, printing stamps and just all kinds of things,” Meyer said.

Freshman art major Lauren Haught, a Bad Acids member, enjoyed the process of T-shirt printing where she made her own design for T-shirts and printed them.

She also made zines and found senior members helpful. Haught also said that she enjoyed coming back to the club because everybody was comfortable with each other and they could relax and have a good laugh while working and relieving stress.

People who are interested in buying T-shirts have to fill out a form and need to order more than five T-shirts because it is more cost-effective to print multiple shirts instead of just one. People have the option of allowing Bad Acids to buy cheap shirts for printing or they can bring in their own shirts, as long as they are all one color, such as black or white, and have no gray tones. The shirts also have to be 50 percent cotton or more, Phan said.

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The Index

8

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

“Infinity War” is overstuffed but invigorating This movie gets 3.75/5 Tombstones

R.I.P

R.I.P

R.I.P

BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Anthony and Joe Russo’s “Avengers: Infinity War” will leave Marvel fans emotionally scarred, shaken and dangerously hungry for the next chapter.

The 19th installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe centers around –– surprise, surprise –– the Avengers. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, SpiderMan, Black Widow and all the Guardians of the Galaxy are just a few of the comic book legends thrown together in this huge movie. Together, they face their greatest threat yet, a purple monstrosity named Thanos, played with intimidating gusto by Josh Brolin.

“Infinity War” represents a culmination of the last decade’s Marvel movies.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating this Earth-shattering movie since “Iron Man.” Hence, giving away any more specific plot details will likely leave me with my head on a stake. I’d prefer not to risk it, especially with summer break just around the corner.

Fortunately, what I can say is that “Infinity War” lives up to all the hype it has received, for the most part. Die-hard Marvel fans will likely overlook the noticeable pacing issues and prolonged run-time of nearly three hours. For moviegoers not already enamored with these uber powerful, quippy characters, however, the film might prove more confusing and less emotionally impactful than the filmmakers intended.

Even so, the film belies many cliches plaguing the superhero genre, particularly surrounding the concept of death. No character is safe in “Infinity War.” One of the main reasons I view previous Marvel movies as popcorn entertainment, rather than as dramas, is the noticeable lack of any significant repercussions of what occurs onscreen. Characters are knocked around like ragdolls only to be unrealistically brought back to life and live happily ever after. This film, on the other hand, changes everything. Marvel movies will never be the same.

Thanos himself is an incredible villain, though he never surpasses the brilliance of Killmonger in Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther.” Thanos’ lumbering physique and unexpectedly soothing voice renders viewers unable to take their eyes off the computer-generated creation. His goals of planetary domination are rooted in truths many people would likely sympathize with in the real world, despite his vicious, genocidal methods. The less known about Thanos’ goals, the better.

As told by Gordon McPherson, The Index Movie Reviewer

R.I.

Scenes of surprising darkness and tragedy permeate “Infinity War,” keeping viewers in nervous suspense of whether their favorite character will bite the dust.

That’s not to say the film doesn’t have the same snarky comedy associated with other Marvel films. Indeed, it’s often hilariously compelling to see characters meeting up for the first time, particularly Thor, played by the undeniably beautiful Chris Hemsworth, and the goofy, sarcastic Guardians of the Galaxy.

This results in an odd mixture of tones that don’t always work in the film’s favor. A scene might end in grim violence, only to be immediately followed by a scene of characters making dry, pop-culture-heavy jokes with one another.

The emotionally wrought scenes are what makes the film worthwhile. The action, on the other hand, entertains with explosive special effects and ridiculous destruction but proves immensely fatiguing by the time the end credits roll.

Given the monumental challenge undertaken by the Russo brothers, it’s impressive they were able to pull off such an ambitious film with so many different characters, each with their own personalities and backstories.

It’s therefore understandable the directors chose to group certain characters together, each group performing separate tasks in the hopes of crushing Thanos’ admittedly understandable hopes and dreams.

As a result, the film often bounces back and forth between different characters and scenarios at a breakneck pace, leaving viewers disoriented and frustrated the film doesn’t let them catch their breaths. “Infinity War” itself sometimes feels like watching all 21 Marvel movies back-to-back. There’s so much fast-paced entertainment, it almost ceases to be entertaining.

By the time the film reached its soul-crushing conclusion, Marvel fans around me were sniffling with sadness, tears running down their pale, awestruck faces. As someone who appreciates Marvel movies but has succumbed to “superhero fatigue,” the conclusion of “Infinity War” has been etched into my psyche, likely unforgettable for quite some time.

“Infinity War” is a film full of contradictions –– of happy-go-lucky moments and moments of self-sacrifice, of joyful reunions and hard-hitting violence. These contradictions leave the film feeling uneven yet invigorating nonetheless.

As superhero movies continue to be released year after year, the newest Avengers installment provides an infinite array of possibilities for the future of the marquee superhero franchise.

The smell of freshly popped popcorn, the look of a darkened auditorium lit by a heavenly projector, the feel of a sticky floor coated by previously spilled soda, all combine to make each theater experience memorable.

Well, as long as there aren’t technical difficulties.

Cinema isn’t the same as it used to be. As streaming services become increasingly prominent, remember to support cinema where it started — at the theater. If you want cinema to fully transport you to another reality, movie theaters are the perfect place for that to happen.

It’s wonderful to be in an environment full of cinephiles who, hopefully, enjoy movies as much as you do and treat the cinema as a sacred, downright holy place. It’s entertaining to gasp, laugh and cry with other audience members. Don’t support obnoxious viewers who choose to react on their own, though.

There are few things more satisfying than smuggling a grocery bag full of candy and soda into a movie theater undetected. Not only are you saving money, but you’re also protesting against the outlandishly overpriced concessions.

I fully understand the urge to be a slob at home, lounge on the couch and consume cheaper snacks to your heart’s content when watching a movie. Even so, most movies deserve at least one viewing on the big screen, which I’m told movie theaters are full of.

Best of Spring 2018

Queen of Bluegrass conquers Kirksville

BY JUSTIN NEWTON Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from the top features article of spring 2018. For the full story, check out the March 8 issue of The Index.

As the eight-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year, with the most awarded band in bluegrass history, and a Grammy for “Best Bluegrass Album,” Rhonda Vincent tours the country for 11 months out of the year, bringing her high-energy music to audiences across the world. However, for the woman dubbed as the “Queen of Bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal — home is Kirksville, Missouri.

“That’s always exciting for me to get to come back home,” Vincent said. “I actually live there when I’m there, I’m just not there that much. It’s great, I get to sleep in my own bed, see my family, have family at the show.”

Rhonda Vincent said she attended Truman State University for two or three years, back when it was Northeast Missouri State University. Her mother Carolyn Vincent said she

brought the same enthusiasm to school that she now brings to every live show.

“She always has been good at school and always enjoyed everything,” Carolyn Vincent said. “Whatever [she does], she always has fun at it, anything she does.”

Carolyn Vincent lives north of Kirksville in Greentop, Missouri. Her husband Johnny Vincent is dead, but featured prominently in both Carolyn and Rhonda’s memories. Carolyn Vincent was wearing a pink T-shirt with a design of a banjo and fiddle on the front as she sat at the wooden table in her home. Her double bass was still laying on the floor in the living room from a jam session the night before. Music has always been part of the Vincent family’s life.

“When [Rhonda] came home from school her dad and grandpa always was waiting on her and they’d play till suppertime,’ Carolyn Vincent said. “And then a lot of times friends would come in and play, older people who liked to play.

So we played music just about every night it seemed like, and we all enjoyed it, family and friends. Johnny’s brother and his wife and their boys they played music too, so it’s kind of in the family.”

Carolyn Vincent said the Vincent fam-

ily musical group, the Sally Mountain Show, performed around the Kirksville area on radio and TV stations like KTVO and KIRX. They eventually founded their own bluegrass festival in Queen City, held every year Fourth of July week, which has seen its 32nd year.

“We were over Submitted Photo at Marceline and Rhonda Vincent lounges with her mandolin. Vincent worked for a guy said her family influenced her current position as one called Buck Cody,” of the most powerful women in the male-dominated Carolyn Vincent bluegrass music industry. water in our diesel, and we had quite said. “He ran a country music show over there. So we a time for that,” Carolyn Vincent were over there, I think Rhonda was said. “It’s usually been pretty good, about six or seven years old. She sang our playing times. We’ve done a lot ... on the Saturday night show, and she of traveling, got to go to Finland. Our sang every week on there — the whole first overseas job was in Finland, and we enjoyed that.” family did.”

Carolyn Vincent said it was diffi- Rhonda Vincent was always intercult to remember anything that stood ested in music, said her mother. Her out about her daughter’s early years first instrument was mandolin, but she also plays fiddle, having won the with the family band.

“We had a bus, and we was down Missouri State Fiddle Championship in Arkansas right on the line and got in 1973.

The Index

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

9

Student remembrance brings campus together

BY TRAVIS MAIDEN Staff Writer

Students and loved ones sat in rows of chairs in the Student Union Building Alumni Room April 24 while positive messages played on a screen ahead.

The audience sat in quiet mourning while speakers walked to the front of the room after a beautiful rendition of “Over the Rainbow” played to grieve and celebrate the lives of Truman State University’s departed students, Maya Warr and Rachel Morris.

The gathering had several student speakers who paid their respects to the friends they lost. Family and friends sat together to reminisce about the memories students have given them.

Sophomore Ashley Merideth said the gathering was a step in the right direction toward healing as a community. She said the event presented who the Truman State University community was and what we want to be remembered for.

“Everyone affects somebody,” Merideth said. “Death is one of those things that nobody really knows what to do with. So by saying nothing, we’re doing a lot more harm than saying something.

It’s a nice way to realize that everyone makes a difference. Even after you pass, there are people that still care about you, and you still matter.”

Merideth said she wasn’t close to Warr or Morris, and the loss of her fellow students was shocking. She said mental health on campus has become a crisis and needs to be focused on. She said the culture on campus has been filled with people joking about wanting

Photo by Bethany Travis/TMN The President’s String Quartet plays during a student memorial. Students, faculty and loved ones gathered in the Student Union Building Alumni Room April 24 to pay their respects to two students, Maya Warr and Rachel Morris, who died this school year.

“It’s an opportunity to be there for other people,” Merideth said. “I think that when people pass, it’s a reminder that you have to use the time that you have here wisely and that we’re not immortal. One day, all of us will end up passing, and it’s important to make sure the time you have here is spent making things better.”

Merideth said it was a good idea to have a single event honoring both the students because it gave more people the chance to attend. She said the speakers at the event did a won-

“It is the responsibility of ev-

eryone in the community, those who experience mental health and wellness disorders, those who don’t, professors, staff, friends. Everybody needs to pay attention to one another and try to get people assistance when they need it.”

-Residence Life Director John Gardner to die. Merideth said she has heard fewer jokes about death since last semester, but there is still a long way to go.

Merideth said it was important to have these events because they provided a safe space to grieve and support one another. She said the gathering is how the Truman community can stand together and move forward to push a positive message to everyone.

derful job and it was very professional. Merideth said she thought it was going to feel like a memorial service, but it actually felt like a celebration of who Warr and Morris were.

Residence Life Director John Gardner said it is important to celebrate the lives of students who have departed because of their contributions to the community. He said the death

of a community member doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and many people are affected: classmates, friends, organization members and more.

Gardner said mental health and wellness is a challenge because more students are being diagnosed at an earlier point in their life with anxiety or depression. He said the campus has recognized mental health as important to students and not something to be ashamed of.

Gardner said Truman’s University Counseling Services does a great job. He said it’s the responsibility of everyone in the community to take steps and visit the UCS if they are experiencing a tough situation because the UCS is not an island to themselves. Gardner said it is important to help one another.

“It is the responsibility of everyone in the community, those who experience mental health and wellness disorders, those who don’t, professors, staff, friends,” Gardner said.

“Everybody needs to pay attention to one another and try to get people assistance when they need it.”

Gardner said the recent student passings have taken an emotional toll. He said he can’t speak for everyone, but it’s a tragedy to lose a student who had their whole life ahead of them. Gardner said it is important to try and remain strong and support one another through these dark times.

“I think as a community, one of the things that we try to do is to recognize the loss, “Gardner said. “Recognize everybody is going to experience that loss and grieve in their own way, and try to provide support to whichever way a person needs to grieve. By doing that, we can take care of the community as a whole. Is it a simple process?

Is it an easy process? Or is it a quick process? No. Is it messy and long and full of obstacles? Yeah. But I think it’s

Take a Walk:

BY JUSTIN NEWTON Staff Writer

Listen to leaves rustling in the wind. Can you hear water chuckling gently over a rocky stream bed as it catches the light of the setting sun? Can you smell the scent of damp earth and growing green things? Imagine the trees are full of birds, each warbling its song into the warm spring air. Are you feeling calmer yet? According to the latest research on the effect of nature on mental well-being, you should be. You are also likely to do better on your next exam.

Jennifer Hurst, health and exercise sciences professor, is passionate about the benefits nature can have for students. She said a study found people who performed a creative problem-solving task after four days immersed in nature without technology did 50 percent better than those who attempted the same task without the nature experience.

“So I always tell my students, ‘If I could give you something that could potentially allow you to perform 50 percent better on your school work, would you want to take it?’” Hurst said. “Well, I got something.”

But students’ modern lifestyles harbor many obstacles to the calming influence of nature. Hurst’s main culprit was the pervasive influence of technology. She said that many of the ways students choose to relax aren’t actually relaxing to the brain. Hurst said typical educational activities like listening to lectures and doing homework involve our direct attentional brain function, which is also engaged by typical technology-based activities such as watching Netflix or getting on social media. While students might be trying to relax by engaging in those activities, Hurst said using technology engages direct attentional brain function and actually defeats the purpose of relaxing.

“If you think about it like a muscle, you’re constantly using that muscle,” Hurst said.

“It’s going to get tired.”

Hurst said one of the advantages of getting out in nature, as opposed to other relaxation techniques, is the engagement of our indirect attentional brain function, thus allowing the strained brain “muscles” a chance to relax.

These overstressed college students are also the people least likely to feel connected to nature. Hurst conducted research in some national parks measuring how connected to nature people felt on a daily basis. Eighteen to 23-year-olds scored the lowest.

Hurst also mentioned research that compared the response of the brain to pictures of urban environments versus natural environments. The findings were both fascinating and concerning. Images of nature activated the part of the brain responsible for mood stabilization and, interestingly, the part responsible for love. Images of urban environments activated the part of the brain responsible for fear.

“So literally what it’s kind of saying is that our brains really have not caught up with our advances in civilization and technology,” Hurst said. “It’s literally overloading them. And you think about when you overload a muscle, it ultimately causes dysfunction. Well, if you’re overloading the brain, it could potentially cause dysfunction, and ... maybe some of the increases that we’re seeing in certain mental health conditions and those kinds of things are actually a response to the fact

one of those things where we continue to pay attention to it, continue to work on it, we will get through it.”

UCS Director Brenda Higgins said campus has done individual memorial services in the past. She said having one gathering makes it easy for students to coordinate schedules and participate.

Higgins said Warr and Morris’ families were notified by the University and were invited to attend. She said she was unsure if the families decided to attend. Higgins said it is important to realize everyone grieves differently, and the family might not wish to go through another event.

Higgins said it is human nature to celebrate the past lives of others. She said the event gave closure for friends and family. Higgins said having a service on campus provided students who couldn’t attend a memorial in a different location a chance to celebrate the life of a loved one.

“Every life is important,” Higgins said. “It’s important for us to acknowledge that. People don’t just leave us and not leave a mark. So I think that’s why we hold the event, to acknowledge that every life is important no matter how small or how long it was. There’s still importance and impact on other people in the community.”

Higgins said students are healthier mentally than we realize. She said we tend to talk about students having issues despite many students being resilient and doing okay. Higgins said this doesn’t eliminate the fact that campuses across the nation need to help their students. She said it has become a mission to determine what UCS can do to help students early on so they don’t reach a crisis point.

Janna Stoskopf can be reached at jstoskopf@truman.edu or (660) 7855404. University Counseling Services can be reached at (660) 785-4014 during normal business hours and at (660) 665-5621 for the 24-hour crisis line.

the path to a better brain

that our brains have not adapted in many ways to our new technological world.”

While suddenly pulling the plugs of all the computers at Truman State University would certainly get students outside, if only as they ran in panic to Information Technology Services, it would probably not reduce the stress levels of those who have homework due. However, more practical action is being taken to help students tap into the benefits nature offers.

Senior Joe Slama was the 2017-2018 chair of the Student Government Health, Wellness and Safety committee. He spoke about some initiatives planned for next year. The committee is working on adding more green spaces to Truman’s outdoor areas, as well as starting a small outdoor equipment rental service.

Slama said both these ideas came from a presentation given by Hurst during Mental Wellness Week this semester.

“It’s a recent initiative that’s arisen from our partnership with her, and we’ve really valued that,” Slama said. “She’s been a wonderful person to work with.”

Slama wanted to emphasize that, although policy can seem to move slowly, mental health is something very important to the school. He said because students are usually only at Truman for four years, it can be difficult for them to see change happening. Slama said he has been impressed by the commitment administrators and professors have to mental health.

“I just want my fellow students to know that this school really does care,” Slama said.

Roberta Donahue is the health and exercise sciences department chair as well as a certified yoga instructor. She has also done her own research concerning stress management in college students. Her concerns echoed those of Hurst. She said children in the modern world tend to be less connected with nature than in the past, and the problem worsens as they get older.

Being completely detached from nature from childhood can lead to something of a shock when immersed in it. Donahue mentioned a development she first saw about ten years ago as she taught yoga.

“One of my favorite meditations is a walk in the woods, and students found it creepy,” Donahue said. “Like, they weren’t comfortable with this concept of walking through the woods by themselves ... And that was one of my first indicators that people just aren’t out in nature, and so they don’t think it’s normal.”

Initiatives are good, but students can gain benefits from nature through simple steps on their own as well. Donahue offered some tips to gain at least some of the mental benefits of time in nature. Students can do something as easy as keeping their phones in their pockets as they walk from class to class. Donahue said just looking around and noticing the blooming flowers can help students de-stress. She also offered another practical suggestion.

“So say you’re in the library, it’s finals week, you need a break,” Donahue said. “Go outside, stand outside the library and look up at the night sky for five minutes, and then go back in and it will help your brain reset to a less stressed state.”

So, if you walk by the library at 11 p.m. next week and see a group of students outside craning their necks upward, you know what they’re doing. After they’ve soaked up some nature, they will go back to work a little less stressed and a little calmer. Maybe they’ll even do better on their exams the next day.

The Index

10

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

Questions on The Quad What is the best flavor of Starburst and why?

If you were a polygon, how many sides would you have and why?

What would be your goto pick-up line to woo a significant other?

“I really am a red Starburst guy. Usually I don’t like most things cherry, but I feel like it makes your mouth the juiciest.”

“Probably three because it’s the simplest. I’m a pretty simple guy.”

“Tryna get some ice cream?”

”It’s the one that you like. There is no best. It’s candy.”

“I want to be a dodecahedron because I would like to be called Dani the dodecahedron. That is my only reason.”

“Oh, Jesus. Does a drink count?”

“Any red one because they taste the best.”

“Twenty-seven because I’m complicated.”

“Just my eyes.”

“The pink one’s the better one.”

“Is there a name for 13 sides?

Dodecahedron is the last one I know and that’s 12, so I feel like 13 is a good overshoot, ya know? It’s just a little extra.”

“This isn’t to woo a significant other, but if I’m meeting someone you can pull up ‘add new contacts‘ on your phone and be like, ‘Hey, can you fill out this survey for me?’ And then they just, boom. It’s right there.

Name and number.”

Brock Rohler, junior

Danielle Levy, graduate

Anna Nicks, junior

Eli Held, sophomore

30

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

The Index

11

Reisinger leads ’Dogs to postseason

BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer

As one of the most decorated softball players in Truman State University history, Truman State University outfielder Christa Reisinger is nominated once again for the Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Div. II National Player of the Year — and she’s only a junior.

Among the league’s statistical leaders this season, Reisinger is first in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits and stolen bases. She is second in slugging percentage and walks, tied for fourth in triples, and tied for sixth in home runs.

Head coach Erin Brown said she recruited Reisinger in high school because of her natural talent, which is easily backed up by impressive statistics. Her teammates said, though, it’s the immeasurable metrics that have made Reisinger a real asset to the Truman softball program.

Besides Reisinger’s ability to hit, she also wreaks havoc on the bases. She has a GLVC-leading 37 stolen bases.

Junior pitcher Lauren Dale said the reigning GLVC player of the year is always among the first to the softball field and one of the last to leave. Dale said Reisinger is quick to volunteer her free time to help her other teammates get better, like staying longer to play catch.

She said Reisinger’s constant words of encouragement and constructive criticism play a major role in the team’s chemistry and success.

“She’s a leader and can be a momentum changer for us,” Dale said. “She can completely change a game with one swing.”

Despite all her success and her teammates’ and coaches’ faith in her abilities, Reisinger was once a little girl with a bat and a dream, growing up in the small town of Winfield, Missouri. In a rural town of just over a thousand people, Reisinger grew up playing softball outside with her sisters. This sparked her passion for the game and ultimately led her to playing at the collegiate level as a Bulldog.

Though a highly accomplished player, Reisinger said softball never came easy to her and still doesn’t.

She said the physical ability was always there, but it was her family and coaches who fine-tuned her skills over the years and turned her into the player she is today.

“I have had ups and downs and days that I have wanted to throw in the towel, but sticking with it through the thick and thin has been one of the most rewarding things,” Reisinger said.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without softball.”

Reisinger’s favorite softball memory at Truman was making it to the conference championship game during last year’s season after fighting their way back from losing the first game of the tournament.

With the softball team making the postseason GLVC tournament as the fifth seed of the top eight teams in conference, Reisinger has the chance to relive this favorable memory as she competes alongside her teammates in Peoria, Illinois. This time, however, Reisinger plans on the ’Dogs taking the conference championship title.

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Senior outfielder Christa Reisinger lifts a ball in her at bat. Reisinger has led the team in numerous offensive categories while leading off in the lineup.

Best of Spring 2018

Submitted Photo Senior Lindsey Schlichting has played doubles tennis with junior Maura Dunn since fall 2017 and would love to play with her after grdauation. She has many memories with her friend on the court, like their first match when Schlichting accidently hit an opponent in the head, causing Dunn to laugh.

Tennis partners play as friends

BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in the April 12 issue.

Working side by side with someone and competing as a unit can be difficult, but when you have chemistry like Truman State University tennis duo junior Maura Dunn and senior Lindsey Schlichting, two can play as one.

The two Bulldogs became doubles partners at the beginning of the 2017 fall season and have since won 13 of their 20 matches, a 65 percent winning rate. With the team sitting at 2-8 on the season, Dunn and Schlichting often highlight the tournaments for the Purple and White. Their debut together at the Webster University tournament in the fall ended in a quick victory, though not an uneventful one.

In the middle of their first match together, Schlichting said she wound up for a shot and hit one of their opponents in the head at the net. The other team

and surrounding fans were completely baffled even though it was an accident and the opponent was unharmed. Following the long silence from the crowd, Schlichting, said she felt terrible and embarrassed and looked to her newlyassigned partner for comfort only to find her laughing hysterically.

Schlichting said the pair pretended to huddle to discuss game strategy so Dunn could collect herself. Schlichting said she remembers Dunn apologizing profusely, explaining she cannot help laughing when placed in awkward situations. She said in their huddle that day, they knew they would not only be great friends but even better partners.

“I should’ve known then how crazy being her partner would be,” Schlichting said. “Since then, we have learned how to play to each other’s strengths and how to play together instead of just alongside each other.”

Schlichting said prior to their partnership, their previous partners kept them both level headed because they are both highly emotional players. Now

she said they use the aforementioned “crazy” to their advantage. Schlichting said the pair is able to bring their competitive and passionate spirits out of one other on the court.

Schlichting said though they are both intensely competitive players, they frequently rely on humor when things are not going their way so they can enjoy their time on the court. Dunn said the two bring out the best in each other when competing.

“We complement each other well,” Dunn said. “And together we push each other and fight for every match. Her serve and strong ground strokes work perfectly to set me up and close out points at the net.”

Dunn said their communication has only strengthened with time, and their friendship has similarly grown. Though they have been friends throughout the years at Truman, she said being doubles partners has taken them to a new level of friendship. Dunn said since Schlichting is a senior, she will be graduating this May, hence ending the

partnership, while Dunn will have one more year of eligibility.

“I have no idea what I’ll do without Lindsey next year,” Dunn said. “She has been such a great partner as well as leader for our team this year. I know the whole team is so grateful to have had her to always step up to challenges and push our team in new ways.”

Upon graduating, Schlichting said she plans to head home to the Chicago suburbs to work as a registered nurse in a pediatric unit but does not see herself putting up the racket anytime soon.

Despite the changing plans, Schlichting did not hesitate on the idea of post-graduation tennis matches with her long-time doubles partner.

“What’s great about tennis is that I can play forever,” Schlichting said. “So, yes, I can 100 percent see myself and Maura at 80 years old taking on all the young doubles teams at whatever racket club, huddling up, not knowing how to stop laughing when we make a hilarious mistake.”

The Index

12

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

NEW COACH | Iowa standout hired to lead men’s program

Submitted Photos Jeff Horner and Truman Athletics Director Jerry Wollmering hold up a jersey to honor Horner’s career as No. 2 for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

Continued from page 14 Wollmering said candidates showed much interest, and he eventually narrowed the field to three finalists he invited to campus. He said Horner kept standing out in every step of the process because of his wide-ranging experience and success at every level.

Horner was a four-year starting point guard at the University of Iowa, finishing at the top of the program for most career assists and 3-pointers. After playing professional basketball overseas, Horner led a couple of college programs to national tournament appearances as an assistant and a high school team to a pair of state tournament appearances as head coach.

Horner said he gained valuable experience as a high school head coach, but his time at North Dakota was when their head coach Brian Jones taught him how to be a head coach. He said he learned to be supportive of the players, stepping in during practice to give instruction.

Wollmering also said that Horner’s Iowa connection is a bonus. He said the Truman program has had some great players from the state in recent years — like the last two 1,000-point club members, alumnus Cory Myers and junior guard Jake Velky — and he said he sees the program gaining more but still expects to attract talent from Missouri and Illinois. He said the program ended up hiring a man with good character, and he is glad to give him his first college head coaching job.

“If you look at my track record in hiring, most of the coaches I’ve hired, this is their first NCAA head coaching gig.”

Wollmering said. “That’s kind of who we are. We give opportunities to people who want to be head coaches.”

Scott said he remembers Horner from his time at West Des Moines Valley. He said he knows Horner well because he was the head coach during his sophomore season.

After Horner left for North Dakota, Scott said he didn’t stay in contact with him but talked to him once again when he showed interest in the Truman job. Scott said Horner was obviously looking for career advancement, but Horner also wanted to spend more time with his family because the North Dakota job required more travel. Now that Horner is here, Scott said the Bulldogs have a confident person who will help the program continue to win.

“He keeps it real,” Scott said. “He really cares about his players, and he’s really passionate, too.”

Scott said he and the team were able to see if Horner would be a good fit with the program when they interviewed the finalists. He said these were laidback discussions lasting about 30 minutes. Scott said the players asked each candidate about basketball, family and their background to become better acquainted with the finalists because they knew they would potentially have to spend a lot more time with them.

While the players didn’t have the final say, Scott said the program will move forward with a knowledgeable person. He said Horner’s character allows players to easily connect with him.

“He’s really personable,” Scott said.

“You can go have a conversation with him and just talk to him about whatever.”

FAREWELL | Steinhoff says goodbyes to The Index sports Continued from page 14 At times, writing for The Index can be a lot like playing phone tag with sources, writers and fellow editors. At times, it can mean staring at a page design until you literally feel like you’ve gone cross-eyed.

It can mean kicking the printer at 2 a.m. when the final edits won’t print, and it can mean picking up the final product on Thursday mornings only to be absolutely appalled by a mistake your tired eyes didn’t catch Tuesday night.

I was only 19 when I took the reigns of the sports desk, so I’ve grown up in this role more than I ever would have imagined. Older and wiser now, there’s a few things I would do differently given the chance to start all over again.

First, say thank you more to members of the athletic department you often heckled for quotes and information. Say thank you to writers, copy editors and the other leaders at The Index. You’re a part of one of the best student newspapers in the state, but that doesn’t happen without the patience, kindness and undeserved assistance from so many others.

It’s never too late to say thank you, so let’s start here. The Truman athletic community is incredible. Telling the stories and projecting the voices of dozens of Bulldog athletes and coaches has made me fall in love with this school. We’ve covered comeback stories, stories of the unlikely underdog and stories of people who would do anything to see those around them succeed. Sports are so much more than box scores and stat lines, so thank you, Bulldog Nation, for letting us into the inspirational aspects of your lives.

Next, writers, thank you for tracking down sources and working to get better every week. We pushed you to do more and more each week, and you always met the challenge. That being said, thank you readers, especially those of you who go out of your way to comment on stories. It means a lot to see the worth of our work. Thank you, copy editors. Let’s face it, I’m three years in, and I’m still tripped up on AP style. Thanks for making us all sound good.

Finally, two of the biggest thank yous.

Thank you to our fearless 2018 Editor-inChief Brently Snead for being a ray of sun-

shine in the office and for always pushing me outside my comfort zone. The Index is truly limitless under your direction. Finally, to my fellow sports-lover and editor Jeremy Jacob, I have endless gratitude. You saved me from drowning in the combination of athlete and editor duties, and it sure has been fun sharing the section with you.

Sorry for making our desk messy.

The second piece of advice to younger me — take more time to do what you love.

It can be easy to get caught up in teaching and managing others, but don’t let that keep you from what you came here to do.

Writing brings so much joy, and you can always make time for the things you love.

Third, never take a Monday or Tuesday night class. Really, Rachel? A three-hour class on production nights? It wasn’t your best decision, but if you really have to, just make sure to recognize the people around you that are working so much harder to fill in the gaps while you’re gone.

Fourth, take a deep breath, and have fun with it. You’re going to find yourself deep in stress and questioning whether you even know what you’re doing. The

best part? Your desk is no more stressed than the others, and you can always find time to have a good laugh about the organized madness of that little studentonly newsroom.

Fifth, keep your patience with the printer. Yelling actually does not help, and if the worst thing to happen on a Monday is a page not printing, you’re doing just fine.

Sixth, if there’s anything you need to do, it’s share more. Share the joy you’ve found in this experience, and pass it along. How many people are missing out on one of the best things you’ve found at Truman?

Despite all this, I have one final, contradictory thought. If I had to do it all again, I’d do it all the same. I can’t put a price on the experience I’ve had here and can’t explain the special place the media center has carved into my heart. Junior Curt Wichmer will inherit the sports desk next year after serving as a dedicated writer for three years. I can’t wait to see where Curt takes the section, and I can’t wait to be a reader of The Index from afar. Thanks for the memories. I am so grateful. Go ’Dogs!

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

The Index

13

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Freshman Cassie Jennings narrowly misses the bar on a pole vault attempt at the Bulldogs’ second home meet in three years. Along with multiple personal records and provional marks, Jennings set a new stadium record, beating the competition and the record that lasted since 2001.

Bulldogs break in new track

BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer

Last Thursday, Truman State University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams held the Truman Twilight Quadrangular, their first home meet since the renovation of Gardner Track. The Bulldogs christened the new track by winning the event.

Several Bulldogs set personal bests throughout the day, some of them earning NCAA provisional marks. Personal-best performances included junior Cassidy Smestad’s women’s hammer throw and provisional mark in women’s discus, junior Elle Renault’s provisional mark in women’s javelin, and sophomore Blake Laird’s men’s pole vault.

Freshman Cassie Jennings had the third provisional mark with her personal-best performance in the women’s pole vault. Jennings also broke the stadium record previously set in 2001.

Six Bulldogs also won individual events on the track. Junior Mitch Henderson, who usually runs the 800-meter run, raced to victory in the 400-meter run. Junior Elijah Farrales, who usually runs the 400-meter run, won the 800-meter run.

The Bulldogs showed up ready to go for their first event of the year at Stokes Stadium, even though some members of the team — like Henderson and Farrales — didn’t compete in their usual events.

“The 400 was a nice change of pace from my normal 800, and it felt good to post a decent time going into conference,” Henderson said.

Henderson said he is looking forward to the GLVC Championships this weekend in Romeoville, Illinois. He said the team is ready to have a great

week of practice to perfect techniques and surprise other teams. Henderson said the team is looking to focus on mental preparation so the players don’t wear themselves out before conference.

It is essential to make sure the team does not tire out before the biggest event of the year. This is something head coach Tim Schwegler is going to emphasize as the team prepares for the GLVC Championships.

“We are going to try and cut down on the volume of reps and focus more on the technique,” Schwegler said. “This is going to help the kids stay fresh as they prepare for the weekend.”

Schwegler said he was proud and excited about the team’s performance Thursday, and he said he hopes the players keep working hard and stay determined going into the GLVC Championships. It was the first time the players had competed at home, and he said everyone on the team was excited to finally compete at Stokes Stadium.

Renault said playing any sport in front of the home crowd lifts spirits and brings out the best potential in the athletes. She said she thinks this really helped her to get her PR and the provisional mark.

“It was my first home meet, so having everyone there made getting the PR and the mark that much better,” Renault said. “Having that support system there really helps to drive me, and the rest of the team, that much harder.”

Renault said she is going to approach the conference championships like she would any other meet. She said she is going to continue improving her PR so the wins follow suit. She also said the team members are really good about pushing one another to do the best they possibly can, and she said this is going to help when it comes to the GLVC Championships.

Events at the GLVC Championships start today and end Saturday.

Women

Truman Track Sweeps Home Meet

Junior Cassidy Smestad Discus — PR Hammer Throw — PR Shot Put Freshman Cassie Jennings Pole Vault — PR

The Bulldogs won 15 individual events in their first home meet since Gardner Track was renovated. The women contributed nine wins while the men added six more to win the meet. The Bulldogs set 3 NCAA provisional marks — Elle Renault in the women’s javelin, Cassie Jennings in the women’s pole vault, and Cassidy Smestad in the women’s discus. Truman competes today at the GLVC Championships in Romeoville, Illinois.

Junior Elle Renault Javelin — PR Junior Hannah Oberdiek Long Jump — PR Freshman Gemma Saathoff 1500-Meter Run Redshirt Sophomore Courtney Bakken 800-Meter Run Freshman Daijha Wilkes Triple Jump

Freshman Carson Lackey sprints on the new track. In his home debut, Lackey set a new personal record in the 100-meter run, taking first place.

Men

Freshman Carson Lackey 100-Meter Dash — PR Sophomore Blake Laird Pole Vault — PR Junior Michael Grasing 1500-Meter Run Junior Mitch Henderson 400-Meter Run Junior Elijah Farrales 800-Meter Run Senior Sam Stewart Shot Put

Bulldog Individual Winners

Freshman Daijha Wilkes goes airborne in the triple jump. The team combined for 15 individual wins with the women accounting for nine of them.

14

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

In his blood: Horner hired as men’s basketball head coach

Sports editor signing off

here. They’re genuine people.

Those are my kind of people.”

Not long after Foster resigned, Horner said he showed interest in the Truman job by speaking with Wollmering and redshirt freshman guard Turner Scott, his former high school point guard. From those interactions, he said he learned more about the job and realized it would be a good fit for him.

Horner has three older sisters who all played college basketball and a father who was a head coach, so he said sports have always been part of his family. Horner said he has always had an interest in coaching during his basketball career, so he looked for work after his playing career concluded.

“I thought about getting a job in the real world in coaching,” Horner said. “My mom was actually like, ‘You should go into coaching.’ I knew at that point it was in my blood.”

Wollmering said he found out he needed to hire a new coach around early April. He said Foster called him to let Submitted Photos him know he was interested in the McKendree job and later Jeff Horner speaks at a press conference as the head coach of the Truman State University contacted him to say he was men’s basketball team. Horner joins the Bulldogs from the University of North Dakota. taking it.

“He went down there and,

BY JEREMY JACOB The former University of Jerry Wollmering and Uniin a matter of a few days, he Sports Multimedia Editor North Dakota assistant coach versity President Sue Thomas will lead a Bulldog team that for giving him this opportuni- told me he was going to take The Truman State Universi- has gone 73-40 during the ty. He said he hasn’t been in the job,” Wollmering said. ty men’s basketball team has a last four seasons. This is his Kirksville since he attended a “People started calling me new head coach — former Uni- first college-level head coach- golf outing seven years ago before McKendree even anversity of Iowa star Jeff Horner. ing job and first overall head celebrating the hire of then- nounced hiring him. It seems like once the match was lit, Truman Athletics announced coaching job since West Des head coach Matt Woodley. the transition last week fol- Moines Valley High School “I knew it was a smaller the word was out and people lowing the departure of four- from 2011-2014. town,” Horner said. “I always started calling. It was game year head coach Chris Foster to Horner said he is thankful say that the people make the on after that.”

McKendree University. to Truman Athletics Director place. There’s good people See NEW COACH, page 12

BY RACHEL STEINHOFF Sports Text Editor In The Index newspaper time, two years is equal to 56 issues. Factor roughly seven stories per issue and 56 issues to equal 392 stories. Nearly 400 stories from more than a dozen writers have crossed the sports desk during my time as The Index sports text editor. I don’t remember every story — I don’t even remember the headliner of every issue we’ve put out — but after two years, small things like that get swept away in the massive amounts of memories made in the media center.

In my last story ever, I thought it only right to pay tribute to the student media experience that single-handedly changed not only my college experience, but also my professional career path after Truman. You know, the life that exists outside the confines of Franklin and Baltimore streets?

See FAREWELL, page 12

History made at GLVC Championships

BY PAUL PROVINCE Staff Writer

The golf team made its mark in the GLVC Championships at Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Missouri, last weekend. Placing fifth overall at the tournament, the Bulldogs claimed their best finish in Truman State University’s program history.

Along with a successful team outing, the Bulldogs had four out of five players place in the Top 50.

Head coach Clint Fitzpatrick said he was happy with how the team finished the season and recognized the new standard that his team set for the future of Bulldog golf.

“We did as well as we had hoped in the tournament,” Fitzpatrick continued. “We set our goal to get Top 4 and we missed that mark, but finishing fifth has shown the improvement the team has made over the last four years.

To get this close to our goal shows how dedicated this senior class was, and we’re looking forward to improving.”

Senior Nicolle Barmettler finished second, leading the Bulldogs

in the tournament by shooting a 54-hole score of 222. Barmettler’s outing is the best three-day score for any Bulldog in GLVC Championship history. She’s the second Bulldog to finish second in a conference championship and is now a two-time All-GLVC performer.

“Nicolle played so well and stayed consistent over the weekend,” Fitzpatrick said. “Her outstanding season earned her an opportunity into the regional tournament, and we’re thrilled for her.

Overall, this senior class led by example, were very successful in their time here, and they will be greatly missed.”

The group of seniors Fitzpatrick referenced managed to improve their position each year in the tournament since they were freshmen. In 2015, the current seniors’ freshman year, the Bulldogs finished 12th, an improvement from the year before, when the ’Dogs finished last. Since then, the team has finished in 10th, 7th, and now 5th, demonstrating their growth.

“I think we are happy about how we finished,” Barmettler said.

The Bulldog team poses after the final round of the GLVC Championships. Truman finished fifth at the meet, which was the program’s best-ever conference tournament finish.

“Even while playing a new course, we focused on our game and were intent on staying positive throughout. The tournament was incredibly competitive, so fifth was a success for us.”

Along with Barmettler’s outing, three other Bulldogs were able to finish in the Top 50. Senior Stephanie Hulett tied for 29th with a score of 252, followed by junior Montana George, who shot a 261

throughout the three days, and sophomore Lindsey Repp, who finished 50th.

Junior Brooke Kelley finished 55th and gave all credit to the senior leaders who led the team in scoring and competition mentality.

“The standout players were two of our seniors, Nicolle and Stephanie,” Kelley said. “They really led us this weekend, remind us to

keep calm and stay focused… We worked really hard this season, and I think it showed during the tournament.”

While the Bulldogs had their best season so far, they missed the berth into the NCAA Div. II East Super Regional. However, Barmettler qualified individually and will represent Truman in Big Rapids, Michigan, later this semester.

ATHLETE o f

t h e

w e e k

Freshman Cassie Jennings set a new stadium record in the womenʼs pole vault last Thursday at the Truman Twilight Quadrangular in Kirksville.

Jennings set the record at the Bulldogsʼ first home meet since Gardner Trackʼs renovation. She cleared 12 feet and 4 inches, eclipsing the University of Maryʼs Kari Wilsonʼs mark of 11 feet and 9.75 inches in 2001.

CASSIE JENNINGS VOLUME 109

ISSUE 28

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