The Index Vol. 111 Issue 1

Tips and tricks for maintaining good health at Truman

Repairs made to campus continue into fall, page 2 “Climax” is why I don’t party, page 9

Bulldogs picked third in pre season poll, page 14

page 8

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

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Truman, AKL, former student named in lawsuit

Truman State University, the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and a former Truman student are being sued by the parents of two students who committed suicide in the 2016-2017 school year. Photo by Rachel Becker

Two families file lawsuit after five suicides in 2016-2017 RYAN PIVONEY Editor in Chief

Truman State University, the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and a former Truman student are being sued by the parents of two students who committed suicide in the 2016-2017 school year.

Brandon Grossheim, the former student and AKL fraternity brother, is being sued for psychological manipulation that the plaintiffs say led to five

student deaths. The lawsuit claims Grossheim was close to all five students who committed suicide in the 2016-2017 school year and was either the last person to see them alive or the first to find their body.

Nicole Gorovsky is the plaintiff’s attorney representing Melissa BottorffArey, Suzanne Thomas and Michael Thomas — the parents of Alex Mullins and Joshua Thomas. Gorovsky accuses the University of failing to be transpar-

ent about the situation by not informing students, parents and the community of the alleged psychological manipulation occuring. The lawsuit additionally states the University and fraternity were aware some students had depression and were vulnerable, yet allowed Grossheim access to them anyway.

According to a press release from Gorovsky Law LLC, Alex Mullins’ mother said in a fraternity she expected her son to be safe and cared for.

“Within just months there were four more young people gone,” Bottorff-Arey said. “There were too many similarities, one person in common and so many questions … it’s time for answers.”

Warren Wells, Truman’s general counsel, released a written statement July 31.

See LAWSUIT page 3

Tuition increases by Fountain construction 5% this year continues into fall RACHEL BECKER News, Photo Editor The Truman State University Board of Governors approved a 5% increase in tuition set to go into effect this upcoming year.

Students received an email from the President’s Office June 24 stating there would be a tuition increase instated for the 2019-2020 academic year. This tuition increase affects both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Missouri residents and out-of-state students.

There is no increase in the Student Health Fee, the Student Activity Fee or

TUITION INCREASE OLD

NEW

Full-Time Undergraduate (Missouri Resident)

$3,712.50

$3,898

Full-Time Undergraduate (Non-Missouri Resident)

$7,138.50

$7,495

Full-Time Graduate (Missouri Resident)

$3,271.50

$3,433.50

Full-Time Graduate

(Non-Missouri Resident)

$5,661

$5,944

*Fees for undergraduate based on 12 credit hours per semester *Fees for graduate based on 9 credit hours per semester

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 1 © 2019

the academic program and course fees.

Financial Aid Director Marla Fernandez said the tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate Missouri resident will be $7,881 and $15,154 for an undergraduate non-Missouri resident. Last year, tuition rates were $7,425 for in-state students and $14,277 for non-Missouri residents.

Fernandez said for full-time graduate students, tuition will be $9,260 for Missouri residents and $16,036 for non-Missouri residents.

“It is imperative that Truman continues to provide a high quality educational experience,” President Sue Thomas wrote in the email to students. “This tuition increase, while undesirable, is essential in maintaining the quality of your educational experience.”

Thomas wrote in an email statement to The Index that the 5% increase in tuition is expected to give Truman approximately $1.5 million, however, the institutional aid that is tied to the tuition rate will also go up.

Thomas also wrote that the $1.5 million is not extra money. State funding for Truman for 2019-2020 is essentially the same in actual dollars as what it was for 1999-2000, Thomas wrote. However, for the most recent three budget years, Truman’s Education and General Budget (which primarily includes state funding and tuition and fees) has decreased $3.8 million.

Another reason for the tuition increase is the increase in fixed costs, Thomas wrote. For example, over time the state retirement system has increased the required university contribution rate by 11.9%. The cost of Truman’s health See TUITION page 3

RACHEL BECKER News, Photo Editor Behind the Student Union Building, the current fountain and plaza area will be replaced and renamed to the Sandra K. Giachino Reavey Sesquicentennial Plaza.

Mike Garzanelli, Truman State University comptroller, said the fountain will have jets flush with the surface and students can expect a more modern fountain.

“It’s going to be easier for our maintenance crews to … remove snow there as a result,” Garzanelli said.

“Right now it’s a step down from the li-

brary, meaning it’s going to be more of a level type of situation. [It’ll be] easier for students to walk, less chances of slips and falls.”

The projected cost for the renovation is $1,575,000 and the majority of the project will be paid for by foundation funds from the estate of Sandra K. Giachino Reavey, Garzanelli said.

Reavey was a real friend of the University, Garzanelli said, and she left a significant estate to be able to help pay for this project.

See PLAZA page 6

Res Life creates new curriculum for fall RACHEL BECKER News, Photo Editor

The staff at the Residence Life office is working on a new curriculum that focuses on community and wellness, as well as unifying the residence halls.

Residence Life Director Jamie Van Boxel, who started in July, said his first goal is going to be to learn about Truman State University students and the Residence Life department.

“For over a year now, the Residence Life department under John Gardner, the previous director, and William Nelsen [interim director], have worked with the hall directors to shift from a

community development model ... to a more curricular approach,” Van Boxel said.

Van Boxel said he can’t take credit for a lot of the work that has been done to prepare for the department to move forward with the new curriculum.

He said a community development model is about putting on events for students, while a curricular approach is tied into having a framework for the entire year and contributing to Truman’s mission.

See RES LIFE page 5

The Index

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

Repairs made to campus continue into fall RACHEL BECKER News, Photo Editor

Around campus a few maintenance projects were started over the summer, totaling over $2 million worth of repairs out of the maintain and repair fund.

Truman State University Comptroller Mike Garzanelli said the summer maintenance projects all directly impact student life on campus.

He also said the University isn’t doing any new construction at this point, but those projects are needed to keep these facilities updated and available for the students.

Among the construction projects was a new roof on Violette Hall.

The new roof was contracted for $747,000, Garzanelli said.

Truman has a couple of chillers that run a cold water loop to certain buildings to keep them cool, Garzanelli said. A chiller was replaced in the Student Union Building and in Violette Hall. This project was contracted for $750,000.

Garzanelli said the air conditioning chilled water project is ongoing right now and will be completed after the cooling season around mid-October.

Tuckpointing repairs, which is repairing any bricks or mortar that have cracked or aged over the years, were done at the Recreation Center, as well as installing a new fire and security system. Garzanelli said the Recreation Center repairs and security system were contracted for $498,000.

The natatorium inside Pershing was furnished with a new pool liner.

“The liner has had several years worth of age on it and we had the opportunity this year to go ahead and replace the liner,” Garzanelli said.

“So when the swimmers and students get back in the fall their pool will have a brand new liner to keep it from leaking.”

In the past, the University has had to fix the leaks as they appeared, but now Truman was able to replace the liner and prevent further leaks. Garzanelli said the natatorium relining project was contracted for $118,000.

Additionally, the planetarium will have new software installed for the fall semester. Garzanelli said it is a small, low-cost project.

“All of the aforementioned projects, with the exception of the air conditioning chilled water project, will be completed by the beginning of the fall term,” Garzanelli said. “All significant maintenance and construction projects are competitively bid by the University to ensure high quality work at the most competitive price.”

He also said that there are no cost overruns he is aware of. Everything has been coming in on budget and on time as long as the weather holds.

The amount of maintenance projects this year is very similar to years past, Garzanelli said, when students go home for the summer, the University picks three or four different things around campus to fix, repair or renovate.

Last year, those projects included renovations to the Missouri Hall kitchen and a few air conditioning projects.

The Student Recreation Center had some tuckpointing work done over the summer. The same building also had their fire system replaced. The contracted cost was around $498,000.

The chillers for the air conditioning in the Student Union Building and for Violette Hall was worked on over the summer. The chiller project was contracted for $750,000. Photos by Rachel Becker

The liner was replaced at the natatorium in the Pershing Building. The new liner was contracted at $118,000.

Violette Hall’s roof was replaced over the summer. The project was contracted at about $750,000.

Crime Reports staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Pivoney Managing Editor: Elisabeth Shirk News Editor: Rachel Becker Sports Editor: Sam Roettgen Copy Chief: Cara Quinn Design Chief: Emmett Divendal Photo Editor: Rachel Becker Distribution Manager: Tyler Hanson Designers: Georgia Gregory, Jake Bertish Photographers: Kara Mackenzie, Mary Van Winkle, Caleb Bolin, Rachel Stubbs Copy Editors: Elise Hughes, Jenna Faulkner, Jessica Robinson, Emma Gottfried, Katie Puryear, Julie Mickael Staff Writers: Travis Maiden, Gordon McPherson, Aura Martin, Jessica Venvertloh, Allison Maschhoff, Curt Wichmer, Tad Bast, Chase Potter Adviser: Don Krause

DPS & KPD 8/5 Burglar alarm reported at 8/7 Property damage-vandalMcClain Hall. ism reported at the 1000 block of N Oakland Ave. 8/5 Man with weapon reported at E Normal Ave. 8/7 Harassment reported at the 1400 block of Pierce St. 8/5 Theft reported at the 3800 block of S Baltimore St. 8/7 Dead body reported at the 1900 block of S Jamison St. 8/5 Theft reported at the 1000 block of Queens Rd. 8/7 Theft reported at the 100 block of E McPherson St. 8/5 Fight reported at the 1400 block of S Baltimore St. 8/7 Harassment reported at the 14 block of Devlin Pl. 8/5 Forgery reported at the 500 block of S Franklin St. 8/7 Theft reported at the 200 block of E Scott St. 8/6 Intoxicated person reported at the 100 block of S Elson 8/8 Property damage-vandalSt. ism reported at the 100 block of Pfeifer Rd. 8/6 Fight reported at the 900 block of N Green St. 8/8 Theft reported at the 2400 block of S Baltimore St. 8/6 Fight reported at the 800 block of Fifth St. 8/8 Assault reported at 1400 block of N Osteopathy St. 8/6 Ambulance emergency reported at the 300 block of Pfei- 8/8 Harassment reported at the ffer Ave. 100 block of E McPherson St. 8/6 Theft reported at the 500 block of Halliburton St.

8/8 Theft reported at the 500 block of N Baltimore St.

8/6 Property damage-vandal- 8/8 Theft reported at the 2200 ism reported at the 300 block block of S Marion St. of E Porter St. 8/9 Fight reported at the 100 8/6 Harassment reported at the block of S Elson St. 400 block of W Hickory St. 8/9 Weapons offense reported 8/6 Burglary reported at the at the 1400 block of S Balti900 block of S Osteopathy St. more St. 8/6 Child abuse reported at the 8/9 Theft reported at the 1600 1600 block of S Baltimore St. block of N Green St. 8/6 Burglary reported at the 700 block of E Harrison St.

8/9 Burglary reported at the 500 S Baltimore St.

The Index

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

17 AUGUST

FARMERS’ MARKET 7 A.M. TO NOON KIRKSVILLE DOWNTOWN SQUARE The Kirksville Kiwanis Farmers’ Market will be open to the public every Saturday morning starting May 4 through Oct. 26. It will feature local farmers, bakers, craftspeople and live music.

Self-Care Sunday is a new event to Truman State University held each month.

It gives students a chance to take care of themselves, relax and learn about self care. The event is in partnership with Union & Involvement Services. They will be serving hot dogs and ice cream. There will also be stations to build your own stress ball, color, do yoga and learn about the six categories of self care: emotional, practical, physical, mental, social and spiritual.

19 AUGUST

news in brief

calendar

SELF-CARE SUNDAY 4 P.M. THE QUAD

18

Fall semester classes begin in all buildings on campus. First block classes end Oct. 8. Second block classes begin Oct. 9. Finals for the fall semester start Dec. 9 and end Dec. 13.

The McNair program is a federally funded program to provide support, funding and opportunities for students underrepresented in higher education. They will have pizza and host an information session about what the McNair program is.

CSI changes name to U&I Starting fall 2019 The Center for Student Involvement will be known as the Union and Involvement Services. There will be no change in the work or services U&I offer. U&I said they will have opportunities to celebrate their new name.

Parking decals available Students can pick up their parking decals Aug. 12-18. Department of Public Safety parking services are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To pick up a parking pass a Truman State University ID is required.

Upperclassmen students move-in Aug. 17 and 18 upperclassmen are moving back into residence halls between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m..

Upperclassmen move-in is an independent process, meaning the volunteer groups that assist at Freshmen Move-In are not present. Laundry carts, dollies and wrenches will be available for check out in the residence hall.

AUGUST

FALL SEMESTER CLASSES START ALL DAY CAMPUS

MCNAIR OPEN HOUSE 4 P.M. ADAIR HOUSE

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20 AUGUST

Increase on property tax Kirksville City Council talked about increasing property tax and decided it will hold a public hearing next session.

2020 vehicle/equipment replacement plan The City Council plans to replace 10 city vehicles including two police cruisers, a dump truck, APWA truck, brush hog cutter, sewer truck, waste water truck, mower/snow removal, international truck and a paint stripper.

North Park concession stand The City Council wants to replace the octagonal building a rectangular building with the exact same layout as the concession stand in the aquatic center.

LAWSUIT| Truman, AKL, former student facing lawsuit

Continued from page 1 “We are aware that an attorney has announced the filing of litigation against the University pertaining to the deaths of two of our students,” Wells wrote in the statement. “We strongly disagree with the allegations as stated in the lawsuit and will defend the suit

vigorously. As the litigation proceeds, it will become clear that the University is not responsible for the deaths of these students. We will not comment further on this pending litigation.”

The AKL fraternity released a statement on its website Aug. 2. The statement said the fraternity is sympathet-

TUITION | 5% increase in tuition Continued from page 1 Insurance package, which is provided for all employees, has increased to 20.1%, Thomas wrote.

Truman is paying 20.1% more for health insurance coverage. Truman also increased the minimum wage for all impacted employees and was one of the few public universities to increase student wage rates, Thomas wrote.

To address the decreases in revenue and increases in fixed costs and to ensure Truman does not operate with a deficit. There have been significant cuts in faculty and staff, operating budgets, and maintenance and repair budgets, Thomas wrote.

“If Truman is to be the University we all want it to be, we cannot continue to just make cuts;

we must also increase revenue,” Thomas wrote. “There are many ways to increase revenue in addition to raising tuition (e.g., donations, grants, increased enrollments, etc.) and Truman is pursuing all of those avenues.

While we are committed to keeping tuition as low as possible, with a tuition rate that has not kept pace with inflation over the past decade and institutional aid that, on the average, is significantly more generous than other public universities, an increase in tuition had to be considered.”

Students walking to class between Magruder Hall and Pickler’s Memorial Library. The 5% tuition increase was announced this summer by an email from the President’s Office.

Photo by Daniel Degenhardt

ic towards the friends and family of the deceased students, and that the deaths of the students greatly impacted the local chapter and community.

“Like Truman State University, The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda, Inc., the National Fraternity, strongly disagrees with the allegations in the

lawsuit to the extent those allegations are directed against it and will vigorously defend the lawsuit. The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda does not comment on pending litigation and therefore, will not comment further.”

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

Truman should keep students updated and informed Create opportunities, get involved

Truman State University, the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, and a former student and fraternity brother are being sued by the parents of two students who committed suicide over the 2016-2017 school year. In total, there were five students who committed suicide throughout that school year. According to the lawsuit, Brandon Grossheim, the former Truman student and AKL brother, was closely connected to every student that committed suicide that year. Grossheim was one of the last people to see the students before their deaths, and was repeatedly seen in the area of their deaths. Additionally, he reportedly counseled students and gave specific instructions on how to approach their depression.

The lawsuit claims the University and fraternity were aware of the mental health conditions of the two plaintiff victims, yet allowed Grossheim unfettered access to the victims. According to the plaintiff attorney Nicole Gorovsky, Truman and AKL swept the situation under the rug and were not transparent about the situation with parents, students or the public. Truman General Counsel Warren Wells wrote in his statement that the University will fight the accusations, but will not be commenting further.

We, The Index Editorial Board, believe there needs to be more information given to the University community and the public. It is the responsibility of University leadership to be transparent and honest with Truman students, faculty, parents and alumni as this lawsuit unfolds. Whether or not the accusations are upheld or dismissed, the University ought to keep students and the community informed about what is happening, as well as what has happened.

Many students are confused and have questions, some of which were left unanswered in the issued statements or circulating news articles. At the very least, we think the University should send email updates to students to end the speculation and provide some form of reassurance. Students deserve to know what has transpired and what to expect moving forward.

Stu Gov

Buzz

StuGov prepares for semester Welcome back, Bulldogs! We’re so happy to be back on campus with all of you!

One of our favorite activities with Student Government each year is helping to welcome new students to campus during Truman Week. We love the excitement of move-in day, chatting with new students, answering their questions about campus, and most of all, welcoming them into our community and showing them what Truman is all about.

Back in the spring semester during our campaign, we ran for office under the motto “Committed to Community.” This passion of ours still remains central to all of our plans for this year, and it is our hope that each Truman student ends this year feeling more connected to our campus community than ever before.

We have already kicked off the year in this spirit of community by helping with Truman Week staple activities, such as move-in day, Convocation, and Hall Cup contests. One new activity we introduced this year were two massive voter registration drives, bringing together organizations across campus to help register as many students as possible to vote in upcoming elections.

Last year, Student Government worked hard to find ways to best utilize the green space between Ryle Hall and Pershing Building that used to be home to the Fair Apartments. After many proposals, we ultimately decided to pursue conserving that area as a common green space. This summer, the Board of Governors approved Student Government’s request to officially name this space the “Fair Grounds,” dedicated for student recreation, relaxation and community building.

We are so excited to see what else this year has in store, and hope that you will each join in our mission of building community here on our campus. If you are interested in making a difference by getting involved in Student Government, we will be releasing more information about our annual fall elections in upcoming weeks. Please reach out to us at studentgovernment@truman.edu with any questions.

As we begin this new school year, let’s remember to keep our sense of community alive. We can’t wait to see what we can all accomplish together this year — let’s get started!

RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief

If you’re anything like me when I was starting my freshman year of college, you probably have a lot of questions. You probably have even more people giving different answers or strange advice about where to go and what to do with your time away from home.

One thing it seems everyone forgets to tell you is that this is your time to create a life away from everything you’ve grown up with. This is a big opportunity for you. You might meet lifelong friends or someone special or you might finally decide the career you want to pursue. You could even find your lifelong home right here in Kirksville.

This opportunity also requires you to engage with what’s going on around you, and maybe even step out of your comfort zone. You aren’t just in college to get a degree and move on — you’re here to start building an independent life. Make sure you are getting involved with campus organizations and events. Classes are great for finding friends, but joining an organization or club full of people with similar interests and passions is sure to find you at least one person to geek out with over whatever your hobby is. Whether you like playing quidditch on The Quad, learning more about chemistry outside the classroom, or getting politically active, there’s something for every student here on campus. While Truman State University isn’t the biggest school around, it can still seem a little daunting trying to find your niche, but I promise you will find your rhythm.

Even if you are not active on campus, consider getting out into the community more. Use your first year here in Kirksville to explore the town and surrounding area.

Sodexo and dining hall food is fine, but go out and explore your local restaurants and businesses. Not only will you become familiar with the culture and lifestyle of Kirksville, you are guaranteed to become invested in your local community. Despite going home for breaks, you now live in Kirksville more than wherever you’re from. Go to your City Council meetings and the farmer’s market, or spend some time around The Square browsing the storefronts.

As you start your school year, take a moment to realize the significance of this opportunity. This is the beginning of something new, so make the most of it.

Build your support system at Truman ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor

The first day of classes is fast approaching and one thing we can all expect are those classroom icebreakers — questions like, “If you were an egg, what type of egg would you be?” They’re not exactly the type of questions that are going to start lifelong friendships. Maybe they could potentially do that, but in my experience those types of relationships begin more often outside of the classroom.

Choosing to get involved in organizations on campus during my freshman year is something I am extremely proud of. You, as a freshman, will probably be told over and over how important it is to get involved. What you don’t always get told is why. For me, the number one reason that I am happy I got involved is that I now have strong support groups.

Clubs and organizations on campus are great at fostering friendships, because those superficial conversations, like classroom icebreakers, are not so much a part of them. Sure each club might have something similar, but those first conversations you have are rooted in the common interest — the reason you approached that club or organization.

The relationships I have formed through clubs and organizations on campus have been invaluable for me when school or life is getting difficult to handle on my own. They also provide me with people to share my successes with.

When I found out that I received a prestigious scholarship I was sitting in the Truman Media Network office and my Index coworkers were the first people to know. They celebrated with me and were happy for my accomplishment. It’s moments like that when I realise how glad I am to be a part of The Index staff.

You don’t have to join TMN, although we would love to have you on our SUBMITTED BY: team, but finding a club or organization at college where you can build that Deanna Schmidt and Katie Alexander, support system can change your entire college experience for the better.

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The Index

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

RES LIFE| Van Boxel starts training to implement new curriculum Continued from page 1 Van Boxel said the hall directors on the team spent time in July figuring out what the first eight to 10 weeks of the semester are going to look like. Van Boxel said their curriculum is only about 40% fleshed out and primarily focuses on connection building and wellness.

The other elements that will be worked into the curriculum eventually, or even as soon as this year, are academic excellence, identity and professional confidence, Van Boxel said.

“The residence life staff focus for the fall will be helping students become interconnected,” Van Boxel said.

“That might look like efforts to help roommates work through challenges that come about, our residents becoming connected to all the apartment managers and all the student advisors and then growing from there.”

Wellness is another theme emerging this year. Wellness is about providing students with the resources that already exist on campus that contribute to students being academically and personally successful, Van Boxel said.

Van Boxel said all of this benefits students who live on campus for at least a year graduating at a higher rate than students who never live on campus.

He said students returning to the residence halls may notice some differences. The spontaneous programs or activities that quickly emerged will no longer occur, Van Boxel said.

“They are going to be more planful,” Van Boxel said. “Students at every residence hall, when we are going to do activities, are going to experience the same things, so whether you live in Centennial Hall or whether you live in BNB, the activities that the staff are doing are going to come from the same framework, in essence going to be the same.”

Van Boxel said the returners may notice there will be less of a focus on activities that students have to commit to by physically being present. He said Res Life is going to work at approaching students and giving them the information in other mediums, such as social media, regular newsletters, signs and unified bulletin boards.

The curricular model moves away from peers teaching peers, who are of similar age and experience, Van Box-

Residence Life Director Jamie Van Boxel working in his office in Missouri Hall 1100. Van Boxel started in the position in July this summer. Photo illustration by Rachel Becker el said, to hall directors and the Residence Life professional staff bringing forward the content. He said this approach is opposed to putting that responsibility on the student advisors.

SAs are going to focus on getting to know every one of the residents that live on campus, Van Boxel said.

Van Boxel said door decs will be different, because they realized the two to three hours it took SAs to handmake them was too much time that could be devoted to other aspects of their position.

Now Res Life will make the door decs centrally, Van Boxel said. They will be graphically designed by one of the hall directors and every resident on our entire campus is going to have a door dec that is almost the same, however, each community will have their own element that is different.

“We are approaching community development from the perspective of others who [have] come before us,” Van Boxel said. “What Truman is doing is, we are not creating the wheel, we are not doing something new.

We are doing something that really is more current with best practice in the Residence Life field.”

Ryle Hall is one of the residence halls affected by the curriculum changes. For instance, door decs will now be centrally created by the Residence Hall office rather than by SAs. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt

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The Index

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

Truman welcomes new faculty and staff RACHEL BECKER News, Photo Editor Truman State University has added 18 full-time faculty, 12 parttime faculty and 10 staff members.

For the new full-time faculty there are three new hires in the School of Arts and Letters, four in the School of Business, two for the School of Health Science and Education, four for the School of Science and Mathematics and five for the School of Social & Cultural Studies.

All new faculty contracts started Aug. 12.

Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs & provost, said the number of new faculty is similar to past years, however; the University had some late resignations which left unfilled positions.

Gooch said she did not want to point out the departments that had the late resignations.

“There are a few open positions that are left open so there may be some departments that some faculty may be teaching an extra course or maybe not offer a certain elective course,” Gooch said. “In most cases … the faculty hires have been very strategic and they are gonna serve the institution well and we

will not have any major areas or gaps from the positions we haven’t been able to hire.”

All new faculty participate in an orientation Aug. 12-13, Gooch said, where the faculty get to know different aspects of Truman and their new positions.

In the latter part of that week there are activities for new and current faculty, like the opening assembly and strategic planning and assessment workshop. Gooch said those days are an opportunity for new faculty to meet, network and develop relationships with existing faculty.

The new faculty are in orientation the same week Truman Days begins, Gooch said, so they also get a chance to meet new students as well.

“New faculty are such an asset to the University,” Gooch said.

“They bring a whole new perspective and new energy. It’s really just a great opportunity for Truman to have a really good cohort of new faculty and I’m looking forward to having them on campus.”

Sally Herleth, executive director of Human Resources, said in an email statement that Truman has hired a few more new faculty this year than last. Herleth said that most hires have been due to retire

How many new full-time faculty from each school

ARTS AND LETTERS BUSINESS HEALTH SCIENCES AND EDUCATION SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES Data as of Jul. 24, 2019 ments and resignations.

Herleth said staff positions tend to be filled each month and new staff hires have also remained fairly consistent.

Taylor Athon, admissions counselor and a new staff hire, was hired in May and started July 1st.

Athon just graduated from Truman in 2019 as a marketing major.

Athon is a traveling admissions counselor, where 16 weeks out of the year she will be traveling to

various high schools in central and southern Missouri to recruit students. When Athon is in town she will help with campus visits.

Since she just graduated, Athon has the credibility to talk to prospective students and share her personal experiences.

“My whole time at Truman was preparing for this job,” Athon said.

PLAZA| The Plaza is still under construction as students return to campus Continued from page 1 “Right now we are just a little bit behind on time because we had all the rain at the first part of the construction process,” Garzanelli said. “The contractor has been making up that time pretty well here recently and we are hoping that we will still hit our [goal]. Our plan is to have everything completed before homecoming.”

Garzanelli said minor construction will still occur as the semester starts.

The fountain will be in place but there will be some areas that will need some landscaping, Garzanelli said.

“I think the students will be very very happy and impressed by it,” Garzanelli said. “I think it is gonna be a great place for students to be outside the SUB. It will be a real centerpiece for the University.”

The University also launched a brick campaign, where alumni and parents could buy a brick for the renovated plaza area and personalize it. A 4x8 brick with three lines of text was $150 and an 8x8 brick with six lines of text was $500.

Annual Fund Officer Dylan Phillips said they sold over 1,000 bricks in total.

“The brick campaign coincided with a couple of things,” Phillips said. “The first being the University’s 150th-anniversary last year … it was also a really nice jumping-off point to finish the renovations to the mall.”

Phillips said they didn’t have a set goal

on how many bricks they wanted to sell.

The great thing about brick campaigns, Phillips said, is giving people the opportunity to have a little bit more of a lasting impact on campus, especially for people who don’t want to name a building or do anything big.

“When we started the campaign we didn’t know [the Sandra K. Giachino Reavey estate] was coming,” Phillips said. “We went into it thinking we would really have to work the brick campaign along with naming rights for the garden plots, benches, possibly the fountain itself. Once that estate came through it really helped bolster it and we could definitely do everything we want to do with the renovation.”

Phillips said the brick campaign was very successful. He said this campaign brought a lot of people who normally hadn’t given or hadn’t given in a long time an opportunity to give back in a personal way.

Phillips also oversees Tel-Alumni, the University’s telethon program which hires students to call alumni asking for donations.

“Our office did a bunch of work, but at the same time … a lot of the bricks that people are going to see came from our students [and] our workers, reaching out to alumni over the phone and telling them about this project,” Phillips said. “It was really a campus-wide project.”

Construction crews work alongside a construction equipment. The crew is working to complete the fountain

by Homecoming. Photos by Rachel Becker

Right: A construction crew works on laying down gravel for the fountain. New bricks were purcheased for the plaza area. A brick campain went along with the new constuction, selling over 1,000 bricks to parents and alumni.

Bottom left: Construction equipment is parked over by the west entrance to Magruder Hall. Constuction was started over the summer once students left.

A Bobcat S185 moves gravel to the fountain area for crews to flatten out. An event was held in the spring semester called “Hello summer, Goodbye fountain” where live music was performed.

life f

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Top 5

Things to do for fun in Kirksville ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor

1.Thousand Hills State Park

Just a few miles outside of Kirksville, Thousand Hills is a popular getaway among college students. It costs $0 to enjoy the beautiful wildlife, but $5 to kayak for an hour Monday through Thursday. You can take a hike, have a picnic, fish, take photos or all of the above. If you like nature and need to get away from campus and college-related stress, Thousand Hills is a great place to go.

Anyone is welcome to go hiking at Thousand Hills at any time. The Marina also offers a restaurant open Tuesday through Sunday. Photo by Elisabeth Shirk

2. Thrift Shops

Kirksville has an abundance of thrift shops including, but not limited to, Hidden Treasures, Scrapper Den, The Crossing Thrift Store, Outreach Mission and Ladybug Thrift. They are a great, budget-friendly way to find things you need and things you don’t need, but you think would be cool to have. I have found some of the most unexpected and interesting things in thrift shops, like the 1968 Truman State University yearbook that I bought this summer. You never know what you might find.

3. Downtown Cinema 8

Movie nights are one of my favorite things during the weekend, or even during the week if I have time, and Downtown Cinema 8 always has several options. If you’re not sure what movie to go see, check out The Index each week to see what our film critic, Gordon McPherson, has to say about new films.

And if mainstream movies are not your preference, you can also keep a lookout for film festivals at Truman, or you can check out Pickler Memorial Library’s large selection of films.

Downtown Cinema 8 is situated right on The Square. All of their showtimes and prices can be found on their website, downtowncinema8.com. Photo by Rachel Becker

4. The Ville Escape Room

What better way is there to bond with your new friends at Truman than to work together to solve puzzles and try to escape at the Ville? It is also a neat idea for family weekend if you are looking for something fun to do when your family comes to visit. The Ville Escape Room is located on the Kirksville Square, so it is just a short walk from campus.

5. Museums

If you proudly consider yourself a nerd and are looking for something a little more lowkey, consider visiting one of Kirksville’s museums. The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the most popular and would be especially intriguing for someone interested in health sciences and medicine. For history buffs, the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center and the Adair County Historical Society Museum are apt places to learn about the history of Truman State University and Adair County, respectively.

Above: The Harry S. Truman Statue at the Ruth Towne Museum and Visitors Center. The Museum and Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Right: Campus Visitor Coordinator Michelle Howell waits to welcome people to the Ruth Towne Museum and Visitors Center. The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine and the Historical Society Museum are also open to visitors year-round. Photos by Elisabeth Shirk

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It’s a balancing act: Tips and tricks for maintaining good health at Truman ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor If you are an incoming freshman, you may have heard about the infamous “Freshman 15,” and if you are anything like I was you are adamant that you will not get it. Well, I got it anyway, but what I regret more than the extra weight is that I was not better about maintaining good general health my freshman year.

Maggie Beem, Truman State University soccer player, believes that how you take care of your health during freshman year could set the precedent for your next four years and beyond.

“Since this is your first time being on your own, you’re creating your own eating habits and workout habits, and lifestyle habits in general, so aside from whatever you were taught, you are doing it all on your own here,” Beem explained.

Diet and exercise are two things that Beem says are extremely important to maintaining good health. She said it is surprising how fast you can gain weight and get out of shape.

One thing she does to maintain her health is plan out her days with a calendar, including her workouts and meals.

She said another trick she uses to eat healthy is to reward herself every few weeks with a day of eating exactly what she wants.

“You can’t deny yourself the things that you want,” Beem said. “If you go into the dining hall and you want a piece of pizza, have a piece of pizza, but don’t have seven pieces of pizza.”

Beem admitted that she wishes she

had been more intentional her freshman year in planning out her diet and exercise.

One of the places that students can go to get assistance with their exercise routines is the student Recreation Center. Campus Recreation Director Susan Limestall said the Rec Center offers multiple ways to add some activity to your day.

“Be active,” Limestall emphasized.

“Be as active as you can, but be balanced, because you are here as a fulltime student.”

Limestall said a lot of research from the medical field has found that being active helps you stay healthy, be a better student and get a better GPA. A full list of the Rec Center’s services is on their website, which also includes workout videos and hours. There is additional information about intramural sports, classes and more.

Getting involved in something at Truman, like intramural sports, could benefit mental health as well as physical health.

“It can be your outlet and your stress reliever, building your support system,” Joe Hamilton, counseling services assistant director, said.

Truman has more than 250 student clubs and organizations and the Union and Involvement Services’ website has information on each of them.

Aside from getting involved, Hamilton believes the best way for anyone to take care of their mental health is to get enough sleep. One way that students can help themselves get enough sleep is to practice good time management.

Left: The Student Recreation Center is open to students every day of the week during the school year. A full list of the Rec Center’s services can be found on their website.

Right: The McKinney Center houses Disability Services, The Student Health Center and University Counseling Services. Joe Hamilton, counseling services assistant director, said the best way to take care of your mental health is to get enough good sleep.

Photos by Rachel Becker

Above: Students are allowed to use the university pool recreationally when it is not being used for official purposes. The pool is located inside the Pershing Building.

Right: Students often like to use the track to go for a run.

The track is a part of Stokes Stadium where students can go to watch football games during the fall. Photos by Elisabeth Shirk

“One of the hardest things that you have to learn when you’re a new student is self-discipline,” Hamilton admitted. “You need to make sure that you are staying on top of your school work and not procrastinating.”

In order to do this, Hamilton recommended focusing on having a good school and social life balance, which can be difficult to do amid a busy schedule. Without balance, general stress and anxiety are more likely to come about.

“Overall, definitely the most common issue among students in general and just human beings is anxiety,” Hamilton said.

“With a new experience in a new environment there can be a lot of concerns about social interactions, so that can lead to social anxiety.”

Hamilton noted that behind anxiety, depression is also one of the most common mental health concerns among students.

The number one sign of good mental health, according to Hamilton, is the ability to function well. In the case of college students this often means being able to go to class and do class work, hang out with friends and feel satisfied with those relationships, and having positive emotions overall.

“Everyone has their bad days and everyone has their good days,” Hamilton said. “[Good mental health] doesn’t mean you’re not ever sad or scared or worried, but for the most part on a daily basis are you functioning well and able to take care of your responsibilities and do the things that you enjoy.”

The Index

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

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Helpful Truman phone numbers

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“Climax� is why I don’t party We give this movie 4/5 “see no evil� monkey emojis.

GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Hello, welcome back to Truman. Hope you watched lots of movies this summer — I certainly did. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,� “Midsommar,� “Wild Rose,� “The Dead Don’t Die,� “The Art of Self Defense,� “Dragged Across Concrete,� and the befuddling “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood� all left me giddy with cinematic satisfaction. Somehow I haven’t seen “Toy Story 4� yet, sorry.

Gaspar NoÊ’s psychedelic dance horror film titled “Climax,â€? on the other hand, left me feeling mentally shocked — and I’d happily take NoÊ’s demented ride again and again. Most sane viewers will detest this film’s in-your-face style and lack of optimism for human society, but I loved it.

You will earn my respect if you watch “Climax� from start to finish.

A troupe of hyper athletic French dancers gather in an abandoned school building to rehearse their routine during a snowstorm. The troupe, led

by Selva — played by Sofia Boutella of “Kingsman: The Secret Service� fame — performs brilliant feats of choreographed contortions in one of the best dance sequences ever shot on film.

Most of the dancers, however, harbor jealousy, resentment and sexual yearnings for each other,

a potential recipe for disaster. After the dancers accidentally consume LSD-laced sangria during the after party, the previously joyous celebration dissolves into an utter nightmare.

The film targets the uneasy balance between compassion and primal instincts within the dancers (and viewers themselves). When the sangria hits the fan, NoĂŠ literally flashes the text “Life is a collective impossibilityâ€? across the screen. Life is like a dance of immense highs and crippling lows, and “Climaxâ€? illustrates this pessimistic outlook in a 90-minute, unstoppable train headed straight to Hell. When the dancers already move their bodies like Regan in “The Exorcistâ€? from the get-go, it’s not a good sign.

The film isn’t for the faint of heart, surprisesurprise. NoÊ deliberately makes viewers uncomfortable despite the euphoria of the opening dance number. Disturbing dialogue, brutal violence and possession-esque freakouts (mostly performed by unprofessional actors, sometimes improvised on-the-spot) are all on display, and they become increasingly pronounced by the film’s mind-numbing final minutes.

Sure, “Climaxâ€? sounds like a pretty depressing film. Who on Earth would want to watch that? Fortunately, viewers can ignore and even mock NoÊ’s pretentious symbolism and directorial flourishes and instead just go along for the

ride. The film’s style unquestionably deserves any cinephile’s attention.

The camera glides from dancer to dancer in entrancing long takes — eventually remaining on Selva — providing viewers with disturbing glimpses into each area of the chaos unfolding among the troupe. Some of the imagery is gritty, some over-the-top. Whether or not viewers are frightened or perversely amused by the film, however, I bet they won’t forget it.

As the dancers’ world turns upside down, so too does NoÊ’s unflinching camera, mirroring the dancers’ disorientation. As the dancers lose control, viewers lose their outsider perspective on the horrific proceedings. Individuals prone to motion sickness may also lose their lunch.

The propulsive, thumping dance music never stops playing in the background, becoming downright malevolent by the film’s incomprehensible conclusion. All this style combines to make a film that’s a true cinematic experience. Divisive though NoÊ’s techniques may be, viewers can’t deny his skill and ambition. “Climaxâ€? is a heavy, trippy and uncompromising viewing that will thrill film lovers but polarize everyone else. In other words, it’s the perfect film for your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer.

Storytime with

Allison

What’s this? It is the first installment of a collection of short stories. Not stories about Truman State University, nor stories about real people, but works of fiction. Short stories from the brain of a person with too much going on inside her head. And this is only the beginning. Each addition of The Index will bring you a new short story, but if you miss one, don’t worry! Stories are also posted to tmn.truman.edu.

Noelani’s Story: What’s in a Name ALLISON MASCHHOFF Staff Writer Our village was small and its traditions ran deep. The small community only saw a few babies born each year and those children were seen as children of the community more than children of their parents. The village would raise them and so the village had a part in choosing their names.

Boys were named for summer; girls were named for winter. The year of my birth there were three girls born. The first had eyes pale blue color of a winter sky. They named her Kalani, which means heavens. The second was born on the windiest day the village had seen in a long time and so they called her Makani, which means wind.

I was the third baby girl that year. Three was a good number, the elders said. Three is strong. Some had concerns that we would strengthen winter too much. Many prayed the next year would bring balance through the birth of three healthy boys. Nonetheless, as rain trickled down from the grey December sky, they deemed me Noelani, which means heavenly mist, and completed the trio of sky, wind and rain.

We grew up together in the village and just as our namesakes were kindred spirits,

so were we. My friends’ names seemed to fit them perfectly from the start. Kalani was ever-changing and yet had a sense of stability within her. She could adapt to any situation, but her composed, serene personality always shone through. Makani had shy tendencies — everything she did was quiet. When she wished to have her desires made known, however, she was persistent. And just like a strong wind, she could push any person in any direction she wanted, given the right motivation.

I, on the other hand, felt my name had been chosen incorrectly. I watched silent and brooding every time the rains came and every time I felt saddened and confused. The rain made the village stop: no one could work, no one could play. It left everything cold and muddy. Is that what the elders had expected from me? Sluggishness and frigidity? Oh, how I wished to be named for something lively, such as Makani’s playful wind, or something beautiful, such as Kalani’s painted sky!

One day, when the sky was hazy and the wind was forceful and rain’s smell tainted the air in warning of a storm, I sat by the window of our hale. The grass hut we lived in protected us from the rain and wind, but not from the daunting sound of thunder. My mother was resting, her eyes closed. Thunder rumbled and I ran to her side, my tears spilling over with the

first drops of rain. “Mama! Why did the elders name me after this awful thing!� My words came out more like an exclamation of grief than a question.

My mother opened her eyes and stared at me in hazy confusion. “What do you mean, Noelani?� “The rain. It is an awful thing to be named for!�

To my surprise, Mama smiled. She sat up and wrapped me in her arms. She leaned her head against mine and the wispy ends of her chocolate-colored hair brushed against my neck and shoulders. “My dear,� she said, “the rain is not what you think it to be. The rain is a blessing.

It means there is still too much warmth in the ground for there to be snow in the village. Rain confines the snow to the high places.�

I remember looking at my mother in awe.

What a thought! My namesake was good for the village? Could she possibly be right?

The idea of being named for something warm felt so foreign to me. Girls were named for cold things, like winter. And yet . . . it felt right. Something in me had always felt more tethered to the spring than to the winter. I felt much more alive in April than I did in December. Maybe that’s why the elders had named me for rain. Maybe they had understood after all.

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Ouestions ?

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Ben Rowley, Junior

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

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Emily Ubbelohde, Junior

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Devon Russell, Senior

Question 1: How do you plan to stay healthy this semester?

“I run every day, so that’s good.”

“Getting to bed early, getting those eight hours of sleep.

Staying away from Little Debbie cakes in the C-Store.”

“Cooking for myself a lot with lots of vegetables. Try to walk everywhere. Also making sure I plan out what I eat so I don’t just randomly go to Taco Bell.”

Question 2: What advice would you give to incoming freshman?

“Get involved, get out of your room.”

“Stay on top of things. Time management is everything.

Your professors aren’t here to babysit you. SA’s aren’t here to babysit you. You gotta take care of yourself.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Try new things while also taking care of yourself.”

Question 3: What is something interesting or fun that you did this summer?

“I went to Ireland on a study abroad trip. It was so great.”

“Stayed in Kirksville and worked on some organic chemistry.”

“Went hiking in New Mexico.

Northeast New Mexico is beautiful and unknown.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

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Intramural leagues keep students active SAM ROETTGEN Sports Editor Truman State University offers a wide variety of intramural sports open to all students. Intramural sports are a great way to stay active and involved.

Staying healthy while in college is very important and some students might struggle with their fitness. For many students the solution is playing in intramural sports leagues at the Student Recreation Center.

The Rec Center is in charge of Truman IM leagues. The sports offered range from basketball to table tennis. Truman students of all skill levels are welcome to join IM leagues whether they played in high school or have no experience whatsoever.

Some of the more popular leagues are divided into Greek and open divisions. These leagues include track and basketball.

Signing up for an intramural league is as easy as visiting the Rec Center website and navigating to the IM leagues tab. Then students must create an account on a seperate website by providing their name and Truman email. This whole process

takes less than ten minutes and once registered in the system students can sign up for any IM league they wish.

Students can join as a team or as a free agent.

If they already have a group to play with then they can sign up as a team. A student who signs up as a free agent has the chance to be put on any team with an empty slot.

Intramural leagues are not just limited to popular sports such as basketball and flag football.

There are a wide variety of activities and gym games including contests in pickleball, cornhole and even Texas Hold’em.

Not all leagues are held within the Rec Center building. Some outdoor events are held around the Kirksville area.

Intramural champions receive a free t-shirt as a prize for their victory as well as having their team picture posted in the Rec Center.

You can sign up for fall 2019 IM leagues on the first day of classes, Aug. 19.

The spring 2019 men’s open table tennis champions. Truman is home to a wide variety of IM leagues. Photo by Truman Rec Center

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

NCAA| Truman’s status as a Div. II school makes them subject to different rules than larger Div. I Universities versity, Southwest Baptist University and William Jewell College. Truman has been a member since 2013.

Finally, Div. III is the lowest level of competition. There are no ath-

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Truman fans watch a game at Stokes Stadium. Bulldog Football opens the season Sept. 7. Photo by Truman Athletics

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gets paid by the host school. Many times this ends in a lopsided game that serves as a warm-up for the larger school and a money-making opportunity for the smaller school.

Div. II schools must play at least half their games against other Div. II opponents as a result of this.

Men’s basketball coach Jeff Horner was previously an assistant at the University of North Dakota, a Div. I program.

“It’s definitely a different level of competition and a different level of athletes,” Horner said. “We have some guys who are just on the edge of being Div. I though. There are other differences like rules about how much we can practice in the off-season.”

Truman competes in the GLVC, which is home to 16 teams in five states. It holds competitions in 12 men’s sports and 12 women’s sports.

The schools in the GLVC from Missouri include Drury University, Lindenwood University, Maryville University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri-St. Louis Rockhurst Uni-

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Football and basketball rules differ slightly since these sports are often the largest money makers for their schools.

Div. I football is divided further into the Football Bowl Series (FBS) and the Football Championship Series (FCS). The FBS is the higher level of play of the two where teams compete in a number of bowl games at the end of the season. The FCS mainly consists of basketball schools whose teams play in a playoff format at the end of the season.

Div. II is where Truman athletic teams compete. About 300 schools are a part of Div. II. The main difference between Div. I and II is the number of athletic scholarships offered. Div. II schools offer fewer scholarships and full scholarships are less common with most athletes receiving partial scholarships. Div. II schools must offer five sports for men and five for women, according to the NCAA website.

Many schools in Div. II compete in money games where a Div. II school goes to a Div. I school to play and

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COLUMN| Team U.S.A. wins World Cup and faces unnecessarily harsh criticism SAM ROETTGEN Sports Editor

The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup was won by

Team U.S.A in France earlier this summer. Much has been made surrounding this team both on and off the field. So, here I am many weeks late to tell you how I feel about the U.S. women’s national team.

The controversy surrounding the team began even before they took the field. They have been fighting for equal pay for quite some time. This is a very complex issue and I don’t have the answer, however, one argument that I keep hearing is about how the women’s team is so much better than the men’s team. I think this is a silly reason

for why they should get paid more, but I think there is something interesting going on here.

For the most part, soccer is the premier sport for women in the U.S. Because of this, the best female athletes in the U.S. play soccer. Soccer is far from the premier sport for men in the U.S. LeBron James is not a soccer player, Patrick Mahomes is not a soccer player, Mike Trout is not a soccer player. If they were perhaps the U.S. men’s national team would be better, but they get paid much more to play other sports.

I am not saying that is a valid reason for them to get paid less. If you want them to get paid the same as the men it should be because that is what you think is right, not because they’re better. There are plenty of people who get paid to do things they are not very good at.

The controversy continued into their first match against Thailand when they won 13-0. That’s right, they scored 13 times in a soccer game. Many people and analysts were upset (some were outraged) that the U.S. women ran up the score against Thailand and that they celebrated the 11th, 12th and 13th goals with gusto.

In sports, ‘running up the score’ are fighting words. To accuse someone of this is to say they are being arrogant and disrespectful. I think it would have been more disrespectful if the U.S. women had just kicked the ball around in their own half

instead of attacking. Furthermore, in soccer, it is advantageous to have more goals to improve your scoring differential as that is the first tiebreaker in seeding for knockout play. Usually, a team does not need 13 goals to have a good differential — most of the time around five will do. In my opinion, this is fine and in the words of Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game.” You don’t play to be nice and the only game in which it is acceptable to apologize is the board game “Sorry.”

After that, the U.S. women proceeded to make quick work of the rest of the tournament. They won the final match against The Netherlands 2-0.

One thing I noticed that hasn’t been brought up is the fact that many of their goals came on penalty kicks during the tournament. In fact, the decisive goal in the final match was a penalty kick and in the match against Spain, both goals were from the penalty spot. I wish there was another way in which penalty kicks were done. They always feel very cheap to me. How hard is it to put the ball into the goal from 11 meters away with only the goalie to stop it? I feel like there is a better way this could be done. A goal is a goal though.

The U.S. women’s national team did a good job.

They were expected to win and they won. It just wouldn’t be U.S. sports if we didn’t make some controversy about it.

COLUMN| NBA stars are more marketable than their NFL counterparts CHASE POTTER Staff Writer

The NBA has been one of the fastest-growing

leagues in the world since 2010. The NBA is full of unique superstars with engaging personalities, so it’s easy for fans to immerse themselves and feel as if they personally know some of their favorite athletes. From gaming with fans to social media interactions and television opportunities, the elite talent in the NBA seems to be more marketable and more involved than many of the marquee players in the NFL and other sports.

This is not to say that NFL athletes are not marketable, but the NBA has blown away the NFL in terms of endorsement revenue. In 2018, the top ten endorsement earners in the NBA made a combined $234 million off the court compared to the $90 million made by the top ten NFL earners. This is just one measure that proves NBA stars are the most marketable athletes in the United States, without playing in the most popular sports league.

However, the NBA has not always been a forward-thinking league. In 2005, NBA Commissioner David Stern implemented a pre-game dress code for players in an attempt to solve some image issues caused by the Malice at the Palace, a large brawl between two NBA teams and fans.

This dress code required athletes to wear business casual attire to all games. The dress code was criticized for targeting black players because it specifically outlawed the wearing of chains, headphones, shorts, headgear or hats, t-shirts and all sports apparel. However, after Stern was replaced as NBA Commissioner in 2014, the dress code has not been enforced and since has been used to attract fashion brands to sponsor NBA superstars for their pre-game attire.

The NBA’s loosened grip on their players is what allows their athletes to be so marketable. NBA players are allowed and encouraged to show their personality, voice their opinions, and use their platform within their communities. Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan recently led a campaign bringing attention to the lack of mental health awareness in the NBA. Now all NBA teams will be required to have a mental health professional on staff. Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr has been openly and publicly critical of President Donald Trump with no backlash from the NBA. In fact, many players in the NBA have voiced their political opinions, and even taken stances during the national anthem with little to no repercussion.

The NBA’s lenient handling of its employees is very different from the NFL’s handling of Colin Kaepernick, who was ultimately pushed out

of the NFL for protests similar to those practiced in the NBA. The NFL is also widely scrutinized for its lack of mental health awareness and not prioritizing the safety of their players.

In recent years the NFL faced a lawsuit from former players, citing the league had knowledge of the damaging effects of head trauma and injuries, but chose to withhold the information from their players. This lawsuit cost the league nearly $1 billion. An unwillingness to provide freedom of expression and a lack of awareness for player safety only represent a few of the NFL’s issues.

The NFL has always restricted what players are allowed to wear on gameday, and has even fined players for everything from wearing their socks incorrectly to having cleats that support causes such as breast cancer. While they have loosened their dress code over recent years, they have obviously attempted to suppress the player’s ability of expression.

I believe the NFL wants their players to be charitable and do good in their respective communities, and many NFL athletes fit that description. Who could forget Houston Texans player J.J. Watt raising millions of dollars for Hurricane Harvey relief?

Even though there are many marketable players in the NFL with the potential to be endorsement and media superstars, the NFL has not created an environment that is conducive to that end. Until the NFL loosens its grip on its players, NFL stars may never truly be able to express themselves enough to attract the same amount of attention and money as the superstars of the NBA.

FOOTBALL| Head coach has experienced team but does not want to get ahead of himself Continued from page 14 “Well, generally the expectations never really change,” Nesbitt said. “We’d like to be the best football team we can be, whatever that looks like. Specifically, we’ve got our fair share of experience.

We’ve got as many as what we call ten starters back on defense. We’ve been pretty solid over the past six years from a defensive perspective.”

Nesbitt went on to talk about the high level of defense that Truman has been playing for the past several seasons.

“Offensively, I think as many as eight starters back,” Nesbitt said.

“Certainly very specifically you’ve got two of the all-time greats in Jaden Barr and Jordan Salima. We’ve got some depth at both those positions and at wide receiver. We’ve got to turn over our offensive line.

We just returned two starters, so we have some work to do there.”

He did not put much stock in the preseason poll.

“This is my 40th year and what you or I think of each other going into the season isn’t going to matter when we tee it up and play football,” Nesbitt said. “We’ve been first or second four of the six years we’ve been

in the league, so we’ve certainly had a chance to consistently compete at a pretty high level and we certainly hope to this year.”

2019 will be the senior season for many star players including quarterback Jaden Barr, running back Jordan Salima and defensive lineman Sam Reeves. All these players will try to end their careers with a big season for Truman.

Reeves became Truman’s all-time leader in tackles for loss last season.

He is also one sack away from becoming Truman’s all-time leader in sacks.

Salima also ranks highly in alltime Truman stats where he is eighth and 11th in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns respectively.

Finally, Barr is coming off a season in which he set a Truman record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback. He is also in the top 10 all-time in school history for nearly every passing statistic.

The season kicks off Sept. 7 at Drake University. The home opener is the following week when the Bulldogs take on Wayne State at Stokes Stadium. GLVC play opens Sept. 28 at Quincy.

The Bulldogs play defense against Lincoln University of Missouri in a 2018 game. Truman has many Truman head football coach Gregg Nesbitt. He is servreturning defensive players. Photo by Kara Mackenzie ing his 10th season as coach. Photo by Truman Athletics

14

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

FOOTBALL ENTERS SEASON WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Jaden Barr carries the ball for the Bulldogs in a 2018 game. Barr is entering his senior season at Truman State University. The Bulldogs are expected to do well this season in the GLVC. Photo by Truman Athletics

Bulldogs picked third in preseason poll

SAM ROETTGEN Sports Editor

The football team is entering 2019 with high expectations. In the GLVC coach’s poll, they were picked third in their conference.

Truman State University received 37 total points in the poll. They also received one of eight first-place votes. The defending champion, University of Indianapolis, was at the

top of the poll, receiving the remainder of the first-place votes. Lindenwood University was picked second in its first season in the GLVC. The Truman football team is coming off a season in which they finished 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the GLVC, which earned them third in the conference. This was an unexpected result considering how the season began. They began the season with three losses out of the GLVC,

but quickly bounced back in the next game against Valparaiso University, a Div. I (FCS) opponent. That win kicked off a six-game winning streak.

However, with a chance to win the GLVC outright, the Bulldogs lost the final two games against the University of Indianapolis and Missouri S&T. The team has not been able to reach the same heights they did when they won a share of the GLVC championship in 2016. In that sea-

Truman athletes return early for their preseason practices CHASE POTTER Staff Writer

With the kickoff of a new fall semester comes the start of the 20192020 season for many of the Bulldog teams and athletes. Each year many of the athletes return to Kirksville early, either to welcome their incoming freshman class or to prepare for the upcoming season.

The men’s basketball team is one of many Bulldog programs that returns to campus early to prepare for their upcoming season, and to welcome in their seven new team members.

“Coming back early gives us a chance to get back into our workout routines, and prepare for the semester,” said redshirt Junior and team captain Turner Scott. When asked about the benefits of returning to campus early Scott said that the first week back on campus is important for the team to bond and improve their chemistry. “We get to talk to our new guys a lot during Truman week as well, and help them settle in and figure out how to manage their first year of college.”

In addition to getting a head start on the looming semester and season, student athletes attend multiple meetings during Truman week over NCAA athlete compliance and Title IX rules, which are mandated by the NCAA. The football, volleyball, and cross country teams will also be in action during Truman week, but with a different purpose. With each of these VOLUME 111

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teams scheduled to have their first contest in early September, they will be laying the groundwork for a successful season.

“We have two-a-days for the whole week before class starts,” said outside hitter Ellie Kaat on the upcoming volleyball season. “The goal is to fine tune everything now, so that once the season hits we’re playing at

a high level and have a big shot at (the) postseason.”

As the 2019-2020 school year draws near, students and studentathletes alike are preparing to pursue another successful year. To prepare with them, and support Truman athletics visit trumanbulldogs.com to purchase season tickets and the 2019-2020 TruPass.

Truman women’s basketball held an event on Sunday. The coaches and players were ready to play before freshman return. Photo by Sam Roettgen tmn.truman.edu

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son, the Bulldogs finished 8-3 overall and 7-1 in conference en route to a share of the GLVC crown with Southwest Baptist University.

Head football coach Gregg Nesbitt is entering his tenth season for the Bulldogs. He has a career record of 49-49 with Truman and is five wins away from being the third-winningest coach in program history.

See FOOTBALL page 13

Div. II’s role at Truman SAM ROETTGEN Sports Editor

Truman State University competes in Div. II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Most of their events take place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). There is a big difference between Div. I and Div. II as far as rules, eligibility and scholarships are concerned.

Both Div. I and II are governed by the NCAA. Over 1,200 schools across the country are members of the NCAA. Within the NCAA are multiple levels of competition known as divisions,, according to the NCAA’s website.

Div. I is the most competitive level of play in the NCAA. These schools have the highest budgets and the most athletic scholarships.

There must be seven sports for men and seven sports for women at each Div. I school.

See NCAA page 12

Spike cheering on the Bulldogs last semester. Truman is in Div. II of the NCAA. Photo by Truman Athletics @TrumanMediaNet

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