Northwest Missourian

SIDNEY LOWRY Managing Editor | @sidney_lowry

The search for Northwest’s 11th president has continued throughout winter break and is looking to bring finalist candidates to campus in February and to announce the new president this spring.

The Presidential Search Committee, composed of 15 members that represent different groups on campus and the community, met in early December to review 16 applicants after a screening process from search firm Anthem Executive. Of those 16 applicants, nine semifinalists will be going through interviews.

Board of Regents Chair John Moore said after those interviews, they hope to bring three or four on campus for interviews.

“We will basically have about one hour interview sessions with nine different candidates over a two day period,” Moore said. “After we’re done with those, we’ll decide who to move on to the on campus phase, which becomes the public phase of the interviewing.”

Moore said following the interview of the nine candidates and the selection of the finalists, the names will be released to the public along with a schedule for on campus interview groups. Similarly to the input sessions toward the beginning of the search, there will be select times for different groups.

“You go from the confidential phase, now you’re going into the public phase. You know, it’s a pretty big commitment on somebody’s part of having to let their employer know that they are interviewing for a job somewhere else, so it will probably be around a week before the first candidates come onto campus that we would be providing that information,” Moore said.

He said the on campus interviews with the candidates would be like a ‘town hall’ meeting where everyone within the designated group for that time could come and ask the candidate questions.

If a person is not able to make it to their specific time, Moore said there would be a meeting for the general public.

Student Senate President Elizabeth Motazedi was selected for the search committee as the only representative for students on the committee. She’s been trying to push for a candidate that will be involved with student life.

“My biggest thing is that I want someone who is going to be keeping the students’ voice and perspective in mind,” she said. “Even someone who is just going to be very involved with the students. I have definitely expressed that when it comes to searching for people, and there’s been times where I have seen that in some candidates.”

The committee will continue to be involved throughout the next phase of interviews with the semifinalists.

“I would just say that this a great experience and that students on campus, even faculty and staff, they can definitely trust that we are going to find the best candidate for this position,” Motazedi said. “The future is really looking bright for this. I’m really excited.”

Moore said the new president would likely start at the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2023. More coverage to come on the selection of the 11th Northwest president.

ballot business

Colorado that the communities that passed the sales tax earlier on were in a better position to go ahead and take advantage of the initial sales tax,” McDanel said.

If the sales tax passes, the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association estimates it to bring in nearly $13,000 a month in revenue for the city, around $150,000 annually.

“The additional revenue would go to the General Fund, which supports critical services — police, fire, street maintenance in the city of Maryville,” McDanel said.

SIDNEY LOWRY Managing Editor | @sidney_lowry

Maryville City Council passed its first ordinance of the year with the approval of a 3% sales tax on adult-use marijuana within the city to appear on the April 4 municipal election ballot.

After Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 in the Nov. 8 election, the use of recreational marijuana officially became legal Dec. 8. With the

passed amendment, cities are allowed to impose a tax on all tangible personal property retail sales of marijuana if approved in the election.

City Manager Greg McDanel said this is not unheard of, as there are at least a couple dozen of cities looking at imposing a tax on recreational marijuana on the April ballot. City Clerk Stacy Wood said there have been multiple cities that have reached out to the city to share its tax ordinance.

“I believe research probably shows in

After discussion in the last two Council meetings, it was unanimously approved.

Councilman Benjamin Lipiec asked if there would be education provided to people for the ballot question. McDanel said there will be meetings with staff and information to the general public near the end of February.

“I think it’s good so everybody realizes it’s just a use tax, not an everybody tax,” Lipiec said.

SEE COUNCIL |

Donut shop sees successful start

LAKEN MONTGOMERY News Reporter | @lmontgomerymiss

Recently the Maryville community has welcomed a new business, Daylight Donuts, owned by Chanbora Chhauv and Sony Sun. The business that is located at 624 S. Main quickly became popular in the community. It opened for business Dec. 30, 2022. Since then, it has seen a steady flow of business that comes to enjoy fresh baked donuts.

“The goals I have for this location is to become stable and sell more products,” Chhauv said.

This location has been in the works for quite some time. The store was bought two years ago from an old, abandoned Dairy Queen. The owners have been working on it since, getting it ready to open to the public.

“The construction has been taking a while because of COVID and budgeting everything, we had to keep setting the opening date further back,” Chhauv said.

Chhauv expects an increase in customers as more college students and community members are returning from break. He hopes that with an increase in customers, Daylight Donuts can remain open and in Maryville.

The Daylight Donuts chain business has been around since Sept. 22, 1954. The first shop opened in Joplin, Missouri, and has since spread across the United States with 346 locations, with 18 being in Missouri. Some locations include St. Joseph, Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville.

Daylight Donuts opens from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. It offers takeout and dine-in and even takes special orders. The menu includes fresh baked donuts, breakfast sandwiches, croissants, energy drinks, coffee and other refreshments.

“There isn’t any product that sells better than the others since new customers like to try all of the different products we have,” Chhauv said.

Chhauv’s inspiration to start a business in town began when he was driving from Nebraska and noticed opportunities in Maryville and eventually decided to open up shop here.

Inside of newly opened Daylight Donuts sits rows of freshly baked donuts for its new customers. After tearing down the previous building that used to be an old Dairy Queen, Daylight Donuts built its new location off of Main Street.

GRAPHIC BY MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SEE DONUTS | A4

Animal shelters see overcrowding following holidays

Animal shelters in the area are facing overcrowding after the holiday season. New Nodaway Humane Society Manager Wendy Combs said in a couple of months there will probably be several animals returned to the shelter.

The humane society was facing overcrowding before the holiday season, and it has only improved a little. The shelter has had a few new litters of puppies come in during the holiday season on top of the animals that were already there.

Many families give and receive pets for the holidays, and this can lead to the pets being taken back to the animal shelter after an unsuccessful adoption. These animals being brought back leads to overcrowding in the shelters.

People do not always have the time and resources for the

required care of the new pets, which results in the pet being dropped of at an animal shelter. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,more than six million animals are taken in by shelters a year.

Other animal shelters are also being afected by this. The Friends of the Animal Shelter in St. Joseph is also being afected by overcrowding. Holly Bowie, animal control manager, said they would not say the shelter is overcrowded at the moment, but it is very full.

“Around the holidays we were full. We had no cages open. We had to call for emergency foster,” Bowie said. “We saw a huge infux of intake over the holidays.”

Emergency fostering is one of the ways shelters are trying to keep overcrowding down and decrease the numbers of euthanization. The New Nodaway Humane Society also limits intakes, especially those from diferent counties.

“If we took every animal that people needed or wanted to surrender to us, we would be over full all the time,” Combs said.

Bowie said because of the stress of the holidays and the current economy, people who have been considering rehoming their pets decide to go through with it. She said the holiday season is not a recommended time to adopt pets because of the difcult situations the pet owners may have not considered when the season is over.

Shelters that are not no-kill shelters have to euthanize animals when extreme overcrowding occurs. Over 900,000 animals are euthanized each year in America, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is because there are not enough resources to support an overcrowded shelter. Money and supplies have become limited.

“Anytime we get animals with behavior issues, obviously they

are the most affected because they are the most at risk of not fnding a new home or being euthanized,” Bowie said.

Shelters recommend if a person fnds an animal, to try to fnd the owner before coming to the shelter to help with overcrowding. Adopting is a long process. Animals require several weeks to acclimate to a new environment. New owners need to have time and resources to provide for a new animal.

“Impulse adopting is not very helpful because a lot of times animals end up in worse situations, or they end up back at the shelter,” Bowie said.

The Saint Joseph animal shelter has implemented a return-to-feld program for stray cats. Bowie said healthy stray cats should be kept in their environment, and a potential owner should be found before bringing them to the shelter.

Bowie said sometimes people

are too intimidated to come into a shelter to look for a lost pet, and animals then get left at the shelter when they have a permanent home.

The shelters can’t turn people away so it is hard for overcrowding to be prevented. Bowie said the shelter tries to delay the relinquishes to help with overcrowding. This is one of the things done to try to not have to euthanize animals.

The shelters encourage people considering adopting an animal to contemplate everything that goes into owning a pet. The expenses, training and time that goes into pet care is something potential owners need to be aware of. Combs recommends a lot of research before coming to adopt a pet, and it can’t be an impulse decision.

Campus sticks to federal laws for marijuana regulation

During the Nov. 8 election, Amendment 3 was passed which legalizes the usage of recreational marijuana in Missouri. Northwest will still be enforcing the current rules regarding marijuana usage.

Amanda Cullin, interim chief of University Police Department, said no one can use or distribute marijuana on campus.

“Federal law precedes state law,” Cullin said. “There will not be a change in policy on campus.”

Northwest will continue to follow the federal law due to federal funding the campus receives. All forms of marrijuana, including dried, unprocessed, and infused products are banned. Northwest is a part of the Drug-Free Schools and Communi-

ties Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act.

The federal law classifes marijuana as a substance with a high risk of substance abuse and little medical benefts, which is why it is illegal on a federal level.

Though marijuana was legalized, Cullin said she does not think the amount of violations on campus will increase.

“I think our job is to educate the campus community on the expectations and the policies that we’re required to follow. I do not anticipate a huge increase,” Cullin said.

The current rules state no possession of illegal drugs is allowed. The punishment for use without a medical card under the new age of 21 will stay the same. Medical marijuana is still not allowed on campus. The punishments for students include losing Federal Student Aid, suspension or expulsion from the University.

missed you.

All violators are subject to the state and federal punishments as well, which includes being imprisoned and fnes. Campus visitors in violation will be told to leave and subject to all state and federal punishments even if the visitor is over the legal age of 21.

“The city of Maryville as well as campus has a no-smoking policy, and that will still remain in efect and impactful,” Cullin said.

Northwest is an active member of Partners in Prevention– a Missouri program dedicated to educating and creating substance abuse free campuses. Cullin said this is a good program for students to be aware of because of what it does across Missouri.

Though recreational marijuana is now legal for adults over 21, the UPD wants students to be aware of the outcomes of use and that the rules and regulations on campus are going to stay the same.

Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix Zulu retreats to the other side of her kennel. It is hard for shelters to prevent overcrowding due to being unable to turn people away.

Three-month-old Sven and Olaf cuddle together in the hammock in their kennel at the New Nodaway Humane Society. Sven and Olaf are domestic shorthair mixes.

Sassy Sue is a one-year-old domestic shorthair mix that was owner/guardian surrendered.

New Nodaway Humane Society two-year-old Kahn stands and poses in his kennel.

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

DAKOTA WEAVER PHOTO EDITOR

PERSON BEHIND THE PAINTING

Local

painter

herself

SIDNEY LOWRY Managing Editor | @sidney_lowry

supports

through art

When driving down Main Street, people will pass dozens of storefronts and businesses each labeled with their own unique logo and window decorations. Looking through the windows, those passing by can peer into each store.

Surrounded by other businesses downtown, there is a building in between First Street and Jenkins Street with hard plywood covering what would be windows. Instead of looking inside of 39th Street Liquor, individuals are met with 11-foot painted bottles, barrels and corks.

Ashton Markt, a local artist, spent nearly five days on these murals that all started with a piece of paper, a pencil and a computer.

“When I actually start to paint the mural, I usually try to sketch things out first with like a chalk or pencil and then they can kind of visualize that better and make changes easier. And then I sketch out a little bit of my idea and usually start with the painting. Every project is different,” she said.

The Oregon, Missouri, native didn’t start her journey with professional art doing the mural covering the entire storefront of 39th Street Liquor, but rather puppy portraits she did as a gift for friends that eventually turned into commission pieces and bigger projects for businesses.

After graduating from Northwest in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design, she now fully supports herself through freelance work.

“I really like having the freedom of choosing my own schedule or not having to go to an office every day at the same time,” Markt said. “And I like that every day is different and every project is different, keeps things fresh and exciting. And so I didn't really start out that way, I guess, but kind of quickly saw that I could take it in that direction and started to move that way.”

Her first mural was done at her school, South Holt, in her hometown where she painted in the school cafeteria. Since then, she has done multiple murals such as a Kansas City Chiefs painting she did for The Goat Grub and Pub, a stage background for the Holt County Autumn Festival and a mural for Forest City.

Ashton Markt’s art doesn’t only lie on the outside of buildings, but ranges from a piece of paper with some pastels to diamond etching. Though there are different mediums she is more comfortable with, she said she has tried just about everything.

Even though she is getting outside of her comfort zone with the type of work

she does, and having done murals before, Markt said there is something about painting she really enjoys.

“It's kind of forgiving in a way like nothing is permanent or you can't go back and change something once it's done. You can kind of continue to work with it and build upon what you've already created. And make, you know a finished product that you're happy with because it's not like set in stone and has a lot of flexibility,” Markt said.

Markt isn’t alone when it comes to painting the sides of buildings and large walls, she has help from her mother Shelly Markt. Ashton Markt said her mom took up painting when she was younger, and they have been working together on projects since she started.

“I was a stay at home mom for the most part and instead of doing that for pleasure, then it turned into a job and people were ordering and requesting things to be painted,” Shelly Markt said. “I painted on everything, clothing and just everything. There was nothing I didn't paint on for a while.”

The Markt’s have worked on multiple projects, big and small. Shelly Markt said though she doesn’t think her daughter needs her help with anything, she still loves to be there to assist her with anything she needs.

“My mom has been a huge support for me,” Ashton Markt said. “It’s kind of just been her and I for a long time, and so kind of seeing how hard she worked and I could see that she could do anything, I thought that I could do anything, too, and be able to rely on like a skill that you have or something that you can do to make your living on.”

Ashton Markt said her and her mom work a lot together and have been doing projects like reupholstering and refinishing furniture. Though she likes the finished products and the connection they have more than anything.

When looking back on where she started, Ashton Markt said she never saw herself being a full time artist who was able to support herself. With the help of her mother, and perseverance with new projects, she said she is proud of herself and what she has accomplished.

“I’d say just believe in yourself. Don't give up,” Ashton Markt said. “If you really want to accomplish something, you can do it. If it might not be the way that you originally think it was going to be, you can do it in a different way. Things that you might not think you can do, or don't think you ever would do, you're out here doing them now. So don't give up.”

Ashton Markt painted the stage background for the Holt County Autumn Festival in September. Her first mural was done only a couple of years out of high school and since then, she and her mother have done several more.

SUBMITTED

Ashton Markt doesn’t only stick to painting, but likes to work on different mediums like freehand diamond etching on granite monuments.

Ashton Markt completed a mural of what Forest City, Missouri, used to look like back in its prime.

SUBMITTED

CRIME LOG

for the week of Jan. 12

Maryville Police Department

Jan. 8

A summons was issued to Max Karagen for a peace disturbance on the 400 block of North Vine Street.

Jan. 7

A summons was issued to Benjamin J. McGill, 19, and Jasmine R. Ford, 20, for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street.

There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 100 block of South Vine Street.

There was an accident between an unknown driver and Tanner G. Dalinghaus on the 300 block of East First Street.

Jan. 6

There was an accident between an unknown driver and United Fiber on the 400 block of North Dewey Street.

Jan. 5

There is an ongoing investigation for stealing by deceit on the 400 block of East Fifth Street.

Jan. 3

There is an ongoing investigation for burglary at multiple storage units on the 2000 block of East First Street.

A summons was issued to Mujahid Mohammed, 22, for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

There is an ongoing investigation for burglary on the 400 block of West Edwards Street.

There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 600 block of East Seventh Street.

Jan. 1

A summons was issued to Venkata R. Yarram, 26, for not having a valid driver’s license, failure to register a motor vehicle and failure to maintain financial responsibility on the 600 block of East Seventh Street.

A summons was issued to Vikas R. Yennam, 22, for not having a valid diver’s license on the 500 block of South Main Street.

Dec. 31

A summons was issued to Gabriel L. Miller, 18, and Abigal M. Seipel, 18, for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street.

There was an accident between Irma R. Copeland 72, and Tonia M. Griffey, 56, on the 1600 block of South Main Street.

Dec. 30

There is an ongoing investigation for stealing by deceit on the 100 block of North Vine Street.

There is an ongoing investigation for harassment on the 300 block of Volunteer Avenue.

A summons was issued to Melandy Y. Myer, 26, for failure to appear in court on the 300 block of North Main Street.

Dec. 29

A summons was issued to Harley E. Haley, 19, for a minor in possession and having alcohol in a park on the 500 block of North Laura Street.

A summons was issued to Allyson M. Earl, 18, for a minor in possession on the 500 block of North Laura Street.

A summons was issued to Shawon Roberts, 30, for being in a city park after hours on the 1000 block of North Country Club Road.

Dec. 27

There is an ongoing investigation for burglary on the 300 block of East Fourth Street.

Dec. 26

There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 100 block of North Davis Street.

There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1400 block of South Munn Street.

There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1400 block of South Munn Street.

Dec. 25

There was an accident between Richard W. Carr, 64, and Mae F. Mackey, 39, on South Main Street and East South Hills Drive. Carr was issued a citation for failing to yield.

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CONTINUED FROM A1

The Missouri Cannabis Trade Association also estimated there are 190 dispensaries open and expected to surpass 200 in 2023. When it comes to the existing dispensaries, those businesses can convert their medical marijuana licenses into comprehensive licenses where it can be allowed to sell recreationally. McDanel said Sunrise Dispensary was in support of this sales tax and has requested a comprehensive license.

“Amendment 3 also creates a microbusiness dispensary license, which is yet to be really completed by the Missouri Department of

DONUTS

CONTINUED FROM A1

“I think that we have a good impact on the Northwest community,” Sun said.

Chhauv said the most difficult challenge for the business since opening is the number of employees on staff. Unsure of how many he would need on a day-to-day basis, he underestimated how many workers he would need. This location has two employees and two co-owners that take on the business everyday to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Daylight Donuts has been open for less than a month, but that hasn’t stopped it from showing its success in the Maryville community. Many college students are happy to have another restaurant to choose from. With this being the only donut shop in a forty mile radius, it opens up a new type of business that isn’t seen here locally.

“I’m excited to have another breakfast spot in Maryville. I love donuts, and they’re hard to find around here,” Northwest Freshman Carly Battreal said.

Northwest to host 4 events to celebrate MLK day

LAKEN MONTGOMERY News Reporter | @lmontgomerymiss

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting the fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week. Justin Mallett, assistant vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, helped put together this weeklong celebration. There will be many different events to allow students and community members to embrace the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and the men and women behind the civil rights movement.

“...There’s more to Dr. King than the “I Have a Dream” speech,” Mallett said. “One of the things that he said in his speech is ‘I want white kids and Black kids and everybody to come together.’ This is an opportunity for Northwest as an institution to come together and embrace those words and embrace what Dr. King is saying. This is a chance for our community as well as our employees here as well.”

Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. day, will start out in the Student Union Boardroom at 10

Health and Senior Services, but that would allow for 18 microbusinesses per congressional district,” McDanel said.

The ownership of microbusiness dispensaries are restricted to those who are falling below the federal poverty line, those with service-connected disabilities, those who have been convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses, reside in a distressed census tract or graduates from an unaccredited school district. The first of these rounds to be approved through the Missouri DHSS will accredit six different dispensaries by Oct. 4. The following will roll out in June 2024 and April 2025.

Maryville city staff is also working with Lauber Municipal Law

Firm on other ordinance changes in order to comply with Amendment 3 to be brought to the next Council meeting Jan. 23.

The tax will have to pass with a majority vote in the April 4 municipal election to be imposed.

Other City Council Business: • South Main Corridor Improvement Project is still on track for its spring completion. Curbs, concrete and driveways are being installed on the west side of South Main Street.

• There are two open positions for City Council in the April election. Following the deadline filing period, the Council approved Bryan Williams and Benjamin Lipiec to appear on the ballot.

Peace Lunch

a.m. with a presentation of the State of the University Address put together by Mallett. This includes a showcase of the work the DI Office has done on and off campus, informing students how it plans to move forward in the work that has been done around the community and what students can do to help.

Following the address, the 12th annual Peace Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 17 in the Student Union Boardroom. In collaboration, Northwest alumna Kimberly Heslop will be delivering a keynote address. Entertainment is provided by the Kansas City Boys and Girls Choir, formed in 1995, it makes it one of the oldest African American youth choral groups in the region.

Heslop, member of Mentor Committee and alumna of Northwest, is actively involved in the Maryville community. She volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Veronica’s Voice and is a tutor in the Learning and Development Center.

“I have a passion for helping

GRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH ATHY-SEDBROOK ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

others enrich their lives in any way possible. Cooking is my favorite hobby when I am not out exploring my inner food at new and unique restaurants. At night, you can find me curled up reading a book or challenging a friend to a game of Words with Friends,” Heslop said.

Students and staff are invited to watch the film “Voices of Civil Rights’’ 6 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Student Union Boardroom. The movie shines a spotlight on the civil rights movement that are not quite as known. After the movie, there will be a small discussion about the topics relating to not only the movies, but the whole week.

Inky Johnson, national motivational speaker and former cornerback for the NFL, will also be speaking about his story about his life threatening injury that left him partially paralyzed to motivate students to persevere through their troubles and to better themselves. This event will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 17 in Mary Linn Auditorium in the Ron Houston Center for the Per-

forming Arts.

The planning for these events began in early October 2022. The DI Office started by thinking about who it would want to speak to the students and try to involve the Northwest community and alumni as much as possible.

This is the first year the DI Office has received funding by the Student Senate to help pay for the events throughout the week. Mallett hopes the Senate will continue to help the program by institutionalizing it and getting more people involved.

On average, the events get around 50-100 participants. Mallett said he hopes to increase the numbers and see more people come and get involved.

“I think it’s important to be able to enhance a sense of belonging and be able to acknowledge a key being in history, just being able to acknowledge Dr. King and being able to go across campus in various areas and recognize pictures of Dr. King and his work,” Mallett said.

City Manager Greg McDanel gives his report at the Jan. 9 City Council meeting. After discussion at the last couple of City Council meetings, McDanel presented the information on the 3% sales tax that will appear on the April ballot.

SIDNEY LOWRY MANAGING EDITOR

Inky Johnson Speaker

Inside of newly opened Daylight Donuts sits rows of freshly baked donuts for its new customers. After tearing down the previous building that used to be an old Dairy Queen, Daylight Donuts built its new location off of Main Street.

LAKEN MONTGOMERY NEWS REPORTER

MAKAYLA POLAK Editor-in-Chief @kaypolak

As a 22-year-old college student, I know that drinking, parties and bars are just a piece of the college experience. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your twenties, but what is wrong is using it as an excuse after sexually assaulting another person.

Many of us have grown up conditioned to find alcohol as a societal normality. Majority of college students, underage or not, are known to drink in college. Whether this came by choice, the way a person was raised or even by peer pressure, it is very normal to see a person drinking.

So if drinking alcohol is such a normal occurrence, then why do we allow men and women to get away with sexually assaulting a person while being under the influence?

First and foremost, a person’s judgment is impaired after drinking. People do not make choices, do and say things that they normally would. The brain’s communication pathway is altered when interfered with alcohol consumption. This is a well known fact and I hate to admit it, but we allow it to be an excuse far too often.

Just as a person is not allowed to drive under the influence would end up in jail and receive a DUI, a person that commits sexual assault against another person should be treated the same. They should be held accountable for their actions, drunk or not.

It is very possible that a person may make the argument that “they would never do such a thing,” and that may be true for their sober self, but as I just mentioned, people do not function in the same manner when they are drinking. That argument should never be held as a reliable piece of information.

Alcohol induces blackouts, which are gaps in a person’s memory of events that happened. After drinking, it’s possible for a person to not recall what happened, forgetting any and all details about something.

Of course, in this state, a person may forget that they even sexually assaulted a person, but that is no excuse. Not remembering an event due to the consumption of alcohol does not mean that it didn’t occur.

At the end of the day, the assailant understood the factors that alcohol may have on their body and still made the choices they did. Being under the influence does not excuse a person’s behavior, and it should never allow a person to get away with violating another person.

Victims of sexual assault are immediately disregarded and written off once people find out that they were under the influence. This is brutally wrong. If you want to be mad and blame the survivor because they drank too much, then you have to also be mad that the assailant violated that person.

We need to start believing survivors rather than putting an assailant’s words first — especially if alcohol is involved. Alcohol in a person’s body does not change the fact that a crime was committed.

When first coming to the Northwest campus, students start Advantage before classes begin. This includes numerous events and information to get students involved and become more acclimated with the University.

All of these events are undoubtedly helpful, specifically one in particular. The “Can I Kiss You” event helps students become more educated in the realm of sexual violence. The majority of the presentation covers consent, prevention and improving support systems for survivors.

The event, for the most part, is not taken as seriously as the topic covered should be. It takes a heavy topic and takes a light-hearted approach to educate the students, but as most of us can recall, the event is filled with laughter and jokes. It needs to be taken more seriously.

The Editorial Board recognizes this effort by the University and appreciates the step being taken, but we also know that more needs to be done. Though we know Northwest is not responsible for the actions of its students in regards to the topic, we also know that there are more things the University can do to help.

Sexual violence of all forms deeply affects not only survivors, but their families and friends. Violating another person in a sexual man-

ner is unacceptable on every level. There is not enough being done not only in higher education, but in high schools and health classes too.

Here at Northwest, we have Engage, a program dedicated to informing staff, faculty and students about sexual violence prevention and education. It also makes efforts to ensure that our campus stays safe and feels secure.

Engage also has training, workshops and speakers hosted at Northwest. Anyone can register for these trainings and can request speakers or workshops. All of these are beneficial to the prevention and education of sexual violence, but they shouldn’t be optional.

The people that need the training and information the most, such as assailants, are not going to willingly register or show up to events. The only time they are going to, possibly, be required to attend these are after the assault has already occurred and was an outcome requirement of a Title IX case.

The purpose of Engage is to prevent sexual violence. To truly make this as effective as it can be, these trainings should be a requirement for all students.

Faculty of Northwest is required to go through training sessions every year through Vector LMS,

Higher Education Edition. This training includes watching a video and taking a quiz over the topic. One of those training sessions are Title IX and Sexual Harassment — a training that should also be required for students.

If faculty are required to repeat this — essential — training each year, then at the very least, students should also be required to go through similar, if not the same, training once. The training required for faculty is a 27 minute video and a quiz. Something that can take approximately half an hour can save the lives of many people.

The requirement of these trainings is just a step in a multi-level process to help educate everyone on sexual violence and the prevention of it. Northwest has been named the safest campus in Missouri, to ensure that we continue to hold this to be true, we should be seeing more events, speakers and required trainings to keep people from becoming victims of sexual violence.

We stand with survivors and hope to help make a change for not only your future but others as well. We do not believe that the training at the beginning of your first year is sufficient enough to leave a lasting impression until graduation and beyond.

THE STROLLER:

Your Bearcat idolizes WebMD ‘doctors’

I’ll admit it, I’m a lover of WebMD. There is nothing more thrilling than going on Google, typing in your symptoms and letting a website convince you that you are going to die in three business days. WebMD and I have been through a lot.

A couple years ago, WebMD told me that I had lung cancer — severe lung cancer. I needed a lung transplant and should be rushed to the emergency room. It ended up being a common cold, but the adren-

aline rush was fun I guess.

What most people don’t talk about though is that not only can it diagnose you, it can treat you. WebMD taught me that if I lose feeling in my arm after laying on it for two hours watching TikToks, then all I have to do is amputate it. Simple.

I can’t forget to mention the symptom checker feature on its site. I input my age and sex, chose which part of my body is experiencing symptoms and then find out that the cramp-

ing in my leg is actually just appendicitis — you know, the abdominal issue.

The symptom checker has become a hobby for me. Some people play video games, some watch movies and others run, for some reason, I on the other hand create fake illnesses on WebMD.

No, it’s actually just clinically insane how this website can tell most of the population they have cancer and suddenly we are making appointments to see our doctor. Not

only that, but some people are even correcting their doctors because WebMD said something different.

It doesn’t matter though, I am still going to Google my symptoms and then pray to the God above, hoping this time, I won’t have to get an organ removed like last time — R.I.P. my gallbladder.

OUR VIEW:

HAILEY JOHNSON-NESSER CARTOONIST

The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.

BATTLE

“The better the team, a lot of times, the less sleep you get,” McCollum said. “I don’t know if it’s really considered fun, as much as it’s considered a challenge. It’s always good to be challenged because you’re able to come out of your comfort zone and improve from it.”

“That’s why you come to Northwest — to play the top teams,” Bernard said. “In the MIAA, it’s any given night. Anybody can beat anybody. Just coming into the game, not trying to get too high or too low. Just trying to play our game and live with the results.”

One of the biggest factors to the Bronchos’ success on offense is sophomore guard Jaden Wells. Wells is No. 1 in the MIAA in points per game, scoring 19.8 points per contest on 46% shooting — 47.1% from 3-point range. The Hurst, Texas, native has been named the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the past two weeks and has scored in the double digits every game this season.

“I think his volumes went up. He’s shooting it a lot more,” McCollum said. “He was always an elite shooter. Just because he can shoot at such an elite level, his trigger is so quick and he can do it in transition, it makes him really

difficult to defend.”

After Central, Northwest will take on Newman (5-10, 1-8 MIAA) Jan. 14 in Wichita, Kansas. The Jets are No. 12 in the MIAA in points per game and No. 13 in the conference in points allowed.

Northwest has won three consecutive games over Newman by an average margin of 23 points. Bernard said it doesn’t matter how any of the previous matchups went.

“We gotta not look past them,” Bernard said. “They’re gonna be a tough opponent. Always scrappy. The record might not show it, but they’re college basketball players. They’re always gonna be tough and ready to go.”

“Honestly, in my time here, we’ve played better offensively on the road,” Meyer said. “That’s another factor. Maybe just getting out there in a different environment will hopefully help us, but we got to make sure we still compete defensively.”

The last time the Bearcats played the Bronchos was Jan. 20, 2022, in Edmond. The game resulted in a 79-69 win for the ’Cats. This season’s first meeting marks the 15th time the Bronchos and Bearcats have faced each other, with both teams having seven wins against each other.

While Meyer may look to the trip for a confidence boost, so far Northwest is 1-3 on the road. However, Central is 4-4 at home.

The Bronchos average 70.9 points per game while allowing 72.9 points per contest. In comparison, the ’Cats average 59.8 points per game and allow 61.6 points per matchup. Northwest sophomore guard Peyton Kelderman said the key to getting back on track is not overthinking it and just playing basketball.

“When things are going bad or good it’s easy to, like, overanalyze stuff, and we’re just making

a big emphasis on just playing basketball and being fundamentally sound,” Kelderman said.

Next on the docket for Northwest after the Bronchos is a game against Newman. The Jets average more points per game than the Bearcats at 63.8.

Defensively, Northwest has the advantage against Newman, as the Jets allow 68.1 points per game. Northwest freshman guard Lindsey Kelderman said defense is something the Bearcats can control, even when the shots aren’t falling offensively.

“Defense, you can always bring the energy and stuff like that,” Lindsey Kelderman said. “I think we’ve focused on doing that so we can be consistent at it.”

This road trip could make an impact on Northwest’s hopes of a berth into the MIAA Tournament. The Bearcats are No. 11 in the MIAA, Central is No. 10 and Newman is No. 9. Peyton Kelderman said gaining confidence and keeping it will be important.

“It’s more just focusing on being confident and being like this could be a good game,” Peyton Kelderman said. “This is a good road trip to get our confidence back. Really playing and feeding off of each other and just doing simple plays that will end up making a big difference in the score.”

Northwest women’s basketball freshman guard Ella Moody drives towards the paint around a Fort Hays State player Dec. 11 in Bearcat Arena.

MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

INFOGRAPHICS BY ASST. DESIGN EDITOR SAVANNAH ATHY-SEDBROOK

Boys basketball to take on Glenwood

Over 100 miles separate Maryville boys basketball from its next opponent, Glenwood (Iowa). The Spoofhounds will make the journey Jan. 14 up to Glenwood, Iowa, with hopes of continuing their strong season.

The last meeting between Maryville and Glenwood was Feb. 15, 2022. The game was a slugfest that ended with the Spoofhounds on top, 62-59.

A big reason for the Spoofhounds’ success this season is the offense. Maryville’s offense is averaging 65.3 points per game this season. Coach Matt Stoecklein said Maryville has worked on its shot selection and putting up the best shot for the team.

“Don’t come down and take a mediocre shot or a shot that ‘might’ go in. Let’s take a much better shot,” Stoecklein said. “We do have great shooters and great finishers, but, like I said, we’ve been focused on getting the best wideopen 3 and getting to the rim.”

Junior guard Delton Davis said ball movement has been key for the Spoofhounds (9-3) offense to score.

“We got a lot of solid shooters on the perimeter. Derek (Quinlin), Peyton (McCollum) and Caden (Stoecklein) just have incredible finishing ability,” Davis said. “Then, 6’5 Keaton (Stone) gets a lot of rebounds, a lot of putbacks. We got a lot of different attributes and skills between us, and I think that allows us to get a lot of points scored every game.”

Maryville isn’t only tough on the offensive side of the ball but also on the defensive side, only allowing 53.4 points per game.

UP NEXT MHS vs. Glenwood (Iowa) 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14 Glenwood, Iowa

Davis said the ’Hounds put a lot of emphasis on defense in practice. Junior guard Derek Quinlin agrees but said the Spoofhounds are also doing well defensively because the team plays as a unit.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do. We’re not as big of a team, but we definitely try to work as hard as we can to keep teams to about 53 points,” Davis said.

“We still need to work on some stuff, keeping the ball in front of us and taking charges and stuff like that,” Quinlin said.

“We’re all athletic and we all can guard all five spots, and that’s good for our team.”

The ’Hounds will have their work cut out for themselves, as Glenwood (8-2) on offense averages 68.9 points per game and, defensively, allows 52.9 points per contest. The Rams have scored 60 or more points in seven games this year, while Maryville has achieved that feat in eight games.

Matt Stoecklein said the ’Hounds take every game as a chance to improve.

“We try to get better at everything — on-ball defense, help-side defense, shot selection, running set, moving without the basketball on offense,”

Matt Stoecklein said. “Regardless of the score, we just got to continue to play really good basketball. It gets ingrained in you that this is how we play regardless of the situation.”

Indoor track season restarts after winter break for Bearcats

WESLEY

Sports Editor | @wesleymiller

Nearly a month after the first meet of the indoor season, Northwest track and field will compete in the Graduate Classic Jan. 13-14 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Graduate Classic breaks up nearly three consecutive home meets. Coach Brandon Masters said he’s not necessarily focusing on the results in this first meet after the hiatus.

“I think the big thing in what I look for is how we prepare,” Masters said. “How do we warm up? Are we taking our event seriously? Are we competing while we’re in the event to a high level? Are we cooling down properly, and then getting ready for our second and third event? So, it’s more about the process than the results or the numbers for me this weekend.”

The 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships are in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Masters said the track at Lincoln is similar to the one athletes will be running on at the championships, so this meet will also be good preparation should they make it that far.

While all of the meets can be used as practice before conference, regional and national championships, this meet will provide some athletes an opportunity to get back into the rhythm of their seasons. Junior Olivia Sattlefield, whose main competition is the hurdles, said she plans to use this meet as a gauge. Masters also said it is important the athletes remember what they’re there to do.

“Just seeing all of the hard work we’ve done so far this season and how that pans out, gives you a good idea of how we’re gonna do later on,” Sattlefield said. “So, that’s just kind of exciting. Just like coach calls it, it’s a ‘rust-buster’ kind of meet, so that’s always fun, and we get to travel. It’s fun to go somewhere else and see how you do in a different environment.”

“I think it’s going to be fun, and I think a key is making sure the kids have fun,” Masters said. “That’s got to be part of it, but it is a business trip, too. We’re not there just for vacation, we’re there to get some stuff done.”

Athletes were already able to gauge themselves a bit at the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic Dec. 9-10. When Northwest heads north, the team will try to repeat or surpass the success from then. On the women’s side, four athletes either met their Division II provisional marks or set new program records. The men’s squad had three athletes surpass their provisional marks.

Masters said it can be hard to keep the athletes focused throughout breaks. He said he and the rest of the coaching staff send out workouts for their athletes to do, and sometimes they’ll open up the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse for workouts. Sattlefield said it can be hard, as an athlete, to stay motivated throughout the break but what helps her is just remembering what the hard work is for.

“One thing that helps me is just really thinking about how hard we work in the first half of the season, and you just don’t wanna lose that,” Sattlefield said. “We do keep each other accountable. We still text our teammates or talk about the workouts we need. That makes it easier, having our teammates.”

UP NEXT Graduate Classic Jan. 13-14 Lincoln, Nebraska

Senior guard Caden Stoecklein attempts a layup against Red Oak Jan. 6 in Maryville High School. The Spoofhounds beat the Tigers 81-52.

RIVER BOYD SPORTS REPORTER

MILLER

Then-junior Caroline Cunningham crosses the finish line in her 5,000-meter run in the 2022 MIAA Indoor Championships Feb. 26.

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Northwest men’s basketball senior guard Diego Bernard puts 2 points on the board for the Bearcats after a layup in the 87-64 win against Missouri Western Jan. 7. Bernard was 6-of-8 from the floor and put up 16 points.

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Showdown Southern

Bearcats to battle Bronchos in ranked, conference clash

WESLEY MILLER Sports Editor | @wesleymiller360

Diego Bernard has played in his fair share of big games with Northwest men’s basketball. The senior guard’s team is the three-time defending champions, and he was a starter for each of those three national championships.

When the No. 4 Bearcats travel Jan. 12 to Edmond, Oklahoma, Bernard will have another big game under his belt. Waiting for Bernard and the rest of his team will be No. 7 Central Oklahoma. Both teams are meeting for the first time of the season and are ranked in the top 10 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches top-25 poll.

“I expect us to come in with a lot of energy,” Bernard said. “Everybody has to be ready to go to start the game. We started off slow the last couple of games, and, in UCO, I think if we start off slow, it’s gonna be a tough place to get back up. For UCO, I know they’re gonna be ready to go.”

Statistically, Northwest (14-1, 7-1 MIAA) and Central Oklahoma (15-1, 9-1 MIAA) are very similar. Both squads come into the game with just one loss each — Northwest’s loss came against Emporia State Dec. 17,

UP NEXT

NW vs. Central Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Edmond, Oklahoma NW vs. Newman 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14 Wichita, Kansas

and Central lost to Missouri Southern Dec. 8. The two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in the MIAA in points per game. The Bearcats score an average of 80.3 points per contest while Central is averaging 79.8 points.

Defensively, Central has the slight upper hand. The Bronchos are No. 2 in the MIAA in points allowed per game with 59.3, and the Bearcats are No. 3 with 60.7 points allowed per game. Northwest coach Ben McCollum said it’s definitely challenging to prepare for teams as balanced as Central. Bernard said it can be fun to face tough teams.

Women prepare for two-game road stretch

Halfway through the season, Northwest women’s basketball is 7-7 and 2-6 in MIAA play.

The Bearcats hope their ‘hooping week’, a week of practice to help build confidence and just play basketball will get the ’Cats back on track this season.

Coach Austin Meyer said his team is taking a different approach to practice ahead of its matchups with Central Oklahoma Jan. 12 and Newman Jan. 14.

“(We) play a lot of one-onone, three-on-three, five-onfive — just call it our ‘hooping week,’” Meyer said. “Hopefully, we can build some confidence offensively and get some of the kids to step up because that’s our main issue right now.”

Northwest will also get a change of scenery, as the Bearcats will hit the road for a two-game trip. The ’Cats road trip against two MIAA foes will kick off against Central (6-8) in Edmond, Oklahoma. North-

What You Missed: How local sports fared during winter break

For some, winter break is time away from school. It serves as the gap between semesters for students, and it gives people a few weeks to relax.

For others, though, there is no break. Instead, the time is used for practice, staying in shape and getting ready for the next competition. Winter sports continued on in the Maryville area. Maryville girls basketball coach Kelly Obley said the time is useful for many reasons.

“We talked about that a lot in our program — we give everything that we can while we’re in our practices, but then we also want to be mindful of how we rest and how we keep that energy going all season long,” Obley said.

Northwest men’s and women’s basketball, Maryville boys and girls basketball, Maryville boys and girls wrestling and Northwest track and field were all in season during the break. All of these sports competed during that time, but some were more successful than others.

Bearcat Arena did not lay empty during the break. The sounds of basketball echoed off its walls during practice for Northwest men’s and women’s basketball but also during a handful of games. Both teams played nine games since Dec. 1, and five of them were in Bearcat Arena.

Northwest men’s basketball is 8-1 since Dec. 1 — 14-1 overall — and is ranked No. 5 in the latest National Association of Basketball coaches. The squad’s only loss came against then-No. 22 Emporia State Dec. 17, in 74-65 fashion. However, senior guard Diego Bernard did not play against the Hornets due to unspecified knee issues.

The women’s team has had a tougher break than the men’s team. Since Dec. 1, the Bearcats are 3-6, with wins coming against McKendree Dec. 13, Northeastern State Dec. 31 and Rogers State Jan. 2. Overall, the women’s team record sits at 7-7. Coach Austin Meyer said there are some things the team needs to focus on improving.

“The biggest thing is just gotta get better offensively,” Meyer said. “We got to find a way to score it.”

Maryville boys basketball is having a successful season, so far, as well. The Spoofhounds are 9-3, with an average margin of 19 points in their wins. The team went on a six-game win streak from Dec. 8-Dec. 29, including two wins against Midland Empire Conference foes.

Maryville girls basketball’s season has been back-and-forth. With a record of 5-5, the Spoofhounds have two wins against MEC opponents.

“We played some great competition,” Obley said. “... All of that is in preparation for playing great teams later on.”

UP NEXT

NW vs. Central Oklahoma 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Edmond, Oklahoma NW vs. Newman 1:30 p.m. Jan. 14 Wichita, Kansas

west will have one day off before hitting the road again to play Newman (6-8) in Wichita, Kansas.

While there are only two athletes on the roster, Maryville girls wrestling competed throughout the break. Seniors Abigail Swink and Clara Viau have participated in four matches since the beginning of December.

Boys wrestling has also passed the halfway point of its season, with 16 matches already in the record books. Most notably, the team placed No. 5 out of 13 teams at the Glenwood Tournament Dec. 17 and came in sixth out of 35 teams at the Mid-Buchanan Invitational Tournament Jan. 7.

“I think we’ve done fine up to this point,” coach Adrean Eskew said. “... I’ve been impressed with how well the team has evolved.”

Back from break

Cream of the crop

The players who are leading Northwest’s basketball teams after 15 games.

Northwest track and field prepares for second meet of indoor season.

Diego Bernard attempts to drive past a Fort Hays State defender during the Bearcats’ 64-49 win over the Tigers Dec. 11. The senior guard finished the contest with a game-high 23 points, four rebounds and three assists.

MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RIVER BOYD Sports Reporter | @RiverBoyd5

Northwest women’s basketball sophomore guard Molly Hartnett eyes her path to dribble around a Fort Hays State defender during the 52-67 loss against the Tigers Dec. 11 in Bearcat Arena.

MAKAYLA POLAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WESLEY MILLER