The Index Vol. 114 Issue 5

Legacy scholarship eligibility expanded

MATT FRANK & JACK RATLIFF Managing Editor & Staff Writer

Truman State University is expand ing eligibility for one of its most popular scholarships.

The Bulldog Legacy Scholarship focuses on awarding money to students who have family members that attended Truman. Pre viously, the scholarship applied only to stu dents whose parents or step parents attended Truman, however, it has been expanded to include grandparents and siblings of current and graduated students. However, it is not ret roactive, and only incoming students of fall 2023 will be eligible.

Hayden Wilsey, associate director admis sions, said the legacy scholarship amount awarded for in-state students is $1000, while the amount awarded for out-of-state students is $2000. He said that the number of students qualifying for the scholarship had been fairly steady over the years. As a

result, the University wanted to increase el igibility, providing more scholarship incen tives for students to attend Truman.

“When students come and visit campus, some of the best visits we have are the ones where they say, ‘People that matter to me at tended Truman,’” Wilsey said. “Being able to provide additional scholarship information is nice on a visit, but prospective students hear ing about Truman before getting here from a coach, teacher, sibling, parent, and then having a really great on-campus visit is the cherry on top.”

Tyana Lange, vice president for student en gagement, enrollment and marketing, said that conversations between Truman recruiters and students led to the expansion of the scholar ship. Prospective students would often ask if they would receive the scholarship if their old er siblings or grandparents would make them eligible for the scholarship, Lange said.

“What we’re looking for is opportuni ties to share how amazing [Truman] is,”

University to reorganize departments

JOSEPH DOUGHERTY & MATT FRANK Staff Writer & Managing Editor

Truman State University is in the pro cess of reorganizing departments. The process involves all 25 academic depart ments and will be underway throughout the next 18 months, several members of the reorganization effort said.

Spearheading the reorganization ef fort are Charles McAdams, interim vice president of academic affairs and pro vost, and a committee of faculty mem bers called the Committee to Consider Reorganization of Academic Affairs. A full list of committee members is avail able on the Provost’s website.

“[The goal] is to increase the efficien cy of the administration of departments based on the size of the faculty and the student body, which are both decreasing,” said Danion Doman, chair of the classical and modern languages department.

Doman said it is likely the de partment reorganization will mini mally, if at all, affect students. Any effect on students could potentially be positive, he said. For example, if the student is in an under-resourced program and joins a larger unit, they could reap more benefits from the larger program, he said.

Lange said. “This was the hope with this scholarship, to get a broader market to con sider your story.”

Regional Admission Counselor Mark Clynes, who works primarily with St. Lou is-area students, came up with the idea of scholarship expansion. He said the idea came out of an ongoing dialogue with par ents and students, and he realized that the expansion could possibly bring more stu dents to Truman that otherwise would not attend. He views the expansion as reward ing families for choosing Truman for not just one, but multiple children.

“If we do things right — which we do at Truman State, we give them a great experi ence, we give them a great education — let’s try and keep it in the family,” Clynes said. “This is an easy way to do it.”

Clynes said that he has submitted this pro posal for scholarship expansion previously, but it was approved only this year.

Faculty turnover remains relatively stable

SETH JARVIS & GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Staff Writer & Editor-in-Chief

The turnover faculty/staff retirement rate at Truman State University has been relatively stable throughout the past six years.

Charles McAdams, interim vice president of academic affairs and pro vost, said three out of the past six years featured early retirement incentives. The average turnover rate, referring to the amount of staff and faculty that left the university in a year’s span, during the years without early incentives was 8.8% while the years with early retire ment incentives featured higher turn over rates between 10% to 13% . For comparison, the national median facul ty turnover rate is 8.3%. McAdams said that some departments might have more turnover than others but overall faculty turnover is in line with national norms.

McAdams said the University decides on which faculty members to replace based on the enrollment of students. If there is a decline in the student popula tion, then certain departments might not replace retiring faculty members.

The chair of each department runs searches for new faculty, said McAd ams. Department chairs advertise po sitions on national education websites or reach out to doctoral programs in the Midwest so recent graduates are aware of openings at the University.

Greenwood Center construction continues

ty during the 90’s, Dave Rector, vice president for admin istration, finance and planning said.

Herscovitch said they could serve peo ple from childhood through adulthood, depending on those who visit the center.

MATT FRANK & JADE MARCEAUMARY Managing Editor & Staff Writer

The Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center Project’s current phase is projected to be completed by Aug. 2023.

Greenwood would be primarily used as a center to serve people within the autistic community from Kirksville and surrounding areas, said Brandon Hersco vitch, director of the Greenwood Inter professional Autism Center.

The Greenwood building is located next to Truman State University’s cam pus. Greenwood used to house one of the local elementary schools until the building was acquired by the Universi

Another benefit of the Greenwood Cen ter would be to en hance the academic experience of Truman students, Herscovitch said. This will be done through experi ential learning as well as having a place to meet and work with colleagues, though the details are still being worked out, he said

“There’s certain things that I just kind of know we are going to do, but as I start to learn about the community’s needs, that will help me determine, ‘do we need more space?’ or classroom learning ver sus individual,” Herscovitch said.

The project began during 2017 when the initial proposal for the Greenwood Center came from the academic side of the University, Rector said. This includ ed the then-Provost Sue Thomas.

Sophomores Macy Steber and Erin Fitzgerald walk across the campus. The expanded Bulldog Legacy Scholarship will now apply to siblings of current students and grandchildren of alumni. Photo by Emily Collins

Various student organization members recruit students in Magruder Hall. The potential reorganization of departments is not foreseen to impact students said Doman. Photo by Emily Collins

Michael Wolfe and Mingo Evans work on the Greenwood construction. The construction is estimated to be finished around Aug. 2023. Photo by Alexander Walcott

Students celebrate Nepalese holidays Dashain and Tihar

Students Puajn Gauli and Shalin Bhattarai perform a song at the celebration. The event was started with the Nepali National Anthem. Photo by Rahul Chaudhari

Students Riya Timilsena, Shisam Shrethsa, Prastuti Shrestha and Saraswati Khadka perform a dance. At the end of the night, everyone danced together.

Audience members watch performances such as dances and songs at the event. Dashain and Tihar are both holidays celebrated in Nepal.

Attendees eat Nepalese food prepared by the members of Namaste Nepal. The food included Nepali chicken curry, rajma, pulao and kheer.

The Dashain and Tihar Night event took place Nov. 4. The event was presented by Namaste Nepal. Photo illustration by Rahul Chaudhari

The event took place at the Baptist Student Union, and the seating area was full. Students, staff and faculty from Truman attended.

Continued from page 1

A full appropriation from the state was acquired for the project initially, but because of government financial constraints, most of the money was withheld. Money was then acquired later to renovate the windows of the building, but a third of that was withheld as well, Rector said.

During that stage, most of the windows were renovated, leaving some unfinished. This allowed for transferring materials through the unfinished windows at later stages of the project, Rector said.

The University then acquired money for site development through the government. Rector said this stage involved building the parking lot as well as reworking the utility lines for the building, including water, sewer, natural gas and electrical lines.

The next phase is the current stage of development. The construction is being car ried out by a local contractor called PSR Construction. PSR Construction was chosen based on their bid as well as past experience with the University. The funds for this phase were awarded during April and construction began during May, Rector said.

The Greenwood Project’s budget is $5.6 million for the current stage of develop ment with $4.6 million of the funds com ing from the Missouri government. Another $1.1 million was given to the University for the Greenwood Project by the Sunderland Foundation, a Kansas City-based organiza tion, according to a document from a Board of Governors meeting.

The current construction phase in volves the construction of a small twostory addition to the side of the building. This addition will house an elevator for the building, Rector said.

Much of the current construction will focus on the first floor of the building. A reception and waiting area, exam rooms, classrooms, therapy rooms and an admin istrative support area will be created during this phase, Rector said.

Further improvements to the building include HVAC systems, electrical services, fire alarms, sprinklers and restrooms. Up dates to the second floor of the building will be focused on providing space for future expansion, Rector said.

“Obviously, if the second phase isn’t done, you don’t want to start trying to serve people in there meanwhile someone in the building is using a drill or a power saw,” Rector said.

This phase is projected to be completed Aug. 2023. The next phase would then be reviewed by the Board of Governors during December and begin during January if ap proved, Rector said.

The next phase has a congressionally directed spending budget from the federal government through Missouri Senator Roy Blunt for $3.1 million. This phase is cur rently out to bid, Rector said.

The entire Greenwood Center Project may be completed during Aug. 2023, but be cause of supply chain issues, this date is not yet confirmed, Rector said.

TURNOVER| The University has 20 open staff positions now and 19 open faculty positions for next fall

Continued from page 1

Dave Rector, vice president for ad ministration and finance, said there are 19 faculty positions open for next fall, almost all of them made open by retire ments. Rector also said there were a few periods in the past where the University experienced lots of growth, so retire ments may increase once a cohort of faculty that started working around the same time reaches retirement age.

Rector said the staff has featured more significant turnover, largely due to regional competition. Administrative assistants and other office workers, for example, have opportunities that exist outside Kirksville. There are 20 staff positions open with the positions rang ing from administrators to support staff.

Rector said the hardest positions to fill in faculty are in nursing, computer science, accounting, while filling tech nical staff roles such as information technology positions and trade posi tions such as electricians are the most difficult to find. These roles are hard to fill because of the limited labor pool around Kirksville and the competition with other organizations. Other univer sities in Missouri are also having trou ble with filling roles, said Rector.

Joe Benevento, professor of English, has been at the University since 1983 and will be retiring at the end of the year.

Benevento said he came to Truman after he graduated from his doctoral pro gram. After two job interviews, he de cided to take a tenure track at Truman. Benevento said he was originally from New York and planned on returning to the eastern United States, but as time went on he grew to enjoy teaching at Truman, and started a family in Kirksville.

“The job got better and better, and I made a lot of good friends here,” Benevento said. “I loved the students, and it seemed like a good place to stay.”

Benevento said he will be retiring at the end of the year, partly because of his age and also because of retirement incentives from the University. He also said he recognized that it is time to give younger people the opportunities that he has had through his time here.

Craig Hennigan was the director of forensics for seven years at Truman and is now the interim director of debate at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Hennigan said when he first started at Truman, he did not expect to stay and that the people who hired him did not expect him to stay either. His research focus was on cities and he found him self more comfortable in an urban envi ronment. He also did not have a doctor ate when he started at Truman, so his job hunt did not begin until after he re ceived his degree.

$50,000 a year. He said this problem was due to the lack of support the state government provides toward educa tion, along with some of the budgetary decisions of the University. Hennigan said the defined benefits of pension and healthcare provided by the University are both good, but the salary issues led him elsewhere. Hennigan said a strong union was badly needed at the Universi ty to fight for better salaries for faculty and on behalf of their interests.

James D’Agostino, professor in the department of English and linguis tics, has been at the University for 15 years. D’Agostino said Truman was his first job right after he finished his post-graduate and professional train ing. D’Agostino said as soon as he got to Truman, it felt like home to him and that going anywhere else would feel like a step down.

“This is a school where students are talented — students are hungry for a liberal arts experience. Unlike other schools where as a creative writing teacher you work [exclusively] with the creative writing students, at Truman there are physicists, econ[omics] students and bio[logy] students that appear in classes of all levels.”

from page 1

Doman said the academic reorganiza tion committee has been visiting all the department meetings this semester and has been gathering feedback based on a set of questions for the departments.

Leading the reorganization com mittee is Stephen Hudman, chair of the biology department.

“One of the reasons that we’re [attending the department meetings] is trying to get perspective on op portunities that we might explore in reorganization that would benefit Truman,” Hudman said.

Hudman said, given that the effort is still in the infancy stages, to avoid speculation. He said the effort is still in the stage of collecting feedback before assessing next steps.

Hudman said Truman has not re organized departments since the late 2000s. The University was a different size then, having over 100 more faculty members and at least 1,000 more stu dents compared to current enrollment.

Hudman said the 25 departments currently housed by the University

made sense at the time but are part of a structure that no longer works.

“The inspiration [for the reorganiza tion effort] is based on the fact that we are a reduced-size university,” Hudman said. “The demographic data — the number of people that are potentially coming to college — suggests that we’re going to stay at a reduced size for some time to come.”

“We have some departments with as few as three, four and five faculty in them,” McAdams said. “It’s very inef ficient to run, plus it is really a burden on those faculty.”

McAdams also said the reorganization effort will have no direct impact on cur riculum and is strictly a structural effort.

While McAdams said he does not have a direct role in the effort’s current proceedings, he encourages the con tinuation of the committee’s work until his direct contribution is necessary.

The reorganization effort is on track to continue through the next two years, involving periods of trial and feedback from all departments and Truman’s ex ecutive board, with a planned launch date of August 2024.

Hennigan also said the pay at Tru man was poor. After seven years teach ing at Truman, he was earning less than

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James D’Agostino professor of English and linguistics

D’Agostino said the wide-ranging in terests and enthusiasm of the students he teaches are one of the main reasons why he has remained at the University. D’Agostino said many students have a long-held love for reading and writing.

“This is a school where students are talented — students are hungry for a liberal arts experience,” D’Agostino said. “Unlike other schools where as a creative writing teacher you work [ex clusively] with the creative writing stu dents, at Truman there are physicists, econ[omics] students and bio[logy] stu dents that appear in classes of all levels.”

D’Agostino said his colleagues are another reason why he has stayed at the University. They frequently take inter est in and support his projects, provid ing a wider community to help motivate him in his work.

REORGANIZATION| Reorganization would reflect current academic needs of the University

GREENWOOD| The interprofessional center is planned to be completed in Aug. 2023

A classroom is undergoing construction in Greenwood. The current construc tion phase budget is $5.6 million. Photo by Alexander Walcott

Connection

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Until my freshman year at Truman State University, I considered knitting to be a solitary activity. Most of my friends in the past were uninterested in crafting or simply did not have the time to learn. At Truman, however, I found there were so many skilled crocheters, knitters and textile art ists across campus doing things I still can’t wrap my brain around. There were so many like-minded people, so many possible projects and so many learning opportunities lying in wait. Despite this, it felt like there were no clubs or organizations that really focused on textile art or crafting as a general social and artistic activity.

Fast forward to spring 2022 in the Missouri Hall northern lounge on the second floor. My hallmates were propping their feet up on couches, likely procrastinating on final proj ects. It was home to many of our yarn

projects over the semesters, but it was then the bullet was bit. In some form or other, “I was thinking of starting a club,” tumbled out. At the cusp of a new semester, the beginning of The Hook and Needle Club was born.

We are a newly founded organization dedicated to crafting in all its fun, intri cate (and sometimes frustrating) forms. For now, a regular meeting consists of a crafting circle and a club curated Spo tify playlist with favorite songs from our members. So far, we are working on projects ranging from blankets and sweaters to gifts for the holidays.

Beginning next semester, we plan on having more campus-wide events and hope to eventually collaborate with other clubs. During April, we will be holding elections for officer positions, so if you are looking for a club to get involved with, this is your opportunity!

SOFIA RAGOUZIS ROMAN President

Truman should cancel classes on Election Day

The Student Climate Union hosted a sit-in Oct. 24 to advo cate for Truman State University to declare a voting holiday. As an editorial board, we support the call for the University to cancel classes to allow students to vote, and think it would help create a more democratically involved student body.

Many students at Truman are only hours away from home and could easily drive home to vote at their designated polling place. Even with the option of mail-in ballots readily available, students should be free to choose the vot ing method they prefer. While reliable and efficient, mail-in ballots do take extra steps that some people may be unwilling to complete. On a practical level, many college students simply do not think ahead of time to request a mail-in ballot, may not know it’s an option or may not under stand how to request one.

Truman could also supple ment a voting holiday with re sources related to voting. Many students don’t know the business office on campus can notarize

documents for free, a required step in Missouri’s mail-in ballot qualifications. The university could also provide a timeline on when to request a mail-in ballot for first-time voters.

Having a voting holiday would demonstrate recognition from the University of the importance of voting. It would be an undeniable reminder for students to complete their democratic duty by voting. Often there are excuses for not vot ing, such as forgetting or not having time. A voting holiday would solve both of those issues. Canceling classes would remove many poten tial barriers to students voting, such as stress about not having enough time or fear of missing class in order to drive home to vote.

Having a voting day would align with Truman’s mission as a liberal arts institution. Truman’s educa tional philosophy pushes students to create a difference in their com munity. There is a great opportunity to create a difference by voting, especially in local elections. Truman should encourage their students to participate in democracy by declar ing a voting holiday.

Everyday journalism matters

understatement. These two men are heroes to, many journalists, including me. It would have been easy for my expectations not to be met, but that was not the case.

In their keynote address, Woodward and Bernstein spoke about their reporting processes. They advised that when looking into large stories, reporters should start from the bottom and talk to the people doing the day-to-day jobs. They spoke about a more “oldfashioned” technique of cold calling, knocking on doors and talking to employees’ spouses.

answer questions for you, especially at a higher learning institution like Truman, where many in the community are excited to help you learn.

Lastly, notice what’s around you. Some of my best stories began with simply keeping an eye out for what was happening. If you see something interesting, try to learn more about it. And again, ask questions.

GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Editor-in-Chief

Recently, Features and Opinions Editor, Sydney Ellison, and I were able to go to MediaFest22 in Washington D.C. This was an opportunity for which I am incredibly grateful to Truman State University and an experience that taught me a lot of valuable lessons. I learned about many different subjects, from management to submitting Freedom of Information requests to finding sources. I heard from reporters at Bloomberg, NPR and CNN.

By far, the speakers that stood out the most were Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. If you aren’t familiar with these names, these are the two reporters from the Washington Post who broke the Watergate scandal. They also wrote a book called “All the President’s Men” about their experience reporting the story, which was adapted into a movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.

To say I was excited to hear from them would be an

They advised journalists to keep sources talking, make it appear you know more than you do and work in teams of two, as it adds an element of competition and collaboration.

While this is all superb advice for journalists, I also believe it applies to the average citizen as well. With the internet and social media, journalism is not what it used to be. There are many opportunities for students to contribute to their communities and make their voices heard.

What would this look like? Firstly, ask deeper questions. Don’t accept things at face value. If Woodward and Bernstein had quit every time they were told by a high level employee that their information was incorrect, they would have come out with almost nothing. In other words, don’t believe everything you hear. Do your own research, and see if it’s backed up with facts.

Secondly, have a curiosity to learn. Probably my favorite part about being a journalist is that I get to learn about things and talk to people I otherwise probably wouldn’t have. This, of course, ties into asking questions. People are often more than happy to talk about what they’re passionate about, and unless you catch them at the wrong time, they will likely

What do you do with the knowledge you have? Firstly, expanding your knowledge can give you tremendous insight and widen your perspective. When I was a freshman, I went to a candlelight vigil for Breonna Taylor to help with a story. I asked people of color to tell me about their experiences at Truman, and it was a deeply moving experience that has stuck with me to this day. Don’t underestimate the power of just showing up and talking to people, whether you’re an official journalist or not.

Secondly, you can share this knowledge with your community. It may look like telling your friends or sharing it on social media or the internet. This is where being credible is extremely important. Often the issue with citizen journalists is that the information isn’t always well sourced, or it contains misinformation. Be sure what you are sharing is the truth.

Of course, I have to say, if you do want to do journalism on a more professional level, come work for the Index — you can apply at tmn.truman.edu. However, the point of this column wasn’t to be a shameless plug for the Index. I truly believe in the power of sharing stories and sharing knowledge, whether through citizen, student or professional journalism. I encourage you, just like Woodward and Bernstein, to dig deeper and ask tough questions.

EDITORIAL POLICY:

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

EDITORIAL POLICY: e Index is published ursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. e production o ces are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. e Index is a designated public forum, and content of e Index is the responsibility of e Index sta . e editor-in-chief consults with the sta and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions Opinions of e Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the sta or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. e Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. e Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor

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

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

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words, except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/ or Editor-in-Chief. The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, and should offer a valid argument. Submission does not guarantee publication, especially when submissions fail to add something to the current discussion. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.editor@truman.edu or online at tmn.truman.edu. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken into consideration.

LETTER POLICY: e Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of e Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar and spelling errors Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online at tmn.truman.edu Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken in consideration ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classi ed ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu

ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Net work’s Sales Manager at tmnadsales@truman.edu.

2022 Midterm election results

Amendment 1: Override restrictions of state investments

Adair County: No, 60.39%; Yes, 39.61% Missouri: No, 54.28%; Yes, 45.73%;

Amendment 3: Legalize marijuana

Adair County: No, 57.71%; Yes, 42.29% Missouri: Yes, 53.1%, No, 46.89%

Amendment 4: Increase police force minimum funding

Adair County: Yes, 59.94%; No, 40.06% Missouri: Yes, 63.24%; No, 36.76%

Amendment 5: Establish the Missouri National Guard as its own department

Adair county: Yes, 59.35%; No, 40.65% Missouri: Yes, 60.24%; No, 39.77%

Constitutional Convention: Have a convention to revise and amend the Constitution

Adair County: No, 72.46%; Yes, 27.54% Missouri: No, 67.7%; Yes, 32.3%

United States Senator

Eric Schmitt – REP

Adair County: Schmitt 62.51%; Valentine 34.71% Missouri: Schmitt 55.43%; Valentine 42.12%

State Auditor

Scott Fitzpatrick – REP Alan Green – DEM

John A. Hartwig, Jr. – LIB

Adair County vote: Fitzpatrick 65.64%; Green 30.56%

Missouri: Fitzpatrick 59.42%; Green 37.55%

State Senator for the 18th district

Cindy O’Laughlin – REP Ayanna Shivers – DEM

Adair County vote: O’Laughlin 65.92%; Shivers 33.88%

Overall: O’Laughlin 75.79%; Shivers 24.21%

US Representative in Congress for the 6th District

Sam Graves – REP Henry Martin – DEM Edward A (Andy) Maidment – LIB

Adair County vote: Graves 67.35%; Martin 30.60% Overall: Graves 70.32%, Martin 27.48%

UNOPPOSED

State Representative for 3rd District Danny Busick – REP

State Representative for 4th District Greg Sharpe – REP

Associate Circuit Judge for Adair County Kristie J. Swaim – DEM

Presiding Commissioner of the County Commission Mark Shahan – REP

Clerk of the Circuit Court Martha Cole – REP

Clerk of the County Commission Sandy Collop – DEM

Recorder of Deeds Tracy Hunter – DEM

Prosecuting Attorney David Goring – REP

Collector of Revenue Sonja Harden – DEM

Treasurer Lori J. Smith – REP

Judges – Supreme Court

Zel M Fischer – retained Robin Ransom – retained

Judges – Court of Appeals, Western District

Alok Ahuja – retained Karen King Mitchell – retained Mark D. Pfeiffer – retained Doug Thomson – retained

Adair County Library District Question:

Shall the annual tax of $0.1436 per one hundred dol lars of assessed valuation for the Adair County Library be increased by twelve cents ($0.12) to $0.2636 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation?

No 53.14%; Yes 46.86%

Results are unofficial as of Wednesday Nov. 9, 12 a.m.

Sources: Adair County Clerk’s Office Missouri Secretary of State’s Office

Crime Reports

10/28 Suspicious activity reported at the 1500 block of S. Franklin St.

10/31 Suspicious activity reported at Missouri Hall

11/1 Suspicious activity reported at the 400 block of W. Illinois St.

11/1 Suspicious activity reported at the 100 block of E. McPherson St.

11/1 Theft reported at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St.

11/1 Theft reported at the 2100 block of N. Baltimore St.

11/1 Theft reported at the 800 block of E. Orchard St.

11/2 Suspicious activity reported at the 1300 block of S. Florence St.

11/2 Domestic disturbance reported at the 300 block of W. Pierce St.

11/2 Theft reported at the 400 block of S. Main St.

11/2 Theft reported at the 500 block of S. Os teopathy Ave.

11/2 Assault reported at the 100 block of E. McPherson St.

11/3 Theft reported at Truman State Univer sity parking lot 28

11/4 Suspicious activity reported at the 400 block of Garrett Drive

11/4 Harassment reported at the 2200 block of S. Marion St.

11/4 Theft reported at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St.

11/5 Domestic disturbance reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Drive

11/5 Theft reported at the 500 block of N. Mulanix St.

11/5 Suspicious activity reported at the 2100 block of N. Baltimore St.

11/6 Suspicious activity reported at State Highway 11

11/7 Domestic disturbance reported at the 200 block of E. Illinois St.

Trudy Busch Valentine – DEM Jonathan Dine – LIB Paul Venable – CST

Tru-MYTHS Tru-MYTHS

ALYSSA RZANY Staff Writer

Truman TunnelsTruman Tunnels

Myth

Picture this: It’s a cold October night in 1942 and you are reading the paper to see the latest updates on World War II. To your surprise, tunnels have been discovered under Truman State University for sol diers to hide out. You talk to your friends, and they all have heard the same thing. You suppose it’s only a matter of time before the soldiers are walking around campus. Pretty cool, right?

Truth

Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but the tunnels underground Truman are simply steam tunnels. There were no soldiers running through them and, no hideout spaces being used. They are simply steam tunnels.

Lori Shook, member of the campus planning department, said, “[the steam tunnels] run to mostly the main buildings around the quad at this point.”

Shook said those steam lines prevent the snow from accumulating on the path east of the Student Health Center. “I think back in the day, they used to do that on purpose,” Shook said.

While these tunnels might have been on campus during WWII, they un fortunately weren’t used by any soldiers.

Time to debunk some common myths from the Truman State University community

Spike’s NoseSpike’s Nose

Myth

Sue’s CommuteSue’s Commute

Myth

At some point you may have heard that University President Sue Thomas lives in Colum bia over the summer. Students say she commutes an hour and a half to Truman each day from Columbia, and some have even said she lives in St. Louis and commutes three hours each day. The University Residence where each president lives looks deserted, gossipers say, so it’s hard to say if anyone lives there.

Truth

Thomas said none of the rumors are true. Her husband lives in St. Louis and works as a neuropsy chologist in private practice, which may account for why some were led to believe she commuted to St. Louis regularly. When people found out she did her graduate work in Columbia, the rumors may have changed to fit the new information.

“Going back to St. Louis every weekend doesn’t re ally make any sense, especially given I am doing things on campus most weekends,” Thomas said. “I did my graduate work at the University of Missouri, Columbia, so I’m wondering if that led to [students thinking] I live in Columbia,” Thomas said. Thomas said once people re alize she lives in the University Residence and doesn’t live in Columbia, perhaps they assume she has a summer house.

Spike’s nose has become a good luck charm. It is said that if you touch Spike’s nose before an exam at Truman, you will ace it, no questions asked. The copper nose is starting to turn green because of the many desperate students wishing for a good grade, but is there any foundation to this myth?

Truth

If I were you, I would have some doubts about this myth. From personal experience, I can tell you that my freshman-year self did not receive the luck that is promised from the ever-greening nose. I, like many others, touched his nose in hopes of acing a test, and I’ll be the first to tell you, I most defi nitely did not ace it. It was during the height of COVID-19, so I put on hand sanitizer after I touched it. Maybe I washed off the luck? Either way, I regret to inform you that Spike’s nose is not lucky. It’s probably better to rely on your notes than this myth.

with Jack Jamming Jamming

“Midnights?” More like a mid album

JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer

Taylor Swift is one of the biggest superstars in modern pop music, with legions of incredibly devoted fans nicknamed “swifties.” The Swifties eagerly devour the tiniest news and rumors regarding the singer’s music and personal life. Because of this, it is no surprise that the hype for Swift’s new album, “Midnights”, was at a fever pitch since the singer’s announcement at the 2022 VMAs. Her first full-length album to feature new music since 2020’s double dose of “folklore” and “evermore” was promoted for months leading up to its release Oct. 21.

“Midnights” opens with the sugary “Lavender Haze,” setting audience expectations for the album. Swift’s two albums during 2020 were more of a pop-folk variety — however, she returns to her pop era with this album. “Lavender Haze” is a perfect album opener, setting the tone from the first note. “Maroon” is a hauntingly beautiful track that is incredibly vibey, but the true spotlight on the album is the viral track “Anti-Hero.” introspective, discussing how, despite our perceptions of ourselves, we may not always be the good guys. “It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem, it’s me,” Swift sings during the chorus. It is by far and away the best track on the album and will likely be featured prominently in her upcoming tour, her first since 2018’s “Reputation” tour.

Swift partners with Lana Del Ray on “Snow on the Beach,” yet despite such a collaboration promising fireworks, it is underwhelming, with Del Ray’ vocals barely discernible. “You’re On Your Own Kid” boasts great lyricism, however, there are parts, particularly the chorus, that just feel clunky. This track is indicative of the album as a whole: Swift’s penchant for stellar lyricism that is held back from greatness by minor imperfections. “Vigilante S**t” and “Karma” are both excellent songs; classic Taylor at her pettiest and most vengeful, celebrating the downfall of her critics. “Sweet Nothings” is a ballad co-written by Swift’s partner under an alias, and it is tender, evoking associations of a sunny Sunday morning spent in the embrace of a loved one. “Mastermind” details Swift’s scheming plan to win the affections of a lover, and by extension, the rest of the world, singing “No one wanted to play with me as a little kid, so I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since to make them love me and make it seem effortless.

The album has some very high points. “AntiHero” is destined to be a classic on par with some of Swift’s greatest hits, and “Vigilante S**t” and “Karma” will undoubtedly be cited as examples of the “new era” of Taylor Swift.

However, the album is not without fault. Throughout the length of the album, it feels as though something is missing, with several songs lacking the teeth and stopping power to be memorable. The songs that are not excellent just feel forgettable, such as “You’re On Your Own Kid.” Even brilliant lyricism cannot make up for the clunkiness and subpar instrumentals. The album feels more like a step back into Swift’s poppier background instead of covering new ground. Despite all the aforementioned faults, it is still a good album, but its faults hold it back from being a truly great album.

Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” gets 3/5 clocks

Top 5 Tastiest Thanksgiving Foods

ALYSSA RZANY, FOOD FANATIC Staff Writer

5. Turkey

Unpopular opinion, but I honestly do not like turkey that much. I eat it as a formality, but if I could only eat the sides, I totally would. However, I think it is delicious when it is made in a rotisserie. That way it is not bonedry and the gravy is used as a topping, not a recovery sauce.

3. Stuffing

This is controversial because half of the people I know hate stuffing, but I think it is delicious. My grandpa used to make homemade stuffing, and while his intentions were good, the stuffing was not. I am sure some of you are wonderful cooks and your homemade stuffing is great. What I am talking about, however, is the pre-made Stove Top stuffing. That stuff is superior, and it is one of my favorite things to fill my plate with at Thanksgiving dinner.

2. Garlic mashed potatoes

Really, any kind of mashed potatoes are amazing. They tie together Thanksgiving, regardless of whether the food was delicious or disgusting. Add some butter and Tony’s seasoning to have yourself one of the greatest side dishes ever. It is simple, easy to make and hardly takes up stomach space.

4. Pumpkin pie

I go back and forth between loving hating it, but right now I love it. Pumpkin pie is pretty good when you eat it by itself, but it is so much better when doused in whipped cream. As everyone knows, calories do not count on Thanksgiving, so you can add as much as you want. Whenever I try to make it the crust turns black, so whipped cream is a real lifesaver.

1. Cornbread

I can’t say I have ever had this with Thanksgiving dinner, but it is one of my favorite foods. Also, since it gives off fall vibes, I think it should be added to the menu. The best cornbread I have ever had was from Boston Market in middle school. They closed a few years ago where I live, and I have yet to eat cornbread that tastes that good. If I can find a recipe for their cornbread, I will most definitely be making that for my family.

Graphics by Heather Beard

Graphic by Maddie Morris

Graphics by Heather Beard

Graphics by Heather Beard

“Black Adam” is a cookie-cutter superhero movie

JOSEPH DOUGHERTY Staff Writer

“Black Adam,” the next entry in the DC Extended Universe, was released in theaters Oct. 2022. Director Jaume Collet-Serra helmed the project, who has directed many action and horror projects through the late 2000s and 2010s. “Black Adam” is Collet-Ser ra’s debut in the superhero genre.

“Black Adam” tells the story of its namesake hero, originally called Teth-Adam in the tongue of Kahn daq, the land of his people. After being sealed away 5,000 years before the events of the film, Teth-Adam reemerges in the modern day when a team of amateur explorers steals the magical crown that sealed him. Decidedly an anti-hero, Teth-Adam’s goal is to free Kahndaq from any foreign oppressors, a duty he fulfilled in ancient times and must do again as the country finds itself occupied by an ill-intentioned militant group. This group seeks Eternium, a magical element mined only in Kahndaq and the element that gives Teth-Adam’s crown its power.

The reemergence of Teth-Adam catches the attention of the Justice Soci ety, a team of superheroes charged with protecting the world from super-powered individuals that may pose a threat to soci ety. The team is composed of Doctor Fate, a man gifted with foresight, Hawkman, who can fly with the mechanical wings affixed to his back, Atom Smasher, who can grow to the size of a large building; and Cyclone, who ma nipulates the wind to fight her foes. Together, they hope to stop Teth-Adam from a possible

rampage, but a tertiary threat emerges that will force them to unite against it.

“Black Adam” is a largely inoffensive film. Most elements, both story-based and technical, are neither awful nor exceptional. The film is typical superhero fare, to be sure, and it seems to know it.

The script takes few risks, opting for cliché dialogue at nearly every turn. Most of this dialogue is outright bad, especially for many of the side characters. While it is easy to target the acting of children as an example of poor acting, Bodhi Sabongui’s Amon Tomaz is especially lackluster with many of his lines seemingly added in post-production, emphasizing their already awkward delivery.

Exceptions include Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate and Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, who make for a dynamic duo that is consistently a joy to watch. Brosnan brings an edge of wisdom to his performance that only adds to the mysteri ously posh nature of Doctor Fate, while Hodge presents a Hawkman concerned with the professionalism of the Justice Society that is at once at odds with Doctor Fate’s relaxed nature and in tune with his efficiency.

Dwayne Johnson as Teth-Adam is fine. Most obviously, he brings physicality to the role, but it is a wonder why Collet-Serra did not utilize the comedic range of which Johnson is capable. His is a role of stares and brooding, which feels wasteful rather than opportune.

Most impressive in “Black Adam” are the visuals. Kahndaq is a spectacle, as are the fights that take place within it throughout the film. It is apparent that no expense was spared in its construction and presentation.

In the end, “Black Adam” is a largely inconsequential entry into the admittedly oversaturated superhero genre. There are some standout performances in Brosnan and Hodge, but overall the acting onscreen is unimpressive and indicative of a director who will not let his actors play to their strengths. However, the film is a visual feast and a thrill to watch, making it a piece of media worth the first watch.

Sydney Njoroge senior

Allyson Cochran senior

Joshna Karki senior

Graphics by Maddie Morris

Continued from page 14

“The team is very positive. Even when practices are tough, nobody is complain ing, and there’s always words of encouragement going around,” Reaser said. Myers said getting close to the team has been her favorite part.

Since swimming is based on individual scores, having a strong team is impor tant to keep people going, Myers said.

“I felt so much pressure going into it,” Myers said. “As you get to know every one else, it gets a lot lighter, and you’re able to kind of enjoy it more because we understand everyone here is in the same position.”

Another aspect of the Bulldogs’ teamwork is knowing they are all balancing both classes and swimming, Myers said.

The team has required study hours each week, Reaser said. Team members must spend four hours studying at the library on weekdays and once on Sunday. “I’ve been finding that’s really helpful for getting into a good routine of know ing when to study and for how long,” Reaser said. The Bulldogs had their first meet of the season Oct. 7 against Saint Louis University. While they did fall 129.5-279.5, Myers said it had been the most memo rable meet so far.

“We really performed well as a team, especially because we had less swimmers than they did, but I think we really showed we’re on a good track for this season and we’re in a position to really make an impact and stand out,” Reaser said.

Myers was the women’s 100 breaststroke winner. Reaser had the fastest time to date in Division II in the women’s 400 individual medley event, and placed second in the women’s 500 freestyle.

The Truman State Women’s Swim Team is 3-2 and will compete in the Phoenix Fall Classic hosted by the University of Chicago, Nov. 18.

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Truman’s women’s swim team prepares to swim against McKendree University. The Bull dogs fell 84-118, Nov. 5. Photo by Oliver Malone

WBB: (A) Florida Southern Christmas Classic - Eckerd College 12 p.m. (ET) MBB:

WBB: (A) Florida Southern Christmas Classic - Florida Southern College 2 p.m. (ET)

McNabb

SWIM | Freshmen transition to a higher-level of sports

Volleyball celebrates five seniors during senior night

COACH

of the week

Head soccer coach Duke Cochran was named the GLVC Men’s CoCoach of the Year. Cochran led the men’s soccer team to the GLVC Championship Tournament for the first time in Truman history.

Above: Freshman Jessica Proszenyak looks back to her team. Proszenyak had six kills, an ace and nine digs.

Above: Seniors middle blocker Monica Brown and middle hitter Faith Hoppe go up for a block. The Bulldogs fell 0-3.

Left: Senior middle blocker Monica Brown gets ready for the ball. Brown had an assist for the Bulldogs.

Above: Junior setter and libero Molly McGurn prepares for the set. McGurn had 11 digs and three assists against Rockhurst Uni versity. Photos by Oliver Malone

Above: Senior setter Rachel DeFries celebrates her senior night. The Bulldogs faced Rockhurst University.

GOLF | Seniors reflect on their last season

“When they won the Kansas City Cup, that was the best moment of the season,” Fitzpatrick said. “They shot the best team score they have shot in a long time at that tourna ment. To be able to beat the local Kansas City schools as well as some conference schools was great for them.”

Stovall said her favorite moment was winning the tournament in Kansas City.

“A lot of us had great rounds that weekend and that was really exciting to see our hard work pay off,” Stovall.

At their third tournament, the Virginia McCoy invite at Park Uni versity, the Bulldogs finished sec ond in a field of six.

This year, her freshman season, Stovall traveled and competed at every tournament. Though there are 10 women on the roster, only five compete in a tournament.

“I was very fortunate to make the team for each tournament, which was a big goal of mine this year. I’m real ly thankful I got to contribute to the team,” Stovall said. “For the spring, my goal is to once again travel to each tournament. This may be the best we will be for a few years, so we just need to end on a high note.”

The women’s golf team will see seven seniors graduate in the spring — 70% of their current roster.

Hunt, one of those seniors, re flected on her time at Truman and her goals for the spring season.

“The girls on the team have made my time here so special,” Hunt said. “Hang ing out together at tournaments in our downtime has produced some of my fa vorite moments. We have a really great team chemistry this year, so it makes it a lot more fun … For the team, I would like us to drop below our best team score from the fall. For myself, I’d like to have a round in the 70s at every tournament.”

The team’s best tournament score this fall was 321 at their first tourna ment of the season.

Fitzpatrick is optimistic for the spring season as well as the future

of the program. He said they’re in a very competitive conference and are hoping to finish in the top half of teams at the conference tournament this year.

“The focus for next year is re cruiting right now,” Fitzpatrick said. “With seven seniors leaving, we would like to get at least five or six recruits in to fill the team next year, and it will be a wide-open race to see who our top five are. It should be ex citing.”

The Bulldogs will open up the spring season by traveling to Des tin, FL during spring break for their first tournament.

Continued from page 14

“Everyone was determined to achieve this goal,” Bilbao said. “We had been poor result-wise the last few seasons, but the group always knew we could get it done if everyone bought in. They did this year, and that is what made the difference.”

After starting out 3-1-2, Truman went eight games without a win in the middle of their season.

As part of their belief in the team, Clayton said the Bulldogs did not allow this midseason stretch to break them.

Truman won two of their last three games — just enough to propel them into the postseason tournament. Though they lost in the quarterfinal 1-0 to Lewis University, the team still feels momentum coming from their strong finish to the sea son, said Bilbao.

“We want to make the tournament again and go farther next season,”

sophomore midfielder Aiden Morgan said. “We want to make this a yearly thing now that we’ve been there once. We know we’re good enough, so we just have to put the work in to make that a reality.”

Looking ahead to next season, the soccer team will see seven players graduate. Bilbao said the biggest focus next year will be getting everyone on the same page with lots of players in new roles.

Bilbao also said he is looking for ward to working with the new fresh men class coming in and he believes they can make an immediate impact on the team. He is optimistic for the fu ture of Truman men’s soccer.

When asked for their favorite memory from their five year Truman soccer ca reers, Clayton and Knudsen did not hesi tate to say it was making the GLVC tour nament — a testament to how much this season meant to the team.

Graduate student defender Will Clayton takes the ball from William Jewell Uni versity. The Bulldogs won 2-0, Oct. 23. Photo by Oliver Malone

“The girls on the team have made my time here so special. Hanging out together at tournaments in our downtime has produced some of my favorite moments. ”

- Kara Hunt, senior golfer

MEN’S SOCCER MAKES SCHOOL HISTORY

MICHAEL LAKEY Staff Writer

The Truman State University men’s soccer team made history this fall when they defeated William Jewell College Oct. 23. The win clinched their spot in the GLVC postseason tournament, marking the first time they made the tournament since Truman joined the GLVC conference during 2015.

It was a special feeling for the players, especially for graduate student defender Will Clayton and midfielder and forward Mac Knudsen.

“It was really meaningful to a lot of us, especially the older guys,” Knudsen said. “To work towards a goal for four years and finally achieve it was pretty special.”

Clayton said he felt blessed he got to achieve a spot in the tournament with that group of players.

“Having played here five years, I know how difficult it is and how much work it took to get us to this point,” Clayton said.

After coming up just short of a tournament bid during 2018 and 2019, Truman finished in last place in the GLVC in back to back seasons during the spring and fall of 2021.

One of the main drivers of the team’s massive turnaround this season was their fighting spirit, according to Knudsen and Clayton. They notched one come-from-behind victory, scoring two goals in the second half to beat Quincy University Oct. 16. They also had three come-from-behind draws, including against University of Illinois-Springfield Oct. 7, in which graduate student midfielder Andy Brennan scored in stoppage time to tie the game.

“We played much less selfishly this year,” Knudsen said. “We also believed in ourselves. When we got down in games, we knew we could come back, and we did several times. That attitude shift really helped us this year.”

Student assistant coach Aidan Bilbao said the buy-in from the group made them successful this year.

Golf finishes a successful season Swimmers adjust to college athletics

MICHAEL LAKEY Staff Writer

The Truman State University women’s golf team battled difficult playing conditions and tough competition to place 13th out of 17 Division II schools in their final fall event Oct. 16 and 17.

This result at the final tournament, the Midwest Fall Classic in Maryville Missouri, represented a tough end to an otherwise overwhelmingly successful season.

“The last tournament had pretty tough conditions, it was really cold and windy so the scores weren’t as good then,” senior Kara Hunt said. “But overall, I would say we did pretty good as a team.”

Head coach Clint Fitzpatrick said the team did surprisingly well this season.

“We had contributions all over the board, from seniors to freshmen, so it was really exciting,” Fitzpatrick said. “I was really pleased with how they did.”

Hunt echoed her coach’s opinion on the season. The team won their second tournament, had some of their best individual scores and their best team score in a long time, and they saw a lot of improvement from last year, she said.

The Bulldogs began the season at the Drury University Lady Panther Fall Invitational, Sept. 19 and 20, placing 11th out of 15 teams.

Freshman Reese Stovall said that this first tournament opened her eyes to what collegiate competition would look like.

“The thing that surprised me the most is the amount of quality players at each tournament,” Stovall said. “It certainly gave me something more to work towards to be successful at this level.”

Truman State followed that first tourna ment with an outright win in the women’s division at the Kansas City Cup hosted by William Jewell Sept. 26 and 27.

The Kansas City Cup was the team’s first win since fall 2021 and was a season highlight for most of the team.

LILLIE MORISAKI Sports Editor

adapt to a new level of athletics.

Reaser said swimming in college has been a transition and is different from what she was used to in high school.

One of the biggest changes is the amount of work required outside of swimming itself, Myers said.

“Swimming is one of those sports where the commitment involved is huge,” Myers said.

Swimming at the collegiate level is different from high school because it is their job to be a part of the team while in club swimming, they could just be there when it is best for their schedule, Myers said.

The team has a program in the weight room and cross-training in addition to practices where they swim, Reaser said.

“I feel like [the cross-training is] really helping, but it’s just something I don’t have a lot of experience with in the past,” Reaser said.

While the focus is more on the team than it has been before, the atmosphere of the team and practices are uplifting, Reaser said.

It feels like less of a burden on the individual player when the team is supportive, Myers said.

ATHLETE

of the week

Freshman cross country runner Breanna Mathes was named the GLVC Freshman of the Year. Mathes finished 19th with a time of 23:24 at the GLVC Cross Country Championship Nov. 5. Mathes was also named the GLVC runner of the week Oct. 5.

Graduate student midfielder and forward Mac Knudsen goes after the ball. The Bulldogs faced William Jewell University, Oct. 23. Photo by Oliver Malone

Freshman swimmers Chloe Myers and Adelaide Reaser at Truman State University are learning to

Graphic by Heather Beard

Truman women’s swim team com petes against McKendree University The Bulldogs fell 84-118, Nov. 5.

Photo by Alexander Walcott