January 28 2016

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Opinions

Features

Sports

Columnist Will Chaney discusses democratic residence halls

New student entrepreneurial club opens at Truman

Swimming joins movement in support of mental health

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see page 9

see page 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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Newman Center ranked 33

Blueprint Teams to take action

By EMily Merkle

Managing Editor

By Austin Hornbostel

Staff Writer

Truman State’s Catholic Newman Center was ranked No. 33 on a list of the 50 best college Newman Centers published by Best College Reviews. Criteria for the rankings included student involvement, as well as spiritual and social opportunities provided to students. The ranking can be found at bestcollegereviews.org. Chris Korte, Truman Newman Center Director, said the Truman Newman Center offers spiritual opportunities for mass, the sacraments, prayer, retreats and small groups. Korte said a big part of the Newman Center is service opportunities to help make a difference in Kirksville and other communities. “[These projects] give students a chance to be a part of something big to help serve others,” Korte said. In addition to service projects, Korte said the Newman Center also hosts several social outreach events to welcome people into the group. Korte said the idea for Newman Centers began during the late 1800s when immigrants, many of whom were Roman Catholic, started settling in the United States. Korte said more Newman Centers were established during the 1940s and 50s when more people began attending college and the Catholic population at universities began to grow.

“The students here are very dynamic. They are very engaging, very warm, very welcoming and friendly.” — Truman Newman Chaplain Colin Franklin

“They didn’t want people to feel on their own and lost [at college],” Korte said. He said at about that point in time, a Newman Club started at Truman. Korte said initially the club was just a small group of people who met in a church basement. He said during the 1970s or 80s the group purchased a building, the first Truman Newman Center, but within 10 years had outgrown the space. Korte said the current site then was purchased during the late 1980s. By 2000, Korte said the building had to be expanded as the Catholic population continued to grow at Truman. Korte said there are Newman Centers across the globe, though they predominantly are located in western European countries, the U.S. and Canada. He said there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Newman Centers in the U.S. alone, and he thinks it is an honor for Truman to be in the top 50. “[The ranking] is very affirming that we are doing what we are called to do,” Korte said. Senior Emily Wildhaber, Newman Center fundraising coordinator, said she has been involved with the Newman Center since she first arrived at Truman. “The experience is so fulfilling,” Wildhaber said. “It has everything I need to thrive. It’s a very welcoming, very open group for wherever you are in your faith life or whatever you’re looking for.” See NEWMAN, page 3 VOLUME 107

ISSUE 16

Ingrid Roettgen/ TMN

Aquadome files nonprofit By Zackary Irvin/Staff writer

Kirksville’s music venue, the Aquadome, can now take the necessary steps toward becoming a nonprofit organization. With the help of a concert fundraiser Jan. 16, the Aquadome raised enough to pay the $400 fee to file a 501(c)3, which is the legal document for registering as a nonprofit organization.

See AQUADOME, page 6

Ingrid Roettgen/ TMN Top: Students and community members attended a fundraiser for The Aquadome. The Aquadome raised enough money to file documentation to register as a nonprofit organization. Above: Visitors to the Aquadome enjoy music in an artistic environment during the fundraiser Jan. 16. The Aquadome is viewed as a nonprofit by the state, but was threatened with closure by the city because it did not have proper certification. tmn.truman.edu

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The faculty Blueprint Teams formed by University President Troy Paino have started meeting with Paino to discuss their submitted reports and finalize the contents in preparation for a February University-wide announcement. The teams submitted their reports Dec. 11 after more than two months of research. This research included deliberation about the work of six action teams comprised of faculty and Student Senate members last summer. Paino said he planned for the Blueprint Teams to put together a plan that will combine recommendations from the action teams into coordinated plans of action, according to an October letter to faculty written by Paino. Paino said he and Susan Thomas, vice president for Academic Affairs, reviewed the submitted proposals during winter break. Paino said after break, he and Thomas started meeting with the Blueprint Teams to ask questions and clarify parts of the proposals. He said he plans to report the work of the Blueprint Teams at a University-wide meeting Feb. 10, with a formal announcement of the upcoming meeting expected this week. “I need to formulate my thoughts on how to present it, because the goal all along has been to create a kind of blueprint for the future of Truman, but to do it in a way where people can understand it,” Paino said. “I don’t want it to be a two-hour presentation where I’m … getting into all the details — I want to be able to describe it in a way where people understand the major points coming See BLUEPRINT, page 6

Burger company now closed By Grace Bueckendorf Staff Writer

A kitchen fire the morning of Jan. 13 shuffled options around for Mainstreet Market when it caused smoke damage and destroyed one of the Original Burger Company’s fryers. Sodexo General Manager Lora Cunningham said replacing the broken fryer would take about six to eight weeks, meaning OBC wouldn’t be fully functional until early March. Renovations to Mainstreet Market, including the addition of a Chick-fil-A, are set to begin during May. As such, Cunningham said OBC will be closed for the rest of the academic year. Cunningham said select offerings from OBC will be available daily in the main event line. Students can look online or on the chalkboard on the wall where OBC used to be for a daily menu of available options, she said. “We’re trying to get everything that the students might want,” Cunningham said. “The dilemma is that we only have one fryer in the back of the house to use right now.” Sara Holzmeier, Department of Public Safety director, said the cause of the fire is unknown. She said the Sodexo employee who first noticed the fire followed emergency protocol by notifying the supervisor, trying to extinguish the fire, then triggering the alarm and notifying emergency services. University Risk Manager Cheryl Cragg said though a report has been filed, no estimate of damages is available at this time. @trumanindex

© 2016


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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Artist ponders adulthood with new exhibit

NEWS IN BRIEF

City press releases to be distributed through TextCaster The City of Kirksville announced beginning Feb. 1, it will use the TextCaster system to communicate with the public. Those interested can sign up to receive TextCaster notifications by visiting kirksvillecity.com and clicking on the notifications and newsletters tab. Kohlenberg Lyceum Series to host a capella concert Tickets for the Kohleneurg Lyceum Series performance by Vocalosity are now on sale. Vocalosity will perform 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Baldwin Auditorium. Vocalosity is a live a capella concert created by Deke Sharon, producer of “The Sing-Off ” and vocal producer for “Pitch Perfect.” Tickets are free for students and staff. General admission is $11. Liberty Tax employee shot with Airsoft rifle

Emily Wichmer/Index Above: The artwork of Danielle Yakle is featured in the University Art Gallery in Ophelia Parrish alongside works by artists James Ehlers and Ricardo Quiñónez Alemán. Yakle’s works all feature casts of her mother’s head. Below: Yakle’s series, “Childish Things,” explores the performative nature of children’s dolls. Yakle said she intended her pieces to include a sense of discovery and play coupled with elements of frustration and vulnerability.

Kirksville police are investigating the assault of a Liberty Tax Service employee who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty. The employee was shot with an Airsoft rifle Monday while waving to passing traffic. The employee was struck in the forehead but did not seek medical attention. Police are searching for an unknown suspect driving a white Dodge truck as the investigation continues.

CITY COUNCIL IN BRIEF

The Kirksville City Council convened a special session to approve an election ballot ordinance to the April 2016 ballot. The approved measure questions whether to continue the Economic Development Sales Tax.

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

Emily Wichmer/ Index

The Student Senate discussed the creation of an open forum, polls and surveys to obtain student opinions about concealed carry legislation.

CRIME REPORTS DPS & KPD

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Staff Editor-in-Chief Bethany Boyle Managing Editor Austin Hornbostel News Editor Emily Wichmer Assistant News Editor Johanna Burns Features Editor Katey Stoetzel Assistant Features Editor Emily Ploch Sports Editor Devin Gillespie Assistant Sports Editor Courtney Strait Opinions Editor UmmeKulsoom Arif Copy Chief Rose vonHatten Assistant Copy Chief Molly Thal Design Chief Noah Dayson Staff Writers Emily Merkle, Zackary Irvin, Lindell Sconce, Clayton Berry, Jack Derbak, Rachel Fechter, Brently Snead, Paige Yungermann, Sam Stewart, Sarah Hicks, Rachel Steinhoff, Curt Wichmer, Jonah McKeowan, Grace Bueckendorf, Taylor Lay, Ingrid Roettgen Cartoonist Megan Archer Copy Editors MacKenna Palazza, Holly Fisher, Julianna Foster, Catherine O’Mara, Megan Gibbons, Trevor Hamblin, Sarah DeWolf, Zack Irvin Designers Clarissa Todd, Trevor Stark, Kara Nord, Samantha Nielsen, Lauren Jin Photo Editor Trevor Stark Photographers Trung Vo, Athena Geldbach, Marissa Billmeyer, MacKenna Palazza Marketing Manager Josh Gilmore Marketing Representatives Drake Gens, Emily Fitzgerald Technical Manager Amanda Atwell Adviser Don Krause

1/25 Theft reported at the 200 block of 1/23 Suspect arrested for theft at the E. Jefferson St. 900 block of W. Smith St. 1/24 Suspect arrested for third 1/23 Suspect arrested for second degree assault at the 500 block of N. degree assault at the 0 block of Baltimore St. Chelsea Drive. 1/24 Third degree assault reported at 1/22 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1100 block of S. Baltimore St. the 700 block of W. Elizabeth St. 1/24 Domestic disturbance reported at 1/22 Theft reported at the 600 block of the 1500 block of E. Washington St. N. Franklin St. 1/17 Suspect arrested for assault and 1/20 Suspect arrested for drug armed criminal action at the 500 block possession at the 400 block of S. of W. Mary St. Marion St.

Mark your calendar Women and Gender Studies Conference

Eighth Annual Winter Flea Market

The 2016 Women and Gender Studies Conference will feature topics such as gender identity and beauty, female political pioneers, gender in Shakespeare and in music, motherhood, marriage and female superheros. Check out Truman Today for the full schedule of events.

The eighth annual winter flea market will feature a variety of crafts, name-brand items, molasses, jams, jellies and other items. There also will be a food stand selling homemade vegetable beef soup, sandwiches, cookies and drinks.

Jan. 28-30 SUB Georgian Room

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 30 Silver Rails Event Center


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NEWMAN | Truman State’s Newman Center ranks 33 on the 50 best college Newman Centers list continued from page 1 Wildhaber said the center mostly is student-run, with the majority of decisions made by its council. She said the council consists of 40 students divided into committees, which work with the executive board to plan and host events. Junior Abigail Akers, Newman Center president, said more than 100 students are involved with the Newman Center. Akers said the Newman Center is a place to meet new people and find friends who share the same values and morals. “[There is] an open invitation to anyone who is looking for a place to come and be themselves,” Akers said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic — we would love to see you there.” Junior Jennie Phillips, Newman Center vice president of external affairs, said the Newman Center has become her second home and is her biggest friend group. Phillips said the people there helped her grow in her faith and provided a place to talk freely about her relationship with God. “We love when new people come by,” Phillips said. “Anybody can come at any point throughout their years here.”

Evonne Bird, Newman Center faculty advisor and health and exercise sciences professor, said the Newman Center offers an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, service to others and social activities. Bird said the students are extremely involved and help run the center. “I am really proud of the students there,” Bird said.

Bird said the group started small and has continued growing. Bird said the Newman Center serves A.T. Still University students as well as Truman students. She said the students of the Newman Center still are hoping to expand the current building by adding a chapel. Newman Chaplain Colin Franklin said the Newman Center serves as a Catholic

Submitted photo Members of the Truman Newman Center pose for a photo following a women’s retreat hosted by the center. The Newman Center ranks No. 33 on a list of 50 best college Newman Centers. presence for students during their time at college. Franklin said this presence allows students to decide for

themselves what they believe while having a place to talk with others who are in the same stage of life.

“The students here are very dynamic,” Franklin said. “They are very engaging, very warm, very welcoming and friendly.”

By Brently Snead

of the Education Amendments of 1972. Jamie Ball, institutional compliance officer and Title IX coordinator, said sexual harassment and assault were added to Title IX because it is a gender and discrimination issue. Ball said Title IX is a way to put pressure on college campuses to address and prevent the problem of sexual assault. “Sexual harassment can take a lot of different forms, and the stakes are high for students,” Ball said. “When you are a student in the classroom, you’re looking at your professor for direction, and they have a position of power and authority over you. Every student is wanting to do whatever to get the best grade, and I think when you have the power differential

between people, the potential for harassment is there.” Ball said the reason for including Title IX in syllabi is to protect anyone who might be involved in situations involving sexual assault. Ball said in university communities, one of the important relationships for students is with their professors. She said the Department of Education recognizes that relationship, and because professors are seen as responsible employees under the law, they are required to report any situations of sexual misconduct they are aware of. Ball said students need to know they can talk to their professors, but there are going to be times when professors have to get others involved. Ball said it is also important

to know while students might tell their professors, and their professors might tell her, students are not required to take any action. She said she hopes it leads to more conversations about what is happening. “If more professors and more students are talking about this, then it normalizes the conversation,” Ball said. “We don’t want students to experience that kind of personal trauma, but if they do, we want to have a climate in which it is okay to talk about it.” Sophomore Elisabeth Condon, Sexual Assault Prevention Committee chair, said the goal of Title IX in syllabi is to encourage dialogue about sexual harassment to better prevent it. “Truman has a fairly low rate of sexual harassment cases compared to other universities,

but until that number is zero, we need to continue to address it,” Condon said. Condon said the mention of Title IX in syllabi can be a way to clarify that Truman is legally responsible and has to follow through on Title IX offenses. Through listing who the mandated reporters are and who the confidential reporters are, Condon said students know that if they want help and they go to a professor, that professor has to report it. Condon said students can report sexual harassment cases by contacting school officials and dealing with it according to school standards, or pressing charges by contacting the Kirksville Police Department. Students can also contact the Department of Public Safety or University Counseling Services.

“[There is] an open invitation to anyone who is looking for a place to come and be themselves,” -Junior Abigail Akers, Newman Center president

Syllabi to include Title IX statement Staff Writer

As students returned to classes Jan. 11, many noticed a new section discussing Title IX and its implications in professors' syllabi. Although Title IX originally began as a movement for gender equality in academic settings, the implications of Title IX have grown. Many Truman State professors now include a section on their syllabus stating students are welcome to speak to them to report any sexual misconduct, and the professor is then required to report information about a potential crime to the University. Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex or gender in any federally funded education program or activity, according to Title IX

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[ Our View ] Grad School Selection Guide

For many students at Truman State, graduating with a bachelor’s degree is not the end of their academic career. Some will go on to earn master’s or professional degrees. Perhaps others will go further, obtaining coveted doctorates in whatever field they desire. But how do you choose which graduate school is best for you? We, the Index Editorial Board, remember choosing which colleges to apply to during high school. Our parents helped us decide what we wanted from the colleges we were considering. Did the college offer the major program we wanted? How selective was the application process? What was the freshmen retention rate? Did we want to attend a dry campus or one that allowed alcohol, as long as students were of legal drinking age? How safe was the campus? How safe was the surrounding area? Were the scholarships competitive? We asked all these questions and more, and our parents guided us every step of the way as we sought answers. Now, however, we’re adults. While we’re sure our parents are willing to help us choose which graduate school to attend — or whether to attend graduate school at all — the decisions are now solely ours to make, and the questions are now solely ours to answer. The first question we encourage students to ask themselves when considering graduate school is simple — “Will getting a graduate degree benefit me?” Graduate degrees are not for everyone, nor do you need to pursue one right after getting your bachelor’s degree. Maybe you want to start working first, save some money and pay off your student loans before taking on more debt. Maybe you already have a job lined up and know your employer will pay for you to continue your education if you work there for a certain number of years. All of these are valid reasons to decide to delay or not attend graduate school. But if you are interested in getting a graduate degree, it’s important to figure out what you need to do before starting the application process. Research what kind of degree you want and what you need to do to start applying. Most graduate degrees require you take the GRE, but medical schools require the MCAT and law schools require the LSAT, just to name a few tests. It’ll feel a little like you’re stuck in an inescapable cycle of standardized tests, review books and No. 2 pencils, but if you’re sure you want to attend graduate school, then this is a necessary step. Once the tests are complete and the scores are in, it comes time to figure out where to go. This is when we suggest you make a long list of characteristics you want your chosen university to have. Would you prefer a university in a large city or in a small town? What is the highest tuition you’re willing to pay? Are you willing to go out of state to get your degree? Is the university of your dreams offering to waive your application fee? If not, are you willing to pay a $75 application fee? What organizations might you want to join? Will the school let you pick up a Nerf gun and chase zombies across campus? There are so many questions you should answer before you make the decision to apply to a graduate school. During the application process, you might have more questions. What is a personal statement? How do you write one? What’s a résumé and how do you create that? For questions like this, the University Career Center is a great place to go for advice and an in-depth tutorial on how to prepare your application. Even when all the applications are done, after the personal statements are written and the letters of recommendation are sent out, there’s still the question of scholarships. Do you apply for an internal scholarship offered by the university? Or do you go to a third-party and apply for a scholarship that your chosen university might not accept? Once upon a time, all these questions would be answered with the help of parents and school counselors. Now it’s up to you to do the research and find your way, even if your parents and advisers are willing to help. Whatever decision you make and wherever you decide to go, the Index Editorial Board wishes you the best of luck.

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. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of the Index is the responsibility of the Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions. Opinions of Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor and opinions editor. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor.

Response to “El Chapo Comes to America” Recently, objections from a passionate student were raised around our organization putting on a scavenger hunt where individuals who bought a ticket searched for small statues of El Chapo across campus. To our surprise, what started as a simple and creative fundraiser for our organization turned into a moral high ground for those seeking political opportunity. Instead of gracing what I honestly found as a bleeding heart complaint, I write today to discuss a bigger issue plaguing not just our campus at Truman, but college campuses across this great country: political correctness. Crippling political correctness that is sucking the very sustenance of our ability to relate to one another and forcing a mold that is not only uncomfortable for some, but also downright ridiculous for others. On a campus where diversity of thought and belief is encouraged, we should be doing so much better. Political correctness has risen drastically in the last decade. The dangers of breeding this type of environment are many. First, is the creation of a generation that cannot stand to get their feelings hurt. Imagine a society that can’t even stand up to a simple scavenger hunt without getting offended. Don’t look now, but we’re headed that way as the author of the complaint published last week so brilliantly displayed. Another danger of allowing such blatant political correctness to prevail is the inability to engage in political discourse. I found it painfully ironic that the author of the complaint took to writing a letter to the editor before reaching out to me, as the chair of the organization (and as the owner of the email address printed on every single advertisement). In fact, I’m still waiting for that “constructive discussion” he calls for to reach my inbox. Finally, we reach the most dangerous part of fostering a culture of political correctness. This generation of soft feelings has no

Letters Policy The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Monday before publication and become property of the Index. Submissions are subject to editing, must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the Editorial Board. Letters containing personal attacks will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by e-mail to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or at http:// tmn.truman.edu/theindex. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the e-mail. The Index does not publish anonymous letters to the editor. No individual may submit more than one letter per week.

idea how to handle confrontation. As mentioned previously, my organization received no invite to discourse about the subject. I had to read about it in the paper. Beyond that, those who supported the author of the complaint took to vandalizing posters. This included crossing out the word “Republicans” in College Republicans and writing in “Idiots.” Is that political discourse? No. This is the result of a politically correct mentality, a hypocritical one at that. My suggestion to fix this problem? Check our righteous egos at the door and find something to laugh at, together. If we can’t laugh together, how will we ever agree on anything? Instead of assuming my organization is poking fun at someone or something, why not find something we can both laugh at and move on? And if you really believe malicious intent is present, confront the individual, not publicly cause a scene. That’s how constructive discussion takes place. However, the current environment of political correctness we are propping up on our campuses will never allow for this. We can do better, and we’re going to start right now. Thanks to this complaint, I am excited to announce the next scavenger hunt the College Republicans will be putting on (this time, for free)! We will be searching for Hilary Clinton’s email server, Bernie Sanders’ comb and Martin O’Malley’s voters. We hope to start discussion… and hopefully laugh. Advertisements to come soon! Jake Buxton Chairman, College Republicans at Truman State University

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Low voter turnout has consequences

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Jared Roberts America historically has claimed to be a very strong democracy on the domestic and global levels. However, a recent trend might be threatening this ideal. America’s voter turnout has steadily declined since the 1940s and 50s, especially when compared to other advanced democracies. During 2012, the United States had a voter turnout of 53.4 percent of the voting age population, ranking very low compared to the top three countries, with Sweden at 82.6 percent, Turkey at 86.4 percent and Belgium at 87.2 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. When you look closer, the top three countries have compulsory voting laws, which can impact voter turnout, but other advanced democracies without compulsory voting laws, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, also have higher voter turnouts than the United States. In fact, out of the 34 countries surveyed in this study — only six of which have compulsory voting laws — the United States is ranked No. 31 in voter turnout. Harvey J. Tucker, a political scientist from Texas A&M University, said voter turnout matters because elections are where decisions are made in modern democracies, and if there continues to be a lack of voter turnout, the votes will only represent a small sample of the overall population. While voting is not the only important thing for a democracy to thrive, it is necessary for it to continue. The reason low voter turnout is so devastating to democracy is the people are not accurately represented — therefore, the country continues to function based on a small group of people’s opinions. This means the people who always vote

make the decisions, even if those decisions do not benefit the country as a whole. This can lead to elected politicians who only have major campaign donors, such as corporations or wealthy citizens, on their minds, and pass policies that match the goals of those major donors. One of the reasons voter turnout is low in the United States is we require citizens to register. Many people do not have the means to register, such as transportation or a valid form of identification, or do not want to go through the trouble of the registration process. Now, I am not saying registration is bad. It does have benefits, such as limiting voter fraud. However, it is one reason we see a lower voter turnout than other countries. Another reason is that we vote during the work week — while companies are required to let people leave to go vote, some people do not feel it is worth their time to leave and come back. If we continue to let low voter turnout persist without trying to get more people involved, then this democracy — the democracy we praise ourselves for — will cease to exist. But there are things we can do to prevent this. By realizing low voter turnout can lead to a decrease in our democratic ideals, people can understand their impact and become more interested in fixing these problems. One way to increase our voter turnout is to increase citizens’ interest in politics. When people feel more connected to their politicians and the laws they pass, they are more likely to show their support or disapproval. This burden of engaging in the political process falls heavily on citizens — people will have to read about candidates and not just blindly believe the words candidates spout and promise. Also, while it is true one individual vote will not change an election — a reason cited by many people choosing not to vote — if everyone believes their vote will not have an impact, then the masses will fail to make their voices heard. I think one way we can fix this problem — and the lack of interest in politics in general — is to find a way to show people they should care.

Jared Roberts is a freshman political science major from Maryland Heights, Mo.

Truman should have democratically run residence halls

Will Chaney When my grandfather attended Kansas State University, he lived in a “cooperative housing” arrangement called the Scholarship House. The 45 residents rotated through various duties, such as cooking and cleaning, and had meetings where they determined the common rules, decided what the House’s budget would be and how it would be spent. It operated more or less democratically, with the exception of a “house mother” who created the work schedule, made sure that everything ran smoothly and taught basic table manners. Housing cooperatives have thrived in this country for many years, challenging students to directly participate in the creation of their living conditions. Truman State should follow this example and give democratic control of residence halls to the students who live there. Several American universities formed dormitory cooperatives during the Great Depression as a way for students to save money on housing costs. They were basically housing cooperatives on a larger scale — students did most of the daily chores, elected leadership and decided on the rules residents would follow. Despite the disappearance of dormitory cooperatives during the 1950s, cooperative student housing is still common in the United States, with about 240 cooperatives serving 51 universities, according to a September 2007 US News article. Students who live in these mostly off-campus arrangements work about five hours a week, roughly the equivalent of Truman’s scholarship jobs program. The costs are often less than half of what school dorms charge for room and board. For example, cooperative Robison Hall at University of California, Los Angeles, charged $4,601 per year during 2007, less than half the university-run dorm price of $11,212, according to the same article. This means each hour of work is equal to $39 saved, making cooperatives a very economically attractive housing option. In addition to the financial benefits, cooperative dormitories would provide indispensable experience in learning how to work with peers and participate in the democratic process. Students would attend regular meetings and voice their opinions about different issues they feel are relevant. They also would have to listen to opposing viewpoints and reevaluate their own positions about campus issues. This would supplement the critical thinking, argumentation and public speaking aspects of our liberal arts education through hands-on practice.

Many students at Truman currently complain about curfew rules, student adviser duties, emergency planning and other policies without having a real outlet to share their ideas. If residence halls were democratic, residents would be able to voice their concerns at the deliberations and debate potential resolutions, which would lead to meaningful solutions. In addition to making changes, students might gain a new appreciation for rules they otherwise thought were unnecessary. For example, while many residents — myself included — currently complain about fire drills, they might come to a new understanding of why such annoyances are essential once given the responsibility of creating safety policies. The powers and responsibilities that result from direct participatory democracy would grow our understanding of what it takes to run a society, even on a small scale like Truman. Perhaps most importantly, students would feel their opinion actually matters. Such a fundamental change probably would have to be accompanied by other alterations to campus life, and might come into conflict with the University’s nondemocratic institutions. Parts of the Student Conduct Code, which was written by the administration without the consent of the student body, might fall out of favor with students as they begin to openly discuss campus issues. For example, students in one residence hall might prefer quiet hours at an earlier or later time than what it is now, depending on the social environment of that residence hall. Students would have to work with the administration to resolve such conflicts on a case-by-case basis, and they would have to make compromises. Other rules and practices the nondemocratic institutions have created might also be challenged. The hiring and firing process for hall directors, student advisers, housekeepers and student workers might be changed according to the wishes of the student body. In addition to changing the Code, the University might also create checks on student power. Major decisions that affect other parts of campus outside dorm life initially could require the approval of the administration. Students should keep an open dialogue with the administration as they take over the new responsibilities, and as students become more acclimated to running campus life, fewer checks would be necessary. This is not to say everything will be changed — many University rules and policies generally are agreeable and would remain as they are now. Instead of wiping the slate clean and starting over, students would use their newfound democratic power to improve existing structures and truly make the most of their university experience.

Will Chaney is a sophomore economics major from Bridgeton, Mo.

AROUND THE

QUAD What do you like least about the residence halls? Loring Shelburg Senior

I live off-campus and honestly, the main reason I moved was gender-neutral housing issues. I live with a guy now and so that was a big issue for me. And as I got older, I got kind of tired of freshmen yelling and running down the halls, so that was a big factor too. John Reinert Junior

I think that I’ve never hung out with anyone besides on the first floor lobby or my floor. So a way to create an environment that isn’t just so isolated to where you’re staying would be very nice. Amanda Roessler Senior

...My first year, I lived in Missouri [Hall] and second year I lived in BNB and I feel like my first year was really great and I got to know a lot of people through living there, but when I lived in BNB it was really hard to connect with people. I think in some of the dorms they’re really great about having activities and people get really involved but then some of them not so much. Alicia Campbell Senior

I know that we’ve been having a lot of issues with like, maintenance, like I’ve heard about bug infestations and we had a water leak, which was in Ryle. That was fixed, so that’s good. Just trying to get those done as fast as possible and as efficient as possible, I suppose. Also, perhaps … I know that quite a few people have roommate issues and so, finding some way to resolve those as fast as possible. Jacob Stuckmeyer Junior

I lived in C-Hall and I’d say probably one of the worst things about it was maybe trying to study in the lounge areas. Quiet hours were enforced, but there would be times where I’d go in there and there’d be people there not studying and playing games and stuff that made it difficult to concentrate ... But that’s probably the worst thing, I think.


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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Iowa Caucus Coverage Tune in to KTRM 88.7 The Edge for live coverage of the Iowa Caucus Monday Feb. 1 6-8 p.m.

KTRM Kirksville 88.7

AQUADOME | Kirksville music center the Aquadome raised enough money during a fundraiser Jan. 16 to file to become a non-profit organization and remain open in the Kirksville community after facing closure from the City of Kirksville Continued from page 1 Graduate student Jake Hurst Aquadome president, said the form is a 30-page report that will include the Aquadome’s taxes from the last three years and its statement of purpose for being a nonprofit. Hurst said the Aquadome benefits all members of the local community. “We are here to promote art in Kirksville, not just music, but whatever anyone wants to do with [the space] artistically or educationally,” Hurst said. Hurst said it makes sense to become a nonprofit organization because the Aquadome is completely student run. He said the organization does not receive any type of commission and survives through volunteer efforts. Hurst said the Aquadome technically is viewed as a nonprofit organization by the state, but the city has threatened to shut the Aquadome down because it did not have proper certification stating its nonprofit status. Hurst said the Aquadome still is growing and developing as a business,

and he didn’t expect the level of consequences of running a business. Hurst said he initially thought the group was doing everything by the book, but since discovering that filing the paperwork was necessary, he said he has been working toward fixing the situation. Hurst said becoming a nonprofit organization is extremely important to further what the Aquadome stands for. “We could have been a [limited liability company] or another bar in Kirksville,” Hurst said. “But we wanted to be a space anyone could go to anytime. We are an all-ages venue — ‘no booze, no drugs, no jerks’ is our motto.” Aquadome Webmaster junior Josh Brumfield said the relationship between the Aquadome and the community is the most important part of the venue’s mission. He said the nonprofit certification is an issue because he also thought it was OK to be viewed as a nonprofit organization by only the state. “It’s nothing too drastic — just a formality issue,”

Brumfield said. Brumfield said the turnout for the fundraiser was amazing and exceeded his expectations. Brumfield said he thinks the Aquadome has become something the community can get behind, and he said he is excited to see where the Aquadome will be in the future. “The future is in the hands of my friends and [me], and it is daunting, but we are up for the challenge,” Brumfield said. “This is not something we want to burn out after a few generations.” Brumfield said it is important for community members to remember the Aquadome still relies on donations to keep running. “Donating is a huge service to us to keep the arts alive,” Brumfield said. Senior Rachel Hain, former Aquadome president, said because of the successful fundraiser, the Aquadome can work toward receiving its nonprofit tax status. She said she thinks the future of the Aquadome is strong and volunteers are nothing short of ecstatic they raised

Ingrid Roettgen/ TMN Truman students attend a fundraiser Jan. 16 to raise money for The Aquadome to file as a nonprofit. The fundraiser brought in more than $400, which will go toward filing the necessary paperwork to file as a nonprofit. enough money. Hain said because of the community’s support, the Aquadome finally can get back to focusing on

becoming the friendly and inclusive venue everyone has come to love. “We’ve never been about making money —

that’s not why we do what we do,” Hain said. “We simply want to create a space for the community to come together.”

BLUEPRINT | University President Troy Paino lays out the responsibilities for Blueprint Teams established last semester to facilitate future campus and education projects Continued from page 1 out of the Blueprint Teams and then what the next steps are to make that future a reality.” Paino said some ideas from the Blueprint Teams could be implemented right away, while others might need a group to think about ways to pilot innovative ideas. He said some ideas also might need to go through Faculty Senate, such as how the University might reform the Liberal Studies Program. Paino said he plans to identify a few projects that can be implemented immediately to discuss during his February announcement. Paino said there is one short-term idea he hopes might be implemented before fall. He said a proposal about using technology to help students navigate the Liberal Studies Program using “thematic pathways,” an idea he discussed at last year’s State of the University Address, was expanded on by the Blueprint Teams. Paino said this idea is comparable to how Amazon.com will suggest similar products to shoppers. He said this proposal could help students take an aspect they enjoy from one course and find similar courses that include that aspect. The first Blueprint Team, co-chaired by linguistics professor Mary Shapiro and James O’Donnell, dean of the School of Arts and Letters, was in charge of developing common experiences for Truman students. Shapiro said “common experiences” includes curricular and co-curricular experiences that form a more coherent campus culture. She said whether the experiences she and O’Donnell proposed move forward will depend on faculty governance to some degree, especially for some of the curricular items, but she said they are hopeful the ideas will be successful. “What we’re proposing is not radical, it’s not scary … and it shouldn’t be unexpected because hopefully everyone on campus read the original action team reports and we’re not proposing anything new, we’re just put-

ting it together,” Shapiro said. “So I’m pretty hopeful that we’ll see the whole package come to life.” O’Donnell said his Blueprint Team wanted to emphasize a much greater cooperation between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, which he said would help enhance the student experience at Truman. O’Donnell said they wanted to find ways to bridge gaps between curricular and co-curricular experiences.

“... You’re trying to design a system that ... will be capable of handling whatever type of traffic is going to travel on it.” — Elisabeth Clark, dean of the School of Social and Cultural Sciences

The second Blueprint Team, co-chaired by Elizabeth Clark, dean of the School of Social and Cultural Studies, and art history professor Julia DeLancey, was in charge of implementing new ways to promote lifelong learning at education levels outside of the typical fouryear Truman experience, such as through summer academies at Truman like the Joseph Baldwin Academy, high school dual credit enrollment courses and graduate certificate programs. DeLancey said this Blueprint Team will be a recommending body rather than a decision-making body, and its recommendations ultimately will be up to Paino to approve. She said the team was to put a process into place whereby programs that might be thought of would be facilitated and approved. Clark said the Blueprint Team’s mission is similar to the infrastructure of a highway system.

“You can’t simply plan for the cars that exist today,” Clark said. “You’re trying to plan for a variety of different kinds of vehicles, ranging from things as simple as … the vintage Volkswagen up to highly intelligent smart vehicles that respond to sensors built into the road or GPS. So you’re trying to design a system that, as you go forward and as it grows, it will be capable of handling whatever type of traffic is going to travel on it.” The third team, an assessment committee co-chaired by psychology professor Karen Vittengl and Debra Kerby, dean of the School of Business, will investigate the existing portfolio program and propose software solutions. Kerby said her role was really an assignment to an existing University committee, which had a sub-committee aimed to investigate how other universities are using electronic portfolios, or ePortfolios. Additionally, Kerby said another sub-committee investigated commercial software for the use of ePortfolios, and a third sub-committee looked into developmental portfolios. She said these differ from the type of portfolio Truman uses now. “Rather than just the type of portfolio that we utilize now at the University, which we would call a culminating or summative portfolio because students actually submit and reflect upon that in their senior year, this would be an approach where it would be more of an ongoing portfolio where students can submit,” Kerby said. “Faculty members or advisers could also look at the portfolio. They could discuss what’s happening in the student’s educational experience. You know, how are they being changed as a result of their educational experience?” Kerby said her committee’s report effectively lays out the advantages and hurdles of an ePortfolio approach. She said moving forward, implementation of such changes likely would require conversation between students and faculty. Kerby said she was struck by her committee’s dedication to making the portfolio a more meaningful experience during the short window it had to work and research.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

BY RACHEL FECHTER Staff Writer Truman State alumna Christianne Greiert started out watching episodes of “Full House” on TV with D.J., Stephanie and Michelle, who seemed like her real friends. Pretty soon, character after character, play after play, Greiert fell in love with acting. After a childhood of pursuing local theatre in her hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri, she eventually took her talents to Kirksville and after that, to New York City. Greiert graduated during 2005 and studied theatre. She is returning from her busy life in Manhattan running her own production company, Clutch Productions, to speak at Truman’s Women and Gender Studies Conference 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish and again 5 p.m. Friday. Theatre professor Dana Smith said Greiert is one of her former students and she has heard about Greiert’s production company which works with female playwrights to put on shows about feminine and social justice issues. Smith said Greiert was a strong student even she never had any lead roles in the main stage shows. She said she thinks Greiert would have a lot to say to students, especially having to do with being discouraged and not getting cast on the college level. “Students could look to her and see what it takes to get out there and be a working actor in

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this world,” Smith said. “It’s not easy but she has done it.” Greiert said her professors and education at Truman, in part, gave her the confidence she needed to be successful in New York City as an actress and co-founder of Clutch Productions. Greiert said she thinks tt’s a wonderful thing to say “Oh yeah, I went to Truman State University.” She said she thinks the legacy of who goes here and who comes out of Truman is stellar. Greiert said she hoped not only to inspire Truman students who want to go into acting but to inspire any young person out there to work hard, take risks and make their own dreams into realities. “A lot of times we all wear this armor, shielding ourselves from something that’s scary or put on an idea of who people want us to be,” Greiert said. “We have to be authentic. That’s something the conference is 100 percent embracing. We have a huge calling to take off the armor and be who we are meant to be.” Graduate student Hayden Wilsey said Smith and student volunteers have put in time and effort to set up events for the conference, which was partially funded by the theatre department. “A conference can be the place where a lot of the research people do behind offices and closed doors comes to life, and creates important discussions in the moment,” Wilsey said. Wilsey said he thinks Greiert will bring a discussion to the conference that shows students how they can actively pursue their work.

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WRC hosts sex worker debate THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

BY PAIGE YUNGERMANN Staff Reporter

The Women’s Resource Center hosted its first Sex Worker Debate, an open discussion about legislation regarding sex workers, 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in Baldwin Hall 262. The event aimed to educate Truman State students about issues related to sex workers and offered an opportunity for open exchange of ideas about the topic. Junior Maggie Mortensen, WRC Diversity Committee chair, said the event included a presentation of facts about sex worker legislation, clips from documentaries about sex workers and open discussion amongst participants. Mortensen said the WRC does not have an official position about sex worker legislation but instead will facilitate an open discussion of multiple perspectives surrounding this issue. “We are for the liberation of women everywhere, and sex work ties directly into that,” Mortensen said. “You can have a lot of very different stances while still promoting that same goal of wanting liberation, freedom and basic human rights. We’re open to a lot of different viewpoints.” Mortensen said students should attend this event because it will help them understand that sex work expands beyond prostitutes standing on street corners. She said it was interesting to see different students’ perspectives about this issue. While the Sex Worker Debate might not seem like an issue that pertains to all Truman students, Mortensen said the topic is important and relevant to discuss.

“Our goal in the WRC is knowledge,” Mortensen said. “We want to educate students about things even if it doesn’t affect them directly. Putting out information about marginalized people that they might not even know about is important to growth.” Mortensen said she hopes this will become an annual WRC event. She said with new students coming to campus every year, it is important to revisit this issue and give them an opportunity to learn more and participate in the debate.

“We are for the liberation of women everywhere, and sex work ties directly into that.”

-WRC Diversity Committee chair junior Maggie Mortensen

Mortensen said the Sex Worker Debate was supposed to take place last semester, but she was sick when the event was originally scheduled, so it was postponed. Jamie Ball, Title IX Coordinator and Institutional Compliance Officer, said legalizing sex work could have an impact on Truman students. “There could be business opportunities for people to explore, not necessarily as sex workers themselves, but on the fringes of every business there is money to be made,” Ball said.

Because sex work legalization is a complicated issue, Ball said she thinks Truman students will be prepared for these types of discussions because of Truman’s liberal arts focus. Ball said she thinks this is an interesting discussion because sex work is not always thought of as a feminist issue. She said some argue if women should have the right to do what they want with their bodies, they should be allowed to engage in sex work. Ball said this will be part of the discussion at the event. “It’s an interesting debate because a lot of people assume that there is nothing to be gained by exploring legalization of prostitution,” Ball said. “We’re going to dig into further questions like ‘What does feminism mean and does it mean having this freedom?’ These are deep and complicated questions, but they are worth exploring.” WRC director senior Danielle Fritz said the issue of legalization of sex work is complicated because, while she thinks women should be able to do what they want with their bodies, she said sex work has potential for negative consequences and actions such as human trafficking. Fritz said supporting victims of sex trafficking is a topic the WRC has addressed before, including collecting toiletry items to donate to victims of sex trafficking. Fritz said the WRC will host another toiletry drive this semester, and donations can be dropped off at the WRC, located in Student Union Building 1109C. The WRC plan to host events later in the semester including V-week and The Vagina Monolgoues. Follow their Facebook page for more updates.

Slam poet Katie Wirsing in the SUB

Slam poet Katie Wirsing performed Monday in the Student Union Building. Several members of Truman’s slam poetry club, TruSlam, opened the event with readings of their own poetry. Wirsing, a nationally ranked spoken word poet from Colorado, focuses her work on issues such as gender, love and spirituality.

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Emily Ploch/Index Slam poet Katie Wirsing performs in the SUB Hub Jan. 25. Six members of TruSlam, Truman’s slam poetry club, opened for Wirsing’s performance.


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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Sound Opinions - Local DJ gives unsolicited reviews of local music -

BY CHRIS BURK

Contributing Writer

It was another bitterly cold Saturday night in Kirksville as my friend and I set out for the Aquadome. Live music was on the bill, and local favorite Conman Economy finally recorded and released its first extended play, '‘Reach." Conman has been around Kirksville for most of the five years I've been living here, and it was radical to see it get into the studio and crank out a release. It was set to be a warm show as well, with the installation of a new heating system at the venue. My fellow trouble-maker Philly joined me for the fun, and we showed up to the ‘Dome fifteen minutes late for the first set. Luckily for us, the show was running slightly behind schedule, and Bereavement, the first band, was just getting plugged in. Bereavement is a three-piece prog-metal band made up of members of local metal groups Secular Era and Perdition. The young headbangers had been motioned to play the opener only an hour and a half before their set started because

Jefferson City, Missouri’s Christian rock group Almost Taken had to bow out on late notice.

“... I thought the band jumped the line between alternative metal and posthardcore, a sound similar to postmillennium Incubus with a hint of Story of the Year.” -Chris Burk, contributing writer

While being visibly young, Bereavement handled the short notice quite well. The band played all original music and it was rather loud, a great combination for any opening group, especially a young group. Drummer Mark Sullivan was the highlight of the band’s 25-minute set. His speed and timing were reminiscent of 80s thrash metal. Bereavement is scheduled to play again Feb. 6 at a Rock & Metal Showcase at the Aquadome.

Truman State quartet The Skagbyrds played the enthusiastic second set. While the flier for the event said The Skagbyrds' music makes the musicians' parents shake their heads and weep for the future, I thought the band jumped the line between alternative metal and posthardcore, a sound similar to postmillennium Incubus with a hint of Story of the Year. However, the Story of the Year similarities might come from the band's stage presence — bassist Matthew Warner quickly became unhinged and was bouncing off the Aquadome walls. Guitarist Andrew Warner sounded good against Kevin Goessling on the drums. Goessling obviously was energized by the set — even between songs he couldn’t stop his hands from spinning and tossing his sticks around. I talked to Goessling after the show as he was carrying a large drum in his hands with a smile as wide as Kansas, seeming satisfied with the gig. Lead singer Patrick Quinlan had a good tone on the guitar and vocally, but he gets points marked off for referring to Soundgarden as the greatest band ever — the correct

answer is San Pedro, California’s Minutemen. The group’s 30-minute set was enjoyable, and I regretted not having enough cash on hand at the event to buy a physical CD to support The Skagbyrds. The penultimate set of the night was from Moberly, Missouri’s Coldrain, a hard rock group. While we only caught the opening couple of songs, the standout quality of the group comes from lead vocalist Jessica Weaver. I had my back turned in conversation when the band started and immediately compared her to Amy Lee of Evanescence. Despite hearing only a few songs, the band was skilled, and I hope to see it again during the near future. The unfortunate end to the night spurred my only complaint of the evening. Large time gaps between opening acts forced us to bail on the Aquadome before the headlining act — I had to make it to KTRM in time for my Saturday night show "LOUD & OBNOXIOUS" at 10 p.m., and Coldrain only had started its set at 9:20 p.m. While I was genuinely stoked to see Conman Economy for the first time in a couple of years, I'm forced to settle with reviewing their new release in the near future.

Entrepreneur club created Truman State’s new club, Innovative Creative Entrepreneurship provides opportunities for all students regardless of their field of study. BY JACK DERBAK Staff Writer

Although most people associate entrepreneurship with business or marketing, Truman State’s new club, Innovative Creative Entrepreneurship, wants to prove that it is a skill applicable to all students. ICE president junior Anthony Hill said the main goal of ICE is to attract current Truman students of all majors and backgrounds to expand on Truman's already substantial business reputation, as well as to encourage high school students to specifically seek out Truman for its programs and opportunities. Hill said he wants to provide an outlet for and encourage people who are interested in entrepreneurship or who have creative ideas for issues they are passionate about. He said ICE specifically wants to give those who are interested the resources that will help them achieve their entrepreneurial goals. Hill said for those who want to be in the club, applications are due Sunday, and interviews will happen during the first week of February. “A lot of businessmen and women … say ‘I wasn’t actually a business major to start

“If you ever thought, ‘Man, why hasn’t somebody, like, made this ... this would make a really good product’ ... that’s what ICE will be for.” -ICE President junior Anthony Hill

with, I found out that this is just something I enjoy doing,’ and they could be either [communication] majors, history majors, a huge conglomerate of majors," Hill said. During the future, Hill said he would like to directly connect students in ICE to other entrepreneurial clubs across the United States, potentially building future connections and opportunities. He said there has been a recent push in Missouri and the rest of the Midwest for entrepreneurship. Hill said the creation of ICE stemmed from Truman's lack of a business club specifically suited for entrepreneurs. Hill said the club is open to all students regardless of major, so those who are not sure about going into business can still get a taste of what being an entrepreneur is like. "If you ever thought, ‘Man, why hasn't somebody, like, made this ... this would make a really good product' ... that's what ICE will be for," Hill said. Junior Shane Legatzke, ICE vice president, said he met Hill during a recruitment event at the Bulldog Student Investment Fund. Legatzke said they wanted to start

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Emily Ploch/Index Members of ICE play games Tuesday night to give students interested in ICE an opportunity to ask questions in a comfortable environment. The game night, along with the guest speaker at the club’s meeting tonight, Jan. 28, will hopefully draw more interest and recognition from students. the club because they wanted to focus on innovation and building real-world ideas and companies. "We would like to see ICE produce successful entrepreneurs, develop an extensive network of diverse entrepreneurial individuals, and grow to make Truman a national hub of creativity and business development," Legatzke said. Senior Jordan Duecker, who is in charge of the club’s rules and risk management, said the club wants to bring out the innovative potential and full worth of students interested in entrepreneurship. Duecker said with support for the club from business professors and the dean of business, ICE will be successful in achieving its goals and providing for students. Because the club only has eight members, Duecker said he hopes more people will show interest during the next week. Duecker said as Truman’s first entrepreneurial club, they want as many people as possible to get involved. Duecker said in addition to a table at the Activities Fair and advertising tables in the Student Union Building, the club hosted a game night Tuesday and a discussion event Wednesday. He said tonight, Jan. 28, ICE will have business professor Charles Boughton as the guest speaker at its meeting. “There’s so many good ideas that aren’t being tapped into,” Duecker said. “We want to unlock that potential.” ICE currently meets in Violette Hall room 1412 on Thursdays. To submit an application to join ICE or to ask any questions about the club, contact Hill at aeh1278@truman.edu.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

EVENTS Guided Peace Meditation 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 3 Baldwin Hall 251 Join the Art of Living club for a relaxing hour of light stretching and guided breathing exercises. This free event requires no previous experience and is open to everyone.

Alpha Phi Omega Bake Sale 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2-5 McClain, Violette and Magruder halls

Calling All Cooks The Index is looking for recipe submissions. If you have a recipe you want featured, please send: • list of ingredients • instructions • picture of the food • short blurb about why the recipe is special to you • Head shot or selfie to index.featureseditor@gmail.com.

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Stop by one of the Alpha Phi Omega tables on your way to class to grab a baked treat for 50 cents.

Police Procedurals That Don’t Get Super Repetitve

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Unlike most police procedurals, “White Collar” deals with white collar crime, such as art theft, forgeries, fraud, etc, meaning there’s hardly any dead bodies to investigate. Neal Caffrey, a con man and art forger, talks his way into being an FBI consultant to the man who put him in prison four years before, FBI agent Peter Burke.

2

Instead of a cast of classic police officers or FBI agents, “Criminal Minds” features a team of profilers who focus on catching the bad guy, not solving the case. Chief Aaron Hotchner and his team travel the country tracing the behavior of their target criminal.

3

Although “Bones” has been on air for 11 years and counting, the show constantly is able to write interesting and different story lines. The series is also more science-based than other police procedurals because its cast of characters are mostly scientists rather than FBI agents.

4

Falling under the comedy genre, “Psych” wasn’t known for having a completely believable premise. Shawn Spencer is able to con the Santa Barbara police department into thinking he’s psychic for 8 years? Not likely. But this crime dramedy was always more about the friendships between the characters than the crimes.

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A play on James Bond-type spy dramas, “Burn Notice” doesn’t get enough credit. After spy Michael Westen gets burned by the CIA, he moves back to Miami to investigate crimes, figure out who burned him and why. Westen’s witty and dry narration shows “Burn Notice” knows not to take itself too seriously.

Still believing — “The X-Files” stumbles, but ... BY KATEY STOETZEL

Features Editor index.featureseditor@gmail.com

I still believe in "The X-Files" revival. We're only two episodes into the new six-episode season, and I've heard good things about later episodes. But we're not off to a great start. The season 10 premiere, "My Struggle," written and directed by series creator Chris Carter, is all about catching everyone up on the last 15 years of "The X-Files" world. During Kumail Nanjiani's podcast "The X-Files Files," Nanjiani talked about how great a revival of "The X-Files" would be in this post-9/11 world, with rumors of the NSA bugging everyone's phones, drone strikes and Edward Snowden. The good old days of "The X-Files" were all about paranoia and conspiracies, and “My Struggle” delivers on that front. The episode doesn’t explore these things, but definitely mentions all of these real-world events to further the idea the government has been keeping secrets from the world, which is what the show was once famous for. So we get a lot of exposition during "My Struggle." To be fair, this premiere episode had a lot of obligations to get out of the way — clue in general audiences, cover the

last 15 years in real-time and "X-Files" time, re-establish who Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are and where they're at in their lives, and somehow reintroduce the government conspiracy that should have been left alone during 1998. Although "The X-Files" has had its meta moments during the past, a lot of time during "My Struggle" was dedicated to too much self-awareness for my taste, making the episode feel more like an obligation than the joyful return it should have been. At times, "The X-Files" can be melodramatic. "My Struggle" doesn't stray away from that, spouting off lines such as “It’s about controlling the past to control the future! It’s about fiction masquerading as fact!” It doesn’t help that David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are having a hard time stepping back into their roles. After re-establishing a government conspiracy that goes as far back as Roswell, a hurried "I'm coming out of seclusion to find out the truth" arc for Mulder and an unsurprising "I have to rejoin the FBI to investigate aliens so Mulder doesn't get himself in trouble" arc for Scully, "My Struggle" ends with the X-Files investigation reopening. This doesn't sit well with an old nemesis, who is graced with the final shot of the season 10 premiere. Yes, Cigarette Smoking Man is back, even though he was last seen getting blown

up in the series finale. And yes, he's still smoking, though it's through a tracheotomy. The second episode, "Founder's Mutation," was an improvement from the first one. "Founder's Mutation" leaves the mythology plot behind for the monster-ofthe-week formula, a formula "The X-Files" really thrives on. When a scientist working for the Department of Defense commits suicide, Mulder and Scully stumble upon a secret mutation experiment involving kids. It's implied these kids are the result of experiments involving alien DNA, a callback to the original series and Scully's abduction during season two. "Founder's Mutation" is superior to "My Struggle" because it includes one thing "My Struggle" forgot "The XFiles" was capable of — wit. From Mulder's dry humor to Walter Skinner's exasperated reactions to his agents and Mulder's penchant for blurting out the most ridiculous explanations and expecting people to believe him, we’re finally back on track. The time for a new "X-Files" was right, but it has four episodes left to prove it's going to take advantage of it. I will be continuing discussions about season 10 of "The X-Files" on the TMN website during the following weeks, under the heading "Still Believing." Visit tmn.truman.edu to join the conspiracy theories. Grade — B+


SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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Swim supports Orange Bead

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BY COURTNEY STRAIT

Assistant Sports Editor tsusportseditor@gmail.com

During recent weeks, the Truman State swimming program has taken steps to raise awareness of mental illness. The Bulldog swimmers joined the Orange Bead Collective, a group that strives to raise awareness about mental health and support those who have been affected by anxiety and depression. The Orange Bead Collective was founded by Bree Blatchford, a 23-yearold from California. Blatchford, who was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, created the collective to provide a comfortable space where those who are affected by mental illness can share their experiences. On the Orange Bead Collective’s website, Blatchford said she hopes to raise awareness about depression and remove the stigma that surrounds it. The site also informs those who do not have a mental illness about anxiety and depression, and how their negative societal connotations can be eliminated. Junior Emily Ponte introduced the OBC to the Truman swimming program. Ponte said when she first discovered the movement earlier last semester, she said she planned to ask her family to join the movement because she has a family member who has battled mental illness. Later, during Christmas break, Ponte said she wanted to expand the support and thought it was important to share her experience with her team. “[Some of my teammates] have faced some tragedies and needed support,” Ponte said. “It shows that there is always a shoulder to lean on, no matter what.” Along with spreading awareness among her teammates, Ponte said it was important every team member joined the collective. She said the teammates have meetings to discuss what is going on in their lives, and joining the Orange Bead Collective solidified the support the swimmers have for one another. She said the orange bracelets represent a willingness to talk and listen to anyone who needs a friend, just like her teammates do for one another. Ponte said she also uses the orange bead bracelet as a symbol that she will provide a comfortable environment to those who are diagnosed with mental illnesses. She said even though depression and anxiety are personal battles, it is important not to judge during the healing process. She said the OBC is a reminder that mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of. Ponte said her future plans for the Orange Bead Collective include reaching out to Truman students, especially Truman athletes. Ponte said she wants all athletes to purchase a bracelet in support of the cause, and spread awareness within Greek Life and the Truman campus. “It moved me that everyone was so supportive,” Ponte said. “It makes me want to branch out to more people.” Assistant Swim Coach Jerod Simek said joining the Orange Bead Collective was not a surprise for the program. Simek said because of what the swimmers have been through during recent years, the swimmers really have needed one another for support outside of the pool. Simek said that he is honored to coach a group of people who are positive role models. “It is one of those things that [Head Coach] Ed [Petre] and myself are truly proud of,” Simek said. “It is what makes them reveal their true character.” Simek said he thinks the Orange Bead Collective will help Truman State decrease the negative stigma of mental illnesses. See SWIM, page 13 and photo at right

VOLUME 107

ISSUE 16

Austin Hornbostel/Index

‘Dogs win three in a row BY CURT WICHMER/STAFF WRITER

The Truman State women’s basketball team came away with two wins last weekend in Pershing Arena, including an overtime victory Thursday against the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 78-73. See BULLDOGS SWEEP GLVC FOES AT HOME, page 14

SWIM l Truman State swimmers show support for those with mental illnesses.

Photo submitted by Tim Senholtz Members of the Truman State swim team pose in solidarity for those with anxiety and depression. The swimming program joined the Orange Bead Collective, hoping to raise awareness of and support mental illness.

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© 2016


12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Alumnus invited into Hall of Fame

Index Archives Senior quarterback Gregg Williams, No. 12, congratulates junior running back Typree Lee after a seven-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs defeated Central Missouri State University during their Homecoming game Oct. 27, 1979.

Truman State alumnus Gregg Williams will be inducted into the Missouri Coaches Hall of Fame Saturday. The Excelsior Springs, Missouri, native graduated from Truman and went on to earn his master’s degree at the University of Central Missouri. Currently, Williams holds the position of defensive coordinator within the Los Angeles Rams organization. Although this is only his second year with the Rams, he has coached for 25 years in the NFL. Williams has two Super Bowl appearances under his belt — one loss with the Tennessee Titans in 2000, and one victory in 2010 with the New Orleans Saints. Williams played football for the Bulldogs and received All-Conference honors twice on the baseball team. As quarterback, Williams was a three-year letter winner. Williams completed 40 passes for the ‘Dogs, including two touchdowns. As a baseball player, Williams was a two-year letter winner. During 1979 he received second team All-Conference accolades from the then-Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He received his second All-Conference award in 1980. Williams’ Hall of Fame induction follows the likes of Maurice “Red” Wade, Russ Sloan, Dr. John Bailey, Gerald “Shag” Grossnickle and Shane Cavanah, who all have a connection to the University.

Submitted Photos

Soccer receives NCAA recognition

The Truman State women’s soccer team received medallions in recognition of its NCAA tournament appearance during halftime of the men’s basketball game in Pershing Arena Jan. 23. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 15-3-5 record and won the 2015 GLVC Conference Championship. During NCAA regional play, the Bulldogs defeated Cedarville University before falling to Bellarmine University. This NCAA regional berth was the eleventh in program history, all under Head Coach Mike Cannon.

30


13

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Pros and cons to the Pro Bowl BY DEVIN GILLESPIE

Sports Editor tsusportseditor@gmail.com

While the NFL Pro Bowl is set to air 7 p.m. Sunday from Honolulu, Hawaii, many football fans are not waiting on the edge of their seats.

SWIM l Truman State swimmers join the Orange Bead

Collective to raise awareness for people with mental illnesses, particularly those who have anxiety and depression.

Photo submitted by Emily Ponte Members of the Truman State swim team pose with their Orange Bead Collective wristbands, supporting those who have mental illnesses.

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Although the annual all-star game has been a tradition of professional football since the 1970s, many consider the Pro Bowl a joke. The NFL has made structural game changes during the last few years with hope of increasing the Pro Bowl’s popularity, such as incorporating a draft pool where team captains can handpick players. Here’s a few common reasons why people have issues with the Pro Bowl. The priority for coaches and players is to have everyone involved walk away from the Pro Bowl free of injuries. It would be a shame to have a team’s star player hurt in a game that doesn’t count toward anything, even though all participating players will not be competing again until the preseason during the fall. This also is why none of the selected players on either of this year’s Super Bowl teams will be dressed to play, but instead will be watching from the sidelines. Also, because players are trying to stay healthy, they aren’t playing as hard as they would if the stakes were higher. The Pro Bowl has a number of rules that differ from a regular season football game. During 2014, the NFL expanded changes to how the game is conducted, including removing kickoffs and adding a twominute warning to the first and third Continued from page 11 Simek said he thinks this negativity is significant for athletes and can cause those affected to feel as if they are being judged, and his team has taken a step toward eliminating this connotation. Junior Evyn Spencer said she joined the OBC after Ponte presented the idea to the team. Spencer said the collective will have a positive effect on the program and the university. She said joining the OBC will give increased attention to the organization, spread a positive image of

“[Some of my teammates] have faced some tragedies and needed support. It shows that there is always a shoulder to lean on, no matter what.” - Junior Emily Ponte

quarter. During 2015, the league increased the number of timeouts each team could have from three per half to two per quarter, and the league narrowed the width of the goal posts from 18 feet to 14 feet. Despite the objections, people are still finding something about this event worthy of watching. The Pro Bowl drew 11.7 million viewers during 2014, according to Sports Illustrated. Who would have thought so many people were watching the game many football fans ignore? But as a football fan myself, here are my reasons for watching the Pro Bowl. College football is done for the year, and there’s still another week before the Super Bowl. If you can’t get through your Sundays without football just yet, there are going to be limited options this weekend. Because only two teams remain, the other 30 football organizations and their respective players won’t take the field again until August. The offseason also brings a lot of changes — players get traded, released, drafted and so on — so only time will tell what uniform players will be wearing next season. For those who are not a fan of the Pro Bowl, give it a second look, because all football fans will be wishing there was a game on television in two weeks. the Truman swim program and ultimately allow students to stand for something that plays a large role in many people's lives. Spencer said the cause is not only beneficial to current Bulldog swimmers, but to recruits who are interested in attending Truman. She said future Bulldogs are more likely to join a program that accepts and supports people with mental illnesses, and she thinks joining the Orange Bead Collective is a great way to show that. Spencer said her team’s involvement with the collective makes her feel hopeful for the future. She said reinforcing the team’s ethics and morals has made the swimmers closer than before. Spencer said she agreed with Ponte and wants to expand the movement throughout the school and the Kirksville community. “I hope that the team can be pioneers and help this cause take off,” Spencer said. “It’s amazing how we band together — I’m lucky to be a part of it.” Swimmers currently are preparing for the GLVC Championships, which will begin Feb. 11.

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14

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Bulldogs sweep GLVC foes at home CURT WICHMER Staff Writer

Following a win in Evansville, Indiana, last week, the Truman women’s basketball team looked to add more wins to its 11-6 record. The Bulldogs collected two GLVC victories against the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville University. The two-game home stand brings the ‘Dogs into a stretch of four games on the road. Although the first quarter of the game against UMSL ended with the two teams tied, the ‘Dogs finished the first half with the lead, 37-31. Following a second-half comeback by the Tritons, the game went into overtime, where the Bulldogs took the win with a final score of 78-73. Redshirt senior center Michalina Tomczak, who shot 7-9 and scored 16 points on the night, said the team’s success mainly can be attributed to its determination. Tomczak said for a team to win, perseverance is important throughout the game, even when the team loses the lead. She said it was this kind of determination that helped Truman pull through during overtime. “UMSL was a grind,” Tomczak said. “They’re a really good team, and they battled throughout the entire game. I feel like all of us knew we could win that game, and that perseverance allowed us to take the win.” Tomczak said Truman’s defense also played a big part during Thursday’s win, calling it “one of the best in the conference.” She said because of the Bulldogs’ defensive strength, the team often can rely on defense to win, even when its offense is having a rough night. Head Coach Amy Eagan said mental toughness played a prominent role in the overtime win against UMSL. Eagan said

Austin Hornbostel/ Index

Above: Redshirt freshman Brooke Bailey makes a pass during a game against the University of Missouri-St.Louis last Thursday. The ‘Dogs have played the Tritons twice this season, with both games going into overtime. Truman easily could have given up after missing several free throws toward the end of regulation and praised the players for continuing to play. She said this determination will come in handy during the game against Missouri University of Science and Technology tonight, Jan. 28. “I think S&T is better than last year,” Eagan said. “I do think they have a great [forward] that we are going to have to

limit. We just have to take it one day at a time, and continue to work to get better and prep the way we have been. As far as weaknesses against us, I think that we have a lot more depth than [S&T] does.” It is this depth, Eagan said, that makes the Bulldogs special. She said each game features different players stepping up to the plate and carrying the team. She said she was particularly proud of senior

20th player to break 1,000 points

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3rd player to reach 100 blocks

MICHALINA TOMCZAK

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Career Milestones

guard Courtney Strait for scoring more than 1,000 points during her career, and Tomczak for reaching 100 blocks. Against Maryville, Truman took an early lead and extended it to 43-20 at halftime. The ‘Dogs carried that lead for an 80-60 win. Truman made 29 of its 61 shots from the field for a seasonhigh 80 points. Junior center Cassidy Clark said the team’s positive energy led to its success against the Saints. Clark, who shot 4-4 for 9 points Saturday, said maintaining that positive energy on the road will be key to future victories. She said a strong defensive presence also will go a long way toward helping the Bulldogs win. “We’re really good defensively,” Clark said. “We really bite down. We don’t like to get scored on — nobody does — so we try our best to keep our opponents around 60 points a game. I think that’s what helps us win.” The Bulldogs now have a conference record of 7-2, the third-best record in the GLVC West, behind Drury University and Quincy University. Truman will play Missouri S&T 5:30 p.m. tonight, Jan. 28, in Rolla, Missouri, followed by No. 18 Drury at 1p.m. Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.


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