The Index Vol. 114, Issue 12

Quiz: Which Kirksville park are you?, page 9

Biochem student earns STEM scholarship, page 7

Opinion: America’s oldest sport new again, page 11

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu

TRUMAN EXPERIENCES CYBERATTACK

GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Former Editor-in-Chief

Friday, April 21, Truman State University experienced a cybersecurity virus attack, causing Information Technology Services to take down Truman’s entire network, including the internet, intranet, email services and Blackboard.

The University stated on its Frequently Asked Questions website that it does not believe that Truman’s enterprise systems with personally-identifiable information were involved in the attack. Still, the University is assessing what information, if any, was affected, according to Truman’s Google website used to communicate about the cyberattack.

ITS used backup files through April 7 to ensure there were no viruses in the network restoration. Files saved or created on the network drive since April 7, including those on Truman’s W, Y and V drives, have been deleted.

ITS completely restored the network on Friday, April 28, and all of Truman’s network is now safe to use.

Interim Provost Charles McAdams worked with the school deans to release a statement Wednesday, April 26, stating rules and penalties for late assignments, missed tests and other deadlines do not apply for any work due between Friday, April 21 and the end of the semester. The statement, distributed by paper to faculty, told faculty they would likely need to reduce or eliminate assignments and other work to meet grade submission deadlines.

Rec floor and track to be completed in July

Staff Writer

The Truman State University Student Recreation Center floor and track are expected to be repaired by mid-July and be open by the fall.

During the winter interim, a water fountain pipe burst, causing flooding underneath the entire basketball court floor and significant water damage. The floor was removed and is being replaced entirely. Because of the gym being closed, The Rec Center decided to also replace the track above the floor at the same time.

According to the Board of Governors meeting minutes, the Recreation Center flooring budget is $505,000.

Amanda Porter, assistant director of operations, said prior to the water damage, the

Truman switches email to Outlook

GRACE POTTER News Editor

Truman State University will switch from Gmail to Outlook starting the fall semester of 2023.

Google services like Docs, Slides and others will still be accessible, though with reduced storage.

Chief Information Officer Donna Liss said Microsoft 365 brings new services, one of them being the Outlook Calendar. The calendar allows students to not only write all their events in one place, but also to connect with others and compare calendars to easily schedule meetings.

Multi-factor authentication or “two-way verification” is another beneficial aspect of Outlook, Liss said. The verification strengthens account security by ensuring sign in processes on different devices done by the original user and not someone impersonating the user.

Since many professional work environments use Microsoft, Liss said the switch will better prepare students for future jobs.

“We have quite a few classes needing us to offer that next version of software for a lot of students in a lot of disciplines,” Liss said. “This is what they use when they go out to get a job, so they need to know how to use the latest and greatest.”

StuGov elections reopened

SETH JARVIS Staff Writer

Student Government elections are being redone and are now May 1 to May 5. If students voted during the first election week they must revote.

court was often used from 3 p.m. until closing hours and was often packed. Students could play games such as basketball, volleyball, ping pong and pickleball.

“This whole space was 19,000 square feet, so we essentially lost that,” Porter said. “We had to push everything into our auxiliary gym, which is just the length of one basketball court, instead of three, so intramurals were impacted, our patrons, they all have to share a space now.”

Rec Center supervisor, Addison Walker said, “I think everybody has adapted to our multipurpose gym. There are people there all the time, whereas before it was only really intramural games.”

The elections initially took place between April 17 and April 21 but are being redone because of the cyberattack which resulted in Information Technology Services having to wipe much of the University’s servers. Students have the opportunity to vote for three ballot measures for this election.

Colleen O’Reilly and Mairin Warner are the candidates for

president and vice president, respectively. O’Reilly said one of their goals was to improve the transfer student process and better accommodate them as they begin their time at Truman State University. One way to improve the transfer student experience would be to assign them an adviser more relevant to their major rather than simply assigning them to a freshman-level adviser.

Warner said another major goal is to restore the Truman Environmental Coalition to help unify the variety of environmental groups on campus. Warner said they also want to focus on food sustainability and working with Sodexo to further those goals.

Kennedy Cooper, current president of Student Government, said she has a couple unfinished projects to finish upon reelection. First, she said she wants to be the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee again and recommend gender identity be added to the University’s non-discrimination policy. She also said she wants more diversity aspects added to classes, such as how diversity impacts various fields. For example, a nursing major might learn how to take care of patients from different cultural backgrounds.

See ELECTIONS page 5

CORI BALES

Signs telling faculty, staff and students to leave their computers off were hung in Ophelia Parrish April 24. Information Technology Services installed necessary security software on most computers before they could be used. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Student Government meets Sunday, April 30. The elections were unable to be completed because of the cyberattack.

Photo by Emily Collins

Kirksville celebrates diversity at festival

Above: A representative of the Sue Ross Art Center speaks to community members. Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said the city provided the space for the event and acted as a fiscal agent for the event.

Left: Stilt-walker Regina Armenta performs at the festival. She said she’s been stilt walking 15 to 20 years and uses it as a platform to do lots of different things in the world. Photos by Rahul Chaudhari

Above: Illusion Danz performs. The festival featured several dance performances. Left: Bonzai employees serve food. Several restaurants served free food representative of different cultures.

Truman administration and staff served cultural food from Sodexo. Kerrion Dean, program coordinator for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Truman, said he was part of the city-wide planning committee.

A member of the A.T. Still University Diversity Committee speaks to attendees. The booth featured food including dates, seaweed and Turkish Delight for people to try.

CYBERATTACK | Provost and deans give guidance for faculty academic expectations

Continued from page 1

McAdams sent a clarifying message May 1, stating course assignments are due on the last day of class, Friday May 5, and faculty members can extend due dates at their discretion. Finals should occur at their original times and locations.

The original statement was a suggestion, McAdams said, as some classes may have been greatly affected by the outage and some not as affected.

Tim Walston, dean of math and science, said the first message, which the deans and the provost worked together to write, was supposed to convey the message that administration would have grace on faculty and that faculty should have grace on themselves as far as a realistic grading load. He said they didn’t want faculty to think they had to come back after a week without the Truman network and make everything due at the same time or try to make up for the work lost in the last three weeks on the Truman drives.

OUTLOOK | Outlook to be more secure than Gmail

Continued from page 1

Liss said there are a few classes currently piloting Microsoft 365 to find any issues that come along with the new program.

“I think this got kind of lost in the shuffle … was a message to faculty that the administration was going to have grace on them, and they need to have grace on themselves to think about the grading load,” Walston said.

Faculty and administration discussed academic expectations at the Faculty Senate meeting April 27. Walston said some faculty had concerns about these expectations but that the main point was for faculty to think about how much grading they would have at the semester’s end and consider scaling back some of their assignments.

Walston said he thought there was some confusion regarding the wording that late penalties would not be assigned until the end of the semester. The intended message was that no late penalties would be assigned through the last week of classes.

“It was a reminder to faculty to be thinking about their students, to be thinking about themselves and really a message that we as the administrators see the struggles that they’re going through and want to recognize that,” Walston said. “I want them to know that we don’t have to keep on with the status quo because of this event.”

The administration supports the faculty and what they’re doing, Walston said. Faculty members are ultimately in charge of assignments and deadlines. Walston said the message does not mean classes will no longer have finals or tests.

He has not heard any complaints from students about professors not being reasonable regarding the situation, Walston said, though he’s happy to meet with students if they do have them. He also said students can use the grade appeal process if they don’t believe their grade is fair. Whiteboards in the library stated computers, printing and WiFi were unavailable April 24. The provost suggested faculty not assign late penalties for work not turned in on time since April 21. Photo by

Genevieve Tlustos

The recent cyberattack paused Gmail correspondence between all students and faculty. According to Truman’s FAQ website, services were restored Friday, April 28, and all users should have access to their Truman Gmail accounts through the beginning of next semester. Liss said Outlook will be much more secure than Gmail. With some faculty members and students using Outlook, and most using Gmail, it makes sorting the emails more difficult than all members being under one hosted system. When it comes to phishing through Google, Liss said it’s hard to stop junk mail from getting through because it is Google’s territory.

Essentially, Outlook and Gmail are not very compatible, Liss said. Microsoft is much more reliable since Google has recently been stopping or slowing campus communication by sending important

emails to spam. It is more difficult to keep Gmail than it is to switch to Outlook because Gmail is stopping communication between the two systems.

Freshman Emma Mathews said she is nervous about the switch to Microsoft and thinks it will be inconvenient.

“I’m just not a fan of Microsoft, so that makes me a bit nervous,” Mathews said. “I guess I can still use Google Docs and Slides, so that’s nice, but the email will definitely take some getting used to.”

Given the recent cybersecurity situation, Mathews said, “I’m definitely a lot more open to switching since the cyberattack. I just hope Microsoft treats us well, I guess.”

Liss said the limited space for other Google services like Docs, Slides and others should be more than enough for students. If the limit is reached or exceeded, Liss said she is willing to figure out ways to ensure the materials have a place to go.

Students’ email addresses will be staying the same through the switch.

Students needed more communication during cyberattack

We, the Index editorial board, would first like to thank the Information Technology Services department for all their hard work in finding a resolution to the recent cyberattack so quickly. We also thank the administration for their work during this time. However, we the Index editorial board are disappointed in the lack of communication from Truman State University surrounding the cyberattack. It is not the fact the cyberattack occurred or how long it took to get resolved, but the way information was not communicated quickly or effectively to students that concerns us. We believe the University could have done better.

Many students received their information from YikYak or hearsay from professors or other staff who did not have the correct information on Friday morning when the issues first occurred.

The first TruAlert sent out Friday night only informed students the network would be down for services rather than explaining the security risks. There was an Instagram post with a caption that mentioned a potential attack, but this was the only source of information for some students. For students living off-campus or out of state, there was even less awareness about what was happening. Not all students are signed up for TruAlerts or have access to social media where information was spread, so they did not know why Truman services were not working for them.

It was not until Sunday night the first link was sent to students with specific information about the attack and the Frequently Asked Questions website was established. Throughout the confusion, students were not given clear instructions

on what they should do in a quick enough manner, and students were left in the dark about what services were safe and what they should expect when classes resumed. With the lack of streamlined information, some students thought logging out of all accounts was necessary, losing access to Google Drive. At the same time, some stayed logged in and could continue working on assignments. We wish the University would have hosted a panel discussion, put out a press release, held a conference or found another way for students to ask questions rather than creating a vague Instagram post and Google website.

Even after the issue has been resolved, the University has not made a definitive statement about how classes should continue for the rest of the semester. While there was a mention of removing the late policy and giving students sufficient time to complete assignments they had missed, this is something not all professors are acting on as it is only a suggestion. Some students are struggling to catch up on the work time they missed and have little to no extra time to complete assignments.

We understand a cyberattack has not happened to the University before and that it was resolved relatively quickly compared to other Universities in the same situation. We don’t wish to diminish the hard work put into resolving the issue, but we do wish the University would have taken more responsibility to regularly inform students with clear and concise information and conveyed information in a helpful and effective way.

Goodbye from graduating staff

nights distracting EIC Rachel and Managing Editor

Anakin, requesting “Man or a Muppet” on KTRM and laughing at my inadequacy in using InDesign.

I had plenty of impactful experiences away from this desk as well. For one of my first assignments, I went to the candlelight vigil for Breonna Taylor and listened to students describe the struggles of being a person of color on this campus and in Kirksville. I talked to alumni about coming back to college after fighting in the Vietnam War and trying to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Former Editor-in-Chief

As the new Editor-in-Chief takes her place at the traditional EIC desk, I find myself back in a familiar place — my old features and opinions editor desk.

Here I watched as an assistant as features editor Erica designed pages, joking about using the “chiller” font for headlines. I sat here watching Managing Editor Beth and EIC Ryan work and admiring how much they knew, how much older and wiser they were. Here I spent work

As I reflect on my time, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I am grateful for all the incredible people of Kirksville who welcomed me as a journalist and a Kirksville resident. I’m thankful for the Truman administration who made time for me, who were kind to me and cared about my experience as a student. I’m grateful for all my amazing professors here, especially from the communication department and for my supervisor Dave from the Career Center for always helping me grow as a person.

Most of all, I thank everyone from the Index who invested in me, from Ryan and Beth encouraging

me at the very beginning to former Editor-in-Chief Rachel, who saw potential and skill in me that I did not. Thanks to our adviser Don, of course, for letting me constantly burst into his office and ask too many questions. Thanks to Lillie for doing a fantastic job and taking the initiative to get things done. To Sami for persisting when it’s hard and for your incredible patience with us. To Matt for making working here 10 times more fun. And thank you to Sydney for having my back and helping me get things done. I know you will do a great job at the Index, and I am excited for what you have planned.

To my staff you are incredible. I am proud of the work we have done this year. The Index is such a powerful force to hold others accountable and to give the voiceless a voice.ToTruman students, be grateful for the amazing community you have here. People are rooting for you, and though you may think Kirksville is small, there are a wealth of people to talk to and experiences you have yet to have, so go out and find them.

For my next steps, I will work at the Jefferson City News Tribune this summer and study abroad in the fall. I plan to pursue a career in journalism after that.

Nearly three years ago, I joined the Index team as a sophomore for the same reason I am sure many of my colleagues joined — to serve as a scholarship job. I had always been interested in writing for a living and saw a role with the Index as the perfect opportunity to gain some writing experience in a professional but pressurefree setting while fulfilling the scholarship job requirement.

After a Zoom interview with

then-Editor-in-Chief Ryan Pivoney, I joined the Index as a staff writer. Before I knew it, August was here and with it an editor, a team and assignments. What excited and continues to excite me most about the Index is the invitational nature of writing assignments. The culture is “What do you want to write about?,” not “Here’s what you’ll be writing about.” At the first meeting, Erica Lindsay, my section editor at the time, asked me this question. I had not expected such freedom, but quickly suggested I work on a review of a TV show I had recently finished. The response was, “Sounds good. Let me know if you have any questions.” And I was off. I remember feeling excitement as I worked on that first article. I remember completely botching the formatting — totally unfamiliar with AP style — and the editing team offering constructive criticism and helpful feedback for the future, which I took with a smile and a listening ear. Since then, I have written several reviews for films and TV shows across genres, all with the guidance

of an endlessly supportive team, and I am proud to have won three MCMA awards for Entertainment Review for my efforts. I want to thank Genna Tlustos and Sydney Ellison specifically. As the former features and opinions editor, Genna helped me evolve as a writer and continued to push me as the most recent Editor-in-Chief. As the most recent features and opinions editor, Sydney likewise challenged me to be the best writer I could. I have every confidence she will excel as the next Editorin-Chief. I also want to thank Don Krause for his work as the Index adviser and his supplementary contributions to my Index journey with his instruction in and out of the classroom. While I do not know exactly what my future holds beyond college, I have always been in pursuit of a profession that values the written word, and I am confident my experience with the Index will inform and enrich my professional life.

MICHAEL LAKEY Former Staff Writer

I would like to thank the Index for all the opportunities I got this year to report on Truman sports and beyond. I only wrote for the Index this school year, but I wish I had joined sooner because what I was able to do during my short time here has been wonderful. I got the chance to meet and interview coaches, players and students all around

campus and understand and report their viewpoints. I did not know how well I would fare here, but it has been an incredible experience. I would also like to thank the sports editor at the Index, Lillie Morisaki. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning of the year, and she helped immensely in my learning process. She also allowed me to pursue stories that interested me and follow my own ideas all year which helped me hone my reporting. I would also like to thank the entire editorial staff of the Index for consistently helping me improve my writing this year. I am grateful for the opportunity I got to report here, and I will miss doing this work.

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

EDITORIAL POLICY:

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

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

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

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. 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

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.

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ADVERTISING POLICY:

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

JOSEPH DOUGHERTY

Former Staff Writer

ELECTIONS | Ballot measures relatively close before network reset, according to preliminary returns

Continued from page 1

Cooper said she wrote all three ballot measures up for vote this election. Various committees met and discussed various fees and whether they needed to be altered. The ballots propose three fees to be changed. First, the health fee would be raised from $37 to $39 to help cover the cost of the contract between Truman and Complete Family Medicine. The goal of this measure is to reduce the costs of healthcare on campus. The increase in the fee will cover more of the cost of the contract between CFM and Truman.

The second ballot measure is a reallocation of funds related to the environmental sustainability office. This ballot measure would grant the office $1,000 to help cover the basic operations of the office, as right now the office must apply for money from the University to cover any of their operations. The measure would allow the student environmental fee to stay at its present rate of $5.

The third ballot measure is the activity fee, which would be raised from $45 to $50. Student Government will be granted an extra $1, Funds Allotment Council an extra $1.50, and Student Activities Board an extra $2.50. Cooper said the main reason for this increase is because these organizations are seeing their budgets decrease by half as enrollment has declined. As a result, these groups may not be able to provide the same quality of events as they have in the past.

Alicia Stout is the elections administrator for spring 2023. Stout is in charge of all administrative aspects of the election, completing everything from writing the elections handbook to ensuring all candidates are able to run. Stout said the campaign season was competitive, meaning not everyone running for Student Government was guaranteed a spot. Additionally, before the network reset, all three ballot measures were relatively close, according to preliminary returns that Stout had access to.

Stout said the election was more competitive than last fall’s election. Relative to last spring, there were less people running for senator positions, but the ballot measures were very controversial. Stout said this election additionally included many incumbents running for reelection. There are 20 people running for senator, with 18 seats available. No candidates ran for FAC chair or treasurer, meaning those elections will happen internally among Student Government.

Stout said redoing the election required Student Government to make changes to their governing documents, as there was no established procedure for redoing or calling a special election if needed. There are no major changes to the ballot.

O’Reilly said Student Government is always glad to see people using their vote, and by engaging with Student Government they are able to better understand the needs of the student body.

1. Health fee increase from $37 to $39

2. Reallocation of funds related to the Environmental Sustainability Office

3. Activity fee increase from $45 to $50

REC | Rec Center still offering activities despite gym closure

Continued from page 1

Porter said general student usage of the Rec Center has not been heavily impacted by the gym’s closure. The Rec Center still offers other activities such as HIIT, salsa, pilates and yoga. As the weather gets warmer, students can also participate in slacklining on the Quad.

“With our multipurpose gym, we’ve started to be flexible and allow a lot of things to go on in there and be able to set up a lot of things in there,” said Rec Center supervisor Shelby

Skinner. “All the cardio equipment from upstairs has been brought down so you can still use all of that.”

Because of the limited space in the multipurpose gym, students have to call and reserve space ahead of time in order to be guaranteed a spot in the gym.

“We are super excited,” Porter said. “We think the floor is going to look really nice, the track’s gonna be really nice, so we’re very excited for students to have a brand new space to play with in the fall.”

Workers repair the gym floor May 1. The floor and track are expected to be completed by mid-July. Photos by Rahul Chaudhari

The Rec Center floor and track are currently being rebuilt. The gym floor faced water damaged over the winter interim.

Student Government meets April 30. All data from the first week of voting was lost when the Truman network was reset.

Photo by Emily Collins

Graphic by Maddie Morris

Biochemistry student earns prestigious scholarship

MEGAN NESBITT Staff Writer

Thomas Schodl, a junior biochemistry major, was recently awarded a prestigious nationally-recognized scholarship. The Barry M.Goldwater Scholarship is an undergraduate scholarship awarded to students in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering disciplines. Schodl is the first Truman State University student to receive the Goldwater scholarship in 10 years. This year, over 5,000 students applied for the 2023-2024 scholarship, which covers tuition, fees, books, and, room and board. Schodl was one of 413 undergraduate students selected from around the country to receive the scholarship.

Schodl said they didn’t know the scholarship existed until last year when they saw a headline of someone winning the scholarship.

“I contacted financial aid and told them I wanted to apply for this,” Schodl said. “I had to fill out an application to be Truman’s campus nomination.”

The scholarship is targeted toward all undergraduates in STEM, with the biggest focus on students studying life sciences. Applicants typically are involved in research and plan on continuing their education in the field.

Schodl said the application process was based on research experience and motivation to get a PhD and doing research as a career.

“There were two sections to the application, a research essay and a career goals essay,” Schodl said.

Schodl wrote their research essay on the research they do at Truman where they use a genetic mouse model to study the effects of Alzheimer’s on the brain centers that control respiratory functions.

“I specifically focus on the nucleus tractus solitarius, or the NTS, which is the first site of integration of signals from your organs,” Schodl said. “I study the structure and how it changes between control animals and Alzheimer’s animals.”

Schodl conducts their research under the supervision of Daniela Ostrowski, who also helped them with the

application for the Goldwater scholarship. Ostrowski focuses on Alzheimer’s research and is in charge of a lab on campus that allows students to pick their concentration, under the umbrella of Alzheimer’s.

Ostrowski assisted Schodl’s application process by proofreading the research paper they had to write.

“I helped Thomas write about their research, but I also wrote a letter of recommendation for the application,” Ostrowski said. “I wrote about how they have the skills to be a really good researcher in the future.”

Although Schodl is very skilled in STEM and heavily involved in their research, they have many other interests.

“I really like music and I have a cat I like to play with named Marie, she has a lazy eye,” Schodl said.

Schodl is also passionate about photography and enjoys using a film camera. It allows them to step away from STEM and explore other creative outlets.

This summer Schodl will do an internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in biology.

Students and professors react to the cyberattack

SYDNEY ELLISON Editor-in-Chief

Masters student Savannah Krichau didn’t learn about the cyberattack until the day after the initial problems started. Living in Michigan currently, Krichau was going to Blackboard to submit an as-signment when she realized the site was down. She said her initial reaction was that Blackboard itselfwas down, but as she tried to access other Truman Network systems and couldn’t, she realized the problem was much more extensive.

Krichau contacted classmates who were closer to campus to understand the situation. She said it was a reminder that being off-campus has its downsides. Krichau said she wished the TruAlert had come sooner than Saturday since that was her only source of information from the University.

“It was definitely a little bit of stress, especially with finals being so close,” Krichau said. “I just thought the timing couldn’t have been more unfortunate.”

Junior Amanda Maasen initially thought the cyberattack was a joke but soon realized it was real as the Truman Network continued to be unavailable.

Having a mix of online and in-person courses, Maasen has some classes that have stayed on track and classes that are behind schedule.

“I’m in three online courses, so those have been very delayed because I have no way of contacting my professors, they have no way of reaching out to me and I have no way to access the classes’ resources,” Maasen said.

Maasen said it impressed her how the University could work around communication issues by creating a website and using TruAlerts. She said the University can best support students by encouraging an understanding academic environment.

Maasen said she never thought the University could be hacked and was a little scared, but is glad everything seems to be resolved now.

“They [the University] just have to be consider-

ate, and every student’s case is going to be different,” Maasen said.

In an email, Alan Garvey, dean of the computer science department, said the computer science department has been affected similarly to how the cyberattack has impacted other departments. The biggest issue was the inability to communicate with students.

Garvey said he thinks ITS’ response has been incredible.

Garvey said these

kinds of attacks have been happening nationwide more and more frequently. ITS did a great job resolving the issue quickly, he said.

Senior Maddie Stogsdill was waiting on important financial aid information when the cyberattack happened.

“I felt completely left in the dark, not being able to get in contact with the office or view my financial aid package,” Stogsdill said. “I thought about going in person but knew other students would be doing the same and didn’t want to overwhelm the staff in the office. I had no idea when stuff would be back up and was just lost trying to figure everything out.”

Stogsdill said she wished the University could’ve clarified the situation sooner than they did.

For more information about the cyberattack see story on page 1.

Junior Thomas Schodl works on antibody solutions. Schodl is the first Truman student in 10 years to win the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Photo by Megan Nesbitt

Graphics by Heather Beard

Top 5 films of all time

5. “Blade Runner 2049” (2017)

Set 30 years after the original, Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049” follows K, a specially trained LAPD officer known as a blade runner. When K is charged with hunting down lone Replicants, hauntingly humanlike robots that have all gone rogue since the dissolution of their manufacturer during 2019, he must find Rick Deckard, a retired blade runner who may hold the secret to unlocking the mysteries of the Replicants and the truth to K’s own identity. Superior in nearly every way to its predecessor Ridley Scott’s 1982 film “Blade Runner,” itself an adaptation of Phil-

ip K. Dick’s seminal science fiction novel

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

“Blade Runner 2049” represents the pinnacle of traditionally highbrow sci-fi, executed masterfully by Villeneuve without the pretentiousness the term “highbrow” often embodies. With first-rate performances from Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas and Sylvia Hoeks, coupled with Academy Award-winning cinematography from industry great Roger A. Deakins, “Blade Runner 2049” emerges as one of the most pivotal sci-fi films of this generation and a film any fan of the genre should see.

3. “Spirited Away” (2001)

Visionary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away”

“Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi” in the original Japanese follows Chihiro, a sullen 10-year-old girl who, as her family moves to the suburbs, comes across a hidden world of gods and monsters at the center of which rests a massive bathhouse ruled by an evil witch whose intentions are shrouded in mystery. Chihiro, alongside the strange boy Haku, must figure out how to get home and save her parents from the witch, Yubaba, who has captured them.

Like many of Miyazaki’s films, “Spirited Away” is about self-discovery and its protagonist’s coming of age against fantastical odds and powerful, otherworldly forces. Miyazaki’s signature wandering, almost aimless storytelling accompanies some of the greatest visuals ever drawn, enlivened in each moment by Joe Hisaishi’s pensive and playful score. Here is the magnum opus of Miyazaki’s commendable career in animation.

4. “Parasite” (2019)

“Gisaengchung” in the original Korean follows the Kim family, a clan of destitutes living in the slums of Seoul, as they attempt to infiltrate the lives and home of the wealthy Parks. Driver, tutor, nanny whatever angle the Kims can work, they take. A kind of symbiotic relationship forms, always at risk of falling into chaos as the Kims’ depth of infiltration into the Parks’ existence rises to parasitic levels.

A commentary on social inequality, “Parasite” presents a clash of class

in the most extreme terms, a kind of tall tale about how the wealthy treat the poor and vice versa. What is most impressive about the film is the melding of genres: comedy, drama, thriller and, most surprisingly, horror, as dark secrets of the Park family’s residence unfold bit by bit under the excellent direction of Bong. The pacing is secondto-none, allowing for a growing intensity that can only explode breathlessly.

2. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)

The third and final film of Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is the series’s best and the epitome of fantasy filmmaking. An adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” follows Hobbits Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee along the final stages of their quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron before he can assume physical form and conquer the whole of Middle-earth from his seat in Mordor. At the same time, the wizard Gandalf and Aragorn, the king of Men, race to amass an army to face Sauron’s forces on the field and buy Frodo and Sam as much time as possible.

1. “Interstellar” (2014)

Christopher Nolan’s science fiction epic “Interstellar” follows former NASA pilot Cooper as he and a team of explorers endeavor to find a new planet for humanity to call home with the assistance of a recently discovered wormhole near Saturn. For such a simple plot, it is a wonder how “Interstellar” balances the most complex concepts of astrophysical theory with the starkly human experiences of love and protection at its emotional core. Nolan manages to relate science and feeling directly through a truly unique narrative that explores the force emotions can have across space and time. At the center of this narrative are Cooper and his daughter Murph, whom he leaves behind on Earth for his mission. This decision will impact his journey and the fate of all humanity in some truly mind-bending and nuanced ways only possible under the careful weaving of Nolan.

The pinnacle of passionate adaptation and literary appreciation, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is respectful of Tolkien’s vision and a digestible film for all audiences despite its nearly three-and-a-half-hour runtime. In fact, it is continuously engaging, pushed by a breathless momentum of excitement and artistry such that it slips by in an ecstatic rush of entertainment. At the film’s heart lies a narrative of inexhaustible friendship against the darkest force of evil and the temptation of power, making for a simply satisfying viewing and conclusion to nearly 10 hours of breathtaking adventure.

Elevating the film is its magnificent cast. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway deliver career-best performances, and child actor Mackenzie Foy brings a bit of innocence to the occasionally heavy subject matter as Murph. Accompanying the film is Hans Zimmer’s best score to date and astonishing visuals that earned the film the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

Despite its ranking, “Interstellar” is not a perfect film. Indeed, no film can claim as such, but it has informed my passion for the film industry and my understanding of what a film can be, especially a strictly genre film. The final product of Nolan, his cast and his crew is truly different from any other cinematic experience out there, and that is as perfect as it can get.

‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ 5 year retrospective

CHARLOTTE DAUES

Contributing Writer

May 11, 2018, the Arctic Monkeys set free their strangest album yet, “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.” A complete tonal shift since 2013’s “AM,” this retro-futuristic concept album invites the listener to take a trip to the Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, a space-age resort on the moon where guests can gaze at the Earth from the comfort of a hotel room window. The 11-track album ushered in a new era of music for the band, rocketing the group from indie rock stardom to a completely different planet.

The album comes out of the gate swinging with an elevator music-like track accompanied by jazzy piano. This type of slow, smooth melody is not entirely new territory for the band, being vaguely reminiscent of such tracks as “I Wanna Be Yours” or “No. 1 Party Anthem.’’ However, “Star Treatment” possesses a certain flair that all previous releases have lacked. The lyrics are absolutely littered with references to movies, books and other forms of pop culture, as well as copious amounts of social commentary. In the first verse alone, we get allusions to Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” American rock band The Strokes, the 1982 film “Blade Runner” and more. This trend is carried throughout the rest of the album acting as

an overarching theme, the album’s title itself being a reference to the site of the original moon landing. An incredible amount of details await to be uncovered within each song, encouraging intrepid listeners to spend time decoding every line.

The album’s lyrical emphasis on technology, society and science fiction makes perfect sense as songwriter and frontman Alex Turner reportedly drew inspiration from Neil Postman’s 1985 book “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” The book reflects on the dystopian novels “Nineteen Eighty-Four” and “Brave New World” and how they relate to what was at the time contemporary culture. Postman makes sure to distinguish between the two narratives – Orwell shows a world where information is suppressed by a totalitarian power and Huxley constructs a vision of self-imposed ignorance caused by overdosing on entertainment. Turner draws heavily from these ideas, even mentioning by name Postman’s concept of the “Information-Action Ratio,” the idea that there is an overwhelming amount of information available but limited ability to take action. Turner modernizes Postman’s original work by discussing the more relevant technological advances of the 21st century. He posits social media as a form of collective voluntary surveillance, an existence where there is constant threat of everyday actions turning into

global spectacle by any passing individual with a recording device. Turner exhibits his vocal prowess on every song, allowing his dulcet tones to melt in listener’s ears, accompanied by hypnotic backing tracks. There is a distinct choice to eliminate the presence of the intense drum lines or highenergy guitar solos that had been so quintessential to other Arctic Monkeys albums. The result is a noticeable softness that lends itself to greater emotional vulnerability. The best example can be found in the final track, “The Ultracheese,” where Turner reflects on his past experiences with relationships, aging and songwriting.

Looking back to the reception, “Tranquility Base” was a divisive release among Arctic Monkeys fans. Many found themselves disappointed by the change in direction from garage rock riffs to something so esoteric. Such a large and unprecedented change left many fans understandably unprepared after five years of anticipation. Regardless, this shift is part of the band’s evolution. For them, it was time to try something new, but unfortunately not every listener agreed.

The Arctic Monkeys consistently release amazing albums, including some that are iconic pop culture touchstones themselves but none so special and yet underrated as “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.”

Quiz: Which Kirksville park are you?

SYDNEY ELLISON

Editor-in-Chief

Kirksville has plenty of outdoor spaces to find the best spot for any activities you desire. Thousand Hills State Park is great for hiking and stargazing, and Rotary Park is great for sporting activities. Kiwanis Playground has inclusive facilities to give everyone a chance for fun, and Brashear Park is a great place to hang out with friends and connect with the community. Find out which park best matches your personality with the quiz below!

Questions

1. What is your favorite kind of weather?

A) A strong thunderstorm

B) A nice chill with some clouds in the sky

C) A bright sunny day

D) A light rain

2. What is your favorite breakfast item?

A) A sweet pastry and bitter coffee

B) Yogurt with fruit and granola

C) Cereal or oatmeal

D) A savory bagel

3. How would your friends describe you?

A) Calm

B) Funny

C) Sweet

D) Loyal

4. What type of item are you most likely to buy from a thrift store?

A) A pretty vase or bottle

B) Fun sweaters

C) Glassware

D) Used books

5. What Google Suite service do you most identify with?

A) Google Docs

B) Google Slides

C) Google Drive

D) Google Sheets

6. What song are you most likely to play when cooking dinner?

A) “Shutup my moms calling” by Hotel Ugly

B) “SOS” by ABBA

C) “Stir Fry” by Migos

D) “Light My Love” by Greta Van Fleet

7. What residence hall have you lived in?

A) BNB or did not live on campus

B) West Campus or Campbell Apartments

C) Ryle Hall or Centennial Hall

D) Dobson or Missouri Hall

Answers

If you answered mostly A: Thousand Hills

You are reserved and treasure your alone time, just like how Thousand Hills State Park has plenty of private places to enjoy the outdoors. These people know how to relax and value others that know how to slow down in life.

If you answered mostly B: Rotary Park

These people are sure to have a packed calendar but somehow always make time for the people they love. They are jacks of all trades, just like the great variety of things you can do at Rotary Park. The park has ultimate frisbee, a playground and plenty of room to play on the grass.

If you answered mostly C: Kiwanis Playground

Talkative and friendly, these people are sure to bring something new to the conversation. Kiwanis Playground is a relatively new addition to Kirksville and is the region’s only inclusive playground. Like this playground, these people are happy to make friends with all kinds of people.

If you answered mostly D: Brashear Park

You are an old-time soul, and the soft, nostalgic colors of Brashear Park are your color palette. These people prefer records over speakers and home-cooked meals over takeout. They value the softer parts of life.

Questions on the Quad

Questions On the Quad

Hunter Kind sophomore

“Trying to get things done before they’re due because things tend to pile up and get sort of compound towards the end. So I would recommend trying to get things done early.”

Graphics by Maddie Morris

Wendy Crum sophomore

Softball falls to Lewis University

Right: Senior pitcher and infielder Breianna Klein pitches to Lewis University. Klein had two strikeouts for the Bulldogs. Photos by Rahul Chaudhari

Below: Junior catcher and first baseman Alex Beard hits against the Flyers. The Bulldogs fell to Lewis University in both games during their doubleheader.

Above: Senior pitcher and outfielder McKenzie West prepares to hit, April 19. West went 1-3 in the first game against the Flyers.

Opinion: America’s oldest sport has become new again

MICHAEL LAKEY Former Staff Writer

Ah, baseball. America’s pastime. Our nation’s oldest sport has become stale and boring over the last 50 years as average game times ballooned from around two hours during the 1970s to nearly three and a half hours during 2022. Pitchers became slower and hitters began taking far extra time between pitches. In addition to the extra-long game times, there were fewer balls in play, fewer hits and more strikeouts, leading to far less game action and too much downtime. In order to combat these trends, Major League Baseball has instituted a slew of new rules over the last five seasons, with the most extreme measures coming during 2023. It is still early, but the new rules seem to work better than MLB could’ve possibly hoped for. Allow me to break down their impact.

Let’s begin with what an average baseball game looked like during the 2022 season. Hitters routinely stepped out of the batter’s box after nearly every pitch and pitchers often took over 30 seconds to even throw a single pitch, producing situations in which fans may go over 10 minutes without seeing a ball put in play. In addition, teams often implemented defensive shifts, especially against left-handed hitters, that could take an entire side of the field away from the hitter. This produced fewer hits, fewer runners on base and overall less game action for fans.

The slow, dragging pace of the game along with the lack of action made the sport difficult to watch, especially for casual fans who may watch on TV. Dur-

ing the decade leading up to 2022, the MLB saw its attendance and viewership decrease every single year as games got slower and more boring. Most casual fans stopped watching altogether because it provided little to no entertainment value, which a sport needs in order to survive. Starting in 2023, MLB addressed these issues. The biggest change for this season has been the implementation of a pitch clock. MLB has had rules in place governing the time pitchers may take between pitches for almost a decade now, but they have never been enforced properly until this season. This year, all stadiums have installed clocks that show pitchers how much time they have to throw a pitch. Pitchers have 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base. This change has already had a dramatic effect on the sport, as game times have shortened to an average below three

hours for the first time in 20 years. Instead of taking almost a minute between pitches, pitchers now pitch almost immediately after receiving the ball. Games are moving along quicker.

The rule is not without its unintended consequences, though. Pitchers and hitters alike have had difficulty adjusting to the nuances of the clock. For example, if a pitcher does not pitch before the clock hits zero, the umpire can award a ball to the batter. Similarly, if a batter does not indicate that he is ready for the pitch by making eye contact with the pitcher before the clock hits 8 seconds, it can penalize the batter a strike. Within the first week of games, there were dozens of infractions, and some fans have argued this has hurt the game itself because pitchers and hitters are benefitting without earning their benefits. However, infractions have steadily declined since the beginning of the year, and will continue to de-

cline as players adjust. Another argument of fans is the pitch clock forces players to move too quickly in some of the most important moments in the game, when they would rather see the game breathe in order to soak up the moment. MLB has responded to these concerns by allowing umpires more leeway in certain situations in order to produce more drama. Though there have been some early drawbacks, the benefits of the pitch clock to the pace of play are undeniable.

In order to see more balls in play and game action, MLB also implemented a defensive shift ban for 2023. Under this rule, teams must have at least two infielders on both sides of second base when a pitch is thrown. The outcomes, similar to the pitch clock, are very telling. Batting averages are up around the league, more balls are put in play, the average time between game action has decreased significantly and games have become more intriguing.

One final rule change that has made baseball more exciting this year are larger bases. The size of the base has been expanded in order to promote more stolen bases and more aggressive baserunning. The stolen base is one of the most exciting plays in baseball, with a runner taking off as soon as a pitcher releases a pitch which almost always leads to a close play at the base he is attempting to steal. Stolen base numbers are up around the league as a result after declining for years thanks to analytical statistics that said they were not worth the risk. This rule has proven another successful way in which MLB has improved the excitement of its sport.

These three key rule changes – the pitch clock, shift ban, and larger bases – have already had a huge effect on the game of baseball. Game times have shortened, more balls are put in play and more exciting plays occur because of these new rules. If you are a casual sports fan who had given up on baseball over the last few years because of its lack of intrigue and slow pace, I highly recommend you catch a game on TV or in person this season. America’s oldest sport has become new again.

Graphic by Heather Beard

TWINS TAKE ON TRACK

LILLIE MORISAKI Managing Editor

Freshmen twin throwers Alex and Hayden Long have been learning how to navigate their freshman year together.

“It’s kind of just like a built-in friend. You know, it’s good to go out and make friends, but I don’t necessarily have to do that,” Alex Long said.

“Also, there’s a competitive aspect to it, I think. You push yourself at practice to throw farther than your brother more than you would someone else,” Hayden Long said.

Hayden and Alex Long are roommates and are currently in the same major, but compete in different events.

Alex Long mainly competes in discus, shotput and hammer. He did not compete in discus in high school but would consider his competitiveness in the event his biggest success for the season.

Hayden Long said he had never competed in the decathlon before. This year he has mainly competed in disc and javelin but does all of the other events included in the decathlon as well.

They did football and track in high school, but decided to continue with track because the schools that gave them football offers were too far away from their home, Alex Long said. Hayden Long said track is also much less demanding than football.

“It started out, it was going to be we were really planning on staying together, and then, I don’t really

remember exactly how it happened, but at one point we were both looking at different schools and realizing we were going to be apart, and then kind of last minute we both jumped on the decision to come here,” Hayden Long said.

Hayden Long said his goal for the rest of the season is to continue to improve in events that are new to him like pole vault but to also place in Con

ference in javelin.

Alex Long said he peaked at the beginning of the season and hopes to get back to where he be

lieves he should be.

Leslie Hardesty, track and field coach, said burnout is normal for freshman athletes when a track and field season goes from mid-September to May. While in high school, athletes may be playing different sports, they are getting to experience different coaches and different practice styles, but in college, it becomes their entire college career. Most of the time, freshmen burn out quicker, Hardesty said.

“This is an adjustment for me too at first, get

ting to know each of them individually and the coaching aspect too is just, you know, you don’t coach every kid the exact same way, every kid has a little something different, so it’s just getting to know them and telling them apart really the first month,” Hardesty said.

The track and field team will continue their season at the GLVC Conference, May 4-6.

ATHLETE of

the week

SOPHIE OXANDALE

Freshman Hayden Long pole vaults, Feb. 25. Long scored at the 3.05 mark.

Senior runner Sophie Oxandale broke her third school record in the 800-meter at the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific University April 13-15. Oxandale’s 2:11.38 at the event earned her 13th out of 144 mid-distance runners, breaking Anne Raterman’s 2:11.78 which she had held since 2011. During the winter season, Oxandale broke the indoor 800-meter with 2:14.56. Oxandale along with sophomore Addie Mathis, senior Alayna Pipkin and junior Lexy Henrikson broke the 18-year old record 12:16.85 for the 400-meter distance medley relay with 12:00.18. It was also the fastest time in the GLVC and the 16th fastest in NCAA Div. II.

“It’s kind of just like a built-in friend. You know, it’s good to go out and make friends, but I don’t necessarily have to do that.”

-Alex Long, freshman thrower

Freshman Hayden Long high jumps at the GLVC Championships. Long scored at the 1.67 mark and earned

3,844 points in the Hepathlon. Photos by Timothy Barcus