MULESKINNER VOL. 112 ISSUE 6 9.28.17

PHOTO BY DENISE ELAM / Lifestyle Editor

Vol 112 Issue 6

Sept. 28 - Oct 4

NEWS » PAGE 3 »Philosophy Program cut NEWS » PAGE 4 » Royal Blush drag show LIFESTYLE » PAGE 7 » Sweet Professor SPORTS » PAGE 12 » Truth 365 & Volleyball

PAGE 8 »

LAST CALL: Local musicians reminisce after bar closes

2 CENTRAL SCOOP

THIS WEEK

28 - THURSDAY »» UCM Majors Fair, 12:30 p.m., Student Recreation & Wellness Center Lower Courts

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

29 - FRIDAY »» "Cars 3", 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Union Cinema

»» Drag Show, 7 p.m., Hendricks Hall

»» Mules Football vs. Northwest, 1 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium »» "Cars 3", 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Union Cinema »» MAD: Field Day, 8 p.m., East Field

SEPT. 28 - OCT. 4 1- SUNDAY

30 - SATURDAY

2- MONDAY

3 - TUESDAY

»» Homecoming spirit window decorating, 7 a.m - 11 p.m., Student Recreation &Wellness Center Lower Courts

»» Homecoming spirit window decorating, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Student Recreation & Wellness Center Lower Courts

»» Stop and Serve, 11 a.m., Union 219

»» Let's Talk: Domestic Violence, 12:30 p.m., Cafe Rouge

4 - WEDNESDAY »» Current Chatter: Religion and Terrorism, 2 p.m., Union 235 »» "Footloose", 7:30 p.m., Highlander Theatre

weather.com

NEED TO KNOW

Dept. of Theatre and Dance announce 2017-2018 Lineup The productions center around the theme of “Entrances and Exits” and include four mainstage shows and a dance concert. Season tickets cost $60 for the general public, $50 for faculty, staff or senior citizens and $30 for students. The first production, “Footloose”, will show Oct. 4-8 in the Highlander Theatre, followed by Tartuffe on Nov. 14-18. “Footloose” is based on the classic film.

“Tartuffe” is a comedy about a wealthy man who takes in a stranger who is not as pious as he appears. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, “Not Waving,” a play about an outsider whose best friend, her grandma, suffers from dementia, will be presented in the Black Box Theatre in Nickerson Hall.

During the spring semester, the play “Our Town” will be presented from March 7-11. This production will be the final for director Richard Herman, who will be retiring after 31 years at UCM. The dance concert, titled “Step Forward,” will take place April 12-14 and April 20-22 and

will involve dance, text, music, soundscape projections and visual arts. Season tickets can be purchased by calling 660543-4020.

CMPA searches for Spring ’18 class The Central Missouri Police Academy is accepting applications for Basic Academy during spring/summer 2018. Thirty seats are available for the course that will run from January 8 to June 12, 2018. Students who complete the program will receive a Class A license from the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Peace Officer Standards and Training program that will allow them to obtain a job as a police officer in the state of Missouri with reciprocity in other states. Students will also receive 15 credit hours of free choice electives at UCM when they attend the 20-week course. Interviews will be scheduled in October. For more information, contact 660-543-4090.

BIG Career Expo needs BIG helpers Volunteers are needed for the BIG Ca-

reer Expo Oct. 11. The expo will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers will be able to help between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Help is needed with refreshments, greeting and escorting employers and with tear down/clean up. Those who volunteer will be able to network with employers, get connected with Career Development Services staff, get volunteer hours and show initiative to employers. To sign up, click on the events tab on HireRed. For more information, contact Career Development Services at 660-543-4985.

State employees return from cleaning up after Hurricane Irma Emoloyees from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ state parks and the Missouri Department of Transportation have returned home after helping clear roads and parks in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Eighteen State Parks employees spent more than a week cleaning debris and fallen trees from two of Florida’s state parks, Dade Historic Battlefield State Park between Tampa and

Anastasia State Recreation Area near St. Augustine in northeast Florida. They returned to Missouri Tuesday, Sept. 19.

“After Hurricane Irma struck, Florida asked for help with the cleanup, and Missouri responded,” said Missouri State Parks Director Ben Ellis in a press release from the MoDNR. “With very little notice, 18 of our folks paused their daily lives, packed up and headed to Florida to help others in need.

We are happy to have helped clean up two of Florida’s state parks, and we couldn’t be more proud of our team’s hard work and dedication.”

Fifty-eight MoDOT employees left Sept. 12 and returned Sept. 21. The MoDOT crew used loaders, road tractors and backhoes to clear debris from roads in downtown Miami, through Coral Gables to Homestead in southeast Florida.

Missouri was one of the three states, including Maryland and Delaware, to send staff to help after the hurricane, according to a press release from the MoDNR. This is the largest MoDOT deployment to assist another state.

3 NEWS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

TO CUT, OR NOT TO CUT: FATE OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM FINALIZED

by LEAH KEMPLE News Editor

Another department suffers from the aftermath of the higher education budget cuts: Students and faculty of the Department of English and Philosophy are going to be saying goodbye to the philosophy degree.

The philosophy program was suspended for the time being this May because it didn’t make its projected student goal of 10 graduating students over a year’s time.

Philosophy majors will not be able to enroll into the Bachelors of Arts program anymore, however they will be able to do an independent study where they take the classes that would be needed for the philosophy major, but the degree would be in a slightly different classification.

Gregory Hakos, an assistant professor in the philosophy program, said that even

though the situation isn’t ideal, the students and professors within the program are coping.

“Everyone is dealing with it. I think they understand the situation is broader,” Hakos said. “I think people who are in a younger generation have a lack of stability and are more used to that, so I feel that they just kind of roll with the punches.

They aren't happy, but they are accepting of it.”

Bess Bedwell, a junior in the program, said she was disappointed, but understood that there had to be changes made because of the budget cuts and plans on continuing her education by building onto her degree.

“I’m upset because I feel like philosophy is a great thing to study. I enjoy it,” she said. “It’s hard to know the importance because there isn’t too much you can do with just a philosophy degree.”

Kenneth Cust, a professor in the philosophy program said teaching philosophy is

important because it teaches students how to think.

“Unlike every other discipline, philosophy teaches you how to think. Every other discipline teaches you what to think.

Philosophy says we will teach you how to think, then it doesn't matter what area you go into, you’ve got to think correctly,” Cust said.

Hakos said philosophy is important because it’s the foundation for other subjects that are studied at the college level.

“It's not specific to any particular thing, but its value lies addressing learning in general,” Hakos said. “You’ve got to continue to enhance yourself, and philosophy is a basis for learning how to learn, so I think that's why it's always been at the core of university education. Not to mention the historical role. Basically all the departments at some point come from philosophy.”

Kate Lynch, a senior in the philosophy

program, said she was lucky to get into the program when she did.

“If I was a new student with an interest and I couldn’t act on that interest, that would be discouraging,” Lynch said.

Both students feel passionate about the subject they study and said they hate to see it go away. “(Philosophy) is a great subject. More people should be interested in it,” Bedwell said.

Cust said the coordinators within the program tried their hardest to keep the program alive.

“Nobody likes to see their program cut.

We tried. We did the best we could,” Cust said.

The university will still offer philosophy classes by integrating them into general education requirements. Daniel Schierenbeck, the chair of the English department, wasn’t available to provide specifics on the changes.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME TOGETHER AT BURG FEST

by KAITLIN BROTHERS Multimedia Editor

The fifth annual Burg Fest street-festival brought people from all over the community to downtown Warrensburg last Friday and Saturday for food, music, bouncy houses and street vendors.

Amber Bradbury, Warrensburg Main Street events coordinator, said Burg Fest had 76 vendors ranging from commercial, food and makers. Related events included the Warrensburg Wheels Cruise-In Car Show, the Glow Run, farmers’ market, adult tricycle races, a beauty pageant, an outdoor movie, a wing-eating contest and more.

She said the cornhole tournament

brought in the busiest beer garden they have ever had. Thirty teams entered the tournament. The top three winners received a cash prize.

Four bands performed: Members Only, The Nace Brothers, Random Access and Mudflap Mafia.

Bradbury said the Heartland Home Educators coordinated crafts with kids.

Kids could also enjoy the inflatable zone for bouncy houses, inflatable slides and games. She said Burg Fest also had a “Chill Zone,” for middle and high schoolers to hang out.

“Burg Fest brings the community together as a whole and it’s great to have other communities come out and enjoy our fall festival as well,” Bradbury said.

4 NEWS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

ROYAL BLUSH DRAG SHOW AND TRANSFORMATION NAMA SLAYS UCM

by ANAIYEH SMITH Reporter

Students witnessed an event known as “The Transformation” where a drag queen performer displayed the makeup process for performing in a Drag Show Wednesday in the union. The event consisted of questions and discussion with other drag queens and the audience. The host and other performers also explained what they do to get ready for a show as far as body padding, “the tuck” and much more.

The Drag queens were there to answer questions like “ what is the difference between a cross-dresser and a drag queen?” one audience member asked.

The Queens also explained the struggles and highlights of performing – like looking and feeling great on stage, or not performing the best and feeling embarrassed, one Drag Queen said.

This was a great opportunity for students to get to know the queens that will be performing at Thursday’s show and inform many students on the Drag Queen lifestyle and community.

The Royal Blush red carpet introduction to the show starts at 6 p.m. with the 5th annual Royal Blush Show at 7 p.m. in Hendricks hall. Both events are free of charge.

Reed said the show will consist of seven drag queen performances and one drag king including singing, lip syncing, and dance routines. Boris Tudeth, the show’s drag king, a female who dresses as a “Russian pimp,” he said. UCM’s acapella group The Rainbow Tones will be opening the show. There will also be a new host, Dirty Dorothy, who is a performer in the show, acting as a child who dresses in drag.

"If there are any new things happening in the show, as always, you'd have to be there to find out!" Reed said.

PHOTOS BY MYLES VANN / Photographer

Caleb prepping Omari’s face for the Darg transformation.

Caleb, a drag makeup artist, turning Omari Collins into his stage persona Scarlet Devereaux.

Diallo Simms, Caleb, Omari Collins, and Debra O’Reilly leading everyone through the drag transformation process at the transformation event Wednesday in preparation for the annual Drag Show on Thursday.

5 NEWS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

STUDENT CLUB CREATES INTEREST FOR CAREERS IN BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

by KAITLIN BROTHERS Multimedia Editor

Going into it’s second year, the Behavior Analysis Club continues to expand its membership and create educational opportunities.

Heather Jenkins, a graduate student of psychology, said she and Duane Lundervold, coordinator of behavior analysis programs and the Behavior Science Research Laboratory, created the group in fall of 2016 to help educate students on the field of behavior analysis, and the job opportunities for behavior analysis.

Jenkins helps organize trips to psychology conferences where students networked with others and presented posters of their own research.

“It truly has been a great experience. I hope the club continues to grow and flourish,” she said.

Kaylie Duffy, freshman psychology major, joined the Behavior Analysis Club to decide whether she wants to become a therapist or be in behavior analysis.

Duffy volunteered to help special needs kids the past two summers for a theater project. She’s in the Behavior Analysis Club to help figure out her future career, and her experience volunteering drew her into the club to learn more about behavior analysis.

“It makes me smile when they smile,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like people overlook them, when they are so smart.”

“Helping people with issues, that’s what makes me happy.”

Tucker Strader, senior psychology major and vice president of the BA Club, said Jenkins had the idea of making a BA study group, but that idea turned into a

club.

“It grew into, ‘Hey, why don’t we make a full student organization out of this?’”

Strader said.

The club is a social organization for students who have shared values regarding science, behavior and culture. Members meet and work together to achieve personal or group goals, such as hosting events and going to conferences.

Lundervold said the BA Club organizes events for the department of psychological sciences. He said the BA club sponsors three professional development activities, and invites and supports a presentation with two local or national behavioral analysts.

He said the club organizes travel to local conferences on behavior analysis, such as those hosted by the Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis and the Missouri ABA, as well as national conventions such as the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

“Members also begin the transition to becoming a professional through attending regional and national conventions,” Lundervold said.

Cody Meehan, a senior psychology major and president of BA club, said the group is open to all students. He said the principles of behavior analysis can be applied anywhere to make life better for people.

“We help the community by teaming up with Toys for Tots, and we are in the process of adopting a highway,” Meehan said. “This club is most helpful for students because we offer opportunities to get involved.”

Meehan said many behavioral scientists are on the front line for autism research and treatment. He said many children

with autism who receive behavior therapy and continue with it experience behavior change.

“You may never know that they were even on the autism spectrum,” Meehan said. “It is a great field to get into if you love children.”

He said behavior analysis can be very effective and seeing positive results in people is rewarding. Meehan said this type of counseling involves behavioral skills training or exposure therapy, such as for people with phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and other disorders.

He said he wants to specialize in clinical behavior analysis, focusing more on behavioral counseling.

The careers in this field are important for a healthy society.

“Behavior analysis can be applied anywhere where there is learning happening,” Meehan said.

“Every person in the world is shaped by their environment. Most people don’t fully understand why they do things or why they think things or why they have feelings,” Meehan said.

Bailey Herigon, senior psychology major, said she likes behavior analysis because she wants to work with kids who have autism.

“I’ve always wanted to work with special-needs children,” Herigon said.

“Those kids and people, they can’t help themselves. They need someone to help them. They’re challenging of course, but there’s also some really great times, too.”

Herigon said she knew she wanted to work with special needs individuals since she volunteered in middle school. She said she likes working with special needs children because it makes her feel happy when she can make them happy, and said

she had some great times with them.

“When they smile or laugh…when you get them to smile or laugh when they don’t usually,” Herigon said. “Seeing their face light up when you do something they don’t normally get to do or get to experience.”

Herigon said a common misconception about behavior analysis is it applies to just children with autism, but it also applies to many different fields in psychology.

“It’s literally changing someone’s behavior,” Herigon said. “It’s a good thing to know, and I think people should get involved with it.”

Strader said he uses behavior analysis techniques as a registered behavior technician doing in-home care around the area by helping with kids who have autism.

“It’s very rewarding to see changes happen directly because of you and the work that you’re doing, giving changes for the better. That gives a deep sense of satisfaction.”

The work addresses a variety of different issues with the kids. It can be social skills or academic skills, such as counting or writing.

“Basically we are trying to help kids with special needs have a better overall life,” he said.

Strader said throughout his life, he had seen people who needed help but didn’t get it.

“It was always about, ‘How can I help the people around me?’ That urge never really went away,” Strader said. “Here are fellow future behavior analysts who are trying to come together and work together and help make it better for everyone.”

To join the BA Club, contact the club’s president, Cody Meehan, at ccm87580@ ucmo.edu.

6 LIFESTYLE

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

Spring Breakers took a ‘fun day’ and went zip lining in Birmingham, Alabama. They also visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY TAYLOR BEEMAN

FACES OF UCM

by KYLIE JACKS Reporter

Construction management has the perception of being a male dominated major, but that did not stop Taylor Beeman from building her dreams into a reality.

Beeman is a sophomore construction management major with a minor in business administration and has been doing carpentry since she was in the seventh grade.

She said outside of her previous shop classes, she worked with her father and a small company doing framing and building decks.

“I have been taking shop classes all the way from seventh grade to my senior year of high school,” she said. “My favorite trade is carpentry because it is so much more rewarding when you work with your hands and get it done yourself.”

She said she promised her parents she would go to college, despite originally wanting to be a carpenter, which does not require a college education.

“I chose construction management because I knew I wouldn’t want to work in something that requires me to be in an office building all day,” Beeman said.

“I want to be outside working with my hands.”

Because of her passion for her work,

she can’t decide whether she would want to work in heavy civil or commercial construction.

“I want to get a job with a mediumsized company, I’m not too fond of big ones.” she said, “I am still trying to decide between heavy civil or commercial.

Heavy civil is dirt work, earth work, bridges, roads and highways. Commercial would be office buildings, apartments and any tall building basically. I really enjoy both.”

Not only does Beeman prefer to get her hands dirty, but she enjoys the office side of construction as well.

“I do know I want to be a field superintendent so that way I am still working

in the field, but I still would have a management position and an office side too,” she said.

This is also her first year of being the president of Spring Breakers, an organization at UCM that assists families in impoverished areas over spring break.

“We are an alternate spring break group, so we go down south over our spring break. We went to Birmingham, Alabama last year,” she said. “We help low income homeowners, typically families, with whatever they need, whether that’s pouring concrete, doing the framework of a house, we’ve done insulation, painting, decking, siding - literally anything.”

Beeman said that one of the biggest

Taylor Beeman (second from the right) and others from Spring Breakers, getting started for the day in Birmingham, Alabama. The house they worked on consisted of pouring concrete, framework, decking, and more.

highlights of going to Birmingham, Alabama last year, was just being on site and helping those in need.

“Last year, the homeowners provided us a pizza night. They came in and talked to us, shared their stories, why they were there and how they were thankful for us,” she said.

The students participating in Spring Breakers will find out where their next destination will be in October.

“Our choices right now are: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina and Delaware. But we would like to help places affected by natural disasters. We are actually about to do a fundraiser on campus to help out with hurricane relief,” she said.

Her willingness to help others in need and her talent for her craft are not the only traits that set Beeman apart, she is one of the five females in construction management at UCM. “I was really worried that they wouldn’t take me seriously. I definitely got a lot of strange looks, you could tell that they were curious and weren’t sure why I was there,” Beeman said. “But for the most part, all of them have been super nice about it and super supportive. I was really surprised how open all of the other construction management majors were.”

There’s more to construction than what meets the eye, and Taylor Beeman is a prime example of it.

PROFESSOR BRINGS CLASS TREATS, BOOSTS MORALE

by ERIN WIDES Reporter

A professor at the University of Central Missouri takes one day a semester to give back to his students in a sweet way.

John Check, music theory coordinator, said he likes to reward his students for working hard. Check brings doughnuts in for his entire class one unexpected day each semester.

He has been doing it for more than 17 years, starting when he was a teacher assistant in graduate school.

“Ever since I was a graduate student and taught a class of my own, once a semester we have had what I call ‘Doughnut Day,’” Check said.

He said he does this because it’s satisfying for him to demonstrate kindness for his students.

“He'll bring in doughnuts for students to show his appreciation for all of their hard work and focus,” said Shelby Rouse, sophomore music major in one of his music theory classes.

Check said he occasionally stores the doughnuts in his office, runs out in the middle of class and brings them back. Other times he said he gets more creative.

“There have been times where I’ve hid the doughnuts in, say, a piano bench or in a cabinet,” he said.

He has traveled as far as the Kansas City metropolitan area to pick up the treats, he once set out at 4 a.m. for doughnuts.

“I’ve bought the doughnuts from various places in Warrensburg, but I’ve even driven to Lee’s Summit for LaMar’s Donuts, Independence for Krispy Kreme, and Overland Park for John’s Space Age Donuts,” he said.

The inspiration for doughnut day came from one of his former professors.

“I point to a teacher I had my freshman year at Northwestern University, Paul Berliner,” he said.

“During my first trimester, on the very first day outside the lecture hall, arrayed about the table, were doughnuts.”

Check said he was so impressed by his gesture, which stuck with him as he went on to teach.

“If I had a chance to bring doughnuts for my students, then I sure would,” he said.

Austin Shults, senior instrumental music education major, said the gesture shows just how much Check cares.

“Dr. Check has a way of building incredibly strong relationships with his students and by surprising his class with doughnuts it shows the students that he appreciates us,” Shults said. “He has molded a great teaching style. His spark for music is something that I strive for in my own teaching style.”

Doughnut day appears to stick with Check’s students even after graduation.

“I have had a number of students, especially those who go on to become teachers, tell me that they have instituted doughnut days of their own,” he said.

“That’s very gratifying to me. I like the way the gesture is passed on.”

He said if a section is small enough and there is enough time, he takes the class to Einstein Bros. Bagels and tells the students they can order whatever they want.

“When he does do a doughnut day, I observe that his students feel very respected and appreciated, and they even talk to each other about needing to work harder and pay more attention in Dr. Check's lectures,” Rouse said. “It definitely motivates students to work harder and more diligently, but part of that is also due to Dr. Check himself. He is just one of those teachers that makes you want to succeed and excel in his class.”

He has already formulated a scheme for doughnut days this semester and says he plans on purchasing seven dozen doughnuts.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity being a student, a wonderful opportunity being a teacher,” Check said. “I hope that some of the things I do can make the experience for my students just a little better.”

PHOTO BY ERIN WIDES / FOR THE MULESKINNER

LAST CALL Musicians in Warrensburg lost a creative outlet when The Bay closed in June.

Marilyn Brie Herrick, a UCM alumna and aspiring singer/songwriter, said she was really shocked when she found out the bar was shutting its doors for good.

“I was devastated because that’s my home, my second family kind of thing and just a comfortable place to go instead of your normal bar,” Herrick said.

Herrick had been performing at The Bay’s open mic nights frequently since early 2016. She said the music, good company and open-minded crowd kept her coming back.

“That’s what really was so neat about that place is that anytime I walked in the door, I knew I didn’t have to put on a face,” Herrick said. “I could just be myself and a lot of people there were the same way and that was one of the best things about that place.”

Herrick holds one particular memory of The Bay close to her heart.

“I remember that I was interviewed by Andy Lyons from Central Mo News,” Herrick said. “That was the night my first boyfriend of six years…had come to one of my shows a couple weeks before he died. And I hadn’t seen him in probably like four years.”

Herrick said her ex gave her a big hug afterwards.

“It was like, ‘OK this is our goodbye’. But it was more than that,” Herrick said. “It was like a final goodbye…And I remember him being up at the top of the stairs with his sister Lauren… The last time I played there, there was a light that shines like right where he was standing and I just remember looking up and being like, ‘I know you’re watching over me’ kind of thing. It's hard to think about, but I’m glad that because of the Bay that was where I got to see him.”

Herrick said The Bay was one of the few places in town to showcase live music. She said she got to see bands like Katy Guillen & The Girls, Ces Cru and Danielle Nicole Band perform there.

“And that’s another thing about The Bay is that it was different - they had country music, they had rap, they had originals for singer-songwriters,” Herrick said. “They would have all kinds of different genres there and that was really fun too.”

Ben Blevins, the former owner of The Bay, said his intention when opening the bar in July of 2007 was to keep live music in Warrensburg because it had always been a live music town.

“We had a group of friends interested in music, a lot of friends that are in bands, so we decided to build it from the ground up and try to get bands coming through to stop and play for us and local bands as well,” Blevins said. “Pretty much the music was our main goal.”

Blevins said The Bay’s biggest appeal was a non-judgmental, diverse and easygoing crowd.

“Everybody felt welcome and I think that’s what really draws the artists and the bands - the fact that you can go in there and you know there’s not going to be a fight, nobody’s going to be judging you for whoever you are,” Blevins said.

Blevins said closing the bar felt almost like losing a child.

“And even the business itself, it was something that we had all thought of together and poured our heart and souls into it,” Blevins said. “So the last few nights were kind of surreal, just a lot of emotions gathered together and it was kind of hard to put them all into place. I was happy, I was sad, I was frustrated, I was everything all at once.”

John Check, professor of music theory at UCM, said The Bay was an important place for live music. He said he played the string bass there with his band, Luehrman, Shaffer and Check. The band is comprised of UCM faculty: Mick Luehrman, a professor in the art department and Tony Shaffer who was a writing tutor on campus.

“It was a satisfying place to play because the people were there to listen to the music,” Check said.

“You could get close to the audience; they could get close to you. So it was a wonderful opportunity for me and I miss it.”

Check said he enjoyed the times when his students would come out to listen to his band.

“It was very flattering to me, to think that after listening to me during the day in the classroom that they would care to come out and hear me play at night,” Check said. “I have some lovely memories of that. Sometimes up to 12 or 15 of them would come out.”

UCM senior Digital Media Production major Nicholas Wallace performed most Thursday nights

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LOCA AFTE

at The Bay’s open mic night. He said the best part was that there were no judgements, and that the people who worked there were just as interested in hearing him play as the friends he would drag along.

“You could always be comfortable in The Bay. One of the first times I performed, a friend jokingly told me to take my shirt off,” he said. “And then the owner chimed in and from then on, most times I performed, it was just a ritual to take my shirt off.

Everyone was always very nice and if I'd miss a week, the workers would be so excited to see me, or if I'd see them outside of The Bay randomly they would also welcome me with an embrace.”

Wallace said with The Bay closed, there’s nowhere for artists to express themselves comfortably.

“No other place in Warrensburg is as friendly and open and welcoming as they were, and the fact that we lost a place for local artists to hop on stage for a few minutes a week impacts everyone negatively,” Wallace said. “I got a lot of practice doing that and now I've lost my drive to play guitar as much since I never have an outlet to perform it.”

Herrick said she made lifelong friends and great memories at The Bay. She said the bar had an impact on her as a musician.

“It definitely gave me more practice up on stage,” Herrick said. “I got very comfortable just in that atmosphere. I could be more comfortable there than anywhere else because I was there so often, but as a musician I definitely feel like I’ve improved stage-presence wise.”

She was there for the bar’s last two nights.

“I was really upset and I went in there, did my last open mic night. Said my goodbyes. It was bittersweet for sure,” Herrick said. “Everybody was going around signing the walls and stuff, it was really fun. It was a crazy, wild night…Everybody was just trying to get their last hoorah in before it goes.”

Herrick said she remembers looking back through all of the memories that last night.

“I was just so upset but (thought) maybe whoever buys this place will turn it into something magical, something even better,” Herrick said. “But I don’t know how you can get better than The Bay because it was just so great.”

AL MUSICIANS REMINISCE ER BAR CLOSING

by DENISE ELAM / LIFESTYLE EDITOR

PHOTO BY DENISE ELAM / Lifestyle Editor

10 ANALYSIS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

LITTER HAS PRETTY HEFTY PRICE TAG Come work for us.

by CHRIS HOLMBERG Reporter

Litter is taking money out of your pocket and lighting it on fire.

You, personally, are having money taken out of your pocket by people you’ve never met and circumstances that you cannot control at a point in time that could be years from now.

Please let that wash over you for a second: Litter is costing you money you don’t even have yet.

In 2009, Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit organization focused on community development through litter prevention and reduction and recycling, published the results of research it conducted in 2008 and 2009.

One thing in particular stood out to me from the executive summary of that research.

The presence of litter decreases property values.

Forty percent of surveyed homeowners believe litter can reduce home values by up to 24 percent. Fifty-five percent of realtors believe the presence of litter can reduce property values by about nine percent. Sixty percent of the property appraisers surveyed said they would reduce a home’s value if it was littered.

The information reported is sobering.

The information that is absent is terrifying.

The report doesn’t assign a value to “littered.” It is subjective. But that subjectivity will be measured in dollars.

It isn’t just important that a prospective property buyer may value your property less because they believe it’s littered; it is important to understand the person representing you to the buyer may believe that your property is worth less because they view your property as littered.

It doesn’t stop at buying and selling.

Somewhere down the line, you may need to borrow money against the equity in your property. Guess what? If the person who assesses the current value of your property believes it to be littered, your property can be assessed a lower value.

You will therefore have less equity, and you will have less money available to you.

That can cause some ripples.

Warrensburg’s mayor, Bryan Jacobs, has more insight into this aspect of the issue of littering than most: He is the owner of the Re/Max United office in Warrensburg. A large part of his career deals with the value of properties.

“I agree that those numbers are 100 percent correct,” he said, referring to the KAB statistics.

He told me of a time when he was showing a house outside of the Warrensburg city limits and he intentionally took the long way so they would bypass an area that had several issues, including litter.

“Here is what happens when you are out showing a house,” he said. “You pull into a neighborhood and there is litter and lack of maintenance in the area. People automatically discount the area or don’t want to see it because they don’t like the neighborhood.”

He also compared two areas within the city limits. Both have groups of townhouses with similar floor plans, but on the north side of town, he estimates he can get $110,000 per unit. On the south side of town, he estimates that he can sell each unit for $75,000.

That is a difference of $35,000.

Litter is not the only factor affecting the price of homes in these two areas. For example, he said the units on the north side of town are newer and there is a homeowner’s association, which helps guarantee a certain level of maintenance of the area (which can also include litter, so the lines are blurred a little).

LITTER, see page 11

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11 ANALYSIS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

LITTER, continued from page 10 However, while litter isn’t the only factor, it is a factor.

If you happen to own one of the units in the neighborhood on the south side of town and you’re already down $35,000, it can make a big difference.

Warrensburg City Manager Harold Stewart also agrees with the numbers in the KAB study.

“The presence of trash and litter is the first indicator of an issue,” he said.

A city’s disregard for litter tends to develop into disregard for maintenance, indicating a failure in leadership or the overall decay of the area.

Stewart and Jacobs said Warrensburg is a long way from that type of disrepair. As evidence, they pointed to the Dollar Tree breaking ground

on a 1.2 million square foot, $110 million distribution center on Highway 13, expected to create 375 jobs in and around Warrensburg.

That kind of investment is not made casually. Ever.

It is not, however, an indication that there isn’t a problem with litter.

Let’s look at the city of Philadelphia as an example.

According to the Logistics & Distribution in Philadelphia page, “more than 645 international companies from 37 countries choose to call the Philadelphia region home.”

A lot of companies decided to move to Philadelphia. It would not pass as litter-free to Helen Keller.

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy called the city’s litter problem “horrendous” in an article for the Philadel-

STUDIO ONE ACTS HIT BLACKBOX

phia Citizen.

Keep in mind, too, that part of Warrensburg’s problem is the transient nature of the population. There are many factors: the university, U.S. Highway 50, the railroad, and Whiteman Air Force Base.

There are also people from the area’s smaller communities who come to Warrensburg for things they don’t have at home. Like, perhaps, one of those 375 jobs.

The jobs created by the Dollar Tree distribution center will not strictly be filled by current citizens of Warrensburg. We’ll get more people here, which is good – very good – when you factor in the increase in sales tax that will be collected by area businesses when those people start buying things on their way to

and from work; Stewart said most of Warrensburg’s revenue comes from sales tax. Obviously, collecting more is better.

But as it pertains to litter? More people will create more trash. We, the citizens of Warrensburg, need to clean up the mess we’ve already made before it gets bigger.

Jacobs said that he doesn’t think Warrensburg has a litter problem.

“I think we have some areas that we’d like to clean up, but I don’t think we have a problem,” he said.

But what if you’re living in one of those areas that we’d like to clean up, with a home that is worth $35,000 less than a similar home in a different area?

I’d like to think that is considered something of a problem.

Decoda Hoover and Emily Layt go on a blind date in the production 'Check Please' at the Blackbox Theatre.

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KEITH /

Photographer

Nathan Endershack practicing during dress rehearsal of 'Tough Choice for the New Century'.

Nathan Endershak and Leslie Wagner participating in the show 'Tough Choice for the New Century'.

12 SPORTS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

JENNIES VOLLEYBALL GETS A LESSON ON CANCER THEY WON'T FORGET

by JACOB WOERTHER Sports Editor

While attending a sporting event, it is typical that spectators become so invested in the action that they forget about everything outside of the game. That’s part of the beauty of sports; the audience is mesmerized and awestruck. At the conclusion of the Jennies second set against Missouri Western on Saturday, just the opposite happened. Those in attendance rose to their feet and, for a moment, forgot all about Jennie’s volleyball.

The Multipurpose Building grew silent as Gabi Shull, a local high school junior, made her way to the center of the court with a microphone.

Gabi spoke to Jennies fans on behalf of The Truth 365, an organization that raises awareness and funds for childhood cancer.

She explained the financial and emotional struggles that accompany childhood cancer, a reality she knows all too well.

When Gabi was just nine years old, she was diagnosed with cancer in her right knee.

The initial rounds of cancer treatment consisted of intensive chemotherapy, often forcing Gabi to spend prolonged visits

The Volleyball team celebrates their 3-1 victory over Missouri Western with cancer patients Kamberly and Wyatt.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY Debbie Shull at the hospital. After a few sessions, however, the doctors proposed an alternative solution: amputation.

Gabi underwent an amputation process known as Rotationplasty, during which the knee and bottom of the leg are removed. The ankle and foot are then rotated 180 degrees and are reattached at the bottom of the thigh. The surgery was successful, but an extensive recovery process followed.

It took an entire year of physical therapy before Gabi was able to walk again.

A prosthesis, an artificial leg, specially designed for Rotationplasty patients allowed Gabi to walk just as she did prior to

Gabi Schull speaks on behalf of The Truth 365 and explains to those in attendance that childhood cancer is underfunded.

the surgery. Although the ability to walk was a milestone in Gabi’s recovery, it was simply a starting point for her.

Since mastering the use of the prosthesis, Gabi has participated in ice skating, roller balding, rock climbing and, most importantly, dancing. Gabi regularly practiced dance prior to her cancer diagnosis and was determined to return her passion following her acquisition of her prosthesis. She even acquired a customized prosthesis for en pointe dancing, a type of dance that requires the dancer to be on their toes.

Gabi’s full recovery and her return to dancing went seamlessly and the story caught the attention of media across the country. This included Mike Gillette, the producer of the documentary of The Truth 365.

Gillette worked with Gabi to promote awareness for childhood cancer on behalf The Truth 365. Gabi has remained with The Truth 365 since her first conversation with Gillette and now serves as a spokesperson for the organization, testifying on their behalf.

“It’s important to keep raising funds and awareness for this,” Gabi said. “The lack of funding is so horrible and eye opening that it makes you want to give back to others.”

Gabi’s mission of giving back has been ongoing since teaming with The Truth 365. Two children diagnosed with cancer accompanied her at the Jennies game Saturday and because she understood their situation, she was able to serve as a mentor-like figure to each of them.

“Those kids are going to be just like her when they have a mentor like her,” Jennies head coach Flip Piontek said. “They can see what an individual can do given these circumstances.”

Gabi and her two protégés made their way off the court after the speech to the sound of a standing ovation, Piontek and the Jennies prepared for a third set against the Missouri Western Griffons, and the crowd at the Multipurpose Building sat down and readied themselves for more exciting action. Those in attendance, however, might not have forgotten everything outside of the game as is typical when watching the Jennies. There is a good chance that there was one thought they didn’t forget about this time.

Gabi Shull spends time with Kamberly and Wyatt, two children who are battling childhood cancer.

13 SPORTS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

SLOWPITCH INTRAMURALS

BEGIN TO SPEED UP PHOTO STORY BY KRISTINE HAFFORD / Photo Editor

SPORTS UPDATES: Week of Awards The Mules and Jennies athletics combined for seven MIAA awards this week. Volleyball and football each brought home an honor, while soccer and golf swept every award for their respective sports.

Ally Offerdahl wins her first ever MIAA honor Ally Offerdahl was named MIAA Specialist of the Week following her performances against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western. She accumulated 48 assists and four digs against the Bearcats and recorded her fourth double-double of the season after totaling 40 assists and 10 digs against the Griffons. Offerdahl currently leads the MIAA with 11.23 assists per set.

Austin Miller is named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Collin Witte hitting a pitch before making it to first base in Intramurals softball game Tuesday night.

Austin Miller was awarded MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his walk-off touchdown that capped off the thrilling finish to the Mules and Hornets game. The Mules trailed the Hornets by six with just 12 seconds remaining in the game when Kolesen Crane recovered an incomplete lateral pass. Crane returned the fumble nearly the length of field before lateralling to avoid being tackled. The lateral hit the ground and Miller recovered the lateral for the game-winning touchdown.

Soccer clinches all three MIAA awards

Tyler Hansen, the Tau Kappa Epsilon pitcher, threw the ball to Wayne Triplett, the first baseman, successfully getting the batter out.

Baylie Edwards was named Offensive Player of the Week, Kayla Hamner won Defensive player of the Week, and Ana Dilkes earned MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week.

Edwards totaled three goals and an assist over the weekend. She scored a goal against Missouri Western and had two goals and assist against Northwest Missouri.

Hamner served as a member of a Jennies defense that secured its eight straight shut out victory this season. She also scored against Missouri Western.

Dilkes once again posted back-to-back shut outs this weekend to notch her 51st career shut out. She became just the second goalkeeper in Division II history to post 50 shut outs. She had five saves against Missouri Western and four against Northwest Missouri. Dilkes has yet to give up a goal through the first eight games of the season.

UCM golf sweeps MIAA awards Shayne Allan was awarded male Golfer of the Week and Elizabeth Leath earned female Golfer of the Week.

Allan tied for fifth place at JR Watkins Invite in Wionna, Minnesota. He finished with a score of 145, one-over par. His nine birdies were the most by any golfer in the tournament.

Austin Wurtz batting to help his team win their game Tuesday night.

Elizabeth Leath took second place among individuals at the MIAA Fall Preview with a score of 142, two-under par. She finished just one stroke behind top-placing Alex Trask from William Jewell. Her score is the lowest score for 36 holes in Jennies history.

14 SPORTS

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

IAN FRAZIER'S SENIOR SEASON IS JUST A STARTING LINE

by JACOB WOERTHER Sports Editor

Ian Frazier has been the top finishing Mule in each of the three meets that the cross-country team has competed in so far this season, so it’s no surprise that Frazier’s summer heading into the season was entirely consumed by cross-country training. Frazier, however, was not training himself; he was training members of Team USA. Frazier spent his summer interning with Hoka One One Northern Arizona Elite, a professional running organization. He served as an intern coach alongside the program’s president Ben Rosario.

The athletes that Frazier coached consisted mostly of 25 to 35 year-olds who have aspirations to join US national teams and Olympic teams.

“The leadership role was odd because the people were older than me,” Frazier laughed. “They are also just way better than me. These are people who have run several minutes faster in a 5k and 10k (race); people who have worn the Team USA jersey at the national level.”

Despite being somewhat overwhelmed by the prestige of the athletes in attendance, Frazier was active in his role at Northern Arizona Elite.

The training style shared key similarities to that which Frazier was familiar with, enabling Frazier to still coach athletes with higher skill sets.

The internship also required Frazier to focus on spreading the sport of cross-country. Frazier explained that the sport suffers between Olympic cycles and that the solution to this problem is to raise interest among youth.

He worked to bring the sport to larger audience by teaming with organizations such Fit Kids, a group that promotes physical activity among children.

“Taking knowledge form the professional ranks to the recreational is always good,” Frazier said. “The more people you get interested in the sport, the better, and the more they are going to enjoy it.”

Frazier was also provided an opportunity to blog on Northern Arizona Elite’s website. The blog served as a platform for Frazier to share his personal thoughts on cross-country to the company’s followers.

“They allowed me to have a platform to blog and spread the message of me being a huge fan of the sport and kind of being thrust into this professional environment and just really being able to show how universal our sport is,” Frazier said.

Frazier explained that the internship and its various aspects reassured him that he is on the right path. His dream is to one day pursue a career in coaching.

“I would definitely like to coach someday whether it be high school, collegiate, or professional ranks. It doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to be in this sport my whole life and be contributing to it. “ So while this may be Frazier’s final season on the Mules cross-country team, it is simply the beginning of what appears to be a life-long commitment to the sport of cross-country.

15 CENTRAL SCOOP

Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 | The Muleskinner

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Reports compiled from the Warrensburg Police Department.

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