Muleskinner Vol. 113 Issue 16 4-25-2019

Vol. 113, Issue 16 • April 25, 2019

Roger Best inaugurated as 16th president

See Inside PAGE 3

Marketing professor receives Byler Award PAGE 6

Photo by Peter Spexarth/For the Muleskinner Roger J. Best was installed as the University of Central Missouri’s 16th president April 18 in the Multipurpose Building. The theme of the ceremony was milestones as the university nears its sesquicentennial in 2021. For more coverage of the inauguration, visit digitalburg.com/muleskinner.

Ambrose accepts SGA excellence award Erin Wides Features Editor

Former UCM President Charles Ambrose returned to the university Monday to accept the James C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance award given by the Student Government Association.

This annual award is presented to an in-

dividual who promotes the public interest, practices good governmental procedures and has shown loyalty to the university.

Ambrose left UCM August 2018 to become the CEO and president of KnowledgeWorks in Cincinnati, Ohio. Past recipients include, Jason Kander, Jay Nixon, Emanuel Cleaver II and more.

Courtney Abt, past president of Student

Government Association, said the nomination comes from the student body members.

Abt said this year they had three candidates and Ambrose stood out.

“Dr. Ambrose had an overwhelming amount of support, considering he had just left the school but he had done so much for EXCELLENCE, continued on Page 5

PRISM celebrates graduation of LGBTQ+ students PAGE 12

Fanfiction-turned-movie misses out on true complexity of story

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NEWS

April 25 - May 2

Muleskinner honored at MCMA Muleskinner Staff

Photo by Garrett Fuller/Senior Writer From left, Muleskinner staff Erin Wides, Jason Brown, Matt Bird-Meyer and Anaiyeh Smith pose with the Muleskinner’s awards April 13 at the MCMA Conference in Springfield, Missouri.

The Muleskinner had an impressive showing at the Missouri College Media Association conference April 13 on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield. The paper earned first place in divison one and overall in the state.

After the Best Overall Newspaper category winners were determined for each of the four newspaper divisions, a judge selects the Best in State from among the divisional winners. The Best in State winner possesses the Avis Meyer Perpetual Cup for one year.

The Muleskinner was named Best in State and the Avis Meyer Perpetual Cup is in on display in Martin 136.

Here are the individual awards: • Sweepstakes, Third Place, Muleskin-

ner(based on points earned from individual awards) • Adviser of the Year, Matt Bird-Meyer • News Photography, First Place, Chris Holmberg • Video, First Place, Jacob Peck • Column, First Place, Leah Kemple • Political/Editorial Cartoon, First Place, Britain Bray • Page One Design, First Place, EJ Henderson • Column, Second Place, Erin Wides • Website, Third Place, Muleskinner • Multimedia Package, Third Place, Garrett Fuller and Britain Bray • Column, Honorable Mention, Erin Wides • Sports Photography, Honorable Mention, Peter Spexarth • Story Illustration, Honorable Mention, EJ Henderson.

NEWS

The The Muleskinner Muleskinner

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Marketing professor receives Byler Award Kaitlin Brothers News Editor

Every year, one faculty member is honored as the most distinguished member on campus with the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, research and service.

Charlie Schwepker, professor of marketing, received the Byler Award on April 18.

The Byler Award was created by William Byler, a UCM professor who graduated from the university in 1927. He was the inventor of the black light and an author who established an endowment fund to provide annual recognition for distinguished faculty teaching, scholarly examples and professional-related service, according to a press release.

Schwepker said he was nominated by Scott Smith, a marketing professor, and he said he was very humbled to receive the Byler award.

“I’m really honored to get it and quite humbled because...essentially, there’s so many great faculty here,” Schwepker said.

Schwepker said he has been teaching at UCM since 1992 and has led activities for marketing students, such as the State Farm Sales Marketing Competition, where he is the team leader.

Schwepker said his favorite thing about being a professor is helping students be successful.

“I’ve had some comments from students over the years (saying) I was able to help them,” he said. “Some of it’s certainly through the classroom. I really enjoy getting to work beyond the classroom with the students. I’m one of the advisors at the American Marketing Association organization here on campus. And I’ve been coaching the sales students for many years, and I’ve had a lot of students go to these sales competitions and improve their sales skills. They are very happy and thankful for those opportunities.”

Schwepker said he enjoys having the students gain real experience in marketing by doing different outside projects. One

Photo courtesy of Charles Schwepker Charles Schwepker with his family during the awards ceremony. From left, Lauren Schwepker, Anthony Schwepker, Charles Schwepker, Charlie Schwepker and Laura Schwepker. example is having his marketing class get into groups to find a local company who need help with their marketing communications.

“If you can get some experience in different ways or more hands-on, that helps you see what you’re trying to learn in a bit different light,” he said.

Tessa Belknap, senior marketing major, said Schwepker is a professor who goes above and beyond for his students.

“Charlie truly cares about his students,” Belknap said. “He is an engaging, knowledgeable and an invested professor. I think Charlie deserved this award because he is dedicated to students inside and outside of classes, is willing to go above and beyond to help anyone in need, and is one of the most dedicated professors I know.”

Belknap said Schwepker is heavily invested in his students, whether it be in the

“If you can get some experience in different ways or more hands-on, that helps you see what you’re trying to learn in a bit different light.”

-Charlie Schwepker

classroom or in extracurricular activities.

“His hard work over the years has contributed to the success of the Harmon College,” Belknap said.

Belknap said she was a member of the sales team with Schwepker and competed in sales competitions through the year un-

der the guidance of Schwepker.

“He was always willing to work with me as much as possible to make me successful,” she said. “I know I couldn’t have accomplished what I did this year in sales without him as one of my coaches. I have had the opportunity to get to know Charlie not only as a professor, but as a person. It has been an honor to work with him this year and I think he truly deserves this award.”

Scott Smith said he nominated Schwepker for the Byler Award for his dedication to students.

Smith said Schwepker is very involved outside of the classroom with committees, student organizations and competitions.

“Charlie is a tireless contributor at all levels of the university, the community and his field. In terms of committee service, BYLER, continued on Page 10

4 NEWS Comm. disorders grad student honored by MSHA Speech-language pathology student chosen among nominees from nine Missouri schools

Jason Brown Managing Editor

UCM’s speech-language pathology program features an in-house clinic as well as 100% job placement for graduates and recently had a six-year student recognized as the Missouri Speech-Language and Hearing Association’s Most Outstanding Graduate Student.

Madisen Sherman became the fourth UCM student to win the MSHA award.

Grisham is from Versailles, Missouri, and has studied in the speech-language pathology program for all six years of her college career.

“Oh, it was a big deal, it really was,” Sherman said. “Ms. (Kimberly) Stewart told me, ‘This is a really prestigious award, not very many people get it.’”

Nine Missouri schools each nominate a graduate student to be considered for the award. The nominee is required to submit a letter from a sponsor and three additional letters of support.

A sample of work in the form of a scholarly abstract, one-or-more chapters of a thesis or similar projects is also required.

Stewart, a communications disorders instructor, said Sherman’s thesis was part of the reason she was nominated.

Sherman wanted to be a teacher for most of her life until she worked with a speech pathologist during her A+ tutoring in high school. She said she fell in love with the one-on-one and small group interaction as well as the variety of patients with whom she works.

“It was so much fun because every day was different,” she said. “Your different clients come in with different diagnoses, different strengths, different weaknesses,

which was really fascinating to me. I tutored with her again during my senior year and absolutely knew that’s what I want to do.”

UCM’s speech-language pathology program is one of a few in the state that houses an on-campus clinic. The WelchSchmidt Center for Communication Disorders enables students to treat members of the community who have communication or swallowing disorders. The students are able to diagnose and prescribe rehabilitation to patients. Sherman said the ability to gain experience on campus was a big draw to UCM. “It’s fantastic. I know a lot of other universities have to send their students to other clinics, hospitals or schools to get experience,” she said. “Whereas here, we get the experience of the clinic side as well as still being sent out to do an internship.

I feel like that gives us a wider variety of what we may experience in the real world.”

The Welch-Schmidt Center has 12 clinical rooms where students can work with their patients. Parents and instructors are able to monitor interactions from an adjacent room. There are also two audiologic suites where different hearing evaluations can be performed. The Scottish Rite Valley of Columbia helped fund an early childhood language and literacy lab.

Stewart said in addition to Sherman’s technical qualifications, her skills as a leader were just as impressive. Shermanserved as the vice president of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association last year.

Sherman said the rotating nature of the clinic where students don’t spend a lot of time with individual patients is beneficial because it encourages collaboration.

“What’s nice is, later on, after I’ve had a client, the person who has them next semester might come to me and we’ll collaborate a little bit,” she said. “What did you find really worked well? What are they really interested in? How can I motivate

April 25 - May 2

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Stewart Madisen Sherman accepts the MSHA Most Outstanding Graduate Award April 6 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri. them?” really well and also works for the new job Another reason Sherman chose to go to I’m starting.”

UCM was its proximity to her hometown.

Sherman is graduating this summer and“I’m an only child and my parents and has accepted a position working at Western I, we’re very close. So it was important to Missouri Medical Center studying literacy me to keep close to home but not too close intervention and dyslexia. She’ll also be to home,” she said. “So it has worked out working with outpatient pediatrics.

NEWS

The Muleskinner EXCELLENCE, continued from Page 1 students here and also with the legislature,” Abt said.

She said work with the legislature is a big component of the award.

“It’s ‘excellence in governance,’ so we normally try to pick somebody who is involved in not only the legislature but higher education and involvement with students,” Abt said.

Ambrose said it’s different to be back and accepting the award because he’d been on the other side presenting it for eight years.

“The significance that Jimmy Kirkpatrick had to Warrensburg and the state of Missouri,” Ambrose said, “people would come back, especially public servants, mainly in state government or surrounding state government, out of respect to him.”

Ambrose also mentioned his and his wife’s appreciation to Doris Kirkpatrick.

“Doris Kirkpatrick was truly the best friend of a college president,” Ambrose

said smiling. “She took Kris and I in when we first came and there was nothing you could do that she wouldn’t say something supportive.”

Cole Fine, president of SGA, said Ambrose has served the community more than people see.

“There’s more than just the tangible things he’s left behind,” Fine said. “Whether that’s in the form of university policies or other things that he’s been able to achieve on campus, I think it affects the day-to-day life of every student here.”

Ambrose said it was good to be able to come back to Warrensburg after some time has passed.

“It gives me a chance to come back and say thank you to some people that have meant a lot to me when I was here,” he said.

During Ambrose’s speech, he noted that there were students in the audience who could potentially receive this award years

Union renovations continue

Photo by Jason Brown / Managing Editor Rebar is unloaded outside the Elliott Student Union’s south entrance on Clark Street where work continues on the first phase of the master plan for union renovations that include a 300 seat auditorium and relocated south entrance. Look for an update on the project’s progress in next week’s digital issue of the Muleskinner.

from now. Even for students who don’t receive recognition, he said to serve with the greater good in mind.

“I think, govern out of a sense of selflessness,” he said. “Anytime it’s not for the common good, as we’re experiencing in culture and society right now, good things don’t happen.”

He said he’s confident in emerging leadership throughout campus organizations and encourages students to keep getting involved.

Ambrose said with KnowledgeWorks, they are heavily focused on the future of learning.

“In my new role, we think a lot about the future, and there’s some pressures on the future that makes it really exciting for students who are getting ready to graduate but it also presents, maybe, some challenges that you’re not totally in control of,” Ambrose said. “We’ve got to work to get sort of a safeguard for efficacy for where

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Photo by Erin Wides / Features Editor UCM President Roger Best; Kirkpatrick award winner Chuck Ambrose; SGA past President Courtney Abt and SGA newly elected President Cole Fine pose for a photo with Ambrose and his award. the world is going, especially in learning, because otherwise it’s just going to pull us further apart.”

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FEATURES

April 25 - May 2

PRISM celebrates graduation of LGBTQ+ students Erin Wides Features Editor

Rainbow-themed food and decorations complemented the safe, supportive atmosphere created for the graduation of LGBTQ+ students.

The Lavender Graduation was created as a safe place for LGBTQ+ students, some who have not yet come out to friends and family.

The event on April 18 was hosted by UCM PRISM; women, gender and sexuality studies; and the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity.

MJ Miller, graduate assistant with Housing and Fraternity and Sorority Life, said this event wouldn’t have been possible without the outside help.

Miller said PRISM doesn’t have a lot of money so she reached out to other campus partners and explained the importance of the event to see if they could help support the graduation.

“The Office of Student Experience and Engagement sponsored the cords, Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity sponsored all of our food tonight, which made it easier for this event to happen without putting a strain on PRISM’s financial resources,” Miller said.

While there were only two graduates who walked and were presented cords in person, the ceremony gave others a chance to receive a diploma with their preferred name and be recognized by a group who supports them.

Bryce Klein, senior child and family development and women, gender and sexuality studies major, said events like this are important to help represent the LGBTQ+ community while in a safe space.

“I really think the significance for me, and a lot of trans students who don’t use their legal name, this is one of the only documents that will have their preferred name and it’s nice to have something that someone recognizes you as that name,” Klein said.

Throughout his time at UCM, Klein said he has been active in the LGBTQ+ com-

Photo by Erin Wides / Features Editor From left, Sean Ryun and Bryce Klein, both seniors, pose for a celebratory photo with their temporary lavender chords after being recognized at Lavender Graduation ceremony on April 18. munity and forged important relationships.

“Sarah Ray Rondot — she’s been my mentor for at least two and a half years now. She’s been at almost everything that I’ve asked her to be at, even if she didn’t have to be,” Klein said. “All the ambassadors of the women and gender studies department are here supporting me and they were asked to come but they truly didn’t have to, so it’s nice to see all their faces.”

Klein said the support is an act of kindness and love.

“A lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community don’t get that all the time, especially in public settings,” he said, “so it’s good to be in a private setting where people show their beautiful hearts and support.”

Sean Ryun, senior biology major, gave a speech at the event, saying that being queer is not 100% of his identity.

“Being gay is just part of who I am and I didn’t really celebrate it,” Ryun said.

“Then when I joined PRISM and I saw all of these beautiful queer people just being genuinely themselves and feeling comfortable, I fell in love.”

When Klein and Ryun were recognized that evening, they received a lavender cord that they will be able to wear during their graduation from UCM. “Heck yeah I’m going to be wearing my lavender cord,” Ryun said. “It represents freedom. This is who I am and I’m not going to be anything else.”

Klein said the cord represents support that the department has given him.

“They have lavender cord for the LGBTQ+ community that represents how much they care about us, how much they support us and it’s nice to wear that on graduation day and just know that even if your biological family isn’t there, your student and faculty family is there,” Klein said.

The entire room was filled with a sense of pride and support. When Klein and Ryun walked the stage that night, their heads were held high with smiles that lit up the room. Cheers, clapping, hugs and congratulatory comments continued beyond the ceremony.

“The main graduation is nice and sentimental, but those aren’t the people who have seen you grow as a person,” Ryun said. “So having an event like this, having your advisers and the people that you’ve grown with for the past four years, it’s such a beautiful experience.”

Miller said she was very pleased with the event.

“We’ve been working on this since last semester, so getting to see it all come to fruition, even if it took a little while, was really worth it,” she said.

OPINION

The The Muleskinner Muleskinner

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COMMENTARY

Muleskinner adviser wins adviser of the year Erin Wides Features Editor

“Show us, don’t just tell.” These are the words I constantly hear, like a broken record in my head.

As a journalist, specifically a feature writer, I need to put my readers where my subject was, and it’s my job to best describe those details as if I were there, or ask the right questions so I can also “be there.”

I am at a total loss for the right words to show. At first I thought, “I can’t show an emotion.” Unless it goes something like, when you shake a bottle of soda and then try to open it and the fizz slowly begins to creep up the side of the bottle, but you quickly seal it to keep it from exploding.

There was a moment at the Missouri College Media Association awards ceremony, that I felt like the bubbly liquid inside the bottle. We were wrapping up the awards and got to “Adviser of the Year.”

Of course I had my opinions on why Matt Bird-Meyer should win but I also got to witness and interact with a lot of good advisers that day.

The girl reading the award said she remembered a quote from the recipient. He said he would fall on his sword for his students. I could slowly feel my face getting warmer and a defiant pulse in my right wrist becoming quicker.

The slide changed. Adviser of the Year, Matt Bird-Meyer.

“That’s us, holy s***.” I have never whipped around so quickly, and in time to see Matt’s jaw literally drop. He sat there for a second. He looked like a student, lost in the lesson.

I can confirm — that slide most definitely said his name and he was still processing.

This is where that bottle became unsealed and the excitement overflowed out.

I stood up and began clapping, punching my fist in the air, as if this were some big game we just won.

“Yes, Matt, that’s you,” I said. “Let’s

go.”

We did it. We didn’t really do it, Matt did it. He finally got rewarded on a larger scale for all the work, patience and talent that he has shared with every single student he has ever worked with. He is not just an adviser. He is a mentor, role model, friend and someone you can trust and ask anything without feeling belittled.

I think this is where the finding the right words is going to be hard because I have had good teachers in college, hell, some have been great. But none of them have been Matt.

Extraordinary? Seems cliche. Unrivalled? Getting closer. You can’t compare what he has done to anyone else. You just have to sit in a class and then you’ll know.

I remember his editing and design class was one of the first college classes where I truly felt like each lesson built on something, like Legos. Once the final project rolled around, every step we had taken was a Lego piece to this elaborate tower.

He is always present in the classroom and attentive to students. The classes I’ve had with him tend to be smaller, so we all get close and it’s less of a lecture and more of a conversation. If someone brings up something, even if it is off topic, he’ll take time to listen, acknowledge the point and get the conversation back on topic.

Not only is he great in the classroom, he is also a cool human. For another class I had to find a unique person as the subject for a feature package. After receiving this assignment, I ran into the newsroom, somewhat hysteric, which is nothing new, and asked if anyone knew anyone “cool.”

It was quiet for a bit and after some conversation, it was brought up that Matt skateboards. It took me a second. I thought, “There is no way.” He just got like a thousand times cooler.

After some questions, Matt and his skateboarding hobby was the subject for my project. He’s been “shredding” since he was 10.

I got to spend time with him and one of his sons at the skate park and just talked

about why he does it, his favorite tricks and memories.

He put the board down, one foot balanced on the board, the other effortlessly pushing off the ground, going with the highs and lows of the course.

It was time that I am so glad I got to have. A moment where I got to see what he was passionate about outside of teaching and really get brought into a part of his world that makes him the unique individual that he is.

Something he said that stuck with me — skating is cool because, “It brings people together.”

I don’t know if I should attribute my college successes to when Matt began skateboarding, but I know that he has brought me together with so many brilliant and accomplished people. For that I am forever

grateful. There are not enough words in the world to justify the overflowing amount of gratitude and pride that I have for Matt.

Now, Adviser of the Year and so deserving.

Instead of trying to find any more words, I will take all of this wisdom and skill that I have learned from him and go forth to do good for another community.

While we never know what comes next for us we must continue to “roll away,” or on to the next big adventure.

“You have to try. You have to go out and do it and fall and fall and fall,” he said. “It’s sort of like a life lesson, get back up every single time.”

The semester has knocked me off the board of life a few times. I am back up and ready to keep rolling, onto the next adventure.

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FEATURES

April 25 - May 2

Honors projects provide new opportunities Kaitlin Brothers News Editor

Noah Turner completed a research paper that helped lead to a full ride in a doctoral program at Michigan State. Katherine Kim created a program on campus to help international students with basic necessities.

These were honors projects that Turner and Kim said helped shape their future. Both are graduating in May with the other 35 honors college graduates.

Turner, senior criminal justice major and Kim, senior international studies major, are graduating from UCM through the Honors College program, where they were provided unique opportunities that go beyond the classroom for their major.

Turner said to him, the Honors College is an opportunity to take that extra step to distinguish yourself as a student.

“So often, students with phenomenal skill sets and interests are not provided the chance to manifest those interests and apply those skill sets,” he said. “The Honors College, rather, integrates your interest into your coursework, particularly with the honors project, and gives those students willing to take that extra step a chance to do so.”

Turner said his honors project about was a research study examining mental health courts in the area.

“I wanted to analyze how the staff members of mental health courts perceived the work they do on a daily basis and gain their opinions on the future of mental health courts,” he said. “I also wanted to highlight the issues which mental health court staff are consistently running into and make recommendations for potential areas of improvement.”

Turner said to do this, he interviewed staff at two different mental health courts, one at a rural area and one at an urban area, and compared their perceptions.

“We found that funding and negative stigma were the two largest obstacles that the (courts) were battling with,” Turner said.

Photo courtesy of Katherine Kim Katherine Kim and her Vietnamese classmate, Nan Dinh pose for a photo during the Nazan Summer Japanese Program graduation day.

Turner said they discovered the urban mental health courts had more community resources than the rural ones.

“Overall, both courts had a very positive outlook on the future of (courts), and advocate for more federal funding to be allocated for the implementation and support of this branch of treatment courts,” Tuner said.

Turner said this honors project provided him his first ever research experience.

“During my freshman year at UCM, my focus became fixated on obtaining my Ph.D. in criminal justice,” he said. “However, I had no research experience and no idea where to begin. With the guidance of the Honors College, I was able to start a

“However, none of this would have happened had I not completed that first research project with the help of the Honors College.”

-Noah Turner

research project with a professor and see it to completion.”

Tuner said by doing this, he and his mentor have an article under review at a criminology journal and he was offered a full

scholarship to Michigan State University’s doctoral program in criminal justice.

“However, none of this would have happened had I not completed that first research project with the help of the Honors College.”

Turner said UCM has a cooperative and supportive culture on campus.

“The idea that I, as an undergraduate student with no research experience, could approach a professor...and ask to help them with a research study and them say, ‘Yes,’ is invaluable in my opinion,” he said. “They truly care about my success and attempt to help in any way possible.”

Kim has ambitions to help international students in her future career. Through the

FEATURES

The Muleskinner

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Photo courtesy of Noah Turner Noah Turner presents his honors project.

Photo courtesy of Noah Turner Noah Turner presents his McNair project at the McNair Heartland Conference last year.

Honors College, Kim received the funding to study abroad in Japan. She said the city she wanted to go to wasn’t partnered with UCM and the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity didn’t have a grant, but the Honors College did.

“I completely relied on my funding from the Honors College to study abroad last summer,” she said.

Kim said she was recently accepted to go to Japan through a program called Japan Exchange and Teaching.

“I will move to Japan this summer and start teaching English there as an assistant language teacher for at least a year,” she said. “I picked the competitive Japanese Language Program because I really want-

ed to have the full learning experience and really get far ahead in Japanese as I could.

It was so intense and so fun and everyone would only speak Japanese to international students, which is great.”

Kim has helped international students already by creating a program here at UCM called “From My World to Yours,” a donation project to assist international students when they arrive on campus. They take the donated items, clean them and give them to international students in need.

Kim said she started the program by posting on Facebook, asking people to donate their unwanted things to international students, and the program grew by word of mouth.

“Now when international students arrive, they’ll come in and say ‘Are you Katy? My friend from university told me I have to find you and get free stuff.’ I had no idea the big impact it would have.”

Kim said her career is to help international students on American campuses, to help cultural conflict and helping people navigate into a new culture.

“I would just love to work on campus somewhere here and help foster intercultural relations between the domestic students and international students, help them interact with each other and identify the problems and work to create practical solutions. That’s really my dream job.”

Photo courtesy of Katherine Kim Katherine Kim posing in front of Torii Gates in the Kenrokuen Garden.

10 OPINION

April 25 - May 2

‘Captain Marvel’: Good but not great Ryan Sheehan For the Muleskinner

“Captain Marvel” has a very interesting plot. However, to avoid spoilers, this opening synopsis will be kept vague.

Set as a prequel to the rest of the MCU movies, the film is based off a Marvel Comics character who was never very popular.

Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, is a Kree warrior, a powerful alien race that has been established in previous Marvel films. Her latest mission against the Skrull leads her to planet Earth.

Taking place in the 1990s, Captain Marvel tries to investigate a mystery and comes across S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury. Younger and still having both eyes, the movie becomes kind of a buddy cop comedy as Captain Marvel and Fury try to work together.

Due to the ‘90s setting, this movie is very similar to “Ready Player One” as both have a strong focus on pop culture nostalgia. In “Captain Marvel,” plenty of references are made. But there is a difference between “Captain Marvel” and “Ready Player One.” “Ready Player One’s” use of pop culture was painful, constantly beating you over the head with it. Looking BYLER, continued from Page 3 Charlie is always willing to do his part at the department, college and university level,” he said. “Charlie clearly understands that service provides a value to the university that allows our core academic thrust to endure.”

Smith said Schwepker by helping lead the American Marketing Association, it has resulted in numerous awards at a regional and national level.

“I am also fortunate to serve as an advisor with Charlie for the American Marketing Association student chapter here at UCM. Charlie always has time to assist the students in the organization in any way,” he said.

Smith said Schwepker has guided his students in many service activities in the

back on it, there wasn’t much to the movie. Take away the pop culture and what do you have? Just a mediocre movie. But for “Captain Marvel,” that isn’t the case. Its use of pop culture doesn’t feel forced or annoying.

After leaving the theater, I was talking to a friend of mine. I asked him why the references worked in this movie and not in “Ready Player One?” Basically, he said, “Captain Marvel” didn’t seem to focus on pop culture. Thinking back to it, what he said was right. Sure, there are a bunch of references, maybe too many, but the focus of the film doesn’t stay on that.

Even though Nick Fury is practically a different person in this movie, it works in the end. It’s interesting to see him here as a wise-cracking, light-hearted low-level agent. Implying that he became a more cynical spymaster later in life, though Fury did keep a bit of his sense of humor.

There is no doubt that “Captain Marvel” adds backstory to the MCU that was never in mind when the early movies were made. “Captain Marvel” does retcon some things, which is when established facts in a fictional series are changed or ignored.

Of course, Marvel Comics has been known to retcon facts on occasion. Most of the community to allow his students to hone their skill sets while benefiting the town, and is willing to go great lengths for his student’s success.

“Charlie is a scholar and educator who continues to exhibit a deep dedication to students, research and service at the University of Central Missouri,” he said. “He is an outstanding colleague and personifies all that goes along with the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award...Charlie has continuously demonstrated an amazing record for research in his the marketing discipline.

He has done an outstanding job educating our students at the University of Central Missouri and is always innovating in the classroom and in other areas.”

changes work, while some feel dumb. Like the story of how Nick Fury loses his eye.

It’s dumb, but it also works when you think about it.

The changes may not be necessary and they do seem to contradict certain things from the first MCU films, but they aren’t bad changes. In fact, the changes made with the Kree and the Skrull from their comic book counterparts was a nice addition. If anything, the changes help make the Marvel Cinematic Universe feel a little more like a universe.

Captain Marvel is the heart of this movie. What really sells her character is her personality. Although she can feel a little inconsistent at times, Captain Marvel is a solid character. No matter what the situation is, she is sarcastic, good-humored and dead serious when the time comes for it.

She’ somewhat like John McClane from the “Die Hard” series. As McClane would do, despite all the crazy stuff going on around her, Captain Marvel still acts like Captain Marvel. She never suddenly acts funny out of nowhere, giving us forced comedic relief. She acts like who she is.

It’s worth mentioning that the Skrull are good characters as well.

Like the Russos did with “Civil War”

and “Infinity War,” directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck know their audience and know how to mislead their expectations.

“Captain Marvel” is clever on how it messes with you, and in a good way.

“Captain Marvel” does have some missteps. It can feel inconsistent, has a few weak scenes, the feminist message can be annoying at times because how obvious it is and there’s probably a plothole or two.

It is a good movie. It’s just not one of the best from the MCU. It’s a solid entry, that is able for the most part balance several genres, being part space fantasy, action and buddy cop comedy.

As the spinoff “Solo” was for the Star Wars Franchise, “Captain Marvel” is an entertaining movie, but, to be honest, it’s not a movie you have to watch as a fan of MCU. So before “Avengers: Endgame” rolls out, don’t feel you have to watch “Captain Marvel.” Though, I would recommend it.

7.5/10 PS: I’ve been pumped to see “Endgame” for the past few months.

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OPINION

The The Muleskinner Muleskinner

11

Mort Garson’s last masterpiece ­— exploring ‘Plantasia’

Louie Sharp

For the Muleskinner

One of the most unlikely success stories in music history is that of Mort Garson’s 1976 Moog masterpiece “Mother Earth’s Plantasia.”

“Plantasia” was the last release by Garson, and it followed an eclectic stream of ambient synthesizer experiments based on such wildly different ideas as sensuality, the Zodiac, the musical “Hair,” and even Satanic worship services. No matter what Garson was focusing on, he was effortlessly able to build these worlds and place the listener right in the thick of them. “Plantasia” is no exception.

Sub-titled as “Music for plants and the people who love them,” the record was originally intended to foster growth for the plants at the Los Angeles store Mother Earth. It even eschewed a traditional release and was instead handed out to anyone

Seniors showcase their art Britain Bray

For the Muleskinner Throughout the year, various visiting artists and exhibitions are usually shown in the UCM Gallery of Art and Design, but this time of the school year brings something else – Senior Exhibitions.

This semi-annual gallery showing is designed to celebrate the accumulated work of the graduating seniors of that semester.

Separated into two separate exhibition dates, April 15-24 features studio artists (ceramics, painting and printmaking) and art education majors, and May 1-11 features illustration, graphic design and interior design work.

During this time, the gallery is bursting with amazing and diverse artwork that shows off the combined skills that students have acquired over their time at UCM. “It’s nice to see the people I’ve known over the last four years work and see them improve and grow,” said Katie Watson, an illustration major graduating this year.

“People have made such cool work and it’s great to see it up in a gallery for everyone to look at.”

The art showing is also a way for students to practice preparing, setting up and presenting their own work in a professional setting.

“It’s a great step for students to learn how to be professional artists. It really is a valuable process because of its use of outside assessment,” said painting professor John Louder, referencing the reviewers who work separate from the school to review the graduating students’ work. “It is also a great opportunity for students to celebrate with their friends and family. They should be proud. It’s a big moment.”

Many of the works shown in the gallery are also for sale, which is a great way for visitors and novice art collectors to show support for the graduating students as they continue on to their professional careers. It is rare for anyone to find such a large and diverse collection of young artists’ work anywhere with no cost to view.

So stop by UCM Art Gallery today and become a patron of the arts.

The showings are free and open to the public between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays and between noon and 4 p.m. on Saturdays inside the UCM Art Center.

who purchased a plant from the store. This meant that the record never really took off in the mainstream, but thanks to an incredible cult following and the magic of YouTube’s recommendation system, the album has exploded in the past few years.

I’m not going to claim that “Plantasia” is a perfect record. The production could be a bit cleaner and it definitely sounds slightly dated. But the incredible thing about the record, much like the Violent Femme’s self-titled debut, is that the decade it sounds like is actually years after its release. Despite this record coming out in 1976, I could easily see any of these tracks fitting in on an SNES RPG soundtrack, and I think fans of David Wise’s work for the “Donkey Kong Country” series will find a lot to enjoy in these cuts.

There’s a warmth and a vitality to “Plan-

tasia” that makes me hesitate to use the word “ambient” to describe it. It’s purely instrumental and was intended more for plants to listen to than people, but despite all that, its energy demands attention. In the same way, the record was intended to make plants grow, it manages to help the listener grow as well. With the exception of “Long Season” by the Japanese group Fishmans, I can’t think of an album as inspiring or as able to make the listener just feel good as “Plantasia.”

I can’t think of a better way to spend Earth Day this year than soaking up the sun, listening to “Plantasia” and letting myself grow.

9/10 - A true classic and an experience all avid music listeners should have.

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12 OPINION

April 25 - May 2

Fanfiction-turned-movie misses out on true complexity of story Danielle Friedmeyer For the Muleskinner

Young teens and their moms crowded into the theater to watch the new movie “After,” based off the novel of the same name by Anna Todd. The romantic drama was recently released to theaters April 13.

What most people may not know about this film is that it was originally written as a fanfiction. In 2014, Anna Todd uploaded the first chapters to this now successful novel on the website, Wattpad. The novel grew to be 592 pages and 99 chapters with over 544 million views on Wattpad.

The book is centered around a dysfunctional love story between the main character, Tessa Young, and One Direction and soloist superstar, Harry Styles (the character’s name was changed to Hardin Scott for the film adaptation). Young is a dedicated student and loyal to her mom and boyfriend, Noah, entering her first year in college. All that changes when she meets Scott, the bad boy whose mysterious, brooding nature begins to make Young question what she thought she knew about herself and what she wanted out of life.

Going into the theater, I did not have too high of expectations for the film. Having read the novel back when it was still a fanfiction, and being very knowledgeable on the story and its history, I was worried how they would play off some of the most intense scenes, such as Scott (played by Hero-Fiennes Tiffin) having recurring nightmares about a traumatic night from his childhood, or scenes where Scott would be — essentially — emotionally abusive and toxic toward Young. I was also concerned about whether there would be a small trigger warning in the beginning of the movie due to a close encounter Young has with being sexually assaulted.

However, I was surprised to find that most of the intense scenes in the 99-chapter novel disappeared from the movie. It was almost refreshing to see Scott not constantly yelling at Young, but rather Scott as a much more of the “boyfriend” type

— even though he claims that he “doesn’t date.”

That being said, Scott’s mellowed character is part of the problem with the film.

A major problem that seemed apparent with the film was the pacing. I had my friends — who have never even heard of the novel or its history — lean over to me in their seats and ask what was happening throughout the film.

“After” moved so fast — cutting from scene to scene — that by the time you finally got comfortable in the red movie theater seats, the film was already over.

I understand they cannot fit all 99 chapters in the film, but the film cut out so many scenes, some of which were probably more valuable for the development of the story, that the lack of context for some moments ended up detracting from the complexity of the original novel.

Another massive problem with the loss of the complexity was not just in the storyline but in the characters themselves.

While a lot of the supporting characters are pure stereotypes in the novel (Langford’s character also falling victim to this at times), the character who remained complex throughout the chapters was Scott.

Not only is Scott dealing with trauma he experienced from his alcoholic father growing up, as well as the traumatic night mentioned previously when he was only 8, he also has severe anger issues he has to overcome for the sake of the new girl he’s falling for. On top of that, Scott has a prevalent superiority complex against Young (especially when it comes to his opinion on romantic novels).

While I’m not condoning Scott’s toxic behavior in the novel, it felt as though Todd completely changed his character for the film, turning him into more of a sweetheart and romantic than he originally was. It would have been nice to see Tiffin’s character angrier and ruder toward Langford’s character throughout the film. One of the most important plot points in the novel that the film completely leaps over is the fact that Young and Scott hate each other in the beginning.

AFTER, continued on Page 13

Hero-Fiennes Tiffin as Hardin Scott in “After.”

Illustration by Danielle Friedmeyer

SPORTS

The Muleskinner

Track and field enters final weekend After a strong showing at home Friday in the Mules Relays, UCM outdoor track and field is set to begin the final week of the regular season prior to the MIAA Championships.

Both the Mules and the Jennies won multiple events in their last home meet of the season. Heading into the final week, the Mules moved up one spot to ninth in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associations rankings. The Mules are the second highest MIAA team in the rankings behind sixth-ranked Lincoln.

Six Mules athletes rank in the top 10 nationally of their respective events. Nathan Liby is second in the hammer throw after launching a personal-best 222-9 at the Mules Relays. Jan Jansky ranks second in the pole vault with Vincent Hobbie close behind in sixth. Jesse Miller’s clearing of 6-11 in the high jump at the Mules Relays puts him in ninth. Dalton Lewallen sits at ninth in the shot-put and Nathan Cummings cracked the top 10 at 10th in the discus.

The Mules and Jennies teams will split for two events this week. UCM will send athletes to the 110th edition of the Drake Relays and the PSU Wendy’s Tune-Up. AFTER, continued from Page 12 If you are a fan of the novel, (or going back even further — the fanfiction), the film might be a major disappointment for you. However, there are some rewarding scenes that made it a decent film overall, such as some adorable moments where Scott is being a true, perfect boyfriend. There is also a lot of diversity within the cast, something that the novel failed to deliver before.

Even with those rewarding scenes and diverse characters, you might still walk out of the theater feeling like something in the film is missing.

Hardin Scott was truly the most elaborate and complicated character in “After,” and it’s a shame to see the film missing out on the complexity of the original.

Sports Updates

The Drake Relays is scheduled to run from Thursday to Saturday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Wendy’s Tune-Up is a one-day event scheduled for Friday at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Mules baseball take 2 of 3 from Bearcats Baseball capped a seven-game homestand over the weekend in a three-game series with Northwest Missouri State. The Mules dropped a thriller in the opening game that lasted 10 innings before taking the final two games.

A seven-run Mules comeback in the eighth and ninth innings tied game one at 10 and forced extra innings. The Bearcats responded to the Mules outburst by scoring the go-ahead run in the 10th. In game two, the Mules trailed 7-3 by the midway point but put up six runs across the final three innings, including a walk-off home run from first baseman Cole Taylor, to seal it.

Game three saw the Mules take control early with two runs in the first and third innings before the Bearcats scored three of their own in the forth. A three-run seventh inning allowed the Mules to pull away and pick up their 28th win of the season.

Right fielder Erik Webb went 5/12 with 6 RBIs in the Bearcats series and leads the team in batting average (.423) and RBIs this season. Center fielder Mason Janvrin went 6/13 with 4 RBIs. The junior is hitting .409 and has played in every game this season.

The Mules traveled to Liberty, Missouri, Wednesday to face William Jewell in a midweek out-of-conference matchup. Results from the game were not available by press time.

With the regular season winding down, the Mules will begin their second to last series of the season at home this weekend against Fort Hays State at Crane Stadium/ Tompkins Field. Game one is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday. Game two’s first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.

13

Jennies sweep Bearcats in midweek softball doubleheader

six seniors in their final home games. Game one is scheduled to begin at noon Saturday with game two following at 2 p.m.

Jennies softball picked up their 30th and 31st wins of the season Tuesday in a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Missouri State. The Jennies won game one 10-9 and game two 10-4.

The Jennies fell behind early in game one after the Bearcats tallied four runs in the third inning followed by single runs in the fourth and fifth. A three-run fifth inning fueled by run-scoring hits from Mackenzie McAtee and center fielder Lauryn Deer cut the deficit to 6-3.

McAtee hit her fifth home run of the season to pull the Jennies within one in the sixth inning. The Jennies tacked on two more in the sixth to lead 7-6. Northwest responded with a three-run inning of its own to take the lead back to 9-7. McAtee picked up her third and fourth RBIs of the game on a single that tied the game, then advanced to score the go-ahead run on an error. Alexa Bradley pitched the final inning, allowing one baserunner before sitting down the next three to earn her 11th win of the season.

Both teams were relatively quiet through the first five innings of game two with the Jennies holding a 3-2 lead. The Jennies went to work in the sixth inning with two two-run home runs off the bats of second baseman Alexis Koop and shortstop Kaitlyn Markin. Three more runs scored in the sixth for the Jennies to give them a 10-3 lead. Northwest tacked one on the bottom of the seventh before bowing out.

Deer picked up four hits between the two games and is hitting .356 on the season.

McAtee went 4/6 in the doubleheader and has raised her season average to .311.

The remaining four games in the regular season for the Jennies are all scheduled for home at the South Recreational Complex.

Friday, the Jennies will host Lincoln in a doubleheader with first pitch of game one scheduled for 3 p.m. with game two following at 5 p.m.

The Jennies final series of the season is against Lindenwood and will also celebrate

Jennies earn program best finish in conference golf tournament Jennies golf made program history again this season with its best postseason finish in team history. The Jennies earned a second-place finish Wednesday at the MIAA Championship at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta, Kansas.

Northeastern State led the field after the first round with the Jennies on their heels four strokes behind. Freshman Rosie Klausner led individual scorers and shot one-under par in the opening round. Junior Olivia Sobaski ended Day One in a tie for fourth place.

Klausner forfeited her lead to Missouri Western’s Shi Qing Ong in round two and finished the day one stroke behind in second. Sobaski pulled out of her fourthplace tie into sole possession of third place.

Her score of 147 through two rounds trails Klausner by one and Qing Ong by two.

The rest of the Jennies team shot well on Day Two as they put up the lowest round score for a team so far at 296, bringing their total score to 600. The four-stroke deficit to Northeastern State turned into a nine-stroke lead. The gap got even bigger behind the Riverhawks — who were at 609 — with Nebraska-Kearney being the next closest team in third with a score of 623.

In the final round, the Jennies struggled to protect their lead and succumbed to eventual-winner Northeastern State.

Klausner shot five-over par in round three and finished in sixth place with a final score of 223. Sobaski was one stroke ahead of Klausner, placing tied for third with a three round score of 222.

The Jennies are scheduled to continue their postseason play at the NCAA Central Region Championship. The three-day event is scheduled for May 6-8 at Muskogee Country Club in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

14 CENTRAL SCOOP

This Week 25 THURS.

26 FRI.

Union Cinema Movie: “Isn’t It Romantic” 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | Union Cinema Nav Night sponsored by the Navigators 8 p.m. | Alumni Memorial Chapel Red and Black spring game

7 p.m | Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field

Jennies softball vs. Lincoln 3 p.m. | South Recreational Complex/Jennies Field Union Cinema Movie: “Isn’t It Romantic” 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | Union Cinema Mules baseball vs. Fort Hays State 6 p.m. | Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field

27 SAT.

Jennies softball vs. Lindenwood Noon | South Recreational Complex/Jennies Field Mules baseball vs. Fort Hays State 2 p.m. | Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field Union Cinema Movie: “Isn’t It Romantic” 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. | Union Cinema

28 SUN.

Mules baseball vs. Fort Hays State 1 p.m. | Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field

29

Stop & Serve: Paws-4-Autism 11 a.m. | Union Mall

30

Dinner & Worship: BSU 6 p.m. | 302 S. College St.

MON.

TUE.

1

WED.

DIG Worship: Christian Campus House 7:30 p.m. | 211 S. Maguire St.

Sudoku

CENTRAL SCOOP 15

The Muleskinner

04-11-2019

Food truck festival returns

Sudoku

Sudoku 2

04-25-2019

5

Difficulty Level: Puzzle by Hang Chen and Curtis Cooper

4 2

8 7

Difficulty Level:

Puzzle byAND Hang ChenCOOPER and Curti

BY HANG CHEN CURTIS

7

3

8 3 4 6 3 7 5 8 5 4 6 1 9

Sudoku is a number-placement puzzle that 3 8 9 consists of 9x9 squares. The objective is to fill Photo by Seth Franz/Foreach the Muleskinner each blank square so that each row, UCM welcomed back local food truck vendors for the second column, and each of the nine 3x3 blocks contain the numbers from 1 to 9 one year. On April 17, the trucks parked along Missouri Street SOLUTION FROM time outside of the each.

JCK Library and offered a variety of food.

APRIL 11-24

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Sudoku solution:

Change into spring fashion!

6 4 8 3 MAY 7 9 1 2 3 8 5 7 4 6 2 1

2

2 1 5 4 9 6 7 3

Scan me with your QR code reader...

9 7 5 3 1 8 2 6 4 9 5 7 1 8 3 4 6 2 6 3Our 7 next 5 8 issue 9 will be 5 4 available 2 6 7 1online at: 8 1 9 2 4 3 3digitalBURG.com 9 1 8 2 5 4 5 8 7 9 6

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Sudoku is a number-placement consists of 9x9 squares. The objec each blank square so that each row column, and each of the nine 3x3 b time each.

Difficulty:

Sudoku solution:

4

7 8 2 9 1 3 6 4 5

4 1 3 5 6 2 7 8 9

9 6 5 7 8 4 2 3 1

1 9 4 3 5 6 8 7 2

2 5 8 1 4 7 3 9 6

3 7 6 2 9 8 5 1 4

5 3 7 4 2 9 1 6 8

6 4 1 8 3 5 9 2 7

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