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• Vol. 115 • Issue 2 • Sept. 22, 2021
University Extends Indoor Mask Mandate TRIO Services
Offered Through Other On-Campus Organizations
MATTHEW GOLDSMITH News Editor
The University of Central Missouri announced on Sept. 15 that the university’s face coverings requirement, which began on Aug. 9, would be extended. Face coverings are required in all university buildings, regardless of vaccination status. The administration will review this requirement and provide another update no later than Oct. 14. As of Sept. 17, UCM had 17 active student cases and one active faculty/staff case. At this time last year, UCM reported 73 student cases and 3 faculty/staff cases. Tré Kendall, senior design and drafting major, said most of his classes have remained in person during COVID-19 and his major classes, which involve a lot of computer lab work, have been able to effectively social distance. Kendall said he doesn’t think UCM should have a mask mandate. “I feel like they’re probably just being on the cautious side, but even since the end of last spring semester, I haven’t heard any news about COVID on campus,” Kendall said. “From what I’ve heard this semester, the numbers have been pretty dang low. So, it’s kind of a shame to hear that they extended that, but at the same time I’m not very surprised.”
OLIVIA GIBBS Reporter
As of Sept. 17, the University of Central Missouri had 17 active student cases and 1 active faculty/staff case. Case numbers have reached highs of 30 student cases and 6 faculty/staff cases this semester. The above graph plots the number of student and faculty/staff cases since the beginning of the fall semester. Graphic by Bethany Spitzmiller
Senior communication studies major Summer Payton said that, besides the spring 2020 semester, her learning experience mostly has been unaffected by COVID-19. Payton said she disagrees with the university’s decision to extend the mandate. “I don’t really think we should have a mask mandate, especially if you’re vaccinated, and I just feel like you learn a lot better with the non-verbal cues of facial expressions,” Payton said. UCM President Roger Best said
the university decided to extend the face covering because it seems to be working, specifically mentioning the low number of cases compared to other Missouri institutions and last year’s numbers. Best said that the UCM community’s actions have helped lead to lower rates. “It’s a point of pride for me because I know that our students, faculty and staff are taking everything seriously, and they are doing things that promote their own health and well-being, which is critical,” Best said.
Black Students Take Action Against Racial Slur on Campus
MICHAEL LEWIS Reporter
Thursday, Sept. 16, some University of Central Missouri students saw a racial slur written on the free speech wall set up by the American Democracy Project. According to the ADP, the free speech wall was set up Thursday at about 8:00 a.m. with the intent to provide a space for free speech on campus.
In response to the slur, the Association of Black Collegians organized black students and hosted a sit-in during the university president’s State of the University Address in the W.C. Morris Science Building Nahm Auditorium with the goal being to get his attention. During the president’s address, UCM President Roger Best updated the campus community on the current status and future direction of the university.
The students sat in the front row, attempting to get Best to notice and speak on the issue that happened that day. After the address, Best invited the students to have a discussion about the problems and frustrations students felt about what they witnessed that day. The Muleskinner will continue to cover this topic in our next edition. If you would like to speak with a reporter please email the Managing Editor at muleskinner@ucmo.edu.
International Student Enrollment Increased
GINA CUSIMANO Reporter
Although international student enrollment had dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 782 students in fall 2019 and 621 students during fall 2020, international student enrollment has increased this semester, and the students are adjusting to life in the United States at the University of Central Missouri.
The International Student Organization at the University of Central Missouri gathers for a game night. Photo submitted by Sarvesh Patel
Emily de Melo, assistant director of international student services, said that 1,427 international students have enrolled this fall. “During the COVID times, they were having trouble getting here without visas, and so now things are opening up again, they’re able to get visas,” de Melo said. “We are definitely seeing more students now than last year. In fact, we are seeing more of an increase because we’re seeing students who wanted to be here last year and the ones who were already planning to come this year.” Sonal Jha, freshman business studies major from Nepal, recently settled in Warrensburg. She said that she chose UCM because it’s a small school and her main objective is to get a degree. “As an international student, my main priority is to get a degree,” Jha said. “So, I chose Warrensburg because it’s not a big city, and it has limited distractions.” Jha said she loves the people of Warrensburg and feels that she can
talk to anyone of any age. “In our country, they are separated by age group and everyone treats everyone differently, but here I realized that everyone is treated equally.” She said, “Professors talk to us like a friend.” Prince Haykal, senior psychology major, is from Indonesia and said UCM is the perfect size for him. “It’s not too big, not too small, and it’s the right amount of people where I’m not overwhelmed,” Haykal said. Haykal said that his father graduated from UCM, and he wanted to go to school here and experience college life in the United States. “I like the faculty,” Haykal said. “I like how they like to show off the student and faculty relationship, because I think they’re right about that.” Sarvesh Patel is a senior automotive technology major from India who chose Missouri because his family members live in different states throughout the U.S. JUMP TO PAGE 2
The program formerly known as TRIO-Student Support Services will not be on campus for the 20212022 academic school year and the foreseeable future. TRIO has been on UCM’s campus for over 40 years because of a government-issued grant that could be renewed every five years. This year, however, UCM did not receive approval for the grant. TRIO offered support to approximately 200 undergraduate students on campus, including firstgeneration college students, students needing financial aid information, students looking to apply for jobs and internships, and students who needed general guidance through college. “I was upset when TRIO was removed, because my advisor really helped me figure out what I was doing,” junior social work major Kasey Hinkebein said. “I’m a first generation college student and had no idea what was going on, but my advisor would help me with literally anything that I needed.” Randall Langston, executive vice provost for enrollment engagement, said that while TRIO won’t meet as a student organization, services provided by TRIO will be displaced throughout organizations on campus. “We decided to reinvest … all the major services already being provided by TRIO, and we decided to augment that with additional funding going to the Success Advising Center and hiring additional student mentors who are going to work with our students,” Langston said. Andrew Jinkens, interim manager of academic support services, agreed that the Success Advising Center will play a large role in replacing services previously offered by TRIO. Jinkens said the Learning Commons, located in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, will support former TRIO students as well. “I always hope to see more students in the Learning Commons, of course,” Jinkens said. “We seek to be that kind of space on campus where students can come not only for academic support, but for university support. We are more than happy to be that space.” Langston said the university plans to reapply for the grant in the future, but that will not be for roughly four more years. “We are very deeply committed to our students who were previously in TRIO,” Langston said. “We feel that TRIO is a tremendous program, and we want to continue to provide that support for our students as they continue through their educational journey at UCM.”