Northwest Missourian Nov. 16, 2023

CON V ERGING CA MPUS & COMMUNIT Y

NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

MARYVILLE, MISSOURI

NWMISSOURINEWS.COM

VOL. 112, NO. 13

@THEMISSOURIAN

CONSTRUCTION

CONTINUES

ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

The rubble that was once the Thompson-Ringold Building now sits behind Wells Hall Nov. 14. This is the third building that has been demolished as a part of the multi-year Facility Services Master Plan, and they hope to have the demolition cleared before the end of the calendar year.

Multi-year demolition projects proceed

T

HANNAH CLAYWELL News Editor | @Hannah_9504

he Thompson-Ringold Building that once stood next to the John C. Redden Jr. Power Plant is nearly torn down after starting demolition Oct. 26.

This is a part of the multi-year plan, the Facility Services Master Plan, Northwest has in place to address old buildings that need to be torn down.

The plan included Phillips Hall and North Complex, which both have been leveled. Assistant Vice President of Facility Services Dan Haslag has been a part of this multi-year process.

“It has been a multi-year plan to relocate the functions from the building and ultimately demolish the structure,” Haslag said in an email to The Missourian.

The last function of the Thomspon-Ringold Building was system management for agriculture and manufacturing, which has been moved to the recently renovated McKemy Center for Lifelong Learning.

The building originally began as a place for the industrial arts program, though the pro-

gram was eliminated in the 1990s. The building has been used for a variety of things since then, like temporary placements for staff offices and departments. Most recently it has been used for the mailing and printing services and the Regional Professional Development Center.

“The plan is to have the building demolished and site cleared by the end of the calendar year,” Haslag said.

The planning process for deciding to take down a building takes a lot of work and communication. Haslag said there has to be developed detailed project specifications, contractors in accordance to the University’s procurement guidelines have to be secured and then prepare the site for demolition. Preparing the site includes putting up perimeter fences, removing universal and/or hazardous materials and clearing and capping utilities.

Haslag said that all universal and hazardous waste, like the asbestos in the building, was removed prior to demolition, so nobody has to worry about anything being in the air during the demolition process. A lot of safety measures are put into place to ensure that nothing dangerous is exposed to or happens to anyone.

“

The plan is to have the building demolished and site cleared by the end of the calendar year.”

DAN HASLAG ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF FACILITY SERVICES

SEE DEMOLITION | A4

Presentation to be held for interactive education on horse therapy

Preschool program considers free full-day amenities ANNA BAILEY News Reporter | @AmBailey16

DAKOTA OSWALT News Reporter | @doswalt_NWMSRN

The Ploghoft Diversity Lecture will bring in Northwest graduate student Jordanne Decker, along with two horses, for an interactive presentation Nov. 16. Decker is with Helping Hands and Horses, an organization for people with disabilities.

Northwest’s Ploghoft Diversity Lecture series is funded by the late Milton Ploghoft, a Northwest alumnus, and his wife, Zella Ploghoft. Its purpose is to broaden the educational perspectives of future teachers at Northwest, as well as informing students on issues in education, particularly centered around diversity.

Northwest’s School of Education Associate Professor David Kiene said it’s important for an educator to be aware of the many different types of cultures they may encounter.

“Milton and Zella knew how important it was to have a multicultural perspective, (and) as an educator to be culturally competent when you’re dealing with students,” Kiene said. “We’ve had so many presentations that deal with different cultures of students. We always try to find something that

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1914.

of his graduate students, Decker, explained to him how she volunteers with Helping Hands and Horses.

Parents in the NodawayHolt RV-III School District are struggling to transport their children throughout the day as preschool is only offered for half the day. The school district is working on a solution.

As of now, preschool is in the afternoon, meaning parents drop their children off in the morning to Head Start, and then have to pick them up and take them to the Nodaway-Holt preschool in the afternoon.

Head Start is a federal program that offers early learning and development services to children ages birth to 5 years old. A family is eligible for Head Start when its household income is below or at the poverty level. However, Head Start has provided services to some families whose income is just above the poverty level.

SEE HORSES | A4

SEE PRESCHOOL | A4

ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

Horses from The Bleu Barn will be helping the Ploghoft Diversity Lecture put on the Helping Hands and Horses event for an interactive lecture with Northwest Graduate student Jordanne Decker Nov. 16.

may reach into a different aspect than we have before.”

Kiene helps find people to come in and give lectures for the Ploghoft series, and he noticed a lack of agriculture-related lecture topics. He has wanted to bring in someone with an agriculture-related topic ever since.

Two years ago, he first had the thought of bringing in a speaker who uses animals as part of education or animals for therapy with special needs students.

“Being in the Northwest area, ag is very important,” Kiene said. “We have a lot of agricultural education students that we would like to support.”

Kiene was not having much luck until one

UP NEXT Helping Hands and Horses Ploghoff Diversity Lecture 4 p.m. Nov. 16 Between Bearcat Softball Field and Wellness Center

PLEASE

RECYCLE

Nov. 16, 2023 @TheMissourian

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NEWS

AARON HARE PHOTOGRAPHER

Blaine’s Cake Creations co-owner Blaine Martin talks with customers at its booth during the Taste of Northwest Agriculture Market Nov. 11. Blaine runs the business out of Amity, Missouri.

Market allows businesses to promote products, ideas RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @RaieaS

Local businesses and farms showcased their creatively-made goods and hard work for feedback and advertisement Nov. 11 at Northwest’s Agricultural Learning Center.

The Taste of Northwest Agriculture Market collaborated with the School of Agricultural Sciences and the Missouri Agriculture Food and Forestry Innovation Center. The event allowed local businesses to promote their products, ideas and gain relationships with potential buyers.

Those who attended ranged from families, students and teachers in the area. When tasting food, everyone was encouraged to give feedback and rate the products. The market welcomed businesses and farms around the Maryville area to showcase their food.

Trucker’s Delight, LLC “Kettlecorn on the go” and Law Farms LLC sell kettle corn. Trucker Delight LLC is from Gower, Missouri, and also sells pork rinds and flavored popcorn. Law Farms LLC sells flavored corn all year long.

Sarah Hixson, part owner of Trucker’s Delight, LLC with Josh Wiederholt, loved the fun atmosphere of the event and enjoyed allowing others to taste their food.

“It’s been very fun to visit,” Hixson said. “They give us a little bit of feedback and review from letting them try things. It’s been a very fun event.”

There were 14 stands at the event, each proposing and presenting different varieties of food. Some stands used all-natural herbs for their food, like Berries on the Bluff. The business is owned by Linda Gocken.

“It’s been a joy being here today and meeting people that are trying some of our goods,” Gocken said.

“It’s fun letting others experience the variety that we have.”

Some businesses promoted the importance of all naturally grown flowers and food. Sunset Hill Farms LLC, sells flowers, pro-

duce and jellies, and is owned by Krista and Chris Strueby.

Flowers sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals can kill off necessary bugs and components of plants can kill off flowers.

Gordie’s Heirlooms also believes in the use of naturally-grown agriculture without the use of pesticides or insecticides. Dean Pierson, owner of Gordie’s Heirlooms, loved the venue to interact with customers.

Flower and Forged Farms also grow flowers. Owner Mandy Herron grows flowers for the community and enjoys seeing the joy it brings and the relationships it brings together.

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vendors in attendance at the Taste of Northwest Agriculture Market.

“I think this is a really great opportunity,” Herron said. “Not only to get feedback from our customers but to expose to the public what we do and why we do it.”

As well as unsprayed flowers, Purple Onion Flower Shop sells goods with unbleached flour. Owner Patrick Garrison loves to sell baked goods that are as natural as possible.

The common theme within the farms and businesses was the importance of free range, no spray and all-natural resources for their products. Free-range chickens have been subsided with great benefits, such as gaining more exercise for protein buildup.

Falling Arrow Farms, owned by Justin and Katherine Fager, believe in the importance of freerange chickens.

“We want to make awareness of store-bought and farm fresh food,” Katherine Fager said.

The organic theme ran true with all 14 stands at the event. Produce grown naturally with organic practices is a theme for Fair Share Farm.

Its motto is “Feed the soil, feed the people.” Tom Ruggieri and Rebecca Graff own the farm.

“We are really happy to be here,” Graff said. “It’s great that this event is put on to highlight agriculture producers.”

The Berry Nutty Farm sells jellies and spreads of apple, blackberry and bourbon apricot. Andrea Schnetzler, co-owner of the farm, was excited to be back at Northwest and see the agricultural department.

“It is great to see how the agricultural department has grown in the past 20 years,” Schnetzler said.

Odd Bird Farm sells pork, mainly from the Meishan pig. Meishan pigs are Chinese and resistant to some diseases more than other breeds and mature quickly, according to The Pig Site. Jonathan Kemmerer, owner of Odd Bird Farm, highlights the importance of raising awareness of the endangered Meishan pig.

Preservation of grown produce and animals is an important message for these farmers. The awareness of preserving endangered or poorly-maintained goods ran true with multiple stands at the event.

Grains grown from R/Farm Distillery produced high-quality spirits. Ashley Rosier, brand builder and marketing director for the distillery, enjoyed the experience and opportunity to promote.

Blaine’s Cake Creations in Amity, Missouri, and Five Sisters Bakery in Maryville take orders online. Five Sisters Bakery is newly established this year. Both bakeries create cookies, cakes and cupcakes. Katie and Blaine Martin own Blaine’s Cake Creations.

All of the businesses that attended appreciated the venue for the variety of customers and crowds. Each business stressed the importance of naturally-grown fresh foods and showcased it with their creations.

AARON HARE PHOTOGRAPHER

Berries on the Bluff, located in Mound City, Missouri, representative Linda Gocken sells jellies, butters and shortbread out of its booth.

AARON HARE PHOTOGRAPHER

Fair Share Farm owner Rebecca Graff talks to a customer about organic fruits and vegetables during the Taste of Northwest Agriculture Market.

16, 2023 NEWS Nov. @TheMissourian

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ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest senior instructor Jason Offutt sits in his office in Wells Hall setting up his time machine on his desk Nov. 14. Offutt purchased the time machine through the department from a man in Kansas who makes and sells them.

ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

Northwest senior instructor Jason Offutt talks to his ethnographic film study class about the next horror movie it will be watching and analyzing Nov. 8.

Instructor, author explores supernatural

DAKOTA OSWALT News Reporter | @doswalt_NWMSRN

Fairies exist, and Thomas Cavanaugh’s experiences with one during his troubled childhood led to his placement in psychiatric care.

At least, that’s the plot of Northwest School of Communication and Mass Media senior instructor Jason Offutt’s latest horror fiction novel, “The Girl in the Corn.”

Offutt has published many books like, “What Lurks Beyond,” “Darkness Walks,” “Chasing American Monsters,” “Haunted Missouri,” “Paranormal Missouri” and various others, all themed around paranormal activity, alien existence and American folklore.

“I did lots of research,” Offutt said. “I went to places where people allegedly saw ghosts or a UFO. I had some weird things happen to me that I can’t explain, which was really cool.”

Offutt has always had a passion for writing. He wanted to use his talents by becoming an English teacher, but his own English teacher discouraged him. Instead, he majored in broadcasting, which led to other aspects of mass media.

While working at a newspaper, Offutt’s editor asked him if he could write a column. Offutt began writing humor columns in 1991 which went on to win a lot of awards before he stopped writing it in 2020.

An acclaimed writer, novelist and columnist are accomplishments not many people receive in their lifetime. Offutt has been those things and more, and people are often astonished when they find out he has also starred on many television shows while teaching at Northwest.

He has been in episodes of “Monsters and Mysteries of America,” “The Dead Files” and “Mysteries at our National Parks,” to name a few.

Similar to his novels, Offutt’s on-screen appearances can all be linked to one common motif – the supernatural.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIANNA LAWRENCE ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

His first supernatural encounter happened when he was around 8 or 9 years old. He saw a little boy with brown hair, jeans and a blue flannel shirt.

The kicker – he lived on a farm six miles out of town in the middle of nowhere.

“We stared at each other,” Offutt said. “It could have been two minutes, it could have two seconds. I don't know. But he blinked eventually, and that broke my shock, and I turned around and went to the bedroom and shut the door.”

Several years ago, Offutt taught a paranormal journalism class. He and his students, along with the mass media department’s television and video engineer William Murphy, went to the Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa, to talk to ghosts. In 1912, eight people, consisting of two adults and six children, were brutally murdered in the home.

Murphy and his technical background came in handy on these “adventures” because he provides a voice of reasoning.

Murphy brought equipment along that can show where the force of electricity is highest.

Things have happened in Murphy’s experience that do not

have a logical explanation behind them.

On that trip, Murphy remembers having a couple of experiences that did not have reasonable explanations behind them.

In one instance, the group used an AM radio to scan the rooms in the house and look for electricity readings.

The device repeated the sounds of static until a student asked “Is there somebody in this room with us?” and Murphy said the device incredibly clearly said, “Boyd.” Boyd Moore was 7 years old when he was killed in the Villisca Axe Murders.

“Coincidence is also a thing,” Murphy said. “But there were enough events like that, and I'm also not just the doubter. We've never been able to explain some of those phenomena.”

Offutt once purchased a time machine through the mass media department. One day, a man from Kansas passed out in his bathroom, where he said a spirit came to him with instructions on how to build a time machine, which he now makes and sells.

He would not sell his time machine to Offutt because he thought he would try to debunk it, which is exactly what he was trying to do.

As it turns out, the time ma-

chine does not work, but it is on display in Offutt’s office.

“The instructions say, when you're using the machine, it takes three minutes for it to start working,” Offutt said. “So using it, did I go forward in time? Yes. Three minutes.”

“

If I'm able to do the things that I've done, it’s because I've worked hard at it.

I was able to do it, and, if I can do it, you guys can do it, too.”

JASON OFFUTT

COMMUNICATION AND MASS MEDIA SENIOR INSTRUCTOR

Something Offutt wants readers to take away from his novels is entertainment. He said he considers himself a storyteller and strives to tell other peo-

ple’s stories.

Being an instructor, Offutt has become an inspiration for many students. Senior Kayla Holman credits Offutt as being the most impactful person she has met at Northwest.

Holman, a multimedia journalism major, first met Offutt as a sophomore. She has taken three classes of his, including photojournalism, reporting and opinion writing. The most memorable class she took was reporting because Offutt helped her realize she was a good writer.

“We wrote enterprise stories, and I live in Des Moines, so I wrote one about a sneaker drive,” Holman said. “He was like, ‘This story’s amazing,’ and he wanted me to send it to the Des Moines Register. That is why I'm a communication assistant now.”

Holman loved his classes because he shows his students what it’s like to work hard and remain dedicated to something.

The students also see how much he loves his profession and how he lights up when someone talks about his accomplishments.

“He's remained in love with journalism throughout all these years,” Holman said. “It's inspiring to see that someone is still so active within their profession.”

Holman, who describes herself as a perfectionist, appreciates how honest and genuine Offutt is in the classroom.

“He always tells me, ‘You're not perfect, but you're going to get better every day,’” Holman said. “That’s kind of some advice that he’s given me, and I remember that every time I’m hard on myself — that I can do better.”

Overall, Offutt said he wants people to know they can accomplish many things as long as they work hard for it.

“I've always wanted to be on TV,” Offutt said. “Since I was 10, I wanted to write books. I want people to know, if you want something, go do it. If I'm able to do the things that I've done, it’s because I've worked hard at it. I was able to do it, and, if I can do it, you guys can do it, too.”

Nov. 16, 2023 @TheMissourian

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NEWS

CRIME LOG Student for the week of Nov. 16 Northwest Missouri State University Police Department Nov. 13 There is a closed investigation for a vehicle accident between Jason Wright, 20, and George Moore, 21, in Parking Lot 30.

Nov. 12 There is a closed investigation for a peace disturbance with Ryan Feez, 21, in Franken Hall.

There is a closed investigation for Charles J. Wehner, 19, driving while intoxicated on University Drive.

Nov. 8 There is a closed investigation for a liquor law violation in The Station.

There is an open investigation for ex parte child protection.

MORE INFORMATION

University Police Chief Clarence Green said in an email to The Missourian a student reported they received a phone call from a person that they have a restraining order against.

Information was shared with the jurisdiction of origin.

Nov. 7 There is an open investigation for invasion of privacy in Dieterich Hall.

MORE INFORMATION

University Police Chief Clarence Green said in an email to The Missourian a student reported they believed someone was filming them while they were in the shower. Persons of interest were located, and no evidence of photos or videos have been discovered.

Maryville Department of Public Safety

Nov. 13 There was a warning issued for trespassing on the 100 block of South Vine Street.

Nov. 11 There is an ongoing investigation for assault on the 200 block of West Twelfth Street.

Nov. 9 There was an accident between Lindsay C. Maurer, 19, and Karlie L. West, 20, on the 100 block of South Main Street.

There was an accident between Angel C. Burris, 19, and Rahul R. Suravarapu, 25, on the 2000 block of South Main Street. Suravarapu was charged with failure to maintain financial responsibility.

Nov. 8 There is an ongoing investigation for domestic disturbance on the 500 block of East First Street.

Nov. 7 There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 600 block of West Second Street.

There was a summons issued to Lane M. Reidlinger, 26, for driving while suspended on the 100 block of West Ninth Street.

Senate approves bylaw changes DAKOTA OSWALT News Reporter | @doswalt_NWMSRN

After working all semester to amend bylaws, the Student Senate voted to pass a final cosponsorship bylaw at its Nov. 14 meeting after tabling it for four consecutive meetings.

The proposed bylaw would allow Senate to co-sponsor Northwest departments along with organizations. This would come out of a $2,000 co-sponsorship budget.

This was tabled at the Nov. 7 meeting because Senators expressed concerns about the bylaw not having a monetary cap.

Treasurer Abby Linhart has since amended the wording to include a $500 cap and proposed it. After the proposal, Senate members voted to make the bylaw official.

Civil Service Co-Chair Callie Spunaugle hosted a civic service event at the meeting, where Senators were able to write thank you cards for Northwest teachers and faculty that have impacted them.

Occasionally, Senators have the chance to participate in “Senate Bonding” before their meetings.

Student Affairs Co-Chair McKenna Grimmer said she wants to change the name to “Senate Social” because she does not want the

HORSES

CONTINUED FROM A1 Helping Hands and Horses, located in Festus, Missouri, is a nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship organization that serves adults and children with disabilities. It offers horseback riding programs, a Special Olympic Equestrian Program and a Veterans Program.

“

I’ve seen riders take their first steps, speak their first words” JORDANNE DECKER SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

Decker is a special education teacher in an autism classroom at Festus Elementary School. This is just her second year of teaching, but she has volunteered with Helping Hands and Horses since 2014, her eighth-grade year.

“I was at a Catholic grade school, and in eighth grade, you typically get your confirmation,” Decker said. “To get my confirmation, I needed service hours, so I decided to start volunteering.”

Before Decker started volunteering with Helping Hands and Horses, she said she had no idea what she wanted to be when she

ONKARABETSE KOIKANYANG PHOTOGRAPHER

On Campus Representative Keira Brown and Alora Bucey write letters of appreciation to a family member. The Student Senate Civic Service Committee encourages Senate members to appreciate important people in their life.

events to be exclusive to Senators.

“We want you guys to be able to bring your friends and people on campus who might be interested in knowing a little bit more about Senate,” Grimmer said. “They’re always welcome to come.”

Senate voted to swear in new representatives. Junior Sal Bonadonna will represent the Interfraternity Council as its president. Junior Karinne Howell is the new Panhellenic representative as its vice president of community standards.

Morgan Jaeger, president of Alternative Spring Break, requested $2,000 from Senate so the group could go to Florida and serve in areas that were recently struck by hurricanes and tsunamis. The group went to Florida last year as well, where it participated in shoreline cleanups and held food drives since many crops were destroyed in the natural disasters.

Although ASB only goes on grew up. As she started her work there, she realized she wanted to be a special education teacher and help people with disabilities.

Decker said being a part of the organization has impacted her, but she also loves watching it impact other people.

“I’ve seen riders take their first steps, speak their first words,” Decker said. “A lot of our riders come in with a lot of fine motor needs and aren’t able to hold the horse’s reins, but, after they ride with us, are able to pick up the reins and even start steering the horse. A lot of our riders are paralyzed from the waist down, so they learn to ride the horse with pressure from their hands.”

Decker said it’s important for students to come to the lecture because it can broaden their perspectives on special education and show them how different techniques are used.

She also wants to show students how therapeutic horsemanship uses equines to bond with people and build up their confidence as they ride the horses.

“I’m really excited to share what we do at Helping Hands and Horses,” Decker said. “It’s exciting to get to spread the word about what we do, and hopefully people will take it and maybe even start their own organization like ours.”

The lecture will be at 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 16, and it will take place outdoors between the Bearcat Softball Field and the Wellness Center. It is open to the public.

these service trips for one week each year, Jaeger said it leaves a lasting impact in the communities in which it serves.

“They send us updates of how our services impacted people,” Jaeger said. “We encourage our students and our members to really broaden their horizons when it comes to service projects.”

The Senate’s bylaws cap the amount of money an organization is allowed to ask for at $1,500.

This can be amended more or less in each individual circumstance.

Members of the Senate voted to amend the amount of money recommended to $2,000. Then, they voted to give the money to Alternative Spring Break.

National Theatre Honor Society Alpha Psi Omega requested money for its Children’s Show Production, 20-minute shows that travel to various elementary schools across Missouri, Iowa and now Nebraska.

Alpha Psi Omega President Shelby Chestnut said the show is a great learning opportunity for all people. That is why this year the organization has doubled the number of shows it puts on.

“This year we realized that there were so many communities in our area that were missing out,” Chestnut said. “We are reaching out to our more rural communities, but we are also connecting with city schools.”

The Senate appropriated the requested $800 to Alpha Psi Omega.

Panhellenic Representative Carmen Perdew’s term has ended, so she gave the Senate’s inspirational message at the end of the meeting. She encouraged students to support small businesses and relax as finals week approaches.

“If you’re anything like me, you need to sit away from school and stuff,” Perdew said. “Let’s think about doing some retail therapy.”

ALLISON DUARTE PHOTOGRAPHER

Nodaway-Holt RV-III Elementary School is outfitted with two full playsets behind the building for all of its students to enjoy.

PRESCHOOL

CONTINUED FROM A1 Superintendent of the Nodaway-Holt RV-III School District Mike Hollingsworth has been working to implement a full-day preschool so it is easier for families who struggle to transport their children halfway through the day.

“We have some families that don’t qualify for Head Start, but they are working full time,” Hollingsworth said. “Enabling them to bring in their kids for a full day helps with transportation, and the students are still getting an education.”

Hollingsworth first presented this idea to the school board where he expressed concern and asked for the board to look at some options. Since then, he came up with a financial plan where he estimated that adding the other half-day would cost around $44,000 as well as a onetime start-up fee of $16,500 that would be used for additional materials the school would need.

Within the plan Hollingsworth has been creating, himself and the board have talked about entertain-

DEMOLITION

CONTINUED FROM A1 “When it is determined that a facility’s physical condition is beyond economical repair, demolishing a campus building would be a recommendation from the University’s top leadership and ultimately approved by the Board of Regents,” Haslag said.

All of the plans have to be approved by the Board of Regents before being able to move forward, it is the final part of setting a plan in action.

Post-demolition includes the site clean-up and the project close-out. Haslag said the demolition remains on schedule. All of the recent building

ing a pre-kindergarten program.

The pre-kindergarten program would be offered to children ages 4-5. Within this program, children will learn skills that will allow them to be more prepared when they enter kindergarten.

Hollingsworth said the reason this program would not be offered until age 4 is due to the differences between ages 3 and 4.

The hope for this program is that it will start in the next upcoming school year. However, the plans are not yet set in place, and the board is still considering many aspects regarding Hollingsworth’s presentations.

In the next board meeting Nov. 16, Hollingsworth and the board will go over the results of a survey that was previously sent out to the community.

“We’re starting with pre-kindergarten right now, you never know what it will grow to, if it will grow into a preschool or not,” Hollingsworth said. “But starting out with a pre-kindergarten, if we get it passed and implemented for the next year, I think it will do wonders for our students.” demolitions are in alignment with the University’s Facilities Master Plan.

The demolition process is being livestreamed, just like it has been for all of the buildings that have been torn down since the summer.

As of now, the space the building previously occupied is going to be a green space. There are no plans for any new infrastructures at this time, but the University can decide to change that if it chooses to. As of now, there are no set plans for any of the empty spaces on campus.

All other buildings that have been demolished are completely taken down and there is no set timeline for anything to fill those green spaces as well.

16, 2023 OPINION Nov. @TheMissourian

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Glorifying disorders distorts self-image SOPHIE WILLIAMS Columnist @williams2sophie

It isn’t a trend, and it never should be. Glorification of mental illness on social media falsely romanticizes disorders and unhealthy behaviors.

Influencers posting content regarding their mental health is a great way to provide a platform and give advice to people struggling. Awareness surrounding mental health disorders is important, but certain posts can be harmful.

The hashtag #BPD on TikTok has 12 billion views, and if you scroll through the content, you see a variety of videos with captions talking about the symptoms of the disorder.

Some of them say “Signs that you might have BPD” and “You know you’re in a manic episode when you do this.”

An influencer’s experience with mental illness may resonate with their viewers, and they may begin to self-identify with the disorder, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Professional assessments with evidencebased measures are needed to correctly diagnose mental health disorders like BPD. Mental health professionals study these symptoms and have experience in diagnosing disorders. But people are scrolling through platforms such as TikTok and seeing influencers having these symptoms, and they start feeling themselves relate. It can then turn into obsessive scrolling and Googling and eventually self-diagnosing.

Endless scrolling through hashtags like #BPD can increase the number of times content like this will pop up on your feed. Repeatedly exposing yourself to this content can heighten emotional stress and lead to feelings of inadequacy and depression, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Don’t let yourself fall down the rabbit hole. And don’t be the person posting on social media, glorifying symptoms of a mental illness and the bad habits that come along with it. You don’t know who it might affect.

You might be glorifying illness and unhealthy behavior without even realizing it. If you post on X (formerly known as Twitter) about how you’ve had nothing but coffee all day, people may think it’s relatable and funny. But not many people think about how it isn’t normal to not eat all day.

It isn’t good for your physical and mental health, and it’s exposing unhealthy behavior that your peers may feel they relate to and, in turn, they glorify and dismiss it as well.

From scrolling through hashtags that consist of misleading content and viewers that self-diagnose based on that content to posting on your social media joking about bad habits — it’s all glorification of stuff that shouldn’t be glorified.

It’s OK to explore your options and resources online, but, please, seek help from a medical professional if you are struggling mentally. A proper diagnosis is critical in going forward with treatment and bettering your quality of life. Don’t let social media take that away.

HAILEY JOHNSON-NEESER CARTOONIST

Students should consider study abroad programs OUR VIEW:

Arguably one of the best parts of attending a university is having the opportunity to study abroad. Traveling to a different country, usually overseas, allows students to expand their horizons, immerse themselves in a new culture and learn a whole new way of life.

However, most students write off the option as impossible without giving it a chance. Broke college students see the words “study abroad” and either only see the price tag or get stuck in the American stereotype that all it means is skipping a semester of classes to party.

This is not the truth.

Students need to take advantage of study abroad opportunities because it could change their lives.

Americans tend to have an ethnocentric worldview, meaning the tendency to look at the world from the perspective of your own culture, but we should be challenging this mindset. Looking at the world from the belief that your lifestyle is the only way to live can lead to incorrect assumptions about other cultures and in extreme cases, racism.

It’s important to be open-minded to other cultures to prevent this, and

YOUR VIEW:

“Have you considered study abroad?”

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Design Editor Asst. Design Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor

(660) 562-1224 (660) 562-1635 nwmadv@nwmissouri.edu

CAROL GRACE RINER Junior Writing and Spanish

SCOTT BLANCHARD Freshman Psychology

SAMANTHA MURRAY Senior Graphic Design

“Yes, but I also have job stuff so it might not be convenient.”

“I haven’t really thought about it too much, mainly because of price and a lot of other stuff.”

“I have considered it just because I think it would be a cool opportunity and be a lot less money than just visiting.”

Your Bearcat uses girl math all the time

Girl math is my saving grace.

I have never felt more heard and seen as I did when I saw this TikTok trend start. All the small purchases I’ve made with nothing but a gut feeling felt validated.

Nothing makes me feel better about myself than buying an $8 Starbucks drink and a little snack, but because I used cash that means it’s actually free.

I firmly believe in the ideNEWS STAFF Steven Crosby Destiny Taylor Aidan Brockleman Raiea Salerno Dakota Oswalt Anna Bailey Allison Duarte Aaron Hare Onkarabetse Koikanyang Hailey Johnson-Neeser Noah Crowe

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sons students are wary about this kind of travel. The biggest hurdle most students face when attempting to study abroad is finances.

Going to college is expensive without adding studying abroad expenses, but Northwest offers options to make programs more affordable. For example, Northwest offers a tuition match for students to pay Northwest tuition instead of the tuition of the exchange program university.

On top of this, the amount of scholarships available is limitless. Each company offers its own scholarships, and on top of this if a student chooses to attend an exchange program, their Northwest scholarships will also transfer.

Gaining this valuable, life-changing experience is one of the best decisions a college student can make to better themselves. Whether it’s meeting new friends, learning a different language or engaging in different customs, studying abroad provides an edge to someone’s resume and can help shape them into a person they’re proud of.

It’s important to consider traveling abroad to truly have a wellrounded college education and be a well-rounded person.

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EDITORIAL BOARD Sidney Lowry Wesley Miller Hannah Claywell Savannah Athy-Sedbrook Julianna Lawrence Alexis Starks Sophie Williams

studying abroad is a way to do this.

By spending time living in a different country and experiencing a different lifestyle, you are able to see the world from a different perspective.

Learning about cultures outside your own is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a student. The average college student is between 18 to 34 years old, including graduate students; however, this is also the age range where they are discovering themselves and their preferred lifestyle.

Studying abroad helps with this process, allowing students to experience different religions, traditions and ways of life that they didn’t grow up with. International education can also lead to increased self-awareness, critical thinking or even work opportunities in the future. These skills gained by studying abroad can help increase someone’s tolerance and adaptability, an extremely important trait in today’s world.

College is a time for personal exploration and growth, and there’s no better way to challenge yourself than by going overseas to Europe, Asia or any other country for a semester to study, intern or volunteer.

This being said, there are still rea-

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als of girl math. If I use cash, it’s free. If I use a gift card, it’s free. If it’s on sale, I’m losing money if I don’t buy it.

If it’s less than $5, it doesn’t count as spending money. If I bought concert tickets a couple months ago, the concert on the day of is free. If I get free shipping, I have an extra $10 to spend. If something is BOGO 50% off, I am losing money if I

don’t get another one.

All the men in my life have been appalled by this way of thinking, but the women just get it. I think it’s something given to all of us at birth that people just get or they don’t.

I have made some of my worst financial decisions based on girl math, but I have not once felt bad about it. I think half of the things I own are unnecessary,

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but girl math told me I need everything, especially if it’s on sale.

If not, I’m just losing money, and why would I want to do that?

I will continue to use girl math in all of my financial decisions because it has not let me down yet.

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Nov. 16, 2023 @NWMSports

A6

STATE

CONTINUED FROM A8 Coming off of the previously mentioned win streak, the Spoofhounds have found success in their abilities to win by scoring 3.6 goals per game and only allowing 0.9 goals per game. Stoecklein said his defense is always really solid.

But the ’Hounds are facing a challenge when it comes to the Cavaliers, who score 4.3 goals per game and allow 1.1 goals.

Bishop has shut out its last four opponents. Senior center back Gavin Wray said he will be working this week to prevent the Cavaliers from scoring so often.

“I’m going to try to make sure that I sit back on defense and make sure I don’t lay through balls,” Wray said. “Because I watch some film, and DuBourg likes to play up top and the guy gets behind the defender and they play it. So I’m gonna stick onto that or that forward and try to defend him.”

The other two teams Maryville may play Nov. 18 for the state championship or the third-place match are Duchesne (20-7) and Laquey (12-11). Duchesne has already faced Bishop DuBourg and came out with a win 3-1 Oct. 5.

For the seven-senior squad in Maryville, it sets up a great way to end their high school career.

The closest this program has ever been to winning state was obtaining third place in 2021. Wray said he feels great about his team and how they will perform.

“I’m feeling confident about our team,” Wray said. “I know what we can do, and I think we’re gonna perform great these next two games.”

SPORTS

Jamboree next for Maryville girls TANNER HUDNALL Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports

Maryville girls basketball is finally returning to the court for the first time in over eight months at the North Platte Girls Basketball Jamboree Nov. 16.

The Spoofhounds opening the season on the road at the North Platte jamboree has been a new tradition brought in by coach Kelly Obley after she got the job as the helm of the program three seasons ago.

She said it gets the season started off right, with the competition at the jamboree being a good warmup for the annual Savannah Tournament Nov. 27-Dec. 2.

“This is a young team,” Obley said. “The girls know that this is going to be a long season, but starting it off at North Platte is something that I believe is a good test to start the season with all the different competition that the girls will play against.”

Last season, the Spoofhounds’ final game was a loss to the team’s Midland Empire Conference rival, Chillicothe, in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 16 Tournament.

This season, the Spoofhounds will return all but two players. Maryville will be forced to try and replace its leading scorers from last season, then-seniors guard Anastyn Pettlon, who now plays for Northwest women’s basketball, and forward Rylee Vierthaler, who plays at Central Missouri.

Pettlon retired from Maryville as the alltime three point leader with 227, and is second in points with 1,162. Vierthaler trails just behind, at third all-time with 1,123 points.

Obley said it is going to be tough to replace the production of her former standouts, but she believes this team can do it.

“The main difference from years past is that this team can really share the basketball,” Obley said. “While Anastyn and Rylee

ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

Maryville girls basketball coach Kelly Obley talks to her team before the beginning of practice Nov. 14.

The Spoofhounds’ first game will be at the North Platte Girls Basketball Jamboree Nov. 16.

were two really great seniors for us, we know that these next girls coming in can give us that same mentality that wins games.”

The Spoofhounds are coming into this season with a young roster. Maryville has seven juniors, six sophomores and nine freshmen to round out the team.

One player Obley said she expects to have a major role this season is junior guard Jalea Price. Price said she is ready to lead this team with her fellow juniors.

“Losing the seniors is obviously tough,” Price said. “But, I’ve been playing with these girls for a very long time, and I know that the girls that need to will step up into the leadership roles on the court that the team needs.”

Price is coming off a sophomore season where she nabbed a spot on the All-MEC’s hon-

UP NEXT North Platte Girls Basketball Jamboree 6 p.m. Nov. 16 Dearborn, Missouri

orable mention team. She averaged 7 points and five rebounds per conference matchup.

Last season, Maryville had its first losing campaign since 2017-18. Obley, in her seventh year with the program, said she is ready to get back to the team’s winning ways after a down year where the Spoofhounds finished at 12-13.

“This team has what it takes,” Obley said.

“These girls know how to fight. They never quit, and I am very excited to see what they can do this season.”

MIAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKET

CONFERENCE

INFOGRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH ATHY-SEDBROOK DESIGN EDITOR

Northwest has met Kearney three times in the postseason since 2012. Most recently, the two sides met in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which ended 3-2 in favor of the Lopers.

Junior libero Kyah Luhring leads the Bearcats in digs this season with 451. Luhring said Northwest isn’t sweating the chance its season might come to an end against Kearney.

“I feel like, in general, we play better when we have something bigger to lose — not just like a casual game in the regular season,” Luhring said. “I feel like we’re going to come out pretty strong.”

The MIAA Championship is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 18. If the Bearcats win the match against the Lopers, they will go on to face the winner of the MIAA quarterfinal between Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern (15-14, 8-12 MIAA) at 5 p.m. Nov. 17. Should Northwest lose though, it will be the end of its season.

The Bearcats are looking to take home their first MIAA Tournament championship. Luhring said Northwest is ready to play already.

“After this past weekend, we were kind of down a little bit with the vibes,” Luhring said. “But, yesterday (Nov. 13) with that fun practice and just knowing it’s kind of like a ‘win or go home’ mentality, I feel like we’re getting a good mindset.”

CONTINUED FROM A8

NATIONAL

CONTINUED FROM A8 The women ranked No. 24 out of 34 teams, and then-junior Amber Owens claimed No. 28 out of 262, clocking in at 21:12.2. She was the top runner for Northwest and received an All-American honors reward for Divison II cross country.

Atkin’s last race was the NCAA Central Region Championship Nov. 4 in Joplin, Missouri. He took 11th place, stopping the clock at 30:44.84.

He said the competition at the national championship will be extremely difficult and an adjustment to his mindset will need to be taken care of before beginning the race.

He said he will need to focus on bringing his confidence up and being more comfortable while competing. Atkins said making sure he’s in the right spot and not stressing if he’s a couple of seconds back from where he had anticipated will make a huge difference in his performance.

“The competition’s gonna be incredible,” Atkins said. “I haven’t really been in a meet where I’ll be in 40th and still (personal record), so that will take some getting used to mid-race. They are the best in the country. I’ve taken a lot more chances and realized how important it is to make decisions while racing.”

Cunningham said he is satisfied with the team’s preparations for the meet because he didn’t really change the workouts much or plan anything special for practices before the meet. He said the team has been showing signs of mental and physical strength.

“I feel that this competition really highlights how our team has come together throughout the year,” Cunningham said. “It’s easy to look back and say things went according to plan, but that isn’t the case. We’ve had our ups and downs, adversities and hardships, and I think it’s a true testament to the team’s persistence that we have been fortunate enough to qualify for this meet.”

Cunningham said, after the season, the athletes will have a little downtime before the indoor track and field season begins. He said the cross country athletes will get three to four days of rest before a five-10-day session of easy running. He said the hard work begins for indoor track and field after that.

ONKARABETSE KOIKANYANG PHOTOGRAPHER

Northwest men’s cross country sophomore Riley Witt, sophomore Alex Jackson and freshman Ethan Easter run laps on the Herschel Neil Track at practice Nov. 14.

Atkins said one of the most misunderstood things about being a runner is the pain that comes with it because of the hard work, but he has found his coping mechanism for it.

“The people who win races hurt,” Atkins said.

“Everyone hurts the same when running a 10K as fast as possible. Really just thinking about the team and how important it is that I do what I need to do to help them. When things get hard that’s kinda what I focus on, just doing it for the team.”

16, 2023 SPORTS Nov. @NWMSports

A7

Bearcat men search for rebound on road WESLEY MILLER Managing Editor | @wesleymiller360

Northwest men’s basketball is 1-1 for the first time since the start of the 2015-16 season after a 65-47 win over Northern State Nov. 10 and a 63-56 loss to Southwest Minnesota State Nov. 11.

As the top team in the mostrecent top-25 poll by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Bearcats picked up a ranked win over the No. 21 Wolves. However, the Mustangs were unranked.

Coach Ben McCollum said he was a bit surprised by how the season-opening weekend played out.

“The exact opposite of what we thought would happen, happened,” McCollum said. “I thought our offense was ahead of our defense, and our defense was actually pretty good, our offense was somewhat of a trainwreck.”

Through two games, Northwest’s defense has allowed 55 points per game, which is good enough for the No. 5 scoring defense in Division II and the top scoring defense in the MIAA. Offensively, the Bearcats have scored 60.5 points per contest — last out of 14 teams in the conference.

McCollum said one of the keys to finding success on the offense is getting junior guard Isaiah Jackson back, who has been dealing with an unspecified injury. After the game with Northern State, McCollum did not give a specific date but said he expects Jackson to be back soon.

Another key, McCollum said, will be for Northwest to start taking the shots it wants, rather than the shots the opponents give them. He said part of doing so is finding a true role for everyone.

“We’re kind of a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none,’ if you will,” McCollum said. “Sometimes we do this, and sometimes we do that. And, we’re still gonna be that a little bit, but now we just need to dial into exactly what we’re looking for.”

AARON HARE PHOTOGRAPHER

Northwest men’s basketball junior guard Mitch Mascari dribbles the ball down the court during the first half of the Bearcats’ 65-47 win against Northern State Nov. 10. Mascari scored 6 points during the season opener against the Wolves.

The Bearcats’ first chance to do so will be in the Small College Basketball Champions Classic Nov. 17-18 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Northwest will first play Upper Iowa (1-1) at 5 p.m. on the first day, and then it will go against Emmanuel (Georgia) (1-1) at 5 p.m. on the second day.

Northwest’s stout defense will be put to the test, as Upper Iowa graduate student guard Jake Hilmer is the nation’s leading scorer at 34.5 points per game, and Emmanuel senior guard K.J. Jones averaged 26.2

points per contest to be the leading scorer in Division II in the 2022-23 season. This campaign, so far, Jones has nearly picked up right where he left off with an average of 23 points in the first two games.

Bearcat sophomore guard Bennett Stirtz, who earned a new career-high 29 points against Southwest Minnesota, said he’s been happy with his team’s defense so far.

“Yeah, we’re getting there,” Stirtz said. “This weekend’s gonna be a big test. So, we’re going to rely on that … and hopeful-

Women’s basketball set to open home schedule with non-conference contest DESTINY TAYLOR Sports Reporter | @destinytay04

After opening the season with two victories Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 in Marshall, Minnesota, Northwest women’s basketball will have a chance at continuing its streak.

The Bearcats’ first game of the season favored them 94-89 against Southwest Minnesota State Nov. 10. The second victory resulted in a 90-76 triumph Nov. 11 against Minnesota Crookston.

The last time Northwest had two consecutive victories that resulted in a score of 90 or above was a 93-50 win over Tabor Nov. 13, 2012, and a 93-46 win over Southwest Minnesota State Nov. 14, 2012. They were both in Maryville.

Coach Austin Meyer said the team is playing with more confidence and a better pace than it has in the past.

11

years since Northwest women’s basketball scored 90 points each in back-to-back wins.

“In our scrimmages and games so far, we are averaging 30 more possessions a game, so naturally with the pace of the game we are gonna score more,” Meyer said. “We really dominated from a bench point standpoint and offensive rebound standpoint.”

Next up is the home opener against William Jewell at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 in Bearcat Arena. The last game between the two teams ended 67-43 in favor of the Cardinals Nov. 23, 2018. The Bearcats have a six-game losing streak to the Cardinals. Senior forward Jillian Fleming said the home opener is always an exciting game.

“It was fun being on the road this last weekend and being with our team and stuff, but I’m excited to get it started at home,” Fleming said. “It’s obviously not ideal with Thanksgiving break. I’m sure a lot of students will be home, but it’s always good to play in Bearcat Arena.”

Meyer said the team is working hard to keep improving. He said even after the bus arrived back in Maryville around 4 a.m., Nov. 12, most of the athletes were back in the gym later that day without being instructed to.

“Our kids want to keep improving,” Meyer said. “We are just beginning our preparations for William Jewell.”

William Jewell has a completely new coaching staff this season, but two returning support staff.

UP NEXT

NW vs. William Jewell 6 p.m. Nov. 17 Bearcat Arena NW vs. Rockhurst 1 p.m. Nov. 18 Kansas City, Missouri

Meyer said the team doesn’t have much to go off of regarding what to expect from the Cardinals. He said the best thing he has to prepare the Bearcats is film from the Cardinals’ first two games.

After William Jewell is a matchup with Rockhurst at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rockhurst has a mixture of new and returning athletes and has yet to play in a game this season, so Northwest will have no film to base its preparations on. The last competition between Northwest and Rockhurst was a 73-63 win for the Bearcats Nov. 26, 2021, in Topeka, Kansas.

Meyers said the key component to preparations for the game will be individual Hawk players’ film from the past season.

Junior center Kelsey Fields said she and the team feel excited about the games, especially after the two wins last weekend. She said one of the team’s key components is to focus on its body language.

“One thing coach Meyer often reminds us is that no matter how the game is going, we have to maintain good body language,” Fields said. “It definitely helps us keep our heads up when teams go on runs and helps us stop the runs to get the momentum swinging back our way.”

Meyer said he was proud of the energy put out by the team during the last two games and hopes it can be carried over into the next two.

“Playing hard with good body language and energy is something we discuss daily,” Meyer said. “I anticipate us having a really good week of practice with a lot of energy after our start. We have a lot of kids that can contribute, so making sure each player on the team is ready to go each day is extremely important.”

Meyer said Kansas State plays University of Missouri-Kansas City directly after the Northwest game, so the athletes are excited to play a doubleheader in the same arena as two Division I teams.

Fields said focusing on getting more stops on defense and translating that to offensive possessions is a goal set in practice leading up to the weekend’s games. She said doing the little things to improve both offense and defense is what will make a big difference when it’s game time.

“We are so ready,” Fields said. “We’ve prepared all preseason, we are all super pumped to be able to finally see our hard work come together on the floor.”

ly it helps us win some games.”

Since 2016-17, Northwest is 15-1 after a loss, and, in the wins, the Bearcats have won by an average margin of 20.3 points per game.

Stirtz said it never feels good to lose, but the best way to get better from it is to just learn and move on.

“It kind of stung a little bit right after, but we’ve moved on,” Stirtz said about the loss to the Mustangs. “We’re still trying to figure out who we’re gonna be.

Yeah, we’ll be just fine — it’s early on in the season.”

UP NEXT NW vs. Upper Iowa 5 p.m. Nov. 17 Aberdeen, South Dakota NW vs. Emmanuel (Georgia) 5 p.m. Nov. 18 Aberdeen, South Dakota NW vs. Missouri-St. Louis 3:15 p.m. Nov. 22 St. Louis, Missouri

SPORTS

Basketball’s back Maryville girls basketball prepares for its preseason jamboree. see A6

Nov. 16, 2023

Home, sweet, home Northwest women’s basketball prepares for first game back in Bearcat Arena. see A7

@NWMSports

STATE-BOUND

SPOOFHOUNDS Boys soccer advances to Final Four

M

AIDAN BROCKLEMAN Sports Reporter | @BrocklemanAidan

aryville boys soccer will head to the Class 1 Final Four with the first match against Bishop DuBourg (23-3) at 10 a.m. Nov. 17 in St. Louis. This is the second time in four years the Spoofhounds have moved to the state semifinals.

After coming off of a close win against College Heights Christian in 2-1 fashion Nov. 11, Maryville will look to carry its momentum further into the state tournament. Overall, the Spoofhounds are on a five-match win streak and have not lost since a 3-1 defeat to St. Pius X Oct. 12.

First-year coach Matt Stoecklein said it’s going to be a tough match, but he and his players are excited and ready for it.

Stoecklein has looked at some film from the Cavaliers, trying to make adjustments for the upcoming match. Stoecklein said mainly the Spoofhounds need to find more chances in scoring.

“I mean, they got multiple good players, but they got a striker that’s a really solid player,” Stoecklein said.

“We just have to make sure that we contain him. And then on offense, where they have a good, solid, physical defense, we’re going to have to try to really do whatever we can to create some opportunities for us to score.”

SEE STATE | A6 UP NEXT MHS vs. Bishop DuBourg 10 a.m. Nov. 17 St. Louis, Missouri

ALEXIS STARKS PHOTO EDITOR

INFOGRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH ATHYSEDBROOK DESIGN EDITOR

Maryville soccer sophomore Tuan Jacobson dribbles the ball down the sidelines during the 8-0 win against Savannah Oct. 16. The Spoofhounds next match will be against Bishop DuBourg for the Class 1 Final Four Nov. 17.

Bearcat volleyball prepares for conference tournament STEVEN CROSBY Sports Reporter | @sicsteve27

AARON HARE PHOTOGRAPHER

Bearcat volleyball junior libero/defensive specialist Kyah Luhring lunges to bump the ball during Northwest’s 3-0 victory over Fort Hays State Nov. 4.

Northwest volleyball begins its MIAA Tournament journey when it takes on Nebraska-Kearney at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph.

The Bearcats are looking to get themselves back in the right mindset before the match against the Lopers. Coach Amy Woerth said they’re focusing on their mentality first.

“I felt like with what we did at practice yesterday (Nov. 13) was more getting back to our mentality of just having fun,” Woerth said. “I thought we are trying to be more uplifting and fun with what we were doing yesterday so that we can get back to doing what we love to do and just play volleyball.”

Northwest (15-13, 10-10 MIAA) will face Kearney (26-4, 16-4 MIAA) for the third time this season. The last two matchups both ended with the Lopers sweeping the Bearcats Oct. 7 and Nov. 3.

Northwest is heading into the tournament match with the sixth seed in the MIAA after suffering a pair of defeats, losing 3-0 to both Pittsburg State (10-19, 5-15 MIAA) Nov. 10 and Central Oklahoma (26-4,173 MIAA) Nov. 11. Woerth said the ’Cats have some adjustments up their sleeve, but she is keeping those as a surprise for when they play the Lopers.

Northwest men’s cross country to send seven runners to national championships DESTINY TAYLOR Sports Reporter | @destinytay04

Five competitions have passed since the beginning of the season, and, now, Northwest men’s cross country is preparing to send seven runners into the sixth — and final — competition of the year.

These Bearcats will put on its

uniforms and lace up their running shoes one last time for this season as they travel for the NCAA Division II National Championships Nov. 18 in Joplin, Missouri.

Coach Wick Cunningham said the team will be competing against mainly unfamiliar programs besides its fellow Central Region competitors. He said with little

UP NEXT

information on the teams, he can only partially know what to expect.

The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course — where the meet is located — is more familiar to the team because of its history there and the other squads that will be there.

“This is the same course we ran on at the region meet,” Cunningham said. “Our athletes are very

NW vs. Nebraska-Kearney 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16 St. Joseph, Missouri

“Some of our emphasis is we need to swing our right back,” Woerth said. “We need to take them out of system on our right side — we feel like they don’t defend very well against the right sides. But, we got to swing high because they have a pretty good block.

We need to win serve(s) and pass(ess) too.”

Kearney is the third seed in the MIAA, going into the match off a split weekend where it swept Missouri Southern (15-14, 8-12 MIAA) Nov. 10 before suffering a sweep by Central Missouri, who became the outright conference regular season champions as a result, (21-7, 18-2 MIAA) Nov. 11.

Woerth said the Bearcats are expecting an even-keeled mentality from the Lopers, who are going into the competition as the favorites to win.

“They’re going to try to find ways to get kills,” Woerth said. “On defense, they’re going to try to double up on our No. 1’s, our top people, to make it harder on them.”

UP NEXT Division II National Championships Nov. 18 Joplin, Missouri

familiar and comfortable with this course and are excited to get back on it.”

Sophomore Drew Atkins didn’t compete last year. Northwest only sent the women’s team to the 2022 national championship.

SEE NATIONAL | A6

SEE CONFERENCE | A6 RUNNERS COMPETING AT NATIONALS Sophomore Drew Atkins Junior Tyler Blay Redshirt Freshman Cooper Greenslade Junior Dillon Grover Sophomore Nate Mueller Junior Brandon Mundorf Freshman Grayson Tapp