Northwest’s Pay It Forward Fund, an emergency assistance program for students, recently received $3,000 from a recent lecture.
The Pay It Forward Fund assists students who struggle financially, including with medical costs and emergency transportation, according to Northwest’s Student Affairs. Gerry Brooks, an educator of 27 years, gave a lecture Sept. 21 in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. Through ticket prices, he raised $3,000 to help Northwest’s Pay It Forward Fund.
Brooks was University President Lance Tatum’s roommate when they attended Troy University in the 1980s. He said this is why he hosts fundraisers for Northwest. Brooks raised more than $8,500 at his Sept. 22, 2024, lecture for the Pay It Forward Fund.
“I did this out of a relationship with Dr. (Lance) Tatum and Jill (Tatum),” Brooks said. “I do workshops and conferences for school districts and educational conferences, but have not done any other fundraisers, other than this one, just because of the relationship that I have with them and the college.”
His lectures are often about creating more positive school climates and helping administrators to lead in more constructive ways. He said he would do similar fundraisers for Northwest in the future due to the positive impact it has on students. Through both fundraising attempts, he has raised $11,565.
Selena Foreman, administrative specialist with Northwest Student Affairs, said the Pay It Forward Fund started as an emergency fund loan at Northwest in 2008. She said after students receive funds from the program, they are encouraged to pay it forward by completing community service, but this is not required.
Offices move during renovation
Northwest’s Administration Building will be inaccessible for the remainder of this semester and through the spring semester due to construction. The temporary closure has relocated every office in the building, with most moving elsewhere on campus.
There are 19 offices that typically occupy space within the Administration Building. These began relocating Dec. 1. The University is using the B.D. Owens Library, the J.W. Jones Student Union, Colden Hall and Wells Hall for these offices.
There are also two temporary building units located in Parking Lot 27, behind the Garrett-Strong Science Building, that are housing multiple offices. The only office that has been moved off-campus is the President’s Office, which is now temporarily located at 720 College Ave. on property owned
by the Northwest Foundation.
Northwest’s Assistant Vice President of Facility Services Dan Haslag said construction is expected to last until August, with the intent of reopening the Administration Building by the fall 2026 semester.
“Compared to some of the infrastructure upgrades in other buildings, this project is probably the more invasive, as we’re going to be really disrupting activities in that building, which (cause) us to temporarily close the building,” Haslag said.
Typically, Parking Lot 27 is used by commuting students; because this lot is now closed, there will be multiple other parking lots available. Commuting students can now use lots 26, 28 and 38; resident students may park in lots 26 and 28; lots 25, 26 and 29 are available to employees; and there is now handicapped accessibility available near the Garrett-Strong Science Building in lots 25, 31 and 38.
During the construction period, the
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system of the Administration Building will be replaced. Haslag said this process requires the ceilings of the building to be torn out because the air ducts and other equipment are located there.
This construction is a part of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project. Haslag said this portion is a part of both the second and third phases of the project.
“In the year where a lot of Phase II work is occurring, that’s where a lot of the planning, the construction drawings, etcetera, were taking place, but the actual construction is set to start in January,” Haslag said.
He said it is necessary to replace the HVAC system in the Administration Building because it is past its life expectancy and is considered a highly prioritized building within the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Project plan.
Happy Garden to possibly shut down due to undisclosed issues
For over two decades now, Maryville has been served authentic Chinese food from the longstanding Happy Garden. However, the future of the Asian cuisine titan has become undetermined.
Happy Garden has remained a consistent presence within the Far Eastern eateries in Maryville for a long time.
The restaurant has persisted through over 20 years of open doors in the food industry, which is unheard of for a small town restaurant. Approximately 60% fail within the first year, while 80% fail within the first five, according to the National Restaurant Association.
With these harrowing numbers on the table, Happy Garden defied the odds for multiple decades. It has stayed firm with its menu and has continued to provide a comforting hospitality experience, according to customer reviews.
But Father Time waits for no one, as the restaurant has seemingly found itself in the midst of a cook crisis. With only details coming from an outside family member not affiliated with the restaurant, and the restaurant’s unwillingness to address the situation, Maryville residents have been
left confused and hesitant about what’s to come.
Maryville resident Dylan Taylor is just one of those concerned. He said he would be heartbroken by the eatery’s departure.
“Happy Garden closing would be a tragedy for the food scene in Maryville,” Taylor said. “They for sure have the highest quality food out of all the Chinese restaurants in town.”
The Asian cuisine scene for a long time has been stagnant, with just Happy Garden, Simply Siam, Hy-Chi and Joy Wok being the main choices for residents. Recently, the market has welcomed two new businesses to the area in the past couple years.
Raku Hibachi Sushi and Ramen, and Lola’s Lumpias and Filipino food have made some noise in their short tenures in Maryville, but their respective menus are focused on foods from different cultures than those of Happy Garden.
With such little information known at this time, only speculations can be made about why one of the longest-standing restaurants in Maryville is unable to find a replacement cook. Taylor said that he believes the small town employment landscape could be the reason as to why.
Construction worker Alan Villa unloads pallets from a forklift to help
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
Open for over 20 years, Happy Garden is searching for a replacement cook to stay open. The restaurant plans to continue business until a decision is made. EMILIA RAMANAUSKAS PHOTOGRAPHER
RYAN KING Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian
RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @Raiea_Salerno
Petition signing hosted by voters’ rights campaign
RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @Raiea_Salerno
Respect MO Voters, a campaign advocating for citizens’ rights, is spearheading initiative petition 2026-106.
The petition proposes the Respect Missouri Voters Amendment be made to the Missouri Constitution. This amendment would prevent politicians from overturning Missouri votes and prevent deceptive practices from being used to confuse Missouri voters, according to the Respect MO Voters website.
To qualify for ballots, Respect MO Voters held a pop-up petition-signing event 5 p.m. Nov. 11 at The Rose Theatre to gather signatures on four key issues.
These issues range in topic from LGBTQ+ rights to the rights of public education, and it included the petition to overturn the recent congressional map.
Respect MO Voters volunteer Megan Vesel said regardless of political affiliation, it should not be allowed for politicians to dismiss the votes of Missouri voters. This was in regard to initiative petition 2026-106.
“I don’t think it’s right to overturn things that people have voted for in the past,” Vesel said. “In the past in Missouri, you’ve had both Democratic and Republican legislatures who have tried to overturn what people have voted for. We just don’t think they should be allowed to do it.”
Respect MO Voters’ cam-
paign goal is to collect 300,000 signatures by the end of April 2026, so it can add its initiative to the ballot in November 2026.
Eagleville, Missouri, resident Peggy Sturdevant attended the event and emphasized the importance of signing the Respect MO Voters petition.
“This event is important for democracy,” Sturdevant said. Cindy Roach, a volunteer for Respect MO Voters, described a similar message of voter choice and turnout.
“People need to be able to voice their opinions,” Roach said. “If we vote something in, it should be a law. If the majority of people in the state want them, then that’s what it should be; the legislators shouldn’t be able to override it.”
One of the other petitions at the event was the congressional map gerrymandering petition backed by People Not Politicians. The petition would allow citizens to vote on whether to keep the congressional map change or not in 2026, according to National Public Radio.
The petition needs at least around 106,000 signatures by Dec. 11 to gain a spot on the ballot, but the People Not Politicians’ goal is to receive 190,000 signatures.
Vesel said citizens should stay politically educated in order to understand what policies might affect them and other people.
“While you might hang around with your same group of people…you need to reach outside of that,” Vesel said. “There are other people out there whose
rights are also being trampled on that also need to have their voices heard.”
There were also two LGBTQ+ rights petitions spearheaded by Mo4LGBTQ at the petition-signing event. Roach said LGBTQ+ rights are an important topic to her.
Petition 2026-018 would change the wording of marriage in the state from “between a man and a woman” to “between two consenting adults” to protect gay marriage. Petition 2026-019 would include categories like sexual orientation, pregnancy and gender identity to be protected from discrimination in Missouri, according to Mo4LGBTQ.
The final petition at the event, 2026-070, is spearheaded by Missouri Right to Education. The petition would keep public education adequate and equitable for students regardless of cost, according to the petition.
All three of these petitions also have a goal of gaining 300,000 signatures by the end of April 2026 for a ballot position like the Respect MO Voters petition.
Bridget Gibson, president of the Missouri Federation of Women’s Democratic Clubs, said alongside staying politically educated, these petitions are not partisan to any political affiliation, but aim to improve the rights of people.
“Most of these petitions are not left or right,” Gibson said. “These are human rights petitions. This isn’t about politics. This is about life.”
Firefighter volunteers sought for in Maryville
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
The Maryville Fire Department and the Polk Township Rural Fire Protection District — which are housed in the same building — are collectively looking for six volunteer firefighters.
Like many other fire departments across the United States, the fire services organizations in Maryville are driven by the volunteers who give their time. Maryville Fire Department Chief Jace Pine said the MFD and Polk TWP FD typically strive to have 30 volunteers.
“A lot of people don’t realize that over 70% of the American
fire services is volunteer,” Pine said. “You get into these smaller areas that just can’t afford a full-time department and, quite frankly, don’t have the call volume to need one; and so we rely on volunteers, and that saves the taxpayers millions of dollars a year.”
He said if Maryville funded a department entirely of full-time staff members, it would cost the city a few million dollars. Instead, the Maryville Fire Department has just two full-time employees.
Pine said the application for more volunteers will be open until at least Dec. 12; however, there is a possibility the posting could remain open through the end of
2026. Regardless of the number of applicants or when they are accepted, Pine said training will not begin until January.
“We were back and forth on whether or not we’re going to leave the opening open and just continue to collect up on applications,” Pine said. “We do kind of have a more structured onboarding than we used to. As we bring people on, they go through the (Emergency Medical Responder) course and the (Introduction to Fire) course right off the bat, and we can’t run that just anytime throughout the year, so we might very well leave the application process open and just take applications throughout the year.”
In order to become a volunteer firefighter with the Maryville Fire Department or Polk Township Rural Protection District, applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass both a drug test and a background check. There is also a physical test that must be passed in order to ensure the applicant is capable of doing the labor necessary for the job. Otherwise, no previous fire service experience is needed, and Pine said all training is done within the Maryville Fire Department.
Pine said if a qualified applicant applies, it is unlikely the department will turn them down.
Pine said other than administrative work for the full-time staff, there is no difference in what volunteer and full-time firefighters do. While working on-scene, all the staff would work together to solve the problem the same as if they were all full-time or all volunteers.
He said there is also minimal difference in the work a volunteer fire department does — like Maryville’s department — than a department that hires a majority of full-time staff
“People just say, ‘Well, it’s just a volunteer department,’” Pine said. “That’s kind of one of those things that really gets under my skin, just a little bit, because the structure fire that (St. Joseph Fire Department) or (Kansas City Missouri Fire Department) might go to is the same kind of fire that we’re (MFD firefighters) going to go to as well.”
Pine said challenges that come with being a volunteer department are the availability of the staff and training. This is
why there are often multiple departments on the scene of a call, whereas in a larger city, this may not be needed.
“You know, nobody’s going to go tell the house fire, ‘Hey, take it easy on them, they’re just volunteers,’ and so we have to be prepared, and as ready as we can be to handle that same exact kind of situation that a full time department like St. Joe or Kansas City is going to fight,” Pine said “We’re not guaranteed at any point in time to know that we’re going to have four (fire) engines full of three or four firefighters each. We might show up to a scene that St. Joe would have three or four (fire) engines of two-by-two ladder trucks out, and we might only get three people.” Pine said he and the other
full-time fireman will make sure all the trucks are ready and the equipment is checked. Otherwise, volunteers are depended on to help with all on-scene work. He said volunteers are always needed within fire departments across the country. Pine recommended that anyone, especially college students, interested in working as a full-time firefighter start by volunteering.
“We really can’t do much with two people on a fire scene, and so we rely heavily on volunteer firefighters for all of our responses,” Pine said. “The fire scene is — it has to be manpower heavy. We got to have a lot of hands working, and so we just don’t have that in a full-time capacity…our volunteers are really the backbone of our fire department.”
Maryville Fire Department responds to a reported gas leak at Lamkin Activity Center Nov. 13, 2024. The department is seeking further volunteer support. FILE
Respect Missouri Voters attendee Bridget Gibson discusses how the petitions present at the petition-signing event Nov. 11 improves the rights of the people.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Leaving Legacy
NEUBAUER Contributing Writer | @TheMissourian
Starting next semester, one less familiar face will be found oor of Wells Hall.
At the end of the fall 2025 semester, Communication and Mass Media Instructor Adam Bochart will be leaving Northwest after six and a half years to join the broadcast team of the Savannah Bananas, a hybrid baseball-entertainment team located
During his time at Northwest, Bochart taught multiple classes related to broadcasting, and has worked with KNWT, the student-run on-campus TV station, and CatVision, the sports broadcasting program for Junior Dante Distefano, who works for CatVision, said working at games has produced fond memories working with Bochart. Even if the Bearcats lost, there was still a successful broadcast that was
“When we would work CatVision games or the live broadcasts, after every game he’d (Bochart) always come up to you and st bump, or he’d dap you up,” Distefano said. “It’s like the greatest feeling in the world getting an Adam fist bump
Northwest instructor leaves for Savannah Bananas career Learning and Teaching Center Director retires after 28 years
The Learning and Teaching Center Director Darla Runyon is retiring at the end of the fall semester after 28 years of service at Northwest.
In her position, Runyon works with faculty to help improve the technologies used in their teaching lessons. Runyon said the mission for the Center is to help faculty with their technology issues.
“We’re giving faculty support that they need as they develop those courses,” Runyon said.
Runyon has a deep connection to the Northwestern part of Missouri, having been a resident since childhood. Runyon attended school in Worth County and earned her undergraduate degree here at Northwest. She also achieved her Ph.D. in instruction and learning technologies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After spending time in
or a dap up. You’re like, ‘What happened to my hand, dude? That was crazy.’”
Bochart has earned a position among the creative team of the Bananas, directing and designing in-stadium videos shown to those in attendance on gameday. Bochart said the idea to join started years ago while he was scrolling online.
“I’m excited to be a part of something that’s growing so quickly and has a really cool mission statement,” Bochart said. “They really do put the fans first in everything that they do, and I think the results show a lot of that.”
When thinking about baseball, the feeling of waiting anxiously and patiently for the batter to hit the perfect home run may come to mind, or catching a foul ball in the stands. However, the Bananas play baseball differently.
The Bananas play a version of baseball called Banana Ball. Banana Ball has a completely different set of rules and priorities compared to other baseball standards. Entertainment, one of the highest priorities in Banana Ball, can come in a variety of forms. From performing TikTok dances in the stands to stunts on the field, Bochart said the show on the field can be a special experience compared to other baseball games.
“There are some aspects of it that are completely opposite of what traditional baseball is, because it’s not trying to replace traditional baseball,”Bochart said.
“At the end of the day, they’re asking, ‘Is this the best decision for the fans? Does this make our event more enjoyable?’ And if the answer is no, they don’t do it. If the answer is yes, they’re going to do it; they’re going to find a way to do it.”
Although Bochart may be going one way, he will leave behind a significant impact on those he has taught and worked with, in and outside of the classroom. Learning to grow from mistakes, both private and in public, is something senior Caleb Jones said significantly impacted him.
“The more you make things, even if it’s for his class or for something else, you’re going to learn from your mistakes, and it’s OK to fail,” Jones said. “He’s always pushed to just make something; don’t even show it to anybody, or show it to somebody, and then just tear it apart and move on from it just to make it work better.” Northwest and its students have also left an impact on Bochart. Bochart said he knows that even though he may be absent, he knows he can return any time and receive a warm welcome.
“Northwest just is my home,” Bochart said. “I’ve done two degrees here, I’ve taught for sixand-a-half years here, spent over a third of my life in this program. It’s going to be a really tough goodbye, but I know it’ll always be a part of me and I’ll always get to come back like nothing’s changed.”
Colorado teaching and obtaining a master’s degree in teaching, she moved back to Maryville when she decided to have children.
Once back at Northwest, Runyon began teaching as an adjunct for the computer science department. She said teaching at Northwest was a pleasure.
“The computer science department’s a great department to work with,” Runyon said. “They’re obviously very interested in what they were doing, and it was kind of fun to work with those students and make sure that they were headed down the right path.”
In 1999, Runyon began to work as the Learning and Teaching Center assistant director. At this time, everything from course sites to student profiles had to be entered manually on the computer, and the center only had around five employees.
In 2013, Runyon took on her current position. Jackie Gomel, Learning and Teaching Center assistant director and instructional
designer, said Runyon helped promote creativity in the workplace.
“We got to brainstorm the best ways to help faculty and students in the online world, and I feel like we accomplished a lot during that time. She’s been a huge mentor for me,” Gomel said.
Runyon and the Learning and Teaching Center have also helped Northwest students. Due to the small number of employees, the center hires many students as staff members and gives them an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Runyon said her retirement plans are to stay in the Maryville area with her family. She said, despite not being an employee, she plans to stay connected to the Northwest community.
“I can’t imagine I wouldn’t be,” Runyon said. “I do see a lot of the people that have retired before me, and I still see them coming back. It just becomes a part of your life after you’ve been here that long.”
Northwest Communication and Mass Media instructor Adam Bochart provides support to senior Caleb Jones during his TV Directing final Dec. 2.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Director of Northwest Online and the Learning and Teaching Center Darla Runyon laughs during her retirement reception after 28 years Dec. 2.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
JASON
CRIME LOG
for the week of Dec. 4
Maryville Department of Public Safety
Nov. 26
There was an accident between Dorothy L. Cross, 88, and Charles W. Soar, 27, on the 1600 block of South Main Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1100 block of North Buchanan Street.
Nov. 25
There is an ongoing investigation for fraud on the 100 block of North Vine Street. There was an accident between Jillian L. Galbraith, 21, and Godfred Nanor, 25, on the 1000 block of North Main Street. Galbraith was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
Nov. 24
There was recovered property on the 1100 block of South Munn Street.
Nov. 23
There was a summons issued to Heather A. Bell, 36, for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street.
Nov. 22
There was a summons issued to Colton C. Loucks, 18, for minor in possession on the 600 block of North Buchanan Street.
There was a summons issued to Jacob L. Robinette, 20, for possession of a fake ID on the 400 block of North Market Street.
There was a summons issued to Anthony J. Racine, 20, for excessive acceleration on the 400 block of North Market Street.
There was an accident between Melissa A. Cunningham and Kayla L. Ranzau on the 2000 block of South Main Street. Cunningham was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
There was a summons issued to Ashley S. Farnsworth, 30, for driving while suspended on the 1800 block of South Main Street.
Nov. 21
There was a summons issued to Phillip D. Gonzalez, 51, for driving while suspended on the 1000 block of South Walnut Street.
Nov. 20
There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 2300 block of South Main Street.
Immigration trip detailed in speech
Community members gathered to listen to stories they often only see on the news — those of families waiting, hoping and rebuilding their lives just beyond the U.S. and Mexico border — Dec. 2 in the Faust Center for Alumni and Friends.
The Northwest Retiree Association invited Meghann Kosman, a victim advocate and volunteer coordinator at North Star Advocacy Center, to give a speech titled “Through Their Eyes: Beauty Past the Barbed Wire.” Kosman shared her experience traveling with an organization called Abara for an encounter trip, where individuals travel to see a place without doing ministry work, to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, in January 2025.
The organization builds peace when it comes to fears about immigration through travel. Kosman said Abara runs trips where people can witness what immigration is like, meet families living in shelters and learn about the history of immigration experiences.
“What we got to see was the beauty at the border,” Kosman said. “There was absolute joy, despite the trauma, despite the unknown, despite not having a place to go or much money.”
Kosman said the families she met in Juarez, Mexico, lived in shelters supported by churches or partnered nonprofits. She said adults make and sell fairtrade goods, like apparel and food. While she was in Mexico, she purchased a hand-painted cross necklace that one of the women living in a shelter made. Kosman said others spend their days gathering documents and attending appointments for asylum, trying to figure out what lies ahead of them.
“There were families doing everything they could to build a normal life,” Kosman said.
There are also local volunteerrun schools that teach the children living in these shelters, one of which Kosman got to visit. She said the school creates a sense of
stability and the parents an opportunity to work or rest.
During the trip, she toured the El Paso Community Healing Garden National Memorial at Ascarate Park in El Paso, Texas. This site was created to honor the victims of a mass shooting at a Walmart.
The shooter, Patrick Wood Crusius, killed 23 individuals and injured 22 others following posting a manifesto that said he chose El Paso as his target due to the Mexican and Hispanic populations who live in the area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“There’s 23 plaques there with the names of all the people who were murdered,” Kosman said. “That guy drove over 600 miles to shoot up that Walmart, and he made a manifesto somewhere on the internet that said he wanted to get rid of the immigrants.”
“I think that the job market is really tough right now, especially in small towns,” Taylor said. “It would just make more sense to move to a bigger city with more opportunities or higher pay.”
Small towns have been affected by labor shortages since COVID, with restaurant workers choosing other career paths with higher pay to support the ever-rising cost of living. The U.S. Restaurant Sector also believes COVID forced restaurant workers into more stable careers.
Foreman said she is thankful that Brooks has hosted fundraisers for the Pay It Forward Fund. She said she would be thrilled if Brooks continued to host similar donations on campus in the future.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Gerry Brooks, for the second year in a row, was able to generously give to the Pay It Forward Fund,” Foreman said. “We know that he is very passionate about helping students directly with their needs, and this fund does exactly that, so we are very, very thankful.”
Foreman said when students apply for assistance, they will usually not be given more than $500. She said out of approximately 53 students who applied for assistance through the Pay It Forward Fund last year, around 27 were granted financial aid.
She said Brook’s donation allows the Pay It Forward Committee to grant money to more students. The committee is made up of various offices across campus, including the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance, the Office of Student Account Services, Residential Life, Auxiliary Services, Student
Kosman said the visit to the memorial showed the realworld consequences of antiimmigrant rhetoric and the importance of telling accurate and fact-based stories about the people behind migration.
“Why I believe that matters so much is because… we keep talking about ‘Immigrants are only raping people or murdering people,’ or ‘Everyone’s coming in here illegally,’ just all of these terrible prejudices and stereotypes,” Kosman said.
A Maryville resident who wishes to remain anonymous said Kosman’s stories reminded them that immigration issues can affect people living far away from the border, even in Maryville. The resident described trying to help their child — who was adopted from another country — renew
their passport and obtain a Real ID this spring.
Although they said the Real ID process stretched past 60 days because their Certificate of Naturalization had to be renewed by the Department of Homeland Security. The resident said this made the child unable to drive to and from work because their license was technically expired.
The resident said hearing Kosman’s presentation helped them understand the larger system behind the bureaucratic delays their family faces and the fears many migrants navigate daily, regardless of legal status.
“It puts things in perspective,” Anonymous said. “What feels overwhelming for us is only a fraction of what these families go through just trying to live their lives.”
When approached about the potential of Happy Garden closing, one of their employees said it has been working toward a resolution to their labor issues. This was all the restaurant employees were willing to say as of Dec. 2, with promises to provide further information as it develops.
Amid these unpredictable times, Happy Garden has maintained its position in the community and continues to prepare and serve meals day in and day out.
Residents in Maryville, like Taylor, are waiting for more news on the future of their beloved Chinese restaurant. For now, only time will determine the fate of the longtime staple.
Affairs and the Center for Engagement and Community Connections.
The Pay It Forward Committee meets once a week to review student applications for the Pay It Forward Fund. Director of Financial Assistance
Director of Financial Assistance Charles Mayfield said the Office of Financial Assistance will be relocated to one of the Parking Lot 27 complexes. He said students should expect no changes to the services provided by this office.
“The plan is for there to be no impact, except that we’re located in a different building,” Mayfield said. Mayfield said signs will be posted outside of the Administration Building and the temporary office spaces to show the new locations of each department.
In agreement with Mayfield, Assistant Director of Career Services Travis Kline said students will not be done a disservice by the temporary relocation.
Charles Mayfield said the decrease in state funding for universities and the dependence on student payments might make students financially anxious during college.
Mayfield said the Pay It Forward
He said Career Services will be relocated to the first floor of the B.D. Owens Library — the same floor as the Writing Center.
Kline said one change Career Services may implement is the use of the video call platform Zoom for scheduled meetings with students. He said there are other proactive actions being utilized as well to prepare for the adjustments.
“I think, if anything, you’ll see offices trying new and novel things…for this semester, knowing this was coming up, several of our popular presentations are on our YouTube channel now,” Kline said.
Kline said the consensus of the staff members he has spoken to, in regards to the relocation, is that students are the priority, and actions are being taken to minimize disruptions to student services.
Haslag said various other scenarios were consid-
Fund helps alleviate these anxieties for supplemental emergencies, like car payments.
“If you look back over a long period of time…public institutions in Missouri were funded about 70% from state sources, and about 30% came from tuition payments,” Mayfield said. “Now that’s roughly flip-flopped. Students and families see that as a cost increase because they’re now more responsible for paying the state, and taxpayers were more responsible in the past.”
Mayfield said the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance was grateful for the donation by Brooks. He said this fund helps give students supplemental financial options when other options are not available to them.
Brooks said he understands the anxiety of dealing with financial stress as a college student. He said he struggled with paying for groceries and car funds as a university student when he attended Troy University.
He said the event was a tremendous success, with around 450 educators who went to see his presentation.
“It was a great evening,” Brooks said. “I was honored to be able to be a part of that and to be able to raise funds for those students’ needs.”
ered while planning this construction in order to keep the building open; however, the invasiveness was unavoidable.
“It was just going to be far more disruptive and be more efficient, just to temporarily move them out, and then move them in for the fall semester,” Haslag said.
Kline said Career Services is hoping that relocating to the B.D. Owens Library — which has higher student activity — will bring more natural traffic into the office and utilization of its services.
He said he believes this adjustment provides an opportunity for students to practice necessary skills.
“It’s just a good time for everybody on campus to kind of advocate for themselves, to ask questions and to understand, we’re all bearcats and are all here to help each other succeed,” Kline said.
Volunteer Coordinator at North Star Advocacy Center Meghann Kosman shared her experience traveling with an organization called Abara for an encounter trip to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Don’t isolate yourself; make mental health a priority this winter season
CLAYWELL Editor-in-Chief @Hannah_9504
The sun is officially setting before 5 p.m. every night, and I’m not enjoying it. I’ll be one of the many to say I’m impacted by seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder.
As soon as it starts to get dark before I go into work for the night, my productivity and willingness to do anything start to decrease.
About 5% of the United States’ population is affected by SAD, according to Mental Health America, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s still over 17 million people.
For college students, nearly 25% say their mental health is negatively impacted during the winter seasons, according to Appalachian State University. This makes sense, as it correlates with final exam season and is between breaks for most students.
Seasonal depression and burnout often go hand-inhand, which can make the struggle worse.
Though a lot of us are suffering from this seasonal depression, there are ways to combat it.
Like most other health-related issues, physical activity is one of the easiest ways to improve your mood. Even just taking a walk — inside or outside — can be beneficial. There are also resources like sun lamps to help with the lack of natural light.
Make sure you’re staying social. It can be easy to want to pull back because the sun is down, but make plans and attend activities. This isn’t going to make the depression go away, but keeping a routine is important to make sure you don’t fall down the rabbit hole. It is also important to take a step back if you need to. Don’t isolate yourself, but know when you need to have time for yourself.
However, it is important to still acknowledge the struggle and talk to the people around you. Getting help is possible, but nobody will know you need it if they aren’t told. The Wellness Center on campus has great resources for mental health, including counseling included in our tuition.
There are also several mental health hotlines if you are not on campus: call 988 or 800-2738255, or text TALK to 741741.
I know it can be hard to admit when you’re struggling with something, especially if it seems as simple as seasonal depression. Seasonal depression isn’t simple, however, and you can’t downplay your emotions.
I can admit, I have been guilty of letting it consume my life and mental health. It is important that you can recognize that within yourself and others. We need to support each other, so if you notice a friend struggling, even taking a moment to ask if they are OK can make all the difference.
Take the time during Winter Break to reset and be prepared for next semester. Starting the next semester strong will help you in the long run. The sun will stay out longer soon enough. Don’t let the seasonal depression overtake your life.
Supporting small businesses is necessary during holidays
We are officially in the middle of the holiday season, which means shopping frenzies are underway.
A lot of us find ourselves in lastminute crams to find the perfect gift.
It’s easy to fall into the overconsumption traps of fast fashion and sketchy online shopping portals.
Sites like Shein and Temu are easy to be drawn toward with their low prices, but have unethical practices and low-quality products. This holiday season, we all need to avoid falling for the consumer traps. Just because a retail store has cheaper choices or is easy to shop at doesn’t make it the best option. We can avoid this by supporting small businesses. Here in Maryville, there are a ton of small businesses around town for you to find those perfect gifts. Oftentimes, we even see small businesses provide higher-quality products. These products might be more expensive, but almost all of the time, it’s better to support a person than a multimillion-dollar company.
These companies and fast fashion are contributing to the landfill problems we are seeing. In 2018, about 146.1 million tons of municipal sol-
YOUR VIEW:
Where do you shop during the holidays and why?
THE STROLLER:
id waste — commonly referred to as trash or garbage — were landfilled, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This is not sustainable and contributes heavily to climate change.
We need to care about our environment, and that goes beyond recycling.
You can find small businesses in most towns, and even if you don’t want to go out and shop, a lot of these outlets have online options too. There is really no excuse to continue to use online shopping sites that are contributing to pollution, child labor and a wide variety of other issues.
Most of us have fallen victim to these sites, but we can change our behavior and support our community by shopping at local or small businesses. Even a handmade gift can be a sustainable alternative to fast fashion or trending products. Shopping at small businesses is a more ethical and healthier practice.
Just this past semester, the Missourian has written about countless businesses, from coffee shops to boutiques to book stores, most of which are new to the area. A lot of stores around town promote holiday specials that you can’t get when shop-
CORBIN GUYER Senior Geographic Information Sciences
“(It) kind of depends on the person, really. Sometimes it’s Amazon, sometimes it’s easier to find it at a (big) box store.”
GABRIEL SLOCOMBE Junior Human Services and Psychology
ping online or with larger corporations. We suggest trying it at least once; you never know how much you might like it. Even talking about those small businesses is a form of supporting them.
Going past all of the material reasons, the experiences can be more enjoyable at smaller shops. You can build connections with the person working there because they actually care about what they are doing. It also gives customers the opportunity to buy more personalized gifts instead of the same products as everyone else.
Small businesses run into financial struggles when we all shop at franchises for everything we want or need. This results in many of them not being able to stay open for longer periods of time. By shopping at a small business, you can help them maintain it and support someone who might be very similar to you. A lot of us are doing what we can to make money; we should support those around us doing the same. You can make a difference in someone’s life just by supporting their business, and when is a better time than the holiday and gift-giving season?
“I like to get specific gifts from Amazon, but I like to get the actual, like, holiday supplies from a Walmart or a Target, just because I can actually see and feel those items.”
MARISA SLEATH Sophomore Pre-Veterinary
“I go to either Target or Hobby Lobby; Target for like… if I’m buying new stuff for my friends and family members, they would like the stuff there, and then Hobby Lobby because I also like to make a lot of gifts for people. So I like to go there for all my craft stuff.”
Your Bearcat makes their free throws
Your Bearcat will never understand why a professional basketball player has a free throw record below 90%.
These men are paid millions of dollars to miss a shot where the conditions barely change. How does that make sense? If an NBA player’s record is low, all they have to do is practice more. Like, come on. The distance of the shot never changes, and there’s nothing blocking it. Just aim; isn’t that half of their job?
I can already hear the argu-
ment of those who disagree with me, “But the pressure of the ball might change,” “The stakes of the game might be really high,” or even, “What if the player was injured during the foul?”
I get it; there are variables that change, but not ones that should make or break the shot over 90% of the time.
How in the heck are there only three NBA players who have a record of at least 90%? I can’t even comprehend that statistic. In nearly 80 years of the NBA,
only Stephen Curry, Steve Nash and Mark Price are the only ones with a record of at least 90%. I truly just don’t understand.
Most NBA player have played basketball since they were at least in high school — maybe middle or elementary school.
The NBA draft minimum age is 19 years old. Let’s do a little math: if a 19-year-old NBA draft player has been on a basketball team since he was in fifth grade, that would mean they have eight years of experience.
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
That is more than enough time to become consistent enough to make the same shot over and over again. Not to toot my own horn, but in middle school, I was probably shooting near 80%. If a middle schooler’s record is higher or close to an NBA player’s, then maybe it is time for that player to consider a career change.
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
HANNAH
OUR VIEW:
CADEN WILLMANN CARTOONIST
Northwest football redshirt freshman quarterback Zechariah Owens falls after a tackle against Pittsburg State University during the ’Cats 27-14 loss to the Gorillas Nov. 15. Northwest concluded their 2025 season following the 38-16 loss to Harding University in the first round of the Division II playoffs Nov. 22.
’Cats fall in playoffs, earn honors
“We want to chase perfection,” Head coach John McMenamin said. “I don’t know that being perfect exists, but we want to chase that.”
From week zero to ending the season Co-MIAA champions, the Bearcat football team chased perfection — especially with first-year head coach McMenamin at the helm of the coaching staff
The team began the season with a loss to Minnesota State University Aug. 28, 3814, but the Bearcats came back to Maryville with a new mindset to tackle the remainder of the season. The team took the loss personally, and it went on a nine-game win streak.
McMenamin used his quarterback room to its full potential with redshirt freshman quarterback Zechariah Owens and senior quarterback Chris Ruhnke seeing the field — both earning MIAA accolades for their performances. Owens earned his first collegiate start against the Fort Hays State University Tigers Oct. 18 and helped lead the team to its 52-3 win.
“It’s something I’ve been waiting on,” Owens said. “You know, something I dream of — starting in college.”
Owens also notched a new record against the Tigers with 164 rushing yards and recorded a 73-yard rush touchdown against Fort Hays.
Last season, the ’Cats lost playoff contention following a Homecoming loss to the University of Central Missouri Mules, 35-30, Oct. 19. This season, the Bearcats shut out the University of Nebraska-Kearney 14-0 for the Homecoming game, which was the third time the team held their opponent to 20 points or less in three weeks.
During the Homecoming game each year, the Don Black award is given to the most valuable player,
and for senior defensive lineman Nile Schuett, it meant much more.
He was limited to only 30 snaps per game this season due to a heart condition, but that didn’t stop him from taking down opponents on the line.
“It’s very special,” Schuett said. “It’s really just a testament to them (the team) — the strength and conditioning staff and the athletic trainers. I got good people around me that I can lean on when I need it.”
As the season came closer to an end, the ’Cats honed in on an MIAA foe — the Pittsburg State University Gorillas, a team that has been a big opponent in the conference. Last season, when the two met Nov. 16, the Gorillas came out on top with a 23-7 win.
This season, things were different. The ’Cats were on a hot streak and ready to face the foe they had fallen to for many years. The game was played on a neutral site — Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas — with a home playoff bid and a share of the MIAA title on the line. The Bearcats’ last season was a different team with a different mentality.
The Gorillas came out on top with a 27-14 win — earning a share of the MIAA title with being number two in the MIAA and giving the Bearcats their second loss of the season.
Despite the loss, the ’Cats saw postseason play for the first time since 2022, something the team worked for all season long. The game was set against an opponent Northwest hadn’t met since 2021 — the Harding University Bison. In the previous four times the Bearcats met the Bison, the ’Cats stood undefeated.
Back in November 2021, the ’Cats came out on top with a 28-9 win, but this year McMenamin went into the game with an underdog mentality — something the team adapted for the 11 games. Unfortunately, the Bearcats’ season ended in Searcy, Arkansas, following a 38-16 loss. Since the conclusion of the
season, three players have entered the transfer portal: sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Pigram, who totaled 6.5 sacks, 13 tackles and one interception; redshirt freshman punter Jacob Bell; and John Pargo Jr., who
did not see the field this season.
Though the Bearcats did not make it further in the tournament, the team came back to Maryville with big achievements that will be on the record wall for years to come.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
MHS junior showcases multisport talent
Maryville Spoofhounds athletics have been off to great starts this season, with multiple teams reaching state. For junior Jackson Dredge he is making his mark on multiple teams.
Dredge, who just finished his football season for the ’Hounds, is in a quick switch over to the basketball season. Dredge has always been in the sports environment and knew sports were what he wanted to do.
“Just growing up around the sports and having friends and family that played them,” Dredge said.
Dredge led the football team to a 9-3 record, making it to the Class 3 state
tournament, where it faced a tough defeat to the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Guardians 37-34 Nov. 22 in the quarterfinals. Dredge said he is ready, and he is excited for the future.
“This season really showed us that even with injuries and other obstacles, as long as we come together and work every day, we will have a great season,” Dredge said. “This season has made me have very high hopes for next season.”
For Dredge, he has no break and goes straight into his next sport of basketball. Since the basketball team has lots of returning players this season, Dredge said his goal for this upcoming season is a district title.
“I want to win districts — Benton (High School) is an amazing team, and we have not beat them in a couple years,”
Dredge said. “I am really looking forward to changing that.”
The ’Hounds basketball team went 1313 last season, losing both of their games against Benton. With the amount of returners this season, the team feels different, and a change is coming with the amount of experience. Senior forward Miles Poynter, who is also coming off his soccer season that just ended, is one of the returners and few seniors on the team. Dredge said his team needs to be unselfish to find success this season.
“We have all the talent, I think the biggest part of the season is coming together as one and not playing ‘me’ ball and playing more ‘we’ ball,” Dredge said.
Though Dredge is a part of the two biggest sports in the school, culture and environments can be different; from the
Northwest track prepares for season opener, posts challenges
Northwest Bearcat track and field is scheduled to compete in the annual Mel Tjeerdsma Classic Dec. 6 at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse.
The Bearcats have hosted and opened their indoor track seasons with the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic every year since the 2018-19 season.
With more than 100 collegiate athletes on the roster, head
coach Brandon Masters said being the leader of this team has offered him challenges different from other sports on campus.
“The uniqueness of our sport is that we’re coaching both men and women by event group, so we don’t separate out our coaches per gender; so it does make it a challenge on a day-to-day basis,” Masters said. “It does pose challenges during practice, but I think we’ve got a pretty good plan about how to coordinate and have everybody get the
things that they need each practice going into the first meet.”
Men’s track senior sprinter Logan Arellano is entering his final season as a Bearcat track athlete, in which he intends to run the 400-meter and 600yard sprint events, as he has since 2022.
Arellano took first place in the 600 sprint during the 2025 MIAA Indoor Championships, running a 1:11.10 in the preliminaries to earn a spot in the finals, where he ran a 1:10.88, earning first place across the conference.
Arellano said the preparation for his events is what allows him to compete at a high level.
“We’ve been working since after Labor Day; we’ve slowly built up as time has gone throughout the past couple months, but every second matters,” Arellano said. “It’s just focusing on the little things and doing everything correctly. Whether that’s in the warm-up, going through the actual workouts or some drills we’re doing. Just making sure you’re fine with all of your little skills and getting every bit out of practice.”
Despite the impressive numbers of athletes like Arellano, Masters said when he is in preparation for meets, times and distances are not his main concern.
“Everything we do is done for a reason; there will be meets that we go into that we are certainly training through, and it’s very difficult for our kids not to worry about the numbers, but
size of teams to the pace of play and the atmospheres, the sports themselves are different from each other. Regardless, Dredge said he feels the culture is similar for both programs.
“Our culture for basketball is just like football,” Dredge said. “We all are great friends and treat each other like family.”
Being a part of both programs has meant a lot to Dredge, whether it is the football team or the basketball team.
The Spoofhound family has been good to Dredge in his athletic career, as he has started on football and basketball.
“It has meant so much to me to be a part of both of the programs,” Dredge said. “It is all a big brotherhood, and all of my teammates are like brothers to me.”
that is something I stress: we manage our expectations. The numbers don’t mean anything to me. It’s how we execute the plan. The numbers will come,” Masters said. “We don’t have a win-loss record, so the meet in December, the meet in January, they are to me, simply high-level practices, race reps with other teams involved, that’s how I look at them.”
CLAYTON CULP
Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Following the first meet of the season, the Bearcats will not be back on the track until after the holidays, Jan. 17, for the Coach Richard Alsup Open at Hughes Fieldhouse. The Jan. 17 Coach Richard Alsup Open will constitute the third-consecutive meet Northwest has hosted in the former Bearcat track and field coach’s name.
Maryville football junior quarterback Jackson Dredge rolls out for a pass in the Spoofhounds’ 51-0 win over St. Joseph-Lafayette High School Oct. 24.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Maryville boys basketball then-sophomore current-junior guard Jackson Dredge attempts a layup during the Spoofhounds’ win against Mid-Buchanan High School Jan. 17. FILE
Northwest track and field junior jumper Grace Hill completes her first attempt at her long jump event during the Bearcat Invite Feb 7.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
KEATON SMITH Sports Reporter | @keatonsmedia
The Northwest women’s basketball team (6-3, 1-0 MIAA) is preparing for the heart of MIAA play with a home matchup against the Emporia State University Hornets (4-2) Dec. 4.
’Cats hone in on winning streak
The Bearcats opened up conference play against the Missouri Western State University Griffons (2-6, 0-1 MIAA) with a 62-48 win. The ’Cats will return to Bearcat Arena with a six-game home win streak, which is tied with the Fort Hays State University Tigers (6-0) for the longest active streak in the MIAA.
Head coach Austin Meyer said early in the season, the team has already shown growth since preseason.
“We feel like we’ll continue to grow as a team and get more comfortable offensively,” Meyer said. “I think early in the season, your defense, a lot of the time, can be ahead of your offense, but because your defense is a little more black and white.”
Northwest’s defense has been the group’s foundation throughout the first month of the season, keeping them steady while the offense finds its rhythm. The Bearcats sit at the top of the MIAA in defensive field-goal percentage at 33.6%, with no opponent shooting above 40% against them this season.
Meyer said the defensive success is credited to the team’s patience and resilience on the court.
“Defensively, it’s effort and attitude,” Meyer said. “Our kids have really bought into playing with activity and effort.”
While the defense has stayed consistent, the offense has begun to settle in.
Junior guard Andrea Lopreato leads the team with 44 field goals made and 32 of 38 free throws made on the season. Lopreato recently broke three Northwest program records: Single-Game Scoring with 40 points, Single-Game Free Throws Made with 19 and Single-Game Free Throws Attempted with 21 during the ’Cats’ 81-67 victory over the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (4-2) Nov. 14.
With strong offensive performances, Meyer said he hopes to continue the trend through the rest of the season.
“We’ve been pretty good defensively all year, and now the hope is that the offense can reach another level,” Meyer said.
This season has also carried meaning for Meyer personally, as he earned his 100th career win after taking down the Lincoln University Blue Tigers (3-4) 61-50 Nov. 22.
Meyer became only the third coach in program history to reach this milestone. He said the accomplishment reflects the team’s steady rise over the past several seasons.
“We’re proud of where we’ve gotten it, but we don’t want to be just an average, good program,” Meyer said. “We want to strive to be great.”
That mindset continued into conference play for the ’Cats, who now look to take on the Hornets 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in Bearcat Arena. After the match, the men’s basketball teams will also face off
The women’s team is 11-33 all-time
Men’s basketball begins conference games, ties last season’s win count
The Northwest men’s basketball team (6-3, 0-1 MIAA) is off to an encouraging start this season, tying its total win count from head coach Matt Keeley’s first season in single-digit games.
Northwest will host its first at-home MIAA game of the season against the Emporia State University Hornets (2-4) 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Bearcat Arena.
Junior forward Trey Moala said he tries to prepare for every game the same way, but conference games often mean more to those involved.
“I try to attack every game with the same mindset, but I think (with) Missouri Western specifically, there’s a little more to it, whether you want there to be or not,” Moala said. “Especially going into their house; I believe that’s our first true road game, so it should be a pretty loud environment. It’ll be a nice test for sure.” Moala has started all nine games so far for Northwest and has averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds through the start of his junior season. As one of just two returning players this season, Moala said he has taken it upon himself to take a leadership position among his new teammates.
“I definitely have a heavy leadership role alongside (junior forward) Jack Ratigan,” Moala said. “A lot of that has been
vocal, trying to do the right thing and show them (teammates) how to do things, but also taking the time to teach them to fix things that went wrong or just get others’ opinions on certain situations.”
The three leading scorers for the Bearcats, almost a third of the way through the season, are made up by three of Northwest’s transfer senior guards: senior guard Aiden Gair has averaged 13.7 points per game, senior guard Matthew Mayes has recorded 12.1 points per game and senior guard Royce Williams has averaged 13.1 points per game.
Emporia State’s leading scorer is also a 2025-26 transfer player. Junior guard Andrew Pengel transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College, where he averaged 22.5 points per game as a sophomore. Pengel has displayed his scoring skills now as a Hornet, tallying an average 15 points per game through the opening six contests of the season.
Moala said the team’s hot start in comparison to last year has only provided certainty in himself and his new teammates, but the team is still very aware of the work still in front of them.
“I really like our group of guys,” Moala said. “I think we all get along pretty well, and I think we are following the coaches’ scheme very well. It’s provided great confidence after a four-to-one start, but we know that there’s a long season ahead still.”
against Emporia, winning its most recent matchup 70-51, March 1. The Bearcats are entering the match with a ‘protect the house’ mentality.
“We want Bearcat Arena to be a place that we protect throughout the year and make it a tough place for opponents to play,” Meyer said. “Hopefully, having students back and get some people out (because) that always makes the environment better.”
Northwest women’s basketball junior guard Andrea Lopreato shoots over a defender in the Bearcats’ 79-69 exhibition win over Livin’ The Dream Nov. 11. The Bearcats are 6-3 this season.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
KEATON SMITH Sports Reporter | @keatonsmedia
Northwest men’s basketball junior forward Trey Moala attempts to dunk through a defender in the Bearcats’ 71-47 win over Missouri Valley College Nov. 17. The Bearcats are 6-3 this season.
