NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
Northwest’s Newest Board of Regents gains 2 members
For the Northwest Board of Regents, 2025 has consisted of multiple position transitions. There are two new members who have taken on positions, continuing the Board’s transitions for the year.
Regent Steve Black was appointed to the Board in March, while the newest regent, Leisha Barry, was appointed in October. Both members are Northwest alum. Board of Regents Chair Mel Tjeerdsma said by being an alum, those members already have their personal feelings about Northwest, which helps them become great members.
“They have to have a passion for Northwest, and I think that’s where it all starts,” Tjeerdsma said. “They have to be objective. Sometimes we deal with things that we don’t all agree on, but we have to be a team…I just think that those are some things that I think are just really critical for a board to be a good, functioning board.”
Tjeerdsma said within Black’s first seven months, he has become well involved. He said Black has been a great team player and has also taken on being the chairman of the people, finance and operations committee.
Outside of his Board position, Black is a business consultant and cattle and grain
farmer. Tjeerdsma said the Board has benefited from Black’s knowledge of and background in business.
“He handles that responsibility very well,” Tjeerdsma said. “We’ve been dealing with budget items, and he’s got a really good background in finance and budgets; and so his contributions there are very important for us as well.”
Similar to Black, Barry also has unique experience she can bring to the position on the Board of Regents. Barry is a retired client services vice president for Cerner Corporation and previously served as president of the Northwest Foundation Board.
Barry said she became interested in joining the Board of Regents while on the Northwest Foundation Board. During this time, she said she noticed the importance of the Board of Regents to the University. She said she is looking forward to growing while serving as regent.
“I’m excited about being able to participate and understand the strategic direction of Northwest and the continuation of that university as a cornerstone in the Northwest corner of Missouri with the programs that it offers,” Barry said.
Tjeerdsma said he is excited about Barry’s appointment to the Board. He said the Board of Regents members have been able
Positions filled for UPD, officer talks community
students influenced a lot of his younger life. McKinney said these moments shaped who he has become today.
The Board of Regents approved the hiring of four first responders during the course of the first semester in an effort to increase campus security. The department had multiple job opportunities open for those interested in working in a school environment. With these new hirings came three new
officers and a new dispatcher.
Lt. Marcus Holmes is the newest member to the force the Board approved this semester. Earlier this fall, officers Jason Weir and Tanner McKinney were appointed alongside dispatcher Cole Schmidt.
McKinney, who is from Maryville, said he grew up on the Northwest campus, and the experiences with Bearcat
“I always wanted to be an officer; it was in my family,” McKinney said.
“UPD was hiring, and their culture lined up with who I was as an individual, so it was a really great match.”
McKinney, who started his police work for the University around late 2022, said he was ready to start making an impact as an officer on campus as soon as possible. The department did just that as they were on campus helping students on Freshman Move-In Day.
University Police Chief Amanda Cullin, who has headed the department since mid- 2024, said she is elated for students to engage with the new faces.
to get to know Barry through her work with the Northwest Foundation.
Barry had been on the Northwest Foundation Board since 2017. She said when she became a member, the Forever Green Campaign was in the process of completion.
The Forever Green Campaign was a philanthropic initiative to improve four components within Northwest — student life, scholarship, academic excellence and the investment of Northwest — according to the Give to Northwest page of the University website.
“It was exciting to see the wrap up of that campaign with success, including the Ag (Agricultural) Learning Center, the (Carl and Cheryl) Hughes Fieldhouse — just to name a couple things — in addition to the amount that was raised for scholarships,” Barry said.
Barry’s appointment will become official once she is confirmed by the Missouri Senate.
Tjeerdsma said Barry has good instincts and has always been very thorough in her actions. He said he expects she will be a great fit for the Board.
“There’s no doubt that what she really cares about is what we can do as a Board to make Northwest Missouri State University better,” Tjeerdsma said. “That’s what we’re looking for, so we’re really excited to have her.”
University leadership continues search for provost
Split into three sessions, stakeholders in the Northwest community had the opportunity to give feedback regarding the search for the new Northwest provost Nov. 4. Anthem Academics, a hiring firm for higher education, was chosen to assist in the search for the next Northwest provost. Its parent firm, Anthem Executive, was used while the University sought its current president, Lance Tatum. Along with Anthem Academics, Tatum and the provost search committee will work together to determine who will fill the position. The first provost listening session was held 11 a.m. to noon in the Administration Building and was open to any students, faculty and staff. Following this were two more sessions, one specifically for staff from 2-3 p.m. and the third for students from 3-4 p.m. Co-founders and partners with Anthem Executive Michael Ballew and Mike JR Wheless attended each of these sessions, during which they asked multiple questions to receive feedback from the attendees.
“We are now on-site today, talking with constituent groups, doing these town hall meetings to identify traits and characteristics that we want to look for in the next provost,” Ballew said. “We’re continuing to build the profile of that individual.”
Ballew said the market to speak with potential candidates is open, and Anthem will narrow down the slate of possible position holders prior to presenting to the search committee. Following this, the committee will review the candidates and further reduce the number down before conducting video interviews.
From the video interviews, the committee will decide its recommended candidates and share this list with Tatum, who will make the final decision.
Northwest University Police Department Lt. Marcus Holmes is one of the three newly hired officers in the department. The UPD hopes students can feel comfortable expressing any concerns or issues.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
RYAN KING
Missourian Reporter l @TheMissourian
Newly-appointed Northwest Board of Regents member Leisha Barry is welcomed during its meeting Oct. 24. Barry is a retired client services vice president for Cerner Corporation and previously served as president of the Northwest Foundation Board.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
Business grows from hobby to full-time gig
Glow Studio, a new beauty salon in Maryville, is the latest spot dedicated to helping locals boost their confidence with a variety of eyelash services. What started as a side gig has grown into much more for salon owner Nicole Grady.
Located at 104 S. Main St., Glow Studio opened its doors Oct. 23 and has become a destination for those who want to look and feel their best. It started as something done in Grady’s free time, but has grown so quickly that she has been able to open a shop.
Grady specializes in eyelash extensions, eyelash lifts and tints, but has hopes to add more services in the future. For Grady, this business has always been about more than just how someone looks; it’s about the clients having
confidence and creating a connection with them.
“My inspiration has always been helping people feel their best,” Grady said. “When someone looks in the mirror and feels beautiful, it changes how they carry themselves. That’s what makes my work so rewarding.”
Glow Studio is something Grady has been doing on the side while still working a full-time job and being a mother.
“I’ve grown this business from something small that I did on occasion to what it is today, all while working a full-time job and raising my two young daughters the whole time,” Grady said. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I couldn’t have gotten to this point without the support of those around me.”
The love Grady has received from clients, friends and family has been key to Glow Studio’s growing success. Excite-
ment is building among local residents who are waiting to experience the offerings. Emily Richards, a Maryville resident, said she is excited to see what it offers.
“
This is just the beginning for Glow Studio. I’m excited to see how far we can go.”
NICOLE GRADY GLOW STUDIO OWNER
Missouri’s proposed map faces lawsuit amid redistricting
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri has filed a lawsuit over the recent redistricting of the Missouri Congressional Map.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the Missouri First Map into law Sept. 28. This map shows an adjusted version of the previous Missouri congressional map. Director of Communications for ACLU of Missouri Tom Bastian said the creation of this map violates the Missouri Constitution for multiple reasons, one of which being it was created less than a decade after the previous congressional map was signed into law.
Typically, the Missouri congressional map is redrawn every 10 years, according to Article 3, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution, in order to make proportional adjustments based on population changes.
He said the lawsuit also argues that the map violates the compactness requirements, also laid out in Article 3, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution.
“Under the new map, the current Congressional District 5 is split into three districts, with each encompassing a part of the Kansas City (Missouri) metropolitan area as well as rural parts of the state,” Bastian said in an email to the Missourian. “The lawsuit alleges that dividing Kansas City this way separates closely united communities, denying them coherent representation in Congress.” Bastian said the map made in
“I’ve heard great things about Glow Studio,” said Richards .“It’s exciting to see a new local business who is run by someone passionate about helping others to be confident. I can’t wait to experience this for myself.”
Grady’s passion for beauty and wellness is also fueling the next big step in her career. In the spring of 2026, she will attend school to become a licensed esthetician, which will allow her to bring a wider variety of services to Glow Studio. Grady said her long-term goal is to grow the business into a full-service beauty and wellness destination for Maryville locals and surrounding residents.
“In the future, I’d love to offer more services and products that help people not just look great but feel great too,” Grady said. “I want Glow Studio to be a place where everyone can come to relax, recharge and leave feeling their absolute best.”
PROPOSED MISSOURI CONGRESSIONAL MAP
2022 had Kansas City, Missouri, and surrounding areas within Congressional District 5. He said by including these communities within one district, it was determined they are all similar in their diversity, economics and city planning.
The Missouri First Map does not change two of the present districts. It also retains all members of the Missouri congressional delegation within the districts they represent, according to Kehoe’s website. The website also states there are fewer counties and municipalities split by the 2025 map.
The redistricting provisions were introduced to the Missouri House of Representatives Sept. 3, according to the Missouri House of Representatives; it was then presented to the Missouri Secretary of State Sept. 29. The bill was carried through this legislative process within one month. Bastian said this occurred quicker than it normally would have.
“In rushing the map through the legislative process, state officials also failed to properly allocate population between the new districts,” Bastian said.
As stated within the petition created by the ACLU of Missouri, the 2025 map should be taken out of law, and Missouri
should go back to the 2022 map. A political action group called People Not Politicians Missouri has filed a citizen’s referendum to put the new map on a Missouri ballot in 2026. This group argues that the 2025 map is an act of gerrymandering, which is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or class, according to the English Oxford Dictionary There must be at least 106,000 signatures gathered for the petition to be successful. In doing so, the 2025 map’s installment would be delayed until after the vote is completed, according to the National Public Radio. Bastian said gerrymandered maps cause one political leaning to have more representation than the other. He said this tactic is used to give politicians the power to group residents based on how they might be perceived to vote. By doing this, Bastian said minority groups oftentimes become underrepresented.
“This unprecedented move is an attack on our democracy intended to take power away from voters and cement it in the federal government,” Bastian said. “Missouri voters should choose their elected officials, not (Washington,) D.C. elites hellbent on consolidating power at the federal level.”
LOGAN ZIEGLER Missourian Reporter | @TheMissourian
INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA CASE DESIGNER
ANNA BAILEY News Editor | @AmBailey16
EMILIA RAMANAUSKAS PHOTOGRAPHER
Glow Studio owner Nicole Grady opened her new business offering various eyelash services Oct. 23. The studio is located at 104 S. Main St., Suite B.
SOURCE: GOV. MIKE KEHOE
Driving safety program brought to NW Missouri
In 2023, around 90 million licensed drivers in the U.S. were over the age of 55, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration. The Keep Your Keys program aims to keep these drivers safe.
Keep Your Keys is a driver safety course for older drivers that also includes information valuable to caretakers and health educators. The program is run by the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and it has a presentation scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Nodaway County Senior Center in Maryville.
Many of the people in attendance are caretakers or family members of someone aged 55 or older, so they learn how to detect changes in driving ability. The presentation can help start the conversation with a loved one about retiring from driving.
The presentation introduces tips for observing driving skills, developing a plan to keep seniors social and active, and evaluating
that plan to ensure success. Beth Koster, the outreach coordinator for University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia, Missouri, said the presentation can benefit drivers of all ages.
“If you listen to the program, you’re going to get tips to make yourself a better driver,” Koster said. “The ones that come in that are younger are oftentimes the caregivers, and they want ideas on how they can make the easiest transition from driving to maybe a partial driving retirement.”
The program provides tips and ideas on how attendees can maintain their driving status. The presentation is around 35 minutes and covers the importance of self-assessing one’s current driving abilities. The presentation covers how to prepare for parttime or full-time driving retirement by finding alternative rides.
One of the facilitators in the Maryville area, Christy Pearce, said there’s a lot of planning that goes into driving retirement.
“We ask them to think about making a driving plan for transportation in the event that these things happen,” Pearce said.
“If you fall, you could be out of commission for longer than the average that you’re used to, so you have to figure out a plan.”
Keep Your Keys began in 2015 in Columbia, Missouri and has recently seen growth in the rest of the state of Missouri. In 2020, the program wrote a grant to the Missouri Department of Transportation to take the program statewide. After receiving the grant, the program began training facilitators throughout the state. Koster said there are three facilitators in the Northwest Missouri area.
“People have a person right there within your community that they can contact if they’re interested in having a presentation set up,” Koster said.
The caregiver presentation focuses on the steps of planning a retirement from driving. Keep Your Keys emphasizes the care and planning that must go into starting this conversation.
With the expansion into the rest of the state, Keep Your Keys has hosted 43 events with around 670 attendants across the state of Missouri.
SOURCE: IIHS HLDI
Holiday Market gives small businesses chance to network
RAIEA SALERNO News Reporter | @Raiea_Salerno
Some families started their Christmas shopping at the Holiday Market this past Saturday, where local businesses promoted their products and developed a rapport with the community.
The Kitchen and Bath Source owner Michelle Wickersham and Activate Your Health business office manager Traci Copple co-hosted the event 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1 at their 1315 S. Main St. location. The event aimed to boost small businesses that may not be well-known within the community.
Entrepreneur Claire Walter is a 17-year-old student at Maryville High School. She is a triple-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and volleyball. However, she also has a passion for baking, which eventually led to her starting her cookie business, Claire’s Cookies, last year.
Walter showcased various flavors of cookies at the Holiday Market. She said the market allows business owners to show off their talent and hard work.
“I just think everybody here has really good stuff...they’re all really talented,” Walter said.
Walter said she enjoys promoting her business and meeting new people, and would attend the Holiday Market if it happens again.
Bobby Smith, owner of Grumpy Toad Toggery, is a retired Master Sergeant for the Missouri National Guard. He retired in 2022 after 31 years of service in the military and started his business in 2024.
Smith displayed trucker hats, T-shirts and patches. His business originated as a men’s creative apparel store. He worked at a graphic design shop in St. Joseph after retirement and got the idea to start his own business after enjoying the creative freedom of the job.
Smith said he appreciates the efforts of Wickersham and Copple for hosting the event because he was able to advertise his business outside of where he is based in Albany, Missouri.
“This is vital to small businesses, and especially expanding out into different markets,” Smith said. “In rural Missouri, if you’re just maintaining, you’re going in reverse. You got to be moving forward or you’re moving backwards.”
Wickersham said through the Holiday Market, she emphasized the importance of shopping locally. She said she wanted to make a positive impact on businesses, vendors and the community.
“I feel like it’s always good to get community into your locally owned businesses,” Wickersham said. “We’ve had a lot of people come in today, and they’re like, ‘Oh, we never knew that you had all this.’ So it gives them a chance to come in and just check out what we have to offer.”
Patrick Mullins is the owner of Mullins Honey and PM Sharpening Service, based out of Skidmore, Missouri. Mullins Honey has been selling honey to Maryville for over 15 years. He said his honey is locally gathered and raw, and it is advertised as such to his customers, so they are aware of what is inside the products.
MICHELLE WICKERSHAM OWNER THE KITCHEN AND BATH SOURCE “
I feel like it’s always good to get community into your locally owned businesses.”
As a longtime business owner, his biggest advice to smaller businesses is to be honest about what is being sold, including ingredients and whether they are locally sourced or not.
He said he wants to provide good-quality honey to the community due to its high demand and continue selling honestly advertised honey to consumers.
“We’ve never had any trouble selling honey and selling out,” Mullins said. “Honey is a pretty good thing to sell because everybody knows what it is. If you’re selling a good product, they will come back.”
MICAH STOLLEY Contributing Writer | @TheMissourian
Grumpy Toad Toggery owner Bobby Smith presses patches onto a trucker hat for a customer at his Hat Bar during the Holiday Market Nov. 1.
ALLI DUARTE COPY EDITOR
INFOGRAPHIC
CRIME LOG
for the week of Nov. 6
Maryville Department of Public Safety
Oct. 31
There was a summons issued to Nicolas E. Morales 18, for no valid driver’s license on the 100 block of North Main Street.
Oct. 29
There was an accident between Kaylie M. Long, 16, and Ashley N. Fletcher, 38, on the 600 block of East 14th Street. There was a summons issued to Tiffany D. Moore, 43, for driving while intoxicated on the 300 block of East Summit Drive.
There is an ongoing investigation for forgery on the 300 block of East Third Street.
Oct. 26
There was a summons issued to Mason L. Brumley 19, for driving while intoxicated, improper display of license plates and failure to maintain financial responsibility on the 1200 block of East Crestview Drive.
There was an accident between Keatyn D. Eller , 22, and Rudi A. Perez Hernandez , 46, on North Main Street and East Fifth Street.
There was a summons issued to Nashanth N. Gochipata, 20, for no valid driver’s license and improper display of license plates on the 600 block of North Water Street.
There was a summons issued to Emma G. Harper 20, for minor in possession, failure to maintain financial responsibility and failure to properly affix license plate on the 500 block of Prather Avenue.
Oct. 25
There was a summons issued to Amanda J. Moody, 25, for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street. There was a summons issued to Zachary T. Fitzpatrick, 20, and Alexander J. Hatcher, 20, for minor in possession, disorderly conduct and possession of a fake ID on the 300 block of North Market Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for tampering with a motor vehicle on the 300 block of West Fifth Street.
Oct. 24
There was a summons issued to Isaac A. Portman, 19, for minor in possession on the 300 block of North Market Street.
There was a summons issued to Hurbano G. Valle, 40, for supplying alcohol to a minor on the 2700 block of South Main Street.
Oct. 20
There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 100 block of South Vine Street.
Oct. 19
There is an ongoing investigation for larceny on the 1600 block of South Main Street.
There is an ongoing investigation for fraud on the 100 block of North Vine Street.
There were summonses issued to Gary H. Russell, 20, Briar L. Hudlemeyer, 18, Kayden G. Brooke, 19, and Grant Williams, 20, for minor in possession on the 1100 block of South Main Street.
Oct. 16
There is an ongoing investigation for harassment on the 700 block of East Third Street.
Oct. 14
There is an ongoing investigation for property damage on the 500 block of South Saunders Street.
Senate approves new political club
Student Senate approved a Northwest chapter of deceased political activist Charlie Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA at Senate’s meeting Nov. 4.
The Board for the Northwest chapter consists of President Hayden Thrasher, Vice President Julia Shumate, Secretary Lily Hansen and Treasurer Brock Uthe.
Thrasher said he wanted to start something that could be a safe space for articulating civil discussions about political topics. He said Kirk’s quote, “When people stop talking, really bad stuff starts,” is a motto the Northwest chapter of Turning Point USA stresses.
“We believe in civil sessions,” Thrasher said. “I think one of the biggest events we’ve talked about is trying to figure out something that can help us articulate our beliefs the civil way better so that we don’t have this division.”
On Campus Rep. Eli Bosley said if students are willing to engage in peaceful rhetoric and discussion about political issues, then Turning Point USA is a great organization to make that happen.
Bosley said the approval of the Northwest chapter of Turning Point USA would be a good addition to campus in replacement of the Northwest chapter of College Republicans being disbanded.
“They (Truman State University) founded a Turning Point (USA) chapter there,” Bosley said. “When I transferred here from Truman, this was one of my main goals: to get a Turning Point chapter here, and I think it would be great.”
Thrasher said the purpose of the Northwest chapter is to educate students on Turning Point USA’s values and to provide a
welcoming space for all students to engage in political discussion. There are no mandatory dues to join the organization.
Thrasher plans to invite guest speakers to the organization. He said the Northwest chapter will add as much security to these events as possible in consideration of Kirk’s assassination Sept. 10.
Meetings are 3:30-5 p.m. every Tuesday for executive members and every other Tuesday for general members, but general members or students wanting to get more involved with the organization are welcome to join.
Junior Class Rep. Gracie Brendle said there are concerns surrounding this organization possibly arriving on campus, but reminded Senate members that any organization would be
“We’re here 24/7, so if you see us out and about, be sure to say ‘Hi,’” Cullin said. “We have a lot of different programs that we run in the res (residence) halls, so stop by and chat with us.”
Having a strong relationship between the campus police and
removed if they violate bylaws.
“If anything were to happen where anybody was hurt or harmed or discriminated against, there would be a way to stop it,” Brendle said. “I know that there’s a lot going on in this potential organization, but they have the freedom to speak and the freedom to do whatever, just as any other organization, so everyone is protected. Everything is going to be OK, no matter how you feel, which way you go.”
Also during the meeting, the Physical Education Professionals Club asked for $1,112.32 to help fund a trip to the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators Convention Nov. 14-16 at Lake of the Ozarks. The organization
To begin the session, Ballew said to the attendees that this feedback is necessary for continuing the search.
“There’s a job description for every position, and we have a very clear job description for a provost, but that job description doesn’t say how they should do that job, or what the university specifically needs in its next provost,” Ballew said.
Ballew posed multiple questions for the attendees. He began by asking what qualities should be looked for while searching for the next provost.
University Marketing and Communications Creative Services Manager Kim Surprise attended the first session. She said the next provost should be able to lead with passion.
“I think it will be important for this individual to share their vision and lead with enthusiasm and excitement,” Surprise said.
There were common themes brought up among the attendees, some of which included having a provost who is present throughout campus, is available to staff members and is adaptable.
Ballew said Wheless and he will break down the conversations had at each session and organize the common trends that were discussed.
“As we are talking to candidates, we will look for these things that we have heard these groups tell us that we need to be looking at, such as in-
the students is key to having a safe and secure learning environment. In a study done by Eastern Illinois University, impactful relations between university police and students are based on positive interactions that build trust.
Being as welcoming as possible allows all students to feel comfortable approaching university police with any concerns or issues.
Cullin said it was important to find officers who were ready to face all the challenges that come from policing a university.
“We were looking for them to have the ability to de-escalate situations and build relationships and be able to enforce laws, statutes, as well as our policies and procedures here on campus,” Cullin said.
Working as a police officer for a college brings different challenges than a local police force.
Officers are expected to make a
aims to network with physical educators and other members of MOSHAPE. MOSHAPE aims to educate and encourage Missourians to be more physically active and healthier, according to its website. It does this through instructional programs and educational events, which physical educators often attend.
The club raised a total of $496 in fundraising within its total goal of $1,608.48 for the trip. Senate approved the full appropriation following its Vice President Alli Poage’s presentation.
“(I’m) grateful for the chance to represent Northwest here at this convention,” Poage said. “It just gives us the opportunity to network, meet new people and diversify our teaching.”
dividuals who support collegial relationships,” Ballew said.
Northwest Assistant Director of Clinical Field Experience at the School of Education Cathy Barr also took part in the first session. She said she felt like it was her responsibility as a staff member to attend.
Barr said the next provost should be flexible, visible on campus and possess strong communication skills. She said one area she believes is important to look at is enrollment.
“We’re getting students that are not going to college, they are going to trade school and things like that,” Barr said. “If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we’re not going to get where we need to go, so be innovative and think outside the box and be not afraid to try new things to get that enrollment up.”
Ballew also discussed factors that may make a candidate not want to come to Northwest. A topic largely brought up amongst attendees was the changes the University has undergone recently. These include the recent academic restructuring and the infrastructure modernization project.
Amid discussion, Surprise said it is important the next provost is able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“What my meaning was, is just having the big picture in mind, being open to all possibilities and just, again, being able to share that vision and create buy-in from everyone to where they adapt it to be their vision as well,” Surprise said.
lasting impression through education and insight while maintaining a safe campus.
AMANDA CULLIN
The pillars of success, a set of principles meant to guide officers on how to establish a competent force, are essential to the hiring process for first responders. Cul-
lin said these are crucial for the department and its stakeholders.
“We have our pillars of success… that talks about our members’ and stakeholders’ expectations,” Cullin said.
The beginning of the semester brought the end of Sgt. Jeremy Staples’ decade-long career at Northwest. He is now the School Resource Officer at the Maryville R-II School District.
The department has stayed busy on campus, from introducing the new position holders, to working to build strong relationships with all students and faculty.
Cullin wants all students to know the Department is here to help with all issues.
“They (students) can always get on our schedule if they have had an incident or need to have a conversation about a concern,” Cullin said. “It’s about creating a safe environment to live and to learn.”
Northwest Turning Point USA chapter Vice President Julia Shumate, Treasurer Brock Uthe, Secretary Lily Hansen and President Hayden Thrasher present to Student Senate during the Nov. 4 meeting.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
Taking time for yourself is necessary; it’s OK to limit your to-do list
HANNAH CLAYWELL Editor-in-Chief @Hannah_9504
Maybe it’s because I am nearing the end of my college journey, but I am starting to reflect on how much we are expected to do as students.
I’m not mad I have homework; I’m talking about how much I feel is placed upon me on top of that. I’m not only taking classes, but I am also working several jobs and am involved in several organizations.
I know that it’s optional to pick up the extras in college — but it’s really not. If I want to pay for my classes, food or anything I might need, I have to work. If I want to get the most out of my college experience and not sit in my room alone every night, I have to be involved.
I do this to myself, but it’s expected of me. I love being a part of everything I am, but I’m feeling extreme burnout. More than half of students experience academic burnout, according to the National Library of Medicine.
My class work comes first; it always has. I am completely fine with that; however, I need to have activities outside of classes to fulfill other social needs. There are some people on campus who forget there are other things outside of class we are involved in.
If you know me, you know I am probably involved in too many things, but it’s felt different this year. It feels like everything is happening at once, and I know I’m not alone in that feeling. I am trying my best to avoid the senior slumps, but I feel like I need a break sometimes. Sometimes it feels like we can’t take breaks, though. One missed class and suddenly I’m miles behind. While skipping class isn’t the solution, there are other ways to take breaks.
I’m working on allowing myself to take those breaks. If that means I miss a meeting for one of my extracurriculars or don’t go out on a Saturday night, then I have to remind myself that it’s not the end of the world. I will admit, I suffer from FOMO, but I also have worked on being able to say ‘No’ when I know I need to prioritize something other than being with my friends or joining another organization. As college students, we need to be able to prioritize ourselves sometimes. I’m not saying to skip all your classes or not turn in some homework, but recognize when you feel that burnout approaching. There are ways to cope with it, including getting organized, making time to do things you enjoy and taking breaks while studying.
We’re here to get our degrees, but a lot of us came to college for the experience as well. We can do both — there just needs to be understanding between everyone on campus, including professors, organization leaders and our peers.
College is a lot, we all know that. Saying no to things we might not want to or taking time to prioritize ourselves is necessary to get through it.
We’re all doing a lot to be active parts of campus; take time for yourself and avoid burnout as best as you can.
CADEN WILLMANN CARTOONIST
Misinformation is easy to fall for; do your own research
While growing up, we all always heard, “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.” An estimated 50% of information on the internet is either unreliable or false, and three out of 10 people fall for these traps. Checking sources and verifying authenticity should become a routine when analyzing media, especially with the rise in AI content and misleading information.
Throughout any form of media or communication, you could be tricked into clicking or believing information presented. At the most recent Board of Regents meeting, it was recorded that students are being scammed by AI, according to Northwest’s annual Cybersecurity report update.
Each school year, Northwest’s cybersecurity office sends out phishing emails to test students’ responses to these attacks and sends reminders to be vigilant against them. Each time this happens, a few students fall for it.
This school year, students reported receiving spam texts from someone disguising themselves as University President Lance Tatum, trying to obtain valuable student information. This seems like common sense, but it’s so
realistic students fall for the trap.
Generative AI is creating convincing phishing tools designed to deceive individuals into believing whatever they see. We are starting to notice that AI videos are becoming harder to distinguish. If it weren’t for branded AI watermarks or common AI discrepancies on some videos, you could be fooled into believing they’re real, while it used to be easily recognizable.
Sora is a popular new app that can generate realistic videos of whoever doing whatever the user wants. Earlier this year, we all saw these videos become an issue with a viral video of someone throwing trash out of the White House windows. United States President Donald Trump claimed this video was AI. We don’t know the truth, but this is concerning regarding what to believe as real or fake online.
Apps like Yik Yak and Tea - Dating Safety for Women are culprits of spreading fake news anonymously and are even being removed from app stores due to it. Nowadays, you can’t rely on getting your information from social media outlets, as much of the news is not credible, and anyone could just be doing it for engagement
and ragebait. You can’t mindlessly believe what the general population is saying because you don’t know where they’re getting this information, and anyone can be caught up in a lie.
We often see this phenomenon politically, particularly among journalists and reporters. The Ad Fontes Interactive Media Bias Chart is a visual tool that illustrates a media outlet’s political leanings and how reliable the information they’re stating is. This is concerning with whatever media people consume, and if they don’t know the organization’s biases, they can get caught up in one-sided lies. This chart is important to understand and utilize to not get incorrect information and affect your judgment on an individual or issue that could be misleading.
We can’t rely on social media to be our main source of information without doing our own research. Information on social media spreads faster than traditional news, which is caused by individuals falling for the trap and spreading it to their peers. Before believing and spreading misinformation, take the time to evaluate and research the information before blindly trusting the content you receive.
YOUR VIEW: MIA FRAZIER Junior Early Childhood Education
What’s your main source of news?
THE STROLLER:
CONNOR MORTON Freshman Molecular Biology
“I think mostly, like, I’ll see something on Instagram and then look it up to verify, but I don’t really watch the news or read anything.”
“I get most of my news from TikTok, Northwest Standard and then emails. That’s primarily where I get my news from, unless my dad or boyfriend says something.”
MIAH BERRIE Freshman General Biology
“Generally through my roommate or through the RAs.”
Your Bearcat prefers to take the photos
I’m tired of looking awful in every photo that’s taken of me. Every time one of my friends takes a photo of me, I look insane. While I get down on the ground for my friends, I am stuck with the same unflattering angles taken of me every time. When I take a photo of myself, I look like an angel — not actually, but you know what I mean. They don’t have to be awardwinning photos, but a little better than a blurry, weirdly
cropped photo would be nice.
I’m going to make my semester recap post on Instagram, and it’s going to be some of the worst photos anyone has ever seen. I am willing to start training them, but they aren’t prepared for the rigorous lessons they’ll go through. I know they have it in them. They can take good photos of themselves — how different can it really be to turn around the camera?
Nothing compares to the pain of asking my parents to
take my picture. Not only do I know there will be teasing, but it will look like a mugshot. Don’t worry, they’ll still tell me I look so amazing, though. Every year on my birthday, I dread the post my mom makes for me. Every photo she’s ever taken of me from the last year features my craziest facial expressions and worst hair days. Actually, I need everyone to stop telling me I look good in the horrendous photos they take of me. Stop lying, please,
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
and take a better photo. All I’m asking for is to get what I am giving — Instagramworthy pictures. One of my favorite pastimes is looking at the photos of myself I post. How am I going to do that with zero good photos?
For now, I have to resort to selfies and hope no one notices too much.
The Stroller has been a tradition since 1918 and does not reflect the views of the Northwest Missourian.
OUR VIEW:
UPCOMING GAMES
NW FB
vs. Missouri Western
1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 Bearcat Stadium
vs. Pittsburg State
1:30 p.m. Nov. 15
Children’s Mercy Park
NW VB
@ Missouri Southern
6 p.m. Nov. 7
Joplin, Missouri
@ Central Missouri
7 p.m. Nov. 8
Warrensburg, Missouri
@ Fort Hays State
6 p.m. Nov. 14 Hays, Kansas
NW WBB
vs. Livin’ The Dream (Exhibition)
6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 Bearcat Arena
vs. Sioux Falls
1 p.m. Nov. 14
St. Joseph, Missouri
vs. Wayne State Noon Nov. 15 St. Joseph, Missouri
NW MBB
vs. Augustana
4 p.m. Nov. 15
St. Joseph, Missouri
vs. St. Cloud State
4 p.m. Nov. 14
St. Joseph, Missouri
MHS SOC vs. Excelsior Springs
6 p.m. Nov. 6
Smithville High School
MHS FB vs. Pembroke Hill
7 p.m. Nov. 7 Hound Pound
Volleyball seeks postseason spot
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
Sitting No. 11 in the MIAA, the Bearcat volleyball team (8-13, 2-10 MIAA) has hopes of making the conference tournament with just four remaining games on the road.
The team ended its home contention Oct. 31 through Nov. 1 with back-to-back losses to Emporia State University (21-2, 10-2 MIAA) and No. 2 Washburn University (185, 9-3 MIAA). Head coach Amy Woerth said the ’Cats can bounce back to punch their ticket to the tournament.
The top eight teams will go to the conference tournament. Woerth set goals for the team ahead of the homestretch of the season: learn from past mistakes and focus on present opportunities.
“There were some good parts of the weekend,” Woerth said. “It’s just not that we’re putting them together in successive rallies, and so you look at that we beat Emporia State…we ended it on a block. We need to
add more of those together to get more of a cohesive push and more momentum going.”
This past weekend, the team also celebrated its seniors. One in particular is middle hitter Kate Frakes, who totaled three blocks over the weekend. Frakes has been a key player for the Bearcat offense on and off the court.
Frakes said if the ’Cats offense continues to build more of a connection with senior setter Ella Caffery, the chances of making the tournament are within reach.
“I think we’re kind of having the mindset of, we still have four opportunities left to win,” Frakes said. “Our chances of getting in the tournament aren’t over, so we’re just learning from these last games but not thinking too much about (and) not dwelling on the losses and thinking about ‘What can we do for these next games to really capitalize on the opportunity to get those wins?’’’
The first plan of attack is taking down the Missouri Southern State University Lions (9-15, 3-9 MIAA), who currently sit No. 9 in the MIAA conference. Woerth doesn’t see
the game as anything different from what the Bearcats have already seen this season; she sees it as a chance to move in the rankings.
In the past few weeks, the team has struggled to get past 20 points in a set, but Woerth said the team is inching in the right direction ahead of the game against the Lions.
“We’ve got to win,” Woerth said. “We don’t talk about it (losing); we’ve talked about it this week, but we’re going to get to five (points) first, then 10, and play a more complete game with what we’re doing. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is right now — put a sheet on the net from that piece. It’s just the fact that we’ve got to play together better and figure out how to get past that threshold that we’ve been hitting with (the) middle of the game and just play a clean slate of volleyball.”
The match against the Lions will be the first test for the Bearcats as they inch closer to the end of the season and a shot at tournament play. First serve against the Lions is 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at Missouri Southern at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium in Joplin, Missouri.
SENIORS
CONTINUED FROM A8
The ’Cats hold an 11-game win streak against the Griffons, and both McMenamin and Power said with Missouri Western being a physical offense, the ’Cats must be on their A-game.
The Griffons are No. 1 in rushing defense in the MIAA, and McMenamin sees that as a chance to make improvements for the Bearcats and open the game on the right foot.
The Bearcats are seeking an MIAA title for the first time since the 2021 season, in which the senior class was a part — leaving their mark on the program one snap at a time.
Kickoff for the Highway-71 rivalry will be 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Bearcat Stadium. Prior to the game, the team will celebrate its seniors.
“I think to me being a Bearcat just means being something bigger than yourself,” Power said. “You can break that down a couple different ways — but Saturday, given the enormity of the game and Senior Day that only happens once, I think just being in the moment a little will be nice to kind of look around for a second and realize where you’re at.”
Northwest volleyball senior setter Ella Caffery prepares for a bump during the Bearcats’ 3-0 loss to Missouri Western State University
24. Northwest plays next on the road against Missouri Southern State University
Senior quarterback Chris Ruhnke takes off for a rush during the Bearcats’ 14-0 win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney Oct. 25. Northwest is now ranked No. 14.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Maryville soccer advances to district final
The Maryville Spoofhounds boys soccer team (11-3-1) advanced to the Class 2 District 8 Championship after a double extra-time thriller against the No. 2 Smithville High School Warriors (12-9).
The ’Hounds earned the No. 3 seed heading into the tournament after closing their regular season out with a seven-game win streak. The team is led by its eight seniors, including forward Tuan Jacobson, who has been at the forefront of plenty of goal contributions for the team this season. The Warriors and Spoofhounds found themselves in a rematch game for the district semifinals, with the Warriors having won the first game 2-0 Sept. 16.
The semifinal match kicked off and turned out to be a double extra-time showdown. With the game headed into extra time, tied at four in this win-or-gohome game, both teams looked for a moment to send their team to the championship.
Jacobson said his team’s effort showed in how they were able to come out with the victory.
“The win was a chance game; we knew from the start we had to give it our all,” Jacobson said. “Knowing our team and how we play, that’s how we connected and secured our spot.”
After the first extra time came to an end, it called for a second extra time as the teams were still tied. If there was still a tie following this, the game would head to a penalty shoot-
out. However, during the second half of extra time, the ’Hounds were fouled in the box, winning a penalty kick.
Senior defender Cooper Lynn stepped up for the penalty and slotted it away, sending the team through to the championship game and giving them a 5-4 win over the Warriors.
The ’Hounds’ first district game was against the No. 6 Chillicothe Hornets (5-12). Maryville
went out and played a defensive game and won 3-0 against the Hornets, sending them home and ending their season.
Head coach Matt Stoecklein said that his team played well and played strong defense.
“We played as a team and passed the ball really well,” Stoecklein said. “The defense did not allow a real shot on goal by keeping the ball out of the middle of the field.”
The Spoofhounds will play the No. 1 seed Excelsior Springs High School Tigers (14-7) in the finals of the district tournament.
The Tigers had a first round bye for the tournament and took down the Savannah High School Savages (10-7) with a score of 6-2 in their semifinal game Nov. 4.
In what will be a tough final game, both the Spoofhounds and the Tigers will come ready, as only one will advance to state.
The Spoofhounds will play the district final against the Tigers 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Smithville High School, as Smithville is the host school for District 8 this season. Jacobson said his team will have to give it their all to win this game. “We know what we have and what they are; it comes down to who wants it more,” Jacobson said. “Recovery is crucial tomorrow, and we need to regroup and play the game we know how to.”
Women’s basketball prepares for exhibition after two losses
LEAH COX Asst. Sports Editor | @byleahcox
Despite opening the season with back-to-back losses, the young Northwest Bearcat women’s basketball team gained valuable experience at the Division II College Commissioners Association Tip-Off Classic.
The ’Cats fell 56-51 to the Adams State University Grizzly Bears (1-1) Oct. 31, then dropped a 67-51 matchup against the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes (11) Nov. 2.
Head coach Austin Meyer said nine of the team’s 12 active players are freshman and sophomores, making the tournament an important test against experienced opponents.
“We are a really young team, a team that doesn’t have a lot of experience on the floor,” Meyers said. “So it was great experience for us and we played two really good teams.”
Despite the gap in experience between the Bearcats and Buffalo the ’Cats put up a fight, but a string of fouls dug the team a hole that they couldn’t claw out of.
“I thought we played re-
ally hard, we battled,” Meyer said. “We had a lead at the end of the first quarter, we were down five at the end of the third quarter, and got some silly fouls there, and went from five to 10 in the last minute and a half of the third and that was the game changer.”
The Bearcats collected 20 turnovers in the game — something that Meyer said has been uncharacteristic for the team compared to previous seasons.
Last year, the team ranked No. 3 in Division II for the least turnovers per game, with an average of 11.6 per game.
In just two games, the ’Cats have tallied 40 turnovers, with their opponents scoring 21 points. Meyer said turnovers are the team’s main focus moving forward.
“We turned it over way too much over the weekend, and part of that is the other teams and the defensive pressure that we went against,” Meyer said.
Offensively for the team, junior guard Andrea Lopreato has been a play maker. She has scored 26 points with six rebounds, starting in both of the games so far.
Another leader for the ’Cats
is senior guard Ella Moody, who has also started in both games collecting 52 minutes of playing time. Moody has scored 18 points, two assists and two steals.
turnovers have been tallied within two games for the Bearcats.
“We feel like we’re a team that’s really together, we feel like a team that has talent,” Meyer said. “It felt like that toughness, that fight, was something we were looking for. It felt like we had that this weekend, just playing really hard defensively, not backing down, being physical.”
The Bearcats will take the weekend off before their exhibition match against Livin’ The Dream, an exhibition team filled with former college players and current processional players, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in Bearcat Arena.
CLAYTON CULP Missourian Reporter | @NWMSports
Northwest women’s basketball senior guard Ella Moody passes upcourt in the Bearcats’ 77-35 win over Central College Oct. 28. Moody scored 26 points with six rebounds across both of the Bearcats’ losses Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.
ALLY JEFFRIES PHOTOGRAPHER
Maryville boys soccer senior forward Tuan Jacobson points after scoring a goal in the Spoofhounds’ 4-2 victory over Savannah High School Oct. 16. The Spoofhounds defeated Smithville High School 5-4 in double overtime Nov. 4 and will play Excelsior Springs High School in the District Championship 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Smithville.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
RETURN TO GLORY
Football senior class reflects on MIAA history
41 wins and earned two NCAA playoff visits, as well as the 2021 MIAA regular season title.
Senior Day is always a big celebration, and for the No. 14 Bearcat football team (8-1, 7-0 MIAA), it means much more — especially with 22 of its starters graduating.
With a new head coach coming in during the off-season, nine starters transferred out, but senior defensive tackle Clayton Power stayed put for the Bearcats and has been a leader on and off the field.
“I think it’s really a tribute to our culture here, and that’s been built before us,” Power said. “Having a senior class that heavy just means that a lot of guys believe in playing something bigger than themselves, and a lot of us seniors kind of embodied that this last offseason.”
Power has been a big player on the defensive side of the team, with seven tackles and one and a half sacks against the Emporia State University Hornets Nov. 1. Power and the remaining senior class have produced
The team is coming off another big win against the Hornets.
The Bearcats clawed through for a 41-14 win and held the Hornets to 71 yards of total offense.
The game marked the third time this season the ’Cats have held their opponents to less than 200 offensive yards.
Looking ahead to the rivalry game against the Missouri Western State University Griffons (3-6, 2-5 MIAA), first-year head coach John McMenamin said the senior class holds a special place in the program, and having such a big group is a blessing for the team.
“All we knew was the dudes that were here wanted to be here, and they wanted to be a Bearcat, and they wanted to do whatever it took to get to where they needed to be,” McMenamin said. “There was nobody that was half in or half out. That’s powerful, and I’m just fortunate. It’s been 10 times better than I could have ever imagined.”
Northwest soccer ready for conference tournament
The Northwest Bearcat soccer team (10-6-1, 7-4-1 MIAA) is looking toward the MIAA conference tournament following their last regular season matchup against the Missouri Western State University Griffons (10-2-6, 6-2-4 MIAA) Nov. 5.
The ’Cats faced off with the Griffons, falling 1-0. Head coach Marc Gordon said the game against the Griffons was beneficial for both teams heading into postseason play.
“It’s a hard-fought match, and I think both teams can get something out of it regardless of the result,” Gordon said. “Being at home, you want that extra effort — protect the house.”
The top eight teams in the conference make the tournament, with the top four highest regular-season seeds hosting the quarterfinals Nov. 9.
The Bearcats finished No. 5 in the MIAA and made multiple appearances in the national rankings, achieving as high as No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll Oct. 14.
Although the last few matches of the season did not fall in favor of Northwest, including a 3-0 fall to the No. 19 Washburn University Ichabods (11-2-4, 8-0-3 MIAA) Oct. 31, Gordon said the team has tried to rebound from the losses.
Bearcat basketball starts season at D2CCA Tip-O ff, splits games
The Northwest men’s basketball team split its first two contests of the season during the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph Oct. 31. The Bearcats lost 71-49 to the Minnesota State University Mavericks (1-1) Oct. 31 after trailing by just six at halftime to begin their season. Northwest recovered the next day with help from a 12-point spark off the bench by transfer senior guard Matthew Mayes to scrape by the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons (0, 2) 82-79.
In his second season as the head coach, Matt Keeley said the two opening games of the season came with experiences he plans to capitalize on.
“There were a lot of things in the first two games you’d hope for — a little bit of adversity, a little bit of flaws being put on
display — we’re going to get back in the gym this week and next week and work on shoring those things up,” Keeley said. Transfer senior guards Royce Williams and Aiden Gair led the ’Cats in scoring over the first two games. The guards averaged a combined 26.5 points per game in their first two matches as Bearcats. Gair tallied nine assists and four rebounds. The duo made up the starting backcourt and accounted for 53 of Northwest’s 131 points.
Gair is one of 13 new players on the roster this season for the Bearcats, but the fifth different collegiate basketball team he has been a part of. Despite only two returners on the roster, Gair said the team plays with one goal in mind.
“It’s like we’re brothers, man, we don’t have any ill-will towards one another,” Gair said.
“We all just want to win. (We have) the understanding that we got each other’s backs, and we
can go out and tell you if you’re messing up, or you can tell me if I’m messing up, and then go fix it because we all have the same goal: we want to win.”
With a fresh season, a plethora of new players and obstacles ahead, Keeley said regardless of what the roster looks like, every team is unique in handling those obstacles.
The ’Cats’ next contest comes 4 p.m. Nov. 14 in St. Joseph at the Missouri Western State University Fieldhouse, as part of the Hillyard Tipoff Classic. That contest marks the first game of two in the tournament, as the Bearcats face the St. Cloud State University Huskies (0, 0).
The Bearcats will also face the Augustana University Vikings (0, 0) 4 p.m. Nov. 15. After the conclusion of the weekend, they will return home to take on the Missouri Valley College Vikings (2-1) 6 p.m. Nov. 17 for the first game in Bearcat Stadium of the season.
“It’s easy to kind of get on that slippery slope,” Gordon said. “You look past or forget about the next game when you have kind of a high profile game like we had and didn’t go as we wanted.”
The team also earned their first and only tie of the season with a scoreless match against the Emporia State University Hornets (8-5-4, 5-2-4 MIAA) Nov. 2. The team recorded three shots on goal in the match and held the Hornets to just two corner kicks.
Gordon said it was a great response from the team to come back from the loss against the Ichabods and be able to put up a fight. Although the team did not come out with a win, senior goalkeeper Lily Ellis earned her ninth shutout of the season, bringing her career total to 36.
During the regular season, the team scored 24 goals and only allowed 17. Junior forward Makenna West led the team with seven goals while senior forward Margaret Madden scored four. Heading into the conference tournament, Gordon said the team is prioritizing finding their identity again.
“We’d gotten away a little bit from who we are — a passing and moving team — but we started to see that again,” Gordon said.
OLIVIA WALLACE Sports Editor | @_oliviawallace_
Northwest football senior linebacker Parker Bowen dives for a tackle during the Bearcats’ 14-0 win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney Oct. 25. Northwest will face Missouri Western State University next 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Bearcat Stadium.
MITCHELL HARVEY CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Northwest women’s soccer senior goalkeeper Lily Ellis sprawls out after blocking a goal during the Bearcats’ 2-0 loss against No. 19 Washburn University Oct. 31.
NATHAN NODA PHOTO EDITOR
KEATON SMITH Sports Reporter | @keatonsmedia