The Stylus- November 9, 2018

s u l y t S e h T

Volume 124

ISSUE

2018-19

#4

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A student publication of Park University since 1895

FB: ParkUniversityStylus stylus@park.edu November 9, 2018

Lot N expansion could bring loss of historic building Kalie Strain Reporter Parking lot M, one of the two parking lots that Copley Quad residents can park in, was closed indefinitely on October 28. Copley Quad residents now must park in lot N, the parking lot by the Julian Field, or in Chestnut’s parking lot.

In the email sent from Dean of Students Jayme Uden, Ed. D., to Copley Quad residents he said, “The lot will become the staging area for the construction of a new commercial building on the corner of 6th Street.”

As of right now there haven’t been any more specifics on what the commercial building is. In previous town halls Park University President, Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., has mentioned a parking garage being built somewhere in the area. That hasn’t been verified nor is it known if students would be able to use the garage if it is built. Uden and President Greg Gunderson, Ph.D., did not respond to interview requests for clarification.

Karie Fields, director of residence life, verified that there are enough parking spots in lot N to accommodate every student living in Copley Quad, despite the dorm being at full capacity this semester.

In his email, Uden stated that lot N would be reconfigured to hold more parking spots. This change is set to take place over the summer in 2019. It’s not known yet what exactly is going to be changed in lot N. Andrea Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of art, was at a town hall earlier in the semester where the changes were being discussed with faculty and staff. Lee said that to her understanding, the ceramics building, which is the larger of the two stone buildings in lot N, will stay untouched. The smaller stone building that rests surrounded by the parking lot may be removed.

“I am glad that the ceramics building will stay intact, both for the historic significance for Park, and also because we really need the classroom space for our art classes,” said Lee. In recent years the building was resurrected thanks to the work of the art department and now houses ceramics and fibers classes.

Both buildings in lot N have historical significance for Park. In the early days of its founding, then Park College was largely self-sufficient.

Both buildings in the late 1890s and onward were used for food storage

See Expansion on page 4

PHOTO COURTESY/Park University Archives

In This Issue: Opinion..............2-3 Campus Life......4-5 Features...............6 Sports................7-8

OPINION

Page 2 November 9, 2018

Voting day chaos is not how its supposed to be

Kalie Strain Reporter I believe everyone is painfully aware that the midterm elections happened this past Tuesday. We have been bombarded with political ads from every corner and on every

medium where we consume content. Like a lot of college students, I had to request an absentee ballot to vote in this election.

However, as it happened, poor luck, a failure on the U.S. Postal Service, or reckless neglect from my election officials, I never got my ballot.

On Monday morning I had lost hope and called my election office. I was told that my request letter for an absentee ballot had been postmarked on Oct. 23. My request was not received until Oct. 31. It took eight days from when my letter was picked up by the postal service until my election officials supposedly received it. For context, it only takes three days to walk from Parkville to my voting district in St. Charles, Mo. Take that for what you will.

I was told that I had lost my chance to vote unless I received my ballot that day and paid to overnight it to my election office. I am still unclear if this is the actually true or not. I have been told contradicting things by election officials and poll workers. Regardless, I never got it.

I was left with two choices. Accept my

fate that even though I did exactly what I was supposed to do I would never get to vote in this election. Or make the three-and-a-halfhour drive back home mid-week. With a heart full of spite and frustration, I chose the latter.

My mom and I headed to the polls together, bringing along my younger sister because she wanted to know more about the voting process despite only being a high school freshman. I wish the frustration ended at my polling place.

I was told that I was not allowed to vote in person because I had requested an absentee ballot. The obvious problem being that I never got it. This is not an opinion piece to drag the lovely ladies working this polling station. They were doing what they were supposed to do. They called around to try to figure something out to help. The lines were completely backed up.

When I asked if I could at least vote with a provisional ballot, they did not seem sure if they could use them in that way, but they gave me one nonetheless.

This is when the poll workers truly

shocked me. When they handed me the provisional ballot envelope, they told me that they had gone through so many of them that they had to call someone to bring them another packet.

The packets looked like they held about 100 provisional ballots.

This baffled me. I know there is no way that there have been that many disgruntled college students driving long distances to go vote in person after not receiving their absentee ballot.

According to the poll workers, the state of Missouri had purged the voting registration of people who had not voted for some set number of years. This posed a problem.

People are angry about the state of politics, which means they are going show up to vote.

How many hundreds or thousands of people had to go through the provisional voting process this election? I can tell you for certain, it is an incredibly frustrating and disheartening thing to do. If you had faith that your vote mattered, you probably lost it going through this process.

See Opinion: Vote on page 4

Zoos are a source of emotional, moral conflicts Skylar Britt Editor

Like many people, I have spent a good amount of time at zoos, going from one exhibit to the next to view the pretty animals up close. However, I have always felt an enormous sense of guilt while spending my day to look at these creatures trapped in a cage for humans’ own viewing pleasure. I understand that zoos have some advantageous factors, but the bottom line is these animals are forced to spend their lives locked up in cages that are much too small for them.

I do not think I have ever met someone who has not visited a zoo. Growing up, I took many field trips to the Kansas City Zoo for educational lessons on animals. While it was nice to be able to see animals in person that I had only previously seen in my textbooks, such as, lions and giraffes, I remember telling my teachers that I was sad they were not back home, in the country they came from with their families. When I would exit the zoo, I would feel remorse be-cause while I got to

leave whenever I wanted, the animals did not.

My conscious would heavily weigh on me because the animals were trapped.

With not enough room to roam and be the remarkable and intelligent creatures that they are meant to be, the animals are not able to live an active and fulfilling life. With the polar bears for example, there is not much the large and alluring beasts can do on their exhibit.

Whereas in their natural habitat, they are free to roam the land as far as they desire and swim in the ocean without restraint.

The 2013 documentary, “Blackfish,” compared the small pool in which the killer whales at SeaWorld are confined to that of a bathtub. The documentary explains that the lack of space for them to swim is the cause of their bent or collapsed dorsal fins. It is no surprise that the lives of animals in captivity strongly differ from those in the wild. Not only do the caged animals develop different mannerisms, some of their bodies physically change to adapt to their surroundings. So while it is a memorable experience to watch

the whales jump in accordance with the music, is it really fair to the animals to live such a constricted and, I would argue, depressing life, simply for your entertainment?

Having said this, there are only four advantages a zoo provides, in my opinion. They are educational; they are a tourist attraction, which, brings money to the city in which it is located; they provide a bonding experience to the people that visit together; and, finally, they have the ability to keep the animals safe, especially if they are endangered. I support the efforts to keep animals safe and out of harm’s way, especially if the population of their species is scarce and is in a continuous decline. At the same time, however, a rescue shelter or a protected sanctuary which provides more space would be a better fit for the animals’ well-being, in my opinion.

I do appreciate the opportunity to be able to visit animals in my own city that I would have to travel thousands of miles away, to places like Africa or Antarctica to see.

See Opinion: Zoo on page 4

Staff List Editor-in-chief Carin Bublitz

Editors

Skylar Britt Abby Jeans

Reporters

Zartasha Sani Dakota Soukup Kalie Strain

Designer Jack Gunderson Adviser

Kristin Shaw

OPINION

Page 3 November 9, 2018

Safety should be at forefront of daily living

Skylar Britt Editor I believe the feeling of safety is one of the most important aspects in one’s life. If a person does not feel safe, then success, comfort and relaxation are unlikely. This, along with the reason of protecting one’s health and well-being, is why I think it is so important to ensure that safety is at the forefront of daily living.

While it is great to feel safe and at ease in whatever location one is in, it should not be an excuse to let one’s guard down.

No matter how long a person has lived in a certain area or how well they know it, the safety tips and precautions that have been embedded in the minds of Americans since the beginning of their lives should never be put on the back burner.

The case of Mollie Tibbetts can be used as a prime example. The 20-year-old University of Iowa student went missing on July 18 while jogging in the small town of Brooklyn, Iowa. Cristhian Bahena Rivera followed behind Tibbetts in his black Chevy Malibu, causing her to become uneasy. After repeatedly telling Rivera that she was going to call the cops if he did not stop following her, he kidnapped her and shoved her into his car.

After searching the rural town’s corn fields and farms, the investigative efforts

came up short. Five weeks of intensive together, the less likely someone is to try searching for Tibbetts went by before her and cause harm or carry out a kidnapbody was found covered with corn stalks ping. When on campus, utilize campus in a field. security, especially at night. They are there A crime of this magnitude is incredi- to help and keep students safe. If you are bly uncommon for this small Iowa town, walking alone at night, do not be afraid with a population of only around 1,500 to call them with a request to accompany people. Tibbetts’ family described the you to your destination or even to walk or area as a tight-knit community where ev- drive you to your car. eryone knows each other and the details When driving to a location, park as of their lives. The friendly mentality of close to the building as you can to shorten the neighbors resulted in low crime rates, the length you must walk. Park in wellmaking this lit areas murder only where that much visibility “As the late Mollie Tibbetts proves, one can more shockis high ing. so you never be too safe, no matter where they are, However, can be or how well they may know the area.” the killer was easily Skylar Britt not a citizen seen. of the town I n Junior Multimedia Journalism and PR Major or the counthis day try for that and age, matter. He there are is a Mexican immigrant who was in the country illegally, further proving the point that one should not let their guard down in any location.

Because of this, the size of the city in accordance to geography or population should not be a factor in determining its level of safety. Much like in the small town of Parkville, Mo., the reputation of a safe, low crime rate city stands, but one person with ill-intent can change this.

Due to this unsettling reality, I propose the following safety tips which should always be followed, with no exceptions.

Always pay attention to your surroundings. Being oblivious to what is around you can be incredibly dangerous.

Keep your head on a swivel to ensure you know what is around you while also letting others know that you are paying close attention. This decreases the chances of a person sneaking up on you.

When possible, try to not walk alone.

Use the ‘buddy system’ as there is power in numbers. The more people walking

not many reasons to not keep a cell phone within arm’s reach. With tracking abilities and the many ways to reach someone by a phone, this modern piece of technology can be a crucial tool in keeping one safe.

Pepper spray is also a wise item to keep on hand. It is small enough to fit in a coat or backpack pocket and is proven to be a useful self-defense instrument.

Finally, let loved ones know where you are or where you are going. While this may seem to be unnecessary, it can be the most beneficial information given to authorities if something regrettable were to happen. This somewhat tedious task can save your life or at least be the catalyst in an investigation.

While it can be quite dismal and possibly morbid to think about the steps one should take in order to stay safe, it can be the difference between life and death. As the late Mollie Tibbetts proves, one can never be too safe, no matter where they are, or how well they may know the area.

Letters to the Editor

The Stylus is published for the students of Park University.

Letters to the editor are welcome and should be submitted to Box 34 or to stylus@park.edu.

All letters must be signed and include a phone number. Letters must not exceed 300 words.

The Stylus reserves the right to edit all letters for content, length and style.

CAMPUS LIFE

Page 4 November 9, 2018

Long lines, new leaders

Midterm election results are in

PHOTO/Carin Bublitz

The line to vote at Maple Woods Metropolitan Community College stretched out the door of the campus center on Tuesday, Nov. 6 for the midterm elections.

The results for the statewide and local contests affective Parkville are: U.S. Senator - Josh Hawley (R) Missouri State Auditor - Nicole Galloway (D) U.S. Representative, District 6 - Sam Graves (R) MO State Senator, District 34 - Tony Luetkemeyer (R) MO State Representative, District 13 - Vic Allred (R) Amendment 1passed; it affects the drawing of legislative districts and campaign contributions/lobbying.

Amendment 2 passed; it allows marijuana use for medical purposes with the taxes on it funding veteran’s medical care.

Amendment 3 failed; it would allow marijuana use for medical purposes with a 15 percent tax funding a state research institute.

Amendment 4 passed; it affects bingo game advertising.

Proposition B passed; it raises the state minimum wage to $12 by 2023.

Proposition C failed; it was another medical marijuana proposal funding different initiatives.

Proposition D failed; it would increase the gas tax to fund state road improvements.

Expansion Continued from page 1 “It was here that the daily bread needed to feed the college community was baked and then delivered to the various dormitories in which were located kitchens and dining rooms,” said Carolyn McHenry Elwess, Park University’s archivist.

The bakery building was built in 1895, making it one of the oldest buildings on campus.

More than just the bakery, there was an entire system of food production in the area that now houses Julian Field, the ceramics building and lot N. Julian Field was originally used as a garden that was tended to by the students of Park College. The building that now houses art classes, then called the Root Building, was originally used to hold vegetables after they were harvested.

In the meantime, students are still unclear on what the future looks like for lot M and N.

Opinion: Vote

Opinion: Zoo

Continued from page 2

Continued from page 2

For those unfamiliar with provisional voting, your ballot is never run through the machine that immediately counts your vote. It is sealed up in a bright orange envelope with your information on the front and then sent to election officials, well after everyone else’s ballots have been counted. Then they decide if you are a valid voter or not and if your vote counts or not.

The worst part of a provisional ballot is waiting. You will not know if your vote counted until 14 days after election night, well after the chaotic election dust has settled. After 14 days, you call an automated number and punch in a code you were given from your ballot envelope. Then a robot will tell you if you got to have a voice in our democratic process.

The question remains as to whether this was careless oversight by our officials, or outright strategic voter suppression. Either way, it is absolutely and unequivocally unacceptable. When people request absentee ballots, they should receive them.

More importantly, people should not be purged from the system for being inactive in a few election cycles. Your vote is your right regardless of how often or how little you choose to use it. All this purge did was cause frustration and discouragement, if not just flat out suppression.

Now people we do not know, who get to hide behind closed doors, get to decide how valid my and hundreds of other Missourians’ votes are. The transparency of watching our vote get counted right in front of us is lost.

So, for this disgruntled college kid, and hundreds, maybe thousands, of other Missourians, we are going to watch the election night coverage and wonder if our voices were allowed to be heard.

Although, I have heard that nothing can compare to the experience of seeing animals on a safari in their natural habitat. The animals are free to perform the activities they would normally do in their day-to-day lives with the humans simply taking a back seat, respectfully visiting the animals’ homes, allowing them to roam as they wish.

This is far different than the way we view the animals in a zoo. As opposed to trapping them so we can view them from behind a glass or cage wall, a safari allows viewers to truly comprehend the animals’ beauty and essence.

While the zoo does provide fun-filled days and lasting memories, as well as educational opportunities, I want more people to understand that there are more ethically responsible ways of viewing the animals. While the zoos do provide the animals with proper nutrition and medicine as well as keeping them up to date on their vaccinations, the true essence of their well-being is not fully taken into account.

Therefore, when people do choose to view animals other than what can be found in a pet store, they should consider the many alternatives available for viewing the magnificent creatures.

For example, research nonprofits that work with endangered animals that are in near proximity to where you are whether it be on a vacation or simply in the area in which you live. Nonprofits are in constant need of donations so rather than giving to zoos, first consider providing to organizations that put the best interest of the animals above all else.

CAMPUS LIFE NOVEMBER

Page 5 November 9, 2018

20 18

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Veterans Day Holiday A conversation with Syed Jamal

Free coffee and donuts

Learn how to dance @ Labor Hall, 5:307:30 p.m.

Psychology/Sociolo- Chris Lowrance gy club Q/A @ Alumni Paintings exhibit Hall, 12-3 p.m. reception

Mens basketball (JV) vs. Washburn University @ Breckon, 7-9 p.m.

Free coffee and donuts

Thanksgiving Holiday Thanksgiving Holiday No class Parkville No class Parkville campus campus

Free coffee and donuts

Women’s/Men’s Basketball vs. Lyon College @ Breckon, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Sunday

Monday

Chris Lowrance Paintings exhibit on view all month

Last day to withdraw from Fall 2 term classes

“Inventing Tomorrow” @ Alumni Hall, 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday

Mens basketball vs. Haskell Indian Nations University @ Breckon, 5-7 p.m.

Womens Basketball vs.

Stephens College 7-9 p.m.

Saturday

Dia De Los Muertos

Fright Night Thursday, Oct. 25, was the annual Fright Night event at Park University. Numerous clubs and organizations filled the lobby of Copley Quad with games and activities for the community to enjoy. Visit stylusonline.org for video coverage.

Friday, Nov. 2, a mariachi band filled the cafeteria with authentic music to celebrate the day of the dead. An altar was set up for students to bring pictures of deceased loved ones if they follow the tradition. The event, hosted by the Park Student Activities Board, was followed by a showing of Coco. Visit stylusonline.org for video coverage.

PHOTO/Abby Jeans

PHOTO/Dakota Soukup

FEATURES

Page 6 November 9, 2018

New shops refresh downtown Parkville

Clockwise: Sincerely, Ellis displays a stained glass snowflake in their window.

Riverpark Pub and Eatery’s sign painted on the wall inside the restaurant. A customer orders lunch at Pirate Pete’s.

Abby Jeans Editor

Parkville’s main street is refreshing with its well-known coffeehouse, which was visited by President Barack Obama in 2014, and numerous antique shops. The quaint surroundings and variety make it no surprise that USA Today named it one of the United States’ most charming cities. Now, three new shops have hit the strip with hopes of living up to the town’s strong reputation.

Two of these businesses are restaurants. Pirate Pete’s is sure to not disappoint. Its website claims they serve the best burgers west of the Mississippi at 10 Main Street. Try their quarter pounder Angus burger and come support this local business inspired by Park University.

This spot is sure to be your next hangout place. Pete’s is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Make sure to bring your student ID for a 20 percent discount.

Filling the space of the old Park College power plant is the Riverpark Pub and Eatery, making its debut on Oct. 3. The new bar is the perfect spot for Chiefs watch parties

PHOTOS/Abby Jeans as they often stay open late during prime-time games and run specials, such as $11 domestic pitchers and half-priced appetizers.

From soups and salads, sandwiches, pasta and seafood, there is something for everyone at Riverpark Pub and Eatery. The restaurant is located just before the train tracks at 2 Main Street.

Grab a friend for a bite to eat Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

After you have filled your belly, you can make your way up to 113 N. Main Street to do a little shopping at Sincerely, Ellis. This affordable boutique offers a variety of sweaters, athletic attire and other items for under $50.

Yes, everything in the store is under $50. You cannot miss this shop with their new stained-glass snowflake window.

You can visit the store Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

SPORTS

Page 7 November 9, 2018

Women’s volleyball team tops AMC conference Dakota Soukup Reporter Park University’s No. 1 ranked women’s volleyball team secured home advantage for the American Midwest Conference Championship.

On Thursday, Oct. 25, the women’s volleyball team traveled to St. Louis to battle the No. 3 ranked Missouri Baptist University Spartans for the AMC regular season championship. It was a hard fought battle as the match went to five sets, with the Pirates ending on a 7-3 run to win the match 3-2.

This is the fourth regular season championship in the past five years for the Pirate women’s volleyball team. The Pirates remained undefeated, (27-0) (12-0 AMC) with another win over William Woods University at home on Nov. 1. The Pirates swept the Owls 3-0 on senior night.

Additionally, after capturing the AMC regular season championship, the Pirates swept the AMC Players of the Week. Sophomore Nada Meawad earned the AMC At PHOTO COURTESY/ Dale Grosbach tacker of the Week, junior Celina Monteiro captured the AMC Defender of the Week Members from the women’s volleyball team celebrate during a game. From left to and senior Danna Gomes was the AMC Setter of the Week.

Gomes earned her third AMC Setter of the Week award of 2018, while Monteiro right: Alissa Flint, Celina Monteiro, Maren Roper and Danna Gomes all go in for a hug. also captured her third AMC Defender of the Week. Meawad has two AMC Attacker of the Week awards this season. they pulled ahead 15-14. But that was as close as it got. Park won the third set 25-17 The AMC Championships began with the quarterfinals round on Nov. 6. The Pirates and beat the Scots 3-0. played No. 8 Lyon College at Breckon Sports Center. The women started out strong, The semifinals round will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 in Breckon Sports Cenending the first set on a 6-0 run and finishing it 25-12. The second set boasted the exact ter against William Woods University. The championship match will be Saturday, Nov. same 25-12 score. The Scots gave the Pirates more competition in the third set when 10. The time and opponent is yet to be announced.

Men’s and women’s basketball teams start season slowly Dakota Soukup Reporter

The Park University men’s and women’s basketball teams look to come back from a tough season last year.

The women’s team finished with a record of (8-19) (816 AMC) and missed the American Midwest Conference tournament. The men’s team finished the 2017-18 season (12-14) (9-13 AMC) and also missed the American Midwest Conference tournament.

In his ninth season as head coach of the women’s team, Norman Kenneth Cooper, Jr., brought in 14 recruits and has five core returners. Of the 14 recruits, Sarah Lamp and Kennedy Kuykendall made All-Region teams and Kuykendall also received All-Conference honors.

Returning five core starters is a big key for this season, according to Cooper.

“Knowing the system and helping the new recruits understand who I am as a coach will be a great help from the returners,” he said.

Players coming in will learn how different Park might be from their past teams. Cooper plays a hard man-to-man defense and uses full court presses.

“Our defense is looking a lot better than the beginning of practice, and our offense is looking great,” Cooper said.

Defense is going to be their backbone all season long. The team has told Cooper they want to win the AMC tournament and make it to nationals.

“I’ve never had a team that has come to me and told me to push them to get to where they can reach their goals,” he said. “This team is going to be special to watch and see them grow as a team.”

The Pirates began their season on Nov. 3 at home against Evangel University. They lost a close game, 6260. The women started the game with a scoring hot streak, leading by as much as 12 in the first quarter.

However, the Crusaders were up 34-25 at halftime. The Pirates battled back in the second half of the game, but with 28 turnovers they couldn’t overcome the deficit.

The Pirate men’s team is led by head coach Jason Kline, who is in his 13th season. He will be returning seven core players.

“We don’t have a lot of experience coming back, but the core seven will be able to help lead this team with knowing how things work in the system,” said Kline.

“Having new recruits at the beginning of the season is always difficult; they have to learn the new system and how it works.”

With these returners, Kline is hoping the recruits will catch on just as quickly as the returners do.

To start the season off, the men’s team will be facing three top 25 ranked teams in the nation.

“Having these three tough games to start the season means that we have to learn and become stronger as a team quicker,” Kline said.

These match ups will also help the team to see what they need to work on and get better at as the season goes on. All the experience from these tough games will become key elements in trying to win the AMC and making it to nationals.

Kline said he had one goal for this season: to get better every time the team walks on the court, whether it is for practice or for a game.

The men began their season on Nov. 1 in the Mid-America Nazarene University Tipoff Classic.

They lost to 11th ranked Central Methodist University, 78-70 on Nov. 1 and lost to Mid-America Nazarene University, ranked 19th, on Nov. 2 with a score of 76-

FEATURES

Page 8 November 9, 2018

Women’s soccer season ends in AMC semifinals

The women’s soccer team entered the AMC tournament seeded third, thanks to their 10-4 regular season record. The Pirates played Harris-Stowe State University in the quarterfinal round at Julian Field on Nov. 2. The team defeated the Hornets soundly, 4-1.

Then the Pirates traveled to Columbia, Mo., to play Columbia College in the semifinal round on Nov. 5. The game was scoreless until the 23rd minute when the Cougars took a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates couldn’t respond offensively; they were outshot 17-6 in the game. Park lost 3-0 and ended the season 11-5.

PHOTOS/Kalie Strain

Clockwise: Senior Isabel Sullivan competes with a Hornets player during the Nov. 2 game. Foreground, junior Taylor Buckholz kicks the soccer ball down the field while junior Megan Klein runs toward her. Pirates celebrate after the first of four goals scored by Buckholz. Buckholz, looks to pass to her teammate.