The Maneater Vol. 88 Issue 01 by The Maneater Student Newspaper

M The Maneater

The student voice of MU since 1955 | https://themaneater.com | Vol. 88 Issue 1 | September 8, 2021

VACCINECLINIC

Student organizations promote free COVID-19 vaccination clinic

MU’s Department of Student Health and Well-Being collaborated with student organizations on campus, including Welcome Week leaders and the Campus Activities Programming Board, to encourage students to attend MU’s vaccination clinic Aug. 24 and 25. BY EMMA STEFANUTTI Reporter

MU held a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the Student Center on Aug. 24 and 25. The Department of Student Health and Well-Being organized the clinic and partnered with student involvement organizations, including the Office of Student Engagement and Campus Activities Programming Board, to promote the vaccine to students. Volunteers wore costumes and drove golf carts around campus, offering free rides to the clinic. Members of CAPB handed out cookies and ice cream to students in waiting areas. Involvement Ambassadors talked to students as they got vaccinated about ways to get involved on campus. Bryan Goers, the senior coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement, said these initiatives were part of a larger effort by many organizations on campus to encourage students to get the vaccine. “The more students that have the vaccine, the safer that our events and programs will be,” Goers said. “We’ll do whatever we can to support SHWB and their efforts, and really the campus’ efforts, to get people vaccinated.” Goers’ office oversees Welcome Week leaders, who have been involved in efforts to promote the clinic. In addition to publicizing the event throughout Welcome Week, some leaders drove around campus, informing students of the clinic and offering to drive them there. Some even dressed in extravagant costumes like dinosaur suits. Goers said beyond the excitement of dinosaur suits and the convenience of free

golf cart rides, Welcome Week leaders and other student groups are responsible for caring for students’ well-being, and aim to add a sense of comfort among students who may have been skeptical about the vaccine. “The Welcome Week leaders are a group of students who are trained, and they volunteer their time to try to promote [students] thriving on Mizzou’s campus,” Goers said. “One of the ways that we can thrive on Mizzou’s campus is for everybody to have the vaccine and be able to fully participate in activities throughout the year.” Aside from Welcome Week leaders, CAPB also played a key role in the clinic by setting up a “chill zone,” where students could wait the recommended 15 minutes after their vaccine in case of adverse effects. The chill zone featured free snacks, a claw machine, music and movies. Senior Anthony Ashe, marketing assistant for CAPB, said that peer influence is a factor that makes student organizations instrumental in MU’s mission to increase vaccination rates. “[CAPB’s involvement in the clinic] shows you that even if you may not be the most comfortable and you have your own personal reasons for why you didn’t get a vaccine, there’s a group of people who are interested in making you feel comfortable and doing what they can to help facilitate that so we can all get back to normal,” Ashe said. The executive director of SHWB, Jamie Shutter, said that by the end of the first day, the clinic received a much higher turnout than anticipated. “We’ve been very pleased with the turnout. When we first planned this clinic, we weren’t sure what to expect. But we had 79 [students get vaccinated]

PHOTO BY LILY DOZIER

A group of MU students wait in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at the Student Center in Columbia, Mo. The MU Department of Student Health and Well-Being hosted the event alongside other student organizations to encourage vaccination on campus. yesterday, and we are already much busier today,” Shutter said on Aug. 25. “The clinic officially opened at 11 [a.m.], and we had people starting at 10:30 [a.m.] wanting to get vaccinated. So we’re really thrilled.” Given the turnout of the clinic, both SHWB and the student organizations it partnered with said they remain optimistic that campus-wide reception toward the COVID-19 vaccine will continue to improve. With some

aspects of regular campus life moving back to normalcy, Ashe hopes that students’ desires for an in-person college experience will motivate them to stay safe and get vaccinated. “I think with how last year went, and students not really being on campus and not really seeing the same level of activities, people who were here last year [missed out on a lot of experiences],” Ashe said. “Even though everything’s not fully

back to normal, there’s still stuff going on and they can still get involved.” SHWB will host another clinic on Sept. 14 and 15 to provide a second dose to students who were vaccinated on Aug. 24 and 25, but the clinic will remain open to anyone who has not yet received the vaccine.

Edited by Namratha Prasad, nprasad@themaneater.com

POLITICSATMU

Politics for Dummies by Dummies: Get to know some of MU’s political organizations Three of MU’s political organizations shared their takes on five political issues in America. BY TADEO RUIZ AND OLIVIA MIZELLE Reporters

Saying that politics is complicated is an understatement. In today’s atmosphere, every issue has more than one side to it, and and each side has more than one answer. MU has numerous political organizations currently

welcoming students — whether those students know where they stand regarding politics, or are brand new to it. For more left-leaning students, the Mizzou College Democrats or the Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America may be organizations of interest. “[U.S. Sen. Elizabeth] Warren Democrats are

probably as far right as [YDSA goes], and then all the way [left] to ideologies that don’t even have parties,” sophomore YDSA President Quinn Coffman said. While the Mizzou College Democrats, headed by senior President Jeffrey Bittle, is not an exclusively socialist organization like YDSA, its members

encompass a variety of political ideologies, from center left to far left. “On an official basis, our platform mostly aligns with the general [Democratic] party platform, but being on a college campus, we tend to align more on the progressive side of things,” Bittle said. If the right side of politics is more appealing, Mizzou

College Republicans is an option. Sophomore President Josiah Mendoza said that the organization’s goals include “limited governments, lower taxes and deregulation.” Health care An issue that has almost always been at the forefront of political campaigns is health care. According to the most recent data

from the National Health Interview Survey, in 2020 13.9% of adults ages 18-64 were living uninsured. The leaders of YDSA and Mizzou College Democrats aligned on the issue, both proposing a single-payer health care system as a way to get more Americans insured. According to Harvard

See Politics on 4

THE MANEATER | CONTENTS | S epte mb er 8, 2021

in this

Issue

its its not all all that that

ROBOT DOGS

TIGER WALK PHOTO GALLERY

HE’S ALL THAT REVIEW

SEPTEMBER CARTOON

The Maneater is the official student publication of the University of Missouri and operates independently of the university, student government, the School of Journalism and any other campus entity. All text, photos, graphics and other content are property of The Maneater and may not be reproduced without permission. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the University of Missouri or the MU Student Publications Board.

Reporters for The Maneater are required to offer verification of all quotes for each source. If you notice an inaccuracy in one of our stories, please contact us via phone or email. G210 Student Center, Columbia, MO 65211  Phone: 573.882.5500 Fax: 573.882.5550 Email: editors@themaneater.com Website: www.themaneater.com Twitter: @themaneater Instagram: @themaneater Facebook: themaneaterMU feeling: newsies level 1000

THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Sophie Chappell

Business Manager Elise Vahle

Production Manager Campbell Biemiller

Opinions Editors Sarah Rubinstein Cayli Yanagida

Graphics Editor Ava Horton Sports Editor Kyle Pinnell Data Editor Geoffrey Dean News Editors Namratha Prasad Emmet Jamieson Fun and Games Editor Abby Stetina Adviser Becky Diehl

Multimedia Editor Ellie Lin Photo Editor Lily Dozier MOVE Editors Elise Mulligan Shannon Worley Copy Chiefs Elizabeth Derner Lauren Hubbard Nicholas Chen Social Media Manager Isabelle Marak

@THEMANEATER

APPLY FOR THE MANEATER TODAY NO JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED APPLICATIONS OPEN ALL YEAR APPLY AT: https://themaneater.com/applications/ WE CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU

THE MANEATER | NEWS | S eptember 8, 2021 ROBOTDOGS

What’s up with Spot? MU innovates uses for robotic dogs Students and faculty have been working with four robotic dogs from Boston Dynamics to get hands-on experience with new technology. BY ELIZABETH DERNER AND TEAGAN KING

PHOTO BY NOLAN XIONG

Copy Chief and Reporter

Dogs trot around MU every day, but some aren’t fluffy — they’re metal. Since the start of the year, MU has acquired four yellow robotic dogs, all named Spot, to give engineering students hands-on learning experiences. Students have been busy innovating uses for the dogs, from running nuclear power plant safety checks to acting in improv comedy shows. MU purchased the first Spot for $100,000 from the robotic technology company Boston Dynamics. Energy company Ameren purchased the other three robots, and are collaborating with MU students to develop ways for Spot to perform safety checks at Callaway Energy Center in Steedman, Missouri. Dale Musser, an associate professor in the College of Engineering, wanted to give engineering students opportunities to experiment with technology, instead of just learning about it in a classroom. “We want students to experience autonomous systems technologies,” Musser said. “Spot represented the front end of that — the best of the best that’s currently available in a commercial way … all of the elements of the [Information Technology] program are there in Spot, but in a form that’s exciting. So, I want to have students be interested in [and] motivated by the capabilities of Spot.” One of the dogs is on vacation in San Francisco, so Musser can work with the programming at his home there. He teaches remotely to students at MU, who work with the three dogs on campus. Since they have IP addresses, Musser also has the ability to control the dogs in Columbia from his office in San Francisco. Kristofferson Culmer, assistant professor in the IT program, teaches students how to use the robots in the Autonomous Systems Lab in Lafferre Hall. Mason Jenkins and Payton Marlin are both IT seniors working in Musser’s research class at MU to create new uses for Spot. Marlin began working with Musser as a freshman, so he learned about Spot early on when it arrived this year. Spot doesn’t come with the ability to perform complicated tasks beyond its internal programming that enables it to walk; researchers program software to develop new functions. Students in the research class went through training to learn how to use the technology safely. Afterward, Musser encouraged students to think of ideas for projects with Spot. Marlin, who wants to work on voice commands for Spot, said the robot is a useful tool to show students, including himself, how they can apply coding concepts from class to the world around them. “Learning from a textbook or online is easy for some people, but

The MU engineering research team showcased Spot, a four-legged robot developed by Bston Dynamics at the Autonomous Systems Lab, located in Lafferre Hall, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. for me, I have to be hands-on and dive into it,” Marlin said. Jenkins got involved with the Spot research team by reaching out to Musser after seeing his posts online about Spot. He is currently working with other students to develop an iOS app to control Spot through iPhones. He said he is looking forward to expanding Spot’s capabilities, as they will provide learning opportunities for students with all levels of coding experience. “Being able to be part of the beginning of something big definitely feels special, and I think it’s what sets Mizzou IT apart,” Jenkins said. Musser and his team of student researchers are also working with Autowalk, part of Spot’s internal software that allows it to independently walk a mission and collect data while dodging walls or other obstacles. Ameren and the research team at MU hope to implement Autowalk at Callaway Energy Center to carry out site surveys and other missions.

“Imagine Spot is doing a site survey at the nuclear plant and checking to see if things look right,” Mussler said. There’s a set of points that we want Spot to follow and stop at, and maybe take a picture and analyze that picture to see if it’s right or wrong.” Musser said once Spot completes a defined mission, it can perform it again without any help. Spot’s many capabilities can be put to use outside of an engineering setting as well. Musser said MU received licenses for Spot Choreography, a software development kit that can make Spot dance. The program typically costs $10,000 per year, but MU made a deal with Boston Dynamics that the university could access the license for free if it caused an increase in sales of the robots. MU achieved this increase in sales, and Musser said several groups hope to use the choreography software to make Spot dance at future events. So far, Spot has appeared at events like the Tiger Walk for freshmen.

Students on the research team frequently take Spot on walks around campus. Musser said Spot has garnered attention from the public, but said it is important for people to stay at least two meters away from the robot for their safety. “[Showing Spot to the public] is a way to get people to love Mizzou a little more because of the things that we’re doing,” Musser said. “People can experience that technology, and that feeds into another mission for the university — the education of all.” Kevin Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre, is also looking for creative applications for the robots, including uses in the comedy world. Brown began working with Musser this summer to learn more about Spot. He is now working with student comedy groups including MU Battlewhale, MU Improv, Comedy Wars and Fishbowl Stand Up to create events that could feature live appearances from Spot. He said he believes

that using Spot in comedy performances would showcase what different departments can accomplish when they use their skills together. “[Musser] has seen how it’s inspired his students to rise to the occasion and become better engineers,” Brown said. “We’re working to find ways to now involve theater people and inspire them in ways to create art that you never would have thought [of] making.” He said theater students have expressed excitement at the possibility of working with the robots, and that using them will add a special layer to their performances. Brown said much of comedy is based on human failure, and when a robot in a performance fails to be humanlike, it serves as “a way to remind us what’s human.”

Edited by Namratha Prasad, nprasad@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | NEWS | S eptember 8, 2021

POLITICSATMU From Politics on 1 Health Publishing, single-payer health care is a system in which a single agency takes responsibility for financing health care for all residents, eliminating the competition of health insurance companies. Sophomore YDSA Vice President Adam Mertens said that in a nation like the U.S., there should be no system besides singlepayer health care. “You see on the news feel-good stories about ‘Oh, little Susie paid for her cancer treatment by selling lemonade.’ That kid should never have to do that,” Mertens said. Mendoza, on the other hand, said “competition result[s] in a quality increase and price decrease,” and supports private companies continuing as an ideal health care system in America. According to Mendoza, socialized health care would not account for different situations in different states. COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected America’s health care institutions, overwhelming hospitals with infected patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID19 has killed over 630,000 Americans as of Aug. 28. The leaders of each organization responded with their opinions on the differences between the two most recent administrations’ handlings of the pandemic. Bittle commends President Joe Biden for a quick vaccine rollout. “I wasn’t expecting access to a vaccine until now, or even September, but I think the current administration could do more in terms of reducing vaccine hesitancy,” Bittle said. Mendoza shares similar sentiments as Bittle, agreeing on an efficient vaccine rollout. “As for the current administration, I’m not so sure as to whether or not it was more effective than the last one,” Mendoza said. “I am certain that I don’t think that the most crucial parts of the response would’ve been much different under the Trump administration.” Coffman criticized the current and previous administrations. “What I could say about both [presidents] is that, as capitalists, they’ve made the pandemic a lot harder on Americans,” Coffman said. Coffman believes that through a socialist economy, the pandemic would have been far less deadly. This economy would make it so that vaccine companies could not profit off public vaccines and the government would provide enough funding for a full shutdown, including direct payment to people while work and education are halted. Afghanistan On Aug. 15, the Taliban captured Kabul, the capital

GRAPHIC BY EMILY WILSON of Afghanistan. In the wake of the takeover, many U.S. citizens were left behind and the U.S. Embassy was evacuated. Mendoza felt strongly that Biden managed the pullout poorly, leading to consequences like Americans being left behind and an aggressive Taliban offensive. “The pullout of Afghanistan was atrocious,” Mendoza said. Mendoza expressed disdain that there were Americans “left abandoned and without a plan” in Afghanistan. Bittle, however, pointed out the large number of people evacuated. “A lot of war-hungry actors from some of the largest media sources are eager to paint this as a crisis for the ratings, and The extent of it being botched overall has been very exaggerated,” Bittle said. Coffman said the pullout was inevitable. “While a religious extremist, nationalist regime is not the government we want for the Afghan people, an American occupation is almost no better,” Coffman said. Climate change While on the topic of international affairs, climate change is an issue that defies borders. According to the U.N., “greenhouse gas

concentrations are at their highest levels in 2 million years and continue to rise.” Both the Democratic and YDSA leaders support the Green New Deal. They both expressed support for creating new jobs in renewable energy so that workers in the fossil fuel industry are not out of work. “It’s a complicated topic because there’s people working in the energy industry, and I don’t want them to lose their jobs, so we should provide retraining programs, or alternatively UBI [universal basic income],” Bittle said. Coffman added that a capitalist society would not be able to support a green future. “A profit motive is always going to make any form of green capitalism fail. You can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet,” Coffman said. “A prerequisite to saving our planet from self-destruction is an end to capitalism.” Mendoza, on the other hand, disapproves of the Green New Deal and favors green conservatism. He also went on to highlight how innovation in a free market could bring solutions to reduce carbon emissions. He said property rights are a big factor in environmental accountability, so the free market is “the solution” to climate change. “If someone’s building a

factory and their waste is leaking in your backyard, you have the ability to fight back and say ‘That’s not right, it’s in my property, so I can do something about it,’” Mendoza said. Police reform The Black Lives Matter movement saw a resurgence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. Many Black Lives Matter protests called for police reform or defunding the police. According to mappingpoliceviolence.org, Black people accounted for 28% of the people killed by police, despite being 13% of the population in 2020, and 98.3% of killings by police from 2013 to 2020 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime. All of the leaders agreed that change needs to happen, however, their solutions differ. Bittle said the Mizzou College Democrats support reforms such as “requiring body cameras to be on [the body] and turned on at all times, demilitarizing police forces, abolishing private prisons, ending cash bail, ending the practice of qualified immunity and expanding community oversight on local police departments.” Coffman, however, thinks that reform is unachievable. “As president [of YDSA], I don’t think police reform is possible or really our goal [as an organization],”

Coffman said. “Police aren’t something to reform, they’re something to abolish.“ Mertens, in contrast to his YDSA colleague, believes in reforming police departments. “I do think that there is room to reform,” Mertens said. “I don’t think every cop is evil or every police officer is bad.” He also said decriminalizing drugs might be an effective step toward police reform. Mendoza also believes in police reform through small, gradual changes, like requiring body cameras, as opposed to defunding. He said that rather than choosing to either love or hate them, offenders must be held accountable. “I’m a very pro-police person; I support them all the way and I’m not believing in [the] defunding the police movement by any means,” Mendoza said. “ “If there [are] any tangible laws that can be enforced at a local level — that have been proven to be effective — then go right ahead.” Political organizations at MU are more than just politics, they are a place where students can find a community. Bittle stressed that Mizzou College Democrats is a group of people who enjoy being with each other. “As much as we would love you to get involved in

our political activities, we also just want to have you there as a member of our community,” Bittle said. “It’s open to everybody.” Coffman also commented about the plurality of ideas within his organization. “We’re the two executive officers of YDSA, but even we have different opinions on issues,” Coffman said. “We have a lot of ideological plurality. If you agree with either of us or disagree with either of us, there is probably room for you in YDSA.” Mendoza calls on students who feel alone in their beliefs to join his organization. “If you feel like you can’t speak your mind, then I think you should come to an organization that is welcoming of your views, because campuses tend to be more left-leaning,” Mendoza said. “If you feel like you’re alone, come join us.” If you want to reach out to any of these groups, contact them at: @mizzouydsa, @mizzoudems and @ mizzourepublicans on Instagram, or email mizzoudems@gmail.com and mizzourepublicans@ gmail.com. Edited by Emmet Jamieson, ejamieson@themaneater.com

Sophomores grab Tiger Stripe ice cream after running through the Columns on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. Groups of students lined the stairs at Jesse Hall to eat their ice cream. Sophomores Cierra Layton, left, and Gracie Layton, right, prepare to walk through the Columns on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. Both said they are glad to come back for this event after missing many traditions as freshmen.

Sophomores run through the Columns on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. After running through the pillars, sophomore Kerry Joyce said the most important part of the night was having a lot of 2024 classmates come together for the tradition. From left to right, Brailey White, Aleasia Ryan, Cassandra Robins and Ian Flowers meet before the Sophomore Tiger Walk on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. White said she felt “more a part of the Mizzou community” after attending the event.

Sophomores Emma Foley, left, and Ebele Mgbemena, right, eat Tiger Stripe ice cream on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, on the steps of Jesse Hall in Columbia, Mo. As a transfer student, Mgbemena said the event helped her enter the university with her whole class.

Sophomores congregate for the Sophomore Tiger Walk on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. Typically the Tiger Walk is a freshman-only event, but MU held a second event for sophomores who missed their Freshman Tiger Walk due to COVID-19.

Second chance at tradition for MU sophomores PHOTOS BY CARA PENQUITE Photographer

The MU Class of 2024 got a second chance to complete their Tiger Walk on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Francis Quadrangle in Columbia, Mo. After speeches by President of Internal Affairs, Cade Koehly, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Emily Smith and Vice

Chancellor, Bill Stackman, the students ran through the Columns. Most students complete the Tiger Walk as a whole class before starting their fall semester as freshmen, but due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, the Class of 2024 walked through the

Columns in small groups. “I didn’t know a lot about all of the traditions last year because of COVID-19,” sophomore Maddie Walters said. “I think being able to do everything as a class brings us together.”

SOLARPOWERREVIEW

Lorde finds her perfect place with the natural world in ‘Solar Power’ The critically acclaimed pop star delivered a meditative and thought-provoking junior album on Aug. 20, over four years after her last release, “Melodrama.” BY LUCY VALESKI Reporter Over four years after her critically acclaimed sophomore album “Melodrama,” Lorde released “Solar Power,” a pared down pop record, on Aug. 20. The highly anticipated album debuted to mixed reviews, scoring a 6.8 out of 10 on Pitchfork. While many listeners found the music boring, the mature themes and chill vibe on Lorde’s third album make it a worthwhile listen. “Solar Power” lacks the angst of “Melodrama” and “Pure Heroine.” Instead, the

theme is finding peace after hardship. The album explores climate change, growth, nature and fame through acoustic tunes, satirical characters and vivid metaphors. Lorde’s lyrics emphasize the value of protecting the Earth, others and an individual’s soul. The album opens with one of the strongest tracks: “The Path.” The song immediately establishes an eerie tone with a Joan Didion-esque deserted feeling; it warns fans not to find answers in the phony lives of the celebrities they worship. The track introduces one of the album’s messages

about embracing nature and truth rather than fake idols. “The Path” successfully catapults listeners into the world of “Solar Power” in a melodically exciting way. “Now if you’re looking for a saviour, well that’s not me/ You need someone to take your pain for you?/ Well, that’s not me,” Lorde sings. “Let’s hope the sun will show us the path.” Similarly, “Mood Ring,” the third lead single, satirically looks at how young people use fads and appropriate cultures to connect with their emotions, instead of dealing with them head-on. The track is

GRAPHIC BY AVA HORTON

fun to listen to while walking to class or driving, and provides an interesting metaphor to dissect. “California” dives deeper into the theme of fame. Lorde sings about wanting to flee from her stardom, and she acknowledges the “dream” is not real like the “clouds in the skies” or “desert flowers.” This track employs a tactic found throughout the album; Lorde sings an upbeat melody matched with surprisingly hard-hitting lyrics. “All that mystery and beauty gleaned from desert flowers and gifted children/ But it got hard to grow up with your cool hand around my neck,” Lorde sings. “Fallen Fruit,” the fifth track, also uses a repetitive and unsettling melody to deliver an impactful lyric. “And we will walk together/ Psychedelic garlands in our hair/ But how can I love what I know I am gonna lose/ Don’t make me choose,” Lorde sings. This song feels despairing — lamenting the loss of nature and climate security for a generation, while condemning past generations for exploiting the Earth. “Leader of a New Regime” is a haunting track about a dystopian future with a climate-wrecked society, and Lorde imagines running away with superficial objects (her designer dress and magazines). The grim view of climate change in both songs makes it an especially memorable motif. Keeping with the theme of climate change, the upbeat lead single “Solar Power” celebrates nature as Lorde throws out her phone and flaunts about the beach in the music video. The track features stunning backup vocals from Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo. While many of the beautiful things mentioned throughout the album are tangible, Lorde also explores growing up, including the challenges and beauty of aging. In my favorite track, “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” Lorde gives personal advice about loving life despite its imperfections. However, as the title suggests, she backtracks all her abstract thoughts with “I don’t know” and a melancholic tone. “Stoned At The Nail Salon” effectively strikes emotional chords with difficult lyrics and a beautiful piano track. Lorde’s iconic “Ribs” discusses growing up with dread. “Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)” shows the artist’s growth from the “Pure Heroine” track by acknowledging the overwhelmingly rapid passage of time and hardships with honesty and experience. The song is repetitive and catchy, with an emotional outro that made it one of my favorite songs on the record. “Oceanic Feeling,” the long and meandering conclusion to the album with two alternating chords, is about Lorde’s connection to the world and people in her life, both past and present. She leaves listeners with the confession that she has not yet reached enlightenment, but continues the journey toward it with the help of the natural world. She has lost the angst and judgement of her teenage debut “Pure Heroine” and the young adult confusion of “Melodrama.” Lorde, the liability, disappeared into the sun four years ago with “Melodrama” to find joy in the pain of solar power.

Edited by Elise Mulligan, emulligan@themaneater.com

Black (and gold) out poetry BY ABBY STETINA Fun and Games Editor

Make a blackout poem using an excerpt from “Plenty Ladylike,” a memoir by Claire McCaskill, a former U.S. senator from Missouri and MU alumni. Tag @themaneater on social media with your finished masterpiece!

Before I graduated from high school, I made up my mind that I was going to law school. I pursued a political science degree at the University of Missouri and concentrated on getting good grades. I set goals for myself, and I’d often lie awake at night plotting out how to achieve them. I considered each step that would be necessary to achieve them. I considered each step that would be necessary in the process and identified allies. Sometimes my ambition surprised me. As a freshman I pledged [to] one of the school’s most prestigious sororities. I was the first woman to chair the university’s homecoming gala. I became a football hostess, a job in which you help recruit athletes…. You had to know the difference between a tight end and a linebacker because when you’re meeting with a potential recruit it is important to make him feel welcomed and needed, and knowing about his job as a football player was part of that.

Find The Maneater at upcoming events Sept. 13 Involvement Fair At Kuhlman Court From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tabling outside

Sept. 14 Mizzou Student Media Open House From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In/outside the newsroom located in the Student Center, Room 2509

Books Are Magic! Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 12-4pm

THE MANEATER | MOVE | S eptember 8, 2021

HE’SALLTHAT GRAPHIC BY GABRIELLA LACEY

its its not all all that that its its not all all that that its its not all all that that Addison Rae’s new film, ‘He’s All That,’ falls short of spectacular The film, released to Netflix on Aug. 27, is a trainwreck, and you can’t help but watch. BY ABBY WOLOSS Reporter

“He’s All That” is not all that and a bag of chips. While I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by Addison Rae’s acting chops, I was hopeful that the movie wouldn’t completely bore me. It’s the type of borderline-terrible film that you can’t help but watch. Between Rae’s grimacing smiles, a two-minute cameo from Kourtney Kardashian and an ending scene with a galloping horse, I can’t begin to describe my full horror. But, I will try. Netflix dropped “He’s All That” — a gender-swapped reinvention of the 1999 film “She’s All That” — on Aug. 27. The remake debuts TikTok star Addison Rae into the film world playing Padgett: the female version of Freddie Prinze Jr.’s original character.

Addison Rae is TikTokfamous and has amassed over 83 million followers on the platform. Generations Z and Alpha are obsessed with her, and if they’re not, they’ve likely heard about her by the multiplicity of career avenues she has entered into this last year. With a new makeup line, a possible singing career and of course some dancing talent, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Rae emerges into the film world. But, dare I ask, was it a necessary escapade into the movie industry? I think not. Rae’s character is updated to fit within the landscape of her generation, but little else is done to evolve the plotline from the original. The film follows the journey of a bet from start to finish. Padgett’s friends dare her — after her celebrity boyfriend cheats on her — to turn the biggest loser at school into prom king by the end of the semester. If

she can’t, her friends will deem her a write-off for the rest of her life. However cliche and cringey the plot sounds, there was promise. Director Mark Waters is known for his escapades throughout the high school film landscape, most notably known for directing the hit 2004 film “Mean Girls.” Because of this, I suppose I shouldn’t have hoped for too much. “Mean Girls” prided itself on catty women who backstabbed each other to reach the highest pinnacle in life: being known and still being liked. Popular high school girls and the distortion of freaks and geeks still reign supreme when it comes to depicting the place teenagers spend their time for four years. “She’s All That” was known for singling out “unappealing” women and turning them into something that men could easily look at. “She’s All That”

and “Mean Girls” both hold outdated and sexist ideas. But this isn’t the only problem with “He’s All That.” The film also recasts Rachael Leigh Cook and Matthew Lillard from the original “She’s All That.” Cook added little to the story, sometimes coming off as drab, and Lillard was just as awkward as he was in 1999. Still, the problem lies somewhere else, or more specifically, with someone else. This movie simply wasn’t great because Rae was cast as the lead. They do cast Tanner Buchanan as the male lead, who helps hold the film together until the very end. Buchanan plays Cameron Kweller, the “loser” that Padgett tries to turn around by prom. Still, his obvious shoulder-length wig, self-righteous attitude and cliche photography “geek” character trope doesn’t offer much else to the story.

But Buchanan does a decent job at portraying his character, or at least making it somewhat entertaining. While Buchanan seems to have the outcast loner-boy vibe down, Rae struggles to add substance to her character, and seems a little out of place. It is obvious the film tries to accentuate the concept of popularity in the real world and on social media. However, it is unclear who is teaching this lesson. Kweller’s insight in the film is, “high school’s just a bunch of scared people pretending to be something they’re not.” And to me, it appears Buchanan is the one preaching to us about honing in on our authenticity. Yet the film revolves around Rae: a huge influencer in the real world, who struggles to identify living a life without fame and assurance on screen when she is singled out.

All things considered, Buchanan’s performance couldn’t save the film. The casting was poor. The cliche high school tropes didn’t evolve (we aren’t in the 2000s anymore) and Rae’s performance, well, sucked. But, maybe it’s not Rae’s fault that her performance was lackluster. Maybe it was the casting department’s fault for hiring someone associated with social media fame in real life. It’s hard for an audience to believe a movie when the one leading it lives a life so public and similar to her character’s. At that point, you’re not questioning what Rae’s character has to offer in the movie, but who she is when the director yells cut.

Edited by Elise Mulligan, emulligan@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | MOVE | S eptember 8, 2021

PEACENOOK PHOTO BY ANASTASIA BUSBY

Popular books sit on display at a front shelf on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at Peace Nook in Columbia. Peace Nook also sells jewelry, clothing, posters and household items.

Ten books you can purchase with nonprofit Peace Nook’s book club The book club gives customers at the Peace Nook the opportunity to buy 10 books from their selection and receive their 11th pick for free. Check out these top 10 titles on Peace Nook’s shelves. BY LUCY VALESKI AND LILLIAN METZMEIER MOVE Reporters

Settled on Broadway, near Eighth Street in Columbia, nonprofit book store Peace Nook has a mission: funding the educational aspirations of Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, a Columbia activist organization that has operated since 1982. Mark Haim, director of Mid-Missouri Peaceworks and owner of Peace Nook, has volunteered and worked with Peaceworks full-time since 1985. “We’ve been a leading voice for a long time around some very critical issues,” Haim said. “From our perspective, there are many issues that are important; there are a couple of issues that are existential.” Peace Nook sells fair trade imports, aiding their goal to create sustainable jobs and opportunities for individuals worldwide. All in-store purchases back two key objectives: environmental sustainability and nuclear disarmament. To support their missions in activism, Peaceworks requests volunteers to work at events and in Peace Nook. The Peace Nook book club

offers a free opportunity for their bookworm customers; after purchasing 10 books, the 11th book is free. The book club does not include discounted books, and interested patrons can join by purchasing a title in-store. Many titles in the shop focus on social justice topics and self-care. For 10 books present on the Peace Nook’s shelves, check out our favorite selections. “Hood Feminism” by Mikki Kendall Kendall’s 2020 nonfiction book focuses on solidarity in the feminist movement. She provides extensive information on issues such as hunger, mental illness and gun violence, and their impact on women. “Hood Feminism” combines research and personal experience to create an engaging and enlightening book. “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller In June 2016, Buzzfeed News published a now-viral victim-impact statement written by an anonymous woman to the assaulter in the highly publicized People v. Turner California court case. Miller later released her anonymity as the author of the statement in 2019 with “Know My

Name,” a memoir detailing her life during and after the assault. The book feels personal and informative, with a combination of emotional and levelheaded writing and descriptive storytelling. “Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters Incorporating the hilarious, horrific and joyous aspects of life as a transgender woman, “Detransition, Baby” follows Reese, a woman living in New York, who desperately longs for motherhood. She becomes entangled with her detransitioned ex-partner, Ames, and their new partner’s pregnancy. The three women embark on parenthood together, allowing the reader to question their own notions of both gender and queerness. The messy story and even messier characters make for an emotionally difficult and humorous novel. “All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr Though historical fiction can be a difficult genre to engage younger readers, Doerr does a fantastic job of writing an interesting story while keeping an appropriate tone for the content matter — two teenagers growing up during World War II. Critics seem to

agree, as this work won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in fiction. The word count (and it’s a large one) helps, rather than harms, the overall story as it provides imagery that allows “All The Light We Cannot See” to be a beautiful, yet somber journey. “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel Bechdel recounts her thorny relationship with her late father in “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” a graphic memoir. The memoir incorporates complex themes of grief, self-discovery and family in emotional illustrations and allusions to literary works. Bechdel’s work is expressive and complicated, ensuring a quick and thought-provoking reading experience. “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin While any of Baldwin’s novels could be on this list, “Giovanni’s Room” may be the most entertaining and easiest read. Following a man alone in Paris, the novel explores themes of loneliness and identity. Baldwin’s storytelling works well, incorporating suspense, romance and tragedy in under 200 pages.

“The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune Klune’s fantasy novel introduces Linus Backer, a government caseworker who determines the proper care for magical children. His disciplined and precise work lands him the job on a special case with the strangest children he has encountered. The book envelops its readers in sweet themes of found family, belonging and individuality; however, it never veers too saccharine, as it also tackles the nuances of prejudice. “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is an easy and satisfying read with suspense and political allusion. “Beartown” by Fredrick Backman “Beartown” is a versatile read for fans of most genres. With a complex cast of characters, a claustrophobic setting and a relevant story, Backman’s hockey town drama filled with interpersonal relationships and action should intrigue many readers. The novel focuses on a declining town; the only hope for survival lies on the success of the high school boys hockey team. “She Said” by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey The New York Times reporters Kantor and Twohey

published their culturally influential reporting on Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment in Hollywood in 2017. Their nonfiction book, “She Said,” details the investigative reporting process in the case that would give life to the #MeToo movement. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in journalism and the tribulations of breaking an emotional story. “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman Fantasy fans looking for a more mature read can follow ex-convict Shadow Moon along after his unexpected early release from prison due to the sudden death of his wife in “American Gods.” On his journey home, Shadow meets Mr. Wednesday and agrees to work for him after realizing his life back home will never be the same. Little does Shadow know, he is about to be introduced to a world of war between old and new gods. Though at times a challenging read, Gaiman encourages readers to reflect on modern America in a very imaginative manner.

Edited by Shannon Worley, sworley@themaneater.com

Maneater

Opinions

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE Submit a letter to the editor at letters@themaneater.com

Opinions expressed By The Maneater columnists do not represent the opinions of The Maneater Editorial Board.

Pete Davidson and Smartwater partner to demonize tattoos BY KOLBY ARIMOTO Columnist

Smartwater’s recent “Pete gets smart with smartwater” advertisement perpetuates societal stigma against tattoos.

GRAPHIC BY GABRIELLA LACEY

Money can’t buy old friendships BY MAVIS CHAN Columnist

A friendship on the rocks can teach quite a few things about the effects of rising socioeconomic inequality in society. Shortly before returning to campus for my junior year, I had dinner with a few old friends from high school. Some I hadn’t talked to since I started college. Unfortunately, some friendships, like ancient manuscripts in a museum, crumble the moment one tries picking them up again. That was the case with my friend, P. In my memory, P. was down to earth, despite coming from a privileged background. She lives in one of the most wealthy neighborhoods in Hong Kong, and spends her summer vacations in Germany and Austria, visiting palaces and seaside resort towns. However, she never talked about her wealth or possessions in front of us. In my mind, she wasn’t the type that cared about money or status. Over dinner, we talked about the things we looked for in a partner. I said I wanted to find somebody who has had different life experiences than mine, somebody interesting I can learn from. But before I even finished speaking, P. jumped in and asked me what I would do if that person’s fam-

ily wouldn’t accept somebody from such a different background. She quickly added that she wasn’t talking about race or ethnicity, but more about social status. I was startled. Then, I remembered she had said earlier that a number of her college classmates wouldn’t even date people outside their major. She is studying medicine, and knows perfectly well how much doctors make. On the other hand, everyone at that table knew the likely income and job security of a journalist. As the conversation continued, I couldn’t get that brief exchange out of my mind. Economic inequality has been increasing in recent decades in many places all over the world: In the U.S., the top 10% of earners had incomes 12.6 times more than the bottom 10% of earners in 2018, according to data from Pew Research Center. The U.N.’s World Social Report 2020 showed that income inequality was rising in most high-income countries, and countries like China and India that are some of the most populated in the world. In Hong Kong, where I come from, the contrast is stark: In 2018, it had the fourth largest number of high-net-worth individuals (people holding financial assets over $1 million) among all the cities in the world; however, there are also 1.4 million people living under the poverty line pre-government cash intervention in 2019. My conversation with P. showed that the wealth gap is not just an economic phenomenon, it destroys social

cohesion as well. The Victorian British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli famously pointed out the “two nations” between the rich and the poor where “there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are as ignorant of each other’s habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets.” As the wealth gap widens, the two groups of people will continue to drift further away from each other. We will end up living in our own socioeconomic bubbles, stratified into classes that no longer recognize one another. A nation is, as the political scientist Benedict Anderson put it, an “imagined community.” People are more likely to care for others in the community when they hold similar interests and share a common identity. But with the rich and everybody else growing further apart — living in different neighborhoods, working in different occupations, or in P.’s case, not even dating each other — the lived experiences of these groups will become more and more alien to each other. Even though they nominally live in the same country, in reality their lives are becoming mutually incomprehensible. We are already seeing that phenomenon. After the 2016 presidential election, half of the country denigrated the other half as liberal, metropolitan elites, while the other half seemed uncomprehending of what the “left-behind” rural working class was thinking. The same atmosphere of recrimination and blame could be

seen in the aftermath of Brexit. The declining support for liberal democracy all around the world in recent years may point to many people’s disillusionment with the inability of this political system to join the “two nations” together. The ideal “out of many, one” is increasingly looking like “out of one, many.” Later on at our dinner, we somehow started sharing our impressions of each other. P. looked at me and, in a slightly hesitating tone, said that I still look the same, dress the same and have the same hairstyle as I did in the past. It was nearly amusing how she couldn’t come up with a single adjective. My mind flashbacked to a conversation we had years ago, when she listed all the personal characteristics that attracted her to befriend me. Now, she didn’t know what to say to me. She lives in a world brimming with people like her, rich kids who are going to be richer later on, a world of ski trips and expensive restaurants. Her world is one I know nothing about. She already saw me as somebody rungs below her on the social ladder, while I viewed her as getting bafflingly out of reach. We live on such disparate planes that despite having years of friendly memories, we can’t talk to each other anymore. As she was speaking, I suddenly realized our friendship had just disintegrated in front of our eyes. To make things worse, I wasn’t sure I minded. Edited by Sarah Rubinstein, srubinstein@themaneater.com

I’ve gotten seven tattoos over the past four months. A bit impulsive, maybe, but I don’t regret any of them. My reasoning behind each tattoo varies, but each is important to me and represents key events in my life. I wouldn’t say that any of them are comparable to the scenes in Smartwater’s recent commercial. American comedian Pete Davidson partnered with Smartwater in an advertisement titled “Pete Davidson gets smart with smartwater.” In the ad, released July 5, 2021, Davidson sits with a dermatologist administering laser removal on some of his 100-plus tattoos. The first line of the advertisement is Davidson saying, “I’ve made a lot of questionable choices, and a couple of them need removing.” Davidson then reenacts some of his “questionable choices,” deliberately walking onto a fashion show’s runway despite not being a model, living in his mother’s basement until his late 20s and riding a hoverboard through a restaurant and crashing into a waiter. The conclusion has Davidson say, “but now I’m trying to make smarter choices,” before wincing in pain as the dermatologist continues to remove his tattoos, stating that they still “have a long way to go.” Davidson’s comparison of his tattoos to utterly foolish decisions further demonizes tattoos in a culture where they are already seen as taboo. He and Smartwater insinuate that getting a tattoo is equivalent to causing a scene within a restaurant or a fashion show. I don’t subscribe to the notion that tattoos lead to inevitable regret. When I show people mine, many compliment them, but sometimes a few ask the followup question: “Aren’t you worried about getting a job?” To answer in short: no, I’m not. I believe that tattoos have little to nothing to do with my performance in the workplace. Though, unfortunately, many employers wouldn’t agree with me, especially in the hospitality industry. A study conducted by Michael J. Tews and Kathryn Stafford, both professors specializing in either hospitality services or human sciences, concluded that employees with a higher number of tattoos or darker-shaded tattoos were treated unfavorably. These employees reported higher rates of discrimination in the workplace, and less respect as well as positive feedback from supervisors when compared to other non-tattooed employees. This negative reaction to tattoos within the workplace is a key factor as to why many people refuse to get any. A government journal focused on the history of tattoos in corrections states that outlaws and criminals have historically used tattoos to “document their crimes, sentenc-

See Pete on 11

THE MANEATER | OPINIONS | S eptem ber 8, 2021

Complexity in reporting is dying because of simplified journalism BY BOBBY LEE Columnist

As we see mass media organizations flounder to adequately describe the situation in Afghanistan, we must take a look at why journalists fail to fully report on complex situations. As I spent the day unpacking after moving into MU, I scrolled through Twitter to watch the breaking news covering Afghanistan. That Sunday, Aug. 15, was the day Kabul was overrun by the Taliban offensive that had lasted the better part of two decades. However, as I was scrolling, I saw Charlie Kirk, radio host and conservative activist, state that the fall of Afghanistan could’ve been stopped if the generals weren’t so focused on “white rage,” following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. While this tweet made my blood boil, the ones that hurt worse were from bigger media institutions blaming a single person, President Joe Biden, for a conflict that has thousands to blame. This lousy journalism ignores crucial, extenuating events that led up to Afghanistan’s demise. However, this problem is not new. National media organizations and institutions have repeatedly failed to explain the complexity of international events. Strict deadlines and favoring quantity over quality have led to sloppier, lazier and more baseline journalism. Worse yet, partisan media use simplified issues for political gain and blunt the value of the original events. This creates a cyclical process in which media organizations take issues and remove all complexity in order to better produce and sell them. This is a massive disservice to the news profession and audiences who are trying to understand these issues. Modern, staffed, objective news sources were created to allow for better researched, less political and professional research. Dr. Jeffrey Pasley, a history of journalism professor at MU, identified one way news was supposed to improve: the introduction of 24/7 news. “The 24-hours-a-day for-

GRAPHIC BY EMILY WILSON mat would allow for journalists to really go into the issues and thoroughly explain them, which would help people truly understand huge conflicts and issues” Pasley said. However, news outlets quickly faltered with this goal. They realized they did not not have the ability to adequately play groundbreaking news all day, every day. Additionally, new cable media channels came on the foreground

trying to replicate the 24/7 model, which added more competition for the previous channels. Cable media channels started going for repetition by touching on the same subject for hours a day with few changes; these stories ate away at time and filled up programming slots. One of the unintended consequences of talking about the same event for hours a day, for days, was that it created sensationalistic stories.

The American public devoured this content. Media organizations were compelled to aim for sensationalism, even if it was the antithesis of the original goal journalists should strive for. Editors and business executives running these institutions put even tighter deadlines on journalists to fully transition to a market built on quantity. The people running these institutions are not focused on the

pillars of journalistic ethics and truthfulness; their job, as businesspersons, is to make money. Creating more stories allows for more advertising revenue, and sensationalism made even more people want to read or watch. This response gave editors the imperative to push for oversimplified stories that everyone else was running. What started as a noble goal by news outlets quickly turned into a simplified and repetitive journalism culture — because that is what sells best in the market. While it will be hard to topple a system that has thrived for three decades, journalism needs to change. Even though the pursuit of a more informed community through constant news is a fantastic idea, journalists need the ability to perform long-term journalism and focus on complexity. The public and journalistic community can, and must push for fixing trust in the industry. For starters, the eyes and ears of the public can be a voice used to change the system. Watch, read and support quality journalism that tells stories that delve into complexity without sensationalism. One of the only things that business executives will respond to is revenue. By not interacting with media that lacks quality and trust, the public can push these institutions for better practices. Additionally, pushing for former journalists in executive positions will start to change the mindset from the top-down. As for journalists, unionizing in the industry can help protect their jobs and give them the freedom to tell better stories free of clickbait and misconstrued coverage. There is no silver bullet for fixing this culture, but with both sides working together, the industry will eventually get better and redeem its trust in the public’s eyes. Coverage in Afghanistan was extremely oversimplified, but this issue is not an outlier. We see this parasitic trend continue with the coverage in Kabul: repetitive, sensational reporting that tied the entire event back to American politics. The public deserves better coverage of events, and they deserve the whole truth. While the whole truth may never sell as well, it is essential for having a more informed public.

Edited by Sarah Rubinstein, srubinstein@themaneater.com

From Pete on 10

GRAPHIC BY GABRIELLA LACEY beliefs,” though this trend slowed near the 1880s as criminals chose not to give police officers an easier time identifying suspects. Tattoos marked who was a criminal, but this was in the late 1800s, not in the 21st century. Even with this being the case, Smartwater’s advertising perpetuates this stigma. It claims that those with tattoos made a mistake, and that it’d be a “smarter choice” to get them removed — though the advertisement fails to mention the cost of laser tattoo removal. I spoke to a representative of Cayce Medical Spa, off of Market Dr. in Columbia to ask them about the price of having a tattoo laser removed. They told me that each session is a minimum of $100, but no more than $200. The average number of sessions (varying based on age, location and size of the tattoo) is 10 sessions, with each occurring six to 12 weeks apart. If you take the average between these numbers, you’re looking at $1,500 and 90 weeks to get your tattoo removed. Compared to the price of getting a tattoo, the difference is

astronomical. I called Iron Tiger Tattoo, located in downtown Columbia, and learned that they charge a minimum of $50 for each tattoo and an hourly rate of $150. Not only is laser tattoo removal inaccessible to many due to its high costs in both money and time, but, when the two price points are compared, and someone could get multiple tattoos for the price of removing one, they’re almost encouraged to get more. People get tattoos for various reasons. They get them to represent the people they love, their religious beliefs, key moments in their lives, displays of their profession, or, for some, no reason at all. And that is completely their adult decision. People’s ability, intelligence, drive or character shouldn’t be diminished as a result of putting artwork on their body. For this reason, I don’t think anyone should be getting “smart with smartwater,” but should be getting smart by working against negative stigmas surrounding tattoos instead of reinforcing them. Edited by Sarah Rubinstein, srubinstein@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | SPORTS | S eptem ber 8, 2021

The Chase Chronicles, Part 1: Chase Van Dyk’s love of baseball withstood the turbulence of his freshman year A former Top-500 prospect, junior left-handed pitcher Chase Van Dyk couldn’t pitch in the Tigers’ 2021 season, but he brings talent and hunger for baseball to Columbia. BY MASON ARNESON

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRAYSON COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Assistant Sports Editor

Growing up, all Chase Van Dyk wanted to do was play baseball. As soon as he could walk, he yearned to be in the backyard hitting or tossing with his dad, Brett Van Dyk. As Brett Van Dyk coached his son through Little League, he continuously preached the importance of fun in baseball. “I told him, ‘keep playing while you’re having fun,’” Brett Van Dyk said. “‘If it’s not fun, then it’s something to consider not doing anymore.’” Even when Chase Van Dyk wasn’t on the diamond, baseball served as the sun he orbited around. Whether he sifted through baseball cards after school, played Backyard Baseball at home and on road trips or watched games on TV, Chase Van Dyk wanted to do it all. “I’d rather play a game for my job than sit at a desk or do math or any other sort of activity,” Chase Van Dyk said. “It was always something to do and something I enjoyed, so I think a passion started at a young age and never really died.” A simple childhood dream has brought him to three colleges in three years, left him in a burning car and forced him into months of arduous rehab. But in Chase Van Dyk’s estimation, the chance to suit up for Missouri’s baseball team and pitch at the Division I level next spring made that journey worthwhile. “It’s just a sacred game that has a lot of meaning and history, and it’s just a privilege to be a part of that,” Chase Van Dyk said. Scouts and coaches knew that Chase Van Dyk could play at the Division I level years before he committed to the Tigers. The Frisco, Texas, southpaw joined a select team when he turned 11, and immediately flourished. Chase Van Dyk’s skills progressed to the point where he finished freshman year of high school on the varsity roster with a fastball that could break 90 mph. Scouts from SEC and Big 12 schools took notice that summer, but Chase Van Dyk knew right off the bat he wanted to play at Oklahoma. As a sophomore, two years before he could officially sign with a college, Chase Van Dyk committed to the Sooners. Why Oklahoma? Because of the relationship he built with head coach Skip Johnson and the short drive for his parents from Frisco up to Norman, Oklahoma. But what Chase Van Dyk initially saw as a “perfect formula for success” had its flaws. First, he needed to wait for playing time. Johnson’s pitching staff didn’t have many innings to spare, so the available options were limited bullpen innings or a redshirt year. Chase Van Dyk didn’t like either of those options. “You don’t want to go to a fouryear school and sit on the bench,” said Mike Bacsik Sr., Chase Van Dyk’s high school pitching coach and a former MLB pitcher. “You can’t practice pitching in a game unless you pitch in a game.” In the final week of his first semester at Oklahoma, Chase decided to continue his baseball career

Chase Van Dyk, a sophomore on the Missouri baseball team, walks off the field at his former community college, Grayson College. Van Dyk pitched a Grayson his freshman and sophomore seasons before transferring to Missouri in 2020. at the junior college level, something that he and his parents wished they had evaluated sooner. “If I could have done it again, I probably wouldn’t have let him commit so early,” Lara Van Dyk, Chase’s mom, said. There’s not much that’s special about Denison, Texas. The town inhabited by 25,529 people isn’t a bustling hub of commerce by any stretch of the imagination. There’s little debate when Chase Van Dyk’s primary forms of entertainment were watching ducks at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and seesawing on gigantic oil rigs. The town 75 miles north of Dallas is interesting to the extent that it is

the birthplace of former president Dwight Eisenhower and Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who landed a plane in the Hudson River. But aside from fun facts, there isn’t much flair for the town that sits less than five miles away from the Oklahoma border. The tiny Texas town contains Grayson College, the perfect place for Chase Van Dyk to improve on the diamond — a no-frills, all-baseball town that won three National Junior College Athletic Association Baseball World Series titles since 1999. “It’s not impressive by any means,” Chase Van Dyk said. “But there’s some sort of magic there

that is kind of unexplainable as far as the athletic side.” The magic at Grayson stemmed from the baseball-centric atmosphere of the junior college level that Chase Van Dyk craved. Alongside the method of coach Dusty Hart, who understands that Grayson is just a stop onto bigger and better things, Chase Van Dyk finally found his “perfect formula for success.” Hart worked with his team in a hands-off, laid-back approach that fit the incoming freshman like a well-worn baseball mitt. Chase Van Dyk and his team didn’t need any extra motivation to play their best with professional careers at

stake every time they stepped on the diamond. Grayson’s head honcho didn’t interfere with player routines for a regimented, one-size-fits-all approach. So long as the team racked up wins, the players were free to work within their own individualized routines. Chase Van Dyk took advantage of this freedom by working with Bascik closer to home in Arlington, Texas, when he needed pitching advice. He also had free reign to do whatever he needed to pitch his best, even if some considered his methods unorthodox. Fifteen minutes before Chase Van Dyk took the mound for the first time in a Grayson uniform, he sat at the end of the dugout munching on a hot dog. Hart, perplexed that his starter wasn’t warming up, inquired why he wasn’t throwing around. “Dusty, I can’t pitch on an empty stomach,” Chase Van Dyk told his coach. “Alright, I can’t argue with that,” a chuckling Hart said. “Make sure when you’re on the mound to do your thing.” The move to Grayson and the atmosphere that permitted pregame hot dog consumption in the dugout paid off. Chase Van Dyk appeared in eight contests, starting one of them and finishing the year with a perfect 3-0 record. In just 33.2 innings pitched, he struck out 47 batters. Chase Van Dyk’s hopes of further developing into a pro-caliber player and hearing his name announced in the 2020 MLB FirstYear Player Draft hit a slight bump in the road when COVID-19 canceled the season. He pitched in three outings with one start before the NJCAA shut down the season mid-March. Grayson ended its season with a 16-3 record to land the No. 11 ranking in the NJCAA polls, with a legitimate chance to make a run in the NJCAA World Series that summer. “That one’s gonna stick with me forever, because we had as good a club as we’ve ever had and Chase would have been a big part of that,” Hart said. More disappointing news came just weeks later: On March 26, the MLB significantly scaled back its draft in June, from 40 rounds the year prior, to just five, which resulted in around 1,000 fewer selections than in 2019.. Hart believed that, had the draft been completed in full, Chase Van Dyk would have been selected for a decent position and signed with whatever team offered him a spot. “I think somebody would have drafted him anywhere from the 10th round to the 20th round,” Hart said. March 2020 saw so many things slip out of Chase Van Dyk’s grasp that he couldn’t control. But on March 24, as he and two friends drove down Texas State Highway 289 back to Grayson to grab their belongings from the clubhouse and say their final goodbyes, life itself nearly slipped away. * “The Chase Chronicles” is a three-part story. Part Two will arrive soon.* Edited by Kyle Pinnell, kpinnell@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | SPORTS | S eptem ber 8, 2021

PHOTO BY ALEIGHA HORNADAY A crowd of MU students and fans cheers in the stands during a football game against Central Michigan University on aturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.

Go time: Missouri football hopes to turn offseason excitement into regular season success to begin 2021 The Tigers’ real work begins as they kick off their 2021 season against Central Michigan. BY KYLE PINNELL Sports Editor

When Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz puts out the bat signal, Tigers fans pay attention. In this context, the bat signal is a simple tweet without text. An animation of Faurot Field’s south end zone doors opening to a spotlight shining over the rock “M.” What often comes next is an exciting recruitment or transfer announcement. In December, the tweet preceded true freshman wide receiver Dominic Lovett’s announcement of his flip from Arizona State to Missouri. Not even a month later, the same tweet went out shortly before reports surfaced that redshirt freshman receiver Mookie Cooper traded in Ohio State’s scarlet and gray for Missouri’s black and gold. The sudden, unexpected arrival of Cooper and Lovett kicked off an

offseason full of both excitement and hypotheticals. Will the receiving corps be the Tigers’ offensive strength? How will redshirt sophomore quarterback Connor Bazelak perform in his first full season as a starter? Can new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks adjust quickly enough to the college game? What exactly is the team’s ceiling? Those questions are just a few of many Missouri has to answer in the coming months. Now, with the home opener against Central Michigan, the Tigers finally turn their full attention to the field and play football. “Whether it’s extra 6 a.m. workouts, spring football or Saturdays throughout the summer, [the] guys have done a tremendous job of everything we’ve asked them to do to be at this moment,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re excited about what this means for us and our

program going into year two.” Much of that excitement comes from the slow return to normality, at least in college football terms. That means fans being allowed to fill 62,621-seat Faurot Field, non-conference matchups and even the return of home game day traditions. For many players, the Sept. 4 game also marked their first time playing in front of what should be a relatively full stadium. Bazelak made his first start under center in that environment. Sophomore cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and sophomore kicker Harrison Mevis found themselves in the same situation. One player who made his first significant start at Faurot Field is junior safety Martez Manuel. Born and raised in Columbia, he knows what the atmosphere is like, mostly from the sidelines and the stands as a fan. Now one of Mis-

souri’s three permanent captains in his third season, Manuel is expected to play an even more significant role on the defensive side of the ball. Manuel and many of his teammates could hardly contain their excitement in the week leading up to the game. “I know this year, when we run out there and see all the fans, it’s going to be awesome,” Manuel said. With this enthusiasm also comes the possibility of unknown challenges. The Chippewas are the Tigers’ first non-conference foe since they beat Troy 42-10 on Oct. 5, 2019. Drinkwitz and his players will soon learn how the team responds to adversity. “We haven’t been tested in the fire yet,” Drinkwitz said. “We haven’t had the adversity of being down or giving up points on a scoreboard. Just like anything else, until you really do it, you’re

not going to be quite sure what the deficiencies are and what has to be fixed.” Now fans will see what the Tigers are capable of on the field in Drinkwitz’s second season at the helm. And, after an offseason full of exciting additions and weeks of excruciating practices in the summer heat, the Sept. 4 game against Central Michigan is where the real work begins. “I think everybody missed the game day excitement with fans and the atmosphere,” Wilks said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about SEC football. Just to get back on the sidelines and have fans back at Faurot will be exciting for us. I can’t wait.”

Edited by Mason Arneson, marneson@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | FUN AND GAMES | S ep temb er 8, 2021

The Maneater’s September Horoscope BY PRAJUKTA GHOSH AND EVER COLE Writers

Aries (March 21-April 19) The month of September ushers in new experiences and relationships for you, busy Aries. You may find yourself mingling with individuals and striking special connections; hang on to these people, as they may help you down the road. You will start to see your passion and desires manifest before you, including fascinating projects and personal achievements. While all of this will be exciting, make sure to keep an eye on your mental and physical well-being too.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is your time to shine! Your confidence is like no other; use this to your advantage when it comes to getting what you want. However, do not fall into the habit of waiting for good things to come to you. You must take charge and fight for your desires! Don’t worry, the universe is on your side.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Stop and smell the roses this month, even if they may have thorns. Although the start of the month could be rocky for you, things will level out soon. September is the time to nurture yourself, your relationships and your future. Think “glass half full” and you will get by just fine.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your loved ones have your back, Cancer, whether that be in your creative journey or overall success. Don’t forget to thank them for their support! These relationships have value in your life, so treat them with care. Put that brain to use in September to excel in your classes and organizations — you won’t regret it.

The Aviary BY NAOMI KLEIN Writer

Find the next clue to the mystery on The Maneater website next week! Lightning streaked across the sky as five unsuspecting guests waited outside of Alouette Aviary, the mansion of the eccentric Avery Alouette, a professor in psychological studies. Alouette waited for them inside, a wide grin on their face. “I welcome you all to The Supper!” they said, their

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Connection is in the air, Leo. This month will make way for new, lasting relationships or strengthen existing ones. You just might meet your soulmate! The stars know that 2021 may not have been the kindest for you thus far, but don’t fret — your horizon will brighten soon. Creative juices are flowing and doors will open left and right for you, making you try new things and start adventures. Take this as a sign to travel somewhere new or pick up an interesting hobby.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) All attention is on you this month — happy birthday! You will feel as confident as ever this September. Use this time of celebration to put yourself out there: dance on the Quad, speak up in class and reach for the stars. The new moon in Virgo is the universe telling you “GO!” Don’t hold back, and certainly don’t dwell on limitations.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You will find yourself loving September, Libra! As Jupiter covers you with passion, creativity and love until Dec. 28. Libras looking for love might find their better halves and sink into the waves of love more intensely than ever. It’s a great time to relax and focus on pleasure, affection, charm and excitement.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This month will be engulfed with joy for you, Scorpio. You will be transported to a zone that will encompass you with light and make you feel right at home. Your current relationships with your close ones will continue to thrive. It is a great time to relax and rejuvenate, and doing so will also make love more magical around you.

grin only widening as the guests stepped inside the lavish parlor. “I do hope you enjoy tonight’s dinner. Please, sit down and speak with one another. Introduce yourselves.” They all obliged and Alouette left the room as quickly as they entered. Brown, black and white, red, blue and green masks sat around the circular table as their meals appeared before them, and they looked around amongst themselves. “The Supper … sounds delightful!” the woman in the brown mask mused, taking a few sips from her soup.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This is going to be a major month for you, Sagittarius. You will be moving ahead and find yourself wanting to explore. You might find yourself feeling curious about the world and will do anything under your control to explore it. It is a great time for writers, social media influencers and public speakers to persistently succeed in their areas of expertise.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A month with sweetness in the atmosphere is right in front of you, Capricorn. The universe is all set to bestow gold upon you this year. Start making plans, since new opportunities are on their way. Focus on spreading your horizons in terms of people who you value in life. An amazing social life will be buzzing for you this month.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) September has planned plenty of goodies in store for you. More luck and lots of opportunities will be seeping their way through to shower joy and happiness on you. Keep an eye on your expenses, since there is a high probability you could be spending more than saving. Awards and recognition will also be boarding the venture. You might just meet your soulmate.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March. 20) An incredible turning point has arrived this month for you, Pisces. You will feel the urge to heal and develop a spirit booster during this time of your life. If you were looking for the right time to let go of all your baggage, now is the time to do so.

Edited by Abby Stetina, astetina@themaneater.com

The man in the black and white mask knocked the bowl from her hands and it clattered to the ground. “Careful, my dear. Since we still don’t know why exactly we’re here, it could be safe to assume the food is poisonous.” The man in the red mask scoffed, and he took a few sips himself. “I don’t see why the host would go out of their way to poison us. They seem nice enough.” “I wouldn’t trust a strange invitation like the one I received in the mail this morning. Let alone one with masks provided,” said the woman in the green mask, pushing her

soup away from herself. “You’re all paranoid,” said the man in blue with a sigh, though he didn’t move to eat. “Nothing’s going to happen; this is a party! Parties are enjoyable!” As he spoke, the lights flickered for a moment, then shut off completely. The lights turned on again. A stream of deep crimson leaked from the kitchen, seeping into the carpet. To be continued…

Edited by Abby Stetina, astetina@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | FUN AND GAMES | S e p tember 8, 2021

The Maneater’s September Cartoon

Fun under 21

Fun Under 21 BY TAYLOR DRIVER-FLORES Fun and Games Creator

By Fun and Games Creator Taylor Driver-Flores

Fun activities to explore in Columbia — no ID required!

Find activities to explore in Columbia – No ID required! t

KEY:

Cat Cafe Farmers market Roots n’ Blues

The Blue Note Pizza Tree Forum 8

Ragtag Tailgate True/False

Devil’s Icebox

BY NAOMI KLEIN Cartoonist