January 20, 2015

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Leading scorer Marcus Marshall leaves team. See page 7.

THE

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

M I S S O U R I

S T A T E

U N I V E R S I T Y More than 100 years in print

Volume 108, Issue 16 | the-standard.org The Standard/The Standard Sports

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Marching for Martin Luther King Jr. Hundreds join local NAACP for the MLK Day March and celebration on Monday

Nic Deckard/THE STANDARD

Springfield citizens march to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.

By Nicole Roberts The Standard @NReneeRoberts Many Springfield citizens, including several students from local colleges, attended the NAACP’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day March on Jan. 19. Hundreds of people participated in the NAACP’s A Century of Black Life, History and Culture march from Mediacom Ice Park to the Gillioz Theatre. According to Cheryl Clay, president of the NAACP chapter in Springfield, the march has been held for over 20 years. “We are honoring the life, legacy and memory of Dr. King,” said Evangel University Krause residence director Ramsey Jeanty. “We really appreciate that, especially as a Christian school, with him being not only a minister, but somebody who really embodied what it would be like if we all acted like children of God.” Participants in the march remembered the importance of

King’s work. “The Civil Rights Movement was very important, and I think we can sometimes forget how much trouble this country went through before we were at this point today,” said Cade Wilke, a sophomore premedicine major at EU. “People want to remember the impact Martin Luther King Jr. made.” After the march, people gave speeches and played music at the Gillioz Theatre. Several students thought current issues like Ferguson and the Eric Garner case led to a higher number of marchers. Lexi Gambino, a sophomore math education major at MSU, said even though Ferguson took place in St. Louis, many Springfield citizens have strong feelings about it, which could have influenced their decision to participate in the march. Clay hoped the march will encourage Springfield citizens to participate more in their community. “Our nation is going backwards as far as equal rights. We need to become involved in the

Nic Deckard/THE STANDARD

community in order to make a difference,” Clay said. “I think it’s good for students to get involved with stuff like this, especially with the events that have happened on our campus this past fall semester with the protests and the way some African-Americans were mistreated,” said Camry Cowan, a junior high school math education major at MSU. “I think it’s good for people to just show up and see how the attitudes that have been around for a long time are still affecting people today,” Cowan said. “Even though we’ve made a lot of progress, there is still a lot of progress that we can still make.”

Springfield NAACP Chapter Meetings are the third Saturday of every month at Midtown Carnegie Library. 417-873-6386 naacpspringfieldmo.org

‘Orange is the New Black’ star comes to Springfield

Laverne Cox speaks tonight to spark conversation on LGBTQ issues

By Sofia Caito The Standard @SofiaCaito

If you’re an avid Netflix user and have ever partaken in binge- watching, there’s a good chance you’ve seen at least a few episodes of “Orange is the New Black” and recognize the name Laverne Cox. Cox is a critically-acclaimed actress that many of you may recognize as Sophia Burset from this Netflix original series. She is also a television producer, an LGBT advocate and the first television advocate to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s “TRANSform Me.” Cox is a renowned speaker that shares her message of moving past gender expectations and living more authentically. Tonight, she will be on our campus to share her message. The Student Activities Council, the LGBT Resource Center on campus, the GLO Center, Springfield Pride and One Springfield are all sponsoring the event. Dominiece Hoelyfield — the assistant director-coordinator of LGBT Student Services, Multicultural Programs and Student Diversity — says that Cox’s performance is a phenomenal opportunity to affect change in Missouri State students, staff, faculty and the greater Springfield area because of the number of challenges that MSU students and the genderqueer community face. One of these challenges is that employers and businesses in the city of Springfield can legally discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Hoelyfield believes that Cox’s empowering messages can be the driving force that causes students to live life unapologetically and to take a stand against discrimination. SAC President Grace Chang said that they have been wanting to bring Cox to Missouri State since last year. Transgender

See Laverne Cox speak tonight at 7 p.m. in Juanita K. Hammons Hall. Tickets are free but are required.

issues are discussions often ignored but, “Laverne is coming to start that conversation in a safe environment,” Chang said. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks, or the GLO Center, is another safe environment where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the Springfield community can go to for support. The center organizes and sponsors community activities and events and increases public understanding of LGBT citizens. “Springfield is special in the way that it has the support in our community for transgender individuals that many small towns in the area do not always receive,” says Brandon Landers, the Pride Co-Chair and GLO Board member. He applauded SAC for using its spring lecture as a teaching tool for the community and hopes it will continue the dialogue on transgender issues in our area. Landers said he is excited for every individual, whether it be a student on campus or a parent of a trans child, to hear Cox’s message. “We are ready for the conversation to continue in our area for trans inclusiveness. As we head towards a public vote in Springfield in April to stop the repeal of our non-discrimination policy, we know that stories such as Laverne Cox’s will make the difference in someone’s life,” Landers said. Landers also said students will have the opportunity to help by registering to vote in the April election and by voting “no” on a repeal that takes away an LGBT person’s right to work, live and be who they truly are. “Our hope is that students and the community at large will get a chance to see Laverne Cox speak and deliver a powerful message of change,” Landers said. The event is tonight at 7-8 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall. The event is free of charge, but tickets are required for entry.


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