Back to Campus Guide 2025 by The Standard at Missouri State University

THE STANDARD

BACK TO CAMPUS

Meet Student

Body President Collin

Chastain on pg. 10! Get involved on campus by checking out pg. 22 & 23!

Campus construction updates on pg. 56 & 58!

Preseason Conference USA preview on pg. 60!

Standard staff

Advertising staff

Makayla Malachowski

advertising assistant

Ellie Mallett

advertising designer

Editorial staff

Jayden Pettus editor-inchief

Ella Conklin editor

Maddux Radosevic editor

Liz Garcia former coeditor-in-chief

Reporters and visual artists

Aden Zuccarini reporter

Ava Gorton reporter

Kaylee Vaughan photographer

Jackson Wright sports reporter

Jamie Santner reporter

Jude Jenkins former reporter

Matthew Huff photographer

Robin Garner reporter

Ruby Knight reporter

Rylie Robinson reporter

W. Paul Bohlen senior sports reporter

Professional staff

Jack Dimond faculty adviser

The Standard 901 S. National Avenue • Springfield, MO 65897 • 417-836-5272 Standard@MissouriState.edu the-standard.org

A construction worker makes renovations at Blunt Hall near the fountain on July 9, 2025.

Cover design and photo by Jayden Pettus On the cover

BACK TO CAMPUS 2025

is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by the students on The Standard staff.

Pettus: Last man standing

JAYDEN PETTUS Editor-in-Chief Dpettusjayden

Howdy Bears! Welcome back to campus! I’m Jayden Pettus and I’ll be editor-in-chief of The Standard for this upcoming school year.

After spending a year as co-editor-in-chief with two fantastic journalists, Em Blackstone and Liz Garcia, I am running it back as a lone wolf, ready to take on any challenges that will come about during this year.

As editor-in-chief, it has been my responsibility to get this issue to you in time for it to reach you before the start of the fall semester. Countless hours were spent writing, editing, copy-editing and designing the content you see here. I obviously couldn’t have done it all by myself, so I want to extend a huge thanks to our advertisement crew, Makayla Malachowski and Ellie Mallett, along with one of our editors Ella Conklin and our faculty adviser Jack Dimond. These people did so much work behind the scenes to make the issue as amazing as it is. On top of their help, this couldn’t have been possible without the hard work of The Standard’s fantastic, hard-working staﬀ, who wrote the content for you all to consume with the intention of making your transition to campus that much easier.

With that being said, I want to emphasize how valuable the content in this issue can be for students, especially those who are beginning

Order your parking permit online!

An email with a temporary permit will be sent after ordering

All permit fees charged to university accounts or payroll deduction

Please read over the parking regulations as permits are good in specific lots only.

their ﬁrst year here. Getting involved is essential to living the full college experience and there are plenty of opportunities around campus. Back to Campus highlights a plethora of these opportunities, but it was impossible to encompass every single one, simply because of the sheer number of chances students have to get out and meet new people.

For those with a creative touch, The Standard is always looking for more writers, editors, photographers, designers, illustrators, podcasters and more. This is a great opportunity to have your work published while building a portfolio and resume for the future. If you’re interested in joining, reach out to us at Standard@MissouriState.edu.

Even if you’re not interested in being a member of our team, it is extremely important to support student journalism. Aside from The Standard at Missouri State, there are multiple student-media outlets like Sartorial Magazine, KSMU, Ozarks News Brief and more. These mediums are great ways for students to stay up to date with everything happening on campus, as well as improve their media literacy skills.

Find our content on the-standard.org and on news paper racks and kiosks around campus. Keep up with The Standard on our socials @thestandard_msu on Instagram and X. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this issue and best of luck as the school year gets underway!

Go Bears!

2025-2026

(Fall/Spring) Academic year permits good August 1, 2025–May 31, 2026

Annual permits good August 1, 2025–July 31, 2026

Full time faculty/staff with 3-year permits expiring July 2026 do not need to reapply.

Ofﬁce Hours:

Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

417-836-4825

parking@missouristate.edu

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Biff Williams Welcomes students back to campus

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

DR. RICHARD “BIFF” WILLIAMS Guest Writer

Let me be the first to welcome you to Missouri State University for the 2025-26 school year.

Whether you’re returning to campus or are new here, we have an incredible year ahead of us — one filled with exciting milestones and new opportunities.

Having completed my first full year as president, I’m looking forward to my second year leading this remarkable institution. I continue to be amazed by what makes Missouri State such a special place. This year marks our 120th anniversary as an institution, our 30th year as the state’s designated public affairs university and our 20th year as Missouri State University. These aren’t just numbers — they represent decades of citizen scholars making a difference in their communities and beyond.

I’ve spent this past year getting to know our campus community even better, and I’m more convinced than ever that our public affairs mission truly sets us apart. You’ll see this come to life in a big way this fall as we begin implementing our new strategic plan, “Igniting Opportunity,” which will guide us through 2030.

Get to know campus

One change that I’m especially excited about is our move to Conference USA. This moves us to the NCAA’s highest level of college football and will help raise the profile of Missouri State University nationally. It will also provide a better game-day experience for our athletes and fans.

Did you know there are over 375 student organizations on campus? You’ll have so many opportunities to become a part of our vibrant campus community and live out our three foundational values: ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement.

I’ll continue to be a “regular” in Springfield. In the coming months, you’ll see me cheering on the Bears at football games, attending choir concerts, hosting dinners, enjoying theatrical performances and everything in between. And I hope to see you there, too.

by MSU Creative Services

Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams, Missouri State’s 12th president, will begin his second year at the university in the fall semester.

Building a better Missouri State

If you’re returning this semester, you’ll see the results of all that construction activity. The new Roy Blunt Hall addition is now open, providing state-of-the-art science facilities. Renovation continues on the rest of Blunt Hall. The Kemper Hall addition is also complete, offering enhanced learning environments.

But we’re not slowing down. Construction is also ongoing for the Craig Hall addition and renovation and Kampeter Health Sciences Hall renovation. We’re also making progress on the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Complex and the Clifton M. Smart III Advancement Center.

This is just a small part of $250 million worth of planning, design and construction projects in progress on campus.

I promise these improvements will be worth any temporary inconvenience — we’re building spaces that will serve Bears for generations to come.

One more thing

In case you’re wondering ... yes, you can still call me Biff.

When you see me around campus, please stop and say hello. I want to hear from you. If you have any ideas for events or campus improvements, please email me at president@ missouristate.edu.

Classes start Aug. 18, and I’m excited to see what this milestone year brings for all of us.

Go Bears!

Collin Chastain

You don’t want to miss this

STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT COLLIN CHASTAIN Guest Writer

What’s up bears! My name is Collin Chastain, and I am your 2025-2026 student body president. Missouri State University is the place to be this year. Our athletic programs are soaring with the recent move to join Conference USA, we can now offer doctoral degree programs previously restricted by legislation, and our Tent Theatre venue is open for business! You don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to be a part of such a transformative school year.

Now, who am I? I am a senior studying professional writing and political science. One thing you should know about me is that I enjoy the outdoors and traveling. During the summer, you can find me on the river kayaking or hiking in the woods.

During the school year, you can find me locked in on schoolwork or running the Student Government Association (SGA).

This year in SGA, I am accompanied by my wonderful leadership team:

Sam Wang, Student Body Vice President Mia Ray, Chief of Staff

Bekah

Gunter, Senior Class President

These individuals have been a driving force for transforming SGA into the best student organization on campus. With their help, we have already been involved in conversations with faculty, staff, and administrators to improve the student experience through various student-led initiatives and programs. During our campaign for SGA leadership positions, we wanted to “Build the Foundation” for a student-centered university and offer financial, academic, and community services through SGA funds and programs.

First and foremost, we believe Missouri State thrives as an accessible institution serving first-generation, international, nontraditional, and transfer students who rely on affordable education. There is over $100k sitting in the Student Initiative Fund (SIF), which is available for all students to apply for. It is our mission to provide meaningful programs that support students with this money.

Below are specific items we will push for in Student Government Association:

• Reimbursement of partial costs for text books and parking passes.

• Funding opportunities to travel and attend conferences.

• Clear, accessible student organization funding (SOFAC) guidelines.

SGA leadership also recognizes the need for consistent, student-centered practices on academic policies. As students, we are the university’s most significant stakeholders, and through stronger relationships between the students and university leaders, we can have a seat at the table when discussing changes in policies. Have you heard about the wild, wild west called artificial intelligence? Yeah. We need to talk about it!

Below are specific items we will push for in Student Government Association:

• Fair and consistent policies on artificial intelligence usage in the classroom, academic integrity hearings, inclement weather decisions, and learning management systems (Brightspace).

• Open educational resources and textbook accessibility.

• GEP 101 and UHC 110 improvements to better support student success.

Finally, we want to prioritize community development initiatives by strengthening university connections and bringing back college pride and excitement. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Last year was rough for higher education across the country. Here at Missouri State, we’ve had some growing pains, but it is time to build back the community stronger than ever. We are bears! Let’s act like it.

Below are specific items we will push for in Student Government Association:

• University-government relations through SGA Day at the Capitol.

• Resources for minority, international, and LGBTQ+ students.

• Support for student athletes as they join Conference USA.

• Volunteer opportunities in the Springfield area.

Like I said, it’s a big year for Missouri State University. If you want to be a part of the change, please join SGA. We meet every Tuesday at 5:30 pm in the Plaster Student Union Parliamentary Room (PSU 313). Check out our website SGA.MissouriState.edu for more information on how to apply.

Welcome back to campus, bears. I cannot wait for all the amazing things we are about to accomplish. Study hard, play hard. Show up to football games, go to the tailgates, join a club, make new friends, and most of all, have fun! You may never get to experience this again, so make your Missouri Statement while you still have time. I am rooting for you.

GO BEARS!

Photo

Undecided and undeclared?

Missouri State offers a variety of majors to choose from

Accounting (Comprehensive) (BS)

Agricultural Business (Comprehensive) (BS)

Agricultural Communications (Comprehensive) (BS)

Agriculture Education (BSEd)

Animal Science (Comprehensive) (BS)

Anthropology (NonComprehensive) (BA)

Anthropology (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Art (BFA)

Art Education (BSEd)

Biology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Biology (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Biology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Biomedical Sciences (Comprehensive) (BS)

Business Education (BSEd)

Career and Technical Education (BSED)

Chemistry (Comprehensive) (BS)

Chemistry (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Child and Family Development (Comprehensive) (BS)

Clinical Laboratory SciencesMedical Technology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Communication Sciences and Disorders (Comprehensive) (BS)

Communication Studies (Comprehensive) (BS)

Community and Regional Planning (Comprehensive) (BS)

Computer Science (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Construction Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Criminology and Criminal Justice (Comprehensive) (BA)

Criminology and Criminal Justice (Comprehensive) (BS)

Culture, Literature, and Media (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Culture, Literature, and Media (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Dance (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Data Analytics (Comprehensive) (BS)

Data Science (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Design (BFA)

Digital Fashion and Merchandising (Comprehensive) (BS)

Digital Film and Television

Production (Comprehensive) (BS)

Early Childhood Education (BSEd)

Economics (Comprehensive) (BS)

Economics (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Electronic Arts (Comprehensive) (BS)

Elementary Education (BSEd)

English (BSEd)

English (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

English (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Entertainment Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Entrepreneurship (Comprehensive) (BS)

Environmental Plant Science (Comprehensive) (BS)

Equine Science (Comprehensive) (BS)

Esports Studies (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Exercise Science (Comprehensive) (BS)

Finance (Comprehensive) (BS)

General Agriculture (BAS)

General Agriculture (Comprehensive) (BS)

General Business (Comprehensive) (BS)

General Studies, Bachelor of (BGS)

Geography and Sustainability (Comprehensive) (BS)

Geography and Sustainability (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Geography and Sustainability (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Geology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Geology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Geospatial Sciences (Comprehensive) (BS)

Gerontology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Global Studies (Comprehensive) (BA)

Health Services (Comprehensive) (BS)

History (BSEd)

History (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

History (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Hospitality Leadership (BAS)

Hospitality Leadership (Comprehensive) (BS)

Human Resource Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Individualized Major (BAS)

Individualized Major (Comprehensive) (BA)

Individualized Major

(Comprehensive) (BS)

Information Technology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Interior Design (Comprehensive) (BS)

International Business (Comprehensive) (BS)

Journalism (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Management and Leadership (Comprehensive) (BS)

Marketing (Comprehensive) (BS)

Mathematics (BSEd)

Mathematics (Comprehensive) (BS)

Mathematics (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Mathematics (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Mechanical Engineering

Technology (Comprehensive) (BS)

Middle School Education (BSEd)

Modern Language (Comprehensive) (BS)

Modern Language (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Music (BMus)

Music (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Music (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Music-Instrumental (BME)

Music-Vocal/Choral (BME)

Musical Theatre (BFA)

Natural Resources (Comprehensive) (BS)

Nursing (completion program for registered nurses) (BSN)

Nursing (Pre-licensure, 4-year program) (BSN)

Nutrition and Dietetics (Comprehensive) (BS)

Philosophy (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Philosophy (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Physical Education (BSEd)

Physics (Comprehensive) (BS)

Political Science (NonComprehensive) (BA)

Political Science (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Professional Writing (BA)

Professional Writing (BS)

Psychology (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Psychology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Radiography (Comprehensive) (BS)

Religious Studies (NonComprehensive) (BA)

Religious Studies (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Respiratory Therapy (Comprehensive) (BS)

Risk Management and Insurance (Comprehensive) (BS)

Screenwriting and Film Studies (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Screenwriting and Film Studies (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Social Work (BSW)

Sociology (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Sociology (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Special Education/Cross Categorical (BSEd)

Speech and Theatre Education

(BSEd)

Speech and Theatre Education (BSEd)

Sport and Recreation

Administration (Comprehensive) (BS)

Sports Medicine (Comprehensive) (BS)

Strategic Communication (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Supply Chain, Logistics and Operations Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Theatre (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Theatre (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Theatre and Dance (BFA)

Tourism Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Tourism Management (NonComprehensive) (BS)

Visual Art and Culture (NonComprehensive) (BA)

Wildlife Conservation and Management (Comprehensive) (BS)

Fall 2025 Spring 2026 Academic Calendar

August

• 18: Full Semester and First Block Classes Begin

• 22: Last Day to Request Full Semester and First Block Change of Schedule September

• 1: Labor Day Holiday, no classes

• 24: Last Day to Drop, or Declare Pass/NotPass or Audit for First Block October

• 7: First Block Classes End

• 8: First Block Final Exams

• 9-12: Fall Break, no classes

• 13: Second Block Classes Begin

• 16: Midterm Grades Available

• 17: Last Day to Change Second Block Schedule

• 31: Deadline to have name listed in Fall 2025 Commencement program November

• 7: Last Day to Drop or Declare Pass/Not-Pass or Audit for Full Semester

• 17: Last Day to Drop, or Declare Pass/NotPass or Audit for Second Block

• 22-30: Thanksgiving Holiday, no classes December

• 4: Full Semester and Second Block Classes End

• 5: Study Day, no classes

• 6-11: Final Exam Period

• 12: Fall 2025 Commencement

• 16: Final Grades Available

January

• 12: Full Semester and First Block Classes Begin

• 16: Last Day to Request Full Semester and First Block Change of Schedule

• 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no classes February

• 16: Presidents’ Day Holiday, no classes March

• 5: First Block Classes End

• 6: First Block Final Exams

• 9: Second Block Classes Begin

• 12: Midterm Grades Available

• 14-22: Spring Break, no classes

• 31: Deadline to have name listed in Spring 2026 Commencement program April

• 3-5: Spring Holiday, no classes

• 30: Full Semester and Second Block Classes End May

• 1: Study Day, no classes

• 2-7: Final Exam Period

• 8: Spring Commencement

• 12: Final Grades Available

DEPARTMENT

Let us help you find your way around campus

Photo by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

Be careful navigating the south side of campus while it remains under construction.

RUBY KNIGHT Reporter Qrubyrknight

Having trouble finding where to go on campus? You’ve come to the right place.

Here is a categorized list of buildings and their functions. Each listing includes the building’s name, address, and relevant functions.

Recreation

• Betty & Bobby Allison North Stadium

730 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65897

• Betty & Bobby Allison Recreation Field (Taco Bell Fields) 1140-1198 E Harrison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium East 65897, 830 Bear Blvd., Springfield, MO 65807

• Foster Recreation Center

945 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65807

Parking Garages

• Bear Park North

725 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65806

• Bear Park South

920 S Holland Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Residence Life

• Blair-Shannon House, BlairShannon Dining Hall

1001 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Freudenberger House

1000 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Garst Dining Center

1014 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65897

• Hammons House

1001 E Harrison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Heitz House, Heitz Dining Center

811 S Holland Ave, Springfield, MO 65806

• Hutchens House

1021 E Harrison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Kentwood Hall

700 E St Louis St, Springfield, MO 65806

• Monroe Apartments

1141 East Bear Blvd., Springfield, MO 65807

• Scholars House

1116 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Sunvilla Tower

833 E Elm St, Springfield, MO 65806

• Wells House 1132 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Woods House

1115 Bear Blvd., Springfield, MO 65807

Athletics

• Forsythe Athletics Center

827 S Kings Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Coach offices

Training facilities

• Great Southern Bank Arena

685 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65807

Events

• John Q. Hammons Student Center

731 Bear Blvd, Springfield, MO 65897 Offices

Events

• Robert W. Plaster Stadium

1015 Grand St, Springfield, MO 65897

Events

• Wehr Band Hall

625 S Clay Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Pride bands

Student Services

• Missouri State University Bookstore

717 S Florence Ave, Springfield, MO 65807

Textbooks & other supplies

BearWear

• Carrington Hall

901 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Office of Financial Aid

Administration offices

• Clay Hall

744 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65807

Adult Student Services

• Magers Health & Wellness

Between the Bookstore and Woods House

Clinic

Pharmacy

Lab

Women’s Health Clinic

Counseling Center

• McDonald Hall & Arena

850 S Kings Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Esports

Exercise science

Physical education

Sport and recreation administration

• Meyer Library

850 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65897

Classrooms

Study spaces

Computer labs

• Plaster Student Union

1110 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65897

Retail

Food court

Study spaces

Student Government Association office

Administrative offices

• University Hall

1141 E Madison St, Springfield, MO 65807

• Davis-Harrington Welcome Center

705 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65804

McQueary College of Health and Human Services

• Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall

609 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65806

Biomedical Sciences Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders Department

Department of Public Health and Sports Medicine

School of Nursing

• Hill Hall

905 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Psychology Department

McDonald Hall & Arena

850 S Kings Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Kinesiology

• McQueary Family Health Sciences Hall

606 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Physical Therapy

• O’Reilly Clinical Health Sciences Center

640 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Occupational Therapy

Physician Assistant Studies Department

School of Anesthesia

• Pummill Hall

930 South Carrington Ave., Springfield, MO 65897

School of Social Work

Darr College of Agriculture

• Karls Hall

950 South Carrington Ave., Springfield, MO 65897

Agribusiness, Agricultural Education and Communications Department

Animal Science Department

Environmental Plant Science and Natural Resources Department

• Pummill Hall

930 South Carrington Ave., Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Hospitality Leadership

• Darr Agricultural Center

2401 S Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO 65807

Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

• Brick City

Brick City 1: 215 W Mill St, Springfield, MO 65897

Art and Design Department

• Craig Hall

1147 Grand St, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film

Department of Theatre and Dance

• Ellis Hall

907 S National Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Music

• John Goodman Amphitheatre

In front of Craig Hall; part of the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Arts Park Tent Theatre

• Juanita K. Hammons Hall

525 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65806

Events

• McDonald Hall & Arena

850 S Kings Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Theatre and dance studios

• Siceluff Hall

827 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of English Languages, Cultures, and Religions

Department

• Strong Hall

900 S Holland Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

History Department

Political Science and Philosophy Department

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Sociology, Anthropology, and Gerontology Department

• Wehr Band Hall

625 S Clay Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Music spaces

College of Business

• Glass Hall

851 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Finance, Economics, and Risk Management

Department of Information Technology and Cybersecurity

Department of Management

School of Construction, Design and Project Management

Marketing Department

School of Accountancy

College of Education

• Child Development Center

609 E Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65806 practicums

• Greenwood Laboratory School

1024 E Harrison St, Springfield, MO 65897 Practicums

• Hill Hall

905 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Childhood Education and Family Studies

Department of Reading, Foundations and Technology

Department of Secondary Education

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

• Roy Blunt Hall

910 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Biology

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Geography, Geology and Planning

• Cheek Hall

825 S National Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Computer Science Department

Department of Mathematics

• Kemper Hall

921 S John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65897

Department of Physics, Astronomy and Material Science

• Kings St. Annex

801 S Kings Ave Springfield, MO 65897

Classrooms

• Plaster Free Enterprise Center

405 N Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65897

Welcome Weekend

Your first chance to get involved at MSU

JAYDEN PETTUS Editor-in-Chief Dpettusjayden

Each year, Missouri State University holds many events during Welcome Weekend to help new — and returning — Bears get acclimated to campus for the new school year. Here’s a list of the events along with their respective locations and times:

Thursday, Aug. 14

The first Welcome Weekend event is button making in room 100 of the Magers Health and Wellness Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Students are invited to make unique buttons for personal use, or as gifts for friends.

At 8:30 p.m. that night, the Student Activities Council (SAC) will hold the semester’s first “Movie on the Mall” on the North Mall outside the Plaster Student Union (PSU). SAC will provide popcorn and soda for all in attendance. The movie selection will be announced prior to Aug. 14 on SAC’s Instagram, @mostatesac.

Friday, Aug. 15

Starting bright and early on Friday of Welcome Weekend, students can head to the MSU Campus Garden at 9:30 East Normal St. for Yoga at the Gardens from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The MSU Wellness Collective will host the event. Bring a yoga mat, blanket or towel and a water bottle. A limited number of yoga mats will be available, but only while supplies last.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., SAC will be “Snow

Glad to See You” as they hand out snow cones at the PSU East Patio for all students.

After grabbing a snow cone outside the PSU, students can head inside to “Knot it up with Macrame.” In the 4th Floor Union Club at the PSU, students can create macrame key chains and meet new friends from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..

To wrap up Friday’s festivities, head to the Plaster Sport Complex for the Playfair and Maroon Madness from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. According to the MSU website, this is the “best way to meet 1,000 of your classmates in one hour.” The Playfair will feature games and activities before a class photo for the class of 2029. After the class photo, many of the athletic programs will speak in front of attendees for Maroon Madness — “the biggest back-toschool pep rally in the 417,” according to the MSU website.

Saturday, Aug. 16

Say goodbye to your parents or guardians at the See You Later Brunch in the Blair-Shannon Dining Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students who have a dining plan can bring two family members to eat together for free, with an additional $9.90 charge for each additional family member.

After brunch, students can head to the PSU Patio for a scoop of ice cream from Fraternity and Sorority Life from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m..

Transfer students are invited to head to the Transfer Student Popcorn Social that will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Office of Student Engagement (PSU 127). The event will feature trivia, games, prizes and a popcorn bar. Running concurrently with the popcorn so-

File Photo/The Standard Groups of movers will be readily available to assist students moving into the dorms during Welcome Weekend.

cial, another opportunity for yoga on campus awaits at the Mages Health and Wellness Center in room 100 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..

As day three of Welcome Weekend moves to the evening, students will have two more opportunities to get out and meet new people.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Elm Street on the north side of campus will shut down for Greek Street, a block party style event with food trucks, games, music and more that is open to all MSU students.

Following Greek Street, the year’s biggest welcome back celebration will get underway at the North Mall and PSU. Bear Bash will feature live music, free food, giveaways, Bear Bash T-shirts, performances, crafts and more, lasting from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “You do not want to miss this event,” according to the MSU website.

Sunday, Aug. 17

Following Saturday’s festivities, students can take Sunday morning off to recharge from a weekend of fun before heading to Great Southern Bank Arena from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for New Student Convocation. Multiple university faculty and administration members speak to the

freshman class about the exciting four years ahead of them while officially welcoming them to the 2025-26 academic year.

While students exit the arena, the Student Organization Festival will take place on the concourse for new students to browse through over 325 student organizations to try and find one that fits their interests. With representatives from over 100 organizations, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and get involved in numerous clubs or groups.

Capping off another incredible Welcome Weekend is the Belong-B-Que on the North Mall from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Student Support & Opportunity Services will host the event, advertising a cookout, information fair and performances. The cookout will showcase multiple student groups and resources from MSU, further helping students get acclimated to their new environment.

Get Involved!

Whether it be yoga, brunch or button making, Welcome Weekend certainly has an event for everyone and is a great way to get involved at MSU while meeting new people and making new connections.

The Bear Line is Missouri State University’s free shuttle service. Students pay each year through their tuition to have unlimited access to the shuttle.

Utilizing the Bear Line

How

to peruse campus for free

RUBY KNIGHT Reporter Qrubyrknight

With Missouri State University’s campus sprawling several blocks and regions of Springfield, finding the way around can be hard on students, especially those stepping foot on campus for the first time.

Not to fret! The University’s Bear Line shuttle system, provided through Transportation Services during the fall and spring semesters, is free for all students and a great way to move about campus with ease. The trick is knowing how the Bear Line works and how to utilize it effectively.

Download the Passio GO app

The Passio GO app is the quickest and easiest way to begin riding the Bear Line. This platform provides a map of all routes and stops, allowing you to search for specific stops, as well.

When users select a stop, they can see which routes pick up passengers there and if any vehicles are running those routes.

Learn the Types of Stops

The next important thing to know is that the Bear Line uses three types of stops, per the Missouri State website:

1. HARD STOPS - the Bear Line will stop for a brief period before proceeding.

2. SOFT STOPS - the Bear Line will only stop if someone is there waiting to board or requests to be dropped off.

3. REQUEST & GO STOPS - the Bear Line will only go to that stop if someone at the stop has requested through the Request & Go section of the Passio GO app to be picked up or someone on the Bear Line asks the driver to drop them off at the stop. The Request & Go stops do not show a shuttle route going to them.

Become Familiar with Routes

The Bear Line runs weekday and evening routes. Becoming familiar with these routes is key to getting the most out of this valuable resource. Below is a list of all these routes, important stops along them, and who is most

likely to need them.

Weekday Routes

BLUE ROUTE (7 a.m. - 6 p.m.)

• Residence Halls: Sunvilla, Kentwood, Scholars

• Parking Lots: Lot 44, Bear Park South Residents of northernmost halls looking for transport to classes could make great use of this route. The Blue Route also includes three stops on Elm Street (Greek Row), as well as

stops at the Meyer Library and the Plaster Student Union (PSU).

GREEN ROUTE (7 a.m. - 6 p.m.)

• Residence Halls: Woods, Hammons and Hutchens

• Parking Lots: Bear Park North

• This circuit traverses the central parts of campus, with other notable stops including the Hammons Student Center, Foster Recreation Center (FRC), and PSU.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

GOLD ROUTE (7:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.)

• Residence Halls: N/A

• Parking Lots: Bear Park North, Lot 56, Lot 48

This route is primarily used for transport to MSU facilities in downtown Springﬁeld. Primary users of this route are art and design students on their way to classes in Brick City. Notably, this route also stops at The 505, a student housing complex.

ORANGE ROUTE (7 A.M. - 6 P.M.)

• Residence Halls: Heitz House

• Parking Lots: Bear Park North, Bear Park South

The Orange Route is the longest of the weekday routes with 12 stops, so riders should plan accordingly. However, this track covers much of the southern reaches of campus, with stops like Carrington Hall, Meyer Library, the PSU and Wehr Band Hall, making it a popular ride. Various street-based stops are also included in the lineup.

PURPLE

ROUTE (8 A.M. - 5 P.M.)

• Residence Halls: Scholars House, Sunvilla

• Parking Lots: N/A

While covering much of the same territory as the Blue Route, this one is slightly shorter at only seven stops. Useful stops include the PSU and FRC, as well as four street-based stops.

RED

ROUTE (7:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.)

• Residence Halls: N/A

• Parking Lots: Bear Park South

The Red Route has just three stops: Carrington Hall, Bear Park South, and the currently-under-construction Art Annex, although it does take scheduled trips to Darr Agricultural Center (DARR). Per the Missouri State website, the schedule is as follows:

Monday

• Pick-up at Carrington - 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.

• Arrive at DARR - 9:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday

• Pick-up at Carrington - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:15 p.m.

• Arrive at DARR - 9:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 3:20 p.m.

Friday

• Pick-up at Carrington - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m.

• Arrive at DARR - 9:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 3:20 p.m.

*All times listed are an approximation as traﬃc and other variables may inﬂuence arrival times.

Evening Routes

MAROON ROUTE (6 P.M. - 10 P.M.)

• Residence Halls: Heitz, Woods, Hammons and Hutchens

• Parking Lots: Bear Park North, Bear Park South

This evening route is a sprawling traverse of the entire MSU campus, including 11 stops and 11 Request & Go stops. Students would most likely want to make use of regular stops at Meyer Library, the PSU and the residence halls and parking garages listed above. Important Request & Go stops to note include Brick City, Lot 56, Lot 48, Carrington Hall and The 505.

Key Takeaway

To view all this information condensed in a user-friendly platform, be sure to download the Passio GO app and become familiar with its features and functions! This will allow new students to adapt to the Bear Line as quickly and easily as possible.

Photo by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

Located north of the campus bookstore, Magers Health and Wellness Center offers primary care to students including a laboratory and pharmacy.

RUBY KNIGHT Reporter Qrubyrknight

Many incoming Missouri State University students this fall have been placed with a random roommate. While this experience may seem daunting or scary at first (and rightfully so), there are three key principles students can employ to navigate this transition smoothly. Remember: you and your “rando” are, most likely, both new at this — living together has potential to be a valuable learning experience for both of you.

Hustle

MSU’s health care clinic offers affordable and accessible care to students

RYLIE ROBINSON Reporter

Qrylie04.robs

A common difficulty of being a college student is unpredictable health care access; whether that be from transportation, availability or insurance. At Missouri State University, the access to health care was expanded with the Magers Center.

Magers is located at 715 S. Florence, Springfield, Mo. 65897, next to the MSU University Bookstore. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. All other times the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We provide accessible, high-quality healthcare services, health education, and wellness resources in a confidential environment,” the Magers website said. “Through compassionate care and holistic support, we promote a healthy campus culture that values well-being as a foundation for success.”

The Magers center offers primary care with preventative methods, clinical care for onset

illnesses and injuries, a laboratory for diagnostic testing, specialists, a pharmacy to fill prescriptions, as well as access to psychiatry and mental health clinics. (The clinic does not provide emergency medicine practices, those should be directed to your nearest hospital).

Within the website, you may schedule an appointment, find phone numbers for cancellations as well as information on things to bring to appointments. There is also a “MyHealth Portal” where patients may access their visit records, past vaccinations, and contact information for providers and staff.

In the realm of affordable care, the Magers Center accepts access for all Missouri State students, their spouses, and their household members, as stated on the website.

The prepaid student health fee covers basic costs. Any beyond costs (such as X-rays, lab tests, specialists, etc.) are then charged. The center charges below community rates and only charges the cost of the clinic.

Whether you’re dealing with a common cold or a severe illness, The Magers Center is there for you. Our students’ health matters.

The first key principle for random roommates to keep in mind is “hustle.” During move-in, don’t leave your personal effects littered about your room. Take the time to put them away or keep them contained under your bed. When using shared spaces, don’t dawdle. Do your business and leave the space open for others to use.

For spaces like bedrooms and living areas where one is apt to spend hours, make sure to reasonably minimize time in these spaces by leaving your dorm and getting out to explore campus. Being in either of these spaces the majority of the time is sure to irritate your rando. Luckily, in the first few months of the fall semester, campus has an abundance of fun events to offer, many of which are targeted at new students!

Loyalty

sure you only do this in safe spaces with trusted friends. Gossip about your roommate is never appropriate, and could cause the relationship to turn sour quickly.

Additionally, you and your roommate aren’t siblings. They don’t want to know everything about you, nor should they. Boundaries are key to a healthy roommate relationship, and this means keeping certain aspects of your life where they belong — inside your own brain. Watching your words is imperative to a happy dorm room environment

Nice to meet you! Tips for navigating life with a randomly selected roommate Magers Health and Wellness Center

Respect

Lastly, treating your roommate with respect is a must. This will create a culture of mutual respect which will benefit both parties. Respect can look like a lot of things, such as keeping common appliances like microwaves and fridges clean, or a smile or wave when you see each other walking across campus. Kind gestures can elevate the culture of respect in your room. From buying them a coffee to inviting them out for a fun evening, there are many ways you can show your roommate kindness, making them feel more welcome in your space.

Bear With Me

The second key principle for random roommate success is “loyalty.” During the time you’re together, the health of your relationship with your rando will be of the utmost importance. While you may be tempted to vent your frustrations to anyone who will listen, make

By utilizing principles such as hustle, loyalty, and respect, any student can have a healthy relationship with their roommate. Roommates don’t have to be “best friends” or “like siblings” to have a successful relationship. While living together can often foster these long-term connections, this is not always the case. If you can peacefully coexist with your random roommate, you are doing a good job, and don’t let society tell you otherwise!

by Ella Conklin

Get involved on campus

Office of Student Engagement offers over 320 organizations

JAMIE SANTNER Reporter Qjamiesantner

You have enrolled, moved into your dorm and begun your college journey. Now what? Here at Missouri State University, there are a ton of clubs and organizations, both academically and recreationally, that can help elevate the college experience.

With over 320 student organizations, Missouri State offers a wide variety of opportunities to get involved. These range from spiritual and political groups to clubs that share a particular hobby or interest, ranging from sports and recreation, to film and fashion.

Whatever you are interested in, there’s probably a club for it.

There are endless opportunities involved with joining an organization. You can learn leadership skills, improve your resume and meet other like-minded individuals. Campus involvement can also help students gain confidence, promote mental and

physical health and gain more experience in their college years. Students can earn scholarships and even find internships through these organizations.

Desmond Dunklin, director of the Office of Student Engagement (OSE), discussed how students can get involved, what clubs they can join and how they can form new student organizations, while outlining why it’s essential for MSU students.

“There are a variety of ways that students can get involved, from Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) to joining a student organization,” he said. “I think the most important thing is for students to find out where their passions lie.”

Dunklin says that students can attend an involvement consultation if they’re unsure which student organizations they want to join. The consultation is in the OSE, Room 127 in the Plaster Student Union (PSU). There, students can meet with an involvement ambassador, who oversees the different student organizations and

helps students find one that best suits their interests.

The 320 student organizations on campus are divided into 13 subcategories. These include academic, religious, social action/politics and education groups. Many of these organizations can be found across different departments or areas around campus.

“We have clubs and organizations that fall into different majors,” says Dunklin. “If you’re an education major, we have clubs for that, and if you are a political science major, we have clubs and organizations that coincide with that. We have a wide variety of clubs and organizations that can fit into different majors.”

Some of the professional and academic groups and organizations include Women in STEM, the Skydiving Club, the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), the Wildlife Society, the Anthropology Club, the Cheese Club, and a wide variety of club sports teams such as Men’s Hockey and Lacrosse, which

often have tryouts and added fees for participation.

Students can also join various other student organizations unrelated to academics. There’s Bearpawcalypse, which is the official sports student section of MSU. They attend sporting events such as football, baseball, basketball, etc. The Traditions Council (TC) and the Student Activities Council (SAC) help form various events throughout the semester, such as movie watch parties, game nights and festivals like Fountain Day and Rave in the Cave. There’s also Paws to the Polls, which helps educate students on how to vote in the city of Springfield.

Many of these clubs and organizations can be found through Bear Link, a digital platform MSU uses to manage all student organizations on campus.

“Students can go in there, find the president of the club and find more information about the student organization,” said Dunklin. “If that interest piques them, typically there’s

a running list that shows you all those clubs and some of the events and things that they’re having.”

Most clubs and organizations get their funding through the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council (SOFAC), so students don’t need to pay to join. However, according to Dunklin, some organizations may include membership fees for any initiative, such as if they need extra funding.

Students can also form their clubs or organizations if they can’t find one that fits their interests. According to Dunklin, creating a new student organization is simple but involves following rules and regulations.

“Students can sign up to create new clubs starting in September and going on until October,” Dunklin said. “To start a new student organization, they need at least five to eight members, a constitution, and a faculty staff advisor.”

Once satisfied, they must meet with the OSE and undergo New Student Organization training to discuss

Illustration

the club’s foundation and organization. Then, they will need to build out the constitution. Once complete, the group will email OSE to review it and send it to SGA, who will either approve or deny it. If the club has been approved, they can start ﬁnding new members.

“A lot of times, students get hung up on the process when it’s the back and forth between our office and them with the edits to the constitution or even getting the eight members,” said Dunklin. “We used to ask for at least five members, but the problem was that some clubs would lose a few of those members, and so they’re only stuck with two students, which can affect recruitment and can lead to harder sustainability of a student organization, which is why we recommend having eight members.”

Dunklin has said that getting involved on campus is essential for many reasons. It can help students form life skills, ﬁnd more opportunities and make new friends. It can also help them focus more on their classes, improve their physical and mental health and feel proud to be an MSU student.

“Getting involved is about shaping your college experience,” said Dunklin. “When you look back 10 years from now, or you come back for Homecoming, or you go to those traditional events, you’re meeting lifelong friends, you’re gaining lifelong leadership skills and opportunities and you are creating that space where you feel connected to your campus. You take pride in being a bear or being a student on campus, because you see the impact that you make when you get involved.”

Dunklin says that getting involved can help students gain more resources and many opportunities that can help them grow and thrive, and have a fun and successful college experience.

Dunklin also says it can help students build a sense of community with their pupils, form long-lasting friendships and build support systems. Getting involved can also decrease burnout.

“The more that you get involved, the more you meet people that are going to help you be the person that you’re striving to be,” said Dunklin.

Students can navigate Bear Link for all things Missouri State involvement. According to the website, any official registered student organization or campus event can be found there.

Staying safe at Missouri State University Safety continues campus patrol

ADEN ZUCCARINI Reporter

DAden_Zuccarini

A new college semester means a few things: new faces, classes, and emphasizing safety around a metropolitan campus such as Missouri State University.

Everybody deserves to feel safe while they attend school and at Missouri State University, safeguards are in place so that students and staﬀ can thrive.

University Safety dispatchers, the individuals who monitor over 600 cameras and dispatch Springﬁeld Police around campus, are available “24/7/365” to keep the campus safe for students.

University Safety has many functions on campus, the most important of which is the “Safe Walk” where, if requested, an oﬃcer will be dispatched to accompany students or staﬀ to their intended location. This is especially useful if you are walking

by yourself at night.

The University Safety blue box phones, placed at various locations around campus, are an excellent means of alerting authorities if you are in immediate or perceived danger. It is recommended that students remain nearby when used, so that they can speak to the operator and relay important information. The location of the active security phone is relayed to the Springﬁeld Police substation oﬃce and will be investigated, though if it is not safe to remain close.

Students who intend on bringing bikes on campus are required to register it with Transportation services. This can be done through the campus transportation oﬃce online at missouristate.edu/Transportation. Registering helps with theft, because the security code on the bike will be able to help authorities identify the bicycle.

Students who plan to store bikes on campus can check out a “U-Lock”

from Transportation Services. If a bike is found out overnight without registration, the front tire will be taken and the bike will be locked to the rack. This can be resolved by registering your bike and requesting this to be undone with campus security.

With this new “U-Lock” campus policy, the theft of bikes on campus has been reduced by 40% over the span of the 2023-2024 semesters, as stated by Mr. Robert Rowley, director of University Safety.

In addition to the aforementioned safety measures, there has been a new technology added to campus security within the last year. Campus surveillance video collection software has been using artificial intelligence to aid in identification and detection of suspicious individuals. This can ensure that repeat offenders can be identified and held accountable. Many individuals have been black-listed from campus for theft since artificial intelligence was incorporated into campus security.

Having access to Missouri State’s public alert system is essential to being enrolled on campus. Using the “University Safety” tab on the university website, you can enter your phone number to receive updates

about alerts. Ranging from snow days to campus lockdowns, you can be sure to be informed through this university service.

The number for campus dispatch, safety walk program and other information is 417-836-5509.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Tickets for productions put on by the theatre and dance department can be purchased at missouristatetix.com

Theatre and Dance ‘Awakening’ with Shakespeare this fall

After spring’s romp through thematically charged territory, the Missouri State University theatre and dance department is at it again, opening this new season with a classic fantastical adventure with which many viewers may be familiar.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will premiere in October at the John Goodman Amphitheatre, providing a solid start for a new year of Theatre and Dance programming at Missouri State. The outdoor theatre, most often utilized for summer Tent Theatre shows, is sure to bring additional ﬂair to William Shakespeare’s timeless tale of romantic love. Director Sarah Wiggin, who oversaw spring’s powerful “Blue Stockings” run, will no doubt bring her characteristic boldness and life to the piece. You can catch the play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2-5.

Closely following later that month will be “Dance Nation”, a story of a middle school dance troupe and their instructor preparing to compete in a high-stakes competition. Billed

as “an explosion of motion and emotion,” this show will be no “Dance Moms” — it contains mature content with a focus on the struggles of female pubescence. See “Dance Nation” at the Credo Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 through 25 and Oct. 27, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Oct. 26 and 27.

Later in the fall will come “Spring Awakening,” an exploration of the strains of adolescence in 1890’s Germany. With inﬂuential adults in their lives falling silent amid this sexually repressive culture, dire consequences could ensue for this group of students. Tickets for this “Awakening,” which contains mature content, will go for $25 for adults and $22 for students and seniors. You can catch this comingof-age tale at the Credo Arts Center on Nov. 13 through 15 and Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 and 16 at 2:30 p.m.

As always, the works brought to Missouri State’s stages are powered by the theatre and dance program’s talented students. Tickets for these shows can be purchased by visiting the box oﬃce in person at Craig Hall, online at missouristatetix.com, or by phone at 417-8367678.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Fraternity and Sorority Life

AVA GORTON ReporterQavaggorton

Finding your home at Missouri State University is easy when there are over 375 different clubs and organizations to get involved in. With over 28 Greek letter chapters, incoming and returning students can find the right community for them within Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL).

FSL at Missouri State has three different councils: Panhellenic Association (PHA), Interfraternity Council (IFC), and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

Panhellenic Association

PHA formal recruitment begins Thursday, Aug. 21 and ends Sunday, Aug. 24. Students finally get to “run home” on bid day, Monday, Aug. 25. Each girl’s recruitment schedule is made so they won’t miss any classes. They’ll have the chance to visit with every chapter on campus, each day spending more time with the women in the sisterhoods they visit, while learning what it means to be a member of each chapter.

“The recruitment process here at Missouri State University is values-based, so that means that we look at you as a person, and not what you’re wearing, your resume, things like that,” said Madelynn Darst, PHA vice president of marketing and public relations. “It’s a chance for you to meet those chapters and for them to meet you, and for you guys to mutually decide if this chapter would be a good fit during your college experience.

How and when to get involved

Interfraternity Council

IFC recruitment begins on Monday, Aug. 18 and lasts through Friday, Aug. 29. During these two weeks, the various fraternities on campus will host recruitment events, such as wings & house tours, piano smash, sports watch parties, philanthropic events, and more. During this time, guys will get to meet men from the various brotherhoods and learn more about each chapter they can earn bids from. Fraternities will offer bids from Aug. 26 through Sept. 4.

“Honestly, I think that first week during rush week when all the fraternities were having their events was my favorite memory,” said Travis Harper, a senior at Missouri State. “It was me and my roommates going around [and we] really bonded; I got to know them really well. I got to meet a lot of the guys in the fraternity I ended up joining. It was probably the best decision I ended up making for that first year because you can [start with] a good foundation.”

National Pan-Hellenic Council

NPHC is Missouri State’s historically African American council of fraternities and sororities. The NPHC chapters are smaller, but very tightly knit. Their recruitment process can happen year-round, is typically very discrete, and has a more professional tone.

Take it from the members

“I highly recommend getting involved on campus,” said Carley Smith, a junior at MSU. “Fraternity and Sorority Life offers many opportunities not just during college, but also after. It also helps to build communication and

File Photo/The Standard Panhellenic Association recruitment will last from Thursday, Aug. 21 through Monday, Aug. 25, while Interfraternity Council recruitment will last two weeks, from Monday, Aug. 18 through Friday, Aug. 29

great leadership skills.”

“I would highly recommend FSL because they offer scholarships to help with dues and housing, plus you get to meet so many people and get to network for yourself,” sophomore Hannah Helton added.

“Going through recruitment is the best way to get to know people,” said MSU junior Jacob Rohrscheib. “Whether or not you end up rushing a fraternity or a sorority, it’s a great way to make connections and to make friends for throughout college.”

During the fall semester, FSL plays a big role in Homecoming. From the annual Rockstar competition and Mo State Live, to the parade

and everything in between, Homecoming is an event you don’t want to miss, and FSL has a front row seat! Throughout the fall semester, each chapter will also host formals, big little reveals, dad’s weekend, philanthropic events, and much more.

You can find authentic community, networking opportunities, academic support, community engagement opportunities, and much more through Fraternity and Sorority Life.

For more information, you can check out each council’s Instagram account: @mostatepanhellenic (PHA), @mostateifc (IFC), @ mostatenphc (NPHC), and @mostatefsl (FSL).

Once Upon a Homecoming: Nov. 15

Missouri State University announced this year’s homecoming theme as “Once Upon a Homecoming,” encouraging students to tap into their inner child and reminisce on all the classic fairy tales.

Playing the University of Texas El Paso Miners, the homecoming game will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at Plaster Stadium on Missouri State’s campus. Though a bit later than in past years due to Conference USA TV scheduling, the homecoming committee is excited, expecting this year to be bigger and better than

Typically, the homecoming committee chooses the theme; however, this year was special as they left the choice up to the student body via an online poll. Magic, whimsy, and nostalgia will fill the air from Nov. 9 through Nov. 15.

Kicking off on Sunday, Nov. 9, students will meet at the Plaster Student Union (PSU) at noon for Chalk-n-Rock, followed by PSU window painting. Students will decorate and prepare for the exciting week to come. The annual Rockstar competition, field day event, and Mo State Live dance competition will keep the energy going throughout the week: Tuesday, Nov. 11, Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Thursday, Nov. 13.

There will be donation drives supporting

Harmony House, Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, the Ozark Food Harvest, Salvation Army and others throughout the week.

Rounding out the week is homecoming on Saturday! Starting the day with a parade in the morning, tailgate at BearFest Village, and the game at 2 p.m., students, families, alumni, and the community are in for a treat.

To stay up-to-date on homecoming activities, follow @mostatehoco on Instagram.

File Photo/The Standard Homecoming festivities will take place Nov. 9 - Nov. 15.

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Duane G. Meyer Library

A place for everyone

JUDE JENKINS Former Reporter

Q_judejenkins

Originally opened in 1980, the Duane G. Meyer Library has served as both a valuable resource and communal hangout spot for Missouri State students for nearly half a century.

With so much to offer, though, it can be overwhelming to navigate how to truly get the best use out of the library. Programs such as TRIO, the Bear Center for Learning and Writing (CLAW), the Student Veteran Center, the Disability Resource Center and many more are all provided as part of the comprehensive resource system the library has provided, but knowing how and why students should use them is even more important.

Holly Kouns, the coordinator of public services for the library, encourages all students to make the most out of the library.

“It can be kind of intimidating at first. Oftentimes, you are expected to know how to navigate a library, but an academic library is far different from the traditional public library,” says Kouns. “Our librarians are able to help you find what you need from the start to the end of your thesis.”

Resources as simple as the librarians are vital to student success, as they are there to guide students in the right direction for how to properly research, credit and search for text and materials necessary for coursework. Furthermore, those in need of study help or general discussion about difficult coursework can consult the Bear CLAW, MSU’s hub for tutoring, as well as assistance on presentations and essays. Located on the first floor, students can find free help for difficult subjects with aid from tutors who are knowledgeable on the respective subject.

In addition to the Bear CLAW, the Meyer Library hosts a variety of programs designed to help students succeed. TRIO is another program offered by the library that provides resources for pre-college students, giving them the preparation needed to take their education to the next level. Through activities such as enrichment courses, field trips, mentoring experiences and tutoring, TRIO is a free, federally-funded program that is offered to those looking to excel before the jump to higher education.

The Disability Resource Center has a pivotal role in providing “usable, equitable, sustainable and inclusive environments across campus,” while the Student Veteran Center maintains contact with military-affiliated stu-

Meyer Library offers more than just books. It also offers 3D printers, an audio studio, equipment that can be checked out, social areas and free coffee during finals week.

dents to help them apply for as many benefits as possible.

Kouns emphasizes many of the lesser-known resources that the library has to offer.

“Another great resource for students is the Innovation Lab,” she says. “We have a heat press, several 3D printers, and a massive laser printer for students looking to cut acrylic modes, design bags, hats, T-shirts, and whatever else.”

For those also interested in creating, the Library has an audio studio for student projects. However, this studio is open to any student, and Kouns says she has experienced many students using it to make their own music.

“You can use (the studio) for voice overs for presentations, but a lot of the use is just people who want to play, record and mix their own stuff.”

Apart from programs, the Meyer Library also offers equipment check-outs for students in need of anything ranging from computers and tablets to whiteboard markers and calculators.

“One of our most popular items is projectors, which allows students to give presentations and host movie nights,” says Kouns. “We are also going through this summer and taking pictures of all items available to list on the website, with instructions on how to use each item.”

In addition to a website revamp, the library is launching their brand new “search interface” for the fall semester. The new search engine includes natural language input, AI-powered tools and a modern design. The new search engine will allow users to “make study sessions smoother than ever”.

The Meyer Library is not only a great educational resource, but also a vessel for network-

ing and making important connections and friendships on campus. Kouns emphasized the importance of connecting.

“We want the library to feel like a third place for students,” she said. “While the resources we offer are great, we also provide study rooms, cubbies and “conversation pits” that give students a number of great hangout spaces.”

Spaces deemed “social areas” are designed for students to rearrange furniture, talk, play games, relax or even host a pizza party.

“I just think about the fun things I did during undergrad,” Kouns says. “We would bring tons of snacks and hangout and study for hours.”

According to Kouns, this is exactly how the library is intended to be used, and students are encouraged to enjoy their time inside.

“We have lots of people come in all the time and use the living room, which has a fireplace and seating for students to sit around and chat.”

As far as events go, the Library does not fall short. The living room has complementary coffee during finals week and the Library itself hosts snack days, craft activities, student art showcases and even pet therapy events.

“My advice to any incoming freshmen would be to just ask. We have students that work the desk for a reason,” Kouns said of how students can make the most out of the library’s resources.

The library can seem intimidating at first, but connecting with like-minded, similar-aged people who you could see in your geography class makes a huge difference.

“While we are here to get you connected to whatever it is you need, we also have people ask questions that we have not even thought about. So, I would say just ask,” said Kouns.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to study, a plethora of academic resources to help with your schoolwork or just a place to kick back and catch up with friends, the Meyer Library is open every day of the week to assist any and all students every step of the way.

The library may seem daunting at first, but the staff offers many resources to help students get the most out of its services.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Hungry? Your guide to dining on campus

AVA GORTON Reporter Qavaggorton

All-you-can-eat buffets, dining dollars, daily coffee runs, on-campus restaurants… What do college meal plans really mean for your dining experience? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about dining on campus at Missouri State University.

What are the dining halls?

Missouri State has three dining halls: Blair-Shannon, Heitz House, and Garst (located between Hammons House and Hutchens House). Blair-Shannon and Heitz are buffet style, with a wide variety of options including a salad bar, grill, pizza & pasta station, dessert bar, as well as a section that has a new meal every day. Both dining halls have an allergen-friendly section, and Heitz has a Mongolian grill. Rather than a buffet-style dining hall, Garst has a handful of different restaurants to choose from (fried chicken, Mexican, barbecue, etc.). Students can use their meal swipe and get any one meal that they would like.

What is a meal swipe/plan?

Any time you go to one of the three dining halls, you will use a meal swipe (using your Bear Pass). Depending on which meal plan purchased, you could have 10,14, 19, or an unlimited number of meal swipes each week. Meal swipes reset every Monday morning.

Meal plans can be increased at any point, but can only be decreased through the third week of each semester. Meal plans are required for students living on campus.

What are the on-campus restaurants?

There are a handful of restaurants on campus. In the Plaster Student Union (PSU) there is Chick-fil-A, Freddy’s, Subway, Sushi Do, Panda Express, and Starbucks. In Glass Hall there is Einstein Bros., and in Heitz House there is Market Cafe 1905 - a coffee shop and convenience store. Meal swipes do not work at these places; instead, you can pay like you would off campus or use dining dollars.

File Photo/The Standard Missouri State offers three different dining halls on campus at Blair-Shannon, Hammons/Hutchens and Heitz. Students can purchase 10, 14, 19 or unlimited meals a week.

What are dining dollars?

Dining dollars act as debit cards connected to your university accounting using your Bear Pass. Dining dollars can be beneficial because the bigger the package you purchase, the more bonus dollars you get - free money! Packages range from $210 - $340.

Dining dollars from the fall semester roll into the spring semester, and you can add more money at any point. All dining dollars not spent during the school year will expire on the last day of the semester. Having a dining dollar package is required for all students living on campus.

Allergen friendly

The dining halls on campus have an allergen-friendly section called “Delicious Without,” where the meals served are without the top nine allergen. In addition, the chefs in the dining halls are here to help you and love helping students face-to-face.

Commuter students

While commuter students are not required to purchase a meal plan or a dining dollar package, there are packages designed for them. Dining dollar packages ranging from $210 to $687 per academic year and meal plans ranging from 22 to 136 total swipes per semester, giving commut-

er students ample options.

There is also an area in the PSU called the “Commuter Corner,” created with commuters in mind. There is a microwave, study spots, printers, tables, etc.

Staying updated

Having one app with all dining hall information is very convenient and MSU has just the thing: the Dine on Campus app. The app has daily menus for all dining options, location hours, upcoming events, options to add dining dollars, purchase commuter meal plans, and more. Students living on campus will purchase meal plans with their housing contract.

File Photos/The Standard Outside of dining halls, MSU also has multiple different eateries inside the PSU that students can refuel at with the purchase of dining dollars, or with credit, debit or cash.

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Photos by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

Formerly known as the Multicultural Resource Center, the Student Resource Center underwent changes as a result of the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion from the university.

The SRC maintained its namesake of Mary Jean Price Walls, the first African-American student to apply to Missouri State University in 1950. She was denied admission, but received an honorary degree in 2009.

Student Resource Center returns to campus for fall semester

RUBY KNIGHT Reporter Qrubyrknight

Students making use of the Plaster Student Union this year may notice changes to a popular center on its first floor. The Student Resource Center (SRC), formerly known as the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), is debuting some changes aimed at maintaining funding while also remaining a useful tool for students. According to a statement from Dr. Nina Barudzic, the SRC’s director, “The Mary Jean Price Walls Student Resource Center remains a vital part

of campus life, continuing to offer key resources and support to students.”

While various sources were unclear about the terms of keeping aforementioned funding during spring’s political turmoil, the purpose of these changes was obvious. The newly-inaugurated Trump Administration, as well as various state legislatures across the country (such as Missouri’s), sought to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures at public universities using their government funding as leverage. Missouri State’s leadership made the choice to comply with this ultimatum.

As a result of this, many resources formerly offered by the MRC have undergone a name change or removal from programming altogether. However, the SRC “remains committed to planning and hosting signature events throughout the year, including cultural and heritage celebrations,” said Barudzic.

SRC personnel have been actively working to usher in these changes with little negative impacts. During the Spring 2025 session of the Missouri State University Student Senate, a resolution was passed to purchase new computers for the SRC through the Student Initiative Fund (SIF).

“Our amenities — including free printing, dedicated academic space, a resource library, the closet and the Retreat and Refocus Room — are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Barudzic said.

In addition to these ongoing services, the SRC is developing some new additions with an academic focus. Per Barudzic, the center is “enhancing programming with expanded events and the introduction of a new Lunch and Learn Series. This series invites faculty and staff to engage with students by sharing research and other academic and professional insights. We’re also developing lead-

ership development sessions in response to strong student interest.” Despite this period of adversity, the SRC — or “Bear Cave” as it has been nicknamed — is working to adapt to new changes and take them in stride. It is located in PSU Suite 101 and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Any students with questions about the available amenities can email studentresourcecenter@MissouriState.edu or call 417-836-4483. To stay up to date on new changes and developments, make sure to subscribe to the SRC’s newsletter, “The Shoutout.”

The SRC offers various amenities for students such as free printing, academic space, a resource library, a “Retreat and Refocus Room.”

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Foster Recreation Center Much more than a gym

ELLA CONKLIN Editor Q_ellaconklin

The Foster Recreation Center (FRC) opened its doors in 2012 and has since been a hub of activity and community. The FRC offers a variety of gym equipment, a pool, workout classes, a climbing wall and much more for Missouri State students and community members.

In 2004 over 1,000 students signed a petition requesting a study be conducted on the feasibility of MSU building a recreation center. After the study was conducted, students voted to fund the rec center with a student fee beginning in 2007, knowing most of them would graduate before the FRC was completed. Roughly five years later, the Foster Recreation Center was finished and ready to serve the students and community of MSU and Springfield.

Today, the FRC offers multiple floors of weight lifting and cardio equipment, a pool with lap lanes and open swim, a sauna, an indoor track, an indoor and outdoor rock wall, basketball, volleyball and multi-sport courts, workout classrooms and locker rooms.

“Campus Rec has the unique ability to give people experiences that they may not have had access to back home or early in their lives,” Eric Vaughn, associate director of campus recreation shares.

The FRC is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday to accommodate as many student’s busy schedules as possible. They also offer shortened weekend hours to be a hub for belonging and fitness almost all the time.

Beyond the Campus Rec’s physical facilities, it hosts and coordinates a wide range of activities and exertions. For starters there are BearFit workout classes and personal training. Students can pay 40 dollars for a whole academic year and enjoy unlimited Pilates, paddle board yoga and many more workout classes. Personal training pairs students with a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified trainer for about $35 a session to get one-on-one fitness training

and support.

Vaughn says that they recently restructured their personal training to offer more options. Hybrid training sessions offer three sessions, one being in person and the other two being virtual. He pointed out that this program could be useful to avid gym goers who may have plateaued in their training and would like some lighter guidance to help enhance their workouts.

Students can also participate in recreational sports for $25 a semester. Sports include basketball, volleyball, futsal, football, soccer and pickleball for students to participate in. This is a great way to get involved on campus and connect with peers who enjoy similar activities.

“All of these things are kind of a way for us to engage everybody holistically,” Vaughn says. “Whether it’s physical or mental wellness, everything in the seven divisions of wellness is important to us.”

A hidden gem of the FRC, Vaughn would say, is the Outdoor Adventures, which offers recreational and educational nature activities. On the lower level of the FRC students can rent all kinds of recreational equipment including climbing gear, kayaks, tents, yard games and various sports equipment for varying fees.

“You can get a kayak, you can get a tent, you can get all the things you need for camping for under 40 to 50

dollars for the weekend, that’s super cheap!” Vaughn said.

In addition, Outdoor Adventures hosts several trips throughout the school year. Over spring break in March, participating students took a seven-day trip to New Mexico and Colorado for under $600. Other trips in the 2025 spring semester included a fly fishing trip, several climbing trips, a camping excursion and kayaking trip.

The FRC also offers student employment with opportunities year round.

“We have just under 120 student staff (members)...” Vaughn says, “People like working here, they like the people working here, they create bonds and friendships.”

The FRC strives to be a center for inclusivity, connection, and wellness. Through its facilities and programs, MSU’s campus rec center offers something for all students to enjoy. As freshmen step onto this campus this fall, the FRC may be their spot to find forever friends.

“I would urge (freshmen) to lean into that need of a sense of belonging, to find their place,” Vaughn says. “There is such a diverse group of students that come in these doors every single day, roughly 1700 to 1800 students. You can find your (people).”

For more information visit www. missouristate.edu/recreation.

MSU students voted in 2007 to create a student fee that continues to fund the Foster Recreation Center.

In addition to facilities like the pool and the weight room, the rec center offers workout classes, equipment rental and many other services.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Photo by MSU Creative Services The rec center includes multi-sport courts.

File Photo/The Standard

First Friday Art Walk, hosted by Springfield Regional Arts Council, is a “free and self-guided program that allows the community to get an insider look at local art, businesses and galleries,” according to the council’s website.

Experience Springfield’s creative minds at work

First Friday Art Walk returns downtown

File Photo/The Standard

The event creates an inclusive space for creators and community members alike to put their work on display and support others.

RYLIE ROBINSON Reporter Qrylie04.robs

Coming this semester, a beloved Springfield tradition is set to return; the First Friday Art Walk.

These monthly events celebrate local art, small businesses and galleries, fostering community connections and increasing regional recognition for artists.

“First Friday Art Walk is a Springfield Regional Arts Council program that showcases the art, music, food and fun of downtown Springfield,” Jodi McCoy, director of exhibitions, told The Standard. “Every first Friday of each month we extend our open hours until 9pm for this free and self-guided program.”

What to Expect This Fall

The first walk of the school year will be held Friday, Sept. 5, featuring two exhibitions:

“Unboxed: Rethinking the Grid” in the Brick City Galleria, and “Gimme More: The Eras of American Consumption” in the Corolla Arts Exhibition Center, which visually explores the history and consequences of overconsumption in American culture.

Open Call for Artists

While the exhibits have already been chosen, participation is open to all who are interested in exhibiting their work. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or a student looking to share your first public piece, the Art Walk offers an inclusive platform. Artists from across the area are encouraged to submit work, making the event a diverse blend of perspectives and styles.

More Than Just Art

Attending the First Friday Art Walk is about more than viewing paintings and sculptures. It’s a social and cultural event that transforms

downtown Springfield into a buzzing, walkable gallery. Many locations offer live music, interactive installations, artist meet-and-greets and free refreshments, making the event accessible and inviting to everyone.

“We hope to see more students out exploring the First Friday Art Walk in the fall,” McCoy said. “It’s a great way to experience the city, see local creativity, and get inspired.”

For newcomers to Springfield, the Art Walk serves as a fun and low-pressure way to explore the downtown area. With galleries, coffee shops, boutiques, and eateries participating in the event, there’s something for every interest— even if you don’t consider yourself an “art person.”

Mark your calendars: First Friday Art Walk returns Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Step out, explore the city and experience the creative pulse of Springfield.

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FOODTRUCK:430NORTHBROADVIEWPLACE,SPRINGFIELD,MO65802

STOREFRONT:2724E.CHESTNUTEXPRESSWAY,SPRINGFIELD,MO65802

Grounds crew keeps Missouri State fresh

An inside look at the groundskeepers of MSU

ELLA CONKLIN Editor Q_ellaconklin

The Central Stores and Maintenance Center at Missouri State University is off the west side of Plaster Stadium. The unassuming building is easily missed; most students go their whole academic careers not noticing or knowing who works within these walls.

On a sunny Monday afternoon the maintenance staff was quite busy, taking advantage of the weather. Jared Steeves, a groundskeeper, already four and half hours into his work day, still bustled around completing tasks.

At the near crack of dawn, Steeves’ day begins at 6 a.m. Constantly backtracked to the hum of his side-by-side’s engine, Steeves helps maintain the plant life and the natural aesthetics of MSU. The Boston, Massachusetts, native spoke with The Standard as he zipped around campus to check on plant beds and shake out tree branches. Steeves offered a well placed plant joke here and there as he offered insight into a day in the life as a MSU groundskeeper.

“First and foremost, when we get here we have to deal with trash,” he said.

Unglamorous as it may seem, it is an important step in not only maintaining a clean campus, but one that supports various plant and animal wildlife.

“Unfortunately with a campus this big and the only 12 of us (groundskeepers) actually out in the field, we just have to start by picking up trash and that’s like the first two to three hours of your day,” Steeves said.

The tight-knit crew doesn’t balk at the task demanded by a large, sprawling campus. Instead, Steeves and his band of groundskeepers tackle the job head on with dedication and passion.

“After that, we get to whatever nature is telling us to get to,” Steeves says. “We are really dictated by the seasons — as one could expect — so whether it’s planting, trimming, pruning, cutting back, weeding, or otherwise trying to enhance the aesthetics of the campus, it all usually goes along with the seasons.”

Groundskeepers can be seen laying mulch in the summer, raking in the fall, plowing snow in the winter, or helping the plants grow in the spring.

“I always like to joke with a fellow groundskeeper that I work for mother nature, MSU just cuts the check,” Steeves said.

The twelve groundskeepers have divided zones of care throughout campus. Steeves’ zone encompasses parts of Woods House, McDonald Hall and Arena, Forsythe Athletics Center, Blair-Shannon Hall, and the Plaster Student Union, and he says it is his favorite part of campus.

In particular, Steeves has been putting in extra work for the past few years on a triangle plant bed between the north side of Freddy and McDonald. The groundskeeper has stepped outside of his comfort zone to nurture a banana plantain.

“I was given the opportunity to transplant that banana plant from where that construction was going on Grand (Street) and National (Avenue),” Steeves says. “I plucked it, put it in its

Photo by Liz Garcia, Qliz.vanessa__

Jared Steeves is one of many groundskeepers who work to make the MSU campus beautiful.

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new home, and worked with a horticulturalist to try and figure out how we are going to be able to maintain it here for a long term.”

Steeves hopped out of his side-by-side and stood by his adopted banana plant, which is currently just a stump, and started to show his expertise. Steeves said that he is playing catch up with the other banana plants around campus, but that he has whipped this “nutrient chemical cocktail of food, like plant Gatorade,” to try and “help the little guy grow”

“Right now, it looks kind of gross and unkempt because, I mean, don’t we all after we wake up from a long sleep?” Steeves says.

As we moved throughout his area, Steeves said that the giant tree in front of Blair-Shannon is a Shermer Oak and at a minimum 105 years old.

The first tree Steeves ever planted sits not far from the old Shermer Oak, a young Japanese Maple that he planted four years ago. The young tree’s short stature deceives its age, with twelve to eighteen feet still to grow, even after four years.

“(Groundskeeping) is a noble endeavor for those who plant trees in shade they’ll never enjoy,” Steeves said, acknowledging how much

the young tree still has left to grow

However, the joke rang more and more true as he pointed out several young trees that still look susceptible to a strong breeze knocking them over, or plant beds and gardens that show no sign of life despite seeds germinating below. The job of a groundskeeper is a labor of love, requiring consistency and patience to allow plants to grow and shed with the seasons.

“I get my vitamin D,” Steeves said. “I get to tend to mother nature, and just co-exist and be happy with it. I feel very lucky with this position.”

A position, Steeves explained, he stumbled upon. Originally working in construction, Steeves moved to Springfield by “literally throwing a dart on a map.” Once settled here, Steeves found another construction job, but wanted to try something different. Thanks to a friend, Steeves gave a new occupation a shot, stepping out of his construction comfort zone, and from there was hooked.

“I don’t really have a green thumb, but I don’t kill things as often as I could,” Steeves said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn something new and branch out of my area of expertise.” Steeves may not have been an expert when

Although campus visitors may notice the work of the groundskeepers in the lawns, trees and flower beds, one of their most critical tasks is picking up trash.

he started four years ago, but the groundskeeper position certainly becomes him now. As we drove around campus, Steeves’ clear go-getter attitude shined through as names of various plant species and little projects he has been working on.

“You have to be a self-starter here, there is no direction,” Steeve says. “It’s up to you to clean it up, you make it look nice, but no one is going to tell you either good job or bad job.”

Thanks to highly motivated groundskeepers like Steeves, the MSU campus does have a good selection of plan life. Although there may not be administrative oversight, it is clear there doesn’t need to be because each groundskeeper deeply cares for the campus.

“Everybody here actually cares about what they do and I’m happy to be a part of that,” Steeves said. “It makes me step my game up.”

Another space the groundskeepers help to maintain and care for is the campus garden, located just across Grand Street. The garden runs on volunteers and most of the produce grown is donated to food pantries, like the Bear Pantry on campus.

“There’s a couple of us groundskeepers that are on the board that helps deal with (the campus garden)” Steeves said. “ (The groundskeepers) usually come by and pitch in when they can with what they can.”

Lending a helping hand seems to be the motto Steeves and the MSU groundskeepers live by as they help maintain the nature that surrounds campus. Camaraderie and dedication drive this merry band of professional gardeners as they get the flowers to bloom at MSU.

Photos by Liz Garcia, Qliz.vanessa__

Tradit10ns Council

"Upholding MSU Traditions for ten years and counting!"

Traditions Council is celebrating our 10th year as an organization at MSU! On a mission to celebrate upholding, preserving, and promoting all 62 traditions on campus, we are seeking out new members who love our campus and want to see it thrive. Our student run organization is known for events like Study Day, Rave in the Cave and Fountain Day. Traditions Council encourages students to show their pride by helping put together large, impactful events. This allows any student tolend a helping hand to the student body, creating lasting memories, building a connection to their campus, and flourishing as a loyal student throughout their college years and beyond! Go Bears!

Students are free to join us at either of these sessions where you can learn more about Traditions Council, meet our executive board, and apply to be a member. forward Questions?

Find a new spot Try studying in these five places near campus

ELLA CONKLIN Editor Q_ellaconklin

While Missouri State University’s campus offers an abundance of study spots from the Meyer Library to the Plaster Student Union to desks tucked away in nearly every building, sometimes these spots can become boring. If you have ever felt stuck in the matrix going from class to your campus study spots over and over again, here are some study friendly off-campus spots to mix up your learning:

The Coffee Ethic

Located roughly five minutes from MSU in Downtown Springfield, The Coffee Ethic offers caffeine, snacks and ambiance. The coffee shop sells all the classic coffee drinks alongside teas, smoothies, and rotating specials. If studying makes you hungry, The Coffee Ethic has pastries and breakfast sandwiches to keep you sustained! The shop has decent seating, although can fill up on busy weekend mornings so it may be worth it to get there early. The Coffee Ethic has tall windows, offering loads of natural light to create a bright and motivating atmosphere! If you want to slip away from campus to lock in but not drive too far, The Coffee Ethic is saving a seat for you!

Kingdom Coffee

Looking to distance yourself a bit more from campus and settle in at a coffee shop? Look no further than Kingdom Coffee. The coffee shop is about a fifteen minute drive from campus right off of Battlefield Road on Lone Pine Avenue. Kingdom Coffee offers traditional espresso and coffee drinks, teas, and smoothies. Sustenances wise, the shop has fresh pastries and breakfast burritos to keep you going! Kingdom Coffee has lots of big windows, similar to The Coffee Ethic, letting in the sun and scenery of a nature trail the shop is situated by. You can sit outside as well, on a covered patio or on a picnic table a little closer to nature! The paved trail offers a nice study break if you find yourself studying for a while! Kingdom Coffee will whip your favorite caffeinated drink so you can get to work!

Mudlounge

For 21-plus studiers looking for something to sip while completing assignments, make a trip to Mudlounge. In Downtown, Mudlounge prides itself on being a laid back bar, perfect for conversation or even studying. Featuring couches and tables, no loud music or dance floor, Mudlounge is perfect for students to set up shop for an evening of studying. The bar is fully stocked with all the classics, wines, cocktails and even specialty coffee drinks! You can also nibble on various appetizers, paninis, fondue plates, and desserts. The bar is cozy and warm, making it the perfect location for a night out, study edition!

Springfield Public Library

Want a study spot off campus where you don’t have to buy anything? The Springfield Public Library system offers many branches around town to get away from campus without breaking the bank! Park Central Branch Library is the closest to MSU, located inside the downtown square. However, Springfield’s public library system has locations all around town. Public libraries offer a change of scenery without having to sacrifice a guaranteed quiet and free study space. If you are wanting to get off campus without dealing with buying a coffee or having noisy table neighbors, the library would love to have you!

Phelps Grove Park

Wanting to get outside for your next study session? Phelps Grove Park is close to campus and offers many ways to study! Phelps Grove Park is less than five minutes from campus right by the Springfield Art Museum. The park is beautiful with massive trees, a luscious lawn and a stream running parallel to the park. You can set up the perfect study space under the pavilion, on a picnic table or park bench or lay out your favorite picnic blanket and lounge under a shady tree. You can even string up a hammock and knock out some assigned reading! Phelps Grove Park has plenty of parking and space to offer peace of mind and quiet while studying. There is even a paved trail around the perimeter of the park if you find yourself in need of study break! So pack your lunch and school essentials the next the weather calls for outside time and head over to Phelps Grove Park!

File Photos/The Standard

With a laid-back atmosphere and full bar, Mudlounge makes a perfect evening study spot.

outside.

The Coffee Ethic in downtown Springfield offers a well-lit spot to study with coffee and pastry favorites.

Phelps Grove Park is an open green space to set up a picnic blanket and study

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Hello, Kon’nichiwa and ¡Hola!

Did you know students can join the Springfield Sister Cities Association for just $10 a year?

Membership includes:

FREE admission to the Japanese Fall Festival on Sept. 5 7 ($9 $14 value)

FREE admission to the beautiful Mizumoto Japanese Stroll garden ($6 value per visit)

FREE admission to Gardens AGLOW holiday lighting festival ($6 $8 value)

FREE food & beverage tickets at the annual May Member Celebration ($12 value)

Plus, e letters, invites to local events, info on trips to Japan and Mexico … and more.

JointodayorattheFestival: Havefun,savemoneyand supportpeacethrough understanding.

Springfield Nightlife A student’s guide to a night out

JUDE JENKINS

Reporter Q_judejenkins

Downtown Springfield’s nightlife continues to grow. However, with plenty of options, it can be a little overwhelming trying to decide where to go as a student on Friday night. Whether you’re an incoming freshman looking for 18-plus venues, or a returning student who had a summer birthday and is ready to experience downtown, Springfield has something for everyone.

For first-time students at Missouri State, it is easy to feel left out of the nightlife, especially with so many of the local bars and clubs having a 21 and up restriction for their guests. However, many of the bars in Springfield extend invites to the 18-plus crowd. Bizarre Bar, Dugout and Martha’s Vineyard are all downtown, and offer inclusive environments to everyone in attendance.

Martha’s Vineyard, known for its drag shows, karaoke nights, Latin nights and dance floor, is the perfect place for those looking to dance or sing with friends and enjoy an authentic “club” feeling. For those looking for a dive

bar atmosphere, Dugout is a great spot to grab some bar food with friends. Furthermore, the recently-opened Bizarre Bar hosts pool tournaments, and is a great place to win some money while playing.

For those of legal drinking age, who are returning to campus this fall, downtown Springfield will not fall short for those seeking weekend fun. Finnegan’s Wake is an Irish pub in downtown Springfield. As Springfield’s oldest Irish pub, and with pool tables and trivia nights, the fun is nonstop. Another popular spot is Mudlounge. The coffee-themed bar has a cozy atmosphere, and hosts theme nights every month like “Indie Sleaze” and “Star Wars Night.” Although many of the bars listed have pool tables, Billiard’s is a pool hall dive bar that offers plenty of games in addition to the numerous pool tables inside such as darts, cornhole, and arcade games.

The Regency, a live-music venue downtown, has been exploding in growth over the past few years. It is open to anyone 18-plus, and hosts everything live music related. Concerts, raves and DJ sets here are full of energy. The venue has also managed to pull some big names, such as Trippie Redd, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame and more. Many of the performing artists are also local to Springfield, with lots of student-led bands and DJs putting on shows.

File photo/The Standard

Located in downtown Springfield, Martha’s Vineyard is a nightclub for everyone 18+ to have fun.

Jed Holliday, a freshman at MSU, has loved every minute of DJing at Regency, and encourages everyone to come out.

“It’s a really great vibe, since there’s not a lot of places like it in Springfield,” said Holliday. “It’s hard not to have a great time there, and I feel like everyone in the local music scene has the same values. There’s lots of familiar faces at Regency, and at almost every bar I go to downtown.”

While most of the bars listed are located downtown, the fun doesn’t stop there. Classic’s Yard puts a new meaning on the phrase

File photo/The Standard

Finnegan’s Wake is Springfield’s oldest Irish pub with comfort foods and games.

“sports bar”, and has a multitude of fun activities for visitors. The warehouse bar has pickleball courts, Connect Four basketball, cornhole, pool tables and even a fully-equipped golf simulator. Club Rodeo is exactly how it sounds – a southern country themed bar that has all things country music, from concerts, to line dance nights, to luaus and more. Friends Karaoke bar also needs no explanation. Be prepared to sing.

All in all, the nightlife scene in Springfield

has had a small revival over recent years. With vibrant clubs like Regency and Martha’s, comfort bars like Finnegan’s and Mudlounge and places like Classic’s Yard that guarantee you’ll get a workout, there is truly something for everyone in town. Whether you are 18 and looking for a place to play pool or freshly 21 and wanting to get your first drink (wink wink), downtown Springfield is the place to be.

5 local businesses to visit near MSU

LIZ GARCIA Former Co-Editor-in-Chief Qliz.vanessa_

A newfound sense of freedom easily washes over incoming college students, and while living on a college campus can quickly feel exciting, exploring the community around your university is a special part of attending college. Being able to support local businesses near campus can heighten your experience at Missouri State University, and each of them hold a unique piece of Springfield waiting to be discovered.

Here are five local businesses to visit on your weekends away from the classroom:

Pagination Bookshop

1150 E. Walnut St.

Just at the corner of Walnut Street and National Avenue lies the quaintest of historic homes, and inside, a cozy, woman-owned bookstore. Inside the creaky-floored home are walls full of bookshelves organized by genre, including children’s and local authors sections. The bookshop — owned by Jennifer Murvin, an assistant professor and department head of English at MSU — also features a “staff picks” section for employees to share their favorite reads. Plus, the comfy couches inside make for a great spot to plop down and read a chapter or two.

Queen City Collectors

412 E. Walnut St.

This vintage resale store may seem small on the outside, but inside awaits a unique collection of eclectic trinkets and treasures! Conveniently located minutes away from MSU in downtown Springfield, every nook and cranny of Queen City Collectors is packed. From old rotary phones and vintage crewnecks to kitchenware and furniture, this downtown gem is sure to captivate anyone who wanders in.

Stick It In Your Ear

300 E. Walnut St.

Need your favorite album on vinyl? How about a CD? Or maybe you’re looking for patches to iron onto a denim jacket? How about a poster? Stick It In Your Ear has you covered. This downtown staple has been serving the Springfield community for over 30 years, and its knowledgeable staff is at the ready for all your music questions. Whether it be the newest Sabrina Carpenter release, an under-the-radar indie record or your favorite classic rock hit, step into Stick It In Your Ear for your next earworm.

Culture Flock

607 S. Pickwick Ave.

Located in the Rountree neighborhood, Culture Flock brings a refreshing, eclectic energy to the block. This woman and LGBTQ-owned shop proudly sells a range of apparel, accessories and art that scream self-expression and individuality. Whether it’s cute tote bags and candles or trending Baggu products, Culture Flock is the perfect one-stop-shop for fun, unique pieces in Springfield. Plus, after shopping, you can drop by Cherry Picker or Tea Bar and Bites — two cures for a hungry tummy.

SOAP Refill Station

1912 E. Sunshine St.

SOAP Refill Station is a sustainable alternative for anyone looking to save a dime on their soap or cut down on their plastic consumption. The process is as simple as bringing in any type of container — or grabbing a free one from the donation bin in the shop — and filling it up with your desired soap. A store employee will first weigh your empty container, then subtract it from the final weight, so you’re only paying for the product you poured! With custom scents, easy-to-read labels, affordable prices and a helpful staff, SOAP Refill Station makes living a sustainable life in college just a bit easier.

Springfield festivals

Downtown Springfield Association hosts festivals for community and students to enjoy

ROBIN GARNER Reporter Qyippie.Robin

Springfield can take some getting used to. It’s big enough for small-town folks to feel overwhelmed but small enough for people used to a big city to feel boring and underwhelming.

The city sits in a bizarre cultural zone somewhere between the Midwest and the South that makes much of the Ozarks stand out, and there’s positives and negatives to that.

It can be intimidating to engage outside of the direct campus environment — especially for new students, who are just now starting a new phase in their life — but it’s always a good idea to immerse yourself in all of the opportunities that will come your way during your time in Springfield.

One of the best places for off-campus leisure is downtown. There are plenty of places to visit normally, but there are also several big festivals throughout the year that are designed to be fun and approachable for anyone and also shine a light on smaller and local businesses around the Springfield area.

The Downtown Springfield Association officially hosts many of the festivals you will find and has five major ones to look out for: St. Patrick’s Day parade, Art’s Fest, Taste of SoMo, Cider Days, and the Springfield Christmas parade.

“Students who are coming in who may not be from around here, or have not explored the community in full, have a great opportunity to meet new people and find new things,” said Hailey Magnus, communications manager of the Downtown Springfield Association.

Getting out and exploring is an important

part of being a well-rounded student, and more broadly, a community-engaging citizen.

On the smallest scale, this means getting involved on campus, but it also means exploring Springfield.

“We love to have new people come in. We try to keep our cost of entry to these events low — if not free — and so we want to have those students come in and work with us and have those opportunities,” Magnus said.

File photo/The Standard

Artsfest in the summer features hundreds of artists and their wares

You can find more information on their website, itsalldowntown.com.

This campus is just another part of the broader city of Springfield. Going to a festival is a great way to meet new people and see how this city interacts with itself in a fun environment where there’s always going to be something to do.

Photo by Liz Garcia Pagination Bookshop is a woman-owned bookstore, offering books of all genres for all ages.

File photo/The Standard Cider Days is an annual festival in September on Walnut Street that features live music, performances, vendors and more.

How to manage your money as a student

ELLA CONKLIN Editor Q_ellaconklin

For many young adults, college comes with an unprecedented amount of independence. While this independence allows many to grow and discover who they are, it can also be a source of stress. A typical stressor for students is creating a budget to manage varying sources of funds, incomes and expenses. Here are some quick tips to help students budget while studying at Missouri State University.

Getting started

Students need to be aware of their finances. Students should know how much money they are receiving in financial aid, loans, scholarships, income and other areas. In addition, students need to know their expenses. How much does a semester at MSU cost? How much does room & board cost? What other expenses might a student have?

Once a student has established sources of income and expenses they can start to build a budget. Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) recommends splitting all expenses into wants or needs in a budget.

For example, tuition, rent, groceries and car payments are all expenses that would fall into the need category. While, concerts, vacations and shopping hauls would all most likely fall into the want category. Once done labeling expenses, students are able to prioritize where their money is going.

Budgeting

Once students have a good idea of where their money is coming from and where it is going, they can create a budget. Whether students track their finances weekly or monthly, students should set up a budget through a spreadsheet, an app or a website to help track and guide their finances. Students can download free budgeting templates or utilize free budgeting apps.

Let fixed expenses like rent or tuition guide where your income goes first. Once fixed expenses have been accounted for and paid, variable expenses can be dealt with. Variable expenses can be split into two categories, discretionary and non-discretionary. Non-discretionary are the variable expenses students have to pay for like groceries or gas. Discretionary are expenses up to the

Illustration by Ella Conklin

student like eating out or catching a movie.

Variable expenses vary over the course of a week or month and allocating proper space in a budget for them is important. FAFSA suggests that students overestimate their expenses and underestimate their income to allow for wiggle room in a budget. Once labeling expenses as needs and wants, fixed and variable, and discretionary and non-discretionary, students can begin actually allocating funds.

Allocating funds is assigning each dollar a place, be it rent, tuition, grocery or savings and allows students to see where their money is going and manage it better. Giving each dollar a place, even if it’s for a sweet treat every now and again, can help relieve stress around managing money, as students see where their money is going and are able to mitigate waste. A proper budget can allow

students to be independent with peace of mind.

FAFSA also recommends setting financial goals. Maybe a student wants to graduate debt free, save for study abroad, buy a new car or start investing in the stock market. Whatever it is, having saving goals can help students be more money conscious in their day-to-day, establishing smart money habits and showing students they can forgo the tempting material items to save for something more meaningful.

Other budget considerations

As a student, there are a lot of resources available to save money and allow more room in the budget. Many retailers offer student discounts with a valid student ID. North Face, Apple, Sam’s Club and many more all have various discounts available for students. Many subscriptions also have student plans that offer a lower

rate. Spotify, Hulu, Amazon and even DoorDash are services that offer discounted student subscriptions.

While retailers and other companies may offer discounts, it is important that students remain mindful of their budget and finance goals, so they don’t fall victim to flashy sales and small discounts. Distinguishing between wants and needs — no matter the price — will help students keep a successful budget.

In addition, Missouri State offers many resources to help students who may be tight on cash. For example the Bear Pantry, MSU’s food pantry, offers food and hygiene products to students in need. The Bear Pantry has no income stipulations. Fill out the membership form at www.missouristate.edu/CCE/bear-pantry.htm.

The Center for Community Engagement page on the MSU website can also connect students to various food, housing, clothing and health

resources on and off campus. Resident Life on campus can house students in emergency situations. Off campus, Care to Learn is a Springfield-based organization dedicated to helping students meet basic needs, clothing, hygiene and food to assist them reaching their educational goals.

The Office of Student Financial Aid can also help students manage a budget and find resources to support them financially. MSU students can schedule a meeting with a financial aid counselor about scholarships, federal eligibility, federal aid and loans. For more information www. missouristate.edu/FinancialAid.

Finally Boomer Bear, MSU’s chat bot, can answer basic financial questions based on information from the MSU website. Students can simply text Boomer at 844-608-1048 to start asking questions.

Student-owned businesses

Alumni- and student-run businesses you should check out this school year

ELLA CONKLIN Editor Q_ellaconklin

Blue Sky Coffee Company

In May 2024, recent Missouri State graduate, Brayden Thompson, sold his motorcycle to start a coffee cart business. Since then Thompson has bounced around Springfield selling locally sourced coffee drinks to students and community members. The backstory of Blue Sky Coffee Company is a tale of innovation, dedication, and great coffee.

Thompson’s passion for coffee started young, getting his first Chemex when he was just fourteen. After working several minimum wage jobs, including a barista, Thompson decided to try making it on his own. After YouTubing how to turn an old dresser into a coffee cart and selling his motorcycle to pay for his espresso machines, Blue Sky Coffee Co was born.

“I had my first event (March 11th, 2024) and it was super successful,” Thompson says, “Now I’m only four months in (to 2025) and I already have as many sales as the entire year last year.”

Thompson and Blue Sky bounce around Springfield selling coffee at farmers markets, festivals and different events. More frequently Thompson serves at Cox South ER, providing

much needed caffeine in the late hours of the night.

“People with coffee, they like that more intimate experience,” Thompson says. “Selling coffee is so much more than just making coffee, it has a lot to do with people skills. People are always telling me about their wife and kids and their jobs.”

Thompson has found that the connections he makes through selling coffee is his favorite part of running his coffee cart.

“My job is so cool, where I get to see every walk of life, every different type of person,” Thompson says, “I feel like as a whole if we were around more people, we’d have a lot more empathy.”

Thompson also takes pride in uplifting the Springfield community. His coffee beans come from The Coffee Ethic, a local coffee shop. Thompson prides himself on using his local business to support other local businesses.

“Whenever you shop local, your money is going back into the community and you’re reinvesting in the community,” Thompson shares, “...If us, as a community, decided to move towards exclusively supporting small businesses we would see material improvements within this area.”

Only being a year in, Blue Sky Coffee Co has seen impressive growth. Thompson has really taken everything in stride to learn and

grow as a business owner. Recently, Thompson signed a contract with MSU to set up shop at football and volleyball games this fall and looks forward to connecting more with the student body.

“I think it would be cool if I was popping up around campus and people were like ‘where’s the cart?’” Thompson says, “...Then get it in the minds of the student body to make (the coffee cart) like a fun little treasure hunt.”

Follow Thompson and Blue Sky Coffee Co on Instagram at blue.sky.coffee.co to see where he’ll be setting up the cart next!

Madison Avenue

In 2018 a student-run boutique, Madison Avenue, opened on the second-floor of Plaster Student Union (PSU). Madison Avenue was intended to offer more diverse clothing to students beyond MSU branded apparel. Since its opening, the boutique has given students employment opportunities and trendy styles to shop.

While Madison Avenue is owned by the Missouri State Bookstore, the boutique is completely run and staffed by MSU students. Many students wear many hats when working with Madison Avenue to get as much experience as possible. One such student is Ellen Basse, a rising junior studying marketing.

Photo provided by Brayden Thompson

The Blue Sky mobile coffee cart is made out of an upcycled dresser that Thompson renovated himself.

Photo provided by Brayden Thompson

The Blue Sky Coffee Company makes traditional espresso drinks, signature drinks and teas.

Photo provided by Ellen Basse

Madison Avenue is on the second floor of the PSU, offering trendy fashion to students.

Loomi Candle Bar is located in downtown Springfield on the corner of Walnut Street and Campbell Avenue.

says.

She set out with intentions of starting her own business, but ended up discovering Heirloom Candle Bar. Puttoff purchased the candle bar and rebranded and turned it into what Loomi is today.

“(Loomi Candle Bar) is really fun because you get to create whatever you want,” Puttoff says.

Puttoff explains when customers come into Loomi they first pick out a vessel. The candle bar offers a wide range of jars, vases, and other various glass containers customers can fill

with wax.

“Something that was really important to me was using clean ingredients. So we use natural soy wax and phthalate-free fragrances,” Puttoff adds.

After filling the vessel with wax, customers can choose from over 60 fragrances to create their customized scented candle. Customers can also pick out lids or label their candle with a personalized name. Customers leave their candle at Loomi to be processed and then can come pick up their unique candle a few days later.

“Something I think is really cool is that (Loomi Candle Bar) gets to create experiences,” Puttoff says. “Anytime I’m in the shop it’s really cool because you will just see a wide range of people. You’ll see a mom and daughter hanging out, getting quality time, or you’ll see people on a first date or on their anniversary, or an elderly couple enjoying time together.”

Every Thursday Loomi hosts what is called Thrifty Thursdays, where customers can bring in their own vessel from a thrift store or recycled from a previous candle. The wax to fill these ‘thrifted’ vessels is half-priced, allowing college students to enjoy the experience on a college budget.

“For the student, (Loomi) is getting to do something creative in a space where you get to just unplug from technology and hang out with your friends,” Puttoff says.

Interested in checking out Loomi Candle Bar? Follow them on Instagram at loomicandlebar_sgf.

Basse manages Madison Avenue’s social media and helps build inventory throughout the school year.

“Students can come in and give suggestions (through a suggestion box) and we’re going to look at those suggestions and that is what we base our orders off of,” Basse says. “That way students have a say in what goes into our boutique, so they feel seen and heard.”

The back-to-school haul Basse and the others at Madison Avenue are responsible for ordering, will feature summer trends and game day fits alike.

“August is when we start getting all of our game day stuff in,” Basse explains, “because for tailgates everyone loves getting dressed up, so we definitely prioritize game day outfits.”

Through Madison Avenue Basse is able to stay involved and get hands-on experience in marketing. She hopes Madison Avenue is a place that feels inclusive and diverse to students offering many different clothing styles and a place for their voices to be heard.

“By students, for students is the main (value) Madison Avenue stands for and we’re excited to see where it goes!”

Visit Madison Avenue on the second floor of the PSU and follow them on Instagram at mostatemadisonavenue.

Loomi Candle Bar

Loomi Candle Bar is a make-your-own candle bar located in downtown Springfield. The candle bar allows customers to pick their own container for the candle, create their own fragrance, and even pour the wax. The shop also stays stocked up on unique gifts and trinkets for everyone to peruse.

Katie Puttoff, Missouri State 2022 graduate, triple majored in advertising and promotions, marketing sales, and marketing research. After graduation the alumni bounced around different marketing firms, discovering she wanted to work for herself, before returning to Springfield.

“I love Springfield and knew there would be a need for some sort of fun business,” Puttoff

sells a personalized candle making experience and unique

and goods for guests.

Photo provided by Ellen Basse Employees at Madison Avenue pay attention to current fashion trends and the student suggestion box to stock the boutique with clothing.

Photo provided by Katie Puttoff

Loomi Candle Bar

trinkets

Photo provided by Katie Puttoff

Uncovering Jordan Creek

What students who have classes in Brick City should know

Photos by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

Construction on the Renew Jordan Creek Project will continue through this school year with a tentative end date scheduled for the end of 2026. Students should anticipate a variety of complications with travel near Brick City during this time.

ELLA

CONKLIN, JORDAN TRENDLE Editor, Guest Writer

Q_ellaconklin

The Jordan Creek, which runs through the heart of Downtown Springfield, Missouri, is being partially unearthed in the Renew Jordan Creek Project.

Jordan Creek currently flows underground through a series of underground culverts. In the 1930s, it was decided to cover it because it was very polluted.

The project is set to uncover approximately 1,000 linear feet of Jordan Creek, but Phase I of the project, which is currently underway, will consist of two large blocks. The project will be bordered by Mill Street on the North, Water Street on the South, Main Street on the West and Boonville Avenue on the East. So far, the project is on schedule to meet its completion by the end of 2026.

Olsson, the engineering firm responsible for the project, put together an environmental information document which lays out the financial impacts of the project. According to this document, daylighting Jordan Creek is estimated to cost $32 million.

The City of Springfield is listed as the primary sponsor of this project, providing funds through the Level Property Tax Fund and the ¼-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund. Other funding sources include the Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant Fund, the American

Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Community Revitalization Grant by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The funding from various sources demonstrates the precedence this project takes in the minds of local leaders. On March 14, 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to symbolically kick off the construction downtown, and many community leaders shared their excitement and thanks.

“Today is about more than uncovering a waterway,” Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said during the event. “It’s really talking about what is going to be new life for our community. It’s heritage that goes along with the very practical aspect of reducing flood risk. It will enhance the economy of our entire community.”

The main goal of the project is to help with flooding and water quality. Since Jordan Creek is prone to flooding, it has led to the tunneled creek being filled with waste and debris. Unearthing or “daylighting” the creek, as the project suggests, will provide more room for water to travel into during heavy rainfall and help reduce the risk of flooding. Native plantings will also help restore the bank area while also absorbing and treating pollutants.

“By uncovering and restoring this portion of Jordan Creek, we are improving the flow of stormwater. We are increasing capacity and water quality. We are creating a system that is better equipped to handle heavy rains.” Dan Smith, director of Public Works, said. “Future

phases will continue these improvements to ensure downtown Springfield is more resilient to future events.”

Unfortunately, while the project is in full swing, many streets and sidewalks will experience adjustments and closures, affecting students and community members alike.

Currently, Campbell Avenue is closed between Olive and W Tampa Street and expected to be closed for approximately a year. Partial closure of Water Street has begun and is expected to be fully closed from Boonville to Jefferson Avenue soon for an estimated three months. Through the closure, access to businesses and properties will be maintained.

There will be a permanent closure of Water Street from Campbell Avenue to Boonville Avenue. Once the Jordan Creek Renewal Project is finished, this closed area will become a pedestrian-only overlook walkway. This area can be open for food trucks and holding special events.

Students who frequent Brick City at Missouri State University can expect an overall increase in traffic alongside road closures. However, it is the innovation and creativity found in spaces like Brick City that is motivating this project. Through the university’s vested interest in the downtown area, MSU is even contributing brilliant minds to this project.

“There are two other key research facilities that have played a role in Renew Jordan Creek,” Brad Bodenhausen, vice president for Com-

munity and Global Partnerships at MSU, said. “The Center for Archaeological Research and The Ozark Environmental and Water Resources Institute. They are partners in this project and really great examples of the research expertise Missouri State can provide.”

Renew Jordan Creek was planned with students and community members in mind. The renovation, the multiple phases and the finished product are all designed to enhance the Springfield community every step of the way. Many leading community voices share hopes and goals of economic development, environmental protection, infrastructure improvement and more community spaces.

“Our hope with the Renew Jordan Creek project is that Missouri State University students enjoy a front row seat to the significant transformation of a parking lot into a unique, functional amenity for the entire community to enjoy,” Kirsten Milam, senior communication director of the city of Springfield, said. Milam shares that Renew Jordan Creek offers something for everyone. A green space in an urban area that will include outdoor classrooms, walking paths and connections to other trails, areas and opportunities to showcase artwork, culture and history are all planned features of the new park.

“Our hope is that this project will be the catalyst to other unique developments in the vicinity of Brick City,” Milam said.

On-campus construction updates Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center

RYLIE

ROBINSON Reporter Qrylie04.robs

Missouri State University broke ground on the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center April 1, which is intended to open in fall 2026.

The 28,000-square-foot space will act as a hub for interaction with its two conference rooms, executive boardroom, living room, traditions hall, outdoor courtyard and 200-person capacity event center.

This center will house alumni relations, university advancement relations, advancement services and athletics development, as well as the Missouri State Foundation and Alumni Association.

“This facility will serve as the

heart of our efforts to engage alumni and friends, strengthen partnerships and secure the future of our university through philanthropy,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the Missouri State Foundation in a university news release. “It stands as a testament to the generosity of our donors. We are building more than just a structure – we are building a foundation for generations of Bears to come.”

The Advancement Center initially sprouted from an anonymous seven-figure donation in spring 2024 and has been further funded through the sale of the Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center in downtown Springfield for $5.8 million. A contribution of more than $20.8 million from the Missouri State Foundation has also aided in the funding for the center.

Private gifts were named in sup-

port of the center at a recent event, which include the following:

Anonymous, for the Clifton M. Smart III Advancement Center

Kenneth E. and Jane A. Meyer Foundation, for the Kenneth E. Meyer Event Center

Mary and Jeff Schrag, for the Mary and Jeff Schrag Courtyard

Matthew and Patricia Harthcock, for the Dr. Matthew ’77 and Patricia Harthcock Reception Hall and the Dr. Matthew ‘77 and Patricia Harthcock BearMobile

Beverly Miller Keltner, for the Jack Miller and Beverly Miller Keltner Family Conference Room

Mike and Judy Breeding, for the Mike and Judy Breeding Conference Room

John Foster, for the John Foster Patio and Courtyard

Carol, Andy and Dana Kuntz, for the Kuntz Family Foyer

Billy and Carolin Hixon

Rich and Cindy Miller, for the Rich and Cindy Miller Guest Information Suite

Dan Cobb, for the Dan Cobb North Welcome Entrance

Bradley Thomas, for the Bradley Thomas South Welcome Entrance

Richard and Teresa Ollis, for the Richard and Teresa Ollis Executive Patio

Greg and Cheryl Beck, for the Gregory A. and Cheryl J. Beck Catering and Staging Area

Karen Horny, for the Teri Trickey Catering Kitchen

Greg and Jennifer Spears, for the Spears Family Sitting Area

Scott Carter in memory of his parents, for the Carole R. and A. Bruce Carter Reception Area

Anthony and Danielle Biggers, for the Anthony and Danielle Biggers Sitting Area

Mark and Tina Stillwell, for the Mark and Tina Stillwell Assistant Vice President for Development & Strategy Office

Earnest and Aaren Muex, for the Earnest and Aaren ’02 Muex Executive Director of Engagement & Alumni Relations Office

Anonymous, for the Advancement Office

Jim Wilson, for the Jim Wilson Break Room

“Their private gifts have turned a vision into reality, ensuring the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center will be a place where we connect, collaborate and celebrate the spirit of Missouri State,” Dunn said.

Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex

ADEN ZUCCARINI Reporter DAden_Zuccarini

With the demolition of the Art Annex near Plaster Stadium on the Missouri State campus, another facility will be developed for the Theatre and Dance Department.

The Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex (JERPAC) is going to be under construction throughout the fall 2025 semester. The completion date is set for the fall semester of 2026, when the facilities are going to be opened to the student

body.

With the construction of the new facility, the JERPAC will contain the Department of Theatre and Dance. The building will feature a new black box theater; a type of minimalist stage used in academic theatre to aid the teaching of acting techniques, as well as an assortment of practice studios, dressing rooms and a studio-design classroom.

Craig Hall, home to the Department of Communications and the current home of Department of Theatre and Dance will receive a renovation. This will include new lighting

inside the building, new accessible bathrooms on the first floor, a dedicated student lounge and additionally the conversion of two second-floor classrooms into an acting studio and a costume supply room.

In December, the Art Annex, dedicated to the Department of Theatre and Dance primarily for studio space, was demolished as the building’s age raised questions about its feasibility for renovation.

The building had existed on the Missouri State University campus since it was purchased from the War Assets Administration at Fort

Crowder in Neosho, Missouri around December of 1948. It began its use as the Agriculture - Industrial Education Building, before the Darr Agricultural Center existed in its current capacity.

The Art Annex was renovated in 1989 to create a facility for the Theatre and Dance Department as the building was reused on campus.

This is one of the many initiatives taken to advance the “front porch” of the Missouri State University, Springfield campus.

“The new building is architecturally significant and along with the

site, has been designed to be a front porch for MSU, a welcoming southern entrance into the campus,” said Michael Mardis, project manager and architect at Missouri State.

The JERPAC was designed to provide a new look to the southern facade near the football stadium that many alumni have become accustomed to.

As we begin the fall semester, Missouri State University looks to redefine itself as a Missouri staple institution through the revitalization of the university itself and the campus it inhabits.

The Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center will sit at the northwest corner of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard.

The Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex will be located just east of Plaster Stadium on East Grand Street.

Photos by Jayden Pettus

Missouri State Athletics joins Conference USA What to expect and what to watch for

W. PAUL BOHLEN Senior Sports Reporter Dwpbohlen

Friends, it’s time. Missouri State University is finally an FBS school.

Things have come a long way since May 10, 2024 when, as one of his final acts as university president, Clif Smart announced that MSU had accepted an invitation into Conference USA (CUSA), with a donation from local booster Tom Strong that helped the Bears jump the $5 million hurdle to join the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Now, with a new president, a new athletic director, a new basketball coach and multiple new playing surfaces, Missouri State athletics is going to look a lot different than it did in May 2024.

Here’s a look at the big names and what changes they are going to face with the summer’s Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) departure now behind us:

Football

We can’t start to talk about the impact of Conference USA on MSU without addressing football first. The main reason for the move from the MVC was to put the Bears on the FBS level.

This immediately puts the Football Bears at the front of the school’s athletics programs.

Never quite the sensation in Springfield that the Lady Bears or the men’s basketball team have been, or with the success of programs like the men’s soccer team, the MSU football team has received most of its laurels in the far distant past.

That was, until last year.

The Bears made their exit from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) with style, keeping naysayers at bay with an astounding eight-game winning streak, losing to only three of the best schools in the Football Championship Subdivision and an FBS school in Ball State University.

Generally speaking, Conference USA is regarded as the bottom of the FBS, only recently topping the allbut-defunct PAC-12 after their gutting. Meanwhile, the MVFC is regarded as the best of all FCS

Map created by Jayden Pettus

Conference USA, founded in 1995, currently holds 12 full member schools and 11 additional affiliate member schools. The conference will be shrinking in the near future as Louisiana Tech and UTEP are slated to leave in the next two seasons.

conferences.

The skill level seems like it would be comparable on paper, but when they hit the turf, a whole other story may present itself. FBS teams make far more money than FCS teams, and perform on the national stage with national advertising. That means more name, image and likeness money and better recruiting. Missouri State has seen a fair share of great recruits come in, with several threestar prospects included, but it’s yet to be seen if they will be able to stand

up to a full FBS schedule.

No game for the Football Bears is a gimme in 2025, and probably won’t be again for a very long time.

But that’s a good thing.

The Bears will probably lose a lot over the next few years, but it will be some of the most valuable and best losing around. It’s going to be losing that brings experience and grit to an already tough team. It’s losing that can add speed, agility and accuracy to an already strong offense and much-needed strength, teamwork and

resilience to a defense which has faced too many hardships on and off the turf.

CUSA means unlimited potential for the Football Bears, but that only comes with a very long road the team — and Missouri State community — will have to walk down.

Women’s Basketball

The Lady Bears are the essential team for Missouri State. As they move to CUSA, they will move to a higher rated conference than the MVC. Per

RealTimeRPI.com, the Valley ranks at 16th in women’s basketball, while CUSA ranks at 10th in terms of skill level.

It seems like a big jump, and, judging from the past schedules the team has had over the tenure of head coach Beth Cunningham, the possibility that it will not go well over the first few seasons while they get acclimated to the level of play in CUSA is certainly present.

However, looking at those same schedules, the Lady Bears have

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played hard against tough opponents like the Mountain West’s (9th best conference per RealTimeRPI) University of Wyoming, the West Coast Conference’s (12th) dominant Gonzaga University, the American Athletic Conference’s (7th) University of Tulsa and only narrowly losing to the Big 12’s (4th) Texas Tech University.

However, it’s only fair to acknowledge that these are isolated games in an always-turbulent non-conference season, so to see how the Lady Bears perform in a full CUSA slate will have to wait until conference play begins, likely in January.

What will add some potential disruption will be the flights. All of MSU’s athletics will need to fly more regularly, considering CUSA spans across nearly the entire country.

Cunningham has only spoken positively about the opportunities this kind of travel will bring, but it is something to consider in the offseason.

Men’s Basketball

There isn’t much we can look at from last season to understand how the Basketball Bears will hold up in CUSA, because the 2024-25 season was so heavily marked by struggle and so much changed since then.

Head coach Cuonzo Martin will start his fifth year — second year of his current stint — at Missouri State, introducing his team to CUSA, but it’s hardly the team he coached last year.

Only three members of the team from last year remain and it may be for the best. Last year was just about the worst year in the program’s history as Martin reacclimated himself to college ball and his team just failed to keep in the game, save for a handful of moments when their team play shone through.

Per RealTimeRPI, the differences between the MVC and CUSA are not very significant. The Valley ranks at ninth while CUSA sits at eighth.

Liberty University, Jacksonville State University and Middle Tennessee State University are some of the top competitors in the league and are fairly on par with the best of the Valley, such as Bradley University and the University of Northern Iowa.

Once more, only after games are played will we know how the Bears will handle the move.

Baseball

Under their third head coach in program history, Joey Hawkins, the Baseball Bears made a run in the MVC tournament and finished co-champions with Murray State University.

Unlike the other sports at MSU, the Baseball Bears are going to face the biggest challenge in staying consistent. The Valley ranks at 20th per WarrenNolan.com while CUSA is fifth, only behind the Power-4 conferences.

While Murray State led the Valley, their RPI was 88th, and Missouri State’s was 176th. Dallas Baptist University led CUSA with an RPI of 20. Only two teams — Middle Tennessee

and Sam Houston State University — had lower RPIs than MSU.

And yet, the Bears defeated the then-secondbest team in the country, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks on the road earlier in their season. They also defeated the Big 12’s Oklahoma State University and run-ruled the Bears’ David and Goliath foe, the University of Missouri at home.

Missouri State baseball has the mettle to fight with the big dogs, but if they can do so series after series with them is another question.

Briefly On Other Sports

Men’s soccer will be moving to the American Athletic Conference as CUSA does not sponsor the sport. They will compete against some more widely spread schools, such as the University of Memphis, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of South Florida, the University of Tulsa and Temple University.

As one of the most successful and competitive teams at Missouri State, the men’s soccer program will have a strong fight in front of them, but it’s one they likely have the strength to take on.

Volleyball will face one of the longest unbeaten conference streaks that is still active. Western Kentucky University, which has not been beaten in conference play since 2018, leads the league. The University of Texas at El Paso (departing for the Mountain West in 2026) and New Mexico State University follow WKU by just a small margin.

The Volleyball Bears have struggled to make things work in the Valley over recent years, and they will need to work hard to make it work in CUSA among the talent they will face.

Softball faces very similar challenges to those the Baseball Bears will face. Liberty also largely owns the softball front, while WKU and Jax State follow.

Under new head coach Kasey Griffith, the Softball Bears finished fifth in the Valley last season.

Conclusions

The Bears of all sports need the support and patience of fans behind them.

Transitioning to a new conference is going to result in a lot of losing on the scoreboard all around as acclimatization takes place. But every loss, every person left on base, every interception, every turnover, every foul, every flag, every serving error, every yellow card and every mistake that sends the Maroon and White tumbling down the rankings will serve to help build up the Bears’ place in CUSA.

They can only improve as they learn and grow and — most importantly for the business of athletics — pull in more money from advertising and more recruits from the increased visibility of a higher level conference.

Lots of short term losses are surely in Missouri State’s future, but lots of reward is in the long term. This is only the beginning.

Fall sports schedules

Aug. 30

Sept. 6

Sept. 13

Sept. 20

Sept. 27

Oct. 8

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 8

Nov. 15 - Hoco

Nov. 22 Nov. 29

Aug. 9

Aug. 11

Aug. 16

Aug. 21

Aug. 25

Aug. 28

Sept. 1

Sept. 7

Sept. 12

Sept. 16

Sept. 21

Sept. 27

Oct. 3

Oct. 8

Oct. 17

Oct. 21

Oct. 25

Oct. 29

Aug. 2

Aug. 9

Aug. 14

Aug. 17

Aug. 21

Aug. 24

Aug. 28

Aug. 31

Sept. 4

Sept. 7

Sept. 11

Sept. 19

Sept. 25

Sept. 28

Oct. 5

Oct. 12

Oct. 16

Oct. 19

Oct. 26

dates are subject to change. Some schedules have not been announced at press time. For more information visit MissouriStateBears.com.

A season of new Missouri State upgrades athletic venues ahead of CUSA move

JACKSON WRIGHT

Sports Reporter

Djackson16wright

As Missouri State University Athletics officially transition into Conference USA (CUSA), the Bears are turning heads not just with their move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), but also with a wide set of upgrades across their athletic venues.

From fresh turf to fiber optics, the university is strongly investing in its future, on and off the field.

Upgrades to Facilities

Over the summer, Missouri State Athletics launched a major revamp of multiple sports facilities, signaling a new era for the program. The many changes include a completely new football field design and turf, new playing surfaces for volleyball and basketball, and several subtle but meaningful improvements to Plaster Stadium.

Ever since the May 2024 announcement of the move to CUSA, much of the attention has been centered on football.

The anticipation only grew when the athletic department unveiled the new football field design, set to debut at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Missouri State’s first-ever FBS season.

One of the first things you notice as you look at the field is the silhouette of the state of Missouri, perfectly located at mid-field.

“We wanted to highlight where we are,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell.

“So, the state of Missouri being on the field somewhere was important. The silhouette really pops and screams Missouri.”

In addition to the midfield design, the end zones have been refreshed. While they

Plaster Stadium received the most visible upgrade among the facilities that saw renovation, with a brand-new turf field that features a silhouette of Missouri behind the mid-field Bearhead. While the maroon end zones stayed the same from the previous turf, the school’s new “Mo State” moniker is displayed instead of “Missouri State.”

remain the signature maroon color, they now feature the shortened slogan “Mo State” in a modernized font, which replaces the traditional “Missouri State” lettering. The new slogan provides fans with a visual cue to a new chapter.

“I think the ‘Mo State’ wordmark has really taken off, especially with the student body and our alumni,” Ransdell added. “We wanted to switch up and be different, to start the new era.”

Another exciting addition

is a new LED lighting system at Plaster Stadium, which promises to transform the ingame experience with dramatic light shows and fan-focused effects.

“This will be fun. I am excited for what fans and students can see and feel at games,” he said. “We’ll be able to have a little bit more of a showman aspect.”

But it’s not just the visuals that are getting a facelift. Behind the scenes, the university has invested heavily in tech-

nology upgrades, particularly to meet ESPN’s broadcast standard. These changes include the installation of fiber-optic cables and enhanced telecom infrastructure.

“A lot of fiber and telecom stuff has to go on behind the scenes to fit ESPN’s standards,” Ransdell explained. “Cables and things are going under the sidewalks, and fans will never notice.”

While football has been the focus of Missouri State’s transition to CUSA, other sports

facilities also received long-overdue attention.

Inside Great Southern Bank Arena, the basketball court was returned to Springfield after undergoing its final sanding and repainting, a temporary refresh before a new court arrives in the coming years.

“This is the last sanding the basketball court can handle,” Ransdell said. “So I am excited for a couple of years from now, when we have to get a new court and we can show off some cool things.”

Over at Hammons Student Center, the volleyball court has been revamped, as well. The updated floor now features the maroon Bearhead logo at center court, with a subtle shadow of the same image beneath it. Along the new-look black baselines, the “Mo State” branding makes another appearance.

“We wanted to change it up a little bit, and having to add the Conference USA logo gave us this opportunity,” said Ransdell.

Photo by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

The court at Great Southern Bank Arena was sanded and repainted with CUSA logos to temporarily refresh the current floor until a new court is installed within the next five years.

Growing the Game-Day Atmosphere

Facility upgrades are only part of the equation. To fully realize the benefits of these changes, Ransdell knows the program must win the hearts of the student body.

Now entering his second year as athletic director, he emphasizes the importance of student support as Missouri State takes on its next chapter in a new conference.

“This year’s freshman class is entering college, and in their next four or five years, they will experience only Conference USA,” said Ransdell. “We want to take that group of students and really make them be the key factors in making the environment great.”

Any coach or player will tell you: a lively, engaged crowd makes a difference. Ransdell is leaning into that idea university-wide, hoping to foster strong student attendance and enthusiasm across all sports.

“If you have a great student crowd, I guarantee you the atmosphere is elevated significantly,” he said.

This fall, Missouri State will have at least two major opportunities to draw in a large student section. The Bears’ home opener on Sept. 13 will feature a marquee matchup against a potentially nationally-ranked Southern Methodist University team, kicking off at 2:30 p.m., and on Oct. 29, Plaster Stadium will host its first-ever Wednesday night game, when the Bears take on Florida International University

at 7 p.m.

Ransdell believes both games could generate record student turnouts.

“Let’s try and get 10,000 students,” he said about the challenge of hosting SMU. “We’ll make room on the east side if we need to. Let’s see how many students we can fit in and let’s break some records!”

As for the Wednesday night clash with FIU, Ransdell thinks the midweek game is a perfect time to pull in students who are still on campus looking for something to do.

“The Wednesday game will be unique, but I can’t think of a better game for students,” he said. “It’s in the middle of the week, nobody has gone home for the weekend, and nobody has anything better to do than come to a football game at Plaster Stadium!”

Ultimately, while the university can pour resources into infrastructure, technology and branding, Ransdell says the student body remains the true difference-maker

“The environment is the students,” Ransdell said. “We can put on the greatest show on the planet and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the show, but at the end of the day, if the students don’t show up, everything will fall flat.”

As Missouri State enters CUSA, it’s clear the university isn’t just upgrading fields, it’s redefining what it means to be a Bear.

The athletics department is leaning into the “Mo State” branding, with the slogan being displayed in various spots around Plaster Stadium and other places on campus.

Photo by Jayden Pettus, Qjpettus_media

Photo by Kaylee Vaughan, Qphotoby.kay

Student athletic fee to increase for 2025-26 school year

MADDUX RADOSEVIC Sports Reporter

DRadosevicMaddux

On Wednesday, April 16, the Board of Governors Executive Committee approved a $140 increase per semester for the 2025-26 student athletic fee among Missouri State University scholars taking seven credit hours or more in-person at the Springfield campus.

This motion bolsters the total sum students pay towards this fee to $200, creating a 233.33% rise. Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell explained the purpose of this student payment is to aid the university in its transfer from the Missouri Valley Conference

to Conference USA (CUSA) – a conference that presents more financial demands, especially for its participation in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), than the athletic department has previously encountered.

Specifically, Ransdell hopes this fund will cover the necessary expenses for the “significant increase” in travel in the more geographically spread out CUSA and student-athlete nutrition improvements. Gathering data from other schools in CUSA, Ransdell and his team eventually decided the $140 jump in the student athletic fee would suffice and allow them to avoid “continuing to go back to the well” for more money in the future.

“We think that this will get us competitive within our new conference,” Ransdell said.

For Ransdell, the nutrition of student-athletes at Missouri State will play a substantial role in getting competitive.

“At the end of the day, we need to be bigger, faster, stronger, and that takes a lot of care into people’s bodies,” he said.

In order to accomplish this goal, Ransdell aims to prepare MSU for the jump to CUSA with increased care and attention towards the food student-athletes consume. Specifically, Ransdell would like to give players healthier meal options, including more protein shakes after workouts.

“This is what all these FBS schools are doing,” he said.

Rising Lady Bears basketball junior Kaemyn Bekemeier sees the initiative as a monumental benefit to her and her team as well. By having a “wide variety” of restaurants to choose from that have nutritional value, Bekemeier thinks the motion to enhance healthy eating for student-athletes can improve their skills.

“Food is fuel,” Bekemeier said. “That’ll help us maximize our game and our sport.”

For Ransdell, increasing the student athletic fee to improve the nutrition of student-athletes serves as an investment towards players like Bekemeier.

“Our student-athletes are an investment. Now, we’re investing into that investment,” he said.

A former baseball player at Western Kentucky University, Ransdell aspires to give MSU student-athletes the nutrition benefits he lacked during his college years.

“I wish that we were more sophisticated back when I played,” he said.

Ransdell explained the complexities of moving to CUSA do not halt at nutritional enhancements. In fact, he points out that travel costs will also increase for multiple athletic teams at Missouri State.

“A great example is women’s soccer,” he said. “They’ve never flown for an away trip, and they’re gonna

Although most students won’t see much difference with the increase in fees, AD Patrick Ransdell thinks this will help “get us competitive within our new conference.”

have four of those this year.”

According to Bekemeier, the Lady Bears will also increase the amount of flights they take.

“As Lady Bears, we try not to drive over like eight-ish hours if it works out,” she said.

With only three of the Lady Bears’ CUSA opponents less than eight hours in driving distance away from Missouri State, Bekemeier anticipates she and her team will take advantage of flying more than ever before. Through a higher volume of flights, Bekemeier and her team will use a more efficient and less crammed form of travel than their traditional route of taking a bus.

“I’ve already heard that we’re gonna have a lot more flights which are really exciting cause that makes us feel, I don’t know, kind of first class in a way,” she said.

Along with more travel, Ransdell also discussed his plan to ramp up the school’s athletic marketing campaign by allocating more funds to advertising initiatives.

“Ultimately, it’s an investment into generating more money,” he said.

For this investment, Ransdell speaks confidently about its prospects.

“We’re going to sell more tickets – I promise you that,” he said.

students monetarily,” Hardwick said.

In Hardwick’s opinion, donors and sponsors should foot the bill for these costs, not students pursuing their education.

“I’m coming to college to get a degree, and that’s not gonna be reflected in my tuition money,” she said.

Especially now, Hardwick views increases like these fees as increased challenges for students.

“People are struggling to pay their tuition, especially with the current economic status of most Americans,” she said.

Hardwick adds that the university increased its athletic fee not long after the institution eliminated funding to other areas like diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and other initiatives she views as more beneficial to the student body.

“We should focus on other programs that make a college a college,” she said.

With many student-athletes already receiving scholarships, Hardwick thinks expenses like the money making up the student athletic fee should benefit all Missouri State attendees, not just a particular few.

“I’m a Bear just as much as anyone else is a Bear,” she said.

concurs.

“I think a lot of stuff around here could use more funding,” he said.

However, overall, Cummins approves of the raise in the athletic fee.

“College is a privilege,” he said. “I think it’s a reasonable increase.”

For Cummins, the jump to CUSA also paves the way for the school to seize more opportunities.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “We get more athletes here and more publicity.”

In turn, Cummins looks for the athletic programs to establish a more

successful tradition as a new chapter begins for the university in CUSA.

“I’m hoping with the better competition, you know, our program gets better, we start winning more – that’s my biggest hope.”

As students arrive back to campus for the fall semester of 2025, the quest to win more will officially begin as the Bears start their time in CUSA with the increased student athletic fee in full effect.

For Bekemeier, having more fans in the stands makes “every difference ever” in the atmosphere at Lady Bears games.

“We really enjoy having people in the stands,” she said. “We’re all very grateful that we have one of the best home attendances, not even just in the conference, but just, like, as a sport here at Missouri State.”

Beyond playing in front of larger crowds, Bekemeier also looks forward to new opportunities in CUSA.

“I’m just excited for this new chapter of Missouri State sports. I’m excited that I get to be a part of it, especially on the Lady Bears,” she said. “I’m excited for the competition.”

Although Ransdell and Bekemeier speak fondly about these changes, others like Abigail Hardwick are not completely on board. A current Missouri State student beginning an accelerated graduate program for international affairs at MSU, Hardwick approves of the school’s conference realignment. On the other hand, she also argues that the university should not hold scholars responsible for funding these initiatives.

“While it’s a great thing that we’re moving into a bigger conference and that means a lot for Missouri State, that should not reflect back on the

In her mind, Hardwick sees the student athletic fee increase as proof that the school puts student-athletes ahead of scholars like her.

“Raising that is just showing who you favor,” she said.

For Hardwick, an example of how the institution favors student-athletes presents itself in this case with the nutritional improvements the players will see. After speaking with a cafeteria manager at Heitz House, Hardwick learned about procedures at the dining hall that she believes deserve the kind of attention student-athletes get with their food situation.

“(The dining hall) had raw chicken, and, then, they moved to frozen chicken and then frozen pre-cooked chicken that they made,” she said. “The student body should be the student body. And, that’s not just for student athletes, and that’s not just for a couple dozen on the football team.”

Rather than student-athletes receiving all the benefits, Hardwick believes the school should serve all students.

“The university, the president, the college, it’s for the student body, and a couple dozen isn’t the student body,” she said.

Rising junior and mechanical engineering major Xander Cummins

The fee increase will improve student-athlete nutrition and marketing for MSU Athletics in addition to covering travel expenses.

Photo by W. Paul Bohlen, Qanthro_paul_ogist

Photo by Matthew Huff, Qhuff.photography

by Matthew Huff, Qhuff.photography

Jacob Clark, the team’s senior quarterback, will lead the Bears into Conference USA coming off of a career year in which he finished 14th in Walter Payton Award voting. The Rockwall, Texas native earned First-Team All-MVFC honors and finished 3rd in MVFC Offensive Player of the Year voting.

Football Bears to kick off FBS play at LA Coliseum

The road there and the players they’ll lean on for potential success:

W. PAUL BOHLEN Senior Sports Reporter

Dwpbohlen

All eyes on the gridiron.

Missouri State University’s football team has officially assumed a new role: that of a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team. The highest level of college football now has an outpost in Springfield, Missouri.

When the news was announced in May 2024 that MSU would be joining Conference USA (CUSA), doubters were quick to judge that fall’s Foot-

ball Bears on the previous year’s 4-7 performance and the history of the team which has been — to put it politely — pretty insipid.

Perhaps inspired by the future, or perhaps the realization that something had to get moving in the program, last year’s Bears looked completely different from 2023.

From the get-go, they held their own against the then-best team at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in the University of Montana, taking a respectable 29-24 loss. After a 42-34 loss the next week to

FBS Ball State University, the Bears ran away.

The team won its next eight games before falling to two of the other highest-ranked schools in the FCS, North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University.

Though they won those eight, they weren’t easy.

The Bears struggled just about every time to put together a complete game of football. Maybe the closest they came to such a thing was their 41-7 blowout of then-ranked No. 16 Illinois State University, but games

against weaker opponents like Lindenwood University and Indiana State University were challenges that should have been gimmes.

The team will need every ounce of resilience, strength and cunning to hold up in the FBS. Looking to their 2025 schedule, it is absolutely the hardest slate the Maroon and White has ever faced.

The season will begin with two games against Power 4 opponents in the Big Ten’s University of Southern California Trojans at the mighty and famous Los Angeles Memorial Col-

iseum and the home opener against the Atlantic Coast’s Southern Methodist University Mustangs. Between those is a match with another Group of 5 team, the Sun Belt’s Marshall University Thundering Herd.

Missouri State gets to take a breath with their only FCS match the week after the Mustangs, facing the University of Tennessee at Martin, then it’s right back to it to begin play in CUSA.

While the Bears play arguably their toughest schedule in the program’s history, looking to last year’s

Photo

CUSA results, they do avoid playing 2024’s top and third-best teams, Jacksonville State University and Sam Houston State University.

MSU will also not play the other FCS-to-FBS team coming to Conference USA, the University of Delaware, in 2025.

It is important to note, however, that while Jax State and Sam Houston enjoyed the peak of the conference last year, they are among many of the CUSA teams which have first-year head coaches this year.

All told, only three schools have their head coaches entering a season higher than their third year. Delaware’s Ryan Carty and Louisiana Tech University’s Sonny Cumbie are both entering their fourth year, and Western Kentucky University’s Tyson Helton is entering his seventh year with the program.

New coaches can go either way. They can keep a team high, turn a bad team into champions or even wreck a program.

Missouri State does not have a new coach, thankfully, but it does have lots of new players rearranging the depth chart in different ways.

In the offseason, the Bears saw lots of major exits from graduation, the NFL Draft and the transfer portal.

Grant Burkett exhausted his eligibility last season as probably the greatest punter the school has ever seen.

One of the Bears’ strongest running backs, Jacardia Wright, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks — that’s the “Thunder” gone from the “Thunder and Lighting” combo which led the Bears to those eight victories last year.

Wright’s number two, running back Jayden Becks transferred to the University of North Texas, taking the “Lightning” away, too.

Missouri State’s no-question quarterback Jacob Clark also lost one of his favorite men to throw to, tight end Lance Mason, to the University of Wisconsin.

The D-line experienced some of the most significant transfers, losing star linebacker Tahj Chambers to the University of Mississippi, cornerback Lemondre Joe to Colorado State University, cornerback Avery Powell to Temple University and linebacker Dallas Winner-Johnson to Tulane University.

On a heavier note, the Bears also lost beloved safety Todric McGee, who tragically passed away in the spring at the age of 21. McGee’s impact was felt by the team in just about

every way, and his loss devastated athletics at Missouri State. Soon after his passing, his teammates and many more involved in athletics came together to remember him outside of Plaster Stadium. His sister urged the Bears to play the next season with him in their hearts. There’s no doubt they will.

All of the struggle the team has faced only speaks to its fortitude.

The Bears seem ready to come into the FBS and CUSA fighting for their right to be there. Against all the doubt, all the naysayers, Missouri State is going to take its place in the upper echelon of college football.

So, how are they going to do it?

Clark at QB for starters. Looking at all of the men behind the snap in CUSA, he sizes up pretty well, on paper standing among the top few. Who he can throw to is a bigger question.

Losing Mason, Wright and Becks, Clark still has wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson, and a new Thunder and Lightning duo seems to have made itself an option in transfer Shomari Lawrence and freshman signee King Davis, with added depth in Nixa signee Ramone Green Jr. and senior Reggie Branch II who made a bit of noise last year.

Senior wide receiver James BlackStrain will likely step farther up in the chart to go along with Robinson and senior Dash Luke, as well as new addition Ronnel Johnson, a junior who transferred from Stetson University.

Dillon Hipp, a transfer from Ole Miss, will join former Republic High School star James Rexroat and threestar recruit Jackson Kohl at the tight end position, any of whom could be in the starting lineup.

By all accounts, junior Cash Hudson is still going to be snapping to ball to Clark in 2025, and the rest of the O-line is pretty familiar with junior Cristian Loaiza, senior Hutson Lillibridge and senior Erick Cade. They’ll have some good options in the reserve, however. Sophomore Noah Gardner, sophomore Ebubedike Nnabugwu and freshman Brayden Thompson all could see a decent amount of action this season.

Like it was last season, the defensive line is going to need all the attention it can get.

Junior DJ Wesolak, senior Jordan Dunbar, redshirt senior Thomas Anderson, junior Ahmad Poole and redshirt freshman Josh Joyner are all good additions with weight and power that came in from the portal for the

2025 D-line.

Guys who have been here a bit include junior Gilles Tchio, sophomore Mitchell Toney, sophomore Caden Wiest, senior J.J. O’Neal and senior Maguire Neal — all who can be expected to keep making impacts.

Finally, the special teams return some and look for replacements to greats.

Last year’s loyal kicker, sophomore Yousef Obeid, is still here. The Bears’ punter will be sophomore Stewart McDonald who appeared in one game last season to kickoff against Southern Illinois University. McDonald has massive shoes to fill, replacing Burkett. The Bears’ long snapper appears to be sophomore Andrew Kallas, who was an NJCAA All-American in 2024.

2025 is going to keep being a challenge for the Missouri State football squad, but it’s a challenge with a big future and no limits for how high they can climb.

The Maroon and White kickoff for the first time as an FBS program on Aug. 30 in Los Angeles, and for the first time in Springfield on Sept. 13 against SMU at 2:30 p.m.

The team will lean on receivers like senior James BlackStrain, who earned an MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection while averaging 15.33 yards per reception last season

The Bears finished last season 8-4 overall with a 6-2 conference record while averaging 34.83 points per game and outscoring opponents 418-362 overall.

Photo by Matthew Huff, Qhuff.photography

Mon–Thu 8:00am–6:00pm Friday 8:00am–5:00pm Saturday 11:00am–3:00pm

Project Success

Proven leadership guides men’s soccer in new conference

JACKSON WRIGHT Sports Reporter Djackson16wright

When Missouri State announced they were joining Conference USA (CUSA) starting in the 2025-2026 athletic year, a major question loomed over the men’s soccer program.

Unlike many other collegiate leagues, CUSA doesn’t sponsor men’s soccer. This left the Bears without a home, but that didn’t last long.

With assistance from Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell and head coach Michael Seabolt, Missouri State found a new home in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences.

Starting this season, the Bears will compete as a men’s soccer-only member of the American Conference (AC), a league that receives high national recognition, a fierce level of competition and several familiar opponents.

No Change in Captain

While the conference might be new, the leadership guiding the Bears during this next chapter is anything but new. Alex Matthews, a returning leader who earned his teammates’ respect during an unexpected moment, is back as the arm-band-wearing team captain.

“Last season, I didn’t start off with any captain responsibilities,” Matthews said. “But there was an unfortunate scenario where (Michael) Peck, who wore the armband, had to go off with a head injury and out of the blue said, ‘There’s the armband, Alex (Matthews), wear it the rest of the game!’ which came as a shock to me.”

What began as a spur-of-the-moment decision quickly became permanent. Matthews

embraced the role with poise and gained more confidence to help lead the Bears to one of their strongest seasons in program history.

While captain, Matthews helped Missouri State not only capture the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, but also secure the program’s first-ever first-round bye in the NCAA tournament. Matthews’ on-field performance earned him All-American honors.

“That moment kind of helped me,” he said. “In terms of confidence and knowing I had the backing of the team.”

From this moment, the Bears “never looked back,” according to head coach Michael Seabolt, who believes Matthews is the perfect fit for the job.

“There is leadership by action and leadership by voice,” Seabolt said. “(Matthews) does both of those things. That is the best kind of leader who can do it both on the field and off the field, in training and games.”

That respect wasn’t just from the coaching staff; it was echoed throughout the whole roster. Seabolt states that during a team dinner, the team unanimously agreed to keep Matthews as the captain.

“During an end-of-the-year barbecue, we had a quick team meeting about leadership for the team moving forward,” Seabolt said. “It was unanimous. Everyone wanted (Matthews) to continue in that role, and we are excited for that,” stated Seabolt.

Learning from the Past

The final chapter in the team’s Missouri Valley Conference story ended in frustration, but Seabolt prefers to focus on the bigger pic-

ture: the future.

“I don’t dwell on the ending to last season,” said Seabolt. “I look at the body of work we accomplished. Many guys experienced their first NCAA tournament, we earned the first bye in program history, and we finished ranked in the top 25. I see that as a positive season.”

Matthews agrees with what his coach said, but knows there are lessons to carry forward with them.

“We had a really good season,” Matthews added. “We won the regular season title after going trophy-less in 2023, but ultimately fell short when it came to key fixtures, where it’s knockout football. That’s what we want to improve on next season.”

Preparing for the Future

The AC will be a significant jump in competition. With “Power 5” conferences like the Big 12 and SEC not sponsoring men’s soccer and the Pac-12 now dissolved, the AC stands as a top soccer conference in the nation.

“In college soccer, it is a power league,” Seabolt said. “This is a top-four NCAA conference for men’s soccer; we have earned the right to be here.”

The move wasn’t just Missouri State needing a home; it was also the AC wanting a member.

“(The AC) chased after us,” added Seabolt. “They see us as a program that could be a flagship member of the league.”

With the move, fans can expect some changes to who comes to Betty and Bobby Allison

South Stadium over the next few years. Missouri State has already scheduled a home-andhome series with The Pennsylvania State University. The Bears will travel this season, with the Nittany Lions set to visit Springfield in 2026.

“Before, we were a good team, and people wanted to play us,” said Seabolt. “Now they want to play us because we are a good team in a top conference. This wasn’t happening in the past.”

Matthews expressed his excitement in joining a new conference and is ready to show what Missouri State has.

“In the past, we would play the same teams every year, you knew what to expect,” Matthews said. “But now, we’ve got some new opponents and we are excited to play against and show what Missouri State is all about.”

Seabolt shared the same enthusiasm.

“It’s more of a new excitement and a new energy with a new challenge,” he added

Luckily for the Bears, they won’t be entering the AC with a roster from scratch. The core of last year’s team is returning, which can prove to be a successful debut.

“If everyone is healthy, we could put 9 or 10 guys on the field who played in the NCAA tournament,” he added. “But we also have some exciting new additions, so we feel good about where we are going into preseason.”

As the Bears prepare to write their first chapter in the AC, the goals are clear: stay competent and content, and continue the tradition of excellence at Missouri State.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Since Conference USA doesn’t sponsor men’s soccer, the program will be joining the American Conference this fall.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Alex Matthews (left) has become a pillar for the team’s success with leadership that the club has been able to lean on heavily.

MADDUX RADOSEVIC Sports Reporter DRadosevicMaddux

Character. Chemistry. Communication. Compete.

These pillars make up the four core values the Missouri State University women’s soccer team established when Kirk Nelson took over as head coach of the program in 2022. In the 2024 season, with these concepts still serving as the squad’s center principles, the Bears claimed the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season title for the first time in 29 years. From there, the Bears won the MVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament before ultimately falling one goal short to the favored University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

The road to winning the MVC in the squad’s final season before switching to Conference USA (CUSA) was not a brief one. In fact, the journey began all the way back at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

With the Bears slated as the second best team in the league at the end of the 2023 regular season, they punched their ticket to the conference tournament semifinal round. It was here that they would soon slip 1-0 to the Valparaiso University Beacons — the sixth-ranked team in the MVC that year.

According to 2023 MVC All-Freshman Team forward and midfielder Reilly Heman, this upset provided the Bears with plenty of moti-

From champions to newcomers

Women’s soccer anticipates CUSA success after conference title in final MVC season

vation for the following offseason.

“That was definitely just like fuel to our fire going into this season,” Heman said. “I know when we were in lift our lift coach would be like, ‘Valpo would be doing one more rep.’”

For the Bears, the hard work did not stop in the weight room or on the pitch. They also put in the effort academically.

“It matters what you do on the field clearly, but you’re also just as good as how you do in the classroom,” Heman said.

As a member of the 2024 MVC Scholar-Athlete Third Team and a three-time MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll honoree, Heman manifested her belief in this theory with her grades.

The academic achievements did not stop with Heman. Over the past three seasons, each of Nelson’s teams has attained a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Players like redshirt senior Julia Kristensen also exemplify this mentality.

A fellow forward and three-time MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member, Kristensen explains that establishing a character of excelling in the classroom takes away some of the pressure of playing Division I soccer.

“If you don’t have that stress coming from class, you’re able to just put your all into soccer,” Kristensen said. “Whenever you have the rest of your life sorted out, soccer becomes just a place where you can have fun.”

With the 2024 campaign being her second season at MSU, Kristensen led her team to a regular season MVC title, MVC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth as the MVC Player of the Year.

Scoring at least one goal in every 2024 conference game, the Bears topped the MVC with an almost perfect 9-0-1 record. However, Kristensen asserted these results came mostly as a byproduct of the team’s hard work and superb defense which surrendered only five goals in those 10 contests.

“The big reason why we never lost is because we defended,” she said. “We defend from front to back, and everybody’s putting in the work in practice. And, that translates into the games.”

Now, Kristensen and her team will attempt to bring that same competitive drive with them into Conference USA (CUSA).

“I think a good thing that (Nelson) has been instilling in us is that we start in last place,” Kristensen said.

“We are at the bottom of the totem pole in this conference, and we gotta come in swinging.”

Heman concurs.

“We need to prove every single game that we’re the team to beat and that they should honestly be worried that we came into the conference,” she said.

The feeling of wanting to prove something is a familiar one for the team, Heman explained.

“I think it’s honestly similar to how we felt after that Valpo game,” she said.

Now prepared to square off against new foes, Heman enjoys the challenge of making a good first impression on the rest of CUSA.

“It’s fun that we have almost like a chip on our shoulder and we do need to prove ourselves because no one knows anything about our team,” she said.

For Heman, this mission takes chemistry.

“Chemistry is a very big deal on our team,” she said.

Losing nine players from the 2024 squad, including two-time MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Camielle Day and three-time All-MVC First Team member Grace O’Keefe, the Bears will field a much different team this

year, making chemistry that much more vital.

With additions to the squad like University of Memphis transfer Macee McKenna (midfielder) and freshman Ellie Neath (midfielder/defender), Heman sees communicating and connecting with her new teammates as a priority to maintaining a high team morale for the 2025 run.

“We do have a lot of girls incoming, so kind of reaching out will definitely help bridge that gap,” she said.

But, amid conference changes and roster adjustments, Heman approaches the new year with optimism.

“We have people who can fill roles, and we’re not worried at all,” she said.

In Kristensen’s mind, “resilience” is the most important attribute the team needs to display heading into the group’s first season in CUSA. Furthermore, Kristensen, going into her last year of eligibility, placed an emphasis on her team “being able to fall down, make mistakes, and still get back up, and then, be stronger for that next opponent” in order to match what the squad did in 2024.

“I want everybody fighting for the same goals that I have, which is to win the conference, and win the conference tournament, and go to the national tournament,” Kristensen said.

To accomplish those goals, Kristensen wants her teammates to prime themselves to compete.

“I think we just need to be ready for battle,” she said.

Photos by Kaylee Vaughan, Qphotoby.kay

The women’s soccer team lost nine players from the 2024 squad to graduation, but they believe they have the depth to fill the gaps.

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Men’s basketball brings new roster into CUSA

W. PAUL BOHLEN Senior Sports Reporter Dwpbohlen

It’s no secret that the first season of Cuonzo Martin’s return was nothing short of abysmal. The Missouri State University men’s basketball team had one of their worst seasons — if not the worst — in the program’s history, with the lowest average attendance ever recorded for the Bears.

Their 2-18 conference finish leaves nothing to uplift or try to rationalize into some underdog story. They were bad. Very bad.

But, in the offseason, all but three members of the team entered the transfer portal — an occurrence that is surely here to stay, win or lose, like it or not — and Martin and his staff have been hard at work rebuilding the team.

Still in the Maroon and White are senior forward Michael Osei-Bonsu — one of the major reasons the Bears won those two conference games at all — senior guard Logan Epes and sophomore guard Zaxton King.

With a new conference and a clean slate, the score is back to 0-0, and the sky’s the limit.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ new additions who get to call themselves part of the Missouri State basketball squad:

Ryder Cheesman: Fr. point guard

One of the earliest additions Martin made to his team was 6-foot-4inch point guard Ryder Cheesman, a rising prospect from Australia.

Cheesman gained attention last year, playing in the semi-professional NBL1 league, with the Melbourne, Victoria-based Knox Raiders, and with his performance in the Men’s Under-20 National Championship.

In the tournament, he was the captain of the second team, averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game with a 46.7 field goal percentage.

Basketball.com.au called Cheesman “one of the breakout stars of the tournament.”

Collin Clark: Fr. forward

From an athlete hailing from about as far as you can get from MSU to the 6-foot-7-inch forward Collin Clark, who already has played on campus. Clark attended Greenwood

Only three Bears remain from last year’s roster, including Michael Osei-Bonsu, a big reason for the team’s two conference victories last year.

Laboratory School, making his mark on the court with the Blue Jays in his final years of high school.

He helped the team in their recent successes with his average of 19.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG and 4.8 APG. Clark also was named to the 2024-25 Class 3 Boys All-State Team.

Melakih Cunningham: Fr. guard

The first high school commitment of the offseason was 6-foot-7-inch guard Melakih Cunningham who played high school ball at Decatur Central High School and Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.

During his junior year — his last

at Decatur Central before transferring to Crispus Attucks — he averaged 14.9 PPG, 8 RPG and 1.9 APG.

Trey Williams Jr.: Fr. guard

Bringing a lot of the excitement to Martin’s second year in his return tenure as the Bears’ coach is Trey Williams Jr., a freshman guard who helped lead the Vashon High School Wolverines to Class 4 State Championships all four years of his high school career.

As a three-star athlete, Williams shot a staggering 48.5 percent from beyond the arc, sinking 97 of 200 attempted 3-pointers. He also averaged 17 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 3 APG.

After the 2024-25 season and his fourth consecutive state title, Williams was named the Missouri Class 4 Player of the Year. As he showed in high school, this new Bear is a proven winner, and should be on the court from the first minute.

Darrion Sutton: So. small forward, Georgia Tech

One of the final transfer additions Martin made to the team was Georgia Tech small forward Darrion Sutton, who played for the Yellow Jackets after earning a four-star status during his final year of high school at Overtime Elite Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.

Though he was a fairly high-value prospect, he did not see much action in his only season at Georgia Tech, playing 215 minutes in 18 games and only starting once. Injuries to the team’s core last season were the main reason he even saw that much playing time.

When he was able to get on the court, Sutton scored a total of 24 points, 28 rebounds, 10 assists, and five blocks and steals.

Though his college numbers are not the shining star of a high-level prospect, he comes to the Bears with high-major basketball experience and isn’t too far out of high school.

Photo by W. Paul Bohlen, Qanthro_paul_ogist

Tyrique Brooks: So. guard, Mis- souri Southern

It’s fairly safe to say that the most exciting transfer addition for the southwest Missouri community is sophomore guard Tyrique Brooks. He doesn’t have the top-prospect status of other transfers and he comes from the Division II Missouri Southern State University, but Brooks is the hometown kid the Maroon and White has wanted since — at the latest — last October.

Those unfamiliar were introduced to the former Central High School star during an exhibition match on Oct. 29, 2024, where he scored 21 of the 65 points the Lions made.

At Central High, Brooks helped the team reach the Class 6 State Semifinals for the first time since 1963 and scored more than 1,500 points. He also won the 2024 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions Dunk Contest and was the runner-up the year before.

With the Lions, Brooks’ freshman year was about as good as you could ask for.

He started all but two of the games he played in, adding up 808 minutes of play, shooting 45.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. Brooks made 118 rebounds and 368 points, averaging 13.1 PPG.

Cameron Boone: Jr. forward, John A. Logan

One of the few junior college transfers Martin added was Cameron Boone, a 6-foot-11-inch post player who adds the most height to the roster and some much needed defensive power.

The East St. Louis, Illinois native played his first two years of college ball at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois.

In those two years, Boone had 54 appearances and 21 starts for a total of 132 minutes. He shot 55.2% from the field for a total of 205 points. Defensively, Boone totaled 97 rebounds in his freshman season alone with 35 blocks and three steals.

Kobi Williams: Jr. guard, Tru- man State

From the D-II level again, Martin found a high-quality shooter in Truman State University’s Kobi Williams, another St. Louis, Missouri native who started every game he played for the Bulldogs.

In 58 games, Williams racked up 1,658 minutes of play, shooting 46.5% from the field, 40.9% from the 3-point line and 79.5% from the free

throw line for a total of 772 points — an average of 13.3 per game.

He averaged 4.4 RPG with 255 total boards. Williams also made 46 steals, 25 blocks and 120 assists. In his freshman year, Williams was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.

After entering the transfer portal, he was offered by fellow Conference USA member Louisiana Tech University before opting to stay in his home state and become a Bear.

Amar Kuljuhovic: Sr. center, North Dakota

The second of three DI transfers the Bears got in the offseason, Amar Kuljuhovic, is a 6-foot-8-inch post player from the University of North Dakota who averaged 10 PPG in the 53 games he played. The big center started all but three for the Summit League team.

Playing two seasons with the Fighting Hawks, Kuljuhovic added up 1,317 minutes of time on the court and shot 53.7% from the field, 25.4% from the 3-point line and 66.3% from the charity stripe.

The forward/center averaged 7.8 boards per game, with a total of 411, while making 72 assists, most of which came in his second season with the team. He also made 23 steals, 11 blocks and scored 531 points.

Before North Dakota, Kuljuhovic played two seasons with Lake Land Junior College where he averaged a double-double in his sophomore year.

Keith Palek III: Sr. forward, California (Pa.)

Another D-II transfer, the 6-foot8-inch forward Keith Palek III comes to Missouri State from Pennsylvania Western University, California (formerly California University of Pennsylvania)

He spent four seasons with the Vulcans, playing as a starter in his first two before seeing reduced action in his third and only playing six games in his fourth due to injury.

In all, he added up 2,475 minutes of playing time while shooting 46.9% from the field, 35.5% from the 3-point line and 78.1% from the free throw line for a total of 1,136 points and a career average of 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 38 blocks and 69 steals per game.

Antwan Burnett — Sr. guard/forward, Grambling State

Finally, the Bears have another graduate transfer in Antwan Burnett, a 6-foot-5-inch guard/forward who comes to the Bears after spending

two years at Grambling State University.

Burnett played in 51 games, starting 44 for the Tigers, and ultimately saw 1,615 minutes of action. In that time, he averaged 43.1% from the field, 36.6% from behind the arc and 68.2% from the free throw line.

He also totaled 510 points for an average of 10 per game and 290 boards for an average of 5.7 per game. Burnett also made 85 assists and 49 steals.

Burnett is another of the Bears’ transfers who started college as a four-star prospect, having played both basketball and football for Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and surpassing 2,000 points in the former.

Going forward

The Bears still have lots of time to practice before the start of the 2025-26 season, but already, they look better than they were last year. With a focus on higher-level options in the portal and out of high school, and the retention of athletes like Osei-Bonsu and King, Martin may just have a winning team again. Only time will tell, though.

The Maroon and White’s basketball season will commence in early November.

Zaxton King will also return to the Bears roster, joining Osei-Bonsu and Logan Epes as the only returning players from last year’s team.

Men’s Basketball CUSA schedule

Photo by W. Paul Bohlen, Qanthro_paul_ogist

After losing veterans like Lacy Stokes to graduation, the team will be looking to younger talent, like Kaemyn Bekemeier, to pick up the slack left behind by those who departed.

Lady Bears looking to build on MVC title in CUSA

MADDUX RADOSEVIC Sports Reporter

DRadosevicMaddux

Win the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season title. Go undefeated at home. Win the MVC Tournament. Win the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).

These four goals became the main pursuits for the Missouri State University Lady Bears for the 2024-25 campaign as outlined on the board in the team’s locker room. In the end, the team won a share of the conference title and claimed victory in every regular season game at Great South-

ern Bank Arena that year. However, after losses in the MVC tournament and at home in the WBIT, the Lady Bears ultimately fell short of some of their dreams.

Yet, despite this fact, this team created a unique identity. Was it because the team won the conference title in its last season in the MVC? Because they won a home playoff game as members of the WBIT? Featured homegrown locals like guards Lacy Stokes and Kaemyn Bekemeier? Or, was it because they played with a level of grit, determination, and, most of all, selfless love for one another that few other teams could even

come close to?

Regardless of what made this team so special, the Springfield community fell in love with this squad. This romance did not magically commence overnight. Rather, the foundations for this love story came down well before the season even started.

Much of what this team came to symbolize developed at the end of the 2023-24 campaign when the Lady Bears lost by one point to archrival Drake University in the championship of the MVC Tournament on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater.

The magnitude of the moment created such a ripple that, at the time,

future Lady Bears forward Lainie Douglas saw it almost immediately.

“When I saw that Drake did end up winning, I was like, ‘Oh, like this is gonna be good for next year,’” Douglas said.

For Douglas and her teammates, uncertainty of defeating Drake vanished the offseason leading up to the new year.

“I don’t think we ever really necessarily had a doubt,” Douglas said. “It was more of like the thought process of like, ‘We gotta work harder to not let this happen again, not feel like this again.’”

Head Coach Beth Cunningham

sensed this discipline and witnessed the squad’s noticeable will to win.

“I felt like it was a group that was hungry and felt like they had something to prove and wanted to prove,” Cunningham said.

Early on, the Lady Bears made their mission known, winning eight of their 11 non-conference matches.

However, in their inaugural MVC game, a road contest against the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), the Lady Bears stumbled, losing 62-69. Despite all the frustration of dropping the first game, Cunningham viewed the experience as a moment of clarity.

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“We learned a lot from that game,” she said. Reflecting back on the inauspicious position the team maneuvered itself into, Cunningham had her doubts about the Lady Bears rebounding to win the MVC.

“If you would’ve told me we were gonna lose the first game in conference play and we’re gonna win the regular season title, I might’ve said, ‘How?’” she said.

In large part, they did it because of an undefeated run in January – a stretch which included a thrilling overtime victory over Drake. After a loss to Illinois State University to begin February, the Lady Bears capped off a six-game winning streak with yet another overtime classic over Drake, this time, on the road.

In Cunningham’s mind, these victories paved the way for the Lady Bears to take the title.

“If you’re gonna win a regular season title, you’re probably gonna have to go through (Drake), and we certainly did,” she said.

On Senior Day, the Lady Bears defeated Bradley University 64-54 to officially clinch a share of the MVC. The team basked in a frenzy of confetti.

They had done it.

However, just a week later, Belmont University eliminated the Lady Bears from the MVC Tournament.

Just like that, it was over.

But, soon after their loss, the Lady Bears found new life in their selection to the WBIT.

“It’s a really great reward for a team that had a really, really good season,” Cunningham said. “Obviously, we wanted to be in the NCAA Tournament, but that’s the next best thing.”

Douglas added that the team felt determined to survive and advance in the tournament for

the seniors.

“The seniors were like, ‘This could be our last game,’ which was probably like one of our biggest motivations just cause we all like truly cared for each other,” she said.

After breezing past Oral Roberts University 107-76, the Lady Bears hosted Minnesota University of the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers ended the first quarter ahead 27-12, but the Sunday audience of 2,416 did not back down.

“Our crowd was willing us to win. I mean, they really were,” Cunningham said. “And, it just felt like one of those games where they were gonna will us to win again.”

To Cunningham, the environment seemed similar to other games earlier in the year.

“It really felt like some of the other games where people might’ve thought we were down and out,” Cunningham said. “But, we’re never down and out.”

Although the Lady Bears cut the deficit down to three with fewer than 30 seconds remaining, the comeback fell short.

“We needed another minute or two,” Cunningham said.

For the second year in a row, the Lady Bears lost to the eventual WBIT champion. The team featuring the MVC Sixth Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year finished playing together. Forever.

Now, a new season and a new conference (Conference USA) peer over the horizon.

However, the remnants of the 2024-25 team will linger as Cunningham tries to recapture her favorite quality this group possessed in the 2025-26 squad with new faces like transfers Faith Lee and Zoe Canfield.

“I love the camaraderie and the trust that our team had in each other this year,” she said.

Lady Bears CUSA schedule

Softball Bears navigate growing pains, prepare for CUSA

Sports are filled with transitions. Missouri State University softball is no exception.

After head coach Holly Hesse retired at the conclusion of her 36th season in 2024, the team faced its biggest change heading into 2025.

On June 5, 2024, MSU hired former associate head coach Kasey Griffith to replace Hesse. Since the players already knew Griffith as a member of Hesse’s coaching staff, this move flowed quite nicely.

“The transition was pretty smooth,” Bears sophomore catcher Alexis Perales said.

Two-way player McKenzie Vaughan agreed. Pointing out that Hesse’s shoes must have been difficult to fill, the senior star spoke highly of the way Griffith executed her job in her first

“Filling in after a coach who’s been there for 35 years is a huge, huge role to fill, and I think she’s done an amazing job.” Vaughan said.

Beyond Griffith’s work, Vaughan also gave credit to Hesse for preparing her associate head coach to take the next step the following season.

“Holly also did a good job of mentoring Kasey when she was here as an associate,” Vaughan said. “They both collaborated very well, and it’s been a very good transition.”

For Griffith, replacing Hesse presented a big challenge.

“It’s always a tall task to replace somebody who is truly a legend of the game,” said Griffith.

However, no matter how heavy the burden was, Griffith still realized she had an obligation as a coach to work hard for her players.

“We are servant-leaders, and we’re here to do whatever we can to make this a great expe

Photo by MSU Creative Services

rience for our players,” she said.

Unfortunately, this mindset did not make the shift from Hesse to Griffith completely free from suffering.

“Quite honestly, I knew there was going to be growing pains,” Griffith said.

The Bears faced these growing pains in the first 20 games of the season, winning just one contest during that stretch.

In Griffith’s opinion, these struggles came largely because of the lingering competition among her players to work their way into the starting lineup.

“People were truly battling for starting positions,” she said. “I think that, at the beginning, sometimes we were still wrapped up in trying to win that position.”

Amid this stumbling block, the Bears had to make yet another transition: playing away from their home field at Killian Stadium while it underwent renovations for the duration of the season.

“Every day, we were practicing at different facilities. We were bouncing all around,” Griffith said.

Furthermore, the arduous nature of the schedule early on did not make winning any easier. During the 1-19 skid, the Bears played nine games against Power Four schools, including two matches against ranked opponents.

Griffith explained this formidable schedule did not happen by accident.

“We certainly wanted to challenge our players,” she said.

Players like Vaughan understood why.

“Preseason is always hard for sure, but it definitely makes your team stronger at the end of the year or even towards the middle of the year facing that hard of competition right off the bat.” Vaughan said.

Although Griffith and Vaughan expected this tough road to behoove the team in the long run, the Bears still had to pay the price to survive these trials.

“We went through a lot of adversity this year,” Griffith said.

At times, Griffith and the team found it difficult to find light at the end of the tunnel.

“There were some days I think as a team we were like, ‘Can we survive all this?’” Griffith said.

In the end, they did survive it.

Much like how she foresaw the growing pains at the start of the year, Griffith sensed improvement in her squad as the season progressed.

“We could feel the process work-

ing and progress happening within our program,” she said.

Eventually, Griffith saw her players believing in this process, as well.

“You gotta trust the process, and I really thought our players did,” she said.

A major factor in helping the team get out of its rut was how the players stuck together in times of hardship.

“It was definitely just the closeness connection we had for everyone,” Perales said.

Together, the Bears went on to win 19 of their final 33 games.

In addition to the squad’s cohesiveness, the players’ attitudes also contributed to the team’s success.

“It was having that body language, having a presence, playing with swagger, playing with fire, playing with intensity,” Griffith said. “When we were going through that stretch, win or lose, we were gonna play and act like ballplayers.”

One player who played and acted like a ballplayer was Vaughan.

On Saturday, April 26, on her own Senior Day at Meador Park, Vaughan hit a solo home run over the center field wall. The homer broke a record. With the 32nd long ball of her career, Vaughan surpassed her former teammate Olivia Krehbiel as the all-time MSU home run queen.

Miraculously, Vaughan broke the record in just three full seasons as her 2024 campaign got cut short due to an arm injury. With steady persistence, she finally realized her highly desired pursuit of taking the crown.

“That’s been a goal of mine for a long time,” Vaughan said.

As Vaughan transitions from her softball days at Missouri State, Perales looks at her former battery mate fondly.

“She’s just everything you want to be,” Perales said. “She is just a natural-born leader, and she shows that, on the field and off the field, she’s always gonna do what’s right. She’s always going to put in that extra work.”

Now a junior, Perales steps into a bigger leadership position as players like Vaughan leave the team. Wearing this hat, Perales looks ahead to the start of a new season in the Bears’ first year in Conference USA.

“We just kind of need to go in with a fresh mindset and be ready for the challenge and step up for that challenge,” she said.

Griffith agrees.

“We don’t know what it’s gonna look like, but we can handle anything,” she said.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Long-time roster member Chloe Merced, who made 82 starts across 169 appearances in four years, graduated last season after earning her second CSC Academic All-District Team honor and being named to the MVC Honor Roll for the third time.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

The team also lost McKenzie Vaughan to graduation. She earned MVC ScholarAthlete, NFCA All-Region and CSC Academic All-District Team honors last year.

Volleyball Bears

Expecting young leadership amid conference jump

JACKSON WRIGHT

Sports Reporter

Qjackson.wright25

“This opportunity comes once in a lifetime…”

These are the words that Eminem raps in his hit song, “Lose Yourself.”

However, Missouri State University volleyball is giving them a brand new meaning.

Last season did not end the way head coach Steve McRoberts and the Bears wanted it to, even though they won at least one game in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament for the second year in a row.

“We had an injury or two that really set us back,” said McRoberts. “We tried a few different things and different roles and were able to sneak into the conference tournament, picking up a first-round win for the second year in a row.”

With some veterans like Maddy Bushnell, Morgan Sprague and Kate Owens graduating, McRoberts now looks for underclassmen to step up and fill their shoes, even though a lot has yet to be determined.

“We had some young players that stepped up, so that’s gonna serve us well as we move forward,” said McRoberts. “We will have 13 of 18 players on our roster who will be either freshmen or sophomores, so there is a lot to be determined.”

This is not the first time McRoberts has seen a young roster overhaul. Just a few years ago, when those seniors were first joining the team, they stepped in and took over when the opportunity arose for them.

“Just like when (Owens), (Bushnell), and (Sprague) came in, the doors are open,” said McRoberts. “Those three took it from freshman year on, and now their names are all over the record books.”

A couple players that McRoberts believes could continue to shine after impressive freshmen seasons are now-sophomores Aniya Joseph and Rilynn Finley.

In the first two weeks of the season, Joseph earned an MVC Player

of the Week award and added MVC Freshman of the Week honors twice. Only playing 17 matches due to injury, the San Antonio, Texas native scored 224 kills and 11 assists. On defense, she had 25 total blocks and 177 digs.

Near the end of the regular season, Finley also gathered an MVC Freshman of the Week honor. The Republic, Missouri native played in 30 of the team’s 32 matches, totaling 373 kills on offense, but defense is where Finley shined most, finishing with 29 total blocks and 79 digs.

“We’re also looking at this freshman class coming in,” said McRoberts. “It’s going to be a full team effort.”

The saying, “there is no I in team,” will be another motto that the team lives by as the season moves along.

“I don’t know that we’ve got one person that (I) would be like ‘man this person’s going to be that conference MVP,’” said McRoberts. “I think we have got a really solid team in every position.”

McRoberts is entering his 29th year as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level — his sixth at Missouri State. The experienced coach has seen all sorts of teams, and believes that while his team lacks veteran experience, the energy from the youth will prove helpful.

Winning is something that McRoberts has experienced before, as have some of the incoming and current players. However, they haven’t been able to merge those concepts together at Missouri State. In his previous five years at MSU, the team has posted a 70-76 overall record with only two winning seasons.

That being said, the incoming athletes want to win.

“We are bringing in some players who have won at an extremely high level,” said McRoberts. “They have won at the high school level and the club level, so they come here wanting to win.”

Photo by W. Paul Bohlen,

Qanthro_paul_ogist

After losing veterans like Maddy Bushnell, Morgan Sprague and Kate Owens, the Volleyball Bears will be looking for underclassmen to step up and fill the gaps. The team will field an astounding 13 freshman and sophomores out of 18 roster members.

A “really good spring” has got the team prepared to be competitive at the DI level, especially in a new conference.

“We had a really good spring with some pretty big improvements,” said McRoberts. “It will be a learning curve for everyone at the university as we go into a new conference.”

After spending five seasons to get Missouri State back to a competitive level in the MVC, McRoberts is now tasked with game planning for several unfamiliar opponents in Conference USA (CUSA).

With the move to CUSA, McRoberts and the Bears will have the challenging task of facing several national powerhouses. First up is Western

Kentucky, which has been ranked in the top 25 multiple times in the last 10 years.

“They have gone maybe two or three seasons without losing a conference match,” said McRoberts.

The Bears drew a tough schedule for their first year in CUSA play.

“We only play 8 of the other 11 opponents in the conference,” said McRoberts. “We drew most of the teams that were in the top part of the conference last season.”

McRoberts believes that growing and giving the best every time they step on the court is what is most im-

portant.

“I want our goals to be ‘to win’, but I also want for us to see growth every time we step out there,” said the Bears’ head coach.

Anything is possible, as McRoberts suggests, saying it would be fun to make a run and win the whole thing.

“I want us to make the conference tournament, and once you get in that, anything can happen,” said McRoberts. “It’s one match on that day, if you get some momentum going in and you’re healthy, it would be fun to win the conference tournament and

get a bid into the NCAA National Tournament. Something that hasn’t been done since 2017.”

Too many times during his time at Missouri State, McRoberts has seen the Bears drop close matches. He adds that it is time for them to start flipping these matches and come out victorious.

“We’ve been building and building and now it’s time for us to start flipping these matches that we’ve lost in four or five sets,” said McRoberts. “I added it up one time, and we’ve had about 40 of them in the last four years where it could have gone either way, and we haven’t been on the winning side of a majority of those.”

Again, McRoberts notices the young team’s mentality and confidence is something that could start to bring momentum back to Missouri State volleyball.

A different thing that CUSA brings is a different looking schedule. For the past several decades in the MVC, the home team would host two different schools in a regular-season weekend. Now, the home team will host the same school for 2 separate matches in a weekend. Something that makes McRoberts’ game planning much easier.

“It makes it easier for preparation,” said McRoberts. “We spent four or five days prepping for the first match on Friday, to then turn around and have less than 24 hours to plan for the next team on Saturday. We don’t want to overload the athletes with two different preps throughout the week.”

Outside of preparing for the games, McRoberts jokes that it is nice to be in one spot all weekend.

“From a travel standpoint, it is nice,” he said. “We get to stay at the same hotel, where we can form a routine. When we finish on Friday night, we can go back to the hotel instead of driving several hours.”

Joining a new conference and competing against new teams isn’t the only thing different about Missouri State volleyball. The court at Hammons Student Center was replaced over the offseason, changing the entire environment of the gym.

“It changes the whole vibe of the gym,” said McRoberts. “I told (assistant coach) Bri Walsh when we first saw it, ‘This doesn’t feel like our gym right now. It feels like we are visiting somewhere.’ They did an unbelievable job.”

Bears fans can catch the volleyball Bears in their first season of CUSA play on Thursday, September 4 at 6 p.m. when they host in-state rival Lindenwood University to kick off the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.

While the disadvantages to having such a young team are there, the opportunity to grow as a group over multiple years is something that the team is looking forward to.

Volleyball Schedule

Aug. 23

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Sept. 4

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Oct. 3

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Oct. 25 Oct. 31

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Arkansas (Exh.)

Photo by W. Paul Bohlen, Qanthro_paul_ogist

Photo by MSU Creative Services

A newer addition to MSU Athletics, beach volleyball finished last season undefeated at home with an 18-10 overall record, ranking second all-time in single season wins for the club.

Sports roundup Tennis, STUNT, track and field and more!

STANDARD SPORTS STAFF

Dstandard_sports

Tennis - Maddux Radosevic

On July 23, 2024, the unthinkable happened.

Former four-year Missouri State Bears tennis standout Ellie Burger left the head coaching spot she held at her alma mater for two seasons for the same position at rival Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) school Belmont University.

29 days later, on Aug. 21, 2024, MSU announced Austin Hale as its 12th head coach in program history.

After serving as the first tennis head coach ever at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, Hale, originally from Missouri, felt “excited” to coach in his home state. However, Hale’s first season at MSU presented challenges – most notably, a series of injuries to some of his key players.

“There were several times where we weren’t playing with a full team,” Hale said. “We had nine to start off with, and it eventually got where we really only had like four healthy girls playing.”

Two players who led the Bears through this struggle were MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team juniors Billur Gunleson and Raluca Puscas who earned the most wins on the roster in 2024-25. Now, Hale looks for them to lead once more.

“They’re gonna be, you know, immediate starters next year and really help contribute and be strong leaders next year,” he said.

Hale hopes the 2025-26 team composed of six newcomers and four returners stays “unified” and achieves the “huge accomplishment” of finishing in the top half of Conference USA (CUSA) as the squad transitions out of the MVC.

“It’s a fresh start,” he said.

Beach Volleyball - W. Paul Bohlen

As a more recent addition to Missouri State athletics, the beach volleyball team has come a long way in their eight years as a program.

From an uncertain future during the COVID-19 pandemic to several coaching changes to new conferences, the Beach Bears have withstood it all and come out stronger on the other end.

After a 9-13 finish in 2023, the team expanded their season to play more games as they joined CUSA as affiliates in 2024. The team went 26-7 and even had a bit of a run in the CUSA tournament.

The Spring 2025 season brought some greater struggles as they faced losing star players of 2024 like Brooke Plessner, leading the team to go 18-10. Still, they were unbeaten at home, with a 11-0 record.

Former indoor volleyball players Morgan Sprague, Maddy Bushnell and Jaycee Fixsen also joined the beach squad with the pairing of Sprague and sophomore Maddy Schrandt making some of the biggest impacts.

The other senior-sophomore pairing making names for themselves were senior Becca Bach and sophomore Allyson Larkin.

As they look to their future, the Beach Bears will miss their seniors like Sprague, Bach and Olivia Rattler, but they have a strong and talented junior and sophomore class, and an incoming set of freshmen who will fill the roster back up.

After their last game of the 2025 season, head coach Ashley Emery called the team “hun-

gry for more.” She said the standards are only rising for the team as they get more and more experienced and cement themselves as a valuable program at Missouri State.

STUNT - Jackson Wright

How will you be remembered?

For over 20 female athletes at Missouri State, they will be remembered for being on the inaugural team for STUNT.

For first-year head coach Kennedy Wingbermuehle, the first season didn’t always go their way, but overall it was a success.

“It went well,” said Wingbermuehle. “We had a couple of losses that we didn’t love, that we probably should have won, but also a lot of wins that were very rewarding.”

The Bears came within one rank of making the national tournament.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go to nationals in our first year,” said Wingbermuehle. “We finished fifth in the NCAA Division I, they took the top four to nationals. We’re definitely looking to be able to make that for next year.”

While Coach Wingbermuehle aims to make

the trip to nationals, this isn’t the only thing she is looking forward to as she begins to plan for the second season of Missouri State STUNT.

“Getting a couple more girls involved this year,” said Wingbermuehle. “Since our numbers were a little smaller, a lot of the girls had to pull a lot of the weight.”

With a majority of the roster returning, Wingbermuehle looks to have more girls join the team, and eventually be able to double the roster size.

“We will be half and half with returners and freshmen,” said Wingbermuehle. “Luckily, we have a lot more girls coming in, so we will be almost doubling our roster.”

While Missouri State did not host a home competition in its inaugural season, Wingbermuehle hopes to add some during her second year at the helm of Missouri State STUNT.

Acrobatics and Tumbling - Jackson Wright

A year of remembrance for Missouri State was started with the acrobatics and tumbling team jumping into their inaugural season.

Not only was this the first season at Missouri State, but the first acrobatics and tumbling roster that ever competed collegiately in the state of Missouri.

Head Coach Kimberlee Adkins was very passionate when given the opportunity to start this at Missouri State.

“We are a sport for women by women,” said Adkins. “We’re the only acrobatics and tumbling team in the state, so it’s super cool.”

While the season didn’t get started how Adkins wanted it to, they continued to get stronger and more focused as the season progressed.

“The season had its ups and downs,” said Adkins. “We didn’t have a lot of time to build a program. We brought in girls really quickly, they locked in, and every single meet they progressed.”

This held true as they posted their second-highest score, 205.055 points, when they hosted the multi-time national champion, Baylor Bears.

Missouri State received their highest total points during their last regular season meet against Morgan State, in which they scored 208.540 points.

As the calendar flips over to the second acrobatics and tumbling season, many familiar faces will return on the roster, along with several newcomers.

“I had one junior this year,” said Adkins. “We have 18 more girls coming in next year, so that should put our total roster at 36 athletes.”

Adkins looks forward to bringing the spotlight of acrobatics and tumbling to not only Missouri State, but the state of Missouri and for women across the world.

Swim and Dive - Jayden Pettus

While every other Missouri State sport will see conference changes this year, the swimming and diving team will be standing pat as affiliate members of the MVC due to CUSA not spon-

soring the sport.

Despite staying where they are, the men’s and women’s team will certainly see some changes as they rostered a collective 12 seniors, graduates or fifth-year members.

After a successful regular season from both groups, the two headed to the MVC Championship where both teams placed third.

In addition to the teams’ third-place finishes, junior Lana Janson and fifth-year member Cabrini Johnson earned bronze medals in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, respectively.

An astounding 14 members of the across both groups were named to the MVC Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete Team, eight were named to the CSC Swimming and Diving Academic All-District team and two (Johnson and fifth-year member Samantha Roemer) earned CSCAA Scholar All-America Honors.

On May 21, it was announced that former Bears swimmer and NCAA qualifier Anna Miller will join the team’s staff as an assistant coach to head coach Dave Collins.

Track and Field - W. Paul Bohlen

To close out their time in the MVC and the 2024-25 season, the Missouri State track and field team exceeded expectations and finished fourth in the MVC Outdoor Championship, up from ninth in the 2023-24 season.

Head coach Jordan Fife called the team’s effort to climb in the conference meet “remarkable.”

Indeed, the improvement is worth noting, considering the previous year the Bears finished ninth in both the MVC Indoor and Outdoor Championships, as well as 2024-25’s MVC Indoor Championship.

While the Bears lose big names like distance runners Mary Margaret Harris and Grace Spoonhour and hurdler Meghan Halstead, their younger class showed readiness to take over bigger roles this year.

Senior thrower Reagan Reedy won the MVC title in javelin, senior distance runner Adrien Martens and junior distance runner Ella Cronhardt dominated the 3000-meter steeplechase against Southern Methodist University, and other notable members of the squad returning include junior sprinter Olivia Rogers, senior sprinter Whitney Farrington and sophomore sprinter BreAna Garrett.

The Track and Field Bears pick up the 202526 season in Conference USA around the end of the fall semester. Official dates for the indoor season will be released by Athletics Communications at a later date.

Men’s Golf - Maddux Radosevic

After the Missouri State University men’s golf team finished second in the MVC Championship to conclude the 2023-24 campaign, head coach Neal Stafford maintained high expectations for his squad for the following season.

However, the Bears finished in the bottom half of the leaderboard in eight of their 11 tour-

naments in 2024-25, including three last-place finishes. Amid the “extremely disappointing” outcome, Stafford described this season as “one of (his) toughest” in his 20 years at MSU.

With over half his roster featuring underclassmen, Stafford attributed the team’s subpar performance to his players’ lack of confidence.

“Golf is a difficult sport and can kind of beat you up mentally,” he said. “It’s just you out there.”

Although the Bears were bereft of experience, Stafford took the blame for his squad’s unsatisfactory results.

“Ultimately, it kind of comes down to me,” he said. “This is the program that I have the keys to.”

As the Bears transition to CUSA, Stafford welcomes back rising redshirt junior from Nevada, Missouri, Owen Swearingen – one of the “hardest workers” from his group last year. Additionally, 2025 MVC All-Conference honoree from Uppsala, Sweden, Tim Holmberg will come back for his senior year.

Besides these returners, the Bears signed Junior Golf Scoreboard’s fourth-ranked senior in Missouri with the addition of Noah Naugle from Nixa, Missouri. Stafford also recruited Pedro Gallegos – the top-ranked golfer in the class of 2025 and beyond – from Madrid, Spain, in hopes of yielding more success.

“We will be better.” Stafford said.

Women’s Golf - Maddux Radosevic

Parting is sweet sorrow.

Missouri State women’s golf head coach Kevin Kane knows it.

After leading his team to a top-two finish in the MVC Championship for the third time in four years, Kane understood it was time to bid The Valley farewell as he and his team now prepare to enter CUSa for 2025-26. Having coached in the MVC for three decades, Kane feels challenged by this separation.

“The Valley’s the only league I’ve known,” Kane said. “When you’re a part of anything for that long it’s, yeah, it’s hard.”

In the squad’s last hurrah as a member of The Valley, the group finished in the top half in six out of ten tournaments played all year.

It all consummated with the runner-up mark in the MVC Championship. For Kane, any lower result would not have sufficed.

“We just really emphasized you know: we’re not leaving here without second,” he said.

With final-round leader Kyleigh Pfitzner, All-MVC team honoree Jiayi Zhang and captain Kiser Pannier leading the way, the Bears climbed three spots on the leaderboard the last day of play to accomplish that goal. Afterwards, Kane shed tears.

“The Valley Tournament was really, really an emotional thing for me because I’ve been in the league so long and made so many good friends there,” he said.

Now heading into CUSA, Kane still aspires to grow.

“You’re never too old to, you know, keep learning and keep getting better,” he said.

The tennis team faced some roadblocks this semester with injuries to their top players. Head coach Austin Hale said the team was led by juniors Billur Gonlusen and Raluca Puscas, who will be “immediate starters” this year.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Baseball Bears make deep tournament run in final MVC season

JAYDEN PETTUS Editor-in-Chief Dpettusjayden

The Missouri State University baseball team wrapped up its final Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) season with a bang, sharing a regular season conference title with the Murray State Racers before making a deep run in the conference tournament.

Season overview

The Bears started off the year in a rather deep hole, sitting at 7-12 by the time MVC play rolled around. The team strung together wins here and there, but couldn’t seem to find their footing against some tougher non-conference opponents like Mississippi State University, which was ranked No. 18 in the nation during the three-game series against the Bears.

Despite the early growing pains from new head coach Joey Hawkins taking over for longtime head coach Keith Guttin, though — which came to a head after the Bears’ second fivegame losing streak by early March — the team was quickly able to right the ship with a large chunk of the schedule remaining.

Missouri State began conference play with a three-game sweep of the Bradley Braves from March 21 through 23, and the Bears went full steam ahead to salvage their record and turn the season around.

Following the sweep, the Bears won three consecutive series against the Belmont Bruins, Southern Illinois Salukis and the Valparaiso Beacons to push their conference record to 10-2 by mid-April. Sandwiched between weekends of conference play, the Bears also collected a couple high-profile non-conference wins in that span, including a road win against the then-No.2 ranked Arkansas State Razorbacks — the school’s highest-ranked win among any sport.

The team sizzled down the stretch to take three of its four remaining conference series and a high-intensity game against the Missouri Tigers before heading to Murray, Kentucky to take on the Racers for a three-game set to decide the MVC regular season champion. With high hopes on both sides of the ball, the two teams got one game in on Thursday, March 15 before the rest of the series was canceled due to inclement weather. Since the teams were unable to complete the series, the MVC regular season title was awarded to both clubs. While it may not have been exactly the finish they wanted, the team headed to the MVC Tournament with a 17-8 conference record and the No. 2 seed.

Photo by Kaylee Vaughan, Qphotoby.kay

The baseball team, led by first-year head coach Joey Hawkins, finished the 2025 season with a 3025 overall record and 17-8 in conference to claim a share of the MVC regular season title.

Conference tournament

The Bears began the MVC Tournament with a 7-2 victory against No. 5 Illinois State. The 11 a.m. game was decided by just one inning in which Missouri State put up all 7 runs, including a two-run home run by sophomore center fielder Caden Bogenpohl and a three-run homer by junior first baseman Taeg Gollert.

The team was knocked out of the winner’s bracket the next day by the No. 4 University of Illinois Chicago by a six-run margin of 11-5. A nightmare start for freshman pitcher Michael Yusypchuk in which he allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 ⅓ innings led the way for the Flames to topple the Bears.

Since the tournament was conducted in a double elimination style, Missouri State played in the very next tournament game just a couple hours after their matchup with UIC.

The Bears kept their playoff hopes alive in the game, exploding offensively to eliminate No. 6 Belmont from championship contention. In just seven innings the team put up an astounding 20 runs to steamroll the Bruins by double digits. Bogenpohl — who picked up his second HR of the tournament — was joined by second baseman Nick Rodriguez and catcher Carter Bergman in smashing long balls to stave off elimination for Missouri State.

Following the decisive victory against Belmont, the team rematched UIC, with the winner

punching their ticket to the MVC Tournament Final. Thanks to a spectacular pitching performance by sophomore two-way player Curry Sutherland in which he threw 6 ⅔ innings of one-hit ball, the Bears did just that. The team was able to settle the score against UIC with a 4-1 victory to head to the championship game.

Missouri State got its overdue rematch with the Racers in the championship game just hours after the victory over UIC.

By the fifth game of the tournament, the team was low on pitching depth, which led to a poor performance on the mound by multiple Bears’ pitchers. Missouri State’s offense put up five runs on four extra base hits, but was unable to overcome the 10 runs surrendered by the pitching staff, falling to Murray State 10-5 in the championship game and ending the team’s MVC tenure.

From the Bears to the Bigs

Four players were added to the Bears’ list of professional players following the completion of the season:

Jake McCutcheon, Miami Marlins

McCutcheon became Missouri State’s 121st player to be drafted to the MLB after being selected by the Miami Marlins with the 288th overall pick in the 10th round.

The junior started every game of the season for the Bears, hitting .358 with a .444 on-base

percentage and .647 slugging. He racked up 15 homers, 14 doubles and 54 RBI with 24 multihit games over the year.

Nick Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels

Picked directly after McCutcheon, Rodriguez became MSU’s 122nd player taken in the MLB Draft. He was selected by the Los Angeles Angels at 289th overall in the 10th round.

The senior second baseman put together a historic season in which he hit for a .368 average and racked up a school-record hitting streak of 40 games from March 9 to May 23 during the year — the 12th longest streak in NCAA Division I history.

Jackson Holmes, Athletics

After going undrafted, Holmes came to terms with the Athletics as a free agent on July 16. The right-handed pitcher began the year as a starter for the Bears before being turned to as lights-out closer for the back half of the season. In 54 ⅓ innings pitched, he struck out 61 batters while collecting a team-high five saves.

Dylan Robertson, Joliet Slammers (Independent)

Robertson came to terms with the independent Joliet Slammers as a free agent following the completion of the season.

The infielder hit .299 in 38 games for the Bears over the year, collecting four home runs and 23 RBI. He had two four-RBI games during the year and five multi-hit games.

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