The Standard's Spring Welcome issue

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Table of Contents 14 Choosing a Major 15 Financial To-Dos 16-17 Sports Recap 18 Beach Volleyball 19 Track and Field

Standard staff Advertising staff Joel Grieshaber sales Mark Phillips sales Hailey Gilbreath sales

Editorial staff Cortlynn Stark editor-in-chief Emily Cole news editor Nina Todea life editor Amanda Sullivan sports editor Kaitlyn Stratman photo editor Bill Sioholm digital editor

Reporters/Photographers Claire Niebrugge senior sports reporter Layne Stracener senior reporter Ben Vickers videographer Alec Sahm videographer Connor Wilson reporter Carissa Alford reporter Terry Chapman reporter

Afton Harper reporter Bryce Derrickson sports reporter Cole Sutton sports reporter Kyle Derringer sports reporter Monica Blake sports reporter Sam Grus sports reporter Bailey Vassalli reporter/photographer Megan Burke reporter/photographer Bradley Balsters photographer Sarah Hollstrom copy editor

Professional staff Jack Dimond faculty adviser Sandy King advertising manager

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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 Standard staff.

Cover design by James Hunter

4 News Recap 5 MSU Resources 6 Student Jobs 7 Clubs 8 Study Spots 9 Staying Healthy 10-11 Art Walk 12-13 Graduating

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

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What happened last semester?

President Trump visits campus

On Sept. 21, President Donald Trump attended a political rally at JQH Arena, to give support for U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley.

It was his second visit to Springfield, and first visit to the Missouri State campus.

MSU buys Brick City

In October, the Missouri State Board of Governors announced the university will be purchasing Brick City for $17.7 million. The purchase takes place Jan. 23, 2019, and includes buildings Brick 1, 3, 4 and 5.

File Photo by BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

Brick City, home of the Art and Design Department, is made up of four buildings.

JQH Arena looks for new name

Missouri State University reached a settlement in a recent claim against a New York law firm for the remaining amount owed to the university for the naming rights of JQH Arena.

The law firm, JD Holdings LLC, agreed in the settlement to pay $8.4 million over four installments, beginning in 2019 and until 2022, according to a university press release. The firm previously paid $1.2 million in May 2018, totaling the payments to $10.2 million.

Board of Governors member dies

Virginia Fry, a member of the Board of Governors, died on Nov. 18 after a battle with cancer. She had been a member of the BOG since October 2013, representing the seventh district. Her seat on the board was set to run out on Jan. 1, 2019, and she had recently completed a term as board chair.

SPD responds to CNN article

On Nov. 29, CNN released an investigation on how law enforcement across the country, including the Springfield Police Department, handles evidence from sexual assault cases.

The article “Where police failed rape victims,” was one of several in an investigative series about the destruction of rape kits.

Later that day, SPD released a statement

File Photo by BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

President Donald Trump visited the Missouri State campus on Sept. 21, 2018, to give support for then-U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley. He spoke at JQH Arena along with Hawley.

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Chief Paul Williams, Lt. Culley Wilson and spokeswoman Jasmine about the article, and the next day Police the video had gone viral, garnering over 2 Bailey in an interview to discuss the Chief Paul Williams spoke to media regard- million views. As of print time, it stands at contents of the CNN article.

7.95 million views, over 70,000 retweets and 343,000 likes.

The video was part of a class project in Andrew Cline’s fundamentals of media convergence class. The truth was revealed in a tweet

by Cline himself – the video was set up as a way to teach students how to purposely “go Nancy Allen, a business law professor at viral” in order to study “viralness.”

Missouri State, topped The New York Times Best Seller list in September with her most recent novel, “Juror #3.” The legal thriller was co-written by renowned author James Patterson.

On Friday, Aug. 24, the Missouri State community was informed, via Twitter, of the unexpected death of a widely-loved Bear Line evening driver, Georgia Perkins.

The news quickly spread across the university campus, and many students shared their grief on Twitter.

The most read story from last semester was, Georgia, 74, passed away due to a sudden in fact, a dupe. Just before 2 p.m. on Dec. 5, health complication, according to a statement Missouri State junior Sydney Arlt posted a made by J. Howard Fisk Limousines, Inc, the video on her Twitter feed. In just 24 hours, company which operates the Bear Line shuttles. ing the article.

MSU professor writes best seller

Bear Line driver dies

Viral video makes it to BuzzFeed

File Photo by BRADLEY BALSTERS/THE STANDARD

Nancy Allen, a well-loved business law professor, is also a published mystery author. She wrote “Juror #3” with James Patterson.

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Beyond the classroom: What MSU can offer you LAYNE STRACENER Senior Reporter @LayneStracener From tutoring to fitness classes, Missouri State University offers many convenient on-campus services for students.

Bear Center for Learning and Writing – Located on the first floor of the library, the Bear CLAW offers free drop-in tutoring for math, science, business and economics courses. Also in the Bear CLAW is the Writing Center, which offers help on essays, speeches, presentations and articles.

Career Center – The Career Center offers academic major exploration, internship help and job search services including career counseling, mock interviews, resume review assistance and more.

Campus recreation – Intramurals and a wide variety of sports clubs are available to students as well as recreational facilities at the Foster Recreation Center, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Stadium, Plaster Racquetball Courts and Bobby and Betty Allison Recreation Fields.

Outdoor Adventures is a program that offers opportunities for students to go on day trips, overnight trips and 5-9 day trips to do a variety of outdoor activities including canoeing, rock climbing, camping and backpacking.

Foster Recreation Center – The recreation center includes a pool, fitness center, jogging track, climbing wall, basketball court and multi-purpose activity court.

It also offers BearFit group fitness classes, massage therapy and personal training. Students can also rent equipment including float trip and camping equipment, hammocks, sports equipment and yard games.

Level 1 Game Center – Located in the basement of the PSU, the Level 1 Game Center has a bowling alley and pool and ping pong tables.

Multicultural Services – These services include Multicultural Programs, LGBTQ services and TRIO Student Support Services.

TRIO offers advising, tutoring and more for first-generation students, low-income students and students with disabilities.

Magers Health and Wellness Center – Located near the bookstore, the health and wellness center offers a pharmacy, counseling support, primary healthcare services and on-site lab testing as well as a variety of programs such as a tobacco cessation program, active shooter training and walking challenges.

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One of many student resources on campus is the Bear CLAW located on the first floor of Meyer Library.

Counseling Center – Located in the Magers Health and Wellness Center, the Counseling Center offers individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, outreach programs and crisis services.

It also offers anonymous online mental health screenings, the Collegiate Recovery Program, which offers support for students in recovery from substance abuse, and Body U, an online guided self-help program.

Missouri State Physical Therapy Clinic – This clinic offers evaluations, assessments, specialty care and rehabilitation services.

Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic – This clinic offers speech-language screenings and therapy for a variety of disorders.

Academic Advisement Center – The advisement center provides academic advisement for any student with undeclared or exploratory majors.

Computer Services – Computer Services offers computer technology assistance for students.

Bearisters – Bearisters offers free legal advice from a local attorney.

Bear With Me Program – This program allows students to pay parking citations issued by Missouri State Safety and Transportation by completing community service hours. Students can do this for one ticket per academic year, and the ticket must be under $50 and cannot be a citation due to parking in a disabled parking space.

Title IX – The Title IX office oversees any issues related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, stalking and pregnancy rights.

For more information on these services, visit www.missouristate.edu/services.

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Looking for a job? You can work on campus DEREK SHORE Staff Reporter @D_Shore23 Looking to make a little extra cash? There are plenty of job opportunities available to Missouri State students both on and off campus.

Cheryl Combs, assistant director of Student Employment Services at MSU, said there are a variety of positions available, with up to 25 to 30 on-campus jobs and around 80 off-campus jobs posted online at www.missouristate.edu/findajob as of December 2018.

“We have both on- and off-campus positions posted on our website,” Combs said.

“On-campus positions are actually paid through Missouri State budgets. Some positions are going to be paid through university budgets. Others are going to be paid through federal or work-study funding.”

Student employees are paid semi-monthly, every two weeks. They can set up a direct deposit when they are hired.

Rachel Hutson, junior finance major, spends most of her time working in the Office of Student Engagement with the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council which she started in November 2017. She said her favorite part of her job is the daily interactions she gets to have with various students, staff, faculty and administration.

“I get to learn something new every day and learn more about our university as a whole,” Hutson said.

There are some requirements to be eligible to work for the university.

Combs said that any degree-seeking student at MSU is welcome to apply for work, provided they maintain at least a 2.0 GPA or higher and are enrolled in at least six credits each semester.

While job listings are posted throughout the year, Combs said the fall is typically the

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Student employees work all over campus, including the front desk in Plaster Student Union. busiest time for new postings.

“It is a great experience as a whole,” Combs said. “In addition to making some extra money and cash, there is a lot of other skills. We consider it the education outside of the classroom, so you are developing skills and you are learning a lot of different things you could include on your resume as well as employment history and future references once you graduate.”

Hutson said working in the Office of Student Engagement is one of the best things that has happened to her in her college career thus far, getting her connected to people both professionally and personally.

“Without my job, I don't think I would be as confident going into my field of study as I am now,” Hutson said. “I have gotten the chance to network with various professionals in the Springfield area, experienced what my post-graduation job environment would be like and gained knowledge in my field I couldn't have gotten in the classroom.”

Combs looks beyond the benefits of making money, and building the resume.

“One of the biggest benefits that is kind of an unforeseen is it really helps with time management,” Combs said.

“Whenever students come to the university, a lot of times they haven’t had complete con-

trol over their time, and it is easy to put things off.

“If you have a more regimented schedule knowing you have to work here and have class here, it does typically encourage that student to have a more developed schedule and plan for study.”

Combs said that interest in student employment jobs is increasing across campus.

MSU had exactly 3,057 students working on campus for the 2017-18 year, compared to 2,883 students five years ago.

Combs said the total amount of wages paid out last year was at $6.2 million.

“Administration understands the importance of student employment and dedicates quite a bit of money to make sure that happens,” Combs said. “There is just so many benefits from having a job with the university. We encourage students to pursue that because it is not just a matter of making that cash.”

If you are looking for a job, Hutson recommends working for Missouri State.

“There is a fit for everyone,” she said. “You wouldn't have to leave campus, the pay is actually pretty decent and you can get great references for future employment opportunities.”

A current, updated list of job postings for the university can be found at www.missouristate.edu/findajob.

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Clubs at MSU: Hammocks, hives and everything in between ANDREW UNVERFERTH Staff Reporter @unverferthandr1 There’s a lot more to college life than classes and studying. Clubs offer a variety of ways to have fun, meet new people, and even learn something entirely new.

With over 300 active student organizations on the Missouri State University campus, there are plenty of options to choose from.

For lovers of the arts, there are a number of musical groups and other performing organizations. Members of the Aerialist Club can often be seen practicing by the Plaster Student Union bear statue when the weather permits.

Brianna Williams, president of Aerialist Club, said they practice aerial arts involving silks, hammocks and aerial hoops called lyras. She said they welcome anyone who’s eager and willing to follow directions and are happy to share what they’ve learned through their collective experience.

Along with their regular practices on Mondays and Wednesdays, Aerialist Club also has several fundraisers and performances throughout the year, including their annu-

al student showcase.

“We’re just here to have fun, do public performances, be involved with the community, do fundraisers and just (provide) public entertainment, really,” Williams said.

Along with the arts, Missouri State also has a number of clubs dedicated to cultural awareness and education. The Folklore Club hopes to foster a sense of understanding between communities by exploring traditions from around the world.

“Traditions make us who we are,” said Savanah Medlin, president of Folklore Club. “It’s how our culture is defined.”

Meetings are held every Wednesday evening and usually revolve around a particular subject the group discusses.

Members bring their own ideas and stories and try to learn more about international cultures through traditions, including urban legends, cuisine and anything else the group might want to discuss.

Other student organizations have a wide range of focuses.

Beekeeping Club, for example, hopes to teach its members about bees, their importance in the world and how to take care of them at the club’s biweekly Thursday night meetings.

Stephanie Sanders, presi-

dent of Beekeeping Club, said the group frequently discusses a variety of bee-related subjects, including the possibilities of harvesting honey and selling or using it yourself.

They even have their own hive off campus that they use for experience and more hands-on learning.

“Beekeeping is really cool and unique,” Sanders said. “It doesn’t take a lot to get started.

You don’t have to come in and invest a whole ton of money to be part of it. You can learn a new skill that you can take with you in life and you can potentially make money off of it in the future.”

Information on these clubs, as well as a comprehensive list of student organizations currently on campus, can be found at Missouri State’s Campus Link or through the Office of Student Engagement website.

With all the clubs active at Missouri State, chances are there’s something that will suit your interests. However, if you can’t find something that’s right for you, feel free to get a group of students together to make your own organization.

Simply reach out to the Office of Student Engagement, and they’ll put you on track to set up a brand-new club on campus.

FreeImages.com/CoreyMatthews

The Beekeeping Club uses beehives like these for their activities.

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Beyond Meyer Library: Off-campus study spots CARISSA ALFORD Staff Reporter @carissabalford Studying is no stranger to a college student, even if studying and students aren’t friends. But studying becomes easier after finding the right place to hunker down and reread old notes that don’t make any sense.

It can be difficult to find the perfect study spot, especially on campus.

People are always milling around, whispering and typing frantically to get that essay in at 11:58 p.m.

However, don’t feel compelled to stay on campus in order to feel studious. There are plenty of places around Springfield that have well-suited environments for nestling in and memorizing those biology terms.

Senior administrative management major Chloe Spencer said any Springfield public library is a great place to study.

“I think the Springfield libraries are really underrated and forgotten

about,” Spencer said. “They have just about the same resources as the campus library does and are a lot quieter and have way less people.”

Just like with the Duane G. Meyer Library, you can rent silent rooms for study groups and Spencer said many libraries have cafes or a Panera Bread within them.

She originally started going to the libraries off campus so her roommates did not feel like they had to “tiptoe” around her when she studied.

“I would say that it has a quiet environment, very spacious and peaceful, for the most part,” Spencer said.

Spencer said she goes to a Springfield public library about once a week to study.

However, if coffee shops sound more appealing than a library, you might try Travellers House Coffee and Tea off of Republic Road.

Ursula Kindt, junior psychology major, goes there at least once a week since she transferred to Missouri State in August.

“They have a fireplace and a variety of seating,” Kindt said. “It’s decorated very nicely and reminds me of a coffee shop I go to a lot in my hometown.”

Kindt also said the food and coffee is better than other coffee shops she has tried in Springfield. She also mentioned the food is decently priced.

“I always get iced coffee and they serve it with tiny ice, which I think is really unique,” Kindt said.

If Republic Road is a little too far but a coffee shop sounds perfect, coffee shops in downtown Springfield might be the way to go.

Emma Keifer, sophomore acting major, said the off-campus study spot she prefers is Mudhouse Coffee, not to be confused with MudLounge.

“It was the first place I went to when I came down for SOAR with my parents,” Keifer said.

Now, she frequents the coffee shop at least twice a month.

Keifer said the food and the coffee is some of the best, adding that Mud-

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The Coffee Ethic is located in downtown Springfield, just a few minutes away from campus.

house has amazing breakfast burritos.

Other study spots within walking “I try something new every time or biking distance from campus inI go, and there hasn’t been something clude The Potter’s House, The Coffee I didn’t love,” Keifer said.

Ethic and The Magic Bean.

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For the health of the campus MSU resources support mental, physical health SINJIN SANDERS Staff Reporter @SandersSinjin Staying healthy during the semester can be hard, especially when you’re juggling five classes, homework, a job and a social life — not to mention you have to sleep sometime. But it’s an important thing to do. This raises a question — how do you stay healthy both physically and mentally while on campus?

Dr. Jerilyn Reed, student wellness coordinator at Magers Family Health and Wellness Center, said reducing stress is a great way to start improving mental health.

“Reducing stress can boost immune function, improve one’s mood and allows an individual to be more productive and engaged,” Reed said.

Reed said there are many ways to reduce your stress levels. Among these are reading, meditating,

THE STANDARD exercising and listening to music. She also said that the Counseling Center is a great resource for students and their mental health needs. Magers also has a Mindfulness and Meditation program to help people learn to meditate and control stress.

On the physical side of health, Reed emphasised the importance of eating healthy.

“It helps to reduce the risk of getting disease and supplies the body with nutrients and energy for effective functioning,” Reed said.

The Missouri State dine on campus website lists the calorie counts and ingredients for the different menu options. This can also help people with special diets, like vegans and vegetarians and those who are gluten free, find food that meets their diet.

Along with this resource, Magers offers cooking tutorials to help students cook healthier meals and learn to cook in general. A Weight Watchers program is also offered to help people who want to lose weight or even just eat healthier. In addition to this, basic office visits are free and Magers has a pharmacy to fill prescriptions.

Keeping in good physical shape can also benefit mental health. Reed said one of the benefits of exercise is reduced stress. Along with these wellness programs are the BearFit Classes which, according to the BearFit website, “empower participants to achieve their fitness goals through a variety of group fitness classes.”

The walk-in rate for a class is $3, while the semester is $30 for unlimited classes.

In addition to the Bearfit classes, Magers offers

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File Photo by SINJIN SANDERS/THE STANDARD

Students can schedule appointments at Magers Family Health and Wellness Center in person, over the phone or online. multiple wellness programs. Among these programs is Wellness Wednesday which seeks to teach people different lessons in wellness including lessons in nutrition and how to reduce stress.

There are also study day massages that take place the last Friday before finals.

Reed says that staying healthy is key to keeping your body functioning at the optimal level.

There are on-campus resources to help aid students in eating nutritiously, keeping in good physical shape and reducing stress to keep everyone on the top of their game.

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‘Be part of something authentic’ First Friday and Second Saturday Art Walk support local artists REESE RADMACHER Staff Reporter @Reese_Radmacher On the first Friday and second Saturday of every month, Art Walk takes place in downtown Springfield. Local businesses sponsor various artists around the Springfield community, offering their space for artists to showcase their work.

Clarissa French, communications director and coordinator of Art Walk, said the event played a crucial role in revitalizing the downtown area.

“I know it’s hard to believe now, but 25 years ago, you could have fired a cannon through Park Central Square at high noon and not hit a single soul,” French said. “People came downtown for the Walk and discovered that downtown was alive and well on the rise.”

In 2001, Art Walk became a monthly event with an organization of committed members to support it.

The Springfield Regional Arts Council, located at the Creamery Arts Center, is responsible for the funding and administration of Art Walk, according to Nicole Chilton, director of marketing and development for the SRAC. Chilton said the SRAC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “enrich the community and transform lives through the arts.”

The SRAC is comprised of artist members who organize a show every month, each with a different theme. This past December, the SRAC hosted their third annual $100 and under show to encourage the buying of art.

“We want to make sure artists are supported and sell their work,” Chilton said.

“Also, that people are giving handmade local items as holiday gifts.”

Doug Erb, an illustrator and member of the SRAC, said this is his favorite show of the year.

Erb is a Missouri State alumnus with a background in graphic design and art direction.

In 1987, Erb moved to Los Angeles and worked at Fantagraphics Books for a year before transitioning into music packaging, eventually landing a job at Sony Music designing CDs, posters and LPs. In 2004, Erb moved back to Springfield and joined the SRAC in search of way to showcase his work, ultimately leading to his

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Terry Bloodworth, artist and owner at Springfield Hot Glass, stands in front of the workspace with one of his glass works. December 2018 was Springfield Hot Glass’ last month participating in Art Walk, as the local company closed its doors later that month on Dec. 24. involvement in Art Walk. with Mercy Children’s hospital to create icons Erb said he draws inspiration from visual for their different departments. aspects of music and the popular visual art forms you see in comic books.

During the December walk, Erb showcased his work at the Springfield Brewing Company and The Creamery Arts Center.

“I really appreciate when people respond to things I create,” Erb said. “That’s the big payoff for me. It’s kind of a vague way to communicate with others.”

The December walk also included the MSU Design Students Final Exhibition Project. Senior students in the Art and Design CLARISSA FRENCH ART WALK COORDINATOR Department paired up with a nonprofit group or business in Springfield to develop and execute design strategies.

A secondary show was put on by the senior Leah Faulkner, a graduate student, worked class at the Yellow Chair Makery, allowing

“People came downtown for the Walk and discovered that downtown was alive and well on the rise.”

them to express themselves through pieces that were more to their taste, instead of just fulfilling the class requirement.

Faulkner said she showcased a comic style dog infographic about what you shouldn’t feed your dog, which won an award during the Design and Image Exhibition last spring.

“It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve done at MSU,” Faulkner said.

For Springfield Hot Glass, December was their last time participating in Art Walk. Terry Bloodworth and his family opened their shop in spring 2003 and closed it on Dec. 24 after nearly 16 years of business However, Bloodworth said there is a plan to reopen for a couple weeks in January to sell remaining merchandise and retail fixtures.

Bloodworth said he learned the art of

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glassblowing while working at Silver Dollar City doing demonstrations. He passed on the art to his son, Gabe, who also worked in the shop.

Art Walk provides a unique opportunity for the community to support original local art.

“So much of the American landscape has become a generic expanse of big name retailers and chain stores,” French said. “It’s wonderful to be part of something authentic, local and personal, which I think is what we have.”

For more details on the First Friday Art Walk, visit www.ffaw.org

File Photo by NINA TODEA/THE STANDARD

Below, a downtown art gallery open for First Friday Art Walk showcases brightly painted canvases as well as different mediums of local art.

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The Missouri State Brick City Gallery (bottom) is lit up for First Friday Art Walk in December 2018.

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Illustrator Doug Erb stands at his booth at The Creamery Arts Center.

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File photo MEGAN BURKE/THE STANDARD

The 2017 fall commencement ceremony.

Seniors: Here are the steps you need to take to graduate KATHRYN DOLAN Staff Reporter @Kathryndolan98 As the spring semester begins, some seniors may be entering their last semester here at Missouri State. Though this can be both an exciting and stressful time, there are multiple tasks that must be completed in order for seniors to graduate and obtain their diploma.

According to MSU’s website, students should review their degree requirements and verify that all required courses have been taken.

Students can contact their academic advisor if they have any questions regarding their degree requirements.

Graduate students are encouraged to meet with someone from the Graduate College or contact their program director with questions.

Students can request a degree audit, an analysis of academic progress toward a degree, through the My Missouri State student tab under the “My Graduation Path” channel.

Students need to submit a graduation application which can also be found on the “My Graduation Path” channel.

The deadline dates for applications can be found on the “Commencement” page on the Missouri State website. It is vital students apply on time or their names will not appear in the commencement program.

Students must clear all holds associated with

their MSU account such as overdue library books or fines in order to obtain their transcript.

Valerie Murphy, an accounting technician for the university, said graduating students with a past due balance of $25 or more will have a transcript hold placed on their account.

“This would block them from getting a copy of their transcript reflecting their degree or the Office of the Registrar from being able to mail out their diploma,” Murphy said.

Graduating students who have taken out federal student loans are encouraged to attend Senior Symposium, an event sponsored by the Office of Student Financial Aid. According to MSU’s website, during this “come and go as you please” event, financial aid counselors will be present to answer any last minute questions regarding loans and to provide assistance with exit counseling.

Sue Derby, a financial aid information specialist, said exit counseling is essentially informing the government you are no longer in school.

“This will start (the) student’s differing period, meaning they will have to start their payment on in six months,” Derby said.

If a student who has taken out loans is unable to attend Senior Symposium, they must still complete their online exit counseling.

Graduating seniors are encouraged to review the “Commencement” page on MSU’s website for ceremony information to ensure they arrive on time to walk across the stage.

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Ready to graduate? Use this checklist to make sure you can.

1 Verify required courses are taken - Schedule an appointment with your advisor to double check.

3 Clear all holds with your MSU account

s

2 Submit a graduation 4 Attend Senior application

Symposium

- Find the application in the “My

- This is a recommended

Graduation Path” section under the student tab at my.missouristate.edu.

event with financial aid counselors present.

5 Graduate!

Friday, May 17 9 a.m.

- College of Humanities and Public Affairs - McQueary College of Health and Human Services 1 p.m.

- College of Arts and Letters - College of Education

- College of Natural and Applied Sciences 5 p.m.

- College of Business - William H. Darr College of Agriculture - Interdisciplinary Academic Programs

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Finding the path right for you with individualized and general majors CONNOR WILSON Staff Reporter @Connor4Wilson Choosing a major can be difficult. Missouri State has many options to choose from, but sometimes one major isn’t enough. With individualized majors and a bachelor of general studies, however, students can take classes from several different fields and form their own path.

An individualized major is an interdisciplinary major that pulls from multiple departments, said Amy Marie Aufdembrink, assistant director of the individualized major program. The individualized major requires students to have a unique goal that cannot be achieved with one of the majors already available at Missouri State, and it has to blend at least three different academic areas.

In an individualized major, students will decide their own coursework and will work

with three faculty members they choose, Aufdembrink said. These faculty members will help students choose courses and assist on the student’s senior project. The student needs to plan a minimum of 45 credit hours and needs to have 24 credit hours of the courses in that individualized major completed when the program is approved.

However, not all individualized major ideas are accepted. A student wishing to create an individualized major must write a proposal for why they need a unique path instead of a program that’s already offered, what their goals are and what their senior project would be.

“There is a rigorous approval process, so your curriculum not only has to be approved by those committee members, but also gets looked at by the Office of the Registrar, myself, my director and the associate provost,” Aufdembrink said. “There’s levels of scrutiny to make sure that you’re really making good choic-

es and building something meaningful as opposed to using one of the programs we already have.”

Another atypical major offered by Missouri State is the Bachelor of General Studies.

“The Bachelor of General Studies, which is our other interdisciplinary program, is more reactive, so you have to have had 75 credit hours before you can start talking about the bachelor of general studies, and it doesn’t have to interconnect the way an individualized major is,” Aufdembrink said.

The Bachelor of General Studies requires coursework in multiple departments in place of one major or a major with a minor, according to Missouri State’s website. The degree is aimed for students who, after several years of interdisciplinary and focused study, learn their interests don’t fit within one major.

Much like with individualized majors, all

students who wish to have a Bachelor of General Studies must submit an essay which explains what courses they’ve taken thus far and why they feel this program would benefit them more than a typical major would.

While an individualized major is targeted at students who know precisely what they want to do, the Bachelor of General Studies is aimed at students who have broad interests and want to have a wider range of capabilities.

“Sometimes, as students, we get very focused on being finished, but you’re going to work for 40-plus years,” Aufdembrink said.

“If you could spend one more semester or two more semesters and study something that’s going to prepare you for the kind of work you’re actually super interested in doing for 40 years, isn’t it worth it to spend one more year, or one more semester, instead of settling for something else and maybe getting that job or maybe not?”

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Your spring financial checklist CLAYTON FRYE Staff Reporter @clayton_frye Spring is usually a very busy time for students. With all the excitement of getting back to school, finances may be the last thing on your mind. However, bad finances and missed deadlines can really ruin a school year, so don’t let your money situation slip under the radar this semester. Here’s a checklist of some of the most important money-related things to remember this spring:

1. If you haven’t

already, complete your FAFSA.

The Missouri State Annual Scholarship Application, found on the scholarships page of the Missouri State website, applies you for donor-funded and departmentspecific scholarships. It is due March 1. Talk to your advisor about any other scholarships or grants you may qualify for.

3. Check on your

finances.

This is the Federal Application For Student Aid; it’s your application for government-backed It’s easy to forget that things cost money. Look over your scholarships and grants, so it’s a account balance, and make sure big deal. you understand it. Don’t forget to account for the cost of books The FAFSA application opened on and any other materials you may Oct. 1, but the earlier you apply, need to buy for your classes. If you the more money you are likely to receive. For priority consideration, need help, call or visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. Missouri’s deadline is Feb. 1, but applications are accepted through April 1.

2. Apply for

scholarships and grants.

Many private and institutional scholarships have deadlines that are rapidly approaching. Don’t be finishing up your essay 13 minutes before it’s due.

4. Tax day is

Monday, April 15.

That’s the day your individual tax returns are due. Turbotax.com states that if you are under the age of 65 and single, or unmarried, you must file a tax return if you earn $12,000 per year or more.

If you have any questions, head over to the tax information for students page at www.IRS.gov.

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Fall sports seasons AMANDA SULLIVAN Sports Editor @mandasullivan14 Five sports concluded their fall seasons.

Football

The Missouri State football team started the season strong after losing to Oklahoma State 58-17. The Bears defeated No. 20 Northern Arizona and No. 9 Illinois State in back-to-back weekends. They started the season 4-2 but ended 4-7.

The Bears lost five straight to Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, No. 7 South Dakota State, No. 1 North Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

At the end of the season the Bears coaching staff and team said they were heading in the right direction.

Improvements were seen at practice, but the scoreboard didn’t show it.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team spent most of the season undefeated. The Bears lost for the first time on Oct. 13 to Loyola after starting 7-0-4.

The only loss after that was to Central Arkansas on Nov. 3.

The Bears also tied Central Arkansas in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship semifinal but dropped the game 5-4 in penalty kicks. This was the second year in a row Central Arkansas knocked Missouri State out of the MVC Championship.

The Bears ended the season 9-2-6.

Women’s Soccer

After winning the 2017 MVC Championship, the women’s soccer team lost in the first round of the 2018 MVC Championship to Illinois State to end a disappointing season.

All games were low scoring, with opponents outscoring MSU 20-16.

The women ended the season 8-9-2.

File Photo by BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

Sophomore Donovan Daniels runs the ball to the end zone. Daniels transferred to Missouri State from Phoenix College in Arizona.

The football Bears started the season strong, but five-stright losses resulted in a 4-7 record.

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end on low notes Volleyball

File Photo by BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

Junior Paityn Howat runs in a meet A rebuilding season ended with a winning hosted by Missouri Southern State. record for the volleyball Bears at 17-15.

The Bears ran in six meets during For seniors Emily Butters, Ashley Ophoven, MacKenzie Irwin and Cambree the fall 2018 season.

Villareal this was the only year of their MSU tenure that didn’t result in a trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Bears played a tough nonconference schedule, facing four teams that made it to the NCAA tournament.

MVC opponents Illinois State and Northern Iowa lost in the first round of the tournament.

Cross Country

The Missouri State cross country team spent another season traveling around the Midwest for meets.

The Bears struggled in meets, but junior Grace Breiten thrived with a career-best 14:33.5 in the 4-kilometer race.

The Bears ended the season running at the NCAA Midwest Regional and placed 22nd out of 35 teams.

The distance runners are now prepping for the 2019 track season.

File Photo by KAITLYN STRATMAN/THE STANDARD

Freshmen Chloe Rear and Natali Petrova celebrate after scoring a point.

The Bears volleyball team finished the season 17-15.

The Bears played a tough nonconference schedule, finishing 7-7 against opponents like Alabama, Kansas State, Nebraska and Pepperdine. The Bears did, however, win the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Aug. 31 to Sept.

1 hosted at Hammons Student Center.

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Second season down in the sand BRYCE DERRICKSON Sports Reporter @BruceyD17 The Missouri State beach volleyball team finished its first season last year.

Now, after the Bears’ first offseason, they’re ready to start their second season.

The Bears went 7-9 in their first season and traveled from coast to coast.

Missouri State went to Nebraska, then to California, back to Springfield and ended in South Carolina.

Last year, the Bears had less than a month to practice after Missouri State’s full roster and schedule were completed.

This year the beach volleyball team used a full offseason to prepare for the upcoming season.

“Last year we didn’t have the opportunity to get an offseason,” head coach Terri Del Conte said. “This year we have 17 girls already in the offseason. So, that already shifts everything. We were able to condition really well in the sand and also teach a lot of technique.”

Another thing that benefits Missouri State is the large group of returners.

Returning are seniors Aubree Dennis, Ashley Ophoven, Keylee Hawkins and Mikaela Mosquera; juniors Aubrey Cheffey, Julia Hanson and Kelsey Larsen; sophomores Sam Brinkmann, Veronica Snelling, Maddie Back, Caroline Derryberry and Abbi Walters.

The 2019 roster has not been released with the list of freshmen.

Missouri State also played only one home match last year and swept Ottawa. Now, the Bears are hosting their first beach volleyball tournament.

Del Conte said the tournament is set for March 22-23.

She said Missouri Baptist University and Ottawa are confirmed to attend.

Not only do the beach volleyball Bears get to host a tournament, but they will also host a match on March 27 against Park University.

With the season nearing Del Conte is ready to get started.

“I’m looking for us to just ball out,” Del Conte said.

“Nobody expects anything from us. You don’t think File Photo by KAITLYN STRATMAN/THE STANDARD beach volleyball when you Lynsey Wright, a 2018 graduate, serves the ball at a beach volleyball think of Missouri. I think that’s exciting. Again, we’re match hosted by Missouri State. The beach volleyball team is expected to hungry to show up.” host their own tournament in 2019.

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Running, jumping and vaulting into spring KYLE DERRINGER Sports Reporter @Kyle_Derringer The Missouri State track and field team’s main goal heading into its 2019 campaign is to keep getting better, according to interim head coach Jordan Fife.

To help with that, Missouri State added a qualified new assistant coach to the program.

The Bears added Carmelita Jeter, a three-time Olympic medalist and the second fastest woman in the world in her event.

Jeter competed in the 100-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay on the world’s highest stage. She secured a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships in the 100-meter dash while running with a torn right quadricep.

MSU added a legend to its coaching ranks, but don’t expect to see immediate results. The team will take time to adjust to a new coach and her style.

Indoor season started on Dec. 8 at the Missouri Holiday Opener with five first-place finishes and a second-place overall finish for the team. Missouri State dominated the mile run, with six of the top eight fastest runners. MSU and Division II Missouri S&T made up a bulk of the competition, with Mizzou offering one runner, and one unattached runner competed as well.

The Bears also placed first in the 4x400-meter relay. MSU has had some early success in the season, but the competition

so that we can execute when we need to at the conference meet,” Fife said.

MSU will compete at Indiana State, Nebraska and two meets at Division II Pittsburg State.

The meet at Nebraska will add another big meet setting that Fife said is important.

Missouri State doesn’t have an indoor track and field facility and will compete on the road all season long.

The indoor season will culminate at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Feb. 23-24, hosted by Northern Iowa.

NCAA regionals will be March 8-9 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The outdoor season will begin at Oral Roberts March 29-30.

Outdoor season has a big bump in competition, as the Bears BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD will attend meets all hosted by Division I programs.

The Bears will attend three meets held by Southeastern Redshirt sophomore Grace Breiten runs in a Conference schools, with one meet at Arkansas and two at cross country meet during the fall 2018 season.

Mizzou.

Breiten earned a personal best of 5:06.76 at Missouri State outdoor track and field will once again compete solely on the road.

Arkansas on Jan. 11.

Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium does not have a javelin throwing facility, leading to MSU’s inability to host in some events was minimal.

Fife said building confidence in large-scale meets will help events.

The Bears will travel to Indiana State for the Missouri Valthe team execute down the stretch.

“We are also focused on being confident in big meet settings ley Conference Championship on May 10-11.

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