November 19 2015 by Truman State University Index

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News Editor urges unity in light of Nov. 13 attacks

Truman State hosts bone marrow drive to find possible matches

Football defeated during final game of the fall 2015 season

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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New panel to review Title IX case By Emily Wichmer

News Editor index.newseditor@gmail.com

Jonah McKeown/Index University President Troy Paino discusses ways to create a more welcoming campus environment. Students met with Paino Nov. 12 to make suggestions about possible changes to scholarships, Greek Life and Residence Life after the events that took place at the University of Missouri.

Paino, students discussing diversity issues on campus By Lindell sconce TMN Reporter

Students gathered at the Multicultural Affairs Center Nov. 12 to send letters of encouragement to the University of Missouri and discuss racial concerns with Truman State University President Troy Paino. Because of the recent protests at Mizzou, Paino scheduled this meeting as a time for Truman students to voice problems they saw with campus acceptance and talk about possible solutions. The students met with Paino at 5 p.m. at the MAC and took turns speaking about their experiences with racial tension at Truman. Several students said though the student body is mostly accepting, minor tensions still exist. Others said faculty members and organizations such as Greek Life and the Office of Residence Life need more racial awareness. Some of the solutions discussed included upgrading the MAC and increasing minority scholarships. Paino said the meeting brought up a lot of great ideas Truman could use to promote a more inclusive environment. “I think it was a constructive conversation,” Paino said. “I took

a lot of notes, and we’re going to follow up on many of the ideas that were expressed.” Paino also said Truman is assembling a strategic planning committee. He said people hopefully will be identified to serve on the committee during the next week, and they will come up with a plan next semester.

“Diversity and social justice isn’t an event, but something that’s sustained.”

— Jerad Green, program coordinator for Multicultural Affairs

Senior Valeria Toles, who attended the meeting, said she enjoyed talking to Paino and letting him hear some of her concerns. Toles said she liked the idea of making changes to scholarships as well as requiring Greek Life, the Student Activities Board and Residence Life to attend diversity events. “It was good to be able to talk to [Paino] about it and let him know some of our experiences and some things we think need to be changed,” Toles said.

Toles said she also wrote one of the letters that will be sent to Mizzou. She said her letter was being sent to Concerned Student 1950, one of the protesting student groups. She said her letter is meant to encourage the group and let them know their move toward change was appreciated. Jerad Green, program coordinator for Multicultural Affairs, was in charge of receiving and sending the letters. Green said he reached out to campus organizations under the MAC, as well as ones who work closely with it, to write letters of support. Although MAC planned to mail out the letters Thursday, Green said he was willing to wait until Friday to give organizations time to send in letters. Green said he thought the meeting went well and he supports the idea of updating the MAC. Green said the percentage of multicultural freshmen growing this year shows diversity is increasing, but the institutional changes that accommodate those needs have not happened yet. Green also said diversity needs to be integrated into campus life. “Diversity and social justice isn’t an event, but something that’s sustained,” Green said. “It needs to be your daily practice — it needs to be a lifestyle.”

By Johanna Burns

By Clayton Berry TMN Reporter

VOLUME 107

ISSUE 13

Adair County coroner finds cause of death Assistant News Editor index.newseditor@gmail.com

Commission holds power line hearing The Missouri Public Service Commission had the last of its three public hearings for the Mark Twain Transmission Project Oct. 27 in the Student Union Building. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois representatives, residents of Adair County, private business contractors and Truman State students testified at the hearing regarding whether the PSC should approve the project in time for the scheduled 2018 completion deadline. The 345 kV transmission line, built by ATXI, would extend about 100 miles through Northeast Missouri to the Iowa border with a power substation in Kirksville. Peggy Ladd, director of Ameren Transmission Stakeholder Relations, said the transmission line would improve the efficiency of renewable energy transportation for the Midwestern power grid. She said the line

Truman State officials granted an appeal and currently are reviewing a remanded Title IX offense case involving four Truman students. Senior Duncan Holahan reportedly was harassed and threatened with assault by senior Connor Brown, junior Matthew Guignon and sophomore Roger Howard Aug. 21 at the corner of S. 6th and W. Dodson Streets. Holahan pressed charges against the three students and was granted an ex parte restraining order by the City of Kirksville. The University initially found Brown, Guignon and Howard responsible for violating Title IX and the respondents appealed the University’s decision on the grounds of procedural errors. An administrative review panel currently is reviewing the case and making a final ruling. The verdict will be released in about two weeks. Officers responded to a 911 call from Holahan at 1:55 a.m. Aug. 21, according to incident reports filed by the Kirksville Police Department. Dispatch could hear threats toward Holahan through the phone, according to the report. Officers responded to the dispatch, and saw Brown and Guignon standing close to Holahan at the intersection of S. 6th and W. Dodson Streets, while Howard stood a few feet away. Brown, Guignon and Howard reportedly denied making any threats, but Brown and Guignon were taken into custody for assault motivated by discrimination in the third degree, according to the report. Holahan said he was escorting a female friend home the evening of Aug. 20 when Brown, Guignon and Howard began catcalling his friend outside her apartment building. Holahan said he told his friend to go inside when the three began targeting him. Holahan said they made comments about his clothing and appearance while standing about 3 feet away from him. Holahan said he started walking down 6th Street when Brown and Guignon began following close behind him. Holahan said the threats escalated and he said they began shouting anti-gay slurs and threatening to kill him. He dialed 911, and the police arrived as Brown and Guignon approached him in an intimidating manner, he said. See TITLE IX, page 6

By Jonah McKeown/Index Adair County residents voice questions and concerns about the Mark Twain Transmission Project at a public forum Oct. 27 at Truman State. The Missouri Public Service Commission is reviewing the proposed project. would travel through the Northeast Missouri region, connecting the Illinois Rivers Project’s transmission line in Marion County, Missouri, to a transmission line at the Missouritmn.truman.edu

Iowa border. She said the project’s transmission lines would have two segments connecting at a substation that would be built in Kirksville. See AMEREN, page 6

www.facebook.com/TrumanIndex

The Adair County coroner has confirmed the cause of death for Truman State student freshman William Batterson, who died on campus Sept. 14. Batterson was found unresponsive in his room in West Campus Suites and transferred to Northeast Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was conducted the following Wednesday. Adair County Coroner Brian Noe said the autopsy indicates Batterson died of an overdose of methadone. He said methadone sometimes is used to treat heroin addiction. Noe said friends of Batterson reported he obtained the methadone from a friend in St. Louis. Methadone is a medication used to relieve severe pain and to prevent withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to opiate drugs, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Methadone is a nonrefillable prescription, and patients legally taking methadone to treat heroin addiction must be enrolled in a state or federal government-approved treatment program, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Symptoms of a methadone overdose include small, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, drowsiness, clammy or blue skin, loss of consciousness — coma — and limp muscles. @trumanindex

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Tag Day honors donors

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tickets on sale for Kohlenberg Lyceum “Christmas with The Celts” show Tickets for the holiday Kohlenberg Lyceum Series show went on sale Monday. The series will host “Christmas with The Celts” Dec. 5. The show features a live concert of music, vocals and Irish dance. Tickets are free for Truman students, faculty and staff. Students can pick up tickets in the SUB Down Under at the SAB ticket booth. Faculty and staff can pick up tickets at the information desk in the SUB. General admission tickets cost $11.

CITY COUNCIL IN BRIEF

The Council approved a resolution recognizing Craig Dawson’s retirement after 23 years of employment with the city. The Council approved an ordinance raising the cost of business licenses. The Council approved an ordinance extending the water service available to construction sites. The Council approved an ordinance to contract between Kirksville and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the Traffic Engineering Assistance Program. TEAP will provide $8,000 to conduct a traffic study in downtown Kirksville.

Austin Hornbostel/Index Above: Truman State celebrated Tag Day Nov. 16 by tagging things and places, like the James G. Severns Theatre, which were made possible by donations. Below: Many donations are commemorated year round with plaques. Students were encouraged to participate in Tag Day by photographing the tags and sharing the photographs on social media.

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

The Senate read a resolution endorsing the inclusion of a medical amnesty clause in the Student Conduct Code. The Senate read a resolution to send its slate of Truman State University Board of Governors student representative names to Gov. Jay Nixon. The Senate read a resolution to designate the new standing rules of Student Government. The Senate read a resolution thanking Mark Gambaiana, vice president for University advancement, for his commitment to serving Truman State’s campus. The Senate discussed a proposal for an LGBTQ resource center on campus.

Austin Hornbostel/Index

CRIME REPORTS Serving the University community since 1909

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Staff 11/16 Assault reported at the 900 block 11/12 Hit and run reported at the 300 of E. Pierce St. block of S. Osteopathy. Editor-in-Chief Bethany Boyle Managing Editor Austin Hornbostel News Editor Emily Wichmer Assistant News Editor Johanna Burns Features Editor Katey Stoetzel Assistant Features Editor Courtney Kauffman Sports Editor Devin Gillespie Assistant Sports Editor Courtney Strait Opinions Editor UmmeKulsoom Arif Copy Chief Rose vonHatten Assistant Copy Chief Megan Robison Design Chief Noah Dayson Staff Reporters Clayton Berry, Rachel Fechter, Emily Merkle, Elena Bellamy, Emily Ploch, Brently Snead, Paige Yungermann, Anna Grace, Henry Janssen, Sam Stewart, Sarah Hicks, Rachel Steinhoff, Curt Wichmer, Robert Hu, Jack Derbak, Lindell Sconce Cartoonist Megan Archer Copy Editors MacKenna Palazza, Holly Fisher, Julianna Foster, Catherine O’Mara, Lauren Beasley, Molly Thal, Megan Gibbons, Trevor Hamblin, Sarah DeWolf Designers Clarissa Todd, Trevor Stark, Kara Nord, Samantha Nielsen Photo Editor Trevor Stark Photographers Trung Vo, Athena Geldbach, Marissa Billmeyer, MacKenna Palazza Marketing Manager Josh Gilmore Marketing Representatives Drake Gens, Emily Fitzgerald Technical Manager Amanda Atwell Adviser Don Krause

11/15 Intoxicated driver reported at 11/12 3rd degree assault reported at the Weatherstone Drive. 400 block of E. Missouri St. 11/14 Suspect arrested for noise violation 11/12 Harassment reported at the 200 at the 1900 block of N. Osteopathy St. block of Marco Drive. 11/13 Suspect arrested for shoplifting at 11/12 Suspect arrested for shoplifting at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St. the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St. 11/13 Suspect arrested for parole 11/11 Theft reported at the 2100 block of violation at the 500 block of S. Main St. N. Industrial Road. 11/13 Theft reported at the 1600 block of 11/11 Theft reported at the 500 block of N. Baltimore St. N. Mulanix St.

Mark your calendar Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings Production

Psychology Capstone Presentations

The Maples Reperatory Theatre in Macon, Missouri, will host its last show of the 2015 season. The Christmas show will feature a return of the legendary fictitious Plaids in a musical comedy with classic hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s. For more information about showtimes or to purchase tickets online, visit maplesrep.com.

Senior psychology majors will present their senior capstone research projects to faculty and students. Project authors will present the projects in poster format, and will be available for a question and answer period after the presentation. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend all or part of the event.

Nov. 27 to Dec.13 Maples Reperatory Theatre in Macon, Mo.

Dec. 1 SUB Alumni Room

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

MAC to host social justice leadership conference By Paige Yungermann TMN Reporter

The Truman State Multicultural Affairs Center is working to organize a Social Justice Leadership Summit for the first time April 15-16. The conference will be open to anyone and designed to educate people about social justice issues. Jerad Green, program coordinator for Multicultural Affairs, said this conference is particularly important because of the recent events at the University of Missouri. Green said the tentative plans for the conference are to have a welcome reception the first night, where there will be a dinner and showing of “Out in the Night,” a movie about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities within the black community. Green said there will be workshops and presentations about social justice for students to attend the next day. Green said the conference will be free this year and, if it is a success, the MAC will consider charging participants during the future. He said the event is being funded through the MAC’s budget and sponsorship. Green said the purpose of this conference is to help students become global leaders in society through the pillars of inclusion, equity, sustainability and change. “It’s a way to move Truman to that next level of leadership and get people

thinking about the importance of social justice,” Green said. “It’s moving individuals from being aware that there are issues to developing the skills to create action.” Green said the MAC currently is looking for students to be part of the planning committee for this conference and to volunteer during the conference. He said anyone who wants to get involved with the planning committee can email him at jegreen@truman.edu. Anyone who wants to attend the conference will be able to register next semester, Green said. During that time, undergraduate students also can apply to present about social justice as part of the conference, he said. This conference will be an extension of the MAC’s Diversity Leadership Retreat that takes place during the fall semester, Green said. It also will be following the Student Senate’s annual spring Diversity Week, Green said. Green said while anyone can attend this conference, most of the workshops likely will target college students. He said there will be a diversity workshop for Truman faculty during January. In addition to Truman students, Green said he is trying to promote the conference to students at universities throughout Missouri and in neighboring states. He said his goal is to have 150-200 students attend the conference.

Multicultural Affairs Center hosts Social Justice Leadership Summit on "Equality and Justice NOW" The conference will focus on four pillars of excellence: 1. Inclusion — the equal and equitable access and participation of diverse identities in any space 2. Equity — when individuals have as much to gain or lose from injustice regardless of their identity, status or affiliation 3. Sustainability — creating a safe space for diversity and inclusion through consistent reinforcement 4. Change — solution to a problem toward equity and justice, achieved through sustainability Source: mac.truman.edu/diversity-education/social-justice-leadership-summit

“I think that anyone who comes will appreciate the benefits that they get from the conference,” Green said. “As college-educated individuals, you should be thinking about what’s going on in the world, who’s affected by it and what you’re doing to impact that, whether it’s conscious or unconscious. You will develop the skills and the knowledge to be a global leader in society. This is a great opportunity to learn more about social justice.” Carol Bennett, assistant dean of Multicultural Affairs, said one advantage of this conference is it will encourage dialogue among students about diversity and other social justice issues. She said this conference also will teach students about national and international issues of gender identity, race, class and ethnicity.

Bennett said the conference will benefit students when they leave Kirksville if they plan to live and work in other parts of the world. She said the conference will provide students with experiences and skills they might not gain from a classroom. “It’s important that we keep the momentum of critical thinking going at Truman,” Bennett said. “That’s what we do at Truman. We’re critical thinkers. It adds to the students’ experiential, out-ofclass learning, which is sometimes more impactful in ways that a lecture can’t be.” Freshman Tahj Gayfield, who said he wants to be part of the planning committee, said other students should get involved with the summit because it is a good way to promote diversity and meet others who share that interest.

AAUP members and Paino discuss low faculty salaries By Jonah McKeown TMN Reporter

Members of Truman State’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors met with University President Troy Paino last week during an open forum to discuss faculty salaries at Truman, which are some of the lowest in Missouri among comparable institutions. History professor David Robinson gave a presentation at the beginning of the forum which outlined the data behind the AAUP’s claims. Lincoln University is the only comparable institution in Missouri with lower faculty salaries than Truman, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Data System. The AAUP sent out a survey to Truman faculty asking if they were aware Truman faculty were paid less than at comparable institutions. When a majority answered no, the organization called the forum. Robinson said most people, students included, don’t seem to know Truman faculty are paid poorly. Robinson said one of his concerns is balancing merit and need-

based scholarships, because merit scholarships can often go to students who technically do not need them. “I want us to be more honest about what we’re doing here,” Robinson said. “And at whose expense we are doing it.” Robinson, who has been teaching at Truman since 1990, said the AAUP has met with every new provost and president since at least 1985, but the most recent meeting drew a much larger turnout than the usual 20-25 people. He said faculty pay is a tough problem and he wants Paino to make it a priority. “We’ve never had a president, at least for very long, who cared about this problem at all,” Robinson said. “I’ve considered [Paino] one of the most capable people ever to land on our campus, and in so many different ways.” Paino gave his own presentation at the forum, highlighting the history and context of the problem of low faculty salaries. “I’m not coming here trying to argue that our faculty are adequately paid — that’s wrong,” Paino said. “The question is how we get from where we are to where we would like to be.”

Jonah McKeown/ TMN

University President Troy Paino speaks at an AAUP-hosted forum to discuss Truman’s faculty pay, which is among the lowest in Missouri. Paino said any plan to increase salaries will require balancing the budget elsewhere.

Paino said many of the current aspects of Truman, including its mission as a liberal arts and sciences university, were engineered during the 1980s and 1990s — a period when the state of Missouri was making large and consistent investments in higher education. Paino said tuition increases also were common during this period, with an average increase of approximately 11 percent per year from 1986-2005. Two critical sources of revenue — state appropriations, and tuition and fees — have taken hits during more recent years, with state appropriations dropping and fluctuating since 2000, and tuition and fees remaining fairly steady since 2005, according to the data presented at the forum. The combination of these factors, Paino said, contributes to the constriction of Truman’s budget. Truman also provides $20 million in scholarships to students each year, or about $3,800 per student, which is significantly higher than any other comparable Missouri institution. Paino said this high figure is important to maintain because of Truman’s mission as a highly selective institution, but also factors in the difficulty of attracting students to rural northeast Missouri. Paino said any plan for increasing salaries will involve balancing the budget elsewhere. He said one option that could be explored is the closure of low-enrollment programs graduating fewer than five students per year. “I think everyone has to realize that solving the problem is going to involve tradeoffs,” Paino said. Paino said he plans to bring the issue before the Faculty Senate — the representative body of the faculty who are elected on behalf of their departments. “For me to deal with the formal governance structure, I think I should work with Faculty Senate on this,” Paino said. “I’m going to ask them directly on how they’d like to proceed.” Paino presented a five-step plan at the forum that included an additional $1,000 increase for full professors with six years of service and higher starting salaries to attract

new faculty. Although alternative plans were suggested by faculty at the forum, Paino said anyone wishing to submit an alternative plan should go through the Faculty Senate. He said no alternative plans have officially been submitted. “I’ve been proceeding based on the five points I presented at the forum,” Paino said. “If the faculty want to go another direction, if they think that that’s not addressing the issue quickly enough … I am open to a different pathway.” Truman has about $50 million in reserve funds, which Paino said are important to maintain in case of a financial emergency. The amount of money kept in reserve affects Truman’s Moody’s rating, a metric that describes Truman’s ability to pay off debt during the future. Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the reserves are to be used for emergencies and not to underwrite expenses such as faculty raises. “You [could give] them a raise one year, but how are you going to pay for it the next year?” Rector said. “It’s one-time money.” Music professor Marc Rice is the president of AAUP at Truman. Rice said the forum was productive, and he appreciated that everyone involved, including Paino, listened attentively. “I was left with the impression that the administration understands that there is a pretty significant problem [with faculty salaries],” Rice said. Rice said faculty salaries have been the most pressing issue for AAUP recently, and he said he estimates 70-80 percent of time at AAUP’s meetings is taken up with discussions about salaries. He said the AAUP will continue to listen to the faculty and see what the majority support, and eventually will likely draft a proposal to present to the Faculty Senate. Rice said the issue of salaries is important because it affects the attitude of Truman’s faculty. “Students should be concerned about this issue primarily because it impacts faculty morale, how we feel about being here,” Rice said.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

We are all united in tragedy

Emily Wichmer News Editor Nov. 13, 2015, was the day Paris was attacked. I’ve tried more times than I can count to begin this column. There is so much I want to say, but no words can capture all the emotions I feel. Nov. 13, 2015, was the day my home was attacked. Angers, France, a small town located an hour outside Paris, was the place I called home for nearly five months. I walked those streets every day. I explored nearby towns. I made friends with the bakery owner down the street. France gave me memories I’ll never forget and friends I’ll always value. For me, France is home — a second home, maybe, but a home all the same. When tragedy struck the city of Paris, my initial reaction was shock. I couldn’t understand why this would happen to a country that is so supportive of and open to other perspectives. France is a country of acceptance. From the moment I would enter a shop, I was greeted with a smile and a friendly, “Hello,” and left with a parting “Have a good day!” Children at a nearby daycare would call out, “Bonjour, mademoiselle!” as they played jump rope in the schoolyard. Fellow students would wait for me after class and ask if I knew where Minnesota was, and if it was close to New York. Residents in the dormitory giggled as I taught them that, bien sûr, it is acceptable to eat a hamburger without a fork and knife. Late night discussions about politics always ended pleasantly, even if no one agreed about any topic. Everywhere I looked there was happiness and acceptance exuding from the face of every passer-by, and I realized this is routine — this quality of life is part of the French culture. After the attacks, I saw a similar spirit of unity rise among those not part of the French culture. Friends from the U.S., Canada, Scotland and Austria posted messages sharing their condolences for those affected by the attack. While adding a tricolor filter to a profile picture or sharing a news update won’t bring back those killed in the attacks, it still shows the world is willing to unite to express solidarity during times of tragedy. In addition to the outpouring of sympathy for the attack on Paris, I also saw people share a sense of exasperation, because the tragedy of Nov. 13 was not limited to Paris. There was an earthquake in Japan. Mexico experienced an earthquake and a hurricane. There were suicide bombings in Baghdad and Beirut. As Facebook and Twitter feeds filled with sympathy for Paris, there also were posts complaining these other catastrophes were not as widely acknowledged. The Paris attacks do not detract from other tragedies that occurred. What happened in Paris serves as a reminder tragedy can happen anywhere, whether it be Beirut, Japan, Mexico or Baghdad. We feel for France because it is a tragedy. And during a time of tragedy, it’s important to be united no matter what the issue is. While outward signs on something as shallow as social media might be filled with the blue, white and red of the French flag, in a much deeper way our hearts and minds are with all victims of the Nov. 13 tragedies. Tragedy is senseless. It is gut-wrenching. But tragedy also unites us. Whether it be France, Mexico, Beirut or any other part of our world, tragedy is what reminds us that concepts such as borders have no real meaning. We all feel the same emotions, the same sense of solidarity. We are all united. Nous sommes tous Paris. Nous sommes tous le monde. We are all united in tragedy.

Student protests are catalysts for change

Emily Wichmer is a senior French and communication double major from St. Louis, Mo.

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Will Chaney The Concerned Student 1950 movement on the University of Missouri’s campus recently succeeded in pressuring Mizzou President Tim Wolfe to step down. Despite obvious pressure from students, faculty and other members of the Mizzou community, the mainstream media has framed Wolfe’s resignation primarily as the result of the football team’s actions. This is evident in the headlines of stories about Mizzou in both the conservative and liberal media. CNN’s Nov. 8 story is titled “Football players demand president’s resignation,” The Springfield News Leader’s Nov. 10 story reads, “Missouri players didn’t recognize how much power they had,” and STL Today’s Nov. 9 article is called, “Mizzou football protest proves players have power now.” While the football team’s support made a powerful statement, these articles downplay the impact the rest of the student movement had to affect change on Mizzou’s campus. Concerned Student 1950, which derives its name from the first year Mizzou admitted black students, emerged recently in response to building racial tensions on campus. During September, Mizzou student Payton Head, the Missouri Students Association president, was called a racial slur by passengers in a passing vehicle, according to a Nov. 9 Bustle article. Concerned Student 1950 then began organizing protests, sit-ins, a hunger strike, a petition signed by more than 7,000 people, and boycotts on goods and services the university profited from, which eventually included an entire football game. MU faculty also joined the cause by forming the Concerned Faculty group and organizing a two-day teach-in in place of class, according to a Nov. 9 Time article. Members of the football team then approached Jonathan Butler — who was on a hunger strike at the time — at Concerned Student 1950’s encampment on The Quad after a couple players saw the tents one night while driving by. About 30 players met with Butler and were so moved by his case they agreed to strike until Wolfe resigned, according to a Nov. 11 ESPN article. This was strategically important for the movement, because each missed game costs the univer-

sity more than $1 million. Out of all the protest tactics, the football strike seems to have been the most effective. Does this mean the football team really enacted social change? Not quite, but it does expose a serious flaw in our education system. Like most capitalist businesses, Mizzou is run by a board of about 10 individuals who make all the university’s major decisions, including the appointment of the university president. The board of governors is selected by government officials instead of the university community, which might explain Concerned Student 1950’s demand that administrators be elected. Furthermore, before becoming president of the Mizzou higher education system, Wolfe was a highranking manager in multinational corporation IBM, according to the World Socialist Website on Nov. 10. The president before Wolfe came from a similar background. Because Mizzou is organized like a business and run by businesspeople, it is no surprise its decisions are made based on profit calculations instead of principles of education, equality or justice. When the football team pledged its support, the movement was able to present a dollar figure cost to the university’s decision makers — something they knew how to measure. There are two lessons we can take from Mizzou. The first is an optimistic one— college students have real power if they unite and articulate their situation. Student activists historically have made great changes, especially during the Civil Rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and ‘70s. More importantly, we are better equipped to organize than our predecessors, and can transmit our own news without the help of the mainstream media. The Homecoming protest, where activists stopped Wolfe’s car during the parade, was posted on YouTube and now has more than 400,000 views. The second lesson might be hard to swallow — our power to resist systematic oppression is limited by the system we resist. Ninety percent of American media, including our news, movies, soap operas, educational television and game shows, are owned by only six capitalist corporations, according to a June 2012 Business Insider article. Just like Mizzou, these six corporations are run by boards of 10-15 people with no democratic accountability to the public they are supposed to serve. The recent events at Mizzou give us hope for a better future. As Butler said during the Homecoming demonstration, quoting Karl Marx, “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Will Chaney is a sophomore economics major from Bridgeton, Mo.

A BRIEF TIMELINE OF THE MIZZOU PROTESTS 9/12/15

10/8/15

10/10/15

10/20/15

10/24/15

11/3/2015

11/8/2015

11/9/2015

Chancellor R. Student Jonathan Wolfe resigns. Concerned Student Bowen Loftin Butler begins Hours later, Loftin 1950 calls for mandates hunger strike. announces he will Wolfe’s resignation. Black football transition to a Discovery of Student Payton diversity training Student protesters during 2016. players abstain different role. swastika drawn Head shares block Mizzou from athletics with human feces verbal abuse President Tim Wolfe’s activities until on a residence hall story on Facebook. car during homecomWolfe resigns. wall. ing parade.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/us/missouri-protest-timeline/

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Attending college is worth the cost Jared Roberts College tuition prices have been rising for years, yet people continue to attend them. Is this the societal pressure saying without a college degree you won’t go anywhere? Or does college actually have benefits that allow people to improve their lives after graduating? I believe college is worth it, though it might be a bit rocky in the beginning. Take a look at employment rates of those who only completed high school compared to those who have some level of college education. During 2014, students who only completed high school had an unemployment rate of 17.5 percent, according to The National Center for Educational Statistics. Students who had some level of college education had a 12.2 percent unemployment rate, and those with a bachelor’s degree had a 7 percent rate, according to The National Center for Educational Statistics. This shows the benefits of attending college for some period of time. For the students who decide to continue and receive their bachelor’s degree, there is a more than 10 percent decrease in unemployment rates, according to the same source. While I admit not all these jobs are in those students’ chosen fields, it is a job nonetheless, and thus

PROS AND CONS OF COLLEGE EDUCATION

they can start to reap the benefits of their college education. When looking at the actual money people with college degrees earn, the statistics are unsurprising. Students with only a high school diploma earned an average of $30,000 a year, those with an associate’s degrees earned $37,000 on average and those with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $45,000, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The numbers only increase the higher the degree a person receives. Not only are people obtaining better employment opportunities the more college experience they have, but they also are making more money on average than those who only completed high school or less. Next, take a look at one of the biggest downsides to college — student debt. During 2014, seven out of 10 graduating seniors from public or non-profit colleges were more than $28,950 in debt per student, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. This is quite a bit of money to pay off, especially for someone who just spent at least four years cramming for tests. When you compare this to the employment and income numbers above, one can see in the long run this debt will be paid, and students who went to college will continue to make more money than those who did not. This is why in the beginning, college might seem not worth a person’s time, but looking past the short term, college will end up paying for itself. I am not saying everyone should go to college. Instead, I am advocating attendance for those students who are on the fence about attending college simply because of scary numbers of student debt. In the end, it will all be worth it.

Jared Roberts is a freshman political science major from Maryland Heights, Mo.

More likely to have health and retirement plans Lower poverty rates Exposes students to diverse people and ideas Greater networking value More jobs require college degrees

Student debt could cause another financial crisis No guarantee of workplace benefits Stress can lead to health problems Learning a trade profession might be a better option for some No guarantee of job preparation

Don’t stress about busy weeks Trevor Hamblin There’s an essay due in class Thursday, a third of a book to read I haven’t even started, a Japanese test Friday, a project I can’t find sources for and to top it all off, the bathroom’s flooded. But weeks like this are learning opportunities, though it can be hard to remember with all the chaos of our daily lives. Stressful weeks are as inevitable as death and taxes, but when we have bad weeks, we learn how to deal with them and reduce their effects on our overall well-being. Here are a few things I learned from my bad week. Sometimes, to get everything done, you have to sort things by order of importance and due date. You might not be able to get everything done, and that’s OK, provided you’ve done everything in your power to get it done beforehand. It’s just not possible to finish everything you have to do all at

once, even when you’ve been working as hard as you can. After all, you’re only human. In terms of my awful week, I focused on the projects as their due dates arrived. First the essay, then the book, then the project — the bathroom situation took my attention as it came up, and the test was placed on the back burner for the moment. Luckily, I didn’t fail the test, because I’d been paying attention during class. This might sound odd, but I’ve found complaining about your week actually can help. This doesn’t mean you should complain constantly, but complaining is human nature for a reason. You feel better getting things off your chest, and even better when someone else validates your feelings. Alternatively, if someone is having a worse week than you, you might feel better by comparison. One of the most helpful things you can do to turn a bad week around is talk to your professors, bosses or other authority figures. Many professors are willing to work with your schedule as long as you give them some notice. Talking to your bosses, coaches or other supervisors to help sort out your workload might also be helpful. Your superiors are people who want the best work from you, and might be willing to give you a little flexibility to get it. But always double-check their policies before asking, so you aren’t wasting your time. I knew a different bad week of mine was turned completely around when the two most stressful things I had to worry about were given exten-

Source: college-education.procon.org/#background

sions. I got half a week longer for a project and a full week longer for an article. It wasn’t everything I had to do, but it was enough to instantly make the week better. A common method to deal with the stress of a rough week is to stay positive. This isn’t always a great idea, because ignoring a problem could make it worse, but there is something to be gained from this perspective. When you can focus less on the overall problem and more on the individual ones, you might find yourself better able to deal with the situation. There is one thing I must stress — do not lose sleep because of a bad week. Your body and your mind cannot function properly during a stressful week without sleep. More importantly, sleep is the one time of the day you cannot spend worrying. It might be hard, especially for the typical Truman student, but you have to sleep. Bad weeks might be inevitable, but they are not the end of the world. You can and will pull through, even if my methods don’t work for you. The important thing is that you get through your problem in a healthy, productive manner.

Trevor Hamblin is a sophomore English and communication major from Moberly, Mo.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Why? My favorite tradition is seeing my family, and going home and being able to spend time with them.

Eating honey ham. My mom always makes it and it is delicious. It’s probably what I’m most looking forward to when I go home this break.

We don’t get together on Thanksgiving day. My nuclear family does, but we always make something. I like not having to worry about it.

I don’t know. Football, I guess. The Dallas Cowboys play every Thanksgiving and I like watching them.

Rachael Palmer Senior

Brian Kantanka Sophomore

Emily Thompson Senior

Colby Cook Freshman

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

AMEREN | The Missouri Public Service

Commission hosted a public forum at Truman State to listen to community concerns about the Mark Twain Transmission Project Continued from page 1 Ladd said the project is one of 17 multi-value projects proposed by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. during 2011. She said MISO requested ATXI build the line, but she said MISO would pay for the project’s $202 million construction cost using funds from a tariff filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She said the project first needs to be approved by the PSC after it reviews hearing testimonies. She said ATXI hopes to have an answer by late February 2016. Ladd said ATXI requested the transmission run diagonally through property instead of following landowner property lines because doing so would reduce the line’s length from about 120 miles to an estimated 100. She said AXTI would do its best to financially compensate landowners by meeting with them to appraise the value of their property needed for the line. She said appraisal values would depend on how the PSC approves ATXI to build the lines. If the project were approved, Ladd said other benefits would include an estimated $4 million in annual tax revenue divided among the five counties in northeast Missouri the line would travel through, with Adair County getting an estimated $1 million, the largest share of the revenue. Ladd said the project would provide about 200 jobs, roughly two people per mile of line, for the full year needed for construction. She said ATXI wanted to employ as many local workers as possible, but she said that depends on which companies bid for the subcontracts. Ladd said ATXI did its best to address landowners’ concerns in their testimonies at the PSC hearings. She said there

was fear the land would lose its value when the lines are built, but Ladd said the lines would not take up as much land as people might think. She said there would be an 8-10 foot pier in every 700-800 feet of land to hold up the line, which she said still leaves plenty of space to grow crops or graze cattle. She also said the electromagnetic field surrounding the lines would not have a significant effect, if any, on farming equipment or people. She said many who testified against the line in the hearings were small, vocal groups that she said were not representative of overall communities, since she said many people have reached out to ATXI in support of the project. However, Ladd said she encourages everyone to talk with ATXI because she said she thinks many people will be more supportive of the project when they look into the facts. “Talk to us,” Ladd said. “Know the facts, not just the fears.” However, the majority of testimonies during the PSC hearing at Truman were opposed to the project. State Representative Nate Walker said he opposes the project and testified against it at all three public hearings. Walker said the concerns came from the majority of landowners that would be affected by the project, not just a vocal minority. He said he thought that was clear at the Truman hearing, when he said more than 40 local residents testified against the project while the few who testified in support were non-locals. He said he does not think the line is necessary for Ameren’s power grid or that it would be beneficial overall to the public. He said ATXI cannot benefit Missouri residents since it is an Illinois-based, for-profit Ameren subsidy that provides and transports electricity to other

Jonah McKeown/Index Missouri Public Service Commission members listen to citizens’ concerns about a proposed Ameren transmission line. Ameren representatives came to Truman State during the last of three public hearings to respond to questions and comments about the project. companies located outside Missouri. Walker said the additional tax revenue brought in by the lines would be offset by the decrease in overall land quality and value. He said all five county commissioners whose counties would be impacted by the project — Schuyler, Adair, Knox, Shelby and Marion — actively oppose the project. Walker said commissioners oversee the county budgets and know what is best for counties, and he said it is significant if all five oppose the project. Walker said he thinks ATXI has been dishonest and unfair to him and other residents, and said community suggestions and efforts to cooperate went unheard. Walker said he has a lot of respect for Missouri-based Ameren and said the company does a lot of good projects, but he said he thinks ATXI’s transmission project is wrong. He said he thinks the farther forward the project goes, the more it needs to be stopped. But he said that decision ultimately is up to the Missouri PSC. “I know the people in

[Adair] County, and they are all reasonable people,” Walker said. “But we’re a lot smarter than they give us credit for. Our land rights, our individual rights, are being trampled on.” Senior Chloe Jackson said she has been opposed to the project since hearing about it nearly a year ago. Jackson said she is involved with Neighbors United, a group of landowners throughout the region who have been organizing against ATXI’s project. She said she and other members have many concerns about the project, including the potential loss of income and farming ability, increase in energy costs, environmental damage and potential use of eminent domain. She said there are also several health concerns, because some studies conducted by agencies such as the World Health Organization have found correlations between certain types of cancer and the electromagnetic fields associated with transmission lines. She said there were concerns about

the effect the EMFs would have on nearby electronic equipment, pacemakers and livestock. Jackson said regardless of ATXI’s stance on these studies, any time the potential effects of such projects are not known, it would be best to err on the side of caution. Jackson said it would be safer not to do the project, at least until more is known about potential hazards on serious topics such as cancer, pacemakers, and effects on wild and domestic animals alike. Jackson said she heard several powerful statements from local residents, and hopes a good example will be set for future generations when debating on important issues. She said she encourages Truman students to keep up to date with the project and get involved if they are interested. “This is not just an economic problem,” Jackson said. “This is also a moral problem that will impact our lives and future generations.”

TITLE IX | Discrimination case involving Truman students moves to new administrative review panel for ruling Continued from page 1 After the incident, Holahan said he filed a request for an ex parte restraining order against Brown, Guignon and Howard, which the city granted. He said he contacted Truman officials about the incident and pressed charges against all three students. “I thought that Truman students were better than this,” Holahan said. “And I still believe a vast majority of them are.” Holahan said he approached the Title IX coordinator at Truman, and went over the incident and possible methods of prosecuting the group through Truman. Jamie Ball, Title IX coordinator and institutional compliance officer, said when a student approaches her about an incident relating to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or non-conforming gender-based behaviors, the University first discusses what would be best for the student. She said these solutions could range from seeking university counseling services to pressing formal charges. Ball said she serves as the primary investigator in most

formal investigations and gathers information about incidents. She said she interviews the student pressing charges — known as the complainant — and the student or students against whom charges are being pressed — known as the respondent.

“There’s not a one-size-fitsall approach to discipline ... ”

— Jamie Ball, Title IX coordinator and institutional compliance officer

After gathering information, Ball said she writes an investigative report. She said she allows the complainant and respondent to view and suggest amendments to this report. After approval from both parties, Ball said she makes a recommendation based on the preliminary evidence regarding whether a violation of Title IX occurred. Ball said

the report is then sent to an administrative review panel, comprised of three faculty or staff members who have a chance to meet with the students involved and hear both sides of the case. “In addition to giving the parties a chance to speak about what they feel is important for the panelists to understand about their case, those meetings are also an opportunity for questions to be asked,” Ball said. Once the panel has reviewed all the evidence, Ball said the panel makes a decision regarding whether a violation has occurred. She said unlike criminal cases which require a high standard of evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt” that a party is responsible, the panel uses the preponderance of evidence standard. Ball said this means panelists must determine if it is “more likely than not” that a student is in violation of the Title IX policy. She said it is important to note the panel finds students responsible, not guilty. If a student is found responsible, the panel determines what kind of disciplinary action should be applied, which can vary case by case.

“There’s not a one-sizefits-all approach to discipline and at this time we don’t have specific guidelines to prescribe,” Ball said. “For folks who are going to continue to be a part of the Truman community especially, it’s important that they learn from their experience and do better, so if we can figure out a way to do that through the disciplinary process, then great. But suspensions and expulsions are not outside the realm of possibility.” Ball said another factor when determining disciplinary action is whether the respondent has a history of disciplinary issues. She said in serious cases where the respondent’s behavior is inconsistent with the values of the Truman community, more serious actions such as suspension and expulsion are possible. Ball said both the complainant and the respondent each have one opportunity to appeal the administrative review panel’s decision, but she said the decision is final on appeal. Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct

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