The Index Vol. 109 Issue 6

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork

McNair Program gets grant funds through 2022

BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor Truman State University’s McNair Scholars Program has been given an annual budget through 2022, which comes with staffing changes for the program.

The U.S. Department of Education administers the program — known fully as the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program — as a TRIO program and is funded through a grant competition every five years.

Heather Cianciola, Truman McNair Project Director, said McNair is one of eight TRIO programs developed from the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and the Higher Education Act of 1965 — along with Upward Bound and Student Support Services — aimed at helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

McNair in particular serves first-generation, low-income and underrepresented minority students. She said the McNair Program was added through a 1986 amendment to the Higher Education Act and is focused on helping students prepare for and succeed in graduate school.

She said the goal of the program is for students to earn a research doctorate degree less than 10 years after earning their bachelor’s degree.

Cianciola said the USDE asks each individual McNair program to set benchmarks for achievement within four objectives — student participation in research and scholarly activities, enrollment into graduate school immediately following graduation, continuation in graduate school for a second year, and completion of a research doctorate within 10 years. Programs are then evaluated based on how well those benchmarks are met. Cianciola said McNair programs at institutions nationwide — of which there are more than 150 — participate in a grant competition every five years to receive funding for the following five years. She said during the last grant cycle — which began in 2012 and ends Sept. 30 — Truman’s McNair Program received $255,000 per year to serve 31 students. For the 2017-2022 grant cycle, the program was awarded $269,216 per year. Cianciola said this is the most Truman’s McNair Program has ever received from the federal government, however, she said this funding is contingent on Congress making the money available.

“There’s always a question of whether we’ll be funded, not only every five years when the cycle is complete, but also every year,” Cianciola said. “In the fine print of our award, there’s the statement that [funding is] always reliant on congressional appropriations.”

See MCNAIR, page 5

FEATURES | The rich history of Bear Creek Church Page 7

SPORTS | Salima strong in second year Page 14

MO Hall dining upgrades planned for summer 2018

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The dining hall on the first floor of Missouri Hall, with the renderings for the planned renovation on a large poster outside the door. The building was last renovated a decade ago, and the kitchen has not received significant attention since it was built in 1965. The renovation will also increase the seating capacity of the dining hall.

BY SPENCER FOUST Staff Writer In an effort to modernize Truman State University’s most outdated dining hall, Missouri Hall’s dining area will undergo a $4.4 million renovation in May and is guaranteed to be completed before the fall semester starts. The changes are also expected to raise the safety and efficiency of the dining hall’s kitchen.

The renovations will begin with a pre-planning crew to survey the changes to the dining hall’s infrastructure Monday. This will be the first update to the dining hall since its facelift in 2007 when the rest of the hall was renovated.

Missouri Hall Director Zac Burden said during the last renovation the dining hall received a few improvements, including noise-dampening panels on the walls and ceiling.

As far as the design and layout of the new dining hall, Justin Dreslinski, Truman Sodexo general manager, said nothing is final. One of the biggest proposed changes is the use

of space. By changing the tables and chairs to a rectangular design, Burden said this will increase the seating count to 226. Burden said this model also provides options for eating alone different than sitting at one of the large community-style tables the dining hall currently uses.

The renovation is funded through money already accumulated through student meal plans. Dreslinski said none of the $4.4 million budget came from the state. One of the more expensive parts of the renovation is the new elevator, which will help workers move items between the kitchen and the basement, Dreslinski said.

The dining hall will need to completely rework plumbing, gas lines and air-conditioned systems, Dreslinski said. These are among the many infrastructure elements that preplanning crews will survey before construction begins in May. “We want this to get done with as little disruptions as possible,” Dreslinski said.

John Stewart, Truman Sodexo operations manager, said this will be the

first major update for the kitchen since it was built in 1965. He said the area of the building with the kitchen will need to be expanded toward the parking lot to bring the external cooling units within the walls of the kitchen.

Stewart said this will also create more room in the kitchen, which lacks air conditioning. This is one of the reasons Dreslinski said he thought Missouri Hall could sometimes be an unsafe environment for employees — because of a lack of ventilation and temperature control.

“The team that’s coming in to do this is the same one that renovated the Student Union Building, so they know the time restraints,” Dreslinski said. “That’s why it’s all about the pre-planning. Because when the crews come in, everyone knows their piece of the puzzle, and they’re gonna knock it out.”

To see the current mock-up designs of Missouri Hall’s dining upgrades, visit Missouri Hall’s Facebook page, or see them on the wall beside the entrance to the dining hall.

Federal changes to Title IX would alter process

BY SPENCER FOUST Staff Writer

Photo by Athena Geldbach/TMN Title IX coordinator Jamie Ball smiles at her desk in the Title IX office, which has been relocated to Violette Hall room 1308. New guidelines proposed by the United States Department of Education would change the way cases are internally reviewed under the law.

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 6 © 2017

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is planning to change how college campuses deal with discrimination based on sex — including sexual assault — to make it harder to convict accused students. DeVos said the current system is unfair to those who might be wrongly accused. DeVos made the announcement Thursday, Sept.

7, in a speech delivered at George Mason University.

Title IX is a federal law which protects members of an educational environment from discrimination based on sex. Though a short statute, Title IX extends to include sexual assault as a form of discrimination based on sex. If a university fails to properly investigate a case of sexual assault, it is at risk of losing federal funding.

Truman’s Title IX coordinator Jamie Ball said one of DeVos’ biggest changes will be shifting the evidence procedure from a preponderance of the evidence standard to a clear and convincing standard. Ball said the preponderance of the evidence standard — which has been standard since Obama-era policies issued in 2011 — mandates the accused might be automatically guilty if more than 50 percent of the evidence points toward their guilt. The clear and convincing standard requires the evidence be far more certain than that, akin to a jury trial, Ball said. This clear and convincing standard is more lenient for the accused, and DeVos said this is to protect the accused student’s right to due process.

See TITLE IX, page 5

The Index

2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

KTRM hosts Wake Bake Skate show at the Aquadome Top left: Truman State University’s student-run radio station.

88.7 KTRM. hosted the Wake Bake Skate show at the Aquadome Friday, Sept. 22. The event had a skateboarding theme and included baked goods.

Bottom left: The show featured St. Louis-based musical acts Mild Peril, Frankie Valet and Comrade Catbox. KTRM frequently hosts events at the Aquadome, located near The Square.

Bottom right: Junior Joe Kosiek plays drums at the Wake Bake Skate show. The show featured local bands in addition to the headliners from St. Louis.

Submitted photos

calendar Dashain Night 2017

University Orchestra Perfomance

Peace Corps Prep Information Meeting

Study Abroad Fair

Sept. 30 6-8 p.m.

Sept. 30 8-9:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 5 p.m.

Oct. 5 12-4 p.m.

Dashain Night, hosted by Namaste Nepal, will take place at the Baptist Student Union. Dashain Night celebrates the 10-day festival of the same name. Traditional Nepali music and dances will be performed, as well as modern music and dance. Food will be provided.

The University Orchestra will be performing in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The orchestra will be conducted by Director of Orchestral Activities Sam McClure and will be performing music by Felix Mendelssohn, Igor Stravinsky and George Enescu.

An information meeting for students interested in Truman’s Peace Corps program will take place in McClain Hall rooms 208 and 212. Students of any major can participate in the program to receive a certificate showing completion of the necessary course and field work.

The Study Abroad Fair will take place in the Student Union Building.

It features information on study abroad programs, students sharing their experiences, and free snacks and drinks.

Students can talk directly to study abroad students, advisers and program sponsors.

staff Serving the University community since 1909 Adviser Don Krause Editor-in-Chief Seth Wolfmeyer Digital Director Ben Cook Managing Editor Brently Snead News Editor (Text) Nicolas Telep News Editor (Multimedia) Brea Parnell Features Editor Rachel Fechter Sports Editor (Text) Rachel Steinhoff Sports Editor (Multimedia) Jeremy Jacob

Copy Chief MacKenna Palazza Assistant Copy Chief Trevor Hamblin Photo Editor Bethany Travis Design Chief Mariah Radle Distribution Manager Jessica Rose Staff Writers Jase Willhite, Ashley

Murphy, Kennedy Martin, Paul Province, Patrick Pardo, Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Curt Wichmer, Kayla Perkins, Spencer Foust, Johanna Burns

Copy Editors Katie Puryear, Bethany Spitzmiller, Ellen Thibodeau, Allyson Lotz, Julianna Foster, Elise Hughes Cartoonists Annie Kintree, August Davis Designers Clarissa Todd, Lawrence Hu, Georgia Gregory, Maddie Kamp Photographers Lawrence Hu, Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Daniel Degenhardt, Hannah Ahlenius Distribution Representatives Greta Roettegen, Amanda Claywell

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017

The Index

3

Truman ranked No. 1 for 21 years

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Since adopting its current name 21 years ago, Truman State University has ranked No. 1 on “U.S. News & World Report’s” list of top public schools in the Midwest region every year. The streak continued this year, with Truman making the top 10 on two other lists as well.

Truman State University rankings in U.S. News & World Reportʼs “Best Colleges” rankings Categories

No. 1

No. 8

-Public Relations Director Heidi Templeton

Templeton said the rankings are nice, but the University does not strive to be ranked in publications when it’s the students, faculty and staff who make Truman stand out.

She said the community is always looking to improve.

“You are not content with just doing the same thing over and over,” Templeton said. “You always want to figure out how you can improve.

You’re always asking, ‘How could we do something differently?’”

No. 2

No. 290

pe a

Truman had the top spot in this category for 21 years running.

Best Regional Universities Midwest

Truman had the No. 8 spot in this category for the last three years.

Best Value Schools Regional Universities Midwest

Truman is the top-ranking public school in this category.

Undergraduate Business Programs

Truman tied for No. 290 on this list.

u (p

lea

opl y o line at tm n n.truman.ed e pp l

ik el

e

J

new

NT

M

N

Notes

Top public Schools Regional Universities Midwest

se )

“Just the longevity — the consistency of being the No. 1 public [school] for 21 years is pretty amazing.”

OI

For the 21st year in a row, Truman State University topped “U.S. News & World Report’s” Top Public Schools rankings in the Regional Universities Midwest category.

In addition to the No. 1 ranking on the Top Public Schools list, Truman placed eighth overall in the Regional Universities Midwest category and second on the Best Value Schools list in the same category. “U.S. News & World Report” — which has been publishing rankings of American colleges since 1983 — groups universities that have bachelor’s and master’s but few doctoral degree programs like Truman, into four regional categories.

Public Relations Director Heidi Templeton said the rankings from “U.S. News & World Report” stand out because of the publication’s long record and for what the rankings measure. She said academic excellence is taken into account, including rates of graduation and retention, as well as outside peer and counselor assessment and alumni giving.

“Just the longevity, the consistency of being the No. 1 public [school] for 21 years is pretty amazing,” Templeton said.

Templeton said Truman’s small student-to-faculty ratio and class sizes were also contributing factors to the University’s success in rankings, and Truman has the best graduation and retention rates of any public school in Missouri.

w

BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor

4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

People have more worth than animals

BY KORBIN KELLER Staff Writer

Not too long ago, I was asked to donate money to a couple of causes. One assisted struggling people around the world while the other went toward helping animal shelters. I was hesitant to donate my money — not because I’m cheap, but because I was worried my money was going to be split 50-50.

Helping animals is well and good, but in a world of finite time and resources, there are more pressing issues for humanitarian giving.

I am not saying animals are worthless or do not have value. I have benefitted from the companionship of pets, I have enjoyed seeing them in the wild and in zoos, and who doesn’t love a good steak?

However, in comparing the value of animals to people, an animal’s worth is almost zero because human beings have infinite value.

To assume animals are as important and valuable as people is misguided and possibly dangerous for how we view the suffering of human beings. People have immeasurable worth and are filled with the boundless ability to create, dream and live. A human being’s capacity to help others, to inspire and to transform has no bounds. A human being is capable of inspiring with art, discovering scientific advances or engineering solutions to long-held problems.

Therefore, our first priority should go toward helping people. Society’s resources must go to alleviating human suffer-

ing, and I encourage all of us to work more toward the betterment of humans.

I appreciate the effort millions of fellow Americans have devoted to animal shelters and to helping animals. However, it is paramount to uplift human beings before lending support toward animals.

You might be criticizing me for what I am saying — just because society values animals does not mean we should define them as equal to people. However, an anecdotal story about the deaths of millions of animals shocked me even more.

I saw a post on Facebook from a friend asking everyone to remember the 30 million turkeys who die for Thanksgiving in a “genocide.” Genocide is not a term to be used lightly. Genocide, which describes the events that have snuffed the lives of millions of human beings in Armenia, Europe, Rwanda, Russia, Burma and Syria, was used to describe America’s yearly consumption of turkey. The indescribable horrors of history become equal to those of the plight of poultry. The life of a turkey, and the taking of that life, was equated with the lives lost in the likes of the Holocaust.

If this seems harsh, it is only because I find the issue quite pressing and quite black and white — put people before pets. As much as I love cats and dogs and parakeets and stick bugs and geese, people should take priority. If that means animal shelters close and turkey “genocide” continues, then that is acceptable if it means our volunteerism and charity is directed toward the afflicted men, women and children worldwide.

Society needs to question and refine truisms

BY WILL CHANEY Staff Writer

We learn many truisms about how the world works from society. These truisms — from “stealing is wrong” to “saying ‘bless you’ after someone sneezes” — are repeated and come with an explanation that only needs to be heard once or thrice, and a punishment if the truism is violated. While many truisms are rational and helpful for daily human functions, some are misleading at best and manipulative at worst.

As members of a democratic society, we must question our truisms and refine them.

Nov. 7, 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, which will likely provoke the repetition of one of the United States’ favorite truisms — the Soviet Union’s failure proves communism is a tragic fantasy. There are many variations of this narrative that emphasize different evils, and they all conclude the US and capitalism is unquestionably the best system. Even on campus, these themes are found in our social science textbooks and after-hours lectures. This narrative’s purpose is to deter conversation influenced by anti-capitalist ideas. Instead, discussion of the Soviet Union and self-declared communist societies should include their achievements as well as failures. When these are taken into account, extreme conclusions like “communism is evil” become more difficult to defend.

Like most societies, the Soviet Union experienced both successes and failures. But what makes the Soviet Union’s experience especially valuable is its attempt to fundamentally transform basic social, political and economic relations between its people to end exploitation, poverty and war. Because the

bad is given so much attention in the United States, here are a few things the Soviet Union achieved.

The Russian Revolution began on International Women’s Day, and upon seizing power, the Bolshevik Party aimed to involve women in “all spheres of social, economic and political life,” according to Jen Pickard in “Women in the Soviet Union.”

For the first time, Russian women were able to vote, receive equal pay, get a divorce or an abortion, and enjoy other rights and protections. Women were elected to council governments and allowed to attend universities — in 1927, 28 percent of Soviet college students were women, which rose to 43 percent in 1960 and nearly 50 percent by 1970, according to the same article. Gendered oppression was not defeated in the Soviet Union, especially with later treatment of homosexuality, but there were significant achievements that should not be forgotten.

Before the revolution, Russia was a relatively underdeveloped nation, but after the revolution, it significantly increased its productive powers. In 1896, near the end of the Russian Empire, life expectancy was about 30 — it jumped to 42 in 1927 and 69 in 1970, according to a joint US-USSR “Facts and Figures” report from 1991. The USSR also quickly developed a remarkable space program, launching the first artificial satellite, the first animals and the first humans into orbit, according to an Oct. 2012 History Channel article.

My purpose here is not to unconditionally defend the USSR, or to judge whether it was “good” or “bad,” but to show there is room for many arguments and lessons to be learned. Accepting black and white truisms about previous human societies, especially those as ambitious as the USSR, limits our ability to intelligently discuss humanity’s potential. Cries for an alternative to capitalism are not going to end. We must consider all options or risk repeating mistakes and stifling progress.

[ Our View ]

We should be aware of effects of new businesses With the recent opening of Hobby Lobby in Kirksville, we, The Index Editorial Board, would like members of the Truman State University and Kirksville communities to pay attention to the different ways a large corporation like Hobby Lobby might positively and negatively impact the community.

Hobby Lobby — a well-known arts and crafts chain store — added about 35-50 jobs to the Kirksville community, according to an article by KTVO. Hobby Lobby has vowed to offer better wages than competitors to its workers — $15.70 per hour for full-time employees and $10.45 per hour for part-time employees.

Opening this store allows art students and frequent crafters another location for supplies Gallery 104 might not have. This means those seeking art supplies don’t have to get them online or in other cities, which keeps money circulating in Kirksville.

Despite the positives, one must consider what this economical addition means for small businesses and craft stores in town. How will Hobby Lobby impact places like Gallery 104? Can Kirksville sustain Hobby Lobby? Is there enough demand for a crafts and home decor store, or will it end up closing and becoming another vacant building?

In addition to the local logistics of Hobby Lobby coming to Kirksville, citizens might be questioning the past ethical practices of Hobby Lobby.

In the 2014 supreme court case, Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby, the court sided with Hobby Lobby in a 5-4 decision. The ruling allowed the business to opt out of covering contraception in its health care plans, though the Affordable Care Act mandated it at the time. Hobby Lobby’s political stance might be one community members feel morally opposed to, or it might be one they agree with. It’s important to ask, how will Hobby Lobby’s refusal

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions.

Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor.

LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar and spelling errors.

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online at tmn.truman.edu.

Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken in consideration.

to pay for contraception in health care plans impact those employees working at the store who want access to those resources?

The point of all of this information about Hobby Lobby is not to persuade readers one way or another about shopping there, but rather, to encourage readers and the public to always inform themselves about new businesses coming to town — especially corporations — and pay attention to the impact on the community.

Contact Submit corrections or contact the editor.

index.editor@gmail.com

660-785-4449

tmn.truman.edu

ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 6

tmn.truman.edu

www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork

@TrumanMediaNet

© 2017

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017

The Index

NEWS IN BRIEF Kohlenberg Lyceum Series schedule The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series is returning for the 2017-18 season with its first show Oct. 23. The series returns to Baldwin Auditorum after renovations last year kept it from performing as usual. The first performance will be “American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook” which features the musical stylings of George Gershwin, one of the most recognizable composers of the 20th century. The next show is the Christmas-themed “Christmas from Ireland,” with music from Lúnasa and guest soloist Ashley Davis Dec. 6. The show features many Celtic-inspired music and dances. The third show will be a performance by the Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band on Jan. 27. The last show of the year will be a performance from the Golden Dragon Acrobats. The show features award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music, and theatrical techniques. Tickets go on sale two weeks before each performance for $5.50.

Study Abroad Fair Truman’s annual Study Abroad Fair, which allows students to meet with representatives from a wide variety of study abroad programs, will take place 12-4 p.m. Oct. 5 in the SUB Georgian Rooms. The fair provides students the opportunity to gather information and ask questions about Truman’s study abroad options. Program sponsors, current exchange students and Truman students who have previously studied abroad will be available to interact with interested students. Refreshments will be provided.

Changes coming for MOBIUS system The MOBIUS library consortium program, which provides Truman’s Pickler Memorial Library with more than 27 million items, will undergo changes. Since its origin in July 1998, the MOBIUS program allows libraries in Missouri to efficiently exchange materials and services. To be more cost effective, Truman will switch to a new MOBIUS cluster, AVALON. Students and faculty will be unable to request items or view My Library accounts from Sept.

29 through Oct. 4.

Celebrate National Truman Spirit Day National Truman Spirit Day is Oct. 6. The tradition — started by the Truman Alumni Board of Directors in 2011 — is centered around spreading awareness of the University throughout the world. All people who have some connection with the University are encouraged to wear purple or other school apparel. The Alumni Association will sponsor a photo booth, photo opportunities with Spike, free food and various giveaways from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the SUB Hub. Truman students have a chance to win a 2017 VIP Homecoming Package through entering in the “Bulldogs Biggest Fans” photo contest.

“Good Kids” Play Truman’s theatre department will be performing “Good Kids,” a hard-hitting play by Naomi Iizuka about a young girl who grapples with a sexual assault. Tickets for the play are available in the Ophelia Parrish Box Office for $5. The production contains adult language and situations.

5

TITLE IX | Education secretary’s speech indicates change Continued from page 1 At Truman, Title IX is enforced by policies that prohibit discrimination based on sex and sexual violence.

If a student or faculty member reports they’ve been a victim of any form of sexual exploitation, violence or harassment, the University will notify the accused and give them a chance to reply to the complaint, Ball said.

The University assembles a series of interviews and reviews photographs, videos and any other evidence pertinent to the complaint. From there, Ball makes a preliminary determination about whether or not policy has been violated.

The panel is formed by three faculty or staff members who have been trained to handle Title IX policies and trained to be mindful of how students respond to trauma.

Ball said the administrative review panel reviews the investigation to ensure it’s as fair and complete as it can be. Ball said Truman has done a fair job at handling these cases for the accused and the victims so far.

“No matter how the law shakes out, I don’t think our moral responsibilities are going to change,” Ball said.

Ball said due process rights have always been protected, and the University will continue to be morally conscious during issues of sexual assault and discrimination.

Editor’s Note: In an email sent to the Truman Community Wednesday, Sept. 27, Ball said new guidance issued by the United States Department of Education Friday, Sept. 22 does not require Truman to change current policies or procedures regarding Title IX incidents.

State issues request for University information

BY SETH WOLFMEYER Editor-in-Chief

The Missouri Department of Higher Education requested more data from Truman State University this year than what has been asked of the University in the past.

Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said the requests are not unreasonable and largely consist of data used to keep the University accountable.

She said the data request include academic initiatives, student loan debt and how many students graduate in a six-year span.

Gooch said some of these MDHE requests are for information not typical of previous years.

“I don’t know whether that’s good or bad,” Gooch said. “We don’t really know what’s motivating [the requests].”

Gooch said the cause is likely because the new state administration is trying to gather information to better understand higher education in the state.

Gooch said the requests have not been specific to Truman, but have been asked from public universities across the state. She said it might simply be the early timing that has led to this many requests, because these requests were received toward the beginning of the academic year.

“Just in talking, you know, amongst the administration, it has been expressed that this year we’ve been asked to produce a lot,” Gooch said.

Liz Coleman, MDHE director of communications, said the data requests of Missouri’s universities varies yearly. Coleman said this is because of reasons such as the state appropriations process and organizations working on higher education issues asking for more or less data each year.

Correction

A story in last week’s issue, “Legislation requires common curriculum,” mistakenly identified Missouri State Sen. David Pearce as representing District 26. Sen. Pearce represents District 21.

MCNAIR | Program receives funding, organizational change Continued from page 1 Cianciola said Congress must decide how much to fund TRIO programs. She said President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for this year eliminated funding for McNair, but defunding the program was rejected by a Senate appropriations report.

Cianciola said some legislators have reasons for not wanting the federal government to fund TRIO programs, like thinking federal funds should not

be used for higher education or wanting to spend money on different programs. She said an increase in TRIO funding was approved by Congress for last year, though, and an amendment to reappropriate this year’s proposed increase in TRIO funds to other places failed. She said TRIO funding has had bipartisan support in Congress.

In addition to federal funding, Cianciola said Truman’s McNair Program also receives funds from the University. She said the University commits $97,850 per year to the program, but the program is careful about how that money is used. Cianciola said Truman also provides facilities and faculty for McNair and is very generous in its support of the program and its students.

“We have support through a variety of campus offices, so people’s time is a huge commitment,” Cianciola said. “The dollar amount is often what everyone pays attention to, but there’s really a lot of support.”

Cianciola said there were previously four positions associated with the McNair Program at Truman — a project director, a program coordinator, a research coordinator and an administrative assistant. For the new grant cycle, Cianciola said the staff now consists of a project director, an advising specialist, and a program and evaluation coordinator. She said approval for a program assistant position for both TRIO programs at Truman is in progress.

Cianciola said, for the previous grant cycle, the project director worked for McNair 50 percent of the time and an academic department the other 50 percent of the time. For the new grant cycle, the director’s time for McNair was increased to 75 percent, with 25 percent remaining for the department.

“What ended up happening is we consolidated some of the roles, and then we updated and changed some of the positions to better meet our needs as a program,” Cianciola said.

Cianciola said the advising specialist position is currently empty, and the University will conduct a search with the hope of having a candidate hired by the end of the semester. She said the Center for Academic Excellence is currently lending nine advisers to help with support and advising until the Submitted photo position can be filled.

The McNair Scholars Program graduating class of 2017. The program has been awarded an increase in federal funding for the next five years.

The Index

6

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Truman hosts guest performers

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Top left: Bassoonist Leigh Muñoz performs in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Muñoz has held contrabassoon positions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Springfield, Illinois, and holds a substitute position with the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera and Kansas City Ballet.

Top right: Guest performers Natalia Bolshakova and Muñoz play piano and bassoon. The recital featured three guest performers. The other performer was Dan Willett on oboe.

Right: Bolshakova plays the piano. She is a decorated musician and has performed as a soloist for symphonies all over the U.S. and Europe.

Vista Heights Apartments

Heritage House Rentals

L.L.C.

vistaheightsapts.com Now Leasing For

Leasing Office

215 W. Jefferson

2017-2018 School Year

heritagehouserentalsllc.com

1 Bedroom—720 Sq. Ft. 2 Bedroom—940 Sq. Ft. Water & Trash Provided Pet Friendly/With Pet Lease Lot Of Natural Light In A Park Like Setting

Now Leasing For

2017-2018 School Year

660.665.2787 E-mail—manager@

Affordable Student Housing

heritagehouserentalsllc.com

660.665.9224

Scan & Go To Listed Properties

E-Mail

manager@

vistaheightsapts.com

Travel smarter.

Get to and from school faster by hopping on an affordable flight from Kirksille. Parking is free, and connections in St. Louis are a breeze with single itinerary ticketing, and speedy baggage and TSA checks.

St. Louis

29

$ from

Heritage House Rentals

L.L.C.

Leasing Office

215 W. Jefferson

heritagehouserentalsllc.com Kirksville

Now Leasing For

2017-2018 School Year Enjoy the ride.

660.665.2787

*

each way

Vista Heights Apartments

vistaheightsapts.com Now Leasing For 2017-2018 School Year 1 Bedroom—720 Sq. Ft. 2 Bedroom—940 Sq. Ft. Water & Trash Provided Pet Friendly/With Pet Lease LotLouis Of Natural Light In A St. Park Like Setting

E-mail—manager@ capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR Affordable Student Housing heritagehouserentalsllc.com *Including all taxes and fees. Fares are subject to availability and other conditions. Fares may change

without notice, and are not guaranteed until ticketed.

Scan & Go To Listed Properties

660.665.9224 E-Mail

manager@

n a h T e g r n i o M Decay A t g s n i u ry e J t d e l i em C u d B rch an

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

life

7

BY KAYLA PERKINS Staff Writer

ry hu o C t s k i H ree h C c i r r ns i Bea a t con

North of Kirksville on Highway B what was once the first church in Adair County, Bear Creek Church and Cemetery, now has a gaping hole in one of the walls. The inside has even more decay — collapsing floor, signs of disuse and disinterest, and a rotting piano.

To the general public, this church is just another building that grew old and unwanted, but for the people who know its history, this church is worth preservation and attention.

Blytha Ellis is the president of the Adair County Historical Society and has a special interest in Bear Creek Church and Cemetery

Photos by Kayla Perkins/TMN Located on State Highway B, the decrepit, more than 200-year-old Bear Creek Church is situated next to the cemetery.

“It’ll probably just sit there until it falls.”

- Blytha Ellis, President of Adair County Historical Society

Inside Bear Creek Church is a wooden foundation that is falling apart, peeling paint, holes in the walls and ceilings and an old, broken piano.

— seven of her relatives are buried there. She is one of few people left who knows the rich history of Bear Creek Church and cares about its preservation.

Ellis said even before the church was erected, there was a congregation. The first records from 1838 indicate the members would meet in their homes. She said the church was being built in the 1850s, but construction was put on hold during the Civil War. Production resumed after the war ended, and community members built the pews to go inside.

Ellis said the first minister of Bear Creek Church was Lewis Connor. In January 1858, he hosted a revival during which many people were converted, and many wanted to be baptized. They cut a hole in the frozen creek because it was January, so Connor could baptize them. He died of pneumonia a few days later.

“Do you know why the church has two doors?” Ellis said. “It was traditional that the men sat on one side of the church, and the women sat on the other. So they had two doors to go into — one for the men, and one for the women.”

While church services ended in the early 20th century when people began moving to other congregations, the church was used for burial services long after.

The cemetery is the only part of Bear Creek that has seen upkeep through the years, with only enough funds to mow the lawn.

Building manager Scottie Mihavelich cannot find a way to have the church demolished. She tried to donate the building to the

Adair County Rural Fire Department for a controlled burn for training purposes, but because of the way the wood foundation was cured, burning the building could cause environmental harm. The wood used to build the church is old, rendering its boards useless for building something else. Even the cemetery association did not have the money to get the building demolished.

“It’ll probably just sit there until it falls,” Ellis said.

Mihavelich has made many efforts to have the building restored.

She applied for the church to be named on the historical registry, which was granted in 1984. She applied for several restoration grants to fix the building and has been denied on the basis that the church is too far out of town, which would create problems with theft and traffic.

Ellis said Mihavelich reached out to First Baptist Church because the women of First Baptist put out a commemorative plaque recognizing Bear Creek Church in 1946, to no avail.

“We had called the church to see if they were willing to help us get a grant or help us do something about it,” Ellis said. “But the person we talked to said that they didn’t even know anything about it — so I think it’s kind of been forgotten, you know — and that they weren’t interested in it.”

Ellis said someone cut a hole in the side of the church earlier this spring and moved the wood stove before it was sold, presumably to steal it. The hole in the wall has not been fixed.

Ellis said Mihavelich tried to donate the wood stove as well but it was solid iron which Mihavelich and Ellis thought would be too heavy for the floors at the Adair County History Museum. Instead, Mihavelich sold it to someone.

The pulpit, two pews and the light later installed on the front of the church now can be found on the second floor of the Adair County Historical Museum, along with much of the historical texts of Bear Creek Church.

Left: The Adair County Historical Society displays the old pulpit, pews, sign and light that used to be inside Bear Creek Church.

Right: This is one of the newspaper clippings about Bear Creek Church that Adair County Historical Society has on file.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 6

tmn.truman.edu

www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork

@TrumanMediaNet

© 2017

8

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Art students work to prove proficiency

BY BRENTLY SNEAD AND SETH WOLFMEYER Managing Editor, Editor-in-Chief

We all have that one major class in our major we dread taking as we delve further into what we hope to be our future.

For art majors, that class is foundations proficiency review — a class students prepare for at the start of their artistic journeys.

Art department Chair Aaron Fine said proficiency is a required course for art majors and must be passed to move into upper level courses. He said the class is designed to allow art faculty to assess students’ abilities to make sure they’re progressing the way they should.

He said the goal for students is not creativity but showing they have the proper techniques.

Fine said though proficiency seems daunting and stressful, it’s more psychological because students place so much importance on faculty critiquing their work. The number of students who actually fail is low, Fine said, and students can retake the class if they don’t pass the first time.

“I can’t remember, personally, a time when we’ve used [the class] to tell somebody, ‘You just shouldn’t be in this major,’ but I have heard of it sort of making a student come to that conclusion about themselves and about their own work,” Fine said.

Fine said he thinks students don’t receive the assessments well because of the stress they endure. He said he wants to send the typed students’ critiques later, after the stress is gone, to help students grow from the experience.

Sophomore Emily Taylor, who is currently enrolled in the proficiency course, said the process begins with art foundations I and II, in which students work on various proj-

Submitted Photo

Above are the five art pieces sophomore Emily Taylor used for her foundations proficiency review, an art critique from a panel of faculty members every art major must complete. Taylor said her favorite piece in the set was the one on the far right with the headphones over a book.

the following Wednesday they receive their assessments. When she received her critiques, she said her excitement about passing kept her from getting discouraged from any of the critical comments on her artwork.

Taylor said she thinks profiis good for students, how“... If you’re trying to be good, you tend to tight- ciency ever, it causes a lot of stress. en up, and you don’t grow as much because you “[Proficiency] definitely aren’t working as loosely as you should. You just adds a lot of stress when you’re get scared to make mistakes, and then you have a in ASF I and ASF II to be good blank piece of paper.”

— but then if you’re trying to be good, you tend to tighten - Sophomore, Emily Taylor up, and you don’t grow as much because you aren’t working as loosely as you should,” Taylor said. “You just get scared to worse than me but also people make mistakes, and then you the artist’s choosing. She said students are required to write better than me, so I was in the have a blank piece of paper.” a one-page essay about one of middle like, ‘I hope I pass,’” Taylor said. their pieces.

Taylor said students hang up Taylor said it was a nervetheir projects on Monday and wracking experience because ects. Taylor said when students are in proficiency, they choose five pieces to put on display — a black and white piece from each foundation course, a color piece from each foundation course, and a piece of

it’s a pass or fail decision weighing on five pieces. She said it was stressful because the art students know some do fail, and she said nobody wants that to be them.

“I knew there were people

TOP {5}

3

Movies of 2017 You Probably Haven’t Seen Yet

1 2

4

“Good Time”

Connie must fight to get his younger brother out of jail after a bank robbery gone bad.

“T2 Trainspotting”

Mark goes back home to Scotland after a 20 year hiatus and reconnects with his friends Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie as Mark copes with past conflicts and feelings.

IN

ME MO

R

IAM

5

“A Ghost Story”

A man dies and later reappears in his wife’s suburban home as a ghost with a white sheet over his face.

“Raw”

A woman who is an ardent vegetarian abandons her strong morals and eats raw meat for the first time at veterinary school and faces unexpected consequences.

“Obit”

This documentary follows the team that writes obituaries for the New York Times and the different challenges and pressure they must overcome on the job.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

The Index

9

“It” causes fear despite employing classic tropes

BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Unlike most contemporary horror films, Andy Muschietti’s “It” features refreshingly fleshed-out characters who raise the quality of the film. “It” should please horror movie buffs and audience members looking to become emotionally invested in a twisted, haunted house-esque thrill ride.

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, the film centers around a group of children terrorized by a homicidal clown Pennywise in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. Pennywise can take the form of each child’s deepest fear — to feed on their terror. The children must eventually confront their fears and band together to attempt to put an end to Pennywise.

Pennywise — played by Bill Skarsgard — proves to be a worthy antagonist. With a strikingly-blanched face, blood-red lips and spit sliding down his chin in thick globs, Pennywise looks like a nightmarish circus clown.

Muschietti — who previously directed 2013’s “Mama” — creates a suspenseful, humorous film with “It” and proves contemporary horror films can have characters worth caring about.

The children are compelling characters because they possess equal amounts of freedom and vulnerability — living without parental supervision or cell phones — which instills a profound sense of tension in the film. The children are initially helpless, unable to rely on adult guidance because they are not taken seriously. The children are easy to empathize with.

When they eventually form the “Losers Club” and work together to confront Pennywise, their bravery in the face of evil proves infectious. As the children become less scared of Pennywise, the film also loses some of its initial shock value.

Furthermore, their group dynamic, filled with teasing and foul language, feels authentic to that of unsupervised children.

The film effectively employs comedic relief to provide breaks from the scenes with Pennywise. Occasionally hilarious, these scenes also emphasize the innocence of the children. Their believable behavior and initial helplessness heightens the emotional stakes for the violent proceedings.

While Pennywise remains a supernatural entity, he’s grounded in just enough reality to make him extremely unsettling and unpredictable. Pennywise isn’t a generic movie monster who immediately attacks when seen. Instead, he enjoys tormenting the children, disturbing them, before exploding into a rampage.

The film’s opening scene shows a child being dragged down a sewer drain by Pennywise, proving to be one of the most startling in recent horror movie history.

When Pennywise takes the form of the children’s fears, the film employs noticeable amounts of CGI. Some of the forms Pennywise uses look similar to monsters from other contemporary horror films. The creature designs aren’t innovative enough to truly shock audiences — the buildups to their reveals are more effective than the actual reveals.

Muschietti’s “It” uses numerous classic horror movie techniques.

In particular, Muschietti uses sound design to maximize suspense.

Before Pennywise appears, the music drowns out and the camera work takes a jittery, claustrophobic quality — reflecting the terror of the victims — before exploding into a clamor of noise.

With a tone that emphasizes comedic relief and suspense, “It” sometimes feels like the cinematic equivalent of walking through a haunted house — there’s a new threat around every corner, waiting to jump out. Especially near the end when the film opts for an unrelenting pace, which lessens the psychological impact.

While cathartic, the conclusion of the film leaves much to be desired. The film’s epilogue leaves several plot threads dangling, probably to be resolved in the next installment. While certain films use ambiguity as a tool to spark conversation and debate, “It” doesn’t give enough information to let the audience piece everything together. Having to wait two years for a sequel to come out in Sept. 2019 isn’t necessarily satisfying.

While flawed, Muschietti’s “It” is one of the most entertaining horror films to recently come out and is sure to be a favorite among horror fans for the foreseeable future.

The Quad fills with Vietnamese culture

Top: Students wait in line for traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho and boba tea. The Vietnamese Student Association hosted its annual event where members expose the Truman community to their culture. This year’s theme was Vintage Vietnam.

Bottom Left: Freshman Ngoc Nguyen and senior Tam Do cook spring rolls for the Vintage Vietnam festival. Members of VSA spent 40 hours cooking enough food to feed 300 people.

Bottom Right: A member of VSA hands food to someone on The Quad. Each of the 150 or so tickets VSA sold this year included Photo by Rachel Holt/TMN 10 stamps to exchange for food.

Photo by Johanna Burns/TMN

Photo by Rachel Holt/TMN

The Index

10

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Throwback Thursday

3,000 copies of The Index stolen in 1986

After the Sept. 11, 1986, issue of The Index went to press and copies were distributed across campus, The Index staff found that about 3,000 newspapers were missing the next day.

Marianne Hemming, then Editor-In-Chief said there were copies missing from Violette Hall, Baldwin Hall, Pickler Memorial Library and the Student Union Building.

“When items are distributed free of charge, it is well recognized that people should only take what they can use,” University General Counsel Ray Klinginsmith said. “Taking a large number of copies would be a theft.”

Mass communication professor Les Dunseith said he thought the newspapers might have been stolen by fraternity members who did not like a story run by The Index about fraternities doing dry rushing or maybe competing news publications in town.

“It was a very unethical thing to do,” Dunseith said. “It violates everything we try to teach about ethical journalism.”

Photo from The Index Archives

Questions on The Quad Do you think there are enough parking spots on campus?

How do you feel about Hobby Lobby opening in Kirksville?

What restaurant or store would you like to see come to Kirksville next?

“McAlister’s [Deli]. I’m from Springfield — we have like six of them. They have really good sweet tea. That’s what I miss the most.”

“I think there are probably enough spots, just not in the places people would like them to be. I’ve lived on dorm row the last three years, so sometimes you have to park at Centennial [Hall], which is a pain ... there’s Marissa Banks, junior always some place to park, it’s just not convenient all the time.”

“I’m so excited about it. It’s really nice to be able to buy craft supplies not at home and bring them up.”

“No, there could be more. We could definitely use a couple more lots. There are a couple fields [to the north of campus] that could be used for parking or housing or whatever. Definitely more on the outside of campus.

Carlos Sedillo, senior Definitely more blue lots for commuter students.”

“Kind of indifferent. I’ve heard negative things about them in the news ... the women’s rights health care stuff and them just not wanting to pay for that ... but I’ve never really shopped at Hobby Lobby. Other than that, I don’t really have strong feelings about that.”

“I’d be down for a Whole Foods [Market]. There’s more healthy options from there. Hy-Vee has a good selection but it’s not as good as Whole Foods.

Just more vegetarian and vegan-friendly places would be cool.”

“I’m very excited because I love doing crafts in my room, so I’m definitely gonna hit them up soon.”

“[St. Louis] Bread Co. I could really use some Panera [Bread] up here. I like the cafe and the food setting the food is really good and I come from St. Louis so it’s a must.”

“I do not think so. I’ve had some friends who have had to park at Dobson [Hall] which is a pretty far walk from Centennial [Hall].”

Madelaine Stasa, freshman

“No, but I don’t know where else they would put them because the campus is very, very tight. If I had a choice, I’d say maybe have a little bit farther away parking for staff and have more of the residential Nathan Kennard, senior parking closer to campus.”

“I think it’s a good and bad thing. I’m from Kirksville, so, for me, it’s one of those things where I don’t know if we have enough people in Kirksville to sustain it for a really long time, and then it will just be another empty building that we have to take care of or demolish. But I do like that it’s provided people with jobs.”

“Panera [Bread] — or [St. Louis] Bread Co, — however you want to say that. I really like that place, and I feel like for college students, especially it’d be a great place to have ... close to campus. Then we could meet up and have study groups.”

Mark Your Calendar American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017

Christmas from Ireland Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Nov. 10, 2017

Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band

2017 - 2018 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series

Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Jan. 12, 2018

Golden Dragon Acrobats Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Feb. 2, 2018

Truman State University’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series’ goal is to broaden the cultural experience of the community through speakers, dance, music and drama. General admission tickets for all Kohlenberg Lyceum events are $5.50 (includes tax) and can be purchased at the cashier window in McClain Hall, at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville or online at lyceum.truman.edu.

All performances start at 7:30 p.m. in Baldwin Auditorium. Questions regarding the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series can be directed to the Public Relations Office at pr@truman.edu or (660) 785-4016.

Serving Fresh, Local Food & Drinks

With food made from scratch, our menu features locally-raised beef and pork.

We also use local produce as much as possible.

Wednesday - Saturday 5-9 p.m.

Sunday Brunch Menu 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday Evenings 5-8 p.m.

Check out out on Facebook for our daily specials.

Reservations required for parties of 7 or more.

202 S. Hwy 63, Greentop, MO www.sebrees.com 660-949-2130

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

The Index

Round-record setters

11

Fantasy football frustrations

BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer

Submitted photo Senior Nicolle Barmettler, junior Montana George, sophomore Lindsey Repp, junior Brooke Kelley and senior Stephanie Hulett posing after placing sixth at the Fall Preview. Barmettler, Repp and George all shot personal bests.

BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer The Truman State University golf team broke the school record for the second weekend in a row, this time breaking its own program-low record of 308 with 306 at the Northwest Missouri State’s Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Fall Preview in Maryville, Missouri, last weekend.

The ‘Dogs finished sixth out of the 16 teams after a twoday score best two-day score of 623 — their last two-day record was 630. Senior Nicolle Barmettler had her personal best of 145, sophomore Lindsey Repp had her personal best of 157, and junior Montana George had her personal best of 156 in her first tournament as a Bulldog after she transferred from Murray State College in Tishomongo, Oklahoma.

Junior Brooke Kelley said though a few women felt like they struggled the first day, she said they really pushed through and came back strong the next day. She said after all the hours the team has put in, they still have much room for growth. Kelley said they didn’t feel Any added pressure since

the first time they broke the record, but she said they trust the process they have worked hard toward.

“We’ve put in all the work, and we just have to trust that it will all come together,” Kelley said.

Barmettler was the Bulldogs’ top finisher last weekend.

She has now finished in the top 5 in 15 of her 30 career tournaments. She said it was windy both days of golf play, which she said made judging distances difficult on approach shots.

Barmettler said there are still areas where the team can improve, despite a solid weekend.

“I think, as a team, we seemed to struggle with putting this weekend,” Barmettler said. “If we keep working on that and continue to hit a high percentage of greens, we will keep improving.”

George said her first tournament as a ‘Dog was exciting, and she said she has no doubt the team will continue to break records.

The ‘Dogs are playing next at the Bellevue Fall Invitational October 2 -3 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Alumni return in exhibition

Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN Top Left: The Truman State University team participated in its annual Bulldog Alumni Meet last Saturday at the Pershing Natatorium. Bulldogs from past and present united for the exhibition event.

Top Right: Freshman Austin Bell, junior Ben Sherman, senior Jeff Cavanaugh and sophomore Justin King dive off the starting blocks to begin a heat. Bell is one of seven freshmen on the 2017-2018 team.

Bottom: Sophomore transfer Megan Mensinger, junior Emma Barnett and junior Shannon Dague competing against each other in a heat. Mensinger transferred from New York University.

Playing fantasy football means one week you are jumping for joy because your team picks did well meaning you won for the week, and the next you are kicking yourself in the butt. Then you question absolutely everything you know — or think you know — as a sports fan.

This is the struggle of fantasy football players around the world.

Maybe Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was projected to earn 19 points against the below-average secondary of the New Orleans Saints and only scored 8.3 points for your team.

Then again, maybe you drafted Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley — a good pick who was projected to score 16.9 points for you but actually scored 37.9 points against your team. If you are wondering if this happened to me, you would be correct.

I ended up using the 37th overall pick in my league on Newton this year, and I will tell you it is one of the worst fantasy decisions I have made thus far.

The former MVP of the league is only averaging 12 points a game compared to the mid-20s that he was averaging during his MVP campaign. This swing in performance is one of those things that you can really only look at and scratch your head. Why is he playing like this? Did he lose his touch? Is his time in the league coming to an end?

Whatever the reason might be, I know one thing is for sure — he is getting dropped come Tuesday when the waiver wire opens up.

Most fantasy football players take the game seriously for a multitude of reasons. In almost every league, there is a prize better than winning the pool of money allocated in the beginning of the season — bragging rights. At the end of the day, it is not all about the money you win in the league — though it is a great perk — it is about the ability to look at that coworker or friend in your class and know you bested them this week. The feeling of pride you have in your team for that week is on par with the pride you feel when scoring well on a test. Let’s be honest — most of class time is spent dealing with your fantasy lineup anyway. It’s OK, you don’t have to admit it.

Fantasy football is a game of its own. It is rewarding, yet disappointing. It is fun, yet the most frustrating thing in the world like Jay Ajayi’s 4.5 points against the Jets — come on!

While some play for the love of the game, the bragging rights or maybe just the money, know this, fantasy players — there is always someone doing worse than you in another league, and if that doesn’t console you, there is always next year. Just as in life, the worst thing a fantasy owner can do is give up, so if your team is struggling, get out there on the waiver wire and trading block and start working your way back to a contention for a championship.

Oh, and don’t pick up Newton.

12

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Salima barrels through the a mass of Bulldog and Blue Tiger linemen to gain extra yards on a play. Salima’s 147 yards on Saturday were a career record.

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Salima is congratulated by sophomore wide receiver Drew Slager after his first rushing touchdown. Salima now has seven touchdowns on the season.

SALIMA | Sophomore running back Jordan Salima fuels Bulldog offense with competitive drive.

Continued from page 14 His team’s main quarterback suffered an injury and he temporarily stepped in to fill the role. Because of this high school experience, a formation called a wildcat package — when the ball is snapped to the running back — was put into the playbook in fall camp. Killday said before he even got to his office that day, Salima sent him film from

high school and let him know if he needed him to throw, his arm was already loose. Sure enough, when Killday made the call on gameday, Salima was able to execute the play for the team.

Killday said Salima’s work ethic and motivation make him versatile and allow him to be successful.

Killday said from a coaching standpoint, it is great to have a player

you don’t have to worry about and know he will be mentally prepared every gameday.

“I think the biggest thing for him is the way he approaches every day in practice,” Killday said. “He has a goal in mind every day he wants to accomplish — whether it’s simple footwork or making sure he has a correct read — whereas his freshman year, he was just playing and wasn’t quite focused on the details of what he had to do. Now he is really starting to hone in on the details of each play.”

Last year, Salima said he had a good season, but he said it could have been better. After exit meetings with coaches put perspective on his freshman season, Salima said he was pushed to strive for more success when they pointed out key points of improvement in his game. He said he has focused on his nutrition and personal player development.

“I’ve been trying to work on my craft, so that also goes with knowing what everyone is going to do, so it’ll make my job and their job easier,” Salima said. “Also, [I’m] watching my nutrition because last season I lost about 30 pounds, so keeping my nutrition up is important, so I can perform at my optimal level.”

Salima said his motivation to prove people were wrong about his abilities as a running back has helped him find success years later.

As a freshman in high school, he was 5 foot 2 inches and was told he was too little to be a running back. Salima said because he wanted to prove this wrong, he kept pushing himself to be his best, and during his senior year in high school, he had a breakout season, rushing 2,040 yards.

Aside from winning another conference championship, Salima said he wants to be more efficient and versatile. He said he would like to be this way in the classroom too.

“I had 3.4 yards per carry [last season], which isn’t bad, but it can be better,” Salima said. “I want to help my team more on the offensive side of the ball, and I want to be one of the best backs in the league.

Aside from sports, I want to get academic All-GLVC, so focusing more in the classroom will be a goal of mine too.”

Salima averages 4.7 yards per carry and is third in the GLVC for rushing at 348 yards. Salima and the ‘Dogs travel to the University of Indianapolis at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 to face the conference-leading Greyhounds.

VOLLEYBALL | After 10 straight matches on the road, Bulldog volleyball welcomed GLVC opponents to Pershing Arena last weekend. The ‘Dogs swept Quincy University, but lost 2-3 to McKendree University Continued from page 14 The energy in the arena was electric, and the players used that momentum to their advantage. The Bulldogs won all three sets by a margin of at least 6 points, allowing them to take the match quickly.

“Our offense killed it today,” Renault said. “They did their job 100 percent.

When we get in those big swings, our energy is up, and it helps everything.”

Sophomore opposite hitter Jocelynn Livingston said last year’s experience starting the season 3-11 and ending with a conference ring is encouraging to a team looking for solid footing. She said the team has no reason to panic, and she said the players find motivation in seeing the pieces start to click.

“It’s not the start we want, but we are getting there,” Livingston said. “Last year, we didn’t get there until the conference tournament, so the fact that we’re already creeping on that success level is super exciting because who knows what we’re gonna do.”

The Bulldogs had 46 kills during the match against Quincy, 10 each from Livingston and freshman outside hitter Sam Yancy.

Livingston said it was impressive that they could beat a good team like Quincy so quickly and efficiently. She said it shows that success is starting to come.

The Bulldogs’ win against the Quincy Hawks was followed by a close loss Saturday to the McKendree Bearcats after five sets.

“It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we didn’t give it to them by any means — they had to work for it,” Livingston said.

“I think that’s what we’re most proud of.

We didn’t start out great in the fifth set, but we made them work for every point.

There wasn’t a set where we said, ‘Here ya go.’ It’s about finding that positivity because we did play great.”

The competitive match had a combined 32 ties and 15 lead changes. Finally, in the last match, Truman ran out of steam and McKendree earned its 1511 win, controlling the pace from the

Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Junior middle hitter Natalie Brimeyer follows Junior setter Savvy Hughes to the net for an attack. Brimeyer leads the ‘Dogs in kill percentage at 0.310.

first point and leading by more than one point for the entire match. Head coach Ben Briney said with a team like McKendree, the Bulldogs can’t afford to give them an opportunity to get back into the game.

The intensity seen in the McKendree vs. Truman matchup might not come as a surprise. The Bulldogs and Bearcats have a history of big games and fight-to-the-death battles in the GLVC. Two years ago, the Bulldogs defeated the Bearcats for the conference championship, and just a week later knocked the Bearcats out of the NCAA Div. II National Tournament.

As a rivalry forms, the matchup of both purple and white schools has become one to watch on the schedule in regular and postseason play.

“It’s always a tough match when we play a team like McKendree,” Briney said.

“We’ve had a lot of tough battles over the years, so going in, it’s anybody’s match.”

Briney said the team is still learning how to compete for every single point and how all of them make a difference in deciding who wins a set.

Briney had positive feedback about the Bulldogs’ performance last weekend.

He said the team made a tremendous stride this week, and he said he is overall very happy about where the team currently stands.

Briney said the team should be very happy with its progress. He said it was a fun set to watch as a coach, and he said Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN he saw a lot of things he was proud of.

Junior setter Savvy Hughes lines up a “It was pretty awesome watching serve in Friday’s home opener. Hughes them from the bench,” Briney said. leads the team in service aces with 16.

“That team that was out there was awesome. We haven’t hit like that all year, and that was the offense I knew we pushed through the pain to help direct her could have.” team and make an impact on the court.

Briney said his team should be proud Briney said team chemistry and moof its performance against McKendree, rale has played a big role in the team’s but recognize what they did wrong so progress. He said the team is a group of they can make adjustments. close-knit friends on and off the court Briney said his philosophy for this which makes for a fun dynamic. season’s volleyball team is about the In the grand scheme of things, Briney process and not always the immedi- said the team is right on track to reach ate outcome. its full potential to compete in the conferThe Truman volleyball court has ence tournament. seen many emerging leaders this sea“The goal is the same every year,” son. Briney said the four captains — Briney said. “We want to win conference, redshirt junior middle hitter Holly Hil- we want to win regionals, we want to debrand, senior outside hitter Jasmine win nationals. We don’t shy away from Brown, junior setter Savvy Hughes those goals. We have to make sure that and junior middle hitter Natalie Bri- we don’t let one loss define us. We have meyer — have all stepped up as lead- to put ourselves in a situation at the end ers on the team. Another player taking of the year to have those opportunities, defensive control is sophomore libero like last year.”

Lauren Wacker.

After home opening weekend, the “We have our four captains, but we overall feeling from Briney and the also have players like [Wacker] really ‘Dogs was the weekend’s matches embracing their role and being leaders in were a step in the right direction. The other parts,” Briney said.

Bulldogs will hit the road once again Briney said Brown has taken to her role as they travel to William Jewell Colas the lone senior on the squad. He said lege and Drury University this weekdespite facing some injuries, the senior end for two more GLVC matchups.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

The Index

Bulldogs snag first win in heat

13

BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer Truman State University decisively snagged its first win of the season in the GLVC and overall win category winning 41-14 last Saturday against Lincoln University.

The Purple and White started the game strong with a rushing touchdown by sophomore running back Jordan Salima at the end of a 4-play drive. The rest of the Bulldogs followed with a 3-play drive touchdown. On the defensive side, fumbles kept the Lincoln offense high and dry. As the clock ticked down during the first quarter, redshirt sophomore quarterback Jaden Barr rushed the ball for a 1-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 21-0 at the end of the first 15 minutes.

Lincoln put up a fight and started to climb back during the second and third quarters, bringing the score to 21-14. The Bulldogs answered with a third touchdown by Salima and an interception retruned for a touchdown by sophomore defensive back Jordan Siegel that stopped any further attempts from Lincoln to come back. A fourth-quarter touchdown reception by freshman wide receiver Jake Ellis sealed the deal, and the Bulldogs carried the win.

Head coach Gregg Nesbitt said Lincoln played a tough game, and he said the Bulldog offense was meticu-

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Redshirt junior linebacker Justin Mikeworth makes a tackle on a Lincoln University receiver. The Bulldog defense held Lincoln to 14 points Saturday while also forcing two fumbles and two interceptions that added up to 21 points for the Bulldogs.

lous on scoring drives. He said the defense played a big role in the win producing two recovered fumbles, two interceptions and two sacks.

Nesbitt said field positioning might have played the biggest factor in the Bulldogs’ win, and the offense did a

Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Taylor Manes, redshirt sophomore defensive back, grins after snagging his first interception of the year. This was one of three Bulldog interceptions in the game.

good job capitalizing on the stellar field positioning provided by the defensive turnovers and special teams.

“Some of their mistakes are our good fortune,” Nesbitt said. “We started fast with a couple nice 3-or 4-play drives to score, and it was nice to see we were up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. There was still work to be done, but the game was in hand midway through the third [quarter].”

Nesbitt said it’s critical to maintain quick responses when the opponent scores. He said each side of the ball feeds off the pace and response of the other team, so it is imperative to fulfill the need for rapid action on the offense, defense and special teams.

Senior linebacker Kade Young said the team was off to a slow start this season, so the win against Lincoln gave the team an idea of the consistent performance it will need to keep improving.

Saturday will mark Truman’s fourth away game in its opening five games, but Young said the venue of the game is not among his concerns.

He said the game’s location only af-

fects where the Bulldogs plan out the game. Young said, however, the University of Indianapolis’ status as an undefeated team will be an influencing factor.

UIndy was expected to finish fourth in the GLVC this season, behind Southwest Baptist University, Truman and Mckendree University. Since then, the Greyhounds have a 4-0 record, including their season-opening upset win against No. 2 Grand Valley State University.

The Greyhounds were recently announced as No. 10 in the national coaches’ poll — a program-high and GLVC record-high ranking for them.

“Every time we go against UIndy, we know we’re going against a good college team … They’re going to stretch us at times, but we’re going to stretch them right back, so it’s all about being prepared throughout the week,” Young said. “The little things add up too … getting enough sleep, eating well, staying hydrated — things like that.”

The Bulldogs face the University of Indianapolis at 6 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 30, at Key Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

MLB should extend netting to promote fan safety

BY JEREMY JACOB Sports Multimedia Editor

“Look out!” These words are frequently yelled at a major league baseball game. Players vigorously send a countless number of foul balls into the stands every game, and many fans are forced to react quickly to avoid a possible trip to the hospital.

The New York Yankees hosted the Minnesota Twins Sept. 20 in a game with playoff implications. Attending a crucial game like this is an exciting experience for any baseball fan, and sitting close to the action at field-level makes it even more worthwhile. A young girl was sitting close to the third base dugout when Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier sent a foul ball in her direction. It struck her.

For several minutes, the crowd of more than 30 thousand stayed silent and anxiously waited for an update on the girl’s health. The staff escorted her out and took her directly to the hospital where she has been for several days. Frazier called her father the next day who said she was

doing fine, and while he felt relieved, Frazier was still adamant that the netting at Yankee Stadium should be extended as soon as possible, according to the New York Times.

Ten out of 30 MLB teams currently have netting that extends to the dugouts. This follows the recommendations set by MLB two years ago.

These guidelines were not mandatory because of issues raised by the teams and their fans.

Twenty teams balked at the idea of extending the netting because of the different configurations of the major league stadiums and the fear of cheapening the value of expensive seats in the ballpark. Now, four other teams have pledged to extend netting by next season since the incident. Fans have been asked repeatedly if netting was necessary, and many have said they don’t want it, fearing it would obstruct their view and alter their experience, according to the New York Times. I think there is a point where the risk outweighs the benefits.

About 1,750 injuries per year result from foul balls — which exceeds the number of batters hit by pitches

— according to a 2014 Bloomberg study. The average foul ball’s speed is 95 mph — leaving spectators with less than a second to react — though they can travel even faster because many pitchers today throw at speeds greater than 95 mph. Frazier’s foul ball was measured at 105 mph.

The HBO show “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” noticed these statistics and conducted its own study with the assistance of the Sports Science Laboratory at Washington State University. People sat behind reinforced glass at the same distance they would be sitting in a field-level seat down the foul line at a major league game and tried to get into a protective stance before the ball arrived. The balls were shot at average velocity, but time after time, people were too slow to react even when they had full concentration. When their concentration was tested — using their smartphone, talking to others or eating ballpark food — the results were even more unsettling.

Major League Baseball teams have previously been cognizant of the danger associated with foul balls. They have issued disclaimers

Sophomore running back Jordan Salima ran for a career-high 147 yards in the Truman State University 41-14 victory against Lincoln University. Salima scored two of the three Bulldog touchdowns in the first quarter then scored his third during the third quarter. His previous career-high was from a game against Lincoln last season where he ran for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns.

on every ticket warning fans of the danger that balls and bats might fly into the stands. Prior to games, the public address announcer reminds fans to stay vigilant of incoming objects. But staying vigilant does not adequately compensate for the human reaction time.

Vendors spend the most time in lower deck seating to offer convenience to the fans willing to pay more for their tickets. In this technological age, major league stadiums promote Wi-Fi in their stadiums, encouraging fans more than ever to peek at their smartphones during play. So simply keeping your eye on the action is not enough anymore to protect the fans seeking the most fulfilling game experience. As the “Real Sports” study showed, even ignoring all the distractions and watching attentively is not enough to prevent serious injury.

If Major League Baseball and its teams want to prove it values the safety of its fans, then it will mandate all protective netting extend to at least the dugouts. Safety should be a chief concern whether everyone is on board with the plan or not.

Jordan Salima

14

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

No

Stopping

Salima

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN

Sophomore running back Jordan Salima leads Truman offense with competitive flare

BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer There’s no stopping sophomore running back Jordan Salima. He’s no longer the freshman secret weapon — in fact, his movements are studied in football film rooms across the GLVC. Despite a breakout freshman year — turning him into a focal point for defenses across the conference — Salima shows no sign of slowing down.

Last season, Salima was named second team All-GLVC, finishing his season with 202

carries for 696 yards and 32 receptions for 233 yards, scoring seven touchdowns. Members of the GLVC could reasonably predict what would be in store for the young running back for his next three years, but Salima has shown to be much more of a force in his second year of college football.

Last Saturday, Salima led the Bulldog offense to a 4114 victory against Lincoln University, with a careerhigh 147 yards on 16 carries. Salima ran through the Blue Tiger defense to average 9.2 yards per carry

en route to his three touchdowns of the day.

Offensive coordinator Jason Killday said Salima has been a blessing so far in his time at Truman. Killday said Salima’s competitive drive and confidence are huge contributors to his individual success.

“He is a tremendous competitor,” Killday said. “He competes every day in practice and in games, and his goal and mindset has always been to try to be the best player on the field. He has a lot of personal pride in being a great competi-

tor that allows him to handle everything we ask him to do because he doesn’t want to let himself down, and he wants to make sure he does everything to the best of his ability.”

and comes in second in receiving with 12 catches for 120 yards.

He leads the team with six touchdowns and has completed his scouting report by even throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass.

“He is a tremendous competitor ... his goal and mindset has always been to try to be the best player on the field.”

- Offensive coordinator Jason Killday After four games this season, Salima leads the rushing game with 74 carries for 348 yards

Killday said Salima had to play quarterback in high school.

See SALIMA, page 12

Women 2nd, men 7th, at Div. II cross country showcase

BY PAUL PROVINCE Staff Writer

Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Senior outside hitter Jasmine Brown throws down a block in Saturday’s match against McKendree University. Brown led Truman State University with 22 kills.

Home, sweet home

BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer

The Truman State University volleyball team hosted its home opener last weekend against Quincy University and McKendree University.

Heading into the weekend, the Bulldogs had an overall record of 4-6 and showed signs of improvement in the two games.

In 2016, the Bulldogs won the GLVC tournament after a slow start to their season.

Though the team members have not started their 2017 season well, they are looking to continue progressing and find success like they did last year.

Elle Renault, redshirt sophomore defensive speVOLUME 109

ISSUE 6

cialist, described the team’s struggles to find its identity.

She said last year the team took until the conference tournament to find its unity.

The team might not have found it quite yet this season, but it is getting closer with each game.

“We’re focusing on working on the basics,” Renault said.

“Not getting too fancy with things, playing our ball.”

Renault said the team’s struggles are mostly mental.

She said that is good because it means they are playing with proper technique.

Last Friday, the Bulldogs won their first match on their home court, sweeping Quincy in just three sets.

See VOLLEYBALL, page 12 tmn.truman.edu

The Truman State University cross country team is settling into the 2017 season and upping the pace. Competing in their third race last weekend, the Bulldogs have shown what they are capable of, posting solid finishes as a team and sporting top individual finishes.

The women’s team won against Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, during its first race of the season. Senior Michaela Hylen led the team with a personal best of 14:53.2, followed closely by five more Bulldogs, securing the top six times and winning the meet 1549. On the men’s side, senior Brice Pavey was the top finisher against Lindenwood, and his time of 12:18.8 led the Bulldogs. However, the Bulldogs could not fend off Lindenwood, falling 37-20 overall.

Hylen and Pavey’s showing at the Central Methodist University Eagle Invitational followed in similar fashion as they each were individual race winners.

Both Bulldog teams finished second overall.

“The season has started off very well,” Hylen said. “As a team, we’ve shown strides in the right direction, and I’m really excited about starting off with two individual wins and PR’s. But seeing the team do well is what keeps me motivated.”

Last weekend, Truman headed to Nashville, Tennessee, to compete in the Trevecca Div. II Showcase. The women’s team finished second with an overall time of

1:37.37 behind University of Colorado-Colorado Springs at 1:33.01. Truman finished second in the Trevecca Showcase in 2016.

The men also performed well — even with Pavey absent from the lineup — finishing seventh of the 16 teams present, following last year when they finished third. Junior Keegan Walsh led the men with a 24th place finish.

“... seeing the team do well is what keeps me motivated.”

- Senior Michaela Hylen

“The season this year is going well,” Walsh said.

“We have a strong senior leader, Brice Pavey, who we all can count on to finish extremely well. We also have an excellent core group of guys that push each other in races and meets.”

Walsh said being more team-oriented is the focus this year for the men and women. He said putting in the conscious effort to instill a pack mentality is the goal for the upperclassmen. Walsh said making sure everyone pushes one another to finish strong will ultimately bid well for the team’s results. He said by staying positive and really working to leave no one behind in each race, the Bulldogs hope to utilize their early success and continue performing well.

The Bulldogs’ next meet is Saturday, Oct. 7, in Romeoville, Illinois, where they will compete at the Div. II Conference Cross-Over hosted by fellow GLVC competitor Lewis University.

www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork

@TrumanMediaNet

© 2017