Vol. 30 No. 12 - November 3, 2025

Truman Theatre will perform, “Cabaret,” Nov. 13-16 and 19-20 in the James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish. 

“Cabaret” explores the decadent world of cabaret inside the Kit Kat Club. Pleasure and danger entwine as love, freedom and identity clash against the rise of darkness in 1920s Berlin. Kander and Ebb’s masterpiece “Cabaret” is daring, dazzling and timelier than ever. While the world outside is changing – inside, anything goes. 

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15 and 19-20. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Nov. 16. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu or at the theatre prior to each performance. For more information, contact boxoffice@truman.edu.

 
The final food truck event of the semester will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 4.
 
Visiting trucks include: Roll N Blue BBQ, which offers pulled pork, brisket and chicken; La Pa, which features street tacos; Nolia Jeans, which serves Cajun-seasoned foods; and Mr. Murphy’s Stuffed Potatoes, that has loaded spuds, nachos and salads.
 
The parking lot between the Student Union Building and McClain Hall will be blocked off to accommodate the trucks and to set up tables and chairs for diners.
 
Students and employees who may have received vouchers can redeem them at any of the food trucks. The $5 vouchers can be stacked up to $10 to apply toward the cost of a meal. Cash and card will also be accepted methods of payment. Meal swipes and Bonus Bucks cannot be used at the food trucks.

This spring, Sal Costa, professor emeritus of psychology, will offer a new course open to the public that explores the complexities of the human mind and the science behind psychological disorders.

“The Psychology of Abnormal Behavior” will be a scientific study of the causes, assessments and treatments of a variety of psychological disorders and maladaptive behaviors. The class aims to raise awareness of how these issues and problems can have a profound impact on everyday life.

This one-credit, pass/fail course will be offered both in-person and online, providing flexibility for participants. The in-person section, INDV 161: Abnormal Psychology, will meet during first block on Tuesdays in Violette Hall 1010. Participants taking the class online can join synchronously from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays or watch asynchronously at a time of their choice.

Registration for the course can be done online. The course is open to all non-degree-seeking students and costs $65. The start date is Jan. 13 with the end date March 3.

For more information, contact the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or visit institute.truman.edu.

The 35th Annual Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 15 in Baldwin Hall 114. 

At 1:30 p.m., Dereck Daschke, professor of philosophy and religion, will deliver the keynote address titled, “Taking Root in a New Land: Field Notes from the New American Psychedelic Religious Landscape.” The global “psychedelic renaissance” has sparked many Americans’ curiosity about the spiritual and healing potential of traditional plant medicines and other “entheogens.” But can they find religion in a tea, a tab or a toke? And if so, what do they owe the Indigenous people from whom many of these medicines come? Daschke explored these questions throughout the last year and will share what he found in search of an authentic American psychedelic spirituality.

During the conference students from Truman and other universities will present original papers from a variety of topics in philosophy and religion. This event is free and open to the public. Visit phre.truman.edu and select “Philosophy and Religion Conference” for the conference schedule and more information. Updates will be posted as they become available.

Zink is a co-author of the international best-selling anthology “Discovering Your Purpose in Today’s World: Finding Hope While Navigating Career Disruption” where her chapter, “Words of Faith,” shares her story of leaving corporate America to pursue purpose-driven work.

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program helps first-generation and Pell-eligible students interested in graduate study learn about, apply for and get accepted into graduate school – usually with funding.  

The program organizes seminars describing graduate school, how to pay for it and how to apply. Students also receive paid summer research internships opportunities, funds for graduate school visits and conferences, and general academic counseling. These are just a few of the many benefits McNair has to offer. 

Applications are open now with reviews beginning in early November. Check eligibility here. For more information, visit mcnair.truman.edu or email Charlotte Klimovich at charlottek@truman.edu. 

Starting in late September, the McNair program will have open house events in the Adair Building located at 210 E. Patterson Street. Students can learn more about the program or get help filling out an application. 

Upcoming Open Houses
Nov. 5
2-5 p.m.

Nov. 6
1-4 p.m.

The School of Business will host alumna Randa Rawlins as a Bentele/Mallinckrodt Executive in Residence, Nov. 5-6.

Rawlins is the former president and CEO for Shelter Insurance Companies, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri. Her duties included oversight and operations of Shelter Mutual Insurance Company and its 10 subsidiary and affiliated companies, as well as related benefit plans and the Shelter Foundation. The companies currently operate in 21 states with a premium base of more than $2 billion and assets under management of more than $6 billion.  

The first female to serve as Shelter’s president and CEO, Rawlins’ previous positions with the company include general counsel, secretary, senior vice president and executive vice president. While serving as president and CEO, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. Since retiring in 2024, she continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Shelter Insurance Companies. Her civic duties include the chair of the Columbia Missouri Airport Advisory Board and the chair of the Board of the Missouri Innovation Center.

A graduate of Truman, Rawlins has a bachelor’s degree in political science. She has contributed to her alma mater in roles on the Board of Governors and the Truman State University Foundation Board.

Rawlins resides in Columbia with her husband, Blaine Einspahr. She manages her family farm in Hale, Missouri, where she grew up and continues as a fifth-generation farmer.

Comedian Dulcé Sloan will perform at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

Sloan is one of the sharpest, fastest rising voices in comedy. She offers a fresh and honest perspective that speaks truth to power and eviscerates the status quo. She can currently be seen in the FOX animated series “Great North” alongside Jenny Slate and Will Forte. She can also be seen in the feature film “Chick Fight” with Malin Ackerman and Alec Baldwin.

Most recently a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” Sloan has been hailed by Variety Magazine, Rolling Stone and Timeout LA as a top comedian to watch. She has also been honored as the NBC Stand Up Showcase Winner, a Montreal Just for Laughs New Face and as a Comedian to Watch on “The Steve Harvey Show.” She has also appeared multiple times on the CNN New Year’s Eve Special with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, MTV’s “Acting Out,” Comedy Central’s “@Midnight,” TBS’ “Conan,” and has made multiple appearances as a correspondent on “E! News Daily.” Her signature point-of-view and confidence drives her hilarious views on everything from her personal relationships to the absurdities of society.

This event may contain inappropriate humor and is free to attend. No tickets are required. Doors will open at 6 p.m. No food or drinks are allowed. Bags and purses will be checked at the entrance, no large bags will be allowed inside. No video recording allowed.

The Office of Student Research will be accepting Grants-In-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) applicants, as well as Conference Travel Scholarship applications, for spring 2026. 

Students who plan to present the results of their research or creative scholarship at a conference taking place between December 2025 and March 2026 may be eligible to receive up to $500 to cover conference expenses. To be eligible for the Conference Presentation Scholarship, students must have completed or be currently involved in a faculty-mentored research experience and plan on presenting at the conference. The application deadline is Dec. 1.

The GIASR program offers the chance to conduct faculty-mentored research and creative scholarship. Through this program, students can receive up to $750 in funding to cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research. The application deadline is Nov. 7.

Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Questions regarding the applications can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

“If You Build It (’Til Kingdom Come)” an exhibition by Jared Peterson, a self-described Chicano Appalachian suburban-raised country boy, uses ceramic sculpture to explore the intersections of his multicultural identity. Through playful yet thoughtful narratives, Peterson juxtaposes motifs from his life to reveal the complexity of his personal culture and invite viewers to reflect on their own. His work employs humor and charm as tools to disarm audiences, fostering open dialogue about shared experiences and diverse perspectives. It has been exhibited nationally and internationally, offering a celebration of cultural history and self-discovery through art.

“Suckle: A Seat at the Table” is an exhibition of new work by Danielle Yakle, assistant professor of sculpture and fibers. This body of work continues her series of human-animal hybrid sculptures presented with found furniture and domestic textiles. These familiar objects operate as a stage for disruption, where contradiction, misfit energy and hybrid identity are brought to the forefront. 

The University Art Gallery is located in Ophelia Parrish 1114. For more information visit gallery.arttruman.com.

Truman’s Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for spring employment. 

Upward Bound is a grant-funded college preparation program for income-eligible area students. It hires Truman students to assist high school juniors and seniors with tutoring, workshops and overall college application processes.

All hours spent training, preparing, traveling and working with students are paid. This a great transformative experience for upper-level students and those interested in education, social work or related fields.  

Applicants should be juniors, seniors or graduate students. Positions require regular weekly availability 1-3 days per week between 1:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Interested students can access application materials here.

Truman Out-in-STEM is partnering with Nancy Daley-Moore, associate professor of health science, to present the third annual Queer Sex Education at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in Magruder Hall 2090. Daley-Moore will present on multiple topics most high school sex ed classes don’t cover including: lube, safer sex practices, healthy relationships, self-love, sexuality, gender and more. Some serious topics will be discussed so attendance is at each person’s discretion.

Throughout November, Truman’s Coalition for Missouri Partners in Prevention (PIP) is hosting a media campaign to raise awareness about the risks of drunk driving and the importance of planning a sober ride. Students can receive free designated drinks for being the designated driver at participating CHEERS establishments in Kirksville. For more information about the Truman PIP coalition, visit trumanpip.truman.edu.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be filed for the 2026-2027 school year at studentaid.gov.

All students in need of financial assistance are encouraged to complete the FAFSA. Federal Student Aid is the largest provider of financial aid for college students in the United States.

Even though a student may not qualify for grants or work-study, all students are considered for the Federal Direct Loan (no co-signer required). Filing the FAFSA does not commit students to taking a loan, but it does allow for more options.

The 2026-2027 FAFSA will use 2024 tax year information with a priority deadline of Feb. 1, 2026 for Missouri residents. It is strongly recommended to apply or renew before Feb. 1 Details about the FAFSA can be found online at studentaid.gov.

For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130 or finaid@truman.edu. The Financial Aid Office website also has a variety of helpful resources for students and their families.

 
The weekend of Oct. 25, Truman debaters attended the second public forum debate tournament of the season, sponsored by Pi Kappa Delta. This style of debate has teams of two go head-to-head on a semester-long topic. 
 
Sawyer Partney, a second-year economics and political science major, and his debate partner, Eric Rotert, a second-year criminal justice major, had an outstanding showing. Partney and Rotert were the tournament champions, defeating the University of Missouri in the final round. Truman’s showing also placed them ahead of Simpson College, Butler University and Otterbein College, among others. 
 
Partney and Rotert also finished seventh and sixth place, respectively, in speaker awards. Speaker awards are given to debate competitors for their exemplary performance abilities. 
 
For more information, follow @trumanforensicunion on Instagram and visit forensics.truman.edu.

Two students recently had articles published in issue 16 of the Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research.

“Fun Home: An Intrinsically Queer Comic” written by Robin Kincaid, senior studio art and creative writing major, discusses how the comic medium of “Fun Home” allows readers to experience Bechdel’s inner life more intimately than a purely written memoir, with references to Jack Halberstam’s and Scott McCloud’s theoretical frameworks of “iconic” art and closure. Kincaid conducted this research in fall 2023 for Heidi Cook’s “Art and Gender” class and presented it at SUNY New Paltz’s Undergraduate Art History Symposium in April 2025. 

“Compassion fatigue in a medical unit of the US Army Reserve: An exploratory study” was written by Brooke Wagner, senior health science student, with research interests in health promotion for military members and emergency/disaster preparedness for the medical community.

The issue is free to read online at monmouthcollege.edu/mjur/mjur-issues.