Vol. 31 No. 9 - October 12, 2026

Featured performers include (clockwise, from upper left) Gene Koshinski, Quey Percussion Duo, Nicholas Miguel and Natalie Landowski.

The annual North Star Music Festival is scheduled for Oct. 16-18.

Organized by the Music Department and Truman’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, North Star is a festival of modern music. Gene Koshinski will be the featured guest commissioned composer with Quey Percussion Duo, Natalie Landowski and Nicholas Miguel as guest performers. 

The festival will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall with an opening concert by the Quey Percussion Duo. 

At 11 a.m. Oct. 17 a student and faculty recital featuring works by Koshinski, Sherwood Shaffer, Steven Verhelst, Ben Moore and William Averitt will take place in Ophelia Parrish 2340. At 3 p.m. Landowski and Miguel will perform a piano and voice recital with Truman faculty members Jill Phillips, assistant professor of music, and Ruoyang Xiang, collaborative pianist, in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall featuring music by Grazyna Bacewicz, Modesta Bor, Marilyn Shrude, Victor Marquez-Barrios, professor of music, and Luke Carlson. At 7:30 p.m. a second student and faculty recital will take place in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The concert will feature the world premiere of a new work written by Koshinski for this edition of the festival.

The festival will conclude with a faculty saxophone recital by Xin Gao, associate professor of music, and Xiang at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Admission for the North Star Music Festival is free, and the event is open to the public. A livestream will be available at youtube.com/@trumanmusicconcerts/streams. For more information, visit nsmf.truman.edu.

Starting with the current recruitment cycle, Truman has added another path for qualified students to receive direct admission to the University.
 
Building on the University’s partnership with the college search website Niche, Truman is streamlining the admissions process for students and families with Niche Direct Admissions. Based on the information provided in their Niche profile, qualified students across Missouri and the U.S. who meet Truman’s enrollment criteria will immediately be notified they would be welcomed to join the incoming class. 
 
Direct admissions programs have expanded nationwide and grown in popularity as more colleges look to adopt a modernized, student-friendly process. These programs help break down barriers to enrollment, encouraging more students – especially Pell Grant-eligible, first-generation and underrepresented students – to pursue higher education. Truman has had a similar direct admissions agreement in place for years with the Common App.  
 
“Direct admissions programs give us the opportunity to reach more students and introduce them to Truman as an option for college,” said Allison Schweizer, director of admission. “Students outside of our traditional recruitment areas may not have Truman on their radar, or they may assume they aren’t qualified and never take the first step. Direct admission helps us remove that barrier. From there, our team can connect with those students, answer their questions and help them take the next steps toward becoming a Bulldog.”
 
One in two college-bound seniors creates a profile on Niche, with tens of millions of people relying on the platform to research and choose their best-fit college. With Niche Direct Admissions, students who meet criteria set by Truman will instantly know their acceptance status, receive scholarship offers upfront, explore detailed information about the school and begin the enrollment process. This program allows Truman to expand its reach beyond traditional regions, helping more students discover and connect with the University. 
 
Students who may not qualify for direct admission are still encouraged to apply. Truman offers multiple means of admittance, including test- and essay-optional paths. Automatic admission has also previously been available with an application, transcript and verified test score for students who qualified for the University’s TruMerit Scholarship.

Applications are open now for the 2027-28 school year. More information for prospective students and families can be found at truman.edu/admission-cost, or by contacting the Admissions Office at 800.892.7792 or admissions@truman.edu. Family and friends who know prospective students who might be interested in pursuing a Truman education can refer a student here.

Applications for Spring 2027 Foundation Scholarships, available through the Truman State University Foundation, are due Oct. 16.

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive scholarship funds. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application. 

These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.

The Human Futures and Ethics Institute has selected the “History and Legacy of Eugenics” as its first initiative, which will include a public lecture, a JINS class and a pedagogy salon in the spring semester. 

Established with a Truman Academic Innovation Grant, the Human Futures and Ethics Institute examines singular topics on an 18-month timeline, allowing for multiple modes of discussion and exploration. 

Coming to prominence in the early 1900s, eugenics is the theory that humans can improve future generations by controlling who is allowed to have children. Historical applications of the movement have been commonly associated with forced sterilizations, but it also became embedded across a remarkable range of academic disciplines and cultural institutions, ultimately affecting public policy, education, public health and scientific research. Nazi Germany used eugenics to justify mass murder during World War II. 

Truman is in a unique position to analyze the topic as the Special Collections Department is in possession of the Harry H. Laughlin Papers. An alumnus and former faculty member, Laughlin was an influential member of the movement, serving as the superintendent of the Eugenics Record Office for nearly 30 years. His manuscript collection was subsequently donated to the University and is available to researchers.

“We have an obligation as academics to take lessons from the past and learn from them for the future. That is one of the key reasons for creating the Human Futures and Ethics Institute,” said Kandice Grossman, assistant professor of sociology and director of the institute. “It’s easy to look back at this time in history and chalk it up as appalling, and something we would never let happen now, but we need to remember the context. Some of the top minds of the day believed in the eugenics movement, and we should understand why so we can avoid going down a similar path.” 

One key component will be the JINS course “Society, Eugenics and Re-imagining Human Futures” offered in the spring semester. The seminar course examines the complicated history of eugenics and its relationship with modern and future social and ethical concerns, analyzing how ideas about human difference and social control became embedded in institutions, policies and scientific authority. The curriculum includes a series of reflective, active learning and project-based activities, including content analysis of archival documents in the Harry H. Laughlin Papers, as well as the option for a travel immersion study. Students can earn an additional one-credit hour by visiting the eugenics archives at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. 

The Truman-Yale connection is due in large part to Dr. Daniel HoSang, professor of American studies. At Yale, HoSang leads a collaborative investigation into the history and afterlives of eugenics research, documented through the Yale’s anti-eugenics collective. HoSang will visit Truman in March for a guest lecture. Details on that event will be announced in the spring semester. 

More information about the events in the “History and Legacy of Eugenics” initiative will be posted on the Human Futures and Ethics Institute website as they become available. For information on the JINS course, “Society, Eugenics and Re-imagining Human Futures,” contact Grossman at kgrossman@truman.edu.

Rainer Hamilton, published author and director of the Baruch College Writing Center at the City University of New York, will present “Fictional Poetry” at 5 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Baldwin Little Theatre as part of the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program.

Along with their presentation, Hamilton will take part in various class meetings, Oct. 12-30, and teach “Writing Speech: Putting Voice on the Page.” The three-week course looks across multiple genres to consider how writers represent speech. The first week will focus on the persuasive voice, while the second week will focus on writer's use of the vernacular and the final week will take up polyvocality, what happens when a writer combines many voices in one text. Each week will expose students to a key theoretical question and give them a chance to answer the question with a short writing project of their own, creative or critical.

Hosted by the Department of English, the Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program is available thanks to the generosity and vision of Odessa Ofstad in creating Truman’s first-ever endowed chair. The Ofstad Visiting Scholar Program brings renowned guest writers and scholars from around the world to the Truman campus. During their stay, these talented scholars offer a range of workshops, lectures and readings.

Additional information can be found on the School of Arts and Humanities Instagram or on their website.

The 44th annual Truman Piano Festival and Piano Fellowship Competition will take place Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Performances will begin with a guest recital by Dr. Yi-Yang Chen, a piano faculty member from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2017 Washington and Waring International Piano Competitions, followed by the 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition. He has now performed in acclaimed venues on five continents with multiple notable orchestras. He has also appeared at the Perlman Music Festival, Taos School of Music Summer Chamber Music Festival, Banff Music Centre, Music Academy of the West, Four Seasons Winter Workshop and Brevard Music Center.
 
Chen’s recital will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. A live stream will be available at youtube.com/@trumanmusicconcerts/streams.
 
As part of the festival, Chen will present master classes and serve as a judge for students participating in the fellowship competition, Oct. 31. Incoming first-year and transfer students pursuing a degree in music with piano as the primary instrument will compete for scholarships. Top prize is a four-year renewable scholarship covering tuition and room and board. Second place is a scholarship package worth up to $4,000. Participating students were selected after applying and submitting video recordings of the required repertoire in early October.
 
The top three competition participants will perform on Truman’s Steinway D and be professionally recorded during the winners’ recital at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.
 
Both recitals are free and open to the public. More information about the Piano Festival can be found online at truman.edu/majors-programs/majors-minors/music-major/piano-festival.

Truman has once again earned the unique distinction of being named a “hidden gem” in the U.S. by the college-planning website College Raptor.

College Raptor included Truman among schools it identified as one of the “Hidden Gem Colleges in the U.S.” The goal of this particular list is to put “a spotlight on amazing schools” that might not be as well known outside of their local area or state. To qualify for consideration as a hidden gem, a school needed to receive less than 10,000 applications per year, enroll fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students, offer five or more unique majors, have a 20% acceptance rate or higher and rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall ratings.

One school from each state was selected as a hidden gem, with Truman earning the distinction for Missouri. On a subset list of “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region,” Truman earned the 16th position out of 172 schools across Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

College Raptor is a college-planning website that offers side-by-side comparisons of estimated financial aid packages along with simplified campus match scores and admission chances. Factors taken into consideration for its Hidden Gems lists include retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, selectivity and other metrics. More information is available at collegeraptor.com.

Orders for Fall 2026 graduation caps and gowns are open now through Oct. 12. Orders can be placed online at herff.ly/truman. Faculty regalia can be ordered at herff.ly/trumanfaculty. For more information, call the bookstore at 660.717.6145 or visit from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

An informational meeting for the Missouri Government Internship Program will take place at 5 p.m. Oct. 12 in McClain Hall 209.

The Missouri Government Internship Program is open to all majors and provides students with the opportunity to gain meaningful experience in the fast-paced world of state politics. Selected interns will work as full-time staff assistants with a legislator or state public official. By interning at the Missouri Capitol, students will expand their knowledge of state government, build a diversified professional network and establish a basis for future professional positions.

Many former interns have gone on to serve as legislative directors, chiefs of staff, judicial clerks, policy analysts, lobbyists and public officials as a direct result of what they learned and the connections they made as interns. The varying daily tasks throughout each office could include attending public hearings, completing legislative research, writing and editing published materials, constituent relations or assisting with basic office work.

Interns will receive a monthly stipend to help pay expenses and 15 hours of Truman credit. Interested students can click here for more information.

The Fall 2026 Truman Healthcare Partners Nursing Fair will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Nursing Department foyer of the Health Sciences Building, located across the bridge from the Pershing Building. This event will feature 12 healthcare facilities, providing attendees the opportunity to learn more about these organizations, network with professionals from across Missouri and explore different nursing internships and career paths. All nursing students are strongly encouraged to attend, and students from any major are welcome.

Additional information can be found at studyabroad.truman.edu/programs/faculty-led or by emailing Stacey Davis, associate professor of Spanish, at sdavis@truman.edu.

Faculty, staff and students from both Truman are invited to a reception highlighting the newly formalized exclusive pathways into physical therapy and occupational therapy:

• 3+2.5 DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy
• 3+2 MSOT: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
• 3+3 OTD: Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Attendees can enjoy hors d'oeuvres and connection with leadership, faculty and students from both institutions as they toast to shared academic excellence and student success. Guests are also encouraged to visit the world-renowned Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, located just around the corner, which will be open for viewing throughout the event. 

Registration is free and can be completed at atsu.edu/partnerships-and-pathways.

The Office of Community Enrichment will host a “Language and Culture Fair” from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 14 on the quad. The event will include booths featuring different activities, food samples and information from different cultures represented within the Truman community. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

The event is sponsored by the School of Arts and Humanities at Truman State University.

In honor of National Necktie Day, the Career Center, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Engagement are teaming up to host “How to Tie a Tie” from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 16 on the first floor of Kirk Building. Participants will receive a free necktie and learn basic and advanced knots.

Every five years, the Student Code of Conduct is reviewed to make changes to the document. Students, faculty and staff members are invited to review the Code and share any recommended changes. This feedback will inform any revisions made. Those unable to attend can share their recommendations via email at occs@truman.edu by Oct. 16.

Xin Gao, associate professor of music, and Ruoyang Xiang, collaborative pianist, will present a faculty recital at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The program features works by composers Claude Debussy, Baljinder Singh Sekhon II, Ephraim Champion, Ryota Ishikawa and Astor Piazzolla.

Applications are now open for the Student Representative to the Truman State University Foundation Board. 

This is a unique opportunity for students to connect with accomplished alumni and University leaders, gain firsthand experience with nonprofit and board leadership and add a distinctive leadership role to their resume. The student representative brings the student perspective to the Foundation Board while helping fellow students better understand how philanthropy supports the Truman experience. Those interested can learn more about the role and apply here. Applications are due Oct. 20.

Celebrate the Student Union Building’s 59th birthday at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 on the Student Union Building mall. Snacks will be provided.

Clubs, organizations or individuals interested in volunteering should contact Tyana Lange, vice president for student engagement and marketing, at tyana@truman.edu.

In honor of the Halloween season, a spooky tour of the (alleged) campus ghosts will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 starting on the Quad outside Baldwin Hall. The tour, led by paranormal skeptic and campus lore enthusiast Zac Burden, director of citizenship and conduct, will walk to five campus locations and last approximately one hour.

Fraternity and Sorority Life will host a “Halloween Town” party from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 in Student Union Building Georgian Room A. Students are encouraged to attend in costume to enjoy various games, giveaways, snacks and prizes for the best costumes of the night.

In celebration of Home Sweet Homecoming, a new exhibit about the history of Homecoming at Truman is on display now through Nov. 1 in the first-floor gallery of Pickler Memorial Library. The objects and photographs displayed highlight Homecoming through the decades, featuring football, parade floats and Homecoming royalty. The exhibit was curated by the staff of Special Collections and University Archives.

Any member of the Truman community can now propose a project, supply or equipment idea to the Athletic Fee Accountability Committee for consideration. Projects should enhance the athletic facilities or equipment on Truman’s campus. The purpose of this proposal is to introduce the project to the committee. Submissions should include as much information as possible, but the committee will assist in refining them.

Interested students should apply by Nov. 13 for scholarship consideration. Additional information can be found at studyabroad.truman.edu/programs/faculty-led or by emailing Yung-hwal Park, professor of business administration, at yhpark@truman.edu.

Lindsey Dunnagan, associate professor of art, has her solo painting exhibition “Carried Through” on display at Columbia College in the Sidney Larson Gallery through Nov. 4. Dunnagan is also participating in “A Thousand Words,” an exhibition of illustrations at the Johnson County Library in Overland Park, Kansas, through Dec. 12. Truman student artists Marni McDermott, Jocelyn Schaefer and Clara Stone are also featured in this exhibition. The reception is Nov. 13 and is free and open to the public. Dunnagan’s work can also be seen at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, for the TWU 125th Anniversary Invitational. This show runs through Oct. 24.

Cat Gleason, assistant professor of theatre, was approved as an associate member by the Executive Board of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. This is an honor many directors and choreographers do not achieve in their professional careers. The union protects the rights and livelihoods of professional stage directors and choreographers in addition to providing networking and professional development opportunities.

Daniel Mandell, emeritus professor of history, recently had his article “‘Doctrines of Liberty and Equality’: The Revolution and Indians in Southern New England,” published in The New England Quarterly. 

Mandell also helped organize and moderate the “Revisiting King Philip’s War: The War for New England After 350 Years” conference Sept. 26 in Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts. For the fall 2026 semester, he is a guest lecturer at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, teaching two sections of “Native American History to 1850.”

Applications are now open for Spring 2027 Foundation Scholarships available through the Truman State University Foundation.

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive scholarship funds. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application. 

These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.