Vol. 25 No. 14 - November 16, 2020

Truman students help install a silt fence near the FLATS trailhead at the corner of Missouri and Osteopathy streets.

The Forest Lake Area Trail System (FLATS) has been a dream for many community residents for nearly a decade, and a group of Truman students are doing their part to make it a reality.
 
When completed, FLATS will be a bike and walking trail connecting Kirksville to Thousand Hills State Park. For years, a group of citizens who volunteer their time and resources have worked with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the City of Kirksville, Adair County, area service organizations, local businesses and the community at large to make the trail a reality.
 
Students in Julie Lochbaum’s TRU 100: ENABLE class have separated into small teams to help with the overall implementation plan which includes: fundraising; community educational presentations; marketing/publicity; grant-writing and/or generating funding proposals; site preparation; and researching accessible recreation.
 
One team was responsible for assisting FLATS with staffing for the signature event, the FLATS Trail Half-Marathon, which took place Oct. 17. The team with the most students did physical work on the trail itself, building silt fencing and trail grooming. Education team students created nature-related activities for persons with disabilities to engage along the trail.

In terms of accessibility, Lochbaum is working with FLATS to construct a trail that is partially paved, cognizant of grade, incline and width, and also sensitive to those with invisible disabilities.
 
“One of the major things that increases accessibility of this particular trailhead is the fact that it will be located within city limits,” Lochbaum said. “A lot of individuals with disabilities often do not have the means to travel to Thousand Hills State Park where the other trailhead is located, so by establishing this trailhead, Kirksville will be able to include an even larger sector of our diverse community.”
 
The main goal for this project was to build project management skills, practice team membership skills and demonstrate the social model of disability in interactions with diverse students and Kirksville community members.
 
Overall, the trail is an effort to promote health and wellness, reduce health care costs, raise property values and improve quality of life. The trail will make the community more attractive for businesses and potential residents. The students are also embracing the ideology of getting a deeper understanding and connection to Kirksville.

David K. Robinson, professor emeritus of history, has been honored by former student John Thompson Jr. (right) with the creation of a new Truman State University Foundation Scholarship in his name.  
A new scholarship in support of history students has been established thanks to the gifts of a generous graduate.
 
Through a recent endowment-level gift, John Thompson Jr. (’92) has created the Dr. David K. Robinson History Scholarship to support history students while also honoring his former professor.
 
Robinson began at Truman in 1990. He has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His teaching interests included: world civilizations; modern Europe; Germany; the history of science, medicine and technology; the history of art, music and architecture; and research methods. In 2000-2001, he taught in Ukraine as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Kherson State Pedagogical University. Robinson retired from Truman in 2016 as professor emeritus of history.

“Valuable faculty interactions have such a tremendous impact, and I hope this scholarship honors Dr. Robinson’s strong record of both teaching and mentoring many Truman students,” Thompson said. “I am especially grateful for Dr. Robinson who, as my professor in several history courses, encouraged me to pursue both Rotary and Fulbright scholarships to study abroad and deepen my understanding of my history research at Truman.”

Taking Robinson’s advice, Thompson spent two academic years in Argentina and Uruguay upon graduation, which led to many other opportunities down the road.

The Dr. David K. Robinson History Scholarship has been created to financially support Truman history majors, with a preference given to first-generation college students. Anyone interested in supporting this scholarship in honor of Robinson can click here.

As the current president of Truman State University’s Foundation Board of Directors, Thompson is no stranger to the Foundation scholarship process. In 2012, he also established the Brenda Thompson Memorial Scholarship in memory of his mother.
 
Hundreds of scholarships are available to students through the Truman State University Foundation. Thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends, the Foundation is able to award more than $1.4 million annually.

For a complete listing if scholarships available through the Truman State University Foundation, and details on how to apply, click here.

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group committee members Scott Alberts and Nancy Daley-Moore recently assessed the pandemic through the week of Nov. 10. Truman-related cases have remained flat for much of the semester, however, Adair County has seen a spike in recent weeks.

Students and employees are encouraged to follow the same safety guidelines established on campus even when they are off campus. The “Swiss cheese” approach of taking multiple preventative steps is the best way to limit exposure to and spread of the virus. Everyone should wear a mask, maintain social distance, avoid gatherings and wash their hands regularly.

 
Union & Involvement Services Office will accept spring 2021 event and meeting reservation requests beginning Nov. 16. For priority consideration, request forms must be received by 5 p.m. Nov. 19. Any requests received after then will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Forms must be electronically submitted to union@truman.edu.   
 
Notes to plan with:

• Per the University email, parameters established for this fall (250 capacity, social distancing requirements, no buffets, etc.) are continued into the spring 2021 semester.
• Social distance room capacities will remain in place.
• The Student Union Building will continue to serve as classroom space weekdays from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Classroom set up will be the standard set up provided during the week in Georgian and Activities rooms.
• Athletic seasons were moved to spring 2021. U&I staff are working with Athletics to identify schedules to determine how outdoor venues such as Stokes and South Field may be limited.
• Student organization must be in good standing in order for requests to be processed.

Information can be found online at union.truman.edu/room-lottery. Confirmations will be emailed only during the winter break. Questions can be directed to union@truman.edu.

The Truman Police Department is once again teaming up with Truman Food Bank to allow students, faculty and staff to pay up to two unpaid parking tickets with non-perishable food donations instead of cash this holiday season.

During the week of Nov. 16-20, the Truman Police Department will be accepting canned goods and other non-perishable food items in lieu of monetary payments for up to two parking tickets, at the rate of one item for every $5 in fines owed.

All items collected will be donated to the Truman Food Bank, a group that provides food assistance for students in need.

City of Kirksville parking tickets, handicap parking tickets and fire lane violations do not qualify.

This is only valid Nov. 16-20 for currently unpaid parking tickets received during this academic school year. When coming to take advantage of this opportunity, bring a Truman ID, along with non-perishable food items, to the Truman Police Department in the General Services Building at the corner of Franklin and Patterson streets.

Students with fall 2020 Truman Service Scholarships who become sick or are required to quarantine should contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@truman.edu if they are unable to complete all 58 service hours before they return home for the semester. The email should include an explanation of the student’s unique situation. Due to ever-changing conditions related to COVID-19, flexibility will be given to those with extenuating circumstances.

The THEA 48: Advanced Study in Theatre Production and Performance class will present “Antigone” by Sophocles at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

To continue to create safe spaces for members of the Truman and Kirksville communities to experience theatre productions, the play will be streamed online.

In this modern retelling of the classic Greek tragedy, Antigone, a young political activist striving for what she feels is just, faces off against Creon, an aging politician who is desperate to maintain his position of power and make the right choice.

This production contains discussion of war, gore, death and suicide, and includes war and battlefield sound effects. It is intended for audiences 13 and older.
 
Tickets are free, and a link to the performance can be accessed here.

Has there been a professor who gave you a much-needed extension on the homework? Is there a Career Center employee that helped you prepare for your grad school interview? From the professors we interact with on a daily basis, to the librarians and Student Union workers who help us utilize the resources available at Truman there is surely someone on campus to say thank you to. That is why Student Government is accepting virtual messages from students to their favorite faculty and/or staff member. You can use this form to send us your message.

The fourth annual Women’s Leadership Conference coming this spring, and Student Government is seeking members for the planning committee. This is about one-hour-per-week time commitment and a great opportunity to plan an empowering and professional event for the whole campus.

The Organizational Activities Fee Review Committee will work to review and report on FAC, SAB, Student Government, the newspaper service, the Environmental Sustainability Fee and the Athletic Fee this coming semester. Experience in finance is preferred but not required.

Members of 1978-79 men’s basketball conference championship and Hall of Fame team are providing $50,000 as a matching gift challenge to support the men’s basketball program. The matching gift challenge runs through Nov. 27 and is designed to help generate much needed support for operations, recruitment and scholarships for the program.

How the Match Works
One-Time Gifts
All one-time gifts to men’s basketball made by the end of the challenge will be matched one to one. For example, a gift of $500 would earn a match of $500, and the program gets $1,000 in total.
 
Young Alumni Bonus
As an added incentive for young alumni, all gifts made by Nov. 27 from basketball alumni who graduated in 2010 or after will be matched two to one. A gift of $100 would earn a match of $200, and the program would receive $300.

Recurring Gifts
To encourage sustained giving, all recurring gifts (e.g. monthly, quarterly, annually) set up by the deadline will be matched as outlined above and an additional $500 will be awarded from the match money. Matching funds will apply to the entire pledged amount for up to five years.

How to Give
One-time and recurring gifts can be made at truman.edu/support-mens-basketball.

Send a check payable to Truman State University Foundation (memo line: Men’s Basketball) to:
Truman State University
Advancement Office
100 E. Normal Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
 
For pledges of $1,000 or more not set up through the recurring gift option above, contact Charles Hunsaker, executive director for university advancement, at hunsaker@truman.edu.

The Show-Me Gaming Series will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 30 and is open to any student at a college or university in Missouri registered on IMLeagues with their school email.

Games include:

• FIFA 21
• League of Legends
• Madden 21
• MLB the Show 20
• NBA 2K21
• NHL 21
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Rocket League

Participants can register here. The Discord to communicate about game times can be found here. Questions can be directed to MOIRSAGAMING@gmail.com.

While many conferences have been canceled due to COVID-19, the 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) will take place virtually, April 12-14. Students from all fields are welcome to submit an abstract for this conference. Abstract guidelines can be viewed here. While submitting an abstract, enter the Office of Student Research information into the field of the undergraduate research coordinator. Students can apply for the Conference Travel Scholarship to cover conference registration costs; however, an abstract accepted to NCUR does not guarantee a Conference Travel Scholarship. Anyone interested in submitting an abstract should use the NCUR portal by Dec. 1.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be filed now for the 2021-2022 school year at studentaid.gov.

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 you to taking a loan, but it does allow you more options.

The 2021-2022 FAFSA requires students to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For the 2021-2022 FAFSA students will use their 2019 tax information.

It is strongly recommended to apply or renew before Feb. 1, 2021.

Academic Buildings
7 a.m.-6 p.m.


Pickler Memorial Library    
Nov. 30-Dec. 3
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 4    
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed

Dec. 7-10
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 11
8 a.m.-5 p.m.


Student Recreation Center        
Nov. 30-Dec. 4
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed    

Dec. 7-11
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

        
Student Union Building            
Nov. 30-Dec 4
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed

Dec. 7-11
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

    
Dining Service Options
Nov. 29
Closed

Nov. 30-Dec. 4     
Ryle Hall Only
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 7-11    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec 12    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner Closed
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nov. 24
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nov. 25-29
University Closed    

Nov. 30-Dec. 4
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed

Dec, 7-11
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 12-13
Closed

Dec. 14-18
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 19-27
University Closed

Dec. 28-30
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 31-Jan. 3
University Closed

Jan. 4-8
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Jan. 9-10
Closed

Jan. 11
Classes Resume

In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1. To have an officer dispatched to for a non-emergency, call 660.665.5621.

“Development and Suitability Analysis of College Community Centric Service Offerings”
Students: Victor Wei, Abduboriy Abdurakhmonov
Faculty mentor: Kafi Rahman

“Comparison of Selected Bioelectrical Impedance Devices and Skinfolds to Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry to Estimate Body Fat in College Male Soccer Players”
Student: Ian McCluskey
Faculty mentor: Liz Jorn

“The Great Divorce: The Impact of Segregation and Political Fragmentation on Education in St. Louis”
Student: Syrus Duffy
Faculty mentor: Jason McDonald

“Does Gender Matter? Exploring the Partisan Gender Gap”
Student: Kaylee Jacobson
Faculty mentor: John Quinn

“Effect of Streptozotocin (STZ) Concentration on Chemoreflex Function and Morphology of the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii in STZ-Induced Alzheimer’s Disease”
Student: Chuma Humphrey
Faculty mentor: Timothy Walston, Tim Ostrowski

“Phytoene Synthase (PSY) and Alfin-like (ALF) Paralog Expression in Salt-Stressed Primary Root Zones of B73 and Mo17 Maize Seedlings”
Student: Kay McNeary
Faculty mentor: Diane Janick-Buckner

“Microplastic Abundance in Rural Missouri Water Systems: A Research Proposal”
Student: Trey Maddaleno
Faculty mentor: Barbara Kramer

“Printmaking as a Meditation on Life & Decay”
Student: Elisabeth Held
Faculty mentor: Laura Bigger

“Rediscovering Charles Galloway: The Life and Music of a St. Louis Organist”
Student: Noah Rogers
Faculty mentor: Marc Rice

Alumna Sarah Muir presented on trainlore of Adair County.

Alumni Richard Shewmaker and Anthony Bodnar performed three folksongs, with commentary.

Alumnus Chris Drew presented research on the use of mimeographed newsletters in the women’s movement in Springfield in the early 1970s.

Adam Davis, professor of English, performed his translation of a minor Serbian epic, “Strahinic Ban.”

A major event was the launch of a novel written by Kirksville native and prominent folklorist Ruth Ann Musick in 1944, now edited and published by Betsy Delmonico, professor emerita of English, and Neal Delmonico and with a preface by Adam Davis.

Truman woodwind prizewinners, from left, Emily Zuber, Brett Barger, Taylor Howard and Jennifer Jones.

The Missouri Music Teachers Association hosts an annual statewide competition, and this year Truman was well represented with numerous students receiving awards in the Collegiate Woodwind category. These students worked above and beyond by learning three contrasting solos, paying the extra audition and accompanist fees, and making/uploading their audition videos. It was an extremely beneficial learning experience and everyone who competed received detailed feedback from the judge as well.

In the Lower Division category, freshman Jennifer Jones (clarinet) was selected as winner, freshman Brett Barger (clarinet) received runner up and sophomore Taylor Howard (clarinet) was awarded honorable mention.

In the Upper Division, senior Vivian Scott (saxophone) received runner up, and junior Anna Manzelli (clarinet) was awarded honorable mention.

In the Graduate category, Emily Zuber (flute) was selected as winner, Yang Zhou (saxophone) received runner up and Haozhe Shi (saxophone) was awarded honorable mention.

The MMTA website includes the full listing of competition results.