Vol. 27 No. 23 - February 27, 2023

Truman-affiliated teams contributed more than $9,700 to support Special Olympics of Missouri during the annual Polar Plunge, Feb. 25 at Thousand Hills State Park.

In total, six teams had some connection to Truman, including the first-ever Disco Dogs team led by President Sue Thomas. Other Truman teams included: the ASG Duckies; the Diving Doves, comprised of members of Sigma Kappa sorority; the TLS Pandas; and APO Epsilon.

Alpha Sigma Alpha’s team, the Ladybugs, was the top-performing group, bringing in a total of $4,419 and earning a coveted Golden Plunger award.

More than $28,000 was raised at this year’s Polar Plunge.

The TAKE3 Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 5 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium as part of the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series.

TAKE3 is composed of violinist Lindsay Deutsch, pianist Jason Stoll and cellist Mikala Schmitz. With a flair for the wild and unexpected, the genre-defying trio brings the refinement of a rigorous classical music background and infuses it with rock-star charisma. Known for their infectious and down to earth onstage personalities, this group leaves their mark on captivated crowds around the country, performing their arrangements of top pop hits, Americana, oldies and everything in between.

Under the leadership of Deutsch, TAKE3 keeps a busy tour schedule performing more than 60 shows around the globe each season. They have also made an impact on the music scene as soloists, touring the world with Yanni, as soloists in front of symphony orchestras and recording tracks for film and television, including as featured soloists on the Netflix hit “The Witcher.” TAKE3 and company makes it their mission to impart their love, passion and joy in music-making to all who hear them, using their artistic ability as a conduit for storytelling.

Admission is free but tickets are required. Tickets can be obtained at the ticket window in Baldwin Hall the night of the event, or they can be reserved in advance at the Sue Ross Arts Center in downtown Kirksville, the Admission Office, the Union and Involvement desk, the Kirksville Chamber of Commerce and the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205. For additional information, visit lyceum.truman.edu, call 660.785.4133 or email lyceumseries@truman.edu.

University President Sue Thomas welcomed student Jessie Coleman for a recent episode of “Tea Time with Sue.”

An active theatre student in high school, Coleman also shared about her experience with Truman’s TAG Improv group, which she credits with keeping her in touch with the performing arts. After graduation in May, Coleman will remain at Truman to participate in the Master of Arts in Education program. She hopes to eventually work at an outdoor education center.

More information about sustainability efforts at Truman can be found at sustainability.truman.edu or by following @tru.sus on Instagram.
Throughout the school year, President Thomas will welcome guests for one-on-one chats that shine a light on the people and things that make Truman the special place it is. New episodes will be announced in the Truman Today as they become available. Guests for “Tea Time with Sue” can be nominated at truman.edu/teatime. Follow Truman on social media for video excerpts from “Tea Time with Sue.”

Jacob Morris earned a silver medal and all-conference honors. Morris broke his own school record when his third throw in his flight flew 19.88 meters (65-2.75) to break his previous best of 19.77 meters. Morris’ throw currently ranks 12th in Division II. He also closed out his indoor meet with another personal record, this time in the shot put as he finished fourth with a distance of 16.65 meters.

Sophie Oxandale won the first women’s individual GLVC championship since 2015 and first running event conference champ since 2011 when she broke the school record to claim first place in the 800-meter run. Oxandale ran 2:14.56, which broke the Bulldog indoor time of 2:14.75 held by Candle Hoskins since 2004. She becomes the first Truman woman to win an indoor conference championship in the 800-meter event since Mary Gray won the 880-yard race in 1983.

Oxandale had her feet in the second conference title for the Bulldogs as she ran the anchor leg of the 4x400 meter relay. Kendall Dasher, Raina Baker and Alayna Pipkin joined Oxandale on the medal stand with a time of 4:00.75. The last Truman 4x400 to win gold in the conference indoor meet came in 2003.

Baker placed fifth in the finals of the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.34, and Pipkin finished sixth at 1:00.67.

Addie Mathis placed fourth in the 800 with a time of 2:19.36.

Lexy Henrikson earned points with a fifth place finish in the mile run with a time of 5:08.34.

Natalie Telep set a personal record and scored for the Bulldogs in the shot put with a distance of 12.06m.

Kirsten Poole and Audrey Gilmore both had personal records in the 60-meter hurdles during the first night of the championships but did not make the finals. Poole ran 9.63 and Gilmore posted 10.50.

The men’s DMR team of Evan AuBuchon, Ryan Gustafson, Gavin Hill and Nathan Key placed fifth with a time of 10:27.19.

Key picked up team points with a fifth in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:36.75.

Tyler Davis, 14.87m, and Leithym Messer, 13.15m, set personal records in the shot put.

The two Bulldogs that competed in the heptathlon both set personal records in the multi event. Hayden Long finished with 3,844 points while Jake Higgs ended with 3,812 points.

The men finished 10th in the conference meet with 22.5 points.

The Bulldogs matched their highest finish in the indoor championships during the GLVC era with a fifth place showing scoring 48 points. They last placed fifth in their first GLVC meet in 2014.

The 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Corporation/Foundation Award is The Hearst Foundations, national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. The Hearst Foundations provided significant financial support to Truman, establishing the Hearst Scholarship – Mass Communications in 1986, the Hearst Scholarship – Fine Arts in 1989 and the Hearst Scholarship Fund in 1998. In 2022, the Foundation provided $100,000 to assist with the development of an innovation lab in Pickler Memorial Library.

Those who wish to attend the Foundation Celebration may RSVP here.

The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is currently seeking a student representative.

Truman’s Campus Tree Advisory Committee is one of the five standards the University must maintain in order to receive its Tree Campus Higher Education status from the Arbor Day Foundation. The advisory committee is responsible for promoting and encouraging tree variety on campus, utilizing trees for educational purposes and incorporating sustainability into the landscape, among other objectives.

The committee meets once a month as schedules allow, currently on a Wednesday morning. There are seven other members in addition to a student representative.

The selected student would serve through the spring 2024 semester, or to a mutually agreed upon term. Interested students can contact Lori Shook with any questions and to share their interest in the position.

This is an opportunity for students to honor faculty and staff academic advisors in their departments. The award recognizes outstanding advising/mentoring by a full-time faculty or staff academic advisor who is nominated by students. In addition to campus-wide recognition at the Strategic Planning and Assessment Workshop in August, the awardee receives a $1,000 grant to be used for the enhancement of student advising.  

To make a nomination for the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award, complete the online nomination form. Nomination deadline is 5 p.m. March 10.

Feb. 28
President Sue Thomas will give an address at 3 p.m., followed by Mini Strategic Planning and Assessment Workshop (SPAW) session. The Mini SPAW will include the annual All-University Address, this year entitled “A Tale of Tails,” which will be followed by a hot-takes session focusing on strategic plan and key University initiative updates.

Mid-Scream, a series of mini-events designed to help students relax and take a break from studying, returns March 6-7.

Shake It Off
6-7 p.m.
March 6
Missouri Hall, Main Lounge
Join President Sue Thomas for purple (vanilla) shakes with all the mixings and in sharing words of encouragement on posters to be displayed on campus.

Make Your Own Trail Mix
6-7 p.m.
March 6
West Campus Suites, Main Lounge
Lots of options to combine into a favorite study snack. Allergen Alert: nuts will be included. There will be prepackaged snacks available to anyone with a nut allergy to stop by and pick up without having to enter the lounge.

Shake It Off
6-7 p.m.
March 7
Ryle Hall, Main Lounge
Join President Sue Thomas for purple (vanilla) shakes with all the mixings and in sharing words of encouragement on posters to be displayed on campus.

Campus Tour
7-8 p.m.
March 7
Bell Wall
Join Zac Burden, Residence Life and mayor of Kirksville, for a historical tour of campus exploring some of Truman’s best stories.

Make Your Own Trail Mix
6-7 p.m.
March 7
BNB, Main Lounge
Lots of options to combine into a favorite study snack. Allergen Alert: nuts will be included. There will be prepackaged snacks available to anyone with a nut allergy to stop by and pick up without having to enter the lounge.

Membership in KDP is limited to the top 20% of those entering the field of education. Students with any undergraduate major and a desire to enter the field of education may apply. KDP takes a new member class once a semester.

Qualifications for undergraduates include: at least 60 semester hours; a cumulative grade point average at least 3.0; completion of ED 389; completion or current enrollment in ED 393; and at least 12 semester hours of professional education courses programmed, in progress or completed.

For graduate students, qualifications include: graduate admission status in a degree program within the Master of Arts in Education program; completion of six or more semester hours of graduate work applicable to the degree program in which the student is enrolled; at least 12 semester hours of professional education courses programmed, in progress or completed; a cumulative ranking on all graduate work undertaken of at least 3.25; and a cumulative ranking on all graduate work undertaken of at least 3.25 out of 4.0.


For more information about KPD or the upcoming meeting, email Christopher Maglio, professor of education, MAE foundations and assessment.

Truman’s Theatre Department will perform “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie at 7:30 p.m. March 1-3 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 4 in the Black Box Theatre in Ophelia Parrish.

“The Mousetrap” is a record-breaking murder mystery that features a brilliant surprise finish from Agatha Christie, the foremost mystery writer of her time. It tells the story about how the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm after a local woman is murdered. It becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. A police detective, arriving on skis, interrogates the suspects — the newlyweds running the house, a spinster with a curious background, an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef, a retired Army major, a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate.  

This play is directed by Randall Bame and is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu. For more information, contact the Truman Theatre Box Office at 660.785.4515 between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Ofstad Reading Series will host scholar Kyle Eveleth at 4 p.m. March 2 in Baldwin Little Theater.

Eveleth is the writing services and tutoring coordinator at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. He has a Ph.D. in contemporary literature and children’s literature from the University of Kentucky. He has been a Ronald E. McNair postbaccalaureate fellow, King/Chavez/Parks future faculty fellow and Dartmouth University Futures of American Studies institute fellow. Eveleth has published widely on video games, graphic narrative and children’s literature. His most recent book, “The Artistry of Neil Gaiman: Finding Light in the Shadows,” co-edited with Joseph Michael Sommers, is available from the University Press of Mississippi. Outside academia, Eveleth enjoys birdwatching, hiking, foraging and amateur game development.

In his lecture, Eveleth will discuss what it means to play a game and how that meaning is tied to both the instructions of the game as well as its actual execution. Play is crucial to the human intellectual enterprise, and no less worthy of scholarly inquiry than any other mode of expression. Like all other expressive media, iterations of play are cultural artifacts, ripe for interpretation, like any novel, poem, film or scientific discovery. Because games communicate, they can be understood via semiotics, the study of meaning making.

This special long-form lecture will begin with an exemplary form of play: the social deduction game. Eveleth will discuss the semiotics of the game, meaning its signs and signifieds. He will also discuss the motivations, styles and values the rules of the game favor. The audience can expect to participate, whether in play or in evaluation of strategy, to better understand how players uncover information and partake in the game.

The Career Center is hosting its Student Worker Fair from 1-4 p.m. March 2 in the Student Union Georgian Room. At this event students will have the opportunity to meet Truman departments and local organizations that employ or provide scholarship and work study hours.

Departments or organizations interested in participating can sign up through #HireTruman by Feb. 28. Departments that do not have an account will need to create one. For more information contact the Joel Brumfield, career services coordinator, or call 660.785.4237.

Uncommon Practice will perform a concert dedicated to the performance of the Terry Riley minimalist masterpiece “In C” at 7:30 p.m. March 2 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

“In C” is one of the most important works in the tradition of minimalism and one of the most unique compositions ever created. Riley’s piece has influenced countless musicians in experimental, film and electronic dance music. It has not previously been performed at Truman.

Uncommon Practice is Truman’s mixed instrument group that specializes in modern music. This concert will feature an amplified ensemble of 10 students performing a version of “In C” that will last approximately 45 minutes.

This year’s Annual Juried Student Exhibition will open March 21, with a reception from 5-6 p.m, and run through the Student Research Conference, April 27.

Students may submit up to three artworks to be featured in the exhibition. An online submission for each artwork must be filled out by March 4. Students must drop off their works between 3-6 p.m. March 5 and 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. March 6 in the University Gallery. Artwork submitted will be entered for jurors’ awards with cash prizes. Two works will be purchased by the Student Union Building at $250 each to enter their permanent collection.

This year’s guest juror is artist Madeleine LeMieux, arts on the move coordinator and instructor at the University of Missouri. Her exhibition “Home/Body” is currently on display in the University Art Gallery through March 3.

Rules for art work and additional dates are on the online entry form. For more information email hcook@truman.edu.

The latest episode of the podcast “Making Kirksville Home” features Zac Burden, assistant director of residence life and mayor of Kirksville. Host Leighya McNeely interviews Burden about his experiences moving to Kirksville and falling in love with the town. The podcast can be listened to here.

Applications are now being accepted for summer internships at the following locations in Missouri:

•    Independence: Harry Truman Presidential Library (full-time)
•    Kansas City: National World War I Museum (part-time)
•    St. Joseph: St. Joseph Museums (part-time)
•    St. Louis: Field House Museum (part-time), Missouri History Museum (part-time), Mercantile Library (part-time)
•    Springfield: MSU Special Collections and Archive (part-time)

The summer internships are open to all Truman students and are especially relevant for those considering careers in archives, museums and teaching. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until all positions are filled. Email jasonmcd@truman.edu to find out what the internships entail and how to apply.

Beta Alpha Psi will host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sessions from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 25 in Violette Hall 1424.

Clients who come to VITA should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earnings statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available. VITA services will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Appointments are required. Call 660.785.6064 to schedule. For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Greek Week will take place April 3-7. This year’s theme is “Onto the Next Chapter,” centered around books. All money raised will go to the Adair County Public Library and Truman’s Investing in Students Fund. For more information as events get closer, follow @trumanfsl on Instagram.

4-6 p.m.
St. Louis, Missouri

4-6 p.m.
Kirksville, Missouri

4-6 p.m.
April 13

4-6 p.m.
April 20

Complete abstract guidelines are posted on the Office of Student Research website. Inquiries about the Student Research Conference can be directed to the Office of Student Research at osr@truman.edu.

The nomination form for the 2023 Leadership Recognition Program is now open.

This program is designed to honor Truman students, advisors and organizations for their dedication to their peers, campus and Kirksville community through various leadership roles during the academic year. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate exceptional student leaders, advisors, organizations and events on campus, particularly candidates whose achievements stood out after a year of constant adaptation to change.

The access link to the nomination form and packet can be found online at involvement.truman.edu/lrp. Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. March 20.

Gifted Education
3:30 p.m.
March 30
Register here.

The ATSU Area Health Education Center is hosting a Living a Healthy Life event every Monday night at 6 p.m. through March 6 via Zoom. This free workshop is ideal for people with ongoing health conditions or who care for someone with an ongoing condition. Participants will receive a “Living a Health Life with Chronic Conditions” book and a “Relaxation for the Mind and Body” CD. Register by calling 660.626.2887 or by emailing cht@atsu.edu. A workshop Zoom link will be emailed upon registration.

The COPLAC Board of Directors, in memory of the contributions of David J. Prior to the advancement of the consortium and to student success in the public liberal arts sector, are sponsoring the second annual student essay prize in his name.

The David J. Prior COPLAC Award recognizes two senior-level undergraduates whose academic careers and future goals have been shaped by the transformative power of the liberal arts and sciences experience at a COPLAC institution. Each student’s reflective personal essay will highlight one or more of the following features of COPLAC’s student-centered approach to teaching: emphasis on active learning; ethical reasoning; interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge; community engagement; critical and reflective skills; and connections between liberal learning and informed, active citizenship. Essays should focus on the value of a public liberal arts education and avoid multiple references to the particular virtues of one’s home institution.  

David Prior’s career-long commitment to superior undergraduate teaching, his desire as a consortium leader to make the outcomes of an education at our public liberal arts institutions widely recognized, and his deep concern that all students, regardless of financial circumstances, have equal access to a high-quality education anchored in the liberal arts and sciences, will be reflected in each of the prize-winning essays.

All submissions should be sent via email attachment to bailey@coplac.com no later than March 1.

Every Friday there will be free testing available for Covid-19, RSV and Influenza available on campus. A drive-through clinic will be sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services in the parking lot at the corner of S. First and W. Randolph streets from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Testing is provided free of charge and is open to all. For more information, contact the Adair County Health Department at 660.665.8491.

The Board of Governors will meet at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 27 in the president's office located in McClain Hall 200. The website is updated to include the open session agenda.

The Truman State University Foundation Spring 2023 Foundation Scholarship applications are open to apply for. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Tools, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application. Students can submit and revise their application online at any time prior to the deadline of March 10. These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.