November 22, 2013

Baker University Student Media/Baldwin City, Kansas

vol. 121 [issue 4]

Carrying the Weight

a brothers story
Lauren Bechard
SPORTS EDITOR

It had been just over a year since Charlie Coleman was awakened by the sound of his mother screaming. Charlie tried to forget the sound of that cry, but on this morning he couldnt shake the feeling that something terrible had happened again. Instinct led him to his bathroom, which was locked. When he didnt get a response after knocking, Charlie knew his hunch was right and broke down the door. Rape, depression and a months worth of antidepressants left his younger sister Daisy, who was 14, lying unconscious in front of him. Charlie immediately picked up the limp girl, carried her to the car and sped off to the hospital. He was overcome with the terror of losing his sister.
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Tera Lyons/The Baker Orange

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MARYVILLE: Trouble follows in new town

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Small-town attitude
Michael and Melinda Coleman and their four childrenCharlie, Logan, Daisy and Tristanmade up a closeknit family in small-town Albany, Mo. As the oldest of the Coleman siblings, Charlie, who is now a sophomore at Baker University, was used to playing the role of a protective big brother. He was only 13 years old when he felt the entire weight of that responsibility fall on his shoulders. On Feb. 17, 2007, Michael was on his way to watch his son in a wrestling tournament with Daisy and Logan when his truck swerved on a patch of black ice and overturned into a ravine. Logan and Daisy made it out safely, but Michael didnt survive. When the Colemans didnt receive the news they were hoping for, Charlie was crushed. I threw a fit, Charlie said. I started hitting stuff, crying and vomiting. Charlie lost much more than his father that night. He lost his fishing partner, a friend to play catch with, his little league coach, someone who was always there for him. Charlie is a strong and steadfast guy, Thomas Hawkins, Charlies roommate at Baker, said. When his father died, he knew he had to step up and raise his brothers and sister, and he did. He took charge. Hes been that father figure. To cope with the loss of his father, Charlie became motivated by athletics. (Sports) were my escape from everything, Charlie said. I would go to a field, a weight room, find a wrestling mat, anything, just to keep my mind off of it. However, he had a hard time letting go of the memory in his small hometown and was ready for a new beginning. We just needed to get away from it, he said. It seemed like it followed us in Albany. Enter Maryville.

I didnt think (Matthew) was a bad person to talk to or hang out with at the time, but I always knew he did some shady stuff, Charlie said. I knew he could get me in trouble, but I also knew he never got in trouble or stayed in trouble. Barnett is the grandson of Rex Barnett, a former state representative who was a Missouri highway patrolman before making a name for himself in politics. Charlie remembers that Matthew had always seemed proud of his status in Maryville and liked to boast that he had gotten out of multiple offenses, including a DUI and two MIP charges. Charlie distinctly recalls a time when Matthew was bragging at football practice about getting off the hook and one of the defensive coaches called him out about it. Charlie never knew how Matthew always got out of trouble, so he made sure to be cautious when Matthew was around. Charlie preferred hanging out with his other friends instead. Those friends and his new home would turn out to be much different than the first impression they gave, though. On Jan. 7, 2012, after a wrestling tournament, Charlie invited Zech over to play video games. Zech declined, saying that he was going to stay in for the night. Little did Charlie know, a different Coleman would be hanging out with Zech that night.

I dont think they planned on getting caught.

Sometime in the early hours of Jan. 8, Charlie was awakened by the sound of his mother screaming. Melinda had found Daisy lying outside in the below-freezing weather wearing only a T-shirt and sweatpants. The young girls hair had frozen to her body and she was missing socks and shoes. Charlies first thought was, Why is she sleepwalking outside? Come to find out, Daisy wasnt aware of her surroundings, but it wasnt because she was sleeping. It was because the boys Charlie called his good friends had dropped her on the Colemans front porch three hours earlier. As his mom tried to warm Daisy up, Charlie went outside to see if he could discover any clue of what might have happened to his sister and found her cell phone lying in the snow. Charlie went through her messages from the night before and recalls texts from Matthew that read, Nick, Jordan and Cole are here, but you cannot tell your brother, and another that asked, Do you want to drink? Charlie felt closest with Groumoutis, and he called him right away to see what had happened. Groumoutis told Charlie to hold on but then never got back to him. I kept texting and calling him, Charlie said. Soon, 15 minutes had

Jordan Ratterman/The Baker Orange Despite the publicity his family has received, Charlie Coleman remains active on the Baker campus as a student and a member of the baseball team. Coleman is shown here working at the baseball teams booth during the Maple Leaf Festival on Oct. 19.

A fresh start
Charlies family moved to Maryville, Mo., during the middle of his sophomore year of high school. At first, Charlie was intrigued by the town because of its size and the fact that nobody knew his business. Hardly anyone knew us, so that was nice, Charlie said. And there were more opportunities for me and my siblings, academically and athletically. Charlie became a three-sport athlete in Maryville, but he was most excited to play baseballa chance he didnt have in Albany, where the high school wasnt big enough for a team. Within two weeks, Charlie had already formed acquaintances with three classmates whom he would consider his good friends: Nick Groumoutis, Cole Forney and Jordan Zech. It wasnt until the end of the boys junior year that the popular Matthew Barnett would start to hang around them as well.

gone by and he kept hitting the ignore button. I knew instantly that he was going to shut his mouth and not say anything. Charlie made his way to the hospital, where he found his mom in a state of hysteria. Daisys blood alcohol content was at 0.13 at 9 a.m., nearly seven hours after sneaking out of her bedroom window to hang out with Matthew and his friends. Charlie said that after hearing the result of Dailys medical examination, the family felt sure that she had been raped. Once word of the incident hit the town, it spread like wildfire. Gossip allowed for many different versions of the story, but after the Nodaway County Sheriffs Department questioned the boys at the Barnetts house that night, law enforcement officials had a clear indication of what actually happened. Matthew, who was 17-years-old at the time, confessed to giving alcohol to Daisy and having sex with her. He was charged with a felony for sexually assaulting an incapacitated victim and a misdemeanor for endangering the life of a minor. The police found out that his actions were recorded by Zech on an iPhone. Zech was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, a felony. Although Charlie never saw

the recording himself, he knows that it was passed around school and heard it was pretty gross. None of the boys who were with Matthew that night have talked to Charlie since the incident. When he found out what happened to Daisy, Charlie was in disbelief. He didnt expect that his friends would ever do such a thing. Honestly, I would have stopped it for one of their sisters, Charlie said.

#MattandJordanarefree
Sympathy was expressed for Daisy and her family at first, but it wasnt long before the attitudes changed. Classmates and members of the community began to side with the accused boys. Two weeks after the incident, Charlie received a text from his sister during school. She texted me crying from the bathroom because someone yelled at her in the hallway that she was a lying whore, Charlie said. The harassment became unbearable, and Charlies family would soon leave town.

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MARYVILLE: Daisys story gains attention

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Daisy, Logan, and Tristan transferred back to the Albany school district. Melinda was fired from her job. All the while, Charlie became frustrated because it seemed like Matthew and Zech were being praised. After the incident, I didnt really have any friends, Charlie said. I was kind of on my own, but I knew that I needed to finish school in Maryville and finish playing baseball so I could possibly play in college. As if the harassment werent enough stress for the family, the charges against Matthew and Zech were eventually dropped without warning. The lead investigator of the case, Sheriff Darren White, blamed Melinda. He says she would not cooperate and tell her side of the story. However, Melinda said she was ready and willing to work with the prosecution from the start and was upset by the outcome. In an interview with the Kansas City Star, White said, We did our job. We did it well. Its unfortunate that they are unhappy. I guess they are just going to have to get over it. Charlie didnt have time to react to the news before it had blown up at Maryville High School. I didnt really get a chance to hear it for myself before people started tweeting about it and running up and down the halls disturbing class and yelling about it, Charlie said. I can remember one girl who yelled down the hallway, Matt and Jordan are free. Soon after word hit the hallways, a Twitter storm began, Charlie said. All kinds of people, people I never would have imagined, tweeted about it, Charlie said. I was reading tweets that said, thats what you get, you skank. Charlie also remembers one tweet that read, My Twitter feed is being raped, but oh well. I wont press charges. #MattAndJordanAreFree. No one dared to say anything to Charlies face. However, he said he was harassed as well. On the night of his final home wrestling match, Charlie said he was booed while being honored. (Senior night) was exciting because I was close with some of the wrestlers and their families so I felt safe in that environment, Charlie said. I was the only senior and when I went out for my ceremony, I just remember looking up in the corner of the gym and I could see Matthews friends and they were booing me. I didnt understand why, but it went around school and people were joking about how funny it was. Charlie was glad to get out of Maryville and come to Baker University to continue playing baseball, the sport that continued to be his escape. After BRV, a sexual assault awareness and prevention group at Baker, gave a presentation to the baseball team, Charlie opened up to his closest friend and teammate, Tevin Thompson. One day, we were just talking and he asked me if he could tell me a story about something big that happened in his life, Thompson said. It wasnt something I expected at all, just because of how good of a person Charlie is. Charlie mentioned the incident to his roommates and the few other teammates he felt comfortable with

After the incident, I didnt have any friends. I was kind of on my own, but I knew that I needed to finish school in Maryville and finish playing baseball so I could possibly play in college. -Charlie Coleman, sophomore
as well, but kept it to himself for the most part. Hawkins says that Charlie doesnt wear stuff on his sleeve. Charlie has carried the weight of (Daisys story) on his shoulders, Hawkins said. He likes that the story At Baker, Charlie finds it hard to be away from his family during this time. He doesnt let the attention affect him on the field, though. Thompson says he hasnt acted any differently than normal. Charlie came up to the team and told everybody that he wouldnt be at practice one day because of whats going on, Thompson said. He said he wanted to be here, but had some stuff he needed to take care of. He came back the next day, same person happy, working hard. Through everything thats happened, I think its brave and courageous how hes handled it all. He really is a great person. Charlie isnt sure how the case will ultimately end or whether his old friends will get in trouble. He just hopes Daisys story will make others think twice. If you really look at everything we have worked for, its already accomplished, he said. My sister is being heard finally. She isnt being called a lying s-l-u-t. Other girls might think its OK to step up (if theyve been raped) and they wont be scared to talk. Although the case continues to generate national attention, as far as Charlies concerned, the battle is already finished.

Getting Daisy back

Daisys story made national news after it was reported in the Kansas City Star on Oct. 13. Dugan Arnett, the lead reporter for the story, investigated the case for seven months. Charlie was OK with the process but didnt expect the outrage that it has generated. Actually, Charlie didnt expect that anything would come from the story, since thats how it had always been in Maryville. I knew it was going to be a part of the healing process for my sister, so I was all for it, Charlie said. I just wanted my little sister back. She wasnt herself for the longest time, so anything that would help her, I was OK with. Daisy and Melinda have appeared in various interviews with national media outlets including CNN, 20 for 20, Inside Edition and XO Jane. The family has also been contacted by Dr. Phil and Oprah.

Houseboys find friendship in work

Marissa Smith
BU MASS MEDIA

Laura Price/Baker Orange Junior Ben Sobek prepares a meal for Alpha Chi Omega as part of his houseboy duties. Houseboys are in charge of putting out food and dishes for the women, cleaning up the tables after dinner and general maintenance of the kitchen.

Befriending 50 women can seem to be a daunting task to most men, but not for the daring men who become houseboys. Senior Tim Laughlin became a houseboy for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority after hearing about the position from his girlfriend, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Freshman Rick Rosas, another Zeta Tau Alpha houseboy, also heard about the job through his girlfriend. While there are other ways to learn about openings, most communication is done through word-of-mouth. Rosas said that the women primarily tell people they know about the positions. Anyone the girls knew, they would just say hey, were looking for a houseboy, Rosas said. The responsibilities of a houseboy vary from house to house, but the basic duties are the same. House boys are in charge of putting out food and dishes for the women, cleaning up the tables after dinner and general maintenance of the kitchen. Its a good college job, junior Ben Sobek, a house boy for Alpha Chi Omega sorority, said. There are perks to being a house boy, both monetary and otherwise. The benefits are what drew in Laughlin, Rosas and Sobek. Houseboys get paid per meals they work, and

can earn anywhere from $60-100 a month. They also get to eat at every meal they work. Rosas enjoys the food the most. Sobek and Laughlins favorite part of the job is the social aspect. They have become friends with the women at the respective sororities where they work. Sobek credits Alpha Chi Omega for bringing a new perspective to his life, which he tries to bring back to his own fraternity. Sobek is the chapter president of Zeta Chi, so being a houseboy adds variety to the people he sees. He said that if he didnt work at Alpha Chi Omega, he would eat meals, live and have meetings with the same people. Laughlin said he never had a sister growing up, so seeing and interacting with the women every day is like having 50. I kind of feel like, when I go over there, they are like my sisters in a sense, Laughlin said. I kind of kid around with them. We talk like brother and sister(s). Although it is a job, Laughlin likes the work. Its fun, but its work, too, Laughlin said, I mean, you know, Im getting paid, too. I have to do the dishes and things like that. Sobek said interacting with the women is fun, but working alongside the other houseboys is also enjoyable. It can (be) fun, Sobek said. It can have some highlights when you are working with the right people.

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NEWS

Three presidential candidates visit campus

Sara Bell
editor

The Presidential Search Committee welcomed three finalists for Bakers 29th presidency to campus during the first two weeks of November. Each candidate had the opportunity to meet with university constituencies and speak at an open forum. The committee hopes to announce the next university president during the first week in December.

CAROLYN STEFANCO
When Carolyn Stefanco, one of the three finalists for the 29th university presidency, first saw an advertisement for the position, she knew Baker was something special. Then after conversations with Julie Tea, a consultant for the Association of Governing Boards, about the transparency of the universitys search prospectus, Stefanco knew Baker was an institution where she could be herself. I really want to be who I am, and I want to be the authentic person, Stefanco said. And when you act in a way that reflects who you really are on the inside, then I think youre really destined for success. As the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college for Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Stefanco has experience with liberal arts colleges and believes in the value of these institutions. Baker for me, combines an ability to be at a small, liberal arts college and to draw on what I know to be true liberal arts education really transforms lives, Stefanco said. The former Fulbright scholar said she was not only attracted to Baker for its education but its principles as well. I also think its the values of Baker that really have drawn me and drawn (my husband) here, Stefano said. The commitment to community, the commitment to character building mostly for students, but also for faculty, staff and administrators, so that we are all the best people we can be as a result of our connection to Baker. Throughout her career in higher education, Stefanco has worked in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, California and Georgia. Hoot Gibson, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, also noted Stefancos role at nearly every level of a university. Shes been a professor, a department chair, a dean, higher education administrator and ex officio trustee, so a very well-rounded individual, Gibson said. Before accepting her current position at Agnes Scott College, Stefanco was a director of womens studies, department chair of history and special assistant to the dean for faculty development. She was also the founding dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at California State University, Stanislaus. What Im seeking is something that Ive known twice before in my career, which is to be a part of a community and to an extent, that community is made up of students, Stefanco said. ... I think its definitely important to be in this kind of environment, a friendly face and someone who is known to the community.

CHARLES TAYLOR
Charles Taylor, the chief academic officer for Drury University, only applied for the presidency of one institution Baker University. One of the things I find most attractive about a university presidency, this university presidency, is the ability to serve as advocate and chief on behalf of the good work that is going on at Baker University, Taylor said. During an open forum, Taylor spoke with members of the Baker community on their importance to the world around them, saying the university has a responsibility to serve its community. One of the things that impresses me most about Baker University is that it honors that social contract, Taylor said. It gets where it is and what its about. I think its a part of this community, and I think it takes great pride in leaving that world better than the way it encountered it. Taylor also observed that calls for accountability among members of the university are loud and fair. He said higher education institutions are called upon to provide students with the programs they need and to deliver those programs in ways that will enrich learning. Baker is accountable to itself. You are accountable to each other, Taylor said. I think you are absolutely committed to each other and helping this place move forward in all the right kinds of ways. Taylor believes he can help Baker continue to improve through his professional background and skill set. In his position at Drury, Taylor leads the universitys academic programs, contributes to enrollment management and resource development and works with various constituencies. Although Taylor administers Drurys faculty and academic programs, he still enjoys teaching and interacting with students. The finalist works as a professor of communication and is teaching a course with guidelines similar to Bakers Quest program. Im fundamentally about students, Taylor said. I love being part of the campus community Were on college campuses. We have access to the brightest minds among faculty, staff, etc. But what keeps us young is the ability to work with students. Taylor is the first of his family to earn a college degree and Hoot Gibson, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, recognized Taylors continued amazement toward post-secondary education. Dr. Taylor is a first-generation college student, and Ive taken to heart about his comments that being in higher education for many years, he still has a gee-whiz attitude toward higher education, Gibson said.

LYNNE MURRAY
After growing up in a town much like Baldwin City and spending her undergraduate years at an institution similar to Baker University, Lynne Murray was immediately interested in the universitys 29th presidency. When I looked at Baker, I saw the similarities not only in the kind of institution, which is quality and distinctive, but also in the small-town feel and the spirit, Murray said. The more I found out about (Baker), the more attracted I was to Baker. Murray currently serves as the vice president of development, alumni & international relations for Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., which is a leading institution for deaf and hard of hearing students. She works in fundraising and advancement efforts and raised more than $79 million for scholarships, academic programs and faculty excellence. Murray previously worked at Georgetown University, where she raised $317 million in two years, and at Johns Hopkins University, where she served in corporate and community relations. Hoot Gibson, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, introduced Murray as an administrative leader who has experienced consistent success in her profession. She works with a number of community partners, initiating national and global partnerships, spearheading fundraising efforts and has generated substantial revenues to the universities shes represented, Gibson said. Murray hopes to use these talents to carry out the universitys strategic plan introduced by administrators last fall. I commend (the university) on the progress that youve had so far and the work that youve done toward your strategic plan, Murray said. I believe that somebody with my experience, my background and talents can take us even to the next level. So it would be a joy for me to work with each and every one of you. She said increased enrollment appears to be of most importance to the university and believes utilizing scholarship funds can help BU reach its desired enrollment numbers. I could hit the ground running with the Baker funds scholarship initiative, Murray said. I believe by setting up a scholarship fund we can attract and keep some of the distinctive students who make us who we are. Although moving from the Washington, D.C., area to Baldwin City may seem daunting for Murray, she said she would be excited about the transition if selected for the position. I love Baker for what Baker represents, Murray said. You could stick it in Washington, D.C., or you can stick in Nebraska, I would still be attracted to it.

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Tera Lyons/The Baker Orange McLain Clemens, a junior running back for the BU football team, is set apart on Bakers campus by his long set of golden dreadlocks. The locks, which reach to the middle of his back, are set to be cut off in December.

End of an era: Clemens to shave dreadlocks

EJ Carter
BU MASS MEDIA

He can be identified from a mile away. Dressed casually, junior McLain Clemens strolls across Baker Universitys campus on his way to class, a daily routine for him and many other students. What sets him apart from the other students is his hairstyle a long, full set of golden dreadlocks reaching down to the middle of his back. They are about three, almost four years old, Clemens said while playfully running his hands through his hair. For some, being one of the few people on a college campus sporting an unusual hairstyle can be a source of stress and self-consciousness. For Clemens, the dreadlocks have been a way to stand apart from the social norms and focus on internal growth. However, these days are soon coming to an abrupt end. Clemens recently announced he is shaving off his full set of dreadlocks to sport a more cleancut and professional look. Soon, I will be graduating and entering the job force, Clemens said. I feel like someone may judge or look over me because of my hairstyle. You shouldnt judge someone on how they look the first time you meet them, but in the working world it happens. I think it will make me look more professional. Despite the patience and commitment that it took to don his dreadlocks, Clemens, an Oklahoma native, is preparing to cut his hair in December. When I first started, my hair was about three inches long, and we put it in rubber bands

to keep them together, Clemens said. Im not even going to lie, I looked like an idiot for a while. I had these little worm-like things in my hair with rubber bands everywhere. I told myself to stick with it because it would eventually pay off, and it did. As a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, a running back for the BU football team, a business major and a faithful boyfriend in a four-year relationship, Clemens is definitely no stranger to commitment. My girlfriend hates them, Clemens said while laughing. But that doesnt really play a factor in whether or not I want to cut them. I was committed to having the dreadlocks, and now I need to make the commitment to this next phase in my life. I feel like it is time for a change. Aside from being Clemenss main identifiable trait, the dreadlocks have also inspired other students to participate in dread-locking journeys of their own. He definitely was an influence, senior Clayton Hill, a teammate of Clemens, said. His dreadlocks are pretty badass, so seeing them all the time at practice made me want to get my own. While many students may not realize the amount of work that goes in the maintenance of the dreadlock hairstyle, Clemens work ethic is easily recognizable on the football field, where

many of his teammates are used to seeing him with a head full of hair. McLain is a really tough player, sophomore teammate Matthew MaUmalanga said. He works very hard on the field. He displays a lot of heart and always has a positive attitude. Seeing him without dreadlocks will feel a little weird because Im so used to seeing him with them. Im sure he wont change as a person, but playing with him would feel a little different.

I was committed to having the dreadlocks, and now I need to make the commitment to this next phase in my life. - McLain Clemens, junior

Although the moment of his haircut is imminent, Clemens still gives favorable and encouraging advice to those aspiring to have dreadlocks that will one day reach his current length. Im a business major, so a lot of success depends on presentation, Clemens said. I think as long as you keep them looking good and neat, you will be all right. There will be some days when you want to get rid of them and they seem like a pain, but stick it out until you know for sure that you are ready to cut them.

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Students should gain independence

E DITORIAL
Some sociologists believe there are five milestones that mark a persons transition into adulthood completing school, leaving home, becoming financially independent, marrying and having a child. In 2000, less than half of 30-yearolds completed each of these markers. This idea of delayed adulthood is all around us. We see and feel it, but do we really understand it? This generation, coined as millennials, has emerged into a world where everything is fastpaced and basically handed to them with little to no work needed. They feel entitled instead of putting forth effort to have independence. With this mentality, the idea of adulthood has changed and with it, so has the idea of when should people start taking responsibility and gaining independence. According to the United States Department of Labor statistics, the unemployment rate for people between the ages of 16-24 is 16.3 percent. That is higher than the national unemployment rate, which stands at 7.2 percent as of September 2013. This means that people are either not looking for jobs or not taking the initiative to become responsible enough to get a job and work toward independence. We see more and more young people depending on their parents for their needs. By depending on parents, millennials are passing their responsibilities on to their parents. If parents continue to allow their children to depend on them,

T AYLOR S D OODLeS [T AYLOR S CHLeY ]

they are inhibiting their children from learning the true meaning of independence. The dependence that millennials have on their parents is not just monetary. There are those who also rely on their parents for transportation and materialistic concerns. By relying so heavily on parents, millenials are not making their own decisions or making attempts at being independent. In many cases, this delay of adulthood also depends on the parents enabling. Parents should set limits to how much help they give because it would allow children to begin to take responsibility for themselves. This should begin early in the teenage years so that they will learn to start working toward the things they want, rather than just having things handed to them. As college students, we feel the struggles of independence. Some students rely entirely on their parents, while others only rely on them partially or not at all. Not relying on parents as much gives students the chance to make their own decisions, take responsibility for their actions and gain independence. Students dont have to be entirely independent, but doing so progressively will allow them to be responsible, contributing members of society. College is a good place to gain independence. Students are away from parents, so their problems are not their parents problems anymore. College is a stage in peoples lives when they can start to become responsible for their actions. There are many opportunities for students to start doing things for themselves. One of the main opportunities students have is work-study on campus. This allows them to gain work experience and know what its like not to rely on parents as much. Gaining work experience and learning to be responsible is key for people to become independent. Not everything in life is willfully handed over or will be given by parents. Adulthood should not be delayed, but rather arrive progressively.

Baker Orange newspaper undergoes printing changes

Starting in January, the Lawrence Journal World will no longer have a printing service, a fact that we found out via Twitter last month. This means that the Baker Orange had to search for a new printing provider in order to continue releasing a print edition. The November issue of the Baker Orange is a trial run through the Examiner out of Independence, Mo. The company will print our newspapers and deliver them to campus. We will evaluate the results, and we currently plan to resume print distribution in early February As our staff finishes these pages, we are unable to predict how the paper will turn out. This is a trial print run on a slightly different quality of paper. The Baker Orange brings me personal eRA YONS pride and allows for a physical product of the staffs hard work. We are an online-first news outlet, but just because our philosophy has changed over the years does not mean that we want to drop the print edition altogether. We are, however, quickly running out of printing options, which may lead to changes in how we operate. We will update the campus on

these changes as we encounter them. Ideally, we hope that switching printing services will provide us with a better quality printer on a higher quality newspaper. However, we know that the news media industry is constantly changing, and at some point we may have to move to a purely online version of the Baker Orange. BU student media outlets strive toward working more closely together while providing students with opportunities for training in audio, video and news writing. That goal will not change. Thank you for everyones support, and on behalf of the staff we hope that this edition turns out acceptable.

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Word Around

What do you think are the most important qualities for the next university president?

BAKER

Strong leadership and a great vision for the future are very important. The president of Baker should have a passion for the athletics, arts and academics of Baker.

Andrew Miller, sophomore

They should be concerned with what students want and be open to new suggestions for changes.

Josh Seybert, freshman

Submitted Photo/Illustration by Taylor Schley Jessica Lane (right) stands with her mother Shelley (left) while Shelley recovered from breast cancer.

Freshman shares mothers battle against breast cancer

Twelve years ago, I found out that my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 6 years old at the time and didnt really understand what was happening. My dad kept reminding me, Mommys sick, sweetie, and she wont be home for a couple of days. I started to get nervous that mom was never going to come home that she was stuck in the hospital. When we were finally able to visit my mom, I didnt recognize her. She was pale and weak, not the strong mother that I was used to seeing every day. It was difficult going to school, knowing that my mom was not going to be home when I was done. Luckily, my mom had communicated with my teacher, Ms. Busy, and she helped me stay on track. On July 5, 2001, my mom was diagnosed. She had to undergo four rounds of chemotherapy and four weeks of radiation. They caught it early, my Grandma Ginnie said. I didnt understand what she meant. My mom was gone and always sick. Looking back, she was one of the lucky ones. It helped that my grandma was also diagnosed with breast cancer and knew what to look for in a selfexamination. If it wasnt for my grandma, I dont know what would have happened to my mom. Once my mom finally came home from the hospital, she was different. She was exhausted and bald. I wore wigs, hats, and scarves a lot because I knew you didnt like seeing me bald, my mom said. She was right I wasnt scared. It was just another reminder that my mom wasnt feeling good, and I didnt know the outcome of her sickness. During chemotherapy and the surgeries my mom had to undergo, paying the bills was not as large of an issue as it could have been. The insurance covered all of the payments but not the permanent scar that was left on my moms chest. Unfortunately, insurance doesnt cover ESSICA ANE everyones treatments. Organizations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society help those that cant afford the expenses that come with cancer. My family has participated in cancer walks, attended athletics events that support Susan G. Komen and donate when we can. To this day my mom is still in remission because you are never actually cured of cancer. By the end of 2001, she was done with treatments. I am happy to say that my mom is healthy and well but every day is still a battle. Im fine now but at first I was scared, my mom said. My family gets nervous when she goes to her yearly checkups, but each time she has returned home cancer free.

I think they need to have the same general love for Baker and the same compassion that Dr. Pat has. They need to make Baker their home like Pat did.

Tayton Trent, sophomore

Sara Bell Tera Lyons Jenna Stanbrough Taylor Shuck Kayla Infanti Taylor Schley Jordan Ratterman Callie Paquette Lauren Bechard Megan Henry Dave Bostwick

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The Baker Orange and KNBU-TV are produced by Baker University students with the goal of keeping the university community informed while providing an educational and practical experience to mass media students. Staff members will accomplish this goal by paying the highest attention to detail and consistency in reporting, by considering the variety of interest and perspectives of the Baker community and by producing well-planned content. Staff members will adhere to the highest level of journalistic ethics in their reporting as outlined by the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. All staff members will seek truth and ensure a fair, compassionate and independent rendering of the news for the Baker community. At all times, those responsible for the production of the Baker Orange will listen to audience viewpoints and criticisms and correct any mistakes in an appropriate and timely manner. The staff works independent of the trustees, administration, faculty and staff of Baker University.

one in eight women will be diagnosed with

breast cancer in their lifetime

I believe women should get checked for breast cancer so they arent as caught off guard as my mom was. We were lucky enough to have someone in the family with experience to tell my mom to get checked, but not everyone is so lucky.

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November 22, 2013 www.thebakerorange.com

GALLERY
Mens soccer team wins HAAC

O NLINE
Page 8

Senior Dillon Baxter runs the ball against Peru State College during the Nov. 16 game at Liston Stadium. Baxter recorded 219 rushing yards in the 38-13 win over the Bobcats.

Tera Lyons/The Baker Orange

Football takes share of conference title

Chad Mullen
STAFF WRITER

With his family watching in the stands, senior running back and San Diego native Dillon Baxter knew he couldnt disappoint on Saturday. With my son watching, and my girlfriend, mom, dad, grandparents, I think that drove my whole game, Baxter said. Baxter saved his best performance for the last regular season game of his career, rushing for 219 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. His effort led the Wildcats to a 38-13 victory over the Peru State College Bobcats on senior day at Liston Stadium. Weve been watching (Peru States defensive line) all week, and the O-linemen had all the answers, Baxter said. Im going to go out and say that this one is dedicated to the offensive line. With wind gusts as high as 40 mph, Baker ran only nine pass plays in the first half. Once we started running, they started stacking the box, and luckily the wind cut down in the second half so we were able to throw a little more, Baxter said. As the wind died down, senior quarterback Jake Morse was able to throw the ball downfield, which resulted in two long touchdowns a 43-yarder to freshman Clarence Clark and a 32-yard pass to senior Tyler Hatcher. As the clock was winding down, (Morse and I)

had a big hug, and he said to me, This is my first championship ever, and you dont realize that with a 23-year-old kid, whos played a lot of football in his life, and this is his first time experiencing that, head coach Mike Grossner said. Facing a strong triple-option team, Baker still outgained the Bobcats on the ground 274-224. Junior Camren Tornaden added to Baxters 219 yards with 37 of his own, including a six-yard score. The Wildcats defense held the third-ranked Peru State rushing attack to 59 yards below its season average. We were very assignment smart. There was only probably two missed assignments all day, and it showed with a few big runs, but we had the fullback corralled, the quarterback corralled, and the late pitch we were all over, Grossner said. Sophomore defensive tackle Myron Tipton, only two weeks removed from surgery to repair a torn meniscus, added, With Austin Hamm and I at the defensive tackles, coach said all week to stop the inside, so we stopped the inside, and all they had left was the outside pitch. Baker also had the edge in the passing game, as Morse went 12-23 passing for 169 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, compared to Peru States team effort of 11-25 for 96 yards and two interceptions. Both of those interceptions came from senior linebacker Emmerson Clarke, picking off his fifth and sixth passes of the season. Our defense has been very good at turning the

Wildcats to host NAIA playoff game

The No. 4 Baker University football team will host No. 13 Sterling College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Liston Stadium for the opening round of the NAIA playoffs.
ball over all year, Baxter said. Emmerson and Darrick Smith have been on point with interceptions this year. After a scoreless first quarter, Clarence Clark knocked in a 24-yard field goal for Baker to take a 3-0 lead in the second. But the ensuing Peru State drive ended with a 25-yard touchdown run by junior Marcus Spearman and a 7-3 Bobcat lead. The Wildcats answered right back with a touchdown of their own, a 12-yard connection from Morse to sophomore Alex Stebbins to regain their three-point lead into halftime. We always start out a little slow, and thats something we need to work on, but once we get it going it is really hard to stop us, Baxter said. And the Wildcats got it going in the second half, outscoring Peru State 28-6. With the win, the Wildcats improved their record to 10-1 overall. Baker also won its 10th game of the season for the first time since 1983.

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Mens soccer shuts out MNU

Wildcats take home conference crown; womens soccer season ends in shootout
Lauren Bechard
SPORTS EDITOR

The Baker University mens soccer team defeated MidAmerica Nazarene University to take home the 2013 Heart of America Athletic Conference title. On Nov. 15, BU fans packed the stands at Pioneer Field in Olathe to cheer on the Wildcats to a 1-0 victory over MNU. The championship triumph earned the Wildcats an automatic bid to the 2013 NAIA Mens Soccer National Tournament. Sophomore Andrew Miller says its an overall love for each other that earned Baker the win. We have all really bought into this team, Miller said. While we might not have the most talent in the country, we have the best team chemistry. Miller scored the lone goal of the game in the 71st minute after connecting with a corner kick sent in by freshman Chris Tuso. I see the ball come to my foot and I am just praying please dont mess this up, Miller said. I see the ball cross the line and they bury it in the back of their net after it had already went in and it was just pure elation. Miller describes his first goal of his collegiate soccer career as a total team effort.

Were the hardest working team in the country without a doubt, and since we have that we can go places, Miller said. Playing against the wind, the Wildcats were outshot by the Pioneers 10-1 in the first half. Head coach Nate Houser is proud of the team for playing through adversity. I thought we were mentally tougher than we have been, Houser said. Things certainly didnt go our way for a while and we had to chase and claw and fight. Houser was also pleased with the performance of senior goalkeeper Matt Bickley, who made six saves during the game. Matt Bickley was unbelievable in the first half, and when we have performances like that, I cant do anything but take my hat off and applaud, Houser said. As team captain, senior Andy Griffin was focused on making sure his team stayed together throughout the match. Everybody came out and tried as hard as they could, left everything on the field and had no regrets, Griffin said. I couldnt have asked for anything else. After MNU fans wore custom-made T-shirts, which read We Own Baker, to prepare for the BU homecoming football game on Oct. 5, Wildcat fans

Tera Lyons/Baker Orange (Top) Sophomore Andrew Miller celebrates making a goal against MNU during the HAAC championship. (Below) Freshman Hayley Seibel comforts junior Shelby Schiraldi after the womens soccer team was knocked out of the HAAC tournament by MidAmerica Nazarene University on Nov. 9.

have made a joke of the phrase. I dont think anybody owns Baker anymore, Houser said after the win. Miller chimed in, I dont think MNU owns Baker. I think the plaque will have something to say about that. The No. 3 Wildcats will now host No. 10 Midland University for the opening round of the NAIA national tournament at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Liston Stadium. Until then, Houser suggested to his team in a huddle after the game, Have the night off and act like were the HAAC champions, maybe. The Baker womens soccer season ended on the Pioneers field in the first

round of the HAAC tournament on Nov. 9. After 110 minutes of scoreless play, the game came down to a penalty kick shootout in which Baker fell to MNU, 3-2. Juniors Shelby Schiraldi and Bailey Sosa each made a PK during the shootout; however, the Wildcats missed the last three shots. Between the pipes, junior Rachel Theobald made one save during the shootout to add to her total of 70 saves during the season. The women ended their season with a 7-5-7 overall record and a 3-2-2 record in conference play.

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SPORTs

Mens basketball wins home opener

Chad Mullen
STAFF WRITER

Stepping onto its home court for the first time this season, the Baker University mens basketball team took down Kansas Wesleyan University 83-63. The Wildcats improved to 2-2 on the season after outscoring KWU 53-31 in the second half of the game. Junior EJ Carter recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. EJ has really improved by leaps and bounds, assistant coach Connor Bechard said. Hes been a good leader, he plays hard every day. Four other Wildcats scored in the double digits against KWU including freshman Javeion Grey with a team high of 16 points. Senior Todd Johnston and juniors Jared Fulks and Eric Watson each sunk 10 points of their own. The home-court win came just days after Baker lost a doubleovertime thriller to the University of Saint Mary and claimed its first win of the season over Ottawa University. The 97-91 loss to the Spires on Nov. 8 came despite a 31-point, 11-rebound effort by Carter. The Spires were led by a 48-point effort by guard Grant Greenberg, who went 29-32 from

the free-throw line. As a team, Saint Mary was 45-51 from the line, shooting over 88 percent. Johnston says that defensively, the team is still getting a feel for the court. The only thing we really need to improve on defense is helping each other out more, sophomore Nick Wilson said. Since were undersized, were going to need help when someone gets beat and we need to box out as a team. The Wildcats fell behind 34-30 at halftime, but bounced back with a 43-point second half to tie the game at 73 at the end of regulation. Baker took 27 more field goal attempts than the Spires due to the Wildcats edge in offensive rebounding and turnovers, but BU only shot 38.8 percent and missed 12 free throws. Most recently, the Wildcats traveled east for exhibition games against the University of Central Missouri, losing 87-59, and Northwest Missouri State University, where they fell 96-50. The season is going about where it was to be expected, Bechard said. Since we have 11 new guys, there is going to be a learning curve with all of the inexperience. The Wildcats will return to their home court to take on the McPherson College Bulldogs at 4 p.m. Saturday at Collins Center.

Tera Lyons/The Baker Orange Senior Julian Mills goes up for a shot against Kansas Wesleyan Universitys Jacob Luntz and Tremaine Twitty Nov. 12 at Collins Center.

1 - on - 1 with

EJ Carter
Q: How long have you been playing basketball? A: Ive been playing basketball ever since I was 6. Q: Have you always wanted to play in college? A: College basketball is something that I had always watched growing up and always wanted to do. All my older family members that I grew up with, they all played college sports ... It was something I knew I always wanted to do, and could do and always worked hard for. Q: How did you end up at Baker? A: Thats a long story. Basically in a nutshell, I couldnt go to a (Division I) or (Division II) school right out of high school because I had transcript problems and ended up going to (junior college) ... coach Dooley heard about me through someone he knew while he was back at

junior basketball player

guard. Coming here theres a big size level so you have to play where the coach puts you as far as size is concerned, so I play forward here. Its really helped me to develop my game -outside, inside, perimeter, guard play as well as post play, so that way I can become a more wellrounded player. So Im pretty much that one guy who can do a lot of things. You put me on the floor and I do whatever needs to be done so we can win. Q: How would you describe a Baker basketball game to someone who had never seen one before? A: Its real. Were going to play hard. This season, its going to be exciting. I mean were not the biggest team, but man are we fast and athletic. So you may see a few dunks, steals, some alleyoops, some real exciting stuff. If you come to a game this year , be prepared for an exciting show because thats what we bring. Were bringing the show. Its show time out here in Baldwin City.

Columbia College, and when he got the job here he gave me the opportunity, and Ive loved him for it ever since. Q: Whats your favorite part about playing for Baker? A: My favorite part about playing here would probably be the atmosphere. I feel like all the people here, they care about basketball, they care about the players. When they come to the games its like your friends are watching you and they want you to win, and you go and watch them and want them to win in their respective sports. (Baker) isnt the biggest place, but at the same time, I feel like the fact that the atmosphere is small and enclosed it creates a better setting for the camaraderie of everybody as a whole, as a fan, player and friend. Q: Do you have a part of the game that youre specifically good at? A: Im a jack-of-all-trades, I can do a little bit of everything well. All my life Ive been a

1 ON 1 is a section in which a Baker Orange sports writer interviews a prominent Baker athlete about his or her sport and life.

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BU Scoreboard
Winter sports schedules are now underway for Baker University, and the Wildcats earned three Heart of America Athletic Conference championships from its fall sports teams.

Football: vs. sterling

The fourth-ranked BU football team will host the first round of the NAIA-FCS playoffs for the first time since 1983. Baker earned a share of the HAAC title after defeating Peru State College 38-13. The 10-1 Wildcats will take on No. 13 Sterling at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Liston Stadium.

mens Soccer: vs. midland (neb.)

After defeating MidAmerica Nazarene University 1-0 on the Pioneers home field, the Cats earned the HAAC title and jumped to No. 3 in the final NAIA Mens Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. Baker will host No. 10 Midland University at 7 p.m. Saturday for the first round of the national playoffs.
Tera Lyons/The Baker Orange Freshman Rebecca Wood celebrates with her teammates during the Jayhawk Collegiate Challenge on Nov. 3 in Lawrence. The Wildcats finished third during the tournament.

cross country: national championships

The No. 25 Baker womens cross country team took home the HAAC championship after its conference race in Marshall, Mo., on Nov. 9. Senior Lauren Jaqua took first place with a time of 18:54. Baker will compete at nationals on Saturday at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.

Bowlers chase national dream despite adding five newcomers

Jessica Lane
STAFF WRITER

With five new bowlers on its roster, the Baker University bowling team is filled with fresh faces. But despite the teams youth, the Wildcats have big aspirations. Our goal as a team is to make nationals, head coach Cheryl Keslar said. We have to do one tournament at a time. On Nov. 9-10, the team finished in 16th place of 33 teams at the ISYL Leatherneck Classic in Davenport, Iowa. This performance came just a week after the Wildcats finished third at the Jayhawk Collegiate Challenge in Lawrence. As a team, we always do really well when we bowl against schools that are higher than us, freshman Rebecca Wood said. It makes us try even harder. Junior Carly Schmidtlein led the Wildcats by placing 30th during the Leatherneck Classic, followed by Wood, who had a 50thplace finish. Sophomore Heather Wright has shown improvement over the season and placed 226th out of 276 bowlers with 523 total pins. Her team voted her the most valuable player for the tournament. Some of the starters werent having a very good day and we put her in and she did a great job, Keslar said. The team practices three times a week except for nursing majors Schmidtlein and junior Shaley Epperson. They meet at the Westridge Family Fun Center in Topeka, which is owned by Keslar and her husband. Keslars husband meets Schmidtlein and Epperson in order to keep them on track

and work on fundamentals. The Wildcats are preparing to bowl against teams like Wichita State University, which they consider to be their top competition this season. Its important to just focus and it makes me strive to do better, Schmidtlein said. During the Jayhawk Challenge, the Wildcats tallied a team total of 5,566 points, falling only behind Wichita State and Lindenwood University. Senior Brittani Kelly led BU with a fourth-place finish and an average score of 196 points. Schmidtlein followed in fifth place and an average score of 193 points. Three tournaments into the season, Schmidtlein leads Baker with a 180 average. The team will be competing again on Nov. 29-30 at the Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville, Ill. While the Wildcats prepare for their upcoming tournaments, they are also working to support their teammates. The team chose to adopt a soldier, Woods brother, Zach. He will be deployed on Dec. 1 and will be stationed in Afghanistan. Junior Ally Eckert lost her brother in Iraq a few years ago and has been donating to service men and women since. I think its what her brother would have wanted, Keslar said. When Eckert heard about Woods brother, she wanted to help anyway she could and brought the idea to her team. It means the world to me that they would do something like this, Wood said. Its hard not to see him all the time but hes doing this for a good cause.

womens basketball: @ mid-america christian

Baker womens basketball is off to a 5-1 start on its season. The Cats defeated Haskell University on Tuesday night and will travel to Oklahoma City, to participate in the Mid-America Christian Classic on Friday and Saturday.

wrestling: @ University of Iowa

Ranked No. 14, the Baker wrestling team went 2-1 in the HAAC quad at Missouri Valley College. The Wildcats defeated Graceland University and Benedictine College before falling to No. 3 MVC. Baker will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday to take on the University of Iowa in a dual.

mens basketball: vs. mcpherson

BU mens basketball is on a two-game losing streak after dropping exhibition games at University of Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State University. The Cats will return to their home court at 4 p.m. Saturday to play McPherson College.

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SPORTS

Runners claim HAAC championship

Megan Henry
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Baker University womens cross country team won the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship meet on Nov. 9, earning the Wildcats rst team bid to the NAIA national championships since 2010. Five women nished in the top 10, including senior Lauren Jaqua in rst, senior Megan Rosa in third, freshman Jillian Benson in fourth, senior Ashley McBride in sixth and junior Kerry Kurta in 10th. The last two years we have been pretty disappointed at conference, Rosa said. But to nish on top and go to nationals my senior year is really awesome. At the nish line it was like freshman year all over again. Everyone was crying, laughing and hugging. It was so great. This was Jaquas third consecutive year to take home rst in the HAAC championship meet. This year, she nished with a time of 18:54. It feels amazing to be a conference champion three years in a row because I made it a goal of mine and I have achieved it, Jaqua said. Jaquas personal goal is to become an All-American at nationals on Saturday at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence. It has been a dream of hers throughout college, and she nds the goal to be realistic as well. I expect to give nothing less than my best in my nal collegiate cross country race, and I refuse to let myself cross the nish line with any regrets, Jaqua said. Ending my cross country career will denitely be bittersweet. I ended my high school cross country career at Rim Rock Farms, and I will nish my collegiate cross country career crossing the same nish line. The last time the womens team advanced to nationals was in 2010, but Jaqua and McBride have qualied each season. Before the race, freshman Jillian Benson was worried her stressful week and nerves would aect her running. However, she was able to push through and race better than she expected. Im so proud of my team. We really wanted to win, and (Central Methodist University) is such a good team, and they were right there with us, Benson said. Rosa hopes the team is able to take advantage of their knowledge of the Rim Rock course and be prepared for the hills, unlike teams from other parts of the country. We hope to take advantage of the opportunity to race at nationals, Rosa said. We have some stud hill runners who raced really well a few weeks ago, so hopefully theyll be able to race at that caliber again and maybe we can creep into the top 15. The mens team ended its run of back-to-back conference titles Saturday, falling behind Missouri Valley College, Central Methodist and Graceland University. While BU did not have any individual qualiers for the national meet, freshman Corey Matteson and junior Vincent Tadokoro earned all-conference honors

Callie Paquette/The Baker Orange Senior Megan Rosa runs during the NAIA pre-nationals meet on Oct. 12 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence. The womens cross country team will race at Rim Rock again for the NAIA national meet on Saturday.

Wrestlers win weekly conference honors

Chad Mullen
STAFF WRITER

The No. 14 ranked Baker University wrestling team went 2-1 at the HAAC quad on Saturday, defeating Graceland University and Benedictine College before losing to No. 3 Missouri Valley College. Senior Jakob Price won the HAAC Wrestler of the Week award after going undefeated in the HAAC quad, the second time a Wildcat has won this award in three weeks. Freshman Bryant Guillen won the award on Nov. 11 after posting a 6-2 record for the week. First-year head coach Pete Di Pol is proud of the teams eort and dedication thus far in the season. I like our leadership, he said. We have Parker Owen who is an All-American, and Rob Shadrach, and Alan Callahan. To be honest, Im really impressed with all our guys right now.

One other wrestler had a 3-0 record on Saturday, as freshman Bryce Shoemaker went undefeated in the 133-pound weight class. The 157-pound class for Baker, which is made up of sophomore Connor Middleton, junior Nick Haugen and freshman Aaron Seybold, also swept the HAAC quad. Guillen, Callahan and junior Beau Bennett each went 2-1. The Wildcats swept the Graceland Yellowjackets, going 10-0 in their matches and scoring 49 points. Baker then took seven of the 10 matches against Benedictine, winning the dual 33-12. Facing Missouri Valley, Baker went 3-for-10 in its matches, with Price, Shoemaker and Seybold all winning. The Cats ultimately lost the dual 24-12. The Wildcats will hit the road to Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday for a dual with the University of Iowa, a top ve NCAA Division I program. This will be the second time for Baker to

participate in the Iowa City duals. Its rst meeting came in 2011, when the Hawkeyes defeated the Wildcats 47-3. Coaching a new group of wrestlers who were recruited under another coach has been a tough transition for both Di Pol and the team. I think its always hard at rst, because youre so used to style, and then I come in with a dierent style, Di Pol said. I think theyve handled the transition well, because we have focused on good communication. We talk to them a lot, and I think they see my philosophy and the way I run things. They like it for the most part, and the things they dont like we talk about. Although Jimmy May stepped down as head coach, he still works with his former studentathletes on occasion. Coach May has come in a couple times to work with our guys, and it gets them happy and excited, and theyre motivated to be successful, Di Pol said.

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Wildcats fall to MNU in tournament final

Sara Bell & Jessica Lane
EDITOR

& STAFF WRITER

After MidAmerica Nazarene University cut the Wildcats season short for the last two years, the Baker University volleyball team hoped to change the trend during the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament final on Saturday. During the opening set, Baker seemed to have the momentum against a team thats only lost one conference match in the last three years, but the eighth-ranked Pioneers found their way back into the championship. BU took the first 25-17, but MNU managed to win the next three sets and claimed their third straight tournament crown. Prior to the match, head coach Kathy Allen highlighted the teams bond, saying they enjoy each other, they enjoy the game, like playing together and they really do work well as a team. One of the things that keeps this team working is their chemistry and not getting down on themselves, Allen said. Despite this chemistry, Baker was unable to overcome MidAmerica Nazarenes offensive attack or its own errors during the tournament final. Baker struggled serving throughout the match, missing a season-high 11 serves. MNU also found the holes in the Wildcats defense as the Pioneers compiled 62 kills to the Wildcats 42. MidAmerica Nazarenes Linjun Ji saved her best performance of the season for Baker, posting 19 kills and 14 digs. Three other Pioneers also recorded double-digit kills. Senior Crystal Simon led the Wildcats offensively in the first set, grabbing four of her team-high 12 kills in the match opener. Her performance helped BU take the first set by an eight-point margin, but MNU took control for the

Callie Paquette/Baker Orange The Baker University volleyball team prepares for its match against MNU on Nov. 16. Baker took the opening set 25-17, but the Pioneers claimed the next three 25-19, 25-17 and 25-15. With the loss, Baker finished the season with a 23-9 record.

remainder of the match, claiming the next three sets 25-19, 25-17 and 25-15. To get to the tournament championship, Baker outlasted the Evangel University Crusaders in five sets and swept Peru State College in Collins Center. The Wildcats defense was on display against Peru State on Nov. 9 as they posted eight team blocks and held the Bobcats to a .195 hitting percentage. Peru State has improved a lot, Allen said. Even though we won in three (sets,) last time we lost a set to them. They actually played us better ... than the last time we played.

Offensively, the Wildcats tallied 50 kills. Senior outside hitter Jasmyn Turner had a team-high 16 kills, and Simon followed with nine. The opening-round victory led Baker to Springfield, Mo., to face second seeded Evangel on Nov. 13 for the tournament semifinal. BU and the Crusaders battled for control throughout the match, trading sets 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 1725 and finally 15-10. Freshman setter Hannah Bettge led BU with 54 assists, and senior libero Renata Dill anchored Bakers defense with 26 digs. I call it and go for it, Dill said. Thats the role that Kathy gave me.

Dill held down Bakers back row throughout the season, posting a team-high 556 digs. Her digs per game average ranked among the top 45 in the country, and she was one of six Wildcats to earn allconference honors. Dill and Bettge were named to the first team, and Bettge also earned the Freshman of the Year award. Sophomore Danielle French, Turner and Simon were also awarded second team allconference honors. Junior Shannon McCarty rounded out the awardwinning Wildcats, making the honorable mention team.

Womens basketball pushes record to 5-1

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Junior Kyrstie Ehm led the Baker University womens basketball team with a season-high 23 points against the University of Saint Mary in the HAAC/KCAC Challenge Classic on Saturday. The team pulled off an 83-67 win against the Spires then defeated Haskell University on Tuesday, improving its record to 5-1. Ehm, sophomore Jami Hodge and freshman Sydney Buchel were all double-figure scorers against Saint Mary. The team also made eight 3-pointers and outrebounded the Spires 57-34. I feel like our team has grown tremendously even though weve only been playing actual games for a few weeks, sophomore Sarah Lowry said. We still have a long way to go, but if we can put the pieces together and find that chemistry, I think we will be pretty good this season. Were building off last year and were continuing to do so in hopes for a very bright future for the basketball program.

Megan Henry

Chad Phillips/Baker Orange Sophomore Jami Hodge drives past an Ottawa University opponent during the HAAC/KCAC Classic in Collins Center on Nov. 14.

Junior Rashida Simpson believes the starters did an excellent job of setting the tempo, executing plays and making rebounds during the Saint Mary game. However, after the 70-66 loss to Ottawa University, which came the day before, she thinks the teams season should have better results. We shouldnt have lost to Ottawa. Theyre a good team, but theres no way we should have lost to them, Simpson said. We just need to show up to every game and play like we know how and stop stooping to other teams levels of play But its still early in the season, and Im confident that as the season progresses we will start playing to our fullest potential. The team will travel to Oklahoma City on Friday and Saturday for the Mid-America Christian Classic, where they will take on MidAmerica Christian University and Southwestern Christian University. I think so far this season is going pretty well, sophomore Ericka Simpson said. We are starting to jell together and hopefully on our way to becoming the team we want to be.

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November 22, 2013 www.thebakerorange.com

Page 14

Junior performs at Rodeo Opry

Taylor Shuck
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Callie Paquette/The Baker Orange Junior Jessica Prather performs during the Arts Sampler/Collage Concert in September. Prather recently performed at the Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City, where more than 20,000 artists have performed throughout the past 35 years, including country star Reba McEntire.

As a child, Jessica Prather was shy and quiet. Her parents knew she was a talented singer, but Prather refused to perform in front of an audience. Her parents eventually put her in dance, hoping it would help her come out of her shell. After years of dedication to the art of dance performance, the junior is finally letting her singing talents show. She recently performed at the Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City. It was so much fun, Prather said of her experience. It was absolutely terrifying but awesome at the same time because it was the first kind of professional performance that I was involved in, and I loved every part of it. Everyone who was involved was very supportive and really kind and giving more support throughout. The Rodeo Opry has seen more than 20,000 artists perform on its stages, including country star Reba McEntire. The Rodeo Opry is supported by a nonprofit organization dedicated to reaching wider audiences and promoting Oklahoma music. Prather isnt a stranger to the Sooner state. Before this semester, she attended Oklahoma City University. But Prather transferred to be on the Baker

dance team after what her mother Darla calls a little bit of soul searching. Oklahoma wasnt a good fit for me anymore, Prather said. I like the (Baker) atmosphere better. Everyone here is so much nicer. The community feeling wasnt there like it was here at Baker. It was a lot more competitive over there. Its hard to explain, but I feel like people just werent as friendly. Her entrance into the world of vocal performance was somewhat of a fluke. Prather said to be in musicals in New York City, dance performers have to be able to sing. So in line with that, Prather went to random singing auditions as a practice tool. But when she actually landed a gig, she realized she might have a shot at singing. The Rodeo Opry was the first time Prather performed publicly, and she said the audience made her believe that she was good enough to keep doing it. And that is exactly what she plans on doing. I think this experience is kind of going to help me go in the right direction of what I want to do with singing, Prather said. Ideally, I want to be professional and make a living. It would be amazing to be as famous as someone like Carrie Underwood, but I just want to be able to sing and perform and do something with the rest of my life. Friends and family are also very supportive of Prathers dreams.

Shes definitely got the heart for it and thats the most important part, senior Morgan Brown said. She believes in herself, and she know what she wants and shes going to go for it. Enough of her heart is in it that shes going to persevere and shes going to try for as much as it takes. Her family is hopeful that Prathers talents will take her far, but they also understand how tough it is to be successful in the music industry. I would like to see her get a chance to do something. I think making it in that kind of industry is not just about talent, Jessicas mother, Darla Prather, said. Its about what you present and being in the right place and the right time. I think it would be great, but I also understand how hard it is. I think shes done a good job with what if it doesnt work out, then she has her future figured out. In the future, Prather plans to reach out to other venues like the Rodeo Opry. She also hopes to submit a piece to The Voice, a popular television show based on promoting unknown singing talents. One thing she wont do, though, is give up. The best piece of advice that Ive received is this ... If you really love it, keep going for it. Dont let people telling you no stop you from doing what you want to do, especially in a business like this, Prather said. And thats exactly what Im going to keep doing.

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Vespers concert to feature special guests

Jenna Stanbrough
NEWS EDITOR

File Photo Senior Brandon Haefke sings at the 2012 candlelight vespers in Rice Auditorium as part of the community choir. The 83rd annual vespers performances will be at 2 and 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Rice Auditorium.

The 83rd Annual Christmas Candlelight Vespers will once again feature an array of holiday music, spirit and cheer, but this year, two special guests will make an appearance. University President Pat Long and University Minister Ira DeSpain will both play a special part in this years program. Vespers will also feature the Baker University concert choir, chamber choir, university community choir, the Baker Little Big Band jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, brass quintet and the orchestra. Its a time to draw together and just have a shared spirit for that moment at that special time of year, Cathy Crispino, interim director of choral ensembles, said. There will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 8 in Rice Auditorium. The event was moved to Rice Auditorium from the Baldwin First United Methodist Church last year in order to accommodate its need for a bigger venue. There is no evening performance this year so that student performers have the evening to study for nals, which will take place during that week as well. Junior Adriane Dick said the change of venue is benecial in that it gives

the dierent ensembles a chance to display their hard work. (Its) nice because its a larger venue, so were able to work with the other ensembles and we can not only highlight just one of the departments but the entire music department, which is really cool, she said. It gives us a chance to see each other and what weve been working on this semester. Crispino said several musical pieces will be historical and traditional carols, but there will also be some new pieces, including a really fun and really challenging piece by Vaclav Nelhybel titled Estampie Natalis, which uses the piccolo, violin and cello as accompaniments. Freshman Luke Miltz said he is looking forward to his rst Vespers performance to see how singing in high school compares to singing with a university choir. Im looking forward to singing Wanting Memories, because Ive done that in high school and I want to see the direction we take it in college, Miltz said. Crispino said she hopes the campus and community will take time out of their day to come together to celebrate the holiday spirit. Were all looking for something that lifts us up out of our every day and that maybe takes our focus away from the mundane to something that is universal, you know, Crispino said. A coming together.

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FLEX

Baker University students cheer on the BU volleyball team during the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament championship on Nov. 16 in Olathe.

Callie Paquette/Baker Orange

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