by Nate Bassett
The story of Mary Jean Price was never forgotten, but failed to receive much attention over the years.
Dare To Excel, a promotional publication that reviews the history of the Missouri State University, mentions Price as the first African American applicant to Missouri State – and her rejection – but fails to detail the [...]

Terry Walls wanted to know the truth; the ugly, racist truth.

In 1950, his mother, Mary Jean Price, became the first African American applicant to Missouri State University (then a white’s-only institution known as Southwest Missouri State College).

The college failed to respond to her application, and a Greene County judge ruled against her when she filed suit against the school for their inaction. Denied the opportunity for an education, Price moved on with her life, but the scar of the racially-motivated denial have never really healed.

by Jason McGill
Missouri State University President Michael T. Nietzel discussed his intention to step down as president at a press conference on November 3.
Nietzel, 62, said he would remain in the post through December 2010 to allow adequate time for the Board of Governors to find his successor.
Nietzel began thinking of leaving the presidency early [...]

Finding a tutor on campus has never been easier. Thanks to the new Bear Claw (Center for Learning and Writing), students needing assistance in writing, math, or any subject taught on campus can find tutors quickly, easily, and all under one roof.
Located conveniently on the first floor of Meyer Library, the Bear Claw is designed to be “a comfortable place for students to come together and work,” according to Mike Frizell, Director of the Bear Claw.

Zach Becker
Editor-in-Chief
The message on the signs are clear. Firearms are not allowed on the Missouri State campus, concealed or otherwise.
But will those signs stop a maniacal gunman?
Not according to MSU non-traditional student Andrew Simpson, who believes tragedies like the shooting at Virginia Tech could have been averted had law-abiding students been allowed to carry licensed [...]

Missouri State University’s Web & New Media offer the ability to opt out of people search.

The new administration would do well to look into record-keeping practices at SGA that are at best suspicious and at worst illegal. On February 23, The Underground requested SGA budget and attendance records going back to 2005, the year that SGA became wholly funded by student fees. It took 18 days for SGA to produce this year’s budget, and no explanation for the delay was given outside of being busy. The attendance information provided for the current year was incomplete, as it didn’t list the names or total number in attendance for many of the meetings.

SGA needs to increase accountability to recruit and retain good senators.

A new plus/minus grading scale will be implemented soon. Here’s what a few students thought about it.

Famous writer and Mid-America Review Editor-in-Chief Michael Czyniejewski made a presentation to the English Society and SAC for an editing Q & A.