CON V ERGING CA MPUS & COMMUNIT Y
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
VOL. 112, NO. 23
@THEMISSOURIAN
SPECUL ATION IN SPRINGFIELD
FILE
Regent Jason Klindt discusses a proposal at the March 16, 2023, Board of Regents meeting. Klindt responded to claims about why the former president was ousted.
FILE
Former Northwest President John Jasinski sits in on a Board of Regents meeting March 16, 2018. Jasinski was a finalist for the President of Missouri State.
NW figures feud over 2-year-old decision SIDNEY LOWRY Editor-in-Chief | @sidney_lowry
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early two years after former Northwest President John Jasinski announced his departure from the University following a decision by the Board of Regents, there is still speculation about why he left. The former Northwest president was one of three candidates to become Missouri State University’s newest president after current president Clif Smart announced Sept. 6 he would be retiring in summer 2024. Missouri State announced March 4 that another candidate, Richard “Biff” Wil-
liams, will take over the university as the 12th president of the college July 1. Before the final decision, Jasinski spoke to a group of Springfield, Missouri, community leaders Feb. 26. During this, a former Springfield city councilman asked why, in his opinion, his contract to be Northwest’s president was not renewed. Jasinski mentioned there was a fraternity member who was upset about its shutdown which eventually led to the decision to find a new Northwest president, according to the Springfield Daily Citizen. In 2015, Northwest shut down the Tau Kappa Epsilon Delta Nu Chapter after the University investigated sexual assault allegations and found the fraternity in violation
of probation on multiple different occasions. Though Jasinski didn’t mention him by name, Regent Jason Klindt responded to the claim. Klindt was a Tau Kappa Epsilon member while obtaining his bachelor’s degree in public relations at Northwest in 1999. He has been on the Board of Regents since 2018. “I was falsely accused by the former President of Northwest of not renewing his contract because of something that happened with TKE a decade ago,” Klindt said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I have remained silent on the issue because I didn’t believe it made sense. No more.”
SEE FEUD | A4
Michelle Green set to take over as principal of Eugene Field HANNAH CLAYWELL News Editor | @Hannah_9504
Assistant Vice Principal of Maryville Middle School Michelle Green will be moving to Eugene Field Elementary School as its principal for the next school year. The current principal of Eugene Field Elementary took another job, making the principal position available. Green said she has only been an assistant principal for one semester, so she was apprehensive about applying. “But I’ve been in education for 31 years,” Green said. “And so I thought I’ll go ahead and take a leap, so I did and got the job.” When Green got the assistant principal job at Maryville Middle School, she started her specialist degree and finished it in December from Northwest. She said
ALLISON DUARTE PHOTOGRAPHER
Eugene Field Elementary School is the primary school of the Maryville R-II School District.
that helped her become ready for the principal position. She has also won a couple of awards, including the Walmart Teacher of the Year award.
OPINION
Cleaning demolition sites is necessary to ensure student safety on campus. A5 Our View
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Green said the main difference in her position as a vice principal to a principal would be what she focuses on. Her current position has her primarily focusing
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Crossword puzzle: spring break edition.
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on discipline. As the principal, she will be focusing on the betterment of the teachers and hiring, professional development and aspects involving budgets. Green said she will miss the middle school since she has been working there for 17 years, but she is excited for this new position. Green taught at Eugene Field Elementary 17 years ago and said she is excited to work again with some of the same teachers she taught with back then. “I’ll miss the kids so much and, obviously, I’ll miss my friends that are here, but I’m super excited for the little kids,” Green said. “Their energy is so contagious.” Maryville R-II School District Superintendent Logan Lightfoot said Green is an ideal fit for the elementary principal in a press release.
SEE PRINCIPAL | A4
IN SPORTS
Northwest men’s and women’s basketball prepare for the MIAA Tournament. A8 Northwest Basketball
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