Volume 54, Issue 8
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January 31, 2019
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www.meramecmontage.com
A Lasting Impression Remembering Professor Mark Tulley TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Graphic by Mikki Philippe
Professor Mark Tulley died on Dec. 9, 2018, during finals week. Tulley taught Personal Finance and International Business on the Meramec campus, and was a respected member of the faculty for 14 years. He was an avid volunteer, loved to travel with his wife, Annette, and always took time for the important things in life, according to his friend and colleague, Professor Amy Monson. “[He] will be missed by his friends for the genuine interest he took in them and their interests, his advice, sense of humor and emails or texts that brightened a day. He didn’t just share in the fun times either, as a true friend he would stick out the bad times with you too,” said Monson. Tulley was known to be early to his classes, greeting students in the hallway with a big smile, according to Monson. He would playfully command them to “get to class” and was appreciated on campus for having frequent and meaningful interactions with his students, even after they were no longer taking his classes.
“Professor Tulley was generous with his time, meeting students to provide insight on business or investing decisions,” said Monson. The business professor was passionate about the volunteer work he did, according to several faculty members who were also close friends with him. “We were chatting in the parking lot. I asked him what he was doing that evening. He had a big smile on his face and his eyes lit up. He told me that he was taking some of his students to a homeless shelter and they were cooking and serving a meal. He described with great joy how much the students benefited from this and how they talked about it for so long afterward and looked forward to doing it again. You just knew how
much he enjoyed helping others and showing students the benefits of helping others,” said Dr. Vicki Ritts, professor of psychology. Professor Tulley’s devotion to his students earned him the Advisor of the Year award in 2016. “Mr. Tulley is a significant loss for our department. […] He was a solid member of our team,” said Professor Pam McElligott. “You can’t control people’s impressions of you, but you can influence them,” Tulley said in a 2018 interview with The Montage. According to Monson, Tulley was often known to repeat the phrase, “You never get a second chance to make a good impression.” Friends of Tulley were eager to
“You never get a second chance to make a good impression.”
- Professor Mark Tulley
comment on the impression he made on their lives and the influence of his life and character on the students, school, and the world itself. “I think there are always so many things that go through your mind when you try to compose your thoughts about a friend who meant a lot to you. You just take for granted that the person will always be there and then the reality hits you that everything is just so transitory,” said Ritts. Multiple sources lauded the late professor in much the same way. According to coworkers, students and friends alike, Tulley was considered a “caring” and “fun” person, having an “infectious” laugh. He was a “fierce” friend. “The loss is just devastating on both a professional and personal level. We have lost a passionate, compassionate, and dedicated professor. […] Words can’t articulate how much he will be missed. […] He loved the students wholeheartedly. His infectious laugh will always remain in my memory,” Dr. Ritts said.
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2 NEWS
January 31, 2019
Photo/Graphic : American Weather
Atypical weather patterns impact St. Louis Meterology Professor Joe Schneider describes the forces at play BRI HEANEY NEWS EDITOR The only city in the U.S. that received more snow than St. Louis the weekend of January 11-13 was Juneau, Alaska. Professor of Meteorology, Joseph Schneider described the storm as a showdown in the skies of St. Louis and surrounding midwestern areas, which would result in snow. Schneider described what kind of atmospheric conditions generated the snowy skies that St. Louis experienced by explaining where it all started - the clouds. “Precipitation is formed in the troposphere which is the lowest level of the atmosphere,” Schneider said. “In the winter, the temperature of the entire cloud is going to be below freezing. Then if the temperatures, when it falls out of the cloud three miles above the surface, give or take, are all below freezing all the way down to the surface. Then you have all these ice crystals that combine together and coalesce, and that makes the frozen snowflake.” This is the typical way in which snow is produced. With the two components of snow being cold air and moisture, Schneider said that for both to exist in one place (in this case, the skies of St. Louis), the two major streams must converge paths.
“We have two jet streams, the northern and the southern. To get winter precipitation, you must combine the two jet streams, the northern which brings the cold air and the southern that brings in the moisture,” said Schneider. He said the more exceptional circumstances that brought about this particular storm and contributed to its massive nature was a fragmented polar vortex and a Modoki El Nino effect. “This particular winter is being run by a Modoki El Nino pattern. Modoki is Japanese for ‘ the same, but different,” says Schneider. The usually warm El Nino winds bring in moisture from the Pacific Ocean, said Schneider. “This is Modoki El Nino – the different part is, we’re getting the cold to wrap into this pattern,” said Schneider. Much of the snow that blanketed St. Louis that weekend was the product of water from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. “There was moisture being pulled off of the Pacific Ocean, coming across the desert region of the southwest and being hauled all the way into the midwest,” said Schneider. “During El Niño years, this subtropical jet is stronger and allows the pulling of moisture from the Pacific”
The jet stream moved across the country and began picking up water from the Gulf of Mexico, too. “That’s why we were able to get so much snow in this area. Because you were combining two sources of moisture, Pacific Coast moisture and Gulf of Mexico moisture. Usually it’s just Gulf of Mexico moisture,” said Schneider.
Once this wet front reached the midwest, it began to mix with the second component, the Polar Front Jet Stream, and that’s what provided St. Louis with its wintery weather, he said. “Combining that with the northern jet stream, it is providing a nice winter storm,” said Schneider.
Photo/Graphic: Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
EDITORS
Tyra Leesman Oliver Pulcher Bri Heaney Lauren Johns Mary Wilson Ashley Biundo Gina Carr Syed Ali Morgan Ratliff Nora Alrashid
Editor-in-Chief Online Editor News Editor Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Graphics Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Multimedia Editor
Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser
STAFF
Charlie Humphrey Sabrina Kraus Concilia Ndlovu Jacob Politte Tania Robin Tori Williams Mikki Philippe Braden Hagberg
Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Designer Staff Photographer
THE MONTAGE
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NEWS 3
January 31, 2019
HPV: For some, a matter of life or death Meramec professors discuss the importance of vaccine BRIANA HEANEY NEWS EDITOR In 2015, Farrah Fawcett lost her life to a cancer caused by the Human Papillomavirus. The particular strand that caused her cancer was HPV-16, a strand that is now covered by the two leading HPV vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix. Even though there are available vaccines, it is estimated that anywhere between to 50 and 80 percent of the population is still vulnerable to the same strain that took her life and many other lives. HPV is the leading cause of cervical, anal, penile, and vaginal cancer as well as being linked to various other cancers. Jody Martin Atkins, a professor of biology and human sexuality, and Debora Chanasue, a professor of nursing, spoke about the risks of HPV and options for prevention. “It’s not something you want to play around with,” said Martin. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to warts and cancer in the people who contract it. “It’s so important for people to get that insurance companies have picked it up and began covering it,” says Martin. Even though more and more people are getting the vaccine, less than half of the U.S. population has received it. Nearly all sexually active unvaccinated persons will contract HPV in their lives. Some will get genital warts, some won’t; some will develop cancers, others will not. It’s based on the strain that a person contracts. Sexually active adults can pick up multiple strands of the virus and, if they’re not vaccinated, often times do. “Sometimes people say, ‘Well, I already have genital warts; there is no reason for me to get the vaccine,’” said
Martin. “That’s not really how you should be thinking -- there are other strains out there, it’s best to get the vaccine anyway.” The vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix protect against 80 percent of cancers and ninety percent of warts. Females were originally the target audience for the vaccine. Now it is encouraged that males and females get the vaccine for two reasons. “If you are having oral sex, you can get throat cancer or an oral cancer,” says Chanasue. Males that are engaging in sex with other males can also be at risk for
anal cancer. “All males are at risk of penile cancer which is a horrible form of cancer,” said Martin. Aside from protecting males from the effects of HPV, getting vaccinated also curbs transmission to females who are at a higher risk of HPVassociated cancers. “At least it won’t be transmitted from men to women, so it’s crucial that boys, adolescent boys, get this as well; the more people of both sexes that get vaccinated, the less cancers you are going to see in females for sure “Getting vaccinated
Graphic by Gina Carr
before becoming sexually active and using condoms is the best way to prevent HPV.” says Martin “Nine to 14 year olds are the target females and males to get vaccinated because you want start it before you make your sexual debut,” said Chanasue. Condoms are also a viable method of prevention, but will not protect a person one hundred percent of the time. “Condoms are your best bet, but there can be warts on the edges of the vulva and, if you are having oral sex, you have to be careful too because you can get throat and mouth cancer,” said Martin. If a person has been sexually active and has not received the vaccine, it is still recommended that they become vaccinated up to the age of 45. Most insurances will cover the shot up until the age of 26. Planned Parenthood will offer anywhere from 130 to 260 dollars per shot depending on your income and can offer further financial assistance. “Nine to 14 year olds get two doses, and there has to be six months between doses; or you can be vaccinated between 15 and 45. Again, that target age range is 15 to 26, they will receive three doses and each dose will be two months apart,” said Martin. “My message is to just get vaccinated” said Matin. HPV is also deadly. HPV is also largely preventable. “Anyone who has doubts about getting the vaccine should visit a hospice facility and see the women there suffering from cervical cancer,” said Chanasue. “I have seen some patients that are dying from cervical cancer who did not get vaccinated which is a horrible thing to see.”
The Government Shutdown and FAFSA: How the Month Long Shutdown is Affecting Students at Meramec OLIVER PULCHER ONLINE EDITOR As of Jan. 22, 2019, the United States entered the 30 day mark of the government shutdown, which started this past December, just before Christmas. While it has since been re-opened, the government shutdown began over whether funding for the building of a wall across the Mexican border would be added to the federal budget. Dr. John Messmer, a professor of political science at Meramec, said, “The border wall is one specific part of one bill, while the budget itself is not one bill but rather a multitude of bills with six or seven appropriations which have not been passed nor funded. We are currently hearing about how money can not be appropriated due to the shutdown.” Millions of people are affected, he said. “Of course, there are the people who are not getting paid, but beyond them there are the Americans who are dependent on the services provided by these jobs. Some employees of some departments
are considered essential and money is still coming to them. However, some are considered essential and are still on the job but are not getting paid, which we are not exactly just talking about cashiers at gift shops, but rather FBI agents, airtraffic controllers, and TSA agents in some cases,” said Messmer. It is a broad trickle-down effect, he said. “There is going to be a lot of pain for the people who aren’t getting paid, but also for the people relying on these services who may experience real safety issues. This is the common sense thing if the people who are there to keep us safe, aren’t there.” The effects on the community at STLCC Meramec could be much closer to home. Many Meramec students are federal workers or may know furloughed people. However, many more students deal with the financial aid office in one way or another. So how is the government
shutdown affecting students’ ability to get funding for their classes and books this semester? According to Nicole Moore, the head financial aid counselor for Meramec, “The shutdown has not stopped the financial aid processing for STLCC. The financial aid office is still able to process loans and the shutdown has had no effect on federal aid for students. Additionally, the financial aid office has been giving guidance on other tax forms and statements that can be taken in place of other tax forms at the moment,” she said.
Graphic by Gina Carr
4 ART & LIFE
January 31, 2019
Regional Interior Design Contest Boardwalk 2019 Gallery Opening Includes Award Ceremony LAUREN JOHNS ART & LIFE EDITOR
Photo by Syed All
Interior design students accept awards at the Jan. 24 art gallery reception ceremony.
More than 20 years ago, the Boardwalk Interior Design Contest was created to allow students studying this degree to present their work on presentation boards. The event, (held in the Contemporary Art Gallery), officially started at five with the awards ceremony but required that contestants arrive at 4:30 to greet the judges. Afterward, the gallery viewing party commenced with provided refreshments. This particular competition is held every 1-2 years and this year on Thursday, Jan. 24, STLCC students won 11 awards.
Mizzou and Maryville placed as well. First place winners received $100 and second place finishers received $50. After completing their projects on various software programs like AutoCAD, Revit and Photoshop, student work was submitted into categories: Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Group Design Projects, Specialty, and Kitchen and Bath Design. Additional competing schools were Missouri State, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois University, Stevens Institute of Business and Arts and the University of Central Missouri.
Photos by Syed Ali
Students pass out programs at the Jan. 24 gallery reception.
Dear Editor: How do I ask for a raise? Readers ask the staff and editors of The Montage for advice TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “Dear Abbey, I am a Meramec student with really good grades, a high GPA, lots of zoology and animal classes under my belt, and a passion for working with animals. When I was little, I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up. I started walking dogs when I was 10 or 11, and as I got older, my mom got me into volunteering. I have been a volunteer at the Stray Rescue shelter since I turned 18, and I have been a caregiver for dogs at a shelter in St. Louis for over a year. I’m very good with the dogs and I want to advance my position for my resume, and I feel that I’ve earned a raise since I’m always on time and a hard worker. My question is, how do I ask my boss for a raise? I want to do it the ‘right way’ and really impress him. Vet school is
expensive, and I need to start saving! Sincerely, A Future Vet Who Needs Cash” _______________ Dear Future Vet , You’re on the right track! Now that you’ve worked at this particular shelter for a good amount of time, you’re in a position to assess whether or not it’s time for a raise. It’s a good idea to take a look at your past experience at this shelter. Have you kept yourself from getting into trouble? Have you been consistently on-time? Do your coworkers get along well with you? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you might want to wait a few months to ask for a raise. This will be enough time to turn your work ethic around and become the poster child for your position. However, if you feel that you’re a hard worker, and you truly deserve a raise, go for it!
Here’s what you do: Next time you’re at work during your boss’s hours, casually drop by his desk during your lunch break or before or after work. Try, “Hey, Mr. (his name). If you get a few minutes later on this week, I’d like to sit down with you and discuss my job performance and the potential for advancement/ a pay increase.” It’s straightforward, demonstrates confidence in your work ethic (and yourself), and lets him know what to expect and how much time to schedule. At this point, he is going to start scrutinizing your performance. Don’t fret! Just do your job the best you can, like always. If you truly deserve a raise, he’s probably already noticed. If not, he’ll start talking to your coworkers and supervisors. Someone will have noticed your hard work, and that report will help your case. When you sit down with him, explain your passions, why you love your job,
what you want to accomplish with this job (in your case, vet school), and share how your pay increase will help his company. Have an idea of how much you’d like to be making after this raise. The typical raise is a five percent bump every six to 12 months. (Asking for regular raises implies you plan to be with the company a long time!) Finally, accept his decision with grace. Sometimes there aren’t enough funds, even if he wanted to give you a raise. Sometimes, he wants you to improve something first, and he will then coach you on how to earn your raise! In the end, it’s up to the guy who cuts the payroll checks. If you don’t get the raise you want this time, you’ll know what to do for the next time you ask, or you’ll know to start looking at other shelters. Good luck, Future Vet! Sincerely, Editor
What is your New Year’s Resolution? (Faculty/Staff Edition) LAUREN JOHNS ART & LIFE EDITOR & SYED ALI PHOTO EDITOR
Matthew Lane Assesment Specialist
Donna Werner Professor of Philosophy
“Get my (realistic fiction) novel published this year. Continue to submit to publishers and hope for a ‘yes’.”
“Mine is simple-laugh more. I want my friends to send lists of their funniest shows and movies.”
Amber Grant Orientation , Transition Coordinator “I want to level up mentally, emotionally, spiritually, energetically. This means focusing on these things in a positive way, not allowing negativity. I’m not emotionless, but not emotionally driven either.”
Denise Sperruzza Professor in Communication and Coordinator for the ‘Center for Teaching and Learning’: “Getting healthier by eating better and exercising. 80% of my diet will be lean meat, fruits and veggies. On Sundays, my fiancé and I will plan our week and schedule in workout days.”
Drop, Withdraw, Repeat What to do when a class isn’t going well TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF A student waited in line at methods are, or sometimes it’s class later (to fix your GPA), but the registration desk on Jan. 22, even just simply a subject that that varies student to student,” the official first day of classes doesn’t interest you as much as said Schweigert. for STLCC. She’d been to one you thought,” said Benta. According to the academic day of her classes and already, Dropping a class for a full advisor, “repeating” a class she knew that she would not be refund is only available during refers to taking a class that has attending any more of one class the first week of the semester. already been completed in order in particular. “A ‘drop’ is only for full to receive another grade. The “I am so bad at Math, so I semester, 16-week classes and grade that is given most recently thought a hybrid class would it’s 100 percent refundable. will be the ‘grade of record’ that be unique and kind of helpful If a student drops a class and affects a student’s GPA and since I like doing online stuff, doesn’t add something else, the former grade will receive a but I also need face-to-face they get 100 percent of their notation on transcripts that it instruction. But man, oh man! I tuition back. To ‘drop’ means has been “excluded” due to the do not know how to learn math they were never in that class. repeated class. on the internet,” said Hailey It’s not on the transcript - like “We call it ‘Repeat-Delete.’ Benta, a freshman in her second it never happened,” said Suzzie The second grade, whether it’s semester. Schweigert, academic advisor at better or worse, will replace the Within a few moments of Meramec. first. So if you retake it, whatever the in-class tour of MyMathLab, Beyond the first week of is the most recent, you will get Benta said she was overwhelmed classes, classes may still be that grade on your record. [The and lost. first grade] “It’s one of still shows “A ‘withdraw’ remains on your those moments on your when you just transcript, transcript and affects your know right away but the completion rate.” you’re not going grade of to do well. I don’t Suzzie Schweigert, Academic Advisor record will need that kind of be the most negativity on my recent one. GPA,” said Benta. There will “I’ll learn how to do the online aborted for a “W” on transcripts, be a little note next to it that stuff a little better first and then as a withdrawal. says ‘grade excluded – repeat’. I’ll go back and do better so that “A ‘withdraw’ remains on Transfer schools can choose I can get a good grade in the your transcript and affects to honor that or not and for class.” your completion rate. Students admission purposes that’s their Add-Drop Week is the first can withdraw pretty far into choice. It’s best to talk to an week of each semester for 16- the semester. So that is still advisor to decide if that is what’s week classes. It is a time for available well into your classes, best or not,” said Schweigert. students to add classes they if you need it. A withdrawal Students can drop classes want to take at the last minute doesn’t affect your GPA, but in online or on campus during the or drop or replace classes they some programs, you only get a first week. don’t like. certain number of attempts at “My best advice is to come “It can be a professor who a class, and a ‘W’ counts as an in to talk to an Advisor. We can rubs you the wrong way, learning attempt. It’s also sometimes help you figure out what’s best methods that aren’t the same better to try your best and take a for your degree or your college speed as a student’s learning lower grade and then repeat the plans,” Schweigert said.
ART & LIFE 5
January 31, 2019
Best Apps for Students NORA ALRASHID MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rated high in the app store and the number one app for math, Photomath snaps a picture of a problem and then shows a step by step explanation for how the math problem was solved.
Quizlet was founded in 2015 and is used by 1/3 of college students across the U.S. The app features info on any class subject you could need and displays it in ways that will aid with memory. There are games, virtual flashcards, etc. However, students without a paid membership can only access the vocabulary in one format. Used by millions of college students regardless of major, Rate My Professor allows former students to anonymously review and rate said professor’s way of teaching. The app also accommodates reviews on schools in general but users are not allowed to rate them.
Forest is an app (paid membership needed to unlock all content) to help students stay on track with their studying by setting a “timer”. If the user closes the app and turns off their phone, a flower will grow until the time is up. On the other hand, if the user chooses to stay on their phone, the flower bud will die and start over.
Upcoming Events At Meramec LAUREN JOHNS ART & LIFE EDITOR A new semester at Meramec has begun. It’s time for students to stuff their bags to the brim with homework to procrastinate on and keep one’s mind on overdrive. However, a new semester is about more than daunting
reading assignments, tasks and classes people want to forget about. For a distraction from all the mayhem, keep these upcoming event dates in mind. The perfect antidote for a monotonous routine.
January:
30: Campus Expo in Cafeteria from 10-1 pm Students join clubs 31: “Keep it Real”Diversity GameLearn more about the community. Refreshments included. 2-4 pm in BA105.
February:
1: Technology Workshop (join Campus Life and Career Development to improve your technological skills and prep for the workforce, refreshments included) 2 pm in SC200
Graphic by Gina Carr
Live Drum and Dance Performance by Djougoukan Percussion in the cafeteria, 12-2 (presented by BSEEC to honor Black History Month) Afterwards, attend a workshop to learn some dance moves in SC125
4: STL County Pet Adoption Service Works members play with animals and help them find forever homes with adoptive “parents” from 4 pm-5:30 pm 7: DIY scrapbooking Student Activities Council gets crafty, students can bring supplies from home or use what’s provided. 11: Rose Hill House Valentine’s Day Dance Service Works students make valentine cards and dance with the elderly from 4-6pm. 12: First Student Government Meeting at 2 pm in SC201. 14: Valentine’s Candy “free sweets for the sweeties.” 25: “Thriving Through Homelessness,” presented by Tyra Leesman for the Service Works Club, from 4-5 pm in SC204. Hear the experiences
of a Meramec student who has faced homelessness and poverty.
March:
1: Faure Requiem concert Meramec Concert choir and St. Louis Philharmonic at Lindenwood. 4-8: Stressless Week on-campus activities to escape the choas of Midterms. 10: Spring Instrumental Concert by Symphonic Band and Orchestra at 3 pm 11: Campus Kitchen Project Service Works Students cook and pack meals for the homeless. Transportation: campus vans @ 3:15-6:30 pm. 14: STL Day- a day of Ted Drewes, Imo’s, Fredbird. 23: Missouri Stream Team Confluence Trash Bash from 8:15 am-1:30 pm.
2019 CAREER FAIR
Wednesday, March 6 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Meramec Gym
Choose UMSL. “We can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”
Christy Hummel, Assistant Director
Teri Furlow, Transfer Specialist
askchristy@umsl.edu
furlowt@umsl.edu
Open and free to STLCC students, alumni and the public. Bring your resume and dress in professional attire.
Join the Team Meetings every Tuesday at 5PM in SC220-A (Student Center)
Advising for STLCC Meramec students: Advising Center – Clark Hall 314-984-7575
2018142/0718/jb
Photography
Serious education. Serious value.SM
Design
Reporting
Multimedia
Contact Shannon Philpott-Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu for more information.
Interested in Transferring? Start exploring your options!
Why Webster? • Student-centered • Experienced and dedicated faculty • 100+ academic programs • Competitive transfer scholarships • Study Abroad at one of our international locations
JOIN US!
Connect with Webster at an upcoming event on our home campus! o Transfer Tuesday- January 29 o Transfer Tuesday- March 5 o Webster Preview Day- March 22 o Transfer Tuesday- April 23
For more information on transferring: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 admit@webster.edu
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OPINIONS 7
January 31, 2019
Letter to the Editor Cafeteria MOm Signing Off For Duty Dear Cafeteria coworkers, Staff of Meramec and Students of Meramec: I am Cheryl, the cafeteria “mom.” It is with sadness in my heart that I have turned in my resignation to Company Kitchen after almost one month shy of 12 years. I cannot return without restrictions as I have been using a walker since Oct. 15 and will need back surgery. I thought The Montage would be a great opportunity to say goodbye to everyone at one time, as I know they wanted to interview me as the cafeteria mom. I will miss each and every one of you who has crossed my path in 12 years, from the students, (my kids), the staff and students from the past who have come back to visit me personally. Each and every one of you will be missed. I would like to give a big shout out goodbye, to the maintenance guys, the housekeepers, the English department teachers, security, you know who you are and to anyone and everyone who came through any of those doors to cafeteria and stopped and had conversation with me. You are all truly my friends for life. We sang, we danced, we cried, we laughed and we had a wonderful decade together. If a student needed a Band-Aid, a hug, a high five, a “you can do it” on that final exam, or a shoulder to cry on, I was there. Once again, it was a wonderful 12 years of my life and I thank all of you for making it enjoyable. This was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. Please let people know anyone wants to reach out to me, I can be contacted through Facebook. www.facebook.com/mobilmomma. I would love to have old friends be my new friends on there. Cafeteria mom signing off from duty. - Cheryl Krull
SCOTUS Transgender Military Ban One Transgender Man’s View on America’s Descent into Madness OLIVER PULCHER ONLINE EDITOR On Sept. 9, 2015, I came out as transgender. W h a t followed after was pain. A lot of it. Throughout my high s c h o o l years, I was consistently harassed and assaulted, both verbally and physically. I was physically attacked in bathrooms more times than I could count, during which I was shoved into walls, punched, kicked, and choked a few times. I heard the words tranny, dyke, freak, shemale, and bitch more times than I can even remember. Somehow, it became a natural occurrence. The words became ingrained in my mind. I was so terrified of being shoved, cornered, or humiliated on a day to day basis that I avoided most school hallways. My senior years, the guys in my weightlifting class threatened to sexually assault me, then “take me out back and shoot me” if I ever attempted to come into the boys locker room. The fact that on several occasions I was told to just kill myself because the world would be better off without me still grips my soul. The more I attempted to forget it, the more I couldn’t forget. I am thankful that administration dealt with them, but nothing my classmates threatened me with could ever compare to the pain of knowing that my father disowned me for who I was.
On Jan. 22, 2019, The Supreme Court of The United States voted 5-4 to allow Trump’s transgender military ban to go into effect, a move that not only affects transgender military members, but transgender people everywhere. In a single move, SCOTUS has set a precedent of transphobia and, while I’m not all too surprised, I am disgusted, appalled, and infuriated all the same. Legislators have been using my existence as a fear mongering tactic for far too long. I am done. I’m done having conservative friends write posts defending Trump. I am tired of them saying they support me and then they turn right around and say my rights aren’t worth jack to them. This isn’t a political disagreement; these are my rights and my ability to live free from persecution. Many people in America don’t seem to get that. You can not support Trump and not be bigoted. It’s as simple as that. America has willingly gone blind to the attacks on minority rights this administration has taken on. Americans need to recognize that you can not tell the people you love, your friends and family members, that you support them while simultaneously cherrypicking your rights over theirs. I’m done being used as a political pawn. I’m done being that transgender friend conservatives use to claim they aren’t “truly transphobic.” I’m done explaining myself and constantly justifying myself. I’m done going the extra mile in every single aspect of my life and then being told that I could be arrested for going to the bathroom. I, and every other minority, no matter how different we may be, are all human beings. Pay attention and listen closely, because my existence is not a political argument. And, before you know it, the next rights he decides to cut might be yours. Graphic by Gina Carr
New Year’s Resolutions Are Old News MORGAN RATLIFF COPY EDITOR
I hate New Year’s resolutions. I hate how gyms become filled with suddenly motivated fat people. How documentary-inspired guilty meat eaters take a crack at vegetarianism. How boozin’ college students with slackin’ GPAs stop attending parties out of the blue. How every half-wit literary pseudoexpert packs their bookshelf with an additional four or five hunks of fiber they never get around to reading.
I find it funny how those gyms are suddenly empty by February. How failed vegetarians sink their teeth in some half-pound, grease-soaked burger. How parties soon have no shortage of attendees. How books are eventually pushed up against one another on shelves everywhere to make room for the next round about the New Year. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is how meaningless they are. Parents are motivated by their kids, workers are motivated by that raise that will finally pay off their student loans… and then these New Year’s losers are motivated by some date. We went around the sun again. Woo. Hey, I went grocery shopping on Thursday like I do every week. Know what that means? Jackdiddly-squat. Consistency may be key, but all New Year’s resolutions are consistently bullsh*t. Unless there’s some genuine purpose behind any life change, it won’t work. Everyone will fail the second they
attach action to anything but their own legitimate desire to make it happen. And, if motivation is merely a date, people just
got a date with failure. I can’t name a single person who wants to follow through on their New Year’s resolutions anyway. People always have a final night of junk food binging before their new diet or one last booze blowout before they quit drinking. If somebody actually wanted to change, he or she wouldn’t indulge so heavily right before that indulgence was no longer an option. They wouldn’t care about when their change starts. They’d do it. Simple. So what should people do? It. Whatever “it” is. Stop gorging on Big Macs, put down the handle, go to a tutor once or twice and try audiobooks. Forget the date. People should start changing whenever they can, wherever they are ‘cause they need to. If they have something against this sentiment, they don’t really want to change. For a lot of people though, they want to change and the date is setting them up Graphic by Gina Carr for failure.
8 SPORTS
January 31, 2019
Lady Archers shooting for A’s Basketball comes second to education in Spring ASHLEY BIUNDO SPORTS EDITOR
Freshman Point Guard, Ronne’zja Elliot loos for an open player to pass the ball on Jan. 16.
The women’s basketball team is gearing up for the end of the season while beginning the spring semester. They are currently ranked 12th in the nation and have their expectations set high, according to Head Coach Shelley Ethridge. “Right now, we are just taking it one game at a time and hoping to continue to improve,” said Ethridge. “I have seen flashes that we can do something special at the end of the season, so that will be one of my personal goals but it really relies all on the kids.” Along with their expectations, the coaches work on keeping their players motivated during the spring semester, said Ethridge. The players are all self-motivated, she said. “They know that there is no substitute for hard work and it is demanded in our women’s basketball program,” said Ethridge. “So they come in and they bring it every day and that’s what I am proud of them for.” With motivation comes responsibility. The Lady Archers know that school comes before basketball, said Ethridge. “We typically are number one or two with all the sports with the highest-grade point average. We have mandatory study halls,” said Ethridge. “It is something that we take seriously. It is over basketball. Basketball is a close second, but they are well aware that they will not be on the court if they aren’t getting their academics taken care of.” Like all sports teams, they will still have their strengths and weaknesses, said Ethridge. “We are starting to peak at the right time. And that is always huge and now the team is starting to play for each other and we have really great chemistry going on. We are playing as a unit,” said Ethridge.
Men’s Basketball Update
There is always room for improvement, though, she said. “We need to improve our defense. We had a few defensive breakdowns,” said Ethridge, referring to the Jan. 16 game against Kaskaskia College, where the Archers won 82-58. “We will be at practice working on it again.” The Lady Archers have more upcoming games, including the Cancer Awareness game on Saturday,Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. on Forest Park Campus. Feb. 23 is their sophomore night and the last regular home game which is at 1 p.m. at Forest Park.
Photos by Ashley Biundo
Freshman Forward, Charley Hearon eyes who is open for the pass on Jan. 16.
Upcoming Games Feb. 2nd 1:00pm Women’s Basketball vs North Central MO College at Home
ASHLEY BIUNDO SPORTS EDITOR With the 2018-2019 season coming to an end, the men’s basketball team is preparing for the Region XVI Finals at the end of Feburary. On Saturday Jan 26, the Archers made a come back and won against Metropolitan Community College, 62-60, with only a few seconds left. The Archers have a record of 8-9 and still have games to go, including the Cancer Awareness game on Saturday, Feb. 2nd at 3 p.m at Forest Park.
Feb. 2nd 3:00pm Men’s Basketball vs North Central MO College at Home Feb. 4th 7:00pm Men’s Basketball vs Culver-Stockton College at Home Feb. 6th 5:30pm Women’s Basketball vs Three Rivers Community College- MO at Home Photos by Ashley Biundo
Feb. 6th 7:30pm Men’s Basketball vs Three Rivers Community College- MO at Home Feb. 9th 3:00pm Men’s Basketball vs West Kentucky Community & Technical College at Home Feb. 11th TBA Men’s Basketball at North Central MO College Feb. 13th 5:30pm Women’s Basketball vs Missouri Baptist University at Home
Left: Sophomore Guard, Charles James dribbles the ball down the court against Metro Community College on Saturday, Jan 26. Top Right: Sophomore Guard, Dominique Loyd goes up for a shot against Metro Community College. Bottom Right: Archers reviewplays during a time out.
Feb. 13th 7:30pm Men’s Basketball vs Mineral Area College at Home *Games are subject to change*