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MONTAGE Serving the St. Louis Community College - Meramec community since 1964

ACP Award Recipient

VOLUME 53, ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018 | WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM

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What to do in an active shooter situation

In the wake of another school shooting, STLCC administrators offer life-saving strategies Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief

Eight days after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Chancellor Jeff Pittman issued a statement reflecting on the tragedy. The email promised that the safety of campus inhabitants is STLCC’s number one priority and that more information regarding emergency training would be issued in the coming week.

On March 4, the STLCC community received an email from Alfred J. Adkins, Interim Director of Public Safety detailing what to do in the event of an active shooter situation. Adkins also stated that, although law enforcement and emergency response teams are already prepared for any situation that may arise, it’s important that students, faculty and staff also receive proper training.

“We’re going to take it a step further and involve the student body and faculty and staff in the training,” said Adkins.

The email provided no specific dates, saying that the training will occur in the “near future.” According to Adkins, the training has been in the works since long before Stoneman Douglas.

Chancellor Pittman said that active shooter drills are already conducted across STLCC campuses, with timings intended to reach as many students as possible.

“Normally they have the drills at different times during the day. That may be something that’s evolving,” said Pittman.

According to Adkins, for those who aren’t in class during active shooter drills, the information is available online.

“You can see information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Department of Homeland Security. Or you can go online right now and see what other universities have done,” said Adkins. “They all sort of funnel to the same thing: run, hide, fight.”

Adkins also said that his team is testing out new mobile metal detectors, one of which was used at the Feb. 22 Board of Trustees meeting. If the machine does well, he will consider obtaining more for use on each STLCC campus.

From Adkins’ email, here are the steps to take

during an active shooter situation.

RUN: If you think you can make it, run out of the building. Do not run in a straight line and keep large objects between you and the shooter to keep yourself out of the line of fire. Warn others if you can. When safe, call 911 and be prepared to describe the shooter or shooters, their location and weapons.

HIDE: If you can’t run, get out of the shooter’s line of vision and be very quiet. Silence your electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate. Lock and block doors, close blinds and turn off lights. Stay in place until law officials give you further instructions.

Remain calm.

FIGHT: If your life is in danger and there is no escape, use objects in the area to throw at or strike the shooter. Overwhelm the shooter by having many people attack at once.

If you see something, say something. For more information, contact Alfred. J. Adkins at 314-539-5266, or Lieutenant Adis Becirovic, Emergency Response Training Coordinator, at 314-644-9783.

see related story on page 7

Black History Month Wraps Up with African Art Display

It’s Up to Us to Stop Gun Violence Once and For All

Archers Basketball Defeated in Championship Game

-Art & Life, Page 5

-Opinions, Page 7

-Sports, Page 8

A T

M E R A M E C

The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students.

Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **

COURSES

MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 143 MUS 150 MUS152 MUS 154 MUS 211,212

Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music The History of Jazz The Enjoyment of Music Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV Survey of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Intro to Desktop Music Publishing Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II

Photo Illustration by Melissa Wilkinson

Reduction in force mitigated by voluntary separations

Interested in performing in an ensemble?

All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!

ENSEMBLES

Music 132 – Orchestra Music 133 – Jazz Lab Band Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 135 – Concert Choir & Chamber Singers All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal.

Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers and/or the Voices of Magic jazz choir.

For more information, contact the Meramec Music Department Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

Chancellor Jeff Pittman announced at the Feb. 22 Board of Trustees meeting that as of Feb. 20, more than 100 faculty and staff elected to take advantage of the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIPs) offered last semester. The VSIPs were an attempt to mitigate the involuntary separations resulting from major budget cuts to STLCC’s core funding.

Although 58 full-time faculty were told they would not have jobs after the spring semester, Pittman estimated that

fewer than 20 will now be laid off due the “successful” VSIPs. Though the official numbers have not yet been determined, due to a seven-day period during which the VSIP participants may change their mind, Pittman said they will be released once the administration meets with National Education Association leadership to determine reduction recisions.

See future issues of The Montage for more developments on this story.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ● 11333 BIG BEND ROAD ● ST. LOUIS, MO 63122

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT MERAMEC PRESENTS:

“Slide into the Meramec Transfer Fair”

Come and learn about the programs, admissions, requirements, and scholarship opportunities from the 35 four year transfer schools in attendance.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018 10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. STUDENT CENTER COMMONS THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SPRING 2018 COLLEGE TRANSFER FAIR: CENTRAL MISSOURI METHODIST CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CULVER STOCKTON COLLEGE FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY GOLDFARB SCHOOL OF NURSING HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE UNIVERSITY HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY KAPLAN UNIVERSITY-ST. LOUIS LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY MACMURRAY COLLEGE

MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIV. MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY MISSOURI UNIV.—SCIENCE & TECH MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY RANKEN TECHNICAL COLLEGE ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

SOUTHEAST MO STATE UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN IL-CARBONDALE SOUTHERN IL-EDWARDSVILLE TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF IL-SPRINGFIELD UNIVERSITY OF MO-COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF MO-KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY OF MO-ST. LOUIS WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WEBSTER UNIVERSITY WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY WESTMINSTER COLLEGE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT, PLEASE CALL 314.984.7588.

WILLIAM WOODS UNIV.

St. Louis Community College is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodations needs, please call Tracy Lampkins at 314.984.7588 within two working days of the scheduled event to request needs. Documentation of disability may be required.

Page 3 | News 4 March 8, 2018

New advising system hits STLCC in fall 2018

Case-management policy designed to ‘create relationships’ between students and advisors Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief Students entering STLCC next semester will have a new and improved advising experience from current students, according to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tony Cruz.

Cruz announced at a Feb. 22 board meeting that, beginning this fall, each incoming student will be assigned an advisor to assist them with registration, course planning and other needs.

“When you want to see your advisor you can see someone in advising. Maybe over time you’ve got to the same person, maybe you haven’t, but there’s not a lot of structure. It’s up to the student to build a relationship,” said Cruz.

“In this [new] model the advisor is the one reaching out to students throughout the semester.”

According to Cruz, this change, referred to as “case management,” was brought on after research into other successful institutions. Many schools, said Cruz, have adopted a more proactive advising mode. Cruz hopes the change will help with STLCC’s retention rates.

Julie Massey, Manager of Academic Advising, said the research was supplemented with surveys and focus groups.

Non-returning, beginning and continuing students were all asked how their ex-

perience at STLCC could be improved.

“We’ve heard from students. They want to be connected to the college and staff and peers to get the support they need to stay motivated,” said Massey. “A lot of what we’re doing with the academic advising redesign is going to speak to some of the issues that were identified in all those efforts.”

The case management system, said Cruz, will change the current advising system from reactive to proactive. Currently students only seek out advisors when problems arise, but case management will attempt to prevent problems before they begin by setting up “regular interventions” with students. Advisors will be assigned up to 300 students each and manage communications through email, text and eventually a smartphone app developed by Navigate, STLCC’s new advising management software.

Students will be case managed until they hit the 30 credit-hour mark, at which point they will be able to contact their advisor on an as-needed basis.

“It won’t be all students. We’re piloting this with first time college students,” said Massey. “We’ll begin to fold in [returning and transfer] students as they’re admitted to the college.”

Cruz also mentioned at the board

meeting that a peer mentoring program is in the works. Although the criteria has not yet been decided, Cruz said that “qualified students,” likely those with good grades in good standing with the college, will be hired as mentors to incoming students. A peer mentor would be imbedded in a first-semester class and act as a familiar face to those students to answer questions and “navigate the waters of the college,” said Cruz. “[Peer mentors] would introduce themselves at the beginning of that course and they would have certain touch points where they would reach out,” said Massey.

A payment system has not yet been defined, but Cruz said he plans on compensating participating students “to create a sense of obligation” through benefits such as work study.

A test of the new software, Navigate, will launch this April, with full utilization scheduled for summer of 2018. Nav-

igate is designed to ease communication between STLCC staff and students, something that fits in with Massey’s philosophy of “students first.”

“We’ve really worked hard to learn from our students,” said Massey. “I’m excited about what’s to come.”

Graphic by Noah Sliney

Innovation winner brings technology to classrooms Teaching and Learning Toolbox takes victory in campus competition Stephen Buechter | Staff Writer

Meramec professor Markus Ahrens is the victor of the campus Innovation of the Year award for the 2017-18 school year, according to a February email from the Market-

Submitted Photo Professor Markus Ahrens, Innovation of the Year award winner. Ahrens will represent Meramec in the all-campus competition this Spring.

ing and Communications department. His achievement will move forward to represent Meramec in STLCC’s district Innovation of the Year competition.

Ahrens, who also chairs the Accounting and Legal Studies department, won the award for his Teaching and Learning Toolbox, a website he built alongside Cathy Scott, an accounting professor at Navarro College in Texas. The website, which can be accessed at teachingandlearningtoolbox.com, provides technology resources and tips and tricks to help teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms.

According to Ahrens, the pair set up the website “to meet a need that was not being addressed.

“That need was looking at how to utilise technology in the class-

EDITORS

Melissa Wilkinson Jordan Morris Will Murry Mary Wilson Erik Muschinske Amanda Harris Noah Sliney Shannon Philpott-Sanders

Editor-in-Chief Production Manager Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor Multimedia Editor Photo Editor Graphics Editor Faculty Adviser

room to help engage students, and how to help professors from all across the country and world actually implement it into their classrooms,” said Ahrens.

Before their website was established, the two set up a Google Doc with links, answers to follow-up questions and other information. In searching for a different mode of delivery, said Ahrens, they decided a website would be appropriate.

“This website is truly a free resource,” said Ahrens. “It’s something neither of us make any money on. This has really become our hobby of contributing back to education,” Ahrens said.

The Teaching and Learning Toolbox beat out the Meramec Online Writing Lab to win the Innovation of the Year award. Meramec’s Innovation Committee, headed by profes-

STAFF

Stephen Buechter Christopher Hutson Tania Robin Lauren Johns Monica Obradovic Briana Heaney Kyah Probst Victoria Williams Katie Brinegar

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Editor Staff Designer

sors Tom Peter and Amber Schmisseur, made their recommendations to Provost Carol Lupardus, who made the final decision.

According to Peters, the criteria for selection for the Innovation of the Year Award were quality, efficiency, ability to be replicated, creativity and timeliness.

“I personally have used [Ahrens’] tool kit,” said Peters. “I’m very excited about him winning.”

According to Ahrens, he himself didn’t think of submitting the Teaching and Learning Toolbox for consideration until prompted to do so.

“Most of us don’t even know we’re doing innovative things because it’s just part of our classroom,” said Ahrens. “We’re trying to make it a better learning environment for the students. Innovation comes out of that.”

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Page 4 | Art & Life

4

March 8, 2018

This is What a Feminist Looks Like

Professor Erin Mignin weighs in on the importance of Women’s History Lauren Johns | Staff Writer

“The former teacher must’ve not loved it as much as I do,” Mignin said.

Mignin’s class curriculum is written by Mignin herself and focuses on American history. The class also sheds light on the realities of modern day society. Women are still treated unfairly in the workforce, making 83 cents to the dollar that every man makes, regardless of skill level and time commitment.

Mignin pointed out that even though she has a Ph.D, she still earns the same amount of money as a male with a bachelor’s degree. In this way, women need more education to reach the same standards as men.

Regarding modern feminism, Mignin said she believes that many people have the wrong idea about it. While feminism is literally defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” many are under the impression that Women’s History Professor Erin Mignin feminism is intended to be just supporting women and their rights revenge for past inequality perpetrated to have equal opportunities.” towards women.

Regardless of the importance of suf“All [feminists] really want is for a fragists and their relentless fight for votyoung girl to grow up in a world where ing rights, Mignin favors Martha Ballard, she can be whatever she wants to be,” a common midwife, healer and farmer said Mignin. “I love these T-shirts that in the late 1800’s. say, ‘this is what a feminist looks like.’

“She did nothing to fight for They come in men’s sizes, women’s sizes women’s rights, but she shows us just and child sizes. Anyone can be a femi- how strong and powerful ‘average’ nist, especially men. Fundamentally, it’s relatively obscure women are,” Mignin

Photo by Syed Ali

March shines a spotlight on the lesser acknowledged half of America’s population. Women’s History Month celebrates the achievement of those who have been oppressed and denied basic human rights.

Women are scarcely included in American history textbooks. Therefore they are rarely given credit for the numerous obstacles they’ve overcome and their ability to build bridges within a society of strict gender roles.

Meramec women’s history professor Erin Mignin said she understands the importance of keeping historical records on women and often idolizes suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who resided in a culture where good, well-behaved women stayed home, had babies and did the cooking and cleaning.

“If you [were] out there agitating for the right to vote, you’re not doing your job,” said Mignin.

According to Mignin, these women are often left out of basic history classes due to fewer political contributions, only because they were prohibited to do so.

They were victims of compromise, living solely to care after their husbands.

Mignin discovered her passion for this particular subject when she was an undergrad in college. While studying the topic in class, she felt a genuine connection to everything that was being said and went on for a minor.

“There was this special moment where I felt like I was learning about myself and others before me who paved the way for the future,” Mignin said.

After earning her degree, she immediately started teaching, moving through several universities until settling at Meramec, where she has been for the past three years.

said. “She lived everyday with integrity and won the respect of family, friends and her community in a world where women were deemed inferior.”

America only knows of her today because she kept a detailed diary.

“At every twist of turn of history, women are out there doing important things,” Mignin said. “Everyday is men’s history. It’s about time the rest of us are given the chance to shine.”

Photos by Will Murry

What to Do when All Hail Breaks Loose

Meramec’s Sky Club hosts severe weather seminar for students and staff Will Murry | Art & Life Editor

Meteorologist Jim Kramper trains attendees to spot dangerous inclement weather at the Sky Club severe weather seminar on Feb. 27. Kramper will give the presentation twice more before retiring at the end of March.

On Feb. 27, Meramec’s theater bore witness to an event that was not to be mist. The Sky Club’s severe weather seminar featured an educational presentation by Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jim Kramper. Over the course of the three hour seminar attendees were trained how to spot dangerous inclement weather, what to do during dangerous weather conditions and how to properly report weather.

“The number one goal of these seminars to teach people how to keep themselves safe. Here they learn what not to do and how to get the information they need so they can make those critical decisions. That’s the bottom line,” said Kramper, “People are responsible for their own safety, and they’ve got to use all the information at their fingertips and use that to make their decisions on what to do in inclement weather.”

Attendees were shown different types of cloud formations, weather conditions and atmospheric behaviors so they could learn to identify when a cloud is more bark than bite, or if they need to round up their family and get

so a safe location.

At the end of the seminar, audience members were given their very own “Storm Spotter” identification cards to show that they have been educated on inclement weather and that they are qualified to spot and report potential storms into the National Weather Service of St. Louis.

Joe Schneider, Sky Club advisor and professor of meteorology and astronomy, said that events like the severe weather seminar are important for the community because there aren’t enough opportunities in the classroom to teach that kind of information.

“These events are really to teach the community—not just students and staff, but the surrounding city of Kirkwood and St. Louis as a whole—how to spot and understand what they’re seeing as far as severe weather,” said Schneider.

For those that missed the seminar, Kramper will be presenting it twice more: at the Missouri botanical on March 21 and the Sunset Hills Community Center on March 24, before he retires at the end of the month.

Page 5 | Art & Life 4 March 8, 2018

From the Private Collection of Elaine Ransom

Meramec housekeeper wraps up Black History Month with her collection of African art Kyah Probst | Staff Writer

African history—and I discovered we had a rich history that they just didn’t tell us about in school. Once I started studying that history, I went natural—I took all the chemicals out of my hair and I fell in love with myself.”

Some of the collection includes two masks, called Makonde helmet masks, that African boys wear in a dance when transitioning from boys to men. The masks, made out of Ebony wood, encompass the entire head and bear the same markings on the facial areas as the boys meant to wear them.

Other art in Ransom’s display includes fertility dolls from the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, statues of the queen of Benin and her son Oba—who ruled the Benin dynasty from 1504 to 1550—and fabric from Zimbabwe.

Ransom’s informative presentation was the culmination of carefully researching and divulging the history of each piece.

“It’s part of my culture. If it looks like me, then I want it—and I mean it when I say that,” said Ransom.

During Thanksgiving of last year, Ransom was presented with the op-

portunity of a lifetime. During her time off from Meramec, she travelled down to Cameroon and was able to experience all of the things that Africa’s culture had to offer. She described the respect she experienced from young people in Africa, the shoddy water system and the beautiful food and culture.

“It was amazing, but it was kind of disappointing at the same time. You know how you see South Africa on TV, and how the white people live in all these big mansions and beautiful communities and the black people live in these townships? They still live like that—in some parts of Africa, and definitely in Cameroon where I was,” said Ransom. “We don’t know how good we’ve got it here.”

Elaine’s collection provided a fitting end to Black History Month with its keen insight into the rich history that Africa possesses.

“If I won the lottery and got millions of dollars,” said Ransom, “Africa is where I would go.”

Photos by Kyah Probst

During the last week of Black History Month at Meramec, students, faculty and staff were able to view a unique showcase of African art. The display, set up in the Academic Support Center, came straight from the collection of Elaine Ransom, who has worked in STLCC’s housekeeping department for the past two years.

“I have over six hundred statues and masks combined,” said Ransom.

“Initially I got into this just for my own happiness.”

The vast array of African art features masks, sculptures and statues come from all over Africa—including Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco and almost a dozen other African countries. At the end of the week, students and faculty were invited to listen to Elaine discuss her collection more in depth, offering ample explanation for why and how she cultivated such a large collection.

“I used to be depressed for years and years and years and years. I got to the point where I didn’t want to be here anymore,” said Random. “So, I needed something to look forward to. I started to study our history—our

Bottom Left: Meramec Housekeeper Elaine Ransom talks about her extensive African art collection on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the Library Resource center. Ransom has been collecting artwork for years to feel more in touch with her African roots and has amassed over six hundred unique pieces.

the

MONTAGE student voice Spring break is fast approaching. What’s your dream vacation?

“Any area in Oregon with a cool hiking spot.”

“My dream vacation spot is in Florida, on the beach, with my family.”

“Somewhere cool and rainy because I hate the heat but don’t want to be cold.

Maybe Wales? I love the sea there.”

-Brianna Jackson, Sophomore

-Madison Kokotovich, Freshman

-Amelia Humphrey, Freshman

“Bali. I also want to live there.”

-Jaylah Davis, Freshman

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Meeting 5 p.m. in Student Center room 220A. Can’t make the meeting? Contact Melissa Wilkinson at 314-952-9671 or meramecmontage@gmail.com.

Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Advising Center – Clark Hall

Monday & Tuesday, contact Christy at askchristy@umsl.edu or 314-984-7512 for an appointment.

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Serious education. Serious value.SM

Webster Preview Day: Saturday, March 24 Did you know that Webster University has 5 locations in the St. Louis Metro area to serve you?

While you’re on campus you can also learn about Webster’s exciting academic programs; generous transfer scholarships; how to apply for free; and request free estimated evaluations of your transfer credit!

See us at the Meramec Transfer Fair Wednesday, March 28 REMINDER Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Achievement Scholarship Application Deadline: April 1

Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 admit@webster.edu

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St. Louis, MO 2/19/18 10:42 AM

Page 7 | Opinions 4 March 8, 2018

The Uniquely American Problem of Mass Shootings With Congress and the President sitting complacently, it’s up to us to end the cycle of slaughter Mary Wilson | Opinions Editor

The cycle has repeated itself yet again. Mass shooting, shock, mourning, debate, thoughts and prayers, silence, mass shooting.The space between the mass shootings is getting closer together, yet the debate surrounding stricter gun control laws isn’t going anywhere.

Just days after the horrific school shooting in Florida on Valentine’s Day this year, members of the Florida House of Representatives rejected gun control measures—but declared pornography a public health risk.

When I was watching the live coverage of the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, I felt numb. Emotionless. As though I had been through this countless times before—because I have. How many times have we as a nation seen this? 20 years after Columbine, mass shootings have practically become a fact of life in the United States of America. 20 years after Columbine, a whole generation of kids has grown up practicing intruder drills, hiding hushed against a wall, the classroom locked and lights off.

Five years after Sandy Hook, Congress hasn’t acted. We as a nation cried. We pointed fingers. We shouted, “It’s the mentally ill! The shooter was autistic!”

We shouted until there wasn’t anything

left to shout, and then we fell silent, complacent, those 20 first graders and seven faculty members in their graves, but we didn’t pass legislation and we left the door wide open for this to happen again, and it has.

A little more than a year after the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, and nothing has changed. Months after the Las Vegas music festival, and nothing has changed.

13 days after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and something is different. Not with Congress, no, Congress won’t act. Certainly not with our President.

No. The survivors of this shooting are old enough to know right from wrong, to know what should be happening, but not old enough to have been silenced by society.

Days after seeing their classmates murdered, they mobilized. Perhaps it was Emma Gonzales who delivered the most memorable speech: “Politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA, telling us nothing could have ever been done to prevent this: We call BS! They say that tougher gun laws do not decrease gun violence. We call BS! They say that us kids don’t know what we’re

talking about, that we’re too young to understand how the government works: We call BS!” Roy Blunt, one of the senators from Missouri, received $11,900 in donations from the National Rifle Organization in the 2016 campaign season alone.

He prides himself on being pro-life, but is willing to stand by and rake in more money from the NRA, play the tired “thoughts and prayers” card and wait for this to happen again. I don’t know how much one person’s life is worth in politics, but apparently it’s less than $11,900.

Other countries have mentally ill people. Other countries have autistic people. Other countries also have stricter gun control laws, and, as a result, significantly fewer mass shootings.

We could have fixed this after Columbine. We could have fixed this after Aurora, after Sandy Hook, after San Bernadino, after Orlando, after Las Vegas, after Sutherland Springs—but we didn’t. Maybe this will be the time that we do. I have to believe that this will be the time that we do.

This is a uniquely American problem. We got ourselves into this mess, and it’s up to us—all of us—to get us out of it.

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, In a recent article about the last Lunar Eclipse you correctly quoted me in saying that looking at the sun without eye protection will not cause blindness if it’s done occasionally. However, probably due to editing from lack of space, a very crucial follow-up quote was omitted. You left out that I said looking through an unfiltered telescope will cause immediate and likely permanent blindness and/or serious eye damage.

Rick Menendez

‘Black Panther’ Deserves its Box Office Glory Despite surprising amount of social stigma, Marvel’s newest movie is a gem Will Murry | Art & Life Editor

Before I go into depth in this review, I’d like to speak in the massive social stigma that surrounds this movie. Not only was there massive resilience from the right wing bombing the rotten tomatoes review page with negative reviews before the movie had its first screening, there were staunch pro black leftists

that were proclaiming all over social media that white people shouldn’t even go see or review the movie despite their actual opinion on the film and what it stands for. All of that is crap. Regardless of your race or political leaning, just go see this movie.

‘Black Panther’ starts out where Captain America: Civil War leaves off, and just like that movie, this one is a solid eight out of 10. The characters are fantastically written and the writers

weren’t afraid to use this movie to speak on social issues, which perfectly reflects the social activism Black Panther has been known for since his first appearance in Fantastic Four issue 52 released in July, 1966.

This film takes place in the secret fictional African country of Wakan-

da and follows The Black Panther, Prince T’challa, to be crowned the new king of the nation following his father’s assassination. All is said and done until an American Iraq war veteran, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, shows up with the mark of a Wakandan and the dead body of the British man who’s been trying to get at their prized mineral (vibranium) which makes their civilization so advanced.

Killmonger reveals himself as the

son of T’Challa’s uncle, N’Jobu, and then challenges T’Challa for the throne and successfully usurps his command by seemingly killing him in ritual combat, Killmonger then starts his plan to send Wakanda’s weapons to arm black people all over the globe to fight the tyranny that faces them in everyday life.

T’Challa is later revealed to be alive, saved by the mysterious Mountain tribe of Jabari, the gorilla worshiping outcasts of Wakanda.

T’Challa and The Jabari then lead an assault on the Wakandan Capitol, and an emotional brawl between Killmonger and T’Challa happens. Killmonger, once defeated, delivers the best line of the film; “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage.”

This movie was absolutely huge.

It’s the most talked about, controversial movie of 2018 so far and it’s probably going to stay that way for the rest of the year. My only complaint about this movie is that they missed the golden opportunity of partnering with the car company Jaguar in favor of Lexus. How great would that have been?

Dear Chancellor Pittman, I am a student at the Meramec campus and I have a concern about the quality of education at this campus. I graduated from the Meramec Community College in 1992. Presently I am taking courses in the Legal Studies Program. Because I know educational quality when I see it.

Here are two of my concerns on this campus. First, the school library has a coin operated copying machine that has been out of order since Jan. 16, 2018 and no staff personnel knows when the copier will be replaced. The copier is so old it cannot be repaired.

Secondly, when I take an audit class your school policy is to sign up for the class the day before the class begins. Statesman Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Vice President Sharon Holt has received a copy of this concern. You as a man of education will understand me.

Thank you, Daniel Jackson

Page 8 | Sports March 8, 2018

Archers Coaches Reflect on Championship Loss Men’s and women’s basketball teams end seasons after upset in Jefferson City Basketball season ended for the archers last week after both the men’s and women’s teams won their semi-final games but lost their championship matches this weekend in Jefferson City.

The men’s team lost 74-59 to Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley while the women’s team lost 82-77 to North Central Missouri College.

Men’s Head Coach Terry Collins attributed his team’s loss to the resources used during their semi-final game on Friday, March 2.

“I think that after the big win Friday night, I didn’t prepare the team psychologically and emotionally for the next night,” said Collins. “We were playing short-handed because our top two scorers had been injured and we did a great job overcoming that, but we expended too much energy. I didn’t realize that our gas tank was on empty and I needed to fill it back up.”

Melanie Marcy, Assistant Coach for the women’s team, praised her team’s performance on Friday. After a sizable 92-63 victory in the semi-finals, the Lady Archers were “expected to win” their Saturday game.

“Our big thing is always heart and hustle. And we did those things, we just weren’t getting the results,” said Marcy. “We were never down by very much but it felt like, as hard as we worked, we couldn’t take the momentum back to our side.”

Marcy described her team as “heartbroken” over the loss. According to Marcy, her current team is “the best here in nine years”, finishing the season

with a nearly flawless record of 24 wins and only three losses.

“Not too many get to end with a win at the end of their season but [the loss] felt devastating because this is the most special team we’ve had and it felt like we were destined for historical things.

No one’s accomplished what these girls have accomplished,” said Marcy.

Collins, however, said his team’s season was “good, but not great.” After losing many seasoned sophomores last year, Collins had a “rocky beginning” filling up his roster. Once the new team forged an identity, the two top scorers, Sterling Wooten and Dominique Loyd, were benched due to injuries. The team had only just learned to play without them as the championship game approached.

According to Collins, this season did have some standout moments.

“We beat some teams that are what I would call high resource teams. People like Moberly, Three Rivers, Mineral Area.

They offer full scholarships, tuition, room, board and books. They get players from all over the country. Whereas we’re mainly guys that live at home and commute to school, which limits our pool of potential recruits. I think being able to beat those teams was a real credit for our players that hard work pays off,” said Collins.

Marcy said that, though the Lady Archers’ achievements included an initial 13 game winning streak and finishing the season fourth in the nation, her team’s greatest accomplishments are even more impactful.

Submitted Photo

Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief

Lady Archer Ellisha Davis (left) looks to attack the basket at the Region 16 championship game against North Central Missouri College on Saturday, March 3. Davis and her teammate Chrishana Wilson were both recently named All-Region First Team players by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Another player, Andranae Wash, was named to the All-Region Second Team.

“Honestly, we’re in this for this girls to be able to achieve success, to go on and win that scholarship and do something with themselves. If we do that, we’re successful. It’s not about our numbers, it’s not about any championships.

To have four [sophomores] sign early with division one schools and know that their educations and futures are taken care of is a major highlight.”

For Marcy’s team, it’s back to the

grind after a well-deserved week off.

But for Collins, there’s no rest in sight as he returns to his post-season tasks; helping his sophomore players transition to their next stage of schooling, setting academic and athletic goals for his returning players and recruiting incoming players.

“Those are the three things that keep me just as busy now as during the season,” said Collins.

Upcoming Games March 10 Baseball vs. State Fair Community College 1 & 3 p. m.

Softball vs. Chesapeake College 9:30 a. m. vs. Community College of Rode Island 12:30 p. m.

March 11 Softball vs. Iowa Central Community College 9 a. m. vs. County College of Morris 10 a. m.

March 13

Graphics by Katie Brinegar

Baseball vs. Lakeland College 3 p. m.

Softball vs. Chesapeake College 7:30 a. m. vs. Iowa Central Community College 1:30 p. m.

March 14 Softball vs. Southern Maine Community College 8 a. m. vs. College of DuPage 10:30 a. m.

For more information and complete schedules, visit ArchersAthletics.com.

Need a physical education credit fast? Here are four late-start PE courses that are still open for registration. But hurry; class starts March 19.

PE 122 601: Dance Aerobics I MWF 11 a. m. - 12:05 p. m.

CRN 10443 Dance aerobics makes muscle thickening exercise seem less gut-sickening.

Types of dance aerobics include Zumba and Jazzercise, each with the principle of getting the body moving and working. Dance Aerobics I is the perfect class for those who are usually weary of traditional exercise. This class is fastpaced, energetic and makes what most of people do alone in front of a mirror socially acceptable.

PE 130 619: Fitness Center I MTWR 10 - 10:50 a. m.

CRN 10561 Fitness Center I sways more towards a traditional gym class. Students learn how to make good, healthy food choices, as well as how to use exercise machines that are typically seen at gyms.

The main goal of the course is to build muscular strength and endurance as well as flexibility. Fitness Center I is a highly transferable course, and provides knowledge that is useful even after the class is over.

PE 173 650: Walking for Fitness TR 5:30 - 7:05 p. m.

CRN 20527 In this class, students walk from three and a half to five miles per hour.

Walking may not seem like strenuous exercise, but this class turns what people do everyday into a fun course that burns extra calories. For the majority of the class, students are either given a direction to walk, or travel a route to downtown Kirkwood and back. Most people don’t realize how many hills the city of Kirkwood has, making this course a surprising challenge.

PE 120 695/696: Community Red Cross CPR MW 2:15 - 4:15 p. m.

T/R 9 - 11 a. m.

CRN 12361 & 12362 This course is a PE credit that can save lives. In this partially online class, students will learn how to perform CPR. In addition to learning the physical act, the class will learn all components of breathing; the heart, blood vessels, bronchi, lungs and more. If desired, students can pay an additional 19 dollar fee to obtain CPR certification at the end of the course.