04 17 14fullissue

M T H E M O N TA G E

A look at Meramec one year after the student attack on April 18, 2013. page 4 and 5

Volume 49 Issue 13

www.meramecmontage.com

April 17, 2014

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NEWS 3 April 17, 2014

Meramec Morsels ‘Bye, Bye Birdie’ on the Meramec stage The STLCC-Meramec Theatre presents “Bye, Bye Birdie,” April 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. and April 20 at 2 p.m. in the Meramec theatre. “Bye, Bye Birdie” is directed by Michelle Rebollo and designed by Rick Willmore. “Bye, Bye Birdie” is the final production of the 2013-2014 season. It is appropriate for all ages.

The Meramec Theatre is no longer taking reservations. Admission is free and seating is on a first-come basis. For more information, call 314-984-7562.

Student art exhibition opens April 18 The Meramec Art Department presents the Juried Student Art Exhibition. It will open April 18 and continue until May 7 in the Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery. The exhibition features work of Meramec students that were created during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. The opening reception is Friday, April 18 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. The gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sundays and holidays.

For more information, contact the Meramec Art department at 314-984-7632.

PTK inducts new student members RYAN COYLE STAFF WRITER In the STLCC-Meramec cafeteria, on Thursday, April 3, Phi Theta Kappa attempted to induct its new members amid tornado sirens and trips to safe areas. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the world’s oldest and largest honor society for junior colleges.

Kay Blalock, Meramec history professor is the Interim Advisor for PTK’s Meramec chapter, Xi Lambda.

“Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for two-year college students.

It provides opportunities for motivated students to network, locate scholarship opportunities

and meet like-minded individuals for intellectual discourse,” Blalock said.

Students may be intimidated by the term “honor society,” but according to Blalock, the selection process is based on students who have taken 12 credit hours that can be applied to a degree program (Courses 100+) and hold a cumulative 3.5 GPA. There is however, a one-time entry fee of $90. “Compare the costs, whether that is money, time, effort, again it comes down to the benefits, like you do when you purchase anything. Weigh the pros and cons; for some students,

it is worth more than others,” Blalock said.

Xi Lambda Officer Lillian Pride said she believes joining was well worth it. “When I began as a student, I was demoralized.

I dropped out of the nursing program at a four-year university because I was overwhelmed.

PTK helped me focus and helped me succeed … I wouldn’t have done the campus garden initiative (referring to a development project Pride founded at Meramec) if I didn’t have PTK backing me. It gave me any success I end up with and it gave me a career path,” Pride said.

Music Department hosts spring concerts The Meramec Music Department will host two final events in the 2013-2014 season. The Symphonic Band will preform a Spring Band concert “New Music.” The performance will feature several new pieces by local composers on April 27 at 3 p.m. in the Meramec Theatre.

The Meramec Music Department will also host a residency featuring two well-respected musicians; cellist Eugene Friesen and violinist Darol Anger with the Meramec Concert Choir and Orchestra. The residencies will take place on Monday, April 28 at noon and Tuesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. in room 102 of the Humanities West building. There will be an open rehearsal Tuesday, April 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the Meramec Theatre, with the concert that evening at 7:30 p.m. The residency events and the concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, contact meramecmusic@stlcc.edu or call 314-984-7639.

Author to discuss global trade, food safety Author Kelsey Timmerman is coming to STLCC-Meramec to discuss his latest book, “Where Am I Eating? An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy.” The discussion is on Wednesday, April 23 from 7-9 p.m. in the Meramec Theatre.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Seating is on a first-come basis. Timmerman will discuss global trade, human rights, food safety, fair trade and other topics from his latest book.

‘Meet the Police’ forum set for April 17 STLCC-Meramec is hosting a Safety Forum on Thursday, April 17 from 3-4 p.m. in SC200. Tony Russo, the Meramec Police Chief, will share information on safety updates and answer questions. The forum, titled “Meet the Police,” will begin with the basics at first, said Russo.

The Montage recognized at state level The Montage, St. Louis Community College - Meramec’s student newspaper, was recently recognized with 24 individual awards and the Sweepstakes award for the most awards in the 2-year college division at the Missouri College Media Association’s annual convention and awards ceremony, held April 5 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. The Montage received 1st place in the Sweepstakes category and 3rd place for the Best Overall Newspaper in the 2-year college division, a 1st place win for its Back to School Guide, a 1st place win for its website and 24 additional staff and individual awards.

The Montage staff competed against several other two-year school newspapers from across the state including newspapers from the STLCC-Forest Park and the STLCC-Florissant Valley campuses. Entries in the competition were judged for general excellence by members of the Missouri Press Association.

Individual and staff awards received by The Montage staff included 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place wins for news writing, indepth reporting, feature and sports writing, sports photography, information graphics, story illustrations, editorial cartoons, page design and multimedia content. Several honorable mentions were also awarded to staff members.

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 career pathway 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 150 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 Fundamentals of Music Technology Music History I,II

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 and Voices of Magic jazz choir 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 Gary Gackstatter, Director of Instrumental Music, ggackstatter@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7636 Dr. Jerry Myers, Director of Choral Activities & Music Theory, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

4 NEWS April 17, 2014

A Year In Review: A Recap of the April Attack Spencer Gleason Editor in Chief

April 18 marks the one-year anniversary of the student attack in Communications South that led to structural, staff and procedural changes on the STLCC-Meramec campus.

At 8:08 a.m., April 18, 2013 student Blythe Grupe left her classroom to use the restroom when student Jevon Mallory allegedly attacked her in the second floor bathroom of Communications South. After the attack, Grupe said Mallory was hiding in a bathroom stall.

“Right when I was about to wash my hands, and I hadn’t noticed anyone around

or anything, someone had walked in and kind of slipped past me,” Grupe told The Montage after the attack. “I realized someone was standing behind me, but at that point he had me in a headlock and was choking me with his arm.”

Mallory was charged on April 23, 2013 with a class D felony and assault in the first degree. Bond was initially set at $10,000. After a Grand Jury Indictment was filed on May 22, 2013, Mallory’s bond was increased to $50,000 cash only on June 24, 2013.

April 18, 2013 8:08 a.m. Officers respond to a call for help in Communications South and apprehended suspect Jevon Mallory after he allegedly attacks student Blythe Grupe.

8:15 a.m. Suspect is transported to campus police station, read his rights. Mallory reportedly confessed and gave a statement. He was booked by campus police.

Victim was transported to the campus police station and offered medical assistance but refused. Grupe made a statement and was interviewed by the Behavioral Intervention Team and offered counseling.

10:15 a.m. Suspect was transported to Kirkwood Police station to be fingerprinted and photographed 12:10 p.m. Suspect was released by Campus Police from Kirkwood facility pending warrant applications. Former Meramec Police Chief Paul Banta informs Former Meramec President George Wasson, Former Vice President of Student Affairs Linden Crawford, Former District Police Chief Robert Stewart and Vice President of Academic Affairs Andrew Langrehr of the attack.

APRIL 22, 2013 2:40 p.m. The college responded to social media posts on Twitter and Facebook.

9:30 p.m. District Director of Public Information marketing was copied on an email from Linden Crawford who was at that time acting Meramec president.

Director receives emails from Wasson requesting a statement to be sent to the campus.

10:30 p.m. Director forwards statement to board of trustees.

APRIL 29, 2013 5:20 p.m. Meramec Campus President George Wasson’s resignation is accepted by Chancellor Myrtle Dorsey and a campus-wide email is sent announcing the resignation.

June 24, 2013 Motion to increase bond to $50,000 is granted by Judge Robert Cohen

Aug. 15, 2013 Police Chief Paul Banta, Vice President of Student Affairs Linden Crawford and District Police Chief Robert Stewart were removed from their positions following the release of an investigation of the incident by the local law firm Armstrong Teasdale.

Oct. 7, 2013 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse. Continuance granted. Judge orders evaluation of defendant by the Department of Mental Health.

Feb. 24, 2014 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse.

Continuance granted.

May 19, 2014 Hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. at Clayton Courthouse.

Stitching the Pieces Together A Timeline Of The Javon Mallory Case

APRIL 19, 2013 5:30 p.m. Meramec Public Relations Manager Tony Oplt calls district manager of public relations to inform him that the St. Louis Post Dispatch was inquiring about the campus assault. The district public relations director contacted Banta who gave account of incident. The director sent a summary at 5:47 p.m. to administration of the Meramec campus and district chief of police requesting a confirmation of details. Upon receiving the facts a return call message was made to the St. Louis Post Dispatch and a voicemail was left for the reporter.

APRIL 23, 2013 8 a.m. Suspect returns to campus for a scheduled in-person appointment with the VPSA at 9:30 a.m.

Purpose of the meeting was to inform student that he was permanently dismissed from the college. The suspect was then transported to St. Louis County Jail, warrants were issued and he was taken into custody with bond set at $10,000. Mallory was charged with a Class D Felony. Also at 8 a.m. a counselor attended the class to make sure all the students were okay.

12:30 p.m. Statement was sent by Wasson to Meramec campus.

2:21 p.m. District-wide email was sent to all students, faculty and staff.

2:30 p.m. A press release was sent to all media.

May 24, 2013 Arraignment held for Jevon Mallory.

Bond set at $10,000.

Aug. 5, 2013 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse.

Continuance granted.

Sept. 9, 2013 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse.

Continuance granted.

Dec. 16, 2013 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse.

Continuance granted.

March 31, 2014 Hearing scheduled at Clayton Courthouse.

Continuance granted.

NEWS 5

Perception of Safety

A Year Later

April 17, 2014

The leadership team at Meramec is continually updating its safety procedures and policies, said Vice President of Academic Affairs Andrew Langrehr.

“Anytime that you have something happen like this, you need to look at it and make sure that you are doing the best that you can and make improvements,” Langrehr said. “It definitely caused us to internally look at things and externally we had a consulting group come in to make sure we were dealing with things.”

According to Langrehr, the incident prompted administration to evaluate current safety practices. “We had an outsider’s perspective, so we weren’t just looking at it through rose-colored glasses,” he said. “We are supposed to be continuously improving. We definitely didn’t miss out on the opportunity to look at ourselves in the mirror and have someone else look at us under the microscope.”

After the April 18 incident, STLCC made both structural and staff changes.

On April 26, 2013, former Meramec President George Wasson resigned from office.

Four months later, the STLCC Board of Directors held a press conference stating that then Meramec Campus Police Chief Paul Banta, STLCC District Chief of Police Robert Stewart and Vice President of Student Affairs at Meramec Linden Crawford had been removed from their positions after an investigation by local law firm Armstrong Teasdale was conducted.

Following the announcement, Pam McIntyre was named Meramec President and Kim Fitzgerald was named Acting Vice President of Student Affairs. Tony Russo was hired as the Meramec campus police chief, overseeing the Wildwood campus and the South County Education Center, in September 2013.

Russo said he views the campus climate and atmosphere safer than it was a year ago. “What I perceive is that it is a lot safer because we’ve changed a lot of things or made things better,” Russo said. “All the feedback that I’m getting is that it is a lot safer than it’s ever been.”

According to Langrehr, the Meramec campus is a safe place, but the attack on campus shed light on room for improvement.

“My guess would be, if you surveyed folks, that the majority of people would say that this is a safe campus,” Langrehr said. “If you look at our crime statistics prior to the incident and since, it’s a safe place to be. I do think when you have something like that happen, it causes you to assess what caused it and how can we improve things. So there is no doubt because of that we have made changes.”

Russo attributes the changed perception to training, his police officers and improved safety measures. “This is a no-nonsense business and the police officers here were a little discouraged,” Russo said. “Everything that is good right now is a reflection of our police officers.”

Russo said that Meramec campus police are in a position to reach out to the student body and build a relationship. That relationship will only enhance campus safety, according to Russo.

“Sometimes people see police officers as an occupying force and we are always going to have that adversarial tension, but we can do a lot to reduce that by stopping and talking to these youngsters,” Russo said. “It’s a way to break the ice and a way to get the kids talking.”

The college has also increased technology in recent years. Meramec now has 67 interior and seven exterior cameras. The Wildwood campus has 17 interior and six exterior campuses while the South County Education Center has nine interior and six exterior cameras. That is just a start, Russo said.

Although 99.9 percent of the time, Russo said the Meramec police department handles all incidents, they do work hand in hand with the Kirkwood police department.

“Kirkwood police department has been incredible allies in safety,” Russo said. “They have committed to us. They wrote an operating order that says exactly how they will help us.”

Kirkwood Fire and EMS has also asked to be a part of every drill at Meramec, Russo said. The next drill, scheduled for August 2014, will allow staff and officers to practice an active shooter scenario.

DO YOU FEEL

SAFE ON CAMPUS? Karolina Mendyca “ Yes I do because there’s a lot of people always around walking in the hallways or outside. I often see campus police walking around too.”

Kathy Gaddberry “Yeah sometimes. When I’m in the parking lot I never see the campus police.”

Ashley Green “Yeah usually. It is kind of creepy walking to the parking lot by myself but we don’t have that much of a crime rate.”

Future Prevention

Mathew Gregory Safety is a concern across the country, said Langrehr. “Every time an incident is in the news, it just heightens the awareness,” he said. “The circumstances can make even the best-laid plans a challenge.”

According to Russo, early intervention and preparation is the priority. “Some of the things you look for to prevent problems are behaviors of concern,” Russo said.

At Meramec, the Behavioral Intervention Team (B.I.T.) is made up of Russo, Fitzgerald, Linda Nissenbaum from the Access Office and Hope Steiner from Counseling. They meet once a week to discuss problems with students that have been reported by faculty or other students. The B.I.T. relies on information given to them by faculty and students via the Behavior Incident Report Form on the Meramec website.

“A lot of [the reports] are just for information only, which is not a bad thing,” Fitzgerald said in August. “A handful of them have required some action. It’s all different.”

Since the April 18 attack, Langrehr said the wind was taken out of Meramec.

But he said he is hopeful that better days are ahead for the campus.

“After that incident and the attention it got, I think it hurt morale,” Langrehr said.

“That incident was pretty tough on our campus. We are anticipating more change, but I sense some optimism and we, at Meramec, feel good about our campus.”

“Yes I do. There aren’t a lot of fights or violence going on right now especially since that fight last year.”

Sarah Sommerhauser “Yeah. I’m not totally worried about it since I grew up off of Grand and Gravois.”

Design By: Cory Montero

6 OPINIONS April 17, 2014

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

DALILA KAHVEDZIC STAFF WRITER

A Better Today

Having a roof over our heads, cell phones in our hands, food on the table and just simple things like that in life make getting by from day to day a lot easier than we may think. But as always, many of us want what we don’t have. We want takeout rather than making our own, a better cell phone, a better looking house, a better job… but how many of us actually work towards that? You want a better and cooler car, but are you working hard and long hours to save enough for it? You want to become a famous artist, a famous singer, a famous actor/actress, but are you in fact doing what it takes? Personally, always hearing stories about what people could’ve aspired to be and wanted to be but didn’t achieve it because they didn’t “have the right resources” is a cop out. They just didn’t want it bad enough.

If you honestly and truthfully want something badly, if you want something with every burning inch of your body, you will do whatever it takes to achieve it. You

KEEPIN’ IT REAL

JAKE HUNN GRAPHICS EDITOR

5 Reasons to Ignore BuzzFeed

will take classes that you think are “too long” or “too boring” and you will succeed in them. You will drive hours and you will make countless phone calls and pull all nighters to make your own dreams come true. You will stay up all night learning that dance routine that you “just can’t do” and when it’s time for dance class, you will nail it. If it isn’t hard and if it doesn’t challenge you, it will not change you. Laziness and having no motivation has taken over and a majority of people immediately expect superior things to be handed to them, instead of working for them. What about the guy that stands on the street every single day, rain or shine, asking for some spare change so he can feed his children? No roof over his head and no cell phone, just a piece of cardboard with some writing on it and torn clothes that haven’t been washed for days, but is still trying his hardest. What would he give to have everything you take for granted?

We don’t appreciate all the resources we have that can help us achieve our dreams.

We take for granted the fact that we can drive somewhere to shadow our dream job, or that we actually have a car to drive to school with. If you find an excuse, you don’t want it bad enough. So do something every day that your future self will thank you for, whether it’s something as simple as slowly completing a bucket list you set for yourself or something that helps your future self. Less complaining and more doing. The only thing that stands between you and achieving your goal, is some made up story you tell yourself as to why you can’t reach it.

Lists are offensive. Let’s face it, BuzzFeed’s infamous list format is an insult to the comprehensive ability of the average reader. Organizing topics into a numbered list with a headline followed by a short explanation implies that the audience does not have a sufficient attention span to keep track of what is already mindless subject matter.

BuzzFeed’s topics are pointless. In most cases a BuzzFeed article simply draws attention to concepts that are already generally accepted as true. The hope is that the reader will connect with the content through the illusion that it has led them to a new realization. In a recent article titled, “26 Things Only Perpetually Tired People Will Understand” BuzzFeed’s first item on the list reads, “It doesn’t matter where you are or whether there is a bed around or not, you will be able to fall asleep if you try.” Surely this is an obvious truth, but someone who consistently feels tired might

EDITORS Spencer Gleason Cory Montero Cassie Kibens Jake Hunn David Kloeckener Rebecca Biundo Justin Villmer Shannon Philpott

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Production Manager Graphics Editor Photo/Asst. Sports Editor In-Depth Editor Sr. Copy Editor Faculty Adviser

WACKY SCIENCE

CORY MUEHLEBACH STAFF WRITER

Red Pill Blue Pill There is a scientific knot that ties everything in this world together, but depression seems to be a loose end. After untying the neurons in our brain and studying them, studies suggest that there are many key players involved with depression.

All of them take an excruciating amount of time and research to understand. With so many variables in the equation, Depression and its Mental Disorder relatives are needing more attention and funding for research.

There are dozens upon dozens of antidepressant drugs that are meant to help the user cope with and even cure depression.

These include major prescriptions such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and many more.

These drugs in affect, for the most part, are meant to balance the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which are thought to be the causes of depression.

Depression stems mostly from being unable to balance chemicals in our brain that moderate our emotions. Our brains tricks us into holding onto things

think, “Hey, that’s totally me.” In reality, it is common sense that someone could fall asleep in any location if they were tired enough.

Despite what the entire internet seems to believe, there is such a thing as too much nostalgia. BuzzFeed is the number one culprit in nostalgic overkill. The online media outlet can’t seem to move past their obsession with nineties culture and creating a bubble of superiority for it’s millennial readers to confide in. Every other BuzzFeed article seems to be titled along the lines of “26 Arbitrary Things Only 90’s Kids Will Understand.” Sorry, Millenials, “Being Free of the Crippling Grip of Responsibility” is definitely not a childhood commodity that exclusively 90’s kids can reminisce on.

Surely anyone over the age of 18 could look back fondly on such a time in their life.

How about the disturbingly broad quizzes that BussFeed publishes that claim to categorize someone as person in a

MONTAGE STAFF Ryan Coyle Billy Gardner Jason Jamison Dalila Kahvedzic Robert Knight Cory Muehlebach Ryan Obradovic Dennis W. Parks Darla Storm

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer

that do not exactly make us happy or we may push away things that do. Depression can turn a bright day into a cloudy mess and anyone with it knows exactly how that feels. Explaining depression to a person without it is like explaining colors to a blind person or sound to a deaf person; there is clear miscommunication.

In order to fully understand the quells of depression, one must first look at the source. The source varies from person to person, but childhood trauma or neglect usually seems to be the culprit. As human children grow, their minds are molded by what they are taught, how their parents handle situations and the environment around them. Unhealthy households are a breeding ground for adult depression, Orphans and even (realized) adopted children are much more susceptible to it.

But what can humans as a whole do about the issue? According to the National institute of health, 6.2 percent of Americans deal with depression. That is an alarming number seeing that most mental health disorders spawn from depression and/or are affected by it. That number is rising as well.

American citizens are in a chaotic and fragile environment. Mental disorders are becoming more common than rare and that is a big problem. More research, time, energy and most of all, sympathy should be given towards depression. If depression was any other illness such as Polio, this problem would have been addressed sooner. Mental health is a priority, it is about time America realizes its destructive path and acts. Depression and its cousins are not a fluke.

matter of a series of questions that typically don’t exceed ten in quantity. What’s even more horrifying is that people actually get excited about their results. It is hard to believe that BuzzFeed can dertermine that “You’re a person of the people. You tend to get along with everyone, and you tend to find yourself having to sneak out of uncomfortable situations from time to time.

But hey, that’s life” based on a person’s love for the cartoon Recess.

BuzzFeed’s most recent trend seems to be lists of characteristics in which one checks off all that apply. At the end of the activity, BuzzFeed will inform you just how much you embody a certain identity. This one is self-explanatorily absurd. If someone cannot decide their identity by evaluating a set of characteristics on their own, perhaps BuzzFeed is the perfect match for that person

THE MONTAGE To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., 314-984-7955.

Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessarily the views of St. Louis Community College, the board of trustees or the administration.

The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122.

314-984-7655.

One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager.

Editorial policy: All letters should be no longer than 500 words and must include identification as a student or faculty member, phone number and address for verification purposes. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for content and length. All letters submitted will be published in print and online.

Proud member of

www.meramecmontage.com

OPINIONS 7 April 17, 2014

Divided we stand STLCC campuses lack unity of one college ROBERT KNIGHT STAFF WRITER For several years now, St. Louis Community College has been promoting the “One College” concept in which STLCC portrays itself as one college with multiple campuses and education centers. That concept seems very reasonable and maybe even laudable from the organizational management perspective of administrative senior leaders.

From the perspective of the typical student, however, exactly what does “One College” really mean, if anything at all? My guess is the vast majority of STLCC students are at least indifferent if not completely apathetic to the whole concept.

Venturing out to speak to a few students about the idea did not provide any evidence to refute my initial presumption.

The unanimous reaction from

a handful of other students was basically a blank stare. And, why not? After all, the reality is that other than the main STLCC Website we are not aware of how or even if the STLCC administrators are actually doing anything to proactively promote the concept that STLCC is one college with multiple campuses and what exactly that can or should mean to students.

Sure, once we are an STLCC student we can enroll in any class on any campus because all of the campuses and education centers use the same enrollment system. So, that is great for the students, especially the students who are willing and able to enroll online. We can also get a degree or certificate from any of the campuses regardless of where we take classes as long as we meet

all of the requirements. This is outstanding for the students and a great function of the “One College” concept if that is why we can do that.

But is that the reason? My guess is yes.

STLCC does not promote any joint student activities between the campuses to help promote the idea that we are an integral part of one college. The only exception that readily comes to mind is a joint Student Government meeting that rotates between the campuses. The bottom line is STLCC campuses are not doing regular field trips or anything else in which students from one campus visit another campus to participate in some joint activity or event. Next, would they even do that if they had the chance?

One thing that is a direct result

of the “One College” concept is that we here at Meramec lost the Magic, as in the former name of our sports teams, along with some teams. In all fairness the other campuses also lost their sports team identity when athletic competition was consolidated and redistributed to specific campuses.

And of course all of us got stuck with the “Archers” as our team name, a name that is arguably among the least inspiring names possible, especially after someone realizes the name does not actually refer to the real sport of archery.

Finding students who even know which team Meramec is the home campus for is not much easier.

For the record, Meramec is home for baseball, softball and women’s soccer.

But, since our home sports do not even play games on

campus, with the exception of women’s soccer, and since STLCC sport teams in general do not aggressively promote their schedules let alone their existence, why should Meramec students even care about any of the STLCC teams?

Other than the ease of registering for any course on any campus in the STLCC system there is only one possibility for Meramec students to care much at all about the “One College” concept. This possibility relates directly to STLCC athletics and whether or not Meramec students and our student activity funds are serving as a cash cow for athletics in general and the teams on other campuses.

FOUR CAMPUSES TWO EDUCATION CENTERS

Saint

Louis

Community

College

MERAMEC

FOREST PARK

WILDWOOD

FLORISSANT VALLEY

“ONE COLLEGE” GRAPHIC BY JAKE HUNN

you

What do think about

that?

Is STLCC really “One College”?

Send The Montage your opinion: meramecmontage@gmail.com meramecmontage.com SC220A

8 INDEPTH

How toLife Survive F Hacks to A

April 17, 2014

Don’t be that guy...

The Bare Necessities

REBECCA BIUNDO INDEPTH EDITOR

The Nervous Wreck

The Disappearing Act

Bags under eyes from lack of sleep

#2 Pencil in one hand

The Party Animal

Hasn’t been in class since the first day.

Sensitive to light and noise

4th cup of coffee

Too many books + papers flying around Shaky legs

Doesn’t even know the professor’s name.

Takes test in ten minutes

Scantron in the other hand

ILLUSTRATION BY: JAKE HUNN

Staying Offline: Apps + Tricks to Better Focus Study Blue

Study with flashcards on any smartphone and track progess and notes within all classes.

Unstuck

Feeling lost? Get back on track with the Unstuck iPhone app. Type in a life problem and it will provide tips to be successful.

Write Room

Social media distractions can be annoying. Block out pesky notifications with Write Room. It gives space to write without any smartphone interruptions.

Grades 3

Figure out the minimum needed grades on exams to get an A or even pass that class.

Finals Week Ace Your Exams

INDEPTH 9

Energized: Life Hacks + Snacks Before: Sleep

ZZ

Use Color

Z

Healthy Snack

+

+ Organize notes with different color highlighters and post it notes to track chapters and sections of lectures.

During the Test: Hydrate

Studemts share their secrets of what makes them successful during final exams.

Stimulate the brain with a healthy snack like fruit or nuts to prevent crashing during the final study sessions.

Double Check

Same Gum

+ After answering all the questions, double check for any missed answers to prevent any easy missed ones.

Drink plenty of water.

GUM

+ Breathe

How Do You Study Best?

Z

Get a proper amount of sleep before each test to be wide awake and focused.

After:

April 17, 2014

GUM

Chew the same flavored gum from the night before to jog memory of studying.

Reward Yourself Check Grades

+ Inhale and exhale. You made it.

Survival at its finest. Take a deep breath or two.

“When it’s quiet.

Especially on campus with tutors here. I’m taking College Algebra and I’m always in the math labs. I can’t always study at home with a bouncing six yearold so I think on campus is better.”

-Lucinda S. Gray

+ No more studying so splurge a little. Go out. Eat dessert for dinner. Netflix binge. You deserve a break.

“I just skim the headlines and cram.”

-Jake Tuter

+

A

Make sure final grades match up with your records and contact professors if there is a problem.

“I read out loud to myself and I go through my notes before the reading because my teacher points out what to cover in the notes.

-Molly Geigle

The Kirkwood Pool Welcomes Nonresidents: Both Daily Admission and Season Passes Now Open to All Have you driven past the Kirkwood Pool on Geyer Road on a hot, sunny day and found yourself longing to cool off on the Lazy River? But maybe you don’t live in Kirkwood, Glendale or Oakland?

Nonresidents can now access the Kirkwood Pool in one of two ways: Buy a season pass, or simply visit us on a daily-admission basis How? Visit the Kirkwood Community Center during regular business hours, and sign up for either a Nonresident Season Pass or a Nonresident ID Card. You will need one of these to enter the pool. Bring a valid photo ID (driver’s license or state ID card) showing current address.

FEES: • Nonresident Season Pass: $145/adult; $120/youth (4-17); $315/family of 3; $30 each additional family member; $120/senior (65+) • Nonresident ID Card: $30 per person • Nonresident Daily Admission Fee: $8 per person, with nonresident ID card • Nonresident 10-Day Admission Card: $72, with nonresident ID card

The pool opens for the season on Saturday, May 24.

The Kirkwood Community Center and the Pool are located in Kirkwood Park, at 111 S. Geyer Road, just south of Adams Avenue.

For more information, call 314-822-5855.

YOU HAVE wHAt it tAkEs.

NOW TAKE IT TO A NATIONALLY RANKED

RESEARCH UNIVERSITY.

You’ve worked hard. And Southern Illinois University Carbondale has all the resources, faculty, and support you need to take your initiative further. Our admissions counselors will help make the transfer process as easy as possible. You can even visit our transfer page to see exactly which of your classes transfer, so there’s no confusion about where you stand—or our support. Start here: siu.edu/transfer. siu.edu/transfer

THIS IS SIU.

ART&LIFE 11 A music review: Grammy artist Joanne Shenandoah

April 17, 2014

Native American artist, Shenandoah performs at Meramec, answers questions DALILA KAHVEDZIC STAFF WRITER

Making music and being able to share your music with the world, have it be loved and embraced is one of the unsurpassed accomplishments any artist can ask for. Or maybe even winning over 40 Grammy’s and sitting next to Beyonce.

Joanne Shenandoah is a Native American artist who loves to promote peace, human rights and encourage universal peace with her unbelievable musical talents. Her music includes traditional songs and melodies, with blends of traditional and contemporary instrumentation.

Sponsored by the Global Studies Program, which is led

by Dr. Lisa Martino Taylor at Meramec, and with the help of Dean Yvonne Johnson, students were able to enjoy Shenandoah’s voice and music on April 9.

Asking Taylor how this event will benefit students she continues, “Music is a universal language and in global studies we talk about multiculturalism and this is something that transcends boundaries in terms of how people connect to each other.”

With a packed audience of students and professors, they seemed to be blown away by Shenandoah’s performance. She

did not only share her music with us, but life lessons and experiences as well.

A certain occurrence Shenandoah mentioned was how she was invited by Hilary Clinton to attend the unveiling of the Sacajawea coin and had that great honor in front of all their tribal leaders.

She jokingly added how Louis and Clark were lucky to have Sacajawea along on their journey for we all know how men hate to ask for directions, causing uproar of laughter amongst the crowd.

Going on about the impact of music, Shenandoah said, “I think life can go by so seriously and there’s so many things to focus on, but if we can use music as a way to celebrate life, what a better place it is, right?”

Continuing to tell the audience of when she was a little girl, she was taught that music was always a healing force.

Shenandoah was always told to be proud of who she was and where she came from, illuminating the truth that there are enough unhappy people in the world so we should do what we love and be happy with ourselves; words to live by.

Speaking on the topic of

treatment of kids and her opinion on parenting, an audience member disagreed with her view that if a child does wrong, the child is given the silent treatment and the family acts like they simply do not exist. Shenandoah explains that every parent has their own way of doing things, and that is just how she grew up.

Playing the guitar and piano, she showed the audience her extraordinary talents, also explaining that piano is her favorite instrument.

At one point in the event, she told the audience to close their eyes and go to their happy place whether it be in the arms of someone they love or sitting beachside listening to the waves, and established a meditation-like atmosphere. She proceeded to play a melody that was very easy on the ears.

Speaking to some students from STLCC-Florissant Valley and asking about their experience, Laura Brown and Julie Robertson, they shared that they were very glad to come and the event was beautiful. They were excited that STLCC offered this new exposure to them, and were able to learn so much from Shenandoah.

PHOTO BY: DALILA KAHVEDZIC Joanne Shanedoah autographs a CD for Steve Taylor after her performance on Wednesday April 9, 2014.

Joanne Shenandoah performs in Humanities East room 102 for and audience of students, staff and other spectators. The performance lasted about two hours.

ONLINE Want to be an editor?

IN PRINT

Submit applications April 25 by 5 p.m.

ON AWARDS

Want to write? Design? Take photos?

We are always looking for more staffers! Stop by SC220A for more information.

PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER

JOIN US?

Meetings held every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Join us sometime!

12 ART&LIFE April 17, 2014

Brown bag cafe celebrates its first anniversary with a ‘birthday bash’ CASSIE KIBENS PRODUCTION MANAGER

The Brown Bag Cafe celebrated its first birthday by hosting a birthday bash in the STLCC-Meramec cafeteria on April 7. The event featured birthday cake, food and games designed around donated food.

PHOTOS BY: CASSIE KIBENS

B

alloons, cake and games involving donated food took over the STLCC-Meramec Cafeteria Monday, April 7.

Brown Bag Cafe (BBC) celebrated its one-year anniversary in March, and to celebrate hosted a birthday bash.

According to Debbie Corson, service learning coordinator, the event was to celebrate not just the birthday of the BBC, but to raise awareness too.

“The goal of the event was definitely two-fold,” Corson said.

“Mainly to spread awareness, but also to celebrate a successful year, because it has been a successful year.”

Doris Durgins-Johnson, student assistance program specialist, believes the event helped to increase student awareness.

“I think more students are

aware,” Durgins-Johnson said.

“We achieved the goal of putting the word out there so that people will be aware that [the BBC] is available to them. If you’re here on campus and you’re hungry and you can’t afford the cafeteria, it’s a place you can come up and get a little something to tide you over.”

For the BBC, the past year has had its highs and lows. The BBC instituted an intake program to clarify the needs of students who use the BBC. The BBC also set up an adoption program where different departments on campus would adopt the BBC and raise money and food for it.

“This last year gave us an opportunity to work the kinks out,” Durgins-Johnson said.

“Debbie helped us initiate the adoption process; where each month a department adopts us.

Hopefully that will continue next

year.”

Corson and Durgins-Johnson both said they want to expand the BBC more within the next year. Some ideas were to get the student clubs more involved and get the community more involved as well.

“The more people we have collaborating on how to keep this afloat, the better,” DurginsJohnson said.

The BBC members will meet in May to review the year and try to come up with more ways to distribute more food. Corson said she wants to one day become a real, full-fledged food pantry.

“I had a nursing student come up to me one day and say that she uses it twice a week for lunches and that’s the way she affords enough gas to get to campus to take her classes,” Corson said.

“And that just says it all to me.

That’s the whole idea.”

TOP LEFT: Doris Durgins-Johnson (left) and Debbie Corson (right) speak at the Brown Bag Cafe birthday bash on April 7. ABOVE: Sanela Mesic, director of TRiO student support services, cuts the Brown Bag Cafe cake during the birthday bash event.

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of lunches served daily

M

T

W

TH

F

473

362

402

352

313

Amount departments raised for adopt BBC program September: English= 1829 items, $655 October: Accounting= 397 items, $355

March 2013-March 2014 Total No. of No. of Grocery Bags Lunches

1589

162

November: Library= 350 items, $85

February: Nursing= 5070 items, $0

December: Music= 144 items, $0

March: Behavioral & Social Sciences= 5 items, $265

January: Student Affairs Council= 293 items, $305

April: Admissions and Registration= N/A

ART&LIFE 13

April 17, 2014

RIGHT: Carissa Olson, Meramec student, signs the birthday card for the BBC birthday bash on April 7. The card was at the beginning of the refreshment table where students could enjoy free food and cake.

MIDDLE: Mike Butler, Meramec student, gets a slice of cake during the BBC birthday bash event.

BOTTOM: Lemella Myles, Meramec student (left) and Heather Haynes (right), take a poverty quiz during the BBC birthday bash event.

What is your one wish for the BBC’s first birthday?

Elizabeth Halbert

“To have more help. Other than the first five weeks for the students who need it, have it last longer.”

Linda Nguyen

“More donations. More students to be aware of it so they can get more help.”

Justin Smith

“For it to reach a second birthday. So it can just keep reaching more people and just help in ways we can.”

Cody Connelly

“More food because some of the bags are filled with less things and people get really hungry so, just put a few more items in there, really fill it up.”

CAMPUS

VISIT DAYS

Park University is located in historic Parkville, Mo., only minutes from downtown Kansas City.

VISIT PARK

D I S C O V E R A N D E X P L O R E A L L W E O F F E R AT A N E X C I T I N G PA R K UNIVERSITY EVENT OR A PERSONAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

1-ON-1 WEEKENDS

These special weekend dates are for students looking to get more information about Park University. Meet one-on-one with an admissions counselor and receive a tour of our historic campus. RSVP early for time slots as space is limited!

• May 16, 2014 • June 6, 2014 • June 14, 2014

• July 12, 2014 • July 18, 2014

PERSONAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

Make any day your visit day. Tour the Parkville Campus, meet faculty, talk with current students and discover historic Parkville. Schedule your experience at park.edu/montage or (816) 746-2533

ART&LIFE 15 April 17, 2014

Way-Bridging the Gap

Meramec student starts do-it-yourself record label

SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF STLCC-Meramec sophomore Joshua Milligan lives in the same home where he wrote his first song. It is the same home where he picked up his first pair of drumsticks. And where he and his friends would practice music and record their songs.

So when it came time to name his do-it-yourself record label, naming it after his street only made sense.

Milligan and his friend Beau Diamond run Waybridge Records, which was started in January. In just three months, the two have dealt with bands from Michigan to New York and across the Pacific Ocean in South Africa.

“Do what you can, for who you can, when you can has pretty much always been my philosophy,” Milligan said. “I’m always willing to help artists who need it.”

Milligan’s philosophy has helped Waybridge’s name cross continents. Milligan, however,

works from home and stays in the states. He has never been to South Africa. The South African band, Galactic Fish, has never met him.

But the common thread is music.

“We are a micro-label. I literally run this from my living room,” Milligan said. “I doubt I will ever actually meet [Galactic Fish] in real life, but he enjoys what he does. I enjoy what I do.

I’m willing to help as much as I can. Few bands I’ve ever worked with, I’ve actually met.”

THE BEGINNING ------------------------Milligan’s Waybridge Records was is inspired by Saddle Creek Records, a college class project on entrepreneurship by two friends in 1993, that now is an independent record label with 26 bands to their name. With that motivation, Milligan set aside

money while working seasonal jobs at Target during the winter and Six Flags during the summer, to start Waybridge Records.

Although Waybridge Records does not do much mastering, or the fine tuning of recordings, if bands have a finished product and need help getting it out to the open market, Waybridge Records will help them find their beat.

The majority of the work Milligan does for bands through Waybridge Records is on cassette tapes, but he has done work on CDs. Milligan buys tapes and dubs, or records, on them. Then sells those to the artist at cost.

“If a tape cost me 40 cents and they want ten of them. That’s four bucks. Then there’s shipping, but I’ll usually just eat the shipping.

Then they are able to sell them at their shows and keep the money,” Milligan said. “Then I’ll sell it on our online store. Basically, that’s how we do things. We’re not a

business or anything. We’re just more focused on getting stuff out there for bands; help them out, work together and be positive.”

That positive outlook is one that gives Milligan an open mind when it comes to the arts and music.

“No art is bad art. Art has always been subjective,” Milligan said. “As long as you put all of your thoughts and effort into it, than you know it’s going to be good. You have to put passion into it. When somebody does that, you’re going to support them because you’re going to be there to help.”

THE MUSIC ----------------Milligan’s love for music started with hip-hop. The first album he bought was Beastie Boys ’License to Ill,’ but he has always enjoyed the punk rock music scene.

“You can be yourself. You don’t have to fake it,” Milligan said. “It’s just kind of ‘here’s how we feel.’ That’s what’s always drawn me to music.”

Milligan describes his drumming style as a “skate punk sound.” Along with the drums, Milligan plays the piano, ukulele, “a little” base and knows enough guitar to play ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis.

Restoring pianos is also on Milligan’s resume, although he admittedly has never done one fully by himself.

“Thank goodness for YouTube videos,” Milligan said. “ I got into fixing them because I needed to do it. There’s a quote, ‘Necessity makes masters of us all.’”

For Milligan, that necessity is music. It is what makes his heart beat.

“Music and art is supposed to be about fun,” Milligan said. “If you’re not having fun doing it, then what are you doing?”

PHOTOS BY: SPENCER GLEASON Above: Joshua Milligan plays a piano from 1902. Milligan restored the piano after a friend gave it to him. Left: Milligan plays the piano in his garage. Milligan has played the piano for one-and-a-half years. Middle: Milligan plays the drums while listening to music. Right: Milligan plays one of the two sets of drums in his house. Milligan’s father also plays the drums, which is how Milligan became interested in playing.

16 SPORTS April 17, 2014

Playing the offseason game STLCC Lady Archers’ basketball team signs six new players in one week SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF The Lady Archers basketball team has already turned the clock on their 2013-14 season and has jump-started the offseason with a spring in their step, signing six new players in one week.

Khalia Miller (North Technical High School), Lindsey Bozdeck (Lindbergh High School), Lorielle Little (Ashford University), Amanda Hughes (Marshalltown High School), Sierra McClure (Northwest High School) and Abbey Holtkamp (Centralia) signed letters of intent

to play college basketball while donning the navy blue and silver.

“I’m in skies. I’m so excited,” Miller said. “I’m just ready to play and get on the court. And get used to the school and used to the classes. I’m just ready to go. I’m that excited.”

Miller, a 5-foot-6-inch shooting guard, led her North Tech Eagles to their first final four during the 2012-13 season.

She put up 18 points in the quarterfinal win over Palmyra that season, then topped that

TOP RIGHT: Bottom row from left to right: Sierra McClure, Lorielle Little, Lindsey Bozdeck and Amanda Hughes sign letters of intent on April 11 to play basketball for STLCC next season with Head Coach Shelly Ethridge (right) and Assistant Coach Melanie Marcy (left). ABOVE: Khalia Miller shakes Ethridge’s hand after signing STLCC papers on April 9.

PHOTOS BY: SPENCER GLEASON

with a game-high 27 points in the sectional win over Hermann.

“I see myself as a leader,” Miller said. “I always want to come off as a leader. At North Tech, I came in and I was their leader automatically. I want to come into Meramec and be a leader automatically, too.”

Miller and the new signees will join an Archers’ roster that will see all four of their sophomores from the 2013-14 season graduate this spring.

“It’s always good to have competition because it gives them something to play for,” Head Coach Shelly Ethridge said. “It gives them motivation to work.

That’s what sports is all about — the competition. You have to have it to be successful.”

That competition is one tool that Ethridge uses to help bring her team closer together to form team chemistry.

“It’s funny because during our open gyms, you can visibly see that we’re starting to come

together again,” Ethridge said.

“With so many new comers this past season, it was difficult to figure out each other and pull it all together, as far as figuring out what people can and can’t do. I think with having a year under our belt, with the returners, it’s certainly going to be helpful for us.”

Although Miller has yet to play her first college game, she can already feel what she calls a “family bond” with the Lady Archers. It was that family atmosphere that helped bring her to STLCC. “It’s like a family bond.

Automatically, they made me feel welcome. They’ve kept in touch.

They made sure that I knew they were interested,” Miller said. “I went to different colleges and talked to different coaches, but I didn’t get that connection with anybody else. I have to have a connection with my coach and my team.”

According to Ethridge, the

connection she has with her players exceeds past the court and in the classroom.

“Doing well in the classroom is the most important thing,” Ethridge said. “Our kids will tell you, if they are not doing what needs to be doing in the classroom, they will not be on the basketball court playing.”

Bozdeck, an incoming freshman forward, was on her way to play for the Lady Griffins at Fontbonne University, but the A-plus program helped lure her to STLCC. “I was about to sign with [Fontbonne],” Bozdeck said.

“But this was a better deal. It’s free because I did the A-plus program.”

Although practices for the 2014-15 season do not officially start for another four months, Miller cannot wait to be out on the court for her new team.

“I’m ready,” Miller said. “I’m ready for school and basketball.”

A goal for class credit Students play soccer and hoc-soc at Meramec to meet the PE credit requirements to graduate or transfer DAVID KLOECKENER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR At STLCC, students have to take two Physical Education (PE) credits in order to graduate.

Soccer/Hoc-Soc is one of the many PE courses that students can take while attending the STLCC-Meramec campus.

While soccer can be played inside or outside, hoc-soc is a sixperson version of soccer played indoors with modified rules and a smaller goal.

Soccer/Hoc-Soc instructor Kevin Kelly pointed out how many students come to play soccer, but in the class he teaches various aspects of the game and will not let students play for the sake of playing.

“I teach them the laws of the game, principles of the game, skills involved in playing and the mental part. The mental part is like the discipline,” Kelly said.

“A lot of times they play, but they don’t know the game and so many others just want to come out to just play. This is an academic circumstance and learning the game is a part of the class.”

Soccer/Hoc-Soc is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-11:50 a.m. in the Meramec gymnasium. Kelly said some of the class periods take place outside when the weather allows for it.

Soccer/Hoc-Soc has a

20-student cap and generally has a variety of skill levels, according to Kelly.

Kelly pointed out how it is generally non-athletes who take his class. Athletes who play for the STLCC Archers do not always participate in his class, but on occasion there may be a few that take the class.

“Generally the athletes don’t come out for the class. It’s the regular student who comes out for the class. Some of them have soccer experience,” Kelly said.

“I have one player in here who played on the volleyball team up at STLCC-Florissant Valley, but is working out with the soccer

PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER

Students of the Soccer/Hoc-Soc PE class use the Meramec gym to play soccer.

Soccer/Hoc-Soc is a one-credit class held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-11:50 a.m. in the gym.

team. Instead of going back for her sophomore year to play volleyball, she’s looking to play soccer here.”

Soccer/Hoc-Soc has first

come first serve availability for students. The class is a one-credit class and is geared for any student that is looking to take a PE credit for their degree or to transfer.