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VOLUME 53, ISSUE 14 | THURSDAY MAY 3, 2018 | WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM
New MetroBus plan proposes inconvenient changes for STLCC riders Article & Photo by Will Murry Graphic by Noah Sliney
The 21 - Watson Road bus picks up student commuters outside Meramec. The 21 route is one of several that may see significant reductions in scheduling starting early next year.
Earlier this month, the St. Louis Metro public transportation system released their new draft plan which proposes significant schedule changes to their busses. The plan will be increasing the frequency for routes closer to the city while decreasing the frequency of the routes in St. Louis counties. While beneficial for riders in the city, this new plan may make daily commutes for students, and even staff of STLCC, much more difficult. “These changes are completely unnecessary. There’s no reason to change the times,” said Meramec sophomore Courtney Billops. “If I get off of work at a certain time and I have to wait an hour instead of 30 minutes, that’s highly inconvenient for me.” The changes were garnered by customer
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STLCC adjunct tackled by police elected to Wildwood City Council Steve Taylor is one of six new councilmembers, operating on a platform of free speech and accessibility Stephen Buechter | Staff Writer
Wildwood City Council, which often hosts its meetings on the STLCC Wildwood campus and must now relocate. Councilwoman Tammy Shea said that some of the council’s meetings have been held at Wildwood since “shortly after the campus opened, because we often have meetings that are, for the lack of a better word, ‘overscheduled’ within our facility. And so whenever that happens, we have property we can often use as well, but the convenience of the college for seating and access made it very convenient.” Taylor said that STLCC’s refusal to let the council access the Wildwood campus is a violation of his First Amendment rights. “It’s very frustrating that the college is being so unreasonable as to not allow a duly elected official to serve out his duties. And I feel that they continue to discourage my name even though I’ve been cleared of all charges,” said Taylor. “I would like to say that it is time for the college to move on and let me as a
Photo by Syed Ali
Former Wildwood adjunct professor Steve Taylor, the man now famous for being tackled by police at an October 2017 Board of Trustees meeting, was elected to Wildwood City Council on April 3. He ran without donations, stating he didn’t want to be “beholden to any contributors.” Taylor, one of six new members, ran on a platform of free speech and government access, mirroring the very reason for the October incident, in which Taylor was approaching the board, questioning a policy that he said violated his right to free speech, when he was subsequently body-slammed by an armed policeman. Though Taylor maintained that he meant the board no harm in approaching them, Taylor lost his job and was issued a no-trespass order, making it illegal for him to step foot on any STLCC campus. The no-trespass order was upheld despite Taylor’s acquittal in court earlier this year, where a circuit judge deemed him no danger. The situation poses a unique problem for the
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Symphony Chaco: A Journey of the Spirit
Letter to the Editor: We Have Lost Our Way
Dear
-Art & Life, Page 5
10 Parks in 10 Miles to Get Your Nature Fix
Editor
-Opinions, Page 7
-Sports, Page 8
Page 3 | News 4 May 3, 2018
Proposed MetroBus route changes could affect students research done through the “Metro Reimagined” study, a comprehensive analysis of the Metro system launched in July 2017. The changes, according to Metro, are “designed around people, and all of its operations, schedules, routes and services were developed to meet our riders’ needs.” However, students and staff who take affected bus route 21-Watson Road aren’t too satisfied with the new changes. “I use the 21 bus five days a week, because my family can only afford one small car,” said professor Robert Hahn. “I appreciate the fact that our students get free bus passes but as of right now, I teach daytime, afternoon, and night time classes and my students can get on a bus every half an hour and be on time to class. It would be best not to encumber our students and faculty with increased wait times.” The proposed changes for the 21 bus would schedule weekday busses on a 30 minute frequency from 5 a. m. until 7 p. m., changing to every 60 minutes until midnight. Weekend busses would depart every 60 minutes for the entire
day. While this may not phase most daytime student bus commuters, this presents an unwelcome change for students with night and Saturday classes. “The problem is, in order to increase that ridership downtown, it seems that they’re going to diminish other routes. I think that the colleges and universities are always a vital part of a modestly sized city and every modestly sized city I’ve visited always have had a regular and robust line for the colleges,” said Hahn Though all hearing dates for the new proposed plan have passed, Metro is keeping their online survey open until May 4 to collect feedback for the proposed changes. The new transit plan will be revised this spring and will be shared in the summer of 2018. Metro has promised that no major changes to the MetroBus system will occur until early 2019. For more questions, and to view their new draft plan, visit www.metrostlouis.org/reimagined to view which routes are affected and take the online survey.
Former STLCC adjunct now represents Wildwood city Photo by Syed Ali
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Steve Taylor, newly elected Wildwood City Councilman.
The bus stop in Meramec’s front circle, which serves several bus routes that will be affected by MetroBus’ proposed changes. councilman and the city of Wildwood get on with our business.” Taylor’s platform included stronger accountability and easier accessibility to council members, as the council had previously prevented speakers from speaking if what they planned to say had already been addressed. Taylor said he wants to allow citizens to ask questions of their council members and mayors directly, provided they’ve signed up to speak. The transparency of Wildwood City Council has been under question before. In June, 2017, Shea’s husband, Dan McLaughlin, was told to leave a Ward 6 town hall meeting which he was filming. McLaughlin clashed with Councilmember Jerry Porter, the former claiming that it was a public meeting and the latter claiming it was not. Shea said that while she was unsure whether Taylor’s treatment by STLCC was a “big factor” for his campaign’s success, she considered it a major reason for his decision to run. “Once you’re denied access and you’re treated poorly and you feel like your rights have been violated, it’s a powerful motivator,” said Shea.
Taylor called the April 3 election a “stunning victory” and mentioned the significance of six board members winning elections without the help of political action committees, organizations designed to pool donations for political candidates. “I think people are ecstatic that there’s going to be some independence, some grassroots representation on the council and I feel very well received by all my fellow council members,” said Taylor. Shea also acknowledged the significance of having six city council members “swept out” in one election, calling it “a pretty clear message by the people” that change is needed. “My fear is that [the current mayor and some city staff] are failing to understand what the message was. But there’s still time to gauge the response from the senior members,” said Shea. “So I’m hopeful, but I won’t believe it until I see it.” Kedra Tolson, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, declined to comment on this issue due to Taylor’s recent lawsuit against STLCC for several violations against him.
Photo by Noah Sliney
Submitted Photo
In Other News
Photo by Will Murry
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Left: Construction workers continue to renovate the Communications North building, which was closed during spring break for asbestos abatement. Right: Trustee Doris Graham, of STLCC’s Board of Trustees, accepts her re-election as Subdistrict 1 Representitive at the April 26 BOT meeting.
Page 2 | News May 3, 2018
Courtesy of stlcc.edu STLCC’s new homepage, which debuted this week, offers an “I want to” button in the header, providing a drop-down list of common starting places for students just beginning their exploration of St. Louis Community College.
New website ‘tells story’ of STLCC through modern refresh Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief
After a several-month delay, STLCC’s new website is finally rolled out. As of Monday, April 30, stlcc.edu is sleek, modern and better than ever, according to Senior Web Designer Ben Shasserre. “The main thing is that it’s a responsive website,” said Shasserre. “That means it’ll work on multiple devices and it’ll look good. When you go to the current website on your phone, you’ve got to pinch and zoom things to read it. All that will be over with.” Aside from an injection of modern style, complete with brighter colors and simpler layout, the new website is easier to use and more consistent from page to page. According to Shasserre, the search engine is also more “robust,” refined to be more of a “pathways model”, meaning when students search for
a subject, the results will yield all programs related to that subject, whether degree or non-degree. “The system is better organized as a tool to recruit new students,” said Shasserre. The new website will also help with recruitment through bringing stlcc.edu into the 21st century, said Kedra Tolson, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. The clean, up-to-date site will help STLCC compete with other community colleges by providing “something nice to show off to prospective students.” “I’ve been around for quite a while and the outside critique that we often hear is that it’s hard to navigate and students can’t find what they want,” said Tolson. “As soon as you click on [the new website] you’re seeing the things that students,
EDITORS
Melissa Wilkinson Jordan Morris Will Murry Mary Wilson Amanda Harris Noah Sliney Shannon Philpott-Sanders
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor Photo Editor Graphics Editor Faculty Adviser
both current and prospective, are interested in. One: I see people that look like me. Two: If I have no clue what I want to do, I can go into this website and get the guidance to figure it out.” New features of the website include “Meet STLCC”, a collage of current students and their stories, as well as a new top menu bar with a drop-down list titled “I want to…” that provides options to guide prospective or current students in their journey at STLCC. “If [students] are not exactly sure where to start it allows them to see: I want a four year degree, I want to train for a new job, I want to finish college from another college. It really gives them a place where they can start,” said Shasserre. The website reboot was initially supposed to hit the web in Octo-
STAFF
Stephen Buechter Tania Robin Lauren Johns Monica Obradovic Madison Bouse Morgan Ratliff Jake Balmer Victoria Williams Syed Ali
Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Editor Staff Photographer
ber 2017 but was delayed until April due to turnover in the web design department and need for more data and user testing. Stlcc.edu was last updated more than five years ago. Work for the new website began nearly two years ago. While Shasserre warned that there will be a learning curve as current students and staff begin navigating the new website, some elements are the same, such as portal links at the top. But according to Tolson, some changes are for the better. “You could say a lot about the old site, but I don’t think that it reflected how we internally feel about ourselves and the public,” said Tolson. “I’m super excited for the website to launch. I think it’ll be easier for our recruiters. I think this tells our story.”
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Page 4 | Art & Life
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STLCC Graduate Directs Baseball Documentary
May 3, 2018
Justin Tolliver, former graphic design student, credits Meramec portfolio class for his career There are few recent graduates of Meramec who exemplify the value of a degree from STLCC better than Justin Tolliver. Tolliver, a 2014 graduate of Meramec’s graphic design program, directed the documentary, “The St. Louis Browns: The Team That Baseball Forgot”, which aired on KETC (Channel 9) in March and will air again in July. St. Louis has happily supported the Cardinals for decades, but from 1901 to 1953, the city also played host to the Browns, known primarily for their heavy losses and subsequent promotional antics, which included trotting out players like 3-foot-7-inch Eddie Gaedel and one-armed Pete Gray to bat. Despite, or, in some cases, because of these kinds of hardships, the Browns still had a moderate amount of fans that endure even today, as evidenced by the St. Louis Browns Historical Society.
“I love hearing people say that this movie meant something to them.”
-Justin Tolliver Tolliver works at St. Louis design agency HLK. In 2014, they began working with the Historical Society to improve their website. That’s where the idea to make the documentary began. “I’m not really a huge sports fan, but I do appreciate the drama,” Tolliver said. “To me [the Browns] are almost more of a human interest story, in how they really weren’t very good, but there are fans who stuck with them when they were here and even sixty years after they left. If they were still around, I think I would probably root for them.”
STLCC was the springboard Tolliver used to a career at HLK. He enrolled after completing a Bachelor’s Degree in film production at Webster University. While at STLCC, Tolliver also took classes on the Forest Park Campus and wrote for its newspaper, The Scene. Tolliver credits the portfolio design class he took at Meramec, taught by Michael Swoboda, as a key part in developing his career. Swoboda could tell early on what Tolliver could accomplish. “What Justin was good at was iteration. Coming up with a strong concept and making version after version as he builds towards an appropriate or dynamic solution,” Swoboda said. “He wasn’t afraid to experiment, to work hard, to collaborate with others, which are exactly the kinds of things professional designers do.” There were some challenges in making the documentary, centering largely around getting in contact with enough interviewees, many of them of advanced age, including Chuck Stevens, the oldest living former pro baseball player, born in 1918. Tolliver also took Don Larsen, predominantly of New York Yankee fame but who pitched his first pro season as a Brown, to the former site of Sportsman’s Park in North St. Louis, though footage of that meeting did not make it into the film. To Tolliver, these were minor hurdles and he said the reception to the movie has been great. “I love hearing people say that this movie meant something to them,” Tolliver said. “St. Louis has so much interesting history and the Browns and the people involved with them will always be a part of it.” “The St. Louis Browns: The Team That Baseball Forgot” is available to watch online through the Nine Network at ninenet.org.
Graphic courtesy of Channel 9
Jake Balmer | Staff Writer
Meramec’s Got Talent: Music Club Hosts Annual Talent Show Lauren Johns | Staff Writer
The Meramec Music Club’s annual talent show rocked the cafeteria on Wednesday, April 25, despite relatively low turnout. This year’s lineup featured a wide range of acts including beatboxing, rapping, songwriting, comedy, singing and guitar-playing. Free food was offered to all attendees. Sophomore Jesse Davlin, who ran
the event, took the place of former club president Dennis Allen by request of choir teacher and club sponsor Jerry Myers, working to have food catered and audio equipment set up and keeping track of performers, making sure they showed up early for sound check. The event ran smoothly with only a few minor technical setbacks. Despite
Photo by Lauren Johns Meramec students cheer on their peers during the Music Club’s annual talent show on April 25 in the Cafeteria.
her effort, Davlin said she believes Myers deserves the most credit for keeping the club and events going strong. “He is amazing at supporting musicians in and out of the club,” said Davlin. Davlin also had the idea to get more audience involvement through improvisational comedy games during intermission. Audience members chose a particular character for each volunteer to play, and participants had to start a conversation as their assigned character until someone yelled out a cue word like “pause,” which caused them to freeze, often in peculiar poses. A third participant chose someone to “unfreeze” through tapping them and a new scene was created based on their unique poses. One of the acts was sophomore Alyssa Poss, who performed a song accompanied by her boyfriend on guitar. They performed “Only Exception” by Paramore and “Never Too Late” by Three Days Grace. Although Poss spent years in “Camerata” or advanced highschool choir, she admitted she has very little performance experience and appreciates her boyfriend being there for her. “I have terrible stage fright,” said Poss. “I’m always so nervous and anxious when it comes to performing on stage, especially by myself. It’s real-
ly comforting to have someone I care about so much by my side the whole way because it helps me worry less…I’m really glad that I decided to perform, even though it was last minute. We received so much love from the audience.” Lily Polley, sophomore and audience member, said she enjoyed the show not for the amazing acts but for how they carried themselves on stage. “I loved all the courage and confidence they all had, even if it was faked,” said Polley. “The comedian, Richy James, gave the audience some good laughs and he did a wonderful job of putting himself out there and being okay with it.” Polley’s favorite act was the beatboxer due to her fascination with acapella movie “Pitch Perfect”. “It’s so incredible to see what the human voice is capable of,” said Polley. “I love the “Pitch Perfect” series and it was so neat to see that style done live rather than on-screen.” Polley also had a few minor criticisms for the show involving the lack of a program, but enjoyed how laid back and authentic everything was. There was plenty of time for each performer to go twice if they wanted. “You could tell they were mostly winging it,” said Polley. “But they remained confident and made it work.”
Page 5 | Art & Life 4 May 3, 2018
Graphic & Photos by Amanda Harris
Monica Obradovic | Staff Writer “Come, walk with me,” implores words projected on a screen. Feel the rhythm of the music. Know the beat of the drums. This is Chaco canyon, a sanctuary for Native American culture. It is also the inspiration for Meramec music director Gary Gackstatter’s sixth symphony. Not a single seat was empty in the University of Missouri St. Louis’ Touhill Performing Arts Center on Monday, April 23, when the Meramec and UMSL music departments came together to perform “Symphony Chaco: A Journey of the Spirit.” Symphony Chaco is the culmination of years of preparation on the part of Gackstatter, who attributes the symphony’s beginning to all of his experiences. “It took all my life,” he said. “It’s all a journey...The projects I’ve done before over the years brought me to a place where I needed this to grow as a teacher, composer, musician and person.” Symphony Chaco is music of Native American culture, not about it. The music incorporates rhythms and instruments whose sounds have not reverberated off the walls of Missouri in over a hundred years. For UMSL and STLCC student musicians, the unconventional style of music provided a memorable and enjoyable experience. “It was a joy for UMSL students to be able to collaborate with Meramec… It’s a very exciting thing to get to work with people you don’t normally get to create with,” said Jim Henry, Ph. D and choral director of UMSL. Along with the majority of the concert attendees, Henry had not heard of Chaco Canyon before learning about Gackstatter’s symphony. “Gary visited Chaco canyon which inspired him to write music. For us, it was the other way
around. The music inspired us to get to know Chaco canyon,” said Henry. Similar to the Native American ideology that everything is connected, Gackstatter’s Symphony Chaco is more than the presence of an orchestra and a conductor. Symphony Chaco was a community effort and brought together multiple persons, cultures, and artforms. A video played through the duration of the concert displaying student-made graphics to go along with the music. Photography student works were displayed in the venue’s lobby along with some of Gackstatter’s own ink artwork. There were multiple persons whose work was integral to the production of Symphony Chaco, perhaps most notably ten-time Grammy award nominee R. Carlos Nakai. A flute-player of Navajo heritage, Nakai contributed his instrument to the orchestra, conducted by Gackstatter. “The concert adds to my experiences as a performer of the Native American flute and of integrating the discipline of western European music into the capabilities of this instrument,” said Nakai. The musician flew in from Texas to play flute in the concert. However, Gackstatter was not new to Nakai’s music, having been a fan for 30 years. Nakai’s sound has been in his spirit for a long time, he said. Gackstatter also received suggestions from Nakai as he wrote Symphony Chaco. “Our culture is totally distracted today, from the time we get up and the time we go to bed,” said Gackstatter.” I wanted to remind them of that Native American idea that you do not waste time. That you’re connected to nature, and you’re connected to each other, because everything is connected.”
Meramec’s Concert Choir, Orchestra and Symphonic Band perform Symphony Chaco with the University of Missouri St. Louis’ University Singers, Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble on Monday, April 23 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus.
Native Americans dance to the beat of drums and chanting at the Washington University Field House on April 21 during a “pow wow” event leading up to the symphony.
Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai, performs during Symphony Chaco, composed by Gary Gackstatter, on Monday, April 23 at the Touhill Perfoming Arts Center.
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Page 7 | Opinions 4 May 3, 2018
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, In Spring 2016, an unsettling exchange took place at an STLCC Board of Trustees meeting regarding a barrage of major policy changes soon to be instituted by administrators with no real desire for faculty or student input. A consultant advised Jeff Pittman to “burn the ships”, suggesting that he do it fast enough so no one could resist. Pittman smirked in agreement. “Burn the ships” is a term used when troops land in foreign territory and are ordered by their commanding officer to burn their own ships, forcing them to either conquer inhabitants or die. In our case the inhabitants are students, staff, faculty, and members of the community. Pittman’s cruel slash-and-burn lay-off of 58 faculty during final exam week was presented as an unfortunate but necessary result of financial woes. As of April 2017, however, STLCC had nearly $117 million in reserve funds and had secured $40 million for a new building. State funding was later restored; however, some of our best and brightest were thrown overboard when the chancellor traded outstanding faculty for mortar. STLCC has lost its moorings under a heavy-handed chancellor, becoming stunningly dysfunctional and administrator-centric, a shadow of the former institution known for excellent instruction and faculty mentorship of students. STLCC’s values have shifted dramatically under a peculiar ideology hostile to the community college mission of providing quality education for working class and lower-income students. Instead we are shifting to pre-fabricated online courses with less rigor and questionable transfer preparedness; a paternalistic approach to students that reduces their choice of programs, classes, and opportunities; the purposeful erasing of institutional memory; and blatant hostility (including outright physical assault) toward faculty members who have been one of few stable elements of this institution. Even before layoffs, STLCC had become a toxic environment where a culture of intimidation was cultivated. Students deserve more than to be pushed into inferior online courses that are replicated like a bad virus and that will lack instructors credentialed in that discipline. An increasingly exploited part-time faculty, along with online classes, deny students important faculty mentoring that opens doors and quite literally connects students to their future. When we deny students the autonomy to choose educational process and objectives at their own institution, we have lost our way. When students must shout to be heard and then are threatened for attempting to shape the very institution of which they should be central, we have lost our way. When we blindly focus on policy at the detriment of basic human decency and freedoms, or we sit silently when instructors are thrown to the ground for pointing out policy non-compliance, we have lost our way. When we turn a blind eye to a culture of intimidation, we have lost our way. The famous Milgram and Asch experiments reveal how decent people willingly conform to warped and harmful group norms. Groupthink dynamics show how good people become complicit in terrible events as evidenced throughout world history. STLCC has become a case study in institutional deviance and groupthink as the ships burn. I am electing to leave an institution that I once loved. I thank my colleagues and students who fought for the integrity of this institution. My message to students is as follows: You are amazing and I will miss you all. This is your college and your education. You should never become subordinate to an institution that does not recognize your humanity. Demand that your education works for you and not the opposite. Lisa Martino-Taylor, Ph.D. Global Studies Program Coordinator Associate Professor of Sociology St. Louis Community College—Meramec
Horror, Ridiculousness, Premises and the Horror of a Ridiculous Premise Morgan Ratliff | Staff Writer
Horror movies are notorious for their ridiculous premises: “Jason Takes Manhattan” is the eighth film in the “Friday the 13th” franchise, where Jason takes a steamy teenage love-boat cruise to the “big apple” and wreaks havoc upon punks and sluts; “Freddy’s Revenge” is the second film in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise, where a homoerotic Freddy takes on a particularly homoerotic teenage kid and uses him to do his gay-fantasy bidding; “Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Meyers” is the sixth film in the “Halloween” franchise, where Michael is an un-killable, cursed maniac from a cult looking for vengeance against Paul Rudd for stealing his niece’s incestual rape-baby. In order to avoid being a forgettable sequel in a tedious franchise, horror movies must move away from the ridiculous. Take, for example, “The Evil Dead”, which starts with teenagers squatting in a remote cabin deep in the woods. The two guys find the Necronomicon, an evil book of the dead from which, if the incantations are spoken, demonic forces shall rise. They find a tape with the book and listen to it. Lo and behold, incantations are played and demons rise from the now-alive surrounding forest. Variously grotesque, increasingly disturbing possessions occur in the fashion of gloriously 80’s, prototypical-Tim Burton claymation before the film’s inevitably violent, bleak conclusion leaves viewers with a strong cliffhanger. Although “The Evil Dead” has an impressive cult following, severely outdated visuals, low-budget cinematography and indie ethic wrapped up in the Necronomicon premise make it a truly ridiculous movie. Low-budget indie films have evolved over time. “Veronica” is a far more modern movie of that type from the last few years. A Spanish teenager plays with a Ouija board and unintentionally invites demonic forces into her
family’s home. At times, the movie maturely tackles adolescence through its scope, discussing puberty, angst, the superficialities of teenage friendships and choosing between desire and responsibility. At other times, the movie remembers its Ouija board premise and falls back on jump scares, quirky nightmare sequences, and general spooks of no certain importance. It’s in between something like “The Evil Dead” and something like “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
and they stumble across a rather spooky family. Over the course of the day, they are all brutally murdered by the family’s youngest sibling. The farthest this movie delves into ridiculousness is its antagonist, but even he is based on the real-life Ed Gein, a serial killer who slaughtered and cannibalized two women and desecrated several bodies. All in all, horror movies are widely known for their ridiculous premises which generally define the rest of the movie. Issues stem
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” sounds like a stupid movie (and it is the grand-daddy of slasher films) but the highly-inventive minimalism of its style, upfront presentations of gore, and darkly comedic musings on draft dodgers, mental disabilities and keeping family together at any cost makes it stand out uniquely. A couple of young, draft dodging guys and their skimpily dressed girlfriends are on a road trip through Texas, avoiding the Vietnam War and having a grand time. Along the way, they pick up a crazy hitchhiker, their car breaks down
from this because quality suffers immensely as films are forced into a goofy, limiting bottleneck that simultaneously tears down the film’s ability to scare and its structural integrity: jump-scares become moot, plots become filled with holes, and characters become thinner (literally and figuratively) and shallower than a baby pool. As such, horror movies must seriously consider how they can construct a more realistic setup and ensure the film has a variety of intact possibilities and plenty of potential for genuine scares, actual discussion and leaving a lasting impression.
Global Warming: It’s Time to Make the Change Nic Safron | Contributor
Climate change has been on the minds of nearly everyone for multiple years now. While it isn’t anything new to the public, people don’t seem to care. Not enough people are taking it as seriously as they should. According to NASA, 97 percent of climate scientists believe that carbon levels, which have led to increasing global temperature averages, is caused by human activities. So why aren’t we paying more attention? NASA reports that before the year 1950, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere had never gone over 300 parts per million. Since then, carbon levels in the atmosphere have increased to about 400 parts per million. While carbon levels in the atmosphere have fluctuated quite a lot in the past, there is no natural reason for this massive jump in concentration over the last 68 years. Given this information, it could
be supposed that everyone would agree that climate change is caused by humans. This is simply not the case. An example of this is the President’s decision to leave the Paris Climate Accord. By pulling out of the agreement, the United States no longer vows to decrease its carbon emissions and will continue putting high volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Even though many were against the choice of leaving, those in power made the ultimate decision and we had little power to stop them. On a more local front, there are multiple Missouri representatives who don’t believe in human-caused climate change. Missouri Senator Roy Blunt has said that he believes there is no evidence that global climate change is caused by humans, even though there have been numerous studies that say otherwise. Missouri Representative Ann Wagner believes
that climate science is untrustworthy and shouldn’t be taken seriously. These aren’t the only people who feel this way; many more in political positions agree with their sentiments. So, I ask: why are these people representing us? Climate change will ravage the world and all who inhabit it if it’s allowed to, but it can be stopped. However, it will not halt its growth if those in power continue doing what they are doing. If we consider climate change a problem, we must help make a difference. People need to make the change that those in political positions won’t. While we may not have much power, there is something we can do to make that difference— vote! Next time there is an election, go out and vote and consider the future of the planet. Even though it might seem hopeless, there still is a chance to make a change, and it starts with us.
Page 8 | Sports May 3, 2018
One Credit Class, One Big Adventure Madison Bouse | Staff Writer
outdoors with his students. “Camping, canoeing and being in the outdoors has added mean-
go paddling on their own. And if I am really successful, it might even be a lifelong pursuit.”
Photo by Madison Bouse
Camping and Floating offers a weekend getaway for students feeling bogged down by finals. In this handson course, students learn the basics of tent camping and tandem canoeing at Onondaga Cave State Park or Washington State Park. It’s a quick way to earn a credit hour toward a degree while also making lasting memories and learning useful outdoors skills. Instructor Colin Maag described the class as “A beginner’s class [that] focuses on safety, fundamentals, [and] physics of boat control and proper stroke technique. Even if someone already has some paddling experience under their belt, the class offers additional growth opportunities. Ultimately, the only thing that will make someone a better paddler is just to get out there and do it.” In his post-college days, Maag received his certification as a white water instructor and these days his paddling has taken him across the globe – most recently to Borneo, Malaysia. Over the past thirteen years, he has guided many STLCC students through rain, shine and everything in between. Maag said he has truly enjoyed the opportunity to share his passion for the
Camping and Floating instructor Colin Maag (center) sits around a campfire with students during his most recent spring-semester float trip. ing and a sense of awe to my life,” he said. “Hopefully, students will enjoy the class enough that they get out and
The class provides opportunities to learn camping and paddling skills for both seasoned campers and canoers
and complete beginners. For anyone who falls into the latter category, Camping and Floating student Noah Safron had some encouraging advice. “This was my first time doing anything like this…Just ask questions and don’t be embarrassed if you mess up. Laugh at your mistakes and learn how not to repeat them,” said Safron. While the class only meets twice before the final overnight camping trip, students tend to bond quickly over shared experiences like maneuvering a canoe through a swift section of the Huzzah river, preparing a meal over a campfire, giving an impromptu presentation on the basics of camping safety, soaking in a sunny day in the Ozarks or even disassembling a tent in a downpour. “My favorite experience was just being able to sit and talk with the people in my group on the river and after dark. Caves and rivers are wonderful places to get to know someone,” said Safron. Maag teaches two to three classes of Camping and Floating in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Students are encouraged to register early for this class, as it often fills quickly.
Ten Parks In Ten Miles to Satiate Any Student’s Spring Fever As spring weather finally settles in, students may discover the urge to explore the numerous parks around Meramec. With so many options close by, there are plenty of parks to choose from, each with its own scenery and qualities. Organized from closes to farthest proximity, here are 10 parks within 10 miles of Meramec. Dee Koestering Park (0.8 miles) Once a quarry, Dee Koestering has stacks of rocks, a scenic overlook and a hiking trail. Handicap parking is available and the overlook trail is wheelchair accessible. This park is perfect for a quick yet strenuous hike or an afternoon of exploring. Kirkwood Park (1.2 miles) Kirkwood Park is perhaps one of the best known parks around Meramec, offering walking trails, playgrounds, ball fields, an amphitheater and a lake. This park is good for a quick outing or general recreation. Laumeier Sculpture Park (1.3 miles) Laumeier Sculpture Park features more than 60 sculptures, extensive walking trails and plenty of open ground. Great for both art students and for people who would prefer to admire art from a distance, it’s the perfect place for a quick hike, lunch or even a full-day trip. Walker Park (2.1 miles) This is a small park on the outskirts of downtown Kirkwood. It has a pavilion, a couple of sculptures, benches and ample tree cover, all of which make this park ideal for a quick lunch break. Watson Trail Park (2.3 miles) Like the name suggests, this park is a great source of walking trails. The largest park in the Sunset Hills area, this
park includes a lake, several playgrounds and picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts, three swimming pools and a 9-hole golf course. Emmenegger Nature Park (2.4 miles) This is a hiking park next to the Meramec River, with miles of trails that span its valley and hillsides. On one side, visitors can look out over Interstate 270, and on the other, they can look out over the river and into Fenton. Pioneer Park (3 miles) Pioneer Park is a small park in Des Peres with tennis courts, a baseball field, a basketball court and plenty of open, grassy area. This park would be an excellent park for a picnic under the trees or a quick ball game with friends. Twin Oaks Park (4.9 miles) Twin Oaks Park has a large pavilion, picnic tables with backrests, three waterfalls in its pond, a playground, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, tennis courts and lots of open fields. It’s a small park, but it is well worth a visit. This is the perfect place to study, have lunch, or just hang out. Drace Park (6 miles) Drace Park has an interesting design. It features a large pavilion, a playground and a walking path. Also in the park are three log cabins and a cleverly designed play area. The play structures are made of wood and blend in well with their surroundings. Castlewood State Park (7.9 miles) Castlewood State Park features miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails and river access, as well as a playground and creek. The extensive trails take hikers up to the top of the bluffs and all the way down to the Meramec River.
Photos by Tori Williams
Tori Williams | Staff Writer
Top: Watson Trail Park. Bottom: Twin Oaks Park.
Archers Roller Hockey Season Ends in Nationals Defeat Archers roller hockey is a fairly new addition to STLCC’s club sports, with both the STLCC and Meramec teams conceived in the past two years. Their newness, however, failed to stop both
teams from competing in the national championship in Fargo, North Dakota in mid-April. Fifty-five teams representing 14 states across four divisions (I, II, III and Junior College) turned out to
compete for the title of National Collegiate Roller Hocky Champion. Both Archers teams competed in the Junior College (JuCo) division, which resulted in the two teams play-
ing against each other to qualify for the semi-finals.
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