M T H E M O N TA G E
From Meramec, to Disney and back again Theater professional and former Meramec professor Gary Paben premieres his three year old project at his STLCC home LIVIE HALL MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTOS BY: KAYLA CACCIATORE, GRAPHIC BY: MARISSA DIERCKS Gary Paben’s bucket list had one thing in particular to cross off, and that was to put on a play, three years in the making, at his home stage at STLCC-Meramec. Inspired by a friend who was in a coma, Paben has been working with Theater Professor Michelle Rebollo on the world premiere of his project. Nerves? He has none. “I’m too old to be nervous; I’m 72,” Paben said. “I wanted to complete my first item on my bucket list. And hopefully, people will like it.” The St. Louis native taught theater at Meramec in the 1970s and went on to have a 30 year stint with Disney. Next week, his dream will come true thanks to Meramec students and community members. Rebollo and Paben formerly met in October of 2013. Plays usually have one director, but she is co-directing “1959 Saint Ascension” with Paben, she said. Held
highly in the theater industry, Paben said he thought it would be fun to come back to Meramec to host the show’s first workshop. “This musical is about what takes place in the coma ward of this hospital where we meet the nurse of that coma ward, Reybeau, who is the main character,” Rebollo said. “We kind of live through his journey of interacting with these various coma patients that come into the ward, and that’s really the basis of the story.” Rebollo described three subplots in the musical. One subplot involved a socialite whose adopted son has always craved her attention. “If you can think of a modern day example, it would be kind of like Madonna going off and finding a child from Somalia,” Rebollo said. “This notion of this socialite who has the money and the altruistic tendency to go and do that, but is more concerned with her social life than
her son.” Another subplot has a “washed up magician” who Rebollo described as a “bad Vegas act.” The third story line involves a father in the hospital. Rebollo said she did not want to give too much away because there is a twist involved. The story follows the hospital stay of these patients as well as the struggle their families are going through. “There’s a level of fantasy in this play because anytime Reybeau interacts with these patients, they come to life. They start to wake up,” Rebollo said. “We sense what their past life was like, or how they got into the predicament they’re in, or what they wish they could express, but can’t because they’re in a coma.” 2011 Meramec graduate Brian Rolf said he returned to his alma mater to help in different ways on the play. Graduating from University of Missouri-St. Louis this
year with a theater degree, Rolf said he is excited to be working with Rebollo again. He has never worked on a musical on its first opening and said things are constantly changing as they go. Paben said there have been many rewrites, edits and music changes since work on the play started. He said the students have been great to work with. Through all of the developments, Rolf said he feels really fortunate to have been cast because even with a large group, there are a lot of jobs to be done. “What Meramec is is an opportunity for people in the community to come back and do theater that is of such high quality, that honestly, we’ll take a hit to come and do it,” Rolf said. Rebollo said the cast members had to be “hush hush” about the musical when they received their roles. Cast members and theater personnel, including Rebollo, had to sign a waiver saying they would
Story continued on Page 8
Branch out without leaf-ing Meramec pays its respects to STLCC Controller charged with Seasoned basketball coach steps Nursing Professor Mary Herzog criminal infraction into new position Pages 6-7 Page 3 Page 2 Page 10 Volume 50 Issue 3
www.meramecmontage.com
Sept. 25, 2014
2 NEWS Sept. 25, 2014
STLCC Controller charged with criminal infraction Kevin Scott Tate accused of stealing money from local high school LIVIE HALL MANAGING EDITOR St. Louis Community College Controller Kevin Scott Tate has been charged with criminal infraction. “We are aware of the allegations against Mr. Tate. He currently is on paid administrative leave,” Pat Matreci of the Public Information and Marketing department of STLCC said. Matreci could not say anything more on the subject.
Tate worked at the Cosand Center in downtown St. Louis. According to the website www. callnewspapers.com, Tate was a parent with a child attending Oakville High School, where he was in charge of the booster club. He stole over $11,000 from the high school’s girl’s and boy’s soccer teams, according to the website. He handles finances of public school in the area, as well
as STLCC. According to Case.Net, Tate’s case was filed on Sept. 10, 2014. He was held on a cash-only $25,000 bond and it is unclear if that bond was met. The description of the charges is “Theft/Stealing (Value Of Property Or Services Is $500 Or More But Less Than $25,000),” according to Case.Net. He was arrested by the St.
Louis County Police Department. His hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9 at 9:00 a.m. It will be held in the St. Louis County Court Building in Clayton. According to www. callnewspapers.com, Tate was writing checks to himself out of the booster club account until “it was in the red.”
Kevin Scott Tate Photo courtesy of STLMugshots.com
Chancellor Search Committee determined, students represented Current Chancellor Dennis Michaelis nears the end of his term, new Chancellor search underway ASHLEY HIGGINBOTHAM STAFF WRITER Twenty-two people around the STLCC community have been appointed to the Chancellor Search Committee on Monday, Sept. 22. The committee is filled with three students, five faculty, six staff, four community members, two Board of Trustees members and two non-voting members. The search committee is responsible for reviewing applications of potential candidates who are interested in becoming STLCC’s new chancellor. They will go
over applications and conduct interviews while keeping suggestions from people who spoke during the public forums in mind. The public forums will be held on every campus, but Meramec’s forum will be held on Sept. 24, in SC 200. These forums will give the public a chance to hear about what problems the college is facing. The public’s opinion will be taken into account when
the committee begins to review applications and narrow down the number of applicants to around three. “Those candidates will be sent to the board to interview as finalists,” STLCC Board of Trustees Chair Craig Larson said. Larson said he hopes to have the committee send the board the finalists by February or March of 2015 and to name the new chancellor by March or April of 2015.
Chancellor Search Committee Members Faculty: Cindy Campbell, Michael Burke, Beth Anderhub, Lonetta Oliver and Ellen McCloskey Staff: Kedra Tolson, Stacy Edwards, Andrew Langrehr, Joe Worth, Kevin White and Patrick Vaughn Students: Kristie Koloj, Xaiver Souter and Elizabeth Womack Community: Darryl Jones, Mark Birk, the Rev. Douglas Parham and Rodney Gee Board: Doris Graham and Joan McGivney
Constitution Day at Meramec Students, staff and faculty gathered in the Student Center Wednesday, Sept. 17 for Constitution Day. John Messmer, Ph.D. and Emily Neal, Ph.D, both history professors at Meramec discussed the importance of voting.
Student organizations, such as Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Governance Council, hosted booths and distributed pamphlets to help inform Meramec students of their constitutional rights and voting privileges.
PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER
National Depression Screening Day Thursday, October 9, 2014 Business Administration Building--Room 105 10am-2pm 4pm-6pm
This event is: Open to the public Confidential Free For more information, call Jason Duchinsky at:
(314) 984-7565
The Counseling Department at STLCC-Meramec will offer mental health screenings, resources and referrals. We are here to help you.
News Briefs Chancellor Search Forums Faculty Exhibition opens Chancellor Dennis Michealis’ Oct. 2 in art gallery term is ending and the STLCC search for a new chancellor has begun. Open forums are being held at each STLCC campus to include all input. Wednesday, Sept. 14: 12:30 p.m. at the Wildwood campus, Multipurpose Room 102-A. 3:00 p.m. at the Meramec campus, SC-200. Thursday, Sept. 15: 10:00 a.m. at the Cosand Center, Large Board Room. A chancellor search website is being created to update followers.
Board of Trustees Meeting The September meeting will be held on Thursday, the 25. at 7:00 p.m. in the William J. Harrison Education Center Multipurpose Room.
The Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery will host an exhibit which features artwork from faculty in the Design, Visual, and Performing Arts department. The gallery will be open in the month of October and will include several different mediums.
Withdrawal Deadlines The withdrawal deadline for a full-semester class is Friday, Nov. 7. Withdrawal deadlines for shorter duration classes: Sept. 26 - first eight week class deadline. Nov. 14 - 12 week class deadline. Nov. 21 - second eight week class deadline. Students are responsible for withdrawing from their class until the end of the 12th week for regular semester class.
Rose Hill House Fun Festival Rose Hill House is hosting a festival for its residents, and students are invited. The House hopes students will talk to the residents and “maybe even form a new elder-friendship.” This event can also give students more service hours. It will be Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Meramec Majors Fair Wednesday, Oct. 22 The fair will allow students to explore career options as well as degree and certificate programs offered at Meramec. Academic personnel will be available to answer questions. The fair is open to all current students and free food will be provided.
NEWS 3
Sept. 25, 2014
Meramec remembers Mary Herzog Friends and family pay their respects to the late nursing professor SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF Rachael Hoeme sat in the crowd at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20. Her family’s beloved Cardinals were playing the Cincinnati Reds. Her sister, Abby; her dad, Mike; and daughter, Sophia, sat and watched the Cardinals hit three homeruns that night to beat the Reds, 8-4. The score and final were secondary. It was family-time that was more important. They sat in the same seats that their mom, Mary Herzog, used to sit in — season ticket holders the past three years, with her best friend Joyce Rebore. The two wives and their husbands would sit together and cheer for the hometown team. “Red October” was Herzog’s favorite time of year. But this night in September was different. “There were angels in the outfield,” Hoeme said. Nursing From The Other Side Herzog taught in the nursing department at STLCC-Meramec for seven years and at Jefferson County Community College for three years, prior. She had fourth semester clinical students, in the two-year college program. And for ten years carpooled with Rebore and shared an office. It was “a hunch” that started the process. Herzog’s brother had his yearly physical and failed his chest test. Within three days of having stints put in, her brother was out jogging. Herzog thought, ‘Maybe I should go get checked out.’ Turned out, she had 90 percent blockage. She had stints put in. Things
started to go south. She had bypass surgery. Things continued to go south. Then, in the wee hours of Sept. 4, Herzog died. She was 54. “People go in for the stint procedure all of the time, everywhere across the United States, in every hospital,” Hoeme said. “You just never really are prepared. She was very young. We’re all just kind of in shock.” A Caregiver From the Start Herzog was the oldest of five girls and two boys. Growing up in St. Charles, Herzog worked at the nearby hospital in high school. High school is also where she met her husband. They were high school sweethearts. May 2015 would have been their 35th wedding anniversary. “My dad gave my mom a ride home. My mom was the oldest of seven and her dad passed away when she was 17,” Hoeme said. “She was in driver’s ed. class and she needed a ride home. My dad gave her a ride. They worked at Pizza Hut together and they just kind of hit it off. My mom was a dancer, so I think my dad — he was quite smitten.” Nursing was in Herzog’s nature. As the oldest, she possessed the “caregiver” quality that every mom knows. And she loved it. “She loved her role in the family. She was the top dog and she was there to take care of everybody. It just totally explains her personality and just the type of person that she was,” former nursing student Polly Oesterle said. “I can just see her being the oldest of all of them. And them just looking up to her and I can see her just loving that. She was
SUBMITTED PHOTO The late Mary Herzog, right, poses with her husband, Mike, on a recent vacation.
a leader.” Herzog had a smile that would “light up the room.” “Her spirit was so lively. I never saw Mary without a smile on her face. She had a huge smile. Not just smile, but she had the big eyes to go with it,” Oesterle said. “She just had this beaming personality. She was just a beautiful person. She was a light, a true light in this world.” Living, Loving Life Herzog loved traveling. This
PHOTOS BY: LIVIE HALL Above, faculty, staff, students and family members of Mary Herzog participate in a candlelit vigil at Meramec Sept. 8. At right, Rachel Hoeme, Herzog’s daughter, addresses the crowd at the gathering.
past summer the family went to South Padre Island—more family memories. She had found that there was a turtle hospital there and Herzog loved animals. Her favorite was penguins. Throughout it all, her motherly quality of education and teaching shined through. “I think that that’s part of making memories — is teaching — how to leave an impact on the world and trying to better the places that we live in,” Hoeme said.
Even in her passing, Herzog’s name will continue to help teach. STLCC has made a scholarship in her name. Not just at Meramec — but at all of STLCC. And the Horticultural Department will be planting a tree in Herzog’s honor. Through Herzog’s name, life will go on. It is what nurses do best. “St. Louis is such a big place, that sometimes that individual touch. You don’t always see it,” Hoeme said. “It’s inspiring.”
4 OPINIONS Sept. 25, 2014
and guidance the most. Challenges brought by a lack of time and money can certainly set back one’s journey to better health, but some diligent planning and frugalness can SABREE BLACKMON often be enough COPY EDITOR to overcome them. However, the many Eat. Sleep. Move - easier other potential challenges students said than done can face can throw a wrench into the The secret to long-term best-laid plans. health is supposedly simple. One Our personal only needs to eat better, exercise relationships to food can be regularly, and get eight hours of complex, highly dynamic and sleep each night. This boilerplate are sometimes out of our control. advice exists as sound bytes in popular media and as numerous Overeating and serious eating Internet articles by so-called disorders can take root as one struggles to cope with anxiety experts. Of course, it is never that or body image issues. Food simple – the real life stressors addiction, while a relatively new and constraints that the average idea to the medical community, student has to cope with are is gaining credence as a prevalent massive. Our health often disorder. Certain foods that are high becomes an afterthought until we in sugar, salt and fat have shown are forced to confront it by illness by recent research, performed by or by sheer exhaustion. The Scripps Research Institute I have recently heard the of Florida, to send people into drumbeat from those touting the same cyclic pattern of mental personal responsibility as the key cravings of addictive drugs. Given to health get louder in the past the often poor affordable food years. I agree with them in some choices available to students, it is respects – health is a very personal no surprise that breaking existing journey and no one else can take eating patterns can be an arduous it for you. However, the challenges to challenge. Even though regular exercise taking control of one’s health are and activity have been shown as often drastically oversimplified, effective against depression and much to the detriment of the anxiety, struggling with episodes people who need reliable support
EAT. SLEEP. MOVE.
ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS
An issue I hear a lot of complaints about is the prices for food at the school cafeteria, provided by Treat America Dining. The prices are outrageous even for a person who is not in college and has money to blow on food. For the average college student it seems as if they are robbing you blind. $4.50 for three chicken fingers? Come on now, those chicken fingers better curb my appetite until dinner at that price. The majority of college students make minimum wage or something close to it, and that is about a half-hour’s worth of work. That is just the chicken fingers alone, so if you want fries that is another $1.95. So, after tax you will end up paying around $7 for a measly little lunch where you could get a footlong sandwich and some chips from Subway for about the same. Treat America Dining should be thrown in jail for robbery and then have an extended sentence for bad behavior because of their ridiculous prices. I already have the wonderful government taking my hard earned money in taxes; I do not need to lose any more for a $3 slice of pizza. I might as well go find a Little Caesars and spend two more dollars and get seven more pieces, although I should not even have to consider that. Another aspect that is not appealing from Treat America Dining is the lack of customer service from the checkout women. It is bad enough I am paying more than I should, but I am greeted with the face of some
THE WAY IT IS
RYAN OBRADOVIC OPINIONS EDITOR
Did I just get robbed? ladies who look like they would rather be rolling around with a family of porcupines. Granted, being the food cashier for a bunch of college kids is not the most elegant job, but they could do it with somewhat of a smile on their face instead of looking like they stepped on a thorn bush right after their dog was killed. The lowering of prices would greatly help out the majority of students, therefore Treat America Dining would be getting a lot more customers and make more money. If anything, students who already buy food would get more since they can afford it. Why do you think the fast food industry makes billions of dollars? Because it is affordable. I am not saying decrease the value of the food, because the food is actually quite good, just lower the prices. Treat America Dining will be happy with the profits, and the students will be happy because we will not have to spend a small fortune to eat lunch.
EDITORS Spencer Gleason Livie Hall Marissa Diercks Ryan Obradovic David Kloeckener Dalila Kahvedzic Jason Jamison Bill Gezella Sabree Blackmon Shannon Philpott
Editor in Chief Managing/News Editor Graphics/In-Depth Editor Opinions Editor Photo Editor Asst. Art and Life Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Faculty Adviser
of depression can make finding the motivation to get out of bed, let alone to exercise, extraordinarily difficult. 30 percent of students report debilitating depression at least once a year according to the nationwide American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment conducted in 2011. This has important implications on our ability to stay on track with the long-term changes we need to improve our health. A student can easily find themselves in a self-fulfilling prophecy where low energy levels, poor sleep, and a lack of motivation lead to behaviors that do nothing to break the cycle. Add to that the long nights and hectic schedules that many students face and it becomes quite understandable why even the most motivated will sometimes stumble and often quit altogether. Every step forward one makes in their path to better health will mean a lot more if we all acknowledge that these things are not simple nor easy. There is constant reflection, struggle and often doubt along the way. Much like getting a good grade, each step should be seen as an accomplishment that one works for, even with the few hiccups along the way. Personal victories tend to snowball – proving things to ourselves makes us feel good and it motivates us to see our goals through. A positive outlook towards the small changes and the hard everyday decisions can ultimately be what puts us back on the wagon when we inevitably fall off.
ILLUSTRATION BY: MARISSA DIERCKS
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OPINIONS 5
Sept. 25, 2014
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Boys stop yelling at me DALILA KAHVEDZIC ASST. ART AND LIFE EDITOR It really agg ravates me (to say the least) that I can not even go for a simple run in the park without a guy feeling the need to say something. The way that certain men feel the need to catcall a woman just passing by and minding her own business is completely unnecessary. It can be argued as harassment. Do you really have to objectify women to make yourself feel like more of a man? It makes it quite difficult to even use the word ‘man’. You take a split few seconds to say something or make a weirdsounding noise that sounds much like a drug-abusing parrot that you think will attract me, but you do not actually have the guts to stop and have a conversation, do you? No. You are coming off as awfully pathetic. Taking into account that maybe certain men do not have
the confidence to do anything besides make these snarky remarks or approach a woman with a simple conversation, but that is no excuse to make me feel uncomfortable and unsafe. Compliment me on the fact that I am taking care of my health and my body. Encourage me to keep going. Many may want to argue the fact that if a woman is attractive and wearing specific clothing that may flatter her figure, she is ‘asking for it’. The hell she is. That simply leads to the annoying and way too unnecessarily repetitive argument involving rape culture and how girls and women should alter their appearance simply because men cannot control themselves. A woman should not have to look at her closet thinking ‘I should not wear this because it exposes my shoulders’ or ‘I should not wear that because it shows too much leg.’ Women should not have that burden on themselves. Some women might like it when random guys catcall and whistle and whatever else at
them because it might boost their confidence, which is understandable, but speaking from a personal level, it is pure disrespect. It’s disrespectful as hell to objectify my body. Yes, everyone notices and acknowledges each other first by their appearance only because it’s merely impossible to judge someone’s personality just by looking at them, but that does not mean one has to be absolutely
and utterly rude about it. To add onto that, certain ‘men’ complain that there are no loyal and respectful girls left out there. Oh really? Well maybe if you cleaned up your act and were more courteous to women in the first place, you would get one right back. You get what you give. Having said everything, this piece is in no way whatsoever aimed towards the male
population as a whole, just the select few that cannot seem to properly talk to a woman. Talks of sexism can be argued until the end of time distinctly because there are countless strong opinions and normally, everyone has a different view on such a matter, but if you cannot muster up the courage to talk to somebody then you certainly have no right to make them feel uncomfortable.
ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS
Letters to the editor Over the past few years it has become evident that many students are incorrectly placed into their college level math and English courses. If a previous ACT or SAT score is not present or adequate the student is then required to complete a placement exam. An infinite number of students taking these tests are getting scores which do not accurately display their potential. Normally the problem does not occur with suggesting a student to take a higher course than they are capable of, but rather settling them in a course that provides no challenge. Certified high school teachers should be allowed to give recommendation in conjunction with the high school transcript of the student to evaluate individual level of ability for class placement. Although these tests are no longer sufficient for the incoming students, I do agree that there should be a way to asses the capability of each individual. I understand that this form of testing allows each student to be fully prepared before they enter the next level of each subject and helps to confirm that they grasp the content. I accept that some learners overestimate their skills and would choose to take a course in which they would struggle and that could possibly lead to failure or a withdrawal. With overall more success from each class it looks better for the college. I concur with this because a school with higher graduation rates is a more respectable and appealing to both students as well as parents and faculty. The testing also uses concepts that are similar to those that will be within each class so it is helpful in determining if the student has the base level knowledge to build off of. I recognize that the teachers have an easier time when their students already have the basics down and they do not have to go back and teach old concepts. I also realize that student frustration is decreased when they are placed in a class that continues to grow from information that they have mastered. The results of standardized tests prove to be applicable for some students, but stick a growing number of others in classes that are lacking the challenges needed to grow and improve their knowledge. Although there is validation behind the assessment currently in place, it does not benefit a sweeping number of students. It is appreciated that there is a system that can aid in class preparedness, but it should be left at just that, a guide which the pupil may take into deliberation for themselves. The testing process greatly
generalizes the learners without paying attention to the individual. Incredibly broad scores are grouped together and therefore establish a vast span of intellect within each class. This causes for upset within the more knowledgeable characters due to their quicker understanding and higher level of aptitude. These tests also do not measure the students ability to comprehend information or how swiftly they are able to grasp a concept. Simply because they did not answer correctly on a test does not mean that within the class they will be unable to refresh their memory of something previously learned or master the concept without a problem. It also becomes very expensive to take multiple courses that do not count towards any degree just to get to the higher classes that the student may have been capable of taking to begin with. It wastes time of the person taking the extra courses and does not allow them to proceed at a pace which may have been originally desired. A strain could be put on the finances of those families and less classes that reflect the interests of the individual may then be permitted. The one exam simply does not work in the best interest of countless students. Granted this test displays previous knowledge of students, it does not account for the innumerable factors that influence the results. Sometimes when it comes down to it we are forgetful and the nerves of our futures weighing on these tests overpower our abilities to fully portray our mentality. It is not right to withhold an individual’s potential due their performance on one test. School is a learning experience and without challenge we cannot push ourselves to do better. A few concepts are not the only portions of each course that will appear and therefore do not accurately depict how an individual will preform within the class. With a high school transcript and recommendations from certified high school instructors there can be a clear indication of the probable success of the student. If the individual is willing to spend money on the course and there are other indications of accomplishment then they should be able to make the decision for themselves on which course to take. The placement test would be a good indicator of what point they are at in their education and should serve simply as guidance, not as the mandatory decider of their fate. Emily Delaplain, Student
Before locking my car up and walking to class this morning, a student parked his vehicle next to me. He had his cute, loud, little Pomeranian dog in his car. While he did crack his drivers side window and park in the shade, there was no water in the car and- wait, I don’t think I need to justify my anger at bringing his dog to school with the sole intent of leaving him or her in the car. I questioned him about it and he saw absolutely nothing wrong with leaving his dog in his car while he went to class for a full hour. I grabbed a picture of his license plate number and took note of the blue Ford-iness of his car, and went to report him to campus police. Since he left one window cracked, they wont do anything! Don’t you think it’s beyond ridiculous
that at Meramec campus, you can get fined for smoking an e-cigarette on the edge of the parking lot, but you’re completely free to go if you leave your dog in the car? Without food or water! That doesn’t seem right to me. Keep the smoking fines (I love my smoke-free campus) but if such small offenses get fined and reprimanded, shouldn’t larger ones merit SOME kind of discipline? If smoking an e-cigarette is considered a fineable offense by campus police, shouldn’t choosing to take our best friend away from the comfort of his own home for an hour so he can sit in a car like he was an inanimate object at least be discouraged? Cassandra Siebet, Student
6 INDEPTH Sept. 25, 2014
Bicycles of Kirkwood Walker Lake Walker Lake is the perfect getaway for some peacefulness. Whether it is to go fishing, to utilize the play ground, or to just sit and enjoy the calm breeze coming from the lake.
Kirkwood Farmer’s Market
Kirkwood Farmer’s Market is a great place to eat and shop while getting together with friends and family. Hours: M-F : 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m Sat : 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sun : varies by vendor During October, a pumpkin patch is available, open daily 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Fresh produce and varieties of pumpkins and activities are wall available. During November and December, their Christmas Market and Gingerbread Shoppe is open daily 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Warm up in the Gingerbread Shoppe, grab a cup of coca mix, and continue browsing through trees and decorations.
Whether buying a new bike or repairing an old one, Bicycles of Kirkwood assists with both. Fall is the ideal time to go for a bike ride, so grab some friends and take a trip.
Grant’s Trail After a bike is aquired, take it for a ride along Grant’s trail. This 8 mile long trail stretching from South to Southwest St. Louis county is a fantastic place to take one’s mind off things and get some fresh air.
Merb’s Candies Fall is a popular season for Caramel Apples. Merb’s Candies not only has caramel apples, but bionic apples. Don’t know what they are? Treat yourself and find out.
INDEPTH 7
Sept. 25, 2014
Branch out without leaf-ing With the fall season quickly approaching, one may find themselves bored on a Friday night. Fear no more, we will put you on the right path.
Illu str at i on By :
Da lila
Ka hv ed zic
8 ART&LIFE
Sept. 25, 2014
Music: Fuel for thought in and out of the classroom Meramec music professor discusses the benefit of music classes at any age, grade level RYAN OBRADOVIC OPINIONS EDITOR There are so many courses to choose from at STLCCMeramec, whether it be the traditional courses like math and English, but also electives like p.e. and economics. With all the courses to choose from, music classes are often not chosen because people see them as not useful or a waste of time because they do not have anything to do with their major. But is this true? Music may not be seen as beneficial to some, however studying music can be very helpful and help you learn better. “Listening to or learning music affects the brain and actually helps it learn faster and more efficiently. Put those two ideas together and you can understand why Plato said that learning music is more important
than physics or even philosophy because it holds the keys to all other learning,” STLCCMeramec Music Professor Gary Gackstatter said. The lack of students in the arts and music has decreased funding for art departments nationwide, he said. “Public schools in our country have cut the arts so much over the years to the detriment of our students and our society. Without the arts in education, only half of the brain is being taught,” Gackstatter said. “Plato also said that if a student is properly taught music, he/she will be also be able to discern between what is good and what is not.” Being involved in a music class can help boost grades in other classes as well. “Students who are
involved in learning music make higher grades on the standardized tests. I think it is even more valuable today, when so much of our time is spent on screens, to actually use your hands, your breath, your heart and mind to create something that lasts longer than a few seconds,” Gackstatter said. Everyone has heard the saying “you are what you eat,” Gackstatter said, and the same applies for music. “If you want to look and feel like a Big Mac or a Twinkie, just eat a lot of them and you eventually will. You will also become what you listen to. If you want to expand your mind and change your life, you need nutritious music. Simply put: music is food,” Gackstatter said.
Student members of the Music Club pose for a picture during a weekly meeting.
attendance. Students in the region are encouraged to share their talents to the professionals who want to share their knowledge, Rebollo said. Paben said this is his first time working with Rebollo, and she said “he is a joy.” She said he has embraced the group and is really excited to have the play be shown. Paben said it has been great working with the actors, Rebollo and those behind the scenes. Rolf described Paben as a “big-picture director.” Paben has big emotions and Rebollo’s job is to explain those emotions. “He sees everything like it’s in a snow globe,” Rolf said. “He’s taking care of the snow globe. She’s [Rebollo] watching the snow and making sure it’s making sense, the way it’s landing.” The way Rebollo and set
designer Darren Thompson design shows is through a gradual build up so there is a smooth transition between scenes, Rolf said. He said the show is very stringent on how the actors perform and how their etiquette is. “This is a unique story told from a St. Louisan about a specific time and a specific place, and I think you’re really going to feel that when you come out and see it,” Rolf said. “There’s a reason it’s ‘1959 Saint Ascension,’ not 1989 or 1929. It’s a time capsule. That’s Gary’s time capsule.” Paben said he left Meramec after an offer to work at Disney for a number of years, never thinking he would return to the campus. He took a leave from Disney during his career to be the Vice
PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER
Theater: “1959 Saint Ascension” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 not talk about the play, apart from the people working on it. “If you start chatting, and technically speaking, it’s brand new, people get ideas and then they start taking off and making their own plays. So really, it was to protect his [Paben’s] lawyer, rather than anything that would prevent them from really doing their job,” Rebollo said. In order to get the musical in an off Broadway setting, she said “backers” are needed to see the workshop and invest in the production of the show. For its premiere, there will be several people coming in from all over the country – not only as potential investors, but also as friends of Paben. Paben has a team that will design the musical if it moves to Broadway. “As to whether or not I,
or the designers, or the actors would move forward, that’s just a crapshoot,” Rebollo said. “But the exposure that this play will get will be pretty large.” She said that exposure is going to be substantial because of who is going to see it. The play is coming from Paben’s heart and is something he really feels passionate about, she said. His inspiration came from Perrino, who had been in a coma. Paben said his wife suggested they collaborate. “The notion of moving the story that’s personal forward, I would want them to get some pride for telling that story,” Rebollo said. “I would hope that we would do the play justice.” She said she also hopes her students will get a chance to show their portfolios to the industry professionals that will be in
PHOTOS BY: DAVID KLOECKENER Above, the cast of “1959 Saint Ascension” practices for three to four hours a day in preparation for the show. Co directed by Theater Professor Michelle Rebollo and former professor Gary Paben, the show has been on Paben’s bucket list for a long time. The musical has been three years in the making and premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. At right, Paben walks the cast through the production. Cast member Brian Rolf said Paben has “big emotions” and Rebollo’s job is to explain why those emotions are there.
President of Entertainment at Madison Square Garden. He quit Disney in 2000 after he did a parade for the company as well as work for the Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show. When he began working on “1959 Saint Ascension,” he said Meramec seemed “like a good fix” for it to premiere. “It was fun to come back to a space where I had been working a long time ago,” Paben said. “Going back into the theater was like a very comfortable shoe.” Starting out as a photo major himself, Rolf encourages anyone of any major to audition for plays at Meramec. The musical premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Saturday, Oct. 4. There will be a matinée on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2:00 p.m. There is no charge.
ART&LIFE 9
Sept. 25, 2014
Moving around the media Communications professor explores varied interests, skills and talents CHRISTIAN HARGAS STAFF WRITER “Media is one of the more complex career fields out there.” Those are the words of head chair of the Mass Communications Department and professor in Communications and Advertising Programs at St. Louis Community College Meramec, Susan Hunt-Bradford, Hunt-Bradford’s career goes beyond the walls of the campus. “I have always loved the media, most of the media, since I went to SIU-Carbondale and I always thought of myself as a very creative person,” HuntBradford said. As a student, she went to SIUCarbondale to get her bachelor’s degree in advertising, but she also really loved photography, which was something that she planned to major in coming from New York, she said. “It just didn’t work out for me after one semester,” HuntBradford said. As a result, she quickly changed her major to advertising
and earned her degree in that field. Following college, Hunt-Bradford picked up a job right away at The Suburban Journals in advertising and public relations. However, she never wanted to work for an advertising agency which would be something that she would come to regret, she said. “I only regret not working for an advertising agency because I would have loved to have the experience to pass along to my students, but I wasn’t thinking about teaching at the time,” Hunt-Bradford said. While Hunt-Bradford was working for The Suburban Journals, she said she wanted to get a master’s degree which she admitted would be for a reason unknown to her. As a result, she studied at Webster University and earned her master’s degree in advertising while continuing her job at The Suburban Journals. During her last semester at Webster, she said she overheard two students discussing the idea
SUBMITTED PHOTO Susan Hunt-Bradford, right, talks with Radio Production Instructor Gary Gottlieb on her radio show.
of teaching at STLCC-Meramec with the very same degree that she just received. With the idea of teaching now in her mind, Hunt-Bradford got in contact with former film instructor at STLCCMeramec Diane Carson to begin the application process. Carson would write a letter of recommendation to Dennis Dufer, current STLCC-Meramec Professor, in 1991 which would launch the beginning of her career at the campus. Hunt-Bradford taught at STLCC-Meramec part time for five years before switching to full time in 1996. She has also taken the reigns of her own advertising direction as she now freelances as an advertiser. Hunt-Bradford also expressed great interest and passion in other forms of media, including television, radio and film. “The day I graduated from SIU-Carbondale, I looked over at the film students who were graduating and said to myself, ‘I wish I would have gotten my degree in film,” she said. Currently, she is working on her degree for television and film at Lindenwood University and plans to be completed by 2015, but she has already begun to make a name for herself in the art. From 2010 to 2011, Bradford created and operated her very own online video and radio talk show, but it only lasted for one year due to the company provider closing down. However, she said she would be interested in doing it
SUBMITTED PHOTO Susan Hunt-Bradford, center, displays her “Club Sponsor of the Year” Award at the May 2013 Student Award Banquet. Hunt-Bradford was presented the award by students Lindsey Jackson, left, and Jessica Tipton, right, as the sponsor of the AGM Club.
again at some point in the future. Hunt-Bradford was also casted in the Saint Louis Independent Film, Tater Tot, to play the main character’s mother. The film circulated film festivals around the city, which proved to be a great beginning for the actors and actresses involved. “It was a great experience to get to be a part of an independent film project,” Hunt-Bradford
said. Although her experience is varied in the media industry, Hunt-Bradford said her path to getting where she is now was not an easy one. “Media is a very competitive field,” she said. “You begin in a very small market and have to work your way up the ladder and some people just don’t understand how hard that truly is.”
Traveling on an educational adventure Meramec student continues journey at Meramec after attending more than 30 schools DALILA KAHVEDZIC ASST. ART & LIFE EDITOR Lakita Wofford-Bates is a 22 year old student that has been studying education with a minor in music on STLCC-Meramec’s campus for six semesters and is currently on her seventh. Although born in Sacramento, Calif., Bates has been to about 30 different schools in her lifetime thus far, and has moved around plenty since her dad was in the army. Bates said they never stayed in the same spot. Having been around the United States to places such as Colorado and Georgia, Bates has also had the
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privilege to experience many foreign countries such as Spain, Africa and Syria. “You should see all the stamps on my passport, it’s kind of crazy,” Bates said. English is Bates’ first language, but she is fluent in Spanish and knows a little German and Chinese. Having a brother that lives in Germany and a sister that lives in China, she has traveled to these countries as well. “It is definitely hard to get to see them as often, but we Skype and FaceTime whenever we can,”
My classes were so interracial and it’s totally different from here.
-Lakita Wofford-Bates
Bates said. Bates’ said her favorite place she has traveled to is Spain. “The scenery is just so different from what I’m used to, I love the whole Spanish-type thing,” Bates said. She said she plans on moving to Barcelona, Spain after she is done with college. She plans to teach music to elementary kids. “I love kids, I work at a day care and I’ve grown attached to the children I work with,” Bates said. Bates said Syria was one of the countries that stood out most to her. “It’s really different, I’ve seen lots of crazy things go on. I’ve seen a building being blown up with people actually inside so it was pretty scary,” Bates said. “I’ve seen 9/11 videos but I’ve just seen that on TV so seeing it up close and personal was a different
story. I try not to think about it so much, I try to block it from my memory.” In the United States, Bates said Colorado was one of her favorites because the few months she stayed there she saw many different nationalities. “My classes were so interracial and it’s totally different from here,” Bates said. The best part about traveling for Bates is opening her eyes to different things , seing new places and meeting new people, she said. Bates said her favorite moment from a missions trip in Africa was when the little kids entertained her by singing and dancing since, she could not speak the language. She said being an expectant mother with her fiancé and high school sweetheart of eight years makes it a little more difficult to travel, but it will be done, even if it is put on pause for a while.
PHOTO BY: DALILA KAHVEDZIC Student Lakita Wofford-Bates poses for a photo on the Meramec campus.
10 ART&LIFE
Sept. 25, 2014
PHOTOS BY: BRITTNEY FARROW
Learning about Liberia The International Student Club hosted a presentation on Liberia Friday, Sept. 19, in the Student Center. Students sampled food from Liberia, networked with other students and listened to a presentation on Liberia.
Seasoned basketball coach steps into new position Women’s basketball coach Shelly Ethridge talks about coaching, and her new position as chair of the Physical Education Department BRITTNEY FARROW STAFF WRITER Shelly Ethridge has been an instructor at STLCC-Meramec for seven years, and has been coaching the women’s basketball team for six seasons. Since becoming the head coach of the women’s team in 2009, Ethridge has led them to three consecutive NCAA Women’s Division II tournaments and was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice. Now she is taking on a completely new role in her position as chair of the Physical Education Department. As the chair of the Physical Education Department, Shelly Ethridge has several responsibilities. When her position took effect in May, she was put in charge of a laundry list of tasks. As part of her duties, she is responsible for providing input and information at meetings, building the curriculum and class schedules for the Physical Education Department and making herself available to students and faculty to address their concerns. Due to her busy schedule, Ethridge said she has had to be very conscious of her time and has learned to spend it wisely.
“Much of my mornings are devoted strictly to the academic aspect of my job. The afternoon is when I have team time and complete workouts with the team,” Ethridge said. While in college, Ethridge played basketball on a full ride scholarship at Eastern Illinois University. Her interest in sports, however, goes back much further than that. “I grew up in New Baden, Illinois. I loved playing any sport possible, and there were many neighborhood kids – mostly boys – who would get together and play competitive games,” Ethridge said. While at Mater Dei High School, Ethridge played four sports, but the school did not have girls’ basketball until her sophomore year when she and her parents made a petition to start a team. Ethridge has played basketball since childhood on her own, but she received a lot of recognition and attention throughout her high school career. She is listed on the Athletics Hall of Fame on the Mater Dei website. As a coach, Shelly Ethridge has seven years of experience at
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four-year institutions, but she said she prefers coaching at a two-year level. At two-year institutions, student athletes are required to hone their skills if they want to advance, and Ethridge said the best part of coaching at Meramec is seeing the student athletes go on and be successful. “Our student athletes come in motivated and goal-oriented. They want to get to the next level and play at a quality four-year institution. When they make the choice to play for us, they know they are coming to a program that will make them better, on and off the court,” says Ethridge. Despite being at Meramec for several years and coaching for many seasons, Ethridge believes she learns something new every day. She said as a coach, she must be willing to learn alongside her athletes. “Every year is different, every kid is different,” Ethridge said. “You’re learning about them; how they respond best to your coaching, how they are growing [and] how you can get the most out of them.” Ethridge said she hopes she and the other members of the Physical Education faculty will
ARCHIVED PHOTO Khalia Miller shakes Ethridge’s hand after signing STLCC papers on April 9, 2014.
strive to continue stressing the importance of lifelong fitness and the benefits of being physically active and fit. “We have a tremendous faculty in our department who are passionate about the classes
they teach and engaging their students,” Ethridge said. “They are also very dedicated to the mission of making our department even stronger and showcasing our value to the students and the institution.”
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SPORTS11 Sept. 25, 2014
The Student Voice: Domestic Violence in the NFL Speaks Volumes I love football and I enjoy watching it. As a die-hard Patriots fan it’s unlikely I will even leave the house come NFL Sunday. With that being said, the situation with Ray Rice is turning me away from the sport I love so m u c h , simply because BRITTNEY FARROW of the way STAFF WRITER it’s being handled. Unlike many other major sports leagues in the country, the NFL has never had a squeaky-clean image. It has a certain reputation for letting the criminal records of its players fade away into nothing with a very “hands-off ” approach. Speculations of Ray Rice beating his now-wife Janay Palmer have been around for months now, but it was not until the video was officially released that anyone within the organization directly addressed the issue. Until it was released, officials could deny the claims all they wanted. With a video as evidence, however, there is not much room to make excuses. It’s inherently clear that Rice was cut from the Ravens
not because he beat his wife, but because a video of him beating his wife surfaced. After he was cut from the team, I checked my social media. When I access social media I expect to see inappropriate responses to social issues, but I was disgusted when I realized that most of the responses were jokes. No one seemed to realize how disgusting domestic violence really is. My first year in college I watched from the sidelines as one of my best friends unknowingly entered an abusive relationship. She had no way of knowing that her partner would hurt her. Instead, the abuse built up gradually over time through small, seemingly insignificant actions and criticisms. Nothing she did was right, and within a few months I watched helplessly as someone I loved transformed from a strong willed, happy individual into someone who constantly doubted herself and her abilities. For months I watched as this guy cut all ties my best friend had; he slowly drew her away from her family and friends and filled her head with manipulative lies. Throughout that time I tried everything I could to get her to
leave him, but she no longer had any other support systems. After she ignored every option I put on the table, I gave up. By the time he started abusing her physically, she and I were no longer speaking. My friend was not stupid. She knew the relationship was wrong. Still, she was terrified of leaving not only because she was afraid of being hurt, but because she no longer had any other support. Fortunately, she found the courage she needed and was able to get out. We reconciled, and I watched as she pieced her life together through a series of
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therapy sessions and doctor visits. She cried and drank a lot, but in the end she came out of it. Still, it took a lot of time and care for her to turn her life around. So many times domestic violence can turn deadly, and when you get down to it the only real difference between Ray Rice and my friend’s abuser was how much money they made. It’s easy for us as a society to
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said he felt as if Ray Rice would definitely be back in the league soon, and he had already taken enough accountability. This is a direct slap in the face to me, and to any other female football fans. According to statistics from the Washington Post, women make up forty five percent of football’s fan base. Despite that, it does not seem to matter how
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we feel about abuse. Being a professional football player seems to come with many perks such as fame and fortune, and yet the responsibilities that come along with those perks seem to hardly matter. I was under the impression that not beating your wife in an elevator was a pretty simple thing to do, but I suppose it’s acceptable so long as you can catch a ball. By continuing to allow violent athletes to play despite the wrongs they have done, the NFL is sending me and any other women who follow the sport a very clear message: we do not matter. We are disposable and our business does not mean anything to an organization that has not evolved past basic human decency. By even attempting to defend Rice, the League is stepping on every effort my friend and other victims of domestic violence have made to correct their situations. I hope, in the near future, that the National Football League decides to stop treating domestic violence like a minor threat it can sweep under a rug, but until it does I do not know how I – as a young woman who has seen the way abuse functions – can support it.
The NFL is sending me and any other women who follow the sport a very clear message: we do not matter.
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look at Rice’s wife and wonder why she stayed. It’s never easy to understand why people do things that will inevitably hurt them. By pointing the finger at Janay Palmer though, we are essential taking the blame away from Rice. Even if she had left him after the abuse, there is nothing to promise us Ray Rice would not beat another woman. Throughout this scandal I almost feel like the NFL has treated the situation like it’s an elaborate joke. When asked about the domestic violence NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
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12 SPORTS
Sept. 25, 2014
PHOTOS BY: ALEX WHITE The STLCC men’s soccer players (blue) attack the ball, which is up for grabs, during the game on Saturday, Sept. 20. Sophomore forward, Edin Mehmedovic scored the only goal for the Archers at the 21:37 mark of the second period, evening the score at 1, after Missouri Baptist took the lead in the opening period. THe game was the Archers’ second tie this season.
Missouri Baptist proves tough draw for Archers Defensive battle results in 1-1 tie for Archers men’s soccer ALEX WHITE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER On Saturday, Sept. 20, the STLCC Archers men’s soccer team faced the Missouri Baptist University Spartans to a 1-1 tie. The tie brought the Archers’ record to 3-4-2. The game was a defensive battle as both teams only managed to strike the nets once. The majority of the first period seemed to be played primarily at center field, with both teams trying to find their way to the goal.
The Spartans struck first, scoring a goal early in the first period, leaving the Archers trailing the rest of the way. “I have mixed emotions, I believe we did not start out well but we did end well - we will be more prepared for the second period,” said Archers Assistant Coach Matt Benoist. The Archers came out for the second period and for the first 10 minutes the Archers offense were playing primarily on the
Spartans’ side of the field. The Archers, however, came through in the second period. At 21:37 of the second period STLCC found the back of the net when Edin Mehmedovic scored the game-tying goal. The third period continued to be a defense battle. The game was indicative of the final score, as neither team was truly able to obtain any long-term advantages. A defensively stagnent game ended, 1-1. Benoist stated his expectations for the rest of season. “I expect it to be very unpredictable because our team can make a lot of little mistakes,” Benoist said. “The season is going to be very game to game based. We have a lot of young players on this team.” Of 21 players on the Archers’ roster, 16 are freshman. The Archers have 10 more games this season, beginning with a home game at STLCCFlorissant Valley against Metropolitan Community College at 4:30 p.m., Thursday Sept. 25.
Stay on top of Archer stats, streaming video, game schedules and player rosters at stlcc.edu/athletics
MEN’S SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE Sept. 25, 2014, 4:30 p.m. Hosting Metropolitan Community College at STLCC-Florissant Valley Sept. 27, 2014 , 12 p.m. Hosting Neosho County College at STLCC-Florissant Valley Sept. 29, 2014, 4:30 p.m. Hosting East Central College at STLCC-Florissant Valley Oct. 2, 2014, 4:15 p.m. Hosting Lewis and Clark Community College at STLCC-Florissant Oct. 4, 2014, 1:00 p.m. Greenville College JV at Greenville Ill. Oct. 5, 2014, 1 p.m. Hosting Malcom X College at STLCC- Florissant Oct. 7, 2014, 4:30 p.m. At St. Charles Community College at Cottleville, Mo.