M T H E M O N TA G E
The disappearing act Meramec’s classes continue to vanish KAVAHN MANSOURI EDITOR IN CHIEF STLCC-Meramec’s start of the fall 2012 semester was plagued by class cancellations. While the beginning of the spring semester was “an improvement,” according to Andrew Langrehr, Vice President of Academic Affairs, cancellations are still a lingering issue on campus. With more than 60 classes axed this semester, students and faculty members were left scrambling to fill course loads and re-enroll in classes. “I think that it was an improvement over the fall. I think in the fall we had a situation where enrollment was lower than we anticipated. When we built the schedule it was based on having higher enrollment than what came in, so we had more to cut,” Langrehr said. “Coming into the spring we didn’t cut as many [classes]. I think there is a little over 1,400 sections, between 1,400 and 1,500 classes offered this spring.” Langrehr added that fewer classes were cut on the cancellation day than we cut last semester. “I think a little over 60 classes were withdrawn, between 60 and 70 withdrawn, which is an improvement over the fall. I think the department anticipated that enrollment was a little lower. I think that they managed it,” Langrehr said. “When I say we withdrew between 60 and 70 classes that wasn’t in the last week before classes. Probably only a third of those are withdrawn on that class cancellation day.” English Department Chair David Taylor said the department took steps to minimize cancellations by anticipating an enrollment drop. “What we did is we looked at the spring schedule and anticipated a decline in enrollment by about 10 percent and then we offered a fewer number of courses to match that enrollment,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t necessarily eliminating sections but the number of seats we offer.” Langrehr said administration tried to act as advocates for students and faculty. “The deans are advocates for students
and faculty and they try to give that class every chance to make to the best of their ability,” Langrehr said. “Sometimes that means that you hold one and it gets cancelled late and people are scrambling.” Departments saw the turmoil caused last year and planned ahead Langrehr said. “I think that people saw how it went in the fall and people didn’t want to have that sort of vibe again” Langrehr said. “I saw a lot less [cancellation] notices as I walked down the hall.” Langrehr added that even though this semester was an improvement there is more to do. “We can still improve; they’re some new department chairs and things. I think they are getting their bearings,” Langrehr said. “We still retained a significant number - I’d say more than 50 sections that have less than 15. They had good reasons.” In addition to class cancellations, the college has also suffered a loss of 900 students this semester according to Langrehr. “Enrollment is down,” Langrehr said. “We had a big increase in the last few years when the economy went bad. We anticipated coming back to some norm but we’d like it to be a little bit higher.” Langrehr said administration is focusing on making the right moves when it comes to scheduling. “It’s something we’re focused on; we’re trying to schedule classes where you could get a broad number of people to take them,” Langrehr said. “What’s bad is when you budget for x number of students and you get less than that.” Planning ahead can have its negative and positive effects, according to Taylor. “It was positive in the sense that we didn’t have as many cancellations as we did in the fall, negative in the sense that we didn’t feel as comfortable offering a variety of courses at the same times we did previously because we didn’t want them to be cancelled,” Taylor said.
Story continued on page 3 @themontage
Voume 48 Issue 8
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January 24, 2013
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NEWS January 24, 2013
Story continued from page 1 This semester departments were more confident that classes that had been scheduled would make Taylor added. “We were able to be a little more assured that the classes we offered were going to make; not all of them did of course, but we weren’t guessing at the last minute,” Taylor said. “We already knew what would be cut.” Langrehr said the college does its best to make sure classes come to fruition. “I’d say we do our best to plan knowing the variables but there are intangibles that you can’t always know,” Langrehr said. “That’s why I think we improved a little bit this spring from last fall because we saw what happened.” Jan. 3 was the cancellation day when Langrehr sits down with the deans to decide what classes should make the cut. “There were a number of classes that were really close and the dean made the case ‘let’s hold this until late Friday because I think there are still students who will enroll’ and we want to give those classes ample amounts to make,” Langrehr said. “There was a number of classes we watched past Thursday.” Langrehr said the cancellations are something that the campus needs to avoid, but cancellations can also be unavoidable. “It’s a situation to try to avoid. We’d rather have it that these classes are secure early, students and faculty know their schedules early and that’s why it’s so important that deans and faculty chairs manage those schedules tightly,” Langrehr said. “We try not to cancel a class that is going to affect a student’s graduation to the best of our ability.” Langrehr added that he, the deans and department chairs take students and faculty into consideration when making the cuts. “One of our considerations when we’re sitting there is if this class is cancelled is there another place for this student to get this class. Is it the last class or one of the last classes a student would need in this program,” Langrehr said. “It’s typically something like we have a whole bunch of this course and there’s spots where these students could go, but this one doesn’t have enough enrollment at this time so it’s going to have to be the one we cancel.” Langrehr said cancelling classes is not something the college looks forward to doing. “The department chairs don’t like cancelling classes, the deans don’t like cancelling classes. No one likes it. So we do our best to avoid it,” Langrehr said.
Sky Club launches into meteorology and astronomy KAVAHN MANSOURI EDITOR IN CHIEF Two semesters ago STLCC-Meramec professor Joe Schneider’s dream of an astronomy and meteorology club came to fruition in the shape of the campus Sky Club. The club focuses on the two subjects by holding informative events and offering learning opportunities to students interested in the fields. Sky Club also hosts field trips and volunteer events. In the past two semesters Sky Club gave a presentation to boy scouts for Hands on Kirkwood, participated in the River Des Peres trash cleanup and walked in the Thanksgiving Day parade with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) The club also took part in Operation Gratitude in conjunction with the Veterans Club by getting students to write letters to service members overseas. Sky Club President and STLCC student Arielle Byington said the club has been busy in the past two semester. “We’ve been doing a lot of meteorology and astronomy events. Also a lot of volunteer events where members the club members have the opportunity to get service hours,” Byington said. Between participating in volunteer events, fundraising and hosting field trips to different science hot spots around town Sky Club has found time to offer Meramec students a step further then what the campus offers class wise. Sky Club goes where meteorology and astronomy classes stop. With several events ranging from visiting the National Weather Service to visiting the Venus transit on the roofs of Meramec, students can put what they were taught in class to work through various Sky Club events. Byington said the club is always looking for new astronomy and meteorology based events to participate in. “In the past two semesters we’ve gone to the storm spotter class that’s provided by the National Weather Service. We went to the Astronomy Nights at the Science Museum,” Byington said. “We did the Venus transit, that was in the summer. We had a bunch of students go up on the roof and we had telescopes up there.” Schneider said a main point of the club is
getting the word out about meteorology and astronomy. “One reason for starting the club was to connect with a large number of people,” Schneider said. “That’s what we want to do, we want to make people aware of things about Astronomy and Meteorology.” Schneider said the club relishes the opportunity to spread information about astronomy and meteorology. “Another purpose of our club was to spread interest in astronomy and meteorology to kids. That is why I have been extremely happy with doing presentations for the boy scouts and my club has done an excellent job in fostering their interests. I want to make more connections within the community to showcase the kind of activities, students, and professors we have at Saint Louis Community College at Meramec,” Schneider said. The clubs ‘huge success’ can be attributed to Sky Club’s members and Byington service as club president, Schneider said. “Arielle has done a wonderful job of being president and setting up all those events, she’s been great to work with and has been a major reason the club is a huge success,” Schneider said. “I’m very impressed with all the club members too, in that the events that we’ve done everyone has come out and been excited for them. Not every event has exactly been fun; it’s been a lot of work. Cleaning up River Des Peres was not exactly a morning where you were sitting down having a fun time.” Sky Club is a way of going further than Meramec astronomy and meteorology courses can, Byington said. “I think it’s really great that students have a spot now where they can meet and learn about things. We only have a Introduction to Meteorology class and then a Observational Astronomy class and Intro to Astronomy class but they can’t really go anywhere after that,” Byington said. “I really like the fact that they have access to our club and I want to keep finding new things for people to do with us.” Byington added that Sky Club could offer opportunities students would not normally exposed to. “We can provide opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Byington said.
“Networking, being able to learn about different schools that offer meteorology and astronomy programs; we were thinking about visiting SLUH’s meteorology department.” The club is about students taking the ‘next step’ and venturing further into the fields of astronomy and meteorology. “You know in each individual class of mine, whether it be meteorology or astronomy, there’s always a couple of students that are really into it. This provides them the opportunity to get together with me and the other students that were also really into it,” Schneider said. “This club provides them the opportunity to meet other people that are also into both sciences.” Schneider added that the club gives the students opportunities to develop their interests. “There’s always students that maybe have an interest in it [meteorology and astronomy] and they don’t really have many opportunities here to express it further. This would let them do that,” Schneider said. Sky Club will be spreading the science around Meramec on Feb. 20 through a public speaking event with storm chaser, meteorologist and former host of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers.” The event will be held in the Meramec theater. Byington said the event will be a great opportunity to meet a storm chaser and network. “We’re trying to get the National Weather Service to come and hand out material, the YWCA will have a booth there. We’re trying to make it a networking event as well as a fundraiser. And I think it will be a really great opportunity because how often do you get to meet a real storm chaser,” Byington said. Schneider said one of the clubs goals is to have a weather station on the Meramec campus. Along with more events around Meramec, Byington said the club wants to continue down the same path they are on. “We want to continue on the set path we’re going on right now. Find new events, increasing our membership; finding more people who are dedicated to learning more and helping out,” Byington said. Sky Club will be at Club Days and will hold their first club meeting of the semester Feb. 4.
NEWS BRIEFS Speaker visits STLCC-Meramec The Business and Economics club at STLCC-Meramec is hosting Professor Jason Williams from Maryville University. He will be speaking about Sports Marketing and Business on Feb. 5 in BA 105 at 2 p.m. All students, faculty and community members are welcome to attend the event. Alumni Showcase starts Jan. 24 The opening reception for “Alumni Showcase II” will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. in the Contemporary Art Gallery. Successful alumni such as Neill Scheiter, Tim Skornia, Jeremy Lampe and Jason Koebel will be showcasing their architectural illustration, graphic design, sculpture and ceramic work. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. The show is free and open to the public Jan. 24 - Feb. 15.
Childcare grant aid available now Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant aids students who are eligible for Pell Grants with child care costs. CCAMPIS at STLCC also holds workshops on literacy, success strategies and child development. Over 300 students have taken advantage of this opportunity. http://STLCC.edu says that 95 percent of those surveyed say they would recommend the program to other students. This aid is available to parents with children ages 2-12 and who are enrolled in a licensed and accredited center. Enrollment for spring 2013 CCAMPIS is available to apply for until Feb. 13.
‘Passport to Success’ program directed at new students ASHLEY HIGGINBOTHAM ASST. NEWS EDITOR On Jan. 28 and 29, STLCC-Meramec students have the opportunity to gain knowledge on what services are available at Meramec. Over 25 departments will have representatives. “This is to introduce students to services that are available on campus,” said counselor, Donna Zumwinkel. Passport to Success has been available to Meramec students for over seven years. Departments like ACCESS, the Library, Financial Aid, Peer Tutoring and TRIO will be available to talk to. “This is a great way to get the word out,” Zumwinkel said, “and for students to find out more than they know about these great resources.” During the event, students are given a passport book. They receive a stamp after every table they visit, and if five stamps are gathered students will earn a free meal. Attendance prizes which include gift cards
to the Bookstore are offered by Campus Life. Zumwinkel said that in the past they have reached out to several hundred students each day. Zumwinkel said that she believes that it is easier for students to find help because all of the departments are consolidated into one building. “We can reach out to a lot of students at once,” Zumwinkel said. For students who cannot attend a handout with all of the departments that were at the event, along with emails and phone numbers can be found on the second floor of Clark Hall. “This event is a lot of work,” said Zumwinkel. “I am happy to see students find out about these resources.” Students can attend Passport to Success on Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jan. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons area of the Student Center.
4 OPINIONS January 24, 2013
ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES
AMERICA
TEGAN MAZUREK STAFF WRITER
KAVAHN MANSOURI EDITOR IN CHIEF
KICKS ASS
Plastic Pandemonium Mr. McGuire, from the 1960’s movie The Graduate, had the right idea when he told young Ben there was a great future in plastics. In the 150 years since plastics have been around, humans have morphed it into a petroleum-based wonder material. Incredibly useful, pliable and convenient, it is easy to see why the world has become addicted to it. Plastic bags in particular have been a heavily used tool for everyday life. Used in nearly every industry, it is not surprising that the world goes through 500 billion of them in one year. But there is a cost for such a material. Plastic cannot biodegrade and nearly all are thrown away. The discarded plastic bags find their way into the water systems, and eventually into the ocean. Plastic bags in landfills are often burned, releasing the greenhouse gases from the petroleum. Not only do they waste valuable petroleum, but they also threaten our physical and economic health. Unfortunately, plastic bags are found nearly everywhere in most daily situations. This material that we depend on for convience is choking the planet we depend on for life. Plastic bags take roughly 1,000 years to break down into teeny tiny plastic pellets. Today, there are at least two vortexes that are twice the size of Texas consisting of plastic trash. Most mammals mistake them for jellyfish or other food, causing serious health problems or death. By endangering many key marine species, plastics threaten the overall health of our ocean. In fact, marine life is on the brink of a mass extinction due to the ocean’s poor health. Small decisions make impactful effects on environmental and social health. Prevention is always more effective than cleanup with any environmental disaster. Choosing to go without a plastic bag or switching to reusable bags save waste and pollution on fragile environments. In fact, some communities have chosen to ban the use of plastic bags altogether. Those communities have gotten a large ball rolling and set an example for the rest of us to follow. By being efficient and economical, the health of the ocean would improve over time. A simple, daily choice made by a whole society could assure there is a great future on our planet.
ZERO DARK KICKASS Osama Bin Laden has been dead for a good while now. Justice has been done and enough time has passed to the point where it is time for our amazing nation to produce a blockbuster about how he died. Zero Dark Thirty, released on December 19 was a film based on the “story of the world’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.” It by all standards is the most kick ass American film to come out since the blockbuster “Action Jackson” with Carl Weathers in 1988. It takes quite a film to outdo the exploits of Lt. Jericho “Action” Jackson and “Zero Dark Thiry” does exactly that. It by all means is a no holds bar, action filled rollercoaster ride of a movie. Starting from point A to point B this movie will rock your face off with awesome explosions and helicopter crashes. Now I have to be honest, I have not actually seen the movie, but I can tell you that the dreams I had about it are probably as awesome as the actual
INTROCEPTION
fancy words but to speak with precision. “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” as stated here by Mark Twain, this precision gives us the ability to communicate effectively. A large quantity of tools at a person’s disposal does not make for the brightest person. Finding the quality in what you already know through the inspection of others creates the stronger mind. By LILLY HUXHOLD GRAPHICS EDITOR comparing the meaning of new words to others already in the memory, a better understanding of the use and disuse of learned words occurs. On an average day, we speak more Johnson O’Connor, an advocate than 15,000 words. We use them for strong vocabulary and the father of to communicate, express abstract aptitude tests, found a direct correlation thoughts and problem solve but does between a person’s vocabulary and their the vocabulary used really change how eventual occupational success. “Why effective these processes can be? The do large vocabularies characterize answer is yes. The point of widening executives and possibly outstanding our vocabulary tools is not in learning men and women in other fields? The
Vo c a b u l a r y
EDITORS Kavahn Mansouri Alex Kendall Hans Steinert Lilly Huxhold Kelly Glueck Spencer Gleason Jake Hunn Ashley Higginbotham Gretchen Daniels Justin Villmer Shannon Philpott
movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were awesome in Zero Dark Thirty. The two of them assaulted the compound with only combat knives and their fists. Stallone took on four bodyguards while Schwarzenegger fought Osama’s main henchman, played by Liam Neeson in his extremely dramatic roll as a conflicted member of Jihad. When Stallone finished with the body guards he quickly confronted Osama Bin Laden himself, played by Toby Maguire. The two had a brief exchange before Stallone ended it all. The two escaped the stronghold just as it exploded from the self-destruction sequence Osama (Maguire) triggered. Zero Dark Thirty is by all means another reason America kicks ass. The fact that America can produce awesome movies about their awesome exploits is in fact... awesome. So grab your red, white and blue pants and head to the movies
Editor in Chief Managing Editor Multimedia Editor Graphic Design/A&L Editor In Depth Editor Sports Editor Asst. Graphics Editor Asst. News Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Faculty Adviser
ILLUSTRATION BY: CORY MONTERO
final answer seems to be that words are the instruments by means of which men and women grasp the thoughts of others and with which they do much of their own thinking. They are the ‘tools of thought.’” As stated by O’Connor, vocabulary is not unattainable, something that only people of a more intelligent level have, but people who work to improve upon the skills they already have and add to them by better understanding means of communication, expression and problem solving. So going forward, how do we improve vocabulary? Read constantly and in a wide variety; when you don’t know a word, look it up in the dictionary. Try new and diverse atmospheres, or one you are not familiar with. And though difficult, find the motivation to seek out words without purpose.
MONTAGE STAFF THE MONTAGE Cory Montero Kurt Oberreither Victoria Barmark Jenn Dittmaier Joe Makoto Taylor Menke David Kloeckener Nick Rousseau Jake Simorka Tegan Mazurek Cassie Kibens Anabel Gonzalez
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OPINIONS
January 24, 2013
Coin Flip: Gun Control Easier access to mental health care
Preparation is key
ASHLEY HIGGINBOTHAM ASST. NEWS EDITOR
VICTORIA BARMARK STAFF WRITER
“That the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defense suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law.” This statement about “the right to bear arms” was in the English Bill of Rights of 1689; it is also known as the pre-constitution. Parliament wanted this right available to citizens because they believed it was a natural right to be able to self-defend, and this is in our Constitution today. With recent shootings, such as the ones in Aurora and Newtown, talks of stricter gun control laws have been floating around. Federal law states that anyone who has been “adjudicated as (being) mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution” is not allowed to own a gun. Sure, laws that make it more difficult for mentally ill people to own a firearm are possible, but unfair. For example, if a law prevents someone from owning a gun because they are on an antidepressant does that mean that police officers and fire fighters should not own a gun because they may have a hard time dealing with the horrors they see daily? It is extremely hard and there is a huge grey line when it comes to gun control laws. The only way to lessen these shootings is to look to mental health care and citizen’s access to it. Alleged Colorado shooter James Holmes, alleged Connecticut shooter Adam Lanza and Columbine shooter Eric Harris all showed signs of mental illness by speaking to fellow classmates about it, writing in journals or regularly seeing a psychiatrist. Receiving mental help to me is much more difficult than buying a gun. To show how difficult getting an appointment with a psychiatrist can be, I took the initiative to call around. I looked up 10 different psychiatrists and I reached number seven of the 10 to find one that took insurance, was accepting new patients, accepted patients outside of their patient database or could schedule me in sooner than four months away. If mental health care had easier access, I feel that these shootings would lessen greatly. According to a 2011 paper in Health Affairs, the United States spends $113 billion on mental health treatment, yet from 2009 to 2011 many states cut non-Medicaid mental health funding by $1.6 billion. Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) recently gathered data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and concluded that up to April of 2012 in Colorado, where the Aurora Theatre shooting took place, over 11,000 mental health records went unreported by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). President George W. Bush, along with congress, passed a law in 2007 keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill after the VA Tech shooting. He also said that he would strengthen the NICS, which he obviously had not because the National Center for State Courts found that nearly two million records were never put in the system. That is two million people that have not had a background check, two million that may be trying to purchase a gun, two million who may need help that they cannot afford to get. Our founding fathers way back when, knew it was a right to own a firearm and the law has not changed since. It should not change because if it does it could hurt innocent policemen, soldiers and fire fighters. We need to help the ones who do not know how to help themselves. We need to change the way we look at mental health and take away all the bad connotations that come along with it. America needs to make mental health care a much smaller step to climb.
“Violence isn’t always evil. What’s evil is the infatuation with violence.” - Jim Morrison Mass shootings have become almost a norm in this country; since Columbine in 1999, some reports estimate over one hundred. Unlike the previous attacks, the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting happened right on the heels of the presidential election, at a time when such heavy topics as abortion and women’s rights, among others were already the points of contention dividing our country. Emotions were running high. When the news of Sandy Hook broke, the Internet, newspapers and television exploded with experts offering their opinions on how to solve the gun violence problem in this country. Social media, too, had its share of “specialists”. As with the election, friends and family started arguing again. Some screamed for more guns. Some screamed for less. Everyone and their brother had something to add to the discussion. The solution, it seems, boils down to two options: allow people to have more guns, no questions asked, or impose strict regulations, tests, background checks and psychological evaluations if someone wants to own a gun. The first option, according to many, is not really an option. There is no need to list all the issues that arise with a civilian owning a gun. That is not this article’s goal. While the second option is the more favorable one, it still does not solve one very huge problem: human error. Imagine for a minute a home invasion: an average person needs to focus, quite often from a sound sleep, concentrate on a correct target, aim and fire accurately. In the chaos and confusion of a home invasion there is a huge chance of a miss or hitting a loved one instead. The Internet is abound with accounts of such horrors. With mass shootings the situation does not improve. In 2009, ABC News’ 20/20 conducted an experiment: the goal was to see whether one has the ability to defend him or herself with a gun when attacked with a gun. The results were frightening. It turns out that very serious changes in our brain’s function occur in a crisis. The brain automatically narrows down a person’s range of vision so one can focus only on the immediate danger: the shooter. Peripheral vision becomes virtually non-existent, and what remains is tunnel vision: one sees what is right in front of them. Police, for example, need to train and retrain for months to be able to take in their periphery and determine who is a friend and who is an enemy. How many stories do we know when these trained men and women have accidently shot people? In the 20/20 experiment, even those with the most experience with guns were utterly underprepared. They had not trained on moving targets that shot back but on stationary pieces of paper, which do not run shooting. Not only did they shoot “friends” who started running around chaotically trying to get away, but also were “shot fatally” because they did not see that in this particular scenario a second intruder was “shooting” at them. Moreover, half of the participants in the experiment could not get their guns out. Those who did, could not shoot fast enough or accurately enough. And there was always the danger of shooting an innocent bystander. The bottom line is that having a gun did not help at all. This was a controlled situation. Imagine a real-life situation. The safety experts are unanimous: if you can, get away. If you cannot, hide or play dead. Next time a shooting report is unfolding on TV and thoughts about more guns are rampant in one’s mind, think about this experiment. Even heroes are not immune to human error.
6 INDEPTH
HEALTH &
January 24, 2013
j Understand the label
Knowing how to read a nutrition label can help someone put his or her meal into perspective based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Eliminate “empty calories” and replace with filling, wholesome foods, and help fight harmful conditons and diseases.
Pay attention to your serving size. Why? Because you will learn Fritos scoops are 160 calories for five chips, not the whole bag.
In 2012, the University of Scranton polled resolution. It found that 39 percent of Amer and only 8 percent succeed. Losing weight do buy a gym membership, consider understan
v Set goals Reward
Success
Set specific and attainable goals; simply saying “I want to lose weight” is not enough. According to STLCC-Meramec Fitness and Concepts instructor Kim McCall often times people can hit what she calls a “speed bump,” which slows them down from their routine. She also said that people who want instant gratification could get discouraged and quit after not receiving results quickly. The best anecdote? Make a weekly and a long term plan. McCall said people can stay on task by keeping a food and fitness journal to monitor their progress. There are apps such as MyFitnessPal and others to help track exercise and nutrition. Entering in a journal regularly allows the person to track progress so he or she can observe what works and does not, as well as reminding him or her of the overall picture; one bad week is not worth giving up the success he or she has already witnessed. McCall said rewarding oneself can also help an individual stay on track. One way is to have a success jar. Each time a person works out, he or she adds a dollar or so to the jar. When he or she achieves his or her goal, he has a jar of money to buy a new, smaller-sized outfit.
Limit these nutrients. Health experts recommend that you keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol as low as possible as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Get plenty of these. Increasing your intake could decrease your chance of developing diseases or conditions while also boosting metabolism. Increaseing your protein and fiber can also help you stay fuller longer. Five percent DV or less is low and 20 percent DV or more is high. Example, this slice of bread is low in dietry fiber.
85 calories
One cup of blueberries
80 calories
Three tbsp of hummus
55 calories
One baked sweet potato
One cup of veg
INDEPTH
& fitness
January 24, 2013
losing weight as the most common New Year’s ricans make this common commitment every year oes not have to be a losing battle. Before rushing to nding nutrition, fitness and making realistic goals.
l HaveGetfun Active For some people, adding exercise to an already busy lifestyle can be intimidating. Finding a fitness plan that works for an individual can make or break a resolution. But never fear, getting active does not have to be a daunting task. Making small changes in your daily routine can make a significant difference. Try to walk in between classes or take the dog for a walk. Fitness does not have to be hard or boring; it can be fun and social. For example, two hours of hiking can burn more than 800 calories, dancing can burn more than 500 calories, rollerskating or ice skating can burn more than 900 calories and cycling at 10mph can burn more than 700 calories. Still need convincing? Exercise not only maintains weight, according to the Mayo Clinic, adding activity into your schedule can combat health diseases and conditions, improve mood, boost energy and promote better sleep.
80 calories
getable soup
95 calories
Two cups of popcorn, one tbsp butter
Ask the expert Kim McCall Fitness & Concepts STLCC-Meramec
Crash Diets Some popular crash diets have been the South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, cleansing diets and supplement pills. People turn to these diets because they claim to be quick and easy, but the problem is the diets cut out major nutrients the body needs, especially for energy. The initial weight loss comes from cutting out carbohydrates which consume major calories also. When the body is deprived of energy it turns to the stored energy which comes from fats and sugars in the body. People tend to turn to these diets because they are looking for something quick. Yes you will drop weight quick but it is not healthy. Soon people get discouraged because they hit a stagnant phase where there is no more weight loss.
Tips and Tricks Eating 5 - 6 small meals a day helps keep the metabolism active. Some other tips would be to do easy exercises like push ups, crunches, etc during commercials, do not eat in front of the TV, do not drink your calories, drink more water to help you feel full, include more protein and fiber to help you feel full, park far away, walk the stairs instead of use the elevator and if you do not have 30 minutes straight for activity then break it up into three 10 minutes sessions. Again very important about eating is portion control! Try not to eat anything after 7 or 8 p.m. depending on your bed time so your body has time to digest.
90 calories
3/4 ounce of sharp cheddar
90 calories
2 ounces lean beef roast
8 ART&LIFE
January 24, 2013
Unfinished business: life after retirement Donna Halsband continues service KURT OBERREITHER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
THE MERAMEC LIBRARY
On her first day of retirement, former STLCC-Meramec Service Learning Coordinator Donna Halsband was not “letting the moss grow under her feet.” “A lot of people, when they retire, kind of fade into the woodwork,” Halsband said. “I’m not that kind of person.” Most retirees, embarking on the next chapter of their lives, do not continue in their everyday routine. They might spend their first day away from the office swinging a golf club or traveling to an exciting destination — not Halsband. On her first day not reporting to the office of service learning at Meramec, Halsband was participating on Operation Food Search’s “Cooking Matters” program. Halsband taught the developmentally disabled and those from the food pantry to cook simple meals on a low budget. Halsband’s service after retirement does not stop there. Since retiring from her position as the coordinator of Meramec’s service learning program — which focuses on integrating community service into student coursework — Halsband is a volunteer at a number of community service programs including Kirkwood Living Green, a nonprofit group concerned with protecting and conserving natural resources, and the Shepherd’s Center, which provides services for senior citizens. “I’m doing what I want to do, when I want to do it, and as much as I want to do. And I don’t have to go to work, too,” Halsband said. “…Staying active means staying healthy; staying engaged mentally is something people need to
hours:
Mon.-Thu. 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sun. CLOSED
ask a librarian: call, chat or email to get the information you need!
films on demand:
educational videos from art to math just go to the quick links under the libraries home page for access!
research help:
find online reference sources such as almanacs, quotations and encyclopedias, through the libraries home page
contact: Circulation Department 314-984-7797
Reference Department
314-984-7613
Media Services
314-984-7795
do. I would be bored to death if I wasn’t doing this stuff.” Although Halsband volunteers at four different organizations, she still visits Meramec to help her former assistant, Debbie Corson, transition to full responsibility of the program. In the fall, Halsband will teach the leadership cornerstone class at Meramec. “I loved, loved, loved [coordinating service learning], but after you do something for 15 years, it’s time to do something new,” Halsband said. However, Halsband said it is important that the service learning program continues to enrich student and faculty lives. Furthermore, she said community partners, like Operation Food Search are dependent on the program’s support. “If it went bye-bye, they would be bereft,” Halsband said. Halsband said she is going to create some free time to spend time with friends and in her arts and crafts “woman cave.” Also, she said she fell in love with New Orleans on the annual trips service learning takes in the spring and plans on traveling back. Halsband has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease which causes the airways in the lungs to narrow and requires the use of an oxygen tank. Although her oxygen tank will not allow her to travel by plane, Halsband said she would like to travel by train to Washington D.C. to visit her daughter. “With my situation, with my COPD, I’ve been given a shorter life term,” Halsband said, “I want to enjoy myself and do some things I haven’t done before.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO On Jan. 10, Donna Halsband was commemorated for her 15 years in the service learning department at STLCC-Meramec.
Meramec’s library: tools to use When research projects go awry TAYLOR MENKE STAFF WRITER Timothy Healy, former President of the New York Public Library once said, “To those with ears to hear, libraries are really very noisy places. On their shelves we hear the captured voices of the centuries-old conversation that makes up our civilization.” Since their genesis millennia ago, libraries have been the valued epicenters of human knowledge and thought. Every book, audiotape, magazine or newspaper contains the preserved thoughts, opinions and findings of people whose mortality would otherwise cause the information to be lost. Libraries have been the source of both great and small things — when the Library of Alexandria burned down so did much of the knowledge of the ancient world; when
college students need to write a paper on Mark Twain or the evolution of the writing utensil their main source is typically a library. Unfortunately, many people have either forgotten or have never learned how to use a library. The Dewey decimal system, call numbers and complex material seem to have become obsolete in the day of online search utilities or Wikipedia. But the library is not dead, and the STLCC-Meramec campus library is no exception. Meramec’s library offers many services and features. It is part of the MOBIUS system, which allows students to request materials from other libraries statewide that are not part of the Meramec collection. The library contains audiobooks, tapes,
DVDs, periodicals and even e-books — showing that the library is in fact a flexible medium of information. Meramec students, alumni and faculty also have access to films on demand — simply login with your Blackboard username and password and thousands of digital video resources are at your fingertips. The library at Meramec provides other services as well. If you have a question, you can call, e-mail or chat with a member of the library staff. On the library’s webpage is a list recent acquisitions that can be browsed. Their website offers research assistance, and they can schedule library literacy classes with campus instructors. In addition , the library hosts many educational events on the campus.
ART&LIFE
January 24, 2013
The microbreweries of St.Louis Urban Chestnut
Urban Chestnut is a location that focuses on the beer but also offers small apetizers. Customer favorites are Zwickel and Wingnut.
4 Hands 4 Hands brewery offers a tasting room as well as a restaurant counterpart called Fifth Wheel. Sports and pub fare are available as well as the customer favorite chocolate milk stout. 4 Hands also has live music.
Square One is the only distillery and brewery in St. Louis. IPA’s are offered as well as a low key environment with special Build-A-Burger Tuesdays.
Six Row
Six Row offers a low key environment to watch sports or enjoy a beer. Ages range from 20-40 and Double IPA is a customer favorite.
Schlafly
Schlafly brewery offers sports, live music, tours and a full restaurant. Customer favorite is the Kolsch and the brewery grows it owns food.
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Students with disAbilities
have Access at STLCC.
Students with disAbilities
have Access at STLCC. St. Louis Community College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Access office at the campus where you are registered. While accommodations may be requested at any time, some accommodations may require many weeks to arrange.
St. Louis Community College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Access office at the campus where you are registered. While accommodations may be requested at any time, some accommodations may require many weeks to arrange. Florissant Valley Access Office
3400 Pershall Road St. Louis, MO 63135-1499 E-mail: fvaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-513-4551 Fax: 314-513-4876 Relay Missouri: 711
Forest Park Access Office
Meramec Access Office
5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110-1393 E-mail: fpaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-644-9039 Fax: 314-951-9439 Relay Missouri: 711
11333 Big Bend Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-5799 E-mail: mcaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-984-7673 Fax: 314-984-7123 Relay Missouri: 711
Wildwood Student Enrollment and Disability Support Services 2645 Generations Drive Wildwood, MO 63040-1168 E-mail: wwaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 636-422-2000 Fax: 636-422-2050 Relay Missouri: 711
St. Louis Community College expands minds and changes lives every day. We create accessible, dynamic learning environments focused on the needs of our diverse communities. Florissant Valley
Forest Park
Meramec
Wildwood
www.stlcc.edu
Florissant Valley Access Office 3400 Pershall Road St. Louis, MO 63135-1499 E-mail: fvaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-513-4551 Fax: 314-513-4876 Relay Missouri: 711
Forest Park Access Office
Meramec Access Office
5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110-1393 E-mail: fpaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-644-9039 Fax: 314-951-9439 Relay Missouri: 711
11333 Big Bend Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-5799 E-mail: mcaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-984-7673 Fax: 314-984-7123 Relay Missouri: 711
Wildwood Student Enrollment and Disability Support Services 2645 Generations Drive Wildwood, MO 63040-1168 E-mail: wwaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 636-422-2000 Fax: 636-422-2050 Relay Missouri: 711
St. Louis Community College expands minds and changes lives every day. We create accessible, dynamic learning environments focused on the needs of our diverse communities. Forest Park
Florissant Valley
Wildwood
Meramec
www.stlcc.edu St. Louis Community College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Access office at the campus where you are registered. While accommodations may be requested at any time, some accommodations may require many weeks to arrange.
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Florissant Valley Access Office 3400 Pershall Road St. Louis, MO 63135-1499 E-mail: fvaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-513-4551 Fax: 314-513-4876 Relay Missouri: 711
Forest Park Access Office
Meramec Access Office
5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110-1393 E-mail: fpaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-644-9039 Fax: 314-951-9439 Relay Missouri: 711
11333 Big Bend Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-5799 E-mail: mcaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-984-7673 Fax: 314-984-7123 Relay Missouri: 711
Wildwood writers Student Enrollment and photographers Disability Support Services
cinematographers graphic designers editors online writers St. Louis Community College expands minds and changes lives every day. We create accessible, dynamic ad reps 2645 Generations Drive Wildwood, MO 63040-1168 E-mail: wwaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 636-422-2000 Fax: 636-422-2050 Relay Missouri: 711
learning environments focused on the needs of our diverse communities. Florissant Valley
Forest Park
Meramec
www.stlcc.edu
Wildwood
apply online
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Mark Your Calendars! Spring Career Fair Coming Soon! Thursday, March 7, 2013 9am-2:30pm Meramec Physical Education Building
12 SPORTS January 24, 2013
Bouncin’ back The Lady Archers basketball team looks to bounce back through adversity SPENCER GLEASON SPORTS EDITOR
Heading into the New Year on a six-game winning streak, the Lady Archers basketball team looked to stay on the winning track. However, since the ball dropped and 2013 began, the Lady Archers have gone 2-3, with two wins bookending a three-game losing streak. Their latest victory, a 83-82 double overtime win over the Lady Pirates, came on Jan. 19, when they traveled to North Central Missouri College. “[This season] has been a little difficult in trying. We’re dealing with some adversity, but that’s going to happen every year. It’s just that this year it’s all happening at one time,” Lady Archers’ Head Coach Shelley Ethridge said. “I’m so proud of these kids because they really have stepped up. We’re becoming more of a team, quite frankly, in dealing with the adversity. Everybody understands that they have a major part and a major role on this team and we’re still going to stick together and fight through all of our battles.” The 2012-13 campaign for the Lady Archers started off with losing sophomore forward Lauren Maclin, who broke her foot before the season began. Maclin, averaged 7.2 points per game (p.p.g.) and 6.1 rebounds per game during the 201112 season, returned for their game on Dec. 7 and scored 12 points and seven rebounds coming in off the bench. Just as the Lady Archers began rolling with Maclin back in the lineup, sophomore guard, Datona Ball, went down after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral and medial meniscus in her right leg. Ball was the only Lady Archer to crack the Top-50 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in Division II p.p.g. at No. 35, averaging 16.7 p.p.g. Ball is out for the season. “They look to their right and their left and they’re like, ‘Well, I guess it’s going to have to be you or me.’ They realized that and on Saturday [Jan. 19]
they showed that they can still do this,” Ethridge said. “They understand that they are going to have to be ready because they are going to get in there. We don’t have the luxury of having a deep bench anymore. We have to play. We have ten people and everybody probably is going to get in the game.” The game against the Lady Pirates ended a three-game skid and was the Lady Archers first regional road win this season, giving them an overall record of 11-5. Freshman guard Kalah Martin used the stage to set a career high in points, with 29, including seven steals, eight rebounds and the gamewinning shot with 11 seconds left in double overtime. “[Kalah] has learned a lot in a short amount of time,” Ethridge said. “I expect a lot out of her and she’s starting to understand that and she’s starting to get there as far as her physical game and her mental aspect. She’s getting stronger. We need Kalah. We need her to play like she played this last game.” With only nine games left in the regular season, the Lady Archers have the mentality of taking one game at a time. Regardless of the previous game’s outcome, the Lady Archers look toward the next game and focus on what lies ahead. “We’re going to take one game at a time, especially right now and trying to figure everything out and dealing with all the adversity we’ve been dealing with. The kids know that they have something special with their team right now and their chemistry. That’s what we’re focusing in on,” Ethridge said. “We’ll let the game play out for itself. I know deep down the kids would still like to win the regional tournament and we certainly can do that. We can do it, but we’re going to approach each game one day at a time and focus in on the little things that are going to make a big difference for us.”
Freshman guard Kalah Martin leaps for the shot over Cottey College teammates Bailey Braden (25) and Petra Stankovic (21). The Lady Archers lost to the Lady Comets in overtime, 82-74, on Jan. 12. Martin scored six points, with seven rebounds and four assists against the Lady Comets. In their 83-82 double overtime win against North Central Missouri College on Jan. 19 Martin scored 29 points, including the game winner. PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER