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VOLUME 52, ISSUE 4 | THURSDAY OCT. 13, 2016 | www.meramecmontage.com
Sports:
Archers play at Busch Stadium
Former ITT students Nursing take advantage of Network Security
News:
late start classes
Electronics Accounting Cyber Security Electrical Engineering Information Systems Software Developer...
at STLCC
Archers lose 5-2 against Central Babtist College, Arkansas. Cardinals win 4-3 against Pittsburg Pirates on Oct. 1.
More students expected to join in spring
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Marie Schwarz Managing Editor
Story on page 12
Art & Life:
‘Theater is my thing’
Meramec student Olivia Toombs talks about her journey into stage management.
“This is something I want to do for the rest of my life.” Olivia Toombs
St. Louis Community College (STLCC) expects an influx in enrollment due to former ITT Technical Institution students enrolling in programs, said Diana Johnson, Career and Technical Education Retention Specialist at the Meramec Campus. Johnson said that while some are already enrolled, the bulk of the transferring students are anticipated to join in spring. Late-start classes are especially useful for former ITT Tech students this semester since ITT Tech closed on short notice in September. “ITT closed their doors in the middle of our semester,” said Margaret Hvatum, Chair of the Business and Information Systems Department at Meramec. “And that’s made it more difficult for students to find appropriate classes.” Johnson said about 50 students have reached out to STLCC so far, and that there are students already enrolled this semester.
“I do not have an exact number,” Johnson said. “We are looking into finding that out through our Banner system. But we do know of several students that enrolled here at Meramec and also Forest Park through the IT Program. I believe there are three former ITT students that are enrolled in Chemistry, so that they can start the process of getting into our nursing programs.” Forest Park’s Chair of Information Systems, Brenda H.M. Kahan, said that the campus is working with about 20 students right now. Three of them are enrolled in late start classes at Forest Park since Network Engineering offers eight week courses, Kahan said. Johnson, Hvatum and Kahan expect many more former students of ITT to enroll in spring. “They started coming just in the same week that late-start classes began at Meramec,” Hvatum said. “And late-start classes, faculty don’t want them to join after the first week if it is a late start class because they go much more rapidly than a traditional 16-weeks class does. So it was still a little bit too late for many of those,” Hvatum said.
Johnson is excited for STLCC to be able to help some of these students out. “St. Louis will kind of get to understand that we offer the same current tech programs that some of these for-profit schools around here do, but obviously way better benefits pricewise and the exact same benefits if not more, career wise.” Background: ITT Technical Institute is no longer a college, said Johnson, who worked for ITT Tech prior to STLCC. “They closed their doors after there was a ruling with the federal government where they were no longer [able to] grant students federal funding to be able to attend school there,” Johnson said. “When all that happened, all the students were kind of left in the dark right before they were supposed to go back to school.” Johnson said the students were told less than a week before the semester should have started that the school was closed.
Continued on page 3
Story on page 9
Spotlight:
Missouri is the last state to implement a prescription drug monitoring program which prevents “doctor shopping”
Opinions:
Missouri n.
Ian Schrauth
America’s Drugstore “Missouri is ahead in a lot of things nationally, but in terms of protecting patients, it’s really, really poor form that that type of monitoring system hasn’t been set up and that so many of the protections that are set up have been delayed in comparison to other states.” Darci Schmidgall, Adjunct Professor of Sociology Story on pages 6 & 7
Manager at fast food restaurants deserve respect Sweating blood on every shift, does that sound like an easy job? Page 5
2 | News
Oct. 13, 2016
Missouri residents receive incorrect deadline
Voter Participation Center alerts 95,000 Missourians of Oct.8 deadline
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Stephen Buechter Staff Writer
The Missouri voter registration deadline for online, mail and in-person registration was Oct. 12. However, a group known as the Voter Participation Center, which is based out of Washington D.C., sent out mailings stating an incorrect voter deadline to some 95,000 Missourians, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. The mailings sent out by the group list the voter registration deadline as Oct. 8 instead of Oct. 12. The group claims it has sent out new postcards, though it is unsure how large an effect this mistake will have on the election. Political Science Professor Emily Neal said that the Democratic party is more likely to be affected by misinformation about the voter registration deadline than the Republican party, because those who are more mobile, such as students, commonly lean toward the Democratic party. “The fact that you’re a student means you’re highly mobile, so the likelihood of you getting mail in a timely manner because, you know, a lot of students will have an apartment that [they] keep
when [they are] at the University of Missouri in Columbia so [they] get some of [their] mail there, but then [they] also have a permanent address with [their] parents here in St. Louis City, so where is [the] voter registration notification being sent,” Neal said. Political Science Professor John Messmer had differing views on the matter of incorrect information about voter registration dates.
The reality is, the ones that we’re feeling sorry for, or the ones we want to feel sorry for, are the ones that well, they spent the year fooling around, and then suddenly ‘it’s Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton?
Maybe I need to get up and actually register to vote.’” It remains uncertain how large an effect this mistake will have on the election or who will be most affected by this mistake.
“I feel absolutely zero sympathy for someone who has not registered to vote.” John Messmer “I feel absolutely zero sympathy for someone who has not registered to vote,” Messmer said. “Why didn’t you register before the primaries? Why didn’t you register in time for the local elections? Now, granted, there might be a handful of people who needed to re-register because in between August primaries and this election Photo by: Katie Hayes they moved, but what percentage Political Science Professor Emily Neal discusses Missouri politics in her office in of the overall population did that? Business Administration.
Board of Trustees host open forum at William J. Harrison Education Center
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Katie Hayes Editor-in-Chief
The most recent Board of Trustees meeting was held at the William J. Harrison Education Center on Sept. 29, 2016. Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Paul Zinck presented the STLCC Tax Rate Hearing, which needed approval by Oct. 1. Administration recommended 21.85 cents for every 100 dollars of assessed property value in 2016. The tax rate is the third lowest of all community colleges in Missouri. The rate was approved. Eleven students, three Meramec campus police officers and the campus dispatcher were honored for assisting former Adjunct Professor Gene Rauscher in June during his Music Appreciation class after he collapsed. The ambulance was called and Rauscher is alive due to the actions of those honored at the meeting. In 2012, the STLCC Foundation adopted a three-year strate-
Photo by: Katie Hayes Students, three Meramec campus police officers and the Meramec campus police dispatcher are honored at the Sept. 29 Board of Trustees meeting.
EDITORS Katie Hayes Marie Schwarz Andrew Ameer Caroline Frank Ashley Biundo Missy Arneson Jordan Morris Ian Schrauth Shannon Philpott
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Opinions Editor Art & Life Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Graphics Editor Online Editor Faculty Adviser
STAFF Kiera Bolden Stephen Buechter James Claiborne Cornelious Jones Dalila Kahvedzic Lexie Keller Adam Moran Amanda Harris Erik Muschinske
Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer
www.meramecmontage.com
gic plan to raise $3 million in three years and exceeded their goal by 11 percent. In addition, STLCC Foundation increased employee participation from 11 percent to 31 percent. The STLCC Foundation waited to present another three-year strategic plan to align theirs with the one Chancellor Pittman unveiled Aug. 31 for 2017-20. Board Chair Joan McGivney thanked the STLCC Foundation for its work. Zinck spoke a second time during the meeting and announced that enrollment increased by 0.8 percent from last year. “At the end of July, we were concerned enrollment would decline by as much as 8 percent,” Zinck said. “We had faculty volunteer to call students to get them enrolled and keep them enrolled.” Pittman introduced Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Anthony Cruz at the meeting as well. The Board approved the Aug. 18 meeting minutes, which are now available online.
THE MONTAGE To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., 314-984-7955. Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessarily the views of St. Louis Community College, the board of trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. 314-984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free
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3 | News
4 13, 2016 Oct. Continued from page 1 Areas of Interest for ITT students: STLCC has over a 100 Technical Career and Education Programs, Johnson said. “ITT did not have as many. But a lot of their programs were similar or match the ones that we offer here [at STLCC].” Johnson said the major programs that ITT students are interested in are Information Systems or Network Security, Software Developer and Cyber Security. “There is also big interest in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Architectural Technology, Computer Aided Design and Construction Management,” Johnson said. Johnson said ITT students also show interest in Accounting, Business and Criminal Justice. Since ITT offered a nursing program, there are also students keen to transfer into STLCC’s Nursing Program. “Nursing is a very big one for a lot of the students that were close to completing their nursing degree and now are interested in transferring into our nursing program here at one of our campuses,” Johnson said.
“The chancellor and the whole school said ‘we want to help these students; let’s see what we can do.’” Brenda H.M. Kahan Transferrable credits: Kahan said prior to the closing of ITT Tech, STLCC did not accept credits from ITT Tech. But the special situation of ITT Tech closing led STLCC to change the rules. “The chancellor and the whole school said ‘we want to help these students; let’s see what we can do,’” Kahan said. In an interview with the National Public Radio, Chancellor Jeff Pittman said that STLCC is accepting up to 30 general education credit hours from ITT Tech. Hvatum and Kahan help for-
mer ITT students to find the right courses within their departments of Information Systems and Business Administration at Meramec and Forest Park. “We had a number of students [from ITT Tech] come in to find out what their options would be,” Hvatum said. “Some are interested in Software Development which we offer at the Meramec campus. Others are more interested in Network Engineering which is offered at the Forest Park campus. I’ve been trying to help them to find courses they can take here [at Meramec] because they can take some of the intro courses at either campus for either discipline and then take the more advanced courses at the campus where the programs [are] really offered.” Since ITT classes were not accredited by STLCC before the closing of ITT Tech, course content and grades play a role in placing the students into the right classes at STLCC. “I am looking at it based upon the courses that the students have completed and the grades that they got in these courses,” Hvatum said. “Because if you’ve taken a class and you’ve gotten a D it is not going to be the same amount of knowledge as if you would have received an A.” Hvatum has been able to help the students that have done well at ITT to get into some of the more advanced courses. “When there are some students coming who have not done well at ITT, sometimes we suggest they might be better off to take this particular course again so that they can learn the material more thoroughly,” Hvatum said. Enrollment for ITT students: The first point of contact for former students of ITT Tech at STLCC is Johnson. “[The process of enrolling] is the same as any student that wants to go to St. Louis Community College,” Johnson said. “But they do have some extra obstacles and questions. For number one the biggest one I had - at first they didn’t know how they will get their transcript. So we’ve kind of made a checklist that points out each specific point of what to do.” Johnson said there were a few
Graphic by: Jordan Morris Locations of closed ITT Technical Institutes with the four main campuses of STLCC. Johnson prognoses that not only the closest campuses (MC and FV) will profit from the closing, but also FP because every campus offers different possiblities for former ITT students. things ITT Tech students could do prior to signing up for classes. “You can complete the application online, making sure that when you go see an advisor you have your unofficial transcripts or grades from ITT so that we are able to see what classes … could count or not count towards [a] degree here at STLCC,” Johnson said. STLCC’s Florissant Valley campus hosted an open house in September for ITT students. Approximately 16 to 20 students showed up, Johnson said. “Florissant Valley put an awesome program together for the students,” said Johnson. “They had every department represented. When you went upstairs they had instructors and program coordinators and chairs from each of the highlighted programs that
were offered through ITT that kind of matched up with St. Louis Community College programs.” Future sights: Both Meramec and Forest Park have plans to host open houses in November. “We’re having an open house in November here at Forest Park to reach out again,” Kahan said. “I think there might be a time lapse, you know, from the shock. I mean if you imagine getting that email saying ‘it’s over’ and then the shock of what that means of somebody who is almost three quarter - almost finished - to a program [that] in a sense no longer exists. I think there is a shock factor. … So we’re reaching out to them in November,” Kahan said. Hvatum said that as of now there are no plans to increase faculty in Information Services, despite the fact that there is already more demand than faculty available. However, Johnson said that if enrollment numbers increase faster than expected, plans could change. “Getting more people enrolled would obviously show that we need more full-time faculty and [we would] probably get it faster than if our enrollment … just slowly increases,” Johnson said.
Montage Podcast
Photo by: Marie Schwarz Margaret Hvatum (left) and Diana Johnson (right) have been helping ITT students to find appropriate classes to continue their degree at STLCC. ITT students who are interested in transferring to STLCC should get in contact with Johnson.
For this topic a podcast is available. Go to
Me r a m e c Mon t a g e . c om
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4 | Opinions
Oct. 13, 2016
Movies with Missy:
Graphic by: Jordan Morris
Students need more access to healthy choices, not fast food Exposure to fast food and sodas is counterproductive
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Marie Schwarz Managing Editor
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just started to redefine ‘healthy,’ the bigger problem seems to be the loss of control when people get hungry. I think everybody knows to a certain extent that fast food and sodas are not good to be consumed on an everyday basis. However, looking around and seeing these numerous fast food chains and endless long aisles in the grocery stores promoting fast food and sodas, I totally get why Americans deal with obesity and cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) so much. I moved over here from Germany roughly two years ago. And as much as I love to live here, the eating habits and attitudes toward food and drink choices, really bother me. In Germany, there are far fewer fast food chains, and therefore, a lot less access to fast food. Don’t get me wrong, Germans drink sodas, eat fatty burgers, and, hell yeah French fries just as Americans do. But overall, Germans are not exposed to the number of bad choices about a healthy
diet like many are in the United States. It starts with huge grocery stores like Schnuck’s and Walmart. When I walked into a Schnuck’s for the first time, I was impressed with how many choices I had only for a pack of chips. To me it feels like if I want to keep up a healthy diet, I have to put so much more effort in than a person who really doesn’t care what to eat and drink. To eat healthy, I need to prepare my food at home and take it with me, and I need to make sure that I have enough to get me through the day. Because if I get hungry, my attitude towards a healthy diet goes down the drain. A fatty burger looks just so attractive on a billboard. And these billboards seem to be everywhere when I’m hungry. Another thing is that it looks so much more expensive to keep up a healthy diet. In the grocery store, an XXL-package of chips looks so cheap compared with a small pack of strawberries. It’s a no brainer that I definitely get more for less if I buy the chips instead of the fruit. And I mean students are known for their chronic shortage of money, so prices play a role in what students buy. There should be less options of fast food and more choices towards healthy foods in general in the United States. Yes, everybody has the choice what to put in their mouth, so the argument ‘just don’t eat it’ is legitimate. But hu-
mans are creatures of habit, and it’s not easy to break a bad habit by being exposed to it several times a day. Sometimes, I really wish there would only be fruits and vegetables within my grasp when I’m hungry, and not the cheap and easy bag of chips. It would prevent me from making another bad food choice because I am definitely not myself when I’m hungry —as Mars is already successfully promoting for their chocolate bar, Snickers. I don’t want to see the advertisement of a burger or any other unhealthy choice, all I want to see when I am hungry is a delicious healthy food option. Because they exist, whereas fast food chains
“Humans are creatures of habit, it’s not easy to break a bad habit by being exposed to it several times a day.” want to make people believe the only option hungry people have is fast food. The FDA is continuing to redefine what is healthy, but if people are constantly exposed to so many unhealthy food choices, there is no way the efforts of the FDA will result in reducing chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and CVDs.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
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Missy Arneson Copy Editor
I love fantasy movies. People turning into birds? Kids with crazy and terrifying powers? A family’s past shrouded in mystery? Sign me up. So when I saw the ads for the newest Tim Burton film, I had to jump at it. “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is centered on the life of Jake Portman, and his discovery of those who are called Peculiars — people with special powers and abilities. The story unfolds as the camera follows Jake, revealing a lust for immortality, romance and a plot most lethal. He must save Peculiar children from killer beasts while discovering the truth about his family’s past, and his own life. The film was enjoyable: the characters were strong and likeable, the camera work was fascinating and the story was intriguing. There were points that could have been better, such as the too-quick pace at the beginning of the movie, but it was overall a good film. “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” was somewhat lacking in diversity — Samuel L. Jackson played the only black character, who was the villain. While I’m far more interested in someone’s acting ability than the color of their skin, there are extremely talented actors of a multitude of ethnicities out there that could have made for a great addition to the film. Finally, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” asks an interesting question: is it better to live forever young and safe, or to experience the world and grow old with all the risks associated with life? It may seem kind to never experience the pain of change, but is it really living? Missy says: 3.5/5 stars.
5 | Opinions
4 13, 2016 Oct.
Managerial positions aren’t so easy Managers work hard, sweat blood and they deserve respect
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Ian Schrauth Online Editor
Many people think it’s easy to be a manager at a fast food restaurant like Taco Bell, but they’re incorrect. It’s more difficult than most people think to be a manager at Taco Bell, or any general manager. If corporate makes a surprise visit, there are intense rules that must be followed by the book, with no exceptions. Workers, who may or may not be as dedicated to the job as the manager, must follow the same rules so that they don’t look like a bad store and get in trouble with corporate. Coming from a guy who has worked at Taco Bell for almost three years, I have seen a lot of managers get stressed over their job because people are just angry. I once had a manager who was stressed just about 98 percent of the time. I do not remember
a time with her that she was not stressed. She had to count all of the food in the back, she had to do a lot of work on the computer, cook food, and many more tasks before the start of her shift, and after the store closes. These tasks may seem very easy to do, but in reality, the job is hard. I mean, would people like to do constant work and not stop until the manager closes the store? Sometimes at five in the morning? And when things don’t work correctly, it makes it worse.
the responsibilities and time commitments. I don’t drive, and I’m also in school, and since I would work more hours as a manager, I wouldn’t have time to be a college student. Some managers don’t have an education, sometimes because they can’t afford school, and their only employment option is the job
they have. They’re stressed about being stuck in their job, and how hard their job actually is. Overall, being a manager may seem like the easiest job in the world, but in reality, they’re sweating blood on every shift. The idea that managers are lazy just isn’t right — they work hard, and deserve some respect for it.
“Being a manager may seem like the easiest job in the world, but in reality they’re sweating blood on every shift.” I recall a time when we had to close someone’s money drawer, and it would not let it clock the person out, even when the person was all clear. We called the help line, and things just got worse and worse, even to the point where food cost was going down because the computer was not letting us put anything in. I do not think that I could ever be a manager because all of
A sober escape to a stranger world
Graphic by : Ian Schrauth
‘Stranger Things:’ a throwback to the 1980s and certified gold
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Cornelious Jones Staff Writer
The story starts in a small Indiana town. In the first episode a young boy named Will goes missing. His mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) is at loss by the kidnapping — but wait is that her son she can hear in the walls of her home? Joyce takes an interest in colorful lights and can hear things coming from the walls, making her sanity questionable. Chief Hopper (David Harbour) the small-town Sheriff is able to empathize with Joyce but can’t understand what’s driving her strange behavior toward the whereabouts of her son. Joyce has an older son Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) who really enjoys photography. Jonathan wants to find his brother but he just can’t figure out where he could have gone. It’s not easy on Jonathan to see his mother in such a state. Meanwhile Will’s closest friends Dustin, Mike and Lucas try to find him. The boys stumble upon a young girl by the name of Eleven. Eleven is such an incredible piece of the story. She is powerful and gifted, she is as strong as Thor, and not even 5 feet tall.
Eleven is determined to stay hidden for as long as she can. Mike gives her shelter in his basement. The show leaves viewers wondering what happened to Eleven. What would this excellent thriller be without a secret government building doing off-therecord experiments? Dr. Brenner, played wonderfully by Matthew Modine, is in charge of this secret
government building. There’s another world inside of our world in “Stranger Things.” This other world is not so easy to figure out. How can you go to the other side, how can you come back and how did this world get here all baffle the viewer. There’s so much mystery to “Stranger Things.” All the characters on this show are not just likeable but lovable, especially
Barb, another character who disappears like Will. I found myself understanding the storylines very well. The teen love, the missing son, the secret government experiments, the voices in the wall. Eleven and Chief Hopper put on some standout performances in this show. The show takes place in the late 1980s and I can recall childhood memories from that time, so it makes the show especially entertaining for me. I really liked the scenes where the boys were riding their bikes around town in a group of four. I remember riding my bike around town with a group of ten or more kids sometimes — it was the eighties, that’s how we rolled. The show also has so many hints to the early 1980s hits like “The Goonies,” “E.T.” and “The Twilight Zone.” “Stranger Things” is like a break from reality. Entertainment done right is an escape from the monotony of work, society, taxes, bias and struggles. “Stranger Things” has all these attributes. Entertainment has always been a sober escape for me in this chaotic world. I enjoyed “Stranger Things” mostly because it opens a window to a forgotten decade that I was child in. There’s so much mystery to “Stranger Things.” All the characters on this show are not only likeable but lovable. With Halloween being right around the corner I implore you to check out this show. It is certified gold in my book.
6 | Spotlight
Oct. 13, 2016
Missouri n. America’s
Drug overdose is the leading cause of m
Katie Hayes Editor-in-Chief
Missouri, the only state not to implement a statewide prescription drug monitoring program, is known to rest of the country as ‘America’s Drugstore.’ Forty-nine states currently have statewide programs in place to prevent “doctor shopping.” Missouri is the last state to implement a prescription drug monitoring program at the state level. However, St. Louis County began tracking the distribution of prescription drugs in March. St. Louis City followed suit at the end of May and St. Charles County approved a prescription drug monitoring program on Sept. 27. Prescription opioids are considered the gateway drug to heroin, which is also an opioid. Simply put, prescription opioids are medications that relieve pain, such as the brand names Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet. These prescriptions are sometimes called narcotics. “Opioids are all derived from the poppy plant,” said Darci Schmidgall, adjunct professor of sociology who currently teaches the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse class at Meramec. “Throughout the late 19th century primarily, there were all these technological advances that made it possible for what is relatively speaking harmless — well I shouldn’t say harmless, but in com-
parison to what modern day heroin is, very harmless — naturally occurring opium plant and now you have these drugs that have been synthesized and extracted and chemical processes implemented to make them more powerful pain blockers.” Schmidgall said the effective dose to lethal dose ratio is very high for opioids, which means the amount required to feel the effects is closer to the amount it takes to overdose than it is for other drugs, such as marijuana.
“I think this state has a culture of limited government, perhaps even to a stronger degree than that sort of political culture nationwide.” Emily Neal “Missouri is ahead in a lot of things nationally, but in terms of protecting patients, it’s really, really poor form that that type of monitoring system hasn’t been set up and that so many of the protections that are set up have been delayed in comparison to other states,” Schmidgall said. Every bill proposed for a statewide prescription drug monitor-
Opioids n.
ing program has previously been blocked because of legislators and privacy concerns. “I think this state has a culture of limited government, perhaps even to a stronger degree than that sort of political culture nationwide, which says we should have limited government,” Political Science Professor Emily Neal said. “I think for a long time this issue has been framed as one of personal freedom and that ‘why should the government be tracking which doctor I’m going to’ but there may be, and I think in this case there is, a very real public health reason to perhaps track this information because we know the very real effects of prescription drug addiction.” Neal said she believes part of the reason Missouri is the last state to mandate a prescription drug monitoring program is because of an increased polarization and an increased need for “conservative purity.” “There are these conservative groups, these conservative interests groups, that are sort of interested in developing these kinds of perfect conservative pledges where they ask legislators to sign on to a pledge saying that ‘I will never vote to get more government in your life,’” Neal said. “So I feel like some of this stems from the fact that there are legislators, conservative legislators, in the general assembly who would look at this as a common sense policy, but feel like they
Opioids are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus. Info from National Institute on Drug Abuse
are being forced to walk this very narrow line, that ‘if I dare to do something that might be good for public health but goes against this pure conservative principle, then I’m going to be put on a hit list to get kicked out of office.’” Neal said some of the most negative political ads come from outside groups, which could target republicans who ran on a conservative platform for increasing government presence by having a prescription drug monitoring program. “I think that [legislators] are under increasing pressure like I said to really adhere to this line,” Neal said. “And I think finally, because we are the last state, it’s like now it’s sort of embarrassing and
“Heroin is actually much more easily attainable than prescriptions.” Darci Schmidgall
I think the general public would be supportive of a lot of this, but it’s these outside groups that I think are really putting a high amount of pressure, so much so that legislators forgo common sense solutions in the name of ideological purity and that’s a problem.”
Doctor Shopping n. Seeking multiple treatment providers to procure prescription medications illicitly. Info from Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience
7 | Spotlight
Oct. 13, 2016
Drugstore
accidental death in the United States Schmidgall said sociologists have not seen negative outcomes from prescription drug monitoring programs in other states. “It’s kind of ironic because there are so many forms of social control that sociologists would just be like ‘that’s problematic, it’s not a good idea, it’s implemented in a biased manner,’ but all of the state registries to track that sort of thing, we don’t look at it that way,” Schmidgall said. “We don’t look at it as being negative because we haven’t seen it as being problematic in other states where it’s been implemented.” The monitoring programs, which collect data from dispensers, report the information to authorized users. Access to patient information is determined by state law, but most states allow practitioners and pharmacists to access their patients’ information. “Because of the lack of monitoring it is going to be easier at least for patients to fall through the cracks [in Missouri],” Schmidgall said. “I mean you can give doctors all of the benefit of the doubt that they want what is best for their clients, but they may not even potentially realize that their clients have already been getting opioids from other places or have a history of seeking out opioid medication and therefore they’re not going to have the red flags that they would have elsewhere.” Although many people who use
opioids alternate between prescriptions and heroin, prescription opioids are considered the gateway to heroin. Heroin gives the user similar effects to prescription opioids, but is less expensive.
medicine cabinet and you can’t get access to those as easily, then the natural next step is oftentimes heroin.” Drug overdose, driven by opioid addiction, is the leading cause
Missouri is the only state without a statewide prescription drug monitoring program
“Heroin is actually much more easily attainable than prescriptions — like legitimate prescriptions for opioids,” Schmidgall said. “After you have tried prescription opioids because, you know, maybe somebody’s parent had them in the
of accidental death in the United States. “To me, it’s a necessary trade off when you have a public health endangerment versus pure, 100 percent personal privacy,” Neal said. “And, you know, the govern-
ment has to protect privacy, but it also has to protect public health.” Although Missouri state legislators have yet to pass a bill for a prescription drug monitoring program, St. Louis County, St. Louis City and, most recently, St. Charles County have implemented their own programs to track prescription distribution. “On the one hand theoretically if you have county control over the program, the county might be better able to tailor the program to the needs of the specific area,” Neal said. “On the other hand, when you do that — and you disperse authority like that — if there is a problem and something breaks down who is ultimately responsible? At what point would the state step in, say the county program bottoms out or something goes wrong?” Although Missouri is the last state to approve a prescription drug monitoring program, legislators continue to put forward bills proposing a program which suggests Missouri is heading toward adopting a monitoring program. “I would argue that the fact that 49 out of the 50 states have already done this shows that we’re arriving at a public opinion consensus,” Neal said. “If 49 out of the 50 states have agreed through their democratic processes that this is a good idea, then I think Missouri is an outlier and we need to be brought inline with the rest of the country.”
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) n.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are state-run electronic databases used to track the prescribing and dispensing of controlled prescription drugs to patients. Info from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
8 | Art & Life
Oct. 13, 2016
‘Noises Off’ plays at Meramec m
Missy Arneson Copy Editor
The Saint Louis Community College-Meramec Theatre Department performed “Noises Off”, a farcical comedy by Michael Frayn on Wednesday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 9. The show was directed by Theatre Professor Keith Oliver, and the set was designed by Theatre Manager Rick Willmore. The play opens with an older woman, Mrs. Clackett, talking on the phone with a friend. The play seems normal as she talks about a royal proceeding and sardines until the director cuts her off, issuing a stage direction. The play is quickly shown to not be a normal play, but rather a play within a play. Mrs. Clackett is actually an actress named Dotty (Mary Robert) who is rehearsing for a performance of “Nothing On” with her fellow actors and actresses, and the director, LLoyd (Kurt Knoedelseder), is trying to have the play ready to be performed the next day. More characters make entrances as the first act continues,
each failing to follow the script. The entire cast is introduced rapidly: Garry plays Roger (student Chaz Fox), Brooke plays Vicki (student Hannah Mihulka), Frederick plays Phillip, and later a Sheik (STLCC Alumni Evan Fornachon), Belinda plays Flavia (student Madeline Finn), and Selsdon plays the Burglar (David Hawley). There are several characters who don’t have acting roles within the play: Lloyd, the director; Poppy, the Assistant Stage Manager
(student Lily Newsham); and Tim, the Stage Manager (Brian Finn). Despite not having roles in “Nothing On”, they are almost constantly present throughout all three acts. As the play continues into the second act, the set turns around to reveal the dysfunction behind the scenes: Lloyd tells Tim to run out and purchase flowers and alcohol so the director can convince Brooke to stay, much jealousy occurs between characters, and the cast struggles to perform the play.
The third act has as many misadventures, so much so that Dotty stops playing Mrs. Clackett and simply provides her own commentary on the events. The audience laughed through most of the show. The laughter grew louder during the second and third acts, when the show “Nothing On” falls to pieces, finally ending with Flavia calling for the last line. There is one final mishap: Selsdon can’t remember his final line, so everyone calls it together.
Photos by: Erik Muschinske Left: Mary Robert and Lily Haversham listen to Kurt Knoedelseder read stage directions. Center: Madeline Finn and Evan Fornachon enter the scene. Right: Chaz Fox and Hannah Mihulka exchange a passionate glance.
Phi Theta Kappa hosts induction ceremony
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Caroline Frank Art & Life Editor
Phi Theta Kappa is an International Honor Society that aims to recognize students for their academic achievements and encourage them to excel in their community. To be eligible to join PTK, students must complete at least 12 credit hours at his or her campus and hold a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Once a student has met this criteria, he or she must pay a onetime fee of $95 to join, which allows them to access automatic scholarships from several local universi-
ties, including Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Saint Louis University, and Missouri Baptist University.
Student Center cafeteria. One of the new members described the perks of being involved in PTK. “We can experience commu-
PTK held an induction ceremony for new members of the Xi Lambda chapter on Oct. 5 at Saint Louis Community College-Meramec, at 7 p.m. in the
nity college more fully and become more active within our community,” Shafiq Alsayed Allaham said. Another student described the financial benefits for those who are
members of PTK. “You get scholarships to most universities,” Aathif Shamail, Vice President of Membership said. “Being part of Phi Theta Kappa trains me for leadership roles and future jobs.” PTK sets high standards for its participants, providing opportunities for them to perform acts of service and take on honorary roles of leadership. “There’s a lot of responsibility and accountability that comes with it, but [there is] so much to learn and gain from it,” Emily Fischer, President of Xi Lambda said. “The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”
Humans of Meramec
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“[Journaling] was instilled to me when my mother homeschooled me during the summer ... First I hated it, then I’m like ‘This is pretty fun!’” Dennis Allen
Photo by: Amanda Harris
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Oct. 13, 2016
‘Theater is my thing’
9 | Art & Life
Olivia Toombs pursues her passion for stage management
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Caroline Frank Art & Life Editor
Olivia Toombs, who is in her third year at Meramec, has been involved in theater throughout her time here. She has taken fine arts classes and collaborated with Michelle Rebollo on multiple directing showcases and productions. Tombs is currently working toward her associate degree in General Transfer Studies but plans to get a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater with an emphasis in Stage Management. “I kind of found my creative home with stage management … I
see organization as an art,” Toombs said. Tombs said she originally became interested in this area of art because a close family friend of hers was heavily involved in it. “She seemed to be having a lot of fun with it so I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go for it,’” Toombs said. After auditioning for a couple school plays, a teacher of hers asked if she wanted to be a Student Assistant Director. Toombs described this position as “a middle-school version of stage management.” Once Toombs was in high school, she began working with props and exploring other aspects of theater.
“One of the girls that used to do props with me began doing stage management, and she kind of coached me into that,” Toombs said. “My director also really pushed me to do [stage management].” While in high school, Toombs’ tech director encouraged her to attend the International Thespian Society state convention in Missouri. After going, Toombs said that was the first time she thought, “This is something I want to do for the rest of my life.” Toombs said she enjoys the interaction that goes on during the production of a show. “One of the things somebody
“I see organization as an art.” Olivia Toombs
Photo by: Caroline Frank
Olivia Toombs spends time in the student center quad planning her next show.
told me when I told them I wanted to do stage management was, ‘You are the head of communication’ … And that is so true. I have to keep the director updated; I have to keep the tech director updated; I have to keep my crew updated; I have to keep my cast updated.” Toombs described the amount of people involved in the collaboration behind each show. “That is one of the things I really love about stage management,” Toombs said. “You’re not just in one little area of the creative process. You talk to everyone; you learn from everyone. I think that’s my favorite part about it – the communicative process of it all.” After every rehearsal, Toombs types up a report covering what was gone over and what still needs
to be done. Toombs then sends the report to everyone involved with the production. Toombs has worked behind the scenes with Rebollo on the following productions at Meramec: “Nickel and Dimed”, “Rhinoceros”, and “Violet”. Rebollo described Toombs’ work ethic behind the scenes. “Olivia possesses the important quality of patience as a stage manager, and that has taken her a long way in the short time that I have worked with her,” Rebollo said. “She is respectful to all actors and theater personnel and realizes how difficult it is for actors to prepare and perform.” Rebollo went on to describe Toombs’ personality while working on a show. “Olivia always has a smile on her face and is so helpful to everyone she meets,” Rebollo said. “It has been a pleasure working with her on a variety of plays. I will miss her greatly when she moves on, as she has been one of the best Production Stage Managers that I have worked with.” Toombs said she is planning on transferring next fall to Webster University, an art school in Portland, or Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, which has a BFA in Stage Management. “I like how art-based those communities are,” Toombs said. “They’re very progressive … the type of theater I want to do is very political … I very much believe that art should make a statement in any way that it’s presented.” She said her passion for theater comes from getting to watch the director bring to people what he or she really loves. “I’m just really driven for it,” Toombs said. “Theater is my thing.”
‘Simple breathing goes a long way’ Depression screening event stresses the importance of yoga
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Kiera Bolden Staff Writer
On Oct. 6, a quiet gathering took place on the Meramec campus comprised of two students, three faculty members and a yogi demonstrating breathing exercises. At 2:40 p.m. inside BA 105, an open room with a row of a dozen chairs faced a projector screen. A long table was decorated with stacks of brightly colored flyers detailing resources for various mental illnesses, another was covered in enough snacks and drinks for 40 mouths. A partition allowed for the depression screening to be performed in relative privacy. Despite the clinical nature of the event, the atmosphere is warm and unassuming. As the event is about to begin I sit in the back row and strike up a conversation with Claire Martin, a student attendance specialist, who directs me to psychology professor Jason Duchinsky. When asked about the benefits
of yoga, Jason Duchinsky from the Counseling Department stressed the importance of any physical activity, and reiterated that yoga, in particular, “makes it easier for us to fall asleep and stay asleep.” He said that college students, who are often faced with significant change and development, need remedies for anxiety, as the toll of financial and personal stress can be overwhelming. Fifteen minutes later, guest speaker and yoga instructor of four years, Madeline Gilje, arrived wearing a bright smile and a tank top that read “But First, Yoga.” Her advice for college students is simply to take advantage of school resources. “The good thing about living in our current time is that we have the Internet and everything is available,” Gilje said. “If you have minutes a day to Google simple meditation activities… some simple breathing, I think that really goes a long way.” Gilje’s presentation detailed
the principles of yoga, upon which thousands of years of tradition rests. Its foundation is meditation; the movements and poses such as downward dog, and consequently, the Lulu Lemon era of yoga came about, said Gilje. She recited mantras in sanskrit and requested that her audience mimic her breathing techniques. “You know, it used to be that in the 70s, you could work four hours a day at a part-time job to pay for college and now it’s 22 hours a day… which obviously, nobody can do,” Gilje said. “There’s so much in our lives that we’re not present with... It’s very easy to get overwhelmed.”
Photo by: Erik Muschinske
The Meramec Counseling Department provided information about mental health at the Oct. 6 Depression Screening Day for students and staff.
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11 | Sports
Oct. 13, 2016
Upcoming Games
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My biggest accomplishments [would be] getting a full scholarship to play soccer in a different country and environment, playing and training with some of the top teams in England. Coming to the United States has been the biggest accomplishment so far and many more to come. Chris Eduardo, Midfield.
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Oct. 12 Men’s soccer: at South Western Illinois College 4pm
Oct. 15
Photo by: Ashley Biundo
Softball ends preseason with a hit LEFT: Sarah Goers, first baseman steps up to the plate.
Women’s soccer: MCCBlue River at Meramec 1pm
RIGHT: Eva Rasey, first baseman stretches out to catch the ball during the game.
Men’s soccer: MCC- Blue River at Meramec 3pm Baseball: Harris-Stowe College at Meramec 11am
Oct. 16
Photos by: Erik Muschinske
Men’s Basketball: at University of Central Missouri TBA
Oct. 18
I
? g n i r r e f s n a r T n i d e t s e r e t n –St. Louis
issouri University of M
Women’s soccer: at South Western Illinois College 4pm Women’s Volleyball: Webster University at home 7pm
Men’s soccer: Lindenwood- Belleville at Meramec 4pm
Oct. 20
Transfer
Oct. 19
Women’s soccer: Lewis and Clark Community College at Meramec 4pm
Women’s Volleyball: Lewis and Clark Community College at Meramec 6pm (Schedule may change)
Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Mondays & Thursdays Call 314-984-7575 for an appointment 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Advising Center – Clark Hall
To learn more about our Off-Campus Degree Completion Program in Business at the South County Education Center, contact Sue Bateman at 636-481-3243 or batemans@umsl.edu.
CHOOSE Serious education. Serious value.SM
Christy Hummel Transfer Specialist askchristy@umsl.edu 314-516-6943 “I can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”
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12 | Sports
Oct. 13, 2016
Archers Night at the Ball Park m
Katie Hayes Editor-in-Chief
The STLCC Archers played the Central Baptist College Mustangs from Conway, Arks. at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1 for Archers Night at the Ball Park. The game took place after the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. The Archers are currently in their preseason and played their eighth game of their preseason at Busch Stadium. “It was a great experience,” Freshman Jack Kane, who plays second base said. “It’s just a blessing to be out here. It’s so crazy now that you’re playing on a field that you watched many professional baseball players that you looked up to. It’s just unbelievable.” Although the Archers lost to the Mustangs 5-2, they still held high hopes for their season in the spring. “I’ve got high expectations,” player Zach Hunter said. “I mean, we’re going to win it all.” To view multimedia coverage of Archers Night at the Ball Park, go to meramecmontage.com.
Photos by: Ashley Biundo