THE
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Black & Blue
Story on pg. 3
Illustration by Jason Waters
VOLUME 51, ISSUE 4 | THURSDAY OCT. 15, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com
NEWS
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Story and Photos by Katie Hayes
STLCC alumni discuss lecture series with Kristen Peterson, right.
Around the world to Meramec Photojournalist Ray Marklin was a guest speaker for the third annual Peterson Lecture Series on Oct. 13. The sponsor, Kristen Peterson who is an alumn of
STLCC, was in attendance as well as other alumni, students and the general public. “People have different customs. I travel because I want to experience something
different. I want to know what excites people,” Marklin said. Marklin is a St. Louis native and attended STLCC-Florissant Valley and STLCC-Meramec.
He considered his photography professor at Florissant Valley his mentor, he said. St. Louis is his home base and where the majority of his clients are.
“Keep pressing on, get a different angle and keep practicing your skill,”Marklin said when asked what advice he would have given to himself while attending STLCC.
choices are collecting items for a local organization, volunteering at a local organization and assembling military care packages. “I am hoping that we will have gotten all of our votes in by Oct. 17, when we will be having our district-wide NTHS planning meeting,” Archambaul said. NTHS offers NTHS clubs, or chapters, the opportunity to win the Silver Star of Excellence Community Service Award. The award is given to the NTHS chapter that recognizes a need in its community and then takes the steps to meet the need, according to their website. NTHS evaluates the project by its creativity, quality, NTHS membership involvement and its impact on the community. Winning this award is a main goal, Johnson said. “Our main goal is to get involved and help service our community,” said Johnson. By coming together as
an organization and putting in the hours and the hard dedication students can earn this award, Johnson said. “I believe our NTHS students will win the Silver Star of Excellence Community award because we have a perfect combination of our highest achievers and leaders of the Career and Technical Education programs here on campus. Our members are chosen because of hard work and dedication to their program of study,” Johnson said. At the start of each semester, eligible students receive an email invitation to join NTHS, Johnson said. Qualifications are a 3.5 cumulative GPA and six completed credit hours in the student’s Career and Technical Education program. For questions about NTHS, contact Diana Johnson at 314-984-7586, djohnson581@ stlcc.edu or at BA 123F.
New club president brings changes to campus National Technical Honor Society expands at Meramec Katelyn Ericson Staff Writer
At the start of its second year at STLCC-Meramec, the National Technical Honor Society has doubled in size and is preparing to organize its first community service project of the year. Since it began in spring 2015, the Meramec NTHS club has grown from 10 to 23 members NTHS Academic Advisor Diana Johnson said. New members from all STLCC campuses will be inducted in November at Forest Park, although the date has not been finalized yet. “I believe club membership has increased due to my efforts of promoting the club through emails and visiting a number of CTE classrooms,” said Johnson. NTHS is for students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. According to their website, NTHS has been recognizing “outstanding student achievement in career and technical education” for more than 30 years. As stated on their website, part of NTHS’s mission is promoting educational excellence and enhancing members’ career opportunities. “I hope that my participation in NTHS will help me to demonstrate my conscientiousness, initiative, and ability to work effectively as part of a team,” president of Meramec’s NTHS branch
EDITORS
Keeandra Archambault said. This is her first club leadership position, although in the past she has been a member of high school and college clubs, Archambault said. She is pursuing an Associates of Applied Science in Horticulture. On Sept. 16, the club’s leadership positions were filled. In addition to Archambault, Shawna Glynn will act as vice president, Anne Scammon as secretary and Steven Geiger as treasurer for the 2015-2016 school year. NTHS gets students involved within their community, builds their skills and gives them experience networking with others to prepare for their career. It’s a great resume builder, Johnson said. “NTHS can prepare anyone for their career because we encourage the pursuit of higher education and cultivate excellence
cause NTHS members to operate most effectively, Archambault said. “I hope that I can help members to remember that the National Technical Honor Society exists to recognize their excellence, create opportunities for them [to] show off their skills and to help them succeed in whatever it is they want to do,” Archambault said. “I would like for our members to gain a strengthened sense of social effectiveness and to develop positive relationships with members of our community.” To show different organizations in our society how important they are and to let them know how much they mean to the community is the kind of activities the branch would like to engage in, Geiger said. At the next meeting, members will choose the club’s
“Our main goal is to get involved and help service our community.”
in today’s world. I want to see us build strong relationships between NTHS and the business world,” Treasurer Steven Geiger said. Not sweating the small stuff will
fall community service project, Johnson said. Students are voting on the type of project through an online poll created by Archambault. As of Oct. 6, the top three
MONTAGE STAFF
Mike Alivernia Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-in-Chief Jason Waters Production Manager James Claiborne Jonah Durbin Katie Leicht Art & Life Editor Katelyn Ericson Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor Tyler Fuson Christian Hargas Sports Editor Daren Hembrador Marissa Diercks Graphics Editor Jason Jamison Alex White Photo Editor Link Johnson Katie Hayes Copy Editor Patrick Niehaus Shannon Philpott Faculty Adviser Toni Roberson Proud member of
Redwan Saeed Staff Writer Ashley Biundo Staff Writer Ashley Fulks Staff Writer Darren Grant Staff Writer Noreen D’Souza Staff Writer Lexi Keller Staff Writer Austin Schumann Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer
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THE MONTAGE To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., 314-9847955. 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
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BLACK AND BLUE T H E AT R E P E R F O R M A N C E
Friday October 9 at 7pm
NEWS
&BLUE
St. Louis Community College, Meramec goes “Black and Blue” Meramec Theatre Gitana Productions hits the STLCC-Meramec campus, discusses race relations and police perspective Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor
On Oct. 9, STLCC – Meramec partnered with Gitana Productions to bring “Black and Blue” to the stage in the Humanities East building. The play, which was written by Lee Patton Chiles and produced by Gitana Executive Director Ceclilia Nadal, discussed the issue of racial discrimination and the tension between police and the African - American community. Despite coming to Meramec more than a year after the death of Michael Brown, the play also chronicled his death and followed the nature of the media coverage that surrounded the events of Ferguson – including protests, community backlash and the assault on stationed officers. The idea to bring the production to the Meramec campus first came to Dean of Business and Communications Vernon Kays after seeing it performed at a museum with his wife, who is a professor at the University of Illinois - Springfield. Immediately, Kays said he found the play to be forthright and honest with a very powerful voice, and was impressed by the variety of perspective it offered. “Black and Blue”, unlike some productions with similar subject matter, incorporated monologues from the viewpoint of African American citizens without excluding the tensions faced by police officers. Instead, the scenes appealed to the audience’s emotion and called for critical thinking and reflection. According to the mission statement provided on the
FREE
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Presented by Gitana Productions
company’s website, Gitana Productions is an arts and education company which provides global healing through music, dance and drama in the St. Louis community. The company, which was founded by Nadal in 1996, also aims to elevate humanitarian efforts in a way that goes beyond race and culture, and has produced a broad range of music festivals, as well as plays that touch on subjects such as Darfur, domestic violence and the struggles of immigrants living in the city. “Bringing a special event such as ‘Black and Blue’ to campus requires a certain level of interest either through a club or sponsor,” Kays said. It also has to have an important enough topic to fund and promote, Kays said.The material covered in the play garnered the interest of the Improv Club, who acted as ushers, as well as faculty on campus — some of whom offered their students extra credit for attending. The play followed a number of different characters and featured a diverse cast of local actors, including talents from Garrett Bergfeld, Jeanitta Perkins and Daniel Johnson. With musical additions from recording artist and spoken word performer DYCE, the story centered on plotlines involving an interracial couple, a workpressured cop, and the friendship between a senior officer and a young African American citizen. It consisted of two acts split by an intermission and had a combined total of 26 different scenes. “[Plays such as ‘Black and Blue’
BLACK The relationship between the police and many in the black community is a “black and blue“ bruise. Join us as we explore the causes and pathways to healing. The performance includes professional actors and Ferguson, Missouri, residents.
are] vital to the intellectual life of Ranger with St. Louis County, think about Ferguson and add my our college and campus,” said Kays. said that his son wasNon-Discrimination/Accommodations born the own personal opinions in there, I Statement: St. Louis Community is committed and equal were opportunities its up.” on the to non-discrimination think that people justinfed S tAccording . L o u i s Ctoo mthem uplay’s n i t y day C o l the l e g jury e t hverdict e College admissions, educational programs, activities and employment regardless of description Gitana Brown case wasreligion, sex, sexual Taylor, who hasorigin, tiesancestry, to both color, creed, orientation, national T h e a t r eona t the theM e r a mMichael ec Cam p u s Jr. race, age, disability, genetic information or status as adebate, disabled or Vietnam-era website, the 1 1play in the sides of the believes that 3 3 3 attempts B i g B e n d to R d . ,released, K i r k w o okeeping d , M O him veteran and shall take action necessary to ensure non-discrimination. For or concerns Michael relating to discrimination or sexual harassment, open up discussion and create hospital aftermath Brown’s death acted as a 3 1 4 - 9 8and 4 - 7out 5 6 4of theinformation contact William Woodard, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, a fuller understanding 2of0 1 5 that Ferguson. catalyst forneeds, people to share their If you have accommodation please contact the P R O G R Aoccurred M S / E V E N T S in 314-539-5374. racial conflict not only in St. “I felt out of place.Meramec I feltTheatre: kind314-984-7594 experiences and their disparities. Louis but across the country. of lost not being up there with my “Black and Blue”, which A panel on race relations brethren in blue,” Hepner said. aimed to educate the audience, immediately followed the Night Watch Homicide ended with a scene called “Treasure production and featured Supervisor and St. Louis City Box for the Future” in which the speakers such as police officer police officer of 15 years, Heather cast appealed for the eradication of Heather Taylor, criminal justice Taylor, was also a panelist. racial discrimination through slow program coordinator Michael “As a police officer, I have and steady changes as a society. Hepner, and STLCC-Meramec friends of course who are cops,” In order for there to be students Kathryn Turek, Pascal Taylor said. “But I’m also an equality, the cast said, change Ukrebur and Brianna Hamilton. African American. I grew up in must occur not only in the Hepner, who is also a Park the inner-city…so for me, when I city but in the entire country.
New Eligibility Requirements for A+ Scholarship Recipients Effective Fall 2015 Katie Hayes Copy Editor
The Coordinating Board for Higher Education adopted a new plan of action on Sept. 3 to prevent the exhaust of funds of the A+ Scholarship Program. Students receiving funds are required to complete 12 credit hours for the fall 2015 semester and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Previously, students were able to enroll in 12 hours, withdraw from a class and the class would still be covered financially. The changes to the program are effective for the 2015-2016 academic year, but may be permanently implemented. “Over the years, there has been an increase in A+ students and a decrease in funding,” Regina Blackshear, district-wide Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships said. “We went into state reserves last year. We won’t be doing that this year.” Last year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education planned to fund all but one credit hour for students in the A+ Scholarship Program.
After STLCC stepped up to fund the last credit hour, the Missouri Department of Higher Education paid for the last hour. “[The Missouri Department of Higher Education] indicated that they are seeing quite a few students using the A+ Program,” Nicole Moore, director of financial services at STLCC-Meramec said. “So they are trying to come up with ways to make sure that
“It provides students with the incentive to complete,” Kim Fitzgerald, vice president of student affairs at STLCC-Meramec said. “Our job right now is to help students with completion. Folks in Missouri are very focused on completion and completion rates and we would like to see these students finish what they start. We like to see them complete associate’s degrees. Our job is
“When it comes to state mandates, we don’t always get to choose. ”
they are effectively and efficiently using the money. It’s designed to be used for credits that students complete, so that’s why they’re putting in that caveat, which students should be doing.” Conversation began in May 2015 to adopt the new plan.
to make sure we have provided students with all the resources that will help them with completion and help them be successful.” These state-wide changes were made after the fall 2015 semester began. This means that unless students registered
for late-start classes, neither academic nor financial aid advisors were able to tell students. “When it comes to state mandates, we don’t always get to choose,” Fitzgerald said. “It is difficult for the people who have entered into essentially what would be a contract with the state of Missouri that says ‘this is what’s going to happen.’ Then for those rules to change [mid-semester] is a challenge. So our job is to help students with that challenge.” Without completing a minimum of 12 credit hours with a 2.0 grade point average, students in the program are ineligible to receive scholarship funds in spring 2016. “It’s not a major difference, but definitely something to be aware of,” Moore said. “I think [the changes] are great. Most of your A+ students are here on a mission — they’re dedicated students. I think these are quality students who will not have a problem meeting this requirement. If students do have questions or are concerned, it’s definitely important that they talk to us if they’re [in the A+ Scholarship Program].” It’s too soon to determine if enrollment will be affected
by these changes, but STLCC is doing what they can to give students the tools they need to complete their education. “I’m hoping it doesn’t affect enrollment,” Blackshear said. “The majority of A+ students who drop classes usually pick up late start classes...This will be the first year we’ll be able to gauge that. We will see if it’s as beneficial as the state thinks it’s going to be.” The state designated more money to the fall 2015 semester than presumed necessary in hopes of a surplus of funds to use in spring 2016. “I think if we’re looking at enrollment in terms of recruitment, I don’t know [if it will change],” Fitzgerald said. “If we’re talking about enrollment in terms of retention, perhaps. Perhaps if we focus on completion, then that helps students be retained. So that we’re really looking at the retention and not how many students come in, but how many stay and meet their educational goals. My advice to students in A+ would be the same I have for all students: to focus on your academics and be as successful as you can be while you’re here.” Oct. 15, 2015
OPINIONS
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Space Funding
The importance of putting money towards space exploration and education Katie Hayes Copy Editor Katie Leicht Art & Life Editor
Student debt
An unnecessary evil Student debt: one of the most depressing topics among soonto-be and recent college grads. It is something that many students are not adequately prepared to take on, but almost everyone does. The average student accumulates $26,000 in debt, while one in 10 accumulates more than $40,000. The total amount of debt from student loans in the United States is $1.2 trillion. Although there are grants and scholarships that students aren’t required to pay back, sometimes they still aren’t enough to pay for tuition. People have committed suicide because they didn’t think they would ever be able to pay back their debt. When it gets to this point, shouldn’t we begin to look for solutions? High schools do not adequately prepare students for the fiscal responsibilities they take on after graduation. The closest class to preparing students for life after graduation is a Personal Finance class. Sure, there are guidance counselors, but they don’t help you make a plan to afford tuition. There are tons of programs for students to afford college, but organizing options and payment plans is confusing for anyone. It is especially confusing for someone who has recently turned 18. We’re told that if we get into a good school or one with a wellknown name, it will pay for itself. On the other hand, schools that don’t have the same reputation won’t help you secure employment. Worst of all, we are allowed to borrow large sums of money without the appropriate counseling to manage it and pay it back. We are basically set up for failure. What universities with large price tags don’t tell you, is that employers look more at your experience than the university you attended. There are instances when expensive universities are worth the money, but these cases are far and few between. I attended both the community college and the expensive, private university. While I learned a lot at the private university, it wasn’t worth what I was paying. In journalism in particular, education is listed at the bottom of your resume. It’s your publications and experience employers care about -- not where you attended college. Yes, education is important. Yes, you will make more money in the long-run if you get your degree; however, you do not need to go $100,000 in debt to get it. Although most people want to go straight from high school to college, taking time to evaluate what you want and how to afford it saves you time in the long-run. Oct. 15, 2015
The government loves to spend a taxpayer’s money — of that I am sure. What I’m starting to question is this: what exactly are they spending it on? Furthermore, what are they not spending it on? I think it is really heartbreaking to realize just how little the government cares about funding space travel and astronomy programs. It seems to me as if the government does not want to understand where we are cosmically. Maybe they have forgotten that our real address is the Milky Way Galaxy. I can understand that spending can only stretch so far, but I am worried that there will come a day when the government will regret their decision not to fund space programs that will educate us on the universe. Luckily, we have programs like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Program that conduct research about the wonders of outer space. Unfortunately, in spring 2015, NASA’s website announced the budget for its Earth Science Program was cut by the United States government by over $300
million. That budget cut was for research done on our planet, not to mention how much is not being spent on research for other space-related matters. Recently, the funding for space education has been cut drastically as well. According to NASA’s website, in 2014 the budget for space education was cut by $28 million, a 24 percent drop, making the budget $89 million. In theory, this seems like a large amount of funding for space education, but it really is not. Eighty-nine million dollars for one full year of space education is nothing but a drop of water in the ocean of funding. To me, this is beyond unacceptable. How can this be all the government is allowing to be spent on space education? Space is not something we should be ignoring. I truly believe most people do not realize that we are physically in space at this very moment in time. If the human race gets too wrapped up in pointless matters (social media, for example) then what does this say for our planet’s future — for the future of our Milky Way Galaxy? Unfortunately, our planet is something we are definitely taking for granted, especially since the government refuses
Illustration by Marissa Diercks
to put more towards funding space-related programs, education and explorations. It infuriates me that the government is putting more than half of the United States’ total mandatory spending into the military, according to nationalpriorities.org. Although I do agree it is important to have a strong military that is not the point; the point is that so many other areas of the United States are neglected, especially the funding for space. I believe in the near future, the government is going to have to realize they need to start putting more of the
nation’s budget into space travel, explorations and education. What will we do as a species when space begins to dictate the way we live, and we do not have the education to know what is happening? What happens when our ignorance permanently ruins the planet? The day something finally goes wrong here on Earth will be the day the government regrets its decisions on the country’s spending. The human race has the power to change this epidemic of ignorance, and I hope this day comes sooner rather than later – for the sake of the human race, our planet and our galaxy.
Pope Francis: the voice of a revolution or revelation? Redefining conservative Christianity Mike Alivernia Staff Writer
Pope Francis brought more than a penchant for Fiats and a lovely accent with him on his first trip to the United States, where he acted as the official intermediary between Catholics and God. He brings with him an attitude very disconcerting to many Americans who view themselves as conservative Christian Republicans. Even the most faithful of the Roman Catholic variety have chaffed under his recent comments and proclamations, which just do not jive with the political rhetoric of the last few decades in the U.S. Calling for gay people to be accepted as God’s children, having the common sense to acknowledge human beings are affecting the earth’s atmosphere and referring to capitalism as the dung of Satan are but a few of the confounding quotes this 21st century pope has dropped like a silent bomber unloading nukes over millions of unsuspecting and confused Christian conservatives. This Pontiff is preaching the good word, as clearly and as unfiltered as Jesus would have spoken it to the Romans. He sees no value in excluding homosexuals, poor people or even science from the church. This inclusiveness does not fit with the post-Reagan, right wing Republican revolution that has just ousted Jim Boehner from
his seat as Speaker of the House. If Boehner is considered too middle of the political paradigm for the GOP, Pope Francis must sound like Bernie Sanders over there. The true value of Pope Francis’ loud opinions on inclusion, capitalism and the real meaning of being a follower of Jesus is that millions of people who go to mass on Sunday and blindly vote Republican in November may be due for a little soul searching. They will ask themselves, “What does it mean to be conservative? What does
there appears to be only one political option for them, in the present two-party farce. Words like pro-life and conservative are shrouded and muddled terms, however, that have duped many an unsuspecting good-doer. Pope Francis is an actual conservative, on both accounts — not the politically-jaded, buzz-word sort of conservative that has become the golden calf of the Republican Party. He is concerned with every human’s plight, and
“He sees no value in excluding homosexuals, poor people or even science from the church.” it mean to be a Christian?” These are questions that we in this culture assume are well defined — even etched in stone somewhere. Pope Francis is forcing us to reanalyze what it means to be morally conservative. T The big umbrella Reagan used to revolutionize the Republican Party has evolved into a mostly two-sided signpost. There are the fiscally conservative — the wealthy and those who incorrectly think they are upper-middle class, and those who are socially conservative – and the religious, mostly Christians. If one self-identifies as both fiscally and socially conservative,
sees the exorbitant amount of money, horded and spoiled by the few, as a slap in the face of conservatism. Capitalism proudly pronounces that hundreds of millions in poverty, fueling the vast wealth of a few, should be construed as conservatism. Pope Francis sees it differently. So many American voters are sufficed with casting their votes, completely in line with one party or the other, based on a single topic that they care about the most. Abortion is the perfect example. Many Christian Republicans identify their entire political association with this one, hot-button topic.
They may feel more in tune with a particular democratic or independent candidate, but come back to their deal-breaking issue as the motivation for casting the vote. Pope Francis is calling attention to our country’s propensity for drawing ambiguous lines around the term pro-life. He shines a light on these conservatives that have the unmitigated gall to call themselves pro-life while supporting human beings going to war to kill other human beings and providing the final judgment to convicted criminals. The Pope sees the cut-throat political and real-life battles that are centered around abortion alone, as caring far too much about the splinter in my neighbor’s eye, while ignoring the two-by-four in my eye. Abortion is merely one of the many ways our culture has become pacified with the placating of the devaluing of human life. Why is it acceptable to trumpet and vote so adamantly for one and completely ignore all of the others? The Pope is taking the plight of the planet, the poor human, and the good of all mankind right to the most powerful entities on the planet. The real question is this: how will those who currently view themselves as “conservatives” view the Pope and his “ultra-liberal democratic socialist agenda”? How will they view themselves, when God’s most holy messenger, won’t stop reminding them that the golden rule, has nothing to do with gold, at all?
OPINIONS
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Culture is not a costume
Why cultural appropriation should be axed from Halloween Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor
There is no limit to what kinds of costumes a person can find in stores once October hits. At this moment, the most popular women’s costumes at Party City (according to their website) include characterizations such as Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” and three separate sexy minion costumes — and yes, I did say three. Regardless, some old staples can still be found wandering the streets once the occasion comes around, and their mass appeal never seems to falter; Indians, sugar skulls, geisha, rappers — the list goes on. What do these costumes have in common? Well, to put it simply, they are all part of an offensive branch of racism called cultural appropriation. For those who may not know, cultural appropriation can best be described as taking select elements from another culture and representing those elements in a way that disrespects or embarrasses the people from that culture’s background. To put things in perspective,
cultural appropriation is what happens when teenage girls buy bindis from the mall to wear as a fashion accessory without knowing their religious significance in Greater India; it is what happens when people wander around Coachella wearing warbonnets despite the fact that they have historical significance to honorable men of Plains Indian tribes. Cultural appropriation is what happens when Katy Perry wears cornrows and grills in her “This Is How We Do” music video without taking any part in the discrimination African-American people face when partaking in
Halloween costumes is irrelevant. Wearing these outfits is “just for fun” and “not harming anyone.” While I understand it is uncomfortable to change our perspective and face the problematic nature of the things we do so consistently, it is still utterly mandatory — especially when considering the nature in which these atrocities are presented to us. It may seem as if there’s no harm in dressing as a sexy Indian girl with a cute feather headband (and let me be clear: I see no problem with sexy Halloween costumes) but when we consider the context of how such a costume came to
be, we uncover disturbing truths. Pocahontas — whose given name was Matoaka — was
abducted from her home and forced to marry and bear the children of an Englishman named John Rolfe. Native-American women face domestic violence and sexual assault at a much higher rate than any other group of women, reporting rates as high as 12 times the national average in some locations, according to the “New York Times”. In Canada, the national government barely acknowledges that indigenous women are three to four times more likely to go missing or be murdered than any other race of women in the country. By glazing over these problems and choosing instead to focus on the spirit of the event, we are essentially refusing to acknowledge the weight of these issues, hurting those affected in the process. Aside from the gross and grueling history some ethnic groups have faced in the past, in most cases culturally appropriative costumes use hurtful and oppressive stereotypes to make a punchline out of a group of people who have no control over the way they are perceived. As a white person, I don’t find it particularly clever when college frat boys don a poncho
and a sombrero and say their costume is a “dirty Sanchez”; I highly doubt that people with Hispanic roots would either. Considering Halloween is a holiday that allows for limitless creative potential and gives someone endless costume options, I really do not understand why one would choose to be distasteful and offensive when they could just as easily not. Figuring out whether or not a costume is culturally appropriative will only take a quick Google search, but here are some loose guidelines to follow: if the costume requires you to paint your face with either black or dark brown makeup to darken your skin, it is racist (and that is actually called Blackface, which is a whole other issue); if the packaging contains the words “tribal”, “ethnic” or “cultural”, it is most-likely racist; if you purchased any part of it at Urban Outfitters, it is probably racist. Common sense should play a heavy part in your costume decision, always. This may sound cheesy, but the only thing that should ever be offensive about your Halloween is how much fun you had — not how many people you insulted.
contagious, so when people around you see the positivity then they will adapt it as well. The biggest thing to overcome when trying to keep a positive mindset is facing failures, but you have to remember success comes with the occasional disappointment. No one is perfect, so when you fail just remember to learn from the situation and grow from it so you are better prepared in the future. When you consider the most successful people, just imagine how many times they failed before the reached success. To help maintain a positive mindset one of the
greatest techniques to acquire is gratitude. Be grateful for what and who you have in your life. One thing I try to do consciously to keep my mindset positive is say thanks at least one hundred times a day for even the slightest things in my life. I start off when I first wake up by expressing thanks for my bed, for my toothbrush and for my mom. Being grateful for what you have and not being worried about what you do not will improve your outlook greatly. When you nourish a positive mindset your actions become inspired by your aspirations. Daily tasks are no longer a
burden on you because you know that you are working towards a goal. Train your mind to see the good in every situation. Keeping a positive attitude is hard at times because of what can happen in every day life. My resolution for that is if you do not want to do something, then do not do it. Do the things that make you happy and help move you closer to what you are working toward. The mind is dynamic, so do yourself a favor and use it to your advantage. Keep up the positive vibes and the law of attraction will do its work to bring more positivity to you.
“Common sense should play a heavy part in your costume decision, always.”
the very same fashion trends. Many people might say that the criticism of particular
No negative thoughts allowed
Using the law of attraction to your advantage Redwan Saeed Staff Writer
The most powerful tool we have at our disposal is our mind. With the right mindset, anything is possible to obtain. Having the right attitude can lead to your greatest achievements and personal desires and when it comes to your mindset, the law of attraction definitely comes into play. Emitting positive vibes can lead to a run-in with much more positive situations in your life. If you let negativity enter your mind then the law of attraction will bring negativity into your life.
If you go into an exam or a challenge you are facing with the mindset of it being too tough or your goals being too hard to reach, then you are already setting yourself up for a failure. You can achieve anything your heart or mind desires with the right attitude and mentality. The all-powerful mind is capable of pushing you to reach any goal you have. Maintaining a positive mindset is key for reaching personal achievements. With a positive mindset the relationship with your family, friends and your spouse or partner will become stronger. A positive attitude is
Oct. 15, 2015
INDEPTH
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Clubs on Campus
-Name- -Sponsor- -
AGM Club Susan Hunt-Bradford C American Chemical Society Tony Frost S Art Club Ken Wood H Bacchus/Cheers Club Harold Salmon A BSEEC Steven Anderson S Business Club Mark Tulley/Amy Monson B Campus Crusade for Christ Trevin Jones C Chess Club (Meramec) Rich Peraud C Circle of Life (Pro-Life) Chris Smith L Currents Literary Club Richard Long C Engineering Club Tim Pedersen S
BSEEC Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor
New to the STLCCMeramec campus this year, the Black Student Education and Empowerment Club (BSEEC) aims to harness the AfricanAmerican perspective to help students using cultural, social and academic discussions and
programs. Sponsored by Stephen Anderson and Sherita Reinhardt, the club aspires to increase the retention and graduation rates of African American students by fostering a supportive environment which will help nourish their self-esteem and help them reach their potential. Hoping to intensify and promote the black voice on campus, BSEEC also wants to strengthen and build the relationship between Meramec and the black community, as well as the black community’s relationship with the greater Kirkwood area. To join, students only need to be enrolled at St. Louis
Community College and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Hoping to become involved in campus affairs and keep busy with community service, BSEEC has already partnered with TRiO’s Student Leadership Board, as well as the Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs at Webster University, to attend a trip to Washington D.C. for the “Justice or Else” event held by Minister Louis Farrakhan as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. The trip took place from Oct. 9-11 with the primary goal of encouraging students to become more involved with social justice issues.
-Name- -Sponsor- -Office- -PhoneEnvironmental Club Virginia Heisler AS 207 7631 Focus on Ability Renee Dingman Ad 120 7673 Geology Club Carl Campbell SS 210 7724 Global Justice Project Cindy Epperson SO 219 7995 Horticulture Club Jerry Pence SW 101A 7714 Human Services Club Lashauna Aningo SO 227 7130 Improv Club Keith Oliver CS 114 7490 Interior Designers of Mc Ginger Heisler AS 207 7631 International Club Vidyullata Waghulda SS 213 7690 Legal Studies Club Barbara Wiseheart BA 219 7376 Architecture Club Michael Lorenz AS 209 7767 Model UN John Messmer BA 114 7674 Montage Shannon Philpott CN 220 7857
Oct. 15, 2015
Spotlight Clubs
ServiceWorks! Katie Hayes Copy Editor
ServiceWorks! focuses on community involvement and services. The first meeting of the semester was held on Sept. 11. Students met to discuss volunteer opportunities and community involvement. STLCC-Meramec Service Learning, Missouri Campus Compact and the United Way of Greater St. Louis all collaborate
to run the club, which is the club version of Semester of Service. The first semester meetings consist of professional development workshops facilitated by a United Way Vista volunteer. The meetings focus on leadership as it relates to service. There are supplemental workshops as well, which address life skills for college students. A few of these topics include hands-on resume writing and credit score discussions. There are volunteer opportunities available throughout the semester as well as a volunteer capstone project by the group. The second semester, the group organizes volunteer projects and
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-Office- -Phone-
CS 113 7833 SS 212 7422 HE 208 7925 ADM 202 7558 SC 202B 7859 BA 207/2197188/ 7509 CN 113 7846 CN 209 7547 Library 106 7318 CN 213 7677 SW 203A 4646
Club
lores topics on their own. The latest project done by viceWorks! included building eral hundred yards of trail Greensfelder County Park. Meetings and volunteer rs count toward the Campus mpact Semester of Service gram, which began in 2009. program encourages students ngage in their community by arding them for their efforts. Students who obtain at least hours by the end of the semester eligible for two letters of ognition, which can be sent to eges, employers or scholarship lications. In addition, dents receive a certificate their name is written on Campus Compact website.
Student Governance Council Dalila Kahvedsic Editor In-Chief
Student Governance Council (SGC) is an organization on the STLCC-Meramec campus that represents the student body. SGC advocates for student needs, supports students clubs and organizations, plans and promotes campus events and activities and works with other campuses for districtwide initiatives. SGC provides students with the ability to develop leadership skills, explore management principles and practice effective communication. SGC Representatives discuss any problems students may have and brainstorm new ideas. They have brought the ideas of Brown bag café, which helps students
in need that cannot provide themselves with healthy meals, U-Pass, which gives students a reliable form of transportation to and from school and are currently working on changing water fountains to go green so students are able to refill bottles. President of SGC AdityaMudgalkar says all students are welcome to join and attend meetings. The process is simple and easy, students should just come to the second floor of the student center in the campus life office and request a form to fill out. The process of introducing a new club can be done through SGC as well. A club recommendation form would need to be filled out and the club requires 10-15 people. “Students find a sponsor,
tell us why they should start the club and how it is different,” Mudgalkar said. Representatives meet the second and the fourth week each month. They meet on Tuesdays at 2 in SC 201.
-Name- -Sponsor- -Office- -PhoneMud Club (Pottery) Jim Ibur HE 204 7930 Outdoors Club Richard Long CN 213 7677 Phi Theta Kappa Jeff Schneider CN 211 7727 Photo Club Darlene McGee IR 218 7792 Physical Therapy Assistants Christy Cohoon AS 109 7591 Positivity Club Eric Nielsen SO 215 7192 Programming Club June Mercer BA 207-J 7531 Sculpture Club Joe Chesla HE 205 7627 Service Works Debbie Corson BA 219-J 7234 Sky Club Joe Schneider SS 213 7419 Socratic Society Aaron Champene BA 115F 7943 Sociology Club Lisa Martino-Taylor SO 229 7689 Student Activities Council Chris Bathe SC 221 7641 Student Governance Council Chris Bathe SC 221 7641 SMNEA (Education Assn.) Ana Cruz SO 214 7802 Student Math League Melissa Leach SW 218 7133 Student Nurses Association Debbie Knickerbocker SW 111 7760 SOTA Cynthia Ballentine AS 103 7364 Theatre Club Michelle Rebollo HE 208 7832 TRIO Sanela Mesic AD 130 7303 Ultimate Frisbee Club Aletta Speegle SW 214 7772 Veterans Club Jim Frost SW 215 7845 Yarn Club Janice Hovis/Becky Helbling IR 130A/IR 106 7325/7486 Page layout by Jason Waters
Oct. 15, 2015
ART & LIFE
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BIWEEKLY INSPIRATION
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”
- Andy Dufresne; The Shawshank Redemption 1994 Maxine Beach: from small town to St. Louis STLCC Professor has an appreciation for teaching through her home environment and high school that she Toni Roberson received the inspiration to write. Staff Writer “My high school was horrible. English professor by day; I had some good teachers. They Writer and wife by night. Elva influenced and inspired me,” Beach Maxine Beach was raised in said. Beach proceeded to work Raytown, Missouri. Raytown is a at varies jobs like a janitor and a small town in western Missouri, maid. It was through these jobs specifically a suburb of Kansas City. when she realized that she should “I grew up in a working class go to college. Beach went on and neighborhood. Most people didn’t attended classes at Saint Louis have high school educations. A lot Community College-Forest Park. “I loved Forest Park because of the kids that I grew up with in my neighborhood had no plans of I met people from all over the going to college,” Beach said. It was world. At the time Forest Park was the theatre campus for a lot of immigrant students so I learned just by other students.” said Beach. Once she completed her time at Forest Park, she moved on to attending classes at Webster University. It was at Webster University that she was exposed to a different world of students. “They [Webster’s students] were from a Submitted Photo
Howl
Literary Reading & Performance Series Presented by Currents, Meramec’s Literary Magazine
different world than I was exposed to, ever. I grew up working class and a lot of students at Webster had money. It’s a private school and they were primarily white. I wasn’t used to that. So that taught me something else.” Beach said. Beach received her Bachelors of arts in Media Communication. Once she finished college, she obtained employment from CPI Corporation as an Advertising Copywriter. There she created ads for the corporation. During her time working for CPI, management wanted their employees to think “outside of the box.” It was then that they asked Beach to run creative thinking seminars for the employees. It was through these seminars she realized she wanted to become a teacher. “I wanted to work with people like me. When I became a teacher, I wanted to teach at a community college because of my experience at Forest Park,” Beach said. Before she taught at Saint Louis Community College, she taught for three years as a graduate teaching assistant at Louisiana
Submitted Photo
Assistant Professor Maxine Beach gives a reading in 2014.
State University. LSU hired her for a full-time teaching position, where she taught for a year. There she taught Literature, Creative Writing, and Composition. After LSU, she taught for almost 10 years at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. Professor Beach is now an Assistant Professor of English. She has been teaching full time
at Meramec since 2008, where she teaches English Composition and Creative Writing. Beach said she would tell students who are struggling to find out what they want to do in life to slow down and look at what excites you. Once you figure that out, look out into the world and find out how you can apply this in way that someone will pay you, Beach said.
A fun event for you and your family.
Thursday October 29 7:00-9:00PM STLCC - Meramec Campus th
STLCC clubs and services will be on hand to give out treats while you listen to music and play games.
Business Administration Bldg. room 105 -Refreshments and snacks provided-
We support kids with food allergies. Our teal pumpkin means we have non-food treats available. TealPumkinProject.org
#tealpumpkinproject
The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT and the Teal Pumpkin Image are trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
For More Information, Contact: Joe at mccurrents@stlcc.edu Or visit us at: facebook.com/stlcurrents
Oct. 15, 2015
ART & LIFE
9
Students and faculty enjoy Oktoberfest on campus Gus’ Pretzels and Fitz’s Rootbeer distributed in the quad Katie Leicht Art & Life Editor
Academic Support member Cindy Clausen administers a drunk test with Fatal Vision Goggles
Student Jordan Morris attempts the simulated drunk driving course
Photo By Dalila Kahvedzic
Photo By Dalila Kahvedzic Photo By Katie Leicht
Manager of Campus Life Carolyn O’Laughlin serves Gus’ Pretzels to a student
Everywhere and Elsewhere I
Art gallery open from Oct. 1-23, 2015
Photo By Katie Leicht
Student Governence Council President Aditya Mudgalkar attemps a drunk test with Fatal Vision Goggles
3.
The art of Howard Jones. Jones’s edition included a series of unique brushes, made of glass, a lightbulb, and pencils, to name a few. The art of Ted Wood. Wood’s edition included a series of oil on canvas paintings. These paintings included cloud formations and up-close nature shots.
4.
Photos By Dalila Kahvedzic
1.
The art of Tim Liddy. Liddy’s edition included a series of old board games recreated on copper box-like structures.
The art of Cheonae Kim. Kim’s edition included a series of paintings made on wood and other objects. These paintings consisted of horizontal and vertical lines.
2.
Katie Leicht Art & Life Editor
Oct. 15, 2015
? g n i r r e f s ted in Tran
Inteerrseitysof Missouri–St. Louis Univ
MAJORS FAIR
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Student Center Commons Undecided on a Major? Have Questions about a particular Major? STLCC professors from various academic programs and majors will be available to answer your questions.
Come by and get lunch too!
This event is sponsored by the Office of Academic Advising For additional information, contact 314-984-7526
TAKE ME
Transfer
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Christy Hummel Transfer Specialist
askchristy@umsl.edu 314-516-6943 Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Mondays & Thursdays
CHOOSE
Call 314-984-7575 for an appointment 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Advising Center – Clark Hall
A T
HOME
“I can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”
Serious education. Serious value.SM
M E R A M E C
The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with an emphasis in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **
TONIGHT
COURSES
MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 211,212
Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music The History of Jazz The Enjoyment of Music Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV Survey of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Music History I,II
Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!
ENSEMBLES
SERIOUS DELIVERY!
TM
★ JIMMYJOHNS.COM ★
TO FIND THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM ©2014 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Music 132 – Orchestra Music 133 – Jazz Lab Band Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 135 – Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Voices of Magic jazz choir All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers and/or the Voices of Magic jazz choir.
For more information, contact the Meramec Music Department Gary Gackstatter, Director of Instrumental Music, ggackstatter@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7636 Dr. Jerry Myers, Director of Choral Activities & Music Theory, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638
SPORTS Christian’s Corner
Let’s make a splash
Meramec Water Aerobics class includes ‘waves’ of fun Tyler Fuson Staff Writer
Christian Hargas Sports Editor
Home Field Advantage A True Advantage
Having home field advantage through the playoffs is a great advantage for most teams. The prospect of playing several – if not all – postseason games on your home turf is enough motivation for some squads to believe they can achieve something special. Playing at home provides extra support that can usually pay dividends in the end. On the other hand, there have been occasions where having home field advantage does not equate to championship success. The Washington Nationals received baseball’s home field advantage in 2012 and 2014 because they achieved the league’s best record both seasons. They were unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs. The Saint Louis Blues achieved hockey’s home field advantage over the last two seasons. They were also unable to advance past the first round. In the NFL, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks shared a similar advantage during the 2015 playoffs. Both teams achieved their respective conferences best record [12-4] and were awarded every playoff game in their house. It resulted in the Patriots and Seahawks advancing to Super Bowl XLIX. The Seahawks received this same advantage the previous season – which saw them reach and win Super Bowl XLVIII. The Golden State Warriors experienced tremendous home field success last season. The traditional NBA schedule consists of 82 total games [road and home games split into 41 each]. The Warriors only lost two of their 41 home games in 2014 and were awarded the advantage for having the league’s best record [67-15]. The Warriors reached and won their first championship since the 1975 season. In baseball, the Saint Louis Cardinals experience a tremendous advantage at home. Literally being dubbed ‘baseball heaven’, the Cardinals won their last three World Series Championships at Busch Stadium [1982, 2006, and 2011]. They advanced to the 2004 and 2013 series because of their advantage of playing the majority of the postseason games at home during both of those seasons. Whether it is baseball, football, basketball or hockey, recent and ancient history has proven that home field advantage can be a true advantage for team’s potential playoff success. The home team feels more comfortable knowing they have an entire stadium of fans on their side as opposed to being against them.
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Saint Louis Community College – Meramec offers a Water Aerobics class to students needing to complete their two credits for Physical Education. Many students have not heard of Water Aerobics since it has different demographics in mind. “It is marketed to an older population, traditionally,” Water Aerobics instructor Sandra Liming said. Liming said, in the course, she helps rehabilitate those who are recovering from injuries or suffering from certain physical dilemmas, such as arthritis, with water bound exercises. This [exercises] helps them [students] stay in shape without suffering any negative setbacks, Liming said. Humans, however, were not the first ones to get this form of medical help, Liming said. “It [water exercise] was developed to rehab horses,
actually, way back when. Horses were the first ones that did water therapy. My horse use-to do water therapy,” Liming said. Over the years, Water Aerobics has also been an effective outlet for cross-trainers who will train in water to improve their performances on land. Traditionally, Karate Senseis will being their classes into water, Liming said. “It puts you a little off balance if you are really proficient at a certain sport,” Liming said. “Ice skating, dancing, and a lot of people use the water to kind of, make them use their muscles in a different way, consider their balance in a different way, and definitely to control their breathing in a different way.” Liming said most of her students are composed of older men and women. Even though some of them may feel selfconscious about wearing their bathing suits, the dress code should not be a prime concern during exercise, Liming said. “They just have to get over the body image issue, usually.
Photo by Darren Grant
Students enrolled in Water Aerobics I perform exercises in the Meramec pool.
Older people, older women, older men, they do not like to put on a swimsuit,” Liming said. “The dress code is revealing, and if you are uncomfortable with your own body image, it is hard to get over that sometimes.” While Water Aerobics was not directed for the youthful
or energetic in mind, it is still worthwhile no matter how old one may be or how intensely they train, Liming said. “You get out of it what you put into it,” Liming said. “Just because I am going at a certain pace as the instructor does not mean you have to.”
Tip-off
A preview into STLCC Lady Archer’s 2015 basketball season Christian Hargas Sports Editor
The STLCC Lady Archers finished the 2014-15 Season with a 23-7 overall record. They lost in double overtime to North Central Missouri, 88-78, in the regional tournament. Head Coach Shelly Ethridge said the team has a chance to compete for regionals this year. “It all comes down to the discipline aspect and the confidence. Anything can certainly happen. Last year, we were expected to win it all and we lost in double overtime. It is really hard to predict the future, but if our kids continue to improve daily like they have been, then I think we have a really good shot,” Ethridge said. The Lady Archers are fielding a completely new team this season with only two returning players and a roster full of rookies, Ethridge said. She expects them to reach their potential in the second semester. “When only having two returners, there is really no momentum right now because we are pretty much starting from
scratch. In saying that though, we are showing signs that we can potentially be good. It is going to take until February before we enter into the full stride of their potential,” Ethridge said. With a young roster, sophomores Amanda Hughes and Abbey Holtkamp will be helpful in their leadership roles because of their experience, Ethridge said. “They can set the tone when it comes to drills because they have been through all of our drills before. They can shed light about our opponents because they know what to expect from certain teams and things of that nature. They are not vocal people, but they lead by their performance,” Ethridge said. Lack of communication and game management are the current weaknesses of the young roster, Ethridge said. “Right now,a lot of our studentathletes do not understand that it takes five people communicating all at one time, along with trying to find some discipline when it comes to what is a good shot, what is a bad shot and when is the best time to take it. We are working on that everyday and we are making progress,” Ethridge said. Even with the lack of adequate
Lady Archer’s Upcoming Games Nov. 6 - at Moberly Area Community College Classic vs. Marshalltown at Moberly, MO - 1:00 p.m. Nov. 7 - at Moberly Area Community College Classic vs. Vincennes at Moberly, MO - 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 10 - Lindenwood University - Belleville JV - 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 - Rend Lake - 1:00 p.m. Nov. 18 - at Lincoln Land 5:30 p.m.
communication and game management, athleticism and an abundance of quickness appear to be strengths, Ethridge said. “The kids stated yesterday that they wanted to be known for their defense. In my theory, defense wins games. My three teams that we have taken to the national championship was not because they were able to put a lot of points on the board, but it was because we were able to stop teams better than us,” Ethridge said. That is their goal, essentially, to be the best team in the league and get stops, Ethridge said. Strengths and weaknesses taken into account, the Lady Archers are continuing to mature and gain consistency, Ethridge said. “The kids have been really working hard and really have matured greatly in the amount of time we have put into our practices thus far. We just had a scrimmage game, three of them, at Illinois Central this past weekend and the kids performances shed some positive light in the direction we are heading,” Ethridge said. The Lady Archers finished last season with a 10-2 home record. There is a sense of being more comfortable at home, Ethridge said. “Everybody says there is no place like home. So, I would feel there is a sense of being comfortable in your own environment when you have these home games and the crowd is supporting you,” Ethridge said. Former guard Deborah Holcomb led the team in scoring with an average of 25.2 points per game in 2014. They do not have that luxury this year, Ethridge said. “At this point in time, nobody really as the green light like Debbie did last season. However, that does not mean that somebody
cannot progress this year and develop into that type of scorer for us. We are really trying to figure out who the team captains are and who is going to be that go-to person,” Ethridge said. When you think of Saint Louis Community College Women’s Basketball, you are talking about a team who has a significant amount of success, Ethridge said. This year is a completely different perspective, at the beginning of the season, but requires patience. “We are averaging 20 wins each season for the past four or five years and made three trips to the national tournament. Obviously, at the end of the season we hope to get the same outcome as far as region champs and hopefully vying for the national tournament spot; however, you are not going to get the wins that we typically have received in the beginning of the season that we have in the past,” Ethridge said. Being patient, watching the kids progress and support from the fans is the best possible thing, Ethridge said. “We are so young and it is going to take some patience from both the coaching staff and the players. They are going to have to believe that we can be successful and, as I stated, I believe it will not happen until February that we see the full potential of this team,” Ethridge said. The success of the Lady Archers’ 2015-16 season is going to be a complete team effort, Ethridge said. “Ultimately, the goal is to have more points than the other opponent. It has been challenging, but the kids are showing so much positive light that eventually we will get there,” Ethridge said. Oct. 15, 2015
SPORTS
12
FALL SPORTS UPDATE Saint Louis Community College Athletics is currently in the middle of the Fall Sports season.
Men’s Soccer
Men’s Soccer: The Archers currently have a 13-5-1 record. Their most recent game at MCC-Maple Wood resulted in a 2-1 loss. Next, STLCC travels to Southwestern Illinois on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Women’s Soccer: The Lady Archers currently have a 4-9-2 record. Their most recent game at Heartland resulted in a 2-0 loss. Next, STLCC travels to Kaskaskia for the final game of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 17. Women’s Volleyball: The Lady Archers currently have a 3-21 record. Their most recent game vs. Morton resulted in a 3-0 loss. Next, STLCC hosts Webster University JV on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Upcoming STLCC Sports Women’s Basketball The Lady Archers under the supervision of coach Shelly Ethridge begin their season on Nov. 6 at Moberly Area Community College. Men’s Basketball: The Archers under the supervision of coach Terry Collins begin their season on Oct. 24 hosting Lincoln Trail. Men’s Baseball: The Archers under the supervision of coach Scott Goodrich begin their season in February 2016.
Photo by Ashley Biundo
STLCC Men’s Soccer team practices before their upcoming game against Scott Community College on Oct. 1.
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Softball: The Lady Archers under the supervision of coach Brad Wilson begin their season in March 2016.
Women’s Volleyball
Photo by Darren Grant
STLCC Women’s Volleyball team faces Jefferson College at Meramec on Sept. 9.
Photo by Darren Grant
STLCC Women’s Soccer team practices before upcoming game against Jefferson College on Oct. 4.
First Pitch
A look into STLCC Archer’s 2015 baseball season Jonah Durbin Staff Writer
The Saint Louis Community College Archers baseball team finished the 2014-15 regular season with a 34-23 overall record. They defeated Three Rivers Community College, 10-4, in the NJCAA Region XVI Tournament on May 8 and Seminole State College, 3-2, in the South Central District Tournament on May 17. Head Coach Scott Goodrich is entering his third season managing the STLCC Men’s Baseball team. Garrett Bauer is entering his third Oct. 15, 2015
season as the team’s pitching coach. The entire team has high expectations for the upcoming season, Goodrich said. The Archers only returned one position player that got a significant amount of at-bats, Goodrich said. “I am excited about all of the good players we have this year,” Goodrich said. Sophomore Dave Prost, catcher, said he has been playing baseball since he could walk. Prost hit six homeruns and drove in 33 runs with a .308 batting average while catching the majority of the innings last year. He looks to build on his 2014 performance and
has high expectations for the upcoming season, Prost said. “Our expectation for this year is to make it to the Grand Junction, which is like the World Series for the NJCAA,” Prost said. The Archers posted a team ERA [earned run average] of 6.00 in 2014 through 420 total innings [57 games]. Sophomore Seth Mesey, pitcher, amassed a 6-5 record and posted a 5.40 ERA through 68.1 innings, striking out 66 batters, last year. Mesey was 2-0 in the regional tournament. He looks to play the role for the team again this year, Mesey said. “[The goal] is to have
a repeat of last year, but go further and win the regional championship,” Mesey said. Sophomore Joey Lodes, pitcher, finished with a 4-2 record and an 8.15 ERA through 35.1 innings in 2014. He looks to come up big in those important innings this year, Lodes said. “[The goal] is to repeat last year, but go further,” Lodes said. They [Archers] returned a few guys that got fifty to sixty plate appearances last season, Goodrich said. “We are counting on them [players] to do a little bit more this season,” Goodrich said. The Archers have guys that
can pitch well for them and give them a chance to win. If this team is going to be successful they need to hit, Goodrich said. “Their mindset is that they are going to hit. If we are going to win, we are going to have to hit. In my opinion, it is who can hit good pitching. If we are not successful offensively, then we are going to have a lot of trouble,”Goodrich said. If you can get to the other guys best, then you have a better chance to win, Goodrich said. “At their level, everybody has good pitching and good defense. So, in order to win and be successful, we need to hit and score runs,” Goodrich said.