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PHOTO BY: LIVIE HALL Meramec student Michael Keenan made this sign after Christ Fellowship Bible Church Pastor Jason Woelm told him he was going to Hell for his gay lifestyle. Student Sam Vazquez jumped to his defense and held the sign along with Keenan. Woelm told the students sinners were going to Hell and “we are all sinners.” Students exercised their right to free speech as campus police stood by to protect that right and ensure things did not escalate.

Meramec students engage in peaceful protest with local church group LIVIE HALL MANAGING EDITOR On Monday, Oct. 27, the Christ Fellowship Bible Church led a peaceful protest at STLCC-Meramec’s campus. Pastors Jason Woelm, Tony Miano, Geoffrey Kirkland and two others spoke to Meramec students about their beliefs, inciting uproar between them and the students. Student Antonio Roberson said he and other students were offended. Roberson saw the sermon from the beginning. He said the group simply showed up in the Student Center Quad and began speaking, with no introduction or announcement. Students were not paying attention until Woelm called out a gay student specifically.Roberson and other

students then jumped to the boy’s defense, he said. “He was saying how much Jesus didn’t like him because he was homosexual and this person he called out was really opinionated,” Roberson said. “In doing so, a lot of people essentially backed him up on his thoughts and that’s where it kind of escalated.” Student Salim Mistrih had a conversation with a woman preaching with the church about sinning and homosexuality. Students gathered around the two as they talked. Mistrih said the woman got on his nerves. She was telling him everyone who was gay was going to

Hell. “That’s really frustrating because it’s who they are, not what they want to be,” Mistrih said. Mistrih said he did not understand why Meramec allowed the church to show up to campus and speak to students the way they did. Meramec Campus Police Chief Anthony Russo said as an open campus, anyone can show up and speak to students. He received an anonymous call about a loud demonstration, at which point he and his officers came to the quad. The police officers were there to protect everyone’s right to free speech and make sure nothing escalated further, Russo said. When a

student came to Russo complaining about the church group, he and his officers began handing out complaint forms. These forms allow the students to effectively voice their concerns and frustrations, Russo said. Many students filled out a form without hesitation the day of the event. These forms were then attached to a police report as a peaceful protest. Russo said he told his officers he did not like what the group was saying, they were simply saying the gay lifestyle was a sin. “That is their 110 percent absolute, First Amendment guaranteed right to say that,” Russo said.

Story continued on Page 3

Student pleads guilty to onFormer military find home in Empty Bowls: Meramec Hunger Rebounding after 0-2 start campus assault Meramec’s Veteran’s Club Awareness 2014 Page 3 Page 8 Page 11 Page 12 Volume 50 Issue 6

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Nov. 13, 2014


2 NEWS Nov. 13, 2014

LINK presents ‘Life in North Korea’ Meramec’s Global Studies Group hosts event to show the life of North Koreans ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR

PHOTOS BY: ALEX WHITE

On Thursday, Nov. 6. The Global Studies Group of STLCC-Meramec hosted a presentation about the life and hardships individuals in North Korea face. The group Liberty in North Korea (LINK) were the presenters. The event took place in the Student Center. LINK presented a variety of stories from refugees of North Korea and hope to spread the word about what life is really like there. For more information, visit LINK’s website at libertyinnorthkorea.org/.

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NEWS 3

Nov. 13, 2014

Student pleads guilty to on-campus assault SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEVON MALLORY

Almost 18-months to the day, after attacking then STLCC-Meramec student Blythe Grupe on April 18, 2013, Jevon Mallory plead guilty to first-degree assault on Oct. 24, 2014. Mallory, who assaulted Grupe in a women’s restroom, entered a blind plea and could face five to 15 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12 and his fate rests in the hands of Judge Robert Cohen. “The [Meramec] police department and the [St. Louis] prosecuting office worked together to get it to this point,” Meramec Police Chief Anthony Russo said. Russo joined the Meramec Police Department in September 2013. “Once we got over the bumps, after late April 2013, it turned into a machine,” he said. “This is the result of a great relationship.” Mallory was charged with a class D felony and assault in the first degree on April 23, 2013. Following the attack, Mallory admitted attempting to “withdraw [Grupe] from life” and assaulted her in a “vent of rage.” Mallory has been receiving continuances since then because of his mental health status hearing. “It took awhile to get that cleared,” Russo said. “He was being evaluated to see if he was fit for trial. That’s a pretty standard process — part of the [court] system. If you do something wrong in society, before we punish you, we want to make sure that at least you’re culpable of knowing what you did.”

PHOTOS BY: LIVIE HALL On Monday, Oct. 27 students gathered to listen to the religious group Christ Fellowship Bible Church. The church infuriated students with their views on homosexuality. They said students who chose that lifestyle were going to hell. Pastor Jason Woelm did not respond to messages sent by The Montage. Later that day, Pastor Tony Miano uploaded a sermon to the church’s website calling Meramec students a “perverse generation.” He said they hated the church because they hated God.

Religious Group: Christ Fellowship Bible Church conflicts with students Story continued from page 1 Roberson said he had never heard of the church before. He said he felt they did not give out contact information because they did not want the negativity they had caused to follow them. Russo said groups are allowed to come to Meramec’s campus to speak, but they cannot hand out any pamphlets or information. This is the church’s second time they have come to speak. Russo said they thanked the officers when they finished and walked away. Roberson said students were left in confusion

and anger once the group had gone. They eventually split up, but tensions remained high. No one followed the pastors as they made their way to the parking lot, but officers did escort them. “You [the church] came here and caused this uproar, obviously people were really offended by what you said, and you just leave. There was no apology whatsoever,” Roberson said. “It was really weird, the way they went about it. They just grabbed their stuff and left.” To listen to Pastor Tony Miano’s sermon from that day, visit http://cfbcstl.org/ media.php?pageID=5. The sermon is titled “Preaching the Gospel to a Perverse Generation (& Not Fearing Man!)” The church’s website is cfbcstl.org/#/home. They do not offer any contact information, but they do list an address as well as the names of the members. They have a Facebook, Twitter and YouTube account as well as other sermons.

Top right: students Michael Keenan (left) and Sam Vasquez (right) held the sign “I’m gay, proud of it too” in protest of the church’s message. Bottom left: student Antonio Roberson (right) stood next to a fellow student who argued against the group’s sermon. They said everyone who is gay will go to hell. Bottom right: student Taylor Tullmann speaks to pastor Tony Miano defending her gay friends and family members.

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4 OPINIONS Nov. 13, 2014

THE WAY IT IS

RYAN OBRADOVIC OPINIONS EDITOR

Enough is enough With the news of Ferguson three months ago, the subject of racism has been brought to the forefront of heated debates; whether the people in Ferguson’s actions are justified or if they are hyperbolizing the whole situation. Minorities, especially the black community, have been discriminated for years, not only in America, but all over the world. Why? Because their skin is a

different color? Many people believe that the events happening in Ferguson are appalling and look bad for the city. Sure, the burning of stores and destruction of property are not admired actions in a protest, but at least they are rebelling; rebelling against the grotesqueness of society and the way it revolves around racism. The people of Ferguson are not rebelling solely because Michael Brown was shot by a police officer, but rather because they are tired of all the discrimination, persecution and pain they have had to endure over many years. They are tired of being treated like they are nothing and not getting the same opportunities as a white person would in life. Imagine the roles being reversed. The blacks took white people as slaves and sold them like farm equipment.

Then they made whites use different bathrooms and drinking fountains than blacks. And later on took all the jobs that white people tried to get, but did not because of their skin color. White people would be infuriated and act exactly how the blacks are today. I am sick of hearing how the people of Ferguson are acting outof-turn, or causing more problems than there already were. T h e truth is the problems are the same as they were; they are just being brought to the surface and now everyone sees how disgusting it really is.

They want change, and waiting for times to change is never going to solve the problems. Waiting on time without action is futile and insane. Action must be taken for their voice to be heard and reckoned with. According to the constitution, “all men are created equal.” So when will that ever come into play?

However, that is how society is based today; off racism. The whites get better opportunities solely because of their skin color, while the blacks are left to live in poverty. Without opportunity, how are they ever going to make it out? We are all people living on the Earth together trying to make it through life by any means possible.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: JASON WATERS

EAT, SLEEP, MOVE

SABREE BLACKMON COPY EDITOR

Death to the treadmill Midwest winters give us days that are mild and sunny, wet with bone-chilling cold, and everything in between. It is no wonder why even the most active of people often venture indoors to get their daily dose of movement. There are many fun and high bang for your buck-forms of exercise that, to me, sound whole lot better than waiting in line for a treadmill or elliptical at one’s local gym.

By now, yoga is a well-known form of exercise that can also serve as a form of meditation and stress management. Some styles of yoga can be very physically challenging and can increase one’s strength and flexibility. Others focus on relaxation and mental centering. Given the dozens of styles of yoga in the St. Louis area, you can find a form of yoga and an instructor that matches up nearly perfectly with your goals. Because instructors teach yoga in groups, there is often a very welcoming community in which one can participate. Just like the very passionate yoga community, the CrossFit community is full of energetic and supportive people. The St. Louis area has gone from a handful of CrossFit gyms, or boxes, to over a dozen in just a few years. There is a reason for this — CrossFit is fast-paced, competitive in nature and result-driven. Given some of the conflicting love-it or hate-it publicity of late, it is best to take advantage of the first free “drop-

EDITORS Spencer Gleason Livie Hall Marissa Diercks Ryan Obradovic Alex White Dalila Kahvedzic Bill Gezella Sabree Blackmon Shannon Philpott

in” class that all CrossFit gyms offer. You can experience the environment and the coaches for yourself. Many CrossFit gyms have sizable student discounts, so be sure to shop around for the

best rates. For those wanting a bit more mental solitude, this area has a

number of nationally ranked indoor climbing gyms. The sport of climbing develops not only serious physical capacity, but it can hone your mental focus You can climb alone, using the gym’s auto-belay system, or you can climb with a belay partner. You can also climb one of the many bouldering walls that require minimal equipment. You will also find a serious community of climbers that are also eager to assist and teach beginners. The local gyms offer comprehensive classes from beginner to advanced and often organize trips outdoors. Students who are not afraid of venturing outside this time of year may find that colder months

are some of the best times to hit the otherwise busy local trails. Fall and winter trail running, biking and hiking not only offer great sights, but the experience of an empty trail can bring a serious intimate closeness with nature. Winter trail sports can come with an initial investment in windproof and cold weather gear. However, you can often wear these things well into the Spring, and they may double as everyday wear on those particularly nasty days. From martial arts, gymnastics and swimming; there is a large number of activities that will not only keep you active during the colder months, but can keep you mentally sharp as well. Droning in front of a television while jogging will always be a winter pastime, the St. Louis area offers the student a myriad of engaging choices that you can continue year round. Who knows — you may even pick up a new hobby and a new community to be a part of.

MONTAGE STAFF THE MONTAGE

Brittney Farrow Senior Staff Writer Editor in Chief/ Sports Editor Christian Hargas Staff Writer Managing/News Editor Ashley Higginbotham Staff Writer Graphics/In-Depth Editor Jason Jamison Staff Writer Opinions Editor Aaron McCall Staff Writer Photo Editor Kayla Cacciatore Staff Writer/Photographer Asst. Art and Life Editor David Kloeckner Staff Writer/Photographer Copy Editor Jason Waters Staff Designer Copy Editor Aaron Landgraf Staff Multimedia Specialist Faculty Adviser Kurstin Mecey Staff Multimedia Specialist

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 of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. Editorial policy: All letters should be no longer than 500 words and must include identification as a student or faculty member, phone number and address for verification purposes. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for content and length. All letters submitted will be published in print and online.

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OPINIONS 5

Nov. 13, 2014

‘I think they should be thrown in jail for that’ AARON LANDGRAF STAFF WRITER “I cannot believe I live in a city with these animals.” “I think they should be thrown in jail for that.” “People died for that flag.” These are just a few samples of Facebook outrage I have gleaned over the past week as protestors in Ferguson taking to the burning of the American flag as means of demonstration have heated up media outlets and public opinion. Everybody it seems, has something to say and most commentary seems to be that of condemnation. The American flag is long regarded as a symbol of freedom and opportunity, naturally has no end of symbolic connotations and therefore it, and more crucially what it represents, holds a special meaning for millions. The most frequent argument I have encountered in regards to flag burning relates to what the flag “stands for.” What I find dangerous about this is the assumption that one's beliefs and symbolic images are universal, or should be universal. Rarely is truth the same for all parties.

If a person living in the United States has lived their life feeling oppressed and down trodden by poverty or circumstance and feels that the government is ignoring their plight, do they not then have the right to reject the flag of the institution they feel has turned a blind eye to their suffering? Circumstances often necessitate action, and those who feel they must turn to such actions often feel desperate. Demonstrations in Ferguson have been marred by controversy, but the large amount of media hype that has been aroused is due not only to the sheer number of protestors that participate, but also to the hefty impact of the statements that are being made. Because the flag is a symbol to many, perhaps even one of the earliest symbols that many are exposed to, it is only natural to be upset when that symbol is defiled. However, what better way to make a statement and hold attention than by claiming in one simple act that your symbol is not my symbol? Just the sight of the flag going up seems to arouse the guttural instincts and anger of many; this indicates to me that the practice was, in a way, successful. At the very least, a cry to action has been voiced. Furthermore, the act of flag burning is largely nonviolent, a welcome change

to an issue that has plagued the protests in Ferguson from the start. Public outcry condemning protestors for destroying businesses and homes has created a quasi- “damned if you do, damned if you don't” mentality. In the eyes of many, it seems, protestors burning a striped-and-starred cloth is just as evil as burning down a home or business. Violence breeds violence, but what harm does displaying a mistrust in the government bring? Do we live in such a world where deviating from the norm and being anything but chest-thumping, orderfollowing citizens is now dangerous and will receive you a prison sentence? If our troops fought for our right to fly our flag, as many suggest, did our troops not also fight for the same freedom to express our honest opinion of the state of our union by any peaceful means we see fit? The burning of the flag does not necessarily indicate anti-Americanism. The beloved “love it or leave it” mentality of many Americans can be toxic as well and is outdated. If this country was founded on a basis of freedom and tolerance, does it not make sense to work to actively change the country we are living in by means of expression we personally feel fit so long as we do not bring

harm to others? I am not pro-flag-burning, but I see no harm in flag-burning-tolerance which I believe is an important distinction. Indeed, if we cannot articulate criticisms of our government, which is no more infallible than any individuals humans are, are we even worthy of raising the flag ourselves and claiming it as the symbol of freedom we claim it to be? Regardless of ideals and convictions, senseless and absolute condemnation of opinion has never been a hallmark of freedom. Until we all can accept controversy and stop becoming offended at the slightest events that conflict with our personal beliefs, we cannot be truly free. We cannot be truly free unless we see beyond ourselves and make an effort to connect, sympathize and understand an opposite viewpoint instead of quickly rejecting it. As demonstrations continue and the media continues to overhype every detail, here is to hoping that rather than capitulating to our own gut instincts and the opinions of others, we can make the effort to look beyond our own bubbles. We can make an effort to understand that what is true for us individually is not universal, and what we feel is black and white is really just varying shades of gray.

Ignorance in today’s world AARON MCCALL STAFF WRITER In an age where ignorance is a choice, I never could understand why people loved to debate things they know nothing about. Why choose to be ignorant in an age where the information is so accessible? Why speak on a topic you have no knowledge on, only to be embarrassed? If you are not informed on a subject then just sit back, listen and observe instead of making yourself look bad by getting into a situation you cannot get out of. There is a quote that from Abraham Lincoln that says, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” That quote should be exercised more often. If people had the same thirst for gaining knowledge as they did debating, things would match up perfectly. It is not like you have to solve a riddle or get through a maze to find out what you want to know. No one is sitting at the end of the earth hoarding the world’s greatest information. In the era we live in all the information imaginable is at your fingertips, so not being familiar with a topic falls solely on you. Always remember Google is your friend. Knowledge is power, and the greatest asset an individual can possess is a sharp mind. Literally anything can be typed into a Google search bar and an abundance of useful information regarding that topic will

show up. Google will arm you with the information you want to be captain of the debate team in no time. If you are willing to listen instead of speak, absorb new information and ask questions instead of resorting to arguing you will be fine debating any topic. It is always a good idea to know a little bit of information about a variety of topics. Being versatile is never a negative thing in today’s fast paced world. Having confidence is important in all walks of life, but pride must be held in check sometimes. As a college student I am probably at a stage where I think I know everything, but something new can always be learned. When a person thinks there is no further knowledge to be acquired, then a problem has surfaced. I do not know how many times I have had a discussion with a person and midway through realized that they really have no idea what they are talking about. Often times people not only debate these topics, but actually get mad when they are told what they have to say is wrong.

??? ILLUSTRATIONS BY: MARISSA DIERCKS

That is never a good thing and I try and avoid these situations as much as the next person, but somehow they continue coming up. Most times, debates are usually over the same few topics: sports, music, religion or politics. While the topics remain the unchanged, no two debates are alike. I think the most valuable currency on earth is the ability pass

down the knowledge you have acquired to someone else. If we live amongst large numbers of people who choose to argue topics they are not educated on, what type of message does that send to the youth? Check out a book or get on Google every once in a while. You never know what you might find.


6 INDEPTH Nov. 13, 2014

Working Over the Holiday$

LIVIE HALL MANAGING EDITOR

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC GRAPHICS BY MARISSA DIERCKS

Target

GameStop

2014 Seasonal Hires: 70,000 Change from 2013: 0 Total Employees: 366,000 U.S. Stores: 1,793 The Christian Science Monitor: Holiday hiring period runs from October through December.

Toys R’ Us

2014 Seasonal Hires: 25,000 Change from 2013: +8,000 Total Employees: 17,000 U.S. Stores: 4,467

Wal-Mart Stores

2014 Seasonal Hires: 45,000 Change from 2013: 0 Total Employees: 67,000 U.S. Stores: 873

Kohl’s

Macy’s

“Thirty-nine percent of retail hiring managers plan to hire seasonal workers this year, up from 36 percent last year and 29 percent in 2011, according to the CareerBuilder survey. A survey of 1,000 hiring managers by job-search service Snagajob found that 69 percent expected to make hires this year, up from 63 percent in 2012.” Companies that have created more positions for the holiday season: Amazon, Macy’s, UPS, FedEx

csmonitor.com/Business/2013/1122/ Holiday-hiring-picks-up-could-lead-tofull-time-jobs

2014 Seasonal Hires: 60,000 Change from 2013: +5,000 Total Employees: 2.2 million U.S. Stores: 4,835

2014 Seasonal Hires: >67,000 Change from 2013: +17,000 Total Employees: 137,000 U.S. Stores: 1,158

2014 Seasonal Hires: 86,000 Change from 2013: +3,000 Total Employees: 172,500 U.S. Stores: 840

Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea10.htm Age

2013 Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Total, 16 years and over

7.2

7.0

6.7

6.6

6.7

6.7

16 to 19 years

22.0

20.8

20.2

20.7

21.4

20.9

16 to 17 years

23.8

23.6

23.8

21.9

21.8

20.1

18 to 19 years

21.1

19.4

18.3

19.8

21.0

20.7

20 years and over

6.6

6.5

6.2

6.1

6.2

6.2

20 to 24 years

12.2

11.6

11.1

11.9

11.9

12.2

25 years and over

6.0

5.8

5.6

5.4

5.5

5.4

25 to 54 years

6.3

6.2

5.8

5.6

5.8

5.7

25 to 34 years

7.2

7.4

6.9

6.8

7.0

6.8

35 to 44 years

5.7

5.6

5.4

5.0

5.1

5.1

45 to 54 years

5.9

5.4

5.1

5.1

5.1

5.0

55 years and over

5.4

4.9

5.1

4.5

4.6

4.7


D e ea nn - S t o r N ee l y e Man ager a tS

Aaron Cu - Mana mmings ge r a t F irs t W atch

C

INDEPTH 7

tarbu cks

Nov. 13, 2014

Store Manager at Starbucks Deeann Neely said the holiday season is Starbucks’ busiest time. For about a month and a half, their sales go up. She said they do not do any seasonal hiring and are looking for long-term employees. She said students will have an open availability over the winter season, and will sometimes lower the hours they can work when spring hits. All Neely asks is they give her a two to three week heads up.

Manager at First Watch Aaron Cummings said they do not really get an influx of applications for seasonal work over the holidays. However, their business does increase. He said he would rather hire for long-term positions, but if the right people came in, he would consider them. Summer is when they will do their seasonal hiring.

“We have tons of people who may get hired during the holidays, and during non-holidays they drop their hours down to a couple days a week because that’s really all they can do - especially if they’re a student,” Neely said.

“We’ve hired over the summer for shortterm, but holidays are usually only for about a month, so that’s a lot of paperwork for one month,” Cummings said.

Should you apply? If you are in it for the long haul.

Should you apply? If you have awesome experience.

iz za tec ey ’s P y z w S t De fana S te nager a Szytec said business picks up around two weeks a -M before Thanksgiving. A little after Thanksgiving, there’s a “lull,” but it picks back up in December. She said their busiest day, “hands down,” is the day before Thanksgiving.

Ian O’Lear y at Kaldi ’s - General Manager

General Manager at Kaldi’s Ian O’Leary said this the busiest time for the coffee shop. Much like the Starbucks down the road, Kaldi’s coffee, drink and merchandise sales rise. O’Leary said they are expecting this holiday season to be the busiest ever, based on 2014 sales.

“We think it’s because nobody cooks the night before Thanksgiving. Everybody’s cooking so much that day that they just want to go out the night before, kind of have somebody else do it, bring it home or stay here,” Szytec said.

“This whole year has been trending upwards. We’ve been here for a decade next year and this is the busiest year we’ve had since opening this location,” O’Leary said.

The peak application time is in the spring and fall. Szytec said students are either looking for jobs before they graduate or when they start school for some extra money. Dewey’s will not hire seasonal work because of their month-long training process. However, they always consider applications.

Kaldi’s is not looking to hire seasonal employees due to the intensive training required. He said full training lasts six to 12 months. Employees are expected to invest in the company, and O’Leary said the business invests right back.

Should you apply? If you really love pizza and want to work with it for a long time.

Should you apply? If you plan to stick it out.

vis T ierney Da T he Tan Company at r e g a - Man

Stacey Nichols ur ’s Bakery - Manager at McA rth

Manager at The Tan Company Tierney Davis said business gets very slow and is not good over the holiday season. February is their busiest season with people getting ready for spring break and vacations. They only have about four people on the staff and Davis is the only full-time employee.

Manager at McArthur’s Bakery Stacey Nichols said this is their busiest season. She said business gets “crazy” about two weeks before Thanksgiving. People come in to buy desserts and bread for their families. Nichols said she agrees with Troy McJessy, the general manager at Pickleman’s, and said downtown Kirkwood thrives off of people being out. When they are not, it hurts her business. She said the peak application time is in the summer with people looking for seasonal work. Over the holidays, she gets around 10 to 15 people applying to jobs.

“The colder the weather is, the more people don’t tan. It’s kind of weird, but it’s true,” Davis said. She considers all applications, even if people are just looking for seasonal or part-time work.

Should you apply? You would probably be better off somewhere else.

“We don’t always have seasonal work,” Nichols said.

2014 Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

6.3

6.3

6.1

6.2

6.1

5.9

5.8

19.1

19.2

21.0

20.2

19.6

20.0

18.6

22.1

23.0

23.7

23.1

23.7

20.9

22.2

17.4

17.1

19.3

18.8

17.8

19.8

16.8

5.8

5.8

5.5

5.7

5.7

5.4

5.3

10.6

11.1

10.5

11.3

10.6

11.4

10.5

5.2

5.2

5.0

5.0

5.1

4.7

4.7

5.4

5.5

5.1

5.2

5.3

4.9

4.9

6.6

6.7

6.5

6.6

6.9

6.2

6.2

4.9

5.1

4.7

4.8

4.8

4.3

4.4

4.7

4.6

4.2

4.2

4.3

4.1

4.0

4.7

4.6

4.4

4.5

4.6

3.9

4.1

Should you apply? Take a shot, but you will have better luck in the summertime.


8 ART & LIFE Nov. 13, 2014

Former military find home in Meramec’s Veteran’s Club Student veterans from different military backgrounds work together to help others LIVIE HALL MANAGING EDITOR The first thing Josh Gage does when he walks into a classroom is observe. He looks at the people around him and he said he locates the nearest exits. In the back row, he sees a student with a hard stare and crew cut. Gage knows that look — the look of a military man. As an STLCC-Meramec student who did two tours in Iraq, this is familiar. He takes a seat next to him. After his time in Iraq, he said he wanted to do something different with his life, so he enrolled at Meramec. However, the things he saw overseas are still with him. “Those images do not leave you; the memories will never go away. They will haunt me for the rest of my life,” Gage said. What he saw is similar to what you see in a war movie, he said. He was involved in three improvised explosive device (I.E.D.) explosions, was within 300 feet of an Iraqi rocket and was involved in a mortar attack. He was one of the first people who responded, trying to save as many lives as possible in a battle where so many had already been lost. When Gage first came home, he had trouble adjusting to normal life again. Never sober and constantly fighting, he went a year without having a job. Now at the age of 32, he and his girlfriend have built a stable life, he said. He still has symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD,) but he has gained some normalcy. A LOVE FOR THE MILITARY

Veteran’s Club Secretary Melenie Bongner never made it

past boot camp, but her love for the military is still strong, she said. In 2008, she enlisted in the United States Navy. In 2009, her recruiter tried to assault her, she said. In 2010, they cancelled her contract altogether. They told her they would reassign the officer, but she was no longer allowed to join - “she was not worth it.” Being fifth-generation military, it was a really big disappointment. It was the one thing she really wanted to do with her life, she said. “I never really considered college or anything,” Bongner said. “I always figured I’d follow in my dad’s footsteps.” She said her family did not take her rejection well, aside from her mother who never wanted her to join the military. However, her father was devastated. Bongner said she is still troubled by her experience and enters situations carefully – she observes, just like Gage. Her experiences should have changed her opinion of the military, but she said it did not. VETERANS COME TOGETHER

Both Bongner and Gage found the opportunity to share their experiences and network with other veterans through the Veteran’s Club at Meramec. Gage is currently the club’s president. Bongner said the Veteran’s Club is not just for veterans it’s for anyone who supports the military. The club recruits members by reaching out to students that have served. Veteran’s Club Adviser Michael Burke said these students come from all branches, with

SUBMITTED PHOTO

PHOTOS BY: LIVIE HALL Veteran’s Club President Josh Gage (right) and member Katie Johnson (left) sell popcorn, soda and T-shirts at the concession stand in the Student Center to raise money for the club. Gage said they raised around $80 on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

many suffering from PTSD and other disabilities. Bongner said the club helps veterans any way they can. With her connections to TRiO (Meramec’s student support services,) Bongner can direct students to campus counselors. Burke said help can also be found through Meramec’s Access Office. “[Veterans] fit into a particular category,” Burke said. “The more you fit in, the better off you’re going to be. If you’re going to be successful in the rest of your life, you’re not going to wrap yourself in your old uniform. You don’t

want to do that. You want to use that experience to make you a successful college student.” Burke was in the Army for 27 years. He said he joined the military because his chances of being drafted in the Vietnam War were high, so it was easier to join and pick his job. He did not expect to stay in the military as long as he did, but he said he loved it. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel before he decided to leave. Burke said there is an initial influx of students wanting to join the club, but that excitement fades out. Bongner said the club

does a lot of volunteer work with the American Legion. Veteran’s Club member Katie Johnson said the Veteran’s Club is not there to just be another club, it is there to help veterans and inform them of the resources, scholarships and available support. “I feel an immense amount of pride because I know that I’m doing my part to help them out. Whether I’m sounding board, or a support staple in the group — whatever it is, I’m doing my part,” Johnson said. “I also feel an extreme sense of respect toward them because they do what I can’t.”

Left: Josh Gage, age 23, in 2003. He was preparing for the Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. Above: Johnson (left) sells popcorn to students who come by the concession stand. The club was selling popcorn for $1, soda for $1.50 and T-shirts for $10. All money went to the Veteran’s Club. Donations were accepted as well.


ART & LIFE 9

Nov. 13, 2014

PHOTOS BY: ALEX WHITE STLCC-Meramec hosts a blood drive on Monday, Oct. 27 by the American Red Cross. Over sixty Meramec students participated.

Meramec students give blood, save lives ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR On Monday, Oct. 27, the American Red Cross hosted a blood drive at STLCC-Meramec. The drive took place on the second floor of the Student Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sixty students signed up and many more dropped in to donate blood. The American Red Cross did have a goal to get at least 45 blood donations. With the number of

people who showed up for the event. That goal was exceeded. One of the students who donated blood was first year student Austin Fields. The donation had been Fields’ first, deciding on a whim to donate that morning. After he finished donating and was enjoying the free refreshments and snacks provided by the Red Cross, he explained why he

wanted to donate. “My grandma has had quite a few heart problems, and a lot of blood transfusions. So if I could donate blood to possibly help out someone else’s grandma, that would be great.” Fields said. “I also hope to be able to donate more often so I can help as many people as possible. This will definitely not be the last time I donate blood.”

Fifty years of college Student Jinny Gender follows her passions, continues taking classes during retirement KAYLA CACCIATORE STAFF WRITER Jinny Gender is on her 50th year of taking college courses. Starting out in 1964 at STLCCFlorissant Valley, Gender balanced work, a home life with three kids and a husband while concentrating on her studies. She has taken painting, drawing, French, German, English, tap dancing, tennis, yoga, golf, math and music classes through the years she has been going to STLCC. “At 25 I was married with three kids, age three, four and five. I was a freshman for nine years because I could only take a class one at a time,” Gender said. She grew up with parents who did not go to college. She said in the 1950s, college was not usually heard of for families and her parents did not want to pay for her education. At age 27, Gender said she had no one encouraging her to go to school except for one woman - her child’s teacher. The teacher told her about an opportunity to substitute teach with a minimum of 60 credit hours. “I was so moved that she asked. Nobody else was encouraging me to go to school. I went right up to Flo Valley and enrolled,” Gender said. “The fifties were a weird time — you were supposed

to look pretty and get married, but everyone I knew was going to college, I just knew I had to go. I was smart and did very well in high school. It was really a driving force.” After her time at STLCCFlorissant Valley, Gender moved to Kirkwood with her family in 1967. It was then she started at STLCC-Meramec to earn her Associate of Arts degree. She said she started school around the time the Meramec campus was first built. The campus had a similar design to the current one, but she said many things were different. She said there were no automatic doors or elevators. Telephones were placed high on the walls and there were many disabled veteran students. “It became a custom to look behind you and if you saw somebody who needed to have the door held for them you’d stop and let them in. There was a culture of friendliness here that I had rarely seen anywhere else,” Gender said. With so much change in politics and society during the years, Gender said she became involved with the campus life by starting a group called “Meremac Women.” “We got involved in the

feminist movement, civil rights movement, the issues of veterans and black students. At that time, hierarchical structures were not popular,” Gender said. “We had steering committees [that] had maybe five people on the committee and they made decisions on their other committees. We wanted a feminist organization and realized it was key to get on the Student Activities board to get money appropriated to the women for sports and feminist literature.” Graduating from Meramec with her Associate of Arts degree in 1974, Gender said she continued to Lindenwood University in St. Charles. She was awarded a grant called ‘Women Graduates of a Junior College with Leadership Potential’ and graduated from Lindenwood in 1976 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Gender said she became involved in a lot of social work and volunteer work over the years, having been a member of state, national and local volunteer boards. One of the boards she was on was a radio station called WGNU. She said during the fifteen years she was there, she met a lady named Nancy Bikson with whom she had started a

business called International Charity Consultants with another lady named Barbara Enneking. She said it was a business they had started in England, which helped nonprofit organizations, such as healthcare related charities and college alumni groups. For the past 25 years she said she travels to London every year with her business partner, Barbara Enneking, to discuss business with her clients. Retired and living with her husband in Kirkwood, Gender said she and her husband travel a lot because they can. “I’ve been to Iceland, New Zealand, and all around the United States,” Gender said. As a hobby she said she enjoys taking care of bees, harvesting honey, after seeing her son take care of two bee hives, she said she and her husband decided to take care of a few on their own. “We’ll end up taking 100 pounds of honey out of the hives, a year. We keep some for personal use and end up selling the rest,” Gender said. She said she enjoys staying active, spending time with her children and grandchildren, along with her two dogs, and is continuing to take classes every year at STLCC-Meramec, but

PHOTO BY: KAYLA CACCIATORE Student Jinny Gender has taken classes at STLCC for the past 50 years.

does not take classes for a grade anymore.“This year I’m in my third year of Advanced Piano Workshop and I’m also taking Tai Chi,” she said. She said her academic career has no plans of stopping and would like to try taking Spanish again. She suggests to students who are struggling in school, a few words. “You have to give it a shot,” Gender said. “But college isn’t for everybody. There are other things to do. Do what you feel passionate about. If you feel passionate about school then by all means go.”


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Second Prize: $50 gift card

Length: No restriction Deadline: 5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19 Submit by email only to fhooker@stlcc.edu NOTE: Because our tutors serve as judges, we regret that works on which you received help from the College Writing Center are not eligible for the contest.

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ART & LIFE 11 Nov. 13, 2014

PHOTOS BY: DALILA KAHVEDZIC

Empty Bowls Above: Rebecca Winter, English faculty, Pat Whitworth, English Department secretary, and students admire ceramic bowls created by Meramec students and faculty at the annual Empty Bowls Luncheon Nov. 10 in the Student Center. The event was sponsored by the Service Learning Department and funds raised benefited Operation Food Search and the Brown Bag Cafe, the on-campus food pantry for students. For a $13 donation, guests received lunch and a ceramic bowl.

Rewriting the Script Media Communications Instructor chronicles the scripts of society CHRISTIAN HARGAS STAFF WRITER STLCC Media Communications and Scriptwriting Instructor Clint Green, has another career other than the one on a college campus. Green said as a hobby, he has been writing film scripts since he started college at Meramec. He said he began to educate himself

in the art of scriptwriting when he received his bachelor’s degree in media communications at Webster University. Writing Style “I chose to become a scriptwriter because I have always had an interest in storytelling.

PHOTO BY: CHRISTIAN HARGAS Communications instructor Clint Green works on a script prior to teaching at STLCCMeramec.

Even as a young boy, I would script out scenes with my action figures as I played with them. That passion combined with my love for film has really resulted in my educational study in scriptwriting,” Green said. Green said even though he has written scripts for different genres, he prefers drama over the others. “I have written drama, action and comedy. Drama is my genre of choice when it comes to writing because it allows for much more character depth and exposition than others. It provides the opportunity to focus on the lives of your characters in a realistic fashion that really connects with the audience. Other genres, such as action and horror, rely more on scare tactics and action sequences,” Green said. Green said his favorite screenwriters are Christopher Nolan and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu because of their strong writing styles. He said Nolan does a great job of creating dark realities and exploiting character flaws, driving motivation and emotion. He said Inarritu does

an “excellent job” of constructing ways to tell his stories. Green said he does this using a structure that connects multiple storylines and characters. “As far as my work goes, there is not one specific style I implement, but rather a combination of elements I have found engaging when viewing these movies. For example, I like to start my scripts in the middle of some kind of situation or action. This engages the audience immediately and also reveals a lot about the characters in the scene right away. I like to establish my characters quickly. Also, I typically will not follow a linear structure. This allows for more consistent pacing,” Green said. Teaching Style Green currently teaches Scriptwriting for Television and Film and Introduction to Mass Communications courses at Meramec. He said for the Mass Communications class he provides students with an overall analysis of different media types including print, film, television, Internet, advertising and public

relations. “My hope is that students will walk away from this class aware of the surrounding media they encounter on a daily basis and the significant role media plays in our society,” Green said. For Scriptwriting, he teaches the fundamentals to writing an effective script. He said this includes everything from format and presentation to storytelling tools. He hopes that learning the material will give students the confidence and education necessary to “explore their creative talent,” he said. Green said he sees himself working in the scriptwriting industry in the future while continuing his career as a film and communications instructor at Meramec. He plans on collaborating on a drama project with a friend. He said he is developing a supernatural drama — a first for him. “I have always envisioned myself working in the industry, no matter the location. However, I also have a passion for teaching. So, my ultimate goal is to do both,” Green said.


12 SPORTS

Nov. 13, 2014

Rebounding STLCC Archers win season home opener, 127-64

after an 0-2 start

ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR The STLCC men’s basketball team gave their fans a home opener victory, winning 12762 against the Junior Varsity Missouri Baptist University Spartans on Nov. 6. The 64-point differential win was the Archers’ (1-3) first tally in the win column this season. STLCC’s 127 points was the Archers’ fifth time surpassing the 100-point plateau under secondyear head coach Randy Reed. It also marks the most points STLCC has scored while Reed has overseen the team. “All in all, everyone is playing

All and all, everyone is playing like a team. [We’re] playing really well together. - Noren Kirksey

like a team,” STLCC Assistant Coach Noren Kirksey said. “[We’re] playing really well together.” The Archers continued to put up points on the scoreboard throughout the whole game, communicating for alley-oops and nailing three-pointers. STLCC sunk 9-for-19 from beyond the arc and shot 70.6 percent from the free throw line. Eight different players scored double-digits. The Archers took a 55-23 lead into halftime and added 74 points in the second half. “The first half went really well, considering our last few games before this,” Kirksey said during the intermission. “Our starters played well. Our second-line guys were a little more sporadic.” The Archers kept the ball moving, passing to their open teammates, letting everyone take a shot. All 14 members of the 2014-15 Archers lit up the scoreboard. The majority of the 2014-

15 roster consists of freshmen, with eight of the 14 members attending their first year at STLCC. Defensively, the Archers covered as much ground as they could, keeping their players spread out on the court. The tactic allowed STLCC to reach 30 defensive rebounds, of their 39 rebounds overall. The Archers have 11 more home games at STLCC-Forest Park. Their next takes place on Friday, Nov. 21. They will host the Greyhounds from MidSouth Community College. The Greyhounds will be traveling from West Memphis, Ark.

MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Nov. 21, 7 p.m. vs. Mid-South C.C *HOME Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. vs. Mineral Area College *HOME *Home games at STLCC-Forest Park

PHOTOS BY: ALEX WHITE Above: Members of the STLCC-Archers men’s basketball team take breather on the bench during their home opener on Nov. 6. The Archers defeated the Junior Varsity team from Missouri Baptist University Spartans, 127-64. Below: (From left to right) STLCC’s Jake Hensel, Sean Robinson and Joe Henderson look on during the second half of their game on Nov. 6. All three sophomores started the game.


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