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VOLUME 53, ISSUE 7 | THURSDAY DEC. 7, 2017 | WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM Photo by Tania Robin

Five Meramec students protest by chanting from the floor in front of the board table at the Nov. 30 Board of Trustees meeting. The protest was in opposition to the reduction in force which was voted on and approved that evening. See related story on page 5.

Board of Trustees approves RIF at Nov. 30 Meeting Cuts of up to 70 full-time faculty imminent, Chancellor Pittman’s contract renewed.

Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief

STLCC’s Board of Trustees voted to approve recent budget recommendations proposed by the Budget Reponse Team, according to a press release issued late Thursday night. Among these recommendations was a reduction in force of up to 70 full-time faculty members, which passed unanimously.

At approximately 8:10 p.m., before voting started on any of the items, several students leapt from their seats and laid down in front of the board table, chanting “justice for faculty”, prompting the board to retreat to a private meeting room.

“We just wanted to recess and let the students have time to vent and talk for a while,” said Chancellor Pittman. “We just let them have the protest basically.”

Protests continued until approximately 9:30 p.m. when the board reemerged. They continued their meeting amid student protests with police guarding the board table from the front. The board voted on all items despite the protests. Pittman said it was something he’d never seen before.

“I appreciated all their passion but it made it hard to conduct business,” said Pittman. “We can’t continue to operate that way going forward.”

Due to loud chanting from protesters drowning

out board activity, audience members were left uncertain about the results of the vote until Spokeswoman Nez Savala confirmed that the RIF had passed in a press release.

“I think we can all agree that this was a difficult decision for the board, but it was necessary. It’s our responsibility as leaders of the college to ensure fiscal stability and to face budget challenges sooner rather than later,” said Pittman in the release. “I want everyone to know that their hard work and dedication to our students and to the college community will always be appreciated. We will continue to work together in the best interest of our students and the future of the college.”

According to the release, the next step for the college is to implement the recommendations. Beyond the cut of 70 full-time faculty, other recommendations include the reduction of low-completion courses and programs and an increase in cost sharing of employee insurance premiums.

While first iteration of the press release stated that “faculty and non-faculty who are affected by the reduction in force will be notified in writing by Dec. 15”, an updated version of the release said that “STLCC

Board of Trustees has directed [Pittman] to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding to mutually agree to waive the STLCC NEA Joint Resolution December 15 notice requirement and to allow notice to be made by March 1, 2018.”

According to Pittman, two Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIPs) will be offered. One is identical to the VSIP offered to faculty and staff this summer; the other is exclusive for full-time faculty.

The difference is increased compensation for those willing to part with the college by June 30, 2018. If by March 2018 the number of voluntary separations has not reached 70, faculty will be given a notice if their position has been terminated.

Pittman negotiated with the STLCC NEA to create the new VSIP. He said they agreed to delay serving faculty with employment termination notices in hopes that enough faculty will take the offer to prevent the need for notices in the first place.

“We have a large number of faculty who are eligible for retirement,” said Pittman. “Rather than notice people earlier we’ll wait and see what happens with the incentive plans. We may get enough voluntary interested that we don’t have to notice anyway.”

continued on page 8

Curtains Rise on Middletown

A Proposition for America’s Voting System

Unknown but not Unloved: Meramec’s Pool

-Art & Life, Page 8

-Opinions, Page 10

-Sports, Page 12

Page 2 | News

Listening circle channels Native American traditions

Dec. 7, 2017

Following social turmoil, activity encourages participants to think about privilege After periods of social unrest following the Stockley verdict, Counselor Rhonda Adams hosted several listening circles for students, faculty and staff to release thoughts and feelings that might otherwise go unheard. The third circle occurred on Nov. 29 in BA 105.

“This started because of some unrest,” said Adams, addressing the circle. “Faculty, staff and administrators wanted to hear what you had to say, what you were thinking, what you were feeling.”

At the start of the meeting, Adams encouraged participants to channel the Kiva Native Americans, who used the concept of a circle to represent equality. There is no hierarchy in the circle, said Adams, nobody sitting higher than another.

The third listening circle followed similar rules to the first two; an object (in this case, a cup) was placed on a table in the center of the circle.

Participants would take the cup, speak their mind, and replace it. Only the person with the cup could speak at any given time.

This time, however, Adams hosted an activity before the speaking portion. First, participants were asked to define what privilege meant to

them. “Something you’re born with,” said one participant. “It’s an advantage I don’t have to explain,” said another.

Next, participants were asked to spread out in front of a series of tape lines. Adams read out a series of commands related to personal privilege such as, ‘Step forward if you grew up with two parents’ and ‘Step forward if you have your own computer and printer.’

After questions, participants were asked to look around at everyone else’s position.

“Take a look at who’s in front of you and think about if this were a race,” said Adams.

“Think about things that have nothing to do with your efforts, like your starting point.”

After the activity, participants moved back into the circle to begin the discussion, which centered around privilege. Many of the speakers shared personal stories of how privilege, or lack thereof, affected their lives. Emily Neal, professor of political science, recounted her youth growing up with mixedrace cousins.

“I remember going to a playground right across my street,” said Neal. “I remember the kids there for the first time used the N-word to people I

A T

Photo by Melissa Wilkinson

Melissa Wilkinson | Staff Writer

Listening circle participants complete an exercise about privilege. Attendees were asked to step forward in the instance of privilege and then observe who was in front. loved. I knew intuitively I could say something. I couldn’t articulate that it was because I was white.”

Meramec Communications professor Denise Sperruzza commented on the nature of teaching about privilege as a privileged person.

“I teach about privilege and I know what privilege is. I understand it conceptually but you can’t know something on a deeper level without living through it,” said Sperruzza.

Sperruzza, who does safe zone training for LGBT youths, said she once felt uncomfortable performing

the task as a straight woman, but has since learned not to apologize for her privilege and instead use the opportunity as a learning experience.

“I grew up Catholic so the guilt thing I know really, really well,” said Sperruzza. “I’m learning to undo some of that.”

Academic advisor Sebrina Colvin contributed to the topic of forgiveness, recounting her experience with racial battle fatigue, a term coined by University of Utah researcher William A. Smith describing the tendency of black students to experience physical discomfort when navigating historically

white spaces. Colvin said that a few years ago she became exhausted trying to explain privilege to her white friends, some of whom she lost in the dispute, but she is now ready to try and mend those relationships.

“At first I was so angry at how they responded,” said Colvin. “2015 and 2016, I felt like I had to prove it.”

The final part of the discussion focused on family, whether by blood or by choice. According to Adams, many students seek a familial relationship in their everyday lives where they can be held with unconditional positive regard. Neal said and that it’s up to STLCC faculty to help students feel welcome at school.

“To constantly try to educate others about privilege is exhausting,” said Neal. “As faculty we must use our privilege to bring our experience back into the classroom.”

The listening circle ended with faculty pledging to help educate students about prejudice. ESL professor Lisa Wilkinson thanked participants for sharing their thoughts.

“I like listening. When people speak from the heart, it’s so powerful,” said Wilkinson.

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 a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **

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 143 MUS 150 MUS152 MUS 154 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 Intro to Desktop Music Publishing Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II

Interested in performing in an ensemble?

All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!

ENSEMBLES

Music 132 – Orchestra Music 133 – Jazz Lab Band Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 135 – Concert Choir & Chamber Singers 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 Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

Photo by Tania Robin

RIF vote passes 7-0 continued from page 1

According to Pittman, if the need for a RIF should arise, the decision regarding which faculty will be cut will be negotiated using the joint agreement with the STLCC NEA. “It’s based on seniority. Not across the board seniority but if we’re looking at a specific discipline it will be based on seniority,” said Pittman.

Pittman said he thinks many will take the offer, and that even with the RIF the school will continue to maintain its standards of excellence.

“I think we’ll continue to have very strong academic standards. With the reduction of 70 we’re still ranked second in the nation for faculty to student ratio,” said Pittman.

Also included in the release was the announcement that Pittman’s contract with STLCC has been renewed.

“The Board feels that Dr. Pittman has moved the college along in a positive direction with a number of significant accomplishments. He has placed focus on important areas, such as student access and success, infrastructure, community partnerships and financial stability,” said BOT Chair Doris Graham.

Pittman will serve as Chancellor through June 2023. Regarding warnings of a no confidence vote currently being planned by STLCC NEA leadership, Pittman said he was “disappointed” but unfazed.

“Votes of no confidence happen all the time. They typically are a tactic that’s used when an organization or college is going through budget reductions,” said Pittman.

“That doesn’t concern me at all. I report to the board, not the faculty.”

Page 3 | News 4 Dec. 7, 2017

‘For Akheem’ breaks open school to prison pipeline Acclaimed documentary focuses on STLCC student Daje ‘Boonie’ Shelton When beginning filming for the documentary that would become “For Ahkeem”, directors Jeremy Levine and Landon Van Soest set out to make a film highlighting the Innovative Concept Academy (ICA) in St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Jimmie M. Edwards started ICA in 2009 to give young people in trouble what he refers to as not a second, third, or fourth chance, but a different chance.

“I was seeing so many children come into my courtroom with “Safe School Act” violations. The Safe School act is a zero-tolerance law. In my mind, zero-tolerance makes zero sense. We don’t even expect zero-tolerance from our adults and we expect that from our children,” Judge Edwards said.

“Our children are let out of school at 11 and 12 years old and are walking the street lawfully because they have been expelled and that just didn’t seem right to me.”

Levine and Van Soest said they originally wanted to highlight certain students from the school and the relationships they had with parents and educators. Then they met Daje “Boonie” Shelton and began collecting material for what would eventually become “For Ahkeem”. The film is named for Shelton’s son, not yet conceived as the film begins.

“We…talked to about 30 or 40 different students at the school. Daje was not one of the students initially. We were filming with one of her friends.

She came into the room, unannounced to us, and kind of threw herself down on the bed and completely stole the show,” Van Soest said.

“For Ahkeem” follows Shelton during her time at ICA after being kicked out of school for fighting. As she stands with her mother before Judge Edwards in the film, Edwards tells her, “either you make it with me [at ICA], or you don’t make it all.”

During her time at ICA, Shelton meets Antonio, and the two of them begin a relationship. This relationship leads to the birth of Ahkeem, their son, shortly after the shooting death by police of Michael Brown in Fergusson, MO. In the film, Shelton and friends discuss the number of peers they have lost to violence just that year. In reference to one of the young men they know who had lost his life to gun violence, one of Shelton’s friends says, “he was only 16.”

Shelton’s reply: “Everybody [that had

died] was 16.”

“After seeing a story about another black kid from an underserved neighborhood who’s disadvantaged, you realize that black kid…is just like you,” said Bradley Rayford, one of the film’s producers. “The only difference is how society reacts to that black kid…and how you, yourself react to it. I think it’s important to understand that humans live in these neighborhoods and they are being treated inhumanely.”

Antonio, Ahkeem’s father, is arrested multiple times throughout the film.

After one arrest, Antonio is told that if he pleads guilty to the crime he has been accused of, he will receive lighter sentencing. Without representation, Antonio pleads guilty to his charge.

Now, with a felony on his record and on probation, Antonio is not able to join a work program he desperately needs so that he will be able to provide for himself and his new family. This is one of many examples throughout the film of what is commonly referred to as the “school to prison pipleline.” After another arrest, and probation violation, Antonio is sentenced to 7 years in prison. These are the kinds of issues Judge Edwards says he hopes to confront with this film.

“We were really broadly interested in this idea of the school to prison pipeline,” Van Soest said. “We benefitted tremendously from the relationship that Jeff [Truesdell, another producer] had forged with Judge Edwards. Just had an incredible opportunity to come to the Concept Academy and explore these issues.”

The film’s directors come from very different backgrounds than the individuals whose lives are followed and displayed throughout the documentary. Levine hopes that this film will give people from a more “privileged” background a glimpse into the different kinds hardships faced by the people of less fortunate communities.

“I grew up in the suburbs outside Boston and a lot of my friends growing up in a mostly white school were caught with marijuana, they stole from convenience stores, and the consequences of their actions where 100 percent different than what I deal with and I think that’s incredibly important for kids of privilege [to know],” Levine said, “They are just given tremendous amounts of slack and forgiveness and that is not the same for somebody like Antonio, and it’s heartbreaking to all of us that Antonio at

EDITORS

Melissa Wilkinson Jordan Morris Will Murry Erik Muschinske Amanda Harris Noah Sliney Ashley Biundo Ian Schrauth Shannon Philpott-Sanders

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17 years old has a felony for the rest of his life.”

Shelton, after facing the hardships that come with a new school, a new relationship, and a son on the way, is able to stay out of trouble, and graduate from the Innovative Concept Academy with her High School Diploma.

She is now attending St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. The “For Ahkeem Team” has started an online fundraiser for her at “FundRazr” to raise money to help her and her family. “For Ahkeem” was shown in St. Louis as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival and has been shown in various cities including Los Angeles, New York

STAFF

Madison Bouse Stephen Buechter Darius Haynes Christopher Hutson Morgan Ratliff Christina Perkins Tania Robin Concilia Ndlovu Sean E. Thomas Mary Wilson Paul Van Leunen

Editor-in-Chief Production Manager Art & Life Editor Multimedia Editor Photo Editor Graphics Editor Sports Editor Online Editor Faculty Adviser

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Sean E. Thomas | Staff Writer

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and Berlin.

After the screening of “For Ahkeem” at the St. Louis History Museum on November 11, one audience member asked, “what do we do now?”

“First of all check yourself and your mentality and realize that people are not in these situations because they want to be in that situation,” Rayford said.

“There are a lot of situations that are systematically designed against Daje, against Antonio. If you are a teacher, maybe have a little more compassion for that student. If you are a police officer, maybe see crime and punishment differently. If you are a parent, give your child a chance to be heard.”

THE MONTAGE

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Page 4 | News

4

BOT meeting put on hold amid cries of ‘justice for faculty’

Dec. 7, 2017

Student protesters show support for professors by laying on ground, chanting Stephen Buechter | Staff Writer STLCC’s Board of Trustees were interrupted during their Nov. 30 meeting when five students threw themselves onto the ground in front of the board table. Arguably the most important meeting this year, the board was scheduled to vote on whether or not to pass recent budget recommendations, including a reduction in force of up to

70 full-time faculty members.

The initial five students acted before the vote could take place, laying on the floor and chanting “justice for faculty” over the meeting. The students refused to move and several other students joined in on the chanting. The board left during the protest and waited in a side room. The delay lasted for

Photo by Tania Robin Student protestors chant and hold signs outside the Cosand Center following the Nov. 30 Board of Trustees meeting. The slogan, “Pittman Hitman,” references the Chancellor’s vote to reduce STLCC faculty by 70 persons.

nearly an hour, gaining more students at it continued.

El-Shaddi Ackles, a student at Meramec who spoke out during the public forum section of the meeting, told those in attendance how his teachers had helped him through the death of his significant other, and described a “feeling of unity” with the other students in the room. Ackle’s involvement in the protest was inspired by his “wonderful educational experience” at Meramec and his desire not to see it disappear.

Protesting students Ashley Zeiter, Colleen Messerly and Sarah Kelly attended the meeting to support STLCC professors. All three said that their participation in the protest was not planned beforehand, but were inspired by the action of other students .

“The reason I’m enjoying [my time at STLCC] is because of the faculty,” said Messerly. “It’s not the facility, it’s all the faculty.”

The protest inspired mixed reactions from the crowd. Although many students joined in, much of the faculty present simply watched on, with some discussing the protests as it took place, others remaining entirely silent.

When the board returned to the room over an hour later, they voted in a huddle amid protests, the results of which were drowned out by the sound of chanting. Once the vote was over, the protesters moved outside the Cosand Center.

The results of the vote were not

revealed until later that night. Members of the board left roughly ten minutes after the meeting in a group, ignoring the protestors outside.

Before the press release, however, a brief rumor circulated that the vote had been delayed until March 2018. This was proven false by a press release, sent out late that night, which announced the vote had in fact passed.

The rumor, thought to have been circulated by those standing close to the board during the vote, stemmed from an amendment to the reduction in force proposal delaying the reduction in force until March to allow time for faculty and staff to consider taking a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment deal.

Spencer Cook, a vocal part of the protest, said that he felt he was “lied to.”

“I’m not surprised [Chancellor Pittman] would lie to get us off his back,” said Cook. “That just shows how tired he is.”

Despite the RIF passing, Ackles said he remains certain that his voice was heard.

“I feel that we made an impact on the board members and were able to make our point well known,” said Ackles. “I am positive that our message was sent to the administration.”

But for Cook, the long fight has just begun.

“This is about what’s right,” said Cook. “All I care about now is winning the battle.”

Here’s what the repeal of net neutrality could mean for Meramec students

FCC’s vote could determine internet speeds, access to information according to STLCC web designers On Dec. 14, internet in the United States could change forever--and not necessarily for the better. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans to vote to repeal their current net neutrality rules, according to Chairman Ajit Pai. The internet can be broken down into several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) including Verizon, Comcast and Spectrum, said STLCC Senior Web Designer Ben Shasserre. Net neutrality, a term coined by Columbia law professor Tim Wu in 2003, is what allows everyone in America to access the same information at the same speeds through those providers.

“The internet at the moment is an open, free, clear thing,” said Shasserre.

“Net neutrality basically stops [the ISP’s] ability to regulate the speed and what information is provided to users.”

Repealing net neutrality, however, would give ISPs the ability to determine not only what information users could see but how quickly they can see it.

According to Meramec web design professor Matt James, this means ISPs could dictate network speeds for their services based on what benefits themselves. “[Currently] Verizon, who is a part of the same company as Yahoo, cannot slow Google dramatically because they would prefer you to use Yahoo...which they are economically tied to. Currently that’s not legal but with the potentially impending repeal they would be able to do that,” said James.

Pai’s argument against net neutrality

is that the law allows the government to “micromanage the internet.” The FCC is making the argument that current laws prevent companies from growing their networks, said Shasserre, but there will be consequences for consumers if their plan succeeds.

“The problem with that in my mind is that you’re basically believing in the big companies to make good decisions for consumers...which is not going to happen,” said Shasserre.

This is not the first time issues related to net neutrality have arisen.

Until 2015 there were no clear consumer protections put in place to prevent ISPs from throttling information or internet speeds, and large companies took advantage of it.

AT&T, for instance, blocked FaceTime on certain iPhone data plans in 2012 and 2013 in order to encourage more expensive upgrades. While AT&T did receive criticism over the decision, if the FCC votes to repeal net neutrality, the practice could easily be revived with no limitation.

According to James, it’s hard to see how consumers are benefitted in any way by the repeal of net neutrality. “[ISPs] are the winners in that fight and consumers end up losing because they lose the egalitarian nature of the web,” said James. “On top of that, innovation is stifled too. “If Verizon had a social media network that was popular and a startup came along and made their own network that was better in every conceivable way, Verizon could very easily just slow down

Graphic by Noah Sliney

Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Cheif

that service because they didn’t want the competition.”

While an attempt to repeal net neutrality a few years ago failed due to “an overwhelming voice” of dissent, Shasserre said he thinks the vote could succeed this time.

“I think [the FCC is] trying it again because people are so distracted with everything else that’s going on with our current administration,” said Shasserre.

“People might just let this one go

because it can’t be as big as the next thing Trump’s going to do.”

Of the two ways the vote could be stopped--the first being one of three FCC board members votes no, the second being the vote is blocked by the US Senate-- Shasserre said the latter is more likely.

“Sign the petition...call and email your congressman or woman,” said Shasserre. “Try and get them to pay attention.”

Page 5 | Art & Life 4 Dec. 7, 2017

Meramec Students Drop the Mic

Meramec Student Music Club hosts second annual Open Mic Night in Student Center Cafeteria Will Murry | Art & Life Editor

Meramec’s cafeteria was filled with talent on Thursday, Nov. 16 as it set the stage for the Student Music Club’s annual open mic night.

The Stage saw a diverse group of performers from dancers, guitarists and singers to rappers, karaoke and improvisational piano comedy. Students, staff and even parents came out to see performers.

This open mic night was the Music Club’s second time hosting the event.

This year’s set-up included a stage, pa system and piano for the performers to take advantage of during their time to shine.

Rapper Che Sanchez, who performed at the event, said being on stage “felt awesome”. Many of

his friends and family came to support him and sing along with his original song.

“I’ve played a couple of shows where people knew me and knew my lyrics before, but this is the first time I’ve been able to actually stop singing and had the audience sing my chorus,” said Sanchez. “Having friends here to support and having a friend here recording me in the front was awesome.”

According to Club President Dennis Allen, the overall turnout for open mic night was better than last year. Allen said this may be due to a lack of organization for the previous event.

“We didn’t really know what we were doing, so it was kinda all over the place. To organize this event there’s a

lot of stress, a lot of networking, finding the right people to connect with…” said Allen. “To keep your sponsor there and keep in touch with them and campus life, to order catering and to rent out the space, it takes a lot to keep on track...It takes a lot of patience to be as stress free as possible, which is kind of stressful.”

This year’s open mic night was much more organized with a full audience, catering and an open beverage bar staffed exclusively by members of the Music Club for the audience and performers to enjoy as the show went on.

“It really upped the ante on itself and I could not have been more proud of the turnout,” said Allen. “Last fall

when we did this it was pretty nice, it was a small get together. Even some of the faculty stayed behind to watch it so it was pretty great, but this year was amazing. We got a lot more people, better food, and better drinks so it was a better turnout for sure,” said Allen.

Andy Haselhorst, improvisational pianist and friend of Allen, said he was proud of the club president for the effort he put into shaping the event. “[Dennis] has marketed his heart out on this event,” said Haselhorst. “I had fun.”

According to Allen, following the success of the second annual open mic night, the Music Club will host a third event in 2018.

Photos by Amanda Harris

Left: Che Sanchez performs an original rap called “Rain Fall” during Open Mic Night in the cafeteria on Nov. 16. Middle: As the evening draws to a close, students dance to an improvisational performance as others clean up the equipment. Right: Cody Goggin sings and performs a song on his guitar.

A Multicultural Perspective from Meramec

Meramec’s International Education Week features speakers passing knowledge from other cultures Chris Hutson | Staff Writer

Scholars and academics joined students on campus Nov. 13 and 14 for International Education Week, a special event designed to help others learn about the international experience of STLCC’s broad student body.

Hosted in BA 105, students and faculty alike were able sit in and listen to the many speakers talk of their times in different countries, the research they have been working on that affects our community, their personal struggles and their aspirations for the future.

Alijini Karamechic-Muratovic, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor in the department of anthropology at Saint Lou-

is University, had much to say about the mental health issue running rampant in the Bosnian Community. Karamechic-Muratovic is a member of the large St. Louis Bosnian community and considers herself a “liaison.”

“There are great mental health needs in the Bosnian community that remain unresolved. That many of them are still not talking about it, and more importantly that some of this trauma that first generation Bosnian have experienced is really being passed onto the kids,” said Karamechic-Muratovic According to Karamechic-Muratovic, she was brought on by SLU to

Photo by Chris Hutson Meramec professor Dirk Voss lectures about his experience with the German education system during International Week on Nov. 13.

spearhead many of her projects because she is a familiar face in the Bosnian community and doesn’t have the language barrier. Karamechic-Muratovic said there are many Bosnian Americans who do not talk about their experiences in the months following their move to St. Louis, especially those who are survivors of Srebrenica, where three thousand men and boys were separated from women, shot and thrown into a mass grave. There are estimated to be five hundred remaining survivors.

“I think there are many ways [the St. Louis community can help],” said Karamechic-Muratovic. Some service projects, we’ve been talking about the elderly for instance who are relatively isolated, never learned the English language, who would probably appreciate the opportunity to participate in activities to get out, just socialization in general.”

Meramec’s own Dirk Voss, Ph.D., also had much to say about his own scholastic journey. As the lead professor of African studies at Meramec, Voss used his panel to discuss why he started African studies at Meramec.

Voss said he started the African studies program after he noticed his students had the Renaissance, Italy, America and WWII in their curriculum but nothing about Africa. At the time

there were no teachers at Meramec qualified to teach African studies, so when his sabbatical came up he took it upon himself to get trained in the curriculum and then bring that knowledge back to STLCC. Voss also described his recent trip to Germany and why we should look to them for higher education. According to Voss there are several great universities abroad that offer just as excellent an education as some prestigious Missouri colleges for a fraction of the cost.

Voss also voiced some concerns regarding the recent change that is happening in the German school system.

“When I grew up and went to school there…teachers, whether it was high school, middle school or university professors got a lot of respect and status. But that’s eroding in Germany too,” said Voss.

Voss said that he believes that Germany is slowly becoming like America in that before just commanding respect of others was enough, but money is slowly playing a much bigger part in what determines status or even character in an individual.

Student Michael Hathaway attended Voss’s presentation.

“I enjoyed that the presentation was funny but also knowledgeable” said Hathaway.

4

Scholarships 101 Melissa Wilkinson | Editor-in-Chief

help us identify sources to help our students and establish scholarships,” said Digman.

As far as qualifications go, each scholarship has different requirements depending on the individual or organization offering it, ranging from broad topics, like area of study and test scores, to the more specific.

“For one donor it’s a series of zip codes,” said Digman. “For others it may be the high school they went to.”

While there are some scholarships that don’t have a need requirement, according to Digman, most do.

“A majority of the individuals who fund our scholarships want to support students who would not be able to pay for their own tuition and books,” said Digman.

Digman and Phillips regularly visit STLCC campuses in to inform students of scholarship opportunities and help them through the application process, but both women said they would be happy to speak with students for any reason regarding scholarship assistance.

Digman’s best advice to STLCC students: apply, apply, apply.

“Call us. We’re here to help,” said Digman. “Our joy is to see students succeed and persist.”

The STLCC Foundation can be contacted at 314-539-5472 or at foundation@stlcc.edu.

Students can access AcademicWorks and apply for scholarships at stlcc.academicworks.com.

apply for

foundation scholarships 1. register for classes 2. log in to stlcc.academicworks.com with your MySTLCC username and password 3. apply to scholarships that match your profile

Graphic by Noah Sliney

Applying for scholarships at STLCC is easier than ever, according to Colleen Phillips, Coordinator of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund.

Phillips was instrumental in establishing STLCC’s online scholarship management system, AcademicWorks. Launched in June, 2017, the program allows students to fill out a general application using their MySTLCC login information and will automatically match users with applicable scholarships using their profile information.

This helps students navigate the nearly 200 unique STLCC Foundation scholarship opportunities without having to look at every individual scholarship.

“We’ve had amazing student reviews and comments saying it’s one of the easiest things they’ve done,” said Phillips.

According to Jo-Ann Digman, Executive Director of the STLCC Foundation, AcademicWorks proved a great success, increasing the rate of scholarship applications by 170 percent - over 900 applications - from Fall 2016.

Whereas scholarships offered by the Board of Trustees are granted through the financial aid office, the STLCC Foundation is a separate non-profit organization that collects scholarship money from corporations, private foundations or generous individuals, including many faculty and staff.

“We have a board of volunteers, 31 civic and business leaders who

Page 7 | In-Depth 5 Dec. 7, 2017

how to get cash for your classes

scholarship highlights

Meramec exclusive scholarships Charlotte Dauphin Stickley Allied Health Scholarship

Awarded to a Meramec student who has completed several biology courses. Requirements include three letters of recommendation and a written essay of the student’s future aspirations in the allied health field.

Chris Beckerle Fontaine Memorial Accounting Scholarship Applicants must at Meramec.

be

full-time

accounting

Board of Trustees scholarship opportunities Athletic Scholarship

students

Jim Wheeler Outstanding Psychology Student Award Applicants must have completed at least nine hours of psychology courses at Meramec and submit an essay describing their personal and educational goals.

Awarded to students through nomination by the appropriate coach. Decisions will be based on balance between sports and equity between male and female athletes.

Emerging Scholars Scholarship

Awarded to students who have completed 24 college-level credit hours with an overall 3.0 GPA or better, and have tested into two or more developmental courses.

Book Scholarship

Awarded on a per-semester basis to students with an “Expected Family Contribution” requirement of $4,000 or higher.

Honors College Scholarship

scholarships for minorities / women Emerson Minority Engineering Scholarship

Awarded to minority students who are residents of the district and have completed two years of high school mathematics. Applicants must be studying engineering, accounting or information technology.

American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Scholarship

Applicable students must be qualifed to participate in an honors program or be taking an honors course and can be nominated by the Honors Advisory Board. If not nominated, then student must have completed 24 college-level credit hours and have a cumulative 3.5 GPA.

Returning Adults Scholarship

Awarded to an adult student age 24 or older with no prior college experience. Must be enrolled in at least six credit hours.

Student Leadership Scholarship

Applicable students must be nominated by the campus manager of Campus Life or the appropriate activity sponsor and have a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Student must assume a leadership role in a student organization or extracurricular activity.

Applicants must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 semester hours, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and participate in community service activities.

Athletic Scholarship

Awarded to a minority student enrolled in the Dental Assisting Program. Application includes a 500-word typed essay on how this scholarship would benefit the student.

More scholarships available at: stlcc.edu/Admissions/Financial_Aid/ STLCC_Scholarships.html

Page 8 | Art & Life

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Dec. 7, 2017

It’s Curtains for Meramec’s Fall Theater Season ‘Middletown’ breaks fourth wall, features actors in multiple roles Madison Bouse | Staff Writer

That type of collaborative effort is important while working on a team of at least twenty people who make a production like Middletown possible, said Duffin. Each person involved is essential to the show’s success: director, cast, prop master, scenic crew, technical crew, costume crew, designers, stage and floor managers, ushers and box office workers. “[Duffin] will take lots of notes as we run through the rehearsal, and at the end we’ll sit down to go over it all.

She’s really great about giving us encouraging, useful feedback,” said Scarlett O’Shaughnessy, a Meramec student who has worked on several productions at Meramec Theatre and portrayed three roles in Middletown: Tour Guide, Attendant and Sweetheart.

Among Duffin’s various responsibilities as theatre production assistant, working alongside students onstage, backstage and after-hours is what she finds most worthwhile.

“Watching people grow—like when the light bulb goes off as someone makes a breakthrough for the first time, or when a young actor really gets into their character for the first time—those moments are the reason why I’m here every day. And the best part is when all of my kids come by just to talk, ask advice and be a part of my life.”

Looking ahead to December, Meramec’s theatre has its sights set on its next production: The Piddlings, a play set in St. Louis and penned by Meramec’s own Professor Pamela Garvey. Auditions will be held Dec. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., and all community members are welcome.

“Just come on in; auditions are professional but very relaxed,” said O’Shaughnessy. “And if you aren’t interested in acting, there’s plenty to do backstage as well. Everyone in the theatre is super welcoming, and you don’t need experience to get involved.”

For more information about Meramec’s theatre program, contact Tricia Duffin at pduffin1@stlcc.edu, or drop by her office at TH127. Open Theatre Club meetings are held weekly on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. in the black box, located in the Theatre building.

Photos by Amanda Harris

From November 15-19, the curtain rose on Meramec Theatre’s production of Middletown. Theatre Production Assistant and Director Tricia Duffin described the show as a reflection of how individual lives intersect in small-town America.

“It’s a story about life; everything from birth to death,” said Duffin. “I want [audiences] to come away with a greater sense of their purpose and who they’re connected with. All our shows this season have to do with defining home, family, and community.”

Just as Middletown set out to remind audiences that their lives are more than birth and death dates, it reminded cast members like Trey Marlette, Luke Elliott and Scarlett O’Shaughnessy that a production at Meramec Theatre is about more than the audition and the final curtain call; it’s about the relationships made along the way.

Middletown was Meramec student Trey Marlette’s third production at Meramec Theatre. His four roles —Ground Control, Man On Date, Landscaper, and Janitor—sketch a cross-section of the entire cast, which is composed of relatable, yet often unnamed, characters.

“Right before we go to intermission, five of the actors are onstage in what looks like theatre seats,” said Marlette.

“We’re audience members during intermission at the show. We’re breaking the fourth wall …. There’s no typical sense of conflict to the show; it’s just a metaphor for life. Nobody knows how it’s going to end, and anything could happen, so we might as well live it to the fullest.”

Luke Elliott, also a Meramec student, took on the role of John Dodge for his first production at Meramec Theatre. Beyond the exhilaration of performing for an audience, Luke said that the bonds he formed with fellow cast and crew members have meant the most to him.

“Meeting new people here was so rewarding. We’re all working toward the same goal, and no one—except the director, as it should be—is above anyone else. Everyone is open to new ideas, even if we don’t end up using them.

We’re always learning more and taking in new perspectives.”

Left: A cop (Stefan Peterson) chokes a mechanic (Karl Hawkins) after dragging him back and forth on stage, for littering. Right: The mechanic completes a Native American Rain Dance at the end of John Dodge’s (Luke Elliott) violent death.

The librarian (Madeline Finn) and Mary Swanson (Brigit Carmody) have a conversation with a mechanic about having an only child after Mary asks for some books on pregnancy.

Local Coffee Shop Offers Goods Baked by STLCC Graduate Owner and pastry chef Stephanie Fischer studied pastry at Forest Part before opening Comet Coffee Christina Perkins | Staff Writer

It’s no wonder that locally owned Comet Coffee attracts so many students. Its two locations, one on Woodbine near Meramec, the other near the Forest Park campus, make it a quick jaunt from each campus for students to get their caffeine fix.

Comet Coffee opened in 2012, and while the appeal of coffee in close proximity to STLCC students is no mystery, some might be surprised to learn that Comet Coffee’s pastry chef and own-

er, Stephanie Fischer, got her start at STLCC. The Forest Park campus offers a baking and pastry program, where Fischer studied her craft in preparation for opening her own shop with partner and co-owner Mark Attwood.

Comet Coffee employee Francis Ladish has worked at Comet Coffee for four years and says he really enjoys it.

“We carry coffee from roasters from all over the country. We have coffee here that people don’t have immedi-

ate access to in the St. Louis area,” said Ladish. “The coffee comes all the way from Denver, San Francisco, Wisconsin, even some from out of the country like Vancouver and Norway.”

According to Ladish, what makes Comet Coffee special is the quality of the baked goods.

Everything at Comet Coffee is made with local, quality ingredients. In fact, the farmers and producers are listed on a board in the shop so that everyone

can see where everything is from. Ladish said many students take advantage of the fresh pastries and coffee offered in the shop.

“Every year it seems like we get a new crowd of students from the community college,” said Ladish.

The flagship store, Comet Coffee and Microbakery, is located at 5708 Oakland Avenue. Their second store, Comet Croissanterie and Creamery, is located at 640 West Woodbine Avenue.

Graphic by Noah Sliney

? g n i r r e f s n a r Interestedsoiunri–STt. Louis

4

is

Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Mondays & Thursdays Call 314-984-7575 for an appointment 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Advising Center – Clark Hall

To learn more about our Off-Campus Degree Completion Program in Business at the South County Education Center, contact Sue Bateman at 636-481-3244 or batemans@umsl.edu.

CHOOSE

Christy Hummel Transfer Specialist askchristy@umsl.edu 314-516-6943 “I can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”

Beomyoung Sohn (MFA 2012)

Transfer

University of M

Where will your vision take you?

Transfer to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and join a community of peers who reshape the visual landscape.

saic.edu/ug APPLY BY MARCH 15 CLASSES BEGIN FALL 2018 MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Serious education. Serious value.SM SAIC ADMISSIONS | 312.629.6100 | saic.edu/ug | ugadmiss@saic.edu

Webster Preview Day: Friday, December 8 Check out our NEW Interdisciplinary Science Building, Browning Hall, and learn about the special WATTS Scholarship for biology and chemistry programs.

While you’re on campus you can also learn about Webster’s exciting academic programs; generous transfer scholarships; how to apply for free; and request free estimated evaluations of your transfer credit!

Congratulations December Grads!

For more information: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 admit@webster.edu

R EC-3226 CC AD_Meramec_171207.indd 1

St. Louis, MO 11/13/17 2:04 PM

Page 10 | Opinions

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Dec. 7, 2017

How many more?

Resisting complacency in the age of mass shootings Mary Wilson | Staff Writer

In the only nation where this regularly happens, we say that there’s nothing we can do. The Second Amendment gives us Americans the right to bear arms, after all. Stronger background checks would not accomplish anything. It’s a mental health problem, they say; the mental health-care system is broken!

Yes, the mental health-care system is broken. However, according to mentalhealth.gov, only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Furthermore, only addressing the mental health-care system and those living with mental illness after a mass shooting further stigmatizes the mentally ill and perpetuates the dangerous myth that those with mental health problems are violent.

In the only nation where this regularly happens, we have a choice. It’s in the Constitution. The Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. The guns we use today are unimaginable to the guns our founding fathers used. We can sit back and let comfortable complacency take over.

Or, we can get up and fight. We can move forward with the uncomfortable feeling of change. We can call our legislators; we can have difficult

Graphic by Noah Sliney

There is a pattern. First, a horrible tragedy. Innocent people are brutally murdered. People are gunned down in a nightclub. Bullets rain down at a music festival. Places of worship are turned into places of terror. Children and the teachers protecting them are slaughtered just before Christmas.

Next, there are thoughts and prayers. A profile picture filter change on Facebook. A list of the victims circulates around social media. Then, we forget. It happens slowly: the debate that rises up over gun control simmers down from a boil, then grows cold. Facebook profile picture filters switch back. The families of the victims are left knowing that their nation has forgotten about their loved ones. Until the next tragedy.

We mourn, but no new legislation is introduced. After all, it was too early to talk about gun control after Columbine.

It was not the right time to talk about gun control after Aurora. It was not appropriate to talk about gun control after Sandy Hook. And Charleston. And the Umpqua Community College Shooting.

And Orlando. And Las Vegas. And, most recently, the Texas church massacre.

How much is enough? How many more innocent people have to die? When is the right time to talk about this?

conversations with our family members. Do everyday citizens really need a semi-automatic weapon, capable of killing and seriously injuring humans in large quantities?

When most of the weapons used in mass killings in the United States are obtained legally, we have a problem.

When our children recognize intruder drills at school as normal, hiding hushed in a closet, we have a problem. When 58 music festival attendees are murdered, we have a problem. When 49

people are murdered in a nightclub, we have a problem. When 20 six and seven-year-olds are murdered in their classrooms, we have a problem. When 26 people are murdered in a place of worship—thoughts and prayers doing nothing to protect them—we have a problem.

This list could go on for pages. We have a problem, and it’s up to us to fix it. Now is the time to take action. Hundreds of lives have been ended. What will you do?

First is the worst, second is the best: benefits of ranked voting Why the electoral college stunts third party chances and limits popular representation in office Donald J. Trump is the forty-fifth president of the United States. Of course, there are some people who don’t want to accept the results because they wanted Hillary Clinton, but even Clinton said that those who don’t accept the results of the election are threats to our democracy.

Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump won the electoral college vote. This may seem common, but it is unique to America. To prevent this sort of discrepancy from happening again, America should change its voting model.

Take Australia, for example. Though it is still ruled by Queen Elizabeth II, America could look to them and perhaps copy their voting system. They use the ranked voting system.

Instead of voting for one person, each citizen ranks their list of candidates from most liked to least liked. When the votes are counted, someone must receive at least 50 percent of the vote to win. If this threshold is not reached, the lowest-placing candidate is removed, their percentage added to the second lowest candidate. This repeats until only one candidate is left, or someone reaches 50 percent.

There are plenty of situations where a ranked system would be useful. Bernie Sanders, the Independent senator from Vermont, told news outlets that campaigning as a third party for the House of Representatives is exceedingly difficult. Doing so in a presidential election is next to impossible.

Or take the election of 1992. George H.W. Bush was seeking reelection, and Bill Clinton was trying to win the seat in the oval office. But there was one other candidate who had a chance. His name was Ross Perot, an independent

Graphic by Noah Sliney

Ian Schrauth | Online Editor

billionaire from Texas and was once leading both Bush and Clinton in the polls. A lot of Americans wanted him, but due to the current system, America ended up with Clinton.

If Perot had won, history would have been very different. We might have a balanced budget, America would have pulled out of NAFTA long ago, and we wouldn’t have heard one of the most famous lines from a president: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

If America had used the ranked voting system in 2016, Sanders, Clinton

or even Gary Johnson could have won.

Furthermore, it would have given other third party candidates a chance to be in the public eye. Few people heard of Rocky De La Fuente and Laurence Kotlikoff, Independent candidates during the 2016 election, and while they received votes, they didn’t stand a chance against the major parties.

I am a strong believer in America using the ranked voting system to better accommodate voter diversity.

If the first two options are depressing and a third option sounds good, it will

enable America to have a president the people want, instead of a president only 35 percent of people want.

Studies show that more than 45 percent of Americans identify as an independent, and yet they don’t have a voice. I am sick and tired of the two-party system limiting new voices that have the potential to help people. Third parties ought to be in office so they can bring in fresh ideas and change the nation. If we want to “make America great again” we need to listen to everyone, not just a small percentage.

Page 11 | Opinions 4 Dec. 7, 2017

Graphic by Noah Sliney

I don’t care that you don’t care about Star Wars Hypocrisy in today’s society of nerd versus world Will Murry | Art & Life Editor

December brings many joyful memories: snow, hot chocolate, eggnog, the holidays and quality time with family and loved ones, for those fortunate enough to have them. However, recently for a select subculture (including myself) December has become the most anticipated time of the year. That subculture is none other than the Star Wars fandom.

Being a Star Wars fan myself for as long as I can remember, this recent resurgence of my beloved franchise is the greatest gift I ever could have received and that holds true for many of my fellow fans. Unfortunately, it’s never Christmas without the Grinch, and the resurrection of the famous franchise has brought about the rebirth of Star Wars haters.

Luckily for me I have the privilege of being surrounded and associating myself with Star Wars fanatics; like-minded

friends and family who were also raised as Star Wars fans. I’ve never really bothered to surround myself with people who didn’t like Star Wars. I guess I’ve always subconsciously surrounded myself with people who only like the franchise, which I’m forever grateful for.

Despite having the privilege of like-minded friends and family, social media exposes the average Star Wars fan to the verbal stabs and jabs of people who hate Star Wars, who always seem to show up in the comment section of posts on Star Wars fan pages.

God forbid the comment sections of your own Star Wars related posts.

I can’t count on my fingers how many times I’ve made a post along the lines of “Really enjoyed the new Star Wars movie, it’s a must-see!” or even something as simple as “Is anyone willing to give me a ride to the movie the-

ater so I can see the new Star Wars movie?” and I get a response like “Star Wars sucks lol” or “Get a job you dirty nerd”.

People like these make sure they let the whole world to know that they don’t like Star Wars and they go out of their way to tell the rest of us.

Although, I guess I should take an outside perspective on the whole matter. To put myself in their shoes, who on this Earth wants to be bombarded with a barrage of blubbering nerds worshipping a silly movie franchise? I’m sure I look absolutely ridiculous. In fact, I’m sure we all do. Who would want to see a bunch of nerds line up around stores and worship what is essentially an over-glorified kid’s show?

God forbid these people, including myself, be passionate about something so ridiculous, something so trivial and pointless. Why would we care about

something that we have no bearing over? Who knows? Perhaps the phenomenon will only grow from here. We might just start bringing grills and food and camp out in the parking lot hours before a movie premiere or an action figure release event. Maybe, we’ll start wearing colorful jerseys with our favorite side (or better put; “teams”) on apparel to wear while attending these events. Maybe we’ll paint our faces and scream for our favorite characters.

Sound familiar?

I don’t care that other people don’t care about Star Wars. I also don’t care about sports. But just as I respect the rights of others to get excited over whatever they’re into, I expect others to respect my interests, no matter how nerdy. I encourage others to do the same; the world would be a better place because of it.

the

MONTAGE student voice Are you excited for the new ‘Star Wars’ movie?

“Yes, I wanna see what see what happens with Rey and Luke.”

“No, not really. I hate ‘Star Wars.’”

“Yes, I’m so excited, I study the ‘Star Wars’ expanded universe and I can’t wait to see what they bring into the new movie.”

-Bradley Fabinich, Sophomore

-Erika Lloyd, Freshman

-Orion Zmashenski, Sophomore

“Yes, but I think it has the potential to be terrible because I didn’t like the new one.”

-Thomas Wilkinson, Freshman

Page 12 | Sports 4 Dec. 7, 2017

Photo by Chris Hutson Meramec’s pool features a diving board and several lanes for swimming laps. Students can use the pool during free swim hours for fitness or class practice.

Free Swim: Meramec has a Pool to ‘Dive’ for

Despite lack of student awareness, pool draws ‘a healthy crowd’ during free swim hours Stephen Buechter | Staff Writer

If the average Meramec student were asked to name the features of Meramec’s athletic program, what might he say? A gym with a seating capacity of 2,000; a soccer field; a walking track; a baseball diamond. How long would it take for ‘pool’ to be added to the list? For many students, such as Adam Cubot, the answer is never.

“I didn’t even know we had a pool,” said Cubot.

According to Cubot, for many students, checking out the gym is a rare occurrence. It might never happen for those students who do not take physical education classes. Some students attend Meramec for years without knowing about the pool on campus.

“There needs to be a bigger push for...marketing [the pool],” said Cubot. “If there was...a board in the student center, or just in the newspaper. Or just posters in general.”

Despite the lack of advertising, lifeguard Andrew Sampson described those who utilize the pool during free swim hours as “a healthy crowd.”

“If there are classes before or after it’s not uncommon for students enrolled in those classes to swim before and stay afterwards,” said Sampson.

“For the most part, it’s a pretty regular crowd of...alumni or continuing education people that use the pool during the open swim time.”

According to Sampson, while the

Interview Conducted by Concilia Ndlovu Photo by Melissa Wilkinson

pool is not underused, free swim is not particularly well known, or at least not taken advantage of by students who don’t attend swim class.

“I was [aware of free swim hours] but I never took advantage of it because I’m not much of a swimmer,” said student Dennis Allen. “Some swim teams from local high schools use the pool here, so on top of that a few of my friends have wanted to do aquatic classes.”

Sampson said that the pool allows for increased variety in possible classes Meramec can offer, such as swimming and aquacise. The camping and canoeing classes also use the pool on occasion.

Cubot said that free swim could

provide physical fitness, especially for the heart and lungs, as well as an opportunity for social interaction with others “hanging out” at the pool.

According to Sampson, currently there are very few spaces for lifeguarding jobs for the next semester, but when they do open, they are available to students of the school.

“We’re all college students, we’re all broke,” said Cubot. “I’m sure there are people who could use a job and wouldn’t mind hanging out as a lifeguard.”

The pool is open for free lap swim on Monday through Thursday from 8 to 8:50 a.m. and 12 to 12:50 p.m. and Friday from 12 to 12:50 p.m.

Q&A with Melanie Marcy

Archers Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach How did you get into coaching?

I had just finished my collegiate basketball career and I did not want to let it go.

Coaching was the closest thing I could do to stay in the game and make an impact.

I wanted to help kids learn from my mistakes and successes…but hopefully earlier.

What was your most exciting game this season?

Our Arkansas State game – it went back and forth the whole game, it was intense and exciting and our girls were mentally tough and held on for an important win.

How do you prepare for a championship?

It truly starts in the pre-season. Our coaching staff has to push our team to their limit and then find a new limit and push them to that. We also have to be their biggest support system and make sure they understand that we are pushing and motivating them for a reason, and then be there for them when they fall. We also have to make sure they learn something from each mistake and keep moving forward. It’s tough love, but it creates a strong bond, with trust and understanding.

What are the most important player qualities?

Accountability and Responsibility. It is very important for young adults to take responsibility for themselves and their tasks at hand, and work towards their success.

Accountability shows maturity and helps you become a better person and teammate when you are easier to work and connect with.

Assistant Coach Melanie Marcy works on passing with the Archers women’s basketball team in the gymnasium on Dec. 4, 2017.

What is the team working on this season?

Just continuing to push each other in practice and keeping our goals in mind. It is a long season, so we have to find ways to constantly stay motivated and focused.