Montage The
See Page 13
St. Louis Community College–Meramec
April 21, 2011 Vol. 46 Issue 13
Wh
L C T C S ’s new chanc e m o c e b l l i ell ow
MYRTLE
or?
DORSEY
After interviews, open forums and a three-month search, a chancellor has been chosen.
Shane Rice - News Editor -
Steve Duncan - Staff Writer -
With 33 years of experience in higher education, Myrtle Dorsey, Ph.D., current chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College and chair-elect of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) will take over as the new the Chancellor of STLCC starting June 16, 2011. Dorsey said her experience in various types of institutions has prepared her for the position. “I try to keep us moving ahead. I try to keep us together as a team,” Dorsey said. “You can get far more done, cheaper, as a group than you can as individuals.” According to trustee Libby Fitzgerald, Dorsey’s background in student affairs indicates she will be studentcentered, “which is a great quality for our next CEO.” Trustee Joann Ordinachev agreed and said in an STLCC
Montage Reader Poll Was Wasson the best choice for campus president?
A. Yes. The board made a good choice. B. No. There were better candidates. C. Bill Cosby should be Meramec’s president. Zip Zop Zoobity Bop!
May 5 Poll Question
Do you use any educational apps for your classes? To vote, visit: www.meramecmontage.com
C 38%
A 29% B 32%
article, “I am very excited about our current student initiatives, and I believe Dr. Dorsey will continue them and even improve them.” Dorsey has received multiple honors including the Baton Rouge Sisterhood Award, the NAACP Freedom Fund Community Service Award and the National Institute for Staff Organizational Development’s Master Teacher Award. In addition to her achievements, she has also represented the AACC at the first White House Summit on Community Colleges in October 2010. Dorsey said student focus groups help guide her executive team’s decisions in programs and services offered. The president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the president of the faculty senate serve on her cabinet. Vice President of Academic Affairs George Wasson said, “I think she is a great leader and will bring STLCC to a national level. I was there for her open forum and was impressed with her ideas for change.” Dorsey said including people is
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important in keeping fresh ideas and energy flowing. “Whatever job I do, I can learn something from it,” Dorsey said. “No one can take that knowledge from you and you can pass it on to others.” BRCC grew from 1,850 students to 8,440 students in 12 years under her leadership according to Dorsey Denise Chachere, board chair, said, “I think Dr. Dorsey is a wonderful choice and I think she is going to take the college to the next level. With Chancellor Zelema Harris, Ed. D., leaving her position, Chachere said continuing to focus on strategic directions, which according to her have severed well in the past, will do the district well in the future. Board trustee Craig Larson said, ““The choice of Dr. Dorsey became clear to me when I realized her style was to build capacity using teams, and her expertise showed an ability to relate us to the community.”
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‘Competition’ See Page 5
STLCC-Meramec’s Student works interim president to toward her stripes leave soon in internship Zerrie Campbell reflects Every summer, Dana Wynen cares for the on her experiences biggest of the leading Meramec “big cats”
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Four more added to the Magic Hall of Fame Faculty and former students inducted in final ceremony
2 NEWS Currents 2011 Release Party From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.on April 27, 2011, the staff and published artists will join together to share readings of selected work. The celebration will take place in Student Center Room 200. Refreshments will be provided. The Currents invites students, faculty, staff, friends and family to attend.
CAMPUS Meramec Campus Freedom Riders A prescreening event for the “Freedom Riders,” a documentary about civil rights activists who purposefully violated the Jim Crow laws, is free to the public from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 26, at the Meramec Theatre. The film is by award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson who will be the featured speaker. For more information, call 314-9847167.
Meramec Campus
Smoking enforcement under discussion
Tom Kenyon honored At 3 p.m. on May 4, 2011, located in the Social Science building Room 231, the behavioral science department announces the 2011 recipients of the Departmental Student Awards. Tom Kenyon will receive the Outstanding Behavioral Science Student Award. For more information call 314-984-7500
BRIEFS Meramec Campus Sports Poll Open STLCC is merging their sports teams. By visiting http://bit.ly/h2loWL before April 22, students, faculty and staff can vote on new names and colors. According to STLCC, this decision will impact the district forever. The current team names are the Arches, Spirit, River Cats and Express. Possible colors are Black and Silver, Brown and Gold, Burgundy and Silver, Navy and Silver, and Purple and Gold.
TOP PHOTO BY: COURTNEY STARK
With Spring in the air, flowers, trees and art exhibits fill the campus. Every Spring the groundskeeper’s work to keep the grounds well kept and full of color while art students fill it with contemporary and life-like pieces of art.
Jesse Hofford - Staff Writer -
In the fall 2011 semester, police officers will be heavily enforcing a “Tobacco Free for You and Me” smoking ban at all of the STLCC campuses. The district is currently working on a unified enforcement procedure. “We all want to do it consistently so that people aren't giving tickets and warnings on one campus and some more drastic result on another campus,” Linden Crawford, interim vice president of student affairs said. The district wants to make sure that since the ban was a district-wide decision, the whole district applies it in a formal matter. This first semester acted as an informational piece. Crawford said in order to “get the information out to the campus community” that the college is now tobaccofree. Plans are being made to move to a stricter ban policy to further diminish oncampus smoking. Although
smoking has been reduced due to the smoking ban initiated on Jan. 2, the school wants to be completely smoke-free. As it stands now, students and faculty are encouraged by the smoking ban's web page to make students who are seen smoking aware of the ban by asking if they know about it. Crawford said students who don't know are usually very cordial and will comply with the ban. However, she also said if a student is resistant or is repeatedly told about the policy, then students can “call campus police and campus police will come by and inform them that there's a no smoking policy.” Currently, there is no information regarding the ban’s details yet such as the disciplinary measures people will face and how the new policy will be enforced on campus.
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April 21, 2011
NEWS
April 21, 2011
3
Access Office plans for Disability Awareness Joe Douglas
- Editor-in-Chief -
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Montage staff and alumni display awards they won at the Missouri College Media Association at its annual awards banquet. They won 26 awards in 35 categories.
The Montage best overall two-year newspaper The Montage, STLCC-Meramec’s student newspaper, was recently recognized as the Best Overall TwoYear College Newspaper at the MCMA annual convention and awards ceremony, held April 2, at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. The Montage received 1st place as the Best Overall Newspaper in the twoyear college division, the Sweepstakes award, a 1st place award for Web Page, a 1st place win for its Summer Survival Guide and 24 additional staff and individual
awards. The Montage staff competed against several other two-year school newspapers from across the state including newspapers from the STLCC-Forest Park and the STLCC-Florissant Valley campuses. Entries in the competition were judged for general excellence by members of the Missouri Press Association. Individual and staff awards received by The Montage staff included 1st, 2nd and 3rd place wins for editorial writing, indepth and investigative reporting, news and
sports photography, information graphics, story illustrations, editorial cartoons, page design and multimedia content. Several honorable mentions were also awarded to staff members. The Montage has won awards for excellence in student journalism at the state and national levels for many years. Recent awards include national recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists with a Mark of Excellence Award and a Pacemaker award from the Associated Collegiate Press.
On top of tests, projects and homework, students with disabilities face more challenges to succeed at school than most students. One day per year, these students are commemorated for their hard work and ability to work past their disabilities. The Access Office, Focus on Ability Club and Veterans Club will host STLCC-Meramec’s 19th annual Disability Awareness Day on April 29. This event will recognize the academic achievements of students who use the Access Office and its resources. “It’s really exciting actually. It’s something new. We don’t just have a club having their speaker. You have two clubs and access working together, hosting this Disability Awareness Day event. At 10 a.m., keynote speaker and veteran
Brian Hawthorne will speak to Meramec students, faculty and staff about the special needs of veterans returning to school and how veterans can enhance the educational experience for all students. Hawthorne is a board member for Student Veterans of America and co-founder of the GW Veterans Organization at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. An award ceremony will follow the speech. Students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher and use the Access Office services will be awarded for their academic achievement. Students who have demonstrated achievement, effort and have overcome obstacles have been nominated by faculty and will also be awarded by them during the awards ceremony. “This is one of the biggest things for us because we want to have
awareness and show support for people who have a disability,” Emilie Burke, president of the Focus on Ability Club, said. The Meramec Access Office hosted the first Disability Awareness Day 19 years ago. Amy Bird, advisor for the Focus on Ability Club who works in the Access Office, said the Focus on Ability Club is the result of previous Disability Awareness Days. This is the first Disability Awareness Day where the Focus on Ability Club teamed up with another club on campus. “It’s a really good idea to have two clubs team together for Disability Awareness Day. It should happen more often,” Burke said. Admission to the event is free. Visit
Meramec
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4 NEWS
April 21, 2010
Campbell says farewell, reflects on her time at STLCC Kurt Oberreither - Staff Writer -
Summer is approaching, commencement is closing in, and it’s almost check-out time for Interim President Zerrie Campbell. Chancellor Zelema Harris, Ed.D., announced STLCC-Meramec’s new president, but before Vice President of Academic Affairs George Wasson steers the ship, Campbell will remain at the helm until June 30 to carry the school through this semester and part of summer. Campbell said her years at STLCC have flown by but have kept her
Campbell said, upon accepting the position at Meramec, she felt there was an element of “contention” that needed to be addressed. Campbell said she faced similar issues when entering into leadership at Malcolm X College in Chicago. “Things seemed to be a little unsettled as to how the campus would come together to get through another successful year,” Campbell said. The most important tools in combating this, according to Campbell, have been maintaining and building the line of communication and her “open-door policy.”
“I believe there is no topic of contention that we cannot discuss...” - Zerrie Campbell, interim president
on her toes. After her term at STLCCForest Park, Harris asked Campbell to serve a second year in STLCC at Meramec.
“To my delight, many people took me at my word and I think that is what accelerated our getting to know each other—that people
did test me,” Campbell said. “They tested that philosophy and it cleared up a lot of misunderstandings and it prevented misunderstanding about my intentions being here and how I planned to provide the guidance and the collaboration that professional institutions utilize.” From the smoking policy to finding a new board of trustees member, Campbell said the most difficult issue to address was the consolidation of athletics as an effect of budget shortcomings. “[In] the trauma of making the change in an almost 50-year history and to do so in a manner that was respectful... every attempt was made to communicate. But because personnel are involved you can’t always communicate as specifically as people who are observing would like,” Campbell said. However, Campbell said communication can always be improved and a president must always work toward that goal. “Good communication occurs when the message
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PHOTO BY:JESSE HOFFORD
Interim President Zerrie Campbell walks through the Meramec campus on a spring day. Campbell’s contract ends June 30, 2011 at which time she said she is taking a much needed rest.
is received in the manner in which it was intended,” Campbell said. “I believe there is no topic of contention that we cannot discuss and arrive at some compromise to resolve an issue.” During her stay at Meramec, Campbell said she feels there isn’t much more the school could have wanted to address. She said, while the school held fast its traditions and activities, she wishes she could have attended more of them. “There’s something going on every single day. One year doesn’t give someone an opportunity to taste it: all of the appetizers and pleasures that there are at the campus,” Campbell said. During her final months here, Campbell will be making more visits to her hometown of Chicago, but she said the school runs as “a well-oiled machine” even without the president’s presence because of the efficacy of the leadership. Campbell said working with the administration, faculty and staff has been “invigorating.” Also, she said she believes she has made lifelong friends during her terms at STLCC. On July 1, Wasson will become the permanent president. Campbell said the transition to a new president will be “smooth.” “He knows the issues intimately, he is a real gentleman and he’s so very competent. Meramec will be in great hands,” Campbell said. Furthermore, Campbell said, while Wasson was acting president over the summer and during her recovery from knee surgery, they were in close contact
with each other, and since then they talk and collaborate very often. “There should not be a bump in our transition as we move forward,” Campbell said. “He will bring a new energy and new visions for making it all happen.” Campbell said getting to know colleagues by working on projects and “moving toward a goal” provides a challenging opportunity for an effective president. “We think we know the job we are seeking, but we really don’t until we step into that job. It’s kind of like if you have a roommate when you go to college—maybe your best friend—and you think, ‘Oh, we’re best friends, we’ll love living together,’” Campbell said. “You’ve got to live with the person to get to know them.” As president, Campbell said meetings can be tiresome, but “helping people realize the talents and gifts they bring that can improve the quality of someone’s life” makes up for it. Campbell’s contract does not expire until the end of June. She said she will be fulfilling her duties after commencement and, up until her last day, she will participate in various meetings and budget discussions. “The administrative work continues so it’s not one big party,” Campbell said. After she finishes her duties at Meramec, Campbell said she will return to the life of retirement with a Pacific and Mediterranean cruise, but her stint at STLCC has been rejuvenating. “I feel younger than I did when I came,” Campbell said.
NEWS
April 21, 2011
5
Competition:New district chancellor announced Continued from page 1 ... According to Dorsey, BRCC’s budget operates at 63 percent by negotiating vendor’s contracts with double-digit returns, digitizing documents and closing buildings during the summer session. “We saved $10,000 by closing one building,” Dorsey said. During her tenure, BRCC secured certification to award federal financial aid and completed a $73.3 million construction project. Dorsey obtained a doctorate degree from the University of Texas and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morgan State University. In addition to her degrees, she played a key role in establishing numerous programs at the newly formed State of Louisiana System and said she has not forgotten students are at the center of all that is done at the community college Chachere said Dorsey seemed more student-focused than the other candidates and seemed like she would continue to lead the district in the right direction. “The other candidates were very good in their own rights, but at the end of the day we believe Dorsey was the best fit for our needs and goals,” Chachere said.
Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Ph.D. EDUCATION B.A., Morgan State University M.S., Morgan State University Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin Current employment Chancellor Baton Rouge Community College PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT Executive Vice President Cincinnati State Technical Community College Vice President for Student Affairs and Institutional Advancement Georgia Perimeter College Vice President for Student Affairs Baltimore City Community College Associate Dean of Student Services Howard Community College Current extra activities: Chair-elect American Association of Community Colleges Member Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Member Baton Rouge General Hospital Board of Trustees Member Baton Rouge Film Commission Member Baton Rouge Literact Coalition
PHOTO BY: STEVE DUNCAN
Mrtyle Dorsey, Ph.D., answers questions at the chancellor open forum on April 6, 2011. Dorsey is currently the Chancellor at BRCC until she takes her position at STLCC on June 16.
A look at the other candidates who spoke at the chancellor forums Shane Rice
Joe Douglas
- Editor-in-Chief -
- News Editor -
Marcia Pfeiffer, Ph.D.
Thomas Klincar, Ph.D. President of John Wood Community College (JWCC) in Quincy, Ill., Thomas Klincar, Ph.D., joined two other candidates in the chancellor open forums on April 6 and 7. Klincar spent 28 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a full colonel in July 2008. He said it was his experience as an officer that gives him the experience and knowledge needed to become the next chancellor for STLCC. “I’m a road warrior more than anything else. I like to get out there and see what’s going on within our district,” Klincar said. “If it’s a performing arts show, sporting events or students doing something special, I want to be there and experience it. I get a better idea about what’s going on by being part of the college community and listening to the needs of students, faculty and staff.” Klincar’s prior positions include commander of the USAF’s College for Enlisted Professional Military Education and commandant of the Community College of the Air Force. In 2008, Klincar was appointed president of JWCC. With a doctorate in literature and language arts from De La Salle University, Klincar also
PHOTO BY: SHANE RICE
Thomas Klincar, Ph.D., answers questions at the chancellor open forum. Klincar became the president of JWCC in 2008.
holds a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “A chancellor needs to be not only engaged with the people on campus but an advocate,” Klincar said. “I will to be out there talking with the major employers and working with the students, learning the ways of our community to help this institution become even more of a success.”
Marcia Pfeiffer, Ph.D., president of STLCC-Florissant Valley, took her 30-plus years of experience at STLCC to the Chancellor Forum on April 7. The Florissant Valley president opened her presentation with a focus on student success. “What happens in the classroom is the most critical factor in the achievement of our students,” Pfeiffer said. One expectation Pfeiffer holds herself to, she said, is fostering better communication between K through 12 schools and STLCC. “We need to get ourselves in a position to where we’re actually talking with them [superintendents] about what’s happening inside the college and what’s happening in their institutions and how is it that we’re going to make a better pathway to address what I think are pretty obvious statements,” Pfeiffer said. Pfeiffer first joined STLCC as a faculty member. She served as department chair from 1986 to 1993, associate dean for business and human development for four years and executive dean for two years. She has worked at Florissant Valley and Forest Park. “We have very different cultures and traditions,” Pfeiffer said. “So
SUBMITTED PHOTO Marcia Pfeiffer was a candidate in the chancellor open forums according to spectatures at the forum. Pfeiffer has been part of the STLCC family for 25 years.
while there are many things I know about St. Louis Community College, and many things I’ve learned about the college as a whole… I have a lot to learn.” In addition, Pfeiffer has also spear-headed the development of the Emerson Center for Engineering and Manufacturing which opened in 2004. “I think the reality of the situation is we must be focused on the work we need to do around student success,” Pfeiffer said.
OPINIONS Pursuit of Happiness
Self-improvement
April 21, 2011
Sex
Tools to ‘make it rain’
Joe Douglas
- Editor-in-Chief -
M
otivation is not constant and ever-flowing. Waiting for motivation can be like waiting for it to rain. Sometimes it pours and sometimes there’s not even a cloud in the sky, but unlike the weather, there are no meteorologists who can forecast when and where motivation will show up. People have to create their own motivation. This is especially true for students. Finals are creeping closer and the act of studying is the last thing many students are interested in. Therefore, here is a list of ways anyone can motivate him or herself to do what he or she needs to do and do it right. —Set small goals, indentify a small one, and then to work toward it one day at a time. Don’t try to do too much at once or all of that motivation will be wasted. Burnout is the biggest disease of motivation. —Schedule time in advance. If there’s a test coming up in two weeks, don’t wait until three days before to schedule time to sit down and study. Pick any date as soon as possible. It helps not picking one that’s less than two days away. Anticipation builds mental preparation. —Focus on the benefits. Every goal is beneficial in some way. Keep a mental or physical list of what good can come out of meeting the goal. Also, remember there is as much to learn from the process as there is from accomplishing the goal itself.
POLITICS
Keeping Them Honest
Politics and Media
Allow representatives to represent
Never think about how difficult the goal is or how long it will take. This only makes the goal seem further away and it destroys motivation. —Commit publically. Tell friends and family about the goal and what the time frame is. Most people don’t like to quit something after they’ve hyped about it with their peers. —Remember why. Either discover or rediscover why the goal is so important to meet. It may be for health, a grade, a profit, love or anything really. Don’t forget about the goal’s original purpose. —Have a visible reminder. Make some kind of memory device (a written sign, a cutout or a combination of both) that will act as a reminder to start the goal or stay on track. Place the note somewhere noticeable. If the note is for a goal or activity that’s not happening within a couple of weeks, or will take more than a couple of weeks to accomplish, move it to another visible location so the reminder stays fresh. —Buy a monkey. Not literally. Find someone reliable who is comfortable with nagging (without being absolutely annoying). Sometimes people forget about the goal or forget about why the goal is so important. Having a monkey around will help. Motivation is more important than ever as the semester comes to a close. Applying the above will make studying, completing projects, exercising or anything easier. Not all of the above are applicable 100 percent of the time, so do what works best for each situation. Make it rain.
Patrick Olds
L
- Opinions Editor -
eaders cannot rule effectively by consensus. Moreover, a person in leadership, especially in the United States government, has a responsibility to govern through the representation of values and morals that each politician based their campaign on. Very plainly, it is not an effective way of governance to base one’s opinion solely on the current general consensus of the public. There are many flaws with that way of leadership or lack thereof. Recently, 2012 Republican hopeful Donald Trump praised current President Barack Obama because he took into account the public opinion and based his decisions on how the country felt about certain issues. In the same breath, Trump bashed former President George W. Bush for his failure to lead based on perceived public consensus. A common misperception of how the U. S. government is set up has seemingly overtaken the reality of the actual governmental setup. The U.S. is a representative democracy, meaning that our country is a mixed bag of representation and democracy. We have the ability to vote on single issues and constitutional amendments while also holding the power of the election of representatives that end up making most of the decisions for us. We carry a tremendous responsibility to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and votes. There is a real problem within the country when leaders have a better chance of getting elected just because they are an incumbent. It should not matter that they have “experience” within government. Very realistically, that “experience” improves their odds of corruption from an entity, government bureaucracy, which seems to
go unchecked by the voting population year after year. Now the problem with Trump’s opinion, of course, is that there is no real way to measure consensus of the public. The greatest tool we have is public polls and the comparison of one against the others. That might seem like an effective way to gauge the public’s opinion on a specific issue, but other factors remain. The media are the proverbial drivers of public perception and, as this column has pointed out previously, when a large portion of these socalled reporters and journalists have an unhidden bias for one side -- then there isn’t a truly independent press. If the media have agendas other than reporting -- “Houston, we have a problem.” It is very easy to contrast the way the media treat each of the past two presidents. Obama receives the benefit of the doubt while Bush was sold as someone who couldn’t possibly have success. Watch when tuning into the news, if something bad occurs or a decision from Obama turns out to be a bad one, check to see if they excuse or give reasons for him instead of holding him accountable. In turn, this type of reporting has an adverse effect on the voting public. The perception can be much more positive for a specific leader when he is supported by a supposedly “independent press.” While, on the other hand, it can be damaging to the perception of a leader when he or she can’t seem to make a good decision. Leaders are more effective when they lead by the values and morals that got them elected rather than based on fragile public opinion.
What would you change about Meramec?
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Kelly Davis - Copy Editor -
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Gettin’ hot and heavy in public places Shane and Kelly explore the possible places to discretely get passionate and make love.
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Muddin’ kicks ass Take no shame, only pride, in the dirt that clings to your Ford-150 after a good day of muddin’.
Matt Moloney - Student “I would like implemenation of a public teacher rating or review system. It would be nice to know a vague description of the class from students. Not a critical one just one about class flow.” Emily Rabbitt - Student “O-M-G, I would change a lot of things. The price of books is way too much and they should hire more counselors. Too many times the counselors are overwhelmed. The same goes for the financial aid office.” Ron Romer - Business Manager “I am very happy with my Meramec career but saying that I would like to see the sports programs reinstated and the tennis courts changed into parking lots. Everything else is very high quality.”
7
OPINIONS
April 21, 2011
STLCC expands minds and... the truth
Students, not the college, should be the sole focus of the strategic direction Joe Douglas
- Editor-in-Chief -
STLCC’s mission statement says “St. Louis Community College expands minds and changes lives every day. We create accessible, dynamic learning environments focused on the needs of our diverse communities.” The college has followed this mission since its opening in 1963. After 57 years of educating students and “changing lives,” the college is now struggling to make the community happy while trying to save money and stick to its mission. The college has come under fire for making the controversial decisions about cuts in funding and elimination of positions. Maybe a student’s input could fix things. The college’s core values revolve around its strategic initiatives designed by Chancellor Zelema Harris, Ed. D. They are: “Growing enrollment,” “Improving the academic achievements and student learning outcomes of our students,” and “Improving our responsiveness to evolving work force needs.” I feel some of the decisions the college has been making are not in the best interest of its students but in the best interest of the college. Anyone could say the college
parent-student population to attend school at Meramec. Second, the college has been making many unnecessary job cuts throughout the district. Although this was before the most recent staff cuts, cutting staff and positions from Financial Aid has slowed down the financial aid process and has significantly impacted the quality of attention students should receive. So many students currently complain of two-plus-hour waits to receive help on their grants and scholarships. In addition, one important staff member from TESS was recently scheduled to lose her job, but she was involved in helping students with assistive technology in the Information Access Lab. Hundreds of students used this technology every week in order to take notes, read and do homework. Without her, the work must be spread among other workers who have much less experience. This frustrates the already busy employees and students. Many students were crying foul and didn’t like that they were losing someone so important and key to their success at school. The consolidation of sports throughout STLCC also resulted in the removal of several coaches and secretaries. Fewer students will be able to play sports now and students will need to commute longer distances in order to participate in their sport of choice. Faculty and staff are worried they will lose their jobs, and those who already have are asking, “Was it really necessary?”
“Faculty and staff are worried they will lose their jobs, and those who already have are asking , ‘Was it really necessary’?” - Joe Douglas needs to do well for students to do well, but when changes to the college sacrifice student learning, students and faculty become upset. One change the college has made is the elimination of Meramec’s Child Care Center. Many students were enraged at the decision because it was the only way they could attend Meramec. Instead of updating and refurbishing the building, they tore it down to save money. This significantly impacts the ability of the
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What’s most frustrating is that STLCC doesn’t need to make the cuts. They are using a 7-percent cut to state funding to disguise the fact they’re using the money cut from programs and layoffs to fund programs that, while they do follow the college’s core values, are not necessary. STLCC has recently purchased and renovated two buildings that will help support advanced training for white-collar and blue-collar working students. Following
the core mission isn’t bad. However, when you’re not straightforward and honest with the people you’re firing, that’s deceitful. STLCC is trying to expand its services during a time when money is short which lead to cutting jobs in order to fund major projects and save money in the longterm. In an effort to revise STLCC, I would suggest changing the strategic direction of the college. I think we should focus on ways to increase revenue besides increasing enrollment, for one. We don’t have the classroom space at Meramec for more than 13,000 students, which is what STLCC is aiming for. When we had 12,000-plus students a year-anda-half ago, there were barely enough classrooms to teach all of the students, and more students than usual couldn’t sign up for the classes they wanted to take. Teachers were required to teach more classes. If we ever reached 13,000 students, the school may need to hire more part-time faculty, which would ultimately cost additional money and increase friction between students. STLCC should keep its second direction (improving academic achievements and student learning outcomes) because that’s a reflection of any community college’s responsibility. The third direction is a legitimate effort to give more attention to people in the workforce, but we’re spending too much money on it. We should invest less money into new buildings and put more money into improving the builds we already have or add on. In addition, many students complain about the antique feel of Meramec. Brick walls, white staircases that have turned yellow, and lack of visible state-of-the-art technology is a turn-off for many students. Students should be able to feel comfortable spending their
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: CARLOS RESTREPO
time at Meramec and have something to look forward to instead of looking for reasons to leave. We’ve been to high school; don’t make us feel like we’re going back. The board of trustees doesn’t have much say in the decision-making process, yet they are supposed to represent Meramec’s decisions. The chancellor ultimately has the final say in the college’s big decisions. The board guides the decisions so they’re consistent with the strategic direction of the college. There should be a closer and less domineering force in the chancellor’s position and more power should be given to the presidents who practically work directly with the students that STLCC’s decisions affect. If the presidents’ input and suggestions would be taken more seriously, I’m sure students would be happier, if just a little, and faculty and staff would be more comfortable working for the organization, assuming the presidents all
Shannon Philpott Faculty Adviser sphilpott@stlcc.edu Joseph Douglas Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Stough Managing Editor Kelly Glueck Online Editor Courtney Stark Photo Editor Patrick Olds Opinions Editor Shane Rice News Editor Kavahn Mansouri Art & Life Editor Spencer Gleason Sports Editor Kelly Davis Copy Editor Tim Doty Copy Editor
Shah Jahan Ali Staff Writer Michael Beary Staff Writer Clinton Borror Staff Writer Luelana Bustamante Staff Writer Amber Davis Staff Writer Steven Duncan Staff Writer Donald Handshy Staff Writer Nick Herrin Staff Writer Jesse Hofford Staff Writer Matt Lindsey Staff Writer Kurt Oberreither Staff Writer Amicia Ramsey Staff Writer
Rory Sullivan Staff Writer Justin Villmer Staff Writer Benjamin Williams Staff Writer Ashley Young Staff Writer David Kloeckener Staff Photographer Michael Ziegler Staff Photographer Jacob Hight Staff Designer Kait Thomas Staff Designer Elicia Tuzzolo Staff Designer Joe Ray Multimedia Specialist
act selflessly and following the college’s second strategic direction. Lastly, faculty and staff should have more say and input in the college’s decisions. Right now, decisions are made by the chancellor, the board of trustees and the CLT. Unfortunately, these decisions don’t directly affect them. Most decisions affect the people who are working under them. They were put in their positions to represent their employees, absolutely, but the employees should have a little more control over what happens in their environment. So far, STLCC has been doing a good job at providing that extra control by hosting the president and chancellor forums. Continuing to do so will make the students, faculty and staff feel less alienated in the decision-making processes that takes place at STLCC. This is an important step in improving the environment throughout our college.
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InDepth Stephanie Stough - Managing Editor -
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Everybody does certain things in a certain way. There is a right way, or an accepted way, to do everything, such as walking, talking, sitting and interacting with other people. “Imagine going an entire day without using technology. It’s a norm in our culture that is not normal in other cultures, particularly the heavy use of things like the Internet, telephones, televisions and computers. I think technology becomes invisible the more we use it. It works its way into our standard behaviors,” Colin Suchland, adjunct professor of sociology at STLCCMeramec, said. Suchland said habits like using technology and other ways of life that people exercise every day are considered social norms. He said a norm is the “socially accepted way of doing something.” “This goes down to the clothing that we wear, the language that we speak, the technology we use, the religion we practice, the food that we eat. Everything gets wrapped up in a pattern of what we call relatively consistent behavior and that package is what we call society,” Suchland said. “This package of relatively consistent behaviors is what we rely on to make sense of the world.” Suchland said norms are the “glue” that holds every society together and they
vary from place to place. him, norms are socially rel don’t exist the same way e all people. Norms could e such as the way someone drinks. “A good example o language in the United Sta call it soda, do you call it p call it Coke?’ In the South th kind of Coke do you want: or Dr. Pepper?’ Everythin Here in the Midwest, a lot ‘pop’ but in St. Louis, M Suchland said. Norms are somewhat can be taken for granted b don’t think about them on basis. “We rely on norms so to think about every decis Without norms, we would about and re-evaluate ever make. “Am I wearing the Because of norms, we can I am’ because I am confo standard practice,” he said Norms vary from pl In the United States, it’s
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April 21, 2011
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awkward when someone’s personal space is invaded, whether at a bench or urinal. It’s a social norm such as the way Americans set the table and eat their food, and it’s socially deviant for someone to pick their underwear or their nose. “We categorize animals, plants, minerals, but we also do the same thing to the social world. Norms are one way of establishing who is ‘us’ and who is ‘them.’ It’s through norms that we recognize other people as being similar. We get a sense of belonging with one another through the practice of normal behaviors,” Suchland said. Suchland said norms are the simplest things people do in life because they aren’t thought about. Norms are learned. “Why is it appropriate to use one tone of voice in one situation and use another tone of voice in another? Why do I eat my hamburger with my hands but if you put it on a plate I eat it with a fork and a knife,” Suchland said. “Why when you put two pieces of bread between it, is it okay to eat with your hands? It’s little stuff like that. Norms are everywhere and are easy to take for granted.”
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY: STEPHANIE STOUGH
ART & LIFE
April 21, 2011
A day in the life of cosplayers
Students participate in combination of costume and play Kait Thomas - Staff Designer -
Fitting in has always been a part of the human condition. Everyone, despite what they say, worries about being judged by their peers. Many people worry about being called “weird” and being shunned for it. There’s one group that embraces their uniqueness and flaunts it proudly: cosplayers. “Cosplay is walking art. It takes so much time, effort and money to recreate a character and bring them to life,” Maeve Mai, 19, said. The word “cosplay” is a combination of the words “costume” and “play.” It means to dress up as a character from either anime, graphic novels, video games or movies. Some cosplayers such as Mai first got into cosplay because she “loved standing out,” but other cosplayers such as Sheila Netteler, 34, became interested despite her introverted personality. “I have changed drastically since I started cosplaying. Before, I used to be a secluded, shy person. I didn’t socialize much and because of it, didn’t really have many social friends; mainly net friends and a small handful of personal friends,” Netteler said. “Since I started going to cons and meeting people dressed up, it helped me overcome
my extreme shyness and fears and allowed me to make new friends. I have been a lot happier too, almost as if I had found a part of me that I didn’t know existed. It gave me a place where I felt I belonged.” One place where someone is guaranteed to see cosplayers running around are anime conventions, which are held on nearly every continent during the year and last an entire weekend. AnimeCons (http://animecons.com) lists a full schedule as far ahead as 2015 with basic information like location and registration prices and links to websites for the conventions. Once cosplayers-to-be discover conventions, most become rather invested in them. However, STLCCMeramec student Jennifer Suntinger, 19, said cosplay isn’t the only reason for attending conventions. “Friends [are a reason]. Anime conventions would be really boring without the friend factor. Usually I hear people complain about certain panels being really sucky and how the convention is boring. I don’t realize it most of the time because I was with friends just hanging out, taking pictures and such. Granted, there still has to be fun events to pass the time and keep us interested, but the experience is truly heightened with
PHOTO BY: KAIT THOMAS
During a cosplay photoshoot, Michael Turnbough, 20, cosplays as the character Miroku from the anime “Inuyasha.”
friends,” Suntinger said. Conventions have become a place for cosplayers to freely express themselves and being judged is just about the last thing on their minds. “I have enough selfconfidence to know that other peoples’ opinions don’t matter that much. They either don’t understand or are purposely trying to be mean. I don’t listen to harsh words of people who are small-minded enough to insult someone for
laugh, but I’ve just been around it for a long time now that it doesn’t bother us because we feel awesome, so that’s all that should matter.” However, Netteler said there are some drawbacks to having noncosplayers around. “A hotel, in my opinion, is not really a good environment for [conventions] unless the entire hotel is reserved for it only. But having other people not at the con
everything. I feel beautiful and I feel like a celebrity. I get to come out of my shell and have all eyes on me for once; it’s a huge deal. My confidence is through the roof at a con,” Slavit said. Mai said conventions aren’t the only places for people to cosplay. Between conventions, cosplayers plan events like picnics, meetups, and even cosplay at attractions like the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
“[Mockery] doesn’t bother us because we feel awesome, so that’s all that should matter.”
PHOTO BY: KAIT THOMAS
Anime St. Louis 2011 attendee Jennifer Suntinger, 19, cosplays as Mio Isurugi from the anime “MM!”
being themselves and having fun,” Netteler said. More often than not, conventions don’t have the power to bar regular people from entering the facility, so intermingling between the two groups is inevitable. Cosplayers receive a variety of different reactions from the noncosplayers, but according to Aura Slavit, 19, most of them are positive. “The regular people are always surprised. At the hotel we were staying at, the people at the front desk were very curious about our costumes, but they were nice about it. They genuinely wanted to know why we were dressing up, who we were supposed to be, and then they complimented us,” Slavit said. “A lot of people just want to know and are curious. Of course we run into the groups of people that give us nasty looks and
tends to ruin the mood and causes unnecessary drama with the hotel staff. I think conventions should be held in convention halls since that is what they are for; gives more room and allows the proper setting for freedom of expression and movement,” Netteler said. Many cosplayers experience personal benefits from cosplaying. Former Meramec student Michael Turnbough, 20, said he is able to be more himself at a con than in normal life. Other cosplayers like Slavit get a confidence boost. “Normally, I hate my appearance. I think I look terrible all the time, and I honestly cannot pick out one good thing that I like about myself, but at a con, people are constantly taking pictures, telling me I’m adorable, wanting hugs, wanting to talk to me,
-Aura Slavit Most cosplayers share similar reasons for cosplaying. “What I like most about cosplaying is meeting new people at conventions and expressing my love for anime and games. When I first started cosplaying, I did it to challenge myself in costume design. Now I do it for friends and group and couple cosplays,” Mai said. In the end, cosplayers are regular people who want to express themselves as they see fit and not be judged for it. “All cosplay really is is becoming someone you’re normally not in every day life. And the con experience gives people the place where they can freely express the personalities that they couldn’t express on a daily basis,” Netteler said.
ART & LIFE
April 21, 2011
11
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April 21, 2011
Unfinished business
ART & LIFE
13
Alumnus David Peterka returns to Africa more than a year after the fliming of ‘Give A Damn’ Steven Duncan - Staff Writer -
In 2009, STLCC-Meramec alumnus David Peterka traveled for three and a half months through Africa filming “Give a Damn?”(GAD?), an adventure documentary about a Christian and an atheist living in slums and extreme poverty to learn their responsibility in giving a damn for the poor of the world. The documentary began as an idea of Meramec alumnus Dan Parris while thinking of ways to help the poor after returning from a trip to the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, a slum housing more than one million people in an area the size of New York’s Central Park. The original plan was to have Peterka film Parris, a Christian, and Rob Lehr, an atheist, hitchhiking across the United States, Europe, and finally to Africa, while asking people along the way “what they feel toward Third World poverty” and “what they think really works to fight it.” “One of our big goals was to make a documentary about poverty that was entertaining and kind of exciting in its adventure,” Peterka said. “A hitchhiking adventure that anyone would love to watch... while presenting with a roundabout message that poverty in the world doesn’t compare at all with poverty in America, because global poverty is way worse.” Arriving in Africa, they met up with Peterka’s brother
Meramec alumnus Tim Peterka, who would be the team’s cameraman in Africa. As Parris and Lehr were filming aerial footage over Kibera’s rooftops, the plane crashed. Both pilots, Frank Toews and Ryan Williams were killed. Parris and Lehr were critically injured but survived and returned to the United States to recover. David and Tim Peterka continued on the mission to film the documentary. After filming, David Peterka returned to the United States and searched for his purpose in life. David Peterka started a non-profit organization called, “When the Saints,” he said, “to challenge the church to rise to its potential in the fight against global injustice.” One and a half years later, David Peterka returned to Africa to meet with government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and church pastors in Malawi, a country in southeast Africa, where they have decided to build the first rehabilitation center for “When the Saints.” “For one and a half years, I’d planned on building this safe-home for girls [who were] essentially forced into brothels and prostitution,” David Peterka said. “I had never been [to Malawi] before so I was scared to put so much faith into this idea but not really know if it could be a reality.” On his visit to the Dowa district, which has a population of approximately 400,000, in central
Malawi, David Peterka learned that there is a huge need for the rehabilitation center. “In 2010 there were 3,459 cases of gender-based violence, rape, defilement and exploitation sexually,” David Peterka said. “And out of those, only 39 of the men who were the perpetrators actually went to jail for an average of two to three years and the age of these girls was like 12 and 13.” For comparison, in 2010 the city of St. Louis had a population of about 320,000 with 188 forcible rapes reported, according to Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department statistics. “To see this immense and incredible need for this rehabilitation center was really hard for me to see,” Peterka said. “But it’s going to do a lot of good.” When the Saints hopes to raise $100,000 from donations and fundraisers through this year so they can break ground for the facility in March 2012. “The facility should house 40 to 50 girls and provide vocational training so the girls can learn a skill and support themselves without having to sell their bodies,” David Peterka said. David Peterka will return to Malawi this summer to develop a network with the police force in the Dowa district and to get acclimated with the people there. In regards to the GAD? documentary, David Peterka said they are finishing up the final
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Alumnus David Peterka in Serbia during the filming of “Give A Damn.”
touches of the original score and the documentary is about 98 percent complete. “We’ve entered into a couple film festivals,” David Peterka said. “We’re hoping that a distributor picks it up, markets it or buys the rights for it.” If the film is not picked up by a distributor, the GAD? team said that they will go on tour with the
documentary to different churches and schools. “The best way to fight extreme poverty and radical global injustice is by taking time to focus on relationships around you and try to strengthen those,” David Peterka said. “The stronger and closer we are connected and build and add value to those around us... that affects the world.”
Improv Club to perform comedy show in theater
Show to introduce variety of games and themes suggested by the audience Amber Davis - Staff Writer -
On April 29, the Improv Club will perform a comical show in the Meramec Theatre. “Improv is a form of comedy in which almost everything is something you have to come up with on your own. It’s all about partnership and working together or else it won’t be funny and people will be able to sense it throughout the audience,” said Mallory Mcclelland, STLCC-Meramec student and president of the Improv Club. The show will introduce a variety of different games such as “Scenes from a Hat,” “World’s Worst” and “Mannequin.” “Mannequin” is a game where two members are the mannequins. These participants can only move when their “movers” touch or move an area on the mannequin’s body. The game is played around a certain theme suggested by the audience, where the mannequins must create a story by thinking on their feet. “My favorite game to play is ‘Blank Phrase.’ It’s a game
where people just write down four random lines on a piece of paper and the actors pick out those lines through a hat. Throughout the scene, they have to say those four lines. You can write some pretty stupid stuff on the notes and it’s pretty hilarious,” said Tim Godfrey, STLCC-Meramec student and a member of the Improv Club. The Improv Show will also perform a few comedic skits to keep the energy flowing. “We will have very shorts skits that people in improv have written for the show,” Mcclelland said. The Improv Club’s main goal is to get the audience involved. Audience members will be picked at random to help with the games or to suggest themes for the members. “We want lots of audience participation. In the beginning we are going to have them write down some phrases for ‘Blank Phrases’ and some occupations or specific people for another game called ‘Dating Game’,” Mcclelland said. This is the third show the Improv Club will perform since the club began in 2006.
“We have sponsored other plays and performances at Meramec. We just sponsored the play ‘Repo’ and some of our members were in the play as well,” Mcclelland said. Mcclelland found out that improv was just what she needed to break out of her shell. “I’m really into the Improv Club; I’ve been a member since it’s been created in 2006. At first I wasn’t that great at it; I was shy. I didn’t like any form of being in front of somebody and performing, but I found that Improv was easier somehow because I’ve always been able to think on my feet but I never thought of implying that,” Mcclelland said. “It really helped me break out of my shell. I try to tell people to get them to come join Improv. It’s okay if you are shy. We aren’t going to throw you into something you are not ready for.” Godfrey believes Improv can help anyone become more creative than they are. “Improv is just setting up a scenario and try to react in a way you think your character should act. It’s just thinking
PHOTO BY: MIKE ZIEGLER
Meramec Improv Club members and students Ryan Ries, left, and John Jablonski, right, practice a routine called “Mannequin” in the studio behind Meramec Theatre. The Improv Show will be April 29 in the theatre.
on your toes, being creative as possible. Once you start doing it you find out how creative you really are. I know a lot of people that say, ‘Well I can’t do that.’ Well don’t knock it till you try it,” Godfrey said. Audience members may not expect anything the Improv club gives them. This show is geared for anyone that enjoys a good laugh and entertainment. “Improv is acting without a skit, coming up
with everything on top of the mind. You are given a scene or situation, and you have to start talking about whatever pops up in your head. It has to be quick,” said Ryan Riesn STLCC-Meramec student and member of the Improv Club. Mcclelland suggested everyone should go the Improv Show. “Come to Improv because we are like a family… like a really weird family,” Mcclelland said.
14 ART & LIFE
April 21, 2011
Student interns at National Tiger Sanctuary
Working to set up fundraiser to build facilities and adopt new tigers Rory Sullivan - Staff Writer -
Taking care of a pet such as a dog or cat is a responsibility that can be both difficult as well as rewarding. Providing them with food, water, care, as well as cleaning up after them properly can require a lot of attention. One student at STLCCMeramec, however, has dedicated her time outside of class not to care for just household pets, but also for tigers. For a few years, Dana Wynen has been volunteering at the National Tiger Sanctuary (NTS), which recently made a move to Branson, Mo. “I decided about two years ago that my major was going to be wildlife biology. My boyfriend took me to the tiger sanctuary. I instantly fell in love, vowed to get an internship, and that winter I did,” Wynen said. Wynen has been working with the Outdoors Club at Meramec for the past few months to set up a fundraiser
for the sanctuary. According to Wynen, there are many things that the money could go toward. “We need a lot of money for building the facilities that we have because we have another four or five tigers coming down very soon,” Wynen said. “The building material is rather expensive to build tiger enclosures.” The sanctuary already holds seven cats, one of which being a white tiger, and another being a mountain lion. Wynen said the NTS is also looking to build areas for visitors. “We’re opening up to the public in the summer so we have to have the visitor center ready to go,” Wynen said. “The tiger sanctuary shut its doors in St. Genevieve back in October. It’s a not-forprofit organization, so all revenue has been gone since October.” In order to get a fundraiser started, the cause must be supported by a club at Meramec. For the NTS, Wynen has been working with Jillian Anderson, vice president of the Outdoors
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SUBMITTED PHOTO
Dana Wynen visits a tiger at the National Tiger Sanctuary in Branson. Wynen has worked as an intern for two years.
Club. Anderson said Meramec Cares chooses a charity to donate their weekly profits every Thursday. Although this month the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc. is being featured, Anderson said she believes next month will feature the tiger sanctuary. Anderson admitted that she is not too informed on the NTS, but said the cause is relevant to the outdoors club. “I am the vice president of the outdoors club and it is my job to seek community service opportunities for our members. I actually do not know very much about the issue, but I love tigers. Also, the Tiger Sanctuary provides
opportunities for people to get involved,” Anderson said. As one of the few consistent volunteers,
volunteer.” According to http:// n a t i o n a l t i g e r s a n c t u a r y. org/, tiger conservations are vital not only to the
“I instantly fell in love, vowed to get an internship, and that winter I did.” -Dana Wynen Wynen said the sanctuary will take all the help it can get. “A lot of our volunteers and interns are college students, so they always have to go back to school,” Wynen said. “Right now I’m the only consistent
survival of tigers, but to the environment in which it lives. “The tiger depends on the forest and in turn the forest depends on the tiger. If the tiger becomes extinct, all other flora and fauna will quickly go the same way.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Paul, a tiger at the National Tiger Sanctuary in Branson, Mo., relaxes in the brush. The sanctuary recently moved to Branson.
SPORTS
April 21, 2011
Hitting their targets one arrow at a time
Archery class provides stress relief and fun for students at Meramec Steven Duncan - Staff Writer -
Arrows fly behind STLCCMeramec’s powerhouse weekdays from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., as Teddy Farias, doctor of chiropractic, and his archery students take aim at targets set in front of the building’s south-facing wall. Farias, co-founder of Premiere Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Crestwood, Mo., has been teaching archery at Meramec for five years. “I’m a chiropractor, which is about aligning your body,” Farias said. “Archery requires similar form.” Farias has been practicing archery since he was a child. He was teaching weight training at Meramec when the position for an archery instructor opened up. “I thought, ‘I’ve got experience in that’,” Farias said. He’s been teaching it ever since. Archery students meet inside the south entrance of the physical education building, just outside a closet door where the archery equipment
is stored. When Farias arrives, they file into the closet to grab their bow and arrows, then walk to the outdoor range. There, Farias opens the pad-locked door of a storage shed and the students wheel out four-foot round bull’s-eye targets on dollies into their positions, while others set up the shooting stations 30 yards away. “Today, we’ll shoot from 30 yards, then move back to 40 yards,” Farias said. “Tomorrow, we’ll also shoot from 50 yards.” Farias blows his whistle and the first round of archers place, or “nock,” the arrow onto the bowstring and draw back the recurve bows. Recurve bows, as opposed to straight bows, have ends that curve away from the archer where the bowstring is attached. These curves store potential energy. When drawn back, the curves stretch out and produce energy to thrust the bowstring and launch the arrow forward. This design allows the bow to be built shorter than a straight bow
of equal stored energy. After a round of four shots, the archers walk toward their target to retrieve the arrows and the next round of archers set into position. When all are safely behind the shooters, Farias blows his whistle and a new round begins. Smiles and chatter abound among Farias and the students in between rounds. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Ben Kennedy, a student taking the archery class for a second time. “At Meramec, if you take a class twice, the new grade wipes out the old grade, but I don’t PHOTO BY: STEVEN DUNCAN take it for the grade,” A STLCC-Meramec archery student takes aim at a target 30 yards away. Archery class Kennedy said. “I take meets weekdays from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. behind Meramec’s powerhouse building. it because I like it.” stress to focus in on the during the fall 2011 semester. Archery is a sport that target and get your mind anyone can participate in and off of other classes,” Farias statics show that students said. “The ‘thwack’ of the participating in archery programs improve in the arrow hitting the target Visit classroom, according to the can be pretty cathartic.” MERAMEC Farias will teach PE National Archery in the COM 104 Archery on Saturdays Schools Program (NASP). for this issue’s ‘For the love of the game from 8:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. “It relieves a lot of column’
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MONTAGE .
16SPORTS
April 21, 2011
One magical night for Meramec
A who’s-who evening of Meramec athletic history takes place Spencer Gleason - Sports Editor -
Since 1997, the Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been a joyous occasion. It was a time to stop and reflect on the celebratory careers and achievements of STLCCMeramec student athletes, coaches and contributors alike. On April 11, taking center stage at the 2011 Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony were the three newest members: Jeffrey Jenkins, who was at one point ranked 13th in the world in the 60-yard dash and 60-yard hurdles, was a track and field star for Meramec from 1976 to 1978. Jenkins was sent to a junior college by Arizona State to keep him “under wraps” before making the jump in the classroom to a Division I school. Kim Winterer-Reiniger was a walk-on soccer standout and helped lead her team to back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. Bob Frischman has been the sports information director at Meramec for the past ten years and has kept Meramec in the limelight, reporting on numerous stories throughout his tenure. However, since the announcement of STLCC athletics combining and the loss of the name Magic, this year’s ceremony became more meaningful. Giving those in attendance an opportunity to say “thank you” to the one who fought to save athletics at Meramec—Bob Bottger. After naming the coaches and athletic trainer for Meramec Darren Jones, Shelly Ethridge, the Lady Magic basketball coach said, “This is our team, this is our family
and in charge of our family is Bob Bottger… His words of wisdom have been wonderful.” Even those who were unable to take part made sure their voices were still heard and their gratitude was still felt. “I’m sure that this is a bittersweet occasion for you,” Stephen Petersen, Ed.D., former vice president of student affairs at Meramec, wrote in a letter to Bottger. “On the one hand, you can look forward to retirement and to spending more time on the golf course… On the other hand, I know that it is disappointing to see the incredibly successful athletic program that you helped build be reconfigured because of the college’s financial challenge… I feel privileged to have worked with you… Although we had some interesting challenges, I am proud of the fact that we stayed the course and fought to maintain the integrity of the athletic program.” Bottger, who started the Magic Hall of Fame in 1997 to honor those who had had distinguished careers in intercollegiate athletics, has spent the past 21 years as the manager of physical education and athletics at Meramec. Once the change in athletics takes place on July 1, Bottger will be forced into retirement. As a show of appreciation, the athletic department inducted Bob Bottger as the fourth member of the 2011 inductees. The special tribute gave Bottger a moment to soak up the emotions while receiving a standing ovation. “I was a little embarrassed taking time away from [Jeffrey Jenkins, Kim Winterer-Reiniger and Bob Frischman] because it was about them,” Bottger said after the ceremony. “We have so many individuals that have
done so much…It revitalizes you. It gives you a shot in the arm and you go to work the next day and your smile is back, so it’s kind of cool.” Indeed, the evening was dedicated to the inductees. Favorite quotes and moments were relived and the stories of each individual’s journey which led them to Meramec were shared. For the first time ever, the 15th Annual, and final, Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony included four names, raising the total from 42 inductees to 46. The 46 names that hang on the Magic Hall of Fame wall will forever be a part of Meramec’s history, a history that includes a time when athletics meant bragging rights between STLCC campuses. Winning games and tournaments against rival sister campuses gave the athletes a sense of being number one throughout the district. With change evident, Bottger hopes those same student athletes, coaches and contributors will continue to be honored. “The good thing about the hall of fame is that it’s made us stop each year and take a little time to smell the roses. It’s been a great thing,” Bottger said. “I’ve tried to talk Florissant Valley and Forest Park into having one themselves for years and they never did. So now in a conversion when we go to a district, I really hope they seriously consider it because there are so many that deserve recognition and new ones yet to come that will deserve it.”
PHOTOS BY: HANS STEINERT
Above: Interim STLCC-Meramec President Zerrie Campbell speaks at the Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Campbell congratulated the teams and coaches this year on successful seasons and acknowledged the new inductees. Below: Frank Cusumano and Bob Frischmann pose for a photo while new inductee Bob Frischmann holds his Hall of Fame plaque. Cusumano spoke on Frischmann’s behalf inducting him into the Hall of Fame.
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Left: Jeffrey Jenkins gives his Hall of Fame speech. Jenkins ran track and field for Meramec from 1976 to 1978. Right: Kim Winterer-Reiniger and Jeff Karl stop for a photo. Winterer-Reiniger played soccer for coach Karl during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. She helped lead both teams to back-to-back national championships. Karl, who recently retired, was a Magic Hall of Fame inductee in 2001.