Bts15 by The Montage

M THE MONTAGE

Dalila Kahvedzic Spencer Gleason Jason Waters Marissa Diercks Alex White Brittney Farrow Christian Hargas Ben Jurczyk Olivia Hall Darren Hembrador Haley Kindler Alyssa McCutchan Austin Schumann Dave Kloeckener

Editor in Chief Editor in Chief Emeritus Production Manager Graphics Editor Photo Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Art & Life Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer

Shannon Philpott Faculty Adviser Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessarily the views of St. Louis Community College, the board of trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. (314) 984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., (314)984-7955.

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Table of

CONTENTS

Letter From the Editor | Page 5

Saddle Up

Student Bodies

Graduates Assemble

Blast From the Past

FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS | BACK COVER ILLUSTRATION BY: MARISSA DIERCKS

Saddle Up

The beginning of college can have many students feelin’ like a tumbleweed in motion, but there is no reason to shake in your boots. When it comes to school, nothing is braver than biting the dust and pursuing an education. Whether you aspire to be an outlaw or a sheriff, the fastest way to get there is to pick up some books and keep your ten-gallon hat held high. This section is all about Meramec and the opportunities it can provide. Whether you are from around these parts or not, knowing the way through campus is a sure way to succeed. Whether you

seek help with financial aid, advising or the good, the bad and the ugly, this guide will help you through. You will come out a bigger hero than Clint Eastwood. High school may have left you feeling like a lone ranger with certain expectations, but we are here to bust ‘em. Take a gander at our map of campus, and high-tail it to your first class. When it comes to school, there should be no hollerin’. Our staff and students have True Grit. Follow our guide, and you will have a good time ridin’ off into the sunset. ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITTNEY FARROW

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M E R A M E C

The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with an emphasis in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **

COURSES

MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 211,212

Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music The History of Jazz The Enjoyment of Music Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV Survey of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Music History I,II

Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!

ENSEMBLES

Music 132 – Orchestra Music 133 – Jazz Lab Band Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 135 – Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Voices of Magic jazz choir All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers and/or the Voices of Magic jazz choir.

For more information, contact the Meramec Music Department Gary Gackstatter, Director of Instrumental Music, ggackstatter@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7636 Dr. Jerry Myers, Director of Choral Activities & Music Theory, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

Letter from the Editor: DALILA KAHVEDZIC EDITOR IN CHIEF Welcome to the Montage’s BackTo-School-Guide. This guide will help and instruct both incoming and outgoing students on how to succeed here. Our aim is to cover things students need to know before attending Meramec, what to do while here and what to do when leaving. We have covered what has already taken place and try to capture the true inner and outer beauty that STLCC – Meramec has to offer, ranging from the students who attend to the events that take place. For students leaving Meramec, keep

this little treasure as a reminder of the past school year. For incoming students, use this nifty tool to help get to know this new school. As an incoming Editor In Chief, it remains my goal along with my staff to keep the students and faculty well informed with unbiased, valuable and accurate information regarding our school. Every issue produced is put together with the upmost dedication and pride. Being a part of an award winning newspaper means more to us than anything and we will strive to continue to be the best that we can be and produce our best writing, photos, graphics and everything in between all year long.

What’s Inside:

As the student newspaper of Meramec, The Montage promises to bring the latest news, show how it affects students, remain diligent about reporting decisions made by administration and highlighting the good, the bad and the ugly of the campus community. The Montage promises a voice to the students, from the students.

Sincerely, Dalila Kahvedzic, Editor In Chief

Starting a Smooth Ride

Little Shop of Horticulture

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Test

Under Construction: Academic Services Beamed to Library

page 7

page 21

page 38

page 43

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We are your eyes.

We are your investigators.

We are your voice.

We are The Montage.

APPLY TODAY in SC-220A or Contact Shannon Philpott (sphilpott@stlcc.edu) for more information

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Starting a smooth ride Academic Advising: A necessary resource for students DAREN HEMBRADOR STAFF WRITER For some, graduating college can be a difficult goal to accomplish. Different elements can affect an individual student’s success – such as career choice, class scheduling and available opportunities. Fortunately, STLCC – Meramec has a resource in place to aid students through their college journey: the Advising Department. If a student has an unclear or blurry path towards their career, the Advising office can help them find a direction. Manager for the Meramec Advising Department Julie Massey said advisors are great problem-solvers and that they are willing to assist students whether or not they have a plan. “Our goal is to help students with their academic planning, establishing where to go, enrolling for the correct courses

and supporting students to success,” Massey said. “We assess a student’s plan based on their goals and skills.” Massey said advising is not a mandatory chore for college, but students who skip advising are not utilizing their privileges on the campus or assessing future issues with classes. STLCC-Meramec student Christina Bowers has experienced such difficulties firsthand. “The worst feeling to have in college is getting lost or having no direction toward your goals,” Bowers said. “Meramec’s advisors have helped me pick out my classes for the semester and plan out credits for transfer.” Bowers recommends that students make an appointment with an advisor if a career plan has not been established. Meramec’s advising department not only offers advice and guides, but also several programs for a successful road to a postgraduate profession. The Advising Department also provides a look into different jobs and their specifications. The department usually hosts a majors and career fair during the Fall semester to give students a glimpse of career opportunities around the world. They also host a transfer fair in the spring semester to establish a student’s next school choice for broadening their education. Advising also offers guides to credit transfers in Meramec PHOTO BY: AUSTIN SCHUMANN

PHOTO BY: ALEX WHITE Saint Louis Community College students, Jenan Zaid and Emily Martin select classes for the fall of 2015 in the academic advising office. The academic advising office is located on the second floor of Clark Hall.

and ways to transfer credits to schools that accept them from STLCC. Not only does the advising department assist a student’s path, but they also give the student a good foundation to learn responsibilities and make smart decisions. Academic Advising has established a different way of critical thinking for students to apply in the work force for the future. Students who plan out their courses are likely to have more motivation and less stress for their career path than those who have not. Academic planning has helped students choose their classes wisely. STLCC student Trey Fields

said having to talk to an advisor face-to-face about certain classes has given him a heads up on scheduling. “I’ve learned to just take my hard classes over the fall, just to get them over with, and take the easy classes over the spring semester,” Fields said. “For some students, strategizing semester placement is the best way to tackle difficult courses.” When it comes to college, good resources can be the difference between succeeding and simply getting by. Fortunately for STLCCMeramec students they have a reliable tool in the Advising Department. SADDLE UP

MERAMEC Campus Map

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D C B A

Students cannot park in the Visitor Parking lot. No parking along walls, curbs, or in driveways unless specifically marked with parking spaces. Concealed firearms prohibited on College Property. ILLUSTRATION BY: MARISSA DIERCKS

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AC SS

Big Bend Rd.

Rose Hill Ave.

S T

N SO

AC Assessment Center AD Administration AS Applied Science BA Business Administration CE Continuing Education CN Communications North CP College Police CS Communications South GH Greenhouse HE Humanities East HW Humanities West

LH Lecture Halls L Library PE Physical Education PH Power House PP Physical Plant SC Student Center SO Social Science SS Science South SW Science West TH Theatre

Motorcycle Parking Emergency Call Box Additional parking on lots: G, H, L, P, and X Faculty and Staff Parking: Lots H, L, X and Y SADDLE UP

don't be a lone ranger TRiO Student Support Services aims to help college students succeed AUSTIN SCHUMANN STAFF WRITER TRiO Student Support Services, which is located on the second floor of the Student Center building, is a federally funded program designed to help first generation college students complete a college degree. The office provides services for students who are members including tutoring and workshops in a variety of subjects. Tutoring offices are on the second floor of the library. “TRiO is an investment,” Director of TRiO Sanela Mesic said. “We do a lot for our students. We can help with selecting classes. We can help with transfer planning, scholarships or if you need help with the FAFSA. We do all of that for the student and much more.”

To be awarded TRiO services a student must meet one of three criteria — if the student is a first generation college student, if they are registered with the Access Office or if they are receiving a Pell Grant. Although there is no deadline to sign up, Mesic recommends students sign up sooner rather than later. “Because we are federally funded, we are limited in terms of how many people we can serve,” Mesic said. “Right now we have a huge waiting list.” TRiO has a mentoring program, summer math academy and a Bridge program. The Bridge program is a three-week summer session for incoming freshman, designed to help with reading, English and

math. “Our challenge is to increase persistence, retention, increase GPA and help students graduate from STLCC and transfer to a four year university,” Mesic said. Since TRiO is a government funded program, Mesic said that students must remain active in their schooling. “We do expect them to be active,” Mesic said. “So [that means] meeting with your

Not by the skin of one’s teeth

TRiO advisor twice a semester and going to workshops twice a semester.” Remaining involved in the system can pay off. If the TRiO student’s Pell Grant money runs out, they can apply for a supplemental grant aid to help with summer classes. “There is an essay and a committee that meets,” Mesic said. “And, then we award about 17 grant aids.”

ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITTNEY FARROW

Access Office supports students with disabilities during their time at college

AUSTIN SCHUMANN STAFF WRITER The Access Office helps students with documented disabilities, both physical and mental, succeed at STLCC and assist faculty and staff who teach or provide services to students with disabilities. They help with a wide range of services including academic counseling and help with accommodations needed for equal access. “[A student] will provide us with some documentation of their disability,” Access Office Manager Linda Nissenbaum said. Nissenbaum also oversees the disability Support Services. “Then based on the input from the student and how they think it affects them, we put those things together in our 10 SADDLE UP

own professional judgment and determine accommodations from that,” she said. To register with the Access Office a student can apply online or pick up an application from their office in the Clark Hall building across from the TRiO office. “We’ve had students try to go to college and not set up their accommodations ahead of time,” Nissenbaum said. “They come in during the semester or even as late as a couple weeks before finals and sign up. We do the best we can to get them in the program. It’s better if they can be proactive. Then (we can) determine what, if any, accommodations they need.”

In addition to helping students with disabilities, the Access office also provides services to Veterans of all ages. Veterans suffering from PTSD or those who have received war related injuries would receive the same assistance as anyone else with a disability. There are also opportunities for students to help in the Access Office. Nissenbaum said that they are always looking for volunteer note takers for students, in their classes, who may not be able to do it on their own. “It helps [the students] because they’re going to take better notes for them and it will help the student,” Nissenbaum said.

Access Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8am -- 7pm Friday 8am -- 4:30pm Not open on weekends 314-984-7673 email:mcaccess@stlcc. edu

Jump on the bandwagon

PHOTO BY: BRITTNEY FARROW

STLCC-Meramec expands the U-pass program to all DARREN HEMBRADOR STAFF WRITER Transportation is one of the most vital resources to accomplishing a successful semester. Acquiring transportation may not be as easy as it should be for an average college student. That is one of the main reasons as to why Saint Louis Community College Meramec will introduce U-Pass in Fall 2015. U-Pass is a program for students who rely on using the Metro to get to and from school. According to STLCCMeramec Campus Life Director, Carolyn O’Laughlin, the program has its roots from STLCC-Florissant Valley. The program is a way to help ensure

a maximum attendance rate for students who may not be able to get to campus regularly otherwise Before the current improvements, students could get a U-Pass from their STLCC Library for a reduced cost, but the discount only applied to students under 23-years-old. The restriction made students who were older than 23 not want to enroll at STLCC. Everyone is welcome to use the pass and its benefits. Now students may receive a U-Pass without any additional cost. The U-Pass will be compensated through the Student Activities Fee included

in tuition, raising the activites fee from $5 to $6. The fee increase is applied to every student account, whether or not they use the Metro for school transportation. STLCC student Mark Schaefer actively takes the Metro to school. “The program will solve more problems for students than it causes.” Schaefer said. “There is a lot of students who carpool with friends or a group of people to get to school because they can’t afford the bus. But this means they have to align their classes up with their carpool’s schedule, which makes signing up for classes difficult and means

getting there on time isn’t easy. So, I feel like having a pass given to students would be a good use of resources. It may increase the tuition by a dollar, but relative to our current tuition, it’s really not that much.” “Transportation shouldn’t be an obstacle for learning,” Fitzgerald said. “The program will prevent transportation as an obstacle to learning.” To access a U-Pass for fall 2015, a student must be enrolled in an STLCC class. The student must show their student ID to the Cashier’s office to receive the pass. A student ID must also be presented when traveling on the bus.

Tyin’ up your steed Tips and tricks for parking at Meramec Parking passes can be obtained from the Campus Life Office which is on the second floor above the bookstore in the Student Center. To receive one, you need to show your state-issued ID and have a banner login. • Parking Passes are free • Parking Passes never expire • If lost, one can be re-issued by showing your student ID

ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITNEY FARROW

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Students with disAbilities

have Access at STLCC.

St. Louis Community College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Access office at the campus where you are registered. While accommodations may be requested at any time, some accommodations may require many weeks to arrange. Florissant Valley Access Office 3400 Pershall Road St. Louis, MO 63135-1499 E-mail: fvaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-513-4551 Fax: 314-513-4876 Relay Missouri: 711

Forest Park Access Office

Meramec Access Office

5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110-1393 E-mail: fpaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-644-9039 Fax: 314-951-9439 Relay Missouri: 711

11333 Big Bend Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-5799 E-mail: mcaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-984-7673 Fax: 314-984-7123 Relay Missouri: 711

Wildwood Student Enrollment and Disability Support Services 2645 Generations Drive Wildwood, MO 63040-1168 E-mail: wwaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 636-422-2000 Fax: 636-422-2050 Relay Missouri: 711

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. Florissant Valley

Forest Park

Meramec

www.stlcc.edu

Wildwood

Knowing your ‘High Noon’ Withdrawal Deadlines for 2015-2016 BRITTNEY FARROW OPINIONS EDITOR When it comes to college, deadlines are key. Whether it is handing in an assignment, knowing a test date or having a payment plan to take care of, responsible college students keep a tight calendar. Another deadline to keep in mind is class withdrawal dates. Do not be left high and dry.

Fall 2015 Class Withdrawal Deadlines: 100% Refund -- Aug. 30 80% Refund -- Sept. 6 50% Refund -- Sept. 13 0% Refund -- Sept. 14 & After

/ Drop / d d All A drawal With ust be sm Form ed to the itt e subm ent Offic llm Enro

Spring 201 6 Class Withdrawa l Deadlines : 100% Refu nd -- Jan. 2 5 80% Refun d -- Feb. 1 50% Refun d -- Feb. 8 0% Refund -- Feb. 9 & After

ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITTNEY FARROW

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PHOTO BY: AUSTIN SCHUMANN

Not from around these parts More than 800 international students enrolled at STLCC-Meramec BEN JURCZYK ART & LIFE EDITOR STLCC-Meramec is home to more than 800 International students. The process for admission and enrollment is much more involved and requires students to meet the English language proficiency level. They must achieve a minimum score of 61 on the IBT TOEFL test or a 500 or higher on the paper TOEFL test. Also, they must meet the required score of 240 on the on-campus ESL test. However, once enrolled, international students have unique opportunities to get involved on campus such as activities sponsored by the International Club. “When the students start in the club there is an understanding — something that bonds them together. It is that everyone is starting in the same place,” Foreign Language 14 SADDLE UP

Professor Marco Romero said. Meramec’s’ International club is a pillar for the community. Not only is it an integral part in some students lives as they find their niche in the states; some student’s even take their new fluency in the English language back home. Regardless of the different avenues’ the lives of these students take while attending college, they seem to all recognize where they started, Romero said. When students join the club, there is an understanding that everyone is starting in the same place, he said. Usually, students find corresponding languages which give them the ability to communicate with the other students if they don’t share English. “The students who study

music, different languages, and even instruments have a better comprehension of the base subjects,” said Romero. “When the honor society hands out awards at the end of the year, they reserve a table exclusively for the International Students Club.” Community involvement is a key element of the International Club. “The students go to elementary and grade schools to teach and give presentations,” said Romero. “They try to get kids interested and engaged with different cultures. So far, many students have been surprised by the amount of students who know their stuff about other countries.” The International Club has collected flags for each country

represented by students in the club, which has amassed to more than 180, said Romero. “Students from opposing countries have been able to communicate despite the ongoing or past conflicts that separate their countries,” said Romero. “Due to the similarities of the language they are able to communicate before they have English under their belt.”

PHOTO BY: ALEX WHITE

STUDENT BODIES

There is nothing haunting about Meramec and while you are here you should have a screaming good time. This section is all about how to avoid ghouls and goblins and come out surviving. There is no reason to have a Nightmare on Elm Street and lose your head. Whether you spend your time in a cabin in the woods or chasing thrills in old asylums, you and your friends are sure to enjoy the stay. While you are here, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the living dead on campus, including horrifyingly

delicious places to eat and spots where you can hack through stress. Unmask the mysteries of Kirkwood, and face your irrational fears. Inch down hallways with confidence, knowing you will always have a place to belong. Do not worry about being a trope; live out your dreams in a place where you can find your footing through clubs, campus events, and activities. Feel safe knowing campus police will keep away the poltergeists and prevent a fright night. When it comes to Meramec, no one is out for brains. ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS

STUDENT BODIES 15

‘I know what you did last’ orientation Orientation shows incoming students what to expect from Meramec ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR New student orientation is a great way for incoming students to learn how to adapt to college life. While getting tips from current students they will also learn more about the campus as a whole and different campus and classroom expectations. • Learn from current STLCC students about how to make the most out of the first two years of college. • Get to know interesting facts about STLCC • Meet incoming freshman • Learn about all the different clubs that take place on campus • Learn the many ways that college is different from high school • Learn about all the available resources for students • Learn overall classroom expectations and how the first week will be • Learn how to work Blackboard, banner and your student e-mail • Get your parking pass and student ID • Registering for New Student Orientation will help prepare you for the next few years. All you have to do is register for a NSO that best fits your schedule the same way you register for classes. For more information, contact Brooke Holden at 314-984-7641.

Do you want to take a test?

COMPASS placement test assesses a student’s academic standing

Go see your advisor after the test

BRITTNEY FARROW OPINIONS EDITOR STLCC uses COMPASS — a computerized placement test — to determine where incoming students stand academically. The test determines where students excell and where they need improvement and this infomation helps advisors decide what courses are best for a student’s schedule. COMPASS is required of all incoming students unless they meet certain standards and have provided proper documentation. These standards include: • • •

•

A grade of “C” or higher in college prerequisities A degree from an accredited insituition An ACT score achieved in the past three years that includes a score of 18 or higher on the reading and English section, and a score of 23 or higher on the math section An SAT score achieved in the past three years that includes a score of 500 or higher on the reading and writing section, and 580 or higher on the math section

Figure out where you belong ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITTNEY FARROW

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The Last Counselor’s Office on The Left Students find academic and emotional resources at the campus Counseling Office ALYSSA MCCUTCHAN STAFF WRITER The Meramec Counseling department offers a variety of resources for both current and former STLCC students. Located in the Administration Building/Clark Hall at AD202, the counseling department resources range from career and personal counseling to suicide prevention. “It’s a good place to start,” Meramec counselor Dr. Susie Herman said. “Any questions you could possibly have, ask a counselor and they will direct you.” The counseling department is open Monday through Thursday 8 am to 7 pm and Friday 8 am to 4 pm. There are six counselors on staff: two men and four women. A student may come in for any reason whether school related or not by either an appointment or walking in. Several other resources offered by the counseling department includes but is not limited to: •New Student Checklist •New Student Registration

•Group Therapy •Referrals to community resources •Alcohol Screening •Strong Interest Testing/MBTI •Crisis counseling and emergencies “Our strength is that we do it all for free,” Herman said. “Everyone needs someone they can trust. Someone who will listen and have empathy.” The emergency situation and suicide prevention hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any student in need. ULIFELINE is an online resource for college students allowing them to remain anonymous while looking for more information on how to receive help. The ULIFELINE link is attached to the STLCC website under the Suicide Prevention Resources tab. (www. ulifeline.org/) Herman said many students enter the counseling department who have never been to a counselor before. “It takes courage and vulnerability to come and ask for help,” Herman said. “Counseling is really important for people who want to improve themselves.” There is information available even in the waiting room of the academic advising offices. Papers and pamphlets are placed all throughout the academic advising department with information such as what careers are on the incline and decline in the past few years, scholarship opportunities, emotional coping skills,

transfer information and much more. These are available for students to take as they please. Herman said it is common for many students’ anxiety to be linked to their physical health and how they are taking care of themselves accordingly. “A lot of kids come in who are not getting enough sleep,” Herman said. “It really affects their performance.” Students who are on

academic probation (with a GPA below a 2.0) or restricted probation are required to see a counselor. The student on academic probation must see a counselor in order to register for classes and must achieve at least a 2.0 during the next academic semester in which they are enrolled. Restricted probation occurs if a student fails to achieve a 2.0 after being on academic probation.

Online information about the counseling department can be found at www.stlcc.edu/Student_Resources/Counseling (or go to stlcc.edu>student resources>counseling) To contact and/or make an appointment with the counseling department call (314) 984-7575 or email at mccounsel@stlcc.edu. Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Behavioral Health Response: (314) 469-6644 24/7 line: 1(800) 811-4760 Life Crisis Services: (314) 647-4357 24/7 line: (314) 647-5959 (TTY) Lifeline: 1(800) 273-TALK (8255)

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% OFF

for Meramec Staff & Student for the month of September 2015.

Not valid with other offers or discounts. Maximum discount is $20. Dine in only. Must present current Meramec ID. See store for details. Watson store only.

www.richandcharlies.com

Night Of The Living Website

How to use the STLCC website CHRISTIAN HARGAS SPORTS EDITOR New students at STLCC may need some help navigating the STLCC Website. The website provides links to programs and

applications students need while completing coursework, financial aid information, registration and communication with college

staff. Students can also find events, academic tips, college resources and gain access to the library.

Blackboard: Once the semester has begun, students will use Blackboard as their primary resource. Blackboard allows students to check their updated

grades, receive information and announcements from class professors and turn in essays electronically. Students will be able to interact with their

professors and other students through blogs, discussion boards and comment threads. Students can also receive notifications from campus clubs they are in.

MYSTLCC: The STLCC Website experience begins with creating a “MYSTLCC”

Account. With this account activated, students will have access to content needed

to enhance the coursework experience, such as Blackboard, Banner and Student email.

Banner Self Service: Banner allows the student to get “plugged in” to Saint Louis Community

College. Students can check finalized semester grades, check financial aid information, verify

enrollment, register online and pay for classes.

Student Email: The “my. stlcc.edu” student email account is the primary source of communication with STLCC.

Students will receive information they need such as e-bills, Blackboard announcements, financial aid updates, registration

deadlines, assignments, library holds and overdue notices and personal messages from individuals.

STLCC Newsroom: Students can view the latest campus

news, student success stories and faculty accomplishments on the

announcements page through an extensive archive of dates.

Libraries Tab: Students can use the “Libraries” tab to find

and check out books, use date bases for research, and receive

help and service from any of the STLCC Campus Libraries.

Events Calendar: Students can find out dates to important

campus events, holidays, theatre productions, semester

scheduling, sporting events and days the campus is closed.

Student Resources: STLCC offers services and resources to support students with the success they need before, during and after attending. Students can receive information about

Academic Resources, campus bookstores, Campus Life and Athletics, Campus Services, Career and Employment Services, Counseling, Degree Audits, Disability Information,

Financial Aid Information, Campus Policies and Procedures, College Transcripts and activities to help students make the most out of their college experience.

STUDENT BODIES 19

Little Shop of Horticulture The horticulture club’s program is in full bloom LIVIE HALL STAFF WRITER Started in the fall of 2014 by Meramec students Bill Kezele and Dylan Atchley, the Meramec Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) was implemented through the help of STLCCMeramec’s Horticulture Club. Now that the program is in full bloom, the next step is selling their product and getting more students involved. The Horticulture Club has supplied the space for Kezele and Atchley to plant a garden, as well as donating their time and other resources to get the program growing. Atchley said he is not sure what kind of restructuring the club would have to do to the program, but his hope is that once more students are involved, the initiative will be successfully incorporated. “I want this to be an educational tool for the program and for it to turn into a resource for the greater Kirkwood-St. Louis community,” Atchley said. The garden itself is located between the greenhouse on campus and Big Bend Road and is a 45 by 80 foot plot. Kezele said they have 19 40-foot beds they are growing various vegetables in. Things such as different types of broccoli, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts and cabbage along with a host of others. Kezele said he and Atchley

20 STUDENT BODIES

have worked in the garden every week since the program started. This past semester began with the first seeds being planted. They are now nearing time to harvest. On a personal level, Atchley said he is into this because he loves to grow food. He started out by traveling the country and apprenticing on various farms. Once he felt comfortable with his knowledge of the subject, he moved back to Missouri because he said it “felt like home.” After working in a farm management position in Herman, Mo. on a 13 acre farm, he started his own vegetable operation just north of Columbia, Mo. When financial troubles struck, he could no longer justify continuing the operation and came back to St. Louis and began working with the horticulture program. A little after his return, he met Kezele, who had just returned from his own apprenticeship in New Mexico. “He has a passion for it as well. It’s always good to work with people that have a passion for it [farming], and it’s even better to work with people who know what they’re doing,” Atchley said. As far as working with the horticulture club, Atchley said they have been supportive of the initiative and donated around $1,200 to help start their efforts. With that money and other donations from businesses like Ritter Greenhouse and the Kirkwood Lowe’s, Atchley and Kezele have produced the garden. Kezele said the help they

PHOTOS BY: AUSTIN SCHUMANN

have received has been very gracious. Some business gave discounts on tools, while others fully covered things like potting soil – which he said is very costly. “The faculty, as well as the horticulture department, has done a wonderful job of helping us get this project off the ground,” Kezele said. The long-term goal for the project is for the horticulture program to have a hand in smallscale food production. Atchley said he hopes the Urban Farming Initiative becomes a “wonderful thing” that the horticulture club wants to take over, making it a part of the program. As far as the next year is concerned, Atchley said he would like to see the program work with Meramec’s cafeteria, City Greens Market in St. Louis and possible centers that feed low-income families. He said he would like to see those connections made in the community and on campus to where their produce can go from the field to these places. Kezele said they will sell everything they can and will

donate what is left. As long as the product is getting to these places, Atchley said they can still act as a business model and record everything as if it were a business. Another hope of Atchley’s is that other campus departments get involved. He said the art department could make sculptures for the garden or signs to advertise. He would like to see the business students make budgets and do crop-benefit analysis. “I would just like to see greater involvement of interdisciplines in this project. I think it’d be great for everybody,” Atchley said.

All Academic Support Services Now Conveniently Located in the Library! Writing Center Purple; Room 217 984-7570

LIBRARY - SECOND FLOOR

Supplemental Instruction Green; Rooms 204, 205, 206, 209 984-7876

Academic Support/Peer Tutors Blue; Open area fronting Academic Center 984-7877 TRiO Tutoring Lab Red; Room 214 984-7329

Now nearly all of Meramec's FREE, no appointment needed academic support services are in one location--the Library!

Elevator

209 208

Central Stairway

Information Desk

Math, Science, Technology,Engineering Gold; Room 207 984-7348

217

207 206

Visit the 2nd floor and work with learning specialists and tutors who will help you connect with success.

214

204

218

Meramec Academic Center Light Blue; Room 218 984-7390 Hours may vary. Call specific service or the library for details.

Library Hours Fall Semester: Mon-Thur 7:30 am to 9 pm, Fri 7:30 -5, Sat 8-5. Ph. 314-984-7797

Academic Support Questions? Call or email Cindy: 314-984-7877 cclausen@stlcc.edu.

Cut out this page, hole punch, and add to binder.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;28 Clubs Laterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Meramec offers a variety of clubs and activities for students to get involved in CHRISTIAN HARGAS SPORTS EDITOR Students: looking to get involved? STLCCMeramec offers a variety of different clubs and extracurricular activities for individuals Fencing Club Advisor - Bill McDevitt 314 - 984 -7791, wmcdevitt@stlcc.edu

to further enhance their college experience. From fencing and hockey to music and art, there is something for everyone. Here are

International Club Advisor - Vidyullata Waghulde 314 - 984 - 7690, vwaghulde@stlcc.edu

22 STUDENT BODIES

Music Club Advisor - Jerry Myers 314 - 984 - 7638, gmyers34@stlcc.edu

Theatre Club Advisor - Michelle Rebollo 314 - 984 - 7832, mrebollo@stlcc.edu

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Advisor - Jeffrey Schneider 314 - 984 - 7727 jschneider@stlcc.edu Mud (Pottery) Club Advisor - Jim Ibur 314 - 984 - 7930, jibur@stlcc.edu

just a few of more than 48 clubs active at Meramec.

Student Governance Council Advisor - Chris Bathe 314 - 984 - 7641, cbathe@stlcc.edu

Art Club Advisor - Ken Wood 314 - 984 - 7925, kwood57@stlcc.edu

PHOTOS BY: AUSTIN SCHUMANN

The Campus Has Eyes: The role of Meramec police CHRISTIAN HARGAS SPORTS EDITOR The role of the Campus Police Department at STLCC – Meramec is to be a vibrant part of the health of each campus by not only policing, but through true interaction with those on campus, according to Anthony Russo, Meramec Campus Police Chief.

“Our students, faculty and staff are treated with respect and given a voice. We will endeavor to stay vigilant and proactive on campus at all times. Chief Banahan and I implement the best business practices relative to law enforcement,” Russo said. Russo said the STLCC

Meramec Campus Police Chief Anthony Russo said the following list of actions has been completed for the purpose of improving safety and to support the security of the campus community, since April 2013. Surveillance cameras installed on campus and regular testing of the Campus Alert Systems Conduct regular “SAFETY FORUMS” and Spring of 2014 – Conducted a “Meet the Campus Police” safety forum “See something, Say something” cards are distributed at the beginning of each semester (These were distributed to students at the front desk of Administrations/Registration, library, advising, academic secretary offices, campus life and police station) Emergency management related Armed Intruder Police Tactical Response Training Drills Community Oriented Policing (COPS), Campus Oriented Behavioral Intervention Team, and Crime Prevention PSSG Audit Report

Campus Police Departments consist of commissioning police officers, civilian employees and volunteers. “The campus police departments are proactively involved in not only enhancing campus community safety, but are also looking for ways to

better the work experience for our law enforcement staff and the campus community,” Russo said. According to Russo, there are several new ideas and plans being reviewed with great hopes of implementation in the near future.

Upcoming Plans and Projects: Upgrade LE Safety equipment across the district [Vehicles, Vests, Radios, etc] Identification and implementation of national bestpractices for public safety Additional surveillance cameras to all campuses common areas/quads and parking lots Establish required training of Students, Staff & Faculty for Safety Forums & Clery Training Enact ERT (Emergency Response Team) philosophy on ALL campuses Conduct periodic all-participation preparedness drills across the district

emergency

Clarify police interaction as it relates to BIT/CLERY/ VAWA STUDENT BODIES 23

Which Path Will You Take? See What Meramec Has to Offer Business

Communications

English

Courses offered within Meramec’s Business Department offer students opportunities to learn about critical concepts in management, marketing, accounting, real estate, economics, computer science and legal studies. Seek out the skills you need to work for corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, legal offices and accounting firms.

Courses offered within Meramec’s Communication Department offer students varied skills in public speaking, interpersonal communications, foreign languages, gender communications and mass communications. Students can prepare for careers in public relations, marketing, corporate communications, broadcast and journalism with courses that satisfy general education requirements.

Find out more information about course options by contacting the Business Department Chair Margaret Hvatum at 314-984-7518.

Find out more information about course options by contacting the Communications Department Chair Sue Hunt-Brandford at 314984-7833.

Courses offered within Meramec’s English Department provide students with reading and writing skills valuable in a variety of careers. Students can choose from courses focused on college composition and expository writing, literature, nonfiction writing, creative writing, poetry and courses designed to further reading, writing and comprehension skills for students with English as a second language.

Sponsored by the Business & Communications Division

Find out more information about course options by contacting the English Department Chair David Taylor at 314-984-7542.

fava beans and chianti Good eats and fast treats near campus ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR Spencer’s Grill has been in Kirkwood for decades and there’s a reason why. Their breakfast and lunch style diner food is different than the chain

restaurants of IHOP and Dennys. Students can expect diner food such as eggs and bacon for breakfast and burgers and fries for lunch. The wait staff

are always extremely polite and ready to help with anything and everything. The diner is a perfect place to stop for breakfast on the way to school.

Average Cost: Breakfast $5.77 Lunch $7.94 Location: 223 S Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122 (1.6 miles from campus) Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily

Billy G’s is a bar and grill that serves everything from pasta and pizza to juicy burgers and fries. It’s a comfortable place to hang out with friends and watch the game on one of many TV’s. The

atmosphere of the restaurant is inviting and it is easy to relax and enjoy friends and good food. There is plenty of indoor seating for the days when the weather is not the best and a wonderful

spacious patio for when it is. Whether going for a few drinks with friends or for a nice dinner out, Billy G’s will have what students want.

Average Cost: Burger/Sandwhich $10.99, Pizza $18.99, Pasta $15.69 Location: 131 W Argonne Dr, Kirkwood, MO 63122 (1.7 miles from campus) Hours: 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Great Harvest Bread Company bakes a variety of bread goods, such as scones, muffins, cookies and loaves of bread daily. They

serve lunch daily from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. where they combine their delicious fresh bread with different meats and cheese to

create a wonderful sandwich.

Average Cost: Full sandwich $7.99 Half sandwich $5.29 Location: 125 W Argonne Dr, Kirkwood, MO 63122 (1.7 miles from campus) Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 7a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Closed on Sundays

Smallcakes is a cupcakery that carries both the traditional favorites as well as a few different

flavors of cupcakes. From a vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing to a hot fudge sundae flavored

cupcake there is something for everyone.

One Cupcake: $3.50 Location: 343 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122 (1.5 miles from campus) Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. PHOTOS BY: AUSTIN SCHUMANN

STUDENT BODIES 26

Graduates

Assemble

± Consider your time at Meramec as your origin story. Now that you have soared into completing your degree, you can fly high knowing that you’re on to bigger and better things. While the transferring process may drain you like kryptonite, know that the road to university is free from hurdles so long as you follow our helpful guide. Play it smart and plan ahead and you will come out a hero.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to do your research on Missouri four-year schools and prepare for your future. Great power comes with great responsibility and the best way to defeat challenges is to anticipate problems. This section is all about making your next move, and knowing how to fight your battles. Do not distress; put on your disguise and get your cape ready. You are about to be a legend. ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS ± GRADUATES ASSEMBLE 27

Navigating the Local Headquarters Transporting Out of Meramec? Options Close to Home HALEY KINDLER STAFF WRITER As students prepare for life after Meramec, options to transfer include both colleges and universities nationwide. Looking to stay closer to home? See what the state of Missouri has to offer.

Lindenwood

• Founded: 1827 • Over 16,000 enrolled • 66% acceptance rate • Over 200 degree programs • Tuition: $15,230 • Room and board: $3,760

Fontbonne

Washington University of St. Louis • Founded: 1853 • 14,163 enrolled • 15.6% acceptance rate • Ranked #1 in social work • Student-to-faculty ratio: 8 to 1 • tuition: $47,300

St. Louis University

• Founded: 1818 • 13,505 enrolled (2013) • 64% acceptance rate (2012) • 60% of students from out of state • Student-to-faculty ratio: 12 to 1 • Undergraduate tuition: $37,351 • 95% of freshmen receive financial aid

28 GRADUATES ASSEMBLE ±

Webster

• Founded: 1853 • 14,163 enrolled (2013) • 72% acceptance rate • Students living on campus: 725 • $45,700 undergraduate tuition • Room and board: $13,888

• Founded: 1923 • 1,819 enrolled • 63% acceptance rate (2010) • Student-to-faculty ratio: 11 to 1 • Tuition: $23,130 • Room and board: $8,700 • 93% of students receive financial aid

Central Missouri

• Founded: 1871 • Over 13,000 enrolled • 80% acceptance rate • Student-to-faculty ratio: 16 to 1 • 92% of graduates employed within 6 months later

Up, Up and Away Transporting Out of Meramec? National Bound HALEY KINDLER STAFF WRITER Want to get away? Beam yourself to an out-of-state college in neighboring states or clear across the country. Students can evaluate the cost, enrollment and scholarship opportunities to offset the cost of out-of-state tuition.

Berkeley College

•Founded: 1931 •77% acceptance rate (2010) •Over 8,000 students enrolled •Over 900 international students •In-state tuition: $11,220 •Out-of-state tuition: $35,850 •Provided more than $45 million in scholarships and grants (2013-14)

Oklahoma State University •Founded: 1890 •76% acceptance rate (2013) •26,073 enrolled (2013) •In-state tuition: $2,770 •Out-of-state tuition: $7,630

University of Kentucky •Founded: 1865 •91% acceptance rate •22,223 enrolled •In-state tuition: $10,616 •Out-of-state tuition: $22,888 •Room and board: $10,506

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana •Founded in 1867 •Acceptance Rate: 62.4% •Enrollment: 43,603 •Tuition: $30,150 •Room & Board $10,848

Colorado State University •Founded: 1870 •77.4% acceptance rate (2013) •31,725 enrolled (2014) •Student-to-faculty ratio: 17 to 1 •In-state tuition: $7,868 •Out-of-state tuition: $24,048

Kansas University

•Founded: 1865 •Acceptance Rate: 88.4% •Enrollment: 27,983 (2014) •In-state Tuition: $10,448 •Out-of-State Tuition: $25,731 •17:1 Student-Faculty Ratio ± GRADUATES ASSEMBLE 29

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Learning through Through Service Learning Service

YOU can Make a Difference in your own life while helping others. Gain makes a difference in your own life while helping others. Gain real world in a class learninglearning project project or through realexperience world experience in service a class service or one of our many community engagement projects. through one of our many community engagement projects. Ask about about the the Semester Semester of Service Program! Ask of Service Program!

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College Writing Center

Serving students since 1965

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Constructive feedback

Comfortable environment

Find or narrow a topic Focus and support a thesis

Organize your thoughts on paper

Professional Writing Specialists to help you:

Correct grammar error patterns

Fine-tune scholarship and transfer essays or applications

One Meramec: credit, self-directed courses: 2nd Floor - Library (314) 984-7570 ENG 003: Sentence Combining, ENG 004: Grammar Review ENG 006: Writing Effective Paragraphs, ENG 007: Business Writing Review Fall/Spring Hours: Mon-Thurs. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Meramec: Communications North 122 Summer Hours Available. Fall/ Spring Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8a.m. - 78p.m., Fri. 8a.m. - 3p.m. Summer Hours available. South County Education & University Center: South County EducationPlease & University Center : please call (314) 984-7226 call (314) 984-7226

Contact Debbie Corson | 314-984-7234 | dcorson2@stlcc.edu. See our web site for more information - www.stlcc.edu/ServiceLearning

Math Tutoring at Meramec

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I loved having such a warm environment to study. [The tutors] never made me feel that a question was stupid and really helped me understand the problems.â&#x20AC;? ~ Student

Our Mission is to facilitate the mastery and understanding of mathematical techniques and problem solving. Our experienced staff is happy to help students with algebra, trigonometry and calculus.

Please come and see us!

Summer hours: SW 211: M - Th: 7a.m. - 9p.m. Fri. closed. SCEUC: M - Th: 9a.m. - 1p.m. ; 5p.m. 9p.m. ; Fri. closed. Fall 2010 hours: SW 211: M - Th: 7a.m. - 9p.m. ; Fri. 7a.m. - 4: 30p.m. SCEUC: M - Th: 9a.m. - 1p.m. ; 5p.m. - 9p.m. ; Fri. 9a.m. - 12p.m. CN 102: M - TH 8a.m. - 3:30p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Got a story? Pitch it to us.

meramecmontage@gmail.com

Everyday superhero Students enter the work force with a 2-year specialized degree ALEX WHITE PHOTO EDITOR While many Meramec students transfer to a 4-year college or university, some students seek skills to enter the workforce sooner rather than later. STLCC features the following 2-year Associates

of Applied Science degrees designed to prepare students for an immediate career as well as the option to transfer credits.

Paralegal Average Salary: $46,990 per year Paralegals support lawyers in a variety of ways, such as maintaining and organizing files and drafting documents.

Web Developer Average Salary: $62,500 per year Web developers design and create as well as modify their own or others websites.

Food Service Managers Average Salary: $47,960 per year Food service managers are the ones responsible for daily operation of their restaurants as well as other businesses. They will direct the staff to make sure that all customers are satisfied.

Registered Nurse Average Salary: $65,470 per year Registered nurses (RNs) help patients themselves as well as coordinate care for them. They will also help educate the patients and families on health conditions as well as provide advice and support.

Electrical Technician Average Salary: $49,840 per year Electrical Technicians are responsible for installing as well as maintaining power for homes, businesses and factories.

Dental Hygienist Average Salary: $70,210 per year Dental hygienst clean and examine the teeth of patients, they will look for signs of gingivitis and look for cavities. All before the dentist does any further work.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Average Salary: $52,070 per year Cardiovascular technologists use imaging technology to help doctors diagnose different heart and blood vessel ailments. Physical Therapist Assistants Average Salary: $52,160 per year Physical Therapist Assistants help patients recover from different injuries, illnesses and surgeries to help regain movement and manage the pain.

Air Traffic Controller Average Salary: $122,530 per year Air traffic controllers are responsible for the movement of air traffic to help ensure that all aircrafts take off and are a safe distance apart.

Radiologic and MRI Technologists Average Salary: $55,910 per year Radiologic technologists perform x-rays on patients to help better diagnose an injury. MRI technologists use MRI machines to create different diagnostic images for doctors and patients. Police and Detectives Average Salary: $56,980 per year Police and detectives help the community by protecting lives and property. They also collect different evidence that may be needed from crimes. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians Average Salary: $61,530 per year Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate as well as maintain equipment that are used in developing and producing new aircraft and spacecraft. ILLUSTRATION BY: BRITTNEY FARROW Âą GRADUATES ASSEMBLE 33

Funding the secret lair Financing options for the community college student BRITTNEY FARROW OPINIONS EDITOR With college being such a large investment it may seem overwhelming at first. There are so many ways to pay for a college eduducation, whether it is through grants and scholarships or a loan. Paying for college is entirely possible. So you have finally done it, and you are on your way to a university. Your classes are scheduled, your transcripts have been sent over and you have finally started laying out your plans; however, you have no idea how you are going to pay for school. Transferring is not easy – the difference in tuition cost can be intimidating for many students. With the price of your education increasing by the thousands, figuring out where to find the money can be more than a bit stressful. Fortunately, there are options. Before you transfer, consider taking out a loan or applying for some scholarships. The more expendable money in your pocket, the better. Under the U.S. Department of Education, the most common loans come from the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Through this program, there are four borrowing options. Direct Subsidized Loans: Undergraduate students who show financial need are eligible for direct subsidized loans. The amount that can be borrowed through this loan varies depending on a student’s educational institution. Interest on subsidized loans does not have to be paid by the student while they are in school at least half-time, or during a six-month period after graduation. 34 GRADUATES ASSEMBLE ±

Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Unsubsidized loans can be taken out by any undergraduate student regardless of whether or not they have financial need. The amount that can be borrowed is determined by the educational institution, and the interest on the loan is to be paid while in attendance. Direct PLUS Loan: PLUS loans are federal loans that are given to postgraduate students or the parents of dependable undergraduates. The borrower cannot have adverse credit, and the maximum amount that can be borrowed is the cost of the student’s attendance minus any financial assistance they receive. Direct Consolidation Loan: Allows a student to combine all loans into one, so that they make a single payment monthly instead of several. Through the U.S. Department of Education, there is also the Federal Perkins Loan Program which is given to students with exceptional financial need. This loan program is school-based because the borrowed money is taken from the institution as opposed to the government. Grants Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid, making them the most desirable financial option. Grants are most commonly broken down by three levels: federal, state and college. Most educational institutions award grants based on financial need displayed through FASFA.

ILLISTATION BY: JASON WATERS

The most common type of grant awarded is the Pell Grant, as it is awarded through most accredited educational institutions around the country. Scholarships Scholarships, like grants, do not have to be repaid; however, an application process is involved and receiving a scholarship may take some research. Fortunately, there are thousands of available scholarships across the country given to students for every reason under the sun. Some out-of-the-ordinary scholarships include: Duck Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest: Every year Duck Brand duct tape awards scholarship money to a couple who creates their prom look completely out of duct tape.

KLI Academic Award: The Kor Memorial Scholarship: “Star Trek” fan? The Klingon Language Institute awards $500 to students enrolled in a language program. Carnegie Mellon University Bagpipe Scholarship: With a low amount of competition, this scholarship annually awards $7,000 to a student majoring in bagpipe. American Nudist Research Library Scholarship: If you’re interested in a nudist lifestyle and wouldn’t mind living in a nudist colony, you could receive an easy $1,000 for college. Sophie Major Duck Calling Contest: If you love ducks and have a good call, you could win $2,000 for school.

Tips and Tricks for University Transferring after Meramec CHRISTIAN HARGAS SPORTS EDITOR After completing the number of required credit hours at STLCC - Meramec, students earn an associates degree. They will, then, have the option of transferring to another four year university to complete their degree

and finish their college experience. STLCC transcripts are eligible for transfer to any college in the United States, with the proper completion. For students intending to transfer in the next 12 months, it is important

Transferring Tips • • • • • •

•

Complete Applications online to speed up the admissions process. Submit official transcripts from EACH college where credit was completed. Pay close attention to deadlines. Make a calendar of important dates and deadlines. Proofread your application and supporting materials for grammar and spelling errors. Make copies of everything. Keep a separate folder for each school you apply to and stay organized. When using email to communicate with potential transfer schools, ensure your email address is appropriate and that you check it on a regular basis. Make sure your application is complete before submitting. An incomplete application may delay the admissions process and may be rejected altogether. Have a backup plan. Apply to more than one school. Follow up with each school to ensure they have all of the required information and documents. Make sure all final transcripts are submitted.

to stay prompt and organized to make sure the process goes smoothly. The following information can help students take the next step in their educational careers.

Local Transfer Universities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Central Methodist University Chamberland College of Nursing Fontbonne University Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College Harris-Stowe State University Kansas City Art Institute Lindenwood University Maryville University Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Southeast Missouri State University Saint Charles Community College Saint Louis Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Saint Louis Webster University William Woods University

Transferring Timeline Per Semester Four Semesters Before Transferring • • • • •

Speak with an STLCC advisor and/or counselor to assist you a “MAP” (My Academic Plan) appointment with an academic advisor to help in sequencing out your classes. Research colleges that offer your intended major(s) and meet your priorities regardless of cost, location, size, housing, extracurricular activities, etc. College View: www.collegeview.com College Navigator: www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator Link to all US colleges and universities: www.utexas.edu/ world/univ

Three Semesters Before Transferring •

•

Two Semesters Before Transferring • •

•

Continue selecting courses that transfer appropriately within your intended program of study/major. Always verify your transfer school. Submit your application for admissions and financial aid (FAFSA), along with all of your official college transcripts; to the transfer institutions of your choice. Pay close attention to deadlines. Once admitted, complete scholarship and housing applications (as appropriate).

Narrow your search to three to five colleges. Familiarize yourself with potential institutions’ admission requirements and deadlines, including selective program prerequisites and admission criteria. Schedule a campus tour, attend open houses and transfer day events. Use the four year institutions transfer guides and course equivalency databases to assist you with course selection. Always verify with your potential transfer school that this information is up-to-date. Continue to work with an STLCC advisor and your transfer institution to confirm your course selection for your educational plan.

One Semester Before Transferring • • •

Complete transferrable coursework in your program and apply for your Associates Degree (graduation), if applicable. Request final official transcripts be sent to your transfer institutions at the end of your last semester. Verify that you do not have any financial of administrative holds at STLCC. Attend new student orientation sessions at your new school (if possible) or use online orientation tools and register for classes. ± GRADUATES ASSEMBLE 35

Start out right @ your library  Get research help.  Find a book.  Study alone or with a group.  Check out a movie.  Use a computer. Questions? Stop in, call, email or text the Meramec Library https://www.stlcc.edu/libraries/ssl/ask.asp

Upgrade your research skills with a library credit course! LIB 101 - Introduction to Library and Online Research In this one-credit course, you’ll learn how to find, evaluate, and cite information from a variety of resources, including the Internet, online databases, and the library catalog.

The City of Kirkwood Welcomes You! Kirkwood Park -Located just blocks from the Meramec campus at the corner of Geyer and Adams -Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Handball/Racquetball Courts, Playgrounds, Walking/Running Path, Fitness Trail, Picnic Sites, Pavilions,Softball Fields, and Fishing at Walker Lake! -Ice Rink is Open Year ‘Round -The Pool is Now Open to NonResidents. Call 822-5855

Kirkwood Farmers’ Market -Located in historic downtown Kirkwood at the corner of Argonne and Taylor -Open April through October PLUS the Christmas Tree Lot in December -Locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, and live music on Saturdays!

Art at the Station -Local artists’ work on display at the Kirkwood Train Station Year ‘Round FREE! -Art can be viewed when the station is open for passengers

Keep in Touch

Website, E-News, Twitter and Facebook! Visit us at www.kirkwoodmo.org -Sign up for the Weekly Happenings E-Newsletter (Email us: Info@kirkwoodmo.org) -”Like” us on Facebook: City of Kirkwood, MO (Government) or follow us on Twitter - @KirkwoodCity

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Test

Required Exit Assessment Test evaluates the Meramec experience ALYSSA MCCUTCHAN STAFF WRITER Finishing a two-year degree can be both an exciting and rewarding event but much more goes into graduation than simply walking across a stage. One part of the final exodus from STLCC-Meramec is the Exit Assessment Test. It is required that all spring, summer, and fall graduates complete the Exit Assessment before graduation. The Exit Assessment test is a 50 minute timed test given through ACT. The test is broken down into four individual sections: Reading, Writing, Math, and Critical Thinking. Each student is assigned only one portion of the test that is selected at random. “It is random assignment, we don’t sit down and look at how many reading or writing courses a student has had,” Manager of Assessment at Meramec Ray Eberle-Mayse said. “We would not get an accurate picture of our students if we permitted them to pick which section of the test to take.” The test results are evaluated both by the state as well as Meramec itself to gage a better picture of the overall level of education graduates are walking away with at the time of their departure. The state of Missouri wants to look at some measure of general education outcomes nation wide according to EberleMayse. “This is one piece of evidence relative to how we [as educators] are doing,” EberleMayse said. “It really represents an external means of judging how our students are doing in those subject areas when they leave the college.” Each student must sign up to 38 GRADUATES ASSEMBLE ±

take the test through Meramec’s Assessment Center. There is a list of dates, times, and locations of when the test is offered and graduates may select the date and time that works best for them. If any student is unable to make the scheduled times they must contact the Assessment Center in order to schedule an additional time to take the Exit Assessment. “It is our intent at assessment that everybody has an opportunity to take care of all the requirements so they can graduate on time,” EberleMayse said. “We send out letters, emails, phone calls, and even set up additional test times for students to complete the test if needed.” The results of the test are neither graded nor put toward a student’s transcript. However, the completion of the Exit Assessment determines a student’s fate at graduation. Students who fail to take the test will not graduate that semester. The only exception is if a student moves out of state upon meeting the academic requirements to graduate. “It is not something you study for,” Ebele-Mayse said. “Simply come in and give it your best effort in order to receive the most accurate results.” Students may schedule an appointment to take the Exit Assessment in person at the Assessment Center (or by contacting the department by phone (314) 984-7596 between 8 am and 7 pm. For additional information visit MCAssessment@stlcc.edu. For more information about the test itself go to www.act.org/caap.

ILLUSTRATION BY: JASON WATERS

BLAST FROM THE

A lot of change took place throughout the 2014-15 school year. Teleport with us, as we take a blast to the past because where we’re going, we don’t need roads. Engage at warp speed. The STLCC mothership beamed up Jeff Pittman, Ph. D, as the new Chancellor. He will be the third gatekeeper in as many years for the multi-campus college. And, Meramec President Pam McIntyre will be phoning home, as she retires after more than 29 years with STLCC. STLCC athletics know winning is not robotic. But the

PAST

Archers’ baseball and women’s basketball programs said, “Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try” to their seasons. And, they “did” — imprinting their Bigfoot footprint in the Archers’ athletic history books. So as we say “Hasta la vista, baby,” to the 2014-15 school year and a Vulcan salute is given to the incoming 2015-16 school term, never give up and never surrender, no matter what the future holds. Just pay attention. Because you can learn a lot from the past. ILLUSTRATION BY JASON WATERS

BLAST FROM THE PAST 39

OnE

- SEVEN

STLCC divides the semester into two seven week sessions

ILLUSTRATION BY MARISSA DIERCKS

LIVIE HALL STAFF WRITER In the fall of 2015, STLCCSouth County Education and University Center (SCEUC) will be implementing a new program called 7-one-7. The program divides a semester into two seven-week chunks with one week off in between. Instead of taking four or five sixteen-week classes, those classes are remodeled to fit into a seven-week schedule. Students will only have to take two or three at a time. After the seven weeks are up, so is the class, followed by seven more weeks of different classes. STLCC is not the first college to do this. “Trident Technical College went from quarter hours to semester hours, and in the year they went from quarters to semesters, they saw their enrollment tank,” said Kim Fitzgerald, vice president of student affairs. After seeing these results, Trident broke their semester in half – leaving them with a seven-week session, one week off and another seven-week session. It also allowed students to focus on courses more so than trying to balance four or five classes at a time. Within a few years, Fitzgerald said their enrollment skyrocketed. “What they found was that students did better in their classes. They got better 40 BLAST FROM THE PAST

grades. Because they only had two or three courses at a time, it allowed them to really get into the courses,” Fitzgerald said. By “improved grades,” students were getting A’s, B’s and C’s. There were less D’s, F’s and “incompletes” recorded. The withdrawal rate had gone down as well. STLCC adopted this model from Trident Technical College in South Carolina after seeing their success. Fitzgerald said STLCC has had a concern with their enrollment dropping and has been looking for creative ways to fix the problem. She said enrollment is more than simply recruiting students, it is also retaining them. Meramec student Janeth Calderon said the program sounds great. While she does not attend any classes at SCEUC, she said she would if they brought the program to Meramec’s campus and would feel more inclined to stay at STLCC.“I feel like I would get stuff done faster,” Calderon said. At the SCEUC, the same number of classes and sections will be offered as there were last fall. What they are focusing on is how successful the students are in taking those courses while they are there.

When administration made the decision to implement the new program, it was up to the department chairs to designate teachers to classes. SCEUC and Meramec Communications Professor Denise Sperruzza is a faculty member that will be teaching with the 7-one-7 program in the fall. She said this structure is a new one. Planning the curriculum is different than the planning of a regular sixteen-week class because with a longer class you are covering more in that amount of time than if you took three 50-minute classes. She said she is thinking about breaking her class into chunks: one chunk as a lecture, one an activity, etc. Basically, she will be using the flip method. The flip method is where teachers post their lectures and lessons online for students at home and then they do their homework in the classroom. “I think it’s an opportunity for faculty to do some fun and engaging things in the classroom that when you meet for 50 minutes at a time, you just can’t do,” Sperruzza said. Fitzgerald said she believed the program would draw current and prospective students in as it gave them a new way to learn. She said the beauty of this

has been that STLCC has around nine academic areas that are onboard. She said they have the core academic support they need and a nice partnership between student and academic affairs. “I have asked to refrain from calling it a ‘trial’ or a ‘pilot,’ because that sounds like you’re just taking a stab at it,” Fitzgerald said. She said many colleges across the country offer classes in the 7-one-7 format. STLCC is committed to this program, and now it is a matter of committing the students. “For some students, I think it’ll keep them engaged and they’ll actually learn better. I just think it’s going to be tricky to get the right students in that schedule,” Sperruzza said. She said her concern is that the program is so accelerated and the students will have to have that much more discipline. It is unlike a regular semester where if a student is not doing well in a class by midterm, they have the rest of the semester to make it up. She said if they are not really cut out for acceleratedtype courses, they will not be successful. “It works for students everywhere else,” Fitzgerald said. “So we think it’ll work for St. Louis Community College students as well.”

S TL CC w

elcom

es new cha ncellor ILLUSTRATION BY MARISSA DIERCKS

‘Personable’ Pittman takes over STLCC SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF EMERITUS

JEFF PITTMAN, PH.D The STLCC Board of Trustees announced on Tuesday, March 10 that Jeff Pittman, Ph. D., has accepted the chancellor position. Pittman will assume the responsibilities of STLCC chancellor effective July 1 and has signed a contract for the next five years. “The board members really liked [him] and found in the written comments, that we had gotten [from STLCC staff and faculty], confirmed the personal nature of Dr. Pittman,” Board of Trustees Chair Craig Larson, Ed. D., said. “Somebody stated that he’s not trying to impress you, but he has a deep background in his own work in community college. He has a very personable style.” Pittman has served as the statewide vice president of corporate college services

and online education at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, since January 2013. Previously, he was chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Wabash Valley Region for 11 years. “Indiana is unusual, in that all their students in the state of Indiana all go to one system. So it’s one unified state system. There are 30 different locations, 14 different regions,” Larson said. “He wanted to get back into the business of working with an actual college, whereas he’s been overseeing a state-wide office.” While Pittman oversaw the Wabash Valley Region, the college’s online enrollment increased from 32,000 students in 2008 to 69,000 students in 2010. Pittman was also active in the reorganization and development of an organization for the delivery of Corporate College customized workforce training and services to businesses, industry and individuals throughout Indiana. “The next step is to think about, ‘Do we offer the right programs — whether they lead to a degree or they lead

CHRISTIAN HARGAS STAFF WRITER to the right training — for the jobs that exist in St. Louis?’” Larson said. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we’re helping people come to a community college and giving them the right step — which may be to move on to [a four-year school].” Larson said that part of the draw to Pittman was the fact that he was not applying to other schools. For the trustees, Larson said that showed Pittman’s dedication to St. Louis. “In some ways [that] wouldn’t matter,” Larson said. “Some of the other candidates were in a couple other searches. But it was something that the trustees liked.” Pittman will take over the position from Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis, Ed. D., whose contract will expire on June 30. Michaelis was hired in October 2013 in an agreed upon short-term basis-only situation. “We hired Dr. Michaelis as the Interim Chancellor because our relationship with our previous chancellor kind of fell apart,” Larson said. “[The previous chancellor] had been here, right at three

years. And she had followed someone that had been interim for just a few years. We had had two people that didn’t stay for very long.” Larson said that both Pittman and Michaelis have already started to schedule a time to meet and talk about the future of STLCC. “I would give a lot of credit to Dr. Michaelis and the people that he’s worked with. We have not been standing still the last couple years, under his leadership. We’ve made a lot of progress,” Larson said. “I think [the hiring of Pittman] is very much a good thing.” Jeff Pitman, Ph.D. was one of four candidates vying for the position, alongside Rod Nunn, Beverlee McClure and Richard Dawe. Candidates were screened by a chancellor search committee and the final four presented at all campuses the week of Feb. 23. Dr. Craig Larson, chair of the STLCC Board of Trustees, said the board was looking for a chancellor who could manage change. Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis will serve his term until June 30, 2015. BLAST FROM THE PAST 41

Ready to Launch Campus president announces retirement DALILA KAHVEDZIC EDITOR IN CHIEF STLCC–Meramec and Wildwood President Pam McIntyre has announced her retirement, effective July 31, after nearly 30 years of service with STLCC. After taking time and doing some reflection, she said it is time to move on, leaving her STLCC family. “I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings about the decision. I’ve spent close to 30 years at STLCC and, as I said in the announcement that I sent out to the campus, STLCC — it’s culture, it’s history — I feel a part of it,” McIntyre said. “Moving on is not an easy decision to be making. It’s kind of like a family and you feel like you’re disconnecting yourself.” During her time with STLCC, McIntyre played a prominent role in the development of the South County Education Center and was the first president of STLCC-Wildwood. In 2013, McIntyre returned to the Meramec campus and became president. “I spent 21 years off of the Meramec campus, in the continuing education area,” McIntyre said. “So, coming back to the Meramec campus, in many respects, felt like coming home.” Through McIntyre’s eyes, helping set up an environment where people can come to learn and try to reach the goals that they set for themselves is very self-satisfying work. “I’ve been given a lot of leadership opportunity with 42 BLAST FROM THE PAST

STLCC,” McIntyre said. “In the time that I’ve been here, it has allowed me to get involved in helping different things come to be.” McIntyre said she plans to discuss future plans for STLCC Meramec and Wildwood campuses with the new chancellor, Dr. Pittman. McIntyre was born outside of Boston, Mass. in the small town of Ayres. But she moved and grew up in St. Louis, Mo. with family. Although McIntyre has come to this decision on her own, she said that getting advice and weighing out the pros and cons with individuals outside of the college have helped. “My family actually thinks I should have retired a long time ago,” McIntyre said. “Most of the time people think of retirement as what everybody is waiting for. They’ve got years counted, days counted. That isn’t true for me. I’ve never been thinking about ‘When is that time?’” McIntyre has two sisters, one who lives in Seattle, Wash. and one here, in St. Louis. Her mom lives at a local independent living center where McIntyre visits and provides help to when needed. McIntyre said she is not completely sure of what she wants to do right after she leaves STLCC but she is looking into volunteer work. “I’ve got several different people that I’m starting to talk to about ‘this would be a job, this

would be volunteer’ type of opportunities,” McIntyre said. “Several different people I’m talking to to kind of get a sense of ‘what are their needs, what are my talents, how do those fit together?’” If McIntyre is doing volunteer work, she wants to be a fit with what she can bring to the table and what the organization she would be working for needs. “[I’m retiring] for a whole variety of reasons, some of them personal,” McIntyre said. “There’s never a perfect time to actually decide that you’re going to be moving on.” Part of the reason McIntyre is retiring this July is because many people who have already retired have told her not to retire in the winter time. “You don’t have the same ability to get out and about and explore options and do things in terms of moving from what has been a very structured - in many ways – experience, into an experience that’s pretty unstructured,’ McIntyre said. Another reason McIntyre said she is retiring in July is

because she did not want to get caught up in the fall semester. “It’s going to be hard enough for me to kind of let go of this stuff and the more that I start the new semester, the more I get pulled into it, the harder it is to let go. So it just seemed like a natural leaving point,” McIntyre said. Leaving brings mixed feelings for McIntyre, she said. “I’m happy in some respects about kind of what the future can offer in terms of other choices that I can be making in terms of things that I might be able to contribute to and get involved in but I’m also sad because it’s leaving the college which I believe strongly in,” McIntyre said. McIntyre said her time with STLCC has been very positive and that she has enjoyed working with faculty, staff and students throughout her time as president. “I’m very hopeful for where the college is moving in the future; actually, I think the new chancellor coming in is going to bring a lot of energy and focus and seems to be very engaging,” McIntyre said.

ILLUSTRATION BY MARISSA DIERCKS

Under Construction: Academic Services beamed to library SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF EMERITUS The STLCC-Meramec campus relocated academic services on May 18. Academic support services including math and science tutors, as well as the Writing Center, now reside on the second floor of the Meramec Library. “Meramec can be a little hard to figure out,” Academic Support Coordinator Cindy Clausen said. “We had a Math Lab in Communications North and a Math Lab in Science West. We had Academic Support in Communications North. We had all of our student tutors and (Supplementary Instructor) SI leadership over in Science West. I think it can make it hard for students to feel confident about getting help, when they’re partly not sure of where to go.” Clausen said that Senior Manager of the Library Patrick Mallory was instrumental in introducing the “learning commons” for Meramec. “More and more colleges

across the nation have this model of ‘learning commons,’ like you have your ‘quad’ and you have your “learning commons,’” Clausen said. “Librarians are helping with academic support, too. They help students with research. So you have your Writing Center in the library and students need to check their source, then they can go ask the librarians and then go back up to the Writing Center.” Assistant Professor of English Rebecca Winter has been the Faculty Director of the Writing Center since August 2007. “My hope is that this will be positive because we have such a strong foundation to the Writing Center,” Winter said. “We have everything it takes, whatever space we’re in, to be successful and support the students and offer them (our) services.” The Writing Center, which will turn 50-years-old in September, moved from Communication North Room

122 to room 217 in the library. It will extend out into the Quiet Area and private rooms for individual tutoring. “We were fortunate to have some input as far as where we might be. We wanted a space that would be open and airy — a place that would encourage concentration, but also creativity,” Winter said. “We wanted a place where you would feel comfortable talking to someone. Writing can be very personal. But we wanted a space that would help build trust — a safe, comfortable feeling.” Math and science tutors moved to the Confluence Room. SI leaders will use the group study rooms. The Academic Center moved to the Instructional Design Room, on the second floor of the Library. The TRiO lab will stay in its current location on the second floor. “No one who is currently in the library will be going anywhere else. There are a lot of moves happening all around

the campus,” Clausen said. “I think it’ll make the library more dynamic. We’re kind of getting away from that idea of libraries being these quiet areas. I think as group study becomes more of a recognized method for learning, libraries are becoming more dynamic places, too. That’s why downstairs they let people talk and have food.” Fran Hooker, the Writing Center Supervisor, who works with students on a day-today basis, said the relocation may take time for students to adjust. “I think students will have a slight learning curve to finding us,” Hooker said. “Students may be disappointed to find that they cannot print in (the Communications North) building. But there is a computer lab in BA, which is close by, that they can use before class. Then, the library is not that far away. I think students will be able to adapt. It will be nice to have us all in one area.” BLAST FROM THE PAST 43

Looking Back: STLCC Sports SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF EMERITUS Men’s Soccer Despite a sub .500 record, the 2014-15 men’s soccer season marked progress. Their seven wins were the most by a STLCC men’s soccer club, since athletics was consolidated districtwide in July 2011. And their win total equaled the sum of the previous two seasons, combined. The Archers’ (7-122) season came to an end after a loss to Metropolitan Community College-Blue River in the first round of the Regions XVI Tournament. The 6-0 final was the Archers’ sixth game being shutout. STLCC improved that number by four, from a season ago. First-year Head Coach Tim Mosby is the Archers’ third head coach in four seasons. Mosby, a former Academic All-American, played for the now defunct STLCC-Florissant Valley Fury and helped lead them to their last winning season in 2001. That year, they were nationally ranked. Women’s Soccer The 2014-15 Lady Archers kicked off the season 44 BLAST FROM THE PAST

with a 1-0 overtime win over conference rival Metropolitan Community CollegeMaple Woods. After that victory, however, the inexperience began to show, as the Lady Archers would only win one more game the rest of the year. STLCC finished the season 2-13. With 14 of the 17 girls on roster in their first year at college, only Hannah Wisnewski was the lone returner from a season ago. The past two years, STLCC had made back-to-back trips to the NJCAA National Tournament. First-year Head Coach Erin Hesselbach took over the position after Juergen Huettner left in May 2014, to coach closer to home, in Illinois. While coaching at Incarnate Word Academy, the past four years, Hesselbach never had a season below .500 and coached the Red Knights to a District Championship every year she was at the helm. Baseball The 2015 STLCC Archers

PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER

baseball season was one for the record books. For the second straight season, the Archers reached the 30-win plateau. And, for the first time since consolidating to districtwide athletics, in 2011, the Archers won the Region XVI Championship. It was the first Region XVI Title hoisted by the St. Louis community based college since the now defunct Meramec Magic won it nine years ago. The Archers (34-23) were one win away from advancing to the NJCAA Division I World Series, but fell, 9-6, to the No. 7 nationally ranked Delgado Community College Dolphins, out of New Orleans, La. in the South Central District Tournament finale on May 19. In Head Coach Scott Goodrich’s two years at the helm, the Archers are 64-43.

They were 30-20 last season. Softball The Lady Archers’ season ended one win shy of a Region XVI Title. After entering the tournament winning just two of their last 10 regular season games, STLCC lost the opening round matchup against East Central College (ECC). They then rattled off three wins to stay alive in the double elimination tournament — advancing them to a winner-take-all matchup against ECC. The Lady Archers fell 4-3, finishing their season with a 19-26 record. The 19 wins are the most since the Lady Archers won 27 games in Spring 2012. First-year Head Coach Brad Wilson slid into the position in Fall 2014, after Sharon Marquardt stepped

PHOTOS BY: SPENCER GLEASON

down in the offseason. Wilson is the fourth head coach in as many seasons. Men’s Basketball A year after winning eighth in the country at the NJCAA National Tournament, the STLCC Archers finished the 2014-15 season one win shy of a Region XVI Title. The 93-84 loss to Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, which ended their season, was the Archers second loss to the cross-state rival this year. STLCC’s win-loss record kept bouncing back-andforth between games — never allowing the Archers to find a groove. Their longest winning streak was three. And, they lost back-to-back games five different times throughout the year. The result was a 14-16 record and the first time the

Archers had finished below .500 since STLCC campuses consolidated athletics in July 2011. In May 2015, Head Coach Randy Reed announced that he would be moving back to high school athletics. Terry Collins, who has more than 30 years coaching experience, was named head coach at the end of the month. In his two years with STLCC, Reed compiled a record of 36-28. Women’s Basketball For the second year in a row, the STLCC Lady Archers’ basketball team faced the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates for the Region XVI Title. And, for the second year in a row, the Lady Pirates snuck away with a victory, defeating STLCC, 88-78, in overtime. The loss ended a 2014-

15 campaign that saw the Lady Archers hit the 20-win plateau for the third time in four years. Their 23-7 record is the best record the program has seen since athletics was consolidated districtwide in July 2011. The season began with

the Lady Archers winning 17 of their first 20 games — a span that stretched from Oct. 31, 2014 to Jan. 17, 2015. Throughout the season, the Lady Archers strung together two five-game winning streaks and three four-game winning streaks.

PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER

BLAST FROM THE PAST 45

A Forecast for the Future Meramec student shares her journey from Bosnia to St. Louis SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF EMERITUS As a five-year-old, Dzenana Salihovic had to leave her world behind. Her world consisted of war. War took her father’s life away. The country of Yugoslavia was breaking up and her Bosnian homeland was affected. Salihovic’s mom wanted to give her daughter a better life. Just a fifth of the way around the world, they would find it. “We didn’t really have much with us. Everything stayed there, with my grandma — toys and possessions stayed over there,” Salihovic said. “In Bosnia, we didn’t really have much because we’re still trying to rebuild ourselves. So I never

expected to have anything. Then, once we got to America, my mom tried her best to give me whatever she could.” Fast forward 15 years and Salihovic is now living a new life. She recently finished her first year at Meramec. And, is working toward graduating from the community college in Spring 2016. She said she wants to transfer to Truman State University and enter the marketing world in the fashion industry. Her schooling has already exceeded what would be, had she stayed in Bosnia, she said. There, most students stop after the eighth grade. “Most of them don’t go off

SUBMITTED PHOTO Dzenana Salihovic (left), along with her mom, stepdad and little brother pose for a picture in Bosnia in the summer of 2013.

46 BLAST FROM THE PAST

to college. They’re used to just coming home and working on the farm with their family,” Salihovic said. “I probably wouldn’t be in school. I wouldn’t be working. I’d be staying at home. I would try to get a job, if I could. But it’d be a really low [paying] job.” A Look Back Salihovic’s hometown of Srebrenica is in the easternmost part of Bosnia. “Nobody really lives there. It’s like a dead town,” Salihovic said. “They’re trying to rebuild the economy. But it’s slowly getting there.” Salihovic will still visit her homeland once every two years to see family members on her dad’s side. Her aunts, cousins and grandmother still live there. “I like to go because going to Europe is fun. I don’t consider going to Bosnia to be a real vacation. But I’ll always go somewhere else, as well,” Salihovic said. “The last time I went to Bosnia, for two weeks I went to Montenegro. And I got to travel. I’ve been to Germany and Denmark. So, I always get to go somewhere else, too.” This year’s visit will be shorter — just a week. But, there will be special meaning to this year’s seven day trip. The Face of Tragedy Salihovic never knew her father. He was killed three weeks before she was born.

The Srebrenica Massacre took his life, along with more than 8,000 lives, away, throughout the course of the three day genocide. Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia were becoming their own countries.

“

I don’t know how I’m going to process the whole entire thing. I’m just going to stand by his grave and not want to leave for the whole week.” —Dzenana Salihovic

And, July 11 through July 13, 1995 marked the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II. Twenty years later, his body was found. And, on the 20th anniversary of the massacre — on July 11, 2015 — he will finally receive his burial. “It’s taken that long,” Salihovic said. “I don’t know how I’m going to process the whole, entire thing. I’m just going to stay by his grave and not want to leave for the whole week.” Salihovic does not hear many stories of her dad. But there are times when she does. Her mom will mention him and her grandmother will in conversation. “[My grandmother]

PHOTO BY: DALILA KAHVEDZIC

doesn’t have her son. That’s my dad,” Salihovic said. “She’ll say some things [about him] at times, and it’ll tear me up. So she’ll just stop talking about him. She’ll begin to tell me stories about how he was kindhearted and stuff. It gets to me.” A Step Forward The plan from the beginning was for her family to come over to the states and get the lay of the land

— finding a place to live and employment. Then, Salihovic would travel across the ocean with her mom. Her aunts lived in St. Louis for a year before Salihovic moved to the Midwest city. “When we first moved here, they basically helped us establish where to live and how to find a job,” Salihovic said. “Just the basics.” Since then, Salihovic has set her sights high for her future, she said.

Along with her schooling, Salihovic works at a local retirement home. She does activities with the residents — plays Bingo, colors and paints. One of her favorite things to do with them, though — is just talk. “I like working with older people,” Salihovic said. “I love listening to their stories from ‘back in the day’ or how things were when they were younger. It’s really fun.” Salihovic wants to take

her experiences and climb the corporate ladder. “If I could live anywhere else, I probably wouldn’t because I’m so used to how things are here. I’d still stay here because [in Bosnia], there’s not too many opportunities,” Salihovic said. “They have a job or they go to school. But it’s just a lowincome job. Here, I can do anything. If I go to school, I can get a higher-paying job.” BLAST FROM THE PAST 47

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Expanding Minds • Changing Lives

Flash back through the camera DALILA KAHVEDZIC EDITOR IN CHIEF Events at Meramec have varied greatly over the course of the past year, on and off campus. From student achievements, helping those in Ferguson and assisting the hungry to basketball game charities and candle light vigils, the 2014-15 school year was full of events. Through the eyes of The Montage, here are a few moments that summarize the last twelve months.

(Above) MARCH 2015: Guest speaker and Author Dr. Megan Ming Francis speaks to students about racial violence and feminism on March 2 in the Meramec Theatre. PHOTO BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC

(Above) FEBRUARY 2015: Debora Bronson (left) and Debbie Corson (right) present information about the (Above) AUGUST 2014: Members of the Kirkwood Community Brown Bag Cafe at the Innovation of the participate in a candlelight vigil year presentation, which receiver the following violence in Ferguson. award. PHOTO BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC PHOTO BY DAVE KLOECKENER (Left) MAY 2015: Art student Matt Johnson receives a $20,000 scholarship with plans to attend the Kansas City Art Institute. PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FARROW

(Above) NOVEMBER 2014: The Ober Anderson (OA) Gallery hosted art made by local artists including Meramec students March 6-28. Art was submitted to the exhibition prior to the February deadline. PHOTO BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC

(Right) OCTOBER 2014: Meramec hosts d e p r e s s i o n screening brought to the school by counselor Hope Steiner. ILLUSTRATION BY JASON WATERS

(Above) FEBRUARY 2015: Meramec Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball Team hosts (Above) OCTOBER 2014: Meramec hosts The Clothesline for Peace Project. Students wrote Cancer awareness game to raise money for two children battling messages of hope for the residents of Ferguson which was made into a quilt and now hangs brain cancer. PHOTO BY DAVE KLOECKENER in the student center lobby. PHOTO BY KAYLA CACCIATORE

50 BLAST FROM THE PAST

THE MONTAGE

2014-2015

M M T H E M O N TA G E

All STLCC campuses close after Ferguson decision

Investigating the Clery Report: How safe is Meramec?

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Pages 4-5 PHOTO BY: ASHLEY HIGGINBOTHAM

Family Dollar in Ferguson, Mo. burns after the Grand Jury verdict was released Nov. 24, releasing Officer Darren Wilson from an indictment after the shooting of Michael Brown.

Volume 50 Issue 7

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Dec. 4, 2014

M T H E M O N TA G E

OnE

- SEVEN ILLUSTRATION BY MARISSA DIERCKS

STLCC implements 7-one-7 scheduling format LIVIE HALL OPINIONS EDITOR In the fall of 2015, STLCC-South County Education and University Center (SCEUC) will be implementing a new program called 7-one-7. The program divides a semester into two seven-week chunks with one week off in between. Instead of taking four or five sixteenweek classes, those classes are remodeled to fit into a seven-week schedule. Students will only have to take two or three at a time. After the seven weeks are up, so is the class, followed by seven more weeks of different classes. STLCC is not the first college to do this. “Trident Technical College went from quarter hours to semester hours, and in the year they went from quarters to semesters, they saw their enrollment tank,” Fitzgerald said. After seeing these results, Trident broke their semester in half – leaving them with a seven-week session, one week off and another seven-week session. It also allowed students to focus on courses more so than trying to balance four or five classes at a time. Within a few years, Fitzgerald said their enrollment skyrocketed. “What they found was that students did better in their classes. They got better grades. Because they only had two or three courses at a time, it allowed them to really get into the courses,” Fitzgerald said. By “improved grades,” students were getting As, Bs and Cs. There were less Ds, Fs and “incompletes” recorded. The withdrawal rate had gone down as well.

STLCC adopted this model from Trident Technical College in South Carolina after seeing their success. Fitzgerald said STLCC has had a concern with their enrollment dropping and has been looking for creative ways to fix the problem. She said enrollment is more than simply recruiting students, it is also retaining them. Meramec student Janeth Calderon said the program sounds great. While she does not attend any classes at SCEC, she said she would if they brought the program to Meramec’s campus and would feel more inclined to stay at STLCC. “I feel like I would get stuff done faster,” Calderon said. At the SCEUC, the same number of classes and sections will be offered as there were last fall. What they are focusing on is how successful the students are in taking those courses while they are there. When administration made the decision to implement the new program, it was up to the department chairs to designate teachers to classes. SCEUC and Meramec Communications Professor Denise Sperruzza is a faculty member that will be teaching with the 7-one-7 program in the fall. She said this structure is a new. Planning the curriculum is different than the planning of a regular sixteenweek class because with a longer class you are covering more in that amount of time than if you took three 50-minute classes.

She said she is thinking about breaking her class into chunks: one chunk as a lecture, one an activity, etc. Basically, she will be using the flip method. The flip method is where teachers post their lectures and lessons online for students at home and then they do their homework in the classroom. “I think it’s an opportunity for faculty to do some fun and engaging things in the classroom that when you meet for 50 minutes at a time, you just can’t do,” Sperruzza said.

academic affairs. “I have asked to refrain from calling it a ‘trial’ or a ‘pilot,’ because that sounds like you’re just taking a stab at it,” Fitzgerald said. She said many colleges across the country offer classes in the 7-one-7 format. STLCC is committed to this program, and now it is a matter of committing the students. “For some students, I think it’ll keep them engaged and they’ll actually learn better. I just think it’s going to be tricky to get the right students in that schedule,” Sperruzza said. For some students, I think it’ll She said her is that keep them engaged and they’ll concern the program is so accelerated actually learn better. and the students - Denise Sperruzza, will have to have much more Communications Faculty that discipline. It is unlike a regular semester where if a student is not Fitzgerald said she believed the program doing well in a class by midterm, they have would draw current and prospective the rest of the semester to make it up. students in as it gave them a new way to She said if they are not really cut out learn. for accelerated-type courses, they will not She said the beauty of this has been be successful. that STLCC has around nine academic “It works for students everywhere else,” areas that are onboard. She said they have Fitzgerald said. “So we think it’ll work for the core academic support they need and St. Louis Community College students as a nice partnership between student and well.”

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Clothesline project on display at Meramec Drawing instructor Meramec students show off work Archers sit at .500 Meramec at Kirkwood OA Gallery fosters childhood interests Page 3 Page 11 Page 9 Volume 50 Issue 12

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Page 12 April 2, 2015