Montage The
See Pages 6 and 7
St. Louis Community College–Meramec
March 31, 2011 Vol. 46 Issue 11
STLCC appoints new Meramec president
Board of trustees votes in George Wasson for 2012 academic year Shane Rice - News Editor -
For one and a half years, STLCC-Meramec has functioned without a permanent president. On March 24, that changed. During the March board of trustees meeting, George Wasson, vice president of academic affairs, was unanimously voted in as the new campus president for Meramec. Wasson will take his position on July 1. After the announcement from Chancellor Zelema Harris, Ed.D., Wasson said he would like to thank the board for their vote of support. “This is a turning point in many ways; not just for me but for the college and for the campus,” Wasson said. The recommendation for Wasson as campus president came from Harris, who said her decision was based on Wasson’s experience as a senior-level administrator within the district.
“George truly understands the needs not only of the college, but also of the diverse populations the Meramec campus serves,” Harris said. Wasson said he intends to work closely with faculty; staff and students to address college curricula, instructional strategies and assessment of student learning to ensure programs and services address the needs and advancement of the college’s mission. “This is an opportunity not just for me but for the campus to move forward,” Wasson said. “We do not have to start in a situation where someone comes in and needs to learn the college, learn the people, and learn the responsibilities.” Wasson said he has a good understanding of where Meramec is in the spectrum of things and has good working relationships with people throughout the district. “This will give Meramec a chance to start, not with a standing start but a running
start,” Wasson said. Wasson is currently working toward a doctorate in management, community college policy and administration at the University of Maryland’s University College. He holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from Indiana University. The absence of a doctorate degree, according to Wasson, is a concern for many people, but he said he has the advantage of learning the most up-to-date research and curricula. “My doctorate is going to be current. I believe what people are seeing is what I’m learning is the best spectrum for the community college and the type of educational institution that we are,” Wasson said. “I think this is a lot more applicable when you look at what this college needs and what would serve us the best.” Wasson said through his learning, he has looked
PHOTO BY: KELLY GLUECK
George Wasson, STLCC-Meramec’s vice president of academic affairs, attends the March 24 board of trustees meeting. Chancellor Zelema Harris announced Wasson as Meramec’s new president, effective July 1.
through senate bills, summaries from across the country and research that depicts how state policy can impact the success of students. Wasson joined the Meramec staff in 1985 as an economics instructor, and became the business
administration/economics department chair in 1994. After the resignation of former Meramec President Paul Pai, Ed.D, in April 2010,
‘‘President Wasson’’ See Page 3
Meramec Magic takes its talents to the national level
Men’s, women’s basketball play at junior college March Madness Spencer Gleason - Sports Editor -
PHOTO BY: SPENCER GLEASON
The women’s basketball team huddles at the end of a time-out against the Delta Pioneers. The men’s and women’s basketball teams competed with other finalist teams in the junior college March Madness tournament during STLCC’s spring break.
Montage Reader Poll How often do you use social media in class?
A. Never. It’s a distraction. B. Up to three times per week. C. Are you kidding? None of the above.
Apr. 21 Poll Question
Was Wasson the best choice for campus president?
To vote, visit: www.meramecmontage.com
A 37%
C 37% B 26%
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There are moments in life when someone might reach down deep inside him or herself to find true character. Sometimes, without being aware of it, human instinct takes over and these moments come and go in a blink of an eye, without notice. A person’s tenacity becomes a virtue and the will to reach for the unbelievable can instantly make a heartbreaking moment magical. Sports can have this effect, showing student athletes and fans of the game a way to overcome obstacles and make
Students could lose new ‘year-round’ Pell Grant President Obama’s 2012 budget may affect student funding
the best of the moment at hand. Setting aside issues that have been brought under the limelight off the court involving athletic offices across STLCC, the men’s and women’s STLCC-Meramec basketball teams gave new meaning to the name Magic over spring break. From March 15 to March 19, they played in the NJCAA National Tournament, a goal set in August 2010 when the teams began practices. “I think that the student athletes and the coaches deserve a great amount of credit for staying focused on the task at hand,” Bob Bottger,
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Student aspires to make art into a business Kelly O’Keefe aspires to defy expectations doing what she loves
manager of physical education and athletics at Meramec, said after both teams won in the semifinals. “It’s no secret that there are many changes that are in the future in intercollegiate athletics, so I really commend them for doing a great job.” However, the opportunity to play in the NJCAA Tournament was earned. The recipe for a recordmaking season started at the beginning. The Lady Magic began hitting historic milestones
‘Basketball Seasons’ See Page 12
12
Nick Rousseau’s still at it Meramec student presses to change name of Eighth Street in downtown St. Louis
2 NEWS
March 31, 2011
STLCC pushes for district-wide certificate training Rory Sullivan - Staff Writer -
While some technical schools may strive to create a more comprehensive learning environment, STLCC-Meramec, already a comprehensive college, strives to incorporate more quality technical programs into the curriculum. Andrea Lewis Miller, Ph.D., chancellor of Sowela Technical College (STC) and candidate for campus president at Meramec, said she has worked at STC to offer students more degree options. “A big reason why I was hired at Sowela was to transform it from a technical college to a technical community college,” Miller said. According to Miller, in Louisiana where STC is located, technical colleges only offer Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Technical community colleges, however, offer AAS, Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees. Miller said while STC is currently accredited by the Council of Occupational
Education, it will be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools once it becomes a technical community college. “There’s a difference in who accredits the college once it becomes a comprehensive community college and there’s a difference in the types of degrees that are offered,” Miller said. “We can serve more students and we can serve the community better.” At Meramec, AAS, AA, AS, Associate in Fine Arts and Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees are available, as well as Certificates of Proficiency (CP) and Certificates of Specialization (CS). Constant work is done to add quality, relevant Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Programs including accounting, interior design, nursing, occupational therapy and sales are just a few of the programs at Meramec that offer degrees and certificates. Gina Benesh, acting director of career and technical education for STLCC, said the CTE programs are numerous and of high quality. “There are 144 certificate and degree programs here at STLCC,” Benesh said. “It is
cost effective and it’s quality education.” Degrees and certificates offered in the CTE program is an AAS, which generally takes two years to complete, a CP, which can take a year or more to complete, and a CS, which can be completed in under a year. The programs offered often change, and programs are sometimes added or removed to fit the work environment. “There’s a five-year cycle where we review all the programs in a five-year period,” Benesh said. “We want the curriculum to meet the needs of the local work force so that when a student leaves here, they have the skills they need to either go on to a four-year institution, or to work.” Benesh said the CTE programs are built based on what business leaders and workers in different fields require. “If it’s a police officer, we bring in police officers. If it’s a parole officer, we bring in parole officers,” Benesh said. “We sit them at the table and spend a whole day asking them ‘What do you do?’ Then we list them.”
ARCHIVED PHOTO The Corporate Center is located in Bridgeton, Mo., off McKelvey and St. Charles Rock Road. The center will serve students seeking technical training in the corporate world. Students seeking blue-collar work will receive training out of the recently purchased Circut City building.
Benesh said approximately one out of three students at Meramec are in a career and technical education program concentration. According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, there is a tremendous shortage of individuals with the necessary skills in sustainability practices, and employers seeking more “green-collar” workers often face bleak prospects. Benesh said programs
like these are exactly what CTE should be trying to make available. “That’s what we’re here for; to prepare students for the local work force so that they can get jobs that are high pay and high wage,” Benesh said.
Official Correction
In the March 10, 2011 issue, the picture of Andrea Lewis Miller, Ph.D., was incorrect. We regret the error.
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
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NEWS
March 31, 2011
‘President Wasson’ Continued from Page 1 Wasson was appointed acting president until a new president was found. He said he knows what the needs of the campus and students are. “There are short-term and long-term needs,” Wasson said. “In the short term, we need to make sure we can use what resources we have. We have to be able to leverage those so that we meet the most pressing needs.” Wasson said the longterm needs to be reviewing and redoing the long-term capital plans. “Times have changed. Our needs have changed,” Wasson said. When looking at the 10year plan, Wasson said it doesn’t meet some of the current needs of the campus. He said he believes there is a favorable atmosphere for redoing the plan. “With a 10-year plan, you can’t go all the way to the end of the plan and say, ‘OK we’re done.’ It has to be updated,” Wasson said. “Communication is key and I think when people know they are being heard, then we as a college can and will move forward and be successful.”
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Budget proposal threatens Pell Grants Donald Handshy - Staff Writer -
On Feb. 14, 2010, President Barack Obama unveiled his 2012 budget proposal. In it, Obama detailed spending cuts aiming to reduce the federal deficit by $1.1 trillion within 10 years, bringing the deficit down to $627 billion by 2017. Both Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill have stated their opposition to the proposal. Blunt said the long-term savings in this budget over the next decade are still less than this year’s deficit. In addition, using this budget plan, the president will have doubled the national debt from the time he took office through the end of 2012. Some of these budget cuts include changes to the Pell Grant program which will have an impact on many students across the country. The Pell Grant Protection Act, proposed as part of the $77.4 billion budget for the Department of Education, contains a few key changes that affect Pell Grants and Stafford loans directly. “Not knowing what could happen makes me
very disappointed in our government,” Meramec student and Pell Grant recipient Dave Sullivan said, “I think that they should make up their minds, finish the budget, and let us know what we have to live with so we can plan accordingly.” Based on the Obama budget proposal, the Pell Grant would still award $5,550. The budget would eliminate the new “yearround Pell Grant” which awards a second Pell Grant within the same calendar year to eligible students. Currently, this second award is granted to approximately 800,000 students across the country. This second Pell Grant award requires students to complete 24 credit hours per year, including summer classes and maintaining half-time enrollment, for eligibility. Obama called for the Pell Grant Protection Act to go into effect immediately. However the budget, including this act, has yet to be implemented. McCaskill voted down both the Republican and Democratic budget proposals. “The House's resolution, frankly, was not smart in
ILLUSTRATION BY: JACOB HIGHT
the way they did the cuts,” McCaskill said. “They are killing off the part of our budget that has the best chance of increasing economic activity in this country.” McCaskill said the Senate has not gone far enough. According to Republican budget committee members, the Republican-sponsored proposal would cut approximately $61 billion, including a reduction in the maximum Pell Grant award from $5,550 down to $4,705 for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Democratic sponsored version cuts
approximately $7 billion, with no changes to the Pell Grant system. On March 9, both budget proposals were voted down. With neither proposal having passed, the status of the federal budget is uncertain. Until a consensus can be reached, it is unclear what the impact on the Pell Grant program will ultimately become. “I think it’s stupid that they’ve waited this long,” Sullivan said. “What is a person to do if they depend on this money to stay in school?”
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OPINIONS Pursuit of Happiness
March 31, 2011
Sex
Self-improvement
Dealing with different personalities Joe Douglas
- Editor-in-Chief -
Having the ability to work
with other people is the most useful skill in the workplace. D e a l i n g with difficult personalities, peoples’ bad habits, and misunderstandings are all part of working in groups. Working comfortably in a group of different people is a difficult skill to learn, but will make teamwork in the future much more fulfilling. There are between two and 16 ways to classify peoples’ personalities. There are type A and type B personalities, the ABO blood type theory of modern Japan, the Four Temperaments, the Enneagram of Personality and the Myers-Briggs 16 personality type profiles. There are countless ways to organize personalities so people can understand one another and understand oneself. The Myers-Briggs is the best and most recognized personality indicator available. There are 16 different personalities categorized by the letters E or I, S or N, T or F, and J or P. Each combination represents a different personality with different strengths and weaknesses. Businesses today use this scale to gauge who will work best with whom and how to mentally prepare teams. Much of the time, though, people have to work in groups with someone they dislike. At some point, everyone has to do it. When it comes to that point, it helps to have a skill set prepared. When beginning a project with a new team or group, think about the people in it. Which personalities will be the most difficult to work with? Which will be the easiest? Which are energy drainers? Energy producers? Everyone has
POLITICS
Keeping Them Honest
Politics and Media
Freedom is the ‘former president’s’ legacy
different preferences; it’s based on their personality type. There are so many personalities in the world that it’s impossible to make everyone conform to the same type. Don’t try to change people, no matter how annoying or draining someone can be. The first step to working harmoniously in a team is generating awareness. Upon working in a new group, perform an ice-breaker activity or have everyone talk and get to know each other. This helps break down defensiveness and creates understanding, but it also builds rapport between members. Second, identify the personalities or qualities that could pose a problem in working in that group, if any. Don’t judge anyone or make assumptions. Objectively focus on stressful behaviors. Third, respond to stressful personalities/behaviors by changing one’s attitude first. Practice patience, be understanding, and focus on the productive qualities of that person’s personality instead of the annoying or frustrating ones. Taking a personality test beforehand may make performing these steps much easier. I suggest taking the Myers-Briggs test, which is available through the advising and counseling department in Clark Hall. Lastly, the key to working with anyone in any group setting is compassion. Everyone deserves an opportunity to exercise their personality and everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. If the personality or habit affects an entire team, though, it is either the team leader’s responsibility or the group members’ responsibility (if there is no designated leader) to address the source of the issue. There are several personalities in the world. Learning to work with each of them is one of the best skills anyone can develop.
Patrick Olds
G
- Opinions Editor -
eorge W. Bush’s foreign policy legacy has a chance to be a great one. Now, as readers of this column recover from the collective gasp that resulted from this absurd statement, it should wander into the minds of the curious as to why that is. Former President Bush was dubbed as a moron and an ignoramus by elitist intellectuals, a theory that was sold to the masses as fact by the media. It’s become taboo to even mention the former president’s name. Let’s go a step further and state that the war in Iraq, although costly and mishandled at times, will be seen as a longterm success and the point at which the fountain of freedom was tapped for the entire Middle East. Don’t forget that there were, in fact, two main objectives for the war in Iraq. One, everyone will remember, was to rid Saddam Hussein of weapons of mass destruction. The second objective, that the sellers (media) often conveniently forget, was to show that democracy can exist in the Middle East. Critics might roll their eyes at the idea that Bush’s main objective was to free the people of Iraq, and that’s fine. Democracy is built on debate. Consider that the nation’s military operations, for the most part, are used to promote the policy interests of the United States. The military is the blunt instrument of diplomacy. Some may think oil was our policy interest that somehow Dick Cheney would profit from a future Halliburton monopoly over Iraq’s oil fields, when, in reality, the oil fields have been contracted out to foreign companies by the Iraqis. The more important foreign policy interest of the United States is to promote freedom and
governments that operate under the collective will of the people instead of tyrants oppressing their people. In 2003, when Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced, Afghanistan was looking more secure by the day and building a good foundation for the future. With Afghanistan gaining its freedom to the east of Iran, it made sense to promote democracy in Iraq through regime change. As we all know now, the situation in Afghanistan has become very difficult with Taliban resistance sprouting up throughout the country lately, but the strategy overall was to introduce democracy and its practice to people who hadn’t seen it in 80-plus years. Intellectuals such as Fareed Zakaria wrote off the idea that the Middle East was ready for democracy. Zakaria wrote an editorial for The Guardian newspaper in 2003 proclaiming, “Iraq is not ready for democracy.” As we’ve seen with the revolutions in Egypt, Libya and now Syria, the people of the Middle East have seen democracy work quite well in its beginning stages in Iraq. Turnouts of approximately 90 percent for elections in Iraq, in the face of threats of violence and death, show the people of Iraq and the entire Middle East that the people do want democracy. No one wants to give credit to Bush now, but credit to him will be hard to dispute if, in the near to long term, countries begin to form governments that are representative of their people. Americans will have to learn to give credit where credit is due. If not for Bush’s faith in people’s right to be free, we might not be seeing these revolts that are spreading like wildfire across the Middle East.
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OPINIONS
March 31, 2011
Meramec should utilize social media
As much as they try, Meramec fails to provide clarity through social media Mike Ziegler - Staff Writer -
STLCC needs to get its social media act together. STLCC has done a good job with creating social media accounts, 16 of them are spread across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Its next step should be to create a plan of action with what to do with all of these accounts, or if it even needs them. While each school should have their own account streaming school specific information, it may be hard keeping voice, tone and strategy consistent. It may seem like the more the better when it comes to number of accounts, but having so many different outlets can create gaps of users missing vital information rather than filling them. One strong voice is better than many weak ones. As of March 29, spanning the seven STLCC Facebook accounts 2,679 users clicked “like” on their pages, while
the eight twitter accounts accumulated only 707 followers combined. STLCCWildwood’s twitter account is linked with its Facebook account, meaning tweets include the first few sentences of the Facebook post with a link to read the rest. Facebook and Twitter need to be treated as separate mediums of communications. What is posted on Facebook isn’t always fit for tweeting on Twitter, and vice versa. Twitter accounts should also not be used as another form of RSS feed. Linking to the latest news article is not social. Occasionally linking to an article is acceptable, but only tweeting that out and not interacting with your audience defies the social part of social media. Looking across the various Twitter and Facebook accounts creates a sense lost focus. There needs to be a plan in place specifying what the college is hoping to accomplish by having an account. Whether it is to handle feedback and questions about the college, or whatever, it needs to incorporate interaction with followers or fans. No one wants to listen to a
loudspeaker spouting off the latest news; people want to be part of a conversation. Foursquare has seen explosive growth over the
past year and STLCC has felt the increase. Last year you wouldn’t find many students “checked-in” on campus at Meramec and now at any given time there are around five students. STLCC needs to be where the students are online, and geo-social networks are on the rise. Foursquare provides tools for businesses and institutions to incorporate Foursquare into their marketing strategy.
For example, with the cooperation of Treat America, students could receive a discount, or “special” as foursquare calls them, for
and effective tool for sparking conversation, click on the about page of the blog and there are comments dated from back to last November describing a rabbit being run over and being given to dogs to have fun with. The blog posts are recent, but viewers reading about the dead rabbit would wonder how well the blog is moderated. Comments aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be allowed on an about page. Under the participation guidelines page, it lists the rules for engagement while commenting on blog posts, but doesn’t list how perspective bloggers can get PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: COURTNEY STARK involved. A lone comment checking in at the cafeteria. made in February asking Tips can be left at venue how students can get a blog locations directing students space remains unanswered. unfamiliar with the campus A link to sign up in the to notable areas of interest sidebar only takes you to or interesting facts about the create your own WordPress institution. blog, not be a contributor to A blog described as the student blog. students gathering to It is clear STLCC wants share their thoughts and to play an active part in experiences at STLCC can social media. They just need be found linked under the to focus on the social part of social media listings page it and maintain a cohesive on STLCC’s website. While voice across all outlets, not a blogging can be a powerful scattered one.
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, Recently in the Montage article, “Campus police set out to make safety improvements,” states that St. Louis Community College is making safety improvements such as the addition of PA speakers, and brighter lights in the parking lots. However, in my opinion, these do very little to keep myself, fellow students and staff safe. Having a PA system installed is not going to prevent someone from being a victim or a crime happening in a parking lot for example. They are feel-
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good measures to convince people they’re safe. Here in the St. Louis area, there have been many instances at various local universities such as University Missouri St. Louis and St. Louis University of people being robbed at gunpoint outside campus. Recently in many states including Missouri, legislators have introduced bills to allow students and staff to legally conceal and carry on campus. However, in most instances, these bills have been shut down in committees before
even coming to a full vote due to intense lobbying from college and university leaders who are against it. In 2009, House bill 668, to allow conceal carry on Missouri college campuses,was passed by a margin of 105-50, including 20 Democrats who also voted for the bill. However, due to lobbying from various colleges and administrators, the bill died in a Senate committee, despite no opposition to the bill present at the hearing. St. Louis Community
College police chief Paul Banta, who is against the idea ,previously said in a Montage article, “Disputes between students that would have resolved in maybe someone punching the other guy in the nose or slapping someone in the face, in angry situations, could escalate to causing bodily harm.” However, in the few states that allow campus carry, such as Utah, which has allowed it for decades, has not had any problems with their students caring firearms on campus.
Shannon Philpott Faculty Adviser sphilpott@stlcc.edu Joseph Douglas Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Stough Managing Editor Kelly Glueck Online Editor Courtney Stark Photo Editor Patrick Olds Opinions Editor Shane Rice News Editor Kavahn Mansouri Art & Life Editor Spencer Gleason Sports Editor Kelly Davis Copy Editor Tim Doty Copy Editor
Shah Jahan Ali Staff Writer Michael Beary Staff Writer Clinton Borror Staff Writer Luelana Bustamante Staff Writer Amber Davis Staff Writer Steven Duncan Staff Writer Donald Handshy Staff Writer Nick Herrin Staff Writer Jesse Hofford Staff Writer Kurt Oberreither Staff Writer Amicia Ramsey Staff Writer Rory Sullivan Staff Writer
David Kloeckener Staff Photographer Michael Ziegler Staff Photographer Jacob Hight Staff Designer Kait Thomas Staff Designer Elicia Tuzzolo Staff Designer Joe Ray Multimedia Specialist
I think college and university administrators should be more openminded to their student and staffs safety. We are allowed to drive our vehicles to school, which are far more dangerous, yet students and staff are prohibited from exercising their second amendment rights for self-defense.
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InDepth
Treat America contract is re
After committees met to discuss prospective dining ser Mike Ziegler - Staff Writer -
On March 24, the board of trustees passed a resolution awarding Treat America as the campus dining services provider for the next five years. The board also awarded Coca-Cola Co. a five-year contract for pouring rights and Canteen a five-year contract for vending rights. Each contract also includes five one-year optional contract renewals. “We [bid them out] this year because we had another year with Treat America,” Christina Hart, STLCC-Forest Park campus auxiliary services manager said, “We decided because the Coke contract is ending June, why don’t we bid out all of the items, the food, the beverage and the vending?” The bids were collected through placing advertisements in local publications asking for submissions while outlining what the college was looking for in a dining services provider, as common practice with most contracts pursued by the college.
Eight possible vendors
Hart said eight vendors submitted bids and were evaluated by a screening committee consisting of three members representing purchasing and auxiliary services, and Carla Chance, vice chancellor of finance and business services. Of the eight proposals, the screening committee selected four semifinalists. Those chosen include Canteen Vending, Consolidated Management Company, Fresh Ideas Food Service Management and Treat America Food Services. The committee then scored each
vendor on its proposed financial, management and supervision plan, and experience with higher education, planned services, selections and pricing. “We disqualified some of the companies because they had no locations close by,” Hart said. “We wanted to go by and see their normal operations, to see the quality of the food and how people looked, sanitation, sustainability, those things.”
Evaluation and scoring
The 16-member evaluation committee in charge of choosing the most qualified services included the screening team, six student representatives, three auxiliary service members, one faculty member, one campus life manager and one staff professional. The committee evaluated each proposal by visiting vendor facilities, sampling typical cafeteria and catered meals, and listening to presentations describing the services they would provide. The evaluation committee then scored each proposal on a scale based on various criteria including selection, supervision, staffing and sanitation, Hart said. After the evaluation committee scored each vendor, a selection committee including members of the screening committee scored the vendors again on the same criteria as during the screening committee process. The winner was chosen after adding the score totals from each committee and selecting the vendor with the highest total score out of 300 points. “When [the selection committee] gets to the selection, we look at all the details,” Hart said. “This is what we read, this is what
Screening Committee October to January The screening committee looked over the eight bids received and narrowed it down to four. The committee scored each vendor on criteria including Financial Plan, Management and Supervision, Experience with Higher Education, and Planned services, Selections, and Pricing. Committee members included Carla Chance, Ph.D, vice chancellor of business and finance, oversees Auxiliary Services; Cindy Green, Assistant Controller; Mike Buckley, who handles all the financial for Auxiliary Services; and Christina Hart, the District Food Service Manager.
we saw, and this is what the evaluation committee thinks.” Hart compared the selection process to a job interview. A candidate, or vendor, may look great on paper, but then come in late and wear a wrinkled shirt. “People will promise lots of things,” Hart said.
The Decision
Hart said Treat America was chosen due to its experience currently serving the college and receiving the highest score among evaluations completed by selection committee members. “We just decided to stay with what we knew because of the number of issues that come up in the transition as well as the fact that most people are satisfied with Treat America,” Hart said. The number of issues that typically come up when choosing a new service provider, Hart said, include hiring new people to work with the company and college, learning the different billing processes for the three campuses that provide dining services and the different campus layouts. “Our experience has been, when you get a new service provider, the transition takes the first year of just learning how to do everything,” Hart said. STLCC-Meramec student Vincent Hayden, a student committee member, had some concerns with Treat America’s choice of presentation location. “When we went and did [Treat America’s] site visit at Florissant Valley, they have good food there, but the quality of food you get at Florissant Valley isn’t the quality of food you get here at Meramec,” Hayden said.
Close call
Based on committee scoring documents, Fresh Ideas scored highest on various criteria submitted by the evaluation team, beating Treat America 85.2 to 81.6 out of 100 points. After further scoring by the selection team, however, Fresh Ideas earned a total score of 193.3 points from the three committees and Treat America earned the highest score with 216.6. “Most people really did like Fresh Ideas. If you look at the scores you’ll see that Fresh Ideas won based on the survey evaluations, negligibly, but it won,” Hayden said. Forest Park chef Todd Segreri said the differences in equipment, staff, and chef techniques could be attributed in the differences of quality and taste at each location. “It is a different kind of aspect at each campus that each chef has to deal with those different things,” Segreri said.
Different school, different quality
Florissant Valley student government association president and evaluation committee member Donna Brandy listened in as Treat America representatives explained the differences in food served at each campus. “We as students understand that, but there still should be that same quality, that same level of food even at all of the campuses,” Brandy said. Treat America President Ed Holland recently visited the Meramec kitchen and said Meramec’s pizza is “as good, if not the best” of the three campuses. He also said the deli area is comparable, with improvement being seen in the grill area and food quality and taste over the last three months.
Evaluation Team February The evaluation committee visited each vendor location. The screening team required that each location be within one hour of traveling time from the college. Committee members scored based on Selections, Offerings, and Variety, Supervision Staffing, Employee Appearance, and Courtesy, Product Pricing, Safety, Sustainability, and Sanitation. The 16-member committee included the four members from the screening committee, six student representatives, one staff professional and faculty representative, three auxiliary services members and a campus life representative.
“From the catering standpoint, I get more positive emails from Meramec faculty than any other school combined,” Holland said. Hayden admitted he was not a supporter of Treat America going into the evaluation. “[Vince’s] opinion was based off his main experience being at Meramec. My opinion was based off of mostly being at Florissant Valley and Forest Park,” Brandy said. “I kind of now wonder, if we had chosen Treat America at Meramec for the testing, would it of been a different experience?”
Money, money, money
Included with Treat America’s bid proposal were projections of sales for the next five years. Florissant Valley is projected to lose $240 in 2012, and by 2016, it will operate at a $4,347 profit. The Forest Park campus is projected to operate at average loss $15,531 each year. Meramec, however, is projected to earn a $54,200 profit in 2012, rising to $69,300 by 2016. Treat America representatives said catering is the reason for the profit disparities. “The bulk of our business at Meramec is catering dollars,” Michael Harris, Treat America District manager, said. “When we’re trying to provide, as requested, a $3 meal in our cafeterias, our catering prices are much higher.” Harris referenced a $3 lunch figure requested by students and faculty as reported in the results of a dining services survey conducted last spring. Treat America included allocating $1,000 to each campus student life office each year for catering services.
Selection
Early M
The selection scored t time based on what they presentations during th
Criteria used to score Financial Plan, Manag Experience with Higher services, Selections and
Committee members group included in the s
March 31, 2011
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The Contenders
Harris said as part of the new contract, Treat America will provide a new touch screen point-of-sale system at each campus to help speed Treat America ranked the highest out of scores submitted by the selection up the checkout process,. committee with 75 points. A subsidy not to exceed $96,000 was proposed with Treat America’s bid. Treat America currently receives a $96,000 from Included with the system is a touch screen nutritional 216.7 / 300 the college under its current dining services contract. kiosk placed by the grill area. “Touch screens will be displayed so [students] can go in and nutritionally see before they order their food what the nutritional value is Canteen scored the second highest of the vendors with a total score of so they can make an educated 208.4 points. Canteen ranked in the top spot of scores submitted by the decision,” Holland said. screening team with 69 out of 100 points. A $100,000 signing bonus was The new POS system 208.4 / 300 included with its bid proposal. also includes the capability to use a declining balance card, called the Sprout card, provided by Treat America. “We don’t know how Fresh Ideas scored third overall. However, Fresh Ideas scored highest across popular that will be because score totals submitted by the evaluation team with 85.2 out of 100 points. students already have the 193.5 / 300 Fresh Ideas submitted with its bid proposal a $68,107 subsidy request per year. One Card,” Harris said. “The option will be there.” Brandy said with the new changes, she hopes Treat America will Consolidated Management scored lowest of the four vendors in each of continue its recent efforts the three committee team’s scoring. Consolidated Management did not to listen and respond to propose a subsidy in its bid and offered a compensation of $6,000 per year 169.3 / 300 of the five-year contract. students’ concerns. “A lot of the changes and down from the previous according to bid documents. that happened within the last Canteen will also lower the three to four months with Treat ten-year contract with CocaCola Co. Hart said the contract price of chips to $1.00 from its America, for instance, with with Coca-Cola Co. provided $3 current price of $1.10. Candy the cheap eats and things like million in commissions. will be priced at $1.00, with that,” Brandy said. “Those came Canteen included in their large candy priced at $1.50, and about so fast, I think, because we bid a plan to introduce a cookies at $1.25. were in the process of the new Canteen’s proposal also contract, their contract ending, minimum of 13 snack vending machines accepting debit and includes a $20,000 signing bonus. and the new one beginning.” credit cards. Coca-Cola Co. will be Snack vending machines implementing 39 full-service Pouring and Vending will also include a column of vending machines according The college will receive snacks designated as “balanced to its bid proposal. Full-service approximately $62,000 from choices.” These choices will vending machines include Canteen and $261,450 from fall within the requirements of credit and debit card readers to Coca-Cola Co. per year in having less than or equal to 250 purchase beverages. commissions, according to bid calories, 35 percent of daily total Visit proposals. This is an increase fat recommendations, 10 percent MERAMEC from approximately $40,000 per saturated fat, 350 milligrams COM year, over five years from the of sodium and no trans fat, for additonal evaluation committee previous contract with Canteen comments taken from the scoring
1
2
3 4
Treat America
Canteen
Faces of the cafeteria Do you use the cafeteria? How do you feel about it?
“It’s pretty decent. They have a lot of healthy salads, juices and hearty bars.”
Kelsey Hentz, student
“I don’t go because it’s expensive, but they have a friendly staff.”
Fresh Ideas
Becky Brannan, bookstore staff
Consolidated Management
“It’s awesome. I do use the cafeteria but not really a lot.”
John Barrow, student
“It’s very expensive. I usually buy a cup and ice and bring a soda from home.”
MONTAGE . sheets.
Committee
March
the vendors for the last y included in the bid and he evaluation process.
e each vendor included gement and Supervision, r Education, and Planned d Pricing.
consisted of the same screening committee.
Alex Willey, student
Winner Chosen March 24 After totaling the scores from the three committees, Treat America finished with a score of 216.7 points out of 300. During the March 24 board of trustees meeting a resolution was passed to award Treat America with a 5-year contract. New services and features slated to be implemented starting next year: - New Point of Sale system - Touch screen nutritional kiosk - Declining balance “Sprout” card
7
“I like It. They are clean and have a friendly staff but they are really expensive. That would be my main complaint.”
Megan Rossiter, bookstore staff
ART & LIFE
Battling the fear, living the dream
March 31, 2011
Monica Zidaru set to perform in three plays in Nebraska this summer
Luelana Bustamente - Staff Writer -
This summer, many students may be relaxing and taking time off from classes. However, STLCC-Meramec student Monica Zidaru has a different plan. From May 20 to Aug. 16, Zidaru will be living in Brownsville, Neb. where she will intern as an actress in three plays at the summer-stock production in the Brownsville Village Theatre. “The fact that someone who’s seen my monologue believes that I would be good enough to perform on their stage with such talented people is incredible to me,” Zidaru said, who is also applying to the Columbia Chicago University for spring 2012. Born in Romania, Zidaru moved to the United States with her family when she was 5. At 18, she began studying at Meramec and did so for two years. She describes herself as a shy person, Zidaru always wanted to be an actress, but she was scared. When she came back to Meramec for her second time, she decided that it was time for her to finally do what she wanted. During her first semester, she enrolled
in several different acting- and writing -related classes. “I always heard that if you want to try out acting, the first thing you have to try is a community theater, so I just came back to Meramec. Here there are a lot of auditions,” Zidaru said. Her first role in a play was in “The Trial of Miss Emma Brody” written by Meramec student Dennis Corcoran and directed by Michelle Rebollo, theater professor at Meramec. After that, she participated in the showcase, “The Moral Fuzzes,” directed by Meramec student Beth Pajares. Last semester, Zidaru got a small role as a Romanian woman in the musical “Assassins,” also directed by Rebollo. After that, she auditioned for “Miss Julie.” She played Christine, a religious servant who worked for Miss Julie. “I still feel close to Christine even though I completely disagree with her ways of life. When you are on stage, you are your character’s advocate and you have to best represent them,” Zidaru said. Zidaru’s representation of Christine on stage got her elected to go to the Kennedy Center American College
Theatre Festival (KCACTF), a national annual theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities divided by eight regions. Missouri is a part of Region 5. Since its foundation in 1969, according to KCACTF, the institution has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, to improve their dramatic skills, and to receive national recognition for excellence. The Region 5 competition this year was held in Iowa, where 600 acting students, 300 selected by the adjudicators plus 300 partners chosen by the students to act with them on stage, were competing for a scholarship. “It was very stressful and challenging. I didn’t get to go to the second round, but I learned a lot,” Zidaru said. Zidaru used this critique to improve her acting skills to compete for a professional audition that was held at the same time in Iowa. “A friend from Meramec had told me about this audition before I went to Iowa. It was a nerve of the rack,” Zidaru said. “Keith Oliver helped me a lot for that.”
PHOTO BY: LUELANA BUSTAMENTE
Monica Zidaru was casted directly by Charles Harper for three plays in Brownsville, Neb. Zidaru is participating in an internship at Hot City Theatre in St. Louis.
For her presentation, Zidaru chose a classical piece, “Pericles” by William Shakespeare, and a contemporary monologue, “Suburbia,” which she had to present both in exactly two minutes with a two-second pause between each other. “I was so nervous. I didn’t think I would get anything. I saw my number posted on the wall half an hour later and on the next day I did an interview,” Zidaru said. Zidaru was casted by director Charles Harper to work on three plays this summer at
Brownsville Village Theatre. Currently she is concentrating her efforts in an internship at Hot City Theatre in St. Louis where she will be part of the play “Intelligent Life,” which will be showing between April 29 and May 14. “Being an actor is not easy. Only 10 percent of actors get a job and that scares me,” Zidaru said. “I want to try other things in the media, such as write a book and work as a musical director, but I might change my idea when I get to Columbia College.”
oh sh*t. the condom broke.
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ART & LIFE
March 31, 2011
From imagination to canvas
9
A day in the life of surrealist artist Kelly O’Keefe
Jacob Hight - Staff Writer -
Though she’s read about it since high school, this is the first year that STLCC-Meramec sophomore and surrealist artist Kelly O’Keefe was able to submit her artwork in the annual Naughti Gras exhibition. “It’s basically just a big art show that kind of has like no limits. It encourages artists to explore sexual themes and funny, inappropriate, things you wouldn’t be able to show at a conventional gallery or exhibition,” O’Keefe said with a glance. The piece O’Keefe submitted is titled, “The Core of Lust.” The painting is an image of a woman whose breasts have been transformed into green apples, and a large, eaten apple core dangling in front of her nude form. An apple leaf covers the woman’s face. “I don’t like to show personal identity in my artwork. I feel like when you put a face onto a figure or subject, it implies there’s a story there or a specific personality… I wanted the viewer to focus on the concept and the joke rather than the person,” O’Keefe said. With a laugh, she whispered she hates painting faces. O’Keefe said she’s inspired by surrealist art, or “Dada art,” and draw inspiration from artists like Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp and others. “I’d say Warhol, but I don’t want to sound cliche,” O’Keefe said, laughing. O’Keefe said she doesn’t like “living-room art.” “I wanted to make meaningful, purposeful art, even if it’s something no one ever is going to want to buy or put up in their house. I want to see something that interests me and has a story and I can stare
at for more than five minutes, you know?” O’Keefe said, squinting. “The Core of Lust” has already been purchased. O’Keefe explained art has always been a presence in her life, even from childhood. “Growing up in St. Louis was pretty cultural, actually. My dad always took us into the city and did cool things with us. A lot of people say it’s a boring city but I definitely disagree,” O’Keefe said. St. Louis isn’t the only city O’Keefe said played a role in her journey as an artist. She said inspiration also came during a field trip to Chicago in eighth grade. “I remember it being a big city and there was someone drawing on the sidewalk,” O’Keefe said. “There were people everywhere and this girl was, like trapped, just doing her own thing and nothing else mattered I was like, ‘I want to be that person one day.’” O’Keefe described her
PHOTO BY: KELLY GLUECK
Kelly O’Keefe pins up a piece of artwork. O’Keefe studies art at Meramec and plans on freelancing as a career.
“I was in my room; I had been grounded for like three months because I was like a bad kid in my freshman year of high school,” O’Keefe said. “I wasn’t doing anything with art at the
“I wanted to make meaningful, purposeful art, even if it’s something no one is going to want or buy.” -Kelly O’Keefe childhood full of “fingerpainting and playing outside.” “Originally, [being an artist] was my childhood ambition,” O’Keefe said. “But everyone told me I was going to be poor. So, I kind of gave up on it and explored other things. It was during her freshman year of high school that O’Keefe said her interest in art not only returned but became something more.
time, just messing around, partying and hanging out with friends: I got grounded. No television or phone, so you’re just there all by yourself.” O’Keefe said it was this experience that brought her interest in art into focus. “I had an easel and I had paint and I had pencils. I was just like, ‘I don’t want to be out with anyone. This is what I want to be doing. I want to be
here with my thoughts and my ideas I want to make something out of it that’s going to last,’” O’Keefe said. However, O’Keefe’s aspirations run deeper. “I want to work with big, notable clients, getting my name out there, have the freedom and ability to freelance one day,” O’Keefe said, sitting forward in her chair. O’Keefe wants to make the transition to working independently. “Well, my favorite artist, his name is Rene Magritte; he’s a surrealist,” O’Keefe said. “He actually started, got his name out there doing advertisements and went straight on to selling his pieces and making a career out of that.” O’Keefe said she also hopes to work for the Leo Burnett ad agency, which does advertising for Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Though O’Keefe has not made a professional debut in the advertising industry yet, she began making advertisements
when she was 8 with her younger sister. “We did a lot of weird things,” O’Keefe said with a laugh. “Like when we were younger. We would take computer paper and, like, make our own magazines; we even put advertisements in, like cat food advertisements and weird little kid things.” So far, O’Keefe said her biggest accomplishment is getting into Columbia College in Chicago, the city where she saw the sidewalk artist so many years ago and the city Leo Burnett is based in. “I couldn’t have done anything I did in the last two years without the support of my family and friends,” O’Keefe said. “Getting into my dream school was definitely a good moment. That’s when you know everything is starting to happen; you’re really getting on track with a career and what you want to do in life. I know it sounds really cheesy,but I’m so lucky.”
Career Crash Course Workshops Networking Develop intervieW
E-recruiting Attend our Workshops! reSume
A Compass for Today’s Job Market
Learn how to become more competitive in the marketplace through a wide variety of helpful resources targeted toward resume, cover letter, job search, and interviewing development.
Friday, April 8th Student Center Room 200 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesday, April 20th Student Center Room 200 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Please Pre-register online by logging onto www.stlcc.edu and clicking on the events calendar. Select the correct date and provide the requested information, OR call 314-984-7611 PHOTO BY:KELLY GLUECK
Kelly O’Keefe stands in front of a display of her work. She recently had her work displayed at the Naughti Gras exhibition.
For more information contact: Career and Employment Services Tel: 314-984-7611 Email: CES@stlcc.edu
MERAMEC
10 ART & LIFE
March 31, 2011
Student takes a cut out of the family business Pat Olds
- Opinions Editor -
For most people, having the chance to run a business is enough to handle. STLCCMeramec student Alicia Reyna is quite the exception to the rule. She is attending Meramec while running a hair salon full time. Reyna started at a young age after the “St. Louis PostDispatch” did a feature on her while she was working as a hair and makeup stylist for younger kids’ birthday parties. “Hey, I was good, or at the least that’s what I was told,” Reyna said. When she was 8, Reyna was already receiving requests by women to do their makeup. In high school, Reyna had no plans to take over the family business from her grandmother, Marta Reyna. She had mostly worked in the hair salon as a receptionist up to that point. She had planned to take a more traditional route and attend college then she had a realization. “I was looking at colleges, planning on becoming a nurse and I said to myself, ‘I have this business in the palm of my hand, why not take advantage of this golden opportunity?’” Reyna said. “Being the only grandchild and having some
skill at what I do, I felt like I had the responsibility to my family to do both.” When her grandmother heard the news of Reyna’s decision, there was some friction between the two. “I told her specifically that she was going to go away to school and there would be no discussion,” Marta Reyna said.” Alicia refuted that, and look how much she has proved me wrong.” Starting full time right after high school, Alicia Reyna already had ten clients. She is now has more than 100. She routinely sees more than 75 per month. Those numbers don’t daunt Reyna in the least. As she openly admits that in this economy there is no talk about being too busy, it’s a good problem to have. Reyna said she found a special job that is near and dear to her heart. “To have found something that I love to do as a job is special,” Alicia Reyna said. “I finally know what it means when people told me, growing up, that they loved what they did, I never believed them. I do now.” Even though Marta Reyna has been cutting hair for more than 50 years, there was no disagreement from her
TRANSFERRING TO MBU IS SIMPLE. We value the investment you
have made in your previous academic work, and we want to add to that. Did you know that MBU allows students to transfer at least 70 HOURS of academic credit from another institution? To get started, call one of our transfer counselors today at 314.392.2299.
PHOTO BY: PAT OLDS
Alicia Reyna cuts and styles a customer’s hair at Reyna’s Hair Salon. She attends class at Meramec while running the salon full time.
grandmother on this topic. “People come in smiling and talkative. It honestly doesn’t feel like a job. Through daily interaction, I can tell Alicia makes people feel comfortable in our store in a way that is unique to anyone else working here,” Marta Reyna said. Though there are always difficult times in any business, there was one thing that Marta Reyna always had going for her. Hairdresser Miceael
Hampton said that Alicia Reyna has done a lot of growing up in the salon. “I have only been in the shop for six years, but she had done a lot of growing up, with as many responsibilities as she carries as a college student with a full-time job. It’s impressive.” Reyna is taking business classes in order to attain her associate degree from Meramec. She has plans of attending the University of Missouri-St. Louis to earn a
MUSIC
business degree. Alicia Reyna said she wants to prepare herself and try not to limit herself in any way. “Part of the reason is that I want to be prepared in every way I can. I don’t want to limit myself. I wanted a business degree under my belt, just in case something doesn’t work out or if and when I expand my horizons in the future, like I plan on. I want to be ready,” Alicia Reyna said. In the future Alicia Reyna said she hopes to eventually move into her own building. She would like to offer many services that are currently unavailable at their current location. For as much as they get done at the small shop, there is still much that they wish they could offer. Alicia Reyna continued by saying that her future goals include becoming a Redkencertified educator so she can teach at the top hair styling schools and maybe, down the road, she would be interested in teaching at the beauty school from which she graduated. That isn’t the only thing she has started to take charge of around the shop either as her grandmother can attest to. “I hate to admit it, but she bosses me around now,” Marta Reyna said.
at Meramec
The Music Department at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. You may take courses for general education credit or pursue the Associate of Arts in Music degree to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music or Music Education program. ** SC H O LA R SH IPS A V A ILA B L E **
COURSES
MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 143 MUS 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 Introduction to Desktop Publishing 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 Choir All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Choir.
314.392.2299 Davidsonl@mobap.edu
www.mobap.edu/apply
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