STLCC’s Grades Have Posted
College Remains Stagnant in 2nd Best Place to Work Survey
JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR
STLCC once again participated in the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Best Place To Work” survey and much like the last survey, it appears that the college has some things to address despite some visible improvements.
The college managed an overall score of 70.14, down nearly a full percentage point from the 2023 score of 70.93. In a message to faculty and staff on the day of the report’s release, Chancellor Jeff Pittman said, “Our leadership team and I are committed to addressing the areas for improvement highlighted in the survey.”
Speaking to The Montage late last week, Pittman said that he doesn’t dwell on the overall score, instead focusing on the rest of the survey, which he considered to be an overall improvement from two years ago.
“It looks like we’re making progress,” he said. “Not only with our metrics of student enrollment and completion and other metrics. I was also encouraged by the higher level of engagement that we saw from the employees. And that can be hard getting engagement, because we’re spread across four campuses. So I thought the results of it went pretty well.”
While the 637 faculty and staff who participated in the survey left over 2,000 comments, those highlighted in the survey mostly centered around two main criticisms.
Pathways and Re-Org face criticism
A recurring frustration from a sample of the responses provided in the report centers around the college’s new Pathways initiative and the overall nature of the recent reorganization of Academic Affairs across college campuses.
One anonymous comment reads, “The
TAX TIME IS NEAR
Meramec students offer free tax service.
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SOFTBALL UPDATE
Softball season is in full swing.
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A LEGACY IN DESIGN
What’s new at the Meramec Art Gallery?
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NEED A COFFEE FIX?
The best coffee spots around campus.
PAGE 12 Volume 60 Issue 7
recent re-org has left many faculty feeling confused and undervalued. We have never been offered a clear explanation for why the extremely disruptive re-org was necessary, and now, not even having our own dean on our campus leaves us feeling unsupported at a time when we need lots of support (especially with all of the construction). Not having a physical dean on our campus is a major detriment to faculty.”
That particular commenter also lamented the elimination of courses like poetry and creative writing in favor of “Pathways” required courses.
They said that it “goes against the very heart of the community college model: a place to explore, to find a love for learning, a place where education is not a “means to an end”. The myopic focus on “Pathways” makes it clear that STLCC sees education as a means to an endgetting a job. I would venture to guess that no instructor on campus believes that this is the sole point of post-secondary education.”
They continued, “We are a place where students can take time to explore who they are, often at a critical time in their identity development (early adulthood). Asking them to foreclose early on this identity development by being so outcome-focused flies in the face of all that we know about what benefits young adults’ identity development.”
Another comment that also addressed senior leadership focused on the reorganization, echoing the comments above.
“The college decided to go through a reorganization process,” they said. “Reorganization is not necessarily a bad thing, but no empirical data or cogent reasoning was provided, other than we should be aligned with Pathways. ‘Listening sessions’ were held, but when people voiced true worries and concerns,
Continued on pg. 5
Ferguson-Florissant Budget
Shortfall Puts STLCC Board Chair in Hot Seat
Kevin Martin leads two school boards, one of which has seen controversy
JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR
STLCC Board of Trustee Chair Kevin Martin’s involvement as the President of the Board of Education at the Ferguson-Florissant School District is now raising some eyebrows in the local education scene.
This comes after news broke in early March that the Ferguson-Florissant School Board announced a $7.7 million budget shortfall that will lead to cuts to resources and staffing. This comes after that same Board had already slashed $1.4 million from their budget in late February.
There are financial reasons for the shortfall. In a letter to parents obtained by The Montage and published by KSDK, the district claims that years of declining enrollment since before the COVID-19 pandemic, higher costs, changes in state funding and a reduced amount of local tax revenue contributed to the issue.
Another big issue is the depletion of their “fund balance” without yet having a strategic plan to address the shortfall.
Martin told The Montage that the shortfall did not come out of nowhere, noting that these claims from the district as well as turnover
in the district’s financial and human resources offices the past few years helped lead to the oversight.
“While these challenges had been discussed, the extent of the shortfall became more apparent as we continued to monitor our financial situation over time,” Martin said.
“While the district did anticipate some financial challenges,” he continued, “the full scope was more significant than expected, and we did not have a fully developed contingency plan in place to address it.”
When pressed on the lack of a strategic plan, Martin said that the board recognizes that a more proactive, strategic plan could have been developed earlier to better prepare for such financial challenges.
“It is the Board as a whole who is only allowed to take action and not a single member,” he said.
The shortfall, as well as an investigation into the district’s former superintendent over sexual harassment allegations that led to his dismissal in mid-March, happened under Martin’s watch.
That former superintendent, Joseph Davis, even formally accused Martin of discrimination, something Martin himself denies.
Continued on pg. 3
A look at the VITA Tax Program
Get your taxes filed at Meramec, or help make a difference
ETHAN BECKNER STAFF
As tax season rolls around, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the Meramec campus continues to offer a valuable learning experience for students—while making a tangible difference in the lives of low-income families.
The service can be located on the first floor of the Applied Sciences building.
Originally beginning 23 years ago with Markus Ahrens, Robyn Barrett and Amy Monson took over seven years later. As a national program, the IRS sponsors the VITA program and Monson and Barrett do their best to oversee that students are able to complete the work given in a rewarding manner.
“At the Meramec Campus, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in service learning while directly impacting our local community,” said Barrett.
Monson has been part of the VITA Program for 18 years, and Barrett for 17 years. The program begins during the months of January to April and only takes in 18 students at a time. There you can learn to file taxes for families with a low-income tax and give back to the community.
Monson began her partnership with the VITA Program during her time as a college student
and fell in love with the program.
“It really is one of the best programs, I think. You’re actually doing what we teach you, and it’s hands-on,” said Monson.
The IRS will provide students with the proper tools to learn about filing taxes before giving the option of both a standard and advanced test.
From there students can begin helping their communities by completing tax forms for people who may not be capable.
“I mean in general people are kind of afraid, and so you’re glad that you can help them,” said Monson. “And, we can do it for free,” said Monson.
After 23 years of filing taxes, the VITA Program has completed around 8,000 tax forms. They have no plans on stopping and continue to accept students regardless of what major they declare. Whether there’s an interest in accounting, or simply an interest in learning an important skill, the VITA Program does their best to accept students.
However, it is important to note that the field can get competitive, and that October is the time to reach out for an opportunity.
“I think students who might have an interest in tax have the opportunity to try it out and see if they like it. Not to mention it could help them on their resume,” said Monson.
To get you where you need to go, PTK offers opportunities to help you develop and discover your personal, academic, and professional potential.
PHI THETA KAPPA - XI LAMBDA CHAPTER INTERNATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society for two-year colleges. It’s mission is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students, as well as to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship programs.
To be eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa - Xi Lambda, Meramec’s local chapter, students must have a GPA of at least 3.5, have taken 12 or more credit hours, and must be enrolled in at least one course currently at Meramec.
“The program is a good opportunity for students to get involved,” said Monson. Barrett and Monson continue to guide future students and educate on the importance of not just taxes but helping others one tax form at a time.
Information regarding the VITA program can be found throughout campus, and due to the government affiliation, there are many websites that advertise the program.
If you are interested, contact Chapter Advisor Jerry Meyers at gmyers34@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7638. We Have an Honors Program at
Honors offers qualified students a variety of opportunities in and outside the classroom, including honors classes, special projects, workshops, and mentoring. New students can qualify through high school GPA, ACT score, or Accuplacer. Returning students qualify through their college GPA. Once admitted, honors students are never obligated to pursue a minimum amount of honors work each term.
Curious about the Honors Program and what it might mean for you?
Learn more about the Meramec Honors Program and apply online at http://www.stlcc.edu/mchonors
If you are interested, contact Chapter Advisor Professor Rich Peraud in CN 217 or go to PTK.org for more information.
If you are interested, contact Chapter Advisor Jerry Myers at gmyers34@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7638
mchonors@stlcc.edu 314-984-7147 Humanities East 101
PHOTO BY BEATRICE JOHNSON
The VITA Tax Program is located in the Applied Sciences building, in Room 102.
LINDSEY
STAFF
Board Chair In The Hot Seat: (cont. from pg. 1)
“While I cannot delve into the specifics of the allegation made by former Superintendent Joseph Davis, I want to emphasize that I take such claims seriously and am committed to fairness and transparency in all of my actions,” Martin said. “As a leader, I strive to create a positive and inclusive environment in every role I hold. I can personally say that they are completely unfounded and untrue. I would never make such statements, and those who know me both professionally and personally would agree.”
One person who does agree is Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who believes the allegations to be unfounded.
has received.
“I take those concerns seriously and am committed to addressing them with the Board. We are in no way a similar position as the Ferguson-Florissant School District,” he said. “When I first got on the Board, we had to make some difficult financial situations, which has placed us into a promising and healthy budget we have today.”
He added, “By serving on both of these Boards, I have been able to advocate for partnerships to strengthen opportunities for the community.”
By his observation, Pittman said he thinks that Martin can juggle all of it, again citing Martin’s efficiency as a Board of Trustees member.
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Proud member of
He said that Martin is very focused on providing access and equality to all students, and that engagement from the Board that Martin is the chair of has led, in part, to STLCC’s student body having more enrolled minority students than white students this fall.
“I have never seen Kevin Martin exhibit any kind of discrimination toward people,” he said. “I was shocked by those comments. Of course, I’m not there. I mean, you have to be there to understand what’s going on. But yeah, I was shocked [to hear of the allegations]. I just disbelieve that. I don’t believe that.”
What does this mean for STLCC?
These events have left some members of the STLCC community questioning if a similar incident, specifically a budget shortfall, may happen under the college umbrella. Chancellor Pittman says that there’s no reason to worry, citing his strong working relationship with Martin.
“Kevin, he’s a very good trustee. He’s a very good board chair,” Pittman said. “His primary focus is on students. He wants the college to continue to improve in the years ahead, [...] to provide students with as portable and high-quality access as we can to the programs we offer. And he’s driven by that, as is the rest of the board. I have nothing but positive things to say about Kevin, and I feel blessed that we have him as trustee.”
Martin himself says that he understands the concerns of the STLCC community, especially given the press coverage this
While continuing to emphasize that he understands concerns, he said, “It is natural for the community to feel uncertain when budget issues are raised, and I acknowledge those concerns. However, I want to stress that we are working diligently to ensure that STLCC remains financially healthy and that any steps taken are in the best interest of the college and its students. I do not believe these concerns are unfounded, but I also want to reassure everyone that we are addressing the issue head-on.”
Martin’s full plate and future plans
There is no law prohibiting Martin from leading both the FergusonFlorissant School District Board of Education and STLCC Board of Trustees chair simultaneously.
The two institutions are not direct competitors, so ethically, there remains no issue either. However, Martin’s simultaneous role in serving on both boards is not his only involvement with education; he’s still the Principal of Northeast Middle School in the Parkway School District.
Martin says that taking on these roles at once is not something he takes lightly.
“I am deeply committed to education and serving my community, and these positions offer me the opportunity to make a broader impact in multiple areas,” he said. “Balancing these responsibilities requires time management, delegation, and a great support system. I am fortunate to work with strong teams at each of these organizations, and we all work together to ensure that our shared goals are achieved.”
“I believe he can handle it,” Pittman said. “He has a high level of energy. He’s very, very smart; he takes the time to read our policies and understands how the college operates. And, you know, he is a big proponent for keeping our policies updated every year. It’s kind of hard to keep up with him sometimes.”
“He’s responsive,” Pittman continued. “If I were to get on the phone and call him right now, he probably, mean, he’s probably in the middle of a class or doing something as principal, he’ll have called me back in the next hour or two, you know? So he’s very accessible.”
Martin’s current term on the STLCC Board of Trustees expires next April, and he said he does plan to run for another term.
“I believe in the mission of STLCC,” he said. “And I am committed to the work we have started, particularly with Dual Credit and STLCC Transform. I have heard from many individuals their strong desires to continue to see me serve the community. I am always open to conversations about the goals we all share for the future of STLCC. I welcome constructive feedback and remain dedicated to working collaboratively for the benefit of the college, FergusonFlorissant School District, and this community.”
To read an extended version of this story featuring quotes from FergusonFlorissant School District Director of Communications Onye Hollomon and more quotes from Martin, please visit meramecmontage.com.
Phi Theta Kappa Plans Upcoming Projects
OLIVIA STACK STAFF
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Phi Theta Kappa hosted a meeting at Humanities East building on campus to discuss and plan their Earth Day project, community project, and service project. PTK meetings are typically hosted by the President of PTK, Katelyn Busse, and the group of seven officers. The members meet every first Tuesday of the month and the officers meet every Tuesday at 11 a.m.
“I think the best part of PTK is that the students get to become more involved with the projects on campus,” said Sophomore Nadia Agarwalla. “School isn’t a place where students just go now, they’re able to be a part of something.”
Currently, they are working on a variety of projects that they plan to implement. One of the focuses is to bring more
awareness to Title IX.
“Our current college project is IX which deals with harassment abuse,” said Dr. Gerald Myers, Meramec PTK Advisor. “The officers will organize an event to help educate the students about that.”
According to Myers, PTK plans to organize the event after spring break and to have a food theme. The goal is to make students feel comfortable and safe, he said.
PTK is also planning a service project and partnering with CHADS The Coalition for Mental Health.
“Our service project is like the college project but serves an organization,” said Myers. For this project, PTK will host a Disney themed Trivia Night on May 9.
“For each of the officer meetings, each one of them goes through whatever
they’re working on, and for member meetings Katelyn and I lead these and what happens depends on the topic,” said Myers.
Agarwalla became a member of PTK in the spring semester of 2024.
“I joined PTK in my first semester- that’s when I started my honor’s program,”said Argarwalla. “The one who made me get involved with PTK was Dr. Collins, the history professor.”
Dr. Meyers emphasized that PTK projects are designed to build real- world experience.
“Any of these projects end up being like something you’d do at any job,” said Myers. “PTK brings scholarship opportunities for members only , and if you get really involved you can have good fellowship.”
To learn more about joining PTK, contact Myers at gmyers34@stlcc.edu
KEVIN MARTIN
HIBA OBEED STAFF WRITER
Columbia University Student Protestor Detained by
What happened, what’s happening and what it could mean for
On March 8, 2025, Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil, 30, was detained as he and his wife were returning home. As of press time, he remains detained in a detention center in Juna, Louisiana. According to AP NEWS, agents from The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Khalil and his wife that his student visa had been revoked.
Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen, attempted to use documents to prove her husband was a green-card holder, only to be told by agents that those would also be revoked, according to a lawsuit filed by Khalil’s attorney. Khalil now faces the possibility of deportation as he is accused by the Department of Homeland Security of “activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”
According to CNN, Khalil is a pro-Palestinian activist and graduate student at Columbia University in New York. He was chosen by the student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, to lead discussions with administrators for demanding the schools divestment in the American support of Israel. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, 3.8 billion dollars goes to Israel per year. He is a significant figure in the pro-Palestinian protests taking place at Columbia University throughout the past year and a half, making him a target for President Trump’s “crack-down” on pro-Palestinian protests, an issue that the current President thinks the previous one failed to handle.
Trump Administration cracks-down and doubles-down, in spite of legal challenges and public backlash
Khalil’s detainment, as well as the detainment of other activists, is an ongoing effort by the current Trump administration to “crack-down” on what they claim is illegal immigration and domestic terrorism. This is in spite of concerns regarding the right to due process for deportees of any kind, concerns that Trump Administration member Tom Homan dismissed while discussing a separate case about Venezuelan gang members on ABC’s “This Week” with Jonathan Karl. “We’re going to continue to arrest public safety threats and national security threats,” Homan told Karl. “We’re going to continue to deport them from the United States.”
According to an article by the New York Times, Alan Yaspan, a fellow student at Columbia University who identifies as Jewish said, “I support immigrants’ rights and freedoms and I support the Palestinian fight for liberation,” going on to elaborate, “Mahmoud Khalil was exercising rights everyone is entitled to.”
President Trump went on to post on Truth Social regarding Khalil’s detainment. “ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas student on the campus of Columbia University,” said Trump. “This is the first arrest of many to come.”
A CNN article published on March 11 goes on to say, “A federal judge blocked any immediate effort by the Trump administration to deport Khalil, late Monday afternoon. Judge Jesse Furman ordered a hearing on Khalil’s case to be held Wednesday morning in New York City.”
Issues raised by both sides over the case’s jurisdiction have left Khalil in Louisiana.
Ironically, according to the National Criminal Justice Association, the 1952 law that the Trump Administration is currently attempting to use to justify deporting Khalil was ruled unconstitutional by President Trump’s own sister, the late Judge Maryanne Trump-Barry, in 1996.
STLCC Police decline interview
When asked, Captain Benjamin Talley declined an interview request and Police Director Alfred Adkins redirected any questions to the STLCC Campus Free Expressions Guidelines.
The STLCC website states, “The outdoor areas of St. Louis Community College have been designated a traditional public forum under state law. Therefore, expressive activities including, but not limited to, peaceful assembly, protests, speeches, distribution of literature, carrying signs, and circulating petitions, should take place in outdoor areas of campus.
Individuals or groups who engage in expressive activities allowed in outdoor areas must not:
• Be within 20 feet of the normal access, ingress, or egress to or from any building or portion of one, including walkways that connect
such buildings.
• Engage in any activity that endangers physical safety and/or results in damage to personal or College property.
• Significantly disrupt College activities inside or outside of buildings.
• Utilize any amplification device.
• Interfere with the ability of vehicles to enter or exit a roadway.
• Obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
• Force or attempt to force individuals to accept leaflets or other materials.
• Affix items to permanent structures such as buildings, trees, posts, etc.
• Light any material on fire with the exception of hand-held candles, which may be used with special permission. Other open flame devices are strictly prohibited.
• Lasts longer than 8 hours in a 24-hour period during daylight hours.
• Use tents or other shelters.
• Solicit or promote for-profit products or services.
• Create a threat to public safety.”
Dr. Braddix speaks out on what students can do
Chief Engagement Officer D’Andre Braddix said, “For anyone who is unhappy with what is occurring in our country right now, the best way to take action is through power of civic engagement. This includes staying informed of current events, showing up to vote in elections (local, state, and federal), volunteering your time, and advocating for the causes important to you. Your vote is your voice and your power.”
Braddix said, “Unfortunately, in the 2024 election, only about 42% of people aged 18-29 chose to exercise their power by casting a vote. With the midterm elections coming up in November 2026, there is another opportunity to
STLCC
mobilize younger voters and make your voices heard.”
More than Khalil
The targeting of protesters protected under the first amendment did not start with Khalil, and has not ended with him, as seen by the detainment of Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk just last week. Ozturk was picked up by masked ICE agents while walking alone on the street near her home in Massachusetts. She had previously signed her name, along with many others, onto an Op-Ed for the Tufts University newspaper, The Tufts Daily. Ozturk has sued to prevent her deportation, while The Tufts Daily reported on Sunday that over 30 US Senators and other members of Congress have demanded more information regarding the matter. The Tufts Daily reported that over 2,000 people have protested Ozturk’s detainment.
Despite this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a press conference last Thursday that Ozturk’s visa was revoked.
“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you’re coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa,” Rubio said at the conference.
Khalil was also not the only Columbia student detained recently. In an article published March 14, 2025 on the DHS website the DHS say, “student Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from West Bank, was arrested by ICE HSI Newark officers for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa.” Kordia was also previously arrested in April of 2024 for her involvement in “pro-Hamas” protests at Columbia University.
“The 1952 law that the Trump Administration is currently attempting to use to justify deporting Khalil was ruled unconstitutional by Trump’s own sister, the late Judge Maryanne Trump-Barry.”
GRAPHIC BY JACOB POLITTE
Pittman reacts to survey: (cont.
along with alternative solutions to how the college suggested to reorganize, it fell on deaf ears.”
They continued, “The current reorganization structure does not make STLCC a great place to work. Deans are on campuses where the primary area they oversee is not there. Departments have merged to the point where secretaries and support staff have been eliminated to help with critical tasks. The deans have voiced their frustration over this new model because of all the additional driving they have to do to serve all the campuses. It is an inefficient system under this current model. Unfortunately, students are the ones who are hurting the most from this confusing system.”
Chancellor Pittman responded to these sentiments by acknowledging that the reorganization was not perfect. But he did note the success in enrollment and completion rates, attributing it to the “Pathway” model.
“I mean, certainly, anytime you try something of that magnitude, it’s probably not gonna go perfect,” he said. “And we moved Deans around to different campuses. Maybe faculty felt a little bit insecure that they don’t have their particular Dean at a campus. But I think they’ll adapt to that. I really do.”
He continued, “It’s so easy to reach out to someone with instant communications using teams or Zoom or phone, a lot of things, if that’s where the concern is. But I think overall, given the success we’re seeing with our enrollment and increasing completion rates with students, clearly this Pathway initiative has worked very well.”
Leaders criticized for not hearing concerns
Much like in the 2023 survey results, senior leadership at the college was also heavily criticized. One comment reads, “While STLCC has admirable stated goals, mission, and values, I do not see these acted upon by most of the senior leaders. Every decision seems to be made so that the “optics” and data look good. Never have I or my coworkers, who work intimately with students, been asked our opinion or insight on what we observe the student experience to be on a day-to-day basis and how changes in policy, approach, or direction would or might affect them. Nor has any administrator ever asked us what we think would be effective. Every change brings with it a promise of improved outcomes, but all that ever happens is problems get shuffled around or hidden in the data so they seem to have been eliminated.”
They later continued, “Many of the encounters I have had and hear of with upper level management is atrocious--unprofessional behavior that would not be tolerated from an employee, including constantly cancelling meetings and giving no reason, berating employees, pitting employees against each other, threatening repercussions for not getting an untenable work load completed, and treating employees like juvenile delinquents in a scared straight program. All of that for low pay and high workload at a job I (and many of my coworkers) are overqualified for.”
The criticism of higher-level leadership did not stop there. They continued, “This atmosphere of mutual trust and fidelity largely is absent from the higher echelon. You all talk a good talk, but it’s ephemeral. It doesn’t trickle down. There are some among the upper ranks who do regularly engage with students and employees. The trust and human-to-human relationship that that builds goes far when unpopular decisions are made. But there are too few people who display this character.”
“The nearly absent interest and involvement with employees and their work, lack of connection to and understanding of students and their experiences, and dearth of basic humanity towards employees is at the root. This is a problem of and for upper management. Your system of managing grievances and problematic employees at the senior level is laughable: you either move the person elsewhere (often up) or do nothing. If STLCC truly wants to be a best place to work, start by treating employees like people.”
All but one of those whose comments were highlighted in the survey reported not feeling heard or listened to by upper management. One commenter who appears to be a long-time college faculty member left, “I want a conversation with my leadership. I don’t just want
from page 1)
them to show up, but that is not the point. If you show up, but don’t take the time to know me, or know what I do, well frankly it seems meaningless.”
Pittman said that the college took steps to address the feedback received in the 2023 survey. These included: increasing executive visibility, improving facilities management, and streamlining purchasing processes.
“There were concerns brought forward by the fix it ticketing process for facilities managers, facilities matters, and we’ve improved those,” he said. There were challenges we had with our purchasing cards, and we improved those things. We had issues with getting things paid on time, you know, through finance, and we really picked up the pace and improved on that. There was also a lot of interest in return of the reward and recognition program. So you’re going to see a lot more of those [kinds of things].”
When asked to elaborate on what exactly “increased executive visibility” entailed, Pittman said that it means that you’re likely to see more college leadership members at various campus events, like faculty lecture awards or other kinds of presentations.
“What I understand that to mean is that they wanted to see us at them,” he said. “So I go out to different events, and the Cabinet goes out to different events. And when they say senior leadership, I don’t know if they’re talking about me or the cabinet or who they’re talking they’re talking about their supervisor, they’re talking about their dean, but what we’re asking all the leaders is to attend these events that are occurring.”
“But given how much our everything went up this last year, we just had to make some adjustments,” he said.
Meramec Nursing and Financial Services
One comment in the 2023 survey addressed the lack of a new building for the nursing program at Meramec. In light of the recent completion of the new nursing center at the Florissant Valley campus and the new simulation labs at the South County campus, Pittman was again asked about it.
He noted that it’s not something in the plans right now, but that could change over time. He also said that he considered the South County campus to be a part of the Meramec community, noting that further expansions of the nursing program can take place there in the future.
“We’ve expanded nursing down in South County, which is a part of the Meramec campus,” he said. “We have a lot of resources for Meramec that I think we haven’t been capitalizing on in the past. And I think South County is a big example of that.”
He continued, “Certainly nothing’s off the table if, if we do were to get additional resources and support, it might very well make sense to put another healthcare building at Meramec. We were trying to spread the resources we received from the local taxpayers by focusing on different workforce sectors. In Meramec’s case, we’re focusing on financial services, and we improved the library. We also are focusing on horticulture, because it’s just a high demand program that has a waitlist of students trying to get in it.”
Benefits go up, but are set to change
The college’s benefit score on this year’s survey increased by almost 40 points since the previous one. However, changes are coming to the college’s health insurance.
The college is self-insured, and will continue to be. The insurance administrator will still be Cigna. Pittman said that the college proposed several changes and received a lot of feedback from faculty, noting that a suggestion to use “salary bands” was not implemented because of that feedback. He also said that the college was moving away from using the so-called “Buy-A-Plan” used by many of the college’s higher-paid employees, including some faculty.
“It was a very expensive feature in our overall healthcare benefit plan that we just couldn’t sustain,” Pittman said. “It was getting to the point where it was getting so expensive that we couldn’t maintain it.”
Pittman claimed that the college had close to $20 million in claims last year. The college will keep its base plan, and Pittman himself will be one of those affected by the change, moving to that plan.
“We just have to be able to moderate our budget so we can keep it sustainable,” he said. “We also kept the high deductible for individuals that you know, if you’re in really good health, you don’t really need to pay extra for health care insurance, typically.”
Pittman acknowledged that by getting rid of the “Buy-A-Plan,” some insurance premiums will go up.
Pittman said that the college “didn’t think we’d want to do the same thing at every campus. You know? We wanted to keep the variety.”
He noted that Meramec has a culture around transfer programs and transfer students and financial services “certainly makes a lot of sense.”
“In many cases, students want to go on and get even an MBA, or graduate degrees in finance,” Pittman said. “A lot of our leaders in the St Louis community that head a banking institution started a Meramec. So we’ve seen a lot of success come out of that campus. We thought it’d be a logical fit.”
Pittman’s final thoughts
The Chancellor again reiterated that he wasn’t surprised that the overall score didn’t change.
“I was more interested in the actual engagement data that came out of this, where it looks like we’re actually starting to pull more people in and have these conversations,” he said. “That’s the most important thing to me.”
Pittman also reflected on his tenure at STLCC; on July 1, he will have served as Chancellor of the college for a full decade.
“I feel incredibly blessed that I’ve had this opportunity to serve here that long,” he said. “But I give the credit to the faculty and staff. I mean, they really have stepped up. When I arrived here in 2015, I was the fifth Chancellor in eight years, and there had been so much turnover and confusion, not only at the district level, but at the campus level, where Presidents would kind of revolve in and out all the time. So we have a solid team now that has stuck with it. Our team has bought into the mission of serving students, certainly the faculty have as well. You know, I’m really, really proud of the faculty. I’m really proud of the staff, the employees.”
To read all of the comments left on the 2025 survey in full, check out the online version of this story at meramecmontage.com.
ART & LIFE
Meramec Tests its Luck
Student Government Association hosts a casino night on campus
BRENDAN SMTH STAFF
On Thursday Feb. 27, STLCC –
Meramec’s Student Government Association (SGA) held a casino night in the Meramec Cafeteria from 6 pm to 9 pm, and to encourage donations for the Student Advocacy and Resource Center (SARC), which helps students who are in need of food and other resources.
“You could bring additional cans in, so it was a little more enticing; they would actually give you an additional amount of chips for every can you brought in,” participant Ethan Beckner said. “It was not only a way of getting people involved, but also still contributing towards a good cause.”
While the event had between 20 and 30 students attending, the SGA was able to collect over 100 cans for SARC. At the beginning of the event, students received a ticket for $5,000 in coins to gamble with, and each can that was donated would give them an extra $500.
“It was a smaller group, smaller than what I would’ve wanted, but I think it was intimate, and it worked fine for the event,” SGA President Tony Sambo said.
After receiving the tickets, students would pick which table to start with.“We had roulette, a craps table, blackjack tables and Texas Hold Em’ which is just poker,” Sambo said.
Once at the tables, the staff hired for the event would start the games and would converse with the attendees.
“I only participated in blackjack and roulette, and there was a guy at the craps table who was telling a bunch of stories and was very personable,” Beckner said. “Everyone had their own personalities, and you could tell they knew what they were doing, which really added to the feeling of a casino.”
SGA took guidance from Campus Life Manager Sean Cooney who had previous experience hosting casino nights.
“He worked for SIU previously and they do a casino night there pretty consistently, so he already had a company in mind for it,” Sambo said.
With the amount of cans collected, the SGA is hoping to host more casino nights in the future, even though some of the organizers will be graduating, Sambo said.
“I will be graduating, but I hope that the SGA follows in the footsteps of holding casino nights, and more canned food drives or drives generally,” he said.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Participants in the SGA Casino Night take a break to pose for a photo at the Feb. 27 event in the Meramec cafeteria.
“NONBINNY
“MERAMEC DAYS” BY ZEYAD GHOUNEM
Meramec’s Art Gallery
‘A Legacy in Design’ Opens for Public Viewing
HIBA OBEED STAFF
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, St. Louis Community College (STLCC) Meramec’s Interior Design Professor Erin LeClerc and Graphic Design Professor Michael Swoboda hosted the opening night of an art exhibit, “A Legacy in Design” located in the Humanities East building art gallery. The exhibit took place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and displayed work from 18 graphic designers and five interior designers.
But what does it take to host an exhibit with such a wide variety of artists? “We had to plan about a year ahead,” said Swaboda. “Late last spring, I started reaching out to alumni, some of whom were graduates from about 18 years ago, others relatively recent and the rest everywhere in between.”
In the hall outside of the gallery, visitors spent their time listening to live music played by Professor Jim Ibur and his friend Ben Vonhartz, as well as socializing and eating together before eventually coming in to see the show. As the show began, people filled the gallery, looking at the graphic design posters, cards, booklets, workshop pieces, clothing, furniture, and even interacting with a computer.
“We had a variety of works that
HLK agency. The piece on the right was designed by artist Kevin Kelly of Well-Made Workshop.
included print media, two-dimensional media, interactive design, augmented reality— just a great variety to show what we think is a tremendous width and breadth of the capabilities of our graduates over the last two decades,” Swoboda said.
One artist, Justin Tolliver, made an interactive retro arcade-themed computer that guests were encouraged to touch and scroll on. It included a variety of different sections to explore including an Arkanoid style game.
Another artist, Chelsey Farris, designed the 2024 US Open poster for the United States Tennis Association, a non-profit organization known as the national governing body for the sport of tennis. “A Legacy in Design” was created to show viewers the variety and level of skill cultivated by STLCC’s design programs, said Swoboda. “The program demonstrates that our program at a community college can be as powerful and impactful as any design program in the country,” said Swoboda. “It
Vintage Glamour and Bold Looks
The Best Red Carpet Looks at the Oscars
OLIVIA STACK
STAFF
Each spring, the red carpet is rolled out and celebrities are awarded for their roles throughout the previous year. The red carpet is a tradition dating back to Ancient Greece, and is now an iconic part of any award show. The 2025 Oscars served beyond expectations, with styled looks ranging from Chanel to Versace. There is a select few who went above and beyond in the realm of fashion this year.
“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio were dressed to the nines in Schiaparelli couture and Louis Vuitton. Grande, all decked out in a pink bustier dress, capturing Glinda’s essence. I loved how elegant her dress was, and how she incorporated Glinda’s style so well in her look.
Erivo, styled in a bow-shaped velvet dress, as a wicked choice for this year’s red carpet. I loved how her dark-colored velvet dress contrasted Grande’s to fully embody Elphaba.
Best Actress Award Winner Mikey
Madison mastered Hollywood glamour with a custom Dior Haute Couture. The dress featured a long satin pink skirt tied into a bow, connected to a strapless black top. I think the pink and black combined was a classy look that fit so well with her aesthetic.
Following the Old Glamour theme, Artist Selena Gomez arrived dripped in a custom 16,000 glass droplet dress designed by Ralph Lauren. The pink ombre dress featured Rosemount crystals and fell off the shoulders. I thought that the glass droplets brought a whole new level of fashion to the red carpet.
demonstrates that our students can compete for the very finest jobs and opportunities in our field.”
One attendee, Greta McGlawn, said they enjoyed the variety of artworks. “There were a lot of artists that did graphic design, interactive designs, and experimental designs,” said McGlawn. One thing that stood out to them was the interior design. “I liked the variety of interior design work; it wasn’t all just schools and doctors’ offices, there were lots of different rooms and styles.”
Arriving in a dark feminine style, Actress Lily-Rose Depp wore Chanel. The dress plunged in black lace, with a faint floral pattern. I loved how her look was simple, yet so flattering. I think the dress was perfectly made for her, and was a unique choice for the red carpet.
Despite a Hollywood glamour and dark feminine trend, “Spiderman” star Andrew Garfield arrived in Gucci. I thought that his dark chocolate brown suit and pants were an effortless and timeless look. This look featured a monochromatic color scheme, and he accessorised with dark tinted sunglasses.
PHOTOS BY HIBA OBEED
Two of the pieces on display as a part of the gallery; both pieces are unnamed. The one on the left can be interacted with and was designed by artist Justin Tolliver of the
Ariana Grande poses in Schiaparelli couture. Cynthia Erivo sports Louis Vuitton for the red carpet. Mikey Madison poses in Dior Haute Couture. Selena Gomez chose Ralph Lauren for her redcarpet look.
ART & LIFE |
Meramec’s Skate-Ability
Campus Skate Spots Rated
REVIEW: ‘No Other Land’
NADIA AGARWALLA STAFF
A mother screams at you to not destroy her home. You watch, impassionate, reminding her to step away. You’re a soldier, and you will act the hand of your cruel state with a steady heart and warm gun. The bulldozer beside you tears into the concrete walls the mother painstakingly nurtured her family in. You do not flinch at her young daughter’s cries.
So sets the scene in the first twenty minutes of “No Other Land.” The Academy Award winning, accoladeladen documentary about the Israeli occupation of the West Bank first premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024. It’s an intimate, firsthand account of the state-sponsored settler violence and oppression of Palestinians in their own land. Despite its dire topic, there is, beneath it all, a steady thrum of human resilience, compassion, and a deep, stubborn faith that underlines the strength of the Palestinians and their allies who proclaim to their oppressors that for them, there is no other land to run to.
The premise is simple, almost mundane. Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham forms a bond with Palestinian activist Basel Adra and his team to expose the Israeli settler and military violence against the villagers of Masafer Yatta, West Bank. The two grow close, smoking and speaking casually with each other in Arabic. Yuval eats dinner with some of the villagers,
plays with one of their children. But there is no escaping the painful tension Yuval brings to the group.
Although he wants to act in their interests, he is still Israeli. He still has close ties to them. The very same people who ruin Palestinian homes and take their lives.
At one point, Hamdan, a Palestinian activist, tells Yuval after the villagers had just endured one of their homes destroyed, “You’re [Israeli].” Yuval, who had been helping them rebuild, asks “What do you mean?” Hamdan is wry, responding “Arabs build for you, and you destroy them.” This tragic truth is reiterated in another scene, when, after Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers demolished a house and confiscated the belongings, a young man named Harun attempts to protect his family’s electricity generator from IDF theft.
One of the soldiers shoots him pointblank in front of his own mother and several other friends. He will be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of the film, suffering in the dark, dirty cave his family shelters in until his death.
It’s one of the most shocking points of the film, and the already desperate tone turns somber for the rest of the runtime. Yuval, free and fettered only by choice, remains optimistic that they can bring enough awareness to the violence to do something about it. Basel and his, who have been fighting for generations, remain consistent but depressed. At one point, to cheer Basel up, Yuval takes
The wallride located outside the Humanities building is a really baller spot. I skate it sometimes in the middle of ceramics class when I need a little break (don’t tell Jim). It’s perfect kick and angle make it challenging and fun. People walking by also usually love to see it. Not too much wrong with this spot, so it gets a 121,315.335/121,344.
him to a bar in the Israeli side of town to smoke. It’s a cruel sort of irony that Basel finds comfort in an establishment on land that should be his, but is barred from him due to Israel’s apartheid. Had it not been for Yuval’s company, Basel may not have been able to enter town so freely; he explains in another scene that, as part of Israel’s apartheid, there were separate license plates for Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinian movement was restricted, sometimes removed entirely via the theft of their cars.
There is so little reprieve in the movie. Anytime a house was destroyed, the villagers would rebuild, only to have it torn down again by the IDF. Everything is taken from them or destroyed; their sons are shot, their belongings stolen, their water wells filled with cement while a woman callously tells them they had no permit to build. This is a recurring theme: the Palestinians are, implicitly, always reminded that they live only at the whims of their oppressors. They cannot have homes unless Israel
allows them to. They cannot have water, or cars, or even peace, unless Israel allows them to. Israeli settlers freely steal land and shoot Palestinians easily, without penalty.
Meanwhile, any Israeli, like Yuval, who dares criticize this barbaric violence is Dcalled anti-Jewish and antisemitic on live television for merely having the barest sense of morality.
And yet, “No Other Land” manages to laugh.
To jest, eat together, pray, and smoke. The Palestinians rebuild over and over, bury their dead but live for the living.
For the hope that they will one day be free, as their siblings never got to witness. As their grandparents would have wished.
The film ends as resoundingly as it started, firmly restating that as long as their blood spills beneath the endless blue sky, there has always been, and always will be no other land to fight for.
PHOTOS BY RYDER GEORGE-LANDER
This spots fat, knee height and gnarly; no problem for BG though, even in the rain. Over the railing into the ramp path, clip level: high, height: Taller-dan, baller: yep. It’s a really fun spot if you have the skill but it’s definitely difficult and is more suited for a certain seasoned skater, and for that it gets a 1.35/2.
RYDER GEORGE-LANDER STAFF
Pros and Cons
The case for and against self-publishing
IAN SCHRAUTH STAFF
Ihave been writing books since I was a freshman in high school and published my first book as a junior in 2014. I attempted to query many literary agents, but 99% of my query letters were rejected without anyone requesting the manuscript. Only one agent requested the manuscript and then rejected it. This constant stream of rejections was discouraging, but it led me to discover self-publishing, and I ultimately chose to self-publish my debut title, Powers in a Teenage Witch.
Since then, I have started a publishing company and written 10 other books. Two of those books became bestsellers. However, I have not been represented by a literary agent during this entire 11-year period. This experience has shaped my understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.
There are several reasons why selfpublishing can be more beneficial than traditional publishing. First, selfpublishing gives you much more control over your story. When you work with a literary agent, the agent must review and edit your book before pitching it to publishers. Then, the publishing house will do their own round of edits. As a result, your book can go through multiple rounds of editing and changes that may alter the story, characters, or style. In contrast, self-publishing allows you to maintain
full creative control. You can choose your own editors, decide what stays in your book, and what gets cut. This ability to preserve your vision as the author is one of the key benefits of self-publishing.
Second, the timeline in self-publishing is far quicker. As a self-published author, you set the release date for your book. Whether you want to release it tomorrow, in a month, or a year from now, the decision is in your hands. Traditional publishing, on the other hand, often comes with a lengthy timeline. After signing a contract, your book’s release date can be set a year or more in the future. Even if your book is ready to be published, it will take time to go through the publishing process, including editing, design, marketing, and production. For authors eager to
get their work out quickly, this slow timeline can be a major drawback. Another reason why self-publishing can be advantageous is the financial aspect. With traditional publishing, authors typically receive their royalties, which can be a small percentage of the book’s sale price, every 6 months or so. The publisher handles production costs, but they also take a significant cut of the profits. In contrast, self-publishing authors retain a larger portion of the book’s revenue, which is paid out every 1-2 months. Self-published authors handle everything from editing to cover design, and while these costs are upfront, they have the potential to earn a greater return on investment.
Moreover, self-publishing allows
for greater flexibility in marketing. Traditional publishers have specific channels they use to market their author’s books. While this might provide some exposure, selfpublished authors are not bound by these restrictions. They can market their books in a way that aligns with their personal brand, utilizing social media, blogs, and other non-traditional methods that may reach different or more specific audiences. This freedom to experiment with marketing strategies is a key advantage of self-publishing. If you’re large enough of an author, you also have leverage to gain traditional publishing distribution while being self-published. This has been the case for the authors of the Zodiac Academy Series by Caroline Peckham have leverage to gain traditional publishing distribution while being self-published. This has been the case for the authors of the Zodiac Academy Series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, and the Cat and Mouse Duet by H. D. Carlton.
While traditional publishing may still work for some, self-publishing offers flexibility, control, and the potential for a faster and more lucrative path to success.
The rise of self-publishing has empowered authors to take charge of their careers, allowing them to reach audiences directly without relying on the gatekeepers of the traditional publishing world. This shift is not just a trend, but a fundamental change in the way books are created, marketed, and consumed.
Christ Is Cancelled: Jordan Peterson, The Daily Wire downfall and smearing 'Christ is King'
JACK JURSNICH OPINIONS EDITOR
A recent report by the NCRI and Rutgers says that “Christ is King” has been “hijacked” and turned into an antisemitic slur. Funny, out of fourteen genius scientists that conducted this study, nine were Jewish, two were Hindu, and one was a token Christian zionist.
The last person on the list is none other than Jordan Peterson, who has inadvertently introduced many people to an objective form of Christianity, not by being a Christian but by approaching it in good faith. Our culture has mocked and misrepresented Christianity without impunity — no one cares much about making fun of Christians, but making fun of Muslims or Jews is front page news. Many thought Christians conformed to their faith, and some do, but Peterson brought people to it through logic and genuine discovery. Faith wasn’t blind anymore, it was purposeful, which might be why a lot of the culture now seems to be shifting back towards Christ.
However, Peterson joined the Daily Wire a while back and he’s since
turned into a total dweeb. He’s lost a lot of his authenticity and has been playing ‘armchair-psychologist’ for a few years now. Dressing up in flashy suits, using big words to sound smart – as an old fan, I now find him hard to watch. I liked him because he was objective and precise with his work, but now that he’s at the Daily Wire, I can’t help but notice he takes off his objective lens any time Israel or Zionism comes up. Peterson is not an actual Christian, and even if he was, to credit yourself in reappropriating
“Christ is King” as an antisemitic slur is the most anti-christian thing you can do.
Peterson and the Daily Wire team are like a propaganda machine for Israel. Ben Shapiro, co-creator of the Daily Wire, says he doesn’t care who shot Kennedy just as the new JFK files were released and ironically link things to Israel.
Candace Owens was “finally free” from the Daily Wire supposedly over her Israel stance, and CEO Jeremy Boreing just resigned as criticism for Israel is growing. The Daily Wire is dying, and I suspect Israel is in hot water right now.
This can’t be any more obvious. Israel support is declining, Christianity is growing. All the politicians bought by AIPAC voted to codify the definition for antisemitism. Now there’s a bunch of non-Christians claiming the keystone of
Christianity is antisemitic? Bruh. Imagine if a study made up of mainly Christians suggested that saying “Allahu akbar” or “Shabbat shalom” was antiChristian. Personally, I don’t think people would care given Christianity is so unfairly
slandered, but I suspect people would at least assume the study was biased. Why do they not see this double standard? The silence is deafening and the imbalance of the anti-Israel debate is keeping the light shining on Israel.
GRAPHIC BY IAN SCHRAUTH
The Israeli Connection OPINIONS
Kennedy, Epstein, AIPAC, Mossad, and more
JACK JURSNICH OPINIONS EDITOR
I’ve been seeing too many people being called antisemites just for being critical of Israel’s influence, and based on the criticisms I’ve read, I find these convictions absurdly misleading but also revealing. As a disclaimer, I will be talking about the foreign influence of Israel on American politics, and I want no one reading this to mistake me for being “antisemitic.”
I became skeptical of Israel’s influence last year, just before the election, when Congress passed a law to codify the definition for antisemitism. Republicans often clash with Democrats on laws restricting free speech, but they seemed suspiciously united on this one. Democrats mainly supported pro-Palestinian movements, so I thought there might be some conflict there, but no, both parties hopped on instantly. Weird.
Turn now to Thomas Massie, a congressman who is known for speaking out against Israel’s influence, specifically, exposing that everybody but him has an “AIPAC person.” AIPAC is Israel’s
largest lobbying group and has made huge donations to both political parties. Massie says that basically every politician’s job is influenced by an “AIPAC person” –taking their money, saying what they’re told, doing what they’re told, voting by what they’re told, etc.
Recently, President Trump and Massie had a major spat in regards to a recent CR bill. Massie voted against the CR, saying it would raise the debt ceiling, but Trump supposedly thought that keeping the government open would maintain his momentum. The split exposed their AIPAC benefits — Trump received $230 million, and Massie received zero. That’s funny, Trump also said he wants AIPAC to be the most powerful lobby. Massie was the only one voting against the bill and not influenced by AIPAC? Oh wait, and now Trump wants to primary Massie?
A couple weeks before this spat, the infamous Epstein files (phase one) dropped. Unfortunately, the files were nothing new and were still redacted, but during the release, all sides ignited online with claims of Israeli influence. The theory was pretty interesting, making connections of Epstein to Israeli intelligence (Mossad) by association to Robert Maxwell, while
critics of the theory didn’t say much except call it “antisemitic,” which made me want to dig even more.
The newly released JFK files suggest Israel may have had some involvement with the CIA’s assassination of Kennedy. The motive was there: he was against Israel’s nuclear program, and he wanted AZC (precursor to AIPAC) to register under FARA (Foreign Agents Registrations Act). After Kennedy was assassinated, Lyndon Johnson stepped in as president, reversed Kennedy’s Israeli-nuclear stance and increased aid to Israel. Today, aid to Israel has gotten exponentially bigger, and AIPAC still has not registered under FARA. Now that the genie is out of the bottle, should I list a few more? Look up Israel’s involvement on September 11th. Look up the 2001 Israeli “art students.” Look up the Dancing Israelis. Look up the USS Liberty. There’s probably a lot more I haven’t listed yet, but do I really have to keep going to just get the question out? What is up with Israel? I encourage everyone to do their own research for all of this, but just be aware that you might be called “antisemitic” for no reason.
Like I said before, I don’t wanna be seen as “antisemitic”, and I also don’t want
Jake’s Take: No Accountability
JACOB POLITTE
MANAGING EDITOR
Things seem to happen at light speed in the Trump administration, which can make covering it accurately quite difficult and definitely exhausting. With that said, one of the latest Trump administration scandals was a big indicator on just how incompetent this administration can be, and a big reminder how hypocritical the Republican Party is.
Let me be clear (especially to all of the FOX News anchors/hosts doing their best to divert attention away from it): after the Signal Group Chat leak that saw multiple administration members
implicated in using unauthorized methods of communication, I never want to hear a word from them about Hillary Clinton’s emails ever again. Of course, I know they will continue to bring that up, because politicians like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden live rentfree in their heads, regardless of if their side is in power or not.
But to condemn those actions, but not those of current government officials literally texting war plans and target descriptions over a public and unsecured app, with messages sent set to disappear after a few weeks (which is highly illegal by the way), is hypocritical.
The accidental addition of The Atlantic’s Editor-In-Chief Jeffery Goldberg to the Group Chat also reinforces the current administration’s incompetence. The fact that Goldberg himself was never discovered and had to remove himself from the chat before anyone noticed is one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen out of either Trump administration. And that’s not a low bar to clear, by the way.
If Donald Trump is the leader he claims to be, he should immediately fire everyone on that chat thread except for JD Vance, and that’s only because he’s constitutionally unable to fire him. By the way, if the Republican majority in
anyone else to either just for asking questions. Anyone with a brain can look at these theories and get suspicious over them, but what’s more suspicious is the conviction thrown at all these people asking innocent questions. Even Jewish people will be called “self-hating jew” for just asking the same things. All I’m asking for is for something other than insults. Give me some other explanation than what these facts suggest, and if it makes sense then maybe I’ll listen.
No wonder so many kids are being radicalized into little terrorists, hating Israel and calling for an “intifada.” The table’s been flipped, and Israel’s best defense is “sToP hAtInG jEwS.” Nobody who’s any of this serious actually hates Jews, but a lot of this provocation is understandable since it’s meant to poke the bear behind all these theories. If the goal is to stop people from criticizing Israel, then maybe give us a reason to like you. I’m not blind to the propaganda and the Israel shills, but I am optimistic that the new administration will have some accountability. The culture shift and the recent drop of Kennedy files opened up some light to the mainstream, but for now, Israel needs to sit down and cool it with the “antisemitic” remarks.
Congress actually cared about national security, JD Vance would be impeached and removed.
But of course, none of that will happen. Hypocrisy wins, as always. And if there’s one thing that’s clear about the next four years, it’s that there will be no accountability when something like this, or something even worse, happens again. And it will happen again.
No heads will roll, because the heads are loyal to President Trump and President Trump only. That’s all that matters to him.
The
is just collateral damage.
STORY ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB POLITTE
The Archers Women’s Softball team practices on the Meramec soccer field on Feb. 26 to prepare for the upcoming season that began March 2 against Missouri State University - West Plains. The softball season runs from March to May.
Archers Women’s Softball Starts With a Winning Streak
JULY CHAU STAFF
On March 12, the STLCC softball team hosted their first home game of the season against State Fair Community College. The game could be heard from a mile away, according to Infielder Cecellia Mora. Her teammates cheered, clapped, stomped for each member that stepped up to the mat, creating a lively atmosphere.
“We make up chants for the team or members. It’s to keep up the hype and energy of the game,” she said. The doubleheader resulted in two wins with a score of 8-7 at the first game and 9-1 at the second.
“It made us feel really good; we came in thinking State Fair was going to beat us,” said Mora. “Beating them twice made us
believe we were working hard.”
To prepare for the games, the team practiced for four hours everyday. “We did a lot of drills and preps, like infield and outfield,” said Mora. “Repetition really helps.”
Stepping on the mat can be a nerve wracking experience for some, and every player has a different warm up routine, said Tataum Peery, catcher ad infielder.
“I take a step back, a deep breath, swing and it makes me feel more prepared,” she said. “Once I hit the ball, I feel like I got the job done.”
Aside from practice and games, the team is also expected to complete a minimum of three hours study hall each week.
“We’re students before we’re athletes,” said Pitcher Hadley Hughes.
The Archers women’s softball team has a full lineup for April with home games on April 5, 6, 13, 16, 17 and 24.
Archers:
SPOTLIGHT ON BASEBALL
HOME GAMES THIS MONTH:
4/5 | State Fair Community College: 1PM and 3PM at Meramec
4/7 | Southwestern Illinois Collewge: 3PM at Meramec
4/10 | Three Rivers Community College: 1PM and 3PM at Meramec
4/19 | Metropolitan Community College: 1PM and 3PM at Meramec
4/24 | Missouri State University: 1PM and 3PM at Meramec 4/29 | Moberly Area Community College: 3PM at Meramec
PHOTOS BY: ZEYAD GHOUNEM
Batting practice has been a key part of the Archers Softball team’s preparation for the upcoming season.
Need a Coffee Fix?
Top Places to Visit Around Meramec
LINDSEY UNNERSTALL STAFF
Whether it be a morning coffee, a midday chai latte, or an after school matcha, college students are all about a rewarding treat. With all the many places in Kirkwood near the Meramec campus, it can be difficult to decide where to go to get the best drink, for the best price, and most efficiency. Here’s a breakdown of the best coffee and drink places near Meramec.
7 Brew
By popular opinion, 7 Brew hands down comes in first place. It’s only a mile from the school with a short 3 minute drive, and is drive-thru only so it is perfect for on-the-go coffee runs before class. It’s also one of the most affordable places for coffee, with a medium drink with customizations only costing about 4 dollars. Everyone there is super nice and it feels very community oriented even though there is no inside, with the only downside being they are usually very busy and the line gets extremely long so it can take a bit more time. They also do not have many food options and a pretty secret menu.
Kaldi’s Coffee
easiest to navigate as it’s in the center of the Kirkwood Plaza.
Dunkin’
Although it is a chain, Dunkin’ takes the number three spot on the list as it is a fan favorite and usually a pretty reliable go-to spot. It’s a mile away with pretty average prices nowadays, about 5-6 dollars per drink, and is both drivethru accessible and has online ordering/pickup in store options for convenience. It’s a classic for when you need something quick and you want something familiar.
However, the customer service can vary and they don’t have the best atmosphere or reputation out there. I wouldn’t even try asking for light ice, or you will get a less full cup as well!
Teleo Coffee
a pretty efficient drive-thru system. Although their reputation has fallen apart over the last few years making a lot of people leave them behind, they continue to be pretty convenient, especially for college students as our own cafeteria even serves Starbucks-branded coffee. They have a pretty good study space inside, but many of the local places offer the same drinks for the same high prices with better vibes and reputation.
Pioneer Bakery and Cafe
Coming in at number two is Kaldi’s coffee. It’s only about 5 mins away from campus, and has a very large menu with tons of options for food and drink. There is no drivethru, but the atmosphere is great for studying after class or meeting with friends, and they have online ordering to save time. The staff is super nice and the only negatives are the prices can be a bit higher, ranging from 6-7 dollars for a coffee, and the parking situation isn’t the
Teleo is a nearby house turned coffee shop, and the vibes do everything they need to. It’s homey and cute, with exciting seasonal flavors and the collegecoffee shop-studying aesthetic we all crave in community college. The people there are super nice and since it’s a local business it feels super friendly after you’ve been a few times. They are a bit overpriced for the portions you get and the parking sucks because it literally used to be a house, but if you’re willing to sacrifice those perks and head inside, it’s perfect for a break between classes.
Beware though, this place is popular and is usually pretty packed, inside and out.
Starbucks
Starbucks will always be one of the most dominant coffee shops in America, and in Kirkwood it’s no different. They have the following, a million different customizations you can make to create the perfect drink, and
Number six on the list goes to Pioneer Bakery and Cafe. This is definitely more of a place to go when you want to sit down and study or catch a bite to eat with a friend, but it’s for a good reason. They are more unknown in the area and a bit tricky to get to on Kirkwood Road, but the food is well worth it.
They have tons of options for food and drinks and offer plenty of seating. The only thing that makes it more inconvenient is the lack of a drive-thru, so it’s not your best bet if you’re in a hurry.
Panera
A tried-and-true St. Louis classic, Panera (or St. Louis Bread Company if you prefer that) makes the list because you really can’t go wrong with it. It’s got a drive-thru, the indoor study space, the average pricing, and the wide and ever changing menu.
The only thing it really doesn’t have is a local, small-town feel that all of us young Gen-Z-ers crave. No one’s posting aesthetic coffee and study pics from inside Panera, that’s for sure.
Local Punk Band: Jackrabbit
Meramec student’s band makes a comeback
MAYA CAUS CONTRIBUTOR
Local to the city of Belleville, Illinois, Jackrabbit returned to the stage of Club 110 at 110 North High St. on Saturday, March 8, after a five-month hiatus. The band made the well anticipated comeback just six days shy of the release of their debut single.
Band members 18-year-old Megan “Niko” Nail, 19-year-old Estella “Stella Kidd” Lybarger, and 23-year-old Andrew “Drew” Rawlings took the stage as friends gathered to dance and headbang to their loud and heavy music, as the band describes. “I feel like I could do 13 backflips when I’m up there,” said Lybarger, STLCC-Meramec student, guitarist and backup vocalist of the band.
Jackrabbit, the name chosen by Lybarger, was founded in August 2022 by Nail and Lybarger after meeting at Rock Camp in Melodic Rhythms Music School located in the same building as Club 110. The two worked with their former guitarist and drummer and formed the band after having similar ideas for music and,
“because we thought we vibed,” said Nail, vocalist and bassist. The band describes the genre as, “Riot Grrrl, or a subgenre of Punk… like Joan Jett or something,” said Rawlings, the temporary drummer.
Rawlings joined Jackrabbit in November 2024. He played with Nail and Lybarger at previous shows with his current band H7, and decided to learn how to play their songs and join the two on stage.
At the March 8 performance, two acoustic sets were played by friends of Jackrabbit before they set the stage. According to the band, the three have a mixed set of nerves and adrenaline while playing on stage for the first time in five months.
“I’ve been in a car wreck and playing in a show has given me more adrenaline,” said Nail.
The band opened with their soon-to-be debut single “Get Clean,” set for release on Friday, March 14. “This one is about a sex worker, apparently… and listening to the lyrics, it makes sense,” said Nail.
During the writing process for “Get Clean,” the two were jotting down lyric ideas “that made no sense,” said Nail. As they were recording the song, their music
producer allegedly assumed the song was about a sex worker with lyrics such as, “Walking down the street, a clean chick gone neat. She feels like a person, but baby, she’s a freak.”
“When we write lyrics together, it’s like a shitty ad lib... and we go ‘write that down, write that down,’” said Lybarger.
Other songs such as “Anti-Frat,” “Murder Husbands,” “Raise Hell,” “Watch Queen,” “Bite Me,” and their next single “Pepper Spray” were also performed. “Pepper Spray” has yet to be mixed and finished, and is set to release later this month, according to Jackrabbit.
The songwriting process differs for Nail and Lybarger. Whether song ideas are introduced to the other, a collaboration effort, or quickly written in 10 minutes, the two typically seek inspiration
from different things. “Watch Queen” was written about gay men who would stand outside the doors of club bathrooms and alert those in the bathrooms of any police officers in the building, according to Lybarger, which she learned about in her sociology class.
The future plan for Jackrabbit includes booking more shows and recording new songs to prepare for their planned debut album release later this year.
The next Jackrabbit performance will be Saturday, April 12, at The Record Space in St. Louis.
