No. 21 (April 6, 2017) by University News

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Relay for Life fights the battle against cancer By HARITA ABRAHAM Staff Writer

On Saturday April 1, SLU Relay for Life put on its annual event and raised $139,264 for the American Cancer Society. The event started at 6 p.m. and closed at 6 a.m. and took place at Hermann Stadium. The event was a yearlong eﬀort put on by about 62 members of an Event Leadership Team (ELT) that was guided by their executive board and two co-chairs, Nathan Dollinger and Mary-Kate Brendich, as well as a 30-member Hype Squad that helped build morale. ELT met every Monday night for about two hours leading up to the event. On the week of, they were working around the clock to get everything ready. On the day of, ELT woke up at 7 a.m. to start setting things up on the field itself and they did not go home or sleep until the next morning. Members of ELT all have a personal connection to cancer and all have a reason for why they participate in Relay for Life. ELT member, Delaney Brewer, relays for a vast number of people.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

A student voice of Saint Louis University since 1921

Vol. XCVI No. 21

Atlas week enlightens SLU campus By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Associate News Editor

Gaby Lawson / The University News

RELAY: Hundreds of students participate in the Relay for Life, a fundraiser benefitting cancer research. The event was held Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. at Hermann. “I relay for a ton of people who have pushed me to be the best possible version of myself. Friends, family, teachers…. pretty much everywhere I turn someone is dealing with cancer, but I relay here at SLU because when you are on ELT you are part of a group of people

who know what you are going through.” A regular exercise within ELT is to share why each individual member became involved in Relay. About two or three members will share their story every week so that by the end of the semester, everyone on the team knows everyone

else’s story. “You have people who have lost a parent, a sibling, even suﬀered themselves but I promise you that on Monday nights at 7 p.m. there is not a happier place than that See “Relay” on Page 2

On Saturday, April 1, the 17th annual Atlas Week exhibit kicked oﬀ with a Public Health Scholar Bowl, St. Louis Public Health Fair and a presentation regarding the exploration of Latin America and the Caribbean. Included within the event calendar for the week were presentations stretching from issues with internal law, feminism, sexual assault prevention and refugee narratives, along with others, to educate students, faculty and staﬀ in respect to current issues encountered today. Senior Public Relations major Annie Eveker utilized her minoring expertise in Meteorology and Environmental Science to present a topic relating to climate change, and inevitably, the impact of the carbon footprint, titled “Environmental Refugees.” The discussion was held Wednesday, April 5 in the Busch Student Center. Starting out with the

stereotypical definition of a “refugee,” Eveker explained how the community usually perceives this group as “being persecuted to such a high degree that they can’t live in their homes anymore.” While this is usually a commonality amongst most refugees, she eluded that this standpoint is not always the case — “The environment can cause refugees to move away too,” she said. “What you release into the atmosphere can stay there for a long period of time, and it collects the energy without releasing it back into space.” Looking at a long-term graph over a century, Eveker eluded that while the environment is increasing in temperature, it is a gradual change rather than expedited. Visually, the climate appeared to have made a turning point around 1970, according to the graph presented, as Eveker explained that the fluctuations can be See “Atlas Week” on Page 2

Former SLU student goes missing By BRANSON FOX Staff Writer

“Brave the rise and fall.” These are the words poised above Gift Mumbi Kamau’s Instagram profile. In every picture, she smiles. Kamau has been missing for a week now; that smile is nowhere to be found. According to KMOX, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, Kamau was last spotted crossing the side of the Chain of Rocks bridge through surveillance footage. Although no one has been able to locate Kamau since Thursday afternoon, her gold-colored Toyota Corolla was spotted near the bridge in Madison County Thursday afternoon. As reported, Kamau waited for a moment inside the car and then proceeded to walk toward the Missouri-end of the bridge. KMOX reported that twenty-year-old Kamau is of Kenyan descent and fivefoot-three-inches tall with a thin build. Despite conflicting re-

ports, Kamau has not been enrolled at Saint Louis University since December of 2015. The University registrar commented: “The Office of the University Registrar confirmed via release of directory information, Gift Kamau was a student at

Gift is a great person and an amazing friend. We are all keeping her and her family in our prayers. Abiola Mosuro Saint Louis University from August 15, 2014 until December 19, 2015.” Some reports claimed that Kamau was on her way to class, but this cannot be confirmed. There was online speculation that Kamau may have been stressed out by school, but friends denied this case. Her mother, whom Kamau lives with in Florissant, Missouri, saw no indication that things were not

right with Kamau. Her friend of twelve years, Abiola Mosuro, said this about Kamau: “Gift is a great person and an amazing friend. We are all keeping her and her family in our prayers.” Several other friends denied to comment. Kamau worked at Kakao Chocolate in Clayton. She also attended Jesus House Church with her family sometime in the past. At the time of writing, neither Kakao Chocolate nor Jesus House have returned requests for comment. Crews searched a small portion of the Mississippi River that ran under the bridge, but did not find the body of Kamau. Foul play is not suspected by Madison County police; however, suicide has not yet been ruled out. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Gift Mumbi Kamau, please call the Madison Police Department at 618876-4300, St. Louis County Police at 314-889-2341 or CrimeStoppers at 866-3718477.

Courtesy of SLU

MISSING: Kamau went missing Thursday midday. If you have any information, please contact the Madison or St. Louis County Police Departments or Crimestoppers.

INSIDE SCOOP: Panic! at the Disco takes the stage

Page 7

Page 5

ARTS

Former SGA members on the Oath suspension

Chess makes it to the Final Four

SPORTS

Page 10

OPINION

2 April 6, 2017

NEWS

Relay: Helping save lives all night

Gaby Lawson / The University News

CANCER: Relay is aﬃliated with the American Cancer Society and helps fund cancer research, education and prevention programs. Millions are diagnosed with cancer yearly. Continued from Page 1

room.” Brewer said. Exactly 89 teams participated in the event and these teams came from a wide variety of student organizations as well as a variety of students from residence halls such as Reinert and Clemens. A few teams came from outside of Frost Campus, such as the SLU Med team and a team from Washington University. The event can be described as a jovial and powerful experience and kicked oﬀ with an opening ceremony in which the co-chairs began the event, and guest speakers came in to share

their stories with cancer. Following the ceremony, cancer survivors who were present took a survivor lap around the track. Afterwards all participants followed. The message behind the event is that cancer never stops; therefore, the fight against cancer must also never stop. For this reason, the event lasts 12 hours. Participants are encouraged to take laps around the track with their teams and stay up to symbolize how cancer never sleeps and therefore neither should the people fighting against it. At approximately 10 p.m., the Luminaria Ceremony was held. This ceremony is

unique only to Relay and is a way for participants to honor those who have survived cancer and those who have passed on. A Luminaria is a decorated paper bag with the honoree’s name on it. During the ceremony, these bags were placed on the circumference of the field and had candles in them. The lights were turned down, and all that illuminated the field were the Luminaria. The list of those honored by Luminaria was read out loud as participants walked around the track in silence. Every team that participated in Relay that night had an on-site fundraiser to help raise even more money for

the cause. These sites were peppered around the track as well as behind some of the bleachers. There were other forms of entertainment for the participants as well. Various SLU groups came to perform at Relay including the Bollywood team, SLU Shakti, Beyond All Reason a capella and the Bare Naked Statues a capella group, just to name a few. The practice soccer field adjacent to Hermann Stadium also held a plethora of various field games. SLU Relay for Life began in 2003. In its lifetime at SLU, Relay for Life has raised over $2 million cumulatively in its fight against cancer.

Atlas Week: Lecture on environmental refugees

Gaby Lawson / The University News

ATLAS WEEK: Several speakers and events are hosted throughout the week to teach students about global issues. Continued from Page 1

categorized into three components as researched by scientists: variations in the sun’s energy reaching Earth, reflectivity of the earth and deforestation/reforestation/ urbanization. “The last point contributes to a rise in the global temperature, and it depends on that area,” she said. “We are in the city, so it might be a little bit warmer since we have concrete, which soaks up the heat.” Sophomore Meteorology major Matt Roark also chimed in, clarifying that “the earth acts as a blackbody. Blackbodies absorb all the radiation. Earth’s natural blanket of greenhouse gases is very good — if we didn’t have greenhouse gases, we would experience average temperatures of about -19 degrees

Celsius. However, natural is the key. Right now, we are adding so many gases that the earth cannot naturally sustain that amount, leading to our sources above Earth’s natural sinks.” Consequently, the atmosphere is becoming consistently warmer, but the heat needs to be reabsorbed somewhere, leading to the ocean temperatures rising. “The ramifications are significant,” Eveker mentioned as “there is an increase in global temperature, rising sea levels, dying diversity, more diseases among people, inhabitable land, deterioration to infrastructures because of more severe weather and, ultimately, environmental refugees.” Environmental refugees came about to seek a better lifestyle to preserve their survival. Whether they are

seeking refuge from deserts, droughts, floods or hurricanes, these people exhibited a lower quality of life which had negative ramifications on their safety and food supply. “The actual definition of an ‘environmental refugee’ describes them as people who are forced to leave their traditional habitat temporarily or permanently because of the environmental destruction that jeopardizes their existence or sacrifices their quality of life,” she said. “During 2012, approximately 32.4 million were displaced by the environmental disasters, including those forced to relocate within their countries — 98 percent of this 32.4 million was caused by climatic disasters, especially flooding.” While this issue is usually brought to light in third-

world countries, such as Haiti, it is closer to home than expected. There is erosion occurring within the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, which “is causing the native people to seek new homes,” Roark explained. He later mentioned that “as the tide has risen, resulting in a sea level change, the people’s houses have toppled.” The issue appears intangible to tackle on a local scale, but both Eveker and Roark highlighted that while one person cannot solely deter the environmental changes, collectively, a larger group can make an impact. Whether it can stem from raising awareness about environmental refugees or by decreasing the carbon footprint, “any little bit helps to decrease the lasting negative impacts on Earth,” Eveker said.

SGA discusses birth control By JUSTIN SEATON Staff Writer

The SGA passed a resolution Wednesday recommending that the Student Health Center increase student access to birth control. The bill’s intent and purpose reads: “To recommend to University leadership that the code and conduct of the Student Health Center be amended to allow for the prescription of birth control, per any request, and not solely for “anti-ovulatory” purposes.” The SGA will have no authority to enforce the suggested changes. Rather, they will approach SLU administrators with the resolution, who will then be given a month to respond. “This is a resolution. It’s more like a suggestion,” said Senator Luella Loseille. SGA hopes the resolution will catalyze a conversation between the student body and the administration on student access to contraception at a Catholic university — a conversation that, according to some, is long overdue. “50 percent of our students are Catholic. Sixty percent of our students are women. It is not my place to deny students access to these medications,” said SGA Senator Jason Maddox. Much of the debate on the senate floor revolved around two issues: women’s rights to reproductive healthcare and women’s rights to reproductive healthcare at a Catholic institution. Though the senators echoed each other in support of the former, some voices were at odds when it came to the latter. “It is the position of the Catholic Church that contraception is amoral, that premarital sex is amoral, and the Catholic Church will not aid and abet that,” said President Elect Dan Carter. SGA Chaplain Fr. Don Highberger and Vice President for Student Development Kent Porterfield echoed these sentiments, reminding the room that SLU’s Catholic status is decisive in matters of church doctrine. In this case, practitioners at Student Health are held to certain standards as employees of a Catholic university. “Where do we draw the line between what the church says and what we do as a university?” asked Senator Noelle Janak. “And why do we draw that line diﬀerently depending on the issue?” Co-authors of the bill,

first-year student Annie Bryan and Senator Shanaya Shah, claimed that their own negative experiences with SLU Student Health largely influenced their decision to draft the bill. According to several members of senate, it is not uncommon for Student Health to ask students to lie on their medical records in order to obtain medication. “I support this bill, because I support women. And in the 21st century I should not have to lie to my physician,” said Senator Emily Bley. “All this is asking for is transparency in our student health conduct.” According to the text of the bill, “the SLU Student Health Center does not prescribe hormonal contraception to students unless they state they will only be using it as a menstrual aid.” As a result of this policy, many women will lie on their medical records in order to obtain the prescriptions they need. Thanks to these lies and the variety of contraceptive medications available, SLU physicians may be prescribing pills that have unforeseen side effects, according to Vice President for Student Organizations Devon McDaniel. Simply, these dealings could have detrimental effects on the bodies of female students. “Maybe we as a Senate can have a hand in dismantling that oppressive institution,” said Bley. Many students blatantly criticized the bill’s practicality, though. Loseille, one of seven senators to vote against the bill, wondered what steps the SGA would take “when the administration says no.” “I had to vote it down, because I know that SLU is going to say no,” said Loseille. “And if we keep aggravating [administrators], then the voice of SGA becomes less influential.” Porterfield suggested that SGA was skipping a step by bypassing conversations with the Student Health Center and, instead, putting the issue straight to paper. “We could’ve done this without a resolution,” agreed Vice President of Internal Affairs Jay Hardin. “As senators, we do more than what happens in this chamber. I wish there would’ve been more research and more conversations with the administration.” President Kevin Lynch will notify the affected parties of the bill’s passing.

NEWS

April 6, 2017

Let Us Introduce You: Nate Van Haute By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Associate News Editor

Senior Nate Van Haute is no foreigner when it comes to traveling abroad: as an English, Spanish and International Studies major with a minor in Theology, he participated in mission trips to Mexico toward the end of high school but completed a three-month immersion trip to Nicaragua at the end of his freshman year as part of a theology program. “I came back to SLU after the trip and was not happy at all,” Van Haute said. “All I wanted to do was go back to Nicaragua, so I changed my major to Latin American Studies and Spanish but realized that I didn’t need a major in those areas in order to go back to Latin America — I could just do it.” After taking a gap year after his sophomore year, Van Haute spent ten months living in Central America on his own budget. “Spending my time in Central America sparked my interest in traveling cheaply and eﬀectively,”

Emma Carmody / The University News

LUIY: Nate Van Haute is speaking during Atlas Week. he elaborated. After coming back to SLU, Van Haute initiated his plan to help others travel, that which was not a structured program nor aimed to lead people on a trip to guide them. He mentioned his belief in “independent travel as the best form of travel because you are not partner-

ing with any organization; rather, you are simply just going and entering into the communities yourself without anyone paving the way.” Throughout the rest of Van Haute’s college career, he has continued his love of autonomous travel, from spending three months last summer in Morocco, France

and retreats at Camino de Santiago to recently traveling to Nicaragua during the winter and Mexico City for spring break. The question comes to light, though, on the affordability of traveling as much as Van Haute has — “I am working a fair amount and simply being smart with my money,” he explained. “I think it’s a huge misconception that you need to work a ton in order to afford this or have high-paying jobs, but I am very good at not spending money. Travel is the only thing I spend money on; I don’t go out, eat out and I usually spend $15 per week on groceries.” Van Haute’s presentation “How to Travel on a Student Budget” will be held on Thursday, April 6 at 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Busch Student Center and will discuss tactics to efficiently save money and spend it on traveling instead. “It’s really easy to travel cheaply nowadays, and there are a lot of tips I can give to people, to help them accomplish this goal” he said.

Jesuits and the Arts Symposium upcoming By MEGAN HAMMOND News Editor

On Tuesday, April 18, there will be a Jesuit Student Research Symposium in the third floor of the Saint Louis University Museum of Art. The theme is Jesuits and the Arts. Students, faculty, staﬀ, and the public are warmly invited to attend the presentations. Session I is from 11

a.m. - 12 p.m, a light lunch and refreshments from 1212:30 p.m and Session II from 12:30-3 p.m. This is the third annual student symposium to showcase Saint Louis University student research and performance, celebrating and recognizing Jesuit history. This year’s theme emphasizes Jesuit contributions to the fine and performing arts.

One of the organizers, Dr. Silvana Siddali of the History Department, says, “Our speakers will address a variety of topics, including art, architecture and music.” Junior Karl O’Brien is performing a composition by Domenico Zippoli, S.J. He will be discussing the Italian composer who worked with the native peoples of Paraguay and introduced music

to them. O’Brien said, “I’ll also be discussing Baroque music and how Zipoli’s style fit it and fill the air with some music of my own.” Previous Jesuit Research Symposia have focused on the Jesuit restoration, and the history of Jesuits and slavery. Next year’s symposium will harmonize with the bicentennial celebrations of Saint Louis University.

Granddaughter of former SLU employee battles cancer By KYLE SMITH Editor-in-Chief

At six-year-old Lydia Boyer’s house, the lawn is always mowed, the meals are delivered straight to the door and the money keeps pouring in. “It’s just crazy,” said Carole Sharp, Lydia’s grandmother and a former longtime employee at SLU. “People stop by everyday — little kids bring their piggy banks, full of pennies.” Sharp worked at SLU for 26 years, including 10 years as a secretary in the Department of Communication, before leaving last September for another job. (Her husband, Jeﬀ Kapp, still works at SLU as a director of ITS in the Wool center). The reason for all the fuss is both uplifting and heartbreaking: Lydia was diagnosed with stage IV medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, in June 2016. She immediately began emergency radiation treatment, followed by six months of chemotherapy and brain surgery. Though they were able to remove most of the cancer from her brain, it lingered on her spine, and soon returned to the brain, giving her a seizure just days after her treatment was over. At this point, doctors told the family that there was little more they could do, as there is no known cure for medulloblastoma once it has recurred. Still, the Boyers refused to give up. After a Facebook post by her father — a youth pastor at Hope Christian Church — went viral, and

what started as a church community helping one of its members quickly spiraled into a rally of support from the community, local businesses and online donors. A GoFundMe account set up for Lydia has raised over $54,507. At least two “Lemonade for Lydia” stands have popped up in the neighborhood. One woman approached the Boyers as they were leaving a fundraising event and, without even revealing her name, handed them a check for $10,000. To Sharp, the most surprising thing about this whole ordeal is how the entire town of Waterloo came through for Lydia. On March 25, the Stubborn German, a local brewery, held a “Hope for Lydia” day, oﬀering to donate 50 percent of its profits to help the family to pay for her treatment. Lydia — who has always been a bit shy, according to her grandmother — was somewhat overwhelmed by all the attention. A photo posted by Monroe County Independent shows Lydia looking up at her mother with a finger pointed at herself. The caption reads, “Momma, are all these people here for me?” This event netted over $13,000 alone. Sharp estimates the family has raised over $150,000 in total with more on the way, including a profit share with Pizza Hut franchises on April 6 and a benefit Trivia Night slated for April 8. The disease has taken its toll on Lydia. She is often tired, and has diﬃculty walking on her own. Her face is partially paralyzed and she is entirely deaf in her left ear. Unable to enroll in school

Q&A with Nate:

Q. What presentaions are you covering during Atlas Week? I gave a presentation on Monday called “Backpacking with a Purpose” which involved the implications of volunteering abroad, and helped with “Social Launch: An Entrepreneurship Approach to Social Change.” My big event is “How to Travel on a Student Budget,” highlighting how we can save money to go abroad. Q. Any take away lessons learned while at SLU or traveling? Make the most of the opportunities while you have them because we are always wishing we were somewhere else. Q. What has been your favorite class? Spirituality in American Literature has been my favorite because it made me realize how much I love stories and that spirituality is engrained in everything.

THE SLU SCOOP All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Wednesday, March 29 2:20 p.m. SUSPICIOUS PERSONS DPS officers were dispatched to the Wald Parking Lot at Spring and Hickory for suspicious persons walking around the parking lot, with one person throwing some things over the fence. A search of the immediate area discovered five subjects, huddled together with gym bags and backpacks, on the grassy area of the SLU property at Grand and Chouteau. As DPS officers approached, three subjects fled and two were detained. Two of the three that fled were detained a short distance away. DPS officers were not able to locate any damage vehicles in the area or located any witness to any criminal activity. One of the subjects was wanted for Probation Violation and turned over to SLMPD officers. The others were issued a trespass warning and allowed to leave.

Friday, March 31 1:40 a.m. LIQUOR VIOLATION Public Safety Officer responded to the first floor at Griesedieck to evaluate a student that appeared to be intoxicated. Upon arrival, they encounter a student highly intoxicated and were advised she had been drinking vodka. Friends of the student stated she suffered a concussion last November and she had fallen that night and hit her head. While bringing her home, the student fell again striking her head to the concrete. St Louis medical was contacted and arrived. The student became more and more agitated and pushed people away and yelled obscenities at everyone involved. St. Louis Emergency Medical Services Medic Truck 2 arrived on scene. At one point the student grabbed one of the Medics and tried to bite him on multiple occasions. Saint Louis Police Department were called to assist in getting the student to the hospital. She was restrained and handcuffed while on the stretcher. The student was conveyed to Saint Louis University Hospital for further evaluation. Pro Staff, Sgt. Aycox and Res Life were on scene.

Friday March 31 9:13 p.m. INFORMATIONAL

Courtesy of Lydia’s GoFundMe

LYDIA: Lydia Boyer was diagnosed with stage IV medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, in mid-2016. this year due to her condition, she is now working with a private tutor. Still, Lydia is much the same as she ever was: “Just a normal girl,” according to Sharp. She loves playing with her baby dolls and watching TV. Originally, the plan was for Lydia to undergo a clinical treatment at the University of California San Francisco that used a modified measles vaccine to target cancer cells. However, Lydia is not eligible to enter the trial, because her T-cell count, an indicator of immune system strength, is too low. The family is still looking into other options, including a similar trial in Chicago.

“It’s a bit of a waiting game,” said Sharp. “We’re just taking it one day at a time.” Still, the influx of money and support from friends, family and strangers is a much-needed comfort to the family. They are putting the funds toward Lydia’s medical expenses, which can top $10,000 per round of chemo. Any excess funds will be donated to help families in similar situations. Individuals can also donate via Lydia’s GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/vge4u-lydiasmedical-fund. To keep up with Lydia’s progress, visit https://www.facebook.com/ Hopeforlydia

Female student reported that she and two other female students had just left a restaurant located in the 3000 blk. of Olive St. and were in their vehicle facing west on Olive St., when suddenly an unknown male subject forced himself into the vehicle from the front passenger side, at which time they (female students) pushed him out of the vehicle onto the pavement and drove away. Students drove to the Moohla Apts. and contacted DPS. Officers from DPS along with St. Louis Police officers responded to Moohla Apts. to get statements from the students. Police advised students and DPS officers that officers were on scene of incident and reported that a male subject fitting description of subject that jumped into vehicle was claiming he was assaulted and hit by a vehicle. Police advised students that their investigation was ongoing and that an Event # report was being filed by their department. Female students reported no injuries from the incident.

Be a Responsible Billiken STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu

4 April 6, 2017

GAMES

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Arts Entertainment

April 6, 2017 arts@unewsonline.com Natalie Riopelle, Arts Editor Tom Bergan, Assoc. Arts Editor

Scottrade Center sent into ‘Panic!’ By NATALIE RIOPELLE Arts Editor

With a huge and enthralled crowd in attendance, Panic! at the Disco performed at the Scottrade Center Wednesday night with lead singer and frontman Brendon Urie at the helm. The tour began after the 2016 release of their newest album, “Death of a Bachelor,” which mixes the familiar flurry of lyrics from past albums with a new, vibrant sound. Urie, the lead creative influence on the newest album, filled “Death of a Bachelor” with personal meaning. The single of the same name explicitly clues listeners in to its meaning, a reference to Urie’s recent marriage and, thusly, the “death” of his existence as a bachelor. The album also reflects the transformation of the group—of which Urie is the only original member—as it takes a pop-rock tone with a more synthesized feel. Basically, “Death of a Bachelor” has all the energy of their prior work with a more focused energy. After a live countdown reached zero on the flatscreens scattered above the stage, is was time for Panic! at the Disco to start what would be an amazing set. Opening with “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time,” Urie—who, it should be noted, was sporting a cheetah-print jacket—and the band had energy to

Alanna Pachl / The University News

STL DEVOTEE: Panic! at the Disco treated the packed arena to a set that leaned heavily on material from their newest release, “Death of a Bachelor,” while also finding time to play older gems from their catalog. spare. While sections of the music video played across the screens, Urie danced with a surprising degree of smoothness given the tight leathery-ness of his pants. “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” was quickly followed up by “LA Devotee,” an upbeat ode to Hollywood culture and then came a jump into Panic! past with “Ready to Go.” As the night progressed and more and more of the newest album’s songs were played, suddenly a curve ball was thrown: a medley of some of their

‘Powerless’ By KARL O’BRIEN Staff Writer

DC Comics has already won a legion of fans for its TV shows on The CW centering around some of its less well known and esteemed superheroes; these being “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl” and “Legends of Tomorrow.” They have proven fantastically successful, with many fans praising the shows’ respect for comic canon, introduction of new dimensions to older characters and creation of diverse newer characters. The latter of these is set to continue in strength, as a show about one of DC’s first black superheroes, Black Lightning, is set to debut next fall. In the meantime, DC has debuted a show quite out of the ordinary, that feels, for lack of a better word, well…ordinary. While it may seem normal, it is just about as extraordinary as can be. “Powerless” follows the lives of the perfectly normal people who try to live their lives in a world where

battles between superheroes and all manner of villains can spell disaster for their cars, public transit systems and overall livelihoods. Fortunately, Wayne Security of Charm City, a subset of the multibillion-dollar industry of Wayne Enterprises, attempts to rectify these problems. Their solutions are revolutionary products such as Joker Anti-venom that comes in two unique shades of purple. This mediocre division finds its CEO in Bruce Wayne’s cousin Van, played by Alan Tudyk of “Rogue One.” Van is a vain, self-absorbed wannabe who only desires to climb the corporate ladder, even at the expense of his company. However, he becomes stuck in his position when energetic new employee Emily Locke, played by Vanessa Hudgens, arrives. She reinvigorates the company as the new head of its Research and Development division. So far, the team at Wayne See “DC” on Page 6

Courtesy of NBC

SUPER: The new comedy on NBC is another installment of the ever-expanding DC universe.

oldies—like “Better If You Do” and “The Only Diﬀerence Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage” (from their way-toolong-song-title phase). Though its m e m b e r sh i p has changed since its creation, Panic! at the Disco’s music has still somehow managed to maintain the same degree

of quality for over a decade. With five studio albums released at intervals since 2005, the sound and dynamic have developed continuously. While “Death of a Bachelor” was the main focus of the show, Panic! didn’t shy away from featuring their older material such as “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” from their third

The adoration the crowd felt toward [Brendon Urie] was tangible.

studio album. This album, “Vices & Virtues,” returned to the type of sound that first made them popular after the departure taken in “Pretty. Odd.,” an album in stark contrast to the rest of their discography with its melodic, melancholy sound. “Nine in the Afternoon,” a favorite from this album, was performed complete with Brendon Urie serenely playing the piano. At about the halfway point of the hour and a half long show, Brendon disappeared from the main stage

only to reappear on a stage in the middle of the crowd seated at a glittering piano. There, he performed a ballad-like rendition of “This is Gospel” with an aching layer of emotion palpable in the air. Once that song finished, Urie began the courageous task of wading through the crowd back to the mainstage all the while singing the song “Death of a Bachelor” and hugging those fans lucky enough to be in his way. The adoration the crowd felt toward him was tangible. This adoration was also reflected later in the night. As Urie belted out “Girls/ Girls/Boys,” an LGBTQ+ anthem, the faces of famous LGBTQ+ people filled the screens behind him—in the end, coming together to form one giant rainbow flag. In a beautiful display of solidarity during this song, the crowd held up constructionpaper hearts in front of the lights on their phones, creating a mosaic of color in the audience. Urie commented after the song concluded that the idea of the hearts was entirely fan generated— “I love you very much,” he exclaimed. Urie didn’t limit himself to just Panic!’s songs. He covered “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which has become a staple of his tours, as well as “Movin’ Up” by Billy Joel— See “Disco” on Page 6

A ‘Shell’ of what could have been

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

MANGA: “Ghost in the Shell,’ the American adaptation of the wildly popular manga series, stars Scarlett Johansson as Major Mira Killian, a human who undergoes a transformation from woman to robot soldier. By SEAN KELSO Staff Writer

Scarlett Johansson’s latest blockbuster film, “Ghost in the Shell” adds some interesting themes to the wellestablished science fiction genre, sadly at the expense of cohesive storytelling and pacing. “Ghost in the Shell” is directed by English filmmaker Rupert Sanders, whose limited directorial work includes 2012’s “Snow White and the Huntsman,” a critical failure but box oﬃce success. Sanders’ work here with “Ghost in the Shell” seems to reflect his filmmaking infancy, as the pacing and tone of this film are often veering in new directions, adding unnecessary confusion to the already muddled storyline. Directly adapted from the beloved 1995 anime manga (Japanese comic) by Shirow Masamune, Sanders’ “Ghost in the Shell” follows Major Mira Killian, a cybernetic humanoid soldier (Jo-

hansson), and her quest for tion 9, an anti-terrorist orthe truth of transformation ganization. Killian, atop a from human to robot. From building, gets an objective to the film’s opening text, we watch a business deal hapunderstand the setting to be pening with Hanka Robota near-future Earth, and we ics, the main supplier of the then see the creation of Joadvanced technology that hansson’s artificial ‘shell.’ society now relies upon for The scene daily life. is quite well We watch orche strate d as she peers The film coalesces into the meetand intriguseveral storylines ing, and a ing, as robotic arms begin with a bland ending Hanka associto assemble describes that fails to fulfill ate the new body this future and fit pieces the potential...of the world for evoriginal anime film. eryone, comtogether like Legos, while menting on eerie music how basically plays in the everyone in background. The creation of the world has cybernetic Killian’s body reminded me enhancements for improvvery much of HBO’s “Westing sight, hearing and even world,” and as the film prointelligence and language gressed, I wished that “Ghost acquisition. The deal goes in the Shell” executed its stoawry when robots emerge ryline as well as “Westworld” and start shooting everydid in season one. one, which Major quickly After we see the origin stops. The robots are found of Killian’s cyborg shell, we to be programmed by Kuze jump to the present, where (Michael Pitt), an ominous she is now a Major for Secperson behind several recent

attacks on Hanka Robotics. While Major and her team keep searching for Kuze, Major continues to suﬀer odd visions where she sees a run-down temple in plain sight. Soon after, she encounters Kuze in one of his hideouts, who challenges her to think on her past, before vanishing into thin air. Thus, Major’s main quest changes from finding Kuze to finding the truth of her own story, amid action sequences and flashbacks. The film coalesces several storylines with a bland ending that fails to fulfill the potential and success of the original anime tale. The key selling point for me going to see “Ghost in the Shell” was the stunning visuals exhibited in the trailers, and the finished eﬀects in the film are magnificent. Since it is set in the future and features many robots, the basic entertainment of this film See “Ghost” on Page 6

6 April 6, 2017 What’s up in STL this week?

ARTS

Kidman is ‘Queen’ ‘Ghost’ bores Continued from Page 5

The Orwells April 10, 8:00 p.m. The Ready Room

The captivating look of this film allowed me to believe I was present as the story unfolded.

Bring ear protection to this show, because it is going to be loud. The Orwells set is bound to be a raucous display of the future of rock and roll.

Courtesy of IFC Films

EXPLORER: “Queen of the Desert” tells the story of Gertrude Bell, the English extraordinaire who was a writer, traveller and archaeologist amongst other things.

“Your Name” Tivoli Theater Starting Friday The fourth-highest grossing film of all time in Japan comes to St. Louis with its beautiful animation and emotional story.

“Sweeney Todd” Through April 22 Tower Grove Abbey The tale of the demon barber of fleet street is told by the Stray Dog Theatre, who are guaranteed to thrill and entertain.

Who Does She Think She Is? Through April 17 Kemper Art Museum A career retrospective covers the career of Rosalyn Drexler, who heavily influenced the 1960s pop art scene with her peers Lichtenstein and Warhol.

Himalayan Yeti Tower Grove South The combination of Nepalese and Indian fare makes for a mouth-watering meal.

relies on CGI, and their team did a fantastic job on making the cityscape and set design feel like it was a modern location, with giant koi fish rippling through the air. The city structure reminded me a lot of Ridley Scott’s classic “Blade Runner,” but there are definitely new elements added from this adaptation. Overall, the visual eﬀects were among the best things in this film, as the captivating look of this film allowed me to believe I was present as the story unfolded and let me imagine the implications of the broader themes this film represents. When “Ghost in the Shell” was first announced to be a live-action remake with Scarlett Johansson helming the main character, there was much uprising against this decision, mainly being the ‘whitewashing’ of Japanese actors. After seeing

the film, I completely support the crew’s decision to cast Johansson, as she brings great depth to a robot, even through the poorly-crafted dialogue. After superhero work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and monetary success with “Lucy,” Johansson has proven herself to be not only a fantastic actress, but also a skilled action star and box oﬃce booster. She turns in another great p e r fo r m a n ce as Major Killian, and her strong work in this film should easily rid you of any doubts you may have had after her initial casting. Although it poses recondite topics about the nature of humanity and artificial intelligence, “Ghost in the Shell” falls into unoriginal tropes and loses much of the audience with slow pacing and boring dialogue. After the initial few compelling scenes, the film falters often, making it hard to stay invested in the subject matter, even if it is visually pleasing.

By CHANDANA KAMARAJ Staff Writer

Werner Herzog revisits the tale of the “Queen of the Desert” Gertrude Bell, a British explorer, traveler and archaeologist, through his feature film of the same name coming to theaters this Friday, April 7. After directing many male-led features, and six years since his last feature, Herzog drives on to direct a well-casted female lead, Nicole Kidman, who plays the aristocratic leader Gertrude Bell. With sharp intentions, Herzog narrates the story of a strong woman who is inspired to move away from her family because of the mundane reasons for a damsel in distress, such as pressures from her noble family and the resolution of her two past love aﬀairs. Instead, she moves on to do something bigger—create the nation states in the Middle East. True to its time period, the film does everything right as it draws out the historical background decorated by the accents and clothing, which is complemented by a unique and contemporary casting, with James Franco as Henry Cadogan and Damian Lewis as Charles DoughtyWylie (Kidman’s two love interests), and finally Robert Pattinson as T.E. Lawrence, who could be best deemed as Bell’s counterpart for the time. The film begins as the educated Gertrude Bell is chastised by her parents after she

is rejected by her suitors for being too intelligent. She begs her father to leave and is sent to the British Embassy in Tehran, Persia where she formulates a relationship with Henry Cadogan, which includes no more than lust and poetry. After the sign of his death, Bell seeks out Bedouin tribesmen and the desert where she meets T.E. Lawrence. They share a few laughs and talk about politics before Bell travels on to search for the Turkish people.

With sharp intentions, Herzog narrates the story of a strong woman who is inspired to move away from her family. During her travels she meets another British oﬃcer, Charles Doughty-Wylie who approaches her with a rocky start, and is angry at her desire to travel. But, with an exchange of pistols, Wylie changes to being interested in Gertrude Bell. Bell continues her journey to meet the Sheik and hands over the pistols. With a budding relationship between Bell and Wylie, tension grows as Bell refuses to continue the relationship as Wylie was already married but maintained communication on a business level.

As Bell continued to meet many leaders of the Middle East, she increased her rapport and soon became the “Queen of the Desert” as she drew borders between today’s Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan. The seemingly long narration of the biopic portrayed Kidman as a strongfaced woman who faced all leaders with determination and nothing less. Other than that, the casting of James Franco and the minor role of Robert Pattinson seems unique but also miscast. The relationships between Bell and these male leads were almost minute due to the small amount of screen space for the actors, but was too refreshing to go unnoticed. The only seemingly meaningful relationship in the film was between Bell and Wylie which was continued by the letters that they had exchanged, as opposed to the coin that was given to Bell from Cadogan. The roles of these characters were complimented by the landscape of the period film, often with the sand of the desert and camels filling the screen. With the frequent changes of the locations, detailed labels of the time periods and musical theme of the film, it created a very different aura from an ordinary period film. Although the film is increasingly inspiring, its length and the limitation of its actors lead to the film taking too long before making its statement.

DC: Rocks small screen Continued from Page 5

Security has seen the Riddler’s henchman pay a visit; the company celebrate Sinking Day with the citizens of Atlantis; Van continuing to be an insuﬀerable boss; Emily accidentally goes on a date with a supervillain, and the superhero The Olympian emerge to defend Charm City from Crimson Fox. Being that “Powerless” is DC’s first attempt at a comedy set in its own universe, it has quite the rocky road ahead of it. Critics initially praised the idea when the teaser trailer premiered at last year’s Comic Con. Since then the show has garnered only mediocre reviews at best. The obscure elements and characters like Van Wayne, The Olympian, and Crimson Fox, as well as references to locations within the DC universe like LexCorp and Ace Chemicals, delight passionate fans. These same details are also likely to alienate casual fans, or those with no knowledge of the DC universe. Even so, the show has at-

tempted to appeal to a wide audience by having Marc McClure portray Emily’s father. McClure played “Daily Planet” photographer Jimmy Olsen in the Superman films of the 1970s and 80s. Adam West, who played Batman on the 1960s TV show, appeared to narrate the pilot episode. As of now, the show has aired six episodes and plans to air four more be-

fore closing out the season at the end of April. A second season has not yet been announced, but it may be unlikely, given the show’s low viewership. I, for one, hope to see more of this quite interesting concept, but maybe that’s because I can’t get enough of DC. “Powerless” airs on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

ROBOT: Johansson’s character completes her transformation to fighting machine in the scene above.

Just Panic! Continued from Page 5

whom, Urie described as one of his musical idols. Later in the night, Urie also migrated to the drum set to accompany a medley of “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars and “Bitch Better have my Money” by Rihanna in a display of his extremely varied musical talent. In fact, to say he is talented is a terrible, terrible understatement. Urie wasted no time in showing oﬀ his amazing range as he jumped octaves right and left. In another life perhaps he may have been an opera singer. The crowd just about lost its collective mind when Urie hit the high B-flat in the middle of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but his versatile fal-

setto made an appearance in nearly every song. Though “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (which, yes, they did play) is perhaps their most widely known song, Panic! is far more than an emo band of yesteryear. Just as the band members have evolved, so has their sound. While “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,” their first album and cult classic, sits at the top of the scene-kid list of favorites, the band didn’t allow one genre to become their only MO. So, if the last time you listened to Panic! at the Disco was in 2005 when guyliner was a trending topic, it’s time to rectify the situation and let “Death of a Bachelor” wow your eardrums. This is the one time when “panicking” is exactly what everyone should do.

Courtesy of NBC

Alanna Pachl/ The University News

WAYNE: Danny Pudi stars as Tedi, an employee at Wayne Security, who is known for pulling pranks.

FEVER: Brendan Urie, pictured above, fascinated the crowd with his vocal range and infectious songs.

Sports

April 6, 2017 sports@unewsonline.com Lauren Tondl, Sports Editor Vivek Gorijala, Assoc. Sports Editor

Chess named one of top four teams in nation By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

Students who have visited Morrissey Hall recently may have noticed the new space given to the chess team on the first floor. However, students may not know that SLU’s chess team, started only in 2015, has quickly risen the ranks to become a premier collegiate chess program. Recruiting from around the world and competing in prestigious tournaments, SLU Chess has already begun to make its impact on the competitive chess scene. The chess team was originally established in 2015 as a partnership between Saint Louis University and the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. However, the team can rightfully be considered the brainchild of SLU alumnus and chess fan Rex Sinquefield. The team is not simply a club activity or organization, but rather an eﬀort by the university and other parties to recruit promising players and build on SLU’s academic reputation. In this way, it is more similar to SLU’s NCAA athletics programs than it is to a club activity. The team is coached by Alejandro Ramirez, an accomplished chess player in his own right. He won the 2010 U.S. Open in chess and was the runner-up at the 2013 U.S. Championship. Here at SLU, he coaches

five players—undergraduates Cemil Can Ali Marandi, Nozima Aripova, Francesco Rambaldi and Dariusz Swiercz, and graduate student Yaroslav Zherebukh. Several of the players have already accomplished significant milestones in their chess careers. Ramirez said that the most recent tournament victories in the group of five are Swiercz’s win in the Millionaire Open in Atlantic City, N.J. and Zherebukh’s win in the Marshall Chess Club Championship. This semester the players will also take part in national championships, tournaments and major opens, allowing them the opportunity to continue to build their chess resumes. Meanwhile, there are also plans for the team to continue to grow through SLU’s donorsponsored competitive chess scholarships, which can include room and board, tuition and fees— much like SLU’s NCAA athletics programs. SLU’s chess team recently participated in the President’s Cup, from March 2426. The President’s Cup is similar to the Final Four in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. SLU went in with the overall lowest rank in the President’s Cup compared to the other three teams, which were Webster University, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Texas Tech University. Webster University repeated as na-

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

Saint Louis University

FOCUS: SLU chess players concentrate as they make their opening moves. The team reached the prestigious President’s Cup, which is known as the Final Four of chess. tional champions in the tournament. However, SLU’s chess journey this season is not

over yet. Currently, the chess team’s coach, Ramirez, and one of its players, Zherebukh, are participating in the

Baseball falls under .500 in Atlantic 10 play By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

SLU baseball’s red-hot form has sputtered, especially in Atlantic 10 conference play. The Billikens lost two games out of two against Rhode Island. However, SLU did manage to rebound against Eastern Illinois University with a blowout victory. SLU’s first game against the Rhode Island Rams was cancelled due to weather concerns. The second scheduled game, and the first game that was actually played, saw pitcher Ryan Lefner take the loss to move to a 0-2 record on the season. The Billikens lost that game by a score of 6-4. Meanwhile, the second game that was played saw sophomore pitcher Jackson Wark take the loss, to move to a 4-2 record. SLU was shut out completely in that game, and lost 6-0. Over the two games, junior shortstop Alex King went 3-for-7, good for a stellar .429 batting average. SLU’s team as a whole showed a penchant for extrabase power, managing a total of four doubles over the two games. In game two, freshman catcher Ryan Hernandez entered as a pinch hitter. He wasted no time getting on base, smacking the first pitch he saw for a single. He

CHEER

quickly advanced, stealing second base. The stolen base makes him 2-for-2 in steal attempts on the season. However, Hernandez wasn’t the only freshman to show some promise despite the tough losses. Freshman pitcher Josh Garner entered in relief in the second game after Wark had a tough outing. Garner went 5.1 innings, allowing only three hits, no walks, and earning six strikeouts. He held opposing batters to a very low .167 batting average. In the first game, sophomore Miller Hogan was the starting pitcher, and had a good outing. He recorded nine strikeouts in six innings of solid pitching. Saint Louis baseball then turned around a string of three straight losses, stretching back to a loss against Illinois State. The Billikens hammered Eastern Illinois for 12 runs while only allowing in one. The game marked the fifth time this season that SLU has managed to score more than ten runs. Freshman pitcher Garrett Acton earned his first collegiate win and is now 1-0 on the season after a superb performance on the mound. Acton threw four scoreless innings of four-hit ball. He struck out six batters, scattered throughout his four innings, and showcased good

JEER WHO TO CHEER UNC UNC beat Gonzaga in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament final on Monday, bringing UNC up to six national championships won, the third highest total in all of college basketball. UCLA has won the most, with 11 total wins, while Kentucky has won eight for the second most.

Track battles in two away events

2017 U.S. Chess Championship, which is taking place in St. Louis, featuring 12 of the nation’s best chess players.

DECISION: Freshman right-handed pitcher Josh Garner winds up for a pitch at Billiken Sports Center. control by allowing no walks. SLU scored once in the first inning, but the real breakthrough came in the bottom of the third inning, when SLU erupted for four runs on five hits after falling to two outs. Part of that

oﬀensive explosion came from junior catcher James Morisano and senior pitcher/designated hitter Devin Mahoney, who went oﬀ See “Baseball” on Page 8

See “Track” on Page 8

Softball swept By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

Saint Louis Athletics

The track and field team competed in the WashU Invite in St. Louis, Mo. and the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic in Charleston, Ill. on March 31 and April 1. In the WashU Invite, several individuals had stellar performances. On the men’s side, sophomore Matt Prest posted a personal record in the 10,000-meter run. His time of 30:54.70 earned him first place as well as the third best time in the A-10 this season. Freshman Aaron Dugan ran a time of 32:07.20. Sophomore Will Moore competed in the 1500-meter run, placing tenth with a time of 4:06.93. Overall, the men placed eighth of twelve teams. On the women’s side, sophomore Anna Schmitz posted a top-ten mark in the A-10 this year with a time of 17:17.31 in the 5,000-meter run. Sophomore Natalie Davis posted a time of 17:30.31, junior Katie Anderson ran a 17:36.86 and junior Ellie Adams earned a time of 17:59.40. In the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic, both teams placed eleventh in the team rankings out of 21 events scored. For the men, senior Griﬃn McCurren earned 12th place in the 800-meter

The SLU softball squad lost in a three-game series to Rhode Island on April 1-2 to drop to 3-5 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Bills came in hot in the first inning when senior infielder Alex Nickel sent a home run into the stands for the first hit of the game. Senior outfielder Mackenzie Peter and junior infielder Allie Macfarlane both connected, but a double play from the Rams put the inning away at a 1-0 Billiken lead. Rhode Island finally answered the lead with a strong third inning, scoring a whopping seven runs against SLU. They tacked on another run in the fourth inning to solidify the lead. In the sixth inning, Nickel refused to lose and hit another homer to right center field to help SLU regain some confidence. Two singles from Buckles and Peter, a walk from Macfarlane and a sacrifice fly from junior infielder Alyssa Tarquinio gave SLU another point on the board, but they were unable to make a comeback despite a successful sixth inning. Rhode Island took the victory, 8-3. Nickel tied the SLU career record of 150 runs scored, and she hit 26 home runs,

just three away from the school record. Peter single twice, Buckles and junior outfielder Josie Knesel both had singles. Freshman pitcher Kaylea Chappelle only allowed one run and two hits in her relief innings. SLU put up more of a fight in the second game, losing 3-2 to the Rams on April 2. The Rams were first to the board in this matchup, scoring two runs in the third inning. Peter answered in the fourth inning with a home run oﬀ the first pitch of the inning. Rhode Island widened the gap in the fifth inning, pulling ahead, 3-1. In the sixth inning, the game appeared to be swinging back in SLU’s favor. Macfarlane scored oﬀ a series of hits and a throwing error from the Rams, but that was all the comeback the Bills could muster. They dropped the game, 3-2. Sophomore infielder Mackenzie Lawson registered two hits, and Tarquinio also earned a hit in the game. In the final matchup, Rhode Island scored seven runs in the first two innings alone and forced an early conclusion of the game after six innings. SLU lost 10-2. The Rams earned four runs in the first inning. See “Softball” on Page 8

FEAR WHO TO JEER LANCE STEPHENSON Stephenson has once again found himself the subject of controversy. Up 15 with a few seconds left in the fourth, Stephenson, of the Pacers, made an uncontested layup that the Toronto Raptors took issue with. At that stage of the game, Stephenson should have just dribbled the ball out to end the game.

WHO TO FEAR ST. LOUIS CARDINALS The St. Louis Cardinals knocked off the Cubs in the opener, with pitcher Carlos Martinez throwing some superb innings and recording 10 strikeouts. It is just one game, but if the Cardinals can contest the Cubs so closely, the NL Central may end up being closer than expected.

8 April 6, 2017 Tweet of the week

@tvippolis

“We didn’t come this far to only come this far.” #national championship

Scores from the week Baseball Billikens 4 Rhode Island 6 Sophomore pitcher Miller Hogan started the game, striking out nine in six innings. While a double from senior pitcher Devin Mahoney to left center brought junior infielder Nick Reeser and junior outdielder Aaron Case across home plate, the men could not generate enough oﬀense to snatch the win.

Billikens 0 Rhode Island 6 Freshman catcher Ryan Hernandez earned a single and successfully stole second base. He is 2-for-2 in steal attempts. Freshman Josh Garner relieved in the second game, allowing only three hits, no walks and six strikeouts.

Billikens 12 Eastern Illinois 1 Freshman pitcher Garrett Acton earned his first collegiate win, throwing four scoreless innings with four hits, six strikeouts and no walks. Junior catcher James Morisano and senior pitcher Devin Mahoney hit back-toback home runs in the third inning of play. Redshirt senior outfielder Trent Leimkuehler was 3-for-5 in the game with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and a RBI. Junior shortstop Alex King was also 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and a RBI. SLU used a total of six pitchers, allowing only one walk and registering 11 strikeouts. SLU improved to 18-8 on the season.

Softball Billikens 3 Rhode Island 8 Senior infielder Alex Nickel hit two home runs, and junior infielder Alyssa Tarquinio brought in a run oﬀ a sacrifice fly, but a heavy third inning form Rhode Island put the game out of reach for the Billikens.

SPORTS

This week in sports Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

St. Louis Blues 6:30 p.m. @ Florida Panthers

Track and Field All Day, Saint Louis Billiken Invitational Baseball 6 p.m. v. Fordham

Softball 12 p.m. v. UMass 2 p.m. v. UMass Baseball 2 p.m. v. Fordham Field Hockey TBA v. Lindenwood Men’s Soccer 3 p.m. @ Missouri State

Softball 12 p.m. v. UMass Baseball 12 p.m. v. Fordham

Baseball: Clobbers Eastern Illinois Continued from Page 7

for back-to-back home runs. Their round-trippers marked the first time this season the Billikens have gone backto-back and the fourth time SLU has hit multiple home runs in a game. Meanwhile, many Billikens were eﬃcient at getting on base, as well. Redshirt senior outfielder Trent Leimkuehler went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and a RBI. The performance marked his fifth three-hit game this season and the fourth time this year he has hit multiple doubles in a game. King was also 3-for-5, with one triple and two singles. He had two runs scored and a RBI. Mahoney was the third Billiken to post the .600 batting average in the game with a 3-for-5 performance, adding a double and a single to the homer. He had two runs scored and a RBI in the game. While Acton had a strong pitching performance, the Billikens still used several pitchers in relief to finish oﬀ the game. The Billikens were strong overall while pitching, with 11 total strikeouts and only one walk issued in the nine innings of the game. More weather concerns have caused the match on Wednesday, April 5 against Bradley in Peoria, Ill. to be cancelled. However, the Billikens may just come to appreciate the extra rest, as they need to resuscitate their floundering A-10 performances. They will welcome Fordham to the Billiken Sports Center aiming to regain their footing, with the first game of the three-game series set for Friday at 6 p.m. A sweep of Fordham would put SLU back above .500 in the Atlantic 10.

Monday, April 10

Featured athlete of the week: Palazzolo finds roots in family and forgiveness By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

Saint Louis Athletics

Sophomore defender Bella Palazzolo hails from the town of Shelby Township, Michigan, just an hour outside Detroit. While she stands only at five-foot-twoinches, she is often called the “spicy Italian” by her teammates due to her fiery spirit on the field and her intense passion for life. Palazzolo is a Health Sciences major, focusing on a Physician’s Assitant track. She’s in the pre-PA club, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a representative for her team on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. The game of soccer started at the age of four for Palazzolo. “I did basketball and volleyball briefly, but soccer was always my main focus,” Palazzolo said. Soccer took center stage in her sports life once high school came around, where she played on both her club soccer team and high school team, as they were in diﬀerent seasons. Palazzolo knew SLU was the place for her almost immediately. “I was recruited and asked to come visit SLU, and I just had a good feeling

about it,” she said. “Nothing else compared. Academically and athletically, it was the place for me.” Palazzolo is primarily a left back for SLU’s women’s soccer team, and she has a dominant left foot to complement her position. Being a college athlete has played an impactful role in her life. “Playing a college sport is very, very demanding, but it’s just as rewarding,” Palazzolo said. “ In the moment, it seems impossible, but being a student athlete forces you to develop a mentality that you’re always going to make it. Quitting is not an option.” She also sits on the leadership committee for her team. “I love the team, and I’ve had people tell me how much of an impact our team culture has made. People notice it,” she said. “Being a leader on the team, it’s cool to see that people notice how much work we do behind the scenes because it all really does translate on the field. It’s really rewarding.” Oﬀ the field, Palazzolo spends a solid amount of her time as a hospice volunteer. She is primarily a companion, which entails providing company for the patients. She will do anything from watching TV with them to putting together small puzzles. “It’s rewarding in the sense that you know that the patients really need you. Hospice is not pretty, and it can be very sad. You’re providing them with a brief moment where they don’t need to think about their situation,” Palazzolo said. Another anchor in Palazzolo’s life is her family. Her parents and siblings live in America, but many of her relatives live across the ocean. “I have a huge, Ital-

Softball: Struggle succeeding in A-10 play Continued from Page 7

However, SLU found success in the second inning. Lawson homered to left center to bring in two runs, as Tarquinio earned a spot on base with a single. These runs would be the end of SLU’s oﬀensive streak in this game, as Rhode Island put the nails

Tuesday, April 11

St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 6:05 p.m. @ Washington 6:05 p.m. @ Wasington Nationals Nationals

in the coﬃn with three runs in the second inning and three more runs in the sixth inning. Tarquinio tallied two hits. Senior catcher Hailey Weavers and Buckles each tacked on hits as well. Due to the weather forecast for the April 5 game against Southern Illinois

University Carbondale, the game was postponed to April 6 at 4 p.m. in Carbondale, Ill. After the midweek matchup, SLU will host UMass after a long spell on the road. Games are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on April 8 and 12 p.m. on April 9 at Billiken Sports Center.

Billikens 2 Rhode Island 3 Senior outfielder Mackenzie Peter earned her sixth home run of the season in the fourth inning, but SLU could never gain a lead. Rhode Island led 3-1 in the fifth inning. Sophomore infielder Mackenzie Lawson earned a RBI single in the sixth inning, but it was not enough to generate a SLU comeback.

ian family. My family is very loud and very warm,” she said. “It’s a lot of laughter and a lot of accents. The food is the biggest connection I feel I have with my family in Italy, but we Facetime the relatives we have over there a lot. It’s totally stereotypical to what everyone thinks it is. However, it can be hard to be away from them knowing that I’m missing out on big family moments and not being able to share those memories with them.” Palazzolo feels her family has played a major part in the person she is today. “Something my family has taught me is that even if you’re super diﬀerent or don’t really reflect your family’s culture, my family is so forgiving,” she said. “I find myself being more like that and more accepting. At the end of the day, family is what’s going to be there. You’re going to lose friends and significant others, but your family will never leave you and never reject you. They will always support you.” After college, Palazzolo’s main focus is on her career. “I’m not really sure if I want to play soccer after college,” she said. “Right now, I am pretty career-focused, and I have a plan for professional school. My end goal right now is to be a PA in the emergency room, ideally in trauma, but I am open to anything. I want to travel a little bit, but I will go where opporunity takes me.” Palazzolo was a key member of last year’s team, who placed second in the A-10 regular season. She started almost every game and played several 90-minute spells. Palazzolo and the rest of the women’s team will be back in action in the fall.

Wednesday, April 12 St. Louis Cardinals 3:05 p.m. @ Washington Nationals

Off-season competition Women’s Soccer Billikens 1 SIUE 0 The women’s soccer team continued spring season play against SIUE on April 1. The women scored in the 32nd minute when freshman forward Alyssa Seitzer volleyed in a flighted ball from freshman midfielder Evie Lavelle. The women have won all three of their spring games so far this season. They will face Washington University on April 18, Indiana University on April 22 and the SLU women’s soccer alumni on April 23.

Men’s Soccer Billikens 0 Saint Louis Football Club 0 The men’s soccer team faced the Saint Louis Football Club on April 2 and tied after 90 minutes of play. SLU took on STLFC on March 6, winning 1-0 oﬀ a goal from freshman forward Spencer Jones. The men have three more games packed into their schedule. They will travel to Missouri State on April 8 for a 3 p.m. match. They will host Maryville on April 22 at 7 p.m. and East Central Community College on April 29 at 7 p.m.

Volleyball Billikens 2 SEMO 0 Billikens 1 Bradley 2

Track: Long distance shines Continued from Page 7

run with a time of 1:55.20. Freshman Ethan Erusha placed eighth in the triple jump with a 13.93-meter mark, and Alexander Eldridge competed in the javelin throw, earning third place with a throw of 52.98 meters. For the women, sophomore Avery Pacella tied for eighth place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.59. Up next, SLU will return to their home turf to host the Billiken Invitational at SLU Medical Center Stadium on

April 7. SLU has three more invitationals on their spring schedule. On April 14-15, they will travel to Columbia, Mo. for the Tom Botts Invitational. Overlapping that event is the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14 in Azusa, Calif. The Billiken squad will then travel to Terre Haute, Ind. to participate in the Pacesetter Invitational on April 21-22. Finally, the Billikens will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Drake Relays on April 27-29.

Billikens 2 Rhode Island 10 Rhode Island topped oﬀ the series with a six-inning victory. The Rams were ahead by seven runs by just the second inning. Sophomore infielder Mackenzie Lawson earned another home run in the competition, but this was not enough to bring SLU out of the hole. Rhode Island clinched the victory with three more runs in the sixth inning, forcing the game to an early close.

Saint Louis Athletics

HOMER: Senior Alex Nickel takes a crack at a pitch at Billiken Sports Center. The women dropped a three-game series to Rhode Island to fall to 14-16 overall.

Saint Louis Athletics

TEAM: Junior Katherine Kelly sprints in a relay at the SLU Medical Center Stadium at an invitational.

Opinions Editorials

April 6, 2017 opinion@unewsonline.com Trevor Rogan, Opinion Editor

Editorials are opinion pieces written by the Editorial Board of The University News. The editorials printed in this space represent the opinion of The University News. Commentaries and Letters to the Editor represent the opinions of the signed authors, but do not necessarily represent the opinions of The University News.

Multi-level marketing’s predatory practices There’s something about a fast track to wealth that captures the minds of Americans, especially those who have recently become adults. Paired with their lack of experience and marketable skills compared to more seasoned Americans, this desire to earn quick money makes young people susceptible to predatory business practices. Although technically conducting business in accordance with the law, multi-level marketing companies are among the agents that prey on young Americans. When high school graduates and new college students leave home, they usually receive a letter from an organization called Vector Marketing Corporation before they do so. Vector is the sales branch of Cutco Corporation, which produces kitchen accessories, especially knives. Cutco is an example of a multi-level marketing company. Multilevel marketing companies utilize a pyramid-shaped marketing strategy whereby they draw revenue from direct sales to customers and by recruiting team members to sell the product as well. Companies like Cutco encourage their “sales representatives,” who are also known as “downline distributors,” to recruit more distributors, and even go as far as seizing the numbers in their representatives’ phones to contact individuals about joining the team. The organization then distributes its products to the sales representatives—the high school students and college students that they recruit—to sell to customers. Vector attracts students

by oﬀering rates at $18 per hour for the one-hour appointments that their sales representatives hold with customers. The company also provides free “training” to the representatives, basically teaching them a sales pitch and sending them oﬀ to sell the product. Some online sources allege that Vector forces its representatives to purchase the knives from the company, which would pose a large financial burden and make selling the product all the more urgent. The company website refutes this claim, however. For people without much job experience or marketable skills, high pay is hard to pass up. However, by advertising to young people commission far above minimum wage, they are misleading them. Workers see the high commission but fail to understand that they are “contractors,” not employees. They receive no wage or salary; they are only paid for hour-

long sales presentations, and they receive no protections from legal rights of employment law provisions. Vector also does not reimburse their sales representatives for travel expenses, and because the representatives are selling the cutlery in the homes of customers, they must spend money on gas and have access to a vehicle. Unless they are depending only on customers who are nearby, which would typically be people they know, the travel expenses and opportunity cost of wasted time are high. When the sales representatives sell the products locally, they will likely be depending on the relationships that they have with neighbors, friends and family. After selling—or, according to Vector, loaning—the cutlery to their representatives, Vector endorses the sale of the products to those most personally close to their representatives. Therefore,

Vector is taking advantage of their sales representatives’ relationships. Multilevel marketing companies know that it will be easier for their representatives to sell the products to those close to them. They are deceitfully using the emotional connections that their representatives have with others to make money. For some, perhaps selling the knives is a temporary means of making money, but for most, this is unsustainable and bound to lead to trouble. Vector can have a large impact on young people who are trying to at the very least break even on their investment in the products they bought from the company. The system that the company uses encourages their workers to risk damaging the relationships they hold with people they know. The workers may hassle the customers, desperately trying to sell the product. People swept into the business model are indoctrinated by company managers and co-workers, and a pattern of groupthink emerges. Despite the reality of the situation, that the business’s practices are duplicitous, the representatives may convince themselves otherwise. For young people, working for Vector may look attractive at first, but it has the capacity to harm them. The incentive that multilevel marketing companies like Vector weigh on their student workers is insidious at all points in the process, from the too-good-to-betrue numbers oﬀered, to the financial and social burden that they place on young people. These companies may be selling a product, but they look a lot like a scam.

Students at Saint Louis University find many ways to serve their community, from weekly or even daily commitments to the St. Louis community, to service trips that take students across the country or across national borders. There are also events, such as Make a Diﬀerence Day, Showers of Service, Dance Marathon and SLU Relay for Life, that work to better the community. Although all of these events do good work in their own way, they may not necessarily be considered service. Each requires hours of planning behind the scenes, but for most SLU students who partake in these activities, they are largely one-day commitments. For service, commitment is important. Service should come in the form of continu-

al dedication to the community one is serving. The completion of a task or project in a few hours, while potentially beneficial, isn’t exactly service. One may volunteer to complete a task or project, but matters of great importance require the dedication of one’s eﬀorts over time. Unlike other ways of contributing to causes, however, service may not always leave students satisfied at the end of the day. Service is diﬃcult and at times exhausting. It challenges students and takes them out of their comfort zone. One serves others not to feel good about themselves nor to justify their place in this world, but to support the place of those around them. Ideally, people should serve out of a sense of responsibility for the welfare of others.

Because, in the case of service, students often don’t view the fruits of their labor, some individuals may be less inclined to contribute in this way. This makes understanding what constitutes service more important. It is only after long-term commitment to a cause that those who serve will create change. As SLU students, we shouldn’t view our service to the community as something that will bring us immediate satisfaction; no problem is solved in a day. We should understand that change comes from a multitude of eﬀorts and that we as individuals cannot be saviors. Tasks and projects condense the struggle too vastly. Service cannot fix communities or solve problems quickly. It requires consistent and active eﬀorts, not only once-

a-year contributions. Other forms of contributing must be distinguished from service. For example, service and philanthropy should not be confused. With that said, neither are fundamentally more important than the other. Philanthropy, which typically involves donating money to a cause that promotes human welfare, supports the activities of many groups that serve communities. Many groups would not be able to do great work without private donations. It is also important to note that not everyone may be best suited for service. Some people may lack the time to make a weekly commitment, and others may feel that they lack the necessary skills. Donations can help provide funding for

Sophie Lappe / Illustrator

Letters

to the editor The University News reserves the right not to publish any letters that are deemed intentionally and/ or inappropriately inflammatory, more than the 300word limit or unsigned by the orginal author. The following are letters and/or website comments. Because the identities of website posters cannot be verified, all website comments should be treated as anonymous. Actual letters to the editor may be submitted online at unewsonline.com or e-mailed to opinion@unewsonline.com. Please include your cell phone number.

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Quotes of the Week

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You have people who have lost a parent, a sibling...but I promise you that on Monday nights at 7 p.m. there is not a happier place than that room. Delaney Brewer, sophomore, page 1

” ” ” Understanding service at SLU

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The album [“Death of a Bachelor”] also reflects the transformation of the group as it takes a pop-rock tone with a more synthesized feel. Natalie Riopelle, Arts Editor, page 5

Slowly, however, the bookstores near my house started closing. Fiona Clair, sophomore, page10

those best equipped to help others, such as social workers, teachers or doctors. In some cases, the eﬀorts of individuals may even end up exploiting the communities they want to help. Service trips that bring U.S. citizens abroad often take away resources from marginalized populations and risk the development of a savior complex in the process, as they may leave with the belief that their actions radically shaped the lives of others. In situations like these, contributing money from afar could very well be the best way to help, as the money can then be used by those in the community to benefit others in that community. Donating money can be helpful, but donating itself does not constitute service and may lead to the false

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belief that, by giving money, they have done enough. We fear that some charitable causes may inadvertently discourage SLU students from serving the St. Louis community in other ways by focusing students’ eﬀorts solely on raising money. There is great need in the St. Louis community, and we, as students, must do better to serve that community, despite the fact that it is not easy. SLU students contribute many hours each year to community service and to raising money for worthy causes, but there is always more that we can do. We must build relationships with our St. Louis community and fully embrace our place as a part of this city, even as we learn and better ourselves on campus.

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10 April 6, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

Letter to the editor: SLU Med on probation: Understanding the Oath of Inclusion

As we approach the sixth anniversary of the launch of the Oath of Inclusion, we wanted to take the opportunity to educate our SLU community about the context of its drafting and the intent in its creation. In the fall of 2009, a number of bias incidents struck our campus. By the Spring of 2010, there were seven formal reports of racial slurs and threats of intimidation, predominantly directed at black students. Students did not feel safe on our campus. We were all there. Our community felt very divided, broken and hopeless. The pain and emotion of these injustices were far too real, and it was the responsibility of the University community to come together and take action. This was a time when SLU needed to reinstate the sense of community that defines our University and its Jesuit vision. SLU students and faculty who felt personally impacted by the bias incidents demanded that the university act by providing a student creed—a guiding document for all SLU students, establishing the expectation for all to promote diversity and inclusion as a part of our collective existence. From that demand, the Student Government Association took the initiative to develop the student creed. They extended invitations to students beyond SGA, and the group then developed several drafts of the student creed, which, after much deliberation, came to be known as the Oath of Inclusion. Ten months later, on April 19, 2011, the Oath of Inclusion was born. Of course, that was just the beginning. We all recognized that creating the Oath

of Inclusion was step one of many more. Implementing its meaning would be years in the making, and living the Oath authentically would be a never-ending journey. Our vision was to weave the Oath throughout the fabric of the entire SLU community. We knew this would require meeting with others, whether or not they were seeking change, so that its impact would remain years after the drafters left campus. To genuinely and holistically incorporate the Oath, we resorted to the unique opportunity provided at SLU: shared governance. SLU has long honored its commitment to oﬀering students a “seat at the table” in its decision-making process. By collaborating with the administration and campus partners, we coordinated and multiplied our eﬀorts to institutionalize the Oath of Inclusion. By working in partnership and starting our conversations with civility, we strategically placed ourselves in positions to help design and direct the initiatives around the Oath’s embodiment. This took the form of various initiatives: promoting intergroup dialogue courses on race and ethnicity, offering Halal dining options, adding lactation spaces for pregnant and parenting students, providing golf cart services for students with disabilities and creating interfaith and veteran awareness. Additionally, the Oath was made more visible through the installation of plaques and the distribution of buttons. Neither was intended to be “promotional,” but instead to make the Oath more accessible to all members of the SLU community. Six years later, the discus-

sion continues. Any calls to suspend the use of the Oath of Inclusion by non-students (which, by the way, seemingly includes invested alumni), or to claim that SGA has ownership of the document are misinformed of its original intent. The Oath is a living, breathing document meant for our entire SLU community. It is an expression of our expectation that all Billikens— students and non-students alike—are held to the high standards of inclusion. We can only accomplish that vision if we work together as a university community. Therefore, we call for SGA to repeal SR007-17 and allow the Oath to return to its original vision. We support SGA in attempting to hold the SLU community accountable for living out the Oath genuinely, and we recognize the process to establish a fully welcoming and inclusive community is never ending. Yet, eﬀorts to do so must be done in partnership and solidarity, recognizing the dignity in all. We cannot become exclusive in our never-ending journey to become inclusive. We must continue to work for social justice in the Saint Louis University community and beyond. This is the SLU we believe in. This is our SLU. Sincerely, Jamie James, 2009-2010 VP of Diversity and Social Justice Oscar Vazquez, 20102011 VP of Diversity and Social Justice Kripa Sreepada, 20112012 VP of Diversity and Social Justice Sean Worley, 2012-2013 VP of Diversity and Social Justic

Using psychedelics to treat mental illness

Branson Fox

Depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder: these diseases are among the most debilitating maladies known to man. You may think that everything that could be done to curb the eﬀects of these diseases has been tried, but not quite. The most radical treatments are the ones that the federal government have deemed too harmful and without any justified medical use. What if the feds got it wrong? That’s what many outspoken researchers in psychiatry ask. In fact, there are whole organizations dedicated to the radical new studies of psychedelics in therapy. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, is perhaps the largest. MAPS conducts research in MDMA and LSDassisted psychotherapies. They also conduct research using two psychedelics you have likely never heard of before: Ibogaine and Ayahuasca. Studies like these can only serve to help us better understand the eﬀects of these drugs. Arguably the most dangerous part of psychedelics is our lack of understanding. Most of what we can publicly access are stories of Erowid (a popular online illicit drug forum) users. Right now, there is no clinically accepted procedure in treating patients experiencing a “bad

trip.” As a whole, the medical community lacks knowledge about how the eﬀects of psychedelics manifest. There currently exists no indicators relating demographics to effects of psychedelics. And this is problematic, especially for psychotherapists who can’t gauge a patient’s likely reaction to a psychedelic substance. Pharmacological knowledge—that is, how drugs work chemically—is also lacking in comparison to mainstream prescription drugs and most illicit substances. Ingesting psilocybin is said to be a “transformative” and “religious” experience. Many describe the experience as creating more connections in their mind, and this description mirrors the activity that is actually occurring in the brain. In brain scans conducted while individuals are “tripping,” there is a significantly higher desegregation of brain activity than normal. In research conducted at Johns Hopkins University, psilocybin exposure resulting in “mystical experiences” was correlated with a reduction in addiction to tobacco. The results are similar for alcoholism, depression and anxiety as well. Of 51 cancer patients suﬀering from endof-life depression, 80 percent reported feeling less afraid of death after exposure to psilocybin. There have also been significant results in early testing of other psychedelics as novel antidepressants, cures for obsessivecompulsive disorder, cures for post-traumatic stress disorder and even as a cure for cocaine dependency. Even crazier is the research that suggests people feel they have more meaning and spiritual purpose in their life after only a single moderate

dose of psilocybin. This pairs well with the research that found psychedelic use to be associated with lower rates of suicidality. For all of these reasons, parts of the medical community are calling psychedelic drugs a “paradigm shift” in the way we treat mental illness. I talked to a few students on campus about their experience with “magic mushrooms.” The individuals will remain anonymous. One described the experience as giving him a “clear head, but with a confused sense of reality.” He experienced “warmth, euphoria and mild visual hallucination.” Another had a much worse experience; she remembers trying to “claw the skin oﬀ of her face.” And lastly, one gave me advice if I ever tried psilocybin: “When you peak, you gotta smoke weed man. It makes it so much better, trust me. You gotta plan the whole thing out.” He also admitted to trying LSD multiple times. Clearly, more research is needed to understand the effects and possible medicinal uses of psychedelics. Unfortunately, their Schedule I ranking makes their use in research much less accessible. The research that does exist comes only from private donors or the government. Because of the age of the drugs, they can’t be patented and therefore draw no interest from pharmaceutical companies. Schedule I drugs allegedly have no medicinal use, but there is now strong evidence to refute that. Mental illness is a public health crisis. Veteran suicide rates are immense. Homelessness is being linked to mental health at an alarming rate. At what point do we start trying the cutting edge?

Maintaining optimism

noncompliance in 20 action terms. The institution has 24 months to make necessary changes or risk losing accreditation. There is currently an elaborate, extensive plan of action in place to ensure that this does not happen. John Schaefer When I first caught wind of the probation, I felt completely and utterly dispirited. Each year, over 50,000 Although, I am not a prepre-med students reach med student and will more the top of their individual than likely never directly be a mountains through the compart of SLU Med, the probapletion of their grueling untion really hit home for me. dergraduate coursework. On I am enrolled in the six year the cusp of accomplishing all direct-admit physical therthat they have struggled and apy program, I am in class fought to achieve throughout on the med campus three their last days a week three and a and I feel half years, they be- When you have such a that I have gin the ap- tight-knit community, it is a direct rep l i c a t i o n incredibly important to relationship with the process for med main optimistic and sup- s u c c e s s e s fails c h o o l . portive through the bad, and O n l y so that the good times will ures experienced by around be that much better. SLU. With two-fif ths the expanof these sion of resiapplicants dence halls will realin the past few years and ize their dreams of entrance excitement of remodeling efupon first try into one of the forts, I felt jubilation and joy 179 institutions stationed to be a part of such a great in the United States. All of up-and-coming institution these first-class institutions and community. However, are phenomenal and surely when I hear of instances will set students up to beincluding layoﬀs, debt and come great leaders, physiprobation, it really rubs cians, researchers and so on. me the wrong way. When I After all, they are all held to chose to spend my collegiate the same pristine standard years at Saint Louis Uniand likewise meet the criteversity, I expected constant ria, right? Well, all but one— growth and development to that one just happens to be be ever present and for SLU your very own Saint Louis to continue to advance its University School of Medirank as a top jesuit institucine. tion. At this point in time, it In short, SLU Med was seems as if there has reached recently placed on probation an equilibrium between posby the Liaison Committee itive and negative events that on Medical Committee for

has placed that advancement at a standstill. Nonetheless, hope is the great equalizer in the world in which we live. Regardless of the Med School probation, there is ample reason for students such as myself to bask in the curiosity and excitement of what the future may hold, rather than dwell in anger about the facts of the past. Has SLU had a stretch of less than ideal occurrences in the last six months? Undoubtedly. Is there considerable hope for change in the future? Absolutely. It would be one thing for the students and staﬀ at SLU to hang their heads and hide in embarrassment due to recent adversity, but that is not who we are as a university. Instead, we will own our actions, or lack thereof, and make the necessary changes and adaptations moving forward to ensure that Saint Louis University can be the best version of itself moving forward into the future. Thus far, I am pleased with the transparency and inclusivity with which the University has addressed this issue, and I am impressed with how SLU plans to resolve it. Another one of the main reasons I chose SLU was for the sense of community that is present through the highs and the lows of life. When you have such a tight-knit community, it is incredibly important to remain optimistic and supportive through the bad, so that the good times will be that much better. Sidenote: According to U.S News, SLU Med is currently ranked #49 for Best Primary Care Program and #67 for Best Research Institutions.

Read a book, save a culture

Fiona Clair

When I was younger, I had a vengeful relationship with reading. I loved being read my favorite books before bed, but when it came time for me to read to myself, I lost interest. Additionally, my dad had a rule in place that my siblings and I had to read 100 pages in order to watch an hour of TV. Luckily, 10-year-old girls are very rational beings. Instead of simply reading a book for school or even a magazine (which was allowed), I usually threw a fit and refused to read at all, saving all my TV watching time for when I went to my mom’s house. I liked being the contrarian, but I also really liked watching my after-school shows, so somewhere along the way I started to actually read a few books. Something magical happened. I realized that reading was almost like watching a TV show in your mind. But my real love for reading came through the discovery of my first true book series. It wasn’t “Harry Potter,” or “Twilight,” or “The Hunger Games”; those would all come later. No, this series was the quintessential telling of what it’s like to be a girl. There was romance, sabotage, gossip, shopping and a whole lot of combatting self-esteem issues. It was thrilling, and I couldn’t get enough of it. In case you’re some sort of uncultured swine, this fabulous book series was

none other than Lisi Harrison’s “The Clique.” I wish I could be less dramatic when I say that this series changed my life, but it did. It introduced me to the wonders of falling in love with characters and traveling alongside them through good times and bad. It also led to my love of writing. I wanted to create my own world that people could escape to when their real lives got boring or sad. Reading is such an integral part of my life now that I can’t even reach the mind of the little girl who threw tantrums about reading a book. I am now a bonafide reading fanatic. I still find my niche in the sappiest of YA romance novels, but I have learned through the years that it does not really matter what you read. All that matters is that you read something. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest gadgets and technologies of today and let reading fall to the bottom of the “things to do when bored” list. Yet reading is such a personal and emotional activity that has survived throughout history. It is how our ancestors learned and how their ancestors learned before them. It links us with the past; it predicts the future; it brings us to diﬀerent worlds; it makes people immortal. My collection of books is something I can never seem to exhaust. I read and re-read my favorites so often that the pages are permanently loved with dog-ears and tears. While ethically I understand that printing books on paper has its environmental downsides, reading, for me, is a total sensory experience. I don’t think I could ever give up a real book for an e-book. I know times are changing, and

that investing in an e-reader would save me time, money and ecological footprint size, but somehow those things are lost on me the minute I walk into a bookstore. Bookstores are magical. I could search for hours and not even realize how much time has passed. Being in them always reminds me of going to Borders with my family as a kid to listen to a story-teller read children’s books. We left the house in our pajamas like the true rebels we were, and we would wander around the ginormous store weaving in and out of shelves displaying thousands of alternate realities. Bookstores quickly became my happy place, the place I could escape to and find the right world for me. Slowly, however, the bookstores near my house started closing. Borders shut down, taking our magical pajamaed evenings with it. My happy places dwindled, leaving only a few remaining solaces. I can’t help but support the few and mighty independent bookstores that are braving the good fight against technology. These businesses oﬀer culture and community to neighborhoods, spark a love for reading in children (of all ages) and preserve a longstanding history of printed books. If you’re at all sparked by this humble attempt to save the happy place of a little girl in her pajamas, I implore you: take a trip to the local bookstore. If you need more of a sign that it’s time, April 29 is Independent Bookstore Day, and four St. Louis stores— including Left Bank Books in the Central West End—are participating in a day of festivities and giveaways perfect for swaying the opinions of bookstore skeptics.

April 6, 2017

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