No. 15 (February 9, 2017) by University News

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A student voice of Saint Louis University since 1921

Vol. XCVI No. 15

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Reefer Madness: Moped Trump travel man gets nabbed for dope ban effect on SLU By WILLIAM KERNELL Associate News Editor

has begun to face many challenges from the legal community, “The ACLU (AmeriPresident Donald J. can Civil Liberties Union) Trump’s presidency, thus far, was the first to file suit and has been one of productivwas able to get a temporary ity with his authorization of restraining order on the ban, eighteen executive orders in which just ended. That case his first twelve days in oﬃce. will continue to be briefed That is still one less than the and argued.” 19 signed by his predecessor, On Friday, Feb. 3, a judge Barack Obama in 2009. from the Federal District Regardless, his actions Court of Seattle, the Hon. have been ones of heavy James Roscrutiny bart, acted from those on a reWhile courts on both quest from sides of the generally give Wa shingaisle. The ton and more latitude to the executive Minnesota political branches order signed by tempoin the immigration Jan. 27, and rarily haltcontext, this does perhaps reing pornot mean that the ceiving the tions of most news, political branches the adminis titled “Proistration’s can act with tecting the exe c utive impunity. Nation from order: its Foreign Ter- Attorney General of Washington limits on rorist Enaccepting try into The refugees United States.” The order and its 90-day limits on the upholds a Trump campaign entry of people from Sudan, promise to restrict predomiSomalia, Syria, Iraq, Yemen nantly Muslim immigrants and Iran. and refugees from entering While the Supreme the United States. Court has said that Article According to Amany II of the Constitution grants Ragab Hacking (J.D. ’97), the president the ability to an immigration attorney at address immigration and Hacking Law Practice and a former faculty member at SLU Law, the “Muslim Ban” See “Trump” on Page 3 By WILLIAM KERNELL Associate News Editor

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As temperatures toppedout in the mid-60s on Tuesday, students flocked to the quads and West Pine to enjoy the pleasant weather. There were frisbees, slacklines, dogs on leashes and even a moped. An unknown man was riding down West Pine mall on Tuesday, Feb. 7, on a red moped. The man attracted the attention of many students, with Snapchat stories making him a bit of a Tuesday afternoon celebrity. In addition to students’ attention, the Department of Public Safety received a call that the rider was selling marijuana in the quad in front of the Pius XII Memorial Library. DPS responded and apprehended the suspect near the Center for Global Citizenship. According to a DPS report, the man “was in possession of two bags containing a green leafy substance and a small pipe.” The man remained handuﬀed in front of the Samuel Cupples House, surrounded by several DPS officers, for over an hour. DPS alerted the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and waited with the suspect for them to arrive on the scene. The suspect was arrested and charged with “Misdemeanor Drug Possession and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.”

Emma Carmody / The University News

DRUG POSSESSION: An unknown male riding a red moped down West Pine was arrested for drug possession. He was found with over 35 grams of marijuana.

LeVar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow, speaks to students about importance of literacy It was dark, windy and snowing on Wednesday night when I sat down with LeVar Burton to interview him before he went onstage at 7 p.m. to speak in the Wool Ballroom. Burton lives in California and travelled to St. Louis from another appearance at a school in Texas. I made a silly comment about the weather. “I’m sorry you had to come from warm weather to this,” I joked, trying to break the ice, “It was just 65 degrees here yesterday.” He seemed surprised by this comment. He didn’t shudder or nod in agreement. “I mean it’s cold,” he said instead, “but it’s not bad.” It was with this same matter-of-fact optimism that

Burton delivered his speech, titled “Storytelling: Spoken, Written, Lived”, to SLU students and other community members. Burton was

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Storytelling has always provided for us a context of who we are. We are natural-born storytellers, human beings. I’ve spent my life developing storytelling skills. LeVar Burton

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By KRISTINA DEYONG Staff Writer

hosted by SLU’s Great Issues Committee, and his appearance was sponsored by the English department. Burton is best known for hosting the long-running show “Reading

Rainbow,” for playing Kunta Kinte in “Roots” and for playing Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” In every aspect of his career, Burton’s love of storytelling is clear. “Storytelling has always provided for us a context of who we are,” Burton said. “We are natural-born storytellers, human beings… I’ve spent my life developing storytelling skills in diﬀerent mediums: film, television, stage, spoken, written, acted out… Storytelling is the river in which I swim.” “Reading Rainbow” is the part of Burton’s career that most college-aged students will recognize, and it is the project of which he is most proud. When it began in the See “Burton” on Page 2

Emma Carmody / The University News

BURTON: Host of “Reading Rainbow” speaks to students in the Wool Ballrooms.

INSIDE SCOOP:

ARTS

Kaldi’s opens near campus

Women’s Tennis triumphs on the court

Why Betsy DeVos was a good choice

Page 5

Page 7

Page 10

SPORTS

OPINION

2 February 9, 2017

NEWS

Activist Nikki Giovanni shares experience

Emma Carmody / The University News

ACTIVISM: Nikki Giovanni speaks to a large crowd in the St. Louis Room in the BSC about her civil rights activism. She is a renowned poet and professor at Virginia Tech.

Poetry book in hand and a huge smile from ear-to-ear, civil rights activist, professor at Virginia Tech and famed poet Nikki Giovanni took to the platform in the Saint Louis Room on Feb. 2, surrounded by a racially diverse crowd of faculty and students as the keynote speaker for Black History Month. The seven-time NAACP Awards winner and Grammy nominee — named one of Oprah Winfrey’s “25 Living Legends” and “Woman of the Year” in Ebony Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, and Mademoiselle Magazine, to name a few — presented a talk discussing recent developments in foreign policy and maintaining hope despite diﬃcult times. “You have to maintain

hope because where are you going to be without hope,” Giovanni said. “You have a right to your own body […] and marriage is a sacred right. If you have a right to choose then you have a right to sit next to each other.” In discussing her right to “choose” and prevalence of segregation in her life as a child growing up in Cincinnati and attending college at Fisk University in Nashville, Giovanni read from her poem entitled “Rosa,”, who she drew a comparison with her friend Rosa Parks: “childhood remembrances are always a drag/if you’re Black/you always remember things like living in Woodlawn/with no inside toilet/ and if you become famous or something/they never talk about how happy you were to have/your mother/all to yourself and/how good the

water felt when you got your as Giovanni explained that bath.” For Giovanni, segrega“Simple Simon’s” locked its tion was an inherent way of doors, preventing police life. from forcing her out. Succeeding the poem A good way to eliminate reading, this forced Giovanni r e m o v a l acknowleven today, You have to edged the Giovanni maintain hope annivermentioned, because where sary of the is to stand Greensboro together and are you going to sit-ins as the come through be without hope, day prior – Trump. As you have a right to with a slight an African your own body [...] chuckle, she American and marriage is a explained community, it sacred right. that at that came through time “you it Dr. Nikki Giovanni, activist slavery; did what came through you could segregawhen you could.” Once the tion; and it is going to come Greensboro students sat in, through Trump. the community organized “It is going to be interthe students of Fisk Univeresting to see how our music sity to follow similarly, and, changes because every time despite opposition from the we have had to deal with police force, “God was good” something not impossible

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By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Contributor

but incredibly diﬃcult, such as this election, new music comes about,” she added. “It could possibly arise a new form of art.” In 2005, Giovanni mourned the passing of not only her mother, but also her sister Gary Ann, Aunt Ann, and friends Rosa Parks and Mrs. King. She elaborated her loss of support as unpredictable – without the strong support system she knew so well, Giovanni began to pour her emotions into her book “Acolytes,” published in 2007. “I sent my book to my editor Don Davis but didn’t want to discuss it; it was a bad time.” As Giovanni recollected on this pivotal time in her career and its impact on her writing, she drew a comparison to one of her newer releases “Chasing Utopia,” published in 2013.

“Mommy drank a beer every single day when she was alive, so I was missing Mommy – why don’t I have a beer then? I looked up the number one beer, and it turns out it’s Utopias,” she explained. Amongst Giovanni’s storytelling of retrieving the Utopias from its maker while she was on NPR, she smiled and said, “Mama was more of a Bud Light person anyway.” Giovanni frequently looked to God when she was struggling, but she believed in owning up to her own responsibilities and formulating her own aspirations. “I grew up in a Baptist church,” Giovanni said. “You asked the Lord to help give you strength, but you were on your own [to solve your own problems]. All you can do is go forward.”

Burton: Stay informed and ‘Rise the f--k up!’ Continued from Page 1

Christopher Toalson / The University News

READING RAINBOWS: Burton, who hosted his show for 21 seasons, spoke about his upbringing and its emphasis on literacy. Throughout Burton’s talk, he anecdotally told the audience about his mother and her influence. nation as our superpower and noted that it can be a source of self-fulfilling inspiration. “We carried iPads around the Enterprise before they were even invented! You think Steve Jobs wasn’t a “Star Trek” fan?” he joked. He also noted that there is a company in California that is working right now to invent the visor that his “Star Trek” character Geordi La Forge wears to subdue his blindness.

Soon, because of that inspiration, that very visor may be a reality. Burton argued that this imagination must be inspired by stories in which all kinds of children are able

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Literacy is the birthright of every single one of us. I always say, in my mother’s house, you either read a book or you were hit in the head with one. LeVar Burton

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1980s, “Reading Rainbow” was meant to bring the magic of books to television. Rather than prying kids away from the entertainment and technology that they tended to gravitate towards, “Reading Rainbow” hoped to meet those children at the television set and to bring the books to them there. Now, its newest chapter, the “Reading Rainbow Skybrary,” brings that same thing to even newer kinds of technology. Instead of television, the Skybrary is accessible via the web and available as an app. It is a digital library of interactive books accompanied by “video field trips” that call back to the educational outings aired on the original television show. According to Burton, the Skybrary is the number one educational app for Apple products. The importance of education and literacy is Burton’s chief concern. “Literacy is the birthright of every single one of us,” Burton said in his speech. He spoke extensively of his mother’s eﬀorts to encourage him to read. “I always say, in my mother’s house, you either read a book or you were hit in the head with one,” he joked. She taught him that, “because of the color of my skin, my life would be fraught with injustice and with frustration towards that injustice...but she also taught me that I had the power to overcome all of that. There were no limits on what I could accomplish in life except those that I imposed upon myself.” He spoke of the importance of instilling young children with this sense of limitlessness through the power of storytelling. He referred to humans’ ability for imagi-

to see heroes and heroines that look like them. Burton spoke of his own experience as a black man and how rarely he saw protagonists who were representative of him. “I grew up in a

time where, if we saw black people on television, we’d literally call each other,” he said. When it aired in 1977, “Roots,” a miniseries that told the story of a family of slaves descended from African Kunta Kinte, was revolutionary. “I watched as eight nights of television transformed the American consciousness,” Burton said. He praised the 2016 reboot of the series, point-

ing out that “Roots” tells a story that still needs to be told. “We will never be able to advance to our highest level of expression unless we deal with the past [of being a slaveholding nation]. And we haven’t yet. So we have to continue to tell the story until it sinks in at a deep enough level, [and] penetrates through to the consciousness of this nation suﬃciently enough to open its eyes. And its heart.” At the end of his speech, Burton took questions from the audience. Many of them corresponded to the most political parts of his speech. In his answers, Burton denounced Betsy DeVos, encouraged staying informed and stressed the importance of artists getting involved. “If you want to march, march. If you want to write, write. If you want to act, act,” he said. “Rise the f--k up!” He spoke, finally, of the dangers of ignorance and his lifelong eﬀorts to combat it. “For 34 years it has been my passion to create dangerous individuals who love the written word,” he smiled as he referenced the wellknown tagline of the end of each “Reading Rainbow” episode: “Individuals who won’t ‘take anybody’s word for it’--not even mine.” When I spoke to him before his speech, I told him how well this goal of his had been manifested in me. I watched “Reading Rainbow” nearly every day as a child. “You still reading?” he asked me. I said yes and told him that between studying English and journalism, storytelling has been the focus of my undergraduate studies. He laughed heartily and finished by saying. “It worked.”

NEWS

February 9, 2017

Let Us Introduce You: Sarah Siebels transfer: “I feel that at SLU I am encouraged to live up to my full potential every Let us introduce you day through the challenging to freshman Sarah Siebels. education and Jesuit ideals.” Siebels is from St. Louis, Since transferring, Siebspecifically Hazelwood, els has become involved in and transferred to SLU this many ways on campus. She spring from Missouri State is pledging Alpha Phi OmeUniversity. She is studyga, a service fraternity, and ing business administration is a member of SLU’s Active with a concentration in marMinds organization. Next keting. As semester of right now she wants to I feel that at SLU she does not join a sororhave a miI am encouraged ity and start nor but is an intramuto live up to my considering ral volleyball full potential communicateam. every day through tion adverSiebels the challenging tising. wants to be A f t e r education and as involved graduatJesuit ideals. as possible ing with her in many orSarah Siebels, freshman b a c h e l o r ’s ganizations degree, she so she can plans on gomeet a variety of people. ing to graduate school to She believes that expandearn her MBA. Her ideal ing one’s perspective starts career would be one that alwith interacting with new lows her to travel and not be people. One can commonly chained to a desk each day, find Siebels grabbing a bite possibly a marketing manto eat at her favorite place on ager in the sales field. campus, The Bill Grill, or sitShe chose SLU because ting in Starbucks doing her of the atmosphere, commuhomework. Siebels is excited nity and the quality of edufor the next three and a half cation. She loves the campus years here at SLU and canand how she truly feels a part not wait for what her future of the community, even as a holds.

Q&A with Sarah Siebels:

By MORGAN HOWARD Contributor

Q. What is your favorite spot in St. Louis?

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I have two favorite spots. My first favorite spot is Sioux Passage Park in Florissant. The view of the Missouri River is awesome. Also, Busch Stadium because going to the Cards game is my favorite St. Louis activity.

Q. What makes SLU unique to you?

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SLU is unique to me because the community is incredible. I have been here for less than a month and I already feel like this is where I belong. Also, the opportunities at SLU are endless. There are so many different organizations and clubs to be involved in and a variety of different programs that you can’t find at every other university.

Gaby Lawson / The University News

LUIY: Sarah Siebels is a transfer student studying business administration with a concentration in marketing.

Trump: Executive orders lead to uncertainty Continued from Page 1

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

Thursday, February 2 2:06 a.m. DRUG VIOLATION RA called dispatch, stating that while responding to a noise complaint in Eagleton Hall that they had confiscated paraphernalia from the occupants in the room. The RA took the item back to their residence, where a DPS officers met with them and took possession of it. The paraphernalia had an unknown residue in it.

Thursday, February 2 5:31 a.m. PROPERTY DAMAGE (NON-CRIMINAL)

Courtesy of the Associated Press

PRESIDENT: Within his first twelve days, President Trump has signed 8 executive orders. They have met plenty of backlash in the judiciary, adding to the confusion. versity stronger.” Louis University commuDespite Dr. Pestello’s afnity, Fred Pestello, PhD., firmation of support for president of the University members of the Univerwrote, “I want it to be abunsity whose status may be in dantly clear that Saint Louis question, University there is no supports our clear answer students, Anyone from on whether faculty, phythe seven listed they will be sicians, and countries should allowed to staﬀ from be concerned stay in the the aﬀected about their status country or countries not. Hacking and all who and should not commented are immitravel outside of that, “Anygrants, refuthe country. one from the gees, and Amany Hacking, attorney seven listed asylees or countries otherwise at should be risk; you are concerned about their status part of the SLU community. and should not travel outside You are not alone. We stand of the country.” with you. You make our Uni-

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foriegn affairs, the brief challenging the president’s order said, “While courts generally give more latitude to the political branches in the immigration context, this does not mean that the political branches can act with impunity. Federal courts have no more sacred role than protecting marginalized groups against irrational, discriminatory conduct.” The university deeply values its multicultural students, faculty and staff. David Borgmeyer, PhD., director of the Center for International Studies, sees these members of SLU as important contributors to the university’s Mission. Dr. Borgmeyer said in an email to The University News, “The many different backgrounds and origins of students, faculty, and staff, including those of Muslims, are tremendously valuable in the campus community and have directly aided the university’s efforts to be a global university and provide a world-class education at SLU.” He went on to cite the importance of the newly established minor in Middle East Studies as a valuable step toward understanding this region of the world. He noted, “Of course, not all Muslims are from the Middle East, but regardless, having perspectives from different cultures and faith traditions in class is a benefit to all SLU students - and to me as well.” In an email to the Saint

Hacking, who immigrated to the United States from Egypt as a child, has worked tirelessly for immigrant rights with her husband James Hacking (A&S ’92; J.D. ’97) at their firm in Webster Groves, MO. She went on to say, “While we don’t have family directly impacted by this ban, we do have many clients who are waiting for their fiancees, spouses, parents and children to come from these countries. Now, through no fault of their own, and after following all the rules and paying all the fees, those family members are now not able to come to America. It is sad and frustrating.”

IMMIGRANTS: Attorney Amany Hacking (left) and Dr. David Borgmeyer (right) weigh in on the issues at hand.

A student reported that their toilet was leaking all over the floor. Officers and maintenance responded and found that there were cracks in the toilet’s reservoir tank, causing the leak. A check of a room below revealed the leak had also damaged that room. Maintenance was able to stop the leaking and housekeeping also responded. The Res life was notified.

Tuesday, February 2 12:30 p.m. STEALING UNDER $500 SLU student responded to the Wool Center in reference to an email from DPS stating she could claim her bike from Earhart Hall. The student was transported to Earhart Hall, where she stated that none of the bike present was hers. Investigation by the responding Officers revealed that her bike was taken from the bike rack outside Anderson hall between 12/09/2016 at 4:00 P.M. And 1/16/2017 at 7:30 P.M... The bike was reported to be locked with a chain and not registered with DPS. Student declined to contact St. Louis Metro Police.

Tuesday, February 7 5:29 p.m. PROPERTY DAMAGE (CRIMINAL) An employee parked her black canvas top, white Jeep, on the Theresa Lot at 8:45 pm and returned at 5:29 pm and found the rear of the canvas top ripped. The victim said she did not lock the rear tailgate, which was still unlocked, but did lock both doors after parking. The passenger door was now unlocked. Nothing was missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was parked in the north center of the lot next to the alley. It is noted that the victim had a similar incident on the Theresa Lot yesterday.

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

Courtesy of Hacking Law Practice

Courtesy of Saint Louis University Libraries

4 February 9, 2017

GAMES

Games Across 1 5 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 27 28 31 32 35 36 38 40 41 43 44 46 47 48 49 51 53 54 55 58 60 64 66 69 71

“Woe is me!” Stately trees Flu source Supermarket section Navy commando Cake topper Carbon compound Pseudonym of H. H. Munro Poet’s “below” Peddle Chooses Bygone bird Kind of welder Country club ﬁgure Thick spicy stew Aquarium denizen Engine part Abysmal test score Debt instrument Dodge Jessica of Sin City Bone china name Hubbubs Nero’s instrument Hibernia Twins, e.g. (Abbr.) Cambodian coin Round Table title Allergic reaction Bake sale org. Scoundrel Card game for two Goes bad Jai ___ Stood up Gossip tidbit Chances Not quite right

20 24

21 25

38 42

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 33

1 4 4 3

39 43

53 56

31 36

60 67

61 69

1 6 7 5 3 2 7 9 9 7 3 5 1 7 5 2 8 4

63 70

72 73 74 75 76

Star in Lyra Big party Brain wave Heroic poem Old World duck

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Citrus drink Lorgnette part Cream additive Window ledge Double curve Grassland Ocean menace Spinal vertebrae rupture

9 10 11 12 15 20 22 25 26 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 37

2 6

Air hero Thailand, once Division word Turkish ofﬁcial Boot part Fall behind Three (Ital.) Holds up Helpful Contradict Type of renewal Stable color Spain’s Gulf of ___ Hacienda brick Military meal Nukes ___’easter

39 42 45 50 52 55 56 57 59 61 62 63 65 67 68 70

Bud holder Sicilian resort Fish hawk “What was ___ do?” Writer LeShan Dry riverbed Desiccated Lasso Aerobic bit Records Comic Sandler Loaﬁng Hot springs Conceit More, in Madrid Toothed tool

Farm and Ranch

Solution

6 1 8 5 4 9 7 2 3

4 3 2 1 7 8 5 6 9

5 7 9 3 2 6 8 4 1

1 4 6 8 9 2 3 7 5

7 9 3 6 1 5 4 8 2

2 8 5 7 3 4 9 1 6

8 6 1 4 5 3 2 9 7

9 5 4 2 6 7 1 3 8

3 2 7 9 8 1 6 5 4

BARN

FODDER

PLOW

BRAND

GARDEN

SCARECROW

CATTLE

GRAIN

SHEEP

COOP

HARVEST

SILO

CORRAL

HORSES

STRAW

CROPS

IRRIGATE

TRACTOR

DROUGHT

ORCHARD

WAGON

FEED

OVERALLS

WATER

FENCE

PICKUP TRUCK

WHEAT

FIELD

PIGS

WINDMILL

Arts Entertainment

February 9, 2017 arts@unewsonline.com Natalie Riopelle, Arts Editor Tom Bergan, Assoc. Arts Editor

Kaldi’s is here ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ still thrills Repertory Theatre takes on Lee classic

By JOSHUA DEVITT Staff Writer

Courtesy of Kaldi’s Coﬀee

BREWED: With its grand opening last week, Kaldi’s is sure to become a popular spot for SLU students. By CHANDANA KAMARAJ Staff Writer

Saturday Feb. 4 marked the grand opening of the newest Kaldi’s Coﬀee shop Gerhart location and the long-awaited arrival of the traditional coﬀee shop that most of us have been waiting for. I was one of the first people there Saturday morning and once I entered the shop, I couldn’t help but notice the decorative pieces and accents that were both retained from the historic building and newly added by the designers of the space. The space maintains a classy gray and black color scheme, with the original indented ceiling patterns left behind from the original Gerhart building, maintaining the historic authenticity. “The wall and ceilings were repainted,” Tim Smith, one of the managers of the Kaldi’s location, said. “Other than that, our designers crafted the space.” This was notice-

able with the added accents, such as the landscape pictures, centerpieces and detailed touches. The space has plenty of seating, including a bar table with the friendliest co-owners on the other side, which creates a hip vibe emphasized by the posh sectionals, a table that has stacked books and white and gold centerpieces to create a contemporary aesthetic. I picked up a mocha decorated with steamed milk and whipped cream in a shiny black and gold mug before I gave Smith an opportunity to elaborate on Kaldi’s story and inspiration. “Kaldi’s name comes from an Ethiopian goat herder”— probably the profession that inspired the logo— “named Kaldi who discovered coﬀee beans back in the sixth century, which is what Kaldi’s used when they started their business in the first location

A simplistic set welcomes the audience at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis with a tree, knocked over bench and dilapidated tire swing. Traveling across the back of the stage is a wall that would seem at home within the pages of “Country Living,” fading painted wood and decorative metal stars. Slowly sweeping the stage are the voices of composer and music director Michael Keck and cast members of the “Community”. The constant low hum and rhythmic words “shine on me” set the stage for hope and struggle. Jean Louise Finch (played by Lenne Klingaman) starts the reminiscent peregrination

Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, “Hidden Figures” is not only a great true story, but also a socially relevant reflection for current issues we face today. “Hidden Figures” tells the remarkable tale of three African American mathematicians at NASA, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), set in the racially-charged 1960s Space Race. Centered around three mathematicians, the movie could have easily gotten bogged down by space calculus, but director Theodore Melfi and the cast find the perfect balance of fun

Robinson (played by Terrell Donnell Sledge), a black man accused of assaulting and raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell (played by Rachel Fenton). One is apt to get caught up in a story dealing with themes of racism in the Depression-era South. Watching Sledge’s ability to hold his reserve while the complications of his plight unravel about his feet makes one awestruck. The community of singers’ articulation of steady ongoing pain and suffering is a constant reminder of the binding constraints of the black experience. When a lynch rope is tossed over a tree limb, horror penetrates See “Mockingbird” on Page 6

Courtesy of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

See “Kaldi’s” on Page 6

SCOUT: The classic novel comes to the stage in this adaptation for the Repertory Theatre’s 50th anniversary season.

‘Hidden Figures’ soars By SEAN KELSO Staff Writer

through a summer of her story. Child actors Kaylee childhood in Maycomb, AlaRyan (Scout), Ronan Ryan bama, 1935 in an adaptation (Jem) and Charlie Mathis of Harper Lee’s perennial (Dill) bear the brunt of the novel: “To Kill a Mockingtask of both amusing the aubird.” dience and reThanks to alistically livthe work and Klingaman holds ing their lives. exactitude of Scout and a unique ability to Jem’s director Risa father, stay focused and lawyer Atticus Brainin and actress KlingaFinch (played attentive to the man, this was scene without being by Jonathan the first time a Gillard Daly) obtrusive. narrator stayenters and ing on stage departs from actually added their daily adto the show instead of takventures to oﬀer words of ing away from it. Klingaman advice and to serve as moral holds a unique ability to stay compass. Otherwise the focused and attentive to the children are free to wander, scene without being obtruwreak havoc and explore sive. It is as if she is truly the world unabated. Attilearning from her past expecus becomes burdened with riences as she unravels her the task of defending Tom

and seriousness. The film also features commendable supporting performances from Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons. Taraji P. Henson does a great job as the main character, Katherine Johnson, a soft-spoken, yet brilliant mathematician working alongside other scientists to help put America into space before the Soviet Union. What really makes the movie pop, however, is the supporting performances, especially those from Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae and Kevin Costner. Spencer portrays Dorothy Vaughan, a supervisor in the segregated computing division of NASA seeking acknowledgement for all the extra duties for which she is responsible. She is the mother figure of the main trio,

adding lots of emotion and reality to illuminate the segregated nature of the 1960s. Monae had a breakthrough performance as Mary Jackson, a rambunctious engineer who always lights up the screen with jokes and fun. From the opening scene in Hampton, Virginia, you get a real sense of the segregation and tension from this era of our American history. We follow the trio on a typical day in the life: computing pertinent calculations for the space program, while being segregated in their own subpar “colored” facilities. Yet in the face of adversity and racism, these three women rose up and helped make history in such a contested period of See “Hidden Figures” on Page 6

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

BLASTOFF: The story of three African-American women who were essential to the success of the NASA expeditions of the 1960s.

Kehlani’s ‘SweetSexySavage’

Not innovative, still catchy

By SHRUTHIKA POCHAMPALLY Contributor

The release of Kehlani’s debut album, “SweetSexySavage,” brought with it high expectations and rightfully so: the female R&B artist first made waves in the music industry with her mixtape, “You Should Be Here,” featuring hits like “Unconditional” and “The Way” ft. Chance the Rapper. Kehlani’s first few successes were refreshing, reminding you of everything you loved about contemporary R&B. Known to make you feel a nostalgia towards relationships past, present and even those yet-to-exist, Kehlani delivered as promised with “SweetSexySavage.” Realistically, however, the album carries a certain repetitiveness, or lack of originality throughout – a problem that many debut albums seem to struggle with these days. Therefore, the album disappoints to a certain extent. The truth is, of the eighteen full-length songs, it feels impossible for twothirds of the album to stand out enough to even remember them by name. Songs like “Escape,” “In My Feelings” and “Too Much” unfortunately mesh and blend into one, making it hard to notice the songs for little other than a few interesting lyrics – for example, “love like a gun, it leaves me stunned” (from “In My Feelings”). The few exceptions seem to include “Distrac-

tion,” “CRZY” and “Keep On,” amongst a few others, though “Distraction” and “CRZY” are not new songs. “Piece of Mind,” “I Wanna Be” and “Get Like” also seem to hold some originality that would make them recognizable if you heard them playing on the radio, or maybe in a darkly-lit Adidas store. “Piece of Mind,” especially, distinctly feels like a song you’d listen to while getting ready on a mellow but optimistic Friday afternoon. A slight lack of originality isn’t to say that any song oﬀ Kehlani’s album won’t make

A slight lack of originality isn’t to say that any song of Kehlani’s album won’t make you want to...turn the volume up. you want to roll your windows down and turn the volume up. Similar to the sweet, but risqué vibes of Jhene Aiko and others in the genre, Kehlani continues to bring a sense of irresponsibility and carelessness to your ears – one that makes you want to make tempting decisions and adopt a faster-paced, freer-spirited lifestyle. The album starts oﬀ with an intro by poet Reyna Biddy. “My condolences to anyone who has ever lost me, and to anyone who got lost in me, or to anyone who ever took

a loss with me, my apologies for the misunderstanding, or the lack thereof,” says Biddy, with a soulfulness and intensity that sets the tone for the first few songs of the album. “Keep On” and “I Wanna Be” stand out, primarily due to having a unique beat to it that others oﬀ the album seem to miss by a mere note or two. “Hold Me By The Heart,” too, has a certain factor that lets it stand out from the rest of the album, potentially because of its slower pace. This song is one of the few that adds the “Sweet” to the predominantly “Sexy” and “Savage” parts of the album, almost sounding like it could be a riskier song oﬀ an ancient Taylor Swift album. The last song on the album – “Gangsta,” was featured in the 2016 DC Comics film, “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Cara Delevingne and Viola Davis, among others. Ending the album on an eerie and intense note, “Gangsta” was used in “Suicide Squad” while depicting the confusing romance between the Joker and Harley Quinn characters. All in all, the album provides a predictable listen, but the tunes are nonetheless as catchy and encouraging as expected from an artist like Kehlani. A few more of her songs may even be hitting the radio waves in the next few months with the soulful background beats, and strongly-opinionated lyrics that will resonate with many women.

6 February 9, 2017

K. Flay Feb. 11, 8:00 p.m. Delmar Hall The Chicago based artist blends elements of hip-hop and indie for an energetic live show.

Oscar-nominated Short Films Tivoli Theatre Get to know the pieces that are nominated for the 2017 Oscars in a lesser-expored category, short films, both live and animated.

‘Hidden Figures’ takes flight Continued from Page 5

Continued from Page 5

our country. “Hidden Figures” does a great job of setting up the vitriolic environment these woman operated in, and showing how brave and important their successes were. It also has a great mix between the women’s work at NASA and their private lives, where we see much of the fun that they share with each other and their families. As the film progresses, you really get invested in each of the characters and their individual challenges at NASA. Katherine faces racism and disdain as she is promoted to join the top group of mathematicians and engineers to develop new equations for launching the astronauts into orbit. Dorothy faces scorn from her white supervisors, who judge her work based on her race, not her obvious ability. Mary faces complications with the engineering division, which denied her the title of engineer until she took tedious courses at an all-white high school. While Melfi shows the dark history of our country, he does a great job showing our redeemable potential as well. Al Harrison ( Costner), the director of the Space Task Group that Katherine works with, is a great exam-

the laughs of the mob members. What was once an ordered and civilized society becomes ragged and marred. However, this is not the core of the story; it is the children. The children are in a fragile state of their development while their neighbors turn ghastly. They query their elders to attempt to ascertain why people they know hold the attitudes they do. Atticus gives most of the answers, however they feel incomplete. When questioned why he took the defense case, he answers, “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up high in this town.” He later offers, “There’s one thing that doesn’t apply to majority rule – that’s conscience.” The adults try to explain away their behavior, but the answer, “when you’re older…” isn’t fitting to a question such as, “What’s rape?” Perhaps the true story is that society needs to grow, not the children. If we hold prejudices that cannot be imparted verbally to children, maybe we should strike them from our minds. The play calls the adult

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

ROCKET: Praying that the launch goes oﬀ without a hitch, NASA employees crucial to the project watch on. ple of acceptance in this film. After initially being indifferent towards the unequal treatment of the many African Americans working for the space program, Al progressively changes his path towards fairness. He personally advocates for Katherine’s role in his division, even adding her to the briefings with many top oﬃcials and astronauts (John Glenn even appears in this film!). After seeing Katherine have to run across the facility to find a bathroom suitable for “colored use,” Al even goes far enough to physically break down the sign and instructs Katherine to use any bathroom she wishes. My favorite aspect of this movie was not the story,

Kaldi’s: Coffee from the block Continued from Page 5

“Something Rotten” Through Feb. 19 Fabulous Fox The outrageous comedy explores the plight of fictional Shakespeare contemporaries struggling to match his popularity.

Off Modern Through March 2 The Luminary Asking the question “In What Time Do We Live?” this exhibit is the first in a connected series at the Luminary over the next six months.

in DeMun 22 years ago,” he said. Something that makes Kaldi’s special is that each location has a diﬀerent menu. “We specifically consider the society and population of each location and craft the menu accordingly,” Smith said. Something that was added specifically to the Gerhart location is the smoothies, such as the kale, strawberry and matcha. These, I thought, were perfect for the influx of the SLU athletic students who came in this past weekend. Kaldi’s was washed out with a combination of those in SLU blue, young parents with their toddlers, professionals and the older St. Louis residents with their morning newspapers. With the bustling atmosphere, the owners of the place took time to engage in friendly chats with their new customers and passed out samples of their most unique drink, the Golden Milk Tea. “You can’t get this seasonal drink anywhere else,” Smith boasted with pride. The unique drink contains tea infused with turmeric and additional spices that provides a consistently textured and sweetened taste on the palate. Along with that, another drink that stands out on the menu is the three-part drink with espresso, water and coﬀee. Incredibly intrigued,

I made sure I didn’t leave without asking Smith about it. “They are our traditional coffees. In Italy, coffee is usually served with sparkling water, for palate cleansing after the strong taste of the rich coffee,” Smith said. Kaldi’s retained those coffee traditions and added a modern twist. “We make our own water,” Smith explained. “We take distilled water and add in our own nutrients and minerals [to create a pure taste].” Along with the water component to their three-part system, they also add whole coffee beans to accentuate the taste. In terms of traditional drinks, Smith highly recommends the Sidecar. “It’s my classic go-to,” he said. One of the aspects that makes Kaldi’s special is the state-of-the-art equipment. “We have this great La Marzacco espresso machine,” Smith said as he pointed to the shiny white box. “What’s so great about it is that it gives us the consistency of the espresso that makes the coffee memorable.” Along with these great drinks, Kaldi’s provides a variety of food, including breakfast sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, making it a perfect place to eat at any time of the day. The flavorful menu is complimented by their flexible hours consisting of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Treehouse Tower Grove South Indulge in delicious cuisine, where a variety of vegetarian fare provides some of the best meals in St. Louis.

‘Mockingbird’

Courtesy of Kaldi’s Coﬀee

ROAST: Oﬀering coﬀee brewed with care, Kaldi’s opens on the corner of Vandeventer and LaClede.

or even the incredible acting performances, but the inspirational and timeless message of inclusion. We are currently living in a very polarized America after a divisive election. “Hidden Figures” and modern America can be seen with very similar climates toward diversity, and the incredible courage shown by Katherine, Dorothy and Mary inspires us to rise up to the challenge of inclusion. As this movie depicts so brilliantly, our country operates best as an inclusive global population that values the input of all citizens, since this is what makes us truly great and capable of solving problems for the disenfranchised, the “hidden figures.”

audience to determine what, exactly, we want to impart on our children. Do we want to perpetuate a society built on degrading and violent “isms” and “phobias”? Or do we want to build and cultivate our children to live with love, honor and morality? The darkest moment of the play is when Atticus states that “In a court, all men are created equal,” because it simply has not been held true. A St. Louisan can look to the statue of Dred and Harriet Scott outside of the old courthouse to remember that freedom is for those who hold power. Jean Louise, the narrator, views the events as a telegraph from her childhood to her adult self. The message is clear: Do not let a collective perception dictate and sway your individual actions. Furthermore, you may have to follow the law, but there is nothing that says you have to respect it. This is the impetus for change. This is how all will become equal. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” runs Feb. 8 through March 5 at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

The message is clear: Do not let a collective perception dictate and sway your individual actions.

Lil Yachty, big prospects

Anton Mak / Wikimedia Commons

BUBBLE-GUM TRAP: Lil Yachty (above), the 19-year-old whose career was launched from viral tracks online, may represent the future of hip-hop. By TOM BERGAN Associate Arts Editor

The most divisive figure in hip-hop is 19 years old, has red hair and does not even consider himself a rapper. He is a “rock star” who creates “bubble-gum trap” and has admitted to not having a familiarity with two of hip-hop’s legends, Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac. This man is Lil Yachty, also known by fans as “Lil Boat,” in reference to the yacht in his name. Yachty’s songs are not too similar to the no-joke trap hits that have topped the charts as of late such as “Black Beetles” and “Bad and Boujee.” Instead his songs are filled with samples of the Rugrats theme song, the GameCube starting sound or music from Super Mario. This all further demonstrates that Yachty is more concerned with having fun with his music than abiding to societal norms within the hip-hop community. One of the many points of contention with Yachty’s music is his use of autotune and falsetto, further blurring the lines of what can be defined as hip-hop. On tracks such as “Minnesota,” in which a simple piano hook repeats throughout the song (and subconsciously gets stuck in every listener’s head for days), Yachty’s rapping more closely aligns with speaking over a beat than a

normal hip-hop flow. The same can be said about his verse on “Broccoli,” one of 2016’s biggest hits. Rhyming “mama” with “Bahamas” and a string of lines in which “rose,” “froze,” “toes” and “bows” are just two of the examples of lyrical simplicity that Yachty has seemingly chosen as his

“

I’m not a rapper; I’m an artist, and I’m more than an artist. I’m a brand.

“

What’s up in STL this week?

ARTS

Lil Yachty, rising hip-hop star

forte. And while he garners hate daily from everywhere from fellow rappers to hiphop heads across the country, Yachty claims just as many fans. He has worked with Chance the Rapper and modeled for Kanye West’s Yeezy Season Three, the latter of which is often referred to as the moment Yachty came into the national eye. It is also true that the vast majority of the younger generation of hip hop listeners look up to Yachty as one of the faces of the genre. He is the self-proclaimed “King of the Teens,” someone who can rap and represent that demographic, well, because he is still a teen

himself. It’s quite possible that the teens he reigns over share his views about certain rappers from 20 years ago being irrelevant, and yet it is that exact fact that boils the blood of many hip-hop elders. Why does any of this matter? Because Yachty might just be the young and energetic face of music that won’t fade into obscurity anytime soon, continuing his climb up hip-hop’s ladder. While artists like Soulja Boy and Chief Keef were both in similar positions to what Yachty is now and squandered their opportunities, they did not have the apparent drive for stardom that drives Yachty. In an interview with the New York Times at the end of 2016 Yachty said, “I’m not a rapper; I’m an artist, and I’m more than an artist. I’m a brand.” When a brand includes being in Sprite commercials with LeBron James, a clothing deal with Nautica (a mutual capitalization on shared aquatic names) and a debut album set for this year, it is pretty clear it is built to last. And with Yachty’s feel good music and positive influence on his listeners (he does not drink alcohol or do drugs and has said he will not rap about such subjects), the only question left to ask is: When will everyone embrace Lil Yachty with open arms?

Sports

February 9, 2017 sports@unewsonline.com Lauren Tondl, Sports Editor Vivek Gorijala, Assoc. Sports Editor

Men set Chaifetz assist record at 26 in 78-59 victory

By BOBBY STILWELL Staff Writer

Men’s Basketball hosted North Carolina A&T at Chaifetz on Saturday, Feb. 4. SLU won 78-59 in this nonconference matchup. SLU improved to 8-15 on the year with this win. SLU used an 8-1 rally late in the first half to jump ahead oﬀ a four-point lead. Junior guard Davell Roby chipped in with a 3-pointer to give SLU a 10-point lead as they headed to the locker room. North Carolina A&T rallied in the second half, coming within two points of the

lead twice. SLU answered both times. There was a 12-0 run by SLU, ignited by a Roby 3-pointer with 5:49 left. SLU got a comfortable cushion, and easily held on for the 19-point win. SLU was led by senior guard Mike Crawford, who scored 19, shooting 8-12 from the field. Roby chipped in with 18 points, shooting 6-9 from 3-point range. Junior guard Aaron Hines was one point short of a doubledouble, scoring nine with 10 assists. As a team, SLU set a See “Men” on page 8

Saint Louis Athletics

DOMINATE: Senior guard Mike Crawford goes in for a layup on Feb. 4 against North Carolina A&T.

Men sweep Quincy, fall to Oral Roberts

Women find success at Forest Park

Saint Louis Athletics

FOCUS: Sophomore Ally McKenzie keeps her eyes on the ball as she attempts a backhand in Forest Park. By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

Saint Louis University women’s tennis won three out of their four matchups this past week. SLU defeated Southeast Missouri State

CHEER

6-1, Quincy 6-0, and Lindenwood-Belleville 5-0. However, they fell in their fourth and final match against SIUE by a very close score of 4-3. Despite the negative result, the team still managed to break .500 to move to a

JEER WHO TO CHEER NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS The Patriots completed the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, 25 points, to take Super Bowl 51 to the first-ever Super Bowl overtime. Tom Brady and the Patriots completed their improbable victory after being given less than a 1 percent chance of winning, for the fifth Super Bowl of the Brady era.

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

4-3 record overall. SLU has generally been strong at home, earning all of their wins here and losing only once. It appears that early in the season, the struggles are coming away from home, as SLU is 0-2 on the road. Their travel-dominant schedule this season will be a test for the Billikens. Of their 14 remaining matches, only five will take place at Forest Park. In the weekend’s matches, senior Verginie Tchakarova, freshman Mariluz Rojo Domingo and freshman Ariana Rodriguez all posted 4-0 singles records, winning each of their matches against all four of the opponent schools. Meanwhile, senior sisters Verginie Tchakarova and Eleonore Tchakarova went a perfect 2-0 in their doubles matches. Next up for the Billikens is a Friday, Feb. 17 matchup against Dayton, which will kick oﬀ the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season. That match will take place in Dayton, Ohio. The next day, the Billikens will face oﬀ against Duquesne at the same location. Saint Louis University women’s tennis will have several opportunities to tune up for the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, as they take place in late April in Orlando, Fla.

Saint Louis University men’s tennis split a pair of matches over the weekend, with the 1-1 split giving the SLU men an overall record of 3-1. Both matches were relative blowouts. First, SLU dominated Quincy 7-0, not losing a single match and winning the doubles tournament. However, SLU then fell to Oral Roberts, 4-1, picking up only one match. Against Quincy, the difference in team strength was evident. Every single match was won in two sets. SLU junior John Nogalski defeated his opponent in two sets while only losing one game. Sophomore Oscar Pachon achieved the same result, defeating his opponent in two sets while only losing one game in his match. Meanwhile, junior David Ferragut and junior Charlie Parry also recorded 6-0 sets in their matches. However, the shoe was on the other foot when SLU played against Oral Roberts. SLU lost every singles match that they played, although both senior Paarth Dodhiawala and junior Juan Calero had unfinished matches. SLU did manage to win two out of three doubles matches, although

Saint Louis Athletics

POWER: Senior Paarth Dodhiawala rips through a strong forehand at Forest Park during a singles match. those matches were closely contested 7-6 and 7-5 affairs. Overall, SLU now has a record of 3-1 before their next matchup, which will be against Northern Illinois on Feb. 10. The match

is another home match for the Billikens, and will take place at the St. Clair Tennis Club in O’Fallon, Ill. Afterward, men’s tennis will begin their conference schedule, starting with an away match at Dayton.

FEAR WHO TO JEER PHIL JACKSON Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks’ star player, has come under fire from team president, Phil Jackson, as trade rumors over Anthony continue to swirl at Madison Square Garden. The latest twist to the tale is a swipe that Jackson took on Twitter, insinuating that Anthony couldn’t be changed as a player.

WHO TO FEAR LAMELO BALL UCLA commit LaMelo Ball, a Chino Hills High School guard, scored 92 points in a high school game. He is the brother of current UCLA star freshman Lonzo Ball. While it remains to be seen whether he can perform in the NCAA, 92 points is more than most college teams put up in an entire game.

8 February 9, 2017 Tweet of the week

@jimgeraghty Having George H.W. Bush appear was so special, Belichick almost had a facial expression.

Scores from the week Men’s Basketball Billikens 78 N. Carolina A&T 59 SLU knocked oﬀ a struggling North Carolina A&T squad for its second straight win. Senior guard led the way for the Billiken attack with 19 points, and junior guard Davell Roby sunk a career-high six 3-pointers. The victory came along with a Chaifetz Arena assists record, with a team 26 assists by the Billikens.

Billikens 55 St. Bonaventure 70 Despite a six-point lead at halftime, the Billikens were unable to put together a successful second half of play to seal their third win in a row. Junior guard Davell Roby lead the men oﬀensively with 16 points, and redshirt junior guard Aaron Hines added 12 points. The men fell to 8-16 overall and 3-8 in A-10 play.

Women’s Basketball Billikens 63 St. Joseph’s 66 The Billikens lost a close game against St. Joseph’s, falling into a second place tie with two other teams in the A-10. Kemph tallied 17 points, and Vliet and Frantz both put in 16 points. They are two games behind first-place Dayton with five games left to play.

Billikens 77 VCU 72 The Billikens pulled out another conference win, even with high pressure from the Rams in the last two minutes of the game. SLU remained composed in the final minutes of play when Frantz nailed a 3-pointer and Kemph converted on three free throws to overcome a late VCU lead.

Women’s Tennis Billikens 6 Quincy 0 Billikens 5 Lindenwood-Belleville 0 Billikens 3 SIUE 4 The Billikens went 2-1 this weekend to move above .500 on the season. SLU has won all of their home matches but are 0-2 on the road.

Men’s Tennis Billikens 7 Quincy 0 Billikens 1 Oral Roberts 4 The Billikens split their matches this weekend and are currently 3-1 for the spring season.

SPORTS

This week in sports Thursday, Feb. 9

Friday, Feb. 10

Saturday, Feb. 11

Sunday, Feb. 12

Monday, Feb. 13

St. Louis Blues Softball Softball Softball Running 4 Love 5K & 10K 6:30 p.m.@ Toronto Maple Rafter Memorial Tourna- Rafter Memorial Tourna- Rafter Memorial Tourna- 12 p.m. @ Broadway OysLeafs ment ment ment ter Bar 9 a.m. v. Morehead State 11:30 a.m. v. SC State 9 a.m. v. Austin Peay 2 p.m. v. Kennesaw State Women’s Basketball 11:30 a.m. v. Austin Men’s Tennis 12 p.m. @ St. BonavenPeay 2 p.m. v. Northern Illinois ture Men’s Basketball 7 p.m. v. Duquesne

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Men’s Basketball 7 p.m. v. Dayton

Swim/Dive Atlantic 10 Conference Championships @ Geneva, Ohio

Women split A-10 series, enter last leg of conference play By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

The women lost their third game of A-10 play against Saint Joseph’s on Feb. 3, 66-63. This ended SLU’s four-game winning streak and brought the Hawks and George Washington up to second place in conference standings with the Billikens for a three-way tie. The Bills began the game strong, taking a 14-6 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter. Junior guard Jenny Vliet tallied 10 points for the Bills, but Saint Joseph’s found a hot streak to come up hot on SLU’s heels, trailing by one point at the end of the period. The Hawks took the lead in the second quarter on the first possession, 16-15. However junior forward Maddison Gits sparked a fourpoint lead for SLU, sinking a 3-pointer to make the game 24-20, in favor of the Billikens. Again, Saint Joseph’s found an answer, taking a 28-27 lead going into halftime. SLU was not shaken up though, coming out in the third quarter with a 42-35 lead halfway through the period. Sophomore guard Jordyn Frantz put together a series of big plays, including a steal, layup and a triple. The pattern of the game persisted with a hot streak by SLU and a response from the Hawks once again. They scored 13 points to SLU’s four to take the upper hand going into the last quarter of play, 48-46. At the onset of the fourth quarter, it appeared that SLU was still keeping their head in the game. Junior guard Jackie Kemph opened the period up with a layup to tie the game at 50. However, Saint Joseph’s went on a 7-0 spurt to take a 60-53 advan-

Saint Louis Athletics

SCRAMBLE: Junior guard Jenny Vliet hits the floor with a Saint Joseph’s player to fight for a jump ball as sophomore guard Jordyn Frantz comes in for a double-team, tage. SLU fought their way back to trail by one point, 64-63, with a minute left in the game, but they could not find a way to take charge. They squandered two chances and a 3-point chance to tie in the last seconds, but they were unable to convert on the opportunity. The Bills lost, 66-63. Kemph led the squad with 17 points and six assists, moving into sixth place on SLU’s career free-throwsmade list with 303 and 14th on the school’s career points list with 1,204 after the game. Vliet tied her season high of 16 points, and Frantz also put up 16 points. Senior center Sadie Stipanovich stepped into third place on SLU’s career scoring list with 1,414 points.

Men: Drop early lead to Bonnies Continued from Page 7

Chaifetz record for assists with 26 and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line. 34 of SLU’s points were in the paint and 19 were oﬀ the bench. SLU traveled to New York for an A-10 matchup against St. Bonaventure. The Billikens carried a lead into the half, but the Bonnies rallied back in the second half. SLU lost 70-55. SLU falls to 8-16 overall and 3-8 in the A-10. SLU started its regular five (freshman forward Jalen Johnson, junior guard Davell Roby, junior guard Aaron Hines, and senior guard Mike Crawford) with a notable, last minute substitution: senior forward Reggie Agbeko started in place of freshman forward Elliott Welmer. The first few minutes of the game were all Bonnies’. They went on a 13-3 run early to take a 135. SLU rallied back a minute later with a jumper by Hines, followed by a Johnson trey. SLU took a 14-13 lead, and freshman forward Zeke Moore hit a trey of his own a minute later. This ignited a 10-0 run that gave SLU their largest lead of the game at 24-16. Sophomore center Matt Neufeld hit a jumper just as time expired in the first half to give SLU a 32-26 lead as they headed to the locker room. The Bonnies started

the second half with the ball, but failed to convert on the opening possession. However, a 5-0 SBU run brought the Bonnies within one. Roby hit a trey with 15:54 to play, igniting a 7-3 run that put SLU on top 43-36. SBU answered back with a 10-2 run of its own to take a 46-45 lead. A back-and-forth battle by both teams kept the game within one. An SBU trey by Adams with 7:34 to play ignited the 20-6 SBU run that sealed the game’s outcome. Roby led SLU with 16 points, shooting 7-17 from the field; joined by Hines, who scored 12, including three treys; and Johnson, who scored five and pulled down six rebounds. SLU scored 26 of its points in the paint, 12 off the bench, and 13 off turnovers. SLU also pulled down 31 team rebounds. In the first half, SLU shot 44.8 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the arc. SBU shot 37.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively. SLU heads back home for another A-10 matchup against Duquesne on Saturday, Feb. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Bills will host A-10 rival Dayton for a Valentine’s Day date at Chaifetz for the annual Billiken Blizzard white-out game on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. with free t-shirts for fans.

Head coach Lisa Stone was not very pleased with her team’s performance against the Hawks. “I thought we lacked a lot of energy in the first half,” she said. “It’s just disappointing to be quite honest. We did better in the second half, but we weren’t getting anything inside and didn’t shoot the ball well. The long and short of it is, we just got beat by a really good team, and it’s on us.” However, Stone and the rest of the squad are looking ahead to VCU and turning things around at Chaifetz. “We have to have a shortterm memory,” Stone said. “You control your own destiny when it comes to this time of year, and unfortunately we didn’t get it done today. We will have to get

it done on Wednesday. This time of year, it’s less about who you play and more about who outworks who. We got outworked and outplayed today.” The women hosted VCU at Chaifetz on Feb. 8 for their first rematch of the season. SLU stayed out front for the first half and emerged victorious despite a second-half spark from the Rams. The Bills won, 77-72. SLU showed they came to play in the first minutes of the game, not allowing a VCU point until three minutes into the game. With a 12-6 halfway through the quarter, VCU clawed their way back into the game to tie things up at 14 apiece with two minutes left to play. A lay-up from redshirt freshman guard Kerri McMahan

and a pair of free throws from Vliet put the Billikens in the lead at the end of the first period of play, 20-18. Stipanovich opened the second quarter for the Billikens with back-to-back layups, and Kemph finished her work with a 3-pointer to take a 27-20 lead. Frantz threw up a field goal of her own, drawing a 10-point gap from the Rams with seven minutes left in the quarter. SLU widened the gap throughout the remainder of the half, with their biggest lead at 15 points, achieved three separate times in the quarter. The teams entered the locker room with a 48-33 Billiken lead. In the first minutes of the third quarter, SLU did not show mercy. They went on a 7-2 run to set the tone and control the game. The period ended with a pair of VCU free throws to bring the game back to just a 10-point diﬀerence between the squads. SLU had the upper hand, 61-51. The Rams brought out what appeared to be a completely trasformed team in the fourth quarter. They went on an 8-0 spurt to bring the game within one basket, 61-59. The Rams took their first lead of the game, 6463, halfway into the quarter and held onto it until the last minute of play. SLU showed their experience and mental toughness when Frantz knocked down a 3-pointer to regain the lead. SLU remained disciplined on defense, not allowing another VCU basket for the rest of the game. Kemph ended the game with three free throws to take the 77-72 victory. SLU will take to the road for three of their final four regular-season games. They will face St. Bonaventure on Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. in Olean, N.Y.

Track wraps up indoor season, shatters three records By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

Saint Louis University track and field continues to improve, as the team turned in one of its finest performances of the indoor track season just two weeks before the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships are set to start. Three school records were broken by the squad, including one that had held for nearly seven years. The Saint Louis team was split between two meets. One meet was the DeNoon Invitational in Southern Illinois, while the other was the Meyo Invitational at the University of Notre Dame. Head coach Jon Bell was extremely pleased with the team performances, and is looking forward to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. “I’m very enthused by how we concluded our indoor regular season. The group that traveled to Notre Dame set three school records and had numerous PRs. The group that competed at SIUC set a lot of PRs and several seasonal bests. The coaching staff could ask for a better conclusion to the regular season. We now have two weeks to be precise with our training in preparation for the A-10 Championships,” he said. The men’s 4x400 relay

Saint Louis Athletics

TEAMWORK: Senior Griﬃn McCurren strides through his portion of a relay with baton in hand. team, composed of senior Kyle Clinkingbeard, sophomore Will Moore, junior Josh Freivogel and senior Nathan Hall, broke the school record in the event with a time of 3:17.45at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational. Meanwhile, senior Hiob Gebisso now owns the SLU school record in the 3,000-meter race, an event that he ran in 8:18.84. The 3,000-meter school record was previously set in 2011. Finally, senior Griffin

McCurren improved on his school record-setting performance in the 400 meter last week by breaking the school record in 600-meter race. He ran the 600-meter event in a time of 1:20.88. Next up for the Billikens is the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. They will be held on Feb. 18-19 in Fairfax, Va. at the home of the George Mason University Colonials.

Opinions Editorials

February 9, 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.

Does laughing at the president matter?

Laughter has power. Laughter can be uplifting or utterly crushing. Earning a laugh for a well-crafted joke can brighten your day, but being laughed at for a mistake can be discouraging. Some people take laughter aimed at them better than others, and President Donald Trump isn’t one of these people. In the most recent episode of Saturday Night Live, Melissa McCarthy portrayed Sean Spicer, the current White House press secretary. The skit, which characterized Spicer as overly aggressive and out of control, bothered the president, who allegedly “doesn’t like his people to look weak,” according to a top Trump donor. The episode of SNL also saw Alec Baldwin reprise his role as Trump, while Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was depicted as the grim reaper. SNL has hammered the Trump administration over the past few months and has earned higher ratings along the way, despite the president’s remarks about the show being “the worst of

Sophie Lappe / Illustrator NBC.” But does laughing at the president really matter? Does yielding an annoyed response on Twitter mean anything at all? Perhaps. Trump watches a lot of cable news and a lot of television in general. Few would protest against the statement “Trump has a big ego.” The man cares a lot about what is said of him and is attracted to images of grandeur. Before he was elected president, he focused his attention on building the biggest buildings. He wrote letters in gold sharpie. He hung around with supermodels. His image has been carefully crafted over the decades. To him, the Trump brand matters quite a bit. When that brand is in danger, the alarms go oﬀ in the Trump brain. The irony of Trump’s aversion to weakness, either of himself or of “his people,” is that this aversion itself is a weakness. Making fun of Trump makes him weaker, makes him more vulnerable. Perhaps in this way, SNL is

the perfect weapon against the strongest man in the world. Comedy has the ability to cut through the fog of political discourse and reach disinterested and even dispirited people. The comedic interpretation, which exaggerates and contorts the images of figures like Trump, reveals new and bolder ways of looking at events. Although Spicer did not shoot a news reporter with a water gun or confront another reporter with a podium (actions that McCarthy did while playing Spicer), these actions establish a new narrative. The audience knows this is comedy, and the show is not trying to claim the absurd behavior actually happened. But as a form of rhetoric, comedy enables SNL to reach out to viewers and say: “Look, this is how we see the world.” SNL has the platform to reach out to audiences in ways that other individuals cannot. The media will cover

SNL’s shows, and the underlying feelings of the comedy skit permeate throughout society. One perspective of Trump, a man of men with the power to change things, can be dismantled through the use of comedy. By displaying the president as an ineﬀective and silly individual in comedy skits, SNL can shape the way people think. All of this comes with one caveat, and the question again arises: Does laughing at the president really matter? And by extension does comedy, especially in the form of shows like SNL, matter? Comedy allows individuals to control the narrative, but comedy may also dissuade action. People like to view things that give them emotional validation. They feel as though watching a show represents their endorsement of a message. This relates to virtue signaling, whereby someone adopts a moral stance to enhance their social standing. When people watch shows that give them the feeling of action, they will not go out to actually protest injustice. The realm of ideas may be changed when SNL televises its skits and makes the president look like a fool. But what truly matters is that individuals act when they feel threatened, that they stand up for what they see as right. Shows like SNL make people laugh, and if that is their objective, they are achieving it. If they want to make fun of the president and ensure that he sees it, this is the president they want in oﬃce. But on the level of inspiring action, there is room for debate and room for uncertainty.

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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Storytelling has always provided for us a context of who we are. LeVar Burton, “Reading Rainbow” host, Page 1

...Betsy DeVos is a step in the right direction. Michael Willey, junior, Page 10

What are you doing this Valentine’s Day? Natalie: For Valentine’s Day I’m going to go out to eat with my bﬀ to celebrate the fact that we are strong, independent women who don’t need no man. Then I’m going to go home, put my leftovers in the fridge and rock back and forth for a few days, contemplating the inevitably of dying alone. Just kidding… I’m also going to buy some chocolate. Because treat yo’ self. Trevor: My girlfriend goes to Miami University, so I’ll probably just treat the 14th like any other day of the year. But do people in couples truly look forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day? Do couples and non-couples look at this holiday with any more indiﬀerence than the other? It’s close enough to Christmas, so I don’t feel like there’s a huge obligation to buy your significant other a gift. I guess some people go

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to some fancy restaurant, but the only thing I’ve done in celebration of Valentine’s Day is eat the candy that my parents bought me. In elementary school, we were forced to send cards with candy to everyone in the class, and then jabs would be traded among friend groups that so-and-so “like” liked so-and-so. TL;DR, Valentine’s Day is dumb. Megan H: I’m being lamesauce and going to a movie for extra credit. Then I have to write a reflection about it. Excuse me while I go weep away my feelings by watching Jews and Muslims getting persecuted. So much pain. So much heartache… *sniﬀ* I’ll be fine. Kendra R: Apart from recovering from the Valentine’s Feast that DineSlu is putting on the day before, I have no plans for V Day. It will be a

day like any other—class, club meetings, wallowing in self-pity, homework, etc. I imagine I will end the day watching a rom-com with my roommate and crying about my lack of a love life. My favorite aspect of Valentine’s Day is the day after when I can get candy from Target at a reduced price— it really makes enduring the holiday worth it. Will: Both the girl whom I often take on dates and I will be heading to our respective night classes. I believe I’ll be delving into the idea of censorship in the world of Russian politics with none other than Dr. Ellen Carnaghan and 13 other lonely hearts. One of the readings due for the night is “A Naughty Apartment.” I’m not sure if that is supposed to pan out into something sultry in our second floor McGannon classroom or was just used

as a ploy to excite my classmates….I will let you know next week. Alexis M: My Valentine’s Day plans this year will be the same as they were last year and the year before last; as Harry Potter would say, “I’ll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending that I don’t exist.” In my opinion, why should Valentine’s be more special than any other day of the year? It’s just a commercialized holiday started by Hallmark and chocolate companies in order to brainwash people into buying flowers, candies and pre-packaged love letters for their significant other. Valentine’s Day is fun and all when you’re in grade school and can swap out a regular class day for a day full of DIY boxes, cards and candy, but in the adult world it’s stressful and usually results in receiving oversized balloons from

your mom in public. Instead of one commercialized day of the year, you should acknowledge your loved ones every day. Besides, it’s more romantic to be spontaneous. The moral of the story here is don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, celebrate Galentine’s Day. Megan A: I will be spending Valentine’s day with the cutest boy ever. He’s one and a half and I babysit him every Tuesday and Thursday. I’ll do all the cooking, as he can’t reach the stove top and it will most likely be an extravagant mac and cheese dinner with a nice glass of milk. After that, we will probably watch a movie and play with some blocks. Then I will go home, go to bed and wait excitedly for next year. Lauren: This Valentine’s Day I have huge plans. I have a very special someone who has stuck by me all 365 days

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The message is clear: Do not let a collective perception dictate and sway your individual action. Joshua Devitt, senior, Page 6

of the year and truly deserves a day all about them. I’ll probably start by making a special breakfast. My Tuesdays are unfortunately very busy, so I sadly cannot plan a day filled with hearts, chocolate, oversized teddy bears, flowers or showers of compliments. But, I can promise to order an extremely large heart-shaped cheese pizza and a bag of Dove chocolates along with some flowers that will make my apartment smell nice for about five days. Then, I will end the day by checking my bank account and have #noragrets about how much money I just spent treating myself. *Insert sassy girl emoji here* Kyle: If you love someone, you should celebrate every day like it’s Valentine’s Day. So I’ll be spending this Feb. 14 like I do every day: handing out Dum-Dums and Star Wars valentines to my SO.

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10 February 9, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

Trump’s regime mirrors rise of European fascism

Tell the truth and shame the devil: Rewriting whitewashed narratives

viewed by many surrounding nations as an unconventional statesman, not as a vicious totalitarian dictator. The political gridlock caused citizens to turn to outsiders and unconventional leaders to solve issues in their government. Italy experienced a scenario similar to Germany. Coalition governments led to little action in the Italian Parliament, which provoked Italian citizens to turn to an outsider like Benito Mussolini, who had the backing of his Fascist Party. In 1922 Mussolini led a march on Rome to take over Parliament. The current king of Italy at the time, Victor Emmanuel III, could have pre-

University’s campus in 1944? I would venture to guess very few because we have been conditioned to remember the names of white men with vague feelings of compassion towards black people, but we do not bother to learn the names and stories of those who actually experienced discrimination at the hands of our university. As we celebrate Black History Month, we must understand that Occupy SLU was not the first time the campus was occupied. In 1969, The Association of Black Collegiates, which would later become BSA, occupied President Reinert’s oﬃce demanding a Black Studies department and many of the same demands we would later see during the 2014 occupation. As we acknowledge our university’s checkered past, we must resist the urge to first credit the University for any progress black folks have made. The establishment of BSA, the addition of seats on SGA for BSA senators, the space we now have

Michael Tettambel

The Trump administration’s rise to power is looking a lot like the rise of fascist regimes in Western Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. Perhaps this is a bold comparison, but after a few weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, one may notice that the current political climate in the capital and in the states resembles that of postWorld War I Europe, more specifically Italy and Germany. From the presidential race to inauguration day, and through his first few weeks in oﬃce, similarities have surfaced that give reason to fear this new administration. The rise of fascism in post-WWI Europe in Italy and Germany share common themes. Both nations saw a period of political gridlock following the Great War. The main factor contributing to this gridlock was the rise of coalition governments battling for control in national parliaments. In Germany, multiple parties were striving for majority control. One of those parties was the German Worker’s Party, or the NSDAP, which was more commonly referred to as the Nazi Party. The growth of this party along with the rise of the infamous Adolf Hitler was ascribed to the gridlock previously stated. Citizens of Germany turned to an outsider, the NSDAP, to solve this gridlock. Hitler was

It is important that we as citizens let our voice ring out, that we stand for what is right. vented Mussolini’s march and taken over Parliament, yet he decided not to take action. The king took note of the political gridlock and perceived that Mussolini was a viable option to shuﬄe their national government. Once again, you see citizens turn towards outsiders and unconventional candidates to run political oﬃces. Today, we can see how these regimes of the past took power, how they grew from discontent. We can see that, in 2016, the same forces that brought about Trump brought about the fascist leaders of the years between the First and Second World Wars. The 2016 presiden-

tial election allowed many unconventional candidates and outsiders to enter the political atmosphere. Candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Trump and even Hillary Clinton were seen as unconventional presidential picks, regardless of one’s political alignment. The first days of Trump’s presidency are reminiscent of a fascist regime. Kellyanne Conway reinforced this when referring to Sean Spicer’s false statements on Trump’s inauguration attendance as alternative facts. Calling falsehoods alternative facts shows a regime that is trying to shape the way their citizens think. Moreover, during a press conference Trump called a CNN news reporter “fake news” and would not take any questions. Refusing questions from a viable, albeit somewhat biased, news source also points to a totalitarian government style. Furthermore, the travel ban on certain citizens from Middle Eastern countries looks similar to racial ideologies that were revered in post-World War I Europe. This ban promotes the ideal of “Trump’s America.” It embodies a type of nationalism that parallels the ideologies that allowed for atrocities to be committed during the Second World War. It fuels the idea that the only desired race or culture is White America. It is important that we as citizens let our voice ring out, that we stand for what is right. We cannot let history repeat itself and follow a government that is reminiscent of those who have committed war crimes and atrocities. We need to learn from the past.

Noelle Janak

Allegedly, in honor of the first day of Black History Month, a member of the newly elected administration tweeted an acknowledgement about Abraham Lincoln’s decision to submit the 13th Amendment, thus ending slavery. While there are many historical inaccuracies within this particular elected oﬃcial’s attempt to pander black support, this tweet teaches us the importance of writing our own narratives. Just last week, Black Student Alliance celebrated the opening of our new space in the Busch Student Center. Quickly, some went to thank members of the SLU administration. While I understand this move and appreciate the funding provided by university oﬃcials, we must not forget our history. BSA once had a space in the BSC, where the current Student Government Association office is, but was moved, along with other cultural organizations, to a closet in the Center for Global Citizenship. Only through years of resistance and an occupation of the University, did we regain our space. Similarly, some this Black History Month may be quick to call out the name of Father Heithaus, whom the university presents as the integrator of SLU, but how many know the names of the black students who demanded to be educated on Saint Louis

Despite concerns, Betsy DeVos is a breath of fresh air for choice advocates

Michael Willey

Perhaps one could be forgiven for thinking Tuesday’s confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary marked a dark turn for America’s over 50 million students. After all, Senate Democrats spent Monday night taking turns denouncing Mrs. DeVos as being an out-of-touch billionaire historically unqualified for the position. Republican senators found themselves inundated with phone calls from angry constituents. The outcry even persuaded two Republicans to cross the aisle, with Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska stating that Mrs. DeVos was “so immersed in the push for vouchers, that she may be unaware of what actually is successful within the public schools, and also what is broken and how to fix them.” But is all this doom and gloom really warranted? Short answer: no. For while it is diﬃcult to deny legitimate concerns about Mrs. DeVos’s lack of experience and Washington insider status, the real reason Mrs. DeVos has been the subject of so much criticism has been on account of her commitment to expanding choice in education, or, in other words, a commitment to the idea that parents should be free to make decisions about where their children go to school. It is nothing short of remarkable in a country founded on classical liberal

principles that such a liberty-centric idea should be the subject of so much vitriol. Nevertheless, one often hears the all too common refrain that public schools represent the bedrock of American democracy, and that any move away from state-provided education is a move towards disaster. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, summed up the view of the education establishment when she said that Mrs. DeVos “shows an antipathy for public schools, a fullthrottled embrace of private, for-profit alternatives, and a lack of basic understanding of what children need to succeed in school.” And make no mistake, Mrs. Weingarten, the teachers’ union she represents, and others like her are a part of the education establishment. Indeed, in the midst of a whirlwind of criticism about Mrs. DeVos’s GOP connections, it has hardly been noted that the largest and loudest voice of opposition has come from powerful teachers’ unions, a major voice in the Democratic Party, that see any change to the status quo as a threat to their influence. And what is it that these groups think they are defending anyway? What is it that children need to succeed in school that school choice advocates simply don’t understand? Surely they can’t be defending a public school system that has seen American students remain stagnant in performance since the 1970s, falling behind in international comparisons, all while spending per pupil has more than doubled in constant dollars. Surely they can’t be defending a system that continues to fail the poor and most vulnerable, where the status quo has meant that your street ad-

dress determines your child’s sents an existential threat opportunity. Of course Mrs. to intellectual diversity and Weingarten and like-minded self-determination for one’s people would hardly want us self and one’s children. to characterize public educaUnder Betsy DeVos, tion on account of its many America’s education system failures, and instead point to can work towards strengthpublic schools as “the places ening autonomy, diversity where we prepare the naand choice. By pursuing the tion’s young people…to conuse of vouchers, tax credits tribute. They are where we and other choice-enabling forge a common culture out policies, Mrs. DeVos can of America’s rich diversity.” make a positive impact in the Never minding the delives of students. One need batable thesis that public only look at Florida, which schools effectively prepare used its tax credit program young people to contribute, to extend scholarships to the idea that public schools 92,000 students last year, ought to forge a common the overwhelming majorculture out of America’s rich ity of whom were Africandiversity—while seeming inAmericans and Hispanics nocuous—ought to set off living near the poverty line. warning bells. After all, what While some have expressed could be more opposed to concern that over 70 percent liberty than of these the prosfunds went pect of the Under Betsy DeVos, to religious state beit education schools, ing the sole America’s is worth provider of system can work to- noting that education, wards of strengthening billions teaching a tax dollars curriculum autonomy, diversity and go to reliover which gious instichoice. parents tutions at have limthe college ited influlevel each ence? Catholics, and other year, including federal grants minorities, should be well and student loans, without aware of the threat such which religious universities a system poses, as public such as SLU would be unafschools were often used by fordable to all but the very a majority Protestant nation rich. to evangelize Catholic chilObjections to school dren in the 19th and 20th choice along these lines, centuries in pursuit of forgtherefore, amount to little ing “a common culture out more than hand waving. of America’s rich diversity.” The bottom line remains Perhaps one will argue that better outcomes are that things are different toachieved when the school day, that a new era of tolerone attends is not purely a ance and acceptance has relfunction of one’s zip code, egated abuses of the public to say nothing of the basic school system to the history right of parents to raise their books. Such a thesis, howevchildren in accord with their er, seems dubious in the exown culture and values. Intreme, and hardly addresses sofar as she works to make the central issue: that a pubchoice a reality for Amerilic monopoly on education, can families, Betsy DeVos is by its very existence, reprea step in the right direction.

...we must resist the urge to first credit the University for any progress black folks have made. and the black house we used to have, all came from the dedicated resistance and efforts of young black scholars simply looking to get an education and feel supported by our university. We must not forget the names of Brittany Kendrick, Alisha Sonnier, Henry Schmandt, Felicia Stevens Alexander, Shirley

Smith, Monica Frazer, Romona Taylor-Williams, Jonathan Pulphus, Etefia Umana, Stefan Bradley, Talal Ahmad and many other black students and community members who changed the fabric of this university. This Black History Month we must acknowledge that black people first appeared on Saint Louis University’s campus as enslaved people and still are overwhelmingly represented in food services and janitorial services. We thank Miss Mae, Miss D in the CGC Café and Calvin in Fusz, and we must ask why black students are still asking for fair pay of these individuals, rectification of questionable firing practices like that in the case of former worker Steve Wong and better representation of black people on this campus as a whole. This Black History Month we must question how a SLU student can complete their entire undergraduate career and never read a black author. We must ask these questions and many more this Black History Month, and if we do not, we may end up believing fictional accounts of black history on SLU’s campus that position a non-existent white savior at the forefront. I am grateful for all who have helped me, for all who learn our true history on this campus. One such opportunity is the viewing of Etefia Umana’s keynote address, available on YouTube, from the Race, Faith, and Justice Conference. I hope, as we all pay homage to the sacrifices and achievements of black individuals this month, we lean into our discomfort and discover the black hidden figures of our history hiding in plain sight.

The American system lacks representation

Trevor Rogan

Since the dawn of our democratic experiment, U.S. citizens have been concerned with representation. I’m sure you know the slogan “no taxation without representation.” So why are we using a system that doesn’t give every citizen an equal voice? Let’s start with the ageold punching bag: the Electoral College. This rusty, old electoral method, which was originally a means for political elites to prevent the victory of a demagogue, has become obsolete. Very few electors cast their votes differently from the way the people voted, and in this regard, the system has become more democratic than the founders intended it to be. The founders wanted political elites to filter the choices of the people, but it has become customary for electors to obey the public’s choices. The Electoral College has been hugely problematic, however, because it can produce a winner who did not win the popular vote. This problem has been extremely pertinent in the last few election cycles. Two of the last five presidential elections produced victors who did not win the popular vote. Although a big problem with our electoral system is owed to the founders’ decision to make elections winner-take-all, which allows candidates to receive all of the votes of a state even by the slimmest of margins, perhaps a bigger problem

is the fact that the founders chose to represent the states instead of the people. Our country has a bicameral legislature—a House of Representatives based on each state’s population and a Senate composed of two senators from each state. Each state’s contribution to the Electoral College is the sum of the members of the House of Representatives and the two senators each state receives. Each state receives at least one representative, no matter the population. The Senate is the main reason why our electoral system is so undemocratic. States with smaller populations have the same power in the Senate as more populous states despite having far fewer people. The votes of people in low population states like North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming matter more, proportionally, than the votes of people in high population states like California and Texas. Another topic of high concern is the status of Puerto Rico. People that live in Puerto Rico are American citizens. They can be drafted to serve in the military and have done so before. Around 20,000 Puerto Ricans were drafted to serve in the First World War. And yet, they cannot vote in federal elections. The absurdity of it all reaches a tipping point when one realizes that the population of Puerto Rico is over 3.5 million, more than six times as many people that live in the state of Wyoming. To wrap it up: the Senate is inherently undemocratic, and Puerto Rico should become a state or at the very least receive representation in federal elections. It’s a glim outlook, though, for why would low population states give up the disproportionate power they receive?

February 9, 2017

What is life without love? Vakentine’s Day is a chance to show how much we care, and the University News is happy to help in that endeavor. In 1985, SLU students sent in Valentine classifieds to profess their love for one another to the entire campus. See if any of these warm your heart.

Design by Megan Anthony

Attention Class of 2017: Are you tired of not having an answer to the question everyone is asking: “What are you doing after graduation?” If you want an experience few of your fellow graduates will have, you should apply to teach at Xavier High School in Micronesia! Come work to further Jesuit education in the Pacific, and answer a much more important question: “How are you going to use your SLU education to serve people who need it most?” If you’re interested in doing something important with your life after your time at SLU is over, email Xavier’s president, Fr. Dennis Baker, S.J. at dennisbaker@jesuits.net.

Facebook: @XavierMicronesia Instagram: @XavierMicronesia

February 9, 2017

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