No. 10 (Feb. 14, 2019)

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VOL. XCVIII No. 10 / February 14, 2019

THE UNIVERSITY NEWS

SILENCE

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N O I S S E R OPP

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Builds BRIDGES

Cover Design by Rebecca LiVigni

NEWS

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DE KLERK APPEARANCE SPARKS CONTROVERSY

(Emma Carmody/The University News)

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Editor-in-Chief ilence is oppression. By not speaking out against misogyny, white supremacy or racial segregation—to name a few—one perpetuates the stigma. Translated as “apartness,” the Afrikaan word apartheid bears a heavy weight on South African culture. Also associated with its political and economic segregation is former South African President F.W. de Klerk.

On Wednesday, the Great Issues Committee invited de Klerk to speak at Saint Louis University. His talk was held at 7 p.m. in the Wool Ballrooms, but unlike other events held in the space, it was relatively empty. Nearly three-quarters of the students who chose to attend wore red in solidarity of the blood shed by apartheid victims. SLU black student groups did not associate de Klerk with his hand in ending apartheid with Nelson Mandela. Rather, they spoke out against his lack of voice in stopping its regime for nearly 20 years, which he played a role in perpetuating, as an elected official of the National Party.

“He tried to end his own regime that he started,” Black Student Alliance member Jamila Jackson said. “[De Klerk] was the problem because

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he arranged for people to be killed. His officers who worked under him killed black people, and he stopped it, which, I guess, was good, but he started it in a sense. He took Nelson Mandela out of jail, but he put him there.”

Jackson was one of several students who questioned de Klerk during the Q&A session of his talk, and who wished he would have addressed his time in power to a greater extent. De Klerk spoke about the benefits of globalization with spurts of historical facts on communist Russia, climate change and the U.S. as a superpower. There was no mention of his time in office as he explained that he “has been speaking in more than 35 of the 50 states of the United States since [his] retirement.” De Klerk addressed how the world is currently in a crisis, which, he saw, warranted more room for dialogue.

Grappling with de Klerk’s paradoxical nature as both a president under the apartheid and abolisher of the regime, students—both of color and Caucasian—have tried to reconcile his intentions. Should he be recognized for embracing the white superiority complex as an individual who

benefited from apartheid, or as someone who was a product of his society and tried to transition away from his father’s ideals as a former minister?

“I grew up in an era when apartheid was a policy in South Africa,” de Klerk said. “Later in my life as a minister before I became president, I repealed many laws which my father has put on the statute book. It was a hope transition for me. One must look at history in eras: You had in America the era of racial discrimination, which was acceptable and practiced widely, especially in the South.

Likewise, we had the same situation in South Africa.”

As minister in the National Party, de Klerk realized apartheid was corrupt and that the injustices brought by it were morally unacceptable. He is referred to as the “last apartheid president,” but de Klerk argued that he should have a different narrative: one which highlights the 100 apartheid laws that he repealed and, regrettably, the “too slow of a process of reform.”

Maybe he would have been better received by the SLU community if his speech did not fall on Black History Month. Black students and faculty previously expressed concern with de Klerk’s attendance, but they perceived his presence as a slap in the face, especially during a month that was supposed to honor their heritage, said BSA member Nina Oforji.

GIC has previously collaborated with BSA on which guest speakers they feel align well with Black History Month. In 2017, poet and Civil Rights Activist Nikki Giovanni spoke about her relationship with Rosa Parks and her role in advocating for the black community.

De Klerk did address his long relationship with Nelson Mandela and how they both worked to overcome tensions to reach the goal of ending racial separation.

“To help us find a resolution to this problem, we would talk together, we would work together, we would rise above those tensions,” de Klerk said.

“We worked together for the sake of South Africa.

It is a relationship that developed through tensions and through conflicts.

Nelson Mandela was prepared to talk to me after 27 years in jail. He showed a remarkable lack of bitterness. If he could talk to me, surely students could listen to me.”

“Nelson Mandela was prepared to talk to me after 27 years in jail. He showed a remarkable lack of bitterness.”

03 News SLU STEPS UP AS GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN

By SAVANAH SEYER Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of Emma Carmody

SLU STUDENTS PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

By TANNOCK BLAIR Associate News Editor tudents were invited to Chaifetz School of Business on Wednesday, Feb. 1 to attend Make Me An Adult.

The event was intended to prepare students for life after college and was organized by Delta Sigma Pi in association with US Bank.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Anheuser Busch Auditorium, students were introduced to all of the speakers and then welcomed to visit whomever they wanted to hear speak in designated rooms throughout the building.

The speakers were a number of local professionals provided by US Bank, who all spoke on various topics including Retirement Saving Account Strategies, Basic Budgeting & Saving, How to Pay Less in Taxes (Legally) and Paying Off Student Loans.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Nearly 65 percent of students do not prepare for their future after college and they find a lifetime of digging out debt and staying away from future financial success.”

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The two student co-planners of the event were Marissa Oxendine and Charles Elliott.

Oxendine is a first-year International Business and Marketing student who joined Delta Sigma Pi at the recommendation of her older sister. Elliott is a senior Economics major who joined the professional fraternity for its networking potential.

“The premise of the event is learning the financial and adulting skills that the classroom doesn’t teach you,” said Oxendine. She went on to stress that the event is not just for Business School students. “We realize that most majors will not get a chance to learn these valuable life skills in a classroom setting. We want to bring the classroom to them.”

According to Elliott, there are often many small and technical details that graduates easily miss. “For example, it hurts your credit if you consistently spend a large fraction of the credit available on your credit card,” he said.

“That’s something you wouldn’t know if you didn’t speak to an expert.”

Both co-planners welcome students or interested parties to email dsp.slu@gmail.com for further inquiries into Make Me An Adult or Delta Sigma Pi.

t the end of December, the longest government shutdown in American history began due to disagreements between Congress and the White House over border security. The shutdown lasted over a month and during that time federal workers were unable to receive their salaries.

Federal workers were either unable to work at all or were forced to work without pay, as was the case for many TSA agents. This affected families all over the country, including those here in St. Louis.

Without salaries coming in, many students at SLU were affected financially. Some students found themselves unable to pay their tuition or pay off loans.

When the financial services office heard from a few students about the situation, they knew they had to help by implementing its “disaster emergency plan.”

Financial services offered a few types of assistance to affected students. They extended deadlines and worked with students to find a payment schedule that would work for them. The office offered loans to students for essential living items and made it possible for students to charge their textbook/school supplies fees at the bookstore. Campus Ministry and Billiken Bounty also stepped in to help as well, offering counseling, other monetary assistance and offering clothing and food to students in need. The office also worked with students to make sure they were not affected by a delay in IRS documents that are required to process student loans.

This is not the only time

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that financial services have assisted students in their financial needs. The office has a reputation for helping students facing family financial issues and veteran students that rely on government funds to help pay their tuition.

Cari Wickliffe, assistant VP and director of financial services, said that they did not expect the problems to be fixed immediately by the government’s opening, and that financial services would continue to help students whose families were facing financial hardship after the shutdown.

Financial services may find themselves continuing this policy further into the semester, as another government shutdown could be on the horizon. If President Trump does not sign a compromise bill by Friday, the government could be shut down again. The new bill, which is supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, offers President Trump money for some “border fencing and immigration detention” but it does not quite offer as much money as he originally wanted. The disagreement over border security measures and money for a wall at the southern border is what kept President Trump from signing the original bill back in December and caused the government to shut down.

If the bill isn’t signed

by Friday the same families who were affected by the shutdown last month could be financially impacted again, for the second time this year. In the midst of uncertainty it is hard for students to focus on their schoolwork and responsibilities. Wickliffe said that SLU financial services recognizes this and that it is “part of their mission” to help students be able to focus on their education, and that they would be there to help students with their financial burdens.

NEWS SLU BIOLOGIST SELECTED FOR EPA COUNCIL POSITION

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Photo by Ellen Hutti for University Communications

SAVANAH’S

SGA UPDATE FEB. 06, 2019 Legislation passed:

KSLU was provided Spot Funding for travel to

the upcoming South by Southwest conference.

Her Campus was charted as a Chartered Student Organization.

HALO was provided with Wellness funding. crease water quality,” he said. “The work I’ve

By CONOR DORN done has a good linkage between social sysStaff Writer tems, environmental systems and biological systems, trying to link those three together.”

Knouft’s appointment comes at an t the end of January, SLU bi- incredibly volatile time in current debates ologist Jason Knouft, Ph.D. over environmental policy. For better or was chosen to serve on the worse, the Trump administration has taken National Advisory Council a decidedly hostile—and at times overtly anfor Environmental Policy tagonistic—posture towards the EPA and its and Technology, or NACPET. related entities.

The NACPET was founded in 1988 to President Trump’s choice for adminprovide independent advice to the Environ- istrator of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, had spent his mental Protection Agency. The council deals career as a self-described “advocate against with a broad range of environmental polithe EPA’s activist agenda” which alongside cies, with a primary focus on environmental his inexperience in the field and troubling technology and management. financial ties to the fossil fuel industry made

Knouft will serve with other memhis nomination a controversial one. Pruitt bers of academia, but as the EPA looks to resigned in July 2018 after intense scrutiny the NACPET for “broad points of view from and an ongoing ethics scandal, exacerbating a diverse range of interest groups,” he will also work alongside representatives from an already chaotic situation.

Nevertheless, Knouft and his colthe business and industrial sector, various leagues will be asked to step up and deal non-governmental organizations and state with the chaos. Beyond the controversial and local government officials. appointments and budget cuts, the Trump

Regarding Knouft’s duties, he and administration has broached a number of his colleagues will be approached by the EPA environmental policy changes, both realized during important junctions and be asked to and anticipated.

Many of the policy changes give opinions on a variety of pressing enproposed seek to discard Obama-era policies vironmental issues. Each advisor brings a aimed at limiting pollution and reversing cliunique background with specific strengths mate change.

It is the job of NACPET to proand specialties, which will inform the opinvide quick and balanced responses to these ion of the council. continually evolving policy changes.

For Knouft, years of research expeKnouft, however, stressed the imporrience studying fresh-water systems, among tance of resisting the temptation to reduce other areas of biology, will allow him to proour current dialogue down to partisan polivide crucial insight on some of the most crittics.

“What is particularly important, rather ical issues of the day. than focusing on political polarization, is to

He credits his time at SLU for prehave scientifically based reasoning coming paring him to serve in his role on the council. into management of our resources,” he said.

“We deal with the impact of climate change “Having a scientific perspective is what is on water resources, how agricultural practiccritical to reasonable use and management es impact water quality, urbanization, how of our environmental systems.”

He accenturoad salt influences fresh water systems, how ated the unbiased properties of science, statmuch people are willing to pay in taxes to in-

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FEB. 13, 2019 Chet Gillis, Ph.D. SLU’s Interim Provost gave a presentation on his role at the University and took questions from the senators. ing that “the goal of science is not to take a side, but to present unbiased information, in this case about human interaction with the planet.”

The importance of NACPET’s role in American environmental policy cannot be understated. For Knouft the dialogue between policy makers, climate and environment experts and the public is “absolutely critical” to creating sensible environmental legislation. The experts in the EPA, NACPET and other advisory bodies must process the complexity of the science behind climate change and other pressing environmental challenges in order to work alongside government officials to produce public policy which is both reasonable and productive.

Knouft is perfectly equipped to handle this facet of the position, as much of his research focuses on the intersection between social systems and biological or ecological systems. For instance, he has engaged in research which seeks to assess how much the American public is willing to pay in taxes to increase water quality. Projects like this mean that Knouft is already experienced in viewing environmental issues through a public policy framework, a skill that will undoubtedly be utilized in his advisory role.

As Knouft prepares to undertake the new responsibilities that accompany his appointment, he does so with a clear understanding of his duties and the challenges he will face. He is “extremely flattered” to be chosen, but beyond the general pride associated with the accomplishment, he is above all eager to make a “positive and tangible impact” on the United States and its environmental policy.

News

05 Illustration Courtesy of Ashlee Kothenbeutel

DPS REPORTS

SLU’S CAMPUS LACKS DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

By RILEY MACK News Editor

“I

magine a student who has primarily a mobility disability trying to get somewhere that has food on a super icy day,” said junior Samantha Moore.

“If they were to slip and fall, that would be really embarrassing for that student,” and “a real challenge of trying to find someone to help you get up and get to your destination safely.”

This could be the unfortunate reality for many students with disabilities on SLU’s campus.

However, icy sidewalks during the winter are not the only thing that these students must worry about on a daily basis—some issues may even be under SLU’s jurisdiction.

While SLU boasts that they are “committed to maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment across all of its campuses” in their Americans with Disabilities Act Policy, some do not believe that this is a realistic reflection of campus.

Majoring in special education, Moore is one of the students who sees the flaws in SLU’s campus accommodations.

“There are multiple ways that we could improve how we structure the buildings at SLU,”

Moore said. Specifically, she finds issues with the lack of handicapped doors, housing accommodations and outdated buildings on campus.

These are often obstacles that junior Rene Runions must face, a wheelchair user whose voice is frequently unheard when it comes to demanding change for students with disabilities like herself.

“I can only speak from being a wheelchair user perspective, but several buildings, such as the lower [level] of the BSC, Postal Office and Starbucks” are not easily accessible for her. “I’ve tried getting these accessible buttons for the past 2 years I’ve attended SLU” said Runions.

Moore also said that the disability entrances of campus buildings require students to go “in a completely different way than other students do and that can be a major hassle, causing you to take more time to get to certain places than could be unnecessary.” While this aggravates Moore, she finds a specific problem with the way that students with disabilities must enter lecture halls.

In one of her lectures, a student had to take the elevator to the bottom floor, enter with the professor before class, sit in the front row, then make sure to leave with the professor so they didn’t get stuck at the bottom of the lecture hall after class.

“What if they don’t want

to sit in the front? Where is their choice in the matter?” said Moore.

Although SLU administration advertises how old many of the buildings on campus are, this is unfortunately reflected in their out-of-date disability accommodations as well. Even with the newer additions to SLU’s campus, like Grand and Spring Hall, there are still areas that are lacking.

With Moore’s sophomore year roommate being handicapped, she thought it was necessary for Housing and Residential Life to account for how much room a person may need with their disability—but even the new dorms couldn’t cut it.

“I lived in Grand Hall last year which was big and beautiful, and we lived in an accessible room, however, there sometimes can be a lot of equipment that comes with someone’s disability and sometimes it’s hard to find places to put everything,” she said.

For Moore, it becomes hard to feel school pride for a campus that excludes those with disabilities. “I know as a special education major specifically, I am very attuned to what areas are not accessible… you see that there are a lot of things that are off limits, which they shouldn’t be,” she said.

While conditions on SLU’s campus may be livable for students with disabilities, it is more difficult than it could be for a group that is already at a disadvantage mobility-wise.

Even if students are not going into a special education field like Moore, the hope is that the entire SLU community take into account how much more difficult life on campus could be for those with a disability. Hopefully, this

A student DJ working for KSLU reported a stolen wallet from a desktop in the KSLU studio on Feb. 3 at 4:07 p.m. The student left the wallet unattended between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. There was another student in the room when the student left, but the victim refused to identify them.

On Feb. 6, at 8:55 p.m. DPS officers were alerted of an auto theft after a student going to the library was stopped at the Pius Loop by a suspect who displayed a handgun tucked into their waist band.

She complied with the assailants demand for her to drop her keys which he proceeded to scoop up and rush towards her vehicle. He was joined by four other suspects, before driving west down Lindell.

SLPD responded and filed a report.

At 12:50 p.m. on Feb. 12, a suspect wearing white tennis shoes and blue jean jacket approached a SLU Faculty member from behind. Her cell phone and credit card were grabbed from her hands while she was trying to operate a city meter pay box. The suspect proceed to run through campus and was later caught on university security cameras on Lindell Blvd. will cause all students to help be the change that the disabled community needs.

“I think that just with small efforts and with more community outreach there could be a lot of change in that area to make people even more proud of the accessibility and the safety and support of our campus for students with disabilities,” said Moore.

Arts and life

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This Week’s

Ariana Grande Strikes Back Again

By Leianna Tanedo Staff Writer mere five months after the release of “Sweetener,” Ariana Grande rides on the pop album’s success with her new album “thank u, next,” sharing the same name as the quietly dropped breakup anthem. Relying more heavily on beats than vocal riffs, “thank u, next” is the darker, more experienced older sister of “Sweetener,” both aesthetically and musically.

The more minimal production of the more emotional tracks draws attention to the lyrics and vocals, namely in the standout song, “ghostin.” People widely speculate that it tells the story of Grande mourning the loss of her former boyfriend, Mac Miller, and its impact on her relationship with ex-fiance Pete Davidson. “Ghostin” has an atmospheric sound, which builds with quiet strings to supplement Grande’s pensive lyrics. It is arguably the most emotionally raw song on the album, and draws you in to listen to candid lines like “though I wish that he were here instead / don’t want that living in your head.” In the song “in my head,” Grande samples a recording of a man saying “you are in love

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with a person that you’ve created in your head … that you cannot fix.

The only thing you can fix is yourself.” It is almost as though she wrote the album as a catharsis to accept her circumstances in love and loss.

In addition to exposing her relationships, Grande sings about her own faults and painful experiences. In “needy,” Grande admits that she has baggage and can “love too hard.” She owns up to her faults and codependence rather than blaming someone else for her own issues, which adds to her vulnerability.

“Fake smile” emphasizes how she will be true to herself and not fake a smile following the hardships she has endured.

At her core, however, Grande is a pop artist, and cranks out some earworms that will be on repeat.

My favorite track is “NASA,” which draws the analogy that her significant other needs to give her some “space.” While she still loves them, she just wants to have some time alone. I think the idea of boundaries isn’t heavily touched in pop music, teaching a solid lesson while still being catchy and addictive. “Bloodline” cuts through the album with trumpets and a bubbly chorus, reminiscent of a low-key version of her 2014 single “Problem.” And, of course, the single “thank u, next” ties the album together with an understanding of

both self-love and gratitude for the lessons she has learned from her exes.

While Grande is often compared to female powerhouses like Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, the album’s writing is comparable to the bare-bones reflective nature of Kanye West’s “808s and Heartbreak,” which was written following the death of his mother and ended engagement. It is remarkable that Grande was compelled to compose and record this album within five months of the release of “Sweetener,” much in the same vein that West funneled his grief into an experimental album. The two elaborate albums support the effectiveness of artistry as a coping mechanism following traumatic events.

“Thank u, next” reflects emotional intelligence, composed of songs that read like lessons that she was learning throughout the release of “Sweetener,” emphasizing lessons of vulnerability and self-love.

Overall, the album functions beautifully as a unit played start-tofinish rather than a collection of singles played on shuffle. “NASA,” “ghostin,” “imagine” and “needy” are some highlights from the album. Most prominently, Grande demonstrates an understanding of dynamic relationships and the human experience of self-discovery.

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BOOKS I Owe You One By: Sophie Kinsella Published: Feb. 5 “From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything.”

FOOD Morning Glory Diner Opened: Thursday, Feb. 14 Where: 2609 Cherokee street, St. Louis 63118 Morning Glory Diner will open on Cherokee Street tomorrow and will feature various breakfast foods which will be accompanied by a jukebox to add to the charm.

CINEMA

Films Isn’t It Romanic Release: Thursday, Feb. 14 A young woman (Rebel Wilson) disenchanted with love mysteriously finds herself trapped inside a romantic comedy.

CONCERTS Kelly Clarkson Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Chaifetz Arena Kelly Clarkson will return to St. Louis to tour her album, “Meaning of Life” along with Kelsea Ballerini and Brynn Cartelli.

EVENTS

Ann Metzger National Biennial Exhibition Saturday, Feb. 23 5-8 p.m.

St. Louis Artists Guild 12 North Jackson Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 “The Ann Metzger National Biennial Exhibition is the St. Louis Artists Guild’s commitment to contemporary art made real. Metzger was a longtime member of the Artists Guild, and she bequeathed money to the institution to fund cash prizes for working artists. The exhibition features art in all media by more than 50 artists from across the country.”

Arts and life

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Panic! Brings the Party to St. Louis (Emma Carmody/ University News)

By CHANDANA KAMARAJ Arts Editor Panic! At The Disco never seems to disappoint. The band led by musical genius Brendon Urie set the stage on fire (literally) after their return to St. Louis after two years, and a lot has happened since then.

The touring crew is completed by the new bassist Nicole Row and guitarist Mike Naran along with a new violist, cellist and violinist with the touring brass section, not only elevating the sound live but also emphasizing Urie’s range in creativity displaying the rock band’s fluidity.

This tour of the newest album, Pray for the Wicked was at least slightly influenced by Urie’s three-month broadway gig as the lead in Kinky Boots and can be seen in the red boots flashing behind Urie singing “Roaring 20’s” onstage. Being the only official member of the band, Urie simply continues to prove his electrifying talent in writing music but also in performing, making every tour nothing less of a party— party where even a host can enjoy himself.

During the five-minute countdown between Panic!’s stage time and the two openers, Betty Who and Two Feet, Urie rose from under the stage. Enterprise was filled with the feel-good anthem “Africa” by Toto, to which the audience of every age, it seemed like, sang to behind the flashlights on their phone lighting up the whole place.

The concert began with the string trio starting off “F a Silver Lining” while Urie slowly rose up in his flashy black and gold blazer and once he hit the first word, blue and purple streamers dropped from the ceiling. After that it was it was just a full-blown party that took place on the black illuminati symbol with the famous “!”.

Urie didn’t seem to talk to the audience a lot but let the music do that and simply delivered beyond expectations. The nearly two-hour show was filled with Urie’s normal stunts like his backflip after the drum solo in “Miss Jackson,” but also displayed his flawless attempts of fortnight dances, and a riff off between the unmatched guitarist and bassist to which Urie joined in, simply enjoying himself.

But something the audience never gets tired of is his flawless voice and vocal range. Throughout the show, Urie embellished each song with phrases that levels up two or more octaves that isn’t featured in the already pumped-up rock album.

“Urie didn’t seem to talk to the audience a lot but let the music do that and simply delivered beyond expectations.”

The show featured mini bursts of fire during the jazzy “Crazy=Genius” with snippets of the music video in the background. Urie

was able to display his talent as a guitarist and a pianist in “This is Gospel” and “Dying in La” respectively (seriously what can this man not do?). About halfway through the 28-song concert, Urie walked through the crowd during “Death of a Bachelor,” a segment in the show which his fans have dubbed as the “Death Walk,” where he signs memorabilia and thanks fans for coming out to see him. This was when he branched out to start singing some of softer songs including his rendition of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Rait and “Dying in La” where Urie elegantly rose up while playing a sparkling white piano and gliding across the stadium.

The biggest highlight of the show, or surprise I should say, was when Urie said that he badly wanted to become friends with Hugh Jackman, and then proceeded to sing “The Greatest Show”—the song that was covered on The Greatest Show Reimagined by Panic!— which undoubtedly described the concert. This was followed by Panic!’s LGBTQ anthem “Girls/Girls/ Boys,” for which Urie adorned himself with a rainbow striped album and asked the audience the cover their phone’s flashlights with various colored hearts making the stadium glow, signifying the power of unity. The experience was topped off by confetti that fell from the ceiling. This was followed by “King of the Clouds,” and the stadium filled with white smoke before Urie let the audience sing the chorus of “High Hopes.” A little before the end of the concert, Urie sang his famous rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and congratulated Rami Malek for a job well done.

Urie ended with “Emperor’s New Clothes,” before which he narrated the story of when he posed in front of a mirror, holding cardboard in the shape of a guitar—a moment when he knew that performing was what he wanted to do and then genuinely thanked the audience. It should be us, though, who should be thanking him.

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Dorothy Delivers at Delmar hall

By Mikhail Faulconer Contributor ake me down to the West coast/ Where the sun shines all day/ Weaving through the heart of Los Angeles/ To the San Francisco Bay,” mused Dorothy Martin, lead singer of the L.A.-based rock band Dorothy. As part of the band’s “Freedom Tour,” promoting its 2018 album “28 Days in the Valley,” Dorothy played to a lively and spirited crowd at Delmar Hall on Feb. 6.

The night got off to an energetic start with opener Spirit Animal, who were in St. Louis only three months ago when they opened for The Struts at the Pageant. From Brooklyn, New York, Spirit Animal released their newest album, “The Cost of Living” last year, although the band has been active since 2010. Spirit Animal lent a fantastic opening act that grew in intensity as the main floor filled up during their set.

The band’s sound is quite heavy at times, with booming bass lines and drum beats, but it never loses its strong funk element, maintained

by Cal Stamp’s groovy guitar parts.

Front man Steve Cooper also possesses a lot of charisma and adds an element of humor perfect for warming up a crowd.

About an hour after Spirit Animal’s

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Arts and life

set began, Dorothy took the stage, opening with a non-stop string of hard-hitting jams, including songs from the band’s first album, “ROCKISDEAD,” like “Raise Hell” and “After Midnight.” One welcoming aspect of the concert was the inclusion of some of these tracks from Dorothy’s first record, which had a much more aggressive and modern-rock sound than did “28 Days,” even if the former’s mix was slightly overproduced and less raw than the latest installment. “ROCKISDEAD,” like many modern rock albums, somewhat failed to capture much of the energy and natural tones of the band’s live performances. Thankfully, this shortcoming is largely ameliorated in “28 Days.”

The shift in style from Dorothy’s first album to the latest is dramatic.

The entire band, except for Martin herself, was overhauled between the two records. “28 Days” bears little resemblance to the catchy pump-up tunes of “ROCKISDEAD,” going for a more retro and subdued vibe exemplified by tracks like “Flawless” and “Mountain.” To a certain degree, this shift may seem to be indicative of a broader or growing trend in rock, as bands like Greta Van Fleet, for whom Dorothy has opened, appear to be catching audience’s attention by mixing more mellow, folksy sounds with a classic rock flavor.

At Delmar Hall, however, the band seamlessly adapted its old hits and performed its newer ones, such as “Ain’t Our Time to Die” and “Down to the Bottom,” with exceptional vigor. Moreover, the band accomplished the nowadays rare feat of sounding

(Photo Courtesy of Sarah Steen)

as good if not better than on their recorded album. Martin’s vocals were soulful and bluesy. What she may lack in range she more than makes up for with her full tone, passion and stage presence. Ax-wielders Owen Barry and Eli Wulfmeier, often dual-wielding chunky Les Paul guitars, complemented each other extremely well by at times adding zesty accents to lead parts while the other played rhythm and at different times playing in unison to pack some extra punch.

Dorothy’s forceful vocals and melodies were buoyed by the rhythm duo of bassist Eliot Lorango and drummer Jason Ganberg. The pair created a solid beat and interesting bass lines that added depth to each track, particularly during the band’s fervently booming instrumental jam sessions.

A lamentable part of the concert was Dorothy’s set time, which ran for just an hour, and felt cut short, partially because there was surprisingly no encore. The encore and one or two other songs may have been cut because Martin said that she was feeling under the weather, which, while it did not seem to have much effect, may have hurt her vocal dexterity.

The new, more classic sound of Dorothy was reflected in the demographics at the concert, which was a motley crew of people from multiple generations—from millennials to boomers.

Overall, the concert was enjoyable for fans of Dorothy’s old and new sounds, thanks to an enthusiastic opener from Spirit Animal and a delightful performance from Dorothy.

Legally Blonde the Musical is a Teaching Moment

By Madisyn Siebert Associate Arts Editor n 2001, the world was graced with Reese Witherspoon playing the typical, but surprising blonde, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.” Once the movie skyrocketed to popularity, it was only soon after it would be turned into a Broadway hit.

The Stifel Theatre hosted “Legally Blonde the Musical” for a one night event on Feb. 4. The crowd filled with young girls and their mothers, all dressed in their pink and ready to teach the younger girls that you can

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achieve anything you put your mind to.

If you are not familiar with the story, it follows a girl named Elle Woods, the typical blonde, sorority, Malibu girl who is expecting her boyfriend, Warner, to propose. A twist in her master plan happens as her boyfriend breaks up with her instead and Elle ends up following him to Harvard Law School to win him back. Along the way Elle slowly learns that following a boy for love is not what she needs to be doing.

Instead, she needs to work on actually applying herself to her school work to prove to her now ex-boyfriend that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. She has help along the

way from the local beautician, her TA, her sorority sisters and, of course, her trusty dog, Brouster.

The musical itself followed closely to the motion picture, but of course with much more singing and dancing.

Some major differences, however, include Elle going all the way to Harvard to give her personal statement in a huge dance scene, Paulette dreaming of marrying a guy from Ireland and Brooke’s workout empire being built upon jump rope that is shown as a murder weapon in the video.

The story and songs were light hearted and silly for the most part, with a couple serious solos mixed into the arrangement. The goofy hu-

mor and fun attitudes made this almost cheesy musical enjoyable. It was overall a family-friendly event, except for a few mentions of sex that I saw some mothers and the few fathers there physically shutter at for a slight moment, wishing their younger daughters did not hear the words that were stated by the actors. continue reading the story online!

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vale ntine day s

orchid nights @ Missouri Botanical Garden

6pm to 8pm

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6pm to 8pm

slu women’s basketball vs. richmond @ chaifetz arena

slu men’s basketball vs. la salle @ chaifetz arena 4pm

‘jazz n tongues’ concert series @ xavier hall theater 8pm to 10pm

harry potter trivia night @ fitz’s on the loop 8pm

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FEB

workshop: ‘Over-policing, HIV criminalization and black communities’ @ cgc

black history month: Justice constance baker motley book event @ scott hall

11am to 1:30pm

University News 2/14/19 Sudoku

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University News 2/14/19 Crossword

Across 1 Health resort 4 “Moby Dick” captain 8 Fleece 13 Organ knob 14 Late-night host 15 Rich dessert 16 Fork-tailed flier 17 Lined up 18 Possessed 19 Water supplier 22 Acquired relative 23 Miner’s find 24 Wetland 27 Dissenting vote 28 Canadian capital 32 Wife, in Cologne 33 Missed the mark 34 Sleep spoiler 35 Crane fly 39 Hammer’s partner 40 Side dish in India 41 Old dagger 42 City on the Danube 44 Conducted 47 Nave bench 48 Bolivian export 49 Christopher of “Superman” 51 Mary Shelley character 55 Pago Pago’s place 58 Comic strip “___ & Janis” 59 Barley beards 60 Defense’s excuse 61 Knight fight 62 Tempo 63 Brewer’s need

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photography

10 things to do if you’re single this Valentine’s Day

By EMMA CARMODY and RILEY TOVORNIK

1. Pick up a tub of Ted Drewes from Fusz and call it self-care.

2. Binge watch every cheesy Netflix romantic comedy: Kissing Booth, When We First Met, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Set it Up and the Ted Bundy docuseries.

3.Spruce up that Tinder account. Your profile picture is two years old.

4. You have an 8 a.m.? No problem: send yourself a dozen roses to make your classmates jealous.

5. Call El Paso Zoo at 915-212-0966 to name a cockroach after your ex for only $2.

6. Form a coalition with your other single friends and call it “Palentine’s” or “Galentine’s” Day. 7. Call your mom. She’ll always be your Valentine.

8. Today’s the best day to break your New Year’s resolution. You made it 46 dayscelebrate!

9. Take up knitting and accept your fate as a single cat lady.

10. Order Postmates and chat up your delivery driver. If they’re working on Valentine’s Day, they’re probably available!

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photography

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celebrating Black History month at SLU Written by EMMA CARMODY Illustrations by ASHLEE KOTHENBEUTEL

This February, the Saint Louis University community is celebrating Black History Month by remembering Black figures throughout history who fought for the equality that we are still working toward.

By acknowledging and learning from our past mistakes, we can move toward a more inclusive future for our Black community.

Black SLU students shared their inspirations and experiences at this Univeristy and how our community can look at Black History Month as a time to make a positive change toward inclusivity.

Oprah winfrey

Harriet Tubman

Malcolm x

“The Black historical figures that inspire me most are Madame C.J. Walker and Oprah Winfrey. I see them as the ultimate goal getters who never let anyone or anyting stop them. They made multi-million dollars and spread their knowledge to other women so they can achieve their goals and dreams.”

“During slavery and even heading into the 21st century, there were stereotypes and degrading conditions placed on Black women. They were raped, whipped and in some instances had to experience having their child ripped from their arms and sold into slavery. They also had to deal with these situations on top of being considered weak and inferior to their male conterparts. That’s why I appreciate Harriet Tubman.”

“When you think about Black people and the Civil Rights Movement and their culture, you also have to think about what SLU’s mission statement stands for. Our Black histories are very private because it’s hardly talked about in schools.”

-Glenda Nelson, Senior

-Andrew Smith, Junior

-Nina Oforji, Senior

PHOTOGRAPHY

Black history in St. Louis throughout the years...

1846

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Dred and Harriet Scott began their fight for freedom in the Old Courthouse. The case would eventually work its way to the Supreme Court. Although they did not win, it eventually became a landmark in the Civil Rights Movement.

By RILEY TOVORNIK Photo Editor Photos Courtesey of Creative Commons

1877

1890s

The population of African Americans grew rapidly as the Klu Klux Klan grew more powerful in the South. This would occur again in 1910, leading to many new segregation laws.

1915 1948

Segregation Ordinance prevented people from moving into a block in which 75 percent of members were of another race.

J. D. Shelley moved into a white neighborhood. He challenged the segregation ordinance and eventually took it to the Supreme Court, leading to it being repealed for violating the 14th amendment.

St. Louis became a cultural center for ragtime music.

Scott Joplin composed many of his famous pieces while living on Delmar Boulevard.

2014

Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, sparking controversy about police violence against Black youths. His death would lead to a rapid growth in the Black Lives Matter movement.

TRAVEL

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Emma Carmody / Photo Editor

snapshot: A train ride through barcelona

By EVA FRANCE Contributor

he rain seeps into every crease of the train platform, and, from there, into the tourists’ shoes. This train is headed from Barcelona to Montserrat, a monastery wedged between mountains about an hour northwest of the city. People squeak their way down the train aisle, fumbling for the limited number of seats.

Woe to the latecomers who have to sit by strangers, rearranging backpacks as to not bother their seatmates with contact of foot to luggage.

The overpolite graciousness of public transportation brings those not following these unspoken rules into the spotlight. One such person paces down the aisle, shoes squeaking just like everybody else’s.

Out of his messenger bag, he sets gum and a packet of tissues on each person’s table. Complimentary?

No, underneath the goodies, a slip of paper explains his need for money so that he can support his son. The message is in both English and Spanish and includes a picture of him and his young son.

Seconds later, the man squeaks back down the train, collecting the goodies from the tables.

He is not begging, talking or even making eye contact, like he is embarrassed. The tourists are quick to reciprocate that sentiment: even those few who hand him a euro or two don’t meet his eye. They smile at the ground, but the smile is more of an embarrassed grimace.

One passenger who does not catch this embarrassment-flu

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is a perfectly beautiful girl moodily staring into the rain-streaked glass.

It is hard to tell if she is watching the scenery or staring at her own reflection. The way she pouts her perfect lips and fixes her perfectly curled bangs makes it evident that it is the latter. Her mom, a not quite as perfectly preserved version of her daughter, sits adjacent and applies pink lipstick in the mirror of a small compact.

The girl switches from fixing her bangs in the window to the more accurate mirror of her phone.

Her mom leans in to check her lipstick there as well. The primping, which looked arbitrary, now seems to have a purpose. The pair smiles softly into the phone, where it is clear the screen is now in selfie mode.

Their heads tilt this way and that snapping shot after shot.

After a few minutes of this, the older woman takes out her own camera and motions for her daughter to pose next to the backdrop of the rain spattered window. The vogueing begins. The girl pouts and tilts from every angle and in every light, with her mother acting as both her hype woman and photographer.

The shoot ends when the daughter’s phone starts buzzing, and she quickly pops in headphones to answer the call. Her mother leans in waving at the camera delightedly, and then goes back to her seat opposite her daughter, making kissy faces that only her daughter can see.

The daughter rolls her eyes but smiles at her mom. As the train rolls into the station, the girl hangs up and wraps her headphones

around her phone. The passengers start gathering up their belongings and bundling themselves in raincoats, the man with the messenger bag counts coins in his hand and they all step off the damp train and into the even damper day.

“It is hard to tell if she is watching the scenery or staring at her own reflection.”

sports

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BILLIKEN MEN ARE IN TROUBLE, BUT THE LIGHT IS NOT QUITE OUT

By Carter Chapley Sports Writer he Billikens now face an impasse in their season.

The once heavily favored to win the A-10 regular season Bills sit at a very pedestrian 6-5 record and even though head coach Travis Ford repeatedly dismisses the hype as “inaccurate,” it’s hard not to consider the Billikens conference play at this point disappointing.

“We’ve got to focus in and play every game like a championship game…there’s going to be a lot of shaking out in this league over the next two to three weeks, and I don’t think we’re in a position to win the league…but I think we can finish really strong,” Ford said before practice on Monday.

A team hampered by injury all season long is now having to fight even more intensely as they continue to be short handed at every team practice and game. Ford has even reached into the days of Billikens past and brought out SLU legend Anthony Bonner to serve as an able body in practice.

The 2018-2019 Billikens had a 50-year-old man come into practice to help out. Not the sign of healthy team at all. But to his credit, he honestly looked like he could have suited up and played 30+ minutes for the Bills.

Something preached at practice this week was upping the defensive intensity, something that Billiken forward Hasahn French specifically outlined in a pre-practice interview.

Bonner, the Billikens all-time leading scorer, helped with that as his particular style of communication and play, even at his age, contributed to a high-octane practice session.

In many other seasons, the series of events this season would spell disaster. Three games back of the lead with only seven to play, and five teams to overtake, the Bills are an extremely unlikely at-large bid

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Javon Bess continues to lead the Billikens as they look to finish out the conference season and make a run into the tournament that will lead to a potential NCAA tournament bid in March. Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics candidate. However, in this year’s A-10 not all hope is lost. The rankings may be separated by multiple games, but the talent of each roster is unquestionable. For example, the St. Bonaventure Bonnies beat Saint Joseph by 30, days after losing to VCU by 30, and Saint Joseph beat SLU by 30 themselves.

The point being that the parody in the A-10 conference this year is staggering. At one point early in the year, the conference looked to be a two, potentially even three bid conference going into March Madness.

Now it’s hard to see anyone but the eventual conference champion going to the big dance. The confer-

ence has completely cannibalized itself with strong play from teams on the bottom half of the standings. Schools like George Mason and Duquesne changed the landscape of the conference.

This means that come March at the A-10 championships in Brooklyn, New York it is very likely we will see one of the “favorites” knocked out early. This makes being a top four team in the conference with an automatic bye to the quarter finals all the more important. Having to only play three times, with their battered and bruised lineup, would be a blessing in more ways than one.

The Billikens have the opportu-

nity to make a serious run at the NCAA tournament. As French said “There’s no reason to give up, if we give up right now that would do us no good…I believe we can still come together and go to the NCAA Tournament, I believe that.” And he’s right, the pieces are still there. But things need to start turning the Billikens way for that opportunity to open up.

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HARBISON CONTINUES TO RACK UP AWARDS

By SAM GLASS Staff Writer he only thing more impressive than an eight-time A-10 Rookie of the Week is a nine-time A-10 Rookie of the Week. And the only thing that could be more impressive than nine conference awards would be a national award. Freshman guard Ciaja Harbison was named national Freshman of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association the same week she received her eigth conference rookie award.

Before the start of the season head coach Lisa Stone said, “Our freshman have to play this year,” and as the end of the season comes into sight fans see just how important that has been. Twelve of the 14 Rookie of the Week awards belong to Saint Louis and Saint Louis fans have thus playfully coined the award “SLU Rookie of the Week.”

But the rookie recognition reached past the A-10 when Harbison received the first USBWA award for a Billiken in program history. Harbison received the national Freshman of the Week award for her performance in two wins over George Washington and George Mason.

Harbison has been a crucial piece in the Billiken Blue Puzzle for the 2018-2019 season. A strong offensive presence and her consistency has been the key to unlocking her potential. Harbison currently sits at third in the A-10 in scoring with 130 field goals, 14 three pointers and 91 free throws for a total of 365 points.

To put that into perspective, LeBron James has a total of 0 points scored in the A-10.

The #teamfirst culture of the Billikens shows in the selfless way Harbison has played this season. Her conference runner up 106 assists speaks to that. Her defensive capability makes her just as much a threat off the ball as she is on the ball.

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Harbison’s hard work in the last two games against Fordham and La Salle garnered her a fifth consecutive A-10 Rookie of the Week award averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals over the two games.

While Harbison continues to receive accolades, it is clearly a product of overall team performance. “Our team really stepped it up,” Harbison said after Wednesday’s game against Duquesne. “Even the bench players came in and made a lot of good plays.

So I’m excited, we’re all excited.”

A brief look at one of Harbison’s contemporaries from St. Bonaventure starts to paint a better picture of

just how formidable the Billikens and Harbison specifically are. Freshman guard Asianae Johnson is one of two non-Billikens to receive A-10 Rookie of the Week plaudits.

Both players play a crucial role in their respective team’s rotation with Harbison playing in and starting in 24/24 games and Johnson in 23/23.

They both fly around the .430 field goal percentage but Harbison consistently outscores Johnson with 130 compared to Johnson’s 83. Harbison nets about five more points per game than Johnson with 15.2 points per game compared to Johnson’s 10.

A-10 rookies are making strong performances, but none are quite able to fly with Harbison. A nine-time Rookie of the Week makes her look more on par with any veteran player in the conference than other rookies.

Harbison is only a freshman and still has three more seasons in front of her. Roll Bills!

Ciaja Harbison earns her ninth A-10 Rookie of the Week Awards. SLU freshman have won 12 of the 15 A-10 nods in the category on the season. Photo Courtesty of Billiken Athletics.

sports

17

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GOES 4-1 IN LAST FIVE

Brooke Flowers looks to pass the ball in the Billikens game against Fordham. The Bills fell to Fordham in their second game against the Rams this season, their only loss in the last five games. Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics

By ERIN MCLELLAND Sports Editor ince their loss in Richmond to A-10 leading VCU, the Billikens have rebounded to a 4-1 record in the last two weeks to put them in the fifth spot in the conference with four games left before the tournament.

The first of the wins came in Chaifetz Arena against George Mason where Ciaja Harbison and Jordyn Frantz led the team by combining for 33 of SLU’s 60 points. The Billikens snapped Mason’s three-game winning streak and moved themselves to .500 in the conference at 4-4. Following the win, the Bills topped the A-10’s other “George” school in D.C., George Washington, 60-44.

For the sixth time in the season, the Billikens held their opponent

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to under 60 points. It was the second time in two games that the Bills came back from a first half deficit to pull out the win. Harbison led SLU in the second half by scoring 19 of her 21 points in the last two stanzas.

With her success in the two wins over the George Mason and Washington, Harbison received not only her eighth A-10 Rookie of the Week nod, but also a U.S. Basketball Writers Association award for national freshman of the week, the first time a SLU women’s basketball player has ever been chosen.

After two home wins, the team traveled to the Bronx for a matchup with Fordham where they fell in a close 54-51 game. SLU had a comeback brewing, led by Tasia Jeffries’ free throws after the Billikens had trailed by double-digit points, but the Rams were able to hold on to get the home win. In the effort, Brooke Flowers got her seventh double-double on the year, and her career-high eight offensive rebounds.

The Bills returned home to face La Salle where they took care of busi-

ness and got the 11 point win over the bottom team in the conference.

The win moved the Billikens to 1113 and 6-5 in the A-10. Frantz had a career-tying 23 points in the victory, and three of her teammates joined her with double-digit points.

The win marked the team’s fourth consecutive win in Chaifetz Arena, and their fifth win in seven games.

After just one home game, the Bills headed back east to Pittsburgh to take on initial A-10 favorite, Duquesne.

Frantz led the Billikens with her career-high 24 points in the game to get the win over the Dukes, 6763. They went into the fourth quarter with a solid lead, but it slowly melted away as the Dukes had more success converting their shots than the visiting team did. Harbison got a career-high six steals in the game and Myia Clark was 3-of-4 from behind the three-point arc to add nine points from off the bench.

The win was the first time the Billikens had ever defeated Duquesne at their home in Pennsylvania which

moved them to 7-5 in the A-10, finally getting more than one game over .500 for their conference record. The preseason favorite Dukes fell to 6-5 in the conference, putting them in sixth just behind the Billikens.

With the exception of Richmond, who they will take on next, the remainder of the games this regular season are against teams currently seeded ahead of the Bills. They will be back in action Sunday against the Spiders, but be sure to come out Feb. 27 as they take on league-leading VCU as the women search for a higher seed in the upcoming A-10 tournament.

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BASEBALL PICKED TO DEFEND A-10 TITLE

By SAM GLASS Sports Writer fter one of the best statistical seasons in program history, an Atlantic 10 Championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament, the 2018 Billikens baseball team left some big shoes to fill for a 2019 squad full of new faces.

In fact, SLU is featuring 14 newcomers on its roster this year, an influx that was necessary after losing 10 seniors from the A10 championship squad. Normally, losing the leadership of 10 integral players is an incredible loss to sustain in any sport, but the Bills plan to combat that with the addition of five junior college transfers and two graduate transfers.

One of the most promising out of this group is redshirt senior

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transfer, Shane Benes. Benes, a St. Louis native and son of the former Cardinals pitcher, Andy Benes, was projected as an early first round draft pick entering his senior year of high school at Westminster. However, after three ACL surgeries and two different schools, he finds himself poised to make a huge impact for the Billikens in 2019. Shane figures to make starts at first and third base, as well as provide a massive power threat in the heart of the Billikens line up.

Another new face that figures to make an impact for the Billikens is junior right-handed pitcher, Luke Matheny.

If the last name looks familiar, it’s probably due to the fact that the Matheny name has been synonymous with St. Louis baseball for the past 20 years. His father, Mike Matheny, served as the Cardinals manager from 20122018; leading the franchise to a world series appearance in 2013.

Matheny will be joining the Billik-

Baseball opens the season this weekend in Alabama where they will take on Miami (OH) as they prepare to defend their A-10 title from last season. Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics.

ens pitching staff in the 2019 year coming off an outstanding season at San Jacinto Junior College, where he posted a 3.23 ERA as a starter. Matheny looks to make an impact as a starter and a reliever this year for the Bills.

While the Billikens lost a lot of familiar bats from their 2018 lineup, the pitching staff returns two key starters to the rotation in Jackson Wark and Drew Reveno.

Wark figures to be the number two starter for the Billikens for the third consecutive year, adding continuity and stability to a squad with a lot of question marks. The 6-foot-6 right hander comes off an impressive nine-win season where he posted a 3.86 ERA. With a fastball routinely in the low 90s and a wipeout slider, Wark looks to build off his 2018 season and be a force on Saturdays for the Billikens.

Reveno returns for his senior year as the number three starter for the Billikens for his second straight year. The San Jose native posted a minuscule 2.13 ERA in 11 starts for the Billikens last year, good enough for an elusive 10-win season. Reveno features a low 90s fastball and a knack for getting out of tough situations.

The Bills also return senior right hander Ryan Lefner to the bullpen for his third year serving as the closer for the squad. Coming off an 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings year in 2018, Lefner will look to break the career saves record, as he sits just one save short of the all-time mark. With a sharp slider in the low to mid 80s and an effective change up, Lefner figures to be an anchor at the end of games for the Bills this year.

Rounding out the battery for SLU in 2019 is junior catcher Ryan Hernandez. The Miami native threw out an incredible 47 percent of would-be base stealers in the 2018 campaign, as well as hit

five home runs with limited plate appearances. Hernandez also features a retooled swing in 2019, and should be a reliable presence at and behind the plate for the squad.

Also returning for the Billikens in 2019 are two outstanding hitters, Jake Garella and Cole Dubet.

Garella comes off a remarkable 2018 season in which he led the team with a .356 batting average.

His short, compact swing allows him to spray the ball to all fields, and his arm from the outfield is one that makes opposing base runners think twice about taking an extra base.

Dubet returns to the team after posting a .303 average and five home runs last year. The speedy second baseman will provide a lightning fast swing at the top of the Billikens line up this season, as well as a sure-handed glove in the field.

The Billikens start their season Feb. 15 in Hoover, Alabama to take on Miami University in Ohio.

Their first home series will be on Mar. 8 as they welcome the Leathernecks of Western Illinois to the Billiken Sports Center.

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Opinion

20

THE UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD: ONE YEAR AFTER PARKLAND alentine’s Day is a day of love and cheesy Hallmark cards, but this year it is also an anniversary of violence. Our world is plagued with acts of violence that polarize communities and steal hope from an increasingly scared population, but over the last few years it seems like mass shootings have become a social norm.

Mass shootings aren’t new.

Parkland wasn’t the first, and it certainly wasn’t the last. However, that terrifying attack on Feb. 14, 2018 felt different, or at least what came next did.

There was, of course, mourning, tears and fear. But there was also dialogue. People, teenagers, were talking about what happened inside the school that day. More than that, they were urging for change.

They picked up a fight that was long in the making, and they brought it to the national stage with their campaign Road to Change— some victims even went on to found the March for Our Lives movement. We didn’t just get the endless newscasts talking about the shooter, instead we saw students—who were mourning the loss of classmates and friends— challenge politicians to make reforms that would prevent this tragedy from happening again.

This uprising of hope couldn’t have happened after Columbine back in 1999, but in the last few years we have seen a new side to mass shootings. After the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016 and the Vegas concert shooting in 2017, we saw people turn to social media as a platform for support and reform.

In many ways we were building up to that point last year when high schoolers—who have been exposed to social media for practically their entire lives—took tragedy and turned it into hope.

So, here we are, one year after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tasked with a question: What’s changed? Have we, as a country, learned from our mistakes, or do we remain blinded by our own perspectives and experiences? And most of all—as students who spend the majority of their time in school buildings—are we safe?

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Riley Tovornik, Co-Photo Editor: I remember when I was a kid school shootings were a rarity, something I

By FIONA CLAIR Opinion Editor couldn’t even imagine. Now school shootings don’t faze me, and I know that isn’t how I should feel.

Celine Reinoso, Copy Editor: Legislators enacted over 50 new laws that restrict access to guns, all because of the power behind activism and the youth-led movement. Over the past year, the Parkland students proved Whitney Houston right in her belief that “children are our future.”

Madisyn Siebert, Associate Arts Editor: I have now been instilled to instinctively look for the closest exit in whatever space I am in, whether that is a classroom, concert, shop, etc. I need to know where they are so that if something goes wrong I know immediately where to exit. This ‘instinct’ should not be something that all people need to develop.

Chandana Kamaraj, Arts Editor: Life is already difficult in itself, internal, and external forces that add another layer of negative emotion creates a lifestyle that is increasingly unbearable—and it doesn’t really get easier. The fact that children who are younger than I are facing these external forces is incredibly sad and should not exist.

Erin McClelland, Sports Editor: All I could think about when the shooting happened were my younger sisters. I couldn’t get over the feeling of helplessness in knowing that in the worst of situations there was nothing I could do to protect two of the people I love the most in the world, and the fact that it is something that has had to pass through my mind is devastating. Siblings shouldn’t have to fear for their brothers and sisters just because they attend school.

Kendra Ruether, Copy Editor: When I look back at the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, the thing that sticks with me the most is the hope I felt and continue to feel for our generation and for future generations. If a group of teenagers, in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, can advocate so strongly and eloquently for change (better than most experienced adults do), I think all people eager for change can and

should take note and do the same.

Riley Mack, News Editor: After I learned of the Parkland shooting one year ago, I was shocked and upset about what those teenagers had to deal with—I simply couldn’t imagine going through that. But those teenagers changed the way I think about mass shootings. Those teenagers couldn’t imagine it happening to them either, until it did.

Now, I think about the possibility of it happening everywhere that I go, and that’s an incredibly unfortunate reality of living in America. I hope that one day we will no longer have to live in fear.

Meredyth Staunch, Editor-InChief: There is a large amount of emphasis placed on the shooter and the devastation this individual has caused—which came to my attention after I interviewed co-founder of March for Our Lives, Cameron Kasky.

The media often expresses the destruction without a call to action, and Kasky wanted to change the narrative. In elementary and middle school, lockdown drills were a rarity for me. Now, they have become a norm.

We think that we could not possibly fall victim to school shootings, but the reality is that they have escalated.

Something needs to change.

Sophie Perry, Online Design Editor: Growing up in the era of a sudden increase in mass shootings all around the country, I became accustomed to the hard lock-down drills and announcements on the news broadcasting that another school was under attack. This normalcy is something that I soon came to realize is not normal. Mass shootings should not be just another headline, paired with “Best Valentine’s Gifts of 2018.”

Monica Ryan, Managing Editor: My mother is a preschool teacher and, just as victims of the Sandy Hook shooting lost their lives, when the Parkland shooting happened one year ago, I thought about a situation where my mother might have to lose her life in order to protect her students.

People always worry about issues when it affects them directly. It is hard to imagine a person that these

shootings would not affect.

Tannock Blair, Associate News Editor: It all just seems so hopeless. Gun violence has just become so ingrained within the culture of this country that even with political intervention it doesn’t seem as though there’s anything that can make it stop. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

Ryan Lefner, Associate Sports Editor: I remember the day that it happened and how surreal it felt that another mass shooting had just taken place.

Living on campus, I thought about how all of my neighbors, friends and fellow students would be affected, and how so many lives would be changed forever if an event like that happened at SLU. Emma Carmody, Co-Photo Editor: After the Parkland shooting, there was hope—more than I think our country has had for a long time—for gun reform. With the March for Our Lives and all of the attention that the Parkland students got from the media, I think a lot of Americans hoped that this would make a significant difference in gun violence and law in our country. However, here we are a year later and there are still several mass shootings in schools across the country and our politicians haven’t come to fix anything either.

Becky Livigni, Design Editor: After Parkland happened last year, I interviewed a SLU psychology professor who specializes in the cognitive effects of trauma. Today, I can’t help but think of the troubles these kids are still coping with everyday. These victims and all those that have come before and after deserve our sympathy, our action and our advocacy.

Ashlee Kothenbeutel, Illustrator: I never felt unsafe at my school, but looking back, there was a definite lack of security when I was in high school. You could easily slip in a back door without being noticed. Due to the shootings and the fact that I lived close to Baltimore, the school locked all the doors, hired a full time security guard and added various high tech cameras throughout the school.

Opinion

21

THE SWAMP IN ACTION: THE TALE OF CLAIRE MCCASKILL

By JAKOB BENEDETTI Staff Writer f you don’t know, Claire McCaskill was one of Missouri’s two U.S. senators, representing the state for two terms before being unseated by Josh Hawley in 2018. If you were paying attention to that campaign and to Sen. McCaskill’s record in general, then you were probably not so surprised to see MSNBC hire her as a political analyst after her reelection ended in defeat. Which raises the question: How, at a time when thousands of hardworking journalists who make middle-to-working-class wages are being laid off and quality, unbiased journalism is increasingly elusive, could MSNBC possibly justify hiring Claire McCaskill?

It’s not like she has anything particularly new to offer in terms of political analysis, being mostly in lockstep with “centrist,” pro-business dogma, and she clearly doesn’t have any popular support in Missouri even among her base.

So why hire her and not put her compensation towards hiring actual

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journalists?

The answer may not surprise you, and it’s much the same reason we discovered last week for Beto O’Rourke’s sudden rise to the heights of mainstream media adoration: McCaskill, like O’Rourke, is a proud resident of the Swamp.

To be clear, I use the term “swamp” in a mostly sarcastic sense.

I’m not a Trump supporter nor was I ever, and I voted for McCaskill. But the more I learn, the more disgusted I am with the political and economic establishment of this country, especially corrupt politicians like McCaskill.

The first major evidence of systemic corruption in McCaskill’s office came in 2011 when it was discovered that she used taxpayer money to fund 89 trips on private jets.

This isn’t out of the ordinary; it often makes more sense to fly private if you have a whole campaign staff to transport. The problem was that McCaskill admitted only one of these flights was for an explicitly political purpose, and even worse, that the company which the taxpayer money had gone to was owned by herself and her husband, Joseph Shepard. She eventually refunded the Treasury after facing public pressure.

The starkest indication of the kind of politician McCaskill is, though, comes with an explanation of her relationship to nursing home

owner Rick DeStefane, a longtime family friend and frequent donor to Republicans and Democrats alike— and to McCaskill in particular. For example, DeStefane donated $30,000 total to Chris Koster’s 2016 campaign for governor, quickly backtracking and sending checks to Greitens and other high-level Republicans after Koster lost. The interesting part is that DeStefane’s nursing home company has been notoriously negligent and had to settle a lawsuit with the federal government in 2017, which uncovered widespread Medicare fraud.

Essentially DeStefane’s c o m p a n y overcharged the taxpayers for treatment they either didn’t give or forcefully gave to patients who didn’t need it.

Despite taking on nursing home corruption and elder abuse as a key tenet of McCaskill’s original Senate campaign, she appears to have done very little, if anything at all, in terms of legislation to prevent this or punish companies who conduct such abuse in a systematic manner for the sake of profit. Maybe it has something to do with the lake house her husband and DeStefane jointly own via an LLC that they also jointly own? In addition, although McCaskill has refunded donations from other sources for far less, she has never refunded a dime from DeStefane.

These are just a few examples, of course. Since she’s

“The more I learn, the more disgusted I am with the political and economic establishment of this country, especially corrupt politicians like McCaskill.”

been in Washington, McCaskill has received millions from special interest groups, corporate lobbyists and rich executives. Who knows what other deals she’s made, promises she’s kept to people who’ve never even been to Missouri?

Which is why, when she claims that “It’s obvious from my record that I fight every day for Missourians, including Missouri seniors—and clearly there’s nothing other than what’s best for Missouri that has, or would ever, impact my work in the Senate….” I don’t believe her and neither should you.

But why the job at MSNBC? It’s not like she’s strapped for cash, being worth over $60 million if you take into account her husband’s wealth. No, the reason she got hired at MSNBC is because they play the exact same swamp games that enabled McCaskill to massively outspend her opponent, and still lose.

If you’ve read the O’Rourke article, this is the part where politicians who’ve been funded by elites for so long actually begin to believe the narrative spun by the media companies funded or owned by those same elites—so much so that she is now ready and willing to become a part-time propagandist for the people who used to donate to her reelection campaigns.

Don’t believe me?

Then look at the very first thing she did after being hired: attack Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first “big D” Democrat in years to actually take a stand against the elites and status quo that made McCaskill rich.

(Tweet @JakobBenedetti if you have suggestions for the next edition of “The Swamp in Action.”)

Opinion

22

THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING COMMUNITIES

By LEXI KAYSER Staff Writer

oming to Saint Louis University was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made, if not the best decision. When I first stepped foot on campus, I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. There was something about the atmosphere that I found to be so warm and inviting; my tour guide waved to someone that she knew every few steps down West Pine, and I longed to be a part of such a familial atmosphere. I went through the orientation process and scholarship weekends with that general feeling of ecstasy that tends to stick around when you know that you’ve found your place in the world.

SLU is, without a doubt, my place.

Yet, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have a decently sized swarm of butterflies in my

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stomach coming into an entirely new place with entirely new people. Who wouldn’t? The first few weeks of college are scary and uncertain, composed of blurred lines, confusion and anxiety. I knew this. I didn’t expect to have two entire floors full of friends, study partners and people that I could genuinely trust and turn to.

I didn’t expect it, but it’s exactly what I got.

T h i s is what my l e a r n i n g c o m m u n i t y, Micah, gave to me. And I am so, so, so incredibly grateful for the experiences a n d relationships that living in a learning community has granted me.

During my first semester at SLU, I was taking two classes with others in my LC, which was so beneficial for multiple reasons.

Knowing everyone in the class made me feel more comfortable speaking up and voicing my opinions. Our level of comradery made us more likely to vocally explore and contradict each other’s opinions and share deeper, more critical parts of ourselves; this pushed us to new heights in our academic spheres.

Furthermore, I always had people to study with. More than

a few times, we continued the conversations that were started in the classroom once we got back to our dorm, which added a new dimension of thoughtfulness to my educational experience.

Our professors also taught the classes in a way that incorporated our learning community activities, so that we could see the effects of what we were learning in the real world.

Every week, as a part of our Micah requirements, we go out into the community and serve as tutors, babyholders and friends to those that need us most.

My professors asked me numerous times to write in reflection of my time spent at service, and to tie in our curriculum with the events happening in our everyday lives.

My favorite part of being in a learning community, honestly, is the “community” aspect. Members of Micah have gone to the farmer’s market, the City Museum and the apple orchard together. We drive each other to the grocery store and have game nights in the lounge.

We appreciate and push each other in ways that no high school friendship has demonstrated.

The love that fills our learning community can best be

“Yet, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have a decently sized swarm of butterflies in my stomach coming into an entirely new place with entirely new people. Who wouldn’t?”

described through a story. I had to finish my semester and go home early for personal reasons, but on my birthday, I had to pick up a few things from my dorm room. I expected to grab what I needed and maybe say a quick “hello,” but right when I stepped out of the elevator, I was greeted with a human tunnel, and members of my LC singing “Happy Birthday” to me as I walked through them. Hugs and tears naturally ensued when I saw that they had decorated my room. I have never felt so loved, so treasured, so important as I do in my Micah community.

The opinions on learning communities are mixed. Some people are against them, claiming that they restrict your social circle and place you in a bubble. But, I disagree. Without Micah, I never would have come out of my shell both in and out of the classroom and never would have developed such a vast support system so quickly after coming to college. Highs and lows, peaks and valleys, good times and bad, Micah has been there for me, reminding me that my voice is a voice among many, a voice that matters, a voice that can make a difference.

Living in a learning community has given me a home within a home.

To anyone considering living in a learning community next year: do it. You will find your people, and through them, you will find yourself. It will be the best decision that you’ve ever made.

Opinion

23

HISTORY HAS ITS EYES ON YOU, MIKE

By JACK JOHNSON Contributor lection years are so hopeful, and 2018 was no exception.

On my ballot in Missouri, there were plenty of ballot initiatives to vote for this election.

One of them was Amendment 1, or “Clean Up Missouri.” I originally thought it was an environmental initiative, so I was planning on supporting it. But then I did some research before I voted. I found out that it was proposing to clean up Missouri politics—then I was really in support of it.

Amendment 1 aimes to

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redraw district lines to combat gerrymandering and it also places rules on legislators to get dark money out of the state government.

No surprise, Missourians wanted Amendment 1, and it passed.

Missouri was on its way to being a better state.

Then comes Mike Parson.

Well, he didn’t come. He’s been governor since June when Eric Greitens realized that he wouldn’t be able to sweet talk his way out of his crimes. Parson isn’t that big of a fan of Amendment 1 and has now decided, moving forward in the 2019 legislative session, that he will not support it. In fact, he wants a repeal-and-replace for the amendment. How funny is that: The guy we didn’t elect to be governor is now deciding to undermine the direct vote of the people.

Honestly, though, it’s not surprising. Missouri Republicans have had supermajorities in the state House and Senate for as long as I can remember. They’re used to marching to the beat of their own drum—even when that drum is out of step with the rest of Missouri.

Earlier in the 2018 election cycle, Missouri voted on Proposition A: whether or not we should enact Right to Work. Right to Work is a usually Republican-led law that

looks to strip power from labor unions. According to the Economic Policy Institute, Right to Work states tend to have lower wages and less rights for workers.

Luckily, Missouri voters decided we didn’t want that. But now in 2019, with their still-asupermajority, Republicans have already proposed a bill that will enact Right to Work. You would think that after an overwhelming majority of Missourians say “We don’t want Right to Work,” that lawmakers would understand that we don’t want Right to Work. But being able to take a hint is not something Republicans are widely known for. Well, they probably can take a hint, this one’s just not in their political interest.

An AP analysis found that Amendment 1 will make it easier for Democrats to win, since the new districts will not be drawn under the control of the Republican supermajority. What a coincidence that they think these initiatives, the ones that give more power to the people, are unconstitutional.

We need only to look at states such as Wisconsin and Michigan if we want to see where this path will take us. Republicans in those states have worked hard over their Winter Breaks to strip power away from

incoming Democrats, the ones elected in 2018.

It’s a mess. But I feel as a Missourian I can’t really worry about Michigan and Wisconsin since Parson wants to ignore me.

Is it bad that I’m a little thankful the worst he had in mind was to try and repeal an already passed ballot initiative? It is bad, because it’s bad that it’s happening in the first place.

History does not look kindly on Richard Nixon—he tried to take down his political enemies.

History does not look kindly on Eric Greitens—he had an extramarital affair and then blackmailed his mistress by tying her up and taking a nude photo of her. He also illegally used data from his nonprofit to target voters during his run for governor, but the affair thing grabs people’s attention better.

History is watching, Mike.

No, you probably won’t bug the Democratic party like Nixon. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say you probably don’t have a mistress like Greitens. But you might directly deny Missourians our right to our government, which, depending on how you look at it, is a lot worse than having a little something on the side. History is watching, Mike.

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