University News Vol.CI, No. 4 (Feb. 24, 2023)

FEBRUARY:

THE MONTH OF

ROMANCE

SLU PARTNERS WITH JESUIT WORLDWIDE LEARNING IN KENYA AND MALAWI

By ALEX ROZAR Staff Writer

Saint Louis University is offering refugees at two African camps the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at no cost through a new partnership with Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL).

The initiative, which begins in October 2023, allows refugees to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies through SLU’s School for Professional Studies (SPS), designed for adult learners. The program will initially be open for up to 25 students at two refugee camps, Kakuma in Kenya and Dzaleka in Malawi. It may take on another 25 students in the spring, including prospective students from other camps.

“We’re really excited to be involved with this program, because it is so mission-focused,” SPS director of general studies Kyle Crews, PhD, said. “It really allows us to use our own skills and training as educators for the benefit of others.”

Students will first take a year of online study, or 30 academic hours, through Creighton University in Omaha or the Xavier Institute of Management University (XIMU) in

Bhubaneswar, India. SLU will then provide the next three years of study, or 90 hours, through asynchronous virtual learning using software such as Canvas. Students will take two eight-week classes at a time from the refugee camps and will meet together at least once a week for shared support time.

community. This program has a bit of the best of both of those worlds,” associate provost Steve Sanchez said. SLU’s partnership with the JWL was arranged over the last year, initially at the proposal of Martha Habash, JWL USA’s academic director and a professor of classics at Creighton University. Provost Mike Lewis was supportive of the idea and identified the SPS as a good fit over its longtime use of virtual learning and its familiarity with flexibility. Habash first requested that SLU chip in a 30-hour program, like Creighton’s or XIMU’s, but SLU offered to take on 90 hours instead.

as reduced internet access and increased personal responsibilities, and differences in time zones make instant communication with professors difficult.

“It is a population and a program that is harder to arrange for many reasons, and harder to reach and harder to serve because of the challenges that these students, by no fault of their own, have to face,” Sanchez said.

“We recognize the benefits of online education, but we also recognize the benefit of learning and working in a

The students will be taught in independent cohorts. Professors may come from SLU, the JWL, or the Jesuit-affiliated Ignatian Volunteer Corps, consisting primarily of retired professors. A JWL employee will be onsite at both refugee camps to provide tech support and academic coaching. SLU is also undergoing a candidate search for two new positions, Crews said, ideally to be filled by October 2023: an academic director and a support coordinator for the program.

Refugees face unique barriers to education, Sanchez said, such

Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 2010, JWL provides support for refugees with the goal of “higher education at the margins.” JWL operates 60 community centers in 20 countries, and has been recognized by the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees and Jesuit Superior General Arturo Sosa.

“[The program] is really transforming lives and transforming communities because, in good pedagogical fashion, we teach the students that they shouldn’t just be living for themselves but really helping their communities as well,” Habash said.

Refugee students at a graduation ceremony in Kakuma, Kenya. (Photo courtesy of Jesuit Worldwide Learning)

“We recognize the benefits of online education, but we also recognize the benefit of learning and working in a community. This program has a bit of the best of both of those worlds,” associate provost Steve Sanchez said.

TWO FORMER SLU JESUITS CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS OR VULNERABLE ADULTS

By GABBY CHIODO & Managing Editor ULAA KUZIEZ News Writer

Two former Saint Louis University faculty members — one who taught at the university as recently as July 2021 — were added to the list of Jesuits and former Jesuits who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults. The Jesuits of the U.S. Central and Southern Province added the late Daniel Campbell and David Meconi to the list on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Campbell was a faculty member at SLU in the 1950s, during the time of the alleged abuse. David Meconi, whose estimated time of abuse was between 2015-2016, was a former Jesuit priest, theology professor and founding director of the Catholic Studies Center. He worked at SLU up until July 2021 when the university said he was placed on leave for matters unrelated to the allegation. According to the province list, there are a total of six Jesuit priests with assignments at SLU who have credible allegations of abuse.

The province informed the university that investigations were opened in February 2022 and concluded with “a high degree of probability” last week that the allegations took place, and “that the possibility they did not occur is highly unlikely,” according to an email sent to the university community by President Fred Pestello on Feb. 9.

“Our hearts are with those who have suffered from abuse, and we are committed to supporting efforts to prevent abuse from happening to anyone else,” Pestello said in the statement.

Father David Suwalsky, VP for the Office of Mission and Identity, said the university was not asked for participation in conducting the investigation and was not aware of any legal actions or complaints against Meconi during his time at SLU. Suwalsky also said the university does not know the identity of the victim or the location of the abuse.

“In this case, there was very little that was shared by the province with the university because my guess has been— it’s only my guess—is whatever that

matter was, didn’t intersect with the university,” Suwalsky said.

Many students, now upperclassmen, said they interacted with Meconi and viewed him as a mentor and teacher both in the classroom and in the Catholic Church.

“I knew Father Meconi, well I guess not father anymore, David Meconi really well,” senior Paul Gillam said. Meconi taught Gillam’s first-year theology class and said he served as a guide during his transition into college.

“He helped me find my place here at SLU and helped share the faith with me in a deep and authentic way,” Gillam said.

He said the news came as a shock to him and other SLU students. “I was in the chapel after I found out, praying, and one of my friends was there just crying. She was heartbroken. We’re all heartbroken,” Gillam said.

Gillam said he and his peers are drawing close to both each other and their faith during this tragic time. “We just have to be there for one another,” he said.

The provincial joined Jesuits of SLU at the Jesuit Center for dinner on Feb. 8 and had a meeting afterward where the province told them that the finding of the investigations was culpability.

“To put it mildly, it was disappointing, it’s embarrassing, it’s mind-boggling that anyone would do such a thing, period end of story,” Suwalsky said.

The time of abuse for the majority of Jesuits on the USC Province list ranges between 1950-80s, making Meconi’s recent case especially surprising, Suwalsky said.

“But this is, of course, somebody that many of us knew and have worked with, which was quite unexpected. There are some faculty members who are more directly impacted who worked in his department and you know, so they saw him as a colleague, a professional, as a theologian. So this is not how you typically think your coworker is going to be,” Suwalsky said.

Theological Studies Department Chair Daniel Smith said the news has “shaken” his department.

“[I] voice my support for the victims/ survivors of sexual abuse, and to urge folks to learn more about what we can do to stop abuse and help those impacted by it,” Smith said in an email

to the University News.

Campus Ministry hosted an event the following day for “healing and lament,” with an attendance of approximately 10 people.

“Campus didn’t seem to be turned upside down or anything, which was a little bit unexpected. I thought there would be a lot more shock among the general student body,” Gillam said.

The muted reaction may be in part due to the news breaking right before SLU’s mental wellness day. Still, much of the SLU community is struggling to process the news.

“My heart hurts a lot for everyone impacted,” Gillam said.

Suwalsky said he addressed the news at Mass Thursday night. There is also a concern for young alumni who knew Meconi, he said, as it is harder to assess their reactions or support them collectively.

“For Catholic Studies, we were concerned about how much would fall on them,” Suawlsky said. “He had a pretty robust fundraising program to support Catholic Studies. How some of those donors might respond, we’re keeping an eye on that.”

Accusations of priests in the Catholic Church molesting minors and vulnerable adults date back to the 1950s. A Church-commissioned report in 2004 found that 4,000 Roman Catholic priests face sexual abuse allegations in the last 50 years. Pope Francis, who was appointed pope in 2013, has taken several steps to combat the sex abuse crisis. In March, he released his reform program of the Holy See bureaucracy and one of the changes included bringing the pope’s advisory committee on the prevention of sexual abuse into the Vatican’s powerful doctrine office which oversees the Church’s investigations of abuse cases.

This shift establishes the committee as a more permanent and powerful entity. Its members who include abuse survivors can exert influence on the decisions taken by the prelates who weigh whether predator priests are sanctioned and how The Society of Jesus is accredited by Praesidium, Inc., a national organization that establishes and maintains rigorous standards for protecting children from religious and

other institutions. Every five years, the province is audited and evaluated, in order to maintain accreditation.

Jesuits undergo annual training on proper behavior and protection of children and vulnerable adults. Additionally, Suawlsky said any Jesuit, especially a priest, has to present a letter of Good Standing to the archbishop in order to be able to celebrate the sacraments at SLU.

“When I was first ordained, this was not required. It’s much stricter today. The training is pretty sophisticated today. So it’s a little surprising. It’s not like you could do something and not know that it was inappropriate,” Suwalsky said.

Carol Zarinelli Brescia, USC Province Coordinator of Pastoral Support and Outreach wrote in an email statement to the University News that sexual abuse violates trust and causes physical, psychological and spiritual pain for the victims as well as their families and communities.

“In my role… I receive reports of sexual abuse by Jesuits. I listen compassionately to individuals’ experiences of sexual abuse and respond pastorally, helping them find counseling and other resources to assist in their healing,” Brescia said.

As the university continues to assess reactions and respond to the community’s needs, Suwalsky said he feels a “sense of betrayal” like everyone else but urges students not to assign guilt on SLU’s other Jesuit employees.

“There’s plenty of reasons for us to see one another as sinners and worthy of redemption, the offer of redemption, but this is a whole different level,” Suawlsky said.

Moving forward, Gillam hopes that both the global Church and SLU’s Jesuit community continue to deal with allegations of abuse in an urgent and transparent manner.

“You have to pray for the victims. We can’t just look at our own image as a church and say, what are people going to think of us?” Gillam said. “Because when the church becomes self-centered, when the church only just stands and looks in a mirror, that’s poison.”

*The Province urges anyone who has experienced sexual abuse by a Jesuit to report the offense to law enforcement. Survivors are also encouraged to call Carol Zarinelli Brescia at 314-915-7168.

HOW SLU STUDENTS CAN SHOW SOLIDARITY TO THE IRAN CRISIS

says that learning of the events through the media has been difficult. Initially, the news of the protests felt bittersweet. “As an Iranian-American, my feelings were a mix of hope and sadness. The news of continual protest brings me hope that the current regime will fall and the people will be free after over 40 years of oppression,” Germani

As the protests continued, though, Germani felt the events on a personal

(Ariana Magafas/The University News)

By GABBY CHIODO Managing Editor & MADELYN KEIB Staff Writer

On Saturday, Feb. 11, Iran celebrated the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The 1978 uprising toppled the existing Iranian monarchy and created the Islamic Republic. Iranian citizens marched through the streets carrying flags and posters with slogans of religious and revolutionary statements.

The anniversary echoes the recent political unrest the country has experienced since early Sept. Protests erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an IranianKurdish woman who was detained by the country’s morality police. Protests lasted for months and human rights groups have estimated that nearly 20,000 protestors have been jailed and 527 have been killed during the government’s attempts to silence the protests.

Matthew Nanes, a professor of political science at SLU, explained

that it would be difficult for permanent change to take place unless Iranian allies were to step up and publicly back the protests in Iran.

“A failed protest emboldens the government,” Nanes said, emphasizing that the time to take action is now. He suggests that in order to make a difference, community members must speak out, while keeping the protests in Iran dominating the media cycle.

Nanes says that “the people who are protesting are just like us” – they want everyday freedoms that people in the United States have. This is especially true for women who are held to very strict standards under Iranian law, requiring them to wear hijabs at all times in public.

Nanes says that finding a way to support those around you is as key for students as it is likely everyone on campus knows someone who has been affected by the protests.

Overall, the reaction to the ongoing crisis on SLU’s campus has been relatively mild. “I’m concerned that there isn’t more discussion about this on campus and in the international media. The coverage on Iran is basically zero at this point,” Nanes said.

Some students, though, feel the impact of these events every day.

Roseanne Germani, a senior at

SLU,

“On the other hand, watching children as young as nine years old being murdered at the hands of the government breaks my heart,” Germani said.

Additionally, the SLU community must educate themselves on the crisis, whether they are directly impacted or not, Germani said.

“I wish SLU students understood that the people of Iran are fighting for basic human rights and to get their country back. It’s important to understand that the people are separate from the fundamentalist government currently in power,” Germani said.

Germani is not the only student speaking out for Iranian citizens and students.

Last semester, students gathered at the clocktower to show their support for students protesting the Iranian government’s regime. The event was hosted in conjunction with a callin advocacy day in support of House Concurrent 110 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 47. These bills are official acts “commending the bravery, courage and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 80 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian government’s human rights abuses.”

According to Nanes, other countries supporting the protests and revolutions could turn the tides in favor of the citizens.

On a local level, however, there are ways SLU students can help.

“Educating ourselves on what is happening in Iran is key. The Iranian government needs to be held accountable by the international community, and we can do this by spreading the news about the terrible things that they are doing,” Germani said.

Nanes echoes a similar sentiment and says the protestors differ in their exact goals but share a common theme of freedom.

Germani and other students continue to watch as the events unfold across the globe with hope that permanent change can come from the revolution.

“Iran is a highly educated country with a beautiful history and culture. My hope is that the outcome of this revolution is such that the hundreds of innocent lives lost were not for nothing” Germani concludes.

“I wish SLU students understood that the people of Iran are fighting for basic human rights and to get their country back,” Roseanne Germani said.

SLU SUSTAINABLITY EFFORTS ARE THEY ENOUGH?

By ASHLEIGH RYBSKI Staff Writer

saint Louis University has been taking measures towards creating a campus that participates in numerous sustainable practices.

Starting in 2009, campuswide initiatives were made when SLU introduced single-stream recycling. In 2014, two important energy and water consumption goals were introduced.

Although the Office of Sustainability disbanded in 2016 due to reported budget issues, SLU’s methods to decrease waste through recycling and composting have created an overall positive change. But, the university has struggled to ensures that these things are being practiced properly.

Jeff Macko, Director of Grounds and Custodial Services, said that his staff ensure the bathrooms remain clean, the trash and recycling is emptied, the lawn is taken care of, and as of recently, other roles related to sustainability.

SLU has done a lot to decrease energy usage by changing its energy sources through LED lighting, daylight harvesting, solar panels, and LEED certification,” Macko said.

Macko is also a contact point for Green Billikens, said Lia Basden, who is president of the organization. Macko said that due to his role, he found himself suddenly affiliated with this particular group and SLU’s Sustainability Committee.

Basden said she is particularly disappointed by the decision to do away with the Sustainability Office because it leaves her feeling as though the university is not prioritizing necessary sustainable practices.

“I just feel like the fact that we do not have an Office of Sustainability anymore is very telling, because although I totally understand sacrifices have to be made, I don’t think I would believe it if someone told me we don’t have the budget,” Basden said.

The SLU website continues to provide information about the Office of Sustainability despite its hiatus.

Macko explains that since the disbanding SLU has had to operationalize sustainability into what the Department of Facilities does.

“We have definitely had to take on some of the responsibilities as a result,” Macko said.

Subsequently, SLU is attempting to make do with the limited resources it has available. Basden said she believes the university could be doing more if there are more resources.

It is evident that the disassembly of the Sustainability Division has left other key contributors feeling the pressure to uphold SLU’s sustainability efforts, including its student organizations.

“Trying to get student policy initiatives approved is too much of an uphill battle,” Basden said.

“It’s hard for us to focus on creating actual systemic, sustainable changes because we don’t have that Sustainability Office connection that we used to.”

In comparison, at Washington University in St. Louis, there are several green groups focused on a particular aspect of sustainability. The groups have access to address the intricateness of its various practices due to the provided institutional resources.

“That’s why I do think that we [Green Billikens] try to put more energy into community engagement rather than policy because changing the overall atmosphere and culture of the campus is going to be more immediately beneficial,” Basden said. “The hope is to create a community of people who care about sustainability.”

Arguably, however, the rising student populations can encourage university involvement with the cause, professor and researcher for the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Benjamin de Foy said.

“That’s the job of the current student groups, who make sure there’s continuity as seniors graduate, by finding new people to keep what they’re doing going,” de Foy said.

One action that SLU has taken that de Foy is optimistic about is its signing up to be a Laudato Si’ University. The Laudato Si’ Action Plan, “is a worldwide plan led in Rome by the Vatican to get

universities to sign up and do things for sustainability,” de Foy said.

When a university signs on to be a part of this organization, it is promising to make a commitment to form a group of students, faculty, and administrators to be more conscious and aware of their actions.

“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents”, Pope Francis said in his encyclical, Laudato Si’.

In the recorded session, Apostolic Preference: Working Together to Care for the Earth, our Common Home, SLU faculty met on April 1, 2022 to discuss what this action plan looks like for the university. The plan was created in May 2022 and is expected to be completed by May of this year.

“We are trying to come up with a plan to send to the provost. We ideally would like to hire a coordinator for the Laudato Si’ Action Program at SLU, and then create a structure around that coordinator,” de Foy said. “There are lots of things happening already on campus, but they do tend to be a little disjointed; there are many individual initiatives that aren’t necessarily connected.”

SLU hopes to showcase the efforts it has already made, while bringing the people leading the initiatives together, in order for word to be spread cohesively around the university.

“It is an invitation to all of us to grow in our little corner of the world on the planet,” Christy Hicks Aydt, a Campus Minister at SLU, said during the session.

As aforementioned, in 2009, SLU attempted to increase their waste diversion rate by 30 percent through the implementation of single-stream recycling. This practice refers to putting all recycling into a single bin rather than separating it by material type. By enacting single-stream recycling, the university is attempting to eliminate the problems that arise when leaving students to sort their own recycling.

Despite being an important initiative, SLU has not published recent

sustainability reports about waste diversion quotas or other sustainability efforts.

“We are probably not meeting it. In 2019, when COVID came, we had to focus on other things. We have probably plateaued now,” Macko said. “I’d like to see us do a better job with singlestream recycling. When I first came here in 2000, we hardly had anything. We’ve come a long way, it’s just getting to that next step.”

Macko said he used to handle the numbers for RecycleMania, a national intercollegiate competition to promote waste recycling and reduction programs, before its abrupt pause due to COVID.

There are blue recycling bins that can be found in buildings all around campus with stickers suggesting, ‘When in doubt, recycle!’ Basden said this messaging is counterintuitive.

“This is super frustrating because that is the exact opposite of what you are supposed to do,” Basden said. “People also just generally don’t know much about recycling because it’s not something we are ever taught, which adds to the issue.”

(Evie Nguyen/The University News)

Arts and life

“SET IT UP” IS THE BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE LAST 10 YEARS

By MORGAN HAUSBACK Copy Editor

In the world of romantic comedies, it tends to be universally accepted that three actresses sit at the top of the throne: Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan. These actresses each appeared in a wide range of romantic comedies during the ‘90s and early 2000s, a period that is often referred to as “the golden age of the romantic comedy.”

Few romantic comedies released in the past 20 years have lived up to the expectations of the love story golden age. Many romantic comedy lovers, myself included, had resigned themselves to be great defenders of the golden age, believing the rom-com to be dead. However, at last, there is a romantic comedy that has captivated audiences like the classics, and there is finally a leading lady worthy of the attention of romantic saps everywhere.

“Set It Up” is a Netflix original romantic comedy released in 2018, directed by Claire Scanlon. Two assistants, played by Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch, set up their demanding employers, played by Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu, to fall in love, and per the typical flow of a romantic comedy, find themselves falling in love as well.

The film has quickly become a new favorite for seasoned romantic comedy watchers, with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Since the film’s release four years ago, Deutch has spoken on the film’s success with “Interview Magazine,” speaking on the state of the genre.

“When ‘Set It Up’ came out, there was not a single rom-com on the scene. Nobody was making rom-coms, nobody wanted to, it was a dirty word, a dirty genre. ‘Set It Up’ came out, was an accidental huge hit for Netflix,” said Deutch.

When it comes to romantic comedies, most people prefer the traditional formula, and that may be why this movie has experienced the success that other contemporary rom-coms have failed to grasp. Overthinking the plot of a romantic comedy is typically the film’s inevitable downfall. People like what’s coming to them, they like knowing what to expect. In a rom-com, there are a few elements that satisfy this scheme.

First, a good rom-com will always begin with “the meet cute,” or when the leads become acquainted with one another in an unexpected, yet charming way. In “Set It Up,” Deutch and Powell meet during a dispute over paying for their bosses’ dinners. Another vital factor that eventually leads to the main characters falling in love with each other is the conflict of an existing partner, which in this film is Charle’s stunning model girlfriend.

However, one of the most important romantic comedy trope elements lies in the female lead: the manic pixie dream girl, or the characteristic found in the woman that leads the man to inevitably confess, “But you’re not like other girls!” While this trope has been relatively explored and discarded in recent years, elements of it still exist and arguably are worth keeping in a rom-com.

In “Set It Up,” Harper’s “I’m not like other girls” qualities are more subtle and realistic. First, there is her sentimental interest and fascination with the elderly Olympics. Her main dream girl trait is revealed at a baseball game, when she complains to Charlie, “Guys think that they like girls who like sports. What they actually like is a girl in a very tight sports jersey, serving them wings and getting the terminology wrong.

Guys like girls who like guys who like sports.” While Deutch’s character exposes the reality of the manic, pixie girl trope in this line, her character still perpetuates this beloved romantic comedy trait.

While Powell is delightfully dorky, as all the best romantic comedy men are, it is Deutch who captivates this film. The frazzled but enchanting presence of a rom-com woman is the key to an iconic lead. What made actresses like Meg Ryan stand out in romantic comedies was the ability to occupy film space in a less obvious way. It is not the looks of Sally Albright in “When Harry Met Sally” that makes her a delightful lead, it is her character, which Deutch possesses. Prolific rom-com stars have become memorable for their ability to stand out within each film they are in.

The Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” is not the same Julia Roberts of “Notting Hill.” Similarly, the character Deutch plays in “Set It Up” is not the same as her character in the holiday film, “Something from Tiffany’s.” What remains static is her appeal and charm as a leading lady worth remembering. This is how a romantic comedy natural is made.

“Set It Up” is available to watch on Netflix.

(Photo courtesy of IMDb)

“Crazy Stupid Love...” Or so you think

The Importance of Destigmatizing Romance Media

By AIDAN DESPAIN Contributor

More often than most like to admit, heteronormative romantic books and movies are written off as bad, too emotional or “girly,” which has an extremely negative effect on the general population of men around the country. Men are not less masculine for enjoying such media, quite the opposite actually. Men miss out on many great movies, books and artists when they subscribe to the stigma that they are any less of a man by liking “The Notebook,” “The Princess Bride,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love” or Lady Gaga. They also may miss out on some key experiences that lead to emotional maturity and being a good partner.

When men decide to ignore any form of media that they may deem girly or emotional, they often become entirely deprived of wonderful movies and books. Although, in the opinion of some, award ceremonies such as the Oscars may be a poor representation of what is considered a good movie, the award for “best picture” is not given out lightly. So when romance movies have accumulated more than 40 of the 93 winners of the award, it is fairly unreasonable to sort all romance movies into the assumption that they are not good cinema, especially considering how they provide a good lens into everyday life and can even become a form of escapism for viewers.

Not only are there hundreds of great romance movies that men may be missing, but the average man may be missing out on the development of his emotions.

Many people can agree that a person who is more in sync with how they are feeling can be an effective communicator

and a generally less abrasive person. By taking in more traditionally emotional media, men may, in turn, become more in tune with their own sensitive feelings. When a man goes without any kind of romantic media, there is a likelihood of an entire lack of sensitivity that he has toward others and even himself because when a man spends more time around the ideas of romance and being vulnerable to his feelings, he may be more susceptible to doing that in his day-to-day life.

Dr. Ronald Rogge, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, conducted a study on the effects of romantic movie viewing on men in romantic relationships. After his study, he concluded that increased consumption of that media is said to heighten the awareness and acknowledgement of the personal responsibility of men in relationships, rendering the men’s relationships happier than prior to the viewing. The romantic media a man decides to consume fosters a healthier relationship with others, even his partner. Even without analyzing said media, a man may develop a better idea of how he should conduct himself in his relationship from the dynamics explored in the movies.

When men dismiss romantic media as something less-than, too emotional or girly, they are barring themselves from some delightful pieces of literature, cinema, and music. Not only that, but they are also depriving themselves of the opportunity to cultivate truly important emotional growth. This not only benefits men themselves but also the people around them. Romantic media should be considered a requisite to men’s sensitivity, not a destructor of their masculinity.

(Evie Nguyen / The University News)

Valentine’s Day

A Capitalist Excuse or a Rosy Day for Love?

By MC PAVLICK Contributor

It is that time of year again. The stores are filled with red roses and heart boxes of mostly mediocre chocolates. You probably either love it or hate it, and you guessed it, it’s Valentine’s Day. If you are in a relationship, you are likely asked what plans you have for the special holiday. If you are not being asked about your plans, you are either making plans with friends or maybe avoiding the topic altogether. Quite possibly the best option out of all of these: you are in a situationship and have no idea what’s going to happen. Will they, won’t they? Depending on your situation, this holiday may be a time to celebrate love or it might be a nuisance.

Gabby Chiodo, a SLU junior, spoke on the holiday as a primarily capitalist construct.

Valentine’s Day is simply a “capitalist ploy,” said Chiodo.

This year, consumers spent an estimated $26 billion on Valentine’s Day. So much for money cannot buy you love.

However, others have quite an appreciation for the side effects of the capitalization of this holiday. Makenzie Bauer, also a junior, spoke on the compelling consumer gain after the holiday.

The holiday is the “perfect excuse for discount chocolate three days later,” Bauer said. Kaley Schrameyer, a junior, continued on the shameless consumption of sweets. “Hey, at least I won’t be judged for buying excessive amounts of chocolate,” Schrameyer said.

So, maybe Valentine’s day is not such a controversial and mediocre holiday? Who does not love lots of chocolate at a quality price?

The holiday is not only about red roses and heart boxes but about the intersection of love and romance. An intersection some think should be separated.

Erin Conley, also a SLU junior, spoke on the effects of romance on love, particularly around the holiday. “Love should not be gatekept by romance,” she said.

Valentine’s Day tends to combine the concepts of love and romance, but should the two really go together? Love can and should be celebrated outside of the bounds and opinions of those who view the holiday as only a celebration of romantic relationships. Instead, the

holiday can be considered a celebration of love in every aspect of life.

College students are entering a time in their lives where friends become family, a companionate love that should and could be celebrated with roses and chocolates. Just as one might tell a romantic partner how much they appreciate their love and presence, friends should always tell each other the same. Whether people have a planned Galentine’s celebration (or other less gendered gatherings) or not, now is as good a time as any to tell friends and family that they are loved for many reasons.

Since it is Valentine’s Day, might as well be corny and acknowledge the best type of love: self love. It’s preached all day long, but how often is it really lived out? Valentine’s Day is not only a celebration of love between people, friends and family but of self-love too. Advocated as part of our daily routine, the day dedicated to love should include the love we give and have towards ourselves.

Sydney Gallagher, also a junior, spoke on the greatness of celebrating Valentine’s Day alone.

“Valentine’s Day is more fun when you’re single,” said Gallagher.

While it may be important to celebrate a partner, friend or yourself it is impossible to do so without recognizing the social constraints that come with this holiday. For days, weeks or even months there can be a looming wonder of what to do on this February day.

Is it really worth the capitalization and traditional romance? The industry has become aware of the whole “loving yourself trend,” and several options popped up this year for those choosing themselves first on Cupid’s day.

Local salons and spas offered special deals to

“treat yourself” instead of just the typical couple’s massage special deal. A local art gallery, Luminary, provided an art healing event centered on selfcompassion. With local abstract contemporary artist, Lu Ray, participants engaged in mindful artmaking by collaging.

It’s time to reimagine this holiday as more than the traditional romantic relationship, but a celebration of love for all, whether it be spent alone, with a partner, with a friend, in a situation in between or days after with half-priced chocolate. Doing what you truly love and how you truly love it is what this holiday should and could be about. Whether it is buying yourself some flowers or balloons, treating yourself or someone else, telling someone you love and

Arts and life

A Look Inside KB’s Sweets, LLC.

A Local Black-Woman Owned Dessert and Coffee Business

KB’s Sweets, LLC, is proudly owned by St. Louis native, Kandies Bailey. From a young age, Bailey was interested in entrepreneurship. She always found herself spearheading her own innovations while working regular jobs when she needed to. After graduating from Mehlville Sr. High School in 1997, she quickly realized that her passion in life was to be a self-starter.

As time went on, Bailey found herself drawn to starting her own baking business, with her main motivators being a curiosity for exploring all that baking has to offer and a passion rooted in her childhood.

“Growing up, I always saw my grandmother baking and I knew that was something I wanted to do,” Bailey said.

“However, when I got older, I found myself getting distracted with other tasks. I would be so captivated by the idea of baking, but find it so much easier to grab something from Schnucks instead. Finally, though, I made myself do it. And I never went back,” Bailey said. This marked the birth of KB’s Sweets, LLC.

KB’s Sweets are made to order. Bailey’s specialty is her cupcakes, which she carefully handcrafts to match the theme based on customer requests. Using a plethora of different types of flavors and ingredients, she often finds

herself making cupcakes for birthdays, weddings and all types of celebrations. In addition to her cupcakes, Bailey also creates custom cakes for all occasions and chocolate-dipped fruit. Her specialties include chocolate-dipped strawberries and pineapple.

However, KB’s Sweets’ niche is that the company makes its own coffee.

“I just had surgery and wanted to see how my business could stand out from the rest. That was when I decided to see if I could add coffee to KB’s Sweets,” Bailey said.

“My reason for this is because most of the time when you get a dessert, you get coffee. And so, I decided to do some research on how to create my own coffee brand.”

After partnering with Specialty Java, Bailey began the journey toward creating her own coffee. Today, KB’s Sweets is the only Blackfemale owned coffee brand in St. Louis.

Bailey manufactures four blends of coffee: a hazelnut brew called “Pretty Girls”, a caramel, hazelnut and butterscotch blend called “Ambrose Delight”, a dark roast called “Boss Kandy,” and lastly, “Kool Kupcakes,”which is a medium dark roast. At this time, she is seeking to sell more coffee.

When asked about what the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur was, Bailey emphasized that doing something that is for

By STASIA HANONICK Copy Editor

“her” and it being a passion she has set out to do brings her lots of joy.

“I want KB Sweets to be the brand you get everything you asked for. I will go over and beyond to make sure you get the best quality. My mission is to put smiles on people’s faces,” Bailey said.

When asked the million-dollar-question of what her favorite dessert creation was, Bailey delightedly shared her favorite recipes.

“There are two things that are my favorite creations: my cupcakes, but also my “Boss Kandy Pudding.” The original is a banana pudding with a bunch of add-ins. When I make it, I make everything from scratch. Then there is a chocolate flavor. It is the same process but I add chocolate brownies and chocolate chunks. There is also a strawberry version of the pudding, with strawberry brownies and strawberries. And lastly, there is a white chocolate one with white chocolate brownies and white chocolate chips.”

Check out Bailey’s website at www.kbs-sweets. myshopify.com.

For those wanting to order Bailey’s specialties, both local delivery and shipping are available.

(Photo Courtesy of KB Sweets, LLC.)

On Saturday February 11th, Saint Louis University honored the strength and bravery of those fighters, survivors, and souls lost to Breast Cancer at the women’s basketball game against George Washington. The arena was buzzing with pink ribbons and sense of hope as everyone rallied in support behind those impacted by Breast Cancer.

By Emma Duman

Photo Editor

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

S O U L A R D M A R D I

By PAIGE FANN Photography Editor

G R A S P A R A D E

By EMMA DUMAN Photography Editor

Name: Haley Wagner and Teddy

Year: Junior

Major: Health Sciences

Favorite Moment this Semester:

“I went to a Taylor Swift Trivia Night, hosted by Student Activities Board and that was pretty fun.

What are you looking forward to:

“I am looking foward to the weather getting nicer. I love coming onto campus in the spring, especially when they plant the Slulips [Tulips]”

Photography BILL I KENS

OF SLU

By PAIGE FANN Photography Editor

Name: Ryan Moore

Year: Junior

Major: Communication

Favorite Moment this Semester:

“It was probably the other day when it was super nice. I just sat outside and did some homework, and that’s really nice when it’s a sunny day.

What are you looking forward to: “Definitely Spring Break, and going on vacation with my dad”

Name: Maddy Wysocky

Year: Junior

Major: Communication and Theater, with a Film Studies Minor

Favorite Moment this Semester:

“Being in this play called The Wolves, with SLU Theater. It’s an all female play, and it’s just been really fun. Having a group of girls that love what we are doing, and putting on a powerful show.

What are you looking forward to:

“I’m feeling kind of bittersweet about it [Senior Year]. I’m really trying to soak it all up before I’m gone. But so far, it’s been a good semester.”

CARDINALS GEAR UP FOR SPRING TRAINING

By EMMA BROWKA Staff Writer

As the MLB season approaches, St. Louisans are buzzing with excitement. With spring training starting in February, and opening day in late March, St. Louis baseball fans look forward to watching their Cardinals in action. The loyalty of both Cardinals fans and players has been apparent in the last few years as the team has been successful in regular season play. This past season, the Cardinals clinched the National League Central Division title, bringing them to a 93-69 overall record. Despite the Cardinals’ successes in the regular season, the postseason did not match the pace. In fact, the Cardinals fell 93-71 in their postseason efforts. For the past three years, the Cardinals have lost in the National League Wild Card series, with the most recent being a home loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, who later advanced to the World Series in 2022. This was the second time that the Cardinals and the Phillies had ever met in the postseason, with the first time being the 2011 National League Division Series. Of the 11 World Series titles earned for the Cardinals, the last time they recorded a World Series win was in 2011. This number leads the National League in World Series wins and is second in all of the MLB.

The desire to end the 11-year drought and bring home another World Series title is the main motivation for the Cardinals in anticipating the 2023 season. This dream was part of what prompted Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals’ star third baseman, to decline the opt-out clause in his contract and stay in St. Louis. When this decision was made, Arenado had 5 years and $144 million left of his contract with the Cardinals. Opting out would have allowed him to give up these years with the Cardinals and become a free agent in search of a higher paying contract with another team. Arenado mentioned that this decision was an easy one for him to make, saying that he loves both St.

Louis and his team. In recent years, many Cardinals players have been choosing to stay for upcoming seasons rather than look for other placements. This shows the up-and-coming culture of winning that the team is striving for. Arenado believes the team has what it takes to win it all this year, and Cardinals fans are hoping he is right.

As Arenado recently chose to extend his career with the Cardinals, pitcher Adam Wainwright

standing veteran pitcher Jesse Haines’ 210 wins. After 17 years with the Cardinals, Haines set this record that has been held since 1937. In what will be his eighteenth season with the Cardinals, Wainwright holds confidence in both himself and his team to do what it takes to win.

Whether you are a Cardinals fan or otherwise, this year’s team has great potential for success. Baseball fans all over the country should be on the lookout for the Cardinals this year. The diversity in skill sets as well as the bond between the players gives fans a reason to excitedly anticipate the start of the season.

You can watch the Cardinals start spring training on Feb. 25 in Jupiter, Florida with an exhibition game against the Nationals.

Nothing is ever guaranteed, but St. Louis is building itself into a team that has real potential of advancing far into the postseason.

decided the upcoming season would be his last. After a disappointing end to the 2022 season, Wainwright was dissatisfied with his performance feeling that he could have contributed more. Wainwright feels as though he owes it to the fans to return for one last season. He is returning to what he claims is a “World Series Team.” In his final season, Wainwright is also looking to write his name in Cardinals’ history by becoming the pitcher with the second most wins for the team. He is currently at 195 wins for the Cardinals and is looking towards 211 in order to bypass long-

(Graphic/ Evie Nguyen)

The Cardinals will officially kick off on March 30 with their first regular season contest at Busch Stadium, where they will face the Blue Jays, hoping to start the season strong

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHTS

By NORA KOTNIK Sports Editor

Teddy Ament - Swim & Dive

Teddy Ament is a freshman swimmer from Rockville, Maryland. On top of having a very successful inaugural season, Ament had a very successful postseason. This past weekend at the Atlantic 10 swim and dive tournament, Ament capped his season off by setting two school records in the men’s 1650 free finishing 15:53.11, and his 9:33.96 split for 1000 yards also established a new record.

Brooke Flowers - Women’s Basketball

Brooke Flowers is a 6-foot-5 senior from Saint Louis. Flowers contributes greatly and plays a pivotal role in the success of the Women’s Basketball team. This year, Flowers was added to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. In addition to this feat, Flowers beat SLU’s women’s basketball record for blocks in a game, hitting 364 total blocks and counting.

Elizabeth Mintusova - Women’s Tennis

Elizabeth Mintusova is a senior tennis player from Moscow, Russia. She has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Tennis Performer of the week for Feb. 6-12. This marks the third Performer of the Week award of Mintusova’s career.

Matt De Haas - Track & Field

Matt De Haas is a junior on the Track and Field Team. De Haas is a distance runner from Wassenaar, Netherlands. During his performance in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts, De Haas made a statement in establishing a new school record in the 800 meters, winning his heat with a time of 1:51.57.

NEW YEAR, MORE FOOTBALL

By NORA KOTNIK Sports Editor

Since the St. Louis Rams moved to Los Angeles in 2016, St. Louis has been deprived of football in its own city for almost seven years. Until now. The St. Louis Battlehawks are to make their official return to the XFL since their shutdown in 2020. On Feb. 18, eight new teams will be returning to the XFL, one of those teams being the St. Louis Battlehawks.

In addition to the St. Louis Battlehawks, the XFL will be adding six further teams: the Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, D. C. Defenders, Orlando Guardians and the Vegas Vipers.

The Battlehawks will be coached by Anthony Becht. Becht was a talented tight end who attended West Virginia University. Following his collegiate career, Becht was selected as the 27th overall pick in the NFL draft, taking his talents to the New York Jets in 2000. From then on, he has played with various teams: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs, racking up a total of 11 years within the NFL space. After his time in the NFL, Becht went on to coach and develop young talent. He worked at IMG Academy for six years, in addition to coaching in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl for some time. Most recently, he was the Offensive Coordinator for Wiregrass High School. Due to his experience playing professionally and his experience coaching at various levels, Becht is expected to be an incredible leader and coach to the returning Battlehawks.

Head Coach Anthony Becht said,

Becht said, “We cannot wait to get out there and get after it. The Battlehawks are ready to bring football greatness back to our city and make you all proud. We will see you repping

Blue and Gray at The Dome! Ka Kaw!”

As the upcoming XFL season is approaching, there are star players that are expected to bring a lot to the overall lineup.

The first player drafted by the Battlehawks was Jordan Ta’amu, a 23-year-old quarterback. Ta’amu is in fact the youngest quarterback in the XFL. After his successful collegiate career at the University of Mississippi finished, his goal was to play in the NFL. After his efforts in consistently sticking with a NFL team failed, he turned to the XFL. The Battlehawks as a whole will benefit from his speed, youthfulness and overall energy.

Christine Michael, an explosive athlete and powerful running back will contribute his talents to the Battlehawks this season. Michael appeared in 2 Super Bowl’s for the Seattle Seahawks, backup to iconic Marshawn Lynch. Throughout his career in the NFL he has played for various teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, eventually ending his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018.

Coming from the Washington Commanders and the Indianapolis Colts is running back, Matt Jones. He has extended experience in the NFL space which will set him apart when representing the St. Louis Battlehawks at the XFL level.

The Battlehawks home field will be located in The Dome at America’s Center. The XFL partners with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN.

(Photo Courtesy of XFL)

“St. Louis, I know you’re ready to welcome the Battlehawks back to the best sports city in the world!”

MEN’S BASKETBALL REMAINS HOPEFUL

By ISMAEL DOMIN Staff Writer

Billikens men’s basketball entered February in the hunt for the best record in the Atlantic 10 (A-10), half a game behind the VCU Rams in the standings. Halfway through the month, the Bills have slipped down to third in the standings, going 2-2 so far this month. They lost the battle for the number one seed against VCU 6573 at home. They bounced back with a 76-71 home win against Rhode Island before losing 56-70 to Dayton on the road. Their most recent game was a 78-65 home win against Davidson. The Bills have five games remaining in their season prior to the conference tournament. Based on last year, the Bills would need to either have the best record in the A-10 or win the tournament if they want to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.

During this stretch, the Billikens have averaged 68.75 points per game, with 20.75 coming from sophomore sharpshooter Gibson Jimerson, who has scored exactly 24 points in each of SLU’s home games this month. Jimerson leads the Billikens in scoring for the second year in a row, and on high efficiency to boot. This month he’s shooting 50.9% from the field including 50% from the 3-point range. Billiken Head Coach Travis Ford has showcased his trust in Jimerson’s skill, playing him 37.25 minutes per game out of a possible 40. The shooting guard is also swiping 1.5 steals and pulling down 3 rebounds per game. Despite still being a sophomore, Jimerson is on the cusp of being in SLU’s top 20 career points leaders.

Jimerson leads the Billikens in scoring, however, the offense runs through junior point guard Yuri Collins. For a second year in a row, Collins is leading the nation in assists, dishing out 10 per game. Collins set a career high earlier this season, joining only 19

other players in the NCAA since 1983 to reach 20 assists in a game. Over the last four games, Collins has averaged 10 points, 9 assists and 1.75 steals per game all while being the team’s primary perimeter defender. Against Davidson, Collins held the Wildcats’ leading scorer, Foster Loyer to 8 points on 1-8 shooting from the field and 0-6 from beyond the arc. Going into the game Loyer was averaging 15.9 points per game. Collins is on pace to finish the season in SLU’s top 5 for career steals and is a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nation’s top point guard, as well as the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which honors the overall most outstanding college basketball player.

The Billikens’ interior defense is anchored by senior big man Francis Okoro. Okoro is second in the conference in rebounding and third in blocks. To critics, it would appear that Okoro has been struggling during this stretch. His rebounding and shot blocking have been below his averages from earlier in the season, but Okoro is shooting an impressive .529 from the field these past four games on 4.25 attempts per game for 4.75 points each night. Coach Ford has a lot of praise for Okoro’s work ethic and has said that he would like to increase Okoro’s offensive role as well as that of fellow senior big man, Jake Forrester. It would be unfair to criticize Okoro for slightly decreased rebounding and shot blocking while also expecting him to become a more reliable offensive option.

Other notable members of Ford’s rotation include big man Jake Forrester, sophomore guard Sincere Parker, and senior wings Jevon Pickett and Jevonte Perkins. Junior forward Terrence Hargrove Jr. Forrester leads the Bills

in field goal percentage at over 58%, and Ford has stated that he hopes to involve him in the offense more to take advantage of that efficiency. Forrester is currently averaging 3.75 field goal attempts per game over the last four games, a slow but definite increase from the previous four-game stretch. Prior to this stretch, Forrester hadn’t attempted more than 5 shots since the St. Bonaventure game on Jan. 7. He’s averaging 5 points, 3 rebounds and a block per game this month. Sincere Parker is providing 7.25 points per game and has made all 10 of his free throw attempts over the last four games. Parker is also playing solid defense, averaging a steal and a block per game with season highs for both against Rhode Island with 3 blocks and 2 steals in a 10 point outing. Wing duo Jevon Pickett and Jevonte Perkins have combined for 14 points per game on a shared efficiency of .359. Questionable shot selection has impeded their offensive output, as they attempt over 13 shots per game, but their ability to take over games in the clutch cannot be understated. Perkins has been elite with his 3 point shooting, firing at a 43.75% clip this month while Pickett exploded

in a tightly contested Davidson game for an incredibly efficient 16 points. Terrence “Hargrove Airlines” Hargrove is a high flying, rim-rattling, crowd pleaser. He entered the starting lineup in early January and has lived up to the pressure, averaging 7.77 points per game since entering the starting lineup. Hargrove delivered a season high 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting against Rhode Island. This February, Hargrove has averaged 7 points and 4 boards while exciting the crowd each game with his phenomenal dunking.

With the season end drawing closer Ford still has time to make adjustments, as shown by increased minutes for freshmen guard Larry Hughes Jr, and big man, Mouhamadou Cisse. The Billikens missed out on the NCAA tournament last season after finishing 5th in the standings. Coach Ford is looking for improvement this year and has faith that his team has the capability to achieve that.

(Emma Duman / The University News)

The People SLU Forgot About How SLU Neglected the Mental Health of Resident Advisors

By KATIE ROSS Contributor

It is no secret that the discussion surrounding student mental health at Saint Louis University has ramped up in the last year or so. After three undergraduate students died by suicide during the 2021 – 2022 school year, the administration was forced to face a harsh reality: their students were not and are not doing well.

In response to the tragedies and an overall deterioration of student mental health, the university extended the counseling center’s hours, planned designated mental health days and fostered open discussions. However, there is one group whose struggles went unnoticed, and whose mental health suffered at the hands of SLU’s blatant disregard: Resident Advisors. RAs are essential members of the Housing and Residence Life (HRL) team. According to their employment agreement, RAs are responsible for “identifying and assisting residents with personal, social, academic, or health-related concerns’’, as well as any other duties “assigned as needed.” In the spring of 2022, a former member of the HRL leadership team even went so far as to say that they “can never take their RA hats off.”

That is precisely why RAs struggle. They are never allowed to just be students. They are not trained mental health professionals or therapists. Yet, they are expected to handle any crisis, mental health related or otherwise, that a resident may be having with minimal support from people with adequate training.

130 undergraduate students are responsible for helping with anything that happens in a residence hall during non-business hours. From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weeknights there are only seven RAs on call for all of SLU’s campus. On weekend nights, there are also seven secondary RAs on call; however, that still leaves, at maximum, 14 people tasked with responding to whatever residents may call them about.

RAs offer support to residents in whatever ways they can, regularly sacrificing their mental health and well-being to be there for their kids. But unfortunately, more often than not, HRL fails to offer them much support in return.

The possible effects of secondary post-traumatic stress on RAs have not been studied much by those in student affairs, and the people who have studied or written about it are, like me, typically former RAs who believe it is an area that deserves more attention than it is getting. While working to develop a scale of secondary trauma for resident advisors, Jason Lynch, an associate professor of Educational Foundations and Leadership at Old Dominion University, found that over a third of the RAs he surveyed reported responding to resident crises as frequently as once a month to every day.

Lynch’s findings are startling but not surprising, and SLU’s Department of Housing and Residence Life is in no way immune.

With levels of trauma on college campuses increasing, institutions are quickly finding that they do not have enough professional personnel to help students effectively. Therefore, they are turning to increased firstresponder training for RAs. Case in point, HRL held mandatory mental health first aid training for all RAs in January 2022 in direct response to the two suicides in the fall and an increased need for mental health resources.

SLU relies on RAs with this additional training to respond to serious mental health incidents, but refuses to acknowledge how sitting in a room with a suicidal resident or a resident in crisis may affect the RA.

Grace Wilken, a former RA in Griesedieck Complex, emphasized that HRL’s general lack of support for their RAs last year was “astronomical” and that it “literally pulled me to one of the lowest parts of my life I think

I’ve ever been in.”

Wilken also said that on the night of the first suicide, her staff “had no help for ourselves, and when we asked what we could do for ourselves, we were told that we’re gonna have to be there for our residents first.”

In an effort to voice concerns about RA mental health, Wilken met with Manisha Ford-Thomas, the Director of HRL. She was told that the overall deterioration in the mental health of RAs across campus was “not something that [the leadership team] were witnessing from their end.” Wilken received no follow-up after her meeting.

Spencer Shreve, the current lead RA in the Village Apartments, does not “remember being checked up on” after helping with serious mental health on-call situations last year. Shreve also pointed out that “the emphasis on our mental health as employees has not been on the same level [as it has been for our residents], but … you can’t help other people unless you’re okay first.”

Ally Turner, an RA in the Village Apartments, echoed Shreve’s sentiment and said that after responding to intense situations “nothing happens, you just deal with it and… write your report, and no one follows up with you… you just have to deal with it on your own.” Turner said that the responsibility of being an RA, at times, makes her feel like she’s drowning, but that “HRL doesn’t come and save you, they just kind of let you drown.”

I was an RA in Fusz Hall during the 2021-2022 school year. I loved and cared for each and every one of my residents, oftentimes to my detriment. But I did not care about that because after three student suicides, I needed to make sure my kids were okay. However, no one checked in on me, not my boss, not his boss, not the professional staff that served as backup in severe oncall situations. No one. I was the most alone I have ever been.

HRL either does not notice or actively chooses to ignore the need for mental health support among their RAs. They not only exploit their RAs by forcing them to respond to situations no college student should have to, but they fail to offer them support after they are finished handling the situation. At an institution that stands for cura personalis, or care for the whole person, it is irresponsible. Again, Jason Lynch explains that “repeated exposure to those experiencing trauma can have deleterious effects on those who provide help and support”. These effects are precisely what HRL will not acknowledge.

It should boggle every mind on SLU’s campus that HRL sincerely believes RAs are okay on their own during and after helping with traumatic incidents. Even if they do know RAs need support, they certainly do not act in a way that conveys it, and their lack of action speaks louder than their words.

As Grace said, “it is truly a blessing knowing that I no longer work for a department that does not care about my mental health and well-being.” Goodbye, HRL, thank you for showing me how strong I could be on my own.

(Evie Nguyen / The University News)

Opinion

In the Wake of a School Shooting; Targets or Backpacks?

A look into Central Visual Performing Arts High School and where they are now

By LAUREN

Senior Mikayla Sanders of Central Visual Performing Arts High School (CVPA) experienced the tragedy that killed both student Alexandria Bell and teacher Jean Kuczka who each died of a single gunshot wound.

On Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, Sanders was in her Teacher’s Aid period, which was gym. She reported that around 9:10 a.m. was when she heard the first screams, just before a security guard ran into the gym yelling for them to go under lockdown protocol. The students piled into the only locker room that locked with their gym teacher, coach Heather Kristof, and began to hide. Sanders felt shocked and scared, as her little cousin also went to the school, and she could not get in contact with him.

“I was standing around trying to make sure that everyone was quiet. At some point after the fire alarm went off someone came banging on the door. This is when I began to cry because I was truly scared that this might be it for me,” Sanders said.

Sanders tried to comfort the underclassmen. She held their hands and sent texts to her family, also lending her phone to others who did not have one, but struggled to keep herself together – an unreasonable ask of anyone. When she began to hear sirens, it confirmed the feeling that this was serious. It was real.

At around 9:30 a.m., the police came in to get them out of the locker room. As the students ran out, they stepped over trails of blood, and moved through the exit while Sander believed the shooter was still in the building. They ran up the hill to the local Schnucks where they would be safe. Sanders frantically pushed through the crowd looking for her friends and little cousin. Once she had found her cousin, his mom took them home.

Sanders later found out that the screams she heard came from Alexandria Bell, the young student who died on the scene.

CVPA canceled school for about a month after the shooting. When the students came back, they had support dogs, the bells were turned off, therapists/ counselors were available to the students in the

hall, and they had half days for the first couple of weeks back. Except, this is not a solution. This is not how to stop gun violence. Change needs to be made regarding gun laws and restrictions, or this cycle of pain and violence will not stop.

According to a KMOV report, the shooter had a note in his car that read “I Don’t have any friends, I don’t have any family, I’ve never had a girlfriend, I’ve never had a social life, I’ve been an isolated loner my entire life. This was the perfect storm for a mass shooting.”

The shooter, Orlando Harris, reportedly had an AR15 style rifle with over 600 rounds of ammunition. As the second month of the new year ends, children, teenagers, adults and older people have already experienced seven school shootings. If that does not sound like a lot, there have been 151 school shootings since 2018. This does not include mass shootings, which there already have been 71 these past two months.

The reality is, gun reform must happen. If we do not make changes now, students and others will continue to die as a result of gun violence. In order to manage this, there are some things that can be done. The Prevention Institute has a few guidelines that would help alleviate this violence.

1. Reduce easy access to guns.

2. Establish gun safety.

3. Reduce firearm access to youth.

4. Ensure that those who purchase a gun go through proper training.

5. Mental health background checks.

While these guidelines may seem heavy for some purchasing a gun; I think, rather, we should consider whether it is heavy or not for someone to lose their child, grandparent, sibling or parents to gun violence.

Some other laws in place or are being pushed to prevent gun violence are red-flag laws. Red-flag

laws are laws that “prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm”. As of now, only 19 states have this law. Despite these states having such laws, it is found that they do not

act on the law like they should. According to the Associated Press, Chicago has had “8,500 shootings resulting in 1,800 deaths since 2020;” red-flag laws were enforced only four times. These laws have been proven to work when enforced, they just need to be enforced.

It should not be up to discussion on whether or not the government should take steps towards protecting its people. People are becoming immune to the news of mass and school shootings – how? How has it gotten to the point where the mass murdering of people and children is now simply a blink away to the next attention-grabbing article?

As Sanders said, “after the shooting it [the school] kind of just felt like a shell of what it used to be.”

HUTCHENS Contributor

“The reality is, gun reform must happen. If we do not make changes now, student and others will continue to die as a result of gun violence.”

Opinion

February five the best romance movies of all time

By CALLA TRUSCHEL JACOBS Contributor

Smack dab in the middle of February is Valentine’s Day, so it is unsurprising that February is consistently associated with everything romance related. Though for some, the thought of grocery store arrangements of flowers, chocolates and advertisements for engagement rings might send them into fits of nausea, others realize the positives that can come from such displays.

That good is found in the fact that one’s desire to watch endless romance movies goes completely unquestioned. The desire to watch as many romance movies as possible has become such an integral part of my February that I cannot imagine this month going by without “Harry, Sally or Baby.” Therefore I figured that the best allocation of my time would be to order my plethora of romantic movie knowledge into what I consider the five best of all time.

Please understand before you throw away this article in disgust and boycott the UNews, there are plenty of romance movies that I am sure would make this list had I seen them. Based on the films I have watched, here are what I consider to be my all-time favorites.

“Ten Things I Hate About You”: this 1999 romantic comedy directed by Gil Junger takes the number one spot in my February Five with ease. When it comes to romantic movies, the ones that you can laugh at and relate to are the best. Though an older audience might not appreciate some of the crass humor this movie has to offer, I find the in-depth and inventive characters add a charm to the film that other romance movies don’t utilize.

with a wide range of personalities. The first relationship is between Cameron Jones, a stereotypical nerd who pines over the famous princess of Pagua High School, Bianca Stratford. The other consists of the older sister of Bianca, Kat and Heath Ledger’s Australian stereotypical bad-boy character Patrick.

While Kat repels the student body population with her intelligent, if not abrasively stated, beliefs on feminism, her soon-to-be boyfriend repels the student body population with his menacing demeanor and antisocial behavior. Gunger makes it impossible not to get wrapped up in each character as you root for them during their various romantic endeavors.

Favorite Quote: “I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all,” said Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford.

“The Princess Bride” obviously had to clinch a top-two spot. It was a close battle for first, due to Rob Reiner’s incredible direction. Many would disagree with my placing it as second, but to me, this movie barely gets placed second. “The Princess Bride” is a love story between a poor farm boy and a beautiful farmer girl turned princess that all begins with their long separation.

young audiences and older audiences can be entertained by this classic romance.

Favorite Quote: “Do I love you? My God, If your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches,” said Westley played by Cary Elwes.

“Call me By Your Name” is genuinely a work of art. The soundtrack, angles, choice of camera, colors, and mix of languages and religions make it one of the most touching blends of romance I have ever witnessed. It truly is a work of art. The storyline follows Elio Perlman, his father and Mr. Perlman’s study abroad student Oliver, into a summer of Italian romance and a winter of ensuing heartbreak.

portrayed under the direction of James Cameron. Though the ship and history surrounding the Titanic, and the actor Leonardo Decaprio were both well known, this movie launched them into worldwide fame and publicity that neither the ship nor the young actor had previously known. The tragic death of Jack Dawson and the painful recalling of the story by an aged Rose Bukater will leave even the toughest of audiences in tears.

I am not the only one to sing the praises of this masterpiece, given that “Titanic” won 11 of its 13 Academy Award Nominations. The romance of the early 1900s and the devastating fall-out of love between two people that could never have existed due to the classist society of early 20thcentury America will forever earn a spot in my February Five.

Favorite Quote: “Now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson, and that he saved me in every way a person can be saved,” said Kate Winslett as the character Rose Bukater.

Not only is “Ten Things

I

Hate About You” a masterpiece due to its comedic elements but this movie also doubles as a two-for-one deal. Two romance storylines occur within the film between four high school students

The characters undergo various harrowing adventures to be reunited with one another as told by the narrators, the Grandfather and the young grandson, Billy. It is a riveting tale from start to finish, and the actors, the film quality and the simplicity of the romance transport you back into a magical time full of the good and the bad, mythical monsters and giants galore.

“The Princess Bride’s” vast array of loveable characters and quotable lines ensure it will always be in the top two for my February Five. If you haven’t seen this movie, indeed you must. Both

The beauty of the English, French and Italian are depicted magnificently throughout the film. “Call Me By Your Name”, alongside the 2018 film “Love, Simon”, was one of the first mainstream popular films showing homosexual love to be widely adored by the American public. This film was also important because it broke barriers in how gay romance was portrayed. Though the age gap between the two characters was controversial, this film will forever hold a space in my heart as one of the most excellent portrayals of love of all time. This film proves that a romance doesn’t have to continue to make it a great love story.

Favorite Quote: “But to feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste,” said Michael Stuhlbarg as the character Mr. Perlman.

“Titanic” is a cult classic that must be included when any romance movie is mentioned. The first time I watched “Titanic” was in eighth grade, and it took my young, hormonal self a full hour afterward to calm down and stop crying.

The classic story of love divided by socio-economic differences and despised by the high society in which it takes place is beautifully

(Ariana Magafas / The University News)

FALSE EXPECTATIONS OF LOVE: CAN WE BLAME IT ON DISNEY?

Disney fans that grew up watching the classic princess love stories expect to find their own happily ever after. These movies might negatively affect our real life expectations of love.

By JILLIAN PRIVOTT Staff Writer

In the month of February, love is on everyone’s minds. Even if you do not want it to be, it is all around you. Stores start selling teddy bears, plush hearts, and chocolates as soon as they can. Schools start selling Valentine’s grams, and the pressure of receiving one from your secret admirer begins. Restaurants advertise Valentine’s specials and date night ideas. For those who are in love, the gestures of this fabricated holiday are sweet—but for those who are not celebrating, it can be overwhelming.

Even if you do your best to avoid all the signs of love by staying inside and turning on a show, streaming services place love related recommendations on the home page. Specifically, we see this with Disney channel, which is known for its constant themes of romantic love and picture perfect happily ever afters.

Our society loves love, and the popularity of Disney channel is a prime example. As many of us now know, not everything ends in a happily-ever-after. As much as we want to believe it through what we see on Disney, the unfortunate truth is that love is often not that easy. Has Walt Disney led us to believe unrealistic expectations of love?

The most popular Disney movies have to do with love. Think Disney princesses, like Cinderella and Snow White. Both of which have a vastly similar plot and love story. The helpless princess meets her prince, who sweeps her off her feet, brings salvation, and eventually they end up living happily ever after.

Even though the characters would slightly change as new movies came out–whether it would now be a Black, Asian, mermaid or even Ogre princess–the love story remained the same. As children watching these movies, these plots of what love is supposed to look like, I believe, were subconsciously ingrained in our minds.

“It did make me believe in true love’s kiss and happily-ever-after” says Courtnee, a self-proclaimed, above average Disney fan who grew up watching Disney princess movies.

A man will come into your life, love will come easy and fast, and you will experience true love’s kiss and live happily-ever-after. In the world of Disney, true love triumphs over everything. Is this really the case?

“[These movies] did make me love love, and I would say I am a hopeless romantic because I enjoy

watching these stories,” said an anonymous Disney fan.

In my experience and what I have also seen from those around me, this love story has almost never come true. Love is hard and confusing, and when it does not meet the expectations of the perfect love story we have come to know, it becomes disappointing. I am not saying that I do not believe

does not triumph. Divorce and falling out of love is not portrayed in the world of Disney.

“I really haven’t seen a fairytale love in my own life, and not from those in my circle either,” said Courtnee. “But I did want it to be true, especially as I got to an age where love was becoming something I was thinking about more and more.”

After the princess finally gets to be with her prince, we see them kiss, get married, celebrate, and then credits roll. So those who grow up with Disney do not come to expect the troubles that come with love.

Being in my 20s, an age that many would consider to be a prime age to find love, I can attest to my lack of Disney-like love. This comes through the amount of failed talking stages that my love life has consisted of. It is also worth mentioning that many of the princesses we see in these Disney movies are around my age or younger. Which, again, creates unrealistic expectations. Much like Disney does not show the faults of love, it also cannot accurately compare to how love functions in our society today.

(Ariana Magafas/The University News)

in this easy and fast love, as I am sort of a hopeless romantic myself. But life tends to quickly put my feet back on the ground.

If love was easy, divorce rates in the United States, as of 2016, would not be as high as approximately 43 percent of men and women. That is almost half of all men and women who participated in the census that had been divorced before. I hate to say it, but those odds are not great.

A study the Today Show found by neurologist Dr. Fred Nour exposes the fact that the passionate love many couples feel when they first catch feelings only lasts for two to three years after marriage. Unfortunately, this shows how true love sometimes

With new methods of finding love including dating apps and social media, the thought of a Disney-like love and a knight in shining armor seems far off. A study done in 2019 by Pew Research Center on the upsides and downsides of dating apps shares how of the 30 percent of people who use dating apps, only 12 percent have ended in marriage or a committed relationship. On top of this, 45 percent of Americans who have used a dating app reported that they left the experience feeling more frustrated than hopeful. Dare I say again, the odds are not great.

I am not saying that a true love like what we see in Disney is not possible. I truly hope that our society has not given up on the search for this kind of love. In fact, a more recent study on divorce shows rates declining, which indeed brings hope. No matter how hard love can be in real life, I think that our society will always turn to these fairytale romances that we have loved for many years. Although Walt Disney has created unrealistic expectations for those of us in search of love, that is not to say that we should stop looking for our prince to sweep us off our feet. Maybe this type of love can be true, and our knight in shining armor is just yet to be found.