U
THE UNIVERSITY NEWS
2019 Summer Issue
ADVENTURE STL
Cover Design by Rebecca LiVigni
2 / Summer Issue 2019
CO NTENTS 04
Incoming Freshman Class Set to be Largest in SLU’s History Savanah S eyer
05
Staff & Faculty Profiles Erin M cClellan d Riley mack Reb ecca Livigni co n o r do rn
09
Summer Concert Calendar
10
Top Summer Movies, Shows, & Books em ma carm o dy
11
SLU’S Top Study Spots As h lee koth en b eutel
12
STL Coffee Shops Jaco b cu n nigham Sarah steen As h lee koth en b eutel Reb ecca LiVigni Kelly sim plekam p
16
Games
17
Student Profiles Em ma Carm o dy
20
A Guide to Mass at SLU Co n o r do rn
21
The Comeback Crew: The Three Musketeers of Women’s Soccer Sam Glass
Summer Issue 2019 / 3
4 / Summer Issue 2019 / Class of 2023
SLU Welcomes the class of 2023: The largest class in University History By SAVANAH SEYER
(Emma Carmody / University News) In early May, Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello, Ph.D., sent an email to the SLU Community with details about the incoming freshman class for Fall 2019. According to the email, the incoming SLU Class of 2023 is set to be the largest class in the history of the University. Over 1,700 students are expected to be enrolled in the freshman class, which is far more than the 1,600-student goal set by the Enrollment and Retention Management Division. The University credited the work of this division, the Marketing and Communications and Academic Affairs departments and the word of mouth of current SLU students as the driving forces behind the record-breaking enrollment numbers. The ERM division used enthusiastic and inspired initiatives in order to reach more prospective students than ever before. According to Pestello’s email, this included increasing engagement with historically SLU-connected high schools, as well re-connected with those high schools that have not been engaged with SLU in some time. Reaching out to these less SLU-engaged high schools may have allowed the University to make contacts with students that never would’ve experienced SLU otherwise. This was also supplemented with new marketing tactics, especially digital, as well as increased scholarship opportunities for students that would
be considered first-generation, underrepresented or middle-class students. Because of this, Pestello noted in his email that the university would only be receiving “marginal financial gains,” due to the fact that more scholarships were being awarded this coming year. Increasing the amount of scholarships given to incoming students is an impressive undertaking for the University, typically known for being relatively generous with financial aid, and which notes on its website that in fiscal year 2017, $185.8 million was offered to students. The students in the incoming class are overwhelmingly represented in the STEM, nursing and health science academic paths, and the president promised to “vigorously fund” those fields of study, which is already visible on campus with new construction being undertaken on the $50 million science and engineering building on North Campus—as well as the university’s partnership with SSM Health and the brand new hospital being constructed on the Medical Campus. The University also plans to increase funding to other priority areas such as “mental health, experiential education, the Core, research and career services,” in order to support SLU students at all class levels. These types of extra support outside the classroom are increasingly important to ensuring student success, health and happiness beyond
their college years. The large number of students attending SLU in the fall was attributed to not just the aggressive marketing and outreach initiatives—but also, according to Pestello, to many high school students’ values. A private, Jesuit education costs far more than an education at state schools like the University of Missouri system. It is important to the University to continue to provide a “return on investment” for students, especially because their financial investment is far higher here than at other places. SLU seems to be delivering a high return on investment for graduates, at least according to its national rankings, with the university being named the Number 36 Best Value School by the U.S. News and World report while also being ranked number 106 overall. The University has a number of other top-tier rankings, with four undergrad programs and twelve graduate programs being listed in the top-50 by U.S. News. The University is ranked as the No. 8 top Catholic College by Niche. SLU has also been named a “Best Value,” or “Best Buy” university by the Princeton Review, Kiplinger and Barron publications. All of these factors contribute to the record-breaking number of students being enrolled next fall, which exceeds the previous record of 1,707 in 2011.
Staff Profile / Summer Issue 2019 / 5
A Star that shines in grand dining hall By ERIN MCCLELLAND
Question: Who is the brightest face a freshman sees in the morning when they wake up? Hint: It’s not their roommate. The correct answer is Mae Green Cox in Grand Dining Hall, but you may recognize her as just Ms. Mae. She is the first person that you see when you walk in for just about any meal, every time she greets you with a smile and a question about your day. Ms. Mae is a St. Louis native and has been working at SLU since she started serving the priests at Jesuit Hall. She then moved over to the Allied Health Building when it opened, before moving over to SLU dining halls. Her involvement and dedication to the students led to one of the most popular sections of Grand Dining Hall being named for her: Mae’s Comfort Corner. She found out about the naming of the section on Facebook after she saw a picture posted and she immediately started crying “happy tears.” “When I saw the Comfort Corner I felt love, excited and all of those other good words,” said Ms. Mae. “I cried at work and all of my friends thought I was sad, but they were happy tears.”
(Emma Carmody / The University News)
Her favorite meal in Grand is dinner, but she thinks the best event that the dining hall hosts each semester is the Midnight Breakfast leading up to finals week. Students line up outside waiting for Ms. Mae to open the gates of heaven, I mean Grand, at 10 p.m. for pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, karaoke and so much more. It’s the best way to start finals week—or any week for that matter—and a great place to meet up with friends over a huge plate of breakfast food. After all, as Ron Swanson said, “There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food,” including finals. Everything Ms. Mae does is for the benefit of her “babies,” the students. She is always willing to help SLUdents with projects, assignments or anything to help them get the best grades possible. She genuinely wants all of us to succeed, and she starts with a smile followed by a full plate of food. The students are her favorite part of her job and that is clear in her happy spirit and infectious laugh. Many students are friends with her on Facebook and she loves to post motivational quotes and inspiration to remind Billikens to
keep smiling and keep going during some of the hardest parts of college. “She always tells incoming students that SLU is a family, and she makes it her mission to make everyone feel like they are a part of it. They aren’t just words to her, she lives those words every day,” said sophomore Katie Vaeth. Ms. Mae changes your day just by being herself and does it not for recognition, but to help every student achieve their goals. “Ms. Mae is a true gem,” said sophomore Mimi Leonard. I asked Ms. Mae what her spirit animal is and without hesitation she said, “a Billiken.” There is no doubt that she has some of the greatest school spirit on campus and everything about her shows the spirit of the Billiken. Her kindness, happiness and overwhelming love for SLU and its students makes our school a better place to be. It’s people like Ms. Mae that make SLU special and help change the lives of Billikens everywhere.
6 / Summer Issue 2019 / Staff Profile
SLU Librarian makes every year one for the books By RILEY MACK
As 600,000 people come through the library every year, being the public face of SLU’s beloved Pius Library is an honor that does not go to just anyone. Martha Allen chair of research and instruction services for Pius, however, is someone who fits the bill perfectly.
With excitement and dedication to her position, Allen has worked at SLU for over 25 years. “Librarians like to help people. That is what makes me come to work every day,” she said. The library atmosphere itself is another reason that Allen feels so passionate for her line of work. “I like it because people think of libraries as stacks and ranges of old dusty books—I don’t see it that way. I see it as a very dynamic organism where new materials are always coming in and people are coming in,” she said. This is especially true for Pius, as it is the most heavily trafficked academic building on campus, being a hub for students to study, work and socialize. Another part of Allen’s role at SLU is to assist with SLU 101 orientations. While faculty prepare for the largest freshman class SLU has ever seen this upcoming school year, Allen is one staff member who can’t wait for the year to begin. “This exciting time is going to pose new and wonderful challenges to have that many students come through the library,” she said. With these new students, Allen hopes that all incoming freshmen know how welcoming and accessible the library is, as Pius is constantly evolving to fit any student’s needs. One recent addition was a chat service to
help students in a more modern way: students can online-message, text, call, email or even Facetime a librarian to get the help they need. Allen’s favorite addition to Pius, though, is the Academic Technology Commons. The ATC is an area of the first floor with the latest academic technologies: 3D printers, 360 cameras, recording studios and hologram technology, among many others. Not only is Allen proud of the advancements that the library is making, but also the students that have helped implement them. Allen says she’s felt most inspired by SLU students when it came to the funding the ATC—although it was tough for her to pick just one favorite. The library staff and IT department teamed up to develop the design of ATC; the purpose of the project was to create a space worthy of the students and faculty of SLU, but it wasn’t long before this project became unrealistic. “The librarians and the IT staff believed in this project so much, but we didn’t have funding for it. That’s when the Student Government Association came to our rescue and the students believed in the project,” Allen said. While she loves that the library and the new ATC are places for students to gather, Allen also finds inspiration to do her work in the library environment—however, the location “all depends on my mood,” she said. If she is feeling really happy and social, Allen loves being at the service desk because “that’s when you really see people,” she said. When she needs to reflect or focus on work, there is a piece of furniture in three corners of the fourth floor called “the Brody” that acts as a pod to drown out noise and distractions. Ultimately, Allen and her coworkers are a representation of SLU’s Jesuit mission intertwining with the library setting. As she describes it, Pius Library exemplifies “the Jesuit mission of men and women for others—for the greater glory of God” through their daily goal of helping the students and staff of SLU. “Thank you for thinking of the librarian,” said Allen to the University News about this profile. But with such a vibrant and passionate love for the SLU community, it’s difficult to think of a better candidate to represent the wonderful staff of SLU than the librarian named Martha Allen.
Faculty Profile / Summer Issue 2019 / 7
NOT YOUR MOTHER’S BIOLOGY PROFESSOR By REBECCA LIVIGNI
Dr. Elena Bray-Speth began teaching at SLU in 2009, 10 years ago. Bray-Speth admired the Jesuit tradition and believed the position for Introductory Biology professor fit her needs perfectly at the time. A few years later, in the company of Dr. Laurie Russell, Bray-Speth attended a teaching conference where they learned about a program for college STEM
courses, called learning assistants. A learning assistant is like a teaching assistant but isn’t in the classroom to just provide answers or explanations. Bray-Speth emphasized the LA’s role as a learning partner, allowing students to practice reasoning through difficult problems with the guidance of an alum of the class. She implemented the about four years ago in her classroom. Teaching is only part of Bray-Speth’s work at SLU, however. She also has a research lab in Maclewane Hall where she studies two different topics of interest. The first is the idea of teaching through what she calls a “systems perspective.” Combining STEM education and cognitive science, Bray-Speth understands the interconnectedness of all biological systems and strives to “incorporate practices to make connections across various levels of organization.” The most notorious way she promotes this systems perspective is through Modeling. As any pre-med student has experienced or heard of, Box-and-Arrow models show how one organism or molecule affects things far down the line. While some students gripe, Bray-Speth believes they are helpful and mirror how the brain processes
information: by making connections between pieces of information. It’s important to Bray-Speth that students don’t learn things by rote, because she truly believes in the value added of any college course. She also makes a side note commenting that she wouldn’t want to be a patient of a doctor who didn’t take intro biology. BraySpeth believes that science is important for everyone, even science-adverse students, to know and understand but acknowledges that it hasn’t been historically accessible to most people. She quips, “I’ve found the logic that makes so much sense to me over why science is awesome and biology is the best subject ever, doesn’t seem to appeal to others.” This exactly captures Bray-Speth’s passion behind her second research topic: student strategies for studying and self-regulated strategies. She believes that college education is meant to help students become better students by questioning their own understanding or when they feel they are ready for a test. In the classroom, Bray-Speth devises “ways to teach [biology] so that learners can be more engaged.” Groupwork is an essential part of Bray-Speth’s class, where students must collaborate on worksheets, clicker questions, and hypothesis brainstorming. In the face of change for SLU’s core curriculum, Bray-Speth says she’s excited to see how SLU can reform the idea of educating the whole person by promoting the creation of interdisciplinary courses. She says “just as society changes, students change, education needs to renew itself and refocus every so often.”
8 / Summer Issue 2019 / Staff Profile
Meet father Joe: The juggling jesuit By CONOR DORN (Sophie Perry / The University News) If you find yourself out for a walk down West Pine or relaxing in the sun by the Clocktower, chances are you will run into Spring Hall’s very own campus minister, Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J. A graduate of SLU himself, where he majored in philosophy and communication and was involved in UNews and KSLU, Laramie still frequents the same hotspots he did in his undergraduate days. Whether it be chatting with students on the steps of the Clocktower, reclining in a chair outside the Center for Global Citizenship or walking to and from the house he shares with his other Jesuit brothers, Laramie has become a staple of the SLU community. As a SLU campus celebrity, Laramie has a few claims to fame. He bears an uncanny resemblance to St. Ignatius Loyola, a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, Laramie’s own religious order. Perhaps more important is his talent for juggling. Dubbed the “juggling Jesuit,” he has even been known to juggle objects on fire, taking St. Ignatius’ exhortation to set the world on fire to heart. Laramie hosts juggling lessons, usually on the lawn of Spring Hall, for those interested in learning
the craft from the juggling Jesuit himself. He also recently became a published author with “Abide in the Heart of Christ: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Ignatius Loyola,” which will be available for purchase from Ave Maria Press this September. Entering into his second year as Spring Hall’s campus minister, Laramie has a list of plans to promote community and fellowship in Spring Hall and across campus. Being a native of St. Louis, he knows the city well and is always eager to show off his homegrown knowledge. Last year, Laramie took residents of Spring Hall on four Friday field trips to different sights and events in St. Louis. The first field trip was a walk to the Cathedral Basilica, where Laramie provided inside knowledge into the history and art of the Basilica. Following the tour, he took the group out for ice cream in the Central West End. Other Friday field trips included a walk to the Gateway Arch and the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race. Laramie is planning to continue these Friday field trips in the Fall 2019 semester, and new Billikens who want to get to know the city that will be home for the next
four years are encouraged to tag along. In addition to the field trips, Laramie gives mass every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. in the Spring Hall chapel. Students from other resident halls are more than welcome to come to the Mass and a post-Mass gathering with cookies and fellowship. During the academic year, Laramie is a common sight around campus and he will also be around during parts of the summer. Laramie will be on campus until June 1, when his Jesuit duties call him elsewhere. He will come back for a week at the start of July. His office is located on the first floor of Spring Hall for anyone who is on campus and wants to pay a visit to the juggling Jesuit.
JUNE
06 18 30
Summer Concert Calendar / Summer Issue 2019 / 9
Hozier @ Stifel Theatre
Shawn Mendes @ Enterprise Center 7:30 pm
7 pm
July
06 07 21
8 PM
Carrie Underwood @ Enterprise Center
Ariana Grande @ Enterprise Center
8 pm
August
01 11
8 pm
The Head and the heart @ Stifel Theatre
Lake Street Dive @ The Pageant 8 pm
Brandi carlile @ Fabulous fox theatre 7:30 pm
Earth wind and fire @ Stifel Theatre 7:30 pm
For movies, shows and books to enjoy this summer, see page 10...
10 / Summer Issue 2019 / Top Summer Movies, Shows & Books
Movies
Late night june 07 The Lion King July 19
Rocketman May 30
This biopic starring Taron Egerton depicts the life of the iconic artist Elton John and his rise to fame. Actress Emma Thompson depicts a legendary late-night talk show host who hires a staff writer played by Mindy Kaling primarily for diversity concerns in this film that explores the topic of women in primarily male-dominated fields. An all-star cast including Donald Glover and Beyoncé come together for Disney’s highly anticipated live-action version of the 1994 animated Disney version of the classic tale.
Stranger things July 04 netflix
The highly anticipated sci-fi eighties nostalgia show returns this summer with another time jump. With the young actors growing with the show, the Duffer Brothers say “It forces the show to evolve and change, because the kids are changing.”
Black Mirror JUne 05 Photo Courtesy of Netflix
netflix
Handmaid’s Tale JUne 05 hulu
Books
Photo Courtesy of Alamy Stock Photo
Shows
Season five of the sci-fi show that explores the dangers of modern technology is returning this summer with three new episodes. With a new story and cast for each episode, fans are excited to see what the new episodes will have in store.
The popular dystopian drama returns for its third season this summer after a shocking cliffhanger that left fans wanting more. Star Elisabeth Moss returns as her character June to fight the corrupt government of Gilead to save herself, her friends and her family.
Naturally Tan June 04 Tan France
Coming off of momentum from the third season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye”, Tan France is releasing his first book. In his memoir, he tells his origin story of growing up gay in a traditional South Asian family in South Yorkshire and his rise to fame as one of the stars of “Queer Eye.”
The turn of the key August 06 Ruth Ware
The highly anticipated psychological thriller is the fifth novel from New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ware. The story follows the character Rowan Caine and the aftermath of her chasing an unexpected opportunity that may be too good to be true.
Photo Courtesy of Good Reads
Top SLU Study Spots / Summer Issue 2019 / 11
12 / Summer Issue 2019 / STL Coffee
STL’s best coffee spots
Crave Coffeehouse By JACOB CUNNINGHAM
If you find yourself needing a boost of energy and want to sit and enjoy a unique atmosphere both inside and out, look no further than Crave Coffeehouse. This coffee shop is conveniently located on the Billiken shuttle routes just behind the Saint Louis School of Medicine at 3500 Caroline St. With ample parking space, this coffee shop is a poster child for convenience for college students on the go. The convenience, however, is not the only thing about the location that will attract students. Located at the rustic home of Reliant Church, with stained glass windows, high vaulted ceilings and a brick edifice, SLU students will certainly notice the warmth that accompanies their choice of Crave favorites. Crave’s distinct vibe is even more enhanced by the large seating area, both indoors and out. Rain or shine, Crave offers spacious room to enjoy coffee and study time away from the elements or basking in the sun. The outdoor area is perfect for sunny days, with the perfect blend of sunlight and shade. Crave serves a variety of food and beverage options, including Kaldi’s coffee. Doors open at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, so don’t miss the chance to see for yourself a staple of the Saint Louis University coffee experience.
STL Coffee / Summer Issue 2019 / 13
Northwest coffee
LOLA JEAN’S giveback coffee
By SARAH STEEN
By ASHLEE KOTHENBEUTEL
Straight down Laclede, to the west of Saint Louis University, the Central West End location of Northwest Coffee Roasting Company sits tucked away in a residential neighborhood. On sunny days, the place bustles with typing fingers on laptops and upbeat conversation in the large outdoor seating area of the café. On chillier days, people bundle up and gather around Northwest’s fire pits, cups of hot brew in hand. Northwest’s charm and draw is found in its authentic, no-frills atmosphere. The workers—many of whom are SLU students—welcome customers warmly and energetically and offer genuine suggestions for food and drink. Despite its humble exterior, Northwest’s fare is delectable. Recently, the coffee shop even added the rich dish of chicken and waffles to their menu—just in case you find yourself needing some greasy meat and sweets while studying or relaxing on summer mornings. Their coffee, the most important part of their menu, comes from all over the world— from Ethiopia to Guatemala. The aroma of their beans, brewed in store, fill the small café and waft out into the patio. Still, it is important to recognize that Northwest is a café setting like no other. Coffee aside, the atmosphere provides a fun study space or meeting place when the library setting becomes too dreary. Northwest is a coffee shop that is predominantly an outdoors environment. While many people still congregate inside for meetings and individual work, it is undeniable that the true Northwest Coffee experience exists on the patio. There students are surrounded by others enjoying the caffeine, weather and nearby activity of the residential community. The Northwest Coffee Roasting Company is available for all of your coffee and brunch needs on Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Just over five miles from SLU’s campus sits a quaint little coffee shop with plenty of outdoor seats, delicious food and a family friendly-environment— not to mention the to die for beverages. Lola Jean’s Giveback Coffee is the perfect getaway, whether it be for a study session, a cup of joe with friends or just a change of scenery from the coffee shops closer to SLU. Their menu is chock-full of sweet treats like their apple oat crumble or dinner-plate sized blueberry pancakes, savory breakfast options from an egg sandwich larger than a hefty burger and far more flavorful, and a few lunch options that are mostly sandwiches and salads. All the food options range from $8 to $10, which may seem steep, but you are almost guaranteed to have leftovers. Food and drinks are ordered at the front counter and brought to your table. There is a patio out front and out back, but the amount of plants and natural lighting inside will transport you to the serenity of outdoors. The drinks are sure to make you feel the opposite of “depresso.” The drink prices are reasonable, with the least expensive being the espresso at $2.50 and the most being a Dirty Chai Latte at $5.00. They offer a coconut, soy and almond milk substitute for $0.50 extra. Not in the mood for coffee? There are a few tea options and lemonade available. What really stands out is their steamed drinks, especially the hot chocolate, made with chocolate ganache. Whether you are in the mood for a beverage, a snack, or a great breakfast, Lola Jean’s is the place for you. Still not convinced? Their store, along with Kaldi’s, is selling coffee and baked goods and giving the profits to local charities and other important causes in the area.
14 / Summer Issue 2019 / STL Coffee
CAFE VENTANA By REBECCA LIVIGNI Walking into Café Ventana with the warm lights emitting from chandeliers and overstuffed brown leather chairs, it’s nearly impossible to not feel at home. The mix of coffee and their homemade beignets filling the air can make anyone’s stomach ache for that powdered sugar goodness. The walls filled with local artwork and coffee-related cuteness shine positivity, even in the bathroom where patrons have the opportunity to leave a note on the chalkboard for everyone to see. Whether it’s the cold of winter, when the fireplace glows with the heat of a fire, or the worst of Missouri’s heat, when the back porch blocks out the sun and lets the cool breeze in, Café Ventana is like a home to me. Stocked with various bakery treats and every latte flavor you could imagine, Ventana evokes a rustic French Quarter feel with their authentic Southern cuisine. My personal favorite is the veggie and bacon omelet; however, I also appreciate the varying selections of gluten free bakery items. The house latte menu includes a plethora of unique flavors: Samoa (coconut milk, chocolate and caramel), Rosemary’s Baby (fresh rosemary and honey), and more! Ventana also has an annex in addition to their main coffee bar area, making it the perfect place for quiet study or chitchatting with friends over a seasonal drink, like their hot apple cider. They also include the
option of including alcoholic additions to an espresso drink, for those over 21 years of age. They also host local artists who perform singer-songwriter tunes live: the perfect backdrop for a Sunday morning brunch. Ventana is just a walk down West Pine and across Vandeventer Avenue and a central SLU student spot in the heart of St. Louis. They’re open Sunday through Monday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Forget that snooze button, grab a friend, and head over to Café Ventana at 3919 West Pine Blvd. on the weekend because seats fill up fast and you won’t want to miss out on this one-ofa-kind St. Louis experience.
FIDDLEHEAD FERN CAFE By KELLY SIMPELKAMP
As school starts back up in the fall, you might be curious about where all of the best study spots are. The secret is that most of them are off campus. Studying at coffee shops is a good way to branch out and familiarize yourself with different neighborhoods in St. Louis, as well as discover which places serve the best Matcha latte. Fiddlehead Fern Café, located at 4066 Russell Blvd. in the Shaw neighborhood, is a must-have on your list of study spots. From the different sized
tables to the abundance of natural lighting and chill music, this place has the perfect atmosphere. Whether you are getting a head start on a midterm paper or catching up with a friend, Fiddlehead Fern Café is the perfect place to go. It is easy to find a table during the week, but on the weekends this quaint little coffee shop fills up fast. Every weekend the café hosts a Bluegrass Brunch, providing the perfect hangout spot for you and your friends. “I really like the aesthetics of Fiddlehead Fern Café. The coffee, food and staff are great too!” said Lissane Kafie, a rising senior majoring in nutrition and dietetics at SLU. They offer the standard selection of coffee and a copious amount of different teas to choose from. If you enjoy a little something sweet with your coffee, this place is right for you. They also offer a large assortment of muffins, scones and cookies from Whisk, a sustainable bakery located on Cherokee Street. If you were you running late and didn’t have time for a meal, do not worry. They’ve also got you covered. Aside from sweets, their menu has breakfast bowls, soups, salads and six different ways of serving toast. Fiddlehead Fern Café is open every day from 7 a.m.– 4 p.m.
STL Coffee / Summer Issue 2019 / 15
Rise coffee
(Emma Carmody / The University News)
By REBECCA LIVIGNI
In the heart of Tower Grove, Rise Coffeehouse stands out with its electric blue front and red trim. I didn’t expect such coziness and warmth when I first chose Rise as a Saturday morning study spot. The first level of Rise enhances the feeling of camaraderie, where long tables encourage patrons to sit next to one another. With latte flavors like cayenne mocha and honey, still their house made vanilla is an essential for your visit. The avocado toast is anything but basic, with cucumbers, pickled onion, and a poached egg on top. The menu contains a wide variety of vegetarian options and a few gluten free bakery treats. Up the creaky staircase lies more seating, with velvet couches and antique furniture polish off the eccentric style. The diversity of seating allows any person to find what they’re looking for; whether that’s studying at a single-person table, lounging on the couch with a friend, or holding a business meeting at the bench table. The upstairs also contains a children’s play area, allowing children to play and use their creativity away from the harsh looks of strangers at a normal coffee shop.
Rise Coffeehouse is a “community hub that aims to put people at the center of all [they] do.” A special program through Rise allows patrons to help support the community and eliminate barriers. Ordering the Drip Coffee for $2.40 or a Half Breakfast for $5 is a simple way to support the greater St. Louis area through the “Coffee for the People” program. Rise Coffeehouse has two locations. One is located at 4176 Manchester Ave and is open 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, until 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Sundays. “Cam” is located at 3750 Washington Ave. and is open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays until 8 p.m.
KAYAK’S BY KALDI’S COFFEE
By JACOB CUNNINGHAM Feeling like venturing out for your morning coffee (or afternoon coffee; no judgements, we get it)? Kayak’s coffee could be just what you’re looking for! Located right off of Forest Park Parkway, and sandwiched between The Loop and WashU, Kayak’s coffee is in an ideal location for a coffee commute. Want to grab a coffee and a bite to eat and enjoy the outdoors? No worries, an outdoor seating area
awaits. And the fun doesn’t end there, as the opportunity for a coffee walk is at your fingertips with Forest Park right across the street. If you think the location is a dream, you’ll be even more impressed by the atmosphere within. The name Kayak’s is no mere coincidence, and the inner decor conveys as much. A walk through the double doors on the corner and you will think you’ve taken a break from the slopes to refuel before heading to out to fight some white water rapids. This lodge-like aesthetic adds a warm and calming vibe to a clientele ever on the move. Hop in early or drop by late, with store hours from 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., let your coffee dreams run free. Take a seat by the window or warm up next to the enormous fireplace and let Kayak’s take your mind off of your studies and transport you to a coffee riddled land of imagination.
16 / Summer Issue 2019 / Games
Solutions
Student Profile / Summer Issue 2019 / 17
Meet SGA President 2019-2020: Maleah Fallahi By EMMA CARMODY Let us introduce you to SLU’s Student Government Association (SGA) president for 2019-2020. Her name is Maleah Fallahi, and she has been involved in student life and government throughout her time at SLU leading up to her presidency. Although freshman year she was involved in many organizations, such as Dance Marathon and Overground Railroad, now she focuses her time on SGA and Greek life. In her time at SLU, she has most enjoyed the relationships and sense of community she has developed while living on campus in Spring Hall and getting involved in student organizations. These experiences have inspired her to become a leader on campus and a voice for her fellow Billikens. Fallahi ran for president in spring 2019 with a specific set of goals in mind to help reach her vision to make SLU an even better place for students to call home. The first of these goals is to prioritize students. She has many plans to achieve this goal, but one of her more specific ideas is to develop a CSO calendar. This will be a calendar with all CSO events that will both make students more aware of what’s going on on campus and help promote events and organizations that might otherwise struggle for visibility among the student body. Her second overall goal for the upcoming school year is to increase communication between the administration and students. She is hoping that SGA can be a student voice in every room in which administrators make decisions and that these ad-
(Emma Carmody / University News) ministrators can become sufficiently aware of the student perspective. She is also hoping that more consistent communication with administrators will give SLU a more holistic view of the student experience, which, in turn, they can use to the benefit of the student body in its entirety. The third main goal that Fallahi has set for herself and the rest of the SGA executive board is to put an increased focus on the Oath of Inclusion. Fallahi wants to use the stability that SGA has gained in the past year to refocus on inclusivity and redefine what SLU students should be committing themselves to when it comes to the incorporation of different identities throughout the SLU community. For incoming students, Fallahi is looking forward to representing a new class of Billikens and hopes to get them involved in and passionate about student government. Even in students’ first year, they can be active participants in student government.
Each year, there are four first-year senators who serve as representatives of the freshman class and as avenues of communication between SGA and other freshman students. First-year students also have the opportunity to join SGA committees to become more involved on campus and have more of a say in what decisions SGA makes for the student body. Fallahi also wants to make it known that SGA is meant to be a space where students feel their voices are heard and where their concerns can be elevated quickly. She believes that it is important for SLU students to be aware of the ongoing affairs of SGA and how to use the representation that they have. With these goals in mind for the 2019-2020 school year, Fallahi is incredibly excited to start her term as SGA president and to welcome a whole new class of fellow students to represent in the fall.
18 / Summer Issue 2019 / Student Profile
Joe Reyes creates inclusive places for all By EMMA CARMODY SLU is a place where students not only strive to define and share their own identities but also learn more about others’ along the way. Joe Reyes is one of the students who has taken action to make sure that each and every student, regardless of who they are and where they come from, has a space to feel comfortable on campus. As a rising junior, Reyes is the president of Rainbow Alliance, a SLU 101 leader, a writing services worker and a member of the University Honors Program. They also are working to bring back Free to Be. Although many underclassmen and incoming students may not have heard of Free to Be, older students will remember it for its Free to Be week that the organization hosted each year. It included events and speakers related to intersectional feminism with the goal of reaching students and community members with its message. Reyes believes that the intersectionality that Free to Be brought to campus is missing in other organizations and their main goal with bringing it back is to give queer people of color a space to exist on campus. “We want to create a space where people don’t feel like they have to choose between two of their identities” says Reyes. Along with creating this space in Free to Be, Reyes also hopes to make Rainbow a more accessible place for queer people of color since their experiences in the LGBTQ community are so different from those of white queer people. While Rainbow already does a lot of educating others on LGBTQ struggles
(Emma Carmody / The University News) and experiences, it is their hope that they can be a more service-oriented organization next year that can become part of a larger community outside of the “SLU bubble”. Next year, Reyes is starting the first St. Louis chapter of Black and Pink which is a national abolitionist organization that seeks to empower and advocate for queer people of color who are in the prison system. These people face an incredibly harsh reality while they are incarcerated because of who they are. Reyes sees getting involved in this organization not only as an opportunity to diversify Rainbow’s community outreach and help others, but also to get its members outside of their comfort zone. They believe that “unless you actively work to get out of that ‘bubble’ and interact with that community that we live in, then I think we’re doing a disservice to improving the realities of the people that we may not experience on a day to day basis, but who we live tangent to.”
Reyes is hoping to use both their positive and negative experiences they’ve had as a queer person at SLU as well as the positions they hold on campus to help incoming students as well. When they were a student attending SLU 101, meeting queer SLU 101 leaders was a huge relief. These upperclassmen and mentors have given Reyes so many positive experiences and have inspired them to try to be that same person for incoming students. As a SLU 101 leader themself, this summer Reyes will be striving to be an advocate and a source of comfort for those who identify as queer as well as those who identify as people of color. While their primary focus this summer and this upcoming school year is to create a space for people to feel welcomed and included, their hope is that these spaces will grow in number and that this will translate into an ability to create change at SLU and throughout the greater community.
Student Profile / Summer Issue 2019 / 19
WORKING Toward More DIVERSITY in the Business School By EMMA CARMODY Freshman year is often a time for students to get comfortable and try new things to find where they fit in at college. With students joining every club and mailing list they can, by the end of the year, they are usually still trying to find their place. However, rising sophomore Marissa Oxendine has made the most of her first year at SLU. As a business student studying international business and marketing, Oxendine has become involved in several student organizations related to business, education and social justice. Oxendine says, “I didn’t come to SLU wanting to be involved in educational clubs, but a lot of times, education is the foundation to all things. I think that’s also what drives me to business. I like being on the foundational level, and there’s a commonality between business being the foundation of most things in the corporate world and education being the foundation of a healthy society.” In her short time here at SLU, she has worked toward her greater vision for the business school to become a more diverse and social-justice-oriented place for its students. One of the ways that she has worked toward this goal is in her role as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Chair for the Dean’s
(Emma Carmody / University News) Student Advisory Board—a new position that was created this past spring by recently graduated business student Jason Wilhite. Oxendine hopes to use her position to push Dean Higgins and the business school as a whole to promote diversity in not only its students, but its faculty as well. Oxendine is also working with fellow first-year business student Maddy Joplin to start a student organization, Aspire St. Louis, that will establish a place in the business school for those who are traditionally underrepresented in the business world. Their hope is to create a place for business and networking that spreads awareness and promotes diversity in a primarily white- and male-dominated field. Oxendine was inspired to start this organization by her experiences as a woman in business, both before her time at SLU and in her first year,as well as by the strong business women who have been a part of her life. One businesswoman who inspires her is Sophia Amoruso, the founder of the women’s fashion retailer Nasty Gal. Oxendine looks up to Amoruso because she works to empower
women in the business world and help them develop the necessary skills to be successful. Through her involvement in both of these organizations, it seems Oxendine is striving to do the same. Next semester, Oxendine will also take on the role of co-president of Pencils of Promise, an organization that is dedicated to building schools in developing nations and providing literacy skills to students around the world. However, as co-president, Oxendine hopes to showcase educational disparity issues in St. Louis by collaborating with other student organizations to advocate for more macro-level issues within education. Fueled by her passion for business and social justice, Oxendine has jumped right into student life at SLU without hesitation. As a student who just finished her first year, it comes as no surprise that her advice to incoming students is to get involved in something they’re passionate about. Through her experiences with student organizations, she has not only found purpose and opportunity within the SLU community, but also friends and people who inspire her daily.
20 / Summer Issue 2019 / Mass on Campus
A Guide to Mass at SLU By CONOR DORN
As a university, SLU prides itself on fostering a welcoming environment for all faiths and denominational backgrounds, and our Jesuit heritage means that faith, spiritual formation and campus ministry are a key aspect of the University’s mission. While at SLU, students from all religious backgrounds have the opportunity to join the open and inclusive Catholic community for weekly masses and other worship opportunities. College Church, which serves the University, as well as the surrounding community, is the most convenient location for students to attend Sunday mass. Not only is it just a few steps away from the center of campus, but Sunday masses are periodically spaced throughout the day, so even the busiest students can find a mass time that fits into their schedule. Among students, the most popular Sunday mass is at 9 p.m. The environment is cheerful and welcoming, especially since students often attend this mass in groups of friends. The 9 p.m. mass is the perfect way to cap off a busy week or start the new
week in the right mindset. College Church also hosts mass at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for those who cannot make it to the 9 p.m. liturgy. Students also enjoy the opportunity to attend mass throughout the week, which can be especially important as a break from tests and homework. Weekly masses, which are mostly held in the residence halls, offer a more intimate and tight knit setting than College Church. The number of attendants is usually under thirty, which offers a chance to meet new friends and bond with SLU’s campus ministers. On Mondays, Grand Hall hosts mass at 9 p.m. in the chapel in room 149, and as is the case for all residence hall masses, students from other residence halls are more than welcome to attend. In addition, the St. Edmund Campion Society hosts mass in the Catholic Studies Center at 6:15 p.m., followed by a home-cooked meal prepared by parent volunteers. After students eat, they have the opportunity to stick around to listen to an invited speaker, who usually
(Michelle Peltier / University News)
presents on some aspect of the Catholic faith. These talks are the perfect way to learn more about the Catholic faith while surrounded by delicious food and a welcoming community. On Wednesdays, both Spring and Reinert Halls host 9 p.m. masses for all SLU students, regardless of which residence hall they live in. After Spring mass, students enjoy cookies or other treats provided by the Spring Hall campus minister, Father Joe Laramie, S.J. On Thursdays, 9 p.m. masses are held in the Fusz and Griesedieck Hall chapels, and just like 9 p.m. mass in Spring Hall, the Griesedieck Hall campus minister, Jim Roach, invites students to his office after mass to enjoy tasty treats and fellowship. If none of the 9 p.m. residence hall masses work in a student’s schedule, Our Lady’s Chapel in Lower College Church hosts weekly masses at 7:15 a.m, noon, and 5:15 p.m.
SLU’s Comeback Crew / Summer Issue 2019 / 21
The Comeback Crew: The Three Musketeers of SLU Women’s Soccer (Riley Tovornik / The University News)
By SAM GLASS “I know if it was just me sitting on the sidelines for nine months not being able to do anything…I just don’t know how this recovery process would go,” said SLU women’s soccer forward Megan Nixon, who sat out with an ACL injury for the 2018 season. Nixon and two of her teammates, Mary Niehaus and Brionna Halverson, all tore their ACLs on the same leg within two months of each other and spent the season in collective recovery. The trio came to preseason 2018 with a vicious dedication to rehab and recovery. Coaches and teammates took note of their motivation to come back to play and thus, the Comeback Crew was started. Niehaus was the first member of the Crew and took up the affectionate mantle of “Mother Goose” once Nixon and Halverson joined. In April 2018 Niehaus got her leg swept out from under her and at that point her ACL was torn. For around two weeks after, her leg felt odd and she did not know why. It gave out on her again and she got an MRI. “When I finally knew it was torn, I knew I had to make decisions and plan things, which was way more comfortable for me than not knowing what
was wrong and not knowing what my future looked like,” Niehaus said. In May, about a month later, Halverson was in a game giving the enemy attacker some trouble (Halverson does not think the attacker liked her). The two got their legs entangled and Halverson went down. She remembers asking Niehaus what it felt like and being nervous about not knowing what was wrong with her leg. She found out her ACL was torn and went from tears to determination. “If this is the case, let’s go. Here’s my plan, here’s what we’re gonna do. Can’t be like how I was, gotta be better,” said Halverson. A month later in June, Nixon was the final member to join the Crew. Her legs got twisted with an opposing player’s and she tried to catch her fall with her right leg, but her knee gave out. At first she did not think her ACL was torn because the muscles in her leg tensed up, preventing the Lachman’s test from showing if the ligament was torn. She got an MRI and when she got the results back Nixon said, “All I remember hearing is, ‘So you have a completely torn ACL.’ and then I just broke down. Everything else I couldn’t hear because that’s all I could focus on.” The Comeback Crew has something special that a single athlete does not have: competition. Head coach Katie Shields has said the team is hy-
percompetitive and the three used their competitive nature to bolster the recovery process. Nixon would see Halverson with more weight while Halverson saw Niehaus with more weight and that pushed them to continue to go harder in workouts. The three also worked as a support system. Because Niehaus was farther along than the other two, they could ask questions about the stage they were at. Nixon remembers her first few weeks back, continuously talking to Halverson about their situation just to accept that they were out for the season. The Crew worked for almost a year to get back on the pitch and ultimately learned to be patient with the process. “It was never a ‘You need to be better at this,’ it was more of a, ‘You need to slow down a lil bit.’ You’re like, ‘No, watch! I can do it… can’t ride a bike, don’t tell me that! Imma do it,’” said Halverson, physically moving as if on a bike. They worked diligently and trained hard. All three athletes were cleared to play and had their first games back in the spring season. Halverson even shed some tears of joy for her first game back. “This process would have been completely different if we didn’t have each other for sure and also all the coaching and family and friends behind us,” said Nixon.
Interested in joining the university news? We’re looking for a design editor, writers, photographers and an ad sales team for the upcoming school year! CONTACT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emma Carmody FOR MORE INFORMATION EIC@UNEWSONLINE.COM
Keep up with the UNews Online... Sign up for our New Weekly mailer to receive SLU updates and Unews articles in your inbox! Scan the QR CODE below to join the mailing list. Visit us at unewsonline.com and find us on.... Facebook: The university News Twitter: @theunews INstagram: @Theunews
UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD 2019-2020 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMMA CARMODY eic@unewsonline.com
MANAGING EDITOR REBECCA LIVIGNI managing@unewsonline.com
NEWS EDITOR RILEY MACK news@unewsonline.com
ASSOC. NEWS EDITOR CONOR DORN news@unewsonline.com
SPORTS EDITOR ERIN MCCLELLAND sports@unewsonline.com
ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR SAM GLASS sports@unewsonline.com
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR CLAIRE BATTISTA arts@unewsonline.com
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR CELIA SEARLES arts@unewsonline.com
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS photo@unewsonline.com
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR RILEY TOVORNIK photo@unewsonline.com
OPINION EDITOR KELLY SIEMPELKAMP opinion@unewsonline.com
ILLUSTRATOR ASHLEE KOTHENBEUTEL design@unewsonline.com
ONLINE EDITOR SOPHIE PERRY webmaster@unewsonline.com
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR GRACE SIMON webmaster@unewsonline.com
COPY EDITOR SARAH STEEN copy@unewsonline.com
COPY EDITOR JACOB CUNNINGHAM copy@unewsonline.com
DESIGN EDITOR VACANT design@unewsonline.com
TRAVEL EDITOR VACANT travel@unewsonline.com
ADVISER MICHELLE PELTIER advisor@unewsonline.com
GENERAL MANAGER ANDREW MEIER advertising@unewsonline.com
The University News was founded by CLAUDE HEITHAUS, S.J.
The Editorial Board of the University News recognizes AVIS MEYER, PH.D., as the newspaper’s faculty mentor.
INTRO TO
&
N N E E K I K I L L L BBIIL BBUUCCKKSS
FLEX
Billiken Bucks, Flex, and “Bonus Flex” are all accepted at University campus dining locations.
What is Flex is included in your Meal or Flex plan to be used on-campus, much like a
Flex and Flex? pre-paid credit card, to buy meals or Billiken Bucks snacks. Flex includes a built-in buyer’s discount. Unused flex rolls over to next semester, but expires ~ What is the at the end of Spring semester. difference ? Bonus Flex works like Flex, but is an Bonus Flex
optional further addition to your Meal or Flex plan. When bought To add (at any time), Bonus Flex grants an Bonus Flex: dineslu.com extra free amount (either 10% or 25% 1. Login to your mySLU Portal CONNECT above the purchase total according to WITH US residence). Bonus Flex does not expire. 2. Click the TOOLS tab
3. Click on SLU CARD eACCOUNTS
bite.sodexo.com for menus
What What are are
Billiken Bucks are not just 4. Click ADD MONEY under for food purchases. They BONUS FLEX account. can be used at vending 5. Bonus Flex appears instantly machines, campus bookstore, in your account. printing, Instructional Media Center, ITS 30 maryland plaza suite 200 stlouis.paulmitchell.edu software, as well as, participating off-campus call or text businesses. Billiken Bucks are dollar for dollar and do 314.361.8200 not provide for the additional bonus. not expire. services Billiken performed byBucks studentsdo under supervision of licensed instructor
Billiken Bucks?
DineSLU
You can also use this tool to check your balance and see transaction history.