No. 1 (Sept. 5, 2019)

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VOL. XCVIV No. 1 / September 5th, 2019

THE UNIVERSITY NEWS

Students Discuss the SLU Bubble inside pages: dineslu FAll hours and two new venues COVER Design by ashlee kothenbeutel


NEWS

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SLU “SAFETY BUBBLE”: A MATTER OF PERCEPTION A recent rise in crime in the city has students questioning their safety — even on SLU’s campus. By KLAUDIA WACHNIK Contributor

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t. Louis is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in America, according to USA Today. In light of the recent rise in crime over the summer, especially against minors, students have begun to question their safety—even within the “SLU Safety Bubble” that is boasted about to new residents. “I haven’t seen a lot of St. Louis for myself, but I know that it’s pretty dangerous and that there are a lot of crimes around the city,” said Tara Buerke, freshman, when asked if she thought St. Louis to be a dangerous city. Even before investigating the city, many individuals have the same impression of St. Louis and the dangers that can come with residing in the area. In some of the most dangerous parts of the city, like College Hill and Dutchtown, the per-capita crime rate is 34.21 per 1,000 residents and 40.01 per 1,000 residents respectively, according to the St. Louis Crime Tracker. Crimes in these neighborhoods, as well as other areas of St. Louis, range from property offenses, such as arson and burglary, to more violent cases, such as aggravated assault and homicide. A recent trend has seen an exponential growth in crimes against minors in St. Louis, specifically murder. In response to the latest crime epidemic, on August 26, 2019, St. Lou-

(Emma Carmody / The University News)

is authorities stated that they would pay up to $100,000 in rewards for information leading to arrest. Since the announcement of the reward, and through the cooperation of authorities and the public, multiple perpetrators have been caught. For many students that attend SLU, including Buerke, these crimes are especially concerning. Denise Gomez, sophomore, when asked if she felt safe stepping outside of campus, replied, “No, even more so in certain places. For instance, walking near the metro stop makes me more nervous [than] walking near the Papa John’s.” Though both Buerke and Gomez expressed discomfort and fear stepping off of campus, when asked if they felt safe on campus, they both were able to respond with a confident nod of approval. Considering that these two distinct attitudes exist within a relatively small geographic area, it demonstrates the general student perception that SLU’s campus is a secure, safe environment. This atmosphere is known as the SLU “Safety Bubble.” This safety bubble can be attributed to the diligence of the Department of Public Safety (DPS). When talking about this sense of security that she feels on campus, Buerke credits DPS: “I feel like this campus has a lot of security for us, like the Department of Public Safety [officers] and cameras everywhere.”

In addition to providing 24/7 surveillance by DPS officers, the Department of Public Safety also seeks to arm students with tactics to defend themselves from harm. Darryl Walker, Assistant Director of Public Safety, commented on these programs: “We focus on education, educating [by] training and preventing with the different programs that we offer here at DPS... for instance, the RAD (Rape Aggresion Defense) program, [and] we offer the Run Hide Fight program.” RAD is available to females only, and Run Hide Fight is available to anyone. The Department of Public Safety works tirelessly to ensure the safety of everyone on the SLU campus, keeping the “safety bubble” intact. “We remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every member of the SLU campus,” adds Walker. Although DPS only patrols campus, they work closely with the St. Louis Police Department to keep campus safe and provide students with the information they need to navigate dangerous situations. Advice that Walker provides to the entire campus community is that “it’s important to remember that safety isn’t just limited to DPS. We all have a role to play. We ask that if anybody sees anything suspicious, that they contact DPS right away.”

BEYOND THE BUBBLE: Going forward, the University News will examine what it means to live inside the safe environment of SLU’s campus and what our community is doing to contribute in positive ways to the safety and overall quality of life of the communities around us.


News

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B-SCHOOL DEAN SUDDENLY STEPS DOWN By SAVANAH SEYER Staff Writer n Friday, Aug. 23, it was announced in a letter to business staff and students that the Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business Dr. Mark Higgins would be stepping down on Aug. 31. The memo did not share any details of the Dean’s decision, nor give any reasoning as to why he would be stepping down or why the decision was announced only a week in advance. The letter was sent out by the Interim Provost, Chester Gillis. In the document, it stated that Higgins would continue teaching at the business school during the fall semester and then would take a year-long sabbatical starting at the beginning of 2020. During Higgins’ time at SLU, the business school was the site of a large amount of progress. This included the most recent donations from Dr. Richard Chaifetz and Rex Sinquefield, which resulted in the renaming of the school, as well as the forming of centers and institutes for the study of entrepreneurship and economic research. The letter about Higgins’ resignation was emailed to the students and faculty of the business school, but at the time of this article’s writing, those outside of the business school were in the dark about this new development. The information was also not readily available on SLU’s or the business school’s website. The lack of communication led to some confusion. Aryan Sawlani, a member of the Chaifetz School’s Dean’s Student Advisory Board, a group that works closely with the Dean to address student concerns and advise the direction of the school, said that while normally they would have received emails and contacts at the beginning of the semester, they had not received any messages since April 2019.

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Gillis stated in the letter that he had been in contact with the faculty and staff of the business school and was planning on naming an Interim Dean soon, and that a search committee would be formed with the goal of hiring a permanent Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business. This change in leadership comes at a crucial time for the business school, as visits from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business are planned for 2020. This non-profit organization is in charge of the accreditation of business schools across the globe. Higgins is currently serving as the chair of the AACSB Accounting Accreditation Policy Committee and serves on the Business Accreditation Policy Committee as well. These Committees work to develop new standards for the accreditation of business schools. In finding a new dean, Gillis stated that they would “have to move urgently” in order to make sure that the Higgin’s successor is able to spend enough time learning the ropes and working with the students and staff of the Chaifetz School of Business, before the accreditation visits began. There are two assistant deans and one associate dean that work in the business school, and many students expressed hopes that one of their favorites, namely Assistant Dean Debbie Barbeau, would be stepping into the role. While the SLU Communications Department redirected the UNews to Gillis’s statement, Mark Higgins himself did not respond to requests for comment. Other business students, while seemingly unconcerned about Higgins’ particular stepping down, seemed more concerned about the state of SLU administration in general. “I really don’t like how we received the news about getting an Interim Dean in an email from the Interim Provost,” said Seth Hardin, a senior student of the business school. “Does anyone at this school have a real job?”

Photo Courtesy of Nick Bernard

ORIFLAMME MOVES IN LARGEST CLASS IN HISTORY By LEAH GEORGE Contributor he moment that students stepped out of their cars after long drives from all over the country with comically miniscule leg room, they were immediately pulled into a swarm of orange shirts and leaders who energetically welcomed them to SLU. Hoping to alleviate the stress, they immediately placed all of their belongings in a big, black cart. In the blink of an eye, they were moved in. And throughout all of the activities, freshmen were filled with reassurance and joy that this was their new home—all thanks to the tireless efforts of the people in the bright orange shirts. On Aug. 22, the Oriflamme leaders seamlessly moved in and welcomed the largest ever freshman class in SLU’s history. However, this task did not come easy. The whole event took a lot of careful planning and preparing to make the experience a success. The leaders put in hours of dancing, chanting and learning diagrams for car traffic so everything would run as smoothly as possible. According to the leaders, all of those long hours became worth it when freshmen arrived on campus. Nupur Chowdury, freshman, said, “They did all of the heavy lifting for me and took a lot of the

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stress out of how many trips we were going to have to make to our car, and I’m really grateful.” Not only did they do the heavy lifting, but they also planned tons of other activities to help freshmen become adjusted to SLU and learn more about what it has to offer. Spirit competitions, square dancing and tours were some ways they taught the freshmen what SLU is really about. “I do it for the first year students. I love being a resource to people,” said Liv Lindstrom, a senior who has been an Oriflamme leader for the past three years. The effort that the leaders put in to make them feel at home, whether it be through dance parties or group discussions, may be moments that new students take with them for the next four years. Lindstrom said, “It was super sad knowing that this was my last time moving in the first year student class, but it also makes me excited for the new wave of Oriflamme leaders to come up,” as she reflected on the experience as “bittersweet.” Chowdury continued, saying, “We have their numbers now so if we have any questions, we can ask, and it’s nice to have someone to look up to and depend on if we really need it.” All-in-all, the true success of the Oriflamme leaders is that they became not only mentors to the new members of the SLU community, but also friends.


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NEWS (Emma Carmody / The University News)

BLUE BILLS GO GREEN FOR 2019 By CAROLINE LIPSKI Staff Writer Billiken can sport more colors than just blue or white, as proven by the recent success of SLU’s sustainability initiative. Green Billikens, a club focused on promoting sustainability around campus, leads this initiative by advocating for green practices and educating the student body about the environment. By putting on fun and engaging events like SLUstainability week, RecycleMania, the Green Game, E-waste drive and Shredmania, they spread awareness about the importance of leading a sustainable life. The success of this group inspired further efforts geared towards sustainability, including the founding of SGA’s newest addition, the Sustainability Committee (SusCo for short), by recent graduate Douglas Fritz. Now, thanks to the combined efforts of both Green Billikens and the SusCo, SLU has committed to purchasing 125 million kilowatts of renewable energy certificates, which will be used to power the entire main campus.

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This development builds upon previous initiatives to introduce renewable energy to campus. Last year, SLU successfully offset all electricity consumed in residence halls with renewable energy from local wind farms. With SLU being the first institution in Missouri to make this level of commitment to green practices, the achievement garnered national attention from the EPA as the school attained Green Power Partnership status. Student support fueled the accomplishment, with over 80 percent of the student body voting in favor of the conversion to a renewable energy system for residence halls—even if it meant paying a higher price. While Fritz is proud of the enthusiasm of SLU students to make campus more sustainable, he recognizes the importance of even more drastic change. “It means we have achieved the bare minimum in reducing our carbon footprint from electricity, but that there is a lot more to do. Our mission calls us to be for and with others in the service of humanity. We are bound by that mission to do more than just the bare minimum for our future, the future of our institution and the future of our planet.” Laura Beilsmith, a senior studying public health, is another leader for the initiative. She currently serves as

the president of Green Billikens and is a member of the SusCo. She is also proud of the efforts of her fellow Billikens. “You’re paying a little bit more to invest in making more renewable energy so its more robust in the future,” noting how important it is that “the campus is really into the idea of making it more environmentally sustainable.” The Sustainability Initiative as a whole was spearheaded by students in response to the Magis Operational Excellence program, which was launched by SLU in February 2016. This program resulted in the elimination of several organizations, academic programs and other positions in response to the crushing deficit at the time. One of the organizations cut was the Office of Sustainability, which was the lifeblood of SLU’s sustainability efforts. Fritz comments that, “since the University felt that sustainability was not a strategic priority, the students would have to lead by example to show them why it should be. Thus, SusCo and this initiative/survey was born”. The success of these student-led efforts speak to the impact students can have on the environment through their own individual actions and choices. Fritz advised: “If I were to say one

thing about sustainability, I’d say that being aware is really important. So reading those really sad news articles about how the polar bears are dying, forcing yourself to read those kind of things to really understand what’s going on, and then understanding that the coffee cup that you just tried throwing in the recycling bin actually can’t be recycled. Understanding how those things work and just being aware of what you’re doing that you could improve is really important.” Beilsmith is hopeful that through further education and promotion of the mission of Green Billikens and SGA’s Sustainability Committee, fellow Billikens will become inspired to continue to push themselves and SLU to not only practice, but even produce green energy. “This is a step in the right direction, but it is not the end goal. The end goal would be to have a wind farm here on campus, and to make our own renewable energy, and to actually be self-sufficient in that way,” she said.


News

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DPS REPORTS (Trenton Almgren-Davis / University News)

SLU COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CELEBRATE

MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT By CONOR DORN Associate News Editor ast Thursday, Aug. 29, SLU students, faculty and alumni gathered at St. Francis Xavier College Church to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Classes that fell between 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. were cancelled to ensure that all could attend the liturgy. The pews in College Church were packed to the brim, in large part due to the welcoming of the largest class of freshmen in SLU’s history. Rev. Christopher Collins, S.J., the Assistant to the President for Mission and Identity, presided over the mass, and Rev. David Suwalsky, S.J., chair of the Theology Department, delivered the homily. Catholic high schools and universities throughout the world celebrate a Mass of the Holy Spirit as an opportunity to pray for guidance and favor for the upcoming academic year. The Mass has been a tradition at Jesuit academic institutions since it was first celebrated in 1548 at the University of Messina in Sicily, the first Jesuit school. The tradition took root quickly, and by the time St. Ignatius of

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Loyola died in 1556, there were thirty-five Jesuit institutions, each celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit to open the academic year. Today, the tradition is still going strong, with no signs of slowing down—especially, it seems, at SLU. Father John LaRocca, S.J., of Xavier University in Cincinnati, writes

“All who learn here, all who teach here, all who work here to be able to see the presence of God in the world and within the subject matter we deal with.” that the Mass of the Holy Spirit boils down to “asking the Holy Spirit to be with all of the university community: All who learn here, all who teach here, all who work here to be able to see the presence of God in the world and within the subject matter we deal with.” The Mass of the Holy Spirit is an important opportunity to be reminded of SLU’s core mission as a Jesuit institution of higher learn-

ing. Suwalsky’s homily called attention to SLU’s mission in the “pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity.” Suwalsky reflected on the teachings of St. Ignatius, praying for spiritual and intellectual guidance and an abundance of joy, laughter and consolation. The tradition is carried out with a spirit of inclusivity and fraternity, and is meant to bind together a campus filled with students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. As is the case with all liturgies celebrated at College Church, the mass was offered in an atmosphere of unity and interconnectedness. The Mass of the Holy Spirit is meant to transcend differences and unify the SLU community as we anticipate the new year. To emphasize this sense of campus-wide solidarity, the Mass opened with a student procession meant to showcase the diversity of talent present at St. Louis University. Representatives from student governing bodies like SGA, RHA, Greek Life, Learning Communities, Student Cultural Groups and Student Faith Groups marched down the center aisle in a wonderful display of all that SLU has to offer.

On 9/3, a student reported that he left his bicycle locked to a bike rack on the south side of Ritter Hall between 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. When he returned, his bike had a broken spoke and flat tire. DPS officers could not determine how the damage occurred.

On 9/3 at 3:52 p.m., a patient was agitated, and began yelling and displaying aggressive behavior towards the doctors at the SLUCare Hospital. He claimed it was because doctors were running late for his appointment. The doctors attempted to treat the patient but had to stop because of his continuous belligerent behavior. The patient was escorted off the property and is not allowed back.

On 9/3 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., a student’s vehicle was damaged by an unknown person. The bumper sustained scuff marks and scratches, but the student declined to file a report with the St. Louis Police.


Arts and life

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Photo Courtesy of Genius

The World is in love with lover By CELIA SEARLES Arts Editor he long-awaited release of Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album, “Lover” was met with relief and excitement. Swift’s sixth album “reputation,” released in late 2017, was significantly darker than her previous albums, leaving fans wondering what Swift’s next move would be. Per usual, they were not disappointed. Compared to reputation, Lover sounds like driving with the windows down on a sunny day, evoking a feeling of hope and renewal. Featuring eighteen tracks, this album is the longest Swift has ever released and the first under her new record label, Republic Records, where she owns the rights to her new music. Lover achieves what Swift’s fifth album, 1989, wanted to accomplish with its upbeat undertones and full send into pop. The sound she experimented

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with in 1989 sounds unfinished compared to the smart lyrics, pop synths that tie one track to the next, and new instruments never prominently heard on previous albums. The album sounds more cohesive than any of her previous works, yet each track is distinct enough to recognize within the first few seconds of each song. Standouts on the record include “Cruel Summer,” “Lover,” “I Think He Knows,” “Paper Rings,” “Cornelia Street,” “Death By A Thousand Cuts,” and “False God.” The weakest track is “The Archer;” yet it still appeals to many of Swift’s deep cuts fans, who may be searching for hidden gems in her albums. “Cruel Summer” is a passionate ode to a summer romance that bounces in and out of major and minor chord progressions, giving it a unique and layered sound. Swift isn’t done with the mystery and agony of a new, uncertain relationship as she sings, “what doesn’t kill me makes me want you more.” Title track and love song “Lover” is where Swift coos about the kind of love she never wants to let go of. “Can we

always be this close?” she sings in the chorus. “Lover” pays homage to the sweet love songs Swift released earlier in her career with a lilting bridge and clever songwriting. Track five on every Taylor Swift album is notorious for being the heartbreaker of the album. Some past track fives include, “White Horse” (Fearless), “All Too Well” (Red), “Delicate” (reputation), and now “The Archer.” “The Archer” is a song about the anxiety of a new relationship when you don’t know if the other person sees the real you. It echoes the same feelings of “Delicate,” reputation’s fifth track, in a more mature way. Compared to the rest of the album, however, “The Archer” is one of Swift’s weaker tracks. It deviates from the upbeat tone of the rest of Lover. The lyrics are far more abstract than the rest of the album, leaving it up to interpretation. This differs from the easy listening of the other songs in the album, something Swift mastered but dropped the ball with on this track. For Swift’s hardcore deep cuts fans, though, it has been well received. “I Think He Knows,” is Swift’s strongest and arguably the best song on the album. The crafty lyrics paired with the deep bass in the chorus create a dance bop with depth to support the message: what it feels like when you begin to date someone you can’t get out of your head. Swift masterfully writes the dizzying feeling of liking someone and knowing they’re aware of it as well. The line, “I think he knows he better lock it down or I wont stick around cause good ones never wait,” is a testament to the strong sense of self she radiates throughout this whole album. She knows she’s worthy of attention and she knows he knows it too. “Paper Rings” is another fun bop about the fun and security within a committed relationship that takes on a retro pop-punk feel. This is a new sound for Swift, who executes it with grace. Dipping her toe into other genres was a bold move for Swift that was received extremely well. None of the tracks that deviate from her usual sound are skippable and add another dimension to the album as a whole. Another standout on the album, “Cornelia Street,” is a sweet ode to the beginning of her current relationship that occured on Cornelia Street. This is one

of Swift’s most confessional songs on the album, admitting she’d “never walk Cornelia street again” if her current relationship ended. This song is reminiscent of the kind of songwriting that made many fans love her music in the first place. If you’re an “old Taylor” fan, this one’s for you. “Death By A Thousand Cuts” is the breakup song no Taylor Swift album would be complete without. Swift said in a recent interview that the song was inspired by the movie “Someone Great” on Netflix rather than her own life. It features an upbeat symphony of sounds that culminates into a devastating crash-like bridge, representing the breakdown the main character in “Someone Great” has during the movie. It’s the breakup song the world didn’t know it needed. It’s possible to dance and be sad at the same time! The last notable mention on the album is “False God”. Experimenting with a more R&B sound, Swift opens the song with a saxophone that sets a sultry tone. Admitting her own flaws, Swift opens up about the struggles of a relationship and the doubts that her and her partner might not be a perfect match. Despite those feelings, she sings, “but we might just get away with it, religions in your lips even if it’s a false god” affirming she’s not giving up on her partner anytime soon. It’s the slow song on the album that loosely reminds listeners of previous songs such as,“Wildest Dreams” (1989) and “Dress” (reputation). This album overall is one of Swift’s strongest, ranking at a high number one or two out of all her albums for many of Swift’s fans. It offers a fresh and new sound that’s the harmony of production, songwriting, and experimental tracks that Swift finally nailed down after switching to pop for her album “1989.” With the wide range of moods and genres Swift covers in “Lover”, there’s a song for everyone, swiftie or not.


Arts and life

Good Eats in SLu’s backyard By SYDNEY COMPTON Contributor aint Louis offers an amazing scene for foodies of all sorts. Bars, fine dining, cozy cafes and more are available throughout the Saint Louis area. Unfortunately, not everyone at SLU has a car to zip down to some of the more well known areas of Saint Louis for a good meal or exciting drink. Thankfully, there are options right in SLU’s backyard. Whether you don’t have a car or you’re just looking to stretch your legs, here are some options for food and drink within walking distance of our campus.

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Cafe Option Like Home Comme a la Maison $ Like Home is a French patisserie that is located at 3855 Lindell Blvd., just a stone’s throw away from the West

end of campus. Offering a variety of French dishes, the mother daughter combo, Clemence and Christine Pereur, opened Like Home in September 2016. Their colorful menu ranges from beautifully made macarons ($2 each) to savory Quiches ($10). With vegetarian options, tasty sweets, warm coffee and a cozy atmosphere, Like Home is a great place for an easy breakfast or lunch. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Small Plates and Cocktails Retreat Gastropub $$- Retreat Gastropub is described on their website as “A modern American pub with a rustic touch.” Located at 6 North Sarah Street, Retreat provides a lively, comfortable atmosphere and a menu full of flavorful foods. For those 21 and over, Retreat puts a lot of focus on their craft cocktails and beers. With herb infused cocktails, local craft brews, as well as non alcoholic cocktails and shareable drinks, Retreat will be sure to quench your thirst no matter your taste. A per-

fect place for your next date night or treating yourself, Retreat Gastropub offers a colorful menu for any occasion. Quick and Casual The Fountain on Locust $$- Looking for a casual bite or a sweet treat? The Fountain on Locust is the spot for you! Located just three blocks east of the Fox theater at 3037 Locust Street, this fun space has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free award winning dishes. They are also the home of the ice cream martini and tasty homemade sodas. Open since 2008, their special fountain ice cream was voted one of St. Louis’ best! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 12 midnight, Sunday 12 noon - 9 p.m. Dinner and a Show The Dark Room at The Grandel $$ - Wine bar. Live jazz. Art Shows. Restaurant. What more could you want? According to The Dark Room website they offer “a holistic experi-

07 ence designed to enhance community engagement, encourage conversation, and inspire ideas.” The restaurant is open Monday – Tuesday (4:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.) Wednesday – Saturday (4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.) for dinner and 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m every Saturday & Sunday. Located at 3610 Grandel Square, SLU students can enjoy the walk past The Fabulous Fox and Powell Hall on their way. With live jazz seven days a week and rotating photography exhibits, The Dark Room is the perfect venue for events, a nice night out and a taste of culture. For those looking for a bit of a longer walk, there are amazing options in the Central West End for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. As SLU students, we also get free metro passes when we live on campus. Utilizing that metro pass, one could take the city bus down to Tower Grove or Lafayette Square or use the metro to check out downtown and more! So when you’re looking to expand your options outside of Chipotle, Picklmans or Khaldi’s, look to some of these restaurants for a new and delicious food and drink experience.

Staff’s choice: What’s your favorite on-campus meal? SYDNEY COMPTON Contributor

GRACE WILKEN Contributor

“Panera breakfast sandwich with egg whites, spinach, avocado, and cheese on an everything bagel.”

“Orange Chicken meal swipe at Mein Bowl.”

CELIA SEARLES Arts Editor

CLAIRE BATTISTA Arts Editor

GRACE RAKESTRAW Contributor

“B School grilled cheese with pretzel bread, mozzarella and provolone, tomato, spinach, and pesto. Toasted.”

“Island Pitaya Açaí Bowl with pineapples, mangos, bananas, and chia seeds from Jamba Juice.”

“Qdoba bowl.”


Arts and life

08 By GRACE RAKESTRAW Contributor

Fall Book Preview

Many college students think that summer is the prime time for reading. However, I argue that fall reading is superior. Holding a steaming cup of coffee, snuggling under layers of blankets while rain falls outside creates a reader’s haven. The one necessity missing is the perfect book. The UNews is here to help college students pick their newest fall read. We have the hottest list of books coming out Fall 2019 for all readers.

For the one who loves The Handmaid’s Tale:

For those looking for a bird’s eye view:

THE TESTAMENTS By: Margaret Atwood

HOLLOW KINGDOM By: Kira Jane Buxton

Expected on: September 10th Thirty-four years after The Handmaid’s Tale was released, Margaret Atwood returns with The Testaments, a sequel to her best-selling book. The Testaments begins fifteen years after readers last visited Offred.

Published on: August 6th This book follows an intelligent crow who fights to save humankind from the apocalypse. Hollow Kingdom transcends genres; it is a dark, twisted, humorous treat of a book.

For the one who reminisces the past:

For the one who will change the world:

THE DUTCH HOUSE By: Ann Patchett

INCOSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION: THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT YOU DON’T KNOW YOU HAVE By: Tatiana Schlossberg

Expected on: September 24th This novel follows two siblings who reminisce on their time spent at the Dutch House, their childhood home. Whether you are a student coming to campus for the first time or are returning, everyone has ties to their past, just like the characters in the The Dutch House.

Broadway on a Budget

By CLAIRE BATTISTA Arts Editor

Published on: August 27th Tatiana Schlossberg is a New York Times science writer who researched how decisions consumers make impact the environment. For any student who wants to work to stop climate change, read this.

Looking for things to do as the fall semester gets underway? The Fabulous Fox, located just a block off Saint Louis University’s main campus, hosts an array of award-winning musicals and plays every year. Plus, the venue itself is just as impressive as the entertainment it hosts. Walking into the Fox is like stepping back in time. Built in 1929, the Fox’s ornately decorated, gold and red velvet interior shimmers with the elegance and glamour of the early twentieth century. If you are a college student on a budget, “rush tickets” are a way to obtain cheap seats. For certain performances, the box office will allot a certain number of discounted rush tickets to be sold two hours before the show. Although it depends on the show, rushing gives you the possibility of purchasing tickets for as low as thirty dollars. One of the best ways to stay up

to date on rush tickets, discounts, and other special offers is to sign up for the Fox’s mailing list. The upcoming 2019-2020 Broadway show lineup includes Hello, Dolly! (October 1–13, 2019), Escape to Margaritaville (October 18–20, 2019), Dear Evan Hansen (October 22–November 3, 2019), Stomp (November 15–17, 2019), Cirque Dreams Holidaze (November 29–30, 2019), Wicked (December 4–29, 2019), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (January 15–26, 2020), Jersey Boys (January 30–February 2, 2020), Riverdance (February 14–16, 2020), Rent (February 21–23, 2020), The Band’s Visit (February 25–March 8, 2020), Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (March 17–29, 2020), Cats (April 7–19, 2020), and Hamilton (May 5 - June 7, 2020).


16 06 19 09 25 13 September

Food TRuck Friday @ Tower Grove Park 4-7:30 pm

Shakti Samosa & Lassi Fundraiser @ BSC 10 am - 2 pm

AED BLOOD DRIVE @ BSC ST. LOUIS ROOM 9 am - 7 pm

Latin-x Heritage Month Kickoff @ cgc 10 am

2019 Social Justice Night @ CGC 6-8 pm

Fall 2019 Career Expo @ BSC

12-4 pm


games

University News 9/5/19 Sudoku

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University News 9/5/19 Crossword

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57 University News 9/5/19 Word Search

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photography

Faces For h s Fre Fall Welcome Photos by NICK BERNARD and TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS Contributer and Photo Editor The 2019-2020 school year kicked off with a fun-packed start during Fall Welcome. Oriflamme moved in a record-breaking total of 1,900 First Years, with 300 on Wednesday and approximately 1,400 on Thursday. After the tiresome day of moving clothes, futons, microwaves and mini fridges, Oriflamme and First Years gathered for Fitz’s root beer floats. Friday, the new SLU students were introduced to SLU’s Jesuit mission with Convocation, Live the Oath and a small group discussion about life on campus. The night ended with the colorful Paint SLU. Saturday featured a busy schedule including a service day, walking tour, spirit competition, Rock Paper Scissors game, See You at the Rec, Late Night Nineties Kickback and Party on Grand. For those able to wake up early after the exhausting previous day, Oriflamme hosted peaceful Yoga on the Quad.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Mass of the HOly Spirit Photos by Trenton Almgren-Davis Photo Editor

(Top Left) Father David Suwalsky, S.J., gives a homily about a Mass over which he had previously presided through sweltering heat in a Jesuit highschool gymnasium. (Middle Left) Father Suwalsky delivers the communion host to a pious SLU student. (Middle Center) Two churchgoers find an empty seat on the holy water basin in the crowded College Church. (Middle Right) Students pray the “Our Father� together. (Bottom Left) The alter server leads the response. (Bottom Right) Sunita Chand and Father Chris Collins, S.J., sprinkle holy water over the parishioners.


sports

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VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON PERFECT FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ‘08 By ERIN MCCLELLAND Associate Sports Editor inning the 10th annual Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in the Chaifetz Arena Pavillion, the SLU Volleyball team opened up their 2019 season going 3-0 for the first time since the 2008 season. Last year, the team opened their season 0-6, so the turnaround is an extremely welcomed start for the young squad. The Billikens opened their season with a 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee State. The first set of the season was a back-and-forth battle between the Billikens and Blue Raiders, with the home team coming out on top 25-22. The second set wasn’t so close, with the Bills running away with the set very early on. Unlike the second set, the Billikens couldn’t hold onto a lead in the third, and the visitors took the set to stay in the match and force a fourth set. Much like the first, the fourth set was a battle between the sides that saw the Bills prevail in the end for the first win of the tournament, and of the season. The next day, the Bills followed up their win with another one over Southern Illinois. They started the first set extremely strong, jumping out to a seven-point lead and never looking back. The second set was a lot closer, with the Salukis edging the Billikens 25-21—the only set they were able to take in the match. The third set of the match was one of the most thrilling sets SLU volleyball has seen in a very long time. The 36 points that the Billikens scored was the most of any set in the 25-point era, and it is the highest score since the 35-33 set win over Rhode Island in 2013. The Bills fought off six set points and eventually took the set 36-34. Sophomore Sara Daniels said, “It was the most impressive thing we accomplished all weekend.” The fourth set ended in favor of the home team, and for the first

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(Riley Tovornik / The University News) time in eight years, the Billikens started their season 2-0. After the strong start, the Bills had one more match to take the title of the Hamilton Classic. They took on Portland State later the same day, took home the win and started their season 3-0 for the first time since 2008. The first set against the Vikings was an easy one for the Bills, winning 25-15. The second was much closer, with 11 tie scores before the Bills took the second 25-21. Another close set in the third saw the Vikings win the battle, but it turned out to be the only set they’d win in the match. The last set was also close, but the Bills were able to close out the win and start their season with a perfect record. The Billikens have some tough matches ahead of them this year, but

Junior Maya Taylor said, “I’m looking forward to playing conference games and seeing how we match up. I have a good feeling about this team this year, and [conference games] are when you can see how [the season is] going to play out.” Taylor was picked as the Tournament MVP, and her classmate Kennedy Cordia was named to the All-Tournament Team. Taylor also earned the Bills’ first conference honors of the year by being named Offensive Player of the Week for the A-10 during their first week of accolades. Now that school has started, the team faces the challenge of managing school along with their busy schedules, something Taylor foresees as a potential challenge for her team. “The biggest challenge is go-

ing to be continuing to push [themselves] in practice to adequately prepare for games. [They] have been doing well, but when school and other priorities are affecting us, it can get difficult.” This weekend the Billikens head to Des Moines, Iowa for the Drake Invitational, where they will take on Milwaukee, Drake, and Eastern Washington. They will be back in the Chaifetz Pavilion on Sept. 13, where they will take on Troy University at 6 p.m.


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sports

MEN’S SOCCER OPENS IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWD By SUSANNAH ELLIS Contributor nder the lights in front of a packed Hermann Stadium, the Billikens men’s soccer team fell 3-2 to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last Saturday to begin the 2019 season. Junior Ben Huels said, “Thanks to the 6,000 great students and fantastic fans who came to the game [because] we were blessed with an amazing atmosphere.” The 5,942 fans at Hermann Stadium was the highest NCAA soccer attendance on this first weekend of the regular season. “We’ve got a lot of different guys with a lot of different weapons. Each game presents a different problem; each opponent presents their own set of strengths and

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weaknesses. I’m optimistic with the group, disappointed with today’s result,” said SLU head coach, Kevin Kalish. The tenth-ranked Fighting Irish scored in the first two minutes of the matchup to go up on the home team 1-0. The solid Billiken defense didn’t allow them to score again until the 65th minute, when Notre Dame recaptured their lead. The Irish scored two quick—one in the 65th, closely followed by the eventual game-winner in the 67th. Sophomore forward Chris Bruch got the Billikens on the board with his first collegiate goal in blue in the 42nd minute to tie the game before the half. Notre Dame defenders were a stride behind him, and a pass from freshman defender Mujeeb Murana allowed him to get a shot past the Fighting Irish goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull. The Bills were behind 3-1 with

plenty of time to get more on the board. Sophomore midfielder John Klein, assisted by Junior defender Chase Niese, cut the lead in half in the 81st minute, but the late addition wasn’t enough to put the Billikens back in the game. “There was some collective fight. I think it needed to be better, but I was happy to see that they kept pushing,” said Kalish. “Games like this come down to fine margins, and we were on the short end of it this time.” The Billikens play at Southern Methodist University on Friday and at SIUE next Friday, Sept. 13 before their next home game against Tulsa on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. “We have an incredible schedule this year with talented opponents, and we are ready to show our city what this team is capable of,” said Huels.

Billikens celebrate a goal after being down from an early Notre Dame goal. The Billikens scored twice in the 3-2 loss. (Michael Place / The University News)

Captain Devin Boyce commands his team. (Michael Place / The University News)

Mujeeb Murana pulls a move to beat Notre Dame defender. (Michael Place / The University News)


sports

17

BILLIKEN WOMEN BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE AFTER DEFEAT AT LOUISVILLE

Senior Evie Lavelle dribbles past a Drake player. Lavelle helped lead the Billikens to a 3-0 win over the Bulldogs on Sept. 1, improving their record to 2-2 (Jack Connaghan / The University News)

By MISHAL MUSTAQUE Contributor n a partly cloudy early afternoon, the SLU women’s soccer team warmed up to take on Drake University, who themselves had endured a rough start to the new season, having lost all three of their opening games. The Bills were perhaps the favorites going in, but their pattern of loss-win-loss did not spark particular confidence within supporters who had gleefully done the walk to cheer on their team. Of course, if the pattern continued, it would mean this game was almost guaranteed to be a win. The pattern gods from above would see to it. But first, obviously, the players on the field. The breakthrough goal came from a messy scuffle inside the box that was eventually turned in by Lawler, the freshman from Fenton, Missouri. SLU blitzed Drake whenever they could, and the intensity with which they did so was markedly different

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than the Bulldogs. The second goal came directly from a corner through a delicious looking ball from Lavelle to Klug. Everything about this goal was class, from the ball itself to the header which nestled far up into the net. It didn’t take long for the next goal to arrive. It came from another corner kick, this time off the second ball, which was turned in by Reimer, the senior midfielder from St. Charles, Missouri. At this point, the Billikens were just passing circles around Drake for fun. The disparity in quality was clear, and whether it was the sheer determination or the drive that SLU had which Drake lacked in equal measure, the game was increasingly becoming one where it was about how many goals SLU would rack up. For every inaccurate pass from the Bulldogs, there was a genius pass from the Billikens. It was virtually—and it probably doesn’t have the same ring as men vs. boys —women against girls out there. The game did slow down a notch after the third goal from the Billikens, but it was perhaps down to a feeling that

third gear could be reserved for the next game as this one was already in the bag. Asked to elaborate after the game, head coach Katie Shields said it was down to the fact that she took out 10 of the 11 starters and the rhythm was hard to find. Tricks and flicks were going abound at the start of the second half as the Billikens focused on displaying their brilliance and stamping it on the faces of their opponents. As Coach Shields alluded earlier, the freshmen were keen to demonstrate their ability given this golden chance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Although far too often in soccer praise is awarded to the attackers, one of the stars of the show quite clearly in this game was #2 Alli Klug at the back, who didn’t put a foot wrong defensively and even scored from a corner to top off her masterclass performance. Lavelle also had a great game in midfield, having set up two goals in the first half, and she put in an industrious performance in the second in her few minutes on the field. The second half teetered off from the level of dominance shown by

the Billikens in the first, as the Bulldogs from Drake did their utmost to not lose any further pride. Half chances were created by both teams, but without much assurance in execution. In the end, the game turned from a demolition to a comfortable home victory for the SLU women. Coach Shields says the next game “will be a win” when asked about the loss-win-loss-win pattern after the game. Every fan of the team will certainly hope so after the tough start endured by the Billikens at the start of the season, having gone up against Louisville and Notre Dame already. SLU plays at Oral Roberts this Friday the 6th for their next game, but they will be back home to face Iowa State next Friday, Sept. 13 in what will be another chance to demonstrate their pedigree for the season ahead.


sports MURANA BROTHERS NEW DYNAMIC DUO FOR MEN’S SOCCER 18

By SAM GLASS Sports Editor ilbur and Orville Wr i g h t , Serena and Venus Williams, J a m e s and Dave Franco; these famous sibling duos have been instrumental in their respective fields, leveraging the intangible bond between blood to achieve feats never before seen. Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer added their own duo to the squad with the addition of Mujeeb Murana, younger brother of Quayyum Murana (Q). The brothers were born in Nigeria and spent their early childhood there. It was there that the two developed a passion for soccer. “Growing up in Nigeria was fun, but it was also difficult,” said Mujeeb. “All we did was play soccer because there was no TV and

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nothing else to do. We didn’t go to school all the time because there would be strikes, so sometimes you would take a month out, not going to school, and all you did was play with your friends and play soccer.” They moved over to the states in 2007, where their father enrolled them in local soccer programs. One of the reasons their father enrolled them in the sport was because he did not want them to be corrupted by American society, and once he realized they loved playing, he knew it was the perfect fit. “What are you feeding them?” other parents would ask their mother, as the two outshined their peers, scoring 3-4 goals per game. They eventually looked into higher-caliber teams and landed in the Houston Dynamo Academy, a development soccer program aimed to create professional-caliber players. The academy helped bolster their skills and eventually landed them on SLU’s roster.

Mujeeb Murana warming up prior to game against Notre Dame. (Michael Place / The University News)

In 2016, Q made his debut as a Billiken and remained a key player in SLU’s defensive unit. Three years later, Mujeeb has made his Billiken debut and seems to be a strong part of the SLU defense, playing at his brother’s flank. The two never played on the same team before (except in street soccer), and getting the chance to play with his brother was a factor that drew Mujeeb to SLU. Though it was ultimately his decision, Q helped pull him along in the recruitment process. “If I didn’t think SLU was a great fit for me or that St. Louis, the soccer or the city, wasn’t a good place for anybody…then I definitely wouldn’t have supported him as much as I did in his recruitment,” said Q. Q is happy to bring Mujeeb into the Billiken family, and head coach Kevin Kalish is hoping that the brothers’ bond will have a positive impact on the rest of the team. “When we try to build a team, it’s all about trust and building strong connection…and you can’t get much more close than blood and being a brother,” said Kalish. “I think it could rub off on some of the

guys as well.” The Murana brothers know that and want to help build trust on the team, and they think their relationship can help speed up that process. Mujeeb said that because Q already knows how Mujeeb plays, he’ll be able to make risky plays and Q will trust him. The pair hopes that teammates will see the trust and immediately do the same. A subtle advantage the two hold is their other language, Yoruba. The language throws off opponents and allows callouts to be made without the other team knowing the plan. With a quick “fún mi ball” (give me the ball), Q passes to Mujeeb and the opposing player is “o ti gé” (out of the game). The two used to get in trouble for playing soccer. At one point, their mother hid the ball from them, but they still found it and played despite getting in trouble. “Now that’s what is helping us go to university—the thing we used to get whooped for. It’s crazy,” said Q, his brother nodding in total agreement.

Quayyum Murana heading a ball towards the goal. (Trenton Almgren-Davis / The University News)


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Opinion

20

A World on Fire: The Amazon and its Effects on the Climate Crisis REACTION TO ENTERPRISE CENTER’S NEW CLEAR BAG POLICY

By JORDAN BAILEY Contributor

We’ve all heard the news before— uncontrollable environmental disasters striking the globe, leaving thousands of people homeless and hundreds of square miles destroyed. The Amazon rainforest is just the most recent of ecological catastrophes; it is imperative that we answer the question of how impactful these environmental disasters are globally to determine what next steps to take to solve the ongoing climate issue. The Amazon rainforest, home to over 2,500 species, 400 indeginous tribes and the vessel to more than 20 percent of the world’s oxygen supply, has been on fire for over a month now. The cause of these fires has been traced back to deforestation efforts that many cattle farmers have caused in an attempt to make space for ranching and agricultural production. Although many media outlets have portrayed the current disasters in Amazonia as something new, these fires shouldn’t come as a shock. In 2016 alone, the Amazon had 68,484 fires within its region, making it the second-worst year for wildfires in Amazonia history. This year, however, has been the worst year yet, with over 74,000 recorded forest fires so far in the area. So why are these wildfires so important? The Amazon, just like any other rainforest, absorbs over 2.2 billion tons of CO2 annually, according to Fernando Espírito-Santo, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Holding over one-third of all carbon emissions in the world, the Amazon wildfires will have massive effects on the amount of clean oxygen local communities in Brazil are getting, accelerating the ecological crisis and creating massive environmental impacts globally.

The worst part is, the Amazon isn’t the only massive wildfire going on. With forests in both Indonesia and Siberia up in flames, Amazonia is only a portion of the catastrophic environmental disasters currently impacting our globe. More than 21,000 square miles of forest are burning in Siberia, making it the worst wildfire season in Russia’s history. Indonesia has detected over 644 fire hotspots within its region, with many locals fearing a sequel to the 2015 forest fire crisis. Unlike Brazil, Siberia and Indonesia have called for a national environmental emergency, sending military and law enforcement to combat the forest fires. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has refused to acknowledge the Amazon wildfires, pushing towards industrial and agricultural development for Amazonia and promising to get rid of the hundreds of indigenous reserves that reside within its borders. With more than one million species facing extinction within the next few decades, less than 30 percent of wild forests left and approximately 83 percent of the world’s freshwater ecosystems collapsing, it’s almost impossible to have any hope in combating the ecological crisis. But I think this is where we all have to ask ourselves what we can do to help defeat climate change. Whether it’s cutting our waste consumption in half, writing to our local congressman about ecological issues in the area or donating to nonprofit environmental organizations like the Rainforest Alliance—anything helps. Because eventually, we will have to start looking at this for what it actually is: a global emergency. And if we don’t soon, the crisis our world faces will only accelerate, until one day, there will be no turning back.

By KELLY SIEMPELKAMP Opinion Editor One can expect when going to a concert or a sports game that there will be a long line upon entering the venue. The same feeling of panic before going through TSA at the airport is present while entering a crowded venue. Rushing to get all of your belongings into a bucket and making it through without an issue is not only stressful, but frustrating, when all you want to do is get in and find your seats before the venue event starts. The Enterprise Center recently announced their Clear Bag Policy, which went into effect Tuesday, Sept. 3 for the John Mayer concert. This policy approves clear bags that are 12 inches long, 6 inches wide and 12 inches high, plastic bags up to one gallon in size, small clutches up to 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches and a diaper bag with a child present. Items that are not included in the Clear Bag Policy are backpacks, camera cases, fanny packs, purses, etc. The policy is intended to make waiting times in lines faster and entry more efficient. The Enterprise Center mentioned in its press release, “To speed up gate access, fans will no longer be required to empty their pockets prior to passing through metal detectors due to upgrades in technology. The facility will also deploy X-Ray machines at key locations throughout the venue.” A clear bag policy eliminates the risk of missing something while purse-checking, but isn’t that what technology is for? Using X-Ray machines is a great idea because people may bring any bag of their choosing, while also catching anything suspicious that might be missed due to human error. There is a reason TSA does not have clear bag

policies at airports—because we have the technology. Aside from the usual security measures, fans have to walk through a metal detector and pass by a security guard with a metal detector wand. We aren’t required to wear clear clothing because we have these inventions. If we have X-Ray scanners, and actually use them, then we shouldn’t be required to bring clear bags. I understand that X-Ray scanners are expensive; however, the St. Louis Blues should be able to assume this expense. They won the Stanley cup this year, and since then, the Enterprise Center has seen an increase in season ticket sales for the new, upcoming season. They even held watch parties for every away game during the playoffs. Not to mention, the St. Louis Blues have even designed their own clear bags for fans to purchase. Another issue with the clear bag policy is that it is more than likely that someone will need more than just their phone, wallet and keys. Everyone knows that women’s pockets are designed to be significantly smaller than men’s, serving the need to carry a purse in the first place. People who need to bring medicine, a mini firstaid kit or feminine products will not be able to fit all of their belongings into a small clutch. They may be able to fit their belongings into a gallonsized plastic bag, but that would be tacky. Walking around with a clear bag also puts you at risk for pickpocketing, mugging and other types of theft. I do not own a clear bag, nor do I want to buy one anytime soon. We have the technology to prevent the need for purse-checkers and clear bags, so this policy is simply unnecessary. Everyone expects long lines at the arena just like St. Louisans expect at Ted Drewes, which we know moves fast! Unfortunately, it might not be long before Busch Stadium also adopts this clear bag policy.


Opinion

21

The Myth of Joe Biden’s Electability By COLIN THIERRY Contributor

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ith the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and the Iowa Caucus around the corner, four candidates have started to emerge as early front-runners. These four candidates are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris. The current polling leader, former Vice President Joe Biden, has been touted by his camp and the media alike for being the most “electable” candidate in the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump. However, if one takes the time to look more deeply into polling numbers and Biden’s overall track record and policy positions, they would find that he is not as electable as this narrative seems to suggest. According to RealClearPolitics, which aggregates polls for presidential and congressional races into averages (known as the RealClearPolitics average), Joe Biden is polling at 50.3 compared to Trump’s 40.8. Sanders (49.7), Warren (48.4) and Harris (48.0) are all polling 1-2 points lower than Biden based on these preliminary aggregated polls. Are these polls alone really enough to already declare Biden the far and away most electable out of the 2020 Democratic field? I do not see how this is the basis for determining that Joe Biden would be the most electable candidate out of the field when he is polling marginally better than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two candidates with much more progressive policies. The same applies for Kamala Harris, who is two points behind Biden according to the RCP average and has very similar policy positions to him. This calls to issue another problem with the narrative of Biden’s electability— some of his past and present policy positions. First and foremost, Biden

opposes Medicare for All, a position that sets him apart from most of the 2020 field. He believes that Medicare for All, popularized by Senator Bernie Sanders, wouldn’t work and that Democrats should simply stick with a modified version of Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act) that builds a public option into Obamacare. In statements opposing Medicare for All, Biden incorrectly stated that people with preexisting conditions would lose coverage under the plan and that the Affordable Care Act has covered 100 million people, when in reality it has covered closer to 20 million. While Biden’s camp clarified that he was referring to 100 million with preexisting conditions who had difficulties getting insurance before Obamacare, these statements still display an overall misunderstanding of a single-payer health care system. Another position Biden has faced much scrutiny for on the campaign trail was his opposition to desegregation in school busing throughout his time as a U.S. Senator from 1973 to 2009. In the 1970s, Biden, along with segregationist senators, supported legislation that aimed to limit the federal government’s ability to enforce court-ordered busing mandates. At the time, this was the fastest-acting tool to promote desegregation of schools. Not only did Biden vote with segregationist senators, he was good friends with some, most notably Strom Thurmond. Thurmond was a Senator from South Carolina who supported segregation throughout his life and political career and voted against the enactment of the Civil Rights Law. Biden once praised the segregationist as “one of my closest friends” and talked of him as someone who believed in America’s diversity. In 2003, Biden even spoke at Thurmond’s memorial service, who he claimed had “moved to the good side” in his later years. Biden wrote, in an admiring tone, a 1947 editorial which praised Strom Thurmond’s work with black students at “separate, but equal schools.” However these supposedly “separate but equal” schools were a

defining staple and unconstitutional function of racial segregation in the South. Ultimately, this begs the question of why someone like Biden, who claims to be an advocate for racial equality, would support policies that hinder the desegregation of American public schools and be such close friends with a notorious segregationist like Strom Thurmond. I am not in the business of telling any person how they should vote. However, I believe that the voting public should be aware of any glaring faults or problems a politician may have before casting their vote for that candidate. Personally, Joe Biden’s past and current views on healthcare, past support for segregated busing and his friendship with Strom Thurmond are only some of the many issues that make him far from the most electable out of the crowded Democratic primary field in my eyes. Additionally, Biden’s history of inappropriate touching allegations, his disastrous handling of the 1991 Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings (which could definitely hurt his support with women) and data from the aggregated RCP polls against Donald Trump damage this narrative of Biden’s superior “electability” perpetuated by the media.

“The voting public should be aware of any glaring faults or problems a politician may have before casting their vote for that candidate.”


Opinion

22

Recession imminent? ou may have heard on the news or from your friends that people are saying a recession is on its way for the U.S., and possibly the global economy. There’s no real, universally agreed-upon way to tell exactly when a recession will begin or how bad it will end up being, but then again, economists don’t fully agree on what constitutes the “beginning” of a recession to begin with. That said, there are several indicators that U.S. economists have identified which typically predict future economic behavior with some degree of accuracy, particularly when multiple indicators are pointing in the same direction. As it happens, several of these indicators are currently pointing to a recession sometime soon, while others are pointing to a more measured decline, if a decline occurs at all. Let’s start with the indicator most fervently pointing towards a coming recession, what economists refer to as the “inverted yield curve.” It’s not as complicated as you might think; basically, the “yield curve” refers to a graph which compares the interest

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rates on two types of U.S. Treasury bonds: the two-year and the tenyear bond. A bond is a unit of debt which is issued by the government and can be purchased by individuals or companies, who in purchasing said bond are essentially loaning money to the government, which it then pays back (theoretically) with interest. Typically, the ten-year bond has a much higher interest rate—in other words, a much higher “yield”—than the two-year. This is because investors require a greater incentive to have their money tied up for a longer period of time. When confidence in the short-term performance of the economy declines, however, then the demand and thus the interest rate on two-year bonds will increase relative to ten-year bonds because investors will see the short-term as a greater risk than the long-term. If this continues to the extent needed for the two yield curves on the graph to cross—for twoyear bonds to have a higher yield than ten-year bonds—we say that the yield curve has inverted. Economists have found that a yield curve inversion usually means a recession is coming sooner rather than later. Secondly, it seems as if the Federal Reserve is preparing for some kind of downturn. From the New York

Times: “Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said last week that the economy was in a ‘favorable place,’ but reiterated that the U.S. central bank would ‘act as appropriate’ to keep the economic expansion on track. The Fed lowered its short-term interest rate by 25 basis points last month for the first time since 2008, citing trade tensions and slowing global growth.” It’s important to note that the interest rate mentioned here is different from the interest rates on government bonds; however, they are related. When the Fed lowers interest rates, it means that they believe the economy is headed downward, and by artificially lowering the base interest rate in the economy—lowering the cost of borrowing money—they hope to increase spending and lending to give the economy a preemptive boost. If the Fed decides to lower interest rates further sometime this month or next, it could reinforce the likelihood of a recession. All that said, there are some reasons to be positive. Consumer spending remains high even as sentiment begins to decline, which could signify that any recession would be relatively mild or at least farther in the future than it seems by looking at other indicators. Continually stagnant

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wages compared to the cost of living could undermine this, however. If spending declines significantly in the next few months, it could signify a recession is imminent. In addition, unemployment is at record lows in many sectors, and job security is relatively high, even as more jobs continue to be outsourced and key sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture are being hit especially hard by Trump’s trade war with China. In conclusion, anyone who says they know exactly what’s going to happen or when the recession is going to hit, if at all, is either lying or blinded by arrogance. Overall, it does appear that a recession of some kind is likely within the next 12 months, but the exact cause, timing and magnitude are impossible to determine with 100 percent accuracy until after the recession has already begun. As conditions in the economy change, these and other indicators will change and will alter the likelihood of a recession, and thus, our expectations will have to change as well. The best thing to do now is wait, observe and try our best to see the crash coming before it hits.


Opinion

23

I’m Here, I’m Queer, I’m… Christian? By LENYA GODA Contributor

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n case you hadn’t guessed from the title, I am part of a small minority that identifies both as queer or LGBTQ+, and as Christian. However, you probably wouldn’t guess that I was a Christian from looking at me. As one of my coworkers from my summer job put it, “you don’t look like a Christian.” She would be correct. My hair is a different color every two months, I have one tattoo with plans to get more and I am queer. Most people would not peg me as a Christian, despite it being as important to my identity as being queer. But when I call myself a queer Christian, it just sounds like an oxymoron, even to myself. These two parts of my identity are irrevocably connected, yet I often find them at war within myself. Being raised in a conservative church, I was taught that while Jesus loves everyone, being anything but a cisgender heterosexual was a sin.

I was homophobic for most of my highschool career. However, when I started to question my own sexual identity, I was unsure of where that set me as a Christian. Was I a bad Christian for loving women as well as men? Did God hate me for something that I couldn’t control? Was the label queer a decision, or was it an integral part of my identity I’d denied for too long? I felt torn between two communities, both of which had given me so much. Being raised in the church, I had found a solid rock and support. By joining the LGBTQ+ community, I found acceptance of all of me, even when I was confused or unsure. After several months of debate, research and doubting myself, I reached the conclusion that if the main message

of the Bible is love, then why would I be condemned for who I love? In the book of Matthew, chapter 22, Jesus, the Son of God, says that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love others. He doesn’t say to love God and judge others. He says to love everyone. I found love in Christianity and acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community, and both of these have shaped me into the person I am today. These two communities have such similar goals, yet they are constantly pitted against each other, as if I cannot be both and must pick one or the other. The whole premise of Christianity is acceptance and love, and yet, many churches still find it hard to accept those who differ

“I felt torn between two communities, both of which had given me so much.”

from them. I have gone to many churches that have taught expressly homophobic sermons, or even just subtextually made me feel excluded or unwelcome in that community. That is what judgement does to a community; it causes those who are not “normal” to feel excluded from the others. However, no one is normal, and these judgemental mindsets only taint the teachings of love that Christianity is supposed to promote. These two communities should not be at opposition with each other. These two parts of my identity have learned to co-exist, so I have hope that these groups can grow in their similarities and not let judgement and discrimination grow into exclusion. Acceptance and love are two big parts of both these communities, while judgment should have no place. After struggling with these two parts of myself, I have come to a place where I can confidently proclaim that I am here, I am queer and yes, I am Christian.

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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.



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