DINESLU Worker Spotlights
COver by DIANA JAKOVCEVIC
PHOTO BY
(This feature was inspired by Student Life, the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis.)
From breakfast to start the after noon than 200 series some of
Working at SLU for nearly five de cades, senior cook Robert Sims has witnessed the many changes that the university has gone through over the years.Hebegan his job in September 1975, first working at Lewis Hall, now the Coronado Hotel on Lindell Ave. He has also worked at Griesedieck Hall, and as of five years ago, Grand Hall.
Sims now lives just a few minutes away from SLU, but he grew up in the South and then moved to East St. Louis, where he met his wife. Soon af ter, they moved to St. Louis.
“I get along with basically anybody,” Sims said. As he was describing his relationship with his co-workers, an employee who was hired just weeks ago passes by and enthusiastically interrupts, saying, “Chef Robert is the best!”“Itmakes me feel good when I cook food and see the students happy; it makes me feel like I have done some thing important,” Sims said. “I am hard working, and I want to make stu dents satisfied, so if they ever think of something we could do better, just let us know.”
Chris Floyd, 40, is a man of many interests. He has been at SLU for 15 years and has worked at various loca tions including SLU Law, Bush Stu dent Center and the old Panda Ex press. Now at Grand Dining Hall, he can be seen primarily at the Mongo lian Station, where he experiments and creates his own Asian-inspired recipes. His favorite, and most pop ular, is fried rice.
“I take pride in what I do. I really take it seriously. I cook to give a good experience, and I want the students to enjoy the food,” Floyd said.
More than a chef, Floyd is also a singer, songwriter and podcaster. He produces music and owns a record label, 314 Music Entertainment LLC. SoldierByBlood.com, his production and promotion company, serves as a “platform for upcoming artists, en trepreneurs, and people in general to express their ideas.” It hosts various podcast shows as well as a local radio station.“Ihave been into music for a long time; then I got into podcasts. And soon, it transitioned into a lot more,” Floyd said.
One of the youngest workers at Grand Dining Hall, Tre’Veon Horton
One of the youngest workers at Grand Dining Hall, Tre’Veon Horton grad uated high school in May 2022. The 19-year-old enjoys playing basketball in his free time and indulging in his in terest in fast cars.
He is looking to pursue a job in the construction field in the near future and, in the meantime, is working at SLU. Horton also has other hopes that he says he hasn’t given up on yet. He and his close friend plan on starting their own storage company.
“This place has a nice vibe, and I get to see different people every day. Everybody here I really like. Students [often] talk to me wanting to know my name, even with my nametag on, be cause I come off as friendly.”
Cheron EinsteinKincaid,Bros.BagelsShe has been working on campus for 34 years, long enough to remember when West Pine was a car-filled street, not the walkway that hundreds of students use to get to class daily. Einstein Bros. Bagels Senior supervisor Cheron Kincaid has seen the “destruction” of some of the sur roundingThroughoutareas.her years here, she has also seen many students whom she describes as her “children that have come and gone.” She tries to lead with love, treating people how she would hope to be treated.
“I have seen a lot around campus: the deaths, the suicides, the depression. It’s a real place for young people, and I just feel like with me being a parent, it’s very important to treat all of the students with love and kindness and with that motherly love sometimes. When it’s your first time away from home, some need it.”
In addition to her motherly love for students, Kincaid is also the grandmother of six grandkids whom she spends much time playing with at swimming pools and taking to parks.
“As soon as Friday hits, everyone goes to grandma house,” Kincaid said.
This year will be Shaineisha Williams’ fourth working at Einstein Bros. Bagels. After a long work week, Williams explains how she makes time to take care of her self. Whether it be getting a new pair of sneakers or lighting a scented candle, shopping is her way to unwind.
“If you don’t take care of your mental health, you will be all over the place. Keep yourself together as a person because if you don’t, you might fall apart,” Williams said. “You gotta make sure you take care of yourself before taking care of others.”
Though Williams says she has a quiet presence while working, she also often en joys talking with students and co-workers.
“My co-workers are a big help to me; they help me out and make sure I am fine. They are a big part of my life,” Williams said.
Chris Floyd, Grand Dining Hall Tre’Veon Horton, Grand Dining Hall Shaineisha Williams, Einstein Bros. Bagels (Photos by Abby Campbell/The UniversityQueen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022 at 96 years old.
She served 70 years, making her the Unit ed Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch.
Her son Charles, now King Charles III, said of her pass ing, “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt through out the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
People around the world have extended their sympathy and dis played their grief. A sea of flowers littered the ground in front of the palace gates as people waited for hours in line at Westminster Hall to pay their respects before her burial.
On Monday, September 19, Queen Elizabeth was buried. And yet, not everyone mourns her death.
Conversations about Britain’s continued colonial presence in Commonwealth countries during her reign have arisen in the wake of the Queen’s passing. Some people say it is not the appropriate time to discuss her role in that colonial legacy, while others maintain that you cannot expect people who have felt the ongoing effects of violence in their families and countries as a result of British colonialism to mourn her death.
Uju Anya, associate professor of second language acquisition at Carnegie Mellon University, tweet ed, “If anyone expects me to ex press anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a govern ment that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star” (NBC 2022).
George Nedge, associate pro
fessor of history at Saint Louis Uni versity, elaborates on Britain’s im pact on the countries it colonized.
“The empire is really contro versial. Whether you look at India, whether you look at Africa, wherev er you go, there was an element of exploitation, there was an element of dehumanization of the local pop ulations. The empire has never been looked at in some sort of pos itive light because of those atrocities,” Nedge said.
He offers Kenya as an example. In 1952, the year Queen Eliz abeth took the ings,includingutilizedwerewomenwhereconcentrationviolence,mentlion.thetheandencedepeningseekment,erngovlonialtheagainstrebelledciviliansKenyanthrone,coininuprisingBritishcalled“MauMau”rebelTheBritishgovernretaliatedwithconstructingcampsKenyanmen,andchildrenimprisoned.Theytorture,beatcastrationandrape
intention and execution of this service are largely what has ignited the present argument that she continued to uphold Britain’s legacy of colonialism during her reign.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Brit ish empire, Nedge explains that the British government’s history of abuse remains present in countries belong ing to the Commonwealth, whether it be the generational trauma present in families who experienced British colonial rule or the influ ence of British cultur al
theYounousharmdidtheoninstitutionsformercolonies.“Onecanhavethatviewthatempireextortandindigesocieties.cansaythatitcanstillbeseen,”Nedgesaid.“TheempirehasbeenabletoengineeritselftotheextentthatCommon
litical reformation he says, “We adopt ed the parliamentary system of govern ment. It did not work. With the failure of the parliamentary system, we have now a presidential system. Is it work ing? I would say no.”
Uwalaka elaborates on the cultur al pluralism (the practice of separate ethnic groups participating fully in the dominant society, yet maintain ing their cultural differences) present in Nigeria and the impact colonialism had on separate ethnic groups living in proximity to one another. He speaks to the difficulty of including each major ethnic group in political decision-mak ing in a post-colonial area without “marginalizing one group or the other.”
“The one we see a lot is the dump ing together of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: the Igbo, the Hau sa-Fulani and the Yoruba. Each is not less than 60 million people,” Uwalaka said.
The challenges of constructing a government in a post-colonial society are as relevant today as they were 50 years
“Theyago.say the Queen was apolitical,” Uwalaka said. “Nobody tells us what the Queen says, but she came to power in 1952, so she was the [symbolic] lead er of the colonial empire.”
Ariana Magafas / The University News
to supress resistance (NY Times 2022).
Recently, the British government paid reparations to survivors and their families. However, neither Queen Elizabeth nor the monarchy acknowledged the actions behind the call for reparations. Up until her death, the Queen continued her reign over Commonwealth countries that she took an oath to serve; the
wealth is a fis sure of what used to be the empire. As evil as it was, you can’t run from it because some of those cultural leg acies are Emmanuelsociety.”entrencheddeeplyinUwalaka,anassociateprofessor of political science at Saint Louis Uni versity with a focus in African politics, says British colonial history can be seen “from one country to another.” He points to the decolonization of Nigeria, a former British colony, in the 1960s and the contemporary impact of that societal reformation.
“It took years for the former colonial government to bring Nigerians to the political process.” Noting Nigeria’s po
Nedge adds that Queen Elizabeth was instrumental in Britain’s colonial agenda when countries decolonized during her reign, stating “she was at the center of this transition.”
Queen Elizabeth was a power ful monrch and undeniably a symbol of structure and power. She will be mourned by those who saw her as a steadfast leader. Others will lament the violence that destroyed life and liberty from their countries under her rule.
“The idea of the defender of the British empire is going to change be cause people are now raising eyebrows over that concept. That is modern monarchy, after the Queen. People are going to conceptualize different mean ings to the modernization of the mon archy, especially its relationship with former colonies,” concludes Uwalaka.
Change can be an im portant event in any one’s life, whether it be a simple change in a daily task or routine or moving to a new place and adjusting to a different environ ment and community. However, as human beings, changes and transi tions are necessary for growth and development.Thetransition from high school to college is one such transition. In coming freshmen must adjust to a new school, a new set of rules and new people from different back grounds and experiences. Course load, classes and schedules change in this transition, and with this new chapter of life comes new responsi bilities.“The pace at which everything moves at is a lot different than high school. In high school, people were always behind your back,” Aija Civ ic, a freshman Medical Sciences ma jor says. “And now you’re by your
self, you gotta figure it out on your own and what works for you.”
In addition to adjusting to a new routine, another difference that freshmen have noticed are academ ic deadlines. Freshmen are often surprised to discover that they have an immense amount of responsi bility to care for themselves, as it is their own education, money and success that is dependent on their self-disciplined actions. Often times, this forces many freshmen to completely change their previous study habits to accommodate their new life in college.
Caleb Chu, another freshman Medical Sciences major, called this a “rude awakening.” He explains how he would usually study a cou ple of days in advance and even a few weeks for a test or final in high school, but now he thinks this may not be enough for college. He finds that a substantial effort has to be made for classes and exams now. Chu recalls the most recent first General Chemistry test and how he studied a week in advance, and yet still did not feel prepared enough. Making friends is also a compo nent in any new student’s life. Cur
rent freshman Sowmya Muppalla thinks that it is actually easier to make friends in college than in high school.“Inhigh school, people are a bit more judgemental and they already have their own friend groups. In college you can just walk up to a random person and say hi and you could hit it off instantly,” Mupalla said.Colleges expose students to more people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs than what they may be used to. According to the SLU 2021 pro file, last year’s total student popu lation was estimated to be around 13,000 students, with the freshmen class alone contributing 1,800 stu dents, a number which is higher than that of most high schools’ total populations. This allows stu dents to meet and know a variety of different people, as well as find people of similar interests, beliefs and“Withvalues.college there’s so many more people. It’s a lot easier to find people that are like you…You meet tons of new people everyday,” Chu said.However, Chu also calls this man
ner of meeting people “still quite cliquish.”Civichas had a similar experience in college. As she transitioned into this new environment and com munity, she understood that it may take time to form long lasting rela tionships.“Ithink it’s easy but also hard at the same time. It takes a while to find your people and who you best click with,” Civic said.
Going into college, freshmen typ ically have a multitude of expecta tions about what they hope their experiences will be like. Contrary to her brother’s previous warnings about college life, Muppalla was surprised to discover that she has been enjoying much of the experi ence so far. Others like Civic have experienced both the challenges and moments of ease that college entails. As almost one month of school year ends, the freshmen at SLU seem to be enjoying their time and are excited for what’s to come. When asked if she feels like an adult yet, Civic simply states, “We’re get ting there.”
(Michelle Peltier / The University News)“In college you can just walk up to a random person and say hi and you could hit it off Mupallainstantly,”said.
Head Pastor Katie Jansen now heads the church, as Fr. Tim McMahon replaces Fr. Dan White.
By ALEX ROZAR Staff WriterSt. Francis Xavier College Church has made major changes ahead of the school year, replacing its head pastor and appointing a lay woman to leadership.
Katie Jansen took over as the church’s first parish life coordinator on Aug. 21, as the church pivots to a less top-down model. Jansen, who previously served as College Church’s parish administrator, is the church’s first woman and first non-ordained leader.“When people see themselves or someone who looks like them in leadership, that space feels more open to them. So, if a woman sees another woman in leadership, this feels like a welcoming place,” Jansen said.The move comes as the Catholic Church worldwide attempts to reconcile its ordained and laic elements, and amid calls for reform in a historically male-dominated institution. Jansen, a former community organizer and member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, hopes the change reflects a new way of thinking about the church and its role with parishioners.
“I think, historically, the Church has been pretty good at saying who doesn’t belong, instead of suggesting that, actually, people do belong,” Jansen said. “So, this is one more way to say, yes, women do belong in leadership in this church.”
Jansen is the second lay woman to lead a church in the Archdiocese and the third within the Jesuits’ U.S. Central and Southern (UCS) province, comprising 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the nation of Belize. In a press release, UCS said the change “allows for a more inclusive, progressive, forward-looking leadership model.”
“Many lay people feel called to church ministry the same way that a priest does,” Jansen said. “And if we create space for that calling, the Church is more vibrant.”
Fr. Tim McMahon, SJ replaced 10year head pastor, Fr. Dan White, SJ on Aug. 1, after both priests celebrated Sunday Mass the day before. McMahon, who brings with him an extensive career in both spiritual and educational leadership, praised the construction of the new Jesuit Center as a sign of SLU’s commitment to the Church.“It’s a new era in the history of the Jesuit presence at the University, and I think hopefully one that will
continue to grow,” McMahon said.
McMahon mentioned there are certain roles with legal considerations he has to take on alone as “canonical pastor,” such as officiating weddings. However, when possible, the church will function as a “shared ministry” between him and Jansen, he said.
The leadership shuffle, supported by St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, is aligned with “Our Parish Vision,” a strategic plan launched by the College Church in July 2020. The plan reflects changes implemented during the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, as well as calls made by Pope Francis for a “synod on synodality,” emphasizing lay parishioners’ contributions to the Church, Jansen said.
“The transition we are making is not just a change in leadership,” College Church said in a statement. “It is a change in the way we are community.”
McMahon said the church aims to find more ways to include lay people in future decisions.
“We have a lot of people with a lot of gifts,” he said. “This model is a way of exploring how can we better allow people opportunities to put their gifts at the service of not only the wider parish community but beyond the walls of the community.”
Jansen echoed the goal of finding and establishing places for parishioners to better contribute. She cited Pope Francis’ request for all Archdiocese to hold listening sessions and College Church’s effort to include parishioners’ reflections in bulletins earlier in the pandemic.
“We all have a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit works in all of us,” Jansen said. “We all have experiences that help us understand our faith, and we have faith that helps us understand our experiences.”
(Paige Fann / The University News)
By AIDAN DESPAIN & ASHLYN JONES Contributors
Top five major related music statistics:
1. Nursing majors are more likely to listen to music while studying.
2. Psychology majors are more likely to listen to either rap or indie rock.
Have you ever walked past someone wearing headphones on campus and wondered what they were listening to?
Have you ever tried to guess? If you pay attention, the one thing almost every student has in common, whether it be while walking to class or taking a stroll, is that they are enjoying music. Finally, the answer to all your questions: what are SLUdents listening to?
Saint Louis University has a student population of about 13,287. With that many people swarming around you, it can be difficult to have a feeling of singularity and authenticity. Music means something different to every one, but that connection to music is what ties individuals together. For some students at SLU, listening to music is the only way to feel a sense of individuality on this crowded campus. Even so, one’s favorite artist or album might be the only thing they have in common with the nameless undergraduate passing them on their way to class.Students were asked the simple question, “What are you listening to?” in an attempt to provide an outlet of expression and the potential to connect a campus through music. A total of 135 students submitted re sponses. In all of these submissions, the only “favorite song” repeated more than once was Kendrick Lamar’s “N95.”
Listed below are the top five most listened to albums:
1. “Superache” – Conan Gray
2. “Harry’s House” – Harry Styles
3. “’Awaken, My Love!’” – Childish Gambino
4. “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” – Kendrick Lamar
5. “WASTELAND” – Brent Faiyaz
Top five most listened to artists:
1. Taylor Swift
2. Conan Gray The Weeknd
4. Bad Bunny Morgan Wallen
3. Environmental Science/Studies majors are more likely to listen to Conan Gray.
4. English majors are more likely to listen to bedroom pop.
5. Computer Science majors are more likely to listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.”
To give a voice to the individuals that wished to elab orate, three students were chosen to further expound
fatuation with Harry Styles during her interview. When asked about her obsession with the British Pop Star, Ware answered, “Yeah, it’s kind of one of those things where I’m like, ‘When will it end?’ Because ... I was a huge One Direction kid... I’d wake up at four in the morning to listen to their interviews in the UK. What was wrong with me? ... And then when Harry became a solo artist, I was like, ‘Oh, this is cool.’ And that just hasn’t stopped since. I just feel like he represents good things. I think that’s why people gravitate towards him so much...”
Everyone has a reason why their favorite artist is their favorite and why that artist’s most-popular album is always on repeat. That love of music has the potential to unify individuals from the farthest corners of SLU’s campus. There are a plethora of responses provided by students as to how music makes them feel, but to put it simply, Tyler Boley says “Music is the closest thing to real magic.” Real magic supplies an individual with the ability to be both distinctive and united.
on some of their answers and express how music makes them feel. Lele Dlamini, who is studying abroad this semester, shared why she finds music so important. “I certainly feel like music is one of those things that, even if it’s in a different language, it’s universal... Like people with K-pop,” Dlamini says, “I don’t listen to K-pop... but you see the way that it unites a whole group of people from around the world and you’re like, ‘Wow, that is incredible.’” She expands by saying, “Music is just so in teresting and it’s fascinating to see the way that different people use it… When it’s done well, it’s done really really well.” Dlamini’s favorite playlist is attached on the side. Computer Science major, Camille Daugherty, shared insight on her favorite artist, Royal Blood, by saying, “So Royal Blood is a little bit out there considering I have not met a single person who knows who they are, but they’re super big over in the UK. They’re ... kind of like riff driven blues rock ... it’s great. They’ve kind of just been with me for a long time ... I think the special thing about them, for me at least, is that there’s not one song of theirs that is bad ... Like Royal Blood, literally put it on shuffle-every single song, I recommend it.”
SLU Senior, Sophie Ware, did not try to hide her in
SLU’s Playlist
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrat ed in the United States from Thurs day, Sept. 15 to Saturday, Oct. 15. The month recognizes the achieve ments and contributions of His panic Americans with origins from South America, Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean and Central America. It also draws importance to the many issues and challenges faced by the Lat inX community in the United States. This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage month is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation, which encour ages all voices to be welcomed and represented to create and build a stronger community.
Hispanic Heritage Month was first initiated in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson; expanded and signed into law under President Ronald Rea gan in 1988. The start of the month was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores, which marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence. In addition, September 15 marks the anniversary of independence for many Latin American Countries such as Nicaragua, Cos ta Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Saint Louis University Spanish Professor Sarah Baeur says, “Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to draw students’ attention to things, people and events that celebrate Hispanic culture.”
In her opinion, every month should be Hispanic heritage month. Baeur highlighted a new book titled, “Solito” (translated to “unaccompanied” in English) by Javier Zamora which details his weeks-long journey from El Salvador to the U.S. to reunite with his parents at nine years old. Zamora’s story brings to light the dangerous and harrowing journeys of migrants at such a young age, while prompting questions about immigra tion reform and how it affects the lives of many in
(Ariana Magafas / The University News)Southern/Central America.
To Dr. Sheri Anderson-Guitterez, another SLU Spanish professor, as well as linguist, Hispanic Heritage Month means something different to each of her roles as a professor, wife/mother and a Asperson.aprofessor, Anderson underscores the deep cultural and linguistic ties that the United States has with Spanish, saying “Spanish was spoken in the country before English.”
As the second largest minority in the country, this month allows us to celebrate the roots, his tory, and culture we have with Spanish-speaking countries in Central/South America and Spain. As a person as well as a mother/wife in a biracial and multicultural household, Anderson- Guiterez says this month allows her to celebrate her husband’s culture and involve her children in his culture as well. She also shared that she had the opportunity to go to her children’s kindergarten and second grade classes to present about Hispanic heritage and Mexican independence day.
In line with the theme for this year, Anderson points out the necessity for representation of people of all backgrounds regardless of their flu ency in Spanish. While Hispanic Heritage Month allows people to proudly celebrate their Hispanic roots and culture, others may feel displaced and rejected from their community for not embrac ing the culture enough. For example, children of Hispanic immigrants who do not speak Spanish/ speak fluently are shamed by their community while also struggling to fit in with the American community around them.
Anderson highlights the fact that “The Spanish of the U.S. is different and of its own variety.” Instead of alienating and shaming those who do not conform to traditional practices and ways of
By VARENYA CHILUKURI Contributorspeaking, we should encourage and allow them to explore their own identity. For Bauer, Learning Spanish allowed her to empathize with others and to learn that our way is not the only way of doing things.“Spanish has opened up a lot of doors and allowed her to see different perspectives coming from a monolingual family,’’ Bauer says.
Bauer recommends people listen to podcasts such as “Radio Ambulante” and a local podcast “We Live Here (Spanish Edition)” to understand more about Latin American stories and the Span ish language. She also emphasizes the importance of learning another language, especially with the increasing Spanish population in St. Louis. According to the U.S Census Bureau, the Hispan ic population makes up 4.1 percent of the total St. Louis population, making it the third largest minority in the city. This statistic is reflected in SLU’s incoming class in which 10 percent of the freshmen identify as Hispanic.
Some St. Louis area events that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month include the Greater St. Louis Hispanic festival starting Sept. 23 to 25 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Soulard Park and the O’Fallon Latin Festival on Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On campus, OASIS, a group promoting Caribbean, Latin American, and Hispanic culture, held a Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off event that hosted trivia games, food, and prizes. They’re also hosting the last summer party of the year (Parrillada - Un Verano Contigo) at SLUruba Sept. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lastly, this Hispanic heritage month, one can think about and reflect on the contribution of Hispanic Americans in building in America while also keeping in mind how far we still have to go in creating a welcoming, inclusive society.
Celebrating Inclusivity and Unitedness through History, Language, and Food
The word museum comes from the Greek word for “the shrine of the muses.” The muses were inspirational gods of the arts and sciences. Taken lit erally, a museum is a shrine dedicated to the inspirational acts of others. It’s a place where one can contemplate marvelous works, draw their own unique meanings and inspire change in people’s lives. The Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA) is home to many amazing pieces of art from various genres and artists. SLUMA has a stellar collection for students to see and admire.
This piece is a real attention grabber. It’s sim ple: the parts of a chair re-arranged into a hu man-like form. However, there is something extremely off-putting in seeing such unassum ing materials take on an imposing and expected form. Nordgulen successfully instills the idea of re-examining how we interact with the world and the objects we don’t think about.
This sculpture appears as something that will be in a future museum as an artifact of human technology. The tears in the glossy material makes the piece look like it has survived a crash of apocalyptic proportions and the textures un derneath give it an elusive but familiar future technology quality. It is interesting to compare the artifacts of history and hypothesize what these new artifacts might look like and the sto ries behind them.
The artist, Giuseppe Capogrossi, was educated as a lawyer, but an artist by trade. Caprogrossi used multiple styles in his career, but his most famous was his use of a comb-like symbol called Superficie (Surfaces). With this style utilized, the piece has a puzzling allure. The piece ap pears like an unreadable language. The simplic ity, yet uniqueness, in each symbol and the stark contrast of the black and the white canvas give it a book-like quality. No matter how long you look at it, there will never be a definite message revealed. One possible message from this piece is that not everything will be known, and there is some knowledge that is lost to us or will never be obtained, but that’s okay.
As a part of SLUMA’s current “Landscape” exhibition, this piece shows a nautical scene. This is a classic style and there is something alluring about the vastness of the sea and the elegance of the ship. There is also a dualist dynamic present in the piece. The calm of the beach and the gentle tide compared to the bustling scene in the background of multiple ships going their own way, each with their own story and goal.
This piece is also a part of SLUMA’s “Land scape” exhibition, though in a very different and distinct style. George McCue, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, describes the work as “sophisticatedly naive,” and I agree. In the very sparse imagery, Lowenhaupt is able to convey the scene quite well. Lowenhaupt practiced a style called memory drawing in which she would create the scene from memory and not a model. Lowenhaupts style shows how intriguing the human mind is, in what it remembers and how little it needs in a scene to create a unique experience.
These are just a few pieces from SLUMA’s collection, and people may draw different interpretations of them. This is why art and museums as a whole are amazing, for we each can get a unique experience from them and they can have very personal impacts on our life. SLUMA has more pieces on display with seemingly endless messages and meanings for the viewer. So whenever you can, explore the art available for viewing on and off SLU’s campus and draw your own meanings from the pieces.
(Photos Courtesy of Fer Berisma)In the past few weeks, Marvel has been under fire for bringing a new superhero into their cinematic universe. The character “Sabra” is a mutant who serves as an agent for the Israeli secret service, and is set to appear in the upcoming Captain America series “Captain America: The New Order.” Aside from the controversies with Sabra herself, many have claimed that her character promotes Zionism.For historical context, The Israeli army illegally occupied the land of Palestine in 1967, and to this day it is still suffering from violence at the hands of Israeli soldiers. When a franchise as influential as Marvel advertises a character that endorses the Israeli army, it can come across as tone-deaf, especially with the events of the past year. In late April, Masjid Al-Aqsa became a warzone when Israeli Police forces took over the area and killed dozens of Palestinians at a holy site. The violence continued throughout the summer months with numerous attacks and bombings occured in Gaza.
Aside from the history of the territories behind the character, the name Sabra in itself has triggered a response from Palestinian Marvel fans. To Israeli Jews, the name “Sabra” simply means someone who is born in Israel. However, to Palestinians, Sabra is a direct reference to a massacre in which Israeli soldiers invaded a refugee camp and brutally murdered the refugees for 43 hours. Therefore, the name “Sabra”is not historically
appropriate or considerate of the heavy background.
Following the uproar that Sabra caused, Marvel issued a statement to the New York Times saying; “While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today’s audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago.” Although Marvel pledges to re-design Sabra to fit a modern perspective, they fail to recognize the hurt they have caused to the Palestinian community. In an effort to be inclusive and representative of Palestine on the big screen, it seems that the franchise lacked participation in adequate research on a topic that affects millions of people, even today.
This recent contention brings light to the overall discussion of Marvel’s “wokeness.” Representation in the media is a significant concern for all minority groups, seeing how it is a confidence booster to see someone who looks like you on the big screen. Representation is crucial to divert from the path of a historically white and western narrative. However, is the representation worth it if it isn’t presented accurately? This is a call to not only Marvel but all directors, writers, actors, etc. Do your research. There is more to the history of representation than physical appearance.
(Ariana Magafas / The University
I think I might be in love with my best guy friend, but I don’t want to ruin the friendship, also have no clue if he thinks the same. What do I do?
I’ve heard this line many times, the “I don’t want to ruin the friendship,” line — but I have one question, and one statement:
Q: Would you date someone who you don’t already have an amazing friendship with?
S: Romance doesn’t ruin friendships, it expands them into new territories.
Sure, there’s a chance you may get together and break up, but if you break up it is for a reason — in that scenario, you weren’t compatible, and that would be true whether the relationship was romantic or platonic. I say you should go for it. The worst he can say is no, if so, all you have to do is take no for an answer. The friendship likely can’t move forward with big feelings left unsaid. Any answer is closure — my partner and I were best friends for over a year before our relationship began!
As an introvert, I find talking to strangers really daunting, but I’d like to meet people and to one day be in a relationship. So, how do I talk to someone without making it weird?
Honestly, I struggled with this in the same way. It always helped me to meet people online first, then meet them in a public place where the conversations naturally flow (the movies, a club meeting, a class — somewhere that the focal point of the conversation isn’t you) or I also did well if I hung out with people in groups of three outside of my home to eliminate the hosting aspect and to add more people to the conversation.
I also know what it feels like to want to crack the code of small talk, interviews, and ordering takeout. If you’re looking for help with that specifically, I can put you in touch with some resources for social awareness.
DM @theunews on Instagram and they’ll put you in touch with me!
So I HATE all of my classes and am not making friends in any of them. But I like my major and am a senior. How do I get through the year?
It’s definitely a good idea to push through it considering that you like your major and your a senior, but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. I have said before on my page that you do not have to be passionate about your job, and the same is true about your classes — you can always find your passions elsewhere. So I would encourage you to use this last year to explore your passions and develop hobbies outside of work that are fulfilling to you. Whether that is joining a club or learning a new skill, or reaching out to acquaintances who you’ve never hung out with before, filling this last year with opportunities to explore yourself and potential friendships is not something you’ll ever regret.
My roommate has a new girlfriend and she is constantly at our apartment. I always feel like a third wheel and that they are rubbing their new love in my face. I don’t know what to do about it. I know I need to talk to them, because if I don’t I think I’ll snap at them soon, that would obviously be worse than addressing them directly. What should I say to them?
Hmm, this one is a tough situation just because I think I’d need to know more information to give the best suited advice. For example, I think I’d need to know more about what they’re doing to rub it in your face. Either way though, the fact that she’s there constantly isn’t alright and I think it’s totally fair that you tell your roommate that you’d prefer if they spent time at her place, too, because it makes you feel like a third wheel and a host in your home. Communication is key, so talking to them directly is best.
I’m a senior & I honestly still don’t feel like I have a support system here. I wasted time trying to please people I don’t really like and I’ve been stuck living with them since sophomore year. It may be too late for me but any advice for people who might be in the same situation or to help prevent them from making the same mistakes I did?
But it doesn’t end here. You have so much time to meet people who will add richness to your life. Forgive yourself for people pleasing because chances are, when you were in it, it looked more like loyalty and reliability to the people who you thought you loved. I encourage you to live and work somewhere after this where there are an abundance of young, exciting people (the Grove, Soulard, Delmar…) and start fresh. The beauty of this age is the ability to reinvent yourself and try again.
How do you be content with being romantically alone?
It takes time to fall in love with yourself. It’s not something that is talked about much, but it’s the same way you fall in love with someone else. For me, it was about enjoying my own company, talking sweetly to her, cooking for her, reading her favorite books with her, taking her to her favorite restaurants. Observe your relationship with you — are you making them feel exhilarating? Attractive? Mysterious?
Then, if you decide to have a relationship with someone else, you will have had so much practice loving you that you’ll know exactly how to make them feel special.
Dear Becky,
The Great Forest Park Balloon race celebrated its 50th anniversary this past weekend with a balloon glow and race. The event is one of the longest running hot air balloon races in the country, and is the only race that takes place in a large metropolitan city. The balloon glow took place on Friday at dusk, where the balloons stayed on the ground and were lit up by their burners, illuminating the field. The race occured on Saturday, where 50 balloons raced from Forest Park’s Central Fields across St. Louis.
(Photos by Lourdes Hindi University
Fun fact: she met Fergie inside a Nordstrom.
Fun fact: she has never met another person
Fun fact: the house she grew up in was haunted.
Fun fact: she has met Chris Evans.
Fun fact: she has three pet turtles.
Fun fact: he can understandlanguages.four
Fun fact: she has dyed her hair four times.
Fun fact: her car’s name is Daffodil.
Photo
Fun fact: she loves to read, and her goal is to read 30 books this year.
Fun fact: in her free, she photographyenjoyesandwritingpoetry.
Fun fact: he has been doing Taekwondo for over ten years.
Fun fact: she brews her own kombucha.
Fun fact: she has never been trick-or-treating.
Fun fact: her favorite movie is Dancing.Dirty
Fun fact: she is a self proclaimedconnoisseur.coffee
Fun fact: her hair is at least two feet long.
(Photos Courtesy of Lourdes Hindi)
By ISMAEL DOMIN Contributor
only ten players have had their number retired by the Detroit Pistons. Among them is Number 40 worn by Bill Laimbeer. Fol lowing 2 seasons at Notre Dame in which the Irish made appear ances in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Laimbeer played 15 seasons in the NBA, contributing to five consecutive semifinals, three consecutive finals, and back-to-back championships for the Pistons from 1987 to 1991. In his career, he was a four time All-Star and the league leader in rebounds for the 1985-86 season. Laimbeer re tired following the 1993 season but returned to basketball in 2002 as the head coach for WNBA’s Detroit Shock. He spent 17 years as a WNBA coach from 2002 until his retirement in 2021, with a brief stint as an NBA assistant coach in Minnesota for three seasons. As a coach, Laim beer led his teams to eight semifinals, five finals, and three championships. Eight times Laim beer’s team was first in their conference. Laim beer was Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2015, and in 2019 was given the honor of being a head coach for the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game. Laimbeer’s basketball career displays him winning at various levels and puts him in the company of multiple all-time great basketball names. The only other WNBA coaches with multiple Coach of the Year awards and cham pionships are Van Chancellor, Dan Hughes, and Cheryl Reeve. Chancellor has been in the Hall of Fame since 2007, while Hughes and Reeve are currently ineligible due to the Hall requir ing at least five years of full retirement before a coach can be enshrined. Extending the list to include NBA coaches only adds two names; Laimbeer and the others share the company of only Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich, both of whom were listed in the, “15 Greatest Coach es In NBA History in 2022” by Sporting News. Laimbeer’s coaching record is among the best in both leagues’ histories. Among head coaches with at least 100 games coached, Laimbeer is 6th in WNBA in win percentage at .577 and second in regular season wins at 306. He has the third most championships of a WNBA coach with three, beaten only by Chancellor and Reeve. Including NBA coaches, Laimbeer is 8th in championships won behind Hall of Famers Phil
Jackson, Red Auerbach, Pat Riley and John Kund la, as well as the currently ineligible Popovich and Steve Kerr.
It seems clear that while Laimbeer did not have a Hall of Fame worthy playing career, he should be enshrined for his achievements as a coach, regardless of his playing career. However, due to his reputation, his playing career may overshad ow his coaching and keep him out of the Hall. Laimbeer was the starting center for the Detroit Pistons during their five seasons of title con tention from 1987 to 1991. During this time the Pistons were nicknamed the “Bad Boys” due to their physical, high-energy defense which many players on opposing teams deemed aggressive and dirty. The most famous example of this was their “Jordan Rules”. In order to minimize the effect of Chicago’s superstar guard, Pistons head coach Chuck Daly and point guard Isiah Thom as established a series of rules for players who were guarding and would be guarded by Jordan in order to lessen the total time with the ball in his hands and tire him out before he could attack the basket. In a 2007 Sports Illustrated inter view with Jack McCullum, Coach Daly said “any time he went by you, you had to nail him. If he was coming off a screen, nail him.”, referring to Jordan. As the center, Laimbeer was the primary paint defender for the Pistons, meaning when Jordan drove to the basket it was Laimbeer who was the last line of defense. Their frequent meet ings at the hoop led to Jordan receiving multiple hard hits from the 6’10” big man.
Jordan wasn’t Laimbeer’s only victim. In 1987 the Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history and faced the Celtics led by superstar forward Larry Bird. Late in the third game of the series, the Pistons were leading as time winded down. The Celtics’ play had collapsed and Bird put up a despera tion shot in the post. Prior to the release Bird was knocked to the floor by Laimbeer’s forearm connecting on his neck on an at-best reckless and at-worst dirty block attempt. Laimbeer and Bird hit the ground and Bird began swinging. As coaches, referees and other players separated the two players Bird picked up the ball and hurled it at Laimbeer, incurring a punch from Pistons forward Dennis Rodman, starting another fight. Both Laimbeer and Bird were ejected from the
game for fighting and without their best player, the Celtics lost the game. This sequence and many others like it is what most older fans of the game associate with Bill Laimbeer. To this day many former players still hate him. Laimbeer was a villain who believed that hard defense was necessary for him to win and his mentality rewarded him two championship rings. Laimbeer was a representation of an era of basketball many NBA fans would rather forget, when the villains won. For this reason the Basketball Hall of Fame voting committee may harbor a personal bias against Laimbeer, creating a curious case where a coach may not be in the Hall of Fame because of what he accomplished as a player.
the Saint Louis University men’s soccer is off to a subpar start to their season, opening with a 3-3 record: an adequate result for most teams, but a far cry from their single loss run in 2021. After clawing their way to the NCAA quarterfinals last year, taking their only loss from the Washington Huskies (who then went on to get second place overall), the boys in blue were expected to perform immensely well this season. Perhaps the pressure was too great for the squad to bear, as opponents they were competitively bat tling with last year swiftly disposed of the Billikens this year.
In the men’s team’s first game of the actual season, despite going into the match ranked number 10 in the nation, they were quickly bested by the Louisville Cardinals, taking a 3-1 loss. While last year’s victory was certainly no walk in the park, with the Billikens edging out a 2-1 victory in double overtime, a 3-1 defeat in 2022 was unprecedented. Sophomore Erich Legut was able to rocket the ball into the net early on in the game, bringing the Bills to an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the rivals in red did not let up, scoring once more before the half was over, then putting the nail in the coffin with two more goals in the 66th and 75th minute respectively.
To continue the losing streak, just three days later the soccer squad fell to Lipscomb 2-1. The match was hard fought, with a penalty kick scored by each team within just the first fifteen minutes of the game. Both teams were trapped in a 1-1 stalemate until the 68th minute when, according to the official game recap, “after a great save by SLU starting keeper Carlos Tofern, (the op posing team) pounced on a loose ball and scored.” The season opening losses were especially disheartening after a tie and 2-0 exhibition start to the season.
At last, the Billikens saw success, win ning their faceoff against the Creighton Bluejays 3-2. Going into the match the
Bluejays were ranked number 7 in the nation, despite beginning the season unranked. The deadly trio of fifth year John Klein, junior Kevin Komodi, and senior Alberto Suarez dominated the game, scoring a goal each as well as assisting one another. The victory was accomplished in Omaha, Nebraska on September 2nd, making the trip “SLU’s first road win against a top-10 oppo nent since Sept. 20, 2014, when it also defeated Creighton, then ranked No. 3, at Morrison Sta dium,” as cited by the official game recap. While a 3-2 win is wonderful, they had previously shot the Bluejays right out of the sky with a 4-0 blow out last year, meaning that even in victory the SLU squad struggled to perform up to their own precedent.
Unfortunately, the men’s soccer team’s suc cess did not last long, as they were smoked by the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mus tangs 3-0. In the previous season, the Billikens fought to a standstill that resulted in a 1-1 tie
after double overtime. The drastic difference in results outlines the discrepancy in skill between the past and present men’s SLU soccer teams. Just two minutes into the game the Mustangs took the lead and never stopped running, plow ing through the finish line by scoring two more goals in the second half.
On September 9th, the Billikens were able to bring back the bronze boot against the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars. For the first time this season, the SLU squad per formed far better than last year. Instead of a 1-1 tie in double overtime, the Billikens wiped the floor with the Cougars in a dominant 4-1 match. Goals were scored by an underclassman on slaught with sophomore Seth Anderson, fresh man CJ Coppola, and sophomore Grady Easton each putting one into the back of the net.
To continue their winning streak the SLU men’s soccer team conquered LaSalle in their A-10 opener. Klein asserted himself as a force of nature on the field, scoring two for SLU.
“Klein has vaulted into elite territory in the Billikens’ record book with his two goals tonight. He now has 73 career points (25G, 23A), tying him with Denny Hadican and Kyle Patterson for 18th in school history,” stated the official match recap. “He is the first Billiken since Robert Kristo to crack SLU’s top 20 career scoring list and just the fourth player this century to rank among the program’s top 20 scorers.” Klein will certainly look to end his career as a Billiken high in the history books.
Redshirt sophomore Christian Buendia and junior Alex Shterenburg also joined the fray with goals of their own to keep the Explorers at bay. Overall the Billikens claimed a 3-1 victory, bring ing their win streak up to 2 games, and their record to 3-3.
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Evie / The University
This generation of female athletes has become increasingly impressive. Of course, they have the advantage of all the athletes who came before them. This year, however, sports fans around the world have the privilege of watch ing four of the best performers in their sport retire in one year. Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird, Allyson Felix, and Serena Williams will all retire from profession al athletics at the conclusion of their competition season this year. This will demand a moment of reflection for fans around the world, in order to accurately convey all that these four remarkable women have been able to accomplish in their careers.Sylvia Fowles and Sue Bird will both take their retirement from the WNBA at the end of the year. Sylvia had an illustrious career within the WNBA for her time on the Minnesota Lynx. Her humility rings almost as loud as her accomplishments. In her retirement interview with ESPN, she noted that “Basketball is not who I am, it’s just something I do.” During her time in the WNBA, she played for both the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx. Drafted second overall by the Sky in 2008, she saw enormous success being named Defensive Player of the year in 2011, and leading the Sky to the finals in 2014. In 2015, the Sky traded her to the Lynx, and that is where she spent the rest of her ca reer. Upon completing her career, she plans to become a mortician, rather than look ing to profit further off her athletic skill. The way she is choosing to leave is something she hopes might outlive her legacy of playing basketball. She hopes to leave be hind little reminders for her wantexactlyanyonFowles’forleftherthemstaffcoachingteammates,staff,andthatmightallowtorememberevenaftershe’sthelockerroomthelasttime.Butcareerstandsitsown,withoutfanfare,whichiswhyshedidnotany.Sheretired
a league MVP (2017), a two time finals MVP (2015 & 2017), was named Defensive Player of the Year four times and to the All-Star team eight times and has won four gold medals with Team USA. In 2020, she became the all-time leading rebounder in the WNBA. Her name is all over the history books. But for Fowles, she is ready to live a life beyond bas ketball and cultivate what so clearly separates her from others: her ability to form connections.
Sue Bird is another WNBA legend. Her talent quickly made her one of the most recognizable faces in the league. Bird has been with the WNBA since its sixth year. After 20 seasons, and at 41 years old, Sue was ready to call it a career. After 20 years, she has quite the statistic sheet as a sou venir. Her leadership, however, is what arguably stands out most about her career: she will retire leading the WNBA in assists. In a New York Times article by Johnathan Abrams, Crystal Langhorne is quoted saying, “Even when I was working on my 3s and I wasn’t as confident if I knew Sue kicked it back to me, I was like: ‘Oh, yeah, shoot it. She’s
Allyson Felix also had a 20-year career. Team USA’s golden child from her teenage years. She became a professional athlete immediately upon her graduation from high school, however, sign ing with Adidas made her ineligible for collegiate competition. Now 36, Felix takes her leave from running as the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time. Part of Felix’s fame came from her decision to part with Nike in 2017. The then-pregnant Felix underwent a contract negotia tion with the sports tycoon upon the expiration of her previous contract. However, when the company proposed she take a 70% pay cut on account of her pregnancy, Felix decided to sever her ties with Nike, opting for Athleta instead. She had requested Nike put in certain provisions in her contract that would be beneficial to her as a first-time mother, and might stand as a starting place for their nego tiations with other mothers. After Felix’s split with the company, Nike undertook a more protective stance for their mothering athletes. Felix’s depar ture and candor about the situation is the catalyst for that decision. Ultimately, Felix’s motherhood made her a better athlete. Less than a year after giving birth to her daughter Camryn, she broke Usain Bolt’s world record as the most successful athlete in the history of the IAAF athletics world championships. She attended the Olympic games five times in her career. Felix’s career was capped off by her selflessness. Only days after retirement, she was called up by Team USA one last time to help them qualify in the 4x400 race at the World Championships held in Eugene, Oregon. Upon completing the qualifier, however, she is officially retired. She will spend her time being a moth er to Camryn, working with her nonprofits, and bettering her shoe company, Saysh. After two decades of dedication to Team USA and track and field, she is ready for retirement.
EvieSometimes pressure can turn a lump of coal into a diamond, but the same pressure can crush the coal into dust. That pressure is what makes or breaks a Theteam.2022
Billiken Women’s Soccer team knows pressure. Since joining the Atlan tic-10 Conference in 2005, the Billikens have had the second best win percentage in the con ference at 62.7 percent, just behind Dayton and their impressive 74.9 percent. During this time, SLU Women’s Soccer Team were four time reg ular season champions, and have won the tour nament six times, which included a four year championship streak starting in 2018. While the Billikens won the tournament last season, their disappointing regular season record has left some wondering if the dominance era of the team has come to an end. So far they’re proving those doubters wrong.
Billiken women’s soccer started their season with nine wins and a single loss. Despite being unranked to start the season, they have fought their way to being 8th in the nation on the Top Drawer Soccer week six poll. This is a marked improvement from last season, where the Bills never cracked the Top 25. Headed into week 6 the Billikens have the best record in the A-10 Conference, and the sixth best in the nation, at 9-1. At this point, last season TCU was in a sim ilar spot to the Billikens now, with a 7-1 record and ranked 8th in the nation as of Top Drawer Soccer’s week six polls. TCU finished their sea son as number 10 and with a 19-2-3 record and finished their season in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament against eventual semifinalist Rutgers, which was the same team that ousted the Billikens from their title run last season. This bodes well for the Billikens and this year’s hope to make SLU women’s soccer’s first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance.
A key factor in their success is their brick wall defense, only allowing 6 goals in 10 games played. The Billiken’s defense is anchored by ju nior keeper, Emily Puricelli, along with starting defenders Brionna Halverson, a graduate stu dent, and juniors Sophia Stram, Lyndsey Heckel and Katie Houck. Despite Puricelli only being sixth in the conference in saves, she has allowed the fewest goals out of any goalie with a compa rable number of games played. Excluding a min
imum number of games played, she is fourth in the conference in the fewest goals allowed. This is due to the defensive core led by Halverson. Their aggressive pressure on the ball has regu larly forced turnovers before opposing offenses could take a shot at Puricelli, and if they could, the Billikens would deflect the shots or force them off target. Puricelli is not leading the con ference in saves thanks to the backfield presence of Halverson, Stram, Heckel and Houck. Puricelli does not have a chance to make saves on behalf of their masterful pressure and tackling.
To complement their elite defense, the Billik ens also sport one of the nation’s best offenses, ranked 11th in the nation in points per game. They host the nation’s 8th best scoring offense at 3.3 goals per game and are second in the na tion in total goals with 33, tied with Pittsburgh and 4 goals behind Gardner-Webb. SLU’s dynam ic and aggressive offense has consistently beaten down opposing defenses. The Billikens are sec ond in the conference in shots on goal per game with 7.8. SLU’s aggression is not the only factor to their success, as their versatility means that even if one or even two of their potential scorers are shut down by the defense having off-nights, there are multiple players who can step up and score in their place.
The Billikens currently have four players in the conference’s top ten in goals scored, other schools don’t have more than one. This also holds true for assists and points. Caroline Kelly, Emily Gaebe, Emily Groark and Hannah Larson have each scored at least four goals and are in the con ference’s top ten in points. Kelly and Gaebe are joined by Hannah Friedrich and Anna Walsh in the conference’s top ten in assists. Groark, Gae be and Kelly have each earned an A-10 Offensive Player of the Week award, with Kelly earning the College Soccer News Women’s National Player of the Week in early September. None of the oth er teams in the conference had multiple players win Offensive Player of the Week yet this season. None of the Billikens have attempted more than 3.3 shots per game, despite the team being sec ond in the conference in that statistic with 16.5 shot attempts per game. The Billiken’s versatility overwhelms defenses and adapts to every barri er between them and the win, contributing to a conference-best margin of victory of 2.7, greatly surpassing second and third best teams, David
son and Dayton, who each have a margin of vic tory of only Billikens1.head coach Katie Shields took con trol of the team in 2013 and while she had a slow start, she has established a winning system and has settled into a winning rhythm that has made the Billikens a force to be reckoned with since 2016. Shields likely knows the pressure the team is facing better than anybody, but is also the most well equipped to lead the team through it and turn them into the diamond she knows they can be.
Ariana Magafas The University
By CALLA TRUSCHEL JACOBS Contributor
Ihave always been a staunch advocate of the opinion that Reinert is the best freshman dormitory on campus. It was previously one of my favorite new conversation topics, and I could go on extensively about why this private dorm on the far corner of campus was a haven. I passionately argued that residents had Reinert On the Go, penthouse views, a spacious study lounge, private bathrooms and other amazing amenities. Though those I spoke to often disagreed—my faith in this resident hall seemed unshakeable.
However, this hot take did not last. Though I do not consider myself one to listen to rumors, I would be lying if I said that hearing of mold growth in Reinert didn’t pique my interest. I spoke to upper class students that mentioned leaving Reinert due to black mold-related illnesses, I began to wonder if the coughing I had been experiencing for weeks was related to
mystery illness began in early September when I started to have trouble sleeping. My throat always seemed to be sore, I was coughing and sneezing, as I slowly adjusted to my voice being scratchy. Even with the mold rumors circulating, I reasoned that I was experiencing the “frat flu” and that I would soon return to my regular sleeping schedule. However, as time went on, I started to question my illness. How could I be completely capable of working out, walking around campus and otherwise feeling entirely well with the annoyingly persistent cough that became a staple of my every day? With my seemingly permanent cough and insatiable curiosity, I dove into mold research.
I was both concerned and intrigued when I realized my roommate and I both displayed the most common symptoms of mold-related illnesses. According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a mold allergy include “sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, cough, postnasal drip, itchy eyes, sore nose and throat,
watery eyes, and dry skin.” All of the websites I looked at seemed to echo the sentiments of The National Capital Poison Center: “experts found that being in damp indoor spaces seemed related to respiratory illnesses: nose and throat [upper respiratory] symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms.” Now, one fact about my room in Reinert is that it is constantly freezing.Iam somewhat convinced that Reinert is what the inside of a snow globe feels like, but given how unbearable Missouri summers can be, I tried not to complain too much. This led me to conclude that the incredibly efficient vents installed in each room could be the source of mold growth. I wanted to test if the environment in my humble abode was suitable for mold growth—but I was unsure how to obtain a mold test.
Luckily, I didn’t have to put much effort into the growing mold. I came to an unfortunate discovery when I found that the coffee I had been consuming in copious amounts had been flavored with mold spores. For readers unfamiliar with a Keurig, you must pour water into the container at the back of the machine. Unfortunately, my Keurig was situated directly next to the air vent, and I found to my horror that it had quickly accumulated a “healthy” dose of mold. I started using this Keurig on September 1 and noticed the growth of the mold on September 15, which means that the environment was ripe for mold to grow so quickly. I had been drinking coffee with mold that seemed to appear overnight. I was sick long before the mold appeared in my now-retired-and-thoroughly scrubbed
However,Keurig.ifmold could proliferate unnoticed in my coffee maker, I could only wonder where else it was growing. Like I do for most everything—I turned to Wikipedia to find answers. WikiHow gave me specific instructions that only furthered my concern. It claimed that the best way to grow mold was
in environments that had damp and stagnant air. Bess Ruff, author of “How to Grow Mold: 10 Steps (with pictures),” explained why stagnant air can cause mold growth in “overly ‘tight’ homes.”
Now, not only are the dorms in Reinert extremely cold but they could probably function as a nuclear bomb shelter too. The tightness of the room and the lack of circulation is almost unbelievable. I have often wondered how you can go from a space blasting music with loud talking to a dead silence in the hallway by simply shutting a door. Admittedly, I have gained much joy from my ability to blast music with my neighbors not detectingHowever,it. the idea that the lack of circulation in my room is causing health problems should be concerning for all residents of Reinert. To get an outside opinion, I interviewed my English professor, Andrew Sweeso, on the potential problem. As he has been at SLU since 2017, I asked him if he had heard of this problem. Sweeso affirmed by stating, “Recently, the only thing I have heard is students in my class, who live in Reinert, complaining about possible black mold growth.” When I asked him about any mold complaints prior to this year’s class, “I’ve heard similar complaints about mold in some of our older residence halls.”
This notion was comforting and unsettling because it confirmed my belief that mold has been a concern for
(Evie Nguyen / The University News)residents not only this academic year but in previous years as well. Many of my fellow residents have put in maintenance requests hoping to have their vents checked but have not heard anything back. Though it is comforting to know that my peers share my fear of black mold, I am disheartened by the University’s lack of response. If residents have discussed concerns for so many years that they have reached the ears of the faculty and maintenance, one will hope that there would be more effort into cleaning up this problem. However, not only are my fellow residents’ requests ignored by maintenance, but students continue to get sick with no signs of recovery.
I spoke to fellow resident and firstyear Grace Cherry about her fears concerning the issue, “It’s upsetting to me to think my friends and I attend a University that claims to follow the idea of Cura Personalis but refuses to follow this up by taking care of the physical health of their students.” I am tired of holding back coughs in class and wondering if my illness is caused simply by returning home to sleep. Though it is impossible to tell if the multiple lung infections and various diseases experienced by residents in Reinert are from black mold growth, the University should investigate this and treat the matter as a severe and urgent health issue.
When talking about safety on university campuses, one of the first things that comes to mind is the blue light system. Every campus tour guide I see walking around has mentioned how you can use the blue light phone when in danger and the Department of Public Safety will come to you. But who would wait for DPS to come before calling 911?
Students across the nation are put in danger so frequently it no longer fazes anyone. According to a study of various safety measures, St. Louis City was rated the least safe out of 182 cities in America reaffirming the idea that students at SLU need to be extra prepared. People regularly walk around with tasers, pepper spray and sometimes even knives without knowing how to use them. Recently, I overheard a group of freshmen mention that they had to leave their friend’s room because they accidentally set off their pepper spray. The SLU DPS website should offer tips and demonstrations on how to safely and appropriately use these tools.
Like other students, I signed up for SLU Alerts when I first committed. The system is responsible for sending students safety updates on dangerous situations that need to be avoided. Regularly, students are notified of attempted robberies, thefts and other dangerous situations.
At approximately 1:30 am on Wednesday, Aug. 31, I was awoken by screaming coming from outside my window. I opened my blinds and saw five DPS officers surrounding a man in handcuffs who was lying face down in the grass. The man was screaming to let him go and that they were hurting him. I shut my blinds quickly and gathered myself for a moment before reopening them and watching the officers carry the man away. I waited
for what I expected to become another SLU alert. I waited an hour. I waited a day. And still, weeks later nothing was said about it. It had been so long I was starting to convince myself I imagined it all.Last year, I lived in Griesedieck Hall and we had an incident in which an individual from outside the SLU community was walking into people’s rooms and watching them sleep. As residents, we were only alerted by other students through word of mouth. Not by our RAs. Not by DPS. The residents on my floor were scared to go anywhere alone, or even shower without someone standing guard, for over a week before SLU finally sent out anWhileemail.Iam not saying students should be told everything right away because it would cause mass panic, completely ignoring these events is not the way to go about it either. In October 2021, SLU DPS faced an external review from The Riseling Group, a consulting firm that provides management services to the law enforcements of universities and businesses. While the review discussed everything from the salary of DPS officers to their training, the key points were the lack of staffing and the lack of connection officers had with the students they are meant to protect. According to this report, SLU DPS was severely understaffed and needed twice as many field officers along with additional administrators and dispatch officers. This poses a threat to students because at times during eight hour shifts as few as five officers were patrolling North campus by foot with only two additional officers in vehicles. If a student was in danger, it would take far longer than it should for an officer to reach them. The review states the officers’ view of their positions, “They made it clear that they planned to leave to join a
‘real’ police department. There are other officers who have retired from other police departments, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and view SLU DPS as a good retirement position.” How are we supposed to feel safe when DPS officers do not seem to take their job seriously? It is the responsibility of SLU to do everything they can to protect us while on campus and it starts with the people they choose to hire and the funding DPS receives. With additional funding DPS officers would be able to build better rapport with students, so that students feel like they can trust DPS.In part, some safety concerns are common sense like not walking alone at night or being aware of your surroundings. However, entering a new environment is challenging and it is the responsibility of the school to teach students how to be
safe in unknown situations. With more funding to DPS, officers could educate students on how to be safe while also building strong community relationships.SLUshould not be hiding oncampus incidents nor should they allow students to be unaware of the appropriate safety measures. When it comes down to it, SLU should incorporate more safety tips and lessons on their website and into SLU 101. Compared to other safety departments, such as Washington University in St. Louis, the SLU website isn’t as accessible and does not offer advice to students who want to learn more about how to stay safe. Additionally, SLU 101 is meant to teach students about campus life which includes safety. With more funding, DPS could partner with SLU 101 in providing basic safety tips to students during orientation.
Apple pie, baseball and illegally funding fascist paramilitary death squads in Central and South America in an attempt to combat the spread of communism— nothing is more American than these three things. That last one might seem shocking to you, but what if I were to tell you that money not only led to crimes against humanity but also to the funneling of cocaine into the United States and the creation of the “war on drugs.” Thanks to Ronald Reagan and his cronies, America was flooded with drugs and when they were coupled with racist laws, people were forced from their communities for years on end. The only solution to solve this decades long problem is to decriminalize drugs and end the stigma surrounding their
use.The United States has a combative relationship with drugs. Much of the current stigma surrounding the usage and possession of drugs can be traced back to the Temperance Movement of the 19th century. The belief that drug addicts were somehow both lazy moochers, as well as violent thugs, came to prominence starting in the 1970s under the Nixon administration. The most heinous aspects of the “war on drugs,” however, were implemented during the Reagan administration. His policies, such as the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, negatively affected marginalized people significantly more than affluent ones by increasing the prison population, tearing apart communities and by establishing the concept of mandatory minimum sentencing in federal law. With these policies, the illegality of drugs has disproportionately affected Black, Indigenous and Latinx communities rather than white ones. The National Institute of Health conducted an investigation that concluded, “Whites and Blacks in our study both reported the same degree of drug sales. Drug sales may be more visible in the inner
city, overcrowded Black neighborhoods where they are more likely to take place outdoors.” The solution— decriminalizing drugs. This may seem like an extreme position to hold, but after researching the facts and realizing how pervasive drugs are in our society, it is not feasible to prosecute everyone for possession of drugs. The CDC calls this matter an epidemic, and we should treat it as such. Drug decriminalization is a mandatory step in achieving justice because its criminalization strips vulnerable communities of members and tears families apart. Decriminalization will help to reform prisonThepolicy.United States has the world’s largest prison population of two million people, which is utilized as a cheap source of labor. The 13th Amendment allows for such activity since the people in prison have been convicted of a crime, but lawmakers and corporations take advantage of this loophole to ensure that small offenses carry years-long sentences. Companies can pay prisoners pennies for their labor and make record profits all the while workers are exploited for trivial reasons. Decriminalizing drugs would severely hamper the prison industrial complex and lead to an end to massThroughincarceration.abhorrent media coverage, drug use is seen as the moral and internal failure of an individual rather than a symptom of a much greater problem. The health and safety of the individual are of the utmost importance when discussing drug decriminalization. People are going to use drugs regardless of their legality; since they are so pervasive, it only follows that keeping drugs illegal will not work.
The United States has outlawed these substances, but not only did that fail, drug usage actually increased. Many find themselves trapped in this cycle of fearing law enforcement so as to not ruin their lives and thus cannot seek treatment. This mentality leads
to unnecessary sickness and death that could otherwise be prevented by adequately funded rehabilitation centers. Normalizing drug use would also eliminate the idea that using drugs is some type of moral failure and a reflection on how a person really is. As I mentioned earlier, the United States takes a much more punitive approach to the drug epidemic than other countries. In the 1990s, Portugal was rife with opioids and other narcotics, but once the government took a more compassionate approach, the number of overdoses significantly dropped. In 2001 once this legislation was passed, they saw a significant reduction of overdose related deaths such as the HIV rate being almost halved over fifteen years. Access to rehab is vital in combating addiction rather than sending people to prison because those resources are designed specifically to cure rather than punish.
The cartels which manufacture and distribute drugs would also suffer as a result of decriminalization because they rely on drugs remaining illegal. Without competition, they can charge whatever they want and exploit whoever they want. Decriminalizing drugs would allow for FDA oversight ensuring that there are fewer pollutants and impurities, like lacing additives that cause the most suffering. According to the University of San Diego, when taking a look at the legalization of marijuana, cartels dramatically cut their exports and increased the importation of heroin and methamphetamine. If you follow this trend, decriminalizing “harder” drugs would have much of the same effect because it is incredibly costly to smuggle drugs over the border. Because cartels rely on the competition and illegality of these substances, opening up the market will force them to eventually crumble or conform to regulations.Somemay
argue that decriminalizing drugs would not help marginalized
(Rachel Zilligen / The University News)people and would instead line the pockets of Big Pharma, as seen with the Purdue Pharma scandal. While it is no secret that pharmaceutical companies make exorbitant profits through the United States’ broken healthcare system, that is no reason to continue fighting a losing battle with the drug addiction epidemic. Dr. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist and psychologist at Columbia University who has devoted his studies to drug reform, notes in an article for Filter magazine, “We need to cut the bullshit and stop pretending drugs inevitably—and only—lead to undesired outcomes.” While abuse of drugs can certainly lead to issues, any activity can be abused to a point where it is self-destructive. Reversing the stigma surrounding drug usage is an important step to bringing about healing for those who have been affected by these policies. The criminalization of drugs has only hurt the communities that the legislation claimed to protect. There must be steps taken to reform these issues so that we can move forward.
The “war on drugs” has had significant impacts on marginalized communities that are still visible today. We see this all the time through people of color being sentenced to more jail time for the same offenses as their white counterparts. Decriminalizing drugs and promoting safe usage will ensure that these communities are not harmed any further and we can work together to help rebuild the damage caused by these predatory policies, institutions and stigmas. The cartels that profit from policies banning drugs will also suffer as a result because they now have greater competition with safer and cheaper alternatives. Overall, decriminalizing drugs will help lead to an end to mass incarceration, ensure people the safety and security to seek treatment and lead to community development that is so desperately needed.
I’m worried about your vagina. I’m worried about all of our vaginas. However, I’m most worried about the inconsiderate and ignorant people who consider a vagina gross.
I recently finished “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler and throughout the book, readers were introduced to women who were out of touch with their vaginas. There was a woman who was 72 years old and had never looked at her vagina. She met a corporate woman who was too busy to look at her vagina and she participated in a workshop filled with women who had never thought to really observe their vaginas. It’s not that women aren’t interested in that part of themselves; it’s that American society trains women to be afraid of themselves so a whole industry can benefit from their discomfort.
Commercials advertising vaginal or menstrual products don’t use the word vagina or uterus. I recently saw a tampon advertisement that didn’t even say menstruation or the word period. When people are uneducated about a subject, it often creates a fear that turns into a stigma. This public shame around the female reproductive tract allows for misconceptions to thrive and it becomes a never-ending cycle of women internalizing a feeling of shame surrounding their vagina. I am constantly hearing stories, mostly on TikTok or Instagram, about people with vaginas feeling pressured by their significant others or society as a whole, to shave their pubic hair or drink more pineapple juice to appeal to their partners’ preferences. I was
prompted to write this article because I heard a group of people without vaginas talking about how gross they think giving oral sex is because of the hair, taste, smell or whatever else you could think of.
One of the most pervasive lies our society feeds us is that you must remove your pubic hair. According to this study, 84 percent of American women over the age of 18 either shave, wax, pluck or otherwise remove their pubic hair. We all know people who remove their hair, and some of us may even know people who have cut themselves and got an infection or a gnarly ingrown hair from it. Another study found that two percent of people who remove their pubic hair have severely injured themselves and ended up in the hospital. This doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you are part of that two percent, you might feel differently. Removing your hair can be harmful and anyone who claims that being hairless is more hygienic is a liar.
These falsehoods start spreading at the most unlikely sources, such as a book I have sitting on a shelf back home: “Is this normal?” by American Girl. This book is aimed at pubescent girls and, as a mother finds, it tells girls that they should shave their pubic hair if it is visible sticks outside of their swimsuit. Though American Girl is not alone in perpetuating this unfair standard, every single femalepresenting person I see in almost any form of media is perfectly hairless. From a young age, people see hairless women on the covers of magazines, in movies and on TV shows. Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret do
nothing to dissuade the harmful notions, that’s for sure.
What’s the point of hair? Humans evolved to have less, what’s the matter with removing the rest? Humans have hair on our heads in part because it is attractive. Humans evolved to keep their pubic hair because it was attractive as well. It is a sign that you have matured. If your partner prefers you hairless, start a conversation about why. You should be able to be in your natural state if you prefer it that way. If you prefer removing your hair, it is your choice, but try going without removing it for a month and see if you still prefer it. Continuing the hairless ideals is hurtful to future generations.
I’m certain we all remember the Cardi B song “WAP.” Some of us might also remember Ben Shapiro claiming that anyone who experienced vaginal secretions upon arousal was suffering from a medical condition. The fact that so many people blindly supported that idea is truly indicative of the lack of sex education in America. Only 13 states require medically accurate sex education. Almost every single vaginahaving person on this Earth experiences discharge daily, and it is healthy; yet, people still believe Shapiro. Though vaginal discharge is different from the arousal fluid that Cardi B was rapping about, the point stands. Because of my lack of sex education, when I was first experiencing discharge, I truly thought I was dying because I had no idea it was normal. As I got older, I stopped blaming myself for my bout of ignorance regarding the vagina, because no one was talking about it. Because no one is talking about it,
some people feel like they have to wear a liner every single day to hide/ hinder their discharge, but this can cause serious problems if your vagina doesn’t have a chance to breathe. If you were worried about drips, would you constantly have a tissue stuffed up your nose? Would you maybe do that if society villainized drippy noses?
When it comes to arousal fluids, I have heard people without vaginas comment on how bad vaginal fluid tastes, smells, etc. The most startling comment I heard was about how they could smell a girl’s fishy vagina just by sitting next to her. That’s simply not true. I have a good sense of smell. I am exceptionally sensitive to strange smells. I have spent most of my time on this planet surrounded by people with vaginas. Never once have I smelled anyone’s vagina unintentionally.
Women are pressured to alter every part of their vaginas and pubic area. There are even medical procedures to change the look of the labia. 12,000 of these procedures were performed in 2016. When will our society stop telling people with vulvas that everything is wrong with them?
Without vaginas, not a single one of us would be here. So, I simply won’t stand around and let people ignore them, let alone call them gross. Ask me about my vagina and, hopefully, we can talk about yours too. We can all talk positively about vaginas and together we can reduce the stigma surrounding vaginas.
(Ariana Magafas / The University News)