No. 6 (Nov. 15, 2018) by University News

VOL. XCVIII No. 6 / November 15, 2018

A HOUSE DIVIDED SLU BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2018-2019 PAGE 9

Cover Design by Rebecca LiVigni

NEWS

SLU LAWYERS DAB SWEAT OFF THEIR BROW AFTER SUCCESSFUL WATCH PARTY

(SLU’s Political Science Department)

By SAVANAH SEYER Staff Writer n Nov. 6, election day, SLU’s Political Science Department held an election night watch party in the CGC. The Political Science Department invited all SLU students to watch the national election results all evening. The department supplied pizza and drinks for all attendees. Students sat at tables or in the bleachers at the back of the CGC and watched CNN on the projected screen, while the results from the races for the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and many governors’ races were called. CNN was projected onto the screen in the Huh Auditorium, and students hung out with friends while watching the vote counts come in in real time. SLU sophomore Mallory Galemore, who

came to the watch party said, “The event was great because I really enjoyed being able to watch and discuss the election with friends.” There were also on-campus groups represented at the watch party as well. Many groups, including College Democrats, College Republicans, Political Science Club, Amnesty International and Rainbow Alliance, tabled at the event, discussing political issues with students and promoting their missions. Many groups used the event to advertise to students wanting to get more politically involved. Different academic groups from the College of Arts and Sciences also came to talk to students about taking classes in political science and international studies and stressed the importance of being knowledgeable voters. SLU sophomore Jacob Cunningham, who attended the watch party, said he thought it was great how much students got into the spirit of the night. “I really enjoyed the event and I could definitely feel a good deal of student investment in the elections,” said Cunningham. SLU senior Brenna Salen, who came to

the watch party representing College Democrats, said she appreciated the diversity of the student attendees. “There was a wonderful blend of beliefs and ideologies there and I thought that was awesome,” said Salen. The night was tense and exciting for a lot of politically active students, and cheers broke out after races were called for both sides. The event was more than just watching numbers on a screen. During the event, political science faculty members hung out and walked around talking with students and discussing the elections, and halfway through the night, political science Professor Steve Rogers, Ph.D., who was the main host of the event, took the stage to discuss the importance of the election and what some of the outcomes and consequences of the election results could be. SLU senior Jake Shaw said, “So often because elections get bogged down by partisanship, to have Professor Rogers on stage explaining the process and analysis was very useful to talk about what could happen going forward.” Cunningham agreed, “One of my favorite parts was when Dr. Rogers gave a fun and informative presentation on the elections, how they may play out and what the results could mean for the future.” Assistant director for service learning, Leah Sweetman, who works on SLU’s campus to promote voter turnout and registration, among many other projects, also gave a short speech where she discussed the importance of being politically active no matter what the election outcomes were. She reminded students that it was important to continue to work and participate in political activism. The Political Science Department offered free snacks, sodas and pizza to the attendees and students were also able to enter their names in a drawing to win an Apple Watch, which was drawn and awarded at the end of the evening. The event continued well into the night, as students waited to hear the outcomes of the elections in their home states, with the elections in Missouri not being called until after 9 p.m. Many students stuck it out until the end, watching the count returns on TV and also looking them up on their laptops at the same time. SLU senior Paige Cook said that she thought the event was well run and that it was great to see so many people there. “I think Professor Rogers did a great job organizing the event,” said Cook. Cunningham agreed, saying, “I found the event perfectly suited for engaging young voters and doing so in a positive and lively way.”

03 News AS THE WINTER SETS IN, SLU FREEZES SPENDING By MONICA RYAN Managing Editor

Photo Courtesy of Ellen Hutti

DONATED BODIES HONORED AT INTERFAITH SERVICE By KIRTI VEERAMACHANENI Staff Writer

n Friday, students from SLU’s School of Medicine and Allied Health programs participated in an interfaith memorial ceremony honoring those who donated their bodies to SLU via the Gift Body Program, that representing all faiths within the medical class. The service was held at the St. Francis Xavier College Church and was attended by over 12,000 students, faculty and family members of donors received over the past year. The service was put together by first-year medical students and many students performed music, created artwork and organized the event. Several students also presented their own reflections on the event. In the 1930s, the Missouri State Anatomical Board would allow medical schools to receive unclaimed bodies for the purpose of education. This program would develop into the various gift body programs used by many schools today—giving way to the Gift Body Program that got its start in the early 1960s on the medical campus.

The Gift Body Program is hosted through the SLU School of Medicine’s Center for Anatomical Science and Education (CASE). Donations of people’s bodies are used to educate medical students, residents and Allied Health students. Bodies are cremated after any studies have been completed, and bi-yearly, ashes are buried at the St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in plot 39A approximately 6 miles away from SLU. A plaque which reads: “Saint Louis University and its students gratefully acknowledge the charity of those buried here, who gave their remains for the advancement of medical science. September 29, 1964” marks the site within the Cemetery. Over the past year, 413 donations have been made to this SLU program. These donations are primarily from within the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Any donations made to SLU will help educate the next generation of health care professionals as well as help advance the field of medicine. For more information on the Gift Body Program please visit https://www.slu.edu/medicine/ medical-education/case/giftbody-program.php.

LU is now facing a tough economic time and are looking into possible solutions that could include cutting faculty and staff. The biggest thing that SLU is trying to avoid is having something similar to the MAGIS layoffs that happened in March 2017. Professor of education and president of the Faculty Senate, Doug Rush, wants to eliminate the lack of transparency that happened with the 2017 budget cuts. He stressed that this is just the beginning of a much larger conversation that the Faculty Senate will sign off on at every turn. “We believe we have a commitment to [faculty and staff] to be transparent, unlike the last process so that we can work on these solutions together,” Rush said. The reason for these budget cuts comes from a significant rise in undergraduate scholarships from $118 million in 2012 to $168 million in 2019, along with a decreased enrollment. Rush focused on tuition and enrollment having flat revenue over the past seven or eight years. “We have a $1.2 billion endowment, but we are heavily dependent on tuition revenue,” Rush claimed. According to Rush, the current fiscal year’s 19 budget projections show an estimated surplus of under $7 million, but that surplus is only due to an extraordinary one time anonymous $15 million gift given to help SLU through this current fiscal year. Without that gift SLU would have an $8 million deficit. Rush goes on to blame the “deterioration of revenue in

the SLU Care practice” and the shortcomings of the undergraduate and graduate enrollment. SLU’s VP and CFO David Heimburger projects that if nothing is done, the deficit will reach $20 million in fiscal year 20, and by fiscal year 23 the deficit will hit $30 million. The aspects that will stay stable are the 2 percent annual faculty and staff raises, each through 2020-2023, as well as a pool of funds for promotions and tenure faculty. The tuition discounting will continue, as well as an increase of another 2 percent in tuition discount in fiscal year 20 and then an additional 1 percent in the subsequent years until 2023. The endowment spend will decrease from 5 percent to 4.5 percent next year. Another constant are the interest rates on SLU’s borrowing that continue to rise. These projections became known on Nov. 7, and were shared with everyone at the Senate meeting on Nov. 13. Rush said the Board of Trustees will not accept a deficit budget proposal and claims that it is unlikely that SLU will outgrow these issues. The fiscal year 20 budget must be developed and approved in early spring, maybe even as early as February, associate professor of chemistry and acting provost, Michael Lewis said. “The only short term solutions may be an additional round of painful reductions,” Rush said. Lewis will be meeting with the deans three times a week going forward to address the budget’s needs. He stressed that he wants to figure this out internally instead of externally, like the round of cuts in 2017.

NEWS

JEWISH STUDENTS COMMEMORATE PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE (Riley Tovornik/Contributor)

SAVANAH’S

SGA UPDATE NOV. 7, 2018

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Editor-in-Chief

s the sun descends, signaling night, families congregate to share a time away from work, a time to unwind from their responsibilities and be in the company of loved ones. It is also Friday: the hallmark to the start of the weekend. Some plan weekend getaways, shopping excursions or time to catch up on previously procrastinated tasks. For those who practice Judaism, sundown on Friday marks the start of Shabbat, a 25-hour observance that commences at nightfall on Saturday and of which beckons a time with family rather than labor. On Oct. 27, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh held its Shabbat service when an anti-Semite opened fire, leaving the deadliest mark on the Jewish community in U.S. history. The 11 fatalities not only took a direct toll on those affected within the congregation, but it disturbed vibrant Jewish communities nationwide—one being at Saint Louis University. Nearly a week after the shooting, the SLU Jewish Student Association held a Sunday evening vigil on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. to commemorate those affected by the incident. In the half-hour service, JSA President Maya Gross and guest speakers from

Washington University addressed themes of religious unity and coexistence as the Pittsburgh shooting was not the first episode of Jews being targeted. “The fact that we can come together after such a tragedy shows that love and community can trump the hate that is in the world,” Gross said. “After [the Pittsburgh shooting], it is normal to feel afraid. It is a very practical feeling to have—I was even afraid to go back to Temple after, but we have to go back because we have to show strength.” Standing up to the hate, as expressed by Gross, attendees—both of Jewish faith and of other religious backgrounds—sat together at the Clocktower to not only learn about Shabbat, but to sing songs and recite prayers about love. “We have to rise above the hate because if we don’t, that gives the people who perpetuate hate what they want,” she said. Shabbat is portrayed as the pinnacle of creation in the Bible, with God resting on the seventh day of creation to observe his work. It also memorializes God rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt by designating a day for personal autonomy. The vigil called upon its prominent theme of thanking rather than asking. Jewish liturgy emphasizes God’s role as supreme author, and as this author, he led the Israelites out of slavery, as written in the Torah. So too, the SLU Jewish community did

Representatives from Sodexo came to Senate to give an update on the company’s service at the University. The representatives held a Q&A with the SGA senators and answered questions about sustainability, plastic waste, dietary restrictions and goals for maintaining, improving and expanding dining operations throughout campus, among other things. The reps took notes from the senator’s questions as well, promising to take a look at many of the issues they brought up. New funding directives for the annual funding directives for CSOs were presented and discussed. Legislation passed: Vacant Senate seats were filled with three new senators: one for commuter students, one for Graduate Student Association and one for School for Professional Studies. Marguerite Passaglia was seated as the 2019 Elec- tion Commissioner.

NOV. 14, 2018 The Vice President of Facilities Services gave a presentation on several topics, including the project goals new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, the moving of the Dolphin Pond and plans for improvements for buildings across campus. Legislation passed: Criminology and Criminal Justice Club were awarded funding. Graduate Student Association was awarded well ness funding for their Winter Wellness Week. not want to solely grieve after the names of the 11 victims were recited at the vigil. Rather, the attendees should transmit its message of thankfulness into resilience. “We stand up against acts of violence by showing that people of all religions, races and sexes can come together,” Gross said. “We are stronger than what the hate is trying to accomplish. We will keep having discussions and holding events in honor of what happened and what went down. It is important that we remember the shooting.”

News 18 SLU GROUPS AWARDED 1,800 DOLLARS By RILEY MACK News Editor ast year, the Center for Service and Community Engagement announced that the end of Make A Difference Day was upon us. As SLU students mourned the loss of the beloved day, the Center wasted no time to begin a new project—the 1818 Grant Program. The 1818 Program “is a way to empower students and create their own community engagement experiences,” said Bobby Wassel, assistant director of the Center. Although new, the response to the Grant was much higher than expected. While the

Center planned for around 30 applicants, 53 groups have submitted their proposals since it opened in early September. The decision process was not an easy one. A committee of faculty and students chose their top 18 applicants, then the Center approved a final 18 from their choices. According to Wassel, the hardest part was that only one of every three applications got approved. Some of the grant-winning 18 proposals include a pollinator program that builds 20 different bee gardens at elementary schools across St. Louis to help the bee population and also educate the youth on the growing bee problem. Similarly, three engineering groups teamed up to create a robotics class for students in the Ville neighborhood. These students “rarely

have access to any sort of STEM education or fun robotics things to kind of create a sense of wonder and awe in robotics and engineering,” said Wassel. Wassel is currently getting the same sense from his job after starting the program. “I’ve been here 13 years, and this is unequivocally one of the best programs that we’ve had here at SLU. Certainly, one that is giving me so much energy and joy,” he said, in regards to meeting with the students and talking about their anxiousness to begin working. “It reminds me why I love working here and why I love SLU students,” he proudly said. The 1818 Grant Program not only gives Wassel and his team a reason to feel passionate about their work, but SLU students get to finally be the change they wish to see in their community.

Photo Courtesy of Trenton Almgren-Davis

RELUCTANT HERO:

CAMERON KASKY AT SLU By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Editor-in-Chief High school student Cameron Kasky is no stranger to the limelight. The Parkland, Florida firebrand gained national attention in February 2018 after he said enough was enough following the

deadliest high school shooting in the U.S., surpassing the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Proliferated with media attention since the shooting, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has since become a trademark to instill a stricter gun control policy—that of which came to fruition

on March 24, 2018, when March for Our Lives was held in major cities nationwide. Kasky, co-founder of the movement, not only spoke to SLU students about the shooting and motive behind the march, but he also addressed the country’s polarization on gun control. The talk was held at the Wool Ballrooms on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. “I grew up addicted to political media,” he said. “I consumed it like candy. I wanted to go out there and have people think of Parkland not as the city where everyone was crying, but as the city where something different needs to happen.” Kasky said he knew the media would exploit Parkland, his childhood town that was tainted by one incident, just like it did with the Sandy Hook and Aurora shootings. He mentioned that the media expected to see crying; it expected to see people’s infuriation. Kasky realized that the once “safe” image of Parkland was outdated—but he used this as a backbone to reinvent its destined image. “I see the media giving people like me a victim of status,” he said. “It looks at the Parkland...

DPS REPORTS A car turning into the Laclede Garage was struck by another car around midday on Nov. 2. The responding officer located the car that had been struck, which had been operated by a SLU student. The student was unaware her vehicle had been struck until hearing about it from the witness who had called DPS. The unidentified witness could not be located.

At 4:06 a.m. on Nov. 3, the front desk worker at Marchetti Towers East reported that there was an intoxicated person in the building. The suspect was a guest of a SLU resident and was acting erratically, waving his arms in the air, yelling very loudly and refusing to listen to any of the officers’ commands. He was placed in handcuffs before quieting down and calming his demeanor. The suspect admitted to drinking and explained he was upset because he had lost his key.

On Nov. 4, a SLU student returned to her vehicle after parking it on the city street to find her rear passenger window broken. She noticed that the items in her vehicle had been tossed around but nothing had been stolen. DPS and the police were contacted sometime after noon. The police stated they would take the report over the phone.

Scan the QR code below to continue reading the article.

arts and life (Chandana Kamaraj/ University News) @Madisyn Siebert @chandana.k

DRAKE’S HYPE IS REAL By CHANDANA KAMARAJ MADISYN SIEBERT Arts Editors fter canceling several shows at the beginning of the tour, Drake and his team added on more to the last leg in other cities, and St. Louis was one of the select cities to be an additional stop. It was evident Drake was going to boast a huge production from the beginning, with the famous rap trio Migos from Georgia opening the show. The three MigosTakeoff, Offset and Quavo created hit singles like “Versace,” “Bad and Boujee” and “Stir Fry,” which went on to be hits that start every party. With an opener like that, who would also later return to the main stage after the initial hour, the show was basically the two acts put together to create a massive experience, thus giving us “Aubrey and the Three Migos.” Even though this was a lastminute show, it wasn’t anything less than spectacular and was arguably different than any other show ever hosted at Enterprise. After the first opener, Roy, Migos showed up around 20 minutes late wearing bright yellow, green and red jumpsuits, setting a vibe that energized the crowd and singing their lesser known songs like “Hannah Montana” and “T-Shirt,” tracks that you don’t hear on the radio all that often. But the audience was pumped by their presence and

was not disappointed. The entire concert was driven by the feeling of uncertainty and truly embracing the phrase, “The sky’s the limit.” None of the songs were sung in the order based on previous set lists. Instead, Drake (born Aubrey) managed to go in the order he felt right for the crowd at his sold-out show. The show was a whole two hours, adorned initially by an interactive box that he would sing in and run throughout as bigger visuals of lightning, his face enlarged or him lying down would appear on it, giving it a three-dimensional feel. He started off with “8 on 10” as the curtain, saying “A side,” dropped down, referring to his two-sided album “Scorpion.” What made this show an experience was the high-quality production that complemented Drake’s overall musical talents. The stage itself took up most of the floor, where general admission guests could surround the stage on all sides, and was a giant interactive screen. The stage would light up where he stepped and display images of a scorpion, a giant cell phone and even people swimming in a pool. This was a creative step for Drake. Along with the stage, he had lights that appeared to fly over him and arrange themselves in different patterns. From a flying yellow Lamborghini during Lil Baby’s “Yes Indeed,” to opportunities for an audience member to win up to $25,000 by shooting hoops on-stage, Drake made sure this experience was as engaging as possible. Drake also included several home videos from his initial days. The videos included depictions

of his relationships with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna and his production of Scorpion, which he watched and reminisced on. Drake clearly wanted audience interaction, thriving off the attention and hype from people in the audience. He split the arena in half, making one side the left side and the other side the right side. He put them against each other in a singing competition, playing throwback after throwback and testing the audience, wanting to know how many people have been with him since day one, when he went on tour with Lil’ Wayne. Drake was clearly impressed with St. Louis’ knowledge and energy. While Drake originally played the role of hype man, starting with the songs “8 Out of 10” and “After Dark” and placing “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance” and “God’s Plan” sporadically throughout (and yes, he cued the audience to sing “I only love my bed, and my momma, I’m sorry”), he paid tribute to Michael Jackson with a shorter rendition of both “Don’t Matter To Me” and “Rock with You.” Drake also knew when the audience was at their prime and brought Migos back up to sing hits like “Walk It Talk It” and “Stir Fry.” Every so often Drake would come back and bluntly say, “St. Louis if you’re tired and have had enough, you’re more than welcome to leave, but there’s more if you want it,” reminding the audience that they were begging for more. Some obviously, hadn’t had enough, as you could hear some audience members exclaim, “I don’t care where we sit because I’ve already been to this twice!” As the tour progressed nationwide, the audience got to experience the concert with special appearances by DJ Khaled, Lebron James and Cardi B. While St. Louis didn’t get to see any special guests, the show was still a hit. Drake and Migos played the perfect hype men, and due to their musicality, the 90s jams that we play at prom will soon be replaced with tracks from “Scorpion” and “Culture II.”

THIS WEEK’S FAVORITES

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BOOKS

Becoming By: Michelle Obama Published: Nov. 13, 2018 In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago, to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.

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FOOD

Grand Tavern by David Burke Opened: Nov. 12, 2018 Where: 634 N. Grand Blvd. Celebrity chef David Burke brings his talents to the Grand Center of St. Louis, cooking up small plates and emphasizing his own take on St. Louis dishes, such as the Gooey Butter Cake.

CINEMA

Instant Family Release: Nov. 16, 2018 “When Pete and Ellie decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child, but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15-year-old girl, they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hope of becoming a family.”

EVENTS

Lantern Festival When: Nov. 17, 2018 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Where: Brookdale Farms At Lantern Fest, thousands of revelers, empowered with lanterns, join together for one unforgettable nighttime spectacle. Before sundown, friends and families can enjoy food, live music, a stage show, princesses, face painting, s’mores, balloon artists and more. Then, when the time is just right... We will light the sky with our highest hopes and fondest dreams.

CONCERTS Starwolf When: Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. Where: Blueberry Hill Duck Room St. Louis native trio Starwolf tour their album “Ti Amo, Stargazer” after playing at several venues, including Loufest.

“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” WILL ROCK YOU By LEIANNA TANEDO Contributor

longside the recent popularity of “A Star Is Born” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” has joined the ranks of hit movie-musicals this year. Within two weeks of its opening, the Queen biopic has become the highest grossing musical biographical film of all time. Queen’s hits have

S TA R W O L F

LOVES YOU By CHANDANA KAMARAJ Arts Editor

ith singles that came out in 2016 and 2017, titled “Mysterious Love” and “Promised Land,” respectively, Starwolf came out with their six track EP—Ti Amo, Stargazer. Starwolf truly honed in their sound and tried to be the new sound of St. Louis, as they are natives of the city. If you don’t know too much about the band, they are a trio that originally came together after working at different avenues of music, finally finding a groovy funky sound that they wanted to showcase. If you paid attention, they opened up for Huey Lewis & The News at Loufest last year. Was it luck or talent? After this EP, we’ll have to say talent. The group truly pays a tribute to the retro vibe, and the vocalist Tim Moore fits perfectly into that style. He and the other band members, Max Sauer and Chris Rhein, complete the sound with upbeat drums and

Arts and life spanned the charts for five decades, bringing us anthems like “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It seems impossible for any movie to cover a band’s entire history, but “Bohemian Rhapsody” highlights the notable benchmarks in the band’s development, spanning from the formation of Queen to the iconic Live Aid performance. The movie is about Queen’s history from Freddie Mercury’s point of view, including his grapple with his sexuality and AIDS diagnosis. Mercury is played by Rami Malek, an actor known for his performances in HBO’s “The Pacific” and USA’s “Mr. Robot.” His portrayal of the quirky performer is remarkable, capturing emotions with something as simple as an “ayo.” The role seemed to fit him naturally, like he grew into it himself the same way that Mercury grew into his own stage persona. The other three main actors markedly resembled the members of Queen: Gwilym Lee as a strong bass. Each track utilizes synth to make each song its own party and provide listeners with the best karaoke tunes. One song that really stands out, though, is “Tu Es Belle,” which is increasingly mellow and blends in the voices with the music, and is elevated by the saxophone and flute. With soon-to-be-hits such as “Ti Amo, Stargazer” and “The Meaning of Life,” Starwolf ’s debut EP surely is a memorable one. We sat down with the bassist Chris Rhein and talked about the creation of this EP and the inspiration behind their music, finding a calling in a retro sound. Rhein answered all our questions, from whose car is on the album cover, to if they are still planning on getting Bill Clinton to play the saxophone for some future tracks. Check out unewsonline.com for the video interview. Starwolf will be performing at the Blueberry Hill Duck Room on Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.

Brian May, guitarist, Ben Hardy as Rog- mance, the choreography appears er Taylor, drummer, and Joseph Mazzel- to be identical to the original perlo as John Deacon, bass guitarist. The formance, down to the placement actors’ chemistry mirrored the tension of of Pepsi cups on the piano. Howevcreative conflicts that comes along with er, if you’re looking for a full-blown headbanging reindition of the movbeing in a successful band. While I love Queen’s music, I ie’s title track, you’ll be sorely disappointed—the film only covers the never thought about the recording and development of “Bocomplex layers of their rehemian Rhapsody,” as well as the cordings and performancLive Aid version that is under three es, especially for the 20th minutes. This is especially ironic, century. The intense love considering the film highlights the and craft that the band insix-minute length as part of Queen’s vested in the development pioneering divergence from the radio’s of “Bohemian Rhapsody” three-minute song format. was brilliantly depicted, Overall, I’d rate this movie four highlighting the criticism out of five stars, primarily for the atreceived following its retention to detail. If you’re looking for lease, namely when their a mind-blowing film, you may want to former agent ironically look elsewhere. But for fans of emotiontold them that, “No one ally riveting biopics, inspiration as an will play Queen.” This artist and, of course, Queen, this movie plot point is especially is a champion. important in emphasizing the importance of creativity in spite of criticism and adversity. “Bohemian Rhapsody” proves wholeheartedly that criticism and success aren’t always correlated, joining the success stories of other icons, like J. K. Rowling and Oprah Winfrey. “Bohemian Rhapsody” depicts experiments as crucial to Queen’s creative process, such as May writing the legendary stomp/ clap rhythm for audiences of “We Will Rock You.” The film ought to be watched in theatres for the musical performances alone. The surround sound can feel like you are truly experiencing a Queen concert, playing with sound balance within the theatre in the same way that the band would. Thankfully, the actors did not cover the songs, but covered the performances of the songs. I think this was a respectful way to approach Queen’s musical prowess. As Mercury, Malek dances around the stage in flamboyant outfits that mimic the characteristics of the lead singer. During their cover of the (Photo Courtesy of Twentieth Live Aid perforCentury Fox Film Corporation)

Arts and life

INSTANT FAMILY MAKES YOU INSTANTLY FEEL NEW EMOTIONS By JOCELYN BOTELHO Contributor he new movie, “Instant Family” was a tear-jerking, heartwarming family film. The movie walks the audience through the ups and downs of the foster system, while sharing the true sentiments of family love. Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne play the role of Pete and Ellie, a middle-aged couple who find themselves missing something in their lives. They decide that they did not want to be old parents, but knew they wanted a family, so they try out the foster care system. After a few intense foster-parent classes in preperation to welcome their own foster children, they take in not one, but three foster children. This includes a teenager, Lizzy, and her two younger siblings, Juan and Lita. We quickly learn that it is very rare for teenagers to get fostered. Lizzy, Juan and Lita have lived a difficult life and were severely neglected by their birth mother. However, Pete and Ellie house the children with open arms. The crazy whirlwind that is foster care

(Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures) pushes the couple to their limits and reveals to the audience what it really takes to be a foster parent, and a parent in general. It gives the viewers a glimpse of how difficult it can be for foster children, especially for teenagers, to open up and trust again. There are only so many times a child can be disappointed and let down before they start to give up hope. However, Pete and Ellie had nothing but hope to share with the children, even with hardships and the instability of the children’s birth mother. The beauty of this movie was that there were points where the audience could all laugh together, but minutes later there would not be a single dry eye, as the audience cried over the heartbreak and disappointment. Characters like Grandma Sandy (Margo Martindale) and the social worker (Octavia Spencer) made the whole theater scream with laughter, while Lizzy’s (Isabela Moner) hard

and tough attitude made the audience feel empathy and sadness. A very interesting fact about this film was that it was based off a true story of the director, Sean Anders. Anders is known for his adult comedies that are more on the raunchy side, like “Daddy’s Home.” The director experienced the same dilemma, where he wanted to be a father but thought he was too old. So, he suggested to his wife that they adopt a 5-year-old to get a head start. This is the basis of the film. Overall, “Instant Family” shed light on the negative stigma of foster children. There were many points in the film where a character would acknowledge that the foster children or “drug-addicted” birth parents looked like normal people— just like you and me; and this is such a huge problem in the foster system. People often generalize all foster children as “damaged goods” and fear that foster children will ruin the lives of non-foster chil-

“The beauty of this movie was that there were points where the audience could all laugh together, but minutes later there would not be a single dry eye.”

dren. This movie proves those stigmas wrong; foster children are as loving, beautiful and as human as anyone else. The movie teaches us that we all want love, either on the giving or receiving end. The main couple, Pete and Ellie, had the love and resources to share, while Lizzy, Juan and Lita had nothing but love to give to their foster parents. If people could give foster children a chance to open up, to share and to love, then the stigma that they are unchangeable and awful kids could fade away. This movie illustrates the hardships that often fall upon birth parents who want to take custody of their children and break apart the foster-family bond. As heartbreaking as that could be on both parties, that is the goal of the foster system: to keep families together.

Check out our online edition to see our interview with director Sean Anders.

The New FACE OF BILLIKEN BASKETBALL SLU BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2018-2019

sports

Billikens picked to finish first in a-10, newcomers to have impact on season By RYAN LEFNER Associate Sports Editor

he Billikens basketball team have come out of the gates hot in the 2018 season, winning all of their first three regular season games. Even more exciting than a 3-0 start for the Bills is being picked to win the Atlantic 10 this year in the most recent A-10 coaches poll. SLU was the overwhelming favorite to win the conference, receiving 15 of 26 first-place votes. Picked behind the Billikens were the Hawks of Saint Joseph’s in second and the Davidson Wildcats in third. Even with the strong 3-0 start, the team knows that they still have a long way to go before they will hit their peak, “We are an average basketball team right now, and that’s okay,” said head coach Travis Ford about his team’s progress early in the season. “We’re not trying to be great right now,” Ford added, “[We] want to be good enough to win as many games as [we] can.” In order to get another W this Saturday and keep themselves in the win column down the stretch, the Billikens will need some big performances out of their highly recruited freshman forward, Carte’Are Gordon. Gordon, a 6’9 forward and St. Louis local out of Webster Groves High School, was ranked 75th in the ESPN top 100 rankings for the class of 2018. “He’s very skilled and versatile at his size,” said Ford about the true freshman. “He’s a really good low post defender,” Ford added. “We really like the

things we’re getting out of him when the ball gets to him in the post.” Ford also had high praise for another one of the Billiken freshmen that is sure to have an impact on the season, Fred Thatch Jr. “He’s an ultra-competitor and a winner. Once he figures out the system and everything we’re doing, his minutes will continue to grow,” Ford said. One of the major challenges for the Billikens this season will be adjusting to the addition of a few new faces in the starting five. Senior graduate transfer, Tramaine Isabell Jr., has had the most noticeable impact of the newcomers on the offensive end for the Billikens, leading the scoring charge with 15 points per game. “We both know offense,” said sophomore guard Jordan Goodwin, about his new counterpart in the backcourt. “He plays one and two, I play one and two, so based on who gets the ball, we can just go.” While the Billikens have some new additions to the squad, they will have the leadership of senior guard Javon Bess to lean on. Bess was a major factor for the Bills on both ends of the court last season, leading the scoring with 13 points per game, and being named an Honoree to the A-10 all-defensive team. Bess also led the team in rebounds last year, hauling in 244 boards. Through the first three contests of the 2018 season, the senior’s impact has already been felt, as he is tied for the scoring lead with 15 points per game. The Bills will be back in action Nov. 17 in South Orange, New Jersey, as they take on a formidable opponent in the Pirates of Seaton Hall. The game will be available for streaming on Fox Sports 2, as well as broadcasted on the radio via 101ESPN.

SLU freshman, Carte’Are Gordon, takes the tipoff to start the game against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. (Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Athletics)

“When we get everyone on the same page, we have the potential to be a really good basketball team.” -Travis Ford

sports

Men’s Basketball Home Schedule Vs. Central Arkansas November 24 3:00 PM

Vs. Saint Joseph’s* January 18 6:00 PM

Vs. Butler December 1 4:00 PM

Vs. Davidson* January 26 1:00 PM

Vs. Oregon State December 9 2:30 PM

Vs. Richmond* January 30 6:00 PM

Vs. North Carolina Central December 19 7:00 PM

Vs. Dayton* February 5 8:00 PM

Vs. Appalachian State December 30 2:00 PM

Vs. La Salle* February 16 4:00 PM

Vs. Rhode Island* January 6 3:00 PM

Vs. George Mason* March 2 2:00 PM

Vs. UMass* January 9 8:00 PM

Vs. Duquesne* March 6 7:00 PM * Denotes A-10 Conference Game

sports

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL REBOUNDS AFTER LOSS OF IMPACT SENIORS By SAM GLASS Staff Writer ackie Kemph. This one player has been the all-star name on SLU fans’ minds for the last four years. The SLU record holder for points, assists, free, throws, starts and games played has moved on after four years in Chaifetz Arena. But that is the nature of college sports and, SLU head coach Lisa Stone knows that. The 2018-2019 Saint Louis University women’s basketball season is here and before it picks up there are a few items fans need to know. The Billikens have adopted a new motto for the season, inspired by their summer reading, “The Power of a Positive Team” by Jon Gordon. The new #TeamFirst mentality is what sets this team apart from others and looks to make the Bills a formidable opponent.

Young Team

The SLU women’s basketball team is one of the youngest teams in the A-10 conference. After graduating six seniors last year, Stone was left with the task of “reloading” the team. Picking up five new freshman was a crucial part in that process. From the outset of the 2017-2018 season, Stone knew she would need to make some big moves for the next season. The new signings gave SLU a freshman class ranked 33rd in the nation by Blue Star Basketball. The class is composed of guards Myia Clark, Ciaja Harbison and Chloe Rice, forward/center Brooke Flowers and forward Evan Zars. The guards come in with a big a responsibility. Young players will have to step up and score this season to make the team successful. A look at their high school careers will give fans something to cheer about for the upcoming season. Harbison scored 1,531 points in

high school in Louisville. Rice put out 1,289 points for Marion High in Iowa. Another high roller, Myia Clark scored 1,695 points in high school. Put these powerful youngsters under the wings of senior guards Kerri McMahan and Jordyn Frantz and something good will definitely come out. The freshman out of St. Louis is one to watch. Flowers ended her high-school career as the state’s all-time leader in blocks, rebounds and double-doubles, while also netting 2,045 points and 20 career triple-doubles. The only freshman forward to come in for the season is Zars. With a .625 field-goal percentage in her senior year, she will be sure to make her mark in her first season with the Bills.

Big Returners

The Bills return three seniors, two juniors and two sophomores this season. The senior class of Frantz, McMahan and Tara Dusharm will play a crucial role in the team cohesion. “Our freshman have to play this year,” said Stone, and these seniors make that happen. McMahan has played in every game at SLU and has played the role of a crucial rotation player. As a senior, it is likely this role will shift into a more stable position, but one of McMahan’s greatest strengths is the energy she brings to the game. Averaging 4.4 points per game does not make her the most threatening player on the court, but her defense does. McMahan earned a spot on the A-10 preseason All-Defensive team and is sure to make an impact. Frantz started 27 of her 33 games last season and is one of the crucial hinges of team. A staple pick for team last season, Frantz will be making a return with a new leadership role for her final year in blue. Coming off an average of 11.5 ppg in her 16-17 season and an 8.2 ppg average in 17-18, Frantz will be one of the highest impact players for the 18-19 season. But her off-court role will most likely be what makes or breaks the team.

Women’s basketball lost six senior impact players to graduation last season, and now they look to rely on the freshmen to create big things for the Bills. (Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics)

“Jordyn is going to take a player for a cup of coffee or ice cream if she needs to be picked up,” said Stone on Frantz’s leadership style.

Coach Stones Record

Heading into her seventh year with the Billikens and her 33rd year coaching, Stone is no stranger to the roller coaster she is on. Stone posted 16-17 overall and 9-7 in A-10 last season and has claimed 68 wins in the past three seasons. Last season saw Stone capture two coaching landmarks. She achieved her 600th career victory and her 100th career victory for the Billikens. Stone has always said her team is like her family and this year is taking this ideal a step further. The “team first” mentality is an extension of the family culture. Over the last six seasons, Stone has been working to develop that culture to see her teams succeed. To help this season Stone made

two key coaching staff moves. Ty Margenthaler was promoted to associate head coach and Kat Martin joined as assistant coach. Former assistant coach, Margenthaler will now be Stone’s right hand man and Martin will bring a high work ethic into the team to bring success this season and in the future.

Preseason Outlook

The Billikens are slated to finish seventh in the A-10. And currently sit at 1-1 on the season. The Bills have a tough non-conference schedule, including 11-time national champion, Connecticut. The Bills look to be strong defensively. The biggest hurdle to overcome in the early season will be getting the young players accustomed to the college game. Ultimately, the Bills have what it takes to show up and put in a successful season. The only question left is if the fans have what it takes.

“The new #TeamFirst mentality is what sets this team apart from others and looks to make the Bills a formidable opponent.”

sports

woMenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball Home Schedule Vs. Cincinnati November 18 2:00 PM

Vs. Dayton* January 23 11:00 AM

Vs. Southern Illinois November 29 7:00 PM

Vs George Mason* January 31 7:00 PM

Vs. SIUE December 1 7:00 PM

Vs. George Washington* February 3 1:00 PM

Vs. Connecticut December 4 6:00 PM

Vs. La Salle* February 10 2:00 PM

Vs. Missouri December 9 5:00 PM

Vs.Richmond* February 17 2:00 PM

Vs. Fordham* January 13 3:00 PM

Vs. VCU* February 27 7:00 PM

Vs. Rhode Island* January 16 7:00 PM * Denotes A-10 Conference Game

red Thatch Jr. comes to Saint Louis University at a pivotal time for the program. The Billikens come into the 20182019 campaign as the favorites to win the A-10 conference, according to the preseason coaches’ poll, and Thatch is one of two standout freshmen expected to make a major contribution to the team. The Sikeston, Missouri native was a standout star in high school. In his senior season, he became the all-time leader for points, rebounds, steals and assists in his high school’s history. But the three-star recruit, who grew up only a couple of hours south of Chaifetz Arena, says being a Billiken feels right. “Just being a Billiken in general feels good to me. Every night I support the STL like

really successful. I’m just learning honestly. It’s a lot of stuff that I need to learn, so I’m playing my role to help this team win,” he said. Thatch’s team-first attitude extends beyond just understanding his role on the team. His goals for the season reflect his desire for the team to succeed. When asked about what he hopes to accomplish this season, Thatch said, “I just want to get better every day.” However, his hopes for his team are much larger. “We (want to) win the A-10 conference championship and make the NCAA tournament.” Thatch has been described by his coaches as a “lockdown defender” and “ one of the most physically prepared freshmen” they have ever coached. However, it’s not all about the on-court intensity that he brings to his opponents. Thatch is a self-described foodie who loves to cook,

“Our team has a lot of talent this year. We just have to play hard, be efficient with our offense and guard...” it’s my home town, and it’s an awesome feeling. Chaifetz Arena is the best ever…the fans are supportive and it’s just a great place to practice and play at everyday,” he said. The freshman sports business major is in the midst of a major change both on and off the court. Off the court, the transition from high school to college can be difficult for anyone, let alone a Division I athlete on scholarship. “They really help us out because they bring us in in the summertime, give you a couple classes and start you off light…so when you come back in the fall you’re ready and you can build up and get your time management down.” But he will also be making a change on the court in converting to a guard full time and will be coming off the bench, a thing the high school star may not have been used to. “Our team has a lot of talent this year. We just have to play hard, be efficient with our offense and guard. If we do that I feel our team can be

saying that when he was younger he wanted to be a chef. Although he hasn’t cooked in dorms yet (he may be a little afraid of everyone else stealing his food) he boasts his breakfast food as being top notch. “I make the best pancakes, and I make the best waffles. My scrambled eggs are amazing,” said Thatch. “I am an absolute breakfast for dinner guy, if we got out to eat at a place, and they got breakfast food, that’s for sure what I’m getting.” Fred Thatch Jr. is a true character and bright light to come into the Billiken men’s basketball program. The passion and pride he brings to every game is what makes this Billiken a potential star. You can catch Thatch and his teammates in their next game Saturday, Nov. 17, when the Billikens take on the Seaton Hall Pirates on Fox Sports 2. The Billikens return to Chaifetz Arena Saturday, Nov. 24, when they take on the Central Arkansas Bears.

Fred Thatch Jr. #20 GUARD

FRESHMAN

By CARTER CHAPLEY Staff Writer Photos By REBECCA LIVIGNI Design Editor

15 that little kid who was just running around at their tournaments and I kind of just naturally came into it, my parents never pushed it for me,” Frantz said. “I was just always at their games watching and I wanted to be just like them.” Frantz recalled having photos of herself in basketball jerseys as young as 6 years old, and was even kicked out of her recreational league for being too competitive. A sure sign of stardom for the future Billiken, as she knew from a young age that competitive basketball was in her future. “Fourth grade is when probably I got really competitive, because I was playing on a travel team and I was playing two grades up,” she said. Basketball has been a staple of Frantz’s for the majority of her life, and her time at SLU has been no different. Her closest friends are her teammates and she likes nothing

and talk about what they’re going through rather than get on them.” Another facet of both her leadership and her playing style as a whole is one that exudes a calm and collected feel, a feature that she accredits to her experience. “I wasn’t always that way. When I was the freshman, I was the one who was turning over everything,” she said. “Now that I’m the senior, I’m the one calming everyone down when things get crazy.” Frantz is not a person, or a player, who is motivated or concerned about the personal stats she puts up—having not known she entered her senior season seventh all-time in three point shooting in Billiken history until she was told, claiming “I’m not really a stats person.” She is instead focused on building and developing the team to make some noise in the A-10 championship. “We’re really young and have a long way to go, but

“Now that I’m the senior, I’m the one calming everyone down when things get crazy.”

Jordyn FRANTZ #20 GUARD

SENIOR

By CARTER CHAPLEY & Photos By REBECCA LIVIGNI Staff Writer Design Editor

f you were to attend any of the Billikens Women’s basketball games at Chaifetz Arena, you would see senior guard Jordyn Frantz. The sixfoot starter, a knockdown shooter and a lock-down defender, who is as calm and collected as she is intense, leads her team as one of the only two seniors on this young and upcoming Billikens squad.

What you wouldn’t see right away is the family first, ice cream loving, hardworking nursing student, who for every ounce of intensity she gives on the court, she equals with fun off the court. The Wakarusa, Indiana native and Northwood High School alumna has been involved with basketball for as long as she can remember, and credits her three older sisters for first getting involved in the sport. “It was like

more than spending her time with them. I hang out with the team all the time, and we have movie nights all the time,” she said. “We all basically travel in a pack to be honest. We don’t really have a lot of time to have a life outside of basketball, so we are all super close.” While basketball may be her SLU family, she accredits her biological family’s support to being a major motivator for her continued success. Her parents regularly make the five-and-a-half-hour trip to St. Louis from Wakarusa, Indiana to see her play. “My parents have been awesome. They would come freshman year just to come watch me sit on the bench, which is kind of embarrassing but awesome,” Frantz said. “They support me so much. My sisters come to games, and they’re always texting me and posting on social media as if I’m some superstar, which is embarrassing. But they’re amazing.” On the court this year, Frantz has been selected into a leadership position as one of the only seniors on a very young team. She describes her leadership style as “I’m going to invite someone out to get ice cream

I think we have a chance to develop and be competitive come A-10 tournament time,” she said. The Billikens star is not just a star on the hardwood, but also in the classroom. The nursing major has been a three-time member of the A-10 Commissioners Honor roll for her success and dedication in the classroom—success she says would not be possible without a supportive team behind her. “It’s tough, but we make it work. We schedule off days on the days of my clinicals, which is great because clinicals are 12-hour days,” she said. “Even then I have to make up some clinicals on weekends. I get to take tests while I’m on the road… we make it work in lots of ways.” The senior star, who graduates in May, says she hopes to be a bedside nurse after graduation, and has a few different plans for where she wants to land after crossing the stage. You can catch Frantz and her teammates at their next home game on Sunday, for a 2 p.m. match up against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

games

Last Issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solutions

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ASA Hosts Fourth Annual Africa Gala The fourth annual Africa Gala brought music, stories and dance to the Pere Marquete Room in celebration of African culture and lifestyle. Following a West African sayingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a fed mouth is a happy mouthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the semi-formal ceremony commenced with a meal. Eventgoers topped their plates with flat bread, lentils, chicken, beef, rice, hard boiled eggs, pounded yams,

egusi and samosas. As the attendees ate, they listened to Brian Barlay tell his Dollar Tree story, watched belly dancers and traditional African dancers perform and heard drummers beat. Barlay explained a comical c o m i n g - t o -A m e r i castory in which he thought Dollar Tree was a physical tree with leaves made of money. Disappoinment followed.

Photos and Story by TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS Photo Editor

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diwali delivers delight to SLU Photos by EMMA CARMODY Photo Editor Story by TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS Photo Editor

On Sunday, Nov. 4, prior to the internationally accepted date, Nov. 9, which is established by the lunar calendar, the Hindu Students Community (HSC) hosted a Diwali Puja four stories above Grand Boulevard. As estimated by HSC e-board personnel, over 200 people filed into the Sinquefield Stateroom of DuBourg Hall for the religious celebration, many of whom were adorned in traditional Indian attire.

Diwali is a joyous festivity of illumination, spirituality, familial and amicable gathering and decoration. Check out the online article for more information about Diwali and HSC, featuring an interview with Neej Patel, president of the organization.

photography

Election Rundown Design by ASHLEE KOTHENBEUTEL Illustrator

Opinion

MIDTERM ELECTION REVIEW

By JAKOB BENEDETTI Staff Writer he midterms are finally over. Now instead of worrying about what’s going to happen, we can sit back, relax and parse through the results. For those who were hoping for a blue wave, the American people delivered both reasons to be satisfied and disappointed. Overall, the outcome of the 2018 midterms were mixed with Democrats making gains in many areas, Republicans in others and each side being able to claim victory in one aspect or another. In the U.S. House of Representatives, as expected, Democrats have picked up enough seats to gain a majority— having locked down 225 seats as of the time this was written for a net gain of 30. Two-hundred and eighteen seats are needed to gain the majority. These numbers may very well have changed by the time you’re reading this, as several districts are still counting ballots, but this is undoubtedly a win for Democrats. This spring will mark the first time they’ve controlled the House since

2010, and their path to the majority went through unseating several high-profile Republican incumbents such as California’s Dana Rohrabacher and Virginia’s Dave Brat. Now that the House is controlled by Democrats, they will be able to exercise significant oversight powers over the Trump administration that the previous Republican leaders were unwilling to wield, and any new laws will have to be approved by at least some Democrats. The Senate is the best news for Republicans. As of now, it seems as if they will increase their majority to 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47—a net gain of 2 seats for the Republicans. This may change as well, however, depending on the outcome of a recount in Florida where incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is narrowly behind. If Nelson ends up ahead after the recount, it would hold the GOP to a net gain of 1 seat and the margin would be 52 Republicans to 48 Democrats— exactly what it was after 2016. Although the Republicans can be most satisfied here, it should be pointed out that there were a number of races that should have been competitive based on 2016 results, like the two races in Minnesota and the race in Ohio, that were easily won by Democrats.

Most of the country’s governorships were also on the ballot this year, and it looks like the Democrats will have a net gain of seven after successfully defending all their incumbents and winning several competitive races. As someone who’s lived in Missouri his entire life, the most surprising and hopeful outcome of the whole night came in Kansas, where Democrat Laura Kelly beat serial fraudster Kris Kobach to become governor. Along with Kansas, Democrats picked up governor’s mansions in New Mexico, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine. Honestly, what’s most interesting to me about these results is what happened on the state level. During the Obama years, the Democrats lost over 1,000 seats in state legislatures nationwide. On Nov. 6 they retook 367 of those, which is pretty good. In addition, numerous leftist/reformist ballot measures passed with large support from voters even in deep red states. Idaho, Utah and Nebraska expanded Medicaid; Arkansas and Missouri voted to increase the minimum wage; Michigan legalized marijuana for recreational use; and Missouri also passed a significant campaign reform measure known as Clean Missouri. To me, these results tell an interesting story: voters in red

“Voters in red states have made clear that they absolutely loathe “moderate” Democrats even while embracing many of the Democratic Party’s priorities when faced with a direct ballot initiative.”

states have made clear that they absolutely loathe “moderate” Democrats even while embracing many of the Democratic Party’s priorities when faced with a direct ballot initiative. Although Montana’s Jon Tester and West Virginia’s Joe Manchin were reelected, they’re candidates that are extremely well-suited to their states and were relatively popular headed into election day. The same is not true of Claire McCaskill, Heidi Heitkamp or Joseph Donnelly, the three Democrats who lost, despite the blue wave, by embracing a strategy of running to the right. I think the ballot initiative results make it pretty clear that if Democrats actually stood up for progressive principles and ran on real issues instead of platitudes, nonsense (see: Nancy Pelosi’s acceptance speech) and going to every length to appeal to Republicans who were never going to vote for them anyway, they might actually win, and the blue wave might look a lot different today. At least it would in Missouri.

Opinion

THE DANGERS OF DENYING CONTRACEPTIVES

By LEXI KAYSER Staff Writer aint Louis University is an institution firmly rooted in its Jesuit mission. Therefore, when a student decides to come to school here, they are subjecting themselves to compliance with any decisions that the university makes in accordance with that mission. Typically, this does not impact the students directly, or they are given the choice to participate or not to. The weekly masses, the nativity scene gracing Grand at Christmas time and the prayers that occur before so many recruitment events and dinners are mere expressions of faith and can hardly be seen as offensive; rather, they are remarks of passion that, if anything, give more character to establishment. I would say that part of the reason that I fell in love with this University, despite not being

Catholic myself, was still due to the Jesuit mission. I admire the service aspect that is so heavily emphasized. Moreover, the belief that being men and women for others, striving constantly to esteem a higher purpose, is one that I believe expresses the utmost compassion and regard for humanity as a whole. There’s just one thing that SLU does in the name of Jesuitism that really rubs me the wrong way. I can’t get behind the fact birth control is being denied to female students. Here’s why: SLU prides itself on its diversity—we have students of all faiths, of all races, from many different countries and cultures. This campus is a beautifully eclectic melting pot. Therefore, we should be respecting of not only all of our students’ backgrounds, but of all of our students’ choices, as long as they are not harming themselves or others. The refusal of the Student Health Center to provide oral contraception as a means of preventing pregnancy directly contradicts this “pride” of diversity. To not support a student, aged 18 or older—and therefore a legal, consenting adult—in their decision to engage in sexual activity is to essentially impose a belief system upon them that they may not ever have held. For many students on campus, abstinence is not a defining part of their religion or self-made moral code. If we are to claim to accept people from all walks of life,

mustn’t we also accept all of the lifestyles which stem from them? Furthermore, preventing students from accessing contraception is not going to prevent them from having sex. No longer minors, we are fully capable of making our own decisions in this area, just as we are now expected to make decisions in all areas. If students want to have sex, they are going to have sex. SLU’s refusal to support this (despite the fact that 60 percent of college students are sexually active, according to a study done by Harvard University) shows not morality, but a dependence upon an aged belief system that is only going to cause students to engage in unhealthy practices. Many students on campus do not have a car or enough knowledge of the area to go off campus to get a prescription or to purchase other means of contraception. The Student Health Center, for these students, is their only hope for safe sex. To refuse to prescribe oral contraceptives is to deny these students the basic necessities that they need to undergo a basic and vital life experience. Even worse, this touchiness around the subject of contraception and thus, indirectly, the entire subject of sex, creates a negative attitude about sexual authenticity on campus. In a world where so many students will face sexual assault, abuse or rape in their lifetime (college women are three times more likely to suffer

these grievances, according to RAINN), we simply cannot afford to add to the tension. By facilitating a conversation about sex in general, we remove the connotation that people who engage in such activities, voluntary or not, are “dirty” or “wrong” in some facet or another. This creates an open and safe environment for survivors to come forward about what happened instead of feeling as if they need to hide or be ashamed. I ask that as a University, we investigate the implications of denying oral methods of birth control to our women. They may be far more disturbing than we think.

“If we are to claim to accept people from all walks of life, mustn’t we also accept all of the lifestyles which stem from them?”

Opinion

GUEST ESSAY: NO VOTE: STILL POLITICAL

By CHUCK KOLMER Contributor n the past few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating whether or not to vote. After much thought, I decided not to. I have drawn much criticism over this decision, but I stand firmly by it. As a dissident, I have always opposed our country’s authoritarian and capitalistic policies. I believe our country’s

voting process is unproductive. Every go-round, the outcome is either Republican or Democrat, and these parties have been fighting an unnecessary war for far too long. Now, I do agree with some of the Republican policies and some of the Democratic policies, but I choose to side with neither. This decision is based on the drastic political measures taken by both parties. Each political party’s primary concern seems to be to defeat the competition rather than help the people and our country. We see overwhelming proof of this on television, where the sole purpose of a candidate’s TV ad is to bash, humiliate and harangue the competition. I believe that our voting process should not be a competition but, rather, a collaboration. Consider this analogy: Love is hardly ever a one-way street. It must almost always be a two-way thoroughfare, to accommodate two different

people, who obviously won’t agree on everything. And—because it is a two-way street—the two are forced to find a single, middle lane, a middle ground and, thus, collaborate. Such a two-way street allows love to exist. Our authoritarian and capitalistic society, unfortunately, has only a one-way highway that does not allow love to exist. This competitive corruption is a systemic problem —a harsh, unproductive, competition that has crippled our country’s ability to unite. I believe that if our country’s voting process were a collaboration, rather than a competition, our country would be a better place — for everyone. That is my opinion and I stand firmly by my decision, my voice and my country. “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” –Jimi Hendrix

“I believe that our voting process should not be a competition but, rather, a collaboration.”

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