University News No. 3 (Nov. 18, 2021)

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VOL. C No. 3 / November 18th, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY NEWS

SLU WOMEN’S SOCCER four peat win PAGE 12 & 13 COVER DESIGN BY GRACE DUNLAVY

NEWS

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slu community navigates the limits of civil discourse Recent pro-life and pro-choice student demonstrations prelude Matt Walsh’s campus visit.

By ZOË BUTLER & GABBY CHIODO News Editors

n Monday, Nov. 8, SLU’s Students for Life (SFL) constructed a pro-life display on campus.

The purpose of this display, which featured red flags signifying the annual abortion rate, was to memorialize aborted fetuses. Quickly after its construction, disapproving SLU students began to take action. Many took flags out of the ground or uprooted signs. Those who opposed the demonstration stated that it was traumatizing for women who have made the choice to have an abortion.

The president of SFL, Isabelle Hortard, stated that the display was not meant to trigger or upset

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anyone. “I think it was a shock to us that people automatically interpreted what we were doing as some form of shame,” Hortard said. “And looking back, I can see how someone who views our movement in a different light would automatically think that. But we were really trying to convey how often [abortions] happen.”

However, the display did not only spark dialogue among students, but conflict as well. The day after the pro-life memorial was created, on Tuesday, Nov. 9, two students were filmed stomping on flags and taking them out of the ground, shouting toward the camera. Later that day, a group of students supporting Planned Parenthood gathered at the clock tower, and it was during this

time that tensions peaked.

First year student and activist Marquis Govan was a part of the pro-choice group that night. He explained that he was trying to put up signs and pass out chalk when a confrontational pro-life student approached him. “I just remember this very aggressive student. She came out of nowhere.” Govan said that the student proceeded to push into him in order to take down Planned Parenthood signs. He also recalled the student calling him expletives and offensive language.

Govan reported this verbal and physical assault to the Department of Public Safety, but he feels that this event is not being taken seriously by SLU administration.

“I have not been contacted by Community Standards,” Govan said.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the investigation. I do not know if they are going to contact me. It’s been several days. I’m really concerned that nothing’s going to happen.”

Hortard did not have knowledge of this event specifically, but she stated that she encouraged members of SFL to remain peaceful when expressing their ideals.

The climate surrounding different student groups’ and individual students’ demonstrations on campus also comes in anticipation of an event set for Wednesday, Dec. 1 that features right-wing speaker, blogger and podcast host Matt Walsh. It will take place in the Wool Ballrooms of the Busch Student Center and is open to both the SLU community and the general public. Hosted by SLU College Republicans, Walsh’s talk is called “Why the Pro-Life Movement Is Center Stage In The Culture War.” Despite this designated lecture topic, members of SLU College Republicans’ executive board believe he may be changing the focus due to a tweet Walsh posted Tuesday, Nov. 9, in which he challenged “leftist groups at SLU” to “come to the talk and give me a coherent definition of the word woman (that comports with leftist gender theory).”

Junior Nick Baker, president of SLU College Republicans, said that since this Tweet was posted, it isn’t clear if Walsh will stay on topic. “We’re definitely hoping that he sticks with the pro-life issue.” CONT. ON PAGE 3

News “Personally, I agree with either of the speeches he goes with, but we definitely prefer that he sticks to what we requested initially,” Baker said.

Junior Ryan Olson, another member of SLU College Republicans, added that in the end, it’ll be up to Walsh’s volition.

“Once he gets up there with the mic, it’s like, if he so chooses to go off, then he has to deal with whatever SLU’s going to do,” Olson said.

Originally, this event was to be co-sponsored by SLU College Republicans and Students for Life, but following this uncertainty, SFL has backed out of hosting. Instead, they’ll help facilitate discussions following the event to debrief.

In the wake of much of the virtual and public discourse, a number of students on campus have voiced concerns for certain beliefs Walsh holds, as well as his style of relating them to the public. Among them is senior Sam Dovin. In partnership with her social work class and SLU’s Social Work Association (SWA), Dovin has drafted a letter addressed to President Fred Pestello and Provost Michael Lewis voicing their concerns with this event.

In addition, SWA is circulating the letter alongside a petition for any students, faculty or external community members to sign, calling on Pestello and SLU administration to have Walsh’s invitation rescinded.

“There’s a difference between political discourse and then crossing into invalidating groups of people and their experiences,” Dovin said.

“As a class, we decided that [Walsh] does not align with Jesuit values at all.”

However, members of SLU College Republicans believe that bringing Walsh to campus will humanize him and separate him from his “internet self,” which they acknowledge as being controversial.

“I think that one of the big struggles with bringing prominent conservatives to campus is that they do tend to have lots of following and support,” Olson said. “...It almost brings up this them versus us dichotomy. And I think the more we can normalize bringing people like Matt Walsh to campus, the easier these conversations will be.”

But Dovin believes Walsh’s violent

internet presence can’t be separated from his speech at SLU, even if he were to remain on the original topic.

Dovin says his social media presence is what she believes to be one of his main threats to women, the LGBTQIA+ community and students of color.

Dovin argues: “Permitting Mr. Walsh to speak in one of the biggest rooms on campus is promoting his hateful beliefs, beliefs which I know conflict with my Jesuit education.”

The final matter Dovin and SWA’s letter addresses concerns issues with the University policy that allowed Walsh’s lecture in the first place. They state: “We are not in support of ending civil discourse and the discussion of various points of view, rather we are

ucation, and particularly here at SLU, is this kind of clunky intersection between our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and our commitment to expression,” Cunningham said.

“Those things don’t always cross at a pretty intersection.”

Cunningham clarified that since this is a student sponsored event, not technically hosted by the University, members of the SLU community who have issues with the event should contact the students hosting the event directly to create dialogue around their concerns.

“You have to remember the sponsoring students are my students too,” Cunningham said. “I have as much responsibility to event hosts as I do to

One of the things I think we run into...is this kind of clunky intersection between our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and our commitment to expression.

— Sarah Cunningham, VP of Student Development in support of closing loopholes that create opportunities for hate speech.”

Vice President of Student Development Sarah Cunningham, Ph.D, is the responsible official for the Civil Discourse, Speech and Expression Policy, which was created in 2016 alongside the Speech, Expression, and Civil Discourse Committee (SECDC). In order for student groups on campus to host a speaker, they must submit a proposal to this committee, which is made up of students, faculty and staff. After it’s approved, the proposal is sent to the Student Involvement Center, where the event is posted on SLU Groups and officially recognized by SLU. “One of the things I think we run into from time to time in higher ed-

event attendees, and that gets tricky.”

Shannon Cooper-Sadlo, Ph.D, is the director of the undergraduate Social Work and CCJ programs and faculty advisor for SWA. She’s spearheading the advocacy to change administrative policies that vet speakers who come to campus and is concerned about Walsh’s relevance to the prolife movement and his “distinct purpose of causing problems.”

“He has no qualifications to spread pro-life ideas,” Cooper-Sadlo said. “It really is about his own self-promotion, inflaming the situation and creating division.”

Despite the outcome of SWA’s petition, Cooper-Sadlo is working with the School of Social Work’s Diversity,

03 Equity and Inclusion team to create space on campus for open dialogue during the time of Walsh’s event, which aligns with Cunningham’s approach to the situation.

“One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is that more dialogue and conversation is always where I would invite students to go in our community, particularly when there are things that are troubling or false,” Cunningham said.

However, Govan expressed concerns with which discourse the University officially allows to occur on campus. While SFL is chartered by SLU, the student group B!llikens for Reproductive Justice must remain unaffiliated in order to carry out their advocacy, due to SLU’s Catholic values.

“It is ironic and very hypocritical to me that the administration would hold these talks about civil discourse while censoring literally half the folks within this conversation by saying that pro-choice groups cannot exist on campus,” Govan said.

Still, members of SLU College Republicans say that their intention with inviting Walsh to campus is not to silence groups of students, but to diversify campus lecturers.

“A lot of times when you bring these speakers on, the yelling becomes so loud that it’s hard to have dialogue, and we want to minimize that as much as we can,” Olson said.

“Because we do want dialogue, that is our goal.”

Dovin agrees with the goal of having open discourse, but she struggles with the method of achieving that goal. Where SLU College Republicans found Walsh to be representative of their values, Dovin believes the divisive nature of Walsh’s persona eliminates any opportunity for dialogue between differing schools of thought. Regardless of the outcome, Olson remains optimistic about the culture of discourse at SLU. “If the invitation is rescinded because there’s so much student opinion [surrounding] it, the silver lining would be at least SLU is listening to somebody,” Olson said.

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Car Theft Cases sUrge At SLU

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By BRIAN GUERIN Staff Writer

n Sept. 13, SLU sophomore and Marchetti resident Noah Hanson was heading to his car when he saw something unusual.

“I noticed that the papers from my glove box had been thrown on the seats and dashboard, and my center console had been rummaged through,” Hanson said.

Hanson had parked his 2018 Honda Civic, affectionately named “Ms. B,” on the right-hand side of Marchetti west. He had wanted to check on his car after he had been called by SLU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS), who said that several cars had been broken into earlier that morning. Unfortunately, Hanson’s car happened to be among them.

“The offender(s) stole $20 from the glove compartment, a pair of Ray-Bans and most importantly, my Ice Breakers,” Hanson said. “I actually expected the results to be worse, so I was pretty thankful no physical damage had been done to my vehicle.”

Vehicle safety concerns a large portion of the student and faculty population at SLU. SLU recently released the 2021 Annual Fire and Security Report, which publishes crime statistics for both SLU’s main campus and the Scott Law Center (located in downtown Saint Louis). The report logs statistics from a three year window, and is updated every October. According to the report, there were 28 cases of motor theft in 2018, 22 cases in 2019 and 11 cases in 2020 - or 61 total cases over the three-year span.

Mike Parkinson, SLU’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Clery Compliance Officer, said that motor vehicle theft is one of the most common crimes reported on campus.

“You would think that our numbers would’ve slowed down during COVID-19, but the crime around

the city and around campus did not slow down,” Parkinson said. “One of the biggest things we are dealing with this year is catalytic converter thefts. It’s not just St. Louis or SLU, it’s nationwide.”

Catalytic converters are located in the exhaust systems of vehicles and help limit emissions. Parkinson said they are valuable due to their composition of precious metals, and that criminals can remove them from cars within seconds and sell them for a profit.

Hanson said that his car thankfully showed no signs of such damage. “No windows or locks had been picked or broken,” Hanson said. “This led DPS to believe that my key fob signal had been ‘boosted’ using a device. This increases the key fob’s range and unlocks the vehicle despite the key being far away.”

Parkinson said that DPS is actively trying to deter motor vehicle theft on campus.

“At night, we try to check beyond cars,” Parkinson said. “We try to check parking lots, we try to check vehicle lots and we try to check buildings. We try to make sure buildings are secure. Our visibility is important. We try to be as visible as we can, and we try to patrol by vehicle, foot and bicycle.”

Parkinson said that DPS responds to motor vehicle thefts in a variety of ways, including keeping overnight watch on areas that show a repeated history of incidents and checking night vision cameras frequently. Students can also take preventative steps to lower the risk of motor vehicle theft.

“Try to use the lots, park in well-lit areas and keep valuables out of sight,” Parkinson said. “It’s a crime of opportunity. Reduce that opportunity, and you’re most likely not going to be a victim of a crime.”

Hanson said that after his car was broken into, he filed a report with the St. Louis Police Department. He said that prior to the incident, he had heard of vehicle thefts at nearby apartment buildings, but never on SLU’s campus.

“After this incident, I won’t keep any money or things of value such as snacks in my car in the event a break-in happens again,” he said.

covid-19 booster shots now available to all students

By ABHINAV VAYYETI Contributor LU students, faculty and staff are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccine. The criteria for receiving the vaccine includes being 65 years or older, 18 years or older and having an underlying medical condition or 18 years or older and living or working in high-risk settings. Because St. Louis City public health officials deem the SLU community as individuals living or working in a high risk setting, Billikens are eligible to get the shot.

“St. Louis City public health authorities consider the CDC’s new eligibility criteria to permit all University community members over 18 years of age to obtain a booster vaccination dose because we all live and/or work in an educational setting,” said Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Terri Rebbman.

She clarified in her newsletter that individuals can receive a booster shot made by any of the FDA approved companies and not just the one they received for their first or second doses.

“The CDC and Missouri now allow mixing and matching of booster doses, meaning that each individual gets to decide which type of vaccine—Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson—they want for their COVID-19 booster dose,” Rebbman said.

However, special instructions were given regarding how long one should wait after receiving the final dose of their initial vaccine and before receiving their booster shot.

Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine are instructed to wait two or more months before receiving a booster shot. Those who received the Pfzier

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or Moderna vaccines are instructed to wait six months or more after they completed their second dose.

Students can schedule an appointment to receive their booster shot on campus online, where they will find a consent form to fill in, as well as providing specific information regarding parking and clothing. Furthermore, fact sheets are provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with in-depth information on the vaccines produced by each brand for students to learn more about. In addition to being able to receive the shot on campus, students can also get their booster using Missouri’s vaccine navigator site, which allows users to search by zip code to find an appointment.

“They should bring their vaccination card with them to their appointment, although they can obtain a booster dose without it,” says Rebbman.

Though students are now eligible to receive the booster vaccine, they are not required to receive it to be compliant with the University’s vaccine policy.

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TARGET TO COME TO MIDTOWN IN 2023

SPARKING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

By ULAA KUZIEZ Staff Writer he Saint Louis-based real estate company, Pier Property Group, announced on Oct. 28 that an urban-style Target will be part of the $60 million mixed-use apartment building in Midtown. The Edwin, as this project is called, is located within the 400-acre redevelopment area that is guided by SLU and SSM Health through the St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corporation (SLMRC).

Located between Gratiot and Papin streets on South Grand Boulevard, the building will be within walking distance of Saint Louis University’s north and south campuses. The project will be completed in the Summer of 2023, when developers say they hope to see a beneficial impact on SLU students and employees, and city residents at large.

“The city is under-retailed so this Target is great,” said executive director of the SLMRC, Brooks Goedeker.

“We love the location because of the 70 Grand bus line that connects all of North City and South City to that destination there. This also signals to different international retailers that if Target wants to come to this location, they should also consider it.”

This development is the fourth addition to the Steelcote Square District

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(Artist rendering of the Edwin, courtesy of Pier Property Group)

plan. The six-story building features 196 apartments as well as surface-level parking and an underground garage.

After negotiating with city officials, PPG developers have agreed to allocate 10% of the apartment units for affordable housing that supports lower-income tenants.

“When we think about projects in and around our redevelopment area, the affordable housing conversation comes up. The numbers worked and the developers were able to carve out a piece for affordable housing. It was a major win for the city and for the developers,” SLU Chief Financial Officer and SLMRC board member, David Heimburger said.

Another recurring conversation about new developments in the area is tax incentives. The SLMRC has the power to unilaterally grant developers tax increment financing or tax abatements for different projects to reduce the amount of property taxes owners pay over a period of 10-20 years.

According to a financial analysis filed with St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), the SLMRC will apply a 20-year tax abatement for The Edwin development, as they have done with others in Steelcote Square District.

They will also use a sales tax exemption on construction materials after recent approval by the Board of Alderman.

“There’s just a concern that we’re

prioritizing corporate welfare at the expense of our public schools and our children,” Ben Conover, 2013 SLU alumnus and an organizer with Solidarity With SLPS, said.

Solidarity With SPLS is a group of St. Louis City residents working to improve St. Louis Public Schools. The district’s primary source of funding comes from local property taxes. But according to the 2020 SLPS Community and Financial Report, the district lost out on $34.7 million in taxes from abated properties.

The Target store is estimated to generate $2 million in sales tax revenue annually, and employees and the tenants will also pay a 1% income tax to the city. The land’s property tax is approximately $7,000 but is expected to increase significantly after the development is completed.

“I would challenge SLU to look at their mission,” Connover said. “Are they here to prioritize business development and to subsidize corporate welfare? Or are they here to be good neighbors and a beneficial part of the community, because they have a pretty callous history on that.”

The history Connover refers to is that of Mill Creek Valley, a neighborhood which ceased to exist by 1959, and that includes land that The Edwin will be built on. Home to approximately 20,000 primarily African-American residents, city officials designated a

large segment of the neighborhood for clearance. Assistant professor of sociology, Christopher Prener, Ph.D., has studied urban renewal in St. Louis, saying that “this is the historical set up for our current relationship with the area”.

The story continues when SLU was gifted $1 million from a donor in 1959 to buy 22.5 acres of land—which included land from the former Mill Creek Valley— to expand the campus. Three decades later, SLU acquired additional land along Compton Avenue when public housing complexes there were in demise.

“This is a situation that had real material harm for African Americans,” Prener said. “Our relationship with Mill Creek Valley since the late 1950s has been one of very opportunistic development that only benefited student experiences.”

Heimburger and Goedeker acknowledge that residents’ views of SLU have not been positive due to this history but say their efforts with the SLMRC, including partnerships with the surrounding Tiffany and Gate District West neighborhoods and investments in the area, has made a difference.

“There is a shift now where folks in those residential communities are saying SLU has become a really good partner. We certainly want to do it differently, to do it right and not gentrify any neighborhoods,” Heimburger said. “We know we can evolve and improve but we think we’re making progress.”

Many midtowns across the country are energetic hubs for education, healthcare, jobs, services and entertainment. And Goedeker envisions the same for Midtown St. Louis in the near future.

“Target is great for students and the neighborhood. Generally [though], development on its own is not enough to address the legacy of our relationship with the Mill Creek Valley,” Prener said.

“Students have no idea what they’re walking on, whether that is going to the BSC or to a soccer game or going to the new Target or living in Steelcote Lofts.

That gap needs to be addressed.”

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Arts and life

Slow Down This Holiday Season

By MORGAN HAUSBACK Staff Writer

veryone fits into one of the following categories; either you think Christmas music should be played before Thanksgiving, or that it should only start being played after Thanksgiving. This season, it may feel harder than ever to not play “Jingle Bell Rock,” when promptly after Halloweekend, TikTok became overwhelmed with holiday wish lists. Though I stand firm in my conviction that Dean Martin ought not to play until after Turkey day, many are not convinced by this and feel that the Christmas season starts as soon as the Halloween decorations are put away.

Despite falling under the holiday season, Thanksgiving and Christmas are very different.

Christmas is the most commercialized holiday and is accompanied by its own genre of music and film, while Thanksgiving is not as romanticized. Serving as the in-between holiday, Thanksgiving marks the midpoint between the first weeks of November when all people do is mark the number of Saturdays until Christmas morning. Thanksgiving is not only shadowed by the coming of Santa Clause, but also the anticipation of Black Friday sales. It’s a commonly forgotten holiday, yet it may just be the most valuable one.

People often share their Christmas traditions, yet we rarely hear of the traditions of Thanksgiving. For example, do you go on

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a walk after your big meal with friends and family? Is there a designated pie baked annually?

A downside that comes with the Christmas spirit is that it can often bring incessant want and materialism. TikTok wishlists and Youtube hauls may be signs that the Christmas season is approaching. However, these trends may also bring out the worst in us. Wish lists may be useful at giving people ideas of what to put on their own lists, but these traditions make Christmas not full of spirit but competition.

On the contrary, Thanksgiving highlights a holiday devoted to gratitude and appreciation.

With Christmas being extremely stressful with people anxiously shopping, planning, and preparing to see in-laws, Thanksgiving presents an opportunity to slow down and reflect. It’s not about giving the best gift or opening the Anthropologie candle you wanted. It’s about preparing food with friends and family, taking the time to enjoy a meal and recalling good things that have gone by. There may not be themed music to accompany Turkey Day, but there is the guarantee of good company, which means so much more.

A year ago, Saint Louis University students went home for an extended winter break without the promise of being able to return to campus in the spring. It was a time of deep uncertainty and fear, yet the season never felt more comforting. While the pan-

demic spread deep anxiety about ahead for good things and often “what if’s,” last year’s holiday forget to stop to see the good season was a familiar brightness things already around us. The in dark times. It was a luxurious leaves will eventually fade, the break, and while many students snow will melt and we will wish may miss its length, this year will we hadn’t rushed through it all. offer the deserved gap between Remember, to enjoy it all this Thanksgiving and Christmas. holiday season, one must find Thanksgiving break will allow happiness in the quiet moments students to escape the stress of and the celebratory ones. Let’s academics to enjoy a few days return to a feeling of warmth with their loved ones. Upon re- and a mindset of gratitude. turning to campus stuffed with Thanksgiving food, they will face the three weeks before Christmas break with renewed determination and stamina. Thanksgiving gives people the opportunity for reflection on how much has changed in the past year and to identify those things which we are thankful for. Being the holiday of peace makes it the perfect ingredient to approach the Christmas season with extra mindfulness.

If Thanksgiving can be a holiday of reflection, Christmas can mean something beyond holiday cups and Hallmark movies. It can symbolize the warmth of baking with loved ones or the joy of decorating the tree with nostalgic ornaments.

The holidays ought to be only defined not by the activities that occur but the feelings that resonate as well.

We are always looking ((Diana Jakovcevic / The University News)

Arts and life

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BOOK REViEW: Sally Rooney writes a love letter to change

By ZOË BUTLER News Editor n her third novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You,” Sally Rooney takes a step back from the speed and momentum of her first two novels, “Conversations With Friends” and “Normal People.” Though she seamlessly moves between characters and cities, much of the story maintains a certain degree of stagnant restlessness, which I believe to be part of why this latest novel is my least favorite yet.

That said, I’m in love with it.

Rooney’s two main characters, Alice and Eileen, are both 29; Eileen works as an editorial assistant and Alice as a novelist, adopting Rooney’s career in her fictional world.

Though best friends, the majority of their correspondence happens through emails since they live in different cities. Still, the messages feel more like thoughtful letters.

And if the emails are letters, the in-between bits of plot often feel like reading someone’s notes, fluid and reflective, taking full shape and thought in their emails.

Both women fall in love over the course of the novel, in differing but still distinguishably modern ways: Alice with an initially bad Tinder date, Felix, and Eileen with a childhood friend, Simon, that had been a fling about ten years back. Regardless of the physical presence each of these men have in their lives, both maneuver through the bulkiness and at times awkwardness of technology’s position in their relationships. Before Simon and Eileen actually sleep together, let alone spend substantial time alone together, they try out phone sex. While it may seem abrupt, Rooney is instead able to continue demonstrating the intimacy of sex and desire that her first two novels showcase.

Alice and Eileen fumble through their romantic relationships which possess very little linear and structural shapes, something Alice finds valuable:

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“But what would it be like to form a relationship with no preordained shape of any kind? Just to pour the water out and let it fall.”

This was said in an email from Alice to Eileen regarding her still indecipherable relationship with Felix, but I think it reads better

in relation to Alice and Eileen’s friendship.

At the heart of this novel, there’s a sore kind of love pouring out from both of these women who may as well be sisters. They’re valiantly obsessed with and mesmerized by each other, which can sometimes translate into hurt and neglect. They’re anxious and curious about the world, resisting change, though they know how necessary it to be: “‘I just want everything to be like it was,’ Eileen said. ‘And for us to be young again and live near each other, and nothing to be different.’ Alice was smiling sadly. ‘But if things are different, can we still be friends?’ she asked.

Eileen put her arm around Alice’s shoulders. ‘If you weren’t my friend, I wouldn’t know who I was,’ she said.”

And I can’t help but think of my own friends when reading scenes like this. We are all at the cusp of graduating and “entering the real world,” whatever that might mean, but we’re fighting like hell to preserve the present moment. We take on each other’s anxieties and grievances as our own: heartbreaks and student debt and illnesses and family troubles, as well as our joys: confessing our crushes, landing jobs, travelling to new places. We’re giving each other articles and poems and books with our writing in the margins to read. And TV series and TikToks and songs and movies to listen and watch.

Isn’t that lovely, intimate, even?

We’re struggling with the push and pull of friendship. We are equally completely dependent and in need of each other as we are resistant to that need. We want so badly to be helped and be needed by the other, but when we need to use that help for ourselves, we turn shy. And though we’re desperate to, we can never claim that we fully know each other, though so much knowingness is involved in our love.

“Lola asked Eileen about her career plans and Eileen said she was happy at the magazine. ‘Right, for now,’ said Lola. ‘But what’s next?’ Eileen told her she didn’t know. Lola made a smiling face and said: ‘One day you’re going to have to live in the real world.’ Eileen

walked back to the apartment that night and found Alice on the sofa, working on her book. ‘Alice,’ she said, ‘am I going to have to live in the real world one day?’

Without looking up, Alice snorted and said: ‘Jesus, no, absolutely not. Who told you that?’”

Rooney has been criticized in the past for having “plain narration,” but it’s obvious her writing style demonstrates great genius. She’s able to capture characters and relationships in all their complexity with minimal words, and sincerely invites you to the table to join them. Through religion, lack of religion, world issues, personal issues and the varying forms that love and friendship take, she settles into the void of the unknown and the inevitability of change. Despite all the anxieties her characters face, at the very least they’re “... excited to feel that it’s going to continue, that new things will keep happening, that nothing is over yet.”

It’s as horrible as it is beautiful, and it makes saying goodbye nearly impossible.

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Arts and life

The Joy of “the Great British Baking Show” A Recipe for Success

By ABIGAIL LISZEWSKI Staff Writer he Great British Baking Show” is a reality baking competition where a group of 12 amateur bakers compete against each other to be crowned winner. It is difficult to describe “The Great British Baking Show,” as the show totally defies the framework of the genre. Contestants never say things like “I’m not here to make friends,” and as a matter of fact, a large part of the show is about the bakers’ friendships with each other! However, what is most surprising about “The Great British Baking Show” is that there is no monetary reward to be won. You read correctly—all the winner of “The Great British Baking Show” receives is the title and an engraved cake stand.

Each episode comes with a new and exciting baking theme ranging from cakes to breads. In each episode, there are three different challenges based on that week’s theme: a signature, the technical and a showstopper. The signature and showstopper are chances for the bakers to show off their skills and talents. Although the bakers are able to practice their signature and showstopper, the technical is baked— and judged—blind. The bakers must rely on a sparse recipes and their own bakers’ intuition to produce a finished product. Based on the results of these challenges, the judges give the winner of the week the coveted title of “Star Baker” and choose which baker to send home.

The show’s success in the United States can be attributed to its more relaxed nature compared to the average American cooking competition. Unlike the grim steel kitchens “Chopped” contestants work in, the show is filmed in a picturesque coun-

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tryside tent with soothing pastels and accompanied by light instrumentals. Instead of an intense and synthy countdown, a calming track consisting of violins and chimes signals the end of a challenge.

Shots of sheep, bees and butterflies shown throughout each episode help to emphasize the serene environment. “The Great British Baking Show” has an air of positivity and joy to it that differs so wildly from the typical American reality show.

But what really makes the show shine is the bakers themselves. The bakers range from college students to grandparents.

Over the course of the show, the bakers form friendships with each other and help each other with their bakes. Whenever a contestant is sadly voted off it is always accompanied with many hugs and tearful goodbyes. One example of the bakers’ special camaraderie is that after a baker who wore Hawaiian shirts for every episode was eliminated, the next week the remaining bakers all wore Hawaiian shirts in his honor.

Unlike reality shows like “Hell’s Kitchen” where the chefs are actively competing against each other, the bakers are often in a contest with themselves. There is no better example of this internal struggle than Season 6 winner, Nadiya Hussain. Nadiya is a stay-at-home mother who, over the course of the season, shed her insecurities and produced many star-baker-worthy creations. After being crowned the winner, Nadiya announced, “I’m never going to put boundaries on myself ever again, I’m never going to say

I can’t do it. I’m never going to say ‘maybe.’ I’m never going to say, ‘I don’t think I can.’ I can and I will.” Her tearful victory speech is the epitome of what makes “The Great British Baking Show” so special: everyday people doing their best.

“The Great British Baking Show” has captured the hearts of its audience since the show aired its first episode in 2010.

The relaxed nature of the competition and the bakers themselves are what make the show stand out amongst other reality cooking competitions. The popularity of “The Great British Baking Show” has led to many spin offs such as “The Great Christmas Bake Off.” Season 12 is currently streaming on Netflix, and the newest winner is set to be crowned on November 26.

(Diana Jakovcevic / The University News)

Arts and life

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SLU Students get a ‘fresh’ offering at fresh thyme At Fresh Thyme, students can find a healthy and local alternative to many chain grocers and food brands.

By CLAIRE LYONS Contributor rom farm to local business; from local business to Fresh Thyme; from Fresh Thyme to SLU students’ bags: the newest local grocery store has arrived.

Fresh Thyme, located at 3730 Foundry Way, is only a five minute walk from SLU’s campus. The building is located in the City Foundry, a public indoor/outdoor market that has a variety of restaurants in the food hall along with event space that can be leased to pop ups such as live music, yoga classes and art vendors.

With the addition of Fresh Thyme to the City Foundry, the lot is beginning to blossom with businesses, food, culture, events and life.

The friendly atmosphere is encountered upon first walking into Fresh Thyme, as the walkway is surrounded by a variety of vibrant flowers, and the workers greet customers with a smile and a wave. Walking through the store, workers consistently ask the customers if they need assistance or simply how their day is going.

Local businesses are also happy to be represented in Fresh Thyme. In fact, most of the produce and meat are from local farmers. There is a pastry section in the store where St. Louis based companies such as King Cookie, Whisk and Prioritized Pastries are represented. Fresh Thyme also does some self-promotion by advertising their “grind your own nut butter” station. From classic peanuts to honey-roasted peanuts to almonds to cashews, customers can use the nut grinding machine to make their own nut butter to their preferred quantity and type.

Although this new phenomenon may not be incredibly popular just yet, with aspects of sustainability and eco-friendly practices being priorities of many potential customners, Fresh Thyme is starting strong.

Customers who are shopping for non-local, general brands can still find them at Fresh Thyme, in addition to apothecary and personal care items. Although the national brands are sold at their regular retail price, the local St. Louis brands and farm-to-table produce and meats are sold at affordable prices that are considered cheaper than other organic brands from competing grocery stores.

Some call Fresh Thyme a combination of Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Aldi.

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Photo by Lourdes Hindi / The University News

Photo by Andrea Porter and Design by Diana Jakovcevic / The University News

Whether someone is in a rush and only has time for a grab-and-go item, or if one is taking time to sit down in the cafe area for lunch with friends, Fresh Thyme caters to a wide audience. Furthermore, customers will feel good about shopping locally and supporting small

businesses. With the City Foundry right next door, this little nook in the West Midtown/SLU neighborhood is a positive addition to the aream, bringing business, social spots and healthy options.

University News 11/18/21 Crossword

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General in gray University News 11/18/21 Word Search Time zone A Game of Volleyball Mythical bird Some soccer O A D U J X T J Z B B K T X players R W L B J K K R T X S G V F Sp. lady O G N I G G I D U F Z W A Q The Phantom of T I F X B N E C L O B N I M the Opera Trotter’s burden A A L A U ESudoku F Y I Solution U C N N A Danish capital T O O K U I R Z L L H O O T Mother-of-pearl I Y A J J T D O M C I L X C Spring up O S T N I3 O8 P2 A4 E9 T5 X7 Y6 S 1 H They’re chalk in N U E T R4 B6 S5 T7 A2 S1 L 3 M9 H 8M some stadiums V G R K S1 D9 L7 M8 A6 D3 A5 P4 P 2 R Falls behind Rum-soaked F M P N A7 I2 R1 O9 B8 R4 N6 I 3 B 5 B cake P S M A R8 O5 S4 L3 C1 I 6 Y2 C7 T 9 Y List abbr.

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“La nuit etoilee-Starry night” Paris, September 1888.

“Still Life with Quinces” (1888-1889), Paris, 1987.

BEYOND VAn GOGH

“Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer” (1853 - 1890), Paris, June 1888.

(Andrea Porter / The University News)

“Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat” (1853 - 1890), Paris, SeptemberOctober 1887

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An immersive experience in St. Louis

Features

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“It’s so exciting to win the A10 championship four times in a row. Not everyone can say they did that, but we can. It’s the first time in Atlantic 10 history a women’s soccer team has accomplished that and I know we are so proud and thankful to everyone who got us to this point.”

-Emily Groark, Forward

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“To me it means that we have overcome everything thrown at us and overcame it. We fought to get here and it wasn’t easy but it is so satisfying to win the A10 championship knowing that everyone on this [team] has worked so hard for it.”

-Abbie Miller, Midfielder

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“It’s a testament to the hard work we have done and where we want to take the program. I hope the legacy is left so that those that come later can continue such success and make this one of the top programs in the country.”

-Breonna Halverson, Defender

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“Winning the A10 to me is living our mission.

It’s the next step in climbing our mountain and that is so crucial in what makes this program special. We get to continue to uplift and grow this program for future players. It’s so special.”

-Sydney Beach, Defender

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“Vase with Twelve Sunflowers” Germany, August 1889.

“Vase with Poppies” Paris, 1886.

“Roses” Paris, May 18.

“Vase with Gladioli and China Asters” Paris, 1886.

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sports

PAIGE BUECKERS BUCKETS NIL DEAL

By SYDNEY ALTEMOSE Sports Editor aige Bueckers, of the UConn Huskies, had a breakout year as a freshman, quickly earning the nickname ‘Paige Buckets’ for her propensity for putting the ball through the net. When on June 1, 2021 the Name, Image, Likeness rule changed college athletics, many expected athletes with household names to take full advantage of this newfound opportunity. Perhaps this is why it was surprising that someone as famous as Bueckers would have held off. Upon signing a deal with Wasserman and filing for a trademark for her nickname, “Paige Buckets”, she kept her moves with the NIL deal relatively silent.

Interestingly, the athlete making the most of their NIL deals is another woman. LSU’s gymnast Olivia Dunne quickly signed a deal with athleisure brand Vuori, putting her above the basketball and football players everyone speculated would capitalize most on the new rules. But, thankfully, for other female college athletes, Dunne’s deal set an interesting precedent as it encouraged other companies to keep up with them. If they were going to sponsor and champion women’s athletics, their competitors would be pushed to do the same.

Nevertheless, many athletes with household names have been selective with the deals they sign. Many, like Dunne and Bueckers have their pick of brands who wish to partner with them.

Both, however, have expressed that they will only sign deals that emphasize who they are as individuals. Their support will go to companies they feel will support them and will continue to do so once they are an official member of the team.

Bueckers said her decision to sign with StockX came from a place of mutual interest. The online clothing and sneakers forum and distributor had goals that aligned with Bueckers own advocacy; Bueckers stated

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that it was her intention to help StockX center women’s sports. They will work together to create unprecedented inclusivity, championing female athletes. Another important point for Bueckers is supporting and uplifting the Black community. Those who follow the Huskies of UCONN likely those who appreciate much of the same things as Bueckers, meaning signing her creates the possibility for a new market; Bueckers is a representative for those previously ignored.

Another reason Bueckers’ deal is important is that it will likely follow her to the WNBA. Being one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, it is almost certain that Bueckers will eventually sign with a professional team upon completion of her college career. If she does so, she will be the first athlete to bring a brand like StockX into the league with her. This will create unprecedented opportunities for the women in the WNBA, her teammates, competitors and athletes she will never meet, nationwide.

Excitement for Bueckers comes from a place of love. She stated that it was her love and interest in fashion that fueled her excitement to work with StockX. In their part, StockX will incorporate her into promotions, seek her opinions on various marketing ideas, and expand their sizing options to promote inclusivity for women. It is telling that StockX sought out Bueckers for their deal when they could have easily signed a male athlete.

Since they are not a gender-exclusive brand, their signing with Paige makes a statement, which will hopefully promote more deals for more female athletes.

A large and well-known brand such as this creates historic precedent. While this is good news for all athletes across the NCAA, it is especially exciting for female athletes who can look to the future with hope for their own deals. After all, once you move the bracket, the only place left to go is up.

Diana Jakovcevic / The University News

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O’LOUGHLIN FAMILY CHAMPIONS CENTER

By SYDNEY ALTEMOSE Sports Editor n October 19, 2021, Billikens Athletics announced the addition of the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center. The state-of-the art, twenty-million dollar facility is set to open beginning in 2023. The facility is entirely privately funded with the primary donation coming from CEO of Lodging Hospitality Management, Bob O’Loughlin, along with donations from numerous other individuals.

While O’Loughlin has placed the largest and primary funds down, he is not the only donating individual.

The full list of donors includes Bob and Kathy O’Loughlin, Centene Corporation (Student Success Suite), Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz (Basketball Operations Suites), Joe and Daria Conran, Jim Kavanaugh and World Wide Technology (Soccer Operations Suites), Michael and Noémi Neidorff (Student Success Suite), Keith Phoenix (Team Dining Suite), Mark & Joy Scoggins and Floyd & Judith Crowder (Technology Suite), Linda and Alan Vogt (Student-Athlete Development Program), Don and Nancy Ross, Pat and Peggy Sly, Greg Stubblefield and Nancy Apel, The Wool Family, Pat Arnall, Scott and Linsey Highmark, Larry and Kathy Hill, Joe and Kim Koenig, Larry and Dot LeGrand, Bo and Terry Mehan, Michael and Marsha Nester, Dr. Bob and Cinda Ryan, Jerry Thomasson as well as two anonymous donors (Performance Nutrition Center).

Each area of the addition is designed to bring an edge to the performance of SLU’s student-athletes. As expressed

by Athletic Director Chris May, this new building and development will bring Saint Louis University athletics to the same level and caliber as some of the most recognized and acclaimed athletic departments in the country.

The Student Success Suite will be the cornerstone of the new building, which will work to continue produc-

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Courtesy of Billiken Athletics ing the kinds of athletes and people that Saint Louis University athletics strives to create. Offering counseling services related to career, spiritual, psychological and academic issues, the new center will be a hub for athletes to take steps for success in their athletic and academic performances. For example, The Performance Nutrition Center will offer athletes the opportunity to learn how to fuel their bodies, optimizing recovery and performance. It also offers athletes a community space where they can join together across teams in order to create a stronger sense of unity within the department. The Team Dining Suite will allow SLU teams to simultaneously dine and break down film or perform scouting against upcoming opponents.

Richard A. Chaifetz, Ph.D, is known for his passionate love of the SLU basketball team, which led him to produce a donation towards a new hub for basketball operations and recruiting. Jim Kavanaugh and World Wide Technology made a similar donation for Saint Louis soccer. The hubs are intended to create a larger draw for some of the nation’s most sought after recruits.

The Vogt family has also contributed in the name of development for student athletes. The Student-Athlete Development Program is intended to allow student-athletes to reach their full potential through leadership, personal development as well as mentorship and networking abilities. Additionally, this program will tap into the successful Billiken alumni database, allowing student athletes to connect with understanding alumni who appreciate their efforts throughout their time in a Billiken’s uniform.

Ground is set to be broken for the two-story building beginning in 2022.

Its placement will be on the righthand side of Chaifetz on the green space adjacent to the Billiken Plaza. The center has been born in the name of creating the greatest opportunity for Billiken student-athletes.

Beyond athletics, the center seeks to capitalize on the latest and most innovative technology and research to better serve the Billiken athletes.

From proper food intake to mental health assistance to building a stronger community, the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center strives to create one of the most powerful athletic de-

partments in the country. With the success of the Billikens this year it is clear that the SLU’s Department of Athletics is becoming nationally renowned.

Many other Division I schools boast their impressive athletic departments. Their buildings themselves speak to the level of competition at which the teams housed within play.

Think of Clemson and their designated nap room housed within the Tiger’s facility. Many Division I athletic departments have athlete-only cafeterias wherein registered dieticians can control the quality of food and advise athletes on individualized nutrition standards. The Billikens are seeking to create something similar. Two classes of current student-athletes will not have access to the O’Loughlin Family Champion’s Center before its completion. However, this seems almost symbolic.

After all, the Champion’s Center is intended to house, produce, and develop what the athletic department hopes will be generations of student-athletes.

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17

MEN’S SOCCER SUCCESS:

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CHANDLER VAUGHN

By JENNA KLAERS Staff Writer he Saint Louis men’s soccer team is having a historic season.

Across Hermann Stadium, there are banners which boast the historic program’s successes. The banners read “10 National Championships,” “49 NCAA Appearances,” “17 Conference Championships” and “79 All-Americans.” After this weekend, the Billikens’ soccer team has already forced the rewrite of two of those banners—and they have the opportunity to take down all four.

Chandler Vaughn, from Woodbridge, Va., is a communication major in his fourth year of undergraduate education, looking for a fifth year to continue education alongside his soccer career. Chandler has been playing soccer since he was about five years-old. He started playing t-ball, but always went to his older brother’s soccer practices at night.

One weekend, Chandler was kicking the ball around with his brother before practice. The coach came up to them and asked if Chandler wanted

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to join the practice for the day. He has been in love with the sport ever since.

Chandler has been on the Saint Louis men’s soccer team for two seasons now. His position as the left midfield/backfielder has had a huge impact on the team. His love for the sport comes from his passion to be with other people that have common interests as him. Chandler said, “From a younger age, soccer was an escape from everything going on in my life. I was able to find competitiveness and drive in the sport.”

The Saint Louis men’s soccer team started the A-10 conference tournament with a win against Davidson, 2-0. The next game played was against Fordham, where the team had a victory in overtime penalty shootouts. In the championship game on November 14, against Duquesne, they prevailed 2-1. In a battle to become the A-10 champion, the Saint Louis men’s soccer team came out on top. The team will now advance to the NCAA tournament with an automatic bid. They will face the winner of the Maryland-LIU matchup.

When asked if Chandler thought this season would be special before it started, he responded with, “Ev-

Lourdes Hindi / The University News

eryone was ready to buy in.” Chandler explains that going into this season, the team was already feeling good from last season. The team atmosphere is said to be positive yet competitive. Chandler alluded to how every person has a role on the team, ranging from every minute of play to no time on the field. Every person lifts everyone else up, cheering for individual and team success.

Some key players of this season include the top goal-scorer, Simon Becher, and his primary connector, Johnny Klein. Patrick Schulte is currently one of the best goalkeepers in the nation. The team boasts the A-10 Coach of the Year in Kevin Kalish, as well as the Offensive and Defensive Players of the year with Simon Becher and Kipp Keller.

Five of the men belong to the A-10 All Conference team (Kipp Keller, AJ Polazzao, Johnny Klein, Patrick Schulte and Simon Becher); Mujeeb Murana belongs to the second team, with freshmen Isaiah Parker and Seth Anderson claiming All-Rookie honors.

Chandler explained that off the pitch, many teammates play a crucial role on the sideline. Chandler said, “Off the field people’s voices are great because they inspire the team.” Chandler then talked about how the team plays as one unit. The way the team trusts each other is seen in the way they play, how they speak to each other and how they support each other.

The teams’ goal in the short term is to win the A-10 Championship, but in the long term, they want to go to the NCAA. Chandler and the team never wanted to be settled in what they do, with Chandler saying they “are always hungry for more.”

The team’s mantra is “RATS.” This phrase is short for, “run out the storm.” RATS means that when there are difficult times, instead of running away from that storm, go to it. Going to the storm/thunder is interpreted as going through adversi-

ty with your team behind you. To celebrate those big wins, the team plays “Run This Town” by Rihanna.

Looking into the next years, Chandler wants to stay at Saint Louis University for a fifth year and continue his education. As he does this, he wants to work on his soccer career in hopes to go to the professional league. Chandler’s favorite book right now is “The Mountain is You” by Brianna Wiest, which explores self-sabotage. Chandler expressed that this book has helped him dive into his own decisions and how he can improve his mental strength as a human. Connecting back to this Saint Louis team, Chandler is inspired and happy to be playing next to his teammates, the people he calls his second family. His favorite memory from the season thus far is scoring the game-winning goal against Saint Joes in overtime. He has a ritual, before every game, of going to his corner of the field, closing his eyes and visualizing his presence on the field. Chandler expresses how visualization is something that he loves to do off the pitch as well. He describes it as productive meditation, which can focus him on what his tasks are and how he will work hard to get that done well.

Lastly, Chandler answered the question, “What advice would you give to younger athletes looking to pursue a Division I career?” He paused for some time to consider, and then answered that his advice would be to be prepared for adversity and mental challenges. Chandler continued to explain that his first years of college soccer were tough, as he was not told how hard it would be to be a student-athlete. He quickly expresses that he would not be the person he is today without those challenges. He learned to always keep pushing himself in life because you always want to be ready for what is to come.

To close the discussion, he said, “Every person develops in different time, so just be ready for your shoulder to be tapped on and make it count.”

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sports

2021 MEN’S BASKETBALL OVERVIEW

By JONAH TOLBERT Staff Writer

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illikens basketball season is heating up with the first couple of games under the belt followed by big out-of-conference games. If you don’t know much about the team or are new to the team like myself, allow me to give a quick rundown of my knowledge as team manager.

Celebrating his fifth year as Head Coach at SLU, Travis Ford spent the early days of his career as traditional point guard at the University of Kentucky and former Head Coach at Oklahoma State.

This season, the Bills must push through their loss of Redshirt Senior and St. Louis local Jevonte Perkins due to his season-ending ACL injury. Perkins averaged 17.1 points last year. Nonetheless, the Bills do have help from junior Yuri Collins as point guard. Collins is Coach Ford’s guy; with the most assists at the Billiken home opener, he is the one to make calls on plays for the Bills. However, Ford still has choices for big men, with Terrance Hardgrove Jr. as the likely pick for his Power Forward.

Other picks for shooting guard include Rashad Willams, Andre Lorenson, and Gibson Jimerson.

Jimerson provided good shots during practice, highlighting that he deserves his spot on the lineup. Willams, on the other hand, will do shooting drills after practices. One of his drills includes making 20 shots in a row. If he misses two in a row, that means he must restart.

After losing Hasan French last year, the center spot is one to watch. Ford will probably start Senior Martin Linssen, a redshirt who played for Valprasio and UNC Wilmington, as he will likely fill the gap French left behind. Linssen knows the playbook and has more experience than Francis Okoro, a transfer from Oregon, and Lassina Traore, the only true freshman on the team. The main issue is going to be filling in for

Ian Hall / The University News

Perkins. However, there is help from small forward Jordon Nesbit, who is a Redshirt freshman transfer from Memphis. During the Harris-Stowe game, Nesbit only played 18 minutes, yet made 19 points and 9 rebounds. Despite his young age, he has potential to aid in filling in the mid-range paint shots the Billikens are missing without Perkins.

Upon the passing of coach Ford Stuen, there have also been changes within the Billikens coaching staff.

Ford’s banner will stay in the rafters in his commemoration. In his place, Graduate assistant Phill Forte has been added to the arsenal. He once played for Coach Ford at Oklahoma State.

The Billikens had three good out of conference games with wins

against Central Arkansas, Harris Stowe and Eastern Illinois as they beat each team by at least 4o points. If you are looking for a fun challenging home game that should be on people’s minds, SLU’s Dec. 18 game against Auburn will be a good treat. If you are looking for more fun players to look out for, Marhiki Strickland is on the list. His one-handed dunk brought the crowd to their feet during the Harris-Stowe game. Strickland currently sits behind Fred Thatch and Hargrove but played 7 games while averaging 2.7 points.

Aside from this, games always present opportunities for free gear and a good time. The next time the team plays at home is Saturday, November 20, at 4 o’clock.

game solutions

From Page 10 of this issue

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Opinion

There’s More at Stake in SLU’s Abortion Debate than You Might Think

By ANDREW SWEESO Contributor

n November 9, a small pro-choice protest broke out in front of Morrissey Hall, where Students for Life had set up a memorial representing the hundreds of thousands of abortions in the United States. The pro-life group and their supporters arrived to stand guard over their memorial as it had been dismantled (as it has been nearly every year I’ve been here) in a now-viral video. It was a tense night, with protesters on both sides covering up and taking down each other’s signs and stiff philosophical arguments were met with passionate cries from personal experience. By the admission of many present there, not many minds were changed.

The same lack of changed minds came when a more organized protest took place the next night.

Much of the night entailed prochoice students chanting while pro-life students prayed and kept vigil at their pro-life memorial.

Significantly, though, the prochoice students managed to place a memorial for women who have died from medically unsafe abortions.

After a somewhat organized dialogue between the two camps, both left and dismantled their displays.

I was present both nights, navigating through groups of pro-life and pro-choice students, introducing myself as a scholar and instructor in rhetoric and argumentation. I was thrilled that students were willing to talk to me and answer the questions I had for them. Despite being Catholic and pro-life, I was not particularly interested in their stance on abortion. Rather, I simply asked: “Why are you here,” and “What’s at stake for you tonight?”

I got a wide range of answers.

People in both camps were similarly pessimistic that the others would change their thinking, but they still put their views out there.

Those who were most passionate put themselves - their stories, their beliefs, their bodies - at stake because they thought it might spark one person just to think a little more about their position. They

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thought their vulnerability might contribute to dialogue, conversation and perhaps even friendship. It may surprise people that the people who called pro-lifers ‘racists’ or who tore down “Stand with Planned Parenthood” signs were the same ones who were willing to get to know their opponents, joke with them, shake hands, hug, and pet their dogs. Those who were the most level-headed were the least likely to get anywhere, and the most likely to say they had nothing personal at stake.

I can’t speak for everyone there, nor can I speak for anyone fully.

Certainly, as a straight, white, Catholic man, I cannot account for the experiences of Black, female, and/or LGBTQ+ students who were there – nor do I wish to. What I can say, though, is that there was a fascinating common ground between most of the students at the protest. For many of the students there – pro-life or pro-choice, conservative, liberal, or otherwise – what was at stake in their arguments, at least implicitly, was their stake in the SLU community.

That, I think, is the factor in this debate we have to attend to as a whole community. We have to confront this issue, no matter what our stances are on abortion or no matter to what extent we want to participate in or avoid the abortion debate. For people defending the right to life for unborn children, and for those defending women’s rights to bodily autonomy and physical, emotional, and financial stability, what SLU means to them – what they believe SLU is or ought to be – was a major premise in their argument.

Nonetheless, just because it was common ground does not mean SLU’s identity was a settled question that night. Many of the pro-life students I met saw this loud, passionate protest as a sign that SLU was not living up to its Catholic identity. Many of the prochoice students argued the inability to start a chartered pro-choice student group essentially deprived them of their right to free speech on campus, especially in contrast to the College Republicans, who have invited right-wing provocateur Matt

Walsh to speak here in December.

These camps disagreed on what they believed SLU to be as an institution, or what they believed is actually in accord with our university’s mission and identity. What they agreed on, even if they did not say so explicitly, was that our very mission and identity were at stake.

Indeed, it’s the university itself – the community, the motivating beliefs, the institutional structure, and certainly the physical space – that are at stake.

For the people I met from both sides, the issue of abortion brought conversations about their financial burdens as a college student. Some of the pro-choice women I met emphasized their massive student debt as a reason that an unplanned pregnancy would compromise their future. The pro-life people in conversation with them would often respond that they had similar debt, and that they could sympathize with that concern. This financial burden was just one of many of the emotional, physical, and otherwise personal pains that pro-choice women cited as reasons for their beliefs and, more importantly, for their passionate presence. Really, I think this was why the Students for Life modified their memorial to include advertisements for free pregnancy and feminine health resources. This was a common thread for at least some on both sides of this tense event. Whether because of their religious identity, their financial burdens, or their ideological commitments, students there felt that their participation in SLU, their membership in our community, was at stake.

That, I think, is an often-disregarded part of this discourse on our campus.

At least, it is disregarded insofar as no sustainable effort is made to address it. An email that came from Dr. Pestello’s office announced dialogue sessions on Catholic teaching on reproductive rights and healthcare and the nuances of policies and practices surrounding the issue of abortion. I think these sessions could be useful and meet students’ needs, but my question is whether they will allow us to talk about what impedes members of SLU’s community from feeling

they have the right to full participation in our university’s intellectual, social, religious, and cultural life.

Based on what I heard from people in both camps, that was the significance of the pro-choice memorial on the second night. Having that space organized across Spring Street created a sense of fairness and equality during that night’s dialogue. One person I met described it as raising the stakes and keeping everyone honest – if the pro-choice students tried to dismantle the pro-life display again, the pro-lifers might do the same. (Though I cannot assume the pro-life students would, in fact, do so.)

It was an inventive use of a space that allowed both camps to participate fully, even if only one had full institutional approval.

Yet despite Dr. Pestello’s email, and despite the pro-choice camp successfully setting up their own protests and display, I think we can put into words what SLU’s institutional voices won’t directly say about this debate. Even with the prominent presence of prochoice students and faculty, of whom some also identify as Catholic, SLU as a Catholic institution is committed to the Vatican’s moral teaching...

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Opinion

21

In Plain Sight: The Dark Side of MUsic Festivals

By KATERINA SUPER Staff Writer ands wave, smoke wafts through the air and the vibration of adjacent stages shakes the ground. Bodies press up against each other, jostling for position.

Anticipation hangs in the air, feeding a restless, unpredictable crowd.

This is the ambiance of music festivals, hovering in between collective exhaustion and unabridged chaos. The tragedy at the Astroworld festival this past month led me to reflect on my own experience at music festivals and how quickly they can spiral. Hearing concertgoers’ accounts of unbreathable air and the crushing weight of people at Astroworld was eerily familiar.

In my hometown of Chicago, I have attended the Lollapalooza music festival for the past couple of years. Exorbitant ticket prices paired with limited sanitation and seating, and long water and food lines—all without designated seating at artist sets— has made the festival less appealing. “Rage” culture pushes crowds to unruly, even violent behavior. More than once I have been lifted off my feet as a crowd surged forward, desperate to get as close as they can to the performing artist. Mosh pits invoke an almost unconscious rage as people throw themselves and others about. Bottles and shoes are hurled into the sky crashing over the heads of other unsuspecting concertgoers. Through the mayhem, the crowds become disconnected from the actual performance; there is the artist playing and then there are the concertgoers, split between those fighting to enjoy the show and those more concerned with a wild display of teenage rebellion. It is fair to say this is not a characterization of every crowd at a performance. Often, the artists with more mellow, crooning music encourages a soft, swaying crowd; however, mainstream rappers and singers attract disruptive groups that often leave fans frustrated, and forced to pay higher attention to their safety than the artist they camped out to see. Several arguments can be made to strategize increased crowd control measures and safety such as selling less tickets, dividing stages into sections to reduce the effects of crowd surge and having more medical staff on standby. However, there is another aspect of music festivals that

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lurks under it all.

“Where are you?” I shout through the phone.

My friend implores a stranger to hoist her into the air. “Tell her to look for my hand—does she see it waving?”

Almost at the front of the stage, my friend and I urge our third companion through the impossibly dense sea of bodies. Suddenly the stage lights flicker on and the crowd descends into chaos. My friend and I are lifted off the ground, thrown around in the mix of limbs, desperately gripping each other’s fingers as we try to remain upright. We begin pushing back against men twice our size, fighting the disarray.

On the outskirts of the crowd, we find our friend.

“Some guys unclipped my top when I was trying to find you guys,” she says. “No one would help me.”

“Do you remember what they looked like?” I ask. It was a question tainted with doubt. We all knew we wouldn’t see them again.

Hours later on the train ride home, a girl tells me she had been assaulted in a mosh pit.

Another night at the festival and my friend and I dodge groping hands as we hurry through the train station gate. On the platform, we ignore

the jeers. A few minutes later we run through the cars, away from the same men. All this to get to a festival where the same will happen.

Possibly worse. There is always the threat of something worse.

Going to see my favorite artist, I forget a music festival is not an alternate reality. Harassment follows women through the crowds, shrouded in obscurity as bodies brush against one another. Attackers almost always get away with it. As far as I know, there is nowhere to report assault at festivals. Promoters prepare for drug overdoses, dehydration and possible stampedes, but nowhere do they address assault. Instead, women just go home. Prevention and response become our responsibility. In a place where teenagers go to have fun with their friends, they are protected from many things—but assault is not one of them. As promoters move to increase safety at concerts and festivals, will they consider assault? With a large portion of festival-goers being women, the consideration matters.

(Diana Jakovcevic/The University News)

22

Opinion WHAT I LEARNED FROM SLU’S ABORTION RALLY

the students I interviewed, I privately conversed with Lucy Gonzalez, the Regional Coordinator for Students for Life in the states of Missouri and Arkansas. I expressed my concern n Monday November 9, for the nature of the presentation of two students vandalized the protest. I highlighted how many a memorial for aborted perceived the flags as a guilt trip rather fetuses placed by than being educational or constructive, SLU’s Students for hence the hostile and angry attitudes Life organization. The towards the pro-life demonstrators. phenomenon went viral, catching Gonzalez was understanding towards the attention of politician Ted Cruz my dismay, saying she would take and conservative commentator Ben steps to be more mindful of future Shapiro, both of whom voiced their presentations of the organization’s anger and dismay towards the action. mission, while emphasizing that it The next day, SLU’s Students for Life was never anyone’s intention to hurt announced via Instagram that in or offend anyone. To our surprise, spite of the backlash, the flags will the remainder of our conversation be brought back in continuation of circulated around points of agreement honoring the lives of the unborn. rather than disagreement. We ended

The topic of abortion is an our conversation with the shared incredibly difficult conversation for notion that the United States is failing many. With 50.8 percent of America’s women and childbearing individuals population being female, the issue of left and right due to inadequate reproductive healthcare is not only a resources, funding and care going into debate for politicians, but one that is the physical, mental and financial personal. Additionally, factors such as well-being of those expecting. Because race and class add complexity to the of the lack of basic pre-natal support, abortion debate, underscoring the many are left thinking that abortion necessity and importance of holding is the only option. We agreed that these conversations and being willing the best solution was approaching to listen. As many individuals take the issue from an educational stance divided and sometimes extreme while making sure that all parents stances on the issue, civility and are have their mental, physical and willingness to understand both financial needs secured. sides of the argument can become As I walked home that evening, difficult.

I acquired a newfound sense of Attending the rally while keeping humility as the reality of how difficult a cool head and an open mind was it is to talk about abortion weighed incredibly challenging. But I was on me. Everybody has their own persistent in my search to find perspectives regarding why they are a common denominator. I was for or against abortion, but because determined to walk out of the fuming this issue directly affects so many of crowds with an answer regarding why us, it can be immensely difficult to there is so much tension and debate stay civil in these conversations and surrounding the issue. Putting all not let personal feelings take over. anger and personal feelings aside, I Because the line is so blurred between pulled out my phone, started a voice people believing abortion being an memo, and began interviewing people issue of morality or one of society from both sides failing childbearing individuals, it is I talked to a handful of students, half nearly impossible to come up with of which were pro-life and the other a unanimous agreement regarding pro-choice; full interviews can be how to go about solving the crisis. I found online. Upon finishing up with understood that it takes much more

By ANASTASIA HANONICK Copy Editor

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than “understanding” everyone and where they’re coming from: it takes empathy. No matter how extreme one’s arguments are, there is still validity behind them because these arguments are deeply personal. I understood that there is no true “solution” for abortion debate as everybody has their own standard of what the “appropriate” course of action is. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Fundamental disagreements regarding abortion were never the problem. The real problem lies in our desire for the moral high ground and control. If one truly had the best intentions for others, they would take an open-minded and tolerant approach towards the issue. They would understand that it is improbable to convince an entire generation of human beings with different moral, religious and personal backgrounds that abortion is inherently right or wrong. Because not one human experience is the same, the standards for viewing abortion and whether or not it is acceptable will vary drastically.

A point that I brought up to Gonzalez was that had the pro-life organization put up signs saying that America needed policy change regarding paid parental leave, improved sex education, and better access to birth control-- things that arguably help reduce abortion rates--the reactions of bystanders would have been much different. If the majority of people I interviewed said that they support legislation which would encourage these agendas, regardless of their stance on the issue, one could imagine the productivity and constructivism of the conversations that would’ve taken place. Nobody would see half the anger and rage that took place Tuesday night. As the age-old saying goes: it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

But perhaps the biggest lesson that I learned that night was that coexistence is essential. Controlling others and trying to change their minds won’t create anything but

hatred and hostility towards others.

But through accepting the beauty of heterogeneity, we can create peace, tolerance and harmony within one another. Coexisting won’t solve our disagreements on abortion. But it will make us more loving, empathetic and understanding of one another.

It is extremely easy to get caught up in opinions and feelings, ultimately dehumanizing the issue of unplanned pregnancies, abortion and who it affects. But the reality is that this issue deals with real-life human beings. Regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, it is our moral obligation to do what we can to protect and support expecting people during the most raw and vulnerable moments of their lives, and we must put our personal feelings aside to do so.

But through accepting the beauty of heterogeneity, we can create peace, tolerance and harmony within one another. Coexisting won’t solve our disagreements on abortion. But it will make us more loving, empathetic and understanding of one another.

It is extremely easy to get caught up in opinions and feelings, ultimately dehumanizing the issue of unplanned pregnancies, abortion and who it affects. But the reality is that this issue deals with real-life human beings. Regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, it is our moral obligation to do what we can to protect and support expecting people during the most raw and vulnerable moments of their lives, and we must put our personal feelings aside to do so.

Opinion

23

The Educational Undoing of Thanksgiving

By JULIETTE CALLAHAN Staff Writer he history of Thanksgiving is typically taught as a romanticized account of the relationship between colonizers and Native Americans. Traditionally the “First Thanksgiving” story tells children that upon the English pilgrims arriving in America, they indulged in a friendly feast with the Native Americans as an act of gratitude after the Native Americans taught them how to cultivate the land’s resources. It was not until high school that I realized that Thanksgiving did not supplement the endearing story of coexistence between English settlers and Native Americans.

The oft-repeated “First Thanksgiving” story derives from a firsthand account of Edward Winslow’s in 1621. He stated that there was a three-day feast the colonizers had initiated with the Wampanoag people as an act of gratitude. However, the contemporary American perspective of the holiday was prescribed by Sarah Josepha Hale, a nineteenth century writer and activist. Hale advocated for

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Thanksgiving to be established as a national holiday so individuals could collectively practice gratitude amidst the Civil War. After the “First Thanksgiving” in 1621, conflicts between the Native Americans and colonizers began over land ownership which, with the spread of disease, resulted in the decimation of the Wampanoag peoples. Their decimation is often not the basis of discussion when teachers teach about the first Thanksgiving. Instead, a different image is presented in which colonizers are presented as cordial settlers with an aptitude for exploration rather than the reality of their aggressive interactions with Native Americans and their feelings of entitlement towards the land. This has meant that since its inception, Thanksgiving has been romanticized as a moment of pure friendliness between the two peoples. The November 1899 issue of the Journal of Education recommended a series of reference materials on Thanksgiving which included the falsified images of pilgrims and natives sharing a feast, continuing the facade of the cordial pilgrims. It became more common for teachers to develop plays and skits

for students to present stereotypical depictions of Native Americans and their part in Thanksgiving, further turning people away from the truth of the nature of Thanksgiving and the history that follows.

In many elementary and middle schools, Thanksgiving gradually became one of the only teachings on Native Americans history. American schools do not typically expound upon Native American history as part of American history, instead teachers only present the Native American identity when speaking about Thanksgiving. This kind of education is countered with the recollection of colonizers participating in the genocide of Indigenous people in the seventeenth century through war, disease, and legislation.

Chuck Larson, a teacher, founded a project called “The Fourth World Documentation Project of The Center for World Indigenous Studies” as a basis for teachers to accurately recount the story of Thanksgiving, while asking discussion questions to challenge stereotypes and emphasize the importance of learning about Indigenous people as a part of American history.

Diana Jakovcevic / University News Listening to the partial and fabricated narrative is not a constructive method for teaching students about their own country’s history. Therefore, parents and teachers must educate themselves and their children on the full story of the national holiday’s history and the history of Indigenous people. In doing so, the celebration of gratitude is further supplemented by the celebration of Native American culture and their part in American history.

UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD 2021-22

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Conor Dorn, editor-in-chief

Zoe Butler, news editor

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Mark Burbridge, arts & life editor

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Matthew Chambers, arts & life editor

VACANT, general manager

Tegan Altemose, sports editor

The University News was founded by Claude Heithaus, S.J.

Diana Jakovcevic, design editor

Penelope Gardner, opinion editor

The Editorial Board of the University News recognizes Avis Meyer, PH.D., as the newspaper’s faculty mentor.

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Kateryna Gehlhaar, social media editor gm@unewsonline.com

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