On Saturday, Oct. 15, the SLU men’s club rugby team partnered with the SLU sorority Zeta Tau Alpha, Kappa Omega Chapter, and raised almost $400 during a benefit game played against Sunday Morning Rugby Football Club. The benefit was a “Pink Out” and the goal was to raise money for both the rugby team and Zeta’s chosen charities.
The rugby team chose to donate their portion of the proceeds to the nonprofit organization, Breaking Taboo, which focuses on destigmatizing mental health challenges. Their fundraising campaign began in September and ended with the “Pink Out” game.
“One of the things I pitched [to the executive board] was that there has been a very big mental health crisis, especially last year [on campus],” said sophomore Anthony Cova, who plays flanker and hook on the rugby team. “Everybody goes through a lot and everyone’s mental health matters.”
“Last month was suicide awareness month and [mental health] is a pretty taboo topic that is worth talking about, especially considering the tragedies that took
(Katerina Super / The University News) By KATERINA SUPER News Editorplace last year” said Sean Volcy, an outside center on the team.
“We feel like it would be great to shed light on an issue that plagues people of all ages.”
Zeta chose to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Anna Teien, head of Zeta’s philanthropic efforts at SLU, explained Zeta’s choice to partner with the foundation.
“The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation determined breast cancer education and awareness its national philanthropy when they began a partnership with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,” Teien said.
“1 in 8 women and 1 in 833 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life. Education and early diagnosis reduces these statistics which is why we strive to spread awareness while fundraising for research,” Teien said.
Members of the Zeta chapter sold baked goods during the game and the rugby team wore pink socks to show their support. They raised almost $400 and will split the proceeds evenly.
“So many people were coming up to our table asking us about the Zeta and rugby philanthropies. We were able to educate and raise
money for breast cancer education and awareness and mental health” said Haley Knueppel, a member of Zeta.
Like the men’s rugby team’s campaign for mental health awareness, Zeta has hosted a number of events to raise money
Pink” Carnival.
“Knowing players on the team made it more personal too. Cova, one of the “Big Man on Campus” contestants this year, is on the [rugby] team and it was fulfilling to watch him play and be a part of something that is important to him” said Kneuppel.
Teien said they hope to continue raising money with their upcoming “Pink the Rink” Hockey Game and philanthropy sisterhood event.
The “Think Pink” benefit game marks the end of the men’s rugby season. Reflecting on the season, Volcy says his team feels good as they wrap up with their philanthropic efforts.
“I definitely enjoy it more because of the people I’m surrounded by. There’s a lot of great guys on the rugby team, my roommate [Anthony] included. Despite how difficult the sport may be, the people you’re surrounded by make it worth it,” Volcy said.
for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Teien said they have raised almost $8,000 from various events they hosted this fall, including their “Big Man on Campus” competition and “Think
“We were able to educate and raise money for breast cancer education and awareness and mental health”
- Haley Knueppel, A Zeta memberBy ULAA KUZIEZ News Editor
This past February, at the start of Black history month, HarrisStowe State University received a bomb threat. When Terri Foster, administrative assistant for the American Studies Department, heard about the threat, she said she gathered the department to brainstorm ways to support HarrisStowe.
On Oct. 13, 2022 the department hosted an event with Gregory S. Carr, an assistant professor of Theater at Harris-Stowe, to discuss ongoing challenges facing Historically Black Colleges and Universities and opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions.
“There’s no reason why we are so close, and there’s no collaboration, I just don’t get it,” Foster said. “SLU struggles with reaching the African American community. All we have to do is open the door and allow them to come in and allow us to go there because we have to bridge that gap somehow. I’m hoping the talk we had was the beginning of that bridge being built.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, at least 49 HBCUs
were targeted with bomb threats in the first few months of 2022, including Harris-Stowe. The Biden administration labeled the incidents “hate crimes” and in February, the FBI launched an investigation into the threats. Nine months later, there have been no arrests.
The American Studies Department had hoped to host the event about HBCUs soon after news broke about the threats in February to show immediate support because of a scheduling conflict.
“Unfortunately, it is still just as current and urgent a topic, not just with the specifics of ongoing bomb threats, the most recent which was about two months ago, but also in the broader context of other kinds of threats and obstacles to HBCUs,” said Heidi Ardizzone, American Studies associate professor who sat with Carr on the panel.
Carr recalls how he felt when he learned about the threats.
“It was hurtful. I had already been through this before but to see my students go through it, it did something to me,” Carr said.
In August, Harris-Stowe received another bomb threat, Carr said, reintroducing a sense of fear for students and staff.
“It’s not a new thing, it’s not an anomaly. We know historically that institutions of higher learning that are Black have been terrorized, there is no other word you can say,” Carr said. “They have been terrorized, they have been burned down, they have been threatened.”
Before emancipation, there were locations for Black education that existed illegally and were often targets for violence, Ardizzone says.
activism.
“I see us at the juncture in time, very much like W.E.B. Du Boise and Booker T. Washington at the beginning of the 20th century, seeing these individuals coming from the farms to HBCUs to learn,” Carr said. “Instead of them coming from the farms [today], they are coming from urban areas.”
Post-Civil War, there was a national push for HBCUs, but Carr says HarrisStowe’s history is “unique” as two previously segregated institutions, Harris Teachers College and Sumner Normal School, were joined together.
The earliest predecessor of HarrisStowe, the St. Louis Normal School, was established in 1857 for white students in St. Louis, later renamed Harris Teachers College. A second predecessor institution was Sumner Normal School, which was formed in 1890 as a school to educate and train future Black teachers of elementary schools. In 1924, the Sumner Normal School became a four-year institution, and its name was later changed to Stowe Teachers College, in honor of the abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe.
“There’s this huge gap of 33 years of Black people not being able to get some formal training to teach children,” Carr said. “Then these two institutions go on this parallel path work for a while,”
These two higher learning schools were merged by the Board of Education of the St. Louis Public Schools in 1954 as an initial step to integrate the schools.
“There’s some bad blood because once the two came together, the president of Stowe Teachers College, Dr. Harris, was fired. They decided to erase Stowe from history,” Carr said.
Twenty-three years later, the alumni of Stowe Teachers College held a silent protest at the Board of Education demanding a change to the name. The Board approved the change.
“That’s where the hyphenation comes from, Harris-Stowe. I always tell people this [hyphenation] is a result of social activism,” Carr said.
Working at an HBCU, Carr says his role as an educator is deeply rooted in
Across SLU, there have been various collaborations with Harris-Stowe through the Theater Department and articulation agreements via the Engineering Department. The two universities also have joint tuition exchange agreements which allow students to take courses at each other’s campuses.
In addition to being an instructor at Harris-Stowe, Carr is also a doctorate student in the SLU American Studies Department, linking the two together. While this individual connection has been fruitful, Ardizzone says a more “structural” relationship will strengthen their ties.
“I think that we could be better neighbors and raising consciousness on our campus is the first step in doing that,” said Emily Lutenski, American Studies associate professor and department chair. “There are communities on our campus that are already enmeshed with Harris Stowe. For example, Black fraternities and sororities that are city-wide already have these robust cross-campus networks. But for so many, especially non-Black students and faculty, we are not paying enough attention to what we could do to be good allies.”
Federal grants, Carr says, are an opportunity for large-scale cooperation between the two administrations because of continuous interest in funds.
“I hope that we can just cross Compton,” Foster said. “That’s all it takes, just cross Compton or meet in the middle if necessary, just to bring the two universities together.”
While a small department, Foster says American Studies is “mighty” as it brings important and often unheard conversations, such as this crosscampus event, to the SLU community.
“If we really want to be people for others, we have to start at home and our home is right here across the street. We have to start opening up and step out of [our] bubble…We’re safe and they’re not…We need to let them know that [they’re] not alone,” Foster said.
SLU American Studies and Harris-Stowe panel discusses threats, opportunities for collaboration Department hopes this conversation will be the start of many more
on July 5, SSM Health announced that it officially assumed ownership of SLUCare Physicians Group from Saint Louis University. This agreement is an effort to improve Saint Louis’s healthcare network by formally combining the medical expertise and practice of the two groups. SSM Health, SLUCare Physician Group and Saint Louis University School of Medicine have partnered for decades to deliver top rated healthcare to the community.
Now, through fully integrating, the two groups hope to provide the community with more functionality and accessibility to care.
Three months into the merge, the results continue to unfold. According to the announcement, patients will experience improved access to healthcare in terms of accessibility to “highly specialized procedures”, “clinical trials” and “life-saving treatments.” The integration also includes an investment in the medical school to “expand clinical research,” “medical training,” and “education” across all of Saint Louis.
“In this early stage, we have not
seen obvious improved primary care access,” Dr. Christine Jacobs, Dean of SLU School of Medicine who has worked on the SLUCare and SSM Team, said.
Still, she said the historic partnership between the two organizations has left the citizens of Saint Louis hopeful for the future of their healthcare.
The relationship between the two groups extends back more than a century. In 1903 SSM Health’s founding congregation granted SLU School of Medicine students access to their hospital for education and training. After 30 years of a productive relationship (in which SLU’s School of Nursing was also established), SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital was opened on South Grand Blvd in 1933.
From 1933 to 2015, the hospital was sold to a variety of organizations, Tenet Health Corporation being one of largest. In a turn of events, SSM Health once again acquired the
By ULAA KUZIEZ News Editor
Charnell Peters’ boss describes her as an “academic unicorn,” a scholar who stands out as having unique research interests and talented teaching skills. Peters, is one of three new assistant professors who joined the Communication Department this fall at Saint Louis University.
She began studying communication as an undergraduate student and said she quickly fell in love with the field. Since then, she has been researching critical interpersonal and family communication, critical science and technology, and Black communication studies.
“It was so surprising to me that I could be in a class studying, reading textbooks, reading articles that are directly related to my everyday experience,” Peters said.
Her master’s thesis reflected this relevance. She explored racial and familial identity through original research on the Roberts Settlement, a pre-Civil War African American settlement founded by some of her family members in Indiana.
“I was able to share that research with the Board of Roberts Settlement, with the descendants at a homecoming that year and to stay connected with those folks,” Peters said. “There was a woman writing a play about the settlement, and she was able to use some of my research to formulate that creative endeavor.”
Despite being an integral part of her professional life, academic writing is not the only medium she practices. Peters is also a poet.
“I like the playfulness [of poetry]. It’s fun to be able to break rules and to not have that attached to more professional expectations,” Peters said.
She said she remembers watching hours of poetry videos on YouTube before composing her own. Though
she had no formal training, through practice, she gained the confidence to write and, eventually, publish.
Un-Becoming is her first published chapbook, a collection of poetry centering around “the reality of blackness in Middle America.”
“I love that collection because this was something that I could come home to. No matter how stressed or uncertain I was about the future, I could work on this,” Peters said. “I remain proud about that.”
After getting her masters from Bowling Green State University, she moved to Utah for her doctorate program at the University of Utah. Her new workplace is closer to Indiana where her family still lives, but Peters said she was excited to join SLU for another reason.
“I resonate with the Jesuit mission’s focus on social justice and focus on doing good in the world. I see my teaching as a way to do that,” Peters said.
The department’s search for new faculty members began in fall 2021. With over 100 candidates, applicants were narrowed down to semifinalists, which the search committee then interviewed.
By GABBY CHIODO Managing Editor
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, SLU students flooded into the Busch Student Center, anxiously waiting in line for the doors to a universitysponsored drag show to open.
At the same time, a small group of protesters stood at the intersection of Laclede and Grand Avenue. Their signs read “Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. Under no circumstances can they be approved” and “Sinful lifestyles such as LGBTQ etc. gravely offend God.” Students passing by demonstrated their disapproval of these messages and two female students kissed directly in front of the group.
All six of the non-SLU-affiliated protestors interviewed were led by a man who identified himself as a priest. He denied having parochial affiliation and declined to give a personal name. The self-identified priest stated, “We are here to uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church.” He and his group maintained that the event promoted a sinful lifestyle.
He also expressed his frustration with SLU’s support of the event. He states that the administration has ignored complaints from himself, a Catholic, and others. “Parents who pay for their children to go here have complained to the university. I don’t have enough money to get in the door.”
The group reached out to SLU College Republicans in hopes they would join in the protest. According to Carter Fortman, Chairman of the Missouri Federation of College Republicans and SLU sophomore, the information was passed along to its members but
most chose not to join the unidentified group.
Fortman claims that the issue he, and many members of his group, had with the drag show is centered around the inequality of representation for SLU conservatives in comparison to representation of SLU liberals. “We tried to bring speaker, Matt Walsh, who talks about defining a woman and we weren’t allowed,” Fortman said. Fortman is referencing SLU’s decision to relocate Matt Walsh, an American right-wing political commentator and author, to an off campus venue.
Fortman also stated that the SLU administration denied their request to host Elisha Kraus, conservative commentator, writer, and podcaster. “Elisha is very Christian, but she’s not inflammatory. So these things not being allowed to happen, that’s the real problem.”
Fortman also spoke with the Young American Foundation (YAF), a conservative youth activism organization that offers SLU College Republicans support, for an article written by a YAF staff member about the drag show being hosted on a Catholic Campus. The article, however, personally targeted Thomas Patterson, a SLU employee, for his involvement in hosting the drag show. The article included personal photos of Patterson and information on how to reach him but SLU administration has since taken down Patterson’s profile from the SLU website. Fortman claims this was not his intention when he spoke to a YAF representative about the article. “I think the main focus of the article should have been the drag show,” Fortman stated.
And yet, the drag show continued as planned. Students attending, approximately 300, vastly outnumbered the six lone protestors. The Wool Ballroom was transformed into a lively atmosphere with a long
(Abby Campbell / The University News)stage, spotlights, and upbeat music. Students buzzed with excitement, taking pictures and chatting loudly.
The show featured seven different entertainers, many from the local St. Louis area. Host and performer, Roxxy Malone, opened the show by setting ground rules that promote positivity and respect for the entertainers. Many of the costumes worn by performers were handmade with beads, jewels, and bright colors. They entered through curtains to songs sung by Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and a variety of other pop stars.
The show was interactive and a student-faculty competition transpired approximately halfway through. Faculty contestants featured Sarah Cunningham,Ph.D SLU’s Vice President of Student Development, and Katie Heiden, Ph.D a member of SLU’s School of Medicine. Students picked as contestants were student body President, Aric Hamilton, and sophomore, Emma Lercher.
To Lercher, the show was about more than just the free Fright Festival tickets she won. “I’ve been watching Drag Race [a reality show where drag queens compete against each other] since 2020. It honestly got me through quarantine. So now that this event is here at SLU I’m really happy,” she said.
The drag show was not just about bright colors and bright lights. The meaning goes much deeper for many celebrating National LGBTQ history month. “I think queer and drag history is mostly erased when it comes to talking about American history. So I think it’s really great that SLU is highlighting it with this event and I’m just really excited.” Lercher said.
Members of the Rainbow Alliance, a group that seeks to support members and allies of the queer community of SLU, echoed Lercher’s sentiment. “We’re so excited to have a big event that’s just a celebration of queer joy,”
executive board member of Rainbow Alliance and SLU junior, Abby Pribble stated.
While the performers’ energy certainly celebrated their identities, they also took time to address the events going on outside the Wool Ballroom. Specifically, Malone acknowledged the protestors standing on the street by saying, “This is no place for hate.” Malone closed the show by telling the audience to lead with love, even when others do not.
Malone has always believed in leading with love but claims it can be difficult at times. “What we do is not the social norm, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s honestly more protested than anything because it does mess with gender so much. And it’s a huge topic that the country is dealing with, are you binary? And we showcase that [gender] doesn’t exist and that’s hard for some people.”
Andy Whorehal, another performer, agrees that people’s aversion to drag comes from a place of fear. “I think a lot of people are afraid to not be normal but nobody is actually normal. It’s not necessarily normal to do drag but it’s fun and creative.”
For Whorehal, drag is also about selfexpression. “When I first saw a drag performer on stage, it was game over. I was like ‘Wow yeah this is what I want to do,’ and I’ve centered my whole life around it and it’s really increased my confidence and comfortability with myself,” he said, “It’s been lifechanging.”
Malone, however, loves drag for a different reason. “Drag, for me, is an escape from reality. My everyday persona is very quiet and reserved, but as soon as I put everything on, it’s like my super hero moment and I can conquer the world,” she stated.
Both Malone and Whorehal agree that drag gives them power, and others as well. “You’d be shocked by the number of people who protest us and then they experience it and they’re like ‘well maybe not.’”
“It changes your life for the better in so many ways,” Whorehal said.
Students were encouraged to chat and take pictures with performers after the show. Talk amongst SLU staff after the conclusion of the show indicated a possibility that the drag show may become an annual event.
There are several ways to honor dead celebrities. Though usually done by reminiscing on their accomplishments and legacy, it is also important to honor their hardships by shedding light on their experiences. While it is possible to be respectful of one’s trauma while still allowing them to maintain their survivor’s autonomy post-partum, Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde” does the opposite for Marilyn Monroe.
“Blonde” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and came to theaters and Netflix in the following weeks. The conveys the message that Monroe suffered immensely in the process of her stardom and carries the assumption that it is doing her a service by shedding this light. However, this assumption poses two problems, the first being that none of her depicted trauma is necessarily real. Based on a fictional biography of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, “Blonde” is a fictional adaptation before it can dare call itself a biopic. Therefore, this is no presentation of Monroe’s story, but rather a usage of her image for the sake of entertainment.
The second problem is even if the depicted
By DANIEL BERNAS General Managerabuse was real, it assumes Monroe would have appreciated her portrayal in an extremely vulnerable light. Ana de Armas’ portrayal is uncanny in her appearance and breathtaking in its range of emotion. However, the only one who should sign on to portrayals and retellings of their private life and the abuse they may have endured is the person who went through it themselves. It is both ignorant and exploitative to assume that Monroe would have liked to air her trauma on a worldwide stage. In a sense, “Blonde” is hardly more respectful to her than those who this film shows as Hollywood elites who didn’t treat Jean like a human capable of making her own decisions with her body and her image.
Even ignoring its ethical dilemmas,“Blonde” is ultimately blinded by its vision, or, maybe more accurately, lack thereof. What brings it down is its overindulgence and lack of narrative or artistic focus. While it could be argued that its scattered storytelling and shifting styles enhances the way Jean may have felt as she gradually lost her grip on herself and her loved ones, it ultimately makes for a script that does not allow the viewer to form an attachment with Jean. It seems Dominik felt the
(Ariana Magafas / The University News)
solution to this problem was to write a film so heavy-handed in its symbolism and one-dimensional in its suffering that it distracts from the actual storyline.
What should have been an intimate experience about a woman once branded “America’s Sweetheart” felt like periodic check-in with an old acquaintance. Even for such a long film to present the extent of Jean’s suffering at the range it is trying, and failing, to capture, it would have had to be either longer and more comprehensive or take an entirely different, more standard approach stylistically. While several scenes are capable of garnering an emotional response, it is often more effective for its content and subject matter than its writing. For this reason, de Armas is its saving grace, as she gives the film everything Dominik’s script couldn’t: genuine pain, complexity, and depth.
By the end, all that’s felt is that you’ve watched a woman suffer, and the source of her suffering was hand delivered and over-explained, begging the question on why it’s two hours and 46 minutes were spent delivering this same description, instead of properly exploring Jean and her psyche.
I"smell…[nostalgia].” On Sept. 30, 2022, Disney released “Hocus Pocus 2,” the sequel to one of the most renowned Halloween movies in the last 30 years. Mirroring the storyline of the original movie, “Hocus Pocus 2” retells the Sanderson sisters’ attempts to achieve eternal youth and beauty by stealing the souls of children. Meanwhile, a group of teenagers, who accidentally brought the sisters back to modern day Salem by lighting the black flame candle, try to stop the sisters from wreaking havoc on the town.
Many of the sisters’ quirky characteristics are continued in “Hocus Pocus 2,” including the calming circle, Mary’s crooked smile, Sarah’s obsession with the word “amok,” and their iconic walk. Some of these references to the first movie are more hidden, though. As eternal as the sisters themselves, the Easter eggs throughout this movie are limitless. Twisting classic pieces of the original movie with a modern approach, here are the top ten hidden references in “Hocus Pocus 2.”
When the sisters are in need of a ride on their quest for eternal youth and beauty, Winifred finds a broom, but Sarah and Mary are left to find their own rides. So, Sarah finds a Swiffer mop, and Mary puts robot vacuums on each of her feet. This scene
mirrors a scene from the original movie when Winifred takes the only available broom while Sarah rides a traditional mop and Mary rides a vacuum cleaner. The Swiffer mop and robot vacuum provide a more contemporary and playful approach to the scene, making it a relatable and humorous experience for viewers of all ages.
Gilbert’s impeccable memory Gilbert, a new character in the “Hocus Pocus 2” cast, is obsessed with the Sanderson sisters and even owns a magic shop in their old house. One night while closing his shop, Gilbert whistles “I Put a Spell on You” – the entrancing song sung by the sisters during the town’s adultonly-Halloween party to distract the town from their havoc-wreaking.
An homage to Thackery Binx “Hocus Pocus 2” begins with a scene of the witches’ past featuring young Winifred, Sarah, and Mary. In the scene, the sisters are exiled from their community, so they run to the woods. There, they meet Mother Witch, who gives them their treasured spell book. As Winifred looks through the book, she notes a transformation spell, which she used in the original movie to transform Thackery Binx into a black cat. Thackery helps the original teenagers defeat the sisters by showing them how the magical spell book works and helping them escape from the terror of the sisters. Thackery is further referenced
through Cobweb, Gilbert’s black cat. While Cobweb may not be able to talk like Thackery, he still aids in the defeat of the Sanderson sisters.
In “Hocus Pocus 2,” while chasing after Mayor Traske, the sisters enter a home and accidentally trigger a smart home device. Mary becomes intrigued by the “tiny woman” inside the device’s speaker, which mirrors a scene from the original movie when the sisters enter someone’s home and meet a man in a devil costume, played by Garry Marshall, who tells them he is going to get his wife, the “little woman.” Mary becomes excited by the idea of a “little woman,” saying she “sounds tasty.” Eventually, the all-powerful sisters are kicked out by the little woman who just wants to watch TV in her living room.
Yet another reference to a character from the original movie, the costume of Mother Witch closely resembles Dani’s Halloween costume. In the original “Hocus Pocus,” Dani was a fierce little girl who aided in defeating the Sanderson sisters by standing up to them for their antics to kidnap other children in the town. To honor her disposition in the sequel, Mother Witch dons a red dress with sun imagery, a black cape and a red and yellow scarf, just like Dani wore in the original.
In the original movie, Max and Dani’s mom, played by Stephanie Faracy, wears a Madonna costume at the town’s adult Halloween party. In “Hocus Pocus 2,” a woman in the same Madonna costume can be seen in the crowd of the town’s Halloween festival, drawing the audience to remember the original teenager’s parents who were entranced by the witches’ “I Put A Spell on You” song during the party. Because they were entranced, they could not help their kids defeat the sisters.
In the final scene, the sisters float in the air and Mary says her signature “bye, bye” before disintegrating, a line she also says at the end of the first “Hocus Pocus.” By recalling this classic line, the movie is wrapped up with a final bit of nostalgia before the sisters depart from the mortal world.
Are the Sanderson sisters really gone for good, though? Disney is known for including teasers in the credits of their movies, and “Hocus Pocus 2”is no exception. In the end of the movie, Cobweb is seen sitting next to a box labeled “B.F. #2.” Could this be a second black flame candle to bring the Sanderson sisters back yet again?
With so many hidden Easter eggs to uncover in “Hocus Pocus 2,” this movie provides an entertaining experience for all ages. The countless hints to the first movie evoke wonderful childhood nostalgia for “Hocus Pocus” fanatics, yet the movie is crafted so that it can also stand alone. For an iconic Halloween story that is sure to delight, check out “Hocus Pocus” and the new “Hocus Pocus 2!”
By ASHLYN JONES Contributor
the leaves are turning brown, everything is pumpkin-spiced and you have the uncontrollable urge to rewatch “Gilmore Girls:” it is almost Halloween. The one night a year you can pretend to be anyone you want— at least, almost anyone. This season, when mood-boarding your costume ideas, make sure to be aware of the potentially harmful social implications your ensemble might produce. Do not throw out all your ideas just yet, you can still have an amazing costume without being controversial. Listed below are the “do’s” and “don’ts” for costume ideas that will ensure everyone is comfortable and respected this Halloween.
DON’T: Dress up as Jeffrey Dahmer or any other notorious serial killers. With the rise of glorification and romanticization of murders, it is important to remember all of the people that were affected; and more importantly, the victims’ families. A victim’s trauma should not be part of your Halloween costume.
DO: Dress up as Patrick Bateman or any other fictional slayer. Key word: fictional. Since these characters did not harm real individuals, it is acceptable to dress up as them for Halloween. That being said, go buy your Jason masks and Freddy Krueger claws.
DON’T: Dress up as Moana, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Mulan, or Tiana (if you’re white). It’s not appropriate to dress up as anyone outside of your own culture or ethnicity, and especially do not change your skin color with cosmetics in order to look more like the character. This stands not only for Disney Princesses, but for any costume.
DO: Dress up as literally any other Disney Princess.
Due to colonization and ethnocentrism, white people will unfortunately always have a Halloween costume. There are a million costumes to choose from that are not forms of appropriation.
Examples of other Disney Princesses include: Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Elsa, Anna, Arial, Rapunzel, Aurora, or Merida.
DON’T: Dress up as a “Sexy School Girl.” Dressing up as a sexualized minor is inappropriate for several reasons. Putting on an outfit representing something a child would wear and calling it “sexy” is promoting the sexualization of children. These costumes range from “Sexy Girl Scout” all the way to “Sexy Minion.” It is disgusting and unbefitting to look at a costume a child would wear and think to yourself, “Yeah, that is hot.”
DO: Dress up as Catwoman or a “Sexy Witch.”
There are a plethora of sexy costumes one could choose from, if that is the route you’re wanting to go this Halloween season. If you are going to make a costume sexy, make sure it is made into something an adult would wear. Costumes you can make sexy include: pirate, vampire, 1920’s
DON’T: Dress up as Zombie Queen Elizabeth or a Dead David Bowie.
It is not innovative or acceptable to belittle the late Queen’s historical legacy of violent colonialism. Although you may want to honor one of your favorite idols, such a costume does not need to disrespectfully resemble or nod to someone’s death.
DO: Dress up as a ghoul or Freddie Mercury. Emphasis on “or.” Both costumes are great on their own, but there is no need to combine them. You should dress up as your favorite “The Walking Dead” character or Beatles member, but you should not combine them. It is never appropriate to glorify someone’s death and potentially controversial legacy.
DON’T: Dress as “Anna Rexia”, a “Free Mammogram Machine” or anything that uses a fat suit.
Yes, these are all real costumes. You shouldn’t wear an outfit that taunts or ridicules a marginalized group of people. These costumes may seem like “jokes,” but any related to homophobia, racism, transphobia, sexism, fatphobia, eating disorders, or sexual assault are blantantly insolent and impolite. If you would not say it to a friend’s face, o not wear it to a party.
DO: Dress up as Captain Underpants, Pitbull, or a Blueberry-Violet Beauregarde.
If you can not be funny without using someone else as the scapegoat of your humor, you should not be promoting such inconsiderate jokes.
Chances are, you are not funny. Dressing up as a beloved childhood character or the iconic Mr. Worldwide are great ways to be funny without making anyone feel individualized by being excluded or marginalized. Be creative, not destructive.
(Evie Nguyen / The University News)Have you ever felt invisible and forgotten? While it may be just a feeling for most, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” presents this feeling as someone’s reality. “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” is a fantasy and historical fiction book by V.E. Schwab that was published in October 2020 by Tor Books.
The basic premise of the book is that Addie LaRue spent her childhood longing for more than her ordinary life. With her personal disconnection from everything deemed traditional, Addie sought out the “old” gods, which led her to make the questionable transaction of trading her soul and ability to be remembered by people in exchange for freedom and immortality. Her family no longer has any memory of her, anyone she meets forgets her within seconds, any trace she leaves behind disappears, any belonging she tries to hold onto will mysteriously disappear as well, and she cannot even say her own name, for it has been forgotten as well. Although Addie LaRue is free to live her life unordinarily by seeing and doing everything she has ever dreamed of, she is often isolated and alone, except for a yearly visit from the beautiful demon she sold her soul to. That is until someone remembers her. Henry is the seemingly ordinary 30-something-year-old bookstore owner in New York City. For once in her life, someone does not forget Addie’s face and name. Henry remembers her and her name. After 300 years of being invisible, Henry makes her visible. For the first time in 300 years, Addie has hope. But there is something besides this anomaly that ties Addie to Henry. A mutual acquaintance with a certain beautiful demon and a curse meant to free both Addie and Henry instead has trapped them.
Despite the fact that Addie LaRue is meant to be forgotten, she is definitely a character that remains in your memory. She is a beautiful mess that the reader watches unravel as the book progresses. She is a girl doomed to live alone forever, but found company in someone other than the beautiful devil who cursed her. Readers that feel as though they have disappeared into the fringes of others’ lives, like Addie has, may find her story relatable.
V.E. Schwab writes in a beautifully descriptive, detailed style that makes the book read like a classic.
Her extensive vocabulary designs each chapter into a lovely piece of art. Each of the characters have a depth to them that makes them step off the page. Their backgrounds are so effortlessly weaved into the story, it is almost as if you were getting to know them in real life. While there is beauty in the illustrative descriptions of the book, it can be a disadvantage for those who do not have the imagination to paint the scenes in their minds. It is best to not focus too hard on picturing the scenes in your head, because I assure you the author will draw it out for you. The subtleties of the characters’ sexualities are something that the reading community has been striving towards for years. In a lot of media, we make a characters’ sexuality their whole personality to help meet the requirement of diversity and inclusion, which makes their sexuality being such a casual part of these characters’ personalities feel like a win.
This novel is intended for those who appreciate escapism. It is a wonderful option for someone who wants to read a fantasy fiction novel that does not dive too deep into the fantasy side. Also, for those wanting to read a novel, like one reads art, this is that book. Addie’s and the authors’ love for
art are intertwined within this novel; each section of chapters is preceded by a piece of artwork that is usually
(Ariana Magafas / The University News)My burnout and senioritis has been so bad. I have no motivation to go to classes and I can barely get any work done. How do I keep going?
Phewwww! I need this advice myself! I’m in my fourth year but still have time left because nothing here ever transfers. Becky needs a break man. What I do to survive mostly consists of leaning on my hobbies, caffeine, friends, and buying new highlighters. Reach out to the student support center and dean of students, too. You WILL make it! You are 7/8 of the way there!
I got a crush on a coworker. We get along very well but it feels weird if I ask her to hang outside of work. What should I do?
Simple: the Snapchat to soulmates pipeline. Snapchat is a gateway drug. This works for romantic interests and platonic ones.
STEP ONE: Ask for their Snapchat.
STEP TWO: Swipe up on their story occasionally. If they don’t post, add them to a private story where you post casually – the plot is thickening.
STEP THREE: Talk with them, ask them work related questions randomly, then work it in that you think they’re cool and you want to hang out sometime!
Or, you can just skip steps 1-3 and just ask them. Worst they can say is no!
My former best friend and I had a messy falling out a couple years ago. We had mutual friends and it seems that those friends still associate with her (my former best friend). It bothers me that they are still friends with her because our falling out was extremely hurtful to me and there was a lot of things that she did that I deem unforgivable. I don’t want to be the type of person to tell others who they can/can’t be friends with, but I’m not sure how else to approach the situation. Should I just continue to pretend that this doesn’t bother me so that there isn’t more drama?
I have been in this situation so many times, and as gut wrenching and terrible and awful as it is, it is best to let your friends figure out on their own if she is worth being friends with. Friendship with both of you isn’t mutually exclusive, and if your exbff tells them rumors about you, and they believe it, that’s on them. It sucks being the bigger person, but it will make you look (and feel) better in the long run. Don’t force people to respect you, it just never works.
My ex-boyfriend cheated on me. I can’t handle letting him go because I’m scared of change and he was so comfortable for me. How can I trust again and accept that he wouldn’t have done it if he truly loved me?
Change is horrifying! Right? But I have a golden question that I always ask my friends who are stuck in these situations: do you see yourself doing this with them for the rest of your life? The only thing worse than delaying the inevitable is the idea that you may actually be trapped with a shithead forever. I can’t stress enough how amazing a good breakup feels after you’ve been holding onto that dry, heavy rope for years. He doesn’t deserve you! Step into your healing era.
I like this guy but I don’t know if I can commit. He’s not seeing anyone else but I just don’t know if I can do the same. The idea of being in a relationship is great and I have been in a very long term one before but I just can’t imagine trusting someone like that again. What if I commit and get hurt? How do you even trust someone?
Is your gut telling you you’re not ready? The fact is, I could go into grand detail about how you could adapt to monogamy again. I could give you a step-by-step guide. But be honest, would you be ready to read and follow it? This is a question and a journey only you can guide yourself on, and if your gut is telling you that now isn’t the time, I say trust it. Additionally, I would be honest with him about that. He may be willing to cheer you on and heal alongside you until you’re ready.
My girlfriend keeps ordering me around and being emotionally manipulative, but it’s my first relationship and I’m scared I won’t be able to find someone better. Should I break up with her?
“I’m scared I won’t be able to find someone better,” – listen, totally valid fear, but answer me this: is being with someone who doesn’t treat you with compassion truly better than being with no one at all? You will find the right person even if it isn’t her. But does being single scare you? Do you think it’s possible you could feel fulfilled in your own company? I urge you to dive deep to find these answers – with or without this girlfriend. I don’t think you need my answer, I think by asking, you’re already on the right track.
October is “Occupy SLU” month, which began in 2014 with “six days of peaceful occupation at Saint Louis University’s campus clock tower that included daily teach-ins and community conversations, following the offcer-involved shootings of two African American young men, Occupy SLU ended with the adoption of the Clock Tower Accords, a 13-point agree ment committing Saint Louis University to actively strengthen diversity, inclusion and equity on campus.” according to SLU website.
(Paige Fann/The University News)
On October 12, 2022 in the CGC auditorium, SLU hosted a panel titled “Student Protest: Past, Present, and Future” led by Katrina Thompson Moore, Ph.D. They discussed what being a student activist means and how they started their activism journeys. Alisha Sonnier and Jonathan Pulphus were students at SLU during the frst Occupy SLU. Sonnier is the youngest member of the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis and Pulphus is a current St. Louis Peace Program Associate. Christopher Tinson, Ph.D. is the department chair of the African American Studies program at SLU. Aric Hamilton and Marquis Govan are both current students at SLU heavily in volved in activism. Hamilton serves as the SGA Student Body President and Govan is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. Gabrielle Mitchell-Bonds is a student at Rosati-Kain High School.
ALISHA SONNIER
National “Coming Out Day” was on October 11 and students participated in a variety of activities supporting the LGBTQ+ community. From creating personal stuffed animals to writing letters of support, students celebrated in different ways. The day focused on embracing the LGBTQ+ community including those who are not out.
By ABBY CAMPBELL Photography Editor
Last weekend Billikens volleyball hosted the Davidson Wildcats, winning their first match Friday night but losing in three sets Saturday afternoon. With the loss to the Billikens, the Wildcats are no longer undefeated in conference play, meaning the Loyola Chicago Ramblers are now top of the Atlantic 10. With a 13 and 8 record, the Billikens have the third best overall record in the conference, but due to a mediocre 5-4 conference record, they are currently fifth out of ten.
The Bills started the weekend slowly, losing their first set 15-25. However, head coach Kent Miller had the necessary words to turn it around in between the first and second sets worked however, as the Billikens won the set 2519 despite the Wildcats starting off the set with a 6-0 run.
Winning the second set gave the Billikens some much-needed momentum as they won the third and fourth sets 25-17 and 25-12. SLU’s win came with the help of 14 kills by junior outside hitter Emily Henken, who is 7th in the conference in kills per set at 3.04 and sixth in the conference in points per set at 3.57.
Other key contributors to Friday’s win were junior right side hitter Delaney Rice, junior middle blocker Jillian Mattingly, sophomore setter Kate Aupperle, junior setter Abby Lynn and junior libero Carlie Rodgers. Rice had 10 kills and 3 blocks in her 11.5 point performance; meanwhile Mattingly, who is third in the conference in hitting percentage at 34%, recorded a career high 10 blocks and six kills in her 11 points. The Billikens had 11 blocks all game and Mattingly was part of 10 of them. Aupperle is 6th in the conference in assists per
set at 6.79 and contributed 20 assists to SLU’s win on Friday alongside 19 from Lynn. Together the two made up almost 89% of SLU’s assists against Davidson. Rodgers contributed 4 assists as well, adding onto two service aces while helping anchor the Billikens’ defense with 21 of SLU’s 60 digs. Rodgers leads the conference in aces at 0.58 per set and is second in digs per set at4.83.Overall Saint Louis outperformed Davidson in five of the six major statistics, the sixth being a tie. The Bills had 63.5 points to Davidson’s 52, 46 kills to their 42, 11 blocks to their four, 44 assists to their 40, 60 digs to their 55 and matched their six aces with six of their own. The Wildcats were routed for the night but returned the following afternoon to challenge the Billikens for redemption.
The Billikens walked into Chaifetz Pavilion with confidence on Saturday afternoon, but the Wildcats prowled in with something strongerchips on their shoulders. The Billikens had just stripped them of their status as the top team in the Atlantic 10 and of their shot of going undefeated in conference play. They wanted revenge on the Billikens for their disappointing loss the night before and took it.
The Billikens beat them in four sets on Friday, and on Saturday the Wildcats won in three. The night prior they were outperformed in five of six statistical categories, and on Saturday they outperformed SLU in all six. Davidson’s Sola Omonije, a junior middle blocker, had 5 kills on Friday on a poor .059 hitting percentage. She stepped up on Saturday for a teamhigh of 10 kills on a .474 percentage to tie her season high in points with 11. Senior middle blocker Anela Davis leads the A10 in blocks at 1.5 per set but had only two on Friday night.
She tripled that number on Saturday with six blocks in one less set played. Also crucial to the Wildcat win were sophomore outside hitter Isabel Decker and junior libero Bella Brady. Decker, who is eighth in the conference in points at 3.49 per set, led the Wildcats in points in both matches with 12 points
on Friday and 11.5 on Saturday. Decker had just as many kills with two fewer errors, leading to a hitting percentage of .143 compared to the previous night’s .067. Decker also stepped up defensively, rising up for a career high of 3 blocks. Brady and Rodgers anchor the two best defenses in the Atlantic 10. Brady’s Wildcats allow an opponent hitting percentage of only .161 and she hits 5.17 digs per set, beating out Rodgers and the Billikens who host a second-best .18 opponent hitting percentage and Rodgers’ 4.83 digs per set. The Wildcats, led by Brady, won the battle for best defense in four of the weekend’s seven sets.
The Billikens felt the absence of two of their most prominent offensive options this weekend, as sophomore right side hitter Mak Hill and freshman outside hitter Irmak Gokcen played a combined three sets all weekend, contributing a total of two points. Hill averages the second most points per set on the team at 2.78 and Gokcen is second in the conference only to her teammate Rodgers in aces per set at 0.53. No other players in the conference average more than 0.5 aces per set.
The Billikens had as many kills as errors on Saturday, contrasting Friday’s hitting percentage of .211. Coach Miller will need to make corrections as he and the Bills enter the final third of the regular season. After being upset by eventual finalists, Fordham, in the first round of last year’s tournament, Miller knows that seeding is not everything come the postseason and that, if he needs to, he can make adjustments while he still has time.
The remainder of the schedule is entirely conference opponents and could include SLU’s matchup in the bracket. The Billikens are on pace to win five of their final nine matches, which would give them a final record of 18 and 12 overall and 10 and 8 in conference play. Next weekend’s series is against the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, who recently beat defending conference champions Dayton in four sets and have an identical conference record to SLU. That series could be a strong indicator of SLU’s ceiling this season.
sports
after a shock ending to the season for the Cardinals last year, the team got a new manager and long time legend back, Albert Pujols. After the Redbirds won the World Series in 2011, Pujols signed a huge ten-year-deal with the Angels. This was unfortunate for Cardinal fans, given that Pu jols was a 9x all-star and 3-time MVP. He did not produce the same results for the Angels, batting only 0.256 per ten pitches. With the Cardinals, Pujols had only one season with a less than 0.300 batting average.
Because of his poor results, he was re leased from the Angels in early July 2021. He then went to play with the Dodgers for the rest of the season, signing a contract that ended immediately after the season. After that season people wondered where he would sign next. The Cardinals hoped he would re turn home. With the National League having changed its standards to allow designated hitters for the first time, Pujols only played designated hitter rather than first baseman with the Angels. So the Cardinals signed a deal with the Dodgers, bringing Pujols back home for his final year of baseball.
After signing a one-year deal with the team to round out his career, Yadier Molina, long time catcher for the Cardinals since 2004, also said this would be his last year.
Adam Wainwright, starter since 2006, was also thought to be ready to retire after his illustri ous career, but this was never confirmed by Wainwright himself.
The preseason Cardinals looked pretty good, but the question of who would be the starting pitcher remained.
Jack Flaherty was injured and J.A Happ and John Lester both announced their retirement after the end of the previous season.
Thankfully though, the Cardi nals also signed Stephen Matz, a solid pitcher for the Blue Jays, in 2021. When opening day came around in April, fans in Busch Stadium went crazy when they saw Pujols back in a Cardinals uniform. When Pujols hit his first homer, the back of Busch stadium was electric. The crowd at Busch would return to their feet
By JONAH TOLBERT Staff Writerfor the remainder of the season every time Pujols stepped up to the plate.
Their pitching was not great with Flaherty coming back for two weeks in June and getting immediately injured again. Stephen Matz also got injured in late July and Wainwright, although pitching well, was not having the best season of his career. The batting was sometimes great, sometimes nonexistent. As the Cardinals and Brewers battled for the first spot in their division, each was eligible for a wild card spot.
In 2021, the MLB developed new rules where in the top three division winners advance to the playoffs with the top two division winners getting a bye to the division league series. The new rules developed state that the division leader who does not get a bye will host all three games and play the last place wild card after the other two wild card teams play each other.
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt was having a pretty good season, but following August 2022, his average changed. Goldschmidt led the league in batting average. Cards fans were also acutely aware that Pujols needed 22 homers in this sea son to get 700 home runs, which he had done al most every year until 2019. As Pujols was getting closer to 700, he got his 697 home run, passing Alex Rodriguez’s home run total, in Pittsburgh. Then he got his 698 back at Busch, and in LA, he got his 699 and 700 on the same night! Only three other guys have accomplished the same feat, Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth. Pujols was not the only athlete working to
make history, with Aaron Judge trying to get the American League record in single-season home runs as well. Pujols then hit his 701 at Busch, ending with 702 on his last game for the regular season. Cardinals manager, Oliver Marmol, took Yadi, Wainwright, and Pujols out at the same time leading to a standing ovation from Cardinals fans.
Another historic moment for the Cardinals in mid-September was when Molina and Wain wright got the all-time battery record by getting 328 starts as a battery duo, beating the previous record of 325. Then Pujols also beat Babe Ruth’s record to become the individual with the second most RBIs in MLB history by getting his 703rd homer and last regular season homer.
During the playoffs, all three games were held in St. Louis, with Quantina on the mound for game one. After an uneventful game, the score ended in a 6-2 final. Injury and a lack of offense took the Cards out of contention for the playoffs against the Phillies. The next day was even more heartbreaking, when at the top of the second inning Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer. Thank fully, Miles Mioklas pitched a good game with Montgomery pitching well as a backup. While the Cardinals would lose to the Phillies 2-0, Molina and Puljos both had a hit on their last career at-bats. The final also spurred the end of their career.
While the outcome of this season was certainly disappointing, given the momentum the Cardinals had gained throughout August, there is hope for next year. The Cardinals have some young and rising stars with even more potential for trades during the period of free agency. One thing is for sure; however, the Cardinals will like ly never see a trio of legends like Yadier Molina, Albert Puljos and Adam Wainwright again.
Athlete, Sydney Altemose, writes about the incovneince created by construction on the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center. Read more by scanning the QR code!
“The intention of the O’Laughlin Family Champion’s Center is to serve all student-athletes at SLU, which is why the expectation extends to all student-athletes despite the mandate being enforced only on game days for men’s basketball.”
on Monday, Oct. 3, Sally Yates, a former deputy attorney general, released a report over 300 pages in length detailing a culture of sexual and verbal abuse of players in the National Womens Soccer League.
Per the document’s exposure, the league failed to address the events and punish the perpetrators.
The report comes less than a year after a string of sexual, verbal and emotional abuse allegations were made by dozens of players throughout the league. This resulted in six teams firing or forcing the resignation of five head coaches and a sixth team’s general manager. Coach Farid Benstiti of Seattle’s OL Reign, general manager Alyse LaHue from NJ/NY Gotham FC, Washington Spirit head coach Richie Burke, coach Christy Holly of Racing Louisville, North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley and Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames were all ousted in the span of five months. Not all of the details have been released regarding the reasoning for each termination, but the Yates Report sheds light on how multiple clubs protected offenders and built cultures of misogyny and abuse.
Adding to the harm of the situation is the league’s and individual clubs’ responses to these incidents or lack thereof. The ordeal began in September 2015, wherein initial reports of sexual harrassment that includedunsolicited pictures and sexual requests to players Meleana Shim and Sinnead Farrelly. The Portland Thorns investigated then-coach Paul Riley. While the club decided not to extend his contract as coach, they kept these allegations mostly private save for one interaction with Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue was informed about an allegation against Riley and while they chose not to hire him, they also chose to keep the reason confidential. When the Thorns announced Riley would not be their head coach in the following season, general manager Gavin Wilkinson publicly thanked Riley for his time with the team, and did not reveal that Riley had actually been fired from the organization. One of Riley’s accusers, Farrelly, was traded to the Boston Breakers a
month later, but Wilkinson denied that the trade was a response to Riley’s investigation. The Western New York Flash’s vice president Aaron Lines ended up contacting Wilkinson months later in January 2016, as Riley was a candidate for the Flash’s head coach position. The Yates Report reveals that Wilkinson informed Lines of the allegations, yetstill recommended hiring Riley, claiming the players were dissatisfied with Riley as a coach and intentionally put Riley into an unpleasant situation. Lines took Wilkinson’s advice and hired Riley, shortly before the team relocated to Raleigh as the North Carolina Courage. The club was relocated at the behest of new owner Stephen Malik, who reached out to Paulson prior to hiring Riley. Paulson neglected to inform Malik that Riley had been fired and underplayed his misconduct as improper judgment due to drinking. When Malik went to NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush for a copy of the 2015 investigation, Plush did not share details of the investigation. Malik hired Riley anyway. During Spring of 2021, Farrelly and Shim separately contacted the NWSL’s new commissioner Lisa Baird, requesting Riley be reinvestigated as they felt previous commissioner Blush had not addressed their concerns properly. Baird stated that she would not be reinvestigating as she felt the initial allegations were adequately investigated and that there was no need to investigate
further. It wasn’t until September 30, ,2021 that Shim and Farrelly made the commendable decision to make Riley’s actions against them public. Their stories proceeded to being published by The Athletic. Riley was fired later that day, and after Farrelly’s email exchange with Baird was released, Baird stepped down as commissioner of the league. Malik issued a statement that week that he had never been properly informed of Riley’s actions, only that there had been an investigation that had yielded nothing of note. Malik refused to state who had given him this information. For context, Paul Riley was accused of sexual harrassment and abuse of power in 2015 and after the investigation concluded he had committed multiple sexual misconduct violations, he continued to be a head coach in the league for six years. Not only was he still coaching, the Portland Thorns front office and NWSL commissioners continued to protect his reputation and career at every chance, regularly praising him and refusing to share details of and downplaying the findings of the investigation. Riley was only one of the offenders whose misdeeds are revealed in the Yates Report, but his story is similar to others. When a coach verbally, emotionally and/or sexually abuses multiple players, and when those players formally complained they were punished, either with reduced minutes in-game or removed from the team. The clubs refused to properly punish their coaches and enforced the harmful environment surrounding the players. Should the coach no longer be employed by the club, they would still be recommended to other clubs and their career would continue without interruption. Without the Yates Report it is likely that this pattern of abuse would have continued in the league, subjecting more women to lifelong trauma. Thanks to Yates, the NWSL Players Association has public support and documented accounts that it is using to establish a collective bargaining agreement that will better protect its players from mismanagement and poor coaching in the future.
(Evie Nguyen / The University News)
Rosati-Kain High School, an all-girls Catholic preparatory school, is located only five minutes away from SLU’s campus. Situated at the corner of Lindell and Newstead, it is across from the multi-million dollar new Cathedral, and just down the block from the Archbishop’s 11,000 square foot mansion, where he lives alone. Just a few weeks ago, Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski announced that the Archdiocese of St. Louis would be closing Rosati-Kain at the end of the year due to a lack of funds, which the Church might have had if they weren’t lobbying against abortion and gay marriage and lining their own pockets.
As the first high school in St. Louis to integrate in 1947, Rosati has always been commemorated for its history of diversity and inclusion. It boasts students from all religious, racial and economic backgrounds, many of whom receive financial assistance from the school. It is one of the few Catholic schools, and the only all-girls school, left within the city.
In addition to Rosati-Kain, the Archdiocese is also closing St. Mary’s, another historically diverse high school. Many speculate that the closing of schools has more to do with racism, classism and greed than funding and budgeting. Given the number of students on scholarships, the Archdiocese is unable to profit from Rosati and other low-income schools while the benefits of educating Black and low-income children do not seem to outweigh their avarice. Of the schools they have chosen to remain open, most are located in white, upper-middle-class, suburban neighborhoods and serve populations who are more likely able to afford to pay the full price of tuition. If these schools had been the ones to close, their student body would likely have
access to a well-funded public school district; something many Rosati students do not have access to.
When I attended Rosati only a few years ago, our differences were never barriers to forming a community and sisterhood. Unlike other private schools in the area, it never felt like an elitist institution, instead, it felt like home. I cherished the intimate school environment, as it allowed us all to become familiar and respectful towards each other. Our educators fostered the growth of those they taught, without ever undervaluing the strengths and talents already within us. It is rare to have teachers who go beyond what is required to serve their students with passion, integrity and compassion; it is even rarer to have a whole school filled with them.
Rosati-Kain is an institution where girls are raised to be future activists, leaders and reformers. They will go on to change the world, and in many ways, already are. Just recently, the girls rallied at the Cathedral to support their teachers in their efforts to achieve better teacher union rights. Soon after the news of the closure was released, they organized a protest to ask the Archbishop to save Rosati-Kain, which I attended. Dressed in school uniforms and other Rosati-Kain apparel, the girls rallied with signs while shouting school chants. Dozens of supporters honked as they drove past. The demonstration was scheduled around the time Rozanski would be attending a meeting (unrelated to closures) inside of our gym; he would have walked from the Cathedral to the gym where the girls planned to wait for him at the front entrance. He chose to enter through the side instead. He dared to close their home, but not to face them afterward.
At Rosati, service to one another and our community was of utmost importance. We were taught to strive
for change, never waver on our morals, choose what is right over what is allowed, build from the toil of those before us and practice the art of respectful protesting. A tenet of Rosati, just like SLU, has always been a positive change and social justice. With our aligned values, our institution must concern itself with the ones that serve younger generations. What the Archbishop has done in closing the school is not reflective of such values and service, and we must not ignore it. Without Rosati, our community will suffer. Not only does it prepare its students for college, but it also endows many with the opportunity to attend. It is a safe community for marginalized identities to gather and thrive while fostering their growth. Our city should have the type of person this school creates. It has formed the lives of many, and it should for years to come.
Right now, the future of Rosati-Kain is not decided. A meeting was held to discuss options for keeping the school open. The turnout was impressive; around 200 parents, teachers, alumnae and myself attended, which is more than the number of current students.
Some, like myself, had graduated only recently, while others attended decades ago. A woman sitting behind me at the meeting belonged to the class of 1965. She was never taught by any of the current administration or faculty, nor did she have any connection to the current students. Yet, she was still impacted by her time there, so much so that she would protest with her heart and soul to keep the school open. Like many other graduates, she still believes in the mission of RosatiKain, even to this day.
Rosati will need the support of the St. Louis community if it hopes to stay open. Like the protesting, worldchanging women Rosati asks us to be, they will not go without a fight for justice. On my last day of high school, a former teacher of mine offered up some departing wisdom; she hoped that if there was only one thing we took from our time at Rosati, it was that the world is a big place, with big problems; and we cannot solve them all. But if there is one place to start, it is in our neighborhoods. Rosati-Kain is my neighborhood, and it must be a part of SLU’s.
If you are into sneakers at all, some news from Nike might make your day. Nike enhanced their terms to restrict resellers and bots from buying sneakers. This could change the game for people who love sneakers but could not handle the struggle of buying through resale companies. As you may or may not know, gone are the days when you could buy Jordan sneakers in a Foot Locker, now it is just Air Force 1s and Blazers. I personally am what I like to call a “broke sneakerhead,” someone who loves sneakers but is too broke to buy them. This is because of resellers, people who have created businesses by buying new shoes from the brand itself and selling them independently at a massive markup to gain a profit. The struggle of attempting to buy sneakers from an overpriced resale app could be coming to a close; it is about time. The frustrations that come with paying $300 for a shoe that is retailed at $150 or waiting for a sneaker to drop just to get beat out by bots are ending. Could Nike finally be thinking about their regular customers?
The Wall Street Journal noticed this change first in Nike’s policy relating to its terms of sale. Complex, a popular sneaker and clothing brand, further breaks down these policies in an article they released after the announcement. Nike now has the right to charge restocking fees, refuse returns, deny access to stores, apply limits to purchase quantities and close accounts of suspected resellers. It even specifically states that it can cancel orders placed by bots. Average buyers
have been complaining about people reselling Nikes at an unreasonable cost, so it definitely leaves one wondering what took so long. Before this, people or companies like StockX or GOAT could buy sneakers in bulk quantities with the intention of reselling them for a profit. This resale game has taken over the world of sneakers because it’s the most common way to buy sneakers today. The kicker is that this is done without any sort of penalty. This left people like you and me without reasonable options. Imagine you have been waiting for your favorite sneaker to be listed online. The sneaker is to drop at noon, so you wait by your computer to ensure that you can hit the purchase button and finally get the sneaker of your dreams. When noon finally comes around and you click checkout, it says that they sold out within 30 seconds. This is because of programmed robots, bots for short, who are utilized by resellers to purchase these shoes in bulk the moment they drop. Now, people have no choice but to turn to resellers unless they can find a rare sneaker store that has it in stock. One could imagine the frustration.
Resellers obviously have not seen a problem with this (and clearly Nike has not either), taking a “you snooze you lose” approach. A quick look at social media shows us how fans of the reselling business really feel about the new Nike policy, and it is not positive. The comments under the post that Complex made
“Lmao how exactly will you be able to determine that if you can only buy 1 pair at a time?”
“How would they determine this, seems like another excuse to cancel random orders.”
“Nike should worry about quality control not people reselling their stuff.”
They do not have the right to be upset. Whether local or national, resellers need to understand the implications of their actions. To the reselling community, though, they are losing profits and business because beforehand they successfully were making Nike less of a monopoly company. To buyers, however, they are making it harder to buy shoes. In spite of this, Nike would not actually be losing any money with these restrictions. Reselling companies are making more profit off Nike shoes
going directly to Nike.
Though these new policies are exciting, we must not give Nike too much credit. These new restrictions are way overdue. For years, Nike sat idly by as complaints from sneaker fans about resellers started coming to the forefront. They did not question when one address would have a bulk order of sneakers delivered. They were not going to question large amounts of money going into their company, justified or not. Some speculate that they still are not going to change and that this is all words and no action. But I think that at least it is a start. I would love to be able to go back to a sneaker store and buy a rare pair of Jordans off the shelf, then walk out with them on my feet. There is nostalgia to that, and you know that you are getting your money’s worth. The unfortunate truth is that resellers will still find ways to make money; this will not stop them from doing what they do best. The goal, and my hope, is it will at least make it harder for them. These days,
(Paige Fann / The University News)As midterms approach, it is important to address an issue many college students struggle with: mental health. With the demands of heavy course loads and extracurriculars, it may seem like there is never enough time in the day. These factors, combined with additional stress from midterms, can cause a surge of tension and a decline in mental health. According to a Healthy Minds Study, during the 2020–2021 school year, over 60 percent of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, highlighting a 50 percent increase from 2013. Additionally, a study conducted by JAMA Network Open found that 53 percent of young adults who experienced a major depressive episode did not receive treatment.
Despite this crisis, there still remains a stigma around mental health. An article in World Psychiatry highlights stereotypes surrounding people with mental illness labeling them as weak, incompetent and attention-seeking.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental illness as “a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior.” This comes in the form of numerous mental health disorders, of which some are behavioral, cognitive, or mood related.
Often, people define mental health as depressive episodes, but more often than not, mental health struggles present themselves differently.
Problems sleeping, a loss of appetite, mood swings and detachment are all signs and symptoms of mental illness.
There is not one way that mental illness “looks” and as a society, we need to stop perpetuating these stereotypes.
Mental illness also does not stem from one cause. Many factors can influence the onset of mental health symptoms, for example, genetics, trauma and long-term exposure to stress. Stigmas surrounding treatment remain rampant as well. Many experience hesitation to go to therapy, often out of fear of
judgment. Others don’t want to admit they need help. There is also a common misconception that medication changes the way an individual acts. In reality, certain medication helps correct neurochemical imbalances. Therapy allows individuals to come to terms with their life experiences while creating room to positively cope with any emotions they may experience. In order to overcome this, society needs to change the dialogue around mental health, which starts with educating ourselves.
This academic year, SLU has shown commitment to student mental health by granting students days off. Upon canceling classes, the university organizes different events, such as yoga, for students to attend. Dropin counseling support is also made available throughout the day in various locations on campus. Despite these days being dedicated to self-care, they often don’t feel like relaxing days. Professors use these days to assign students more work in order to make up for the loss of a lecture day or use the day as a study day for an exam on the following day. These designated days aren’t truly respected for their worth as students spend the day focusing on schoolwork. In addition, while a day off in recognition of students is a start, it doesn’t address the root of the problem. A day off doesn’t address the mental struggles that are all too common in students or the lack of support that students receive in advocating for their mental well-being. As we approach a year since the tragic deaths of SLU students, our community continues to grieve the loss of these beloved classmates, peers and friends. We honor them by continuing to advocate for those with mental illness and by having open conversations.
On campus, we still haven’t seen the needed change we deserve. What we really need is a change in the dynamic of college culture. University students experience constant levels of stress highlighted by neverending assignments, tests and papers in
classes. Students never truly get a break until the semester ends. If a student misses a day of class, there are professors who won’t accept mental health as an excused absence. During long weekends and holiday breaks, students continue to have assignments. While it’s unreasonable to ask professors to stop assigning work, we need to shift the mindset of what college life should be. Students shouldn’t have to feel as though they constantly have something to work on and need to sacrifice an hour of sleep, a meal or their free time to be successful. Nor should students base their worth on their academic success.
There needs to be a balance between working and relaxing. This starts with the faculty and staff at SLU. Part of SLU’s identity is that of cura personalis which is educating and caring for the whole person: mind, body and soul.
Encouraging students to take time
(Rachel Zilligen / The University News)for themselves and actively giving them the chance to, even if it means reducing the reading for one night or extending one deadline would be helpful. Students shouldn’t fear speaking to their professors about extra help that would in turn benefit their mental health. Faculty and staff at SLU need to do more than offer words of sympathy and instead participate in conversations that address the needs of students. Providing students with necessary resources and doing what we can to support them as a community highlights a necessary shift we need to implement.
As we await further change on campus, we must continue to advocate for ourselves and others. I encourage everyone to listen to your bodies and your needs, check on your friends and find ways to cope with the stress of it all. Find the help you need because you matter.
There is a reason why being a loyal fan of the Cleveland Browns is worth 53.83 positive life points in the hit NBC series, “The Good Place.” No team, in the history of professional sports, has suffered more than The Mistake on the Lake. Such instances as The Fumble, The Drive and the team’s move to Baltimore under the regime of Art Modell have marred the image of this team for decades. Yet, people still flock to the stands to cheer on their favorite team, including yours truly. Recently, controversy struck when the team signed quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was accused of sexually harassing 26 massage therapists in the Houston area from 2019-2020. Now, fans find themselves stuck in the crosshairs of a moral dilemma.
In March 2021, the quarterback faced his first of 24 civil cases. With these allegations gaining notoriety amongst the public and in addition to various contract disputes, Watson did not play for the entirety of the 2021 season. The cases against him caused many teams to pursue him hesitantly; however, the Browns were not discouraged. They quickly signed him with a guaranteed 230 million dollar deal over the course of five years. On Oct. 13, 2022, two additional cases were made public, separate from the original 24. While their stories are closely related, the new plaintiffs are using separate attorneys through Universal Law Group. A schism occurred between many of the fans, one group so desperate for a win that they would do, or believe anything, another group that no longer considers themselves fans in protest and a third who attempts to still support the team (not financially), while disavowing Watson’s actions. At the time of writing, Watson is suspended until week eleven as well as serving a five million dollar fine and settling 23 of the 26 cases against him. He claims to be innocent throughout the controversy and agreed to settle in order to exonerate his name and the image of the team.
But the Watson saga highlights a much more pressing issue than just the Browns’ on field success. Rather, how do we come to terms with nostalgia and the negative aspects that are covered up when looking back?
Being a fan of the Browns has been an integral part of who I am. My dad buys season tickets and I always enjoy going with him to watch the games. It helped us bond over a common interest in the Browns. I’ve had
great memories at those games including attending the only winning game in the 2016 season and even many of the games in the 0-16 era.
With the signing of Watson, many fans, including myself, felt disaffected by the decision. Knowing that they are trash on the field is one thing, but knowing that they will throw away any semblance of moral integrity for a shot at winning stings more than any loss. To add insult to injury, a few fans have gravitated towards disgusting rhetoric and images of illegal t-shirts on social media. A majority of fans condemn these actions and the local media has reported extensively on it. I was horrified when I saw these images come to light and realized just how intrinsic protecting powerful men is to American culture.
What Watson is reported to have done is not novel to American society. Sexual assault and harassment have been, and still are, neglected. Until recently, almost all cases in the United States have been pushed to the side or never even mentioned. RAINN notes that out of 1,000 sexual assault cases, 310 of them are reported to the police and only 25 percent of the offenders will receive jail time. There must be a way to hold people, especially powerful men, accountable for their actions and create a culture that will not allow for such actions. This comes with hearing the stories of victims and not making accusatory remarks that victims are only in it for the money, which is not only disrespectful to them, but also an absurdly irrational, conjectural claim. With
no guarantee of winning the case and the expense of legal fees, fabricating this much evidence with most victims giving relatively similar accounts is much more than coincidental. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, between two and 10 percent of all cases are fraudulent. With 26 accusations against Watson, there is an incredibly low probability for such accusations to be forged. In light of the recent news of two more plaintiffs, people have been making disparaging comments, insinuating that they are just now accusing him because he is allowed in the Browns training facility. Sexual assault is traumatic and without the solidarity of our culture, it can be isolating. Now that there is national media coverage of the situation, some victims may see this as an opportunity to share their story and hopefully achieve justice from their offender.
Tradition should not be an excuse to belittle survivors’ accounts of sexual violence. When people are actively being harmed and villainized just for sharing their story crosses a moral line that must not be crossed. Lauren Baxley, one of the plaintiffs against settling, wrote in an article for “The Daily Beast” that “All non-consensual sexual acts are a violence, particularly when the predator far outweighs his victims in physical stature and influential power.” She explains that men, specifically those in power, must be held accountable for their actions so that further harm is not done to the victims. Whether it be athletes, actors or politicians, people’s actions have consequences and they should have to answer for them.
Browns Fans are not the victims here—not even close. The 26 women who have suffered at the hands of the Texans and Browns organizations, as well as Watson, do not come close to any of the negative press associated with the decision. Vitriolic comments are posted every day about the victims and seeing this man praised on a pedestal is demoralizing. We must do better to support and empower victims of sexual abuse, regardless of what attitudes may be present about the accused, so they have agency over their stories. This starts by listening to, empathizing with, and ensuring the people in these situations are not isolated. Through building solidarity with women who have endured this, only then can we engender a necessary attitude and cultural change that strives to achieve justice for victims.
(Evie Nguyen / The University News)
