feb 25 issue

The University News A Student Voice of Saint Louis University Since 1921 www.unewsonline.com

Vol. LXXXIX No. 20

Students vote to Come Together rather than Unite

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

Members of the Come Together ticket celebrate at their watch party on Feb. 22 after election results are announced, revealing their across-the-board victory for seats in next year’s Student Government Association.

Come Together ticket sweeps SGA executive board positions, uncontested Senate seats

By KELLEY DUNN News Editor

and JONATHAN ERNST News Editor

One thousand nine hundred and thirty-three students came together to vote for the leaders of next year’s Student Government Association on Monday, Feb. 22. With more than 70 percent of the total vote, the Come Together ticket trounced the Unite ticket to win all seven of the SGA Executive Board seats.

Cheers and hugs filled the Griesedieck Hall lobby as the final results came in at the Come Together watch party. President-elect Courtney Anvender stood up soon afterward to address the success of her ticket.

“I love you all so much, we just won all the positions—guys, we just came together,” Anvender said.

The events in the SGA office—the host of Unite’s watch party—were very different.

A hushed silence came over the then-candidates as the results were announced. Though the results were not as former-presidential candidate JP Johnson had hoped, he said that he felt relief that the elections were over and the results were known.

“It was all about the issues, we ran

because we believed in our platforms,” Johnson said. “[Anvender] will do a great job. … This just means I get to keep my hair and graduate in December.”

Anvender said that she would start the first part of her Pius XII Memorial Library initiative to gather student responses for a renovation proposal to be in “really good shape next semester.”

“I think the transition is going to be really smooth and that has a lot to do with how effective we can be next year to build on the progress from the Harriss Administration.”

Anvender said that her executive board has a “really good relationship” with the current executive board, and that these relationships will also be important for this transition.

Outgoing SGA President Michael Harriss said that he was pleased with the results, especially the voter turnout.

“I think the Activity Fee brings out a lot of people to vote,” he said.

Four hundred and thirty-eight more students voted in this election as compared to last year, and those elected were quick to take notice of this leap in voter turnout.

“I think the greatest accomplishment right now is the 1,900 votes—that was

Thursday, February 25, 2010

www.twitter.com/theunews

SGA Presidential Race Results

Activity Fee hike fails by 172 votes

By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor

In the wake of the Come Together ticket’s victory, a referendum to increase the Student Activity Fee failed to pass. The proposal to increase the fee by $10 was turned over to the student body to decide, and students elected to keep the fee the same by a vote of 1,009 to 837.

“The vote was closer than I thought,” outgoing Student Government Association President Michael Harriss said. “But it’s a clear sign that the student body wants us to be more fiscally responsible with the money than we have [been].”

If the Activity Fee increase had passed, it would have created a larger budget for SGA to allocate to Chartered Student Organizations.

“Passing the Student Activity Fee would have been beneficial to CSOs,” outgoing Financial Vice President Robert Moehle said. “But the problem I see is that [a student] pays $45 a semester to the activity. Each student gives a full semester to attend an event, and people give more than the Student Activity Fee to attend.”

Moehle expressed relief that the fee did not pass, as a limited budget puts more responsibility on CSOs and SGA to better dictate how the

25% 75%

Activity Fee Increase Referendum

55%

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

45%

See “Election” on Page 3

837

1,009

A replacement cross now stands in for the original one that was stolen. Some worry its disappearance could represent potential discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Symbolic LGBT cross vanished overnight

By NIHARIKA GOPARAJU Staff Writer

Demolition to displace Tucker-Tunnel residents

By ROBERTA SINGER Op/Ed Editor

A small community of homeless people live in the tunnel beneath Tucker Blvd.

During the winter, they keep a constant fire alive with wood scraps and empty food boxes.

If they let it die, they freeze; nighttime temperatures dip below 30 degrees, and in that makeshift encampment there are no space heaters or REI goose-down sleeping bags.

There is just the tin-drum fire and several warm bodies.

“Being homeless makes you live in conditions you can’t imagine,” Diane Starr, who has lived in the tunnel since August of 2009, said.

“You have to make sure you don’t freeze when you step out to go to the bathroom.”

Mama Cass, another matriarch of the tunnel community, agreed. It was a hard life.

Cass cooked a frozen hamburger on a steel grate over the drum fire. It was one of the food provisions delivered to them almost daily by local outreach programs; on Mondays, a bike club delivers hot meals; on Wednesdays, school groups put together lunches for them. Once, they got a delivery of flashlights and windup radios. Sometimes, they receive bedding.

The Tucker Tunnel is one of those havens that the homeless often flock to; it is located near agencies like the St. Patrick Center, and provides necessary shelter and privacy. People are always coming and going; according to Starr, some stay only days,

money they have is spent.

Cuts will be made to certain aspects of CSO funding, including travel and speaker qualifications. CSOs will be encouraged to look locally for speakers and events.

“We’re going to have to look at what we fund and what we don’t fund,” Harris said.

Despite the referendum vote, both Harris and Moehle said that they felt the logistics of the Activity Fee were effectively communicated to the student body.

“We had the Student Activity Fee Town Hall in the fall,” Moehle said. “We emailed the students and put up posters.

Every single student on campus was notified that this was taking place. It’s their responsibility to know these things.

We informed them the best we could.”

Harris said he wanted the voting to be more “organic,” meaning that he didn’t want students to be influenced by SGA agendas, and to vote how they really felt.

“It’s one of those things where [the students] know or they don’t,” Harris said.

“Those who were informed probably voted for the increase, but in the long run, it’s better we didn’t push the initiate on the students.”

“I feel like I’m spending enough money at this school as is,” freshman Allison Newburg said.

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

Diane Starr currently resides in the tunnel beneath Tucker Boulevard. Tucker Tunnel is home to a small community of homeless people, but will be torn down in the near future. others for weeks and months.

The flow picks up during the winter, when sleeping in parks becomes impossible.

Starr and Cass and their friends could take advantage of shelters, but even this has its own hardships. According to Cass, the shelters only al-

low you to stay the night, and make you leave with your belongings at seven or eight in the morning.

“Imagine having to carry a huge backpack full of [tightlypacked] things all over the See “Homeless” on Page 4

“The Original Cross Has Been Stolen.”

Many students are coming across these words as they pass the wooden cross near the Quad. Saint Louis University Campus Ministry started the project where different chartered student organizations sponsor a cross and then decorate it with a current issue that relates to the students. This specific cross belonged to Rainbow Alliance, an organization that fights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The topic that they had to parallel the cross with was condemned death.

“I decided to create a cross that depicted LGBTs who are condemned in the world today,” Finni Finocchiaro, member of Rainbow Alliance and designer of the cross, said.

“That’s why I based my design of the cross on three different ideas. The first is how, in some states like Uganda and Saudia Arabia, there is a state-sanctioned death penalty

for homosexuals. The second idea is based on the fact that there have been actual hate crimes against homosexuals, like Matthew Shepard in 1998, and Jorge Mercado in November 2009. Finally, the cross is based on the grief that people carry in their heart when people call them ‘gay.’”

This design of the cross consisted of bullet holes, baseball bats and even chains that covered it.

“The cross was very visually alarming, and it was meant to cause people to think outside of their comfort zones,” Juliana Hulee Heck, president of Rainbow Alliance, said. Unfortunately, Department of Public Safety thought that it was an action against the LGBT, and they took it down.”

Although initially removed

by DPS, the cross was replaced after a meeting with Rainbow Alliance, but, between the hours of 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday, it went missing again.

“There have been many See “Cross” on Page 4

Inside The University News »

News »

This SLU alumnus is a school principal by day and pep band director by night.

2

Opinion »

5

This week, the Ed-Board rues the failure of the Student Activity Fee increase.

Arts »

The Academy Award season is entering the home stretch.

7

Sports »

11

Men’s basketball tries for its seventh in a row in the A-10.

2

News

The University News

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Let Us Introduce You Mike Beczkala

Elementary school principal leads SLU pep band to musical harmony

SGA president scolds Senate

By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

During Billiken basketball games, elementary school principal Mike Beczkala can be found leading his band members. Beczkala leads the Billiken Band during the team’s home games, keeping spirits high and fans entertained.

By KAITLYN EDMISTON Contributor

Standing amid the crowd of Billiken fans, Mike Beczkala directs the Saint Louis University pep band, the Billiken Band, as it cheers on the men’s basketball team to victory.

A graduate of SLU with a doctorate in Education Administration, Beczkala is also the principal of Parkview Elementar y School in Columbia, Ill., a position he has held for the past 18 years.

Despite such a demanding day job, the struggle of work has yet to separate the alumnus from his alma mater, at which he has been a musical director almost since graduation.

“My whole life, I’ve been on this campus,” Beczkala said about SLU. “It is a very special place for me. I am blessed to have met countless outstanding individuals over the years.”

Since the formation of the SLU pep band 27 years ago, Beczkala has been its faithful director.

The student involvement in the Billiken Band has grown steadily over the years.

While 30 students played instruments the first year, Beczkala now has to limit the band to 100 members.

Composed primarily of undergraduate students, the pep band also includes graduate students and alumni in its ranks.

Many of the band’s participants remain involved throughout their time at SLU. “Students are very loyal and committed,” Beczkala said about his “family.”

The director believes there is something special about this year’s pep band, since the school spirit of the members is exceptionally high.

“I think SLU finally has a home court advantage,” he said. “The students have really stepped up and showed support [for the team].”

Beczkala has learned to “read the pulse of the game,” and to synchronize the band’s performance with the action to keep the crowd fired up.

Over the decades, the SLU

pep band has become a wellknown tradition within the city of St. Louis. Previously, the band has gained fame by playing for professional sports teams, including performing for the St. Louis Blues hockey team.

Of course, the band’s true loyalty remains with the Billikens.

The Billiken Band has performed at all of the men’s home basketball games, as well as at NIT, Conference and NCAA tournaments.

In addition, in years past, Beczkala and the pep band would travel with the men’s basketball team. The move to the Atlantic 10 Conference, however, has made traveling unfeasible for the student musicians.

The band meets every Wednesday evening for practice, and performs at every men’s basketball game, as well as at many of the women’s basketball games.

Although Beczkala never imagined he would be doing this for so many years, he said he still feels like “the luckiest guy in the world.”

The Feb. 24 Student Government Association meeting began with shuffling the agenda, bringing the allocation of spot-funding to the Asian American Association to the head of the meeting.

The AAA wants to bring the director and producer of a documentary about Vincent Chin to campus. AAA fundraised $500, but needed an additional $793 to bring the speaker There was some debate as to whether or not to give AAA the money, as the group did not include the speaker in its budget at the beginning of the year.

“They should look to make sure things like this are included in their annual budget,” John Cook School of

Business Senator Raza Rashid said.

After some deliberation about the importance of including speakers in annual funding, the bill was passed.

The Senate then moved on to discuss the bill to amend the association’s bylaws regarding the tracking of funding for Chartered Student Organizations, proposed by the Financial Vice President Robert Moehle.

“This is a good step,” College of Arts and Sciences Senator Kale Kponne said.

“But we need more details.”

A flurry of amendments were proposed to a particular point in the bill that stated: “Finance Committee’s findings on the level of success of the event will dictate to what extent SGA will continue to support the CSO in holding

the event.”

Most of the amendments dealt with the wording, but senators could not agree how best to approach the problem.

After deliberation, First Year Senator Chris Ackels interjected with a proposal to table the bill so that the senators could make it to the Billiken’s basketball game. The bill was tabled and the meeting adjourned early after frustrated words from SGA President Michael Harriss.

“We need to come prepared,” Harriss said. “Some of us are clearly reading these bills for the first time tonight.”

Harriss expressed annoyance that Senate didn’t seem to be make progress with the bills, and that a basketball game was more of a priority than the actual SGA meeting.

Cross: Rainbow replaces lost symbol Continued from Page 1

suspicions on who stole the cross—many have said that it could have been specifically targeted by a student, or it could have been the joke of a drunk student,” Heck said. “Regardless of who did it, the fact is that such a significant object that represents so many people was stolen ...

That’s why the issue needs attention.”

A new cross was placed near the Quad; it calls attention to the missing cross and states facts about hate crimes related to LGBT issues. The cross is not the only thing bringing attention to the LGBT community. Rainbow

Alliance is also conducting the All of Us Campaign to create an awareness for others, to show them they have a roll in the fight for equality.

“The All Us Campaign started last spring on the idea of three straight allies: myself, Carrie Bross and Katie Langley,” Thomas Bloom, vice president of Rainbow Alliance, said. “It is a straight ally-led initiative, where allies raise awareness to people who otherwise don’t have an investment in the issue.”

Its first event was the All of Us Campaign photo-shoot.

Straight allies signed a pledge saying they would fight for LGBT rights. Next, they posed for a picture that will

go on the poster that reads: “Let love in, be an ally.”

Junior Lauren Araujo participated in the photo-shoot, and helped conduct it.

“I dedicate a lot of my time for LGBT causes, and I don’t understand why you wouldn’t.”

Correction In the commentar y “Men’s soccer still playing waiting game,” members of the soccer team were allowed to speak to media.

The University News regrets the error.

News

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Election: New Senators chosen Continued from Page 1

huge,” Financial Vice President-elect T im Janczewski said. “It says a lot about Unite, as well: They put out a strong campaign and it was a very fair and open campaign process.”

Election Commissioner Samantha Morr said she thought the voter turnout was due to two legitimate and strong tickets. `”I think it went really well compared to last year,” Morr said.

Approximately twenty-five students attended the Come Together watch party; most of the candidates were standing, anxiously awaiting the results after the advertised announcement time of 8:15 p.m. passed.

Eleven minutes later, Morr and the Election Commission appeared on SLU-TV with the announcement. Loud claps and cheers accompanied the announcement of each winning candidate.

Harriss said he would encourage Anvender and her ticket to take a good look at their platform, focusing on three broad points.

“It may be oatmealish, but it can be heroic,” Harriss

said.

Student Organizations Vice President-elect Paul Paetow felt “relieved” after the announcement.

“I think relieved is a really good word for all the stress and hard work we put in. It is nice to know that it is over now, and that all the hard work and diligence paid off in the end,” Paetow said.

The entire executive board from the Come Together ticket admitted that they spent more than 40 hours a week on the campaign in the weeks leading up to Monday’s election.

“It was everything: the first thing you do [when you wake up] and the last thing before you go to sleep; you dream about it. I’d answer emails in my sleep,” Anvender said. “[Election day] was nice because everything was done … all we could do was have fun with it.”

Public Service Senator: Ben Stephan

Winning Senators:

Public Health Matthew Ryan

Arts and Sciences: Pauline Abijaoude, Chris Ackels, Patrick Grillot, Dennis Hannon, Eric Lampe, James Meiners, Madeleine Meiners College of Education and

SGA Executive Board results by the numbers

Commuter Senators: Joe Heneberr yEmma Johnson, Tina Mozelewski, Tara Ravindra, Andrew Stevens, Kasia Sullivan DeMattias Senator: Michael Cole Doisy College Senators: Libby Deiters, Kripa Sreepada, Alexandria Tampow Fusz Hall Senator: Caroline Rutledge John Cook School of Business Senators: Ashley Garcia, Tyler Sondag, Jeff Tiedeman Marchetti Towers Senator: Grant Podolski Parks College Senators: Meghan Moll, Krishi Peddada Senator:

School of Nursing Senator: Tara Siebenaller Village Apartments/Laclede Houses Senator: David T. Black

Come Together Unite

VP for Internal Affairs Murphy Vandenberg (1250) John Roper (432)

VP for Student Organizations Paul Paetow (1278) Katherine Anderson (432)

Financial VP Tim Janczewski (1226) David Armbrust (444)

Academic VP Katie Becherer (1234) Maxwell Jordan (452)

Diversity/Social Justice VP Oscar Vazquez (1159) Lorenzo Herman (504)

VP for International Affairs Adam Jin (1122) Heyun Fan (582) 300

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News

The University News

St. Louis welcomes Obama for fundraiser

By SEAN WORLEY Associate News Editor

He won’t be arriving as a United States Senator, he won’t be throwing the first pitch at the All-Stars game and he definitely won’t be traveling without style the next time he arrives in St. Louis.

On the contrary, President Barack Obama will be arriving in the one of the classiest modes of transportation, and he will be here to support a fellow Democrat.

“The White House confirms that President Obama will be in St. Louis on March 10,” Shin Inouye, director of Specialty Media for the White House Office of Media Affairs, said.

Traveling via Air Force One, Obama will be attending a fundraiser event for Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.

Though she is not up for reelection as a United States Senator until 2012, McCaskill

is beginning to start the fundraising process early.

An official location for the fundraising event has not yet been disclosed, but it has been rumored that the Chaifetz Arena is a venue of interest.

Calls and emails from The University News to McCaskill’s office have gone unreturned in order to confirm or deny this rumor. However, the Chaifetz event schedule has nothing planned for March 10.

Whether or not the president comes to Saint Louis University, College Democrats Vice President Thomas Bloom is anticipating the mid-March arrival.

“It’s exciting, but we don’t know how involved we will be,” Bloom said.

Bloom also stated that College Democrats is working with people in order to see how viable it would be for members of the organization to volunteer for the event.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Owl decoy tries to scare off crows

Photos by Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

(Above) The crow population has caused concern on SLU’s campus, causing Facilities to take action. (right) Two owl decoys have been placed on campus in hopes of scaring away the rapidly growing population of crows.

Homeless: Student works to raise homeless awareness Continued from Page 1

city all day,” Cass said. “It’s hard to get any kind of assistance [or job] when you have that much stuff to carry.”

It is also difficult for Cass and Starr to get into rehabilitation programs. Both women are from Illinois, and these programs require a 90-day residency in order to participate in them.

For someone who is coming to St. Louis already homeless, that rule is a Catch-22: They can’t establish residency without getting into a program, but they can’t get into a program without residency.

So they live in the tunnel, at least for now. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, the city plans to fill in the space to reinforce the street above, which is in danger of collapsing.

To compensate for destroying their home, the city is working on getting all of the denizens into permanent housing by linking them to various private organizations around the city.

However, Starr and Cass have little hope that this will actually happen.

The only people thus far to be relocated were already involved in resettlement programs, and the city has not yet moved anyone else, though it has already begun to send forklifts and surveyors into the tunnel.

Even if the city does pull

through, Starr wants more to be done.

“It’s sad that only a handful of us have found safety, sad that only a handful have found peace of mind,” Starr said. “It shouldn’t just be the Tucker Family that gets housing, it should be everybody.

We’re no different from [all the other homeless], except for the publicity.”

Since becoming homeless, Starr has become keenly aware of the plights of the needy. She has met many veterans who have been denied basic assistance, despite having served their country… [people] who “had no control over going to war and now have injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder.” Starr has known shelters to turn out a man having a seizure because he was a liability for them.

She has seen people come and go from the camps, drug addicts that need a space to sober up, immigrants waiting for visas and work permits, all the men and women who, through some circumstance or another, find themselves on the streets. Anyone, she said, could end up homeless.

“You can never tell what is going to happen. A lot of bad things happen to good people.”

Starr laments the stereotype against homeless people that they are lazy; Starr herself can’t get work because she is disabled, and she said her dignity has never been

lower than what it is now. She said being homeless makes you feel worthless, dehumanized.

Owen Griffith, a senior in the School of Social Work, makes a point to befriend the homeless like those in the Tucker Tunnel.

“In America, it’s hard to find a population more stigmatized than the homeless,” he said. “People have a tendency to look down upon them.”

Griffith criticized the way most students at SLU—and people in general—treat the homeless. He also criticized how most hurriedly look away when they see homeless on benches or doorways. To improve relations, he urges students to put themselves in situations that are outside their comfort zones, to take the effort to talk to people to ask them how they are doing.

“No matter why a person is homeless, they are still a human being,” he said.

Back under Tucker, Starr has moved from the inner depths to the mouth of the tunnel in anticipation of the construction; farther back, contractors are already mapping out the area.

Starr likes this change— she can see the sunlight now, can see the sky from the center of the space.

Cass just finished redecorating her living room area; now, the walls are colorful green and blue tarps strung

together with even brighter fabrics. Chairs settle around the fire pit. A black-and-white cat they’ve adopted wanders around absentmindedly.

They crack jokes. Cass talks about playing Twenty Questions until late at night and sharing a beer between the five or six residents who remain. Starr kids about how the men have such an easier time living on the street because they can go to the bathroom anywhere, whereas for women, the labor is much more involved.

“You need a sense of humor to get through,” Starr said.

It’s not really all upbeat.

They get depressed. “It’s hard to go anywhere because of the cold,” Starr said, so she mostly just stays inside.

“Sometimes, it’s real hard to keep your spirits up.”

Starr just doesn’t see why they have to bear the weight they do. “We live in the world’s wealthiest country,” she said.

“We have so many resources.

So why do we have so many homeless?”

In an act of advocacy, Starr has begun to speak out about the issue. She wants to take her experiences of being homeless and use them to demand more rights and more aid. She will even speak at SLU as part of Homeless Awareness Week on April 8 at 7 p.m. in the basement of St. Francis Xavier College Church. Students can come to hear her story then.

Opinion

5 Thursday February 25, 2010

Talk to us: call Roberta Singer 314.977.2812, or e-mail oped.unews@gmail.com UNEWSONLINE.COM

The University News

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The University News reserves the right not to publish any letters that are deemed intentionally and/or inappropriately inflammatory, more than the 300word limit or unsigned by the original author. The following are letters and/ or website comments. Because the identities of website posters cannot be verified, all website comments should be treated as anonymous.

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of the week

“

We live in the world’s most wealthy countr y. We have so many resources.

So why do we have so many homeless?”

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Letters to the editor

--Michael Finocchiaro, sophomore, school of Education and Public Service

Philosophy Club offers chance to debate issues In response to the Editorial Board’s suggestion that Student Government Association candidates take a cue from philosophy to help inform their politics may we suggest they continue to support and perhaps join Saint Louis University’s Philosophy Club.

All majors, minors and lovers of wisdom are welcome to attend our weekly meeting held at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at Laclede Street Bar & Grill. If Platonism is the philosophy of choice of the Editorial Board, then we are happy to hear it. After all Plato said “philosophers [must] become kings… or those now called kings [must]… genuinely and adequately philosophize” (The Republic, 5.473d).

--The Philosophy Club Executive Board

“Freedom of the press—print, online and broadcast—is a basic right in a democratic society and is valuable in promoting the development of students as socially responsible persons ... The University News is a student voice, not the student voice. The views of The University News are the expressions of the students involved ... If [The University News] can represent a point of view around which discussion may develop, it serves a legitimate and needed purpose.”

From The University News’ Charter The University News is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, the Student Press Law Center, the College Media Advisers and the Missouri College Media Association, a division of the Missouri Press Association.

See Page 1.

[We don’t live in] the America we grew up reading about in histor y books. The songs speak to that, and to where we are as youth.

Loss of Rainbow Alliance cross appalls its creator With my hands I made the first station of the Living Cross for Rainbow Alliance. It was more than just two pieces of wood screwed together. I started at nine in the morning, and by the time I was finished, it was 4:30 in the afternoon. The following Monday I rode in the back of a snow-filled golf cart holding on to that cross and brought it to Campus Ministry.

On Saturday the 20th, I woke up to the news that the cross I had designed, built and poured time, love and passion into had been stolen the night before.

Rainbow Alliance’s cross had lived one week exactly. Then, someone ripped it from the ground and stole it away from us.

This cross was a tool to bring Christ’s love onto Saint Louis University’s campus. It showed how we as a world, nation and campus condemn lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to death and suffering, and through this exposure, it called us to be beacons of love, to eradicate the violence that covered it. I beat two pieces of wood. I wrote words of hate on them. I assembled them into a cross.

This may bother us as a community, but the same and worse things happen to living, breathing, feeling people every day. I do not know the exact intentions of the person who stole our cross. I hope whoever it was realizes that no matter what any person does and can do, the fact remains that gay people exist. Not only that, but they have as much claim to Jesus Christ and salvation as everyone else does.

Stealing our cross will not silence me. One could even say that the statement your theft sends about the hate and ignorance of the world gives my work more voice than I, as a single person, could infuse in it. I want to tell you, whomever you are, that I forgive you.

More than that, I love you. Because I love you, I would like you to remember two things. You are a beloved child of God; who and what you are is infinitely good and precious. And the person sitting next to you is, too. That includes me, the artist of the cross you stole.

”

--Diane Starr, homeless resident of Tucker Tunnel

Rachel Mezinis/Illustrator

Editorials Editorials are opinion pieces written by the Editorial Board of The University News.

The unsigned editorials printed in this space represent the opinion of The University News. Commentaries and Letters to the Editor represent the opinions of the signed authors but do not necessarily represent the opinions of The University News.

St. Louis must care for its homeless The Tucker Tunnel is about to be filled in and the camps of the homeless who live under it will be destroyed. And although St. Louis City has promised to give housing to those who live under the Tucker Tunnel, both the residents of the tunnel and those who have worked with them are not hopeful that the city will actually come through with its promise.

It isn’t even as if the city has dished out its own cash to resettle them. They are working with various charities to coordinate housing arrangements, but this process has been slow and the only ones to be aided so far had already been involved with one of the organizations. The majority of the denizens are still unconnected with services and wait in a kind of limbo for assistance.

Some would say that it isn’t the city’s job to relocate homeless who don’t have a claim to the land, anyway. But it is, to a certain degree.

Just because people exist outside the system doesn’t mean they aren’t deserving of services; St. Louis should be working hard all the time to alleviate the problem of homelessness, not only when publicity shines its light on the plights of several.

According to St. Louis City’s website, the

only stand-out initiative targeted at the homeless that the actual government has is the Continuum of Care, a project that works to coordinate the hands of the various private organizations. Other than that, homeless care is the work of church groups and independent charities.

It looks even worse that the city has dumped development of the north side onto businessman Paul McKee, who, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, plans to raze the historic neighborhoods and some newly acquired homes in order to engage in a massive redevelopment scheme that he claims will build houses and businesses but in reality will either fail or result in another gentrified St. Louis neighborhood. All of this will further exacerbate the problem of homelessness by creating more instability and driving resources away from programs targeted at helping the needy.

A recent article in the Suburban Journal counted the city’s homeless population at 1,350. That is too many people on the streets.

St. Louis needs to take responsibility for all of its people, both those who have homes and those who don’t.

-- Michael James, electric guitarist and singer of band Flashbulb Fires.

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I think the greatest accomplishment right now is the nineteen hundred votes. That says a lot about Unite as well; they put out a strong campaign.

-- Tim Janczewski, Financial Vice President-elect, on the SGA elections

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editor-in-chief KAT PATKE eic.unews@gmail.com News Editors KELLEY DUNN Jonathan Ernst Assoc. News Editors Sean Worley Kristen Miano slunews@gmail.com op/ed editor ROBERTA SINGER oped.unews@gmail.com

Arts editor Will Holston Assoc. Arts editor Ashley Jones arts.unews@gmail.com Sports editor BOBBY SCHINDLER sports.unews@gmail.com photo editor Ryan Giacomino Assoc. photo editor Noah Berman photo.unews@gmail.com

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See Page 1.

Web Poll:

Posted below are the results from the last issue’s web poll on The University News’ website. Be sure to check our website this week for our next exciting poll: What really goes on in the empty dorms over Spring Break? www.unewsonline.com

What exotic restaurant should take Iggy’s place?

0 percent: A restaurant specializing in crow meat

Activity Fee fails, CSOs will suffer We understand that students frown upon ferent. It would have given money directly two fee increases in such a short time to the students in Chartered Student span. Just last month, Student Government Organizations. It would have allowed for Organization voted in favor of the Wellness the creation of new CSOs and the upkeep Fee, $40/semester that will support the main- of existing ones, a buffer desperately tenance of Simon Recreation Center, as well needed as the student population rises as fund other student and the amount of health initiatives. And CSOs increase. then, in Monday’s There wouldn’t election, we were have been any ambi[The student activity fee] guity as to where the given the option to increase the activity would have given money money from this fee fee by $10. was going. directly to the students and increase The student With increased fundbody (or those who allowed for the creation ing to CSOs, members voted, anyway) said have used the of new Chartered Student could no. Were two fees money for excursions, too much? It does for administrative Organizations. feel like we are costs, for advocacy of constantly being their issues. It would asked to increase have been theirs. our payment to the Unfortunately, the University, and perhaps students saw “fee” Activity Fee increase didn’t pass. CSOs as a red flag word that they would vote will be left to deal with stingy funds, or down to matter what it was going toward. forced to hold bake sales to sustain their Perhaps students were—and rightfully mission. Perhaps when funds run dr y, so—plain burnt out on giving dollar after when students feel the sting of decaying dollar to our University without really see- organizations, they will decide that it was ing the manifestation of that investment. necessar y. After all, there is always next However, the Student Activity Fee is dif- year.

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See Page 7.

8 percent: McBiondi’s

11 percent: Iggy’s 2

22 percent: Another Cupcakery 30 percent: Father Biondi strolling around campus (oh, my!)

30 percent: A “Bluth’s Frozen Banana Stand,” à la Arrested Development

33 percent: Six more weeks of 30 percent: Anything, as long as it arguing about health care takes Flex 0

5

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percent of the vote

chief copy editor MELANIE MORIARTY Assoc. copy editor Tim Pulisetty copy.unews@gmail.com

Sales Manager Andrew Zerante ads.unews@gmail.com

general manager peter zagotta ads.unews@gmail.com

Adviser Jason L. Young jyoung42@slu.edu

Chief Ad Designer Natalie Tjaden ads.unews@gmail.com

Senior Account Exec.

Michael Breheny ads.unews@gmail.com

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

6

Opinion

The University News

Bipartisanship necessary for real progress 6 -0.

Sixty. The magic number.

During the 2008 election cycle, this was the number on the Commentary tip of every progressive liberal’s tongue.

For those watching any of the coverage throughout the year, it seemed as if the Democrats’ insatiable lust Jacqueline Fuqua for acquiring 60 Senate seats permeated every segment and sound byte.

With Al Franken’s win (D-Minn.), and Arlen Specter’s walk across the aisle (D-Pa.), the Democrats controlled Congress for the first time since Clinton and the “magic number” became a reality.

For those unaware of the implications, having 60 party members within Senate makes the ability to filibuster exponentially easier. Requiring a vote of 60 to “kill” a filibuster would also require the Democrats to be in unanimous agreement when a vote is called—a feat in and of itself.

Nonetheless, holding 60 seats, a super majority, perfectly framed the Democratic Party for imposing President Barack Obama’s campaign promise of eliminating bureaucracy from Washington. While riding the national high of Obama’s victory and the romanticized ideology of change, politicians appeared genuine about righting the wrongs of partisan politics.

Chalk it up to the widely unanticipated recession, or any number of other factors, but partisan politics appear alive and well. In fact, it was only months ago that the Republican Party was critiqued as overrun by increasing polarization and lack of

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[Our country] may be sinking...because of the disharmony between and within our political parties.

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unity. Thus, based on the proportions in Congress, an administration devoted to social reform and a fragmented opposition, one would expect the Democratic Party to be stronger than ever in policy and in spirit.

Wrong. Despite each of these weighty advantages, they are struggling right alongside their Republican counterparts.

The latest blow comes with Senator Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and his denouncement of Congressional dealings. He announced on Feb. 15 that he will not be running for reelection in the upcoming cycle, and he identified partisan politics as an overwhelming factor in his decision.

His statement that there is “too much partisanship and not enough progress” only begins to address Congress’s missteps. Our political system and its crew of politicians are in unprecedented and rough waters. Tragically, it appears that we may be sinking, not only under the weight of our overly ambitious policy overhauls, but under the disharmony between and within our political parties.

I commend Bayh’s courage and honesty. Throughout the ranks of the Democratic Party I hope that he is hailed as a visionary trendsetter, rather than a faint-hearted dissenter.

Bayh sees politics and Congress as they should be functioning, rather than how they currently are. Even though he has chosen to halt his political career, he serves as a necessary reminder for other politicians.

Officials need to be aware that they are not only held accountable by their constituents, but also by their Congressional peers.

Hopefully Bayh’s criticisms of Congress and partisan politics will make it more difficult for politicians to peddle the predictable campaign promises of years past. Truth be told, Congress isn’t fighting to eliminate partisan politics, or even giving it priority status. Today, the focus on eliminating bureaucracy, voiced in the 2008 elections, seems a distant memory.

Our attention has drifted and now rests elsewhere. More than half of the Senate seats are still held by Democrats. With this year’s elections fast approaching, there exists little time for them to take advantage of an opportunity they have thus far squandered. The Democratic drive for a mere number has helped intensify a rift between the parties, solidifying the partisan politics Bayh addressed.

Ideally, actions like Bayh’s, coupled with the need for social reform, will drive Washington’s politicians to realize the importance of reaching across the aisle. Congress—your own members have begun calling your bluff, it’s time to make nonpartisan progress a reality.

Jacqueline Fuqua is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

‘Buying American’ won’t solve all our problems Big news in the pseudo-politicalprotest world, folks—in the dark, early morning hours of Feb. 20, somebody or somebodies took Commentary to the Reinert parking lot with a can of paint and a sworn goal of informing us that we really should “Buy American!”

If you, like me, happened to own a car made by a Noah Berman company such as Toyota or Honda, you went outside that morning to find that someone was not at all happy with your choice of vehicle.

My choice of vehicle, incidentally, is a 1997 Toyota Camry. Built, should you be curious, in Kentucky, and purchased in Baltimore, Md. While I can’t claim to know where exactly every internal component was constructed, the majority of the profit from the car likely went to American workers. The paint these midnight Matisses applied, on the other hand, was likely manufactured by some sort of retail conglomerate with factories in any country but America. Buying American is no longer as easy as looking at the company logo.

Amusingly, the vandal or vandals seemed to agree: A Chevy parked near my car also managed to be tagged. That was either a silly mistake or a high-minded comment about globalism, capitalism and the nature of companies to pursue profit over the livelihood of their employees. I am guessing the former, but it is true that companies we would think of as American born and bred are sending a lot of business abroad.

Ford, for instance, is second only to Volkswagen in European car sales— indeed, some of the better cars the company makes are predominantly sold overseas.

While my Camry was constructed in America, businesses—American or otherwise—are moving manufacturing divisions out of the country.

There are a multitude of reasons for this, but the results are the same: more people out of work.

Manufacturing operations still in the country are becoming increasingly mechanized, requiring higher skill levels.

The taggers might disagree, but this is actually a great thing for America. We’re all going to have

Rachel Mezinis/Illustrator

to become smarter, stronger, more innovative and more willing to accept change. If the world were run properly, this would be as natural as living creatures being made out of carbon atoms, but instead it’s sadly difficult. There are a number of reasons for the challenges facing such a rapidly updating society, but the most prescient one to solve is the health care debacle. If workers cannot through one way or another stay healthy, they do not make money— for themselves, their family or the people for whom they work.

And so, in a world in which people paint “Buy American!” on other people’s cars, I feel as though it is all I can do to keep from spray painting on the very same cars: “Help Americans! (And support health care reform!)” We could spend money

on American products or we could spend money, our tax dollars, on something that goes—through the roundabout route of being healthier, paying less and working more—into the pocket of every American. Were I lucky enough to be in an income tax bracket that is going to be hit by a health care reform bill, I would pay the extra tax happily, because I know that, in a much more helpful version of trickle-down economics, the money I give to the government is going to keep Americans working and healthy. I fully realize how idealistic that sounds, but I truly believe that health care reform is among the top ways we can make our country even more fantastic than it already is.

Unfortunately, this is not proving to be easy. I won’t blather on about

which bill is better or why—I still want a public option back in the mix— but I will say that on Feb. 25, President Barack Obama will be holding a health care summit with people who savagely disagree with both of us. It’s a step forward in a process that spends a lot of time running backwards into spikes, so one can only hope that some good comes of it. Televised on C-SPAN, it might not bear the immediate punch that a slogan painted onto your car does, but it could distract people for long enough, could include people who feel left out, as well as make improving the country a discussion instead of a series of pithy sound bites.

Noah Berman is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.

St. Louis deserves better, more extensive public transit

Rachel Mezinis/Illustrator

Water, water nowhere...

World faces water shortages Throughout the summer, Russia shuts off the hot water for six weeks in various cities “to do repairs” on the pipes. When I began my study Commentary abroad program in St. Petersburg, I happened to catch the last few weeks of the stint. My roommate braved the cold shower first on that first day, saying the water Allison Reilly is as if “it’s been left out all winter.”

Normally, cold showers in the summer wouldn’t be all that bad, except summer in St. Petersburg means a daily average temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t think that’s weather suitable for a cold shower. For two weeks, I thirsted for a hot shower, and when it finally came back through the faucet in brown dysfunctional spits, I still had to wait a day or so before I could quench my thirst.

But I am still very fortunate to be able to take a shower on a daily basis, as well as have enough water to fulfill my daily needs. More than 1.1 billion people do not have access to a safe and adequate water supply, approximately the entire country of India. Last year, contaminated rivers displaced more than 25 million people, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Water Report from 2006. That’s more than was forced to flee from war zones and more than the population of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas combined. But this

isn’t an issue that’s only affecting the world’s poor or war-torn areas.

According to the Associated Press on Oct. 27, 2007, 36 states are projected to have water shortages by the year 2013. This is to affect big metropolitan areas such as Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago and Las Vegas. Reuters on March 10, 2009 added Los Angeles and Phoenix to the list. Not to mention that according to The New York Times of Dec. 7, 2009, more than 29 million Americans have been provided unclean water, containing contaminants such as arsenic, uranium and bacteria found in sewage. The depletion of water levels and the lack of access to clean water isn’t just an issue in low-income countries or in developing countries. It’s an issue in every country, to every person because every person needs water to live.

I’m not writing this to make anyone feel guilty, to preach some dogooder message or to put a damper on the day. If compelled to do something, just realize the average American uses 160 gallons of water per day, according to the Common Language Project, a non-profit media organization that reports on social justice issues from around the world. The average Ethiopian lives on less than five gallons per day.

The minimum recommended by the World Health Organization is 5.5 gallons per day.

I’m just putting the issue out there as something to think about.

Something best pondered in a cold shower, perhaps?

Allison Reilly is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

It seems that, whenever public and thus to the welfare of those transportation is brought up on who live in it.

According to the American this campus, the conversation naturally lends itself Public Transportation Association, to the topic of new transit stations bring new Commentary p e o p l e - w a t c h - businesses and new money into ing. If you think the area. SLU economists say that about it, though, ever y $1 invested in public transit makes sense portation yields $6 in return, and that this would public transit on its own provides countless jobs for citizens ($1 bilbe the case.

After all, pub- lion in federal funding providing lic transit is for 47,500 jobs, according to the U.S. ever yone; that Department of Transportation). means Cardinals And it seems evident that, in the Rachel Boeglin fans, Blues fans, modern world, cities with highly families going functioning public transportation to Forest Park for the day, students systems are the most user-friendly off for coffee at Kaldi’s, people to their own citizens, as well as the going to work, to church, to a doc- most accessible to outside visitors.

And yet St. Louis’ transit system, tor’s appointment. Public transit is, in a sense, a microcosm of the city which contributes so much to this that claims it. I see it as a synecdo- old city, is struggling. Metro has che for St. Louis as an entity, a part long-range plans that will be totally out of reach in the foreseeable that represents the whole.

Of course this idea perhaps future if funding is not increased.

Perhaps appeals to my even more dissentimental concerting are nature and my the serious social-work-ma[Public transit] services cuts to current jor mind-set, as routes and serwell as to the vices that are fact that I have contribute to the city’s being threatfallen in love economic vibrancy and ened.

The with this city. A hope for unity, thus to the welfare of [the thought of losing this amalan appreciation for diversity, people]. gamating entia sense of St. ty and mode Louisan idenof economic tity (one that expansion is calls to mind the city’s antiquated heartbreaking. What hope is there red-brick architecture and indus- for St. Louis, a city already pegged trial vibe): I want and embrace it as being decades behind the rest all. It’s impossible for me not to. of urban America, without an effecAs a metropolitan area that has tive system of public transit? given me so much—in experiencA vote is taking place on April 6 ing the luscious Forest Park and in St. Louis County that will deterTower Groves, the musical estab- mine future funding for Metro. If lishments like Jazz at the Bistro, Proposition A is passed, a 0.5-cent the Pageant and the constantly sales tax increase will be placed on combed-over Vintage Vinyl, as well the County, with a 0.25-cent sales as in character-building through tax increase being likely to follow working for after-school programs in St. Louis City. in the city, and not to mention my The failure to pass the proposiSaint Louis University education—I tion will result in a near 50 percent have grown attached, and want the reduction in ser vices. I can’t imagbest for this town. ine how crippling this loss would And so I can also appreciate St. be for St. Louis, and I know that Louis’ transit system as being more I personally wouldn’t mind paying than an opportunity to obser ve a little extra for my morning cofand to idealize, to mull over the fee to people-watch, to romanticize city’s extensive past and its poten- and to be able to have access to the tial future. MetroLink, MetroBus far-reaches of the city that I love so and Call-a-Ride are worth far more much. to St. Louis’ well-being than they are to my personal enjoyment and Rachel Boeglin is a junior in the musings. These ser vices contrib- school of Education and Public Service. ute to the city’s economic vibrancy,

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Arts

Talk to us: call Will Holston 314.977.2812, or e-mail arts.unews@gmail.com UNEWSONLINE.COM

7 Thursday February 25, 2010

The University News

Scorsese film thrills

‘Push’ by Sapphire and Jason Reitman for Up in the Air. Interestingly, in a year in which the Academy expanded the number of nominees for Best Picture from five to 10—the first year with more than five nominees in that category since 1943—pundits have suggested that it’s pretty clear that the Best Director nominations clearly delineate what the top five vote getters would have been, leaving films like An Education, District 9 and Up off the list in any other year.

Martin Scorsese’s much anticipated follow-up to his 2006 Academy Award winning The Chief Film Writer hit, Depar ted, has finally docked at theatres nationwide.

Shutter Island, a film adaptation of the Dennis LANDON BURRIS Lehane novel of the same name, is a psychological thriller revolving around a mysterious mental institution for the criminally insane.

Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed) is a federal marshal who is being sent to investigate the disappearance of a female patient, Rachel Solando, from Ashecliffe Hospital, located on a Shutter Island off the coast of Boston in 1954. Along with his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo, Zodiac), Teddy is perplexed as to how someone could’ve escaped the seemingly impenetrable institution.

Attempting to help them, but often providing information that leads to more questions than answers, is the institution’s head psychologist, Dr. Cawley (Sir Ben Kingsley, Lucky Number Slevin). Cawley feels empathy for his disturbed patients, even the ones who killed many people, and seems to be protecting the institution and hiding the truth from Daniels and Aule.

However, as their stay on the island is extended by an intense tropical storm, Chuck and Teddy realize that they may have bitten off more than they can chew. As the hours pass, Teddy begins to have hallucinations and questions whom he can trust and what is really going on at Ashecliffe Hospital.

Eventually Teddy learns more than he wants to know and struggles to find a way off the island, often encouraged by visions of his beloved (and deceased) wife, Dolores Chanal (Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain).

In Scorsese’s first thriller since 1991’s hit Cape Fear remake, he stretches the limits of audiences’ minds in ways that confound and perplex, much in the spirit of Lehane’s masterful novel.

When the movie’s climax reveals the truths of Shutter

See “Oscars” on Page 8

See “Scorsese” on Page 8

Illustration by Olivia Cooper

Oscar films fight to the finish line Weighing in on the Academy Awards on the home stretch Turn to page 9 for Arts Editor Will Holston and Chief Film Writer Landon Burris’ Academy Arts Editor A w a r d picks.

And the nominees are …With those four words, Academy President WILL HOLSTON T o m Sherak and Academy Awardnominated actress Anne Hathaway put an end to months of speculation and unleashed the nominations

for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. With the Oscars set to be handed out on March 7, those few lucky enough to hear their names called that morning have kicked it into high gear, making the rounds at precursor award ceremonies and campaigning for the big prize.

At the moment, most pundits give Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq War-set drama The Hurt Locker the edge in the Best Picture race after it swept the top prizes at the Producers’ Guild Awards and Writers’ Guild Awards. Bigelow is herself favored for Best Director after having won

the Directors’ Guild Award.

If she were to win the Oscar, she would be the first female director to win.

Strongly considered her film’s biggest competition is Avatar, the box office recordbreaking science-fiction film directed by Bigelow’s exhusband, James Cameron, which finds itself somewhat in the underdog position despite winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture.

One point against it is that Cameron’s screenplay for the film was not nominated by the Academy, despite making it into The Writers’ Guild nominees after a number of top

Eclectic musicians bring folky, energetic vibe to Billiken Club

contenders for those nominations were deemed ineligible for not fitting into that guild’s strict guidelines—among them Inglourious Basterds and Up. That being said, the last time a film won Best Picture without at least a corresponding Best Screenplay nomination was in 1997 when a little film called Titanic took the top prize. Its director? James Cameron.

Alongside Cameron and Bigelow, the nominees for Best Director are Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds, Lee Daniels for Precious: Based on the Novel

Band no ‘flash’ in the pan

By ASHLEY JONES Associate Arts Editor

By DANIELA MONDRAGON Contributor

A mixture of rock and roll/pop, folk-rock and modern folk hit the scene at The Billiken Club this past Saturday, Feb. 22, as Grace Basement, Jared Bartman and Breathe Owl Breathe gave a three-hour concert. The night began at 9 p.m. with Grace Basement, who, with the help of an acoustic guitar, viola and drums, set the power-pop mood with songs like “Why Would I Wait for Another?” and “Warships.” They played a total of six songs, whose psychedelic sounds were reminiscent of The Beatles.

Grace Basement, with a few

sound difficulties at the beginning, gave a “good show,” Joe Yusko, a member of the audience, said.

At 10 p.m. the multi-talented singer/song-writer from Peoria, Ill., Jared Bartman, took the stage, creating a more intimate and mellow mood with his second song “Urban Folk Song,” which he played on his piano. For his third song, “I Refute Technology,” Bartman switched to guitar, and then back to piano for his fourth song “Under the Knife,” from his new album Jersey Shore. Bartman, demonstrating his gifts as an artist, brought out his accordion to play “Honey Bee Polka,” to which the crowd responded energetically with lively

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

Kevin Buckley of Grace Basement plays the viola during a set. The show at The Billiken Club featured three bands.

applause. His next two songs were again played on guitar, and his last song, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” which is Latin for “Give Us Peace,” was sung a cappella.

“He’s a genius,” Dan Schuler, another member of the audience, said. “Every one of those things—guitar, piano, accordion, acoustics and vocals—are great on their own, and he did all of them.”

At 11 p.m., the Northern Michigan band Breathe Owl Breathe took the stage, bringing in the biggest crowd of the night. Modern folk took the form of Andrea MorenoBeals’ ethereal voice on cello, contrasted with lead singer Micah Middaugh’s sonorous tone.

Shield had the crowd clapping vivaciously, and their second song “Boat” had them swaying from side to side.

There is no doubt that Breathe Owl Breathe had the crowd engaged and dancing with “Saber Tooth Tiger,” which even inspired “the wave” a few times. The night ended around midnight on a high note, with the songs “Dog Walkers of the New Age” and “Drop and Roll.”

For more information, visit www.thebillikenclub.wordpress.com. Upcoming shows include a performance by local band Rats & People of a live score to F.W. Murnau’s silent film The Last Laugh on March 2 andVia Audio and Pattern is Movement on March 4.

Members of the band Flashbulb Fires want to spread their music one fan at a time, and they will have the opportunity to do so on their

tour for their new album, Glory.

The up-and-coming band recently kicked off its tour on Feb. 24, and will be playing in St. Louis on March 10 at the Firebird. Those attending the performance can expect to be

Courtesy of Flashbulb Fires

Flashbub Fires is a band based in Denver. They will be performing in St. Louis at The Firebird on Olive on March 10.

entertained.

“You are not going to go to a show and be bombarded for 45 minutes with the same sounding song over and over,” electric guitarist and singer Michael James said.

He explained that the band tries to keep shows very dynamic. During one song, James will be playing the trashcan lids.

While on tour, the band travels around in a van that has been dubbed “The Explorer.”

“She is a reliable, lovely beast of a car,” James said.

On this tour they will be promoting their new album, Glory, which they wanted to be a return to the album as an art form.

“From the inception of the album, we wanted to create something as a whole… something that is a piece of art by itself, not nine separate pieces of art,” James said.

He explained that the band wanted the album to be similar to those of the ‘60s and ‘70s, before technology enabled listeners to pick and choose the songs they like.

“If they only like one song, they only have to buy one song,” James said.

Flashbulb Fires’ music has been compared to that of Grizzly Bear’s and Radiohead’s, and this could be because the band draws some influence from them.

“Those bands are definitely showing up in our music from time to time,” James said.

Glory has also been See “Flashbulb” on Page 8

8

Arts

The University News

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Oscars: Season enters home stretch Continued from Page 7

John Lamb / Saint Louis University Theatre

The ensemble of ‘Anything Goes’ performs a show-stopping number during a show last weekend. This University Theatre production will be running in Xavier Hall until Feb. 28.

‘Anything Goes’ in new University Theatre show “I’ve got hot pants for you!”

Ordinarily, this phrase may not mean Commentary anything, but in the context of the musical “Anything G o e s , ” it’s par t of a scene that creates quite Niharika Goparaju a pleasant uproar in the audience. “ A n y t h i n g Goes,” the newest production of Saint Louis University Theatre, was written by Cole Porter and centers around the interaction of an unusual group of passengers aboard a pleasure boat, the S.S. American. Included among them are a gangster named Moonface Martin, a wealthy debutante named Hope Harcourt and her mother Evangeline, a nightclub singer named Reno Sweeny, and a wealthy New York businessman Billy Crocker and his assistant Elisha Witney.

The show starts out with ambient lighting and a simple yet attractive set design of a bar on the boat, with a background of a man playing on the piano on the deck. As the play continues, the lighting and set movement is so flawlessly controlled that it adds to the visual aspects of the play.

Although the production has many factors to its credit, the major driving force that makes it so beautiful is the cast. Every single actor and actress is ideal for his or her role, and they deliver their performances with a great deal of passion and talent. From the performers embodying the major characters—senior Marcy Wiegert in the role of Reno Sweeney, for example—to the smaller roles—the Fallen Angels played by sophomores Julia Crump and Anita Shastri and freshmen Emily Grimm and Kristin McGuire—the performances are so effective that they elicit a wide range emotion from the crowd and draw an audience in with their

infectiousness.

This incredible talent among the cast combined with the seamless choreography makes every musical number a joy to watch. Some admirable musical numbers include: “Bon Voyage,” “Anything Goes,” “You’re The Top” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.” Simply put, this production is practically flawless: the cast is phenomenal, the musical numbers are pleasing, the plot is infectious, the costume design is eloquent and, most importantly, it brings so many laughs to the audience.

If you haven’t seen the SLU production of “Anything Goes,” you are surely missing out. Luckily for you, there are three more productions of the play on Feb. 26 and 27 at 8 p.m., and on Feb 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office, located in Xavier Hall. Go get your tickets now!

For more information about The University Theatre and its season, visit www.slu. edu/theatre.

Flashbulb: Scorsese: Film a winner Group is on fire for new album on new tour Continued from Page 7

Continued from Page 7

described as having a pop aspect to it. However, James said that this is accurate only to a certain degree.

“We try and keep our songs really dynamic… one of our goals is to try and do things that haven’t been done before,” James said.

He explained that the band tries to push its own boundaries, and that nothing is worth repeating.

Lyrically, Glory was influenced greatly by the religious conflict of singer Patrick McGuire. There is also influence from “modern suburban America conflict.”

“America is very distinct at this moment in time. It’s not the America we grew up reading about in history books…The songs speak to that, where we are as a youth in these times,” James said.

Although McGuire sings about his personal experiences, he does so in a way that listeners will be able to relate.

“The themes are broad enough that listeners can latch on and take certain songs as they will and find their own meaning,” James said. “There is a feeling of atmosphere and space. It’s a wall of sound.”

Though the band has been playing together for about three years, James said that it took them a while to find their footing in the beginning. They hadn’t quite found what made them unique yet.

Therefore, there was a sort of “generic-ness.” However, with Glory, they have found this uniqueness through the use of horns, strings and three- and four-part harmony.

“If we had a room full of every kind of instrument and musician, what would we write?” James said. “That defines us now from where we started.”

For more information about Flashbulb Fires, visit www.myspace.com/flashbulbfires.

Island, the shock comes more from how the resolution was arrived at more than the actual resolution itself. Astute filmgoers will certainly notice several fast cuts and edits, along with intentional continuity errors that make sense once the film’s credits roll.

Though Shutter Island may not be Scorsese’s best film, it is certainly one of his most thought provoking and emotional.

Aside from Scorsese’s terrific and nuanced direction, Shutter Island also benefits from a fantastic ensemble cast. The movie belongs to Leonardo DiCaprio, who, as the frantic Teddy Daniels, is the plot’s driving force.

Daniels’ internal and external struggles are displayed brilliantly by DiCaprio, and his emotional dream sequences and realizations are perfectly done.

The performances surrounding DiCaprio not only improve his turn, but also greatly enhance the film. Sir Ben Kingsley, whose film choices over the past decade can be described as questionable at best, delivers his best performance since 2000’s Sexy Beast. Kingsley’s Cawley is articulate, elegant and perfectly walks the line between good and bad.

Mark Ruffalo is solid in his role as Teddy’s partner, Chuck Aule, though Chuck’s character is greatly cut down from Lehane’s novel. Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer and Patricia Clarkson all give brilliant work with the little screen time they have. Jackie Earle Haley continues his typecasting as a psychopathic prisoner, but, as usual, he is spot on in such parts. And film legend Max von Sydow makes every line count as the sinister German psychiatrist, Dr. Naehring.

Technically speaking, Shutter Island delivers the quality one would expect from a Scorsese film. Frequent collaborators Thelma Schoonmaker (film editing) and Robert Richardson (cinematography) assist Scorsese in this beautiful looking film It seems Scorsese and his crew knew what they were going for, and the results are nothing short of a great tribute to the masters of suspense like Alfred Hitchcock.

Shutter Island is a thinking man’s thriller and is an incredibly bright spot for 2010, especially so early in the year.

One wants to revisit to try and catch things missed the first time around, which will hopefully help it remain fresh in people’s minds as the deluge of subpar films that have been released so far this year quickly fade into obscurity.

arts.unews@gmail.com

Along with the expanded Best Picture list, the Academy has adopted a new voting system that some pundits predict might make more room for a surprise.

Under this preferential balloting system, as described

by Steven Zeitchick of The Los Angeles Times, “Voters will be asked to rank their bestpicture choices from 1 to 10 (though they are not required to complete the ballot in full).

Then the Academy will gather the ballots and separate them in piles according to voters’ first choices. Each movie gets its own pile.”

After this initial counting, the Academy will take the stack of the film with the lowest number one votes and redisperse it among the remaining films according to the number two vote, and so on.

The first film to get more than 50 percent of the votes is the winner. Under this system, it’s believed that films that are less divisive are more likely to garner votes in the top three or four positions, putting them at a distinct advantage.

Outside of the Best Picture and Director races, the race in the major categories is much less competitive, with most pundits predicting a win for Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side for Best Actress, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart for Best Actor, Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds for Best Supporting Actor and Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire for Best Supporting Actress.

The latter two have been frontrunners for months, winning most of the precursor awards, with Bullock and Bridges emerging from behind late in the season over frontrunners like Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia, Carey Mulligan in An Education, George Clooney in Up in the Air and Colin Firth in A Single Man. Though some give Streep and Mulligan dark horse chances for the win, most concede that the Best Actor statue is all but engraved.

Outside of these races, Up in the Air is poised to win Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, while Mark Boal’s Writers’ Guild win for the original screen-

play of The Hurt Locker bodes well for his chances of repeating.

However, as Tarantino’s script was ineligible in that Guild’s awards for his original screenplay for Inglourious Basterds, some predict this year will be a repeat of 1994 when his script for Pulp Fiction—along with Roger Avery—was that film’s consolation prize.

Regardless of all of this, the Academy has proven that it can be foolish to assume that everything is sewn up.

Upsets like Adrien Brody’s Best Actor win for The Pianist in 2002 and Crash’s Best Picture victory over favored Brokeback Mountain have given pundits greater room to predict surprises and dark horses hope for a come from behind victory.

In other words, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

The Academy Awards will be handed out on the night of March 7, televised live on ABC and hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.

For a full list of nominees in all categories, visit the Academy’s official website at www.oscar.com.

Arts

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The University News

9

And the Academy Award goes to...

Best Picture Landon Burris

Will Win: The Hurt Locker Should Win: Inglourious Basterds Should Have Been Nominated: (500) Days of Summer, Crazy Heart Lucky To Be There: The Blind Side, Avatar

Will Holston

Will Win: The Hurt Locker Should Win: Inglourious Basterds Should Have Been Nominated: Coraline, Summer Hours Lucky To Be There: The Blind Side, An Education

Best Director Landon Burris

Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Should Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Should Have Been Nominated: Lars von Trier, Antichrist Lucky To Be There: Lee Daniels, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push”

by Sapphire

Will Holston

Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Should Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Also Could Have Been Nominated: Olivier Assayas, Summer Hours Lucky To Be There: Surprisingly, none.

Best Actor Landon Burris

Will Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart Should Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart Should Have Been Nominated: Sam Rockwell, Moon Lucky To Be There: Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Will Holston

Will Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart Should Win: Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker Should Have Been Nominated: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer Lucky To Be There: Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Are you a student moonlighting as a musician in the area?

We want to hear from you.

The Arts Section is currently looking for Saint Louis University students performing in the area for an upcoming article. Free publicity!

arts.unews@gmail.com

Best Actress Landon Burris

Will Win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side Should Win: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Should Have Been Nominated: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antichrist Lucky To Be There: Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Will Holston

Will Win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side Should Win: Carey Mulligan, An Education Should Have Been Nominated: Tilda Swinton, Julia Lucky To Be There: Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Best Supporting Actor Landon Burris

Will Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Should Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Should Have Been Nominated: Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen Lucky To Be There: Matt Damon, Invictus

Will Holston

Will Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Should Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Should Have Been Nominated: Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker Lucky To Be There: Matt Damon, Invictus

Best Supporting Actress Landon Burris

Will Win: Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire Should Win: Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire Should Have Been Nominated: Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds Lucky To Be There: Penélope Cruz, Nine

Will Holston

Will Win: Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire Should Win: Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air Should Have Been Nominated: Rosamund Pike, An Education or Marion Cotillard, Public Enemies Lucky To Be There: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

Games

10 Thursday February 25, 2010

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The University News

Swimmer readies for paralympics

Musketeers outlast Bills 73-71 at Chaifetz Arena

Ryan Giacomino/Photo Edittor

Kwamain Mitchell led the Billikens with 21 points, including nailing 5-of-8 three-point attempts. The Bills lost 73-71.

Free throw shooting hurts Billikens in second half

By DERRICK NEUNER Senior Staff Writer

Ryan Giacomino/Photo Editor

Freshman Tom Miazga suffers from Spastic diplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy. Miazga competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and will compete in the World Championship Trials from March 25-27 in San Antonio, Tex.

Freshman will compete at World Trials in San Antonio

By ANDREW BUSH Staff Writer

Freshman swimmer Tom Miazga is easy to spot at Saint Louis University swim meets.

He’s the one who sits on top of the starting block before the starting gun.

He’s also the one who competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and is focused on the Paralympic World Championship Trials, March 25-27, in San Antonio.

Miazga has a type of Cerebral Palsy called Spastic diplegia, which causes spasticity in his leg muscles (spasticity is a condition that causes muscles to spontaneously tighten and contract). Although he tries to walk as much as possible, he often uses his wheelchair to get around.

“To sum it up, with my

Cerebral Palsy, my legs are pretty tight all the time,” Miazga said. “If my legs get too cold or just extremely tired, I will start to spasm pretty good and, I’ll be the first to tell you, it doesn’t feel too good.”

This spasticity is the reason Miazga uses his unconventional starting technique.

“I used to stand on the block like everyone else, but I would lose a significant amount of time because it was hard to get the forward momentum.

Now I sit on the block, place my feet on the backstroke start bar and launch myself forward. It is significantly faster and I get out just as far,” Miazga said.

Jim Halliburton, head swimming and diving coach at SLU, was straightforward with Miazga about his

Rugby loses it for St. Baldrick’s

Amelia Blanton / Photographer

More than 30 members of the SLU Rugby Club had their hair buzzed to benefit St. Baldrick’s childhood cancer research on Feb. 21. (Above) Sophomore Joe Andreoni gets his head shaved by a volunteer student from Paul Mitchell: The School in St. Louis. (Top right) Freshman Conor Wildt and the rest of the club helped raise more than $6,000.

(Bottom right) Matt Strohm (right) and other members of the team say good bye to their hair for a good cause.

chances of swimming at SLU. “I told him I would give him every opportunity to try to make the team and swim with us. Even if he didn’t make the team, we were going to let him train with us,” Halliburton said.

Miazga was not only able to make the team, but also to compete at the Atlantic 10 Championships in the 100M backstroke. His time, 1:05, was a two-second improvement from the beginning of the year.

“I thought it would be good for the team to see somebody like Tom who had some difficulties but worked really hard. Other people, without Tom there, might have a tendency to complain … With Tom on the team, I think we have less of that,” Halliburton said.

Miazga’s work ethic is a source of encouragement for his teammates. And his training continues after the season with SLU is over.

Right now, Miazga is preparing for the Paralympic World Championships. Miazga is currently No. 4 in the world in the 100 M backstroke. His goal in San Antonio is to crack into the top three.

“This is an extremely momentous opportunity,” Miazga said. “To be considered one of the fastest swimmers in the world, and to get to represent my country, doing something I love, well, I couldn’t ask for more.

Knowing all my hard work has paid off has not only been incredibly rewarding, but also soothing. The great part about all of this is that it has just begun.”

Late game heroics were not enough to save the Saint Louis University Billikens this time.

Jordan Crawford and the Xavier Musketeers used a 16-point run-over five minutes into the second half to outmuscle SLU 73-71 in front of a season’s best 10,008, Feb. 24, at Chaifetz Arena. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Billikens, who are now tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with Charlotte, who has the tie breaker.

The Bills (18-9, 9-4) had three players go into double figures and were led by Kwamain Mitchell with 21 points. Cody Ellis and Willie Reed chipped in 19 and 18, respectively. SLU had a season-low six turnovers, but was out rebounded 28 to 42 by Xavier. The loss also puts the Billikens hopes of a NCAA berth into perspective; they may well have to win out to play in the dance.

“I’m proud of my guys because they never quit. They fought back and worked their [butts] off,” a subdued and visibly disappointed head coach Rick Majerus said. “Xavier is a good team; they are athletic, deep and old. That’s what you want to be.

“I’m frustrated because, a game like this one, you’re just a block out here, a couple free throws away [from winning].

It’s a tough loss for us … the culture of losing permeates everything that’s associated with us. I think we’re hanging in there. But we have issues.”

SLU had one of its best first halves of the season to kick off the Billiken Blizzard against Xavier. The Billikens and Musketeers fought for momentum for the first four minutes before SLU would start to pull away. They would lead by as much as seven off three-point treys from Ellis

and Mitchell. Xavier kept it close with two free throws from Mark Lyons, but another three by Mitchell and one from Justin Jordan gave SLU a seven point lead again. Xavier only led by two, and not after the 18:52 minute mark.

SLU went to the locker room with a six point lead off a dunk by Reed. The Bills hit seven of 12 from outside the arc to pace the Musketeers.

The Billikens also held Xavier, who leads the A-10 in threepoint shooting, to just four shots over 20 minutes. The precursor to the second half, however, exists in this stat: SLU hit just one of its three free throws, whereas Xavier hit all three.

The Billikens looked to be in control for most of the second half. While Xavier continued to battle for each shot, SLU had an answer. In the first five minutes of the half, Mitchell, Kyle Cassity and Jordan all hit three-point shots. The game deteriorated quickly for SLU from there.

With SLU up three, 49-46, the Musketeers went on a 16-0 run to take a commanding lead.

Ellis came alive, hitting a jumper with 6:37 left to play, then hit seven free throws to narrow Xavier’s lead to seven.

Mitchell hit a jumper, followed by an Ellis lay-up, and another jumper from Mitchell brought the Billikens within three. With a chance to tie the game, Cassity missed a three. Reed, who was just 2-9 from the line, missed one and made one, but Mitchell, the usual hero, missed an open three, SLU’s last chance at victory.

Reed finished the game with his seventh double-double of the season. “I had a pretty good game individually, but none of that matters when we didn’t get the win …

Free throw shooting has been going bad for me. It’s going See “Basketball” on Page 12

12

The University News

Sports

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Xavier rains on Billiken Blizzard

Basketball: XU ends win streak Continued from Page 11

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

Ryan Giacomino / Photo Editor

Noah Berman /Associate Photo Editor

Above: Xavier’s Jason Love buries his second free throw to put the Musketeers up by four points with less than five seconds to play. Right: Sophomore Willie Reed (right) and freshman Christian Salecich walk off the court after the disappointing loss. Bottom: The Billiken crowd surfs in the student section during the Feb. 24 loss to Xavier.

to come. Every time I go to the line, I think about putting my teammates in the best position to win … we know we can do it; we just turn on and off. We’ve got to learn to keep it on.”

Things don’t get much easier for the Billikens. With just three games left in the regular season, SLU faces visits from Duquense on Saturday, Feb. 27, and No. 20 Temple on Wed., March 3; both games tipoff at Chaifetz Arena at 7 p.m. The Bills end the regular season on the road with a visit to Dayton on Saturday, March 6.

While a berth in the NCAA is still possible, the loss makes it increasingly more difficult to accomplish. A good showing in the A-10 Tournament, which kicks off March 9 in Atlantic City, could be the only road to the Dance. And to that end, the Billikens are assured at least a home opener, where they are 14-2 on the season.

Sports

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Young Bills still have an outside shot

The University News

13

Sports Shorts: A series of Billiken briefs Tennis

A pair of Billikens received accolades from the Atlantic 10 Conference recently. Junior Hailee Elmore of the women’s team and James McArthur of It’s a good thing I am not the men’s team were each a betting man. If someone named the A-10 Players of had bet me in October that the Week for their respective I would be writing a column sports for the period of Feb. on the Billikens’ post-season 15-21. chances, NIT or NCAA, in late Elmore posted a 2-0 Febr uar y, record at No. 1 singles and I would be 2-0 at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles Commentary a poorer during the time span. Her man than I play has aided the women’s am today. team during a 5-match win But as streak. SLU defeated Western it stands, Illinois University 7-0 on Feb. Saint Louis 19 before blanking Bradley University University, 7-0, two days later cur rently on Feb. 21. finds itself­­ The win streak was eventied for tually brought to an end, Bobby Schindler f o u r t h however, as Missouri defeatplace in ed SLU 6-1 on Feb. 23. The the Atlantic 10 with Charlotte, loss was no fault of Elmore’s, and possibly fighting for one of though. The reigning player the five predicted A-10 NCAA of the week defeated Jamie tournament berths. That’s Mera 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3) to reganother bet I would have lost.

I wouldn’t have gone higher than three. Anyway, fourth place isn’t bad for the youngest team in Div. I. , a team that was selected to finish 12th out of 14 teams by a preseason coaches’ poll just over 4 months ago.

Feb. 24’s disappointing loss to Xavier brings the Bills’ overall record to 18-9 (9-4 A-10). Assuming that the Billikens can take at least one of the last three games, they will finish with 10 conference wins. Normally, 10 wins in the A-10 wouldn’t be all that impressive.

But in 2010, it is quite the feat. Various bracketologists see the A-10 getting anywhere from 4-6 teams in the NCAA tournament. Not too bad for a mid-major conference, especially when the Pacific 10, a BCS conference, may struggle to get two teams in the dance.

Making the NCAAs was always going to be a long shot for the Billikens, even without the Xavier loss. SLU had won six in a row and appeared to be the hottest team in the A-10, but they were still going to need some help.

On the surface, the loss to Xavier may appear crippling to the Billikens’ postseason hopes. After all, the Bills’ schedule only offers so many top-50 RPI opponents.

After the loss, SLU’s record against the RPI top-50 is 3-2; however, they still have two more chances against top-50 teams.

A win over Temple (RPI 13) could put the Bills right back on the NCAA bubble, assuming, of course, they avoid a letdown when Duquesne visits on Feb. 27. Winning at Dayton (RPI 43), one of the hardest places to play in the A-10, would certainly catch some attention, too.

If the Bills want to reach the big dance, without winning the A-10 tournament and the automatic bid, the team will need to win out and hope that they don’t jump Charlotte in the A-10 standings.

Currently, Charlotte holds the tie-break over SLU for fourth place. Normally, rising in the conference standings is a good thing. But, under this season’s A-10 tournament setup the top four teams all receive a first round bye. The next four seeds all receive a home game against one of the bottom four teams to make the tournament—the bottom two teams in the regular season standings do not receive an invite.

This extra round could pad SLU’s résumé, boosting the team’s win total all the way up to 22 before heading to Atlantic City, N.J. Taking one or two games in Atlantic City could be all SLU needs to sway the selection committee on March 14.

Of course, winning the A-10 tournament would be nice, but it’s nice to think that the team has at least one other route to the NCAAs. If the NCAAs aren’t meant to be, the NIT is certainly nothing to be ashamed of for this overachieving team.

Majerus’ team has grown significantly over this season.

The recent winning streak can make it hard to remember that this team consists entirely of underclassmen.

The freshmen and sophomores of SLU went blow for blow the entire 40 minutes against Xavier last night, a much larger and more experienced team.

It will be very hard for SLU to make the big tourney, but as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter. The fact that SLU is in the conversation is more than any fan could hope for. It’s also the reason I don’t gamble.

ister the only point for the Billikens. Elmore also teamed up with junior Casey Miller to take one of the three doubles matches. She and Miller easily won the super-tiebreaker of their doubles tilt against Mallory Weber and Kaitlyn Ritchie to capture a 9-8 (10-2) triumph.

McArthur went 2-0 at No. 2 singles and 2-0 at No. 1 doubles this past week to remain perfect on the season.

McArthur’s singles and doubles records for the spring each sit at 5-0, which is the same as the men’s team’s overall record. The award was the second of McArthur’s career.

Women’s basketball Junior Lauren Woods averaged 24 points and shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field during two key conference victories. It was the first time in Woods’ career that she posted back-to-back games of

at least 20 points. The accomplishment did not go unnoticed, as Woods was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week for the period of Feb. 15-21.

The nomination was the first of Woods’ career. Woods’ strong play helped the Billikens (10-17, 4-8 A-10) win two games in a row and three out of four games during a key stretch of conference play. The Billikens now seem assured to remain out of the A-10 basement and make it to the conference tournament.

Under this year’s revised tournament, the bottom two teams are denied entrance into the tournament. The Bills are currently tied for ninth out of 14 teams.

The Feb. 28 game will see the Billikens, clad in special pink jerseys, host Richmond.

SLU is one of more than 1,550 schools and organizations participating in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone

Initiative.

Track and Field Sophomore standout Brittney Cloudy claimed the triple jump title for the second consecutive year at the Atlantic 10 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of the University of Rhode Island on Feb. 20.

Last year, Cloudy became the first Billiken ever to win an individual event at the A-10 Championships. She surpassed her own school record with a distance of 40 ft. 1.25 in. to defend her title.

The women’s team placed sixth out of 12 teams while the men’s squad finished 10th. The women’s finish was the highest ever for the team since its inception in the 200607 season.

The womens’ 4x800 meter relay team narrowly missed out on an A-10 title of its own. Jenna Romano, Caitlin McCarthy, Sara Fraley and

Maddie O’Quinn finished less than a second behind the first place quartet from Temple.

The squad’s time of 9:09.56 is good enough for the school record, though.

Swimming and Diving Cloudy was not the only Billiken to claim her second individual A-10 title. Senior Anna Larson won the women’s three-meter diving event at the A-10 Swimming and Diving Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. Larson won the same event in 2007 as a freshman.

Larson’s preliminary round score of 307.60 was the second highest score in the school’s history, and was more than 50 points higher than the diver’s score who placed second. It was SLU’s first medal in the A-10 Championships since the 2007-08 campaign.

—Bobby Schindler

14

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Thursday, February 25, 2010