The University News
90
Celebrating 90 Years as a Student Voice of Saint Louis University
Celebrating
Vol. XCI No. 12
Years
Activist addresses universal justice Morris Dees fights discrimination
unewsonline.com
A HANDBOOK OF HISTORY The University News reflects on 90 years of student journalism and SLU history>> INSERT
SGA V.P., senators depart Resignations are ‘not abnormal’, says VP of Internal Affairs By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor
Curtis Wang / Multimedia Director
Moris Dees spoke to the SLU community on Nov. 15. Dees has been an active combatant of discrimination and racism. By CHARLES BOWLES Staff Writer
Civil rights activist Morris Dees took a page from the Pledge of Allegiance in “With Justice For All,” a lecture presented to the Saint Louis University community by the Great Issues Committee on Nov. 15. Dees addressed the changing face of the United States, chronicling the discrimination of minority groups throughout his 50year legal career. “I remember the words that stuck out to me, and I think they had a great deal to do with the course in life that I took,” Dees said. “Those words were, ‘One nation... with liberty and justice for all.’” Dees discussed his Alabama rural roots and working on farms with African Americans in the fields, where he said that he began to know black people as “people.” Dees said that America has been changing since he grew up, citing that when he graduated from high school in the 1950s, 17 percent of the population were people of color. According to the 2010 Census, that number has increased to 37 percent. After graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1960, Dees cofounded the Southern Poverty
Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights law firm, in 1971. During his early legal career with the SPLC, Dees said he represented a group of Vietnamese fishermen who were harassed by the Texas Knights, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan. The Texas Knights burned crosses on the fishermen’s property in an attempt to intimidate them to leave the fishing business. To stop the Texas Knights from harassing them, Dees told the fishermen to file an injunction against the Klan. The night before Dees planned to file the injunction, however, the fisherman requested that it be dropped. Dees said he then reached out to the Vietnamese leaders of the community, persuading them to change their mind, so that an injunction could be filed. Citing the Pledge of Allegiance, Dees made a plea to them to reconsider. “I told them, ‘Do not drop the injunction,’” Dees said. “America is a nation of laws designed to have liberty and justice for all.” His persuasion worked, and the fisherman went forward with the injunction, resulting in a victory for the Vietnamese community, as the Klan was ordered to end the harassment against them. See “GIC” on Page 3
Freedom Riders remembered in Cross Cultural Center By JAMES MEINERS Managing Editor
Walking through the Busch Student Center from Nov. 7 through Nov. 11, students, faculty and staff noticed something completely different on the second floor. The Cross Cultural Center was covered with black curtains, leaving the usually bright room obscured from passers-by. The CCC presented an exhibit on the Freedom Riders movement, displaying the history of the crusade from the spring and summer of 1961. The movement involved more than 400 people who wanted to challenge the segregation of interstate travel in the southern United States. “Educational events like this exhibit are so important to the Saint Louis University community because not only does it celebrate the accomplishments of the Freedom Riders in their struggle for justice, but it also provides an opportunity for students to learn about things that are unfortunately still sometimes left out of our history books,” Kathleen Otto, a student worker in the CCC, said. Patrice French, program coordinator for the CCC, created this exhibit with the help of staff in her department. She said she chose this exhibit because it is the 50th anniversary of the
rides, and it is one of the less well-known parts of the civil rights movement. “We want the SLU community to critically reflect on issues impacting our society and also realize that social change movements are started by individuals and small groups, not by a mass of people,” French said. “Although the Freedom Riders took place in 1961, I feel the act parallels social issues that our country is currently struggling with, such as economics and education.” There has been a significant response to the CCC’s exhibit. More than 700 people walked through during the five days the display was featured. French said she See “Freedom” on Page 3
Blue the Billiken Gobble gobble gobble!
Read and Recycle The University News prints on partially recycled paper.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In the Nov. 3 Student Government Association meeting, the senate announced that Intl. Affairs Vice President Stephanie Song was resigning from her position for health reasons. According to the official statement from SGA on the resignation, Song resigned from her role on Nov. 2 due to health concerns that were only disclosed to SGA President Matthew Ryan. “The Student Government Association Executive Board is deeply saddened by the early departure of one of our valued members; however, the Executive Board fully supports Vice President Emeritus Song in her decision. Per the Association’s Constitu-
tion, the president will appoint “Stephanie fully endorsed a senate member to serve as Zang getting the position and the vice president of interna- wanted him to continue the tional affairs for the remain- work she had started.” der of the 2011-2012 academic Ryan cited Zang’s energy year,” the and rapport statement with intersaid. national and During domestic stuthe Nov. 16 Moving forward, dents as reaSGA meetfor his continue to sons ing, it was we’ll appointment. announced have the strongest “It was a that Song’s little sudden, r e p l a c e - representation in the but we’ll crement would room. ate a good be internatransition,” tional stuZang said. dent sena- - Matt Ryan Zang said tor Tommy that he inZang. According to Ryan, tends to continue with Song’s Zang was selected after an goals, and will continue to open application was sent out advertise more about SGA to the entire senate. and raise awareness on the “We had three applicants issues surrounding internacome forth,” Ryan said. tional students. In addition to
“
”
Song’s resignation, nine other senators have resigned from SGA during this past semester. Vice President of Internal Affairs Scott Hessel said that the resignations were not made out of resentment toward SGA, but they resulted from realizations that senate was not the best fit for them. “The primary reason for the resignations was that the senators’ experience and passions did not necessarily lie with SGA,” Hessel said. Hessel said that senator resignations are not abnormal. As of the Nov. 16 meeting, five of the nine empty spots have been filled. “Moving forward, we’ll continue to have the strongest representation in the room and have senators maintain a strong connection with their constituents,” Ryan said.
Billiken basketball returns to hardwood
Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photo Editor
Amid a crowd frantically waving glowsticks, the Saint Louis Billikens began their season with high expectations. Playing in memory of legend Ed Macauley, the Billikens destroyed Tennessee State 71-37. Picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 by league coaches, the Bills return all five starters from last season plus standout Kwamain Mitchell. SLU returns to action on Nov. 20 against former coach Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies.
Last Lecture series: Stefan Bradley speaks African American studies professor gives speech as if it’s his last By ANNE MARIE BECKERLE Staff Writer
Saint Louis University professor Stefan Bradley was chosen to deliver words of wisdom at the Last Lecture series. Every semester, students are given the chance to nominate a professor that they find to be an outstanding teacher and speaker. The Last Lecture Series is a program that asks the selected professor, “If you knew this was the last lecture you would ever give, what would you share with students?” Bradley is an associate professor of history and African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bradley said he was honored to be given the opportunity to participate in the program, and he compared it to an actor receiving an Oscar and a musician receiving a Grammy. “I’m an educator. I’m a professor,” Bradley said. “The fact that students would nominate me is one of the biggest things to ever happen to me.” Addressing a full house on Monday, Nov. 14 in the Saint Louis Room of the Busch Student Center, Bradley began his speech with a personal background of his family. According to him, sharing details of his life is a rarity, but Bradley said he found it necessary to
Allison Smith / Staf Photographer
African American studies professor Stefan Bradley was selected by the students to speak at the Last Lecture series. describe his family in order Bradley said he never forgets to accurately explain the five where he is from, especially life lessons featured in the when he is in his classes teaching students. lecture. Bradley’s “These first life are the lesson was p e o p l e one he who have made me. I guarantee that I l e a r n e d from his These are the people will teach or person- father. “Leaders I’ve learned ally influence the perlead from f r o m , ” B r a d l e y son that changes the the front,” Bradley said. “I’ll world for the better. said. tell you a Bradley few of these - Stefan Bradley said that lessons.” p e o p l e Bradley kept his lecture light-hearted, should feel as though they making many jokes that have the ability to change caused the entire room to the world, but that it will not erupt in laughter. Originally happen when people bark from from Yakima, Wash., orders from the back.
“
”
Bradley received the second life lesson from his mother: If an unavoidable conflict occurs, it must be faced head-on and not go down without a fight. Bradley said that at first, this lesson is not applied to violence, but instead to prepare people for future confrontations. Bradley said another valuable lesson was that the further one goes in life, the more chances that person has to reinvent himself. After explaining the various stages he went through in life, Bradley said the most important lesson he learned was to “be yourself.” “You have to dance with the essence of you,” Bradley said. Bradley learned his fourth life lesson while teaching at SLU. According to him, a person should seek relevance over recognition. Bradley said he wants to be known for helping students, rather than for writing a book or receiving tenure. “I guarantee that I will teach or personally influence the person that changes the world for the better,” Bradley said. “In that way, I’ll be relevant, and I’ll be useful.” Bradley encountered his fifth and last life lesson from a pool hustler in a pool hall. Bradley said even a fool has a story to tell, and that this man had a story that would carry See “Lecture” on Page 3
News
2
unewsonline.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Let Us Introduce You
Katie Kearney
Junior crowned Miss Missouri 2012, draws inspiration from her dad By GABRIELLE GEER Staff Writer
Junior Katie Kearney, a communication major, appears to be the typical Saint Louis University student. As of last weekend, however, the St. Louis native became royalty. Kearney was crowned Miss Missouri 2012 and will represent Missouri at the Miss USA pageant. Kearney said that she is not the typical “pageant wave” type, however. “I ugly-cried,” Kearney said. “I thought that if it came down to it, I would cry with some sort of grace, but no.” Kearney said the crowning was unexpected. “I truly didn’t expect it, but when they put the crown on my head, I was just overcome with gratitude and appreciation,” Kearney said. Kearney started her pageant career when she was 14 years old. As both a model and a cheerleader, said she found pageantry interesting. “I feel that the work ethic and determination needed to compete in a pageant will affect how I live my life from now on,” Kearney said. “A healthy lifestyle, communicating with people and putting others before yourself is what I have acquired.” While preparing for the pageant, Kearney focused on improving her interview skills and creating a platform on animal welfare, spending much of her time in community outreach programs for stray and rescue services. Kearney said she feels part of her responsibility is to make people aware of animal cruelty and that the first step in raising awareness requires education. “Educating children would be a great first step,” Kearney said. “To make this problem known to children early could help them make decisions as adults.” Kearney has taken many steps to become the royalty she is today, but she said that she is fully aware of how blessed she is with her support system. She said her win is a collage of love and bless-
THE SLU SCOOP All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Security Services
Wednesday, Nov. 09
2:10 a.m. - Vandalism DPSSS officers detained two male students in the rear of Pruellage Hall after receiving a call about “Graffiti” being spray painted on the building. The students had a can of spray paint in their possession that matched the color (purple) that was sprayed on the building. The RA was notified of incident. Photos were taken and maintenance was notified. Kristen Miano / Associate News Editor
ings sent from her friends and family, especially her father. “I see my dad’s beliefs as my core,” Kearney said. “If I put my mind to something, I can accomplish anything. He’s been so supportive during this entire process.” Kearney’s father, Timothy Edward Kearney, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round in 1972. Playing mostly for the St. Louis Cardinals for roughly 10 seasons, Kearney said that her father has had his share of hard work and “gut check.” “He knows what it is like to fight for your dreams. For him, me winning the pageant wasn’t anything short of a fulfilled dream. He gives me the drive to do things that might be scary, but will affect my growth,” Kearney said. Her determination will be further tested with the duties and responsibilities that her title requires. Kearney said she invites challenges openly. “This will affect my entire life,” Kearney said.
Kearney said that she will defer next semester from the University to fulfill the duties of her title. Her next pageant will be this June in Las Vegas, competing for Miss USA. “I’m very excited about going to Vegas to compete for Miss USA, but am truly content with just having the opportunity to be invited,” Kearney said. “I am just going to have fun, be myself and enjoy the moment.” Apart form her accomplishments thus far, Kearney said she has other aspirations in mind for her future. “I like broadcasting,” Kearney said. “I feel that I would enjoy working in a television station. As Miss Missouri there are many skills that intertwine with being a good communicator and reporter.” Whether she is Miss Missouri, Miss USA or on Good Morning America, Kearney is sure to stay true to her core and represent the Show-Me State the only way a queen could.
Friday, Nov. 11
10:08 p.m. - Accidental Injury A SLU student was playing basketball and accidently hit his head on the gym floor while attempting to dunk the basketball. The student sustained an open wound causing minor bleeding. EMS was contacted and arrived. Medics treated the patient and transported him to SLU-ER.
Saturday, Nov. 12
been vomiting. The roommate said he called because the intoxicated student is a diabetic and was concerned for his health. The student said he felt his blood sugar was low and that he would eat something to raise his blood sugar. The roommate said he would watch him throughout the night.
5:00 a.m. - Alcohol Contact Report DPSSS responded to a report of an intoxicated student in Greisdieck Hall. Upon arrival, the student was responsive, conscious and had
Be a Responsible Billiken STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu
Vigil for Martyrs held at Clocktower
Kristen Miano / Associate News Editor
A vigil held to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the murder of the six Jesuit martyrs, their housekeeper and her daughter on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the clocktower.The vigil was a precursor to the SOA/WHINSEC protest taking place this weekend in Columbus, Ga.
Mark Your Calendars for the University-Wide Dialogue
on SLU’s Institutional Accreditation Self-Study Tues, Dec 6 @ 2:30pm- BSC 251 Wed, Dec 7 @ 2:30pm- Schwitalla Lecture Hall 3 Thurs, Dec 8 @ 2:30pm- Schwitalla Lecture Hall 3 Mon, Dec 12 @ 2:30pm- BSC 251
Draft Report Available for preview and comment at accreditation-hlc.slu.edu from December 1- December 23
News
unewsonline.com
3
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Engineering students to launch COPPER satellite NASA sponsored program provides opportunities for Parks College By ANNE MARIE BECKERLE Staff Writer
When engineering students Steve Massey and Maria Barna were recruited to work on a project in the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology a year and a half ago, they said they never expected to be making Saint Louis University history. Massey and Barna, now seniors, along with several other students, have prepared to launch a satellite into outer space as part of NASA’s CubeSat initiative, a mission that sends auxillary cargo. Their satellite, COPPER, which stands for “Close Orbit Propellant Plume and Elemental Recognition,” will be SLU’s first satellite in space. The COPPER proposal was one of 20 satellite programs in the nation that NASA selected as part of CubeSat, among other universities and organizations, including the Air Force Research Lab and the U.S. Military Academy. NASA chose SLU because the COPPER mission has scientific value and NASA experts said they believe that completion of the satellite is possible. Michael Swartwout, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, assisted the students with the
Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photo Editor
Sophomore Tyler Olson (left) and senior Richard Henry (right) work on the COPPER satellite. Eventually, the sattelite will be launched into outer space. COPPER proposal, serving as the project’s principle investigator who ensures that SLU delivers NASA a functioning satellite. COPPER has three main goals. First, it will show the ability of SLU students to design and build a satellite. Barna, who is managing the project, said that although she has reached many technical issues throughout the project, the lessons she learned in the lab are beyond what she could have learned
in a course. Even though Dr. Swartwout is an excellent resource for assistance, both Barna and Massey said they have had to solve problems with their own ingenuity. CubeSats are nanosatellites that weigh just 1 liter and use less power than other satellites. Costing $65,000 to $80,000, CubeSats are a fraction of the cost of other satellites and were designed to serve as affordable educational tools for universities. Massey said that COP-
GIC: Dees addresses issues Continued from Page 1
During the GIC lecture, Dees also discussed the increasing discrimination against Hispanics in America and said that immigration from Hispanic countries accounts for the increasing diversification of the American population. Dees said that there has recently been an increase in “hateful dialogue” against Hispanics from media commentators and political figures. According to Dees, this discrimination is not a new issue. He compared the dis-
crimination and hateful rhetoric against Hispanics to discrimination against other ethnic and racial minority groups of the past, including the Irish in the 1840s and 1850s, eastern European immigrants in the early 20th century and the Chinese in the 1880s. Dees said that America could be moving toward a successful future, but that it needs to build bridges between racial and ethnic divides. “America is great because of our diversity. This is something that we must recognize and continue to build on the
next 10 to 20 years,” Dees said. “I want young people to not be frightened by diversity because this has been the key to America’s success.” After the speech, Dees answered questions from the audience on various social issues. Several students said Dees’ message was a positive one. “The speech meant a lot to me,” junior Matt Satcher said. “We got to hear about the best and worst of humanity by a man with a lot of experience, and he showed that the good in the world will win out in the end.”
Career training. Money for College.
and an entire teaM
to help you
suCCeed. Serving part-time in the Air National Guard, you’ll have an entire team of like-minded individuals who want to help you get ahead. You can choose from nearly 200 career specialties, and develop the high-tech skills you need to compete in today’s world. You also train close to home, all while receiving a steady paycheck, benefits and tuition assistance. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Missouri Air National Guard can help you succeed.
PER plans to test a low-cost and low-power infrared camera when it is launched into space. “We think we can use this smaller infrared camera to take pictures of the earth,” Barna said. “The CubeSat is simpler due to its small size and reduced complexity.” The project’s second overall objective is to launch the CubeSat from a spacecraft. Swartwout explained the process of the launch. A P-Pod, a device bolted to the rocket, will open its doors and send the CubeSat into outer space once the rocket reaches orbit. Swartout said the launch of COPPER could be beneficial for earth observation. “We think it could be useful for science purposes, but especially for engineering purposes to observe the thermal properties of spacecraft to look for damage, heat problems and to figure out what the spacecraft is doing at all times,” Swartwout said. In addition to taking photographs, Barna said COPPER may be able to take video footage so that after the CubeSat is launched, it will turn around and take videos and pictures of the launch vehicle itself. The third and final goal of this mission is to test a ra-
diation effects modeling experiment in flight. This test was developed by Vanderbilt University, which is partnering on its second satellite, Argus, with SLU. The proposal for Argus was submitted this week, and results on whether or not Argus will fly on a NASA rocket will be revealed in February of 2012. Since NASA is still making accurate preparations for the launch of the rocket, the official date of the CubeSat launch has been delayed. The original date was set for March of 2012, but has been pushed back to December of 2012. Swartwout said the launch could be delayed into 2013. Not only does the rocket need to undergo test flights and inspection by the Russian Space Agency, but astronauts need to be trained in handling the rocket’s ISS equipment. The students on the COPPER project are not discouraged by the delay of the launch. Barna said she sees the additional time as a chance to perfect the project. Swartout said that the program is always interested in recruiting participants, especially for the upcoming Argus satellite. “This program is such good training for us young engineers,” Massey said.
Lecture: Good Advice Continued from Page 1
with Bradley forever. “He said, ‘Always wear good shoes and drink good liquor,’” Bradley said. Bradley said he asked the man what this phrase meant, and he learned that one should always wear good shoes because, if lucky, feet alone will carry a person through life. Bradley said it took him a long time to understand the second part about good liquor. “You have to take care of the things and people that take care of you,” Bradley said. Bradley said he has friends who take care of him all the time, and that the act of taking care of others can also be applied in the classroom. He said he loves his students because they inspire him do his best. “Dr. Bradley’s speech was wonderful,” sophomore Keilah Johnson said. “It was witty, funny and reflective. Even though I have not had the pleasure of having him as a teacher, I still felt as though his speech was relevant to all students.” After learning Bradley’s life lessons and hearing about his hometown, the tag-line to this Last Lecture makes complete sense: “Wear Good Shoes and Drink Good Liquor: Lessons from a Yakima Soul.”
SGA debates student dining options By CHARLES BOWLES Staff Writer
After working on library renovations earlier in the week, Student Government Association had a food fight at their Wednesday meeting. SGA debated two resolutions regarding student meal plans for residents and commuters. The meal plan proposal for residents, which included a provision to increase flex dollars for all student meal plans, sparked a debate about financial considerations for students who live on campus. The resolution came up for debate after Van Vieregge, director of business and auxiliary services for student development, suggested a possible increase in flex dollars for student meal plans last week. The resolution included increasing flex dollars for all student meal plans. The meal plans would be increased by $100 for students with the all-flex plan, $85 for students with the eight-meal plan, $80 for students with the 10-meal plan and $75 for students with the 14-meal plan. Senators Krishi Peddada and Kathleen Cadigan presented the proposal and a survey where 91 percent of students said that an increase in flex would allow them “to take better advantage of the dining options.” Senators questioned the proposal for various reasons including its timing, the validity of the survey cited in the resolution and the effect the proposed increase would have on room and board. Senators questioned the rushed timing of the proposal. Senators feared that the resolution was not fully considered and that more time was needed to consider the resolution. Senators also questioned the data that was cited. The
Mark Campos / Staff Photographer
The Student Government Association met on Nov. 16 to debate changes to the meal plans for students. survey only received answers from 442 respondents about the increase in flex dollars, which senators thought was not representative of the entire student body. Senators also debated how the increase would affect room and board rates for fall 2012. Senators argued that this increase would add to room and board hikes for next year. Senators began to disagree whether the increase in flex dollars would be stacked with the room and board increase for next year. Order had to be called a few times to control the arguments between different senators. Senators attempted to end the debate before other senators could speak on the proposed issue. Senator Blake Exline proposed an amendment to remove all the proposed the financial considerations within the bill. The amendment passed with the removal of all the proposed increases in flex dollars. The remaining clause in the bill, which created an adhoc meal-plan task force, was
passed. SGA also changed the current commuter meal-plan system. In the new plan, there are two options: $300 for 250 flex dollars or $400 for 350 flex dollars. Commuters can opt for the new and larger plans, but students will automatically be given the current commuter meal plan, which is $200 for 150 flex dollars. SGA also endorsed the decision to close the Busch Student Center at midnight instead of 2 a.m. At last week’s meeting, Vieregge said that the center would start closing earlier after the winter break. Vieregge cited low student traffic between midnight and 2 a.m. as one of the reasons for the earlier closing time. Vieregge said that the BSC will extend hours beyond midnight for special events and finals week. SGA confirmed and seated five new senators. Finally, SGA nominated Tommy Zhang to fill the vacant vice president of international affairs position.
Freedom: Heroes remembered Continued from Page 1
was glad that the exhibit was well received by students and staff. “I think people were dually impressed by how the CCC lounge space was transformed and also by the act itself, since it’s not as well known,” she said. “I’m just happy that the CCC had the opportunity to engage the SLU community in this way and hope individuals who viewed the exhibit continue the conversations.” Another program coordinator for the CCC, Andre Benson, said he saw positive reactions from his staff. “Almost all of the staff thought that this exhibit was very powerful,” Benson said. “They were glad to have a visually striking exhibit on campus that could teach so much.”
Benson said students told him that while Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., were covered in high school, their curriculums glossed over the history of these cross-country travelers. The exhibit offered additional context to these prominent figures of the Civil Rights movement. French said that Freedom Riders can still inspire today’s social justice advocates. “I also want others to see the power that young people have in making change,” French said. “The Freedom Riders personify passion, dedication and perseverance.” According to French, this movement was not small to the Riders who were actively attempting to change the way society functioned in the South. “Many of the Riders signed
their last will and testament and were ready to die for this cause because they felt it was more important than their individual selves,” French said. “Many of the college students involved sacrificed final exams, and some were even expelled when the school discovered that they were arrested. That sacrifice is powerful.” French even compared the Freedom Riders to the Society of Jesus as a group focused on their goal. “I can think of the Jesuits, who were started by a small group of men who were committed to live and serve the world using their faith,” French said. “They were dedicated to social justice and endured set-backs and criticism because of it. But that didn’t stop them.”
Opinion
The University News Thursday, November 17, 2011
unewsonline.com
Letters
“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
to the editor The views written in the letters to the editor section reflect the opinions of the individual authors and do not reflect the views of The University News. The University News reserves the right not to publish any letters that are deemed intentionally and/or inappropriately inflammatory, more than the 300-word 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. Actual letters to the editor may be submitted online at unewsonline. com or e-mailed to opinion@unewsonline. com. Please include your cell phone number.
Contact us: Busch Student Center Suite 354 20 N. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63103 Newsroom: (314) 977-2812 newsroom@unewsonline.com Mauriel Blakeley / Chief Illustrator
Advertising: (314) 977-2813 advertisng@unewsonline.com
unewsonline.com facebook.com/theunews twitter.com/theunews EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JONATHAN ERNST (314) 977-1590 eic@unewsonline.com GENERAL MANAGER CONNOR BERRY gm@unewsonline.com MANAGING EDITOR JAMES MEINERS managing@unewsonline.com NEWS EDITOR BRIAN BOYD ASSOC. NEWS EDITORS KRISTEN MIANO PATRICK OLDS news@unewsonline.com ENTERPRISE EDITOR EMILY CAVALIERE enterprise@unewsonline.com OP/ED EDITOR PARISA ROUIE ASSOC. OP/ED EDITOR FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA opinion@unewsonline.com ARTS EDITOR ERIN EVERETT ASSOC. ARTS EDITOR TJ KEELEY arts@unewsonline.com SPORTS EDITOR MICHAEL JOHNSON ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR DERRICK NEUNER sports@unewsonline.com PHOTO EDITOR SHAH (YUQING XIA) ASSOC. PHOTO EDITORS KELLY HINDERBERGER photos@unewsonline.com DESIGN DIRECTOR BRIANNA RADICI design@unewsonline.com MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR CURTIS (ZHENGZHONG WANG)
multimedia@unewsonline.com
ONLINE EDITOR CHRISTOPHER WEBB
Editorials Editorials are opinion pieces written by the Editorial Board of The University News. The 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.
Student journalism still celebrated after 90 years For 90 years, The University News has been ser ving as a student voice in print. Through the World Wars, the Vietnam War and the cola war, this student-run organization has documented the histor y of the campus, preser ving its memor y and further proving that it is the student body that makes and holds a university together. The editorial staff has produced many prominent leaders in society, all of them trained through the intensive production of a school newspaper. Working before, after, in between and during classes, late nights and early mornings, the staff has concerned itself with little more than quality and perfection. Checking spelling and grammar is only the tip of the perfection iceberg. In this regard, much improvement in the nature of this student product can be obser ved. As can be seen from the records of the culture and community of SLU since 1921, the worldview of the student community has drastically improved and widened, and the community has become more and more self-critical and aware of the biases and stereotypes inherent in its culture. As a voice of the students, The University News will aid them in challenging and correcting the existing and arising biases and will promote truth, and nothing but. Along with the University, The University News as part of the community has worked through civil rights and social justice movements throughout the years. In ser ving as a platform for open and responsible discussion, it has embraced any and all voices, regardless of the viewpoints represented. As student leaders, however, the Editorial Board will continue to push for the social change that any leader is determined to create. Over the years, student journalism has also ser ved as a check against the administration and the authority in power. This
is unique to journalism, as the fourth state participating in the process of checks and balances. This role of student journalism has been vital in reminding the audience of the concerns of those who care about the prosperity of the University and require reciprocal concern from the administration in power. As a continuation of this role, the student journalists will continue to preser ve and defend their right to seek the resources necessar y to produce quality writing and content. We admit that after 90 years, we still have a long way to go. The University News must, while improving the quality of its reporting, also expand to publish in a more timely and accessible manner and with news more relevant to a larger number of students. It must also pay closer attention to the needs and necessities of the students. It must continue to preser ve the integrity of student voices and provide an accurate representation of the opinions it embodies. The University News is also responsible in protecting the rights of the students, namely in regards to seeking information and various speakers of differing perspectives. In addition, it must continue to remind the students of the opportunities they have presently to make the most of their college experience. These opportunities include cultural and social venues available in the city of St. Louis, as well as academic and leadership opportunities provided by the University itself. With the changes in the format of media, student journalism will also face reforms, and will embrace them with purpose. For the next 90 years, The University News will continue, undoubtedly, to be a student voice of Saint Louis University since 1921.
webmaster@unewsonline.com
COPY EDITORS ANDREA ROYALS MARY KATE MURRAY copy@unewsonline.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE RACHEL CAMPBELL rcampbell@unewsonline.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE NATALIE GRASSO ngrasso@unewsonline.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE NICK JESSE njesse@unewsonline.com DIRECTOR OF MARKETING BRETTON M. DELARIA marketing@unewsonline.com EDITORIAL ADVISER LAURA THOMSON lthomso1@slu.edu BUSINESS ADVISER DON HIGHBERGER, S.J. dhighber@slu.edu THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY NEWS RECOGNIZES AVIS MEYER, PH.D. AS THE NEWSPAPER’S FACULTY MENTOR.
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. -First copy, free. Each additional copy, $1.00.
Talk to us: Parisa Rouie 314.977.2812 opinion@unewsonline.com
Editor’s note: The following editorial was the first editorial published by Saint Louis University students, in the Dec. 15, 1919 issue of the first student newspaper. Named The Billiken at the time, the publication changed its name later to Fleur de Lis, and was officially tracked as the University paper in 1921 under the title Varsity Breeze. The University News took its current title in the fall of 1931.
It’s Easy To Begin! Nobody finds this immense trouble in getting a new enterprise started. There is a natural enthusiasm accompanying the beginning of each novelty that carries it along easily and smoothly. The first hundred years aren’t always the hardest. The man who talked feelingly of the last long mile knew much more about human nature. Like everyone else in this world, we at St. Louis U are good beginners. We make brave starts, cheer loudly new enterprises, and then—and then, we turn industriously to our books and amusements and forget that original momentum is not enough to carry any machine or any enterprise to its destination. So don’t forget THE BILLIKEN! We have reason to believe that the students of the U read the paper. We are fairly well satisfied with the support from the Varsity men, though there is plenty of room for improvement even there. But don’t let your active interest die. We mean just this: The personal section of THE BILLIKEN is unquestionably the most interesting to the men of the U. And the personal section is precisely the department that has to be built up by the men themselves. The editorial staff can collect and record facts of general interest. It can supply the editorials. But the happenings about frats and clubs, the doings and undoings of the men, the amusing events of class room and dance are beyond
their reach. For these they must rely on YOU, student of St. Louis. And the interest evinced by contributors is undoubtedly dying. Of course, it is a great deal to expect the same man to grind out stuff every time; but if the same man cannot find time or matter to write (and we much doubt either alternative), he can at least get someone else to do it for an issue or two. Some classes have never sent us in notes from the first issue. Others have not been represented at all. Don’t blame us for that. Get busy. If anyone knows of anything of interest, send it in by mail to the editor. Whenever any society or frat gives a dance, or a smoker, or a banquet, let the leading member see that someone is appointed to supply THE BILLIKEN with full details. Just one more point. Don’t sulk or grow savage if your notes do not appear just as they were handed in, or if some of them do not appear at all. At times we are overstocked with matter, and the less interesting notes must drop out. And even your notes, clever correspondent, are not always so brilliant that they cannot stand a bit of revision. And sometimes they frankly wouldn’t be of interest to any save the very small number in on that joke. So allow us a little editorial latitude. We are trying our best to make THE BILLIKEN not only worthy of the U but personally interesting to all of the students. Help us along!
The nursing college shows unprofessionalism in handling new students I came to Saint Louis University as a freshman with an undecided major, and believed that, by taking a variety of classes, I would find a major I loved. Last year, I decided to declare nursing as a major. I discussed my interest in transferring to the nursing school with my advisor. I needed to apply with a minimum 2.5 GPA. We signed the necessar y papers, and she informed me she would let me know as soon as she heard a reply. I am a student enrolled in classes only on the nursing track, and was awaiting a reply until I received this upsetting email: “We have received word that due to high capacity enrollment, the School of Nursing has put a freeze on all internal and external transfer students into their program. This means that any student not directly admitted into the nursing program when they were admitted into the University, will not be able to transfer into the program at this time. It is unclear at this time when, or if, students will be able to transfer into the nursing program.” I refuse to change my major. I am extremely upset, and I am actually considering transferring. Students who have not declared a major as freshmen should not be penalized for the unprofessional mistake of the nursing school. Staying at SLU would be a waste of my time and scholarship money. I was not told from the beginning that this would even be a possibility, and if I had been informed about it, it would have drastically affected my decision to attend SLU. Additionally, this email was sent in the middle of the semester. I don’t know what to do at this point. I will continue to voice my stor y until it is heard. This is unjust. Cherish Scott is a sophomore in the University College.
Website comments As a medical resident at SLUH, I wanted to live close to the hospital but 10 yrs ago, ‘safe’ options were even fewer. I wished the row of small bungalows (recently demolished) to the north of the hospital were available for rent. I was relegated to a sleep deprived drive home after my 36 hour calls. Reusing the pevely building as student housing would definitely be a step in the right direction. It would bring 24 hour pedestrian presence to this corner. With more foot traffic comes safety and further development. I hope the architects on the job are creative enough to find a solution that satisfies all parties involved. - Imran on “University’s Pevely plans reflect disregard for student housing crisis.”
I think your last post was simply inaccurate. The U.S. delegation has sat through many, many speeches by leaders criticizing our country. France has been endlessly critical of the Iraq war, and the U.S. has yet to walk out on one of their speeches. So your contention that the U.S. is doing this because he criticized the U.S., and not because he is an antiSemitic, holocaust denying lunatic is simply wrong. The U.S. is open to criticism, which is why it participates in the U.N. in the first place, and I reiterate my stance that NOT walking out on Ahmadinejad would be sending an inconsistent message that somehow this man has some sort of legitimacy in which his criticisms should be validated. The message is simply, behave as a reasonable member of the international community (such as how France has acted) and have your criticisms heard. Rant about wiping the Jewish people off the map, oppress your own people and threaten war (as Ahmadinejad has done), and let your remarks fall on deaf ears. - Jonathan Gold on “U.N. walkout on Ahmadinejad sends mixed messages.”
Opinion
unewsonline.com
5
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cain sex scandals distract from campaign The world of politics is like a broken record: Yet another politician is tangled in a scandal of sexual misconduct. When will they learn? Commentary Throughout the past few weeks, allegations that Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain sexually harassed women in the 1990s have come Stephanie Woods to the attention of Americans invested in next year’s presidential election. In his defense, the accusations took place long before he decided to run for office, but that is no defense at all. News and headlines have been saturated with the juice of this story, and seems to be shifting the focus of voters off of the real issues of the economy, and instead on the politicians themselves. His haunting past is creating a divide between his supporters who feel the important issues have nothing to do with his old alleged mistakes and those who fear having a man represent our country when he has so many skeletons in his closet. At least four accusers have come forward and noted their claims against Cain from the late 1990s, when he was working as head of the National Restaurant Association. One victim, Sharon Bialek, even said she recalls two separate occasions of sexual harassment. Although most of the women who made accusations against Cain are refusing to disclose their identities to the public, at least one was bold enough to put a face to her claim. Bialek had the courage to demand at a news conference “I want you, Mr. Cain, to come clean. Just admit what you did.” Her valor is admirable and should be recognized by women all around. Still, it is terrifying to put yourself out there to the public, making such an intense claim against such a powerful man.
the all-too Irish name “Rory Flanagan,” and began his audition for the Glee club with, “I sing at Mass every Sunday!” Most annoyingly, though, we, as the audience, are forced to play along with the idea that cheerleader Brittany (Heather Morris), a blonde, of course, is just ditsy enough to believe that Flanagan is a leprechaun whom only she can see. Yep, that’s right, a leprechaun. The fact that Murphy and the masterminds behind “Glee” can take such historically rich cultural identities and distort them into socially acceptable ideas of what an Irish, Jewish, Christian, black or Asian person looks like is truly outrageous. This sort of casting enforces mainstream ideas that are largely based on ignorance, and further cements these gross misportrayals into the minds of its audience. If “Glee” truly wants to stick up for the underdogs, it should reconsider what constitutes an underdog because, in my mind, underdogs are people who look or behave exactly opposite of what is considered “culturally acceptable.” And, as currently written, the “Glee” cast looks and behaves exactly as Murphy deems that society demands they should. Murphy toes the line between “socially acceptable” and “offensive” on a weekly basis, but when will he go too far? Until “Glee” considers stepping outside of the rigid cultural boundaries it sets for itself, it will never achieve the social progress it so backwardly tries to promote. And until then, I will never be a “Gleek.” Side note— While Lea Michele’s mother is Italian-Catholic and her father is Spanish-Jewish, both of Agron’s parents are Jewish, and so is she. Think about how different the show would be if (gasp!) Lea Michele were to play Quinn Fabray, and Agron to play Rachel Berry. Do not worry, Mr. Murphy. I’ll never expect that kind of diversity from you. And I guess you can cover up just about anything with a little song and dance.
Whether you are a child or an adult, holidays will always be exciting. Whether it is a break from work or school, a chance to see Commentary friends and family, or perhaps just gift-giving, holidays are typically supposed to be meaningful, joyous occasions. However, it is extremely difKelly Lyons ficult for people to focus on the happiness of one holiday when advertisers and big corporations everywhere are trying to convince consumers that it is already Christmas season the day after Halloween. These “holiday skippers,” as they are frequently called, are trying to ruin the spirit of festivities by racing to the next one. It’s obvious that many people whose businesses revolve around holiday gifts and products attempt to milk the seasons for all they are worth. However, many people actually do value the holidays for reasons other than the novelties and advertising schemes that are so impossible to avoid within a three-month radius of their favorite holidays. And the more advertisers try to transform occasions into just another annoying “Hallmark Holiday,” the deeper meanings of these holidays are lost. The stereotypical, Americanized versions of holidays, such as Christmas, may be fun to celebrate for the entire two months or so that yuletide paraphernalia is being shoved down the throats of consumers. However, at this point it is very unlikely they are celebrating these occasions for what they were truly meant to be. The fact that so many people are only concerned with making money during these seasons is an insult to all of the people who truly do value these times of love and thankfulness. No matter what religion you are or what sort of occasions you celebrate, the feelings of camaraderie and togetherness are all feelings usually associated with holiday seasons. For example, take Thanksgiving, an extremely important and valid holiday for people who live in America. This holiday is supposed to be dedicated to remembering those who were responsible for first colonizing this country and taking the time to give thanks for the precious things in life. It is hypocritical to shaft this particular holiday into “Hallmark” territory. As if varieties of companies do not make enough money from the food, cards, decorations and more because of Thanksgiving, they have taken it upon themselves to Americanize the very essence of American holidays. But whichever happy occasion is prematurely thrust into stores and specialty shops everywhere, one thing remains the same: The drastically early arrival of overpriced holiday gear only makes a mockery of the festivities they represent. Instead of promoting the concrete values these holidays are actually meant to represent, these tactics promote the antithesis. While the smiling faces on greeting cards and other products may attempt to lead people to believe otherwise, the sad truth is that, thanks to the booming business of their byproducts, holidays are beginning to mean less and less in society than ever before. It’s one thing to be excited for holidays a tad too early, guilty of listening to more than a fair share of Christmas music before the socially acceptable date of Black Friday. However, there’s a difference between regular people simply looking forward to their favorite holidays and big corporations advertising and selling overpriced, unnecessary products months in advance solely out of greed. These types of people make my holidays feel much more “bah humbug” than cheery and bright. While these companies appear to be promoting holiday joy, in reality they are just trying to make a profit. Of course, I love any decorations, from pumpkins in the fall to lights in the winter. But despite the tactics of big business, I still firmly believe in the values and “spirit” associated with the holidays I celebrate. Although I am constantly annoyed with the ploys of corporations that are only interested in holidays for their monetary aspects, I try my best to ignore the apparent early arrival of “Hallmark holidays” and appreciate these holidays as I normally do. Though I do admit, it is a little challenging for me to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast when every store I walk into is under the impression that it’s Christmas day.
Erin Everett is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Kelly Lyons is a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences
Erika Klotz / Illustrator
Mysteriously, all of the women stepped down and settled disputes out of court, never making it to trial. Had it been just one single woman making these claims, the allegations may have been questionable. However, the fact that several women are coming forward is daunting for his reputation, and making people respect him less every day. Maintaining that it is simply a journalistic smear, Cain continues to play the victim and deny the allegations. It always starts with denial. However, after the truth comes out–which it always does–immediately following comes the groveling and “sincere regret.” All of it could be avoided if these political heads could quit before their searches for the thrill of power and danger, and instead put more effort into actually bettering society. With our recent focus and growing knowledge of sexual assault, Saint Louis University students know the prevalence of the matter and this is just one of countless examples of politicians acting inappro-
priately. I think we all remember the Anthony Weiner scandal last summer. The only thing worse than a middle aged man sending waist down photos of himself via Twitter to a 21-year-old girl is the fact that he lied to the public about it for a week. Oh, and he’s a senator. Without any alternate options, he finally came forward, confessed and resigned, as he should. The notorious scandal involving Bill Clinton is an even better example of a sleazy, lying politician. The affair with 22-year-old Monica Lewinsky will forever taint my memory of him and even overshadow any of his success while president. By putting Cain in office, do we run the risk of a similar scandal breaking out again, and bring shame to him, his family and our country? Cain is proving in this case that even negative publicity is good publicity. He is using the limelight to his advantage and milking the attention in order to get his name and ideas recognized. The popular 9-9-9 plan he pro-
posed is his solution to taxes in America. It seems appealing because a 9 is the magic number in his imposition of 9 percent tax for income tax, business transactions tax and federal sales tax. For being such a genius as a businessman, he sure is a chump. Let’s not forget, though, that the election is still one year away. So, when push comes to shove, people will hopefully focus on what really matters. Candidates, please be authentic. Give us the truth. Quit intertwining yourselves in sex scandals. If you do find yourself in that position, come clean immediately and work toward fixing it, rather than trying to sweep it under the rug and point fingers in every other direction. SLU should consider forwarding Cain the link to the sexual assault module, and perhaps then we could see some results and change some lives. Stephanie Woods is a junior in the John Cook School of Business.
SGA senators fall into routine, forget their main responsibilities For those students involved in various organizations on campus, it can become very frustrating when the administration takes their Commentary participation for granted. Students then feel betrayed and powerless. What is the point of having a voice on campus if nobody listens to it? Federico Garcia Lorca I used to think differently, though. When I arrived to St. Louis last year as a transferring junior from the Madrid Campus, it seem a good idea to join some organizations and get involved. I was lucky enough to be chosen as senator for the Student Government Association. It opened the doors to a whole new world of people, meetings, organizations and involvement at levels I was not expecting. Looking back at my year in SGA, my social activities and personal engagement over weighs any kind of senatorial work that I actually performed during the year. That presents a problem. If senators in SGA happen to experience the same lull in productivity, then the system is not working. Senators need to understand that they are representing hundreds of students, and combined, SGA senate speaks for thousands. Every time a bill is passed without much thought, attention, or agreement because of a lack of self-motivation that evening, a huge burden is placed in the student body. SLU administration plays a double-sided game on this. On one hand, they will sometimes seek the approval of SGA as a back-up to make sure students agree with their plans and policies. On the other hand, they also know the outreach of SGA to the student population is limited and often not numerous. It is important to notice two facts here: SLU’s administration will sometimes impose changes no matter the student opinion. Whoever it is, whatever department, will have enough authority to push agendas forward in their belief that it benefits the students at large. And second, SGA loses credibility every single time they let slide another one of these administration-driven policies slide. They cannot expect
“
students to feel represented and their interests fairly defended if they do not step up and speak as a united student voice. Communication between SGA and students is key. Students need to fully trust SGA and SGA needs to fully carry the student voice, no matter if it agrees in more or less measure with the administration. A larger involvement from students would give more courage to senators to speak up, but many ignore the mechanisms and real reach SGA already has, so they dismiss the issue. Senators are the first ones that need to go out and make sure their constituents know about them and what they are capable of. Unfortunately, senators fall in the spiral of meetings and SGA bureaucracy, and forget to do this essential part of their job. How many students really know who their senators are? I bet not many. As it happened to me, senators let week after week go by and keep themselves happy with two or three events per semester. In my case, I tried to reach out to students. Those who lived last year in Marchetti Towers probably got my “Marchetti Mailer,” and still I did not receive much response from my constituents. Students have their own priorities, classes and schedule. I do not see this to be incompatible with a stronger involvement in SGA. I failed to effectively communicate to students the importance of backing up SGA. And with that, I let SGA fail as well. All senators did. It is frustrating to see how all SGA accomplishments are either rooted to the administration or not really relevant. The flow of communication should go from the students to SGA, and then from SGA to the administration, not the other way around. It is true that SGA should keep students informed about what is happening, but it should also keep administration informed of what students are thinking. Until SGA creates that link, its voice will be weak and empty of significance. Senators will not be able to call themselves student representatives and the student body will continue as a mere puppet of SLU’s administration, instead of a powerhouse of opinion and change.
Senators need to go out and make sure their constituents know about them.
”
Federico Garcia Lorca is a senior in the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology.
Brandon Woods / Illustrator
Music plasters ‘Glee’ stereotypes Pop culture is popular because it does not take any risks. Instead, pop culture conforms to cultural norms and expectations, and Commentary serves them up as something fresh and exciting. The disgustingly cliché television series “Glee” is no exception to this theory. I have tried Erin Everett to like “Glee” since it began airing in 2009. Overnight, it seems, the musical comedy-drama series became a success. To date, the series has received six Emmys and four Golden Globes, among countless other awards. Who can take issue with that? “Gleeks” proudly attest that their beloved series sticks up for the underdogs in society, and teaches people to accept their inner dorky selves, or something like that. I beg to differ. My biggest problem with the show is its overt representation of stereotypes. Characters are cast to fill labels, such as “The Christian” and “The Cheerleader,” rather than cast as roles that are actually wellwritten and believable. Murphy works closely with these labels, never straying too far from bigotry. For example: The Jewish character (Lea Michele) has a larger nose, the cheerleader (Dianna Agron) is blonde and promiscuous, the homosexual (Chris Colfer) is feminine and fashionable, the Asian (Harry Shum, Jr.) is a genius and the black woman (Amber Riley) is a diva reminiscent of “Dream Girls.” The epitome of cultural stereotyping was evidenced in the Tuesday, Nov. 1 episode, in which “The Glee Project” winner Damian McGinty made his debut. McGinty, a heavily accented Irishman, could have expected to be written as a foreign exchange student, but his actual role was so perverse that it made me nauseous. McGinty’s character was given
Holidays are much more than shopping opportunities
Games
The University News Advertise with us: 314.977.2813 advertising@unewsonline.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
unewsonline.com
Comics/Student Art
Last Week’s Solutions:
By: Tyler Sondag
Sudoku
Entertain Your Brain A Service of The University of Missouri – St. Louis
Crossword
Word Search
Arts OUT
The University News Talk to us: Erin Everett 314.977.2812 arts@unewsonline.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
unewsonline.com
Vampires and werewolves and glitter, oh my!
on the
TOWN Arts Editors’ Picks
MUSIC Sunday, Nov. 20 8 p.m. I Fight Dragons with Equal Squeeze The Firebird Tickets are $12
THEATER Friday, Nov. 18 8 p.m. Blithe Spirit Xavier Hall Theater Student tickets are $7
Photo by Andrew Cooper. Courtesy of Summit Entertainment, LLC.
Staff writers share strengths and flaws of latest release in ‘Twilight’ series Saturday, Nov. 19 8 p.m. Blithe Spirit Xavier Hall Theater Student tickets are $7
Sunday, Nov. 20 2 p.m. Blithe Spirit Xavier Hall Theater Student tickets are $7
Nov. 22 through Nov. 27 Times vary by day, schedule available online Mamma Mia! The Fabulous Fox Theatre Visit fabulousfox.com for more information
MOVIES Sunday, Nov. 20 6 p.m. The Descendents The Tivoli Theater Closing night film for the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). Reception to follow at the Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel on S. Broadway.
Thursday, Nov. 24 8 p.m. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving ABC
OTHER Saturday, Nov. 19 11 a.m. The UNews Experience: A Life Fit For Print Beracha 221 A panel of nine alumni and the current Editor-in-Chief will discuss how journalism shaped their college experiences.
Thursday, Nov. 24 9 a.m. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade NBC
Staff Writer
Worth the watch
By KATHRYN GRUNDY Staff Writer
Waste of time
Are you busy on Thursday? Hopefully, if you are, it is because you are planning to attend “The Twilight Saga” midnight premiere of “Breaking Dawn: Part One.” While the Twilight series is fantasized for its unlikely love story, and hated because it is just another vampire craze, it is worth the cost of admission to attend a screening. Suppose that you have not read the books. That is fine. Although, there is just one question: Have you seen Robert Pattinson? Pattinson, who plays vampire Edward Cullen, is reason enough to see the movie, not simply because he is insanely good looking, but because of the character that he plays. Stephanie Meyer, the author of “Twilight,” created Edward Cullen to be a complex yet simple creature, which results in the beautiful heartthrob that he is. If a member of “Team Edward,” then this movie is especially important because it shows that he finally receives a happy ending, which has taken him more than 100 years to achieve, by his marriage to Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). Both girls and, yes, guys—whether they be boyfriends who were dragged to the movies or actual fans—wait in line for hours each time a new chapter of the saga is released. There is a reason that each time a new book was released, it flew off of the shelves within hours. Some fans were forced to pre-order their copy of Stephanie Meyer’s new releases, as with J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. The adapted movies are no exception to this protocol, as audiences must pre-order their tickets more than a month in advance to be guaranteed a spot at the midnight premiere, or anywhere within one week of the movie’s release. Fans dress up like characters and buy, as well as create, shirts that represent their obsession with the series. If you are buying popcorn or a drink at the movies, I guarantee each concession will be stamped with Edward and Bella’s faces, while being carried away by members of Teams Edward and Jacob. Clearly there is something that draws people to go and see “Twilight.” Whether skeptics want to admit it or not, the “Twilight” series is our generation’s phenomenon. We were a part of the crowd that carried the thick black book on top of our already heavy book stack from class to
class in high school, and, instead of watching “Gossip Girl” and “Modern Family” at night, we read books. High school lunch table discussions consisted of how many chapters of the current book had been read the night before, rather than trying to keep up with who was dating whom. People were obsessed with the books, and they went everywhere that their readers did. They became a part of us. “Twilight” books have been through airport security, to church, the bathroom, soccer practice and, especially, read in place of doing homework. But what is it that makes people love the series so much? For many readers, it is Meyer’s writing., Some critics argue that her writing style is very simplistic. However, she created an entire world that becomes more like a possible reality, the further you find yourself in her books. Having to create an entire false reality seems nearly impossible, but Meyer created the rules between the vampires and werewolves, who they are and how a person becomes one. Every single detail of her books becomes relevant at some point, even if it happened 100 pages ago. There is no such thing as insignificance with her storytelling. Meyer so vividly captures the bond that Edward and Bella share, that it feels as if you are experiencing the romance yourself. It is frequently mentioned that Stewart and Pattinson are bad actors, but this is not true. While the first “Twilight” movie was poorly produced, it is only because the crew was working with such a low budget and had no idea of its potential box office success. Due to the immediate success of the first installment, the second movie’s production was announced within a week of the first movie’s theater release. With success comes a bigger budget and a much more experienced crew, and this explains why every movie in the “Twilight” series is better than the last. With Thursday’s late-evening release being one of the most anticipated films of the series, as well as the best book, the bar will be set even higher than it was for “Eclipse,” and the story line will be even further advanced–and complicated. This is the movie that fans are waiting for, because who doesn’t love a humanvampire wedding and a demon-child pregnancy?
When faced with the chance to jump on the “Twilight” bandwagon this weekend, it will be helpful to keep in mind the one fatal flaw of this most recent addition to the series: the entire plot. The narrative begins with the long-awaited marriage of barely-legal Bella Swan and 109-year-old vampire Edward Cullen. Expect a plethora of uncomfortably close shots of Edward and Bella gazing into each other’s eyes. The story traces the couple’s whereabouts to their Brazilian honeymoon where Bella tries to get Edward to consummate their marriage, and he inexplicably resists. Finally, the newlyweds have PG-13 vampire sex, during which Bella mysteriously loses consciousness. When she wakes up, she is covered in bruises and feathers because Edward has accidentally beaten her and bitten open a pillow. If this sounds like domestic violence, do not worry—this is normal vampire husband behavior. Subsequently, Bella becomes pregnant with a human-vampire creation that is tearing her body apart from the inside. Eventually, the vampire fetus causes Bella’s spine to snap, so Edward rips open her uterus–with his teeth–and delivers the baby. Fortunately, Edward saves the day when he stabs Bella with a vampirevenom filled syringe. On a side note, in pedophilic change-of-heart, Jacob falls madly in love with the newborn infant. So, naturally, Bella lets him babysit. If all of this sounds creepy and ridiculous, that is because it is. Moreover, the narrative’s resonance with an entire generation of young women is disturbing. Presently, thousands of women are preparing to see a film adapted for screen by a woman, based on a novel that was written by a woman, and in this film the female lead’s ultimate motivation is to become utterly self-sacrificing for a man. Now, all of this might be forgiven, if “Breaking Dawn” could at least pull off decent acting and cinematography. In reality, the acting is not strong enough to overcome the cheesy, overdramatic dialogue. The attempts at generic conventions of horror and sci-fi fantasy often descend into embarrassing melodrama, and even farce. It is never clear whether the ac-
tors are portraying a serious romance, or the comedic parody of one when they are spewing pick-up lines like this: “Your scent, it’s like a drug to me, my own personal brand of heroin,” or “I’m the world’s most dangerous predator. Everything about me invites you in.” In all fairness, to develop a character like Bella would be an insurmountable task for almost any actress. Bella has precisely one flaw—clumsiness—which does not actually lend the character dimension. Stewart is saddled with a character that is less of a personality, and more of an archetype onto which all teenage girls can project their Disney World fantasies. Pattinson’s portrayal of Edward Cullen presents an even more problematic role for the young actor. How does one play a controlling stalker and, at the same time, make him a protagonist? Throughout the series, Edward alienates Bella from her friends and family, stalks her, removes her car battery to keep her from driving, jealously attacks wolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), and breaks into Bella’s home to watch her sleep every night. The strangest part is that in “Breaking Dawn” the audience is supposed to be happy about Bella’s marriage to this guy. It would be imprudent to overlook one important consequence of “Twilight’s” popularity: It ruined vampires. Throughout the multi-novel saga, readers learn the real story behind those enigmatic, mythic creatures. Twilight vampires avoid the sun because it makes them really sparkly. Also, “Twilight” vampires do not sleep in coffins, suck human blood or turn into bats. They go to high school and generally refrain from being scary at all. Thus, the question must be asked: Why even call these sensitive, glitter-happy creatures “vampires” in the first place? With vampires out of the equation, this film is rendered nothing more than another stock teen romance. This soapy melodramatic saga is about two attractive kids who try really hard to be abstinent. In “Breaking Dawn,” the kids get married, and suddenly there is no conflict, so Meyer has to invent a new one. Enter demonic vampire fetus. A thin plot line, mediocre acting, embarrassing dialogue and anti-feminist undertones are all potential reasons not to see this film.
By EMILY DIEHL
Coming to the Fox: ‘Mamma Mia!’ Here we go again By STEPHANIE MUELLER Staff Writer
A decade after ABBA’s greatest hits were first introduced to the grand Broadway stage, “Mamma Mia!” dances its way to The Fabulous Fox Theater from Nov. 22 through 27, as the latest installment in the theater’s U.S. Bank Broadway Series. The musical chronicles the story of a young girl’s desire for her long-lost father to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. The every-minute obstacle of not knowing which of three men holds that paternal title forms the basis of the production, supported by a humorous and occasionally provocative cast. As daughter, Sophie, invites the three unsuspecting men to her wedding, without her eccentric mother’s knowl-
edge, in an attempt to determine who provided that mysterious chromosome, a story of old love, current love and new love unfolds. Christian Wheelan, who currently plays uninformed potential father Sam, recalls the ABBA-filled days of his youth and said that his current involvement with the show is “a dream come true.” “I grew up with an 8-track tape of ABBA that I would listen to when I would drive to high school. Now, being a part of it is just exhilarating,” Wheelan said. On Oct. 18, 2001, the renowned musical opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. It has since been seen by more than 50 million people, receiving worldwide acclaim and securing its spot as one of the most-loved musicals of the modern era.
Photo by Joan Marcus
“Mamma Mia!” is a musical inspired by the greatest hits of the 1970s pop sensation ABBA. Freshman Corinne Halsted said she is looking forward to the production’s reprise at the Fox.
“I’ve never actually seen it on stage,” Halsted said. “I’ve only seen the movie, but I love it. My friends and I are
planning on going to it when it comes here.” See “ABBA” on Page 8
Arts
8
The University News
unewsonline.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Chicago band slays dragons with music band originally made more than 60 songs for “KABOOM!” and that the tracks which made it on the album “won out.” “We literally had to fight for every single song on the album,” Mazzaferri said.
By ERIN EVERETT Arts Editor
Taste Buds By TIM JANCZEWSKI and ADAM KAMPEN Columnists
This week, we set our sights on the pizza place that was voted “Best Pizza in St. Louis” in a poll hosted by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Black Thorn Pub and Pizza, located in the Tower Grove neighborhood south of the Health Sciences Campus, clearly states its priorities in its name: It is a pub first and a pizza place second. Having arrived mere minutes after 7 p.m. on a Friday night, we were carded at the front door before we were allowed entry, because patrons who are under 21 years of age are not allowed, in late evening. The pizzeria was lacking a sufficient amount of places to sit. When you arrive, you can seat yourself only if you are lucky enough to find an open table. We ordered our pizza before we even had a table, and it was 40 minutes before a group left and we were able to sit down. We would recommend visiting on a midweek night, or shortly after they open at 5 p.m. The scene is casual at best. We each wore a collared shirt and felt embarrassingly out of place. The exterior of the place draws no attention to itself, as it is nestled into a quaint residential area just south of Tower Grove Park. The interior brick and wood-paneled walls of this old, converted “corner-store” building were littered with messages written in chalk, and the background music was a typical bar mix of hits from yesterday and today. Black Thorn fits the dive bar mold like a glove. Do not go to the Black Thorn if you are extremely hungry because the wait
time for a single pizza is a minimum of an hour. By the time we were called to the bar to pick up our two pizzas, our stomachs were grumbling and our mouths were watering. Judging from the other tables, Black Thorn’s Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is the way to go, although they do offer thin and pan-crust pizzas for the less adventuresome. Purists may dispute the legitimacy of their claim to Chicago-style pizza, but the structure of the pizza begins with the main bottom crust followed by pounds of cheese and toppings all covered by the top crust, which is smothered in Black Thorn’s signature sauce and more toppings. The cheese is hard to miss, due to the loads of melted goodness trapped between the two layers of crust in every bite. We were big fans of the sauce as well, which is generously seasoned with oregano and crushed red pepper to give your pizza a distinguished kick of spice. We ordered two medium pizzas, one cheese, and the other pepperoni and sausage. The plain cheese pizza was a bit of a dairy overload, so toppings are recommended. We joined six friends at Black Thorn, and the two medium pizzas were more than enough to fill everyone’s appetites. Though the experience was something to write about, the pizza was the main reason we went to Black Thorn. If you have the time to spare, then eat-in. Otherwise, we would recommend carry-out, to enjoy the Chicago-style pizza in whatever setting you may desire.
I Fight Dragons is a band of geeks, for geeks and by geeks, and that is part of what makes them so entirely perfect. The video game-loving dragon fighters got their first taste of fame opening alongside Travie McCoy, 3oh!3 and Cobra Starship during MTV’s summer 2010 “Too Fast For Love” tour, and the group was recognized by the Alternative Press as one of 100 bands to watch in 2011. After two successful EPs garnered a loyal Internet following, including 2009’s “Cool Is Just A Number” and 2010’s “Welcome to the Breakdown,” the group released their first full-length album “KABOOM!” in October of 2011. If the evidence is not yet compelling, there are (at least) three important reasons to love I Fight Dragons: 1. These five guys are technological geniuses. The 1980s saw the emergence of chiptune music, when it was discovered that SID chips could be used to “rip” sound bites from older video game and computer systems. I Fight Dragons took chiptune music to the next level, though, as the result of an accidental discovery. “Chiptune had been around for a while,” lead singer Brian Mazzaferri said. “We invented the game-controller part of chiptune by accident. We can hook up a Gameboy or a Nintendo, and we’re actually playing it and making the sounds into something playable at the same time. We’re instrumentalists.” Among the repertoire of a stage set for I Fight Dragons, including the usual array of drums, guitars and microphones, are a Nintendo Gameboy, a Zapper gun reminiscent of the beloved Nintendo game “Duck Hunt,” a Guitar Hero plastic six string and a Power Pad floor mat, preserved from the days before “Dance Dance Revolution.” And each produces its own unique sound. “I have no musical talent, and I’m pretty bad at video games,” graduate student Matt Shelly said. “So, for
A rose by any other name . . .
Curtis Wang / Multimedia Director
English professors from SLU and Wash U and one screenwriter discussed the Shakespearean authorship question, the influence of popular culture and the societal appeal of conspiracy theories. A crowd of more than 150 attended the panel, including two self-proclaimed supportors of the Oxfordian theory.
ABBA: Performance based on music Continued from Page 7
With the white sand and clear waters of Greece as a backdrop, the production has become a staple among theater-goers for its selection of songs, sure to be sung for hours after the final scene, as well as a cast full of likable characters. “The chemistry of the grouping of people they have managed to put together has been enough to guide the tour with the strongest version of storytelling,” Wheelan said. The story will be new to several audience members, including Saint Louis University sophomore Becca Davis. “All I know is that it’s about a girl trying to figure out who her father is,” Davis said. “I’ve never seen it, but it definitely seems interesting.”
Despite countless remakes in both stage and film versions of the story, the relative newness of the musical has yet to allow the same fame that shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Les Misérables” have seen. “Mamma Mia!” has already shown the potential to one day top the list of longestrunning Broadway shows, though, bringing a fresh plot to the stage with characters that the audience can’t help but love. “[‘Mamma Mia!’] will absolutely be celebrating a 20th anniversary,” Wheelan said. “It has the popularity and draw of identifiable character.” With catchy pop songs and indubitable lightheartedness,
the goal is more than possible, with “Mamma Mia!” already holding its place as the 10th longest-running show on Broadway. In the cutthroat entertainment world, maintaining a meaningful residual thought in the audience can be difficult. “Mamma Mia!” is the exception, though, with the cast hoping the audience will leave with a message of love, above all else. “Love doesn’t go away,” Wheelan said. “You can harbor a true love in your heart, even if you make the wrong choices.” To purchase tickets for “Mamma Mia!” visit the Fox Theatre’s website at fabulousfox.com, or call the box office at (314) 534-1111.
3. I Fight Dragons will never be able to be replicated.
Photo by Alex Goykhman
I Fight Dragons, a pop/rock group from Chicago, combines instrumentals with Nintendo-based electronic sound bites. them to be able to turn a Super Nintendo controller into an instrument, and play it successfully, blows my mind.” As self-professed “geeks,” I Fight Dragons’ music finds a special appreciation among fellow gamers. Citing Super Nintendo as a “formative system,” Mazzaferri said popular video games have influenced some of the group’s biggest hits. “Final Fantasy 3 is my favorite,” Mazzaferri said. “It’s kind of the epitome of Super Nintendo role-playing games. You can hear a lot of those sounds in our music, like ‘Prelude’ and ‘Fanfare.’” One of I Fight Dragons’ most beloved YouTube videos, “Rickroll + Mario,” is a Mario and Luigi-style cover of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Zelda, too, is a recurrence in the group’s music, epitomized by the overall theme “Save World Get Girl” and “I Fight Ganon,” a remake of the Zelda theme song that showcases an upbringing in a cappella and impeccable vocal harmony. 2. The music industr y needs more “smart rockers.” Poeticism and majestic metaphor dominate much of
modern songwriting. (Think “I love you like a love song,” and forgive the Selena Gomez reference). The best songs are the “smart” ones: Songs that tell a story to withstand the test of time, including stories about fighting for someone you love, partying with your friends and even stories about crushing on your friends’ parents. “Fountains of Wayne is definitely my all-time favorite band,” Mazzaferri said. “I had already loved their music for five years before ‘Stacy’s Mom’ came out, and it was their big smash single. Luckily, it didn’t ruin them. They had great stuff before, and they’ve continued to come out with great stuff ever since.” Somewhere alongside the beeps and boops of I Fight Dragons’ tech-heavy signature sounds, the same lyrical genius can be found. Personal favorites include “No One Likes Superman Anymore,” an angst-y song off of “Cool Is Just A Number” about turning on the superheroes you grew up with, and “Don’t You,” which Mazzaferri said is “a well-mixed demo” that made its way on the full-length album when the group’s record label fell in love with the nerdstyle party rock anthem. Mazzaferri said that the
Video games are replaceable, and their sounds can be recycled, but I Fight Dragons’ one-of-a-kind vocals, backed by impressive instrumental support and techie toys, are not. Best of all, the Chicago natives are genuine, fan-loving friends. New to the headlining gig, the group makes a special effort to stick around after their shows, clad in matching black suits and neon-lined capes, to “geek out” with their followers. Shelly, who has met and Facebook friended all five members of I Fight Dragons, said that the group’s approachability is part of what makes them so appealing. “I don’t think that they would hesitate to invite fans over for a Mario Kart tournament,” Shelly said. “Not only could they beat my high score, but they would do it with a level of artistic mastery that I can only dream of.” SLU graduate Matt Gonnerman, of the class of 2011, shared the same sentiments. “The reason I love them so much is that they are the perfect combination of highenergy rock and nerdy-ness,” Gonnerman said. Fresh off their latest album, “The Geeks Will Inherit The Earth” is a rally song for fans of one of the modern music world’s best-kept secrets. And, being geeks themselves, the men of I Fight Dragons had just one question left to answer. “I think the best part about being a geek is geeking out with other people,” Mazzaferri said. “You can be a geek about almost anything— a sports geek, a history geek— but the best thing is finding people who are the same type of geek that you are.” I Fight Dragons will make a stop at the Firebird on Sunday, Nov. 20. Tickets are $12, and can be purchased at firebirdstl.com.
Sports Tra
Billiken Briefs Senior
finishes
brilliant career
Saint Louis University senior Hilary Orf became the first Billiken to claim All-Region honors after placing 18th at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday in DeKalb, Ill. Orf finished the 6K with a time of 21:34.62. It was the final cross country race for Orf, who goes down as the most decorated Billiken cross country student-athlete ever. In addition to earning the All-Region nod, she owns the school records in the 5K and 6K and is a three-time AllConference selection.
Swimming
and diving
makes solid showing
Saint Louis University finished second among eight teams in the men’s meet and third among nine squads in the women’s competition at the IUPUI House of Champions Meet Nov. 11-12. The Billiken men captured five first-place finishes and registered nine additional top-three performances on their way to 627.5 points. The Billiken women scored 535 points, winning three events and turning in eight other topthree efforts.
The University News Thursday, November 17, 2011
unewsonline.com
>> Women’s Basketball
>> Commentary
Billikens come up short against Mizzou
Say it ‘aint Joe-Pa
Squad resilient, but in the end, cannot measure up to towering Tigers By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
University of Missouri forwards BreAnna Brock, Liene Priede and Christine Flores would measure a whopping 18-feet-3-inches, if stacked on top of each other. This amount of sheer height was just too much for the Billikens in their matchup with the Tigers on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Brock, Priede and Flores combined to score 46 of Mizzou’s (3-0) points in their 6856 defeat of Saint Louis University (1-2). Head Coach Shimmy GrayMiller knew this height advantage would be tough to overcome heading into their game with a Big XII Conference opponent, but she said she exited Chaiftetz Arena proud that her players were not phased or intimidated in the Show-me State showdown. “I’m really proud that our players never quit,” Gray-Miller said. “We were outsized at every position, but we out-rebounded them… That’s huge and that’s what I’m going to focus on-- not the 12-point loss, but all the little things that we did.” SLU held a 53-34 edge in the rebounding column, but shot a mere 25.4 percent from the field. The Billikens trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half, but clawed their way
Michael Johnson / Sports Editor
Junior forward Mallory Eggert (50) defends University of Missouri’s Christine Flores in Wednesday, Nov. 16 night’s action at Chaifetz Arena. back to within four points of the Tiger’s lead, with 8:02 remaining in the second stanza. The Billikens were led by sophomore forward Lorreal Jones. Jones managed to pour in a career and team-high 19 points, in spite of the imposing Mizzou trio of towers defending her all evening. Next up for the Bills is a date with the Flames of the University of Illinois-Chicago on Friday, Nov. 18. The Bills will need to extinguish the Flames in order to climb back
By TONY TRAINA Staff Writer
all-access
diary from men’s
basketball player
to .500 on the season. The Flames (2-0) have burned up their competition of this season, scorching past Southeast Missouri State and Drake University. Senior and St. Louis-native Jasmine Bailey carries the torch for the Flames. Bailey has been red-hot as of late, registering a career-high 30 points and a perfect 3-3 shooting performance from beyond the 3-point line against SEMO. Junior forward Mallory
Eggert and senior guard Janisha “Pooh” Geralds both hail from the Chicagoland area, and expect to have a number of family members in the crowd. “I think we might have more fans than the Flames have there,” Gray-Miller kidded. It will be a toasty, warm environment at the UIC Pavilion, with all the familial love in the house. Expect the Bills to come out firing against the Flames.
‘The Gray Seasons’ hits the screens of famed Tivoli
Next time in The University News Exclusive
Talk to us: Michael Johnson 314.977.2812 sports@unewsonline.com
Curtis Wang / Multimedia Director
Shimmy Gray-Miller’s teams over the past four years serve as the focal point for the documentary.
Brian Daly
As the camera fades in on the 2006 version of the Saint Louis University women’s basketball team, the audience realizes just how far the squad has come. The camera focuses on a team getting blown out in the aging West Pine Gym, a team soon in pieces as the athletic director and coach are ousted. “This isn’t ‘Hoosiers,’ not even close,” Coach Shimmy Gray-Miller says with about 20 minutes left in the documentary “The Gray Seasons,” leaving any hopes of a Jimmy Chitwood-like ending with the opening credits. “The Gray Seasons” is a critically acclaimed documentary that has travelled to film festivals across the country, picking up multiple awards along the way. The film made
its St. Louis debut at the St. Louis International Film Festival on Nov. 15. It follows the Billiken women’s basketball team during Gray-Miller’s first four seasons, from 2006-2010. GrayMiller inherited a momentous rebuilding project, as the Billikens have consistently had one of the worst women’s basketball programs in Division I. The documentary is entirely in grayscale, adding a dramatic and melancholy undertone to a largely unfinished and -- to this point -heartbreaking story. About 30 minutes into the film, I found myself avidly cheering for the Billikens as game film was played from an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament game. Later, as the See “Gray Seasons” on Page 10
>> Men’s Basketball
Billikens take Salukis for a walk in their own park By AUSTIN PENCE Staff Writer
BILLIKEN SCOREBOARD
R
Women’s Basketball
L 60-63 @ Memphis
W 54-45 vs. SEMO
L 56-68 vs. Mizzou Men’s Basketball
W 71-37 vs. Tennessee State
W 61-42 Southern Illinois
The contrast between the Saint Louis University Billikens and Southern IllinoisCarbondale’s Salukis couldn’t be more evident: SLU is on the rise while SIU, just three seasons removed from six consecutive NCAA berths, is on the demise. The Billikens (2-0) held SIU to just eight field goals over 40 minutes, matching a school record, as they romped to a 61-42 victory. For SLU, the win marked the first time it had won in Carbondale since 1997, when Larry Hughes scored 35 points; it was also the first non-conference road win for Head Coach Rick Majerus in his five-season tenure at SLU. Offensively, SLU shot 42 percent from the floor and 35 percent from 3-point range. Senior Brian Conklin led all scorers with 14 points off 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Junior Cody Ellis scored 11, while senior Kyle Cassity chipped in 10. Junior point guard Kwamain Mitchell led the Billikens with seven rebounds. The victory is No. 71 for Majerus at SLU. He is now just seven games away from his 500th career victory. The game, attended by more than 4,200, including a contingent of Billikens fans, was never really contested. SLU jumped quickly to a 14-6 lead after a 3-point play by Ellis and a trey by Cassity with 10:46 to go in the first half. SIU Head Coach Chris Lowery was forced to call a timeout with 8:46 remaining in the half after the Bills took a com-
manding 20-8 lead. He would only watch the Billiken lead grow. With the score 21-9, SLU manufactured an 11-0 run, capped by Ellis’ second 3-pointer of the half, to lead 31-9 with less than four minutes remaining. The Billikens carried a 37-15 advantage into halftime while holding the Salukis to just four field goals (4-22) in the opening half. Conversely, the Bills shot 53 percent (15-28) in the first half and were 3-of-6 from the 3-point range. In the second half, SLU’s defense remained stalwart. It took the Salukis 10:45 to hit its first field goal. SIU was assisted by the Billikens’ roughand-tumble play. Carbondale went to the line 28 times,but they converted just 18 points out of their attempts, giving Majerus a large enough cushion to comfortably rotate through his bench. “We defended well in first half,” Cassity said. “The second half we got a little chippy. We fouled a little bit…we’ve got to clean that up. Beyond that, we played about as well as we could. We shot it well, and we played well in offensive end.” Through the first two games, opponents are shooting just 25.6 percent against the Billikens. But SLU’s staunch defense -- and young team -- is about to be battle tested like it hasn’t been in years. A whole new breed of dog is next on the schedule for the Billikens -the Huskies of the University of Washington. Washington, which is receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, tips
Courtesy of Bill Barrett / Billiken Athletics
Senior Kyle Cassity was perfect from the field as the Billikens (2-0) leashed the Salukis Tuesday, Nov. 20. in Carbondale. Up next for the Bills - the Washington Huskies. against SLU at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 at Chaifetz Arena. The Huskies are coached by former SLU Head Coach Lorenzo Romar. He was the last coach to take the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament. His squad stunned Conference USA in 2000 by beating Cincinatti and DePaul to win the conference tournament and automatic bid. Two years later, he left for Seattle. The game is not only a homecoming for Romar, but also for senior guard Scott
Suggs, who hails from nearby Washington, Mo. Suggs, one of the Huskies’ top players last year, is sidelined with a stress fracture in his right foot. But Romar has plenty of other weapons in his lineup. Guard C.J. Wilcox was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week this week after averaging 20.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and shooting over 61 percent for 3-point range this weekend. Washington was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12.
Saint Louis University hired Rick Majerus to coach its basketball team in 2007 in hopes of gaining a national identity. It is no secret that athletic success perpetuates acad e m i c TONY TRAINA accomp l i s h ments as athletic teams bring money and national attention to a school. This is a fact: Alumni and prospective students like to see successful athletics programs. But what happens when a university invests millions of dollars in an icon, only to see him falter at the helm? Enter Joe Paterno. “Success with Honor” has become the motto of the Penn State University Athletic Department, adapted from one of Paterno’s favorite sayings. Upon being hired in 1966, Paterno adopted what he called a “Grand Experiment,” aiming to seamlessly integrate athletics and academics in the collegiate experience. Penn State has grown into an elite public university under Paterno’s tenure, in large part due to his support and donations. During the week, students study at Paterno Library; on weekends they watch his football team, which consistently boasts one of the highest graduation rates in Division I football. After coaching the Penn State football team for 46 years, Paterno’s career finally came to a disgraceful close last week, just like that. The reputation and moral upstanding of a university he held in his hand, gone. The story has been examined from every angle by now, and the healing process has begun at Penn State. But how could such a seemingly ethical institution go so far astray? Look no further than Paterno’s handling of the scandal. Even as the power structure of the University was falling apart around him, Paterno maintained the illusion that he held total power and control. “The Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to discuss,” he said. As details of the child abuse scandal continued to pour out, it became clear that power at Penn State lay not in the hands of the president or administrators, but in the hands of the moneymaking athletic department. More specifically, the “Father of Football,” Joe Paterno, held all the power. As the coach of a team that generated more than $50 million in profit a year, no one had the fortitude to risk upsetting the power structure. As long as the team was winning and generating revenue, any crime that threatened to upset this pattern needed to be quickly silenced. When it comes to colleges, many people still hold the ludicrous notion that power within the University has something to do with education. “Athletics aren’t everything,” they will say. Walk around any major college campus though, and you’ll no doubt pass a statue of their most successful and revered coach. And good luck finding someone to name the current president. The football coach is the most visible figure at the University, providing a window into what the culture of the school may be like. When something is successful, people are afraid to ask questions, afraid of what the answer might be. Not only do universities give coaches all the power and money, they also provide little oversight, giving coaches the task to win at all costs. And as long as that happens, everyone is happy. It happens in sports; it happens in society. Unchecked power becomes corrupt and arrogant, until someone finally steps in to take control. When the scandal finally starting came to light, Paterno begged administrators and the public not to ask any more questions. But the only way to take back power is to start asking these very questions. In the “Slumdog Millionaire,” Salim points a gun at his brother and says, “The man with the Colt 45 says shut up!” Joe Paterno was pointing his gun at everyone, and they were afraid to speak up.
Sports
10
The University News
unewsonline.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Who to
CJF CHEER
>> Volleyball
All systems go for Billikens, last surge for NCAA’s By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
Mike Matheny The former St. Louis catcher was hired to replace Tony La Russa as the Cardinals manager. The Cardinals claimed, “Tony built a long history here of not smiling, and we can only hope that Mr. Matheny can maintain a similar level of grumpiness.”
Who to
JEER
After splitting a pair of home matches over the weekend, the Billikens are set to make a run in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament and, potentially, to the NCAA tournament. The Bills (14-11, 10-5), who have secured a No. 3 seed in the conference tourney, are slated to take on a sixth-seeded Rhode Island (15-14, 7-8) squad on Friday, Nov. 18. All conference tournament action will take place on top-seeded Dayton’s (226, 14-1) court. The team that is crowned champion of the A-10 bracket earns an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Wrapping up regular season play, the Billikens cruised to a 3-1 victory over the No. 2 Xavier Musketeers (19-10, 114) on Friday, Nov. 11, but they fell to Dayton in straight sets on Sunday, Nov. 13. “I think it’s great that we had the chance to play them right before the A-10 tournament…It’s certainly an advantage,” Head Coach Kent
The Philadelphia receiver apologized for being suspended during a game with the Arizona Cardinals, which they eventually lost. There was a report that Jackson was suspended for being asleep during a team meeting. Patriot fans are still waiting for Chad Ochocinco to apologize for being asleep all season.
Who to
FEAR
Miller said. “We played well this weekend, certainly not as well as we needed against Dayton, but I think it’s important for our team that we face top-level opponents going into the tournament.” Andrea Beaty led the attack for the Billikens, rack-
ing up 39 kills between the two matches. Grace Bonoma solidified the defense. The sophomore collected 19 digs in each of two tilts, meriting her co-A-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Sunday’s loss marked the final home court appearance
Head coach preaches and practices his way in the water Staff Writer
DeSean Jackson
The Billiken volleyball team looks to extend their season this weekend at the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.
>> Swimming and Diving
By CHARLES BOWLES
Photo courtesy of Philidelphia Eagles
Min Zhuang / Staff Photographer
for seniors Amelia Karges and Alyssa Deno. Deno notched seven kills in her final match, inching her way closer to the 1,000 career kills milestone. She currently stands at 983. If Saint Louis University wants to extend their season, they may have to rally around the pair of seniors’ last stand. “I think that we really care about how much they have contributed to this program, and our team is playing hard for them,” Miller said. “We haven’t put a whole lot of specifics on ‘this is the last time’ or ‘that is the last thing.’ It’s really all about playing volleyball and taking it one game at a time; so we don’t want them to carry any burden into it.” If the Bills can knock off Rhode Island, which they did on the road this past October, they would then have a re-match against Xavier, who holds a bye, in the second round on Saturday, Nov. 19. The third and final round will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20. No. 4 George Washington and No. 5 Duquesne round out the rest of the tournament field.
Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jim Halliburton does not appearto be a day over 30. And Halliburton knows a thing or two about personal fitness. In 2009, Halliburton turned in 11 record-breaking gold-medal performances at the St. Louis Senior Olympics. “It all about doing the little things to stay in top physical shape,” he said. Halliburton’s “little things” include using stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, lifting some weights and parking further away to increase walking distance. Halliburton’s competitive record speaks to his commitment to physical fitness. Halliburton was a member of the United States National Team from 1978 to 1982 and was team captain in his final season with the squad. A former American record holder, he was twice ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100-meter butterfly. At Indiana University, Halliburton was a seven-time Big Ten champion and broke Mark Spitz’s Big Ten record in the 100 fly. He was also a four-time NCAA All-American. Halliburton continues to
swim competitively. He said that dedication plays a part in being physically fit. “Dedication does a play a part, but people get too caught up in daily goals when they should be setting weekly goals,” Halliburton said. Halliburton has an excellent coaching record to match his personal fitness. He has coached two world-record holders and 20 swimmers in the Olympic Trials. Two of his swimmers have competed in the Olympic Games. More than 50 swimmers training under him have ranked in the top 16 in the United States in their age group, and eight of them were ranked No. 1. Halliburton’s commitment to personal fitness has also seemed to rub off onto his swimmers at Saint Louis University. Since he was hired in 2001, the women have broken 18 of 21 school records, and the men have eclipsed 19 of 21 school marks. At the 2010 St. Louis Senior Olympics, Halliburton shattered his own marks in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle; the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke; the 50 and 100 butterfly; and the 100 and 200 individual medley. He also established standards in the 50, 100 and 200
Billiken Media Relations
Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jim Halliburton can still stroke with the best of them in his age bracket. breaststroke, events in which he did not compete last year. Halliburton now owns all 14 records in the men’s 50-54 age group. Halliburton said that swimming is one of the best ways to stay in shape because it works every muscle in the body. “Swimming is much easier
on the body compared to other sports,” Halliburton said. “I think it is the best exercise for anyone.” Personal fitness is an important part of Halliburton’s life. His competitive record and his record-breaking performance show that age really is just a number.
>> Men’s Basketball
Chicago point guard inks intent to ‘Be a Billiken’ By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
Photo of University of Washington
Terrence Ross This Sunday, the Billiken men’s basketball team will play what could prove to be their toughest non-conference challenge when they face off with Washington and their 6-foot-6 guard Terrence Ross. Despite averaging just 8 points per game last year as a freshman, Ross is projected to be a top 10 pick in the NBA draft, next year. Luckily, we also have a 6-foot6 sophomore in Dwayne Evans, who actually averaged 8.5 points per game as a freshman. Maybe NBA scouts should start going to Billiken games. By JONATHAN AUPING Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Keith Carter, a 6-foot point guard, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend and play basketball for Saint Louis University next fall. The crafty guard is known for his high basketball IQ and versatility. “We feel good about the possibility of him being an
adroit post feeder,” Head Coach Rick Majerus said. “Keith is an athlete with blowby speed who can get to the rim. His decision-making skills belie his years.” Carter, a Chicagoland native, is a senior at Proviso East High School. The guard has started all four years with the program, and he led his team to a 22-6 mark in his junior campaign.
“On paper, Keith is the best guard that we have recruited since coming to Saint Louis University,” Majerus added. “He is a special player, in that the game makes sense to him.” With the signing, Carter joins 6-foot-6 forward Jared Drew as a member of Rick Majerus’ 2012 recruiting class. Not only is Majerus ex-
Gray Seasons: Evokes empathy Continued from Page 9
referees made terrible calls against the Billikens, robbing SLU of an upset over Xavier, I found myself firmly grabbing the armrest, wanting to scream out at the officials. The beauty of “The Gray Seasons” is not just its cinematic production, which is brilliant, but also the ability of the director, Robert T. Herrara, to seamlessly integrate many personalities and storylines into one big picture. The story of Gray-Miller’s first recruiting class is particularly highlighted in the film, as the class of four is eventually whittled down to two. The team is hit by a seemingly constant barrage of transfers, injuries and girls who quit. As the Billikens become a team everyone can relate to, every small victory puts a smile on audiences’ faces, After seeing them struggle year after year, game after game, every jump ball SLU wins feels like a victory. After introducing the characters and drawing in the audience, the Billikens find themselves with a few more fans in the theatre, cheering every victory and lamenting every
defeat. “If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential and being the best you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says,” Gene Hackman’s character says to his team in “Hoosiers.” It’s hard not to root for a team and a coach after watching the hours of work put into every game. When Theresa Lisch forgoes her senior year to get married, it becomes apparent that this team is not playing basketball to accumulate accolades or championships; they are playing for sheer love of the sport. “I love basketball. I just love him more,” Theresa says of her fiancé. It is impossible not to root for a team that loves the game and pours its heart into every play. After so much practice and preparation, everyone deserves a win. The documentry ends with the question, “Is winning everything?” Gray-Miller repeats the question aloud a few times, then leaves the question unanswered, asking, “After watching all this?” “The Gray Seasons” leaves the audience asking the same question.
cited about Carter’s potential on the court, but he also expects the incoming freshman to excel in the classroom. The guard ranks in the top 15 percent of his class. “He’ll fit into the SLU mold of academic excellence very easily,” Majerus said. Carter also considered offers from Loyola UniversityChicago, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Creighton.
>> Commentary
Half-empty Chaifetz inexcusable It’s that time of year again. College basketball is now in session. This season of collegiate hoops will be exciting for many reasons: the notable absence of an NBA season, CHARLES BOWLES the high number of talented players in college basketball and, for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team, a possibility to make it into the NCAA tournament. However, walking around SLU, there is not much excitement for this upcoming basketball season. There seems to be apathy or disinterest in our men’s basketball program, and it is a shame after the University invested so much in Chaifetz Arena and hired Rick Majerus. Some claim that Majerus has not delivered and that his time is running out. However, Majerus has had to deal with a number of issues, like having to work with Brad Soderburg’s players for his first three years, coaching without a full roster of scholarship players until this year and the suspension of SLU’s top two players last season. Majerus will deliver this year with the talent and players that finally match his coaching style. Majerus has a team that will be able to supplement the starting lineup after some of the bench players started or played significant minutes, this year. Our progress was delayed by a year, but now, our team is experienced and ready for this season’s challenges, trials and tribulations. Some older students still hold a grudge or resentment against the basketball team after the suspension of Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed last year. Reed is gone, but Mitchell has stayed. I can understand why some students would still hold a grudge; the reason for the suspension was a sensitive manner and affected many people. However, the problem is that if we hold a grudge, we may become consumed by it. Kwamain was not convicted of any criminal charges. He served his punishment and fulfilled his obligations to get back on the team, and he aided the team while on the bench by mentoring his teammates. For the older students, it is time to let the past be the past and move on to the bright prospects the team has this season. I will admit that I was surprised when I went to the Tennessee State game last Friday. I thought it would be poorly attended, like the previous two exhibition games. But the game was well attended. It is nice that students attended the first game, but it needs to be sustained throughout the entire season so the team knows that the student body is fully supportive of the team. But I must remind students that the season is not a sprint. It is a marathon.
unewsonline.com
11
Sports
Thursday, November 17, 2011
>> Atlantic 10 Men’s Soccer
Hermann hosts conference championship By CHRIS ACKELS Staff Writer
For the second straight year, the Xavier University men’s soccer team was the last team in the Atlantic 10 tournament. And for the second straight year, they came out A-10 champions. After a weekend full of dramatic and exciting games at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, the A-10 once again sends Xavier to represent the conference in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament. Xavier entered the tournament as a No. 6 seed, the lowest possible spot. They beat nationally ranked Charlotte in the first round, coming from behind to oust the 49ers in overtime. In their semifinal match, Xavier eliminated No. 1 seed Fordham, the conference leader and favorite to win the
tournament. In the other semifinal, it took overtime for George Washington to finish off La Salle and earn a spot in the championship game. Sunday’s conference championship match was the most dramatic of the weekend, pitting the comeback kids from Xavier against the No. 2 seed George Washington. After regulation and two overtimes, the conference title came down to penalty kicks. On the final shot of the shootout, Xavier sophomore Adar Cohen beat the George Washington keeper by slotting one on the left side of the net, sending his teammates into a frenzy and sending the Musketeers into the NCAA Tournament. For Xavier, this marks the second trip in as many years. Musketeers Head Coach Andy Fleming said he’s not
at all surprised by his team’s resiliency. “The last couple of weeks, having to just survive and barely get in the playoffs… I think all those experiences made us battle tested,” Fleming said. He smiled after the game when thinking about the city that hosted the A-10 Tournament. “We were almost like the St. Louis Cardinals,” he said. “We’ve been in playoff mode for three weeks.” Fleming now takes his team to the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the Mountaineers of West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va. Saint Louis University men’s soccer players were in attendance Sunday to watch the match and congratulate the champions. Next year, they hope to be the ones hoisting the trophy.
Student Special 1-Topping Pizza Medium
6
$
99
SLU12
Large
8
$
99
SLU14
Deep Dish Extra. Expires 12/31/11. Delivery Charge May Apply.
Student Special Any Large 4-Topping, Specialty or American Legends Pizza
12
$
99 31
Deep Dish Extra Expires 12/31/11 Delivery Charge My Apply
SLU/Central W End
652-3030 3930 Lindell Blvd. Now Serving Pizza & Oven Baked Sandwiches at Chaifetz Arena!
Advertisements from Student Development
12
Thursday, November 17, 2011
unewsonline.com
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
boy bands and pop princesses
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS
WE ARE ALL BILLIKENS