The University News 2011 Celebrating 90 Years as a Student Voice of Saint Louis University
unewsonline.com
Vol. XCI No. 14
Thursday, December 8, 2011
THE BEST AND WORST
The University News takes a look at the pop culture from this year >> ARTS
MITCHELL JOINS MILLENIUM CLUB
Billikens roll past Vermont >> SPORTS
Night shift: A new method for safety
Rankings urged for Whelan Security contract terminated, student employees to work overnight SLU Madrid By JONATHAN ERNST Editor-in-Chief
An improved swipe card system, 500 surveillance cameras and a new Communication Center for monitoring campus are not the only methods of campus security, as students are now being called to work the night shifts at residence halls next semester. The transition, announced in an email to students living on campus from Director of Housing and Residence Life Joshua Walehwa on Monday, Dec. 5, met the campus community with a mix of re-
sponses, as Whelan Security will be replaced by student workers, effective Jan. 14. Under this new staffing system, most residence halls, excluding Griesedieck and Reinert halls, will be without a desk attendant from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the student hours will be shifted to the evening. The decision was made at the senior leadership level at the University, according to Vice President of Student Development Kent Porterfield. “There is no reason why students can’t provide the same type of services as Whelan now that there are back up services for them–cameras
in the lobbies, cameras at the exterior–we have a system that I believe works very well,” Porterfield said. “If you traveled around, I think you would find that the most common way of staffing residence halls is from students. I am of the opinion that students can provide that service and do it very well.” Since 2007, Whelan Security, a private security service, has been contracted by the University to monitor the residence halls during the late-night shifts from 10 p.m. See “Security” on Page 3
By NOAH BERMAN Foreign Desk Chief
Curtis Wang / Multimedia Director
Freshman Xavier Turner passes RA and desk attendant, Junior Cat Costello, on his way into Griesedieck Hall.
Stress, stimulants may form a dangerous combo Caffeine consumption per student 35
Based on a survey conducted by The Univeristy News. 170 SLU students responded.
30
PERCENT
25 20 15 10 5 Kelly Hinderberger / Associate Photo Editor
Junior Mary Anderson uses caffeine to aid in her studying at Pius XII Memorial Library. By PATRICK OLDS Associate News Editor
As the semester races to an inescapable deadline, students of higher education will begin to feel the stress mounting. That stress will subsequently impact the way stimulants, such as caffeine and prescription medication, are used to deal with the problem of procrastination. “I cannot get through classes without the assistance of caffeine,” freshman Tim Cornelius, a business management and American studies major, said. The University News conducted a poll of 170 students from freshmen to graduate students. They were asked about their stress levels and how they dealt with stress on a daily basis, as well as during
exams. symptoms such as migraine According to the survey, headaches. 48 percent reported that their “It depends on the dose, stress is either overwhelming but the problem, currently, or is suffered daily. is that caffeine is taken in Though caffeine is a regularly used substance on college campuses to help treat sleepiness or general Caffeine is not clasifatigue, there are negative addictive, like side effects that hinge on cally the degree of usage. street drugs, but it gets The University News survey results showed 70 per- to the point where peocent of respondents report- ple feel like they have to ing that they use caffeine use it in order to funcfrom a few times a week up tion. to multiple times daily. Anthony J. Scalzo, profes- - Anthony J. Scalzo sor and Director of the Division of Toxicology at SLU and the medical director at such concentrated doses that the Missouri Poison Center, it makes it difficult to know said that excessive caffiene one’s limit,” Scalzo said. “Cafintake can produce depen- feine is not classically addicdency, and in turn, withdrawal tive, like street drugs, but it
“
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0
2+ Times Per Day
Everyday Few times per week
gets to the point where people feel like they have to use it in order to function.” Scalzo said that in addition to migraines, caffeine can set off a number of other sideeffects, such as nausea, dehydration, feeling jittery and the inability to fall asleep or settle down. Scalzo said the other danger is that when students are high on caffeine, they are unable to fall asleep at bedtime. Students might turn to over-the-counter or prescription sedatives to calm them down or to fall asleep, which, oftentimes, can be unpredictable. Along with caffeine, a stimulant that has become more prevalent among college campuses is the use of prescription medication, such as Adderall and Ritalin,
When Necessary
Never
without a doctor’s approval. These drugs are known as amphetamines and methylphenidates. They are mainly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The University News survey showed that 64 percent of respondents reported that they have never used prescription stimulants and never will. The rest of the respondents reported having at least tried using it semi-regularly, for tests and exams. According to Dr. Miggie Greenberg, assistant professor of psychiatry, about 5 percent of adults are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but the market is full of stimulants. She said that stimulants are over-prescribed in certain cases and under-prescribed See “Stimulants” on Page 3
Students speak out against CSO review process stumps senate speaker approval system Five-hour SGA meeting ends in vetoing of bills By EMILY CAVALIERE Enterprise Editor
and GABRIELLE GREER Staff Writer
A cross section of Saint Louis University student groups have criticized SLU’s policy regarding the invitation of outside speakers to campus, stating that the University’s guidelines can either prevent a worthwhile speaker from being invited, or, in some cases, they are not given specific reasons why such speakers were rejected. In addition, they said that SLU’s response time was often less than desirable, forcing them to scramble to put into place alternative plans when their original choices were deemed unsuitable. “Everything [about the policy] is confusing and hypocritical,” sophomore Eric Behna, vice president of education and public advocacy for a campus Chartered Student Organization, said. Behna, who requested that his CSO remain anonymous, said his group ran into difficulties with SLU administrators in early October when he was about to schedule an
event on campus. “The event was approved last year, and we submitted the speakers when school started,” Behna said. Behna said an executive with Kacie Starr Triplett, a housing group whose territory includes much of St. Louis, agreed to speak at the campus event. Behna said her primary topic was scheduled to be about the number of city residents who currently live in substandard housing, the ramifications of such circumstances and what role the SLU community can play in helping to alleviate the problem. Behna said he “resubmitted” her name to the Student Involvement Center about three weeks before the event. He said he had not received word from the SIC on the status of Triplett’s approval. “One and a half or two weeks before, the president [of the CSO] heard it through the grapevine that our speaker hadn’t been approved,” Behna said. While not directly addressing Behna’s assertions, SLU Manager of Operations of the Student Involvement Center See “Policy” on Page 3
By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor
After five hours of debate and discussion, the Student Government Association meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7 halted when all decisions regarding bills recommending dechartering for 19 Chartered Student Organizations was thrown out. According to SGA President Matt Ryan, the deliberations became too disorganized to continue. “I cannot say in good faith that we know what we are doing,” Ryan said to the senators. “I want to be able to get this right for all the groups.” After passing a bill to charter the Global Initiatives Club, the senate moved to discuss the possible dechartering of the Anthropology Club, Criminal Justice and Sociology Club, Artifex, Math and Computer Science Club, Political Science Club, Finance Society, Freshmen in Business, Society for Human Resources Management, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Alpha Sigma Nu, French Club/SLU Pi Delta Phi, Sigma Delta Pi Honors Spanish, SLU Ad Club, Capture: Photography Club, SLUraage Fusion Dance Team,
Camp Kesum, Social Work Association, Amnesty International, Public Relations Club, and Physician Assistant Association.These groups were recommended for dechartering because they failed to meet requirements set by the Committee for Student Organizations. The committee, commonly referred to among students as ComSo, had sent all CSOs several emails requesting that they provide senate with updated contact information. Of the 19 groups recommended for dechartering, 10 attended the Dec. 7 meeting. AED, MCSC, Political Science Club, ASN, French Club, Honors Spanish, Finance Society, Freshmen in Business, SHRM and Social Work Association were exempt from the dechartering option. Instead the groups faced either no action on the part of senate, or were to be placed on a threemonth probationary period. If senate subjected them to probation, the group would not have been eligiable for spot or annual funding. AED representatives stated at the meeting that they were unaware they had failed to meet the requirement, as
On the St. Louis-based Saint Louis University campus, the fact that professors have rankings goes entirely without comment. It is understood that your professor might be an associate, adjunct, full-time, tenured, or a number of other titles that go along with a job in academia. At Saint Louis University --Madrid, however, no such system currently exists. On Dec. 5, 2011, the campus’ Comité de Empresa, translated as “Workers Committee,” sent a “Statement on Ranks,” an emailed request to all faculty and staff calling for the development of a system of academic rank on the campus. A faculty senate does not exist on the Madrid campus, due in large part to its small size, according to SLU Madrid Academic Dean and Interim Director Paul Vita. Because of this, the Comité de Empresa, currently comprised of eight members, four faculty and four staff, represents the employees in labor issues. According to Renzo Llorente, a professor at SLU Madrid and a Comité member, there was widespread support among the faculty and staff at the Madrid Campus supporting a potential ranking system. “The sense was that it was time to make a public statement in support of ranks,” Llorente said. Llorente said that academic recognition through a ranking system is vital to the SLU Madrid faculty system. Brian Goss, also a professor at SLU Madrid, said ranks make it easier to recruit new employees, apply for funding, lend more weight to recommendations, boost morale, increase transparency and are “another aspect of demonstrating and manifesting professionalism.” Deanna Mason, a recently hired professor of nursing at SLU Madrid, said ranks were important to her decision to take a position at the campus. “If there was no hope of getting ranks, this wouldn’t have been a place for me,” Mason said. Mason said that it was disclosed at the time of hiring, the summer before the 20102011 school year, that a ranking system was still under development. Such ranking systems are nearly ubiquitous in the academic world. However, there do tend to be differences between the systems in different countries. According to Vita, this is part of the problem: reconciling two differing systems of academic rank. “Spanish titles are descriptive of job responsibilities, but not reflective in the same way as the U.S. ranking model. So which do you use? We are operating within a Spanish context, so what do we do?” Vita said. “At this point, we’re at a compromise.” Vita said that this has been a challenge for a very long time, developing “the best See “Madrid” on Page 3
Mark Campos / Staff Photographer
Professor Bryan Clair criticizes SGA on CSO policy.
they had provided updated contact information on SLU Connection. An amendment was made to take no action against AED, but it failed. While updated contact information was available for AED elsewhere, the group did not provide it through the channels mandated by SGA. A new amendment was proposed to put the group on probation, but senate See “SGA” on Page 2
Blue the Billiken Where’s the snow?
Read and Recycle The University News prints on partially recycled paper.
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Let Us Introduce You
Caroline Seroka
Biomedical engineering student builds homes, runs through fountains By CHARLES BOWLES Staff Writer
Senior biomedical engineering student Caroline Seroka, among her many activities on campus, enjoys something unusual: intentionally running through the clock tower fountains during a thunderstorm. Seroka is the president of Saint Louis University’s Habitat of Humanity. part of a larger, national non-profit organization that builds afforadble housing for less fortunate families. Seroka said she has had some great experiences at SLU, but that the simple things are what make it special. “I think running through the clock tower during a thunderstorm was pretty unique but I’ve been blessed with a lot of great experiences,” Seroka said. Seroka became involved in Habitat for Humanity her freshman year and has been an active part of the organization ever since. “I joined Habitat because I caught the bug when building and haven’t been able to drag myself away since,” Seroka said. Besides the building aspects of Habitat for Humanity, Seroka said that she enjoys the personal connection involved. “I love working next to the home buyers and hearing about their lives while getting to see a house rise around you,” Seroka said. Seroka said that due to her service with Habitat for Humanity and her engineering background, she “loves learning to work with the power tools.” Seroka said that two of her favorite experiences at SLU were leading trips with Habitat to Georgetown, S.C., and West Palm Beach, Fla. She became a self-proclaimed professional roofer during the time she spent in each city, where she said she learned “how to drive a roofing nail in only two hits.”
Saturday, December 03
THE SLU SCOOP
6:52 p.m. - Accidental Injury
All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Security Services
An elderly visiting man walking southbound on Compton to attend an event at the Chaifetz Arena accidently fell to the ground. Officers on the traffic detail noticed the elderly man lying on the ground and immediately rushed to assist. Officers were able to escort the individual to the Olive Compton Garage and treated his wounds with a mobile units first aid kit. EMS was notified, arrived and administered additional medical treatment. The man refused to be transported to SLU-ER and continued to the SLU basketball game.
Friday, December 02
1:23 a.m. - Assault in 3rd Degree A SLU male student stated that an unknown male walked up to him and punched him in his face for no apparent reason. The student was conveyed to Barnes Hospital ER by EMS #10. The RA was notified and accompanied student to the ER.
Sunday, December 04
12:05 p.m.- Property Damage A SLU student reported that unknown person(s) were turning her doorknob when the door was locked. She was inside trying to listen but could not identify anyone outside the door. A short time later, a picture of her and friend which was posted outside the door was slipped under her door shredded in pieces.
Be a Responsible Billiken STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu
SGA: Appeals cause confusion Continued from Page 1 Minghao Gao / Staff Photographer
Aside from Habitat for Humanity, Seroka stays involved with SLU Campus Ministry activities. Seroka leads music at the Griesdieck Hall mass every Wednesday evening and is on the advisory board for the annual Encounter retreat. Seroka said that she has never missed a mass at Greisdieck, and that she loves being in Campus Ministry, whether it is helping out with mass or just stopping by the Eckelkamp Center for Campus Ministry. “It’s a wonderful community that welcomed me into mass and on the Encounter retreat that I made in spring of freshman year,” Seroka said. Seroka said another one of her favorite experiences was a trip she took to Honduras
during her freshman year with the SLU Global Medical Brigades. It was her first time traveling outside of the United States. “We saw so much eye opening stuff-- poverty and disease but also with the joy and enthusiasm of the people,”Seroka said. Seroka also is on the executive board for Tau Beta Epsilon, the official engineering honor society at Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, and works at Fresh Gatherings Cafe, on the Health Sciences Campus. She also tutors students every week. Seroka said she refrains from giving advice to students about what activities to do on campus and leaves the fountains and thunderstorms to the experts.
deliberations were interrupted when MCSC Advisor Bryan Clair took the floor to criticize senators for not only trying harder to make contact with the groups, but also for wasting time on an issue he felt could be solved easily. “This was a communication issue. Someone screwed up somewhere and we have spent three hours debating something that could have been solved with a phone call,” Clair said. “This is a huge waste of time.” Senators called for order to be restored and Ryan asked Clair to respect the process through which ComSo had gone. Clair, however, did not yield the floor and was escorted from the chambers by DPSSS officers. Senate voted to put AED on probation, and the same option was chosen for MCSC and ASN. Political Science
Club received no action due to extenuating circumstances that did not allow them to meet ComSo requirements. By the time the French Club came up for appeal, there was dissent in the chambers surrounding how senators were deciding to take action against groups. “I think we need to reconsider how we are approaching this whole thing. If that means we need to bring up past bills, that’s fine,” Vice President of Diversity and Social Justice Kirpa Seeripada said. After debates about CSO and SGA responsibility and the dechartering process was to work, Ryan announced that senate was withdrawing the remaining five bills that addressed dechartering recommendations on the grounds that senate was not sure how to handle groups that made contact with SGA in response to the bills. “Do we take no action be-
cause they have proven they are active, or because they have made contact, even if it was not the required contact?” Ryan said. “The reason there was confusion was that we weren’t sure what to do once they were in front of us.” Ryan said he plans to veto everything that occurred in relation to the dechartering bills, including the decisions made prior to the withdrawal and the decision to decharter any group that did not attend the meeting. “We need consistency on all bills,” Ryan said. “Groups will come before ComSo again, but won’t need to appear at senate for a decision.” Ryan said, however, this meeting was valuable because it addressed a conversation that needed to happen. “I didn’t find it to be a waste of time,” Ryan said. “We had to show CSOs that we take the issue of accountability seriously.”
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Madrid: Professors push for ranking system Policy: ‘Hyprocritical’ Continued from Page 1
thing for both the campus and the faculty.” Despite these issues, Goss said he is certain that a ranking system will happen. “It’s just a matter of getting a road-map and getting a process into place,” Goss said. “Everybody realizes that it’s to our benefit, just a question of how to implement it.” One thing on which all parties said they are in agreement: It is important to work together. The Comité’s statement ends by wishing “to make known its willingness to assist the Administration in designing the ranks and categories to be used on the Madrid campus.” Vita said that as both a faculty member and an administrator, he is excited about addressing the challenge, and that he is “committed to dialogue and finding out what is the best thing both for the campus and the faculty.” Llorente said that there is no reason the campus could not have a combination of an American and Spanish rank system, but that “the trouble is that we currently have no system at all.” What strikes some faculty members as odd is the fact that the St. Louis campus has
ranks while the SLU-Madrid campus does not. Andy Price, a professor of political science at the SLU-Madrid campus, said that he agrees with the “communique from the Comité.” “Moreover, there is no reason why there should be ranks in Missouri and not in Madrid,” Price said. “We teach the same programs, often to the same students.” According to Llorente, the ranking issue is not a legal problem and that since there is “no obstacle toward an American system on campus, [there is] no legal reason why not.” Among students, reaction to this news tended to be mixed. A large portion of those studying at SLU-Madrid are visiting students, such as junior Bani Saluja. “As a visiting student, a teacher not having tenure does not affect my semester, unless a teacher leaves midsemester, which has happened,” Saluja said. SLU-Madrid student Juan Miguel Andre said he was shocked. “It is terrible to know that a teacher’s studies do not influence the school,” Andre said. Fellow permanent student, senior Basma Gaber, said
Continued from Page 1
Noah Berman / Foreign Desk Chief
Padre Rubio Hall on the Madrid Campus houses student life and related offices as well as many classrooms. she felt that the lack of ranks could have negative effects on the quality of education at the SLU-Madrid campus. “It means that professors of low quality can come and go,” Gaber said. “And that professors don’t really have an incentive to work hard and improve on themselves.” Visiting student, junior Conor Wildt, said he disagreed. “I feel like a lot of times, tenure can sort of encourage
almost a sedentary perspective because your position is sured up,” Wildt said. Still, for most, if not all, of the campus’s employees, however, ranks are a matter of not only necessity, but pride as well. “We’re very professional with what we do,” Goss said. “People have degrees from outstanding universities, and [ranks are] another aspect of demonstrating and manifesting professionalism.”
Security: Students set to cover night shifts Continued from Page 1
to 7 a.m. Porterfield said that Whelan Security was never intended to be a permanent service, as the administration worked to find a more “layered security approach.” Porterfield, Walehwa and other administrators said they believe this layered security has been reached, as the Department of Public Safety and Security Services prepares its move to the Wool Center on Dec. 19 with new security technology, including a Communication Center. The center will feature 500 security cameras on campus to be monitored from one location. Assistant Vice President and Director of DPSSS Roland Corvington said he believes that with these new resources and with an increased responsibility of students, security can be shared by the entire campus. “When I came here 15 months ago, it was as if DPSSS was the definition of security on this campus. It was as if no one else had any responsibility,” Corvington said. “I think things have changed, and I think this is just a natural progression of seeking more ownership from students in a process that impacts them directly.” The changes to residence hall security sparked a quick response from students. Just hours after Walehwa’s email, students began a Facebook group titled “For Campus Security.” Gaining more than 640 members in three days, the group has become a forum for student feedback in regard to these changes. Some of the group’s student administrators have organized the comments on the group into four primary concerns: leaving the desks unattended during the day, student workers walking to and from work at late-night hours, students locked out without their SLU IDs and the lack of direct input from SLURide on this change. Corvington, Porterfield and Walehwa addressed these concerns with
Mark Campos / Staff Photographer
Assistant Vice President and Director of DPSSS Roland Corvington (right), Vice President of Student Development Kent Porterfield and Director of Housing and Residence Life Josh Walehwa (left) meet with SGA. representatives from the Student Government Association on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and presented information on these changes at Wednesday’s senate meeting. “I am glad that students are engaged in this conversation. We definitely have received feedback. Students are being constructive about it, and they are taking it seriously.” Walehwa said. “They want to make sure that they are working to make this place safe.” Some students said they do not understand the reasons for these changes and questioned the practicality of their implementation. Freshman Bailey Hewitt, who works at the front desk in Griesedieck Hall, said she was first informed about the new staff changes on Friday, Dec. 2, and that she was “very surprised” by them. “I don’t understand how they think students would work the desk at night,” Bailey said. “By eliminating desk workers during the night, it is only taking away our safety.” Corvington assured students during the SGA meeting that the students desk attendants would be able to call officers on patrol, and they would have resources available to ensure the safety of the buildings. Corvington said that officers will communicate with the desk workers on an hourly basis as they
“build relationships with the students.” Corvington also said that the addition of a technology manager in the new Communication Center will help to ensure that all the equipment needed to assist in safety measures will be properly maintained. “A student is a young adult. I think if students are given this type of responsibility, they are going to make the right call,” Corvington said. “You have to look at safety in the totality of the services that are available.” After hearing the administration’s presentation, two resident advisors, who also serve as senators, spoke out in support of these changes at the Dec. 7 SGA meeting. “I have never felt in danger as an RA,” junior Piera Blandon said. “DPSSS officers always have a presence in the building and I don’t think it is a bad thing at all.” After senate feedback was heard, SGA’s executive board and the Committee Chairs for the Residential Affairs and Safety & Security Committees presented a Senate Resolution (009-12) “to strongly urge the Department of Housing and Residence Life to reconsider the recent enacting the recent changes to the residence hall security infrastructure until considering feedback gathered from students by SGA.” Many senators and Execu-
tive Board members said they admitted that the email from Walehwa was the first time they had heard about these changes. SGA President Matt Ryan said that the resolution and the support from senate would make his job easier when he meets with administrators. “We don’t see this resolution as an issue against the policy,” Ryan said. “It is a response to the concerns, and we want to make sure we have time to get feedback and this resolution will help move that forward.” Since Monday, SGA has gathered more than 150 responses on Facebook and email from students voicing their opinions. Ryan said during the meeting that SGA will have another resolution to state its opinion on this policy once they have been properly included in conversation with the administration. Senators also expressed concerns about the precedent that this would set for the relationship between administrators and SGA in the future. “This shows the important angle students have on these issues and we look forward to the administration helping us get this right,” Ryan said. According to Walehwa, the Department of Housing and Residence Life will work to determine the staff for next semester and hope to have a full staff by the beginning of next semester. DPSSS said it is planning to provide training to the new desk attendants as well. In the coming weeks, these departments are planning to meet with SGA and other students in efforts to address concerns and move forward with these changes. “Ultimately, that is what is happening right now. We are getting some reactions to this decision, and so we are trying to make sense of it all and move forward,” Walehwa said. “We are confident that this is a strict, solid security structure with all the different layers of security.”
said. Echoing Behna’s frustraDavid Young said that the tion was Theresa Meinert, a speaker policy mission state- senior nursing major who is ment has been in effect for involved in Una, the campus feminist group. two years. “We’ve had problems getHe said the policy language gives students “room” ting events approved,” she to recognize how it will affect said. “They would give us a ‘no’ with no reasoning,” their choices. While stating that some Meinert said. She also used students see the statement the word censorship when as a setback, Young views it describing her group’s expeas an effective way to ensure riences with SLU administrathat the University’s role in tors. “They’re skeptical of anythe process is well representthing that is ‘sex positive,’” ed. “I feel that the mission Meinert said. “It’s disheartstatement has upheld itself ening sometimes. You need pretty well,” Young said. “I be- to be challenged to grow and lieve it gives the right amount learn. You don’t really know of uniformity in the sense that what you believe until you it can be referred back to as a hear something you don’t agree with at all.” document. Terrence Murphy, vice I just have the hope that students see that our wish is president of Rainbow Allito benefit the whole commu- ance, also offered his experinity as well as the organiza- ences with inviting a guest tion wanting to represent this speaker to SLU. He said that before the sespeaker.” An ‘03 SLU graduate who mester ended last May, his has been in his role at the group submitted forms to University for the past three invite a speaker named Julia years, Young acknowledged Serano to campus. Serano is SLU’s central mission as a Je- a transsexual slam poet and suit institution plays a central musician. Murphy was in St. Louis role in the process. “We want to see how con- over the summer and regugruent the subject matter is. larly checked in with the StuIt is not so much about who dent Involvement Center for the speaker is as what they updates on the status of the are speaking of,” Young said. forms. In early-to-mid August, “When students are representing a Jesuit institution, we Murphy got word of the demust be respectful of all views. nial of his group’s suggested speaker. To have one “I restudent feel quested uncomfor ta written able during esponse a speech is When students are routlining the opposite of what we representing a Je- their denial of the want as a resuit institution, we speaker,” action.” In re- must be respectful M u r phy said. sponse to “ T h e y some stu- of all views. denied it dents’ critiand said cisms that they didn’t “big names” - David Young need to are not allowed on campus, Young reit- provide a response to us. A lot erated the importance of the of her work, her poetry and her performance art is geared subject matter. “To bring Snooki to SLU toward trans issues, and we would draw an audience, but thought she would attract a what she would talk about large crowd.” Murphy said in his involvewouldn’t apply to making the SLU community as a whole ment with SIC, the departstronger other than watching ment failed to respond to him Jersey Shore directly after,” in a timely fashion. “It took the administration Young said said. Behna said that he be- four months, one third of the lieved the primary reason year, to get back to us, which that Triplett was rejected as a is an inappropriate amount of speaker for his group was be- time,” Murphy said. One of Murphy’s main cause she sits on a board for concerns with the policy is Planned Parenthood. He said this occured even the lack of accountability and though it was stressed that conversation from the adminshe was not going to speak istration. “If the speaker policy is goabout anything connected to ing to reject any speaker or her role on the organization. He said he was told that her performer that might criticize appearance at SLU “would up- the Catholic Church as an inset people in the community stitution, that limits dialogue, which means that SLU is no and alumni.” “I feel like maybe they are longer an institution of learnsacrificing our experience ing,” Murphy said. “Learning is contingent as students,” Behna said. “I tried to get a dynamic, young upon dialogue and both sides speaker, and they were cen- of the issue.” Young reiterated that the soring me. We have this whole ‘Oath of Inclusion’ where we SLU mission statement says include all world views. It’s that speakers who will benefit hypocritical because people the whole, asking students to at the top don’t do it them- visualize the process as a sort of triangular situation. selves.” “I would hope that organiReturning to his other main criticism, the lack of di- zations would bring someone rection and timeliness on the that would be able to link the part of the University, Behna entire triangle: organization, said navigating the speaker speaker, SLU student body. I feel that if the students invitation red tape was chalwere to step back and see lenging at best. “Because I had started the how this would benefit themprocess in plenty of time be- selves, but more so the entirefore, it was pure luck at the ty, it would bring the commulast minute that I was able to nity closer in appreciation of a find someone else,” Behna great speaker.”
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Stimulants: Academic pressures present potential for drug abuse Continued from Page 1
in others, depending on the socioeconomic class of the patient. “Sometimes students that come from very highly competitive families have unreasonable expectations placed on them to succeed at a certain level. If they do not reach that level somehow, it is determined that one must have a learning disability,” Greenberg said. The Journal of American College Health recently did a study of 42 students in a southern California university that looked into the characteristics of college students with ADHD who misused their medications, one of the only prescription-stimulant misuse surveys to date. The results of the study showed that 45 percent of participants reported misuse of the medication; 62.8 percent reported taking a higher dose than recommended, and 48.8 percent reported either giving or selling their medication
to others. “I have been on this drug since grade school,” an anonymous student said. “I would highly discourage use unless you absolutely need it because I don’t like it, and I don’t like myself when I am on it.” Greenberg said disabilities like ADD and ADHD most often show up during collegeage years because many students have the ability to get through high school without committing much time to studying. When students make the jump to higher education, they are placed in a highly selective group of the population, which breeds competition and naturally leads to longer study hours. Greenberg said many of the symptoms of ADD or ADHD can be mistaken for general human failure. “Humans were not meant to study 20 hours a day,” Greenberg said. According to Greenberg and Scalzo, the list of negatives associated with unpre-
scribed stimulant use is long kinds of medication and could and includes the breaching easily be unaware of any poof ethical, moral and physical tential heart problems, but boundaries. those veiled problems can “Frankly, I believe unpre- often show themselves for the scribed stimulant use is on first time in a negative way the same level, ethically, as when taking this medication.” cheating,” AccordGr eenber g ing to the said. UNews On a scale survey, a Sometimes students of 1-10, with full 54 per10 being the that come from ver y cent know most dan- highly competitive famiabout the gerous, Scalpotential zo said that lies have unreasonable negative he would expectations placed on conseplace unquences pr escribed them to succeed. and chose stimulant not to use use at an -Miggie Greenberg it. 8, in terms As well of potential as the risk to the body. ethical and physical negative “So many things are un- impacts of stimulants, there known when someone uses are also legal consequences prescription medication for using and distributing this without a doctor’s approval. drug without a doctor’s apNumber one is that you do proval. not know what you are taking According to Captain Ken for sure,” Scalzo said. “People Hornak, director of field opdo not know how their bod- erations for the Department ies will metabolize different of Public Safety and Security
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Services, there are two ways to deal with this issue. Minor infractions are dealt with by the University’s judicial affairs, while major infractions are reported to the St. Louis Police Department (STLPD). “Distribution of this type of drug would classify as a major offense and would be reported to STLPD immediately,” he said. “This issue is dealt with on a case-to-case basis, though.” According to Raman Malhotra, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology & Psychiatry at SLU School of Medicine and co-director of SLU’s Sleep Disorder Center, regular sleep is crucial to academic success and can not be substituted for with stimulants. “Many of the symptoms that students try to combat with Ritalin, Adderall and caffeine are symptoms of sleep deprivation,” Malhotra said. “Studies show that sleep equals greater productivity in the classroom.” Malhotra said that sleep is
a time for the body to recuperate as well as a time for the brain to consolidate memories. Not enough sleep can lead to, among other things, a short temper, depression and anxiousness. “Part of the reason people feel they need to take medicine to settle down or to focus is because they are sleep deprived,” Malhotra said. “They are forcing their body to stay awake, so they will inevitably focus on many different things other than the sleep that they require.” In an ideal world, Malhotra said that students need to stick to a schedule when they sleep because the body likes repetition. The body does not recognize the difference between a Friday night or a Tuesday night. “The ideal way to study without stimulants is to study at night and then calm down before bedtime. Sleep 7-9 hours, and they will operate with higher levels of concentration, brain activity and alertness,” Malhotra said.
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Security change reveals lack of shared governance The University News has, on many occasions, reminded the administration to uphold “shared governance” with the student body and to preser ve transparency with its policy-making. This was addressed in the opening editorial of the semester, and we end the semester on the same note, as we come to realize that student input is not wanted by the administration in the decision-making process. While members of the administration were present at the Student Government Association meeting on Dec. 7 to hear student input, it was clear that they were presenting students with a “done deal.” Even the resolution passed by SGA “to strongly urge the Department of Housing and Residence Life to reconsider the recent changes” is not going to make up for the missing conversation with students in the decision-making process. With its presence, the administration attempted to gather feedback and use it as “qualitative research” to improve the decision already made. While feedback and research are both positive concepts, they mean nothing in the context of shared governance. The administration should have had prior conversation with student-body
Quality student activity needs investment An increase in the student activity fee may fee they are already paying instead of having be largely unpopular, but necessary nonethe- programs, which students pay for, but do not less. Unlike parking and various other fees, find interesting enough to utilize. the activity fee is clearly an expense used A higher activity fee would also amount to directly toward the enrichment of student a larger pool of spot funding, which would culture. While we do not advocate for other provide a safety net to cover expenses that fee increases, a raise are impossible to exin the student activity pect in time for budfee seems justified. get appeals. It would The activity fee also allow Student has not been raised in Government Associamore than five years. to fund CSOs to Unlike other fees, the tion However, student acattend conferences, a tivities and involvethat was lost activity fee is clearly an luxury ment, as well as expecthis fiscal year. tations there of, have We encourage expense used directly SGA improved drastically to pass a resoluduring this time. Fundto put a referentoward the enrichment of tion ing must be adjusted dum on the February to match the progress. ballot to allow for stustudent culture. Having a $10 indents to decide on a crease is not too activity fee increase much of an addition of approximately $10. per semester, but just Although expectenough to allow for ing any increase in more popular entertainers, such as Lupe Fi- student spending is likely going to face resisasco, to be invited to campus, instead of art- tance, it is nonetheless a good idea to allow ists such as Tonic that do not attract a large for a referendum on which students can vote. audience. Hopefully, students will find it justifiable to By investing in more popular programs, invest in a richer student experience by helpstudent groups can provide better opportu- ing to fund for better programs in which the nities for students to take advantage of the majority of students will participate.
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Posted below are the results from our web poll on The University News’ website. (97 votes total) What is your favorite Christmas movie?
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representatives while making the decision. When it comes to the safety of students, the Department of Public Safety and Security Ser vices does not fail to stress the importance of student involvement and responsibility for their own safety as well as that of the campus. However, when it comes to making security decisions and policy choices, students have become guinea pigs of administrative experiments. What else can be implied by “qualitative research” and “feedback?” The University News and Student Government Association agree that there was not enough input from the student body in its decision to change the safety measures it will implement in Januar y. This is not only disrespectful to the students, it has also given students ample reason to express frustration with the administration. Furthermore, only residential students were informed of this change in policy, but security is an issue that affects all students. When such changes are made to security, not only should resident students who are directly affected be informed, but their friends, as well, if they are also to be active and responsible participants in ensuring the safety of the university community.
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33%
Elf
27%
It’s a Wonderful Life
18%
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (animated)
11%
A Charlie Brown Christmas
11%
The Muppet Christmas Carol
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Building bridges or building walls? I value a healthy relationship between SGA and my Chartered Student Organizations. Imagine my surprise when I learned at the Nov. 30 SGA meeting that AED Pre-Health Club, a nationally recognized student organization with over 370 active members, was up for “de-chartering.” SGA Vice President for Student Organizations Tyler Sondag explained that multiple failed contact attempts had been made. This puzzled me. The contact information for AED is available through Google, slu.edu or the SGAinitiated SLU Groups site. I assumed this misunderstanding could be rectified with a simple explanation from the AED E-Board. While attending my AED meeting two hours after SGA was in session, I was amazed to find that our president was delayed because she was still waiting to be heard by SGA. SGA finally reached a decision an hour later; the verdict was a three-month probation. When asked what “probation” means, Mr. Sondag said, “We are still working out the details.” The AED members experienced ad-hominem attacks and an inhospitable environment in the senate chambers. However, AED President Sara Rendell said, “I appreciated kindness from [SGA Officer of Logistics Management] Colin Pajda and the few welcoming and supportive senators.” While SGA portrays themselves as student advocates, tonight they assumed the role of reprimanding parents, whose main message was one of condescension. Some senators focused on funding during the debate. However, at least for AED, this was not a question of acquiring SGA’s money. AED’s appeal was a formality. “This is not about the money. We rely almost exclusively on internal funding to support our endeavors. Tonight, we hoped to show that AED wants to collaborate with SGA, that we value having a body of students to advocate on our behalf and want to make ourselves visible to them.” Tonight, AED reached out to SGA to forge a connection and met antagonism in return. - Chelsea Jaeger is a junior in the School of Public Health. Editor’s Note: SGA President Matt Ryan later vetoed Senate Bill 046-12, overturning Senate’s decision to give AED a three-month probation.
Changes to residence hall security concern desk workers This past week, the student body received the unnerving news that Whelan Security workers will no longer be staffing the residence hall desks in the evening and early morning hours. Instead, the desks will be staffed by student desk workers -- with the catch being that they will only be there from the hours of 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. (excluding Griesedieck and Reinert), leaving the desks unattended during the daytime. In the email sent out by SLU to inform the students of this change, the first line states, “Safety is a top priority.” Clearly, safety is not a top priority if SLU is willing to leave buildings unattended for a large portion of the day. As a desk worker of Fusz Hall, I was appalled by the decision. We can all agree that this is a serious issue concerning safety of those living in the residence halls, but it is equally concerning for the student workers. Unlike the Whelan workers, I do not have the privilege of being able to sleep all day. How am I supposed to have the energy to stay attentive at the desk during the wee hours of the morning and then also in my 8 a.m. class the next morning? My purpose of attending this university is the assurance that I will be getting a quality education. However, with this job, my academic performance will diminish because I will have unhealthy, irregular sleep habits. And what about the continual reminders to never walk alone at night? I’m supposed to depend on DPSSS to escort me? Ha! Good one. I’d rather put my faith in being able to outrun a criminal than having DPSSS there to protect me. Currently, DPSSS is supposed to check in at the desk once an hour. However, in my 10 hours of work a week, I see them maybe twice. So how can I expect them to deliver me to work on time safely? Finally, let’s not overlook the email a few days ago about a male student getting beaten up outside of Fusz right next to West Pine. Glad the University is willing to put me in that same position on a regular occurrence. There is a laundry list of problems with this new policy, but I think the main one is the fact that SLU not only considered the policy, but also passed it. SLU continually proves that their top priority is not safety but is rather image, wealth and rankings. Keep this up SLU, and our image will match that of the dangerous city we reside in. Think that will look good in the brochures?
- Gabriele Geerts is a junior in the Doisy College of Health Sciences.
Opinion
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
‘Black Friday’ shopping casts dark shadow From the beginning of November and weeks after, “Black Friday” is splashed across the headlines of newspapers, repeated day and Commentary night on every news station. It is talked about among people who are either eagerly planning what stores they will go to or bashing the “crazy” shoppers. Dustin Paluch One thing that is rarely talked about is whether or not Black Friday weekend, which is defined as Thursday, Friday, Saturday and projected spending for Sunday, is actually helping businesses increase a profit. Businesses, which once saw Black Friday as a day to begin making a profit, are now forced to continually open earlier and earlier to accommodate the “crazies” that wait in line for hours so they can get a $50-off gift card or a new iPad. As a side note, from here on, any reference of the “crazies” refers to all Black-Friday shoppers, simply because in just a few hours, they turn any shopping establishment into a WWIII zone. If you opened a newspaper or flipped on a TV last weekend, you were probably deluged with people hyperventilating about holiday declaring that this was the best Black Friday in years, and that bodes well for the holiday season. One of the headlines that was repeatedly shown: “Retail sales are spectacular, up 16 percent from last year! The best Christmas in a decade!” More people headed to stores and websites over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Average spending per person rose 9.1 percent as bargain-hunting shoppers scooped up discounts on everything from gadgets to winter coats, a National Retail Federation survey on Sunday showed. The trade group’s survey found that a record 226 million shoppers visited stores and websites over
Black Friday pandemonium. Even if you do drop a few extra dollars, a good puffy jacket that does not make you look like a giant marshmallow is always a good investment. What is winter without hats, scarves and gloves? Whether you are shopping at a higher-end retail store or a department store, you will not have any trouble finding winter accessories to keep you warm, and to go perfectly with your coat. If you are not willing to spend much on these extras, don’t fret: Forever 21 has all the winter extras you could ever need. Even if you do have a decent winter jacket or accessories, what is beneath the coat is a completely different story. Piling on long-sleeve shirts and hoodies probably seems like a good idea at the time, but there are so many other easy sweater options from which to choose. Why on earth would anyone feel the need to wear this unflattering look when comfy “grandpa” style sweaters and cardigans are in style? Girls can easily sport these over skinny jeans or thick leggings (given that the sweater reaches past the upper thigh), and guys can wear them with slimmer-cut jeans. So unless you are snowed in, there’s really no reason not to put a little bit of effort into your winter wardrobe. Head to the Galleria next weekend, and I guarantee you all the stores will be filled with plenty of winter clothing for you to choose. It does not take that much longer to slip on a cozy cardigan over a comfy pair of jeans or leggings than it does to step into your favorite, rattiest pair of sweatpants. Despite what you might think, it is entirely possible to look good and stay warm, even if it is freezing outside. Next time you leave the house during the winter, put a little thought into what you wear. It may be the holiday season, but that does not mean you have to look like you belong at the North Pole.
“Merry Christmas!” Oh, wait. “Happy Holidays!” Or “Happy Hanukkah?” The constant expansion of the politically correct vocabuCommentary lary is making all of our heads spin, and with the Christmas season, or “holiday” season upon us, it is even more prevalent. Whoever said “Merry Stephanie Woods Christmas” is an offensive or discriminator y phrase must have a severe misunderstanding of its intentions. It is not said with the purpose to hurt anybody, make other religions appear inferior, or even imply that the receiver of the message must be Christian. Personally, I would not feel a twinge of offense if someone were to wish me a “Happy Kwanzaa.” In fact, I would joyfully wish it back to them. Not only is the phrase being reprimanded, but traditions are as well. Have you bought your Christmas tree yet? Now some places are referring to it as a Holiday tree. A Holiday tree! I will call my decked out Douglas fir a holiday tree the day that we start calling a menorah a candlestick. A memorable controversy that erupted over this topic was in 2005 when Boston renamed its giant Christmas tree in the Boston Common the Holiday Tree. A tradition that had lasted for 64 years was being altered, and the town, including the mayor, was up in arms about its renaming. Evangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell even threatened a lawsuit against the city. Despite the turmoil stirred up by this decision, countless other cities have followed suit and are embarking on the path of political correctness in renaming their city Christmas trees to Holiday trees. However, Boston’s tree has since returned to its original name and peace has been restored. I can only hope for a similar future for these other cities. If we are sticking with the name “holiday tree,” then why not put it up at Easter? Or 4th of July? Dec. 25 is Christmas. Thus, for many, the month of December is Christmas season. So when did this monumental shift occur that Christians must now downplay their religious beliefs and traditions? This free country is supposed to support the celebration of religious diversity, rather than veil it with neutrality. In Singapore, there are 10 official public holidays, and each is representative of the various ethnic groups. They celebrate everything from the Chinese New Year to Christmas to the Islamic Eid Ul Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan). This unique nation-state could actually teach us a lesson in tolerance diversity. Of the 10 official public holidays in the U.S., only one has a religious foundation and it is Christmas. Perhaps the simple solution to the problem is to incorporate holidays from other religions as well, rather than trying to downplay Christmas. Some even go so far as to label this as a “War on Christmas,”– cough, cough…Billy O’Reilly. These “crusaders” claim that “secular progressives” are the enemy and we must fight back by holding strong to our traditions. The word “war” is rather harsh and is also a misnomer in this situation. “Sporadic tension” may be a more accurate term to describe it. There are some people who probably have not even noticed the evolution from “Christmas” to “Holiday”. To many, having the ground covered in snow and the air smelling of hot apple cider means only one thing: Christmas is near. But to others, this image connotes the approach of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Some just see it as winter time and the season marking the transition between semesters. Despite opinions though, the day of Dec. 25 is recognized as Christmas, and it really does not make sense to try and cover the hype with the inanities of “holiday trees,” “holiday cards” or “holiday sales.” These exist for the reason of celebrating Christmas, and changing their names does not change their purpose. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, right? So does the alteration of names really create inclusivity for the portion of the population that does not celebrate this holiday, or does it force Christians to downplay their traditions? Rather than supporting our society’s trend toward decreasing the presence of “Merry Christmas,” each individual should exercise his freedom to practice religion and wish everybody a happy whateverholiday-he-desires.
Kelly Lyons is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Stephanie Woods is a junior in the John Cook School of Business.
Erika Klotz / Illustrator
“Black Friday” weekend, an increase of more than 14 million beyond last year. The average spending for the weekend also rose to $398 per person, from $365 a year ago. Overall, the crazies spent an estimated $52.4 billion versus $45 billion in 2010. According to the survey, the destination of choice appeared to be department stores, with nearly half of holiday shoppers visiting at least one. Although these statistics paint a pretty picture of an increase in spending, many investors have learned to take these over-the-top declarations with a grain of salt. If you have paid attention in past years, the reality is far different from the spin played out in the media. Surveys of giftshopping intentions, such as projected sales, do not reveal the actual purchases. This is because we humans are bad at forecasting the future, and, as individuals, we are especially poor at predicting our own spending habits. As soon as we see that flashy new Apple product, we whip out our
credit card to pay as if our life depended on it. Marketers and trade groups, well aware of this, exploit that knowledge. They don’t play into the holiday hype presented by the media, but, rather, they analyze the data. When taking a closer look at the annual hype that kicks off the holiday season, the actual data is much more revealing about the state of the consumer, the retail sector and the overall economy. First, let’s look back on my own experience as a team member at Target Corp. My very first day ever working there was on Black Friday. Target had its stores open at 6 a.m. that year, back in 2007. The next year our opening time was pushed up to 4 a.m. This year it pushed its opening time up to midnight, along with the majority of other stores, except WalMart, who opened its stores at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. What happened to the meaning of the holiday? Stores are being forced to push their opening times earlier each year
in order to try and gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. Why? Because the crazies want to get to as many stores as they can in the shortest amount of time. Although we have seen an increase in spending from last year, we still have to take into account the large price cuts. With huge price cuts, a store’s main purpose is to attract customers, even if they are making pennies on the dollar. This increase in spending was also caused by stores extending business hours, with certain stores demeaning the value of Thanksgiving for an extra nickel by opening their doors on Thursday, a national holiday. Retailers no longer have a choice of participating in the holiday shopping season. It has now become a necessity in order to stay in business by enticing shoppers to come back after Black Friday, where the retailers really succeed in gaining profit off their merchandise. Dustin Paluch is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
It was the worst of times ... until Pickleman’s came to SLU Anyone remember the name of that café that used to be in the spot Pickleman’s now occupies? Me neither. That is because it was Commentary nothing compared to the gem of an establishment we have now. This commentary is not an adver tisement for Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe. Doug Anstoetter It is simply in recognition of a blessing. Underclassmen may not remember this, but there was a dark time in the history of Saint Louis University, when significant parts of I-64 were closed, an abbreviated version of Kentucky Fried Chicken occupied the corner station in the Fusz Food Court. Worst of all, Jimmy John’s had a corner on the late-night sandwich market. Drinking at the bars around campus was different back then. When the last drinks were called and the bars closed down, you either went home or faced a perilous journey across Forest Park Parkway for an untoasted sandwich. Now I will give Jimmy John’s this: They got the job done. I don’t think I ever left feeling unsatisfied. As fall semester of 2010 got under way, h o w e v e r, it became clear around SLU that there was a new kid in town sporting a hefty pickle. I clearly remember a night in September that semester when Jimmy John’s employees were posted outside of Pickleman’s (a high traffic area between the bars), and they were giving away free samples of JJ’s sandwiches. It was as if they were saying, “Hey, remember us?” At the time I thought it seemed a little desperate, but after actually trying a couple of Pickleman’s sandwiches, I realized JJ’s would need any tactic available to compete. Personally, I have never met a sandwich at Pickleman’s that I did not like. They are awesome. Toasted, packed with toppings and bursting with flavor; they never disappoint. If a sandwich is not the object of your stomach’s desire, they also make soup, salad and a mean pizza. Pickleman’s provides a quality product, delicious for every occasion and stage of sobriety.
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And speaking of sobriety, can you believe what Pickleman’s employees have to put up with? The deli has become a late-night hangout more popular than Humphrey’s and Lacledes–I mean Cheaters– er– Pierre Laclede’s combined. As midnight comes and goes, hordes of hungry bar-goers pour through Pickleman’s door. It’s pretty funny. Everyone comes together for a drunken sandwichfest. Some of the best experiences of a night (whether recalled or not) come out of Pickleman’s. Everyone is genuinely happy to be intoxicated and united in their love for sandwiches. Meanwhile the employees (some of the nicest, most patient people you will ever meet) roll their eyes, suppress both laughter and anger and craft sandwich after delicious sandwich for us heathens. The saints that don the Pickleman’s uniform take us in even at our worst, and for that we owe them our thanks. Not only are the doors of Pickleman’s open until 3:30 a.m. most days of the week, they also have delivery during those hours. Are you kidding me? All we have to do is make a phone call, and someone will bring us a sandwich, even at 3 a.m. Bad weather, physical exertion and any need to go outside are things of the past because we attend SLU in the era of Pickleman’s. It’s great. The only criticism I have of the haven we call Pickleman’s is the sandwich size. I often find myself losing heart as I take the first bites of my sandwich’s second half because I know the experience will soon be over. A couple more inches of toasted goodness on each sandwich would solidify Pickleman’s as the greatest sandwich establishment SLU has ever seen. In closing, I would like to suggest that we be grateful for what we have. Delicious food, great service and accommodating hours have quickly turned Pickleman’s into a SLU tradition. We go to a university that I believe is of the highest quality. It is fitting, then, that our sandwiches should exhibit equal quality. Jimmy John’s will always be an enjoyable backup, but, at this point, I think we have all learned that when it comes to sandwiches: You need a pickle to be a man.
It became clear around SLU that there was a new kid in town sporting a hefty pickle.
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Doug Anstoetter is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Starla Salazar / Illustrator
Fashion in winter is often forgotten Imagine a cold winter morning. Your first instinct before you leave your house is probably to grab your warmest, thickest coat and pile Commentary on as many hats and scarves as your body will allow. Aside from all of that, you probably topped off this ridiculous outfit with a pair of warm, Kelly Lyons albeit immensely unflattering, Ugg boots or some type of footwear equivalent to those atrocities. Then, voilà, you’re out the door. Winter seems to be the season of excuses: “Oh, I can eat this, it’s the holiday season!” or “Of course I can wear this hideous sweater, it’s in-season!” But unless this “holiday” lasts from mid-November through February, some of you are in for a rude awakening. Honestly, is it really that much harder to put on a decent, presentable outfit to brave cold, winter weather? Even though it’s cold outside, you still have no excuse to go out in public dressing like you’re about to go sledding. It truly does not take as much effort as one would think to dress decently during the winter, and I promise, there are plenty of boots just as warm as and far less ugly than your dear Uggs. Let’s begin with the essential winter clothing piece: the winter coat. In many places, St. Louis included, a trench coat or lighter jacket isn’t going to cut it all winter. Puffy coats may never be considered one of the most flattering articles of clothing, but that does not mean you can’t find a decent looking one if you look hard enough. There are plenty of warm, yet still slimming options offered by brands such as North Face and Calvin Klein. These brands may be a tad expensive, but it is incredibly easy to find a stylish puffy jacket at a department store for under $100 in the post-
End the drama, let’s just call it Christmas!
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The Best and Worst of 2011 1
Arts Editor’s Picks
MUSIC Thursday, Dec. 8 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble Concert Xavier Hall Main stage Theater Thursday, Dec. 8 Doors at 7 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m. STAIND with Blue October and Corvus The Pageant Tickets available through The Pageant box office Friday, Dec. 9 3 to 4 p.m. Student Music Recital St. Francis Xavier College Church Saturday, Dec. 10 7 to 9 p.m. Bare Naked Statues ‘Go Hipster’ Concert The Wool Ballroom, BSC $7 tickets at the door Sunday, Dec. 11 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. University Choral Concert St. Francis Xavier College Church Monday, Dec. 12 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Concert Xavier Hall Main stage Theater Thursday, Dec. 15 Doors at 9:30 p.m. Concert at 10 p.m. Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three with The Wilders Off Broadway Tickets are $12
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Talk to us: Erin Everett 314.977.2812 arts@unewsonline.com
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A decade remembered –
The 9/11 Memorial opened in New York City on Sept. 11, 2011, in a ceremony for families of the victims. The following day, it was opened to the public. Located where the Twin Towers once stood, the Memorial is inscribed with names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the World Trade Center attacks on both Sept. 11 and Feb. 26, 1993. The stunning memorial is a solemn, yet beautiful, reminder of the international tragedy, 10 years later.
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While he never really disappeared– writing and directing at least one film per year every year since 1981– Woody Allen was producing work with inconsistent and moderate success. But “Midnight in Paris” was an absolute feast. I know, it is not “Annie Hall” or “Manhattan,” but “Midnight in Paris” resembles the Allen of the 1980s and is one of the year’s best comedies, even with Owen Wilson as the lead.
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LeBron Loses –
L e B r o n James’ 2010 ESPN special entitled “The Decision” announced that he would leave his hometown of Cleveland, Oh., and play for Miami, Fla., completing a dream team that includes Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. But all the Heat’s money and all the Heat’s men could not bring the trophy to Miami, when the Dallas Mavericks restored everyone’s faith in the NBA– pre-lockout, that is.
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Cards Get No. 11 in ’11 –
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Between Oprah Winfrey and Regis Philbin, more than 50 years of TV time has passed and, finally, these tallies have come to a close. We might miss Oprah’s free-car giveaways and, well, whatever can possibly be missed from “Live!”, but we hope that 2012 will bring hosts that are a bit more likable. Let’s overlook the fact that Oprah so graciously stepped-down from her hosting job to run her own cable channel. The Return of Woody Allen –
Harold Camping chalks it up to bad math. Either way, the world did not end as predicted on May 21, nor did it end on his revised prediction: Oct. 21. Whew! We dodged that one, but as any quick Google search for “end of the world” will tell you, humanity lives to die another day. The ancient Mayans and Roland Emmerich are banking on Dec. 21, 2012, begging the question: What’s wrong with the 21st of every month?
Even the best fans in baseball could not have seen it coming. Out 10.5 games with one month left in the regular season, Tony LaRussa rallied the troops, led by Chris Carpenter, Lance Berkman and MVP David Freese, to mount a comeback for the history books. The energy was infectious. Some say Game 6 was the best the World Series has ever seen. Others call the 2011 Cards the worst team to ever win the World Series. Either way: “What a team! What a ride!”
Oprah and Regis go off the air –
Charlie Sheen the ax –
gets
When it was all said and done, the only person still amused by Charlie Sheen’s antics in 2011 was the mighty warlock himself. After eight years on the sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” Sheen was fired, replaced and his character killed off (ouch). Those interested in Sheen’s latest mishaps can hop on Twitter, as he currently holds the Guinness World Record for “Fastest Time to Reach 1 Million Followers.” Bi . . . -winning?
A true Cinderella story – Disney dreams came true when commoner Catherine “Kate” Middleton and Prince William wed. Most importantly, the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting introduced reforms that will now allow first-born female children the same succession rights as their male counterparts. Hail to the Queen!
Beyoncé debuts a new bump –
The unlikely romance of Beyoncé and bad boy Jay-Z has been a constant subject of media speculation, culminating with B’s VMA performance and the revelation that, after three years of marriage, the couple was expecting their first child together. Viewers could not help but share in the bliss of the moment when cameras cut to Jay-Z, beaming as he accepted an enthusiastic “Congratulations!” from pal Kanye West.
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The World Spins On –
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Social networking gets Pinteresting –
Amid the constant layout changes and hacking scandals of Facebook, two heroes have emerged: Pinterest and Google+. While Pinterest serves as a haven for crafters, Google+ looms in the distance, slowly gaining membership until that fateful day when it will do to Facebook what Facebook did to MySpace. Keep an eye out for these two.
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Friday was everyone’s favorite day of the week– until this YouTube terror was unleashed. All of the autotune in the world cannot help Black, whose shockingly painful lyrics about riding on a school bus and eating cereal make the overall sound quality offensive to all five senses. Since her 15 minutes of fame, Black has chosen to dwindle down the path of homeschooling, and we are praying she won’t lead an assault on any other days of the week in her spare time.
Parting is such sweet sorrow –
The year 2011 saw the loss of British songstress Amy Winehouse, 28, humanitarian actress Elizabeth Taylor, 79, and Apple tycoon Steve Jobs, 56, among others. Suffice it to say that each of these three persons, in their varying walks of life, made the world a better and more enjoyable place— Gone but not forgotten.
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Sequels, Remakes, Comic Books and 3D –
It seems that every summer brings with it scores of uninspired, blockbuster popcorn flicks. From May to August, the multiplex teemed with the latest installment of another cash-cow franchise, be it “Harry Potter,” “Twilight” or “Transformers.” These films are so full of fluff that not even 3D, the ultimate gimmick, can inspire life in deadbeat characters and flat storylines. Our favorite characteristic of this ADHD-induced zeitgeist: the disclaimer “also playing in 2D.”
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Barefoot running shoes emerge –
It was difficult to fathom any sort of footwear that would dethrone ShapeUps and Crocs as the reigning “Ugliest Shoes In The World,” and then barefoot running shoes came along. Ever wished you were born as a platypus? You’re in luck! With just one purchase, you can transform human feet into flippers. Some fashion sacrifices are worth making to look not completely out of place in the Animal Kingdom.
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Rebecca Black’s “Friday” –
New Nickelback Album Is “Here and Now” –
While Creed dragged itself finally into oblivion, the Canadian pseudo-metal rock band Nickelback continues to grunt and croon songs that sound strikingly the same: absolutely terrible. Critics unsurprisingly continue to lambast the rock band, but this time, even faithful fans are growing weary of hearing ballads about drugs, sex, prostitutes, drugs and sex.
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Farewell, Michael Scott –
Saying good-bye is never easy, especially when it is to TV’s most lovable buffoon. Before his seven-year stint on the workplace satire “The Office,” Steve Carell was a lowly correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Now, Carell’s name is synonymous with the sitcom, and Michael Scott will likely be remembered as one of TV’s greatest characters– inappropriate, socially maladjusted and, yet, oddly human. Carell always left viewers smiling and satisfied. That’s what she said. Ashton to the rescue –
It can definitely be said that Charlie Sheen, in all his tacky, druggedup glory, is irreplaceable. Keeping this in mind, we’re still not sure what Warner Brothers saw in “That ‘70s Show” clown Ashton Kutcher that deemed him worthy of the leading man role— but the longer his hair and his beard go untrimmed, the more we resent that decision. Will someone get the man a razor for Christmas, please?
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Kim K. makes a “dash” – After just 72 days of marriage, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from hubby Kris Humphries. Talk about cheapening the institution, already tarnished by Vegas weddings and, well, celebrities. Humphries is currently seeking to have the marriage annulled on account of fraud (and that other sister is pregnant again), ,so don’t expect the media to get tired of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” anytime soon.
R.I.P. in the Animal Kingdom –
This year the Eastern Cougar and the Western Black Rhinoceros were declared extinct, passing away due to complications from poaching. In lieu of flowers, the bereaved Animal Kingdom has asked that donations be made to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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Netflix Crash and Burn –
With more than 23 million subscribers, the online film streaming and renting service was growing at an unpredictable rate. That is, until it announced its newest price hikes, alienating its most populated fan base: poor college students. Netflix has announced a plan to expand into TV programming, but will the dramatic series change the way we watch television, or sink the company once and for all?
Thursday, Dec. 8 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The University News Reader Open Forum and General Meeting Baer-Fuller Hall Free pizza will be available Thursday, Dec. 8 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Christmas at SLU The Wool Ballroom, BSC Join the university community for food, fun and holiday games Monday, Dec. 12 2 to 4 p.m. Puppy Love at Pius Pius XII Memorial Library Therapy dogs will be available for student enjoyment before finals week begins
Straight from St. Louis: Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three By DAVID MOONEY Staff Writer
Pokey LaFarge, 28, stands no more than 5-feet, 10-inches tall, on a good day. You will catch him wearing a fedora tipped ever so slightly upon his head, a shirt and tie older than your grandfather, Babe Ruth’s slacks and a sly smile that speaks of older times. At first glance, he may look like a man who is out of place and out of time. His character seems more likely to be found within the pages of a John Steinbeck novel, rather than in 2011. While his style may be a nod to a simpler time, it is certainly no copy. Pokey is Pokey, from every gelled-back hair on his head to the sole of his boots. He sings about the things every good ramblin’ blues man ought to sing about: good women, bad women, hitting the road, coming back home, mean policemen and the meaning of life. LaFarge was born and spent most of his early life in Southern Illinois, but he is a St. Louisan at heart. He was
raised by historically minded grandparents who were, according to LaFarge, “good Americans—proud of this country and proud of what it is.” They instilled in Pokey an appreciation of what American life and music were like long ago, during this nearly forgotten era.
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Even when folks were not paying, I would still be playing. -Pokey LaFarge, musician
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At age 13, LaFarge became a student of American music and musicians, starting first with legendary bluesmen such as Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and digging his way deeper into early ragtime and boogie-woogie piano players, and everywhere in
between. Eventually, he got fed up with the cornfields, packed up and took off for the West Coast. Immediately after graduating high school at age 17, he decided to relive some of his favorite novels and hitchhiked his way over to Oregon, where he pounded the streets earning his food by playing music for passers-by. In Oregon, LaFarge discovered he could play music for a living. “People started giving me money for it,” LaFarge said. “Even when folks were not paying, I would still be playing.” LaFarge said that it took a couple years of living out West to teach him what he loved and valued most about the dear old Midwest. Before making his way home, the rambler hitchhiked through the East Coast, where he stumbled upon The Vultures, St. Louisans and musicians Ryan Koenig and Joey Glynn, playing on a street in Ashville, N.C. LaFarge kept in touch with them and invited them to play his first gig at
Courtesy of Paul Nordmann
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, in a shot from the cover of their latest album “The Middle of Everything.” Off Broadway in St. Louis. Shortly after, Adam Hoskins joined the band and The Vultures became the South City Three, all hailing from South St. Louis City. The three gentlemen surround LaFarge perfectly. With Koe-
nig on harmonica, percussion and backing vocals, Glynn on the upright bass and Hoskins on guitar, the band comes together to create a delicious See “Nostalgia” on Page 9
Arts
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The University News
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Fox’s Christmas production: Bah, humbug! You could call me a “Christmas Carol” snob. It has been a Christmas tradition in my family to see the production y e a r l y, and, every year, I am brought alive in the spirit STEPHANIE of the seaMUELLER son by Dickens’ great work. Dec. 1 marked the opening night for the annual musical reprise of “A Christmas Carol” at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, performing for a notably thin audience, despite the onset of the holiday season. A humorous portrayal of the classic story, the childheavy audience was all smiles between the highly animated secondary characters and insanely exuberant ghosts of the past and the present. The scenery, while not elaborate, was suitable for the scale of the production. There were no unnecessarily over-the-top arrangements that required complicated and extensive stage set-ups, rightfully allowing a stronger focus on the plot. “A Christmas Carol” has been resurrected in so many forms that this focus was altogether unnecessary, though. Anyone over the age of 5 likely knows the plot of “A Christmas Carol,” and, in removing all enhancements to that basic storyline, the audience was left on the verge of boredom. The cast was recognizably talented, each character bringing a true personality to the stage in an effort to counteract the potential for boredom. In the case of the two charity workers and young Fred’s friends, the play was given a fresh outlook, but, for the majority of the actors, the obvious talent that this cast amassed could have been re-
unewsonline.com
Courtesy of The Fabulous Fox Theatre
“A Christmas Carol” is Charles Dickens’ tale of the Cratchit family, including Bob Cratchit and his son, Tiny Tim (center). The production visited the Fox Theatre Dec. 1 through 4. allocated to a more appropriate, sentimental persona. Marley entered the stage looking as if he had fallen prey to electrocution on his way toward the hunting-license office. Decked in what could best be described as a camouflage jumpsuit and draped in fishing nets, held together by a chain-link fence, Marley provoked a stronger feeling of fear for his sanity than his ghostliness. Ebenezer Scrooge, the traditional villain of the story, shed his despicable ways for a more animated aura, thus becoming neurotically endearing instead of the classic object of unadulterated hatred. This twist was momentarily pleasant, the crowd’s laughter originating with Scrooge’s escapades. At points, though, the char-
acter ventured into a state of seeming intoxication, the ghost of Christmas present even serving him a steaming drink that only accelerated that portrayal. This abbreviated the humanistic value of the protagonist, instead of allowing an association from the crowd. Despite the humorous connection to this representation of Scrooge, a certain element of believability was sorely lacking. Jeff Horst, who played Scrooge, is in his early 30s, a stark comparison to what the character of Scrooge is supposed to be, in the traditional sense. As he pranced across the stage, laughs were inevitably elicited, but the actions were so inconsistent with the character of Scrooge that the human value diminished quickly.
In every production of the play I’ve seen, the scene featuring the ghost of Christmas present manages to bring a tear to my eye. I’ve seen it done many ways—a chorus of candles, a 10-foot tall ghost and haunting carols all topping the list. The Fox’s production broke out the sparklers for the number, though, and that was about it. The scene was performed well, but the “wow” factor was absent, childish pyrotechnics failing to make the cut. “A Christmas Carol” is a beautiful and heartwarming story about the magic of the holidays. While the Fox’s production delivered on that message, the true beauty of the original story was absent. Thanks for the laughs, but I wouldn’t have minded a couple of heart-happy tears, too.
‘New Year’s Eve’ improves on ‘Valentine’s Day’
Black Keys strike a new sound with ‘El Camino’ The Black Keys released their new album, “El Camino,” on Tuesday, Dec. 6, marking the release of their seventh album since the band’s inception in 2001. T h e blues-rock duo consists of AkCHARLES ron, Ohio BOWLES natives Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach, and is best known for the songs “Girl Is On My Mind,” “Tighten Up” and “Howlin’ For You.” Carney and Auerbach claimed three Grammys for their previous album “Brothers.” The duo promoted “El Camino” in a unique way. According to Pitchfork Media, Carney and Auerbach ran fake advertisements in the Akron Beacon Journal encouraging interested parties to call the band about a 1994 Chevy El Camino for sale. Ironically, a Chevy El Camino is not on the album cover; instead, the album cover displays a Chrysler Town & Country. Ironically, a Chrysler Town & Country–not a Chevy El Camino–is displayed on the “El Camino” album cover. For this album, the men of The Black Keys worked with producer Danger Mouse, who has previously produced their album “Attack and Release,” their single “Tighten Up” and has worked with U2, Beck and Gnarles Barkley, among others. In an interview with Spin, the duo said they drew inspiration for their latest album from the Clash, the Cramps, old rock n’ roll, rockabilly and garage-rock records. “El Camino” opens with the lead single track “Lonely Boy,” featuring a hard-hitting blues riff with a fuzzed-out bass and a keyboard and drum accompaniment that screams of “a love that keeps me waiting.”
El Camino
Star-studded rom-com delights, sparkles and enchants Six degrees of separation. Hungarian author Frigyes Karinthy once theorized that ever yone in the world can be connected by approximately six steps, intr oductions or chance ERIN EVERETT meetings. And, like its predecessor “Valentine’s Day,” Garry Marshall’s latest film “New Year’s Eve” attempts to connect a starstudded cast in a way that is both charming and believable. And, this time, he was successful. It is difficult to put in to words what exactly makes “New Year’s Eve” stand apart from “Valentine’s Day” because, in many ways, they are remarkably similar. Audiences are presented with a startling array of approximately 25 mega-stars from all walks of life—from rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges to 2011’s Sexiest Man Alive Bradley Cooper to Academy Award winner Hilary Swank—and expected to weave a web of five, six or seven different plotlines that somehow simultaneously revolve around a calendar holiday (and a whole lot of romance). This formula, though it made for a feel-good flick, did little to help “Valentine’s Day.” For starters, Valentine’s Day is probably the most despised of all holidays. To continue a list of grievances, audiences were forced to root for Ashton Kutcher and even feel sorry for him, which was pushing the envelope even before his infidelity scandal surfaced. Audiences were forced to endure Taylor-on-Taylor (Swift and Lautner, that is) P.D.A., Emma Roberts’ awkward “planned sex” with her high school boyfriend and the transformation of their beloved “McDreamy,” Patrick Dempsey, into a cold-hearted pig. Quite simply, it was too much. “New Year’s Eve” represents a series of upgrades:
The 11-track album has an interesting variety of songs throughout, with a mix of Texas blues, Chicago blues, Delta blues and boogie-woogie, and samples different selections while maintaining the fuzzedout, bordering psychedelic guitar riffs that the duo developed during their previous three albums, but perfected with “Brothers.” As such, “El Camino” is a departure from The Black Keys’ first album, “The Big Come Up,” which was a pure Blues album, and relied on traditional Blues numbers. However, the group has developed its sound from “Brothers” into a more hardhitting, fuzzed-out sound that could be compared to a mix of ZZ Top and The Clash. The album has a psychedelic sound, evidenced by the songs “Sister” and “Gold on The Ceiling,” and has a few songs that remind long-time listeners of the bluesy sound that initially made the duo well-known, including “Run Right Back.” One of the unique selections on the album is a song called “Little Black Submarine.” This song starts off as slow, shuffle blues, sung softly by Auerbach, until just after the two-minute mark, transitioning into hard blues rock reminiscent of early Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The song speaks about lost love and having a broken heart. “El Camino” has more of an edge than The Black Keys’ previous work. The album contains more hard-driving and faster guitar riffs, and demonstrates the influence of the early hard rock n’ roll groups. More than likely due to Danger Mouse’s hand in the production, this album is much tighter than “Brothers.” “El Camino” is great for long-time listeners because it shows the evolution of the groups’ sound since its early days. New listeners are given a fresh blend of blues, rock and funk that is unique to The Black Keys.
4.25 / 5
Courtesy of New Line Cinema
Jon Bon Jovi and Katherine Heigl are among the celebrity-packed cast in “New Year’s Eve.” Trade out the Taylors for seasoned young actress Abigail Breslin and Disney alumnus Zach Efron—even “High School Musical” is more respectable than “The Twilight Saga.” Trade out Queen Latifah, George Lopez and Jessica Alba for the infinitely more talented Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Swank. Add the always-lovable Halle Berry, songstress Lea Michele, resident hotties Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl and, because it’s set in sexy New York City, add Sarah Jessica Parker. To keep things interesting, throw in Jon Bon Jovi and Ludacris. And, uh, I guess Kutcher, Jessica Biel and Hector Elizondo can take a victory lap from “Valentine’s Day.” Huge all-star cast? Check, and with a much greater quantity of Academy Awardwinners in tow. The difference is noticeable. Unlike “Valentine’s Day,” “New Year’s Eve” does not try too hard to connect its vast repertoire of characters with awkward, half-developed relationships. (Okay, the audience is expected to believe that Parker and Efron are siblings, which is more than a little weird, but the rest truly is believable). Numerous,
interweaving plot lines are much easier to follow because characters are cast perfectly: Kutcher gets to be a bearded, long-haired slob, Parker, a city-frolicking fashionista and De Niro, a valiant tough guy. As could probably be expected, De Niro, Swank and Pfeiffer carry the movie with flawless performances. Pfeiffer is particularly convincing as a socially awkward middleaged woman who quits her job as a secretary on New Year’s Eve to complete a list of resolutions on a whirlwind motorcycling adventure with Efron. De Niro, cast as a cancer patient during his final hours, delivers a powerful and emotional counterbalance to the movie’s gleeful, holiday high notes. Ludacris surprises as a teddy bear-like companion to Swank’s neurotic businesswoman counterpart, and Bon Jovi, well, he should probably stick to singing. So, is “New Year’s Eve” markedly different from “Valentine’s Day?” Yes and no, but the slight alterations make a big difference. Though this feel-good flick is not shockingly brilliant by cinematic or Academy standards, it is guaranteed to warm the heart and bring tears to the eyes. Expect to
be Disney sighing all the way back to your car on the way home, but do not forget to bring Kleenex. And, most importantly, expect to fall in love with love. Duhamel’s narration said it best: “That’s New Year’s Eve to me—love, and a great party.”
New Year’s Eve
ATHE GOOD A talented roster delivers believability and charm where “Valentine’s Day” could not
THE BAD Ashton Kutcher’s presence, and Bon Jovi’s attempt at acting
THE VERDICT A lovable flick that will warm you all the way to your toes for the holiday season
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE VERDICT
“El Camino” develops a more mature sound and tighter guitar riffs than “Brothers.” The album has more of a psychadelic vibe, but it retains the blues sound The Black Keys are known for.
A few songs end too abruptly. For loyal fans of The Black Keys, “El Camino” will definitely provide a departure from the earlier albums.
If you like “Brothers,” you will love “El Camino.” It displays the band’s evolution over the last years. The Black Keys follow greats like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Led Zeppelin.
Arts
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Aaron Kamm and Nostalgia: Blues musician evokes antique treasures The One Drops deluge the Midwest Continued from Page 7
By MATT EMODI Staff Writer
blues twist in the finalized resonance and production. Whether it is the fiery solos, swaggering riffs or moody progressions, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops has created an innovative foundation for many local musicians to live up to. So, how does Aaron Kamm and the One Drops have such an astonishing local fan base? Check their schedule. They book upward of five shows per month in St. Louis at a variety of venues, such as the Broadway Oyster Bar, 2720 Cherokee and Atomic Cowboy. The group even draws in admirers from other local reggae bands, including Tony Barcinas of ROTA.
Blues music is a staple to St. Louis history. Almost a century has passed since St. Louis blues began to hit the streets and jazz clubs. Today, St. Louisans might find local band Aaron Kamm and The One Drops taking similar bass lines for a walk at local venues and nightclubs. In 2007, the trio of Aaron Kamm, Sean Raila and Andy Lee Dorris fused their musical talents in order to create yet another inimitable sound out of the St. Louis region. In 2008, the trio released their debut album “Gnu Gnu,” which immediately helped them gain a foothold among local reggae-fiends. By the time their sophomore album was released in 2009, they were already a favorite at local venues. In 2011, they They sound similar were awarded “Best Jam Band of 2011” by The Riverto Sublime musically, front Times. “They sound similar to but Aaron’s voice is too Sublime musically, but Aaron’s voice is too unique to unique to stop there. stop there,” senior Paul Licausi, a long-time follower of the band, said. Instead of following in -Paul Licausi, senior the footsteps of some of blues music’s greats, Aaron “The tightness of the Kamm and the One Drops rhythm section and the blend infuses mannerisms of early of reggae and blues-style blues music into a relatively grooves really draw me in,” new sound stemming from Barcinas said. “Ihe rhythm is the reggae-rock revival of what draws fans’ feet to the the ‘90s. Kamm’s vocal scat- dance floor.” ting technique and melodic In the month of December flows find a crucial medium alone, Aaron Kamm and The between the two genres. The One Drops has seven events band also induces a mellow scheduled to take place— five but upbeat atmosphere with in St. Louis, one in Carbonveering bass-work and un- dale, Ill. and one in Evansville, swerving drum patterns. Ind.—many of which feature What makes Aaron Kamm smaller sets that have arisen and the One Drops so blue- out of the St. Louis area, as sy is the machinery within well. Kamm’s grasp. The famous Not only is Aaron Kamm offbeat skanking rhythm and the One Drops hitting the is distinctive to the reggae road in December, but they genre, and, as can be ex- are currently recording their pected, this rhythm progres- third full-length album at Sawsion serves as Kamm’s forte. horse Studios in St. Louis. However, there is a clear-cut Stay tuned for more.
gumbo of sound steeped in that old-timey nostalgia. For those unfamiliar with Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, just imagine a party with Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf and Django Reinhardt. LaFarge reminds us that sometimes you have to go back to move forward in life, and that is exactly what he is doing with American music. LaFarge has four studio albums under his belt. His first two full-lengths, “Marmalade” and “Born in St. Louis,” were both solo, and “Riverboat Soul” and his latest release “Middle of Everywhere,” were recorded with the South City Three. Earlier this year, he released the single “Chitlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County/Pack it Up” with Third Man Records’ Jack
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White of the White Stripes. LaFarge said he plays nearHis tunes landed a spot in the ly 250 gigs around the world soundtrack to the documenta- on a 365-day year, and makes ry “Brick By Chance and For- each performance an intitune,” a feamate and ture-length truthful film about meeting the historic with the bricks of St. audience. LaFarge is living As an avid Louis. A l lifetime t h o u g h proof that American t r a v e l e r, rooted in music is not deadhe said he tradition, believes LaFar ge’s indeed, it is far from that travstyle is eling the constantly that. country is evolving “another and proeducagressing. tion.” With a strong backbeat and Although he and the South a soulful drive, listeners are City Three traveled through quickly thrown into a frenzy the U.K., Ireland and the of foot tapping and hand clap- Netherlands this past year, ping until the music is over. LaFarge said he thinks AmerWe may see a resurgence of ica is the most inspiring. the Charleston in St. Louis. “The food, the way people
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talk, the little minor idiosyncrasies . . . this history, the geography and the architecture– it’s just really inspiring to me,” LaFarge said. This love for America was shown as LaFarge graced the Americana Music Conference in Nashville, Tenn., this past fall, and landed No. 5 on the Freeform Americana Roots Chart and one of the Top 10 spots on the Americana U.K. Chart. LaFarge is living proof that American music is not dead— indeed, it is far from that. Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three will join The Wilders on Dec. 15 for two performances, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave. The show is open to all ages, and tickets are $12 to $15; but hurry– the last show sold out.
The Ready Set visits Firebird
” Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photo Editor
Jordan Witzigreuter, better known as the indie-pop electronica act The Ready Set, visited St. Louis to perform at The Firebird on Sunday, Dec. 4. A full-length album is in the works for spring 2012.
Career training. Money for College.
and an entire teaM
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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.
Sports
The University News Talk to us: Michael Johnson 314.977.2812 sports@unewsonline.com
Thursday, December 8, 2011
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>> Men’s Basketball
Billiken Briefs Rookie
hardware
Billiken freshman Patrick May has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s swimming and diving Rookie of the Week, conference officials announced today. The award is based on May’s record-setting performances at the Tiger Invitational on Dec. 1-3. May is the second Bill to earn the honor this season. Melanie Battaglia also earned accolades on Oct. 18. In the prestigious Tiger Invitational, May led the Billikens to a fifth-place finish. SLU was competing against NCAA powerhouses such as Missouri , Boise State and threetime NCAA Division II champion Drury. May proved to be a force in the relay events, helping the 200-yard freestyle (1:23.78), 400yard freestyle (3:05.97) and 200-yard medley (1:23.31) relay teams set new school records for Saint Louis.
For
the siblings
The Saintsations dance team is now accepting applications for the Junior Saintsations. The Junior Saintsations is for five to 12 year old ladies to learn basic dance and cheer techniques from the current Saintsation members. The squad will perform their dance at two upcoming men’s and women’s basketball games. Each member of the Junior Saintsations will receive and official Junior Saintsations uniform, Pom Poms, a hair bow, an instructional DVD of the material taught in the camp, discounted ticket rates for scheduled performance dates and free admission to designated games. The membership fee is $75 with discounted tickets offered at $5-$20 each.
BILLIKEN SCOREBOARD
Bills conquer Catamounts, Mitchell nets 1,000 Homestand starts swimmingly, Majerus’ next milestone in sight By AUSTIN PENCE Staff Writer
With 11:38 left to play in the second half, junior Kwamain Mitchell drained a trey and became the 25th player to bucket 1,000 points as the Saint Louis Billikens defeated Vermont 62-43 on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Chaifetz Arena. The victory advances SLU to 8-1 while the Catamounts fall to 4-5. Mitchell was one of four Billikens to score 10 points, joining Brian Conklin, Dwayne Evans and Cody Ellis. Evans added a game-high 10 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, for his first double-double of the season and sixth of his career. “I wasn’t really even thinking about that, to be honest,” Mitchell said of his 1,000-point milestone. “What I’m focused on is the confidence our 8-1, our great start, is giving us. Every day I’m coming out and working hard … but the milestone feels great. There are a lot more to accomplish.” The Billikens made their first four shots of the game, and 12 of their first 15, in building a 14-point out-of-the-gate cushion. Baskets by Evans and Mitchell gave SLU a 4-3 lead. The Bills finally came up empty on their sixth possession but bounced back with a 10-0 run to stretch their lead to 20-7. Sophomore Mike McCall, Jr., and Cory Remekun hit jumpers, and Ellis and Mitchell buried 3-pointers to finish the spurt. Vermont would make the rest of the first half interesting by switching to a 2-3 zone defense, essentially starving the Billikens’ offense. SLU scored just seven points over a near-seven minute period while the Catamounts went on a 15-point See “B-ball” on Page 11
Ryan Doan / Staff Photographer
Sophomore Dwayne Evans was one of four Billikens to register 10 points in their tilt against Vermont on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Chaifetz Arena.
For Conklin, success comes on and off the court By AUSTIN PENCE Staff Writer
When former Saint Louis University Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Alex Jensen called Brian Conklin to express the Billikens’ interest in having him play collegiate ball for them, Conklin was also fielding calls from a much more successful – and local – program: the University of Oregon. Conklin, a native of Eugene, Ore., has been a lifetime fan of the Ducks. After all, if Eugene has a claim to fame, it is the Ducks. But Jensen offered an incentive that Oregon could not offer. If Conklin chose SLU, he would be playing for Rick Majerus. For Conklin, a post player, the chance to learn from one of the most wellregarded defensive minds in college basketball was the chance of a lifetime. But then Conklin got to speak to Majerus on the phone. “I remember, the first time he called me, I sat in the car for almost an hour and just talked to him,” Conklin said. “He was telling me books I should read, told me he saw some film of me, and he liked the way I play.” “He told me I’d be part of the rebuilding. When they get recruits, they tell you, ‘You’re coming to a new arena, you’ve got a new weight room, you’ve got people that care about you, and you’re going get the best scholarship on campus.’ Al [Jensen] told me I’d be coached by the best coach, and it’s all true.
Curtis Wang/ Multimedia Director
Brian Conklin (14) has soared to new heights at Saint Louis University. “My decision is paying dividends.” And it’s paying dividends for SLU, too. As of Dec. 7, the senior forward leads the Atlantic 10 Conference with a .667 shooting percentage from the field and leads the team with 16.8 points per game. He was named A-10 coPlayer of the week for Nov. 28 and was named the 76 Classic
MVP in Anaheim, Calif. over Thanksgiving. Conklin is also leading the team with 4.8 rebounds per game. “There’s no question, the heart and the motor of the team is Conklin,” ESPN basketball analyst Sean Farnham said. “When he plays hard, when he gets his hands on the ball, when he’s going through traffic, it energizes the rest of
his teammates. Then you start to see that work rate increase at both ends of the floor from everybody, and that’s when SLU gets dangerous.” Born to Joe and Annette, Conklin was always bigger than the other boys his age and naturally gifted at a handful of sports. Joe Conklin began coaching his oldest son in basketball in the third grade and continued doing so for four years before creating a select travel league for Conklin and a few friends to play in. Years later, while in high school, Conklin would travel to Orlando, Las Vegas and even China, as part of an AAU league. His size and athleticism, though, also made him a gifted tight end in football. But his high school team was not well coached, and after injuring his ankle sophomore year and missing most of the season, Conklin transitioned solely to basketball, a move that fit him both physically and mentally. “He was never a contact, hitting kind of player,” Joe Conklin said. “He was finesse, using his strength. He may look like it on the basketball court, but I got news for you, on the football field, he didn’t like it. “Anyway, he had more passion for basketball. He had more fun playing it.” So, with an offer from SLU on the table, “my ticket to get stuff done,” as Conklin says, the “Eugene Enforcer” committed to play for Majerus See “Conklin” on Page 11
>> Track & Field R
Men’s Basketball
Billikens heat up winter meets, blazing times blister foes By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
W 76-68 vs. Portland
W 62-53 vs. Vermont Women’s Basketball
L 64-78 @ Murray State
L 46-48 @Wisconsin
Billiken Media Relations
Senior Dahmar Smiles looks to regain the form of his 2011 Atlantic 10 110-meter hurdles Championship campaign.
The track and field team got out of the blocks fast this past weekend. Senior Brian Holdmeyer represented Saint Louis University in the Blue & Gold Invitational at Notre Dame on Friday, Dec. 2. He set a new SLU mark in the 5K with a time of 14:33.90, good for fourth overall. The rest of the squad participated in the Early Bird Invitational on Saturday at Illinois State. Senior Brittney Cloudy registered a school record in the 60-meter dash (7.86) and took first place in the long jump (18-4.5) and triple jump (40-0). Sophomore Kita Alvarez took first place in the 400 meters at the Early Bird, finishing in a time of 58.71. Senior
Jenna Romano and freshman Jamee Holmes finished second and third in the mile, respectively, with times of 5:15.70 and 5:28.39. Junior Dana Siebenaller finished second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.06. The women’s 4x400-meter relay, made up of Alvarez, sophomore Allison Walter, junior Ashley Roche and sophomore Caitlyn Brinkmann, finished second with a time of 4:01.59. On the men’s side, senior Patrick Kotecki won the 400 meters, posting a time of 51.65. Sophomores Stewart Van Horne and Jose Mendez placed second and third in the 800 meters with times of 2:01.17 and 2:01.45, respectively. The Billikens will hit the track next in the Illini Open, held on Jan. 14.
Winning ways refreshing, revolutionary About four years ago, it came down to a couple of universities. Most of them had football teams. Saint Louis University did not. That is the one thing that the other schools JONATHAN AUPING had that S L U lacked. Every other category was in SLU’s favor. I chose SLU. For SLU students who consider themselves “hardcore” sports fans, they sacrificed something when they chose to attend the school. What they sacrificed was a mainstream fan-ship to their college. They will not be watching their school play in any college football bowl games, and their basketball team has never been a traditional “powerhouse” program. In fact, it has not experienced any type of serious success in the past 20 years. The sports fanatics have coped, however. We all have our teams. There are plenty of professional teams to be obsessed with, and the hometown Cardinals’ fans were able to indulge in a World Series title. Many of us have even adopted or maintained an allegiance to other universities’ programs. It is a tough pill to swallow, but it is difficult to truly enjoy college football or March Madness if your “favorite” team is not even involved. Of course, there have been the die-hard Billiken basketball fans (or “SLUnatics”), and they deserve their credit for really sticking by the team through every win and every loss. But even they will tell you that each game the past few years has not held a tremendous amount of significance. That is all starting to change. The “plan” that many of us were too nervous to actually believe in is coming true. The Billikens are not just competitive, they are a legitimate threat to make the NCAA tournament come March. The team has given us something to believe in. The Chafeitz crowd and the entire campus is responding to their winning ways and hard work. It is easy to get excited about the team and their potential. The Billikens have the right combination of veteran leadership, youthful contributions and even an exiled star. So when the Billikens won the 76 Classic and were vaulted into the AP Top 25 rankings, it was a new type of feeling. Sure, one of “my” teams had won before, but this was not just my team -- it was my school. And every time I hear ESPN or CBS talk about the Billikens, I think back to four years ago when I made a pretty big life decision. But instead of worrying about my major or my future career, I was just telling myself, “If they could just make the tournament before I graduate…” And then we lost to LoyolaMarymount. We should not have lost that game. And like so many other fans I thought, “Just as we get into the Top 25, we boot ourselves right out.” But then I realized that this was just one loss, but it held so much significance. It’s called being a sports fan. Now each game is relevant. And yes, the LMU loss was bad, but in the past it would have been just another loss. Now, the players, the coaches, the fans and all the students know what they want. We want to go to the NCAA tournament. Every win this year should be exciting. Every loss is going to hurt. But I think this is a new experience for all of us. It is one I have been waiting four years for. I love all of “my” teams and I defend the right to call them “mine.” But this is different. Because this is Saint Louis University basketball, and, just like all of you, I am a part of this team. The program has solidified itself as a piece of the fabric of my life.
Sports
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
>> Women’s Basketball
>> Special Intrest
Improving Billikens nipped by Badgers in close road contest
Simon Rec soccer wizard dazzles onlookers, YouTubers By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
Curtis Wang /Multimedia Director
Junior guard Courtney Webb (21) drives to the rack for the Billikens, who fell to 2-6 over the weekend. By MICHAEL JOHNSON Sports Editor
The struggling Billikens (2-6) dropped yet another closely-contested match, this time in a game to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. On Monday, Dec. 5., Saint Louis University fell to the Badgers in the evening tilt 48-46. “We don’t believe in moral victories, so it’s tough to lose this one,” Head Coach Shimmy Gray-Miller said. “We prepared to win and came in expecting to win. It’s disappointing, but I’m extremely proud of our effort. The only way I could possibly be any prouder of our players is if we had won the game.” SLU commanded the offensive boards in the match. They held a 21-6 advantage in the category. Six-foot forward Lorreal Jones was one of the key components to that overwhelming edge and a bright spot for the Billikens in the loss. The sophomore Detroit native posted her second consecutive doubledouble. Jones registered a game- and career-high 16 rebounds and chipped in 13 points. She also went after the ball on the defensive end, recording a career-high three steals. SLU has outrebounded the Badgers 45-33 and all eight of their foes this season.Jones currently leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in rebounding and offensive rebounding. Junior Mallory Eggert netted a season-high 10 points and collected seven
rebounds (four offensive), and Kim Bee equaled her season best with eight rebounds. Desirae Ball scored eight points, while Janisha Gearlds tallied a game-high five assists and tied her season rebounding high of five. Gearlds moved past Julie Goessling into sixth place on SLU’s career assists chart. The Billikens’ ability to compete with the Badgers could be credited to their careful ball control. They recorded a season-low 11 turnovers. Taylor Wurtz scored a game-high 16 points, including 11 in the second half, and gathered nine rebounds for Wisconsin (4-5). Ashley Thomas had 14 points and seven rebounds. After SLU expanded a 22-17 halftime lead to 26-19 on baskets by Jones and Ball to start the second half, Wisconsin used a 24-10 run to take a 43-36 lead. Cassie Rochel scored what proved to be Wisconsin’s final points for a 48-42 advantage at the 2:42 mark. Gearlds drove the lane for a layup, and, after a Wisconsin miss, Jones took advantage of a SLU offensive rebound and nailed a jumper from the right wing to close the gap to 48-46 with 1:11 remaining. The Badgers left the door open for a Billiken comeback over the final 71 seconds, after missing a series of bonus foul shots, but SLU was unable to capitalize. The Billikens now travel to Boca Raton, Fla., to face Florida Atlantic University Saturday, Dec. 10. Tip time is 2 p.m.
Bounce off the right foot. Kick over to the left heel. Shimmy up to the shoulder. Go rest on the neck. Pop up onto the noggin, now. Sit there. Roll down the chest. This routine sounds a lot like DJ Casper’s “Cha-Cha” slide. Actually, it’s a look at a day in the life of Wes Dorman’s soccer ball. Dorman, a freshman in the John Cook School of Business, is a budding freestyle soccer ball-juggling star. The juggling guru practices daily in Simon Recreation Center, and the Rec’s patrons are taking notice of his talents, in spite of his modest appearance and humbleness. If you’re unfamiliar with the practice of freestyle “futbol,” think the Harlem Globetrotters of the soccer world. It’s a lot of flash and flare. “I’ll be in the middle of a basketball game, and he’ll be practicing his moves on the side,” fellow freshman Austin Jackson said. “Every now and then, I’ll lose track of the game because I’m just standing mesmerized at his command with the ball. “ When in practice mode, Dorman’s focus is uncanny. The magician pops in his headphones and
fixes-in on his literally star-studded ball. As rap music pours into his ears, the maestro of the soccer sphere runs through his cache of tricks and fancy footwork. “I picked it up a couple years ago,” Dorman said. “It’s something I just became really passionate about and have a lot of fun with.” Dorman possesses an all-around portfolio of moves that utilize every part of his body: a standard variety of kicks off of his legs; a face stall, where he holds the ball motionless on his lips; and an arching handstand, where he traps the ball behind his head and back. “My favorite is the doublearound the world,” Dorman said. “It’s where you pop it up and rotate your foot around the ball twice, fast enough to catch it before the ball hits the ground.” Dorman puts on this clinic of hand-eye coordination for hours on end, much to the enjoyment of the exercisers in the Simon Rec gym. “His moves almost defy gravity,” junior Adam Corrado said. If the Rec seems like too far of a walk to see a man kick a soccer ball around, tune into his YouTube channel, “WesFreestyle,” to view some of Dorman’s highlights. It may be only a matter of time before his clips go to a viral level of the sneezing panda.
Continued from Page 10
And now, in his fourth and final year at SLU, Conklin’s game has reached a whole new level. After spending the summer in the gym, Conklin has been perhaps the reason SLU is off to an 8-1 start this season, as well as receiving votes in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Conklin, while admitting he has managed to keep off additional weight gains by running sprints harder, attributes his success this fall to his coach and his health. “This is the first year I’ve been healthy and able to sustain my gains,” Conklin said. “I’ve always been hurt, had a nagging pain, that’s prevented me from playing to my abilities. I don’t think I’m physically tougher. “It’s also Coach hammering in those minute details,
CJF CHEER
Denver Broncos’ Defense While Tim Tebow has received nearly all the credit, it has been the team’s defense that has been terrific during a five-game winning streak, including two crucial interceptions against the Vikings on Sunday that led to two scores. Actually, I think I see lightning in the distance again…Tebow won the game; it was all Tebow.
Who to
JEER
Photo courtesy of: en:User:Archbridge
Jason Garrett Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photo Editor
Freshman juggling sensation Wes Dorman executes his favorite move, the double- around the world.
Conklin: Success on court, in life B-ball: 499 for Majerus as a Billiken. The decision to come to St. Louis, a full 2,057 miles and two time zones away, was easy for him. Always driven by academic as well as athletic success, SLU was the perfect fit, and leaving home was just something that went along with it. But for Joe Conklin, watching his eldest son leave home was tough. “It was hard, the hardest thing, to watch him walk out the door,” he said. “But he made the decision right off the bat. It wasn’t our decision. He’s always been that way. Whenever he wants something and makes a decision, then that’s it. I told him, ‘Once you make the decision, you’re done.’ That’s the commitment you make.” Both Conklins are happy with the decision.
Who to
and I’m able to finish this year. I’m able to get a little more lift to get my shot higher to the backboard. I’m not worried about getting my shot blocked or the [physical] contact.” And, while his sights may be set on the A-10 Conference title and a trip to the NCAAs, Conklin has at least two dates already booked on the calendar. In May, he will graduate with his MBA, and sometime after that, he will marry his fiancée of over a year, Christina. Papa Conklin couldn’t be prouder. “I never went to college. That was my choice,” he said. “This was his choice. I’m awfully proud of everything he’s done. He’s a wonderful young man, a great son, and I’m proud to be his father.”
Major research study at VCU School of Medicine seeks a diligent, independent, professional, and qualitatively-trained researcher to serve as a consultant in the greater St. Louis, MO area. Consultant must be already based in the St. Louis area and will conduct assessments in local hospitals. Graduate students welcome to apply.
http://www.behavioralhealth.vcu.edu/ Employment/Consultant.pdf
Entertain Your Brain A Service of The University of Missouri – St. Louis
Continued from Page 10
tear. Kyle Cassity hit a trey with 5:11 left in the half, and the Bills took a 34-27 lead to the locker room at half. SLU Head Coach Rick Majerus preaches to his players to start each half like the score is 0-0, and his team responded against Vermont, scoring on its first three possessions of the second half. Following a Vermont basket, Evans gathered a Saint Louis miss and scored to make it 4129. The Billiken defense then took over, forcing eight straight empty possessions by the Catamounts. SLU’s largest lead, by 25, came with 3:43 left in the half. “We played our [butt]’s off the second half,” Majerus said. “Sometimes you have to be careful; you win the battles
but lose the war. It was one of those ‘Tales of Two Cities’ games. Whatever you accept in victory, you have to accept in defeat. But we played well. I’ve never doubted that players win games.” SLU cooled to a 37.5-percent shooting clip in the second half, but a 60.9 percent accuracy in the first 20 minutes allowed the Billikens to finish the game at 48.9 percent, including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point distance. The Bills contiune to shoot at an impressive clip this season. Vermont shot 50 percent in the first half, then slipped to 25 percent after the break to finish at 36.4 percent. On Saturday, Dec. 10, should the Billikens win, Majerus will register his 500th career victory. Tip-off against Illinois-Springfield is at 1 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena.
The Dallas Cowboys head coach cost his team a win against the Arizona Cardinals when he “iced” his kicker, Dan Bailey, by calling a timeout seconds before Bailey kicked a successful attempt. After the timeout, Bailey missed the second attempt, and the Cowboys lost in overtime. After the game, Tony Romo told reporters, “Everyone noticed that totally wasn’t my fault, right?”
Who to
FEAR
Florida Marlins The soon to be “Miami Marlins” have just signed star shortstop Jose Reyes and are aggressively pursuing Albert Pujols. Their pitch to Pujols is reportedly centered around the things he has to deal with in St. Louis that do not exist in Miami like cold weather, a rookie manager and, of course, baseball fans.
By JONATHAN AUPING Staff Writer
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