No. 27 May 3, 2012

Congratulations 2012 graduates!

The University News Final issue of the 2011-2012 academic year.

Celebrating 90 Years as a Student Voice of Saint Louis University

Vol. XCI No. 27

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

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Commencement speaker revealed Father James Martin, S.J. will share lightness and laughter in May 19 address

By JONATHAN ERNST Editor-in-Chief

As students prepare their last assignments for the semester, one Jesuit priest prepares to lighten the mood.

Father James Martin, S.J. will deliver his message of lightness and laughter to the Saint Louis University class of 2012 at this year’s Commencement ceremony at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, May 19 at 9 a.m.

“It is important that we go out into the world and make sure that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Martin said. “I am going to invite the graduates to lighten up a little bit.”

Martin is the culture edi-

tor of America magazine and is a best-selling author of many books including his latest title “Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life.” SLU approached Martin earlier this semester offering him to address their graduates. Martin will also receive an honorary degree during the ceremony.

“SLU is such a prestigious institution, it made it a delight to accept the offer to speak,” Martin said.

While Martin plans to address the graduates with some “Jesuit jokes” and humor, he is mainly interested in meeting people “where they are at.”

Martin is able to reach his

followers by using social media. He constantly updates his social media pages with prayers, article links and religious news.

“Like Jesus, we have to go out and meet people where they are,” Martin said. “Jesus spoke to his followers in ways they could understand and that is why it is important to use media and popular culture to meet younger audiences where they are at.”

Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media including appearances on Fox TV’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” PBS’s “The Newshour with Jim Lehrer,” Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” the History Channel and the Vatican Ra-

dio. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982, Martin worked in corporate finance for six years. Martin found himself “miserable” and decided to enter the Society of Jesus.

“The Ignatius idea of finding God in all things really spoke to me and joining the Jesuits ended up being the best decision of my life,” Martin said.

Martin said he would make his commencement address short, focusing on the advice that he has to give to the graduates.

“It is important that you don’t try to be someone other than who you are. You don’t need to become someone else to be holy,” Martin said.

By WOLF HOWARD Staff Writer

Coutresy of Father James Martin, S.j.

Father James Martin, S.J. will address the class of ‘12 on May 19 at Chaifetz.

One year later: Evaluating the Oath Spring 2010: A number of biased incidents on SLU's campus spur students to demand a greater awareness of diversity issues July 2010: Planning group formed, the Oath of Inclusion begins to take shape April 19, 2011: Oath of Inclusion launched to the SLU community Fall 2011: In it's first full semester of existence, the Oath of Inclusion is promoted to the freshman class, prospective students, and the upperclassmen

Minghao Gao / Senior Staff Photographer

Current Student Government Association Vice President of Diversity and Social Justice Kripa Sreepada influenced the development of the Oath of Inclusion. Sreepada has continued to stress the merits of inclusion and diversity at SLU.

Spring 2012: Planning begins for the sustainability of the Oath, including working with facets of SLU's campus directly impacted by the Oath, including disabilities services and services for pregnant and parenting student.

By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor

“We, as students, form a diverse and vibrant university community.”

So states the first line of the Oath of Inclusion, a document and project launched a year ago with the intent of taking a step toward building an inclusive community at Saint Louis University .

Though the Oath officially is only a year old, its history extends back to the Spring of 2010.

“The whole concept of it began after all the bias incidents that occurred in spring of 2010,”said Vice President of Diversity and Social Justice, Kripa Sreepada, “Our community felt extremely broken.

One of the demands that came out of that was that we create a kind of statement of commitment from the students and the university to combating discrimination and prejudice.”

The bias incidents that took place in 2010 led to an outcry from students to see something change.

In response, the Student Government Association at the time began work on the Oath of Inclusion that summer, pulling students from SGA, various diversity organizations on campus and students who had been impacted by the bias incidents to come together and piece together a document written by

students, for students.

“We didn’t want an administrative document because it was more of a student issue, we felt,” Sreepada said, “What made it stronger was that it was comprised of different outlooks and different perspectives on inclusion.”

Sreepada recalled that the group went through draft after draft of the document, often holding twohour meetings during which everything from ideology to grammar was debated. Eventually, a statement was decided upon and, after some administrative feedback, the Oath of Inclusion was launched to the SLU community on April 19, 2010.

Since then, the promotion of the Oath has all but exploded across SLU’s campus.

“The impact that the Oath of Inclusion has made is really impressive,” said Assistant Vice President of Student Development, Ray Quirolgico. “The Oath of Inclusion has been introduced and discussed with prospective students and families in Admission visitation programs, it has been included into SLU 101, into Welcome Week and into University 101 classes.

The Oath is discussed in campus programs about diversity and inclusion and in intergroup dialogue.

The Oath is now visibly placed near entrances to many offices and campus buildings. I have also really enjoyed seeing the “Live The Oath” buttons in different languages appear on the clothing and bags of students that I pass around campus.”

Spreepada states that the target audience of the Oath is all of SLU, but a large portion of the efforts have been aimed at the freshmen, as they are just beginning their tenure at SLU and have significant potential to build the Oath.

“It’s a bit harder to get the attention of the upperclassmen after they are done with their first year, as you don’t have those moments when you’re with everyone in your class,” Sreepada said, “But we have the plaques and we have the videos that depict how upperclassmen live the Oath, so their peers can see how others are living it out.”

The struggle to engage the upperclassmen has not been the only challenge. SGA Chief of Staff and VP of Diversity and Social Justice elect, Sean Worley, said another worry is keeping the Oath relevant.

“It’s easy to see the impact on first-year students, See “Oath” on Page 2

Wellness Fee Committee formed to allocate funds for wellness initatives

By WOLF HOWARD Staff Writer

On February 15, Student Government Association voted to create the Wellness Committee, an entirely new body of SGA with the goal of increasing student wellness campus-wide.

The Wellness Committee will be in charge of the funds SGA receives from the Wellness Fee, though the committee is merely a governing body in what is meant to be a program spearheaded by student engagement.

The Wellness Fee is a $90-per-semester fee that ev-

ery undergraduate student pays as part of enrollment in a semester of classes. The Wellness Fee was created in January 2010 as a means to pay debt incurred by the creation of the Medical Center Outdoor Complex, renovations to Simon Recreation Center, and the Student Health and Counseling program, as well as funding “alcohol prevention programming and other wellness related initiatives,” according to Senate Bill 057-12.

A portion of the fee, roughly $100,000, was also given to SGA yearly in order to promote student-based wellness programming.

Every year Chartered Student Organizations apply for funding through SGA. The money that SGA allocates to each CSO is drawn from the Student Activity Fee, a charge of $55 a semester paid by every undergraduate.

This amount was recently increased by $10 per semester by a referendum added to the SGA executive board elections held this year.

In the past two years, SGA used the funds given to it by the Wellness Fee in order to provide extra money in the yearly funding process for Chartered Student Organizations. Citing the fact that

the Wellness Fee was never meant to support the Activity Fee and that a source of funding with the intent of promoting student wellness would benefit the SLU student body, SGA voted to create the Wellness Fee Committee. With the creation of the committee, the Wellness Fee money was separated entirely from the Activity Fee money.

SGA Financial Vice President elect Elect Vidur Sharma will chair the Wellness Committee next year. According to SGA President elect Blake Exline, he and seven other senators or committee representatives will be voting members

SGA calls for ticket change

of the committee. There will also be a Student Wellness Fee Advisory Group, comprising the SGA president, financial vice-president and three other members appointed by the president. This advisory group will be made up of five administrators or faculty and five students, and this will be the body that votes on the allocation of all money from the wellness fee.

“SGA will work with students to get them in touch with collaborations throughout the University and to ensure their initiative is See “Wellness” on Page 3

Five bills and three resolutions were passed in final Student Government Association senate meeting of the year.

Voting opened with senate passing amendments to SGA bylaws in order to make them more consistent with current practices Senate passed a bill banning tickets from executive board elections. This means that the groups students have seen in past elections, such as Building Bridges last year and Limitless this year, will cease to be a part of the election process. Endorsements were also barred in the bill.

Thus every student must run as an individual for any SGA executive board positions.

Debate carried on for over an hour, with senators from both sides voicing strong opinions on the bill and the impact it would have on the student body and SGA. Those for the bill argued that tickets were unfair to students because they limited the election pool and made it harder for students to run due to the intimidation and influence of a ticket’s unified presence.

They hoped that removing tickets would make elections more merit based, and would promote more student involvement in the election process.

President-elect Blake Exline stood in opposition of the bill. The process felt rushed he said, and he believed that more research needed to be done and more time needed to be given to consider the implications of the bill. Other arguments against the bill were that tickets allowed an executive board to have a unified vision, and that removing tickets would have no positive impact on the student body.

SGA sent out a survey with its mailer on Wednesday, April 30, with questions pertaining to student opinions on elections without tickets.

SGA still hadn’t received the results by the debate.

“The issue is not decided on yet,” President Matt Ryan said concerning the bill.

Next bills concerning amendments to the SGA constitution were brought up. Most of the amendments were meant to make the constitution more concise, and 8 of the amendments were passed in an omnibus. An amendment concerning the function of the Black Student Alliance senator failed, with many senators arguing that the bill was incomplete, not stating clearly enough what the responsibilities of the BSA senator are.

A bill attempting to absolve the Constitutional Review and Rules Committee failed due to concerns about investing too much power in in the Internal Affairs Committee. Following this, senate voted to pass three resolutions, meant to act as guidelines concerning the alterations made this year to funding and the wellness fee. Five left over funding bills were voted to pass in omnibus.

Blue the Billiken Graduation!!

Read and Recycle The University News prints on partially recycled paper.

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Let Us Introduce You

Joseph Andreoni

Called to be a crime-fighter, this SLU student holds Salsarita’s sacred

By BRIAN BOYD News Editor

Senior Joe Andreoni walked into a meeting to be profiled for his debut in The University News wearing a dress shirt and a bow tie.

When questioned about his attire, he offered the motto that he lives by: “Hey man, look good, play good, you know?”

Andreoni mulled over the influences that led him to the where he is today, standing on the precipice of graduation at Saint Louis University.

He spoke of his youth in “the mean streets of Milwaukee… the south side of Milwaukee” and the road he took to get to SLU. He said that his perspective on career and society wasn’t shaped by parents and mentors. Instead, the wrestling heroes of his youth gave him a viewpoint that kept him strong along his journey.

“A big influence on me was Stone Cold Steve Austin. He was a revolutionary. He didn’t take a whole lot of crap from anyone, even his boss. He stuck it to the man and set his own rules,” Andreoni said.

Andreoni wasn’t only looking for toughness. He said he admires persistence and someone who can stay tough and do their job every day.

“Another one was Mick ‘Mankind’ Foley,” Andreoni said. “He had that never say die attitude. He got beat up all the time and never gave up.

He showed up with broken ribs and his arm in a sling and said, ‘Let’s go.’ I also liked his beard and sock puppets.”

Andreoni came to SLU after graduating from Marquette High School and said that serving others has always been one of his focuses in life, one that fits in with his parent’s wishes to attend a Jesuit university.

Andreoni said he began his time at SLU in the Micah program, but the highlight of his college career was with the SLU club rugby team. Andreoni played in high school, but he said he invested most of his free time in the team

THE SLU SCOOP All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Thursday, April 26

7:00 p.m. - Stealing Under $500 Officers met with a student at the Wool Center who stated that another student had taken money out of his wallet while he was playing basketball at the Rec Center. The victim’s friends told him of the incident and identified the student who removed the cash.s The victim refused to contact SLMPD.

Friday, April 27

8:09 p.m. - Property Damage DPSEP received a call from a SLU student stating she observed a silver Jeep going through the exit gate the wrong way, breaking the gate arm. The witness identified the vehicle.

Saturday, April 28

11:30 a.m. - Property Damage Adhesive flyers, as well as graffiti, both of a libelous nature, were discovered in a number of restrooms in the building. Maintenance and Housekeeping personnel removed the posters and graffiti. The build-

ing manager and desk workers were advised of the circumstances.

Residence Life and Pro Staff were notified.

Tuesday, May 1

7:43 p.m. - Property Damage A DPSEP officer, while patrolling the south alley, noticed graffiti had been spray painted on the wall in large letters. Maintenance was notified.

Be a Responsible Billiken STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu

Oath: Plans for future in place Continued from Page 1

Kristen Miano / Associatie News Editor

and enjoyed it. He served as the treasurer of the team sophomore year, and he was the president his junior year and the fall semester of 2011.

“My service project became the rugby team after my sophomore year,” Andreoni said, jokingly. “We’ve gone to a lot of cool places to play rugby. I got to chill in San Diego and play rugby. That’s a good gig. That, and my teammates are awesome.”

Academically, he felt that studying Criminal Justice would direct him towards his goal of helping others. He aspires to be a police officer and eventually become a federal law enforcement official.

“I’ve always had a respect for police officers. I also don’t want to be stuck in an office the rest of my life. I want to

be fighting crimes and saving lives,” Andreoni said.

He also added that he was influenced by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in the 2003 movie “S.W.A.T.” and some of the police officers he encountered growing up in Milwaukee.

He has been an intern with the Chesterfield Police Department since the fall.

“It was a good gig. I met a lot of really professional officers. They’re really courteous, intelligent and good at what they do, the type of cops I want to be,” Andreoni said.

Before ending, Andreoni mentioned his affinity for Salsarita’s cuisine. When pressed for a reason, he replied curtly.

“Do I even need to explain?”

but as they get older it will be a challenge to keep them,” Worley said.

Despite the challenges the Oath has faced, those involved with the Oath appear to be in agreement that the progress has been successful.

“This semester, we’re making the transition from “accidental learning” to looking at what resources we can provide to show that we are committed to the Oath as a community,” Sreepada said.

The Oath of Inclusion has spurred programming such as the Interfaith Music and Art Festival and various planning through the Diversity Leadership Cabinet. Sreepada stated that though there was a lot of awareness raising, the aim has been to show that the Oath is not so overwhelming that it is impossible to live out.

Moving forward, the direction of Live the Oath will be moving towards ensuring re-

sources in line with the Oath are available to students.

“A lot of initiatives that the Oath encompasses are nothing that will be accomplished in one year, or at least see an end product in one year,” Worley said. “That’s why we created the Spirit of the Oath campaign, to ensure that this continues even after I graduate.”

Worley said for next year, some of his plans include working with disability services, services for pregnant and parenting students and furthering the efforts of the Sexual Assault Working Group.

Worley also stated that he wants to ensure that the Oath is extending to identities that may be less than visible.

“We have students of various socio-economic status, students of different sexual orientation, students of various ideologies and everything like that. I want to make sure the oath continues to reflect that,” Worley said.

Donna Bess Meyer, direc-

tor of Student Support and Parent Services and SGA adviser, said she is happy with the progress of the Oath.

“The Higher Learning Commission was here, and when they asked about diversity and multiculturalism on campus, so we gave them a copy of the Oath,” Bess Meyer said. “People come with all kinds of gifts, just different packages. To have more SLU people, with the Oath as their background, go out into the world and articulate this is really exciting.”

Quirolgico stated that though he was not heavily involved with the creation of the Oath, he is looking forward to where it will go in the future.

“I hope it will continue to attract diverse populations to come and study or work at SLU,” Quirolgico said. ”I think the campus community will continue to embrace the handiwork of our students because it’s the result of really dedicated leadership that we are all proud to have at SLU.”

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

New Chartwells staff serves up fresh ideas Parks launches Staff looks to collect student feedback to improve dining experience

By LUKE YAMNITZ & MO SCHAETZEL Staff Writers

Constantly adjusting menus, rearranging facilities and putting a fresh, tasty twist on holiday celebrations, some new Chartwells staff members have been hard at work this school year to add more flavor to the Saint Louis University dining experience.

SLU Chartwells Director Cathy Causey and Marketing Director Mary Dunn began working at the University this past August. Over the past eight months, the two have attempted to lead Billiken Dining into a new era. They said that creativity, sustainability and student relationships are their top priorities.

“We want people to be proud of the dining on campus and have a part in it,” said Causey. “I make lists [of possible new events] every night,” said Causey.

Chartwells hosts at least one “holiday,” contest or celebration every week.

Highlights from this year include the Friday Grill Series outside Terra Ve, the street food festival in the quad, the Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day buffets in the Wool Ballrooms, midnight breakfasts in Fusz, taco eating contests in Salsarita’s and a chili cookoff in Griesedieck.

Chartwells has also cosponsored events with several student organizations, including KSLU, Student Activities Board and Elevation.

Desiring to spice up the

daily dining experience, the new office staff said they are open to feedback and ideas.

“We’re always looking for what’s new and what’s next,” said Dunn. “You [students] have a bigger voice than you think you do,” Dunn and Causey meet biweekly with the Student Government Association Food Committee to discuss how Billiken Dining can continue to improve and impress.

After students began requesting more eco-friendly services, Chartwells introduced the new reusable togo containers. Billiken Dining has sold more than 2,000 since January, Causey said.

Chartwells has also installed feedback dry-erase boards in the freshman dining halls, inviting students to write down suggestions to improve their experience.

Causey and Dunn said that they have been able to accommodate almost every request.

Students desiring healthier food options have been attending the new Friday Grill Series, farmers’ markets and organic selection days. Chartwell’s Campus Executive Chef Daniel Conniff said he purchases locally grown produce, vegetables and meats from Missouri and Illinois farms whenever possible.

“We change the menus up seasonally,” Conniff said. “We like to provide ‘all-natural’ salads at Sliders in Fusz whenever we can.”

Conniff, Causey and Dunn also work together to hire skilled and personable kitchen staff to further ensure a

Staff Writer

Minghao Gao / Senior Staff Photographer

A Chartwells employee serves up food in the Griesedieck Hall Cafeteria. welcoming environment.

“You want someone who can interact and relate in this environment,” she said.

Coniff agreed, adding that personable employees add to the dining experience.

“Winning personalities go a long way,” Conniff added.

“You want students to feel as close to home as possible.”

All three front office staff members said that employees Ms. Mae and Tony add more flavor to Griesedieck than any food item or event ever could.

Other changes Causey and Dunn have made to dining services are subtle. The team visits each facility at least once a week to brainstorm what they could improve. The two often rearrange dining hall setups to offer smoother, quicker visits for students.

The greatest lesson that the executive staff said they have learned this year is that students want to be involved.

“They’re interested in a personal relationship with us,” Causey said. “You all are extremely friendly.”

She said she has been impressed by how easy it has been to establish relationships here at SLU compared to her experiences at other college campuses.

“Our doors are always open to students,” Causey said.

The new Chartwells Billiken Dining executive staff look forward to applying next year what they learned from their first SLU experiences.

“We spend the entire summer planning the coming year,” Dunn said. “We’re not OK with the status quo.”

Kristen Miano / Associate News Paper

A tree lies in the middle of the sidewalk on the corner of Grand Boulevard and Laclede Street after a severe thunder storm and tornado warning took place in St. Louis on Saturday, April 28. No one was injured.

Continued from Page 1

successful,” said Matt Ryan, the current SGA president.

“SGA will be a collaborator and serve as an empowering group with interested students.”

Allocation of funding is guided by the University’s definition of wellness, stated as “the condition of good physical, mental and spiritual health.” Only undergraduate students are eligible to apply for funding from the Wellness Committee, but students may apply as individuals or groups, including CSOs. In order to apply a student need only submit a proposal to the Wellness Fee Committee.

The proposal form is relatively simple and easy to understand. It gives an outline for what a grant proposal submitted to SGA ought to include. All applicants are required to give a detailed outline of their project goals, how their project will work, what money will be necessary and how the money will be spent.

Applicants are also to give a metric for their initiative in order to measure the success of the project as compared to the original goals.

The Wellness Committee requires quarterly reports within the time-frame of their project as a condition of receiving funding, and any student granted funding must present a summary of the

project upon completion. The actual approval of a grant is only suggested by the Wellness Committee: all proposals must be passed by the senate.

SGA wants to highlight the fact that Wellness Grants are entirely student-led, and taking advantage of the money given to SGA by the Wellness Fee is contingent on students’ active participation.

Examples of wellness initiatives mentioned on the proposal form are a bike-share program, implementation of monthly blood pressure checks by medical school students and a public awareness campaign promoting and training meditation techniques for stress relief. Students may begin to apply for Wellness Grants in the fall.

Ryan is excited about the Wellness Fee and the power it gives to students.

“I think you will see innovative, collaborative and exciting initiatives,” said Ryan.

“We have so many students studying different aspects of wellness that these dollars will become a chance for these students to put what they are learning in the classroom in to real life, and better our living on this campus.”

“It is our hope that we are flooded with applications for wellness grants with students excited to develop different projects and/or events to benefit the SLU community,” said Exline, who is also optimistic about the possibilities of the Wellness Committee.

allows students to have a better study abroad experience because the education is in an international setting, he said.

Next semester, students Belt hopes to attract inpursuing a Bachelor of Sci- ternational students to the ence degree in Aeronautics campus’ local Flight Science with a concentration in Flight program, he said.

Science-Professional Pilot at “Offering course work in Saint Louis University’s Parks Madrid opens the program College of Engineering, Avia- up to international students tion and Technology will be who are seeking flight traingiven the chance to fly glob- ing and education,” Belt said. ally.

Some students are uncerStudents will be able to tain of how this program’s more easily pursue Euro- itinerary would affect a parpean Aviation Safety Agency ticipant’s relationships with (EASA) Certification in addi- other students. The process tion to the U.S. Federal Avia- of moving from one campus tion Administration (FAA) to another twice may be jarCertification. ring, Susanne Schmidt, a EASA Certification will al- senior international student, low prospective pilots to fly said. aircraft over European terri“It’s like you spend one tories while FAA certification year in Madrid, make friends is required to fly aircraft over and then lose all of your U.S. airspace. friends, go [to SLU] for two The high training stan- years, get your connections dards in theory and practice here [and] go back for your will prepare last year— students to it’s kind qualify for of deEuropean pressing,” cer tification It would be done S c h m i d t with minimal said. transitional as kind of a special Going training, Proto Madrid fessor Ste- topic; it’s cetainly f r e s h m a n phen Belt, year is agan instructor a possibility. gressive, in General but it will Aviation Sci- -Stephen Belt still be posence, said. sible to go “That obviously makes abroad as a sophomore or a them [students] far more at- junior, Belt said. tractive and competitive in “It would be done as kind the international market,” of a special topics; it’s certainBelt said. ly a possibility,” Belt said.

While the degree usually The department is hoping calls for four years of study for five to 12 applicants for on the main campus, this pro- the program in Madrid, along gram will allow students to with 25 to 30 at the main camspend their freshman year at pus. The option was created the Madrid campus, he said. in a joint operation between The department is also Aviation Science faculty considering a “Senior Year members at the main camComponent” that would in- pus and faculty at the Madrid volve students returning to campus. Belt said that it was Madrid for their last year, but a response to calls for greater details are forthcoming, he training and new pilots. said.

“We created the Global “Graduates will be well Flight Science degree to elepositioned to pursue their ca- vate the educational and trainreer aspirations internation- ing standards in the internaally,” Belt said. The program tional level,” he said.

By MARK CAMPOS

Severe thuderstorm fells tree by SLU

Wellness: Advisory group formed for funds

Global Aviation

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Religion Religion Briefs

According to the 2012 Religious Congregations and Membership Study, released on May 1, the fastest growing religions in the United States are Mormonism and Islam.

The University News Talk to us: Alanah Nantell 314.977.2812 religion@unewsonline.com

Thursday, May 3, 2012

unewsonline.com

Discovering the story in the windows Father J.J. Mueller describes his fascination with the windows of St. Xavier Church

The 29th year of the Gathering of Nations brought over 500 Native American and indigenous tribes to Albuquerque, New Mexico to celebrate together.

According to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), Catholic societies within the developing world, including the United States, have the highest number of people who have a belief in God, while formerly Socialist states have the lowest amount of believers.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation is seeking to remove a 91 year old cross from a local park in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The cross was established to commemorate a soldier who was killed in battle during World War II.

Monthly Events Saturday, May 5 8:30 a.m.

Contemplatives in Action Social Analysis Saturday Located in the Dorothy Day room in Campus Ministry.

Friday, May 18 3:30 p.m.

Baccalaureate Mass Located in the Chaifetz Arena.

Monday, May 21 Saturday, June 2 Summer BreakOut Mission Trip Campus Ministry is taking students on a service and immersion trip to Belize.

If you would like to have an event included in this section, contact Alanah Nantell at religion@unewsonline. com.

Photos by: Sam (Fangyu) Wu / Staff Photographer

Father J.J. Mueller studies the stained glass windows in St. Xavier College Church. Mueller describes the story that is told within the panels of the windows, and has been working on a book about them for the past three years. “I think I fell in love with it,” he said.

By MAGGIE NEEDHAM Staff Writer

At a 9 p.m. Mass, where lighting is minimal, it’s easy for students to overlook the stained glass windows that line the walls of Saint Francis Xavier College Church.

However, Father J.J. Mueller has spent the past three years studying the hidden and rich history of these windows and the stories they tell.

Mueller makes it clear that these windows are something special, not to be ignored.

“They’re stupendous,” he said. After a moment, he added, “and their detail makes them double stupendous. The fact that they’re storytellers makes it triple fantastic. .... As far as Jesuitica does, this is the finest. I don’t know of anything better, even in Europe.”

His passion for these windows stems largely from their many intricacies. It takes time to figure them out. Mueller can point out many minute details in each window that, as he said, “if someone else walked through here, they’d never [notice].”

One thing he pointed out is a small church in the corner of Saint Francis Xavier’s death scene. That church is an exact copy of the church on Shangchuan Island, where

Xavier died. however, are often bent.

Another small detail is in a “It’s fun,” said Mueller scene of King Solomon. Small about the patterns. “All of a images of two women, one sudden things will change.” holding an infant and another For example, most of the waving her arms in distress, panels start with a scene of signify the famous story of the saint as a child with his Solomon’s wisdom. family -- but neither Saint IgThere are six windows on natius’s or Saint Francis Xavieach main side of the build- er’s do. ing, each portraying a differThe window with the marent saint. (The exception is one window along the south wall that includes multiple North American martyrs.)

The windows are topped [The windows are] with decorative octagons, angels, quatrefoils, and tre- stupendous and their foils, but the three panels below make up the bulk of detail makes them douthe story of the saint. ble stupendous. The fact Mueller explained that the windows must be read that they’re stor ytellers in a specific way. They read makes it triple fantastic. from top to bottom, starting with the left panel, then the -Fr. J.J. Mueller right one, and finishing with the middle. The side panels tell the story of the life of the tyrs of North America breaks saint through six important the pattern of having one events. The middle panel saint per window. connects the saint to both JeThrough these patterns, sus and a story from the Old intricate work, and excellent Testament: the top shows craftsmanship, one window is the most important event in able to tell the long, complex the saint’s work, the middle story of a saint. For example, a scene of Jesus, and the bot- the window closest to the altom a story from the Old Tes- tar on the south wall displays tament, all connected through Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the a theme. founder of the Society of JeThese patterns and rules, sus.

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When politics and religion collide Experts weigh in on the ‘taboo’ topics

By KATHERINE KELLIHER Staff Writer

The date is April 19, 2012.

The location is Dubourg Hall, Sinquefield Stateroom. The event is Religion & Politics: Election 2012. Roughly 52 people attended.

The speakers included Marie Griffith, distinguished professor in the Humanities at Washington University; John C. Danforth, former U.S. Senator from Missouri,; Diana Bartelli Carlin, associate vice president for graduate education and professor of Com-

munication at Saint Louis University; and Joel Goldstein, Vincent C. Immel professor of law at SLU’s School of Law. Fr. Paul Stark opened the symposium with what he called “taboo” and “converging” topics: religion and politics. Fr. Stark discussed the conflict of the two intertwining, especially with the upcoming election and noted that when politics become involved, “We become distracted of what really matters in our faith.” Fr. Stark concluded his intro with the three purposes of the evening: “to engage in thoughtful

reflection & dialogue, to learn from scholars and different perspectives and to respond with action.”

Griffith began the discussion by stating that the “joining of religion and politics in elections has never been a more pressing concern than it is today.” Griffith introduced the topic by asking the audience, “Why has religion become ever more apparent in elections in recent history?

Who/which constituents care the most about candidates’ See “Symposium” on Page 5

Six scenes tell the story of Ignatius’ life on the side panels: 1. Ignatius wounded in battle.

2. Ignatius while healing, switching his sword out for Mary and Jesus.

3. Ignatius on his pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

4. Ignatius meeting Paul III, the Pope who approved the Society of Jesus as an order.

5. Ignatius sending Saint Francis Xavier out to do missionary work.

6. Ignatius saying Mass.

In the middle panel, the top portrays Ignatius at Manresa, writing the Spiritual Exercises. In the center is Jesus during his fast, and at the bottom, Elijah during his fast. This these of fasting shows all three men waiting for God to enter.

Father Mueller told this story as he pointed out specifics in the window, and he could do the same, in even more detail, for each of the other eleven windows. His interest in these windows began years ago.

“I became enamored with them when, after seeing them so often, I wanted began to look more closely at the windows,” he said. “They were beautiful but I could not un-

derstand how the windows were arranged, the writing in it, and, basically, how to see a window and its story.”

He spent more and more time researching the windows and their history, taking photos and learning as much as he could.

“I think I fell in love with it,” Mueller said.

Through his research, he learned that these windows were made by the Emil Frei company in the early 30s, during the Great Depression. The company was going through a hard time, but this job kept all their workers on the payroll and sustained them through the Depression.

About three years ago, Mueller estimated, his passion drove him to decide to write a book on the windows.

His book will explain how to read the windows, see the patterns and themes the contain, and it will describe and tell the story of each window and the saint it depicts. Alongside his photos, he will highlight details that most people probably miss when viewing the windows.

Mueller and those working with him plan for the book to be finished by September first and then sent to printing, so it should be available sometime in the fall.

Campaign promotes culture

By MAGGIE NEEDHAM Staff Writer

Saint Louis University’s Better Together Campaign to promote multicultural education stems from the Interfaith Youth Core. “What if people of all faiths and traditions worked together to promote the common good for all?” asks the Interfaith Youth Core’s website. “What if once again, young people led the way?”

IFYC now reaches college campuses primarily through its Better Together Campaign, a model for interfaith dialogue and action for students and young people. The campaign allows students to

choose a social issue within their community, drawing inspiration from major activists such as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gandhi, who were both only in their 20s when they started their revolutionary work.

The Better Together campaign at SLU is an offshoot of the Interfaith Alliance and is now in its second year.

This year, spearheaded by co-chairs Claire Moll and Sara Rahim, along with Olivia White (who is now abroad), Better Together is addressing the lack of multicultural education in St. Louis schools.

See “Together” on Page 5

Religion

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Islam discussion focuses on relations

Kerry Marks / Hec-TV

Audience members were invited to ask the panel questions about Islam at the end of the discussion.

By ADNAN SYED Staff Writer

On Thursday, April 26, a conference entitled “Perspectives on Islam: A Dialogue of Religion and Culture” was held in the historical Pere Marquette Gallery in Dubourg Hall. Speakers were invited from different backgrounds to discuss Islam.

Fr. Michael Barber, S.J., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, discussed how the conference came to being.

“After numerous consultations with the endowed chairs in the College of Arts and Sciences about what topic to have our conference about, we all decided on the topic being Islam,” he said.

“In over a year of meetings we brainstormed, we voted on who best presented different aspects of Islam and that’s how we came to our three speakers,” Barber said.

The first speaker was Dr. Ingrid Mattson, professor and director of the Duncan Macdonald Center for the study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary.

In her discussion, Matteson spoke of the resistance to oppression in the Islamic tradition. She cited many instances when it had occurred, from the beginning of dawn of Islam to more recent times in the middle east.

The second speaker was Dr. Ussama Makdisi, a professor and Arab American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University.

Makdisi focused on the relations of American Protestants with Arab Americans and how they failed to convert them at the middle of the 20th century, when Arab immigrants were coming to the United States and instead succesfully resorted to furthering knowledge about Protestantism over the world.

During the panel discussion, many questions arose.

In response to one of the questions, Dr. Matteson said, “I attend interfaith meetings

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

for learning and furthering my understanding of other faiths.”

“They provide a good representation of faith majorities and minorities and encourage talks where each faith whether a minority or a majority can relate to each other, and [they] break the walls of misconceptions that are perceived regarding the other faith.”

One speaker, David Burrell, C.S.C., professor in Philosophy and Theology at the University of Notre Dame, was not able to attend due to some unforeseen engagements in Kenya, where he is currently teaching.

Instead, Dr. George Renard, professor of the Theology department at Saint Louis University spoke on behalf of Burrell. He read one of Renard’s papers that discussed the Catholic Muslim forum initiated by the Pope. Famous Muslim philosophers’ papers were discussed also, such as AlAzhar’s. The paper discussed overall meanings about different ways of practicing Islam. Comparisons were drawn about the term “eye for an eye.” Mentioned both in the Bible and the Qur’an and how the two faiths, both Abrahamic faiths, come from a common background.

On the topic of whether Interfaith meetings could build peace between Israel and Palestine, Makdisi said, “I don’t think it’s a means of solution itself, but rather they would have to come to a common secular understanding.”

People of many different backgrounds attended the conference, including two undergraduates from a Women’s Studies class, Summer Issa and Louie Hotop.

They said they were interested in learning about the role of women in Islam.

The conference was sponsored by the Office of the Dean and the Endowed Chairs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Finding home in Christ Wrapping up a semester of achieved dreams, lasting memories and opportunities of a lifetime is the Commentary point at which I’m cur rently finding myself.

I could sing the praises of the study abroad ABBY KEEVEN experience for days, but I’ll hold back and merely say this: past the piles of memories, there are lots of lessons that I’ve learned. I certainly didn’t come abroad to “find myself,” but there’s no use in lying and claiming that I didn’t reaffirm some things that I probably already knew deep down.

In short, there’s no substitute for shopping days with Mom, a huge hug from Dad, or a home-cooked meal. Living out of a backpack is feasible, at least for a little while.

Not everyone in this world is as good-intentioned as the ones back home in Midwestern Suburbia, and iPhones can get stolen right under your nose. Navigating foreign cities, airport and languages can be done with a little confidence and a lot of hand gestures.

It really is the little things that make it all worthwhile; some of my most treasured memories of abroad are things that might not sound like much to other people.

And because of that, compar- and not be questioned.” ing experiences and trips is I can’t help but look at this almost impossible and most and be certain that its most definitely not worth it in the accurate application is for our end. The list goes on and on, home that exists in the arms but the lesson that sticks with of God. After all, isn’t that me the most strikes a deeper about the only place where we chord. are truly and completely free Finding your place in of all judgment, questioning a brand new place can be and worry? tough. In the first few weeks, It seems my argument it wasn’t clear whether I’d then, if I had one, would be ever get used to eating din- that God is home. Embracing ner at 9 p.m. or living via the God’s love is like a one-way metro system. But eventually, ticket to the place where we the time rolls past and you can feel peace and certainty. finally look around to realize Maybe you’re feeling litthat you really have been able erally displaced because of a to make a new sort of home seven-hour time difference abroad. that lies between you and It’s not the kind of home your physical home, or maybe I was you’re used back to, but in the rathStates er, the Finding your place in a brand a n d kind j u s t t h a t new place can be tough. In the want i n - first few weeks, it wasn’t clear some cludes peace t h e whether I’d ever get used to a n d b a r e eating dinner at 9 p.m. or living quiet essenb e t i a l s : via the metro system. cause youryour self, a few close friends and your God. friends are annoying you and After all, like the tacky plaque final projects and tests are achanging on the wall often cumulating. Either way, home reads, “Home is where the is only a short trip away. heart is.” And the good news It takes a moment, a sinis that if you let Him, God is gle prayer, to feel the loving never not present in your warmth and peace of true heart. comfort in God. Poet and author Maya An“And so we know and rely gelou wisely observed the fol- on the love God has for us. lowing: “The ache for home God is love. Whoever lives in lives in all of us, the safe place love lives in God, and God in where we can go as we are them.” 1 John 4:16

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Interfaith and Sexuality Conference

Min Zhuang / Staff Photographer

Rainbow Alliance, Una, the Interfaith Alliance and Political Roundtable set up a space on May 1 to discuss how different faiths view various issues related to sex and sexuality.

Symposium: Upcoming elections highlight candidates’ religious differences Continued from Page 4

religious affiliation and practice? When is it fair to discuss a candidate’s religion?”

This question of relevance was apparent throughout the symposium. Griffith used presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign as an example of a religious and political collision. Griffith brought up the fact that Romney is a Mormon and that this supposedly has hurt his campaign.

According to Griffith, “Fear of Mormons still exists.”

However, in contrast, Gingrich’s religious background was as an asset to his political campaign. According to

Griffith, Gingrich used his background of religious conversion to his benefit. “Americans love stories of conversion,” she said.

Griffith also included previous successful candidates who had conversion stories, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and the current President Obama.

Griffith went on to discuss how people of faith do, in fact, play a major role in all aspects of public life. Griffith cited the recent contraceptive debate as well as the conflict over accusations that President Obama is a Muslim. Accord-

ing to Griffith, Americans are “hungry for moral language,” and she is hopeful for a future of separation of church of state.

Goldstein then highlighted many instances of how this recent debate of religion in politics “raises some very easy questions about right and wrong.”

“Religion speaks to essential matter of right and wrong,” Goldstein said.

Carlin went on to say that “38 percent of Americans think that the talk of religion and politics is too much.”

In closing, Carlin said that

achieving “civil discourse” would be best achieved by engaging in dialogue about the issues at hand.

Carlin followed with the insight that in order to improve the viewpoint of Americans on religion and politics we need to find ways for citizens to engage in constructive ways. Questions were raised of how ignorant Americans are of politics and how we can make a difference. According to Carlin, “We, as citizens, are the answer, not politicians.”

A Q&A session from the audience followed. The question was raised, “How do we

get the next generation to accept diversity?” Carlin responded with a story of her own children and how they performed acts of service and pointed out that “students do not make the connection between soup kitchens and political decisions that were made that got those people into those soup kitchens.” “[Following politics] matters in ways we cannot see... especially for women, people do not take advantage of the privilege to vote…it is sad…. people do not feel empowered. Voting makes a difference,” Carlin said.

Together: Making progress Continued from Page 4

Rahim and Moll describe the campaign as a social justice initiative to “take action and mobilize students about multicultural education.”

The main way in which they act out this mission in at the Youth Learning Center.

Once a month, volunteers from Better Together will teach 3rd-6th graders about different cultures around the world; so far they have taught about India, the Middle East, China, Mexico and Northern Europe.

They have also worked with the language immersion school and aim to start working with public schools this semester as well.

They broadcast the importance of multicultural education to the SLU community through occasional on-campus events.

They hosted an event willduring ATLAS Week, an annual on-campus event starting on March 26 that promotes awareness, discussion and action about global issues.

“We’ll be putting on a poverty simulation to show the effects of education and educational levels,” co-chair Rahim said.

Since Better Together sends students to monthly service opportunities, SLU students can get involved in the campaign by volunteering as many times as they like.

“No commitment is required,” Rahim said, “and we welcome all students to come.”

One such student was sophomore Sarah Sinsky, who went to the Youth Learning Center with Elevation, SLU’s Irish dance team.

“I loved volunteering with the campaign because I had the privilege of showing a different culture and celebrating it with young students. The kids seemed really interested, and it was great getting to spread the joy and pride I feel from Irish dancing with others.”

What the campaign hopes to do by working with multicultural education is to challenge and break down stereotypes at the level where they breed.

As Moll said, “It’s harder to change a college student’s mine than a 3rd grader’s mind.”

SLU is a diverse campus, and students here have many opportunities to experience different cultures; Rahim says that SLU students should go out to areas that might not have that exposure to diversity.

She continues by emphasizing the importance of diversity due to the increasingly globalized job market and the necessity that college graduates diversify themselves to become better candidates.

The Interfaith Youth Core is a national non-profit founded in 2002 by Eboo Patel.

The IFYC has worked on five continents and on more than 200 college campuses across the country.

IFYC’s mission is to unite and advocate discussion among people of different faith backgrounds and cultures.

Opinion

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

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Oath of Inclusion a valuable aspect of a university education Like “Billiken” and “coffee” and “procrastination,” “inclusion” is a favorite word at Saint Louis University.

Engraved on glass plaques and displayed in several locations across campus, the Oath of Inclusion includes many of the values that comprise tolerance and social justice. Although it has been an efficient campaign in making inclusion a central message in the community, it is full of potential for the coming years.

The Live the Oath campaign has faced many great expectations over the years to make SLU perfectly inclusive and to “strive for a better world,” but the expectations are misplaced. The Oath cannot promise an allinclusive world, free of prejudice; it cannot promise to end bigotr y, but it has the potential to improve the human condition, if only a few SLU students at a time.

The Student Government Association has been largely taking the initiatives and performing the legwork for promoting the Oath of Inclusion campaign. We hope that, in the coming years, more students will take the initiative to promote inclusion and tolerance, as well as curiosity and inquir y on campus. The Oath should strive to be more than a promotional campaign and work to deliver its promise of pursuing higher truths and knowledge.

The Oath of Inclusion must evolve even

more and become a part of the SLU education. SGA and the Diversity Leadership Cabinet have done a good job of promoting the campaign through videos and promotional materials. The DLC dialogue series was an excellent example of the Oath being implemented in practice. The Cross Cultural Center has joined the conversation with the Intergroup Dialogue course, but these programs need to be expanded and increased. They must become an integral part of the fabric of the University.

Sean Worley, elected vice president of diversity and social justice, will do a good job of improving the educational efforts of the Inclusion campaign, but he must focus on getting as many students involved as possible. He must tr y to give the students the reins in carr ying the campaign where it should go. Students can carr y the mission far by implementing it into their ever yday lives.

This is a valuable part of a university education. It will teach students to be responsible citizens and tr y to make the world a better place, which is a more solid proof of good education than any degree or certificate.

We have confidence in the SLU community in building this social activism. We have confidence that students will strive for a better world.

Class of 2012 leaves with great expectations As a generation of Billikens takes the zen Yogurt have further enlightened campus walk across the stage on May 19, the SLU and transformed the nature of the University, class of 2012 will be walking away from many and now, there will even be a Pevely smokethings and toward a new stage of life: The stack gracing the University skyline, with real world, or perhaps more education. modernized glass buildings around it.

As they walk away, however, they might Even though a lot has happened at SLU, wish that they would be here when the however, seniors still have ambitions and MetroLink is back up and running and the hopes for the future of the University. As Grand Bridge opens alumni, they will likeup. They might wish ly hope the Univerthey would be here sity will invest more when Starbucks and in the humanities and Chipotle lighten up outside of There will even be programs the saucer-shaped Parks College, the building and surCook School a Pevely smokestack John rounding area. They of Business, the might wish they School and the gracing the University Law would be here to witSchool of Medicine. ness more controverFor the generaskyline, with modernized tions sies, more convivial of students clowning, more chaos that remain, seniors glass buildings around it. and clamor, but, as it hope the University must be, they must will embrace transconclude their legacy parency more in its here. policy-making, letting Over the four the students know years, the class of ‘12 has witnessed many what is happening behind the scenes. As a historical change in the University. After the new Grand Bridge settles into the new four years, dining has much improved in the SLU generations, seniors hope the city will variety and quality of food, although the clos- take better care of the shady areas around ing of Iggy’s had many students mourning. the bridge. It is almost inevitable that the The construction of Highway 40 and then smoked, battered brick monuments surthe Grand Bridge made the commute much rounding the bridge will be bulldozed soon. harder for students living off campus. Father Even though the class of 2012 walks away Lawrence Biondi, S.J., University president, from the University, they are not likely to has become much less available to students, forget their alma mater. The legacy of a genappearing at fewer and fewer events. The ad- eration of students closes, but the University dition of Hotel Ignacio and Flying Cow Fro- still has a long life to live.

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Posted below are the results from our web poll on The University News’ website.

(43 votes total) What are your plans for the summer?

77%

Nailed an internship/job!

23%

Taking summer courses

14%

Getting a tan

12%

Traveling

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

SGA has made great strides with the help of students The University News has been kind enough to publish an end-of-the-year reflection on Student Government Association, written by me. To be honest, it is quite difficult to sit down and reflect on the whole year, because it’s difficult to know where to start. Entering this position, many were quite hopeful for what we would bring to SGA, while others patiently waited to see, or at times doubted, how a younger executive board would handle their positions.

There is much we can leave proudly, having accomplished the renovation of Pius Library, the turf field brought to Vandeventer and Laclede, the implementation of the Oath of Inclusion, the advocacy for a Center for Global Citizenship, the improvements to residential security, the upgrade of social media usage, the restructuring of the Diversity Leadership Cabinet, the introduction of SLU Groups, the organization of men’s basketball ticket access for students, the assessment of academic advisors, the representation in academic department closures, the new allocation of the Student Wellness Fee and the increased opportunities for student organizations to connect with SGA. In addition, there are many small accomplishments that flew under the radar: The donation of unused food to Campus Kitchen, increased job opportunities for international students in the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, new collaborations with Pregnant and Parenting Student Assistance, education on creating a safer campus, seating of over 60 new members of SGA, stronger connections with the College in Prison Program and many other internal successes to bring accountability to our organization.

This reflection is not to serve as proof that we were successful. I know that the best way to judge our success would be to ask members throughout the community on how they think we have done. So I leave that to you to decide.

But I did want to list some of our successes as an opportunity to give gratitude where it is due. I sincerely believe these victories could not have been possible without the support, dedication, energy, time, and talents of so many members of our community. The truth to our successes is rooted in one simple fact -- there are thousands of people that arrive each day on this campus to try to make things better, and to create a community that will develop future leaders. I was lucky enough to work with many of these members. From the highest levels of our University, to the faculty and leadership of all the different colleges, to the staff providing endless student resources, to the staff that help make this University function, to a “full-time volunteer” for over 26 years and to the student leaders advocating for a better SLU. In all of these circles, there is a sincere dedication to move this University in a positive direction. It is that dedication that has made the accomplishments above possible.

So with that, I just have two requests of all of you before I peacefully ride in to my senior year. One, please spend some time each day giving gratitude to all those that make this University better, including yourself. My biggest regret was the countless times I could have thanked someone and did not. And two, please look to build stronger connections, collaborations, and friendships throughout our campus and community. Or, as some wise students once put it a few months back… to “Build Bridges.”

- Matthew Ryan is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Banning water bottles is not the solution A water bottle ban seems like a bad choice for this campus, or for any campus really. Forcing people to avoid creating waste simply doesn’t work. Making the campus more inclined to recycle is a good goal, as is attempting to educate students on the impact they have on campus and our surroundings when they litter or don’t take the time to recycle. However, banning bottled water simply won’t stop waste. If that’s the best move we have, then it only makes sense that the next ban should be placed on bottled drinks in general, as well as the cups at every lunch hall and every candy or chip that doesn’t come in a Tupperware container.

(That’s all of them.)

Bans are no way to make change. Really, the idea that a ban is necessary in order to lower the waste throughout our campus is somewhat insulting; similar to taking the cookie jar away from the child so he can’t eat himself into a stomach ache. We are college students: are we not old enough to make our own decisions? Are we not in college to learn, both in terms of a career and the responsibilities of adulthood? I can make the decision to recycle just as I can make the decision to throw something in a trash bin. The administration has no business making that decision for me.

So before we jump straight to a ban, why not try something that places faith in our student body, rather than putting the cookies on the top shelf. The BSC, along with its nifty water bottle filling station, has recycling bins with distinct sections for paper, glass, and plastic. Given that trash cans dot the rest of campus so that students don’t litter, why not place some recycling bins in the same convenient locations? That way when I’m about to throw my bottle in the trash, I see that I can recycle just as easily and make the more responsible decision. Not only do we cut down on waste, but every student that uses that recycling bin is making a conscious decision to make a change, so that perhaps the desire to recycle becomes more important to them personally and they carry it with them off campus as well.

We praise college as a time of freedom to make our own decisions. We’ve left our parents’ den.

- Wolf Howard is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Opinion

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

A rich social bonanza is right under our noses SLU will When is the last time you used a landline phone? Maybe it was in the 90s as you called your friend’s house and had to ask their parents to Commentary talk to them?

Maybe you still have one connected at your house, yet it goes unused, as mine does in my parent’s house.

We even have this thing called Dustin Paluch an answering machine even though everyone in my house has had cell phones since I was in middle school.

At home I’ve seen families sit together at the dinner table, texting and reading e-mails. At work, executives text during board meetings; students text (and shop and go on Facebook) during class.

Students can now even maintain eye contact with someone while texting someone else; it’s hard, but it can be done, although this is getting increasingly harder to do with touch screens.

Over the past few years, many of us have learned that the little devices most of us carry around are so powerful that they change not only what we do, but also who we are.

We’ve become accustomed to a new way of being “alone together.”

Technology-enabled, we are able to be with one another, and also elsewhere, connected to whomever we want to be.

As technology has increased, we have gotten used to the idea of being in a tribe of one.

People always say I’m the worst person at texting, and to put it simply, I don’t want to respond to a five-page text message. I also don’t want to have an entire 30-minute texting conversation in something that could be handled in a few minutes by talking on the phone, or in person.

Other times, I’m probably just too lazy to text back because I really don’t like texting that much — it’s

reach goals by building community

Brandon Woods / Illustrator

kind of annoying if I’m really busy.

The other day, when I was walking down campus, a friend said something to me that kind of stuck.

They said I looked unapproachable since I always look like I’m in a hurry.

Although I am extremely busy most of the time, so texting, emailing is easier, it still doesn’t mean I like to return to my computer and find 50 unread emails each night.

One of my other good friends has to actually plan time to check all his emails since he receives too many.

Instead of homework time, he has to plan an “I’m-going-to-respondto-emails time.” So although he interacts with a lot of students, he is often times in his own bubble, as are most of us.

In the silence of connection, people are comforted by being in touch with a lot of people — carefully kept at bay. We can’t get enough of one another if we can use technology to keep one another at distances we can control: not too close, not too far, just right. I think of it as a Goldilocks effect.

Texting and e-mail and posting let us present the self we want to be.

This means we can edit. And if we wish to, we can delete. Or retouch: the voice, the flesh, the face, the body. Not too much, not too little — just right.

Human relationships are rich; they are messy and demanding. We have learned the habit of cleaning them up with technology. And the move from conversation to connection is part of this. But it’s a process in which we shortchange ourselves. Worse, it seems that over time we stop caring, we forget that there is a difference.

Face–to–face conversation unfolds slowly. It teaches patience.

When we communicate on our digital devices, we learn different habits. As we ramp up the volume and velocity of online connections, we start to expect faster answers, similar to how if someone texts me and I don’t respond for an hour or so, they get mad and ask why I didn’t respond faster.

Sometimes we’re all just busy and it takes a little while to catch up with

technology.

What we have learned about the power of traditional media to spark conversations provides an important insight. All forms of communication work best when they lead to the sharing.

Why do you think Facebook lets us upload pictures? Because it was created as a way to share our interactions, not become our main method of interaction.

Social media has helped us rediscover the power of “socializing.”

But the richest social gold mine is literally right under our noses: In the word-of-mouth conversations that happen in our apartments, in class, at a dance, and on the sidelines of sporting events. These are the places where we actually live our lives.

I conclude with a tidbit of advice: We may not know what tomorrow will hold, but I know that we’ll be alright as long as we stay connected at heart.

Dustin Paluch is a junior in the John Cook School of Business.

A year goes by fast in college, but in the end, it is stocked with memories Flex points are dwindling as students try to survive off of flex points for one more week. Books that haven’t been used all semester Commentary are being dusted and peeled open as finals week begins.

Food that has been left in the bottom drawer of refrigerators is being examined, inspected and Maeve Donahue finally thrown away after being neglected all semester. Futons that have been smashed, demolished and abused all year long are stacking up behind the dorms to be thrown away.

Costumes that have accumulated throughout the year from different Halloween, Christmas and Mardi Gras festivities are being gathered from the backs of closets and underneath couches and beds and are being packed away for next year. Another school year at SLU is coming to an end.

For some this year brought with it some of the best college memories of all time, while for others it brought academic challenges and unexpected obstacles.

People say that our four years of college will be the best of our life, and even if you do not agree with this, you absolutely cannot deny that they will at least be the four most interesting.

With college comes the opportunity to try new things and to really figure out what we want to do in life.

When we look back on the year, many reflective thoughts might go through our minds. While some may be about school and organizations we are apart of, others (and probably most of them) will be reliving memories from the school year.

On that note, let’s recap the thoughts and calendar year of an average college student.

August comes around and, finally, we are excited for the year to start. Back with our friends, we are once again on our own and optimistic about classes starting. September rolls around and that optimism is slowly dwindling and we begin to question why we ever wanted to come back in the first place.

October brings with it excitement for the three breaks ahead that we hope will speed up time and school. Halloween adds some entertainment to the semester that may

“

have been a little more challenging and demanding than originally hoped. Thanksgiving flies by with some mixed feelings. Students are anxious and hoping that Christmas break comes fast, while we dread the upcoming finals and week of pure hell that proceeds pure freedom and a month break with absolutely no school work.

After surviving finals, we all return to our respective cities. After about two weeks, three if we’re lucky, our excitement is renewed at the thought of seeing our friends and starting classes again, knowing they just could not possibly be as hard as first semester’s were.

Then again, mid-February rolls around and we are mistaken! The course loads are piling up and the only thing getting us through is the thought of Mardi Gras, and our calendar countdowns begin. Finally Mardi Gras is here, bringing with it unforgettable memories that we will look back at until next year’s Mardi Gras rolls around. With the end of Mardi Gras brings springbreak planning. Spring break acts as a distraction during the weeks surrounding it while we discuss plans or relive memories from the week.

Easter comes up just a few weeks after and then we’re back at SLU to finish off the school year. Once again, we are ready to be back home, or at least just done with classes, and another countdown begins, accompanied by our dread for finals.

And here we are! Right in the middle of finals and ready to be done! This school year has provided so many great memories and moments among friends, whether they came from vacations or weekend festivities.

These memories make the thought of all the schoolwork and courses a little more bearable. They work as memory repressors, and that is fine by us! So, as you are going through finals and are possibly regretting all those times you should have stayed in and studied, don’t. You have had so many great times and those are the things you’ll remember once you graduate, not the math equations and vocabulary terms you were tested on all year.

As you finish off the year, enjoy your last few weeks, study for finals, don’t stress the small stuff and start your summer countdown.

These memories make the thought of all the schoolwork and courses a little more bearable.

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Maeve Donahue is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Starla Salazar / Illustrator

A year in Madrid, ‘the Other World’ If you read this commentary on the day it is released to the world, I will have one week remaining in Madrid and just under three Commentary months to go until I return to the United States.

It’s not a coincidence, I think, that the best book I read in my first few months abroad Noah Berman was Haruki Murakami’s “1Q84.”

I won’t spoil it for you because you want — need— to read it, but let us just say that what we shall for the sake of argument call “other worlds” feature largely in the plot.

There’s a distinct other-worldliness quality to life outside of America; not in the sense of “oh my god things are so different” but in the sense of existing in the middle of someone else’s idea of how things should be operating. (A Spaniard, say, would find a similar situation when walking the streets of St. Louis.) This shows itself in something as simple as looking the wrong way before crossing a U.K. street or as complex as forgetting the entire Spanish subjunctive tense in the middle of a conversation with a bartender.

The experience becomes a twoperson disconnect, an interruption in our thought patterns that can either result in nervous smiles and a second try or a flipped bird and BMW exhaust. I’ve been existing in one such other world, and I have no complaints.

Other-world living is grand. I like the being anonymous in a big city, which isn’t something you can do easily in St. Louis.

It isn’t easy to be truly unnoticed if you’re a curly-haired, bearded ginger in a country where that’s about as common as a polar bear, but I have tried, and now do, feel like I exist here.

In other words: Really living in

other-world-Madrid or other-worldU.K., not merely visiting for an extended amount of time.

I don’t want to leave America and return as though I had gone to, say, Chicago.

Admittedly, the language barrier has been, and still is, steep, but what I’m looking for isn’t some culturalimperialist version of acceptance into Madrid. I’m in search of something I may not be able to figure out for myself if I’ve found -- qualities of the other-world, experiences of the new and different and unusual.

If there’s anything that I’ve learned, and that I can tell you while still in the midst of the experience, it’s that if you come over here, you need to stay for a while. I wish I could stay here. I’m sure I’ll wish I could stay in the U.K. when I board that plane back to America in early August.

It is possible to spend too much time in one world or another. We move on. We learn. We might even try (and, with effort, succeed!) to return, or even to move permanently to the other world.

If there’s a point to this admittedly atypical commentary, it is that we’d all be well advised to travel to other worlds.

I don’t know if that means going as far away as Europe, or as close as across the street, but we ought to go there, to see what we can see.

To close, I will quote Tengo, a character from “1Q84:” “I’ve had that kind of experience myself; I’m looking at a map and I see someplace that makes me think, ‘I absolutely have to go to this place, no matter what.’

And most of the time, for some reason, the place is far away and hard to get to.

“I feel this overwhelming desire to know what kind of scenery the place has, or what people are doing there. It’s like the measles - you can’t show people exactly where the passion comes from. It’s curiosity in the purest sense.”

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

It’s simple right? Produce a 720word commentary about my four years at Saint Louis University and The University News and have it Commentary in by the Wednesday deadline. It is simple, but as I sat down and put my fingers on the keyboard, I found myself frozen and unable to start.

How do you Jonathan Ernst put four years of experience into one final commentary? I could start by saying that these four years really have shaped my identity. Then I could go into a huge rant about how my life has been empowered by SLU. But I will spare you the sob story about my experience and instead I will leave the University community with some perspective.

Being the editor-in-chief of The University News for the past two years has given me a very unique perspective on how this educational institution operates. Let me just say that SLU is a unique and very interesting place. Yes, there are plenty of egos and politics throughout this private University, but there are also many positive stories to tell.

In these past four years, while I have been a student, SLU has rapidly improved in many areas. I know you were probably expecting that the editor of The UNews should reveal all the secrets of SLU in his last commentary, but instead, I wanted to tell the full story. I have seen the good times and the bad times at SLU and I will let you know that I am very optimistic about this university and its future.

Contrary to popular belief, the role of The UNews is not to bash Father Biondi or his administration in public or to write about all of SLU’s scandals. Rather, the role of The UNews is to empower this community through fair and balanced information.

One piece of information that I want to share is that SLU has improved a lot in the last four years.

Despite these improvements, I know that this University has a long way to go to truly become “the finest Jesuit University in the nation.” Father Biondi wants SLU to be the best, and I have seen many improvements that can make this goal a reality. The biggest obstacle for this goal right now is our sectioned-off community.

The University is too sectioned off into different organizations, departments, colleges and majors.

We often forget that we are one university community.

The key phrase in that last sentence is one university.

University comes from the Latin phrase “universitas magistrorum et scholarium,” which means community of scholars. Positive change can happen when this community of scholars comes together for a meaningful cause.

That meaningful cause should always be to better SLU and make this a more accepting community.

That has been the mission of The UNews under my tenure, to make this community better through the balanced dissemination of information.

That is the ultimate purpose of this publication and I hope that you have felt the need to be informed and to act on those causes that really are meaningful.

In my four years I have seen the value of the Jesuit mission at work and I truly believe that can one day SLU will be the finest Jesuit University in the nation. We will reach this plateau not because of our buildings or because of our endowment, but rather we will reach this because of the way we treat one another. A strong community won’t build itself and we need everyone, from Biondi to the new student coming into the door, to work together to achieve this goal.

As you may know, this is my final issue with The UNews, after contributing to more than 100 issues.

This has truly been an incredible journey and I want to thank everyone at SLU for making my experiences worthwhile. It is hard for me to imagine that every word I type for this commentary means that I am one step closer to graduation.

I have reached the light at the end of a very long tunnel and I am truly grateful for all of the people with whom I was able to share these experiences.

My deadline is upon me and it is time for me to close. If you remember anything from this commentary, remember that every one of us is influential in making SLU a better institution.

Thank you for reading The University News!

Jonathan Ernst, editor-in-chief, is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

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A summer movie season fit for nerds

TOWN Arts Editors’ Picks

MUSIC Thursday, May 3 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Concert Wind Ensemble Il Monastero, on Olive Street Friday, May 4 3 to 4 p.m.

Student Music Recital St. Francis Xavier College Church Friday, May 4 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

String Orchestra Concert St. Francis Xavier College Church

Courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc.

Commentary

Sunday, May 6 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Choral Concert St. Francis Xavier College Church

Bland action lineup is full of surprises Summer movie season is about kick off, and it is going to be a nerdy one. Once again, sequels and superhero movies will rule the multiplex, but the indie circuit looks a little dead this time around. Check out some of the most anticipated cinematic arrivals, in order of release date.

T.J. Keeley

Monday, May 7 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Jazz Concert Xavier Hall Theater Monday, May 7 8 to 10 p.m.

Decadence Presents: Battle of the Sexes BSC Ballroom 170 Admission is free

THEATER Friday, May 4 through Sunday, May 6 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday 2 p.m. Sunday Vinegar Tom Xavier Hall Theater Student tickets are $7 Tuesday, May 8 through Sunday, May 13 Times vary by day “Mary Poppins” Peabody Opera House Tickets are $22 - $127, and can be purchased by phone at 800-745-3000

MOVIES Friday, May 4 & Saturday, May 5 Midnight “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” & “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” The Tivoli Theater

OTHER Friday, May 4 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. “‘Things’ Dancers Say” XQuizit Showcase BSC Saint Louis Room Student tickets are $3 presale, $5 at the door

THE AVENGERS (MAY 4) Joss Whedon is on a roll. The cult icon and creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly” co-wrote this year’s “Cabin in the Woods.”

Marvel tapped him for the mammoth duty of combining its decade-spanning cashcow into a superhero melee.

The role call includes Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

Did I miss anyone?

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SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (JUNE 22) With the doomsday clock counting down, Steve Carell is alone. His wife left him in panic. He goes on a roadtrip to track down his high school sweetheart, Keira Knightley (age difference, much?) to spend the Armageddon with.

Melanie Lynskey, Adam Brody, Patton Oswalt, Connie Britton, T.J. Miller, Rob Corddry, William Peterson, Rob Huebel, Derek Luke and Melinda Dillon round out dramatic comedy’s cast. While the premise sounds silly, the trailer looks sharp.

If only the camera can avoid Knightley’s taxing facial expressions for most of the film.

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MOONRISE KINGDOM (MAY 25) Often imitated, never duplicated, Wes Anderson is one of the most revered and under-rated American filmmakers of his generation.

Often dismissed for being merely quirky or repetitive, critics miss the cleverness and sincerity that his work always delivers. This time around, Anderson takes us to a New England town where a boy escapes his Boy Scout troop to flee with his girlfriend. Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman join newcomers Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Frances McDormand and Bob Balaban.

“Moonrise Kingdom” is set to open Cannes before spreading to the States.

TO ROME WITH LOVE (JUNE 22) The King of Comedy is back, y’all. In an age of “Superbad” “American Reunions,” Woody Allen, at the ripe age of 76, has still got it.

Last year’s delightful “Midnight in Paris” proved there’s still some wit left in the comedian’s pen. This time, he returns to the screen alongside Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg (a perfect choice for an Allen film), Penelope Cruz, Alison Pill (Ella Fitzgerald from “Paris”), Alec Baldwin, Robet Benigni, Greta Gerwig and Allen-veteran Judy Davis, for the next stop in his European tour.

Beautiful cities, beautiful people.

PROMETHEUS (JUNE 1) Is it an “Alien” prequel or not? Buzz has surrounded Ridley Scott’s return to sci-fi horror since its multiple rewrites. The trailer certainly plays off its “Alien” kin.

Everything I have seen so far in promo videos looks simply amazing, as does the cast, which includes Noomi Rapace (the original girl with the dragon tattoo), Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba and Michael Fassbender as a team of explorers who traverse the universe in search of clues to the origin of mankind.

TAKE THIS WALTZ (JUNE 29) Sarah Polley gained critical esteem in 2007 with her debut feature “Away from Her.” After acting on the side in films like “Splice” and HBO’s series “John Adams,” she returns to writing and directing with this light drama about marital infidelity.

“Away from Her” boasted acting giants like Olympia Dukakis and Julie Christie.

“Take This Waltz” relies upon Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman.

Williams is a great actress, but we will see how well Polley can direct actors based on the performances of Rogen and Silverman.

ROCK OF AGES (JUNE 15) Set in 1987 in L.A., this musical, based on the Broadway show, follows two young lovers as they try to make it in the music business.

I know little about the show, but, coming from the director of 2006’s “Hairspray,” this looks to be a solid and enjoyable lob down the middle.

The musical stars Julianne Hough (“Footloose”), Diego Boneta, Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige, Catherine ZetaZones, Will Forte, Paul Giamatti, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (JULY 3) Yeah, I know, it is too soon for a “SpiderMan” reboot, but after “Spider-Man 3,” I am excited to see someone other than Sam Raimi give the superhero a shot.

Marc Webb (“(500) Days of Summer”) directs the screenplay from the scribe of the “Harry Potter” series. The trailers boast that this is “the untold story” and seem more concerned with Spidey’s backstory than Raimi’s films.

Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) takes over for Tobey McGuire, and undoubted improvement.

Emma Stone, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, and Rhys Ifans as The Lizard round out the cast.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (JUNE 22) Bear with me on this one. The summer is full of silly and ridiculous blockbusters, so why not go for the gold of silly and ridiculous?

The title alone should be reason enough to see this one. Fans of goofy schlock should enjoy this alternative take on history wherein the Great Emancipator hunts vampires by night.

Only two requests: 1.

Please be as silly as you can be; and 2. Please kill Bella and Edward.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (JULY 20) There’s no way it can be as good as “The Dark Knight,” that’s true, but the last installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy may have just enough steam left.

It is hard not to be excited about this film, even though some of the ingredients are looking a little doubtful, namely Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, and some heavyhanded references to Occupy Wall Street. Either way, this nerd will be lined up on opening night.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Modine, Aiden Gillen, Marion Cotillard and Juno Temple join Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman for the legend’s end.

Free open-air Art Walk in Grand Center district

By ZENITA THOMAS Staff Writer

Grand Center, St. Louis’ own historic arts and cultural district, will host its annual Art Walk on Friday, May 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. Known for its remarkable art museums and galleries, Grand Center takes pride in offering art connoisseurs, art enthusiasts and visitors the opportunity to view the latest exhibitions each year for free.

Participating museums and galleries will be within walking distance of each other. Following the purple tape on sidewalks will guide visitors on a path where they will visit various museums, galleries and live music entertainment throughout the Grand Center Arts District and SLU. The highlight of the evening will be “A Chromatic Confluence,” a temporary public art installation located at Grand Boulevard and Samuel Shepard Drive. “A Chro-

matic Confluence” serves as a visual art centerpiece that engages passersby as they walk to and from art museums and galleries. This 25’ x 65’ centerpiece is fascinating because it will be lit at night while Orchestrating Diversity, a youth orchestra group, performs live music within the compartments of the installation.

Visitors will have an opportunity to listen to more live music from Aaron Kamm and the One Drops in Strauss Park from 5 to 7:30 p.m., along with Farshid Etniko from 7:30 to 9 p.m. John and Tino Covelli, a father and son duo, will perform their genre of experimental jazz outside The Sheldon Art Galleries from 5 to 9 p.m.

“The Art Walk allows people to see other parts of Grand Center that they would not normally see,” Amy Johnson, events coordinator at Grand Center, said. “Also, this event serves as an educational tour of the art museums and gal-

leries for first-time visitors to the Grand Center District.”

This year, several museums and galleries will be participating in the Art Walk by featuring their latest exhibitions to visitors of Grand Center. Among these reputable museums and galleries include: Arthur & Helen Baer Visual Arts Galleries, Bruno David Gallery, Cardinal Ritter Gallery, Craft Alliance, The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), Grand Center Artist Studios, The Sheldon Art Galleries, Saint Louis Museum of Art (SLUMA), Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA), Portfolio Gallery, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, Pace Framing/The PSTL Window Gallery, Transients and Grand Center Arts Academy (GCAA.) CAM is featuring the exhibition “Great Rivers Courtesy of Grand Center

See “Art” on Page 10

Grand Center’s May 11 Art Walk will feature “A Chromatic Confluence,” a 25’ x 65’ public art display on Grand Boulevard.

Arts

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The University News

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Brew Cos.: Six Row vs. Urban Chestnut Locals evaluated on food, atmosphere and drink selection

Hidden Treasures

By CASSIE ROHLIK and LINDSAY NOESEN Columnists

It’s that time of year again: finals, scorching St. Louis heat and SLU-ruba.

What could be better? Well, we think that relaxing on the perfect patio with some delicious food and some even more delicious beverages is even better.

Whether on your own makeshift patio enjoying the splendors of the local markets or sitting out back at your favorite local restaurant, we hope you’ll indulge yourself in the sun, good company and, of course, a scrumptious feast!

Farmer’s market time is our favorite time of year. Its a time when local farmers come out and bring all of the fruits (literally) of their labor. Throw in a little live music and some yoga and your morning’s made. We’ll let you in on our favorite spot.

Tower Grove is always bursting with summer fun.

From Food Truck Friday to kickball tournaments, there is always something going on. Our personal foodie favorite, though, is the Tower Grove farmers’ market every Saturday morning, and we are all in luck, because its kickoff to this summer’s season is THIS SATURDAY. Vendors start setting up and selling their variety of different foods around 8am.

Then at 9 free yoga and, new this year, tai chi, start in the grass.

Eventually live music starts and the atmosphere could not get any better. Sitting in the middle of the park are tents with goods ranging from homemade jewelry to farm fresh eggs to homemade jams and jellies, to seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Often, you’ll find the angels from Angel Baked Cookies (yes, the ones sold on campus) selling their treats.

Another favorite is the breakfast tacos, crepes, and other breakfast options to munch on while perusing the stalls. Made with organic chorizo on a corn tortilla and topped with beans, sour cream, and homemade tomatillo sauce, Southwest Diner’s breakfast tacos are the perfect start to the morning, especially if you wash it down with some watermelon basil lemonade.

Crepes are made to order just around the corner, and there are a multitude of bakery’s with sweet treats to fin-

ish it all off.

As far as goodies to take home, Baetje farm goat cheese is a must. They offer creamy, fresh goat cheese in a variety of flavors. Don’t forget to grab a fresh baguette to spread it on! And of course anything seasonal will brighten up your cooking. Tower Grove Farmers’ market is a must for your summer plans.

So, we know having time for shopping and cooking is a stretch during finals and the post-finals coma, and eating out sounds like a much better option! Forgive us if we are repeating ourselves, but we love Scottish Arms and their wine nights and beer selection.

They offer organic, local ingredients on their menu while staying true to their Scottish theme. The real hidden treasure of this place though is the patio out back.

You wouldn’t even know it was there if you didn’t ask and when you walk out back it feels like you are walking into your own backyard.

Their patio is complete with tables built for many, twinkling lights and a big fire pit for those chillier summer nights- and it doesn’t get much better than that.

Another favorite patio of ours is at a new restaurant, Tovolo V, in the Loop. There are tables outside yes, but on nice nights it transforms into an open-air restaurant by removing the full size windows from the front.

The menu is summer friendly with lots of vegetables and grilling going on.

Their ingredients are local and environment friendly, if you haven’t noticed, we love that!

Our recommendations: roasted cauliflower and portabella mushroom appetizers. Both are brightly flavored and perfect for sharing! The atmosphere is classy, but affordable and laid back. It is a new element to the already diverse Delmar Loop and a great choice for summer.

Enjoy these summer suggestions as you brighten up your summer with food and friends. We have loved sharing our favorite foodie spots with you.

We hope you have explored some of our hidden treasures and found some of your own, too.

Art: Local galleries open their doors for free outside event Continued from Page 9

Biennial 2012.” Kelly Shindler, assistant curator at CAM, has worked closely with artists in order to organize the exhibition in a way that reflects each of their artistic visions.

“As a curator, my parternship with the artists is to reflect their desires in terms of how they want their artwork to be placed and featured in the exhibition,” Shindler said.

Artists David Johnson, Asma Kazmi and Mel Trad will be illustrating their installation work on different mediums— including photography, multimedia installation and sculpture.

Trad features a sculpture piece that embodies our understanding of contemporary art work. Johnson’s photographs depict abstract artwork, all the while embodying representational qualities of CAM as an institution. “‘Great Rivers Biennial 2012’ encapsulates the artmaking process and celebrates the art community by featuring artists’ work that incorporate different mediums, explore various subjects and push the envelope,” Shindler said.

The Sheldon Art Galleries will display the following seven exhibitions: “Liquid Terrain: 20 Years of Works

by Eva Lundsager;” “The Beat Goes On: Instruments from the Hartenberger World Music Collection;” “Edge of

Darkness: Photographs by Steve Giovinco and Tim Simmons;” “Made in the Shade: Paul Rudolph’s Florida Houses Revisted;” “Northern Haiti: Human Landscape - Photographs by Patti Gabriel;” “Shawn Burkard: Monoliths 3” and “Art by Children of Artists.”

“The Art Walk is a more relaxed setting, where visitors can view the art exhibitions at their own pace while enjoying music, food and drinks,” Chris Peimann, director of marketing & publicity for The Sheldon Art Galleries, said.

“The exhibition ‘The Beat Goes On’ complements The Sheldon’s love for art and music. I think that people will be very intrigued with this exhibition.”

“The Beat Goes On” identifies most with The Sheldon’s rich history as a concert hall, featuring jazz, folk and classic music instruments from countries all over the world in its art work.

The museums and galleries that are participating in the Art Walk will be hosting opening receptions for their exhibitions. This provides visitors with an opportunity to view the latest exhibitions while enjoying great music, great entertainment and great company.

The Art Walk is free and open to the public. For more information about Grand Center and Grand Center Inc., visit grandcenter.org.

St. Louis has always been associated with beer. The name Anheuser-Busch is all over the city, whethRestaurant Review er its the f a c t o r y, Busch Stadium, Mardi Gras or even the Busch Student Center here on campus.

Richard Pugh W i t h the beer culture being so strong here, it should come as no surprise that new breweries are opening up all over the city. In fact, two new breweries have opened up just two blocks from campus in the past two years. Urban Chestnut Brewing Company and Six Row Brewing Company have both made a big splash in the craft beer market, and are looking to establish their own legacy in the town that beer built.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company opened in January 2011. Just north of OliveCompton Garage, this brewery became an immediate player. Brewmaster Florian Kuplent brings some considerable clout, as he has been in the game for a long time.

After studying in the holy land of beer, Germany, he went on to work for various breweries around the world until he landed at AnheuserBusch and created Shocktop.

He decided to open his own brewery in St. Louis, so that he could share his passion through the fine selection of beers that Urban Chestnut offers. With a bottling line in the works, I’d say he’s off to a good start.

Just one year earlier, Six Row Brewing Company was already getting things going with their own new brewpub just south of campus on Forest Park Parkway. Named for its six founding members, all except one of whom began this brewery as a complement to their already successful careers, the brewery has had wide success and is on tap in over 50 establishments.

The passion for handcrafted beer is palpable in the brewpub. The beers range from traditional to downright whacky, but the guys at Six Row make it work, as shown by the great taste and continued success of their brewery.

Beer Selection At Six Row, eight taps are available, along with guest taps there to promote the craft beer scene in St. Louis. They have brewed nearly 20 different styles: some are completely unique, others are familiar favorites, and some have just a slight twist that makes the beer unique to Six Row.

Minghao Gao / Senior Staff Photographer

A bartender at Six Row Brewing Company pours a pint of draft beer for a waiting customer.

Their most popular and flagship beer, the “Whale,” is an example of their creativity.

After throwing some ingredients together to see what happened, they turned out an incredibly successful beer.

While this can be a great new experience, it’s also hard to know what to expect from each beer. Six Row has established a bold style of brewing.

Moving north to Urban Chestnut, they have a simple philosophy: “Beer Divergency.” It is a two-branch tree that is comprised of reverence and revolution. The reverence series is a group of beers that pays homage to the classic styles of Europe and the rich tradition of brewing.

The reverence series goes the opposite direction, and celebrates the creativeness of American breweries in the 21st century. There are a total of six beers in each series and many of the taps rotate seasonally, as they have brewed a total of close to 30 beers.

The two most popular beers represent this philosophy.

The “Zwickel” is a lager that is fairly familiar and easy to drink while the “Winged Nut” is a beer brewed with roasted chestnuts to give it a truly unique flavor.

Winner: Urban Chestnut.

The beers are clearly classified, and the selection and consistency give them the edge.

Food Six Row is a trademark brewpub. It’s more than just a place to make and enjoy beer; it’s a place to come and enjoy food. The full menu includes bar food like pretzels, chips and pizza, but there is also a nice variety of sandwiches.

The roast beef and cheddar panini is especially good.

I would suggest this as a unique place to take your parents when they come to visit.

Many people forget Six Row when they complain about a lack of eats near campus.

Urban Chestnut has a great philosophy when it comes to food and beer. They are in the market to make beer and list their place as a “tasting room,” as opposed to a brewpub. The menu consists of various meat and cheese platters, hot pretzels with butter and mustard and sausage. What more can you ask for than a beer and a brat? That being said, this is not a place to fill your stomach. The food is more in the morsel category, but have no fear, you may bring your own food if you wish. Pappy’s is down the street — just a thought.

Winner: Six Row. Nothing beats a good meal to go with that beer.

Atmosphere Six Row has the benefit of being in a historic building that has been a part of brewing for nearly a century. The inside has an old-fashioned feeling, and there are several TVs to watch. It almost feels like a tavern. Board games are available for those who are looking to stay awhile. A window opens to the brewery so that you can see some of the magic happening right in front of you as the brewers do their thing.

Its a very relaxing atmosphere to sit and enjoy some good craft beer. The hours are limited, and the bar isn’t open terribly late because they want to promote a relaxed experience to enjoy beer. People

looking to be over-served should probably consider going elsewhere. The space can probably hold no more than 75 or 100 people.

Urban Chestnut is also in an old building with some history. Located in the Locust business district, it lies in a former printing building. The tables are the original printing tables, and the building is bare bones with brick and piping exposed. The bar wraps around and leads to a long hallway where there are darts and a foosball table.

They will have live bands most weekends, and there is a small sitting area outside in front. The building has one TV, and the message is pretty clear: This is a building to sit and drink beer, and that’s it. During the day, the bar can be pretty slow, but at night the place comes alive with people leaving the Fox, Powell or Chaifetz to come have a good time. Coming soon to Urban Chestnut will be a 400-seat beer garden to expand the drinking experience Winner: Urban Chestnut.

This is a fun place to drink beer and the future only looks brighter.

Urban Chestnut has emerged victorious in this battle, but it is important to remember that these establishments are not the same.

Six Row is a brewpub, and is focused on the dining experience as well as brewing their beer.

Urban Chestnut is a brewery that happens to have a tasting room with some food.

Both breweries brew exceptional beer, and should be considered next time you are ready to try something new near campus.

Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys sell out at Chaifetz

Minghao Gao / Senior Staff Photographer

Alex Turner, lead vocalist and lead rhythm/guitarist of the English rock band Arctic Monkeys, played to a sold-out crowd at Chaifetz Arena on Friday, April 27. Arctic Monkeys opened for The Black Keys.

unewsonline.com

11

Arts

Thursday, May 3, 2012

‘Memphis’ brings rhythm and blues to the Fox Theatre Entering the Fox Theatre on Tuesday with high expectations, I was still absolutely b l o w n away by Theater Review the new musical, “ M e m phis.”

Based on actual events, “Memphis” tells the Kristin McGuire story of a white disc jockey in the 1950s, infatuated with all the “wrong” things: rhythm and blues music, and a black nightclub singer. This new musical delivers a poignant and intelligent plot, with one of the most powerful and entertaining scores I have heard in a long time.

Winner of four Tony Awards in 2010, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, “Memphis” has certainty earned its praise.

One of the many highlights was the score composed by founding member and keyboardist of Bon Jovi, David Bryan.

“How could people be so bad and make me feel so good?” is a quote from the song “Music of My Soul,” which could sum up the entire evening. The protagonist, Huey Calhoun, does not understand why he is constantly punished for enjoying the “evil” rhythm and blues music for which he is so passionate. The racism evidenced in “Memphis” is something like a product of “West Side Story” and “Hairspray.”

The show opens at Delray’s, a blues nightclub, where the entirely black crowd goes crazy for singer Felicia Farrell (Felicia Boswell.) And with such a power-house voice, who couldn’t?! Enter Huey (Bryan Fenkart,) an illiterate goofball who immediately drives away the crowd because he is a white man in the wrong club. He persuades them to stay, explaining he is only there for the music in “Music of My Soul.”

When Huey is fired from his job at a local department

Photo courtesy of Paul Kolnik

“Memphis” will run at the Fox Theatre through May 13.

The musical was the recipient of four Tony Awards in 2010. store for playing “Negro music,” he returns to the club and promises to get Felicia on the radio (“Ain’t Nothin’ but a Kiss.”) As Huey’s career as a disc jockey soars, making him the first to play black music on a white radio station, so does his relationship with Felicia.

But adversity plagues the couple from the beginning, as Felicia’s brother (Quentin Earl Darrington) and Huey’s mama (Julie Johnson) disapprove of the bi-racial relationship. It is out of the question to make their relationship public after the two are attacked when caught sharing a kiss.

Leads Boswell and Fenkart play Felicia and Huey with an incredible amount of energy and superb voices. The perennial issue that “a white guy is solving all the black folks’ problems” is non-existent in this production. Fenkart plays Huey as the closest thing to a cartoon character as possible, without being unrealistic or unlikeable.

Boswell does the opposite with Felicia, presenting a strong, sassy woman who clearly calls the shots in the relationship. Supporting leads Johnson and Darrington portray their characters with humor, additionally representing the realism of racism.

Critics have given posi-

tive reviews on the whole, although many mention the lack of believability. It is as if the characters only act a certain way because the book tells them to do so. For example, Huey’s mama accepts the relationship finally and suddenly in Act II. But, the actors do a wonderful job and most choices seem justified.

One other qualm many have had is the plot, which noticeably slows down in Act II. In my opinion, the music distracts from this more stoic storyline following intermission.

The ensemble is worthy of enormous praise, as well.

These background performers were on stage for much of the show, singing and dancing with incredible energy.

At the end of the performance, it was interesting to see the rest of the audience react. There seemed to be a great divide: should we dance and laugh to the fun encore number or cry because of the still prevalent issues of racism?

Either way, “Memphis” presented an incredibly moving and fun performance that I would highly recommend to any SLU student.

Performances run from May 1 through 13 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. For student discount information, visit fabulousfox.com.

Sports >>Atlantic 10

Billiken Briefs Spring Soccer The men’s soccer team won its first game of the spring with a 3-1 victory over Washington University last Friday.

They were scheduled to play their spring finale on Saturday against Bradley University, but the game was canceled due to inclimate weather. The Billikens end their spring exhibition season with a 1-2-1 record and are poised to make a run at the Atlantic 10 Conference title in the Fall.

Track

and

The University News Talk to us: Joseph Cacchione 314.977.2812 sports@unewsonline.com

Thursday, May 3, 2012

unewsonline.com

Butler set to join the Atlantic 10

By BRIAN BOYD News Editor

The Atlantic 10 Conference was able to avoid the seismic shakeups started by the Southeastern Conference, but has finally succumbed to the realignment wave. Butler University has agreed to defect from the Horizon League and join the Atlantic-10 in all sports for the 2013-14 season.

Located in Indianapolis, Ind., the Bulldogs have been a target for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball schedule over the past few years, according to Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-

Dispatch.

The program rose to national prominence and established itself as a power among mid-major schools in 2010 and 2011.

Led by Head Coach Brad Stevens, who boasts a career .777 winning percentage, Butler crashed the NCAA tournament and advanced to the National Championship games in both years, but eventually lost to Duke and the University of Connecticut.

Butler University President James Danko released a statement praising the academic and athletic excellence of the Atlantic-10. “The uni-

versities in this conference are strong academically and they value the student-athlete experience. Butler fits well with them and we look forward to joining their tradition of excellence,” Danko said.

Stevens spoke highly of the change, according to a USA Today report.

“It’s something that’s very good in a lot of ways,” Stevens told USA Today. “I trusted our leaders to make this decision because they really, truly have a great vision for where we need to go.”

Currently, the Atlantic-10 is set to remain at 14 teams for men’s basketball. Butler

will replace Temple, who is defecting to the Big East Conference in 2013-14.

SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said that Butler is a “high quality institution” and noted the proximity between the two schools. Geographically, Butler is the closest school to SLU in the conference.

“It’s great news for the Billikens,” May said. “We’re certainly adding a high quality institution into the Atlantic 10 and it helps geographically.

It’s great for the program and great for the league. We added a really good team that’s a bus ride away.”

>> Baseball Feature

DiRoma makes a statement in final year

Field

The Billikens split their squad in half and sent several relays and certain individuals to the Drake Relays and to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The meet at SIUE was rained out, but the rest of the team performed well at Drake. Brittany Cloudy recorded a seasonal best 41-3 leap on the triple jump which was good for seventh overall. The next meet for SLU is the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, which will be held at the University of Massachusetts.

Shah (Yuqing Xia)/ Senior Staff Photographer

Senior Marco DiRoma has been excelling this year with a .300 batting average and a .433 slugging percentage. He also leads the Billikens in stolen bases, and earlier this year he had a 19-game on-base streak.

SLU’s designated hitter seizing his final opportunity at SLU

By CHARLES BOWLES Associate Sports Editor

BILLIKEN SCOREBOARD

Men’s Baseball

W 5-2 vs. La Salle

W 11-3 vs. La Salle

W

8-3

vs. La Salle

W

4-0

Women’s Softball

0-2

@ Saint Joseph’s

W

5-3

@ Saint Joseph’s

W

1-0

vs. S.E Missouri State

L

“

”

“maturity” from his junior to senior year.

“You realize that although stats are nice, it is nice to produce for the team…you need to be a leader,” DiRoma said.

DiRoma is happy with this season, but he thinks there is more work to be done.

“Sweeping the series against La Salle was a big confidence builder for us, but we are not done winning this season,” DiRoma said.

DiRoma said that the main thing to continue their success this season is to get on base.

“When we have runners in scoring position, we need to execute. You don’t need to always hit home runs or big doubles, you need to just come up and have ‘team at bats,’” DiRoma said. DiRoma mainly wants his teammates to have “unselfish at bats.”

DiRoma has certainly matured and adjusted from his tough first semester at SLU. His baseball production has shown that he dedicated himself to be a Division I athlete, and his maturity has aided the Billikens baseball team in big moments this season.

>> Baseball

vs. S.E Missouri State

L

It is tough transferring from one college to another.

You are trying to make new friends and adapt to the new environment, and other different psychological and social factors must be taken into account, too. Now add onto that the responsibility of a Division I athlete training on and off the field along with the classes, picking a major and so many other responsibilities.

For senior designated hitter and catcher Marco DiRoma, it was difficult a first semester after transferring from John A. Logan Community College. However, after a tough first semester, DiRoma has adjusted and turned into one of the best players on the Billikens baseball team this season.

“When I got here, I said ‘Okay, I’m at a university. Now I really need to start taking care of things for myself’… and at first it was overwhelming. I struggled my first fall here because I could not find

a balance,” DiRoma said.

I lifted every day. I think the This season, DiRoma has biggest transition that I made a .300 batting average, a .433 was I lost 25 pounds and beslugging percentage, one came more a Division I athhome run and 18 RBIs. Di- lete,” DiRoma said.

Roma also had the longest DiRoma had high expectahitting streak of the year, at tions going into this season. eight games. He also record“My expectations were ed a 19-game on-base streak high. They are very high. this year.

I was confident in the proAfter a gram, my tough first teammates s e m e s t e r, especially DiRoma a couYou realize that al- with had to prove ple of piechimself be- though stats are nice, es coming cause he and a lot was not an it is nice to produce of people e v e r y d a y for the team…you returning,” player on DiRoma the baseball need to be a leader. said. team, but DiRoma after a lot of said that work, he be- -Marco DiRoma his mindgan to play set has on a more changed consistent basis toward the from last year and explained end of his junior year. that he needs to be a leader After his junior year, Di- on the field. DiRoma said that Roma dedicated himself to he needs to maintain a positraining during the off-season tive mindset because he deto make more contributions . scribes baseball as a game of “I worked hard every day. “ups and downs.”

I was at the baseball field two DiRoma said that mainhours at day, throwing and taining that positive attitude hitting, and I made sure that his senior year was a sign of

1-6

vs. S.E Missouri State

Billikens collect 3oth win of the season

By ALEX KOZICH Staff Writer

The Billikens won their 30th game of the season for the fourth time in school history after beating the Southeast Missouri State RedHawks on Tuesday. This win comes after claiming a threegame sweep over their Atlantic 10 Conference opponent, the LaSalle Explorers. The Bills overall record stands at 30-14 and are just three wins short of tying the school record in wins.

In the first game of the series against La Salle, the Billikens topped the Explores by a score of 5-2 behind the bat of junior Alex Kelly. Kelly, who was 2-4 with a 3-run homerun, didn’t take long to do his damage.

Senior Mike Levine led off the game with a hit by pitch and was moved to second on a single by fellow senior Jerry Mancuso.

Just the third batter in the game, Kelly blasted a pitch over the right field fence to

give the Billkens a quick 3-0 lead.

The Billikens would put up 2 more runs in the second to bring the score to 5-0. Billiken pitcher Clay Smith held the Explorers scoreless until the eight when they scored twice, but Travis Parker was able to close the game and bring his streak to 30.1 innings without giving up an earned run.

In the second game of the series, the Billikens routed the Explores by a score of 113. The Explores struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the third but the Billikens responded in the 5th with a three run inning to bring the score to 3-1.

Junior Alex Alemann picked up his 6th win of the year to bring his record to 6-0.

The Billikens finished the series sweep with an 8-3 victory on Sunday. The Explorers struck first leading 2-0 after 3 innings but the Billikens offense would come alive in the fourth.

They scored 3 runs in the 4th inning and another 4 in

Shah (Yuqing Xia)/ Senior Staff Photographer

The Billikens pitching staff has five shutouts on the season. the 5th.

They tacked on a final run in the 6th on a single by senior Jerry Mancuso. Freshman Nick Bates picked up the win for the Billikens and is now 4-1 on the season.

Their only game against Southeast Missouri State turned out to be a dominating pitching performance by the Bills, as the cruised to their fifth shutout of the season with a final score of 4-0.

Travis Parker picked up his eighth save on the season

and extended his streak to 32.1 innings without giving up an earned run by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.

The Billikens will open their final home stand of the season this coming weekend with a three game set against the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies.

With 13 games remaining, the Billikens should have a good chance to break the school record for season wins.

>> Commentary

Billikens, meet the Bulldogs It came as little surprise when yesterday the Atlantic 10 Conference formally accepted Butler University as a full member, starting July 1, 2013.

With the addition of Derrick Neuner BU, there should no longer be a discussion over whether the A-10 is the premiere mid-major men’s basketball conference in America or whether Saint Louis University belongs in the Missouri Valley Conference.

First, let me give you Butler’s biography: A private university in Indianapolis, Ind., the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, arts and sciences, pharmacy and health sciences, and fine arts. The Bulldogs compete in 19 NCAA sanctioned sports, making appearances in NCAA National Championship Tournaments in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, volleyball, men’s cross country, lacrosse, and baseball.

Sound familiar?

There’s a reason why Butler belongs in a league like the A-10: outstanding academics, a dedication to integrity in collegiate sport and a diverse range of competitive athletic programs. It helps that the Bulldogs are in a major Midwestern metropolis (like SLU), further enhancing the A-10’s reach off the Eastern Seaboard. Listen, if someone tells you Butler is crazy to leave the Horizon League and move to the A-10, ask them if they think that 2012 is the Cubs’ year to finally win the Series.

Beyond the money and the exposure, though, Butler has taken the pedigree of A-10 sports – namely men’s basketball – to a whole new level.

According to the league, for the fifth year in a row, the A-10 Conference earned at least three bids and multiple at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. Over the last six years, the A-10 has had 12 atlarge selections - the seventh most among all other Division I conferences.

The Bulldogs only add to that. Butler, an NCAA Final Four participant in two of the last three years, will be the seventh A-10 program with at least one appearance in the Final Four. And, oh yeah, both appearances led to the National Championship, where took Duke to the buzzer and nearly upset the Connecticut Huskies in 2011. Talk about competitive.

SLU has been trying to schedule Butler for years and even lost a top recruit to Bulldogs head coach Brad Stevens late last year. Also, 2012 SLU signee Jared Drew is one of the most touted recruits coming out of superstar heavy Indiana. Adding Butler to the league opens up recruiting roads more than any other avenue could provide. The Bulldogs also raise the RPI level of SLU almost immediately, and the trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse is just a few hours to the east.

And that’s just basketball.

Finally, here’s my chance to rant and slap backs.

I don’t want to hear another SLU student say the following: “Why is SLU still in the A-10? We belong in the Valley.” Father Biondi, if you read this, can we insert a clause for instant dismal of any guilty individuals? Thanks.

I understand that adding Butler doesn’t greatly change the dynamic of the league.

But, and it’s an important but, it brings the A-10 closer to being the most realistic, successful league for SLU. And that’s where we give thanks to league officials for being pro-active and aggressive. I have not always agreed with McGlade’s decisions, but she has hit a homerun with the addition of the Bulldogs. Following the loss of Temple, the A-10 had to be bold, and boy did it make a splash.

So Billikens, rejoice! Get the puppy treats ready. In two years, we’ll give the Bulldogs a Gateway City welcome.

unewsonline.com

Sports

13

Thursday, May 3, 2012

>> Club Rowing

>> Softball

Club rowing wins first place in Regatta Billikens split three doubleheaders

By CHARLES BOWLES Associate Sports Editor

Row, row, row your boat... well it won’t be gently down the stream, especially when competing in the regattas like the Saint Louis University club rowing team has done this past year.

However, this regatta was different as the club rowing won their first regatta ever. The team barely edged Creighton University to collect their first All Points Trophy at the Lake Shawnee Classic in Topeka, Kan. “I am so proud of every member of our club. We have worked hard to be successful at our competitions, and that hard work has paid off.

These rowers are now my family,” varsity rower Hannah Beaty said.

SLU’s club rowing team has been in existence since 2001. However, this is was the first year that the team had enough rowers to even have the opportunity to win a regatta. The team entered 14 different events at the regatta and brought home 87 medals.

“Usually, our club simply hasn’t had enough people to enter into enough races in order to win the trophy. Even with 30 people, it is a major accomplishment to have won the trophy when other schools have many more rowers,” Beatty said.

One of the key moments in the regatta for the rowing team was the women’s open 4

By ALEX KOZICH Staff Writer

Courtesy of Hannah Beatty

SLU crew keeps pace with the rest of the competition just before pulling away for its first victory in the club’s history. race. During the race, a member of that team got their oar got stuck in the water. Instead of giving up, the women’s team rallied, slowly regained momentum and sprinted past four other boats to claim a bronze medal in the race.

Besides this regatta, the team also competed in the Upper Midwest Collegiate Sprints in Omaha, Neb., and the Washington University in Creve Coeur, Mo. All of the races this spring season were 2,000 meters, which are

shorter races than the fall season.

“We have worked really hard this semester during erg sessions, two-a-day practices during spring break and early morning practices in Creve Coeur in order to be successful. We were able to show the rowing community just exactly what SLU crew is capable of,” novice rower Kat Wiacek said.

The team will lose some seniors but believes that they have a bright future ahead.

“I could not think of a better way to end the year than capturing the team’s first-ever points trophy. My only regret is that I will not be around when this team really hits its stride in the next year or two.

SLU club rowing is only beginning to show what it is truly capable of,” Joe Hess said.

If this regatta is any indication, it seems the SLU club rowing team will be sweeping away the competition and rowing its way to more success and medals.

The Billikens softball team followed a 2-2 weekend in two separate two-game series against Atlantic 10 foes Temple and Saint Joseph’s by splitting a two-game series against Southeast Missouri State. The series splits bring the Billikens record to 22-32 overall and 8-10 in A-10 Conference play.

In the first game of their two-game set with the Temple Owls, the Billikens came out on the wrong side of a 6-5 affair.

The Billikens took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a double by Laura Bohning. Bohning put the Billikens up 5-2 in the fifth with her fourth homerun of the season.

In the bottom of the inning however, Temple’s Sarah Prezioso smashed a grand slam to put the owls up 6-5.

Hannah Huebbe took the loss for the Billikens bringing her record to 10-13.

In the finale of the series with Temple, the Billikens were able to grab a 7-5 win to split the series. Rachel Faletto hit a two-run homerun for the Billikens in a three-run third inning to help the Billikens power past the Owls.

The Billikens added a run in the seventh to finish the scoring. Kelcie Matesa shut

the door on the Owls by inducing a double play ball and ending the game with a strikeout.

In the first game of the double header the Billikens fell to the Hawks 2-0. The Billikens were unable to capitalize when they had the tying runner at the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Julian Austin took the loss for the Billikens, surrendering 6 hits and dropping her record to 5-11 on the season.

In the second game of the double header, the Billikens edged the hawks by a score of 5-3 with Alyson Brand smashing the game-tying homerun in the sixth and Kelsey Biggs following up in the seventh with the game winning homerun.

Kelcie Matesa (6-7) picked up the win for the Billikens with two scoreless innings in relief.

Against SEMO, Austin threw a complete game fivehitter to shutout the Redhawks 1-0. Erin Harcar hit an RBI single to score Kerri Dockins for the lone Billiken run. After a six-run first inning, the Redhawks didn’t look back and cruised to a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.

The Billikens now have four games remaining before the A-10 championships start on May 9, including a double header against George Washington to close the season this coming Saturday May 5.

>> Club Racquetball

Club racquetball increases presence, competes in tournaments

By CHARLES BOWLES Associate Sports Editor

You’re confined into a 40by-20 foot court and your opponent has just smashed the ball upwards of 150-180 mph.

You have mere milliseconds to make a snap decision on where to place your next shot, so you and defeat your opponent and get a point.

Am I going too fast? Well, that is what the club racquetball team has done this season and competed in various tournaments this year where they have had to keep up with

this fast paced competition.

“Racquetball is a very fast paced game. I consider basketball to be very slow compared to racquetball,” club co-President Michael Meyer said.

The club racquetball team currently consists of six to eight regularly playing members, but it has a roster of 20 members with varying experience levels.

The club team requires no previous experience but want people who want to learn how to play racquetball.

The team has received pro-

fessional lessons from professional racquetball player Ryan Maher from St. Louis.

The team has also worked with previous racquetball coach at the University of Missouri.

This season the team competed in four different racquetball tournaments including: The Mike Pohlman Memorial, the Greensfelder, Pinchshot.com Intercollegiates, and MO State Qualifier.

St. Louis has a very tightknit racquetball community.

The sport is very popular in

Name / Title

Cutline text

St. Louis for people of all ages.

“The adult and high school leagues here are incredibly extensive, There are hundreds of high school players, and this year, St. Louis University HIgh won Boys nationals and Cor Jesu Academy won Girls nationals. There are dozens of open level players in STL,” Meyer said.

St. Louis has national high school racquetball tournaments every other year and the racquetball hall of fame is in St. Louis.

According to Meyer, one area that racquetball is lack-

ing is in the college ranks.

“Many of the experieZnced, dedicated players will matriculate to the University of Missouri to play for a highly competitive team,” Meyer said.

However, the club racquetball team is attempting to build a strong racquetball culture in the college ranks. One of the more regular players is Rico Brooks.

Brooks is a sophomore who joined the team after a stressful freshman year.

“It is a hobby that keeps me active. It is something that

clears my mind and helps me focus,” Brooks said.

Brooks said that the game has constant movement and describes as a new hobby the helps relieve stress.

Meyer emphasized that racquetball is a “culture” not just a sport.

“Even if one cannot play in a tourney, you still go up to watch a tournament. Even in tournaments, referees are not always used because players are expected to call their own fouls. Everyone knows everyone, and it is a really tight-knit community,” Meyer said.

14

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