No. 12 Nov 11

The University News A Student Voice of Saint Louis University Since 1921

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Vol. XC No. 12

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Read exclusive player profiles Preview the upcoming Atlantic 10 conference schedule Check out coverage of recent exhibition games All of this and more in our special section >>SEE INSERT

Basketball PREVIEW

High expectations for housing fall flat

By ERIKA MILLER Enterprise Editor

and SEAN WORLEY Assistant News Editor

Not one, but two major changes impacted the way that Saint Louis University students signed up for oncampus housing for the 2010-2011 academic year. The Department of Housing and Residence Life implemented a second-year residency requirement, which boosted the number of students living on campus.

To deal with increased demand, the department also negotiated a two-year contract with the Flats at

374, a formerly unknown apartment complex located across Grand Ave. from Reinert Hall.

The Flats added 294 beds to University housing, and currently 292 of those beds are occupied. This number reflects the amount of additional beds that the University needed due to the residency requirement.

Though the Flats are not owned by the University, the building is operated by Housing and Residence Life, meaning that students in the Flats can enjoy the programming and amenities that come with living in SLU housing. At least this is what students initially thought.

“Going into the Flats I expected to have all the amenities that were afforded to other people in campus housing,” Joe Hess, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.

Hess expressed that he has had to deal with various issues that he would not expect other students in on-campus housing to face.

Dawn Aldrich, associate director of Housing and Residence Life, said that although some major differences exist, such as a 12-month contract period for students living in the Flats, “day- to-day operations are extremely similar to what you see in our other University-owned apartments.”

Resident advisors, desk workers, a residence hall coordinator and Whelan Security operate at the Flats, just as in every other University housing property. The department has also incorporated the Flats into other University organizations such as Student Government Association and the Residence Hall Association.

Through all of these efforts, “our hope is that while we continue to manage the Flats, all students, staff, and faculty will view it as another quality housing option that we provide,” Aldrich said.

From the perspective of some of See “Flats” on Page 3

SLU Soccer: A History of Champions

Photos Courtesy of Billiken Media Relations

Players are renowned for keeping their eyes on the ball

By ANDREW BUSH Staff Writer

A tradition. That is what players on the Saint Louis University men’s soccer team embody when they put on their jerseys that are adorned with 10 small stars circling the SLU logo. These stars are not just decoration—they each represent a national championship for the SLU men’s soccer program.

“Everybody involved in college soccer knows about the history of SLU,” former Billiken and current New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer) player Tim Ream said. “To be able to put on the SLU uniform with 10 stars on it and know that you could be a part of that eleventh star, that eleventh national championship, that’s something special. No other program has that—being able to be a part of that history.”

The history that Ream speaks of dates back to 1959, the first year that included a season of NCAA men’s soccer. The first ever NCAA men’s soccer national championship game was played on Nov. 28, 1959 in Storrs, Conn. between SLU and the University of Bridgeport.

In that initial season, SLU head coach Bob Guelker led a team that had a budget of $200 and a roster comprised of only St. Louis-area players. In the semifinal against City College of New York, the all-St. Louis roster prevailed against a squad that had 14 foreign-born players.

SLU won the 1959

national championship against Bridgeport 5-2, the first of 10 Billiken men’s soccer national championships in a span of 15 years.

Although SLU has not won a men’s soccer championship since 1973, the Billikens’ 10 national titles represent the most in NCAA history. Second on the all-time list is the University of Indiana, with seven national championships to their credit. These men’s soccer national championships represent the only NCAA championships achieved by SLU. Several current players on the squad understand the legacy they represent each time they step onto the field. Junior Mike Roach said, “I wanted to personally come [to a place] where soccer was one of the bigger sports at the school. With no football, basketball and soccer are the two biggest sports, and with SLU having so many national championships, soccer is huge.”

Current head coach Mike McGinty represents only the sixth head coach in the history of the men’s soccer program at SLU. The five coaches who preceded him averaged 10 years at the helm of the program.

“The school has done a great job sticking by their coaches,” McGinty said. “The coaches have a long tradition of excellence in continuity. To do anything at a high level for a long time takes stability—if you change coaches, if you change staffs all the time, then you lose some of that continuity and long-term planning. Giving coaches long-term stability helps them do better.”

The two first coaches at SLU, Bob Guelker and Harry Keough, are each responsible for leading SLU to five national championships. Guelker led the Billikens from 1959-1966 and Keough from 19671982. Guelker continued his coaching career long after he left SLU, even coaching the United States Men’s National Team at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games.

“We have an enormous sense of pride and respect for the guys that were here before us,” McGinty said.

“We embrace it; we go about our business every day trying to honor and pay homage and respect to those that came before us. We understand that the program itself is bigger than any one of us. The backs of the jerseys change every year, but the ‘SLU’ on the front of the jersey stays. We do everything we can to create some of our own history and some of our own memories.”

“You just respect (the jersey) every time you go out and play, knowing all the players that have gone out before you,” junior Beau Bellomy, a current member of the team, said. “It means a lot knowing that I wear the same jersey as all the guys who See “Soccer” on Page 9

SPORTS>> Billikens look to defend

their Atlantic 10 title at this weekend’s conference tournament in Charlotte.

BUILDING A TRADITION: the road to 10 titles 1959 Head Coach Bob Guelker Overall Record 11-1-0 Championship game 5-0 (vs. Bridgeport)

1960 Head Coach Bob Guelker Overall Record 14-1-0 Championship game 3-2 (vs. Maryland)

1962 Head Coach Bob Guelker Overall Record 12-0-1 Championship game 4-3 (vs. Maryland)

1963

1965

Head Coach Bob Guelker Overall Record 13-1-0 Championship game 3-0 (vs. Navy)

Head Coach Bob Guelker Overall Record 14-0-0 Championship game 1-0 (vs. Michigan State)

NAACP exhibits diversity

By ANDREA ROYALS News Editor

Last year, sophomore Genise Sherrill was the victim of racial harassment when men on her floor in Reinert Hall reportedly yelled obscene words at her through her dorm room door because of the color of her skin.

This year, Sherrill said she hopes to combat the prejudice she has encountered on campus as she serves as chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at Saint Louis University, which was officially instated at the beginning of November.

Sherrill said she and her friends in the Black Student Alliance (BSA) considered forming a chapter of the NAACP on campus after the incident last spring. For them, starting the chapter marked a pivotal accomplishment.

“It was a long journey, but we’ve made it,” Sherrill, said.

“That was kind of the final piece to our puzzle.”

However, Sherrill said the journey was met with several obstacles.

“There were a lot of negative attitudes when we first started,” Sherrill said, explaining that many people did not think that she, a freshman student, could actually organize such a group.

Sherrill and other students approached the administration and received help from both the Cross Cultural Center and the Department of Diversity and Affirmative Action to coordinate the NAACP chapter.

“I’m proud of the group, many of which were first year students when they began the chartering process last academic year, for taking the lead on this,” LaTanya Buck, program manager for the Cross Cultural Center, said.

Jennifer Scheessele, director of the office of Diversity and Affirmative Action said she was eager to assist the students. “The more students are involved in bringing awareness of social identity the better,” Scheessele said. “I’m more than happy to support them.”

Sherrill said that the NAACP at SLU is promoting diversity through the We are Human campaign, an initiative seeking to create social justice training courses and various other campus events.

The chapter is currently holding a clothing drive for the Salvation Army. Students are asked to drop off clothes and canned goods in designated boxes in the Busch Student Center and residence halls.

The chapter will also host a Charity Spades Tournament and game night at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 in BSC 173 to raise money for A Better World, a non-profit organization that seeks to assist at-risk urban neighborhoods.

“We really want to give back to the St. Louis community,” See “NAACP” on Page 3

Carrying the glory

“It would take an all-star team picked from the other three semifinalists to give the Billikens anything like a close game.”

- Bridgeport coach John McKeon, after Saint Louis’ 1959 championship victory

1967

1969

1970

1972

Head Coach Harry Keough Overall Record 8-3-2 Championship game 0-0 (vs. Michigan State*)

Head Coach Harry Keough Overall Record 13-0-0 Championship game 4-0 (vs. San Francisco)

Head Coach Harry Keough Overall Record 14-0-1 Championship game 1-0 (vs. UCLA)

Head Coach Harry Keough Overall Record 15-2-3 Championship game 4-2 (vs. UCLA)

1973 Head Coach Harry Keough Overall Record 15-2-3 Championship game 2-1 (vs. UCLA)

“If standing up under pressure means anything, we’ve been through lots of it this season.”

- Saint Louis coach John McKeon, before a semifinal match in 1967 *Due to weather conditions, co-champions resulted

Read and Recycle Infographic by Ryan Giacomino

The University News prints on partially recycled paper.

News

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Let Us Introduce You

Mike Putnam

SLUnatics leader cheers, raises spirits, serves others

By PAUL ESKER Contributor

Walking into Chaifetz arena, the first thing Billiken basketball fans hear is the deafening roar of cheers coming from the student section.

This group of spirited students, called the SLUnatics, strives to make every game loud, exciting and fun.

However, this may not be possible without the SLUnatic leader, senior premed student Mike Putnam, who coordinates the group’s cheers.

“The reason I wanted to be the leader of the student section is because it’s a time when students can feel like a part of something that is bigger than them,” Putnam said.

Although he loves basketball, Putnam said that the love of the game is not what drives his work with SLUnatics or his enthusiasm at the games. Rather, he said, it is driven by the fans.

“When I’m at the game, my attention is often not on the court, it’s on the fans,” Putnam said.

“I want to make sure everybody is having a good time. Whether we win or lose, I want fans to have a good time so that they want to keep coming back.”

Putnam’s involvement at Saint Louis University extends far beyond just leading the SLUnatics.

A member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and the pre-medical honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta, Putnam has also been active in Global Medical Brigade and attended a mission trip to Honduras.

“I just like being able to reach out to people, volunteering at clinics and doing what I can to help,” Putnam said.

Putnam hopes to continue helping people after graduation by taking a year off between undergraduate and medical school to serve in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

THE SLU SCOOP Thursday, Nov. 4

11:16 p.m. - ELEVATOR ENTRAPMENT Two students were trapped in a Reinert elevator. The St. Louis Fire Department responded. No injuries were incurred.

Friday, Nov. 5

3:45 a.m. - STOLEN AUTO A student reported that his vehicle was stolen from the Fordham lot. The car was stolen previously on Oct. 27 but was recovered.

Be a Responsible Billiken

All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Security Services 10:39 a.m. - MISSING PROPERTY An employee reported that a projector was missing from the Pere Marquette Gallery. A search was conducted but the projector was not found.

10:47 a.m. - CHEMICAL SPILL Students reported a chemical container had leaked acid in Monsanto Hall. Environment Safety responded.

No injuries were reported.

11:14 p.m. - DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY A student slammed the door of the second floor men’s

restroom in DeMattias Hall damaging the door frame and the toilet paper dispenser. The RA was informed.

Sunday, Nov. 8

5:39 p.m. - FIRE ALARM A student set off a Grand Forest fire alarm. The alarm was activated from the steam created by the shower. Maintenance reset the alarm.

DPSSS is back to tweeting!

Follow them on twitter: @SLUSafety

STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu

Diversity and safety a priority in SGA Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photographer The JVC is an organization run by the Society of Jesus that gives men and women the opportunity to work full-time for justice and peace, either domestically or abroad.

Right now, however, Putnam said that his focus is on taking the SLUnatics to new heights and making ever y Billikens basketball game exciting and fun.

One of the first steps on the way to reaching new heights was renaming ‘Blue Crew’ to its current title, ‘SLUnatics.’

The name change was spearheaded by Putnam.

“The whole reason behind it was that Blue Crew seemed kind of generic. I mean even Sears has a ‘blue crew’ for their appliances,” Putnam said.

“We have the most unique mascot, so I felt that we should have a unique student

section too.”

But the new improvements don’t end there. Putnam said that the SLUnatics have many more exciting new plans in the works, including planning a road trip to Cincinnati for the game against Xavier University and organizing more theme nights at conference games.

Despite his astounding accomplishments, Putnam remains humble about all that he has achieved.

“Previous Blue Crew presidents have done a great job,” Putnam said, “And I am just trying to continue that legacy.”

With Putnam’s fresh ideas, dynamic leadership and the deafening SLUnatic cheers that he directs, the legacy of the Billiken student section will be continued for years to come.

By SEAN WORLEY Assistant News Editor

Safety can have multiple dimensions.

The Student Government Association during this week’s senate meeting was able to see two of those aspects: physical safety and inclusive security.

The senate had the opportunity to have both Department of Public Safety and Security Services officer, Sgt. Pasquale Signorino and Diversity and Affirmative Action director, Jenn Scheessele present to the campus representatives.

“We’re trying to get everyone responsible for their own safety,” said Signorino, who expressed the department’s desire to make students more aware of resources available to them.

“We’re trying to be proactive in what we do,” Signorino said. “We want to be seen on campus.”

Scheessele offered an insight into the realm of the University’s actions toward diversity issues.

“The more I hear, the more I learn and the more I am able to do something about it,” Scheessele said, encouraging students to voice their concerns. “I want to change to more proactive efforts but we need to know when something happens.”

Scheessele said she admits that there is always more that can be done, which is made evident by the recent diversity grade of C-, as determined

by College Prowler, a grade she said did not surprise her.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and I’ll be the first to admit it but there’s a lot of good work being done now,” Scheessele said.

Scheessele said she also wants to create cohesiveness through the wider SLU community.

“We need to prepare our students, our faculty, our staff how to talk about these issues in order to eradicate these issues,” said Scheessele. “We all need to work together to change things.”

Though Scheessele’s presentation provided no legislative actions to be taken by senate, President Courtney Anvender was more than happy to donate senate time.

“I think it’s important to bring in speakers because senators are ambassadors to campus,” said Anvender, who expressed that ideal ambassadors are well informed in order to eliminate confusion.

SGA also took action to dedicate room 247 in theBusch Student Center to the memory of Patrick Wessel.

As reported in the Oct. 28 edition of The University News, Wessel was 2007 SLU alumnus. He passed away on Oct. 24.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Researchers help to map healthy brain Professor teaches Human Connectome Project uses cutting-edge technology

By ASHLEY SELAS Staff Writer

Brain researchers have always dreamed of being able to watch the brain in motion and to see how the complex structures and bundles of neurons collaborate to form the basis of human nature. Soon, this dream may become a reality through the Human Connectome Project, a five-year journey to map the brain’s intricate circuits. This groundbreaking study will take place primarily in St. Louis, with researchers from Saint Louis University providing a critical piece of technology.

“I think [this study] puts us at the cutting edge of neuroscience research. It gives us the access to the tools that will format the basis of our understanding of the brain,” Richard Bucholz, a professor of neurosurgery and head of the SLU research team, said.

In the same vein as the Human Genome Project, the Human Connectome Project is the first of its kind. Researchers will utilize cutting-edge brain scanning techniques to map the circuitry of more than 1,000 brains in hope of gaining the first full look at how the brain operates.

The Human Connectome Project involves a team that is spread across nine universities in the United States and Europe. SLU is a vital link in this research because of a rare resource in terms of a facility for a magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner, a method for picking up signals from the brain based on the electrical and magnetic fields that are created as people think or carry out tasks.

MEG scanning is unique to SLU and has potential to provide more precise insight into brain function.

This method will compliment the data acquired at

Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Minnesota through magnetic resonance (MR) scanners.

“We are very well set to utilize this technology in a clinical setting,” Bucholz said of the MEG scanner at SLU. Brain scans of twins, both identical and fraternal, will be compared in order to separate the influences of genetics and the environment on the brain and to highlight the ways in which the brain develops in light of different influences.

This project is just now coming onto the map because the National Institutes of Health, as well as other federal funding agencies, are showing a renewed interest in the neurosciences.

Another important factor is that technology, in terms of the logistics of scanning the brain and storing all of the data in a user-friendly format, has reached a point that a project of this significance can be undertaken.

“A large part of this project and one of the biggest reasons it was funded with this group is that there is a real emphasis on outreach and not only to the neuroscience community but also to the lay community to make the results of this study known and to continue to benefit the field of neuroscience down the line,” Tyler Roskos, assistant research professor of neurosurgery at SLU and neuropsychologist, said.

The biotechnology of storing the mass amount of information that will be collected in the form of high-resolution images is a massive undertaking.

The data collection attempt that this project is proposing is possibly the largest of its kind.

“It is a really novel way of presenting scientific data in a very democratic way so that

By KRISTEN MIANO News Editor

Noah Berman / Photo Editor

The magnetoencephalography at SLU is used to pick up signals the brain emits when an individual thinks or preforms a task. people all over the world can have access to the data and analyze it in any way that they want to,” Bucholz said.

Overall, the Human Connectome Project will not only benefit and increase dialogue in the scientific community, but it may improve the lives of people living with brain abnormalities.

By combining the data from all of the brain scans, the Human Connectome Project hopes to have a complete picture of a “healthy” human brain, which will allow medical practitioners to recognize and diagnose brain abnor-

malities.

According to Roskos, SLU is lucky to be able to contribute to a project that has many positive implications the future of brain research.

“Anytime that you are doing novel, cutting-edge research it makes your institution grow. So the fact that we have this technology is one thing,” Roskos said. “The fact that we are using the technology and using it in such an innovative way can only benefit the University by putting us on the map to some degree within the field of neuroimaging research.”

Angel Baked Cookies provides opportunity for teenagers

By KATERINA CANYON Contributor

People standing outside Saints Teresa and Bridget Roman Catholic Church in North Central St. Louis are more likely to smell cookie dough than incense. Angel Baked Cookies, a small cookie factory, calls the church home.

Factory operates by having local teenagers work to prepare cookie orders for various stores, cafes and schools in the St. Louis area.

Saint Louis University is now one of the schools that receive cookie orders prepared by Angel Baked Cookies. The cookies will first appear on campus Thurs. Nov. 11 in Fusz Food Court and the C-Store in DeMattias Hall.

These locations are currently the only dining facilities to offer the cookies As of now, SLU only carries the company’s chocolate chip cookies, but may expand to include other varieties depending on student demand.

The idea to carry Angel Baked Cookies at SLU was proposed by sophomore Scott Hessel.

“They mentioned that Angel Baked wasn’t being sold at SLU... It seemed like such an obvious way for SLU to live out its mission,” Hessel said.

Angel Baked Cookies is an enterprise of North Grand Neighborhood Services. The

program started three years ago by Father Gary Meier and three teenagers. This program was started with the ideology of giving teenagers in the area an opportunity to develop work skills and experience. Today, the program has 12 teenagers on staff.

The company gives the teens an opportunity to work towards promotions, as Lorā Moore, one of the original teenagers, is now Assistant Manager. She is proud of all she has accomplished with this enterprise “Angel Baked is my life,” Moore said.

Teens work at Angel Baked Cookies from Monday through Thursday preparing cookies. In addition to cookie preparation, the teens spend time in prayer and discussion before they start their work day.

Jesús Figueroa, Angel Baked Cookies Program Director expressed that the bakery’s operating hours are designed to keep teenagers busy during peak times for getting into trouble.

“From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. are the riskiest hours because parents are not back from work and you’re lingering around,” Figueroa said, “It’s good to have a safe space here so that you can forget about what’s happening outside.”

Moore expressed that students have used Angel Baked

Submitted photo by Jesús Figueroa

Jamala Wallace and Richoun Fuller, two of the teen “Angels,” prepare a batch of Angel Baked Cookies.

Cookies as a springboard to finding jobs elsewhere, and some have even gone off to college. These results are what inspired Hessel to encourage Paul Taylor of Billiken Dining Services to offer Angel Baked Cookies at SLU. “[Angel Baked Cookies] is getting the youth involved in a project that gives them good skills,” Taylor said. “They can take the skills that they’ve learned and they can apply them to their livelihood as they go on in life.”

When Hessel and other students met with Taylor to propose that SLU carry Angel Baked Cookies, Taylor agreed immediately.

“It fits in perfectly into SLU’s offerings. Angel Baked fits into our community in-

volvement goals,” Taylor said.

While Angel Baked has grown already, those involved have aspirations that the program will continue to evolve and flourish. When asked about the possibility of expansion, Moore said that her biggest hope is to one day open an Angel Baked Cafe. Figueroa said that Angel Baked has set a goal to do this in five years.

This goal will only be aided by the increase in cookie purchases, something that Hessel emphasized the importance of.

“It’s simple for us. It’s a significant step for them,” Hessel said, “With the business that SLU will be doing, they will have the opportunity to help more teenagers.”

Flats: Internet, laundry services cause concern for residents Continued from Page 1

the students living in the Flats, all of the comforts of living in a University-owned property are not present at the newlyadded housing option.

Student complaints center on the Internet service and laundry facilities.

Hunter Hostettler, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, was unhappy to learn that he would have to pay $1.50 for a load of laundry.

“I was under the impression laundry would be the same as the dorms and apartments on campus. This did not seem to be an unreasonable assumption, considering we were told the Flats were being managed

by SLU,” Hostettler said.

Aldrich explained that due to a preexisting contract, a the fee of $20 per semester, on-campus students pay could not be offered to students living in the Flats. For this reason, Hostettler said he takes his laundry elsewhere.

“It’s ridiculous to pay over a dollar for washing, let alone drying too,” said Hess.

Aldrich explained that all out about month ago,” Hess students, no matter their living said. “So there’s really no free situation, pay for laundry “the Internet around [the Flats].” only difference is the manner Aldrich expressed that the in which it is collected.”

Flats, while slightly differAnother variation between ent, is offering students who the Flats and other housing is reside there the same opporthe Internet tunities as on service. campus stuThe Flats dents. do not sup“While If my complaints, these subtle port SLUnet, but the namely no SLUnet and dif fer ences building is the laundry situation, do exist, we equipped for were resolved I would are confident Internet acthat the studefinitely recommend cess in all dents living in a p a r t m e n t the Flats. the Flats are - Joe Hess living rooms getting the and individusame quality al bedrooms. of living exThis capabilperience as ity is provided through Char- their peers in our traditional ter. buildings,” Aldrich said.

Aldrich explained that Hostettler said that the there is also a study lounge problems extend beyond that provides Internet for laundry and the Internet. all building residences. Yet There is a “feel of flimsiness” again, students are experienc- to the Flats. ing something different.

“On the surface, the Flats “The Flats did have their looks rather welcoming,” own Internet that kind of Hostettler said. “[However] reached my room but that cut you can hear everything ev-

“

through telling stories

”

eryone is doing everywhere, and the entire place shakes when someone closes a door or a truck rolls by.”

Both Hostettler and Hess did note that the positive qualities of the Flats include units that have a modern feel and are completely furnished, including a flat-screen T.V. While many of the current issues faced by the residents of the Flats may be the result of the University adjusting to managing this new property, students hope that the major issues can be taken care.

“If my complaints, namely no SLUnet and the laundry situation, were resolved I would definitely recommend the Flats,” Hess said.

Aldrich said that Housing and Residence Life is committed to working with the Flats to increase their validity as an option for housing.

“We are in a constant state of assessment and the staff is always looking for ways to improve the quality of life offered to the students at the Flats,” said Aldrich.

Belden Lane is well-known on campus for his unique style of teaching theology. In his 30 years at Saint Louis University, he has shown that perhaps the best way to teach what matters most is through the art of storytelling.

“You can’t teach worth a damn without telling stories,” said Lane.

In his Last Lecture speech, he stayed true to this philosophy, sharing the five things that he believes to be the most important things to live for and accompanied each with a story.

The Last Lecture series is a program run through the Department of Undergraduate Initiatives. It is based off of the popular “Last Lecture” speech given by Randy Pausch after he learned that he had terminal cancer.

Each semester, a faculty member at SLU is nominated by the students to give the lecture they would if it was last they would ever give. It is a chance for the speaker to reflect on their life and impart knowledge on students outside the classroom setting.

“If I were told that I had six months to live, what would I say in my last lecture at SLU? I’d have to be honest, that’s for sure,” Lane said. “You don’t [BS] yourself or others at a time like this.”

Lane’s first lesson was his belief that the culture handed down to us is one of the most profound foundations we can live our life from.

“I learned that it takes a thousand year running head start to do anything new in history,” said Lane. “You have to build on the past. You’re responsible for learning all the stories passed on from one generation to the next.

That’s where the collective wisdom of the elders is kept.”

Lane cited this as the motivating factor in his use of stories in the classroom. He believes that our culture is what makes us human. He followed this with the story of Vedran Smailovic, a cellist from Bosnia who vowed to play Albinoni’s Adagio in G minor for twenty-two days amid the rubble of a bakery he witnessed being bombed during the Siege of Sarajevo.

“What does the human spirit do when civilization itself is on the ropes? Smailovic would say you continue to perform.

You do what you can to keep the tradition alive. To let no one forget the dignity of the human person,” Lane said.

In Lane’s second lesson, he went on to lecture the audience in the importance of questioning authority.

“Being a pain in the ass in the face of injustice is a moral necessity that I have learned from Jesus of Nazareth, from a stubborn woman named Dorothy Day, and from a

radical priest by the name of Oscar Romero,” Lane said.

Lane went onto say that sometimes atrocities are committed in the name of tradition, and to follow it blindly would be a disservice. He then told the story of Dorothy Day, who was arrested in New York City during the Cold War because she refused to participate in mandatory air raid drills, as they were a “fear tactic” to justify the actions of the American government.

Lane’s third lesson was one he claimed was close to him: finding God in nature.

“The best of my teaching and writing over the years has had to do with that connection of nature and spirituality,” Lane said. “How does creation fill us with wonder and even lead us to God?” He spoke of the importance of respecting nature and environmental activism, supporting his lesson with a Native American tale of a young hunter’s first hunt and how important it was to him to properly give thanks for all that nature has to offer.

Lane’s fourth theme was the importance of having faith in the powerful love of God. He attested that all he does is traced back to this idea.

“What I do best, I have to do whole-heartedly, and in the tap root of that passion is a desire for God,” said Lane.

He told a story of a man who believed that what God wanted from him was bread.

He believed that God took the bread and granted him favor, when it was actually a poor man eating the bread, under the impression that it came from God. The men were brought together by their faith in God to provide.

Lane’s final lesson dealt with not taking things too seriously. He acknowledges the importance of playing “the fool” in the seriousness of everyday life.

“The fool is tremendously important. He or she is the one who laughs at what others take seriously, and take seriously what others laugh at,” Lane said. “The fool invites us to accept who we truly are without having to be anything else or anyone else in the world.”

Lane told the story of a man, who despite being called foolish in his efforts, finds a great treasure in his own home and dies wealthy.

“It takes a fool to recognize that the treasure is at home all along. What four years at a Jesuit University should aim to teach us is that the treasure is within us. Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.”

Lane’s speech was met with positive feedback from the audience.

“His speech touched my soul,” said freshmen Sean Everson, “I can’t put it into words how great of a speech it was.”

Kristen Miano / News Editor

Belden Lane talks about his five important life lessons he has learned during his “Last Lecture” speech on Nov. 9.

NAACP: Sets focus on legal issues Continued from Page 1

Sherrill said. “We are working double time to help SLU and our St. Louis community and bring everyone together to hopefully someday be on the same page. It is a beautiful city, but some things are overlooked.”

The chapter received a charter for the organization from the national NAACP board in October, but is still in probationary status at the University.

Sherrill said that new the chapter hopes to become a Char tered Student Organization this month.

In order to become a qualified member of the NAACP chapter at SLU, participants must be a full time student or under the age of 25 and pay a membership fee of $10.

Faculty wishing to join the NAACP must do so through the St. Louis City or County branches.

While several members of the NAACP chapter are also members of the BSA, the two organizations have different

objectives.

“BSA is more so a representation of African American and African students on campus that creates events and dialogues that represent that population, whereas NAACP is a group for everyone on campus,” Sherrill said.

Sherrill said that the NAACP is needed on campus not only for activism and legality purposes.

“NAACP is there to serve as a voice for students in legal issues,” Sherrill said.

Sherrill explained that the chapter would help to represent the student fairly through a legal process in the instance of a racial crime or harassment.

“The organization’s mission is to ensure equality for all minority groups and eliminate racial prejudice,” Buck said. “Acts of race-related hate and bias have occurred on campus recently and I think it’s both timely and admirable that these students seek to address and inform others of racial discrimination.”

The University News

Opinion

Talk to us: Priya Sirohi 314.977.2812 oped.unews@gmail.com

Thursday, November 11, 2010

unewsonline.com

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The University News is a student voice, not the student voice.

The views of The University News are the expressions of the students involved ... If [The University News] can represent a point of view around which discussion may develop, it serves a legitimate and needed purpose.”

From The University News’ Charter

to the editor The University News reserves the right not to publish any letters that are deemed intentionally and/or inappropriately inflammatory, more than the 300-word limit or unsigned by the original author. The following are letters and/ or website comments. Because the indentities of website posters cannot be verified, all website comments should be treated as anonymous. Actual letters to the editor may be submitted online at unewsonline.com or e-mailed to oped.unews@gmail.com.

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Apathy is a scapegoat

Editorials

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

The editorials printed in this space represent the opinion of The University News.

Commentaries and Letters to the Editor represent the opinions of the signed authors but do not necessarily represent the opinions of The University News.

Billiken basketball brings more blue to SLU, but Billikens are belabored by ticket blues The advent of fall not only brings a glorious bloom of leaves, but also the start of basketball season. Leaves swish and slide through brisk fall breezes outside of Chaifetz Arena, skittering and running in and around moving feet as Saint Louis University students and community members walk excitedly to watch our basketball team play their exhibition matches.

Basketballs swoosh and slide through baskets and bounce between skidding and pounding feet as the team inside practices before the game.

These preparations for the official start of this season against Austin Peay on Nov. 12 are gearing our players for what we hope will be a ver y successful year. We wish them the ver y best on their efforts in building team camaraderie and gaining experience this year.

The same effort on the part of students would bolster this process exponentially.

Student attendance at games has been steadily increasing, and community members have bought more tickets this year than in years past for our opening game.

We feel this can improve further. Currently, student tickets are $10.

While this is not drastically expensive, college students (upon hearing of basketball games) remain deterred by the idea of paying to go see a game.

Paying for tickets might be common sense, but we urge you to consider that the opposite in fact is more logical. To increase student attendance, student tickets should be made feasible and accessible.

Blogs, additional commentaries and activities such as our web poll are all available on our website: unewsonline.com.

Xavier and Gonzaga, fellow Jesuit universities, both include the cost of basketball tickets in their tuition and activity fees.

Student Government Association’s Ticket Task Force is working to offer students an option to vote on adding season tickets to our student fees, following suit with our sister schools.

We strongly recommend this course of action because this holds two important implications for us.

First, it makes a clear statement – students are not only welcome to attend games for “free,” they are nearly obligated to. If students knew that they were already paying to go to games, they would be more inclined to get their money’s worth and attend.

Second, this creates the feeling that games are open to all – with simply a student ID, students can go to a game without the hassle of buying tickets. It’s suddenly a more welcoming option as a social event.

And a free social outing is something few college students would resist.

Free basketball tickets would encourage SLU students to show support for a hardworking team, galvanizing them to victories that are more likely to happen with a strong student section to cheer them on.

On the eve of the basketball season, we want to see both players and students striving to celebrate a pasttime that, this year more than ever, needs support from both parties. Free basketball tickets ser ves as an option that needs to be considered if this crucial support is to be garnered.

We need space between us to forge bonds of humanity Saint Louis University students have much the administration in changing programs and to be thankful for – the peaceful manner of course requirements to be more inclusive and their day-to-day interactions, for example. A aware of cultural diversity. The new cultural Billiken of African-American descent grabs diversity requirement for the College of Arts lunch from Au Bon Pain. He sits with a and Sciences starting in fall 2011, the renovaBilliken of Indian descent and together they tions at Des Peres Hall (especially the flags), work on their chemistry lab. Later, they and the up-and-coming Creed Coalition by attend chemistry lab and work with different Student Government Association are all posiBillikens as their lab partners, one of whom tive reactions to the incidents that scarred is openly homosexual and the other of whom our Billiken community last year. We need to is of both Asian and Caucasian descent. feel comfortable living and learning with one This imaginary situation, quite wonder- another as Billikens, and these advancements fully, is entirely plausible bring us one step closer and realistic. to that comfort zone. This In dictatorships and shows that diversity is intolerant societies, these of a priority on our Let us not forget, more shared and equal experiactivist agenda compared however, that cultural to previous years, though ences – eating together, studying together – diversity ultimately there will always be more would be outlawed or learn. begins and ends in our thatLetweuscan would be causing riots. not forget, howWe should all be grateful ever, that cultural diverdaily interactions. for living in a pluralistic sity ultimately begins and society that, while still ends in our daily internot perfect, accepts the actions. In removing culdifferences of others enough that we can live tural, racial, ethnic, and sexual orientation as in relative peace. divides in our relations with fellow Billikens, But the bias incidents of last year reflect we make hopeful spaces, full of potential for otherwise; the fear and concern that these creating bonds. Shared experiences of learnincited led to the creation of SLU Students for ing and studying together, in the words of Social Justice, an ad hoc group that formed Elie Wiesel in his Great Issues Committee for the purpose of bringing diversity issues to speech last year, are some of the most powerthe attention of school administrators. Their ful we will ever have – and some of the most efforts highlighted the fact that there is still effective in helping us overcome prejudices. much to be learned.

The scenario imagined earlier needs to feel We feel that we are taking good steps plausible and realistic. With that in mind, we towards being culturally literate. This semes- can work most effectively towards a truly ter, we have seen improvement on the part of culturally diverse campus.

“

Check out our blogs!

-The Conservative Billiken SLU’s conservative voice -The Progressive Billiken SLU’s liberal voice -Foreign Affairs Students studying abroad -Going into OT On and off the court - 24/7

Peony Lee / Illustrator

”

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

These are the current opinions on what students look forward to in Billiken basketball. Saintsations placed fifth with 5% of the votes.

What are you most looking forward to for the beginning of basketball season?

41%

Pep Band Tunes

23%

Chaifetz Nachos SLUnatics

18% 14% 0

10

20

30

40

Rick Majerus leading the way

50

60

Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to the editorial “Student apathy towards activism is sad and disparaging” which appeared in the Nov. 4th edition of The University News.

Apathy: the ultimate scapegoat for lack of participation by young people. It implies that we have some genetic predisposition that prevents us from caring - and it is entirely bullshit. The University News Editorial Board blamed “student apathy” for low turnout at the Busch Student Center polling place on Election Day. In doing so, they failed to identify and examine the real systemic barriers to students’ participation in this election. They overlooked the more difficult and important questions: What have administrators done to encourage student participation?

Why don’t we have same day voter registration in this country? What reasons do actual students offer for not voting? What is most frustrating, however, is that The University News did not take the time to consider what it could have done to better engage students.

Over the last several months, the paper’s coverage of the campaigns and pertinent issues in this election has been shockingly limited. At no time did The University News run profiles of candidates or articles about the propositions and amendments on this year’s ballot.

Whereas in 2008, the Editorial Board published endorsements in the week prior to the election, The University News only went so far as to print a sample ballot this year. It is no wonder students felt disengaged. We have to stop dismissing low voter participation at Saint Louis University as mere apathy.

Apathy is just a symptom of a much larger, pervasive problem that The University News contributed to by overlooking this election in paper after paper. If we want solutions to low participation, we have to stop beating around the bush and address the real problems.

-Thomas Bloom is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Unfair to label students politically apathetic Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to the editorial “Student apathy towards activism is sad and disparaging” which appeared in the Nov. 4th edition of The University News.

We’re apathetic. We live in a bubble. We don’t care about society.

We’ve heard them all in one form or another, but the bottom line is always this: Billikens don’t care.

Most recently, this ignorant insult was hurled at Saint Louis University students by The University News in its Nov. 4 edition in an editorial entitled “Student apathy towards activism is sad and disparaging” and in its article “Voter turnout lower than previous years.”

The editorial suggests that students choose to spend their time on “activities like Facebook, television, or complaining about laws” rather than bettering society through civic involvement.

In this analysis of how students spend their free time, The University News failed to mention the efforts of SLU Urban Planning Association to get out the vote last April on Prop A, which affected St. Louis Metro services, the number houses Habitat for Humanity builds on Saturdays, or the amount food prepared in Campus Kitchens.

Rather, the article pointed out that SLU, which enrolls about 13,000 students, has only three political action student organizations; whereas, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, which enrolls nearly 25,000 students, has eight.

Absent from the editorial are the dozens of social justice and community service organizations on SLU’s campus.

The University News would like its readers to believe that we Billikens are apathetic because voter turnout at the Busch Student Center polling place on Nov. 2 was down compared to 2008. However, there was no mention of the fact that voter turnout nationwide is always significantly lower in midterm elections compared to presidential elections.

There was no mention of the possibility that maybe, just maybe, students, like myself, opted to vote by absentee ballot, or by early voting, or by driving to their nearby home. Instead, The University News blindly reinforced the stereotype of Billiken apathy.

I think voting is a civic responsibility and our duty as citizens in a democracy, but I find the pessimistic picture painted by The University News, which claims we’re headed towards an oligarchy, to be incomplete and insulting.

-Patrick Grillot is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

unewsonline.com

Opinion

5

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The newly elected Republican Congress will not accomplish much Let’s refocus Many people like to compare Fox News to MSNBC— whether they’re leftist apologists or c o n s e r v aCommentary tives looking for a face to put on the “liberal media.”

True, the two are similar in that both Ben Eldredge networks are clearly slanted right and left, respectively, but that’s where the comparison ends. MSNBC recently suspended Keith Olberman for contributing $7,000 to the campaigns of three Democrats.

At MSNBC, if a journalist wants to make a political contribution, he or she must first check with the management, a rule which Olberman either ignored or didn’t know about.

Olberman broke a rule and was suspended. Fair enough.

But that’s not the point.

At Fox, there is no such rule. Fox has a history of not only contributing to the campaigns of Republican candidates, but also openly endorsing and even fundraising for them.

Nowhere is this more evident than Fox’s cadre of political consultants and pundits.

With the exception of Mitt Romney, every major Republican presidential contender for 2012 is on Fox’s payroll. This includes Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and, of course, Sarah Palin. And it’s not as if these pundits are outside consultants that appear on a wide variety of news networks.

On the contrary, aside from Gingrich, the group has spouted their collective wisdom exclusively on Fox. Clearly, Fox is no longer a

our daily energy toward positivity

Starla Salazar / Illustrator

news network (if it ever has been), but is now a political action organization for the right.

So the next time someone calls MSNBC “The Left’s version of Fox News,” or some nonsense like that, please gently correct them.

Now that we’ve got that distinction out to of the way, let’s talk about the larger issue: the recent midterm elections. The Republicans now have a 239-seat majority, and have promised to cut the budget and get our country back on track. No one is quite sure which track we’re getting back on. Is it the pre-Obama track? Because if that’s what Americans voted to do, they have a shorter collective memory than many species of fish. But perhaps these are new Republicans, Republicans who actually care about cutting the budget and reducing spending and all that. I hope they accomplish that, I really do.

Unlike Limbaugh and Beck and other conservative pundits, I don’t hope the other side fails. I’m just skeptical about their sincerity.

Let’s look at Republican Whip Eric Cantor’s website.

He’s started a project called “YouCut,” described as “a first-of-its-kind project - is designed to defeat the permissive culture of runaway spending in Congress.”

So what suggestions for budget cuts does Cantor offer?

First, there’s “Terminate the Presidential Election Fund,” which allegedly would save $520 million over 10 years.

That seems rather paltry, considering the federal budget for fiscal year 2011 is $3.69 trillion. But ok, Cantor, I’ll give you another chance. What else? “Terminate Taxpayer Funding of National Public Radio.” I’m not going to address the ideological issues at stake here, so how much money would it save?

Tens of millions of dollars,

you say? Good golly, Miss Molly! So much money in one place makes me swoon!

But seriously, you’re losing me, Cantor. What’s your ace-in-the-hole? “Terminate Exchanges with Historic Whaling and Trading Partners Program,” saving $87.5 million over 10 years.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your elected Congress.

Now, while I’m in favor of severing ties with those evil Historic Whaling corporations, I was looking for something a bit more serious. If I voted on Cantor’s website today, I’d doing one of three things. I’d either be cutting funding for one of the most intelligent radio programs in the country, redirecting three of my tax dollars to some other federal program, or saving a little over $8 million a year.

Such choices.

If Republicans were serious about cutting spending, they would cut the unwieldy defense budget and end the

costly and ineffective “War on Drugs.”

To be fair, there have been a few Republicans who have spoken in favor of this. Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck have admitted that cops have better things to do than arrest someone for smoking a joint in his/ her house, and newly elected Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has said that the GOP must consider significant cuts to the defense budget.

However, these voices are far few and far between, and I don’t think we’re going to see any sincere effort from the GOP to actually balance the budget.

Instead, we’ll see piecemeal budget cuts and accomplish nothing significant while the GOP soldiers on in its explicitly stated mission to “make sure Obama is a one-term president.”

Ben Eldredge is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Game reminds us to embrace our inner child The American news media only I bolt into class, anxious and sweaty even though it is the first of the day. My hand is sealed tightly Commentary around my blaster, and I take a series of long breaths, having escaped certain, painful death for the time Mark Campos being.

I am greeted with blank stares which become incredulous as they gaze at my weapon and my sock-stuffed bag.

“Zombies,” I stammer, “Zombies, everywhere.”

Still incredulous, someone ventures a question as to what the hell I was talking about.

“There are zombies, and they are eating people on campus. The only way to stop them is to stun them with a nerf blaster, or to throw a sock at them. Then, they become frozen for awhile and I can go on.”

How do the zombies “eat” people, they wonder.

“They feed on us by tagging us.”

What do you get for winning? They ask.

“Huh?” My concentration is broken, and at once I am no longer on the set of “28 Days Later,” but a classroom.

“You don’t get anything... it’s a game.”

With a shrug, the student instantly loses interest and anything else I say goes over their head. I ponder about what’s going through their minds at that moment, and what lead to that question in the first place.

Why would anyone care if there was a prize at the end of the game?

Is it so hard to believe that an ordinary student, bored with the mundane, daily jog from class to class, would take up bandanas and three foot long Nerf weaponry to survive a localized zombie apocalypse? And, even more worrisome, do so, not because of anything to win, but because it’s fun?

For those among the plethora of spectators who asked this question, I wonder if the ridiculousness of what me and over 150 other students on campus were doing simply rubbed them the wrong way.

It’s understandable that some people would find walking around with a bandolier full of foam bullets repulsive, but for those of us who don’t worry about our self image, what need have we of material prizes?

Humans versus Zombies isn’t a “reality” game, where contestants must endure hilarious and often stupid stunts to win cash.

Entire residence hall floors do not spend hours creating defensive positions and mapping out routes on a campus map because they are re-

quired to; they do so because they know that if they stay together, they may survive.

Students from the business school do not partner with students from the engineering school with the hope of mooching math answers; they do so because it’s safer to walk down West Pine with a friend.

Without being forced to, participants in the zombie apocalypse realize that they will need to work together if they want to last until the final day.

They join and choose to continue the game, knowing the rules and knowing that they are all united not by grades, but by the fact that, until they are turned, they can trust their “lives” in each other.

They share in the ridiculousness of their situation, but accept that, for a week, even though they still sprint from class to class, they now have something to sprint from, such as former friends turned into brain munching machines.

There is no prize, no goal save living in a world run by the players’ collective imagination, and that feeling can only be explained as “accepting [the zombie infested world] as a child.”

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Mark Campos is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Mauriel Blakeley / Illustrator

feeds sensationalism in politics

Approximately a week be- Election Day incident, howfore Election Day, two bombs ever, conflict. inside of packages were disAccording to Saba, a news c o v e r e d agency in Yemen, UPS does a b o a r d not really have a presence Commentary U P S in Yemen, they use subconf l i g h t s tractors to ship packages to f r o m other countries where UPS Y e m e n can then take over the transt h a t portation. landed in It is not yet known when the East or where UPS acquired the Midlands packages. in the The police that discovered U n i t e d the supposed bomb in the Matthew Kingdom U.K. had claimed that there Bommarito a n d was no trace of explosives, D u b a i . but it was later reported that President Obama said that two well-known explosive they represent, “a credible chemicals were found. terrorist threat to our counConflicting stories in sustry,” and that they should be picious plots seem to be hataken seriously. bitual.

Terrorist attacks happen Why is there not a consenrarely in the US, and all of sus on this issue? Out of all those to which we have been of the statements, one would alerted have been averted. think that something would Now, however, this attack has be able to be undoubtedly attracted a lot of publicity verified. towards this administration’s Why is legitimate informacounter-terrorism efforts. tion so hard to find, and why Why does one singular are the media so reluctant to event garner so much atten- do any serious research? tion from the media out of so It is as if we, the American many other threats that we public, are expected to take encounthis atter? tempted This ter r orist m o s t attack at recent Why does one singular face value b o m b and merescare, re- event garner so much ly react ported on attention from the media out w i t h o u t TV and of so many other threats? actually print mequestiondia, esing the sentially presentgave the ed story. presiT h e dent a vehicle in which he media response has not adcould tout his administra- vanced the public good. If tion’s successes in fight- anything, all it has done is ing terrorism and call for a scare people. stronger American presence Of course, fear drives ratin the Middle East, especial- ings. ly Yemen, from where the It almost appears as if they bombs allegedly came. chose to hype this incomAl-Qaeda in the Arabian plete story in order to drum Peninsula claims responsibil- up support for the unpopuity for the attempted attacks. lar wars in the Middle East, They seek to overthrow and persuade voters that the Yemen and Saudi govern- the Democrats are doing as ments, and additionally tar- good of a job as Republicans get the U.S. did at preventing terrorism, The organization and its even though this is not an leader, American-born Anwar American bipartisan issue, al-Awlaki, were connected to but an overseas airport emthe 2009 Fort Hood shootings ployee issue. and attempted Christmas Day By now, Americans have bombing. probably forgotten about In response, the U.S. gov- the incident, the media have ernment put al-Awlaki on its milked it for what it’s worth, “Kill or Capture” list. and soon it will be all but Yemeni government has expunged from the public responded as well. memory, expect, you know, According to CNN, there when it’s necessary to reare now unmanned drones mind us why we’re fighting patrolling the skies of Yemen multiple wars. looking for Al-Qaeda hideouts, courtesy of the CIA and Matthew Bommarito is a US military. sophomore in the College of The accounts of the pre- Arts and Sciences.

“ ,,

Turn on the morning news.

Look up today’s top stories on the Internet.

Commentary F l i p through the newsp a p e r you’re reading write now – but don’t forget to come Laura Hicks back, I don’t want to lose any readers I may have out there.

Chances are you will be bombarded with negative stories full of complaints and criticisms about everything from politics to the latest fashion trends.

Now you may thinking that I’m ironically criticizing criticism and complaining about complaints, but that’s not what I have in mind.

I know that I have definitely had my moments where I’ve let the negatives in life outweigh the positives.

But during a recent phone call with my mom, I realized how unnecessary many of those moments were.

As we spoke – or should I say, I spoke – the conversation centered on every little thing that seemed to be going awry at school.

My stress level was through the roof and my volume was quickly catching up to it.

In a calm voice my mom asked such a simple sounding question: “Have you thought about concentrating on the things that are going well?”

At the time I just shrugged it off, and we continued our conversation.

However, once we were off the phone I started to think about how that could actually make a difference.

She wasn’t telling me to be somebody who constantly talks about unicorns and rainbows.

She just wanted me to realize that while life does come with hard times and situations, there are positive ones as well.

I think as a society, we’ve come to believe it’s healthy to complain and criticize on a constant basis.

Media is a great example.

I’ve had multiple people tell me I should use my article as a way to “get back” at certain organizations or businesses that have been less than pleasant to deal with, but what about those organizations and individuals that make life a little easier to live on a daily basis?

Don’t they deserve just as much, if not more, attention than those who are doing wrong?

Sure, sometimes there are stories that need to be told in a negative light in order to gain more public interest, but there is no shortage of those stories being told.

We live in a world where men and women are fighting wars around the world and families are losing their homes due to economic difficulties.

We don’t need more bad news.

People need to hear about the Good Samaritan or a story about the underdog finally getting their chance at success.

And all of this starts at the individual level.

If we want to see a change from complaints to compliments, we need to live that change.

It doesn’t take much. Just making an effort to compliment one person or group per day, whether it be to their faces, to other people, or simply an acknowledgment you make to yourself, you’ll find that it gets a bit easier to see the good things in life day by day.

Not only will it benefit others, but it will also benefit you because it opens up your mind to what good things you can do.

If you ask a grammar enthusiast if it’s okay to say, “Do good,” they would probably cringe at the idea.

Personally, I think it is the best advice one could ever give or receive.

So that’s the note I leave you with today.

Go out and do good.

Laura Hicks is a junior in the College of Education and Public Service.

Games

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

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Comics/Student Art

Last Week’s Solutions:

By Noah Berman / Photo Editor

Sudoku

Figger It

Crossword

Word Search

Arts OUT ON THE TOWN Arts Editors’ Picks

MUSIC

The University News Talk to us: Ashley Jones 314.977.2812 arts.unews@gmail.com

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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‘Cabaret’ to bring a dark vibe to University Theatre

Thursday, November 11 8 p.m.

Open Mic Night The Billiken Club Free admittance Friday, November 12 7: 30 p.m.

Lauren Segelhorst, Junior Recital Samuel Cupple’s House Free admittance

MOVIES Thursday, November 11 8 p.m.

Casino Jack Screening St. Louis International Film Festival The Tivoli For ticket prices visit cinemastlouis.org 7:30 p.m.

Senso St. Louis International Film Festival Webster U./Winifred Moore Auditorium For ticket prices visit cinemastlouis.org

Noah Berman / Photo Editor

Sophomore Carl Schneider (Left) and Senior Katie McGee play in The University Theatre’s version of the musical “Cabaret.” The storyline of the musical is about an American author who goes to Berlin in search of inspiration. It is based on the book “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood.

By SHELBY ROZIER Staff Writer

7:30 p.m.

From the River to the Son St. Louis International Film Festival Sheldon Concert Hall For ticket prices visit cinemastlouis.org

THEATER Thursday, November 11 8 p.m.

South Pacific The Fabulous Fox For ticket prices visit thefabulousfox.com Friday, November 12 8 p.m.

South Pacific The Fabulous Fox For ticket prices visit thefabulousfox.com 8 p.m.

Cabaret The University Theatre Xavier Hall Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for general admission Saturday, November 13 8 p.m.

South Pacific The Fabulous Fox For ticket prices visit thefabulousfox.com 8 p.m.

Cabaret The University Theatre Xavier Hall Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for general admission

OTHER Monday, November 15 8 p.m.

The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Comedy Show The Billiken Club Free admittance

Saint Louis University’s University Theatre will continue its 2010-2011 season with “Cabaret,” a musical based on Christopher Isherwood’s book “Goodbye to Berlin.”

“The true background of the story ‘Cabaret,’ is about the Nazi Party’s rise to power before World War II, but the personal story in the musical is that of an American author who comes to Berlin in search of inspiration only to leave in desperation,” cast member Joey Sminchak said.

“Cabaret” first opened on Broadway in 1966 at the Boardhurst Theatre in New York. Since then, the musical has won 12 Tony Awards in categories ranging from Best Musical to Best Costume

Design.

“I’m really excited to see ‘Cabaret’ because I love musicals, and some of my friends are going to be performing in it,” freshman Shannon Boyle said.

Gary Barker, who is a professor at SLU, will direct the University Theatre’s version of the musical.

“I love Gary because he will not tell you what you want to hear. Gary isn’t afraid of telling us something is horrible. I like that about a director because I feel like it helps us improve our acting,” Sminchak said.

“Cabaret” has a different vibe than musicals previously put on by the University Theatre.

“Gary Barker wanted to do a darker musical in contrast to ‘Anything Goes’ and other musicals we have done in the

past,” Jessica Canfield said.

“Cabaret” features songs such as “Willkommen,” “Don’t Tell Momma” and “Cabaret.”

“The music and attitude in ‘Cabaret’ is awesome.

Everything is very in-yourface and raunchy. It’s a great show,” freshman cast member Alex Bolano said.

Bolano explained that her favorite song is “The Money Song” because it embodies the message of the show.

With 20-plus actors and actresses working to make “Cabaret” a success, it is bound to get stressful, but Canfield is always looking on the bright side.

“It’s really exciting to experience the show from beginning to end. It’s fun to see the show come together.

Starting from a rehearsal room to tech week, when lights and sound is added, is

really neat to see,” Canfield said.

Sophomore and stage manager, Canfield explained that the time commitment is the most difficult part of being a part of “Cabaret.”

“My least favorite part is long rehearsal hours, but it’s also a part of any show; you’ve got to work to make it great,” Sminchak said.

Tickets are available at the University Theatre’s box office located in Xavier Hall. Tickets range from $7 for students to $10 for adult general admission. “Cabaret” will be showing Nov. 12, 13, 19 and 20 starting at 8 p.m., and Nov. 21 starting at 2 p.m.

“Whether you’re looking for something to do with your friends, or something to do for a date on a Saturday night, ‘Cabaret’ will fit your needs,” Sminchak said.

‘South Pacific’ cast provides moving performance Although a good majority of the “South Pacific” audience on opening night was elderly, this musical is by Musical Review no means directed toward a specific age group. “ S o u t h Pacific,” written in 1949, transcends genKristin McGuire erations and can be enjoyed by all audiences.

From its timeless classics like “Some Enchanted Evening” to the enduring themes of love and acceptance, “South Pacific” is perhaps the most taken-for-granted of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals.

Aside from the storyline, what makes “South Pacific” such a classic is the beautiful score. Songs like “Younger than Springtime,” “Bali Ha’i” and “I’m in Love With a Wonderful Guy” are well-known, but their messages are far more intense when in context of the show.

Hammerstein’s astute, yet romantic lyrics in tandem with Rodgers’ lavish, entrancing score makes for an exciting musical experience.

Additionally, this production boasts the largest pit orchestra of any National Tour, led by Lawrence Goldberg. With 25 musicians in the pit, the music truly comes alive. In a culture where our popular music lacks dynamic contrast, the “South Pacific” score is a necessary change of pace. The excitement and drama of the crescendos and complex harmonies yields a type of catharsis by itself. The orchestra does a great job with catchy tunes like “There is Nothing

Like a Dame” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of Hair” as well.

Set during World War II, the musical opens with the second date of Nellie Forbrush (Carmen Cusack) and Emile de Becque (David Pittsinger).

The chemistry between the young Navy nurse and mysterious Frenchman is immediately apparent.

However, Nellie breaks off their engagement when she learns of Emile’s two Polynesian children from his deceased first wife. Just as this relationship ends, so does another. While on the island, Marine Lieutenant Joe Cable (Anderson Davis) had started a fiery romance with a beautiful young Tonkinese girl named Liat (Sumie Maeda). But as the relationship becomes more serious, Cable confesses that he cannot marry or take this girl home to the U.S. When both of these relationships are ended because of prejudice, Cable and de Becque make the decision to embark on a deadly mission for the Navy.

Other notable characters include Bloody Mary (Jodi Kimura), the devious island entrepreneur, and Luther Billis (Timothy Gulan), a screwball Navy man looking for some action.

The performers of this production do a superb job with the difficult score and meaningful plotline, resulting in an entertaining and moving show.

Director Bartlett Sher succeeds in staging a sincere, authentic production, providing some key restorations to the script in order to clarify the theme of racial prejudice and sense of displacement. Actor standouts include Carmen Cusack, last seen as Elphaba in “Wicked,” who perfectly

Photo Courtesy of Peter Coombs

Anderson Davis as Lt. Joseph Cable (Left) and Sumie Maeda as Liat (Right) in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”

The play runs now through Nov. 21 at the Fox. captures Nellie’s Arkansas charm and optimistic disposition. Her distinctive voice ranges from melodic soprano to vivacious belt.

However, the most powerful voice was that of David Pittsinger. This world-class operatic baritone portrays Emile as a perfect contrast to his naïve love interest, Nellie.

Songs like “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine” have a reputation to live up to, but Pittsinger’s renditions are showstoppers.

Anderson Davis, who plays the role of the handsome Lt. Joe Cable, portrays his character with the understanding

of Cable’s confusion and rage of his own prejudices. Jodi Kimura, as Bloody Mary, and Timothy Gulan, as Luther Billis, are a hysterical duo.

Kimura enchants the audience with her enigmatic song “Bali Ha’i.” Gulan enthusiastically leads the male chorus in “There is Nothing Like a Dame” and “Honey Bun.” In addition to the score and stellar performances, “South Pacific” is worth seeing because of its relevant themes.

Although written over 50 years ago, we must still evaluate these same values that “South Pacific” addresses.

Film festival showcases various genres From Nov. 11 to Nov. 21, cinemas across St. Louis are going to be showcasing some of the most impresCommentary sive, interesting, eclectic and entertaining films to be released this year as a part of the 19th Noah Berman Annual S t e l l a Ar tois St. Louis International Film Fest.

With a staff of just three people, the St. Louis International Film Fest (or SLIFF) puts on a rather remarkable production; this year, over 300 films will screen as a part of the event.

According to Chris Clark, artistic director of the festival (as well as the Cinema St. Louis organization), these films have been selected via “open submissions, end of the year studio pre-Christmas tentpoles, and special invitations made by the festival to films with or without distributors including films that have won awards or great press throughout the year.”

This is not a festival that shows only arthouse pictures, obscure foreign movies or melodramatic indie thrillers (this is not to say that those genres are not present at the fest!).

Instead, SLIFF showcases films of all genres from many different countries and often involves a mix of big ticket and independently distributed movies.

The festival’s headlining film, “Casino Jack” is an aggressively dark comedy/ thriller about Jack Abramoff (played by Kevin Spacey), and it tells a story of people who are happy to run roughshod over the American people in the pursuit of more money and power.

Viewers will enjoy themselves while watching the film but feel vaguely dirty afterwards, in a way that only a truly excellent depiction of depravity can make you feel.

“Casino Jack” is also noteworthy - unfortunately because of the recent death of its director, St. Louis native George Hickenlooper, and a tribute to his life and work will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. on the night of the film’s showing at the Tivoli; if you have a ticket to the movie, you will be able to attend the tribute.

Other noteworthy films on display at the festival are Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan,” a psychological thriller involving a ballet performance, which will be showing at the Hi-Pointe Theater Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

Danny Boyle’s latest film “127 Hours” will be showing this Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., also at the Hi-Pointe.

An animated film adapted from an unproduced script by brilliant French director Jacques Tati, “The Illusionist” has a showing at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21, once again at the Hi-Pointe Theater.

These are just a few of the fantastic movies that will be showing during the festival - over eleven days of screenings. There is bound to be something to satisfy just about everyone.

When asked about films that might related to Saint Louis University’s mission of social justice, Chris Clark suggested “Freedom Riders,” “Budrus,” “Enemies of the People,” “Journey to Zanskar,” “Louder Than A Bomb” and “Percy Schmeiser: David Vs. Monsanto” as pictures of interest.

I can also recommend a film I had a small behind the scenes role on. “Circus Kids” is a documentary depicting religious/cultural togetherness through circus performance, which will be showing at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Hi-Pointe.

For more information as to where and when these films will be screening, check out cinemastlouis.org or pick up a printed pamphlet from any of the theaters involved: Hi-Pointe Theatre, Tivoli Theatre, Plaza Frontenac Cinema and Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium.

The University News

Sports Billiken Briefs Men’s Basketball Three-star rated recruit John Manning has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Billikens. Manning, a 6’11” center from Chantilly, Va., is ranked as the 40th best center prospect in the country

by ESPN.com.

“We consider John to be a diamond in the rough,” said head coach Rick Majerus. “His skill set is very good, but his heart is even better.”

Manning will suit up for the Billikens beginning in 2011-2012.

Cross Countr y The SLU Women’s Cross Country team finished 4th at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, the best showing in SLU history.

Junior Hilary Orf and freshman Margo Richardson both garnered All-Conference honors, with Richardson being named the league’s Rookie of the Year, the first in SLU history.

Women’s Volleyball Two Billikens brought home weekly Atlantic 10 honors on Nov. 9. Junior Ashley Gaillot was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week, and freshman Hannah Kvitle was named Rookie of the Week.

Gaillot recorded two career highs against Duquesne, tallying 29 digs and eight assists.

Kvilte earned a second Rookie of the Week honor by recording 88 assists, 14 kills and 14 digs over two games.

Men’s Soccer SLU

Rhode Island

1 0 SLU

UMass

2 2

unewsonline.com

Women’s team hits the court Defense, experience are key for Billikens

By BRIAN BOYD Staff Writer

Under sixth-year head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller, the Saint Louis University Billikens women’s basketball team has carved itself an identity.

“Our theme is Billiken Basketball. We’re always reinforcing toughness, heart, discipline and passion. We just encourage people to work hard. We don’t take plays off,” senior All-Conference selection Lauren Woods said.

Woods was named as an Atlantic 10 Conference honorable mention last year and a preseason 2nd All A-10 team selection coming into this season. As a captain, Woods embodies the principles of selflessness and team-play put forth by Gray-Miller.

“It’s exciting, it’s motivating [to be named all-conference], but it wouldn’t be possible without my teammates.

They push me every day, and we work together and without playing with a great group of girls it would have never happened,” Woods said.

With Gray-Miller at the helm, the Billikens have improved on and off the court. Beyond the continued yearly improvement in the win-loss column, Gray-Miller has produced all-conference performers, academic AllAmericans, and has overseen a drastic increase in home attendance.

This year, despite losing two of the top three leading scorers from an 11-19 (5-9) squad that placed ninth in the A-10, the mood remains optimistic among players, coaches and fans.

Woods brings her 14.1 PPG and senior leadership to a squad that has plenty of experience—eight key contributors return for this season.

Aside from Woods, seniors Kathr yn Hester, Ayriell Robinson and Nicole Johnson bring their four years of experience to the team. Hester, a 6’2” center who started the last 14 games of the season, was named the Billikens’ most improved player last year after bouncing back from an injury that sidelined her for nine weeks of practice.

After returning to game form, Hester shined in the paint, producing eight double-figure scoring efforts.

“She missed a lot of conditioning,” Gray-Miller said. “It took all of the non-conference schedule to get her back in to game shape, but she’s right where she left off at the end of the year last year.”

The squad welcomes a freshman class which boasts five high school all-state selections, headlined by Detroit native Lorreal Jones.

“Lorreal Jones will be a big, big factor this year. She’s so versatile. She can play every position, 1 through 5,” Hester said. Woods characterized her as “a tough defender, good on both ends of the court.”

From the guard position, Halee Castleman and Janisha Gearlds look to pace the Billikens on offense with their ball-handling and floor vision. Gearlds, a junior, has shown remarkable improvement throughout her career, not unlike the rest of her teammates.

“People look at her improvement, from how timid she was as a freshman to how relentless she is in leading our team, and are impressed.

She works so hard, and it goes unnoticed a lot, but her growth will show this year,” Hester said.

No matter how potent the offense, though, the pillars of Billiken basketball will always rest on the foundations of hard-nosed defense and a strong work ethic.

“We practice hard. It prepares us very well for games and the different drills help us propel to that next level.

We stick to our defensive principles and boxing out and playing as a team. We’re doing a good job of playing team basketball,” Woods said.

The Billikens opened up exhibition play against Division II University of Missouri-St. Louis, looking to tune up for the grueling season awaiting them. However, the squad was pushed to the brink, squeaking out an 82-78 victory.

Despite the emphasis on defense stressed in the offseason, the 82-point outburst saw four Billikens score in double figures. The Billikens trailed by four at halftime, and the game was tied at 73, with 2:30 remaining, but Gearlds scored six of the Bill’s eight last points to ice the victory.

“It certainly wasn’t the way we wanted to start. No matter what you say to motivate, the

Xavier and Temple, three of the four NCAA teams on the Billikens slate. While most coaches are content with scheduling “cupcakes” to ease their team into the regular season, Gray-Miller opted to kick off against University of Wisconsin, a team that advanced to the NCAA tournament and recorded 21 wins last year.

“I want to see where we are on Nov. 12, instead of Dec. 12 or Jan. 12. It’s a manageable schedule. Wisconsin won’t make or break our season, but it’s a chance to see what our team is about,” Gray-Miller said.

With an experienced core of upperclassmen and a group of talented freshman looking to contribute, the Billikens are on the verge of making some noise in the Atlantic 10.

Shimmy Gray-Miller Head Coach, Women’s Basketball

Bills headed to A-10 tournament

Duquesne

Late save rescues season in final regular season game

By CHRIS ACKELS Sports Editor

Fordham

Women’s Basketball SLU UMSL

82 78 Rockhurst

56 22 Men’s Basketball Nova Southeastern SLU

78 62

eager to let the world know that the USML score was a fluke. Getting back to their defensive roots, SLU put a stranglehold on Rockhurst, holding them to a grand total of 22 points in the 56-22 victory. The score resembled a football contest more than basketball, with the Billikens leading by a tally of 45-8 at one point.

“We’d been working so hard on our defense all offseason and to let UMSL score 78 points on us, it was unheard of. Considering how hard we had worked, we wanted to see results,” Hester said.

The Billikens are staring down a schedule that features 13 teams who competed in postseason play last year, including four NCAA tournament teams. The conference itself features Dayton,

Lauren Woods Senior, Women’s Basketball

W L SLU

reality is that it’s a D-I school going against a D-II school in an exhibition. It means everything to one team, but nothing to another. We showed intensity when the game was on the line, but it’s not how we want to start,” Gray-Miller said.

Despite the close margin, the Bills found some positives to build upon for the rest of the season.

“We took UMSL as a learning experience. It was the first time we’d played against anyone besides ourselves in practice, and it was our first game together and being able to play helped us learn our weaknesses and things we need to work on,” Woods said.

The Billikens wrapped up exhibition play against Rockhurst. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Bills were

“I want to see where we are on Nov. 12, instead of Dec. 12 or Jan. 12. It’s a manageable schedule. Wisconsin won’t make or break our season, but it’s a chance to see what our team is about.”

W L SLU

Ryan Giacomino / Photographer

Head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller will look to junior Janisha Gearlds to produce on both offense and defense, as well as lead the team against tough foes like Wisconsin.

“We’re always reinforcing toughness, heart, discipline and passion. We just encourage people to work hard. We don’t take plays off.”

Volleyball SLU

Talk to us: Chris Ackels 314.977.2812 sports.unews@gmail.com

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ryan Giacomino / Photographer

Freshman Sito Sasieta (15) celebrates after scoring the gametying goal with just 10 minutes to play Sunday afternoon against UMass. The Billikens and Minutemen tied 2-2.

The entire season was on the line. It was the perfect script. Final game of the year, on home turf, tie game in overtime. It was literally door-die for the Billikens. Win or tie, Saint Louis University was headed to the conference tournament with a chance to defend their Atlantic 10 title. Lose, and the season would end as disappointing as it started, full of “almost,” “maybes” and “not-quites.”

In golden goal overtime, one mistake can end it all.

In SLU’s case, one mistake could have – and by all means probably should have – ended the season.

In Sunday’s match, deadlocked at 2-2 after the Bills came from behind in the second half, a UMass attacker squeezed his way past the final two SLU defenders.

Another attacker found the back door, sliding behind the last line of defense. There stood two Minutemen, within 10 feet of the goal, nothing standing between them and trip to the A-10 tournament.

Except Mark Pais.

Pais, the 6’4” sophomore goalkeeper who wears a clear mask on his face, charged Chris Roswess, who came

head on. Pais went to his knee to stop Roswess from shooting. He did not see Bryant Craft, who had snuck up behind him.

Roswess did. As he crossed the pass to Craft on the left side of the box, Pais turned from his knee and realized he had only seconds – if that – to save the season.

“Without even thinking, I just got up and got across as fast as I possibly could,” Pais said. “I extended as much as I could. It was just instinct.

You have to put your body in the way.”

He did. The shot hit him right in the facemask.

Earning the battle scars Pais wears that facemask because of an injury sustained over the summer, while working a soccer camp in St. Louis.

“I hurt myself while doing a demo of that exact same play,” he said.

In the drill, Pais would charge the first attacker, who came towards him head on.

After that attacker passed to his teammate, who was waiting near the goalpost just to the left, Pais would then have to scramble back to defend an essentially-empty net beind him.

“I was supposed to be showing these kids how to defend this type of attack, but I got scored on every time,” Pais said. “So finally, I just decided, ‘you know, I have to just lay it all out there and dive all-out for this thing.’

“Next thing you know, there’s a pole in my face.”

Pais dove straight into the goalpost. Three days before preseason practices began, the Billiken goalkeeper was bleeding and broken, unsure about where his season would go.

“They designed the facemask for me, and I was back on the field again within a few weeks,” Pais said.

He has worn the mask all season. Craft’s shot tested its durability.

On the line Pais’s block literally saved the season. Six minutes into overtime, if that shot went in, it would have rocketed UMass to a victory and sent SLU packing. Instead, the game ended in a 2-2 tie, and SLU earned the final point needed to secure the fifth spot out of six in this weekend’s Atlantic 10 tournament.

But Pais will say that he See “Pais” on Page 9

Sports

unewsonline.com

Soccer: Current team looks to continue SLU tradition Continued from Page 1

won all those national championships and guys like Brian McBride who have done so well for the University and have played on national teams and in the MLS.” McGinty also says that he stresses the past success of SLU soccer to all of his potential recruits, although he does not know how important that is to a potential player.

“Our history is something that we talk about all the time,” McGinty said.

“We definitely talk about it with recruits. But at the end of the day, families are looking at the value of education and how much is coming out of their pocket. Some of those things trump the soccer program, but we talk about our histor y ever y chance we get.”

Ream certainly considered the championship tradition at SLU when he signed his letter of intent to play at SLU in 2005.

“The history is what keeps players coming in,” Ream said. “It’s something bigger than yourself; it’s bigger than the team you’re on. That’s something that no other college will ever be able to duplicate.”

The legacy was also special to Roach, who grew up in close proximity to Billiken soccer. “I’m from Saint Louis, so I’ve always known about SLU soccer. I would go down to games, and one day I thought it would be awesome

9

Thursday, November 11, 2010

to play for the school, and I’m honored to have that opportunity right now.”

McGinty himself was drawn to SLU in part because of the winning tradition of the men’s soccer program.

“For me, it was an exciting and positive aspect of the job. It was probably a bigger deal in recruiting me than for some of the 17-year-old boys that I was recruiting,” McGinty said.

Unlike the 1959 team, the current SLU men’s soccer squad features players from all over the Western Hemisphere. The players come from three countries and seven states. Still, 10 players on the current men’s soccer roster hail from the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Although much has changed in the landscape of NCAA soccer since 1959, a core of St. Louis-area talent still provides the nucleus of the SLU men’s soccer team.

Tonight, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. the Billikens will face St. Bonaventure in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament in Charlotte. In all likelihood, SLU needs to win the A-10 Conference Tournament in order to qualify for the NCAA tournament—it will take three victories in four days to achieve that goal.

No matter the odds, when the players and the coaches step onto the field, with the 10 championship stars on their chest, the tradition enters the field with them.

Ryan Giacomino / Photographer

Alex Sweetin (7) looks to carry this year’s Billiken squad into SLU soccer history this weekend at the A-10 tournament.

3-on-3 tournament for the ‘average student’

By CHRIS ACKELS Sports Editor

Peace of Mind Week might be the last thing you would expect to see on the Sports page. But event organizers will tell you that sport – physical activity and involvement – plays a large part in mental wellness and is a key to true “peace of mind.”

The week’s events include speeches from neurosurgeons, mental health presentations and information on balanced eating.

But it is important to remember the physical aspect of mental health and our need to remain active.

“Exercise is one of the key ways to reduce stress,” Luke Gatta said. Gatta is the Vice President for Fellowship of Alpha Eplison Delta, the prehealth club on campus and sponsor of Peace of Mind Week.

Alpha Eplison Delta, one of Saint Louis University’s many academic fraternities, is not afraid to shy away from the norm.

The fraternity has over 500 members and sponsors events year round, culminating in this week’s schedule.

“Peace of Mind Week is a campus-wide week of events, designed to promote health, eating and overall mental wellness,” Gatta said. “It’s a stressful time of year, and we picked this week on purpose because we know it can be a tough time for students.”

And the 3-on-3 basketball tournament is one of their biggest ideas.

“We originally wanted to have a similar event for our fraternity, but we had an opportunity to work with Simon Rec Center and open it up to the whole campus,” Colin Hirsch said, the tournament’s organizer.

“It’s a great opportunity to compete and to contribute to a good cause,” Hirsch continued.

All proceeds from the event go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The tournament costs $5 to enter, and students are welcome to form teams of three or four students.

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games, and the top three finishers will receive prizes.

Hirsch said teams are already on the schedule, and in many cases, the trash talking has begun.

“It’s a competitive atmosphere, but it all comes back to a good cause and a real benefit for students,” Hirsch said.

“We want students to stay active and get involved with events like this on campus. It can make a huge difference to relieve stress.”

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament Where: Simon Rec Center

When: Sunday, Nov. 14th, 12-4 PM Why: To benefit the Alzheimer’s Association ONLY $5 PER TEAM! Great prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams!

Contact Colin Hirsch at chirsch3@slu.edu for more informatiom Sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Delta & Peace of Mind Week

Pais: Save launches Bills into A-10 tournament Continued from Page 8

was not the only hero of Sunday’s win. After dropping into a hole late, the Bills found themselves down 2-0 with only 20 minutes to play.

In the 74th minute, sophomore Alex Sweetin played a cross into the box for junior Alex Johnston, who flicked it in with his head to cut the deficit in half.

Just six minutes later, freshman Sito Sasieta got his head on one as well, scoring his first goal of the season off a Mike Roach assist.

Sasieta’s first career goal could not have been timelier.

It tied the game at 2 and ultimately clinched the playoff spot for SLU. “I’m very proud of the guys,” head coach Mike McGinty said after the game.

“It is a testament to how they have played all year. They battled and stuck together. In the last 20 minutes, when it looked like there was nothing left to play for, they found a way and battled back.”

The Billikens finish the regular season with an 8-6-3 overall record, and a 5-3-1 mark in conference play.

They also finished the year on a five game undefeated streak, earning four wins and a tie in their last five matches, all at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.

“We had a really strong ending to the year,” junior Mike Roach said after Sunday’s match.

“We’ve gotten healthy, we’ve gotten on a roll, and we’ve starting producing offensively.”

The Bills netted 11 goals in their last five matches.

“That’s pretty good,” McGinty says. “We are playing our best soccer of the year. We are definitely playing better than we did in August, September and October.”

But as freshman Christian Briggs said last week: “It’s how we play in November that counts.”

A-10 tournament looms SLU now takes their undefeated streak to Charlotte, N.C., for the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

The Billikens enter the weekend seeded fifth and will open with a first round match against 4-seeded St. Bonaventure on Thursday.

The Billikens and the

Bonnies met earlier this year, in an overtime match in Olean, N.Y. After a scoreless 90 minutes, SBU’s Nicholas Perillo netted the game winner past SLU keeper Nick Shackelford and dropped the Billikens bellow .500 on the season.

Thursday, the two teams meet almost exactly one month later, this time with tournament implications on the line.

“We are certainly ready to face St. Bonaventure again,” McGinty said. “We have a lot of momentum right now, and the challenge is to take that momentum into the post season.”

“We are playing our best soccer right now, and our team has come together at the right time,” Roach added.

The Billikens are the defending Atlantic 10 Champions.

SLU beat Dayton in the Conference Championship game last year, a victory that earned SLU its record 46th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Dayton did not earn a spot in this year’s tournament.

Charlotte is the

tournament’s top seed, after posting an 8-1-0 conference record. LaSalle, the No. 2 seed, will also receive a first round bye.

The 3-seed Temple faces 6-seeded Xavier on Thursday, just before the Billikens and Bonnies go head-to-head.

With a win, SLU could draw Charlotte or LaSalle in the second round.

“We do have our goals, but we are taking things one game at a time,” McGinty said. “Our message has been very clear: it all starts with St. Bonaventure.”

And none of it would be possible without Pais’s save.

“We’re coming off our best games of the year,” Pais said.

“We’ve got a lot of momentum, we’re feeling confident in how we’re playing, and we know we have what it takes to win games.”

The Bills showed that as the season wound down at Hermann Stadium.

Now, in taking their talents to North Carolina, the Bills set out to defend the crown they earned last year.

What more could you ask from such a storied and historic program?

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The University News A Student Voice of Saint Louis University Since 1921

R E A D Y

T O

ROAR

2010-2011 MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

2

Table of Contents

What’s Inside?

4 6 7 8

What is this team about?

Young talent, developing stars and a tough road ahead dominate the storyline for this year’s team.

Leading by example Captain Paul Eckerle sets the bar high as he balances basketball with a rigorous academic course load.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

The dynamic duo of Cody Ellis and Christian Salecich add international flare to the Billikens’ roster.

Predicting the A-10 Recognized as one of the best mid-major conferences in the country, the Atlantic 10 provides challenges for SLU.

12 13 15

New kids on the block After impressive performances in exhibition play, four Billiken freshmen look to make their mark.

The supporting cast It’s hard to go it alone. Majerus gets help from four assistant coaches in building this budding program.

Season Schedule Five Top-40 teams on tap for the Bills this year, including the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils.

unewsonline.com The University News editor-in-chief Jonathan Ernst (314) 977-1590 eic.unews@gmail.com Sports editor CHRIS ACKELS Assoc. Sports editor DERRICK NEUNER sports.unews@gmail.com Design Director Brianna Radici design.unews@gmail.com pHOTOS BY: RYAN GIACOMINO copy editor SARAH MAREK copydesk.unews@gmail.com Contact us: Busch Student Center Suite 354 Newsroom: (314) 977-2812 unews.slu@gmail.com Advertising: (314) 977-2813 ads.unews@gmail.com unewsonline.com facebook.com/theunews twitter.com/theunews

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MEET MAJERUS

The man behind the revival

3

Head Coach

By DERRICK NEUNER Associate Sports Editor

Rick Majerus is a busy man. I had been trying to steal 10 minutes of his time for several days before he graciously invited me to meet him on a Sunday afternoon at the Chase Park Plaza.

Between practices, meetings with the athletic director and an exhibition game, not to mention preparation for tomorrow night’s season opener, Coach Majerus finally had time to talk.

It’s not every day that I’m given the opportunity to talk at length with a future Hall of Fame basketball coach. But there I was, waiting for h i m , with a list of questions a b o u t him: why Saint Louis University, how much longer will you coach, boxers or briefs? Okay, maybe not the last one.

But Rick didn’t want to talk about himself. He didn’t want to go into his 11 berths into the NCAA Tournament, his almost 500 career wins, or how a former walk-on has come to be known as one of the most prolific minds in the world of college basketball. No, Rick Majerus was there to talk about his plan to win with the SLU Billikens.

To talk about one, though, is to talk about the other. Majerus came to SLU having never had a losing season; the Billikens were last in the NCAA Tournament by a fluke Conference USA championship in 2000. When University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., unceremoniously fired thencoach Brad Soderberg and hired Majerus, he didn’t hire the big man to just win games. The goal was the NCAAs, and Majerus was Biondi’s guy.

And, as of July, they found themselves on a wave of national attention: this was the year that Rick Majerus would be back in the Dance, everyone was sure.

Finally, after all the struggles, SLU was on the map.

Then, on Oct. 13, with just 18 words, the foundations of the program were dismissed from school. In one paragraph, the program was starting over.

“This year is going to be the greatest challenge of my coaching career,” Majerus said. “I’ve never faced a challenge where you design a team, you build a team, you recruit a team, and

then, all of a sudden, the guts another is working in the Indiana are taking out of it. You’re driv- governor’s office, and how only a ing a car without a battery.” handful of former players didn’t It’s not surprising that a man graduate. used to success, and easy sucHe also understands how difcess, occasionally laments his ficult having Majerus as a father situation. Consider: you study figure can be. for hours and still get a C on “I don’t know if I’m a hard the exam. After all that work, coach to play for, but I’m a truthnothing to show for it. So, I let ful coach,” he said. “Some guys Coach continue elaborating on embrace that and others don’t. his day-to-day attempts to grasp I’m always on them. I’m on them the situation. about their academics, the con“The timing of the decision duct of their life, and obviously was unfortunate … it’s gut basketball. But they get better... wrenching,” he continued. “It’s “You don’t have to get all As, hard for the fabric of the team. but you have to give an A-effort, They all came in together, and and then I’ll help you get the rest then bam, two of your team- of the way.” mates are gone.

Majerus also recounted how “And we revert back to where “the first person to call me we were. Now instead of being on my birthday will be Andre the youngest, we’re one of the Miller’s mom. My own sisters ten youngest. Players are play- forget my birthday sometimes,” ing out of position, playing more he laughed, “but I’ll get cards minutes than they are used to, from former players and their and they are playing multiple families. I got the nicest letter positions at once. from Kevin Lisch a few days ago.

But I feel that we’ve got to Those things mean a lot to me.” chart a course where we get Being a Hall of Fame coach better every day, and we have so has more benefits than free far, and let the winning take care hotel rooms and no car insurof itself. Put ourselves in a posi- ance. See, Rick Majerus has a tion where time, points and age chance to change people’s lives. work for us.”

That’s an opportunity, he said, As our conversation weaved that makes all the hard rigors of into the details of the season the season worthwhile. (“if you have “It’s ver y good practices, rewarding for winning takes me to be able to This year is care of itself”), help out those why Majerus going to be the who can’t help agreed to play themselves, the national greatest challenge those who are champions Duke of my coaching struggling with (“I think it will career. cancer,” he said. be good for us”), “Fortunately I —Rick Majerus and how he was can raise money offered a chance to support charito leave SLU this year and ties that help way-ward kids, return to ESPN, our conversa- cancer patients, the Special tion gradually drifted to where I Olympics, scholarship foundahad wanted to start. tions to help underprivileged Finally, we were talking about kids get to college, things that Rick Majerus, the man. You see, I’m very fond of.” though caricatures often depict At this point, it was time “Big Rick” as an out-of-control to talk basketball again. After basketball coach more con- all, with the season just a few cerned with his dinner than his days away, Coach Majerus can’t team, after 20 minutes of talk- worry too much about getting ing about his players, Majerus his 500th win or whether or not finally opened up about himself; he’d return after his contract what I learned is not what you’d expires after the 2011-12 season. expect.

There are films to be watched, Majerus quit his dream job, donors to court, interviews to do coaching at USC, to be with his and charities to raise money for. mother; he has several times And that’s just his Monday. taken penalties from the NCAA So I asked Rick Majerus one to help his players; and this is final question: at the end of the a man that deeply cares about day, what surprises you about the success of his players off the your team? court.

“I want to be pleasantly surMajerus has no children, so prised by their maturity level it’s easy to see how each year and their effort,” he answers he adds a few more sons to quietly. “We have a plan … but the Majerus family. He told me we take it day-by-day.” about how one former player is Such is the life of Rick a spokesperson for State Farm, Majerus.

“

”

4

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Billiken Basketball

With 6 freshmen and 4 sophomores on the roster, the Billikens are truly

Young at Heart last year’s squad, Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed.

Although this challenge was unexpected, the other crucial challenge confronting the 2010-2011 Billikens Saint Louis University will be a familiar one: playing without any seniors on men’s basketball head the roster. coach Rick Majerus took Last year’s team achieved 23 victories without a sincharge of the program in the gle senior on the roster. If the Billikens are to improve 2007-2008 season, and the team their win total this year, they will have to do so without finished the year with 16 wins. seniors yet again.

The following year, the Billikens Juniors Kyle Cassity and Brian Conklin, together increased their win total by two. with redshirt junior Paul Eckerle, will begin the seaAnd last season, SLU finished the son as the most experienced players on the roster that year with 23 victories. will have to fill the void that comes from having no The Billikens of last year earned seniors. those victories and a fourth place “It’s a little less of an impact this year, though,” finish in the Atlantic 10, despite being Cassity said. “Last year was the first time we’ve ever picked by the coaches to finish tenth been through it, but now at least we have been through in the conference. This season, SLU has it. And Paul Eckerle is basically a senior, although he is been picked to finish sixth. technically a redshirt junior. But it’s Sophomore Cor y not going to bother us… You just Remekun said he does not have to come out and play no matter The guys and coaches how old you are.” care about preseason predictions, and neither does junior really helped out and If you are accustomed to inexpeKyle Cassity. rience, made us feel at home. enced? does that make you experi“It really doesn’t matter where we are picked to us—we’re going —Christian Salecich Billiken fans are hoping so— to play hard no matter what,” because many coaches, players and Remekun said. journalists are anticipating a very “It’s preseason,” Cassity said. “It means nothing. strong A-10 Conference, perhaps even better than last When conference games start, that’s when we’ll year when four A-10 teams qualified for the NCAA start worrying about where we are. Last year, we tournament. were picked tenth and finished fourth. So it really “I believe it’s an improved conference,” Cassity means nothing.” said. “It’s a great conference, I think. [Coach Majerus] For history to repeat itself and for SLU to exceed sometimes talks bad about it because of all the travel, preseason expectations, the team will have to over- but I like it, and it makes it almost easier to get into come a couple of major hurdles. the NCAA tournament, being from such a good conThe first and most obvious bit of adversity to over- ference.” come will be the lack of two regular starters from SLU will face stiff competition from a variety of A-10

By ANDREW BUSH Staff Writer

“

Jordair Jett Freshman No. 5, Guard

Paul Eckerle Redshirt Junior No. 10, Guard

Mike McCall Brian Conklin Christian Salecich Dwayne Evans Freshman No. 11, Guard

Junior No. 14, Forward

Sophomore No. 15, Guard

Freshman No. 21, Forward

Kyle Cassity Junior No. 23, Guard

,,

Cody Ellis

Sophomore No. 24, Forward

Cory Remekun Sophomore No. 32, Forward

Rob Loe

Freshman No. 51, Forward

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5

Billiken Basketball Billikens by the Numbers

2009-2010 Season: total wins

rebounds per game

points per game

rebounds per game

33.5

23

61.9%

63.4

This Year’s Team:

teams. Cassity singled out Temple, Dayton, Xavier, Charlotte and Duquesne as teams to watch out for.

“The team that surprises you is Duquesne. They’re always normally pretty good, and so is Charlotte. Those are two teams that a lot of people don’t think of. It’s a really good conference because you have those big schools, like Dayton, Temple and Xavier, and then you also have those schools that aren’t always talked about, like Charlotte,” Cassity said.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the A-10 has so many contenders has to do with the sheer size of the conference. The A-10 consists of 14 teams, which means that every team in the conference plays every other team once, then plays three teams twice in one season (once at home and once on the road). This season, SLU will play twice against Xavier, Dayton and Duquesne.

“It’s not easy, but that’s exactly what we wanted. We wanted those extra games with Xavier and Dayton,” Cassity said.

Although the multiple games against two conference favorites is a daunting task, it may also turn out to be a blessing in terms of SLU’s strength of schedule. Last season, the Billikens played a lighter schedule than Dayton, and Dayton ended up competing in the NIT, despite the fact that they finished behind the Billikens in the conference standings.

The extra games against Dayton and Xavier should give SLU a boost in terms of strength of schedule. The December road game against preseason No. 1 Duke will also certainly help SLU’s strength of schedule.

But in the meantime, the Billikens are preparing for their tougher schedule by improving on last year’s weaknesses.

“Our defense was really good last year; we need to keep that where it’s at,” Cassity said. “But sometimes our offensive can become a little stagnant; there were times last year where we didn’t move too much. But other than that, our defense just needs to stay where it’s

Year

at, and individually for me, I need to work on my jump shot and be a little more aggressive on the offensive end.”

Remekun also mentioned stagnation as a problem from last year’s team that has been addressed in preseason practices. In particular, Remekun wants to avoid the slow starts that plagued the Billikens last year.

“As a team, we need to work on coming out harder,” Remekun said. “A lot of times last year, we would start off slow and be down at halftime. We got into trouble playing down to the level of our competition. We just need to come out and play hard from the beginning every game.”

An increased emphasis on up-tempo, transition offense might alleviate these slow starts that Remekun speaks of.

“We’ve been working on getting up and running a little bit in practice,” Cassity said. “Obviously, we’re never going to be a team that runs up the floor and shoots a pull-up jumper with 30 seconds left on the shot clock. We have worked on pushing the ball up the court a little bit, but we’re going to also be able to pull back and run our half court offense.”

Question marks litter the 2010-2011 SLU men’s basketball team. How will they compensate for the permanent absence of Willie Reed and the uncertain future of Kwamain Mitchell? Will Cody Ellis, Christian Salecich and newcomer Rob Loe comprise a majorityOceanic starting lineup? Who will be the starting point guard?

No matter what, the Billikens’ goals will not change. Winning the Atlantic 10 and qualifying for the NCAA tournament are the goals that motivate SLU. Their pursuit of these goals begins on Nov. 12, in the Chaifetz Arena, against Austin Peay.

Billiken Basketball: Through the Years Season Record A-10 Record Head Coach

2005-06

16-13

10-6

B. Soderberg

2006-07

20-13

8-8

B. Soderberg

2007-08

16-15

7-9

Majerus

2008-09

18-14

8-8

Majerus

2009-10

23-13

11-5

Majerus

6 freshmen 4 sophomores 3 juniors 0 seniors 4 coaches Other Facts:

6’ 11”

tallest player on the team (Rob Loe)

6 NCAA Tournament appearances

0

number of losing seasons Rick Majerus has coached

7,149 average attendance at Chaifetz Arena during the 2009-2010 season

6

Team Captain

Team Captain: Paul Eckerle

By CHAD CARSON Staff Writer

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basketball medical school captain leader travel torn ACL spokesman student athlete torn MCL pianist dedicated inspiring golfer point guard redshirt injuries academics basketball medical school captain leader travel torn ACL spokesman student athlete academics pianist relationships dedicated inspiring golfer point guard redshirt injuries academics basketball medical school captain leader travel torn ACL spokesman student athlete torn MCL pianist relationships dedicated inspiring golfer point guard academics basketball medical school captain leader torn ACL spokesman student athlete

After tearing his ACL and MCL prior to the start of the 2009-2010 basketball season, Paul Eckerle played an active role in supporting his team off the court. In addition to his successes on the court, Eckerle has achieved the lofty goal of a 3.89 GPA studying Biology and taking Pre-Med classes. But what matters to Eckerle is basketball, where his goal is “to contribute in the most complete way possible to helping our team achieve its ultimate goal.”

Following the injury and taking a medical redshirt for his junior year, Eckerle underwent a month of preoperative rehab before undergoing surgery last August. After surgery, Eckerle participated in daily rehab and started to resume upper body weight training a month after surgery.

While Eckerle participated in rehab, he played an active role on the team off the court. “I felt like I was still active and helping the guys out as much as I could,” Eckerle said. Present at preseason practices, Eckerle eventually dedicated himself to knowing each of his teammates’ tendencies on the court believing that “the true value of a teammate is not seen on the court during the game, but rather it’s the value that you can contribute every day at practice,” Eckerle said.

“Even with his injury, Paul was one of the most positive guys to be around last year,” teammate Christian Salecich said. “We had a tough stretch, and he kept us positive the whole way.”

“Paul’s been around forever; he’s like the old wise man. He knows anything and everything from the game itself to keeping us focused,” Salecich said.

“When the games started coming, it was a lot harder to manage being on the sideline,”Eckerle said.

During the season, he studied the opposing teams’ plays in order to call them out from the bench and remained

Up to the Challenge

focused on his rehab. This summer, Eckerle returned to the court for the first time in a controlled scrimmage.

Because of his injury, Eckerle is currently a junior in terms of athletic eligibility but a senior in terms of academic eligibility with over 150 credit hours. In fact, he had the opportunity to graduate after three years with a degree in Biology but decided to try to play one more year.

In order to stretch out his time at Saint Louis University, Eckerle also earned a certificate in business.

He is considering remaining for another year in order to play basketball, but “there’s not much left to do academically without being totally unproductive,” Eckerle said.

While still undecided about what lies in store for him in the upcoming academic year, Eckerle has already applied to SLU, the University of Missouri at Columbia, and Washington University in St. Louis for medical school.

“If I get into medical school, that would be a very difficult thing to turn down since it’s so difficult to get in,” Eckerle said.

While at SLU, Eckerle has established

an impressive academic record, which he credits to his time management skills.

“People always ask how I find the time, and the thing I have to say is that the time is there; you just have to know how to use it efficiently,” Eckerle said.

“There may be some things that you have to sacrifice, but the things that I gave up far outweigh the opportunity cost. It’s so worth it in terms of being able to achieve the things I have academically and athletically,” Eckerle said.

While Eckerle has thought about the 2011-2012 year, his focus remains on this year and in particularly, on basketball.

Eckerle hopes to contribute to his team, “whether it means I play for 30 minutes, 10 minutes or not at all, if it’s necessary to achieve our team goal. That’s what I’m here for, and that’s why I wanted to come back for this one year,” Eckerle said.

Eckerle hopes for a very successful season that includes SLU winning the Atlantic 10. “It’s a lofty but realistic goal, so I think it’s appropriate to strive for something like that,” Eckerle said.

Lofty goals are nothing news; as a junior at Saint Francis Borgia High School in Washington, Missouri, he and his team-

mates won the 2006 Class-4 Missouri State Basketball Championship.

Reflecting on his former team’s achievement, Eckerle hopes for the same sort of experience this year by winning the A-10. “That was a special experience; it’s something that you never forget,” Eckerle said.

Off the court, Eckerle focused on his studies, becoming the valedictorian of his graduating class in 2007.

In addition to his successful high school basketball career, Eckerle also found success on the golf course. “Golf is my biggest hobby, and I still love playing every chance I get,” Eckerle said.

Among his other hobbies, Eckerle enjoys playing the piano.

“I had to give it up when I came to college because I don’t have time for it or access to a piano, but I do still enjoy it and play a little bit when I go home,” Eckerle said.

In the meantime, Eckerle is all about basketball and his team. “The guys here are special, and we have a really good bond that causes me to want to win not only for myself, but also for them,” Eckerle said.

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Duo from

Player Profiles

Down Under

Sophomores Cody Ellis and Christian Salecich took a long road to get to Saint Louis. Today the two are close friends and huge keys to the Billikens success.

By BRIAN BOYD Staff Writer

What is the difference between Cody Ellis and Christian Salecich- sophomore basketball sensations, roommates and close friends- and most other students here on campus?

About a foot in height, a whole lot of athletic ability and roughly 9,000 miles.

Salecich, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound guard, and Ellis, a 6-foot-8, 240 pound forward, hail from Gold Coast and Perth, Australia, respectively. The two Aussie natives have been integral components of the Billiken’s hardwood success since the day they arrived. Salecich started 31 games as a freshman last season, chipping in 6.4

PPG and providing lockdown defense from the guard position.

Ellis, the sharp-shooting big man, started 19 of the 22 games in which he played, averaging nearly 11 points and 4.9 rebounds per game en route to being named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team.

Finding success on the hardwood together is nothing new to this duo.

The two have been competing together and against each other since they were 14-years-old.

Salecich and Ellis met competing against each other in Australia playing for their respective state teams and competing for national supremacy.

“If you make your state team, you go on to the Australian National Championships,” Salecich said. “Here it would be like Illinois vs. Missouri then, say, Illinois vs. Florida.”

Salecich’s Queensland squad boasted multiple future NCAA Division I players and won the U-20 Australian Nationals.

“It wasn’t really fair,” Ellis joked.

After competing against each other, the two found themselves representing Australia together in the 2007 Oceania tournament, earning a silver medal, and in the 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany as well. The two eventually began playing together full-time at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), a world-renowned athletic training and educational institute that houses the top athletes in Australia.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a whopping 263 former or current AIS athletes competed.

The performances of Ellis and Salecich earned them high praise not only in Australia, but internationally as well.

Chris Harrimann, assistant coach at SLU and Sydney native, was quick to recognize the talent that the two possessed.

“The pro league back home isn’t too good at the moment,” Ellis said. “It’s getting better, but it’s all we have aside from the Institute when it comes to basketball. College has been the dream since we started.”

Before the two could suit up for SLU, however, they had an opportunity to represent their homeland on their biggest stage

Christian Salecich

yet. Both Ellis and Salecich were selected to play on the Under-19 Australian men’s team at the FIBA World Championships, a tournament perhaps only second to the Olympics in prestige.

Both Ellis and Salecich cite their experiences in international competition as building blocks for their successes as Billikens, acknowledging the similarities and contrasts between the Australian and American styles of play.

“You come over here, and the speed is so much faster compared to what we were used to back home,” Salecich said. “Even at the world tournament, we were the team that ran… we [then came] over here, and it’s like ‘wow.’ It’s a lot more scrappy in Australia.”

Individually, developing their games overseas has benefitted both. Ellis, despite his 6’8” frame, was one of the leading 3-point shooters for the Billikens last year, knocking down 39 triples and playing well in the post.

“In the international game, you see a lot of the bigger guys that are able to step out and shoot the three and stretch the defense,” Ellis said. “It’s definitely something I worked on back home, and the coaches here like that I can stretch the defense.”

Playing against top-tier competition from a young age aided the two in some of the more subtle aspects of the game as well.

Despite the distance from their homeland, the two made a smooth transition to living in the United States. With the support of each other, the coaches and their teammates, the two found a comfort zone shortly after their arrivals.

“The guys and coaches really helped out and made us feel at home,” Salecich said. “It’s good to have [assistant coach] Chris Harriman, another Australian, to talk to about it. It was tough, but we were always away from home a lot, traveling and living at the Institute.”

With a season of collegiate play and a breadth of international experience, Salecich and Ellis are looking not only to fill up the stat sheet, but to provide leadership to a young team. Both hope to draw off of the successes and struggles

7

Cody Ellis

of their basketball careers to guide the Billikens to success.

“We have a lot of freshman coming in, and we have two new point guards,” Salecich said. “A year under our belt and guys like Kyle [Cassity], Paul [Eckerle] and [Brian] Conklin, we’re all able to give the new guys some direction.

“I know that in key situations in games, we can draw on the double overtime wins we’ve had and games like our fifteen-point comeback at Dayton,” he continued.

“You see a lot of teams that have sophomores and juniors not seeing a lot of playing time, spending a lot of time on the bench freshman year,” Ellis added.

“They have to get used to the game, so it’s definitely an advantage for us to have that year of experience, where most kids are sitting on the bench.”

Off the court, the two friends are, well, typical college kids. From studying to working to relaxing, they say they live the average American college life.

And although they have lots of time left in Billiken blue, the duo already knows what their ultimate basketball goal is.

“Our biggest dream is to play for our country in the Olympics,” Salecich said.

“Anytime you get a chance to represent your country, it’s a great feeling.”

8

Atlantic 10

A Look at the Atlantic 10 1. Temple

Ranked by The University News’ Sports Desk

Temple comes into the season as the only nationally-ranked member of the Atlantic 10, sitting at No. 22 on the AP Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. The Owls are also the three-time defending champions of the Atlantic 10 Championship crown, as they finished last year with a 29-6 record and a No. 12 national ranking. This year, the Owls return three starters: 6’9” senior forward Lavoy Allen, 6’4” junior guard Juan Fernandez and 6’11” junior forward Micheal Eric. Along with last year’s A-10 Sixth Man of the Year Ramone Moore, expect Temple to hold true as the favorite in conference play. Temple also littered the preseason honors in the A-10. Allen was named First Team All-Conference, as well as the All-Defensive Team. Fernandez was named Second Team All-Conference. The Owls also play an impressive non-conference schedule, including games against Georgetown, Villanova, California, Seton Hall and Maryland.

2. Xavier The Musketeers lost a bona fide superstar when Jordan Crawford left for the NBA this summer. Senior Danté Jackson, junior Tu Holloway and sophomore Mark Lyons will need to compensate for the loss of Crawford. Last season, Holloway established himself as one of the top point guards in the conference and as one of the top free throw shooters in the country. “For us to be as good as we want to be, he has to embrace the responsibility and work that comes with those expectations,” head coach Chris Mack said. “I know he is ready for the challenge.” 6’9” Jason Love, who averaged 11.8 PPG and led the team in rebounds last year, will need to be replaced as well. 7-foot junior Kenny Frease was highly touted in high school, but has yet to dominate. Frease, senior Jamel McLean and 6’8” freshman Jordan Latham will have to score and contribute of the glass for the Muskies to be successful.

3. Richmond Despite losing two starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, the Richmond Spiders (26-9, 13-3 Atlantic 10) are poised to duplicate their success under sixth-year coach Chris Mooney. Much of last years team returns, including the 2010 A-10 Player of the Year Kevin Anderson. For the first time in his career, he’ll be without guard David Gonzalez, who was second on the team in scoring. “[Gonzalez] could do a lot of things I could do, but since he’s bigger than me; the best defender was usually on him,” Anderson said. “So now they’re probably going to be on me, so it’s going to be tougher.” The biggest question will be how well the team plays against big men. The pressure will fall on freshman Derrick Williams and senior Dan Geriot. The Spiders non-conference schedule includes Georgia Tech, Arizona State, Seton Hall and a potential game against Purdue. With the returning talent, another 20-win season and NCAA berth is expected in Richmond.

4. Dayton Last year’s team underperformed in Atlantic 10 Conference play, but defeated four consecutive major conference teams to win the National Invitational Tournament. This year, the team hopes to recover from the loss of seven graduated players in combining returning stars and young prospects. “We lost a lot of experience, a lot of wins, and a lot of guts of guys that had to fight through some tough times,” head coach Brian Gregory said. “But we still do have a lot of guys coming back. A group of guys are going to have to take on different roles and expanded roles, and some new guys are going to have to make an impact for us.” Leading the charge for the Flyers will be senior forward Chris Wright and junior forward Chris Johnson. The two led UD in both scoring and rebounds last season, and will have to set the bar high again in terms of their commitment to the team to get the attention of the newcomers.

5. Saint Louis The Bills finished last season with an 11-5 conference record last year, placing fourth in the regular season standings. SLU performed well against the league’s top teams, beating Dayton twice, including a double-overtime winner at home on Mardi Gras weekend. When Temple visited Chaifetz Arena, SLU stayed in the game from beginning to end, losing by just 6 points to the eventual conference champ.

Xavier’s visit was also down to the wire, as SLU let a late lead slip and Xavier walked away with a 2-point win. SLU beat Rhode Island at home during the regular season, but lost to the Rams in the first round of the conference tournament. Other than Temple and Xavier, two of the Bills other three losses came in overtime (to George Washington and Charlotte on the road). This year, the Bills host the conference’s big names at home, including Dayton, Xavier and Rhode Island.

6. Rhode Island It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from Rhode Island this year. The team was picked to finish fifth (ahead of the Billikens) in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll, taken of coaches and media members. But it’s a team full of good players – rather than one or two standout players. Senior forward Delroy James, standing 6’8”, has an impressive showing in last year’s NIT tournament, where Rhode Island made the final four. James was named to the NIT All Tournament team in March and was named Second Team All-Conference in the A-10’s preseason poll. But James will need support from other key players if Rhode Island will find their way into the bigger tournament this season, namely fellow senior Marquis Jones and sophomore forward Ryan Brooks. The Rhodies non-conference schedule opens with No. 4 Pittsburgh at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, and closes with a road game at No. 11 Florida.

7. Charlotte After starting out 18-5 overall and 8-1 in Atlantic 10 play, the Niners lost seven of the last eight and missed postseason play all together, leading to the firing of long-time head coach Bobby Lutz and his staff. New head coach Alan Major has four returning starters to work with.

6’6” forward Shamari Spears (16 ppg, 5.9 rpg) leads the Charlotte attack alongside 6’9” sophomore forward Chris Braswell (9.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg). 6’6” senior An’Juan Wilderness is the third member of Charlotte’s returning frontcourt. 6’10” senior center Phil Jones led the team with 65 blocks last season and 6’9” Gokhan Sirin is comfortable from behind the arc with 44 of his 61 shot attempts coming from downtown.

There is no doubt that Charlotte has one of the best front courts in the A-10, but with a new head coach and a point guard-by-committee system, this team still has a lot to work on. Charlotte’s non-conference schedule includes Georgia Tech, Oregon State and Tennessee.

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Atlantic 10

Contributors:

Scott Mueller - The Newswire (Xavier) Andrew Prezioso - The Collegian (Richmond) Jacob Rosen - Flyer News (Dayton) John Carpenter - University Times (Charlotte)

Matt Kasznel - The Duquesne Duke (Duquesne) Herb Scribner - The Daily Collegian (UMass) Ryan Papaserge - The Bona Venture (SBU) Chris Ackels - The University News (SLU)

9

8. Duquesne For a team with just one senior last year, there was a lot of turnover on the Dukes roster this offseason. Besides watching senior guard Jason Duty graduate, the team lost third-leading scorer Melquan Bolding (transfer), as well as guard Chase Robinson (transfer), forward Oliver Lewinson (transfer) and center Morakinyo Williams (early graduation). This year, the Dukes hope that the seniors Bill Clark and Damian Saunders can help the Dukes back to the NIT or better. Saunders, recently named one of Sports Illustrated’s top 10 defenders in college basketball, is a nightly stat-sheet filler; he averaged a double-double (15 points, 11.3 rebounds) to go with 2.8 steals and 2.9 blocks a game. But the Dukes will also be counting on production from its five true freshman, particularly highly-touted prospects T.J. McConnell and Joel “Air Jamaica” Wright. Duquesne will lean heavily on guard B.J. Monteiro, who averaged 11 points last season.

9. George Washington George Washington, which has enjoyed recent success and two trips to the NCAA Tournament, has recently been a program in decline.

This year will likely be yet another building year for the Colonials, whose weak non-conference schedule provides them little opportunity to shake things up early. Their lone award-winner for the preseason was sophomore Lasan Kromah, who averaged 11.8 points per game and lead the Colonials in three-point shooting, and was named Third Team All Conference. Kromah was named to last year’s All-Rookie Team for the conference and posted an impressive six 20-plus point games during his freshman campaign. George Washington’s strengths come on the boards, both offensive and defensive, where they ranked No. 38 in the nation last year. But the Colonials will have to get contributions from juniors Tony Taylor and Aaron Ware if they look to improve on their ninth place ranking from last season.

10. Massachusetts Despite losing top-scorer Ricky Harris to graduation, the Minutemen are an experienced and invested squad. “When the game’s on the line, they’re just not just going to give in and cave in because they’re invested in their own team and in themselves,” UMass head coach Derek Kellogg said. Kellogg, who enters his third year as head coach, knows that experience isn’t enough to win championships. With an invested squad that’s gaining experience, Kellogg can start to focus on other aspects of the game. “The guys are doing a good job of bringing energy everyday. Now, it’s about coaching and figuring out ways to win basketball games,” Kellogg said. Kellogg cited rebounding and defense as two examples of where UMass’ game needs to improve. “We need to get better defensively. We can’t not be in the top three or four in our league in field-goal percentage defense; we have to rebound the ball better.”

11. Saint Joseph’s The Hawks of Saint Joseph’s know they have a young team. But it’s a young team with lots of possibilities, even for this season. Two freshmen were named to the Conference All-Rookie Team: 6’9” forward C.J. Aiken and 6’2” guard Langston Galloway. But Aiken and Galloway’s inexperience will likely be countered by senior leadership, particularly from co-captains Idris Hilliard and Charoy Bentley.

Hilliard, a 6’7” forward, is the team’s leading returning scorer, averaging 10.2 points per game last season. Bently, a 5’11” guard, has been the Hawks’ main sixth-man for three seasons. Saint Joseph’s non-conference schedule opens against Western Kentucky and includes an early December match against No. 6 Villanova. The Hawks will also take on Minnesota, Penn State and Creighton during the season. Head coach Phil Martelli has been at St. Joe’s for 16 seasons and has accumulated a 289-187 career record.

12. LaSalle For the LaSalle Explorers, this will likely be a season of major improvement. Though the squad finished with a 4-12 conference record last season, expect the Explorers to work their way up the Atlantic 10 standings this year. Sophomore Aaric Murray, a 6’10” center who lead the team with 70 blocks, was named Third Team All-Conference and will be joined by returning seniors Ruben Guillandeaux and Jerrell Williams. Guillandeaux missed 26 games last year due to injury, but is healthy and ready to lead the squad in 2010-2011. LaSalle’s nonconference schedule includes a trip to Texas to take on No. 14 Baylor and a mid-December home game against No. 6 Villanova. Perhaps toughest for LaSalle was their draw of A-10 schedule, where they will have to face No. 22 Temple twice. With an increased strength of schedule and increased personnel, the Explorers look to return to the A-10 Tournament.

13. St. Bonaventure For the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, the team’s success will likely revolve around just one player – center Andrew Nicholson, a First Team Preseason All-Conference and All-Defensive team selection. After averaging 16.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season, the Canada native is without the help of forward Jonathan Hall due to graduation. Shoring up Nicholson in the starting lineup will be guards Ogo Adegboye and Michael Davenport. Adegboye played for Great Britian in the U10 World Championship tournament this summer. An even bigger question mark for the team is a lack of a solid presence at the forward position. While Nicholson will see some playing time as a forward, the group of redshirt junior Da’Quan Cook, sophomore Brett Roseboro and redshirt sophomore Marquise Simmons showed little signs of promise last season. One of the three will have to step up, but it is expected that Cook will start when the season begins.

14. Fordham The Fordham Rams suffered through one of the worst seasons in Atlantic 10 history last year, losing all 16 conference games. The team earned only two wins on the season, but looks to be in good position to add to their attack this season. Fordham does play a few challenging non-conference games, which will give the Rams a chance to prepare for the A-10 schedule. Fordham visits Georgia Tech in late December, hosts St. John’s earlier that month, and visits Lehigh in late November. The team will rely heavily on the play of sophomore forward Chris Gaston, who average 18 points per game. Gaston set a school record by scoring 504 points last season, the most of any freshman in Fordham’s history. He also grabbed 314 rebounds, the second most from a Fordham freshman. Gaston was the Rams only selection for preseason honors, as he was named Second Team All-Conference.

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Player Profiles

23

Kyle Cassity

By TYLER VACHIO Staff Writer

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Very few college basketball players have the luxury of playing in front of their parents.

Junior guard Kyle Cassity is one of the lucky ones. The Cassity family lives in Tamaroa, Illinois, a small 800-person town located about 90 minutes away from Chaifetz Arena. Cassity’s mom, dad and grandma do the best they can to attend every Billiken home basketball game to support him.

Having family attend games was one of the many reasons that Cassity chose to come to Saint Louis University.

He was also considering scholarship offers from Evansville, Southern Illinois, Michigan and University of Missouri-Kansas City. Being close to home was a key factor for Cassity and his family; ultimately, head coach Rick Majerus was the deciding factor.

Like most of his teammates, Cassity is a student at the John Cook School of Business. He has a concentration in Marketing. He said that he liked what the marketing department had to offer

Brian Conklin

By TYLER VACHIO Staff Writer

This season, the Saint Louis University Billiken basketball team will take a trip to Portland, Oregon. The Billikens will face off against the dangerous Portland Pilots, as part of a homecoming for junior forward, Brian Conklin.

Conklin is one of many basketball players not from the St. Louis area; he is originally from Eugene, Oregon, which is two hours south of Portland. Along with being a proud Billiken athlete, Conklin is also very proud of his Oregon Ducks football team.

Back home, Conklin has two younger siblings: brother Justin and sister Carolyn. He was two-time All-State first team selection at North Eugene High School and averaged 20.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game as a senior. His junior year, Conklin lead his team to an undefeated 28-0 record and a 5A Oregon State Championship.

After his highly decorated junior season in high school, Conklin committed to SLU. He was a very early recruit for the

Billikens. He knew that SLU was the right fit for him because of the solid recruiting class and the academic programs offered.

Conklin is a student at the John Cook School of Business with a concentration in finance.

“I always liked finance…dealing with money and stocks had always been something that I have wanted to do. One day, I would love to work for an NBA franchise in the finance department,” Conklin said.

At 6-foot-6-inches and 230 pounds, Conklin is a force to be reckoned with in the paint.

He knows that he will have to use his body to become a better overall rebounder.

Conklin said, “With Willie [Reed] gone, I am going to have to fill the void in the rebounding department. I want to lead to the team in rebounds and become more selfish on the offensive glass.”

His freshman year, Conklin started 29 of 32 games for the Billikens. He averaged a .522 shooting percentage on the season, ranking him seventh on the all-time freshman list. During the second exhibition game last season, Conklin hurt his ankle

and was never able to come back 100%. This decrease in playing time forced Conklin to regain all of his lower body strength and quickness. Conklin expects to return this season fully healed, with a new motivation.

Conklin said Majerus would describe him as a “great screener and the emotional leader on and off the court.”

The “Oregon Enforcer” will have to bring that emotional and physical presence to the court for the Billikens this season.

Conklin will continue to work on his jump shot during the season, which he said is one of the weaker parts of his game.

When asked about fellow Billiken forward Cory Remekun: “He has changed by leaps and bounds since last season: his physical appearance, his athletic ability, even his cool new haircut.”

Conklin also talked a little bit about his roommate and Billiken guard, Kyle Cassity. “This season, we need him to step up as a scorer, and I am looking forward to seeing him score more points for us this year. Kyle is a great roommate, but he doesn’t like to do the dishes.”

after taking his Introduction to Marketing class.

On the court, Cassity has a number of personal goals for this season, one of which is to lead the team with his presence on the court. But most of all, he wants to win. The Billikens begin their 2010-2011 season on Nov. 12 against Austin Peay.

“I want to play every game as hard as I can. Being more assertive on the offensive end is something that I definitely need to do more,” Cassity said.

The transition for Cassity from freshman to sophomore year was a quick one. He went from starting four games his freshman year to playing a team high 1,166 minutes last year.

Cassity credits this transformation to upperclassmen leaders.

Moving forward to his junior year, Cassity looks to continue his success, passing to his teammates and collecting more assists.

Last year, he led the team with 117 assist and will look to break that record this season. Cassity said Majerus would describe him as “a reluctant star, the guy on the team that does not like to be noticed on the court.”

The junior guard knows that this is his year to step up as a leader on and off the court and to continue to improve on the offensive side of the ball.

Scoring from beyond the arch has never been a problem for Cassity. Last season he ranked second on the team with 41 three-pointers.

The past two years, Cassity has been roommates with Billiken forward Brian Conklin.

“Brian and I have been through everything together as roommates. On the court, he does the little stuff for us that isn’t recorded in the books. He sets tough screens and is a great defender.”

Cassity also talked about sophomore forward, Cory Remekun.

“Cory has changed physically since last season. He is much more physical in the paint now.

He is a little banged up right now; he is playing through an injury but will come back strong for us.”

When asked where he sees himself in five years after graduation, Cassity said, “My dream job would be working here in St. Louis for the St. Louis Cardinals, and hopefully [settling] down.”

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Player Profiles

32 Cory Remekun

By TYLER VACHIO Staff Writer

Sophomore for ward Cor y Remekun is a perfect example of the saying, “Everything is Bigger in Texas.” The Texas native stands 80 inches from the ground and is the second tallest Billiken basketball player on the roster. On top of being one of the tallest players on the team, he is also one of the youngest; Cory will not turn 19 until this July.

Remekun is originally from Dallas, Texas; he attended Mesquite High School, where he was named the 11-5A District Defensive Player of the Year. He has one younger sister, Miranda, who is in 9th grade this year.

After his senior season at Mesquite, Remekun received offers to play college basketball at Western Kentucky, Penn State and Tulane. Ultimately, he noticed the fantastic recruiting class that Saint Louis University and head coach Rick Majerus had assembled already and officially decided to become a Billiken.

At SLU, Remekun is interested in the John Cook School of Business’ new Sports Management Program.

“In five years, I hope to be making money by playing basketball somewhere,” Remekun said.

With the loss of Willie Reed, Remekun has to become the primary rebounder for the team this year. Reed was the team’s primar y center last season, which will most likely become Remekun’s new role position.

“I just want to help my team win the best I can, whether that is playing the 5 spot or not,” Remekun said.

Last season, Remekun appeared in all 36 games for the Billikens. Although he came off the bench, he made his presence known on the defensive side of the ball.

He blocked 32 shots in his 36 games. Remekun will have to continue that dominance down low for the Billikens, whose frontcourt is thin.

“I do like playing defense, but I would definitely say the best part of my game is my jump

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hooks and dunks,” Remekun said.

Remekun can score on the offensive side of the ball; he proved that during the Billikens’ final home game of the season against Virginia Commonwealth.

He was 6-of-9 shooting from the field, scoring 13 points and hauling in seven rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Remekun will look to have consistent games like this during his sophomore season.

Remekun said Majerus would describe him as “really young, and a good, smart kid.”

This season, Remekun will continue to improve his shooting outside of 15 feet, which he said, is the weakest part of his game.

The future looks bright for this young kid from Texas. With a couple more seasons under Majerus, Cory Remekun could develop into a star basketball player.

And when asked about the rest of the Billikens, Remekun said, “They are like brothers to me. I love my teammates.”

Students vote on new name for spirit section

By NEIL DuROSS Staff Writer

Beginning this basketball season at Chaifetz Arena, feel free to go on, students, and just go ahead and shake your tail feather.

All students who wish to cheer on their Billikens will leave behind their normal personas and take on the Nelly inspired “SLU-pun” SLUnatics title after a campuswide election was held in an effort to rename the student cheering section, formerly known as Blue Crew.

The new name of the student section for basketball games won by a high percentage over the other 20 candidates suggested. Other names submitted onto the ballot by students included Billiken Brigade, SLUmania and SLUpertroopers.

SLUnatics, a mixture of the SLU and the word for describing somebody who is insane, comes to signify a change in tone for the student section at Chaifetz.

“It adds personality and spunk to what it means to support the Billikens,” group president, senior Mike Putnam, said.

Putnam is in charge of relaying the student section’s wants to the Athletic Department.

“Blue Crew served us well, but we have done so much better with SLUnatics. No other school or organization has it.”

That originality is what fans hope will add to the experience of attending basketball games.

“I think the history of student apathy toward athletics is starting to turn in a big way,” Billiken fan, junior Zac Miller, said.

“Many more groups of people are taking initiative and adding their personal touch to the student section.”

Miller feels some sentimentality about the re-branding, but believes it is for the best.

“I grew up knowing the student section as Blue Crew, and it is a little weird seeing it go. But it’s time, with basketball enthusiasm at an all-time high,” Miller said.

The new name is intended to capitalize on this enthusiasm, an enthusiasm that was palpable last year in the form of section antics, crowd noise and hijinks.

“Anyone who came to a game last year saw how excited and electric the student section gets,” Putnam said. “SLUnatics is creative, fun, and most importantly, a little bit crazy---when you have a Chewbacca and ‘the Situation’ a la ‘Jersey Shore’ in the stands, you know we take our spirit seriously.”

The SLU student section last year was applauded by a multitude of opposing coaches and players, including Dayton’s Brian Gregory and Temple’s Juan Hernandez. Media outlets even ranked Chaifetz Arena as one of the toughest places to play.

Regularly-attending basketball fans hope this new name also clears up confusion in the student section between those

who viewed themselves as members of the student section, but not members of Blue Crew.

“I think SLUnatics will help if it is made clear to the students that this is not a student club or an exclusive group in any way,” Miller said. “It needs to be obvious that this is renaming the student section and basically retiring the idea of a ‘student fan group.’”

Putnam hopes that the new name will increase student involvement.

“Because students decided the name, they will feel more invested in the program,” Putnam said.

“Anyone who comes to the games to cheer on the team is a member of the SLUnatics.”

When asked why students should attend basketball games, Putnam said that the student section is about “being a part of something larger than yourself.

“It’s part of the SLU experience, and if you’re not very interested in the game, there’s always the chance you can be on the Kiss Cam.”

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#51

Player Profiles

Rob Loe

#21

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Dwayne Evans Evans has already made his presence felt for the Billikens.

He led the team with 12 point and 14 rebounds Saturday, Nov. 6, in an exhibition against Nova Southeastern. The 6’5” swingman and native of Bolingbrook, Ill., attended Neuqua Valley High School. Evans was a Renaissance man on the court his senior year, averaging 17 points, 12 rebounds and three assists per game, along with 73 blocks and 61 steals on the season. His performance in SLU’s two exhibition games has undoubtedly earned him the opportunity to compete for a starting spot. In high school, he was just as productive off the court, earning a spot on the honor roll every semester. Evan’s height and athletic ability should make him a valuable player on both ends of the floor for the Bills.

Loe arrived on campus as the prize of the 2010 recruiting class. He is the tallest player on the Billiken’s roster at 6’11”, but what will make him particularly hard to defend is his shooting range. The forward can stroke it from well beyond the 3-point line. He showed this ability by hitting three-pointers in both exhibition games. This will create matchup problems for opposing teams and headaches for coaches. Loe joins Cody Ellis and Christian Salecich as members of the basketball team who hail from the southern hemisphere. Loe was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and has playing experience against international competition. The sky is the limit for a player with Loe’s skill set, and it will be interesting to see how his game continues to develop at SLU.

Putting the Pieces Together Freshmen Build a Young Program

#11

Mike McCall

McCall attended Foreman High School in Chicago, Ill., where he competed in the highly competitive Chicago Public Basketball League. He averaged 18 points and dished out five assists per game in his senior campaign, and guided his team to a 26-4 record. His shooting stroke can catch fire, as evidenced by a seven 3-pointer effort his junior season. McCall will not be a liability from the free-throw line; he shot a steady 79 percent from the charity stripe last year. Judging by his body of work in high school, he should have a very solid future in the SLU basketball program. With his potential for a hot hand, consistent free-throw shooting and high basketball IQ, expect McCall’s name to be a staple over the PA system at Chaifetz for the next four years.

#5

Jordair Jett The 6’1” guard out of Minneapolis, Minn., is a versatile and physical addition to the Billiken backcourt. Expect the 210lb. Jett to compete for a starting guard position throughout the season.

His versatility was on display in a game his senior year, when he registered a quadruple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 11assists and 10 steals. Jett poured in over 1,000 points over his career at St. Bernard’s High School and led his senior squad to a birth in the Minnesota 2A state championship game. Following his senior year of high school, he played a season at Notre Dame Prep in Finchburg, Mass., former team of the NBA’s No. 1 overall pick in 2008, Michael Beasley. Jett is a player who could have a major impact at SLU in his time wearing the blue and white.

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Assistant Coaches

The Supporting Cast

By PAUL ESKER Staff Writer

Assistant coaches can make or break a program. Assistant coaches working in harmony with a head coach can lead to a strong program, but discord within a coaching staff can lead to the demise of a team.

Assistant coaches are also responsible for balancing a plethora of roles on a team. They must know the ins and outs of a head coach’s system. They must also know the head coach and be able to know what he wants.

They must be similar enough to a head coach to buy into his philosophy, but must also be different enough from the head coach to give diverse opinions and keep a team from becoming one-dimensional. And lastly, assistant coaches must also be able to relate to players.

It is this dynamic that the assistant coaches at Saint Louis University, through their dedication and knowledge of the game, hope to use to take the team to new heights.

Heading up the assistant coaching staff is Associate Head Coach Porter Moser, who is in his fourth season with the Billikens. Prior to coming to SLU, Moser spent time as an assistant at Creighton - his alma mater, Texas A&M, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR), and as the head coach at UALR and Illinois State.

Moser was brought to SLU as an assistant coach and was promot-

ed to associate head coach prior to the season of 2008-09. Moser is the first associate head coach that head coach Rick Majerus has ever had, and thus has a very unique role on the team.

“Coach Moser is not so much an associate head coach as he is a co-coach. Coach [Majerus] respects Coach Moser’s authority more than any other assistant coach he’s ever had,” team captain Paul Eckerle said.

Not only is Moser deeply respected and valued by Majerus, but he is also greatly praised by players for all that he does for the Billiken squad.

“He has to go between being an assistant coach and a head coach, which is really hard to do because he has the power position of being the head coach, which is really enforcing rules, get on us when we’re doing bad,” Christian Salecich said.

“But he also has the role of the Assistant Coach, which is to keep us positive and keep us moving in the right direction, so he really does an amazing job.”

Moser is also praised for the opportunities that he gives the team during practice.

“When Coach Majerus really wants to focus on the defense or rebounding, Coach Moser’s always there on offense; he’s always got the offensive scheme going. He’s always excited, bringing the energy; he’s ready to go all the time,” junior Brian Conklin said.

This energy that Moser brings to the team is one that is recognized as being vital to the

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Majerus calls on former player, veteran coaches to guide staff success of the team.

“He’s just so passionate,” Eckerle said, who also spoke of the respect that the players have for Moser because of his commitment to the team and the players. “He’s so dedicated to making us better as players and also making us better as people off the court. Everyone respects what he has to say because he’s a really knowledgeable coach, and he really has earned everyone’s respect through integrity and his dedication to the team.”

Moser is quick to send praise right back to the Billiken program.

“I had an opportunity to be a head coach this past year, but I’m just so invested right here in St. Louis with the guys we’re recruiting and where we’re going and the fans and the students; I mean I love walking out of that tunnel to see the student sections packed. This is what you want out of a program,” Moser said.

Another assistant coach who has had a unique impact in recent years is Chris Harriman.

This will be Harriman’s third season at SLU. Before coming to SLU, Harriman spent four years as an assistant coach at Nova Southeastern University.

Harriman, who hails from Sydney, Australia, has impacted the team in many ways, especially through his recruiting ties. His connections in Australia have drawn top Australian players Cody Ellis and Christian Salecich, along with New Zealand’s Rob Loe, to SLU. “I grew up watching [Harriman] play in the pro league in Australia … I knew him from watching him, never really as a coach, but the year before I got over here, he started recruiting me. We started talking, and he was a really down to earth guy,” Salecich said.

Salecich also paid tribute to Harriman for his help in easing the transition to America. “From Australia, where it’s a completely different style of game, to over here… [Coach Harriman] did a lot of work with me, telling me things I needed to work on, so when I came in I was ready to go.”

The final assistant coach on the Billiken squad is Alex Jensen. This is Jensen’s fourth year at SLU and his third as an assistant coach. Jensen played under Majerus at Utah in 199495 and then from 1997-2000. He also played seven seasons of professional ball in Turkey. Jensen, through his experience playing for Coach Majerus, brings special insight to the team and is a major resource for players. “[Jensen] is a former player; he’s like a son to [Majerus]. He knows Majerus’ system inside and out. He’s a great teacher of the game,” Moser said.

The value of Jensen’s insight into the mind of Majerus was echoed by nearly all of the players.

“Al’s been a great mentor.

He’s always someone you can go to. He knows the game almost as well as Coach [Majerus]; he also knows Coach [Majerus], which

is also very helpful,” Eckerle said.

“He played under Coach Majerus earlier in his years. He knows what Coach wants out of his players; he knows what to listen to, when Coach yells at you, and what to kind of filter out,” Conklin said, who, in addition to Eckerle, also identifies Jensen as a mentor both on and off the court. “Al’s just been a great sounding board. He gives you the little nuances of the game that he’s picked up through his many years.”

No matter their role, all of the assistant coaches are, without a doubt, critical parts of the Billiken men’s basketball program. Whether they are running practice, mentoring players or doing the simple things that need to be done on the team, they dedicate themselves to the Billiken program and have been central to its success.

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Billiken Basketball

Exhibition play shows Billikens’ strengths SLU 73 - Cardinal Stritch 53

By DERRICK NEUNER Associate Sports Editor

Brian Conklin bulldozed his way underneath the net for a perfect 8-8 as the Billikens routed the Cardinal-Stritch Wolves 73-53 in the first exhibition game of the year.

Though the NAIA Wolves did not provide much competition for the Billikens, the game gave head coach Rick Majerus a chance to experiment with his young team. At one point during the second half, SLU was about as young as you can be with four freshman and a lone sophomore, Cody Ellis, on the floor.

Using what Majerus refers to as a “bastardized” line-up, the Billikens started juniors Paul Eckerle, Kyle Cassity, Brian Conklin, sophomore Christian Salecich and freshman Dwayne Evans. That decision, according to Majerus, was based on which players were most conditioned, not which were most athletic.

Every player saw the floor for at least 14 minutes.

Regardless of youth, it was the elders on the team that put up the points. Conklin put in 17, and Cassity added an additional 11, despite playing just 15 minutes.

Freshman Rob Loe knocked in 10 for the Billikens. SLU shot 60 percent from the field despite shooting just 7-23 from 3-point range.

“Obviously we didn’t play great, but it’s our first time together, our first time against somebody else other than people we see every day,” Cassity said.

“It was good to get those guys out there and get some experience. We’re going to learn from it.”

The most attention went to the freshman. Evans, the only freshman starter, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jordair Jett had eight points and four rebounds, and Mike McCall had five points. Either McCall or Jett will be running the offense. McCall spent the most time there, but one game is not a predictor for the season.

“Their attitude is excellent,” Majerus said, “but like all freshmen, they don’t know how to play consistent yet … I think they’re trying. They’re going through the same situation as every other group of freshmen.

“They’re good players, but they’re young and inexperienced.

They’re going to get better.”

Whatever happens during exhibition play, the Billikens are going to have to get better quickly.

In just three weeks, SLU takes on SEC contender Georgia before heading to Cameron Indoor to take on the defending national champion and preseason No.1 Duke Blue Devils.

SLU 78 - Nova Southeastern 62

By CHRIS ACKELS Sports Editor

Freshman Dwayne Evans scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Billikens past Nova Southeastern by a score of 78-62 in the Bills second exhibition game.

The Bills freshmen put forth another superb effort, with Jordair Jett shooting 6-for-7 from the floor and matching Evans with a team-high 12 points.

Freshman Rob Loe chipped in with nine points. Despite his 6’11” frame, Loe has shown his ability to stretch defenses and shoot from long range.

Brian Conklin had another strong night for the Bills, netting 11 points and grabbing four rebounds.

Conklin lead the team in scoring over the course of the two exhibition games, averaging 14 PPG. Cody Ellis contributed with nine points against the Sharks, all coming off 3-pointers.

Kyle Cassity, who had 11 points against Cardinal Stritch, was all about the pass. Though he only netted three points himself (and only took four shots), Cassity lead the squad with six assists.

The game started closer than Saint Louis University expected, as Nova jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, but a Christian Salecich three-pointer from the

left corner ignited an 11-0 run to give the Billikens a 15-10 advantage. SLU would never look back from there.

The Billikens took notice of their size advantage over the Sharks and expanded their lead in the first half by working the ball into the paint. Loe and Corey Remekun did most of the work down low, with Remekun netting six points. SLU led at the half 39-31.

However, Nova Southeastern would not simply fade under the Chaifetz Arena lights.

Sophomore Alex Gynes kept

the Sharks in the game during the second frame, at one point cutting the SLU lead to just three. Due to a slow start to the second half, the Billikens found themselves with a slim 49-46 lead. Thanks to the play of Evans and Conklin and a huge 3-pointer from Cassity, SLU jumped back out to a 58-48 advantage.

The Bills continued the strong play in the second half, closing out with a 16-point victory. The game wrapped up exhibition play for Saint Louis. The regular season opens up Nov. 12 against Austin Peay.

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2010-2011 Men’s Basketball Schedule

Schedule

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

Friday, November 12* Monday, November 15 Saturday, November 20* Tuesday, November 23 Saturday, November 27* Tuesday, November 30

Austin Peay State Rockhurst Georgia Tennessee State IUPUI at Portland

Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Chiles Center

Saturday, December 11* Wednesday, December 15 Saturday, December 18

at Duke Jacksonville at Missouri State

Cameron Indoor Chaifetz Arena JQH Arena Cancun, Mexico Cancun, Mexico

Friday, December 24

Northeastern Southern Mississippi or E. Tennessee State TBA

Saturday, January 1 Wednesday, January 5* Sunday, January 9 Wednesday, January 12 Saturday, January 15 * Wednesday, January 19 Wednesday, January 26* Saturday, January 29*

Bowling Green Dayton at Temple at Duquesne Saint Joseph’s at Fordham Rhode Island at George Washington

Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Liacouras Center A.J. Palumbo Center Chaifetz Arena Izod Center Chaifetz Arena Charles Smith Center

Wednesday, February 2 Saturday, February 5 Wednesday, February 9* Saturday, February 12* Wednesday, February 16 Saturday, February 19* Tuesday, February 22 Saturday, February 26

Massachusetts at Xavier La Salle at Richmond at St. Bonaventure Charlotte Duquesne Chicago State

Chaifetz Arena Cintas Center Chaifetz Arena Robins Center Reilly Center Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena

at Dayton Xavier

UD Arena Chaifetz Arena

Governor’s Cup Wednesday, December 22 Thursday, December 23

Wednesday, March 2 Saturday, March 5*

Cancun, Mexico

*- Televised Games

®

2010-2011 Men’s Basketball Home Game Schedule

DATE

OPPONENT

Friday, November 12* Monday, November 15 Saturday, November 20* Tuesday, November 23 Saturday, November 27* Wednesday, December 15 Saturday, January 1 Wednesday, January 5* Saturday, January 15 Wednesday January 26* Wednesday, February 2 Wednesday, February 9* Saturday February 19* Tuesday, February 22 Saturday, February 26 Saturday, March 5

Austin Peay State Rockhurst Georgia Tennessee State IUPUI Jacksonville Bowling Green Dayton Saint Joseph’s Rhode Island Massachusetts La Salle Charlotte Duquesne Chicago State Xavier