No. 4 Sept 9

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2010-2011

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Great Issues Committee to welcome Chris Hansen on September 15 >>PAGE 3

Midtown: Bringing back the luster

Photo top left: Midtown today. Ryan Giacomino / Photographer | Photo top right: Midtown in the 1940s. Dorrill Studio / Missouri Historical Society | Photo bottom right: Midtown in 1919. Landmarks Association of St. Louis.

After years of uncertainty, life returns to neighborhood

By MARK J. ZINN Staff Writer

Saint Louis University made a commitment in the early 1960s to the city of St. Louis by refusing to move the main campus out of a struggling Midtown neighborhood and into a developing and spacious St. Louis County.

A declining and outwardly-expanding population and tax base in the 1960s halted the city’s theatre and entertainment district, causing a near disappearance of the Midtown neighborhood which includes SLU. An area that once boasted eight theatres, dozens of businesses and a regional transportation hub was declining rapidly.

Now 50 years later, this same area now known as Grand Center, has propelled into a thriving arts and entertainment district, marked with renovation, reconstruction and new life.

“Certainly SLU’s presence in the Midtown area and the improvements that were brought

about by President Fr. Biondi’s leadership be found with the opening of Pete and Jeanne has, I think, really made a difference and Spoto’s newest City Diner location, just steps really did create an environment and an away from the brass doors of the Fox Theatre. anchor that helped the The 88-seat diner hopes to Grand Center area come attract families catching a back around,” St. Louis show in the area, and SLU Mayor Francis Slay said. students trying to grab a “And as a result, the area late night snack.

SLU’s presence in around [SLU and the Despite the Grand the Midtown area and Grand Center].”

Center location being a Despite the current the improvements... third of the size as his recession, Midtown’s Grand South Grand restaurant, Center neighborhood made a difference...

Pete Spoto said he thinks is flourishing with new that helped the Grand he has struck gold. business developments Center come back “The neighborhood is that aim to enhance the really moving forward,” around. special taxing district.

Spoto said. He said he “[The Grand Center] —Mayor Francis Slay believes the diner’s has economic development reasonable pricing, kidgoing on,” said 19th Ward friendly menu, late hours Alderwoman, Marlene Davis, “even in a and free Wi-Fi will add to the list of recent tough market.”

Grand Center successes.

An example of this new development can Other restaurants are planned for the area

SLU development sets the pace for area

By KRISTEN MIANO News Editor

As the Midtown area begins to rebuild and come alive, Saint Louis University looks to remain active in the restoration of the neighborhood.

In partnership with the Lawrence Group, SLU built the West Locust Lofts and is looking to open Hotel Ignacio in March, 2011.

According to the message sent out in June by University President, Lawrence Biondi S.J., the West Locust Loft apartments were built to target graduate and professional students. They are not, however, specifically intended to house only SLU students.

The West Locust Lofts are renovated historic Midtown buildings, one dating as far back as 1893 and the other from the year 1914.

Vincent Schoemehl, the President of the Grand Center Inc., a center for the arts with in Midtown, is hopeful that these SLU developments will bring more activity into the area.

“Hotels and apartments keep people around throughout the day and into the evening,” said Schoemehl, “Any development of them would be an improvement.”

Though the plans the University has underway currently are going strong, Clayton Berry, Director of University Communications, stated that there are no additional upcoming developments going on in the area. ““We currently have no other development plans in

the Midtown area right now other than the Hotel [Ignacio] and the apartments,” Berry said, “We have one office building we own in the Grand Center and a smaller property nearby, but the rest of what we own is mostly parking lots or is slated for the hotel. There is not much more property that we own in the area.”

While the University owns a few buildings in Midtown, most of the SLU land in the area is comprised of parking lots for Chaifetz and the university.

Despite having no current plans in the works to further develop Midtown from SLU land, Berry expressed hope that Midtown would eventually be to SLU what the Delmar Loop, an area that features shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, became for Washington University. SLU looks to have a center for students to go and do things too, something that seems to be lacking at this time.

Liza Ambrose, a SLU senior, agrees that a Loop-like area would be good for the University.

“It would be great. I feel a lot of students are attracted to the vibe and feel of the Loop.

It would be cool to have that close by,” Ambrose said. “I’d like to see just more local and native restaurants, places that are easy for students to get to and enjoy.”

The union of SLU and Midtown is agreeable to both parties. The University remains hopeful that the rebuilding of Midtown will promote SLU, while the surrounding area hopes to benefit from being located so close to the school.

“

Midtown Map Key

”

as well. Davis said restaurateur and developer Steve Smith, whose dining credits include Triumph Grill and KOTA Grill, is planning to turn the Shakespeare’s Gastropub space at Grand and Washington into an upscale establishment, which could appeal more to patrons of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, a world-class orchestra situated a block north of the proposed new restaurant.

While more restaurants may be on the menu, Grand Center officials are also working on other business projects that include renovating the Metropolitan Building at Grand and Olive into 74 units of artist housing.

Vincent Schoemehl, Jr., CEO of Grand Center Inc., said the financing stage for the apartments is near completion and Davis added the that project could be closed on at any moment.

A 136-room Hyatt Place Hotel could soon See “Midtown” on Page 3

Campus Buildings owned by SLU Land owned by SLU without buildings SLU Parking Lots

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Getting back on the court

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

Photo courtesy of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis

A view of Grand Boulevard as seen from Olive Street near campus in 1960.

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Let Us Introduce You

Lauren Hashiguchi

OneWorld Magazine editor uses journalism to promote social justice

By ASHLEY SELAS Contributor

Lauren Hashiguchi is a progressive visionary whose accomplishments include leadership of the OneWorld social justice magazine on campus, and receiving a Truman Scholarship, a prestigious award based on leadership that provides $30,000 to students pursuing graduate school.

Hashiguchi is a senior with an investigative medical sciences major, and minors in both biology and community health.

“OneWorld was journalism, there was a need for leadership, and there was social justice. It really fit exactly what I wanted to do in college,” Hashiguchi said.

Hashiguchi has served as the editor-in-chief of OneWorld magazine since her sophomore year, drawing from her strong passion for social justice in all aspects of life.

In high school, Hashiguchi was strongly affected by reckless teen driving, which she said inspired her to strive to make a difference.

The All State Foundation recognized Hashiguchi and asked her to be their national spokesperson for a teen-led movement in the country called Keep the Drive. Hashiguchi was even extended as far as writing for the New York Times.

When Hashiguchi came to college and saw the broad scope that OneWorld provided, it gave her a new goal. She saw it as a new way to influence the world.

“The goal of OneWorld is to make social justice accessible to people,” Hashiguchi said.

“We want to use [it] to let people know in a very unbiased, very straightforward way why social justice is important, why it fits into everyone’s lives, and why we need to fight for it.”

This year, the magazine has high hopes for holding a strong online presence.

“Magazines are so important and it is piece of art and a community project, but we also want to make sure that we do not overlook the importance of online expansion,” Hashiguchi said.

“SLU is a unique college campus, and all of the students and faculty are amidst all kinds of social work happening on

SGA swears in 28 new senators

By SEAN WORLEY Assistant News Editor

Noah Berman / Photo Editor

Senior Lauren Hashiguchi, editor-in-chief of OneWorld Magazine, said that after she graduates, she plans to attend graduate school on scholarship. Hashiguchi feels confident that the same leadership will continue after she leaves the magazine, a publication that promotes social justice. campus as well as four blocks away in the city.”

OneWorld aims to be a social justice umbrella that uses journalism to promote various volunteer opportunities. They want to give readers a new way to think about the world far away and around them, and to provide students a resource regarding social justice-based graduate programs.

OneWorld also does social justice workshops and cosponsors Haiti fundraising.

When Hashiguchi was a freshman, the OneWorld staff was made up entirely of seniors. When they graduated, Hashiguchi was left with the responsibility of continuing the project into the future as the new leader of the organization.

Now, as it will soon be her turn to graduate, Hashiguchi said she is proud of what she has accomplished and is ready to move ahead.

She said she is proud of the great strides that the magazine has taken and is very confident in the

leadership that will continue to do great things after she has left SLU. Graduate school is on the horizon for Hashiguchi, but it will be among members of the presidential administration on Capital Hill.

As a Truman Scholar, she will have funding to go to graduate school for public service.

There are 60 Truman Scholars in the country, and all of them will meet for a summer institute in Washington D.C. where they will live and work with government organizations together and attend policy workshops.

After this, Hashiguchi said she plans to head to graduate school to achieve her dreams.

“Being a part of OneWorld has really engaged me in the community. I haven’t been just a student, I have been someone who has been able to explore all of the little niches of SLU and what students are doing and how they can do it better,” Hashiguchi said.

Student Government Association is finally back in full swing.

After two meetings that only accomplished a few orders of business, SGA can now start fulfilling its duty to the student body now that it has bodies.

SGA successfully filled 28 of the available 32 open seats and the new senators were sworn in on Wednesday.

“I feel honored to be on Senate, and I think it will go really well,” Jonathan Serpas, John Cook School of Business senator. said.

David T Black, a senior Village Apartments and Laclede Houses senator, also expressed his anticipation for the new senate.

“I was doing the interviews and I can tell they’re really excited. It’s going to be a great year,” Black said.

Not only did new and current senators say that they are looking forward to being members of Saint Louis University’s largest assembly of student leaders, but SGA President Courtney Anvender said that she is also eager to see what how the new senators take their charge to represent the wider student body.

“We strived to find senators who were passionate and who would create a diversity of thought in senate,” said Anvender.

She also expressed that the new crop of senators will only help facilitate her goal of creating the best legislative body possible for SLU. Due to the seating of the senators having been SGA’s first order of business for the night, all old and new sena-

tors in attendance were able to vote on the new legislation for being presented for the week.

Both the bill and the resolution revolved around monetary topics.

Financial Vice President Tim Janczewski introduced a bill that would allocate funding to one of SLU’s newest charted student organizations—Active Minds.

A CSO based around mental health awareness and advocacy, Active Minds went through the CSO chartering process last year, but was

“

I was doing the interviews and I can tell they are really excited.

-Sen. David T. Black

”

unable to apply for funding by the deadline. In order for them to have programming and events this school year, SGA apportioned $2,381 to the student group.

“We are very thankful we got funding and are looking forward to the national conference that we can now attend,” Carole Dobbins, the group’s secretary, said “We are happy to be an official CSO also,” Dobbins said after the meeting.

The resolution that Janczewski also presented was one that dealt with the annual acceptance of spot funding regulations.

Very few major changes were made to the regulation guidelines, but Janczewski expressed that the guidelines

should make clearer the fact that SGA only funds 60 percent of travel expenses for student groups, including expenses for traveling to national championships. The groups and their respective members must provide the remaining 40 percent.

“It’s an encouragement that groups invest in themselves,” Janczewski said in response to SGA not funding the full costs of attending a national championship or an invitational.

No other new business was presented at the meeting, but Anvender did provide updates to current in-process SGA initiatives.

The Pius XII Memorial Library survey that SGA sent out on Sept. 1 has received 1,200 responses from students.

Anvender said that she was pleased with the volume of student input but still hopes to still gather more before the end of the month.

SGA will present its research, including the student responses, to the President’s Coordinating Council at their next meeting later on this month.

SGA has been taking efforts to reestablish a strong relationship with the student public. One way they are planning on doing so is through their first meet- and- greet of the year.

Instead of a standard town hall meeting, SGA will be holding a senatorial barbeque.

Anvender stated that she hopes this will allow for more students to feel comfortable approaching senators and expressing their concerns as opposed to the more formal setting in a town hall.

The barbeque will take place Thursday, Sept. 23 at 5pm on the Quad.

Kati Cundari / Photographer

Incoming SGA senators stand as they are sworn into the 38th General Assembly. Having taken oath, the senators were able to vote and pass two pieces of proposed legislation.

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

NBC’s Chris Hansen to Innovative technology hits the classroom speak on social justice

By WOLF HOWARD Contributor

By MEGAN SAKSEFSKI Contributor

The Great Issues Committee urges students to think beyond the daily troubles of a university student and to direct concern toward the social justice issues that plague the world today by inviting guest speakers to lecture to the Saint Louis University community.

Investigative repor ter Chris Hansen of Dateline NBC will be speaking at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the Saint Louis Room at the Bush Student Center.

Tickets for the lecture are available in BSC 319.

“Hansen will be speaking on journalism, social justice, and how it relates to the Saint Louis University mission,” said GIC President Colin Shevlin.

Hansen’s work has taken him all over the globe and he has earned seven Emmy awards for investigative reporting.

His news series investigating aviation security was recognized with four Edward R. Murrow awards, and the Associated Press has bestowed upon him an award of excellence in journalism.

Student David Gaillardetz is a social work major and interested in journalism as a channel for social justice.

“I think it’s really interesting how you can use other avenues like journalism to accomplish for the greater good,” Gaillardetz said.

The GIC has also arranged for author Eboo Patel of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation, to speak to the SLU community on Oct. 14 about religious pluralism.

The GIC’s dedication to social justice issues and garnering student debate will bring about more significant speakers throughout the year, and all members of the SLU are welcome to listen and discuss.

Shevlin has been a member of the committee for three years and underwent a lengthy interview process to gain his current position.

The committee, which

gathers Mondays at 9 p.m. in the Busch Student Center Senate Chambers, is made up of 18 individuals who, like Shevlin, went through an application process.

“All meetings are open to the public,” Shevlin said, and also added that speaker suggestions often come from outside the committee.

When choosing a speaker, the committee debates and discusses each valid suggestion, and voting determines three finalists.

Scheduling and availability then determine the final speaker.

The committee first began developing in the mid-1960s, and was originally funded by an independent group of students who sold tickets to pro-

“

I think it’s really interesting how you can use journalism to accomplish for the greater good.

”

-David Gaillardetz

vide the University with guest lecturers.

The success of the lectures led to an initial funding of $10,000 from the Student Activities Board in the early 1970s, and the group was renamed The Great Issues Committee.

Today the GIC is funded with an annual budget of $134,000, which subsidizes the cost and promotion of issues and guest speakers.

Past speakers include Elie Wiesel and Sister Helen Prejean.

According to the group’s mission statement, “The Great Issues Committee strives to stimulate insightful, provocative debate on current issues that will inform and educate as a service to the Saint Louis University community.”

SAB confident in finding Homecoming performance

By ASHLEY JONES Arts Editor

Despite the lack of a headlining act for the 2010 Homecoming concert, Student Activity Board remains confident.

“We have run into a few speed bumps, but nothing that has discouraged us,” president Stephanie Hart said.

While securing an artist normally takes some work, this year has proven to be especially difficult.

The group received notice in late July that the artist they had planned had pulled out of their contract.

“Because there was such a delay in searching for a new artist, there have been challenges in finding an available artist that would be of interest to students and within a reasonable price range,” Coordinator for Student Activities Janelle Densberger said.

The Student Government Association is in charge of allocating funds from the student activity fee.

According to SGA Financial Vice President Tim Janczewski, SAB was given $84,000 from the student activity fee for the entire Homecoming Week, $58,000 of which was set aside for the booking an artist.

“I am not too concerned that they have not announced

an act for this year’s Homecoming. SAB has a long tradition of providing great entertainment to the students of Saint Louis University, and for SAB, having the budget to match their purpose is important,” Janczewski said.

However, with two weeks left, some may not help but wonder what will happen if SAB fails to clench an act before Homecoming.

“This is not an issue. As I stated, there will be an artist, or a few artists, that will fill the bill for the event. I can ensure you that once the Student Activities Board is able secure an act for the event, the publicity for the event will go up and be advertised,” Densberger said In addition to organizing the concert, SAB also sets up several other homecoming events.

These events include the Billiken Music Festival, Quad Day, a blood drive, an outdoor movie and the Golf Cart Parade.

“We are also doing a team competition where students can form teams of five to 10 people and earn points for attending events. The sign-up for the competition, as well as the court application are both available on our website,” Hart said.

For more information on Homecoming events and student activities, visit sab.slu. edu.

Saint Louis University classrooms are moving further into the 21st century with plans for a new classroom in Des Peres Hall that uses creative and innovative technology to help increase comprehension and overall learning for students.

The classroom is also meant to utilize space in a way that will increase learning potential.

This classroom has been called for by the Reinert Center of Teaching Excellence, which helps teachers enhance their educational ability and integrate technology into teaching in an effective manner.

A team of faculty and staff members has formed along with student representatives Katie Becherer, vice president of Academic Affairs, and Meghan Moll, Parks College Senator in efforts to collaborate and discuss what

students and faculty believe are the necessities of a classroom.

“These necessities include meeting the needs of both faculty and students and incorporating the overall pedagogy of learning,” Moll said.

The Reinert CTE and the team have also partnered with Herman Miller, an external company that designs furnishings and helps strategically organize facilities that are meant to improve experiences in various settings, including hospitals, work places and classrooms.

Herman Miller has worked with other schools on similar projects, and SLU will be part of their ongoing research concerning how students learn and how incorporation of technology in the classroom affects their learning efficiency.

According to Mar y Stephen, the director of the Reinert CTE, discussion of a technologically innovative

classroom started nearly a year ago, but the team just formed this August and has started in the overall process of creating the room.

The team consists of five faculty members and two student representatives as well as members of the ITS, CTE, and various other facilities.

Moll said that the team has been exploring “learning in a technological way as well as the utilization of space in a way that will maximize a student’s learning potential.”

This classroom is not just focused on a particular major or college. “The new learning space is being designed with the mindset that it will be flexible to any and every class’s needs,” Moll said.

Assuming this goal is met, any number of classes, whether they are scientifically, mathematically or artistically based, can take advantage of this unique room.

The actual technology that will be implemented in this

class is not yet certain.

The project is still in the brainstorming stage, as the student representatives and the rest of the team work together to try to decide what sort of tools students would like and need and how to make the space as efficient and useful as possible for studying.

Once the team has finished brainstorming, they will move to the design phase and continue on from there.

The classroom is expected to be on the second floor of Des Peres Hall, and Stephen said that the project is expected to be completed by December, assuming everything runs smoothly.

“It’s always good to learn new things in new ways,” student Olivia Smith said.

“A more interactive classroom would allow the students to be more involved in classroom discussions which should mean they can learn more.”

Midtown: City plans aim to revitalize area Continued from Page 1

be towering over the once struggling neighborhood as well.

In July, Davis said an interested party requested a yearlong extension on developing the building which would renovate the old Missouri Theatre building at 643 N. Grand.

That building, like most structures in the Grand Center, is owned by Grand Center Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1987 to “facilitate the revitalization of the Grand Center arts, entertainment and education District.”

Davis added that National Public Radio affiliate KWMU will continue to add to Grand Center’s reputation for arts and education when their new station and offices on Olive open in August of 2011.

Construction on that project is set to begin soon, said Davis.

KDHX, another public radio station in St. Louis, recently announced that they would also be moving their studios to the Grand Center.

St. Louis Magazine reported that an anonymous donor gave the entire Creepy Crawl building on Washington to the popular station.

The federal government is contributing to the new development as well. Davis said the Veterans’ Administration Hospital just north of Powell Hall on Grand is slated to receive a $300 million expansion.

The project includes new doctors offices, a parking garage, a hospital tower and expanded green space for employees and visitors.

Davis said he believes this expansion will transform the Midtown VA Hospital into a regional health care facility.

A stimulus-funded

Ryan Giacomino / Photographer

The Midtown neighborhood, including Saint Louis University, is seeking to rebuild the community through a number of various revitalization projects. streetscape project for Grand Boulevard is also set to begin in the next month, Richard Bradley, president of the St. Louis Board of Public Service, said.

The plan calls for new sidewalks and beautification of the districts main thoroughfare.

Senior Thomas Combes has lived in the University Plaza Apartments at Grand and Washington since his sophomore year.

“When I moved in [to Grand Center], restaurants and other businesses were not here,” Combes, who credits recent developments for increasing pedestrian traffic and improving safety, said. “[Midtown] is alive,” Davis said. He calls University

President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., a “good neighbor.”

But before Biondi became Midtown’s neighbor, many of the buildings and lots surrounding the campus were run-down or blighted.

Office buildings like the University Club and Continental Life building became vacant. Most of the theatres were closed or torn down.

The potential for crime and vandalizing rose tremendously.

Despite the negative economic trends facing the area in the 1960s and 1970s, SLU began purchasing nearby land, most of which consisted of vacant or run-down buildings, E. Allen Tomey, a faculty

member in the Department of Public Policy Studies at SLU, said.

“In the seventies when I went to school [at SLU], it was more of a hodge-podge of buildings,” Slay said. “There wasn’t an identity.”

Slay called the revitalization of the area “dramatic” and said he believes the positive trends of development will continue for the neighborhood.

As surrounding neighborhoods may struggle to keep businesses open, Midtown and the Grand Center continue on a path of growth that many hope will become the premiere destination for arts and entertainment in the region.

SLU covers state cuts in student financial grants

By ALLEGRA MERRIWETHER Contributor

and ANDREA ROYALS News Editor

Last spring, Gov. Jay Nixon voted to cut student loan grants from the state of Missouri by 22 percent, affecting more than 1,100 students who receive financial aid at Saint Louis University.

To subsidize the cuts, SLU has agreed to compensate students with an estimated $1 million for the fiscal year.

“Missouri has wonderful colleges and universities, both public and private. But in times like these, we simply can’t continue to subsidize the choice to attend a private school,” Nixon said last

March in a speech to business leaders in Missouri in aims to reduce the $500 million statewide budget deficit.

The 22 percent cut averaged a statewide reduction of more than 30 million dollars awarded to an estimated 12,000 college students who receive the Missouri Access Grant, which offered private school students between $2,000 and $4,600 per year, or the merit-based Bright Flight Scholarship.

Cari Wickliffe, the assistant vice provost of Student Financial Services, said that the reduction of state grants imposed a “political hotbed” where the University was left questioning the probability of cuts at a time when Missouri is facing a financial deficit.

“Would they really take it

away from students to fund other things,” Wickliffe said, “Or would they find a way to make education and student assistance a priority?”

The University has agreed to subsidize the cuts through an internal scholarship fund already in existence, but may be seeking other options as needed in the future, as the University may face further cuts in December.

Wickliffe said that one internal pool of financial assistance from which the University may consider pulling funds is the emergency scholarship fund that allows students who have experienced a significant income change without notice to receive aid from SLU. Another source for subsidization of losses is the insti-

tutional loan program that offers assistance to students needing funds various fees, Wickliffe said.

“We will continue to advocate and see what is happening at the state level so we can make good institutional decisions with the aid,” Wickliffe said. “I think that is going to be more critical than ever in going forward this year.”

As the semester progresses, the financial aid department will continue to collaborate with the University and plan for future reductions in the budget for the next year.

“It will definitely be a great concern [next year]. When we start to divide, we will have to be a little more conservative in the other needbased programs that we fund,” Wickliffe said.

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Midtown rejuvenation may bring back the cultural milieu of the Roaring Twenties A black Rolls Royce glimmers across our view, revealing throngs of bustling fedoras, suits, pearls, and flappers on a city sidewalk behind it. Tendrils of exotic smells from restaurants flavor the starr y night and swells of distant jazz music ebb and flow as people open and close doors to their own syncopated rhythms. The Fox Theater and Powell Hall burst into the nightlife, painting the sky with grandiose neon signs and inviting us to a world of music and culture.

Midtown St. Louis today hardly resembles the lively night life that regaled Grand Center in the 1920’s. Apart from huddled families and groups of students that scurr y into Fox and Powell on performance nights, few people traverse the yawning and empty streets north of SLU. The neon signs no longer welcome crowds of eager young residents ready for a night on the town.

With the advent of a new project concerning Midtown, however, we can imagine a brilliantly changing landscape that will propel Grand Center into a new age of prosperity. A Hyatt hotel and upscale edifices lift off the ground, reaching jubilantly towards the sky. City Diner, as well as other nice eateries, fills the air once more with the cloying and delicious smells of food. Various new social outlets and comfortable new housing creates a melting pot of social mingling and diversity.

Within five years, these new businesses will lay the seminal groundwork for a grand metamorphosis. The improvement will draw SLU students, families, and more business opportunities. It will magnetize Grand Center and create cosmopolitan energy.

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

We are poised to absorb that energy.

Being next door, we are grateful to see SLU working with planners such as Steve Smith (owner of Triumph and Kota Grill) to develop a safe and exciting new neighborhood. In revitalizing the area, we truly create opportunities that will help others the way our mission statement outlines.

Using natural economic processes by fueling development, we generate a plethora of job opportunities that can snowball from entr y-level jobs to large white collar careers. We are excited to see these jobs move into the area, bringing the surrounding neglected community into the fold. the apparent poverty of the neighborhood can gradually fade.

SLU’s involvement not only fulfills its mission statement to be “men and women for others”; it also encompasses a lively new hubbub into our SLU bubble, improving this home away from home. SLU students can spend weekends perusing the many new social outlets, jump-starting this mini-economy.

Apart from the economic development, SLU students will be exposed to greater venues that patronize local artists, musicians, and performers. This new ambiance will widen our appreciation for the local artistic milieu.

Laughter floats lazily into the pristine summer air at a nearby restaurant, and hesitant breaths of wind carr y the sounds of fizzed champagne and jovial conversation over the heads of passing crowds as they move towards grandiose neon lights.

We arrange these pleasant dreams in our mind’s eye as we head towards this bright new future.

SLU community needs to find inner Billiken spirit Rumbling stands bear the excitement of proportions. Innumerable other schools have thousands of woops and stomps as the ball packed stadiums for other sports. Here, we gently slides into the basket. A collective roar have an odd dynamic where SLU touts our of joy consumes the arena, brightening our strong sense of community while lacking a souls in a fiery display of camaraderie and visual communal support. Why do we have school spirit. this discrepancy? It is incorrect to pinpoint Arenas all over the country host such our lack of a football team as a cause; Xavier, scenes of delight and celebration daily with a Marquette, and Gonzaga, fellow Jesuit univariety of sports, not solely basketball. Why versities, don’t have football, and they have is it that here at SLU, we hear only the empty respectable turnouts. It isn’t unfathomable echoes of cheers? Our solidarity in school that perhaps we need better teams. While spirit vanishes into ghostly empty chairs at we do have soccer, it’s sadly undervalued sporting events. in the U.S. Our basketWe are proud to say ball team is poised for that our administragrowth, but we haven’t tion does a great job reached our potential. attempting to bolster A plausible cause Our solidarity in school student attendance for lies with us; we shunt spirit vanishes into sports to the bottom sports. With a myriad of banners and free ghostly empty chairs at of social calendars. We food, organizers battle prefer to spend time sporting events. our pervasive apathy with friends in selective towards sports with bubbles. This apathy marginal success. lowers morale, which Their latest attempt to leads to losses and disrename Blue Crew is mal reputations. part of a larger scheme to nurture the solidarIn a culture that emphasizes individuality that many other universities have for their ism and uniqueness, it is difficult to grasp sports teams. the idea of unification. Sports invite us to ‘Ole Miss, Tennessee, USC, U of I, Mizzou bond over human achievement in its physi- students who attend these universities cen- cal prowess. SLU needs our school spirit. So ter their social activities around football. let’s paint our pride in blue and white over the Their fame is augmented by ESPN coverage. vast silver stands. Let’s make our presence Duke basketball has a fan-following of epic known. Let’s roar.

“

”

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

These are the current opinions on the name for our new Billiken cartoon!

Adviser Jason L. Young jyoung42@slu.edu The Editorial Board of The University News Recognizes Avis Meyer, Ph.D. as the newspaper’s faculty mentor.

Peony Lee/Illustrator

33%

Bender (old SLU football coach)

33%

Blue

29%

Claude (founder of the UNews)

5%

Baxter 10

20

30

40

With the beginning of a new year, I find that I’m missing something. No, not the newest edition of my pathophysiology textbook; I’ve got that. What is missing are several of my friends. My question is, “SLU, where have my friends gone?” Did they graduate? No. Did you drop their chosen majors? Nope. Fail to give them adequate housing….well, no, not them.

You did none of these things, but you did fail at something far greater. You failed to keep them safe.

Graduates of SLU are told that they’ll be sons and daughters of Saint Louis University forever; however, I’ve finally began to see how much you seem to value the “sons and daughters” you have here.

In the semester that I spent on SLU’s campus last school year, I saw more devaluing of fellow humans than I ever have. And what did you do? Nothing.

Your silences condoned the actions of the few spreading them to the masses.

Was it pride that kept you quiet about many of the matters? Or rather, would it have been legally unwise to speak up? Maybe you didn’t want to speak too soon and say the wrong thing?

Well, not saying anything is the wrong thing. You let the victims continue to be victimized, shunned, silenced and let those responsible be like wolves in victim’s clothing.

You ask those victimized to forgive so we could move on, but how can they forgive if they’re still not safe? It was here at SLU that I studied Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, (if one’s basic need for safety is not being met she or he cannot forgive) and here at SLU where I watched as fellow humans’ basic need for safety was stolen from them.

You didn’t restore it, but in many cases increased their fear and became the danger.

Because of the lack of true care shown to each individual “son or daughter”, I watched as, one by one, my friends left to go home for the summer and decided that they couldn’t make themselves come back.

But SLU, you were the only one to get a real ‘goodbye’ because the rest of us got a ‘see you later,’ even so, ‘SLU, I would like my friends back’ -Theresa Meinert, junior, School of Nursing

SGA sends out survey polling students’ opinions on Pius Library renovations Recently, students were emailed a survey concerning their satisfaction with Pius Library. The result was tremendous. We received over 1,200 responses providing an overwhelming statement that Pius is not currently meeting the needs of students.

The vitality of the student voice cannot be emphasized enough, especially when presenting to the Administration. After researching the top facilities at other Jesuit schools’ libraries, our plan is to develop a first-class student study space.

We have the students to thank for legitimizing this need, and we hope to keep communication between SGA and constituents open to make this project a success.

-Caroline Rutledge, Fusz Hall Senator, Chair, Safety and Security Concerns Committee

Quotes of the week

“ “

[The Grand Center] has economic development going on, even in a tough market.

-- Alderman Marlene Davis

What should the Billiken cartoon be named?

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Dear Saint Louis University something is wrong

See Page 1.

The goal of OneWorld is to make social justice accessible to people.

-- Lauren Hashiguchi

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60

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See Page 2.

Opinion

unewsonline.com

Diversity needs preservation In Haiti lies a thriving voodoo culture. The spirits of people and of the land live among them and possess them. They have even formulated Commentary what anthropologist Wade Davis calls a “zombie potion” (made from various botanicals, frog skins and human bones) for making a victim appear dead.

Roberta Singer In the T robriand Islands of Papua New Guinea, Annette Weiner chronicles yam rituals. When two people wish to wed, they spend the night together and in the morning they feed each other a breakfast of yams prepared by one of their mothers. For the first year of their marriage, they feed each other these yams, but only then. For the rest of their lives, male and female eat separately.

Humans never cease to fascinate me. However, I feel our cultural diversity is slipping away. Western culture is pervasive; we spread our empire of things and ideas without remorse.

We expect the world to accept our science, our teleology and worldview as a given; we expect those silly, tribal people to be better off with tennis shoes and a Western education. We expect our lifestyle to be theirs.

This idea defeats the beauty of humanity. The point of living in a culturally diverse world and combating imperialism is to encourage creativity. The ways we adapt to our environments and relate to other people is a profound part of what makes us human.

Cultural preservation isn’t about keeping archaic ideas; after all, if cultures change, let them adapt.

If the Inuit wants to start using snow mobiles for transportation rather than a team of sled dogs, we shouldn’t see that as cultural genocide but merely an adaptation to make life easier.

But we shouldn’t assume all humans should adapt to our lifestyle. It isn’t our job to impose our ideas. Unfortunately, this seems to be a component of capitalism: markets, and thus ideas, spread across the globe, dominating indigenous cultures. The Mediterranean was once lauded for its classic diet of fish, olives, bread and wine; it now grows obese on McDonald’s and is forgetting its heritage foods.

There is one hopeful example.

When radios and televisions came to the Gebusi people of Papua New Guinea, as anthropologist Bruce Knauft reports, society changed: people who lived mainly in the forest moved to the village to attend school and access to things like Western food and radio. More thefts took place, mainly of electronic devices whose introduction had created somewhat of a system of inequality, of haves and have-nots. Young people were forgetting the rituals of their parents and grandparents.

The funny thing is, when Knauft returned, the imports had stopped coming in and the culture had, for the most part, reverted to the way it had been when he had first done his field work. There is resilience to it.

It’s a spark that never died, one that humans could return to and use to reinvent.

I have faith in our own endless imaginations. Markets may eventually dominate us, but they will never entirely hegemonize us. We must fight it by preserving our stories and customs. Always it seems, to quote F. Scott Fitzgerald, “we will press on, boats against the current.”

Roberta Singer is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

5

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Obama’s policies pander to the right-wing

Starla Salazar/Illustrator

With another set of national elections looming on the horizon, the talk among most analysts concerns whether or not the Republican Commentary Party will somehow regain power by taking back the majority in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

How on earth did this situaMichael Hughes tion arise after the backlash against President Bush, which led to the anti-Republican sentiment that helped sweep President Barack Obama and his allies into power?

The simple answer lies in the weakening and cheapening of

Obama’s message in order to appeal to those who do not align themselves with his progressive vision.

In the process of extending his hand across the aisle, Obama has repeatedly watered down his platform to the point where it no longer expresses his true beliefs.

A prime example is the healthcare legislation that was supposed to dramatically change the entire political landscape for the future of America.

Instead of adhering to this radical aim, a bill was passed that as many would agree does not do enough to lower cost while still improving care.

The resulting law is not to the same as the message preached to the faithful Democrats during the primaries.

Instead, deals were cut and the

bill was ransacked of its values to the point that it has become a mere shadow of its writers’ intentions Yet another fine example of President Obama pandering to the right is his recent commentary on the deemed “9/11 mosque”.

On Aug. 13, Obama said he supported the right to build a mosque near Ground Zero on our nation’s principle of religious freedoms.

After the immediate backlash against this comment by conservative audiences, Obama later recanted on Aug. 14, saying that he was not commenting on the wisdom of the decision.

This constant process of Obama’s pushing of the envelope, only later to take a step back, is beginning to wear on independents and liberals alike.

Close to two years after Obama’s

historic election, I do not feel as though the American public really knows what our president believes.

His downfall thus far has been his constant attempts to appeal to those who will never like a progressive president: conservatives.

It makes no difference if he extends his hand in peace to the Republicans, for he is surely going to be bitten.

Obama needs to stop changing his message to suit his audience.

I have no respect for a person who tells lies to get my approval, but I cannot help but admire a person who sticks to his values even in the face of the controversy.

Michael Hughes is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Supporting our students, strengthening our country At colleges and universities across America, students are heading into the classroom, many for the first time.

You’re taking Commentary part in a journey that will not only determine your future, but the future of this country.

We know, for example, that nearly eight in Barack Obama ten new jobs will require workforce training or higher education by the end of this decade.

And we know that in a global economy, the nation that out-educates us today will out-compete us tomorrow.

In the 21st century, America’s success depends on the education our students receive.

That’s why, soon after I took office, I proposed an ambitious goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

And over the past year and a half, we’ve been putting in place policies to help us meet this goal. First, we are making college more affordable.

As students, you know why this matters. Over the past ten years, college costs have shot up faster than housing, transportation, and even health care costs. The amount student borrowers owe has risen al-

most 25 percent in just five years.

This isn’t some abstract issue to me. Michelle and I had big loans to pay off when we graduated. I remember what that burden feels like.

No one in America should be saddled with crushing debt simply because they sought an education. And no one should be denied a chance to make the most of their lives because they can’t afford it.

That’s why we fought so hard to win a battle that has been raging in Washington for years over how to administer student loans.

Under the old system, taxpayers paid banks and financial companies billions of dollars in subsidies to act as middlemen – a deal that was very lucrative for them, but unnecessary and wasteful.

And because these special interests were so powerful, this boondoggle survived for decades. But this year, we said, enough is enough.

As a result, instead of handing over $60 billion in unwarranted subsidies to big banks, we’re redirecting that money to upgrade America’s community colleges and make college more affordable for nearly 8 million students and families. We’re tripling the investment in college tax credits for middle class families. We’re raising the value of Pell Grants, and we’ll make sure they increase each year to better keep up with inflation.

We’re making loan repayments more manageable for more than one

million more students.

Future borrowers can even choose an income-based payment plan so that you don’t have to pay more than 10 percent of your salary each month.

And if you go into public service, and keep up with your payments, your leftover student debt will be forgiven after 10 years. As part of this effort, we’re simplifying financial aid forms, too, by eliminating dozens of unnecessary questions.

I’d also point out: one way we’re helping young people afford college is by helping them to afford health insurance. Because of the new health care law, young adults can stay on their parents’ health plans until they are 26 years old.

Second, a college education needs to be more than affordable; it needs to prepare graduates for the jobs of the 21st century. Community colleges – undervalued assets in this country – are well-positioned to lead this effort.

That’s why we’re upgrading these institutions by tying the skills taught in classrooms to the needs of local businesses in growing sectors of the economy.

The third part of our higher education strategy is making sure more students complete college. Over a third of America’s college students, and over half our minority students, don’t earn a degree, even after six years.

That’s not just a waste of money; it’s an incredible waste of potential that holds our country back. We don’t just need to open the doors of college to more Americans; we need to ensure that students walk back out of those doors with a degree in their hands.

Of course, that depends on students. You are responsible for your own success. But there is more we can do to remove barriers to finishing college, especially for those earning a degree while working or raising a family. That’s why I’ve proposed a College Access and Completion Fund, to develop, implement, and evaluate new approaches to improving college success and completion, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

So we are making college more affordable, gearing the education you receive to the demands of a global economy, and taking steps to lift graduation rates.

Because this is how we’ll retake the lead in producing college graduates.

This is how we’ll help students like you to fulfill your dreams.

And this is how we’ll ensure that America prospers in this new century, and that we harness the greatest source of our strength: the talents of our people.

Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America.

Conservative conspiracy causes cancerous conversation, creates counterproductive Congress There’s a theory known as Occam’s Razor, which states that “entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.”

The usual inCommentary terpretation of this phrase is that the simplest solution is most often the correct one. This is not to say that the least number of words makes for success, or that Noah Berman a correct theory must be as inelegant as possible-- far from it.

The Razor simply means that one should not assume that the bookstore does not have your book because an international conspiracy wanted you to fail your class, when in reality it was simply an unchecked box on an order form.

We apply this theory to conspiracy theories-- “the government is hiding aliens at Area 51,” the air force is testing secret war planes in the Nevada desert -- beyond necessity.

However, an Aug. 30, 2010 article in The New Yorker entitled “Cover Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama” revealed an actual, ongoing effort by two brothers - David and Charles Koch, owners of the mas-

sive Koch Industries conglomerate - to do anything necessary to push what has become an ultra-libertarian, ultra-pro big business agenda all over the country.

I’ll spare you the gory details (although you should definitely check out the article*), but essentially these two brothers are funneling their massive wealth into just about every ultra-right wing/ultra-libertarian cause they can see fit to fund.

When they reached campaign donation limits, they found political action committees to further their efforts. In short, they are, as the subhead to the article says, “waging a war against Obama” and, indeed, all that is left wing.

I don’t bring this up because I want to be alarmist; it is not surprising that massive corporations would support ideologies that help their bottom line. I bring this up because I want to demonstrate the results of what misdirected self-interest does to a nation’s politics.

The Koch brothers are using their influence to control the conversation in America. They do so in ways not necessarily in the interest of bettering society. Supporting Tea Party politicians, various lunatic fringe right-wing organizations and the like only makes our political discourse worse.

The Kochs are paying to further

the descent of our political language into nothing more than a shouting match, when they could be using their money to support people who advocate reasonable discussion.

It might seem hard to believe, but there must be Republicans/Libertarians somewhere who want to have reasoned discourse, only they can’t get any money (probably for that same reason) and so they would never be elected.

When the right supports these unreasonable people, the left, fearing an election loss, slides further and further right.

Simply having more money does not make a nation better, especially if the people with more money pay fewer taxes.

The Koch brothers feel that it is in their own self-interest to harm the nation by turning politics into a shouting match, and it is, but only if you interpret self interest to mean “getting me more wealth.”

The Koch Corporation will be made richer the further into the right, the further into deregulation the country gets. But the rest of us will, to put it bluntly, be screwed. Up the river.

Playing in traffic. We won’t have the taxes to pay for better anything, and the corporations who are supposed to take over public works projects for the government will be

Carolyn Szukalla /Illustrator

allowed to do shoddy work and improve again their bottom line.

So why are the Kochs so scary?

Because they can actually make serious profit by worsening our country.

The lower our standard of living gets, the more money they can make. Corporate power at the expense of the average human.

A capitalist version of the commu-

nist (not socialist! There is a difference!) ideology: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. *http://www.newyorker.com/ repor ting/2010/08/30/100830fa_ fact_mayer) Noah Berman is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Games

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

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Comics/Student Art

Last Week’s Solutions:

Comic by: Shere Khan

Sudoku

Figger It

Crossword

Word Search

Arts OUT ON THE TOWN Ashley’s Picks Thursday, September 9 9 p.m.

Anais Mitchell w/ Jared Bartman The Billiken Club Admission is free

The University News Thursday, September 9, 2010

10

unewsonline.com

venues within five miles of campus under $15

By KRISTIN MCGUIIRE Staff Writer

Your days of watching Glee reruns for the fifth time are over. There are an abundance of places to see shows in St. Louis; you just have to know where to look.

Those excuses- “It’s too expensive” or “I don’t have a car,” -won’t work anymore because there are 10 venues within five miles of SLU with tickets under $15.

1The Firebird 5The Billiken Club

Friday, September 10 6-11 p.m.

Quad Fest The Quad (outside Gries) 8 p.m.

AHLEUCHATISTAS with Eric Hall and Corrigan Brothers The Lemp Arts Center Admission is $5

3

The Lemp ARts Center

Where: 3301 Lemp What it will cost: $5 Website: lemp-arts.org

9 p.m.

Wavves The Billiken Club Admission is free

The performance space at the Lemp doubles as an art gallery. Shows are $5 and open to all ages. Located at 3301 Lemp Ave., the Lemp only serves water. Mark Sarich, artistic director, describes it as “a club- or community of young people who are excited about the unique music to be found here.” They do not select commercial bands or performers that fail to support the standards of the community.

8 p.m.

The Highway Companion with GACKSTATTER Fubar Admission is $4 Sunday, September 12

4Off broadway

2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Shrek the Musical The Fox Theatre For ticket prices visit fabulousfox.com

Where: 3509 Lemp What it will cost: $10-18 Website:offbroadwaystl. com

7:30 p.m.

Animal Empty, Run Run Run and The Neverhawks Off Broadway Admission is $8 for 21 and over and $11 for 21 and under Tuesday, September 14

Thursday, September 16 8 p.m.

Shrek the Musical The Fox Theatre For ticket prices visit fabulousfox.com 9 p.m.

Anais Mitchell with Jared Bartman The Billiken Club Admission is free

Located in the Busch Student Center, the Billiken Club is a great place to grab a bite to eat and check out some of the local talent. Most shows begin at 9 p.m., and admission is free.

You can enjoy a drink from the bar, while watching upcoming performers Wavves, Field Music and Times New Viking. “We do our best to bring music that is on the rise, from groups that are producing something new and innovative. Mostly, though, students should come because it is right in their backyard, and absolutely free,” Billiken Club’s Hunter Hostettler said.

Located in the Historic District on 3108 Locust St., Fubar is a loud rock venue that boasts jukeboxes, video games and two bars. Minors are allowed with a surcharge, but tickets are usually between $5-15.

“We were voted best all-ages venue by Riverfront Times,”a Fubar employee said. Upcoming shows include The Highway Companion, WORMROT and Allstar Weekend.

6:30 p.m.

Billiken Music Festival The Busch Student Center Amphitheatre Admission is free

8 p.m.

Shrek the Musical The Fox Theatre For ticket prices visit fabulousfox.com

Firebird STL holds rock/ indie concerts with ticket prices between $6-15. Upcoming shows include An Under Cover Weekend, Skybox, What Laura Says and Valient Thorr. Located at 2607 Olive St., Firebird STL offers reasonably priced drinks and a dance floor. The ambience is best described as comfortable and intimate.

Where: 3108 Locust What it will cost: $6-15 Website: firebirdstl.com

2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Shrek the Musical The Fox Theatre For ticket prices visit fabulousfox.com

Wednesday, September 15

Where: 20 N. Grand What it will cost: free Website:thebillikenclub.wordpress.com

2Fubar

Saturday, September 11

7 p.m.

Skybox, What Laura Says The Firebird Admission is $8-10

Where: 2607 Olive What it will cost: $6-15 Website: firebirdstl.com

6The Gramophone Where: 4243 Manchester What it will cost: $8-15 Website: thegramophonelive.com

8 p.m.

Paul Brown and the Killing Devils The Gramophone Admission is $10 for 21 and over

8 p.m.

Shrek the Musical The Fox Theatre For ticket prices visit fabulousfox.com

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

Photographs courtesy of University News photography staff.

This nightclub hosts shows with ticket prices between $10-18. Upcoming acts include Rene Breton and Ryan Hurtgen, John Henry & The Engine and Animal Empty.

Located at 3509 Lemp Ave, Off Broadway has a dance floor, patio and bar. Although normally the atmosphere is lively and loud, Off Broadway occasionally sets up chairs and tables and hosts acoustic bands.

This venue boasts an eclectic assortment of music, from jazz to heavy metal. Located at 4243 Manchester Ave. in the Grove, The Gramophone has free parking and a bar. Most shows are 21 and over, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming attractions include Paul Brown and The Killing Devils, London Calling and Wallpaper. Shows are generally between $8-15.

7Cicero’s

Where: 6691 Delmar What it will cost: $5-10 Website: ciceros-stl.com Cicero’s is not only a venue, but also a restaurant and pub. For over 30 years, it has been hosting live performers seven days a week. “We have the best sounding room in St. Louis, as far as small venues go. Our sound guys are the best in town,” manager Brian Colon said. Located at 6691 Delmar Blvd. in the Central Loop, Cicero’s is open from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. and charges only $5-10. “We throw great music and great beer at you,” Colon said.

8Antarctica

Where: 5226 Gravois What it will cost: $7 Website: antarcticalounge.com This indie-rock lounge is open from 8:00 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Shows are only $7, and some upcoming performers include David Vandervelde with Brass Bed and Turbo Fruits and Pujol. “I only book bands I like, which means if you like one show, you should like most others at the venue,” director Timothy Flynn said. Antartica has a bar, an indie-rock karaoke and indie jukebox. Besides concerts, the venue is known for its movie and karaoke nights. It is located at 5226 Gravois.

9Jazz at the bistro Where: 3536 Washington What it will cost: $10-15 Website: jazzstl.org

Although Jazz at the Bistro hosts some big names, student discount tickets are only $10-15. Upcoming performers include Eric Slaughter Trio, Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller. Jazz at the Bistro serves dinner and has a bar. It is an intimate and comfortable environment, and dress is business casual. Jazz at the Bistro is located at 3536 Washington Ave.

10CAFE ventana Where: 3919 West Pine What it will cost: free Website: cafeventana.com

Café Ventana can best be described as a French Quarter Bistro in our own backyard. Located at 3919 West Pine Blvd., Café Ventana hosts Thursday night performers and weekend jazz brunches. It strives to showcase local cultural treasures with its art exhibit and soundstage. Café Supervisor Lucas Prize describes it as a “great atmosphere with a lot of quality menu items.”

De las Mercedes aims to inspire peace with boxes

By MADELINE HENDREN Staff Writer

Artwork comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are big and some are small. Some are on a canvas and some take on a form of their own, but one thing they all have in common is that they each send a message.

For artist Franck de Las Mercedes, he had one specific message in mind when he started the Priority Boxes Project four years ago.

“It started as an initiative for peace,” de Las Mercedes said.

Priority Boxes are shipping boxes painted by the artist with a sticker reading, “FRAGILE: Contains Peace.”

The boxes are then sent to anyone who requests them from the website.

“It’s completely free,” he said. He didn’t want to change the concept by “putting a price on these gifts that are like intangible messages.”

The global art series started out almost by accident.

When he sold his portrait paintings on eBay, he would clean off his brushes on the boxes he would ship his artwork in. As an abstract painter, he began to create painting on the boxes. One day a clerk at the post office asked him if it ever occurred to him

that his boxes were also like works of art.

“There was the spark to come up with this concept,” he said, “in which art is accessible for all to view and see and interact with, but at the same time for relaying a message and questioning the value of entities like peace, love and justice.”

The concept of peace came from the constant headlines about the conflict in Iraq and the many conflicts in communities around the world. He wanted to use this project as a way to ignite conversation.

“I wanted them to really question the value we give peace,” de Las Mercedes said.

What happened with the project over the next few years was unlike anything he could have imagined. The project started out small in his art studio, but grew to a national movement.

“It has taken on a life of its own,” he said. “It’s kind of beyond me.”

When the project began, he didn’t know what to expect.

It was purely experimental.

People would keep the boxes as sculptures for their house, but many would also send him things in return. Some artists would send him their artwork in return, but what he came to expect most frequently were

pictures of people with their boxes. What de Las Mercedes was most surprised about was his boxes being used in junior high and high school art classes. Teachers used his project as a way to inspire children to make their own. His project has shown children that they have the power take an initiative.

He also found that people would request boxes that reflected strength or determination, sending them to hospitals and troops oversees.

“I began to get letters from young kids at a rehab facility,” he said, “They were requesting things like hope and strength.”

People’s interpretation of the project is constantly moving the project forward. When asked about the project, one question that always arose was, “When would the project end?”

“It shows no signs of slowing down,” de Las Mercedes said. “Every time I think I’m coming near something I can call an end, something new starts.”

De Las Mercedes’ message of inspiration has contagiously spread to the over 8,500 recipients of his boxes.

“I am still very much surprised by where it’s going and even where it’s taking me as an artist,” he said.

Photograph courtesy of Intercomunicados

Franck de Las Mercedes paints shipping boxes and labels them with a sticker reading, “FRAGILE: Contains Peace.”

By doing so he hopes to inspire peace.

Arts 8 Easy A follows formula for ‘Shrek’ typical teen comedy flick Thursday, September 9, 2010

A close friend of mine passed away last Film Critique week, and I would like to dedicate this review to him, though I am not sure he w o u l d agree with Brent Lang my review of this movie.

After viewing the trailer for this movie, I thought to myself, “This will simply be another teen movie, devoid of any real content.” Luckily, I was surprised after leaving the theatre.

Easy A is a teen movie about teen movies, and at times, borders on a parody of its own genre. Despite being directed by Will Gluck, whose career has mostly been on the small screen, it is able to operate without too many technical flaws.

The story is not profound or ingenious, and in that respect, it is able to fulfill the expectations of its genre. Emma Stone (Zombieland) stars as Olive Penderghast, the stereotypical nerd who is content spending her weekends alone.

The story takes off, how-

ever, when Olive lies to her friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka), about losing her virginity.

Naturally, this news travels fast, and Olive quickly earns the reputation as the “bad girl” of the school. In this respect, the movie loosely (and I mean loosely) parallels The Scarlet Letter, which Olive is reading for class.

In an effort to rise in the ranks of popularity, other nerds offer her payment in return for the ability to spread the rumor that they slept together. The predictable plot continues, whilst Olive must navigate the attacks of the “crazy Christians” of her school, led by her nemesis Marianne (Amanda Bynes). I thought that my friend might ask, “What other gags are there?”

While this is all too cliché for anyone that has seen any teen movie ever, one aspect of the movie does stand out. From the beginning of the movie, Olive breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly, in order to narrate her account of what actually transpired. This enables the film to become selfreferential and to reference its genre as well, as it does in other interesting series of scenes from other teen movies (whose relevance to current teens may be debatable,

but which seem to represent our teen film canon), including Grease, Can’t Buy Me Love, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Also, it adds considerable comic effect to the clichés that abound in the film, including a dance scene in the school gymnasium. Another positive aspect of the comedy in this movie was the witty one-liners that Olive and her male interest, Woodchuck Todd (Penn Badgley) exchange. While the dialogue may be too mature for actual high-schoolers, it doesn’t seem forced by the actors. Also, small roles by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) aid in the comedy.

Like most teen movies, it addresses the extreme public self-awareness that makes adolescence such a stressful developmental period.

Even though it does try to introduce serious discussion about bullying and ostracism in high school, it does little in the way of offering actual suggestions for current adolescents.

Overall, Easy A is a lighthearted teen comedy that can be enjoyed by all, so long as you don’t take it too seriously.

Easy A opens in theaters on Sept. 17.

unewsonline.com

tells tale of self-acceptance

The U presents graduate challenge

By GINA CASSARO Staff Writer

The U, a local restaurant catering to Saint Louis University students, is hosting its first “Eat a Graduate” competition on Sept. 11 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., giving competitors a chance to win up to $250 in cash. The challenge may seem like an easy way to win fast cash, but the new “graduate” burger requires an experienced eater and an impressive stomach to go the distance.

Adam Kustra, the owner of the The U, created this new challenge in order to launch the new burger. According to Kustra, “The Graduate” consists of two 6-oz burgers, four strips of bacon, two chicken fingers, Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, cheese sauce, chili, fried onion rings, thousand island dressing, giareiniera peppers and the bun, totaling about 1-1.5 lbs.

Despite the intensity of the burger, it is already more popular than Kustra anticipated.

Kustra said that he did not necessarily expect the burger to sell, but they have been filling three to five orders per day. Kustra calls the hearty burger “ a monster of a meal” but claims that it is possible to finish.

“The guy who helped me create it ate one in five minutes. It’s funny to see some of the people that order this burger. The other day a little old lady, around 65 years old, came in here and ordered one. She didn’t exactly finish it, though,” Kustra said.

The contest is a timed event, with the first to finish the burger in its entirety to receive the prize of $250 in cash. The second to finish wins $100, and the third is the winner of $50. There may be different rounds depending on how many people enter to compete, but regardless, the winners will still be taken

from the group of contestants as a whole, according to Kustra.

In addition to the challenge, Kustra is putting together a charity competition.

This competition, the Celebrity Charity Chow-down, will take place before the student competition and will feature local celebrities participating in the Graduate Challenge.

The winner of the Celebrity Charity Chow-down will receive $100 toward his or her charity of choice. Frank Cusumano, KSDK reporter of Channel 5, has already agreed to compete, and Kustra is still reaching out to other local celebrities to get involved.

The Celebrity Charity Chow-down is set to start at 3 p.m. the day of the contest with the other contestants beginning between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

In order to enter the challenge, contestants must fill out an entry form at www. eatagraduate.com and pay an entry fee of $20. A portion of this fee will benefit the SLU Entrepreneurship program.

Donations toward the charity will also be accepted throughout the event.

When asked why he chose to donate to SLU's entrepreneurship program, Kustra said, “I was a young entrepreneur when I opened this place.

I want to give someone else the same opportunities I had.

SLU and its community are a main part of our business, and I felt it would be nice to give back to them.”

The U is located at 3106 Olive Blvd, right off of SLU’s main campus. In order to view the event information online, visit www.theustl.com/ events/.

Noah Berman/ Photo Editor

The Graduate is piled high with accoutrements ranging from chicken fingers to thousand island dressing to onion rings.

Dream Works Theatricals / Joan Marcus

Dreamworks Theatricals & Neal Street Productions present “SHREK THE MUSICAL”.

Eric Petersen as Shrek, Alan Mingo, Jr. as Donkey and Haven Burton as Princess Fiona.

By MARIA MULDOON Staff Writer

Princesses, fairies and giant, green ogres? “Shrek the Musical” will be performed at the historic Fabulous Fox Theatre starting on Sept. 11.

The story was adapted from the 2001 Oscar-winning film Shrek, which went on to become a full-fledged franchise that includes three sequels and a variety of merchandise.

The unusual story, with an even more unusual leading man, has captivated audience of all ages around the world.

The musical brings to life many of our childhood favorites, such as the three blind mice, Pinocchio and even the ginger bread man, along with some new Shrek favorites like Donkey and Fiona.

The musical version of this new classic has been a sensation to stages nationwide. With the help of an energetic and experienced cast, Shrek The Musical has raised the standards for stageadapted films. One of the original Broadway cast members, Lisa Ho, said, “The cast is a new group; there is a lot of energy and creative changes being brought to the show.”

Ho explained, “Just walking into the room with such established actors can be daunting, but how can you not create something great? Everyone is so talented! The whole process has been five years in the making, and the [show] has gone through a lot of development. I think everyone will love it.”

Ho has been involved

Cross misnames university in I Drink for a Reason The following is a quote from David Cross’ I Drink for Commentary a Reason: “Lar r y [the Cable Guy], whether Nor thern, Souther n, straight, gay, male, female, liberal, conNoah Berman ser vative, Christian or Jew, I’ve walked them all. It didn’t matter if it was a roomful of ‘enlightened’ hippie lesbian Wiccans at Catch a Rising Star in Cambridge, MA, or literally hundreds of students at the University of St. Louis (a Jesuit school)...”

Oh, no - as the saying goes - he didn’t. Not the hippie lesbians- no problems there- but did he really have to go and call us the University of St. Louis? In a book filled with all manner of pedantic outrage, I feel justified in nailing Cross to the wall over this, this quote

from which I can infer that we here at Saint Louis University didn’t even matter enough to such a vaunted comedian and actor- a man who once “blue” himself on screen to the laughter of millions- to the point at which we don’t even get the name we deserve?

Come on, Mr. Cross. If your publisher is going to send us a book to review, they might as well make sure our university name is correctly attributed within your pages.

I grant that factual accuracy is not a strong suit of this book or of comedy in general, but surely we weren’t that terrible of an audience? You might see fit to - rightly - skewer everyone from Jim Belushi to the people who review music on Pitchfork, but what did SLU ever do to you?

Within the pages of I Drink for a Reason, Cross is as prone to profanity, as seduced by scatological humor, as hip to hyperbole as those who have followed his career thus far can expect him to be. If you

don’t know anything about Arrested Development or Mr. Show, shame on you, but so long as you have a vague suspicion that Dane Cook is about as funny as watching Schindler’s List at a funeral, you’ll probably enjoy this book.

Perhaps it might be worth it to note that Cross is both very liberal and very much an atheist, and you may or may not get much pleasure out of this book if you do not share those values, even if you hate Dane Cook. Hopefully you can at least see the comedy in his writing even if you can’t see the point of his prose.

Still, I never quite laughed out loud while reading I Drink for a Reason, but that’s not because the book is not funny.

The problem is that the material is very much suited to the stage: some bits either come from his stage shows or read like outtakes from the same.

Amusing is an excellent word to describe this book - I did indeed chuckle and spent cer-

tain portions of the book with an idiotic grin on my face. It was, in short, worth reading.

Cross isn’t who he is because of his ability to put together prose on a page, but because of his ability to perform live in front of audiences or TV cameras.

He is a smart, twisted, dirty comedian who can pull off a performance that will leave you laughing for hours, but do not expect an Arrested Development or a Cross stand-up level performance from I Drink for a Reason.

Besides, he commits the sin of forgetting our University’s name, something for which he should be forever apologetic.

Perhaps he might even come back here, for a performance of penance.

Until he does, I guess that little slip-up will just be his Cross to bear.

with “Shrek the Musical” for three years, on top of an already impressive resume, including the musicals “A Chorus Line” and “Mama Mia".

Ho portrays Baby Bear and Blind Mouse in the “Shrek” ensemble. When asked if she identifies with her Shrek characters, Ho said that she draws her inspiration from being the youngest of three kids and from her nephew. She describes her character of Blind Mouse as “sassy.”

Like many Shrek fans, she finds the villainous characters to be the most charming and openly admits that Lord Farquad is her favorite character in the show.

“He is the villain that you love; you can not wait to see him on screen or on stage.

You’re kind of almost secretly cheering for him because he is just so ridiculous,” Ho said.

The story of Shrek is not your typical fairytale. From the characters to the dialogue, Shrek welcomes a new genera-

tion of Prince Charmings and fairy godmothers. According to Ho, this is the key to the show’s success. “[The story] promotes accepting who you are and embracing our differences.” For Ho, characters like Shrek, Donkey and Fiona “should be the norm, not the atypical.”

Every audience member can gather an important lesson from each character’s journey to self-discovery. There might come a day where every leading man is replaced by a giant green ogre, and every princess chooses her heart over superficial beauty, but until that day we must look at Shrek and the rest of the cast to remind us that who we are on the inside is really what matters.

“Shrek the Musical” is playing at The Fox Theatre from Saturday, Sept.11 through Sunday, Sept. 26. The show is for viewers of all ages, and tickets can be purchased at fabulousfox.com.

Sports Volleyball Active Ankle Challenge SLU( 2-4) defeated Wake Forest 3-1 but fell to Creighton 3-0 and Iowa 3-2 last weekend at Chaifetz Arena.

SLU took Iowa to five sets before dropping the match 15-11 in front of a crowd of 1,668 attended the match, the third-highest total in program history.

Earlier in the weekend, the Billikens earned a 25-23, 29-27, 18-25, 25-8 win over Wake Forest but suffered a defeat at the hands of Creighton.

The team returns to the road this week for a tournament in Springfield, Mo. Host Missouri State awaits the Billikens in their first contest. SLU will also battle Oklahoma, which participated in the NCAA Tournament last season, and Utah.

Billiken Briefs Cross Countr y

Freshman Margo Richardson has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference’s women’s cross country Rookie of the Week, the first honor in school history. Richardson set a school record with a 5K time of 18:01 at the Duquesne Duals in Pittsburgh Sept.

4 during her first collegiate meet.

Next time in The University News Thursday, Sept. 16 • Recaps of men’s and women’s soccer games • SLU’s field hockey team plays home games off campus • A weekly look at intramural games and standings

The University News

unewsonline.com

Intramurals: a chance to play Fall sports commence this week

By BRIAN BOYD Staff Writer

Three percent. That’s the ratio of college students who are gifted and hard-working enough to play an NCAA sanctioned sport. The odds for us to be that talented are not too good.

However, do not give up your dreams of athletic glory yet. Saint Louis University students—intramurals are here for the rest of us to channel our inner competitor.

The Intramural Sports Department offers competitions in all kinds of sports throughout the school year.

In the fall, the beautiful St. Louis weather allows for a number of outdoor sports.

Students can choose to participate in one or more of the following: sand volleyball, kickball, softball, outdoor soccer or flag football. The most popular fall sports tend to be flag football and soccer, though participation has been rising in the others.

“Sand volleyball and flag football are usually the most competitive leagues, but the other sports are also very popular,” junior Bobby Ulliman, administrative assistant for the intramurals program said.

“Anyone can step in and play; there’s not a whole lot of athleticism involved. To be honest, it’s really just about having fun with friends.”

With such a rich soccer tradition here at SLU, many former soccer players are attracted to the University, and it shows on the intramural fields. Soccer has been one of the most competitive sports in the program, and most of the players are experienced on the pitch.

“Soccer definitely gets heated,” sophomore Mike Berens, a former soccer player, said “It’s a physical game, and there’s a lot of pride out there, even though it’s only intramurals.”

There are [also] some friendly rivalries.”

Each sport has multiple leagues, as well. Among the offerings are men’s, women’s, co-recreational, residence hall and Greek leagues. The men’s and co-rec leagues are split into two subdivisions, A

Submitted photo by Alex Cadell

Senior Sam Heaney returns a football in a flag football intermal game. and B. The A-league is more basketball is the crown jewel. competitive, as opposed to Competition is fierce, and the the B-league’s recreational turnout is huge—basketball feel. is the most popular intramuThe teams faceoff through- ral sport at SLU. out the fall. After the regular This year, the intramural season wraps up, play-off coordinators are raising the brackets are announced, and stakes when it comes to the the competition really heats basketball championship. up. In years past, winners The staff is making efforts to have received the coveted have the championship game intramurals of each divitrophies sion played in and T-shirts the West Pine There’s a lot of pride flaunting gym, having it their champi- out there ... some televised live onship. friendly rivalries, even on SLU-TV. “ T h e Each league m e n ’ s though it’s only championl e a g u e s intramurals. ship would be and Greek played on sep—Mike Berens leagues get arate nights in really intense, especially in the gym, givsports like basketball and ing each team its moment of flag football,” Ulliman said. uninterrupted glory.

In the winter, intramuWhen the weather picks up ral leagues are available in again in the spring, the focus volleyball, indoor soccer, will once again be shifted to dodge ball, basketball and outdoor sports. Many of the new this year, floor hockey. fall sports will be available in The intramurals staff hopes the spring, as well; flag footthat the implementation of a ball, sand volleyball, soccer new sport will spark interest and softball all return. and bring fresh faces to the And the intramural proSimon Recreation Center. gram is about more than just “I think floor hockey athletics. It is about uniting would be a great idea for the student body around a intramurals,” sophomore common interest and comEddie Desecki said. “A lot mon involvement. of kids probably played it In an effort to help intergrowing up in gym class and national students participate had a lot of fun with it, so I in intramurals and meet new think it will bring back some people, the international fun memories. I know I’ll be playing.”

See “Intramurals” on Page 10 Out of the winter sports,

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By ANDREW BUSH Senior Staff Writer

Creighton

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By MICHAEL JOHNSON Staff Writer

Sam Kelner followed his fervent passion of intramural sports all to way to his dream job as Intramurals and Sports Clubs Program Manager at Saint Louis University.

Kelner, a St. Louis native, discovered his affinity for intramural sports during his college years at the University of Houston. Whenever he was not studying toward a degree in marketing and hotel management, Kelner could be found on the intramural fields and courts.

“If there was an open spot on any team, no matter what the sport, I was more than willing to play,” Kelner said.

He says that it was during those games when he found the true meaning of his college experience.

“Twenty years from now, you are not going to remember very much from that freshman algebra class,” he said. “But the glory from beating the rival fraternity in a the championship football game, that will never fade.”

After college, Kelner put his marketing degree to use as he worked as a morning DJ for a Houston radio station.

He went by the on-air name of “Sudden Sam” and promoted tickets for the station in the

Ryan Giacomino/Photographer

Sophmore Nick Maglasang fights for a ball during a home Billiken match. The Bills return to action Friday, Sept. 10.

After starting the season with a loss at New Mexico and a scoreless draw against No. 16 South Florida, the Saint Louis University men’s soccer team enters Friday’s home game against Oral Roberts seeking its first win of the season, and its first win under the tutelage of head coach Mike McGinty.

Opening kickof f at Hermann Stadium is slated for 7 p.m., immediately following a ceremony in which the players will receive their 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship rings.

Despite the scoreless draw last Saturday, McGinty

acknowledged that SLU improved their play against South Florida.

“To date, I think it’s the best we played,” McGinty said.

“A number of guys stepped up and really responded well.

We left New Mexico with a bad taste in our mouth, but tonight we had good reactions, good attitudes and good mentalities.

“We need to keep it going in the right direction and get ready for an important home game against Oral Roberts next Friday.”

After a pedestrian first half, the Billikens turned up the pressure in the second frame, out-shooting South Florida 7-2. After two 10-minute periods of overtime, neither team

could find the back of the net.

Freshman forward Adnan Gabeljic, who came into the game as a substitute, injected energy into SLU’s attack, but his only registered shot soared high.

There were several notable absences for the Billikens against South Florida: senior midfielder Stephen Bortolon and junior for ward Mike Roach, the leading scorer from last year’s squad. Both veterans are dealing with recent injuries.

Oral Roberts enters tomorrow’s game boasting a 3-0 record, including an away victor y against a ranked Memphis. They visit SLU for the first time in six years.

Mike Roach and Beau Bellomy have been sidelined by injury since the beginning of the season. Roach, suffering from a broken fibula, and Bellomy, recovering from shin splits, both hope to return before SLU takes on Drake on Sept. 25.

W Cross country: team looks to improve on success

Men’s Soccer SLU

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Passion fuels program

mornings. But deep down, he knew his long-term future did not include the broadcast marketing field.

Kelner found his way back to the intramural fields once again, becoming director of intramurals for the University of Houston’s upstart satellite campus, located in downtown Houston.

Coordinating an intramural program at a less prestigious school provided its fair share of challenges, due to a limited budget and a lack of an actual recreation facility. Since the playing fields were so spread out, making sure proper equipment and referees were present at the games became a common problem.

“My station wagon essentially became my mobile office,” said Kelner. “I would load it up with all the gear and referees, and we’d drive to wherever in the city the games were going to be that night.”

Kelner was inspired by the way the students competed on the field. The school had a very diverse student population, and Kelner loved how everyone made a positive impact on the intramural programs.

“What I loved about intramural sports at Houston was how no matter what your background, race or religion was, everyone was equal on those fields.”

It was this love of the student body dynamic that led him to work hard to get the campus its own recreational center. He worked with construction and flooring companies to help get deals for the school to make the project as affordable as possible, and finally, in 1997, the University of Houston’s downtown satellite campus officially opened a student recreation center.

He did not get to see his dream of the recreation center in action, though, because Kelner decided to move back to St. Louis to take care of his ailing mother.

Kelner quickly got the job as intramural coordinator at SLU and has never looked back. He has seen the intramural program blossom, with roughly 2,000 students participating in the program last semester.

Kelner’s open-minded and enthusiastic approach has helped SLU’s intramurals program progress to what it is today, with hopes that it will continue to grow. As for now though, Kelner is just living the dream.

Tough draw for men’s soccer against nationally ranked South Florida

Volleyball SLU

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

Thursday, September 9, 2010

SMU

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By WILL WHITEHEAD Staff Writer

“This is the most fit team we have ever had,” Coach Jon Bell said before his Cross Country team departed for their first meet of the year.

Going into last weekend’s Duquesne Duals in Pittsburgh, Pa., the team’s mindset seemed unified and focused. Just as they were physically fit, they were mentally ready to compete.

“I feel very confident in this team heading into the first meet of the season,” said sophomore Jack Holstettler.

“Since early May, we have all been committed to work-

ing harder than ever before.

That is the key to progression – you have to train like the team you want to be, not the team you are.”

Last year, the men’s and women’s teams both finished in the bottom half of the Atlantic 10 in the November conference championships.

But with a more experienced team and a more rigorous training style, the squad expects to increase their standing in the conference.

“Even if an A-10 championship is not realistic for the group we currently have, we are going to work as hard as we can to place as high as we can,” continued Holstettler.

“We expect to place higher that mark by over six secthan ever before, and I feel onds. confident we have the athRichardson was also the letes here that can make it first SLU Cross Country runhappen.” ner to place first in a meet.

Last weekend in Pittsburgh, Going into the meet, the freshman Margo Richardson freshman said that she was and junior optimistic Hilar y Or f about SLU’s went first and at I feel ver y confi- chances second in Duquesne. the women’s dent in this team As a team, heading into the meet. the Billikens Richardson first meet of the finished set the school season. fourth place 5k record, in Pittsburgh, running a time the site of this —Jack Holstettler of 18:01. The year’s A-10 previous record of 18:07.05 was set by Laura Coyer in Championship.

2007. Richardson’s time beat Orf placed second in the

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same event, running a 18:07.

That time would have been good enough to break the previous SLU record had Richardson not finished out in front.

Sophomore Elise Medley placed twelfth overall with a personal-best of 18:49, and senior Sara Fraley placed thirty-third with a time of 19:34.

On the men’s side, senior Brian Holdmeyer finished twelfth with a time of 26:06, and sophomore Jack Hostettler finished 37th with a time of 27:06.

The Billikens have three more meets before returning to Pittsburg for the A-10 Championships in November.

Sports

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unewsonline.com

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Billiken fans search for new name

Ryan Giacomino/ Photographer

Blue Crew fans cheer on the Billikens during the annual Blue Out at Chaifetz Arena. The student organization is holding a contest to change its name.

By NEIL DuROSS Senior Staff Writer

ESPN has labeled them a “team to watch.” Atlantic 10 coaches already know the trouble they can generate. Saint Louis University students have seen the potential they have.

As the Billikens men’s basketball team nears another season, the Athletic Department looks to enhance student support for all their programs.

Blue Crew, the student led spirit group responsible for leading cheers and increasing student-fan participation at all home basketball games, is undergoing a name change.

After more than 10 years in service as the moniker for the organized head of the student section, group executive board leaders and Athletic Department brass

hope to put to rest the former Blue Crew the rest of the student section. name described as “generic” by both group “Previously there was the idea that Blue Crew president Mike Putnam and there was the Blue Crew and then there Assistant Athletic Director were the other students in Declan O’Neill. the stands,” “I think Blue Crew is Putnam said, “and We need something a good name, but it could students who didn’t buy be a name for any college that will make a name season tickets felt they team that has blue as a couldn’t cheer with the color,” O’Neill said. “I want for ourselves ... we rest of the fans.” Putnam to incorporate a new name hope to bring a fresh believes a new name will that when you hear it you start. create student section think ‘Billikens’ or ‘SLU.” cohesion that would put —Mike Putnam Hoping for similar to rest sludent divisions. originality, group president “We hope the name Putnam adds that a new name “can defi- change will bring a fresh start to somenitely bring some personality to what it thing all students can feel a part of, whethmeans to be a Billikens fan.” er they bought season tickets or not,” said Under the former name, Putnam Putnam. believes confusion existed between what In order to help increase this sense the purpose of the group was in regards to of ownership of the group’s name, the

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athletic department is currently running a contest for all University students to come up with the new name for the group.

From now until Sept. 16, students can upload ideas for possible name changes to www.slubillikens.com. Fans are asked to keep their entries appropriate. The best choices will be put on a ballot for students to vote on.

The student, or group of students, who come up with the new group designation will win season tickets to all basketball games, as well as pride in starting a new SLU tradition.

Putnam is looking for “originality, personality and some spunk,” in the group name submissions.

“We need something that will make a name for ourselves,” he said. “We will have a great team, and I think we can match it with a great student section.”

Coach of 15 years gets little recognition Women’s soccer coach has long record of success at SLU

By CHAD CARSON Contributor

For the last 15 years, Tim Champion has been the consistent face of Saint Louis University Women’s Soccer, racking up two NCAA Tournament appearances, two Atlantic 10 Conference Championships and three regular season titles during his reign as coach.

While Champion holds such an impressive record, hardly a student on campus can identify him as the head coach of one of SLU’s most storied sports programs.

“I love this university and think [University President Lawrence] Biondi, S.J., has done a great job here, so it’s not about being noticed; it’s about creating a program where student-athletes can succeed,” Champion said.

Entering this season, Champion carried a .673 win percentage, ranking 25th in all time for coaches with 10 or more years of NCAA coaching experience.

Not only does Champion hold such an impressive record, but he has been the only head coach of SLU women’s soccer since the program started in 1996.

In 1999, just his fourth

year of coaching the team, Champion led the Billikens to their first conference title.

So then why, when 10 students were asked, “Who is Tim Champion?” did only two correctly identify him as the women’s soccer head coach?

“I think people should know who he is,” senior soccer player Ashley Brazill said. “He is a very experienced and intelligent coach who has been here a long time and has been successful.”

While his name may go unnoticed, his accomplishments do not.

Champion was awarded the Conference USA Coach of the Year in both 1999 and 2004.

“It doesn’t bother me that I don’t receive much recognition,” Champion said.

“The most important thing is that our athletes are very good academically.”

Out of last year’s graduating class, two students went on to medical school, two more to law school and another two to finish physical therapy studies.

“Our players are very good academically and that’s what matters to me.

“It’s important to stay focused on what’s important: graduating on time and giving back to the community.”

Each year for the last 15 years, Champion’s team has worked with a special needs soccer program for 16 weeks out of the year.

“We want our players to be well-rounded students.

We want them to experience college fully and give back the community by being women for others.”

“I like playing for [Champion] because he really cares about us. Every girl on the team could tell you that,” Brazill said.

“He motivates us in practice every day to work harder, and because he’s so knowledgeable, we really respect him.”

Champion offers a unique perspective as coach, having obtained his doctorate degree here at SLU. “It was great going to school here and coaching because I got a feeling for what the students are going through in SLU’s [academic] programs,” Champion said.

“It gives me pride as a coach to have been a student here and really understand what this school is all about.”

While Champion’s primary concerns are education and giving back to the community, he still hopes for success on the field.

Intramurals: 2,000 students hit the field Continued from Page 9

league offers all the standard intramural sports, plus sports such as badminton and pingpong.

Basketball, like most other leagues, was a hit last year and shows no sign of decline.

The program looks to draw from international students from around the world.

“Last year was the inaugural year for our international program. It was very lax, kind of a pick-up league, but the turnout was great, especially in basketball and ping-pong,” Ulliman said.

“It helps international students become comfortable playing intramurals and meet people from their home country.”

Aside from offering athletic leagues, the intramurals program leaders have been working busily to offer “extramural” events, such as the

3-on-3-basketball tournament and a golf tournament in Forest Park.

The 3-on-3-basketball tournament was extremely popular last year. For $10 a player, teams composed of three or four players had the chance to play for a cash prize.

Not only that, but each participant had the chance to meet New England Patriots star Laurence Maroney and received a free ticket to a Billikens basketball game.

Last year, the winners brought home $150 and were recognized at the Mardi Gras basketball game against Dayton.

But don’t sign up for that looking to just shoot around and have some fun—the 3-on-3 tournament is a big deal. The stakes are high, and the intensity is even higher.

The tournament will likely take place in February.

The group also plans to

collaborate with Billikens After Dark to bring back the Stride Dodgeball tournament this year.

The Stride tournament offers teams the chance to win $500 while playing America’s gym class pastime.

Overall, the intramurals program is as strong as ever.

The schedules for all the games are available online at IMLeagues.com.

With the incoming freshman class as eager to play as the upperclassmen, intramurals will continue to be a staple at SLU. “I’m definitely excited to get a shot to come out and play,” freshman Mark Ladd said. “It’s weird not having a sport to play while at school, so intramurals will be a cool thing to do.

“It just goes to show that it’s important to be wellrounded.”

“We need to be very good defensively this year, and we’ll get back to where we want to be: winning the conference title and getting into the national tournament.”

Although the team is very young, Champion hopes to attain this goal through hard work.

“Everyone on this team works hard and when your players work hard, you can do a lot more with your team.”

Before his career at SLU, Champion found success elsewhere.

He posted an impressive 40-10-2 record as the women’s soccer coach at nearby Lindenwood University during his two years as head coach.

He was twice named the NAIA Midwest College Coach of the Year both years.

Champion also led both the women’s and men’s soccer teams at Cardinal Newman College in St. Louis during the 1984 season before becoming the assistant coach of the men’s soccer team at SLU from 1986 to 1992.

During that time, Champion also was named the Missouri Girl’s High School Coach of the Year in 1988, posting a 130-33-11 record with Nerinx Hall High School in Webster.

Noah Berman/Photographer

SLU women’s soccer team has been led by head coach Tim Champion for 15 years, reaching the NCAAs twice.

Women’s soccer falls 2-1 against top-ranked Southern Methodist

By TYLER VACHIO Staff Writer

After coming off their first win of the 2010 season against Marist, the Saint Louis University Women’s Soccer team was optimistic heading into Dallas to face Southern Methodist University.

The Lady Bills were put into a quick hole after a goal in the 12th minute by SMU for ward Amanda Bugart.

After halftime, the Mustangs put in another, this time from forward Shelby Redman.

SLU came fighting back and cut the lead in half with a goal scored by sophomore Alli Reimer. This was Reimer’s second goal of the 2010 season.

The Billikens had chances

in the closing minutes of the game to even up the score, but the Mustangs defense held the charge at bay.

In his 15th season as head coach, Tim Champion said his team was “not playing well in the first half, but started playing good defense in the second half.”

The Billikens have five more non-conference matches before the conference season opener on Oct. 1 at Rhode Island.

“The team is now shifting gears toward conference play,” Champion said. “We are starting to play better every day.”

This year’s team is young, but looks to exceed last year’s 4-4-3 conference record.

The Billikens have two matches this weekend; the

first match will be at Butler University in Indianapolis on Sept. 10.

The team then returns home to Robert R. Hermann Stadium to face a very tough Louisville Cardinals team at 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 12.

11

Sports

unewsonline.com

Thursday, September 9, 2010

2010-2011 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE OPPONENT

LOCATION

Tuesday, November 2 Saturday, November 6 Friday, November 12 Monday, November 15 Saturday, November 20 Tuesday, November 23 Saturday, November 27 Tuesday, November 30

Cardinal Stritch (Exh.) Nova Southeastern (Exh.) Austin Peay State Rockhurst Georgia Tennessee State IUPUI at Portland

Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena 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

Northeastern Southern Mississippi or E. Tennessee State

Cancun, Mexico Cancun, Mexico

TBA

Cancun, Mexico

Bowling Green Chicago State

Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena

DATE

Governor’s Cup Wednesday, December 22 Thursday, December 23 Friday, December 24 Saturday, January 1 Monday, January 3

Atlantic 10 Conference

Thursday, January 6 Sunday, January 9 Wednesday, January 12 Saturday, January 15 Wednesday, January 19 Wednesday, January 26 Saturday, January 29

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

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 Saturday, February 26

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

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

Wednesday, March 2 Saturday, March 3

at Dayton Xavier

UD Arena Chaifetz Arena

>>Times TBD

®

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