September 1, 2011
Volume 47 Issue 1
Local musicians rock out in the STL
PAGE 12
PAGE 9
PAGE 3
WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM
Baseball at Busch
Checks and Balances
SPENCER GLEASON SPORTS EDITOR
Benefit increase overshadows faculty raises
Moments after the final out is made during the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, on Sunday, Sept. 4, the STLCC Archers and Lewis and Clark Community College Trailblazers will take the field. It will be the second meeting between the two teams at Busch Stadium.
KURT OBERREITHER NEWS EDITOR Faculty contracts were settled in June after more than a year and a half of negotiations, during which salary and working conditions were modified from the 2007 contract. Faculty worked without a contract or pay increase during the 2010-2011 academic year.
After last year’s walk-off winner at Busch Stadium against the Trailblazers, 8-7, in the bottom of the ninth, the Archers look to continue their magical run on their field of dreams.
Salaries were approved at the July 2011 Board of Trustees meeting so modifications could be made to the 2010-2013 contract. Among other agreements, the college and faculty agreed to a step increase for the fiscal year. Changes in coverage under healthcare benefits as well as retirement costs, however, placed an increased burden on faculty members. “If you were just to look at the bottom line, that 1.5 percent is not going to cover the increase. We know we lost a half with the teacher increase in the retirement system so we’re down to 1 percent. Is that 1 percent offset by the increase in medical and costs through the college? I would say that 1 percent is probably wiped out,” said Doug Hurst, communications professor. Hurst, the co-chair of the National Educators Association (NEA) and the STLCCMeramec faculty committee, has been involved in three
“I think talent-wise, we’re looking very good,” Tony Dattoli, head coach, said after Tuesday’s practice. different negotiations during his tenure at STLCC-Meramec. When determining benefits, Carla Chance, vice chancellor of finance, said administration looked at Midwest average costs as well as national costs. According to the STLCC expenditure assumptions presented to the Board of Trustees in May 2011, $0.2 million more will be spent on salaries and $1.4 million on benefits this year. Despite benefit cost increases, Chance said the district’s salaries remain competitive. “I don’t think there is a singular response,” Chance said. “I think there is a good understanding in the district that the salaries are at market rate.” A change in health benefits, though, affects the bottom line of faculty income.
Continued on page 2
“The pitching has been very good. We’ve gone through stretches where we’ve hit the ball extremely well, but that’s been very inconsistant. The two things that matter most, though, are that our defense has played well and our pitching has been good. We’ll be able to manufacture runs, hopefully, on Sunday.” The Archers will take all 47 players to experience a day at the ballpark. Carrying 18 pitchers and three defensive groups, Dattoli will pull all the strings to make sure everyone has a chance to play on the same field as Albert Pujols Chris Carpenter and even Meramec’s own David Freese. “We think we’ve kind of come up with a fail-proof plan where we’re three deep at every defensive position,” Dattoli said.
Continued on page 11
Reconnecting and Recharging Faculty member travels abroad to spark creativity AMBER DAVIS ASST. ART & LIFE EDITOR Summer vacation is a time to kick off the shoes and waste several days until fall. But that was not the case for Michael Swoboda, graphic communications professor at STLCC-Meramec. Swoboda packed his bags and flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to explore potential projects with his colleague, Fernando Carvalho. “Our idea was for me to go there – since Fernando lives and teaches at the local University in Rio and to identify some little or large possible projects. So we can use our design expertise to help them out,” Swoboda said. Spontaneous ideas and reconnecting with an old friend is how this plan all started to go to Rio.
PHOTO BY: Hans Steinert Mike Swoboda, graphic communications professor, reflects on his journey to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this summer. Swoboda presented a lecture on graphic design at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.
“[Carvalho and I met at] University of Notre Dame and we loved collaborating ideas. He is more of a product designer or an industrial designer and I’m more of a graphic designer. So, we can blend our skills together. Earlier this summer I knew I was going to have a couple of weeks between the summer semester and fall semester. So I gave him a call over Skype, and we just reconnected. It was just an idea that came out of thin air,” Swoboda said.
Continued on page 10
.com
meramec montage
2 News September 1, 2011
Current enrollment numbers as of August 30 fall short from the projected 2.9% increase accounted for in the 2012 budget. According to budget documents, the fiscal year 2012 budget was build based on enrollment growth to 614,000 credit hours. Enrollment numbers show a current 5,289 credit hour shortfall district-wide from the census date, Sept. 16, 2010, enrollment data. Hours enrolled last year totaled 597,455.
Enrollment Numbers
STLCC-Meramec
MIKE ZIEGLER PHOTO EDITOR
1,111 Transfers
2010*
1,196 Transfers
1,341 Re-Entry
11,439 Enrolled 2,172 First-Time Students
2011*
2011
1,394 Re-Entry
11,337 Enrolled
6,701 Continuing Education
The district, however, is currently showing a positive increase of 97 students registered contrasted with 2010 census date enrollment data.
2,047 First-Time Students 6,600 Continuing Education
“I don’t think we’ll see a real big increase on first-time [students] because high school class sizes are smaller,” said Kim Fitzgerald, STLCC-Meramec enrollment management coordinator. “This is going to be not an issue not just for us, but all universities.” Meramec’s numbers show a 125 first-time student enrollment decrease from the previous year. Full-time student enrollment is also down 164 students while parttime enrollment is up 62 students. Fitzgerald said there is an increase in the 31-45 age brackets so far this semester. The difference from last year is up 33 students total among the three age brackets. Meramec is also showing an additional 53 re-entry students, or students enrolling in college after a period of absense. *2010 numbers as of census date, 2011 numbers as of 8/30/11
GRAPHIC BY: Lilly Huxhold
Faculty Contracts: Overload cap sparks disagreements Continued from page 1 In spring of 2011, Chancellor Zelema Harris disbanded the employee benefits committee after approving the United Healthcare renewal cost the committee disapproved of. The plan became effective in June. Following the removal of the benefits committee, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed three grievances with the college. According to Roy Shaneberger, human resource specialist for the district, Harris decided to disband the committee in order for the college to be “more proactive.”
“There was a feeling that we needed to expand,” Shaneberger said. “We wanted to look at healthcare reform and prepare.” The new plan saw an increase of employee premiums from $49.34 to $56 for the base plan. Co-pays also increased up to $25 on the premier plan and deductibles doubled. Prescription costs also increased. “That option shifted a substantial amount of cost from the college to the employees,” said Margaret Hvatum, Information Systems faculty and a member of the benefits committee. “We presented that clearly to HR and they knew that the entire benefits committee did not like that third option and had voted against it.” According to Hurst, another disagreement within the proposed contract was that administration wanted to cap the amount of overload a full-time faculty member could teach. Hurst said he thought it was important that faculty have control over how many hours they teach at the colleges.
*
* at the crestwood location for all of your school, team, or holiday function.
Crestwood (314) 822-4909 South County (314) 894-1600 Eureka (636) 938-7090
“The administration, ever since I’ve been involved, has always tried to cut into teaching loads: overload and summer. If you restrict what the faculty members can teach in the summer and overload, that means you have to hire more adjunct and part time people,” Hurst said. “And we know that at St. Louis Community College they’re well trained and we’re comfortable with that. However, our best employees are full time. We’re the ones on the front line; we make St Louis Community College.” The faculty maintained a maximum of 18 hours for fall/spring overload and summer overload. Administration argued that even though there were hours to fill, too much
overload teaching could affect the level of quality. “Faculty members asked how does no overload affect me? In this economic climate that we live in—and I only got a 1.5 percent raise, cost of living is going up and I pay more into retirement, my health benefits are going up. How am I going to make extra money? I’m going to teach overload; I’m going to teach an extra class in the summer,” Hurst said. “I’m not saying that we should encourage people to teach overload when there are problems. Let’s deal with those problems through the evaluation process. But having blanket rules that say you can only teach so much is not in the best interest of the district.” Hurst said ultimately, the changes should benefit not only faculty, but students and the entire district. “I am happy to still have a job,” Hvatum said. “It could definitely be worse.”
STAY UPDATED ON THE LATEST MERAMEC NEWS AT WWW. MERAMECMONTAGE. COM. ADDITIONAL STORIES, VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND STAFF BLOGS
News September 1, 2011 |
Student Center gets a fall furniture facelift KURT OBERREITHER NEWS EDITOR, BRANDON MORLAND STAFF WRITER The Student Center at STLCC-Meramec has revamped the area between the cafeteria and bookstore with new furniture. The new design featuring new benches, chairs, tables and overhead lighting was headed by Auxiliary Services Manager Kevin Metzler and Meramec President George Wasson. The school replaced the furniture as part of last step in the renovation of the Student Center. Even with recent budget cuts, the project was completed because the president’s office and Auxiliary Services office worked together to combine their funds. According to Metzler, the new furniture is the last of the recent renovations of the Student Center which included an updated cafeteria in 2009 and the bookstore in 2010. “It tied up the last little part that needed to be done,” Metzler said. Metzler said feedback from students has been positive. “I didn’t even know this part of the building existed for a while,” student Maurice Tolson said. “Usually, I go over to the library or sit outside of the classroom, but I saw this room so I figured I’d just have a seat.” The idea was hatched more than four months ago. Metzler said he doesn’t have any new renovation plans for the Student Center at the moment. Student Robert Nagle, who works at the
PHOTO BY: Mike Ziegler Taylor D’Aquila utilizes new tables while working in between classes on August 23 in the Student Center. The new furniture was purchased with funds from auxiliary services.
bookstore in the Student Center, has been outside the bookstore checking backpacks.
Nagle thinks the Student Center lobby will see more students in the following semesters.
“I think it’s a good add to the Student Center,” Nagle said, “especially in-between classes I see a lot of people - like every little circle of chairs I see somebody sitting.”
“It makes it seem a little more welcoming, a little more relaxed,” Nagle said. “I’m seeing more people than ever besides just going to the bookstore.”
Woman Entrepreneur Program assists with building business skills STEVE DUNCAN STAFF WRITER The Woman Entrepreneur Program is a 15 week small business curriculum designed to assist women wanting to start a new business or expand their current business and is enrolling until Saturday, Sept. 3. The program addresses topics such as business planning, hiring practices, strategic planning, networking, marketing and sales, legal issues, tax requirements, finance and asset management and economic trends. The Productivity Experts was recognized in 2006 as the Small Business of the Year by the Fenton Chamber of Commerce. Cathy Sexton, owner of the Productivity Experts, had started a bookkeeping business when she heard about the program and decided to take the course. “One of the biggest things for entrepreneurs is that they don’t know what they don’t know,”
“Get involved in chambers and associations. Let people know you’re there.” - Suzanne Lunnemann, Lunnemann Accounting Services
Sexton said. As a bookkeeper, Sexton knew the financial side of business. She said the program introduced her to the importance of marketing and promotion. Furthermore, Sexton said that students learn the reason for the business plan, how to research and the importance of researching competitors, and the importance and strategy of marketing. “It’s a worthwhile program,” said Suzanne Lunnemann of Lunnemann Accounting Services. She completed the Program in 1996 when she decided to start her business. Lunnemann said that many entrepreneurs have the idea of starting a business but are not sure what to do; this program clarifies what is involved in starting a business. “I learned that I didn’t know if I wanted to do this,” Lunneman said. But Lunneman did start her business and returned to the program as an instructor from 2006-2007, and her experience in business has taught her the importance of marketing. “Get involved in chambers and associations,” Lunneman said. “Let people know you’re there.” For many, it turns out to be more work than they realized. According to Christy Jaeger, manager of continuing education at STLCC-Meramec,only about 50 percent of the program graduates start
their own business, 10 to 20 percent citing that it’s “too much work.” Success largely depends on securing funding and writing a successful business plan, according to Jaeger. But in today’s economic climate, Marie Peters of STLCC-Meramec’s continuing education department said funding is difficult to secure and entrepreneurs are hesitant to start businesses, which results in low program enrollment. According to the Census Bureau, women owned 5.4 million non-farm businesses in 1997, up 16 percent from 2002. The number increased to 7.8 million non-farm businesses in 2007, an increase of over 20 percent from 2002. “The program started when women weren’t as common or as strong [in business],” Jaeger said. The continuing education program is going to make some changes to adapt to the demographic shifts, she said. According to Jaeger, the program will develop into a broader introduction to entrepreneurship for the spring 2012 semester, and more focus will go into the Plus 50 program, a program designed to engage learners over 50 years of age. For more information, contact Marie Peters at mpeters83@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7707.
.com
meramec montage
4 Opinions September 1, 2011
Living the dream
Off the eaten path
Remembering September 11th KURT OBERREITHER NEWS EDITOR This Sept. 11, 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our home front and a day most college students will never forget. Like the fall of the Berlin Wall or the first moon landing for previous generations, most of us remember exactly where we were, what we were doing and how we received the news. However, unlike those other events, that day is one we’d have rather not endured.
Great Harvest Bread Company JESSE HOFFORD OPINIONS EDITOR Looking for a new place to grab a sandwich and some coffee? Well, give Great Harvest Bread Company a try. It’s comparable to a St. Louis Bread Company but it’s smaller and has a kind of neighborhood coffee house feeling to it. Great Harvest Bread Company is located on West Argonne Dr. in Kirkwood and this little cafe lives up to its name with their sandwiches. Great Harvest offers nine different sandwiches in two categories, their “classic” line-up and their “signature” selection. Roast beef, ham, and turkey round out the classics and the signature options offer more premium choices like their Pepper Bleu Roast Beef and California Cobb, then all this is piled on your choice of bread. All their sandwiches come with lettuce, tomato, red onion, light mayo, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper but the sandwiches in the “signature” selection come with their own toppings for each sandwich plus all of the above. While their sandwiches may be delicious, you’ll find their focus is on their many different breads. Dozens of varieties of fresh breads baked in-house line the shelves in the kitchen area
and it’s all for sale. Offering everything from sweet cinnamon breads as well as a selection of hearty ryes and wholesome wheat breads. In fact, they have so many different kinds of bread they have a monthly menu of what breads are available. So patrons have the opportunity to try a new flavor each month. They give free samples of certain kinds so you can try before you buy. This is a small establishment and the kitchen takes up the majority of the space so there is limited seating inside. Only about twenty people can occupy the dining area at one time, but that is just about the only gripe. They do however offer carry out and there is a patio outside diners can use if they need to. Great Harvest also offers a variety of sweets and desserts as well as gourmet coffees and chai. Not only that but they have various homemade jams, hot cereals, cookie and brownie mixes, coffee, and baking tools available for purchase as well. Great Harvest is a nice alternative to the bigger cafe style restaurants. They use quality ingredients and boast enough bread flavors to last a lifetime.
America kicks ass Gangster Lifestyle KAVAHN MANSOURI EDITOR-IN-CHEIF Over the summer, I took some time to dig deep into my American roots. I went out to the capital, bought some new American flag pants and memorized the Bill of Rights. Now more than ever I can tell you, my dear readers. America… Kicks Ass. This year we will be digging into American culture. Taking a look at the lifestyles of our fellow Americans… starting with the gangster lifestyle. When our founding fathers came to this land they had a dream of wearing sweet flat bill hats and having tattoos on their knuckles that read “THUG LIFE.” They longed to put down their muskets and take part in rap battles to earn more street cred. These ideals and beliefs truly have transcended into today’s gangster lifestyle. When it comes to rolling phat, spinning rims and the American lifestyle, gangsters will win out every time. Nothing to me says, “Hey look at me, I’m rolling down the street smoking endo, sipping on gin and juice,” more than America. England? Nope. Germany? Nope. Switzerland? Slightly… But still, in the end you don’t get more gangster than America.
The average age at STLCC is 28 and puts them in junior or senior year of high school. As a traditional student, I was in fourth grade. I received the news from the principal at Our Lady of Counsel Catholic School during class. The message was vague like many other important issues such as sex ed. The announcement was probably along the lines of, “Something terrible happened in New York.” Don’t get me wrong, we were only nine or 10 and impressionable, but I don’t think the announcement would have sent the classroom into uproar; we probably wouldn’t have understood the magnitude of the situation anyhow. For me, 9/11 seems to be the point from whence all “nationally aware” memories stem. It’s the only national news I can remember hearing - much less caring about. It was traumatic, but I could never imagine the pain felt by those closer to the disaster and the following war(s). Shortly after hearing, I was picked up from school and plopped in front of the projection TV. Without cable there was nothing more worthwhile to watch, so I was consumed in the aftermath of the plane crashes until dinner rolled around. All news reports seemed panicked, despite the speed at which the events crawled along as footage of the plane on impact was suspended in time over and over. Rubble, dust, and fire filled the screen intermittently throughout the day. If we had the current forms of media ten 10 years ago our memories would have been much different: I could have whipped out my phone and had the whole story instantly. I could have read tweets from people at the face of destruction. And I could have watched impact videos on YouTube until I saw them on the back of my eyelids. Furthermore, this past May when Osama bin Laden was killed, I heard reactions of resounding joy that night while wasting time on Facebook before I heard anything from a major news source. Monday’s front pages were littered with exclamation points and things like “We got the bastard” and the people agreed. Most college students came of age in an era of war where the way we receive news is ever changing, and - until more recent catered media- each news sitting came with a side of “War on Terror.”
Scan here to check out the new Art Gallery and First Friday videos!
Opinions
Montage THE
www.meramecmontage.com
Kavahn Mansouri Kelly Glueck Mike Ziegler Hans Steinert Lilly Huxhold Kurt Oberreither Amber Davis Jesse Hofford Tomi Storey Spencer Gleason Kait Thomas Justin Villmer Shah Jahan Ali Matthew Bell Clinton Borror Luelana Bustamante Chris Campbell Kelsey Chitwood Steven Duncan Rachael Freeman Nick Herrin Jenny McWeeney Brandon Morland Kimberly Morice Tyler Burrus Alex Kendall David Kloeckener
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Photo Editor Multimedia Editor Graphic Design Editor News Editor Asst. Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor In-Depth Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer/Photos Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer
Shannon Philpott Faculty Advisor sphilpott@stlcc.edu To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., (314) 984-7955. Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessaritly the views of St. Louis Community College, the Board of Trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. (314) 984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. Editorial policy: All letters should be no longer than 500 words and must include identification as a student or faculty member, phone number and address for verification purposes. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for content and length. All letters submitted will be published in print and online.
Proud member of
Join The Montage The many benefits of working for The Montage include: An opportunity to attend local workshops and national conventions to hone writing, editing and designing skills, an opportunity to receive scholarships and compile award-winning submissions to include in portfolios For more information, contact faculty adviser Shannon Philpott at (314) 984-7857 or sphilpott@stlcc.edu. Applications are available outside the newsroom (SC 220).
September 1, 2011 |
Athletic Cuts: Necessary or Not?
Two Montage editors weigh in on the cuts affecting athletics
GRAPHIC BY: Kait Thomas
MIKE ZIEGLER PHOTO EDITOR
SPENCER GLEASON SPORTS EDITOR
College athletics have been dealt several blows the last two years at STLCC-Meramec and district wide. Programs were consolidated and some eliminated completely. Rather than have individual campus athletic teams they are now spread out as collegewide teams.
The rehashing of the athletic cuts over the previous two years only stir up feelings in the pit of the stomach of many administrators, coaches, secretaries and studentathletes, that have poured their heart and soul into the program over the years. Yet, it is a vital story of where the athletic programs find themselves today. Unfortunately, anytime financial cuts must be made at a school, the art programs and athletics are the first ones to go.
With the current economy and limited state funding for the 2011-2012 school year, it would not make financial sense to keep athletics at the level it was prior to 2011. Last year, teams were trimmed from 23 programs to 15 district-wide. The college was able to save $155,000 from the 2011 budget, hardly a large saving from a complete collegiate athletic transformation. Even after cutting nearly 10 programs, the college spent $1.5 million on costs associated with the approximately 260 students participating in the intercollegiate athletics in 2011. For perspective, $1.55 million funded from the student activities fee is allocated for college activities, with the first $200,000 set aside for athletic travel, in the 2012 budget. After money is set aside for athletic travel, that leaves $1.25 million to support, as defined out in the 2012 budget: college activities, student newspapers (such as The Montage) and radio stations, theatre, student government leadership training and student activities. This $1.25 million serves a far greater number of students than the $1.5 million previously spent funding college athletics for 260 students in the 2011 budget. As part of the 2012 budget, further reduction strategies were put in place to reduce the costs associated with college athletics. The college was able to save $624,509 from the 2012 atletic budget, most of which, according to budget explanation, came from administrative costs. With nearly every department in the college suffering from cutbacks, intercollegiate athletics could not have of been spared to continue at their bloated level in comparison to other student programs suffering cuts. College athletics play a very important role for colleges everywhere. Athletics help to hopefully provide a sense of pride among students supporting their teams in whatever sports their fellow peers participate. For some, it Is their only ticket into college. Once revenue numbers and state funding is increased to prior levels, whenever that may be, funding should be increased to student athletics to allow for more student participation and a wider variety of athletic programs offered. Right now, the college and programs nationwide are in crisis mode and it should be treated as such. The budget needs to be treated as providing the greatest good for as many students as possible with the least amount of money. We as a college and campus should advocate for a robust athletics program that will attract students far and wide to participate in, but not at the cost of a greater number of students suffering from cuts that the athletics program benefits.
Since 2009, the athletic offices across STLCC have dealt two big blows. The first coming in the fall of 2009 when STLCC-Meramec, Forest Park and Florissant Valley were forced to limit each campus to five athletic teams. The second, coming most recently when athletics were combined across all STLCC campuses-forcing the Magic to leave Meramec and the Archers to arch their way onto playing fields, connecting teams across STLCC. Perhaps there were other avenues of financial stress to be considered over athletics. Other cuts could have been in the Chancellor’s pay check. Last year, Zelema Harris gave herself more than the U.S. Speaker of the House, Joe Boehner. How lucky for her that there was not a bigger deal made of her salary. She retired after last year. The consolidation of athletics across STLCC took the breath out of the athletic buildings. All administrators, coaches and secretaries knew their job was at stake when the announcement was made. Those families financial situations were about to change. Across STLCC numerous employees were let-go and several job descriptions were lengthened to cover the loss of employees. All this, while all along the student-athlete continues to suffer. Sports are able to take on the role of a teacher that students can not find in the classroom. Individually, student-athletes are able to teach themselves how to work together to accomplish the ultimate goal. All races, all religions, the rich, the poor and all backgrounds come together. Athletics is the only place where this field of dreams happens. When a player bobbles a ball on the baseball diamond, misses a key free throw on the basketball court or the penalty shot goes wide left during a soccer game, the key is to pick yourself back up. Building character, the student-athlete is able to pick themselves back up and move on to the next moment. STLCC missed the ball. For the 260 student-athletes of last season, however, they picked themselves back up and they came out on top—a tribute to the coaches, administrators and secretaries who cheered them on the whole way through, even pushing aside their own sorrow. The purpose of the community college is to provide students with the opportunity to continue their education and segway from high school to the four-year university. If the number of student-athletes falls, the opportunity for a scholarship to help students ultimately achieve their goal of a higher education and affording it dwindles. While last year’s Chancellor Zelema Harris made more money than John Boehner, she forced athletics into a difficult situation and changed the lifestyles of STLCC employees and student-athletes alike. This is where we, as athletes and fans of the games, must pick ourselves back up.
.com
meramec montage
6 In-Depth | September 1, 2011
Equation for success: School MIKE ZIEGLER PHOTO EDITOR
Yashar Ali, a Los Angeles-based writer and commentator, after applying and not getting accepted to USC, took it as a sign and entered the workforce straight out of high school, choosing the non-traditional route of not going to college. “I think too much emphasis is placed on what students ‘should’ do rather than what they ‘want’ to do,” Ali said. “It’s the reason so many people live a life that feels unfulfilled.” The idea of not going to college might make high school administrators cringe in opposition. All public Missouri K-12 school districts are rated on a set of standards through the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP). Among the set of standards measured each year are college and career readiness. One way districts are deemed successful or not in this category is the percentage of students who attend postsecondary education. Additional measures that may be used for reporting purposes on MSIP’s annual report is the percent of high school graduates who not just attend a postsecondary institution, but graduate with an associate or bachelor’s degree.
e e r
er Ma na g
Ga min g
Cas i no
s
s e d Ai
p u S
o s i v er
r
us d In
“A common f e a r when
tha
bs
ng jo
ayi Illus trat or
“Making it more of a societal and cultural practice whereby people literally don’t go to school for a
Top
The transfer of the gap-year practice and mentality from European culture to the U.S. has yet to become wide spread.
we ll p
European students are typically encouraged to have what is called a gap-year upon graduating high school and attending college. The idea is to take a year off to work, volunteer and have a better idea of real world challenges.
A hesitation many students or parents and teachers come across when choosing or advocating to take time off from school is they will make that step to attend a postsecondary institution.
tD
What is a high school senior to do other than college after high school? Take some time off from school. That is the message from Duchinsky. “I would be an advocate to not abandon the pursuit of higher education,” Duchinsky said. “I would encourage a moratorium on pursuing that upon the graduation of high school, like a minimum three years maybe even five years, so that someone can go out and gain some life experience or some work experience.”
“If you’re here and you’re earning C’s, you’re earning college credit,” Duchinsky said. “You’re not wasting your time. It may feel like that experientially, that makes sense to me because you really haven’t found that thing that works for you. You haven’t found that fit, that thing you want to cultivate.”
ON ’T
If the state concludes a district isn’t performing adequately according to the overall set of standards measured each year, the consequences could include losing their accreditation and the State board of Education coming in and assuming control of the district.
Students who are anxious about what they want to do in their life may feel like their time in school or at Meramec is a waste of time. Duchinsky said to think otherwise.
re
“How do we define success or productivity?” Duchinsky said. “High schools want to be able to say this percentage of our graduates went on to college and this percentage graduated from college. It means something, but really does it mean what we think that it means or what everyone appears to agree with what it means?”
“You can discover how to think, and how to critically think. We have to be able to present logical arguments, to question appropriately, not to serve reactivity, to understand, make corrections and move forward,” Duchinsky said. “Otherwise we’re just stuck in the rut of rigidity.”
co Air Fli ll e gh Tra Est tS ge ffic ate e Sh Co rvi Ag de c n i p en eM tr o g Ca t ll e an r pt ag ai Ho n er m e Lo co m ot i ve E
“Often times I think students are overwhelmed by so many options,” Jason Duchinsky, STLCC-Meramec counselor, said. “I think in part what contributes to that saturation is the explicit message go get a degree, and then they’re pursuing degrees that don’t resonate with them as people.”
Both Ali and Duchinsky say the benefits of higher education cannot be dismissed.
Rea l
Deaton later said he was not advocating excessive tuition costs, just explaining parents have told him their children pass over MU for other schools because they have higher tuition.
“Skipping college does not mean you should drink the night away and then sleep until 2 p.m.,” Ali said. “It’s only if you have a drive to succeed on your own that you should consider not going to college.”
a
This year, as University of Missouri Curators debated over raising tuition rates to cover budget gaps, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said in The Columbia Daily Tribune the problem is Missouri doesn’t charge enough.
Not going to college should not be taken as the easy or lazy way out of putting the work towards a career, Yashar said.
In-
An inflated sense of value is perpetuated by the notion that the higher cost of a university, the higher value of an education the student received. This was reported in a 2009 study in the journal, “Research in Higher Education.” The New York Times quoted the authors as saying costs “serve as markers of institutional quality and prestige.”
period of time, they go and do service, it’s teaching, it’s making a concerted effort so people can figure these things out,” Duchinsky said.
qu ire
T
he debate is growing louder. Is college really worth it? An ever-increasing higher education cost and a more than 9 percent unemployment rate have more students asking themselves if a degree justifies the cost. The average student with school loans in 2008 graduated college $23,200 in debt according to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.
in g n
l rt ia
E
r e e
to to no not
In-Depth September 1, 2011 |
not required
GRAPHIC BY: Tomi Storey
eq u r O tD
students pose that question is they don’t want to follow through and take some time because they think they are never going to come back,” Duchinsky said. “It could be really a strong statement on where they’re at in their relationship with education.” Duchinsky said they need to deal with the possibility of not coming back.
Top
ll e w
p
ha t s tant b s i s o j s g nA a i n c i i hys ay
Fi
is g o l
t
P
cia n a n
l
Tea
er s i v Ad
r che
o e /G r n i e g n n E Mi st i t n e i c S ic s en r Fo Students attending fer r Su eb W type of school r ee
e degree g e l l o c ire a Doctor
Actuary
ta A c co u n
H
-R n a um
Man s e c r e sou
nt
ager
2-year vs. 4-year schools 2009
2010
2-year 10,503 students 11,215 students 4-year 11,759 students 12,752 students
o college or o college or ott to to college college
.com
meramec montage
8 Art & Life | September 1, 2011
From Hollywood to Meramec A journey from production to teaching film KIMBERLY MORICE STAFF WRITER A small office filled with books, film posters, awards and a Gumby and Pokey mug sits in the back corner of Communications South’s office wing. The office belongs to STLCC-Meramec’s mass communications professor, Robert Hahn. Hahn’s background and love of film fills his office, as does his love of the little green clay man and his trusty horse companion. Hahn expressed his love of Gumby’s orange companion. “I can relate more with Pokey, I’m more practical,” Hahn said. When a Meramec student walks into Hahn’s classroom, they may not realize they’re in the presence of someone with a large connection to Hollywood. Some may wonder how someone goes from Hollywood to Meramec. Hahn grew up in Philadelphia, Pa., and moved to New York to study film at Ithaca College. From there, he moved to Los Angeles with the hope of starting a successful career in the film business. Hahn ended up as a messenger at Kaleidoscope Films where he would deliver anything from scripts to fruit salad. One of the films being shot at the time was called “War Games” and starred Matthew Broderick. Even though he was working at the studio while the film was being made, Hahn does not consider himself to have worked on the film. “If by ‘working on’ you mean delivering a video cassette to the director’s house, then yes I did. It’s nice to be able to share things today that I helped work on when I first began my career.” Hahn eventually moved up in the industry by working as a legal “predator”: a producer, writer and editor in Hollywood for many years, producing and directing a few documentaries for a nonprofit company he started with a friend. “We would work for three or five months on a project and only get paid $600,” Hahn said. “We did do some interesting projects but the money just wasn’t there.” Hahn said he had a dream during a time in his life where he was not sure what he was supposed to do. His friend Tom Laughlin, producer of the 1970’s Billy Jack series, helped him interpret the dream. “The dream I had sort of helped point me to a new direction,” Hahn said. Hahn decided to go back to school to get his master’s degree in cinema and photography just across the river from Meramec at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. “I found myself teaching at Ithaca College for six years, which is my alma mater, so I sort of came full circle.” After teaching at Ithaca and SIUC, Hahn returned to L.A. and was quickly in need of a new job, one in which he could make more money and teach people about film. During one of his many searches for the right job, he came across an opening at Meramec.
PHOTO BY: Kimberly Morice Rob Hahn displays a film camera from his collection in the film lab. Hahn was a producer, writer and editor in Hollywood for many years.
“It had me written all over it,” Hahn said. Hahn felt as if the description of someone to take care of a film lab, teach the filming and editing process to students would suit him perfectly. “I was very excited, so I rushed to apply. Then I heard nothing,” Hahn said. One year later, Hahn was living in Los Angeles and was working for the Department of Homeland Security and training as a Transportation Security Administration worker when he saw the position at Meramec was opened again. “I thought this would be the last teaching job I would apply for, and it’s the last job I’m going to apply for a second time. Again, it had my name on it because they wanted someone to do super-8, which was me as a kid, 16mm film, which was me as a young student. They wanted someone to run an editing lab, which was me as a professional. And to teach film production and film studies, I thought that if I don’t get it then I’m not meant to be a teacher,” Hahn said. With that shot, Hahn received a call scheduling an interview for his future teaching position. After a day of training as a TSA, he snuck past his trainers to board a flight to St. Louis for the interview that would bring him to his office where he fiddles with the Gumby handle on his mug while thinking of how to describe his average day. “We have a real eclectic mix of students here. I teach them how to make movies and how to love them,” Hahn said. In Hahn’s film classes, students can learn how to use everything from the classic super-8, which is the camera he grew up using, to a newer HD camera. In every class Hahn teaches, it appears he tries to point out a new way to appreciate films to every one of his students. Hahn tries looking ahead to the end of the semester, thinking of what he will be able to give his students by the end of December. “Grades! Hopefully ones they’ll be happy with,” Hahn said. He stopped clicking around on his computer long enough to change his words with a more serious tone.
PHOTO BY: Kimberly Morice Rob Hahn demonstrates the process of cutting film. Hahn, a communications professor, teaches multimedia applications and film courses at STLCC-Meramec.
“It’s nice when I get a sense, and in the big classes it’s harder... when they indicate that they’re looking at movies differently now than they used to before. It’s nice to hear that. I’ve had students write that and say that they’re appreciating films in a new way.”
BY:Kell
Art & Life September 1, 2011 | !!! (Chk Chk Chk) frontman Nic Offer dances his way from the top of the stage monitors down to the sweaty depths of the energetic fan pit on day two of LouFest.
LOU
FEST
KELLY GLUECK MANAGING EDITOR
Last weekend indie rock fans soaked up the sun and rad tunes at the second annual LouFest in Forest Park. The festival featured local acts Jon Hardy & the Public, Troubadour Dali, Old Lights and Jumbling Towers. Founder Brian Cohen also brought in St. Louis-born Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio and a variety of other national acts including DOM, Das Racist, Lost in the Trees, The Low Anthem, Kings Go Forth, Cat Power, Surfer Blood, Deerhunter and more. Much like last year, the two-day festival had its fill of local vendors and eateries proud to put the ‘Lou’ in LouFest.
LouFest: Two Days of Indie Rock See full photo slideshow of the feautured bands online at www.meramecmontage.com
PHOTOS BY:Kelly Glueck
Left: Ume’s Lauren Larson’s hair whips and guitar thrashing drew a blossoming crowd. According to Euclid Records, Ume’s explosive set led to their title of top-grossing artist on the LouFest bill. Top: Lead singer Craig Finn gave his guitar a break as he allowed proper time to rock out after taking The Roots’ headlining spot.
The Roots had only missed six shows in 18 years; LouFest made seven. While the rest of the band was stranded in New York on account of Hurricane Irene, DJ Questlove filled the void by sampling 85 years of music.
.com
meramec montage
10 Art & Life | September 1, 2011
SUBMITTED PHOTOS The outer areas of Santa Marta, sometimes known as Dona Marta, are located in the neighborhood of Botafogo, which means ‘set it on fire’ in Portuguese. The favela, where Michael Swoboda, graphic communications professor, visited in August, has approximately 8,000 residents.
Swoboda: Trip abroad was ‘really invigorating’ Continued from page 1 Rio is the second largest city in Brazil and is home to some low-class communities, which are divided by a wall from the wealthy, in the city. These low class communities are better known as Favelas, where Swoboda spent most of his time in Rio. “It was really an eye opening experience. Rio is just a humongous city; it has about 19 million people living there, just seeing that… there is just nothing like it,” Swoboda said. “Rio is just this city of great diversion income levels. It houses some of the poorest people and places in the world and some of the richest places in the world.” Swoboda documented his journey with several pictures showing how the Favelas lifestyle is. Swoboda captured several low class houses, cramped together clinging on the side of a steep cliff overlooking the Atlantic. Other photos Swoboda documented showed how kids playing on a community center’s roof top. “The top floor of their community center lets these kids use it as a playground, so to speak. Which in the photo, you can see it just has a small soccer court. An idea we thought was to project shows and films on a wall on top of this building of this community center space there,” Swoboda said.
Sightseeing and coming up with potential projects is not the only thing Swoboda had on his to do list. Carvalho, Swoboda’s colleague, is a graphic design professor at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO). He let Swoboda speak in one of his classes to show his students what graphic design is like in the United States and other techniques that they might not know about. “I gave a lecture at a university and then I worked within a design class one day with [Carvalho] and his colleague. I was lending my advice about graphic design. And some of the students were interested in what graphic design was like in the United States,” Swoboda said. Swoboda said the students were overjoyed by what he had to say. “The lecture I gave was very interactive and some of the students came up energetically as I demonstrated a technique or a style. It was a class size of 35 students and they all almost spoke English pretty well – that helped, because Portuguese in itself is a very difficult language,” Swoboda said. Having an outsider from Rio lecture in a classroom, Swoboda said he believed it was good for the students. Being a guest speaker allowed
Swoboda to teach different styles and ideas. “it’s just like here, where it’s nice to have visiting scholars or people from the same field come and give their opinions, ideas and their experiences. It helps the students grow in a more dynamic way,” Swoboda said. Swoboda and Fernando are still collaborating ideas about potential projects they would like to conduct in Rio. But for now, Swoboda’s journey was an experience he would never forget. “To be able to travel [to Rio] is just fulfilling (especially for a designer who is looking to fortify their mind and heart with interesting experiences and visual ideas),” he said. “It was just really invigorating; [Rio is] a big burly complicated city. It has great coastal with mountains. Also, it has very grimy urban situations. It was cool. I was glad I did it.”
TRIO: Building Confidence, GPAs Student Erin Saengel attends Trio Project Launch Summer Program and gets comfortable with the campus. See full story online at www.meramecmontage.com
National Depression Screening Day Thursday, October 6, 2011 Business Administration Building--Room 105 10am-2pm 5pm-7pm
This event is: Open to the public Confidential Free For more information, call Jason Duchinsky at:
(314) 984-7565
The Counseling Department at STLCC-Meramec will offer mental health screenings, resources and referrals. We are here to help you.
Sports September 1, 2011
Baseball: Archers at Busch Stadium
STLCC baseball team plays after the Cardinals over Labor Day Weekend Continued from page 1
As a new era begins in the world of STLCC athletics, an old page is turned toward a new chapter. The written history of Meramec athletics puts on a new face—from green and gold to navy blue and silver, from Magic to the Archers, from Meramec to St. Louis Community College.
The Lewis and Clark Trailblazers will bring experience to the baseball diamond.
His career record of 17-19 and 78 strikeouts in the big leagues has helped draw young ball players to Godfrey, Ill. As for Dattoli, it will be his eighth game coached at Busch Stadium. His record sits at 6-1 at the major league ballpark. Both coaches know what it means to step foot on a major league field and the opportunity to coach in the same dugout as Tony La Russa allows Dattoli to live a fantasy for a brief moment. Then it will be time to get down to business as usual. “Anytime you get an opportunity to
For the previous student-athlete record holder, their dream season will live on forever as a ‘Once upon a time’ tale when rivalry mattered and bragging rights were an enjoyable part of playing for each campus. PHOTO BY: Mike Ziegler Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, will play host to the STLCC Archers and Lewis and Clark Community College baseball teams on Sept. 4.
coach in a major league ballpark it’s great,” Dattoli said. “I’ll be just as giddy as they will when we first start. I think I’ll be a little more nervous than they are because I don’t ever want to be beat in that game... We want to make sure that we keep things going on that [winning] track.” Fans of Archer baseball are able to get tickets for 25 dollars until Friday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m. in the athletic office on the Meramec campus.
NOW ENROLLING
BLS Healthcare Provider CPR Classes
meramecmontage.com
Meramec athletics will never be forgotten. That should be remembered. The blood, sweat and tears that were left out on the field make for great stories to be told for STLCC athletes to come. Those stories begin when Meramec had Magic. Today is a new chapter.
Preparing Students for Life Lindenwood University Offers
Call 636-949-4949, visit www.lindenwood.edu or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LUDayAdmissions. Transfer and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships Available
Writers
Cinematographers
The administrator and secretary who worked countless hours to make sure that their ‘family’ was given the love and support that was needed during times of slumps and times of cheer have lost some ‘family’ members.
• More than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs • Majors ranging from business to the arts • Small class size • Top notch professors who are committed to your success • A thriving athletic program with 26 NCAA teams and 20 student life teams • Beautiful residential campus in historic St.Charles • Great tuition rates and help with financial aid
Graphic Designers writers Photographers photographers Writers Editors cinematographers Ad reps graphic designers Cinematographers editors Graphic Designers Photographers ad reps
Editors apply Ad reps online
The coach whose ‘family’ grew by the hundreds over the course of their career and led their ‘family’ toward an ultimate goal, only to have their Magic taken away from them, has learned just as much from their ‘kids’ as they have taught them.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
The Meramec Magic team gathers in the dugout in between innings during the 2010 baseball game at Busch Stadium against the Lewis and Clark Trailblazers. The Magic had a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. The Magic had 55 players participate in its 8-7 victory.
The Montage Graphic Designers Photographers is looking Writers Editors Ad reps for Cinematographers
Spencer’s Sports Desk
When Meramec had Magic
“Guys will rotate in every inning. Defensively, almost everybody gets a chance to play three innings... The toughest thing is getting the pitchers in and making sure everyone gets a chance on the mound.”
Trailblazers’ head coach, Randy Martz, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1977 and was a major league pitcher in the early 1980s.
COMMENTARY
Information, Schedule & Enrollment
(314) 791-4009 www.allstarcpr.com
.com
meramec montage
12 Sports September 1, 2011
Arching their way toward a new season
STLCC women’s soccer team begins their season at home with a win against Allen County
PHOTOS BY: David Kloeckner Above left: Kayla Becktol (15) defends against Allen County’s Crystal Jerome (4) during the first regular season game on Aug. 26. Above right: Brittany Russell (11) slides in against Jenna Wells (15). The lady Archers defeated the the Red Devils at home, 4-0.
SPENCER GLEASON SPORTS EDITOR After the lady Archers finished with a 0-2 exhibition record, they kicked off the regular season on the right foot, defeating the Allen County Community College Red Devils 4-0 at home, on Friday, Aug. 26. The season opener also marked a new begining in STLCC athletics, as it was the first soccer game in the infant history of the Archers. The Archers have eight home games, with two of those home games being played at the STLCC-Florissant Valley campus on Sept. 13 and Oct. 16. Head coach, Juergen Huettner, has had his team practicing for the season ahead since mid-August. Huettner coached the Forest Park Highlander women’s soccer team from 2009 until their disbandonment earlier this year. Last year, Huettner’s Highlanders defeated the Red Devils 5-0. The season opener provided some oldtime Magic, as former Meramec Magic, now Archer, Jessica Schlichtig scored a hat trick for the first time in her career.
Two of Schlichtig’s goals came off penalty kicks and the third came off of a free kick.
Home
rcher Games
“It was nice to see us score the way we did, with four goals off dead-ball situations,” Huettner said in an interview with STLCC after the win against Allen County. “The goal keepers didn’t get tested much. I think the defense did an excellent job.”
September 10....................................................... 3 p.m. September 13....................................................... 2 p.m. September 14....................................................... 4 p.m.
In two games this season, Schlichtig has scored four goals, scoring the team’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss against Parkland College on Monday. With an early season record of 1-1, the Archers will continue their road trip against the Coffeyville Community College Ravens and the Pirates of Independence Community College in Kansas. Both teams have yet to find the win column. The Archers will return to their home field on Sept. 10 when they will battle Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at 3 p.m. “I’m excited, but I think we can get even better,” Schlichtig said to STLCC after her three-goal game. “We have a lot of talent on this team.”
PHOTOS BY: Hans Steinert LEFT: Midfielder Sarah Cook (5) and the STLCC women’s soccer face off against Webster University during their second exhibition game on Aug. 24. The lady Archers lost to the the Gorlocks, 2-1, after briefly tying the game early in the second half. The Archers went 0-2 during their exhibition games but have flipped the switch early in the season. RIGHT: Erica Kaiping (3) battles for the ball.