May 2, 2012

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Check out pages 7-10 for the second annual Journal Athletic Awards The News Source for Webster University Volume 65 • Issue 29

International students struggle to stay in US

BY JULIA GABBERT Staf Writer

When Alvaro Coronel let Quito, Ecuador, for Webster University in 2006, he had high expectations for his future. “I thought that ater graduation I would be able to work for a couple years, make good connections and, from there, keep moving up,” Coronel said. Instead, Coronel had to leave the United States in 2011 — a year ater graduating with a degree in international relations. Coronel is one of several international students unable to ind permanent employment immediately ater graduation. International students, who are required to get a student visa before studying in the United States, are required to purchase Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, which allow them to stay in the U.S. for a year after graduation while they are working or interning. Wenceslaus P’Oryem, associate director of International Services, said around 50 students apply for OPT each year. Coronel said the student visa that allowed him to study in the U.S. restricted him from getting work experience, because international students are not permitted to work of campus. “For international students who just spend all their time studying … that doesn’t give them much real world experience,” Coronel said. “Once you graduate, you can’t compete with people who are going to school and have several internships, and have worked for a semester or two. Our options are limited.” P’Oryem said international students are able to do OPT while they study, but very few do because of the cost involved. Students have to pay an initial fee of $365. Because they are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week — parttime — the students get less experience for their money. For example, if a student works six months at 20 hours per week, it only counts as three months at full time. “It’s very inconvenient, so a lot of students who want to work while they’re on campus look for internships which can do the same thing they are looking for,” P’Oryem said. hough he wasn’t able to work during school, Coronel said he was fortunate to have been very involved in several extracurricular activities. After he graduated in May 2010, Coronel got an unpaid internship with Russ Carnahan’s campaign for re-election in

UPFRONT

See International

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May 2, 2012 www.websterjournal.com

Congressman talks student loan concerns at Webster BY TIERRE RHODES Staf Writer

“President Obama put this in perspective… he said, ‘In this new global economy, for us to succeed and for us to compete, we have to out-educate… out-invest our competitors in this economy,” Congressman Russ Carnahan said, quoting President Barack Obama in a press conference held in the East Academic Building. On Tuesday May 1, Carnahan discussed the possible increase of student loans for institutions in the United States. Webster students and faculty were among the approximately 50 people who attended the press conference. Everyone seemed eager to learn how this would afect student loans. A signiicant amount of Webster students receive some form of inancial assistance. Approximately 34 percent of Webster students receive the federal Pell grant. Dr. Anne Edmunds, associate vice president of enrollment management, believes Webster’s mission statement includes helping to educate students who otherwise could not attain that information. She feels that reaching those students is truly important. “We want to make sure that being able to take out that student loan is something that they (the students) are going to be able to understand, that they think is worthwhile. But as interest rates go up, they think that (loans are) something that might not be as worthwhile to invest in,” Edmunds said. Webster tries to help their students by ofsetting the interest rates of student loans through ofering institutional aid. Although Webster wrestles with balancing institutional merit aid and institutional “need-based” aid, Edmunds said they want to achieve the enrollment goals of the institution. More than 15 million students in the U.S. have taken student loans. In Missouri, 161,000 students will be victims of the increase on student loans in the next iscal year. Missouri is one of the top 20 states that will be most impacted by this change. During Carnahan’s second term in Congress, the “College Cost Produc-

CONTRIBUTED BY JEAN WHATLEY

Congressman Russ Carnahan spoke about the possible increase of student loans at Webster University on Tuesday, May 1 in the East Academic Building. Approximately 34 percent of Webster students receive Pell Grants from the federal government.

tion and Access Act” was passed. he bill brought interest rates on student loans down from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent, where they are today. If Congress does not address the rising student loan issue by July 1, the rates will return to 6.8 percent. Carnahan believes this would be a step in the wrong direction. “In these times, we’ve seen interest rates of historic (increases)…we’ve seen college tuition creeping up among college students. his is deinitely, deinitely the wrong direction,” Carnahan said. his past Friday, April 27, the House passed a bill that would prevent the increase of the interest rate on student loans. Although the bill passed in the House with a 215-195 vote, other programs were

eliminated in the process. he preventative health care fund, part of President Barack Obama’s health care act, was eliminated. his would fund programs that help prevent cervical cancer, carry out newborn healthcare screenings and provide immunizations for children. “It places students and teachers in a hostage-like situation with healthcare. his is a great country, we can do both of these things…we can do both,” Carnahan said. Carnahan wants students to take a look at social media and speak up about student loans. He encouraged students to not only let the message reach the House members in Missouri, but also Senators such as Claire McCaskill and Matt Blunt. “I know this is inals time. Even though

I know this is graduation time, take the time to look at the social media to speak up, to let your voices to be heard,” Carnahan said. “And I certainly have heard from you. I have seen message ater message with the hashtag “Don’t Raise My Rates” on Twitter.” Junior anthropology major Kayla hompson, who attended the press conference, said it was a great opportunity to learn and to see that her interests are supported by politicians. “his was my irst time actually hearing Congressman Russ Carnahan speak at our school,” hompson said. “We need more congressman to raise awareness to students at our school.” Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Master plan prioritizes future building projects Bonds, donations fund the majority of building renovation, expansion

BY MEGAN FAVIGNANO Copy Editor

the board. Loren Douglass, senior and undergraduate representative on the Steering Committee, said this is an important time for Webster. “It’s moving in a new direction. It’s unfortunate seeing all these great plans knowing that I won’t be around. But it’s great when you come back — it’s your alma mater and, at the end of the day, for you want it to be the best it can be for all the students,” Douglass said. he interdisciplinary science building and the parking garage extension are both high priorities in the proposed master plan. Ater these two projects, Greg Gunderson, Chief Financial Oficer, said the university would begin other building projects to enhance student life, housing and athletics. hen, they would focus on the Visual Arts Studio. Gunderson said the order of completion of these projects is,

he Master Plan Steering Committee will be dissolved as the master plan moves toward completion within the next two months. he Campus Design Review Board was recently created to oversee the master plan longterm. It will help Webster establish landscape and architectural guidelines. he board’s goal is to keep the campus cohesive. he board met for the irst time on April 17. Board members will continue to for proposed garage expansion meet every time a building plan needs to be re- in part, driven by donor behavviewed. he board is smaller than ior. he university is looking for the Master Plan Steering Com- alumni and donor contributions. mittee and contains a mix of fac“We have to enhance housulty, students and administrators. ing, enhance student life and Depending on the project, a land- educational facilities. It has to be scaper or architect may also join done with a balance. Because if

$3-5 million

we do everything but housing, we will get out of whack pretty quick. So there are going to be moveforwards and starts on a bunch of fronts,” Gunderson said. “You’ve got to keep rationing it back and forth. he master plan implemen-

inancial reserves and with enhe standards for the Leaderdowment gits.” ship in Energy and EnvironmenWebster currently has money tal Design (LEED) certiication set aside in a capital fund. hose also afect the cost of building. funds have been accumulated Webster’s objective is that future over time. Some of them are from buildings on campus meet at least endowment gits speciically giv- LEED silver standards. However, en for future buildings on if the university decides to go for campus. gold certiication, the price of the Webster also issued building will raise. slightly larger bond, proposed interdisciplinary asimilar to a loan, it paid of last year, which science building brought $20 million into the capital fund. Web- approximate square feet for tation will be a balancing act.” ster extinguished its existing proposed interdisciplinary Gunderson said students’ bond last year. he new bond science building needs and the donations the uni- is less restrictive. versity receives would impact the Webster has added money university’s priorities in regards to to the capital bond in the past. future building projects. When Webster has money let Webster plans to use Luhr LiHe also stated Webster has over at the end of the year, some brary at neighboring Eden Semiapproximately $60 million avail- goes to the endowment fund and nary as a “swing space.” As they able for capital projects. Some of some goes to the capital project remodel one area, they will temthose projects have already begun fund. porarily relocate faculty, staf and such as renovations for the WebGunderson said educational students from that area to Luhr ster Hall elevator. Gunderson said programs will not be asked to Library. Ater using the library Webster has enough cash in the absorb costs of new buildings temporarily, Webster will center bank for most of the projects they and labs. Students will not have information technology in that will want to do for the next three additional lab fees to cover costs space. years. Ater that, Gunderson said due to the new building. Howmore revenue from increased ever, if a department wants to enrollment will help fund future add equipment or spaces ater the For more on the proposed projects. project is complete, students may “Our goal of these projects is have higher fees. Gunderson said building changes in the to generate more enrollment. And things change, but raising student master plan, turn to page 3. more enrollment is more revenue, fees to fund buildings hasn’t been and more revenue will create a Webster’s intent. base to fund additional projects,” Gunderson said Webster Contact the writer: Gunderson said. “We fund proj- doesn’t look for tuition to directly wujournal@gmail.com ects with debt, with accumulated fund new buildings.

$30 million

80,000

NEWS On the rise

Hang-ups about cell phones

Students struggle to keep up with the rising cost of a college education.

In this week’s “he Junk Drawer,” Opinions Editor Tim Doty discusses today’s cell phone capabilities.

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Buckets of love Student Lilly Dumar decorates cards and raises money for girl with genetic disorder.

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May 2, 2012 • The Journal

NEWS BRIEFS hird SOC Dean candidate comes to Webster he third School of Communications dean candidate, Dr. Osabuohien Amienyi, visited Webster this past week for an interview. He met with students, faculty and staf in a question and answer session on Friday April 27th in the Winifred-Moore Auditorium. Amienyi is the current professor and department chair of Radio-TV at Arkansas State University. Before getting into education, he was a producer and videographer in Nigeria and worked in radio and television in the U.S. Amienyi is the author of the book, “Communicating National Integration: Empowering Development in African Countries” and received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach and conduct research at the University of Malawihe Polytechnic in 2005. Amienyi received his bachelor of science at Tennessee State University, a master’s degree at Northern Illinios University and his Ph.D at Bowling Green State University. His specialties include video production, media advertising and sales, media management, international communications and communication theory and research. he next dean candidate is scheduled to visit early in May.

Baseball team wins sixth straight SLIAC title On April 29 at Shaw Park in Clayton, the Webster University baseball team won its sixth consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in a row ater defeating Fontbonne University in a three-game series. Webster completed its suspended game from April 28, and defeated Fontbonne 1-0 in 10 innings. he Gorloks then beat Fontbonne in the regularly scheduled doubleheader by the scores of 5-2 and 2-1. In the 1-0 victory, junior Steven Dooley started the suspended game ater senior Da vid Mueller pitched ive hitless innings at GCS Ballpark the day before. he Gorloks played on the evening of the 28th despite the storm system that plagued the St. Louis area. Ater ive hours of waiting for the storm to let up, the game was inally rescheduled for the next day. Dooley started the 5-2 victory and was relieved by junior Cody Hafeli, who received his sixth win of the year. Hafeli started the second game of the doubleheader and was relieved by freshman Issac Behme, who saved the 2-1 victory. Webster will be the No. 1 seed in the SLIAC Tournament on May 10-12 at Gilk Park in Highland, Ill. Webster is 19-2 in the SLIAC, and has a fourgame lead over second-place Spalding University. he Gorloks are 27-10 overall. Webster plays its inal home game of the season against Greenville College on May 4 at GCS Ballpark. Seniors will make their inal regular season appearance of their career and will be honored before the game.

MISDEMEANORS AND MISHAPS April 24 Lot J 9:02 a.m. A student fell and needed assistance.

NEWS

Scholarships fall across the nation Webster students experience the advantages and shortfalls of attending college BY AVA ROESSLEIN AND SAM MASTERSON Contributing Writers

Sean Hart had to pick — would he go to Mizzou, Southeast Missouri State or Webster University? hen Webster awarded him a $9,000 academic scholarship. Hart, now a junior at Webster, was ofered more inancial aid here than any other institution. He received his scholarship based on his ACT score, GPA and class rank. However, students enrolling at Webster next year who have the same scores and merit as Hart may receive less scholarship money. Vice President of Enrollment Paul Carney is concerned Webster may lose prospective students due to decreased inancial aid. Universities across the United States give institutional grants and scholarships to attract top students, and help disadvantaged students. he university doesn’t hand students the money. Instead, it charges them less than full price — like a discount. “Generally, over each of the past ive years, the discount rate has been higher for freshmen than it was for the previous freshman class,” Carney said. Carney said the undergraduate discount rate at Webster has gone from 37 percent to 42 percent over the past ive years. hat means 42 percent of students receive some inancial aid from Webster. Comparatively, the national undergraduate discount rate has gone up from 35.1 percent to 37.2 percent in the past ive years. But next year that discount rate will go down. A decrease in the amount of state and federal money given to Webster has forced that decrease. Even with the stabilization of national undergraduate discount rates, the average tuition rate for full-time freshmen entering college has grown. he average tuition-discount rate has climbed from 39.1 percent in 2007 to 41.8 percent in 2008 nationally, according to a survey in the National Association of College. Private universities like Webster are at a disadvantage when it comes to providing inancial aid for students be-

April 26 East Academic Building 12:32 p.m. A student fell and was transported to the hospital. April 26 Lot K 1:32 p.m. An unknown male exposed himself to a student and ran off campus.

cause they don’t get subsidies from Undergraduate Financial Aid Discount Rates the state like public institutions do. his is a drawback for institutions Webster University gives more than $21 million Webster’s discount like Webster because they have to in institutional grants and scholarships. National discount rates ind other ways to balance their bud- 50 get. However, that hasn’t stopped students from choosing Webster over 42% state institutions. “I looked at Mizzou (University 37.2% 37% of Missouri, Columbia) and SEMO 40 35% (Southeast Missouri State University), but Webster gave me the most (money) so I was like. ‘Oh ok I’ll go here,’” Hart said. 30 According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education Webster actually gives more scholarship and grant money than many other state schools. For example, Mizzou 20 gives approximately $92,924,291 in monetary assistance to students. Southeast Missouri State University gives even less, totaling $16,782,062 10 in grants and scholarships. “he reason I chose Webster was because of the scholarship — I got the most to go here,” junior speech and communications major Megan 2007 2012 Burns said. BY BRITTANY RUESS Carney feels it is a conscious goal for Webster to get the best and While the discount rate remains a big issue for Webster brightest students to come to their school. However, re- and other universities across the country, Carney said he cent news of the Fall 2013 drop in discount rate money has remains optimistic that the university will get through it. caused faculty, staf and administrators to be highly con“We’re trying to do the best we can for all of the stucerned about recruitment. dents,” Carney said. “he students are our kids. You all are “If we decrease the discount, we’re going to lose 25 extra a member of the family and we will all do this together.” students,” Carney said. “We need new academic program initiatives so we can get more students because they are interested in new programs.” Carney also feels adding athletic programs will help with recruiting despite the lowering discount rate. For example, if Webster added a lacrosse team, Carney said they Contact the writer: would be able to add about 20 extra students they wouldn’t wujournal@gmail.com be able to get otherwise.

Webster presets tuition BY JOSEPH BODENBACK AND MEGHAN STEINEKER Contributing Writers

Tuition is on the rise across the country as many schools ind their inancial support has decreased. State and federal governments provide funding for both public and private institutions. his money helps pay for school renovations, salaries and other expenses. But recently, both federal and state funding to schools was cut. To make up for these cuts, many schools have raised tuition. According to the College Board, public universities have increased their tuition 130 percent in 20 years, which can make public higher education nearly as expensive as private colleges and universities. “here are inlationary costs — new buildings, science lab, expansion, etc.,” Webster’s Chief Financial Oicer Greg Gunderson said. “he minimum (operating) cost for Webster is about $3.1 to $4.2 million. Mizzou probably used to get 60 percent from the state. Today it probably gets 30 percent from the state.” Public universities used to be rather inexpensive before the recession. But currently, outof-state students at Missouri University in Columbia (Mizzou) pay more than Webster students. Mizzou currently costs $30,000 each semester for out-ofstate tuition. he tuition at Webster is $21,688. Mizzou relies on the state government to help with expenses, while Webster relies on student tuition and housing to help. What About Webster?

Webster is a tuition-driven school. Ninety-seven percent of Webster’s operating expenses come from student tuition and housing. But salaries for staf are increasing to help with living expenses and the university will leave half a percent of these increases to cover strategic initiatives. his half percent will come from a tuition increase over the next three years. A majority of universities use reactive pricing,which raises tuition rates based upon the previ-

We promise you (students) a certain amount of inancial aid. — Greg Gunderson, Chief Financial Oficer at Webster

ous year’s student base. Webster is moving away from this kind of iscal policy to predictive pricing. Predictive pricing sets the percentage for the next several years. his pricing will be set on the number of students the school expects and the amount of spending predicted. Webster has set their rates at a three percent raise for 2012, ive percent for 2013 and three percent in 2014. he average rise for the next three years will be around 3.6 percent, which Gunderson says is less than the rate of inlation. Because college costs so much, scholarships are helpful for everyone. Unfortunately, funding for these has been cut. Webster has been sharing aid between students to make up for the lack of funds. “We promise you (students) a

certain amount of inancial aid.” Gunderson said. “But as the year goes on, we ind scholarships for you. hen we target that against your inancial aid. We apply that amount to help other students.” Jobs Many students are working through college to help them pay of their debt. Students take on part-time or workstudy jobs to help pay for school. Students all across the nation are attempting to get part-time jobs. Students at Webster try to get work-study jobs or budget positions. Even with a job, some students wonder if their income will be enough to pay tuition. Webster student Francis Ladege has worked at Freshens in the University Center for three years. his year, Ladege is taking 16 credit hours and works seven-hour shits four days a week. Ladege said he must prioritize and do his work on time. “I have no loans, and I’m paying for school out of pocket,” Ladege said. As students struggle to pay for school with the rising tuition rates, there is one thing to note — students as a whole are leaving college with more debt than the nation’s credit card debt. It is almost necessary to have a job due to the annual increase of tuition. Students pay more money out-of-pocket to make up for the lack of federal aid. Students can expect to need a job when coming to Webster. But predictive pricing may help students know what to save up to pay their tuition. Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

International students: Legal deadlines to ind employment prove diicult FROM PAGE 1

April 25 H. Sam Priest House 5:20 a.m. A student was found trespassing in a building after hours.

www.websterjournal.com • Page 2

Congress. Ater the campaign was inished, the internship ended, and he continued to search for a job. He then found another unpaid internship in New York City with the William J. Clinton Foundation — former-president Clinton’s non-governmental organization (NGO) — in November 2010. Coronel was hopeful his work with the Clinton Foundation would turn into a more permanent job, but Coronel said the paperwork of sponsoring an international student was too much hassle. “hey (nonproit organizations) take advantage of the fact that they have a big work force,” Coronel said. “It’s cheaper for them to keep hiring interns, where you have no pay, than hire someone where you have to keep them on salary. hat was really frustrating. “I was giving 110 percent everyday with the intention of impressing the people I work with to the extent that they would try to put a good word in to sponsor me or hire me. In the end, it was very hard.” Ater the Clinton Foundation, Coronel found a paid internship in Washington, D.C., with a nonproit organization that helps immigrants. Like his previous internship, Coronel said it looked like this internship would lead to an employment opportunity. Once again, the hassle of paperwork and time restrictions from his OPT stood in the way. “What sucked was that I didn’t know where I was going to be the next day,” Coronel said. “It was really hard to rent an apartment for short term. It

was really hard to make plans for the future because I never knew where it was. In less than a year, I lived in three diferent cities.” Ater three internships, the year deadline of his OPT had run out. He didn’t acquire permanent employment or sponsorship, so he had to go back to Ecuador. “It was nice because I wanted to see my family, but at the same time I did feel a bit of disappointment,” Coronel said. “I wanted to go back to my country on my own terms, not because I had to… I felt that I had more to give and much more to learn (in the United States).” Coronel said he always planned to go back to Ecuador, but he hoped it would have been later, when he had a few years of work experience and a master’s degree. Now in Quito, Coronel works as an international relations assistant to a law irm. He said he likes the work he is doing now but doesn’t love it, and that his internships in the United States were much more fulilling. “If I were somebody in power in the U.S., I wouldn’t kick out students or international students or foreigners who are willing to work, willing to invest in American companies, willing to give 110 percent every day to make U.S. companies better,” Coronel said. “I believe that every country in the world needs highly-educated and multicultural individuals, so I wouldn’t be so quick to turn away brilliant minds that could be useful.” Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Working on campus BY JEFF MOSBLECH AND NATALIE MARTINEZ Contributing Writers

he Federal Work Study Program (FWS) provides funding to pay full-time college students who meet inancial eligibility requirements for part-time employment at their respective universities. Last September, he Journal reported that Webster overawarded work-study jobs, which resulted in fewer positions for students this year. Liz CondonOakberg, student employment coordinator at Webster, said the same number of jobs were illed in the 2011-2012 school year as in 2010-2011. She went on to say most students who did not ile the appropriate paperwork for FWS by the March 30th, 2011, deadline appealed for funding and were able to receive an award for the 20112012 school year. he appeal amount was $1750, compared to the $2300 a non-appeal student received. Webster sophomore jazz studies major Juan Carlos Acosta is a student from Ecuador who takes part in the work-study program. Acosta works at the hompson Music Building during the school year. As the semester comes to an end, Acosta said he is looking for a summer job but is having a diicult time inding one on campus. International students are restricted to work on campus because of their student visa, which makes students like Acosta depend on work-study. If Acosta gets a job working on campus, he will be awarded work-study money during the summer. “Pretty much all I can get is a job through the school,” Acosta said. “We are limited to what the university can give us.” Because Acosta doesn’t have many options, he said he wants to stay at Webster for the summer so he can continue taking music lessons. He said it’s too expensive to go home to Ecuador.

Work study and paying the bills Senior audio production ma-

jor Derrick Snow works in the Multicultural Center and International Student Afairs (MCISA) to earn his work study. Snow said his job helps pay the bills while he is in college. “Being a full-time student and a commuter, in addition to having to pay for rent, electric, and insurance… Work study helps ease some of the stress caused by expenses,” Snow said. “he school caps your hours to 20 per week, which in many cases, isn’t helpful to students in my situation of having to deal with bills and school fees.” Junior Nicole King works as a student building manager for the UC, and as an Academic Afairs desk attendant. She also stressed the importance of her work study. “My everyday paychecks go toward: my groceries, gas and any kind of monthly payments for my apartment,” King said. While there is a cap on how much you can make while on FWS, many students at Webster choose it over traditional jobs for diferent reasons. “I do think it would take me away from the Webster campus because I would be spending more time at a diferent job. It might make my life a little bit more stressful and it would prevent me from being so involved because I wouldn’t be at Webster that much,” King said. Ted Hoef, dean of students at Webster explained why he thought FWS was important to some students while in school. “he type of part-time job a student holds is a big factor as well. Students who have oncampus jobs are more likely to be successful,” Hoef said. “hey are given the opportunity to develop a meaningful connection to the school. hey are also given a supervisor who shares their goals and can provide guidance. Ofcampus jobs, on the other hand, may compete with academics, are less lexible and may pull the student from being on campus and, therefore, connecting to the university.” Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

For more stories regarding the rising costs of tuition, visit websterjournal.com.

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NEWS

May 2, 2012 • The Journal

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MASTER PLAN: New additions proposed for campus

Illustrations by Victoria Courtney

Interdisciplinary science building considered top priority BY MEGAN FAVIGNANO Copy Editor

he proposed master plan calls for a new interdisciplinary science building near the East Academic Building (EAB). he new building is a high priority in the plan. he proposed building will hold arts and science departments. It will be approximately 80,000 square feet (compared to the EAB’s 90,000 square feet). Greg Gunderson, Chief Financial Oicer, estimates the science building will cost around $30 million, but several factors may change that price. Gunderson said students will not have additional lab fees to cover costs due to the new building. However, if a department wants to add equipment or spaces ater the project is complete, students may have higher fees. Gunderson said plans change, but raising student fees to fund buildings is not Webster’s intent. Senior Loren Douglass said Paul Carney, vice president of enrollment management and student afairs, mentioned in a meeting that the proposed interdisciplinary building will accommodate current and possible future programs. “hey want to reach out to student populations that we can’t attract

currently or that maybe we’re losing to other schools because students transfer out because we don’t have a program,” Douglass said. Matt Juergens graduated from Webster in 2011 with a degree in biotechnology/biochemistry. Now, he is in grad school at Michigan State. He said Webster needs more space and facilities for its science program. Juergens said lab experience is important, and students need access to newer equipment and technology. “We did a lot with what we had and professors are still doing a lot with what they have, but a lot more could be done, if more space and a better facility was given,” he said. “I think that’s a very high priority right now for Webster.” Gunderson said Webster currently is considering approximately 40,000 square feet for lab space and about 40,000 square feet for mixeduse classrooms in a new science building. However, the exact mix of classroom and lab space has yet to be determined. he approximately $30 million breaks down into lab space, which is $450 a square foot, and classroom space, which is around $150 per square foot. Lab space costs more because extra exhausts and lines for propane or gas and water are needed. Safe storage space for chemicals is also a consideration. Labs will be used for diferent types of science classes and will need storage for the diferent equipment and chemicals those classes require.

Overall, students need more space per square foot in a lab than in a classroom. A building’s price tag varies at diferent locations on campus. he current suggested location for the new science building is perpendicular to the EAB in front of H. Sam Priest House. “hink of them (the buildings) as Legos. It already has the heating and cooling, and Internet functionality we need so if we build reasonably close, we can connect to that,” Gunderson said. he university is already familiar with the underground aquifers. Webster has the area surrounding the EAB mapped out and knows it’s a safe place to build. he proposed science building and the EAB will surround Webster’s second quad (also included in the proposed master plan). he city of Webster Groves must approve the design before construction can begin, but Gunderson said the funding is in place. “We’re ready for the science building,” Gunderson said. “We need to do a new design ater we inalize location and square footage.” — Josh Coppenbarger and Brittany Ruess contributed to this story. Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Webster plans to expand parking Art building to be relocated BY MEGAN FAVIGNANO AND SHERROD TUNSTALL

BY MEGAN FAVIGNANO Copy Editor

An extension to Webster’s current parking garage on Garden Avenue is a high priority in the proposed master plan’s timeline. When the garage was constructed in 2001, it was designed to have an attachment. he master plan estimates a future parking demand of 2,200 total spaces — 425 additional spaces. he garage expansion will add 825 to 900 spaces. A design for the addition is already done. Webster is in the process of negotiations with Nerinx Hall High School to acquire property at the edge of the garage. When Webster looked at the garage extension three years ago, Gunderson said the cost was in the $3 to $5 million range. He said he imagines the potential cost today is similar to that range, but they will know more when they start the building process. Loren Douglass, senior and undergraduate representative on the Master Plan Steering Committee, presented on parking issues at Delegates’ Agenda in fall 2010. “For most students it’s not an issue of not having parking, it’s an issue of convenience and not having parking right by their building,” Douglass said. “At the end of the day, the parking we do have now serves this population adequately.” Douglass researched parking for Delegates’ Agenda in 2010 and found that while parking can be tight sometimes, it is suicient. Nicole King, junior, was the commuter council

Copy Editor and Staf Writer

Stu d e nt Government Association (SGA) representative for two years and presented on parking issues at Delegates’ Agenda with Douglass. Currently, King lives close enough to walk to school. However, she drove 30 minutes to Webster her freshman year. King said she never had diiculty inding parking, but thinks the issue was inding convenient parking. She said building additions such as the East Academic Building (EAB) make the garage a convenient place to park. “he new EAB has really changed the dynamic of parking,” King said. Douglass said the location of the garage makes sense. “When you’re trying to build your campus and build new buildings, and green spaces, moving parking to the exterior of campus just makes sense,” Douglass said. “It makes for a better on-campus environment.” King said giving parking attention in the master plan will make students feel better — especially because more than 80 percent of Webster students are commuters. Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Master plan includes new recreational center BY STEPHANIE LEFLER Staf Writer

Sasaki has proposed that the current recreational facility in the lower level of the University Center be rebuilt. he irm wants more input from students about the qualities they’d like to see in the facility. “he level of communication has been greater,” Tom Hart, athletic director, said. “I think there has been a level of understanding that what we have doesn’t work.” Gunderson said the new recreational facility isn’t the irst building on the university’s list to rebuild. However, when the time comes, student needs and wants in a new facility will be seriously considered. “I would like to see an indoor track so I could do sprint workouts all year round,” A.J. Wallace, junior audio production major, said. “I also think we could beneit from having more power racks. Right now whenever the student athletes are in there (itness center) they take up almost all of them.” Aaron Obernuefemann, junior mathematics major, is on the track and ield team at Webster. He said he doesn’t like when the track team does workouts in the lower level lobby. “It feels cramped and awkward when students touring Webster walk by,” Obernuefemann said. Obernuefemann would like to see an indoor track, weight room, pool and a gym in the new recreational facility. Some other college recreational facilities Obernuefemann said he liked were at Principia College, Illinois College and Rose-Hulman In-

stitute of Technology. A new amenity Sasaki has suggested is an outdoor, rubberized mat right outside of the recreational facility. It would be made of recycled material looring and could be used to do yoga and other low-impact activities. “Tastes change,” Gunderson said. “We have to talk to today’s students about what they want in a recreational facility.” Gunderson said not only will there be new amenities in the new recreational facility, but more space as well. “Today we have a student union center that provides both activities under one roof and the vision the master plan has is to separate the two,” Gunderson said. “What they (Sasaki) showed us on paper was approximately twice as much squared footage as what we have today.” Wallace said he still wants a new recreational facility to be free for students to use. However the costs involved in building this new recreational facility are to be discussed at a later date. “We want to provide a high quality learning experience that transforms students and, when you think about a university, it isn’t just about the mind, but the body as well,” Gunderson said. “We need to have facilities that support all various personalities. We need all people to be successful here. “ Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

For a full story regarding student housing in the proposed master plan, visit websterjournal.com.

One option of the proposed master plan calls for the art building to be moved to the current location of the University Center (UC). Madeline Brenner, senior art major, said the art department needs a new or updated space, but she wants some aspects of the current building to remain. “As an artist you need free range to mess stuf up. I like the fact that if you get paint on the loor — it’s OK,” Brenner said. Robin Assner, associate art professor, said the current VAS building is loved and students have made it their home. She said, recently, a conceptual drawing class wrote on the loor and walls of the VAS as part of a project. “I love feeling that it’s OK to make a mess,” Assner said. “I love the new East Academic Building but I would be afraid that I would drop paint on the loor.” Art students call the art building home; however, Brenner and Assner agree that students want a new space. “We’ve grown out of the building that we have now,” Assner said. “he facilities themselves we’ve kind of outgrown.” Assner said the darkroom, which is only ive years old, still loods and the drawing studio is booked with classes for most of the day. he art department uses classrooms in Sverdrup Hall for lecture courses and Assner said her photography students don’t have a studio to shoot in. She said the art department’s philosophy has outgrown the VAS building, too. “It’s not just I’m a painter so I’m going to paint,” Assner said. “(Currently) just having that cross interdisciplinary action is hard.” he proposed master plan places the art, music and dance departments together in the Interdisciplinary Arts Building. Steve Strang, senior project manager, said there may be more collaboration between the departments if they shared a building. “One of the goals (of the proposed master plan) was to create opportunities for cross functional interactions through larger meeting spaces and interdisciplinary buildings,” Strang said.

Strang said as an engineer, he sees a trend in building bigger and cross-functional spaces. he current VAS building is 17,882 square feet. he Hunt house is 2,470 square feet, Old Orchard dance studio is 7,774 square foot and the hompson house is 7,361 square feet. Together, there is approximately 35,487 square feet of art facilities and spaces on campus. Strang said the new Interdisciplinary Arts Building will be approximately 80,000 square feet (compared to the EAB’s 90,000 square feet). he Visual Arts Studio is a one-story building. Strang said a multiple-loor building would use Webster’s limited space more eiciently. It hasn’t been decided if Webster will build a new art building or renovate the UC to it its needs. Strang said Webster wants energy-eicient buildings and it may be cheaper in the long run to build a new building. Strang said the current VAS was a high school at one point. he hompson Music House was a residence. “We’ve done our best with those buildings to convert them, but they were never designed from the ground up to be music or art buildings. When we design something from the ground up, it will be better. Assner said she would like classrooms that can transition from studio space into a lecture classroom. She said having the technology to be able to have a slide lecture in class could only beneit the students. “By mimicking the more interdisciplinary aspect of an art building, it mimics more of the art world. You don’t go out there and just make paintings because you’re a painter,” Assner said. “hat (interdisciplinary element) can only emulate the real world in a small way.” Brenner said performance and visual arts could come together to enhance an art piece. Brenner’s graduating piece is collaboration between Brenner and an audio major. Another student helped Brenner with music composition for the piece as well. “It allows for more opportunity to experiment with those diferent mediums,” Brenner said. Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Larger student center to be built BY ANDY ARB Staf Writer

he new student center in the master plan is proposed to be a 65,000 square foot building. Because the proposed student center will be larger than the current one, students and faculty want to see interior improvements. “It would be cool to see a hangout room — just like a lounge with a pool table. A place where students could just go to go there,” Michael Grosch, who will be president of SGA in the fall, said. “A community center should be like a student hangout place.” Gunderson said he’s not sure if students will have a higher activity fee in the future. He said it depends on what students want in a new student center. “If you (students) decide you want a bunch of new functionality added, then conceivable fees will change accordingly, but students will be involved in that decision,” Gunderson said. Gunderson said he suspects students will want more out of their student life experience. He said he will have a conversation with students about the costs of what they want. For example, he might discuss with students how much it costs to maintain the pool. Justin Barton, Retention Initiatives Program coordinator, works in Student Afairs, and his ofice is in the University Center. Along with several members of Webster Athletics, Barton’s oice is a small cubicle. “I hope I have an oice with complete walls,” Bar-

ton said. “I don’t know what the architect is thinking for the inside of the building, but it would be nice to have our own undergraduate initiatives area for irst year experience programs. We are kind of scattered between each other right now. Having a centralized location would be great.” Barton would also like to see an improvement in technology in the new student center. “Webster is really great with technology, but we don’t have any smart board systems here. I think some smart board technology would be really great.” hough students and faculty want improvements in the new student center, Grosch would like it to keep the same qualities that deine the current University Center and Webster. “he thing about the University Center is that it’s a place where any student and every student can go to hang out,” Grosch said. “No matter what your style is, no matter what you’re like and no matter where you’re from, we have that to ofer. I think the University Center should relect that.”

Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com


4

Opinions Audiences respond negatively to sneak peek of the upcoming “Hobbit” movie saying it was “underwhelming.”

The Journal May 2, 2012

Seniors graduate and summer vacation begins soon.

The Journal weighs in on the issues QuikTrip in Arizona sells six $1 million tickets in one week.

Track and Field’s SLIAC invitational rained out.

Police tranquilize bear in a tree at University of Colorado Boulder.

Soy in Kashi products found to be genetically modiied. Graphic by Josh coppenbarGer and Tim doTy

The Junk Drawer Kids these days and their dang cellphones If my column has managed to keep your attention this far, this may or may not be the last edition of “he Junk Drawer.” I’m not yet graduating, but I will be transitioning into a new role next semester. If it returns in the fall, I hope you’ll continue reading it. If it is indeed my last column, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. Maybe I’ve given you some trivial knowledge to start small talk. And perhaps you’ll explore subjects you never thought about as you empty your own junk drawers and see what’s inside. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, and it doesn’t matter what age you are. It probably came from your grandparents or your parents. “When I was your age, things were better.” I love how they never exactly specify what was better. And if someone were to ask, “things” would probably be how cheap candy was or how fewer houses there were. Well, those of you who are my age — those considered Generation X and Y — survived the information era. hose of you who raised us survived it as well. And with the way some things are going these days, I only feel like saying, “When I was younger, things were better.” hat’s kind of sad considering I’m only 21. A lot of this has to do with how we use cellphones. I look at those who are younger than me. hose who are in middle school and high school, a place I was in not too long ago myself, I can’t help but think about what’s changed in the few years since I’ve graduated high school. Technology doubles each year. Look no further than our cellphones as evidence. I was in ith grade (circa 2001) when my family got our irst cellphone. It was a Christmas git for my mom, primarily so she could call us when she was at the grocery store to ind out what kind of cookies to pick up while she was there. If my friend had something to say to me during a class in middle school, they would have to — heaven forbid — wait until class was over to say it to me. If

my friends wanted to talk to me ater school, they would have to call my home phone. I feel like 15 years from now I will have to tell people younger than me about the mystical creature that was a landline. “When we wanted to talk to people, we had to use phones that were plugged into a wall in our homes,” I will tell children as they tweet it from their phones. Our home phones used to mess with the Internet too. Someday, you can tell your kids you had to log of the Internet if someone in your house wanted to use the phone. hen you had to spend 90 seconds logging back on to AOL. With 3G hot spots and free Wi-Fi, we are losing what little patience we had let. I miss the dial-up sounds as well. I got my irst cellphone during second semester of my freshman year of high school. I didn’t have texting until that summer, so if I needed to talk to someone, I still had to physically open (yes, open) the phone and call the person, and speak to them using my mouth. Now, you simply slide to unlock. Some people prefer texting to actually talking on the phone, which is ine, but that also means social skills have declined. When I see you texting someone at 9 in the morning in class or during a movie in the theaters, what could you possibly be texting them about? How dare you wake me during class or interrupt while I’m watching “Hot Tub Time Machine” when your text tone goes of. However, newer phones today are wonderful things. When we were once amazed at using highspeed DSL to Google something, we now simply look it up on our smartphones. If I want to look up last night’s box score, I could just check it on my

phone. Or I could, if I had a “smartphone.” I don’t own a smartphone, not even a simple phone. No, I own a remedial phone. Someone once joked that I may own the last remaining lip phone on Earth (that may actually be true). It’s a simple pay-as-you-go phone; something you associate with drug dealers. I can’t play “Temple Run” or “Draw Something,” unless the answer is the awesome background photo of Busch Stadium on my phone, or record a video. I can talk, text and play a futuristic game of “Tetris.” And on a good day, I can get three bars of service. But it does the job. Despite my phone’s shortcomings, smartphones are a wonder for today’s journalist or to anyone in any profession. With the newest models, you can look up scores, get the latest headlines, check Twitter, update Facebook, play games against anyone around the world. Communication used to require telegraphs and a knowledge of Morse code, the patience to receive a letter, or a string and two tin cans. Now, with a cellphone, you can text message your friend studying abroad or studying down the street. And of course, you can use phones to talk.

“The Junk Drawer” is a weekly column written by Journal Opinions Editor Tim Doty.

Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Webster students’ spirit is seen in a variety of events Activities throughout campus exemplify the mindset of Webster University Disclaimer: I am a sappy, emotional person, and as I enter the inal days of my undergraduate experience here at Webster, this has only been magniied. Cue the Vitamin C song “Graduation” — it’s time for a retrospective of my four years at this wonderful institution. I’ll start with a lashback to my Saturday night. I entered the Visual Arts Studios building, wearing bright purple tights and my hair teased back. he Webster Art Council (WAC) hosted one of my favorite annual Webster events — the art prom. Somewhere between the strobe lights, Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” and the trippy sci-i costumes, I found myself having a very serious thought. Or, at least, as serious a thought one can have while dropping it like it’s hot. “his is Webster,” I thought. ANDREA I was reminded of many times in my college career SISNEY at Webster when I heard people say we have no school spirit. Athletes and sports enthusiasts would agree with that statement, as would many students involved in organizations on campus. But I think our deinition of spirit might need some changing. Maybe Webster students don’t attend events like students at other

campuses do. Maybe they don’t cheer on or support other students in their endeavors the way they should. hat’s a choice each individual makes, and they have every right to do so. But I felt a special kind of spirit at art prom. I felt it as students grabbed strangers, pulling them into a mad conga line. I felt it when I walked into the art building as a non-art student and was welcomed. I felt it when I saw peers joining in on silly, ridiculous dance moves instead of pointing and laughing. I felt it when 50 sweaty kids in a small room sang Backstreet Boys at the top of their lungs. Webster isn’t about showing of peppiness or uniting under school colors. It’s about inclusion, acceptance and embracing the weird. Many instances throughout my time at Webster have embodied this spirit. From the collaboration and consideration that goes into every Delegates’ Agenda to the creation of a Quidditch team, from the way Webster Students for Environmental Sustainability (WSES) reach out to students from all backgrounds to interdisciplinary classes that encourage discussion and relection, a spirit of tolerance and seeking knowledge is prevalent. Of course, not everyone at Webster has this “spirit,” but even the mission statement of the university is evidence of our inclusivity. “Creating global citizens” seems pretty inclusive. But I personally think it goes past an institutional value. It goes down to the core of the students. Webster students value perspectives outside their own. hey value

Submit all letters to the editor and guest commentaries to wujournal@gmail.com by 2 p.m. on Monday. THE JOURNAL The News Source for Webster University

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Vol. 65 Issue 29

Andrea Sisney is a senior journalism major and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal.

Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Letter to the Editor

Letters and commentaries he Journal welcomes letters to the editor and guest commentaries. Letters to the editor must be fewer than 200 words. Guest commentaries must be between 450 and 750 words, and guest writers must have their photograph taken to run with their commentaries. All letters to the editor and guest commentaries must be signed. he Journal will edit all submitted pieces for grammar, style and clarity. If there are any substantial revisions, the writer will be notiied and allowed to edit his or her own writing.

opportunities and experiences that place them outside their comfort zones. hey value people, from all walks of life. And they value the freedom of choice. Above all, Webster students value being able to be independent people. So as the class of 2012 looks at what they’ve accomplished here, it is my hope that they recognize the Webster spirit they’ve picked up. It isn’t a sports game or mutual hatred of another school that bonds us. It isn’t a cocky belief that Webster is better than all others. Our spirit is one of experimentation and expression. Our spirit is the mutual understanding of others. Our spirit is the feeling of joy we get from serving others and seeking to relate to other cultures. Our spirit is the best parts of ourselves as humans, of Webster as an institution and of education itself.

Dear Editor, I was disappointed that the Journal did not feature any print coverage this year of Webster University’s largest International event, I Fest. I Fest provides our international students an opportunity to share their cultures and celebrate the diversity of our campus community in a festival environment. Over 300 people attended this year’s festival, and there were many aspects of the event that would have made compelling news. From highlighting the stories of our talented student performers (both U.S. and international, graduate and undergraduate), interviews with students representing their cultures at regional booths (what could you have learned about Guyana or Nepal, for example?) or digging a little deeper to discover that our henna artists were representing a local non-

Editor-in-Chief Andrea Sisney Managing Editor Brittany Ruess News Editor Alexandra Brandt Opinions Editor Tim Doty Lifestyle Editor Caillin Murray Sports Editor Josh Sellmeyer Copy Editors Megan Favignano Megan Senseney

Web Master Hilary Rallo Photo Editor David Nash Multimedia Editor Evan Mueller Assistant Multimedia Editor Josh Coppenbarger Business Manager Stefanie Clynes journaladmgr@gmail.com

Marketing Manager Paige Lape Advertising Manager Erin Willmann Calendar Editor Hayden Andrews

Staf Andy Arb Briana Baker Victoria Courtney Victoria Dickson Eric Fuchs Julia Gabbert Akira Komatsu Stepahnie Leler Haley Luke Sam Masterson John Pohl Tierre Rhodes Sherrod Tunstall

proit supporting survivors of torture, there were many compelling stories that support the mission and vision of our institution. I wish that the Journal had featured at least one print story showing our students sharing across cultures at I Fest. I truly feel this was a missed opportunity. Sincerely, Bethany Keller Assistant Director for the Multicultural Center and International Student Afairs (MCISA) at Webster University

Photographers Max Bouvatte Victoria Caswell Brittany Ruess Sean Sandefur Gale Whitehead Advisers Editorial Larry Baden Photography Robert LaRouche General Manager Amanda Westrich

he Journal is the oicial student publication of Webster University. Unsigned editorials relect the opinion of the newspaper, not necessarily that of the university or the Publications Board. he opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily relect those of he Journal. All text, photos, graphics and other content are copyrighted by he Journal and may not be reproduced without permission. Any photograph that has been substantially altered or staged for use as a graphic will be labeled as a photo illustration. he Journal reserves the right to reject advertising, stories, columns or letters to the editor that it deems graphic, obscene or that discriminate on the basis of race, culture, gender or sexual orientation. Single copies of he Journal are free; for additional copies, contact the business oice, located in the Sverdrup building, room 247, on the Webster Groves campus.


LifeStyle

5

The Journal May 2, 2012

Student sends Buckets of Love to toddler Webster student holds card making fundraising event to raise money for sick 3-year-old and donations from Webster students and faculty. Webster’s Swim Club helped sponsor the event. Ally Hennessey, 3, smiled as Dumar set up the table April she pawed through a stack of 23 to 26 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. brightly-decorated cards lying on Her goal was to raise $100. Howtop of a table. he front of each ever, she exceeded that goal and card featured a diferent hand- raised $128.44. he Hennesseys drawn design. Many cards had said the money will help fund Ally lowers and butterlies adorning Hennessey’s treatment. their fronts. Every card had the Ally Hennessey was diagnosed name “Ally” written across it in with NF1 when she was 9 months big letters. old. She had been complaining of Lilly Dumar, sophomore jour- daily headaches for weeks when nalism major, collected these her parents took her to the hospicards for Hennessey. Dumar set tal. An MRI found an optic glioup a table in the University Cen- ma, a tumor on her optic nerve. ter to collect cards for Hennessey. Shannon Hennessey said Dumar also collected donations about 15 percent of children with to help pay for treatment of Hen- NF1 get optic gliomas, and an nessey’s genetic disorder. even smaller percentage require “his isn’t an adult we’re talk- chemotherapy to shrink the tuing about. Not that’s it’s OK for an mor. adult to (have a serious illness), Ally Hennessey is a rare case, but a 3-year-old, who hasn’t done but she acts like a typical 3-yearany growing up yet, she still has so old girl. much ahead of her,” Dumar said. “She is amazing,” Shannon “hat kind of just struck a chord Hennessey said. “I know a lot of with me. I was like, ‘I can’t just sit parents say that about their kids, here and let this happen.’” but every time she goes into the Hennessey has Neuroibroma- hospital, they have to stick a neetosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic dis- dle into her chest to get blood and order, which caused a tumor to all that…” grow over her let optical nerve. Finishing his wife’s sentence, he tumor is benign, but it con- Ed Hennessey said, “She doesn’t tinued to grow until it began to care. She just goes in (pretends to damage Hennessey’s vision in her lit shirt up), ‘Poke me!’” let eye. Ed Hennessey said Ally HenAlly Hennessey started che- nessey gets excited when she gets motherapy in an attempt to halt a brain MRI. the growth of the tumor on Au“She’s like, ‘Oh great, brain gust 18, her mother Shannon pictures! It’s time to smile (for the Hennessey said. camera),’” Ed Hennessey said. “ S h e Ally should get Hennessey’s the port parents out (a small think she is hat’s what’s important to medical able to cope her, is the card. She doesn’t appliance with the care about the co-pays at the inserted difficulties hospital. beneath of the illthe skin to ness easier deliver chebecause she motherapy) was diagEd Hennessey, in Februnosed so Ally Hennessey’s father ary,” Shanyoung. non Hen“By nessey said. the time “And then she was old we promised her a trip to Disney.” enough to be aware of what was Dumar heard about Ally Hen- going on around her, it (glioma nessey’s story from a friend. he treatment) was already a part of friend asked her to make cards for her routine,” Ed Hennessey said. Ally Hennessey, because she said “She doesn’t know that chemo is the little girl loved receiving cards. bad.” Instead, Dumar decided to place Dumar named the event Bucka table in the UC to collect cards ets of Love ater she decided to BY CAILLIN MURRAY Lifestyle Editor

CAILLIN MURRAY / he Journal

Ally Hennessey thanks Lilly Dumar for the cards and the donations that Dumar collected during her Buckets of Love fundraising event in the UC.

collect donations in a bucket. “I was thinking of all the things I could put in a bucket, things kids her age would like, like ponies, cookies, money, love,” Dumar said. “I just decided on calling it Buckets of Love. Which I’m really glad I did, because calling the event Buckets of Ponies may have given people the wrong impression.” he Hennesseys started a Caringbridge.org page for Ally. Caringbridge is a website that allows people with serious illnesses and their families to post updates on their progress. Ally Hennessey’s Caringbridge page is open for anyone to view. Shannon Hennessey said Ally Hennessey’s favorite part of her Caringbridge page are the messages of support she receives. Shannon Hennessey said she reads the messages to Ally Hennessey when she’s in the hospital.

She said Ally Hennessey and her sister Lily spend hours laying in bed, reading all the cards Ally Hennessey has received from her friends, family and classmates. “She loves the cards,” Ed Hennessey said. “hat’s what’s important to her, is the card. She doesn’t care about the co-pays at the hospital.” Ally Hennessey told Dumar “hank you” as she collected and sorted the cards Webster students had made. To view Ally Hennessey’s Caringbridge page, go to http:// www.caringbridge.org/visit/allymarieh/journal/1.

Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

CAILLIN MURRAY/ he Journal

Julia Korfmacher, junior elementary education major, makes a card for Ally Hennessey. The event raised $128.44 towards Hennessey’s treatment.

Rooting for Team Dre Webster student supports daughter diagnosed with leukemia by starting ‘Team Dre’ awareness campaign BY VICTORIA DICKSON Staf Writer

MAX BOUVATTE / he Journal

Three members of the Alash ensemble, a Tuvan throat singing group, perform in the Community Music School.

Sounds of Tuva come to Webster Alash ensemble shares ancient singing technique BY CAILLIN MURRAY Lifestyle Editor

An eerie low-pitched humming sound came from the mouths of the Tuvan throat singers. Simultaneously, the three men raised and lowered their pitches. he Alash ensemble, a group of Tuvan throat singers, performed at the Community Music School at Webster University on April 27. he Center for International Education (CIE) and the Department of Religious Studies cosponsored the concert. he three singers, dressed in traditional Tuvan clothing, were introduced by their manager and interpreter, Sean Quirk. Quirk, an American, moved 10 years ago to Tuva, a small republic located at the bottom of Russia. “he singing is ancient stuf,” Quirk said. “It goes back to a time when human beings were still inventing languages.” Tuvan throat singing uses the human vocal cords much like a bagpipe. hroat singers can produce up to four pitches simultaneously, by laying higher pitches on top of a continuous low drone. Lauren Hufman, graduate assistant to the CIE, invited the en-

semble to play Friday night. She watched Alash perform at Webster last year, and wanted to have them back again. “It was to bring a diferent part of the world to Webster that most of the world has never heard of, or seen,” Hufman said. Hufman described the throat singing as, “one of those things, when you’re driving on your way home, you try to igure out how to do it.” he singers have been on tour with Quirk for six years. he three singers who performed Friday night were Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan- ool Sam, the “Golden hroat of Tuva,” and Ayan Shirizhik. Each performer played a variety of instruments. his included the igil, which can be either bowed or plucked, a lute with no holes called the murgu and the guitar. Quirk said throat singers learn the art by imitating. At a young age, an aspiring throat singer will listen to other throat singers perform and attempt to match what they are hearing. Some of the members of the Alash ensemble cannot remember when they irst learned to throat sing, Quirk said.

“Some of the guys, they laugh because they can’t remember, they were so little when they started to learn,” Quirk said. he ensemble performed 16 songs, including “Ondar Girls,” a Tuvan “rock and roll” song “Oglumgu (To My Son),” and “Ivizhilerning Yryzy (he Reindeer Herder’s Song).” Roger Chapman, freshman technical directing major, said he had heard Tuvan throat singing before attending the concert Friday night. “My mother, especially, was very into globalized music, so I heard it (Tuvan throat singing) when I was younger,” Chapman said. “I was really impressed and it was nice to hear them (the Alash ensemble) in real life.” he ensemble is currently on a tour of the United States. Quirk said he looks forward to coming back to Webster in the near future. For audio of Alash’s performace, visit websterjournal.com Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com

Webster graduate student Julliette Douglas felt angry and frustrated when her 18-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. In March 2012, DreNeria “Dre” Westbrook experienced spells where she couldn’t walk or eat. During a Sunday dinner, she couldn’t eat the plate in front of her. One day, her mother cooked tacos and she said she felt like she was going to faint every time she got up to add toppings to her taco. hat day she went to the hospital. Doctors informed her that her white and red blood counts were down. Westbrook was oicially diagnosed with Natural Killer Cell Leukemia at St. Anthony’s Hospital on March 30. She has since been transferred to Barnes-Jewish Siteman Cancer Center. “She kept complaining of a sore throat and a sore neck and she kept saying everything was achy in her muscles and in her joints,” Douglas said. “You don’t pay attention to it if she’s just complaining. It was during the seasons she would catch a cold.” Natural Killer (NK) Cell Leukemia is a rare form of leukemia that is typically diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. he most common symptoms are weight loss, fatigue and low blood counts. Ater doctors told Westbrook she had leukemia, Douglas began searching for a match. Because Westbrook and her siblings don’t have the same mother and father, they aren’t a match. It was going to be more diicult to ind a match. Westbrook said she and her mom started doing research on NK leukemia. Douglas studies healthcare administration at Webster. Douglas came up with the “Team Dre” campaign. “Team Dre” has teamed up with the Leu-

COURTESY OF JULLIETTE DOUGLAS

DreNeria Westbrook poses with actress Minnie Driver at Barnes-Jewish Siteman Cancer Center. Driver is wearing a “Team Dre” t-shirt.

kemia and Lymphoma Society to spread awareness and educate communities. he campaign has also teamed with Be the Match to sponsor a bone marrow drive. he campaign’s main goal is to seek donations and contributions. Peaceful Place Community Development Corporation is a notfor-proit organization that sponsors “Team Dre”. “I’ve just been passing out information, getting t-shirts made, going around educating communities, doing community engagements, interviewing for radio stations, attending health fairs,” Douglas said. “I’m just inding something that will listen to me and help me get my story out.” Douglas discovered not many black people signed up for the bone marrow registry. She held a bone marrow drive in an attempt to get more African-Americans to join. Douglas said she has worked to get the message out to as many people as she can. “I’ve been banging down Channel 4, Channel 5 and Channel 2 doors,” Douglas said. “I’ve been trying to get on 104.1. I’ve

sent out a request for an initiative with Barnes Jewish (BJC) to try to get something going to educate African-Americans. So I’m doing one thing ater another trying to get the awareness out in the community.” Westbrook is not able to go outside to help spread the word because of her weakened immune system from the chemotherapy. If she walks outside, she is susceptible to illnesses. hroughout this whole ordeal, Westbrook has managed to remain positive. Even though she has days when she is feeling down, she says she is happy. “I can’t really be sad about it (her leukemia),” Westbrook said. “I’m not going to sit here and cry every single day of my life about something like this.” he bone marrow drive will take place on Sunday, May 20 at the Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church. he event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. People can also donate at Be he Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com


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LIFESTYLE

Bumper Sticker s

around campus Reporting by Julia Gabbert, Victoria Dickson and Caillin Murray

Sophomore ilm production major April Berryman has been driving her 1998 Plymouth Voyager for two years. In high school, Berryman got suspended for a magnet that reads, “I may have everything but I could always use another orgasm.” The magnet is now in the center of her van’s bumper. She also has stickers that advertise equal rights and environmentalism. Berryman said it takes a long time — often several hours — to ind new stickers, because they have to be “a la April.” Other magnets she has had on previous cars have been stolen, including one that said, “I ‘heart’ dick,” and, “Carpe Scrotum: Grab Life by the Balls.”

May 2, 2012 • The Journal

TIERRE RHODES / he Journal

Carly Penrod, senior art major, is the owner of this Bubba Gump Shrimp sticker. Penrod said she is “obsessed” with the movie “Forrest Gump,” and bought this sticker when she visited the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in New Orleans a few years ago. “I base my philosophy on Forrest Gump,” Penrod said. The sticker is a reference to the Forrest Gump quote, “I gotta pee,” which Gump said to President John F. Kennedy after drinking 15 Dr. Peppers at the White House in the movie.

Lauren Pokorney, senior ilm production major, sports this dragon sticker on the back of her car. Pokorney said she loves dragons, and has dragon paraphernelia littering her room. She also said she loves ketchup, and used to put it on everything, from chicken to potatoes to dark chocolate, as a kid. “When I came across a bumper sticker that united two of my greatest loves, I had to buy it,” Pokorney said. CAILLIN MURRAY / he Journal

CAILLIN MURRAY / he Journal

CAILLIN MURRAY / he Journal CAILLIN MURRAY / he Journal

May Morrison,who graduated from Webster with a degree in media communications, has this “Lost” sticker on the back of her hatchback. Morrison, a “Lost” fan, made this sticker after she could not ind a “Lost” sticker she liked. She designed the sticker on cafepress.com. After she received the sticker, the website told her she could not depict a person on a bumper sticker. Morrison decided to stick it on her car anyway. “I get struck sometimes by how many cars are around me and how many people are in each of those cars when driving,” Morrison said. “It (the use of bumper stickers) helps you realize that there are actual people in those cars, and what kind of people are in the world.”

(Above) David Koppelmann, junior mathematics and secondary education major, drives this Chevy pickup truck. Koppelmann, a Christian, said he had requested just a “Victory through Christ” bumper sticker, but instead received 45 Christian bumper stickers, along with numerous confessions and a taped sermon. (Center) Ebony Reeves, senior history major, has this “Jersey girl” sticker on the back of her car. Reeves, a native of New Jersey, did not have to pump her own gas while living in New Jersey because of a law that prohibits drivers from pumping their own gas. “I’m no longer a Jersey girl who doesn’t pump her own gas,” Reeves said. “I had to learn how to when I got here (St. Louis).” VICTORIA DICKSON / he Journal


May 2, 2012 • The Journal

SPORTS

Page 7 • www.websterjournal.com

Breakout Female Star

Marissa Lewis Best Upset

Men’s Tennis Beats Principia On April 14, the Webster University men’s tennis team faced of against Principia College at the Webster Groves Tennis Center. At the time, Principia was undefeated in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Webster went into the match with a 3-1 record in the SLIAC. With a victory over Principia, Webster would end the season tied for irst in the SLIAC. Webster’s lone SLIAC loss was against Westminster College, 6-3. Principia defeated Westminster 5-4, so Webster didn’t seem to have a great chance of upsetting Principia, the eventual SLIAC tournament champion. But Webster won ive of the six singles matches, which clinched the 6-3 victory over Principia. It gave the Gorloks their irst share of the SLIAC regular-season title in program history. Ater the match, Webster coach Michael Siener said he knew a lot had to go right in order for his team to pull of the upset. “I knew it would be a really diicult win for the simple fact that we would have to have everybody on our roster play really well,” Siener said. “If one or two guys didn’t play well, we were probably going to lose. “A lot of times in tennis we don’t get a lot of upsets, just because you have to have so many people play at their highest level that day. To beat them 6-3 and not 5-4, and winning ive out of six singles matches, that has to be — since I’ve been here — the biggest win we’ve had.” Runner-up: Baseball beats Washington University —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Mackenzie Wilder

Breakout Male Star

Stefan Whittingham In his freshman season at Webster University, Stefan Whittingham played in only 15 of 27 games and averaged 9.1 minutes per game. As a role player, he recorded 3.8 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game. In his sophomore season, Whittingham became the go-to player for an underclassmen-heavy Gorloks’ team that won a second straight St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championship. Whittingham averaged team highs in minutes (33.5), points (15.5) and rebounds (8.2) this past season for Webster (13-13 overall, 13-3 SLIAC). He started all 26 of the Gorloks’ games and shot 49 percent from the ield. Whittingham said he didn’t expect to have such a good season. “Pretty much, I was just coming in there looking to win and play my role,” Whittingham said. “I didn’t know what my role was going to be because it was pretty much a brand new team.” For his eforts, Whittingham was named the SLIAC Player of the Year. he National Association of Basketball Coaches then named him to the Division III Midwest All-District second team on March 13. And later in March, DIII News — the monthly newsletter of Division-III men’s basketball — chose Whittingham as an All-American honorable mention. He was the irst Webster men’s basketball player since 2001 to earn the distinction. Runner-up: Isaac Behme, baseball —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Brittany Ruess

In her irst season on Webster University’s women’s tennis team, freshman Marissa Lewis inished with an 18-3 record in singles play. Lewis helped the team to a 19-2 overall record, a 6-0 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record and a SLIAC tournament championship. Lewis has played at each of the top four singles spots, but mostly played at No. 3. Lewis had an 11-1 record at No. 3 singles and was also 4-0 at No. 2. In doubles action, Lewis had a record of 16-2. “I was deinitely very surprised by how well I did,” Lewis said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I was hoping to do well, but of course it changes every day. I’ve put a lot of work into it. I try to do my best. I try to get out there and practice as much as I can with the balance of studying and other things I’m involved in.” Lewis is a part of a team loaded with freshmen, which will keep the SLIAC champions in contention for the title the next couple years. “his year was great,” Lewis said. “It went really well. It lew by though, which stinks. It makes me so excited for the next three years that I have.” Runner-up: Danielle LaVenture, sotball —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Victoria Caswell

Best Streak

Jessica Davis For a span of 486 minutes, 7 seconds, Webster University freshman goalkeeper Jessica Davis did not allow a goal. Her 8-hour and 6-minute, 7-second streak began ater Dominican University scored on Sept. 25, 2011. It ended nine games later on Nov. 3 when Greenville College scored in the second half of the women’s soccer team’s inal game of the season. “I had a blast this season,” Davis said. “I didn’t really think about my shutout streak or anything. I just went out there like, ‘OK, I’ve got to do my job, and that’s to stop every shot that comes near me so I don’t get scored on and we don’t lose.’ I just went out there, did my job and got my teammates the win.” Davis allowed only four total goals in the 16 games she played. She contributed to eight Webster shutouts. Her goals-against average of .419 ranked her 11th in Division-III women’s soccer, while her .875 saves percentage ranked her 26th nationally. For her eforts, Davis was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year. “Coming in as a freshman, I didn’t expect to get as much playing time as I did, just because I was new to the program,” Davis said. “I wasn’t expecting to get the records that I did, but I’ll take them for sure.” Davis credited the defensive efort of her team for helping her earn the shutout streak. Webster (12-6-1 overall, 7-1 SLIAC) allowed only 16 goals all season. “I had (senior sweeper) Izzy Sherfy in the back and (sophomore defender) Kristen Muehlenfeld and (freshman defender) Amy Schield, and they do their jobs very well,” Davis said. “I just pick up what they can’t get to. It’s not a lot, so I feel they have a big part of it and the rest of the team does.” Runner-up: Women’s tennis wins 13 straight matches —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Victoria Caswell

Best Coach

Merry Graf Heading into the 2011 volleyball season, Webster University was slated to start four freshmen and was picked to inish third in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by the conference’s coaches. While other SLIAC coaches didn’t think Webster would excel, coach Merry Graf believed her freshmen were talented enough to help the Gorloks compete for the SLIAC championship. “I thought it was a doable goal,” Graf said. “Obviously, we were going to be really young and we were going to rely on how quickly everything came together for us. I felt pretty good about that because the freshmen had come in and won starting positions. hey all played on competitive club programs. I thought that would help us get there a little bit quicker than otherwise.” Webster (19-13 overall) inished tied for irst in the SLIAC with a 14-2 conference record. he Gorloks won the SLIAC tournament, as they swept Westminster College and Greenville College at Grant Gymnasium. By starting four freshmen and coaching Webster to the conference championship, Graf was named SLIAC co-Coach of the Year along with Mary Ann Sprague of Principia College. “his (freshman) class was really great in the fact that they knew they were talented, but they knew they had a lot more to reach their potential,” Graf said. “It worked out really well because they are all willing to work really hard. “he returners kind of showed the Webster way, and that is we’re going to come in and take advantage of the time we have together in practices, we’re going to work hard and we’re going to win this.” While the freshmen headlined the team, Graf credited the returning players for contributing to the SLIAC championship. “As excited as I was for the newcomers, I was that excited for the returners as well,” Graf said. “he group — especially of seniors — I really can’t say enough about them. hey handled the whole year very gracefully. Had they not done that, the year could have turned out very diferent for us.” Runner-up: Michael Siener, men’s and women’s tennis coach —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo courtesy of Dave Preston


May 2, 2012 • The Journal

SPORTS

Page 8 • www.websterjournal.com

Best Women’s Team

Tennis he Webster University women’s tennis team dominated its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents and captured its second tournament championship in three years. Webster has a 19-2 overall record, including a 6-0 record in the SLIAC, and will play in the NCAA Division III tournament. he Gorloks defeated Greenville College 7-0 in the irst round of the SLIAC tournament and Principia College 5-1 in the championship match. he team and individual players set several Webster tennis records. As a team, Webster destroyed two records that were set in 2009. he Gorloks won 19 matches, breaking the previous record of 12. Webster also shattered the record for most consecutive wins with 13. he previous record was 10. Freshman Marissa Lewis and senior Allison Tungate both set records by winning 18 singles matches. Junior Lindsey Hays tied the record she had previously held with 16 wins. Doubles partners Allison Tungate and senior Paige Tungate, along with Lewis, individually set the single-season record for doubles wins. While both broke the old record, Allison Tungate is the new leader with 17 doubles wins, while Paige Tungate and Lewis each have 16 victories. Before the spring season started in March, Webster coach Michael Siener said, “Overall, with the recruitment and the new players we have on the women’s side, it is the best women’s team I’ve had here.” he records show this was the best women’s tennis team in Webster’s history. It will take another remarkable season to top the one the 2011-2012 Gorloks had. Runner-up: Volleyball —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Mackenzie Wilder

Best Moment

Volleyball Beats Greenville At the end of the volleyball regular season, Webster University and Greenville College were tied atop the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings. A coin lip decided who would host the SLIAC tournament. Webster won. he Gorloks defeated Westminster College 3-0 in the irst round, while it took Greenville ive sets to defeat Principia College 3-2. It set up a championship match that was sure to be competitive. During the regular season, Webster and Greenville split the season series. Webster beat the Panthers at Greenville, while Greenville defeated Webster on a neutral court. he SLIAC championship was on Webster’s home court of Grant Gymnasium, and the match wasn’t close. Webster defeated Greenville 3-0 and captured the SLIAC title. “here’s just nothing better than winning on your home court in front of a packed house,” Webster coach Merry Graf said. Graf has now won ive SLIAC titles, but it was a irst for freshman outside hitter Jenny Howard. “Beating Greenville was amazing because we were so close to them all year,” Howard said. “Both times we played them it had gone to the ith game. We didn’t even expect to sweep them at all. I just remember everyone storming the court and celebrating. It was the most amazing feeling.” Runner-up: Women’s cross-country receives banner at haltime of basketball game for winning irst SLIAC championship —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Brittany Ruess

Best Performance

Trisha hompson Trisha hompson is no stranger to no-hitters. he Webster University sophomore sotball pitcher said she threw two perfect games/no-hitters in high school, and she threw a few no-hitters before her high school playing days. So as much as hompson would like to focus on the fact that she has thrown two no-hitters this season, she wishes she could have done even more. In her irst no-hitter against Westminster College on March 29, hompson walked two batters in the fourth inning to lose her perfect game bid. And in her second no-hitter against MacMurray College on April 21, an error by hompson in the fourth inning prevented her from getting the perfect game. “I was kind of overcome with disappointment that I messed it up myself,” hompson said. “I was really frustrated about that. I really focused on that one little law, that one little wrinkle in the smoothness of the game. But aterwards I was just like, ‘Oh, you know, I can give myself a pat on the back. I had two (no-hitters), that’s pretty good.’ “And I started noticing that people actually thought that was really awesome. I walked into one of my classes and people were applauding. It was really embarrassing. I was taken backwards, and I was like, ‘OK, thanks.’ I didn’t know what to do. I guess everybody was really impressed, and I’m just waiting for it to happen again. I don’t want it to just be like, ‘Oh, yeah, she threw two no-hitters that one season.’ I want to be able to say I did more things this season and in my career at Webster.” hompson’s performance against Westminster, a 1-0 Gorloks’ win, was the irst seven-inning no-hitter since 2007 for the Webster sotball program. Her no-no against MacMurray was a ive-inning gem. hompson is 10-9 on the season and has a 4.19 ERA. hompson said she hopes she can pitch another no-hitter — and a perfect game — either this season or next. “I know I have the potential to do it more oten,” hompson said. “I have that potential, but it doesn’t mean it’s always going to happen. I felt a little bit more conident that I could do it again ater the irst (no-hitter). I was like, ‘Oh, you know, it wasn’t that bad. I can do it again, like no big deal.’ And lo and behold.” Runner-up: Jenny Howard wins 100- and 200-meter dashes at Rose-Hulman meet —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Sean Sandefur

Best Men’s Team

Golf

Before the spring season began, Webster University golf coach Andrew Belsky said in an interview with he Journal that he felt like he had the best team in the history of the Webster golf program. Now that the 2011-2012 season is nearly over, Belsky believes his squad backed up that sentiment. “I think that in the end, it proved out to be that way,” Belsky said. “We got a little bit of a slow start through the spring. he weather did not cooperate very well — though March was really nice, April was really bad. But in the end, we had an excellent year. I do believe that it proved to be the best team we’ve ever had.” Juniors Kyler Scott and Steven Kinsman, as well as freshman Matt Vanderbeek, led the Gorloks all year. Freshman Tanner Rabb, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year, joined the Gorloks in the spring ater playing golf at Hanover College during the fall semester. “I still think we’ve got a lot of guys who could be a decent player on almost any team,” Belsky said. “Before, we’ve always had like one guy that was really good. And I would say that for the most part, we had usually two or three guys that played really well (this year).” During the fall portion of their season, the Gorloks won the Sept. 17 and 18 Anderson Fall Invitational and inished second in two events — the Sept. 25 and 26 Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational and the Oct. 2 and 3 Big Blue Fall Classic. In the spring, Webster got of to a rugged start. But the Gorloks turned it on for the April 23 and 24 SLIAC championships. Webster coasted to a 35-stroke win by shooting a record-breaking score of 874. It was the ith time in program history Webster has won the SLIAC title. he Gorloks will end their standout season in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., to compete in the NCAA Division-III championships, which begin May 15. Belsky’s goal at the championships is to make the cut, which would mean a top-15 inish. “If we can make the cut, then everything that we have set out for this year has been accomplished,” Belsky said. Runner-up: Baseball —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Brittany Ruess


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SPORTS

Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete

Cody Bradisch

Male Newcomer of the Year

Alex Kazmierski Alex Kazmierski didn’t know what to expect in his irst year of baseball at Webster University. he junior right ielder had never played at the NCAA Division-III level. He spent his freshman year at Lewis University, a DivisionII school in Romeoville, Ill. He then played his sophomore season at Triton College, a junior college in River Grove, Ill. Kazmierski has shattered whatever expectations he had coming into his irst season at Webster. “You set goals coming into every season,” Kazmierski said. “I did set goals for myself, but this year has been beyond what I thought was going to happen.” Kazmierski ranks near the top of several ofensive categories for the Gorloks (26-10 overall, 18-2 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). He leads the team and is second in the SLIAC with a .633 slugging percentage. Kazmierski’s six home runs are the most for a Webster player. His .339 batting average, .453 on-base percentage, 26 RBIs and 12 doubles all rank second on the team. Kazmierski didn’t play much as a freshman at Lewis. He said this helped him become a better student of the game and is one of the reasons he’s having a successful irst season at Webster. “It comes with time, especially being more of an upperclassman,” Kazmierski said. “I’ve paid my dues as a freshman and sophomore. When you watch the game, you educate yourself just sitting and watching. My freshman year I learned so much, and I barely even played. You have to look at that as a positive.” Runner-up: Tanner Rabb, golf —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo courtesy of Dave Preston

Female Newcomer of the Year

Ally Nikolaus Ater she completed her senior year of high school at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis, Ally Nikolaus decided to attend the University of Mississippi on a soccer scholarship. Nikolaus played in 18 games and started three during her 2010 freshman season as a Rebel. But Nikolaus said she didn’t enjoy her time playing soccer at Ole Miss, as she described her teammates as very “serious” and “uptight.” Nikolaus elected to transfer out of Ole Miss. A week before the fall 2011 semester began, Nikolaus decided to attend Webster University. When she visited Webster, women’s soccer coach Luigi Scire, who also works in the admissions oice, ofered Nikolaus a spot on the team. Nikolaus hadn’t played soccer in 10 months, but she decided to take Scire up on his ofer. She’s glad she did. “I didn’t realize how much I missed playing, and it was just nice to get back into it,” Nikolaus said. “Everyone was pretty welcoming. It was fun, too. My freshman year wasn’t that fun, so it was nice to have fun again.” In her irst season at Webster, Nikolaus, a sophomore center midielder, started all 19 of the Gorloks’ games and led the team to a 12-6-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Nikolaus recorded seven goals, tied for the second-highest total on the team, and two assists for 16 points. Nikolaus said the dropof from Division I to Division III was not that signiicant. “here’s a lot of good players at all the divisions, because a lot of them don’t want to play that high of level,” Nikolaus said. “hey want to do other things, socially and academically. he competition — some teams were terrible, but other teams were what I would expect.” Nikolaus was named to the SLIAC All-Conference irst team as well as the SLIAC All-Tournament team. On Dec. 10, Nikolaus was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Central Region third team. Runner-up: Taylor Gibbs, sotball —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Brittany Ruess

Webster University junior Cody Bradisch has had his fair share of success on the basketball court. he shooting guard/ small forward has helped the Gorloks win two consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles. his past season, Bradisch led Webster to a 13-13 overall record and a SLIAC-best 13-3 record. He started 25 games and recorded 11.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game en route to being named a SLIAC All-Conference honorable mention. But what Bradisch has been able to accomplish of the basketball court is equally impressive. Bradisch, a secondary education major, has a 3.92 cumulative GPA. He has been named to the SLIAC All-Academic team both years he’s been eligible. And he said his coach, Chris Bunch, told him he will be named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2011-2012 Honors Court. he Honors Court recognizes junior and senior student athletes who excel in academics. Bradisch said managing his time has been key to his on- and of-court success. “Playing sports really supplemented my homework; it really made me more motivated and more focused,” Bradisch said. “It’s kind of an interesting thing to think about. You think it would take away from your homework, but actually, I think it motivated me to do my homework. Not just from the fact of being worried about being ineligible, but just making sure you have it done. (It) just gave me a drive to get it done.” Bradisch also volunteers his time to help others. For the past seven years, he has helped paint houses for free as part of the Bucket Brigade. he program paints the homes of owners who are no longer able to maintain their houses. Bradisch has also worked with the Salvation Army and UrbanFUTURE St. Louis, a tutoring program. Runner-up: Daniel Henkey, cross-country and track —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Brittany Ruess

Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete

Allison Tungate Senior Allison Tungate went 18-3 in singles play and helped the Webster University women’s team win the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. Tungate will leave Webster as the all-time singles and doubles wins leader. Tungate has won 57 matches in her career, which is 13 more than the person in second place — her twin sister, Paige Tungate. Allison Tungate has a career doubles win total of 51 — ive more than second-place Paige Tungate. While Allison Tungate has been extremely successful on the court, she may be more accomplished in the classroom. Allison Tungate earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Webster in three years, as well as her public relations minor. She is currently enrolled in Webster’s graduate school studying legal studies. Her undergraduate GPA was 3.94, while her graduate school GPA sits at 4.0. Allison Tungate was named to the SLIAC All-Academic team her sophomore and junior years, and she expects to be named to it again her senior year. She has also won Webster’s Scholar Athlete award. “In the classroom, I’m competitive with myself,” Allison Tungate said. “I don’t like to fail, just like I don’t like to fail on the tennis court. he discipline I have in tennis as far as practicing, that’s kind of translated into my studies where I dedicate plenty of my time and energy towards doing well. I give my 110 percent best like I do on the tennis court. My studies come irst, but it’s also good to have an outlet to go to.” Ater graduation, Allison Tungate plans on attending the University of Missouri’s Law School with her twin sister. “I’m really leaning towards Mizzou just because I want to stay here in Missouri,” Tungate said. “My sister is really sold on it, and I always envisioned myself going to law school with my sister.” Runner-up: Loren Douglass, basketball —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Victoria Caswell

Best Game

Basketball vs. Bluton It was the irst home game for Webster University’s men’s basketball team on Nov. 19, but it ended up being the most thrilling contest of the season. Webster lost to Bluton University 79-76 in overtime, but the game, especially the inish, provided plenty of excitement. he game was close all the way until the end, but in the inal seconds of regulation, Webster trailed Bluton by three. Junior guard Dietrick Sooter, in his irst game for the Gorloks, hit a 3-pointer with 2 seconds let to send the game into overtime — tied at 68. he game remained tied in the inal seconds of overtime as well. Bluton had possession and only needed a 2-pointer to win. Mychal Hill chucked up a 3 and sunk it with 0.4 seconds let. he 3-pointer gave Bluton the 79-76 victory. Despite the loss, it was a coming-out party for Sooter and junior forward Roman Robinson. Sooter inished with nine points, while Robinson recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Runner-up: Volleyball vs. Greenville College in SLIAC championship —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo by Gale Whitehead

May 2, 2012 • The Journal

Pohl’s Perspective Memorable Moments

JOHN POHL he 2011-2012 year was full of surprises and ups and downs for Webster University athletics. In a given moment or play, everything changed. As I relect on the year, these are my most memorable moments in Webster sports. On the regular season’s last day, the men’s soccer team defeated Blackburn College to secure a spot in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. he Gorloks played with guts and determination. However, they were easily defeated in the SLIAC tournament championship. Longtime men’s soccer coach Marty Todt was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on Oct. 13. he women’s soccer team, touted as one of the preseason favorites, battled through an uneven season. Sophomore Katie Aubuchon literally had her teeth knocked out in a loss at the end of the season. he Gorloks were stunned in a irst-round loss to third-seeded Greenville College in the SLIAC tournament, which ended Webster’s season. In cross-country, junior Daniel Henkey set a school record at the Augustana Invitational. he women’s cross-country team came through on high preseason expectations by winning its irst-ever SLIAC championship. As a result, coach Dusty Lopez was named the 2011 SLIAC women’s crosscountry Coach of the Year. Barely two months later, Lopez announced he would leave Webster at the end of the track and ield season. he volleyball team handily captured the SLIAC crown, defeating Greenville in the championship. It was the fourth conference championship in ive years for the Gorloks. In men’s basketball, shock waves hit the Gorloks when 2011 SLIAC AllConference point guard Willie Trimble announced he would not be playing this year. Unexpectedly, the Gorloks still captured the SLIAC regular-season crown. Entering the tournament as the top seed, Webster was upset at home by MacMurray College in the irst round. An emerging star surfaced in sophomore Stefan Whittingham, who won the SLIAC Player of the Year award. In the middle of the season, women’s basketball junior guard and top playmaker Gwen Williams was ruled academically ineligible. he Gorloks fought their way into the SLIAC tournament but were knocked out by eventual champion Westminster College in the irst round. he sotball team traveled to California and lost nine of 10 games. he Gorloks were shut out ive times on the trip. But Webster bounced back behind the stellar pitching of sophomore Trisha hompson, who threw two no-hitters this season. he golf team won its second straight SLIAC championship in dominating fashion. Junior Kyler Scott shot a tournament-low score of 212 and earned the 2012 SLIAC Player of the Year honor. he women’s tennis team had its 13-match win streak snapped in a 9-0 loss at Washington University. But the Gorloks rebounded from that to win their second SLIAC championship in three years and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III women’s tennis tournament. In track and ield, senior Gretchen Rieger showed why she is the top javelin thrower Webster has ever had. Freshman Jenny Howard won a pair of events at the same meet, a Webster irst. he baseball team steamrolled through the SLIAC competition and won its sixth conference championship in a row. Every year has its moments — this year is no diferent for Webster athletics. No, the Gorloks did not win every game, match or race. But they did show they are a lot like the St. Louis weather — if you are looking for a change in it just wait until tomorrow, because it probably will This is the inal installment of Pohl’s Perspective, a biweekly column written by Journal staf writer John Pohl.

Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com


10

Sports

The Journal May 2, 2012

he Journal’s 2011-2012

Webster Athletic Awards Numerous Webster University athletes, teams and coaches stood out during the 2011-2012 sports seasons. So far, 26 Webster athletes were named All-Conference in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and 31 athletes were named SLIAC All-Academic. Six teams have won their conference regular-season championships. hree teams have won SLIAC tournament titles and earned NCAA Division III tournament bids as a result. Four coaches were named the SLIAC Coach of the Year for their respective sports. And with postseason awards yet to be announced for several

SLIAC spring sports, plenty more accolades are on the way. It wasn’t easy, but Journal sports editor Josh Sellmeyer and staf writer Andy Arb compiled a list of the best of the best in Webster sports for the 2011-2012 academic year. he rules were simple: pick the winners and runners-up for 16 categories. Duplicate winners were not allowed. So, which picks did we get right? What did we whif on? We want to hear your thoughts. Visit websterjournal.com to comment or send us an email at wujournal@ gmail.com.

For the rest of The Journal’s 2011-2012 Athletic Awards, see pages 7, 8 and 9

Best Female Athlete

Jenny Howard Freshman Jenny Howard went into her irst season on the Webster University volleyball team hoping to win a starting position. She earned much more than that. Howard was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year. She was also an All-Conference irst team selection. Howard led the SLIAC in hitting percentage (.318) and was ith in kills per set (2.91). Howard was among four freshmen who started for Webster (19-13 overall, 14-2 SLIAC), which swept the SLIAC tournament by defeating Westminster College 3-0 and Greenville College 3-0. Howard was named to the All-Tournament team. “She is just a very talented player, but she also has a very competitive spirit,” Webster coach Merry Graf said. “She likes to win. She does not want to be on the losing side of anything. She’s hard on herself, but in a good fashion. It’s not over the top criticizing herself, but she’s never satisied. She wants more, which is great for an athlete of her caliber to have.” Howard also starred for the track team. In the Rose-Hulman Twilight on April 20, she inished irst in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. She ran the 100 in 12.78 seconds in the ield of nine runners. In the 200, which had a ield of 19 runners, Howard ran a 26.14. It was the irst time a Webster athlete has won two diferent events in the same meet. Howard said she was able to perform well in both volleyball and track due to her devotion to each sport. “he biggest thing is being dedicated and giving 110 percent in practices,” Howard said. “Also, by having fun and actually enjoying what I’m doing. I was hoping to do well. I was hoping to at least for volleyball be a starter and get a lot of playing time, but I wasn’t expecting to get Newcomer of the Year or irst team All-Conference. “I really hoped to do well in track. It’s been a hard season. I’ve been sick and I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I’ve just been trying my best and it’s going pretty well so far.” Runner-up: Allison Tungate, women’s tennis —Reporting by Andy Arb —Photo courtesy of Dave Preston

Individual marks, not team totals, recognized in rain-shortened SLIAC track championship corded. Among the Webster athletes that did participate was senior Gretchen Rieger, who placed irst in the Despite 14 teams competing at the April 28 True javelin throw with a distance of 37.36 meters. RiegBlue Open in Jacksonville, Ill., the real winner was er also placed irst in the same event at the Saint Mother Nature. Louis University Invitational on April 14. Ater four hours of starting, stopping and reJunior Jane McKibben, who said she had “perstarting events because of the weather, the meet was fect” weather for her event, participated in the formally canceled. he True Blue Open doubles as 10,000-meter run. he event combined men and the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women because only two women got a chance to championship for the men’s and women’s track and participate. Sophomore Austin Duncan ran in the ield teams. same event, which made him the only Webster Dusty Lopez, Webster University track and men’s athlete to compete that day. ield coach, said it was delating once the event was McKibben inished irst between the two womcalled short due to inclement weather. en with a time of 42 minutes, 25.63 seconds, beat“Everybody there was checking weather and ing out Millikin University’s Amanda Meeker. saw the radar wasn’t looking too good,” Lopez said. Duncan inished with a time “People were pretty resigned of 36:17.40, good enough for to the fact that we just had reeighth place among the men. Everybody there was checking ally bad luck. Our kids were Senior Tyeila Gant weather and saw the radar pretty excited and ready to go. competed in two events, the wasn’t looking too good. And then we just don’t even high jump and the long jump. get the chance. It’s a disheartPeople were pretty resigned Gant inished sixth in both ening feeling.” to the fact that we just had events. Webster sent 17 athletes Lopez said he felt the really bad luck. Our kids from the men’s and women’s reason a make-up for the were pretty excited and ready track and ield teams, but SLIAC championship would to go. And then we just don’t only seven athletes were able not be determined was due even get the chance. It’s a to inish their events. A total to scheduling and the lack of of nine events for the women disheartening feeling. provisions. and eight for the men were “It’s hard to get everyput into the record books body’s schedule reconigured before the True Blue Open within a week,” Lopez said. — dusty Lopez, ended prematurely. “hen, you get into lastWebster track and ield coach SLIAC Commissioner chance competitions that Will Wolper said he has never are qualiiers for nationals. run into a situation like this in the track and ield Nobody wants to be hosting a conference champiarena. herefore, he wanted to reach out to some onship instead of going to a last-chance qualiier. of the conference’s track and ield coaches to de- You’re not going to get anybody willing to go to a termine whether the number of events completed makeshit conference meet on that weekend.” would satisfy a full meet. Next up for the men’s and women’s track and “In the track and ield realm, is nine events ield teams is their inal scheduled meet of the seaenough to be a true meet, or does it need to be son, the North Central College Dr. Keeler Invitamore?” Wolper said. “hat’s one of the, as I refer tional. he event takes place on May 10 and 11 in to it, technical aspects of a sport I want to educate Naperville, Ill. Lopez said he may send three or four myself on more before making a decision. … If athletes to this “last-chance” qualiier for NCAA the coaches say we didn’t get deep enough into the Division III track and ield championship. event, then we just would not have an invitational this year. It would show up in the record books as being postponed.” Contact the writer: Wolper said individual scores for the events wujournal@gmail.com would be counted, but team totals would not be reBY TIM DOTY Opinions Editor

Best Male Athlete

David Mueller David Mueller is having the type of career that will reverberate throughout the Webster University baseball record books for years to come. In his nearly three years of pitching for the Gorloks, the right-hander has 20 wins and 211 strikeouts (both school records), and a 2.41 ERA, which places him third all time. his year has been the crowning jewel on Mueller’s masterful career. He has been the ace of a standout pitching staf that has led the Gorloks (26-10 overall, 18-2 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) to their sixth straight SLIAC regular-season championship. Mueller has allowed only 10 earned runs and 40 hits in 66 innings pitched, as opposing hitters have batted .173 against him. He has started a team-high 10 games and has a 6-1 record. Mueller has struck out 84 batters while walking 17, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of almost 5-to-1. Mueller’s 84 strikeouts are already a Webster single-season record. His 1.36 ERA is on pace to shatter the current record of 1.52. Mueller attributes his success this season to the experience he’s gained during the last four years. He pitched his freshman season at the Florida Institute of Technology, an NCAA Division-II school, before transferring to Webster for his sophomore year. “I expected to be successful, but I didn’t expect to be this successful,” Mueller said. “I mean, you never expect to put up these kinds of numbers. I would have been happy with just having a good year. It’s just worked out that I’ve had this kind of a year.” Ater a so-so 2011 season, Mueller rededicated himself in the ofseason. With help from Webster strength and conditioning coach Matt Saitz — who previously worked for the Atlanta Braves — Mueller entered the 2012 season ready to produce. He’ll try to continue his successful year in the SLIAC tournament and potentially the NCAA tournament. “You don’t know that you’re going to go out and dominate,” Mueller said. “You go out there and you do your best. It’s just kind of worked out this year. I mean, it’s good that you go out there and you can show all the hard work you did in the ofseason is paying of. But I’m just having fun out there really.” Runner-up: Stefan Whittingham, men’s basketball —Reporting by Josh Sellmeyer —Photo by Brittany Ruess

Softball team crushes Principia, earns No. 2 seed in SLIAC tourney Final Standings BY ERIC FUCHS Staf Writer

Horriic weather slammed the St. Louis area on April 28, causing Game 2 of the Webster University sotball team’s doubleheader against Principia College to be canceled. he teams did get the irst game in, and the Gorloks defeated the Panthers 10-2 in ive innings. With the win and the canceled game, Webster ended the regular season with a 17-20 overall record and an 11-4 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. he Gorloks earned the No. 2 seed for the SLIAC tournament and will play No. 3 Blackburn College (19-19 overall, 9-5 SLIAC). Fontbonne University (24-10, 13-1) is the top seed and will play No. 4 Greenville College (14-23, 8-8) in the double-elimination event. he tournament will be held at Fontbonne’s home facility, ABC Ball Park in Saint Ann. Webster will play Blackburn on May 3 at 5 p.m. Later that day, Webster will take on either Fontbonne or Blackburn at 7 p.m., depending on the outcome of the games. “hey’re pretty excited, I know that,” assistant coach Chelsea Schafer said. “I think they’re ready to go out there and win it. A lot of the girls are excited, and they really think they can win the tournament and move on to regionals.” In Webster’s inal tuneup before the SLIAC tournament against Principia in Elsah, Ill., the Gorloks’ ofense picked up in the second inning to score two runs, and Webster never looked back from there. Webster took a commanding lead in the ith when it scored ive runs to inish

Sotball

SLIAC

Teams

Record

Record

Win %

Streak

13-1 12-4 11-4 9-5 8-8 8-8 5-11 2-13 1-15

24-10 27-12 17-20 19-19 14-23 14-18 8-26 3-30 7-28

0.706 0.692 0.459 0.500 0.378 0.438 0.235 0.091 0.200

Won 7 Lost 1 Won 3 Won 2 Lost 5 Won 1 Lost 2 Lost 17 Won 1

Fontbonne Spalding* Webster Blackburn Greenville Westminster Eureka Principia MacMurray

Overall

*Not eligible for SLIAC tournament

of the Panthers. hree of the 13 hits by the Gorloks belonged to sophomore inielder Kristie Konersmann. She went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Konersmann said she wanted to do well in this game so she could carry momentum into the conference tournament. “I was feeling more comfortable — Principia is not a very tough team, but I knew I needed to ind some conidence leading up to the tournament,” Konersmann said. “I considered where the pitcher had been throwing the ball and what my job was to do at each situation. It was about doing my job and building momentum.” On the mound for the Gorloks was sophomore pitcher Trisha hompson, who recorded her 10th victory of the season. hompson pitched all ive innings and allowed one earned run on three hits. She was hoping for her third no-hitter of the season, but fell a little bit short.

“I was happy with the win, but I was a little disappointed with myself,” hompson said. “I was hoping to pick up another no-hitter before the conference tournament started, but I’m glad we got the victory.” Earlier this season on April 4, the Gorloks traveled to Blackburn and defeated the Beavers in both contests, 4-2 and 14-5. In order for the Gorloks to win again, they will have to play a well-rounded game, Schafer said. “We have to go out there and play ofense and defense in the same game,” Schafer said. “We played some games in the past where we only come out offensively strong or defensively strong. I think if we come out all around playing well, there is no doubt in my mind we’ll take this tournament.” Contact the writer: wujournal@gmail.com


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