The Student News Source For Webster University
the journal April 17-April 23, 2013
Volume 66 Issue 27
Salary proposal discussed at Faculty Assembly
websterjournal.com
boston bombings
Webster alumnus Tony Reed, family safe ater marathon tragedy By Josh Sellmeyer Copy Chief & Layout Editor
Webster University alumnus Tony Reed stood near the inish line of the April 15 Boston Marathon about 15 minutes before the irst of two bombs exploded during the race. Reed and his wife, Deborah, were in attendance to watch his stepdaughter, Jaulik Watkins, compete in her irstever Boston Marathon. Brandon Watkins, Jaulik Watkins’ husband, was also at the marathon. Jaulik Watkins attended Webster in the fall of 2000 before transferring to Baker University (Kan.), where she completed a degree in business. When the Reeds and Brandon Watkins arrived at the inish line from their previous spot at the 16.5-mile marker,
By Megan Favignano Managing Editor
Webster University administration discussed faculty input on the salary proposal and transparency in Webster’s budget process to Faculty Assembly. All seats were taken and some faculty members stood in the crowded library conference room for the Tuesday, April 16 meeting. President Elizabeth Stroble, Provost and Senior Vice President Julian Schuster and Chief Financial Oficer Greg Gunderson attended. Faculty Senate called the April 16 meeting ater faculty expressed concerns at its regularly scheduled Faculty Assembly meeting the previous Tuesday. Gwen Williams, next year’s Faculty Senate president, said there was a “great deal of anger” from faculty at the April 9 Faculty Assembly meeting. he anger, Williams said, was in part because the administration hadn’t recently met with the Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee, which works with the administration to put together a proposal for faculty pay, to work out a salary package. “We didn’t have a (salary) proposal (from the administration) that the faculty had been part of,” Williams said. “he proposal itself was a fairly low raise (1 percent). And I think there are a number of other areas in which the faculty feel there has not been complete transparency, faculty input into budgeting and a number of things.” A faculty member at the April 16 Faculty Senate meeting said the faculty’s understanding was that the faculty’s Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee didn’t have a lot of access to Schuster. he faculty member asked Schuster to clarify if faculty pay was a negotiation or not. Schuster said discussions regarding the budget included academic deans, faculty, Webster Staf Alliance representatives as well as administration. “If anybody thinks that this is a charade and that there are a small group of people who decide behind closed doors where money is going to go, I assure you that this is not the case,” Schuster said. Schuster said it is a negotiation, and the administration wants to give faculty the “best deal” when it comes to employee pay. Williams said to her knowledge, the Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee had emailed and called Schuster several times to request a meeting. She said some meetings had been scheduled but were canceled. Jef Carter, chair of the Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee, was out of town on April 16 and was not available for comment on the committee’s communication with the provost’s oice. “(Regarding) access to me, as I said, I was spoiled by (previous committee member) Joe (Stimpl). Somehow Joe always found a way to ind me,” Schuster said. “I said my door is always open, and it truly is.” See Faculty Pay
Page 2
“
Had we not gone inside to get something to eat, we would have been in the area of the explosions. We would have been the people that were mingling around waiting for (my stepdaughter) to cross the inish line.
Tony Reed
”
Webster alumnus and Boston Marathon spectator
Above: Brandon Watkins (left) hugs his wife, Jaulik Watkins, who attended Webster University in the fall of 2000, after the two met near the 25.5-mile marker of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15. A Boston Marathon volunteer told Jaulik Watkins to stop running at that point because two bombs had detonated near the race’s inish line. Right: Jaulik Watkins (right) hugs her mother, Deborah Reed, near the 25.5-mile marker of the Boston Marathon. Watkins said she heard the twin bomb blasts during the 19th mile of the race but wasn’t stopped until the 25.5-mile marker.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY REED
they realized they still had about 40 minutes until Jaulik Watkins would cross the inish line. hey decided to go to a nearby mall’s food court to grab a quick bite to eat. “Had we not gone inside to get something to eat, we would have been in the area of the explosions,” Tony Reed said. “We would have been the people mingling around waiting for (Jaulik Watkins) to cross the inish line. Once we got inside the mall, the explosions occurred. And the food court was near the second explosion. “here was a stampede inside the mall of people running to get out. From where we were, we couldn’t tell if people were running because there was a gunman in the mall or what was going on. So, we just took of running. And when we got outside the mall is when — from just talking with other people — we found out about the explosions.” When they ran out of the mall, Tony and Deborah Reed got separated from Brandon Watkins. Ater the Reeds tracked him down, they called and texted Jaulik Watkins. hey couldn’t get a hold of her, so they walked the marathon course and found her between mile 25 and 26. Police and Boston Marathon volunteers had stopped all the runners near that spot, Tony Reed said. Jaulik Watkins was doing “fantastic,” Tony Reed said. Jaulik Watkins said while she was running, she noticed “lots of police oicers” on the sides of the course talking to spectators. But she didn’t know what had transpired until a Boston Marathon volunteer told her two bombs had been detonated near the inish line. “We heard the sound — like a big ‘boom’ — right around mile 19,” Jaulik Watkins said. “And then by mile 21, there were a bunch of helicopters in the sky. We saw ambulances going towards the inish line around mile 21. … None of us reacted. he crowd was still going; the runners were still running. “I didn’t notice anything until I was stopped. And that was at mile 25.5, when a volunteer pulled myself and another woman to the side and said, ‘Go ahead and stop because they’re not going to let you cross the inish line.’” Ater he found Jaulik Watkins, Tony See Marathon Page 2
Webster-Florida counseling professor dies in alleged murder-suicide By Sheren Khalel Staf Writer
Michelle Muenzenmeyer, Webster University adjunct professor, and her boyfriend, Brian Trump, were found dead in Trump’s apartment the night of Wednesday, April 10. Muenzenmeyer was an adjunct professor of counseling at Webster’s Melbourne and Tampa, Fla., satellite campuses. Muenzenmeyer was killed during an alleged physical altercation with Trump, who proceeded to shoot and kill himself in the same apartment, according to a Brevard County, Fla., police press release. Brevard County Sherif ’s Oice said in the
release that oicers responded to a dispute at Trump’s home in February. No arrests were made then. Muenzenmeyer had also called the police last October, according to records obtained by WFTV, a Florida news station. WFTV also reported Muenzenmeyer and Trump broke up in October and that “he threw things at her,” according to a police report. Webster issued a statement on hursday, April 11. “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the friends and family of Brian Trump and Dr. Michelle Muenzenmeyer,” the statement said. Webster’s statement said Muenzenmeyer
started teaching at the university in 2010. Her classes at the Melbourne, Fla., satellite campus were canceled through Monday, April 15. Earlier this year, Muenzenmeyer presented two workshops on military family counseling at the European branch of the American Counseling Association in Germany. According to Muenzenmeyer’s LinkedIn proile, she received her doctorate in counselor education from the University of Central Florida in 2010. For the past 10 years, Muenzenmeyer has worked for various courts, mental health facilities and universities. Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
Michelle Muenzenmeyer
Brian Trump
NEWS
Page 2 April 17-23, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS Students visiting counseling centers on the rise he number of college students that are visiting on-campus counseling centers is at an all time high and increasing. In a report from the Association for Universities and College Counseling Centers, “he number of college students with severe psychological problems continues to increase.” he most common problems are anxiety, depression and relationship issues. hese issues are sending students to seek help with the resources on campus. In an article on the Chronicle of Higher Education, two counseling center directors said that counseling centers are as busy as they ever have been. he report found, “Over the past six years, anxiety, in particular, appears to have prompted more students to visit counseling centers. In 2006, 34 percent of students visiting centers cited anxiety; by 2012, that number had grown to 42 percent.” he report also states that counseling centers at small, private universities or colleges receive a higher percentage of student visits than those at larger, public universities or colleges. In an interview with the Chronicle, David R. Reetz, counseling center Director at Aurora University, he said, “We believe that students are coming to counseling centers in higher numbers because they feel more comfortable to do so. ... Counseling centers are doing a good job of promoting our services.” —Reporting by Olivia Heibeck.
Total outstanding student loan debt reaches $155 billion he total amount of outstanding student-loan debt among graduate students has reached $155 billion, according to data from a survey by the U.S. Department of Education. he Chronicle of Higher Education reports that student loan debt is not just a problem for young college students. “Growing numbers of adults nearing the end of their careers are accumulating such big debt, and they don’t have a lifetime to pay it back,” said the article. Student loan debt is growing out of undergraduate students and is growing fastest with adults 50 and older. he Federal Reserve Bank of New York states the average student debt with people in that age group is $19,000. In the survey from the U.S. Department of Education,
the number of people over the age of 50 enrolling in graduate schools more than doubled in the past two decades. More than 182,000 people over the age of 50 are enrolled in graduate school. Many people seek graduate degrees to increase their chance of getting a job and making themselves more marketable. —Reporting by Olivia Heibeck.
Obama budget cuts international education funding International education programs will be cut, according President Obama’s budget for the 2014 iscal year. he budget said in the Chronicle of Higher Education the U.S. State Department has requested over $300 million for international education programs. his cut is over $16 million less than from the budget in 2013. While international education programs are being cut, the Obama administration is asking for an increase in Title VI funds. his program, run by the U.S. Department of Education, supports universities to conduct research on various regions of the world and other foreign languages that are rarely taught. he program is receiving an increase of almost $7 million. Many programs and scholarships for international programs will be cut. his includes he Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which provides funds for undergraduates studying abroad who receive Pell Grants. he program will take a $2 million cut. Webster ofers this scholarship to students and it is widely advertised for students studying abroad on Webster’s international campuses. —Reporting by Olivia Heibeck.
Former Obama adviser to speak at business school David Axelrod, former counsel to President Obama, will present at the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology on Friday, May 10, at noon. Axelrod will be presenting on “Building Brand Obama.” Axelrod started working for President Obama as a chief strategist in 2008. Axelrod is now the director at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, and recently joined NBC and MSNBC News as a senior political analyst. Axelrod is also working on a political memoir that is due to be released in 2014. —Reporting by Sheren Khalel.
MISDEMEANORS AND MISHAPS April 9 6:40 a.m. Maria Hall —Staf slipped and injured self.
April 9 Time not given East Hall —Drug law violation referral from Webster University Housing.
April 9 Time not given West Hall —Liquor law violation from Webster University Housing.
April 9 Time not given WVA —Liquor law violation referral from Webster University Housing.
websterjournal.com
Tony Award-winner named commencement speaker By Macy Salama and Sierra Hancock Contributing Writers
Norbert Leo Butz is a 1990 Webster University graduate from the Conservatory of heatre Arts. Since he graduated, Butz has won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” He also won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in “Catch Me If You Can.” Butz is currently working on a new musical called “Big Fish.” Butz will give the commencement address at Webster’s 2013 commencement ceremony. “It was nice hearing that (Webster) is getting a break from politicians,” said AJ Wallace, senior audio production major. “He (Butz) is successful and he has done a few cool things in his life. He’s started a foundation and won awards. It was nice to hear that we were having a Webster alumnus. I thought it was pretty cool.” Besides performing on Broadway, Butz was one of the producers of a beneit album by he Angel Band Project. he organization was started in dedication to his sister, Teresa Butz, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in 2009. Its mission is to “use music to promote healing, raise awareness and create positive social change for survivors of sexual violence,” according to angelbandproject.org. “I guarantee you he would give up his Tonys. We would give everything up to have our sister back,” Tim Butz, Norbert’s brother, said. “But that can’t happen, so we’re just trying to make a really good thing out of something that was a very tragic event in all of our lives.” Tim is a fourth and ith grade teacher in the Maple-
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL KOLNIK
Norbert Leo Butz in “Big Fish,” a new musical which will debut in October, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
wood-Richmond Heights School District. Tim said he knew his brother had talent his whole life. He remembered how Norbert would constantly practice the piano and sang when they were kids. “He would sing the same songs over and over and over again until he got them right, and I didn’t realize he was perfecting his crat,” Tim Butz said. “To us, he was just being annoying. But to him, that was what was inside of him and he was trying to get it out.” Dorothy Englis, chair of the theatre and dance department, said Butz is an example of Conservatory excellence and an electric performer who shares himself with the audience. Englis said having Butz speak at graduation will be beneicial to all Webster students. “he arts and theatre are such a huge part of Webster’s
reputation, so I think it’s appropriate that we have art speakers,” Englis said. “he entertainment business pervades almost every aspect of our lives.” Butz made his debut on Broadway six years ater he graduated. He starred in the musical “Rent” as the character Roger Davis. Butz also performed in the musicals “Dead Accounts,” “Enron,” “Speed the Plow” and “hou Shall Not.” He was the original Fiyero in “Wicked.” Dakota Mackey-McGee, senior musical theatre major, said she is excited to hear Butz speak at Webster’s 2013 commencement ceremony. Mackey-McGee said she is interested to know the struggles Norbert Leo Butz went through. “I would love to hear what his transition was like from Webster to the business that
we’re in,” Mackey-McGee said. “Maybe what he would’ve done diferently or words of advice. ... I’m a cheesy one for that.” Aside from speaking at Webster’s graduation, Norbert Leo Butz is performing in two beneit concerts for he Angel Band Project on May 8-9 at the Sheldon Concert Hall and 560 Music Center, respectively. Tim Butz said he knows his brother isn’t doing the concerts for recognition, but purely for their sister. Webster will recognize Norbert Leo Butz with an honorary doctorate of Human Letters at the ceremony. Commencement ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
Marathon FROM PAGE 1
Reed — co-founder of the National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) — called members of the NBMA who were running in the Boston Marathon to make sure they were OK. Tony Reed said they were all ine, but one of the members knew someone who was hit by a pellet while crossing the inish line. Tony Reed said he doesn’t know the person’s current condition, just that he or she was not one of the three individuals killed at the event. Hospitals treated more than 140 people for injuries related to the bomb detonations, CNN reported. At least 17 people are in critical condition and an additional 25 are in serious condition, CNN said late Tuesday night. he two bomb blasts occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m. EST and were about 550 feet apart, he New York Times reported. As of late Tuesday night, no suspect was in custody. he Boston Marathon began in 1897 and is the world’s oldest annual marathon. he 26.2-mile race is always held on Patriots’ Day, a Massachusetts state holiday that occurs the third Monday in April. Tony Reed has completed more than 100 marathons the past 31 years and was the irst African-American to run marathons on all seven continents. He was supposed to compete in his irst Boston Marathon on April 15. He received a special invitation to run the event, but couldn’t due to his schedule. So, he gave
COURTESY OF TONY REED
Police oicers stopped many Boston Marathon participants before they could inish the Monday, April 15 race due to two bombs detonating near the race’s inish line.
the special invitation to Jaulik Watkins, who, like Tony Reed, is a certiied running coach. Tony Reed, a 1978 Webster graduate, is planning on running in the 2014 Boston Marathon. To honor the three people who were killed and the 140-plus who were injured at the Boston Marathon, Reed and runners across the country wore running- or marathon-related shirts on Tuesday, April 16. Tony Reed said he doesn’t think the Boston Marathon bombings will deter long-distance runners from competing in future events. “he way a number of us look at this is we run because we enjoy it,” Tony Reed said. “I
Faculty Pay FROM PAGE 1
Schuster said the lack of contact between him and the committee was due to scheduling, not because of “deliberate avoidance.” “Each and every individual who wanted to see me did eventually see me,” Schuster said. Schuster said there was a change in administrative assistants and an assistant may not know what the Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee is. However, Schuster said he didn’t blame the lack of meetings with the committee on a change in administrative assistants. Ralph Olliges, Faculty Senate president, said the provost and the Salary and Fringe Beneit Committee didn’t meet as oten as they should have to discuss faculty pay. “For whatever reason, it didn’t happen. Without blaming someone, it just didn’t happen the way it should have happened, and I think both sides took credit for the problem,” Olliges said.
one Percent Stroble said a one percent raise pool is not adequate. “It takes a community to build enrollment,” Stroble said. “We need the revenue base to be better than it is.” Stroble said she looks forward to building a stronger base and “business as usual” will not do. Williams said if salaries don’t increase with the rate of inlation, the result is less money over time. “Salary increases for some people have not kept
like to think of running a marathon or running any race as like a stop along a bus route of life. You run it, you inish it and then you just move on to what’s next. “So, I don’t think this has had a negative impact on distance running overall. What I believe it will do is it will help make the races more secure. But I think runners are just going to keep on running. You’re looking at a very tough group of individuals — tough and very focused.” Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
up with the rate of inlation,” Williams said. “herefore, they are making less money now than they were a few years ago.”
moving Forward Olliges said a vote on faculty compensation needs to happen this spring. “My hope is that the committee and the administration will get together and work out a joint agreement,” Olliges said. Olliges added that it appears this is happening. Once Olliges has a documented proposal regarding faculty salary from the committee and Schuster, he will call a Faculty Assembly meeting and vote. “I think the administration provided data (at Faculty Assembly on April 16) that will help make (the budget) more transparent for everyone,” Olliges said. Olliges said Dan Hitchell, associate vice president for resource planning and budget, invited him, Professor Michael Hulsizer, academic deans and students to a fall 2012 meeting regarding the budget. Olliges was not able to attend the meeting. he fall 2012 meeting is the only one Olliges has been invited to this school year regarding the budget. Williams said to improve transparency, she recommends the Faculty Senate appoint faculty members to be “vigorously involved in all the steps of budgeting process.” hose faculty members could provide feedback and report back to the senate as the budget is being created. Williams said this would improve faculty input and transparency throughout the budgeting process. Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
NEWS
Page 3 April 17-23, 2013
websterjournal.com
Cute is What We Aim For plays at springfest Pop-punk band performs at grant gym; Webster student DJ Arwin opens the show By Alex Wilking Staf Writer
In
between
Feature songs, Cute Is What We Aim For vocalStory ist Shaant Hacikyan talked with the audience about what St. Louis is best known for. “Pujols is awesome. He’s going to do great for you guys this year,” Hacikyan said. Ater joking with the crowd and receiving laughs, the band went into its song “Miss Sobriety” to cheers from a primarily college audience reliving its middle school soundtrack. he band hasn’t released a new album in almost ive years. Cute Is What We Aim For headlined this year’s Springfest concert with its original lineup. Campus Activities sponsored the show in Grant Gymnasium on Saturday, April 13. Campus Activities chooses a band every year through an organization called Ironman Sound Industries, an event service company. Ironman sends a list of bands to the university based on the institution’s budget. he budget is usually the same every year, said Campus Activities Supervisor Bill Boxdorfer. he Campus Activities planning board and University Center staf assess the options to make a inal selection. “We felt (the band) was something that hadn’t been done in recent years,” Boxdorfer said. “We’ve wanted to go with diferent themes of certain genres that may not have been at Webster in a few years. hey still have a good student following here.” Cute Is What We Aim For reunited in August 2011 ater being disbanded for about two years because of member disputes. he band recently inished its irst reunion tour in February. It is currently writing new music ater a long hiatus. “Whenever we begin to write a song or record, we never sit there and think of what kind of demographic we want to reach out to,” Jef Czum, guitarist, said. “We just come up with something. And (with) this last process, we deinitely went back
Whenever we begin to write a song or record, we never sit there and think of what kind of demographic we want to reach out to.
“
Jef Czum
”
Cute Is What We Aim For guitarist
to our roots, but we just have an extra kick.” he band lew into St. Louis for Springfest the day ater wrapping up the irst session of recording the new album. he band will travel back to the studio in a few weeks to inish up the record, due out in June. Cute Is What We Aim For hasn’t released an album since 2008’s “Rotation.” “he music that we’re making is something that feels really long overdue for us,” Hacikyan said. “Everything evolves, everything changes. It’s just a new set of challenges, and new roads that we get to charter.” Springfest wasn’t Cute Is What We Aim For’s irst university show. he band has also played at campuses such as the University of Minnesota. Some of these performances, though, see a low audience turnout. “Sometimes we can have the most insane production, we’ll have the best equipment in the world, massive stage ... and there can be like 50 people there,” Hacikyan said. “Every single person we have met (at Webster) has just been incredible. I feel really welcome.” Battle of the Bands winner Arwin Anwar, under his stage name DJ Arwin, opened the show. “It was a completely new experience,” Anwar said. “I’ve performed for other various events, just not on an actual stage.” Springfest was free to Webster students with a valid ID, $5 for faculty and $10 to the public.
DAN DUNCAN / he Journal
Top: Senior audio production major Arwin Anwar performs under the name DJ Arwin at Springfest on Saturday, April 13th. Anwar was selected to open for Cute Is What We Aim For after winning a Battle of the Bands competition in March. Left: Shaant Hacikyan, lead vocalist for Cute Is What We Aim For, performs at Springfest on Saturday, April 13. Cute Is What We Aim For reunited in 2011 after a twoyear hiatus, and just began recording its irst new album in ive years.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com DAN DUNCAN / he Journal
St. Louis City lessens marijuana penalties By Sheren Khalel Staf Writer
St. Louis City residents will face lighter penalties if caught with marijuana beginning in June. By a vote of 22 to 3, the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen decreased the charges for anyone in possession of “small amounts” of marijuana. he ordinance will go into efect on June 1. hose caught in possession of “small amounts” of marijuana will face a ine between $100 and $500, and/or 90 days in jail, according to the bill. he bill does not deine what a “small amount” of marijuana is, nor who decides what constitutes a “small amount.” Currently, St. Louis City follows Missouri state law, which penalizes users with a $1,000 ine and/or one year in jail for the possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana. Proponents of the city’s bill said the law will provide relief to the state court system. According to the bill, the city has better resources than the state to deal with minor marijuana ofenses “in an eicient and expeditious manner … thereby allowing state resources to be focused on more serious crime.” Alderman Joseph Vaccaro (23rd Ward) was one of three aldermen who voted against the bill. Vaccaro’s constituents, who are against the bill, inluenced his decision. Vaccaro also said he thought it would do more harm than good for marijuana smokers. “In the past, (the police) let you go. Now
It’s going to make it a lot more “convenient to give people tickets for marijuana. ” Joseph Vaccaro
St. Louis City Alderman (23rd Ward)
they’ll give you a ticket,” Vaccaro said. Vaccaro said prosecuting through the state was tedious for police. But this new bill will make it simpler to charge someone for marijuana possession. “It’s going to make it a lot more convenient to give people tickets for marijuana,” Vaccaro said. Vaccaro said the new law would make charging someone for small amounts of marijuana as easy as writing a parking ticket. He thinks people in the city will now incur more charges. “No matter what side you’re on (in) this, I don’t believe it’s a very good ordinance,” Vaccaro said. Mayor Francis Slay will have an opportunity to veto the bill, but Vaccaro said a veto was unlikely because the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen has enough “yes” votes to overrule a veto.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
Cannabis-related legislation in the state Capitol House Bill 511 would add
House Bill 688 would allow
misdemeanor marijuana possession to a list of ofenses able to be expunged from a person’s record ater ive years. Last Action: March 7, 2013 Primary Sponsor: Rory Ellinger (D)
medical-marijuana use under certain conditions and change laws to regard marijuana as a controlled substance. Last Action: Feb. 26, 2013 Primary Sponsor: Mike Colona (D)
House Bill 512 would reduce penalties for possession of marijuana under 35 grams and marijuana paraphernalia. Last Action: March 12, 2013 Primary Sponsor: Rory Ellinger (D)
Senate Bill 358 would allow Missouri farmers to grow industrial hemp that contains less than 1 percent THC. Last action: March 26, 2013 Primary Sponsor: Jason Holsman (D) Source: Sunlight Foundation’s Open States Project
April 17-23, 2013
Opinions
Page 4
Continuing the conversation he Webster University community responds to ‘Guest Commentary: Check!’ by Joshua Ritchey from last week’s issue. To read Ritchey’s article, visit websterjournal.com.
To join the conversation, send your opinions to websterjournal@gmail.com.
Letter from the editor:
he impact of an opinion he letters to the editor on this page obviously lor emeritus, but not three provosts (which hold have one commonality — reaction to Webster the same responsibilities as Julian Schuster, proUniversity student Josh Ritchey’s guest commen- vost and senior vice president). Schuster is the tary on the administration’s inancial responsi- only administrator to hold the “provost” title that Ritchey’s commentary alluded to. Two other bilities. Ater publication of administrators have the word “provost” in their the guest commentary, titles: Paul Carney as the Assistant Provost for I observed a campus Student Afairs and Athletics Enrollment Manabuzz about the con- agement and Student Afairs, and Nancy Helcerns expressed in the lerud as associate provost. As editor of this paper, I cringe at corrections. piece. I saw it shared multiple times on stu- With the attention this guest commentary redents’ Facebook pro- ceived, I cringed a little longer than usual. In this iles. As of Tuesday, situation, I didn’t meet the basic expectation of an April 9, Ritchey’s guest editor to catch inaccuracies before going to print. Given that, I still believe Ritchey’s commencommentary, “Webster administration’s tary deserved space in this newspaper. Please arbitrary inancial de- note I am not saying I or any Journal editor or Brittany Ruess cisions need greater staf member completely agree or disagree with accountability,” has Ritchey’s comments. We all share varying opinreceived 314 Facebook “likes” on he Journal’s ions. What I am saying is Ritchey’s observations are website. his is not to say 314 people agree with Ritchey, but it seems to me that 314 people feel his startling to me. In his commentary, Ritchey states he has observed an environment of fear — stupoints are worthy of discussion. Some of the points Ritchey made in his com- dents fearful of the lack or loss of their inancial mentary have been called inaccurate. Chief Com- aid and scholarships, his fear of not attending munications Oicer Barbara O’Malley states in graduate school at Webster “due to lack of fundher letter to the editor that these inaccuracies are ing,” and fears of job loss among staf members. Please take note that none of these points from “too numerous to answer here.” I am disappointed O’Malley did not address speciic inaccuracies Ritchey’s commentary directly address Webster’s in the letter. I reached out to the public relations chess team. hese points are the reason I was dismayed to oice via email last hursday and invited a representative to speciically address the inaccuracies. read the line in Maxwell’s letter to the editor that My email was not returned as of press time. I do states the judgment of Stroble and Schuster’s suprecognize Ritchey’s piece contained inaccuracies. port of the chess team is “of topic and out of line.” Katie Maxwell, junior and current student or- She adds, “Each student has personal experiences ganization liaison for the Student Government they can tie into Ritchey’s piece, but we need to Association, has suggested Journal opinion pieces think of the big picture and work together.” I am disappointed that someone who is cam“go through a more rigorous fact checking process” in order to prevent misinformation from paigning for SGA — someone who promises increased student advocacy — does not address the being published. concerns of Ritchey, a student, in her letter to the For this point, I would agree with Maxwell. here are inaccuracies in Ritchey’s commen- editor. Ritchey could have taken other ways to state tary that have been found. I will address what I his concerns, but writing a guest commentary is discovered: — he most signiicant of the inaccuracies, in my certainly reasonable. I believe the opinions page opinion, pertains to President Elizabeth Stroble’s is a way for members of this community to exattendance at the Pi Kappa Delta Forensics and press thoughts, feelings and concerns. And, as Debate Tournament, which the university hosted. evidence of this opinions page, is an avenue for Stroble did attend the speech and debate tourna- public discussion. ment, contrary to Ritchey’s assertion that she had not. Brittany Ruess is the Editor-in-Chief of The Journal. — he chess tournament, which Webster UniverContact the writer: sity won, was not NCAA regulated. — Webster has one president and one chancelwebsterjournal@gmail.com
Dedication to all of Webster’s programs In a guest commentary published by he Journal on April 9 from a Webster student entitled “Webster administration’s arbitrary inancial decisions need greater accountability,” there are inaccuracies and misunderstandings — too numerous to answer here. We in Administration, our faculty and our staf, celebrate and invest in Webster’s core values of students, learning, diversity Barbara and global citizenship — the very O’Malley thread that binds us together generation ater generation at Webster. We dedicate time, resources and activities to enable the many successes of our diverse faculty, staf, students and alumni around the world and you can read many of these stories online. I encourage you to visit www.webster.edu and read the stories on our homepage. Review the stories on our blog, Webster Today, accessible of the homepage. hese stories relect just a sampling of the hard work, dedication and commitment to academic excellence that happens every day on our campus locations around the globe. If the author of the commentary would like clariication on any of his allegations, I encourage him to contact me directly.
Barbara O’Malley is the Associate Vice President and Chief Communications Oicer at Webster University
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
Celebrate the success of your peers I am writing in response to Joshua Ritchey’s guest commentary about our administration’s support of the Webster University chess team. Ritchey is correct in saying the university is struggling with low enrollment and budget cuts. He is also correct in saying our chess team increases publicity for the university. heir recent victory was featured in he New York Times, on National Public Radio and they have been featured on local news stations multiple times, including when coach Susan Polgar schooled some Fox News reporters in a street game of chess. In Katie Maxwell fact, their victories have brought Webster a signiicant amount in free advertising that we literally could not aford to buy. It seems to me that bringing the chess team to Webster was actually a very iscally responsible decision because enrollment is boosted by increasing name recognition and enhancing our university’s reputation. Budget cuts are daunting, but criticizing the president and provost for supporting our chess team is of topic and out of line. Each student has personal experiences they can tie into Ritchey’s piece, but we need to think of the big picture and work together. Nothing gets solved by pitting students against the administration, or their fellow students. Yes, the chess team is highly successful and they bring a lot of publicity to Webster. However, they are also students — transfer students, many international students — who are hearing from the guest commentary that they are an “irresponsible allocation of money” and supporting them is “deceptive, unjustiiably founded, illogical and a waste of university inancial resources.” Is this how we respond to our fellow students’ success? hat’s not the Webster community I know. As a member of the Student Government Association, I want these students to know their peers are proud of them. hese are Webster students, and they are national champions. I also take personal issue with the commentator’s statements saying the president doesn’t “really care about student involvement and success” because she doesn’t attend events “within driving or walking distance.” his is absolutely untrue, as are the examples Ritchey invokes. In the future, I’d recommend he Journal have the opinions pieces go through a more rigorous fact checking process,
and correct any instances of misinformation prior to being published. President Elizabeth Stroble did attend the recent debate tournament at Webster. In fact, she was a keynote speaker at Pi Kappa Delta’s 100th anniversary tournament. When our baseball team returned from the NCAA Division III World Series, she met them at the airport and celebrated their success by focusing on the players in the Webster Groves Fourth of July parade, among other celebrations. She does attend regular season athletic events. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook if you want proof. No other university has a president as dedicated to students and all aspects of student life as President Stroble. She and the provost were involved in Humans vs. Zombies last year. She was the irst Webster president to attend Drag Ball, our second-largest event only ater commencement. She has supported students at the annual Sustainability Conference, Admitted Student Day, New Student Orientation and the annual Human Rights Conference. And I can say, as a four-time Delegates’ Agenda presenter, Stroble truly cares about students and collaborates with us to address our concerns. here are other avenues of resolving concerns expressed in Ritchey’s piece. here are steps we as students can take. We need to increase student support of various groups and recognize each other’s successes. I encourage students to contact Student Government Association when they have causes of concern, because we are here to advocate for students and serve as the liaison between the student body and the administration. he university will have to adjust to low enrollment and budget cuts. hat doesn’t mean students should turn on each other and attack their peers’ success. We’re proud of our students, whether they play chess or volleyball, play soccer or Quidditch, debate or play baseball. We support every team at Webster. Go Gorloks! Editors Note: Ritchey’s criticism concerning the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series was that President Stroble didn’t attend the event, not that she didn’t recognize their accomplishment.
Katie Maxwell is the Student Organization Liason for Student Government Association.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
To grow and excel or to switch to survival mode? In this very diicult economy, this is a critical strategical question that all businesses must ask themselves. It’s a challenging chess move which business owners, chief executive oicers, as well as university presidents and provosts must make. Let’s say you own a restaurant with great food and service. But business is slow. Do you spend money to advertise, or do nothing and hope for the best? he right business decisions propel companies to the top, while the wrong ones put companies out of business. he same goes with Paul Truong higher learning institutions. here are countless good universities, and they’re going ater a similar pool of students. In order to have an advantage, universities have to promote to be known locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. his is expensive. And even if they do, there’s no guarantee that the right audience will see it. Some universities choose to spend millions to advertise. Some choose to do it through athletics (football, basketball, baseball, etc.). here’s no onesize-its-all formula. Every university is diferent. Each has diferent needs. Even ater these universities succeed in getting their names out, they still have to make a compelling case for the students and their parents to choose them. hese are diicult chess moves which presidents, provosts and marketing departments must navigate through. Standing pat and doing nothing will surely lead to failure. Why chess? And why was this a brilliant move by President Elizabeth Stroble and Provost Julian Schuster? A top-ranked chess program costs a fraction of a nationally ranked football or basketball program. But the beneits can be much greater in many ways. Here is why: Outside of soccer (FIFA has more than 200 member nations), chess is the second most popular sport in the world (FIDE, the world chess federation, has more than 175 member nations). According to the latest statistic, there are more than 700 million players worldwide, and 45 million in the United States
alone. About half of this number is K-12 children and adolescents. Chess is a global game and Webster University is a global university. When the chess team succeeds on the biggest stage, it will not only promote and boost the image of the Webster Groves campus, but all of the campuses across the United States and around the world. Chess has been scientiically proven to help young people do better in school. his is why chess is a part of the school curriculum in more than 40 countries. And statistically speaking, students who play chess collectively have higher grade-point averages. Many universities ofer chess scholarships and create chess programs. hey want to dip into this big pool of top-notch students. FYI: he average GPA of the Webster Final Four Championship team is around 3.6, and they’re all full-time students. A recent national scholastic event in Nashville, Tenn., drew 5,335 K-12 players, plus around 15,000 parents, coaches and siblings. Countless scouts and university recruiters were there for the same reason. Chess is the best kept secret for universities. It’s inexpensive and brings great results. Some other universities provide a lot more chess scholarships than Webster. But they didn’t have the same success. Many professional football, basketball and baseball teams spend big money but don’t win championships. he New York Yankees, New York Knicks and Dallas Cowboys are just a few glaring examples. Lindenwood University created their chess program at the same time as Webster. hey ofer a lot more scholarships. But they didn’t make the Final Four. hey also didn’t get the same national and international coverage. he chess scholarship budget of the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) and some other universities are bigger than Webster University. But that didn’t yield the same success. herefore, it’s very clear that Webster didn’t buy a championship. hey simply did a better job in scouting for the right personnel. President Elizabeth Stroble and Provost Julian Schuster made a better decision than other universities to bring this worldclass chess program to St. Louis. his is what it takes to checkmate the competition, not money. Even with four freshmen, Webster is ranked as the No. 1 Division I team in the nation since its inception in August 2012, and won the Final Four eight months later, ahead of Yale University, Princ-
eton University, Harvard University, Cornell University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Washington University, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), New York University, Texas Tech University, UT Dallas, University of Maryland in Baltimore, etc. his is unheard of in the history of sports. his chess program last year generated national and international coverage of more than 500 newspapers, blogs, TV and radio stations to tens of millions of people. he list includes ESPN, Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, he Wall Street Journal, he New York Times, the New York Daily News, he Washington Post, etc. Webster University was featured this past week on the cover of he Washington Post and other media. It’s the kind of publicity money can’t buy, and even if you could, it would cost millions each year. his will result in long-term beneits for Webster in reputation, enrollment, as well as potential donations and sponsorships. It’s a brilliant chess move by our administrators, which will surely beneit the university as a whole. he competition is ierce. Every university is actively trying to get a bigger share of the best student pool. President Stroble and Provost Schuster have the long-term strategical vision to take Webster University to the next level. In chess, great players will look at the entire board, from both sides, to make the correct assessment and come up with the right strategical plan. To judge a position without seeing the entire picture will lead to deinite failure. It takes grandmaster moves to be ahead of the game. I believe that President Stroble and Provost Schuster have clearly made the winning moves. Quick facts: In eight months, the Webster chess team has won six national, three state, 11 major titles and broken numerous records. It’s the strongest team in college chess history. To know more about this program, please visit websterchess.blogspot. com. Paul Truong is a coach of the Webster University chess team and director of marketing for SPICE.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
OPINIONS
Page 5 April 17-23, 2013
Justin Bieber wrote in the guestbook of the Anne Frank House, saying “Hopefully she would have been a belieber.”
The Journal weighs in on the issues A new study shows that women are more attracted to men with broad shoulders.
Mad Men’s Jon Hamm visited Sesame Street to help Elmo build a sculpture.
A Boston College professor who hates running vowed to run in the 2014 Boston Marathon in response to the bombings.
A video of a girl inhaling a condom through her nose and pulling it out her throat went viral, creating the “condom challenge.”
Show some respect: he Boston Marathon explosions are not the butt of your joke On Monday this country sufered another great loss. he Boston Marathon bombings let three dead and more than 170 people injured. his nation is far too used to tragedies. Last year we had the Aurora, Colo., shooting, the Newtown, Conn., shooting, and now we face this. he most important thing is we don’t let ourselves become hardened by these tragedies. Each one should hurt. Each one should anger you. Each one should make you sad. he idea of getting used to such atrocities and accepting them is far worse. In accepting, we give up. We stop being a caring society. Instead, we note each tragedy with a shake of the head and then move on. We see this hardening of people alGabe Burns ready. We see it on Facebook when someone decides to use the tragedy at the Boston Marathon to make some half-brained political status. On Monday, I saw this post on my Facebook: “I wonder how long it will take for our Congress to now ban marathons or any kind of races now.” It was this post that made me the saddest. Amongst the tragedy, this person thought it was appropriate to make a stab about how the Newtown shooting started a gun control debate, which this person wasn’t happy about. his Facebook status stood amidst other people’s statuses that sent thoughts and prayers and exchanged information concerning the bombing. Don’t let me lead you to believe this one status was the only offensive post — there were many more that I saw. But this person saw nothing wrong with using the lives lost at the Boston Marathon as a means of making a political statement. his says nothing of how illogical the person’s post is. he gun control debate that spurred ater the Newtown shooting is focused on the means, not the setting. Reactions to tragedy can be diferent. I choose not to be vocal about it more oten than not. Others choose to vocalize their support for those who are sufering. Both are acceptable. What isn’t acceptable is trivializing the issue. he lives lost are not to be the butt of your joke. hey are not to be the soapbox you stand on. he people who died were individuals with lives, opinions and families. he families that are hurting right now don’t need your insensitivity — if anything, they need your support. Gabe Burns is the Opinions and Multimedia editor at The Journal
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
his week’s “Nerds’ Nest” on nostalgia is online at websterjournal.com
Corrections In the story “Vacancy: Comptroller is 1 of 3 SGA executive board positions without nominee,” it was said that the executive board position of director of public relations had no nominee. he director of public relations no longer exists. It has now been merged into the director of communications position. In the same story, Katie Maxwell was referred to as the current SGA secretary. his is incorrect. She is the current SGA student organization liason.
Letters and commentaries he Journal welcomes letters to the editors 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. Writers of letters to the editor and guest commentaries must come to the newsroom, Sverdrup 247, to turn in a hard copy of their work, as well as submit the piece as a Microsot Word document to websterjournal@gmail.com. All pieces must also include a signature of the author(s). 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.
Submit all letters to the editor and guest commentaries to websterjournal@gmail.com by 2 p.m. on Monday.
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Terror in Boston: Deiling millions’ escape I looked up and saw two elderly ladies sitting on a Boston rooftop. hey were drinking beer and waving the American lag. I made eye contact with one of them and she moved her lips to say “You are amazing; you can do it.” his was at mile 17 of the Boston Marathon I had run a few years back. here were spectators stacked 10 deep and shoulder to shoulder along both sides of the road. hey were high-iving myself and other runners, ofering fruit and cheering — they were with me. I heard my feet hitting the ground with each step, but I was loating. here were hundreds of thousands of spectators covering every inch of the entire 26.2 mile course. Running is special. Running any marathon is extraordinary. Running the Boston Marathon is the pinnacle of any runner’s dreams. It is the oldest, most prestigious race in the John Pohl world. To put it into perspective for nonrunners, crossing the inishing line at the Boston Marathon is like Christmas morning. It is winning the lottery and it is getting your irst job. As I watched the video of the bombings at the Boston Marathon a few days ago, like many of us, I was shocked, saddened and — yes — violated. It is always the same questions people have: is there no place let in this country where we can be safe? Do we now have to be scared to simply run? I am a husband, father, grandfather, business man, Webster University student and I am a runner. I have run too many years to count now — it is simply what I do when I am not being everything else in this world. hese fools who set of two bombs that killed three people and injured another 176 have not only destroyed families, but they have taken a part of me and stomped on it. I pray for these families and our world. hese cowards have ripped my heart out and let me and others dazed and confused. Running to me was therapy, meditation, peaceful, healthy and it has been my passion. It was my escape.
What right do these fools have in testing my will and spirit? hey not only took lives and let many with legs missing; they made what was supposed to be a crowning day of achievement into a horriic memory. I am sick to death of memorials for these senseless attacks. Now Boston can join Oklahoma City, Newtown Elementary School and 9/11 with a memory that no one wants. Some days all I want to do is get out of bed, put on my running shoes and go. I don’t want to think about all my troubles or worries of the world. Running does something to me that is almost indescribable — it is pure joy. I want to do it in peace. hese terrorists have hit me with a low blow. As I approached the inish line in Boston on that glorious day, the crowd noise was deafening. I was thrilled and elated. I was in the home stretch of one of the greatest days of my life. I can only imagine what Monday’s inishers heard when the bombs went of: screams of fright, pain and shock. here is nothing sacred anymore — nothing is of limits.
John Pohl is a senior at Webster University and former staf writer for The Journal.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
Don’t silence an issue like diversity “So are you, like, Spanish or something?” “Do you have a green card?” or the other hilarious “how I crossed the border” jokes are just some of the fun, welcoming conversations I’ve had at Webster University. I’m Hispanic. For those of you who don’t know, that means I come from a predominately Hispanic background. But I’m American, born and raised in Texas. No, I did not swim across the border. And no, I don’t care for burriNatalie tos. Almost anyMartinez one who has been to our campus has told me Webster University is diverse, and they weren’t wrong. We have a wide variety of ethnicities. What’s nice is there’s not a majority of just one culture — there is a bit of everything. A month into my freshman year, I was able to shake of the craving for tacos and understand that even though people have taken three or more years of Spanish, they still don’t know Spanish. Aside from the ignorant comments I’ve heard, many students at Webster are welcoming and interested in learning about one another’s culture. However, this is merely based on my personal experience. Last semester I took a class where the professor would say, “Now let’s hear from my Hispanic brothers and sisters,” referring to me. I was taken aback by this comment. I am aware I am diferent, but to be pointed out hurt. I knew the teacher meant well. He just wanted to learn more about my culture, and I was the only Latino in class. I have heard other stories about faculty
Editor-in-Chief Brittany Ruess Managing Editor Megan Favignano Online Editor Josh Coppenbarger Multimedia Editor Gabe Burns News Editor Dan Bauman Opinions Editor Gabe Burns Sports Editor Tim Doty
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and staf making even more ignorant comments to students involving their cultures. But when we are young we are taught civil obedience. We learn to shrug of the ignorant comments made by people who don’t understand. Racism isn’t as clear as “whites only,” as it was in the past. It’s hidden in misassumptions and stereotypes. But at Webster’s Oicers’ Summit last fall, student leader Kayla hompson spoke on
‘Now let’s hear from my Hispanic brothers and sisters.’ Referring to me. I was taken aback by this because I am aware that I am diferent but to be pointed out as so hurt. Natalie Martinez
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behalf of all the students who felt Webster University claims to be an accepting diverse campus, yet the faculty and staf are not. Diversity and safe zone training for faculty and staf became one of the top-ive issues for Delegates’ Agenda. he presenters asked for diversity training and workshops, the resolving of harassment and discrimination complaints, a campus climate survey and a chief diversity oicer. Since then, Webster University’s administration responded with a climate survey and the formation of a diversity student panel. I was one of 10 members on the diversity student panel. he main goal was to hear student’s opinions about diversity at Webster. Although I believe it was an important topic, I feel it wasn’t very beneicial. Many of the students spoke about race and culture and let out religion and the LGBT community. I believe we showed that, yes, diversity
Illustrator/Graphics Victoria Courtney Emily Ratkewicz Staf Katelyn Gosik Sharen Khalel Natalie Martinez Sam Masterson Jef Mosblech Tierre Rhodes Ava Roesslein Alex Wilking
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is an issue at Webster. But we didn’t address how to ix it. One question that remained on my mind was whether it was a lack of diverse faculty and staf representation or a lack of cultural understanding. Yes, it is nice to have professors from the same background as me. However, you can learn from anyone, no matter their background. Although I think it is beneicial to have a professor from Puerto Rico, I don’t need all of my teachers to be Latino. I need faculty and staf to be sensitive, tolerant and respectful of other people’s cultures. Faculty and staf should go through diversity training. It’s a lack of understanding that brings ignorance. Although Webster has made its initial steps in addressing this issue right before the Delegates’ Agenda recap, I fear this issue might once again have to be put forward to the administration. Students will continue to be harassed. And Webster University will appear to be a welcoming, globally diverse campus to recruit more students who will feel the pain of an issue that should have been solved. Even though the world can be culturally unjust, it doesn’t mean we can’t start changing that right at home.
Natalie Martinez is a staf writer at The Journal
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
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.
Page 6
SPORTS
April 17-23, 2013
First ever 9-inning no-hitter propels baseball back to 10th in rankings By Jeff Mosblech Staf Writer
A no-hitter and sweeps of conference opponents moved the Webster University baseball team up to 10th in the national rankings — the position it began the 2013 season in. Junior pitcher Dylan Dean Smith tossed the irst nine-inning no-hitter in Gorlok history to defeat MacMurray College (Ill.) 6-0 on Saturday, April 13 in Carlinville, Ill. In the pitching gem, Smith had 9 strikeouts and no walks, improving his record to 3-0 while lowering his ERA to 3.12. he Gorloks remain undefeated in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. “I just went out there and threw my game,” Smith said. “I was hitting my spots, that was probably the main thing. (I was) locating the ball very well. hey were just hitting ground balls to the let side. I knew I made a mistake and the kid hit the ball hard in the air so I knew it was my position to get the guy out. I was just on that day.” An error by the Gorloks in the irst inning allowed MacMurray to reach base, but the Gorloks erased the miscue with a double play to get out of the inning. With two outs in the second inning, another error allowed Highlanders’ second baseman Brock Hill to reach. Hill then stole second and reached third on a passed ball. Smith struck out shortstop Jared Dooley to end the inning — and set down the next 22 batters in a row — facing only one batter over the minimum. Webster junior irst baseman Brett Buchanan doubled with two outs in the irst, giving the Gorloks a 2-0 lead. Buchanan also walked in the fourth, stole second and then scored on junior shortstop Ryan Hall’s single, putting the Gorloks up 3-0. Webster coach Bill Kurich knew Smith was having a good day, but didn’t realize he was close to history until the seventh inning. “He obviously had a very good day,” Kurich said. “He was locating his fastball, and his slider was good, and he was getting a lot of swings and misses which is a good sign it was working well that day. “He was cruising right along, and the game was going quick, and before he knew it, we realized that they hadn’t hit a hit yet.” Smith, like Kurich, said he didn’t know for sure if he was throwing a no-hitter. “I had an idea in the sixth or the seventh, but I knew if I kept thinking about it, it would come back and mess up and I would lose it,” Smith said. “So I just tried putting it in the back of my head and didn’t think about it. And then in the ninth, I looked around and I was like, ‘Did I get it?’ And I saw Brett, the irst baseman, come in and he said, ‘Dude, no-hitter!’ It was a good feeling, especially being the irst one in Webster history.”
Kurich said once Webster igured out Smith was in the middle of pitching a no-hitter, the Gorloks tried to keep it quiet. “We kind of mentioned it to the guys who were playing defense in the ninth inning just in case there was an opportunity to dive for a ball or not, to make sure they did one way or another,” Kurich said. “Ater he got the 27th out, the guys (kind of) jogged onto the ield, but I think about half of the guys on the bench didn’t even realize it was a no-hitter until we told them.” he Gorloks added two runs in the sixth and one in the eighth, defeating MacMurray 6-0 behind Smith’s gem. Junior outielder Jared Turner was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs in the win. Earlier that day, the Gorloks blasted Blackburn College (Ill.) 15-2. Senior pitcher Steven Dooley gave up 2 earned runs and struck out 5 while improving his record to 4-2 on the season. he Gorloks scored a run in the irst inning followed by 7 in the second, all with two outs. he Gorloks went on to score 1 run in the third, 3 in the fourth and 3 in the sixth inning, making it the fourth time the team has scored 15 or more runs this season. he Gorloks kept their SLIAC record spotless with a doubleheader sweep of Blackburn on Sunday, April 14 at GCS Ballpark. In the 8-1 victory of Game 1, sophomore pitcher Isaac Behme went 6 innings — allowing 5 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 5. With the victory, Behme now leads the Gorloks with a record of 6-2 on the season. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Gorloks improved their record to 22-6 (14-0 SLIAC) defeating the Beavers 6-4 in nine innings. Ater a leadof walk to junior second baseman Taylor Stoulp in the seventh, Rainbolt singled, and Kazmierski laid down a sacriice bunt for a single that the Blackburn pitcher riled into the bullpen in right ield — allowing Stoulp to score. Junior catcher Ian Foege then grounded out, scoring Rainbolt and making it 6-4. Senior pitcher Jason Gray pitched a scoreless ninth and earned his fourth save of the season. he wins have placed Webster at 10th in the nation, according to D3baseball.com. Webster was ranked 10th in the preseason poll, but in Week 3 fell to unranked. Last week, the Gorloks were ranked 15th. he Gorloks will head to Shaw Park in Clayton to take on Fontbonne University on Saturday, April 20 at 1 p.m. he Gorloks are back home on Sunday, April 21 to face Fontbonne in a doubleheader at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., at 4 p.m. Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com
websterjournal.com
Gorloks Rip Red Devils
CONTRIBUTED BY JOSHUA RITCHEY
Webster University senior catcher Aly Watson connects on a pitch during Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Eureka College (Ill.) Red Devils on Friday, April 12 at Blackburn Park. Watson scored a run despite an 0-for-3 game at the plate in Webster’s 4-1 Game 1 win. The Gorloks swept Eureka with a 4-0 victory in Game 2. After the Gorloks were swept in a doubleheader by Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, April 14. Webster’s record is 16-9. A doubleheader against St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Fontbonne University on Saturday, April 20 at Blackburn Park at 1 p.m. will be the home inale and senior day for the Gorloks.
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Support your fellow students by voting for them in the Student Government Association Elections Voting will be from Monday, April 15 at 12am to Thursday, April 18 at 11:59pm
SPORTS
Page 7 April 17-23, 2013
The Sporting Insider
Boxdorfer Showcases Passion Through Tattoos
JOSH SELLMEYER
CAROLINA DUEÑAS / he Journal
Webster University junior Julie Greenough runs a long-distance event in the Billiken Invite hosted by Saint Louis University on Friday, April 12. Greenough competed in the 800-meter run, the 1,500-meter run and the 5,000-meter run for the Gorloks. Her best inish in the three events was 17th place out of 34 runners in the 5,000.
Stackhouse, Jefries break Webster records for 5K run By Ava Roesslein Staf Writer
he Webster University men’s and women’s track teams had two athletes break school records at the Billiken Invite, hosted by Saint Louis University (SLU), on April 1213. Junior Eroica Stackhouse broke the Webster record in the 5,000-meter run with a inal time of 19:05.91. In the 5,000, Stackhouse inished 14th out of 34 runners. Stackhouse ran the second-fastest time in program history in both the 800-meter run and the 1,500-meter run. In the 800, Stackhouse placed 25th out of 51 runners. She ran the event in 2 minutes, 34.99 seconds — which was 0.2 seconds of the record. Stackhouse also ran a 5:10.05 — which was just 2 seconds of the school record — in the 1,500, where she inished 22nd out of 43 competitors. Junior Julie Greenough also ran the 5,000 and beat the previous school record that was held with a time of 19:32.38, but Stackhouse had the faster time between the two of them. “he 5K I was really proud (of),” Stackhouse said. “I was very, very happy. As soon as I found out my time, I called my mom, I called my grandparents, I called my high school coach — I was really excited about it. “he other two meets (the 800 and the 1,500) were a little frustrating because I was just that close. It let me questioning, ‘Where could I have made that 1 extra second up at?’ But I was really happy with how I ran, especially the conditions of the night before and the fact that I raced all three events.” Stackhouse said the weather on Friday night was cold, but because the team was running distance events, it wasn’t as bad. Due to wind during the meet, Stackhouse said SLU’s staf lipped the direction the sprinters ran in order to help them. Six out of the seven Gorlok runners that ran on Friday night set personal records.
By Tim Doty Sports Editor
golf earns 8th place in Weist Foundation Classic he Webster University golf team shot a two-day total of 639 (325-314) in the Weist Foundation Classic in Decatur, Ill., on April 1213. Millikin University (Ill.) hosted the event. he Gorloks inished eighth out of the 17 teams at the tournament. Senior Dan Klipsch shot the lowest Gorlok score this weekend with a two-round total of 150 (77-73). He inished tied for 11th out of 87 golfers in the ield. Seniors Kyler Scott and Steven Kinsman shared 26th place with totals of 157. Scott shot an 81-76, and Kinsman had an 80-77 weekend. Junior Andrew Noble wound up tied for 37th with his 161 (81-80). Freshman Brodie Dakin tied for 50th with a total of 165 (83-82), and junior Andrew
“I thought we did really well,” coach Kelly Parsley said. “We’re getting faster each week, so that’s always a good sign.” Like Stackhouse, senior Ethan Jefries also broke the Webster record in the 5,000 for the men’s track team. Jefries inished the 5,000 ranked 27th out of 56 competitors. “(Jefries) continues to get better and better,” Parsley said. “To have him back now at full strength, he brings a lot to the team — not only athletically, but spiritually. So, anytime he can run faster of this short amount of time he’s been back with us and healthy is always a really good thing.” Jefries was out because of inlammation to his IT band — which runs from the hip to the ankle causing joint pain — but he has competed in the last three track meets the team has participated in. he Gorloks still have a touch of the injury bug. Freshman Clayton Roll is out with a knee injury on the men’s side, and sophomore Jenny Howard did not participate in the meet this weekend due to illness. Howard recently ran one of the quickest times in the nation in the 100-meter dash at the Washington University Select meet on April 6. “Every time someone is injured, it does afect us because we’re so small,” Stackhouse said. “We’re working through it (and) thankfully (the injuries have) been relatively minor. hey’ve been things we’ve been able to work with. We have awesome coaches. … hey don’t push us through injuries unnecessarily like I know some big schools will do.” he Gorloks will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., for their next meet at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Ind.). Webster will compete in the Rose-Hulman Twilight Meet on Friday, April 19 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Midway through the 2012-13 season, University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino promised his team he’d get a tattoo if Louisville went on to win the national championship. he Cardinals held up their end of the bargain by beating Michigan 82-76 in the April 8 title game. A few days ater the win, Pitino made good on his promise by announcing he’ll get a tattoo of a cardinal with the words “2013 champions” on his let shoulder this May. Pitino’s gesture is pretty impressive, especially considering the tattoo will be the 60-year-old’s irst. But what if, say, one year from now, Pitino decides to get a tattoo of the Kentucky Wildcats’ “UK” logo? Pitino coached at the University of Kentucky from 1989-97 and won a national championship there in 1996. Louisville and Kentucky have a longstanding rivalry dating back to the early 1900s, so neither university would probably be too fond of the move. Louisville’s cardinal red and Kentucky’s royal blue are clashing colors, ater all. It would be like Harry Caray getting a St. Louis Cardinals tattoo and a Chicago Cubs tattoo. hat would be weird. It’s why Webster University junior Julie Greenough, a cross-country and track athlete, jokingly calls cross-country and track and ield volunteer coach Bill Boxdorfer a “big contradiction.” Boxdorfer has a tattoo of the Webster Gorlok athletic logo on his let calf as well as a tattoo of the Fontbonne University Griin on his back. Both Webster and Fontbonne have competed against each other for St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference supremacy since the SLIAC’s inception in 1990. he two schools’ geographic proximity makes them clear rivals in the athletics arena. “With any sport, if you put Webster athletes next to Fontbonne athletes, it’s kind of diferent,” Greenough said. “We don’t talk. It’s just, ‘I know who you are. Cool. Good luck.’” Boxdorfer sees his tattoos in a diferent light, though. He graduated from Fontbonne in 2012 with degrees in sports management and business administration. While at Fontbonne, Boxdorfer participated in a multitude of extracurricular activities, including running for the cross-country and track teams, interning at the Oice of Admission and
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Dowd rounded out the Gorloks’ scoring with a 172 (91-81) to tie for 62nd place. Webster will compete in the 2013 Blueboy Invitational hosted by Illinois College in Jacksonville, Ill., on April 20-21. Tee time for Saturday, April 20 is noon, and start time for Sunday, April 21 is 8:30 a.m.
Women’s tennis prepares for sLiAC tournament with Fontbonne sweep With the cancellation of the Webster University women’s tennis team’s match at Washington University in St. Louis on Tuesday, April 16, the Gorloks’ regular season came to an abrupt end. Webster’s season record wraps up at 12-1 overall and 5-1 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. he Gorloks’ 2013 regularseason inale was a Sunday,
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working as a Student Ambassador. “I do have a background in athletics, but more so (the tattoos aren’t) about the rivalry,” Boxdorfer said. “It’s about symbolizing I’ve done this in my life. … Yeah, there’s rivalries, but it’s about the student experiences. It’s memories that students can make to last a lifetime. … he tattoos are all a part of me. All those experiences I had made me who I am today.” Shortly ater he graduated from Fontbonne, Boxdorfer was hired as Webster’s graduate assistant for the University Center and Campus Activities. He is pursuing a master’s degree in management and leadership in addition to coaching the Webster men’s and women’s cross-country and track and ield teams. Boxdorfer got the Gorlok tattoo in mid-March. When Boxdorfer showed up to track practice one day with the new ink, Greenough said several members of the track teams were surprised by the tattoo — its placement, size and the fact that it was in color (Boxdorfer’s Griin tattoo is in black ink). “As a team, it was kind of like, ‘No, he didn’t. Did he really? He really got a tattoo?’ But then ater you kind of let it sink in a lot, that’s his character,” Greenough said. “He’s so dedicated to what he does. You kind of expect it from him. You see how into anything he is — whether it’s work or just being there, just giving us splits on the track — he loves doing this. So it makes sense that he’d get a tattoo.” Boxdorfer got his irst of three tattoos one week ater he graduated from St. Mary’s High School in St. Louis. Instead of getting the St. Mary’s mascot, a green dragon, Boxdorfer elected to get the Chinese symbol for “dragon” tattooed on his right shoulder. In January 2012, Boxdorfer got the Fontbonne Griin tattooed onto his back. “here’s a lot of meaning behind (the tattoos),” Boxdorfer said. “It’s to symbolize I made it through that time of my life. Each tattoo represents a diferent period of my life — all the hard work and dedication I did during that segment. It’s kind of a reminder. If I were to look down: ‘Oh, yeah, you’ve been through worse. So just get over it.’” Greenough and senior track athlete Aaron Oberneufemann both like Boxdorfer’s tattoo to the point they’re considering getting a Gorlok tattoo of their own. Boxdorfer said despite the uniqueness of his Gorlok tattoo, a vast majority of people don’t react to the tattoo when they see it. “It’s something more personal. If people like it, OK,” Boxdorfer said. “Like, some people say, ‘Man, didn’t that hurt?’ Or, ‘I would never do that.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, you know, that few moments of pain is something I can get over because it symbolizes something more.’”
Visit websterjournal.com for a photo slideshow of Bill Boxdorfer’s three tattoos. The Sporting Insider is a biweekly column by Journal copy chief & layout editor Josh Sellmeyer.
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YOUR STREET. NOT WALL STREET.
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April 14 match against Fontbonne University at the Webster Groves Tennis Center. Webster swept the Griins 9-0. Senior Lindsey Hays swept her opponent at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Mackenzie Wilder was also perfect in her singles match at No. 5, 6-0, 6-0. he 11-match win streak halted, however, in a 9-0 loss to Principia College (Ill.) on hursday, April 11 in Elsah, Ill. Freshman Kaylen Kress was the only Gorlok to win a set in her No. 3 singles match. Kress lost the third set and ultimately her match 2-6, 6-3, 3-6. he SLIAC championship tournament semiinals will take place Friday, April 19 at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center — located at 5620 Grand Blvd. — and the inals and third-place matches will take place Saturday, April 20 at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center.
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Sports
April 17-April 23, 2013
Page 8
Dual threat: Howard discusses life as two-sport athlete By Tim Doty Sports Editor
For Webster University sophomore Jenny Howard, Mondays have recently been one of the tougher days of the week. Howard, a biology major with an emphasis in health and medicine, wakes up at 7:30 a.m. for her 8 a.m. class. She inds some time to grab something to eat throughout the aternoon, as Howard has classes until 4 p.m. At 4 o’clock, Howard heads to track practice for the Gorloks. At 6 p.m., she hurries to volleyball practice where she sharpens her skills as an outsider hitter. When volleyball practice ends at 9 p.m., Howard said she hopefully inds time to lit weights in the University Center’s itness center. Ater that, Howard returns to her dorm room and stays up late to work on her homework, sometimes inding a moment to relax and listen to Jason Mraz or watch TV. his is a typical Monday for Howard, a two-sport athlete taking 17 credit hours this semester at Webster. But Howard has managed to ind success in both sports — volleyball and track. In 2011, she won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year award for volleyball. Last fall, Howard earned SLIAC Player of the Year for volleyball. So far in the outdoor track season, she ranks 17th in the nation in the 100-meter dash with her time of 12.47 seconds — 0.8 seconds slower than the program record, which Howard set in 2012. “It’s deinitely tough sometimes,” Howard said. “I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times when I just want to skip practice or take a nap. It’s deinitely rewarding, though. I love both sports, and it keeps me in great shape. I’ve made so many friends. It has its ups and downs, but it’s really rewarding. I love every minute of it.”
two sports at two schools Howard, who also owns the program record in the 200-meter dash (26.05), said she started playing select volleyball competitively in ith grade. Howard kept playing through high school. In her senior year at Duchesne High School in 2010-11, her team lost in the district inals to a team Howard said it should have easily beaten. hough she was “burnt out” on volleyball her senior year, the loss did not resonate well with her. “Having it end so suddenly and not very well showed me I was going to miss it,” Howard said. “hat’s when I contacted a couple of schools and (Webster) coach (Merry) Graf recruited me, and that’s why I decided to play volleyball (in college).”
ARCHIVE PHOTO
Webster University track member Jenny Howard (left), then a freshman, runs at the Washington University Invitational in 2012 in Clayton. Howard holds the program record for the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
BRITTANY RUESS / he Journal
Webster University outside hitter Jenny Howard (far left, No. 18) — then a freshman — celebrates with her teammates after the Gorloks score a point in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship match against Greenville College (Ill.) in 2011 at Grant Gymnasium. Howard won SLIAC Newcomer of the Year in 2011 and Player of the Year in 2012.
Graf saw Howard play for the Kirkwood Volleyball Club when Howard was 17. Current Gorlok assistant coach Abby Williams was also an assistant coach for Howard’s club team. Graf and Williams worked to recruit Howard, asking her to tour the campus and meet the volleyball team. Howard said she loved Webster’s campus, which helped her decision to play volleyball for the Gorloks. hat was the plan for Howard — only volleyball. Her freshman year at Webster, Graf told Howard about Webster’s track and ield program and suggested she talk with then-coach Dusty Lopez. Graf said she encourages athletes to pursue two sports if they are passionate about it because she said she was a twosport athlete as well. Howard also ran track at Duchesne and set her personal
record (PR) in the 100 with a time of 12.15. “I was just going to run my senior year,” Howard said. “I wasn’t going to run in college. But, at the state meet my senior year, I was in the 100, and I was favored to win — but I ended up getting third. I was kind of upset by that. I was kind of on the fence still. When I came here and talked to coach Dusty Lopez, he kind of convinced me. I gave it a try; I realized I missed it. I missed competing a lot, so I decided to come back for good.” With that, Howard became a two-sport athlete at Webster. his season, three volleyball players — Howard, sophomore Kristen McDowell and freshman Lauren Hoover — all compete for the track and ield team.
Diferent training for volleyball, track Track assistant coach Scotty
Barnes said he sees Howard as a team leader for the women’s track and ield team. “here’s a lot of natural ability there, obviously,” Barnes said. “She’s wired to run fast, No. 1. No. 2 really is she’s just one of those kids who you don’t have to push her to do more — it’s more you have to reel her in from doing too much.” Howard said her training styles vary between her two sports. For track, Howard said her workouts require more leg strength than volleyball. “Some days I’ll do quicker stuf like out of the blocks, but some days I’ll do longer workouts to get me more strength and endurance,” Howard said. “Overall, it’s a more explosive regimen than volleyball.” Howard said her work with Barnes and the other shortdistance runners has raised her
bar for track season even higher. On the court, Graf said Howard’s success comes from her drive to always perform better, even during matches. She also thinks of Howard as a team leader and said the other players look up to her. “I really think it’s her competitive nature,” Graf said. “She doesn’t settle well. If she thinks she’s had a bad game, she’s really going to take it to heart, analyze it, igure out what she needs to change and what she needs to do diferently to be more successful the next time.” Howard said her training for volleyball is oriented more toward upper-body strength and arm swings. “In volleyball, especially at the college level, you have to be quicker and hit harder, so I work a lot on that,” Howard said. “I am short, so I have to work on my vertical a lot over the summer. I’m 5-foot-6, and I’m going up against girls who are 6-2, maybe taller.” he two training styles for volleyball and track combat each other, especially in the ofseasons, Howard said. “he more I run, the more I feel my vertical has decreased,” Howard said. “Obviously, that hurts me in volleyball. I have to work extra hard over the summer. hey kind of butt heads as far as training.” But an injury in one sport can spell doom for both sports. Howard, who sustained a stress fracture in her foot during Christmas break, said she sees the athletic trainers regularly in order to prevent injuries that
could hinder her. “I do ice a lot, especially when I’m feeling really sore or achy or my foot starts hurting,” Howard said. “I try to be as preventative as possible. I don’t try to wait until it’s at its absolute worst.”
Howard’s future goals Howard wants to help the Webster volleyball team advance past Round 1 of the NCAA tournament for the irst time in school history. Graf said if Howard combines her skills with the rest of the team’s talent, a Round 1 win is something the team could look forward to. Howard also wants the team to be regionally, if not nationally, ranked by her senior year. Barnes said if Howard stays healthy, she has a chance to run the 100 at nationals this year. Howard’s goal is not only to reach nationals, but to break her PR of 12.15 in the 100 while at Webster. Ater Webster, Howard said she wants to possibly go to veterinary school at the University of MissouriColumbia. She wants to devote her life to caring for pets. “I think animals are everything that humans should be,” Howard said. “I think they love unconditionally. hey’re everything that humans strive to be and should strive to be. hat’s why I want to dedicate my life to taking care of them and helping them.”
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Men’s tennis tops regionally ranked Augustana, locks up No. 1 seed in SLIAC By Sam Masterson Staf Writer
Webster University men’s tennis coach Michael Siener said it is a rare occurrence for a tennis match to be decided in the inal singles match. hat was the storyline when the Gorloks took on the No. 17 team in the Central Region, Augustana College (Ill.) on Saturday, April 13 in Bloomington, Ill. “We had never played Augustana before,” Siener said. “I knew they would be good. Maybe not as good as WashU (Washington University in St. Louis), but better than any other team we had played this year.” WashU swept Webster 9-0 two weeks prior to the Augustana match. Webster’s start to the match couldn’t have been worse. All three of its doubles pairs fell without winning more than two games in any of the matches. “We all got beat pretty badly,” freshman Travis Blair said. “So then we were not very optimistic going into singles, but we still wanted to show them we would not go away and give a ight at least.” A punch-for-punch ight then began. Webster would need to win ive out of the six singles matches to earn the comeback victory. he Gorloks won the irst set in ive out of the six singles matches, but every Gorlok lost his second set to force a third and deciding set in all ive singles matches remaining. “You get to see how Fran (Francisco Cortez) and Diego (Alarcon) are doing,” senior Agustin Villalba said. “You get to see everybody is winning and that forces yourself to be better cause you don’t want to be the one to lose.” As each Gorlok won his singles match, the pressure to win built onto the ones who were still playing. he overall match score was tied at 4-4 ater four of Webster’s ive single players won their matches. he inal singles match was in the middle of the third and deciding set with senior Josh Sellmeyer carrying the team’s hopes. “At that point, I’m kinda freaking out,” Sellmeyer said. “It’s coming down to me. hat’s never happened in my career before where the entire match comes down to me. It’s very rare to happen in tennis.” Webster and Augustana gathered around the court
of the No. 6 singles match. Sellmeyer’s match was in the third set as his court became the center of attention. he irst person to tell Sellmeyer he would be the diference in the match was Villalba. He told Sellmeyer he needed to pressure his opponent, but knew that with the style of defensive tennis Sellmeyer plays, Villalba was conident in the win. Sellmeyer said without Villalba being courtside he may not have won the match. “Ater every single point, there is screaming,” Sellmeyer said. “But the one voice out of everybody that I was listening to was Agustin’s because he is one of my best friends. “He knows what makes me tick — what helps me play better — so I was trying to tune everybody else out and listen to what he had to say.” he two Gorloks have played together for four years on the tennis team and three years on the soccer team. As the match went into a third-set tiebreaker that was irst to 7 points, some of the Webster team had to space itself from the court. “It was really stressful,” Blair said. “A few of us players had to stand back away, and I was cringing at every point.” Blair was the one in Sellmeyer’s position when Webster played Lindenwood University-Belleville and it came down to the inal match to decide a winner. Blair said he preferred playing in, rather than viewing, the inal set because of all the stress and not being able to control the outcome. Villalba was one of the few who chose to stay as close as possible to Sellmeyer. “I know sometimes he just needs the support,” Villalba said. “But I was pretty conident. Like, he’s so strong mentally and I just knew he was going to win somehow.” Sellmeyer’s 7-3 tiebreak win eased the Gorloks’ stress as they won the match with Augustana 5-4. “I like being in the situation,” Sellmeyer said. “Not every player prefers that, of course, but I think if you ask the other guys on the team, ‘Who would you want in that pressure situation?’ — even though we have a lot of guys who could handle it — I think they would say, ‘We want Josh in that situation.’ Or at least I hope that’s what they would say.” Ater the Augustana match, the Gorloks defeated
DAN DUNCAN / he Journal
Webster University senior Wakeel Rahman hits a forehand as he completes his leap during his doubles match at the Webster Groves Tennis Center on Sunday, April 14 against Fontbonne University. Webster’s 8-1 win over the Griins sealed up the No. 1 seed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
Illinois Wesleyan University 7-2, a team that swept the Gorloks two years ago 9-0. Webster also locked up the No. 1 seed in conference with wins against Fontbonne University and Principia College (Ill.), the 2012 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion. Webster took down Fontbonne 8-1 on Sunday, April 14 at the Webster Groves Tennis Center and tamed the Principia Panthers 7-2 on hursday, April 11 in Elsah, Ill. he wins put Webster’s record at 17-2 overall. In Villalba’s last chance to win the conference tournament, he said now it would be even more disappointing to lose as the top seed.
“It’s like our last season, and we cannot mess it up,” Villalba said. “We already beat (Greenville and Principia), so we don’t want to disappoint the whole team and everybody. It does put a little more pressure on it but gives you more conidence as well.” Webster’s last match of the regular season is against nonconference opponent Missouri Baptist University on April 18 at 4 p.m. at the Webster Groves Tennis Center. —Editor’s note: Josh Sellmeyer is the copy chief & layout editor of he Journal.
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