Feb. 6 - Feb. 19, 2019

The News Source For Webster University

THE JOURNAL Lifestyle

Opinion

Conservatory set builders face new challenge

Ted Bundy should not be idolized

Page 4

Volume 72 Issue 10

Feb. 6-Feb. 19, 2019

Student reports alleged attack to public safety Junior Grace von Seckendorff reported to public safety that a white male struck her knee Friday in the Webster Village Apartments (WVA).

The alleged assailant swatted von Seckendorff ’s knee, she said.

She recently injured her knee and walked with a cane before the time of the alleged assault. Von Seckendorff said the hit tore a ligament in her knee. Von Seckendorff now walks on crutches. She was not hospitalized.

Von Seckendorff arrived at the front door of her apartment and said she saw an unknown white male standing at the stairs adjacent to her apartment.

The alleged assailant wore a Webster hat, had sandy brown hair and stood at about 6 feet tall, von Seckendorff said.

Von Seckendorff said the unknown assailant laughed at her impaired walk.

“I wasn’t too impressed with that, so I got really angry,” von Seckendorff said. “I didn’t say anything. I didn’t gesture. I just made an angry face because I was just not happy with being laughed at.”

After the alleged assailant

saw her face, von Seckendorff said that the male said “Oh really,” and walked toward her. She then swatted at him with her cane, she said.

Shortly after she locked her apartment door, von Seckendorff said she called public safety. The head of housing arrived first, followed by public safety who later called the police, von Seckendorff said.

Von Seckendorff said she’s reported around nine people to Phil Storm, Webster’s Title IX coordinator, in her past three semesters at the university.

She said she was lucky to have a cane to ward off the alleged attacker.

The unknown male called von Seckendorff an expletive and then ran away, she said.

Von Seckendorff is the acting president of the self defense club at Webster. She said the night before her injury she advised her students to stay alert.

“We’re very conscious about telling our kids [that] this world is crazy. You need to take care of yourself and look out for yourself.”

Staff Writer

Webster graduate students Ola Ugobo and Raphael Thorpe planned to visit the Gateway Arch during winter break but were unable to due to the government shutdown. Ugobo and Thorpe came to Webster from Nigeria to study Cybersecurity.

The five-week government shutdown closed the Arch on Dec. 22 during the busy holiday season. The Gateway Arch lost over $600,000 according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Arionia Smith, a ticket sales agent at the Arch, said sales began to return to normal on Saturday. Ticket sales finished just 37 short of their 1,500 goal. On Saturday, the Gateway Arch National Park hosted a celebration to thank the St. Louis community for its support during the government shutdown.

Ugobo and Thorpe were among the almost 1,500 people who visited the Arch on Saturday.

Ugobo and Thorpe have wanted to visit the Arch since they began their studies at Webster in August, they said.

The two students drive past the Arch most days on their way to Webster’s downtown Gateway campus.

“Every time I drive from my apartment to school, the interest always lingers,” Thorpe said.

The two waited until their first winter break at Webster to attempt to visit the landmark, which reopened in July after extensive renovations.

However, the Arch closed its doors for much of winter break. Samantha Fisher, the Gateway Arch Foundation communications director, said December brings more patrons than m o s t months.

websterjournal.com

'Like a nightmare' Webster Groves mayor criticizes proposed St. Louis City-County merger

Reporting by Monica Obradovic

Government shutdown affects Gateway Arch student visitors

By Cole Sawyer

Page 5

The Gateway Arch released a statement on Thursday, Jan. 31 to encourage visitors to come to the Arch.

The statement thanked the St. Louis community for supporting those impacted by the government shutdown.

According to Smith,the Arch sold out of tram tickets to the top by 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We had a few unhappy people,” Smith said. “It’s good for us, though.”

Ticket sales agent Courtney Weiss felt the effects of the shutdown as it stretched on.

At first, Weiss thought a government shutdown allowed her easy time off in the holiday season. Weiss visited her family during the downtime.

“I was like, ‘Oh cool, I don’t have to worry about getting back immediately,’” Weiss said. “‘Surely it’s going to be like a week or something, right?’”

Weiss went 35 days without a paycheck as the government remained closed. She relied on the income of her fiancé and odd jobs during the shutdown, she said. She added that family members gave her $100 each to cover groceries.

Weiss said some Arch employees picked up second jobs and didn’t come back.

According to Weiss, the Arch asked her to work more hours than usual.

“Based on how much they’ve been asking us,” Weiss said, “it seems like a lot of people are no longer able to come back here because they have other jobs now.”

See Arch

Page 3

By Matt Woods Managing Editor

Supporters of a St. Louis CityCounty merger released a report on Jan. 29 outlining their plan to reunite the city and the county. St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in 1876 and remains separated despite previous efforts to combine them.

The initiative, Better Together, raised questions about the fate of Webster Groves for mayor Gerry Welch. Welch said the proposed merger became her first priority after Better Together released its report.

“This is the No. 1 issue because it’s the survival of our community,” Welch said. “In many ways, it’s almost like a nightmare.”

Welch expressed concern about municipalities’ ability to govern themselves if the proposed merger passes. In its report, Better Together claims municipalities such as Webster

Groves would remain largely intact if the city and county merged.

The proposal includes one police department for a combined city and county with one police chief. Webster Groves would maintain its control over parks and recreation but lose its police force and public works.

Welch said a city-county merger would be undemocratic for Webster Groves and other municipalities in St. Louis County.

“It’s about people having a say in how their government works and operates,” Welch said, “and this really takes that away.”

Welch said most of the municipalities in St. Louis County do not need interference. Webster Groves government would have almost no control over how the city operates if the merger passes, Welch added.

Terrence Jones, professor

emeritus of political science and public policy administration, said Better Together’s researching process contained flaws.

Jones said Better Together did not include national experts on the issue that could have contributed to the study. Better Together claims academic experts from the St. Louis region contributed to its research.

Jones, who teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), said he felt most of the municipalities in the county govern themselves well, with the exception of a few. Stripping the municipalities of important responsibilities would essentially dissipate them, Jones said.

“It lowers the citizens of Webster Groves’ ability to govern themselves the way they want to be governed,” Jones said.

Jones questioned Better Together’s proposed revenue sources for municipalities. All

sales tax revenue would go to the combined city if the proposal passes, leaving places like Webster Groves with less tax revenue.

Jones said he believed there would be no cost savings from a city-county merger. A combined police department, Jones said, would not save money because the combined city would most likely choose to pay officers the higher salary of the two. However, the combined city would only have one police chief.

Better Together’s report claims St. Louis’ revenue would exceed costs by $250 million. The report does not say how long it would take St. Louis to save that amount.

Better Together Executive Director Nancy Rice said the cost savings outlined in the proposal would likely be in the first 10 See Merger

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Griffith named interim head softball coach

By Matt Woods Managing Editor

Webster University named Katie Griffith Interim Head Softball Coach on Jan. 17, one week before official practices started for the team. The announcement came 24 days after Webster launched a nationwide search for a new softball coach.

Former Webster Head Softball Coach Chris Eaton is “no longer associated with the university” according to a press release from Webster. Eaton coached at Webster for 10 years.

Griffith said she immediately accepted when offered the interim head coach position. She said she liked coaching ever since high school when she gave pitching lessons to a friend’s sister.

“That sense of pride that you see on a player’s face when they master something that used to be difficult is so rewarding,” Griffith said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Griffith played Division I softball at the University of Georgia as a pitcher. She threw two perfect games in the 2004 season.

After college, Griffith moved to California to work alongside pitching instructor Tom House.

House is known for coaching athletes such as Nolan Ryan, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Tim Tebow.

Griffith said she wanted to take House’s throwing science and apply it to softball. One day, Griffith said, she told House she wanted to give baseball a try. She said House treated her like any

Softball players practice for the upcoming season at Center St. Louis.

other athlete he trained. Griffith was 31 at the time.

Prior to her tenure as a coach, Griffith played in the California Winter League (CWL) in 2017.

The CWL is a showcase league for baseball players looking to sign with a major league team.

Griffith did not make it to professional baseball.

Griffith moved to the St. Louis area after playing in the CWL to train with the Gateway Grizzlies and work in their front office. Griffith did not try out for the Grizzlies because she was too old at the time but hoped to eventually play in a different independent baseball league.

Griffith’s pitching velocity never reached the speed she needed to play in an independent league,

she said.

Griffith said her ultimate goal after trying to play baseball was coaching.

Freshman player Taylor Jackson acknowledged Griffith’s impressive collegiate resumé.

“I have to say initially I was a little intimidated,” Jackson said.

Jackson said she started to appreciate Griffith’s passion for softball after the first few days of practicing with her.

Webster University Athletic Director Scott Kilgallon announced Webster’s national search for a softball coach on Dec. 24. Kilgallon said he had a shortlist of people to look into for the position. Griffith was on that list, Kilgallon said.

“Where I’m sitting, I feel re-

MATT WOODS / The Journal

ally good about [hiring Griffith], but time will tell,” Kilgallon said.

“We’ll see how the season goes.”

Griffith will keep the interim tag throughout the season according to Kilgallon. He said he will assess Griffith on how competitive she is with the players, how well she connects with them and how structured the program is.

Kilgallon held a meeting with the players so they could meet Griffith after she signed with Webster.

“I left after five minutes because the connection was so strong and they were excited,” Kilgallon said.

See Griffith

Page 6

News

Page 2

Feb. 6-Feb. 19,2019

Missouri left with few abortion options

By Alexa Kannenberg Editor-in-Chief

*Editor’s note: Due to the current political climate surrounding abortion and out of respect for our sources, The Journal has given a source an alternative name.

On Jan. 30, Missouri state legislature reintroduced a “heartbeat bill” to the docket that would outlaw abortion past six weeks once a fetus’s heartbeat is detectable.

As of Oct. 3, Planned Parenthood St. Louis is the only abortion provider in Missouri.

Planned Parenthood in the Central West End still provides abortion services by appointment up to 22 weeks since a woman’s last period.

Julie Setele, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, studied abortion since she was an undergraduate in college. She worked in an abortion clinic herself and provided support and consulting to pregnant women considering their options.

VANESSA JONES / The Journal Setele said the fact Missouri is The Planned Parenthood location in the Central West End has heightened security with the amount of daily protesters since becomming the last abordown to one abortion provider tion clinic in Missouri. is frightening.

“I just think about the folks in will get an abortion by the time nant and therefore no longer eli- lucky because of the support Parsons said. “Our most vulfrom her family and her access nerable are those who have the the middle of the state who are they are 45 in the U.S. Setele said gible for the abortion pill. it is a common medical proceShe made another appointin St. Louis to Planned Parent- least mobility and money that really stuck geographically by dure, but because of the stigma ment a week later with the hood. However, she said not will have more trouble getting Missouri politics,” Setele said.

“Most people who have abor- surrounding abortion, few Planned Parenthood in St. Louis all women seeking abortion in access [to safe abortions and Missouri have the same access reproductive care].” tions are already parents them- women who experience it feel for the surgical procedure.

“So, I basically spent the whole and support as her.

Parsons said that if the heartselves and so they have to think comfortable talking about it.

Annie, an undergraduate stu- month of July in complete agony “So many women do it alone,” beat bill passes in Missouri it about childcare, getting time off work, the 72-hour waiting pe- dent at Webster, found out she because I have this thing grow- Annie said. “That sounds like an would effectively make getriod and other restrictions on was pregnant on July 6. After she ing inside me that I don’t want even worse nightmare to me to ting an abortion impossible, received the news, Annie made and I still want to be a mother do it all alone. You can’t always as most women do not know abortion. It troubles me.”

Missouri had five abortion the decision to get an abortion one day,” Annie said. “So this just go in secret either because they’re pregnant at six weeks.

“They’re called ‘heartbeat clinics in 2008. The Columbia through Planned Parenthood. whole thing was super traumat- some of these women have so She did not know how far along ic for me. ” far to drive and not everyone bills’ but I think ultimately Health Center in Columbia, In Missouri, there is a man- has the resources to do that what the purpose of those writMissouri was the latest clinic to she was but assumed she was ing them is to ban abortion,” stop providing abortions. They under 10 weeks and thus eligible datory 72-hour waiting period [alone].” for the abortion pill as opposed between an abortion consultaKatharine Parsons, director of Setele said. “I think it’s imporcould not secure admitting privileges at hospitals located to an in-clinic procedure. 10 tion and the actual procedure. the women, gender, and sexual- tant to be clear about that. That within 15 minutes driving time weeks is the cut-off for medica- This requires patients seeking an ity program at Webster, shared is the intention behind those abortion to make two separate her concerns about the lack of laws, to ban abortion.” from their health center, as is tion abortion.

After waiting a month for her appointments that are at least access to legal abortion in Misa requirement under Missouri appointment at a Planned Par- three days apart. souri. law.

Contact the writer: Despite the obstacles she faced, “Just having one clinic in MisAccording to the Guttmacher enthood in Illinois, she learned websterjournal@gmail.com she was in fact 12 weeks pregAnnie said she considers herself souri becomes a justice issue, ” Institute, one in four women

Merger FROM PAGE 1

years under the plan. She said Better Together is working on finalizing the timeline for estimated savings.

Rice said the top reasons behind Better Together’s proposal are unified economic development and municipal courts. St. Louis City and County contain 90 independent municipalities, 57 police departments, and 81 municipal courts.

Rice said municipalities in St. Louis County work against each other.

“We take our eye off the big picture,” Rice said. “Our competition should be Nashville and Kansas City, not Webster versus Kirkwood.”

Rice used the New York and Los Angeles police departments as an example of a unified police department that functions well.

Not sharing information between police departments in the county, Rice said, impacts the public.

The 81 municipal courts in St. Louis City and County would consolidate into one municipal court if Better Together’s proposal passes.

“There has been a systematic effort through many of the municipal courts in St. Louis County to shake down residents,” Rice said.

Rice said Better Together talked to more than 13,000 St. Louis residents over the last five years online or in person. She said Better Together’s task force found St. Louis County residents appreciate the cultural aspect of their towns. Rice added that county residents did not need separate local governments in order to provide citizens with services they need.

Better Together’s task force recommendations require a constitutional amendment to be passed by Missouri voters to go into effect. A transition period will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021 until Jan. 1, 2023 if the amendment passes in 2020.

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION February 26–28, 2019 Webster University Main Campus

Join us for a powerful and insightful conference featuring a keynote address, lectures, panel discussions and a theatrical performance designed to share experiences, research and emerging trends.

Please visit webster.edu/conversations to register and for more information.

Marilyn F. Booker

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Neal Richardson

Managing Director & Head of Urban Markets Group, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Six-time Olympian; Founder & CEO, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

Head of Financial Education Strategy, U.S. Bank; Co-Founder & President, Dream Builders 4 Equity

News

Feb. 6-Feb. 19, 2019

Page 3

Homeless college students seek shelter in extreme cold

By Moncia Obradovic News Editor

*Due to the request of Covenant House and respect of privacy, The Journal has given alternative names to residents of the shelter.

The polar vortex brought more than just cold to Covenant House, a nonprofit youth shelter on Kingshighway last week. The shelter’s emergency housing filled with youth seeking escape from the freezing temperatures who had nowhere else to go.

Covenant House offers beds on a walk-in basis. In temperatures above 90 degrees and below 30 degrees, the shelter provides extra beds to prepare for the heightened need, according to Covenant House CEO Jessica Erfling.

“Last week it was bitter cold,” Erfling said. “We don’t want any youth sleeping on the street in those conditions.”

Covenant house offers temporary housing to kids aged 16 to 21 for as long as two years.

Katherine Stalter works as Covenant House’s marketing and communications specialist.

Last year, the shelter served approximately 3,000 residential, outreach and emergency dropin services, Stalter said.

Residents said they found a sense of family at Covenant House.

The parents of Tobias kicked him out last May when he shared his sexuality with them.

Tobias lived at the shelter twice; once in June, and again shortly before Christmas 2018.

The 19-year-old no longer talks to his parents, but found a community at the shelter.

“It’s been kind of a family away from family. Everyone is a close-knit community,” Tobias said. “We all come from different backgrounds, but we all have the same goal. We support each other.”

Arch FROM PAGE 1

The temporary government reopening only lasts three weeks. If federal legislators do not come to an agreement by then, the Gateway Arch and other national parks will close again, Weiss said.

Weiss expressed her concern for her long-term finances.

“I honestly am already looking at a second job,” Weiss said.

Covenant House located off Kingshighway is a youth social services home that provides housing and supportive services to homeless youth.

Tobias aims to get a steady job in the future. At Covenant House, he learns job skills, budgeting, and how to cook for himself.

Tobias said he hopes to someday work in theater or criminal psychology. He majors in musical theater at Missouri Baptist University in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

“With acting, you’re using your personal experiences to bring other characters to life,” Tobias said. “It’s really fun to The effects of the shutdown may reach further than government employees like Weiss and Smith. According to Webster Economics Professor Steve Hinson, the shutdown hits the St. Louis economy in more places than the Arch.

“There are significant ripple effects,” Hinson said.

“A reduction in spending reduces subsequent spending by federal employees and government contractors, and so forth.”

Hinson added the presi-

do that because sometimes you may not like your story, but it’s your story, but being able to portray it in another life is very helpful.”

Cecilia came to Covenant House after her parents continuously kicked her out, Cecilia said.

Cecilia learned at Covenant House how to handle her mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.

Like Tobias, Cecilia hopes to one day have a career. Before

to bring a student bazaar. The bazaar will highlight various organizations in which students can become engaged.

The bazaar will feature different cultural groups on campus and will last from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 28, the last day of the conference.

Go to www.webster.edu/ conversations to register for the conference and see a full selection of activities and shows.

Reporting by John Hund

Rock Hill resident sends threatening email Webster Groves Police arrested Rock Hill resident Thomas Hobbs, 62, on Monday after he sent a threatening email to news outlet KSDK on Jan. 31.

The email threatened Webster Groves city employees, KSDK said.

According to KSDK, Hobbs was in a dispute with the city of Webster Groves over construc-

January 23

tion. He wrote in his email that he didn’t want it “to end badly like what Cookie Thorton did at Kirkwood City Hall…”

Charles “Cookie” Thorton killed six people when he opened fire into the Kirkwood Council Chamber on Feb. 7, 2008.

Thursday would be the 11th anniversary of the massacre.

periencing homelessness are facing. I know the St. Louis community will continue to support and do great work for the benefit of all our citizens.”

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Webster hosts annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a sixtime olympian for the heptathlon and long jump, will speak as well.

The first two days of the conference will be held in the Luhr Building across Lockwood Avenue from Webster Hall.

Free lunches will be provided on the first two days of the conference, but attendees must register in advance in order to have lunch during those sessions.

Matt West, ambassador to the diversity and inclusion committee, coordinated efforts

House from advice from a friend. Cecilia first lived at the shelter’s crisis center.

Erfling said St. Louis is a giving, caring community. However, more needed to be done to highlight homeless people’s need for help, Erfling said.

“The homeless population, especially youth that are experiencing homelessness, are sometimes a forgotten population,” Erfling said. “I think that we can raise awareness about the challenges our youth ex-

dent’s advisors estimate total spending growth will reduce by .5 percent in the first quarter of the year. Without the spending from federal employees like Weiss and Smith, Hinson says industries not directly related to the federal government may feel the economic loss.

NEWS BRIEFS Webster University will host its fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference Feb. 26-28.

The conference will include various speakers. Webster alum and co-founder of Dream Builders 4 Equity, Neal Richardson will speak. Dream Builders 4 Equity provides at-risk teenagers mentorship about entrepreneurship and leadership.

Other speakers include Marilyn F. Booker, who the Savoy Magazine named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.”

she came to the shelter, Cecilia wanted to write dark fantasy novels. Now, she studies interior design at St. Louis Community College- Forest Park.

Despite the resources she received at Covenant House, Cecilia would rather live in a home than a shelter.

“Who likes living in a shelter?

I’d rather live in my own place, but it’s decent,” Cecilia said. “ It’s better than my situation before this.”

Cecilia came to Covenant

MONICA OBRADOVIC / The Journal

He was charged with a terrorist threat in the third degree.

Police sent him to the St. Louis County Jail with a $5,000 cashonly bail, according to the St. Louis Police Department.

Reporting by Monica Obradovic

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!

2019

W IL L IA M T.

KEMPER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Nominations Due: Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 provost@webster.edu

CRIME LOG

A student reported items being stolen from her unsecured phone wallet.

January 23 A student reported his backpack being stolen from an unsecured area.

January 25

Webster University is proud to be the home of the William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching.

This award, generously funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation, recognizes faculty members who demonstrate teaching at its finest. Submit your nominations electronically, briefly stating why you think he/she is an outstanding teacher, by Monday, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. to the Award Committee at provost@webster.edu — please use Kemper Award in the subject line. Thank you for your support in recognizing teaching excellence.

For additional information, please contact the Office of the Provost, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at 314-246-8242.

A student reported an item missing from their residence.

EC-3401 2019 Kemper Ad.indd 1

1/31/19 8:49 AM

Lifestyle

Page 4

Feb. 6-Feb. 19, 2019

Music professor releases jazz-inspired album

By Kenya Rosabal Contributing Writer

Webster University Director of Musical Composition Kim Portnoy released his fourth CD recording in 2018. Portnoy took over 14 years to complete the recording.

The new record, “Caprice,” is an array of Portnoy’s favorite music genres.

“All of the pieces have some jazz or pop influence in them,” Portnoy said.

“It’s melodic. There are some pieces that have funk influence, blues, tango and classical of course.”

Portnoy said scheduling, timing and money were contributing factors to why the release of the CD took so long. Portnoy received funding through private donations from the university, a faculty grant from the provost’s office, and a grant from the Regional Arts Council.

Portnoy has taught music composition, jazz and orchestration courses at Webster for over 30 years.

Balancing composing his own music and teaching music has been challenging to Portnoy throughout his career, he said. Although he said he wishes he had more time to write music, he knows being a teacher takes priority.

Throughout the process of making “Caprice,” Portnoy credited the music department’s program and colleagues that helped make his vision a reality.

Acting Chair of the Department of Music Carla Colletti commended Port-

noy and what his work means to The Department of Music at Webster.

She described his work as unique and full of personality.

“Kim is a terrific musician, teacher, colleague and creator. It’s exciting to see him sharing his art through this medium to be experienced and enjoyed,” Colletti said.

Colletti hoped that Portnoy will inspire music majors to pursue their own musical dreams. She believed Portnoy’s instruction goes beyond the theory learned in class.

“As an active composer and performer, Kim is a fine example of a working artist to his students and the department as a whole,” Colletti said.

John McClellan, the director of classical guitar studies at Webster, was featured on “Caprice” showcasing his guitar talents.

McClellan recalled the hot summer day he recorded his pieces in a church in the Central West End. “Kim was there to give encouragement for the session that lasted for two or three hours,” McClellan said. “There’s a lot of pressure playing music by a living composer. If you do a poor job, they know where you live.”

Now on his fourth CD recording, Portnoy said he did not plan to stop anytime soon. Portnoy noted that although it may be satisfying to finish a body of work, as a musician you are never done. He said it is always about what’s next.

“The thing about any

a bigger audience is one of his latest goals. Portnoy said he hopes to get airplay on some classical stations around the world so his work can be heard.

Portnoy said his love for composing music started young. He started playing a piano his parents bought him in the sixth grade.

20th century music composer George Gershwin’s song “Rhapsody in Blue” influenced Portnoy.

Portnoy said he remembers listening to the song over and over again when he was young.

“There was something about that piece that just spoke to me,” Portnoy said.

Portnoy believed every musician has a person or moment that made them want to pursue music for a living.

“The reason that someone becomes a musician or composer is because at some point in their lives music moved them, excited them, made them want to play,” Portnoy said.

Portnoy has been studying, composing and performing music his whole life. Yet, he admits that he still has more to learn.

As for his legacy, he said he wants to have his music speak for itself.

“I hope they will be moved by it, or amused by it, or it’ll make their day a little better,” Portnoy said.

Kim Portnoy poses with his latest composition “Caprice.”

project that I do, and I’m sure other composers and musicians can say the same, whether they are

working on a concert or a piece of music is once it’s done, it’s really about the next project,” Portnoy said.

KENYA ROSABAL / The Journal

As for new music, Portnoy said he has not had time. However, getting his latest CD recording out to

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Set designers face new challege in Conservatory

By John Hund Lifestyle Editor

Webster Conservatory of Theater Arts’ next show “By the Way… Meet Vera Stark” features a short film projection that was recorded beforehand. The film required a movie set that needed to be built on an already condensed timeframe.

Leading the movie set build crew was Senior Josh Swan, the assistant technical director of ‘Vera Stark’. He was in charge of the construction of the movie set which was a film set in the mid 1800s filmed in the 1930s.

“It was a lot of work for what I think is 5 minutes of film,” Swan said.

Jacob Stahl is the technical director for the show. He coordinates the efforts of the different theater departments to make sure the set is built in a timely manner.

Stahl said one of the big challenges with the show was the movie sequence used in it. The film sequence had to be filmed beforehand. For build crew, pre-recording a scene for projection meant the set needed to be built faster than they ordinarily needed to.

The first semester show is usually a time crunch, Stahl said.

“We had to be very smart with the last show that we struck in saving some of that material so that we could build a movie set quickly at the beginning of this semester,” Stahl said. “All of that had to happen at an accelerated schedule, which is quite a big deal for the first semester.”

“By the Way... Meet Vera Stark” is a comedy that chronicles the life of a namesake fictional black actress who becomes a low-profile movie star in the 1930s. Decades later, her progressive roles are commended by the film

community. The movie portion was filmed in black and white and will be used in the scene that reflects on Stark’s acheivements.

The different settings of the show also make Vera Stark unique. Vanessa Taybourne is the director of costume design for this show. She said she tried to keep each setting in its own little world.

Taybourne said she enjoyed developing the vast aesthetics for the different periods ranging from the gray 1930s silhouette to the 2003 ‘futuristic’ and modern style.

“We’re looking into different worlds, different perspectives, different cultures, and just different ways to see life, which is nice,” Taybourne said.

Props crew has also been on a time crunch to get the show ready. Kendrick Lawson is the director of the props department and Isabelle Demstaedt is the props carpenter for the show.

“There’s quite a bit of glassware props and stuff trying to create the world for the story to happen

It’s one of these “ productions that has pushed everyone in every sort of way, Vannessa Taybourne

”

Customer Designer

with props that are truthful,” Lawson said.

Demstaedt and Lawson worked with the technical director to make sure everything fits with the overall vision of the play.

Lawson said it could be stressful at times since anything the actors interact with goes through his department.

Demstaedt expressed

Set designers work on stage in studio theater.

conservatory was doing a concerns about workshow highlighting racial ing with less time than issues during Black Hisusual to build and check tory Month. Taybourne, set work. Props, she said, who is an Africanwere something that took American female herself, a lot of detail and facing. believes it’s good for the Facing is the process of Conservatory to work on decorating a prop so it a show that had Africanlooks good to the audiAmerican female repreence.

“It just has to look very sentation.

“I think it’s one of these nice. So I had to make sure that none of the mea- productions that has pushed everyone in every surements are off everysort of way,” Taybourne thing lines up perfectly said and its very stressful” Technical Director Demstaedt said.

Stahl weighed in on the Despite the stress, Demstaedt said she is glad hard work of the different departments. to be working with car “We are all artists pentry. While she would working together on rather be doing larger art, collaborating on projects, doing smaller art,” Stahl said. “They things is marketable too. [costume, props, paint, She said working in the lighting] help fill out the shop is a marketable skill artistic side of this weird that she can use at any stagecraft and we call it theater. theater.”

The technical crew directors expressed their overall satisfaction despite the stress. Lawson said he was glad to do a show he hadn’t done before.

Contact the writer: Swan and Taybourne websterjournal@gmail.com were pleased that the

RYAN GINES / The Journal

Student adjusts lighting for Vera Stark.

RYAN GINES / The Journal

Feb. 6-Feb. 19, 2019

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Opinions

Page 5

Ted Bundy should not be idolized Alexa Kannenberg Editor-in-Chief

Zac Efron, the man that brought us such earth shattering performances as “High School Musical” heartthrob Troy Bolton and lovable frat boy Teddy Sanders in the “Neighbors” franchise is now playing the sexy serial killer next door: Ted Bundy.

With the release of the trailer for “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile,” a major motion picture about the life of Ted Bundy (starring Zac Efron) social media has been exploding with conflicting opinions about casting Efron as one of the world’s most infamous killers.

The argument against the casting choice claims the movie is romanticizing a man who raped and murdered over 30 women by casting such an attractive man in the role. The other side argues that because Ted Bundy was considered to be a charming and attractive man during his very public trials, he should be portrayed that way.

The problem I have with the biopic is not necessarily the casting choice for Bundy, but rather the mood of the trailer. Upbeat, electric guitar music plays while a charming, family man gets accused of murder. Voice after voice claims he’s innocent while we watch snippets of him defending himself in court, hugging his wife and media interviews with people claiming he couldn’t have done it.

I completely understand that anyone who plays Bundy in a biopic needs to be attractive and charming in order to portray him accurately. However, Zac Efron is objectively one of the hottest movie stars out there, especially to younger generations who will be one of the largest audiences of the film. I don’t need to see tweets like, “Ted Bundy was lowkey a snack” from 13-year-old girls.

It’s the over-romanticization of people like Bundy that becomes a problem. Lusting after a man who raped and killed more than 30 women is dangerous.

Just because someone is attractive and charming does not necessarily mean they are good people. Simply because someone doesn’t

Graphic by Joseph Schreiber look like the stereotypical creepy killer or monstrous evil person doesn’t mean they aren’t one.

Attractive white men who turn out to be criminals and mass murderers tend to get more favorable media coverage than any other demographic. All you have to do is compare the headlines when a young white male is accused of a crime versus a black male of the same age.

Back in the 1970s some newspaper headlines about Ted Bundy included “charming killer seems ‘one of us’” from the Associated Press and “all-american boy on trial” from the New York Times. Media outlets assumed his innocence before his trials even began.

Headlines like these downplayed the heinous crimes committed by this “all-american boy” over the course of two decades.

I fear that once again we are supporting media shaping the way we view famous killers by focusing on the idea that they didn’t seem like the “type” to rape/kill/eat people.

Whether the film industry chooses to play into this culture where rapists like Brock

Turner have a “bright future” ahead of them and mass murderers like the Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock who killed 59 people are just “unexplainable outliers,” the damage is insidious.

We might not all notice it as it’s happening, but the next time an attractive man does something criminal we may catch ourselves attempting to justify his actions.

The title of the biopic is “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile,” which is a great way to describe Ted Bundy. However, I am eager to see how the film will go about portraying Bundy as a whole. If the only real damning commentary on Bundy is in the title as the trailer suggests, the film will fall short.

As long as the film ends with zero sympathy for Bundy’s character and gives a voice to the more than 30 women whose lives were tragically cut short by Bundy, I might be able to get behind this film.

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Internet meme exposes users' data

Alexa Kannenberg Editor-in-Chief Matt Woods Managing Editor Editorial Office (314) 246-7088 Monica Obradovic News Editor John Hund Lifestyle Editor Marlow Ferguson Sports Editor Madyson Dixon Opinions Editor Section Editors (314) 246-7575 Joseph Schreiber Graphics Editor Alyssa Fox Social Media Editor Advertising & Business (314) 246-7538 Joy Leopold Newspaper Adviser Jeslyn Trau General Manager Staff Writers Cole Sawyer Contributing Writers Mohammad Rafi Cena Kenya Rosabal Photography Ryan Gines Matt Woods Monica Obradovic Cole Saywer Vanessa Jones Website www.websterjournal.com Facebook Facebook.com/websterjournal Twitter @WebsterJournal Instagram @WebsterJournal

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The Journal is the official student publication of Webster University. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the newspaper, not necessarily that of the university or the Publications Board. The opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Journal. All text, photos, graphics and other content are copyrighted

by The 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. The 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 The Journal are free; for additional copies, contact the business office, located in the Sverdrup building, room 116, on the Webster Groves campus.

Mohammad Rafi Cena Contributing Writer Millions of social media users, including celebrities, participated in the 10-Year Challenge recently. They are juxtaposing pictures taken recently compared to 10 years ago to display how aging has hit them, or to what degree they have made improvements in their lives and careers over the course of 10 years.

The 10-Year Challenge has gone viral on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter worldwide.

Tech expert Katie O'Neill encourages users to avoid joining in the 10-Year Challenge fad because the data that the participants share with their friends for fun can potentially be used against them at some point. Tech experts, including O’Neill, warn social media users against posting the 10-Year Challenge on social media because companies like Facebook and Amazon can gain access to their private data for manipulation.

O’Neill speculates social games and memes are designed for the mass extraction of social media users’ personal data. When users provide social media networks with data through social games and memes like the 10-Year Challenge, they risk their privacy.

Some data organizations use this information to illegitimately gain access to users' personal information and manipulate them. National Public Radio (NPR) reported in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica, a political research firm that worked for President Trump’s 2016 election campaign, stole 87 million Facebook users’ data, which sparked widespread privacy concerns in the U.S. The 10-Year Challenge participants provide corporations, like Amazon and Facebook an opportunity to take advantage of personal

Graphic by Joseph Schreiber information. They utilize users’ demographics and expose them to a variety of ads.

O’Neill says participants who are aging slower might face some fraught consequences and their data might be used in healthcare and health insurance assessments. She added that those who are aging faster than their cohorts could potentially be at risk of being denied insurance coverage or paying higher rates.

According to O’Neil, Amazon rolled out realtime-facial recognition services in 2016 and began selling such services to police departments like those in Washington and Oregon. Participating in such fads perhaps allows government agencies to start tracking users down. O’Neill stated that the police could track both the criminals, rioters and people they consider a nuisance in society.

Some users might say all of their pictures are already available on social media, so joining the 10-Year challenge may not be a big deal.

Of course, Facebook has access to all of the data that users have posted. However, when users

provide social media platforms with pictures from now and 10 years ago, they allow these networks to gather paired then-and-now photos with the purpose of exploiting different demographics.

Users allow social media networks to know when, where and with whom their pictures were taken. Additionally, they allow these networks to know how their lifestyles, interests, behaviors and beliefs have changed within the last 10 years.

These bodies of information allow corporations and government agencies to manipulate users’ information in any way they choose.

The 10-Year Challenge and other social games and memes put people’s cyber security at risk, their information can potentially be used against them anywhere and anytime. In order for users to be safe on social media, they should think twice before generously giving their data to social media networks and putting their privacy at risk.

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Letter from the Editors:

Corrections to 'Confronting Bias'

As a student news source for Webster University, The Journal is responsible for covering news on campus and in the Webster Groves community.

We take this responsibility seriously as a staff.

Our Jan. 23 publication contained errors in the story ‘Confronting Bias: community considers introducing Witnessing Whiteness program.’ The inaccuracies in the story warranted corrections and an apology.

Information in the story regarding Webster’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Vincent C. Flewellen, was inaccurate. The story states Flewellen worked at Washington University as the director of equity and inclusion. This is incor-

rect. He worked at Washington University as an adjunct instructor and served as the director of equity and inclusion at The College School in St. Louis.

Flewellen never planned to bring the Witnessing Whiteness program to Webster. He only said he considered bringing the program to Webster after a faculty member mentioned it to him.

The article states Flewellen organized Witnessing Whiteness at Washington University. Instead, Flewellen launched the program at The College School.

The story suggests the Witnessing Whiteness program was planned for students. Flewellen did not say the program was intended for students.

He said the program was intended for faculty and staff.

We apologize to Flewellen and our readers for the inaccuracies in the previous issue. As journalists, we strive to deliver the most accurate information possible to our readers and we will continue to do so.

Signed by The Journal Editorial Staff

sports

Page 6

Feb. 6-Feb. 19, 2019

‘Loked Up’

Women’s hoops uses defense to anchor dominant home streak

By Rodney Humphries Staff Writer

Few opponents have stepped into Webster’s home court and defeated the women’s basketball team this season. The team has managed to win all but two of their home games, and seven of the 10 wins were decided by 20 or more points.

The team’s huge roster turnover from last season has proven to be successful. They hold a 15-6 record and have won nine of their last 12 games.

Despite having so many new players, Head Coach Jordan Olufson said the team’s returning players from last year is what has been most vital to the team’s success. He said their experience as veterans has helped teach the new players what it takes to win.

“I think the players that we have returning kind of kept our culture going,” Olufson said. “They understand how we play and what we do. We had six of them back, and them carrying their winning experience over helped us win.”

Olufson said he urges his team to strive to be a superior defensive team to their opponent. They often apply the full-court press to make it difficult for teams to get the ball past half-court, let alone score.

Olufson’s defensive strategy has proven to be effective. Opponents average 36 percent in field goals and 26.2 turnovers when facing them. Olufson said defense is the No. 1 priority when game planning and recruiting.

“When we talk to players who are going to come in and play for us, one of the things we talk about is, ‘we’re going to defend and sometimes it may be 30 feet out and sometimes it may be 60 feet out,’” Olufson said.

“We have to defend at a high level, and for us to be able to get turnovers, and turn those turnovers into points, is very important to our style.”

One of the team’s returning players and aggressive defenders is junior guard Jaysea VANESSA JONES / The Journal Morgan, who leads the team in steals, av- Freshman guard Caity Jones (pictured) attempts to defend a pass. As a team, the Gorloks have generated 352 steals in 21 games this season. eraging three a game. Morgan said her defensive instincts she has developed over the years is what leads her to get so many steals.

“Last year our defense is what got us to the everyone know that our defense is what got us dison Beussink helped add length to the team’s “I just try to read their offense and see where low post. She leads the team in points and rechampionship and is what won us the champito the title and I just hope they can pick up on they’re going to pass it,” Morgan said. “If I can onship game,” Morgan said. “So I just try to let it.” bounds, and she said a dominant low post presread their eyes then I usually know where ence is key to the team thriving on offense and Olufson said another formula to the team’s they’re going to pass it and I try to get it.” defense. success is their ability to run plays that allow Last season the team finished with a 20-7 We have to defend at a high level, them to get easy points around the basket. He “Establishing an inside presence is vital for record and went 11-1 at home. Their success our team’s offense to run because it allows our said having players that are capable of mainand for us to get turnovers, and took them all the way to the St. Louis Intercolshooters to get shots and our lanes to open up taining a dominant presence in the low post turn those turnovers into points, is legiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Champifor our drivers,” Beussink said. “Defensively, it’s helps the team a lot. very important to our style. onship where they defeated Westminster Colthe same principle. We all have roles and each “We’ve got so much length now,” Olufson lege 63-61 while allowing them to shoot just 28 said. “Last year we had two really good post one is crucial. Locking down the inside helps to Jordan Olufson percent in field goals in the second half. Whennot give up easy shots and allows our defense players that were a little undersized, but they ever Morgan wants to stress how important and offense to be as effective as possible.” were still really good.

Th is year we’ve got really Webster University Women’s Basketball Coach defense is, she points to the success they’ve had good post players that are lengthier.”

Contact the writer: in the past.

The acquisition of freshman forward Ad-

“

”

websterjournal@gmail.com

Griffith FROM PAGE 1

Along with a new coach, the team will be welcoming in 13 new players. This includes a trio of players joining the team from Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. One pitcher, Breelyn Craig, said she respected Griffith’s college playing experience, which includes being a three-time letterwinner at the University of Georgia, as well as time with the National Pitching Organization (NPA).

“She knows the game really well,” Craig said of Griffith’s history with softball. “She has already given so much guidance to our team in the last couple practices we’ve had. I believe when we really come together and trust the process, we can go far in conference play and hopefully win the whole tournament.”

Catcher Darian Mor-

lan is also one of the new players coming on board for the 2018-2019 season. Morlan said the team started off slow with Griffith coming in so close to the season’s start.

Though, Morlan said that the passion Griffith has for softball is contagious, and it only took about three practices to feel an entirely different atmosphere.

“The passion and love

I left after five “minutes because the connection was so strong and they were excited.

Scott Kilgallon

“

Webster University Athletic Director

for the game she has is contagious. I think we can all agree to that,” Morlan said of Griffith. “Because of this, we as players have

already connected so well with her as a coach.

We cannot wait to see what this season has in store for us and Coach Griffith.”

Griffith will be joining a Gorloks women’s softball program that has won eight regular season St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) championships, four tournament titles, and seven appearances into the National Athletic Collegiate Conference (NCAA) tournament.

She will be making her coaching debut with Webster on Feb. 16 against Maryville College, one day shy of a month after signing with Webster.

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Student-athletes recognized for community service excellence For the first time in school history, the Webster University athletics program was recognized for its community service contributions. During last month’s National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIAA) Community Service Awards, the Gorloks came away with an award for its Webster Works Worldwide program.

Since its inception in 1995, the one-day program works to provide student-athletes with an opportunity to assist the St. Louis community. In September of 2018, the university’s website confirmed that since 1995, the

Works Worldwide program has generated north of 31,000 volunteers, and more than 134,000 hours of community service.

The actual event took place on Wednesday, Oct. 3, where the players, coaches, and staff hosted their event.

In addition to receiving a trophy at last week’s ceremony, Webster University and three other winning institutions also received a $750 contribution to its scholarship fund from the NADIAA. The organization is in its 54th year, and has been representing its award ceremony in every year since 2001.

Under Coach Eaton, the women’s softball team went 199-178, including a tie for first-place in 2010.

The Gorloks joined SUNY Oswego (Array of Projects), Catholic University (Ongoing Project / Activity), and the University of Southern Maine (Special Olympics Activity) as the three additional winners of awards at the ceremony.

The Gorloks student-athletes were awarded with the one-time activity / program award. Per the official press release on Webster Athletics, here are the list of activities that Webster University participated in:.

Baseball: Helped clear invasive plants and spread mulch at Blackburn Park.

Men’s Basketball: Went to River Roads Lutheran School and read books

to pre-K students and helped older groups with a STEM project.

Women’s Basketball: Went to Great Circle, which is a school for children with behavioral disabilities and helped clean, pick up trash, water plants and organize supplies.

Cross Country and Track & Field: One group went to the Cardinal Ritter Senior Services Center and helped clean up/mulch the grounds, while the second group was involved with prairie restoration at the Green Center.

Men’s Golf: Went to the Butterfly House, which is part of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

MATT WOODS / The Journal

Men’s Soccer: Helped clean up the facility as the Mason Pointe Assisted Living Center.

Softball: Helped stuff envelopes for the Easter Seals annual campaign.

Women’s Tennis: Helped organize donations/toys and helped prepare for a Halloween event at Friends of Kids with Cancer.

Volleyball: Played games with the residents at the Lutheran Senior Center.

Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com