MONTAGE
The
Serving the St. Louis Community College - Meramec community since 1964 • ACP Award Recipient VOLUME 57, ISSUE 5
FEB. 3, 2022
WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM
“STLCC Transformed” outlined
Plans for Prop R funds, and implications for Meramec campus, revealed in detail
The proposed timeline of “STLCC Transformed” projects. The demolition of at least seven buildings at Meramec is expected over the next few years.
BRUNO GRUBESIC
F
STAFF WRITER
ollowing St. Louis’ support and passage of Proposition R, granting an increased tax to support St. Louis Community College, students and community members of STLCC are left wondering what is entailed in this new budget increase. The college has dubbed their plan to utilize these funds as “STLCC Transformed” which has been given a page on the school’s website. This page gives an estimate of $24 Million annually to be used across all seven campuses to upgrade buildings, scenery, security, and more. Included on said web page is also a link to a Master Facility Plan outlining
plans and blueprints the college has for its campuses, with illustrations of potential redesigns of campuses, including an increased emphasis on gardens for the horticulture program, and native gardening. When interviewed for this piece, STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman told us to expect changes pushing STLCC towards a “21st century learning environment.” But what are the changes the community can expect to see? And when can we expect to see them? In the District Wide Master Plan is a slide showing an estimated calendar of the implementation of the new features brought about by this budget increase, which shows pre-design and design stages taking up the rest of 2022, and the first half of quarter 1 of 2023, with
A rendering of what a new campus entrance along Big Bend Road may look like. The project is one of many slated to begin within the next few years. GRAPHIC BY ARCTURIS
construction starting right after and lasting for about another year and a half, dipping its toes into the second half of quarter 2 of 2024. The website’s included Master Facility Plan draws out plans and illustrations about new buildings and structures across STLCC’s many campuses. Dr. Pittman mentions that the college is still currently in a planning period, and that “We’re looking at a time frame of probably a lot of occupancy in these new spaces by fall of 2024.” Unfortunately, while the college can look forward to changes and updates, most students in the current STLCC community will likely not be around to see them fully come to fruition. Pittman goes on to say that after the college is done with the planning phase, Priority 1 projects are taking the spear head on this budget increase. The District Wide Master Plan names all of these Priority 1 projects; plans for the Meramec campus are extensive. The plans include the new construction of greenhouse buildings and outdoor classrooms, renovations, relocations, and the demolition of older buildings. Those buildings include Communications South, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Clark Hall, the Library, and Campus Police and Continuing Education houses. Some concerns have been brought up among the community about downsizing the library on the Meramec campus. When asked about this issue, Pittman says “we will work to develop a 21st century library space […] certainly libraries are different now than they were in 1962 when that one was built… technology has really really advanced
GRAPHIC courtesy of stlcc.
and our students are requiring more and more online services.” When asked if the new library would have a bigger focus on digital information, Chancellor Pittman says “I believe that’s fair to say. How we’ll design that and work on ease of access to all those student resources will certainly be much more efficient and in tune with today’s students.” Librarian Rebecca Helbling says “I’m hoping that in whatever the libraries turn out to be in this new rendition that we still have academic support and tutoring,” and that her and other librarians are “waiting to hear more information,” and “looking for ways where we can give input in how things turn out.” Also included in these Phase 1 projects is new construction and renovation on the Wildwood, Forest Park, and Florissant Valley campuses. Forest Park and Florissant Valley can also expect to see demolition of older facilities, including Communications and Emerson Center for Engineering in Florissant Valley, and Hospitalities Studies in Forest Park; along with vacation of decentralized properties, such as Florissant Valley’s center for workplace innovation, and Forest Park’s Art Annex and Highland Park building. Chancellor Pittman describes the college’s mission to “prepare individuals for the workforce, prepare them for further higher education, and also provide continuing education to the community… it’s really a threelegged stool that we continue to work on.” More information can be found on the “STLCC Transformed” webpage.
2 NEWS
Feb 3, 2022
NEWS BRIEFS
Lecture Halls Reopened The remodeled classrooms in the Lecture Hall buildings have been reopened just in time to start hosting classes for the Spring 2022 semester. Orginally, the rooms were scheduled to reopen in October. The classrooms were completely refurbished with new flooring, furniture and monitors. One of the remodeled classrooms, LH103, is pictured to the right. Free Grab-and-Go Breakfast For those hungry mornings, STLCC-Meramec is offering free grab-and-go breakfast items in the campus store. Who: STLCC students What: Free grab-and-go breakfast items, first come, first served When: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. until gone Where: Campus store in Student Center Cafeteria Why: To support student learning and success! Free grab-and-go breakfast starts Tuesday, Jan. 18 and ends Thursday, May 5. * Breakfast items will not be offered on Fridays. Spring 2022 Book Fulfillment: Online Only Students must order their spring 2022 semester textbooks and course materials online at stlouisccbookstore.com. Students will have the option to choose “campus pick-up” or “ship to home” when they order. Shipping to homes continues to be free. The website for ordering books and course materials opened on Jan. 3. Students may pay with a credit card or book account waiver if using financial aid or scholarships.
A T
PHOTOS BY JACOB POLITTE The renovations to the Lecture Hall were complete by the start of the Spring 2022 semester.
M E R A M E C
The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **
COURSES
MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 152 MUS 154 MUS 211,212
Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music History of Jazz Music Appreciation Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV History of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II
Join the Team Meetings every Tuesday at 4 PM via Zoom or in Student Center, Room 220A
Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required! MUS131, 132 and 134 are CORE42 performance courses!
ENSEMBLES
Music 131 – Concert Choir Music 132 – Orchestra Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 138 – Jazz Improvisation All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers.
For more information, contact Music at Meramec Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638
Contact Shannon Philpott-Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu for more information.
NEWS 3
Feb. 3, 2022
STAFF
JACOB POLITTE
GENEVA LEE MARIAH DOVER
MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR STAFF
BRUNO GRUBESIC STAFF DEVYNN LEJEUNE STAFF ADELAINE TUDOR STAFF MAX WILSON STAFF
Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser
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Nelson looking to help “transform” STLCC
STLCC’s new Chief Operating Officer looks ahead to the future MAX WILSON STAFF WRITER
H
ow does an administration keep up with all the day to day operations of a college, especially one with multiple campuses? In January 2022, a new role was designed: Chief Operations Officer (COO). Former STLCC Associate Vice Chancellor of theWorkforce Solutions Group Hart Nelson was chosen for the role. The Montage talked to Nelson about what his job entails, his background, his concerns and hopes for the college, and about why St. Louis remains one of his favorite cities. Nelson majored in mass communications and political science as an undergraduate student. He worked as a sports reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Let’s just say that [sports] was not my strong suit. I wasn’t the most athletic person at the time,” Nelson said. He covered high school and college sports, going to games and getting to talk to the coaches, figuring out which student athlete to profile that week. “That’s what was really cool,” Nelson said. However, Nelson soon learned that journalism “was not going to pay the bills.” So he got a job at IBM, and then worked with the US Foreign Service as a diplomat. His first assignment was in Prague. “That will always have a special place for me,” he said. “It’s a beautiful city.” Nelson can trace his interest in diplomacy back to his youth: he went to high school in Berlin, Germany, and he even saw the Berlin Wall come down. He describes the experiences as “very important in how I see the world. Seeing that diplomacy and soft power can actually change the world.. it was not the World War Three that we had all worried about. It was a peaceful transition of power… and now you have a united Germany that is doing very well,” said Nelson. When Nelson was assigned to the Dominican Republic, his wife went back to St. Louis to visit with friends. She got a “serendipitous” job offer, and ended up moving back to St. Louis to start the job. Nelson moved to join her and his family after his assignment ended. Nelson has lived abroad in a variety of countries and cities, including: London, England; Washington, D.C.; New York; California; Prague; Miami; the Dominican Republic--and he still lists St. Louis as one of his favorite cities. St. Louis is “a great place for a family,” Nelson said. He noted that St. Louis is small enough that an average person can feel involved, but large enough that there’s many activities going on. “You can do the Muny, you can go to Forest Park,” he said. Nelson says he doesn’t understand when St. Louis natives complain about the traffic. “I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I’ve lived in London. [Traffic in St. Louis] is not bad.”
COURTESY OF STLCC.EDU As far as weather goes Nelson said he enjoys the fact that St. Louis experiences four distinct seasons. “Sometimes you get all [four seasons] in the same week,” he said. Before he began his role as COO, Nelson worked as the associate vice chancellor of Workforce Solutions Group. There, he was the head of “economic and workforce development.” He also “managed continuing professional development and personal enrichment education,” including “initiatives that reflected the needs of local, regional and national employers.” As part of his role as COO, Nelson said that a typical day can range from managing a broken water main at one campus, to hiring IT cybersecurity specialists. Acknowledging that the role of COO is new to the college, Nelson says that some people might wonder what the need is for a COO. “The reason I see is because of the massive effort that is going to be STLCC transformed. This is the first time in decades that the college is going to be able to build a lot of buildings all at once and really change what St. Louis Community College looks like,” Nelson said. Colleges and universities all across the country are having to decide if they should have a more liberal arts education or more career focused. Nelson said that both are important. He brought up the new buildings at the Forest Park campus, where students are studying a variety of healthcare fields, as an example of how STLCC is emphasizing technical education. However, Nelson isn’t ready to get rid of the liberal arts courses. “Just because you’re in a CTE program, you’re going to be taking these other courses.. it’s required. It’s part of
getting a degree; it broadens your view.” Nelson said that even if a student is studying to be a nurse, he hopes the student will get the opportunity to take a political science class. “Maybe it gets you politically active, maybe it [helps you] decide this is not for me,” he said. Nelson said that even in workforce preparation, there will be opportunities for “people to become well rounded individuals and educated. That has to be something the college continues.” One of the reasons students choose to go to community college is because it’s often more affordable than a traditional four year school. That is “incredibly important,” says Nelson. “It’s a great education, and, especially with CORE 42, you’re able to bring those credits at any state institution, and you’re going to be paying a fourth or a third of the price that you would elsewhere.” One of Nelson’s goals is to connect students with local employers. He mentioned the Boeing pre employment program. According to the STLCC website, students can take the six or eight week course at no cost, and are then guaranteed an interview with Boeing. “It’s sheet metal work,” said Nelson. Students “are learning how to do aircraft assembly.” Nelson notes that although students are not guaranteed a job after program completion, he says that many graduates get hired “because Boeing knows they’ve got the skills and abilities.” His work continues promoting and fostering these programs and the college’s growth as a whole. “I think the role [of COO] was designed for a heavy focus on the engineering and the design and the facilities and construction [and] also to look for opportunities for project management,” said Nelson.
4 ART & LIFE
Feb. 3, 2022
It’s time to end ‘The Blacklist’
The James Spader led show has gone on long enough Jacob Politte MANAGING EDITOR
O
nce upon a time, way back in 2013, “The Blacklist” looked like an intriguing new show, and that’s because it was one. James Spader plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, the “concierge of crime” and Number 1 on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Reddington uses his criminal connections to leverage an immunity agreement with the FBI and help them take down criminals, with the only stipulation being that he works directly with new FBI profiler Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone). If that sounds like a complex description, you should know that it’s not nearly detailed enough. There are so many moving parts to this show, and for many years, those moving parts carried on moving rather seamlessly. Except for Liz. The show never once did right by her character, almost always portraying her as a damsel in distress, and far too quick to jump to the wrong conclusions. She turned against Reddington so many times that it kind of just lost its meaning after a while. Most fans of the show didn’t like Liz, and claimed that the show would be better without her. And the show itself just flat out didn’t include Liz in a significant amount of episodes, including a four-episode stretch in Season 3, and a nine-episode stretch in Season 8. In those instances, it can be argued that the show was largely fine without her. But the show also made the mistake of stringing along the audience for far too long, making the entire story more and more convoluted, and not ever giving any real definitive answers. James Spader is an incredible actor that absolutely commands every scene that he’s in, but even that just isn’t enough anymore. The lifespan of a TV is a tricky concept. Usually, a show begins to feel like it spins its wheels in a sixth or seventh season. “The Blacklist” fell into
that category. There is only so long that a mystery can be stretched out before giving some concrete answers, and while “The Blacklist” gave answers, nothing was ever what it seemed, and the show routinely pulled the rug out from under the show’s viewers, and by
Of course, after finally getting the vast majority of answers that she was seeking, she turns back to Reddington’s side, just in time to die. Thus, the many fans of the show who wanted her gone got their wish. So how is the show without Liz?
default, from Elizabeth Keen… Which led to the events of Season 8. Finally fed up with Reddington after one last act of treachery, Liz finally snapped and turned to the deepest depths of the dark side, in the process becoming an unredeemable character. Essentially, a terrorist. No seriously, she tried to crash a plane of innocent people on purpose. That’s evil, something Reddington himself never would have done.
Aimless. It’s aimless. The show is by no means bad. Not at all. There is still an incredible group of actors and characters that we have gotten to know over the years, and they’re not going anywhere. But there really isn’t a point to any of this anymore. One of the most vital components to “The Blacklist” was Red’s relationship to Liz, and that’s gone now. There really is no reason for Red to be assisting the FBI, and
his explanation of “It’s what she would have wanted” is not true and, quite frankly, hollow. The show has shifted its focus to its ensemble, with considerably mixed results. After a two year time jump, things definitely shouldn’t remain the same, but the fact that Reddington’s former right-hand man, Dembe Zuma (Hisham Tawfiq), is now a full fledged member of the FBI is completely absurd. Not only can you not just up-andjoin the FBI, but Dembe was the right hand man of one of the most notorious criminals ever. Not to mention, he’s a lot less fun of a character as a cop, and his continued estrangement from Reddington isn’t what the show needs to keep going. They’re much better, and more enjoyable, as a cohesive unit. Aside from his decision to not be a tech millionaire, Aram (Amir Arison) hasn’t had much of a story since coming back. Ressler’s never been much more than stoic, and while actor Diego Klattenhoff does his best, it’s jarring to see Ressler try to be anything else this season. As for the rest of the cast, FBI Director Harold Cooper, expertly played by Harry Lenix, does continue to be one of the more enjoyable characters to watch. Along with James Spader, he is the show’s anchoring presence. Cooper, who is now the caretaker of Liz’s daughter Agnes, has an intriguing story going on, trying to slowly figure out who is framing him for murder before their plan succeeds. It’s not enough to save the season thus far, though. And then there is Reddington himself. Shortly following Liz’s death, he went into deep seclusion, and after separating from Dembe, found two women to be by his side; one is his lover, and the other is a new bodyguard. It’ll never not be fun watching James Spader do his thing, and it’s not like a show following Reddington’s exploits wouldn’t be great TV. I’m just not sure that kind of show should be called “The Blacklist.”
ART & LIFE 5
Feb. 3, 2022
A Revised Guide To Combating COVID-19
N
GENEVA LEE News EDITOR
o matter one’s health status, anyone can get really sick, and COVID-19 is especially dangerous for the 51% of Americans who have comorbidities according to the CDC. Obviously, the deadly and unprecedentedly contagious Omicron variant necessitates increasing protection. Here is a guide to what masks are out there and which ones are effective at reducing Omicron’s spread.
“equivalent” to the N95 designation. However, the CDC found that about 60% of KN95 respirators did not meet these requirements. Like the N95,
Surgical Masks: Surgical masks (that are not N95s and KN95s) are electrostatically charged, but they are not as effective
Neck Gaiters: Neck gaiters have similar issues to cloth masks. If multiple gaiters are worn at once or in conjunction with a mask, their efficacy increases dramatically (MIT). If KN95s and N95s are available, opt for those, otherwise, one can use a neck gaiter in conjunction with a cloth or surgical mask option.
Vaccination: This is not a mask, but it is the #1 way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The mRNA vaccinations have been proven to be safe, efficacious, and COVID-19 has been proven to be very, very dangerous and has killed over 850,000 Americans. Unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to die. There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility, though COVID-19 itself may. Please, go get your shots. N95 Masks: The next best line of defense is a respirator (specialized filtering masks), usually marketed as N95s. This is the best mask that you can get, according to the CDC. N95 is a U.S. designation for filtration, and N95 masks remove 95% of 0.3+ micron particles (a micron is 1/1000 of a millimeter). They almost always have an electrostatic charge that helps them filter particles, a charge which becomes reduced over time (so they become less effective with more wear). As far as masks go, these may be the most effective available on the market now. KN95 Masks: KN95s are also respirators, and they are essentially the Chinese
Cloth Masks: Cloth masks are the typical masks that are sold in drugstores and grocery stores made of cotton, synthetic fibers, or a blend. These used to be sufficient; however, with Omicron, these are not enough, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Multi-layer cloth masks are much better than single-layer masks, the latter of which have almost no effect on reducing transmission. Double masking multi-layered cloth masks is fine, but if KN95s and N95s are unavailable, opt for those.
Face Shields: These are not efficacious on their own, as they don’t block very many particles at all, so the CDC does not recommend their use as a substitute for masking, only using them in addition to a mask.
From top, left to right: Vaccination and masking; an N95 mask; a KN95 mask; a surgical mask; a cloth mask; a neck gaiter; a face shield
these masks also almost always have an electrostatic charge, and the charge diminishes over time. A well-made KN95 is a top-notch mask, but do due diligence before buying to ensure that the mask is not a knock-off.
at reducing transmission and infection due to their loose fit (UC Davis). A surgical mask is much better than nothing, but still not as good if N95s or KN95s are available.
Any mask chosen MUST be wellfitted and worn correctly to be efficacious. Perfectly covering one’s mouth but leaving the nose exposed will not prevent the spread or contraction of COVID-19. Ear loops can create a looser fit than masks that fit around the head, so opt for around-the head strings. And keeping the mask on is important too: while eating and drinking is impossible with a mask on, the virus does not care, so it is important to minimize the time that the mask is off. And of course, social distancing, isolating when exposed or displaying symptoms, and frequent testing are important as well. And above all, get your vaccination.
Books to Read During Black History Month
4 Pieces of Black Literature DEVYNN LEJEUNE STAFF February is a month to commemorate influential African Americans whose journeys have had a massive impact on today’s history. There are many ways to celebrate Black History Month. Why not enjoy it by indulging in black literature? Here are four pieces of writing that showcase black stories. “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting In The Cafeteria Together” by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting in the Cafeteria Together’’ is a nonfiction
story that sheds light on black issues spanning from stereotypes to interracial households. Dr. Beverly Tatum, the ninth president of Spelman College, first published this text in 1997. It has since been updated several times in the past two decades, and is now in its twentieth edition. “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting In the Cafeteria Together’’ covers hard hitting topics that show readers how to discuss race and everything that comes with it. This is a great nonfiction read that will help you become more educated on racial issues within America. “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin The Fire Next Time is a nonfiction book that
contains two essays by James Baldwin. The two essays are titled “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation” and “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region of My Mind.” James Baldwin was a well known author and activist who was outspoken on racial issues in America. “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation” was originally a letter to James’ nephew discussing race and its central role in the Nation’s history. “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region of My Mind” is about race and religion. Baldwin writes about his young experiences in a christian church. “The Fire Next Time” has been credited as one of the most impactful books regarding race relations in the 1960’s, as it gives an in-depth description of how race in America was regarded during that time.
“Passing” by Nella Larsen “Passing’’ is a fiction novel written by Nella Larsen that was published in April of 1929. Nella Larsen was a young American novelist who had written short stories and another notable novel, “Quicksand.” “Passing” takes place in New York, where two childhood girlfriends rekindle their friendship as women who’ve established their place in society. Clare Kendry has spent her life masquerading as a white woman who happens to marry a wealthy racist white man who is unaware of her true racial identity. Irene Redfield’s main concern is to keep her social status as a CONTINUED ON P. 8
ADVERTISE IN THE MONTAGE Spring Publication Dates: Feb. 3, 2022 April 7, 2022
March 3, 2022 May 5, 2022
Back-to-School Guide: July 2022
STLCC Counselors are here to help! Students come to counseling for: • Anxiety and/or stress • Depression or thoughts of suicide • Difficulty concentrating or lack of motivation • Relationship issues • Loneliness or isolation • Managing anger • Weight or body image concerns • Personal counseling • Crisis counseling • Adjusting to college • Accessing campus resources • Concerns about alcohol or drug use
If you are not sure whether counseling can help, please email us at counseling@stlcc.edu or call or text us at 314-539-5151 to talk about it.
Feb. 3, 2022
OPINIONS 7
Jake’s Take: Fight Club
I’m going to break the first rule of Fight Club Jacob Politte MANAGING EDITOR
W
hen I was younger, I could never really fathom punching and kicking things virtually every day. I was definitely a pro wrestling fan, but my mom and dad ruined the illusion that pro wrestling was real very quickly, and while that’s probably for the best, I can look back on my childhood and acknowledge that I was kind of a giant wimp. I was definitely that kid who would prefer a nice book and a glass of soda to calm down, and that’s not a bad thing. But at the end of the day, if I ever needed to defend myself in a physical way, I wouldn’t have known the first thing to do. In the interest of my health but wary of going to a traditional gym, I started participating in kickboxing lessons in October 2019 at a local Martial Arts gym in Affton. Now, two years later, I still attend kickboxing classes there, but I also do a few private lessons with my friend and training partner Irfan Mulabitinovic every week. Irfan is a professional combatant, with a pro record of one win, one loss and one draw (the draw shouldn’t have been ruled a draw but a victory instead and the state athletic commission’s rule book proves that, but that’s a whole other article waiting to happen), and an amatuer record of six wins and one loss. While Irfan trains at and has previously been a coach at the facility, he also has built, essentially from scratch, his own personal dojo to train in, both on his own and with other people willing to learn. I’ve been training there consistently for almost a full year now, and in that time, I’ve become increasingly more skilled at it.
Kickboxing isn’t your typical workout, but it requires a lot of movement and full awareness of your body and surroundings. In addition to the physical aspect of the workout, it also has helped my focus: often times, Irfan and my other coaches focus on specific drills to run for a few minutes at a time, and focusing on what those drills entail as well as making sure they’re done crisply and correctly gives me a goal to work toward. I’m someone whose mind can wander often if I have a lot on my plate (which essentially is all the time), so the incentive to improve my focus helps me, and not just when it comes to kickboxing drills. Here’s something weird to say
(especially if you’re my mom or one of her friends reading this): there’s something so liberating about getting punched in the face. Now, obviously, Irfan isn’t full throttle punching me in the face as hard as he can, and the objective is to avoid getting hit there. Most of the time, I meet that objective. But sometimes, if I let my guard down and drop my hands too far down, I’ll take a light hit to the face from another set of gloves. It’s not devastating, and it may not even leave a mark, but for a few seconds… it is noticeable. I think the liberating part, though, comes from the realization that even if I take a punch to the face… I can dust it off and keep going. It doesn’t faze me
like I once thought it would. That I’m ok, and not the fragile wimp I thought I was. Growing up, my parents basically insinuated (and sometimes even outright told me) that I should avoid confrontation as much as I could. And to some degree, that paid off: I never got into a fight in High School. But in the long run, that didn’t help me very much. Of course, violence is never the answer (unless you’re a competitor and it’s your job). But sometimes, when backed into a corner, it might be the only option. I didn’t know how to defend myself before, but I do now. Better late than never. There is one other way that kickboxing training has helped me, and it’s not in a physical way. As I’ve detailed extensively in some of these Jake’s Take columns… I’ve had a pretty tough year and a half and I have dealt with some pretty tough losses, among other challenges. Getting out of the house has been imperative to my mental health over the last year; sitting at home dwelling on my personal losses did nothing to snap me out of my funk. During one of the darkest periods of my life, training with Irfan and others has done wonders in helping with my self-esteem. It’s really helped me feel a lot better and more confident in my abilities. And the network of great and supportive people that I have been introduced to, not just at Irfan’s but at the gym too, have really been a joy to be around. They have helped me to feel welcome, like I’m in a friendly community of sorts. I’ll be forever grateful for that. So yeah, in conclusion: kickboxing is wonderful.
What I Took Away From ‘Liking What You See’ GENEVA LEE NEWS EDITOR I recently read, “Liking What You See: A Documentary,” a novella by Ted Chiang published in 2002. The premise is that there is a procedure that creates the fictional condition of calliagnosia, which prevents the recognition of beauty in people’s faces and is instantly reversible and instantly reapplicable. It does not inhibit recognition or prevent the observation of beauty in other forms, such as art or nature, nor does it counteract racism or ethnic discrimination. The characters navigate growing up with calliagnosia, or “calli” for short, reversing it, considering mandating its use, the
influence of the company that created the procedure, and the implications of calli and its potential and actualized use. They debate: use it individually or not, use it long term or change it depending on the situation, or whether or not to mandate its use. The story is rooted in the concept of the desirability politic, one part of which is commonly referred to as “pretty privilege,” in which those who are considered physically attractive under stereotypical Western heteronormative, patriactchal standards have greater social capital and power. However, desirability politics is a more accurate and more comprehensive concept that includes facets such as net worth and income, education level, age, race, ethnicity: essentially,
identity aspects that society ascribes worth to, irrespective of the persons’ values, compassion, kindness, empathy, humor, or any of the traits that make them who they are. External valuation of their worth, rather than a weighing of their personhood. The opinion that I pulled from this is that I would personally get calli, but I would not support mandating the use of it. Some characters in the story believe that for calli to truly mitigate desirability politics, everyone would need to get calli, or those who didn’t have it would take advantage of those who don’t have it. But this isn’t true: those who have calli benefit from not being able to judge someone’s appearance. They get to judge and appreciate and love or hate someone more upon the basis of who they are and how they conduct themselves. If someone doesn’t value physical beauty, they cannot be taken advantage of in that regard: it’s no loss to them. Unless everyone got it, there would still be a physical beauty component to desirability politics, but the individual
can still benefit, making it worthwhile. It’s impossible for me to know how much appearance has influenced my like or dislike for others, but I am human, so I know it has. I don’t know how much my appearance has shaped my character, if it has made me a better or worse person, helped me advance or held me back, made me kinder or more thoughtful or less so. How it has affected my love for myself, because I know I have hated myself because I have hated my appearance. But regardless, I think that removing this from the equation would make me a better person and judge others more fairly and make me less concerned about vanity and how others see my face. I don’t want to be embarrassed for looking like me, for not having makeup done or for having frizzy tangled hair. I would get calli, and I would recommend it for others if it was real. I want to see the world more accurately and clearly, and see beauty within and love the beauty of people’s characters. Not to be heroic or ethical, but out of a selfish desire for the authentic.
8 COMMUNITY
Feb. 3, 2022
Good Reads for BHM CONTINUED FROM P. 5
middle class woman who also partakes in passing as a white woman at times. “Passing” touches on the real issue of living in a black and white world as an interacial woman in the 1920’s. After reading the novel, you can stream the film adaptation on Netflix. “Fences” by August Wilson “Fences” is a play, turned into a short novel, written by August Wilson, which was published in 1985. “Fences’’ is set in the 1950’s and dives into an African American family’s life and their struggle. Troy, who is a hard working man, is working day by day to provide for himself and his family. He battles with the nostalgia of his days in Negro-League baseball and the regret of being in prison for a robbery gone bad, all while trying to be a husband, brother, and father. The play explores religion, family, and struggle, and was made into a motion picture in 2016 which was directed by Denzel Washington.
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PHOTO BY ADELAINE TUDOR SKATING IN THE DARK: Students, staff, faculty and their families skate at Steinberg Ice Rink in Forest Park as part of the Welcome Week Winter Warmup.
TRANSFER INFORMATION SESSION Thursday, March 24, 2022 • 4–6 p.m. CST • JOIN US!
AFFORDABLE, PERSONAL AND TRANSFER-FRIENDLY At Webster University, we offer a personalized approach to education that starts with your admission experience. Our staff and faculty are excited to meet you at our Transfer Information Session, where you’ll have the chance to discover more about Webster University! • Experience a guided tour of campus (Tour is optional and begins at 3 p.m., RSVP when registering) • Transfer & Scholarship presentation • Q&A Faculty Panel • Speak 1:1 with a Transfer Admission Counselor • Learn more about campus life, student support resources, and study abroad
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