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VOLUME 52, ISSUE 1 | THURSDAY SEPT. 1, 2016 | www.meramecmontage.com
News:
In-Depth:
Meramec welcomes first-ever provost
Fifteen years after 9/11: How Islam is discussed at Meramec “I guess when people want to comment, they try as much and as hard as possible to be respectful when they’re talking — especially seeing that I am a hijabi in the classroom.” Noura Abdelghafoor
Carol Lupardis: “I look forward to listening and getting to know the students well and being out on the campus.” Full story on page 2
Art & Life:
History Professor Steven G. Collins talks anti-intellectualism
Only a handful of people who practice Islam are involved in terrorism, but Muslims are often blamed for any act of terrorism in the world. History Professor Rober t Lee and student Noura Abdelghafoor talk about the generalizations applied to Muslims and how Islam is viewed in the United States and in the Meramec classroom.
“Anti-intellectualism has led us to not communicating anymore.”
Full story on pages 6 & 7
Full story on page 9
Sports:
Going for the goal
Men and women’s soccer star t the season with a win
Opinions:
Andrew Ameer The middle income worker finally catches a break Wage law updated to keep up with the times
Page 12
Page 4
2 | News
Sept. 1, 2016
Meramec welcomes first-ever provost Carol Lupardis takes the reins during an academic restructuring Katie Hayes | Editor-in-Chief Carol Lupardus began as Meramec’s first provost on June 13 — the same day a swarm of bees closed down the Physical Education building. Lupardus said it was quite the start to her career at Meramec. The former vice president of academic affairs has worked for St. Louis Community College (STLCC) since 2000, both at the Florissant Valley and Wildwood campuses. However, June marked the beginning of her career at Meramec. Lupardus was approved as the Meramec provost by the board of trustees on April 6. STLCC previously followed the president model, but is currently transitioning to a provost model. A provost combines the responsibilities of the campus
president and vice president for academic affairs. They are the chief academic officer of the campus and report to the vice chancellor and chancellor of STLCC. “I look forward to listening and getting to know the students well and being out on the campus,” Lupardus said. “I really want to embrace a culture of respect and embrace all that is high expectations, rigorous teaching and learning — but mostly I want to foster a campus climate of inclusion and a culture of respect. I say that not because that’s not already here, because I don’t know. I’m here to listen and learn.” STLCC is currently undergoing major academic restructuring. Chancellor Jeff Pittman began in July 2015 and is the fifth chancellor in 10 years. Pittman made it clear in multiple open forums that he is here to stay.
The provost applicants underwent a rigorous interview process, which included interviews filmed at Forest Park. The interviews were filmed through Skype, so those not physically present could watch the interviews. Candidates applied for a provost or associate provost position, but could not choose their campus. “When I applied, you applied for the position of provost, and the chancellor and the vice chancellor were the ones that made the final decision as to which campus was suited for each successful candidate,” Lupardus said. During the interview process, applicants were asked to define the role of campus provost. “I see the campus provost as being an advocate for the campus, working with the district and working collaboratively
Illustration by Marissa Diercks
EDITORS Katie Hayes Marie-Josephine Schwarz Sam Roy Andrew Ameer Alyssa Marsala Caroline Frank Ashley Biundo Missy Arneson Jordan Morris Ian Schrauth Shannon Philpott
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor/Multimedia Asst. News Editor Opinions Editor In-Depth Editor Art & Life Editor Photo/Sports Editor Copy Editor Graphics Editor Online Editor Faculty Adviser
STAFF Cornelious Jones Dalila Kahvedzic James Claiborne Amanda Harris Erik Muschinske Scott Roy
Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Designer
www.meramecmontage.com
across campuses,” Lupardus said. The definition was developed as the chancellor and vice chancellor met with candidates. “I see the provost as being extremely collaborative and working as a team with the provosts from the other campuses,” Lupardus said. “Also, I believe the role is going to be to work with our community partners, get out in the Meramec community area, Kirkwood and the surrounding areas, making sure that the Meramec campus continues to serve the community with which we reside, I think that’s really important.” Since every STLCC campus moved to the provost model, the district still needs to adjust. “The role of the provost is new to the district,” Lupardus said. “So we have to sort of be flexible. We’re all sort of treading new ground together, but I think it’s an exciting challenge to be in a leadership position where you’re working with other really strong advocates for student success, and I think it’s a challenge that we all are excited to take a part of.” Lupardus is joining Meramec in the midst of an enrollment crisis, but she said her approach is to listen to students and their needs regarding STLCC. “I’m excited to talk to the leaders of Campus Life to see what is the best way for me to meet with students,” Lupardus said. “I think making sure that I get out onto the campus and make myself available. This is a place where I hope students will come, and faculty and staff, to meet with me about a variety of things.”
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3 | News
4 1, 2016 Sept.
After 15 years of Coke products, Meramec switches to Pepsi Coke Vs. Pepsi: The debate settled- For now Andrew Ameer | Opinions Editor After 15 years, Coke will no longer be the bottled drink vendor of choice for STLCC. If you’ve been paying attention around campus over this past summer, you will have noticed the Coke machines quietly being replaced with shiny new Pepsi machines. Look in the cafeteria, and it’s the same story with the soft drink dispensers. Even the drinks available for sale in the bookstore have been
replaced by Pepsi products. Why? It all has to do with highly competitive contracts negotiated with the major drink brands. Back in 2000, the STLCC administration decided to solicit bids for “pouring rights” contracts to decide which company would have the opportunity to provide exclusive drink vending services for the college. Coke won that first battle, with a 10 year contract. According to Christina Hart, Auxiliary services manager at the Forest Park campus, who is also in charge of vending contracts and
serves as the liaison between the college and the outside vendors, the bidding process
“People have been really happy with Pepsi.” - Christina Hartis very competitive and comes with great financial benefits for the college. After Coke’s 10 year contract ended in 2011, the college issued another request for pro-
Photo by Andrew Ameer Kayla ‘Pinkii’ McCoy-Dillard makes a selection from one of the vending machines in the Student Center cafeteria.
posal, in which companies bid again for rights to become the exclusive drinks vendor for the college. Coke won this round again, this time with a 5 year contract. In June 2016, Coke’s contract expired again. This time, when the Requests for Proposals went out, Pepsi came out ahead with a much stronger financial package for the college than Coke. According to Hart, Pepsi offered over $100,000 a year in sponsorships, scholarships, and free products which Coke was offered the opportunity to match, but couldn’t. Hart says the college was happy with Coke’s service over the years but Pepsi simply had a better offer. The college also receives a commission of approximately 30-40 percent off all the beverage vending. Hart says it is a team of people who decide which contracts to accept and reject, made up of auxiliary services faculty members. The new contract with Pepsi is for five years with an option for two more contract periods of three years each after that. Reaction has been mixed, although generally positive among her colleagues, Hart says. “People have been really happy with the Pepsi. They say that Coke was a St. Louis thing, but I guess Pepsi really is. I’ve had people tell me that they love their Coke, but we have a whole group of people who weren’t drinking it because it they don’t drink Coke.”
Montage Podcast
Episode 1 - Auditions ~27 min Managing Editor Marie Schwarz talks with J. Michelle Rebollo about auditions and theatre production on the Meramec campus. Rebollo teaches classes in the theatre department and will direct the musical Violet later this semester.
Episode 2 - Steven Collins ~65 min Managing Editor Marie Schwarz talks with Professor Steven G. Collins about politics, history, his future plans, bicycle tours and more. Collins is a history professor at Meramec.
Visit MeramecMontage.com
4
4 | Opinions
Sept. 1, 2016
Where was the Joker in Suicide Squad? Cornelious Jones | Staff Writer
Graphic by Jordan Morris
The Middle Income worker finally catches a break Wage law updated to keep up with the times
Andrew Ameer | Opinons Editor The minimum salary for exempt, non-hourly employees has not raised since 2004, when President Bush raised the bare minimum salary for exempt employees to $23,660 per year up from $8,600 per year where it had languished since 1975. This is all changing effective December 1 this year, thanks to a new ruling by the Department of Labor (DOL) that occurred back in May. The new rule raises the minimum salary for employees that work more than 40 hours per week and are exempt from overtime to $47,476 annually. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires overtime pay at a rate of 1.5 the employee’s normal earnings to be paid for any time worked over 40 hours per week. There are exceptions to this rule, which primarily affect so-called “exempt executives” who are exempt from the overtime rule because of the nature of the work they perform. There also exist exemptions for certain administrative, professional and computer employees. This move will automatically extend overtime pay protections to more than 4 million workers
in the U.S. Employees that work more than 40 hours per week right now and are classified as “Exempt,” will either receive raises to fairly compensate them for their time or work reduced schedules, allowing them to spend more time with their families away from work. Opponents of the new rule argue that pushing the level too high could force retailers, fastfood joints and other business to cut employment or even go out of business. Some democratic members of congress favored an increase as high as $51,000, so the $47,476 is a compromise. Even still, it would need to raise to $51,168 be at the inflationadjusted equivalent of the level set in 1975. Prior to this ruling, employers were able to require certain workers to work far more than 40 hours a week and only compensate them as little as $23,660 per year, or $455 per week simply by assigning them the title of “Manager.” When President Bush raised the salary in 2004 he also eliminated the “Long duties” rule, which said that so-called “exempt executives” could spend no more than 40 percent of their time at work performing duties that were not that of an executive, for example waiting tables or stocking shelves. They needed to perform other executive tasks, like directing the work of other employees or managing the enterprise. One of the most important aspects of the new rule is a provision that raises the
minimum every three years so that we don’t experience an absurd lapse like we did from 1975-2004, and from 20042016. This new rule will be welcome to exempt white collar workers not yet earning the new minimum salary. Over the years people are working harder and longer, and not seeing any pay increases. There is no real chance to get ahead. This gives people an opportunity to get into the middle class. As an employee exempt from overtime, I can say that this ruling is almost universally welcomed among me and my working peers. The Obama administration made the right call on stepping up to defend the wages of the middle class white collar worker. I couldn’t imagine working 50 plus hours per week only to be compensated so poorly. Thankfully, most companies don’t pay their managers such a
After watching “Suicide Squad,” one is firmly left to believe any group of strongarms can come together, work their problems out, and save the world. Now a major question to be raised about the movie was the performance of the Joker played by the multi-talented Jared Leto. I really expected more from the Joker in Suicide Squad after watching the trailers. Where was the Joker in “Suicide Squad?” Was the Joker getting a manicure or robbing a bank or did the studios just not like the final cuts? Was it false advertising? It pained me to watch a Joker that was neither unhinged nor scary. Jared Leto could hardly compare to Heath Ledger’s 2008 “Dark Knight” portrayal of the Joker. Heath Ledger brought originality to the Joker — the scars on his cheeks, the three day old smudged make up, his dirty clothes, his cold eyes, his walk, that laugh, his sadistic demeanor could not be emulated here. What we get from Leto’s interpretation is a well-tailored, well-funded Joker, with some maniacal tattoos — not really scary to me. Perhaps the studio watered down the Joker because Suicide Squad is a PG-13 film, after all. It was false advertising to have the Joker in so many trailers and for him not even to be relevant to the movie. The action scenes were cool and thrilling. Watching the Suicide Squad get assembled was hilarious. The film has a ton of humorous one liners. There will definitely be a part two. Don’t miss Suicide Squad if you like a funny action-packed film.
“There are always people who would take advantage of the rules and employees who find themselves with no other options.” laughable wage as the $23,600 minimum that the government thought was sufficient until this past May, but there are always people who would take advantage of the rules and employees who find themselves with no other options.
Graphic by Ashley Biundo
5 | Opinions
4 1, 2016 Sept.
Pokémon: To GO or not to GO? Pokémon GO helps people to connect to others
Missy Arneson | Copy Editor Pokémon GO: love it or hate it, this new augmented, realitybased game has taken the world by storm. The game is built on two decades of story development and nostalgia, and practically inescapable — there are even places to receive items and train right here on campus. The ever-present nature of Pokémon GO concerns some people — players are likely to spend more time on their phones collecting Poké Balls than socializing, and playing the game while driving can lead to accidents due to distraction. However, the pros of Pokémon GO outweigh the cons: the game encourages physical activity, lets people of all ages connect in a way that they’ve never been able to before and has helped people with autism connect with others. Pokémon GO is based on the real world using real locations,
so to genuinely experience the game, the player has to get up and go. Locations where items can be collected, called PokéStops, are places with high foot traffic such as landmarks, churches and libraries. To get the items from the PokéStop, the player has to physically be there. Movement is such a huge part of Pokémon GO that Fresno City College will offer a walking class incorporating the game this fall. Gamers fell in love with Pokémon when the first game was released in 1996, and many still love those first games, but not everyone wants to commit the number of hours necessary to complete the story. Pokémon GO reanimates the loveable characters in a more laid-back fashion — the game doesn’t make players listen to long monologues or remember backstories, it just lets them have fun catching small creatures. People who grew up with the Pokémon games are playing right alongside kids who are just discovering Pokémon, and even those who struggle with technology can get in on the craze. The mechanics of the game are simple — it mostly involves walking around and tapping or swiping on the
Graphic by Jordan Morris screen of the phone. Anyone can play Pokémon GO, which lets players create bonds with other players, even if they never would have spoken otherwise. Another great benefit of Pokémon GO is how it’s helped players with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) connect with others. People with ASD often struggle with social anxiety and fitting in, but playing Pokémon GO gives them and their peers a common interest. This common interest can make for easier and better interactions with others.
Pokémon GO isn’t without its critics, and some criticisms of the game and its players are sound. Some players trespass on private property, which rightfully angers the owners of the property, and playing the game while driving is extremely dangerous since distraction is the leading cause of road accidents. However, as long as players stay aware of their surroundings and obey the law, it’s a harmless game that provides lots of entertainment. Who wouldn’t want to own a Pikachu?
Letter to the Editor
Nothing is free in a college education I gravitate to what’s free: free soda, free makeover, free key chain, free water bottle. Free is good. It’s no wonder, then, I’m attracted to the concept of a free college education. After all, learning new knowledge can enhance a life, help find answers, make new connections to old ideas, even be an adventure and status symbol. Unfortunately, free college has a hitch. While it is free financially, it involves a cost. One will have to give up free time to read difficult texts, study, take tests, write essays, do research, and work with other students on projects. Even if the tuition is free, it is a time to focus, to strive, and to get comfortable with discipline and hard work. It is a time of some rewards, like good grades, and some punishment, like working on a math problem or accounting problem for hours to find one answer. True enough, our country would benefit if everyone went to college. College students certainly learn important ideas from literature, philosophies, communication methods, writing strategies, and the big
prize, analysis. They learn to listen more and appreciate differing opinions. They become exposed to and appreciate diversity in the classroom and on campus. Some even get a certification that will help them launch a career or a diploma that will offer them more earning power in the workplace. Presently, those who pay for college and have skin in the game in the form of student debt, family contributions, or one’s own effort from employment, and have every reason to stay the course, many don’t. The U.S. Department of Education reports 40 percent of students who begin college will not graduate. Is that because they can no longer come up with money for tuition/room/board? For some that may be true. But for so many more, it is not a matter of money. It is a matter of determination, resilience, desire, and hard mental work. It requires exchanging free time, play time, social media time, fun computer time, friend time, TV time, video game time for time in front of books, research documents, and essay drafts. It is not hard work in the physical
sense, but in the mental sense, (better known as hard work for the brain.) Reading college level texts, looking up new words, finding the main ideas, without a high school type study guide, learning how to research, applying research to expand ideas, and writing analysis papers take monumental mental work. Another obstacle to college success is students have to face the fact that some people learn faster than others. Some read faster and understand the text the first time around. Some write with an expanded vocabulary. Students in college need to face their present level of cognitive ability and work from where they are now to get to the finish line that is a certification/degree. This is a real eye-opener. Many verbalize that it is unfair that they will have to work twice as hard as the student across from them to get a B in the course. It takes a mighty dose of resilience and desire to keep going. Free tuition doesn’t affect this issue. As a Writing Specialist for St. Louis Community College’s Writing Center for fourteen
years, I’ve worked with many students who want to go to college but don’t want to discipline themselves to do college level work. My take is that those who drop out do so more because they are not willing to continue the mission of mental work than because of a shortage of funds. Telling the world “I’m out of money” is so much more acceptable than saying “I didn’t like spending fifteen hours a week in class and another fifteen hours reading, studying and writing.” Maybe I’m wrong. Let’s see what free college will do for students. Maybe it will be the guiding impetus to inspire them to work their brains like never before. Maybe they will be so grateful for the experience, they will dedicate themselves to expand their minds through continual and disciplined study, analysis, research, and writing. If they do, they will learn firsthand, nothing is totally free, especially a college education. - Terry Fairchild Writing Center Specialist Meramec Writing Center
6 | In-Depth
Sept. 1, 2016
Fifteen years after 9/11: how Islam is discussed at Meramec
Student Noura Abdelghafoor and History Professor Robert Lee shed light on misconceptions
Katie Hayes | Editor-in-Chief
“‘Is it our fault?’ That’s the most common question that I get,” History Professor Robert Lee said. “It would be either ‘Was it our fault?’ ‘Did we deserve it?’ and the other one would be ‘Could it happen again?’” Lee, who began teaching foreign policy in various forms at Meramec 17 years ago, was a professor at Meramec during 9/11 and the invasion of Afghanistan. “We spent a lot of time just talking, and students asked questions and I tried to offer some bigger picture,” Lee said. “It’s not just good and evil — understand the bigger picture.
If you go stumbling into this, you’ll make more mistakes than you’ll win victories.” Lee begins explaining the United States’ relations with the Middle East in his classes starting with the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I in 1919. “If you don’t take that step back and look, then you don’t get it,” Lee said. “And if you don’t get it, then you don’t realize the historical context — then it’s really easy to view it in a black and white fashion, which is not good.” Noura Abdelghafoor, a Meramec student originally from the Gaza Strip, came to
the United States when she was five years old — three months before the terrorist attacks. “I got used to being generalized — put into a category of terrorism and stuff like that,” Abdelghafoor said. “It’s a weird thing to say that I got used to it, but if I don’t get used to it, I’m going to be living awfully.” Abdelghafoor, who wears a hijab, said she is insulted by a stranger three or four times per year. “Usually those who don’t cover don’t get categorized into the whole terrorism, ‘you’re a terrorist,’” Abdelghafoor said. “I’ve actually been
told ‘go back to your country, you’re Muslim, go back to your country.’” Abdelghafoor said that many people who insult her don’t realize Muslims don’t have a specific country. “Maybe I feel, just as much as you are loyal to America, I am too because I’ve lived here most of my life” Abdelghafoor said. “I’ve been coming here from when I was a baby. I came here officially kindergarten age, which is when 9/11 happened.” Abdelghafoor said three or four insults per year from strangers, is low for Muslim women who wear hijabs.
7 | In-Depth
Sept. 1, 2016
“A lot of people don’t realize there are Muslims throughout Africa, throughout Bosnia, around the world.” Robert Lee “Sadly, I don’t say much [when it happens] because what can I say?” Abdelghafoor said. “What can I say? If you were in my spot, what would you say? You just take it in,
Islam is the world’s
2nd
largest religion open your mouth, take it in and by the time you open your mouth again, they’re already gone.” However, Abdelghafoor has never experienced rude comments on Meramec’s campus. “I love the feel of this campus,” Abdelghafoor said. “There are a lot of hijabis here, not only just Muslims, there are
“I got used to being generalized — put into a category of terrorism.” Noura Abdelghafoor
people from all over the world at Meramec.” While Islam is the secon-largest religion in the world, Lee said many students don’t realize the scope of the religion. “A lot of people don’t real-
ize there are Muslims throughout Africa, throughout Bosnia, around the world,” Lee said. “I mean, there’s really a lack of understanding how large, numerically speaking, of a religion — and geographically speaking — of a religion it is.” All classes offered by the history department at Meramec aim to challenge students to think on a larger scale, which includes talking about historical events as objectively as possible. “I think the big thing that people forget is that religion can be used for political reasons,” Lee said. “A lot of the groups, like ISIS or al-Qaida, they absolutely believe in the religion, but the religion is a tool to get to a political end, their world view. So they have shaped their view of Islam to fit, in part, the way they want the world to be and then they advance just that.” Abdelghafoor said that while she still senses grudges and Islamophobia in the classroom, students are civil. “Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of respectful comments,” Abdelghafoor said. “I guess when people want to comment, they try as much and as hard as possible, to be respectful when they’re talking — especially seeing that I am a hijabi in the classroom.” Lee said that there tends to be a loss of historical memory and a double standard when it comes to discussing religion. “The KKK is basically the ISIS or al-Qaida of Christianity,” Lee said. “When you point that out — and you point out what the KKK believes in — a lot of Christian students will say, ‘well that’s not real Christianity’ and I’ll say ‘no, that is a version of Christianity, just as ISIS is a version of Islam or al-Qaida believed in a version of Islam, but that doesn’t make it false. It just means it’s not
Noura Abdelghafoor discusses what it is like to live in St. Louis as a Muslim.
the only view and it certainly doesn’t make it the majority. You saying that ISIS is Islam, gives anybody the right to say the KKK is absolutely the only version of Christianity — they speak for all.’ And when you kind of start to put it in that way, and challenge people to think about it in that way, then it tends to open some eyes and get people at least thinking
we’re doing the Foreign Policy class to get a bigger political picture — to see all the pieces come in.” Lee said that he has noticed that students are now more interested in understanding the policy side of international relations, not just the military side. “Black and white is easy,” Lee said. “It’s comforting because
10.5% Muslim population in St. Louis Information courtesy of city-data.com in 2010
about it.” Lee said that as the invasion of Afghanistan, and the ramp up to the invasion of Iraq happened, enrollment in military history classes increased exponentially. “As we started pulling out of Afghanistan and Iraq, enrollment in those classes started dropping,” Lee said. “We’re not even really offering those classes right now, instead
it gives you a false sense that you have a hold on the situation. It also allows you to believe that you know more than you do. The gray areas, for a lot of people — at least when they first get into them — are unsettling because there’s too much stuff at play. But the more time you spend in that gray area, you start to gain understanding — and knowledge is comforting in its own way.”
8 | Art & Life
Sept. 1, 2016
Ready, set, Pokémon GO The game that took over the nation Andrew Ameer | Opinions Editor Since its release earlier this summer, Pokémon GO has taken the nation, and the world, by storm. Accumulating millions of downloads in its first few days online, and now sitting at over 100 million total downloads, it has become one of the most popular apps for android and iphone of all time in just a few short weeks. Go to just about any park in America these days, and you will find dozens of people walking about with their phones out playing and discussing the game. The game is a throwback to the handheld Pokémon games of the 90’s that users enjoyed playing on Nintendo’s Gameboy system. But this game features the latest in augmented reality technology, to bring the player and the game together with the real world. The game is in essence an electronic geocaching game, in which players, guided by the GPS signals on their phones, navigate the real world to locations within the game to find Pokémon, battle in gyms, and hit PokéStops to collect items. Players will try to collect every one of the original 151 “1st Generation” Pokémon through a combination of hatching them from eggs, evolving, and catching them in the wild. Pokémon spawn seemingly at random, although some players have figured out how to calculate with limited certainty where a particular Pokémon will appear. The game has not come without controversy, however. With demand being so popular during the initial few days, many players could not even log on because the servers couldn’t take the demand. Niantic, the com-
Photo by Ashley Biundo
Fondi Lawson, Dion Lewis-Kirwan and Chris Romero gather in the cafeteria after class to play the game on their phones and wait for wild Pokémon to appear.
pany behind Pokémon GO, has also faced criticism for removing features of the game that were popular with users, like a feature that allowed users to track nearby Pokémon in order to catch them more efficiently. In addition, Niantic has also banned third party apps from accessing the game in order to help players locate Pokémon with greater ease, in some cases terminating the accounts of users who use third party apps. The game also has critics who say it has increased cases of people using cellphones while driving, in response Niantic released an update that warns users not to play the game if it detects the user is traveling too fast. But proponents of the game far outweigh the critics. Many people say that the game helped
them get out of the house and exercise. People with social anxiety have been able to start conversations and form new relationships just by playing the game and talking about it with other people. An important feature of the game is the teams system within the game. Once you reach level 5, you are able to choose from three teams, which are Mystic, Valor, and Instinct. Joining one of these teams, you work with other teammates to take control of and defend gyms, which can build a sense of belonging and camaraderie, sometimes with total strangers. In addition to requiring players to move about in order to find Pokémon and advance in the game, the game further incentivizes walking around with its egg hatching system. In
“People with social anxiety have been able to start conversations and form new relationships just by playing the game and talking about it with other people.” order to hatch Pokémon from eggs, users must log either 2km, 5km, or 10km of walking before certain eggs will hatch. There are also 4 region-exclusive Pokémon that will require users to travel internationally it seems. So far the regions are North America (Tauros), Europe (Mr. Mime), Australia (Kangaskhan), and Asia (Farfetch’d). Niantic has remained silent on the prospects of legendary Pokémon so far.
Nice Catch! 16 Pokéstops
bus stop near guest parking off Big Bend) • Meramec Campus Library • Meramec College Sign Coral Collection (inside Science South (near Big Bend entrance to parking lot) building) •Untitled Steel Structure (outside Social • In Memory of Glenn G. Grothaus (near Sciences building) west entrance to campus) • Fairy Tale Artwork (inside Social Sci • Guarded Dog (near Humanities West ences building) entrance) • Todd Newton plaque (by the main bus • Giraffe Picking Leaves (Humanities stop near guest parking off Big Bend) building) • Sh-Boom plaque (by the main bus stop • Two Vases (Humanities East entrance) near guest parking off Big Bend) • Sharon Rohrbach plaque (by the main • St. Joseph’s Seminary Cornerstone-
Original (Communications North) • Beweging (near P.E. building, rear) • Untitled (near P.E. building, rear) • Tangled (near P.E. building, rear)
4 Gyms • Afternoon Statue (near Clark Hall) • Gulliver (in front of student center) • Transistors (near West entrance to campus) • Rock Table (near greenhouses) Infographic by: Caroline Frank
9 | Art & Life
Sept. 1, 2016
A six out of ten history nerd History professor goes for the big picture Marie Schwarz | Managing Editor Professor Steven G. Collins didn’t know that he had a passion for history until he went to college. “I always wanted to be an air force pilot,” Collins said. And then, at the age of 19, his history professor “blew [his] mind.” Today, 32 years later, Collins is still fascinated with history. Moreover, he is a respected professor here at St. Louis Community College Meramec. “I love history, and I love making it bring alive,” Collins said. “Mud, blood, beer, sex, [history has] everything.” Surprisingly, Collins gives himself a six out of ten when asked how much of a history nerd he is. “I’m more of a big think [sic],” he said. “I like to tie [events in history] to current politics and events.” His favorite historic figure is Abraham Lincoln. “[Lincoln] was a phenomenal president,” Collins said. “He was able to reflect on his thinking and reflect on his ideas and change his mind. Today, you change your mind, you’re a flip flopper.” Collins welcomes discussions with people who have different opinions than his. A thing, he said, that is less and less acceptable in America.
“Anti-intellectualism has led us to not communicating anymore,” said Collins. “’I’m not even listening to you anymore because you have an opposing opinion.’” An example for this trend of anti-intellectualism can be seen in American politics. “[In the past] people in congress and the senate could disagree and then go out and get drinks and be friends,” Collins said. “Now, if you’re seen going to golf with someone from the other party, you’re somehow a traitor. That is just not healthy.” The history professor is more of an early bird than a night owl. On a normal day, he enjoys getting up at 5 a.m. and equipped with a “big pot of coffee,” he starts reading history for a couple of hours before he leaves for college. In the evening, he likes to “chill out” for a little bit by watching the series, The Big Bang Theory for example. The series he watches right now though doesn’t help much to relax. “Right now it’s not a chill out,” Collins said. “My son got me addicted to Breaking Bad.” Before Collins goes to bed, he often ends his day the way he started it: with reading. As Lincoln, Collins likes
to reflect on things. That also includes his future plans. “I really had to rethink what I wanted to do. For a while, I was thinking that I wanted to go into administration” Collins said. “Maybe become a dean or a college president. But the more I think about it, the more I want to go back to being a historian,” said Collins and added traveling and teaching to the bill. “I think that’s where I draw most of my happiness,” Collins said. The history professor just started a new research project where he is looking at community colleges during the 1960s. He is gaining information of the Anti-War Movement and the Women’s Movement amongst other topics relevant to the time period. Therefore, he started to read the first issues of Meramec’s student newspaper from 1963. Collins doesn’t often teach notes, but tries to get the big picture painted to his students via a conversational teaching style. Emma Fraley, a former student of Collins’ “Movement Culture of the 1960’s” class, described Collins in an email as “down to earth and knowledgeable in the subject he teaches.” “He is easy to talk to
Photo by Marie Schwarz Professor Steven Collins poses in his office.
if you are interested in a topic or have questions pertaining to discussion in class,” said Fraley who is getting her associate degree in general education at Meramec. Though Hollywood might not be always historically accurate, Collins said he likes to show scenes of movies that
“Mud, blood, beer, sex, [history has] everything.” Steven Collins capture the vibe of the time. Cinderella Man is one of those movies.
One of his favorite books that he recommends to his students is “The Devil in the White City,” written by Eric Larson, which takes place in Chicago during the World’s Fair in 1893 and tells the story through two perspectives: an architect, and America’s first serial killer. “Being a historian makes me calm. People are like ‘Argh, it never has been worse,’ and I’m like: “Yeah it has,” Collins said. But if people simply don’t know what happened in the past. And that’s why: “History is power,” Collins said. Visit MeramecMontage.com for the full interview.
Welcome Wagon is here to help Finding everything from classes to Blackboard assignments Missy Arneson | Copy Editor Saint Louis Community College- Meramec, although small, can be daunting to new students. No one likes to be lost, so the campus staff hosts the Welcome Wagon event to help new students find their way. The Welcome Wagon can be found at multiple locations on the Meramec campus — the tables are always at convenient spots where lots of students will pass by. The workers are friendly and excited to help students find any class, meeting,
or office, and even offer to help students set up Blackboard. If a student doesn’t need help finding a class, they can always drop by for the free drinks and snacks. Timothy King, a full time student in his second year at Meramec, said he didn’t take advantage of the Welcome Wagon when he first started taking classes; but he thinks the Welcome Wagon is a “good idea. That way [new students] don’t feel lost.” Donald Rusk, a part
time student in his third semester at Meramec, shared a similar sentiment of appreciation. He spoke with the Welcome Wagon about the free U-Pass offered to all enrolled students, and found their answers helpful. “I was not aware that that was free,” he said. “I thought we had to pay for it.” The Welcome Wagon is especially helpful for finding buildings that may not be obvious, since some students find
the map unhelpful. “I think we need to work on our map… I think we as a school could make a better map,” said Jason Loomer, a full time student in his third semester at Meramec. Meramec, though perhaps scary at first, can be a very welcoming and friendly campus. The staff are here to help, and happy to answer questions or give directions. The Welcome Wagon is just one more event to help make life on campus easier.
Photo by Ian Schrauth Donald Rusk was pleasantly surprised by Meramec’s free U-Pass service.
10 | Art & Life
Sept. 1, 2016
‘A blind date for actors’
What it takes to have a successful audition Marie Schwarz | Managing Editor The beginning of the semester does not only kick off classes, but also other activities that take place around campus. Take the theatre department for example. Noises Off and Violet are the two productions for this fall semester. While the auditions for Noises Off already took place, students and community members still have the chance to audition for Violet, a musical based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts. “I think with auditions it’s almost like a blind date,” said J. Michelle Rebollo, program coordinator for the theatre and associate professor at Meramec. “They don’t know you and you don’t know them,” Rebollo said. Therefore, a lot of polite-
ness fills the room, she said. But ‘how to get the role I want’ you ask? Well, there are several factors that can definitely increase your success at an audition. It starts with the basics, said Rebollo. “Good sleep, diet and hydration are important,” she said. Before you go to the audition, familiarize yourself with the genre of the production. Also, know the plot and characters; the library has scripts on reserve. Think about which characters you are interested in playing. Also, to avoid showing up late for the audition because you don’t know where the room is, check it out beforehand. Rebollo even welcomes performers to familiar-
Photo by Marie Schwarz
Madeline Finn and Nick Suber audition for “Noises Off” on Aug. 24, 2016. The performance dates for the production are as follow: Wednesday, Oct. 5 - Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.
ize themselves with the your head into the thecharacteristics of the atre, and just talking room. to see how your voice “Even just popping sounds in that space is more preparation than just going there [to audition] and saying ‘okay I’m here and I’m ready to audition,’” Rebollo said. For the audition itself, it is advisable to bring a print version of the script, and your schedule. Actors pursuing a role should not dress up like the role because “we want to see the actor as the actor moving into the role,” Rebollo said. The audition will usually take place for about three hours. The director will talk about the production for a little bit, following an introduction of each in the room to get to know each other. Then the main part of the audition takes place: Cold readings. A part of learning how to audition is “learning of how to take material that you’ve had very little time with and bring it Christy Hummel to life,” Rebollo said. This Transfer Specialist technique is referred to askchristy@umsl.edu as ‘cold readings.’ 314-516-6943 Since only one will get the role in the end, the “I can help with all word ‘competition’ might of your questions about cross the mind when transferring, scholarships thinking of auditions. and what it’s like to “… there is a level of be a Triton!” competition, but in a friendly way,” said Rebollo who will direct the musical Violet this semester. She describes
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Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Mondays & Thursdays Call 314-984-7575 for an appointment 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Advising Center – Clark Hall
To learn more about our Off-Campus Degree Completion Program in Business at the South County Education Center, contact Sue Bateman at 636-481-3243 or batemans@umsl.edu.
CHOOSE Serious education. Serious value.SM
the audition as a ‘very supportive place’ and students usually enjoy it. A key point to a good audition is to avoid comparison. As in yoga, “keep your eyes on the mat” said Rebollo. And “Compare your personal best to yourself … It’s not about them, it’s just about you and how well can you do,” Rebollo said. Every role can be played in different ways which makes comparison hard anyway. “If you have an instinct [to play a role differently from others] follow it,” Rebollo said.
“They don’t know you and you don’t know them.” - J. Michelle Rebollo Auditions for Violet will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in HW 102 at Meramec. For more information about auditions and productions, visit the Meramec homepage (www.stlcc. edu/MC) and click on the left “Meramec Theatre.” To have a successful audition, it all boils down to “Just have fun,” Rebollo said. “You will find yourself much more comfortable … and then your best performance will come out.”
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11 | Sports
Sept. 1, 2016
Upcoming Events
I’m excited about travelling to different states and playing other colleges. I’ve always wanted to play football abroad so this is a new adventure for me, so let’s have a great season and bring home the National Trophy. – Dion Lewis-Kirwan, Mid-Field
Sept. 4 Women’s soccer: at Indian Hills Community College 2:00pm
Sept. 5 Women’s soccer: at Scott Community College 12:00pm Men’s soccer: at Baptist Bible 2:00pm Photo by: Ashley Biundo
Lewis-Kirwan celebrating his 3rd goal of the season with a flip.
Archers go on a hunt A game not only on the court, but on campus Ian Schrauth | Online Editor The girls’ Archers Basketball team scavenged through Meramec’s campus on Tuesday, Aug. 23 for a team-building exercise. The scavenger hunt through the campus started at 12:45 p.m. Each group started at randomly-chosen points on campus, which helped the team learn to better navigate the
Men’s soccer: at Lewis and Clark 4:00pm Women’s Volleyball: at Jefferson College 6:30pm
Sept. 8 Baseball: at Southwestern Illinois College exhibition: 2:00pm
Sept. 10
“[We] learned communication, team building and just had fun” Erica Waelterman campus. The competitors’ goal was to collect the markings, made of flags and slips of paper, and rush to the gym before anyone else. “We were doing the scavenger hunt to learn how to work together as a team and not to split up and to be one, instead of like one as an individual” said Forward/Center Alfreda Roberts. Roberts’ team came in second place. “We did it for team bonding and also to get to know the campus because last year a lot of people had trouble finding
Sept. 7
Women’s soccer: at Waubonsee Community College 1:00pm Women’s Volleyball: at Wentworth Military Academy 10:00 am
Photo by Ashley Biundo The team resting after the scavenger hunt, listening to their coach talk about the upcoming season
services and who to ask for certain things,” Roberts said. Erica Waelterman said that she learned communication, team building and had fun. Erika Harvey said she learned to trust her teammates and com-
municate with them. “Our coach gave us a starting point and we just went from there,” Waelterman said. “[We] learned communication, team building and just had fun.”
Women’s Volleyball: Wentworth Military College 12:00pm Softball: Lewis and Clark Community College Exhibition 12:00pm
(Schedule may change)
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12 | Sports
Sept. 1, 2016
Going for the goal Men and women’s soccer start the season with a win Ashley Biundo | Photo Editor It’s that time of year again, soccer season. Both men and women start off with a winning season. Men’s team with a 2-0 and women’s team with 1-0.
TOP LEFT: Forward, Rebecca Bass dribbles the ball during a match against State Fair Community College TOP RIGHT: Mid-Field, Alyssa Reiker kicks the ball down the field. BOTTOM LEFT: Goalkeeper, Kallum Lunn takes a goal kick. BOTTOM MIDDLE: Forward, Hope Beckerle dribbles the ball. BOTTOM RIGHT: Defense, Casey Bartlett-Scott stops the ball. BOTTOM: Defense, Ben Holmes defends the ball from Kankakee College.
Photos by Ashley Biundo