THE
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Katie Hayes Copy Editor
T
here always seem to be a few students who are outspoken about political issues and civil rights. To those who don’t know what issues these students are referring to when they are somehow able to engage in heated discussions with professors, these students seem smarter - more passionate.
This is because these students have taken the time to research something they’re passionate about and develop their viewpoint. In a perfect world, every student would have this kind of time. However, most of us are working full-time while juggling a hectic class schedule. For those of you who don’t know what Title IX is, you’re not alone. People have been talking about sexual assault on college campuses
and LGBT rights extensively for the past year. Title IX, the educational amendment passed in 1972, concerns both of these issues and applies to every educational institution from kindergarten to graduate school. It concerns sexual assault, because it keeps mostly female - but also male - students from their right to equity in education. It requires educational institutions to fully investigate a claim made by a student and ensure that the
student is treated fairly and their ability to learn in these environments is not hindered. Although it is discussed less than sexual assault on college campuses, there are exemptions in Title IX that legally allow religious educational institutions to discriminate against LGBT students. This is surprising to say the least. The United States has come so far. Gay marriage was legalized in June, which is why it sounds surprising that discrimination
VOLUME 51, ISSUE 2 | THURSDAY SEPT. 17, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com
is still legal in some situations. Understanding the basics of Title IX not only provides you with the tools to create a safe learning environment for yourself and others, but helps you question the amendment and potential loopholes. Perhaps you already have an opinion on Title IX, but if not, learning how it protects you and the controversy surrounding it will arm you with the information you need to develop your own factually-supported opinions.
NEWS
2
STLCC teams up with Webster University Dual Admission Program makes for a smooth transition Katie Hayes Copy Editor
A Dual Admission Program between the STLCC nursing program and Webster University was approved in May 2015 by the board of trustees. Students who are admitted into the Dual Admission Program have also been accepted into the Nursing Program at Webster University. The Webster Dual Admission Program was developed by Jennifer Broeder, associate dean of professional programs at Webster University, Vincent Featherson, dean of allied health, natural sciences and physical education at STLCC and Karen Mayes, director of nursing education at STLCC. Students in the Dual Admission Program can begin taking courses at Webster University as early as summer 2016. “Several of us met with Webster University representatives and decided on what [credits] they would accept from us, which is everything, and what additional courses our students would need to take to complete a bachelor’s,” Mayes said. There is already a Dual Admission Program with University of Missouri-
St. Louis, but many other area universities want to implement this program as well. “Across the country over the last five years, there has been a huge push to not only hire BSN nurses, but to make the progression from ADN to BSN more available,” Mayes said. A lot of hospitals want students who are BSN prepared as entry level and students graduating with their associate’s were having trouble finding jobs, STLCC Nursing Professor Stephanie Franks said. Originally, the bachelor’s level was supposed to be for management and higher level supervising but is now more so an entry level for nurses. Students in the Dual Admission Program can tell employers they are pursuing a four-year degree before they have even started classes at Webster. This gives students more options as to where they can find employment. “It makes our students more marketable, because right now some hospitals are starting to give an advantage to graduates that have a bachelor’s degree. So if our students are able to say, ‘but look, I have already started a bachelor’s program’ that is a huge plus,” Mayes said. A bachelor’s degree is financially feasible for STLCC
students who are transferring to a foury e a r u n i v e r s i t y. In addition to Webster University waiving the application fee and scholarships available for transfer students, Photos By Katie Hayes m a n y e m p l o y e r s Professor Stephanie Frank administers a test in “Nursing of Adults & Children II.” will also pay for there is more theory behind avoid putting in the time to learn students to earn their BSN. it. So [four-year universities] everything you need to learn, so “All of the area hospitals are teaching [students] a lot of you can safely care for patients,” that I’m aware of will offer the theories, like the theory of Mayes said. Admission into the tuition reimbursement for their nursing or the theory of patient nursing program is selective employees,” Mayes said. “That’s care. So students sometimes don’t and determined by a waitlist. another way ADN grads can start until their junior year in Selective admission to the benefit, because they can be the hospitals. So I feel that the nursing program means students out working, and then their associate’s degree nurse is more have to have the chemistry, the employer will pay for their degree.” ready for that bedside job than biology, the 2.5 GPA and pass the There are more advantages the bachelor’s degree nurse.” dosage calculation test, Mayes said. to students beginning their The entire nursing program “Our belief is first-come, firstacademic career at STLCC is designed to take four years. serve. As soon as you have met than the financial, however. This means that students those prerequisites, you go on the “We’re a two-year program have four years of just nursing waiting list,” Mayes said. “Being here, so we get students in the classes, which does not include a community college, we firmly hospital that first semester,” Franks the prerequisites to be admitted believe that we have the philosophy said. “With a bachelor’s program, into the program. “You just can’t to give everyone a chance.”
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NEWS
3
Spreading Awareness on ‘silent killer’ gas
STLCC-Meramec takes steps to prevent carbon monoxide leaks Christian Hargas Sports Editor
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1999-2004, there were 439 carbon monoxide related deaths annually in the United States. Last August, North Mac Intermediate and Middle Schools in Girard, Ill. Evacuated 150 people following a carbon monoxide leak, according to NBC News. Saint Louis Community College Chemistry Professor Tony Frost said carbon monoxide is dangerous because it cannot be easily monitored and improper venting is the main issue. “Your body does not detect it. It is odorless, it is colorless and it is called the silent killer. However, its point sources are fairly unique – involving combustion. The main issue is the venting because when that does not happen properly, it [CO] will start to build up and you will not notice that building up and it could start to affect you,” Frost said. It all depends on where the carbon monoxide leak is located, Meramec Campus Police Chief Tony Russo said. “It could be centralized and it ultimately might end up closing down a building. It might end up closing down a small area that has detached-type buildings because we have several different types of buildings [on campus],” Russo said. According to Kirkwood Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Leo Meyer, carbon monoxide leaks occur more today because of the tighter
sealing on modern structures. “Before, you did not have as good of window insulation or good sealing of doors. Even if there was a carbon monoxide leak, you were still getting air circulating and keeping those levels low. Now our homes and businesses are so energy efficient, so air tight, that within minutes you can have those levels very high,” Meyer said. Frost said careful monitoring and awareness of the potential leak is important. “Make sure your chimneys are cleaned and not blocked. Make sure your sources of combustion are vented properly and do not leave your cars running in closed spaces. Also, make sure you are getting your appliances [furnaces, hot water heaters, etc.] inspected. A little bit of awareness is really the biggest thing to help you from running into this bad accumulation of gas,” Frost said. Carbon monoxide leaks
do not go into the residences and do fire inspections on a regular basis. If someone would call and ask us to do one, we would be happy to. However, it is not something we do very often.” Many home owners do a lot of the work themselves and not all of it is proper, Russo said. “As inexpensive as they are, and I know there are regulations to the number of smoke alarms that you need to have, I think it would be a great idea to include carbon monoxide detectors. They are not just alarms, but they tell you the amount of carbon monoxide levels in your house. You need to keep one, or however many, next to your fuel burning appliances. I think it is a good preventative act to save people,” Frost said. On campus, there is a carbon monoxide detector wherever combustion is going on, Russo said. “Even though our buildings
“It is odorless, it is colorless and it is called the silent killer.”
occur more in residential than commercial establishments because commercial buildings have maintenance crews come in checking areas such as furnaces, boilers and hot water heaters on a regular basis, Meyer said. “The other aspect is at commercials, and on the campus here, we do annual fire inspections twice a year. We
are old, we have the ones that need it [detector] with carbon monoxide detectors. And we do regular maintenance on our equipment,” Russo said. Widespread effects will not happen on the Meramec campus because it is big, Frost said. STLCC has a very comprehensive emergency
Photo By Christian Hargas
Kirkwood firefighters use a carbon monoxide detector when safety concerns arise.
management plan for the four campuses, Russo said. “We practice it very regularly all throughout the year with our several drills – including the evacuation drill in case of carbon monoxide. The first thing we would do is we would go to the building, observe it ourselves, open windows and start helping people out. Every building has a designated evacuation area. The fire department will show up and we will take care of it,” Russo said. Once people have been helped and evacuated, crews are sent into the buildings to determine the levels of CO, what needs to be done and verifying evacuation and ventilation, Meyer said. “Once we know everyone is back out of the building, we will probably close the building down again. We are going to try and recreate what happened, so we can pinpoint the location and isolate it,” Meyer said.
“Once it is fixed, we will then monitor – with our monitors – to see if the problem reoccurs, or if it is completely corrected.” Meramec is an extremely safe environment with not only handling carbon monoxide but handling other chemicals as well, Russo said. There are rules that everyone follows. “As an educational facility, we are educating the faculty, maintenance workers, and the students to the degree of “if there is something suspected, we act on it right away. The maintenance portion is really on top of their game. They are doing their job and it is good,” Meyer said. Meramec’s ability to keep the campus safe brings confidence, Frost said. “I think we are as safe as any other location. I feel safe working here,especially in our area [sciences] because I know how well we are monitoring gases,” Frost said.
more than just a fun day at the park. “This was about making connections with friends, and staying in college,” Mesic said. On a commuter campus students often go to class together and leave; they go to work, they go home to wherever, Clausen said. “Having the events on the campus was a way to inspire students to connect with one another,” Clausen said. A small group of students, each one of them from a different country, met each other on the day after Spirit Day and played a soccer game every day of that week, Clausen said. They made friends because they managed
to bond with each other over an activity that they enjoyed. “When you have a friend in the class, you don’t want to cut that class; you want to show up for your friend,” Clausen said. “You have a stronger commitment to stick with it and achieve common goals.” Welcome Week was designed to teach others about both friendship and persistence despite music, games and outdoor activities, Clausen said. “Even though it’s been all fun and games these past few days, we hope that by students building connections with each other and the faculty and staff, they’ll be encouraged to keep trying when things get harder,” Clausen said.
Campus Life springs into action for the fall semester
Welcome Week Activities range from games to educational opportunities to
Tyler Fuson Staff Writer
STLCC– Meramec students were exposed to new activities during Welcome Week where teachers and club leaders collided. Campus Life Director Carolyn O’Laughlin, Academic Support Leader Cindy Clausen, and Campus Life employee Sanela Mesic collaborated to put the event together. “We wanted students to feel welcome here, to meet other students and to be introduced to resources to help them be successful,” O’Laughlin said. “To do that, we wanted
include student input.” The idea for Welcome Week came after the First Year Experience (FYE) conference in Dallas, Texas where teachers and staff from various universities throughout the state tried to address new ways to greet new students in an exciting way. Vice President Kim Fitzgerald put herself, O’Laughlin and Mesic on the map for the event, Clausen said. “She’s the one who told us to plan it and she’d make sure we had funds to support it,” Clausen said. The week’s highlights included music, dancing, snacks and games such as juggling where students were greeted by both faculty and staff.
EDITORS Dalila Kahvedzic Jason Waters Katie Leicht Brittney Farrow Christian Hargas Marissa Diercks Alex White Katie Hayes Shannon Philpott Proud member of
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Graphics Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Faculty Adviser
Each club had their own table where they could recruit new members. The student workers provided snacks and controlled the playlist. Students also provided a lot of input into incorporating the elements into Welcome Week, O’Laughlin said. “For example, we were originally going to call them [the students who worked at the events] the Spirit Squad,” O’Laughlin said. “But they said, ‘We don’t like that name; call us the CREW.’” Despite the fun and playful atmosphere that washed over the campus throughout the week, both Sanela Mesic and Cindy Clausen made it clear that the events were
MONTAGE STAFF Mike Alivernia Tyler Fuson Daren Hembrador Jason Jamison Link Johnson Lexie Keller Redwan Saeed Ashley Biundo Judge Williams Austin Schumann
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THE MONTAGE To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., 314-984-7955. Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessarily the views of St. Louis Community College, the board of trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. 314-984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free
of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. Editorial policy: All letters should be no longer than 500 words and must include identification as a student or faculty member, phone number and address for verification purposes. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for content and length. All letters submitted will be published in print and online.
Sept. 17, 2015
4
OPINIONS Bernie Sanders: Beating the drum of political revolution Why Sanders is a politician to watch Redwan Saeed Staff Writer
Never settle: A major is a mindset Picking a college major is one of the hardest decisions for students to make. There are so many majors and career opportunities to get into and it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. Especially coming out of high school; how are you supposed to choose the field you want to be in for the rest of your life? Many students - just like me - take some time to find out what their calling is. We settle for a career path that can keep us financially stable since we cannot figure out what makes us happy. Then there are students that get scared off by the major they have an interest in because the only way they can get into that field would be to get a master’s degree or doctoral degree – meaning they would be in school for much longer than they would like. Others feel the field they want to pursue is going to be too difficult, or they are not capable of becoming successful in that particular career path. A big challenge I personally have been facing is deciding what I am actually interested in pursuing academically. At first, I decided to go into business because I thought it was the easy way out. It was the broadest major and gave me a sense of direction. As I started taking business classes, I realized how little I enjoyed the subject matter as a whole. I finally decided to abandon that aspiration and delve into a field I would enjoy my entire life. Life is too short to have regrets later on because you did not want to put in the extra work. Forget being financially stable and start worrying about being mentally stable. The most important goal in life is to be genuinely happy. You could have all the money in the world and still not be satisfied. So being in a career that pleases you is the right way to go. Even if you have to go to school for 10 years, you will be in that respected field for 30, 40 or maybe even 50 years. In comparison, the time that you spent in academia will not seem as bad. Everything you want to achieve, you can. You just have to have the right mindset. Do not let anyone or anything get in the way of your goals. You have the power to become whatever or whoever you want to be, so do not hold yourself back. You want be an astronaut? Go for it. You want to be a doctor? Go for it. You want to be a philosopher? Go for it. Maintain a positive mindset and keep your goals in mind. If you do that, then the sky is the limit. Sept. 17, 2015
Mike Alivernia Staff Writer
The junior senator from Vermont - Bernie Sanders - is the longest-serving independent congressperson in U.S. history and enjoys the hair stylings of a more distinguished Albert Einstein. Sanders is finally running for president in 2016, and if he gains enough traction to stay in the game until the end, he has the ability to truly rub everyone the wrong way - which attracts my interest. When he rails against big banks and tax loopholes for the ultra-wealthy, and calls for changes that include common sense and Democratic values trumping capitalistic greed, he automatically earns my vote. He’s running under the Democrat’s flag, but this temporary marriage is born of necessity rather than philosophical similarities. Bernie Sanders is as much a Democrat as Donald Trump is a Republican. If this country’s political mechanisms were not dominated by an unnecessary twoparty farce, these two men would not seem so peculiar – so different from the majority of presidential candidates. Unfortunately for us, our choices are truly limited; but lucky for us, Bernie Sanders is truly different – very, very different from your average politician. We live in a country that has the most unequal distribution of wealth and income of any major economy on earth. We live in a time that has produced the worst income inequality in America in almost a century. With these facts readily available, we still have both sides of our two-party system – a system that is not constitutionally-mandated in any way – bending over backward to defend and perpetuate this economy. An economy which has had over two centuries to morph into a self-cannibalizing, sentient creature of unstoppable proportions; an economy that boasts more wealth for the top 400 citizens than for the bottom half of
this pyramid – that is 150 million Americans that cannot combine to buy what the top 400 can own. “The Walden family alone, who owns Walmart amongst other companies, is wealthier than the bottom 40 percent of Americans.” Sanders proclaims from the stump, “We’ve had a redistribution of wealth already, and it’s gone up the chain, not down.” What would you buy if you owned more money than 375,000 Americans? I assume - like the rest of them - you would buy yourself some local politicians, maybe even rent a U.S. senator or two. If you have not heard, the Supreme Court has recently interpreted that the Constitution condones the exorbitant “donations” that political campaigns and super-pacs take in, under the guise of campaign advertising funding. The highest court in the land has repeatedly ruled that not only is a corporation technically a person who can donate money to any politician it sees fit, but that a politician is beholden to those donating constituents – and indirect or implied bribery masquerading as donations is not illegal. As the old saying goes: it takes money to make money. It should be no harder than following this donated money trail when researching how corporate America has had their income tax cut from 33 percent of the total federal tax revenue, to 9 percent over the last 60 years; however, as documented in the New York Times and everywhere else, there are more ways to stay anonymous than not when donating to political campaigns more loopholes for those who want to create even more loopholes: ambiguous and inadequate laws and rules to fleece the system with. These misinterpretations of what a Democratic capitalistic system should be have sadly forced people like Bernie Sanders outside of any conventional container one could construct for a successful politician in 21st century America. Sanders has not only stayed mostly independent of the twoheaded party machine, but he also
Illustration by Marissa Diercks
views himself as a Democratic socialist. What does that mean: a Democratic socialist? Is he hunched over in his office late at night reading Marx and Lenin, while contemplating how to finish burning ‘Murica to the ground by fanning the flames of the liberal, commie fire his Muslim buddy, Obama, started? That is the connotation the talking heads will spout, to combat Sanders’ rising popularity as Americans begin to hear his message. Sanders doesn’t believe that the government should give interest-free loans and tax exemptions to corporations while fleecing the poor and middle class with student loans and overpriced health insurance. Sanders demands universal health care and universal higher education, the dismantling of the way campaigns are financed and a reboot of what democracy is supposed to mean and who it is supposed to work for. For the people, by the people – all of the people – even the poor ones. Our culture has spent countless generations blissfully allowing ourselves to be removed from the law-making process. Instead of talking about having less government in our lives, we need to build a better, more balanced one, no matter the size. The function is what matters. This is still the greatest country in the world, bar none. How grand it would be, if we cared about
feeding, housing and employing every homeless person as much as we cared about appeasing DuPont, Disney and Goldman Sachs. If we spent half as much time researching renewable energy technology as we do fracking for oil and making super neat computer watches, would we not be better off ? Bernie Sanders thinks so. Sanders represents the true essence of the French and American Revolutions, lost to us through centuries of moral attrition through corporate growth and globalization. He yearns for a true representative democracy, not our current oligarchy. He is not afraid to shine a light on institutions that are failing and rethink the whole process if necessary. Bernie Sanders is what politicians were supposed to be like. At the Sister Giant Conference on March 28, 2015, Sanders said, “Of all of the crises that we face, the most serious crisis is that we don’t discuss the serious crises that we face; that’s the issue. My radical request of people throughout this country, is maybe we’d like to spend half, maybe a third, as much time worrying about the life that’s going to face our kids and grandchildren as compared to March Madness and the NCAA finals. I’m not asking a lot.” Bernie Sanders cares about you and your grandchildren. Seems quite conservatively foresighted, for a scary socialist.
Above consequences
Why public figures should not get special privileges Austin Schumann Staff Multimedia Specilist
People who are in the public eye on an almost daily basis include celebrities, professional athletes and politicians. Since they spend so much time under scrutiny, it would not be unreasonable to hold them to a higher standard, or even use them as role models. Why is it then, that they not only act irresponsibly, but seemingly with little to no consequence? Celebrities are perhaps the easiest example to use. Stacked up at every cash register, at every grocery store, publications such as “People Magazine” show off every
detail of a celebrity’s life. It is nearly impossible to be a perfect human being 24/7. Therefore, a celebrity may be forgiven for occasionally being caught in compromising positions, like being drunk in a nightclub. The issue is when celebrities break the law, drive while intoxicated or are caught in possession of illegal drugs. They are able to escape punishment with a slap on the wrist at best or sent to a celebrity rehab at worst. Even then, their version of rehab is nicer than most hotels. Many people do not even blink at this type of behavior, however. They gobble it up as entertainment news, not caring that without their fame, the celebrity would be sent to jail without a second thought. In fact, it seems celebrities
are judged more harshly for cheating on their spouse than committing crimes. Political figures seem to be no better than celebrities when it comes to being associated with scandal. They do, however, seem to be even better at avoiding jail time. Thomas Jefferson defined tyranny as, “that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry,” which certainly seems to be true when looking at corruption from the lowest bureaucrat to the president himself. If we cannot trust the people running our country, who can we trust? In elementary school, we were often asked who our hero was - or something along those lines. We were usually given examples, the
most common being a famous athlete. If these people are supposed to be our idols - or our heroes - why are they constantly proving to be anything but? The people that we are supposed to look up to have proven to be anything but worthy of our time and respect. So why do they stay as famous and well-liked? How can these people do that which goes against the very code they are supposed to uphold, then walk away like nothing happened? It seems to be time for a revolution of sorts. No longer should we praise people who are undeserving. No longer should we let celebrities - or corrupt politicians – continue receiving this undeserving attention. No more.
OPINIONS
5
Kim Davis: God-fearing martyr or post-age opressor Why ignorance can never be progressive Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor
There is something magically magnetic about close-minded people. While most of us would assume that flies were easier to catch with honey than with vinegar, Kim Davis is just one example of how bitterness and delusion play a role in our daily lives. With a population of barely more than 23,000 people, Rowan County, Ky. is too small to make national headlines on a regular basis – and yet, it did just that when Davis neglected her responsibilities as county clerk by refusing to issue a same-sex couple their marriage license. This was, of course, after the Supreme Court ruled in-favor of equal marriage, therefore making Davis’ actions not only a bigoted act of defiance, but an illegal mistake. The story is not particularly uncommon; since what seems like the Dawn of Creation, gay marriage and its moral standing has been a hot-topic issue between religious people of all variations. For hundreds of years now, bible-thumpers and dedicated churchgoers alike have picked apart and analyzed Leviticus 18:22 – the bible verse which states that a man should not lie with another man the way he lies with a woman – until it was nothing more than bones on the carcass of Christianity. So, naturally, when Davis was in the process of being jailed for breaking federal law, it did not take long for an army of supporters to rally behind her and praise her for her strong show of faith. She was a warrior of God, they said; she was righteous and strong. As the story developed, big names in politics even joined her cause. Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee publicly applauded her bravery and admired her convictions; they called her arrest judicial tyranny, and painted her as a victim to the criminalization of religion in America. Suddenly Kim Davis was not just a Southern county clerk anymore – she was
an activist for our generation. Only, I refute that sentiment. Not long after the news broke, U.S. Representative Steve King from Iowa had the audacity to make comparisons between Davis and Rosa Parks – as if their circumstances or their positions could ever be the same. The difference between real activists like Rosa Parks and holier-than-thou chauvinists like Kim Davis is distinct: Parks took a stance against systematic oppression without causing anyone else harm, while Davis abused the power she had been granted by her local government to contribute to the dehumanization of those beneath her. How anyone could see such actions as revolutionary is a mystery; there is absolutely nothing new, progressive or enticing about despotism. History books could tell you that such a thing has been happening for centuries. For hundreds upon hundreds of years, people in power have been using the advantage given to them by society to take rights away from others in a show of superiority. To claim that Davis is important enough to defy such blatant acts of privilege is to rub salt in the
very important to them, and it helps them see their way through all of their problems. This makes religion valuable. This makes religion notable. There is, however, a misconception that Christianity is being silenced, and that Christians are facing scrutiny from the world and having their rights to practice slowly stripped from them. This is completely insane. Not only is Christianity the most-practiced religion in the western world, but it has a following of roughly 2 billion people, according to several sources. That is one-third of the world. It seems highly unlikely – at least to me – that a third of the entire population of the planet is being forced to abandon their rigorous belief system. Especially when they have so many representatives in science, art, business and politics. I understand that certain controversial topics play a part in formulating such an opinion, but if we were to only look at the numbers we could see how illogical that truly seems. Regardless, Kim Davis abandoned her rights to make all of her decisions based on her faith when she stepped into public office. The separation of church
and state is a concept that was envisioned when our ancestors drafted the Constitution. Of course not everything in that fundamental document has been followed closely, and of course there are still public figures who allow their faith to determine what political ideologies they support, but it is irrefutable that letting one singular woman decide on the future of any couple of any sexuality is a complete
violation of said couples’ rights. Davis is completely entitled to her beliefs. She is entitled to avoid wearing makeup and to dress modestly because she believes it will bring her closer to God. She is entitled to practice or pray however she wants, whenever she wants. I will not bother bringing her three divorces and four marriages into the argument because that is aside from the point I am trying to make. What I am trying to say, alternatively, is that while Kim Davis is allowed – and in many ways encouraged – to be a devout Christian, she cannot rightfully allow her own personal views to get in the way of her profession. With a yearly salary of $80,000 in taxpayer money – an annual income that many American families would feel beyond blessed to receive – Davis cannot turn around and deny the same people who pay her bills the right to solidify their relationship with the government. That is abuse - plain and simple. Davis cannot resume her duties and carry out cherrypicking whom she gives marriage licenses to. In this matter, there is
no safe in-between; she either has to resign and continue her tirade on homosexuality, or step up and shove her personal beliefs aside. It is not a comfortable decision to make, and it sounds a bit harsh on paper, but there really is no other way for the people of Rowan County to get what they deserve. The amount of solidarity I have seen behind Kim Davis is a bit concerning. The complete idolization of her character and the admiration of this fabricated persona the media has crafted for her has led many people to paint her as an activist. This befuddles me. Personal faith aside, a same-sex couple coming to her office and asking for a marriage license does not harm Davis in any way. There were no threats against her life, there were no required sacrifices on her part. So I have to wonder – at least in some way – why so many people have given her their attention. The answer is actually quite simple. Simply put, we pick and choose our angels and our demons, and we do it every day.
fast food became easier than going to the grocery store – or it just became boring – many began to stray. Then when the results stopped appearing, when the weight stopped coming off as easily as it did before, many more decided to hate themselves and go back to their old habits. Personally, at the beginning of this year I committed just like many Americans do every year and how I have done so many times before. My goal was to simply look perfect, to love myself. I signed up for my first half marathon thinking that the weight was going to fall right off and my thighs would never meet again. I ran, lifted weights and tried every diet imaginable
in the three months of training I did, and though 20 pounds are no longer with me, loving my body is not what happened. Instead, I learned to respect it. If I was told a year ago that I would run a half marathon and would have planned to complete two more, my response would have been to laugh, watch another season on Netflix and to eat some ice cream. Loving your body should not be the goal; love easily turns into hate. Being proud of what your body can accomplish and respect for all it has done and can do is a better aspiration. Honestly, there was never this glorious epiphany where after running eight miles I finally loved
myself. It did not happen like that and I do not think it ever will. Love is a strong word and hate is even stronger. We give ourselves the power to destroy, when we have the potential to build such beautiful people from the inside out. Respect your body; treat it with such admiration that nothing less should come from anyone else. Sure, my thighs still touch and there is no six pack under my t-shirt, but I can run long distances and fit into clothes that did not fit for over two years. I have a new regard for myself and for what I have been able to achieve over the past six months that loving my body does not begin to cover how far I have come.
“There is something magically magnetic about close-minded people.” wounds of anyone who has ever been belittled or betrayed by someone they were forced to refer to. Such a statement only further proves how completely demented our view of power struggles in mainstream America can be. Let us talk about Christianity and its role in this event for one moment. I would first like to say that I do not deny the importance of having religious convictions. For many people, their faith is
Illustration by Brittney Farrow
Respect over love
Why simply loving your body is not enough Alex White Photo Editor
January 1: the first day of the year. On this day everyone and their mom decides to workout regularly and eat better than ever before. They pay a pretty penny for a gym membership and only shop at Whole Foods to make sure they reach their fitness goals. Then summer comes around and everyone seems to have forgotten about their commitment just three months prior, though now it is all about getting the perfect beach body. The gyms become crowded
again; people start making a last-ditch effort to get the infamous thigh gap or six pack abs in the fastest way possible. It is impossible. There, it has been said. Getting the perfect body is impossible mainly because it does not exist. The bodies we see are either photo-shopped more than one would think possible, or they belong to professional athletes who have worked out more than the average person sleeps for decades. Now over six months later, a fraction of the people who developed lifestyle goals have continued to work on them without fault. When exercising got in the way and when eating
Sept. 17, 2015
IX INDEPTH
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Title
Key Terms Dating Violence
The term “dating violence” means violence committed by a person— (A) who is or has been in a social relationship of romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: (i) The length of the relationship. (ii) The type of relationship. (iii) The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Stalking
The term “stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to— (A) fear of his or her safety or the safety of others; or (B) suffer substantial emotional distress.
Domestic Violence
The term “domestic violence” includes felony or misdimeanor crimes of violence commited by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws under the jurisdictionrecieving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the do,estic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
Sexual Assault
The term “sexual assault” means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.
Information Provided by Cornell University Law School ; U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Sept. 17, 2015
Katie Hayes Copy Editor
Title IX has been a topic of discussion in nearly every university across the United States. Most recently, it has been discussed in regards to sexual assault on college campuses and legal discrimination against LGBT students in academic religious institutions, which are two of the most controversial topics among college students today. However, since Meramec is not a religious institution, the only direct effect religious exemption in Title IX would have on students would be if students considered transferring to a religious institution. It is estimated that one in five women on college campuses has been sexually assaulted during their time there. This statistic seems shocking - and it is - but it is not as shocking as the number of colleges that were under investigation for Title IX violations. This list of 55 colleges was released in 2014 and sent a message that educational institutions need to comply with Title IX or risk losing federal funding. This statistic is much lower on community college campuses, however. Meramec, for example, showed no reported incidents of sexual misconduct in their 2014 Safety Report. Florissant Valley had eight reports of stalking in 2013, but overall STLCC as a whole has relatively low reports of sexual misconduct. In October 2014 however,
Sexual Harassment
It is unlawful to harass a pers because of that person’s sex. H harassment” or unwelcome s sexual favors and other verbal o nature. Harassment does not however, and can include offen sex. For example, it is illegal t offensive comments about wom the harasser can be either a wom harasser can be the same sex. A simple teasing, offhand commen not very serious, harassment is severe that it creates a hostile or results in adverse employment d fired or demoted). The harasser superviser in another area, a cow employee of the employer such a
INDEPTH
Bill Woodward was hired as the associate vice chancellor of student affairs at STLCC. He ensures that STLCC not only complies with Title IX, but handles investigations appropriately. During his time at STLCC, Woodward has begun to create a Title IX Task Force which will involve students in spreading awareness of Title IX and educating students on how to best address sexual misconduct. STLCC faculty began meeting in February 2015 and are discussing the best way to educate students about Title IX. “We’re trying to sort of get ahead of the game and address these issues...I think that there’s been more of this push towards looking at this particular problem that we’re starting to see, or maybe that we have always seen but now we’re trying to sort of address it,” said Amanda White, associate professor of sociology at Meramec and part of the Title IX Task Force. “There’s been a lot of conversation about sexual assault on campuses and so I think the push has been, because these are educational institutions receiving federal funding, they have sort of broadened the scope of looking at what are some of the experiences women are having on college campuses,” White said. Some of the information that the Task Force wants to relate to students includes what to do in the case that you are a victim of sexual misconduct. For instance, a police report is not required to receive medical assistance. However, in case you want to file a report at
son (an applicant or employee) Harassment can include “sexual sexual advances, requests for or physical harassment of sexual have to be of sexual nature, nsive remarks about a person’s to harass a woman by making men in general. Both victim and man or a man and the victim and Although the law doesnt prohibit nts or isolated incidents that are illegal when it is so frequent or r offensive work environment or it decision (such as the victim being can be the victims superviser, a worker or someone who is not an as a client or a customer.
a later date, a sexual assault exam helps collect evidence. Once a claim of sexual misconduct has been made to any campus staff member, with the exception of a select list of counselors, they are required by federal law to investigate the charges. “We have a counseling department that can deal with dating violence issues, domestic violence issues, sort of the personal side of those issues. But then let’s say that a student is in a violent relationship that he or she wants to leave. We also have resources connected to the community. Resources that help students, including living arrangements,” White said. Currently, Woodward is recruiting students to join this task force. Efforts to involve students have included posters around campus and a booth at the Student Involvement Fair. Students are encouraged to participate by contributing graphic work to posters, helping film educational videos, giving class presentations and handing out flyers. “The purpose is for us to have students be involved on campus in education and awareness around sexual misconduct... to bring educational awareness to the community and also on campus. The purpose is for these students to be on the frontlines and giving information...basically being the voice and spreading the word,” said Claire Martin, student assistance program manager. Martin ran the Title IX Task Force booth at the Student
Involvement Fair where 18 students signed up to join. Students will also be able to participate in meetings where policies regarding sexual misconduct are written. Arguably the most important part of the Title IX Task Force is educating students on what behaviors violate the amendment. Being able to recognize behaviors which create a hostile learning environment is the first step in maintaining a productive educational environment. When it comes to Title IX, students have more power than they realize. The amendment states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This means that if an educational institution is in violation of Title IX, they are at risk of losing federal funding. This has created equity in sports, admission, recruitment, educational programs and activities, course offerings and access, counseling, financial aid, employment assistance, facilities and housing and scholarships in educational institutions from kindergarten to graduate school. There are exceptions to Title IX, however. Arguably the most controversial exception is that religious institutions whose tenets contradict Title IX are exempt. For instance a student was expelled from California Baptist University because it was discovered that
7
they were transgender. The university was legally allowed to do this because their religious beliefs contradicted Title IX. Spring Arbor University is another example. The university prohibits students and employees from having premarital sex, abortions and participating in homosexual activities. Students may also be punished for dating someone of the same gender. This is all completely legal under Title IX and has caused some to call for stricter regulations. To be fair, why would a student choose to attend an institution that discriminates against them? The problem is, universities that don’t condone LGBT students or pregnant women don’t advertise this. In fact, even looking through student handbooks and codes of conduct, it is extremely difficult to find. For instance, Spring Arbor didn’t mention these issues at all while California Baptist University only hinted at them. CBU’s handbook stated, “In compliance with both state and federal law, California Baptist University does not illegally discriminate on the basis of any protected category, except to the extent it is necessary to fulfill its religious purposes…” Unless they were to really examine that statement, it isn’t likely that a student would understand they weren’t protected against discrimination. These two issues - sexual assault on campuses and exemption from Title IX due to religious beliefs - are why everyone is talking about Title IX and why you should be too.
Some Title IX Ammendments Section 1683. Any department or agency action taken pursuant to section 1682 of this title shall be subject to such judicial review as may otherwise be provided by law for similar action taken by such department or agency on other grounds. In the case of action, not otherwise subject to judicial review, terminating or refusing to grant or to continue financial assistance upon a finding of failure to comply with any requirement imposed pursuant to section 1682 of this title, any person aggrieved (including any State or political subdivision thereof and any
agency of either) may obtain judicial review of such action in accordance with chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, and such action shall not be deemed committed to unreviewable agency discretion within the meaning of section 701 of that title. Section 1684. No person in the United States shall, on the ground of blindness or severely impaired vision, be denied admission in any course of study by a recipient of Federal financial assistance for any education program or activity; but nothing herein shall be construed to require
any such institution to provide any special services to such person because of his blindness or visual impairment. Section 1685. Nothing in this chaper shall add to or detract from any existing authority with respect to any program or activity under which Federal financial assistance is extended by way of a contract of insurance or guaranty. Section 1686. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this chapter, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit any educational
institution receiving funds under this Act, from maintaining separate living facilities for the different sexes. Section 1688. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require or prohibit any person, or public or private entity, to provide or pay for any benefit or service, including the use of facilities, related to an abortion. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a penalty to be imposed on any person or individual because such person or individual is seeking or has received any benefit or service related to a legal abortion.
Cited from U.S. Department of Labor
Page layout by Jason Waters Sept. 17, 2015
ART & LIFE
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BIWEEKLY INSPIRATION
“My Mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.”
- Forrest Gump 1994
All Around the World
STLCC History Professor ‘well rounded’ in nation’s educational, cultural differences Christian Hargas Sports Editor
Saint Louis Community College History Professor Dirk Voss has always been intrigued with foreign countries and foreign history. His decision to become a history professor was a very easy one, Voss said. “I was always good in history. I was not good in other subjects, but I would always get good grades in history. I think the starting point for me was in the seventh or eighth grade. It is a passion, it is really a hobby that has now turned into a job,” Voss said. Voss is great at teaching and educating students, Meramec student Noah Otte said “At one time, I felt I was losing my passion to become a history major and history was perhaps too difficult for me; however, Dr. Voss’s teaching style of breaking subjects down—so they are simpler to understand but still give you the main idea— helped me grasp history better. Now, I will continue my education to be a history major,” Otte said. “I taught as an instructor already when I was a graduate student in the mid 1990s. I became a visiting assistant professor in 2000 at the University of Oklahoma, and then I became a visiting professor in Texas. Then, I became an assistant professor here at Meramec and moved up the ranks,” Voss said. Voss is very different from other professors at Meramec, Otte said. He has had Voss on three separate occasions. “I had Dr. Voss during the spring 2014 semester, spring 2015 semester, and this semester [Fall 2015]. He is different from other professors because, as a European, he has a different perspective on American and World History that an American professor of World History would not have,” Otte said. Voss has taught lessons in China, Germany, Vietnam and Britain. There are differences in the way students learn in Vietnam and China, Voss said. “In Vietnam and China, they have a great respect and they treat you differently. They stand up and ask a question. It is very respectful; however, if you ask a question — an open question — in China and Vietnam, not a single person will raise their hand. You cannot ask open questions, nobody will answer them. You can only ask very specific questions. I had to Sept. 17, 2015
completely relearn my teaching and that was very interesting,” Voss said. While teaching lessons in Germany and Britain, there are differences a n d similarities in the way students learn compared to America, Voss said. “ T h e interaction between them [ G e r m a n y, Britain, America] is similar and it is not so difficult to change. There are, of Professor Dirk Voss facilitates a weekly debate with Meramec student Brandon Hayes. course, small d i f f e re n c e s . In Germany, is a history class’,” Voss said. To learn an education the students ask a lot of very After the student sang him system different from a foreign critical questions,” Voss said. an American pop song, he realized students’ normal adaptation is an In debates, students are very that singing was a very imporant understandable struggle because critical. Most Americans can be thing in Vietnam, Voss said. he was one of those students too polite to do that in front of the “When professors go who had to do so, Voss said. teacher. They are not big differences, out, they go to karaoke. That “I had many problems but it is interesting, Voss said. is how they socialize and I because we were all trained in British English, so we were listening to a much different English accent, which to us “That was one of those is very strange,” Voss said. German Universities offer moments when you go ‘Wow, grades as a passing grade or I am in a really different a non-passing grade and do not take attendance, Voss said. culture and out of my “You are here because you comfort zone’.” want to be here,” Voss said. Even with differences in foreign education systems compared to the American system, The first thing that struck thought that is very different, he prefers the latter, Voss said. Voss while teaching around the but I enjoyed that,” Voss said. “Here [America], you have world was how every culture In other nations, unfamiliar to sign your name on attendance was focused on their own to your ‘comfort zone’, you sheets and you get different types and not interested in others. really have to be prepared for of grades too; however, I like it “They think this is normal the unexpected, Voss said. because it is tough. It really drives and everything else is just weird. Vietnamese food you because you do not want Germans think that Americans is a favorite, Voss said. to embarrass yourself and you are very strange, weird. Of course, “When I was in Vietnam, want an “A”. As a grad-student, they live in their own little world. the library director picked me up you have to be an “A” student. If Americans also have, of others, from the airport and he smoked you want to maintain your status a different opinion,” Voss said. a cigarette. He took the cigarette and move to a PhD, you really Every culture is out of his mouth and said ‘Dr. need to pull yourself. I became eccentric, Voss said. Voss, do you like dog?’ I said a better worker in America — a When Voss taught in Vietnam ‘dog…well I never had dog, so I do much better worker,” Voss said. and introduced himself to a class, not know. Maybe I will or maybe Otte finds Voss’s he was asked to sing a song. I will not.’ That was one of those history classes enjoyable. “I was stunned. I said moments when you go ‘wow, I am “Every day I come to class, ‘no, I cannot sing, really, it is in a really different culture and out I always know I am going to not pretty and you know this of my comfort zone,’” Voss said. learn something I did not know
Photo by Alex White
about history or go more indepth about a topic I wanted to learn more about,” Otte said. Otte’s favorite thing about Voss’s classes is he keeps students interested and focused on the topic he is teaching. “My favorite thing about Dr. Voss as an educator is his enthusiasm for what he does and that he really seems to love history and being a professor in history,” Otte said. Ultimately he would like for his students to understand that they can make a difference between reality and mythology, in American history and American past, Voss said. It is really the way we pursue things, really how they happened because if you understand that, then you also understand what happens today, Voss said. “I am often surprised that Americans sometimes are in complete disbelief at what happens around the world, and they should not be,” Voss said. As soon as you start to believe in your own mythologies, you are going in the wrong direction because you lose the sense of reality and that is very dangerous,Voss said. “I hope my students, when they come out of my class, have a much better understanding of what America really is, how it got there, why did it become the greatest power on Earth and what are the dangers to it,” Voss said.
ART & LIFE
9
STLCC Meramec art gallery hosts new exhibit Fiber artists’ work on display Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-In-Chief
The Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition until Sept. 18 featuring four contemporary fiber artists; Elaine Rickles, Amy Schmierbach, Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen and Rena Wood. All four artists incorporate memory or meditation through their pieces of art. The artists use inventive construction techniques that are time consuming and inspired by their past. Materials used include thread, cloth and paper and embrace traditional handcraft such as stitching, weaving and hand dying to create two-and threedimensional art and installations. Elaine Rickles focuses on remaining memories from something or somebody
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gone; parts of a whole, relics. Amy Schmierbach portrays anxiety but a sense of balance at the same time. Yarn stretched between nails signifies anxiety, while a free flowing splash signifies balance. Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen incorporates weaving and stitching into her art representing both strength and fragility. Flowers, wallpaper and furniture show conversation, togetherness and laughter. Rena Wood portrays formation and falling apart, time passing, time stopped and forgetting and remembering. The Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery is located in Humanities East, Room 133 and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sundays and holidays.
Join the MONTAGE • Write • Photography • Design
Photos by Dalila Kahvedzic and Katie Leicht
University of Missouri–St. Louis Only public university in St. Louis AACSB accredited for both business administration and accounting
Room: SC 220 A - Meet at 5 pm Tuesdays
metro POWER YOGA
Transfer students choose UMSL. New online business degree completion program Largest internship program in the state Most affordable university in St. Louis
Serious education. Serious value. SM
Contact Diana Redden, recruitment coordinator, for transfer information.
314-516-5876
reddend@umsl.edu
business.umsl.edu Sept. 17, 2015
STLCC Meramec Business transfer ad.indd 1
8/26/15 9:55 AM
BLACK AND BLUE T H E AT R E P E R F O R M A N C E
Friday October 9 at 7pm
&BLUE
St. Louis Community College, Meramec Theatre
FREE
Presented by Gitana Productions
BLACK The relationship between the police and many in the black community is a “black and blue“ bruise. Join us as we explore the causes and pathways to healing. The performance includes professional actors and Ferguson, Missouri, residents.
St. Louis Community College the Theatre at theMeramec Campus 11333 Big Bend Rd., Kirkwood, MO 314-984-7564
2015 PROGR AMS/E VENTS
Non-Discrimination/Accommodations Statement: St. Louis Community College is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunities in its admissions, educational programs, activities and employment regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran and shall take action necessary to ensure non-discrimination. For information or concerns relating to discrimination or sexual harassment, contact William Woodard, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 314-539-5374. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Meramec Theatre: 314-984-7594
SPORTS
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Christian’s Corner Christian Hargas Sports Editor
The Beauty of Rivalry Feuding teams result in booming business
When you mention the term ‘sports rivalry,’ usually fans will know exactly what that means because they understand the basic concept of them. On the flipside, some who may not be as involved as others, might ask the question ‘why do teams continuously play one another if they hate each other?’ In their defense, this is a fair question to ask because it does seem like a contradiction. If two teams hate each other so much, to the point where players and even fans begin to escalate brawls, then why is there a need to keep the flame burning? What sense does that make? It makes perfect sense. Sports fans love rivalries. Even though true supporters stick by their teams through thick and thin, stadium attendance is normally larger when two big rivals play each other. Fans get that sense of feeling that this game means more than the other ones and they become immersed in the excitement, energy and intensity. For instance, when Army plays Navy every year, there is not an empty seat in the house. Television ratings and marketability benefit from major sports rivalries. Since moving to the SEC in 2012, the Missouri Tigers have become bitter rivals with the Alabama Crimson Tide. ESPN and other national sports networks look at that and determine how high ratings can be - and how much money can be made - by broadcasting their annual showdown. As a result, ratings increase, paychecks increase and the networks are happy. Fans pay more attention to rivalry games because they mean more. When season schedules are released, they make it a point to mark the dates on their calendars to remind themselves of these more important matchups. That does not mean they do not care about the other games, though. Finally, rivalries make for excellent competition. Both teams believe there is something more important than normal on the line, so the players bring the best they have to the table. As a result, it makes for much better games because you understand there is a bigger picture. Oklahoma and Texas have this same mentality because they battle over supremacy over the southern region of the United States. In my opinion, sports rivalries at the collegiate level are more interesting and entertaining than the one amongst the ranks of the professional; however, whether it is high school, college, or the big time, rivalries are good for the overall industry.
Photos By Darren Grant
From left to right, the 2015-16 STLCC Women’s Volleyball Team poses for a photo before the Sept. 9 game against Jefferson College (right).
Back in Action
STLCC Women’s Volleyball returns to Meramec Redwan Saeed Staff Writer
The St. Louis Community College Women’s Volleyball team returns to the Meramec campus for the first time in nearly five years, according to new Head Coach Chris Arbini. As of now, the team has amassed a record of 1-9, losing six consecutive games. With no returning players and a new coach, the team looks to “come back with a bang,” said Team Captain Kellie Schramm. Arbini said although the process was challenging [new roster, new location, new direction], he accepted the task with great excitement. “When I was hired in January, I was given the very unusual task of building a competitive, collegiate athletics team literally from the ground up. It has been fun going out and recruiting athletes. It has just been fun
building the team,” Arbini said. Schramm had a lot to say about the return of women’s volleyball at Meramec. She said that she wants to “make them proud to have another volleyball team” Schramm said he feels confident about the program and went on to say that this team will “set a precedent for years to come.” When asked about the team chemistry, Schramm said “chemistry is awesome. From week one of playing with these girls we fell in love with each other.” With the season going strong and many challenges ahead of them the team “has a lot to prove,” said Schramm. As the season goes on Arbini said “like the age old saying, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” The hardest aspect of coaching this team is “equalizing the playing level, getting everybody onto the same page and as a team moving forward,” Arbini said. On the flipside, the easiest aspect of coaching this team is “getting the girls to
work together,” Arbini said. With a “big picture mentality,” Arbini said, “in the long run, we are going to be a good program.” “I am thrilled to be a part of this program,” Arbini said.
When asked about his thoughts on volleyball returning to Meramec, Arbini said, “It’s a great thing for the college in general and a wonderful thing for the Meramec campus.”
Upcoming STLCC Volleyball Schedule: September 16 @East Central College: 6:30PM September 19 @MCC-Longview: 12:00PM September 22 Kaskaskia College: 7:00PM September 23 @Mineral Area College: 6:30PM September 25 vs. TBA @ Cottey College: TBA @Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College: TBA
The Rousey Report
Why Ronda Rousey’s ego can’t be held against her Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor
Everyone is talking about Ronda Rousey, and it is easy to see why. As a powerhouse mixed martial artist, Rousey was the first woman from the United States to win an Olympic medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics, and her current record solidifies her title as the undefeated UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. After defeating rival fighter Bethe Correia in 34 brief seconds during Aug. of this year, she became a household name across the country. Most people have rallied behind her in support; others, however, are not as impressed. As her celebrity status climbs, more and more people are calling out Rousey for an ever-inflating ego. Rousey is known to be unconcerned with public opinion, and on numerous occasions she has said exactly what she was
thinking without remorse. Most notably, after beating out Floyd Mayweather for Best Fighter at the 2015 ESPY awards, she was quoted saying that she wondered how Mayweather felt being “beat by a woman for once.” The boxing champion has a long history with domestic violence charges – which caused him to serve two months of jail time in June 2012. Cockiness generally rubs people the wrong way. With that being said, however, I do not think the amount of groaning and distaste surrounding Ronda Rousey has anything to do with her confidence level. Not only is she completely entitled to her inner faith (as she certainly has the career to support such an attitude) but the type of public backlash she has received is completely unjustifiable. Ego plays a major role in professional sports, and there is a grocery list of athletes who consider themselves gifts to humanity – and yet, most of them rarely receive the same kind of unabashed scolding as the UFC
fighter. In the male-dominated sports industry, gender could have a lot to do with that. Call me out for fabricating sexism all you want, but the facts speak for themselves. The National Football League alone produces more than its fair share of prima donnas. Former Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco actually changed his surname from Johnson to reflect his jersey number, and a quick Google search will list numerous quotes from the football player citing his self-proclaimed talents. Johnny “Football” Manziel is also a frontrunner for the NFL’s most notorious divas. Last season he was a highprofile rookie for the Cleveland Browns, and maybe if the Quarterback had spent less time hanging out with Justin Bieber and clinging to his wealthy kid celebrity status the team would have had a chance to rebuild their dying brand. Big personalities like Ochocinco and Manziel don’t stand alone. If your favorite sport airs on ESPN, there is a fat chance that it has produced a player with
an ego. Major League Baseball has Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez, the former of which was dropped from the Boston Red Sox for causing far too many tantrums. The National Basketball Association assembled public figures like Charles Barkley and LeBron James. Soccer features crowd-pleasers like Christiano Ronaldo, who regularly models in underwear, and David Beckham, who loans himself out to teams. Even golf can be attributed to the massive ego of famed player Tiger Woods, whose lack of discretion exposed his scandalous affairs. The fact of the matter is that Ronda Rousey’s refusal to be humble does not make her stand out in any way. The sports industry is crawling with self-righteous and self-centered individuals, and they never have to apologize for their actions. As far as I’m concerned, Rousey’s ego is far less appalling than that of her male counterparts. At least she has the skills to back her words up. Sept. 17, 2015
SPORTS
12
Meet the Archers
Men’s Soccer Team starts strong, poised for a stronger finish Ashley Biundo Staff Photographer
Timothy Mosby: Head Coach
How long have you been a coach? 12 years of high school 2 years of college “Our goal is to win region games and do well in tournaments.”
Ben Stevens
Adam Du Toit Number: 22 Position: Striker
Brad Kochner
Number: 14 Position: Defensemen
Dillon Smith Number: 11 Position: Wing
Number: 17 Position: Defensemen
“Began [playing soccer] at the age of four.”
“It [soccer] grew up around me.”
“I love the sport and like to win.”
“Scoring goals has made the most impact.”
“I began playing soccer in third grade.”
Cooper Carney
Pelius Britto Jr.
Nick Bertich
Casey Bartlett-Scott
Samir Ugarak
Number: 16 Position: Midfield
Colin Moran
Number: 2 Position: Left Midfield
Number: 8 Position: Center - Mid
Number: 1 Position: Goalkeeper
Number: 24 Position: Left/Right Wing
Number: 19 Position: Center - Mid
“My motivation is being on the team and being with friends.”
“I began [playing soccer] at age five.”
“I began [playing soccer] when I was four.”
“It [soccer] was fun, back in the United Kingdom. It was popular.”
“I began [playing soccer] in fourth grade.”
Steven Lilako
Chris Jimenez
Robel Barkat
Corey Mikes
Matt Schneider
Number: 18 Position: Defensemen/Midfielder
Number: 7 Position: Wing - Mid
Number: 3 Position: Striker
Number: 6 Position: Wing/Defensemen
“[Soccer] Paying for school is my motivation.”
“It [soccer] keeps me busy and on track.”
“[Impact] Stopping balls from going into the net.”
Number: 20 Position: Forward
“[Impact] Helping the team “[Motivation] The love of out by going to practice and the game.” working hard.” Players not photographed: Victor Tobore, 00, Goal Keeper, Tyler Demoulin, 0, Goal Keeper, Nick Hoeflinger, 4, Defensemen, Michael York, 9, Forward, Alfie Fletcher, 15, Defensemen, Calebe Moraes, 23, Defensemen, Charlie Maddison, 10, Mid-Fielder/Forward Sept. 17, 2015