090513 fullissue

M T H E M O N TA G E

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING A student attack, a student threat, removal of administrators and now ... hidden cameras.

Meramec safety in question.

PAGE 3 | PAGE 5 ILLUSTRATION BY CORY MONTERO

Voume 49 Issue 1

www.meramecmontage.com

September 5, 2013

2 NEWS

September 5, 2013

ENTERING THE REAL WORLD

3 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER

FAIR 1

Call Ahead

2

Dress Accordingly

3

Make an Impact

Know which companies you are interested in and plan accordingly.

Be sure to dress business casual at the very least.

Smile and leave a resumé if possible.

JAKE HUNN GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

Meramec’s Rita Reinhardt Helps Students Make Transition CASSIE KIBENS PRODUCTION MANAGER

PHOTO BY: JAKE HUNN Rita Reinhardt describes a typical day as a career specialist in Clark Hall at Meramec.

Students graduate every semester from STLCC-Meramec and there to help guide them to a career that fits is Rita Reinhardt, career specialist fro Meramec.

“No two days are the same.”

Reinhardt said.

There are different opportunities at Meramec to prepare for life after community college. The Career Services Office has career specialists students can go to for hour-long planning sessions. Reinhardt sees about three to four students a day ranging from helping students get up from rock bottom to helping students find jobs to apply for.

“I don’t sell the trendy positions to students,” Reinhardt said. “As soon as I tell you that something is in demand, you’ll major in it and it may not be in demand in those two years it took you to graduate.”

Reinhardt focuses highly on streamlining the process to

help students find a career for them and to provide the right information for them to leave the appointment feeling better about life after Meramec.

“My motto is that we need to find what you are interested in and go from there,” Reinhardt said.

One way students can get ahead in finding the career for them is through the career fair. This year Meramec is combining all three career fairs into one large spring career fair in March. Career fairs feature 75-100 employers and Reinhardt advises students to call the office to receive a list of the employers in advance.

“There is so much that goes into the job search process you can never be over-prepared,” Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt stresses that students need to create a plan.

Taking a career assessment test and getting involved in clubs that

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are affiliated with the career you are interested in are two ways to guide students in the right career direction.

“I’ve gone through this and I’ve failed; I’m talking about 200 resumes master’s degree in hand and could not find anything because I had no plan.”

Reinhardt said. “I definitely needed a mentor and documents to showcase my skillset.”

Reinhardt no longer looks into the “trendy” degrees but rather recommends getting a degree with the most skill sets because that is what companies are looking for.

To contact the Career and Services Department students can visit Clark/Administration Building, Room AD-249, call 314-984-7611 or email at CES@ stlcc.edu. Hours are MondayFriday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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NEWS 3

September 5, 2013

Meramec student sends threatening tweet Meramec monitors tweets of students, removes student from all STLCC campuses SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF An STLCC-Meramec student was released from Meramec Police officials after turning herself in at the Kirkwood Police Department, on Aug. 28, following a tweet that she sent out that was directed toward the Meramec Financial Aid Department.

The student was never in custody of the Kirkwood Police Department. She was always in the custody of the Meramec Police officers at the Kirkwood facility.

Sometime prior to 9:26 a.m. last Wednesday morning the student’s tweet was sent out to the public. The student sent out the tweet expressing her displeasure with the Financial Aid Department saying, “If this Financial Aid doesn’t figure it out soon, I’m [going to] kill somebody.”

STLCC-Meramec officials described the tweet as “threatening” in a press release to students, staff and faculty.

“There are a lot of things that we say spontaneously that we would never publish because it’s our emotion that we are expressing,” Director of Community Relations Toni Oplt said. “But once it’s posted, it takes on a different connotation for people.”

According Meramec Interim President Pam McIntyre the STLCC keeps track of the social media world and what students are saying about STLCC. “The college monitors tweets for certain words that come in,” McIntyre said.

“It doesn’t do it in terms of threatening kinds of tweets, but it does it in terms of a realization of what are people saying about the college and what type of information is out there. That type of thing.”

Chuck McPherson, Meramec

Communications Specialist, received an email from the Director of Web Communications George Sackett.

Sackett, who monitors incoming tweets for all of STLCC from the Cosand Center, notified McPherson of the situation.

“First he called me and said, ‘Did you see my email?’ I said, ‘No, not yet,’” McPherson said. “While we were on the phone, the email came through and that’s when I notified [Oplt]. She notified President McIntyre and the ball rolled from there.”

McPherson who is a second set of eyes for incoming tweets about Meramec, searches for ‘Meramec’ both with and without the hashtag in Twitter’s search box.

“You can look up the ‘Most Popular’ and you can also go under ‘All Tweets,’” McPherson said. “It’s very simple, at least the way I do it. But George [Sackett] is the main person that monitors everything.

That’s part of his actual job.”

STLCC is not the only local community college dealing with the world or twitter threats. St. Charles Community College (SCC) also caught a student making “terroristic twitter threats.” An employee of SCC who monitors tweets noticed the tweet and notified the proper authorities.

“I think people are not quite as aware of how public social media is and how easily it is to see things on people’s Facebook page,” Oplt said. “You get into this relaxed mode of having conversations with your friends, but in reality there are all kinds of ways of how that information travels out there. I

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION think we forget about that.”

Following the twitter threat at Meramec, Interim President McIntyre took the time to remind her family that social media is public.

“I went home that night and emailed my two nieces and nephews and said, ‘If you haven’t really thought about social media as being public, you might want to do that because a young person’s life on the Meramec campus, life has now taken a different turn,’” McIntyre said. “’So you might want to think about what you put up there.’”

With the world of social media at the fingertips of the world, McIntyre advises that face to face discussions are always the better route to take.

“Social media happens all the time and it’s instantaneous. It just kind of becomes more of a conversation,” McIntyre said.

“Instead of having conversations face to face, people are doing the texting thing or tweeting thing. The difference between a face to face conversation and texting conversation is that it’s face to face. It isn’t this big, broad piece that’s out there.”

Administration removes three more, cancels campus open forum SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF

LINDEN CRAWFORD

PAUL BANTA

ROBERT STERWART

The St. Louis Community College Board of Directors held a press conference at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, explaining the most recent information about the April 18 incident, in which STLCC-Meramec student Blythe Grupe was attacked by fellow student Jevon Mallory in a women’s bathroom at the Meramec campus.

The press conference came following the public release of an investigative report of the incident completed by the local law firm Armstrong Teasdale L.L.P., at the request of the STLCC Board of Trustees.

Since the release of the report, Meramec Campus Police Chief Paul Banta, STLCC District Chief of Police Robert Stewart and Vice President of Student Affairs at Meramec Linden Crawford have been removed from their positions. Meramec President George Wasson resigned from office on April 26.

Meramec currently has an interim president, interim police chief and an acting vice president of student affairs.

“I felt okay with the fact that Pam McIntyre [became interim president at Meramec]. She had been at Meramec for many years before. She was in a leadership position and then she went out to Wildwood,” Board of Trustee member Joan McGivney said.

In addition to McIntyre as interim president, Lt. John Schwerb has taken over the duties as interim police chief and Kim Fitzgerald is now the acting vice president of student affairs. There is no district police chief in place.

“Currently the police operations at

the four different campuses are reporting through the campus presidents,” McIntyre said. “That’s a temporary arrangement and then once the Chancellor and the Board decide how they’re going to be proceeding ahead, then that could change.”

If a situation were to arise on campus, Lt. Schwerb would report to McIntyre, bypassing the district police chief position in the process of notifications.

“Right now he’d come to me around anything that would take place. Basically, the process in terms of emergencies and situations on the campus in the past when the police chief became aware of a situation,” McIntyre said, “ was that the police chief would let the district police chief know and then let the campus president know.

The campus president would then let the chancellor know, so it kind of had a route in which the information was received.”

According to the 18-page investigative report, “the college should investigate the possibility of having local municipal law enforcement cover the campus as opposed to having its own police force.”

McGivney, however, is open to any proposals.

“I think we’re going to try to put together a volunteer task force together of different police chiefs and different people in the law enforcement area. Then we, as the Board of Trustees, will have a discussion with them and get their input to see what the pros and cons are,” McGivney said. “What if there is a robbery in the hallway and they have an incident in a home nearby in Kirkwood. If they are

short staffed, where are they going to put their priority? I think the Kirkwood Police and the local police are fine, but it’s just when your taxpayers are paying, you don’t know where the priorities will be. I’m open minded to hear any proposal.”

The Board of Trustees planned on attending an open forum following the removal of the three administrators on Aug. 15, however, McIntyre stopped that.

“I had said to the board chair that I would prefer waiting for a couple weeks, so that we can get classes up and going and people can be get to their classes,” McIntyre said. “We’ll look at that later on as a possibility.”

McGivney was ready to come to Meramec, had the open forum continued.

“I am concerned with the repercussions of Meramec, so I was going to go,” McGivney said. “If they had another gathering, I’d be glad to come.”

According to McGivney, another date has not been set.

“I think it’s important to listen to the students,” McGivney said. “I haven’t heard of any plans to have another one.”

McIntyre said she believes that students and faculty will work through the situation in their own way.

“I think people are working through there own personal reactions to the report and in particular the personnel actions that were taken as a result of the report,” McIntyre said. “For some people, that’s harder than for other people.”

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NEWS 5

OO L K

September 5, 2013

ON THE

OUT

New Security Cameras to Improve Campus Safety SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF Fifty-two brand new interior hidden cameras have been placed around the 19 buildings that make up the STLCCMeramec campus. They have been put up following the April 18 incident, in which Meramec student Jevon Mallory attacked fellow student Blythe Grupe in the women’s restroom on the second floor of the Communications North building.

The 52 interior cameras will be in addition to the seven exterior cameras the campus has that oversee the parking lots and directly outside of buildings. With the new security cameras positioned, STLCC hopes to keep their eye on student safety.

DeLancey Smith, Director of Public Information and Marketing for STLCC, also serves on the District-Wide Emergency Awareness Committee. The District-Wide Emergency Awareness Committee is a team made up of the campus police chiefs and other members, along with Smith that meet regularly and talk about safety and security from an STLCC district-wide perspective.

According to Smith, adding interior cameras had been on the table long before the April 18 incident.

“I know they had been in the plans for over a year. The April incident accelerated that process,” Smith said. “The thing about that incident is that we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that an instructor and two police officers immediately responded, preventing what could have been a terrible tragedy. I don’t know if cameras would have prevented that or not. Those people were there on the scene, but regardless, we want to expand our capabilities.”

Although the idea of increasing the camera capability all around STLCC has been in the mix of ideas for over 12 months, cost played a role in delaying the action.

“Don’t misunderstand that, that safety’s not important,” Smith said. “But we’re trying to do what we can with what we got and to make an investment of that

size; you have to decide that something else isn’t going to get done. We’re a public institution. Our funds are limited.”

The cameras, which cost $2,359.93 apiece, were funded through a district-wide budget, as opposed to a campus budget.

The total cost of the Meramec cameras totaled $125,076.25. In addition to Meramec, they will be put in the STLCCForest Park, STLCC-Florissant Valley and STLCC-Wildwood campuses, as well as the Harrison Education Center and South County Education University Center in the near future. Meramec was the first location to have them installed.

“Each location will have a different set of cameras because it was based on, at the time, the district police chief, the campus police chief and the company that was going to be installing the cameras,” Meramec Interim President Pam McIntyre said. “They went walking around and assessed how many corners they have, the blind spots and where they wanted the cameras to be. They went around and determined that they needed 52 cameras.

But each campus isn’t built the same. So it may be more. It may be less.”

Vicki Lungwitz, Meramec Police Dispatcher, keeps an eye on the camera system. Although her viewing screen only shows 16 interior camera views at a time, they are all constantly recording.

“Right now we have more cameras, than we do screens,” Lungwitz said. “We have to manually move to the next group of camera shots. But they are all recording, even if they are not showing on my screen.

So if we know there’s a problem somewhere we can go back and look at it.”

The new cameras, which are placed in the hallways of all the buildings, as well as the bookstore, cafeteria and gymnasium remain stationary. Lungwitz and the other dispatchers do not have the capability of panning back and forth or zooming in and out. However, the older exterior cameras are movable by a joystick.

When Lungwitz is not manually moving the outside cameras, they move automatically, going on a rotation of five to six different camera angles.

“When they got the new cameras inside, they decided that they wanted them stationary so that they didn’t miss anything,” Lungwitz said. “They thought since there are so many of them hopefully they would get whatever they needed to get, without having to pan back and forth or zoom in and out.”

Though there are new security cameras mounted inside the buildings, the memory of the April 18 incident is hard to forget for students.

Sophomore Katie Harper had class in the Communications North Building every day last spring. This year, she is taking classes at both Meramec and STLCCForest Park.

“I don’t feel safe at Meramec. I wasn’t in class [during the incident], but I was in that building every single day,” Harper said. “I’m at Meramec on Mondays and Wednesdays. I’m at Forest Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Forest Park is better. I’m not afraid at Forest Park.”

Even with the new camera system situated throughout the campus, Lungwitz is not sure if they will do the trick, but she is pleased that they are in place.

“The quality of the cameras is pretty good, I think,” Lungwitz said. “However, if you really needed to identify somebody, I don’t know if you could do that. But it’s a definite improvement.”

In case of an emergency To go along with the new interior camera system, STLCC has invested in a new phone system that runs throughout all of the Meramec campus buildings, as well as email updates and twitter updates to students and faculty.

With the new additions in security, information will be more readily available when the necessary time comes.

“The new phone system we have has speakerphones on every phone and there’s a ‘Panic’ button,” Smith said.

“There are phones now to do an areawide announcement. It just comes up on the phone whether the phone’s on or not.

There are a number of things we’ve been doing.”

If a situation occurred, according to Smith there would be a series of notifications sent out to faculty and students.

“We’d respond, first of all, with a ‘Net Notify.’ That would hit every open computer that’s on the network with a message. It would go up in every classroom and office. We would put out an STLCC alert through twitter at ‘@STLCCAlert,’” Smith said. “We’re looking into other crisis software systems that allow you to do one message. It would hit an email, text and a voicemail all at the same time. That would really speed up our system. But again, that’s money, too. Because we’re so large, roughly 10,000 students at this one campus, to get 10,000 emails processed out, takes about 15 to 20 minutes. That’s one of the issues that we can’t control. That’s a technology thing. We’re looking at ways to speed that up dramatically.”

Although there are plans in place for such emergencies as an earthquake, tornado and armed intruders, STLCC is looking at ways how they can improve their response during crisis.

“What we’re doing now is going back and reviewing emergency management plans and learning from situations that have occurred and seeing whether or not we’ve learned from those situations,” McIntyre said. “We need to kind of look at how we’re doing things and perhaps do some things a little bit differently then maybe we’ve done them in the past.”

6OPINIONS September 5, 2013

WACKY SCIENCE

CORY MUEHLEBACH OPINIONS EDITOR

Genetic Guidelines for the Future Genetic engineering has the potential to cure thousands of genetic diseases, but some people believe it has the power to doom humanity.

We have come to a point in history where science is becoming a major theme in everyday life. We have had the technology to scan for tumors, to monitor the heart and even to detect signs of genetic defects before the child is even born. Nothing scares parents more than the chance their child will have a difficult life and they have plenty reason to.

Some children are born with genetic diseases like Down syndrome, which introduces an extra copy of chromosome 21 causing the victim person to develop irregularly.

With advanced genetic

CHALLENGING CONVENTION

BILLY GARDNER STAFF WRITER

The Mistreatment of ADHD The human race has an embarrassing history of zestful naivety in the treatment of perceived disorders and illnesses. From witch burning to lobotomies to the use of vibrators on hysteria patients, there are times when the standard practices in medicine are ludicrous, if not dangerous.

engineering, these problems will soon cease to exist. In a Laboratory atUniversiy College of London, scientists have recently isolated cells and have actually cured the genes associated with D.S. Researchers took cells from people suffering from DS and managed to inhibit the extra chromosome. Though far from public use, the technology is vastly expanding and sooner or later, genetic diseases such as Down syndrome will be a thing of the past.

While there are many good things to come out of a genetic revolution, foreseeable tragedies could easily sneak their way into society. What if the military authenticates the use for steroids to make super soldiers? Or what if we fool around with a fetus DNA and create something far from human? Where do ethics come into play? These are questions that we must all ask ourselves whenever we give money to research or vote on certain scientific stimulations. Stem cells have been a curious ethical adventure and surely genetic engineering will go down a similar path.

Coming up with a plan to ensure the safety of humanity can be a vigorous road to travel down, but the journey is necessary.

If we can manage to cure diseases without pursuing unethical concepts, we can manage to create a new system based on progress and not destruction. Genetic engineering has proven to benefit humans greatly considering the manipulation of

crops and cells, but will the curiosity of humans ascend our common sense? Just like with nuclear fission, the world may first discover the destruction before the beauty of scientific reinvention.

We are undoubtedly heading toward a genetic age. We must then use ethical standards and procedures when dealing with something so complicated and powerful in nature. Perhaps more strict laws should be attached to tampering with the genes of animals or perhaps we should regulate the manipulation of crop genes, whatever the case, we as humans owe it to ourselves to be as cautious as can be when heading into unknown territory.

Prescribing stimulants to children as young as four is the latest troubling blunder physicians are making. As of 2013, 11 percent of children between the ages of four and 17 are currently diagnosed with ADHD, up 53 percent in the past decade. Of those diagnosed, roughly two-thirds are prescribed a stimulant psychotropic. That means that about 8 percent, or two out of 25, kids are ingesting powerful narcotics on a daily basis. This persistent rise is a cause for concern to say the least. Let us examine one of the most common drugs prescribed, Adderall. Similar to dextromethamphetamine, meth, in both chemical structure and effect, dextroamphetamine causes the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, and inhibits the re-uptake of these neurotransmitters. Essentially, the drug sends a message to the nervous system to release these chemicals into the synapse, and blocks the mechanism that removes them.

This results in the desired alertness and

increased concentration. But while the child’s grades and concentration increase, so do their anxiety, digestive problems and blood pressure. This powerful drug alters the user’s consciousness, changing their experience of life. A child who is just learning about the world has no business ingesting mind-altering substances. ADHD should not be thought of as a disorder, so much as a behavioral difference. A child that demonstrates curiosity, energy, excessive talking, is easily distracted, unorganized, fails to complete homework or tend to lose things (some of the criteria for ADHD diagnosis) is not mentally ill. Telling a young child that they have a disorder, a mental illness, has the potential to make them feel less than they are and could easily lead to low selfesteem. He or she is a child like any other, and children need to be taught. Some children have more of these traits and will require more attention and have to work harder to adapt to the semi-unnatural and foreign environment that is an elementary

EDITORS Spencer Gleason Cory Montero Cassie Kibens Jake Hunn Spencer Gleason David Kloeckener Cory Muehlebach Justin Villmer Shannon Philpott

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Production Manager Graphics/In Depth Editor Sports Editor Photo/Asst. Sports Editor Opinions Editor Sr. Copy Editor Faculty Adviser

ILLIUSTRATION BY CORY MONTERO

classroom. The answer is not to give them drugs. The simple answer to this problem is to quit prescribing stimulants to minors.

The underlying problem of inattentiveness still needs to be addressed. While every child is different, teachers and parents should work to connect with the individual and convey the information and lessons that they may not grasp at first. Short attention spans are not a chronic disorder and they can be remedied with effort over time. Everybody faces challenges in life. In childhood, people learn about their weaknesses and strengths and how to compensate for and utilize these traits.

Stripping anyone of this opportunity is unfair. It is stupid and irresponsible to give a child speed and call it medicine. *Information obtained from The Center for Disease Control

MONTAGE STAFF THE MONTAGE Michelle Barry James Claiborne Billy Gardner Robert Knight Dennis Parks Kenndra Roberts Zach Roberts Malaika Tolford Rebecca Biundo

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Designer

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OPINION 7

September 5, 2013

ILLIUSTRATION BY CORY MONTERO

Four Months Later ...

Meramec still in disarray THE MONTAGE EDITORIAL BOARD Here we are four months later. For most of us, the campus attack that occurred back in April is just a memory. However, for our administration it was the beginning of the end. It all began with the resignation of President Wasson shortly after the attack that unfolded in a campus bathroom.

While Wasson’s resignation remains unexplained, we now face the removal of three more members of administration.

The obvious question is: how can we function without key members of our administration who are put in office to protect us and ensure that our time at STLCC-Meramec is spent effectively?

Truthfully, we cannot.

We came here to expand our minds and change our lives, not to participate in a business transaction. While we do pay to attend Meramec, we are students, not customers; we deserve answers.

As students, we dedicate significant portions of our time to academic success.

We show up everyday and take our education seriously. If we are not expected to care about how our institution is run, how can we be expected to care about our education?

While the majority of students may not care who is in charge of what, the media does and, as they have and continue to do, will cover it relentlessly. When members of

our community hear about these things, our reputation suffers. Meramec is quickly becoming associated with scandal and corruption.

It is safe to say that most of us decided to attend Meramec because of its reputation.

Many of us even commute out of our way to come here for one reason: we are the best— and we should want to keep it that way.

Our pride as a school is not the only thing on the line. The petty actions of our administration affect us in practical ways as well. Most of us know the frustration of signing up for a required course only to find out that it has been canceled due to

low enrollment.

We are already facing low enrollment, many of us taking classes of only ten to 15 students.

When a bad reputation comes into play, we are at an even higher risk of losing both current and potential students. With low enrollment, it becomes harder for us to complete our programs in the two years that most of us have set aside to attend Meramec.

We came here to participate in a running start toward higher education.

Instead more and more of us are finding it to be a lost cause.

Trifecta for Student Success ROBERT KNIGHT STAFF WRITER Students, welcome to Meramec - you have permission to think. This begins a series of three editorials discussing how students, the school STLCC and faculty share interdependent responsibilities for student success. Should any leg of this three legged stool fail, students fail.

While the Venn diagram of student success illustrates how students do not have sole responsibility for their success, students are the most important leg.

Hand in hand with permission to think comes the permission, indeed an expectation, to accept adult status and adult responsibilities. Success here will contribute to future success by developing useful knowledge and skills. A sad reality is failure here can have long-term negative consequence. Do not continue or develop poor habits.

Attending and succeeding in college is not only about formal education.

Responsible adult behaviors and skills that contribute to college success also contribute

to future professional success. While the school and faculty have their share of responsibilities, students only control their share of interdependent responsibilities.

So, students must focus their attention and efforts on their responsibilities.

Some abilities necessary for student success, and which are indispensable in the working world, are proper planning, proper preparation, discipline and finding self-motivation.

Follow the Six-Ps maxim – Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

There is another version with seven Ps; work it out.

A crucial reality here is students are not alone. Faculty does more than teach.

They are available to help during their office hours. Visit them. Get their help.

Form study groups with other students.

Use tutors or Supplemental Instructors (SI) when possible. There is no shame in having help to achieve academic success.

Additionally, the Access and Counseling

offices provide support that is not strictly academic.

Take advantage of these invaluable resources. There is no shame in asking for help even if the help is for mental health.

Their assistance can make a difference in effectively dealing with stressors and finding motivation.

Recall the Six-Ps maxim. A common thumb rule of effective time management is to expect up to three hours of “work” for every hour of class.

Writing-intensive classes will challenge that thumb rule. So, prioritize when planning. Then, if finishing something early provides a “gift of time” consider this suggestion from Blanchard’s “The One Minute Manager.” Several times each day just ask, “What is the best use of my time right now?”

Remember to balance school, work, family and friends by prioritizing activities to include fun and relaxation. Recharging mental and emotional batteries can prevent

reaching limits of effectiveness. The law of diminishing returns applies to students just like other people. When people reach their limits of effectiveness more effort will not necessarily yield more productivity. Find a proper balance between school and life.

Become familiar with other Meramec services such as: Writing center, computer labs, clubs, activities the Campus Life and Student Activities Council sponsor.

Students also have the responsibility to maintain an effective educational environment. Treat faculty, staff,and other students with dignity and respect. Arrive on time, complete assignments and participate in class by asking and answering questions.

There is no shame in admitting when we do not know or understand something.

Welcome to Meramec. You now have permission to think and act as an adult.

How well you perform here can shape your destiny.

8 IN-DEPTH

The aging face of the college student September 5, 2013

Has the term ‘college-age’ become obsolete?

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAKE HUNN

A

t some point in time, college age was pretty much assumed to be those years between 18 and 22.

College age might refer to someone slightly younger depending on what part of the year his or her birthday was or if he or she managed to graduate high school early.

Or it might even refer to someone slightly older, and potentially in a scornful way, if that someone had possibly spent too much time partying while getting acclimated to life on his or her own, away from parents and home. Reality is that many of the students seen in college classes these days are older than that simple definition.

According to information published

by Institutional Research and Planning for class years beginning fall 2009 through fall 2012, the number of STLCC Meramec students age 21 and older enrolled for classes is a significant number, 65 percent of the total enrollment to be precise.

Percentage wise, that number is holding steady with overall enrollment fluctuation with less that two percent variation over that four-year period. Those numbers clearly show that there are more students that are older than our stereotypical college student from just a few years ago. In the years shown, total Meramec enrollment fluctuated from 11,193 to 11,439 to 11,351

DENNIS PARKS STAFF WRITER to 10,436. Total students under the age of 21 fluctuated from 4019 to 4027 to 3919 to 3654 during that same time. The balance of those students enrolled make up the aforementioned 65 percent of the student enrollment.

Of that, students between the ages of 21 and 25 make up the largest percentage at approximately 31 percent across all four years. As would be expected, students between the ages of 26 and 30 are next largest, representing between 12 and 13 percent of the student body. Students in their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s account for approximately 10 percent, seven percent, and three percent respectively. Students age 61 and over make up the balance. For all of you statistical geeks out there, the mean age, median age, and mode across the years reported are 26.3, 22, and 19 years respectively.

Multiple factors should be considered when analyzing the aging of the college kid. Among them are the cost of education, availability of online courses, more competition for fewer jobs, unemployment benefits and what many are calling the baby boomer effect.

Although education is expensive, the lack of education is perhaps worse. Still, the price of tuition, books and incidentals is a big reason why many high school graduates

are choosing entry-level jobs or careers in the military as a way to pay for higher education, even though the education will come later. For many, this is a viable alternative, especially if Mom and Dad are not able to pickup the tab for a college education. Having some sort of working experience also helps some potential college students to choose a program that is more suitable to their personal goals that may have been rather ambiguous prior to them working a full-time job. Besides, who really knows what they want to do for the rest of their life when they are 18 years old? Additionally, tuition reimbursement is becoming a pretty common benefit of most jobs to varying degrees.

Although statistics comparing age of students taking online classes and those taking traditional classroom classes are not readily available, the availability of online classes has no doubt raised college enrollment numbers across the board.

Even though University of Phoenix does have classrooms, 75 percent of their students take classes online. Older students that were attending “night school” to raise their lot in life are finding it much easier to attend class via a computer in their own home, rather than attending class after a stressful day at the office or work place.

Flexibility of online classes to fit with the

schedule of others within the household makes this an especially attractive option for young parents. Of course, not all classes are available online, but those that are usually fill up quickly.

With so many college graduates out there in the working world already, having additional education or specialized degrees provides that something extra that is often needed to obtain that promotion or pay raise. So, even though these college grads probably attended college straight out of high school, they are back in class to gain that extra advantage, even though they may be older than many of their classmates. So, don’t make fun of that old guy in class, as he may become your lab partner on that next big class project.

As more people are finding themselves unemployed, whether their employer has gone out of business or merely downsized, they are taking the time to go to school. For some, it is to complete a degree program, while for others it is to start one.

Regardless of the reason for attending college classes, baby boomers are still showing up in great numbers. Whether it is to learn a new skill set to make ourselves more marketable for those last years of a career or to learn about a new interest for the retirement years, baby boomers know that knowledge is power.

IN-DEPTH 9

September 5, 2013

In fall of 2012...

30 and under

79%

The increasing presence of older students has become obvious in recent years, particularly at two-year colleges. According to Kim Fitzgerald in enrollment management, STLCCMeramec is finding it hard to compete with colleges like Southern Baptist who offer classes that meet less often and for only eight weeks as opposed to Meramec’s sixteen-week semester. As many older students have day jobs and families, the eight-week program is often more appealing to that demographic.

According to Fitzgerald, Meramec has room for improvement and possible improvements have been discussed to make Meramec a more appealing option for older students pursuing continuing education or simply looking to participate in a hobby.

31 and over

21% “There is a market out there for

older students...�

Kim Fitzgerald

Enrollment Management

10 ART&LIFE

September 5, 2013

Iraqi trainer becomes police officer on campus Gerald Colvin recently started working at Meramec with over 21 years of experience under his belt.

ZACH ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY: DAVID KLOECKENER Meramec Police Officer Gerald Colvin talks about his past police experience, Iraqi training and why he returned to law enforcement.

This semester a new face on campus is bringing his years of expertise in law enforcement to the table. Although a lot of kids want to be police officers when they get older, not many can achieve their dream, let alone train Iraqi police officers. Meramec Police Officer Gerald Colvin has done just that.

STLCC-Meramec has recently hired an Officer named Colvin. While Officer Colvin is new to the campus, he is not new to law enforcement. Officer Colvin has 21 years of experience as a Rock Hill Police Officer and two and a half years training Iraqis.

Colvin retired from Rock Hill Police Department in 2009 and then started working for Dyncorp, a private military contractor. While working for Dyncorp his responsibility was to “train, mentor and advise the Iraqi police in democratic policing,” according to Colvin, so they could be better soldiers and police officers.

“I worked for Dyncorp for two and a half years,” Colvin said. “I left because I was no longer under contract and wanted to go home.”

Helping to train the Iraqi police can come with its fair share of difficulties.

One such difficulty would be officers planted to cause damage.

“There were people who joined to just get a shot at us,” Colvin said. “We had people open fire on the shooting instructors and kill them. After that we had soldiers stand guard to make sure that it wouldn’t happen [again].”

After returning from Iraq, Colvin stayed home to spend time with his family. He has five children who are: 27, 24, 22, 20 and 18. Colvin decided to work at Meramec because he wanted to get back to work in law enforcement.

“Meramec was hiring for an officer, so I applied for the job,” Colvin said.

Working at Meramec gives him the opportunity to “help kids do the right thing and do their thing.”

At the end of the day Colvin wants to show that police officers are friendly and interested in the well-being of the students at the school.

“A lot of kids have a dislike of law enforcement; I want to show that officers are kind and approachable,” Colvin said.

ART&LIFE 11 September 5, 2013

Boy Scout troop caters to special needs scouts Troop 724 is one of two special needs Boy Scout Troops in St. Louis.

KENNDRA ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Relentless. Unstoppable. Fearless. perform their 10-flag color guard routine.

When hearing those three words, it can be “Those red hats really build their selfassumed that a vision featuring a soldier esteem. It turns them into different boys,” or Hulk-type character would appear. Assistant Scoutmaster Ron Armstrong One would not imagine a small, faithful said. “For some of them, it’s the only Boy Scout Troop consisting of special chance they get to work on their esteem.” needs boys. These were the very words Several stand out events also assist in used by Troop 724 Head Scoutmaster Joe uplifting the troop and giving them a sense Vaughn, when asked to describe his troop. of pride. Every year the Scouts place flags Based out of Crestwood, Troop 724 at Jefferson Barracks over Memorial Day is a special Scout group dedicated strictly Weekend and do community service for to special needs Scouting. It is one of two the needy, they vacation to St. Martins special needs every year and troops in the they serve as St. Louis area. the official With the guidance of dedicated They consist color guard for leaders and parent volunteers, the of boys who the Boeing Co. boys in the troop who are special have mental “ T h e needs feel just as any other scout,” and physical goal is to pay disabilities who it forward. range in age I’m out to from eleven to change others their mid-20s. mentality about The Scouts meet regularly and engage in disabled Scouts,” Vaughn said. “I look at typical Scouting activities. the troop and 20 years ago, they would “I try to keep them as mainstream as have been locked away and every day we possible,” Vaughn said, who assumed the prove them wrong.” position of scoutmaster in 1999.

STLCC-Meramec’s own Marco Scout skills, merit badges, camping, Romero, Spanish instructor, experienced parades and a very active color guard fill personally the impact that Troop 724 can the time for Troop 724. This October, the have. His late son, Paulo A. Romero was a Scouts will participate in a chili cook-off part of the troop for many years, up until as part of their yearly fundraising efforts. his untimely death. Wheelchair bound “These boys can do anything they and full of life, Paulo A. Romero missed want to do. We have six boys that teach Eagle Scouts by one merit badge. how to build fires to Cub Scouts,” Vaughn “Paulo benefited a great deal from said. being part of the troop. With the Troop 724 is proud to be the only guidance of dedicated leaders and parent special needs Scouting troop in the U.S. volunteers, the boys in the troop who are with its own color guard. Red berets special needs feel just as any other scout,” adorn the heads of Troop 724 when they Romero said. “The activities give the boys

“

— Marco Romero

PHOTO COURTESY OF RON ARMSTRONG The color guard for Boy Scout Troop 724 accepts an award from Peter Kinder, Missouri Lieutenant Governor.

a sense of belonging, pride and lots of happiness. Personally, I am very proud to belong to a group such as this, and to be a part in helping boys with special needs shine.”

When speaking of his past Scout, Vaughn’s declaration took a much softer tone than the Vietnam Veteran is accustomed to.

“Paulo was the greatest Scout of my life. He is inspired and remembered,” Vaughn said.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to build character, teach citizenship and promote fitness. All the while, it seems that all those involved with

Troop 724 have learned something from the group of Scouts.

“Nothing is impossible. These boys have showed me that. They always give it a 100 percent ... no whine, no moan,” Armstrong said.

Vaughn counters, “Close-mindedness is out the window.”

As the days roll on, and more boys join the Scouts, Troop 724 is here to stay. Troop 724 plans to continue to promote special needs in the U.S. as well as awareness.

“A Scout with disabilities is a Scout with possibilities,” Vaughn said.

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12 ART&LIFE September 5, 2013

Movies at Meramec The word on a long-time tradition.

MICHELLE BARRY STAFF WRITER As children play on the floor nearby and the small screen in the cafeteria plays the television show “Jessie,” music plays loudly from the speakers while the large screen drops slowly from the ceiling.

“We have a wonderful sound system,” Roy Cables, who works in Campus Life, said.

With adept ease, he presses the buttons and turns the knobs which will later bring the darkened cafeteria to life.

The Friday Night Movies have been playing at STLCC — Meramec since the 1970s, and have become part of the community college experience for many film-loving students. Chosen based on a combination of input from individuals and box office resiliency, these low-priced showings are always a hit with viewers.

When “Aladdin” was shown in the past, attendance went all the way up to 500.

The ever-popular “Rocky Horror Picture Show” has a way of making regular appearances, often once or twice in a year’s selection.

“The movies also act as a vehicle for clubs to earn money through cosponsorship,” Cables said. “I try to get them a week or two before they go out to video.”

Its position as a second-run theatre is what allows Campus Life, along with their license, to show these movies for much less than what they go for in cinemas.

The location for the movies themselves depends solely on weather conditions.

During summer classes and the warmer parts of fall sessions, they are usually held

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS SEPT. 13 (PG-13)

MAN OF STEEL OCT. 4 (PG-13)

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY OCT. 25 (G)

in the Quad outside the Student Center.

A portable blow-up screen is what allows them to be shown occasionally in this format. But as with any event, things do not always go as planned at the Friday Night Movies. This week’s showing was meant to take place outdoors, but it was actually deemed too hot for that to work.

Movies have a tad more flexibility than other events, such as the Car Show which was cancelled completely. Everything was staged instead inside the Student Center’s cafeteria, where the heat was less likely to affect anyone or distract from the film.

In order to get into one of these showings, it is $1 per person (which also covers snacks and drinks) with a student ID. A drawing is held each week for the “Most Comfy Seats”, with four chances

HANGOVER III SEPT. 20 (R)

GROWN UPS 2 OCT. 11 (PG-13)

WOLVERINE NOV. 1 (PG-13)

to win well-cushioned spots in the front row. If you do not win there are plenty of small cushions available to borrow, in order to spread the comfort around. The films themselves tend to be for more mature audiences, seeing as it is a college theater, but there is some variety and opportunities to take younger family members or guests.

All movies take place on Friday nights, with the doors to the Student Center opening at 7 p.m. and the actual movie beginning at 7:30 pm. “Fast and Furious 6” played on Aug. 30. The rest of the fall schedule for Friday Night Movies, are online at the STLCC website and listed below. The next movie is “Iron Man III” and will show Friday, Sept. 6.

WORLD WAR Z SEPT. 27 (PG-13)

CONJURING OCT. 18 (R)

DESPICABLE ME 2 NOV. 8 (PG)

ART&LIFE 13

September 5, 2013

Meramec gallery opens faculty exhibit The Meramec Art Gallery kicks off the fall semester with an all faculty exhibit.

CORY MONTERO MANAGING EDITOR The STLCC Meramec Art Department held an opening reception, Aug. 29, for its annual fall semester faculty show. There is a range of media displayed, including: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, digital media, photography, graphic design, architecture and interior design. Many students and teachers attended the opening reception.

Andrew Erickson, an adjunct instructor who has been teaching since 2005, attended the opening reception.

He is currently the instructor for the Watercolor class at the Meramec campus.

Erickson has two pieces in the faculty show, a watercolor piece and a 3D relief piece.

“I’ve been spending two-thirds of my career working and trying to figure out watercolor and since grad school I’ve been working more with surface and modernism, just changing track a little bit.” Erickson said.

With the faculty show opening in the fall semester and new students attending classes at Meramec, some students think it is helpful that the faculty show opens first.

“There are probably a lot of people who have taken a course but are not really familiar with their instructors, so I think it’s helpful to see some of the finished work the instructors have done and it’s important to see that early in the semester,” a Meramec student Jim Daly said.

A Meramec student Calena Gruchot said, “I think it’s cool because the teachers create projects for you but that’s not what the teachers themselves make, so it’s always interesting to see what they do because a lot of times it’s totally different.”

The gallery is located on the first floor of the Humanities East Building.

The hours for the gallery are MondayThursday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sundays and holidays. The faculty exhibit will be open until Sept. 20.

PHOTOS BY: DAVID KLOECKENER

2013-14

CAMPUS

VISIT DAYS

Park University is located in historic Parkville, Mo., only minutes from downtown Kansas City.

VISIT PARK

D I S C O V E R A N D E X P L O R E A L L W E O F F E R AT A N E X C I T I N G PA R K UNIVERSITY EVENT OR A PERSONAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE FALL PIRATE PREVIEWS

Get the whole story at this event where we feature every academic program, visit with current students and show you why Park is such a great value.

• September 28, 2013 • October 12, 2013 • November 16, 2013

PERSONAL CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

Make any day your visit day. Tour the Parkville Campus, meet faculty, talk with current students and discover historic Parkville. Schedule your experience at park.edu/montage or (816) 746-2533 Park University seeks comments from the public about the University in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Center Association of Colleges and Schools. Comments addressing substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs should be submit in writing to: Third-Party Comment on Park University, The Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411, or at www.ncahlc.org, no later than Oct. 21, 2013.

SPORTS 15 September 5, 2013

Archers go for four straight wins

STLCC baseball team plays at Busch Stadium on Sept. 8, looks to bring overall record to .500 DAVID KLOECKENER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Growing up around sporting events, players dream of playing on the biggest of stages imaginable. The STLCC baseball team once again has the opportunity to play where few college teams ever play.

The Archers will be facing Lewis and Clark Community College at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2013.

Lewis and Clark Community College is from Godfrey, Ill. and this will be the

fourth consecutive year the Trailblazers and Archers have played each other at Busch Stadium. The Archers took the first three games that were against Lewis and Clark.

The Archers have an eight-year history of playing at Busch Stadium.

The Archers have a 4-5 all time record at Busch and a 3-5 record at the new Busch Stadium. Past games were played against STLCC-Forest Park and Metropolitan

Community College-Maple Woods.

In 2005 the Archers beat Forest Park but lost the next four games against them.

The Archers lost their next game against Maple Woods but have since won the last three games against Lewis and Clark.

The game at on Sept. 8 will be played after the St. Louis Cardinals game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Archers baseball coach Tony Dattoli, games in the past have been

a highlight for the players and coaches of the Archers.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to coach in a major league ballpark it’s great,” Dattoli said in the Sept. 1, 2011 issue of the Montage. “I’ll be just as giddy as they will when we first start. I think I’ll be a little more nervous than they will be because I don’t ever want to be beat in that game.”

ARCHIVE PHOTO BY DAVID KLOECKENER

Meramec Students: YOU Are Invited to the

53rd Annual

Kirkwood Greentree Festival September 13, 14, 15th in Kirkwood Park (Corner of Geyer Road and West Adams)

Catch the FREE SHUTTLE on campus (Saturday & Sunday, starting at 10am) Courtesy of SSM St Clare Health Center SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: PARTY IN THE PARK, Saturday, September 7: BRING YOUR FRIENDS for this kick-off event in Kirkwood Park the Saturday BEFORE the Festival: Held at the Lions’ Pavilion in Kirkwood Park, Saturday, September 7, 6:00-9:00 p.m. FREE EVENT! Food trucks on site. Beer, wine, & soda available for purchase. Music

by Boogie Chyld. Tekno Bubbles for the kids!

FABULOUS MOTOWN REVUE OPENS THE FESTIVAL, Friday Night, September 13, 6:30-9:30pm: Lions’ Amphitheatre, Kirkwood Park.

Most food booths will be open.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: Parade – Folklife Festival – Wine Garden – Kids’ Area – Food, Game, and Arts & Crafts Booths 9am to 7pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: Sailboat Regatta – Classic Car & Truck Show – Wine Garden – Kids’ Area – Folklife Festival – Bookfair 10am to 5pm

For more information, visit GreentreeFestival.com

16 SPORTS September 5, 2013

PHOTOS BY: DAVID KLOECKENER (Left) Shauna Filbee (18) of STLCC fights for the ball against Angelica Garcia (14) of Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods. (Top Right) Katie Rapisardo (10) and Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods player fight to go after the ball. (Bottom Right) Miranda Buettner dribbles the ball through opposing players with the ball.

Lady Archers soccer kicks off the season STLCC women’s soccer team looks to build off of a national tournament appearance in 2012 DAVID KLOECKENER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR After coming off of a 16-6 season and a National Tournament berth, the Lady Archers will be playing with 11 returning sophomores to keep the team going with emphasis. The team runs deep with skill levels and great position players for what will make for a season that could rival last season.

With a preseason that included a game versus Webster University, the Lady Archers are taking good strides at being a contender for the National Tournament.

The game versus Webster was a season setting pre-season game would depict what the rest of the season has to hold. Though the Lady Archers pulled off nail-biting win, players and coaches were excited to play a school such as Webster in a preseason game.

“It is a preseason game for us but we took it serious because it’s a Division 3 school,” Lady Archer head coach Juergen Huettner said after the game versus Webster. “We wanted to show them we have good players

on a junior college level.”

One of the biggest parts of the win over Webster was a combined effort of starting players and players of the bench. It’s a good thing to have bench players to step in and help finish a game if starters have contributed good efforts towards a game.

With starters and bench players, the depth of the lineup comes into play for the coaching staff when running into close games. This preseason game gave way to why all players are useful to winning games.

“With the starting lineup, we are very happy but the players from the bench did a good job coming off the bench. So I think overall we are a pretty good unit,” Huettner said. “When the regular season comes along, we aren’t going to move players as much as we did today.”

With bigger schools such as Webster having many transfer students from community colleges, players feel as if they need to prove to the other team that they have talent and can hang with the best of

the best teams.

“We just wanted to beat [Webster] really bad because they are a Division 3 school and they are really confident,” freshman center Anne Downey said.

“They think that a Community College is nothing but we showed them we would not just give up.”

Returning this season are a couple stand out players from last season. Forwards Jessica Smugala and Donna Jolliff bring a strong pressence up front. Both players led the team in goals last season. Jolliff also led the team in assists and Smugala was second on the team with assists with five.

Back in goal is sophomore Apolonia Thomas who is a solid asset to the team.

With the season starting and a big preseason win over Webster, the Lady Archers are excited to get this season started off on a high note.

“We have high expectations for sure,” sophomore Jessica Smugala said. “This is definitely how we are going to go into

other games. Now we know to start strong because Webster is a Division 3 school. So we know what we have to do because I still feel like people are under estimating us.”

Freshmen players are looking to sophomores to help carry the team to a second National Tournament berth and hopefully and a championship.

“They have been doing the same things since they were freshmen. They carry us and being freshmen you have to follow your sophomores,” Downey said.

“They know what to expect and they know how they have to push themselves. Then they have to push us.”

The Lady Archers are clicking on all cylinders and looking to stay strong throughout the season.

“We are a lot closer than we were last year from all the feedback that the sophomores have been telling us,” Downey said. “With the training we have been doing, we all stick together fight until the end.”