VOLUME 55, ISSUE 6
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NOVEMBER 14, 2019
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WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM
Art & Life:
Biologist without Borders Story on page 5
News:
Brown Bag Café: Destigmatizing Hunger
Sports:
Region XVI CHAMPIONS Ashley Biundo
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Campus food pantry inspired by students EVE COHEN STAFF WRITER Based on data reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, from 2012 to 2014 approximately 16 percent of Missouri households did not have adequate access to food at some point throughout the year. Although hunger is a social and economic issue that remains in the shadows, widespread socio-economic inequality make the topic of food insecurity more diffused among the population. To a large segment of the population, economic trends do not carry the same meaning as the number of people affected by the uncertainty of poverty remains somewhat consistent. The Meramec campus is a leader in this respect. In 2012, inspired by an informal campuswide survey administered by her English Composition II course, former Meramec student Debbie Caby pursued and developed a solution to the pressing social concern through an honors contract. According to Deborah Corson, Meramec coordinator of Service Learning and the Service Works Club, Caby worked with four different campus departments to get the project started. “Pam Garvey’s class did [the initial] campus survey, and four groups got together: Service Learning, TRIO, Student Assistance Program and Campus Life. They met a lot. TRIO’s student leadership board wrote up a proposal and got it approved by Student Affairs, [then] Campus Life provided a space. The Student Assistance Program oversaw the distribution to students, [and] Service Learning helped to fundraise and food raise,” she said. The program evolved. “At first [they] were in a closet.” It started out giving just some lunches, now [they] give groceries every two weeks,” she said. The Brown Bag Café earned an award from STLCC for innovation in 2015. Shannon Nicholson, Student Assistance Program Coordinator, was hired
in 2016. She oversees day-to-day operations of which the Brown Bag Café is now a large part. “[The Brown Bag Café] is a valuable resource. [It’s what] drew me to the work,” she said. The Brown Bag Café is located in Clark Hall, room AD 120. One peek inside the room where students come to pick up edibles throughout the day, it appears relatively understated. However, there is an adequate stock of provisions, both perishable and fresh. A fully stocked refrigerator contains a variety of fresh, store quality fruit and vegetables: packages of grapes, organic apples, and bags of peppers, organic carrots, and other packaged leafy vegetables. On a corner table, and in the freezer, there are various loaves of bread. There is a bin of bananas, regular and organic. The overall selection of items appears generally nutritional, in addition to an arrangement of processed foods, and smaller single serve food products. As for the traffic, Nicholson said, “We get about 30 visitors a day… [We] rely heavily on donations,” which also include personal care products and school supplies. “It’s a collaborative effort,” she said. “Different academic departments adopt the café monthly.” To utilize the service, the only requirement is that students fill out a basic three question survey to help improve the service. In addition, the café is accessible five days per week, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Student Assistance Program also connects students to other economic resources that may be beneficial. There is room for growth. “[I’ve] seen the need… [Our] goal is to offer more services for students, additional food options,” said Nicholson. “[We have] a fantastic faculty, staff, and students that provide donations. They’re the reason that the doors stay open.”
On Oct. 29, the Lady Archer’s soccer team defeated Metropolitan Community College 3-0, claiming the Region XVI Title. On Nov. 7, they won against Columbia State Community College in the District Final 3-1 but they lost against Lewis and Clark Community college on Nov. 8, ending their season with a 14-5 record.
The men’s soccer team beat Crowder College 5-4 in Penatly Shots on Nov. 2, collecting the Region XVI Title. This is their fourth consecutive season of winning Regions. On Nov. 9, Archer’s lost to Illinois Central College 2-0 in the District Championship, ending the season with a 12-8-1 record. Submitted Photos
Opinions:
American Students Are Not Immune To Propaganda What are Facebook and Instagram costing you? The price of using social media that corporations won’t tell you. Invisible robots are influencing what you see and think on online. Here’s how: Story on page 7
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NEWS 3
November 14, 2019
‘The Home of the Brave’
ASHLEY BIUNDO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TOP LEFT: Officer Paul Faulstich salutes the flag as it is raised on Nov. 11. TOP MIDDLE: English Professor Michael Burke raises the American flag. TOP RIGHT: Petty Officer Chatterton salutes the flag. BOTTOM LEFT: Officer Ed Ucinski raises the Missouri State flag. BOTTOM MIDDLE: Students stand in silence during the National Anthem. BOTTOM LEFT: Officer Ucinski prepares to raise the Missouri State flag.
EDITORS ASHLEY BIUNDO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JACOB POLITTE ONLINE EDITOR
STAFF EVE COHEN REMY XA
STAFF WRITER/PHOTO STAFF WRITER
BRI HEANEY NEWS EDITOR OLIVER PULCHER ART & LIFE EDITOR MARY WILSON OPINIONS EDITOR SYED ALI PHOTO EDITOR
Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser
THE MONTAGE
To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., at 314-984-7857. 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. 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.
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4 NEWS
November 14, 2019
STLCC Ramps Up Efforts to Respond to Active Shooter Situations
Empty Bowls Luncheon Oliver pulcher art & life EDITOR
Meramec Campus Police Chief stresses the importance of being prepared BRI HEANEY NEWS EDITOR
“Learn how to survive a shooting event” is the subheader to the active shooter poster that students may have seen posted around the school. The poster has two purposes. First, it provides instructions for how to respond during an active shooter emergency and second,
it is a morbid reminder to reality of the rising incidence in mass shootings in today’s world. Along with putting out bulletins, STLCC has set up text and alerts and all faculty and staff have overgone training as well. Meramec Police Chief Adis Becirovic oversees some of the drills and safety procedures for active shooter emergencies. “The purpose of these drills are to teach students not to be scared, but rather, to be prepared,” said Becirovic. Becirovic said that training and warnings all happen in line with the RUN-HIDE-FIGHT active shooter preparedness program from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. “Lockdown drills in schools became widespread
On Monday, Nov. 4 the Student Assistance Program, the Meramec Mud Club, and Service Learning joined forces to host the annual empty bowls food drive. The
after the 1999 high-school shooting in Columbine, Colo. that left 12 students and a teacher dead. At the time, the massacre was the deadliest school shooting in American history, and it prompted new security measures to be introduced in schools across the US,” said Becirovic. On Oct. 23 STLCC hosted a school wide drill at the Wildwood campus with a formal statement that “The practice of lockdown drills acclimates both staff and students to the process and probability, and ultimately avoids unnecessary responses.” Becirovic encourages students to educate themselves on how to protect themselves and others if an active shooter emergency situation were to happen.
event was open to students, faculty, and staff. The Empty Bowls Luncheon featured handcrafted bowls made by STLCC students and lunch for attendees.
PHOTOS by syed ali TOP: Anika Wagne, Baylee Rolfe and Will Mulder, students of various disciplines at the Meramec campus savouring the warm lunch prepared for the Empty Bowls Luncheon. BOTTOM: Luis Mertins, a student at the Meramec campus admiring the craftsmanship of the bowls created by the Ceramics Department.
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ART & LIFE 5
November 14, 2019
Biologist without Borders From the canopy to the classroom DeeAnn Neely Guest Contributor
E
quipped with neutral colored walls, wooden desks, black computers, and a couple wall mounted shelves – Science South Room 116 looks like most of the offices of the staff at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Family photos and a few knick knacks adorn the desk adding a personal touch to the space. On the shelf? Several books (of course), a beautiful piece of coral, a pair of red fur lined handcuffs, and a black riding crop hanging from the L-bracket supporting the shelf. This is the office of reproductive physiologist, Dr. Jody Martin-Atkins. The petite blond with a soft soothing voice, dressed in a rosy pink sweater set, and colorful floral skirt is probably the last person most would think to be the highly sought after and unconventional professor of The Biology of Human Sex. As she relaxes into her office chair and crosses her legs, revealing a bulky boot on her foot she calmly said, “I always tell my students kind of on the first day, if you want a traditional professor, don’t take my class.” She said she was sought out specifically for her knowledge, extensive research, and field experience in reproductive systems. “They hired me specifically to teach the sex course here,” Jody said in a matter of fact tone as she swings back and forth in her chair and recounts her journey to teaching at Meramec. “I went to school at St. Louis University given my emphasis in reproduction by working at the St. Louis Zoo. It was the technique of knowing about reproductive systems that caught the eye of St. Louis Community College,” she said. Though interestingly enough, teaching was not a part of her planned career path, even after her parents saw the traits early on. “I come from a long line of teachers… they would say, ‘Oh, you’re going to grow up to be a teacher.’ And I thought You’re kidding me, I’m not going to do that…please,” she lightly chuckles as she rolls her eyes. Her passion for research and science continues. “I still have my foot in the door with research,” she said while chuckling at the irony of her foot currently being in a boot, raising her leg for emphasis. “Because I can’t seem to let that go,” she said wistfully. Her love of animals is evident as she runs down her various research experiences. “I worked with exotic species; I actually worked with two different species of snakes.The Brazilian Rainbow Boa and the Ball Python, then I branched out and started working with the cheetahs and doing artificial insemination. I worked with a lot of different species at the zoo,” she said. “I still climb up to the top of the rainforest trees and work with the parrots and work with
the frogs,” she said while reminiscing of her time in Puerto Rico studying reproductive behaviors of those animals in their natural habitats. “I’ve done like underwater research on shipwrecks and I still do a lot of diving in the oceans,” she said as she completes the list of memorable research assignments. “I have been in the process of cultivation plants for a vineyard. I’ve been working on that throughout the summertime,” she said of the current project that helps her get her research fix. After an adventure of five lifetimes, Martin-Atkins chose St. Louis University to complete her master’s degree, which opened an opportunity that she said she could have never predicted, teaching. “I had NO interview skills at all. I had never interviewed for any position in my life. Any job I would do, I would volunteer first, then I would make myself indispensable in that job,” she said. “I’m one week from graduating with my Ph.D., I’ve been offered two jobs, I’m standing there thinking, ‘Do I want to do research or do I want to teach?” she said exasperatedly thinking back to the difficult decision. “I decided, ’Well I liked Meramec.’ When I came onto campus like three students stopped and were like “oh you look lost let me help you,’ and I thought ‘Well that was nice!’ Honest to God my decision was I’m going to take it for one year. One year only, that’s it, and I’m out,” she said decidedly with a cutting of her hand. Little did she know that Meramec was a perfect fit. “It was fabulous; the students are what drove me to want to teach a second year. After year two, year three, I thought I’m going to definitely quit after this, I just know it. Each year I keep saying ‘this is it’ and it’s the students that keep reinforcing that maybe I should keep staying,” she said.
“
The students are what drove me to want to teach a second year.
”
Jody Martin-Atkins
Her passion for biology and relationship with her students helped solidify her place as a staple in the science department. “The doors opened up. I was able to have academic autonomy…I could teach whatever I wanted. I opened a class in tropical biology, so I got back to my Puerto Rican roots. I was able to take students to Belize, and had them swimming with sharks, and swimming with manatees,” she said in wonderment as she recollected the impact of those trips. “I opened up the ocean to these students who literally lived landlocked here. I got them to an island off the coast of the Bahamas,” she said in
PHOTO by Syed Ali almost disbelief. She recognizes that her approach to teaching is different. “I’m a professor that steps outside the box. I invite students to ask questions. I invite students to challenge me. I don’t teach from notes; I teach off the top of my head. I want students to interact with me. If a student asks a question, take me off on a tangent, that’s fantastic. That’s what I’m there for,” she said. Expectedly, talking about sex in any dynamic tends to be uncomfortable and a bit taboo. Martin-Atkins doesn’t let that deter her. “She instantly became my favorite teacher,” student DeMarco Barnett said after taking his first Biology of Human Sex class. “She perfected her teaching method for that class, tackling an uncomfortable subject,” Barnett said. Martin-Atkins gives insight to her teaching method when she reveals, “I think humor is a huge part of making that topic approachable. I always try to make things a twist on it as funny,” she laughs. “I try to do it in a way in which it’s not just out there and in their face; it’s coming in for lack of a better word a back-door method,” she said with a mischievous grin and a wink. She also tries to assign interactive assignments in her lecture, such as an origami of a vulva the students fold and label. “It’s nonconventional,” she shrugs. When she’s not enlightening students on things like when in history
a vibrator first appeared, MartinAtkins runs marathons for cancer up and down the eastern seaboard with her husband. “We just go to the east coast because that’s where the lobster is,” she said with a wide grin. How did she end up with a boot? “We ran two marathons back to back and were then starting to train for our third which that’s when I got my stress fracture,” she said. Running is a favorite pastime for the couple and usually the way they spend date night. “We love to run, we run throughout the winter time. We run at night when the snow’s falling; it’s so peaceful,” she said. Also, on her busy agenda is to complete a children’s book and revamp her classes. “I have been working on some of my lectures and some of the things I do…I’ve been redesigning it with a 50 min lecture and a 2-hour block where we do a hands-on activity,” she said. “All hands-on activities and a section of that I’m trying to re-work and do all for accessible students who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, or have any type of impairment to make it in some way accessible.” Although teaching may have not been part of the plan from the beginning, it is an essential part of her life now. “I’m teaching these students about things that they never would have been able to understand before,” she said.
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November 14, 2019
OPINIONS 7
American Students Are Not Immune To Propaganda
Corporations are controlling what you see, hear, experience online Remy Xa Staff Writer
N
ot everything a student studies in a history textbook is a lie, but what students in the United States learn in schools is colored by their country’s political interests. For American students, high school history education is filtered through a white, Eurocentric lens, with studies about civilizations in Africa, South America, and Asia being relegated to secondary electives. Due to this curriculum deficiency, the role of shaping Americans’ perceptions of countries beyond Europe and North America falls to what these citizens consume in the media. This omission of education is not a flaw in the system. Using these gaps of knowledge, the hand of the media is free to use its silver screens to shade in the bubbles of reality according to the state’s needs. As a result of outlets like Fox News and CNN, seeing sensationalistic stories that exist only to generate likes and shares has become commonplace in media. The American psyche has associated people with brown skin with violence and terrorism. Differing ideologies like socialism have become linked to poverty and subjugation in contrast to America’s own wealth and freedom. Filtering fiction from reality can seem an impossible task when living in today’s unrelenting political environment. Unseen wars of information are constantly fought between media conglomerates trying to decide what the public believes. With fake news running rampant and so many forces vying to control Americans’ perceptions, how does a student remain conscious of
when outside forces are trying to reshape their thinking? As soon as a user logs onto social media, they are bombarded with signals and messages. Our conscious minds may mentally filter out sponsored posts and advertisements on sites like Facebook and Instagram, but repeated exposure to brands and ideas allows them to take root in our minds. Social media has been instrumental in connecting people together in the 21st century, but it is not free. As it costs no money to sign up, the price of having constant contact with celebrities and direct messaging with friends is cleverly hidden. The truth is much more sinister. Whenever a user downloads a free phone app, that user becomes a product. As information is volunteered on Facebook or Instagram, each user’s hidden marketing profile grows to include their demographic information, interests, and susceptibility to advertising. This profile can even include audio recordings taken without the user’s knowledge, which is processed to filter out important keywords. These personal dossiers are bid on and sold to advertisers who pay to expose their marketing to the most relevant and vulnerable audiences. This is why advertisements can sometimes seem extremely tailored, or perhaps too coincidental. You’re not imagining things— private conversations are being listened to and used to sell you things. The lives of American citizens have become commodities for corporations. Telling the truth is not required to make financial profit. In fact, sharing lies and incendiary content
generates more clicks and views from incited audiences. A new policy Facebook unveiled last month states that the social media conglomerate will not police paid political speech on their platform. This includes advertising deliberately false and divisive content that do not pass the standard for television broadcast. It is assumed that every media outlet has a reasonable moral obligation to try to mitigate lies on their platform, but what happens when those lies are funding a 500 billion dollar corporation? As Americans recognize the effects of Russian interference on social media, students around the United States are questioning the integrity of their democracy.
Graphic by ASHLEY BIUNDO Humans are, by nature, shaped by the world around us. We are always being influenced. It is important that every person, group, and corporation you will encounter in this world serves a selfish agenda, no matter how innocuous. By remaining aware of what motives the speaker of a message might have, one can begin to recognize how their views are being shifted. The unknown is free real estate for propaganda. By seeking out diverse perspectives, students can overcome the habit of consuming only polarizing headlines and instead begin to consider differing points of view. When media hides the reality of a situation through misdirection and spin, exercise critical thinking to discover the truth.
Calling All Young People: VOTE
What can be done to help young people vote? mary wilson opinions editor In the 2016 election, college students “voted at a rate of 48.3 percent,” according to a study by Tufts University. This is up from 45.3 percent in 2012. Still, this is low. Census.gov reports that “voting rates have also historically varied according to age, with older Americans generally voting at higher rates than younger Americans.” In short: the older a person gets, the more likely they are to vote. So why don’t young people, especially college students, vote? Some of the possible barriers to college student voting are relatively easy to identify: Washington’s Top News (wtop.com) claims that many college students don’t know where to buy a postage stamp to mail in their absentee ballots. Other possible reasons, such as voter identification laws, are more controversial. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),
voter ID laws “are a part of an ongoing strategy to roll back decades of progress on voting rights.” “Seven states have strict photo ID laws,” where voters must show a government-issued photo ID if they want to cast a regular ballot. In Texas, for example, concealed weapons permits are valid for voting. Student ID cards are not. As if that wasn’t enough, a Caltech/MIT study found that “minority voters are more frequently questioned about ID than are white voters.” Interestingly, the same Tufts University study claims that although “voting rates increased from 2012 to 2016 in all academic fields of study.” However, “social science majors voted at significantly higher rates than STEM majors.” Aside from voter suppression tactics— like ID laws—and lack of knowledge
about postage stamps, many college students feel disillusioned with the political system. Take the 2016 presidential election, for example. Bernie Sanders rallied many young people, much like Barack Obama did in 2008 and 2012, but when Hillary Clinton got the Democratic nomination, people were unmotivated. For those that did go out and vote for Clinton, seeing Trump win the electoral college was a slap in the face. And here we have a conundrum. We are told to vote, to do our part to put the people we want into public office. However, voting is difficult, and some politicians are striving to make it more difficult for young people and minority groups. So what can be done? First, register to vote. Stlouis-mo.gov asserts that Missori residents can register
at “any public library, health and social services offices, and the Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), as well as schools or other taxsupported public agencies with a Deputy Registrar on site.” If someone can’t get to one of those places, registration is also possible at sos.mo.gov. Make a plan for election day. Check on neighbors who might not have a way to get to the polls: people without their own mode of transportation, the elderly and people with disabilities. There are voter hotlines: most notably Election Protection, which can be reached at 866-OUR-VOTE (866687-8683). For those of us with white privilege: we are unlikely to be questioned about our ID. We can--and should--use this to speak out against voter suppression tactics.
8 SPORTS TBI: The Silent Attack on Athletes
STLCC experts weigh in on the dangers
Mary wilson Opinions Editor The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) website claims that the age groups at highest risk for a brain injury are” toddlers, adolescents, young adults, and individuals 65 and older.” For ages five to 24, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause. [Students] need to avoid risky behaviors…like distracted driving… not texting in your car, not talking on the phone in your car, or using handsfree if you’re going to talk in your car,” Cindy Hartwig, Professor and Nursing Program Coordinator, said. Maureen Cunningham, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, said that symptoms fall into four categories: cognitive, physical abilities, emotional and psychological, and sensory and perception. According to the BIA-MO website, symptoms include everything from problems with attention and concentration and organization, to seizures and headaches, to difficulties with depth perception and balance, to anxiety and depression.“It may take somebody longer to retain information. [They] may need to repeat things, especially in academic situations or conversations,” Cunningham said. Should an individual experience a traumatic brain injury, Hartwig said they should be seen by a medical professional. “If [somebody] totally lost consciousness, they need to go to the Emergency Department.” “There could be long term complications, absolutely,” Hartwig added. “We have a lot of people who are disabled from traumatic brain injuries. [They] can also be mild and be just fine. [It] depends on the severity of the injury.” The BIA-MO website says that in
Graphic by Mary wilson
Missouri, there are 118,000 individuals “living with long-term effects.” Hartwig said that “[In sports] you need to make sure you’re wearing protective gear when playing any sport, including skiing and sledding.” “The important thing to think about is, that even if it’s a minor traumatic brain injury, that the brain is going to be in a fragile state for several months, so they really need to be careful…to make sure they’re not injured again,” said Hartwig. The Brain Injury Association of Missouri also directly helps individuals with the emotional/social side of brain injury. “We help individuals adjust to life with their brain injuries… We help individuals know they’re not alone as they’re facing many challenges,” Cunningham said. “We have support groups, camps for adults with brain injuries, [and] seminars for professionals, family and survivors.” “Once you’ve seen one brain injury, you’ve seen one brain injury. Every brain is different, every person is different,” said Cunningham, referencing a saying in the brain injury community. “It’s the family history, it’s the health of the brain itself. Younger brains take longer to recover, but they’re more resilient.” Cunningham added that “With sports related concussions, youth take longer to return to play, return to school, than adults. It also depends on the care that is received at the time of the brain injury. If there’s a long delay in trauma care…..it can prolong the impact on life.” “Prevention is the only cure for brain injury,” said Cunningham. For more resources and information, visit the Brain Injury Association of Missouri’s website at www.biamo.org
November 14, 2019
St. Louis Native Assumes the Role as Head Basketball Coach Jacob Yorg joins the Lady Archers’ team Ashley biundo Editor-in-chief St. Louis native, Jacob Yorg has taken on as head coach for the Lady Archers basketball program. At the beginning of his career, Yorg spent most of his time as a high math teacher and a coach. “After my last year teaching high school in 2008, I decided to move back to St. Louis and work on my counselling degree, which is when I started to coach at Maryville University. I was at Maryville as assistant women’s basketball coach for five years,” he said. “Then took over the head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin Parkside which was another NCAA Division Two school in our conference.” Yorg spent five years in Wisconsin and decided to move back because he said he missed home. “Being a St. Louis boy and all my family was here. So I decided to come back and start working on my doctorate, which I’m working on [currently],” he said. Along with working on his doctorate, Yorg is still teaching. “Right now, I teach Dual Credit Psychology and Sociology classes at St. Joseph’s Academy while I work on my doctorate,” he said. Yorg said he saw an opportunity to start coaching again when STLCC was looking for a new women’s basketball head coach. “It allowed me to keep teaching and going to school,” he said. As the head coach, Yorg has goals for his new career at STLCC. “I think the biggest thing for me is just trying to help the young ladies achieve the goals. Academically, what they want to do on to a four year school after this and go in life. Also what they want to do in the world of basketball and reach those goals and do whatever I can to help them get to the highest level that they want to achieve,” he said. Yorg has some of the same expectations for this upcoming season as the coaches did before. “The tremendous success that this program has had that Coach Ethridge and Coach Marcy put into the time here,” he said. “The expectations is to maintain that, with a little different situation.” One of the expectations is growing as a team, said Yorg. “We’re going to do some developing and growing this year with numbers and all that,” he said. “But the expectations should always be the same every year and that’s to win, be competitive, be nationally ranked, and make a run to go to the national tournament. Like it should be every year.” Being a coach and seeing the players do great things is very rewarding, according to Yorg. “I still have a great relationship with most of my former players, when I coached high school and even college,” he said. “And seeing all the
photo by ashley biundo great things they have done, from the jobs that they have to married life now and having children and how they’ve had developing their own amazing young daughters and sons. Some of them have gone into coaching and seeing them be able to be successful as coaches and just seeing them mature and know that I’ve had some part in that journey is a very rewarding thing.” Coming from years of coaching high school and college while also serving as a teacher, Yorg said that education is a top priority. “I always tell people being a teacher and one who has taught both high school and college academics are very important to me,” he said. “I think in the end, we sometimes forget that professional lives are going to take up more time than basketball careers. So I think we have to utilize their basketball as a way to teach them how to become better students and to become the adults that are going to make huge contributions in the world. So I think we can never forget the importance of the aspect of basketball, that’s also studying hard work, teamwork and all that and I think we just add it together, but it always goes hand in hand. If you’re not a good student, you won’t be a good basketball player. If you’re a good basketball player, you also need to be a good student.”