MONTAGE
The
Serving the St. Louis Community College - Meramec community since 1964 • ACP Award Recipient VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
DEC. 9, 2021
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Meramec International Students Share Triumphs, Tribulations of Living in the U.S. International Education Week spotlights diversity among student body
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JERRID ROLFE STAFF WRITER
nternational Education Week was celebrated by Meramec the week of Nov. 15 thanks to the organization of the Committee for Global Studies and International Education (GSIE). A combination of on-campus and virtual events were offered; this year focused especially on Japanese culture, such as a demonstration of Japanese calligraphy. The final event of the week was a panel of seven students from different countries across the globe sharing their experiences moving to and living in the United States. Three students from Germany represented the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program, while the other four students shared their personal stories of coming to America and, Four Meramec students presented their experiences attending community college and living in America. This event was one of many that eventually, STLCC. took place throughout International Education Week. Photo by Guangrong He. The German students discussed some of the differences they’ve noticed between American and Portuguese to English, especially Professor Shamim Ansari hosted these two COVID years,” Ansairi said, German culture, such as how in when interacting with native speakers. the student panel, representing GSIE. “is that we have been able to invite Germany, the drinking age is 16 but the However, she was very thankful for Ansari has worked at Meramec since people to do these presentations from driving age is 18. the STLCC community, whom she 2008, and has spent nearly all of that other counties and other states.” They also discussed differences in said has been very helpful for her. She time as a member or chair of the GSIE. Ansari is hopeful that next year’s education, noting that in Germany it concluded with the statement that, “I During an interview about the week celebration of International Education is nearly free for German students, think everyone can grow with all of as a whole, Professor Ansari discussed Week can return to the full schedule but education often has far fewer these (diverse) people living together.” how hosting an all-week event when it used to be, saying, “there is no opportunities for extra curriculars Another student, Shruti from India, many students aren’t even on campus substitute to having events on campus.” such as sports or theatre. The students has lived in America for more than a has presented many hurdles along the Like many clubs after the onset finished their presentation by decade now. way. of the pandemic, the International discussing patriotism: “In Germany, She started community college “We used to offer several Student Club was unable to restart this we have almost no patriotism. We have when she first arrived, but ended up presentations each day,” she explained, semester, but Professor Ansari and democracy, free speech, engineering, dropping out due to the difficulty “but this year we could only have four,” Scott Armstead are looking for students and culture, but almost no patriotism of transportation and the language she said. interested in joining or leading the club […] Soccer is the only exception.” barrier. However, there have been some for the spring semester. Isabel, a student who immigrated However, she re-enrolled last year, benefits to the mass-migration to online If you’re interested in learning from Brazil with her husband and was hired for a part-time job, and is now communication that accompanied the more, please email sansari1@stlcc.edu two children, discussed how difficult pursuing a graphic communications world’s adjustments to COVID-19. or sarmstead7@stlcc.edu. the language barrier has been from degree. “One thing that has happened during
VETERAN’S CLUB HOSTS 2021 FLAG RAISING CEREMONY: The Montage was on hand on Nov. 11, 2021 for the 2021 Veterans Day Flag Raising Ceremony. The ceremony that is organized by the Student Veterans Club usually takes place every year, but did not take last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Bruno Grubesic.
2 NEWS
Dec. 9, 2021
IN THIS ISSUE:
STLCC SPRING 2022 ACADEMIC CALENDAR & NEWS BRIEFS- pg.3 HOW TO GET READY FOR FINAL EXAMS- pg. 4 A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT “ALL IN THE TIMING”- pg. 5 “WORLD BEYOND” REVIEW-pg. 5 “DUNE” MOVIE REVIEW- pg. 6 JAKE’S TAKE: FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS- pg. 7 SPORTS- pg. 8
ADVERTISE IN THE MONTAGE Spring Publication Dates:
Feb. 3, 2022 April 7, 2022
March 3, 2022 May 5, 2022
Back-to-School Guide: July 2022
A T
M E R A M E C
The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **
COURSES
MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 152 MUS 154 MUS 211,212
Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music History of Jazz Music Appreciation Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV History of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II
Join the Team Meetings every Tuesday at 4 PM via Zoom or in Student Center, Room 220A
Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required! MUS131, 132 and 134 are CORE42 performance courses!
ENSEMBLES
Music 131 – Concert Choir Music 132 – Orchestra Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 138 – Jazz Improvisation All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers.
For more information, contact Music at Meramec Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638
Contact Shannon Philpott-Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu for more information.
NEWS 3
Dec. 9, 2021
STAFF
JACOB POLITTE
GENEVA LEE MARIAH DOVER
MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR
STLCC’s SPRING 2022 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
STAFF
BRUNO GRUBESIC STAFF DEVYN LEJEUNE STAFF JERRID ROLFE STAFF ADELAINE TUDOR STAFF MAX WILSON STAFF
Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser
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Schedule courtesy of STLCC and stlcc.edu. Schedule is subject to change.
NEWS BRIEFS Youtube.com “montagelax”
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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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Meramec Music For the Season The Music Dept. will host two concerts in December. The Meramec Symphonic Band and Orchestra perform at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Meramec Cafeteria. The Meramec Chamber Singers and Concert Choir will join forces with the Kirkwood High School choir at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Keating Theater at Kirkwood High School. All performances are open to the public.
Campus Police Update Effective Nov. 29, Lt. Adis Becirovic will command the college police for the campuses of Meramec and South County Education Center. He can be reached at 314-984-7808 or abecirovic1@stlcc.edu. Lt. Becirovic will be taking over the duties previously performed by David Berryman, who is moving to the Forest Park campus. For more information on campus police, visit stlcc.edu/police.
Meramec Poinsettia Sale The Botanical Society’s Annual Poinsettia Sale is underway now through Dec. 22. Red and white varieties are available. Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekdays Where: Pick-up orders at the STLCC-Meramec greenhouse Cost: $7 each (cash or check) For more information, contact ccoyne@stlcc.edu.
4 ART & LIFE
Dec. 9, 2021
How To Survive Finals Week
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5 simple tips to help you focus and get the best grades possible DEVYNN LEJEUNE STAFF WRITER With Thanksgiving break filling up our stomachs and Christmas right around the corner, it is easy to forget that finals week is approaching fast. The final exam week starts Monday, Dec. 13, and ends Sunday, Dec. 19. Many students would love to skip exam week and go straight to gift-giving and sliding into the New Year. However, The Montage has a few tips to survive finals week so you can earn that muchneeded passing grade.
Be Available for Yourself
Studying is a number one priority to succeed during finals week, but so is taking time for yourself. When you are creating your schedule for exam week make sure you set at least an hour or two every day to do something for yourself. That can be exercising, watching your favorite Christmas movie, or simply texting friends. Studying can become overwhelming so being available for your personal needs can help balance out your emotions during this stressful week.
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STLCC hosts Peterson Exhibit
annual
This year’s Peterson Lecture focused on the work of both John and Rosemary Nagel. The substantial portfolios of both artists were featured in a lecture by the duo on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and their work was on display at the Meramec Campus Art Gallery from that date until Friday, Dec. 3rd. Some of the work featured can be viewed below.
Build a Study Schedule
It is so easy (and almost tempting) to cram all your study time into the week of final exams. However, making a set study schedule beforehand can relieve stress and help you do better during the week of finals. Grab a paper and pen or your laptop and map out certain days you would want to study for each class you have and figure out how much time you will need to study for each course. Prioritize the classes you may be having a bit of trouble with; this will set you up for success during exam week.
Get some sleep
The most important aspect of success is to get as much sleep as possible. Not getting enough rest can make you more stressed and fatigued, which is not what you want during finals week. Pulling all-nighters may seem like the best way to ace your exams but having a set sleep schedule during finals week will leave you feeling refreshed and ready during and after finals.
Ca D’Oro, Grand Canal; Venice, Italy, 2003 Photo by John Nagel
Find The Perfect Study Space
Your bed might feel like the best place to study (it certainly feels the most comfortable) but to get some real learning in, you need to find the perfect mix of a relaxing, calm, and quiet workspace. A small corner in your house or even an outdoor patio (if the weather permits) may be the best place for you to prepare for your finals. If you need some time away from home, find a local coffee shop to study in and even bring a friend! The Meramec Campus Library is also an amazing place for study time! From Monday to Thursday this week, they are providing food, tutoring sessions, and extending their hours to 10 pm so students can properly prepare for finals week.
Talk With Your Professors
Your professors are here to help you succeed in your classes. If you’re struggling and stressed over finals week send them a quick email or talk to them during their assigned office hours to discuss a plan for your success. It never hurts to ask for help and with a concrete plan, you will be sure to ace your finals!
Classical Style; Vienna, 2004 Photo by John Nagel
The best way to survive finals week is to take a deep breath and feel confident in your abilities to champion your final exams. Take it one day at a time and use these helpful tips to come out on top after finals slowly come to an end.
Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Cathedral; London, England, 2018 Photo by John Nagel
ART & LIFE 5
Dec. 9, 2021
A look behind the curtain the next play in the set of three, English Made Simple. The cast navigates different social circumstances and simulations, providing comedic insight into the deeper meaning and emotions behind everyday conversations and people at parties with both complicated pasts and no history at all. As the play moves on, Jack (played by student Nuruddin Jitmoud) and Jill (played by student Gracious Massaquoi) go through many different
politeness and altruism. Finally, the stage shifts to “Variations on the Death of Trotsky.” In this play, Leon Trotsky (played by student Daanyal Baber), learns multiple times If you set a monkey in front of a typewriter forever, from his encyclopedia reading wife, Mrs. Trotsky would it eventually write all of Shakespeare’s works? (played by student Claire Sackman) that he has been Would it write it all again with a typo? Two typos? murdered. Debates are sparked as to whether the Seven? How much faster would it go with multiple tool used was an ice pick or a pickaxe, what the date monkeys typing at once? Would this article be is, and where Mrs. Trotsky’s heart lies. Will it be with written? Leon, or Ramon the gardener (played by This past month, Meramec’s student Ethan Wichmann)? Leon goes on Theater Department explores throughout the play and points out the typewriting monkeys, conversation intriguing circumstances and questions rules, and the many deaths of Leon surrounding his death, such as who did Trotsky in their production of it? How does this relate to the proletariat David Ives’ All in The Timing. population? What is the difference “Words, Words, Words,” the between an ice picker and a pickaxe? Does first of the three short plays it matter when it’s buried (or, smashed) being performed by Meramec’s into the top of your skull? But the magic theater department, discusses isn’t all on the stage. this question. Meramec student When he’s not tossing out prop cigarette Carrson McDaniel plays Milton, boxes to Milton as Dr. D. Rosenbaum in one of three monkeys in a Columbia Words Words Words, student Joshua University Lab, alongside Owen Stender is an Assistant Director in the Farra playing Swift and Zanna production. Ennenback playing Kafka. When asked about his role and When asked about the process responsibilities, he said, “I am the of forming the play and what Photo by: BRUNO GRUBESIC Assistant Director and Assistant Stage he’s done to prepare for the Carrson McDaniel, Susanna Ennenach and Owen Farra practice their performances at a Director for the show. My responsibilities performance, McDaniel said, “I’ve rehearsal during the week “All In the Timing” premiered. entailed me following actors by the script put in a lot of time for this show, to make sure they were saying the correct I’ve obviously studied my lines and names and conversations, with their characters lines. I helped communicate with our second stage blocking but also monkey/chimp behavior, mostly sometimes arguing, sometimes in love, and manager and our director if an actor wasn’t able to through YouTube videos, it was fun to explore how to sometimes both. The two will be strangers at a come for any reason. In days of multiple rehearsals, I act like a monkey.” party, quarrelling ex-lovers, two romantics figuring helped our other stage manager and director with the The play goes through many different out the future together, and many more together as time to make sure we don’t spill into other rehearsals philosophical debates, like the ethics in question of a narrator figure (played by student Tyler Gotsis) on accident.” keeping monkeys in a lab and forcing them to write Altogether, even having to work around a collapsed Hamlet without knowing what it is, how to fight interjects between the two, reading between the lines and providing the audience insight into the lovely or stage and perform in a completely foreign room, the back to oppressors with power, and what amount of not so lovely things the two characters actually mean cast and crew put together a wonderful performance torture monkeys will put up with for what amount of to say to each other, all under the mask of social this November. peanuts and cigarettes. The show then moves on to
BRUNO GRUBESIC STAFF WRITER
‘World Beyond’ delivers a stellar Season 2 JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR Season 1 of “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” was unspectacular to say the least. The story wasn’t the best, the writing was subpar, the characters weren’t necessarily likeable, and the settings the characters visited weren’t inspired. When Season 1 concluded last year, any feeling of mild intrigue about the direction of the show wasn’t nearly as strong as the feeling that the viewer’s time was wasted. But the show’s second and final season, for all intents and purposes, is a swift kick in the ass to anyone who doubted the show. It’s well acted, it’s well written, and the story told over the last 10 episodes is nothing short of incredible. The characters actually become fully formed people to root for or against, and even the most cynical fan can’t deny that every major character has layers. Unlike the main show and even “Fear The Walking Dead” (and likely due to the fact that there is only a limited amount of time to tell this particular story), the stakes in World Beyond feel very high, and they have genuine consequences for the future at large. The series as a whole did a complete 180 for the better, and should be commended for it. Part of the reason for the show’s turnaround has a lot to do with leaning more heavily into a greatly unexplored (and big) part of the franchise’s lore: the Civic Republic Military (CRM). The group that took Rick Grimes away from “The Walking Dead” and currently has a recurring presence on “Fear” (both of which are much earlier incarnations of the CRM) was advertised as a big part of the show, but any vital information to be learned about them took a backseat in Season 1 in order to focus on the stories of the show’s four main children: Iris, Hope, Silas
and Elton. While the children are not bad actors, following a bunch of kids being chaperoned by Felix and Huck (Annet Mahendru) across the country didn’t make for the best TV. Until, it was revealed at the end of Season 1 that Huck was a CRM mole. While the kids still feature prominently in Season 2, we finally get more of an insight to how the CRM operates, and why they do the heinous things that
they do, and that information helps kick the show into high gear. And the arrival of another familiar character from elsewhere in the franchise helps up the stakes even more: Anne “Jadis” Stokes (Pollyanna McIntosh) returns for the first time since she flew away with Rick on that fateful helicopter ride years ago. We don’t learn what happened to Rick afterward, other than she traded him for entrance into the Civic Republic community (it’s never explicitly revealed on screen, but it’s present-day Philadelphia), and eventually joined the CRM where she has become a high ranking member, willing to do anything to ensure the CRM’s efforts to rebuild society are successful. Jadis ultimately proves to be the top villain of Season 2, and the show is all the better for it; not to mention, McIntosh plays a villain extremely well. It’s extremely fascinating to see this version of Jadis, whose history the viewers know, interact with the
characters on this show and it’s also interesting to see how the events that the viewers saw happen to her before influence her choices in the present. It’s also somewhat refreshing that Jadis is basically unstoppable. She has mastered the art of being a soldier, and is never fooled by any of our characters. She sees through everything instantly. These smarts, however, are also matched by every single one of the protagonists. No one feels or acts dumb in “World Beyond,” not even the kids. For a franchise that largely relies on characters suddenly acting stupid in order to move stories forward, that is quite the accomplishment. Perhaps the most surprising journey is the one that Silas takes. The way his story wraps up in World Beyond is fascinating, and he will likely be a vital character to the Rick Grimes movies later on at some point. It also must be noted that in particular, Mahendru gives an absolutely stellar performance throughout Season 2, and she helped make Huck’s story among the best “Walking Dead” plots ever. Huck may have been one of the antagonists in Season 1, but she is among the biggest heroes of Season 2. The show’s final episode also features an intriguing post-credits scene that has implications for the entire Walking Dead universe going forward. While it doesn’t directly tie into the events of World Beyond whatsoever, it does feature the answer to a pivotal question that fans have always speculated about: the origin point of the outbreak. In a twist that no one saw coming, we get to visit the surprising location of what is essentially “Ground Zero” and we revisit a long departed character in the process. Overall, “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” turned into something that is not only spectacular, but absolutely vital to watch if you’re a true “Walking Dead” fan.
6 ART & LIFE
Dec. 9, 2021
Dune: Pretty and Empty
Denis Villeneuve’s take on the 1965 novel is stunning, but not quite perfect. GENEVA LEE NEWS EDITOR Denis Villeneuve’s M.O. stood strong in his film Dune (2021), a film of vast and clear beauty, meticulous acting, technological awe, and no emotion. I loved this film, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but its strengths made its shortcomings all the more apparent, exacerbating the itch, as Villeneuve’s films make me think, “this was so good...but it could be so much better.” Dune centers around protagonist Paul Atredies of House Atreides, son of Gene Besserit concubine Lady Jessica and her husband, Leto Atreides, ruler of boreal, ocean world Caladan and a popular leader that The Emperor sees as a political threat. The Emperor reassigns Leto to oversee the desert planet Arrakis, which the Old Empire has colonized, displacing the indigenous population of Fremen. Arrakis is valued because it is the only source of spice, the wonderdrug that enhances mental agility, lengthens lifespan, improves health, and makes interstellar travel possible. The antagonistic Harkonnens, the previous overseers, are incredibly rich from mining spice, and their removal pits the Harkonnens against Atreides. The film follows Paul as he becomes the prophesied messiah for those the Old Empire has oppressed amidst the conflict between House Atreides and House Harkonnen. This film is a tricky adaptation, as author Frank Hebert built a culturally-rich world with esoteric religious rituals, neologisms, and classic sci-fi technology that can be unpalatable to a mass audience and awkward when translated from the written word to the visual. Yet equilibrist Villeneuve succeeds in balancing faithfulness and familiarity, including the important facets of Old Empire cultures and explaining them clearly, while eschewing its less important, more confusing components. He even helped me grasp a better understanding of the book that I prefer over my original mental imagery. Dune’s cinematography is one of the reasons we still go to theaters to watch films: a laptop in bed is blasphemous to this film. The total, thrilling, and awe-inspiring imagery eclipses the viewer’s world. Villeneuve makes the cold, metallic Giedi Prime and desert Arrakis lush in their own right: verdant black buildings and sifting seas of sand. I felt my chest fall into my stomach as the camera panned over landscapes and when spaceships spilled out of the beluga mouth of a catastrophically larger ship. Villeneuve too creatively cleaned the book’s visuals: instead of the corpulent
Baron Harkonnen awkwardly hanging from ropes, a spinal device levitates his body draped in funereal gowns to soar above the room. The actors were cast perfectly for their parts, even considering just appearance alone, with Rebecca Ferguson looking more Lady Jessica than the lady I envisioned while reading, Oscar Isaac born Leto, and Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya completely Paul and Chani.
moments on the shoulder of Orion and near the Tannhäuser Gate: Villeneuve cannot discriminate tears from rain. His other films, like Enemy (2013) and Prisoners (2013), while full of wonderful imagery, acting, and plots, also lack character connection and fill audiences with beige. Puppets are too human a metaphor: Villeneuve’s characters are checker pieces. This is his greatest flaw as a
The acting itself too was technically impeccable. Yet their performances failed to inspire emotion. I blame not the actors but Villeneuve, who has a history of failing to facilitate connection. Blade Runner 2049 (2017), for example, had surprisingly flat, mannequin characters, and he flagrantly violated the human themes and messages of the first film. Blade Runner director Ridley Scott and Phillip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner’s source text) predicate that empathy is the key to humanity and our exceptionalism. In 2049, Villeneuve reduces the beauty, uniqueness, and exceptionalism of humanity and life to reproductive capability. This makes us who we are, he says, not our experiences, our emotions, Roy Batty’s precious
filmmaker, his failure to understand humans and emotions, and he makes us unable to feel the devastation of the fall of the Atreides family and its rebirth. Paul seems like a dryly erudite adult, cheerful teen only once when greeting a returning friend, and his relationship with his mother lacks any familiarity and nurturing intimacy—he could be a ward of the state, and she, a random acquaintance. I only felt a connection when Paul sees a vision of his future and breaks down in horror. I wish desperately that Villeneuve had fleshed that scene even deeper and had made the entire film that rich with emotion. Instead, he spends maybe ten whole minutes of the film just staring the camera at his amazingly big spaceships: great for three minutes, then self-indulgent.
The other main issue is the white savior trope. I appreciate the line, “who will our next oppressors be?” evoking the white patriarchal, colonialist, and imperialist themes, yet the plot of the film is that a white, non-indignous man, the result of a eugenics breeding scheme that relies upon women and culminates in a male, aided by a false religion spread by a shadow organization of missionary Empire elites (whose female practices are called, “weirding ways,” to boot), comes and saves the indigenous folks who can’t free themselves without his help. And no matter how strong they make Chani, she is not the main character but Paul’s romantic interest: any agency and wisdom she holds is diminished by Paul’s relative god-given, born greatness. Paul’s preordained, unearned privilege is now cheap and dated. Simple plot and casting fixes could have helped partially dismantle this trope while retaining the character of the source text. Paul could have been Paula, portrayed by a female BIPOC actor. The breeding scheme could have been male-only, with Lady Jessica choosing to buck against patriarchal eugenics with a female child. Lady Jessica’s parentage is not known, and her parents could be revealed to be indigenous Fremen, and there could have been emphasis on Paul needing immersion and understanding of Fremen culture before they determine if he is the Kwisatz Haderach (messiah). The director chose not to unravel the ethnocentric narrative. Instead, Zendaya supports the main. Though these are fairly devastating criticisms that severely undermine the strength of the movie, overall, I really did love Dune. It is a visually stunning work that pulls off a nearlyimpossible science fiction book, and the day after I saw it in theaters, I bought an HBO subscription so I could watch it again and go through my favorite scenes. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and so badly wish I could give it a perfect score. It is too late for Villeneuve to implement some of the fixes I suggest for the white savior problem, but at the very least, in the sequel, he can make the characters emotionally compelling. I love Planet Earth, but for other films, why create beautiful worlds if not to populate them with characters for whom we cry?
Dec. 9, 2021
OPINIONS 7
Jake’s Take: Friday Night Fights
Pro wrestling, the world’s strangest art form, recently came back to town
B
Jacob Politte MANAGING EDITOR
efore I get into the real meat of this piece, a bit of background is probably needed. For the longest time that I can remember, I’ve been a fan of pro wrestling. The earliest memory I have of watching it on television came when I turned on WWE Monday Night Raw when I was 7 years old, but my mom tells me I was watching it even before then. She also told me around that time that none of it was real, which I think was her way of discouraging me from watching it; that plan of hers didn’t work at all. Ever since that fateful night in August 2003 when I watched the daredevil son of a billionaire kick the closest thing to Michael Myers west of the Mississippi into a literal dumpster fire, I’ve been hooked. That last sentence isn’t a typo: that’s something that I actually saw happen on television. When I was 7 years old. Explains a lot, I guess. Pro wrestling is the most absurd thing ever broadcast. Objectively, it’s stupid. But it’s stupid in the best way: it’s legitmately fun. Some people will say “It’s just a bunch of dudes in underwear who fake fight each other” and that’s not exactly true... some of
them wear pants. But if you set aside any preconceived notions and allow yourself to believe in the magical aura, you’d be surprised by how much one can get caught up in the action. As I grew up with WWE though, something happened: it didn’t grow up with me. For reasons that are far too extensive to recap in an opinion’s section of a college newspaper, I’ll just paraphrase it: WWE has continued to largely dumb down it’s product over the years. As I grew up more and more, WWE’s version of pro wrestling seemingly did the closest thing to a Benjamin Button and aged in reverse. The in-ring athleticism from the competitors evolved into something incredible to watch… but everything other than that was dreadful to consume and dragged their performances down a few notches. It was childish. As a fan of the product, it just wasn’t exciting. It wasn’t even a decent way to waste time. Since the turn of the century, WWE has been the only significant big player in the industry. It’s become a global
juggernaut that has become too big to ever be stopped; the revenue from the organization’s televised (and often controversial) Saudi Arabia shows alone are more than enough to carry the company through the next decade. And despite the fact that the company is literally making insane amounts of
money despite not even trying, they’ve cut over 80 wrestlers this year alone, in the midst of a pandemic. It’s an extremely depressing time to be a WWE fan. Enter All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Created by the owners of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and overseen by
Do you believe me?
GENEVA LEE NEWS EDITOR On Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, thenState Representative Steven Roberts allegedly drugged and raped thenState Representative Cora Faith Walker (Post-Dispatch). On April 18, 2015, Steve Roberts was arrested for second-degree sodomy after thenSt. Louis University law student Amy Harms said, “no,” and he allegedly ignored her (Post-Dispatch). On Nov. 11, 2021, now-State Senator Steven Roberts had a fundraiser attended by over a dozen democratic state senators and representatives, who served on his host committee, and he has posted job offers for his U.S. Congressional Race, which he is expected to officially announce next week. Today, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, seeing all of this, I stopped working, I went into my pitch-black basement, put a blanket over my head, and stared into the dark for three hours, playing out memories and scenarios repeatedly, wishing I would fall asleep. My muscles and bones were gray clouds in descent. I know firsthand what it feels like to not have people believe that the worst thing that has ever happened to you actually happened. I am a survivor of sexual harassment and assault, and as horrific as those experiences were—seven years later, I still have nightmares—what was truly worse was the doubt. A few years after,
someone told me that my best friend had gone around and said, quote, “I think Geneva is making it all up,” and I found out she actually dated the rapist in secret behind my back. One cannot understand the devastation, its persistence, and the death I’m forced to live every day from her fracture of my love and trust. I know what it is like to have people not believe you. I know what it is like to have all of my actions and decisions questioned, to even question myself and sanity. What it is like to still think of your abusers multiple times every. single. hour. To subconsciously scan all the people in a crowd to look for Them, fearing that They’re there. To pray for the courage to die by my own hand. To crumble when they smile and find success while you choke in the consequences of their actions. To see people who know what happened decide it isn’t a dealbreaker-acceptable--and these friends of yours go on vacation, live with, and have fun with your abusers. I couldn’t even say his name for six years. Cora Faith, I know how you feel. I know the pain with which you live. I work in politics, and our circles overlap. Many of the people who were at the fundraiser last week were your colleagues and mine. They were people for whom I have volunteered literally hundreds of hours, given money, even considered my friends. Mentors I looked up to. Who gave me hope in bleak times that there were people
going to bat for me and everyone, really trying to make things better. These people came out, smiled, and clapped for an alleged rapist. I must stand with Cora and Amy because when these politicians clapped for Roberts, they clapped for my abusers, for every rapist, harasser, and their supporters, and they told victims that they don’t care about us. We victims are one: an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. We live in solidarity. Many politicians even had the audacity to call the people who believe Cora racist, while ignoring their own racist irony of calling Black women liars. This is the nature of sexual assault. Given that sex, unlike homicide or battery, can be consensual, it is incredibly difficult to prove a violation has occurred. I have heard some say that what Steve allegedly did to Cora was “just” an allegation, but every rape is “just” an allegation. They poke holes in stories, and Cora’s sexual history has been picked apart by half of Missouri at this point, her friends, colleagues, reporters, random people, me, weighing judgement she never asked for. And regardless of surrounding circumstances, consent education taught me that a person can even actively be having sex with someone, and if they decide they don’t want to do it anymore and say “stop,” and the other person keeps going, that is rape. And that applies for anyone, no matter how virginal or sex-positive a person
Tony Khan himself, the promotion has quickly become the biggest alternative and competitor to WWE since 2001. In just under three years, the promotion earned a prime-time slot on cable channel TNT, signed really big names to contracts (including some names that wrestling fans thought they’d never see on such a big stage, or ever again for that matter), and are regularly selling out venues in every city they visit. I’ve watched AEW since the beginning, and my criticisms are not extensive. They seem to be doing everything right, and that’s why I was stoked to see a show of theirs live and in person. The pandemic delayed it 17 months, but on Friday, Nov. 5, I finally got that chance. It was well worth the wait. Wrestling can be extremely fun if you just allow yourself to believe, and if the people around you do too. AEW shows, by and large, are really fun to watch on TV. Being at one live is somehow even more fun. As a fan, you feel like your patience and intelligence is not only appreciated, but rewarded. The enthusiasm coming out of this show is infectious, and I’d much rather be infected by the enthusiasm that Tony Khan has for his roster and his show than any virus. No matter how old I get, I hope this pro wrestling company continues to be this fun.
is. Even if the story is “unbelievable,” survivors are survivors, rape is rape. Yet attackers are innocent until proven guilty, and victims are guilty of lies until they can prove otherwise. But when the evidence is only our word against theirs, we will always be the ones who sin. For those that rebuke Cora and Amy: Do you believe Cora and Amy are liars, or do you think they’re telling the truth and just don’t care? The Missouri Democratic Party and the Missouri State Senate should censure State Senator Steven Roberts. Instead, the Democrats have chosen to protect Roberts and castigate and demonize a rape survivor. Rather than admit wrong, party members have doubled down and grossly defended themselves, as though supporting birth control entitles one to rub shoulders with rapists. In 2018, Republicans voted against Roy Moore after he was accused of statutory rape, electing a Democratic Senator in the heavily-red Alabama, yet the Missouri Democratic Party, the party purportedly of womxn’s rights, of civil rights, gender equality, has chosen to rally against rape victims. Roberts should have already been censured. I believe Cora Faith Walker. I believe Amy Harms. I believe Black women. I believe women, non-binary individuals, men who are victims of sexual assault, children. I believe me. Do you?
8 SPORTS
Dec. 9, 2021
The Archers in Action
A Recap of the Fall Semester While Looking Forward to Spring Archer Atheltics have had a busy fall semester with women’s soccer and men’s soccer concluding their seasons, as well as volleyball. Mens and Womens basketball is in full swing with softball and baseball set to begin their competing seasons in the spring. The men and women basketball teams play all home games at the Forest Park campus. Find a complete schedule of games online at archersathletics.com.
Womens Soccer
Womens soccer ended their season with a 10-5-1 record and the honor of Region 16 champions for the third consecutive season. Madelyn Barton was named an NJCAA 2nd Team All-American and a United Soccer Coaches Junior College D2 All-American for the fall 2021 season.
Mens Basketball As of Dec. 7, the Mens basketball team has a 5-5 record with three full months of games to go. The Archers play one remaining home game on Dec. 20, with January 2022 home games on Jan. 10, 19, 22 and 26.
Volleyball
Womens volleyball ended their season with a 11-18 record with a final loss in the Region 16 semifinal against Metropolitan Community College
Mens Soccer Men’s soccer ended their season with a 4-11-2 record with a final loss in the Region 16 semifinals against Mineral Area College.
Office of Admission 470 East Lockwood Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63119
Womens Basketball As of Dec. 7, the Womens basketball team has a 2-3 record with three full months of games to go. The Archers play at home on Dec. 12, 15 and 22 with January 2022 home games on Jan. 8, 12, 13, and 22.
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