The 2020 Back-to-School Guide

L A I T N E D I F N CO BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE Presented by the Montage Student Newspaper

P

T O N DO OPY OC T O H

2020

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

E H T E G A T N O M

Ashley Biundo Jacob Politte Jools Pulcher Bri Heaney Mary Wilson Syed Al Elijah Braswell John Hundley Remy Xa Hannah Schoenrock Shannon Philpott-Sanders

Editor-in-Chief Online Editor Art & Life Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Photo Editor Staff Writer Staff Photographer Staff Writer Graphic Design Faculty Adviser

Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessaritly the views of St. Louis Community College, the Board of Trustees or the administration.

The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122.

314-984-7655.

One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220.

Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager.

To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., call (314) 984-7955 or email ssanders147@stlcc.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 6 7 8-9 10 11 12 13 14

JOINING THE FORCE Letter from the Editor Supplies checklist Five websites for cheap textbooks Campus map Banner: an overview Blackboard: an overview Peer-to-peer Search Warrant: five best places to study Meramec’s top 5: Professors

EARNING YOUR CREDENTIALS 17 18 20-21 24-25

28-29 30-31 32 33 35 36 37

Five study tips for Meramec students Struggle no more: Meramec academic success Spend your probation wisely 10 things Meramec students should know

CLOSING THE CASE

A guide to Core 42 Search out your options when transferring Jobs you can get with an Associate’s Degree Assume the role of rookie with an Internship 7 steps to Graduation File your cover letter The perfect resume for your release from Meramec

MERAMEC’S MOST WANTED

41 42 43 44-45

46 47 48 49 50

COVID-19 shuts down all STLCC Campuses Donald Robison sentences to 75 months behind bars Student, Faculty, Staff data compromised An internal investigation: a summary motion of Meramec Sports A look back at 19-20 Sam Bush: An infusion of light and life A review of Brighton Beach Memoirs Meramec’s Most Wanted: Campus President & VP Meramec student accepts Bronze Star

Joining the Force

So you’ve made it into STLCC, the special force and it’s time to embark on your personal mission to obtain knowledge.

Right now you are operating on a need-to-know basis, so put on your darkest shades, plug in your ear piece, and make a serious face because you’re headed to the top floor.

GRAPHIC BY: HANNAH SCHOENROCK

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

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

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

5

MEMORANDUM

FROM: Jacob Politte, Deputy Director of The Meramec Montage TO: All New Meramec Students CC: Current Meramec Students; Meramec Faculty and Staff SUBJECT: 2020 Back To School Guide Welcome!

You’ve just enrolled at the elite STLCC campus, and this is your guide to help you succeed during your time here.

College is quite the experience, one that is a learning curve for some people. Many aren’t adequately prepared for the transition to college life, but your time at STLCC-Meramec will help you to grow, build your college resume and to prepare you for your exit for greener pastures.

In this guide, you’ll find information about the tools that you’ll need to succeed, the clubs on campus that you can join, and for those reading who are tenured Meramec students about to finish up their duties, information about how to effectively make your exit.

If you are new, your journey starts on the Banner-Self Service page. On Banner, you can sign up for classes (with the help of an interactive class schedule that helps you find exactly what you’re looking for), initiate a payment plan or just pay for your classes outright, and change your personal information if necessary.

Blackboard is the place where all of your online classes will be held, and where you’ll find the resources that most professors will give you for most of their classes (occasionally you will have some professors that refuse to use it) You will also have to turn in many of your assignments through Blackboard.

More information about these services can be found on pages 10 and 11.

In addition, your student email (a special extension of Outlook) is a vital tool that you’ll need to keep an eye on for important announcements from your professors, the clubs and organizations that you join, and other faucets of STLCC. The Montage hopes that this detailed, informative guide will help you immensely in your college career, and wishes you all the best.

- Jacob Politte, Deputy Director of Meramec Montage Joining the force

6

SUPPLIES CHECKLIST

You’re in the big leagues now. This is what you’ll need to survive.

Jacob Politte Online Editor

There are a lot of materials that you’ll need to be ready for college life. In order to progress further along in your college career, you’ll need several vital tools to help you achieve your goals both in and out of the classroom. Some of them are more vital than others. Some of them aren’t requirements necessarily, but will help you greatly along your journey, and some are absolutely essential.

Below you’ll find a checklist of those items, along with specific details about why you’ll need them and where you can find them.

Pencils, pens, highlighters and paper: These items are an absolute given. Some professors will type out lecture notes for you to keep, but you might need the paper to take notes in case they don’t, or if they elaborate on the topics that they discuss.

You might also need a few highlighters to make sure the most important notes stick out on the paper, so that you remember them. All of these items are accessible, and you can find them at almost any department or book store.

Binders: These will be one of the most helpful items in helping you to organize your classwork. It’s possible to fit all of your coursework in one binder (a zip-up, cloth binder is pretty durable) but if the class requires extensive amounts of note taking or classwork, you might want to have a binder for each course that you take. Bookstore employee Linda Forrest has worked at the Meramec Bookstore for almost three years, and throughout her time there, she says that generally has seen students purchase more than one binder for their courses. Like the handwriting tools listed above, you can find binders almost anywhere; many stores sell them.

Textbooks: The truth of the matter is that the textbooks that your instructors assign for your classes may not always be used all that much. The amount that they are used just depends on who your instructor is and how they conduct their class. Despite this, they are a requirement to have, and they can be expensive.

Textbooks can be rented from the Meramec Bookstore, or they can be bought outright there as well. Beware though: not every textbook can be rented. Some, like many of the math and science textbooks, have to be purchased. Last year, Forrest said that many textbooks are becoming formatted in a loose-leaf style, making them impossible to rent. This is because in many cases, the book will come with an online access code. “Once you use that access code for the semester,” she said, “it doesn’t work anymore.”

According to former Bookstore employee Peter Massarello, prices for both purchase and rentals can vary; it really just depends on the textbook, and what condition it’s in. “For bigger textbooks,” he says, “usually it’s a bigger [price] difference [as opposed to smaller textbook].” Massarello also stressed that failure to return the rented textbook will result in a $25 fee, plus the difference between buying and renting the book. If you are looking to purchase textbooks at a cheaper rate, Amazon.com is also a great place to look; they may be used, but they are much more affordable. More options for finding cheaper textbooks are included in a separate article later on in this section.

Laptop: This item isn’t necessarily a requirement to have, but it will help you immensely in your studies. Most importantly, it will save you from relying too heavily on a library computer, as those can seem like they are in limited supply on some days.

(Continued on pg. 7)

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FIVE WEBSITES FOR CHEAP TEXTBOOKS

An undercover investigation to pad your wallet

7

Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

College is stressful, and the steep price of textbooks can make students cringe. Here are the top five places you can buy or rent textbooks for a cheaper price than the campus bookstore, in no particular order.

Disclaimer: Most books can be found at more places than the STLCC Bookstore, but some books are only at the bookstore.

1 2 3 4 5

Amazon.com allows you to search, buy, sell, and rent textbooks. If you login into Amazon with your school email, you are eligible for six months of free Amazon Prime through the Amazon Student deal. That includes two day shipping on most items.

Ecampus.com would be next on the list. You are able to buy, rent, or sell your books. You are able to get free shipping if your total is over $35. Some books may be pricey, but there’s nothing wrong with free shipping.

AllBookstores.com is an all-in-one website that includes bookstores, such as Amazon, eBay, and Barnes & Noble. The website has an option to look at all of the price options side by side.

Chegg.com offers both purchasing and renting books with a 21-day satisfaction guarantee. They also offer to sell your books too. One perk of using Chegg.com: they can send you a gift when purchasing books.

Textbooks.com is an easy-to-use website that gets the textbook buying process over with as soon as possible. You can rent or purchase books up to 90% off. If you spend more than $25 you get free shipping; there’s also free shipping on books you sell books to them.

SUPPLIES CHECKLIST (CONTINUED FROM PG.6)

Flash Drive: This is an essential item to have; it helps you to keep your assignments in one place and allows you to work on those assignments in places that aren’t your personal computer. Making sure that the flash drive is properly organized too will help immensely. Flash drives can be purchased from many different places, but the Meramec Bookstore does sell Flash Drives that vary in size from 8GB to 32GB, with prices varying from $7.95 to $16.00 before tax.

Bookbag: Seriously, you’re gonna need something to carry all of this stuff in.

Carrying around all of these items in your hands will just make you look dumb.

Any sort of brand of book bag will do; the Jansport brand in particular isn’t a bad choice. Ultimately though, the brand isn’t important. It’s about what will make you feel most comfortable. Size is also a factor; you might have a lot of things to carry. Your high school bookbag probably won’t cut it. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at your local retail outlet of choice, Amazon has fantastic brands at an affordable price.

There are many more items that can help you along your journey, but these are the most essistential items that you will help you the most.

GRAPHICS BY: HANNAH SHOENROCK

Joining the force

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Visitor Parking Blueprint Map brought to you by the Montage

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BANNER: AN OVERVIEW A quick guide to STLCC’s Banner Self-Service Jacob Politte Online Editor

STLCC’s Banner Self Service, or just Banner for short, is where all of your STLCC information is stored for your convenience. On Banner, you can sign up for classes, check your grades and your transcripts, and either set up a payment plan to pay for your classes or just pay for them outright.

An complete list of what Banner is comprised of, according to the webpage, is included in the image immediately to the left.

Banner is used by both students and faculty college-wide. In particular, final grades for each semester are uploaded on Banner; you’ll have to access the site to see how you ultimately did.

Banner also has an interactive class schedule that helps you search for the classes you’re looking for. You can use this interactive feature to search for the classes by professor, campus, time period, or the type of class (online, independent study, or in-person).

You can also view your current class schedule, as well as other important information on the site, including details on your Finanical Aid status.

Banner is also useful if you are either a student employee or a professor for the college. Banner gives you ulimited access to various forms related to your employment and also your tax information, like your W-2 and W-4 forms, as well as information on your benefits.

T E R C E S P O T If you’re looking to address how to pay for your classes, Banner is your ultimate destination. On Banner, you can either set up a payment plan that is the best fit for your financial situation, or you can pay for your classes outright. An example of what part of that screen looks like can be found in the image on the lower left of this page.

Left: Here is an example of a current balance of a student in the 2020 Fall semester cost under the NBS Payment Tab on Banner.

FILE CO

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www.meramecmontage.com

BLACKBOARD: AN OVERVIEW

A quick guide to STLCC’s Blackboard website

Jacob Politte Online Editor

11

Blackboard is an important part of your college career at STLCC. It’s where the vast majority of your coursework in each class will be turned in, and if your class is held online, all of your coursework will be exclusively done on Blackboard.

Some teachers admittedly do not like to use the service, but the majority of STLCC professors and instructors do incorporate it into their course, especially following the campus closures that have taken place in response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Specific facets included on most Blackboard pages include: Syllabus and Class Schedule: Oftentimes, your professor will attach a copy of the course syllabus and the tentative schedule for the course on Blackboard.

Discussion Boards: These are especially popular in online courses. While they’re often not worth that many points, they are important to do, as often they are the only interactions you’ll have with other students involved in the course. Often, they will have specific provisions attached, like a specific minimum word count, a certain amount of students that you’ll have to reply to, and etc.

Blackboard Collaborate: This facet of Blackboard is often used for online lectures or video conferences with your professors. On occasion, it may even be used to give presentations via a webcam.

Joining the force

12

PEER-TO-PEER

There’s no one better to help you along than a Meramec student who has been there and back again.

Jacob Politte Online Editor

www.meramecmontage.com

SEARCH WARRANT: FIVE BEST PLACES TO STUDY

13

These are the best locations to hide out and get work done.

Jools Pulcher Art & Life Editor

During your time at Meramec, you will learn how to balance your time effectively between schoolwork, clubs, and your own outside life. In order to do this, you will need a few places on campus to take care of the academic part of your stay at Meramec. Find the best place to be productive for those study sessions while on the Meramec campus.

GRAPHICS BY: ASHLEY BIUNDO AND HANNAH SCHOENROCK

Joining the force

14

MERAMEC’S TOP 5: PROFESSORS These instructors are the best of the best, according to their students Jacob Politte Online Editor

One of the most fundamentally important parts of signing up for classes is choosing the professor/instructor that is the best fit for you. According to RateMyProfessors.com, these five Meramec faculty seem to go above and beyond.

English

Communications Susan Hunt-Bradford

Dr. Juliet Scherer

A COM140 student wrote, “She made it seem silly to have avoided my public speaking course until the end of completing my degree.

She was so accepting and the class environment was encouraging and stimulating!”

An ENG101 student wrote, “Dr. Scherer is amazing. She is always available outside of class and is quick in her responses.

She gives her lectures personality, and it's obvious that she cares for her students.”

Psychology

Music

Dr. Sherry Lane

Dr. Gerald Myers

A PSY205 student wrote, “This professor made my Human Growth and Development online course wonderful! I liked the way she assigned each module over a large amount of time to make it more manageable. I enjoyed writing essays and discussion boards for this class because she was interactive with us and made things interesting. If you get the chance to take Dr. Lane, do it!”

A MUS101 student wrote, “Intellectually challenging without you being stressed to an unhealthy level. I was adequately challenged, but he allowed for students to retake pop quizzes to ensure we performed well.

He cares about what grade you receive, if you understand the material, and the course load wasn’t stressful which is a must for me.”

Mathematics Nancy Molik A MATH050 student wrote, “Professor Molik was by far the best professor I have had. She is very caring about your education. I have not taken a Math class in over 10 years and I had no problem following. She taught the class like everyone was on the same page. You never felt left behind. If I had any questions during or after class, she was more than happy to help assist.”

Another student, enrolled in one of her MTH140 courses, concurred. “Best math teacher I have ever had! I struggle with math but not only does she teach it in a way that is simple and easy to understand she will meet with you outside of class and work over problems with you. Also, she will never make you feel dumb or less than for not understanding something. If you are good at math, class may move a little slow.”

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Earning Credentials You have shown great wisdom in choosing this special force and have been rewarded with the opportunity to choose what you would like to investigate. These files are here to help you make those distinctions. It is also here to help you navigate the mission of infiltrating your future career. You will work in cooperation with some of those on the top tears of knowledge, process powerful information, and uncover the inner workings of organized society. During this operation you will have the chance to join clubs, earn honors badges, receive scholarships, and ultimately a degree.

GRAPHIC BY: HANNAH SCHOENROCK

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No fees.

No book costs.

No surprises.

That’s the truth.

That’s Truition.®

Apply today for free at MyTruition.com Truition® prices are established exclusively for undergraduate and graduate students taking classes online or at one of our adult higher education venues across the nation. Other exclusive programs are in place for students taking classes during the day on campus in Columbia, Missouri.

FIVE STUDY TIPS FOR MERAMEC STUDENTS

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Mary Wilson Opinions Editor

College can be difficult and according to the American Psychological Association (APA), 28 percent of students seeking counseling report problems with their academic performance. Professors encourage students to take good notes, but taking notes is only part of academic success. Below, students will find five tips that will help them succeed.

1 2

Chew gum while studying: Sciencedaily.com cites a study from Cardiff University that revealed that chewing gum “can help you stay focused for longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring.”

Use memory tricks, like mnemonic devices: According to ldonline.org, a website with resources for learning disabilities, mnemonic instruction can be particularly effective for students with learning disabilities such as ADHD. Mnemonics involves “teaching students to link new information that is taught to information they already know.” According to parent24. com a simple example of mnemonics is “linking the letter “a” to the word “apple”.

3

Space out studying—don’t cram! As tempting as it can be to save an entire semester’s worth of chemistry instruction for one night of studying, the American Psychological Association website asserts that “spacing out study sessions over a longer period of time improves long-term memory.” In other words, it’s better to study for a little bit each night for a week, versus an all-nighter before an exam.

4 5

Put the phone away: According to The Wall Street Journal and The Princeton Review, it takes workers, on average, 25 minutes to return to “what they were working on pre-interruption.” If possible, students should put their cell phones away or silence notifications while studying.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: It’s perfectly normal to struggle a bit in classes, but students don’t need to struggle alone.

The Writing Center has professionals ready to help students at any stage of the writing process, no matter the size of the project. Students can also get help with subjects like math. The Academic Support Center, located on the 2nd floor of the library, can help “in any class,” according to the St. Louis Community College website.

Earning your credentials

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STRUGGLE NO MORE: MERAMEC’S ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER IS HERE TO HELP

Cindy Clausen answers top questions about the Academic Success Center Mary Wilson Opinions Editor

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ollege courses are known for being challenging. However, students don’t need to struggle silently through tough classes: the Meramec Academic Success Center (formerly known as The Academic Support Center) provides free tutoring to all Meramec students. Cindy Clausen, manager of The Academic Success Center, said that Meramec “offers tutoring for most subjects.” In the fall 2020 semester, “College Writing Center specialists, math tutors and success strategies tutors will be available on campus during the same hours as the library,” Clausen said.

One change from previous semesters is that tutoring will no longer be done on a drop-in basis. “We are still developing a plan for scheduling appointments, but for now students can call our ASC front desk or email tutoring@stlcc.edu,” Clausen said.

She added, “For the sake of safety, most tutoring will be online as it was this spring and summer.”

Students can get assistance for a variety of classes, for ex-

ample: “most science, humanities, social science, English and math classes. We (the Academic Success Center) have tutors for economics, foreign languages, and some information systems courses,” Clausen said via email.

Returning students might be confused by the name change.

Clausen said that the name change to the Academic Success Center is to “better reflect our mission of helping ALL students learn new strategies that lead to success.” In addition, Clausen added that “We are also rebranding the Supplemental Instruction leadership program to the Peer Assisted Learning program or PAL.” According to Clausen, PAL “targets assistance to students in classes with high failure rates by recruiting peer leaders who have done well in the course to facilitate group study sessions.”

Whether a student needs that extra boost in a tough Biology course or extra tutoring in a German class, the Academic Success Center is here to help ALL students succeed.

10 Ways To Get Through Midterms Methods To Channel The Madness

Jools Pulcher Art & Life Editor

1. Get enough sleep. It’s cliché for a reason y’all, protect your sleep.

2. Eat adequate amounts of food.

3. Stay hydrated.

4. Break up your study times into 15-20 minute sessions with 5 minute breaks in between.

5. Start studying a ways out from your actual exam, the earlier the better.

6. Be gentle with yourself. It’s the job of your exams and professors to push you, but remember to take care of yourself too.

7. Set aside time to do other things. It’s easy to stress out and want to study 24/7, but you’ll exhaust yourself to no end.

8. Spend time with your loved ones; socialization with those you are comfortable around will help break your anxiety.

9. Relax and be confident. You’ve got this.

10. Treat yourself after the exam, you deserve it after all your hard work.

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To get you where you need to go, PTK offers opportunities to help you develop and discover your personal, academic, and professional potential.

PHI THETA KAPPA - XI LAMBDA CHAPTER INTERNATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR TWO-YEAR COLLEGES Phi Theta Kappa is an international honors society for two-year colleges. It’s mission is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students, as well as to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service, and fellowship programs.

To be eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa - Xi Lambda, Meramec’s local chapter, students must have a GPA of at least 3.5, have taken 12 or more credit hours, and must be enrolled in at least one course currently at Meramec.

If you are interested, contact Chapter Advisor Professor Rich Peraud in CN 217 or go to PTK.org for more information.

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SPEND YOUR PROBATION WISELY Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

Meramec has many different agencies you can join. Here is a list of some that are offered at Meramec.

Due to COVID-19, some clubs may not be available. Visit stlcc.edu to get more information on the club and what they are doing about the fall and spring semester.

Architecture Club: Architecture Club is to show students both the practical and artistic aspects of architecture, so members can learn skills needed in their future profession.

Meetings: Fridays at 10 a.m. (as posted - not every Friday!), we meet in AS206 Faculty Advisor: Michael Lorenz,mlorenz@stlcc.edu.

BSEEC (Black Student Education Empowerment Club): BSEEC is to increase college retention, academic performance, graduation rates, and career preparedness among African American students by creating a supportive on-campus experience. In addition BSEEC aims to elevate the voice of African-American students on campus as well as promote cultural competence and serve as a leader among minority groups at Meramec.

Meetings: Student Center, 2nd Floor.

Faculty Advisor: Andrew Smith. asmith1014@stlcc.edu.

Environmental Club: ECM strives to protect our environment by uniting environmentally-minded students into a common dialog about environmental problems and what we can do to combat them. We are committed to raising awareness about environmental issues, engaging in community service projects to improve our environment, addressing sustainability issues on campus, connecting students to relevant organizations and materials, and encouraging sustainable living.

Meetings: Monday from 3-4. Science South 107.

Faculty Advisor: Matthew Bast. mbast3@stlcc.edu.

Freethinkers Club: FCM provides a welcoming, supportive community for atheists, agnostics, secularists, skeptics, rationalists, empiricists, humanists, and freethinker’s of every stripe, color, and denomination. We will explore religions by visiting places of worship throughout the St. Louis area, including, but not limited to, Bhuddist, Hindu, and Christian temples.

Meetings: Thursday from 2-3. CS120 Faculty Advisor: Shamim Ansari, sansari1@stlcc.edu Honey Bee Club: The bee club nurtures the campus honey bee hives, to promote pollination and bee survival. Inspections are conducted to assess hive health, on average every ten days from March through September. The club educates the community on the importance of planting flower, tree, and scrubs to promote bee pollination.

Meetings: First and third Monday of the month. Apiary - south of the greenhouse.

Faculty Advisor: Jim Frost. jfrost@stlcc.edu Interior Designers of Meramec: Advance the ideals of good design, foster mentoring between students and explore the bigger picture on how design affects all.

Travel to at lease one professional show.

Meetings: Mondays at noon. AS202.

Faculty Advisor: Virginia Heisler. vheisler@stlcc.edu.

www.meramecmontage.com

Get Active in Meramec Clubs

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International Club: As a club we engage in community volunteering and service works projects. It’s a fun and friendly club where you get to make new friends and meet special people. We seek to educate students about different cultures through presentations and fields trips throughout the year.

Meetings: Every other Friday, SC 201 Faculty Advisor: Scott Armstead, sarmstead@stlcc.edu Muslim Student Association: Our club holds discussion about topics related to Islam and the communities between Islam and other religions.

Meetings: Every week, Thursdays 2.pm. Sc201.

Faculty Advisor: Dirk Voss. dvoss@stlcc.edu.

Music Club: To learn different styles of music from different cultures around the world. Music Club’s purpose is to engage and encourage Music Exploration. Meetings: Every Wednesday 3-4:30. HW102.

Faculty Advisor: Gerald Myers. gmyers34@stlcc.edu.

National Technical Honor Society: NTHS honors the achievements of top Career and Technical Education students, provides scholarships to encourage the pursuit of higher education, and cultivates excellence in today’s highly competitive, skilled workforce.

Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month at 4:30 p.m. in room BA106.

Faculty Advisor: Kayla Denzik, kenzik@stlcc.edu Phi Theta Kappa: Club for honors students to work together and help make the campus a better place.

Meetings: Every other Monday at 1 p.m. CN 201.

Faculty Advisor: Rich Peraud, RPeraud@stlcc.edu Queer Student Union: The QSU provides acceptance, support, and opportunity to all LGBTQ+ students. We work to improve the community through outreach programming, volunteer work, and providing knowledge of the queer community to everyone.

Meetings: Every Thursday at 3:30-5. Sc 204.

Faculty Advisor: Joe Bryant. jbryant39@stlcc.edu.

Student Activities Council: To plan and organize events and activites for the campus as a whole.

Meetings: We meet every monday 2 pm in SC 220.

TRIO Student Leadership Board: TRIO is dedicated to grooming students to become great leaders. Through our Leadership Challenge Program, we cover five modules that cover the various aspects of leadership. We also hold several events on the Meramec campus each semester. Our events include, TRIO Tuesday, Midterm Madness, and Finals Frenzy.

Officer meetings: every other Friday 2-3.

General meetings: the second Friday of every month 2-3. SC 200.

Faculty Advisors: Sanela Mesic. smesic@stlcc.edu. Bisheng Ahmed, bahmed3@stlcc.edu Ultimate Frisbee Club: We participate in the Saint Louis Ultimate Association spring and fall leagues, and participate sanctioned events by the officiating organization of ultimate in the U.S.; USAU. Meetings: Fridays, 2:00pm. The field north of the east parking lot, or in the gym.

Earning your credentials

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Phi Theta Kappa Honor Roll school. Recognition from Phi Theta Kappa for the fourth consecutive year for our support of community college students.

Connect with us virtually to learn more! admit@webster.edu • 314-246-7800 •webster.edu/transfer

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The Montage

We know words. We have the best words.

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10 THINGS MERAMEC STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW Mary Wilson Opinions Editor

www.meramecmontage.com

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GRAPHIC BY: ASHLEY BIUNDO

Earning your credentials

Now Hiring!Secret p o T

What are we looking for?

Writers Editors Graphic Designers Photographers

The Meramec Montage Newspaper Interested?

Contact: Shannon Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu Virtual Meetings are on Tuesdays at 4pm on Zoom

e s a c e h t g n i s Clo STLCC- Meramec Case File #20192020

Investigation #20192020

The investigations are coming to a close, and your career is almost complete.

You’ve made it through all the trials and tribulations, and are so very close to coming out on the other side. You’ve put in a lot of hard work and should be proud, but your work isn’t done just yet. Now, for your final assignment, it’s time to look back at the things you’ve learned, connect all of the pieces together, and conspire with the institution to figure out your next move.

That’s right: it’s time to figure out your exit plan.

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A GUIDE TO CORE 42 Finding the Best Path of Course Selection Jacob Politte Online Editor

According to the STLCC website, “CORE 42 is the general education framework that assigns a group of lower-division core curriculum course Missouri Transfer (MOTR) numbers and guarantees transferability to all public colleges and universities in Missouri. For St. Louis Community College, students can easily identify MOTR courses in the course description.

The goal of the CORE 42 is to provide seamless transfer of credit hours to four-year institutions. Individual courses in the CORE 42 framework are guaranteed to transfer one-to-one at any public college or university in Missouri.”

Social & Behavioral Sciences 9 credit hours minimum, with at least one Civics course

The system went into effect in fall 2018, after Missouri Senate Bill 997 was signed into law by then Governor Jay Nixon. The STLCC website states, “Students who declare the General Transfer Studies Associates of Arts (GTS-AA) and the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) will automatically use this framework for completion of general education requirements.

If a student feels that they will eventually want to proceed to a four-year institution, they should work with their academic advisor to identify the best courses to take.”

While the CORE 42 only consists of 42 credit hours, the website also says that “the remaining 18 credit hours can be courses that most interests the student.

They can be higher level courses within a future major or something fun that the students wants to learn about.

Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor and future four-year institution to determine the best path of course selection.

STOP: Always Consult With an Academic Advisor Before Registering for Classes. Learn more about Academic Advising at STLCC.edu/admissions/advising/ Written & Oral Communications Mathematical Sciences 6 credit hours minimum from Written 3 credit hours minimum 3 credit hours minimum from Oral

www.meramecmontage.com

Natural Sciences 7 credit hours minimum, from at least two disciplines, including one course with a lab component

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Humanities and Fine Arts 9 credit hours minimum, from at least two disciplines There is a limit of three (3) credit hours of Performance courses that can be applied to the Humanities and Fine Arts Knowledge Area and to the total CORE 42

Closing the Case

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SEARCH OUT YOUR OPTIONS WHEN TRANSFERRING

1

MIZZOU: Columbia, MO Avg cost after aid $19K Graduation rate 69% Acceptance rate 78%

2

MSU: Springfield, MO Avg cost after aid $16K Graduation rate 52% Acceptance rate 84%

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4 5

Truman State University: Kirksville, MO Avg cost after aid $13K Graduation rate 72% Acceptance rate 67%

4 4 4 6

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5 8 1 6

Missouri S&T: Rolla, MO Avg cost after aid $14K Graduation rate 65% Acceptance rate 84% UMSL: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $10K Graduation rate 60% Acceptance rate 76%

Washington University: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $29K Graduation rate 92% Acceptance rate 16% Lindenwood University: Saint Charles, MO Avg cost after aid $18K Graduation rate 43% Acceptance rate 74% Maryville University: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $24K Graduation rate 33% Acceptance rate 92% UCM: Warrensburg, MO Avg cost after aid $14K Graduation rate 50% Acceptance rate 84% SEMO: Cape Girardeau, MO Avg cost after aid $13K Graduation rate 46% Acceptance rate 85%

l

tia Confiden

Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

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3 2

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Central Methodist University: Fayette, MO Avg cost after aid $23K Graduation rate 52% Acceptance rate 96%

4

Webster University: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $23K Graduation rate 61% Acceptance rate 54%

4

SLU: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $27K Graduation rate 71% Acceptance rate 64%

9

Westminster College: Fulton, MO Avg cost after aid $20K Graduation rate 66% Acceptance rate 90%

4

Fontbonne University: Saint Louis, MO Avg cost after aid $22: Graduation rate 59% Acceptance rate 92%

www.meramecmontage.com

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Illinois:

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SIUC: Carbondale, IL Avg cost after aid $17K Graduation rate 64% Acceptance rate 76%

Iowa:

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SIUE: Edwardsville, IL Avg cost after aid $16K Graduation rate 50% Acceptance rate 90%

12

Blackburn College, Carlinville, IL Avg cost after aid $12K Graduation rate 42% Acceptance rate 60%

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Kansas:

13 14

University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Avg cost after aid $19K Graduation rate 61% Acceptance rate 93% Ottawa University, Ottawa, KS Avg cost after aid $23K Graduation rate 48% Acceptance rate 80%

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Harding University, Searcy, AR Avg cost after aid $19K Graduation rate 64% Acceptance rate 72%

The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Avg cost after aid $15K Graduation rate 71% Acceptance rate 86% William Penn University, Oskaloosa, IA Avg cost after aid $20K Graduation rate 53% Acceptance rate 54% Central College, Pella, IA Avg cost after aid $23K Graduation rate 67% Acceptance rate 70% Tennesse:

Arkansas:

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Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR Avg cost after aid $14K Graduation rate 40% Acceptance rate 66%

21

University of Memphis, Memphis, TN Avg cost after aid $14K Graduation rate 43% Acceptance rate 85% Rhodes College, Memphis, TN Avg cost after aid $26K Graduation rate 82% Acceptance rate 51%

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR Avg cost after aid $16K Graduation rate 62% Acceptance rate 66%

20 18 19

12 11 10

13 14

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17 21 15

Closing the Case

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JOBS YOU CAN GET WITH AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE Put on the Badge and Launch the Investigation Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

Now that you have finished your training, it is time to go out into the world and show what you have learned. Here are some jobs that you can acquire with an Associate’s Degree according to www.thebestschools.org. Visit their website to find the right career for you with your associate’s degree.

Architectural Technician transforms an architect’s designs into a project through development and draw ups of construction designs.

Degree: Architectural Technology Average Salary: $48,990 Avionics Technician specialize in avionic systems that include communication, navigations, flight control, and life-support for aircraft.

Degree: Aviation Maintenance Technology Average Salary: $47,537 Chef position requires long hours and working holidays. But has its rewards for the chefs that love constant innovation, creativity, and seeing people smile everyday.

Degree: Culinary Arts Average Salary: $41,538 Chemical Technician helps out chemists and chemical engineers in development, tests, and production of chemicals.

Degree: Chemical Technology Average Salary: $44,856 Civil Engineering Technician helps out with civil engineers in planning and creating structures from buildings to bridges.

Degree: Civil Engineering Technology Average Salary: $51,398 Computer Forensics Specialist reviews evidence from a crime scene, develops an hypothesis and tells the investigators or the courts.

Degree: Computer Forensics Average Salary:$70,035 Dental Hygienists help clean teeth, talk about oral care, and find signs of diseases in the mouth.

Degree: Dental Hygienist Average Salary:$54,243 Dietetic Technician teaches people about eating healthy and how it can increase quality of life.

Degree: Dietetic Technician Average Salary:$37,302

Electrical Engineering Technicians help out electrical engineers with installing, testing, and monitoring electric.

Degree: Electrical Engineering Technology Average salary: $56,000 Fitness Instructors help people get into fitness and how to stay healthy through exercise.

Degree: Exercise Science or Kinesiology or in Physical Education Average Salary: $36,079 Forest Technicians work to save and improve forestland.

Forest Technician Education:Associate in Forestry Technology degree Average Forest Technician Salary:$34,910 MRI Technologist guides patients along through the process of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, controlling the machine, and recording the results for a physician to analyze and interpret.

Degree: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Average Salary: $63,305 Mechanical Engineering Technicians work with mechanical engineers to design and build devices.

Degree: Mechanical Engineering Technology Average Salary: $51,154 Ophthalmology Technician collects relevant medical history, answers questions, or performs an initial eye exam at an ophthalmologist’s office.

Degree: Ophthalmology Technician Average Salary: $40,813 Paralegal assists lawyers in general filing and organization to legal research and writing documents.

Degree: Paralegal Studies Average Salary: $46,467

www.meramecmontage.com

ASSUME THE ROLE OF ROOKIE WITH AN INTERNSHIP STLCC Internship Coordinators Offer Advice to Advance in the Ranks

33

Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

students schedules and find the right time and Internships are a great way to gain explace for them to work. “The student keeps a perience while still in school. Looking for log of duties, hours worked, etc. They have an internship for Mass Communication to work at least 150 hours for the internor Communication? Susan Hunt-Bradship. Typically businesses will work with the ford is the internship coordinator to get students’ schedule and work around their free in contact with. (If you are looking for a time,” Hunt-Bradford said. business internship or Art internship, you When a student has completed the internwill have to contact the coordinators in ship, Hunt-Bradford contacts their supervisor the field.) “Basically for an internship for and they fill out a form and give the student Communications or Mass Communicaa grade of how they did. “At the end of the tions, mostly mass communication, stuinternship I contact the internship supervisor dents can contact me with their interest at the business and they fill out a form and the in doing an internship. They will receive GRAPHIC BY: ASHLEY BIUNDO student gets their grade from the recommen3 credit hours, [these] mainly can be used dation of the supervisor,” she said. “I also have them turn in a as elective credit,” she said. “They pay for it just like a class. signed (by the supervisor) copy of the log of hours. I also have It’s listed on the interactive schedule as workplace learning.” the students write a page on what they liked and/or disliked Students are able to do two different internships and get about the internship, what they learned, etc.” credit, but they both may not transfer to a college as electives, Already have a degree? Hunt-Bradford also helps with Hunt-Bradford said. Check in with the college you plan on internships for students who already have a degree. “I somegoing to after Meramec. times have students who have already earned their bachelor’s Hunt-Bradford gives students resources, like www.indeed. degree seek an internship for the experience so I am able to do com, to help with the career they want to go into. She also that also. They still have to pay for it like a class but it is worth looks for internships and finds the one that most suits that it to get the hands on experience most internships provide,” student. “I have some media connections depending on what she said. they are looking for,” she said.

Internships are flexible, meaning they will work around

JOBS WITH DEGREE CONTINUED...

Petroleum Technicians helping out with monitoring current resources also help search for new resources.

Degree: in Petroleum Technology Average Salary: $61,311

Special Education Assistants work with special needs children in schoolwork and daily life skills.

Degree: Special Needs Educational Assistant Average Salary: $20,624

Preschool Teacher teaches kids, ages three to five with reading, writing, and mainly all school subjects.

Degree: Early Childhood Education Average Salary: $29,971

Veterinary Technicians assist veterinarians perform medical tests and diagnose injuries or illnesses to animals.

Degree in Veterinary Technology Average Salary: $30,887

Radiation Therapist gives radiation treatments to cancer patients with trying to eliminate cancerous tumors.

Degree: Radiation Therapy Average Salary: $69,081

Wildlife Technicians work with professionals in preserving land and environment for the native wildlife in that area.

Degree: Wildlife Biology or Wildlife Technology or Wildlife Management Average Salary: $44,500

Registered Nurses care and help out anyone who needs it.

Degree in Nursing Average Salary: $62,531

Closing the Case

90 M O RE T H A N

D EG RE E P RO G R A M S

DEGREES with HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE REAL EXPERIENCE. REAL SUCCESS.

LINDENWOOD.EDU

7 STEPS TO GRADUATION The Ultimate Meramec Checklist

35

Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

4

To complete your assignment, you will have to go through a checklist for completion. Here is what is required for an Associate Degree at Meramec.

A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher.

Credits from previously-attended colleges are not computed in the average.

52019 Students entering college for the very first time in fall and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must

1seeking Status as a degreestudent.

2

Satisfactory completion of one of the programs listed in the STLCC catalog.

3hoursCompletion of a minimum of 60 credit hours. Fifteen credit of transferable credit applicable to the declared associate degree intended for graduation must be completed at St. Louis Community College.

Note: A maximum of nine credit hours in special problems courses may apply as unspecified electives toward the associate degree. Special Problems courses may not be applied as electives defined by disciplines such as “science-mathematics elective” or “humanities-communications elective.”

successfully complete a civics examination. Students who have completed dual credit courses must complete this examination.

Students who participated in Early College or other dual enrollment programs, transfer students, and previously enrolled students are exempt from this requirement.

6 College policy requires students who apply for a degree to participate in an appropriate outcomes assessment prior to degree being awarded.

7required Missouri Requirement: One of the following courses is to meet the Missouri Civics requirement (see below).

Closing the Case

36

FILE YOUR COVER LETTER Keeping Your Record Clean Mary Wilson Opinions Editor

A key part of planning your future away from Meramec is preparing for employment or transfer to a fouryear college or university. STLCC-Meramec offers you the resources you need. The Career and Employment Services office is here to help.

In the classroom, STLCC students have access to academic support and personal support services.

However, once it’s time for your release, count on Career Development to guide you along the right path to ensure success in your chosen field.

The STLCC-Meramec Career Development Office assists with: • Major and Career Selection • Resume and Cover Letter Creation • Job Searches • Professional Development • Interview Development Begin your journey today by contacting a Career Specialit. Log onto https://stlcc.edu/student-support/ career-development/ for more inforomation.

Samantha Smith Fakeemail@email.com (314) 567-8910 St. Louis, Missouri Skype: Sam.Smith To: Rebecca Blank General Manager We’ll Solve It...Inc. 135 Stealth Avenue St. Louis, MO, 63122 June 22nd, 2020 Dear Ms. Blank, I am a recent graduate of the world renowned Sullivan Spy School seeking full time employment in the spy industry. I came across your job listing on Indeed. I am confident that I am the best person for this job. Working for We’ll Solve It...Inc would be an honor and a privilege. I cannot think of a better place to start my career.

My experiences as a waitress and doggy daycare attendant have helped me cultivate my abilities to remain calm in stressful situations, think critically and approach various situations from a unique angle.

In addition to the skills I have mentioned, I excel in Microsoft Office, type 60 words per minute and am fluent in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.

Please review my application and resume (attached). I am happy to elaborate on or answer any questions you may have.

Thank you in advance for your careful consideration.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you, Samantha Smith

www.meramecmontage.com

THE PERFECT RESUME FOR YOUR RELEASE FROM MERAMEC Mary Wilson Opinions Editor

Samantha Smith Accomplished recent graduate looking for full-time employment in the spy industry.

123 Secret Ave St. Louis, MO, 63122, (314) 567-8910 fakeemail@email.com

SKILLS

EXPERIENCE

Dog Days Doggy Daycare, ​St. Louis, MO — ​Doggy Daycare Room Attendant December 2018 - Present

Duties included ensuring safety of all dogs, cleaning up messes as needed

Dedicated, hard-working problem solver.

Enthusiastic team player.

and making sure the dogs had fun.

The Best Restaurant, ​St. Louis, MO — ​Waitress January 2015 - November 2018

As a waitress at The Best Restaurant, I learned customer service skills and how to manage multiple urgent situations at once.

EDUCATION

Sullivan Spy School, ​St. Louis, MO — ​Spy Certificate January 2018 - May 2020

I received a certificate from the world-renowned Sullivan Spy School.

St. Louis Community College, ​St. Louis, MO — ​Associate’s degree August 2015 - December 2017

I received an Associate’s degree from St. Louis Community College to meet the requirements for admission to Sullivan Spy School.

Closing the Case

LANGUAGES I am fluent in English, German and Mandarin.

37

Now Hiring!

Hiring pros: Source Sans Pros. Hiring someone new: Courier New. Hiring someone bold: Century Gothic Bold.

If you know how to write right (and you know what was wrong with that statement), come edit for us.

m We can picture you working for us as a photographer.

We are very font of the idea of you designing for us.

If you laughed at this ad, you should probably already be working for us.

The Montage

interestedininaaposition positionwith withThe TheMontage, Montage, IfIfinterested please contact please contact Shannon Shannon Philpott-Sanders Philpott-Sanders at atssanders147@stlcc.edu sphilpott@stlcc.edu.

Meramec’s Most Wanted

This past year was filled with important, historical and controversial events: the Archers shined in sports, the balance of power at Meramec shifted, and crimes such as a cyber attack and the fallout of a former employee’s embezzlement scheme left STLCC reeling.

But the biggest story of the year came this past March, when the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shook the world at large like never before, and forced all STLCC classes online through the end of the spring semester. Going forward, at least in the immediate future, COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on STLCC, as many classes will be held online through the end of the fall semester. Despite this, STLCC-Meramec continues to persevere.

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COVID-19 SHUTS DOWN ALL STLCC CAMPUSES

Remainder of Spring and Full Summer Sessions forced to move online in March Jacob Politte Online Editor

In mid-March, the world changed.

The newest strain of the Coronavirus, codenamed COVID-19, quickly spread across the globe, and one of the global consequences was that all educational institutions were moved to an online format for their courses for an indeterminate amount of time.

STLCC did not act as quickly as other colleges in the St. Louis area to make the move; Chancellor Jeff Pittman even sent out an email to students, faculty and staff on March 12 that said that classes for the following weeks were then scheduled to proceed as normal. This quickly changed the following day, when STLCC announced a one-week extension to Spring Break, and formally moved all classes to an online format on Blackboard.

STLCC also made the decision to indefinitely close all outdoor athletic facilities to the public effective April 1, 2020.

STLCC also disclosed, in accordance with the Cleary Act, that at least three students tested positive for the virus. One of those

41

Confid

ential

students was present on the Meramec campus on March 12, one of the last days that the campus was accessible to students.

While it was initially unclear when on-campus classes would return, in mid-April it was confirmed that on-campus classes would not return for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.

It was announced in July that the majority of classes would be held online throughout the fall 2020 semester as well.

Pittman also announced on June 1 that several high-ranking members of STLCC leadership, including himself, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Andrew Langrehr, and Meramec President and Chief Academic Officer Feleccia Moore-Davis will be taking one day of furlough a month through the end of the year, starting in July.

These furlough days will help offset impending budget challenges. Other ways that Pittman listed to offset those challenges include freezing a high number of vacant positions, reducing travel and professional development, and reducing operational costs.

A lone, unidentified woman is the only person in sight at the empty Meramec campus on Tuesday, March 31. All buildings on campus have been closed to the public in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTO BY SYED ALI

Meramec’s Most Wanted

42

DONALD ROBISON SENTENCED TO 75 MONTHS BEHIND BARS The former longtime STLCC employee embezzled millions of dollars over the course of two decades.

FILE COPY

Jacob Politte Online Editor

most wante d

I

n December 2019, former STLCC employee Donald Robison was sentenced to 75 months in prison for crimes that included several counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Court documents state that over a 20 year period (from August 1998 to November 2018), Robison embezzled funds from STLCC; a previous Montage article from April 2019 reported that the college originally believed that the embezzlement had only been occurring for a decade.

Back in April 2019, STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman said that school administrators were working to discover how and why funds were being diverted away by Robison to a fictitious company, owned by Robison. Questions regarding how the funds were managed solely by Robison also surfaced during the investigation. According to Pittman, STLCC had previously established an arrangement with Missouri’s Department of Economic Development where the college authorized, administered and dispersed money from the state fund at a 15 percent fee. Robison had the exclusive privilege within the St. Louis metro area to do so while the college also had its own career development program that the funds could be allocated to without incurring a fee; Robison was the manager of this program.

STLCC first became aware of Robison’s crimes in April 2019, at which point they filed a civil suit against him. From that point on, the college fully cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI while launching an internal investigation against Robison. These efforts lead to Robison pleading guilty for the crimes in August, and forfeiting $11 million.

DONALD ROBISON

FBI Special Agent Richard Quinn told KMOV, “we should never forget that for 20 years, Don Robison abused his position of trust to deny Missouri workers and taxpayers’ money intended for them.”

The exact amount that Robison embezzled is still unknown. He had been an STLCC employee for 27 years.

www.meramecmontage.com

STUDENT, FACULTY, STAFF DATA COMPROMISED IN STLCC CYBER ATTACK

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Social Security Numbers for 71 Individuals Accessed Bri Heaney News Editor

On Feb, 4, 2020, STLCC announced in a press release that a cyber security attack occurred in January. Approximately 5,127 students, faculty and staff were affected by the breach. Nearly 71 social security numbers were compromised during the cyber attack.

“I don’t know how they discovered it, but I do know they discovered it Jan. 13, and after that they took some actions such as collecting and analyzing the information, the different systems to analyze who was impacted, “ said Nev Savala, STLCC communications manager.

The cyber security attack was the result of what Savala calls a phishing email. “A phishing email is a suspicious email; you might know that there is something not right about it but sometimes these emails look really good or look like they may be from an organization that you are familiar with,” she said.

Although some emails are more clearly fake, some emails, like the ones sent to staff and faculty at STLCC were more credible looking, she said.

Savala said there are red flags in some phishing scams that individuals can look for like misspellings, unusual URL addresses, or sourced from an organization that is not familiar. However, there are some phishing emails

TOP SECRET

that are more intricate and targeted to look like a familiar legitimate organization.

“Sometimes these emails look really good or look like they may be from an organization that you are familiar with,” said Savala. “In this case, an email was opened and that led to these cyber criminals being able to get access to the information that was in email inboxes.”

When the emails were opened and responded to, Savala said sensitive information was breached.

After learning about the attack and during the investigation, Savala said she was not aware of any servers or websites being temporarily shut down.

Savala said STLCC has notified all students whose information was compromised and has offered credit monitoring to the 71 individuals whose social security numbers were accessed. s for prevention, Savala said that all staff will be retrained.

“There is going to be retraining for all employees on how to handle sensitive information, and further training for employees who opened the phishing emails,” she said.

The cyber criminals who forged the attack are still unknown. Savala said that the college is still looking into it.

Meramec’s Most Wanted

44

AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION: A SUMMARY MOTION OF MERAMEC SPORTS Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

Name: Women’s Basketball

Record: 14-14 Coach: Jacob Yorg, New Head Coach More Information: Yorg said, “I think our strength was our ability to win. When we played our style and we played what’s in ourselves, we [were] a really good team.”

TOP SECRET

Women’s Bask etb

all (Kyla Richa

rdson)

Name: Men’s Basketball

Record: 14-17 Coach: Terry Collins More Information: Collins said, “I would say that every day, we [tried] to teach people how to be successful. And success is peace of mind and knowing that you did the best to become the best you’re capable of becoming. If you do that, you can’t worry about the scoreboard. But success is not based on the score, but it’s based on ‘do we achieve our potential as individuals and as a team?’”

all

Men’s Basketb

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Name: Women’s Soccer

Record: 14-5 Coach: Jason Howard More Information: Claimed the Region XVI Title against Metropolitan Community College 3-0. “Their personalities [were] great to be around every day. So it’s great to know the new faces and meet new people. Just to see the kids grow throughout the season, and then when they’re done playing for us and coming back, that [was] a pretty rewarding experience,” said Howard.

Women’s Socce r

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(Brea Griffone

tti)

Name: Women’s Volleyball

Record: 21-15 Coach: Geoffrey Davis More Information: Davis said,”No matter what they want to accomplish, hard work helped them get there and helped them reach their goals. The stuff that they [have learned] in here, getting up at 5 am and being in the gym bright and early, working their butts off for a team that they care for.”

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Volleyball

Name: Men’s Soccer

Record: 12-8 Coach: Martin Clayes, Former Head Coach More Information: Won against Crowder College 5-4 in penalty shots collecting the Region XVI Title Fall 2019. “We [took] it one game at a time.

I think we have been good in previous seasons and that can put a lot of pressure on the guys. But we just can’t look too far ahead and take the next opponent seriously,” said former Head Coach, Martin Clayes. k Leeming)

Men’s Soccer (Jac

Due to COVID-19 Virus, Baseball and Softball had to cut their seasons short.

Name: Baseball

Record: 9-7 Coach: Scott Goodrich More Information: In the fall 2019 semester, they played one of their pre-season games at Busch Stadium. Goodrich said, “The most rewarding thing is looking at people and players that never played here before. And it’s kind of like they’re very wide eyed. But also seeing the players that never played here and hear their parents cheer for them and hear them when their names are announced. That’s the coolest part about this whole deal.”

Baseball

Name: Softball

Record: 7-1 Coach: Kristi Swiderski More Information: Swiderski said, “A solid defense and speed is what the Archers had this season. Girls that [could] get on base and then hitting was always a strength for us. We [had] some home run hitters and little ones that [were able to] run around the bases.”

Photos by: Ashley Biundo, John Hundley

Softball

Meramec’s Most Wanted

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A LOOK BACK AT 19-20

VETERAN’S DAY 2019

Left: English Professor Michael Burke raises the American Flag on Nov. 11, 2019.

Middle: Petty Officer Chatterton salutes the flag on Veteran’s Day. Right: Officer Ed Ucinski raises the Missouri Flag

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T E R C SE

LNAP: LONG NIGHT AGAINST PROCRASTINATION

HUMAN’S OF MERAMEC

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SAM BUSH: AN INFUSION OF LIGHT AND LIFE

Grammy-Award winning mandolinist inspires Meramec community as part of Music Department Showcase Bri Heaney News Editor

Under lavender lights, surrounded by a full orchestra and choir, with a mandolin in his hand, Sam Bush stood front and center in the Meramec Theatre on Oct 8, 2019. There was a full audience: a young family with their six-year old daughter; a Washington University student studying jazz; a couple in their 60’s from Arkansas. These are just some of the attendees sitting in the third row.

The orchestrator was tall with black hair floating around him as he moved to the beat he was directing, all eyes on both the student and professional band focused on him. Sam Bush was in front of him, closing his eyes in concentration singing the lyrics to his song “Circles Around Me”, “hand on my shoulder, just a little bit older.”

Sam Bush is seemingly as provoked by the mandolin as much as it is provoked by him.

Prior to his visit to Meramec Theatre, before he contributed to the reinvention of bluegrass, before his invitation to move out to Louisville, Kentucky to play five nights a week, a young Sam Bush sat under a shade tree with a rifle in his hand and a radio to his side.

“All my life [it’s the] Cardinals. Growing up in Bowling Green, I could get KMOX on my transistor radio,” said Bush.

Since the era of Jack Buck broadcasting the games of Stan Musial and Bob Gibson, Bush has been a fan of the Cardinals and watcher of baseball. As a kid, Bush said he loved to play baseball.

“We lived in the country and so my parents would have to take us everywhere. Really I was trying to play baseball and play music. My dad just finally said ‘we ain’t got time for you to play both,” said Bush. “‘You need to pick baseball or music. And he said “I know which one you should pick, but you make the choice.”

Bush chose music.

“My dad said, ‘right choice,’” said Bush, as he and the crowd laughed.

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Bush was ultimately crowned the acclaimed Kind of Telluride Music Festival. He is credited with being the founder of New Grass and is responsible for the incorporation of different styles and textures into the previously regimented genre of conventional bluegrass. Jazz, Reggae, Rock and Blues have been integrated and fused together through Bush’s musical endeavors.

Since the release of his first album in 1977, “Together Again For The First Time” he has released a total of ten albums. Bush says to never be afraid to try new things and to always do things for the purpose of bettering yourself.

“Gary [Gackstatter] approached me and said ‘I’d like to write some charts for the music you play.’ And that’s always an interesting concept, cause us as non classical musicians, I don’t think we can imagine what it’s going to sound like; I couldn’t imagine what it was going to sound like,” said Bush.

It’s these opportunities to do something different, that Bush said are the reasons that a good musician continues to play.

“Don’t forget about why you started playing music, and that’s because you love the sound and you can’t help but play. It’s not always a rewarding situation but just remember but you’re doing it, so you can improve as a player and singer. That’s your goal–to improve,” said Bush.

Blue and red lights move from the lighting track to mix as they fall on the shoulders of Sam Bush, soaked in violet light as he plays “Transcendental Meditation Blues.”

The orchestra is moving together, the crowd is taping and swaying, Bush standing curled over his mandolin, singing into the microphone.

“The energy produced, he’s a conduit man, the energy coming off the audience goes into him, then into the musicians, it’s this vortex going,” said Gary Gackstatter, professor of music at STLCC-Meramec, “He’s a quiet presence, just this happy go lucky guy, don’t let it fool you, there is some big energy, very big energy.”

FESTIVIAL OF NATIONS

PHOTOS BY: SYED ALI AND ASHLEY BIUNDO

Meramec’s Most Wanted

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A REVIEW OF BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS: LATE 1930S BROOKLYN MAKES ITS WAY TO THE MERAMEC STORY

Jools Pulcher Art & Life Editor the audiave you ever wondered what it may have been like to ence can’t live in a typical, Great Depression era Polish-Jewish believe me Brooklyn family? Then “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” if I can’t the production that graced Meramec’s stage from Oct. 2-6, 2019, was the play for you. “Brighton Beach Memoirs” believe was one of the several plays performed by the Meramec Theater myself.

I had to department. believe I What starts off as a seemingly mundane play about family was this like during the Great Depression, quickly became a production 40-year which captures attention with heavy dialogue and surprisingly old, relatable issues faced by the characters within. male, The most interesting part of this play was the endless amounts of layers that seem to take place within one household. Jewish, head of the family archetype. This was one of the first Throughout the play, the large, well put-together stage manroles I started to feel confident in. I had to allow myself to lean aged to give the viewer both endless things to pay attention to into it and do the role justice.” while simultaneously softly directing the audience’s attention Overall, this production really managed to utilize all of its back to whichever family dilemma was currently being sorted various resources both on and off stage to really pull in viewers through in the household.

The layers didn’t stop here either, the production also manag- and hold their attention for the duration of the production’s runtime. After about five minutes of dialogue, the play really es to showcase an astounding array of emotions and characterfelt like it stopped being a production on stage, and it really istics of the characters. Actors who we as students may recogbecame more of an involved experience that audience members nize if we saw them in the halls of our school faded into their have been tied into, instead of just being viewers. Brighton characters incredibly well.

Beach really managed to imprint itself in the memory of its Evan Turek, who played Uncle Jack in Brighton Beach Memviewers. oirs, said, “I think the biggest challenge was remembering that

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KENNEDY CENTER AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

This is the third year STLCC Meramec’s theatre club has attended the KCACTF Region5 theatre competition. Though this year, the stage crew show down participants were on their own, when it came to practicing and learning the ropes of each part of the Stage Crew Show Down. There were 19 student representives. Four students and their partners competed against 333 other actors in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Evan Turek and Vicky Chen avanced to the semi-final round of 66 actors. Student Kyra Pearson won the best partner award. The Technicians Enhancing the Arts Tech Crew Showdown team won first place against 16 other teams.

Photos by: Jessica Koenig

www.meramecmontage.com

MERAMEC’S MOST WANTED: CAMPUS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT TOP SE

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CRET

Jools Pulcher Art & Life Editor

Name: Dr. Feleccia Moore-Davis Job Title: Campus President Start Time: August 1, 2019 Past Life: previously served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Tallahassee Community College in Florida, replaced former campus president Dr. Carol Lupardus when she transferred to the Wildwood Campus in July of 2019. Dr. Moore-Davis began her own educational journey as a first generation student in New Orleans, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

From there, she moved to Texas A&M where she earned her master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology, before she moved once more to Regent University in Virginia where she obtained her doctorate in organizational leadership.

Goals for Meramec: Dr. Moore-Davis said that her main goals for the academic year were to listen to students and staff and to determine any opportunities the college might be missing for faculty, staff and students. She also said she plans to look at what possibilities might be getting missed institution-wide.

“I’m going to dive into the data and see how our students are doing,” Dr. Moore-Davis said. “I’m going to see what their challenges are and where there are opportunities for students. I am also going to have a president’s Twitter page so that students can ask me questions they have anytime without having to wait.”

Dr. Feleccia Moore-Davis, Camp

us President

Name: Dr. Keith Robinder Job Title: Vice President of Student Affairs Start Time: August 2019 Past Life: Dr. Robinder, who recently moved to St. Louis, comes from his most recent position as associate dean of students at Iowa State University.

He also served as the interim dean of students for two years. Dr. Robinder has two children. He has a daughter who began attending college last fall, and he also has a son who is a sophomore in high school. Dr. Robinder says his partner, Wendy, works with the TRIO programs.

Goals for Meramec: With a position like the Vice President of Student Affairs, he said he has goals to achieve. “My goals are to learn the campus, meet a lot of people, get to know the systems in place here and build relationships.

Nothing I do here is alone, so there are always a lot of partnerships and a lot of collaboration.”

ent

Dr. Keith Robinder, Vice Presid

Challenges: According to Dr. Robinder, the only challenge he anticipated is dealing with the unexpected. “With my job, it’s hard to predict what every day will bring, so you have to be willing to change direction and go where the day takes you.”

Meramec’s Most Wanted

Photos by: Syed Ali

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MERAMEC STUDENT ACCEPTS BRONZE STAR FOR GRANDFATHER, POW IN WORLD WAR II

A review of military records revealed the honor was never awarded Ashley Biundo Editor-in-Chief

On Nov. 11, 2019 at Rockwood Summit High School, Edward Ucinski IV, a dual-enrolled student at STLCC-Meramec, received the Bronze Star for his great-grandfather, Edward Ucinski Sr. who was a prisoner of war (POW) in World War II. Ucinski Sr. was unaware of this award when he was alive.

“General Marshal, who was a four-star general, made it where everyone who had a combat action badge or combat medic badge got the award,” said Ucinski III, a police officer at STLCC-Meramec. “Well, we didn’t know he had it until just last year. So anyway, it’s tradition that the next of kin gets the award if the person is deceased, but I waived that so my son could get it in my place.”

According to the American Legion, “[Ucinski Sr] was born in St. Louis in 1914 to parents who emigrated from Europe, Edward Sr. was a first-generation American. After being drafted in 1943, he served with the U.S. Army 9th Infantry Division, Company K, 39th Infantry Regiment as a BAR gunner and deployed for war.”

“After landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy,” they continued, “Edward Sr. fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was captured. He was transported by train to the POW camp Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany, where he was used as a laborer in areas damaged by airstrikes. Edward Sr. was liberated on Easter Sunday in 1945, and joined The American Legion a few years later, eventually resulting in three generations of Legionnaires.”

Twenty-two years after his death, Meramec Student Edward Ucinski IV and his father Edward Ucinski III, discovered that he won the award while they were checking out his mili-

tary records.

“He was donating his uniform to the POW museum at Jefferson Barracks when they sent him a brief summary of his records,” Ucinski IV said. “They did say that also he was awarded the Bronze Star.”

Rockwood Summit High hosts a celebration for Veteran’s Day every year, according to Ucinski IV. “We were in the theatre and he presented us with the award,” he said. “It was the official ceremony to present families with the award.

When we were on stage, he gave us a brief history of the award and then talked about my grandfather’s service.”

Ucinski III said that he is happy his grandfather was honored with the award. “I think it’s really nice that somebody awarded it to him. He was looked over in the award process like tens of thousands of other Americans,” he said.

“I just think it was really; I don’t want to say wonderful, but I think it was really great.”

Ucinski III said that his grandfather would have never cared about the award. “[My grandfather] wanted to put it all behind him; he didn’t talk about it all. He didn’t want to have anything more to do with it,” he said. “[Although] he did make an exception. When I was back in high school, he agreed to talk about it for a project and then never talked about it again.”

After Ucinski Sr. died, Ucinski talked to his neighbor about how he lived after the war, according to Ucinski III. “I talked to his neighbor how he lived for the next 40 years and in all those years they said that maybe he made reference to it four times and that’s only because somebody else brought it up,” he said.

PHOTOS: MILITARY GENERATIONS PROVIDED BY ED UCISKI III. BRONZE STAR AWARD PROVIDED BY HTTPS://WWW.LEGION. ORG/

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Contact Shannon Philpott-Sanders at ssanders147@stlcc.edu.