Bts2016 by The Montage

M THE MONTAGE

Katie Hayes Dalila Kahvedzic Jason Waters Sam Roy Jordan Morris Marissa Diercks Ashley Biundo Andrew Ameer Christian Hargas Caroline Frank Katie Leicht Alyssa Marsala Marie Schwarz Ian Schrauth Redwan Saeed James Claiborne Evan Carlen Lexie Keller Shannon Philpott

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Production Manager Emeritus Asst. News Editor Graphics Editor Graphics Editor Emeritus Photo Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Emeritus Art & Life Editor Art & Life Editor Emeritus In-Depth Editor Multimedia Editor Online Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Faculty Adviser

Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessarily the views of St. Louis Community College, the board of trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. (314) 984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., (314)984-7955.

Proud member of

Table of

CONTENTS

Letter From the Editor | Page 5

The Clueless Student

Advance to Class, Collect Credits Roll Through Kirkwood for Lunch | Page 18 Online vs. In Person: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Choice? | Page 19 Students Pass Go and Travel the Globe| Pages 20-21 Students Receive Free Tax Assistance | Page 23 A Passion for Politics | Page 24 New Students Kickstart College | Page 25 LGBT Club Came Out Last Fall | Page 26

The Road to Life

Sweet Memories

FRONT COVER GRAPHIC BY: JASON WATERS | BACK COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: ASHLEY BIUNDO

Illustration by: Jordan Morris

The start of college may cause plenty of confusion for the typical student â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making them clueless. Luckily, the Meramec campus provides tools such as textbooks, planners and student IDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to lead them to figure out the

mystery of Meramec. Not only does the campus provide tools for students, but it has resources available to assist them in their investigation of Meramec. Students are given a confidential package with the essential tools to uncover the

secrecy. This section will help the student be anything but clueless and provide assistance in order to figure out the mystery of roaming through STLCC. Many students left high school in an oblivious state of mind, entering a

world of responsibility and commitment. This need not be the case. We have all the clues to help students succeed, while investigating Meramec. Turn the page for resources, locations and activities to expand your mind and change your life. THE CLUELESS STUDENT 3

Letter from the editor Katie Hayes | Editor-in-Chief Welcome to The Montage S t u d e n t Newspaper’s Back to School Guide — our annual summer magazine with everything you need to know to thrive at Meramec and take your next steps. The purpose of this guide is to provide you with the information necessary to succeed during your collegiate career, both as an incoming and outgoing student. We explain the basics of getting started, explore possible ways to develop yourself intellectually, socially and financially as well as the steps of moving toward your next academic or professional goal. Our final section reviews the memories of the 2015-16 school year to reflect on all that we, as a community, accomplished. As the incoming Editor-inChief, my goal is to provide

students with unbiased information to develop their own informed opinions on Meramecrelated issues and events as well as insight into the lives of Meramec community members. St. Louis has experienced an abundance of turbulence in recent years. As a community college, we are a major piece of the St. Louis community. Student voices matter. Not only are we the voice of The Montage, but all members of our community. As The Montage Student Newspaper, our pledge to you is to not only inform, investigate and educate, but listen to your voices, your stories and your opinions. We represent you and, in doing this, we will remain informed, honest and — as always — unbiased. As we transitioned from last year’s Montage editorial staff to the 2016-17 crew, new editors

learned from former ones. Summer 2016 was when the new editorial staff learned to work as a team. Between production days which lasted up to five hours and exploring the Meramec River, the Montage staff came together as a team. I’m so proud of everyone who participated in creating the magazine. I hope you enjoy the Back to School Guide as much as we enjoyed creating it.

The Montage editors hard at “work” on the summer magazine. While shooting the back cover, we built a throne of last year’s newspapers. (Left) Photo Editor Ashley Biundo shooting the back cover of the Back to School Guide, while Staff Writer Evan Carlen poses as Mr. Monopoly Man. (Above) Montage staff members patiently awaiting the weekly meeting to discuss magazine content. (Right) Editors pose with the newspaper throne while celebrating the end of finals.

THE CLUELESS STUDENT 5

Solve the mystery of STLCC.edu Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus While getting familiar with the STLCC website, students need to learn how to navigate to their potential success. New students at STLCC can get familiar with understanding how to use the website. This will be the foundation to an individual’s overall success and collegiate experience at Meramec. The STLCC website consists of different content and materials to engage students in further advancing through the college experience. The STLCC website experience begins with creating a MySTLCC acccount. With this account activated, students will have access to the following content and materials needed during each semester. Once the semester has begun, students will use Blackboard as their primary source. Blackboard allows students to check their updated grades, receive information and announcements from professors and turn in essays electronically. Students will be able to interact with their professors and other students through blogs, discussion boards and comment threads. Banner allows the student to get “plugged in” to St. Louis Community College. Students can check finalized semester grades, check financial aid information, verify enrollment, register online and pay for classes. The “my.stlcc.edu” student email account is the primary source of communication with St. Louis Community

6 THE CLUELESS STUDENT

College. Students will receive information they need such as e-bills, Blackboard announcements, financial aid updates, registration deadlines, assignments, library holds and overdue notices, as well as other important information. There are also many other useful website functions. The STLCC website offers additional resources and materials for students to learn and engage in. The following consists of different ways students can familiarize themselves with communicating to college officials, professors and finding out the latest news and upcoming events

on campus. Students can use the “Libraries” tab to find and check out books, use databases for research and receive help and service from any of the STLCC Campus Libraries. Students can use the “Campuses” tab to learn more information about the campuses of Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec, Wildwood, STLCC Education Centers and STLCC Corporate College. Students can find out dates for important campus events, holidays, theatre productions and sporting events on the Events Calendar. Students can view the latest

campus news and information around St. Louis Community College on the website Newsroom. St. Louis Community College offers services and resources to support students with the success they need before, during and after attending. Students can receive information about Academic Resources, campus bookstores, Campus Life and Athletics, Campus Services, Career and Employment Services, Counseling, Degree Audits, Disability Information, Financial Aid, Campus Policies and Procedures, Transcripts, and General Information.

Campus Police: eyes of the community college Chrisitian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus The role of the St. Louis Community College-Meramec police department is to provide a safe environment that facilitates the mission of the college. There are several different aspects of the campus police department that initiates the safety of the students, faculty and staff, Meramec Police Chief Anthony Russo said. “The actual personnel of the police department are the most important asset to the campus communities,” Russo said. “The officers have the ability to perform their jobs in a professional, tactically safe manner which is vital to the overall safety of each campus. Coupled with a sound training program, effective public safety technology and solid partnership with surrounding police departments, the daily tasks at hand are completed with a great deal of compassion and professionalism.” The Meramec campus police department trains for emergencies under the FEMA & SEMA rules of Incident Command addressing emergencies in an “all hazards” manner, Russo said. “Based on the all hazards structure, we tailor fit each Campus Emergency Operations Plan to the specific needs or designs of that particular campus,” Russo said. “Multiple emergency response drills involving all members of the campus communities are conducted at various times throughout the year. This training encompassing drills is

based on response to natural disasters, manmade disasters, special events and other situations requiring a police presence.” Russo said in regards to situations on campus requiring police or rescue operations, each one is different. The College Police Department is active in providing public safety services every day throughout the college district. “As an example of our preparedness, officers throughout the college district have participated in active shooter training sessions at different STLCC campuses,” Russo said. “The training we conduct is recognized as a model for the community college systems and numerous area colleges participate in the annual training sponsored by Chiefs Banahan and Russo through the college’s Department of Public Safety.” Common concerns may be different than concerns of the campus community, Russo said. “I try to stay on top of what students, staff and faculty needs are,” Russo said. “We interact with the students, staff and faculty every day so it lessens the information gaps that occur occasionally. Simply being available to give advice or assist greatly enhances safety.” The Meramec police department does a good job at keeping students, faculty, and staff safe from potential dangerous situations, Russo said. “Our officers are the reason

Photo by: Ashley Biundo

The Campus Police building is open Monday-Friday from 7 am-11 pm and 8 am-4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays during classes.

we are so safe,” Russo said. “Open style campuses present a particular type of problem when it comes to pedestrian movement on and through each campus. The officers are always on campus either walking the buildings or grounds. They regularly patrol the parking lots as well. This regular, but unpredictable police presence is an effective deterrent to criminal activity or bad behaviors.” With the system already implemented keeping students, faculty and staff safe, the department is constantly working on new ideas to keep the campuses safe, Russo said. “The senior command is always evaluating the security needs of the campuses,” Russo said. “The process is enhanced

by participating in leadership and other college based organization meetings. We are currently looking at additional cameras, more lighting around the buildings and parking lots, an updated alert system and many other safety and police personnel related enhancements.” The STLCC campus police officers have nurtured and maintained great relationships with students, staff and faculty, Russo said. “In a time where the police in general have taken so much negative publicity, please remember police officers are not, nor have ever been the enemy. Everyday thousands of interactions go without incident and officers are actually able to help their communities.”

THE CLUELESS STUDENT 7

Faculty and Staff Parking

AC AD AS BA CN CS GH HE

Assessment Center Administration Applied Science Business Administration Communications North Communications South Greenhouse Humanities East

HW Humanities West LH Lecture Halls L Library PE Physical Education PH Power House PP Physical Plant SC Student Center SO Social Science

SS Science South SW Science West TH Theatre

Visitor Parking Graphic by: Marissa Diercks

GETTING STARTED 9

Big Bend Road

Students with disAbilities

have Access at STLCC.

St. Louis Community College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact the Access office at the campus where you are registered. While accommodations may be requested at any time, some accommodations may require many weeks to arrange. Florissant Valley Access Office 3400 Pershall Road St. Louis, MO 63135-1499 E-mail: fvaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-513-4551 Fax: 314-513-4876 Relay Missouri: 711

Forest Park Access Office

Meramec Access Office

5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110-1393 E-mail: fpaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-644-9039 Fax: 314-951-9439 Relay Missouri: 711

11333 Big Bend Road Kirkwood, MO 63122-5799 E-mail: mcaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 314-984-7673 Fax: 314-984-7123 Relay Missouri: 711

Wildwood Student Enrollment and Disability Support Services 2645 Generations Drive Wildwood, MO 63040-1168 E-mail: wwaccess@stlcc.edu Phone: 636-422-2000 Fax: 636-422-2050 Relay Missouri: 711

St. Louis Community College expands minds and changes lives every day. We create accessible, dynamic learning environments focused on the needs of our diverse communities. Florissant Valley

Forest Park

Meramec

www.stlcc.edu

Wildwood

Clark Hall

Dalila Kahvedzic | Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

POINTS OF INTEREST 1 - CASHIER 2 - COMPUTERS

Clark Hall is a building where all students’ academic business relations take place. The building consists of academic advising, counseling, financial aid assistance, enrollment services and much more.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

3 - ACADEMIC ADVISORS 4 - COMPUTERS

FLOOR 2

First Floor: Financial Aid Office Phone: 314-984-7650 FAX: 314-984-7251 Lead financial Aid Specialist: Nicole Moore Phone: 314-984-7652 Kmoore399@stlcc.edu Admissions Phone: 314-984-7601 Fax: 314-984-7051 mc-admissions@stlcc.edu

ACCESS OFFICE

Cashier’s Office First Floor Clark Hall Phone: 314-984-7736 Second Floor: Advising and Counseling Phone: 314-984-7575 mccounsel@stlcc.edu

FINANCIAL AID

2 1

FLOOR 1 Page Design by: Jason Waters

THE CLUELESS STUDENT 11

Student Center

Dalila Kahvedzic | Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

POINTS OF INTEREST 1 - THE MONTAGE 2 - TRIO

First Floor: Student Bookstore Student Center Lobby

3 - CAMPUS LIFE 4 - CAFETERIA CHECKOUT 5 - ATM 6 - BOOKSTORE CHECKOUT

Cafeteria Aside from in-between class snacks, the cafeteria provides breakfast, lunch specials and dietary restrictions.

2 3

FLOOR 2 FLOOR 1

Second Floor: Campus Life office Looking for a way to get more involved with the campus? Pay a visit to the Campus Life office to learn about events, clubs and more campus-related activities. Located in SC 221. Phone: 314-984-7641 TRiO A student support services program which improves the retention and graduation rate of students. Students benefit from individual interactions with staff with tutoring. Located in SC 202. The Montage Student Newspaper Learn how to write for the campus while in a fun environment, no experience necessary. Located in SC 220A.

12 THE CLUELESS STUDENT

CAFETERIA

BOOKSTORE 5

The Student Center is the heart of the campus that provides essential resources for students such as getting their I.D.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, parking tags, textbooks and more.

Library POINTS OF INTEREST 2

1 - REFERENCE DESK 2 - COMPUTERS 3 - LIBRARY CHECKOUT 4 - MATH LAB

FLOOR 1

Meramecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library is an instructional resource for students and is located just west of Communications South on the south side of the courtyard. Students have access to books, classroom textbooks, computers, printers, study rooms and much more.

Library Phone 314-984-7797

SILENT STUDY

Circulation Department 314-984-7797

Reference Department 314-984-7613 Administrative Secretary Marilyn Souchek 314-984-7616 Senior Manager of Campus Library and Instructional Resources Patrick Mallory 314-984-7615

FLOOR 2

Page Design by: Jason Waters

Tutoring TRiO Mathematics/Science Writing Center

THE CLUELESS STUDENT 13

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go broke on supplies Katie Leicht | Art & Life Editor Emeritus In a survey of 2,000 college students around the United States, the average cost spent on books alone was 1,200 dollars according to U.S. News & World Report. College students tend to spend hundreds of dollars every semester on school supplies and college-level books; this is common knowledge to most students. What some students may not know is they do not have only one outlet to purchase the supplies. In fact, since technology is ever changing, it is relatively easy to find the best deal for what students need thanks to new and upcoming developments. Luckily, each of these options are relatively quick, easy and fairly inexpensive. â&#x20AC;˘

Illustration by: Marissa Diercks

Available sources to purchase supplies and books from: The Student Center Bookstore on Campus

The Student Center Bookstore is easy to access and books are available immediately. Students can either purchase books to keep or rent them for the semester. Chegg Chegg.com is a website where students can rent or buy textbooks. There is also a 21 day Satisfaction Guarantee, and a 14 day Satisfaction Guarantee for eTextbooks. Amazon Amazon.com is known among students as one of the cheapest places to purchase used books and shipping can be quick with Amazon Prime. This is available to students for a few months and then it eventually expires. Friends Another option for students is to ask friends and peers if they have any used books. This option may even be free depending on the friends and peers.

14 THE CLUELESS STUDENT

Dollar Store One may be beyond surprised by what they can aquire at the dollar store. It may not hold some of the more rare items, but simple items such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and paper are available just to name a few. Rumaging through old supplies You might already have plenty of school supplies lying around your house. Closets, desk drawers, and basement bins might hold hidden supplies that can save you money. Couponing This may not apply to many items on the school supply list, but even saving a few cents on a calculater may help in the long run. Thrift shopping Make a list of all of the closeby thrift stores and knock them out one by one. Students may find something unique like a certain book, or even art supplies.

to class, collect credits

Graphic by: Jason Waters and Jordan Morris

While relationships have been ruined by Monopoly, this section clears even the most polluted air from the Monopoly Electric Company. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep you out of jail, get you employed

at the Boardwalk and help you avoid taxing top hats. Take a chance with an unusual course from the Community Chest. Roll down South Kirkwood Road to dine at new properties

or over the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean and Baltic to study abroad. Discuss politics with Mr. M, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slack or risk going directly to jail and passing go without collecting

$200. Take advantage of every enterprising opportunity available at Meramec. With a little luck, you may even land on free parking and win the jackpot. ADVANCE TO CLASS 15

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 an emphasis 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 211,212

Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music The History of Jazz The Enjoyment of Music Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV Survey of Rock Music Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Music History I,II

Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!

ENSEMBLES

Music 132 – Orchestra Music 133 – Jazz Lab Band Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 135 – Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Voices of Magic jazz choir All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers and/or the Voices of Magic jazz choir.

For more information, contact the Meramec Music Department Gary Gackstatter, Director of Instrumental Music, ggackstatter@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7636 Dr. Jerry Myers, Director of Choral Activities & Music Theory, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

Meet Meramec tutors*

* Meet some of our tutors and academic coaches at the Academic Café event on the library quadrangle, Monday, August 29. Free coffee and doughnuts!

ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES ACADEMIC SUPPORT AVAILABLE IN MOST CONTENT AREAS! GENERAL STUDY SKILLS ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE!

Academic Support Center Library · Second Floor

Supplemental Instruction Peer Tutoring Professional Learning Support STEM (Math) Tutoring College Writing Center

Free! Walk-in service! Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 314.984.7390 Cindy at cclausen@stlcc.edu

Roll through Kirkwood for lunch Ashley Biundo | Photo Editor

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers specializes in fried chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries and Texas Toast. Open Sun-Thurs: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Fri-Sat: 10 a.m. – 12 a.m.

Address 1034 S Kirkwood Road (across from Target)

MOD Pizza allows customers to choose from many toppings and create their own pizza. Open Address Sun-Thur 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. 338 S Kirkwood Road (right Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. by McDonalds)

11” double crust: $10.87 SMALLCAKES creates gourmet, made-from-scratch cupcakes and has 13 signature cupcakes. Open Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun 1:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

18 ADVANCE TO CLASS

Address 343 S Kirkwood Road (by Starbucks)

6” mini MOD pizza: $4.87 Salad Pizza: $9.87 Create your own 11’’: $7.87

Online vs. in person: what’s your choice? Andrew Ameer | Opinions Editor For students who have families to take care of, work full time or have other responsibilities, online classes can be extremely helpful. Not having to meet at a classroom frees up time from a hectic work schedule. Studying late at night, on a lunch break, or on weekends — it is all possible with online classes. Students must still keep up with the coursework, but online classes tend to be clearer with deadlines and expectations. Self motivation is key in an online class, as is the ability to work independently. The professor is usually available if students reach out for help, but will not be there nearly as much as they would in a classroom. Classes that meet in person are more structured, so students who learn better with personal direction excel. The professor is

spring 2015 vs spring 2016 Enrollment

14%

Online Only classes

increase

WHAT STUDENTS CHOSE LAST YEAR

In person only classes

Combination (online & in person classes)

15% decrease 2%

decrease

student enrollment choices

Graphic by: Katie Hayes

also there to make sure students turn in assignments correctly and on time. For many students, the approach that works best is a hybrid of both classes. It is possible to plan a schedule where a student can work, go to school a couple days a week and take some credits online to fill in the gaps. With a class that meets in person, there is an important social aspect that is absent in online classes. Interacting with peers, bouncing questions off each other and hearing what others have to say on the particular subject matter, these all help the learning process. However, students can still join clubs, attend activities and participate in other ways around campus — even if they are not taking courses in person.

Wildwood accounting professor Patricia Hartwig’s perspective Online Advantage •Flexibility — students can work this course into their daily lives easier. I have had pregnant women work ahead and complete the class before their due dates! Of course not all online classes are structured this way. •Pace — work at your own pace. Review material as needed. Students learn at different rates.

Online Disadvantage •Accountability — easy to ignore the deadlines. I believe the drop/fail rate is higher for my online classes than the inperson classes. •Problem Solving — during a class, students may raise interesting questions that the textbook doesn’t cover. The back and forth with students and dialogue can make the material more interesting.

In-person Advantage

In-person Disadvantage

•Make a connection with the instructor. This connection will naturally be stronger for in-person settings. I have had former students reach out to me for help in future classes.

•Illness/Emergencies — missing class cannot be helped and then the student is forced to find time to meet with the instructor or learn the material themselves.

•Relationships with other students — possibly these students enjoy the college process more as they make face-to-face connections with other students. Perhaps have future classes with the same individuals.

•Exams — without being able to search the material while test taking, I would believe the exams are more difficult. Time studying the material is likely increased.

ADVANCE TO CLASS 19

Students pass go and travel the globe Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus Students, faculty, staff and community members at St. Louis Community College can apply for the study abroad program, which hosts multiple programs for different subjects each year. For the 2015-16 school year, the program included locations in Italy, Cuba, Canada and Canterbury, England. A variety of programs are available to those who apply, International Programs Coordinator Chris Sulincevski said. “Some are short-term programs, which are a week to a month long, and we have a

semester long program which takes place in Canterbury,” Sulincevski said. “The shortterm programs have been offered in all kinds of different countries, around the world, along with different subjects. They [programs] change every year, but some are consistent where they repeat year after year.” “STLCC faculty go through a process of creation and different proposals of the study abroad programs,” Sulincevski said. The proposals for each program have to meet all academic

standards before becoming fully developed. Once developed, each program consists of different requirements for those interested. “Eventually, when we have all of the things figured out, we promote them to the students and the public,” Sulincevski said. “Different programs have different requirements, so it depends on what program they are interested in. Some have prerequisite classes, while some require a specific number of college credits taken. All programs require that the

students are at least 18 years of age.” The semester-long program, in Canterbury, England has been around for more than 25 years, Sulincevski said. The requirements for this program differ from the other programs. STLCC had different programs

“The fact that students travel out of the country, it can have a positive impact on their development.” -Chris Sulincevski

Photo submitted by: Chris Sulincevski Meramec students and faculty studying abroad in Segesta, Sicily.

20 ADVANCE TO CLASS

on almost every continent expanding 30-plus years. “For the Canterbury program, students must have taken 12 college credit hours, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and completion of English Composition class,” Sulincevski said. “We have had successful programs that have happened in consecutive years. For example, we have had successful programs in Italy, China, Greece and Costa Rica. Those have been programs that have happened for a number of years.” Offered in May 2017, study abroad will host a program from Canada for theatre students. The program will feature multiple theatre festivals for students to take part in and learn from, Sulincevski said.

“That is a new program for theatre,” Sulincevski said. “There are a couple of very good theatre festivals [in Canada] next year. Two world famous theatre festivals that professors want to take students to.” The study abroad program extends to multiple continents around the world, Sulincevski said. It would not be fair to say which programs are the best because they all have different characteristics. “They all give you different perspectives on the country you go to, the culture and academic aspect of it,” Sulincevski said. “They are all different and unique experiences, so I think any type of travel makes students grow. The fact that students travel out of the country, it can have a positive impact on their development. These are also academic programs, so it gives students just as much of an educational impact. Any of these programs are beneficial to students and I would hope they take advantage of them.” The amount of students traveling with each program varies, Sulincevski said. The feedback from those who attend the programs is mostly positive. “Usually, the groups are about 10-15 [students], but we have had groups with 40-50, so it really depends on the program,” Sulincevski said. “If we have a bigger group, we will have a couple of faculty or mentors go. We do a survey for each program after the students return, which is one way of evaluating them.” “There has been a decline recently, in study abroad programs, over the last five years,” Sulincevski said. A decline in the number of student and faculty interest in the

programs has been prevalent. “There are different reasons for that,” Sulincevski said. “One is the increase in prices of travel, the economic situation of the students, and the change in faculty profile. All of those factors kind of impact what is happening right now.” “Despite the current decline in interest, from students and faculty members, it appears to just be a current trend that will change,” Sulincevski said. It is always up and down, not always consistent and just a position period that is believed to change. “We are always coming up with new programs and new ideas that will attract students and ways to help students afford these programs financially because it is not easy,” Sulincevski said. “We look at different grants and scholarships for students to be able to get involved with study abroad.” “Besides the programs STLCC offer, there are federal grants and scholarships that could help students study abroad,” Sulincevski said. Even if it is not affiliated with the college, students are allowed to still study abroad after applying and meeting certain criteria for certain scholarships. “They are competitive scholarships, but I always try to promote that to students,” Sulincevski said. “Sometimes, students are having a difficult time trying to decide that. The money is there, the government gives us money for students to study abroad and the opportunities are there. That is one way to get around the financial issues.” There are multiple things students can take away from participating in the study abroad

Photo submitted by: Chris Sulincevski

Students and faculty at Plaza de Espana, Madrid (2014).

programs, Sulincevski said. The overall experience can be beneficial to them. “[Students] should take away, besides academic credit, knowledge and life experiences that they could not get in a regular classroom,” Sulincevski said. “The fact that they are traveling abroad, interacting with different cultures and environments, is the beauty of studying abroad. That helps them grow faster and learn more.” “The mission of the study abroad programs is closely related to the mission and standard of the college, which is to expand minds and change lives every day,” Sulincevski said. Creating successful and dynamic learning environments depending on the needs of the communities is also important when applying for jobs. Students should not be afraid to take that step to study abroad.

“If it is possible that it is available to them, they should not look at it as something that is impossible because of time, finances or whatever other reasons,” Sulincevski said. “The majority of students, probably all students, who come back from these experiences say that they would not have worried so much had they known what it was all about. The growth in the students is obvious when they come back. Their confidence and interactions are so improved, it is amazing, in such a short period of time.”

For more information about the Study Abroad Program, contact International Programs Coordinator Chris Sulincevski at (314) 539– 5350 or at csulincevski@ stlcc.edu.

ADVANCE TO CLASS 21

COLLEGE WRITING CENTER Working on a paper for a class? Writing a scholarship or transfer essay? We can help with any class at any stage, from brainstorming to final draft.

Always free. No appointment needed. Library, 2nd Floor Fall & Spring hours: Mon. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thur. 8-7; Fri. 8-3 Call for summer hours 314-984-7570 South County Education and University Center: Call 314-984-7226 for hours

Advertise with The Montage The student voice of Meramec

The Montage is the award-winning student newspaper of STLCC-Meramec in Kirkwood, Mo. The Montage publishes 14 issues throughout the year and a special Back-to-School Guide each July.

2016-2017 Publication Dates Sept. 1, 2016 Sept. 15, 2016 Sept. 29, 2016 Oct. 13, 2016 Oct. 27, 2016

Nov. 17, 2016 Dec. 8, 2016 Jan. 26, 2017 Feb. 9, 2017 Feb. 23, 2017

March 9, 2017 March 30, 2017 April 20, 2017 May 4, 2017

The Montage distributes 3,000 copies of each issue through the Meramec campus, the South County Education Center, the Wildwood Campus and to an ever-expanding list of offcampus locations. The Montage has the potential to reach more than 15,000 students at these three campuses. The Back-to-School Guide is distributed on campus and at local high schools year round. 22

Students receive free tax assistance Redwan Saeed | Staff Writer Meramec students can get their taxes filed on campus for free. The school offers a program called VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) which offers students and the public a free service. The program is run by professors Robyn Barrett and Amy Monson. VITA begins scheduling appointments in February, and availability is typically limited. “[We are] one of the few places that take appointments and we send out postcards, so we actually ask our people to come back,” Barrett said. Students have the opportunity to claim different credits while attending college. Barrett said the program is great because VITA is not only for students. Students can tell a friend and have the opportunity to tell others. Barrett and Monson begin recruiting staff in the spring before tax season. During that process Barrett and Monson recognize students who want to participate and ask the students to see them in the fall. Barrett and Monson begin taking applications in October, but can only take 18 students. “It is great program for any business student or anyone who really doesn’t know what they want to do,” Barrett said. Students do not have to major in accounting to participate in the program, Barrett said. “[It also will] expose you to some different standards of living that you may or may have not seen,” Barrett said.

Things to Bring • Proof of identification

• For married filling joint, both spouses must be present

• Copy of last year’s tax return

• Information for all deductions and credits

• All Forms W-2 and 1099

• Social Security Card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Card

Archived

ADVANCE TO CLASS 23

A passion for politics Marie-Josephine Schwarz | Multimedia Editor Given that coming November a new president will be elected, taking Introduction to American Politics is the perfect incentive to dive into the political arena. One professor who teaches classes in the Political Science department is John Messmer. John Messmer, who began teaching at Meramec in fall 2002, is passionate about politics and shows this passion to his students. “Teaching any subject monotone, as if you fell asleep, nobody will get excited about it,” Messmer said. “I show them [students] why there is a reason they should care. I try to get people upset. Because if you get people upset, that means they care.” Banging the podium, using his voice to emphasize what is important and cursing are three things students experience in Messmer’s class. “Other than golf, I can’t imagine anything that would solicit more of a need to curse than politics,” Messmer said. Kalvin Braddock-Foster, a Meramec student who is getting his associate of arts, has already taken two classes with Messmer. “He’s a great professor, with lots of enthusiasm,” BraddockFoster said. “He definitely has his own style of teaching which is unique to him. He makes the class fun and engaging.” Not only are Messmer’s lectures engaging, but the assignments and discussion board entries are designed to help students dive into politics. “Legalization of Drugs,”

24 ADVANCE TO CLASS

Photo by: Marie-Josephine Schwarz Political Science Professor and Blues fan John Messmer grew out his playoff beard to support the local sports team.

“Freedom of Speech” and “Gun Control” are only a few of the many topics that might be discussed in class or online. Messmer said that besides reading, writing and basic arithmetic, developing critical thinking skills toward politics are essential for students. “Unless you’re gonna live in a community or society as a hermit, you’re gonna be a political animal,” Messmer said. “Which is a fancy way of saying you will have to develop some specifically political critical thinking skills. What you do with it after you get it from my class, I’ve got no control over, but I’d like to think that some of my students will take this on.” As every student learns in a

different way, every professor has their own style of teaching. The website RateMyProfessor.com gives insights to how previous students experienced a certain professor.

“Other than golf, I can’t imagine anything that would solicit more of a need to curse than politics” - John Messmer

Messmer takes his responsibility as a professor very seriously. His performance on Rate My Professor mirrors this. Some top tags of Messmer are “Hillarious,” “Would take again” and “Amazing l ectures.”

Besides his passion for politics, Messmer is a huge St. Louis sports fan. “Cardinals and Blues, I live and die by them,” Messmer said. However, if he had to choose a favorite team, it would be the Blues. “I find hockey much more interesting than baseball, and the Blues are the underdog,” Messmer said. “The Cardinals have had tremendous success, they don’t need any more support. My Blues, they need support.” Messmer usually comes to class a couple of minutes early, and throws in a random question like “What is your favorite burger in St. Louis?” The focus often switches to local sports, though. The first five minutes of class, Messmer often dives into a news-related political question and discusses it. Students are welcome to participate, but often also get a chance on Blackboard to voice their thoughts and opinions. The casual start of his lectures might lead some students to believe that this class is an easy A. To receive a good grade, however, students must be willing to work. “If you’re not willing to work, please drop the class,” Messmer said. Students should not fear his class though because “it will not get boring” as Messmer puts it. “The first step on the road to political reform is realizing there is a problem,” Messmer said. “And my tiny little job is to make you [students] realize this.”

New students kickstart college Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus St. Louis Community College-Meramec offers the Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit programs for high school juniors and seniors. These programs allow students to take classes to earn college credit prior to attending STLCC. These programs are beneficial to prospective students, new students and the community as a whole, STLCC School and Community Partnership Specialist Erika Malone said. “We offer, here at STLCC, two programs for high school students to start their college careers early,” Malone said. “Dual Enrollment is where the student enrolls in STLCC just like a current student and they either take classes here on campus or they take classes online. We also have Dual Credit, which is taught by a high school instructor with the appropriate credentials. They will teach the course at the high school and the student will get both high school and college credit for the course.” Students enrolling in the Dual Credit program are required to follow six different guidelines for appropriate acceptance, including completion of the Dual Credit application, an accumulated high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and written permission from an authorized high school official and a parent or guardian to enroll for dual credit. “Dual credit courses are offered in seven different schools residing in the area,” Malone said. “The most popular of

courses that we offer for dual credit, in our service area currently, are Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra,” Malone said. “We also offer an information systems course, engineering course, [and]

member, Aiello said. “My brother dual-enrolled the year before, and it worked out very well for him,” Aiello said. “I figured it would be nice to get a few classes out of the way.” Aiello is a homeschooled

Photo by: Katie Hayes Dually enrolled student Eva Aiello attends General Psychology.

English Composition I and II [fall 2016].” The Dual Enrollment program requires students follow several guidelines, including submission of a high school transcript and an accumulated high school GPA of 2.0 or higher. STLCC dually enrolled student Eva Aiello made her decision in August 2015 to enroll in the program. It was based on inspiration from a family

student. The college atmosphere and environment was challenging at first, but the friendly

“I figured it would be nice to get a few classes out of the way.” - Eva Aiello

engagement with professors and other students opened up more opportunities, Aiello said.

“At the beginning, I was wondering what the professors and students would think of me and whether or not that would affect the way they treated me,” Aiello said. “It has been very nice; everyone has been helping me and showing me around.” Homeschool students are mostly enrolling in the Dual Enrollment program, Malone said. “Homeschool parents want to supplement what their student is learning through their homeschool curriculum,” Malone said. “They will start taking classes once they meet junior status in homeschool curriculum. They are taking classes along with their traditional college population while being homeschooled.” “Jump starting their college career early, resulting in completion of student success, boosts confidence and morale,” Malone said. “When students complete Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit programs, they increase their confidence in their ability to succeed in college,” Malone said. “Once they complete that first college course, they are less intimidated about the thought of going to college.” Aiello agreed. “Being a dual-enrolled student has given me more confidence because when you first begin college, you wonder if you will be able to handle it,” Aiello said. “Taking these classes and interacting with other people has given me more confidence in myself, and I think that is good.”

ADVANCE TO CLASS 25

LGBT Club came out last fall Jason Waters | Production Manager Emeritus The LGBT club started in the fall 2015 semester. It has only been open a few months but there has been a great turn out. “There’s a lot of people” club member Leila Muhammad said. On average, there are about 15 members who come to each meeting, but there are many more than that. Muhammad said the LGBT club is very diverse. Issues going on not only in the LGBT club but also different race communities are discussed as well. “We share things that are going on in our lives,” Muhammad said. “We are a very good support group.” There is a couch that you are welcome to sleep on if you are having problems at home. If you have been kicked out, the LGBT club is very accepting. “Our overall mission is for the school to become more accepting of LGBT people.” Muhammad said. “We discuss a lot of LGBT issues, especially transgender issues because there are quite a few transgender people in our club.”

“Our overall mission is for the school to become more accepting of LGBT people.” - Leila Muhammad

The LGBT Club is also an activist group. “We are trying to get petitions to make unisex bathrooms around the school so transgender people won’t feel so

26 WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Photo by: Dalila Kahvedzic St. Louis community members march in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24.

uncomfortable,” Muhammad said. If you are transgender and you feel comfortable going to the girl’s bathroom, but you look like a boy, you may be told you are in the wrong bathroom. “There are some lesbians that look a bit more masculine so they get called really rude words like ‘dyke.’” Muhammad said. Leila is a general transfer student who hopes to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. She was 16 when she came out as lesbian. “I get ‘you don’t look gay’ all the time,” Muhammad said. “There is a problem in America with how they portray lesbians. Usually they are very masculine and they have the short hair-

do’s. With me, I’m very feminine and sometimes when I come out to other girls that I like that are also gay, they don’t really believe me because of how I look.” “For some people it [coming out] went well, for some it didn’t,” Muhammad said. Muhammad’s siblings were accepting of her when she told them. “One of my sisters actually came out to me when I came out to her,” Muhammad said. I told her I like women and she said ‘oh me too I’m bisexual.’ My sister Christina and my brother Jarel were absolutely fine with it, Muhammad said. Coming out to my friends went pretty well, Muhammad said. There were some religious

people who said ‘I love you, but I don’t love what you are doing’ but most of my friends said ‘oh, right on.’ “My mom, she didn’t take it so well,” Muhammad said. “She was very cold to me for the next two days. Right after I told her, she left the house for a few hours and then she came back and I found out that she had told my dad.” Muhammad said her father yelled at her for two hours straight. “It was very hard,” Muhammad said. “I was crying. I was told I was stupid. Right after I got off the phone with my dad, I called my older sister Celeste crying.” Muhammad said her sister and her sister’s boyfriend came over after the phone call to console her, even though it was already midnight. “If you are trying to come out and you are having a little trouble with it, you should try to join the club because a lot of us have dealt with coming out,” Muhammad said. “Some of us were accepted, but some of us, like me, had a horrible time when they came out.” Muhammad said just showing students they are not alone really gives them courage. “You don’t have to come out yet if you are still living with your parents because there are a lot of homeless LGBT youth and we don’t want them to be homeless,” Muhammad said. “But if we think they are being abused, we have resources to help.”

Illustration by: Jason Waters

In this section, the rules are simple; plan ahead, play smart and win at life. Now that your time at Meramec is over, you are about to spin the wheel of life to determine your next move.

Once you land on a two-year degree, pick a card that decides the next step to advance to a new collegiate level. Or, pick a card to advance straight into the work force. From research,

tuition costs, and scholarships, to internships, resume building and job hunting with your associate degree, each level gets tougher. Time is not essential at this point, but patience, focus

and determination are. Keep driving forward to hit your intended destinations through the board game of life. You may even retire early if you play smart.

ROAD TO LIFE 27

Colleges near... Ashley Biundo | Photo Editor

mph.wustl.edu

Webster University

Washington University in St. Louis • • • • •

• • • • •

Founded 1853 Total enrolled students: 14,348 (2014) Acceptance rate: 17% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $46,467 Student to faculty ratio: 8:1

Founded 1853 Total enrolled students:16,769 (2014) Acceptance rate: 72% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $41,622. Student to faculty ratio:13:1

www.webster.edu

University of Missouri - Columbia (Mizzou) • • • • •

Founded 1839 Total enrolled students: 35,425 (2014) Acceptance rate: 78% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $9,433 Student to faculty ratio: 20:1

Missouri State University

blogs.umsl.edu

Univerity of Missouri - St. Louis • • • • •

Founded 1963 Total enrolled students: 17,072 (2014) Acceptance rate: 76% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $8,844 Student to faculty ratio: 17:1

28 ROAD TO LIFE

• • • • •

Founded 1905 Total enrolled students: 21,816 (2014) Acceptance rate: 85% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $7,008 Student to faculty ratio: 20:1

St. Louis University • • • • • •

Founded 1818 Total enrolled students: 17,052 (2014) Acceptance rate: 61% (2014) Undergraduate tution: $37,966 Student to faculty ratio: 12:1 Highly competive entering class (requires GPA of 3.75 or above)

umsystem.edu

missouristate.edu

liver.center.slu.edu

and far Loyola University Chicago

University of Arkansas at Little Rock • • • • •

Founded 1870 Total Enrolled Students: 16,437 (2015) Acceptance Rate: 63% (2015) Undergraduate Tution: $45,545 Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1

ualr.edu

Oklahoma State University • • • • •

• • • • •

Founded 1927 Total Enrolled Students: 9,384 (2014) Acceptance Rate: 62% (2014) Undergraduate Tution: $26,407 Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1

Founded 1890 Total Enrolled Students: 25,962 (2014) Acceptance Rate: 75% (2014) Undergraduate Tution: $20,978 Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1

irim.okstate.edu

University of Texas • • • • •

Founded 1883 Total Enrolled Students: 51,313 (2014) Acceptance Rate: 39.7% (2014) Undergraduate Tution: $34,886 Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1

Loyola University New Orleans • • • • •

Founded 1912 Total Enrolled Students: 4,330 Acceptance Rate: 90% Undergraduate Tution: $36,630 Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1

utexas.edu

loyno.edu

luc.edu

Stanford University • • • • •

Founded 1891 Total Enrolled Students: 16,963 (2014) Acceptance Rate: 5% (2014) Undergraduate Tution: $45,195 Student to Faculty Ratio: 10:1

Stanford.edu

ROAD TO LIFE 29

Brand yourself with a resume Marie-Josephine Schwarz | Multimedia Editor Having a ready-to-go resume on hand can save a lot of time when opportunity knocks. “Your resume is a walking billboard for basically your employment branding,” said Rita Reinhardt, Career and Employment Services specialist at Meramec. While some students send the same resume to all potential employers, it may hurt their chances of employment. “There is no one-size fits all,” said Reinhardt. “Each resume should be tailored and customized to the position that you are applying for.” For example, writing a resume in the field of accounting or business administration usually requires a more conservative style. When applying for a job in the creative art or communication industry,

the student has more freedom to play with the layout of their resume. There are only few rules set in stone. In the end, it comes down to how easy it is for the employer to scan through all of the information the resume has to offer. “Be very consistent, streamline and make sure it is scannable,” Reinhardt said. Spelling and grammatical errors on a resume can destroy great job opportunities. Meramec students can get help at the Career and Employment Services located on the second floor of Clark Hall. At first glance, a resume might be nothing more than an unnecessary assignment, but at another glance, a good resume gets students a step closer to their ideal career.

Illustration by: Christian Hargas Five-second rule: Hand your resume to someone for five seconds, then take it back and ask what they know about you. Employers often don’t have much time to look thoroughly over resumes, so make sure the most important information is placed in the right position.

Scholarship information for students Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus Athletic Scholarship Must be nominated by the appropriate coach on the Scholarship Nomination Form. Equity between male and female athletes. Book Scholarship Awarded for one semester and must reapply each semester. $250 per student. Returning Adults Scholarships Awarded for three credit hours for one semester. 30 ROAD TO LIFE

Continuing Student Academic Scholarship

Student Leadership Scholarship

Must have completed 24 credit hours and covers 12 credit hours for two semesters.

Awarded on a semester basis and available for full time (12 credits) and part time (six credits).

Summer Bootcamp Scholarship Six week immersion program in English, mathematics and/or reading. Award amount is $100.

Honors College Scholarship Qualified to participate in honors program or taking honors course and covers 12 credit hours per semester.

Emerging Scholars Scholarship Must have completed 24 credit hours and tested into two or more developmental courses.

Last Chance Grant Must be nine credits away from degree completion. Awards three credit hours.

Megan Montage 314.555.6789 • mmontage@my.stlcc.edu • linkedin.com/in/meganmontage

Skills Technology Skills Adobe Photoshop Adobe Premiere Adobe Audition DSLR Cameras Google Sites Microsoft Office Suite Windows 10

Experience Megan’s Blog Weekly updated, Feb. 2014 - present An opinion editorial that covers historic events and news. It also includes a great deal of my college experience. Topics range from the assassination of John F. Kennedy over the Civil War to the Woodstock Music Festival. As of now, the blog has 98 followers.

The Montage Student Newspaper Editor-in-Chief, Aug. 2015 - present

Key Skills AP Style Editorial Writing Feature Writing Multimedia News Writing Photography Research/Fact Checking

References Shannon Philpott, Montage Adviser (314)-555-1010 scrockpott@stlcc.edu Harold Louis, Hourly Herald Editor (314)-555-1234 Margaret Rita, Manager of Fill-Her-Up (314)-555-4321

Education St. Louis Community College-Meramec General Transfer Studies Fall 2014 - present

I am the highest-ranking member of the newspaper staff and also the chief manager, responsible for seeing each issue through from planning to delivery; for making sure issues appear on schedule; and for supervising the operations of the rest of the staff.

Opinions Editor, Aug. 2014 - Aug. 2015 I was responsible for generating, assigning and editing content for assigned pages. I also assisted in the training of staff members working within the opinion section.

The Hourly Herald of St. Louis News writing Intern, Summer 2015 As a news writing intern, I worked closely with established journalists of the publication. I worked with the news coverage team, assembling different stories to be produced into written articles. During the end, I began to contribute fully published articles of my own. My articles, by the end, were displayed in the paper’s news section.

The Fill-Her-Up Bar and Grill Waitress, Summer 2014 My part-time job required me to have good time management skills, ability to work with others, and provide excellent service and communication to customers of all kinds. My reputation among the customers, during my tenure, grew as I was complimented on my hospitality and service, which proved to be tough for me at the beginning.

Volunteer Work Happy Face Elementary School Assisting Handwriting Tutor, Summer 2014 I assisted in the development of elementary students’ handwriting and writing skills. I also assisted in students’ learning and development of cursive handwriting, along with writing short stories.

The appearance of a resume differs, depending on what field a student pursues. This particular template assumes the student wants to be a journalist. As a general rule, the most relevant and recent experience should be at the top of the resume and the resume should not exceed one page for a student.

ROAD TO LIFE 31

Moving on to the next spot in life Andrew Ameer | Opinions Editor

Getting an associate degree from STLCC can be a valuable tool for obtaining employment in the modern workforce. Here are a few positions that only require an associate degree as a minimum education requirement. For more information on any of the listed specialties, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov. Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician

Median Salary: $63,630 Growth Rate: 24% Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, operate special imaging equipment to create images or to conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Some technologists assist physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures.

Computer Network Support Specialist

Median Salary: $51,470 Growth Rate: 12% Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization. Others, called computer user support specialists, assist non-IT users who have computer problems.

Dental Hygienist

Median Salary: $72,330 Growth Rate: 19% Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Median Salary: $63,630 Growth Rate: 24% Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists, operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests. The images and test results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Some technologists assist physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures.

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician

Median Salary: $50,550 Growth Rate: 16% Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue and other substances.

Paralegal and Legal Assistants

Median Salary: $48,810 Growth Rate: 8% Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research and drafting documents.

32 ROAD TO LIFE

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Median Salary: $54,520 Growth Rate: 40% Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Both assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.

Preschool Teacher (Excluding Special Education)

Median Salary: $28,570 Growth Rate: 7% Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. They teach reading, writing, science and other subjects in a way that young children can understand.

Radiologic and MRI Technologist

Median Salary: $58,120 Growth Rate: 9% Radiologic technologists, also known as radiographers, perform diagnostic imaging examinations, such as x-rays, on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.

Respiratory Therapist

Median Salary: $57,790 Growth Rate: 12% Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for example, from a chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema. Their patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to elderly patients who have diseased lungs. They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning or shock.

Web Developer

Median Salary: $64,970 Growth Rate: 27% Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site. They are also responsible for the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a websiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site.

Veterinary Technologist and Technician

Median Salary: $31,800 Growth Rate: 19% Veterinary technologists and technicians perform medical tests under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to assist in diagnosing the injuries and illnesses of animals.

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The Montage

We know words. We have the best words.

Looking past Meramec for internships Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus Students finishing up their time at St. Louis Community College should consider, if not transferring to a four-year institution to advance their careers, applying themselves into the workforce through internships, resume building and more. STLCC offers different programs in which students • •

can earn internships through community partnerships and course evaluations. The STLCC Career and Employment Services (CES), located in Clark Hall, Room AD-249, is a department which provides employment services in the following areas:

Part-time, full time, temporary, and summer employment: these are off-campus positions. Experimental Education: Some employers offer opportunities for current students to gain experience through their cooperative education (co-op) or internship programs. Employers provide CES with eligibility requirements and application procedures for these programs. In some cases, students may be able to earn academic credit for their participation in internship programs.

This service is available for current and former students who have completed at least three or more academic credit hours. The STLCC Career Network is the online system used by students to create

accounts in which they store resumes and search a database of employment opportunities. It is also used by employers to list their employment opportunities and to search for student resumes which match their opportunities.

Illustrations by: Christian Hargas

Students can receive benefits from the STLCC campuses, in regards to the CES program and potential current and future employment opportunities such as the following: • • • • • • •

Determine strategies for employing new graduates Develop plans to make students more aware of opportunities in your organization, increasing the pool of talent Organize on-campus interviews to help employers meet hiring goals Choose selected fields of study for interviews and screening of resumes Participate in job fairs Establish internships and co-op education opportunities Post current job opportunities.

The STLCC CES office also provides access to a diverse pool of different applicants: • • • • •

34 ROAD TO LIFE

Graduates from career or college transfer programs Students seeking part-time or full-time jobs while in school Students interested in internships or co-op positions Students seeking summer employment Alumni seeking career opportunities

Transfer planning at Meramec Christian Hargas |Sports Editor Emeritus Students looking to continue their collegiate careers elsewhere have the option of transferring from St. Louis Community College to another four-year institution. In addition to

searching for the right institution, students are encouraged to follow the timeline to ensure the smoothest and easiest transfer process possible, along with adhering to helpful transfer tips.

Local Transfer Universities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Central Methodist University Chamberlain College of Nursing Fontbonne University Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College Harris-Stowe State University Kansas City Art Institute Lindenwood University Maryville University Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute in Chicago Southeast Missouri State University St. Charles Community College St. Louis Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee University of Missouri – Columbia University of Missouri – St. Louis Webster University William Woods University

Four Semesters before Transferring: • Speak with an STLCC adviser/counselor for assistance with choosing a major and proper coursework. • Begin researching colleges that offer their intended major(s) and meet the priorities in regards to cost, location, size, housing, extracurricular activities and more. Two Semesters before Transferring: • Continue to select courses that transfer approximately within the intended program of study or major (always verify with the transfer school). • Submit their applications for admission and financial aid (FAFSA), along with all of their official college transcripts, to the intended transfer institution. Be sure to pay close attention to the deadlines. • Once admitted, complete scholarship and housing applications.

Illustration by: Christian Hargas

Transferring Tip Students are encouraged to take note of the following transfer application tips and hints to ensure the smoothest and easiest possible transfer process from St. Louis Community College to their intended four-year institution. This allows students to be guided easier through the process; from deadlines and online applications to the process of submitting the proper material to their future four-year institution.

Three Semesters before Transferring: • Narrow their search to three to five colleges, familiarizing themselves with potential institutions’ admissions requirements and deadlines, including selective program prerequisites and admission criteria. Schedule a campus tour, attend the open houses and transfer day events. • Use the transfer guides and course equivalency databases, of their intended four-year institutions, to assist themselves in course selection. • Continue to work with an STLCC adviser/counselor and their intended transfer institution to confirm the course selection for their educational plan. One Semester before Transferring: • Complete transferable coursework in their program and apply for their associate degree [graduation], if applicable. • Request final official transcripts to be sent to their intended transfer institution at the end of their last semester, also verifying that they do not have any financial or administrative holds at St. Louis Community College.

ROAD TO LIFE 35

Goodbye, graduates!

Submitted Photos

Meramec students celebrated their graduation at Chaifetz Arena on Sunday, May 22. Chancellor Pittman addressed the graduates at the ceremony and the alumni received their diploma cover with a congratulatory note at the end of the commencement ceremony.

36 ROAD TO LIFE

Ready for graduation?

James Claiborne | Staff Writer While graduation is stressful for some students, it doesn’t have to be. It is a student’s responsibility to meet and talk with their adviser, and they are available to answer any questions the student may have. Students are encouraged to meet with advisors every semester, which helps students remain on track. “Students should have an academic plan, and the academic plan will list semester by semester what they should take as far as courses towards graduation,” Academic Adviser Mysha Clincy said. Advisers point out deadlines and important dates to students. “The advisors will put benchmarks on the side of the academic plan as to when they need to apply for graduation,” Clincy said. Students may submit their graduation application in the spring, summer or fall. “The graduation application is accepted three times a year and so we try to make sure those students meet that graduation application date,’’ Clincy said. During a student’s final semester, academic advisers must run a graduation check to ensure all requirements were met. “During that final semester we would run a Star Report, or they would run a degree audit showing that they have one more semester left.’’ Clincy said. Advisers help students choose their final courses, which ensures they graduate on time. “We would make course

to receive their associate degree must take the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency Test (CAAP exit exam). “The exam consists of mathematics, reading, writing, and critical thinking,” Assessment Center Specialist Ray Eberle-Mayse said. “Students have the option to take only one test, and it does not determine if they are able to

“After we check and say ‘this student is eligible to graduate,’ we fill out a graduation application.” - Mysha Clincy

Archived Academic Advisor Mysha Clincy organizes student degree audits on the second floor of Clark Hall. Students are encouraged to begin planning for graduation their first semester to ensure they graduate on time.

recommendations for that final semester and then give them the graduation date that they need to have the application in by.” Clincy said.” Students may obtain a graduation application from their adviser. “After we check and say ‘this student is eligible to graduate,’ we fill out a graduation application.” Clincy said The graduation application must be signed by the advisor

and returned back to an enrollment office administrator. Students are then contacted to inform them about their graduation status. While students may transfer classes taken from another institution, they must fill out a transcript evaluation form. After the transcript form is submitted to the Enrollment Office, communication is done through the STLCC email. Students who are expected

graduate,” Eberle-Mayse said. “But it does affect the support performance funding for St. Louis Community College.” “The American College ACT does score the test and the results are sent to the state of Missouri to support performance funding. The students get their results in the mail,” Eberle-Mayse said. After the student has completed the academic process to graduate, they will then receive a graduation letter along with the commencement ceremony card allowing them to participate in the event. They will take the commencement card to the Meramec bookstore where they order their cap and gown and additional accessories that they would like to add. For further graduation attire information contact the Meramec Book Store located in the Student Center.

ROAD TO LIFE 37

CHANGE your WORLD.

Your life’s journey starts here.

Students come to Westminster College to be transformed; they leave ready to change the world. Ranked by Money magazine as one of the nation’s “Best Colleges for the Money” and “Most Affordable Private Colleges.” Schedule a visit to campus today.

“I like who I have become at Westminster.” – Jorden Sanders, ’14 (now pursuing her MA in English at Georgetown University)

Fulton, MO

www.westminster-mo.edu | 1.800.888.WCMO(9266)

Illustration by: Jason Waters

Some say the past is bitter, but last year was sweeter than the Peppermint Forest. The Chaco performance in May was rich with musical performances by the sounds of Meramecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choir,

alongside Symphonic Band and Orchestra. The 201516 school yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art gallery displayed blissful mediums as lush as the Lollipop Woods. These mediums were made

by students along with other artists from the St. Louis area. The Lady Archers overcame obstacles more vast than the Gumdrop Mountains as they accomplished a sensational

victory during the Region XVI Tournament. As we say goodbye to the lavish memories of 2015-16, we open the Candy Castle known as Meramec for more memories to come. SWEET MEMORIES 39

? g n i r r e f s n a r T n i d e t Inteerrseitysof Missouri–St. Louis Univ

askchristy@umsl.edu 314-516-6943 Office hours for STLCC Meramec students: Mondays & Thursdays Call 314-984-7575 for an appointment 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Advising Center – Clark Hall

Christy Hummel Transfer Specialist “I can help with all of your questions about transferring, scholarships and what it’s like to be a Triton!”

CHOOSE Serious education. Serious value.SM

Chaco Canyon Project Dalila Kahvedzic | Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

(Pictured above) Gackstatter conducts the Meramec Symphonic Band on Sunday, May 8 in the Meramec Theatre.

Special Guest R. Carlos Nakai joined the Meramec Symphonic Band with the Native American Flute.

A shallow, red rock canyon which spans 10 miles sits in New Mexico’s northwest corner at 6,200 feet. Around 850 AD, a people formerly known as the Anasazi, now the Ancestral Pueblo Tribes, began to construct massive stone buildings. These buildings soared four or five stories high and consisted of up to 700 rooms. Gary Gackstatter, assistant professor and music director at Meramec, has been teaching full time on the campus for nine years. During the months of July through September, he explored Chaco Canyon and put together a musical piece which he shared with the

campus and community. The main event of The Chaco Canyon Project took place on Sunday, May 8 in the Meramec Theatre. The event involved contributions from different departments including Photography, Interior Design and others. Gackstatter wanted to write a piece of music about the way the Native American culture is connected to the land, sky, each other and the spirit world, he said. “I wanted a deeper connection with nature and Native American Culture and to be able to express that through music,” Gackstatter said. “Words can’t express what’s out there — music can.”

Gackstatter spends time listening in Chaco Canyon, June 2015.

(Bottom right photo) submitted, additional photos by: Dalila Kahvedzic

SWEET MEMORIES 41

Lady Archers: recap of a sweet win Christian Hargas | Sports Editor Emeritus The Lady Archers won their third Region XVI Championship in the last five years after defeating MCC-Penn Valley, 72-71, in the Region XVI Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Joplin, MO. The Lady Archers have come so far since their first semester struggles, Head Coach Shelly Ethridge said. “We started the season with a record of 2-8,” Ethridge said. “It is a long season, six months of basketball. We battled through all of these different things throughout the season. In the end, it is the matter of who is playing the best basketball at the time.” It was not a pretty win against the Scouts, but a win nonetheless, Ethridge said. “We won two games that were critical,” Ethridge said. “Otherwise, we would have been packing our bags. These girls deserve all of the accolades they are going to get.” The Lady Archers led by four after the first quarter and seven at halftime. Sophomore Guard Shiana Carrington said her performance was a tale of two halves. “I felt like I played a good first half, but felt like I did not show up for my team in the second half,” Carrington said. “I let the other team [MCC-Penn Valley] get in my head which motivated me. I knew my team was going to pick me up after that, so I had to step up in the fourth quarter.” “I felt like that motivated us to get this win,” Carrington said. “Like I said, the other team got

42 SWEET MEMORIES

Photo by: James Claiborne Abbey Holtkamp shoots a layup during Region XVI.

in our heads. They [Penn Valley] thought we were going home but we were not going to allow that. We were not going home, so we needed that extra boost of confidence.” The Lady Archers led 54-46 after three quarters. Penn Valley took their first lead of the game in the fourth before pulling ahead by six, their largest lead of the night. Momentum was changing rapidly and things needed to improve, Forward and Center LaShonda Brewer said. “[At the time] my thoughts were like ‘man we just blew a big lead, they came back and now they have the momentum’,” Brewer said. “I knew I had to step up and do what I do in order to help my team pull out

the win.” Sophomore Guard Marche Belcher agreed. Belcher suffered an injury in the first quarter after falling backward and hitting her head on the court floor. It was nerve wracking having to leave the game for a little while, Belcher said. “It kind of freaked me out because I have never hit my head like that before,” Belcher said. “However, my ponytail kind of saved the impact so I could brace for it. I stayed in the game.” Freshman Forward and Center Alfreda Robert chanted on the sidelines with her teammates as the game was in progress. Using her hands and a

chair, the team’s confidence was moving with the beat, Roberts said. “It is good motivation because if there is no type of chant then they feel like they do not have the confidence,” Roberts said. “We wanted to make sure we were keeping them motivated, keeping their spirits up so they can feel the confidence and keep going. With the Lady Archers ahead by one point, with 3.9 seconds left in the game, with Penn Valley controlling the possession of the ball, a missed shot and last second defensive rebound clinched the 72-71 victory and third Region XVI Championship in the last five seasons for STLCC. This win was more than just a celebration for the players but a celebration of the head coach, Belcher said. “It was important to me, but I think it was more important for us to win it for her [Ethridge],” Belcher said. “She wanted it really bad and that was the main reason why our team came out and showed up. She deserved it.” The players were just as deserving, Ethridge said. “Honestly, all I care about is the girls and them winning,” Ethridge said. “I would not be the coach of the year if I did not have the kids. Everything I get is because of them.” The Lady Archers followed their 2-8 start with a 15-5 finish. They were defeated by North Arkansas College, 93-83, in the District P Championship Game.

One last day with Dr. Leroy Day Lexie Keller | Staff Writer Dr. Leroy Day, French and Spanish professor has taught foreign language classes on campus for 20 years. Personally, Day was bored during school and did not ever want to be that type of professor, he said. “So I guess one of my main aims is not to be boring,” Day said. Day grew a fascination with foreign languages when he was young. “Even when I was a little kid, I was kind of amazed that there were people that could talk funny and other people could understand them,” Day said. To me, it’s like a secret code

and I never lost my amazement that people can speak foreign languages and thought it was really cool, Day said. When Day began to teach at Meramec, it was a long journey in itself. “This is my 20th year at Meramec. I taught at a little liberal arts college in upstate New York for five years. After I got my PhD, and while I was getting it, I taught one course of comparative literature and Beginning French at Wash U,” Day said. After more than 20 years of teaching, Day retired in the Spring 2016 semester. His last day of class was in May.

Photo by: Dalila Kahvedzic

Dr. Day answers questions in May 2016 while he teaches one of his last classes.

Spring 2016 Student Spotlight Dalila Kahvedzic | Editor-In-Chief Emeritus Austin Bennett and Aaron Conner juggle together in the quad when the weather permits. The two friends have

been juggling on and off since highschool. “With this kind of activity, it’s all about flow,” Bennett said. Conner agreed.

Photos by: Dalila Kahvedzic

Lauren Rist hula hoops around campus in her free time. Her best friend was into it and got her into it as well

a few years ago. “You really don’t have time to think about anything else,” Rist said. “It’s like meditation.” SWEET MEMORIES 43

Photo Flashback Dalila Kahvedzic| Editor-in-Chief Emeritus

(Left) On Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Meramec Theatre, a oneact play, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;New World,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; was held which depicted three refugee women from Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Republic of the Congo, who moved to St. Louis to create a new world while healing their old war wounds.

(Bottom) Ultimate Frisbee players Tyler Godar (left) and Erik Muschinske (right) get ready for a scrimmage against Lindbergh High School. Members of the Ultimate Frisbee Club plan to turn the club into a competitive team to represent the Meramec campus.

(Above) Donations made by individuals on campus toward a $5,000 goal. Student Governance Council raised $5,000 for 5-year-old Mackenzie who was born with Sickle Cell Anemia. Her one wish was to go to Disney World to meet all the Disney princesses. She recently started kindergarten and attends dance class weekly for fun.

44 SWEET MEMORIES

(Top Left) Celebrity look alike: Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, 1994 and Meramec campus police officer Ed Ucinski. (Top Right) Student Angela Rosenhen decided to take on interior design as a career after being an English teacher for many years in her home country, Brazil. She plans to focus on kitchen and bath design. (Bottom Left) Student Stephanie David took care of the snakes this past year in Science West under Dr. Jason Allen and Matt Bastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supervision. Both professors in the biology department. David aquired this job about a year ago while enrolled in class with Jason Allen. (Center Right) Student Scott Roy is homeless but not hopeless. He graduated in May with his associate in applied science degree in graphic communications. (Bottom Right) Student Hensley is a self-taught guitar player who has been playing for seven years after being inspired by Guitar Hero. He said his dream is to be an artist and travel.

SWEET MEMORIES 45

Meramec welcomes first-ever provost THE

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Katie Hayes | Editor-in-Chief Carol Lupardus began as Meramec’s first provost on June 13 — the same day a swarm of bees closed down the Physical Education building. Lupardus said it was quite the start to her career at Meramec. The former vice president of academic affairs has worked for St. Louis Community College (STLCC) since 2000, both at the Florissant Valley and Wildwood campuses. However, June marks the beginning of her career at Meramec. Lupardus was approved as the Meramec provost by the board of trustees on April 6. STLCC previously followed the president model, but is currently transitioning to a provost model. A provost combines the responsibilities of the campus president and vice president for academic affairs. They are the chief academic officer of the campus and report to the vice chancellor and chancellor of STLCC. “I look forward to listening and getting to know the students well and being out on the campus,” Lupardus said. “I really want to embrace a culture of respect and embrace all that is high expectations, rigorous teaching and learning — but mostly I want to foster a campus climate of inclusion and a culture of respect. I say that not because that’s not already here, because I don’t know. I’m here to listen and learn.” STLCC is currently undergoing major academic restructuring. Chancellor Jeff Pittman began in July 2015

Academic Restructuring Provost: A chief academic executive officer. Combines the positions of campus president and vice president of academic affairs. Responsibilities include overseeing faculty and execution of curriculum.

July 20

July 2015 Jeff Pittman selected as fif th chancellor of STLCC in ten years.

on of Selecti vosts ro p s u te. camp comple e b to set

To Be Annou

nced

Roles and responsibilitie s of deans and department ch airs discussed.

Archived

Graphic by Marissa Diercks

STLCC Administration creates provost positions for campuses

The front page of The Montage’s Jan. 28 issue. Graphics Editor 2015. He is the fifth chancellor welcome an associate provost. one that Dr. Pittman gave us, “We spent a lot of time at STLCC within 10 years. “We have a lot of instability, was to think about ways that getting feedback from faculty first This semester, however, not just in the chancellor’s office but we could streamline the campus on this idea of a provost — could Emeritus Marissa Diercks illustrated the academic restructuring administration is again undergoing also at the campus levels. We’ve had level overhead,” Burke said. we combine these two positions major academic restructuring. different presidents and interim “His idea, which a lot of other and what would be deemed STLCC began altering their STLCC is consolidating two presidents,” Associate professor community colleges that have or lost by that,” Burke said. ofadministrative STLCC. A couple months later, the structure when positions, which will result in a of English, Michael Burke said. multiple campuses like we do Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-In-Chief

former Meramec and Wildwood campus president, Pam McIntyre, retired in July 2015 after her 29year career at STLCC. The greatest change in administration since then was a new chancellor, Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who was hired in July

new one — a provost. This position combines the campus president and vice president of academic affairs. Forest Park, Florissant Valley and Meramec are each set to welcome a provost by July 1 of this year. Wildwood will

There is much concern as to what will happen next, but the Academic Affairs Structure Focus Group (AASFG) is working to streamline the campus level overhead, Burke said. “Our first challenge, the

use, is this idea of a provost.” STLCC has three relatively good-sized campuses (Meramec, Florissant Valley and Forest Park) and Wildwood, a smaller campus. Wildwood has always been treated as a separate entity, Burke said.

committee went back out to the faculty and said ‘if we decide that we have some number of provosts, what would the right number be,’ Burke said. With a fair amount of feedback from people college

and is the fifth chancellor in ten which campus was suited for years. However, Pittman made each successful candidate,” Continued on page 2 it clear in multiple open forums Lupardus said. | | www.meramecmontage.com that he is here toVOLUME stay.51, ISSUE 8 THURSDAY Jan. 28, 2016During the interview process, The provost applicants applicants were asked to define underwent a rigorous interview the role of campus provost. process, which included “I see the campus provost interviews filmed at Forest Park. as being an advocate for the The interviews were filmed campus, working with the district through Skype, so those not and working collaboratively physically present could watch across campuses,” Lupardus the interviews. said. Candidates applied for a provost or associate provost “I want to foster a campus position, but could not choose climate of inclusion and a their campus. culture of respect.” “When I applied, you applied - Carol Lupardus for the position of provost, and the chancellor and the vice chancellor were the ones that The definition was developed made the final decision as to as the chancellor and vice

chancellor met with candidates. “I see the provost as being extremely collaborative and working as a team with the provosts from the other campuses,” Lupardus said. “Also, I believe the role is going to be to work with our community partners, get out in the Meramec community area, Kirkwood and the surrounding areas, making sure that the Meramec campus continues to serve the community with which we reside, I think that’s really important.” Since every STLCC campus moved to the provost model, the district still needs to adjust. “The role of the provost is new to the district,” Lupardus said. “So we have to sort of be flexible. We’re all sort of treading new ground together, but I think it’s an exciting challenge to be in a leadership position where you’re working with other really strong advocates for student success, and I think it’s a challenge that we all are excited to take a part of.” Lupardus is joining Meramec in the midst of an enrollment crisis, but her approach is to listen to students and their needs regarding STLCC. “I’m excited to talk to the leaders of Campus Life to see what is the best way for me to meet with students,” Lupardus said. “I think making sure that I get out onto the campus and make myself available. This is a place where I hope students will come, and faculty and staff, to meet with me about a variety of things.”

SWEET MEMORIES 47

Mosey through the Meramec gallery ftdb

Photo by: Katie Leicht

Artwork by Kandice Blackford in The Student Art Gallery in 2016.

Photo by: Katie Leicht Artwork by Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen in Meramecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Contemporary Art Gallery 2015.

Photo by: Dalila Kahvedzic

Artwork by Howard Jones in Everywhere and Elsewhere I 2015.

Photo by: Katie Leicht

Artwork by Luke Turner in The Student Art Gallery 2016.

Photo by: Katie Leicht

Artwork by Tim Liddy in Everywhere and Elsewhere I 2015.

48 SWEET MEMORIES

Artwork by Amy Schmierbach in Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery 2015.

Playback Katie Leicht | Art & Life Editor Emeritus

In February 2016, Meramec held a one act play- ‘New World.’ This play dipicts three refugee women trying to leave their “old world” behind and start a new in America. We take for granted, as Americans, that people come to our country because the pain they went through in their old world was so bad, Executive Director and founder of Gitana Productions, Cecilia Nadal said. They have hopes to create a new world.

Photo by: Dalila Kahvedzic

Photo by: James Caliborne Meramec hosted its final theatrical production of the 2015 semester, “Spamalot,” in late November. The musical was produced entirely by students, staff, faculty and alumni. The musical was directed by Meramec Communications Professor Keith Oliver, with musical direction by Dr. Jerry Myers and his assistant Katie Robinson. The production is based off the group and the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Summitted photo

A wife, a husband and a doctor’s trek into seeking truth and justice – Meramec hosted “Death & The Maiden” in April 2016 in the Meramec theatre.

SWEET MEMORIES 49

CHEAP THRILLS

INDEPTH 4

1 3

Page Design by: Jason Waters

Elephant Rocks - 1

Founded in Belleview, MO, the giant elephant-shaped granite boulders are the star at Elephant Rocks State Park. The elephant rocks, which were formed from 1.5 billion year old granite, are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants.

junkie. With cliffs upwards of 60 feet and water 50 feet deep, this is a great location for both cliff jumping and a bit of mine exploration. Located just north of Fredricktown, the park charges 10 dollars admission . For more information call 573-783-3040.

The Offsets - 2

Johnson Shut-ins - 3

The flooded Mine La Motte provides an excellent source of excitement for the adrenaline

50 SWEET MEMORIES

The term “shut-ins” refers to a place where the river’s breadth is limited by hard rock that is resistant to

erosion. In these shut-ins, the river cascades in many rivulets over and around igneous rocks worn smooth over many eons. It is used by park visitors as a natural water park complete with natural slides and underwater passages. The shut-ins resides on the East Fork Black River in Reynolds County.

The Fin Inn - 4

The Fin Inn is a unique restaurant

located in Grafton, Ill. The restaurant is known for its decor of wall-to-wall fish tanks with different types of undersea creatures and fish. The menu consists of different types of seafood and shellfish. Other Places To Visit - Six Flags - St.Louis Art Museum - Chicago - Lake of the Ozarks - Kansas City - Raging Rivers

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M O N TA G E The disconnect between election and education

Brittney Farrow Opinions Editor

Illustration by Jason Waters

t is statistically proven that young voters make up around 21 percent of the voting population. With one-fifth of all voters belonging to the 18-29 age group, they are a dominant force in numbers that have the potential to be not only influential, but to make or break a politician’s chances at entering the White House. According to Rock the Vote, a political, non-profit campaign that aims to use pop culture to bring young voters to the polls – there will be 86 million millennials voting in the 2016 presidential elections;

however, in a survey conducted by the Institute of Politics that was released to the public in April 2014, only 23 percent of them had committed to placing a vote in November’s midterm elections. In contrast, at the 2004 elections 70 percent of those between 45 and 59 voted, while 73 percent of those aged between 60 and 74 did. Additionally, 69 percent of those 75 and older also showed up at the polls to place their ballots – making the young vote the leastrepresented group in politics. During the 2012 presidential elections, Barack

Obama depended on his advantage with young voters to make up for the lead Mitt Romney had with the 45 and older age group. Young voters are the most diverse, and the representation of minorities within that group has expanded dramatically in the last 20 years. Amongst voters 30 and under, 18 percent identify as Hispanic, 17 percent identify as African American, and 7 fall into the mixed-race or other category. While the percentage of white voters dropped 16 points amongst those 18-29, the majority of older voters – at 76 percent – are

still white, and that number has dropped only 6 points in recent years. Research done by the Pew Research Center also supports the claim that younger voters are less likely to be religious, which impacts the chances of politicians who take a stand against abortion and gay marriage -- especially since, according to “The Huffington Post”, 65 percent of Americans say religion plays a role in their daily lives. When compared to their older counterparts, young voters are much more focused on social issues, and the majority of them vote in favor of early-term

abortion as well as equal marriage. In the upcoming primaries, several topics of debate will include proposed plans for the adjustments to college tuition, the possibility of student debt forgiveness and the impact the declining job market has hand on young people – issues that could be affected by the young voter, should they chose not to participate. The election primaries are coming up in the next few months, and will occur for the state of Missouri in March of 2016. The question remains: will young American vote?

Graphic by Marissa Diercks

Katie Hayes Copy Editor

here always seem to be a few students who are outspoken about political issues and civil rights. To those who don’t know what issues these students are referring to when they are somehow able to engage in heated discussions with professors, these students seem smarter - more passionate.

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 1 | WEDNESDAY SEPT. 3, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com

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student is treated fairly and their ability to learn in these environments is not hindered. Although it is discussed less than sexual assault on college campuses, there are exemptions in Title IX that legally allow religious educational institutions to discriminate against LGBT students. This is surprising to say the least. The United States has come so far. Gay marriage was legalized in June, which is why it sounds surprising that discrimination

is still legal in some situations. Understanding the basics of Title IX not only provides you with the tools to create a safe learning environment for yourself and others, but helps you question the amendment and potential loopholes. Perhaps you already have an opinion on Title IX, but if not, learning how it protects you and the controversy surrounding it will arm you with the information you need to develop your own factually-supported opinions.

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Black & Blue

and LGBT rights extensively for the past year. Title IX, the educational amendment passed in 1972, concerns both of these issues and applies to every educational institution from kindergarten to graduate school. It concerns sexual assault, because it keeps mostly female - but also male - students from their right to equity in education. It requires educational institutions to fully investigate a claim made by a student and ensure that the

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 2 | THURSDAY SEPT. 17, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com

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This is because these students have taken the time to research something they’re passionate about and develop their viewpoint. In a perfect world, every student would have this kind of time. However, most of us are working full-time while juggling a hectic class schedule. For those of you who don’t know what Title IX is, you’re not alone. People have been talking about sexual assault on college campuses

It is a matter of campus security security Campus Security provides safety measures to protect students & staff

Figure models reveal the naked truth about baring all in class

Nutritional facts: A slice of tuition Illustration by Marissa Diercks

Toni Roberson Staff Writer

very fall, spring and summer, students stand in line at the Business Office and pay their tuition before moving along to purchasing textbooks and attending classes. Tuition is a necessary element of attending school, but what many students may not know is that they can provide input on how tuition is determined. The cost of tuition is determined by several factors and any changes in fees must filter

through an extensive process, said Jill Houghton, STLCC coordinator of the college budget. “Changes in maintenance, technology and college activity fees from students, staff and faculty are collected in two ways,” Houghton said. “First, changes in these fees are brought before the college’s governance councils. The governance councils consist of an institutional affairs council and an academic council.” These councils exist on a district level as well as a campus level. Institutional affairs council include students as active members who have a say in how tuition is determined.

“Second, students (who are not part of the councils), staff, faculty and the public have an opportunity to provide input on maintenance and other fees at monthly Board of Trustees meetings,” Houghton said. During the monthly Board of Trustees meeting, there is a period at the beginning of each meeting where the public is allowed to comment on topics that are on the agenda. The public is also allowed to make comments on topics that are not part of the agenda after the meeting. Having a time when the public can make comments on tuition cost gives the Board of Trustees a better sense of localism,

said Houghton. This allows the board members to hear firsthand ideas from community members. The Board of Trustees take account of economic factors when determining costs of tuition. These factors change over the years but some of them include the overall wealth of the college, regional and national economy and competition with other community colleges. At STLCC, tuition is separated into four categories: district residents, other Missouri residents, out-of-state residents and international students. To be considered a district student, one has to live in an area that

includes the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and portions of Franklin and Jefferson counties. Each of these categories have different price ranges. For 2015 fall semester, district resident students receive the lowest price of $103 per credit hour and other Missouri residents have the second lowest cost of $149 per credit hour. out-of-state residents can attend classes for $205 per credit hour. International students who attend classes pay $215 per credit hour. Senior citizens who are district residents receive a 50 percent discount plus any additional course fees.

Photo by Katie Hayes

Illustration by Marissa Diercks Katelyn Ericson Staff Writer

Story on pg. 3

Illustration by Jason Waters

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 3 | THURSDAY OCT. 1, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com

America has once more experienced a school shooting. CNN ranked the Umpqua shooting among the “28 deadliest mass shootings” in the United States. According to ABC News, there have been

Story on pg. 3

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the last two years,”Chief of Campus Police Anthony Russo said. Campus police have firearms and emergency equipment that they train with. “Our officers are highly trained,” Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management Mark Potratz said. “Our officers daily wear and use a widerange of safety equipment.

They regularly practice their skills.” This application of skills is very important, Potratz said. Campus police conduct two kinds of drills that prepare staff, faculty and students for an armed intruder.

Katie Hayes Copy Editor

The walls of Humanities East are lined with countless sketches of naked figures. The exact drawings change, but images of the human body continue to line the second floor hall. These drawings are created in Figure Drawing I, II and

Continued p. 3 Illustration by Jason on Waters

III — all required classes for an associate in fine arts from STLCC. Often times though, students know little about the person they spend hours sketching. They see what is considered one of the most intimate things in American culture — the human body — but the manner is entirely professional. “Nudity does not equal sex,” Meramec figure model

Bruce Williams said. “It teaches good artists possibilities. There is nothing like drawing from a real human being, Willams said. “When you’re dealing with real humans, it’s different,” Williams said. “And nude humans are totally different from clothed humans in that all clothing is drapery on top of what’s underneath it. So

you get an idea of what’s there and what you can build onto it.” While seeing a naked human shocks some, the journey from aspiring artist to professional does not allow conservative propriety to inhibit mastering the craft. “I think it’s a little bit of a shock in the beginning because people aren’t used to drawing nude figures, but that quickly goes away,” said

adjunct professor Nate Gaefcke who teaches Figure Drawing. “You quickly forget that the model’s nude because you have to worry about proportion and gesture and all this other kind of stuff.” Gaefcke, who was taught primarily figure drawing in New York, brings the same discipline he learned to his classroom.

Continued on page

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“You do everything you can do to insure the safety of faculty, students and staff,” Fitzgerald said. In response to school shootings like Umpqua, STLCC campus police are training in case the worse should happen. “We have increased active shooter training and lockdowns. Every campus police officer has had these trainings once, most twice, in

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47 school shootings this year. What safety procedures and practices does STLCCMeramec have to prevent a similar event from occurring? While it is impossible to prevent or predict a tragedy like Umpqua, we put systems in place to minimize the risk, Vice President of Student Affairs Kim Fitzgerald said.

Soulmate Search:

Academic Restructuring

How a screen alters attraction

Provost: A chief academic executive officer. Combines the positions of campus president and vice president of academic affairs. Responsibilities include overseeing faculty and execution of curriculum.

July 20 July 2015

n of Selectio osts s prov e. campu complet set to be

Jeff Pittman selected as fifth chancellor of STLCC in ten years.

To Be Announ

ced

Roles and responsibilities of deans and department chai rs discussed.

Photos by Katie Hayes Graphic By Marissa Diercks

Lady Archers defeat Wentworth Lady Dragons on Cancer Awareness Day

Photo by Jason Waters

STLCC head into Region XVI Tournament following 46 point victory in home finale

Writing specialist Jeannine Vesser helps Meramec student Melinda Draper with schoolwork in the writing center, which is located on the second floor of the Meramec campus library.

Writing Inauguration: Meramec hosts first International Write-In Event Christian Hargas Sports Editor

St. Louis Community College-Meramec hosted the Write-In event on Dec. 2. STLCC is one of 80 colleges and universities hosting events from Dec. 1-10. The college is part of the International Write-In Association that spearheaded the first International Write-In, College Writing Center

Supervisor Fran Hooker said. “We are one of only a handful of community colleges since most of them are universities,” Hooker said. “So, we are happy to be one of the community colleges represented.” The Writing Center strived to give students a central place to come together as writers and offer a range of available services, Hooker said. “We wanted to offer students resources including reading tutors, reference librarians, and writing specialists to help

students with their final projects,” Hooker said. “We also wanted to create a vibe and sense of community around writing. That was our main significance.” There were different parts of the event that students found helpful, writing specialist Patty Kocot said. “I think if nothing else, they found the extended hours to be helpful,” Kocot said. “Also, I noticed people got excited whenever Fran was doing the drawings. It was really exciting because one

of the students I was working with won one of the gift cards.” Writing specialist Harriet Clark said she thought the event went really well. “I felt that there was a bond in the air of people working, talking and being productive,” Clark said. “I think it helped to work in an environment where other people were working and focused on getting things done. It is nice to know that you are part of a community of

Graphic by Marissa Diercks

STLCC Administration creates provost positions for campuses

scholars, students and writers.” One of the major challenges to writing is that it leads to procrastination, Hooker said. “Writing is hard work and we tend to put it off,” Hooker said. “I think that having a group of other people who are doing the same thing can be inspiring for others to get the work done, so that was a goal.” Continued on page 3

VOLUME 51, ISSUE 7 | THURSDAY Dec. 10, 2015 | www.meramecmontage.com

Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-In-Chief

STLCC began altering their administrative structure when former Meramec and Wildwood campus president, Pam McIntyre, retired in July 2015 after her 29year career at STLCC. The greatest change in administration since then was a new chancellor, Chancellor Jeff Pittman, who was hired in July

2015. He is the fifth chancellor at STLCC within 10 years. This semester, however, administration is again undergoing major academic restructuring. STLCC is consolidating two positions, which will result in a new one — a provost. This position combines the campus president and vice president of academic affairs. Forest Park, Florissant Valley and Meramec are each set to welcome a provost by July 1 of this year. Wildwood will

welcome an associate provost. “We have a lot of instability, not just in the chancellor’s office but also at the campus levels. We’ve had different presidents and interim presidents,” Associate professor of English, Michael Burke said. There is much concern as to what will happen next, but the Academic Affairs Structure Focus Group (AASFG) is working to streamline the campus level overhead, Burke said. “Our first challenge, the

one that Dr. Pittman gave us, was to think about ways that we could streamline the campus level overhead,” Burke said. “His idea, which a lot of other community colleges that have multiple campuses like we do use, is this idea of a provost.” STLCC has three relatively good-sized campuses (Meramec, Florissant Valley and Forest Park) and Wildwood, a smaller campus. Wildwood has always been treated as a separate entity, Burke said.

“We spent a lot of time getting feedback from faculty first on this idea of a provost — could we combine these two positions and what would be deemed or lost by that,” Burke said. A couple months later, the committee went back out to the faculty and said ‘if we decide that we have some number of provosts, what would the right number be,’ Burke said. With a fair amount of feedback from people college

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VOLUME 51, ISSUE 8 | THURSDAY Jan. 28, 2016 | www.meramecmontage.com

Graphic by Dalila Kahvedzic

Do dating apps lead to successful relationships? Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-In-Chief

As Miley Cyrus states in her song “Someone Else,” “love is patient, love is selfless, love is hopeful, love is kind, love is jealous, love is selfish, love is helpless, love is blind.” Is love really all of these things? According to Google, love is an intense feeling of deep affection,

but according to dating apps such as Tinder, love may come after one decides to swipe right. Whether someone decides to swipe right or not, love is something we all crave. Love can be multiple things; a relationship with a grandmother, a relationship with a sibling or a relationship with a partner. Love is patient. A person waits for love and when they have it, it stands the test of time. Is this the right time to do this, when is it the

right time to make the next move? Love is selfless. Love is hopeful, love is kind. Is it? Love is jealous, love is selfish, love is helpless, love is blind. Is it? Love is communication. It is the interaction one gets from their significant other on a daily basis as they go about their normal routine tasks. Communications professor Chris Smejkal said that in today’s society, people gravitate more towards communicating through

a screen than in person because it requires less commitment. But what about somebody’s true, unpolished self that is seen when it is a face-to-face interaction? The old-school feelings of touch, chemistry and energy? Seeing somebody’s edited and polished photo that they post on a website versus seeing them in person are two completely different scenarios. How much information can one really pull from a photo and a short bio on tinder, versus a two-

minute conversation in person? When interaction is in person, the nerves kick in. The awkward silences happen and the typical conversation about mediocre topics, such as the weather, begin to fill it. Which one proves to be better? Anonymous surveys were taken and submitted by students on the Meramec campus to show us what happens on these dating apps when there is no in-person, faceto-face communication involved. Story on Pgs. 5-6

Christian Hargas Sports Editor

The STLCC Lady Archers defeated the Lady Dragons of Wentworth Military Academy, 9145, in the annual Cancer Awareness Game. The Lady Archers scored the first 11 points and led 30-6 after one quarter. It was nice to be able to just let the kids do what they were capable of doing, Head Coach Shelly Ethridge said. “This kind of game, the way they performed tonight, as

long as I do not get involved they are going to win the game,” Ethridge said. “I am really happy for our kids and what they have brought to our program.” Freshman Forward/Center Alfreda Roberts scored four points, had 11 total rebounds and two steals in the game. Staying focused in a game like this was the most important part to continuing their momentum, Roberts said. “We came in prepared,” Roberts said. “We knew we had to focus on this game in order to look forward to the next game. We had to bring our best here, in order to continue the momentum and be ready for the next game.”

The Lady Archers began the season losing eight of their first 10 games. They have won 13 of their last 18 contests, following their three point victory at MCCPenn Valley. The continuity and momentum has come together at the right time, Ethridge said. “We have certainly come together as a team and as a family,” Ethridge said. “We are starting to play well together. It is all about peaking at the right time and staying focused and I think our chances will be good in the Regions Tournament, as long as everybody does their job.” Against Wentworth Military Academy, the Lady Archers had

four players reach double-digits in points scored. Freshman Guard Shania Thornton led the team with 20 points and sophomore Guard Marcie Belcher had 19 points. Sophomore Guard Amanda Hughes scored 18 [leading the team with a threepoint shooting percentage of 63] and sophomore Forward LaShonda Brewer scored 14. It was an exciting day for the athletes, Roberts said. “It felt pretty good,” Roberts said. “We still have to focus on what we need to do in order to get better. We have to continue to learn and play hard in order to become better over time.”

The annual STLCC Cancer Awareness day took place on Saturday, Feb. 13. Being a part of this event was very important to everyone involved, Ethridge said. “This was a very meaningful game for them and our program, especially since this was the Cancer Awareness game,” Ethridge said. “Winning is always important, but the most important thing is that we are raising awareness about cancer.” Roberts agreed. “It was really important for us to be a part of this event and win a game like this,” Roberts said. Story continued on Pg 11

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Homeless: not hopeless

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M O N TA G E Many students pursue education despite housing crisis Story by Katie Hayes

Last semester, 10 students sought help from the Student Assistance Program (SAP) regarding housing. This semester, four students have already approached SAP for housing assistance. “We’ve had students that come in and they’re sleeping outside, but they come to school still,” Student Assistance Specialist Christina Hunter said. “They’re still motivated, which speaks a lot about the students here, but we definitely do as much as we can to help those students.” While those students may not be identifiable to others,there are far more students without homes than SAP faculty previously assumed. “It’s unbelievable to know how many students we have that are actually homeless,” Student Assistance Specialist and Manager Claire Martin said. “They’re living out of their cars or they’re living out of shelters and they continue coming to school.” SAP assists students who are in crisis, or in danger of entering a crisis. The program was previously called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and only helped students who received public assistance. Two years ago, the program expanded their services to assist all students in need. “We’ve opened up outside of TANF and renamed it Student Assistance to be inclusive of everyone that’s there,” Hunter said. “[We’re here] even for something that’s temporary or something that’s going on and students didn’t expect it to happen, or something that they’re dealing with currently.” The Brown Bag Cafe, SAP’s most well-known and utilized resource, provides lunches for students who cannot afford them.

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ADVOCATE AUTISM

Make

Wish

Story continued on Pg. 5

Graphic and Photo by Marissa Diercks

Teamwork makes the dream work: Students help a child’s wish on a star come true Jason Waters Production Manager

Student governance council (SGC) has partnered with student activities council (SAC) to make a wish come true for a 5-year-old girl, Mackenzie. For the sake of privacy, Make-A-Wish does not provide her full name. Mackenzie was born

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Graphics by Lexie Keller and Jason Waters VOLUME 51, ISSUE 12 | THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2016 | www.meramecmontage.com

Stories on pgs. 6-7

with Sickle Cell Anemia and has undergone a stem cell transplant. Mackenzie was then required to undergo numerous treatments after this transplant caused her to develop Graft-Versus Host Disease. Mackenzie’s mother said she is now Sickle Cell free and has reduced her intake of medication. Mackenzie’s one true wish is to go to Disney World and

meet the Disney Princesses. Kathryn Turek, president of Student Governance Council, said they are blessed to be in collaboration with Student Activities Council to make this wish come true. “We are very blessed that we were able to work very well with our student activities council. Our student activities council has done so much to collaborate with us this entire

semester on events that they want to host for us and then also in addition just give to the student body and allow them to have more of a community environment,” Turek said. There is a committee of about 15 to 20 people on the side of SGC named The Dream Team, Turek said. The Dream Team gets together individially and discusses ideas to make plans

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for campus activities, Turek said. This would not have been possible without Phillip Campbell and Carolyn O’laughlin from campus life, Turek said. “They have guided us a lot along the way. They are the glue to the entire project,”Turek said. “Our goal is $5,000 by May 6. We are almost at $3,000.”

Continued on page 2

Graphic assembled by Marissa Diercks

History through Music: Meramec Professor brings cultural enrichment to campus Dalila Kahvedzic Editor-In-Chief

A shallow, red rock canyon which spans 10 miles sits in New Mexico’s northwest corner at 6,200 feet. Around AD 850, a people formerly known as the Anasazi, now the Ancestral Pueblo Tribes, began to construct massive stone buildings. These buildings soared four or five stories high and

consisted of up to 700 rooms. Gary Gackstatter, assistant professor and music director at Meramec, has been teaching full time on the campus for nine years. Throughout the months of July through September, he explored Chaco Canyon and put together a musical piece which he will share with the campus and community on Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8. “Everything is centered around Chaco Canyon – a thousand years

ago, thousands of people came to this desolate canyon in what is now New Mexico and they built these huge - what they call great houses. They’re just massive and some of them are five stories high with the floor space of the roman colosseum - 600-700 rooms. They built 14 of them, a total of 3,000 rooms in that canyon,” Gackstatter said. “They found out later that all the major walls are lined up with the solar and lunar patterns, so these people had an intelligence

that drove the design of it.” Gackstatter has been out in the four corners area many times, he said. As you walk out, there is something out there and the English language is very poor at conveying these things. “Everybody that goes out there goes ‘man there’s something powerful out there,’” Gackstatter said. “It draws me to it and for me to dedicate this much time to it, it has to have enough power to pull that. I still don’t feel

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like I know enough about it.” Gackstatter wanted to write a piece of music about the ways the Native American culture is connected to the land, sky, each other and the spirit world, he said. “I wanted a deeper connection with nature and Native American Culture and to be able to express that through music,” Gackstatter said. “Words can’t express what’s out there – music can.”

Story continued on p.2