The Montage

College Reorganization Prompts Concern Among Faculty

Vice Chancellor Langrehr tries to clarify misconceptions

Jacob Politte MANAGING EDITOR

STLCC hosted several forums across its campuses recently regarding a reorganization of its programs and department under the umbrella of Academic Affairs during the week of Sept. 18. The reorganization is set to be drafted over the next two months, formally presented to the Board of Trustees in December, and be fully implemented by July 1, 2024.

The forum at the Meramec campus took place in Lecture Hall Room 103 on the afternoon of Sept. 20. Campus President Moore-Davis and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs

Andrew Langrehr hosted and led the forum, with Langher’s portion taking up most of the presentation. Langrehr said he attended all sessions across the campuses excluding one session at the Florissant Valley campus.

When Langrehr finished his presentation, he opened the forum up to questions. The faculty present in the Lecture Hall that day had many questions to ask him. And some who spoke up were not thrilled with what was presented.

Langrehr gives some background

Langrehr said that reorganization isn’t a new thing for the college.

“This isn’t the first time that Academic Affairs has been reorganized,” Langrehr said. “Not long ago, rather than campus presidents and CCAO’s, we had provosts. We’ve changed some departmental structures and some division structures over time.

BA First Up for Demolition

We’ve been talking about ‘One College’ at St. Louis Community College and what that means. So, there’s been structural changes, not just Academic Affairs, but in other units.”

Langrehr said that he considers the most significant reorganization of Academic Affairs in recent times occurred between 2015 and 2018. Langrehr, however, acknowledged some shortcomings that persisted in that model.

“In that model, what you get is a kind of campus siloization,” he said. “Where Meramec students get different opportunities and resources and things that students on other campuses [may not receive],” he said. “Maybe even different answers to questions about the same program, because it’s kind of silo’ed by campus.”

Langrehr said that the goal of “One College” is to make it where students across campuses have “the same responses to questions, the same opportunities where the same programs exist for assistance and tutoring and the same access to courses and faculty.”

Regarding the benefits to ‘Pathways’ and ‘Meta Majors,’ Langrehr touted the positives.

“Sometimes the terminology may get a little nebulous,” he acknowledged. “But, many students may not know exactly what they want to do.” Langrehr then said that they do know what they’re interested in.

“The benefit of the Pathways approach is that students can get to that degree or credential by taking fewer classes. And taking fewer classes that don’t count toward the degree.”

Dr. Moore-Davis was seen speaking with several faculty members after the presentation’s conclusion, but she declined to give comment to The Montage citing time constraints.

Langrehr, an STLCC veteran of over 22 years, first came to Meramec as a faculty member of Chemistry, ascending to various roles over the years before landing the job of STLCC’s Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

He said that the college takes faculty feedback “very seriously.”

“The college takes it very seriously,” Langrehr said. “That’s why we’ve had multiple sessions on each of the campuses on this particular issue, to get that input.”

Langrehr said that the session was primarily about receiving feedback from the faculty before beginning to draft specific plans.

“We’re not making any structural recommendations until we get that, and until we collate that and see what’s there,” he said. “From my perspective, on this issue, I think it’s pretty obvious that we care about folk’s input.”

He continued, “The purpose of the forum was, pretty directly, to talk just a little bit about ‘Pathways’ if people needed a little bit of a refresher on it. Most of the folks in that room have heard some about it because we’ve been working on it for a while, but it was primarily to do a little bit of a refresher on that.”

Langrehr says he also provided data about STLCC’s current system during the presentation, which was provided to every faculty member and was also displayed on the projector screen in the Lecture Hall.

“The thought was that there would be some time to ask some questions and also maybe to work together in thinking about that,” he said. “In most of the sessions [...] most of the time was spent in that kind of conversational aspect with the leadership and the group. Asking questions about what’s possible, what things are on the table and off the table, as opposed to really getting into ‘how many leaders do you need over this size group’ and that kind of stuff.”

He continued, “For Academic Affairs, [this is] possibly a big change. We want a lot of smart people thinking about it, so that we can make the change work the best in the future. For faculty, staff and students.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STLCC

Demolition of the Business Administration Building began in mid-September. For full updates, see p.

for the STLCC Transformed story.

guidelines for reorganization provided in a presentation given by Vice Chancellor Langrehr

Construction ramps up at Meramec

JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR

Throughout the past month, construction projects across campus have continued to change the Meramec campus irrevocably, and will continue to do so in the coming months.

After a successful groundbreaking ceremony attended by 130 spectators in the Library Quad on Sept. 8, interior demolition began in the Business Administration building. Many of the interior walls within the building have been removed as of press time. In addition,

the canopy between the building and the Social Sciences building is currently in the process of being removed, and that entrance to Social Sciences remains closed at this time. A new ADA accessible ramp has been added on the north side of the building in the meantime.

In addition to the canopy demolition, the demolition of the walkway bridge between Communications North and South is estimated to begin next Monday, Oct. 9. The area under the bridge, and the adjacent entrance to Communications North, will be blocked off later this week, and students, staff and other visitors will be detoured to other entrances, according to information provided by STLCC’s Marketing and Communications District Coordinator Skye Lufsey.

NEWS BRIEFS

Peterson Lecture Series

STLCC alum Richard Sprengeler presents and discusses his work

“Landscapes/Cityscapes: a 45-year Retrospective” at this year’s Peterson Photography Lecture Series on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The opening reception is 5-6:45 p.m. on the Meramec campus in Humanities East 133. The lecture will follow from 7-9 p.m. in Lecture Hall 103.

Clubs Need Advisors

The following prospective clubs need advisors:

*Clothesline Project: Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | SC Portico

The clothesline project, which started in Massachusetts in 1990, is a visual display to bring awareness of the impact of interpersonal violence and to educate our community. STLCC honors and supports survivors of interpersonal violence. Students will decorate t-shirts in honor of survivors or those we have lost to violence.

*Purple Thursday, Oct. 19 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. | SC Portico

the bridge from Communications North to Communications South. The bridge is scheduled to come down within the next month, with demolition expected to begin in less than one week.

In preparation for the demolition, a temporary wall has been added on the second floor of Communications North to separate the walkway from the building, allowing for a less intrusive presence in Communications North. Stay tuned to meramecmontage. com and our associated social media channels for continued updates regarding construction and changes coming to the Meramec campus.

MERAMEC

The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program.

** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **

COURSES

MUS 101,102,201,202 Music Theory I,II,III,IV

MUS 103 Basic Music

MUS 113 History of Jazz

MUS 114 Music Appreciation

MUS 115 116 Class Voice I,II

MUS 121,122,221,222 Class Piano I,II,III,IV

MUS 128 History of Rock Music

MUS 130 Beginning Guitar

MUS 138,139,216 Jazz Improvisation I,II,III

MUS 141,142,241,242 Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV

MUS 150 Fundamentals of Music Technology

MUS 152 Audio Engineering

MUS 154 Music Recording with ProTools I

MUS 211,212 Music History I,II

Interested in performing in an ensemble?

All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required! MUS131, 132 and 134 are CORE42 performance courses!

ENSEMBLES

Music 131 – Concert Choir

Music 132 – Orchestra

Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 138 – Jazz Improvisation

All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers

For more information, contact Music at Meramec Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638

*DECA

*Pride Alliance

*Martial Arts

If you have questions or would like to become an advisor, please contact Mia Harsley in campus life.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

STLCC is taking part to help raise awareness of domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families and communities. Here’s what’s going on at Meramec:

The Student Advocacy and Resource Center (SARC) is encouraging all members of the STLCC community to wear purple on this day to honor and show support for survivors of intimate partner violence.

Philosophical Content Wanted

Socratic Society is accepting student submisions for their philosophy magazine. Submissions are due Oct. 31, 2023. Submit work to sjoakim@stlcc.edu.

Meetings

A temporary wall closes off

photo by : jacob politte

Oct. 5, 2023

College Reorg: Tensions Simmer in Lecture Hall 103

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

The forum got heated at many points. Some faculty members challenged Langrehr’s positions directly during the forum, and Langrehr acknowledged he didn’t have some of the answers on hand that faculty was seeking.

“In that room, I didn’t have a lot of ‘Here’s what this is gonna look like,” he said.

He chalks up the strong reactions to a sort of fear of the unknown, and says he understands why some faculty may feel uneasy.

“I think that some of it comes from the seriousness of the conversation,” Langrehr said. “When you’re talking about changing structure, change causes some fear.”

Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser

Facebook.com/ meramecmontage/

Langrehr said that “Right now, faculty know who their supervisor is. They know what that structure looks like. They know the personalities and the practices within that structure.”

He continued, “And if it’s change that’s gonna affect you and you’re not clear on how [...] if you’ve got someone coming in and saying ‘Hey, by the end of this year, a lot of that can change for many of you’ I think that heightens people’s sense of awareness.

Instagram.com “meramecmontage”

Youtube.com “montagelax”

Langrehr understands that some faculty may not understand how this change may affect them and that they may not be able to picture how it would work due to how “open” the process is right now.

“I think some of that is pretty normal,” he said. “When you have a serious change going on, and people are concerned about it.”

Langrehr also acknowledged that some faculty may not be sold on “Pathways” but he said, “We care, we want to hear [what faculty thinks] and that’s why we’re providing data and not pictures. I think people want to be heard, and make sure that I understand that they care about it. That it’s important to them.”

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He continued, “That didn’t fall on deaf ears. Each of the campuses have a little bit different culture, and we did these [forums] and I think there were some passionate questions on all of the campuses. But there were definitely more at Meramec. And that’s part of the culture there. They like to ask the hard questions.”

One thing Langrehr wanted to make clear is that there are no plans to move faculty off of a campus to another if they do not wish to do so.

“There’s no plan to move faculty in what’s in front of us,” he said. “This is really a plan about making sure it’s clear how faculty across the district connect and who leads them. And making sure

that structure is ‘One College’ and with a Pathways lens on it.”

Langrehr acknowledged that every year, there is conversation about a little bit of faculty movement as a result of retirements or other changes. But he says not to expect more movement than normal.

“That’s not the purpose of this,” Langrehr said. “I don’t think that with this conversation, it’s gonna change from what’s ordinary.”

One point of contention with faculty concerned what the group perceived to be a lack of specific data and a lack of names of institutions using the Pathways model. While he didn’t name institutions to The Montage when asked, Langrehr said that Pathways is used at institutions on a national level. “I’m working on providing that,” he said.

Addressing one final criticism, he said, “We leaned on our own successes in terms of deciding to go down this road. Where we have done this centralization, it’s been good for students. There was a faculty member [in the forum] who didn’t think it was great for their area. The majority opinion is that it has been good in the areas. It’s been good for nursing students, the outcomes across the district have been better and more consistent. It’s been good in the other programs, that’s why we’ve added programs.”

“I want to be clear,” he said. “We’re not looking to have someone else prove to us this works. We’re leaning on our own successes, and moving further down the road from where we’ve already started."

The view of the faculty

Professor David Taylor was among the faculty that spoke up during the forum. He said that the forum may have gone more smoothly if professors had more specific details on what they were giving input on.

“It probably would have created a different atmosphere in the room,” he said. “Asking for feedback at this stage on one hand seems to make sense. So faculty can kind of shape the conversations and the direction. But the problem is that faculty have

somewhat of a limited perspective on the different requirements for all of the different positions within the college. And even within the different departments within the campus.”

He said that he currently has the same questions now that he did at the forum.

“I left that meeting with more questions than answers,” Taylor said. “I was hoping to see what the problem is that the reorganization is attempting to solve, that our current organization doesn’t seem to be able to handle appropriately.”

He later continued, “Faculty think about ‘How this is going to be implemented practically? What is it gonna look like?”

Taylor highlighted one particular issue he saw with the college’s idea.

“For instance, one of things is that it looks like the college wants to have district-wide departments. So you would have one dean over let’s say, every English Department on each campus. One of the things the Deans have to do is they have to have class visits as part of our faculty evaluation. So the Deans are going to have to go to every single campus to visit the faculty. So is that practical or not?”

Taylor raised other concerns about the deans structure during the forum, and a lack of details from the college about the structure left him confused.

“You’ll have a dean overseeing a department, and then a dean that will oversee a ‘Pathway.’ But there could also be multiple deans that oversee a ‘Pathway.’ The thing is, I don’t know what that means. What would they be doing when they oversee it? That would inform what my feedback might be. [...] I’m lacking that perspective that the administration has for what would be appropriate for some of these roles and what they would be doing.”

Taylor also talked about the college’s projected timeline for the reorganization.

“Even if we say it’s going to take the entire year [for this reorganization], the last one took four years,” he said. “Granted, there was much more involved with that reorganization than this one.”

Board of Trustees Highlights

Sept. 28, 2023 Meeting

There was a public hearing for setting the Tax Rate.

Recognition of Student and Staff Accomplishments - Professor Gerald Myers received the MCDA Presidential Award of Excellence, The highest honors given to choral directors in Missouri.

Presentation from Veteran’s Affairs

Approved appointing Trustee Rodney Gee as the St. Louis Community College Voting Delegate

for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress

Chancellor’s Report – 2023 Fall Census Enrollment, League for Innovation Visit, Tee for Tuition Tournament, Best Place to Work: Service Award Programs

Board Chair’s Report – Meramec Groundbreaking, Dual Enrollment One Professor and Student discussed the cancellation of filmmaking.

Three citizens discussed the

potential of renting the William J. Harrison Center to a private charter school and felt that STLCC should not rent the space to the charter school and how it works against what the local community wants. They would like to have STLCC start offering courses at the Harrison Center.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

This month, take a trip back to 1975 when The Montage got spooky

jacob politte MANAGING EDITOR

As The Montage approaches 60 years in print, it’s notable that archived digital copies that can be viewed by readers on The Montage’s “Issuu” page only date back to 2010. The rest are not lost to time, however. Print copies, both loose and binded, still exist. They date all the way back to the very first issue in 1964 and can be accessed in the Library.

As we approach our sixtieth year in publication, The Montage would like to take you back in time to some of those issues throughout the coming school year. This month, we’re going all the way back to the Oct. 31, 1975 issue.

1975 was a different time. STLCC wasn’t even called STLCC for one thing; the college was known as the Junior College District of St. Louis-St. Louis County until the following year. But The Montage was in its eleventh year of print, and the center page spread in the Halloween issue wasn’t afraid to get spooky.

Pages 6 and 7 of that issue contained four spooky pieces. “Halloween down through the ages” by Karen Allen gives a brief overview of how the holiday came to be, while Clay Slover’s “Explaining some favorite myths” did exactly what it teased. Mickey Jorden’s “The Superstitious world of pro sports” discusses the weird worlds of sports and the strange rituals of some baseball players and teams, while Bob Theiss’s “Three old fear-friends” reflects on famous supernatural tales across the globe.

In another non-spooky item, a discussion of Meramec’s discontent concerning lack of a radio station popped up. Florissant Valley’s radio station, 89.5 KCFV-FM is still in service today. An Op-Ed piece reads:

“The district is set up this way to allow specialization. All schools have areas of specialization; this gives the institutions an opportunity to concentrate efforts and become proficient in those areas. The JD Colleges are no different. Having three colleges that are exactly the same would be a duplication of effort and could stop any of the colleges from becoming accomplished in any specific areas.

The other reason for differences could be that there is not enough interest, support or financial backing on the campus for a certain project or projects. In other words, if no one cares, no one works, and no one pays; nothing happens. And one must go elsewhere.

The fact is, that due to the different makeup of the three colleges, they are going to have differences in programs, classes, faculty, organizations, and activities. So one college might offer something that one or both of the others do not. In addition there may be differences in programs or projects due to lack of interest, support, or financial backing on campus.

No one is getting cheated. It is a matter of avoiding duplication and meeting the needs of each particular college.”

The Stars of the Sky Club

Highlighting one of a few new clubs debuting this semester on the Meramec campus

MACY GILLICK STAFF

Meramec has many clubs that students can join this semester, one of which is the Sky Club. The Sky Club is a club for students interested in the topics of astronomy and meteorology. They also care about environmental science, and they do activities associated with the weather events, including observation nights and are in the process of planning more events, according to Club President Eleanor Becker.

“So far we have had small meetings but we hope to expand and have more fun events planned, and are more prepared to have events planned like storm spotter meetings and possibly touring a news station,” said Becker.

She continued, “It’s very important especially in college since you don’t know anyone too well to get connections with others and being in a club will help in the future to make new friends. A club is a good way to build a new family. This is a small club so far but with a small group it’s easier to connect and feel like a family and we all feel really close to each other.”

Club Treasurer and Secretary Carly Woodhill said, “Our club is very interconnected having only a few core members. However the relationship between the core members is nice and it’s enjoyable spending time with them. Even doing events together like

Springfest, Club Expo and Earth Day [festivities]... we are a smaller club but a very close group.” She continued, “After COVID, the sense of community at Meramec was impaired. So getting active in a club and finding out what events are happening on campus helps being able to be around people and connect with them. A lot of people see it

as a time commitment but it’s worth it and makes you more invested in everything going around you. It helps you feel more grounded to reality to be a part of something.”

To inquire about joining the Sky Club, contact Faculty Advisor Joe Schneider at jrschneider@ stlcc.edu.

From left to right: Faculty Adviser Joe Schneider, Treasurer and Secretary Carly Woodhill, President Eleanor Becker and member Tyler Willyard.

photo by: macy gillick

‘Currents’ Review: Light In The Darkness

The 2023 edition of the long running literary magazine focuses on five main themes

JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR

The 2023 edition of Meramec’s literary magazine “Currents” was delivered to campus over the summer, and once again, the stories contained in this volume delivered.

Last year’s edition of Currents mostly focused on the themes of “rebellion, interruption, intermission and relationships.” The cover of the volume, created by Meramec students, reflected these darker and more serious themes, and intentionally rough illustrations and images that accompany the pieces also set the necessary tones.

This year, the team went in a different direction, focusing on themes centering around recovery and healing. Even the cover itself is full of light compared to the 2022 volume. Despite the shift in tone, the featured works aren’t afraid to get dark when warranted, and the magazine’s first section centered on trauma.

The highlight of the “trauma” section may be author Gail Nuestro’s submission “Rediscovering Max.” In the submission, a young woman revisits pitivol memories made with her brother Max as he is hospitalized and on his deathbed during the pandemic, presumably with COVID. It’s an intriguing look at family dynamics and how the pandemic changed some forever. Readers who have had bad experiences with COVID may be affected greatly by Nuestro’s tale.

The “mental health” section is the shortest of the bunch, clocking in at 12 pages. Consisting entirely of poetry, unique font choices and formatting help Riley Butler’s “Breathing Exercises” stand out visually from the pack. The content of “Breathing Exercises” seems scattered and unfocused, but when you put it all together, it seems like that’s intentional. Butler’s work feels deeply personal and vulnerable.

The “self care” section features an extremely funny

submission with a lengthy title.

Elise Humes’ “Family Is Being Weird When You Think No One Is Watching, but in Reality, Your Sister Is Recording You Across the Dinner Table” tells a heartwarming story of two sisters that provides many laughs throughout. This contrasts with the lengthy submission “My Quest To Conquer Death” in which author Clinton Keith Borror discusses his atheism and his perspective on the concept of death itself. Borror injects some humor into his piece, and it’s likely not everyone’s cup of tea. However, the confidence that resonates throughout the entire submission is notable and even a reader not sold on its premise will likely appreciate the boldness that Borror isn’t afraid to show.

The “aspiration” section features a mix of poetry and short fiction stories. A.L. Goetemann’s “Star Blessed” appears to be an introductory piece to a longer fiction story, but its unique premise stands out, and perhaps the next edition of Currents will provide a sequel of sorts.

Finally, the “Expression” section also consists entirely of poetry. Devynn LeJeune’s submission “Tranquil” is short but sweet, while Finn Reinbold’s “The Place” is a reflective kind of submission with a haunting final line.

Overall, the 2023 edition of Currents is a worthy

addition to the history of the publication. It can be picked up and viewed in various locations around campus. Submissions for the 2024 volume are currently being accepted, according to faculty advisor David Taylor.

Wanting What’s Best for our Children

Nursing student John Fickbohm continues his journey at STLCC

LILLIAN THUM STAFF WRITER

Nurses are the lifeblood of any medical organization. They do a lot of the base level work and logistics so the doctors can do their best as well. Without them, everything would grind to a halt. And in the halls of the Science West building, the Saint Louis Community College-Meramec nursing program prepares those willing to venture into the medical field.

One student, John Fickbohm, is a non-traditional second semester nursing student. John is a 36 yearold family man from Alabama, with a rambunctious Border Collie-lab mix named Duke. At first, he was like many 18 year olds as he didn’t quite know what to do with his life. With guidance, he got himself involved in a respiratory therapy program and with the help of many others, he found a love for pediatric care and for working with people.

Over 14 years, Fickbohm was already doing “some of the gross things that make most people go “eww nursing” as a pediatric respiratory therapist.

He wanted to get more involved with patient care and eventually he said “Well, why don’t I just go with that?” He joined the Meramec nursing program out of his faith and his desire to make the world a better place, one child at a time.

Fickbohm humbly describes himself as an average guy guided by his faith. He found his faith when he was 15, and that has led him to healthcare and to the nursing program. The program has treated Fickbohm well, he said “it’s difficult work, but it’s not all just book work…..This is what happens in the real world, and carry it out.” The teachers have been amazing, when Fickbohm says “I can’t make it” they respond with “when can you make it?”

“You get the feeling they really care about you succeeding,” he said.

After finishing the program, Fickbohm hopes to return back to pediatrics with a nursing position. He first wants to return to a bedside position and eventually become a pediatric nurse at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital.

Nurses do an important job in making sure the doctor has everything

they need to treat a patient, and that the patient is taken care of. It takes a special kind of person to take on such a gigantic task, and people like John Fickbohm rise to the challenge, look the task in the face and say “I can do that!” We all want what’s best for our children, and with STLCC’s nursing program having a state board exam pass rate of 84%, five percent above the national average, it produces some incredible nurses. Fickbohm hopes to be one of them.

The Wildwood campus, where the Nursing Program has expanded, displays newly-created classrooms. John Fickbohm atttends the Meramec campus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STLCC

Campus Life Manager Puts Organization Skills to the Test

For a year and a half, Mia Harsley has been in charge of organizing campus activities and overseeing student clubs and organizations. As the Manager of Campus Life, Harsley is in charge of overseeing Campus Life Activities, various clubs and organizations, and the Student Government Association (SGA).

Within the first month of the 2023 fall semester, a variety of activities have occurred throughout the campus, such as the Archie Fox give-away and Hispanic Heritage Celebration, thanks to Harsley.

In order to stay on top of her work, Harsley says that she must be strict with deadlines.

“[The job involves] a whole lot of delegating, and a lot of tasks and deadlines, and working with new student programs,” she said.

Harsley has organized many different campus activities in her time working at STLCC, such as, Spring fest, crafty days, diversity month activities, such as Taste of Black St. Louis, trunk or treat, indigenous people day, assisted midterm check ins, life-hacks, archie fox giveaway, which was a surprising success according to Harsley, due to the fact they ran out of plushies.

Running events on Campus comes with several obstacles and challenges. Finding an adequate space and time are two of the biggest challenges Harsley faces.

Other hardships that Harsley mentions are student attendance and engagement with campus activities

FAFSA CHANGES FAFSA CHANGES FAFSA CHANGES

2024-2025 AWARD YEAR 2024-2025 AWARD YEAR 2024-2025 AWARD YEAR

Did you notice that the FAFSA didn’t open on October 1st? You’re not alone. The FASFA is changing and won’t be available until December

Instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) there will be the SAI

and if the subject matter is appropriate for the school environment. Harsely said she asks many questions like, “Will students attend this event? What room [is it in]? What time [does it start]?, Is it engaging, Is it appropriate?”

A primary focus of Harsleys time is the creation of five new clubs for students. She said that some of the new clubs that are planned to begin this school year include Intramural Volleyball; a club focused on Martial Arts; DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America); a club focused on graphic design and a crafty club.

Harlsey said she believes that students who take the time to attend campus activities will get more out of their time at STLCC. “I hope that students will participate in any activities because it helps them have the best college experience and be more involved,” she said.

Millions of college and highereducation students nationwide fill out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to determine their eligibility to earn financial aid from the government This upcoming award year, the FAFSA will become shorter, more user-friendly accessible and accurate of each student’s financial circumstance

Students with divorced or separated parents will need to have the individual who provides them the most financial support provide their financial information

The new IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) allows financial providers to consent to have the IRS send their financial information directly to the FAFSA no more hassle of entering federal tax information manually

Reported Assets

The FAFSA will now require families to report the net worth of businesses (regardless of size) and value of family farms

Students can now send their FAFSA to up to 20 schools instead of 10

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ESTIMATES CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH NEED-BASED PELL GRANTS

930,000 930,000

Unfortunately, there is no set date for when the FAFSA will open They expect to have it available sometime in December Have more questions? Visit or contact Meramec s Financial Aid office in Clark Hall AD-102 to discuss the new changes to the FAFSA and how they might affect you and your family

RYAN WINZEN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPUS LIFE

Uncovering Accountability Gaps

A Closer Look at STLCC Leadership

Ty Defrates STAFF WRITER

At STLCC, a cloud of concerns looms over employee satisfaction and the dire need for greater transparency in budget allocation and project spending. As we delve into the intricacies of these issues, it becomes evident that the key decision-makers— the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Pittman—are at the forefront of this accountability crisis. Their actions, or inaction, bear profound consequences for both employees and students. It’s imperative to address these concerns head-on.

Over the past eight years, our leadership, comprising the Board of Trustees (BOT), Chancellor Pittman, and others, has orchestrated significant changes within the institution. Some may argue that these changes have been akin to creating problems only to swoop in as heroes to solve them. This raises serious questions about accountability.

In the world of leadership and management, it’s an established fact that delegation, accountability, and transparency are fundamental principles. Accountability, in particular, rests squarely with the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Pittman, as they are entrusted with overseeing the institution. Yet, some employees have voiced concerns, suggesting that the Board merely serves the Chancellor. Such doubts challenge the Board’s ability to hold leadership accountable and align their actions with the institution’s mission

and values.

Accountability starts at the top, with the Board and Chancellor, especially when it comes to addressing past issues and the consequences of multiple Chancellor changes. In a telling April 2023 BOT meeting, the Board openly acknowledged its role in the problems, as it is their responsibility to hire and manage Chancellors. Notably, two members of the current Board were part of the body when these prior issues occurred and were responsible for the hiring of Chancellor Pittman.

Chancellor Pittman’s tenure, which began in 2015—the same year an adjunct faculty union was formed—saw a series of events that have left their mark on the college. Approvals for new facilities, faculty reductions, budget cuts, and even incidents like campus police using excessive force against a faculty member have shaped the institution’s landscape. Moreover, a 7.5 million-dollar fraud case involving a staff member further marred the institution’s reputation.

Most of the current Board, Chancellor Pittman, and the majority of the leadership team have been at the helm for over eight years. Therefore, it is not unfair to say that current issues are, in large part, a consequence of

decisions made during this period. These problems were not inherited; they were created.

Employee satisfaction is intrinsically linked to student satisfaction. High turnover, dissatisfaction, inadequate training, poor leadership, communication breakdowns, and a lack of recognition all culminate in subpar customer service. These issues are evident in student surveys and the “Best Places to Work” survey. The institution has hemorrhaged decades of institutional knowledge, employee satisfaction, and student contentment due to decisions made by the BOT, Chancellor Pittman, and leadership over the past eight years. Valid concerns persist among faculty, taxpayers, students, and employees regarding spending decisions. For instance, the contracts with Fleishman-Hillard, a public relations and crisis management firm, totaling $142,500, raise eyebrows. Notably, Fleishman-Hillard’s website does not list employee relations as one of their areas of expertise.

It’s intriguing that such spending is required to encourage employee participation and engagement. The contracts, including one dated August

Jake’s Take: Pay Your Fighter

2, 2022, for the “Best Place to Work” project, highlight an interesting approach. In a document provided by Fleishman-Hillard, options for the project are outlined, and keywords often echoed by the BOT, Chancellor Pittman, and leadership are shared.

The “Best Places to Work” project highlights increased spending with the St. Louis Business Journal. For the fiscal year 2022-2023, we have five invoices for $126,000. For fiscal year 2021, the year before, we have four invoices for $70,000. Fiscal year 2020 has three invoices for $28,000.

A recurrent pattern emerges when reviewing BOT meetings and contracts—investments in consultants without clear project plans, success criteria, program completion dates, or demonstrable success. Such projects are presented piecemeal, lacking an overall project budget that consolidates all costs. This lack of transparency is concerning. For instance, hypothetically, if we are undertaking a “Best Places to Work” project costing $500,000, we should have a clear breakdown of expenses over the next three years.

In conclusion, STLCC grapples with persistent accountability and transparency issues, taking a toll on both employee and student satisfaction. To address these concerns effectively, it is imperative to undergo a comprehensive reevaluation of leadership practices and priorities. Only through a concerted effort to foster accountability and transparency can we ensure the future success of our institution.

The UFC-WWE merger could change both businesses financials

JACOB POLITTE MANAGING EDITOR

For over 50 years, the McMahon family ruled pro wrestling with an iron fist. Despite the challenges that they have faced… where WWE went, so did the rest of the industry through all of its low and high points. Vince McMahon’s brief exile in the summer and fall of 2022 over misconduct allegations did little to hamper the product or the company. If anything, it only made the company’s image and television improve; without McMahon seizing control over every single aspect of his company, it proved it was able to survive just fine without him.

WWE itself is in a boom period now. Business is at an all time high, merchandise sales are through the roof and for the first time in what feels like decades, the crowds are very into the product that they’re seeing on TV.

It makes sense that with everything happening, that Vince McMahon would do the unthinkable and sell the company he spent decades building. He had other more personal motivations, but discussing those are for another piece some other time. Truthfully, regardless of that, there may never have been a better time to

sell. After a 3-month hunt for a buyer, eventually they found one. Endeavor also owns the UFC, and decided to buy WWE in April and merge the two companies into one unholy combat sports juggernaut. That merger was completed on Sept. 12, and the effects were felt immediately after with many office employees and even some on-screen WWE talent losing their jobs.

WWE was acquired for $9 billion, an impressive number that would have been unthinkable even 5 years ago. Combined with UFC’s net worth, TKO Group Holdings (the name of the merged company), has an estimated worth of around $20 billion dollars.

With that being said, UFC and Endeavor have had problems in the past when it comes to appropriately paying their fighters, with several fighters both in and out of the company speaking out

on the issue. And with WWE largely ceding financial control to Endeavor, it’s worth noting that several WWE performers’ contracts are coming up within the next year, and many of the performers negotiating new contracts are being reported to have been lowballed on new offers. One legendary wrestler, Adam Copeland, has even seemingly left the promotion over it, signing with a major competitor.

The fact of the matter is this. This

is a $20 billion company. There is no reason to low-ball any performer, whether they’re a fake fighter or a real fighter. Now that they’re under the same umbrella, any sort of significant disparity between the two sends a bad message. But the goal should not be to underpay anyone. Fighters should be paid better, and wrestlers should not be paid less just because of the predetermined nature of their own fights.

GRAPHIC BY: KAYLA coachman

Top 8 Ways To Have A Quiet and Calm Halloween

Not everything spooky needs to be crazy

MACY GILLICK STAFF WRITER

Halloween is only a couple weeks away and if you don’t have any plans or have no idea what to do then here are some ideas:

Halloween Movie Marathon: Stay in for the night and bundle up with a blanket and some popcorn and watch some of the classic Halloween movies. It could be Hocus Pocus. It could be Halloweentown. It could be anything with Michael Myers. Your tastes, your call.

Have a get together with friends: Some of these activities listed above and below are the best when friends are involved and getting together is a perfect way to have fun together while catching up.

Carve and decorate pumpkinsGrab some pumpkins and while watching those movies or just for something to do you could paint something on the pumpkins or carve them out to make a good ol’ fashioned Jack-O-Lantern. The classics never go out of style.

Create some Halloween crafts: There are some fun craft materials that you can pick up almost anywhere. Target, Dollar Tree, or Michaels are three potential starting points. Create your own mask, or make some last minute decorations that you can use again in the coming years.

Walk around your neighborhood: This isn’t necessarily trick or treating, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Walking around your neighborhood is a good way to get outside and gives you a chance to look around and see all the decorations. Some houses in your neighborhood may go all out with the decorations.

Hand out some candy: If it’s a nice night out then pull up a chair outside and hand out some candy to some kids. You were a kid once, it’s time to pay it forward. You could do this with friends or even family and you all could sit around a bonfire.

How Afraid Are You?

1. Halloween was started by which group of people?

a) Vikings

b) Moors

c) Celts

d) Romans

2. How many calories does the average American child consume from Halloween candy?

a) 2,000-3,000

b) 1,000-3,000

c) 5,000-10,000

d) 3,500-7,000

3. About how much, on average, do consumers spend on Halloween candy?

a) $55

b) $85

c) $100

d) $150

Play some halloween games- With your friends you could play some fun games like ghost in the graveyard, hide in seek in the dark, or mummy come alive.

Eat some halloween inspired treats- One thing about Halloween is that it’s full of good treats. You could make some of your own and get some inspiration from online and see who can make the best halloween treat. Or you can buy some from the store if you don’t have that kind of time.

Test your Halloween Knowledge

4. What do the two M’s in M&M’s stand for?

a) Milky and Marvelous

b) Maker and Man

c) Milton and Men

d) Mars and Murrie

5. The Snickers bar was named after what animal?

a) A cat

b) A dog

c) A racehorse

d) A donkey

6. A standard pillowcase can hold about how many pieces of candy?

a) 1000

b) 800

c) 1600

d) 2000

7. Halloween originated from which religion?

a) Judaism

b) Christianity

c) Islam

d) Confucianism

8. Why do people wear masks and costumes on Halloween?

a) To confuse evil spirits who are looking for humans

b) To make them stand out in a festival

c) To hide themselves from other people

9. When did the tradition of trickor-treating first appear in the United Kingdom?

a) 14th century

b) 16th century

c) 18th century

10. What does the word “Hallow” mean in old English?

a) Ghost

b) Saint

c) Hell

GRAPHIC BY: KAYLA coachman