SCENE THE
THE
Fall Issue 2
Oct. 4, 2019
THESCENEFP.COM
‘Star Wars’ betrayal
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See page 7
Chemistry humor See page 8
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Black Student Union forms on campus By Kevin Santander The Scene staff
A new student organization has formed to help black students at Forest Park connect with each other and make a difference on campus. The Black Student Union has been meeting since Aug. 16. “We don’t have a black student club,” said President Sia Killian, 19, a general transfer studies student. “We wanted to help communication between black students.” The organization has about 40 members. One is Ronald Thompson, 21, a general transfer studies student. He joined to get more involved in campus activities and to accomplish some goals. Those goals include developing more space where students can play games or just hang out; and bringing back child care for students with children. Thompson also would like to see Forest Park build and maintain a community garden. “It would be a community service to give (vegetables and herbs) to those in need and the culinary arts department, if needed,” he said. The Black Student Union is governed by a board that already has cam-
See Union page 6
College has a cop who cooks Dave Jost’s nickname is ‘Tactical Chef’ By Ethan Tutor The Scene staff One of Forest Park’s employees is leading a double life. By day, he’s a chef-in-training, taking classes through the culinary arts program. By night, he’s a police officer, keeping watch over the campus and its students. Dave Jost, 50, balances the roles masterfully, blending his love of law enforcement and passion for cooking. That’s because the mix is nothing new. “I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” he said. Jost has been a police officer for 30 years, starting with St. Louis County and continuing with the cities of Ferguson, Calverton Park, Bel Ridge and Pacific. He joined the Forest Park staff in 2017. It wasn’t until recently that Jost decided to pursue a baking degree. He had made a lifestyle change and grew more interested in nutrition and its effects on the human body. “I lost a lot of weight and started exercising more,” he said. Jost enrolled in the baking program in January. One of his instructors is Ellen Piazza, culinary arts program coordinator. “Dave has been wonderful to have in class,” she said. “He is always well prepared, interested and strives to create food that is both tasty and attractive. “He has had a great sense of humor about his also being a safety officer here on campus. His personal and professional skills have come into play in the classroom, and he has been very successful in both,” she added.
Police officer since age 21
Photo by Kevin Santander
Black Student Union President Sia Killian
Jost grew up in St. Louis and wanted to be a police officer as far back as he can remember. He joined St. Louis County Police Department at age 21, along with his brother. Jost served as a county patrolman for five years before moving on to other departments and other challenges. “I enjoy the job,” he said. “I really enjoy the interaction with the people and solving their problems. I also love training younger officers.” Over the years, Jost has seen the best and worst sides of people in the St. Louis region. He had to draw his gun “almost on the daily” while settling domestic disputes and responding to robbery reports in dangerous neighborhoods. But he has never had to shoot anyone. Jost was working in Ferguson in 2014 when riots broke out after white police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, a black teenager. Ray Baker, a police officer on the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College, has been working with Jost since 1991. He describes him as
Photo by Angelica Woody
Photo by Ethan Tutor
“very professional.” “He wouldn’t be doing (police work) this long if he wasn’t good at it,” Baker said. The image of police officers has taken a hit in recent years, with claims of police brutality and unequal treatment of black suspects. But Jost said that doesn’t affect his dedication to law enforcement or the way he does his job. Jost characterized people who are anti-police as a “small minority.” “I’ve had no negative feedback from students or staff, ever,” he said. Jost joined Forest Park Campus Police as a full-time officer in 2017. He characterizes it as the easiest work of his career, mainly
because the environment is more “civilized” than city streets and he spends more time indoors. “There’s a lot less stress,” he said. “... After 28 years on the road, you just want a change of pace. And it allowed me to come back to school.”
Culinary arts student Dave Jost cuts fat from steaks in class. At right, Jost on duty as a Forest Park police officer.
Next up: Food truck?
Jost also is a full-time culinary arts student. This semester, he’s taking a six-credit Food Prep class three mornings a week. Students are expected to make tasty dishes, but they’re also tested on presentation
See Cop page 2
Photo by Mark Ngunjiri
African Festival
Susan Imbeah, left, discusses the price of clothing she is selling with Barbara Brown at the African Festival in the Forest Park cafeteria.