SCENE THE
THE
Spring Issue 1
February 18, 2022
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Skating fun See pages 2-3
Black influencers See page 4
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Students ‘grab’ breakfast before funding ‘goes’ By Theodore Geigle The Scene staff You might call it the St. Louis Community College “breakfast of champions.” STLCC began using some of its COVID19 relief funds last fall to offer free breakfasts to students on all its campuses. The Grab-and-Go Breakfast program is continuing this spring. “I think it’s great,” said Forest Park student Krista Atwater, 20, who’s studying to be a sonograph technician. “… A lot of schools don’t give breakfast to students because they’re money hungry.” The Grab-and-Go Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees put sandwiches, muffins, pastries and breakfast bars on a counter in the former Forest Park cafeteria, outside the new bookstore. “We’re usually empty by 10,” said Forest Park Auxiliary Manager Rodney Jones, who oversees the bookstore. “... I try to get in at least 100 to 80 individual items for students’ breakfasts.” Students can take whatever food items they want without being limited on the amount. They also don’t have to show identification. “A lot of students can’t get breakfast in time, or it isn’t available to them, and so I’m glad (Student Affairs) gave us the funding for this program,” Jones said. The Grab-and-Go Breakfast program is being funded through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The U.S. Department of Education created the fund after Congress allocated $2.2 trillion to the American people in 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. STLCC Student Affairs gave $55,000 to campus bookstores to pay for the food,
Photo by Theodore Geigle
General studies student D.J. Quarles, 18, comes in from the cold for a free breakfast in the Forest Park bookstore.
according to Vice Chancellor Christine Davis. “We heard from a lot of our students that there was a need for something like this, and we get our funding from the federal government, so we figured it would be great to spend it on students and set them up for success for the day,” she said. Davis said she isn’t sure whether Student Affairs will receive more funding for the Grab-and-Go Breakfast program, so the staff is trying to make the money last as long as possible. “I have had to make some changes to the selection because of the budget,” Jones said. “... I started doing Sam’s sandwiches because they fall into the budget better.” Jones has had a few complaints about the selection of food, mainly due to dietary or religious considerations. But for the most part, students seem to appreciate the program. Atwater said, “I really like the selection they have right now. It’s very big. Although I wish they had more fruits and vegetables because students could be vegan.” Karaa Jones, 18, a general transfer student, added, “It’s fine really,” said “I like the program. I wish they had more vegan options.”
Photos by Gracie Ebenhoh
White campus
Above, a St. Louis snowstorm in early February blanketed the Forest Park campus and canceled classes for three days. Left, students took a break from their studies to build snowmen on the plaza.
Artists ‘enjoy the moment’ with exhibit By Nicole LeLapp The Scene staff Tea anyone? Forest Park students, faculty and staff have joined forces to create an unusual art exhibit with a variety of pieces that revolve around tea. It’s called “Communi-Tea Culture,” and it’s running through March 3 in the Gallery of Contemporary Art on campus. “It’s an interdepartmental exhibit where artists push their limits of functionality, which is fun to do,” said Mario Carlos, an adjunct painting professor who has been teaching at Forest Park for 18 years. Carlos currated the exhibit with Norleen Nosri, a ceramics professor and chair of the visual and performing arts department. They were assisted by Zachary Petotis, the gallery’s new director. He also teaches printmaking at Forest Park. The exhibit’s 35 pieces include paintings, photographs, ceramic sculptures, even music. A curated song plays in the background as a way to bring it all together. “It really is a collaboration of artists,” Carlos said. Artists were asked to consider the idea of slowing down and enjoying the moment as part of the creative process. Each interpreted that in their own personal way.
Some artwork in the exhibit is detailed, intricate and delicate. “Generally, tea is functional,” Carlos said. “But the artists can make it complex, too.” Nosri has an affinity for teapots, which she sees as a representation of “endless giving.” She has created dozens of ceramic sculptures featuring Photo by Nicole LeLapp or shaped like tea- General transfer student Elijah Bishop, 21, chats with pots over the years. Kimberly Hallemann, manager of Academic Success For the Commu- and Tutoring, and English major Aaron Shelton at ni-Tea Culture ex- the Communi-Tea Culture exhibit at the Contemporary hibit, she created Gallery of Art on campus. five clay-molded teapots and asked five other artists to to the right of the entrance in Room complete them by painting them. D-118. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students also were invited to submit Monday through Thursday. Admission artwork for the exhibit. Carlos asked is free. those from his classes to bring in teapots The Communi-Tea Culture exhibit has from home and use them as the subjects been popular, attracting about 30 visitors in oil paintings. a day, according to Lillie Penick, gallery Curators selected five oil paintings by attendant. students to be displayed in the exhibit. “We get a mix of students and staff,” The Gallery of Contemporary Art she said. “Sometimes family members of is in the Forest Park library building, the artists stop by, too.
STLCC ON
Steinberg Skating Rink’s 27,600 square feet of ice provided plenty of room for stude
Photo by George Estes
Sahar Joakim, assistant professor of philosophy on the Meramac campus, laces up her skates.
Madison Mulden, 18, left, laugh Olivia Gilmore, 17, nervously g
Sean Walsh, 21, a general studies student at Wildwood, finds a warm spot to have a phone conversation.
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Photo by George Estes
February 18, 2022
Photo by George Estes
STLCC mascot Archie the Fox practices with a skating walker before eyeing the ice.
N ICE
Photo by George Estes
ents, faculty and staff from St. Louis Community College to spread out on skates.
Dozens of students, faculty and staff from St. Louis Community College campuses converged on Steinberg Ice Skating Rink in Forest Park on Jan. 28. Campus Life handed out free tickets that covered skating and skate rental costs. Participants described it as frigid but fun.
Photo by George Estes
hs as her friend, Forest Park general transfer student gets out on the ice.
Photo by Leilani England
STEM student Alex Price, 18, left, and general transfer student Corey Wentzel, 18, both from Wildwood, take a break from skating.
February 18, 2022
The Scene
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Page 3
Campus chatter Jalise Grimes, 17, general transfer studies “I would have to go with Janet Jackson or, historically, our great Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Arleen Dearman, nursing “A lot of black pastors stand out to me, like Tony Evans. He’s not based on bias; he just preaches the word of God based on the truth of God. He is willing to take a stance. He just preaches the truth and talks about how God is good.”
Amanda Gallogly, supervisor in Academic Success Center “Audre Lord. She was an amazing theorist. The biggest reason why I love her is the idea that she had about self-care being a revolutionary and political act. I have some quotes from her on my board at home. She just had such powerful thinking. I feel like it drives almost everything I do in my life.”
India Johnson, 19, nursing “I would say it’s between Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. I love their acting skills. And Lupita (Nyong’o). I love her acting skills as well. For the past century now, I feel like African Americans have come so far in acting, and I feel they just really put their heart and soul into it. … Looking back, the only roles on TV that (Black people) got were maids, nannies, cooks, etc. Now we can make our own movies.”
Corey “C.J.” Cook, 19, general transfer studies “Fred Hampton. His work with the Black Panthers in Chicago was really influential and very inspiring. His efforts toward class solidarity, and the way he incorporated all different types of people make me admire him.”
Bryona Scott-Hutson, 20, general transfer studies “Cardi B because even though she is rich and famous, she’s still very humble in the way she raises her daughter. She doesn’t raise her with a silver spoon in her mouth. She raises her with compassion, and she wants her to know what it’s like to struggle. She never forgets where she came from, and she’s teaching her daughter where she came from.”
Kameron Rankin, 19, criminal justice “My favorite black idol is Tupac because he’s expressive, talented and he’s the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).”
Who is a Black Figure or Influencer You Admire?
Claire Rone, College Bound coach “Toni Morrison comes to mind because her books are really great. Her work is really important and influential.”
By Markell Tompkins
Edward Jones, culinary arts “My dad. He passed away about six years ago, but he was my mentor. He was my hero, and he was a good man. He was my stepfather, but he raised me ever since I was a child. I was about 2 when he married my mom. He was a great man, a hard worker, and he provided for all of us. I miss him.”
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Nneka Okenwa, 21, performing arts “My mom. She always supports me and helps me when I’m sad or upset. My mom is so awesome.”
Tayari Wood, 19, general transfer studies “I really admire Malcolm X.”
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Cate Gottwalt, 24, College Bound coach “I really think of James Baldwin as an important black figure because of what he contributed with his social commentary and writing. Even though I didn’t love everything he wrote, I was always able to find something in it that was important and articulate.”
February 18, 2022