SCENE THE
THE
Spring Issue 1
February 18, 2022
THESCENEFP.COM
www.thescenefp.com
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.