The Scene Issue 4 Spring 2019

SCENE THE

THE

Spring Issue 4

April 19, 2019

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Caribbean Fest See page 4

Nipsey Hussle’s legacy See page 7

St. Louis Community College at Forest Park

Forest Park sheds light on serious issues

By Neftali Acosta The Scene staff Rape. Poverty. Assault. Trafficking. Prejudice. Violence. Abuse. Injustice.

These are just some of the problems that Forest Park students, faculty and staff are learning about in April as part of Social Justice Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“Social Justice Week is about igniting activism,” said Clemishia Seals, administrative assistant in Campus Life. “We want to shed light on (injustice). We want to put you into the shoes of people who have been not treated fairly.”

Campus events range from lectures to panel discussions, yoga sessions to book signings, T-shirt displays to free food and drinks.

Social Justice Week

Social Justice Week is not commemorated on a particular week nationally, but most colleges plan activities on a week of their choosing. At Forest Park, it’s hosted by Campus Life, which held events in January in the past but decided to try April this year in the hope of better weather and a bigger turnout.

Social Justice Week included three main events. On April 9, sociology professor Andrea Nichols gave a lecture on “Labor Trafficking in St. Louis & the Bi-State Area.”

On April 12, a yoga instructor led a session called “Igniting Activism.”

“Music has always been a vehicle to social justice movements, whether inviting participation or helping shape the political consciousness concerning such issues as war, poverty and police brutality,” according to a flier.

“During this 60-minute session, attendees will be challenged to channel their inner activist through meditation, yoga and music that has been used to fuel movements to create change.”

The biggest event was the Community Action Poverty Simulation on April 11 in

See more photos on page 8 the Forest Park gymnasium. Campus Life partnered with the Missouri Community Action Network, a statewide association dedicated to ending poverty.

The one-hour simulation consisted of stations that represented a school, supermarket, office, hospital, child-care center and driver’s license facility. People divided into “families” and role-played as single parents, people with disabilities and senior citizens on Social Security trying to obtain food, shelter and other necessities on limited incomes.

One of the participants was Monique Thomas, a local resident who works for a commercial company. She would like to organize a similar activity at her workplace to raise awareness and increase sensitivity.

“I feel removed from the day-to-day experience of somebody in poverty,” she said.

“I wanted to learn, remind myself of what that is like.”

Sexual assault awareness

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a national commemoration with the official color of teal. Students, faculty and staff may have noticed teal signs, balloons and ribbons around campus.

Counselors hosted a panel discussion on April 10 to help people recognize the “signs of abuse, where to go for help and how to stop the cycle of violence.” Two raffle winners received copies of “Human Trafficking in the Midwest: A Case Study of St. Louis and the Bi-State Area” by Nichols and Erin C. Heil. Abusive relationships can lead to human trafficking.

One panelist was Mary Zabriskie, STLCC’s Title IX coordinator, who is the person to contact to report sexual misconduct at mzabriskie@stlcc.edu or 314-539-5345.

See Issues page 3

Photo by Neftali Acosta

Cindy Punzalan, crisis and community outreach coordinator from Safe Connections, speaks with social work major Koshua Blash, 20, at The Clothesline Project display.

Nursing program recruitment

Photo by Jonny Geigle

Nursing Admissions Adviser Chastity Perry Smith speaks to a group of prospective nursing students. The new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences building is scheduled to open in fall 2019.

STLCC scholarships are hidden in plain sight

By Joshua Phelps and Kevin Bailey The Scene staff Many Forest Park students don’t realize that St. Louis Community College has a private foundation that provides scholarship money to help them pay for tuition, books and other supplies.

The St. Louis Community College Foundation distributed more than $700,000 in scholarships in the last fiscal year.

They’re all listed on the website, said Executive Director Jo-Ann Digman.

“They’ve mostly been es- Digman tablished by individuals, corporations, retirees and faculty members to support students in a variety of ways.”

The foundation switched to an all-online application process in the spring of 2017 to make it more convenient for students to apply.

The web address is stlcc.edu/admissions/

scholarships.aspx.

Through the site, students “can submit one general application, and that will inform them about other scholarships in our system,” said Executive Associate Nicole Higginbotham.

The foundation scholarships won’t cover all college costs, but they help. Most students receive $500 to $1,000.

“They may need a little bit of funding to finish a semester or finish a certain program, and this can be really beneficial for working students,” Higginbotham said. “Students have families to support or othHigginbotham er things to support, and it takes some of that load off.”

Some scholarships are available only to students enrolled in certain programs, such as culinary arts or travel and tourism.

The foundation received ore than $1 mil-

See Scholarships page 3

Fall 2019 Transfer Leadership Scholarship Deadline May 1 Exciting opportunity to participate in WebsterLeads, Webster’s co-curricular leadership development program!

JOIN US!

Connect with Webster — on your campus or ours!

• April 23 - Transfer Tuesday @ Webster • April 25 - 10am-1pm; Advising Office For more information on transferring: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 • admit@webster.edu

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April 19, 2019

News Scholarships

from page 1

lion from the Jerome and Lorraine Wallis Revocable Trust last April and established the Jerome and Lorraine Wallis Endowed Scholarship Fund to help Forest Park nursing students.

To get scholarships, students must meet some basic criteria, including grade-point averages of 2.5 or higher.

Higginbotham stresses that students need to pay attention to deadlines when applying for scholarships.

“Students will have to apply each semester for scholarships, so there is a limited time for them to submit their applications,” she said.

After students apply for scholarships, they

need to check for emails to follow additional steps required with some scholarships.

“Follow-through is paramount,” Higginbotham said.

Forest Park clinical lab major Andrea Barbaga, 40, said she has never applied for a scholarship, but she sees how they could come in handy.

“It gives students a chance to make their education more affordable,” she said.

Nursing major George Raeth, 26, hasn’t applied for scholarships, either. He gets Pell Grants, but said scholarships are good for students who aren’t eligible for grants.

“It’s for people that can’t afford to go to school otherwise,” he said.

Photo illustration by Joshua Phelps

Issues

from page 1

Counselors also hosted “The Clothesline Knight at sknight@stlcc.edu or Reginald Project” with Campus Life and Safe Con- Johnson at rjohnson@stlcc.edu. nections, a non-profit organization that proStudents plan activities vides support and resources to help people Forest Park students themselves planned deal with abuse and sexual violence. some events related to Sexual Assault A variety of colorful T-shirts hung Awareness Month. One was an April 16 on clotheslines in the cafeteria, each presentation called “Do You Know What a hand-painted to represent the experiences of Healthy Relationship Looks Like?” by Cawomen who have been affected by violence. sey Anderson, program supervisor of crisis The idea is to bear witness to their survivintervention with YWCA Metro St. Louis. al, help with healing and educate, document “A healthy relationship is one of those reand raise awareness. lationships where it’s “All of these shirts based on that trust, “We want to put you are actually created that mutual respect, by survivors who your ability to cominto the shoes of people share their stories of promise, your ability what they’ve expeto communicate in a who have been not rienced,” said Cindy way that both people Punzalan Delacruz, treated fairly.” feel their voices are crisis and commuheard,” she said. nity outreach co– Clemishia Seals of Campus Life “It doesn’t mean ordinator for Safe that it’s OK to hurt Connections. “Mayone another. It’s always that love, that respect, be it’s something that is written in strength that support … that is important.” and empowerment, so a lot of times, you’ll The organization provides shelter to vicsee very positive shirts. Sometimes people tims of domestic violence and sexual assault. will (provide) extremely triggering content It has a 24-hour hotline at 314-531-7273. about their abuse.”

Still coming to campus is an April 24 Safe Connections has a 24-hour crisis presentation by the Bureau of Investigahelp line at 314-531-2003. tive Services Sex Crimes Division of the Another Sexual Assault Awareness Month St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. event sponsored by Forest Park counselors Detectives will speak on sexual harassment, is a book signing on April 25 in Cafe West. rape culture and sexual assault. Attendees The book is “Silence is Not an Option: A are encouraged to ask questions.

Memoir of Overcoming Abuse, Anxiety and For more information, contact co-organizDepression” by former STLCC student Arer Soroda Nasiri at 314-339-9441 or email gentina Parra. Ten percent of profits will go snasiri@my.stlcc.edu. Anyone who fears to the St. Louis Women’s Safe House. for their safety and needs help on campus For more information, contact Candace should call Campus Police at 314-644-9700.

Niemeyer at cniemeyer@stlcc.edu, Sandra

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Open office hours for STLCC Forest Park students: Mondays and Tuesdays Walk-ins only 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Advising Center – SC-200

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Stacey Pugh Transfer Specialist askstacey@umsl.edu 314-516-5161

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Serious education. Serious value.SM

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A long table of colorful flags representing more than two dozen Caribbean countri

Caribbea Photo by Bethany Tyler

Campus Life manager Donivan Foster serves snow cones.

Campus Life and Student Aff a Sunfest Caribbean Party o Forest Park cafeteria. Students enjoyed music, art, literature, food prepared by the culinary

Photo by Bethany Tyler

Culinary arts Program Coordinator Casey Shiller serves a plate to Tamara Martin,19, a child and family development major.

Layout by

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April 19, 2019

Photo by Bethany Thyer

ies provide a centerpiece at the festival.

an Fest

fairs sponsored on April 3 in the s, faculty and staff snow cones and arts department.

Photo by Zachaeus Windham

Above: Culinary arts major Ryan Duemler, 23, pours cups of Puerto Rican coconut pineapple elixr.

Left: Baking and pastry arts majors Katelyn Gawedzinski, left, and Holly DeBoard dish up a Caribbean delectible.

Photo by Bukundabababo Felicien

y Lulu Ali

April 19, 2019

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Opinion Chaos Crew

By Arrak Hutcherson

Letter to the Editor

Scene THE

Stop poverty among Forest Park adjuncts

ment to education has affected the faculty who make students’ education possible. It brings the entire St. Louis region backward.

In a country as rich as ours, everyone – On April 11, St. Louis Community Colregardless of whether you are rich or poor, lege at Forest Park held a community povblack or white – should have an opportuerty simulation workshop as part of Social Justice Week. Participants were invited to nity to learn without being trapped under “walk in the shoes of someone facing pov- mountains of debt. Choosing to be an eduerty” to emphasize the interconnected issues cator shouldn’t mean living in poverty. I’ve of poverty. I want to commend the important taught at Forest Park for six years. I’m still work the Forest Park community and allied struggling, and it’s time for a change.

STLCC has the opportunity to live up to organizations do to lift up important issues the values espoused like these. I also want during Social Justo highlight that for “When educators struggle, tice Week and inmany Forest Park edvest in the school’s ucators like myself, the entire STLCC community, espepoverty isn’t a simucially those already lation. It’s real life. community suffers.” struggling to make Most people think ends meet. Since being a professor is – Russell Tallant March, educators a good, stable job. have been negotiatAfter all, master’s ing with the school over wages for the next degrees and PhDs are an investment in time academic year, but while we’re struggling and money. However, over the years, more to pay the bills, the administration has been and more adjunct faculty have found themdragging its feet, refusing to truly invest in selves struggling to make ends meet.

What used to be good jobs that anchored faculty members, like me, who work hard our communities are now just unstable keeping our campus running.

Stopping poverty in our region can start “gigs” that leave educators in the same boat right here at Forest Park. The STLCC Board as students – overwhelmed by debt, workof Trustees needs to recognize the important ing multiple jobs, unable to move their carole educators play and offer the fair wages reers or families’ lives forward and forced we need to support our families. We need to consider leaving the profession. Whether meaningful investment to improve our camit’s teaching courses at other schools or depus for everyone.

For too many educators livering pizza, almost all of my co-workers struggling to make ends meet, poverty isn’t and I work side jobs to put food on the table.

Forest Park adjunct faculty don’t have the a simulation. It’s a harsh reality. stability we need to support our families.

When educators struggle, the entire STLCC community suffers. Cutting our commit-

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Russell Tallant Spanish adjunct since 2013, member of Service Employees International Union Local 1

Managing editor: Timothy Bold

Business/web manager: Victor Paletta Circulation: Zacchaeus Windham Reporters/photographers: Joshua Phelps, Soroda Nasiri, Jonny Geigle, Neftali Acosta, Kevin Bailey, Bukundabababo Felicien Layout: Lulu Ali Cartoonists: Arrak Hutcherson, Cameron Kuntz Faculty advisers: Teri Maddox, Fred Ortlip

The Scene is a publication written and designed by students at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110.

The office is in F Tower, Room 408. The telephone number is (314) 644-9140. The e-mail address is the_scene_fp@yahoo.com.

All text, photos, graphics and other content are property of The Scene and may not be used without permission.

Views expressed are not necessarily those of St. Louis Community

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College, its Board of Trustees or administration.

The Scene welcomes opinion pieces and letters to the editor. They should be signed and include the writer’s student or staff number.

They can be mailed to the above addresses or delivered by hand. We reserve the right to edit for length and taste.

The Scene will run classified ads for students free of charge. They should be submitted in the manner described above.

April 19, 2019

Opinion

Nipsey Hussle drew his own blueprint Uncensored

By Soroda Nasiri The Scene staff News broke on March 31 that Ermias Joseph Asghedom -- a Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, philanthropist, activist and entrepreneur known professionally as “Nipsey Hussle” -- was fatally shot outside his Los Angeles store, Marathon Clothing.

A lot was going on the morning I found out about his death. I was trying to make sure my son and I got through our morning rituals. My husband, Darius, had just arrived home from work. He was resting on the edge of our bed, checking the news on his phone. I was in the bedroom, trying to decide which book bag I would carry to school.

Then Darius said to me in a soft voice, “Nipsey Hussle died.”

A rush of sadness flowed through my

veins. I felt nauseous, light-headed and angry. The room got quiet; Darius and I didn’t say anything to each other for quite a while, then I broke the silence with a deep breath and just walked away from the negative energy that had filled the room.

The rest of the day was like a blur. My mind was foggy. I couldn’t focus. My mood and diet were all over the place.

Hussle was born on Aug. 15, 1985, in Los Angeles, where he was first recognized for his mixtapes. I won’t go too much into his background or upbringing. A quick Google search will answer most questions.

I was introduced to his music when I met my husband. Whenever it was his turn to pick a song, he would make sure Hussle we got in a healthy dose of Hussle.

At first I didn’t care for his music, but I became a fan and an admirer of his work in the community when he dropped “Victory Lap” in 2018. I was inspired and motivated by the entire album. From the beats that were chosen to the lyrics --Everything was so well thought out.

Hussle’s death felt different for so many reasons. He was exposed to the “real world” at a very young age, leading him to get involved in illegal activities, but he was still able to make something out of himself.

He was an example of how your past doesn’t have to be who you are. You can

draw your own blueprint.

Hussle was trying to elevate his community and empower minorities in America. He was working with the LAPD on stopping gang violence, restoring neighborhoods with new developments and building a 1.3-mile open-air museum called Destination Crenshaw to celebrate black history and culture. He invested in the young. He educated people on health.

He was producing a documentary on the holistic Dr. Sebi.

The community lost someone who was passionate about making Earth a better place and ending senseless gun violence.

According to authorities, Hussle was shot Holder due to a personal dispute with the suspect, Eric Holder, 29. Holder was arrested and charged with murder on April 2.

It’s heartbreaking, not only for Americans who lost a great leader, but for the man who shot him.

I wonder what that man’s story was, what his upbringing was like, the types of trauma he faced in his life.

Many young black men and women trying to make it on the streets. They often come from broken homes, and black trauma is already in their DNA, going back to the slavery faced by their ancestors.

Today’s struggles add to the mix and — without knowledge of how to heal — people end up like the killer of Nipsey Hussle.

Forget It

How can they begin to fix something imbedded in their roots?

After the death, an uprising of violence in Los Angeles resulted in 26 shootings, including 10 deaths.

We need better laws on gun control. Why can they easily buy a gun of their choice for a decent price, but they can’t get a healthy meal for less than $20? Missouri became a conceal-carry state in January 2017. No permit is required to carry a firearm openly or concealed, but the state still issues permits on a “shall-issue” basis for reciprocity with other states.

The law maintains that “There is no requirement to register firearms or obtain a purchase permit, and some specially trained school employees are allowed to carry firearms on school grounds. Permits are issued at the local level by county sheriffs to residents only who must be at least 19 years old.”

How scary is that?

Most 19-year-olds still get help with expenses from their parents and stay on their parents’ health-insurance policies. How can they be allowed to own guns? Who even decided that this was the appropriate age?

I am filled with so many questions, but no answers. I know killing is not the answer. We need to have conversations about restoring the foundation of how to deal with rejection, stress and hatred.

It’s time to break the cycle and truly think about how we can help broken communities so we don’t lose another Nipsey Hussle. Rest in love.

By Cameron Kuntz

The emperor has left his throne April 19, 2019

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The Clothesline Project Forest Park hosted a display of “The Clothesline Project� on

April 17 in the cafeteria. More than two-dozen colorful T-shirts hung on clotheslines, each hand-decorated to represent the

experiences of women who have been affected by violence. The idea is to bear witness to their survival, help with healing and educate, document and raise awareness in the community.

Photos by Neftali Acosta

General transfer studies student Willnelle Warren, 20, and graphic design student Daequan Harris, 17, look at a T-shirt in the Forest Park cafeteria decorated by a survivor of sexual assault.

Layout by Joshua Phelps

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April 19, 2019