SCENE THE
THE
Summer Issue 2
July 26, 2019
THESCENEFP.COM
www.thescenefp.com
Elevators illustrated See pages 4-5
‘Star Wars’ feels forced See page 6
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Business major hopes to blend smoothies into success By Timothy Bold The Scene staff Jasmine Armstrong isn’t just a college student with a part-time job. She’s an entrepreneur with her own smoothie business, or as she puts it, an “infused-beverage company.” Armstrong founded the business, called “JiggaJuicedUp,” last September. “It started with my personal fashion style, Jigga,” said Armstrong, 24, a business major. “Then I wanted to embark on something else. I didn’t want to limit myself to one idea. I wanted to incorporate it into different things.” Armstrong sells her drinks at children’s parties, college activities, art shows, women’s conferences and other vendor events. Armstrong has been making her own smoothies for years, using strawberries, blueberries, oranges and other fruit. “I love drinking smoothies,” she said. “It motivated me to start my own business.” Last summer, Armstrong conducted a taste test with family and church members, who gave feedback on potential drink products. “Once they approved it, it was time to take the business seriously now,” she said. Armstrong recently expanded her product line to include fruit-infused sparkling (carbonated) water in recyclable pouches.
Forest Park leans toward Democrats Some say they’ll settle for anyone who can beat Trump
Photo by Timothy Bold
Jasmine Armstrong displays her fruit-infused water, part of her JiggaJuicedUp product line. On a recent weekday, Armstrong distributed samples of her flavored water to Forest Park students. “It’s fire,” said art major Shakir Gridiron, 24. “It tastes really good. It has lots of fruity flavors.”
See Smoothie page 2
Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Kobuchar, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and author Marianne Williamson. All are prochoice. Other debate-qualified candidates are former Vice President Joe Biden; By Zoey Tincknell Sens. Bernie Sanders, Michael Bennet The Scene staff and Cory Booker; South Bend, Indiana, Many students, faculty and staff at Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former U.S. Forest Park want a candidate who can beat Housing Secretary Julian Castro; New President Donald Trump, but they haven’t York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; former yet picked a Democrat to support. Rep. John Delaney; former Colorado At least that’s the finding of a random Gov. John Hickenlooper; Washington survey conducted by The Scene on campus Gov. Jay Inslee; former Rep. Beto last week. O’Rourke, Rep. Tim Ryan; and Nursing major Raven Ginger, businessman Andrew Yang. 19, didn’t watch the first round Ginger would prefer any of of televised Democratic debates these Democratic candidates over last month. But she wants to see Trump. She believes his adminisa Democrat in office, preferably tration has been wrong to split up a woman. immigrant families at the border “I think it’s time for a woman and needs to be stopped immediin office,” she said. “We need ately. to get rid of this new aborEducational assistant Connie tion ban and start respecting Ginger McArthur has been keeping up women.” closely with political news and Ginger was speaking of strict new knows she won’t be voting for Trump. abortion laws that have been passed or She watched the Democratic debates, proposed in several states, including which featured 10 candidates on June Missouri. 26 and 10 on June 27. The six women presidential candidates “Coming into the debates, I was very who have garnered enough support in hopeful for Biden,” she said. “But after the form of polling numbers and contri- watching, I was very disappointed in his butions to appear in Democratic debates See Candidates page 7 include U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand,
Restaurant and brewery welcomes college students
Burgers, pizza and more on menu By Shree Bhattessa The Scene staff
Forest Park students need only cross the street to enjoy a fresh meal and hand-crafted beer, and they can get a 10% discount with a St. Louis Community College ID card. Brew Hub Taproom opened at 5656 Oakland Ave. in March of last year. It replaced the Highland Pub & Grill. Brew Hub is a restaurant and brewery. It serves burgers and other sandwiches, pizza, appetizers, salads, desserts and “flights,” which allow customers to choose three items from Portell a list of tacos, kabobs, stuffed pretzels, dips and spreads. “There’s always something new to try here,” said General Manager Kara Donsky. The menu changes periodically as James “Otto” Ottolini, head of brewing operations, concocts new beers, which he calls “dab-
bling in the art and science of brewing.” Beers range from traditional flavors to those that “step outside the box,” according to bar manager Sarah Portell. Some are made with fruit. “If you think you don’t like beer, it’s a good way to get yourself into beer,” she said. Beers now on tap at Brew Hub include a strong ale called “The Dude;” “Bringing Sexy Bock”; and Donsky’s personal favorite, “Cologne Cowboy,” which is named for Cologne, Germany, where Ottolini gets the yeast. “There’s nothing fancy about it,” says Donsky. “It’s just good beer.” Another popular beer is “Gooey Butter Blonde,” which tastes like gooey butter cake. “No one else is really doing that right now,” Donsky Portell said. “... That’s a lot of what makes us unique and makes us special. We have things you can’t find anywhere else.” The help at Brew Hub includes Gwen
See Restaurant page 2
Photo by Shree Bhattessa
Customers at Brew Hub Taproom can buy hand-crafted beers for half price during happy hour.
News Restaurant
Schweiss, 17, who attends both Lafayette High School and the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College. She plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. In the meantime, Schweiss is interning with Ottolini. “I’m here to learn whatever I can as an outlook into the field I will be working in,” she said. Donsky describes the workspace as “Otto’s science lab.” It includes several large tanks, which are visible through windows facing Oakland Avenue. Ottolini studied craft brewing at Washington University. “Otto is a big part of what makes us special, because he is a wealth of knowledge,” Portell said. Sahra Schweiss, Gwen’s mom, is a regular customer at Brew Hub. “It’s a wonderful resource next to (the) Forest Park location ... that can introduce students to a wide variety of beers, and styles, and interpretations,” she said. Sahra Schweiss usually orders a burger, which she customizes with grilled onions and bacon. Brew Hub also offers choices for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free dieters, and there’s a kids menu. All food is fresh and never frozen, according to staff. Specialties range from the veggie pizza with fresh spinach, red onion, oven-roasted tomatoes, portobello, mozarella and red sauce to nacho pizza with seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese sauce, cheddar and mozzarella mix, diced fire roasted jalapeños, pico de gallo, tortilla chips, and cilantro
from page 1
Photo by Ethan Tutor
The Brew Hub Tap Room is at 5656 Oakland Ave., just west of the Forest Park campus. Below, customers are greeted by an oversize beer barrel. cream drizzle. The menu was recently updated to add stuffed-pretzel flights with a choice of jalapeño beer cheese with bacon, garlic herb cream cheese, spicy grain mustard or cinnamon glaze. Portell describes Brew Hub clientele as a “mixed crowd,” including “beer nerds,” families and businessmen staying at the hotel next door. People who live in the neighborhood show up to watch football and hockey games on multiple TV sets. Management plans to start hosting live music and trivia nights. “We would love to see more community college students,” Portell said. Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, when customers can get house-brewed beers for half price. The building also has space for private parties. For more information, visit tapbrewhub. com or call 314-833-5453.
Smoothie
from page 1
Patricia Jones, Campus Life consultant, said, “I think it’s refreshing, and it has a lot to do with Jasmine. She has a great personality, and the product is just like her.” Crushed-fruit drinks have been around for centuries, but they became more practical with the availability of refrigeration. In 1935, Fred Osius invented the Waring blender, saying it would “revolutionize American drinks.” The 1960s brought a smoothie craze, as Americans became more health-conscious. The national company Smoothie King was founded in 1973 by Steven Kuhnau, a lactose-intolerant teenager from Louisiana, who came up with a concoction of fruit juice blended with ice to replace milkshakes. For more information on JiggaJuicedUp, call Armstrong at 314-820-4627 or visit her Instagram site at JiggaJuicedUp.
Read us at home or on the run! Check out The Scene’s new website at thescenefp.com
Photo by Shree Bhattessa
Check out The Scene at thescenefp.com
DO YOU HAVE A NOSE FOR NEWS?
The Scene is looking for reporters in news, features, sports, business, politics, entertainment, technology, science, health, music or art, as well as photographers, editors, columnists, page designers, illustrators, cartoonists, graphic artists and advertising representatives. • Earn course credit in journalism or do it as an extracurricular activity. • Expand your portfolio with clips and work experience. • Gain skills in writing, editing, photography, advertising, layout or design. • Keep students informed on local, regional and national issues. • Express yourself through editorials, cartoons, reviews or columns. • Work as a team, make new friends and be in the center of action on campus.
For more information, call the newspaper office at 314-644-9140 or visit F-408. Page 2
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
July 26, 2019
Campus chatter Patrice Patton, 22, education “Taking walks around the St. Louis area when the weather is nice.”
What is your favorite summer activity?
Betty Nafuna, 24, software development “I’m not an outside person, I stay in and watch Netflix.”
Christopher Brooks, 41, business “I like to barbecue with family and friends.”
Ashley Evans, enrollment services clerk “Swimming outdoors at Aquaport in Maryland Heights.”
Morgan Glenn, 21, general studies “Swimming at any lake. It doesn’t matter which one. I love lakes.”
Jasmine Cooley, 20, exercise science “Swimming at the YMCA pool in O’Fallon.”
By Victor Paletta and Angelica Woody
Olivia Gordon, 20, general studies “I like going to the Meramec River and riding Sea-Doos and barbecuing.”
Erianna Funches, 17, general studies “Swimming at the YMCA in Des Peres.”
Quy Bui, 18, biotechnology “I like to spend time with my cat and go swimming at the neighborhood pool.”
Angel Hynes, 19, art “I like rollerskating and drawing.”
Aarika Hughes, 24, human services “I like to barbecue salmon and spend time with my kids at Citygarden, where they play in the fountains.”
Emna Tanovic, 19, art “Not being on campus.” Layout by Katelyn Clancy
July 26, 2019
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
Page 3
An image on the STLCC website has a culinary arts theme
COLO CAMP
“Come as you are. See what you bec campaign that St. Louis Community students of all ages, backgrounds, race posters cover the doors of elevators at Forest Park students interspersed with v also includes TV and radio commer
The elevator door in D Tower has a technology theme.
PHOTOS BY ANG
Bottom row from left: The elevator door in the southeast corner of the cafeteria has a welding theme; a flier on a bulletin board in G Tower and the elevator door in the northeast corner of the cafeteria have a graduation theme; and the elevator door in G Tower has an automotive theme.
Page 4
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
July 26, 2019
e.
ORFUL PAIGN
come� is the slogan of a districtwide y College has launched to show that es and interests are welcome. Adhesive t Forest Park, showing images of actual vibrantly colored artwork. The campaign rcials, fliers and the STLCC website.
General studies student Henry Okraku, 31, twirls his umbrella while waiting for the elevator in E Tower. The door has a criminal justice theme.
GELICA WOODY
July 26, 2019
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
Page 5
Opinion
Diehard ‘Star Wars’ fans are losing the faith
not only what a movie could be, but what I could become as a person. Skywalker’s character arc is one of the best I’ve ever seen portrayed on screen, with every movie developing his character further. He’s put through trial after trial with nothing but his morals keeping him from failure. “Star Wars” taught me to trust in my feelings, and the true meaning of redemption. Before I elaborate further on why many fans are done with the franchise, I’ll make a disclosure: I am honestly not that hard to please when it comes to “Star Wars” I walked out of “The Force Awakens” (2015) feeling underwhelmed and disapBy Ethan Tutor pointed by Han Solo’s unemotional death The Scene staff and Rey defeating a Sith Lord after never holding a lightsaber in her life, but I was A year ago, if you had told me that the excited to see where the sequel would go majority of “Star Wars” fans were not going and take these characters. Then came “Rogue One” (2016). I loved to be excited about Episode 9, I wouldn’t it so much that I saw it five times, whereas I have believed you. The hype for “The Last Jedi” (Episode 8, only saw “The Force Awakens” once. It felt released in 2017) was infectious, and the like Disney knew what “Star Wars” was and idea of seeing Luke Skywalker on screen what it could be. So when “The Last Jedi” came out, I was once again was enough to get fans and nonfans into cinemas. The film earned more very excited for the franchise. Its future than $1.3 billion at the box office, making it seemed bright. The newest entry to the Skywalker Saga a definite success for Disney. promised a full-power Luke, something Or so it seemed. Hate for the film spread fast on social fans have been wanting since “Return of media and elsewhere on the internet. Fans the Jedi” and something that any director were disappointed and, in many cases, with half a brain would give to his audience, personally offended by the radical shift in right? I personally was looking forward to the Skywalker’s beloved character. Even actor Mark Hamill spoke out, mock- development of Rey’s character just as ing the complete 180 in Skywalker’s moral- much. I was almost begging Disney to make ity, compared to the optimistic hero in the her a Skywalker and continue the lineage. It original trilogy (“Star Wars” or “A New was an obvious story beat that any director Hope” in 1977, “The Empire Strikes Back” who has seen a “Star Wars” movie would follow, right? in 1980 and “Return of the Jedi” in 1983). Unfortunately, Unless you have director Rian been living under There are now more bad Johnson wanted to a rock, you already expectaknow about this ‘Star Wars’ movies than good “subvert tions,” whatever anger. What started that means. Listen, as a vocal minoriones, and that is crushing I’m fine with you ty has turned into a doing whatever massive protest by indeed. It makes getting you want with the fans of the franchise. movie, as long as They’re simply fed excited about the new films it follows the story up with the lack beats that the seven of quality in “Star very, very difficult, and this is previous movies in Wars.” the saga have set What used to be coming from somebody who up. one of the most cherI could rant all ished and sacred can quote every line of day about everyfilm franchises has thing wrong with been almost shunned dialogue in ‘A New Hope.’ “The Last Jedi,” but by most fans, and I thousands of better don’t blame them. “Star Wars” is my personal favorite writers have already done that. So let’s just among movie franchises, although I do move on to yet another disaster. “The Last Jedi” crushed my spirits so believe it has given us some of the greatest films ever made and some of the worst. badly that something unbelievable happened. When the Lucasfilm logo showed “Solo” (2018) was a pure nightmare. There are now more bad “Star Wars” up on “Solo,” for the first time I didn’t have movies than good ones, and that is butterflies in my stomach. I wasn’t excited. I could only scrape up two other friends crushing indeed. It makes getting excited about the new films very, very difficult, who wanted to go see the movie, whereas I and this is coming from somebody who went with a group of more than 10 friends can quote every line of dialogue in “A to see “The Last Jedi.” Being friends with fellow fans, a few New Hope.” “Star Wars” changed my perspective on more diehard than I, it was astonishing
Culture Geek
Like us on
“The Scene Forest Park” Page 6
The original “Star Wars” poster from 1977, featuring Mark Hamill, center, as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford, left, as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher, right, as Princess Leia. when some said “no thanks” to the “Solo” invite. In reflection, I probably should have shared their headspace. “Solo” was simply ... dull. It felt like a bad summer movie, but with a “Star Wars” logo slapped on it. I watched it a second time when the Blu-Ray version was released, and it was even worse. Hopefully, reading this breakdown of my
personal feelings about the Disney “Star Wars” films helps you understand where the fan base is going into Episode 9. The situation seems to get worse with every passing day. News from the set of Episode 9 is never good. Johnson attacks fans almost daily in a futile attempt to convince people “The Last Jedi” wasn’t that bad. Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy, whom many blame for the lack of quality, has been given three more years overseeing the franchise. The future is very bleak, this I understand more than most. But we cannot forget why we are so invested in this franchise and why we cared so much in the first place. The universe of “Star Wars” is arguably one of the biggest and most interesting to ever grace the big screen. The grandiose stories told in each episode may not be “Empire Strikes Back” quality, but they take place in the same world. I will be going to see Episode 9 because of how much “Star Wars” means to me, even after hating “The Last Jedi” and “Solo,” “The Phantom Menace” (1999) and “Attack of the Clones” (2002). “Star Wars” will always be precious to me, but if you decide not to see Episode 9, I completely understand. I won’t bash you for boycotting, as many have said they will. However, I implore you not to give up on the franchise. If it can survive the hate created by the prequels, it can survive this. Be strong. Don’t give up hope. This is “Star Wars” we’re talking about. There will always be potential. If only Disney knew how to bring it out.
Scene THE
Managing editor: Timothy Bold
Business/web manager: Victor Paletta Circulation: Zacchaeus Windham Reporters/photographers: Soroda Nasiri, Zoey Tincknell, Shree Bhattessa, Ethan Tutor, Angelica Woody Layout: Katelyn Clancy Cartoonists: 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
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
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.
July 26, 2019
Review: ‘Dark Phoenix’ Weighing In
By Zacchaeus Windham The Scene staff I went to the mall a few weeks ago to watch “X-Men: Dark Phoenix,” which is a reimagining of the Dark Phoenix storyline from other “X-Men” comic books and movies. It was dedicated to the late Stan Lee, creator of Marvel characters ranging Spider-Man to The Hulk, Captain Marvel and Iron Man. The most interesting part of the movie was when the Jean Grey character became the phoenix. The X-Men were in space rescuing astronauts whose space shuttle had been wrecked by a solar flare. Grey was in the rocket, and the supernova zapped itself into her. Grey became the phoenix character because of a split personality in “Last Stand.” One of the things that surprised me was that aliens got involved in this movie because in some of the “X-Men” movies I have seen, there were no aliens. The only
time I ever saw aliens on “X-Men” were on the animated series, but I think it was a nice add on to the movie. When I did a comparison between “Dark Phoenix” and “Last Stand,” I found some parts that caught my attention, such as how some characters died and others didn’t. Charles Xavier, a character in the movie, and Cyclops were both killed by Jean Grey and Mystique wasn’t an X-man, but in “Dark Phoenix” Charles Xavier and Cyclops didn’t die and Mystique was one of the X-Men and she was killed by Grey. A bigger surprise was how Grey died because in “Last Stand” Wolverine was the one who killed her, but in “Dark Phoenix” her death was a self-sacrifice. At first I thought “Dark Phoenix” had a good start, but I found that the movie didn’t have that much of a character development and the plot was somewhat lacking. I thought a few characters like Quick Silver could have done a bit more in the movie and that there could have been more than one back story to build more emotion to the film. If the plot was a bit more expanded, then it would have seemed more exciting because that’s something that “X-Men” fans like me would expect. “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” was removed from the box office later this summer and it may have had its faults, but the performance from the cast was very satisfying. The conclusion to this X-Men saga to me had an epic and sad ending because of the sorrow and the self-sacrifice. I felt the drama and the suspense from this film and I think the movie is worth praising.
Opinion
Candidates
from page 1
performance.” only knows what has been reported on the Despite her disappointment, McArthur TV news. She said she hasn’t developed hasn’t given up on Biden’s candidacy. She an opinion on which presidential candidate also was impressed with Harris, Castro and to support, noting it’s still early in the Booker and liked Warren more than she process. expected. “Competition is always great,” she said. “I “I like Bernie Sanders, just want the person who but his policies are a litcan do the best job for tle extreme and scary to our country in office.” me,” she said. General education Radiology student student George Brooks, Britany McKnight, 29, didn’t watch the 26, didn’t watch the debates, but he’s leaning Democratic debates, but toward the Democratic she plans to vote for a Party. Democrat in the pres- McKnight Brooks said Trump Brooks idential election. She doesn’t understand the wants someone new in office who will problems and challenges that face the lower be respectable and won’t cause such an and middle classes and the way he carries “uproar” in the country. himself is “problematic.” “I don’t look up to (Trump),” she “(This mixture) doesn’t make him a great said. “We need someone we can trust in president,” Brooks said. office.” Only one person interviewed by The Social work major Carmen Whigham, Scene expressed support for Trump, and she 47, didn’t need to watch the Democratic declined to give her name. debates to know that she will be supporting The second round of Democratic debates Biden. will be broadcast at 7 p.m. CDT on July “He has the experience,” she said. “What 30-31 on CNN. The candidates will be in better person to have in office than a recent Detroit. vice president?” While Whigham “Competition is always doesn’t want Trump to continue in office, she great. I just want the person said she appreciates the fact that he talks clearly who can do the best job for and does what he says he will do. our country in office.” Karen Mayes, director of the nursing department, – Nursing Director Karen Mayes didn’t see the debates and
By Cameron Kuntz
July 26, 2019
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
Page 7
Page 8
The Scene
THESCENEFP.COM
July 26, 2019