SCENE THE
Fall Issue 5
November 17, 2017
www.thescenefp.com
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Thanksgiving See page 4
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Forum controversial but calm Speakers oppose faculty cuts By Joshua Phelps The Scene staff A St. Louis Community College public forum on Nov. 14 featured a protest march, metal detectors, strict rules of conduct, a long line of speakers and heavy police presence. All were the result of last month’s meeting, which made headlines because Wildwood adjunct faculty member Steve Taylor was handcuffed and escorted out for allegedly being disruptive. “It’s almost like they don’t want to hear what we have to say,” said Florissant Valley music major Erisha Tyus, 32, who marched with the protesters. “It’s ridiculous, considering the students are the ones paying for everything.” Tyus’ mother is an adjunct represented by Service Employees International Union, which is trying to negotiate a contract with the college. The forum was held to allow the public to comment on STLCC budget problems and what its Board of Trustees is considering to solve those problems, said Nez Savala, communications manager of marketing. More than 15 people spoke at the forum, mostly faculty members. Almost all opposed the idea of cutting staff, particularly in light of the college’s plan to build a $39 million nursing and health sciences building on the Forest Park campus. “If faculty aren’t needed for essential and critical functions, who is?” asked Patricia Maniaci, English professor on the Meramec campus. She called board members “out of touch.” Another speaker, Forest Park instructional librarian Jeff Papier, also advised the board to look at options other than layoffs. “I believe that when you destroy a village to save a village, perhaps the village will remain destroyed,” he said. One of the few citizen speakers was Marietta Williams, mother of a Florissant Valley graduate. “How can you justify building a multi-
Photo byTimothy Bold
Patricia Maniaci, adjunct English professor on the Meramec campus, speaks at an STLCC public forum.
Photo by Joshua Phelps
About 20 adjuncts, students and union representatives protest outside the Cosand Center in downtown St. Louis before a St. Louis Community College public forum on Nov. 14. million-dollar building when you’re talking administrative offices at the Cosand Center; about cutting 70 full-time faculty members?” and a 20 percent reduction in the number of She later added, “Maybe you need to con- administrators within academic affairs and at sider cutting the wages of some of the fat cats the leadership level.” The college also has floated the idea of of the administration before you cut faculty.” Before, during and after the forum, about laying off about 70 full-time faculty members 20 adjuncts, students and union represen- (18 percent). Only 70 people were allowed in the Cosand tatives lined Broadway, across from Busch Center boardStadium and outside room for the Nov. STLCC’s Cosand “I believe that when you 14 forum. Others Center. watched through They were protestdestroy a village to save a a Skype feed in an ing what they say is overflow room. In the college’s refusal to offer adjuncts village, perhaps the village will the building lobby, police scanned a contract with fair remain destroyed.” everyone with handwages and job secuheld metal detectors. rity. Several held – Jeff Papier, instructional librarian A notice emailed signs that read “honk to faculty and staff for adjuncts.” had already laid They also chanted, “More support for adjuncts,” “No poverty some ground rules. Speakers had to sign up wages” and “Chancellor Pittman, you can’t before the forum and limit their comments to hide, we can see your greedy side,” speaking two minutes. “No demonstrations of any kind (e.g., of STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman. Three significant areas are contributing to applause, booing, etc.) will be permitted college’s budget problems, according to a during or at the conclusion of any speakers’ board working document that Savala emailed presentation,” according to the email. “A person addressing the board shall refrain from to The Scene: •A $5 million reduction in the college’s making insults; using obscenity or profanity; budget from the state of Missouri due to a attacking any person in his/her personal capacity; physical violence or threats; or making decline in tax revenue. •New federal accounting standards that comments that are unduly repetitious.” Taylor, who formerly served on the SEIU require STLCC to cover an unfunded portion of the public school retirement system for contract-bargaining committee, attended the employees. This has resulted in the college Oct. 19 board meeting with other adjuncts. being out of compliance with board policy for He voiced his concerns about people being prohibited from clapping for student or facunrestricted net assets or reserves. •A 35 percent decline in enrollment ulty speakers. between 2011 and 2015. Taylor was walking down the center “STLCC has taken steps to reduce its aisle toward board members when acting budget,” stated a press release on the col- Chairman Rodney Gee asked him to leave. lege’s website. “Such as a voluntary separa- As an STLCC police officer grabbed Taylor tion incentive plan for full-time employees; from behind, Taylor kept moving and hit the reduced operating costs by reviewing and floor. Taylor was handcuffed, escorted out analyzing spending; freezing non-critical and taken to the hospital to be treated for and unfilled positions; selling the downtown injuries.
8th seed sends No. 1 STLCC home in tourney
By Timothy Bold The Scene staff The national championship dream is over for the previously unbeaten St. Louis Community College men’s soccer team, which was upset this week by No. 8-seed Pima Community College. The Archers entered the 12-team NJCAA tournament seeded first and won their first game of pool play Nov. 13, a 1-0 victory over Illinois Central College. But two days later, they lost 3-1 to Pima of Arizona. STLCC finished 23-1. Freshman Daisuke Takanaka’s second goal of the game, in the 59th minute, proved to be the game-winner for Pima, which advances to the national semifinals. Conor McArthur scored for STLCC, his 19th goal of the season, in 86th minute on an assist by Noah Vezzu. “The season was amazing, and I don’t regret anything,” sophomore co-captain Chris Eduardo said after the loss. David Silva stopped five of six shots on goal for Pima (19-4-3), while the Archers’ Braedan Passalis stopped one of four shots. In a rematch of their Region 16 championship game, STLCC defeated Illinois Central 1-0 on a rebound goal by freshman Savino Livornese in the 31st minute. Mattias Tonking assisted. Stellar goalkeeping by Passalis, who had four saves, helped notch STLCC’s 17th shutout of the season. In the regional championship game Nov. 4 at Florissant Valley, the Archers used a blistering attack to defeat Illinois College 3-1. Eduardo scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 25th minute of the first half, one of two goals he scored. He finished his STLCC career with 13 goals this season. Co-captain Connor Summerhill, one of STLCC’s nine British players, said of Illinois Central, “They kept their shape well, but when it came down to it we played better.” Eduardo added: “I was surprised they won their region. I think we played very good. They weren’t that competitive.” Junior Yabawana felt the team “came with a mentality that we weren’t going to lose.” On goals for the season, Summerhill said, “Last season left a bitter taste in our mouth. We came out with fire in our belly.” In his fifth season, coach Tim Mosby made his first appearance in the nationals. Before pool play, he said, “It’s my first national and it’s not going to be the last one.”