No. 18 (March 2, 2017)

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Thursday, March 2, 2017

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Vol. XCVI No. 18

Daniel Carter wins SGA presidency Best voter turn out in two years

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Associate News Editor

On the night of Feb. 27, Saint Louis University announced its new SGA president: junior Daniel Carter.

Formerly serving in the Residence Hall Association as Fusz Hall Campus President and the VP of Finance, Carter developed his interest with codifying transparency to the student body – this interest later evolved into his involvement with the federal government. “I was fortunate enough to serve as an intern in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria, working for the State Department,” Carter said.

As part of Carter’s internship with the U.S. Embassy, he elaborated on his experience sitting on its grants committee. According to the Austrian-American Partnership Fund, its mission is to support collaboration and cultural exchange between Austrian and U.S. non-governmental organizations, universities, professional associations, arts and cultural organizations through the process of fostering connec-

tions and sustainable relationships between the U.S. and Austrian entrepreneurs.

This promotes dialogue and debate around issues of mutual importance, showcasing young American artists whose work has yet to be performed in Austria and build capacity in the area of U.S. studies.

“The U.S. government funds a lot of different cultural events all around the world,” Carter explained.

“A lot of different groups based in Austria will apply for grants from the U.S. government to put on bilateral events, which could combine U.S. cultural topics or virtually anything with Austria.”

While serving on the panel, Carter discussed visible issues with transparency, which became one of the predominant strongholds of his SGA campaign. From money distribution to what purpose financial allotment will be utilized for, Carter promised “[to amend] the SGA constitution to require publishing the SGA budget to the entire student body.”

Unlike Carter, SGA presidential candidate and VP of Internal Affairs Jay Hardin

Courtesy of Daniel Carter

SGA: Junior Daniel Carter won the SGA presidency on Feb. 27. He hopes to bring more transparency to SGA.

New SLU Hospital will open its doors in 2020

saw it as necessary to advocate for an increase in funding for the Chief Diversity Officer’s division. “Dan has some lofty goals, but he has failed to mention the Clock Tower accords,” Hardin said.

“We are in our third year of the Clock Tower accords, and it is still not completed – yet no one has touched on how minority students are being looked over without a voice.”

Ultimately, it all came down to how the students perceived who was most experienced for the position and how their social media podiums attached a name with the goals they spelled out for the next year. “Social media played a huge role in this election because Dan did do a good job – he created a Facebook page that received a ton of likes and created a Snapchat filter, but the students have to look at who has the most experience within the SGA committee as well,” Hardin explained.

Describing his platform as “not as sexy as Carter’s,” Hardin related that he would not have changed anything regarding his student outreach. “I ran a good cam-

SLU Working Group to approve campus speakers

By HARITA ABRAHAM Staff Writer

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Associate News Editor

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, SSM Health announced a new SLU Hospital by releasing new images of the establishment. The new SLU Hospital is set to be completed Sept. 1, 2020 with groundbreaking beginning Aug. 31, 2017.

Renovations for the new hospital are estimated to be around $550 million. The new hospital will have ten floors and a 600,000-squarefoot outpatient facility. The new hospital will have 316 private patient rooms.

On top of the plans for the hospital, SSM plans to add an additional four-story 200,000-square-foot outpatient facility. Other additions will include a large parking garage and an expanded emergency department with its own parking lot.

The campus of the new Saint Louis University Hos-

As of January 2017, Saint Louis University President Dr. Pestello implemented the foundations of the SLU Working Group – an assemblage seeking to address what categorizes hate speech; this will include what the community and SLU identify as moral and political criteria for public speakers, as well as how to “respectfully disagree” with an opposing viewpoint.

Charged with reviewing current policies and practices, the newly-formed

Courtesy of SSM Health

HOSPITAL: The new SLU Hospital will costa total of $550 million and open in 2020. pital campus will be located on 15 acres. The location will be next to the current medical facility west of 40/64, off of Grand Boulevard and in between Rutger and Lasalle streets.

The project was on the

table since Sept. 1, 2015 when SSM Health acquired ownership of SLU Hospital.

SSM Health CEO, William P. Thompson, announced the project as soon as SSM Health assumed ownership.

His goal was to construct a

new hospital and ambulatory care center that incorporates national best practices in patient-centered design while delivering an improved patient experience.

See “Hospital” on Page 2

paign, but still do not see an SGA transparency problem.

As someone who has been a part of SGA since my freshman year and part of the annual funding process twice now, I see an outdated directness problem instead,” Hardin said.

Per the disparities among the platforms of the president- and vice presidentselect, Hardin acknowledged the difficulties in settling on a cohesive goal; however, Carter portrayed knowledge as a powerful tool in order to “get things done” and create equitable solutions despite preeminent campaign declarations. “In terms of social justice, a topic that is close to my heart, [it] is the ideal of ensuring that people are treated equitably regardless of any aspect of who they are,” Carter explained. “Particularly, a point of issue lies in the people with mental illness, so what I would like to do is have SLU Wellness hop onboard with SGA to pass a resolution identifying mental health awareness, trying to reduce that stigma and ensuring equitable treatment for all SLU students.”

working group was tasked to collect campus input and analyze similar student speech, expression, and civility codes from various Jesuit and Catholic institutions with the goal of forming its own preamble by the end of the 20162017 term.

Co-chair and current underg raduate student Denish Jaswal explained that while the deadline was aggressive, “it was apparent that there was a need to revisit the free speech policies that were on our campus, especially regarding the

An assemblage seeking to address what categorizes hate speech; this will include what the community and SLU identify as moral and political criteria for public speakers

See “Working Group” on Page 3

INSIDE SCOOP: Welcome to the Play Page 5

ARTS

SPORTS

Women’s Basketball advances to quarter-finals

Trump’s policies to hurt the economy

Page 7

Page 9

OPINION

2 March 2, 2017

NEWS

SLU grad struggles with opiate abuse

By HARITA ABRAHAM Staff Writer

St. Louis deaths from heroin are hitting an all-time high. The drug has skyrocketed in purity levels and has never been more cheap on the streets. In 2016 alone, the body count for overdosing hit 650. The problem has strong prominence in the community and one former SLU undergraduate, and now graduate student, has stepped forward to talk about the very real and local epidemic.

Roberta Singer is a recovering heroin addict and describes her heroin use as first starting off as an experiment and then evolving into an addiction. Most people turn to heroin after being on prescription drugs. Doctors will get patients hooked and then patients will be suddenly cut off. Heroin ends up being their solution. “I took

Vicodin for a wisdom tooth removal as prescribed. It gave me a euphoric feeling,” Singer said. With opiates, there is no “hangover” feeling. “[Heroin is] Not as hard as alcohol so I thought I was doing myself a favor,” said Singer when she recalled her time getting into heroin.

With addiction, once a person starts, they cannot stop. They get terrible withdrawals. “Last time I came off it, I didn’t sleep for 10-11 days,” said Singer. When heroin addiction sets in, it is not about the high anymore. It is about stabilizing and just being normal because the withdrawals are so bad. This why addicts have to keep taking the drug even if they really do not want to anymore. In fact, physiologically, an addict’s brain is wired in a way where continuing to take the drug makes the most sense.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,

drugs target the brain’s plea2015, Singer used heroin for sure and reward system by the first time. By November flooding the circuit with 2015 she began outpatient dopamine. Over stimulatrehabilitation but then reing this system with drugs is lapsed for a couple of weeks. what results in the euphoric Between April and June feeling that 2016, she most addicts stayed clean describe. but started This euphoric This then reusing again inforces the and then went sensation act of drug back to treatreinforces the consumption ment in Januact of drug as the brain ary of 2017. keeps tellconsumption as When she ing the body to the brain keeps returned to take more. treatment she Therefore, ad- telling the body to underwent a dicts enter a detox. take more. cycle in which When dethey find it scribing the difficult to detox, Singer escape. “In addicts, the pleasaid you basically just lie in sure portion of the brain is bed sick. This treatment is more active than in normal intended to just flush the brains,” Singer said. drug out of your system.

The road to recovery is “It’s hard. You think you can not an easy one. Singer has have the life you want and had her own battles trying the drug,” Singer said. “Being to escape addiction. In May an addict is lonely because

SLU prof killed in bicycle accident in St. Louis area

By BRANSON FOX Contributor

On Friday afternoon, SLU professor Robert Mark Buller, Ph.D., was killed around 5:30 p.m. while riding his bike in the 10600 block of Riverview Drive.

Police reported that an oncoming Audi A8, driven by a 56-year-old male, first hit Buller before hitting a Ford E-350 head on. Buller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Buller, 67, was an avid cyclist and a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the School of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Virology, Glasgow in 1976. Buller liked to ride his bike to work, and went to church every morning. He would usually arrive at his lab around six in the morning and often not leave until six in the evening. Buller also appreciated other joys in life, such as enjoying the perks of being a Schlafly SIP Club member and socializing with colleagues. Buller’s research was very diverse, including work in gene therapy, vaccines and antiviral drugs for a number of lethal viruses.

Buller had a long list of achievements during his

time at Saint Louis University, which started in 1994, and was set to end with retirement in 2018. Buller had about 175 publications, including several in the most prolific and well regarded journals.

Buller specialized in biodefense and advised the national intelligence community. He developed ways of countering the use of viruses, such as the smallpox virus, as weapons of bioterrorism. Post 9/11, Buller was a heavily sought after expert in the field. In 2003, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy praised Buller’s work as being “critically important to the biodefense of the nation.” This came after a controversy that started when Buller engineered a more lethal mousepox in an effort to show that poxviruses may be of interest to terrorists.

Credit belongs to Buller for the foundation of virology and immunology programs at Saint Louis University. His efforts led to the development of the aerosol biology core, which was used to study the immunity to tuberculosis in animal models. Buller also started the university’s Select Agent Research Program, which allowed scientists to study

potentially lethal pathogens.

Among the numerous grants he helped write, one was for the construction of level 3 labs in the Doisy Research Center, which puts SLU on par with the best virology and immunology departments in the country. Buller is responsible for millions of dollars of grants to the university.

Buller was also remarkable for his charitable contributions. When not working, Buller volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Our Lady of Lourdes Social Concerns Committee and donated to organizations like Wounded Warriors or those that helped impoverished children in foreign countries.

Buller leaves behind his wife Joslyn and children Dawn and Meghan as well as a community of Saint Louis University faculty, alumni and students that benefitted from his presence. Charges were not filed against the driver of the car that killed Buller.

The visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes, 7148 Forsyth Blvd., University City, followed by a Mass at 11 a.m. and noon reception.

The SLU School of Medicine will have a memorial service at a date to be determined.

The project’s construction manager is Alberici Constructors Inc., a decision that was made in April. The project was developed by Lawrence Group in partnership with Hammel, Green and Abrahamson beginning in January of this year. The development utilized information provided by architects Frank Zilm and Associates, Inc, known as FZA. FZA met with crucial leads of SSM Health SLU Hospital and SLUCare Physician Group last fall, and from that developed a defined project scope.

Saint Louis University Hospital is currently a teach-

ing hospital for the students of Saint Louis University Medical School. Therefore, another important goal of the new facility was to make sure it is conducive to health care education. To accomplish this goal, the design for the new hospital has alcoves big enough to fit 16 people so doctors and residents can huddle around without disrupting traffic by standing in the middle of the hallways.

CEO of SLU Hospital, Kate Becker, also stressed the desire SSM Health has for the new hospital to be more green. Becker felt that is was important to incorporate green space to create a relaxing and healing ambience for the hospital, despite

being located in an urban area. Becker feels the current facility lacks this. The green space is also expected to help achieve the academic feel that the project is trying to create. According to Becker, the green space will create an outdoor commons area, a design element that is common on university campuses.

SSM Health acquired SLU hospital in 2015. SSM Health is a Catholic, not-forprofit health system. SSM Health serves the health needs of communities across the Midwest. The current SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is a 356-bed quaternary and tertiary hospital. The facility specializes

insurance companies began to cover addiction treatment is because the disease model of addiction was finally recognized and the language surrounding it changed,” Singer said. She added that when an addict realizes they are not a terrible person, but that the problem is with their brain, it helps to remove a large amount of guilt and can help addicts heal.

While Singer agrees this is not an excuse for bad behavior or harm done under the influence, she still believes looking at addiction as a disease carries a lot of weight and power.

Singer urges addicts, especially those within the SLU community, to not feel alone and see what’s out there. The recovery community is a lot larger than one would think. SLU’s counseling department is a resource.

College Church also hosts AA meetings.

Guest speakers introduce immigrant and refugee services

By JAYDE ROSE Staff Writer

In the last year, issues such as the refugee crisis and President Trump’s executive orders regarding travel bans have brought rhetoric on immigration into daily public consumption.

In this spirit, the foreign language department hosted a speaker event this past Monday, Feb. 27 on the topic of refugees and immigrants to educate students on both issues and introduce them to immigrant and refugee services in the St. Louis area.

The two speakers were Marie-Aimee Abizera, the Executive Director of Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates, MIRA, and Fr. Tom Greene of the Jesuit Refugee Service.

Abizera captured the attention of her audience as she told her own story of immigrating to the United States as a refugee. Ms. Abizera was 12 years old when violence broke out in her home country of Rwanda, which the world would later term the Rwandan Genocide.

She and her immediate family survived, she said, “by the grace of God” and by hiding, again and again. In just 100 days between 800,000 and 1,000,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the genocide. She reflected that the most striking thing was seeing “the people you

Hospital: $550 million projected cost Continued from Page 1

you are constantly lying and alienating the people around you.” Something that helps Singer get through is thinking about her mother. “My mom, I love her to death. I think of it as what I am doing to my body, I am doing to hers,” she said. Singer’s father died from alcoholism when she was 27 and she believes that he too wouldn’t want this life for her Singer also finds it unfortunate that society’s climate makes it difficult for addicts to come forward and seek help. “We need to have a climate that shouldn’t be punitive. If an addict comes forward they shouldn’t feel like they are going to be punished,” she said. According to Singer and St. Louis PostDispatch, merely arresting addicts is not a viable solution to the problem.

“Addiction is a disease and not some moral failing.

One of the main reasons that

in organ transplants and is home of the Mid-America Stroke Network. The current facility is also an ACS Level I trauma center for both Missouri and Illinois.

Saint Louis University Hospital is also accredited by the Joint Commission and designated as a Primary Stroke Center.

Saint Louis University Hospital is also home to SLUCare physicians. The SLUCare Physician Group is the academic medical practice of Saint Louis University.

SLUCare Physician Group has more than 500 health care providers and 1,200 staff members in hospitals and medical offices throughout the St. Louis region.

know,” the people she saw everyday from her church, school or community participating in the violence.

Abizera emphasized that her family’s experiences were not uncommon.

Families frequently have 7-12 year waits when going through the vetting system and the government has all blood types and fingerprints of those who come into the country this way. Her question to the audience was if this was her experience, then what is the “extreme” vetting system being discussed in policy today.

Fr. Tom Greene offered examples of challenges faced by immigrants from his own experiences as an immigration lawyer. He opened by recommending an article to students from the New Yorker entitled “Why Don’t Facts Change Our Minds?”

This launched a myth busting and fact checking session on popular immigration issues, which Fr. Greene and Ms. Abizera equally participated in.

First, the difference between refugees and immigrants was addressed.

Refugees as being those individuals who have been forced to flee their country in order to escape some type of persecution and/or violence, whether it be that of race, gender or ethnicity. Immigrants, rather, are those who have chosen to leave their country willingly.

The audience was cautioned, however, regarding this definition, as it lacks economic explanations which might put immigrants in similar situations to refugees. According to legislation enacted in 1980, immigrants may not be considered refugees unless their country is at war.

Fr. Greene and Ms. Abizera agreed that refugees and immigrants are most frequently misrepresented economically. Refugees arrive to the United States on a loan, which must be paid back. On average refugees are employed within 3-4 months of arriving in the United States. He explained that many refugees are in fact very educated people who are unable to practice in their new countries due to certification and language barriers.

It was at detention centers that Fr. Greene spent most of his time as an advocate. He explained that upon arrival the most frequent requests from his clients were to find and return wedding rings, photos, medications

and wallets. Detentions may happen at any time, meaning undocumented immigrants may not have time to arrange for children to be picked up from school, medications retrieved from home or family members notified. The detention centers are also not required to provide language or translating services for detainees, meaning if an undocumented immigrant does not speak English he or she may not have a chance to communicate with authorities until an advocate like Fr. Greene is able to provide language services for them.

As the event came to a close, both speakers appealed that no matter where students aligned themselves, they should stay aware of events both global and local and educate themselves on policies surrounding the issues. Look up the ongoing violence in Syria, Southern Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo; do a search on policies such as 287(g) which authorizes the federal government to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, allowing them to act as immigration enforcement officers. Fr. Greene stressed to students that it is “critically important to know the facts about immigrants and immigration and to separate these facts from the myths and stereotypes which persist.”

Both speakers had suggestions for students on how to stay informed. Ms. Abizera suggested both keeping up with a variety of news sources to balance information sources, as well as looking up policies when they are referenced to get the facts on what is actually regulated or permitted. Fr. Greene’s recommendation was to in some way get to know an immigrant person or family, following closely to SLU’s mission of being men and women for — and with — others.

If you are interested in the work MIRA is doing here in St. Louis or in the Missouri area, please visit their website at http://www. mira-mo.org. Currently Ms. Abizera says the organization is working on tracking state-level policies in Jefferson City, tracking antiimmigration bills and providing education sessions for refugees and immigrants to know their rights.Internship opportunities have also been made available through MIRA.

NEWS

March 2, 2017

3

Let Us Introduce You: Derek Westermeyer

By VALERIE CROOK Staff Writer

For the average college student, going out takes a certain amount of time and effort. Razors, lotions, colognes, makeup and the general agony of choosing shirts and shoes all play an important role in the process of “getting ready” on a Friday night. Sophomore social work major Derek Westermeyer not only gets ready to go out, he becomes a whole other person.

Every Monday night at the Grey Fox Pub, Westermeyer becomes drag queen Diamond Devereaux.

“Diamond is glamorous and sexy and has an odd sense of humor about her, which I guess comes from me. I’m goofy and I’ll make bad jokes and laugh at them, and Diamond will too. Honestly she’s just really pretty,” Westermeyer said.

Diamond’s performance directly translates with her look. Westermeyer will spend about four hours shaving everything below

Gaby Lawson / The University News

LUIY: Westermeyer is a sophomore social work major. the nose, contouring facial structure and shadows into cheekbones, adding glitter and gluing on eyelashes before rushing out the door with a themed costume for the show stuffed into a bag.

He admits to spending about $600 on drag gear in the last two months, all to create the look that will be the “wow”

factor in Diamond’s show.

In St. Louis, pageant drag is popular. Sequined gowns and huge hair dominate the shows. New York City has a club-kid scene that demonstrates creative and eccentric masterpiece looks. He mentions that drag has a boxed definition, but the point of drag is to break through that

box.

For Westermeyer, it’s makeup that helps him live outside the box. He spent a summer working at Ulta Beauty where he had the time to learn about and practice makeup application. He found more people he worked with who loved makeup and did drag and fell into a community of support and interest. He wants the way that Diamond looks to speak for the show. “Some Queens will do flips and splits and I’m living for it but my body hurts watching it happen. Some Queens are more theatrical and will have elaborate costumes while doing musical numbers.

Some Queens will perform a burlesque show,” Westermeyer said.

If you’re going to a drag show you have to cheer. He advises tipping every Queen at least once, even if they’re horrible; it takes a lot of courage and bravery to stand up and perform. The biggest compliment is asking to take a picture with your favorite Queen.

Working Group: strives to create a better SLU community events with Allen West and protests.”

In designing and carrying out this goal, the working group, along with its dialogue groups, considered components which advocated for an effective policy to govern speakers and expression on campus; such elements included context for the policy, the content which required addressing, the roles and responsibilities of the students, faculty and administrators in enacting the recommended policies, and the appropriate processes for annunciating and administering such procedures.

“What the working group is trying to figure out is what campus free speech, expression and civility are and what they mean in regards to the Jesuit mission, and how we can work through our commitments to this mission by exploring and being intellectually curious in all avenues,” Jaswal said. “We also want to gather some sense of the

Catholic moral mission – consistency to which guest these standpoints are not in speakers were allowed on opposition all the time but, campus to deliver their meswhen they are, we are trying sages on behalf of the stuto work out how these opdent body and faculty: “We positions factor into our free want to discuss who we can speech, expression and civillet in under larger issues, ity on campus.” such that which align with In his the Catholic letter exchurch or plaining the that which What the working purpose of are more group is trying the workmoral topto figure out is ing group, ics, such Pestello adas allowing what campus free dressed one speakers to speech, expression, of the goals come and and civility are and of a Jesuit talk about what they mean institution as abortion. in regards to the to “[discovWe want to ering] truth elicit feedJesuit mission. [to be] conback from Denish Jaswal, senior tingent upon students on our willingwhat is alness to allowed to be low vigorous discussion of talked about – whether it’s differing or contrary ideas.” abortion, or if it’s not the Eradication of closed doors place because we are a Jesuit and invitation to a variety of university.” faith traditions, sexual oriThere are three phases entations and political idewithin the implementation als is a primary stronghold of the working group: iniwithin the Working Group. tial information gathering Jaswal alluded to the inand research, analysis and

“

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Continued from Page 1

recommendations and policy development. Currently, phase one is underway, but approaching the issue of “respectful discourse” and what it entails will be formulated within phase two.

“We have to first determine what types of speech we want on campus, and if there are any that are disallowed, figure out why they are disallowed,” Jaswal elaborated. “From there, we formulate how we will respond to unplanned events.”

In succession to defining the document, which will expand on who is to be allowed on campus to speak and under what conditions various topics should be discoursed, Jaswal emphasized the flexibility of the statements, susceptible to change based on the campus’s decision.

“There needs to eventually be an appeals process built in, so it is not the end-all, beall,” Jaswal said. “That kind of system is impervious to change, and change is necessary for progress.”

Adjunct professor protest

By EMMA CARMODY Photo Editor

On Wednesday, March 1, a group of citizens, students and faculty marched from the Clock Tower to DuBourg Hall hoping to send a message to the administration here at Saint Louis University to change how they treat their adjunct staff.

The march was coordinated by the Service Employees International Union Faculty Forward program that organized marches at universities across the country as part of its “Day of Action.” The march was in response to the recent appointment of Betsy DeVos, as well as other actions made by the current administration, and the movement away from investing in the next generation’s education.

Several students and adjunct faculty spoke about their experiences. The pay and bonuses of adjunct staff have been a recent source of dispute among the Saint Louis University community, and now the students and faculty are taking action and speaking out about it.

Q&A with Derek:

Q. How is it being a part of the LGBTQ community on SLU’s campus?

It can be lonesome since there aren’t many people like me here. I don’t have to worry about being harassed. I’ve never felt unsafe, but I’ve gotten plenty of strange looks.

Q. What are some other hobbies you have?

I am very into social justice. I worked for the grassroot PROMO, Missouri’s LGBTQ advocacy group. I hope to volunteer at the Pride Center they just opened up along Chouteau Avenue. And contrary to popular belief and common stereotypes I play volleyball and I think sports are fun to watch, play and go to.

Q. If you had to give general advice to anyone, what would it be?

Live your life and forget gender norms. Just do your thing. No means no, and be a nice person.

THE SLU SCOOP All Information Provided by Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Tuesday, February 21 11:37 a.m. SICK CASE DPS was dispatched to the dining hall in reference to an employee not feeling well. After meeting with the victim, whose speech was unintelligible, EMS was called. The victim was transported by Abbot ambulance to Barnes Hospital. The victim’s supervisor was on scene and notified the victim’s emergency contact.

Monday, February 27 1:20 p.m. SICK CASE Responding to a patient’s ferocious chest pains, the office staff contacted Emergency Medical Services via 911. DPS communications dispatched an officer to the scene as Saint Louis Fire Department Truck 5 and Medic Unit 123 responded immediately to convey the victim to SLU ER.

Monday, February 27 3:39 p.m. FIRE ALARM The siren and strobes were activated by cooking on the second floor of a dorm residence.

Tuesday, February 28 4:35 p.m. FIRE Female employee stated that her personal space heater caught fire in some unknown manner while sitting on her desk. Employee knocked the heater off the desk onto the floor, extinguished the fire and unplugged the heater. No injuries were reported, except a section of carpet was damaged by the burning heater. Photos of heater and damaged carpet sections were taken.

Tuesday, February 28 1:56 p.m. CHEMICAL ODOR Officers from the Saint Louis Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a strong odor of formaldehyde permeating inside a building. Environmental Safety Staff was notified. While the source of the odor could not be determined, the building supervisor deemed the area safe.

Emma Carmody / The University News

Be a Responsible Billiken STOP. CALL. REPORT. 314-977-3000 witness.slu.edu dps.slu.edu

Emma Carmody / The University News

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Arts Entertainment The University Theatre presents...

By NATALIE RIOPELLE Arts Editor

In keeping with Women’s History Month and recent films like “Hidden Figures,” the University Theatre’s upcoming show, “Silent Sky,”

by Lauren Gunderson, centers on a remarkable woman, which history has unwittingly and unjustly ignored. “Silent Sky” chronicles the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, a deaf scientist at the Harvard Observatory during the 1900s, whose historic discovery in astronomy was undermined by the lack of respect given to women in scientific areas at that time.

The University Theatre’s 2016-2017 theme centers on Science, Technology,

March 2, 2017 arts@unewsonline.com Natalie Riopelle, Arts Editor Tom Bergan, Assoc. Arts Editor

Oscars more than the mishap

Engineering and Math with a particular emphasis on working to create connections between these fields and other fields at SLU. The production of “Silent Sky” at SLU follows in the wake of “Arcadia,” a Tom Stoppard play taking place across two time periods with math as an interconnecting medium. “Silent Sky,” like “Arcadia,” also features women as prominent players in various discoveries in astronomy and mathematicsrespectively—though the attribution of credit in “Silent Sky” is true, unlike that in “Arcadia.” A play interwoven with themes of science, love, perseverance and discovery written with humor and care, “Silent Sky” is sure to be a play worth seeing.

“Silent Sky” The University Theatre

March 2 - 4, 8 p.m.

Pre-show discussion March 2, 6:30 p.m.

March 5, 2 p.m.

(ASL interpreted) ONE WEEKEND ONLY

Courtesy of Getty Images

MISHAP: Confusion filled the Dolby Theatre during the Academy Awards on Feb. 26 after the Oscar for Best Picture was given to “La La Land” instead of “Moonlight,” the award’s intended and actual receiptient.

By MADDIE SIEBUM Staff Writer

Even if you didn’t tune in to the first three and a half hours of the Oscars ceremony, everyone in America knows what happened at the end. Some say it was the best moment, others say it was the worst. I’m not sure where I stand, but I know for sure that it was the most amazing live TV moment I’ve ever witnessed.

The Oscar for Best Picture was mistakenly awarded to “La La Land,” which entered the night with a whopping 14 nominations, tying “Titanic” and “All About Eve” for most-nominated films. As the producers were giving their acceptance speeches, commotion started occurring on stage. It turned out that the presenters were given the wrong

much every aspect. “La La card and subsequently anLand” is a musical about the nounced the wrong winner sacrifices one must make to – “Moonlight” had won Best pursue their dreams, and esPicture. sentially a love letter to films The confusion, panic, and and Hollywood. “Mooneventual somberness on the light” portrayed a young Afstage on the part of the “La rican American man’s life: La Land” cast and crew was struggling with truly painful his sexuality, and exhilarating to watch. The Best Picture flub his drug admother I thought that is the most talked dicted and the tumulthey handled about moment of tuous environthe situation with grace, the 2017 Oscars, but ment around Although especially prothere were many him. the moment ducer Justin other highlights. will go down Horowitz who in history, it relinqui she d is somewhat his Oscar, saydisappointing that “Mooning, “I’m going to be really light’s” spectacular cast and thrilled to hand this to my crew did not get to have their friends from ‘Moonlight.’” win recognized in the tradiBoth “La La Land” and tional sense.

“Moonlight” deserved to The Best Picture flub is win Best Picture. They are the most talked about moobviously different in pretty

ment of the 2017 Oscars, but there were many other highlights from the rest of the show. Host Jimmy Kimmel did an outstanding job. There were a couple of exceptions, but for the most part, his jokes and bits landed and the audience seemed as if they were truly enjoying themselves.My favorite moments were when he referenced his ongoing “feud” with Matt Damon. There were many jabs thrown throughout the night, but the funniest was a pre-recorded segment making fun of Damon’s film “We Bought A Zoo.” It can be difficult to keep a long-running joke funny, but Kimmel and Damon kept us on our toes and genuinely laughing.

See “The Oscars” on Page 6

STRFKR packs Ready Room ‘Get Out’ now

By TOM BERGAN Associate Arts Editor

The only time most people have heard STRFKR’s music is from a 2009 Target ad. They are a band where no one will recognize their name, but if the song from that ad is played, “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second,” it is immediately recognized by most folks. The song very much sounds like a radio-friendly pop hit, with its slowly bouncing rhythm and lyrics that are quite easy to sing along to. Despite this fact, it never caught on with mainstream music fans.

That situation sums up STRFKR’s career and music

thus far. They make incredibly catchy pop music for non-pop music fans. Instead their synth-heavy songs, which span five albums, are tailor-made for the indie music scene. With music only a few degrees away from blending in with mainstream pop, one might wonder if there is a sizeable following for a band that has a hard time fitting into a genre.

Thursday night soundly answered that question, with STRFKR playing to a packed Ready Room, a feat not many artists can do on a weeknight.

The line to enter the venue wrapped around the

block at 9 p.m., the start time of opener Psychic Twin. By the time the line cycled through, the band was on the second half of its set. The aptly named band (the two members are twin sisters) had a commanding stage presence for an opening act. They wore bizarre, seemingly plastic outfits that perfectly complimented their futuristic sounding, spaced-out sound. Ending after a quick 45-minute set, the band seemed genuinely ecstatic at the warm reception of the crowd.

It was in the half hour between the artists of the evening in which it was fully re-

alized how hard it would be to peg the crowd. The only common thread was age.

There were very few people above 30. Aside from that, it was a complete toss-up as to the people who were in attendance. There were megahipsters with thick beards and button-up shirts, SLU and Wash U students who had obviously had a bit too much to drink before the show and plenty of people somewhere in between those two.

Though this dynamic seemed incredibly strange, See “STRFKR” on Page 6

Courtesy of Universal Studios

TERROR: Daniel Kaluuya (above) stars as Chris Washington in Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out.”

By SEAN KELSO Staff Writer

Emma Carmody / University News

FUTURISTIC: STRFKR performed at the Ready Room to an envigorated crowd on Thursday night. The band, known for integrating pop seamlessly with other genres, has been in the music scene since 2007.

Jordan Peele’s new work is not comedy, but a fresh take on psychological horror in his directorial debut, “Get Out.” “Get Out” stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington, a young African-American photographer who travels with his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), to finally meet her parents at their family home for the weekend. When this film picks up, the interracial couple is packing for their stay at the Armitage family home in rural New York.

Chris is initially fearful of Rose’s family’s perception of him, since he is black, but she reassures him that it is not an issue and that her family loves black people.

Once they arrive at the very

nice estate, Rose’s parents Dean (Bradley Whitford) and Missy (Catherine Keener) greet him kindly and all seems to be fine—possibly too fine.

As the weekend progresses, things begin to become progressively more eery, with the home being managed by two African Americans, who seem to be automated in their interactions with Chris and add suspense to the unsettling nature of this film. Furthermore, the next day is the annual reunion of the Armitages and all their friends.

This scene is particularly haunting, as Peele brilliantly weaves casual racism into the everyday conversation of these people, as Chris and the audience both try to figSee “‘Get Out’” on Page 6

6 March 2, 2017 What’s up in STL this week?

ARTS

STRFKR: Music in flight ‘Get Out’ delivers Continued from Page 5

Japandroids March 5, 9:00 p.m.

The Ready Room The Canadian rock duo, fresh off of their latest release, are looking to thrill the crowd during their St. Louis show.

Emma Carmody / The University News

CROWD-SURFING: STFKR brought the party (and four astronauts) to the Ready Room last Thursday. The genre-mixing band played nonstop for over 90 minutes.

Continued from Page 5

“Logan” In theaters Hugh Jackman suits up as Wolverine in this epic finale to his X-Men legacy.

“Cabaret” March 7-19 The Fabulous Fox Follow the story of Cliff Bradshaw and Sally Bowles in 1930s Berlin during the advent of the Nazi regime.

Varsity Art XXL March 3-30 Art Saint Louis Featuring the work of 40 undergraduate and graduate art students, Art Saint Louis’ 21st annual exhibition is sure to impress.

Like Home Grand Center Walk just a few blocks off campus to enjoy the finest of French cuisine.

none of it mattered as soon as the band took the stage.

In addition to the four members of the band, four additional people walked on with the band, each wearing full astronaut outfits. With no delay, the band dove into their 2013 standout track “Atlantis,” instantly getting the crowd to dance as if it were a command from the keyboard’s rhythm.

The astronauts heightened the vibes of the party, frolicking around the stage while also trying to not get in the way of the band. They shimmied, shook and on multiple occasions, crowd surfed— much to the delight of all those in attendance.

Being on stage for well over half of the show, these dancers from space took the role as the main line of communication from the band to the crowd.

The band members, despite their outfits involving wigs, loads of jewelry

and giant sunglasses, were all business throughout the set that stretched just past 90 minutes. The only time they stopped in between songs was to change up instruments. A passing comment from singer Joshua Hodges before the last song of the main set, thanking the crowd for coming, was the only comment made toward fans all night.

And while the band may have appeared a bit cold for not acknowledging much about the evening, they also did not let their comments get in the way of the phenomenal music they played to perfection. The set sprinkled hits evenly throughout deeper tracks of theirs, each song seeming to have heavier bass and synth riffs than the last.

“Open Your Eyes,” a standout track from last year’s release “Being No One, Going Nowhere” provided the perfect environment for a ridiculously huge dance party to break out. “Rawnald

Gregory” predictably garnered a huge reaction from the crowd, who sang along with each line.

It was not a STRFKR original that provided the most surreal moment of the evening, however. That came courtesy of the one cover they performed, that of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” One might think an 80s staple may not land well with the crowd that was not even alive when it was released, but they would be sorely mistaken. From the unmistakable opening bass line, the crowd lost their collective mind. Dancing, swaying and screaming each lyric at the top of their lungs was a collective action by every person in attendance.

Lauper’s song may say that only girls want to have fun, but it was much more than girls that had fun on Thursday. Everyone in the Ready Room just wanted to have fun, and were able to easily accomplish that goal with the help of STRFKR.

ure out why seemingly everyone is acting so bizarre.

“Get Out” unravels its plot at a refined, slow burn, taking the necessary time to build ample tension and suspense before things start to go awry. The acting is fantastic, with standout performances from Kaluuya and Lil Rel Howery, who plays Chris’ hilarious best friend and TSA officer, Rod. Keener was especially creepy and mysterious in her role as Rose’s mother and professional psychiatrist. The numerous twists this film presents are surprisingly compelling and act as original additions to the horror genre.

For a directorial debut, Peele deserves a lot of credit for what he accomplished with “Get Out.” His longstanding comedic background is very evident in this film, with Rod adding lots of humor throughout the film; however, the comedy is kept in-check very well for this dramatic thriller. The plot elements are not entirely new, as Peele admits to some previous influences, like “The

Stepford Wives,” which has some very similar devices that we see in “Get Out.” The shots and music are particularly stunning, as both compliment the other in creating a tense and fulfilling story from start to finish, especially the opening and closing song.

While “Get Out” is sure to deliver some scares for the audience, I appreciated Peele’s sharp infusion of social commentary into this film. From the start, he paints this fictional world to be a mirror image of our modern world, with widespread racism and judgement so deeply-rooted in our culture, that almost no one recognizes it—except the victims, of course. I felt challenged leaving the theater to really focus on my actions and perceptions of other people, since this film deftly highlights the extremes of racism in new and unconventional ways. “Get Out” starts the conversation about race and society in inventive ways that leave the audience satisfied, but also struck by its thought-provoking messages of diversity and inclusion in our ever-expanding global community.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

INNOVATIVE: Both impactful and bizarre, “Get Out” takes on racism through the lens of a horror film.

The Oscars

Courtesy of ABC

HONORED: Emma Stone joins beloved actress Meryl Streep as receipents of the Oscar for Best Actress.

Continued from Page 5

A controversial gag from the ceremony was when Kimmel opened the doors to tourists, who thought they were going to see an exhibit on Oscars dresses. I’m not sure where I stand on this joke. Fans of the bit said that it was cute to see A-list celebrities mingling with vacationers from Chicago or a couple on their honeymoon.

Critics said that it wasn’t fair to subject random tourists to the eyes of millions of Americans and Hollywood’s biggest stars. I think I lean more on the positive side, because Gary from Chicago, who led the pack of tourists, was so genuinely indifferent to the situation, keeping his iPhone in hand, while his fiancée squealed and took selfies with the stars. She even got away with Jennifer Aniston’s sunglasses.

The winners for the acting categories were semipredictable. Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Mahershala Ali all picked up statues for their incredible roles. The

real competition was for Best Actor, between Denzel Washington and Casey Affleck. I was not able to watch “Fences” in time for the ceremony, but I did see “Manchester By the Sea” and Affleck’s performance was impeccable. Based on his performance I’m glad that he won the Oscar despite the controversy about past sexual harassment charges that has resurfaced since the awards season began.

One of my favorite additions to this Oscars telecast was the short video montages of winners before the major acting categories. It made the Oscars feel very symbolic and reminded the audience of the magic of the Oscars, and of the prestigious club of phenomenal films and actors that the winners join. Seeing ecstatic faces like Robin Williams reminded me of the past Oscar moments and films that I’ve fallen in love with. This year definitely provided memorable moments, especially the twist ending, that will go down in Oscars history.

“Silent Sky” The University Theatre

March 2-5 Photo courtesy of Eric Woolsey Photographer

Sports

March 2, 2017 sports@unewsonline.com Lauren Tondl, Sports Editor Vivek Gorijala, Assoc. Sports Editor

Women demolish UMass, advance to A-10 quarters Softball brings home three wins

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team started their postseason competition on Feb. 26 in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

The women, slotted as the fourth seed, hosted the No. 13 seed, UMass, in a 2 p.m. game at Chaifetz Arena. The Billikens brought the heat, defeating UMass, 91-51, and securing a spot in the A-10 quarterfinals against Fordham on March 3 at 1 p.m. in Richmond, Va. SLU struggled to get the ball rolling at the onset of the first quarter. The women fell behind, 10-9, at the halfway mark, but their offense kicked things into gear to go on a 7-0 run and take the lead after the first 10 minutes, 16-10.

The Bills took this momentum going into the second quarter. Junior guard Jenny Vliet sunk a 3-pointer to give the women their first double-digit lead, 24-13, three minutes into the period. UMass attempted to fight their way back to a smaller margin, but junior forward Maddison Gits earned the basket that put SLU ahead by double digits for the rest of the game.

SLU tripled their points in the second quarter alone, ending the half with a 48-25 upper hand.

As if scoring 32 points in one quarter wasn’t enough, the women put 70 points

on the board after just three quarters. They led 70-40 going into the final period and had no problem shutting out UMass, ending their season with a 9-21 record.

SLU’s offensive frenzy shattered a few numbers in SLU’s record book. The women scored 12 3-pointers to give them a total of 210 for the season, breaking the record of 205, set by the 2015-16 squad. The 40-point gap in the final score is SLU’s largest ever versus an A-10 team. Their 32-point second

The women scored 12 3-pointers to give them a total of 210 for the season, breaking the record of 205, set by the 2015-16 squad. quarter is the second-highest total in any quarter this season. The win by double figures is the 18th of the season, which also extended the team’s record. SLU’s bench was a major part of their success in this game, totaling 37 points to UMass’s unfortunate zero point contribution from their reserves.

The lead changed only three times between the teams. The women were 52.2

percent from behind the arc and 55.6 percent from the field overall.

Defensively, the women had a season high of 10 blocked shots and 13 steals.

Several individuals showed promise for the rest of the post season. Junior guard Jackie Kemph earned the game high of 20 points, four steals and nine assists.

She now sits at eighth in points with 1,311, fourth in free throws made with 324 and ninth in 3-pointers with 111. Redshirt sophomore guard Kerrie McMahan tallied 13 points, establishing her season high versus an A-10 opponent.

Vliet earned SLU’s season high of five blocks and contributed 11 points. Gits racked up 10 points, her season high against an A-10 team, and produced career highs in assists with four and blocks with two. Senior forward Olivia Jakubicek had the game high for offensive rebounds with five, and redshirt junior guard Paige Rakers had a career high of three assists.

Sophomore guard Jordyn Frantz totaled 10 points and six assists, and senior Erin Nelson was 2-of-3 from 3-point range to tally six points.

The women will take on Fordham in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are set for 10 a.m. on March 4, and the A-10 championship game is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 5.

Saint Louis Athletics

FAST BALL: Sophomore pitcher Kallen Loveless releases a pitch from the mound.

The women won three of their five games in the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

The Billiken softball squad improved to 6-4 on the season after winning three and dropping two matches in the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. After losing their first two games, SLU regrouped to take three victories in their final three competitions.

SLU faced UT Martin in the first game, losing 1-0, when they conceded a run at the top of the seventh in-

Men rally late for a 61-60 comeback against St. Joe’s

ning. Junior pitcher Maddie Baalman was solid from the mound all game, but UT Martin connected a double and a single to score the game’s sole run. The women could not generate much offense in response, however, only allowing two runners to reach second base.

In the second game, SLU faced Western Michigan and lost, 5-3. SLU’s offense was much stronger, earning two runs in the first inning off an error and an RBI double by junior infielder Alyssa Tar-

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

SLU Men’s Basketball hosted the Saint Joseph’s Hawks on Saturday, Feb. 25 for an afternoon A-10 matchup. SLU started off strong, but had to mount a comeback for the 61-60 win.

SLU started their usual five: junior guard Davell Roby, freshman forward Jalen Johnson, junior guard Aaron Hines, senior guard Mike Crawford and freshman forward Elliott Welmer.

A Johnson trey at 18:57 opened scoring for the Billikens. SLU went on an early 10-1 run to take a 9-point lead with 14:35 in the first half.

The Hawks began staging a comeback, but a Roby trey and jumpers from senior forward Reggie Agbeko and Crawford helped keep SLU up by 12 with 8:16 left in the first.

SLU went cold after this, missing most of their shots and allowing the Hawks to take a 25-22 lead at the half.

SLU got the ball to start the second half, and got back to work early, tying up the game at 26-26 with 18:25 to play. A Johnson jumper put the Bills back on top, 28-26, with 17:50 to play.

SLU once again went cold, and the Hawks again took advantage, opening a

SLU baseball fell to Michigan before defeating Santa Clara and Creighton this past weekend at the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament. Along with a win over nationally ranked Oklahoma State, the games brought SLU to a very strong 7-1 record, the best start Billikens baseball has had since 1992.

S L U traveled to Santa Clara to take part in the tournament, and their first match c a m e against Michigan.

SLU’s only run came from a home run, courtesy of junior catcher James Morisano. Sophomore pitcher Jackson Wark was given the loss, and dropped to 1-1 on the season.

Junior infielder Carter Hanford also had a strong game, going 2-for-4 with a double, his fourth double of the season. Meanwhile, junior shortstop Alex King was 1-for-2 with a walk. Senior Brett Shimanovsky made his 69th appearance for the

CHEER

SCRAMBLE: Freshman forward Jalen Johnson hits the floor to battle for a loose ball against a Saint Joseph’s defender. The men came back with a late rally to win, 61-60.

13-point lead, 50-37, with 9:48 to play.

However, SLU wouldn’t take this, and went on a 12-0 run to tie the game at 52-52 with 5:28 to play.

The Hawks staged a 5-0 run to get back on top 58-53, but SLU came back off treys from Roby and Crawford, followed by a Hines layup for a 9-2 run in the final two minutes of play.

Despite the pull of Mardi

JEER WHO TO CHEER BYU Brigham Young University managed an upset of the thenNo. 1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs.

BYU’s upset proved that on any given day, any team can beat any other team in college basketball, and made the race for NCAA Tournament No. 1 seeds much more interesting. Gonzaga fell to No. 4 in the rankings.

Gras, there was a large turnout, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric. Johnson felt it, as he not only loves the fans, but “feed[s] off their energy.” Agbeko added that Head Coach Travis Ford “used the fans watching to motivate [the team during halftime.]”

Ford was very complimentary of the team’s performance in the second half. “We figured out how

to rely on each other,” Ford said. “[Freshman forward] Zeke [Moore] really gave us a 3-4-minute stand that changed the game for us.”

As a team, Ford feels the Billikens are “showing a lot of heart,” and says that he is “proud of [the team] on getting 10 wins.”

See “Men” on Page 8

See “Softball” on Page 8

Baseball boosts to 7-1

By BOBBY STILWELL Staff Writer

Saint Louis Athletics

quinio. The Bills held their own up until the fourth inning when Western Michigan scored five times with 10 batters.

The women attempted to come back in the fifth inning with a double from junior outfielder Josie Knesel and a single from senior outfielder Mackenzie Peter to make the game 5-3. In the final innings, SLU appeared to gain momentum with doubles

Billikens, coming into the game in relief. He recorded two strikeouts in one inning pitched. Freshman pitcher Charlie Sheehan made the first appearance of his career, throwing two scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and recording one strikeout.

SLU then held off a ninthinning outburst from Santa Clara, the host school, to win 5-3. SLU’s junior leadoff hitter and outfielder A a r o n Case was 1-for-2 with a triple and three fourpitch walks in the contest.

M e a n while, senior designated h i t t e r Devin Mahoney was 1-for5, with his only hit an extrabase double. Sophomore infielder Cole Dubet was also 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI’s.

As a team, the Billikens drew 10 walks. SLU’s pitching was strong, with sophomore Miller Hogan throwing

The games brought SLU to a very strong 7-1 record, the best start Billikens baseball has had since 1992.

See “Baseball” on Page 8

FEAR WHO TO JEER DWIGHT HOWARD Howard was ejected in the Atlanta Hawks’ win over the Boston Celtics. He received one technical foul for shoving the Celtics’ Al Horford, and received the second for taunting after he did a chin-up on the rim after a dunk. The Hawks hope that Howard is more disciplined once the playoffs arrive.

WHO TO FEAR CLEVELAND CAVALIERS The Cavs, who once looked like they had a weak bench, have shored it up with the additions of Kyle Korver, Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut. The way that the Cavaliers have turned a weakness into a strength makes them look like a strong contender to defeat the Warriors in the NBA Finals.

8 March 2, 2017 Tweet of the week

@LukeEasterling No-star recruit.

1 FBS offer.

6th-round pick.

Highest-paid WR in the #NFL. @AntonioBrown

Scores from the week Men’s Basketball Billikens 61 Saint Joseph’s 60 SLU went on two crucial runs late in the game to come back for a victory.

Billikens 70 La Salle 55 Junior Davell Roby had 23 points and 8 rebounds. SLU shot 39 percent.

Women’s Basketball Billikens 91 UMass 51 SLU shattered team records and dominated UMass in the process to win the first round of the A-10 tourney.

Softball Billikens 0 UT Martin 1 Billikens 3 Western Michigan 5 Billikens 9 Farleigh Dickinson 1 Billikens 20 Northwestern State 7 Billikens 5 Chattanooga 2 Baseball Billikens 1 Michigan 6 Billikens 5 Santa Clara 3 Billikens 7 Creighton 3 Billikens 10 Oklahoma State 7 Men’s Tennis Billikens 1 VCU 6 Junior David Ferragut came back in three sets to win his singles match.

Billikens 5 Saint Joseph’s 2 The win brought SLU to a .500 2-2 record.

Billikens 5 Fordham 2

SPORTS

This week in sports Thursday, March 2

Friday, March 3

Saturday,March 4

Sunday, March 5

Men’s Tennis 8 p.m. @ St. Joseph’s

Women’s Basketball 1 p.m. v. Fordham Women’s Tennis 1 p.m. v. Missouri State Baseball 3 p.m. v. Farleigh Dickinson Men’s Tennis 4 p.m. @ IUPUI

Women’s Basketball 10 a.m. A-10 Semifinals Softball 1 p.m. @ UMKC Baseball 3 p.m. v. Farleigh Dickinson Men’s Basketball 3 p.m. @ Richmond

Softball 11 a.m. v. SEMO Women’s Basketball 11 a.m. A-10 Finals Baseball 12 p.m. v. Farleigh Dickinson Softball 3 p.m. Final game

Men: Earn 10th win of season

Wednesday, March 8 Women’s Tennis 12 p.m. v. Murray State Baseball 6 p.m. @ SIUE

Softball: Move to 6-4 overall

Continued from Page 7

Continued from Page 7

Like Johnson, Ford said he “really appreciate[d] the crowd...There [was] a lot going on in the city, but to come out and support the Billikens…It means a lot.”

SLU hosted LaSalle for senior night and the final home game of the season on Wednesday, March 1.

The senior night victory was capped by a dunk from Crawford and a 3-pointer from Agbeko.

SLU got to work early, with a Roby trey opening scoring. Both teams battled back and forth, with SLU taking a 5-2 lead with 15:59 to play in the first.

Coming out of the first media timeout, LaSalle went on a 9-0 run to take a sixpoint lead. SLU countered with a 10-2 to run to get back on top 15-13 with 14:41 left.

LaSalle tried to rally back, but a 6-0 SLU run gave SLU a seven-point advantage, 3326, with 1:44 to play in the first.

LaSalle hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, but Roby hit a trey from NBA range at the buzzer to send SLU to the half with a 36-28 lead. SLU led by as much as 19 during the game.

During the senior night ceremony, Head Coach Ford thanked the fans for their support, and issued them a challenge for next year: “We’re all in this together.

We need your support. We need to pack this arena every single night.”

Leading the scoring for the Billikens was Roby with 23 points and eight rebounds. Hines chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.

Agbeko scored 10, including the 3-pointer, and shot 100 percent from the free-throw line.

from sophomore pitcher Kallen Loveless and senior outfielder Emma Buckles, but the Bills were unable to convert on either chance.

In the first game of day two, SLU defeated Farleigh Dickinson, 9-1, in five innings. Peter teed off with a home run in the top of the first inning to earn a 3-0 advantage. Buckles connected on an RBI double to earn another run for SLU in the second inning. Junior infielder Allie Macfarlane smashed a double to add two more runs to the tally, making the game 6-0. In the fifth inning, senior infielder Alex Nickel and Peter tacked onto the runs with a walk and a two-run single, respectively.

SLU destroyed Northwestern State, 20-7, in their final game of the second day.

An RBI single from Peter, single from Tarquinio and double from Loveless got the game going, and, despite Northwestern State’s comeback to tie the game at four runs apiece, SLU hit a hot streak for five straight innings to rack up the runs.

Senior catcher Hailey Weavers had her first homerun of the season. Tarquinio also added a home run in the fifth. SLU recorded a season high of 15 hits.

In the final game, SLU defeated the host team, Chattanooga, 5-2. Sophomore infielder Mackenzie Lawson and Nickel combined plays to bring SLU out front, 3-0.

Chattanooga scored two runs in the bottom of the third to put the pressure on the Billikens, but Peter and Weavers put SLU in the lead for good off a triple and a home run, respectively.

On March 4-5 SLU will compete in the We Back Pat Tournament at UMKC.

Saint Louis Athletics

CONCENTRATE: Sophomore pitcher Miller Hogan looks to the plate as he winds up a pitch. The team won two of their three games in a tournament in Santa Clara, Calif.

Continued from Page 7

six scoreless innings and 17 first-pitch strikes to the 24 batters he faced. Sophomore Ryan Lefner retired three batters in the eighth inning with runners on the corner and no outs to preserve SLU’s lead, and junior Aaron Patton earned a one-out save by striking out the tying run at the plate.

SLU then continued their strong start to the season with a game in Stillwater, Okla., taking on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys had earlier been ranked No. 14 nationally

by Perfect Game. However, SLU won a close game 10-7 to move to a 7-1 overall record.

Patton earned his second win of the season, moving to 2-0, while Lefner earned the save, his second of the season.

On the offensive side of the plate, Morisano had an extra-base double, as did Hanford, Mahoney and King. King also had a triple in the game.

Case, who has provided a standout bat so far this season, continued his hot streak with a triple and a sacrifice fly.

SLU had previously been earning some NCAA Top 25 votes, and will hope that their strong performances, punctuated by their big win over Oklahoma State, will help them sneak into the Top 25.

SLU has had some of its players win individual honors, as well. Hogan was named Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Week, his first weekly honor of the season and the second week in a row that a Billiken has won a conference weekly award in baseball.

Hogan won the honor on the strength of his performance against Santa Clara, against whom he threw six scoreless innings and allowed only five hits and three walks. He still has not let in an earned run this season, and batters have hit only .200 against him.

Hogan and the Billikens will next take on Farleigh Dickinson on Friday, March 3.

Women’s tennis runs into tough competition on East Coast, lose third A-10 match of year

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

SLU Women’s Tennis lost all three matches of their Atlantic 10 Conference regular season road trip. First, the Billikens were edged by Duquesne, 4-3.

Then, they lost to VCU 6-1 and fell to George Washington 5-2. SLU’s overall record now stands at 5-6, with the three straight losses bringing them under the .500 mark.

SLU’s loss to Duquesne was close, with SLU winning the doubles point. In addition, sophomore Ally McKenzie and freshman

Cassie McKenzie won their singles matches. However, the four singles matches that Duquesne won proved to be too much for the Billikens, who fell by one point.

SLU then traveled to Richmond, Va. to take on the VCU Rams. Freshman Mariluz Rojo Domingo was the only Billiken that managed to win, with VCU taking the other five singles matches and the doubles point on offer. Rojo Domingo overcame a first-set loss to earn her win in three sets against the Rams. While SLU lost the doubles point, the twin pair of seniors El-

eonore and Verginie Tchakarova won their respective doubles match 7-6.

SLU then wrapped up their road trip with a visit to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Verginie Tchakarova won her singles match and her doubles match when paired with Eleonore Tchakarova, to provide a successful individual performance. The Billikens will return to their home court at St. Clair Tennis Club in O’Fallon, Ill. to face Missouri State on Friday, March 3. On Saturday, March 4, the Billikens will be at home again, playing Western Illinois.

Saint Louis Athletics

PERSEVERE: Freshman Mariluz Rojo Domingo keeps her eye on the ball to smash a forehand in Forest Park.

Men’s tennis improves to 3-2 in A-10, breaks even with wins against St. Joe’s, Fordham

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

Women’s Tennis Billikens 1 VCU 6 Freshman Mariluz Rojo Domingo was the only SLU winner.

Senior Verginie Tchakarova won in singles and doubles.

Tuesday, March 7

Social Dance St. Louis Blues Classes 7 p.m. @ Minnesota Wild 7 p.m. @ St. Charles Community College

Baseball: SLU beats No. 14 Oklahoma State

Ferragut had another threeset win.

Billikens 2 GW 5

Monday, March 6 Winter

Saint Louis Athletics

POWER: Junior John Nogalski concentrates to power through a backhand in a match at Forest Park.

SLU Men’s Tennis responded to a 6-1 loss to conference rivals VCU with weekend 5-2 victories against Saint Joseph’s and Fordham. The matches brought SLU to a 3-2 record overall in the Atlantic 10, and to a 6-4 record overall.

Against VCU, at the home of the Rams in Richmond, Va., only one Billiken, junior David Ferragut, managed a win. He came from behind to defeat VCU’s Daryl Monfils, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. The other SLU individuals competing in the

singles competition lost, and the Billikens did not manage a victory in the doubles competitions either.

SLU Men’s Tennis then continued their road trip.

They traveled to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Saint Joseph’s, and managed to win 5-2. The win brought them to a .500 2-2 record in the A-10, and 5-4 overall.

The match saw SLU win the doubles point, while also taking four out of six singles matches. Both junior Juan Calero and senior Paarth Dodhiawala took three sets to earn their wins.

SLU then saw off their

East Coast trip with another 5-2 victory, with this one coming over Fordham in New York. Junior Charlie Parry and junior John Nogalski both won their doubles match together. Ferragut and Dodhiawala both managed to win three-set matches, while Parry and Nogalski won their singles matches in straight sets.

Next up for the Billikens will be a match against IUPUI on Friday, March 3 in Indianapolis, Ind. The next day, they will take on Illinois State in Normal, Ill..

Then, on Thursday, March 9, they will face Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill.

9

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

March 2, 2017

Students demonstrate support at LGBTQIA rally

Letters

to the editor The University News reserves the right not to publish any letters that are deemed intentionally and/ or inappropriately inflammatory, more than the 300word limit or unsigned by the orginal author. The following are letters and/or website comments. Because the identities of website posters cannot be verified, all website comments should be treated as anonymous.

Actual letters to the editor may be submitted online at unewsonline.com or e-mailed to opinion@unewsonline.com. Please include your cell phone number.

Saint Louis University has a moral obligation to our community and to the environment to transition away from our reliance on coal-based energy. Wind and solar powered energy is becoming more attractive as the prices go down, and as we learn more about the harmful impacts of coal powered electricity. Using clean sources of energy such as wind and solar is not only possible, but necessary to ensure that we are doing all that we can to limit our harmful impact on our natural and social environment. St. Louis has some of the most polluted air in the country, with one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the country. With Saint Louis University’s commitment to public health, social justice, and living out a greater good- investing in clean energy is the next step towards living out our oath.

SLU is making many steps towards sustainability with goals to reduce our energy consumption 20 percent by 2020, installing solar panels, and building refillable water stations. Considering how SLU is taking so many strides towards sustainability, now is the time to create a goal of transitioning and eventually stepping completely away from dirty energy sources. We need to call upon our utility provider Ameren, to provide the city of St. Louis with clean energy sources so that we, and the generations beyond us, can breathe easier.

Students at SLU are gathering to advocate for clean energy on SLU’s campus. Petitions are being collected to show student support for this goal, these signatures will be presented to our student government association so we can pass legislation regarding this issue. If clean energy is something that resonates with you, please send me an email at kollare@slu.edu Erin Kollar, senior

Photos courtesy of Emma Carmody/ Photo Editor

On Saturday, Feb. 25, protesters met at Union Station to demonstrate support for the LGBTQIA community. SLU students were among those showing support. The surrounding pictures were taken at the rally.

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10 March 2, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

Scott Pruitt: Bad for Missouri, bad for America

Michael Cullen

On Feb. 17 the Senate voted 52-46 in favor of Scott Pruitt becoming the E.P.A. administrator.

President Trump’s selection of Scott Pruitt may be good politics, but his appointment is going to create a public health disaster. Our bedrock environmental laws were passed by Congress decades ago with broad bipartisan support. The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act were wildly popular when they passed, and were continually strengthened by the EPA establishment by Nixon.

The agency’s authority was strengthened by another Republican, George H.W. Bush.

For the past four decades protecting our air and water and ensuring the health of our families has enjoyed strong bipartisan support from elected officials and a majority of Americans.

Scott Pruitt’s track record as Oklahoma Attorney General paints a bleak picture of what his leadership of the agency would mean for American families. Pruitt joined polluters in a staggering 14 lawsuits against the very agency he has been selected to lead. Pruitt’s proposed gutting of the E.P.A. and revisions to the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts would significantly affect the public health of Missourians.

Missouri has a long his-

tory of lead mining. The lack of regulation in the past and present has produced astronomically high lead levels in Missouri’s soils, groundwater, rivers and air.

Unfortunately, Missourians also have to worry about airborne lead from the burning of coal—from which Missouri derives 75 percent of its energy. Exposure to lead is extremely detrimental to human health and can result in lead poisoning, which primarily leads to stunted brain development, reproductive problems, death, cognitive defects, etc. Thankfully the E.P.A. has been able to monitor lead levels, remediate some of the pollution and warn residents of dangerous lead sources.

Burning coal produces much more than just lead.

As we know, coal is one of the primary sources of energy in the United States; it accounts for 49 percent of the energy we produce, but disproportionately accounts for 83 percent of carbon emissions. Unfortunately, Missouri derives 75 percent of its energy from coal and thus has some of the worst air quality in the country, particularly in St. Louis. Across the United States 9.6 percent of children have asthma, in St. Louis that number is 19.6 percent. Ameren has resisted the Clean Power Plan for a long time, but thankfully the E.P.A. has been able to keep them and other polluters in check.

Pruitt’s track record as attorney general set environmental protections backward not forward. And it has been difficult to find anything AG Pruitt did to protect the health of the Okla-

homans during his time in that office. As Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey noted during Pruitt’s confirmation hearing, Oklahoma has been ground zero for asthma problems, which affect 1 in every 10 kids in the state.

Mr. Pruitt’s knowledge of science—which should underpin all decisions made by the E.P.A.—is lacking, as is his familiarity with some of the most basic and pressing issues facing the agency he hopes to direct. He has said human-caused climate change is a matter of “continuing debate.” He had no comment on how much lead in drinking water could harm humans, nor on the potential health impacts of exercising outdoors on a day with poor air quality. In fact, Pruitt could not identify one E.P.A. safeguard that he actually supports.

Ironically, Pruitt’s loyalty to fossil fuel interests is easier to identify. Pruitt accepted approximately $350,000 from the fossil fuel industry, including the infamous Koch Brothers. On more than one occasion, Pruitt sponsored letters written by oil companies with his official attorney general letterhead and signature to object to E.P.A. policy. Pruitt serves as stark opposition to the vast majority of Americans who continue to support laws protecting clean air and water, stopping the worst impacts of climate change, and keeping our families healthy.

Missourians and all Americans deserve an E.P.A. administrator who will fight to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, our planet and our economy.

Nerdom must put aside its differences and unite

Karl O’Brien

If you know nerds, you probably know that they like to argue about things that seem trivial. If you’re a nerd, you probably know this better than anyone. You can attest that your passion for whichever items of pop culture that interest you can drive you into shouting matches. You might argue why your fandom is better than another nerd’s, why Star Wars is more important to society than Star Trek, why Doctor Who will teach you lessons that Supernatural can’t, why math unlocks the secrets of the universe better than all of the humanities combined or any other topic traditionally associated with the socially awkward among us that sparks (mostly) civil discussion.

I let my nerd flag fly, as you can probably tell if you’ve read my previous opinion pieces on how awesome DC Comics is; you probably also know that I am on the comics side of nerdom. By no means do people have to subscribe to everything traditionally associated with nerds to be nerds. Nerds are traditionally understood to be socially awkward individuals who derive more enjoyment from other things in the world than human interaction, making them quite a unique breed. While this description is not absolute, one thing about nerds is true: their differences in preferences should not serve as means of dividing them.

It’s not as though we’re engaged in a Marxist-style class struggle with fitness addicts for control of social capital or anything, but still: there is strength in unity. I happen to see all points of the spectrum on such issues as Star Wars vs. Star Trek, DC vs. Marvel and Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings vs. seemingly every other fantasy universe. All of them have engrossing universes, appeal to different aspects of the human experience, and have very intriguing connections to the myriad of cultural and social factors that comprise the human experience. While Star Trek embraces a utopian future and looks to the limitless potential of the human spirit, Star Wars is grounded in the myths and legends that have united people for centuries and is filled with tropes from all manner of popular forms of expression, ensuring that everyone can love something about it. In a similar way, Harry Potter weaves the fantasy genre into a relatable, modern setting while exploring real problems of young people, whereas The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia draw from various myths, including those of Christianity, the Celts and the Vikings, to create rich and imaginative universes in wildly fantastical realms. Marvel keeps it real while DC imagines a brighter tomorrow.

To me, popular culture is very fascinating, and it can be extremely enlightening and entertaining to hear and see not only other people’s thoughts and feelings about it, but also at their faces when they hear or spout out obscure knowledge. Though many don’t react particularly adversely to my “geeking out,” perhaps because nerds have become accepted and

occasionally revered in modern society, I have found that nerds’ petty disputes can prevent them from forming meaningful friendships across boundaries if left unchecked. This becomes especially worse when nerds become overly passionate about their interests and take jokes or mild jabs about them personally.

But why should it be this way? “Why is it this way?” is a better question. Why can nerds become devoid of reason and cut themselves off from people with whom they could be friends, or perhaps even more? The best explanation I can think of is that nerds do not invest their energy in socializing, and as a result they are excluded from some parts of society.

They compensate for not belonging fully in a social group by investing most of their energy into an interest.

This interest provides a sense of belonging when they meet others of a like mind. This is what causes the passion that can fuel many arguments among different subgroups of the nerd kingdom. For some, allowing themselves to be sucked into another world may also be an effective escape mechanism from the social isolation of the real world. In an alternate world, they feel empowered, knowing more about this world than those around them and thus being the best individuals to navigate it.

If nerds were to see past the areas of interest that divide them, they would empathize with each other’s possible loneliness (not all nerds may be socially maladjusted) and use their newfound unity to form stronger bonds of friendship with. Perhaps they could find a place to honor all forms of nerd expression in one lovely, awkward, adorkable unit.

Expanding inclusion and the evolution of ‘rap’

John Schaefer

Rap (v.): to blurt out suddenly (16th century).

Rap (n.): a type of music characterized by high-level wordplay and emotion (21st century).

The genre of rap music has an unmatchable appeal and, even so, the process to construct a song is oftentimes overlooked. Unorthodox beats are sewn together ever so carefully by the clever hand of a knowledgeable lyricist: the rapper. Verses are then layered on top of one another to create a depth that will require heavy analytical skills by the listener and, furthermore, possibly the assistance of various lyric decoding websites such as rapgenius.com. This well packaged entity is finalized with what is known as “the hook,” which is essentially the barrier between verses that attracts the listener and oftentimes carries the song to the top of the charts.

That description of rap music is probably the most forgiving account of the genre that has been relayed in quite some time. More often than not, this musical setting is typically associated with violence and gang culture. I’m here to remove that stereotype and set forth the truth that rap is expanding exponentially, regardless of social factors, and is currently becoming a genre of inclusion, rather than separation.

Let’s continue the discussion by analyzing a few modern rappers who do not fit the stereotypical mold and are changing the rap scene: One of the top up-andcoming rappers, and a personal favorite of mine, goes by the name of Sir Robert Bryson Hall II or, as his fans know him, “Logic.” Logic is of mixed racial heritage, predominantly white, and oftentimes rhymes about the issues he faces with credibility in the hip-hop industry, which is primarily inhabited

by African Americans. However, similar to many other rappers, he grew up under difficult circumstances. As a child, his siblings sold drugs to his single mother as he was drowning in poverty.

The self-proclaimed “white man with the soul of a black man” has received tremendous praise for tackling is-

...music has the potential to act as an ever present uniting force among all. sues of race and fighting off stereotypes, especially the overhanging theory that one must be African American to succeed as a rapper.

Next up, we have a significantly more recognizable name within the hip hop industry, Frank Ocean.

Ocean is coming off of a breakout year in which his album “Blonde” received the utmost praise as the No. 1 album of the year by a myriad of websites, publishers and music junkies. He has been buried in awards, is at the

top of his game and what separates him from most other rappers is that he is open about his sexuality. He released a statement in 2012 confirming the true rarity within the genre and critics assumed that the move would be detrimental to his career. Nonetheless, he has flourished and should have an exciting year ahead of him. His presence within the genre has offered a sense of hope for listeners and singers of rap who are not heterosexual.

Both of these rappers fall outside the stereotypical lens which surrounds rap music, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. With recent success among rappers composed of diverse backgrounds, the genre has acquired a whole new body of listeners.

Furthermore, there is newfound encouragement for those who are interested in rapping but have cultural or social differences that stray from the norm. With the direction that the genre is headed, there should no longer be concern surrounding who listens to or produces the music. After all, the purpose of music is to create emotion within its listener and provide a sense of joy. There is no better way to accomplish this goal than to spread music across all walks of life. In a world that all too often experiences division, music has the potential to act as an ever present uniting force among all. I will leave you with one final thought: Whatever music you listen to, enjoy it, and don’t critique or stereotype others who fall outside the range of genres with which you are comfortable.

Trump’s anti-capitalist policies threaten America

Matthew Willey

One of the promises at the center of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign was to put Americans back to work. The message that Trump is selling is that the United States has been ransacked by foreign nations and businesses. Cheap imports, cheap labor from Asia and Latin America and a combination of tariffs and subsidies have worked to damage American companies and encourage American jobs to move elsewhere, leaving millions jobless.

Trump has already done much to address this perceived problem. One of Trump’s first actions as president was to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans Pacific Partnership. In discussing his tax plan, Trump has proposed imposing tariffs on imports and granting subsidies for exports, all in an effort to support American business against foreign competitors. To many in the public, these actions and policies are viewed as good, pro-business policies that will benefit the economy as a whole. While some of Trump’s proposed policies, such as diminished government regulations, might be beneficial to the economy and American business, Trump’s ideas on trade and foreign competition have the potential to be disastrous.

Why are they disastrous?

Simply put, Trump’s ideas about free trade and foreign competition are anti-market.

This statement may be sur-

prising to some. After all, Trump has been heralded (or in some circles derided) by many as a pro-business politician. A popular line of thinking goes, “Trump is an accomplished businessman, so who would know what is good for business and the economy better than Trump?” Underlying this line of thought is a false premise. This premise is that pro-business means the same thing as “good” for the economy. The type of policies that are good for the economy are pro-market policies. Pro-market policies are policies that make it easier for companies to form, enter and exit markets, and policies that allow for free, unrestricted trade between nations. Much of the wealth that has been built in the U.S. over the last decade or so has been driven by increasing free trade across the globe. If the U.S. economy is to continue to grow and reach the four percent annual growth rate aimed for by President Trump, then free and unrestricted trade will have to, at the very least, continue if not increase.

Trump’s protectionist “America First” rhetoric is antithetical to this objective. If Trump institutes the tariffs and subsidies that he has suggested, there will certainly be retaliatory policies

by America’s trading partners. If the U.S. places high tariffs on Chinese goods, it is likely that China will respond in kind. Trump would risk a trade war, which would result in fewer exports, higher prices and less business.

Trump would strangle the American economy with his protectionist measures.

However, protectionist measures is not a misnomer in this case.

Certainly Trump’s proposed policies would be

protecting someone. That someone would be existing business, and therein lies the difference between probusiness and pro-market.

Whereas pro-market is concerned with creating a market and economy that works for everyone with no special treatment, pro-business is concerned with creating a market that works for existing businesses and protects them from external threats.

A market economy grows due to a cycle of job destruction and creation. Jobs are destroyed when companies fail due to competitive forces, while at the same time resources are continually reinvested in more efficient areas leading to the creation of new jobs and overall economic growth. Trump’s policies would disrupt this cycle, resulting in inefficiency and higher prices.

Unfortunately the policies of Trump have become the policies of the Republican Party. Perhaps the most alarming aspect of Trump’s presidency has been this shift of the Republican Party from a pro-market party to a pro-business party. Frustratingly there has been little criticism of this aspect of Trump’s presidency. Amid all the outcry over Trump’s travel ban, and the appointment of Betsy Devos as Secretary of Education, it is almost as if it has gone unnoticed that Trump’s cabinet is full of insiders, lobbyists and big business executives whose net worth numbers in the billions. Though a few bastions of free-market supporters remain in congress, such as Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Justin Amash, pro-market thinking has been relegated to a fringe corner of the Republican Party, and the consequences of this shift may prove disastrous.

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