No. 2 (September 9, 2016)

University News

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Vol. XCVI No. 2

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Pokemon Go: Enduring lifestyle or fading fad?

By Arjun Bagai and Patrick Bernas

If you haven’t been living under a rock, then at some point in the last months you have heard of “Pokemon Go,” the app that, within its first day of release, hit the number one spot on Apple’s App Store. The game attracts people of all ages and enjoyed massive hype surrounding its release this past summer, and not even SLU students or faculty are immune to its charming effects.

You play the game by launching the app, then walking around in the real world until you find Pokemon—little virtual monsters that are caught by throwing a Pokeball at them. If you catch one, you can use the caught Pokemon to battle and take over gyms for your team.

You can get more Pokeballs and other supplies by finding Pokestops—geographical locations on a map—such as the Clock Tower. You can also find eggs that hatch into Pokemon after the player walks a certain distance.

Throughout the past week, “Poke Prize Stops” have appeared on campus.

They are run by SLU’s Entrepreneurs’ Club to promote their “Pure Idea Generator Challenge.”

Tyler Sondag is a marketing strategist at the Center for Entrepreneurship while also running the Entrepreneurs’ Club. Sondag is an avid player of the game: a level 25 player with a 2131 CP Exeggutor that plays almost every day. This game has caused him to be more active, as well. Sondag parks off campus, and rather than skateboarding into school as he normally would, he walks to get the extra steps to hatch his Pokemon eggs.

Emma Frattarola, a freshman, says that the game has inspired her to exercise more frequently, going outside to catch Pokemon and hatch eggs.

One phenomenon about the game is that in the world of the internet, where fads and games spring up and are quickly forgotten, this game has endured for months.

Frattarola says that she got into the game because she played Pokemon on a Gameboy as a kid, and so this game brings back a lot of memories for her. “It’s very nostalgic,” says Frattarola. “It makes me happy.”

Nostalgia isn’t the only reason that people play the game. Another reason this game became so popular is the hype that surrounds it, generated from people like Frattarola. Corwin Huang, a freshman flight major, says that the hype was the main reason that he started playing, and since the hype is dying down he stopped playing as much.

Ricardo Saucedo also agrees the hype is going away. During the summer, when the game first was released, Saucedo was a desk worker at a residence hall. He would frequently leave work around 10 p.m. to see at least 50 people gathered around the clock tower, a Pokestop, hanging around and socializing. Monika Martinek, a freshman at SLU, describes the game as “a waste a time.”

She believes that there are better priorities and more interesting things to do at SLU. Social interaction is another big idea around the game. By getting gamers out See “Pokemon” on Page 3

Friday, September 9, 2016

SLU’s Chief Diversity Officer says ‘Safe Spaces’ not an either/or issue

St. Louis Public Radio / Stephanie Lecci

SAFE SPACES: Dr. Jonathan Smith, Chief Diversity Officer of SLU, weighs in on the national “Safe Space” debate.

By Megan Hammond News Editor

Within the past few months, the issue of “safe spaces” and whether they should exist has taken precedence in the academic community.

In general, a “safe space” is a place where students can freely express themselves without fear of being personally attacked for their ideas.

Dr. Jonathan Smith, Chief Diversity Officer for SLU, weighed in on the topic during an interview. He made it clear that the definition of a “safe space” changes from institution to institution.

The diversity of responses to this debate showcased

by the range of positions various universities have expressed publicly.

In a January opinion piece for The Washington Post, Northwestern University’s President Morton Schapiro wrote, “We all deserve safe spaces… students don’t fully embrace uncomfortable learning unless they are themselves comfortable.

Safe spaces provide that comfort. The irony, it seems, is that the best hope we have of creating an inclusive community is to first create spaces where members of each group feel safe.” Schapiro has what might be called a fatherly perspective; by separating students into exclusive groups, he hopes to

help them grow intellectually then come together and somehow create an inclusive community.

In the summer, the University of Cape Town disinvited Danish author and editor Flemming Rose to speak at a school lecture.

Rose prompted backlash by publishing controversial cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed in 2005.

Cape Town released a statement saying, “Our campuses have become charged spaces, in which ideological and social fault-lines have become intensely politicized, sometimes violently so. We are committed to weathering these storms in ways that acknowledge

and protect the need for safe spaces to confront and debate such matters.” The university wanted their students to have a “safe space” on campus where they could express themselves and exchange ideas without fear.

And in late August, the University of Chicago took a much different approach when they sent a letter to their incoming class of 2020 and proclaimed that the university would not have safe spaces: “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support socalled ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics See “Smith” on Page 2

A closer look at the canines of West Pine

By Margaret Cipriano Contributor

Leaving home for college is tough: no more mom, no more home-cooked meals, and the hardest of all, no more waggy-tailed dog to be your number one fan.

When living on campus without a dog, students truly realize how much stress relief dogs can provide. Is it their stress-free mindset?

Or is it just because they are cute and remind you of home?

Studies show that playing with a fellow fluffy friend is proven to increase the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease the stress-inducing hormone

cortisol. Science is telling us to play with dogs. What could be better?

While walking down West Pine, one will see a handful of carefree dogs who love being a prime source of entertainment for students. Especially King. King is a German Shepherd who walks around freely off the leash, playing fetch with owner Grant.

Freshman Marissa Ornelas recalled playing with King four months ago at SLU 101, so clearly King is a memorable dog. Grant explained how he believes students usually seem “excited,” because he’s “sure they miss their own dogs from home.”

The American Pet Prod-

ucts Association states that “almost 50% of families have a pet dog” in America. Using SLU as a sample of America, nearly half of the students here have dogs back home.

Most are not happy about leaving their dogs when they come to school.

Student Alex Wood says her Bichon Shih Tzu named Lucky “was the one to greet me every night when I got home, it was just her and I most of the time. So leaving her was very hard.”

But because SLU is an open campus next to a dog park, there are many dogs See “Dogs” on Page 2

Joseph Eckert / The University News

DOGS: Jasmine Adams and her dog Polly share a playful moment on SLU’s campus.

Students often look to dogs as sources of comfort and stress relief.

INSIDE SCOOP: LCD Soundsystem headlines seventh annual LouFest

Page 7

Page 5

ARTS

Tomi Lahren, conservative phenomenon...

But why?

Women’s soccer rises to the top

SPORTS

Page 9

OPINION

2 September 9, 2016

NEWS

who stroll through, inviting students to give them some love.

Wood describes how she feels when she sees a dog on campus: “It is bittersweet, because I’m happy there is a dog but sad because it makes me miss my own dog” The amount of students who suffer from any form of anxiety is overwhelming, yet not shocking. Research from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America shows that “80 percent [of students] say they frequently or sometimes experience daily stress.”

SLU understands this

amount of stress is unacabouts on his Instagram ceptable, so in the University page, @hoonahatslunah.)

Counseling Center there is Even though one may not help in be a dog perthe form son, everyof a fourone certainly legged wants to be When I pet dogs, hound. happy. If it Hoonah, seems hard I feel warm and a rescue to find a calm happy on the dog, will state of mind inside. happily one day, give help stua warm-Shannon Tinsley d e nt s hearted carelax if nine a try. it means What is the he will worst that be petted! could happen?

(If you cannot make it to Shannon Tinsley, a freshthe University Counseling man, is not too much of a Center, you can always keep dog person, but she agrees, up with Hoonah’s where“When I pet dogs, I feel

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Continued from Page 1

warm and happy on the inside.”

If one day you are feeling overwhelmed, take a stroll down West Pine and scope out the puppies. Ask if you can pet them, and feel the stress leave from your body while you do.

If there is a rare occurrence and there are no dogs outside, Hoonah will be waiting for you to pet him in the University Counseling Center.

Students may not be too stressed about classes now, but during midterms and finals, Hoonah, and many others, will be very busy being the all-natural stress reliever for many students.

PUPPY: Sophomore Katie Mootz enjoying some quality time with her sister’s dog, Charlie, a Bichon Poodle mix.

Dogs are a welcome sight to many on SLU’s campus, especially during stress-filled finals and midterms weeks.

Courtesy by Mariah Mootz

Smith: Civility is key not always agree with each other.

In describing SLU’s remight prove controversial, sponse to and we do the issue, not conDr. Smith done the said “Cic r e at i o n A safe space is not vility is of intelthe coran either/or issue, lectual nerstone ‘safe spaccivility should be that we es’ where central to how we need to individuhave with als can react around each convertreat from other and how we sations i d e a s treat each other. and safe and perspaces. spectives -Dr. Jonathan Smith Without at odds civility with their you can’t own.” The have eiUniverther, and without safe space sity said that it hoped to inyou can’t have conversation.” troduce their students to the He referenced President “real” world where people do Pestello’s ‘Message from the President’ video from two weeks ago, in which Pestello said that contradictory opinions occur naturally at a university and students should “seek to reach the core of our disagreements and to know the hearts of others.”

Dr. Smith emphasized the concept of “cura personalis,” caring for the whole person, saying “if we enter a conversation with the idea of ‘cura personalis,’ it pulls us toward civility and helps us understand people who are different than us.” He added that in an ideal situation, the whole University should be a safe space. Students should treat each other with respect and discuss difficult subjects without fear of being silenced, shunned or judged.

“A safe space is not an either/or issue, civility should be central to how we act around each other and how we treat each other. Within a university community, I think most of us want to be challenged, but conversations need to have a mutual respect.”

Courtesy by Mariah Mootz Continued from Page 1

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Dogs: Nature’s answer to college stress

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NEWS

September 9, 2016

Let Us Introduce You: Luis Nolla

Ryan Quinn / The University News

LUIY: Sophomore Luis Nolla takes us into his life as an international student at SLU. one of many international students studying here.

Nolla is originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. For Graduating from high those of you who don’t know school is a big stepping stone much about this country, in one’s life. here are some facts: First of Regardless of what you all, Puerto Rico is an island decide to do after, you enter situated in the Caribbean, a seemingly different world. next to the Dominican ReThose who decide to further public. It has about three their education and attend and a half million inhabitcollege are faced with new ants and is actually a U.S. people, new places and new territory, which means evhomes. eryone there has American Even with all this change, citizenship. They also use incoming students find comthe U.S. dollar, and their offort in each other, knowing ficial languages are Spanish they’re in the same boat. But and English. what about A l the other though people? these facts [SLU 101 was] Those who help us come to such a good way to get a betcollege not form friendships and ter underonly from standing of differmeet peopel from all Luis’ backent cities, over the world. ground, but from -Luis Nolla we wanted different to know c o u nt r i e s m o r e and conabout him tinents? and how he came to study in How do their experiences Saint Louis. differ from our own?

He said he had known This is a question that we he wanted to study in the may not often think about, United States since he was in as we already have enough eighth grade, because “pubon our plates, yet it deserves lic funds aren’t going to the a place in the spotlight. And right places.” what better place to look for According to Luis, the students from all over the government had not been world than SLU? doing a good job of providThe University is teeming ing the country with proper with people from all corners education and students of the planet. This week, we would often protest on colhad a chance to get an interlege campuses, cancelling national student’s perspecclasses for weeks at a time. tive on going to school in a Luis didn’t want that to different country. interfere with his education Meet Luis Nolla. He’s a and as a U.S. citizen, he was third year student studying given a chance to study anysports business in the Cook where in the country.

School of Business. He is

By Javier Ritter Contributor

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But why SLU? As it turns out, Luis attended a private Jesuit high school called Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola.

They had college fairs every semester where university representatives came to recruit students. Colleges such as Lynn University, Tampa and, more importantly, Saint Louis University all attended. Already coming from a private Jesuit high school, Saint Louis University’s values matched with his own.

He made his decision and never looked back.

Before his freshman year, Luis had traveled all over the United States but had never been to St. Louis before. Being a third-generation SLU student, he felt confident that he would succeed in a place his father and grandfather had spoken so highly of.

He packed his bags to attend SLU 101.

“It’s great! Such a good way to form friendships before classes ... helps you prepare for college ...a nd meet people from all over the world.” He spoke so highly about his experiences with SLU 101, and it was clear that from that point on he had made the right choice.

Luis said he loved the way the University encouraged discussion and helped him get over his shyness. He has built great relationships with professors and met students from all over the world doing so. “My best friends are from Kansas City, and my roommate is from Spain.”

He also feels that SLU is diverse and allows him to not feel like an outsider. But, when asked if he had ever dealt with stereotypes, he

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However, instead of getting mad, Luis prefers to educate and enlighten people about his culture. Despite these occasional encounters, when asked if he felt comfortable here as an international student, Luis responded with an unequivocal “yes.”

As for his future, Luis says he would love to work in the U.S. and continue his career in sports business, becoming the third generation in his family to graduate from SLU along the way.

Pokemon: A national obsession, once again Continued from Page 1

of their houses and outside, it almost forces them to interact with each other.

Frattarola says that when she goes out to play Pokemon Go, she sees strangers playing the game and stops to talk with them. Huang says that he doesn’t talk to strangers when he plays, but it does give him and his friends something to talk about, and they play it when they are hanging out.

Getting these gamers out there to socialize is important, but as Saucedo says, it “sucks that everyone is staring at their phone screen all the time.”

Although the game has a powerful pull on people, it’s not too powerful to cause disruptions in their lives.

Sondag says that although he has only gone one day without playing the game, the game has never caused him to miss an important meeting or be late to an event.

Frattarola also says that although she played a lot in the summer, now that school has started she plays a lot less, since she is busier.

Today, there are fewer and fewer people playing the game. People realize the risks

and ethics involved with the game. However, the game is far from being extinct.

Niantic has plans to boost sales and consumer base.

According to many different articles and videos, Niantic is introducing a “buddy system” that allows trainers to choose a Pokemon as their primary partner (e.g. Ash and Pikachu). Trainers will eventually be able to trade their Pokemon with others.

This is a crucial feature, as distinct Pokemon are in different regions in the world.

Finally, people are working very hard to find the legendary Pokemon: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mew and Mewtwo.

Despite the fun that the game brings, there are dangers to playing it. A recent string of car accidents, children walking out into busy streets when playing the game and even bodies being found because of the game are cause for alarm. Frattarola even went out in a thunderstorm to find a Squirtle that she never caught.

So as you continue to search for elusive Pokemon on campus, make sure you stay aware of your surroundings and stay safe, SLU students.

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

Friday. September 2 4:29 a.m. TRESPASSING UPS guard in Laclede Garage noticed a suspicious individual riding around on a bike in the lower level of the garage, before exiting and heading towards Grand. The suspect was described as a black male, wearing all black clothing. The suspect’s location was confirmed at the Shell station where he was confronted by DPS officers in the parking lot. A REJIS check was conducted and came back positive for an active warrant.

SLMPD was notified and the suspect was detained until their arrival. SLMPD arrived and took the suspect into custody. The bike was taken back to Wool Center, where it was found to not be registered with SLU. A message was left with the suspect’s brother to come pick the bike up.

Friday, September 2 11:54 a.m. ACCIDENTAL INJURY As a patient was walking from the valet parking area to the entrance of the building, the walker she was using slipped out of her grasp, and she fell to the ground, on the cement sidewalk, landing on her knees.

The patient stated the incident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM, and that she was experiencing pain in both knees, however she did not wish for medical treatment of her injury. The building manager was notified of the incident.

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

POKEMON: The quest to catch ‘em all has overtaken SLU’s campus. Hit the gym and win some battles!

4 September 9, 2016

GAMES

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Last Week’s Solutions

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Arts Entertainment

September 9, 2016 arts@unewsonline.com Tess Brock, Arts Editor Natalie Riopelle, Assoc. Arts Editor

2016 LouFest preview: Who not to miss this weekend in Forest Park

By TOM BERGAN Senior Staff Writer

LouFest, St. Louis’ largest music festival, is such a different experience than major music festivals. For one, it’s in Forest Park, which could very well be the best location for a festival imaginable. Infinite space, no sound bleed between stages, and being less than 10 minutes from SLU’s campus all set the stage for a winning formula.

And as if that isn’t enough, the festival boasts national acts that top festivals from coast to coast, but for a fraction of the price. There was a bevy of presales that were $50 or less, but if you didn’t hop on one of those, as of Monday this week, tickets were as low as $50 on Stubhub. Plainly stated, there is no reason you should be missing the fest, because it

very well could be the best concert series for its price in the country.

While those are all supplemental reasons as to why LouFest is worth the time and money, the main attractor should be the lineup, because this year boasts one of the strongest lineups in LouFest’s six-year history.

Though the entire lineup is well worth exploring, here are some acts that should be bolded, underlined and circled as “must-see” on everyone’s schedule.

Be sure to set your alarms nice and early on Saturday, because you’d be mistaken not to be at the festival right after noon on Saturday to witness the one-two punch of Foxing and Diarrhea Planet. Foxing will be bringing their beautiful chaos to Forest Park in the form of ambient emo music, playing their

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

EMOTIVE: Foxing (above) plays on Saturday afternoon, bringing their unique and hefty style of rock music.

largest stage in their hometown to date. As opposed to coffee, you can just get a healthy dose of screaming and crowdsurfing to start your Saturday. And if that isn’t enough to wake you up, Diarrhea Planet will surely do the trick. Though their name might not be very pleasant, their music most certainly is. With up to four guitars shredding at any given moment, Diarrhea Planet’s set will most definitely be pulling heavily from their phenomenal 2016 album “Turn To Gold.” If you want to have your face melted by some good old rock and roll, don’t miss this set, as it will be the perfect way to kick off the weekend.

Later on Saturday, Band of Horses aren’t to be missed on the Bud Light Stage. The seasoned indie veterans have tons of phenomenal songs, including more than a few from the recently-released “Why are you OK.” Singer Ben Bridwell’s falsetto is a thing of beauty that cannot be topped by much, and pairing it with the notoriously-beautiful St. Louis sunsets is sure to be a match made in heaven. With sing-a-longready songs such as “The Funeral” and ”Casual Party,” Band of Horses’ set is the perfect one to put a blanket down with your squad and take in the atmosphere that LouFest creates.

Be sure to pace yourself, though, because festivals are marathons—not sprints—and Sunday has just as impressive of a lineup as Saturday does, including two clear standouts that will most certainly be highlights

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

ELECTRONIC: LCD Soundsystem, the rock/electronica group, (shown above) will be headlining at this year’s LouFest as the final performer Sunday. of your weekend.

The first of these two artists is Vince Staples, a relative newcomer to the West Coast hip-hop scene, but someone who has already established himself as an artist who is at the top of the game.

Last year’s “Summertime ’06” told stories of Staples’ life growing up in the Long Beach neighborhood of Los Angeles. The album has been universally praised, and propelled Staples into the spotlight. His performance at LouFest will be one of the first to highlight his newest release, “Prima Donna,” a seven song EP that continues on the success

“Summertime” started. With a notoriously ridiculous live presence, get ready to jump, mosh and rap along to one of hip-hop’s finest.

And last but not least, the top headliner on the bill, LCD Soundsystem. Though not a household name to those outside of the indie rock world, LCD’s show could very well end up being the best headlining performance LouFest has ever seen. Coming off a five-year hiatus, the band is making their rounds at festivals, from Coachella to Bonnaroo, to Lollapalooza to here. Anyone that is questioning the worthiness of LCD being the top head-

liner can put their worries at ease. Their danceable indie sound is transformed into pure magic in the live setting.

From firsthand experience, I can say their performance at Lollapalooza ranks in the top-five concerts I have ever seen.

Be prepared for the crowd and band to become one by dancing, singing and smiling in unison, and by the time the perennial set-closer “All My Friends,” you’ll be wishing that you could jar the present moment up and keep it forever, already looking forward to Monday morning and bragging to friends who decided to skip out on the fest.

Time to strut your stuff: Saint Louis Fashion Week right around the corner

By MEGHAN LOFTUS Staff Writer

While New York Fashion Week is incredible, it can be pricey, hard to get into and a few hours out of the way for a student attending Saint Louis University. Thanks to the St. Louis Fashion Fund, the city of St. Louis has innovative, affordable and connected fall fashion events to offer in its own right.

The Saint Louis Fashion Fund is a non-profit, led by a 32-member board of directors. These board members are leaders in fashion, higher education, culture, law and business. The Fund has been supporting the Saint Louis Fashion Week events for the past ten years.

On Nov. 10, the Caleres Fashion Entrepreneur Competition (FEC) will be held at Majorette. “In its tenth year as St. Louis’ fashion scene catalyst, Saint Louis Fashion Week has launched a brandnew signature event as the keystone of its 2016 season and will support more than 10 weeks of fashion-focused activity this fall,” states the Saint Louis Fashion Week website. The “fashion-meetsShark-Tank-style event” will present five St. Louis-based fashion designers and their lines.

In addition to endless industry connections, the designers will be competing for the $10,000 grand prize

Meghan Loftus / The University News

RUNWAY: Saint Louis Fashion Week provides local designers with the opprotunity to showcase their work, giving everyone involved the potential to “hit it big” right at home. With various runway shows and competitions, this week long event promises to thrill fashion-lovers. and the attention of the fashion industry. The money is supposed to help the entrepreneur break into the fashion industry. The Fashion Entrepreneur Competition includes interactive fashion presentations, brand new designs, live pitches from the finalists and video displays of the brand. Following a presentation of all five lines/

brands, the winner will be decided the same night and presented to the audience. A panel of distinguished members of the fashion and business communities (yet to be announced) will judge the competition and determine the winner.

The Caleres Fashion Entrepreneurs Competition is just one of many STLFW-

supported events happening this Fall 2016 season. As St. Louis is a rising hub of fashion, the fashion doesn’t end here.

Other Fashion Week events include: the Celebrate Style Runway Show benefiting Siteman Cancer Center, local designer trunk shows, St. Louis Fashion Week Panel Discussion, An Evening of

Ballet & Fashion with Saint Louis Ballet and Saint Louis Fashion Fund, a local designer runway show, book signings and more.

Saint Louis Fashion Week is an incredible time to network, learn, get involved or simply enjoy the artwork all around you! Get to know the city, culture, people and design. St. Louis is becoming

a hub for the fashion industry. Without participants in Saint Louis Fashion Week, the show wouldn’t go on.

Try something new and buy a ticket (for as low as $10!), go to a book signing or an art display. St. Louis does an amazing job on these events and with some located so close to SLU’s campus, check it out with a friend!

6 September 9, 2016

Mayer teams up with Dead & Company

By TOM BERGAN Senior Staff Writer

Blink-182 Hollywood Casino Amphitheater Sept. 11, 8:00 p.m.

The ultimate throwback.

Don’t miss Blink-182 as they make a stop on their California Summer Tour.

“Hell or High Water” In theaters With rave critical reviews and an undoubtedly talented cast, “Hell or High Water” is a must see.

23rd Annual Saint Louis Art Fair Downtown Clayton Sept. 9-11 Artists from across the nation will be showcasing their work. Entertainment and food will be abundant.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Fox Theatre Sept. 13-25

The magic and legacy of original Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia is something that every Dead fan holds near and dear to their heart. Somewhere along the band’s long, strange trip, the music became something bigger than the guys on stage and the fans took hold of it.

When Jerry passed on 21 years ago, everyone wondered if the music would keep going. And it did, through various projects such as Further, The Dead and RatDog, amongst others. But there was always a wariness from the fans as if to say, “Don’t you mess with the music too much, or mess anything up.”

This wariness comes through especially with the many musicians who have come onboard to take on the role of lead guitar. It was expressed towards Warren Haynes when he played on various projects, and it was expressed to Trey Anastasio in the 2015 “Fare Thee Well” celebration of the remaining members in Chicago. The skepticism has never been stronger, however, than it was for John Mayer, who just over a year ago was announced to be a member of Dead & Company, the new incarnation of three of the four surviving original members.

This skepticism was kind of warranted, though. After all, was the guy who sings “Your Body Is a Wonderland” really the most qualified musician to be taking the reigns of and singing on songs that

mean so much to so many?

And, if we’re being honest, Mayer has come off as a grade-A jerk for much of his career, in stark contrast with the love that the Dead have always spread. I know I was personally quite skeptical of the idea of this working, but was willing to hear it out.

And then we did just that, hearing something truly beautiful coming from the stage. And immediately, all doubts and fears vanished.

John knew exactly what he needed to do in his role, and he knocked it out of the park.

It wasn’t a cover band, it was a living, breathing tribute to the original members who have come and gone. And all of a sudden, John was making the other guys on stage, from Bob Weir to Mickey Hart, play at a level they hadn’t in years. Somehow, those guys knew that it was going to be pure magic on that stage, and it was going to immediately convert the fans. And before I knew it, this summer I was awaiting the live recordings from the previous nights’ show, jumping to hear how the guys became one solid entity on that stage—and road-tripping to experience the shows in the flesh for two beautiful nights at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. And I believe that John summed this magical feeling up best on an Instagram post the night the Dead & Company Summer Tour wrapped up: “This Dead and Company tour was magical. This band flourished in so many ways.

To learn each others’ moves as people and musicians, so as to support each other on stage and off made every

Danny Clinch / Billboard

DEADHEAD: John Mayer joined remaining Grateful Dead members as lead guitarist in a collaborative effort known as Dead & Company. night a beautiful adventure. I grew up a lone wolf in a bedroom practicing my guitar, and all I ever really craved was community. The community I feel now between my brothers and sisters in this band and crew, and the connection between everyone in the audience from the front row to the back, to those who listened from couches and cars, to those who come up to me and say more with their eyes than their words in their attempt to tell me what this

means to them - I will never forget it, because I will never stop feeling it. We’re together now. I’m honored to be one of many musicians in the larger community of the GDEU (Grateful Dead Extended Universe.) And it must be said - to Jerry: what a light you are that I could bask in your shadow.”

And with that post, it was confirmed that this was not the John Mayer that was once known to the public, this was a man who had done a ton of growing and

had finally found peace in the best way possible, through the Grateful Dead.

And now he is prepping a solo release aimed for early 2017. And Deadheads all around the country are eagerly awaiting a John Mayer solo album, a sentence that would have never been uttered even two years ago.

Whether or not Dead & Company get together for another tour remains to be seen, but we can only hope that John Mayer’s tenure with the Dead has only just begun.

‘Suicide Squad’ average at best

By EMMA FRATTAROLA Contributor

About a month ago, on the 5th of August, Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer, blew up the box office. The movie has made over $640 million, but critics are very diverse in their opinions of the movie.

Financially, this movie was a huge success, but it was, at times, ripped apart by critics and fans alike. One critic compliments Ayer’s directing, while The Boston Globe’s Ty Burr says the movie is “visually ugly as sin.” Comic book fans were also quick to criticize the movie, questioning its accuracy to DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and DC Comics’ canon.

As a big comic book fan myself, the differences between the comic book canon and the movie canon is very apparent. However, the movie is consumable by more audiences than just comic book fans. As a movie fan, there

are some obvious critiques of this film. The character development is inconsistent, focusing more on Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Deadshot (Will Smith) than any other character in the movie. Now, this wouldn’t be such a problem if the other characters had been introduced with less importance, but the audience was misled to believe that characters like Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), the Joker (Jared Leto) and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnyoye-Agbaje) would play just as important a role in the movie as the aforementioned characters.

Something that is mentioned a lot about this movie is the role of Jared Leto’s Joker. In ads and promotions, the Joker appears to have a fairly large role in the film.

However, when the movie came out, fans were sur-

prised to see that Jared Leto only managed to clock about ten minutes of screen time.

I believe that the producers used the iconic character of the Joker to lure viewers into watching the movie. Love or hate Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker, it seems as though

“

Despite whether you enjoyed Suicide Squad or not, [it’s] still ranked #2 on the Top Box Office Movies list on Fandango.

esque knockoff of the Avengers. My problem with this characterization of the film is that while it may carry some weight, comparing the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the DCEU to each other at this point in time is like comparing apples and oranges.

Marvel has been establishing their movie franchise since 2011, while DC is just now beginning, with the recent releases of Batman vs. Superman and Suicide Squad, with many more to come. I think that we should give the DCEU the benefit of the doubt and let them establish a chronology before we judge whether or not they are following after the MCU. With this in mind, it is good to remember that in both of these comic franchises, there are teams of superheroes (i.e.

Justice League, the Avengers) and some concepts of

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What’s up in STL this week?

ARTS

his character was used for advertisement purposes more than anything, but who knows what will happen in possible sequels.

Other critics of the movie mention how Suicide Squad is an irreverent Deadpool-

the movies will be the same due to this fact. How they carry out these concepts is a whole different ball game.

Now, despite whether you enjoyed Suicide Squad or not, the fact is the movie made over $640 million at the box office, and is still ranked #2 on the Top Box Office Movies list on Fandango. There may have been too many backstories to cohesively tie together a plot, but the draw of seeing things from the villain’s perspective—an element that made Deadpool such a hit—was strong enough for this movie to gain international recognition. This being Will Smith’s first movie in months does nothing to hurt the number of viewers, either. All we can do to gauge whether DCEU will continue on the path of subpar plots is to wait for the Justice League and Wonder Woman movies to be released.

The Tony Award-winning comedy makes its’ St. Louis debut.

Street Food Mondays The Cherry Lounge Sept. 12 Stop by every Monday for killer street food and drinks.

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

ANTIHERO: Though not traditional heroes, the members of the Suicide Squad are recruited to save the day when a mysterious evil threatens to do untold harm to Gotham City. Pictured above, from right to left, are characters Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Katana, Deadshot and Captain Boomerang.

Sports

September 9, 2016 sports@unewsonline.com Lauren Tondl, Sports Editor Vivek Gorijala, Assoc. Sports Editor

Tussle with Tulsa ends tied: Marquette matchup upcoming

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

SLU’s defense and fighting mentality were truly tested against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a 1-1 draw at Hermann Stadium on Sept.

4.

After falling behind in the 19th minute, 1-0, off of a finished cross into the box, the Billikens battened down the hatches and refused to lose on their home Hermann turf. Junior forward Grant Owens responded to the Tulsa goal defiantly by burying a cross of his own in the 59th minute to tie the game up, 1-1. The squad could not find a second goal to put the Golden Hurricane away for good, but did move to 1-1-1 on the season with Owens’s second-half equalizer.

SLU registered 11 shots and earned four corners in 110 minutes of play. Most of SLU’s attacking moves came in the second half, when they fired seven total shots, but only one found the back of the net. Owens led the offense with three shots, with his goal as the only one that ended on target. Sophomore forward Anthony Brown, sophomore midfielder Lennart Hein and junior defender Jair Hernandez followed close behind with two shots apiece to form a balanced attack against a tough Tulsa team.

Owens commented on the game and the impor-

Saint Louis Athletics

MEN’S SOCCER: Junior forward Grant Owens strikes the ball as a Tulsa defender looks on. Owens’ goal off of a cross against Tulsa secured a draw for the Billikens. tance of his teammates in scoring his first goal of the year. “It was nice to get on the scoresheet; however, without the work from some of my teammates, the goal would not have been possible,” he said.

Owens was announced as the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6, after his impressive goal-scoring per-

formance against Tulsa. This is the second week in a row that a Billiken has earned this honor for men’s soccer.

Brown was tabbed with the honor the previous week, after he smashed in a curling game-winning shot from just outside the box. Brown’s goal came against a Wake Forest team that was then ranked fifth in the nation.

The back line and goal-

keeper held up their end of the deal as well, allowing the Tulsa opposition only eight shots and three corner kicks.

Junior goalie Sascha Otte collected three saves to keep the Billikens within striking distance throughout the game. Otte, junior defender Andre Rivers-Hardware, seSee “Ranked” on Page 8

Men’s basketball schedule released

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

New head coach Travis Ford and the men’s basketball team announced their 2016-2017 schedule on Sept.

6. SLU will play a total of 31 games in the regular season, including 19 at Chaifetz Arena. The Billikens will be glad to be able to play a majority of their games at home in St. Louis with strong crowd support.

The men have only one home exhibition game this season, which will take place on Nov. 4 against Greenville College. The team will follow with their season opener against Ball State on Nov. 11, also at Chaifetz Arena.

Nonconference opponents include Southern Utah, Eastern Illinois, Brigham Young University, Alabama, Valparaiso, Samford, Kansas State, Wichita State, Chicago State, Southern Illinois, SIUE, Winthrop and North Carolina A&T. SLU has a home-court advantage in the nonconference season, as they will take on nine of these opponents here in St. Louis at SLU’s Chaifetz Arena.

SLU will compete in 18 conference games, 9 of which will be televised on various networks. Three of SLU’s games will appear on NBC Sports Network. In addition, three more will be shown on American Sports Network, two on CBS Sports Network and one on ES-

PNU. Some of the games will be locally televised on Fox Sports Midwest, but the specific games that will appear on that network have yet to be announced by network officials.

SLU basketball will open conference play at home against Rhode Island on Dec. 30. They will reach the halfway point of their A-10 season on Jan. 28, after they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on George Washington.

Feb. 8 will mark the start of a stretch of six games against teams who reached the 2016 postseason. The Billikens will conclude the regular season on March 4 at Richmond.

The Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship will be in Pittsburgh on March 8-11, and all of the games will appear on national television. A full schedule can be found online at slubillikens.com.

SLU will be well-tested this season in a slew of challenging games on the court.

Men’s basketball will face 14 opponents who reached the postseason last year. However, Ford and the Billikens are eager to start a new era of basketball in St. Louis and will look forward to the tests.

The SLU community is just as excited to see what kind of team the Billikens will be in November, while looking ahead to how the team will grow as the season unfolds into the spring.

Promising performances propel women’s soccer

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

SLU women’s soccer has opened with a 4-1 record, including winning their first four games. Those four wins to start the season were good enough for SLU’s bestever start to a season. So far, SLU’s record has come strictly from nonconference play. However, SLU will hope to build on their strong early-season performance when Atlantic 10 matches begin.

They will attempt to finish in the top eight, earning a spot in the A-10 postseason tournament.

The first match of the regular season came against Kansas State as the Billikens prevailed 3-1. Senior midfielder Shaney Sakamoto chipped in a goal and an assist against Kansas State.

Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Mary Niehaus started her first game. Overall, SLU dominated the match, recording a titanic 24 shots to Kansas State’s 6 and 13 shots on goal to Kansas State’s mere 3.

The Billikens next played against Fort Wayne and won comprehensively, 3-0. Senior forward Danielle Tolmais was the standout performer, scoring two of SLU’s goals.

This match was Tolmais’ first time ever scoring two goals for the Billikens. Sakamoto assisted on one of those

CHEER

goals, and freshman forward Alyssa Seitzer recorded her first ever collegiate goal, unassisted.

The third match of the regular season came against Illinois. Once again, Sakamoto came up strong for SLU, notching the only goal of the game on a very early penalty kick. SLU wound up winning 1-0 on the strength of that goal and Niehaus’ second shutout of the season.

SLU once again kept it tight in the back and squeezed out a 1-0 win, this time against a tough Valparaiso team. The match was the first time the two programs had ever competed against each other in women’s soccer, and was decided by extremely close margins. Freshman forward Evie Lavelle was the only goalscorer in the match, recording her first-ever collegiate goal to clinch the game for the Billikens. The match also marked Niehaus’ thirdstraight shutout. The 4-0 record that SLU had compiled to this point marked SLU’s best ever start to the season, tied with the Fall 2000 team.

SLU’s perfect start was spoiled in a close match against Nebraska, which the Billikens ultimately lost, 2-1.

The first half went by scoreless, but Nebraska scored 2 in a span of three minutes to

JEER WHO TO CHEER NEBRASKA On July 23, 2016, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz tragically passed away in a car accident.

During the first punt of their home opener, Nebraska lined up without a punter and took a delay-of-game penalty. It was a heartfelt gesture, especially with the Foltz family in attendance for a memorial.

open a commanding 2-0 lead by the 63rd minute. Senior forward Kirsten Clemens scored her second goal of the season in the 78th minute, but her effort was ultimately too little, too late as SLU could not come up with the second goal required to tie the match. Junior midfielder Lauren Tondl also recorded her first assist of the season, aiding Clemens’ goal.

SLU’s outstanding first five games have been built on strong play from older members of the team. Seniors Tolmais and Sakamoto stand together atop SLU’s points list, with Tolmais tallying 3 total goals and Sakamoto’s 2 goals and 2 assists.

Clemens, another senior, also has played well, with 4 points from 2 goals. However, SLU’s defense has been outstanding as well. Niehaus and her stout defense have tallied three shutouts, all in a row.

Next up for the Billikens will be a road game against Evansville on Sept. 8, 2016, in Evansville, Ind. SLU will be looking to get back to its winning ways against Evansville in order to prepare for the rapidly approaching A-10 conference matchups. The conference games will determine whether the women earn the right to play in the conference postseason.

Saint Louis Athletics

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Senior midfielder Shaney Sakamoto runs with the ball as an Illinois State player pursues. Sakamoto is SLU’s joint leader in points this season.

FEAR WHO TO JEER JONATHAN PAPELBON Always a hothead, his time with the Washington Nationals started with him choking Bryce Harper in the dugout. Then, he lost speed on his pitches and his job as closer. Now, a few weeks later, he is still a free agent. A cooler head on his shoulders and a less explosive temper may have served Papelbon well.

WHO TO FEAR ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE The spending power of teams in the English Premier League continues to rise, relative to the other leagues in the world.

If the current trend continues, English clubs will hold a monopoly on the world’s top players, which will enrich English soccer at the expense of other leagues.

8 September 9, 2016 @DylansFreshTake

This week in sports Thursday, Sept. 8 Women’s Soccer 7 p.m. @Evansville

Imagine walking into class and Johnny Manziel is your lab partner.

Scores from the week Men’s Soccer Billikens 1 Tulsa 1 The Billikens moved to 1-1-1 this season behind sophomore forward Anthony Brown’s cross to junior forward Grant Owen. The Billikens outshot the Hurricanes 11-5, but could not break the deadlock after 110 minutes of competitive soccer. The team is ranked 19th in the nation ahead of a home matchup against Northwestern at Hermann Stadium.

Women’s Soccer Billikens 1 Valparaiso 0 SLU tied their best start to a season, 4-0, behind freshman forward Evie Lavelle’s first collegiate goal.

Billikens 1 Tulsa 1 SLU succumbed to their first loss of the season and fell to 4-1, despite senior forward Kirsten Clemens scoring her second goal of the season.

Volleyball Billikens 1 Arkansas State 3 Senior outside hitter Danielle Rygelski led all attackers with 19 kills.

Billikens 0 Western Kentucky 3 SLU tallied no more than 13 points in any set.

Billikens 1 Cal Poly 3 SLU lost to eventual tournament winner Cal Poly.

Field Hockey Billikens 1 Fairfield 5 Sophomore midfielder Molly Feid tallied her first goal of the season off a short corner from senior midfielder Caitlin Gibson, who led all Billikens with three shots.

Billikens 0 Iowa 11 Sophomore midfielder Carly Kissinger and Feid fired SLU’s only two shots of the game. Sophomore goalie Jessie Bryan pocketed eight saves.

Friday, Sept. 9

Saturday, Sept. 10

Sunday, Sept. 11

Monday, Sept. 12

Volleyball Volleyball Field Hockey St. Louis Cardinals 10 a.m. v. Marquette, in 6:30 p.m. @ Kentucky 12 p.m. v. Missouri State 7:15 p.m. v. Chicago Cubs Kentucky Men’s Soccer Women’s Soccer 4 p.m. v. Virginia, in Ken7 p.m. v. Marquette 1 p.m. v. SIUE tucky Softball Cross Country 2 p.m. v. Shawnee C.C. Forest Park XC Festival 4 p.m. v. Jefferson College Women’s Tennis SIUE Fall Invitational

Tuesday, Sept. 13 Wednesday, Sept. 14 Volleyball 5 p.m. @Austin Peay

Baseball v. Parkland JC

Knesel unites softball, Ranked: Men’s soccer at 19 service and faith

By LAUREN TONDL Sports Editor

Junior outfielder Josie Knesel has a passion for service, education and care for others. While most may know her for her dedication on the diamond and to SLU’s softball squad, she finds her identity as a nursing student, in her faith and through helping others.

Knesel, a St. Louis native, has been a softball player since she was very young.

“I have been playing softball since I was six years old,” she said. “Until I was 11, my mom coached my team, and all of those memories were great.” She moved into a more competitive level of play when she decided to join the St. Louis Chaos organization.

One of the greatest aspects about softball in Knesel’s eyes is the competitive nature of the sport. Still, when looking back on softball, many of her good memories revolve around the memorable experiences she was able to share with her friends and family. “Every summer was an adventure, since I was able to travel all across the country with my best friends and occasionally my family,” Knesel said.

Knesel’s travels, however, have taken far past the domestic borders of the United States. She has also visited the Central American nation of Nicaragua, through the Amigos for Christ organization. These past two summers, while in Nicaragua, she participated in an education project as well as a water and sanitation project. The water and sanitation project consisted of digging trenches to hold pipes. The efforts of Knesel and many other help-

ers gave every home in the Nicaraguan community access to 100 gallons of clean water. During the education project, Knesel and other volunteers assisted in building a school for Nicaraguan children.

The visit to Nicaragua was not only significant to Knesel, but it held a special significance for the children that she saw as well. “For me, the trip was all about building relationships, growing in faith and really coming alive as a person,” Knesel said.

“One of the relationships I built last year was with a seven-year-old boy named Juan.

I saw him again this year, and I am very happy that he actually remembered me after just one day of hanging out last summer.”

Knesel took the values of the relationships she made that summer and shared them with some of her SLU teammates when she arrived back home. This past summer, Knesel brought senior outfielder Emma Buckles and junior infielder Alyssa Tarquinio along for her second trip.

“Seeing Emma and Alyssa grow in their faith and come alive, just as I did last year, was very rewarding,” she said.

Now that she is back in the states and diving into the fall semester, she is always trying to incorporate and remember the valuable experiences she was a part of in Nicaragua.

“My trips to Nicaragua have made me more grateful for my education,” she said.

“Just like a majority of students, there are days when I dread going to class. I try my best on those days to remember that I’m extremely

and taking the lessons from mid-week training onto the field,” he said. nior defender Max KarchThe Billikens are after er and senior midfielder improved play and a betJoe Saad battled valiantly ter result on Sept. 10, when through all 110 minutes of they face Marquette. SLU soccer. Seven Billiken subhas not faced Marquette stitutes contributed valuable since the 2004 season, but minutes for the sake of the on that occasion they did team, including Owens, who manage to defeat the Goldscored the all-important en Eagles, 3-0, while on the equalizer. road in Milwaukee. The men Head coach Mike Mcknow that Marquette will be Ginty took pride in his team a tough matchup, especially for their early-season comeconsidering the energy exback against a Tulsa team pended in the double overthat never allowed the Biltime Tulsa game. SLU’s playlikens any breathing room. ers and coaches are focusing However, he does expect his their energy on fine-tuning squad to improve as the team all they can before the showprogresses through the rest down with Marquette. “We of the nonconference season will need to show our imand fine-tune their play. “We provements against a very came out aggressive, but I strong Marquette side,” Owdon’t think we were as sharp ens said. Kickoff is set for 7 as we needed to be early p.m. at SLU’s Hermann Staon,” he said. “I was proud of dium. the way we came back and After Marquette, SLU scored to tie it up. At the men’s soccer will travel to play end, it was two tired teams against Denver. They will folhanging on, trying to avoid low that match with a home the knockout. I was proud of game against Louisville. Last our effort tonight, and we’ll season, Louisville and SLU now prepare for Marquette battled into overtime, with next weekend.”

S L U Owens prevailagreed It was nice to get on the ing 3-2 with Mcin the scoresheet; however, G i n t y ’s t i g h t critique without the work of some game. of the of my teammates, the After Tu l s a goal would not have L o u game. He been possible. isville, is looking SLU ’s forward Junior forward Grant Owens hometo homcoming ing in g a m e on their against VCU will take place. mistakes and fixing any The VCU matchup will be weaknesses in order to play SLU’s first conference game a cleaner game in the fuof the season. The Billikens ture. “It was disappointing will hope to win that game we were not able to win on in their march towards the Sunday, but we just have to A-10 tournament later in the continue building as a team, fall. learning from our mistakes Continued from Page 7

Saint Louis Athletics

Featured: Junior softball outfielder Josie Knesel blessed I don’t have to spend all day in the heat, building a school instead.”

On the field, she tries to do much of the same. “As an athlete, my perseverance has increased tremendously,” Knesel said. “If I can get through a week of working in 100-degree weather, I can make it through a workout, practice or game.”

Knesel is eager to begin once again with softball when the spring season arrives. “We have a great group of seniors. I can’t wait to make more memories with them and the rest of my teammates as we do what makes us come alive,” she said.

You can see Knesel and the rest of the softball team in action sooner than next semester, however. SLU softball will begin their fall season games on Sept. 10 at the Billiken Sports Center. They will begin by facing Shawnee Community College on Sept.

10 at 2 p.m., and will follow that matchup with a game against Jefferson College at 4 p.m.

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Tweet of the week

SPORTS

Down but not out, volleyball will rise again

By VIVEK GORIJALA Associate Sports Editor

SLU women’s volleyball has slipped to a poor 1-6 record to start the Fall 2016 season. In some years, this may have set off alarms, especially following a strong Fall 2015 season that saw the team finish 22-10 and reach the Atlantic 10 Conference championship match. However, SLU’s schedule to start the season has been difficult, including three teams in last year’s top 50 volleyball programs: Arkansas State, Michigan and Western Kentucky. The Billikens, despite their tough start, will look to lick their wounds in their remaining pre-conference games before attempting to top the A-10 once conference play starts.

SLU was swept out of their first tournament of the season, the Michigan Challenge, located in Ann Arbor, Mich. Their first loss came against Michigan itself, a 3-0 loss that the Billikens never got into. SLU also fell in three sets to Northern Iowa, although the first set was only lost by a relatively close 5 points. Finally, against Miami of Ohio, SLU managed to challenge in all five sets, even winning the fourth set in a back-and-forth affair, 28-26. This forced a fifth set, in which Miami prevailed by a score of 15-11.

SLU did manage to re-

bound when they visited Normal, Ill., to take on Illinois State in what was by far the strongest Billikens performance this season.

The Billikens swept their opponents, as senior outside hitter Danielle Rygelski led the way with 26 kills.

Meanwhile, junior libero Mackenzie Long had 9 digs, senior setter Ashley Gagen had 8 digs to go along with a match-best 32 assists, and junior middle blocker Josie Gandall tallied 7 digs. Rygelski and junior middle blocker Lauren Leverenz also tallied 3 block assists each.

SLU then could not build on their sweep of Illinois State, despite returning home to Chaifetz Arena for the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic. The Billikens lost 3-1 against Arkansas State, although SLU did perform well in the second set, beating Arkansas State 25-15.

SLU was then swept against No. 19 Western Kentucky, one of the strongest teams that SLU will face this year.

The Billikens could not manage more than 13 points in any single set in that match.

Finally, SLU was beaten by eventual tournament winners Cal Poly, 3-1, to bring their overall record down to 1-6.

Rygelski has been a standout performer for the Billikens so far this season.

Against Northern Iowa, she registered an astounding 33

kills and followed that up with a 29-kill match against Illinois State. She has been SLU’s leading attacker this season and if she continues at this pace should lead SLU well into the A-10 postseason.

SLU’s upcoming matches may prove to be just as difficult as the seven that have already gone by. Kentucky, Marquette and Virginia are all on the slate for Sept. 9

and 10, and Kentucky and Marquette were both Top 50 programs last year. While SLU may currently be struggling against a host of topnotch teams, the preparation may serve them well in the future. SLU will begin Atlantic 10 play on Sept. 23 against George Mason, and the Billikens will use lessons from these defeats to do well in the conference.

Gagen is one of those who

believes that the team will be stronger by the end of this season because of the tough opposition that they are currently paired against. “While our wins and losses record may not look great right now, it does not reflect how well we’ve been playing and how much we’ve improved.

Our tough schedule will better prepare us for our conference games, which are right around the corner,” she said.

Saint Louis Athletics

VOLLEYBALL: Senior outside hitter Danielle Rygelski looks on as No. 19 Western Kentucky serves. Rygelski has performed well this season, leading SLU in kills.

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Opinions Editorials

September 9, 2016 opinion@unewsonline.com Trevor Rogan, Opinion Editor

Editorials are opinion pieces written by the Editorial Board of The University News. The editorials printed in this space represent the opinion of The University News.

Commentaries and Letters to the Editor represent the opinions of the signed authors, but do not necessarily represent the opinions of The University News.

Kaepernick and our flag’s contested symbolism On Friday, Aug. 26, 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick exercised his First Amendment right to free speech, catapulting himself into the political arena.

Although he did not exercise this freedom in the traditional sense, with words, by sitting during the National Anthem, Kaepernick implied many sentiments.

The backup quarterback began his protest before the first preseason game and has pledged not to stand in observance of the flag during any of the pregame anthems this season. Wearing street clothes for the first two games, Kaepernick’s protest went unnoticed until the 49ers–Packers game in which he dressed out and played. Despite backlash from fellow football players, police unions and numerous fans, Kaepernick continued his protest on Thursday, Sept. 1, before the preseason game in San Diego. Instead of sitting, Kaepernick, along with 49ers safety Eric Reid, kneeled in protest during the anthem.

The game played in San Diego occurred on the Chargers’ 28th Annual Salute to the Military, where Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell from the U.S. Navy performed the National Anthem and 240 sailors, marines and soldiers presented an oversized American flag. Many armed forces members, like those in attendance, have taken offense to Kaepernick’s protest, and so have their supporters.

One of those supporters, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, noted his exposure to the armed forces through United Service Organizations tours and the history his family has in serving the country.

On Twitter the Saints quarterback refined his stance, saying that he “agree[s] with his protest,” but not with his

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 webstie comments. Because the identities of website posters cannot be verified, all website comments should be treated as anonymous.

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method.

Members of the armed forces and their supporters have taken issue with Kaepernick’s protest because they believe his gesture protests the United States as a whole, including its armed forces.

As a protest, they think it disrespects the service of soldiers and shows a disregard for the sacrifices that soldiers have made in order for Americans to enjoy their freedom.

Explaining that he refuses “to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick’s protest obviously does not mean to insult the U.S. Armed Forces. “I have great respect for men and women that have fought for this country,” Kaepernick said. “I have family. I have friends that gone and fought for this country. They fight for freedom. They fight for the people. They fight for lib-

erty and justice for everyone.

And that’s not happening.

People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up as far as, you know, giving freedom and justice and liberty to everybody.”

To Kaepernick, looking to the flag and singing the anthem implies supporting the oppression of African Americans by police. To others, looking to this flag implies support in the military, in the men who fought in the world wars against fascist regimes, in the family members who currently serve overseas.

The issue with Kaepernick’s protest, then, is not his method, as Brees asserted, but how the flag signifies something different to Kaepernick and others. While people like Drew Brees find themselves moved to tears because the anthem is that powerful, people like Kaepernick think about the black lives lost to encounters with the police. The symbol that represents the Constitution to some may represent

something else entirely to others. To Kaepernick, it does not stand for his right to free speech. Instead, it stands for a country that allows police officers to go unpunished for killing black men.

Before claiming that Kaepernick is illogical for protesting a symbol that represents his right to protest, one must consider that people have different opinions and different perspectives. Kaepernick understands that he has a right to free speech, but he does not associate the anthem or the flag with that right.

People will be offended

by Kaepernick’s protest of the flag. Many people love the symbol, identifying it with everything that they love about the country. People will be offended by many things, and it is our right to be offended.

People view symbols differently. Although some Americans may see the flag and think of their loved ones overseas, others may see their loved ones suffering domestically. We cannot tell each other how to view something.

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Quotes of the Week

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If I can get through a week of working through 100-degree weather, I can make it through a workout, practice or game.

Josie Knesel, junior outfielder, page 8

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A safe space is not an either/or issue, civility should be central to how we act around each other and how we treat each other.

Dr. Jonathan Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, page 2

A large part of Jesuit learning is the idea of an encounter: an experience that smacks a student across the face with injustice and demands that they find a way to respond.

Tommy English, senior, page 10

Tomi Lahren: Conservative phenomenon, liberal fascination A few years ago, she was a soft-spoken journalism student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As the host of the school’s political roundtable program, “The Scramble,” Tomi Lahren was the definition of politically correct, and the program focused mostly on the guests and their content rather than Lahren’s opinion.

Much has changed about Lahren’s role and delivery.

Her news persona, since erupting to conservative media fame, has transformed from a host introducing guests to a voice for many conservative Americans.

Where before she tepidly exchanged comments with

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members of the roundtable, Lahren now slings scathing criticism or words of patriotic zeal. When arguing with a challenger, she offers little time for a rebuttal.

Even without an adversary, her sentences run rapidly from one idea to the next.

At times the viewer hears words, but what registers instead is more of a general feeling—a mix of frustration and pride.

Lahren’s road to notoriety began when she applied for an internship at One America News Network. Despite her lack of experience in the professional world, she was offered the opportunity to host her own show.

From August 2014 to August 2015, she hosted “On Point with Tomi Lahren,” and in November 2015 she started hosting the show “Tomi” for “TheBlaze.”

In March 2015, Lahren addressed the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, fighting to dispel the stereotype that all conservatives are “old, rich, white males,” and in July of the same year her tirade on President Obama’s reaction to the Chattanooga shootings went viral. Today she stands as a poster girl for young conservatives and has become a conservative phenomenon in and of herself.

Lahren has set herself

apart from others while representing her viewers. As a young woman, she defies some of the demographic features of Republicans.

However, she is white, seemingly well-off financially and Christian with familial ties to both the police and the military. From these characteristics, she represents a large swath of people. What attracts viewers to Lahren is largely the same quality that attracts conservatives to Donald Trump: her tone. Lahren speaks her mind and does so loudly. In a time when conservatives and Americans in general are frustrated in economics and politics, Lahren ex-

presses their anger while identifying with their pride in God and country. Because she is a woman, people feel comfortable with her attacks on feminism, and through social media, viewers can share her message without clearly stating how they feel about an issue. Lahren thus shields her viewers from the hate they might receive for saying the same things Lahren does. She has become a sponge for liberal criticism of the right, and while many viewers agree with Lahren’s bold statements, the viewers can share the news personality’s message without the risk of more judgement from their peers.

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With most of her appeals to emotion, Lahren’s words are not exactly food for thought. They mainly fire up the audience, including those who oppose her message. For liberals watching her videos, the spectacle of Tomi Lahren is akin to what Joseph Conrad described as “the fascination of the abomination.” A liberal might watch one of Lahren’s videos for the same reason a passerby might stop and gawk at the wreckage of a recent car accident — to be deeply unsettled. Her delivery is riveting, perhaps even frightening. And neither side of the political spectrum can get enough of her.

“Freedom of the press–print, online and broadcast–is a basic right in a democratic society and is valuable in promoting the development of students as socially responsible persons ... The University News is a student voice, not the student voice. The views of The University News are the expressions of the students involved ... If [The University News] can represent a point of view around which discussion may develop, it serves a legitimiate and needed purpose.”

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10 September 9, 2016

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

In the seventh grade, I would walk up the block from school and pretend to make calls on my new Motorola Razr. I remember how having a phone made me feel cool and powerful. All I could do was call and text—most of which were to my parents— but it was something new and exciting. I couldn’t help feeling like Andy from “The Devil Wears Prada,” skirting around town making calls to important people. It’s funny, because at that time a cell phone was so expendable to me. I didn’t have it on my person at all times. I kept it off and stowed in my locker when I bothered to bring it to school, and I misplaced it regularly. In fact, I went through about five phones in three years because it fell out of my pocket on a roller coaster, I left it on the back of my mom’s car before she drove away, it got stolen with a purse, and other ridiculous reasons I cannot even remember.

Today, there are very few times when I don’t have my phone with me. I have a smartphone, so I use it to go on social media, send emails, look at things, take and store photos, play games and play music. I use it as a GPS, to manage my banking, read the news, FaceTime, text and make calls. That’s just day to day, I’m sure there are dozens of other ways I can, and do, use my phone. This is quite a stretch from the simple and sporadic texting and calling I was doing back when at 13. It always surprises me to remember that I didn’t even get a smartphone until about

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FIONA CLAIR

a quarter of the way into about my methods of commy sophomore year of high munication. I’d rather email school. It is honestly hard to professors than talk to them remember what I did before during their office hours, I I had the power of constant text a question or a “Happy entertainment. I guess I just Birthday” message instead of watched commercials, stood calling and I have been guilty awkwardly in elevators and probably a few too many used a desktop computer to times of texting someone in check Facebook and AIM my the same house as me infriends. That power surge I stead of just finding them to felt with my first flip phone is tell them what I need. I have now elevated to the extreme. become so accustomed to Technology is so potent in the ease of this lifestyle, and today’s society and in a lot of I know it isn’t just me. The ways it’s really awesome—I more I recognize my own can entertain myself by gofaults in this realm, the more ing on social media during I notice that almost everyTV commercials, or better one around me is falling into yet just binge-watch a show the same practices. I am not on Netflix. I can tweet at the saying that no one speaks, stroke of genius instead of or that we are becoming rowaiting to find a computer, bots, or that the end is near, I can capture and share my but that there are certain life in an instant and I can drawbacks that come with always find my way around this existence. as long as there’s a little bit I am available at all hours of service. My phone breaks of the day, and am expected the barriers of distance and to be so. If someone emails cultural divide with its abilme about class at 10 p.m. ity to follow my French forfor the next day and I don’t eign exchange students on get it, it’s my responsibility. I social media, and communialso have a serious aversion cate with family and friends to boredom ...well doesn’t across the country. With all everyone? Yes, but I’m never these amazing benefits, why satisfied with just being, I does our generation get so have to be doing at least two things at much the same hate for I am not saytime to our use ing that no one feel ocof techspeaks, or that cupied. nology? we are becoming And fiIt ’s robots, or that nally, instant the end is near, people gratifibut that there are skills are c ation. certain drawbacks h a r d .

I don’t that come with They are h a v e this existence. skills that to wait need to for anbe conswers. I tinuously practiced and don’t have to be bored ever when I can just avoid doing again. The only catch is that that I become more awkI have become totally deward and introverted. pendent on the technology Technology isn’t going available to me. I know it away. In many ways this is a is possible to go a few days good thing, it means we are without media access, but improving and moving forgiven the option, I know I ward. But it also means we wouldn’t want to. I live a have to start adapting to the life that’s totally connected, changes it brings, or risk losbut at the same time it has ing control over media. made me increasingly lazy

The Cross Cultural Center saves lives

I started my first year of college in a new city and in a new state two weeks after the murder of Michael Brown, Jr. Because of my status as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar, I had the opportunity to meet the staff members of the Cross Cultural Center, as well as other supportive staff members of color, during my first week. I cannot adequately explain the influence that the wonderful staff of the CCC had on my transition to college. If I felt tokenized by my classmates, or was struggling with the pervasiveness of racialized oppression in the world, I knew I could walk into through the doors of the CCC and immediately feel at home.

As my college career progressed, though, I noticed something deeply troubling. Staff member after staff member from the CCC continued to depart. While staff members of color face circumstances similar to those of students of color at a predominantly white institution, staff of color must reckon with white supremacy deliberately and carefully as to not threaten their employment status. As students, we have the privilege of public dissent. Of course, our protest actions could bring disciplinary action against us, but for most of us, we are allowed to say what we want with little long

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NOELLE JANAK

lasting impact on our status different directors and three at the University. Staff and different program coordinafaculty of color do not have tors. I understand why staff this privilege. The ivory towin the CCC leave. Oppresers of academia and collesion is a deafening room. giate institutions as a whole However, someone needs to prevent staff members from take responsibility for this. making public statements SLU, this is on us. Every day, and protesting unfair, unsafe through the microaggresand oppressive situations. As sions and bureaucratic hura result, many important jusdles, we create and maintain tice-oriented staff members a hostile environment for on campus have transitioned justice-oriented staff, espeto better paying jobs at bigcially our staff of color. This ger universities. is unacceptable. We need to While this statement may do better. The mental health seem hyperbolic, I must say and success of students of it anycolor w a y s a n d The CCC shows because queer up for students of it’s the students color and queer truth: depends students who the staff on it. struggle to live at the With the in a society that C C C recent functions on their saved depardisenfranchisemy life. ture of ment.

D u r two staff ing my m e m first two bers in years at SLU, there were the CCC, some have quesmany times the weight of tioned the importance of systematic oppression overthe CCC. In response, I say: came me. I felt like I couldn’t If you care about the retenstay at SLU, and I felt like tion and success of students there was no place that I of color, women students, could escape from the burqueer students, trans studen of marginalization. But dents, non-binary students, consistently, staff members et. al., the CCC must conlike Aleidra Allen showed tinue to exist and must be up and cared for me enough better funded. If not, we risk to get me back on the frontperpetuating the very oplines of the fight for liberapression our Jesuit mission tion. The CCC shows up for compels us to act against. students of color and queer To Josh Jones and Aleidra students who struggle to live Allen in the CCC, I want to in a society that functions on say thank you. Thank you for their disenfranchisement. your support and love—even The CCC is critical for when you, too, were strugstudent success and retengling to handle the reality of tion, and yet, the staff turnwhite supremacy and poover rates within that parlice violence in America. I ticular department threaten may not tell you this often minority student success enough, but I love both of and retention. In my time at you, and your work saves SLU, the CCC has seen two lives.

Common Core needs revamping

TOMMY ENGLISH

If you’ve ever switched majors and moved to a different college or school, you have probably run into problems with the University’s core curriculum. To call it a university core is generous because it isn’t consistent across the university. Each college has its own version of the core with different amounts and types of classes that are required. If you are a nursing student or engineering major, you probably didn’t even know there was a core curriculum. If you are in the College of Arts and Sciences, however, you are probably struggling to fit a major in around it.

The differing types and amounts of classes required by the various core curricula across campus cause some pretty serious logistical issues, especially for someone who wants to change to a major in a different college or school, but I would argue that there are far greater problems with the University’s core curriculum. The first is that it does not include a universal course that embodies what SLU is as a university. SLU currently has the U101 course, which introduces students to the University and to college life, but SLU can do better.

The core curriculum needs a course that challenges students to think deeply about their own life purpose, their purpose while in college, and how those relate to the University’s goals of truth, service, and justice. Ideally it would be a course that both students and the top faculty from across campus would

look forward to experiencing together.

Although we do not have this universal course, most students do take theology, philosophy, and history courses as a part of their core curriculums. Unfortunately, these widely taken courses often teach students an imperialist, eurocentric view of the world that reinforces dominant and violent structures in our society. If students are unsure what I am talking about, I would encourage them to think about how many non-white, non-Christian authors they have read during their theology, philosophy, and history courses. For most students, the answer is probably none at all. This is highly frustrating for marginalized students who want and deserve more, and it is also harmful to privileged students because they are never pushed to understand privilege and oppression, learn how to engage in dialogue, and become interculturally competent. This is a problem that cannot be solved by simply adding diversity credits to the core curriculum. First, because students often find a way around taking courses that will challenge them. Second, because labeling an African American history course as a diversity credit, while maintaining a eurocentric history course as a non-diversity course reinforces the dominant narrative that black history is inferior. We need core curriculum courses that are decolonized and actively push students to challenge dominant ways of thought.

The final problem is that our core curriculum does not do enough to push students to be engaged in the community. The mission of the University is “the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity,” but most students never find ways to truly be in service with hu-

manity. A large part of Jesuit learning is the idea of an encounter: an experience that smacks a student across the face with injustice and demands that they find a way to respond. The University can do more to provide students with these encounters and then support them as they learn how to serve responsibly and productively in the community. Much of this will hinge on the University’s ability to unify students behind SLU’s mission and to push students to challenge the ways through which they think about the world. It also means the University has to prioritize building strong partnerships in the community. I would much rather be able to talk about how SLU supports literacy in our community by providing hundreds of tutors to the City’s Public Schools than to brag about how many hours are volunteered on Make a Difference Day. Last week the Student Government Association (SGA) announced that one of its goals for the year would be to “assist the Office of the Provost in reforming Core Curriculum requirements at SLU.” This is not a new goal for SGA, it is something the organization has been working on for at least the last four years and not much progress has been made despite a large amount of effort. This past academic year many SLU faculty members signed a letter voicing their commitment to diversity and inclusion, and I would like to challenge those faculty members to recognize the issue of core curriculum reform as an opportunity to demonstrate that commitment. If we want SLU to truly live out its mission and be the type of institution it professes to be, then we need to come together to solve this issue. It won’t be easy, but matters of great importance never are.

campuses, and it’s unlikely that SLU is much different.

Therefore an event like this one is pertinent. However, I can’t help recalling this event and thinking, why cannot SLU do better?

We are a Catholic, Jesuit University, yet chastity was not mentioned once at this event. Chastity is the virtue that calls all Catholics and Christians to abstinence, not just from sexual intercourse, but from all sexual activity until marriage. Knowing that each person’s sexuality is an intimate part of who they are and that sex by nature suggests an unconditional promise, chastity must be emphasized. Not only that, but chastity is rarely ever spoken of by the University or its representatives. It is common at SLU to see p o sters , displays and programs that define what sexual consent is and is not and give instructions for how to intervene in instances of potential or apparent sexual assault.

On the other hand, I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that challenges students to live chaste lifestyles or that provides tips for practicing purity. How can we, as a university, claim that we are pursuing truth when our

basic sexual dignity is never spoken of or taught to our SLU community?

I’m not saying that teaching chastity on campus will dramatically change the environment at SLU, or any college campus for that matter. Teaching chastity at SLU will also not magically convince all in our community to live chaste lifestyles. However, I do believe that SLU is selling its community short when its posters, programs and displays suggest that there is no more to sex than mutual consent and pleasure. Furthermore, I believe that teaching chastity would be getting at the root of the problem of sexual assault.

And lastly, I believe that in teaching chastity to the great S L U community we will be teaching a value that will not only prevent harm to bodies, but also prevent harm to souls.

T h e pursuit of truth is not about achieving truth, it is about putting forth our best efforts to reach that truth. The truth is that our God and our very nature call us to chastity in all relationships outside of marriage. If SLU is honestly committed to the pursuit of truth it will teach chastity and teach it loudly.

Not enough talk about chastity at SLU

BETSY DALY

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, all students in any U101 or BIZ 1000 course were required to attend an event entitled “Can I Kiss You? Date Safe Program.” The purpose of this event was to address dating, sexual assault and the issue of asking for and receiving sexual consent.

Although I am a junior and I am gladly not in any U101 or BIZ 1000 courses, I was curious about this event, so I decided to attend.

The speaker, Mike Domitrz, gave an engaging, funny, touching and occasionally heart-wrenching presentation. He easily had students laughing, boisterously begging to be chosen as a volunteer, energetically responding to his questions and taking pictures of the slides of his presentation for later reference.

Not only was his presentation entertaining, but it also conveyed some powerful points (some of these are direct quotes from his presentation). “Every person deserves dignity and respect.

We intervene in questionable situations because every person deserves dignity and respect. Every survivor [of sexual assault] is strong, courageous and incredible.

You are good enough as you are. Each person is a gift and should be treated as such.”

Unfortunately, sexual assault is common on college

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Chastity is the virtue that calls all Catholics and Christians to abstinence, not just from sexual intercourse, but from all sexual activity until marriage.

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The effects of being tethered to 21st-century technologies

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