No. 26

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A student voice of Saint Louis University since 1919

Vol. XCIV No. 26

In a manner of speaking: How to talk about gender By HANNAH WILEY Staff Writer

Deirdre Kerins / Copy Editor

Inspire: When the skates come off, Kwan devotes her time and energy to the betterment of athletes worldwide. After retiring, Kwan’s own education took precedence.

students’ engagement with their campus comes as a response to a noticeable hamWhen provided with blue mock shortage: The three skies, sunshine and warm hammocks on the grassy extemperapanse along tures, camthe quad are pus becomes unique SLU I think it’s becompopulated fixtures, yet by a recently ing a cultural lucky are common, altrend. those few beit strange, students sight. Like -Andrew Barenz, who manage clusters of to find them Wilderness Advenhuman puunoccupied. ture Club president pae in fabNotably, ric cocoons, these hamstudents sit, mocks’ nets, sway and installed sleep in lightweight, poronly a few weeks ago, are table hammocks suspended blue this year, as opposed to between trees. the usual white. This phenomenon in Sophomore Ashley Long, By TIM WILHELM News Editor

had to keep pursuing the value of aspiration and work toward bettering herself. After graduating from the University of Denver in 2009, and then moving on to pursue her master’s degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at the University of Tufts, Kwan claims that education has played a key role in her life, and See “Kwan” on Page 4

lying on a SLU hammock at Mueller was preparing to rethe time, did not own one cline in his own hammock – of the growingly popular borrowed from his brother – personal hammocks, but and read a book. He said that acknowledged seeing them setup takes him no longer around. than 30 “It’s easier seconds. when you have On FriAll this is here for your own inday, April the kids to use. stead of having 24, SLU’s We’re providing to wait to steal Wi l d e rone … I think ness Adan environment I saw three or venture where they can be four at a time,” Club held comfortable. she said. a fund-Jeff Macko, Director “A couple raising of Grounds Services of my friends event inback home use volving them at their tie dying, schools,” said sophomore Alex Mueller. Settled in a shaded grove See “Hammocks” on Page 4 of trees near the clock tower,

Having started her training not have much time for anyat the age of thing else five, Kwan’s besides her sole mission daily hours I believe that we in life was of practice are not just ‘one to one day and prepathing.’ You choose compete in ration for the Olymbig events. what’s important pics. As sucBut once to you. cessful as she she retired -Michelle Kwan, wanted to be, at age 26, World Champion and eventuand officially skater ally became, hung up her the young skates, Kwan Kwan did realized she

Most Americans know Michelle Kwan as the most decorated figure skater to represent the United States during the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. In addition to her accomplishments at the Olympics, Kwan is also a five-time World champion skater and nine-time U.S. champion skater. With such a successful career as an athlete, many might wonder what influenced Kwan to begin a completely separate career as a Public Diplomacy Envoy at the U.S. State Department, in 2006. Speaking on her experiences both on the ice and in a political position, Kwan visited SLU on Monday, April 27, as a guest speaker for the Great Issues Committee. “People don’t always see the connection between skating and diplomacy, but I believe that we are not just ‘one thing.’ You choose what’s important to you,” Kwan said. Throughout her career as a high-profile figure skater, while traveling the world and achieving unbelievable goals, Kwan did not think much about life beyond the ice.

SLUsive committee, which is made up of both RHA and non-RHA students. “After being elected, I On Monday, April 25, the wanted to make sure that I InSLUsive Language Cammade this position one that paign held a dialogue on actually made an impact gender identity and sexual here at SLU; I wanted to do orientation in the Griesedisomething of substance,” eck Hall classroom. said Farmer. “After a lot of The InSLUsive Language conversations … our InSLUCampaign is a new initiative sive campaign was born, and on campus aimed toward my committee and I have encouragbeen working the SLU ing hard setcommunity ting its founIt is important for to use indation.” clusive lanstudents to begin Although guage to creto understand how the dialogue ate a more focused the words they knowledgemainly on able, underuse can impact gender idenstanding enothers. tity and vironment. sexual ori-Amy Ballweg, Student “ O u r entation, the Succes Coach hope is that campaig n’s through goal is to these conpromote inclusive language versations we can build a regarding all identities and stronger community here demographics represented together, and ultimately take at SLU. this understanding with us “We know words have the wherever we may go after power to both hurt deeply, college,” said junior Molly as well as build a rich comFarmer, Vice President for munity, and it is important Advocacy for the Residence for students to begin to unHall Association. derstand how the words they The VP for Advocacy is use can impact others,” said a new position for the RHA Executive Board. In her inaugural term, Farmer creSee “inSLUsive” on Page 4 ated and now chairs the InBy EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM Staff Writer

Decorated Olympian now wields diplomatic clout

Ryan Quinn / Photo Editor

Leisure in suspension: Two students share the comforts of a portable hammock in the middle of a spring afternoon.

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures hosted its on Thursday, April 23. A total of 15 acts, comprising 65 performers in of song, dance and poetry. Each represented a particular language and cultural tradition. Andrés Arteaga and Cherry Crush

Beegala (pictured, right).

food, fun and friends that brought faculty and students together in

Javier Muro de Nadal / Staff Photographer


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