No. 13 (April 4, 2019)

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VOL. XCVIII No. 13 / April 4, 2019

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THE UNIVERSITY NEWS

ATLAS WEEK 2019 Cover Design by Rebecca LiVigni

NEWS

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Photo Courtesy of Riley Tovornik

“WHAT WOULD YOU DO?” JOHN QUIñONES TELLS HIS STORY Signature speaker kicks off Atlas Week with a retrospective on his career

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Editor-in-Chief

hampioned as the “face of doing the right thing,” ABC news correspondent and current host of “What Would You Do?” John Quiñones knows what it is like to be on the wrong side of prejudicial remarks. He was raised in an impoverished family in Texas. His father was a janitor and dropped out of school in third grade to pick cotton, and his mother dropped out of school early to support her single mother. His parents spoke very little English even though the Quiñones family had lived in Texas for seven generations.

When Quiñones was a boy, he explained that nearly 60 percent of San Antonio spoke Spanish. People did not need to learn English because Catholic Mass was in Spanish, the general store that his family purchased food was in Spanish and the music they listened to was in Spanish. This was before a bilingual education was implemented.

On Monday, Quiñones shared his story as a young migrant-farmer-turned-journalist as the keynote speaker for the 19th annual Atlas Week. His presentation took place in the Wool Ballrooms at 5:30 p.m.

Much of his success is accredited to his parents who instilled the importance of education. “My mother grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back to Mrs. Gregory’s class,” Quiñones

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said, after mentioning that he left his first grade class early one time. His parents wanted him to resort to more than a janitor or farmer.

When Quiñones was 13, his father was laid off work. He and his family joined a caravan to harvest cherries to make ends meet. After cherry season commenced, they traveled to Ohio to pick tomatoes. Quiñones wanted to amount to more, though, and receive a college education – but he was seldom believed in by his advisors and teachers because of his nationality.

“I would ask my teachers and counselors how do I prepare for the ACT and Advanced Placement classes in English, math, biology to get into college some day,” Quiñones said. “My own teachers would tell me, ‘That’s great you want to be a TV reporter some day, but we think you should try woodshop, or metal shop or auto mechanics.’ My own teachers and my own counselors would do what people do on my show ‘What Would You Do?’ every Friday night – they would judge me by the color of my skin and the accent in my voice.”

Quiñones had faith in taking the first step, even though he could not see the entire staircase. He had a heavy Mexican accent and was painfully shy in front of audiences, but he wanted to rewrite the typical narratives on television that broadcasted Mexican-Americans as violent and drug-infested. He

felt hurt because he knew there were heroes in his community.

His first step involved participating in drama class, where he was required to speak in front of large audiences and enunciate. Fast forward to joining his high school newspaper, receiving assistance from Upward Bound, a federally funded educational program, interning at radio stations, receiving a fellowship to study at Columbia University and, finally, receiving his first TV job in Chicago. It was at WBBM that the spark for “What Would You Do?” formed.

“I did a story on a hot button topic: illegal immigration,” Quiñones said. “I had relatives and friends who had come over illegally to the U.S. I wanted to know what are the push factors, how desperate must someone be to come into this country, risking their lives and spending their life savings […] I convinced my boss to let me go undercover and to Mexico and pose as a Mexican immigrant trying to come into the U.S.”

After going into a small town in Mexico, he found a smuggler who sold him a fake birth certificate and Social Security number, which was all captured on camera. Quiñones was then ferried across the Rio Grande to the U.S. and took a bus back to the outskirts of Chicago to a restaurant.

Quiñones had heard that the restaurant housed seven undocumented immigrants. The owner had not paid any of them for 17 weeks for washing dishes.

After being hired by the restaurant owner, Quiñones worked by day but interviewed the undocumented workers by night. “They told me they were being held as virtual slaves by the restaurant owner,” he said.

After Quiñones’ time at the restaurant, his story aired on CBS. The restaurant was shut down, the owner was arrested and the workers were given their owed money and temporary visas to stay in the U.S.

It was through this story that Quiñones knew that he, as a Latino-American reporter, could tell the story better than anyone because of where he came from. His journey is represented through an atlas, the precursor of a GPS. “It allows us to find out where we’ve been, where we are right now, and it also helps us to decide where we’re going,” he said.

News

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HIJAB AWARENESS:

A DISCUSSION ON FEMINISM AND FAITH

By TANNOCK BLAIR Associate News Editor

Photo Courtesy of Emma Carmody

FOREIGN POLICY TALK

GLOBALIZES STUDENTS

By JACOB CUNNINGHAM Contributor tudents had the opportunity to listen and ask questions at the ‘U.S. Foreign Policy Around the World’ talk held in the Busch Student Center on Tuesday as part of Atlas Week.

The event, with a panel of five professors from the political science department at SLU, aimed at highlighting key aspects of American foreign policy in various regions and on topics of specialization for the professors.

The panel was moderated

by Professor Nori Katagiri, Ph.D., and included segments on an array of issues presented by Professors Matthew Nanes, Emmanuel Uwalaka, Ellen Carnaghan, J.D. Bowen and Eric Royer.

Katagiri introduced the talk by stating that, “given the high level of demand for understanding the complexity of foreign events,” it would be appropriate to discuss “foreign policy and our relations with various regions of the world.”

The different segments directly addressed foreign policy questions surrounding the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Russia, as well as democracy promotion worldwide. Students were presented with ways to

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think more critically about strategies and agendas employed in policy actions and, as Royer put it, the panel addressed the need for “more nuanced discussions and critical examinations of disparate topics.”

“The unfortunate reality about American foreign policy is that it is messy, convoluted, and full of contradictions as well as double-standards,” said Royer.

One way in which Royer wanted to inform and enhance the understanding of those attending was by posing important questions relating to American policy abroad, such as, “Does it have to be this way?” and “If there is a disconnect between theory and practice, what can we do?”

“These are truly challenging questions I hope the SLU community can tackle together and Atlas Week continues to provide an invaluable forum for these discussions to take place,” Royer said.

He also reflected on the importance of Atlas Week stating, “the topics, discussions, and content truly reflect how diverse and interconnected our world is.”

In the end, Royer hopes “that these discussions allow students to open their eyes to the most glaring and pressing issues confronting the world today and, in particular, to challenge preexisting belief systems.”

n the midst of Atlas Week this year was Hijab Awareness Day. The Muslim Students Association organized an event to mark the occasion, “Women’s Rights in Islam.” The discussion was introduced by Dr. Haifaa Younis, who was invited by the MSA to speak. The dialogue was mainly focused on the roots of feminism in Islam, rights of women and the hijab itself.

Younis began by explaining that she enjoys participating in discussions, particularly those with non-Muslim youths. According to Younis, it is in these discussions that she could be most effective in shedding light on the truth of Islam.

The word “hijab,” Younis clarified, does not translate to “head cover” like many believe, it actually translates to “barrier.”

“So when I’m covering my hair,” she explained, “I’m putting a shield between my hair and whoever else.”

A hijab is also not only a headcover. “It is meant to cover your whole body,” Younis said, “if I know your size, you’re not wearing proper hijab.”

Specifically, she admitted that “you may see people wearing it differently,” which she deemed totally fine, “it depends where you are from.”

“Religion is a choice. So if you’re a part of a religion, every action that you do under the scope of that religion is going to be a choice,” said one member of the MSA. “So whether you choose to follow things that are ordained in your religion or you choose not to, that’s a personal lifestyle that you’ve chosen.”

Younis went on to say that hijab is not restricted only

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to women in Islam. “For the men, it’s the same thing also; loose clothing,” said Younis. “That’s the whole idea of the hijab.”

Younis is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist, originally from Iraq. Her pursuit of Islamic knowledge began around the time of her studies at Washington University, where she simultaneously began to study with various Islamic scholars from across the United States.

She went on to become the founding member of the Jannah Institute, a nonprofit organization based in St. Louis. The institute began Islamic educational programs for women and young girls in 2013, with all kinds of different courses ranging from both online and onsite, weekend or weekday, seminars, halaqahs and more.

The MSA had invited students to try wearing a hijab for the day prior to the event and free hijabs were available for pickup from the MSA table the week leading up to it.

One student described her experience wearing a hijab for a day as one full of judgement. “Constantly, there are people asking me about it,” she said.

“It’s been a shock to my friends and colleagues.” Her friend from Pakistan helper her put it on, but she explained, “I am constantly messing with it because I feel like it’s showing some of my hair and I have to readjust it.”

Relating to those in the room that were actually practicing Muslims, she said “I can only imagine the transition process.”

“This is the flag of my religion,” Younis summed it up.

“This is what I’m supposed to be as a Muslim. It is different, it is difficult, it is not the usual, simply because I live in a time and society in which it is not the norm.”

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NEWS

THE “FACE MASK” THAT FEEDS PREJUDICE As part of Atlas Week, the University News team wants to celebrate the different cultures on SLU’s campus.

In order to do this we have invited the subject of this particular story, Esther Chinwuko, to translate and present it in her native language.

WRITTEN IN ENGLISH

By MEREDYTH STAUNCH Editor-in-Chief

itting at a white table at the front of the library, senior Esther Chinwuko pulls out her computer. She is a senior electrical engineering major, and like many other engineering students, she designates most of her nights to studying. However, Esther also tacks on another component to her nightly routine: practicing English.

Raised in Tokyo and from Japanese and Nigerian descent, Esther knew little English when she came to St. Louis in August 2015, but she also knew that as a woman of color, it was essentially impossible to pursue engineering in Japan.

If she were to stay, she would have needed to set herself up for success when she was 7 years old by attending a good elementary school—a luxury that her family could not afford.

Esther was also turned off of the “sameness” of Japan. “When I was growing up, I never had the opportunity to see a role model, someone who was similar to me,” she said.

“Every time I went outside, I only saw similar people, who did not look like me. They were all from the entertainment side too, like singers, dancers or comedians. No one was involved in the professional field.”

As a result, she sought out attending an American university to help propel her future career.

SLU provides a website for prospective Japanese students to connect to American students at any university.

During Atlas Week, Esther provides this link to students, with the intention of helping more international students attend SLU. There are cur-

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rently three Japanese students enrolled at the University.

It was through her involvement in SGA as an international affairs senator that Esther learned about Atlas Week. She learned of the Parade of Nations, which would allow her to represent her country by carrying its flag.

“I was very interested in [Atlas Week] because you are able to share your culture with others,” Esther said. “You get to learn from other people as well, and this is a oncea-year big event. This is my fourth year participating in Atlas.”

This year, Esther gave a new presentation called “Face Mask,” which took place on Monday. Her goal was to shatter misconceptions about others based on appearance.

“When we see each other, there is a first impression,” she said. “We don’t want to judge people – like when you see me, I am black – but there is a stereotype there. We all have a switching code for why we behave, but you sometimes can’t tell based off of first impressions.” Esther’s presentation consisted of an open dialogue about identity.

Atlas Week is a time when international and domestic students can come together to learn about cultures they are not familiar with.

Esther noted that she sees many students during the week that she did not realize attended SLU. “SLU as a whole isn’t diverse, but during Atlas Week, you feel like it is because of all of the new people you meet,” Esther said. “The hope is that people should learn and want to go to different countries, and I want others to have an interest in different cultures.”

TRANSLATED TO JAPANESE

By ESTHER CHINWUKO Contributor

彼女の毎日は、夜図書館へ行きパ ソコンと本に向き合う日々である。 それは彼女だけではなく、ほとんど のエンジニア生徒の日々でもある。 彼女の名前はチンウーコエスター さん。 セントルイス大学四年生の電 気工学科。彼女はただ四年間勉強 に没頭するたげではなく、留学生に とって何が一番問題で、彼らがどう したらアメリカで大学生活を楽に 過ごせるかについて、 日々スタッフと 話し合い、奮闘している。 彼女は生まれも育ちも東京の日本 人であるが、 日本とナイジェリアの ハーフでもある。 アメリカの大学に 行く事は、彼女にとって大きな第一 歩であった。日本は礼儀正しい素 晴らしい国ではあるが、100%日本 人でなければ日本で活躍する事は とても難しいと常に感じていた。彼 女は小さい時から数学が得意であ りエンジニアになるのが夢であっ たが、 日本で彼女のようなハーフが 活躍できる場はとても少なく、大抵 ダンサー、歌手、 お笑い芸人などの エンターテイメント職になってしま い、 プロフェッショナルな仕事に就 く事はとても難しかった。その為彼 女は、小さい頃からアメリカの大学 に行く事を夢見ていた。

もある。 セイントルイス大学には、現 在日本人留学生がたった3人しか い。彼女は出来る限り日本の高校、 大学と連絡を取り、多くの日本人が アメリカで少しでも心地よく勉強で きる環境を作ろうとしている。 また彼女は大学一年生の時から Atlasのメンバーであり、彼女にと って今年は四回目である。今回、彼 女はAtlasの一つのイベント”Face Mask” を手掛けた。 フェイスマスク とは、皆色んな人に会う時、人それ ぞれ違う顔(お面)がある、 でもそれ はどうしてなのだろうか？人に気を 使っているからか？それとも本当の 自分を他人に見せたくないからか？ 人々は、 自分が想像しているように 自分を見てくれているのだろうか？ そんな事をみんなで深く話し合うこ とができ、様々な意見を討論できる 素晴らしい機会でった。

Atlasは一年に一度皆が一つにな り、 自分の文化の有り難みを改めて 知ることが出来る一週間である。彼 女は”Atlasは、 ただ座って参加する イベントでない。各国の色々な人々 と会話することによって、初めてお 互いを理解できるイベントである。 この一週間が皆様にとって忘れら れない素晴らしいATLAS week に 彼女は現在セイントルイス大学と なり、 そしてこのイベントによって自 いう名門校に通っており、約1カ月 分の国の文化に自信を持ち、 それを 半で卒 業を迎えようとしている。 多くの人々にシェアしてもらえたら セイントルイス大学には一年に一 嬉しい。”と語っていた。 度、Atlasという大きな国際イベン トがあり、世界中の色んな生徒が 一つになり、 お互いの文化を教えあ ったり、学べることが出来る。それ は、彼女にとって一番特別な時期で

News

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Photo Courtesy of Riley Tovornik

DPS REPORTS NEW ZEALAND VIGIL UNIFIES SLU COMMUNITY

By SAVANAH SEYER Staff Writer ast week the Muslim Students Association held a vigil in honor of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Muslim students in attendance were called to prayer at the beginning of the vigil, and non-Muslim guests were able to follow along with an Arabic/English translation, making the experience inclusive to all in attendance. Inclusion, cooperation and acceptance were significant themes of the event.

Muslim Students Association Co-President Nadia Sirajuddin said that including all members of the community was a main goal for MSA when planning the vigil.

“I wanted to impart on the community members that we are one community,” said Sirajuddin.

“Whether we are Muslim or not, we should mourn this tragedy because we are all human beings.”

Muslim Students Association Co-President Maaz Tariq emphasized the community that the place of worship provides for Muslims, and how the Mosque is a place of peace that feels like home to many. He specifically emphasized his horror at hearing that someone could attack Muslims while they were engaging in peaceful prayer, and how the pain of this attack

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goes beyond just the Muslim community itself.

“This is not just an attack on Muslims, it is an attack on all humanity,” Tariq said.

Sirajuddin agreed, saying, “The deaths of these victims at the Mosque, God’s home, where they are praying peacefully at their most vulnerable state, has left our entire community of humanity hurting.”

Before he concluded his speech, Tariq made sure to note that people of all faiths and backgrounds must work together to eliminate hate, saying, “Even if we have different beliefs, it is our love for one another that overcomes all.”

After Tariq, Jonathan Smith, Ph.D., vice president for diversity and community engagement at SLU, gave a brief and passionate address to the community members in attendance. Smith began by acknowledging that there were “no words in any language I know that could sufficiently offer any comfort or consolation.”

Smith spoke to the importance of working to create and foster a community that accepts and supports people of all races, faiths and backgrounds.

“We can no longer seek to find a beloved, safe, sacred community,” Smith said. “We are charged with making that community.”

After Smith’s speech, the Muslim Students Association invited representatives from other faith-based organizations on campus to offer up prayers. Students from the Hindu Students Associ-

ation, SLU Campus Ministry and the Jewish Students Association all came forward to share prayers from their own faith traditions.

Regarding the inclusion of other faiths along with the other events held at the vigil, Sirajuddin said, “I wanted to make this vigil something not just for the Muslim community alone to mourn the victims. I wanted to get everyone involved, which led me to try and reach out to all the different faithbased organizations.”

MSA also provided opportunities for community members to send their prayers, thoughts and support to the Mosques in New Zealand where the attacks took place. At the entrance of the vigil, attendees could fill out a paper heart with messages that would be sent to New Zealand.

Sirajuddin said that she hoped that students took away a sense of community from the vigil.

“From the vigil, I hope [the students] took away how similar we are when it comes down to the themes of our beliefs. I hope that people realize that sometimes we are alienated more by the media than we ought to be and that Islam is a beautiful religion.”

A main theme of the vigil, and of MSA’s programming, was to include and educate all members of the SLU community about Islam and how they can better support and ally with the Muslim community. Sirajuddin said that there are many opportunities for students to become closer allies with the Muslim community.

At around 11:00 a.m. on March 22, two vehicles collided. Following the collision, one of the vehicles struck the cement curbing of the median on Grand Boulevard before coming to a halt. One driver of the two cars was injured, while both vehicles sustained damage (including the university-owned curbing). Neither operator of the two vehicles were affiliated with the University.

A commuting student called DPS at around 9:45 a.m. on March 25 because she thought someone stole both license plates off her vehicle in Grand Hall circle. After checking the security cameras, however, she did not have her license plates upon arrival.

On March 1, at around 1:48 p.m., a suspicious person was observed by the south doors of the Wool Center building. DPS officers responded to the area soon after. A REJIS check identified the subject as having an extensive arrest history, but no active warrants. The subject was issued a Trespass Warning and escorted off campus.

“I want the SLU community to really know that you don’t have to be scared to ask questions.

Please ask and learn about Islam, about anything that you are curious about whatsoever. I think people are often times scared to ask, thinking it’s offensive, but wanting to learn can never be offensive,” said Sirajuddin. “I recommend that you attend our MSA events such as Islam Awareness Week, Fast-aThon, Hijab Awareness Day, where we really try to educate the campus on Islam. However even aside from these events, you can always reach out to MSA.”

Arts and life

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This Week’s

Favorites

Weezer Brings St. Louis a Timeless Performance

By Haley Londrigan Contributor

n March 24, Weezer performed for a vivacious crowd gathered at Enterprise Center.

The night began with an English rock band called The Basement and then proceeded into a spectacular and engaging performance by the Pixies.

The wide age range of audience members set this concert apart from others. Two fans, Lisa and Darin, both 35, said they are the “staple fans of their generation.”

Revealing that they’ve listened to Weezer since fifth grade, Darin said, “We became fans before we even realized what their music even meant.”

They elaborated, saying that, at first, songs like “Buddy Holly” and “Say it Ain’t So” didn’t have any meaning to them besides sounding “really awesome,” implying that Weezer’s catchy tunes were enough to turn them into dedicated fans. However, as Lisa and Darin continued to listen to Weezer’s music throughout high school and college, the two of them started to understand Weezer’s seemingly whimsically-chosen lyrics much better and became fans for life.

On the opposite spectrum, a newly-turned 13-year-old girl said she had asked for Weezer tickets for her birthday. This young fan

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CINEMA

Shazam!

Release: Friday, April 5 “We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.”

(Photo Courtesy of Riley Tovornik/University News proves Weezer can impressively reach multiple generations, creating timeless music for all.

At the start of the year, Weezer released an album titled “Teal Album,” consisting strictly of cover songs. Then, in March, Weezer’s sixth album, “Black Album,” was released. Regardless of Weezer’s various new releases, they made sure to incorporate a variety of their older hits into their concert as well.

With the curtains hiding the stage, Weezer’s four band members—Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner —warmed up the crowd by making their way to the front of the audience. Dressed as a barbershop quartet, the band performed an acapella version of “Buddy Holly.”

Fans cheered with excitement as the familiar melody started to float from their lips.

As the band took the stage to play “My Name is Jonas,” the curtains opened to reveal a replication of Weezer’s 1994 “Buddy Holly” music video set, transporting fans back in time to their younger years.

After playing several songs such as “Surf Wax America” and “Undone-The Sweater Song,” Weezer played “Island in the Sun,” a definite crowd pleaser.

Midway through the song, Cuomo pointed the microphone toward the audience as the entire stadium, perfectly synchronized, belted the beloved chorus.

Later in the show, the set changed to a garage backdrop and a colorful, lit-up version of their winged flying-W logo was brought on stage.

After Cuomo surprised the audience by goofily rowing a pretend wooden boat halfway around the crowd on the floor, he stopped to play their cover song, “Stand by Me,” originally performed by Ben E. King. Incorporating this cover song, and others such as “Take on Me” and “Africa,” into their setlist, Weezer successfully sparked the hearts and memories of many fans.

Weezer’s youthful energy did not end there. Later in the performance, after a night filled with colorful lights illuminating the audience, Weezer brought out an enormous disco ball and its spinning dance gave the arena a glittering effect. With the audience fired up, the arena felt like a huge party you didn’t want to miss.

Fans excitedly waited around knowing there would be an encore after the band left the stage. Weezer came back on stage to play one last cover by TLC called “No Scrubs.”

After the song ended, Cuomo reminded the audience that Weezer never disappoints their fans and proceeded to play the original version of “Buddy Holly,” this time giving fans a chance to sing along.

Under the colorful lights that illuminated the arena, streamers flew down into the audience to wrap up the unforgettable night.

EVENTS

Wizard World Comic Con St. Louis Friday, April 5- Sunday, April 7 701 Convention Plaza “Join tens of thousands of fans as they converge at Wizard World Comic Con St. Louis to celebrate the best in pop culture. Wizard World St. Louis is brought to you by the group who produces the most widely attended Comic Con tour.”

FOOD

Café Coeur Opening: Saturday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m.

Where: 10477 Old Olive Street Rd, St. Louis, MO 63141 An incredible dining experience featuring a unique blend of Italian and Japanese Cuisine.

CONCERTS

Maggie Rogers Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m.

The Pageant Maggie Rogers will be touring her newest album ‘Heard It In A Past Life’ with Melanie Faye.

BOOKS In The Neighborhood of True By: Susan Kaplan Carlton Published: Tuesday, April 9 “After her father’s death, Ruth Robb and her family transplant themselves in the summer of 1958 from New York City to Atlanta. In her new hometown, Ruth quickly figures out she can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. Eager to fit in with the blond girls in the “pastel posse,” Ruth decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, she is falling for the handsome and charming Davis and sipping Cokes with him and his friends at the all-white, all-Christian Club.”

07 Arts and life “Waitress” serves up a sweet show at the Fox

By LEIANNA TANEDO Staff Writer he arrival of “Waitress” to the Fox is a welcome start to the spring season. The entertaining musical depicts life’s unexpected changes and serendipitous relationships.

I’ve been a fan of “Waitress,” both the film and the soundtrack, but this was my first time seeing the musical. Although I’ve heard the soundtrack dozens of times, nothing could have prepared me for the beautiful, emotional journey of the stage adaptation.

“Waitress” is a musical about a woman, Jenna Hutcherson (Christine Dwyer), who becomes pregnant with the baby of her abusive husband, Earl (Matt DeAngelis). She works as a waitress at Joe’s Pie Diner and has a gift for creating pies with inventive ingredients and tongue-in-cheek names, such as “Betrayed by My Eggs Pie.” Her friends, Becky (Maiesha McQueen) and Dawn (Ephie Aardema) have their own struggles with relationships. However, when Jenna meets her new gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter (Steven Good), she grapples with the temptation of a heated affair with him. At its core, “Waitress” is a comedy, evoking laughs at every turn and witty line.

It’s evident that Dwyer had a lot of fun putting her own spin on the smalltown sweetheart. In her portrayal of the central character, she illustrated Jenna’s emotional turmoil beautifully, bringing tears to my eyes on several occasions. As Earl, DeAngelis gave a pointed, realistic image of an abusive partner.

His portrayal of emotional abuse encouraged audience members to examine the relationships in their own lives. In contrast, Good was delightfully awkward, and visibly charmed both Dwyer’s character and the audience. As Dawn and Ogie, Aardema and Morse played off of each other’s quirkiness, especially while singing “I Love You Like a Table.” McQueen brought energy to Becky’s character, com-

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(Photo Courtesy of the Fabulous Fox) plementing her sass with impressive belting and ad libs during “I Didn’t Plan It.” The cast members breathed life into their characters with great chemistry, and I felt like I was watching the truly playful nature of friendship and early love.

The musical was entertaining for both the brilliant acting and catchy music, written by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles.

Bareilles definitely intertwined her upbeat piano pop into the songs, which the cast members performed passionately. Dawn’s solo song, “When He Sees Me,” has captivating variation in rhythm, tempo and intervals that Aardema impressively maintains. “You Matter to Me” is a tear-jerking, standout duet between Jenna and Dr. Pomatter that wraps the audience up in warmth

and love. “Bad Idea (Reprise)” is a catchy song sung by six of the main cast members with a hilarious scene that needs to be seen to be believed. Finally, Jenna’s solo song, “She Used to Be Mine,” is an anthem for a lot of women struggling with their circumstances. The strings and piano accompanied Dwyer’s graceful voice, which balanced nostalgia and sadness.

The stage of “Waitress” was extremely eye-catching. The backdrop set the scene by using a clear sky that changed color to reflect the time of day. This backdrop also included telephone poles and fields to perfectly capture the feeling of a small town diner. There were baker’s racks filled with spices, sugar and real utensils that Jenna used to make pies on-stage. She

kneaded dough and mixed “sugar, butter and flour,” breaking the fourth wall to instruct the audience how to make her pies. During stage transitions, Jenna typically stayed in the spotlight while the props and scenes move around her. Surprisingly, the accompanying band also played in the background of each scene. They reacted, danced and played their own characters in the diner. The staging was a nice surprise that immersed the audience into the show beyond its plot and music.

“Waitress” blends realistic characters, comedic dialogue and enchanting music to create a delightful musical. This sweet show is a must-see. “Waitress” is at the Fox from March 26 to April 7.

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Arts and life

Tori Kelly connects with crowd

(Photo Courtesy of Madisyn Siebert/University News)

By MADISYN SIEBERT Associate Arts Editor ori Kelly wanted to host intimate acoustic sessions for her fans before the release of her new album, where she would be able to give her dedicated fans a taste of what is to come and remind them of the Tori Kelly they grew to love.

Kelly had an intimate space set up for just her and her guitarist, Mateus.

The stage at The Pageant was decorated for a living room experience with a couch, sitting chair, end table, rug, lamp and, of course, a mug full of warm tea for Kelly to sip in between songs.

The whole purpose of the tour was to showcase the different songs that Kelly had been working on since her last studio album “Hiding Place” that was released in 2018 and also won her a Grammy for best Gospel Album in 2018. She would take the time to

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explain a back story behind almost every song that would make the audience whisper in hushed tones so that they could hear the meaning Kelly had given to each song. It truly showed her dedication to giving her fans an inside scoop to her writing process and the feelings she has associated with them.

For example, one song she spoke on titled, “Pretty Fades” came about when she was talking to her husband—her boyfriend at the time—and how they were growing up and changing, both mentally and physically, into different people versus when they first met. She explained how her husband meant kind intentions with the comment, “Babe, I’ll still love you even when you’re ugly,” even though it didn’t come off that way originally.

It made her really think about how she had been holding onto her youth and was fearing the future. This lead her to write down the words “pretty fades.” She then went into a writing session with just those words in her journal and a whole new song devel-

oped from there.

Kelly did not disappoint her fans who were there based off of her past hits, performing songs such as, “Nobody Love,” “I Was Made For Loving You” and “Should’ve Been Us.” These songs off her old album “Unbreakable Smile” that sparked her into the eye of the Grammys in 2015 when she was nominated for Best New Artist.

She knew some of her fans have been with her since long before 2015, and Kelly walked her audience through the evolution of where she is today. She started off at the age of six and explained how she sang Christina Aguilera’s song “Keep On Singin’ My Song” on a television show called “Star Search,” which lead to her eventually getting signed to a record label at age 12. She continued her story and explained how there was a mutual decision to leave the label she was signed to and that was when she knew she never wanted to rely on anyone else but herself. She taught herself guitar and started performing on Youtube. She explained

more of her back story that includes trying out for “American Idol” and the success her Youtube channel brought her. She performed covers of “The Only Exception,” by Paramore and “Suit and Tie” by Justin Timberlake.

This all came full circle when she was able to write and produce her first album and tour her own songs, which she then performed a mashup of her originals such as, “Confetti,” “All in My Head” and “Dear No One.” Kelly did a great job keeping the audience entertained and doing a wide spectrum of her songs. The strippeddown versions of her songs made for a special treat for all her new and old fans. Mateus brought out a fun playful side of Kelly where they both got to show off their guitar skills. The evening was filled with a more relaxed vibe, where Kelly truly got to connect to her fans. Plus, how many people can say they got to see a recent Grammy winner in such an intimate space? Not many.

24 26

Sexual assault awareness month kickoff! @ bsc lobby

10am to 2pm

take back the night with una @ Clock Tower

all day

7pm to 10pm

10

08

5:15pm

Denim Day! (recognize sexual assault awareness month by wearing a ribbon)

title ix lunch and learns @ BSC 352 12pm

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09

april

trauma informed yoga @ simon rec center

ice cream on the quad

2pm to 4pm

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Last Issue’s Solutions

games

photography

11

Student organizations come together to fight illiteracy Photos & Story By RILEY TOVORNIK Photo Editor

Student Ryan King discusses Movement Exchange with Victoria Birchem.

On Thursday, March 28, students gathered in the BSC to discuss and learn about the world of education and how it impacts communities. The Saint Louis Room was filled with organizations, each with a booth talking about their mission.

Students could travel between stations and hear about what each organization does to make an impact on education in their community, how to make a difference and, of course, eat some food.

“Our goal with Food for Thought was to bring the community together and stimulate meaningful conversations about barriers to education,” said Marissa Oxendine, incoming co-president of Pen-

cils for Promise. “We wanted SLU students to bond with these organizations from the SLU and St. Louis community and become aware of the many factors that contribute to illiteracy.” Her goal was certainly met as conversations were not only meaningful, but also encouraged further discussion.

Pencils of Promise is currently aiming to grow Food for Thought, and hopes that it will become an annual event.

They’ve also promised that they have many more fun events planned for next year to help promote increased literacy around the world.

Student Sarah Cerkvenik stops at a table to learn more about SLU’s educational organizations.

Members of SLU’s Overground Railroad pose for a photo at the Food for Thought event, which they co-hosted.

President of She’s the First, Taylor Schleisman, talks to a student about the organization’s work to promote girls’ education.

Pencils of Promise members welcome and check-in students arriving at the event to promote global and local literacy.

photography

12

mesa brings henna art to slu students

By EMMA CARMODY Photo Editor

This Atlas Week, the Middle Eastern Student Association offered henna art design to students at a variety of locations thorughout the week including Pius Library, the Clocktower and the BSC. Students were able to purchase designs done by senior Dena Dianati. They offered small designs for $2, medium for $3 and large for $5.

The purpose of MESA’s fundraising event was not only to raise funds for the organization but also to spread awareness to the SLU community about Middle Eastern Culture.

Dianati explained how as American students, it can be difficult to see cultures that aren’t your own or aren’t immediately surrounding you in your

day to day life. This is why it is so important to have cultural organizations like MESA to show students the world isn’t just one thing, it is multi-dimensional.

For Dianati, MESA has not only been a means to spread awareness at SLU but also has given her a sense of home away from home in being around people of similar backgrounds.

Dena Dianati creates a design on the hand of sophomore Anna Milburn at the Clocktower on a beautiful day in St. Louis. (Emma Carmody / Photo Editor)

An intricate design is drawn on the palm of a student. (Riley Tovornik / Photo Editor)

A student gets a henna design on her hand in the library on Wednesday evening. (Riley Tovornik / Photo Editor)

Juniors Rania Daoud and Yazen Al-Hosni promote the event at the Clocktower on Tuesday afternoon. (Emma Carmody / Photo Editor)

A group of students make a stop in the library for a henna design. (Riley Tovornik / Photo Editor)

Dianati designs an ankle bracelet henna design for a student. (Emma Carmody/ Photo Editor)

Travel

13

Fr. Jim: A Jesuit abroad

By EVA FRANCE Contributor

Perched at the top of campus, up a clanging metal staircase, is Jim O’Leary’s office. The door is so short that visitors need to duck going in, but as soon as a guest enters, it is clear that this little haven is the perfect size for Jim O’Leary. Just outside, students laugh and smoke and admire the view of the mountains, but students also feel comfortable inside, seeking spiritual guidance, or maybe just a pleasant chat with the Jesuit on campus at Saint Louis University-Madrid.

Since 2007, Jim O’Leary has been the sole Jesuit working at Saint Louis University in Madrid. His work of spreading the Jesuit mission has led him far away from his home in Chicago. He worked in Peru for 15 years with the Jesuits, building schools for underfunded communities. When he was sent to work at a university in Madrid, he said he thought it would be only one year, but here he is 12 years later, and still spreading the Jesuit mission to students from all sorts of faiths and nationalities.

A quiet, but dedicated man, Jim provides the campus with spiritual guidance. He is always a support to those who seek him out.

Brian Goss, a professor here at SLU Madrid in the communications department, regards Jim as a friend. “Jim is very warm. He is a very lowkey guy, but he projects himself as someone with very high standards, very just,” said Goss. It is his open mindedness and attentiveness to what his community needs from him that make him the backbone of morality at SLU-Madrid…but it’s a flexible back, one that extends to all faiths and non-believers as well. When Goss first bought a house here in Madrid, he wanted to create some sort of ritual surrounding this milestone in his life.

“I’m not being a particularly religious guy, but I went to Catholic school, so I asked Fr. Jim if he would bless the house,” said Goss. “I wanted to ensconce it in ritual.” Jim obliged, and even made up a prayer spontaneously for the back patio. This willingness to adapt to people’s needs makes Jim a treasure.

One of the mottos of the Jesuits is to be “men and women for and with others.” One way that Jim O’Leary is for and with others, is through his attention to the Muslim community attending this university. He understands that religion is not the main reason that students attend SLU Madrid. “If you ask a permanent student if they are here because

it’s a Jesuit university: No. If it’s a Catholic university: No. If it’s an American university: Yes,” said O’Leary. Students are more interested in getting an American degree than a Jesuit one, and they come to SLU because it is about half the cost for tuition here than it is in Missouri. He believes another reason that some students come here for their American education is because of fear of going to the U.S., particularly Muslim students. Jim wants to be particularly open to these students.

Fr. O’Leary is sitting in the chapel, like he always does on Tuesdays and Thursdays, waiting to hear students’ confessions.

A guy walks in and asks him, “Is confession just for Catholics?” With a laugh Jim says, “Well yeah, but we can talk about whatever you want.” It soon becomes clear to Father O’Leary that this student was a Muslim who just needed someone to talk with. He left feeling listened to, Fr. O’Leary recalled. “He was a good kid. Nice and respectful,” he said.

Nice and respectful seem to be the ultimate standard to live up to in Jim’s eyes, as he describes most of the students he works with and likes as nice and respectful. And who wouldn’t respect this man? He commands it in a subtle and kind way. He listens intently and then responds fully, interjecting filler words such as, “yeah?” and “you know?” because he really wants to make sure you are following along with him. He talks with you not to you. Partially for this reason, he sets the people he works with at ease, while still being an authority figure.

He tells the story of a time he gained the utmost respect from one of these students.

“The father is a big deal in Muslim households,” he said. “And one Muslim kid said to me ‘You are my father while I am here.’” Even the faculty feel the fatherly care that Jim gives to all the people on campus. During his yearly faculty evaluation with the head of the theology department, she described Fr. O’Leary as the “moral compass of the university.” Jim, ever humble, is worried that this is a lot to live up to.

Fr. Jim connects to his students in the classroom and the faculty and staff by making himself available to them and doing things like eating lunch in the staff room or the cafeteria. Paloma Gómez de Salazar Cordero, a campus minister and counselor at SLU, said that “he is a solitary person, but you can talk to him about anything.” He provides his support to the campus in an understated manner, so to be there when any member of the

Fr. James O’Leary poses for a portrait shot.

(Courtesy of SLU Madrid) community needs him, but not be obnoxious about preaching his own thoughts and ideas.

He lets people be people.

Paloma works with Jim to lead a retreat to the place where St. Ignacio’s of Loyola lived in the north of Spain. This retreat is one place where students get to know and gain respect for Fr. Jim. Ally Burke, a sophomore who went on this retreat this year, said that “Father Jim was very open to talk about any religious questions or things about life. Everyone felt like he was a very open-minded religious authority.”

At SLU, he teaches classes in the theology department, providing students with a fresh and openminded approach to religion. “I want to help people understand who they are and what they believe. Some people have had grade school religion classes, but I sense that people want and deserve more. I was confused at that age too,” said O’Leary.

His students are often surprised that he is so open minded about religion. He wants kids to learn to be the best version of themselves.

“I want to support people wherever they need to grow,” said O’Leary. “If that’s becoming a good atheist? Great. If that’s becoming a good Muslim? Great.”

14

TRAVEL

Students experience Spanish Culture through Dance Susi leads the revolving Salsa dance known as the Cuban Wheel. (Trenton Almgren-Davis / Travel Editor)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the dance studio on the second floor of San Ignacio Hall at SLU Madrid, with wood floors, a ballet bar, two corner-to-corner mirrors and a trio of windows energizes María Jesús Peces-Barba.

To her students, she is simply Susi. Susi’s energy cannot be contained.

SLU Madrid felt this energy for the first time over 20 years ago. Then, it was released to a small audience, a dance extracurricular session on Fridays.

Today, her energy pervades in the forms of salsa beats penetrating the large wooden doors to the hallway and sassy shouts escaping the open windows to the outdoor patio below.

“You kinda can’t be stressed out with Susi around,” said Sam Coleman, a sophomore at SLU, while sitting among his friends prior to class. “Like when we’re learning something different, maybe like a sensual move of Bachata, she kinda makes it into a joke at first. Or says something funny.”

Long before she started teaching modern dance and modern movement, two basic Latin rhythms dance classes and advanced Latin rhythms, long before she entered the world of PT, Susi started classical ballet at around six or seven.

Professional ballet was her life until her early 20s when a back injury ended her classical career, causing her inability to achieve the strict technique required.

But her love for dance did not cease.

She underwent physical therapy, which eventually spurred another passion.

“When I had my injury, my back injury, I had to spend lots of time with physical therapy’s treatment,” Susi said. “So, I started to be curious of how the body works.”

At around age 25, the dancer began to study physiotherapy at Universidad Complutense, Madrid.

At the same time, she needed money. So, she entered the educational world of Latin dance.

“¡Cambio! ¡Cambio!” Susi whirls her index finger above her head.

Susi drifts around the middle of the class,

By TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS Tavel Editor

keeping the dance, slowly turning and observing the students.

She occasionally interrupts her own dancing to carefully watch the footwork of the students.

“She doesn’t let you mess around,” said Katherine Doyle, a sophomore from St. Louis. “She’s bubbly but still serious.”

While studying physical therapy, Susi began teaching Latin dance at SLU Madrid. First, it was the one-day-a-week dance activity. The next semester, it became a class. The following semester, two classes. Then, three.

“So little by little, I started teaching here,” Susi said.

The dance classes prepare students for a performance that is open to the SLU Madrid community at the end of the semester. “Little by little you build some kind of vocabulary, dance vocabulary in the class,” Susi said about the structure of the class.

“And after it’s very easy to do the performance.”

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Susi works at Cuidate Artista (Take Care Artist), performing physical therapy on primarily dancers, but also thespians and singers.

“I had all the injuries when I was very young,” she said. “And now it’s easy to treat them.

For me, it’s very easy to relate one to each other. Because you work with your body. So, when you treat, you treat the body. For me, I cannot separate both things.”

Back in the class, one of the students moves more fluidly than most of the class.

He has stayed from the previous class to help with the guy-to-girl ratio.

While the other students go through the cool down procedures, David Castellano goes onto the balcony to take a breather.

“She doesn’t make it much about the grade,” Castellano said. “She makes it more about just learning, putting the effort it. You’ll eventually get better, and you won’t even realize because you’re just having fun on the way.”

The sophomore studying international

business started with zero experience in dance. Now, he is in his fourth semester with Susi, enrolled in the advanced class.

“Today is the day to learn everything,” Susi said at the beginning of one of her classes. “We can repeat, repeat, repeat.”

Only a moment of respite exists between classes before Susi must repeat everything with the next group.

Susi shows off the stepwork and arm motions for the “Sombrero.” (Trenton Almgren-Davis / Travel Editor)

sports

15

BILLIKEN BASEBALL FLIES INTO CONFERENCE PLAY

By SAM GLASS Sports Writer illiken baseball kicked off conference play last weekend with a threegame series against the Dayton Flyers at home. The series started on Friday, March 22 and spanned the weekend.

The Billikens came into the game fresh off a win over 23rd ranked Illinois.

The Bills have historically played well against Dayton, winning eight of nine league games over the past three seasons. This year saw Dayton take their game up a notch, taking the series 2-1.

The first game played close but Dayton held the lead throughout the game. SLU pitching kept the Flyers from soaring through the sky, but they did exit the runway. Two runs in the fourth and fifth innings started the Dayton lead. One more run in the seventh capped their runs at three. The Bills versus Flyers dog fight started in the bottom of the ninth as a home run from senior first baseman Shane Benes earned two runs for the Billikens, putting them right back into the game. The Bills put two more on base but were unable to pull off the comeback and crashed 2-3.

The Bills kept the Flyers grounded in the second game, earning their first conference win of the season. Redshirt junior pitcher Cody Luther started the game for the Bills and only allowed two runs off seven hits in his five innings pitched.

The Bills took the lead early with one run scored in the first inning. Dayton managed to keep the Billiken beast at bay until it broke free from its chains in the fifth, unleashing two more runs and putting

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the Bills up 3-0. The Flyers came back in the sixth with two runs of their own. One more run for Dayton at the top of the eighth leveled the score at 3-3.

With extra innings on the horizon, the Bills sealed the game away with a run in the eighth. Senior pitcher Ryan Lefner closed out the game, letting up no runs to end the game at 4-3.

The series came to a thrilling conclusion in a 12-inning game three. The Bills went up in the first with two runs and held the lead for six innings with senior pitcher Jackson Wark on the mound, who allowed only one earned run off seven hits and struck out eight Flyers.

Dayton caught the Bills with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. The Bills were unable to send another runner home and

the extra innings ensued. The 10th and 11th innings came up scoreless.

The 12th inning saw two runs for the Flyers off a home run. With the Bills unable to bounce back, the game ended a 2-4 loss.

The Billikens played four non-conference games in the last week, squaring off against SIUE, St. John’s and Mizzou. The four games ended in four losses.

St. John’s and Mizzou are both ranked top 50 in the NCAA, and one might have guessed that after the St. John’s game. The Billikens scored five runs over two games compared to St. John’s 22. The first game saw the Billikens manage to stay in contest with a trailing score of 2-3 in the sixth, but St. John’s took over and ended the game at 6-2. The second game did not go well for the Billikens.

St. John’s put up an early run in the first and four more in the third. The Bills struggled at 7-3 in the seventh, but the eighth inning saw St. John’s with nine more runs, finishing the game at 16-3.

The Billikens will look to improve their 1-2 conference record as they continue conference play this weekend in Massachusetts to play a three-game series against UMass starting Friday, April 9.

Luke Matheny pitches against the Mizzou Tigers in the Billikens extra inning loss in Columbia. The Billikens will return to conference play this weekend at UMass.

Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics

sports

16

SOFTBALL ENDS UMASS’ WINNING STREAK

By ERIN MCCLELLAND Sports Editor

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fter taking their first conference series win over La Salle, the Billiken softball team dropped a midweek two-game series to Dayton followed by a split two-game series against conference favorite, UMass. The win over UMass ended the Minutewomen’s 25-game conference win streak dating back to their conference title last spring.

They took a break from their conference schedule to play a single game against SIU and fell to the Salukis in the midweek matchup.

The Bills went down three runs early in the top of the first inning and the Flyers were able to lengthen the lead to five in the second. SLU sophomore Kat Lane got the Bills on the board in the third with an RBI triple, and classmate Sadie Wise had an RBI single to pull the lead within three.

The Flyers scored again at the top of the fourth but Mackenzie Lawson’s solo bomb in the same frame kept the lead at three up until the seventh inning. The Billiken defense wasn’t able to keep Dayton off the plate and gave up another three runs before the game ended at 9-3 in favor of the visitors.

There was some defensive improvement during the Bills second attempt at the Flyers of the day, but the offense couldn’t keep up and SLU fell 7-3. Once again the Bills went down in the first inning, this time by two, and they weren’t able to keep the game within reach. After a fourth inning defensive struggle, the Bills trailed 7-1 until Allie Herron’s two-run homer that ended the scoring for good.

SLU followed up the struggle against Dayton with another conference loss to the conference favorite, UMass. Originally scheduled to be a doubleheader followed by a single game on Sunday, the unfortunate St. Louis weather can-

celled one game and spontaneously made it a two-game series.

Like the previous games, the Billikens struggled to keep the Minutewomen off the board in the top of the first and they went down four runs. Gabbie Kowalik was able to get one back in the bottom half of the frame, but UMass continued their offensive strike and were able to bring the score to 8-1 by the fourth. Kaitlin Breitbach and Wise drove in a run in the sixth, and Kowalik nailed a two-run home run to bring the score to 8-5, but that ended the scoring and the Bills dropped the first game of the doubleheader.

In a déjà vu for the Billikens, UMass drove in four runs in the first, but this time the SLU bats caught fire and were able to tie it quickly on a two-run drive out of the park

by Wise, followed closely by a similar bomb from Kowalik. Maria Connell put the Bills on top for good in the second with an RBI single that scored Lane.

SLU upped their lead with a Kristi Stevenson team-leading fourth home run that brought in two. UMass threatened in the final innings but Kaylea Chappelle was able to keep the go-head run from advancing for her first win of the season.

“Beating UMass was a big conference win for us,” said Wise.

“It felt like everything was coming together for the team.”

The win ended UMass’ 25game conference win streak and moved the Bills to 4-3 in conference on the season.

Following the big conference win, the Bills took on SIU in a one game non-conference midweek April 2. The Salukis came out on top, 6-0, scoring in the second, fifth and sixth innings, and kept the Bills off the board.

The Billikens will travel to our nation’s capital to take on George Washington in a three-game conference series this weekend.

They return to Billiken Sports Center April 9 to take on UMKC at 4 p.m.

Freshman Gabbie Kowalik smashes a home run against UMass to help the Bills beat the conference favorite for their fourth conference win of the season.

Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics

SLU COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF J. KIM TUCCI

By RYAN LEFNER Associate Sports Editor he Saint Louis University community mourned the loss of J. Kim Tucci last week, as the longtime supporter and booster of Billikens athletics passed away March 26 at the age of 78.

Tucci’s involvement in SLU athletics started with his time as a manager for the men’s soccer team.

He was inducted into the Billiken hall of fame for the first time in 1989 for the Bauman Sportsmanship Award, which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Billikens athletics through the demonstration of the highest principles of integrity, honesty and fair play without consideration for self-gain

He was nominated to the Billiken hall of fame for the second time in 2015 as a member of the 1960 men’s soccer team. Tucci served as an integral piece of that team, which earned SLU the second

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national title in as many years.

Tucci was nominated for a third time to the Billiken hall of fame in 2017 for his role in the 1963 national championship men’s soccer team. He served as the athletic trainer for that team, which brought the fourth national title in the program’s history back to St. Louis.

“Everyone I talked to at the funeral spoke about how nice of a person he was and how impactful he was in the community,’’ said Junior Billiken’s soccer player Keaton Schieffer.

“Our athletic directors and coaches often talked about [Tucci] and the precedent and standard he set for Saint Louis soccer,” Schieffer said. “He is the perfect example of what kind of person you can become if you take advantage of the opportunities that a culture like SLU soccer provides.”

In his time as an alumnus of Saint Louis University, Tucci also helped to found the Pasta House. He was the president of the company and a leader that lived to serve others.

Tucci is survived by his wife, Sharon, his daughter, Alexis and two grandsons. His memorial service was March 29 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

sports

17

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES MAKE NEW HOME AT SLU

By ERIN MCCLELLAND Sports Editor

Ignacio Tintore Freshman, Tennis

Constantin Heider

Spain Ignacio “Nacho” Tintore is a freshman on the tennis team from Barcelona, Spain. He decided to study in the U.S. because the college experience is much more exciting than back at home. “There is no such thing as college sports, mascots or school spirit in Spain,” he said. The most exciting part of coming to SLU was “the opportunity to get to know a new culture and a whole different lifestyle.”

Understandably, he said the hardest part was leaving home, friends and family, and his hometown. To Nacho, the U.S. education system is easier than the Spanish one. In Spain, attendance is not mandatory in class, but their exams are a lot longer and require a lot more studying. Despite the difference in difficulty, an even bigger one is the connection between sports and school. “There is no such thing as an athletic system in universities in Spain,” said Nacho. “It is something unimaginable for Spaniards to think of university as a place where one can be an athlete, get school gear and practice in the university’s facilities.” Although moving to a new country is an extreme challenge, Nacho says his favorite thing about being a student-athlete at SLU is “belonging to a team.” He likes that America has given him the ability to compete and improve his skills in tennis, while earning a degree.

Senior, Soccer

germany Constantin “Conni” Heider is a senior on the men’s soccer team from Brechen, Germany. He decided to study in the U.S. because it “offers one of the best connections between sports and education.” Moving to the United States also is something that wasn’t too outrageous in the eyes of his family and friends. “Like many of my German fellows, I wanted to go to another country and explore the world for a little bit,” he said. “[Working and traveling] is a relatively common thing in Germany, but this would not have allowed me to play soccer.” The decision to leave home was anything but easy for Conni, but he said that the anticipation of all the new experiences he would have made it a bit better. In German schools, there is very little homework and much of their grades rely on big projects. Another major difference is that there is no set of core classes like SLU requires in German higher education. They also don’t have school sports. “You play in a club and it’s cheaper than in America,” he said, “usually the only payment required is a membership of around 50-100 euros a year.” He also notices that in the U.S. most athletes stop playing their sport post-college, but in Germany people continue to play well into their adulthood. Conni’s favorite part about being a SLU student-athlete is meeting all the other athletes from different backgrounds and hearing all their stories.

manuel de backer

senior, cross country/track and field

belgium Manuel de Backer is a senior on the cross country and track and field team from Essen, Belgium. He decided to study in the U.S. because he wanted to study international business and he thought the U.S. would be a fun place to travel to. Being able to run while being a student was a huge draw for Manuel because it is something he couldn’t do at home. In Belgium, 90 percent of their grades are determined by their final exams. Moving to the U.S. meant that he could avoid the stress of heavily weighted finals and have his work more spread out over the course of the semester.

Like other sports in Europe, there was no way Manuel could have run at a university at home. Track is much more individualistic at the clubs in Belgium and he could pick and choose the races he wanted to attend, rather than going with his entire team. There were only a few team events per year, unlike at SLU where the team always travels together. Manuel’s favorite part about being a SLU student-athlete is getting to see America and the ability to compete and win as a team.

sports

18

micaela diaz

sophomore, field hockey

argentina Micaela “Mica” Diaz is a sophomore on the field hockey team from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She chose to study in the U.S. because she wasn’t going to be able to play hockey and go to school in the same place. “I would have [had] to play in a club and go to class in [a university] which are on opposite ends of the city,” she said. In Argentina, the style of field hockey that they play is very individualistic and skills-oriented, but Mica wanted to play in a place that is more team focused and less about showing off. “I was always ready to have the ‘American life’,’’ she said. “And it was an experience I always dreamed of.” The hardest part about coming to the U.S. for Mica was that she felt a lack of confidence in herself that she could make it on her own being so far away from her parents and friends, having all her classes in English and practicing every day. “It is always hard to say goodbye, but it is getting a little bit easier every time,” she said. At home, there is no minimum amount of classes they have to take at school, and there is no core set of classes, they mainly just focus on their career path. Argentina also doesn’t have letter grades, but instead they have a weighted grading scale that goes from 1-10. Athletically, student-athletes are taken much better care of by support staff than at home. “Everything we need is right on campus,” said Mica. Her favorite part of being a SLU student-athlete is being able to live with her best friends (rather than living with her parents at home), and she loves the opportunity to travel around the U.S. with her teammates.

emily wastell

Freshman, field hockey

england Emily Wastell is a freshman on the field hockey team from Sherborne, England. She decided to come to the U.S. for school because it was “an opportunity [she] couldn’t turn down.”

There is also more flexibility as to what she could study and the ability to play hockey while going to school. She was nervous about leaving her family and pets, as well as learning a new system for academics and athletics. The education system in the U.S. has more tests, quizzes and exams than in England and there are a lot more points to be gained or lost because homework didn’t count towards final grades at home for her. In England, you apply for one subject at school and when you get into university, that’s all you focus on. Unlike other European countries, there are sports through university in England, but they are more social, not as serious as in the U.S., and there are many more opportunities to travel in the states. Her favorite part about being a SLU student-athlete is “the amazing team that [she] plays and spends so much time with.” She also loves practicing, lifting, traveling and competing with her team to reach a common goal.

sasha sander

freshman, field hockey

canada Sasha Sander is a freshman on the field hockey team from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When she was looking at universities she initially had psychology in mind, but her “mom did not want [her] to take psych because that’s what she did, and she really doesn’t like her job.” SLU’s nutrition program caught her eye and she is really glad she made that decision. She was really excited to meet a lot of new people and have a completely new experience in school. Also, the fact that she got to continue playing hockey made her decision pretty easy. She didn’t like the feeling that she had to hit restart on her life because she had to leave home and her family.

The biggest difference in school is that the U.S. really loves standardized testing and private schools, but she “can only think of one in [her] entire district.” Her favorite part about being a SLU student-athlete is being a part of team. “I feel like my team is my family away from home,” she said.

She also loves game days and traveling because she has some great memories from those days already.

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Opinion

20

THE UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD: WAIT, WHAT’S BREXIT? By: FIONA CLAIR Opinion Editor e have to admit, it’s kind of nice that the world is turning toward another c o u n t r y ’s e l e c t i o n problems. After a few stressful years in the U.S., we get the chance to be the slightly ignorant outsiders looking in on a political movement that will change history.

But as an editorial board, we believe that Americans should be more aware of Brexit and its implications—as difficult as it is to follow.

For those of you who know nothing about the political movement, let’s start with a brief history:

On June 23, 2016 the U.K. voted on a referendum for the U.K. to leave the European Union (a.k.a.

Brexit). The referendum passed with 51.9 percent majority, and so started the long and somewhat controversial Brexit journey.

When that vote passed, March 29 was set as “Brexit Day,” the day when the U.K. would officially leave the EU. But, as you may have noticed, that didn’t happen.

Why not?

Well, between June 2016 and March 2019, Parliament was

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supposed to vote on a deal that would make the transition out of the EU as smooth as possible, but as of now no such deal has passed. Prime Minister Theresa May took office just a month after Brexit passed, and has been at the helm of the deal. However, even though May’s stance is firmly on the Brexit side to honor the results of the referendum, before the 2016 vote she actually wanted the U.K. to stay in the EU.

So far, May has had no luck passing her “withdrawal agreement” in Parliament. The agreement deals with the U.K.’s financial settlement with the EU, the post-Brexit rights of both EU citizens living in the U.K. and vice versa and the handling of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The major problems have been “leavers” (the people who support the U.K. leaving the EU) and unwillingness to accept the EU’s “backstop” on the Irish border that would allow for the open border currently in place to remain, well, open. The other sticking point is the fact that May promised to pull the U.K. out of the EU’s single market and customs union, which could cause a serious blow to the U.K. economy.

So what’s happening now?

Well, since no Brexit deals have passed, the timeline has changed slightly. Obviously the March 29 deadline has come and passed. Now, the U.K. has until April 12 to agree on

a deal or else they will enter a “nodeal Brexit,” where the U.K. will leave the EU with no formal agreements on what the relationship will look like going forward. That means no plans for U.K. citizens living in the EU (or EU citizens living in the U.K.), the tariffs that would have to be imposed on trading between the U.K. and the EU or the Irish border. Additionally, ports will be blocked and planes will be grounded which could result in a shortage of food and medical supplies in the U.K. Basically, it would be a big ol’ mess. But if they can agree on a deal by April 12, then they will have until May 22 to officially leave the EU with sufficient planning.

The U.K. must now decide if they will pass May’s deal (or one similar to it), move forward with a no-deal Brexit or hold another referendum to decide whether the U.K. should leave the EU.

May’s opponents are calling for her removal (which would be the second Prime Minister casualty of Brexit) so that they can negotiate a “hard Brexit” where the U.K. will leave the EU with nothing more than a new free trade agreement.

So why can’t people just agree on something?

Unfortunately, Brexit has come to mean a lot more than just the U.K. leaving the EU since the original vote in 2016. For “leavers,” Brexit has become a fight for

democracy. They believe that if it is this difficult to leave the EU, then it is not a democratic union at all. On the other hand, “remainers” just want to forget the 2016 referendum ever happened. These identities—“leavers” and “remainers”—have divided the country.

Why should we care?

As an editorial board, we believe that the citizenship of U.K. and EU residents living abroad, the fate of the Irish border and the implication for future SLU students studying abroad in Europe are some of the most important Brexit consequences to consider.

We believe that immigration is an integral part of our current global environment. With new hard borders imposed around the U.K., immigration will become extremely difficult. Not to mention the hardships that will be faced by U.K. citizens living elsewhere in the EU if a no-deal Brexit is passed.

Several editorial board members have studied abroad in Ireland where they fondly recall passing through the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without so much as a passport. But the implications of a no-deal Brexit on the Irish border are far more dire than mere convenience. It’s been only a little more than 20 years since The Troubles plagued Northern Ireland.

Only one generation has lived in peace. There is really no saying how harmful imposing a hard border (which would go against the final agreement that ended three decades of mass-violence) would have on the island.

As a university publication, it is also important for us to think about the effects that could directly impact SLU students, specifically the effects it will have on future SLU students who want to study abroad in Europe.

Travel will be much harder, especially in the next six months or so, and especially if a no-deal Brexit happens.

No matter what happens come April 12, it is important to stay globally informed. You never know how global issues could affect you, even if you think you are far enough removed from the problem. Luckily, SLU is making that even easier this week. Check out some Atlas events, and get to know a little bit more about what is happening in the world.

Opinion

21

PSYCH MEDS SAVED MY LIFE

By LEXI KAYSER Staff Writer

’ve spent the majority of my life struggling with mental health issues, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and PTSD. I’m pretty candid and open about what’s going on in my psyche nowadays (years of therapy sort of condition you to be this way), but it wasn’t always so easy for me to talk about my perceived “flaws.”

I spent years in a metaphorical closet, hiding with the blinds drawn and the lights turned out, doing everything in my power to prevent people from finding out that I was sick. I feared that “sick” translated to “defective” and, to be honest, this was a myth that the society around me seriously perpetuated.

I eventually reached my breaking point and was forced to confront the issues that were debilitating me to the core. This meant confiding in people—

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despite my fears of judgment and ridicule—and eventually going to see a psychiatrist.

I was, at first, very medication-resistant. I didn’t want to have my happiness injected into me. I wanted to create it for myself, form it with my own actions, maintain it upon the premise of independence. So I tried. I tried so hard, but it seemed like every “natural” remedy that was suggested to me was somehow contradictory to my healing or, even worse, didn’t take into account the serious limitations placed on me by my mental illnesses.

I was told to get outside more, but on the days when I could probably use that the most, my depression made it impossible to move from my bed. I was told to exercise more and get my endorphins flowing, but my anorexia was already forcing me to work out an unhealthy amount— hearing that it could somehow “cure” me justified my overexertion and ill-intentioned behaviors. I was told to “just be happy!” or to “pray more,” as if my lack of motivation for anything other than self-destruction was my fault.

After trying yoga, and

fruit-infused water, and fresh air and meditation, I finally decided that I couldn’t continue to fight this battle on my own. I allowed my doctor to put me on a psychiatric medication, and my entire life changed.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe.

Obviously, nothing was fixed, but I finally had the energy, both physical and mental, that was necessary to fight.

I see mental illness as a war, and medication is a weapon. It allows you to face your daily battles with a renewed sense of security, to equip yourself with the proper necessities to dive deep and dole out effort. Before I started taking meds, I literally didn’t have the proper amounts of certain chemicals in my brain. No physical action that I could make myself do would magically replete those diminished resources. Taking a pill that delivers those things to me is the only way for me to get them.

I agree that there are certain aspects of mental health that you have to take initiative for, but you wouldn’t expect a soldier to march onto the battlefield with a

“For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. ”

broken leg. Don’t expect those suffering with mental illness to go through their days without the things that everyone else is blessed to be born with.

We live in a world where happiness is seen as a choice, a conscious decision that you make for yourself. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. No one chooses to be mentally ill; no one chooses to feel utterly miserable or worthless or hopeless. If choosing happiness was really that easy, everyone would do it.

We can’t choose to erase the things that burden us, but we can choose to make conscious efforts to relieve them just a tad. In my recovery, medication was absolutely the best decision for me. Today, I am living with a renewed and ever-present joy that I haven’t felt in years. And that’s not because of yoga. That’s not because of sunshine. That’s because of therapy and Prozac.

The stigma around psychiatric medications as an “easy way out” needs to dissipate. There is nothing easy about having a mental illness, and why shouldn’t we make it easier on ourselves if we can? Everyone deserves a full life, and if a little pill or two can help us to pave the way, so be it.

Opinion

22

THE ‘SWAMP’ IN ACTION: JOSH HAWLEY

By JAKOB BENEDETTI Staff Writer n the last edition of “the ‘swamp’ in action,” I took a look at the corruption of former U.S. Senator and current MSNBC analyst Claire McCaskill. I thought it only fair that this time around we should look into the record of the guy who replaced her: former Missouri attorney general and current senator, Josh Hawley.

The biggest thing to talk about with Hawley is that he’s a hypocrite. During his 2016 campaign for attorney general, Hawley made a big deal out of decrying “career politicians,” or people who are only in politics for themselves and are only trying to run for an office so they can run for a higher one in the future. He then accused his opponent of being a career politician, and as such said she was unable to effectively do the job of attorney general because political concerns would get in the way of her judgment—unlike

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Hawley who sought no higher office and would focus only on enforcing the law and protecting Missouri voters.

That was the idea, anyway.

He even went so far as to make several ads featuring this argument in which he swore to voters repeatedly that he would serve out his full term as attorney general. Just nine months into his four-year term as attorney general, Hawley announced he was quitting to run against McCaskill.

Aside from the obvious hypocrisy here, I was amazed that I couldn’t really find a decent response from Hawley about this during his senate campaign. The best response I found to a question specifically about this was from a CNN article: “‘No, no, no,’ Josh Hawley said, suddenly animated. ‘No. No. No. Not on the agenda.’”

He was responding to criticism raised by both Democrats and Republicans, that his swift rise made him a political opportunist who was looking ahead to a senate bid when he ran for attorney general two years ago.

“That’s a hard no…. It was not anything — no, that was not on the brain,” Hawley said.

Although Hawley’s defenders are right, there’s no way to know for sure what was

“on the brain,” it does seem suspicious that he would so readily abandon what seemed to be one of his core principles— standing against career politicians and opportunism— without so much as a thorough explanation as to why.

In addition, after running for attorney general on an anticorruption platform, Hawley seems to have assimilated quite well into the pay-to-play culture in the state capitol. Despite promising to form a public corruption unit and be tough in investigating corruption by state officials, H a w l e y refused to seriously investigate corruption claims against former Gov. Eric Greitens.

T h e r e were several allegations that Greitens had misused information and funds from a veterans’ charity he started, but Hawley refused to investigate them until it would have been politically harmful for him to continue to do so. When forced into a situation where he had to investigate Greitens in regard to the former governor’s misuse of an encrypted messaging app called Confide, he quickly cleared him on all counts after an investigation where Hawley did not collect any evidence or even interview Greitens. Maybe

“Just nine months into his four-year term as attorney general, Hawley announced he was quitting to run against McCaskill.”

it all has something to do with the $50,000 Greitens gave him?

We should mention also Hawley’s relationship with GOP megadonor David Humphreys, who donated nearly $3 million to Hawley’s attorney general campaign in 2016. Humphreys was then accused of pay-to-play corruption after the election involving an alleged scheme with State Sen. Ron Richard (R-District 32) to weaken Missouri’s consumer protection laws in exchange for campaign contributions. When pressed by bipartisan critics to investigate the claims, Hawley refused and deferred the matter to a local prosecutor.

Here’s the thing: nothing Hawley did was remotely illegal.

Refusing to investigate Greitens until he had no choice, only doing the bare minimum whenever he had to, going back on his campaign promises, refusing to touch the Humphreys case and getting in bed with major swamp monsters like Humphreys and the Koch Brothers aren’t against the law, but they do show who the real Josh Hawley is. The anticareerism and the grassroots rhetoric are just a façade, a mirage to give the impression of principle in the face of an opponent—McCaskill—who had been a resident of the swamp long before he had arrived on the political scene. Unfortunately, it worked.

Opinion

23

ENOUGH WITH THE FLYERS, I’M NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR SCAM

By RILEY TOVORNIK Co-Photo Editor

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We’ve all seen them, flyers on campus promising work but with no description of the job, strange old men handing out leaflets on Grand and the classic email written in broken English that offers to pay absurd amounts of money for what seems like simple work. For a desperate college student who is at a new time in his or her life, confused and broke, these things sound like a way to overcome the adversities presented by college life. But in

reality all that these organizations do is prey on vulnerable students and spread misinformation about their true motives.

My favorite example is Vector Marketing. Their flyers posted on campus seem promising, “Flexible Schedules,” “Make your career soar,” “Work for Students.” These are all very fun phrases, but I encourage you to look closer— because once you do you’ll see that they’re actually rather vague.

They promise customer sales and service experience, but what is it they’re selling? What is the company like? Nothing. Just vague promises of an easy job with a lot of money. But when you dig into it a little, you come to find that it isn’t as easy as they promise.

Vector Marketing is a direct sales company for Cutco—meaning you go to friends, family, or door-todoor selling knives. Their posters promise $17 dollars base pay.

Pretty good, right?

Nope.

According to youtuber Ethan Vanderbilt, who had tried Vector Marketing as a college student, that $17 is per appointment, meaning no matter how hard you work to find clients or promote your brand, you’ll only be paid $17 dollars for actually managing to sit

someone down and present them with a sales pitch on knives. Sure, you get paid commission, but at the end of the day all of the effort you’ve spent trying to find clients and sell knives goes unpaid.

And perhaps the most disturbing aspect of it to me is that the Student Involvement Center is not only tolerating, but approving these flyers to be put around campus, with their stamps of approval.

This is a vulnerable time for many people, and the promise of easy money is all too appealing. Is it just that the Student Involvement Center doesn’t care? Have they not done their research?

Then we have scientology. I don’t need to spend as much time talking about them, as their controversy is more well known. Two things they do that bother me (and are depicted in more detail in Paulette Cooper’s book “The Scandal of Scientology”) are the fact that they oppose modern psychology in favor of spiritual healing, often forcibly denying their members mental healthcare, and the secretive abuse their members with brutal “audits” meant to delve deep into someone’s inner and most private thoughts, as well as many other abuses that would take me all day to talk about, but I encourage you

to look into. But what concerns me the most is their “Attack the Attacker” Policy. The philosophy behind this policy is simple, identify whoever is attacking the church (as in, investigating), investigate their attacker for felonies or worse, welcome an investigation of the attacker, and then feed any blackmail gathered to the press.

Does this sound like an organization you want to be a part of? Does this sound like the type of thing we want around our campus?

Unfortunately, they deliberately hand out their propaganda on Grand because SLU does not own Grand, and therefore they cannot be removed by DPS. However, Grand is public property, and if they have the right to distribute information of their own, we have the right to tell them to get lost.

We as students should not allow ourselves to be told what to believe, and we should not allow ourselves to be exploited by organizations that see us as a means to their ends.

I have personally chosen to stand up to these organizations, and to do whatever I can to help others in knowing what goes on beneath their welcoming shell. And unless you enjoy being exploited, you should too.

UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD 2018-19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MEREDYTH STAUNCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF eic@unewsonline.com MEREDYTH STAUNCH eic@unewsonline.com MANAGING EDITOR MONICA RYAN managing@unewsonline.com

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The University News was founded by CLAUDE HEITHAUS, S.J.

The Editorial Board of the University News recognizes AVIS MEYER, PH.D., as the newspaper’s faculty mentor.