No. 4 (Oct. 17, 2019)

VOL. XCVIV No. 4 / October 17, 2019

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THE UNIVERSITY NEWS

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years later

Photo by Michelle peltier COVER Design by Rebecca LiVigni

NEWS

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(Trenton Almgren-Davis / The University News)

OCCUPY SLU: PROGRESS THROUGH MEMORY Occupy SLU Week commemorates past protests and builds momentum for further change

By SAVANNAH SEYER Staff Writer

his week, the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement hosted OccupySLU Week to commemorate the 2014 Occupy SLU Protests, which are best remembered for a week-long sit-in at the SLU clock tower.

In the summer of 2014, the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer sparked a national conversation about racial tensions and systemic racism in the United States. In early October 2014, Vonderrit Myers, the 18-year-old son of a SLU delivery worker, was killed by a police officer. As part of the Ferguson October demonstrations, there was an event held at Chaifetz Arena, as well a protest and vigil for Myers several miles away. Students, community members and activists from these events and elsewhere began to march to SLU and occupy the space around the clock tower.

Many protesters camped out for the week in order to highlight the issues of race, equality, systemic and institutional racism, and the experience of SLU students of color. Daily “teachins” were held at the clock tower so that community members could engage in discussion and learn more about the issues. The Occupy SLU protests concluded with the drafting of the Clock Tower Accords—a list of thirteen resolutions aimed at high-

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lighting and solving the issues raised by the protesters. These demands are in various stages of implementation, and in the eyes of many, there is significant progress to be made.

Luella Loseille, the Atlas Program Coordinator, was a sophomore at SLU when Occupy SLU took place, and is now leading the commemorative programs this year. Loseille remembered the tensions on campus during the protest, and that many people felt that Occupy SLU was an opportunity to finally hold SLU accountable to their mission. While progress has been made, Loseille is still reluctant to say that SLU currently lives up to its mission when “marginalized communities are having horrible experiences” on campus. The current undergraduate population of SLU was not present for the Occupy SLU protests, and Loseille believes that the commemoration of the event is an important step in ensuring that the Clock Tower Accords are fulfilled.

“These problems still persist,” said Loseille. “I think that since Occupy SLU, the university has done a better job of recognizing the systems at play such as racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, ableism, etc. that influence the decisions and actions of the University. I can attest that some of the conversations we have on campus today probably would not have been common on campus more than five years ago, but there are still

many more conversations that need to be had to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all.”

The events of Occupy SLU Week began on Monday with the annual reading of the speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at SLU. “So many of the things he [Dr. King] expressed in that speech are still so relevant,” said Loseille, “You could take any line of that speech and apply it today.”

On Tuesday, the #ThisIsOurSLU Teach-In was held. At this event, attendees spent time learning about and remembering the Occupy SLU protests. They also participated in breakout groups where they learned about current issues of marginalized groups on campus and discussed ways these issues could be solved. Loseille said this event was designed to mimic the teach-ins held during Occupy SLU. The theme, #ThisIsOurSLU, is also the theme of a current photo campaign being undertaken by the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement and the Cross-Cultural Center.

Photos of SLU students will be posted along with their stories of experiences here at SLU. The goal is to highlight both the negative and positive experiences of SLU students to create an accurate picture of the campus life here at the University.

On Thursday, the final event will be a screening of the movie “Whose Streets,” followed by reflection and discussion of the film’s themes.

“Whose Streets” is a documentary focusing on the activists and community members involved with the Ferguson protests following the killing of Michael Brown.

Loseille said that these events are extremely important as the true goals of the Occupy SLU protests have not been fully realized, and it is therefore vital that students are aware of the work that is left to be done. Once students accept the responsibility for bringing SLU’s environment in line with its professed values, they can actively work to effect change through research and education, reversal of personal biases and advocacy work.

News

(Trenton Almgren-Davis / The University News)

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DISMAY OVER MS. MAE’S

TRANSFER

(Emma Carmody / The University News)

CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS: WHAT’S GOING ON?

By LEAH GEORGE Staff Writer ince May, construction has been taking place on both the west and east side of SLU’s campus.

Due to the prevalence of construction, pathways have been blocked and students have had to take longer routes to get to their destinations.

Laasya Sarva, a freshman, pointed out that most students don’t know why the construction is going on.

Furthermore, Sarva added: “It’s inconvenient if you have classes on polar opposite sides of campus.”

The construction manager, Dustin Montgomery, attempted to alleviate these concerns by explaining the motivations behind the construction.

There are two types of construction going on at this time: the construction of the new science building and the utility project. Both have been in the works for a long period of time. In fact, the designs and blueprints began to be written up about two to three years ago. In regards to the utility project, Montgomery said, “What we’re trying to do is make sure the infrastructure to the buildings on campus are not aged. The pathways to the buildings and the electrical and gas systems need replacement.” A new, more efficient, and reliable substation is replacing the old one in order to allow for reductions to utility costs and energy consumption. This will result in lower costs down the road for all the systems. These reductions will allow this construction project to pay itself back in around ten years.

The utility project is also replac-

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ing piping and cabling underground.

“We’re installing all new pathways and cabling, as well as assisting IT to ensure that if a network goes down, there’s another source to feed that building,” said Montgomery. Also, over winter and spring break, all of the buildings will need to be connected to the new substation, so there will be various shut-downs during these times to put everything on the new substation. This project will wrap up in the spring around March.

What many do not realize is that the hardest part of the construction, including widening West Pine by six feet, tearing up the sidewalk near Laclede and building the new patio for the Busch Student Center, was actually finished over the summer so that there was less inconvenience for students. What is being done now is only a fraction of the work that the workers did over the summer to make sure that there wasn’t too much traffic on West Pine once the fall semester began.

Regarding the science building, Montgomery expressed that it will be a very beautiful building and will open up in August 2020. Sarva said, “Having the new science building will be a great resource, especially with a lot of the population of students being STEM majors.” This new science building will create many new opportunities for SLU as a whole, through resources like new classrooms and new research and lab areas.

Montgomery continued saying, “In the long run, [the construction] will allow for a better environment for students to learn in and allow the campus to sustain and grow for years to come.” In order to have a campus that grows and adapts with the times, these types of upgrades need to happen. If they are neglected, students risk electrical, network and gas problems down the road.

By RILEY MACK News Editor ae Green Cox, lovingly known as Ms. Mae, was transferred to a new position on SLU’s Medical Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Known as the bright face of Grand Dining Hall, this decision was not taken lightly by her many supporters on campus. An online petition soon began to circulate, adding up to almost 1,800 signatures to date.

A St. Louis native, Ms. Mae’s first job at the University was serving priests at Jesuit Hall. Upon its opening in 2017, she moved to Grand Dining Hall—now, she is coming up on ten years of working in SLU’s dining halls.

Ms. Mae’s warm personality and representation of the University’s values led to her very own section of Grand soon after its opening, called “Miss Mae’s Comfort Corner.” She found out about this through a Facebook post and described that she felt “love, excited and all of those other good words.”

Upon seeing the new sign for the Comfort Corner in Grand, Ms. Mae became emotional. “All of my friends thought I was sad, but they were happy tears,” she told the University News.

Some students, upset with the transfer, think the problem lies with Sodexo, the food service that manages Grand’s dining. When

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Ms. Mae was offered a higher paying position at SLU Hospital, Sodexo “did nothing to try and keep Ms. Mae in our dining hall,” said Tyler Guist, the creator of the online petition. When Sodexo did not fight for her to stay, “she was hurt” Guist wrote.

Gary Prellwitz, Resident District Manager of Sodexo addressed one student’s concerns about Ms. Mae’s transfer at the SGA Senate on Oct. 16. Prellwitz stated that the Hospital’s branch of Sodexo “seems to be agreeable to sharing her” and that Ms. Mae will be returning to Grand once a month.

“She has committed to, I think, to come back in for the late night breakfast. She always played a pretty important role in that, welcoming all the students to the building,” said Prellwitz.

In a Facebook post a day before she started her new position, Ms. Mae wrote, “I will always be there for my babies,” and that she wants to thank everyone for their support and encouragement in this tough time.

Although they will miss Ms. Mae’s famous sayings about all students being “her babies” and that “we’re all a big family,” the SLU community is proud to have such a warm representative for them in their Hospital’s cafeteria.

Still, when students come to grab a sweet treat from Miss Mae’s Comfort Corner, they will think of the influential woman it was named after.

NEWS COMMON CORE PROPOSAL UNVEILED

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By CONOR DORN Associate News Editor

n November 2017, the University Undergraduate Core Committee was established and charged with the development of a new common undergraduate core which, if implemented, would standardize core requirements across all twelve of SLU’s colleges and schools.

On the 1st of October, the UUCC presented a detailed proposal to the SLU community.

The desire to transition towards a common core model was motivated by feedback from current and former SLU students who, according to the UUCC, “desire greater agency, flexibility and conceptual clarity in our Core structure and delivery.”

Students also experienced difficulties when changing majors between colleges or schools, and are often dissuaded from doing so because of the current core, which is not standardized.

This proposal is a culmination of a rigorous and involved process which began when the UUCC was first convened. The committee was chosen with cross-campus representation as a goal, and to that end, the University selected representatives from every college, as well as an SGA student representative, to collaborate on the development of a core curriculum which encourages students to be “intellectually flexible, creative and reflective critical thinkers in the spirit of the Catholic, Jesuit tradition.”

After the committee was chosen, Core Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) were ratified. These nine outcomes undermated the criteria that any Common Core proposal should meet. The SLOs stress a commitment to SLU’s Catholic, Jesuit tradition, the development of critical thinking skills and the general attributes of a liberal education.

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Once the committee had a ratified set of goals from which to base the common curriculum, they began the complex process of creating a proposal. The committee engaged in research on core practices at other universities and gathered models with which useful comparisons might be drawn. The committee encouraged campus wide conversation by hosting workshops, guest lectures and other events. To complement the knowledge gained f r o m communit y o u treach efforts, t h e c o m mittee sent out an open call for design submissions, and after receiving thirty-six individual submissions, presented three “Core Prototypes” to the SLU community for additional feedback.

With a n abundant amount of feedback, the committee set to work on a synthesis of their research and the feedback kindled by outreach efforts into a Common Core Proposal, which is the product that was first unveiled in an email sent to the SLU commu-

nity on Oct. 1.

That proposal contains the detailed plan for a thirty-five credit general education experience completed by all baccalaureate students, regardless of major, college, school or campus. The proposed core consists of a number of essential areas: the First year experience, Theological and Philosophical Foundations, Eloquentia Perfecta, Ways of Thinking and Collaborative Inquiry. These areas provide structure and ac-

ademic rigor while still promoting flexibility and ensure that all students, regardless of major, will be able to complete the core and graduate in four years.

The UUCC hosted two open fora on Oct. 10 and 11 in order t o re-

view t h e development of the proposal and open a dialogue for assessment and critique. Faculty and students from across the SLU community were in attendance, and a number of critical disputes were raised.

For example, some faculty members from the Department of Lan-

guages, Literatures and Cultures seemed to be more concerned with what was kept out of the core, rather than what was included. If the proposal is accepted, proficiency in a foreign language will cease to be a requirement, regardless of college or school.

A number of LLC faculty members at the open forum viewed this decision as a betrayal of SLU’s commitment to the Jesuit educational tradition, one of the foundational elements of the nine Student Learning Outcomes. The importance of foreign language study has been integral to the Jesuit vision of education since the first draft of the Ratio Studiorum in 1586, and many faculty members argued that the complete elimination of a language requirement is a step in the wrong direction.

The committee response reasserted that the core is “deeply Jesuit,” both in the theories which underpin it and the courses which students will be required to take, and that the absence of a foreign language requirement is a lamentable but necessary step which other peer universities have taken during the implantation of a common core.

These open fora were a useful opportunity for faculty and students, both undergraduate and graduate, to participate in a vital conversation with the UUCC that ensures all those who will be affected by the transition to a common core have an opportunity to make their voice heard.

The proposal which was sent to the SLU community on Oct. 1 is not the final proposal which will appear to be voted on next year. Feedback received from outreach events, open fora and assemblies will be considered before a final proposal appears, most likely at the start of the spring semester. By Mar. 1, 2020, faculty councils and assemblies from each college or school will hold a “Yes/ No” vote on the question of whether the proposal will be adopted as SLU’s Common Core.

Graphic by Rebecca Livigni

News

05 Photos of previous 1818 Grant Recipients courtesy of Saint Louis University

DPS REPORTS At 8:32 p.m. on 10/7, DPS responded to a call from a Spring Hall RA which reported the finding of a large knife while room checks were being conducted. DPS responded by seizing the prohibited item and placing it in a secure locker.

1818 GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

By CAROLINE LIPSKI Staff Writer roposals to cultivate gardens, engineer education and humanize homelessness were among the recently announced winners of SLU’s 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program. The Center for Service and Community Engagement piloted this program last year in celebration of SLU’s bicentennial year. By awarding up to $1,800 for student-led service and advocacy projects, it provides students the opportunity to make the difference they want to see in our world.

“It’s a chance—and a challenge— to put our Jesuit mission into action,” says Andrew Sweeso. Sweeso serves as the President of SLU’s Labre Ministry with the Homeless, one of the recipients of the grant. Labre is an organization that aims to build fellowship between students and those experiencing homelessness in the St. Louis community. Their project, titled “The Labre and Friends Community Dinner,” will implement a community dinner and resource fair on SLU’s campus for students and those ex-

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periencing homelessness.

Having access to this resource will steer the group’s focus to coordinating the community-building aspect of the event as opposed to raising the funds to make it happen. “Along with giving us a greater sense of confidence that we will be able to put on this event on our campus, this grant gives us hope that SLU will become more open to building stronger community ties with our friends and neighbors, and support our and many others’ efforts to build a much more inclusive, sharing campus environment,” Sweeso adds.

This sense of community spans across every initiative, as all student-led groups are required to partner with a local non-profit to carry out their goals. Last year, through the joint efforts of 48 non-profit organizations and 306 SLU students and faculty, the Community Engagement Grant Program impacted 1,100 children and adults in the St. Louis area. The fact that 16 of the 18 winning projects from last school year plan to continue their individual programs into this school year demonstrates the program’s ability to make a lasting difference.

Recipients of this year’s award in addition to Labre include projects intended to support minorities in STEM, promote immigration advocacy, make possible healthier eating and living habits and more.

Bobby Wassel, Assistant Director of the Center for Service and Community Engagement, acknowledges the ability for the program to make an impact on and off our campus.

“It impacts both in a tangible way— the projects certainly impact the St. Louis community” ... “but it also has a positive impact on the development of our students as leaders.

It teaches them the importance of communication, resiliency, fiscal responsibility, engaging in teamwork, etc”.

Wassal encourages students interested in service to find more information by exploring the plethora of resources offered by the Center for Service and Community Engagement, including one-time volunteer opportunities as well as a database of over 500 community partners, which are both housed on their website. There is also the option to fill out a service form, which will match one’s interests to volunteer opportunities around the area.

“We are a diverse group of individuals, and our identities may certainly put us at a place of marginalization in life; however, we all share a common privilege, and that is attending a university in pursuit of an advanced degree,” he says. “Among many things, students should use this privilege to work for the betterment of society, whether in small or big ways”.

At 10:40 p.m. on 10/7, an individual suffered multiple seizures while attending a concert at Chaifetz Arena. EMS staff at the scene quickly requested an ambulance for transport to the hospital. When the ambulance arrived, the individual refused transport and her husband, who was also in attendance, indicated he would escort her to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.

At 10:22 p.m. on 10/8, DPS responded to an auto theft that occurred between 5:30 p.m. and 10:20 p.m while the car was parked at 3750 Lindell. The victim, who was a SLU commuter student, reported that her car was secured while parked. A report was made with St. Louis City Police.

Arts and life

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Photo Courtesy of Sami Maurer

the shirts that are shaping st. louis and the woman behind it all

By CELIA SEARLES Arts Editor ake a drive through Forest Park, and you’ll see them.

Walk down West Pine during passing period, and they’re there. Shirts that only two years ago were just an idea, a design on a computer or a sketch in a notebook are suddenly everywhere you turn. Sami Maurer, founder and mastermind behind the St. Louis apparel company Series Six is just getting started. As she just passed her two-year anniversary, we sat down to reflect on what brought her to where she is now, who she is and where she’s going.

Summer between sophomore and junior year of college at Spring Hill, Maurer found herself wanting a St. Louis Cardinals shirt that simply didn’t exist. Instead of giving up and settling for an already-made shirt, she decided to create what she envisioned. She designed a Cardinals shirt with a chevron pattern and ordered one unit, which is far more expensive than ordering something in bulk, she noted.

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It was an investment from day one.

As she began wearing her custom-designed shirt around town, people started asking where they could buy one.

When Maurer returned to Spring Hill, she began thinking more seriously about her business. As a graphic design and business double major, she was able to tap into both sides of her education and create a business plan for Series Six as her senior presentation project, the first serious step in making her dream a business.

Series Six makes an appearance at almost every event the St. Louis area has to offer, making Maurer’s products accessible to just about everyone. Maurer focuses on creating apparel for everyone but keeps the college demographic in mind.

With successful Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day lines, she hopes to get even more college students into her apparel during the upcoming seasons.

Series Six’s partnership with the Blues is a testament to the relationship Maurer has with the St. Louis community. “It’s been huge,” she confirms. Through event coordination, partnering with “cool people,” working with charities in the area and exploring the many diverse communities in St. Louis,

Maurer has been able to get to know the city as a vendor in a way that many large businesses that don’t. “[It] feels like I’m making an impact on the city,” she notes. “[Supporting local business] grows our communities, creates jobs and opportunities, [and it’s] better to have local destinations,” Maurer says about the impact small businesses have on the communities. The push for supporting local businesses has grown significantly in the St. Louis communities with the rise of companies like Series Six. Maurer recognizes that her success is thanks to a lot of hard work and careful planning during the beginning of her post-graduate life. Starting your own business from the ground up, especially in the creative world, can be a thankless job at times. “Design and art in general get a bad rap,” she says. “Kids need to realize that you can.”

Maurer notes that the creative side of her job reaches more than just the shirt designs themselves. The power of social media has changed the marketing landscape in the last 10 years, and the persistence to navigate this ever-changing platform for advertising takes increasingly more creative approaches as social media marketing gains traction. Maurer notes that she spends a significant amount of time on social media, whether it be planning what stories go up on what day,

scheduling posts, looking at analytics or pushing sponsored content. It’s a larger part of the job than many anticipate and certainly makes this (nearly) one-woman show even more impressive.

While on paper, Series Six is somewhat of a solo expedition, Maurer has begun hiring college-aged interns to help with anything from photography to event management to marketing. “My experience at Series Six was amazing. It was a very open-ended internship which allowed me to focus on the aspects that I enjoy most, [like] marketing, design [and] advertising. It was also cool to work for a growing small business because I got to actually see the impact I had on the company,” said intern and junior SLU student Mike Gauvain.

Maurer offers a striking example of entrepreneurship in practice and sympathizes with the struggles of college students wanting to get their own ideas off the ground. When asked to offer some advice to current college students with aspirations of starting their own companies, Maurer thoughtfully reflected and offered this: Be patient. “It doesn’t happen overnight,” she says. It’s important to take baby steps. Focus on goals week by week and month by month.

Push through. Even when it’s hard, exhausting, or just plain not fun, Maurer advises keeping the finish line in sight so that someday you can “wake up liking what you do,” she adds.

Understand the power of social media. It’s an amazing resource that is free to use as a business. It’s not as negative as people think, especially when using it for a marketing perspective.

As her business grows, she’s able to find more of a balance in her everyday life, despite still working basically from sunup to sundown. Coaching the girls volleyball team at Cor Jesu, her alma mater, has been an especially valuable outlet for Maurer. It’s important to Maurer to “give to something else.”

That fated T-shirt sparked what is now a thriving local business that has gained Maurer the attention of many St. Louisans. After two and a half years of hard work, the benefits are clearly paying off.

Maurer is focused on “not fixing what isn’t broken” in regards to her business.

What’s clearly working for her is a list of weekly goals, trying to design every day, no set hours, having a high level of accountability for herself and, when she can, not setting an alarm. “Each day is different,” she remarks. “You never know what fires you’ll need to put out.”

Arts and life

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three nights of ‘twelfth night’

(Trenton Almgren-Davis / The University News)

By LENYA GODA Staff Writer This weekend, Saint Louis University’s theatre program performed Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ and exceeded all expectations. With performances running from Friday, Oct. 10 through the 13th, University Theatre put on quite a show.

‘Twelfth Night’ is a play about miscommunication, identity and love. It is a comedy and, admittedly, my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays. The plot follows a girl, Vio-

la, played by Reed McLean, as she gets shipwrecked and disguises herself as a man to serve the Duke Orsino, played by Ross Rubright.

While there, she falls in love with the duke, who in turn is in love with the Lady Olivia, portrayed

by Ellie Hill. When Orsino sends Viola to woo Olivia for him, Olivia falls for the disguised Viola. In the midst of the craziness, Viola’s twin brother shows up, whom she thought dead, leading to further escapades. A side plot follows the servants of Olivia’s court as they prank one of the rude servants.

While immensely amusing and comedic, it also portrays the themes of loss, love and bittersweet life.

Over the course of the play, there were two main sets: Orsino’s court and Olivia’s. They achieved this by having two low balconies on opposite sides of the stage. Depending on which court they were in, it would focus on a different side of the stage. However, they managed to never make the scene feel cramped or off-center. Instead of setting the play in 16th-century England, they set it in the 1930s on the beachfront. By doing so, they

were able to play up to the comedy that Shakespeare wrote into the script.

While I have seen several productions of ‘Twelfth Night,’ this one really blew me out of the water. All the actors and actresses were phenomenal. One of the things that really made this play stand out from the others was its use of music. Almost every scene had some song or music in it to add to the feeling of the scene but also to develop the characters and connections. Whether it was Feste, played by Michael Lanham, playing the piano, or the actors singing together, it helped develop the scenes. Some of the songs made me laugh, such as the ones about drunken revelry, and others made me cry, like the one McLean and Rubright sang and danced to together.

However, the ending really pulled at my heartstrings. As the last scene closes, Lanham started playing the piano and a fellow actor, Andre Eslamian, joined him. They started singing together, and as the song progressed, all the actors slowly came on stage, dancing out certain scenes from the play. As the song came to a close, all the actors joined in singing, “That’s all one, our play is done.” It was a beautifully choreographed scene that flowed and fit in perfectly with the themes that had

been portrayed throughout the play.

All the actors did a fantastic job of transporting the audience to a different world. Shakespeare can be difficult to act out smoothly, but this troupe performed it perfectly and made me forget that it even was Shakespeare.

They were clear and easy to follow.

However, the real star of the show was Michael Lanham, who portrayed Feste the clown. We were informed before the show started that he had broken his ankle a week ago and would, therefore, have crutches. But he did not let this dissuade him from performing spectacularly. He managed to make the crutches feel like a natural, intended part of the act, while also using them to aid in humor. His witty comebacks and smart replies stole the show and had everyone laughing.

Overall, this was a fantastic show that I would have seen 10 more times if possible. Saint Louis University Theatre hasn’t disappointed me yet, and I don’t think it will. The passion of all the directors, actors and crew was tangible in the air as the play progressed. Congratulations to all those involved in putting together such a fantastic play.

More photos of the Twelfth NIght are on pages 12 and 13.

Fair trade: what is it and why care?

By SYDNEY COMPTON Staff Writer What is fair trade? Walking down the aisles of Trader Joe’s, you spot some coffee with a “Fair Trade” sticker on the label. You know it sounds like a good choice, but why?

Fair trade is a worldwide movement to promote people and planet first through businesses, consumers and employees. It means that each person involved in the process of making a product is treated with respect to their livelihood. It encourages the protection of cultural identity, environmental awareness and clarity in business transactions. In today's global market, businesses drive down costs at the expense of those most susceptible: farmers and laborers. When two out of five people in the world work in some sort of farming capacity, it is incredibly im-

portant that we encourage equal opportunity, education, safety and pay to each and every employee.

Fair trade has been used as a blanket statement for products produced or bought outside of normal business. Not all farmers markets or local craft shops are fair trade. To ensure that standards of fair trade could be monitored, the Fair Trade Certificate was created in the 1990s. The creation of this label led to fair trade organizations educating consumers, artists and farmers on the importance of buying and creating ethical products.

The process to receive a fair trade label is rigorous and must be renewed each year in order to maintain protection of each farmer and employee and our lovely planet.

Most of the farmers and companies using fair trade methods of business are helping protect

vulnerable populations throughout the world. According to a 2018 Forbes article, millions of people are farmworkers, and “the International Labor Organization estimates that there are 300 million of homeworkers globally, most of whom are women.” Homeworkers are individuals who create arts or crafts out of their home, the second largest employer of women in developing communities after farmworking.

There is a process similar to the audit of fair trade farmed goods that safeguards the well-being of all artisans.

We can all take part in this change in our own cities. St. Louis offers a few different shops and restaurants that pride themselves on being fair trade stores selling certified food and goods.

And it is always good to keep your eyes peeled for big name stores like Aldi, Walmart and Trader Joe’s to stock their shelves with fair trade items.

Here are a couple options for where to

do your fair trade shopping in St. Louis: Plowsharing Crafts, located in the Loop, this store prides itself on their connection to artisans around the world. Their website states that they “provide meaningful income to skilled artisans around the world by marketing their products in the St. Louis area since 1985.”

Zee Bee Market, opened in 2014, this store encourages consumers to “shop the world...locally.” Located in Tower Grove and downtown Maplewood, Zee Bee offers a wide array of crafted goods, teas, food, coffee and more.

Our own Francis Xavier College Church even has sales every once in a while in the entrance of the church, partnering with Zee Bee Market. Local coffee shops around our area take pride in serving fair trade teas and coffees include Sump Coffee, Foundation Grounds and even Kaldi’s.

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Arts and life

TYLER, THE CREATOR CAUSES AN “EARFQUAKE” AT SLU (Trenton Almgren-Davis / The University News)

By AMAN RAHMAN Staff Writer

On Friday, Oct. 4, Tyler, The Creator brought energy, electricity and excitement to St. Louis for his concert here at Chaifetz Arena.

Opening for him that night was the rapper GoldLink and the indie rock band Blood Orange. Goldlink was the more popular of the two, causing a mosh circle to form in the crowd as he played his hit song “Crew.” Blood Orange slowed it down by playing some of their more chill music such as “Dark & Handsome.”

As the lights went down, Tyler came on stage wearing a cobalt blue suit with a bleach blonde bowl-cut wig, and the crowd screamed with euphoria.

Standing completely still, with only a spotlight shining behind him, Tyler started the night out with his song “IGOR’S THEME.” This song is off the “IGOR” album that analyzes his encounters with love. His performance to this song, along with the others, was a beautiful representation of his past experiences. Throughout the night, Tyler, The Creator’s passionate persona animated the entire crowd.

In this new era for Tyler, The Creator, he took it to a new, creative level with his concept of IGOR and the persona of this “character.” In the past few years, Tyler has become more adventurous and willing to open himself up, which has allowed him to step into this role and share his experiences.

In between songs, Tyler used his naturally comical personality to connect with those in the audience. He would observe the whole arena and jokingly call out certain fans for not looking like they were having fun. At one point, he even mentioned SLU by asking if anybody went to this school. His overall on-stage performance felt very inclusive and personal.

For one of his songs, Tyler started by slowly playing the piano in a mellow manner. As he started progressing the speed, fans began to pick up on what song was coming next.

“For real, for real, for real this time.” The crowd started to chant the well-known song “EARFQUAKE” by Tyler, The Creator. The collective voices and dancing made the experience of this song specif-

ically magical. Throughout most of this performance, Tyler allowed the crowd to sing passionately while he danced.

In addition to playing music off of his new album “IGOR,” Tyler created feelings of nostalgia by performing some of his older songs such as “IFHY” and “911 / Mr. Lonely.” He even recognized and noted that the audience seemed to really like the older music.

As the concert neared its inevitable end, Tyler interacted with the crowd a bit more, said his goodbyes and sang his song “See You Again” off of the “Flower Boy” album.

The crowd got really hyped up for this song, trying to hold on to some of the last moments of the concert.

“20/20, 20/20 vision.” Everybody in the arena screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

Tyler concluded this incredible night with his song “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” He stood on a platform and sung out to fans with amazing background visuals. Emotions ran high, and it was like the audience and Tyler existed all in one mindset.

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October

Rainbow Alliance Open Mic Night @ Billiken Grill

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7 pm

JSA HALLOWEEN SHABBAT DINNER @ CAMPUS MINISTRY

7 pm

HSC X AAA PAINTING NIGHT @ MORRISSEY HALL

Una Self Care Day @ BSC 251B

5 pm

1-3 pm

FSA MULTICULTURAL FORMAL

1pm to 5pm

SLUPEFY HALLOWEEN FEAST

6 pm

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games

Last Issue’s Solutions

Solutions in the Oct. 31 Issue

photography

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Petting zoo: Stress Relief or animal cruelty?

Photos By TRENTON ALMGREN-DAVIS, Photo Editor; MICHELLE PELTIER, Advisor; MADISON SMITH, Staff Photographer To provide stress relief from the hectics of midterms week, SAB hosted a petting zoo outside Grand Hall. Students flocked to the lawn to pet ducks, pigs, ponies, cows, goats and rabbits. Many smiles went around as they saw the cute creatures. Additionally, Jennifer Smith and Katherine Wolfe, two students working on an audio project, walked around recording the animal sounds.

However, not everyone was pleased with the zoo. Learning of the event on Newslink, Catriona Docherty and Alex B., who are trying to found a student organization called Students for Animal Freedom Everywhere, contacted the Students Activity Board asking about the petting zoo provider, Cowboy Critters.

“After doing my research, I knew that this event was not aligned with the values myself and many SLU students have towards animals,” Docherty said. “Cowboy Critters uses animals for profit and human entertainment.” For five hours, the animals were placed in the small enclosures or tied to short leashes as students took pictures, pet their fur, picked them up and fed them grass. The protesters stayed outside for one hour holding signs stating “Stop Animal Use” and “Visit A Sanctuary Instead.” “ “Using animals for human entertainment is not okay,” Docherty said. “It may be relieving our stress, but it is causing the animals stress.”

photography

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Twelfth Night Photos by Trenton Almgren-Davis Photo Editor Review on Page 7

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5

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1. Reed McLean as Viola and Ross Rubright as Orsino dance center stage.

2. Michael Lanham as Feste widens his eyes in shock speaking to Ellie Hill as Olivia.

3. Nick Balint as Sebastian delivers a message to Benjamin Hopkins as Antonio.

4. Reed McLean as Viola holds a ring and questions loyalty to Orsino.

5. Ellie Hill as Olivia takes to the balcony to deliver a monologue.

6. Jackson Gress as Sir Andrew Aguecheek sprawls out drunk across a bench.

7. Emma Glose as Maria wakes up to the noise of the drunkards in the house.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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1. Ross Rubright as Orsino takes off his robe.

2. Andre Elsamian as Malvolio slowly comes to the epiphany planted by the other characters.

3. Michael Lanham as Feste totes a bindle.

4. Already drunk, Valen Piotrowski as Toby Belch chugs a bottle of wine.

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Photography

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Harvest Festival kicks off fall festivities

By MADISON SMITH Staff Photographer The Harvest Festival in Tower Grove on Oct. 13 was a local event filled to the brim with excitement. With live music, a petting zoo, pop-up shops and a variety of places to eat, it was the perfect place to gather with friends and family and enjoy the crisp fall weather!

sports

15

SLU SOCCER TEAMS DOMINATE WITH PERFECT CONFERENCE RECORDS

By MISHAL MUSTAQUE Staff Writer n a beautiful sunny early afternoon, the Saint Louis Women’s Soccer team took on a La Salle team that seemed tired, from the onset, of their nearly even record so far in the season. Indeed, the Explorers from Philly did very well to hold the Billikens to blanks in the first half. Fear was always going to play a factor, as one team came into this clash on the back of five straight wins, and the other a defeat at Saint Joseph’s.

With half-time running, it dawned just how impressive SLU’s soccer teams had been this year. The men’s team was perfect in the A-10, with five wins out of five and currently on a six game win streak. Seniors Leo Novaes and Devin Boyce deserve special mention for their stat-padder of a season—while the former has registered six goals and five assists, the latter isn’t far off with four and three. The six-game win streak that was started with the homecoming weekend victory against Rhode Island has led to great things for the Billikens. After the 1-0 win against Denver on Tuesday, the men’s team play Dayton, Virginia, Duquesne and Fordham to round off the conference season.

As for the women, their last defeat was on Sept. 8 against Oklahoma State. Perfect in A-10 play, the Billiken women are downright scary to play against at home—they’ve won all but one game at Hermann Stadium, and even that was a 0-0 tie against Purdue. The Bills are currently 33-1-5 at home, dating back to the final home game of the 2015 season.

It is almost as if the Men’s and Women’s teams are challenging each other as the season progresses.

The men won comfortably against La Salle on Saturday, and the women played a 4-1 drubbing of the Explorers.

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The optimism shown for SLU’s soccer with record attendances at the early season games seems to be bearing fruition. Halfway through the season, the fans could not have asked for a better outing from their teams. The sight of the overly enthusiastic fan running with the pinkish red smoke while the loud tune blares in the background indicating a goal has been scored—it’s all become a very familiar sight at Billiken soccer fixtures.

With the 4-1 win in the bag for the women it was time to reflect on the performance. A thoroughly inspirational second half showing from Saint Louis reinstated their status as one of, if not the best team in the conference. Another game, yet another victory for SLU’s soccer.

With games coming up thick and fast as the end of the regular season draws near, the women’s team next travel to Fordham in the Bronx, New York, on Oct. 17, while the men host Dayton at Hermann Stadium on Saturday in what is expected to be another strong showing at home.

Senior forward Leo Novaes (above) leads the Billikens with six goals and five assists. (Riley Tovornik / The University News)

Sophomore forward Emily Groark dribbles past a defender in a 4-1 victory over La Salle on Sunday, bringing the Billikens to a perfect 6-0 conference schedule. (Riley Tovornik / The University News)

sports

16

SLU VOLLEYBALL SETTING THEIR STRIDE MIDWAY THROUGH THE SEASON

By SAM GLASS Sports Editor illiken volleyball has been a roller coaster ride in the past few years. From an A-10 final run in 2016, to fighting their way into the tournament last season, the Billikens have shown they are tough.

Before the 2019 season started, the word that kept coming up with athletes and coaches was “grit,” and there has been plenty of it thrown around this season. Last season the Bills went 8-20 overall, and a large part of the team was made up of freshmen and sophomores. This forced the Bills into an uncomfortable situation with less experienced players.

This season, that same group still makes up the majority of the Billiken roster with the addition of only three freshmen this year:

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setter Shea Fuller, and outside hitters Lily Welti and Margaret Mahlke. The added experience from last year has certainly played a role in lifting the Billikens up this season.

This weekend will mark the halfway point for the season with two conference games coming up against Rhode Island and Fordham, with both teams already dropping a match to SLU, 3-0 and 3-2, respectively. The current A-10 standings has the Bills in third, with a 4-1 record. The only two teams above them, Dayton and VCU, have yet to drop a match, with perfect 5-0 records.

The Bills came into the season with an added benefit. Junior outside hitter Maya Taylor went to the USA Women’s National Team tryouts in spring and came back with a renewed attitude she shared with the team. “We’re just as talented as any of the girls that are there,” Taylor told the team after tryouts, “they’re going hard 24/7 and if we

get up there, we’re going to be conference champs.” And the Bills are shaping up that way.

Non-stop effort is a highlight of Billiken play. Even in losing matches, SLU puts everything into it without losing sight of their goals to win the A-10. In a 3-0 loss against Dayton, SLU kept the pressure on all the way through to the final set, taking Dayton to extra points.

The lineup this season has shown a lot of depth in the team, with a core made up of Taylor, junior setter Kennedy Cordia and sophomore defensive specialist, Cayce Chaykowsky. These three are the crux of the Billiken attack and style of play, with Chaykowsky leading the team at 222 digs, Cordia leading in assists with 601 and Taylor leading the team in kills with 230.

The beauty of the depth is the rotating players. Ready to set up a special attack? Bring in Fuller to switch up the sets. Trying to bolster

defense on returns? Bring in sophomore defensive specialist Emily Imo. Need an added offensive potency to the defense? Add middle blockers Juliana Phillips and Sara Daniels to the mix. The list goes on, but the point is that the Billikens are like a toolbox. Whatever the situation, SLU is likely to have something in their kit to make them more effective.

Leading the way this season have been the two seniors who coaches have said are playing a tremendous role in building up the team culture. Outside hitter Sien Gallop and middle blocker Lauren Mershon have played a crucial role in leading the team, on and off the court. Efforts to make the team an inclusive environment are looking to pay off, as the Billikens look to bolster their record this weekend out east. If the Bills can show their grit the remainder of the season, they look to be a strong opponent in postseason play.

Junior setter Kennedy Cordia and sophomore middle blocker Sara Daniels block a hit in their match against Southern Illinois. The Billikens are 4-1 in the A-10 with two matches this weekend. (Joshua Kang / The University News)

sports

17

SOFTBALL RACKS UP ACADEMIC AWARDS

Junior Sadie Wise running bases in a fall exhibition game against Missouri S&T. Wise is an Occupational Sciences major. The 2019 softball team ranked sixth in the nation for team GPA. (Jack Connaghan / The University News)

By ERIN MCCLELLAND Associate Sports Editor ot only does SLU’s softball team excel on the field during their season in the spring, they find time in their busy schedules to keep their GPA’s up pretty high. Sixth place in the nation high—and this was the third top-ten finish for the Billikens in the last four years.

13 of the 18 (72 percent) members of the squad were named to the Easton All-America Scholar-Athletes list—the most in the Atlantic-10 Conference.

This is really no small feat considering the majors that these women are working with, such as Civil Engineering, Financial Analysis, Physical Therapy, Occupational Sciences and Accounting.

Junior Sadie Wise said, “a lot of times we’ll go from practicing together to studying together in the

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library or Chaifetz so it creates an environment where you want to excel academically.”

Alyssa Chavez added, “the support we give one another within our team is amazing. We really value our academics and understand that our education comes first. Everyone has bought into our team culture and that’s a very special thing to see.”

For athletes, there are a number of people that support each individual in addition to the team—from coaches, teammates and academic advisors—both through the athletic department and advisors from SLU. Coach Christy Connoyer credits softball’s academic advisor, Heather Freehill, with some of her team’s success off the field. Connoyer told SLU athletics, “We appreciate Heather’s assistance with academic arrangements when we travel, her help with obtaining tutors and her overall support of the academic careers of our student-athletes. She truly cares about their time at SLU and the future ahead of them.”

The team’s 3.653 GPA was the program’s highest in history. Chavez said, “it takes a lot of commitment to succeed both on the field and in the classroom. It’s not easy, but when we all have the same goals it makes achieving our goals possible.”

On top of their crazy schedule while at home in the spring, the team travels about 11 times for games throughout the spring semester, missing about two days of class each time. Hearing about how much class they miss and how much time is spent with mandatory softball related activities, it just makes this achievement that much more impressive.

Chavez said, “receiving the award of being sixth in the nation for GPA was a great feeling. It was a program best for our team last year and to get recognized for our hard work was awesome! It also motivates us to keep working hard and move up in the rankings this year.”

Softball has set the standard for what it means to be a student-ath-

lete at SLU and continues to be nationally ranked year after year. A number six ranking in the polls is an incredible accomplishment, but a number six ranking for GPA is that much more impressive. These women know the importance of getting their education and that one day, softball will end and they have to enter the “real world.”

Along with the accomplishments in the classroom last season, graduated senior Kallen Loveless (SLU ‘19) was a part of an award-winning engineering group that won the Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology Most Outstanding Senior Project award in biomedical engineering for last school year.

The awards for academics continue to pile up for SLU softball and is something Billiken fans can look forward to this coming year.

sports SLU FIELD HOCKEY LOOKING TO IMPROVE IN LOSING SEASON 18

By SAM GLASS Sports Editor he Saint Louis Field Hockey program has had a rough year, to put it lightly.

G r a d u a ting seven seniors last year inevitably shakes up a team dynamic, and with a current 0-11 record, things are definitely shook.

The Bills have not had a winning season since 1990, and have not had a record above .500 since 2006. Now in 2019, the Bills are on pace for another losing season.

With all losses on the board, it is hard to see what the Bills are doing well. Over the years, the Bills have been improving, but so have the other A-10 teams. That said, there are still milestones the Bills have hit, like scoring for the first time against Saint Joseph’s since 2014. Junior back Erin McClelland scored her first career goal off a corner in the 1-7 loss, tying her for the most points on the team.

Other goal scorers for the Billikens include freshman Grace Golembiewski, Edie Carnazzo and Megan Rice, as well as sophomore midfielder Emily Wastell. The Bills have recorded two assists on the season from junior forward Mica Diaz and sophomore back Kayleigh Fleming, each with one assist.

SLU field hockey has had a rough past and part of that comes from the geography. With the Cardinals and a new MLS team on the way, it is clear to see that St. Louis is a big soccer and baseball town—field hockey, not so much. But on the East Coast, field hockey is a big sport. Almost all the top 10 college teams are East Coast schools and SLU plays in the Atlantic 10.

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Here is a quick geography lesson for everyone. The Atlantic Ocean is located on the eastern coast of the United States. SLU plays almost exclusively eastern teams with a stronger field hockey culture than the midwest.

Although SLU is in a rough spot right now, there is one thing that will shape up for the Bills. The 2019 team has said the team chemistry and culture has grown stronger this year. The next great part of this is that there are currently no seniors. While that can be a detriment to a team, it means that the junior class has two years of team leadership. This junior class has been a staple in the Billiken roster the past two seasons and adds leadership to the program.

Another Billiken staple is sophomore goalkeeper Sasha Sander.

With two more seasons left, Sander’s leadership and potential are a strong outlook for future teams.

Ultimately, Billiken offensive output needs to increase. With only 29 shots in the season so far, the Bills are unable to produce chances. The more shots on net, the more likely a lucky goal is to slip through. Though getting into position against strong opponents may be difficult, taking more awkward shots could boost lethality in front of net.

Field hockey has three games coming up against Davidson, Appalachian State and Longwood.

Their conference game against Davidson on Friday, Oct. 18, will be a good clash for the Bills as they take on the penultimate team in the A-10.

SLU Field Hockey huddled at a home game at SportPort International.

Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics.

SLU starters in a huddle before their game. SLU Field Hockey has had a difficult season thus far going 0-11. The Billikens have a game coming up against Davidson who is 0-5 in conference as well. A win against Davidson would be the first conference and season win for SLU. Photo courtesy of Billiken Athletics.

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TEN NEW 15-MINUTE ROUTES

MetroStLouis.org

Opinion The Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent those of the university news editorial board.

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Turmoil in the Middle East, Are We the Ones to Blame?

By JORDAN BAILEY Staff Writer ith the recent shift in United States foreign policy flooding the news, the question of why U.S. troops were removed from northern Syria, and the consequences associated with that decision, has only continued to get answered as the rise of conflict and devastation between Turkey and Syria continues to get worse. As military and political upheaval intensifies between the two nations, the question of whether or not US-Syria relations can ever be amended remains imperative in deciding what next steps to take.

The news of the withdrawal was released on Oct. 6, when the White House officially announced President Trump’s decision to take U.S. troops out of northern Syria. “I don’t think our soldiers should be there for the next 50 years guarding a border between Turkey and Syria when we can’t guard our own borders at home,” Trump said during a campaign rally at the Value Voters Summit in Washington. Many experts on Syria criticized President Trump’s decision and expressed fear of the potential political repercussions of the withdrawal, exclaiming that the abandonment of U.S. troops could widen the eight-year Syrian conflict, cause a Turkish incursion and threaten the progress made towards establishing security between Syria and the Islamic State. “Allowing Turkey to move into northern Syria is one of the most destabilizing moves we can do in the Middle East,” Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego stated in a tweet that Sunday. “The Kurds will never trust America again. They will look for new alliances or independence to protect themselves.”

United States involvement in Syria dates all the way back to World War II, with much of the focus in recent years being on ISIS and ways to avert its expansion.

Since the removal of U.S. troops, Turkey has begun military action in northern Syria, causing many Syrians to flee their homes in search of asylum. According to a recent United Nations report, over 100,000 people were displaced only three days into the Turkish military invasion, and over 400,000 are searching for sources of water and medical assistance. Violence has gotten so bad that many goverments, such as in Russia, China and the EU, are pushing efforts toward reconciliation between Syria and Turkey, with some nations such as France and Germany going as far as suspending artillery exports to the Middle

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East. As more Islamic State attacks are released northern Syria, the concern for the expansion and growth of ISIS becomes more of a prevalent issue as well.

Amid the current devastations of the withdrawal, the pullout of U.S. troops came as a shock for many, especially the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). “The statement came as a surprise, and we can say that it is a stab in the back for the SDF,” spokesman Kino Gabriel told Arabic TV station al-Hadath.

The shift in U.S. foreign policy went against the advice of many senior officials in the Pentagon as well, with former U.S. presidential envoy Brett McGurk saying the pullout displayed a “complete lack of understanding of anything happening on the ground.” Although U.S. troops were removed from northern Syria, the Senate is hoping to reverse the decision that President Trump made and introduce an opposing resolution. “A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran and the Assad regime,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. “It would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup.”

So why shouldn’t President Trump have withdrawn troops from Syria? There are several reasons, the first being the likelihood of ISIS resurfacing. The United States has been working with Syria for years, with the hopes that by stationing U.S. troops in the region, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) would be decimated. But by withdrawing the U.S. military, the chances of ISIS reclaiming their land is extremely high and very likely. The other reason is the fact that Turkey will now have no reason not to invade northeastern Syria and Kurdish territory. For the past few years, the United States collaborated with Syria on ways to prevent a Turkish incursion. But now, the pullout of U.S. military has opened the door for Turkey to push back America’s former allies, occupying northeastern Syria and potentially causing a national Syrian genocide and political refugee crisis.

The conflict between Turkey and Syria is only getting worse. With over hundreds of casualties already, the withdrawal of U.S. troops has only caused devastation and harm to northern Syrians and Kurds. And as the progression of Turkish invasion continues to escalate, the question of whether or not foreign policy should only consist of self-interests and domestic gains remains essential in determining if there is still room for basic human compassion within the political sphere.

“By withdrawing the US military, the chances of ISIS reclaiming their land is extremely high and very likely.”

Opinion

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Better Apart: SLU Should Sever Its Ties to Rex Sinquefield

By DAVID RAPACH Faculty Contributor s a professor at SLU, I was deeply disturbed by revelations involving Rex Sinquefield in the recent Sentencing Memorandum issued by U.S. Attorney Reginald Harris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith for former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, who has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. Sinquefield is a member of the SLU Board of Trustees and serves as cochair of the school’s bicentennial capital campaign.

The revelations concern the Better Together (BT) campaign, which sought to consolidate St. Louis City and County and was primarily funded by Sinquefield. As the sentencing memo reports, “Sinquefield was a major donor to Stenger’s 2018 re-election campaign, contributing approximately $700,000 through various of his own organizations and political action committees to Stenger’s political efforts.”

What do the BT campaign, Stenger’s re-election, and Sinquefield’s money behind both have to do with one another?

Under the BT plan, the re-elected Stenger would have become “Metro Mayor” through 2025 and been granted unprecedented authority to formulate a reorganization plan for the new government. According to Tony Messenger of the Post-Dispatch, “[N] early everybody in the political world in and around St. Louis knew that the then-county executive [Stenger] was under federal investigation for various ‘pay to play’ schemes. Better Together’s family … knew exactly who Stenger was.

They pushed to elect him precisely because of who he was.’’

The BT-Stenger-Sinquefield money connections do not end there. The

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sentencing memo also reports that in October 2018, Stenger directed St. Louis County to hire the husband of Sinquefield’s chief of staff and pay him an annual salary of $130,000. In a November 2018 meeting with his executive staff, Stenger explained why he made the hire (the person is referred to as “John Doe” in the sentencing memo): “John Doe is here for one reason and one reason only. John Doe is an insurance policy. His wife is working for Rex, it’s a good faith effort on my part, I’m saying, hey look at, I’m willing to hire John Doe at 130 Grand. She’s Rex’s assistant.

Kind of sends a message to all of them [at BT] that I trust them. And they’ve done a lot to demonstrate that they trust me and they should. They’ve given me a lot of money, they’re almost up to like 700 Grand.”

It strains credulity to think that Sinquefield was unaware that the spouse of his chief of staff was hired as part of a quid pro quo arrangement between Stenger and the Sinquefield-financed BT campaign. As a member of SLU’s board, Sinquefield’s links to Stenger’s criminal activities call into question the ethical standards of the board— the group responsible for protecting

the university’s integrity and reputation.

Sinquefield’s ethical breaches are not limited to his involvement in the Stenger affair. As previously revealed

by Messenger, Sinquefield has a conflict of interest regarding his role as the major financial supporter of the effort to privatize the St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

SLU’s relationship with Sinquefield is harming the university in other ways. Sinquefield recently pledged to donate $50 million to SLU (in ten annual installments).

Unfortunately, the “gift” is rife with flagrant violations of well-established academic norms, such as the hiring

by SLU of Sinquefield’s hand-picked ally Mike Podgursky—a member of the Board of Directors of Sinquefield’s ShowMe Institute—to direct a research center at the university. SLU also granted Sinquefield final approval for the disbursement of all funds from the donation, including the funding of individual research projects and faculty hiring. By failing to uphold academic norms, the SLU administration and board have allowed Sinquefield to purchase influence over research, thereby compromising the independence and integrity of academic research at SLU.

“SLU can act in accord with its mission and send a powerful message that its ethical and academic integrity are no longer for sale.”

Indeed, it is naïve to think that Sinquefield will not use SLU to masquerade research driven by his well-known political agenda as independent academic research.

In light of Sinquefield’s well-known ethical breaches in local government and the violations of well-established academic norms in the Sinquefield “gift,” SLU stakeholders need to contemplate the following questions, which go the heart of the university’s identity: With Sinquefield as a board member, how can SLU credibly encourage its students to act ethically?

Why should the St. Louis community not conclude that SLU is willing to compromise its ethical standards and the independence of its academic research in exchange for Sinquefield’s money?

As society is realizing the pernicious influence of financial elites with political agendas (e.g., Charles Koch) on our institutions of higher education, why is SLU courting negative publicity by accepting a tainted donation from Sinquefield?

We have reached a point where Sinquefield’s roles as a board member and donor are doing serious harm to SLU’s institutional integrity. In our current second Gilded Age, instead of mimicking the worst aspects of society by playing ball with a billionaire who has a demonstrated lack of ethics in the community, SLU should take a principled stand and sever its ties to Rex Sinquefield. By removing Sinquefield from the board and not accepting his tainted donation, SLU can act in accord with its mission and send a powerful message that its ethical and academic integrity are no longer for sale.

Opinion

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War Games Crimes couple weeks ago, 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush, was caught up in the daily news cycle after being spotted in a suite at a Dallas Cowboys game next to comedian Ellen DeGeneres. After DeGeneres took some heat for her friendship with the controversial president, she minimized the situation by saying that she can still be friends with people who hold different beliefs than her. While this may be true, the problems that many people have with Bush do not specifically lie with his beliefs, but more with actions he oversaw throughout his time as president. In my eyes, Bush has had an unwarranted sanitization of his legacy since Donald Trump has entered office, which is why his past crimes and misdeeds as president should be brought back to light.

The most prominent blemish on Bush’s legacy in office was the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his so-called “War on Terror” in the Middle East. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Government officials in Bush’s cabinet alleged a highly secretive relationship existed between Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and the terrorist group al-Qaeda from 1992 to 2003. Bush’s administration also asserted at this time that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling and hiding weapons of mass destruction

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(WMDs) through Iraq’s weapons programs. While there was no substantial evidence found to support either of these claims, combined forces of U.S. troops and its allies invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003, beginning the Iraq War. As evidence supporting U.S. (and British) charges about Iraqi links to WMDs and terrorism weakened, supporters of the invasion shifted justification to human rights violations of Saddam’s government. However, human rights groups like the Human Rights Watch argued that they believe human rights concerns were never a central justification for the invasion, nor was military intervention justifiable on humanitarian grounds. Later evidence showed that the desire to control Iraq’s nationalized oil reserves had a significant influence on the U.S. and their allies’ decision to invade Iraq, certainly over any false pretenses of humanitarianism. This was after the United States had already invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to dismantle al Qaeda following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

After invading Iraq and Afghanistan illegally, the damage that Bush and his administration did while occupying these countries was catastrophic. Since 2001, over 320,000 Iraq and Afghanistan civilians have been killed from direct war-related violence caused by the U.S., its allies, the Iraqi military and police from the time of the invasion up until 2018. While both Barack Obama

and Donald Trump share blame for continuing this unlawful occupation in the Middle East that has contributed to this death toll, Bush and his administration precipitated all of this needless violence through their supposed “War on Terror.”

Another black mark on Bush’s legacy is the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” on detainees by the CIA, DIA and U.S. Armed Forces at black sites around the globe (Bagram, Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib). These programs of systematic torture were first authorized and carried out by officials under the Bush administration. Methods of systematic torture carried out by the U.S. government on detainees included beating, binding in contorted stress positions, hooding, subjection to deafening noise, sleep disruption, sleep deprivation to the point of hallucination, deprivation of food and drink, withholding medical care for wounds, waterboarding, walling, sexual humiliation, subjection to extreme heat or cold and confinement in small, coffin-like boxes. Along with brutalizing detainees, there were threats to harm children and sexually abuse or to cut the throats of detainees’ mothers.

The number of detainees subjected to these methods has not been officially established, nor the number of deaths as a result of torture un-

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By COLIN THIERRY Staff Writer der this regime. However, this number is believed to be at 100 people.

These methods of “enhanced interrogation” were believed at the time to have violated U.S. anti-torture laws and international laws such as the UN Convention against Torture.

The Bush administration’s unlawful invasion of Iraq and use of torture at black sites should be called what they truly are: war crimes. The fact that so many people like DeGeneres gloss over or simply don’t care about the atrocities committed in the Middle East under the Bush (and Cheney) administration because he acted more “presidential” than Donald Trump is simply appalling.

Along with these crimes committed abroad, Bush oversaw the worst economic recession in American history since the Great Depression in 2008. He then turned around and bailed out the Wall Street banks who caused the financial crisis that significantly damaged the livelihoods of many working and middle-class Americans in the first place. For these reasons, I believe the war crimes and misdeeds of the Bush and Cheney administration should never be minimized or forgotten, even in comparison to an extremely unorthodox and controversial president like Donald Trump.

Opinion

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STRONGER TOGETHER

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he Packers beat the Cowboys 3427 last weekend.

Besides the hardhitting action on the gridiron, there was also something special happening in the stands. Talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres was seated next to former president George W. Bush during the NFL game. Television cameras caught the pair seemingly enjoying their time together! Oh, how surprising it was to see the scene of DeGeneres laughing alongside Bush!

It seemed kind of normal.

Looking into the Twitter responses and DeGeneres’s discussion of the subject on her Tuesday show, there were more than a few people who were outraged by the two individuals enjoying each other’s company.

“Ellen was trying to act like being nice to a homophobic war criminal is a radical positive statement,” tweeted @gwylock1. “Ellen is a selfhating degenerate scumbag,” tweeted Dominique. It seemed as many users wanted DeGeneres to stay on her side of the fence and Bush to stay on his side. “There is no way in hell the two should ever go out and be around each other” was the general voice from a

segment of the population. It is almost as they felt it was too dangerous for those on opposing sides to interact with each other, as they could end up agreeing on something or, even worse, not agreeing on any issue and still being friends! The bottom line was that Bush is an awful man and DeGeneres is wrong for spending time with him. End of story.

Thankfully, DeGeneres debunked all the conclusions drawn in the previous paragraph. In fact, she underlined the only conclusion worthy of being drawn: it is perfectly normal and acceptable to develop positive relationships and friendships with those who do not think like you or agree with you. In an age where it is easy to dismiss an individual as a “nut-job”, “wacko” or “crazy” because of their political, social or moral beliefs, DeGeneres and Bush are a breath of fresh air. One Twitter user, Matt, tweeted, “it makes me have faith in America again.” While I agree that seeing those prominent

By JEREMIAH KIRSCH Contributor

figures together increased my faith in our nation, it also underlines how far we have drifted. Dialogue has been replaced by individuals telling their position and the other party either agrees or does not. There is no middle ground. Too many lines are drawn in the sand, and unfortunately, we are not allowed to “chill” with or talk to those on the other side of the line.

I grew up in one of the most proTrump areas in the nation—rural, Southern Indiana.

Since moving to college, I now have lived in two of the ten most liberal cities in America, according to livability.com, St. Louis and Boulder, Colorado. I have been on both sides of the aisle, and I can tell you one of the few common traits the opposing groups share is the threat of an idea that is not the same as theirs. Open dialogue and time shared with those of opposing opinions, like the time DeGeneres and Bush shared, could seemingly bring down the universe. In fact, it does quite the opposite.

As a nation, region, city, community,

“We are not stronger when we all agree.”

family, etc., we are stronger when we work together. We are stronger when we have many viewpoints and ideas contributing to our world. We are not stronger when we all agree. We are not stronger when we tear each other down. We are stronger when we choose to build others up. The days following 9/11 and the outpouring of support for Hurricane Harvey victims are excellent examples of how choosing to work together and putting differences aside can create positive change. Personal beliefs went to the wayside to help others in need.

What if we did not just do this in times of tragedy? Could we make a positive change?

DeGeneres and Bush gave us an example of how we should act: kind, friendly and considerate of those around us. Respect, genuineness and acceptance of others’ opinions are vital to the advancement of our world. I challenge all to follow in their example and be kind to those who do not think like or agree with you.

Treat them with respect and forge a friendship. If met with resistance, just try again. I do not know many who will turn down a friend who is kind, caring and respectful. This is how positive change happens. It is the only way positive change happens.

UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD 2019-20 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMMA CARMODY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF eic@unewsonline.com MEREDYTH STAUNCH eic@unewsonline.com MANAGING EDITOR REBECCA LIVIGNI managing@unewsonline.com

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