No. 5 (Nov. 2, 2017)

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Vol. XCVII No. 5

A student voice of Saint Louis University since 1921

November 2, 2017

SLU students celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights that ultimately signifies the victory of good over evil, by lighting sparklers above. To celebrate this festival, Hindus attend a religious ritual that honors Lord Rama’s return after 14 years along with his wife, Sita, after being exiled. As the “good” forces are symbolized by light, Diwali is also celebrated by lighting lamps and fireworks.

-Chandana Kamaraj, Associate Arts Editor

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News

November 2, 2017

INSIDE SCOOP:

ARTS The Sickest Halloween Party Ever Page 6

Photo courtesy of Ayush Pathak

DIWALI: Members of the Decoration Committee pose with photo booth props at Saint Louis University’s celebration.

SPORTS Men’s Soccer on Winnning Streak Page 15

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

OPINION The Rise of Corporate Christmas Page 21

SLU Lights Up In Celebration of Diwali

By NIRALI THAKKAR Staff Writer

For many, Jan. 1 signifies new resolutions and attitudes, but in Southeast Asia, Diwali, also Deepavali, is the day that marks new beginnings. Diwali consistently falls on the darkest day of the lunar cycle; this year being on Oct. 19. During this day, families gather clay lamps and together are able to illuminate their homes and towns to defeat the darkness.

Diwali is often referred to as the festival of lights, which holds a strong significance in Indian cultures. Agni, or fire, is considered to be admirable and holy for various reasons: strong, the flame of light always points upward until the moment it extinguishes, regardless of the wind that may challenge it; and impactful, it only takes one strike of a match to completely light up a room and other candles. Similarly, one can strive to obtain the same upwardlooking, positive attitude in his or her own life, and hope to inspire others to do the same.

Throughout India, in Hindu, Jain, and Sikh faiths, Diwali celebrates a central theme: good conquering evil. However, each religion and region of India marks a different historical event that illustrates

this victory.

North Indians celebrate Lord Rama returning back home to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. During this time, Rama’s wife was captured by the demon Ravana. Rama, backed by his faithful devotee, Hanuman, and loyal brother, Laxman, traveled to Sri Lanka to rescue his beloved Sita. After engaging in battle for 10 days, Rama was able to defeat Ravana, reunite with his wife, and finally return home.

Traveling west, Lord Vishnu tricked Bali, an unjust king, to rule the underworld. In the form of a dwarf, Vishnu approached the king asking for only three steps. Whatever land he covered in those three steps would be his to keep. The king agreed without hesitation. Vishnu grew to the size of a giant and covered the heavens and earth within two steps. For his third, he stepped on Bali’s head and sent him down, freeing the people of his rule.

In Southern India, Diwali marks when Krishna defeated the demon Narkasura.

Holding 16,000 queens captive, Narkasura imposed a dictatorship over his people.

Krishna challenged him to battle and was able to defeat him. Doing so, Krishna rescued all 16,000 queens and took them into his name, allowing them to continue to ex-

ist in society without being shunned.

According to National Geographic, followers of Jainism and Sikhism also observe Diwali celebrations. At this time, followers of Jain faith celebrate the freedom of Lord Mahavir from the cycle of reincarnation, which occurred in 527 B.C.E. Lord Mahavir was a significant character that preached many principles essential to the ideal life, such as ahimsa, or nonviolence.

In the Sikh faith, devotees remember Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth of the 10 gurus, who was finally freed after being unjustly imprisoned.

Regardless of faith, the celebration of Deepavali focuses on family units and the concept of home. During this time, families look to forget their troubles inside the home and out. Individuals work to become better people in order to obtain a closer relationship with God. Together, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles decorate the home, lining it with diya lamps, rangoli and idols of God. As a unit, they create a welcoming atmosphere for God to come and bless the home.

During Diwali celebrations, not all Saint Louis University students had the See “Diwali” on page 5

News

November 2, 2017

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of the week @CNN Paul Manafort and Rick Gates were both put under home confinement and ordered to surrender their passports.

@ABC JUST IN: Puerto Rico Energy Power Authority chief announces cancellation of controversial $300 million Whitefish Energy contract.

@farrah_khan

Emma Carmody / The University News

FYI: Sexual assault is in no way related to the sexuality of the perpetrator or the survivor. ALSO Sexuality is not caused by sexual abuse.

CEMETERY OF INNOCENTS: Crosses put up by Students for Life were vandalized twice in the last two weeks.

Students For Life Display Taken Down Twice

By TANNOCK BLAIR Associate News Editor

An annual campus display has been taken down not once, but twice, over the course of the last fortnight.

Every October a display of crosses is put up in the North Campus quad; they are arranged by the SLU organization, Students for Life. The display, known as the Cemetery of Innocents, is constructed as a part of Respect Life Month.

Despite the University’s approval, it has always been controversial; in the past, it has been met with mixed responses from students. The controversy was sparked by opposition to the pro-life convictions of the organization and, by extension, the display itself.

This is not the sole intention of the display; members of Students for Life have explained that their intention is to bring awareness to the value of all human life. The crosses in the display do not only represent the number of abortions nationwide, but also victims of homicide in St. Louis, states where capital punishment is legal, and the number of people living in poverty in Missouri.

This year, a group of six students from

Students for Life joined together, on the morning of Saturday Oct. 14, to assemble the display. The display consisted of 176 crosses, and was erected in the quad adjacent to DuBourg Hall.

The following day, a counter-display was assembled on the cement of West Pine next to the Cemetery of Innocents display. This counter-display involved statistics and facts in support of the prochoice side of the argument. DPS was alerted to the addition of the second display but no immediate action was taken.

It was the following night, some time shortly after 11:15 p.m. on Monday Oct. 16, that two suspects were seen removing the crosses. According to a friend of a Students for Life member who witnessed the incident, the two individuals were identified as a male and female.

Once all of the crosses had been removed and placed in sacks, the individuals walked westward down West Pine.

When a passerby questioned why the individuals were removing the crosses, the male claimed that they were changing the display on behalf of SLU Students for Life. The man provided the witness with a name that was later

cross-checked with the Students for Life email list and SLU Groups; he did not appear in either.

Later that night, DPS was notified by executive members of Students for Life and a report was filed. On Friday Oct. 20, Dr. Pestello released a statement condemning the removal of the crosses, claiming it “was a distressing violation of [the] University’s values.” The president has made it clear that, in his eyes, the act was one of “fundamental intolerance.”

The position of the University is not unprecedented; as a Catholic university, Pestello explains that the teachings are clear: “that defending the dignity of every human person throughout the entirety of life is a primary tenant of the faith.”

The following week, Students for Life re-assembled the display, this time in front of Fusz Hall. The display went up on Wednesday, Oct. 25, and by Friday morning crosses were missing once again. This time, however, not all of the crosses were removed. It is unclear at this point whether or not the second removal was committed by the same sus-

pects from before.

“I come back from my class and find out most of the abortion crosses are gone and also some of the crosses from the homicide and capital punishment,” said one member of Students for Life.

While it is not yet clear whether President Pestello will release a follow-up statement in wake of this development, DPS is continuing work on finding those responsible.

Given the diversity of the SLU community it is somewhat unsurprising that the incident has sparked a discourse across campus. The debate is neither bipartisan, nor necessarily unsophisticated; some teachers have even introduced the discussion into their classrooms. Individuals have found many dimensions to the argument as not only a pro-life/ pro-choice issue, but also a free speech issue.

Students for Life spoke publicly to the media, explaining that they “wholeheartedly forgive the perpetrators of this act and hope we can come to a place of common ground.” To date, no further evidence has been disclosed by those investigating the incidents.

November 2, 2017

Upcoming Special Elections and You

By SAVANAH SEYER Staff Writer

On Nov. 7, a special election will be held in certain parts of Missouri to fill vacant state legislature seats and to vote on special propositions.

Special elections are held separately from regular elections in the case of a vacancy in a government position or when there is a bill that needs voting on. In Missouri, there are currently three districts voting in the special election to fill a state legislature seat.

The most controversial of these is in District 8, where the current state senator left to accept a position with Governor Greitens’ administration.

Here in St. Louis, a special election is being held to new Alderman for the city’s 2nd Ward, and to vote on the controversial Proposition P — a proposal to raise the city sales tax by ½ of 1 percent. The extra revenue would amount to almost $20 million annually, most of which would then be spent on the Saint Louis Police Department, raising salaries among other measures.

This is a very controversial issue—especially due to the increased tensions between police and the African American community in St. Louis, which were heightened even more recently by the Jason Stockley verdict earlier this year. St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson has come out in support of Proposition P, stating that will level the playing field for officers in the area, after St. Louis County recently passed their own version of the proposition. Supporters of the proposition cite the pay disparity between county and city cops (rookie county cops can sometimes make thousands more than their city counterparts) as a large factor in the lack of recruitment of good city cops. Opponents of Prop. P disagree with this reasoning, saying that the tax hike will hurt communities that are already struggling to make ends meet, and who they believe have been let down by the city police department already.

Special elections typically do not receive the attention that regularly scheduled elections do, however, according to Robert Lasky, Executive Board member of SLU College Democrats, they are very important.

“These elections aren’t as fancy as Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump, [but] they’re important. Prop P will have a serious effect.

It really affects a lot of people,” said Lasky.

“Every voice matters regardless of how you vote on it.”

Many people never hear about special elections, much less vote on them. At SLU,

groups of students such as SLU Dems and Political Round Table have looked to change that by registering people to vote, and by helping them get to their polling places.

Both Lasky and Denish Jaswal, the president of SLU Political Round table emphasized the importance of voting, and especially on local issues.

SLU Dems and Political Round Table have teamed up in the past to register SLU students to vote. They are seen throughout the year on West Pine and in the BSC, among other places, urging students to register. Jaswal said that setting up a registration drive is a lot of work, taking usually about two weeks to plan, but that the outcome is worth it, especially in years of large political interest.

Last year, leading up to the 2016 election, Jaswal said the drive registered over 2,000 people to vote. Lasky agreed, saying that the last election increased interest in politics.

“Given the hype of the presidential election last year, I do think there was an increase in students voting,” said Jaswal. “However, now that the hype has died down, I think that less people are interested in voting. We’ve successfully registered a few people to vote this year, but the matter does not seem as pressing, even though it is.”

Many people who would normally vote may sometimes not due to lack of transportation or information about a special election. Fortunately, here at SLU, this should not be a problem for students. Lasky said that for this year’s special election, College Dems will be offering a shuttle for students from SLU to the local polling place.

“Myself and our treasurer will be shuttling people over,” said Lasky, “All they need to do is RSVP to our Facebook event on the College Dems page.”

With the special election coming up, Lasky, Jaswal and their groups wanted to remind people that voting in local elections is incredibly important, and that everyone should try and stay up to date on local politics.

“I think the biggest thing I’d like to communicate is how important it is to be active in local politics,” said Jaswal. “Local politics affects day to day lives and the community in which one and their loved ones inhabit. Being involved at this level is not only the most likely to impact to individual concern, but is also important in expanding one’s concern from outside their immediate bubble.”

The special election on Proposition P is being held on Nov. 7. Polling places and rides to and from can be found online.

News

University Response to Sexual Assault Allegations

By NISH GORCZYCA Staff Writer

student body in the upcoming spring seOn Oct. 16, at 11:03 a.m., the Department mester, according to Kratky. “It’s an exciting of Public Safety and Emergency Prepared- opportunity for students to respond in an ness issued a Timely Warning email about a anonymous way,” she said.

The main reason for the survey is for the Saint Louis University student who reported that she was sexually assaulted on campus University to learn how to better help stuearlier that day. About six hours later, at 5:24 dents, as well as to collect data and give it p.m., DPS issued another Timely Warning back to the SLU community during Sexual email about a woman not affiliated with SLU Assault Awareness month in April. “We don’t want to hide these iswho reported being sexusues,” said Kratky. ally assaulted on Oct. 8.

Haven will continue to be These emails, in complimandatory, but with strictance with the Jeanne Clery er ramifications. Starting Disclosure of Campus Sein the 2018-2019 school curity Policy and Crime year, all returning students Statistics Act, outlined sexwill have to complete a ual misconduct on campus refresher module, or they this semester. According to will lose access to mySLU, the Office of Institutional disabling them from regEquity and Diversity, the istering for classes, among number of reports is inother functions of the online with previous years. In line portal. First-year stuthe DPSEP’s Annual Secudents will still have to go rity and Fire Safety Report, through the whole trainthere were 12 reported -Anna Kratky ing module. According to cases of rape on campus in Krakty, this is in-line with 2016, and 10 in 2015. This most other schools that is up from the four reported employ Haven. cases in 2014.

Dr. Pestello also plans to meet with the One reason that women are speaking out about their sexual assaults is because of Assembly for Sexual Assault Prevention, a the larger community being more involved, Student Government Association commitaccording to Title IX Coordinator Anna tee established last semester, to “collaborate Kratky. “There’s a huge conversation that is with them to identify other ways to more happening around sexual harassment and effectively implement existing and new prosexual assault, which is a good thing,” she grams and actions,” according to his email.

ASAP co-chair Shilee Mirghahari said that said.

With all the news of sexual assault and the aim of the meeting is to communicate harassment allegations in Hollywood in goals and to implement initiatives to meet recent weeks, like those against Harvey those goals. “More importantly, we hope to Weinstein, many women have chosen to provide feedback regarding how these situspeak out about their own experiences. The ations are handled on our campus based on #metoo movement that trended on social the experiences of fellow students,” she said.

ASAP will assist organizations in executmedia for a few weeks aimed to show just how far-reaching the issue of sexual assault ing events that involve sexual assault preis. “We hate to see that people are suffering vention and will have delegates to help inin seeing all these hashtags and seeing these form the SLU community on how to report stories, but we are happy that people are sexual misconduct both on and off campus.

Students can get involved with ASAP by atseeking help,” said Kratky.

On Oct. 25, an email from the Office tending the next open meeting on Nov. 27 at of the President went out to the SLU com- 5:30 p.m. in the Senate Chambers.

What else needs to happen to eliminate munity addressing these incidents. In the message, Dr. Fred Pestello outlined how the sexual misconduct? According to Kratky, University is planning to act in light of the consent training is one of the biggest isrecent allegations. Among the specifically- sues. “Teenagers are just not taught what listed steps, a campus climate survey and good consent looks like, and that presents Haven—the online training module—will a challenge for not only SLU, but for every be part of efforts to eliminate sexual miscon- college around the country,” she said. “That is something we have been working on and duct on campus.

The survey is planned for release to the will continue to work on.”

“

There’s a huge conversation that is happening around sexual harassment and sexual assault, which is a good thing.

“

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News

November 2, 2017

Let Us Introduce You:

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Emily Moroni

By EM MILLER News Editor

A current junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, Emily Moroni, has a passion for animals. Moroni is a St. Louis resident and commuter student who chose to go to SLU because it was close to home, she got a good scholarship, and she liked the biology program. Staying nearby her pets were also important to her—she has three dogs, a fish, and a “nephew” of a cat named General Ulysses S. Grant.

Moroni is a biology major who is concentrating on evolution, ecology, and conservation with a keen love for the environment and the creatures that live there. While unsure about going to graduate school, Moroni plans on working with animals through field work and conservation. Part of Moroni’s passion for ecology and conservation comes from the ways problems have to be approached in conservation ecology.

As Moroni puts it, “I think the cre-

ative mechanisms and approaches to solving ecological issues is so interesting. There’s so much more to saving the planet and its species than we think.”

Originally planning on becoming a vet, Moroni chose to change her career path and focus more on conservation and ecology instead of working with pets. “I guess I just wanted to do something on a larger scale. I shadowed a vet for a while and I actually liked it, but it wasn’t for me.”

When Moroni took a conservation biology class taught by Dr. Valone, however, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. “It kind of lit a lightbulb in my head and got me actually exploring what my dream job actually is.” Moroni said, “I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I wasn’t sure in what ways.”

Despite her choice to leave the pre-vet track behind her, Moroni still remains invested in working with animals and the environment.

Moroni regularly volunteers at

Support Dogs, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing well-trained service dogs to both individuals with disabilities and therapy teams. Puppies are born and raised at Support Dogs, Inc., and are trained until they can obtain certification to become a service dog and placed with a client who needs them without cost.

At Support Dogs, Inc., Moroni’s job is to be a Whelper Helper, or an individual who helps care and raise new litters of puppies until they are eight weeks old. She found out about Support Dogs, Inc., through the Community Service Fair her freshman year and immediately began to volunteer.

She enjoys spending time with the animals and the fact that they will be trained to help people later in life.

“There [are] always dogs running around and I get to pet forty puppies every time I go,” Moroni commented with a laugh. “I like it, because I get to obviously hang out with puppies, but I think it’s a good cause and really rewarding.”

Diwali Celebrations at SLU Continued from Page 2

ees to share their goals for the new year opportunity to return home. SLU’s very with one another. At the own Hindu Student event, over 130 people of Community hosted different faiths performed its own Diwali Puja The celebration of a prayer for Goddess on Oct. 29 as a way Deepavali focuses Laxmi with the guidance of creating a home of a priest. Followed by atmosphere to celon family units a traditional Indian meal ebrate the holidays and the concept and sweets, the attendees together as a comto the Amphimunity. of home. During headed theatre at Busch Student Held in the Sinthis time, families Center to light sparklers quefield Stateroom of Dubourg Hall, HSC look to forget their in celebration.

Deepavali is not only Executive Board and Diwali Committee troubles inside the a traditional holiday but a diverse one that, arrived seven hours home and out. Indi- also with its foundational prior to the event armed and ready to viduals work to be- themes, is celebrated in prepare. Through a unique way by different come better people afaiths. combined effort, the This year at SLU, room transformed, in order to obtain a students were able to with an altar for and celebrate a rich closer relationship come God, a photo booth, culture at Diwali Puja, a a welcome table, and community illuminated with God. a resolution-writing together. station for attend-

Photo courtesy of Emily Moroni

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

Friday, Oct. 27 6:22 p.m. FIRE A fire started on the grill inside Qdoba Mexican Grill. An employee was forced to put the fire out with a hand held fire extinguisher after the overhead hood extinguisher failed to operate properly. No injuries were reported, and Fire Department, Engine # 7 responded to the scene. Pro Staff and Capt. Walker were also notified.

Friday, Oct. 27 1:51 a.m. PEACE DISTRUBANCE A verbal altercation broke out between two male students in DeMattias Hall, where both parties claimed that the other had pushed them. Neither party wanted to file a police report. Both students stated that they had been drinking earlier and that medical attention was not needed. An RA was present at the scene and Pro Staff notified.

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

Arts&Entertainment UNews

Halloween party for progress

Blk Mkt open

anced out the slightly sweet pickles. I also got the tofu nuggets, which are pieces of tofu battered in salt, flour and pepper, and then deep When Blk Mkt Eats opened fried fresh to order. Even on Oct. 18, the employees my friends who dislike tofu were greeted by a line of cusagreed that they were delitomers out the door. In anticcious. ipation for their grand openI finished my meal off with ing, the restaurant promised an all-natural craft soda. For their first 100 customers a the content of my meal and free burrito, and they were the amount of food I reheld to their word. ceived, I would say that Blk The new restaurant, located Mkt’s prices are reasonable on South Vandeventer Av(prices for the average sushi enue right next to Kaldi’s roll begins around $7), which Coffee, is known for offeris a positive for a restaurant ing burrito-sized sushi rolls that I predict will primarily and bowls, all made fresh in serve college students, due to house. Blk Mkt takes up a relits location. atively small space containing While visiting the resonly a few tables for dine-in taurant, I noticed that most guests, making to-go orders of the customers, and even their primary several of the service. employees, Blk Mkt is a great were fellow Two exaddition to the amples of the SLU students. kind of food Midtown restaurant I’m excited to you might a new scene, and I can’t have find at Blk (and deliwait to watch this cious) resMkt are two of the most new business as it taurant so popular items continues to grow in close to camon the menu: pus, and am the future. the Krilla hoping that Krunch— it becomes which conincreasingly tains ingredients like tempopular among SLU’s stupura shrimp, carrots, unagi dent body; it appears many slaw and cucumbers—and students have caught on althe OG Fire, which contains ready. a customer’s choice of spicy I have nothing but great salmon or tuna, cucumbers, things to say about Blk Mkt avocados, shallots and a Eats; from their proximity to house-made, spicy “OG Fire” campus, to the restaurant’s sauce. Available sides include simple but modern interior tofu nuggets and wonton design, to the delicious items chips. on the menu, Blk Mkt is a I ordered the “Tasty as great addition to the MidCluck,” a wrap containing town restaurant scene, and I fried chicken, kimchi slaw, can’t wait to watch this new pickles, arugula, shallots and business as it continues to Blk Mkt’s very own housegrow in the future. made OG fire sauce.

Blk Mkt Eats is located I was pleasantly surprised at Nine South Vandeventer by how well the varying inAve. and is open Monday to gredients complimented each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to other; the chicken was a bit 9 p.m., Thursday to Saturday salty, which went well with from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the spicy sauces, and balis closed Sunday.

By ALEXIS STOGNER Staff Writer

Niles Zee / St. Louis Workers’ Education Society

CELEBRATE TOGETHER: Daytime Television, a surf/indie band, at their debut performance.

By MARY ADCOCK Staff Writer

On Friday, Oct. 27, the St. Louis Worker’s Education Society (WES) hosted a punk-rock revolutionthemed Halloween party at their headquarters on South Jefferson Avenue with a book sale and flea market. People came dressed in costumes from popular culture and politics while lights and loud music came from the stage and patrons ate vegan chili and caught up with or met each other during conversations between sets.

According to their website, “The St. Louis Workers’ Education Society educates and trains St. Louis residents, especially people of color, women and youth, to become community leaders. “Our focus is on the intersection of workers’ rights, racial justice, sexual and gender-minority rights and disabilities empowerment. Additionally, WES acts as a small business and grassroots organization incubator.

We facilitate on-going workereducation campaigns, partnering and advising union and community groups, to build a permanent culture of worker education in St. Louis.”

The bands that played included Daytime Television in their debut as a surf/beach indie-rock band.

Redbait, who went by RedBat for the night, also played. This band is made of WES members, who played punk covers with a spooky

Halloween twist. Like…With Jetpacks is a band from Springfield, Ill., that performs classic video game soundtracks and original material. WES member Lizzy* also performed an acoustic set of emo and punk music.

Lizzy has performed at WES before and on Friday, performed covers about mental disorders, transgender identity and exclusion of marginalized groups. She has been involved in activism and advocacy by contributing to Black Lives Matter and the bail bond fund, and spreading information in the recent Jason Stockley movement and in the Fight for 15 campaigns.

“WES is all-inclusive to all marginalized groups and especially people of color and trans people, which is what punk music is all about,” Lizzy said. She feels music is something relatable and accessible for people, both emotionally and politically. One of the ways Lizzy brings a unique aspect of herself to WES is by being a transgender woman and part of the queer community there.

“A lot of trans folk feel hesitant about expressing gender and identity in public,” she said. At WES though, she feels like people can be as expressive as they are comfortable with, but people at WES will continue to validate them by using correct gender pronouns and otherwise treating all people with dignity despite their race, class or

gender/sexual expression.

“St. Louis, as progressive as it is, is still very toxic towards trans folks,” Lizzy said. That is why it is so important to have inclusive spaces for all people.

Tony Pecinovsky attended as well. Pecinovsky is the president of WES and serves on the St. Louis Jobs with Justice Leadership Team, is a member of the United Media Guild, a delegate to the St. Louis Central Labor Council, and a member of the national board of the Communist Party USA. In an interview with the Jacobin magazine this August, he said, “It would be a mistake to call these events, potlucks, concerts and workdays ‘non-educational.’

They’re very educational and political, both formally and informally.

For example, potluck attendees— of which there are usually about a hundred—not only have informal conversations, whereby individual community activists and leaders talk about what they are working on and upcoming plans, actions, meetings, rallies and protests, but they also access a space to build community, relationships, trust and support. People learn from each other. That’s educational. It’s very political. Just attending a WES potluck is a political act, as we are known for our politics.”

As Lizzy said, music is a relatSee “WES” on Page 8

November 2, 2017 arts@unewsonline.com Natalie Riopelle, Arts Editor Chandana Kamaraj, Assoc. Arts Editor

Arts

November 2, 2017

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Baker, round 2 ‘Stranger’ than before

By MADISYN SIEBERT Staff Writer

Courtesy of Julian Baker

By TOM BERGAN Staff Writer

Julien Baker makes music feel incredibly sad. The 22-year-old singer displayed this throughout her debut album, 2015’s “Sprained Ankle.” There was little reprieve from songs that accurately and honestly depicted a sense of extreme loneliness and longing. Armed with no more than a guitar and an occasional piano, Baker wrestled with questions of faith, relationships and belonging.

As a queer woman from Tennessee, Baker offered incredibly unique insights into life that were wise beyond her age. Her debut album did not offer any resolutions to many of the ideas brought to the table, but that was never its intention. “Sprained Ankle” existed to present the ideas, not resolve them. These themes are continued on “Turn Out the Lights,” but with a positive twist. As heart-wrenching as Baker’s lyrics continue to be, they offer a sliver of hope this time around. Where sadness was once presented and left to be pondered, sadness is now presented, but resolution is hinted at, showing a sliver of hope for how situations remedy themselves.

“Turn Out the Lights” is one of the most sonically cohesive indie albums in recent history.

Piano instrumental “Over” which opens the album, flows seamlessly into “Appointments,” a track that is enhanced greatly by the extended intro provided by “Over.” Each song seems to bleed into the next, as if they are chapters in the novel that is

“Turn Out the Lights.” The darkly-tinged final line of “Appointments” which declares “Maybe it’s all gonna turn out all right / Oh, I know that it’s not, but I have to believe that it is” leaves the listener feeling a bit of the same thoughts— that positivity will ultimately win against the sadness of life. With this skeptical optimism, the listener straps in for the rollercoaster of emotions that is the entirety of the album, and is rewarded tenfold by its beauty.

On “Sprained Ankle’s” track “Something,” Baker wrestles with an inner monologue, telling herself “I just said nothing, said nothing, said nothing / Sat and watched you drive away,” leaving the listener to feel the same emptiness that Baker feels. Alternately, on “Lights” track “Hurt Less,” Baker proclaims “This year I’ve started wearing safety belts / When I’m driving / Because when I’m with you / I don’t have to think about myself / And it hurts less.” The shift of Baker’s tone is drastic, with Baker’s selfawareness of where she is in relation to where she was center stage. She easily could’ve shined a light on the negativity brought with depression, but instead opts to shift the narrative, rewriting what feelings ultimately end up being center stage.

In addition to the positive undertones that become the silver linings of the incredibly heavy topics covered in “Turn Off the Lights,” Baker’s latest release feels bigger than her last. Baker See “Baker” on Page 8

Demo-dogs, the Upside Down, and good old Eleven.

These are just a few words that immediately stand out to anyone who is an avid watcher of “Stranger Things.” Season 2 of the immensely popular show debuted Oct. 27, and fans went crazy as they awaited the countdown.

The Duffer Brothers, who created, wrote and directed the show, took the world by storm when the first season of “Stranger Things” appeared on Netflix in mid-July 2016.

The show completely swept the awards at the Emmys that year and it was the conversation topic no one could avoid.

Season 2 picks up roughly a year after we last saw the small town of Hawkins, Ind. Last season dealt with the disappearance of Will Byers, and this season followed the repercussions of saving Will from the Upside Down. People also finally realize that Barb’s disappearance is a big deal, and we get a look into the backstory of Eleven.

Bob Newby, played by Sean Astin, is a new character added to the plot this year. He is known as Joyce Byers’ (played

by Winona Ryder) boyfriend and also the manager at the local RadioShack in town.

(Remember, this is the 80s so

RadioShack still existed.) He also tries to take on the role of the father figure for Will and Jonathan to help bond them closer as a family, and ultimately comes as the wild card for the whole show.

Bob is not the only new character though; there is also Max Mayfield, a girl who recently moved to Hawkins and causes tension in the original group due to Dustin’s and Lucas’s crushes on her and her own independent nature.

Max finds herself getting into the middle of a nightmare she never expected by making friends with Lucas, Daniel, Will and Mike.

Max’s older step-brother, Billy Hargrove, is less thrilled about it than anyone though. Billy starts to add new tension to the show by challenging Steve Harrington for not only his popularity in school but also for harassing Max and her friends.

Steve is also promoted from a minor character to a leading character in season 2, showing his more vulnerable side and care for Nancy and her brother, Mike and his friends. Mike, for most of the show, tends to be a moody pre-teen, moping about the loss of Eleven, but he finds himself being the one doing the most out of his friends to help save Will once again.

Nancy, Jonathan and Steve still have a weird love triangle occurring throughout the second season that is a little bit too much to go along with the basics of the story.

Plus, the moment you feel bad for

Jonathan you immediately feel bad for Steve, and vice-versa.

Jim Hopper also returns to Season 2 with much more pressing issues—really turning into a part of the “Stranger Things” family, literally. And lastly, the parents— all except for Joyce— really do not seem to care or know where their kids are ever.

This season is filled with the same energy and excitement that Season 1 had. With more character development and the Upside Down meshing into the real world, old faces and new come together once again save Will Byers.

The filming of the show is done wonderfully, keeping the audience on edge and captivated by what will occur next. The visual effects used to create the Upside Down and Demodogs is of an outstanding quality that is far too good for just a television series. And to add to the overall effects, the soundtrack for the show was perfect, tying in retro ‘80s hits with great suspenseful music that was made specifically for the show.

Overall, the show lived up to the hype that came with it, which is usually hard to do with a sequel or second season. “Stranger Things 2” was really able to deliver a full package to fulfill the craving needs fans had for the unique town of Hawkins. Even though the last clip in season two set the show up for a third season, it may worry fans how much they will try to stretch the show out and lose the overall quality that comes with it.

SUPERNATURAL: Concerned family and friends surround Will Byers.

Courtesy of Netflix

8 November 2, 2017

WES: Punk party

bor movement, women’s’ rights and LGBTQIA empowerment,” according to their website. able and accessible way to discuss topThe organization’s past concerts ics such as politics. have raised money for an LGBTQBenjamin*, who plays guitar for IA+ center in Orlando, Fla., following Redbait and was one of the primary orthe hate-based shooting at the Pulse ganizers of the event, agreed when he nightclub, as well as for the National said, “Punk rock was founded on poAbortion and Reproductive Rights litical ideas, and we just want to bring Action League, Pro-Choice Missouri that back, [and] engage the punk scene and Planned Parenthood for Internaagain.” tional Women’s Day. Both of these The show also featured a flea marevents included speakers well-versed ket, including books about labor hisin these areas. tory since World War II, and civil WES is also currently involved rights leaders such as Angela Dain campaigns to raise the minimum vis and John Brown. WES executive wage, move towards single-payer board member and representative for healthcare, and Services Employwith CLEAN ees International Missouri, which Union Healthcare Punk rock was seeks to lower the Nicholas James founded on politiamount of money also displayed and value of gifts part of his 20,000 cal ideas, and we lobbyists, people, piece memorabiljust want to bring corporations and ia collection hailthat back, [and] other organizaing from Austria, engage the punk tions can donate China, Hungary, to state legislative Poland, Romascene again. candidates and to nia, Russia, Ser-Benjamin, event increase transparbia and Slovakia organizer ency by opening for sale at the flea legislative records market. James has to the public in travelled to many Missouri. of these countries, including several “Some shows, like the Halloween visits to Hungary. WES is also compilone, really have no specific agenda or ing a library with books about labor message, no speakers, [but it’s] just a history, labor law, LGBTQIA+ rights fun night of punk rock and friends. It and the working-class struggle. With also is very important to us to create their speakers and the library WES is a safe place in the STL music scene. compiling, along with these books and We have a strict no tolerance policy memorabilia, the organization puts the posted all over at the WES. Having “education” in St. Louis Worker’s Edua space we know will be free from cation Society. harassment, misogyny, racism, hoPolitics and community are at the mophobia—all that other bad shit heart of what WES does. The organiyou can think of—is part of the reazation has been involved in St. Louis’s son why we do these shows,” Benjalabor movement since the 1960s, when min said. As he said before Daytime the International Union of OperatTelevision kicked off the night’s muing Engineers bought the property. In sic, “Have fun, don’t be a s***bag and more recent years, their concerts have happy Halloween.” featured “progressive musical acts with *Last names have been omitted for a message and spoken word from comtheir safety. munity leaders in racial justice, the laContinued from Page 6

“

“

Niles Zee / St. Louis Workers’ Education Society

Arts

To do in STL Food by Finn—Pop-up Truck Thurs. Nov. 2 Wash. U. Food Truck Row

On Your Feet!

Tues. Nov. 7 - Sun. Nov. 19 The Fabulous Fox

Murder on the Orient Express Release: Fri. Nov. 10

St. Louis Intl. Film Festival Thurs. Nov. 2 - Sat. Nov. 11

Ben Folds

Fri. Nov. 3 The Pageant

Baker: Experimental music Continued from Page 7

experiments with vocal and guitar loops much more on this release than in previous tracks. Where Baker could have opted to whisper out into darkness at the end of a track, she belts at the top of her lungs instead, always nearing the crack in her voice that never seems to arrive.

Nowhere is this better displayed than on “Sour Breath,” one of the albums peaks, musically and emotionally. Detailing a relationship that is plagued by drug use and alcohol, Baker sings of the moments in which she realizes things are faltering.

Just as there is seemingly no hope within the situation, a moment of clarity appears, with Baker singing in a hymn-like fashion “the harder I swim, the faster I sink.”

The tension builds until there is a release of the guitar loops leaving Baker to repeat the line one last time with nothing but her strained voice, that somehow displays the pain and artistry of self-realization within a toxic situation.

The album closes out with the maximization of tensions that ebbed and flowed throughout the record, with the ideas of depression and self-love once again be-

coming the center of discussion. Baker has an honest and difficult conversation through her lyrics about “Conducting an experiment on how it feels to die / Or stay alive.” The question on all listener’s minds is if she will find the resolution and peace she hints at throughout the album’s themes? For the moment, it seems as if she has. The final lines proclaim “I take it all back, I change my mind / I wanted to stay / I wanted to stay.” While “staying” means wrestling with all of the issues and ideas that Baker plainly and realistically presents throughout the album, it also means that in the end, everything just may be okay. Okay for Julien Baker, for her listeners and for those who can find joy in phenomenal art, such as “Turn Out the Lights.”

Courtesy of Nolan Knight Photography

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November 2, 2017

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November 2, 2017

Games University News 11/2/17 Crossword Across 1 Sound of frustration 5 Ancient Greek colonnade 9 Napkin, of sorts 12 Italian river 13 Stags 15 Ice sheet 16 Busting a gut?

19 Response 20 Primps 21 Foreword, for short 24 Little bit 25 WWW address 27 Suit material 30 WW II arena 33 Actor’s line 35 Squeeze 37 Preserves 38 Dine 39 Clavell’s ___-Pan 41 Fiddle-de-___ 42 Unlock, in verse 43 Blunder 44 Acquiesce 46 Slot machine coin 48 GI’s address 49 Fable writer 51 Actor Beatty 52 Literary collection 55 Hoity-toity sorts 57 Marked test papers 60 Most recent 64 Unable to frown?

67 Roman moon goddess 68 Get ready to drive 69 Gunk 70 Young lamb 71 Labels 72 Spanish direction

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45 Sharp curve 47 Comedian’s platform 50 Sea anemones, e.g.

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November 2, 2017

Photography

11

Halloween at SLU

By EMMA CARMODY Photo Editor

This Tuesday, SLU students and staff celebrated Halloween as a community. Whether they dressed up for the day or participated in one of the events that an organization hosted, everyone was full of Halloween spirit. Several residence halls hosted events through the Residence Hall Association such as Spring Hall’s Nightmare on Spring Street, Marguerite’s Haunted House, and Grand’s Halloween Team Trivia. Several students chose to dress up for classes in creative costumes and several staff members showed their spirit as well. Pumpkins were scattered around Saint Louis University’s campus and many chose to carve or paint their pumpkins too. All of these festivities resulted in a very fun and very spooky Halloween at SLU this year.

Nightmare on Spring Street This Halloween, Spring Hall hosted a Halloween event, Nightmare on Spring Street on the quad in front of Spring Hall. It included karaoke in the Spring Ampitheater, which they called “scare-eoke.” There was also a variety of snacks including cookies, marshmallows, apple cider and hot chocolate in front of the bonfire and a pumpkin-painting station where residents could decorate their own mini pumpkins. Despite the chilly weather, there was still a strong turn out, especially for the costume contest.

The winners were Aaron Brown, who was Sia, Rafael De Costa, who was Captain Jack Sparrow, and Rachel McBeath who was La Croix. There was also a classic Halloween activity: a candy corn contest where students had to guess the number of pieces of candy corn. The winner, Rachel McBeath, guessed within 75 pieces.

Residents sang to songs in the Spring Ampitheater to classic Halloween songs such as “The Monster Mash,” the theme song to “Ghostbusters,” and “Purple People Eater.”

Spring Hall provided mini pumpkins and paint for residents to decorate their own pumpkins for the season.

Several students broke out their best costumes for the costume contest and there was a wide variety of costumes, from Shrek to Draco Malfoy.

12

Photography

November 2, 2017

Marguerite Haunted House

Held last year in Fusz Hall, the Residence Hall Association moved the haunted house to the basement of Walsh Hall this year, which anyone who has lived in the Griesedieck complex can agree, may be the scariest place on campus. Marguerite Hall hosted the event and opened up the door that led directly into Walsh, welcoming SLU students into a hall of horror. Even though they worked to make it as scary as possible, there was also an option for students to take a route of comic relief, where they walked down a hall filled with signs with the fears of every college student, such as “Midterms,” “Blackboard Down,” and “WiFi Outage 2017.” For those students brave enough to take the scarier of the two routes, however, they were met with different rooms—each run by a different residence hall—filled with terrifying Halloweeen horrors.

“

We had about 370 people attend which is an amazing turnout! [They] put so much effort into their contributions.

“

Kat Martinez President of the Marguerite Hall Council

In this butcher-themed room, students had plenty of blood and plenty of knives to scare haunted house goers as well as their “victims” on the table.

Students wait outside of Walsh Hall to enter the building through its locked doors. The haunted house this year was moved to Walsh hall.

Students take a break from scaring students to pose for a photo in a clownthemed room, complete with a Pennywise mask.

Photography

November 2, 2017

13

Getting in the Halloween Spirit

Some of the most festive people on campus this Halloween were Dolores and Barb, employees in the business school café. They had true Halloween spirit and made several students’ days. They also spent their day trying to convince students to break out their favorite Halloween costumes.

Spring Hall also held a door decorating contest where each floor decorated their lounge door. Everyone had a different spin on what they thought was the most festive, from cute to scary. Pictured here is the Spring floor five door and its proud residents.

“Why are skeletons so calm?

Because nothing gets under their skin!

“

Jovana Vukanic Pictured Right

The fact that student Joseph Wendt had classes and meetings from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. did not stop him from wearing his costume all day. He is pictured here after participating in his Alpha Phi Omega chapter costume contest.

14

Photography

November 2, 2017

Hindu Student Community celebrates Diwali

By EMMA CARMODY Photo Editor

SLU students in the Hindu Student Community celebrated Diwali, or the festival of lights, this Sunday in DuBourg Hall. This display contains several symbols that are part of the Hindu religion such as lamps and light that are the focus of Diwali. There were several candles throughout the room symbolizing the victory of good versus evil.

After celebrating with a ritual and meal in Sinquefield State Room, students headed over to the Busch Student Center for sparklers.

After a ritual, students shared a traditional Indian meal with each other that included naan, paneer, vegetable kurma and rice.

Students Vasu Balraj and Zarah Habibollah pose with sparklers at the Diwali celebration of light on the BSC patio.

Sports

November 2, 2017 sports@unewsonline.com Bobby Stilwell, Sports Editor Monica Ryan, Assoc. Sports Editor

SLU honored five seniors at the Saint Joseph game on Wednesday. The players and their positions are listed below.

Duncan Corbett, midfielder

Saint Louis Athletics CONTACT: Junior forward Anthony Brown beats a Dayton player down the field. Brown scored the game-winner at Tulsa and tallied an assist at Fordham.

Men’s Soccer Posts Senior Day Win, Advances to A-10 Quarterfinals

By Sam Glass Staff Writer

The St. Louis University Men’s Soccer team continued Atlantic-10 play with a Saturday night home game against Davidson on Oct. 21. The match played a full 90 minutes without either team able to break the 0-0 stalemate. Both teams made plenty of scoring opportunities, but ultimately, it was Davidson who broke the draw. A goal in the 96th minute wrapped the game up for a Davidson 1-0 win.

The Billikens postponed A-10 play on Tuesday, Oct. 24, when they traveled to Oklahoma to play against Tulsa. The first half of the match played out scoreless at 0-0. The second half played out much of the same way, and with overtime looming,

Tulsa put in a goal going up 1-0 in the 80th minute. The Bills struck back when sophomore midfielder Saadiq Mohammed, drove one in with his head off a service from sophomore forward Leo Novaes.

The game went into overtime for all of five minutes until the golden goal was scored.

Junior forward Anthony Brown drove a shot into the back of the net from 15 yards out, netting the Bills the win.

Off the thrilling overtime victory, the Bills jumped back into conference play against Jesuit rival, Fordham. The game played to a 0-0 draw at the half, but after rallying for the second half, the Billikens opened the scoring with a goal from senior defender Patrick Sarr. The Bills went up 2-0 after a Fordham own goal. Fordham halved the lead in the dying minutes of the game but were unable to overcome the deficit. The game ended at 2-1, giving the Bills their second two-win streak since

exhibition play in August.

The Billikens returned home for senior night in their final regular season game against Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 1. The Bills needed everything to play out perfectly around the conference to clinch a championship spot. The stars aligned and the Bills just had to do their part. Scoring broke out in the 38th minute when Sarr headed one in, netting him his third goal of the season and a special senior night. The bills doubled the lead with a goal from Mohammed. The game ended in a 2-0 SLU win.

Heading into A-10 championship play, Head Coach Mike McGinty says, “It’s really about getting our guys back physically and getting them mentally ready for the next challenge.” The Bills play University of Massachusetts, away, in the A-10 championship quarterfinal on Sunday at noon.

Jair Hernandez, defender

Sascha Otte, goalkeeper

Akeem Richards, defender

Patrick Sarr, midfielder

16

Sports

November 2, 2017

Saint Louis Athletics

PUNT: Senior goalkeeper Mary Niehaus kicks the ball downfield in the game against SIUE. Niehaus posted a record 15 wins this season.

Women’s Soccer Ends Record-Setting Season

By Bobby Stilwell Sports Editor

SLU Women’s Soccer hosted UMass for the final home game of the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 19. With the 3-0 win, the Billikens set a new record for a home win streak (19), and clinched a first round A-10 playoff game at Hermann.

SLU got to work early, with sophomore midfielder Courtney Reimer converting a PK in the 25th minute. Reimer tallied another point when sophomore defender Allie Klug rebounded her saved shot and found

CHEER

the net in the 33rd minute.

The game was 2-0 at the half, but SLU would tally one more goal. Junior forward Lindsay Sands made a long pass to sophomore forward Evie Lavelle, and after a brief stare-down, out-maneuvered the UMass goalie for an easy insurance goal.

Lavelle gave credit to Sands’ setup on her goal: “Lindsay just played a phenomenal ball in, and I thought I was going to shank it if I didn’t go past the goalie. So, I just went around her and passed it in.”

Head Coach Katie Shields was excited for playoff soccer at Hermann: “It’s exciting. We

WHO TO CHEER SAUDI ARABIA The traditionally conservative country announced that it is lifting a longstanding ban. It will allow women into three major sports stadiums, as part of reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

harped on the team about getting in that top four and getting a home playoff game.”

SLU traveled to Fordham for Sunday afternoon action on Oct. 22, falling 2-0 to the Rams in the final game of the regular season. The first half went scoreless before Fordham scored two quick goals in the 56th and 61st minute.

Junior forward Maddie Pokorny tallied a game-high four shots, with senior goalkeeper Mary Niehaus, Klug, and senior defender Molly Ream playing all 90 minutes.

The Billikens returned home on Saturday, Oct. 28, for an A-10 quarterfinal game

JEER

against the St. Joseph Hawks.

Even though the Billikens owned a 1612 advantage in shots, they couldn’t find the net. The Hawks did, though, netting a goal in the 30th minute in the 1-0 loss.

Despite being eliminated from post-season play, the Billikens can boast a number of records this year: The best overall regular season record in the A-10 (15-2-2), Niehaus with a single-season record 15 wins, and 13 shutouts in a single season, among countless team and individual record ties and second and third place records.

FEAR WHO TO JEER

WHO TO FEAR

PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA The popular pizza chain (and NFL sponsor) announced that the ongoing national anthem protests are hurting their pizza sales. They are blaming NFL leadership for the issue.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Denver travels to Philadelphia Sunday afternoon. With the Eagles at 7-1 and the Broncos at 3-4, the Broncos are in for a rough road battle against the Eagles.

Sports

This week in Sports

November 2, 2017

Friday, Nov. 3

Saturday, Nov. 4

Sunday, Nov. 5

Friday, Nov. 10

Saturday, Nov. 11

Monday, Nov. 13

Thursday, Nov. 16

Volleyball 6 p.m. v. Fordham Women’s Basketball 7:30 p.m. v. Lindenwood

Men’s Basketball 7 p.m. v. Harris-Stowe

Volleyball 1 p.m. v. Rhode Island

Women’s Basketball 6 p.m. @ Indiana State Volleyball 6 p.m. @ George Mason Men’s Basketball 7 p.m. v. Seattle

Volleyball 6 p.m. @ George Washington

Women’s Basketball 5 p.m. v. Loyola Marymount Men’s Basketball 7:30 p.m. v. Rockhurst

Men’s Basketball 6 p.m. v. Virginia Tech

17

Saint Louis Athletics

SPIKE: Freshman outside hitter Maya Taylor spikes the ball over the net against UALR on Sept. 16. Taylor had 14 kills against George Mason and seven against VCU.

Volleyball Returns to Chaifetz After Losing on the Road

By Megan Hammond Staff Writer

Women’s volleyball had a clean sweep in their matches against George Washington and George Mason at Chaifetz; however, they lost against VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Davidson on the road.

On Friday, Oct. 20, SLU was riding high against George Washington, winning 3-0.

Sien Gallop’s performance was on-point

throughout the match with nine kills, four service aces, and seven digs. In the first set, the Billikens had an early lead with a 7-0 run, making the score 9-4. GW surged forward 11-2 taking the lead 15-11. SLU answered by winning the next several points, GW never getting within two points for the remainder of the frame. The final score was 25-21.

For the second set, GW presented more of a challenge, staying on top by six points several times. SLU bounced back 13-4, giving them the advantage 24-21. After

two set points, Saint Louis was able to win the set 25-23. The Billikens closed out the third set with a 7-1 spurt, winning 25-16.

Against George Mason on Sunday, Oct. 22, SLU had another 3-0 win, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18. Throughout all three sets, the Billikens exhibited strong playing ability across the board. Gallop led the first set with five kills and three digs. For the three sets, Gallop had a combined 11 kills and recorded a team-high of 13 digs. Maya Taylor had the highest number of kills for the night, putting in 14. Other notables include Lau-

ren Leverenz with 11 kills and Mackenzie Long with 12 digs and five assists.

On Friday, Oct. 27, SLU was on the road playing against VCU. The Rams were triumphant, winning 3-0, 25-19, 25-22, 2520. Lauren Mershon lead the Billikens with her best hitting percentage of the season, 8-1-15, .467, vs. an A-10 opponent. Leverenz registered eight kills, and Taylor just behind with seven kills. Kennedy Cordia finished with a 21-assist, 10See “Heartbreak” on Page 18

18 November 2, 2017 Swimming/Diving Brings Home Hardware from Atlantic 10 Classic

By Monica Ryan Associate Sports Editor

Swimming and Diving competed in the Atlantic 10 Classic Saturday and Sunday in Geneva, Ohio at Spire Institute.

The Women went 2-2 beating George Mason 192-179 and La Salle 248-118 and falling to Duquesne 293-141 and to St. Bonaventure 195.5-175.5. The women are now 9-3 this season.

Senior Mina Glenesk was a standout for the Billikens, winning the 200 free (1:54.61), 500 free (5:03.57) and 1,650 free (17:40.24). She leads the A-10 this season with her 500 free time.

Glenesk and her 400 free relay teammates, freshman Natalie Daniel, senior Maggie Sheean, and senior Elaine Mahon, came in third with a time of 3:35.04.

Other standouts included sophomore Savannah Nichols with a second place finish in the 100 fly with a time of 58.28.

Senior Riley Kirby earned a pair of third place finishes in the 100 back (59.09) and 200 back (2:06.37).

In diving, senior Kalley Schwab came in third in the 3-meter.

The men went 1-2 on the weekend, beating St. Bonaventure 212-142 and falling to

La Salle 238-132 and to George Mason 245-125. The men are now 5-4 this season.

Senior Ryan McCoy posted two wins in the 100 fly (49.99) and 100 free (45.88) and had a second place finish in the 500 free (4:38.22).

Junior Isaiah Williams had a successful weekend posting a first place finish in the 200 fly (1:51.94), second in the 200 IM (1:55.29) and third in the 400 IM (4:07.89).

Freshman T.J. Halliburton earned A-10 Rookie of the Week for Oct. 23-29.

Saturday and Sunday Halliburton finished second in the 100 backstroke (52.17), and second as a part of the Billikens’ 400 medley relay team with Williams, McCoy and junior Justin Mars with a time of 3:24.77.

Halliburton also just missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in the 200 backstroke (1:53.54).

On Nov. 3 at 5 p.m., the Billikens host their first home meet of the season at Simon Rec Center.

The men and women will both compete against Lindenwood-Belleville, and the women’s team will also take on Little Rock.

Sports

Heartbreak: Volleyball Loses to Davidson in Five Continued from Page 17

double.

In the first set, VCU took the lead after breaking the sixth tie of the set. SLU never trailed far behind, but the Rams finished the game with a 6-0 spurt. The second set proved more promising for the Billikens, holding early leads of 3-0 and 5-2, but VCU tied the set seven times. The last deadlock was 21-21, VCU breaking through and winning the next few points to close the frame. In the third set, the Rams shot ahead of the Billikens with an 8-1 lead. SLU was able to gain back some ground with a 6-2 surge, but VCU pulled away and won by five points.

SLU challenged Davidson on Sunday, Oct. 29, with a close match, but just shy of a win at 3-2, 25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 19-25, 15-13. With a two-set shortfall, the Billikens had a comeback, forcing a fifth set break. Gallop showcased her skill once again with a career and match-high 22 kills, 10 digs, and four service aces. Taylor also had a career-high 20 kills and eight digs. Leverenz reported four service aces

and 17 kills and Long led the team with 21 digs. Cordia registered 27 assists and nine digs, while Rivas had a match-high 30 assists. SLU is now 9-14 overall and 6-4 in the A-10.

In the first set, SLU led 10-3, but Davidson gradually moved up to make it a 17-17 tie. After four more ties, Davidson took the frame with a four-point surge. The Wildcats had a 4-0 lead in the second set, SLU trailed behind and never took the lead or tied. The third set was close with 15 deadlocks, SLU winning the final two points after a 24-24 tie. SLU won the fourth set easily, but in the fifth set, Davidson sprinted ahead from a 9-9 tie. The Billikens were able to tie Davidson again 13-13, but lost the next two points, and the match.

This upcoming week, the Billikens remain at home in the Chaifetz Pavilion.

Their next match-up is against Fordham at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, and then they challenge Rhode Island on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m.

Field Hockey Seniors Honored

By Erin McClelland Staff Writer

The Saint Louis Field Hockey team wrapped up their season with a 3-0 loss Friday, Oct. 27, in a conference game against Virginia Commonwealth University at home at Sportport International. The team celebrated its five seniors, Morgan Crowe, Katie Moss, Emily Myers, Hanna Smith, and Carli Wolfe, at the game with a rock-star theme that was very fitting for the group of girls. The team finished 4-12 on the year, the best season for SLU Field Hockey since the 2008 season in which they also won four games.

VCU was able to put two past freshman goalkeeper Bailey Foreman in the first half and one in the second to top the Billikens 3-0 in their final game of the 2017 season. At the conclusion of the season, junior Carly Kissinger lead the team with 14 points (5 goals, 4 assists) followed by Moss and Erica Bondoc with nine (3 goals, 3 assists each).

As the five Field Hockey seniors hang up

their blue and grey jerseys for the last time, they will take the memories of the last four years and how playing a collegiate sport has affected their lives with them forever.

A favorite memory many of them shared was the dance competitions they had in hotels during travel trips.

Smith said, “we used to meet in a hotel room and split up into teams. Then we would go off and make a dance routine and the people that didn’t want to dance would judge it. It was so much fun and really helped us as a team to laugh with each other. It translated onto the field and helped us play better together.” Smith is going to miss everyone’s “drive and dedication to play and get better.”

“These past four years have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs,” said Crowe.

“We have had heartbreaking losses and memorable wins. I am most thankful for the friends that I have made along this crazy journey. Without my teammates, I would not be the person I am today and I can’t thank them enough for it.”

Myers said, “Playing [field hockey] al-

Saint Louis Athletics

DETERMINATION: Junior Carly Kissinger sweeps the ball downfield in the game against Richmond. Kissinger led the team with 14 points, five goals and four assists this season. lowed me to be a part of something bigger than myself that pushed me to be a better person. I made some of my best friends while playing.”

“I love the game and what it has done for me,” Wolfe said. “Because of field hockey, I have met incredible girls and it led me to St. Louis where I met my future husband.”

Moss added, “SLU Field Hockey has brought me so many memories and has helped shape me into the strong woman I

am today. I have gained not only incredible friendships but a built-in family even though I am so far away from home. I am going to miss the competitive aspect of the game and playing alongside an amazing group of girls.”

Billiken Field Hockey will miss the passion the class of 2018 brought to the field as well as their immense leadership and inspiration on and off the hockey field.

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19

Opinions&Editorials

November 2, 2017

opinion@unewsonline.com Opinion Editor: Open

A Response to Dr. Pestello’s Claim of “Fundamental Intolerance”

Erika Greiner

This is my fourth year attending SLU, and each year, our quad is covered with wooden crosses by the pro-life organization on campus. This year, an anonymous person removed the display. Students for Life as well as President Pestello have spoken out about the incident, claiming that it is “fundamental intolerance” to oppose the display from a pro-life organization on campus. President Pestello even compared the opposition to this annual antiabortion display to Islamophobia and anti-Semitic acts. I must completely disagree with that comparison. Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are founded in hate and ignorance. The right to choose is rooted in medical evidence, the right to access health

care and bodily autonomy.

Dr. Pestello calls for the free exploration and exchange of diverse opinions. Yet he has not allowed other groups with opposing views to have a presence on campus, and allowed public discrimination to go unpunished.

Healthy is Hot, a nonprofit organization, (not allowed to be an official University organization) which aims to provide reproductive health care resources to the sexually active students on our campus. In late September of this year, Healthy is Hot members were approached by a faculty member who hurled insults, calling the organization, their members and mission “disgusting.” When members responded by speaking of the respect for diverse opinions, the individual continued to simply state “you’re wrong” and refused to follow up for a more dignified exchange of beliefs in a different setting, while continuing to patronize the group in the middle of campus. To make matters worse, as the professor left the premises, he yelled to uninvolved students “Do not take the condoms! You will go to hell!” Upon hearing this, I was

shocked and disappointed in my university. We claim to adhere to a mission of diversity, inclusion of different beliefs and respect for human dignity, and yet, this behavior came from a faculty member.

I respect all religions, but I do not believe that the religious interpretations of some should be inflicted upon all others when it comes to healthcare. And although President Pestello references numerous reasons for the display that Students for Life puts up—including representation for Missouri residents who live in poverty—the student group’s website, newsletter and Facebook page refers specifically to their mission as an anti-abortion organization. I would like to point out that many Missouri residents who live in poverty need Planned Parenthood and more access to reproductive health services in order to live a healthy and dignified life. A SLU public health professor published a report called “Geographic Variation in Condom Availability and Accessibility” in December 2016. They investigated nearly 1,300 stores and found that poor neighborhoods

in St. Louis have restricted and/ or limited access to condoms.

This indicates that there is a need for more access to reproductive health care resources in the St. Louis area. Additionally, the students on our campus deserve access to reproductive health resources as well. It is a public health issue to not allow a university with a majority of sexually active students access to contraception. Contraception is THE most effective way to prevent unintended pregnancies, where “fertility-awareness” based methods and abstinence education are the least effective. It is irresponsible to deny access to contraception and resources that prevent sexually transmitted diseases. If we can’t promote evidence-based public health solutions to STIs and unintended pregnancies, how can we uphold truth, dignity for all, and keep our credibility as a leading medical school?

The dismantling of the antichoice group’s display on campus may not have been the most effective way to raise these concerns. However, based on the example that SLU’s own faculty has set when it comes to suppressing

and targeting the students who are advocating for reproductive justice, I can’t say that it came as a complete surprise for me.

The University has sent its own message of “fundamental intolerance” to reproductive health advocacy groups through their actions. President Pestello himself suggested during an open forum last spring that if students wanted access to condoms, they should transfer to another school.

One thing I will agree with is the need for open discussions to have these sorts of uncomfortable conversations on campus. I would love to see events where pro-choice and pro-life students can respectfully discuss differences of opinion, and work together to promote prevention of unintended pregnancies and ensure a high quality of life for low-income individuals residing in our community. I believe that there are many strategies on which we may be able to agree, but we will never reach that place if the University only allows one side to participate.

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November 2, 2017

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

21

Plant Based Living Corporate Christmas Beginning Too Early? on Campus

Mary Adcock This December will be my five-year anniversary of being a vegetarian. In honor of that, I will recount my experiences with vegetarianism over the years and how it came to be put into action with the Saint Louis University community.

Vegetarians do not eat meat while vegans abstain from eating or otherwise using any animal products. I recently found a website called The Vegan Calculator.

Although I am only vegetarian— despite developing a slight lactose intolerance that has led to me avoiding milk and yogurt— and in my five years I have saved about two million gallons of water, 54,000 square feet of forest, 1,000 animals, 73,000 pounds of grain and 36,500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

I have found that being a vegetarian or vegan is one of the best ways to save the environment; even if it is only once a week, anything helps. So much water is used to process and transport animal carcasses, while the meat industry is causing massive deforestation as rainforests are cut down to make room for the cattle demand in developed countries like the United States. With plant-based diets, the water is cleaner, the air is cleaner, and the food that was going to be fed to cattle can now be fed to the millions of starving people in the world. Not to mention the sheer saving of animal lives.

Plant-based diets are also a way to improve one’s personal health. The American Heart Association reports that vegetarians are at a lower risk for diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure than their meat-eating peers. Vegetarians also are said to have greater longevity and lower body mass indexes. I know I lost ten pounds within my first month of being a vegetarian. That is not meant to bodyshame, but rather to honestly confront the obesity problem in America and the other life-threatening conditions it leads to, such as diabetes and heart disease.

A group known as Green Billikens at SLU has recently created smaller working groups to focus on environmental topics, one being a Plant Based Living group.

Many people in this group are vegetarians

and vegans, and others are simply interested in learning more about these lifestyles.

The Plant Based Living group is focused on the ethical, environmental and health reasons for pursuing a more plantbased diet, with respect to the cultures people are from. The leader of the group, a neuroscience and pre-medicine student, Clare Schrodt, and the Plant Based Living group have been working with Aramark to increase vegetarian and vegan options at SLU, not only so students like us can eat, but also to introduce other people to these foods. Plant-based diets can be just as affordable, delicious and healthy as omnivorous ones, and oftentimes more so.

The group also went to the plant-based restaurant, Lulu’s Local Eatery, on South Grand at the beginning of October, which drew people from outside of the club. We hope to make this a monthly occurrence, so that we can build community over ethical food, support local businesses and invite people in who may not be interested otherwise.

Green Billikens volunteered to compost and recycle at EarthDance Organic Farm’s fundraiser. Members of the Plant Based Living group also attended and participated in the St. Louis Workers’ Education Society vegan chili competition on Oct. 20. Another project the Plant Based Living group has coming up is a screening of the movie “Cowspiracy” on Wednesday, Nov. 29, which explores the environmental and sustainability implications of eating meat and other animal products.

Kyle Luzynski is a transfer student from St. Louis Community College studying philosophy at SLU. While at STLCC, he created a Veg Fest based off the larger event in St. Louis and nationwide, with which he also works. He works at the Humane League as well, an animal advocacy organization against the animal cruelty and exploitation seen in animal agriculture. With their technology, Luzynski and other members of the Plant Based Living group hosted a virtual reality viewing on West Pine, to open people’s eyes with footage from inside of slaughterhouses.

Other projects the group hopes to pursue in the future include creating a vegan guide to help people understand how to eat a healthy vegan diet, both in general and on campus and around St. Louis. They also hope to create Veg Fest at SLU by the spring semester.

The Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls, N.Y., houses and cares for animals that have been rescued from animal agriculture. They, like us, envision a “peaceful world rooted in respect and justice for all living beings.”

Karl O’Brien

By the time this article appears in UNews, Halloween will have only been over for two days. Why is that relevant, you might ask? Seeing as Christmas items have been in stores for easily the last month and a half, it is incredibly relevant. It shouldn’t be relevant at this time of year, but Christmas products seem to be arriving earlier and earlier in stores each year—sometimes unseasonably so—particularly where the weather is concerned.

This is largely a result of the increasing commercialization of Christmas. Most all holidays mean big revenue for businesses of all sorts, but none beat Christmas for the sheer rush of family and friends trying to buy gifts for their loved ones. However, these people tend to pay more attention to sales and what seem to be the most popular items for Christmas gifts and lose sight of the family camaraderie that can come with a holiday where most everyone receives extended time off of work or school.

In days gone by, Christmas could last for up to twelve days until Jan. 5 with the celebration of Three Kings’ Day, the day on which the Magi allegedly reached the newborn Jesus. This also coincided nicely with Eastern Orthodox Christmas celebrations, which usually happen on Jan. 7 in the Gregorian calendar. Perhaps, because of this extended celebratory period, people did not feel the need to purchase or make Christmas presents until a few days before Christmas; many households did not even put up the Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. One would think that with the massive rush that many stores experience around Christmas Eve of people struggling to fit in last-minute shopping—or just shopping, period—for gifts, much in tune with their predecessors, Christmas products would not need to be sold in conjunction with Halloween decorations. It always amuses me to see decorations for two holidays that began as firmly Christian celebrations

with pagan roots before being adopted so much by secular culture as to be rendered commercial opportunities coexisting in the same stores on the same shelves. However, it is also mildly sad to consider how far All Hallows’ Eve and Christmas have strayed from their roots, but I am talking about Christmas here.

As I mentioned, part of the hyper-commercialization swirling around Christmas naturally leads to products being released progressively earlier, but it can also lead to all manner of Christmas festivities being celebrated preemptively. These can range from Christmas music being played hideously ahead of schedule on radios all over the country, holiday specials airing for popular TV shows long ahead of time, and Christmas-themed media coming out too far from Christmas. The St. Louis area at least seems to have a solid grip on managing the last two, as does most of the country. There have been years, though, when local radio stations have begun to play Christmas music the day after Halloween and have not stopped until at least three days after Christmas. I do love Christmas music, but it does start to get old when it’s been airing for that long, especially considering one can only hear “Little Saint Nick” and “Jingle Bell Rock” so many times before wanting to strangle Saint Nick with some rock-filled jingle bells. If the whole point of Christmas music is to increase Christmas cheer, playing it too early seems a little counterintuitive.

So when is a good time to start playing Christmas music, selling Christmas products, and getting into the holiday spirit? A a tradition at my house is to start putting up our frankly elaborate porcelain Christmas village on Veterans’ Day. My parents and I always did it on this day so I could be off of school to help assemble my favorite decorations. For me, this was always accompanied by Christmas music from our CDs, and my passion for Christmas escalated as this event neared. Thus, for purely sentimental reasons, I declare Veterans’ Day to be the first day to begin Christmas celebrations. Even so, I have rationalized its proximity to Thanksgiving and distance from Halloween enough that the date has become acceptable, as well. Will this do anything to change the hideous commercialization of Christmas? Probably not, but it’s always a way to enjoy my favorite holiday on my own terms.

22

Opinions & Editorials

November 2, 2017

Fantasy Football: Who’s Flopped And Who To Watch

Chris Raymond Contributer

We are officially halfway through the NFL regular season, which means your fantasy hopes have either been crushed or solidified. If you’re like me, it’s been a little of both. Nevertheless, every year we learn more about the fickle nature of fantasy football player drafting as well as the fact that a majority of fantasy football success is purely luck-based. Let’s take a position-byposition look at this season’s halfway stars and busts.

Whether you’re in a points per reception (PPR) league or not, the quarterback (QB) position should always be your top producer. In this case, all fantasy point stats are found in standard PPR league form.

Over the past few years, several QBs solidified their spots as consistent fantasy point producers. This group, including Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and Derek Carr, always served as safe picks for the position. This year, unfortunately, these QBs have been nearly nonexistent, almost to the point that random waiver picks week-to-week fit the spot better. The biggest flop of them all is by far the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford. No matter how well the Lions have done each year (ranging from terrible to not as completely terrible), Matthew Stafford was always able to put up leading numbers in the QB position, as passing seemed to be about the only thing the Lions could do.

This year, he has averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game, which is 5.7 fantasy points per game behind the leading QB. There is good news, however, and it is that two of the top three QBs coming into the halfway checkpoint

were athletes who generally rode the nately, it looks like Johnson will now waivers list the first four weeks. The most likely sit out the rest of the seatop one, Deshaun Watson, is my start- son, making him the biggest RB-bust ing QB pick for the first half of the of the season halfway through. season. After sitting out the first half There’s not much to talk about with of the first game for the Texans, head the wide receiver (WR) position, and coach Bill O’Brien quickly realized I’m sure my two picks for biggest star exactly what any football fan in the and bust are similar to everyone else’s. world knew about three weeks ear- Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown is clearly lier: Tom Savage was not the answer the leading star, and he has hauled in to his QB question. Watson swooped 57 receptions for 835 yards, giving in as a rookie and started to light up him an average of 19.8 fantasy points the league, throwing 19 touchdowns per game. Brown is nearly unstoppaand averaging 24.1 fantasy points per ble, and has been for years now. Ungame. If you were lucky enough to fortunately, the same can’t be said for grab Watson in your league, congratu- Odell Beckham Jr., who gets my title of lations, because it doesn’t look like he’s biggest WR-bust at this point. Beckplanning to slow down anytime soon. ham was a top five overall draft pick The running back (RB) position has in many leagues, yet he kept owners been quite confusing, yet still some- waiting through the first couple weeks what predictable thus far. The Dallas with lingering injuries. Finally, he Cowboy’s Ezekiel Elliot has continued made three great appearances only to to dominate, yet his off-field actions break his leg in week five, putting him are looking like they will keep him off out for the rest of the season. the field even longer as he serves his Outside of the top three positions, six-game suspension. The Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie KareemTop-25 PPR Rankings For 2017 Hunt has come out of nowhere PLAYER/POSITION/TEAM POSRANK and has given the Chiefs a running game similar to the old Ja- 1. David Johnson, RB, ARI RB1 maal Charles days.

RB2 The biggest star, however, has 2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, PIT to go to Todd Gurley. Not only RB3 has the man continued to pro- 3. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL duce points on the most unpre4.

Antonio Brown, WR, PIT WR1 dictable team in the league, but he has practically carried his WR2 team to a 5-2 start in their sec- 5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, NYG ond year after leaving St. Louis.

WR3 Perhaps Gurley is just happy that 6. Julio Jones, WR, ATL former head coach Jeff Fischer is RB4 gone, but the boy can run. And 7. LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF we see that every week as he 8. Jordy Nelson, WR, GB WR4 leads the league with 23.3 fantasy points per game. With every 9. Mike Evans, WR, TB WR5 good comes a bad, and my pick for the RB-bust halfway through 10. Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL RB5 the season is David Johnson, not surprisingly. Johnson was the 11. Melvin Gordon, RB, LAC RB6 second overall player picked in most fantasy drafts, yet he only 12. A.J. Green, WR, CIN WR6 made it through half of the first RB7 game after suffering a wrist in- 13. Jordan Howard, RB, CHI jury that placed him on the WR7 eight-week injured reserve list. 14. Michael Thomas, WR, NO Initially, we thought Johnson 15.

DeMarco Murray, RB, TEN RB8 would make a midseason return reaffirming his value. Unfortu-

players start to quickly become less important unless they are in the select top few. For the tight end (TE) position, Zach Ertz leads the pack with 16.2 fantasy points per game, earning him my title as the halfway star for all tight ends.

The 3-4 Bengals wish they could say the same about their young TE prodigy Tyler Eiffert, but unfortunately, this year has followed the tune of his past two seasons for the former Notre Dame standout. Unfortunately, Eiffert gets my title of the biggest TE bust..

Going forward, my sleeper pick of the year is Washington’s RB Chris Thompson, who can hardly maintain a starting role, but is putting up huge numbers in PPR leagues due to his receiving abilities. Most likely, every one of these star players has already been picked up. But if you happen to be in a league with any available, pick them up before someone else does.

BYE

MB

MC

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1

1

1

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Curtosey of ESPN.com

Opinion &Editorials

November 2, 2017

23

Letter to the editor: On SLU Administrative Governance

Guest Essay:Why Pride Photo Courtesy and Article By: Callie Calamia

A brief history of pride community events: Recorded pride gatherings date back to 1969, when queer/ LGBTQ+ people rioted in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Since then, pride celebrations have ranged from designated pride months and pride parades to varying pride weeks at different universities. Saint Louis University’s pride week just wrapped up, and it consisted of a variety of events hosted by Rainbow Alliance, from the Queertillion dance to a poetry slam.

As demonstrated by SLU’s queer community, pride events and gatherings consist of LGBTQ+ people and allies joining in community to celebrate their queerness and make themselves visible in their fight for queer justice— full equity and freedom to live and love as we are in our heteronormative and cisnormative society.

As a queer person, I’ve heard pretty much everything under the sun stated about Pride Week by straight people. A common statement is that, while these people are “okay with gay people,” they simply “don’t understand the need to flaunt sexuality,” which is, according to them, “something that is no one’s business anyway.” Another common question that absolutely blows my mind is, “Where’s my straight pride parade?”

A brief response to these real statements made and questions asked: I certainly would like to challenge straight and cisgender people to introspect on their identities, and how, though they may feel they do not “flaunt” their straightness, they can and they do.

Heterosexuality is obviously the norm in society, and as a result, it is most definitely overtly expressed in advertisements, movies, television shows, songs, books, and the internet—all of which reflect the straight, cisgender experience. More problematic are policies and laws that systematically disadvantage non-straight and trans folk. Also, being “okay with” queer and trans folk is not expressing discomfort in response to our celebrations of our identities. Finally, straight pride

parades happen every single day—as you walk around, holding your significant others’ hands, kiss them goodbye without looking around to lock eyes with people that are glaring at you, are taken seriously as a couple with your significant other whether it be at a formal event or out at a dinner date, and finally, as you exist as you are without having to explain yourself and your identity to others as though you owe it to them.

Not convinced we need space to be recognized and celebrated? These issues are real and systemic, and they’re more than just avoiding condescending gazes. While there has been progress in the pursuit of queer justice in the United States, most notably the Supreme Court ruling to allow samesex marriage, there are many injustices that prevail and limit members of the LGBTQ+ community day in and day out. For example, Missouri is one of many states that do not offer workplace protections for queer employees.I think a lot of straight, cisgender people have decided that pursuing information about marginalized communities such as the queer community, is not a priority for them. It is easy, with this privileged lens, to make assumptions about the queer community and their need to “flaunt” their identities. However, the reality is that we’re out here to be resilient and to fight, in a world where we truly do not have any other choice.

So why pride? Pride because pride is community, and it’s truly the only designated time to proudly own our identities, as opposed to feeling ashamed of them. It’s a time for us to feel not only safe and accepted, but truly celebrated by ourselves and others in a world that constantly rejects and criticizes our existence and plays pinball with our rights. It’s recognition of our struggles, our progress, and the milestones that we have yet to overcome. In a world that tells us that we should not be proud, our pride is our resilience.

I arrived at SLU in 1992 and learned a collection of truths regarding governance within hours. The institution was ruled by fear. The elevators and second floor of DuBourg Hall were avoided so as not to bump into the President. Extreme micromanagement was the management style modeled at the highest levels of the University. The survival of chairs and deans seemed to hinge on their application, deposit, and enrollment numbers. The “leadership” style of the President was to pit units against one another. It was unclear if units were pitted against one another to broker competition, divide and conquer, or both.

Shared governance was largely an illusion. Shared governance meant you could vote yes to an initiative from President’s Office or you could vote no and see it happen anyway. Very few raised objections for fear of consequences, and so the faculty came to believe they were powerless.

The University evolved into a beautiful campus and enrollments continued to climb, but daily life in SLU reaffirmed everything I had learned the first days. It was easier to swallow decisions and style of the leadership as we watched the transformation in the physical plant, but resentment and anger simmered. One day one dean had enough and called that President to task in a very public way and the gates opened. One voice became many and the Senate had a vote affirming that the faculty’s confidence in the President was gone. That President was removed. A new day in University governance was upon us. The new day arrived when the nature of university governance globally was becoming murky. More corporate management styles and expectations have been imposed on the academy throughout the industrialized world. As a result, the relationships between the various constituencies of a university and university governance have become clouded.

SLU now finds itself at a critical junc-

ture and the governance of the University has never been more important.

There are several critical questions before us. What is governance going to look like in Saint Louis University going forward? What is the role of each of the various constituents in deciding the critical issues facing the University? What should the relationships between the various constituencies look like in our governance structure?

We need to have a discussion of what we believe governance should look like in SLU. That need is reflected in two recent examples. I sent a note to the President of the Faculty Senate expressing my concern over having President Pestello explain a Transform SLU committee that had run behind a screen over the summer to the Senate without advertising that presentation to the faculty at large. The President’s reply was copied to Dr. Pestello and several others. The Faculty Senate just voted to allow a member of the President’s staff to remain on the Executive Committee of the Senate. Neither of these are examples are inherently wrong or bad, but they suggest that the Faculty Senate has embraced a posture complicit to the central administration rather than truly owning her role as an autonomous body representing the faculty in leading the institution.

What do we want shared governance to look like going forward? Where do the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and conflicts of interest fit in our governance structure?

How do we make those principles manifest? Is the faculty willing to assume a role in leading? How is the role of the faculty in leading SLU forward to be actualized? It is time for a frank conversation to resolve the roles and responsibilities of the various constituencies of the University in leading the University forward.

-William L. Siler, Ph.D. Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training

24 November 2, 2017

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