Volume 50 Issue 11 March 12, 2015www.meramecmontage.com

CHRISTIAN HARGAS STAFF WRITER

T h e STLCC Board of Trustees announced on Tuesday, March 10 that Jeff Pittman, Ph. D., has accepted the chancellor p o s i t i o n . Pittman will

assume the responsibilities of STLCC chancellor effective July 1 and has signed a contract for the next five years.

“The board members really liked [him] and found in the written comments, that we had gotten [from STLCC staff and faculty], confirmed the personal nature of Dr. Pittman,” Board of Trustees Chair Craig Larson, Ed. D., said. “Somebody stated that he’s not trying to impress you, but he has a deep background in his own work in community college. He has a very personable style.”

Pittman has served as the statewide vice president of corporate college services and online education at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, since January 2013.

Previously, he was chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Wabash Valley Region for 11 years.

“Indiana is unusual, in that all their students in the state of Indiana all go to one system. So it’s one unified state system. There are 30 different locations, 14 different regions,” Larson said. “He wanted to get back into the business of working with an actual college, whereas he’s been overseeing a state-wide office.”

While Pittman oversaw the Wabash Valley Region, the college’s online enrollment increased from 32,000 students in 2008 to 69,000 students in 2010.

Pittman was also active in the reorganization and development of an organization for the delivery of Corporate College customized workforce training and services to businesses, industry and individuals throughout Indiana.

“The next step is to think about, ‘Do

we offer the right programs — whether they lead to a degree or they lead to the right training — for the jobs that exist in St. Louis?’” Larson said. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we’re helping people come to a community college and giving them the right step — which may be to move on to [a four-year school].”

Larson said that part of the draw to Pittman was the fact that he was not applying to other schools. For the trustees, Larson said that showed Pittman’s dedication to St. Louis.

“In some ways [that] wouldn’t matter,” Larson said. “Some of the other candidates

were in a couple other searches. But it was something that the trustees liked.”

Pittman will take over the position from Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis, Ed. D., whose contract will expire on June 30. Michaelis was hired in October 2013 in an agreed upon short-term basis-only situation.

“We hired Dr. Michaelis as the Interim Chancellor because our relationship with our previous chancellor kind of fell apart,” Larson said. “[The previous chancellor] had been here, right at three years. And she had followed someone that had been interim for just a few years. We had had two people that didn’t stay for very long.”

Larson said that both Pittman and Michaelis have already started to schedule a time to meet and talk about the future of STLCC.

“I would give a lot of credit to Dr. Michaelis and the people that he’s worked with. We have not been standing still the last couple years, under his leadership. We’ve made a lot of progress,” Larson said. “I think [the hiring of Pittman] is very much a good thing.”

MT H E M O N T A G E

Ron Mirikitani demonstrates athleticisim for 45 years

Page 11

Women’s History Month events continue throughout March

Page 10

Chancellor candidates present at open forums on campus

Page 3

Counseling Department offers services for seasonal depression

Page 9

‘Personable’ Pittman takes over July 1SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF

LIVIE HALL OPINIONS EDITOR

On Tuesday, March 3, a “domestic assault” took place on STLCC-Meramec’s campus, said Campus Police Chief Anthony Russo. Russo said a 18-year old male student and his 19-year old girlfriend were play fighting and it got out of hand. The female student reported the incident to campus police and the male student was in custody less than 30 minutes later.

Both were enrolled at Meramec.Russo said the male student grabbed

his girlfriend by the throat and held her on the table “for a minute.” The incident happened at 9:30 a.m. and she reported it

at 11:30 a.m., Russo said.“Nobody really saw it happen. She

ended up calling and he actually wrote a confession,” Russo said.

The male student was in custody at the St. Louis County Police Department in Clayton for 24 hours following the arrest.

Russo said there was a No Trespass Order that went to the Vice President of Student Affairs, Kim Fitzgerald (VPSA.)

Fitzgerald said this order basically means students cannot return to class until they speak with their respective campus’ VPSA. The discussion can be over the

phone, in person or in between classes.However, this depends on the offense

against the person and their compliance, Fitzgerald said. These orders are issued for a variety of offenses.

“If somebody is drinking and needs to get help for depression, the last thing I want to do is keep them from going to class if they’re sober,” Fitzgerald said. She said in a case like that, there would still need to be a conversation to work out the problem. Along with the No Trespass Order, Russo sent out a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) form to all of his officers.

Russo said this case is different from the Jevon Mallory incident in April of 2013 because the two involved knew each other. Mallory was convicted of assaulting student Blythe Grupe in a bathroom.

“This is not an ongoing threat. It’s not stranger-on-stranger. He [the boyfriend] was in jail within three hours — reported, arrested and booked,” Russo said.

The male student was charged with Assault 2nd Degree for choking and was arrested in the cafeteria. His girlfriend signed a refusal form for medical care. No warrant has been issued at this time.

Student arrested in cafeteria following assault against female

STLCC welcomes new chancellor

“ We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we’re helping people come to a community college and giving them the right step. - Dr. Craig Larson

Continued on page 3

JEFF PITTMAN, PH.D

NEWS2March 12, 2015

Chancellor Forums rescheduled

NEWSBRIEFS

Interim Chancellor Dr. Dennis Michaelis has rescheduled the chancellor forum at the South County Education Center for 11 a.m. on Monday, March 30 and for 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at the Meramec campus.

The chancellor forums are designed to involve students, staff and faculty in discussions about college initiatives, challenges and opportunities.

Recycling Extravaganza set for April 25-26

The STLCC-Forest Park campus will host a Recycling Extravaganza for Earth Day on April 25-26. The event will be hosted on campus parking lots.

Campus office hours change for spring break

The Meramec bookstore will be open during spring break from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday March 16-20.

The Meramec library will operate from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday during spring break. All student affairs offices, including advising, counseling, financial aid and campus life will be open from 8 a.m. -4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The college will be closed on Friday, March 20 for the spring holiday.

College Transfer FairThe Academic Advising

Office will host a college transfer fair from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 in the Student Center Commons.

Student awards application available

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Department have announced a call for applications for the Outstanding Psychology Student and the Outstanding Social and Behavioral Sciences Student Award. Each recipient receives $250.

Applications and minimum qualifications are available in the Social and Behavioral Sciences office in SO 211. The application deadline is March 30.

For more information, contact Amanda White at 314-984-7687.

Commencement date, location announced

STLCC has announced that spring 2015 commencement services will begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 17 at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of St. Louis University.

Withdrawal deadlines approaching

Students enrolled in full term, 16-week and 12-week courses are responsible for withdrawing from classes by the April 17 deadline. The withdrawal deadline for second term and 8-week classes is May 1.

Global Gathering focuses on Syria

The Florissant Valley Global Education Committee will host a global gathering April 6-9 on the STLCC-Florissant Valley campus. The gathering is designed to expose students to the richness of a culture or world religion. This semester’s focus is on Syria.

For more information, contact jpapier@stlcc.edu or 314-513-4510.

Student satisfaction survey coming soon

STLCC will be conducting the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory from March 23 - April 24. The 70-question survey will be emailed to all STLCC students via their my.stlcc.edu addresses.

The survey will take students approximately 15 minutes to complete and responses will be used to identify strengths and weaknesses within college services.

Women’s History Month Events continue

Events scheduled for Women’s History for the remainder of March include the Feminist Cafe from 1-2:15 p.m. on March 11 and 25 in SO 107. Facilitators will

host discussions on feminism. The Women’s Clothesline

Project will be on display from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. March 23-26 in the Library Quad. The Clothesline Project is a national project dedicated to bring awareness of violence against women.

Study abroad program takes Meramec students to CanterburySTLCC-Meramec partners with British university to provide students with a chance to immerse themselves in a new culture

Every four years STLCC– Meramec campus gets the opportunity to take students to study abroad in Canterbury, England. Since 1992, STLCC has been partnered with Canterbury Christ Church University in an attempt to create a connection between British and American students.

With more than a decade of history between the two schools the program is used as a mutually-beneficial resource to showcase the differences between the American and British educational model at a university level. Now, with a course coming up in September, the program is looking for responsible and interested students to submerse themselves in an entirely different culture.

Chosen for her background in teaching U.S. Politics, Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Emily Neal will act as the trip mentor for the upcoming September – December session. As a mentor, Neal said that her role in the program will be similar

to a professor combined with a resident assistant.

“The primary role of the mentor is to provide support and guidance and to encourage a sense of community,” Neal said.

Aside from guiding Meramec students during their trip, Neal will also make academic presentations and accompany the students on scheduled field trips around the country. Currently scheduled trips include visits to landmarks such as Windsor Castle and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. While in college, Neal said that she did field work in both Mexico and Canada, but that she never had the opportunity to travel abroad.

“I really want students to learn about themselves and what it’s like to live in another country,” Neal said.

To be eligible for the program, students have to have taken at least 12 credits at a university level, have maintained a 3.0 and have earned a “C” or better in College Composition I (ENG101). Aside from the academic requirements,

Neal says that the program is looking for students who have a sense of adventure, a willingness to take risks and are willing to be taken out of their comfort zone in order to experience a new culture. While studying at CCCU, students are required to take a class in British Politics and Society (PSC104). Students can also choose to take British Literature (ENG211) and British History (HST139) or one of the two courses.

Students must also choose two other courses in subjects such as art, English, philosophy and other subjects.

Unlike the American educational model, the British school system doesn’t rely on tests and quizzes to determine a course grade. While at CCCU, students will have one essay that they will work on for each of their classes for the entire semester. Their entire grade will hinge on that one project.

While Neal said that preparations for the trip are still ongoing, she is excited about the

plans for the program and hopes that the students integrate as much as possible with the British culture.

“I hope that students get an enriching experience on a

personal and academic level; maybe even a cultural level,” Neal said. “I hope they go in with an open mind, try new things and find a rigorous program that challenges and excites them.”

BRITTNEY FARROW COPY EDITOR

An hour away from metropolitan London and two hours away from both Brussels and Paris, Canterbury has a population of more than 43,000 people. Of that number, the majority is made up of students. Canterbury is home to three universities, one of which is CCCU – the place where students who sign up for the Canterbury Program will call home during their stay abroad.

Accredited as a university in 2005, CCCU hosts many popular programs for a variety of majors; however, its most notable program is its American Studies program.

While living in Canterbury, Meramec students will not only be learning more about British culture, but will be teaching CCCU students more about American history and culture as well.

As a mentor for the program, Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Emily Neal may be asked to instruct a course for CCCU students.

What is the Canterbury Program?

NEWS 3March 12, 2015

Jeff Pitman, Ph.D. was one of four candidates vying for the position, alongside Rod Nunn, Beverlee McClure and Richard Dawe.

Candidates were screened by a chancellor search committee and the final four presented at all campuses the week of Feb. 23. Dr. Craig Larson, chair of the STLCC Board of Trustees, said the board was looking for a chancellor who could manage change.

“St. Louis Community College is in the middle of a lot of change. We are actually declining, somewhat, in enrollment. We have programs we need to start for more online education. We need to tie together the academics across campus, so that we specialize in the change of our areas at one campus and not try to do the exact same thing at all of the campuses,” Larson said.

Larson said it is very important for any community college to have a chancellor able to work with business leaders, other colleges that students might want to go to after attending STLCC and with potential employers of small and

big companies. “You need a chancellor that

can work with an elective board, and have some experience in that department, but also a chancellor that understands the academic side of community colleges, the job training side and how to run multiple campuses. Another thing we are looking for is presentation and if they can represent the college effectively,” Larson said.

Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis will serve his term until June 30, 2015 and Jeff Pittman will take over as of July 1, 2015.

“I feel we have learned from Dr. Dennis Michaelis’ great work over the past 18 months — that you need someone who can work well with the college and the city of Saint Louis,” Larson said.

Larson said Gold Hill Associates owner Preston Pulliams began searching for the new chancellor in late September 2014. Approximately 29 applications were filed and five candidates were chosen for interviews. The four remaining were interviewed by the screening committee, the board of trustees and visited all four campuses.

Chancellor Search ends with Pittman

ROD NUNN BEVERLEE J. MCCLURE RICHARD L. DAWE

Rod Nunn has served as interim president at St. Louis Community College’s Forest Park campus since May 2014. Nunn has a doctorate of management from the University of Maryland.

Nunn earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Nunn said St. Louis Community College’s best days are in front of them.

“We will focus on how to bring it all together,” Nunn said.

Beverlee J. McClure has served as president and CEO of the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry since July 2007. McClure is the board chair of YES! Housing, and treasurer of the New Mexico Community Capital Board.

McClure earned a doctorate in education from the University of Texas at Austin.

She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.

Richard L. Dawe has served as president of Ozarka College since July 2009. Dawe also served as vice chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District in Ventura, Calif.

Dawe currently serves on Saint Louis University-Parks College’s Engineering, Aviation and Technology Graduate Advisory Board. Dawe earned a doctorate in public policy and administration from Saint Louis University. He has a master’s degree in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

During the chancellor candidate forums hosted the week of Feb. 23, each of the candidates were given an opportunity to speak with staff, faculty and students at the Meramec campus and share thoughts about leading STLCC as chancellor.

The Candidates:

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The most expensive thing a person will ever have is a house. The second is a car. As wonderful as cars are, they are nothing but a headache when something goes wrong. Some people are lucky and have a good mechanic they can trust. Some people have family members who will fix their car for free. For those who have neither of these things, the next headache comes with trying to find one or the other.

Being a younger person and being a girl puts me at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, mechanics will say whatever they can to make a sale. Like all of us, they work to make money. A 30 dollar oil change turns into 60 dollars, and who are you to argue?

Few people have gone to tech school and know everything about cars, hence why mechanics are trusted. They know this and use it to their advantage. They look at women and assume they know nothing about anything mechanical, and as misogynistic as that is, they know they can bank on the idea.

Luckily for me, I grew up in a family of mechanics. I was changing oil the day I got my car, I was handing my dad tools when he fixed motorcycles and I did inventory for him. Needless to say, I spent many weekends in his repair shop organizing gaskets, air filters and whatever else one could think of.

When I take my car to the shop, I know what is wrong and have an idea on how they should fix it. A new tension belt should run around 200 dollars and new tires can be around 400, easy.

As a college student, we are not held in the highest esteem of intelligence. The best thing you can do is try to analyze exactly what you think is wrong with the car. Is there a noise? Is it coming from the front or the back? Are your breaks going out? Is your car hard shifting out of first gear?

Use your friend, Google. Do whatever research you can before taking the car in. Walk into the

shop with confidence and tell them exactly what you believe is wrong. It also is smart to call many repair shops, report the issue and get quotes on pricing.

Part of the cost will include parts and labor. This is normal, they are not lying when they say that.

When I lived at home, our family friends owned a shop and fixed our cars at very reasonable prices. Living in a new place, it is hard to find an honorable mechanic. Calvert’s Express on Manchester is my go-to. They are friendly, helpful and they do a great job.

There is no such thing as a “Johnson rod” or a “middle axle.” As frustrating as it is, all learning is done through trial and error. Learn from mistakes and use your head because you have places to go.

OPINIONS4March 12, 2015

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FOR THE HEALTH OF IT

How to treat and prevent injuries

AUSTIN SCHUMANNONLINE EDITOR

LYRICAL LAMENTS

Time of our lives

LIVIE HALLOPINIONS EDITOR

HELP! I NEED AN ADULT

Cars break down, but wallets do not

have to

Injuries are of common problems for runners. Personally, shin splints were a big problem in the beginning of training.

According to Runner’s World Magazine, shin splints can be characterized by a throbbing pain on either the front or side of the lower portion of the leg and can be felt even while sitting. This is common when new runners increase their weekly mileage too soon and the calf muscles are not yet strong enough.

Shin splints are caused by many things happening at once. When beginning, the body is not used to running and the calf muscles are not used to having to do as much work as they are being asked of. Not having enough time to rest between runs can increase discomfort. Other symptoms include cramping after running, tenderness when pressure is applied to the front part of the shin and a constant discomfort.

Previously, it was thought

that running through the pain of shin splints was the only way to get rid of them, but recently that mentality has changed.

When the first feeling of discomfort is present, it is best to take a few extra days off. When possible, wrap the shins in either an ace bandage or a calf compression sleeve and ice the shins for 20 minutes at a time every three to four hours. Include a few exercises, such as, calf raises and toe taps will help build the calf muscles and prevent injury later on.

If running continues, the pain will become worse and could end up making it impossible to run or even cause a stress fracture which takes six to eight weeks to heal. In the long run, cutting back a little bit now will save the calf legs in the long run.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: JASON WATERS

There is a problem affecting hundreds of young people across the world. This disease has gone unnoticed because it is considered a rite of passage for young people as they enter adulthood. This affliction goes by many names but is felt by all: stress

The average age of a college student is 29, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. People in this age group should not be subjected to the type of stress forced upon them daily. This is evident from the questions they are constantly asked “What college are you going to?” “What is your major?” “Where are you going to get a job?”

College students are expected to have the answer to these questions at the tip of their tongue at any given moment. According to a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 80 percent of students change their majors at least once, while some average from three to four.

Many college orientations will include this fact and say it is okay to make those changes. But if only a few students stick with the degree they chose as a freshman in

college, why even bother picking a major that early? It makes more sense to stay undecided and take general education classes. They should also take a few electives until they decide for sure what they want to do with their lives. Surely this makes more sense than going through the hassle of changing majors – not to mention all of the paperwork.

People pick their majors so they can prove to their family, friends and people they have never met that they have direction in life and are not wasting anyone’s time. College is a person’s best years, a time for them to come into themselves and decide who they truly are.

This is not to say they should be totally devoid of responsibility. Getting good grades and a degree is only part of college.

The other part is to ready themselves for being an adult, learning to live on their own and taking care of themselves with a bit of a safety net for backup. Whether that safety net is in the form of money from a family member or living with friends to split the cost, there is always support. It makes no sense to try and prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood by having them taken away right from the start. It is a matter of gradually learning to deal with the responsibilities as they come up.

So go out and spread the word. Bring awareness to the disproportionate amount of stress the average college student deals with all the time. It is time to go out and have the time of our lives, the time to have fun and be ourselves, but maybe hold off on spending the rest of the rent money in the club.

Procrastination is something almost everyone deals with in their lives. I have had my fair share of procrastination problems over the years, most notably in high school.

Even now in college, it is easy to wait until the last minute to get something done. However, that is not the right way to do things. It makes for sloppy work and disappointed individuals, especially if something is not even finished.

Procrastination does not make someone a bad person, it just allows for others to question their ability to challenge themselves and work diligently. However, that does not mean one cannot change their issues with procrastinating, if they have any. It is tough to do at first, but there are ways to end that nasty habit and take things more seriously.

Here are five steps that you can follow in order to avoid procrastination:

1. Make a schedule or checklist: One of the reasons people procrastinate is because they do not have a clear perspective on what to do and when it needs to be done. For example, having a planner is very important because it allows one to write down their assignments and their due dates.

That way, it is much easier to remember what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. It also allows for more thorough and organized work. In the past, I used to not use a planner. It resulted in a lot of confusion and chaos, which led to procrastination. This is the most important step

of them all because this is what avoiding procrastination is all about.

2. Diligence, Diligence, Diligence: When one begins an assignment, make sure to work diligently throughout. It is important to take breaks while working, but make sure to get back to work once break time is over.

It is very easy to let the small break turn into an entire day, putting you farther behind in your work. Try not to do that because it saves precious time and plenty of further f r u s t r a t i o n . R e m e m b e r to work at a steady and c o n s i s t e n t pace.

3. Turn off the t e l e v i s i o n : This one is much more difficult to do, especially when a popular show is on.

However, it needs to be done to allow for more concentration and focus on the important things.

I still s o m e w h a t have problems with this one, especially if I have the NFL Network on while doing h o m e w o r k . Trust me when I advise to turn off the TV

while doing anything important.4. Eat something: This one

may not seem as important, but it has been proven to be beneficial. While taking one of those breaks, make sure to eat something to keep your energy levels up and focus sharp.

Also, it would not hurt to eat something healthy, such as an apple, banana, orange, yogurt, sandwich or something else along those lines.

5. Believe in yourself: I

do not mean to preach, but low morale in situations like this is also a problem. To avoid procrastination, one must tell themselves they can start something and work through it without any major distractions.

Having a good mindset going into an assignment is vital to productivity. If one has three or four projects to do in a day and they do not believe they can get them done, chances are they will most likely not get them done.

One must have faith in their ability to work through adversity and not get distracted by any outside sources.

I am not a professional in the art of avoiding procrastination, but these are just five steps I take to avoid the last minute rush to get things finished.

They have proven to work for me, so they can work for you as well. If one follows these steps, procrastination can be a thing of the past.

OPINIONS 5March 12, 2015

While it is normal to get a pretty decent car at the age of 16, many kids forget to appreciate the work their parents do to provide for them.

Sixteen year olds expect a fancy car the moment they get their driver’s license, setting the bar high for parents.

Let us not talk about the show “My Sweet 16” where the Mercedes a teenager just received is not the right shade of red.

It is beyond exhilarating to walk out of the license bureau, holding the

little piece of plastic that will launch a social life, but it is also preposterous to expect a BMW or an Audi sitting in the driveway.

According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association 2,823 teenagers died in 2012 in motor vehicle crashes, ages 13 to 19.

So does a 16 year old really need a nice, fancy car they have a fairly high rate of wrecking? No.

And they should not be stuck up about it, but rather be thankful for what their parents have to give.

Coming from personal experience, my parents have given up a lot.

They moved from a country they easily learned to call home to

America, which was so completely foreign to them.

They had multiple jobs, took their kids to school and raised them in a world they did not quite understand themselves. That is something to be grateful for.

Even if parents have not moved countries, they definitely have shifted their lifestyles.

It seems that parents almost give up their own lives to make a living for ours until we are able to support ourselves, and we should not take that for granted.

So this car may not be the right color, or it may not have a heated

steering wheel or tinted windows, but those are all unnecessary luxuries.

If the car runs and goes from point A to point B, then that is all a 16 year old really needs.

Besides, once they have a car, they can go to work so they can save up all the money in the world for whatever car it is they want – all while learning the true value of a dollar they so effortlessly expect from their parents.

Our parents work hard for us so that we do not have to understand their struggles and that really is life’s gift to us.

There is no ‘sweet’ in Sweet 16

DALILA KAHVEDZIC ART & LIFE EDITOR

The problem known as procrastination

CHRISTIAN HARGAS STAFF WRITER

ILLUSTRATION BY: CHRISTIAN HARGAS

INDEPTH6March 12, 2015

Every college student fantasizes about the perfect spring break. Whether it’s vacationing in an exotic country or heading to the beach for some sun, spring break trips come in many forms. In the midst of all the excitement, many students suffer from impatience. The time that passes before a week of vacation can be stressful; it’s full of obstacles such as Midterms and the mid-semester slump. Teachers and parents will often lecture about the dangers of alcohol abuse and partying too hard. No matter how many times they’ve heard it, the poor souls who hear the “spring break talk” will have to fight off wild urges to roll their eyes.

Regardless of where a student chooses to spend their spring break does not matter nearly as much as what they choose to do while taking that time off. When it comes to spring break, students tend to fall into a handful of stereotypes. Students who party, in particular, are bound to become either the Designated Chaperone or the Drunk Crier – to name a few options. In order to help you discover your own spring break archetype, The Montage has narrowed the selection down to six individual categories for you to pick through at your leisure.

The Planner is the person that can not take a step forward without a meticulously planned schedule to do so. They have to know what they are doing, when they are doing it and how they plan to get started before anything else is done. The benefits being that the Planner is rarely surprised and usually has a back up plan in place. The Planner will be seen hunched over their books getting various homework, studying and chores done, often at the same time. Do not worry that they will never see their friends this week, they have already planned to make time for them later.

The Planner

One of the common spring breaker archetypes is the Vacationer. Blessed enough to have the money and resources to travel, the Vacationer is the friend of yours that is spamming Instagram with beautiful, vivid landscape photos while you stuff easy mac down your throat from the couch. Deserving of the trip or not, the Vacationer has the time of their lives hoping from country to country in sake of “finding themselves” through mission work or pure fun. If you’re lucky they might invite you to come along, but chances are the Vacationer would rather go with people much more talented and beautiful than you are.

The Vacationer

For students who are much more school-minded than others, spring break is the perfect time to catch up on work. The 24/7 Student is the spring breaker archetype that will pack their homework in their carry-on and do it on the plane. Whether their trip includes a visit to an out-of-state grandparent or an extravagant flight to another country, the 24/7 Student will sacrifice leisurely tourism for better grades. This archetype spring breaker doesn’t have to travel at all; they are perfectly content to sit at home and type up essays while their peers party the week away. Mock the 24/7 Student all you want, but they’ll have their assignments complete when school comes again – especially that one you forgot to do when you were drunk on a Tuesday afternoon.

The 24/7 Student

BRITTNEY FARROW COPY EDITOR

AUSTIN SCHUMANN ONLINE EDITOR

JASON WATERS STAFF DESIGNER

spring break stereotypes

Layout and design by:MARISSA DIERCKS INDEPTH EDITOR

INDEPTH 7March 12, 2015

Refusing to give into the money vacuum that is spring break, the Worker is the only archetype likely to make more than they spend during their time off. Using the extra free time to take some more shifts, the Worker will spend very little of their vacation time doing anything other than what they get paid to do. This may result in them flaking on plans or turning-down invitations to go out while their friends do much less productive activities. While the Worker may complain about all the additional labor that they are doing they won’t mind the fat paycheck that waits for them at the end of their work week. Having extra cash to spend on the essentials will surely make the Worker very happy – much happier, at least, than they would be getting arrested while out on the town.

For students who are much more school-minded than others, spring break is the perfect time to catch up on work. The 24/7 Student is the spring breaker archetype that will pack their homework in their carry-on and do it on the plane. Whether their trip includes a visit to an out-of-state grandparent or an extravagant flight to another country, the 24/7 Student will sacrifice leisurely tourism for better grades. This archetype spring breaker doesn’t have to travel at all; they are perfectly content to sit at home and type up essays while their peers party the week away. Mock the 24/7 Student all you want, but they’ll have their assignments complete when school comes again – especially that one you forgot to do when you were drunk on a Tuesday afternoon.

The 24/7 Student

The WorkerThe Party-Goer

The Couch-Potato

The Couch Potato is the one that does the least amount of moving possible. Their goal is to prepare for spring break so that when it finally arrives they have all that they need. This includes all possible snacks, a T.V. in easy view and having all remotes within arms-reach. The Couch Potato spends their time switching between Netflix binges and video game marathons. Be careful when approaching, for they have received very little sleep and have a tendency to be snappish and constantly hungry. You can track their movements through online sources such as Tumblr and other social media. It is important to be aware that they have received very little sunlight over the week.

Drifting in a sea of beet-red faces, the Party-Goer is comfortable in his natural habitat. Keg stands and beer-amids may be his Achilles’ heel but he’s in good company. Homework and studying is last thing on the mind of this individual. The only true concern of the Party-Goer is who’s bringing the ‘Natty Light’. It’s spring break, a time when he can forget his abysmal GPA and drown himself in alcohol and blaring music in this week-long escapade of questionable decision-making. Coming back from break may be a drag but when the weekend rolls around it’s time to party.

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Academic Advising ● St. Louis Community College ● 11333 Big Bend Road ● St. Louis, MO 63122

ACADEMIC ADVISING

COLLEGE TRANCOLLEGE TRANSFER SFER FAIR 2015FAIR 2015

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.

STUDENT CENTER COMMONS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT,

PLEASE CALL 314.984.7588.

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The following schools will be participating in the Spring 2015 College Transfer Fair:

Central Missouri Methodist Harris-Stowe State Universit Missouri U—Science & Tech Southern Ill-Edwardsville Chamberlain College of Nursing Lindenwood University Missouri Western State Univ. Truman State University Columbia University Logan University Murray Sate University Univ. of Central Missouri Concordia University MacMurray College Quincy University Univ. of MO-Columbia Culver Stockton College Maryville University Ranken Technical College Univ. of MO-Kansas City Drury University McKendree University St Louis College of Pharmacy Univ. of MO-St. Louis Fontbonne University Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis University Washington University Goldfarb School of Nursing Missouri Southern State Univ. Southeast MO State Webster University Missouri State University Southern Ill-Carbondale Westminister College William Woods University

St. Louis Community College is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunities in its admissions, educational programs, activities and employment regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran and shall take action necessary to ensure non-discrimination. For information or concerns relating to discrimination matters, contact the following: for matters relating to disabilities, contact Section 504/Title II Coordinator Donna Dare at 314-539-5285; for matters relating to sex discrimination, contact Title IX Coordinator Pam McIntyre at 314-984-7763; for any other matters, contact Vice President, Student Affairs Kim Fitzgerald at 314-984-7609.

Accommodations statement: St. Louis Community College is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you have accommodation needs, please contact Tracy Lampkins at 314-984-7588 at least two working days prior to the event. Documentation of disability may be required.

ART & LIFE 9March 12, 2015

How To Save the Planet

Taking care of the planet we live on seems to have escaped many minds lately. People are so caught up in their modern technology and their phone screens to care much about being Earth friendly. Luckily, caring about the planet just takes a few small steps.

DALILA KAHVEDZICART & LIFE EDITOR

Counseling Department offers services for the winter blues

Winter Blues. Cabin fever. Winter depression. Phrases like this may not be uncommon to hear during the winter months, yet how serious do people take expressions like this? According to the Mayo Clinic, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a subtype of major depression. Symptoms may start out mild but can become more severe as the season progresses.

“To get diagnosed [with SAD] it has to be related to a season, for more than one season,” STLCC-Meramec counselor Dr. Susie Herman said. “You’re not depressed all the time, just during that season.”

The symptoms can vary from one season to the next and differ from one year to the next.

“One fall you have the doldrums,” Meramec counselor Dr. Harold Salmon said. “The next fall you experience the same thing.”

The Counseling Department at Meramec offers services to students who may show signs and symptoms of seasonal depression.

“If a student comes in and says something along the lines of ‘I have cabin fever,’ I’m going to talk to them about SAD and tell them they are not alone,” Herman said.

Having personally dealt with symptoms of SAD, Herman said she is able to empathize with students who may deal with

similar struggles. “I have worked with a couple

of people over the years having had it,” Herman said. “They don’t realize initially what it is.”

The symptoms may include a feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness, signs of low energy, a loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, sleeping too much or too little, feeling depressed most of the day and changes in appetite, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“In the winter I get tired and I just want to hibernate from having low energy,” Herman said. “I didn’t hear the phrase until I was an adult. I found and article and saw there was a diagnosis for it.”

Herman said she was not diagnosed by a physician, but invested in a sun box to relieve symptoms. A sun box is a square device that contains a certain kind of light bulb that “helps us,” Herman said.

Light Therapy, also known as phototherapy, is one method of treatment for SAD. However, not all levels of SAD can be treated with just light therapy, a healthy sleep regiment, diet and exercise. Those who struggle with more severe symptoms of SAD may require medication and other forms of therapy, according to Herman.

Not everyone who has experienced some form of the

winter blues will automatically be diagnosed with SAD, yet symptoms should not be overlooked, said Salmon.

It is not uncommon for nearly everyone on some level to become “more joyful when there is more sunlight” but that does not mean they have the official diagnosis, said Salmon.

According to the Mayo Clinic, more severe complications of SAD include suicidal thoughts and behaviors, social withdrawal, substance abuse and school or work problems.

“If anyone is even wondering at all ‘Is what I am feeling normal?’ or ‘Am I more depressed than what is considered normal?’ Then come on in,” Herman said.

Salmon said he feels the counseling department is completely underutilized and

hopes students learn the value of the resources Meramec has to offer.

“It is incredibly disappointing at the percentage of students that take advantage of it,” Salmon said. “What would cost a student probably $300-500 at a private agency, our students have it available for free.”

The Counseling Department at Meramec is available many hours throughout the week and offers a variety of resources. The offices are located on the second floor of the Administration building. Counselors are available Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Students can utilize services with or without an appointment. Students can make appointments by calling 314-984-7526.

ALYSSA MCCUTCHAN STAFF WRITER

1. Replace bulbsRegular bulbs can be replaced

with flourescent ones. Sure, the lighting is a little dimmer and the color may be off but they can always be put in smaller spaces such as closets.

2. Wrapping giftsReusing old wrapping paper

or bows is an easy way to help the environment. One can also use simple yet creative things such as newspapers to wrap presents with.

3. Car careCruise control can give a

car better mileage, which is great considering gas prices are constantly fluctuating — usually increasing. Taking care of a car in ways such as changing the air filter also helps decrease pollution and prolong the life of the vehicle. Also, all that junk in the trunk decreases fuel efficiency. Get rid if it. It is all a win-win situation.

4.Stop buying bottled water

Buy a gallon of water and when that is used up, keep refilling it with tap water. Sure, water bottles are more on-the-go and practical, but at least for home purposes a gallon would be just fine.

5. Stop litteringIt is not visually appealing nor

is it good for the environment, and is it really that hard to walk to the trashcan a few feet away? Let us all help eachother and the planet out and not be stepping on trash every once in awhile.

6. Turn computers offPutting a computer to sleep

still uses up energy, so just save what is needed and turn it off.

7. Use your microwaveIt is probably fairly easy to

convince college students to use a microwave. Microwaves use less energy than toasters or conventional ovens do.

REVIEW: Science Comedian Brian Malow delivers educational humor

The American Chemical Society and STLCC – Meramec’s Chemistry Club hosted science comedian Brian Malow on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and he performed his signature science jokes on stage in the Meramec Theater. Through his jokes, Malow enhances our way of viewing science and helps reprise the importance of a complicated and mysterious subject.

Though born in Chicago, Ill., Brian is influenced more by his childhood in Houston, Texas, and growing up reading science fiction novels from authors such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. He said in one joke how he started his curiosity for science when he asked his parents why the sky was blue, and the mother said “Because I said so.”

Malow’s passion to create and write, plus his love for science — specifically physics and astronomy — prompted him to start his comedy career as he was attending the University of Texas in Austin. He said his path toward scientific comedy was a natural evolution: he himself as a comedian with a huge scientific background, was already telling scientific jokes in an early stage.

After his graduation with a liberal arts degree, he expanded his career through comedy acts in San Francisco, his science videos for The New York Times and his scientific and comedic contributions to the Neil De Grasse Tyson Radio Show. He has also performed for various tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Google. Now residing in Raleigh, N.C., Malow works at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science helping researchers communicate science toward a general audience and blogs for Scientific American.

Malow explained how he inspires most of his jokes through simple interactions and observations in life such as talking to a friend or reading a science article. He said that the idea of the joke flourishes as he investigates and records more on the subject at hand and gets in the zone of writing. He also explains the process as mining and sieving through ore until you find a nugget of gold. The analogy goes as well with the right audience to perform his jokes and the necessity of knowing your audience — like testing the water situation.

Malow also reiterated the importance of setting up the facts and pieces for a joke and clarifying the act in order for the audience to understand getting the idea from teaching researchers and developers how to be better communicators.

M a l o w ’ s jokes are not only hilarious, but educational as well. His jokes reiterate the importance of science and the numerous connections it has on life from r e l a t i o n s h i p s to art and various cultures, such as his bacteria bar jokes to his magnet joke. Not only are the jokes educational, but they strive the audience to sometimes investigate the meaning of the joke, which puts science back in

the spotlight. Malow emphasized the lack of

acknowledgement for science and the importance of learning the subject. Overall, Malow’s science comedy acts helps establish the importance and appreciation of science in our daily lives.

DAREN HEMBRADOR STAFF WRITER

Science Comedian Brian Malow

PHOTO BY AUSTIN SCHUMANN

ART & LIFE10March 12, 2015

The Women’s History Committee has focused March events on social justice and a pro-woman message that is designed to celebrate the accomplishments of women. Events also focus on feminism and women’s constant struggle for equality and recognition, Emily Neal, political science professor and chair of the Women’s History Month Committee at Meramec said.

“Women’s History Month for me is about recognizing the contributions that feminism has made to women everywhere today and all the things we enjoy because of the activism of our predecessors, but it’s also about celebrating what contemporary scholars are doing and the various realities of women’s lives,” said Neal.

Meramec sponsors a speaker series and book club discussions surrounding empowering feminism during March.

“We celebrate the accomplishments of white men year-round, and it’s important in a society that consistently celebrates the accomplishments of men, and particularly white men, to take a moment and recognize that women, people of color, gay people and other traditionally marginalized groups

have not only benefited from some of the great things that we have here in this country but they’ve also developed that, contributed to it, or offered it themselves; so without looking at Women’s History Month or Black History Month you don’t understand history,” Neal said.

It is not too much to ask that for one month out of every year we really focus on the accomplishments of women, Neal said.

Women’s History Month at Meramec is connected with the Racial Justice Movement because women of color play such a prominent role in the feminist movement, Neal said.

“Our focus this month is kind of on racial justice and ways that feminist women of color have contributed to that,” Neal said.

The Women’s History Month committee at Meramec has five events organized for Women’s History Month, two of which have had guest speakers.

“Part of the benefit of being at a wonderful public institution like St. Louis Community College is that we create a lot of different environments that are conducive to learning and to expanding your mind, and a lot of the learning that goes on at college

doesn’t necessarily happen in the classroom,” Neal said.

Students should join student clubs and get involved in organizations so they can learn a little bit more about who they are as members of a community and with some of these really first-rate academic speakers and events because participation offers a chance to educate the public, Neal said.

“Historically, two women who really influenced where I am and where all women are today I think, and just are really amazing American women, I would say Ida B. Wells and Susan B. Anthony,” Neal said.

Ida B. Wells pushed the role for women and was politically active at a time that wasn’t really expected for women, Neal said.

“Women weren’t allowed to vote, let alone to really engage too much in civic life, but it should be noted that Ida B. Wells was using her platform to talk about racial justice and equality and she really pushed to end the practice of lynching,” Neal said. “To me, that’s amazing. Here’s a person who saw the intersecting relationship between sex and race and how that was affecting our life and she needed to do something about it.”

Susan B. Anthony was not only one of the most prominent first-wave feminists, but she was also heavily involved in abolition, Neal said.

“In fact, she pushed very hard for abolition and racial justice as well as women’s rights,” Neal said.

Ida B. Wells and Susan B. Anthony were respected both within the racial justice movement and the women’s rights movements so they are incredible figures, Neal said.

Rosa Parks and Daisy Bates were also important historical women to her for the racial movement and women’s rights,

she said. Author of “Civil Rights

and the Making of the Modern American State,” Dr. Megan Ming Francis spoke about racial inequality to guests of the Meramec community March 2.

“This is one of my favorite times of the year because it acknowledges the very hard work of people that paved the way for me to be standing in front of you today,” Francis said.

Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and non-violent demonstrators are the heroes and the heroines of the civil rights story, Francis said.

“I believe the work of Black History Month and also the work of Women’s History Month is to rectify the erasures of important moments in our history, especially the contributions of black women,” Francis said.

The fragile image of a post-racial America was shaken with the killing of Michael Brown and Eric Garner by members of the Ferguson and New York City police departments, and then brought to its knees with

two Grand Jury decisions to not indict, Francis said.

Discrepancy in the seen or unseen racism in the murders of Brown and Eric Garner showed how people make sense of injustices that break down along racial and gender lines, Francis said.

“What does progress look like? Can there be racism without racists? Can there be sexism without sexist? And most importantly in my opinion, what does equality mean today? If it just means a removing of the signs and laws and the bannings, the norms of racist and sexist speech then we have certainly overcome to a large degree. But if it means more, and I think it does, then I think that there is still a lot of work to be done,” Francis said.

Great change can come from a few small steps taken by courageous yet ordinary people, Francis said. “Sometimes to do anything great it’s important that we step out alone,” she said. “There is no perfect time and waiting is not an option.”

Pushing for feminism, against racismDALILA KAHVEDZIC ART & LIFE EDITOR

Women’s History Month event informs students about racial violence and sexism

PHOTOS BY KATE LAM

Guest speaker and Author Dr. Megan Ming Francis speaks to students about racial violence and feminism on March 2 in the Meramec theatre.

PHOTOS BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC

Dr. Emily Neal introduces Dr.Megan Ming Francis on March 2.

STLCC - Meramec’s Art Department is hosting a Regional Juried Exhibit for Interior Design Feb. 26 - March 27 in the Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery in Humanities East. The exhibit features student work from regional colleges and universities including works such as furniture and color schemes for plans on design projects. The competitive categories include healthcare, kitchen and bath hospitatlity, residential, commercial and group design projects. The works will be judged by interior designers from the American Society of Interior Designers Missouri East Chapter, International Interior Design Association Gateway Chpater and the National Kitchen and Bath Association in Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. — 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. on Saturday. The gallery will be closed on March 16 and 22, as well as Sundays and holidays.

SPORTS 11March 12, 2015

For the love of the game

As a kid, the World Wrestling Federation (now, World Wrestling Entertainment — or WWE) always captivated me. I remember watching wrestling shows on Saturday mornings and wanting to grow up and be Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior or Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. My dad and I would sometimes attend their wrestling events at the old Kiel Center, when they would come to town. I was even lucky enough to attend their Wrestlemania VIII event in Indianapolis, Ind., with my dad, in 1992.

My parents took me out of school for it. And my teacher approved. Those days have since faded — and I look nothing like a wrestler. But still, it’s fun to remember them.

I recently covered a wrestling event — not on the level of the WWE, but a scaled back version at the Stratford Inn. They had all of the pomp and circumstance I remember the WWE having in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But one of the more incredible parts of the evening was talking to the wrestlers afterward — learning about their background and what they wanted to achieve while living a “larger than life” persona.

The most obvious — but maybe the easiest to forget — is that they are people. Husbands with babies, whose forehead they kiss before entering the ring. They are former reality TV show stars, former businessmen and stockbrokers. That’s who gets paid to beat people up on the weekends.

They now travel the country for independent wrestling companies — even traveling to Japan — all for the sake of a chance, at a shot with the WWE. There’s a brotherhood behind that curtain — an unspoken understanding that their opponents lives rests in their hands. And although some punches are pulled, the brotherhood is real.

The night was a moment to live vicariously through my childhood-self.

There are moments like that that sometimes pop up — a “dream life,” once a fantasy, now lost. But sometimes an opportunity for a taste of that life arises. And those tastes should never be passed up.

WWE: Now and Then

SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF

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‘It’s not just the athletic aspect, it’s the discipline’Ron Mirikitani’s teaching career at Meramec spans 45 years of coaching, training

DALILA KAHVEDZIC ART & LIFE EDITOR

Full-time instructor Ron Mirikitani was born in one of the internment camps during World War II. The challenges he faced have led him to pursue a career teaching personal defense.

“It was never popular to be Japanese back then so I had different confrontations and my father just started teaching me how to protect myself,” Mirikitani said. “I saw a lot of injustices there.”

Mirkitani’s parents were farmers until the farm was seized. “My dad’s parents were barbers and they had their shop and they took everything from there. They just gave them a large suitcase and said ‘put in what you can carry’ and that was it. It was not a good situation back then,” he said.

His experiences remained with him as he began his career teaching at Meramec 45 years ago. “You just look at the news any night you’ll see so much violence. I think the first thing you need to do is be very diligent on where you’re going and know where you are and know your limitations and try to be aware of your surroundings all the time,” Mirikitani said.

Mirikitani started training around the age of seven and now teaches karate, personal defense and judo at Meramec. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in biology from the University of Central Missouri and a master’s degree of Science in Guidance and Counseling with emphasis on Sports Psychology from Iowa State University.

“I enjoy all three of these classes,” Mirikitani said. “Judo is a lot of grabbing and throwing

there and Karate is a lot of kicking and punching and blocking; they’re all interesting.”

Getting in and evading fights are all important aspects depending on what a student is trying to get out of martial arts, Mirikitani said.

If in an inconvenient situation which would involve violence, Mirikitani said students should show they are not afraid. Having a calm mind and knowing how to react in a situation helps as well.

“A lot of people are in personal defense class that want to learn to defense themselves, obviously. I have a lot of people in my judo classes; some of them are top-ranking who are going into MMA or Jujitsu and they want to learn more skills,” Mirikitani said.

Mirikitani said practice is very important.

“It’s not just the athletic aspect, it’s the discipline, the stick-to-it-ness; all those things are involved in athletic training that are so critical to be successful in living,” Mirikitani said.

His daily routine embraces discipline and athleticism, he said. Mirikitani gets up every morning at 4:30 a.m. for a run and utilizes Meramec’s gym for working out until his classes start at 7 a.m.

Mirikitani’s work out includes martial art training and a lot of cardio. He also lifts weights two to three times a week and eats healthy.

Mirikitani’s family is involved in the martial arts as well. Mirikitani, along with his wife, Jan, who he met at Central Missouri State while he was training as an athlete, has been honored with the National Wrestling Coaches Association

Meritorious Service Award. Mirikitani is a member of eight various halls of fame and his wife was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame last year, making her the first woman in

Missouri to be inducted.“It’s quite an honor,”

Mirikitani said.Mirikitani’s son David

Mirikitani was a volunteer assistant coach for Meramec and his son Jason Mirikitani coaches at Lafayette High School.

Ron Mirikitani has three black belts with Khadija eight degree in all three, has been named man of the year and has received countless trophies, but his favorite accomplishments, he said, involve his students. He has had Meramec students represent the United States in the Junior Pan American team and Junior College National Team.

“I enjoy when I have a lot of my students come back or my athletes come back and share things that happened and what I’ve done to help them out a little bit in their life; that’s fairly important to me,” Mirikitani said.

Mirikitani demonstrates a collar grab on student Chris Bacon in the 10 a.m. Judo class March 9.

Mirikitani observes students Shelby Presson (left) and Christian Mclaughlin (right) as they demonstrate techniques they learned in Judo class.

PHOTOS BY DALILA KAHVEDZIC

SPORTS12March 12, 2015

Archer basketball programs double dribbleBoth STLCC men’s and women’s basketball teams fall in Region XVI Championship game

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SPENCER GLEASON EDITOR IN CHIEF

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What began in August 2014, ended on February 28, 2015, when both STLCC Archers men’s and women’s basketball seasons came to a close. While both teams took the No. 2 seed in the Region XVI Tournament and were victorious in their semifinal matchups, both fell in their championship game.

For the second year in a row, the St. Louis Community College (STLCC) Lady Archers’ basketball team faced North Central Missouri College (NCMC) Lady Pirates for the Region XVI Title. And for the second year in a row, the Lady Pirates snuck away with a victory, defeating STLCC, 88-78, in overtime, on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The game was knotted up after the first half, 31-

31, with NCMC coming from behind to tie it up. The Lady Archers (23-7) returned the favor

in the second half, tying up the score, 72-72, with under a minute in regulation. Overtime saw the Lady Archers up by six points, before falling by 10, at the buzzer.

STLCC sophomore guard Deborah Holcomb led all scorers with 29 points and 19 rebounds.

The final day of February brought the end to St. Louis Community College’s (STLCC) men’s basketball team. The STLCC Archers (14-16) lost in the Region XVI Championship game, 93-84, to the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley Scouts. It was the Archers’ second matchup against Penn Valley in seven days.

“It’s a really good [MCC]-Penn Valley team,

so we have our work cut out for us,” Archer Head Coach Randy Reed said prior to the game Saturday afternoon. “But it’s college basketball — anything can happen.”

STLCC finished the season with an overall 14-16 record — and a winning percentage below .500 for the first time since STLCC campuses consolidated athletics in July 2011.

TOP LEFT: STLCC Head coach for the men’s basketball team Randy Reed draws up a play during their Region XVI Semifinal game on Friday, Feb. 27. TOP RIGHT: Lady Archers’ Head Coach Shelly Ethridge pumps up her team during their semifinal matchup on Friday, Feb. 27. BOTTOM LEFT: STLCC forward Adis Mujakic jumps for the rebound. BOTTOM RIGHT: Lady Archers’ freshman center Myia Bridges rips the ball out of the hands of the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley opponents.

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball