Student painting in Maryville’s studio art program. Photo courtesy of Maryville.

The main reason behind the recent success and growth in popularity is simple: the professors. Maryville’s art program has been consistent when it comes to its instructors, with long time designer Cherie Fister and artist Steve Teczar both having been in the program for many years. There are also a few new faces, including accomplished photographer Scott Angus. For more information on the instructors, click here. Maryville’s art and design program has the consistency of long time professors as well as new and fresh instructors.

Preparing for a real world professional job stresses many college students around the country. The art and design faculty dedicate themselves to helping students prepare for the workforce, and many students, therefore, graduate with confidence. Many of the professors have worked in professional design firms and creative agencies, so students can learn the real world demands of a career in design.

Most importantly, the freedom each student has is what sets the program apart from other schools. Students are able to work on projects that range from magazine designs to editorial spreads, and the topic and creativity is completely up to them. The best part is that students will always have an honest and diverse opinion from instructors since they all have worked in numerous fields.

In addition, Maryville has top-of-the-line computer programs; whenever there is an update to any program that is used in the art and design program, Maryville will update it. The advanced technology helps students get on top of the competition and get familiar with many different programs. Maryville has also recently spent time and money installing a new lighting studio and digital dark room, complete with four HD TVs, surround sound and sound proof recording studios.

When asked about the new digital dark room, graphic design major Eric Newby, said, “It’s pretty awesome. The atmosphere is cool and the TVs are definitely a nice feature.”

Maryville goes out of its way to make sure its art and design students have the best professors and the newest technology so every student is successful after graduation. The art and design program is an area of study where young design professionals can use their creativity to better society and in some cases, change the world. The program has been on the rise the past couple of years and is becoming known by professionals in the area as a must-see for new talent. The university always keeps up on new programs and does whatever it takes to make sure Maryville is one of the top art and design schools in the region. A degree from the art and design program opens up many doors to bright and exciting futures.

Are you excited about the advancements in the art and design program, or another program at Maryville? Leave comments below!

By Tyler Juengst

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The millions of Americans who are affected by food insecurity. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Johnson.

St. Louis Bread Co. is calling this a “social experiment” because they want it to be about the people, not the money. This company has encouraged their employees to remember that it is not their job to judge. Food insecurity comes in all shapes and sizes. All it is, is hunger. It is not knowing where the next meal is going to come from, or when it is going to arrive. For this reason, St. Louis Bread Co. has held a meeting at each bakery-café involved in the Meal of Shared Responsibility experiment, teaching their employees the true meaning of hunger and the facts surrounding it. An important part of these meetings was to stress the fact that hunger is everywhere and does not come in one stereotypical form. Hunger can be found in households all around this country, especially in today’s rough economic times. It is also important to remember that hunger does not necessarily mean emaciation. It does not always mean that someone is starving to death.

People can be hungry if they forgot their wallet at home, or had to buy unbudgeted medicine for their sick toddler. Hunger is everywhere. This is a big deal for college students, as well. Sometimes, students just don’t have the money to go out to eat with friends.

Maryville student Krissy Bryde commented, “This is so great for everyone involved.” Now, there is help for people who cannot afford a meal. Anyone can walk into a local St. Louis Bread Co. and find the food they need, in a non-judgmental way.

As previously mentioned, this is just an experiment for the moment. St. Louis Bread Co. is a for-profit corporation, and they still need to make money. For this reason, the Meal of Shared Responsibility experiment will be given a six month trial run. At the end of six months, the company’s goal is to break even or make a little extra money. This idea started three years ago at the Clayton location, where people can pay more or less for menu items to help others. This is still in use today. Then St. Louis Bread Co. began testing this in larger settings. Using only six bakery-cafes, the company actually made two percent more than they put out. If, at the end of six months, the company breaks even, there are talks of the Meal of Shared Responsibility experiment going nation-wide. This could change the food industry.

St. Louis Bread Co. is very active in helping the community in other ways, as well. The company participates in the Community Breadbox. Sitting next to all of the registers are donation boxes, and these donations are given to local charities. St. Louis Bread Co. also participates in the Day-End Dough-Nation program. Through this program, left-over baked goods are donated to local shelters and food pantries at the end of each day.

St. Louis Bread Co. will continue donating food and money to local people in need. Now, they are trying to provide society with a way to give to others and to afford their own meals. Click here for the Panera Bread website and here for hunger statistics. Hopefully, this “social experiment” will last more than six months. What do you think will happen?

By Caitlin Johnson

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Alicia Trebus, co editor of Magnolia, holds a copy of last year’s edition. Photo courtesy of Whitney Dutton.

Magnolia is created every year by a small staff of students under the advisement of Dr. Germaine Murray. The editors of this year’s edition are seniors Alicia Trebus and Michelle Lawrence. During a brief interview, Trebus shared that this year’s issue will be dedicated to the late Ronnie Gaubatz. Gaubatz worked in the Informational Technology department at Maryville and passed away last September after fighting a battle with cancer. It is known that Gaubatz was a fan of suns and sunflowers. Therefore, the Magnolia cover will feature a sun or sunflower related design in honor of Gaubatz’s memory.

The advertising this year for the magazine was much bigger than years past. Unfortunately, the magazine is not widely recognized across campus. Therefore the goal of the advertising team this year was to generate a greater understanding of the magazine itself. Instead of posters promoting the deadline for submissions, the staff took advantage of campus digital signage. A staff member created an iMovie commercial that played all over campus televisions. The video was also uploaded on YouTube. The Magnolia Facebook page posted more updates about the submission deadlines as well as upcoming fundraisers.

To submit to Magnolia, students, faculty, staff or alumni create an original work such as a poem, short story or essay, photograph, painting, or picture of a piece of artwork. They then fill out an application on the Magnolia Org-Sync page. It is also required that submitters include a brief explanation about their inspiration for the piece. Members of the Magnolia staff then review each submission and rate them on a scale of one to three. Once all the pieces have been rated, all the pieces with higher scores are considered to fill the 80 pages of the magazine. Because there are so many submissions this year, the process will be much longer than years past.

This is a special issue for several of the Magnolia staff members because it is their last year on staff. When asked about her feelings toward this edition, Trebus is sentimental:

“The staff is always excited to present this magazine. But because this is my and Michelle’s last year as a team, this edition is really special to us. We’re looking forward to leaving the magazine in the hands of the others students.”

The release party for the magazine will be held on April 25 at 5 p.m. in the President’s Conference Center. At the party the winners of the poetry contest will be announced. There will also be free food and alcoholic beverages. Will you attend the release party to find out which submissions made the cut?

 By Whitney Dutton

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Students and their families are invited to attend Graduation Fair 2013 (dates below). This event provides a great opportunity to take care of all the necessary details for your upcoming graduation.  This is the best time to pick up your cap and gown, make your class gift to get your inscribed brick, purchase diploma frames, sign up for Grads Give Back, and order announcements and graduation jewelry as well as get your picture taken wearing your cap and gown! Staff from various University departments will be on hand to answer all your questions. Refreshments provided!

This will also be the place to pick up your inclement weather tickets for commencement (should the ceremony be held indoors).   

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Donius University Center

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Donius University Center

INCLEMENT WEATHER DATES
Thursday, March 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Donius University Center)
Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Donius University Center)

Graduates are encouraged to visit the commencement website at www.maryville.edu/commencement to find all the latest commencement information. However, should you need further assistance, please contact the Office of Student Life at 314.529.9485 or 314.529.6686, or email jkoenig@maryville.edu.

See you at the fair!

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Many students experience it: the gut-retching, nail biting horror before and during a test. Even when students are confident that they know the material, once the test is placed in front of them, their hearts begin to race and their minds go blank. Hours of reading, remembering, self-quizzing and flash cards still will not help the heart pounding fear of taking a test. It happens at each and every assessment, not only the more challenging midterms and finals, but even during the minor and less weighted quizzes. Students who fall victim to test taking anxiety know how much of a mental toll it can take during their educational career. Furthermore, it can also produce a lower score and decrease students’ grade point average. Besides knowing the material, is there anything students can do to be more comfortable during exams?

Here are ways to stop the anxieties of test-taking. Photo courtesy of Microsoft.

Fortunately, for those who suffer from test taking anxiety, there are various tips to help those students to relax. According to About.com, some habits that may reduce anxiety include adequate sleep and a healthy breakfast. Before a test, students should also make sure to not only get plenty of sleep, but to also eat a light, high-protein breakfast on the morning of the test, as hunger and lack of sleep can affect students’ concentration. Caffeine in moderation is all right, but students should not drink too much of any liquid to avoid the uncomfortable situation of having to use the restroom, and wasting valuable test taking time, before finishing the exam.

Another tip, provided by About.com, is to arrive early to the classroom on the day of the test. This will give students the advantage of being able to get comfortable and allowing them time to relax. One of the most important pieces of advice students should remember is to always stay positive and not to panic. The students should use this time to clear their heads. Students should also bring all the supplies they need, including a watch to easily keep track of time.

When dealing with time, it is important to avoid spending too much time on any one question. Once the test is handed out, students should scan over the entire test, begin with easy questions and the problems that are worth the most points. If students plan on leaving the most difficult questions until the end of the time, they need to be certain to always mark any skipped questions with a star next to the question. The star is a reminder to go back to the blank section of the test. Doing so will help students to avoid accidentally leaving any question unanswered. It is also helpful to write down information that is hard to remember as soon as the test is handed out. The most conducive place to write any information is in the margins or somewhere that will not interfere with answers. For example, when taking a statistics test, students can write down any formulas that will be needed and are difficult to remember.

Before students hand in the test, they should go over it one final time to make sure all questions have been answered. Leaving any questions unanswered will count against the final grade. It is better to have an answer than no answer at all. If students have time left at the end, they should double or triple check all work and go over troublesome questions. A student should only change an answer if they are absolutely sure of the new answer, because usually the first answer that comes to mind is the correct one.

Taking a test can be a stressful event, but sometimes emotions can take it to the next level and gives a student an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Test taking anxiety is not something to be taken lightly. It can greatly affect people who suffer from it and can cause a lower grade than a student deserves. Websites like About.com offers tips for minimizing the anxiety of test taking, although knowing the material is a primary part in avoiding stress when taking a test. In the end, there are many steps students can take to help to avoid the anxiety including getting a good night’s sleep, eating a smart breakfast and arriving to class early. Sometimes, taking a deep breath helps relieve a fast-beating heart and calm nerves.

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As I watch in suspense, the Maryville women’s basketball team is down only a few points to the well-played offense of Missouri Western. It is only the beginning of the season, so I didn’t believe I would see such a nail biting game. Most of the students at Maryville are long gone because of Thanksgiving break, so the crowd isn’t as rowdy as it should have been. The women still keep the game interesting, to say the least. The reigning GLVC champs go back and forth for the lead against the Golden Griffons of Missouri Western, and it is only the first half.

The lady Saints of Maryville work hard every day to try and repeat their success of last year. They practice about twenty hours a week, not including game days. The typical practice involves fundamentals, team offense, team defense and conditioning. Head coach Chris Ellis focuses on offensive skills for a while, then the ladies head over to assistant coach Jacob Yorg for defensive skills. During the off-season, the ladies practice for about eight hours a week as a team, but that doesn’t mean they don’t put extra work in on their own.

Maryville’s ‘Lady Saints’ continue to have a great season. Photo courtesy of Maryville Athletics homepage.

Rita Flynn, starting center for the saints had this to say about the off-season, “We are required to practice eight hours a week, but most of us are in the gym longer than that. Whether working on shooting or lifting weights, we all want to be the best player on the court.”

This year, the saints added Zumba to their off-season conditioning workouts. Just by the sweat and laughter in the room, the girls had a blast together working out during the off-season. They are a very close knit group. Most of the players live together on campus, and if they don’t, then they are always together on the weekends.

Game days are very important to the lady Saints. They usually start off by getting to the Simon Center two hours before game time. One quirky way to pump them up is to sing the song “Seasons of Love,” the song most known as the opening song to the musical Rent. This year the ladies do “the wobble” before every game they play. One ritual before a game between captain Abby Deuthman and Rita Flynn is a handshake right before the tip.

Maryville has a strong sense of team spirit. Courtesy of Maryville Athetlics homepage.

Flynn says, “It sort of loosens us up because we laugh afterwards, and it’s almost like were saying, okay, it’s game time.”

Being an avid basketball fan, I went to almost every game the Saints played last year. When the ladies came on the court, I could tell they were ready to play. One of the best times to watch them is when the men’s team plays afterwards. Maryville students could help out a little more by going to the games and cheering on their fellow classmates. That is one of the wishes of senior captain, Kate Childs.

Childs says, “The crowds have improved over the four years I have been here, but I think we all wish they would be bigger and noisier on important games.” It is hard to get excited for a division II basketball game, but the Maryville Saints basketball program is very entertaining.

I caught up with head coach Chris Ellis to ask him about his players. He had nothing but nice things to say about his team. Being friends with most of the girls, I would have to agree with everything he said. One of his proudest moments as a coach is the underdog win to claim the GLVC championship title last year. That title also came with an invitation to the NCAA division II national tournament.

When asked about the biggest challenge they have in the upcoming season, Ellis had this to say, “Repeating conference champions will be tough because we cannot sneak up on teams anymore. The others know what we are capable of and they will prepare. We need to and will play well to win every night.”  He also adds that free throws are a challenge for his team at the moment. Losing four of his best players this year is also a very touching moment for Ellis. Watching them grow year after year is his most proud moment as a coach.

The upcoming season against conference teams will no doubt be a tough one for the Maryville University women’s basketball team. Being in one of the top division two conferences in the NCAA doesn’t help either. One of the most exciting games of the year is against Drury University in Springfield, Mo. I didn’t miss the games last year, so when I asked the players about the games this year against Drury, their eyes lit up. Another rival game this season is against University of Illinois Springfield. Both teams are well coached and have great men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Although the lady Saints recently lost against Missouri Western, it was an intense game to say the least. The girls fought hard and had a couple of great plays during the game. For their next game—grab a few friends and watch the lady Saints play their best!

The post Work Hard, Play Harder appeared first on Maryville Pawprint.

Mark Roman. Courtesy of Maryville University.

The  memorial ceremony for the late professor Mark Roman, Celebration of Mark’s Life, will take place Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the Huttig Chapel at 2 p.m. Come join the School of Business faculty, staff and students as well as Mark’s widow, Sandy, to honor Mark and to celebrate his life and achievements.

Mark, 51, died on July 11, 2012 of heart disease. The associate professor in the John E. Simon School of Business taught at Maryville for 13 years, and he was known for his deep commitment to educating accounting students.

Dean Pam Horwitz said, “He was outstanding. The students loved him. He was a classic accountant in how he processed, and he moved through things in a very organized manner. He was very interested in teaching and student outcomes and got involved with the Dr. Mary Ellen Finch Center for Teaching and Learning very early on.”

Join the Maryville community Oct. 10 to remember Mark and all his contributions to learning and teaching.

The post Mark Roman Memorial Oct. 10 appeared first on Maryville Pawprint.

Since college started I’ve been texting my friends at home a lot. They keep asking me when I am coming back home. I’m trying to branch-out and meet new people but I don’t want to ignore my friends back home. How can I make new friends and still keep the old living so far away? I miss them but I wish they would stop guilt tripping me.

What do I do?

Sincerely,

Tug-o-war Troubles.”

Well, Tug, I can seriously relate to you – that is a crummy spot to be in. Bottom line: it stinks, but let me put a few pieces of your mind to ease.

First things first: the fact that you are branching out and making new friends at college is spectacular! There are quite a few people who go off to college and can’t get past that initial fear and make new friends. It’s very important that you do move past that – after all, these are the people that you are going to be living with for the next four years. So don’t feel bad about branching out – that’s the best thing for you right now.

Secondly: I can also understand not wanting to ignore your friends from back home. They’re still very important – not downplaying that at all. But I will say this: all relationships are subject to the “Long-term Test.” Most people hear “long-term” and they automatically think boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, but, in reality, any and all relationships can either pass or fail long distances. Some of them simply can’t handle it, just because they don’t know how to, and that’s nobody’s fault – not theirs, and certainly not yours. You have a lot of things on your mind from school, to clubs, to your friends here, to simply living your own life. It’s difficult to balance everything here, let alone what’s still at home. But let me tell you, you are not alone in this challenge – everyone is currently struggling with this, no matter what you may think.

Thirdly (and this goes for everyone): guilting is a horrible thing. It’s horrible to do it, and it’s even worse to be on the receiving end of it. It’s one of those things that’s very difficult to get over, so don’t ever do it. If you need someone to help you with something or to be there for you, talk with them let them know that you’d really like it if they could be there – but guilting is a line not worth crossing – trust me.

So Tug, I am very sorry that you got the receiving end of this. I know that pain takes some healing.

As far as advice goes, communication is honestly the best thing for you. Truthfully enough, communication is the key to almost all drama. If you (meaning whoever is reading this) ever stop to think about it, a good chunk of the drama you had in high school probably came from some form of lack of communication – whether you didn’t talk with your teacher, your friends, your parents or your significant other. Lack of communication is one of the chief reasons why problems start in our world.

But back to you, Tug, I feel that your situation can be fixed with some talk. I’m not saying talk to them more – although that is certainly an option – but I am saying that you could talk with your friends and let them know that you feel like they’re guilting you into coming home. Be calm and polite about it – let them know that they still mean the world to you, because they are your friends. Try to see if you can take a weekend away from school and go and see them – just one (more if you want, but at minimum, I would say one). If this isn’t an option for you, see if they can Skype, or, better yet, see if they can come over here to Maryville and meet your new friends here!

There are a lot of things you could do here, but at bare minimum, I would talk with them, let them know how you feel, and then devote some amount of time to them – the sooner the better.

I hope this helps Tug. If you want to write to me again for whatever reason (for more advice or just to let me know how it goes), I’d love to hear from you. And that goes for everyone! If you have a problem and need some advice, write to me, and I will write back as soon as I can. My email address is Oranousmaryville@gmail.com – write to me whenever you’d like.

And Tug, don’t worry. Everything will work out all right.

All my best,

Oranous

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Courtesy of Allied Media

I liked Magic Mike. There, I said it. As a guy, I was worried walking into the theater (which was comprised of 90% women), but I was determined to set my preconceived notions aside and watch without judgment. What I found was a pretty decent movie about power, money, and abs girls, and the lengths men will go to get all three.

Mike (Channing Tatum) is a construction worker/car detailer/customer furniture maker by day, exotic dancer by night. On the construction site, Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a young, naïve kid who doesn’t know the first thing about keeping a job. Soon enough, Adam is brought into the world of Xquisite, the all-male revue in Tampa. Mike takes Adam under his wing, and quickly pushes him onstage when a fellow performer can’t go on. Adam is instantly dubbed, “The Kid”.

The story is as much about The Kid as it is about Mike. They are essentially the same person, but at two very different points in their lives. We watch as Adam enters this new world and rises in popularity, while quickly getting lost in a sea of drugs and women. At the same time, Mike seems to be emerging from years of a perpetual hangover, realizing that one night stands and endless parties have left his actual dreams unfulfilled. Tatum is the standout, playing Mike with determination and heart. In fact, he is the only character with any redeeming qualities. Alex remains unlikeable the entire length of the film, making careless decisions, without an inch of regret.

The world of Magic Mike is interesting to me. Mike doesn’t identify himself as a stripper, he describes himself as an entrepreneur. And that’s really what this movie boils down to. It’s about money. We see Mike and Adam recruit women at bars to come see their show, handing out passes to make sure ladies fill the seats (and their wallets) every night. We hear the banter behind the curtain and surprisingly, the terms these guys use most often are “equity” and “investments”.  We even watch Mike return home after a night at work as he carefully irons out the wrinkles in his stack of one dollar bills.

The movie loses steam when an ecstasy subplot enters the mix and endangers the lives of Alex and Mike. The storyline springs up rather quickly and fades into the background just as fast, never mentioned again. Mike also begins to flirt with Alex’s sister Brooke (Cody Horn), but the two have zero chemistry together. She looks bored the entire time. Matthew McConaughey has fun with the role of Dallas. And yes, he gets on stage near the end of the film (women cheered).

Sodebergh is the reason this movie doesn’t implode on itself. He balances a story that is darker than I expected, but manages to keep the film loose. It looks great too. Scenes set in the daytime are purposefully overexposed, suggesting the feeling of a daze likely felt by Mike and his fellow dancers when having to function in the “real” world.

With a reported budget of $5 million dollars, I have no doubt it will eclipse that total and then some. Will we see Magic Mike 2: Electric Boogaloo in the future? Depends on how many singles pass over the ticket counter on opening weekend.

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Most students today are preparing to enter the workforce for the first time, or due to the economy, finding themselves preparing for a job search for that new career.

While the academic programs teach us what is needed to perform the duties of your chosen career path, there is still the need to prepare to find that new career.  Through the academic programs offered here at Maryville University, students are given the opportunity to expand their education to include the skills needed for that job search.

The Communication department here at Maryville University has a course that will help with these needs.  Dr. Barb DeSanto is head of the department and agrees that everyone in saying not just communication students can benefit from this course.  The course is COMM 233, Professional and Organizational Communication.

Students entering any of the communication degree programs will be required to complete this course.   However, any student can complete this course for an elective course and should consider doing so.

This course contains so much information to help you get started in preparing for entering the workforce.  Dr. Leilani Carver will help you from the beginning in building that network of contacts, to the resume, to the interviewing process.

This course was developed to help the student understand today’s job and career market before the time comes to face the task of finding a job.  Part of the course work is to develop a portfolio which will promote the student to prospective employers.

All students should consider this course early enough in their education to allow them to develop their portfolio for that individual path they have chosen.  Your portfolio is like an extension of yourself.  It will show samples of your skills, work samples and so much more.  This is important for entering today’s work force.

Do not let the syllabus scare you away.  It is an action-packed program that will provide the student practical assignments, providing the students opportunities to experience real interviews, attending networking events, and building that network of professionals that might be able to help you find that perfect job.

Another part of this class is to help the student find that mentor.  A mentor is crucial to success in any field.  A mentor in your field of work will help guide you in locating that perfect job and help ensure you have the skills for that job.

And did you know of all the places for finding an open position?  In this course, you learn of places that most people do not think about looking at for employment.  And have you thought of “Informational Interviewing”?  Show a company that they need you before they realize.

Dr. DeSanto said, “This class is more than a class, it’s an investment that each student must make in his or her professional life.  Our Maryville Communication Program’s goal is simple:  We want employers to request a Maryville graduate.  And a class like Dr. Leilani Carver’s professional and organizational development is one specific class target to providing the knowledge and skills that employers are seeking.”

Whether you are stepping out into the “real world” for employment for the first time, or making that career change, consider the opportunities this program offers.  Many of the students that recently took this class took the class to fill an elective and by the end of the program were very glad that they did.

As we learn so much from our professors and the hands on experiences in life, this is one course that helps you promote all of your skills in the best manner.  Consider the possibility of rounding out your education with the one class that can truly prepare you for the future, the future of employment and your career.

For additional information for this course, please contact the Communication Department, Dr. DeSanto at bdesanto@maryville.edu or Dr. Carver at clcarver@maryville.edu.

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