April rain showers, such as the one photographed through the window of UMSL’s J.C. Penney Building, have yielded numerous flowers across the university, including the cherry blossoms blooming on North Campus.
The photographs were taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and are the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.
UMSL’s annual Mirthday tradition is expanding into Mirth Week this spring, with a host of festivities set for April 27 to May 2. (Photo by August Jennewein)
For education major Rebekah Cripe, the Mirthday carnival has always been a favorite event. It was her first taste of the University of Missouri–St. Louis four years ago, during a campus visit as a high school senior.
“I was able to attend the carnival and concert that night and stay on campus after to see what UMSL was like,” said Cripe, now an upperclassman and Pierre Laclede Honors College student. “It really solidified my decision in coming to UMSL.”
As one of the student organizers of the 2015 version of the campus tradition, Cripe has helped grow Mirthday into Mirth Week this time around. Instead of one day in April, the festivities will fill a week.
“It’s a time to celebrate the students and all the hard work everyone does all year,” she said. “The carnival and the concert are back this year, and then we’re incorporating a bunch of other programs and celebrations, too.”
Cripe, who serves as executive chair of the University Program Board, Student Activities Coordinator Tegan Klevorn and others shared highlights from each day of the upcoming Mirth Week celebration with UMSL Daily. For the full schedule, see UPB’s Facebook event page.
MONDAY
Mirth Week kicks off with the Office of Student Life hosting its anticipated Student Leadership Awards Banquet on Monday evening. Student Organization of the Year, Program of the Year, Advisor of the Year and Student Leader of the Year are among the honors. Monday is also “Compliment Day,” involving cheerful, memorable notes posted (courtesy UPB) all across the university. “It’s just a cool way to bring up spirits on campus and spread the joy,” Cripe said.
TUESDAY
Tuesday’s festivities conclude with an afternoon Last Lecture program featuring Dottye Akerson, a teaching professor in the College of Nursing. “It’s a wonderful way for students to recognize the positive impact their faculty are having on their UMSL experience and a great opportunity for our office to support the academic mission of the institution,” said Jessica Long-Pease, director of Student Life. “Seeing students engage in every part of the nomination and selection process was really fantastic.” Additionally, students who visit the UMSL Triton Store on Tuesday are in for special perks courtesy the store’s Student Appreciation Day.
WEDNESDAY
The annual carnival is a centerpiece on Wednesday, arguably the fullest day of the Mirth Week schedule. Rides, games, food and fun get under way at noon and continue until 4 p.m. in Parking Lot E. Bookending the carnival are the Spring Volunteer Fair and Multicultural Spring Festival in the Millennium Student Center over the lunch hour and College Night at Busch Stadium as the Cardinals take on the Phillies at 7:15 p.m.
THURSDAY
As Cripe summed it up, Mirth Week is all about about happiness. At UMSL, such good cheer includes acts of service – and the Spring Volunteer Fair, which appears both Wednesday and Thursday. Stop by the MSC Rotunda between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for a look at opportunities to make a difference in the community. First-year students are also encouraged to take part in the “One is Done” celebration recognizing first-year student milestones at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Provincial House.
FRIDAY
Tickets are going fast for this year’s concert. Miguel headlines the 7 p.m. event at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. “In the past we had Mirthday with the carnival and concert on the same day [a Wednesday],” said Cripe, whose responsibilities include being a “runner” for Miguel the day of the concert. “But having only one option for a concert date [meant] we were limited on who we could bring. Having the whole weekend open allowed for more artist choice.” Before heading to the Touhill, Mirth Week-goers can also stop by the Welcome Center in the Millennium Student Center between 2 and 7 p.m. Friday to commemorate the Welcome Center’s 10-year anniversary.
SATURDAY
Playfully renamed the UnFrozen 5K, the race originally scheduled as part of February’s homecoming celebration pairs the five-kilometer competition with a one-mile Triton Trot option. Free for UMSL students, the 10 a.m. event Saturday is $25 for alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Register here.
For more information, see the Mirth Week flier.
Scott Kerr is president of McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts, where his daughter Sara Kerr, a UMSL art history student, also works full time. The family gallery is a regular at the annual, three-day St. Louis Print Fair that begins May 1. (Photo courtesy of the St. Louis Mercantile Library)
While taking an American art course at the University of Missouri–St. Louis last year, Sara Kerr kept encountering familiar names and paintings.
“I found that many of the artists we studied had come through the gallery,” said Kerr, an art history major at UMSL as well as a dealer at McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts in Webster Groves, Mo. “Then last semester, I was also curating a private collection, and what I was learning at UMSL was incredibly important to the work I was doing.”
Kerr has been involved in the art community for as long as she can remember. Together with her father, McCaughen & Burr president Scott Kerr, she’ll once again be on hand at the ninth annual St. Louis Fine Print, Rare Book and Paper Arts Fair, presented by the St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL May 1-3.
“The Midwest has its own regional style of painting, so being able to gather the dealers in the region is incredibly meaningful,” she said, noting that one of McCaughen & Burr’s specialties is Missouri regionalism, particularly artworks from between 1890 and 1960.
The business has been in the family since 1840, making her a fifth-generation dealer with the gallery.
“It is very gratifying to me that Sara has decided to continue in the family business,” Scott Kerr said. “There’s not going to be a break in the lineage of the family gallery, and it’s really great to know that it’s going to be in good hands.”
Their booth is a familiar one at the upcoming print fair, which is drawing dozens of dealers this year from across the country as well as local galleries including McCaughen & Burr. Wares on display during the fair will range from historical paintings to contemporary works and from vintage posters to books, illustrations and more.
“The key to a successful fair is the dealers,” Scott Kerr said, adding that the Mercantile’s annual event is the only indoor art fair St. Louis offers. “Boston, New York, Phoenix, Sante Fe and everywhere in between – Julie [Dunn-Morton] has done a very nice job of making selections so you get a wide variety, [and] I think it shows the influence that the Mercantile Library still wields.”
The father and daughter share an appreciation for the cultural significance and resources of the Mercantile, which mirrors McCaughen & Burr’s longevity in the St. Louis region. Both the library and the gallery were originally located near the riverfront, and both were in existence by the middle of the 19th century.
“All the great American artists passed through St. Louis,” Scott Kerr said. “We were the outlet for all the great Westward Expansion painters.”
In addition to the buying and selling of fine art, McCaughen & Burr does art restoration, appraisals and custom framings. Names such as Thomas Hart Benton, Ed Boccia and Joe Jones loom large among the gallery’s list of artists.
Beginning with a silent auction and preview party the evening of May 1, fair-goers will have the opportunity to explore these and thousands of other works and treasures available to view and purchase throughout the weekend. The event takes place in the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center and benefits the Mercantile Library’s collection and conservation funds. For tickets and more information, click here.
Alan Byrd (left), dean of enrollment at UMSL, received the Peggy Clinton Memorial Service Award on April 13 from the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling. Pictured with Byrd is Bart Tibbs, past president of MOACAC and the associate director of admissions at Missouri State University. (Photo by August Jennewein)
Long before Alan Byrd joined the University of Missouri–St. Louis staff, he was already hard at work on behalf of students in the region. So while Byrd, now dean of enrollment at UMSL, was caught off guard by the award he received last week, his colleagues were not.
“I remember many times when Alan would work with students at all hours of the day – and night – to answer their questions and help them with the application and enrollment process,” said UMSL Director of Admissions Drew Griffin, who has worked alongside Byrd for many years. “Alan would then serve as a major resource for them once they arrived on campus … He was never afraid to go the extra mile and assist a student with whatever they needed to be successful.”
On April 13, Byrd’s peers across Missouri honored him with the Peggy Clinton Memorial Service Award, named for someone Byrd himself recalls as a “true admission professional.”
“She had a reputation that we all strive for in terms of professionalism and caring for the well-being of students,” Byrd said. “Several of my mentors have won this award in the past, so that made it even more special to me.”
Presented annually at the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling conference, the Peggy Clinton Memorial Service Award is reserved for an admissions professional who has shown commitment and dedication to students throughout his or her career.
“It speaks volumes about an admissions professional’s work ethic,” Griffin said. “Alan is such a humble guy, so he wouldn’t make a big deal of this. But it really is a big deal.”
Hired as UMSL’s director of admissions in 2009, Byrd was promoted to dean of enrollment in 2012. Recently, his focus has been on improving policies, business practices and support services for students. Prior to his tenure at UMSL, he worked in college admissions at Southeast Missouri State University, serving in a number of roles.
“This is a labor of love for me,” Byrd said. “I was the first in my family to earn a college degree, so I have experienced firsthand how higher education can transform a person’s life. Now it is very gratifying for me to assist students in their transition to higher education and to contribute to their growth and development into successful professionals.”
Griffin describes him as an advocate and role model for students who “understands the obstacles that many must overcome to succeed in higher education.”
“I work hard to listen and observe his actions so that I, too, may help as many students as possible,” Griffin said. “He is a machine. He’s committed to improving the lives of students and won’t stop at any cost until he can make it right.”
Sexual assault among college students has gained prominence as a topic in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that assaults are more frequent than in previous years, said Zoe Peterson, associate professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
Zoe Peterson, associate professor of psychological sciences, discusses myths about rape and sexual assault and how to change campus culture. (Photo by August Jennewein)
“Universities have become responsible for responding in a more proactive way to sexual assault reports than in the past and that has really called a lot of attention to the subject,” Peterson said. “That means that reports are more visible and that more action has to be taken. There’s been a sudden increase in interest, which is great. I also think we’re getting better and better information about how common it is.”
Peterson will be among four keynote presenters at “Responding to Sexual Assault on College Campuses: Changing Climate and Helping Survivors.” The event is part of the Hellen and Will Carpenter Series on Contemporary Issues in American Society and will take place at 7 p.m., April 28 in the auditorium of the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center.
The seminar also features Tara Galovski, associate professor of psychological sciences; Daniel Isom, Endowed Professor of Policing and the Community; and Forrest Van Ness, UMSL’s director of institutional safety and chief of police. Topics will range from prevention to support and treatment for survivors.
UMSL Daily caught up with Peterson for a preview of the topic.
What is your role in the seminar?
My role is to talk about the context of sex assault among college students. Who is it happening to and in what context is it occurring? What are some of the myths we have about rape among college students and what are the realities about what rape looks like on college campuses?
I’m going to talk primarily about context. Most rapes on college campuses are perpetrated by someone the woman knows, and often in party-like settings. I’m also going to talk a little bit about how we might think about changing campus culture to prevent rapes from happening.
How do you think we can change campus culture?
I think there are a variety of things we can do. I think in general, students, faculty and staff should not tolerate sexism. Colleges shouldn’t tolerate situations where men are giving each other messages that they’re entitled to sex where sex is seen as competition among men – who can have the most. Also, challenging rape myths.
What are some of the myths that are out there about rape?
When people say that rape is this thing that only occurs in back alleys, we need to challenge that. That’s not what the research shows.
We need to challenge myths that blame the victim. People will often say, “That happened to that woman but she was dressed a certain way, or she was really drunk.” We should all challenge those things and stand up to that.
How has the focus on rape prevention changed over the years?
In the past, rape prevention was aimed at telling women to limit their own behavior. This is bad for a number of reasons and it is often based on rape myths.
We often tell women to not walk alone at night. That’s fine advice, but most rape isn’t happening when women are walking alone outside at night. Most rapes happen when people are on dates, at parties or when they’re hanging out with friends in a dorm room. Telling women not to walk alone at night is not likely to prevent women from being raped.
Women are often told things like don’t drink too much or don’t go to places where men might be predators. This tells them that they’re responsible for limiting their behavior to protect themselves instead of holding perpetrators responsible for their behavior.
UMSL student Kristin Wyninegar peeks out from the fourth row during a gathering of college women in Washington, D.C., this spring. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Wyninegar)
“Sometimes you do things that make you step outside your comfort zone, and they can lead to great experiences.”
That’s one of Kristin Wyninegar’s takeaways when she reflects on her growth over the last few years – and on a recent all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
The University of Missouri–St. Louis junior was one of 25 U.S. college women selected to spend a week volunteering, advocating and learning in the nation’s capital over spring break. Marking her first excursion beyond Missouri and Illinois, Wyninegar felt a little nervous as an airport newbie.
“I just wanted to get on the plane and go,” she said.
And go she did, making the most of the United Way-sponsored effort, which focused on issues such as human trafficking, women’s leadership and public health. But three years ago, as a first-year student at UMSL, Wyninegar would not have envisioned it.
“During my freshman year, I didn’t do anything,” she said, describing a general lack of engagement at the time. “It’s kind of crazy to look back.”
UMSL student Kristin Wyninegar (Photo by August Jennewein)
Currently a mentor to her peers, student representative at UMSL and dedicated volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, she credits a few mentors of her own for triggering the change in her perspective.
One of those people was an older student who pushed Wyninegar to get involved with UMSL Students of Service early on. The shy freshman who initially dragged her feet now heads up the community-service-driven student organization on campus.
“If you just make the time, it’s worth it,” she said of her service-oriented efforts, which were also central to the D.C. experience this spring.
United Way sent Wyninegar and the other students on the trip to various locations on Capitol Hill and throughout the surrounding region each day. She spent several afternoons with kids at a community resource center for women and young children.
“One day when we were there we got to help them make salsa,” Wyninegar said, adding that the experiences were fun but sobering at times. “We were in the heart of poverty.”
Two other service projects during the week involved organizing a food pantry’s stock room and a transitional housing center’s supplies of infant clothing.
“I was just so inspired the entire week,” Wyninegar said. “Being around people who want to make a difference inspires you to make a difference.”
The trip also provided opportunities for informal conversation with legislators and other movers and shakers on Capitol Hill. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who represents the 3rd Congressional District of Missouri, including Wyninegar’s hometown of St. Charles, discussed an issue that was dominating headlines during the students’ visit.
“We got to talk to him about the anti-trafficking legislation, which was still stuck in the House that week,” Wyninegar said. “It was really cool just to have that impact.”
She also met with people who work closely with U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill.
“Both of the staffers that I talked to were really interested to hear my opinion on things,” Wyninegar said. She came home eager to follow current events and also struck by “all the different areas that women are underrepresented in.”
Back at UMSL, Wyninegar has been busy campaigning for vice president of the Student Government Association and pursuing her degree in communication. She is also a 2015 Shear Fellow for the 21st Century Leadership Academy.
On May 1, UMSL will honor her with a Distinguished Service Award at the 39th Chancellor’s Report to the Community.
With the first two Opportunity Scholars set to graduate from UMSL in May, all of the current students to hold that distinction recently gathered for a group photo. UMSL photographer August Jennewein made the picture in the South Campus courtyard surrounded by Provincial House and the Villa Building. The photo is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.
Created in 2011, the program recruits top St. Louis-area high school students who are underrepresented or are the first in their family to enroll in college. The program enhances the quality and diversity of the region’s future leaders in science, technology, engineering, math and related fields. Participants receive an all-inclusive four-year scholarship and residential package, as well as one-on-one academic, career and life-skills coaching. They also gain access to internships through UMSL’s corporate partners.
The Opportunity Scholars Program began through a partnership with UMSL and Emerson, which contributed $1.65 million. Additional contributors to the scholarship program include AT&T, Energizer, Reinsurance Group of America, Stan and Terry Freerks, Bellwether Foundation and David and Thelma Steward. UMSL also received an anonymous $1 million gift.
For scholarship criteria, guidelines and more information, visit umsl.edu/opportunityscholars.
Visitors enjoy a tour of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch named the Mercantile the “Best Place for a History Lesson” in St. Louis. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is once again well represented in a new list of St. Louis’ best.
Highlighted in this year’s Go! List, composed of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch critics’ and readers’ picks for the best in St. Louis, were the following with connections to UMSL:
“The St. Louis Mercantile Library on the campus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis is home to one of the largest collections of historic photos and manuscripts in the state,” noted Jody Mitori, assistant managing editor/features for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. About visits to the Mercantile, she added, “You may find yourself learning about model trains, George Caleb Bingham prints or the history of presidential whistle stop tours.”
Of the Arianna String Quartet, artists-in-residence at UMSL, classical music critic Sarah Bryan Miller pointed out they perform throughout the world, but the best place to hear them is at UMSL or elsewhere in their hometown.
“They’re an important part of the St. Louis cultural scene, and one that deserves greater prominence,” she said.
View the full list at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website.
UMSL recognized three alumni and one student with 2015 Distinguished Service Awards at the 39th Chancellor’s Report to the Community on Friday. UMSL alumni Terry and Stan Freerks (center) received the campuswide service award. They are pictured with UM System President Tim Wolfe and UMSL Chancellor Tom George, at right. (Photos by August Jennewein)
The variety of ways in which University of Missouri–St. Louis students and alumni impact campus and the broader St. Louis community for the better was a theme of the 39th Chancellor’s Report to the Community.
At the conclusion of last week’s event, which drew nearly 800 attendees, four members of the UMSL community received a 2015 Distinguished Service Award. The annual honor recognizes individuals who demonstrate a remarkable commitment to the university.
This year’s award for campuswide service went to UMSL alumni Stan Freerks, MBA 1992, and Terry Freerks, BA 1977 and MEd 1999. Giving of their time, talents and treasure in multiple ways, the Freerks have long been an active presence on campus. Helping to revitalize alumni work and providing valuable perspective to deans and directors, they have served on leadership councils across the university. The couple also supported the rebirth of the UMSL swim team, which returned to the pool this past fall for the first time in 18 years.
Margaret Shoptaw, BSBA 1986, received the unit-based award. (Click the photo to enlarge it.)
Alumna Margaret Shoptaw, BSBA 1986, received the unit-based service award for her work with the Information Systems Department. Shoptaw, who is currently in technical sales for Dell Enterprise Solutions Group, has given back to UMSL as a member of the Information Systems Advisory Board. Drawing on more than 25 years
Junior communication major Kristin Wyninegar, center, received the student service award. (Click the photo to enlarge it.)
in the IT world, she has worked to build bridges with St. Louis businesses and improved the department’s curriculum. Her countless volunteer hours include mentorship, the development of the Advanced IS Laboratory on campus and community outreach.
The student-service award went to junior communication major Kristin Wyninegar, chair of Students of Service. Wyninegar has also served as a peer mentor, Weeks of Welcome coordinator, Homecoming Steering Committee student representative and in other roles. She is vice president-elect of the Student Government Association and a 2015 Sue Shear Fellow. Earlier this spring, she traveled to Washington, D.C., as one of 25 college women selected from across the country for a weeklong service and advocacy effort.
UMSL Chancellor Tom George delivered the 39th annual Chancellor’s Report to the Community May 1 at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. (Photo by August Jennewein)
With three new buildings under construction, the addition of Normandie Golf Course and new scholarships, numerous faculty awards and nationally ranked programs to tout, University of Missouri–St. Louis Chancellor Tom George conveyed to his constituents Friday a strong and growing campus.
He also praised the UMSL community for its civil discourse, collective response and efforts to create positive change following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. The situation, he noted, had created some stress on enrollment.
“But it also has led to great opportunities to move forward in a direction that benefits our students and the community,” said George, who delivered the 39th annual Chancellor’s Report to the Community May 1 at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.
About 800 people attended the event including Tim Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri System, business and community leaders, and state and local elected officials.
Highlights included:
• George announced the North County Scholarship Program, a joint $500,000 investment in north St. Louis students by UMSL and the University of Missouri System. The program matches the $1.5 million in scholarships for UMSL students through Emerson’s “Ferguson Forward” initiative.
• He asked his constituents to support The Missouri Promise, a movement driven by UM System President Wolfe and UMSL alumnus and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel to amend the state Constitution to provide scholarships that would pay for all or most of the tuition and fees for high-performing Missouri high school graduates. An increase to the state tobacco tax would fund the scholarships.
• For the first time ever, UMSL-owned housing was full with a waiting list, and the student enrollment exceeded 17,000 in the fall for a new campus record.
• UMSL’s campus grew by 117 acres with the purchase of the Normandie Golf Course through a gift and purchase option secured by the Chancellor’s Council. A 10-year lease has been signed with Walters Golf Management to oversee the property. Golf discounts are available to UMSL alumni, students, employees and retirees.
• UMSL broke ground on a $17 million Optometry Patient Care Center, which has a two-year construction timeline.
• The $36 million Recreation and Wellness Center is set to open in late August, while the $32 million Science Learning Building will likely open next spring.
• Natural Bridge’s transformation into a “Great Street” is well under way and on schedule for a December completion.
• U.S. News and World Report’s rankings this year revealed UMSL’s International Business program at 16th in the nation, and the graduate criminology program at fourth. UMSL’s online master’s in education program was ranked 25th and online bachelor’s programs were ranked 50th by the publication.
• Various graduate programs made U.S. News and World Report’s “Best” list including biology, chemistry & biochemistry, education, clinical psychology, nursing, social work, psychology and public policy administration.
• UMSL faculty ranked 15th in the nation for their research productivity in the category of high research activity, and 13 individual programs ranked among the top 50 in their respective fields. Academic Analytics, a company that ranks universities based on faculty research productivity, compiled the findings.
Click here to view the Chancellor’s Report to the Community script and here to view the slideshow.
Media Coverage:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Junior liberal studies major Natalie Smith (second from right) stands with fellow members of PRIZM, the queer-straight alliance at UMSL. As president of the student organization, she oversaw the Walls of Intolerance event, where students shared moments of discrimination on red paper bricks. (Photos by August Jennewein)
With lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues being tackled in state government and the Supreme Court, Natalie Smith acknowledges that times are changing in a big way.
“I view it as the civil rights movement of the 2000s,” said Smith, a junior liberal studies major at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “LGBT issues need to be prevalent.”
As president of PRIZM, the queer-straight alliance at UMSL, she’s making sure that happens on campus. From April 13 to 16, Smith led the Walls of Intolerance event that plastered the Millennium Student Center bridge with red paper “bricks.” On those bricks, students wrote about moments of discrimination they had experienced in their life. Many shared frustrations about race, gender and class as well as LGBT issues.
“There is something to be said for knowing that somebody else has felt the same way you do,” Smith said. “And the hard truth is that in our journey even to get to college, most of us have been discriminated against, judged, felt bias or felt shame for being who we are. It doesn’t matter what your sexual identity is, what your gender is, where you come from at all – you have felt that way at some point in your life.”
Natalie Smith, PRIZM president, shortly before tearing down the Walls of Intolerance in complete silence on UMSL Day of Silence.
All of the bricks were anonymous and were open to take any form of expression, including art. Smith personally made bricks for the wall and said it was hard to have to face hurtful moments all over again.
She adapted the event from an attempt the former PRIZM president orchestrated near The Nosh the year before. But this year, Smith held the Walls of Intolerance in a high-traffic area to increase exposure and awareness.
“I think seeing something substantial and in your face – that shows all of these people deal with similar feelings – makes a statement.”
On April 16, PRIZM members tore down the wall of bricks in absolute silence as a demonstration against discrimination. The ritual tied into UMSL Day of Silence, a PRIZM event open to all students who chose to stand silently up against discrimination.
Smith came to UMSL from St. Louis Community College – Meramec, where she had been president of other student organizations. After transferring and joining PRIZM as a general member for only one semester, the presidency was passed on to her.
“This organization is close to my heart,” she said. “I knew I would be able to make the focus of this more on advocacy and bridge the gap between straight students here on campus and those that identify with the LGBT community.”
Smith credits allies, straight members, of PRIZM with helping in that effort through their example of acceptance and empathy.
“The members of the community that are straight and ally for us get lumped in with us, and they face some of the same kinds of discrimination we do,” she said. “If we’re all walking in a group, people approaching don’t assume that any particular person is straight, so they feel the same judgment we do.”
She said that this form of stereotyping deters allies from joining in the community, a pattern she hopes stops.
When stereotyping and judgment arises, Smith wants students to know that one instance of discrimination doesn’t discount them. Like all other demographics, she sees the LGBT students and allies as a vital part of the UMSL community.
“There are a good portion of students who identify as LGBT on campus. They need to have a safe space. And when they come across discrimination, they need to know there are places on campus that they can go and feel like they have people to talk to.”
Smith is referring to the “safe zones” on UMSL’s campus, where faculty, staff and students trained as safe-zone advocates welcome LGBT students to freely express themselves. UMSL safe-zone locations are marked by an upside-down rainbow triangle. For safe zones and safe-zone trainings visit umsl.edu/~safezone.
PRIZM is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. Smith is proud to have helped the organization grow from being “just a drag show,” the annual event it was most known for.
“We have made a huge focus on trans-rape and transgender deaths from murder and suicide,” she said. “Activism and, of course, equality were other focuses. We’ve held facilitated discussions this semester to educate our members on what it actually means to be a part of this community and how individual identities are different.”
Smith poses a hard question to them, too – the same one she sees the nation trying to answer:
“How do we start a dialogue and respect each other’s realities so that we’re able to stand next to each other in understanding and peace?”
UMSL students (from left) Annie Nohava, Juliana Knaup and Nick Perez ride the Cliffhanger during the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Mirth Week carnival April 29.
The event provided an afternoon of rides, games, food and fun – the centerpiece of a university tradition that grew this year from what was once “Mirthday” into a full Mirth Week of campus cheer.
On Friday, the annual Mirth Week concert featured Miguel and drew more than 1,100 to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. View a full album of colorful photos capturing the week’s festivities on Flickr.
A cluster of underclassmen has laid unofficial claim to a busy spot in the Millennium Student Center, where they typically gather between classes. Pictured (clockwise from left) are Chris Young, Sage Hayes, Brian Kay, Robert Mertens, Alek Breitweiser, Rachel Milliot, Marcus Leach and Omar Shabazz. (Photos by August Jennewein)
As useful as a map can be, getting to know a place like the University of Missouri–St. Louis requires exploring it in person. So does discovering a favorite spot – to study, eat or just unwind.
That’s how UMSL students locate that perfect table at a busy campus crossroads or little-known nook with remarkably comfortable chairs.
UMSL students Ashley Westbrook (at left) and Leigh Jacobson spread out lunch and study materials in the Provincial House kitchen.
Those spaces are typically not classrooms, but they’re a vital part of the UMSL experience. For nursing student Leigh Jacobson, one of those is the Provincial House kitchen, where she has access to a microwave and large table.
“All of these amenities are available in Seton Hall, but the atmosphere there is different,” Jacobson says. “It’s kind of a social lounge area, and I’m a person who needs as little distraction as possible.”
Though she describes herself as “a little secretive” about her favorite study spots, Jacobson is quick to offer an informal tour of the Seton and Provincial facilities on South Campus.
“Provincial House was at one time a convent,” she says. “Its architecture and layout is something I really enjoy. The hardwood floors provide for a cozy environment and a sweet smell that reminds me of grade school.”
Jennifer Stephan, a junior nursing student, makes the most of a piano in Seton Hall.
For some of Jacobson’s nursing classmates, the brightly colored lounge near their academic home in Seton Hall makes the most sense.
“We started hanging out here in between classes because of our short breaks,” says junior Jennifer Stephan. “We have classes from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday in the same classroom.”
Upon special request, Stephan steps over to the nearby piano. She gives an impromptu performance of “Let It Be” before returning to the long table populated with applauding peers, including Amy Dinh, a fellow junior nursing student.
“I usually hang around in the Seton lobby during breaks between classes, to meet for group projects or to study and work on assignments,” Dinh says. “The ambience is nice, and I enjoy being able to relax in an area where peers of the same major also like to relax.”
Students can become a little territorial about their haunts. It’s hard not to, says David Cross, a sophomore mechanical engineering major.
A kitchen in Oak Hall brings on-campus students (from left) Melissa Roth, Carly Vogel and Joseph Hendricks together for a meal.
He’s part of a swarm of underclassmen frequently gathered at a particular table in the Millennium Student Center. Once in a while, another member of the UMSL community arrives earlier than they do, unwittingly claiming “their” spot.
“When that happens, we have to go to the backup spot” – one floor up, on the third floor of the busy MSC, Cross explains. But there’s something special about that place at the intersection of foot traffic between the bridge and the escalator.
“I enjoy this spot because I get to see everything in the MSC and find new friends,” says freshman computer science major Jacob Artis, seated next to Cross. “We’re always expanding – we’re a friendly group.”
Dylan Sullivan points to the chalkboard while studying with accounting classmates Mikia Austin and Marco Yau in a hallway hideaway in the J. C. Penney Building/Conference Center.
Artis met one of the people around the table in sixth grade – his good friend Marcus Leach, who is also now a freshman. Their after-class meetups have been crucial to staying connected at UMSL.
“What I enjoy the most about us getting together is that we are all different and come from different backgrounds,” Leach says. “Even though we are all different, we all fit together really well. We can talk about anything. We can vent, cry, whatever, and it’s really comforting to have a solid group of friends that can be trusted to support each other.”
Some students look for a spot in the middle of everything, but others seek to be off the beaten path. That’s what sold Dylan Sullivan and two of his accounting classmates on a hallway hideaway in the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center.
“We stumbled upon it while going to the Online Testing Center to take a test and thought that it would make a great area to study – it had a blackboard we could write on, was quiet, and, most importantly, it had comfortable chairs,” Sullivan says. “It also allows us to project our voice when studying.”
Melanie Fagerlin challenges a friend to a round of pool in Oak Hall.
Along with Mikia Austin and Marco Yau, the sophomore typically heads there the night before a big exam.
“We want to create a happy atmosphere instead of stressing out over the fact that we have an exam the next day,” Sullivan says. “I think it actually helps me learn and retain information better because it is easier to recall information when I am in a good mood rather than a bad one.”
For others still, selecting a spot is about something as mundane – and delicious – as a hearty lunch.
“I brought a fairly big lunch today,” says commuter and Pierre Laclede Honors College student Ashley Westbrook, before taking another bite of salad, “and I knew that the [honors college] kitchen would be the best place to lay out my spread.”
This story originally appeared in the spring 2015 issue of UMSL Magazine.
Senior psychology major Erica Van Cleave puts her feet up while watching Netflix in the Fireside Lounge in the Millennium Student Center.
UMSL graduate Safia Madani celebrates with family in this December 2014 file photo. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The number of graduates participating in commencement festivities at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will top 1,000 this weekend.
June McAllister Fowler
As family, friends and members of the campus community gather May 16 and 17 to watch them cross the stage, UMSL graduates and well-wishers will hear from a variety of speakers and honorary degree recipients.
St. Louis native June McAllister Fowler will address graduates from the College of Nursing, College of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Social Work and the Public Policy Administration Program during a 10 a.m. ceremony on Saturday.
As senior vice president of corporate and public communications for BJC HealthCare, Fowler oversees communications and community relations for one of the largest nonprofit health-care organizations in the nation. She began her career as an urban planner with St. Louis County government. An active volunteer throughout the region, Fowler has received ongoing recognition for her leadership.
Colleen Starkloff
During a 2 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences will hear from Colleen Starkloff. In 2003, Starkloff and her husband, Max Starkloff, founded Starkloff Disability Institute to work to change societal attitudes and perceptions about living with disability.
Serving as the institute’s co-director since her husband’s death in 2010, she has devoted her career to advocacy for people with disabilities. That commitment extends back to the 1970s, when she co-founded Paraquad, a St. Louis nonprofit organization that persists to this day. Starkloff has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Distinguished Service Award presented by former President George H. W. Bush.
Terry M. Swinger
Terry M. Swinger, OD, will speak at the College of Optometry commencement at 6 p.m. Saturday. Since opening a private practice of optometry in Caruthersville, Mo., Swinger’s efforts have left a legacy of leadership in the profession of optometry and in the region.
In 2003, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, representing District 162. Reelected four times, Swinger’s committee appointments focused on education, health-care policy, agri-business and economic development. He grew in his appreciation of UMSL’s College of Optometry during his tenure in the state legislature and recently helped celebrate the groundbreaking on a new Patient Care Center slated to open in 2016.
Maxine Clark
Sunday’s 2 p.m. ceremony honoring College of Education graduates will feature a pair of speakers, Maxine Clark and Gladys Coggswell, both of whom are also receiving honorary degrees.
Clark is an innovator in the retail industry, with her insights and ability to spot emerging trends generating growth across department, discount and specialty stores. In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop, and today more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores are in operation, with more than 140 million stuffed animals sold worldwide.
Two years ago, Clark stepped down from her Chief Executive Bear role to apply her entrepreneurial skills to her passion for improving K-12 public education and for encouraging and investing in women and minority entrepreneurs. She recently launched Blueprint4SummerSTL, a free, easy-to-use app that connects St. Louis families to summer learning opportunities.
Gladys Coggswell
Coggswell is a master storyteller who has spent a lifetime educating and captivating adults and children alike through homespun tales of culture and history. She is also an author, a teacher and a UMSL alumna, earning a master’s degree in counseling from the university in 1991.
Through the oral tradition and art of storytelling, Coggswell brings Missouri history to life for diverse audiences throughout the region and beyond. She draws on stories collected from older residents, traditional folk tales and folk and gospel music to share the African American experience and preserve history.
The 6 p.m. Sunday ceremony honors graduates of the College of Business Administration and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program. Patrick J. Sly, executive vice president for Emerson, will address attendees. Sly began his career at Emerson in 1980 as national sales manager for power tools. Now he manages the Emerson Charitable Trust and the company’s community relations activities.
Patrick Sly
Sly also oversees Emerson’s St. Louis campus facilities, the company’s worldwide travel and vehicle programs, and corporate sales activities. He serves as vice chair of the Saint Louis University Board of Trustees, is on the national board of directors for Boys Hope Girls Hope and is a board member for the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation.
In addition to conferring hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees over the weekend, the UMSL community will commemorate the first class of SUCCEED graduates. They will be recognized during the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony on Saturday.
The nine SUCCEED students, who have completed a two-year residential program that develops pathways toward independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are earning a Chancellor’s Certificate.
More information about spring 2015 commencement is available here.
Cast members perform in the 2014 UMSL production of “The Mikado.” (Photo by Danny Reise)
The lights dim at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, the music rises and the performers step out on the stage. Associate Professor Stella Markou has a hard time breathing and beads of sweat form on her skin.
The University of Missouri–St. Louis Opera Theatre’s annual production is about to begin, and she’s spent months directing casting, choreography, costume design and even making sure that the performers’ lipstick is sparkly enough.
“When the show starts is the only time I start to worry that this isn’t going to work,” she says. “Failure’s not an option. The music’s too great, the story’s too great and we’ve worked too hard.”
But as her students start to sing, everything becomes right again, and all that hard work has earned the UMSL Opera Theatre national attention. The University of Missouri-St. Louis is the only St. Louis university doing full opera productions.
“I believe in my students,” she says. “I believe in our work, and I believe in our process. Our process is grueling, and our process is intense, but that’s how you make great art.”
Markou leads the program as UMSL’s director of vocal studies and director of the opera theatre. When she arrived at UMSL, Markou started producing performances of scenes from select operas, before expanding to full productions such as “Elixir of Love” and “Die Fledermaus.”
Validation for the program came when the 2014 production of “The Mikado” earned second place in the Opera Production Competition from the National Opera Association. The award typically goes to larger opera programs. A year earlier, her alma mater, Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio was in the same slot.
“We want to be nationally competitive,” she says. “This award has basically said we’re playing with the big boys, which is very satisfying.”
Opera performance teaches vocal music students to sing while developing important theatrical skills, says Jim Henry, music department chair. Without the opera program, students might sing operatic pieces in their voice lessons, but they would lose the opportunity to develop characters and learn about staging and blocking.
“It’s a huge part of their education,” Henry says. “If they were to graduate from here without having any experience of that theatrical side of the musical art, they would be ill-prepared to go on to graduate
school or even any performance venue.”
Singing in an operatic style requires a performer to use a greater range of his or her voice, rather than blending with others, Henry says. That’s something Stephanie Crawford values while developing a performance career. Crawford graduated from UMSL in May 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in music and performed in several UMSL operas. She’s now a cantor and section leader at the Cathedral Basilica and performs as a concert soloist as well.
“With opera you’re singing solo a lot of the time and you’re very exposed,” Crawford says. “Most of the opera repertoire is a lot more challenging than singing in a choir setting. It helped me to become a better musician.”
Most opera participants arrive at UMSL with little to no exposure to opera. They may have years of choir or theater experience, but no involvement or knowledge of the art form itself. Many are quickly pulled in by the elaborate combination of music, singing and drama it offers.
“There’s a lot more to it than pop culture offers,” says junior music education major Andrea Lair. “There’s so much creativity. It can also be very modern. It’s a cherished tradition, and there’s something really special to that.”
Lair was the Mother in this year’s production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” She was so inspired after studying opera that she spent last summer working as an usher with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She hopes to continue singing even once she starts working as a music educator.
Like the previous year’s production, “Hansel and Gretel” was intended to dazzle audiences with stunning visuals. The traditional Christmas setting was switched to Easter due to the opera’s spring timing. UMSL Opera Theatre created a stage that resembled a wonderland complete with giant Peeps.
“This was a very interactive show where people allowed their imaginations and their inner child to come out and play,” Markou says. “I hoped to capture the childlike wonderment of the story through the beauty of the music and magnifying the archetypes of my heroes and heroines.”
In addition to producing top performers, the UMSL Opera Theatre’s productions are noteworthy for Markou’s ability to stretch limited resources. The program receives funding from the music department and the UMSL student government, and Markou stretches the resources to produce costumes and sets that dazzle the audiences.
“She’s extremely passionate about it, and she gets what she wants done,” says junior theater major Thomas Wiggand, who was Hansel. “It’s impressive to see what she puts together.”
This story was originally published in the spring 2015 issue of UMSL Magazine.
Among those who shared their stories at UMSL’s May 8 scholarship recognition luncheon were (from left) Kathy Reeves of Enterprise Holdings and UMSL students Déjà Patrick and Amy Cabanas. (Photos by August Jennewein)
Going back to school was a difficult decision for Amy Cabanas. But it was the right one, she told an audience of scholarship donors and students at the University of Missouri–St. Louis last week.
“After high school, I spent about ten years as an executive assistant in New York City,” said the senior business administration major and scholarship recipient, who shared her story as part of a scholarship recognition luncheon. “I excelled at that work. But I didn’t see myself as an executive assistant forever … So I moved back to St. Louis.”
She started enrolling in a class here and there, along with caring for her mother, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Eventually Cabanas became her mother’s full-time caregiver and took on a full course load at St. Louis Community College.
“School has become very important to me,” she said. “Since transferring to UMSL a year and a half ago, I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA. School has become my new full-time job.”
Earlier this year, Cabanas was awarded the Sigma-Aldrich Business Scholarship, which has increased her self-confidence as well as provided needed funding for classes, books and other expenses.
“I was so shocked when I received it,” she said. “I now believe much more in myself and my capabilities. I have confidence in the future – for landing the job I want and for taking care of my mother the way she deserves.”
Cabanas was one of three UMSL students who spoke at the May 8 event in the Millennium Student Center. The annual luncheon recognizes the many individuals and corporate donors whose contributions help the university and its students to thrive.
Student Government Association President Cameron Roark, a junior criminology and criminal justice major, served as emcee.
“Like so many students here at UMSL, for me the rising cost of college presented a significant challenge,” Roark said in his opening remarks. “My parents weren’t in a position to help me with that cost. But UMSL was – and that’s because of the generosity of many people whom I may never know personally. But a number of them are here today in this room.”
Roark, who has received several scholarships, said that without that funding he’d be juggling his studies at UMSL with a 30-hour workweek, unable to take on a student leadership role.
“[The scholarship support] means a lot less worry and a lot more energy for something I care about – helping people,” he said.
Graduating senior and Student Government Association Vice President Déjà Patrick also spoke during the program, describing a stressful freshman year four years ago.
“I was nervous, anxious and financially unaware of the commitment I was making,” said Patrick, a political science and communication major. “Not only was I struggling to pay for school – my home was unstable. I was about to become homeless.”
She began diligently searching for scholarships and making the most of UMSL resources and knowledgeable staff members to help identify appropriate funding.
“In the fall of 2012, I was greeted with great news,” Patrick said. “I had received the Durand [Family] Scholarship. And not only that – I was also awarded the Gear Up Scholarship. Together [they] cover my tuition and my room and board. I now have a place to call home, food to eat and an academic future.”
Patrick added that she also starts a job in two weeks at Enterprise, where she’ll be in a management trainee position. She’s exploring graduate school options, too, with an eye toward international business.
Along with the students, luncheon attendees heard from UMSL Chancellor Tom George, the a cappella student quartet Tailor Made and Kathy Reeves of Enterprise Holdings.
Reeves is assistant vice president of community relations for the company and serves on the College Access Pipeline board. Enterprise has long been engaged in strengthening college access in the St. Louis region. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Scholarship is celebrating 20 years of support for UMSL students.
Last fiscal year, UMSL donors created 70 new scholarship funds – a total of $3.5 million in financial aid that directly impacts UMSL students.
Over the years at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, things have come and gone, including The Fun Palace, which used to be where West Drive Garage now stands. It was mainly a recreation spot for students to play pingpong and billiards, but the long, slender one-story building overlooking Bugg Lake went through many phases.
In 1969, it served as an annex for the Department of Physics, prime territory during a time when UMSL was growing fast in number and small in space. But that was short lived, and The Fun Palace with pool tables and paddle tournaments quickly settled in during the 1970s, even after a petition to claim it for student organization offices. In 1984, The Fun Palace closed, but it still lasts in the memory of some of our very first students at UMSL.
This story was originally published in the spring 2015 issue of UMSL Magazine.
For retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Karen Pierre, manager of community relations at UMSL, serving on the USO advisory board is about coming full circle and giving back. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The items on the shelves and walls of Karen Pierre’s office in Woods Hall hint at a lifetime of stories. A familiar face on campus, the manager of community relations spent nearly 22 years in the U.S. Army before joining the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
“This is the Women in Military Service Memorial in Arlington,” Pierre says, pointing at a framed photo from 1997. “It’s the only major national memorial honoring women who have served in our nation’s defense during all eras and in all services. The goal is to register all military women to preserve their history. When I meet a veteran, the first thing I ask is, ‘Are you registered?'”
Her own Army career – one that landed her in Italy, South Korea and Germany among other locations – is long behind her. But the military still impacts her life, most recently as a new member of the advisory board for the USO of Missouri, Inc. She was nominated for the seat and officially named to the board in November 2014.
Pierre served more than two decades in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1998.
“It’s funny to come full circle,” says Pierre, who fondly remembers USO (United Service Organizations) events she attended while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., herself in the mid-1990s.
The main USO of Missouri location is at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, where Pierre enjoyed greeting soldiers headed home for the holidays in December.
“It’s a big coordinated effort, with over 1,000 volunteers,” Pierre says. “It’s emotional.”
From her Army days, to giving back through the USO, to her shifting responsibilities at UMSL during the last 16 years, Pierre has served in a variety of roles. Many of them have prepared her well for her current job working closely with the Chancellor’s Council, community members and local and regional government officials.
“I’m the go-to person when elected officials visit campus,” Pierre says. “I usually have very little notice to organize a press conference or community meeting. That’s where I draw on my military training to make it happen.”
She credits the Army with helping to expand her and her children’s horizons – particularly in terms of her own education. While stationed near Chicago after her first several assignments, she started on a nontraditional path toward a college degree.
“I started thinking about my education,” she says. “Several service members at the time were taking classes at night, and my present job afforded me the same opportunity.”
Pierre made steady progress, eventually earning her bachelor’s degree in 1998 from Columbia College. She remembers doing homework alongside her son and her daughter, who is a UMSL alumna. While living in Italy for four years, all three of them were enrolled in school.
While stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with the 554th Engineer Battalion, Pierre accompanied military guests from around the globe on regular trips to Washington, D.C.
“I took an art history class there, and the kids and I would travel around the country and visit various museums and churches to see all of the original masters,” she says. “It was so cool to share that with my kids. And it was great, too, going to school and comparing our grades. It was motivation for all of us.”
Recently, while accompanying UMSL Chancellor Tom George on his Show Me Value Tour visit to Normandy Middle School, Pierre shared with the students her story of earning a college degree while serving in the Army and raising a family.
“I just wanted my life to go in a new direction,” Pierre says of her decision at the time. “My sister had been in the military, my brothers were in, so I thought I would try that. And I stayed.”
The growing presence of student veterans at UMSL – and the university’s commitment to them – is gratifying to Pierre. She’s especially impressed by the Veterans Center.
“I love the idea – how the students saw that need a couple years ago,” Pierre says. “They were feeling a little disconnected, and I just thought what a wonderful way for them to come together.”
A gathering place, study spot and resource center, the UMSL Veterans Center has something in common with the USO, which was known for coffee, donuts and space to relax when the USO was founded during World War II. Since then the USO has grown into a multi-program organization supporting military personnel and their families.
“My experience in the military was very positive,” Pierre says of joining the USO board, “and when you go away from something so positive like that, it can’t just end there.”
Two University of Missouri–St. Louis students, Amanda Davis and Shane Bower, were caught by our campus photographer in a friendly competition of rock-paper-scissors at the Poetry of the Wild box/bench near the ponds on North Campus.
Under a watchful eye and camera lens, Davis anticipates getting dunked by the rock-paper-scissors champion Bower.
She can’t stop that fall.
It’s all fun and games.
Davis gets her payback.
Bower can’t escape her splash.
The supervised play ends with feet in the pond.
The photographs were taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and are the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.
University Child Development Center classmates Caroline (left) and London take turns selecting a book to take home from the Little Free Library in front of Marillac Hall on UMSL’s South Campus. (Photos by August Jennewein)
Books that had been piling up in Professor Keith Miller’s office at the University of Missouri–St. Louis for a few months are now flying off the shelf.
Miller, the Orthwein Endowed Professor for Lifelong Learning in the Sciences in UMSL’s College of Education, recently installed a Little Free Library at the main entrance to Marillac Hall.
Already a popular stop on South Campus, its collection of good reads has been in the works for a while – even before Miller joined the UMSL faculty two years ago.
“I had noticed one of these while wandering around Minneapolis, and I thought, ‘What a great idea,'” said Miller, whose coworkers in the E. Desmond Lee Technology and Learning Center and the University Child Development Center helped bring the idea to fruition at UMSL. “We’ve been very happy with how many of the kids’ books have been flying out of there.”
Office assistant Amber Bell-Christian has enjoyed watching the momentum for the library grow. She heads up a unique book-of-the-day feature that passersby may experience by pressing a button inside the library’s small door.
“It’s been very successful,” she said of the project as a whole. “It was Keith’s idea, and everyone helped out with the effort.”
The Little Free Library includes books for all ages – and even a featured book of the day. Patrons may press a button inside the library’s door to hear a description.
A graduate of the nearby Normandy School District herself, Bell-Christian said the main goal is to ensure that children in the surrounding community have books to read. The Little Free Library is consistently stocked with books for all ages, but the ones for younger children go quickest.
“Keith has to constantly replace them,” said Bell-Christian, adding that her own five-year-old son is already regularly taking advantage of the collection. “Some kids, especially around the UMSL neighborhood, may not have library cards.”
Miller noted that the whole thing operates on the honor system. That’s in keeping with the national Little Free Library idea – “a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.”
“You just grab a book, and if you’re finished with it, we hope you bring it back,” Miller said.
People may also place volumes for donation inside the library. Those books are then marked on the inside with a small College of Education tag and Little Free Library logo.
Miller noted that the University Child Development Center has been a critical contributor to the effort. UCDC sponsors a biannual Scholastic Book Fair where teachers and parents buy books for their collections, and UCDC opted to use some of the earned “book points” toward books for the new little library.
A number of UCDC parents have also donated to the cause by sharing books that their own children have outgrown. That’s resulted in “wagons full of books for Keith’s library,” UCDC director Lynn Navin said.
Miller also maintains a Little Free Library near the Saint Louis Science Center, a community partner in his efforts to help students of all ages become engaged with science, technology, engineering and math.
Both UMSL-connected book exchanges and countless others across the country and the globe are registered and pinpointed on Little Free Library’s interactive map.
