Ambassadors Enjoy "Pack the Stands" Homecoming Event

by Sarah Kelly

Outside of volunteering at events, UMSL ambassadors enjoy spending time together as well! With homecoming last week, the ambassadors’ social events committee planned an ambassador hang out at the homecoming basketball games to support our athletics teams and get to know one another better. 

As the UMSL Men’s Basketball team is in the midst of their best season yet, the Homecoming Steering Committee called for students to “Pack the Stands” at both the men and women’s basketball game on Thursday, February 27. This included a free nacho bar, free t-shirt, and other contests and giveaways!  

It was great getting to see other ambassadors and talk about what is going on in classes and engage in a more informal way than we normally get to. Cheering on the UMSL team together made me feel proud to be a Triton and lucky to have friends like these to enjoy the college years with. At a commuter campus, it can be hard to make friends and hang out with them, as our schedules can be hectic with school, homework, work, internships and everything else. The social events committee is making it easy to get to know one another better and take a break from the stress of everything else.  

The event was family-friendly with plenty of things for the kids such as face painting and a balloon artist. Since UMSL has a diverse student population, it is awesome to see inclusive programming that is geared towards some of our older student population that may have children or even grandchildren.

With both the men and women winning their homecoming games, it was a successful day at UMSL.

Overall, it was a great time spent with friends and a great opportunity to see what is going on at UMSL!

UMSL Homecoming is Here!

by Alex King

Hi Everyone! My name is Alex King. I’m a sophomore biology major here at UMSL, and this is my second semester as an UMSL Ambassador!

It’s finally one of my favorite times of the school year – Homecoming!

Homecoming Window Painting

Though it’s definitely not the norm, a famous UMSL tradition is that we hold our Homecoming events during the spring semester! UMSL’s first Homecoming in 1963 took place in February. Though Homecoming’s time in the year has changed throughout our history, our school spirit and commitment to service has stayed the same. 

I am especially excited for this year as it will be my first time participating in the competitions and events rather than just spectating. One of the organizations I’m involved in, Women Empowering Women, is sponsoring Jasmine Williams.

Jasmine is amazing! She’s a junior-level student, double majoring in political science and philosophy. I’m so happy she’s running, and I’m so excited to support her.

Even though I am pretty apprehensive about some events – especially the Lip Sync Competition – I am so pumped to compete (and win).

In high school, I went all out when participating in Homecoming every year. I loved planning our decorations, organizing the floats and all around being loud and having fun with my peers. I’m ready to bring that energy back and engage in some school spirit.

For those who don’t know the rules, each of the participating organizations sponsor one person to run for court. Throughout the week, each group competes to collect points by participating and winning events. The group that earns the most points wins. There’s also a campus-wide vote at the end of all the events.

CANstruction

Here are some of the many events that will be happening throughout

Homecoming: a Day of Service, two basketball games and “CANstruction” (to which all non-perishable items go to the Triton Food Pantry and Pagedale Family Support Center.

It’s nice to see how service-focused Homecoming is here at UMSL. As a university, UMSL is really engaged in service and within the St. Louis community; and it's amazing to see that reflected in an event that's often solely focused on fun. 

There are so many ways people can get involved, even if you yourself are not a member of a participating organization. Many of the events are open to everyone, like the Lip Sync competition and the basketball game. There’s also the Homecoming dance. Though I’ve yet to go myself, I’ve heard amazing things.

No matter how you celebrate Homecoming, I hope everyone has fun. Come out, support your peers and show off your UMSL Pride!

See you all around campus!

Guidelines to Accomplishing Your Goals

by Kevin Mitchell

At one of our previous ambassador monthly meetings, we talked about the value and struggles of setting goals. These goals ranged from setting time for studying and homework to trying to stick to a fitness routine. We discussed multiple different approaches to completing these goals.

One approach was to have a person hold you accountable to goals. The idea behind this approach is that you will care more about not letting the other person down. However, to some people, this approach will not have enough reward or punishment to work for them. To make this approach more viable to these people, we have added a twist to it. These twists may be a tip/swear jars (For ex. The jar can serve as a punishment on your wallet, as every time you fail to complete your goal, the person, holding you accountable to your goals, makes sure you put money in the jar).

Another approach included setting smaller deadlines throughout the day for yourself to complete smaller goals. The approach expands on the concept that some people, get more done if they have little amounts of time to work on it, rather than hours since they know they have plenty of time to finish the task at hand. It allows them to prioritize their time and use it more effectively rather than spending hours and completing the same amount of work.

One common problem people have when completing their goals is setting unrealistic goals with no ideal path to accomplish them. A way to combat this problem is to set smaller goals that take a small step towards the larger picture. These smaller goals should be more attainable and reasonable to measure for progress.

For example:

Big Goal: I want to be more fit, physically active, and healthy.

Smaller Goal: I will work out at the UMSL Recreational Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Smaller Goal: I will plan out my lunches on the weekend and make them the day before I need them to help me plan and stick to a better diet.

A method that has helped me stick to my goals is to map out time in the day for when I will complete my smaller goals. I will constrict what day and time I have for certain events such as homework, class, volunteering, and etc. This allows me to control how I manage my time while also making sure I stick my schedule. I can clearly estimate how well I was able to keep up with my goals and where I might need to adjust my schedule to help make more progress towards my goals.

I hope this helps in your future endeavors.

Negrophilia: A Damon Davis Exhibit You Can't Miss at Gallery 210

By Brock Seals

Damon Davis is an Emmy award-winning artist/filmmaker and musician from East Saint Louis. He co-directed “Whose Streets,” a documentary centered on the uprisings in Ferguson post-Michael Brown’s death. I remember walking through the Delmar loop during the premiere of his film. The line to get in stretched an entire block. Critics raved about the perspective that it captured. The film was later purchased by Magnolia Pictures for a theatrical release.

Soon after, I attended his "Darker Gods" exhibition held at the Luminary. Gallery walls were filled with every aspect by Davis. Sculptures, paintings, photography, music, and video. It's like you were walking through a page of Davis' mind. Earlier that day Davis released his album, which was also titled Darker Gods. “Davis crafts a sonic landscape that welcomes us to a new world of Black Gods and Goddesses”. 

The album was also accompanied by exciting visuals by Ryan Frank. His video for "Light Years" featuring Tonia recently won Best Video at this year’s SLUM fest awards. This Afro Futuristic body of work was a success for Davis as it traveled from Saint Louis to Miami for a special Art Basel exhibit. Being an artist of multi mediums, I always admire how one can compile their thoughts and express them in different forms. Davis is a pro at expressing himself seamlessly from one media to another.

Once I got news that Damon Davis would be exhibiting work at Gallery 210 at UMSL, I was ecstatic. Being a gallery assistant at Gallery 210 means that I prepare and hang the work that's exhibited. I knew that this would be a great opportunity to learn more about his work. 

Damon delivered over 100 original mixed media works of art to the gallery. The “Negrophilia” exhibit was unique in the sense of presentation. Unlike your traditional white gallery walls, this exhibit features a ‘red’ room and a ‘black’ room, which complement his art and give them a strong background. 

“Davis’ work addresses the complexities of how protest, pain, and reflection merge together.” It’s inspirational to see an artist of similar backgrounds gain such success. His talent and professionalism are one to follow. This exhibition will be on display until May 11, 2019. Stop by @Gallery210 Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Brain Stew: UMSL’s Most Underrated Publication

by Raghd Alyatim

UMSL’s campus is vast and has many ways to become involved.

What many people don’t know is
that besides “The Current,” UMSL has another publication, “Brain Stew.” “Brain Stew” is not your average publication. It is an uncensored, freethought, and commentary publication headed by the Pierre Laclede Honors College. The best part? Anyone can submit. Even you! “Brain Stew” features many different categories, such as the understew (opinion section), meme corner, music reviews, poems, mad libs, short stories, event ads, comedy, and fiction! You name it, it is probably there. I reached out to the editors, Anthony Deluvia and Nicole Gevers, to help me describe “Brain Stew:”

“We are very excited for the future of 'Brain Stew.' The past editors and contributors have set us up for success, but we want to carry that success to a new level. We might be small, but 14 issues a semester with an average of 15 pages per issue is an impressive feat we want to boast at NCHC. Keep on the lookout for more great things (and awards).”

- Anthony Deluvia

“While 'Brain Stew' typically takes on a quirky and humorous tone, we encourage people to submit all types of work - poetry, photography, short stories, op-eds, drawing, or literally anything else they

can think of. I think the diversity in the types of works we receive, and our style of publication is very unique and makes 'Brain Stew' something that a wide audience, even outside of the Honors College, can enjoy and be a part of. It's awesome to talk with people who enjoy and look forward to new issues of 'Brain Stew' and want to be a part of the publication. It really makes being an editor a rewarding and fun role to be in.”

- Nicole Gevers

It was nationally recognized as best newsletter in 2017 and 2018 by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC). “Brain Stew” has been a long-standing Honors College tradition and I hope it continues to be so. I have read “Brain Stew” for almost two years now, and it continues to put a smile on my face to this day.

My UMSL Ambassador Journey

by Awa Konte

To be an UMSL Ambassador means more than wearing a red vest, being welcoming and attending our required events. To me, being an ambassador means building true relationships, furthering my leadership abilities and, most of all, getting to become the person I was meant to be. As cliché as it sounds, I am definitely a believer of the idea that if something is meant to be, it’ll happen; and, if not, then move on as there’s no use in crying over spilled milk.

This semester was filled with more opportunities than I could’ve possibly imagined, and I would like to speak about two of them. Right before the semester began, I was offered the opportunity to become a Lead as part of the UMSL Ambassador program. I was so excited to have been given this opportunity, but I was also hesitant because l am the person that usually stays in the background. The idea of being in the background may clash with those who see leadership as something that is out there for all to see; but for me, this is a part of who I am. I’ve had to grow into being comfortable with it because people left and right told me that I wasn’t a leader but a follower. I was more sensitive back then and cared more about what people said about me; but I have learned over the years that those ideas don’t really matter since this is my story and not theirs.

Even with the growth I’ve had over the course of my campus involvement experience, I knew that I had to come out of the so-called comfort zone that I created for myself. Throughout the semester, I was able to head the media/blog committee with my lead-in-training, Yazan. Although, I have been in the program for 3 years, there were still new experiences to be had.

Coincidentally, the same time I became a Lead, I was also given the opportunity to become a nanny. Just as I’ve had to grow as an ambassador and now Lead, this position has helped me improve my ability to balance professionalism with sociability, communication and, most of all, my ability to lead. Similar to my being a Lead, I’ve had to grow in my abilities to address a group and help those within that group strengthen their abilities. Although, one continues their educational journeys and the other is just starting, I am glad that I was given the opportunity to be able to engage both groups in their current journeys of life.

How to Prepare Yourself for Final Exam Week

by Yazan Alkharabsheh

Since we are approaching the end of the semester and are facing an incoming wave of final exams, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to motivate and give advice for success.

It is imperative in logic that any student at any stage of study may face some difficulties. It is important to realize that there is no justification or need to exaggerate these difficulties and to allow them to be invoked as a handicap that

could limit a student’s vitality, activity, and self-confidence in being successful. It is natural for any student who has spent their whole semester making a great effort to prepare for exams to be afraid and worried about their effort. This fear is normal, provided it’s used as a motivator to study and do well on exams.

Here is some advice to enhance the ability of students to study and navigate future tasks successfully. Try to get to sleep early the day before each exam. Studying late at night can reduce a student’s capacity to retain information, and that lack of sleep reduces the ability to think and work the next morning. ‏The body needs a number ranging from 6-8 hours to rest and sleep. Every student should prioritize these hours at the front of the night and come back to wake up early around sunrise. Waking up early to study is essential since the brain is the most productive and capable of absorbing information. Also, it is important to make meals light and healthy by eating more vegetables and fresh fruits. Additionally, make sure to stay away from the habit of lying on a seat and raising your feet, or stretching out comfortably in bed while studying, since this may lower your capacity to study. So, try to sit in front of a desk with your feet fixed on the ground. Most importantly, keep away from overusing any substances such as coffee to increase hours of vigilance. Substances of this kind after a period of use, reduce concentration during studying and during the process of exam taking. When studying for exams, read notes and lectures carefully and summarize readings. It is also extremely helpful to make study guides and visual aids to help review and memorize.

Every student must know that failure to achieve a certain grade in the past is not the end of the world. There is always a good side to learn from for every failure. Try to learn from past failures and improve your selves as students to do the best you could possibly do and achieve your goals. Life is like a glass of water, it can be half full and half empty. Our job is to use our experience from failure to fill that empty half of the glass with new successes.

I am confident that UMSL ambassadors are able to accomplish any task if they put their minds to it. The fact that you are all UMSL ambassadors means that you are successful students who are capable of great accomplishments. I truly believe that you will all do great. So, work hard and fill that empty half of the glass to the brim.