Student run newspaper of Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri.

1. Students, faculty
honored at annual
convocation
Pucker up President Kierscht...
Photo by Jennifer Smaligo
President Marcia Kierscht was the winner of the Senior Class fundraiser. Kierscht along with
Theater Instructor Rob Doyen and alumnae Mary Rose Silverthorne ’55 kissed the hairy, pot­
belly pig. The senior class raised $403 to buy unified signs for the Stephens College campus.
by Jenalea H. Linn
Stephens Life Editor
Once a year, Stephens College
students, faculty and staff are
recognized for the outstanding
contribution they have given to the
school but this year’s Honors
Convocation had an added bonus
for individuals who attended. At
the end of the awards ceremony,
President Marcia Kierscht, Theater
Instructor Rob Doyen, and Mary
Rose Silverthorne, ’55, all kissed a
hairy pig!
Although the ceremony ended
on an amusing note, the majority
of the ceremony was showing how
much individuals are appreciated
by others at Stephens College.
Awards given during the event
included program honors, the
DistinguishedTeaching Award, the
Jean Clinton Roeschlaub Trustee
Award, alumnae scholarships,
Student Government Outstanding
Members and for the first time
ever, the James Shirky Endowed
Scholarship award.
Students who achieved Dean’s
List with high honors and with
honors, and students who were
inducted into Mortar Board, Who’s
Who Among Students in American
Universities and Colleges, and
several other honorary societies’
inductees were recognized during
the ceremony.
Kierscht began the event by
responding to rumors and the
suggestion of Dean of Students
Deb Duren, Kierscht said.
“We are still a women ’s college
... and we are not closing the Searcy
House Plan,” Kierscht said.
W ith rum ors laid to rest,
Kierscht introduced Vice President
for Academic and Student Affairs,
Bob Badal to begin the Program
Honors. Badal then introduced
Business program chair Chris
Prestigiacomo“the traveling Italian
scholar.”
One award given out during the
April 19 event was the
Distinguished Teaching Award,
which first was given out in 1980.
Individuals recognized in the past
include Alan H avig, Carey
Kaltenbach, Markka Price, and Jim
Shirky. Four awards were given
this year. The 1998 Distinguished
Teaching Awardees were piano and
voice instructor Paula “Kelly”
A rcher, W om en’s Studies
instructor Margaret Campbell,
Theater instructorRobert Davidson
and Business instructor Melody
LaPreze.
Campbell also received the
Century Candle Award during the
ceremony . The Century Candle
Award, sponsored by the Student
Government Association, is given
to faculty and staff who have shed
light into the lives of students at
Stephens College. Senate and
executive board m embers
nominated individuals then voted
on the winner. Theater instructor,
Ed Coco, was also given this award
by the students atStephens College.
The Jean Clinton Roeschlaub
Trustee Awards went to Kaycee
M atthews, ’01, Searcy; Tina
Garmon, ’00, Searcy; and Janene
Van Leeuwen, ’99, Tower. The
senior Capstone Trustee Award
was given to Shaashawn Dial, ’98,
Tower.
Alumnae scholarship recipients
were Tara Anderud, ’99, Pillsbury;
Lindsay E. Hughes, ’00, Pillsbury;
and Debra K. Resner, LOC.
The Honors Convocation
concluded with the big kiss-off.
Margaretanne Huffman, ’98, Tower,
announced that.atie had occurred and
thatDoyenand Kierschtwererequired
to kiss the pig. Alumna Silverthorne
announcedthatifshekissedthepig,an
individual that had come with her to
Columbiawoulddonateanother$100
totheseniorclassfund-raiser. Because
Silverthorne smooched the pig, the
class raised about $400 for the senior
class gift, which isgoing to be used to
buy signs for campus.
Future of Stephens College: Under construction
by Jennifer Pope
Stephens Life Staff
On Monday, April 20, the
Columbia City Council voted 4-3 to
approve StephensCollege’srequest
to build a controversial new
multipurpose building south of the
Macklanburg Playhouse, inbetween
Dorsey and Willis streets.
This vote allows the college to
approach the city’s Board of
Adjustment on May 12 to ask for
exceptions to two city zoning
variances. At that meeting, the
college will have to address the
distance of the proposed building
from the curb as well as parking.
The initial approval did not come
without a fight from area residents,
however. Six people, four of whom
live essentially across the street from
the proposed building, expressed
concern to the city council about the
traffic the new building would cause
through their neighborhood and the
college’s unwillingness to assure
them that it will not tear down the
historic homes along Willis Street to
makewayforparking.John Coffman,
the city councilman who represents
the ward in which the proposed
building is located, voted against
Stephens College’s plan; Mayor
Darwin Hindman voted for it.
The Master Plans
Nearly twodecades ago, the City
ofColumbiarequired local colleges
and universities to develop master
plans fortheir futures. The Stephens
College 1981 Master Plan outlined
the plans for building Macklanburg
Playhouse, because the old
Playhouse had burned to the ground
on April 14, 1980.
The 1981 plan also outlined the
college’s intenttoraze the historical
homes on Willis Streetto make more
parking available to Stephens
College. This area, bounded by Bass
Avenue on the south, Broadway
Street on the north, College Avenue
on the west and Dorsey Streeton the
east,isPartCofthis 1981 MasterPlan.
Thecollege’strustees developed
an internal Master Plan in 1995 as a
blueprint for consolidating the
college onto the east side ofcampus
and for enhancing student service
and recreation facilities.
According to an Oct. 18,1995,
news release issued by the
Stephens College Public Relations
Office, Phase I of the 20-year
Master Plan addresses student
services and recreational facilities.
According to the release, this
phase was to include renovation
of two buildings, creation of a
religious life center, addition of
parking areas and relocation of
several academic programs.
OfthefourpartsofPhaseI,which
was scheduled to be complete by
2000, threepartsare nearlycomplete.
The religious life center, made
possible by a donation from
Elizabeth Journey, ’23, was
completed last year. As outlined in
the plan, Stamper Commons now
houses the food service operations,
book store, post office, student life
offices and health services office.
Additionally, the college has
moved the fashion program from
Sampson Hall, west of College
Avenue, to the Catherine Webb
Art Center on the east side of
campus; the psychology program
has been moved from the Roblee
Hall basement to Walter Hall on
Broadway Street.
The college sti1
1has yet to move
the Historic Costume Collection
to the Davis Art Gallery and to
finish moving the music and dance
programs from Historic Senior
Hall to Stephens Auditorium.
Multipurpose Building
The only part of Phase I yet to
begin is expansion of the athletic
and recreational facilities. As partof
Phase I, the 1995 Master Plan
proposed to renovate the 50-year-
old Stephens Auditorium, located
to the east of M acklanburg
Playhouse across Dorsey Street, to
house expanded athletic and
recreational facilities. According to
the Oct. 18, 1995, news release, the
floorseating intheauditorium would
be removed and the floor leveled to
accommodate a basketball court.
However, John Fitzgibbon, vice
president of administration and
finance, said that leveling the
auditorium to add the basketball
court would be “financialy
unfeasible.” Sources said the
auditorium’s size also does not
meet NCAA standards for a
basketball court.
Instead,thecollege hopes to house
basketball and volleyball courts in a
proposed multipurpose building to be
built in between Macklanburg
Playhouse and the college’s tennis
courts, in between Dorsey and Willis
See CONSTRUCTION, page 5
51
^ h a n k y o u , Inside: Index:
JV lax O r n le s f o r Read about a student’s thoughts about
the theatre program on page 3. • Editorials p. 2-3 ;
s ta n d in g b y u s Discover talented languages and • News p. 4-5
th r o u g h i t a il! literature students on page 6. • Features p. 6-7 |

2. 2 Editorials StephensLife,April24,199S
The Life View______________
Stephens Life ends
on a positive note
We have only 15 days left of the 1997-98 academic year.
Instructors are asking for the research papers they assigned
at the beginning of the year. Final acting scenes must be
perfected and performed and dedicatedjournalists are staying
up until odd hours of the morning to get the campus newspaper
finished. Everyone is feeling the stress! So at Stephens Life,
in the last edition of the year, we would like to end on a
positive note. When we return to campus next August, a
“W elcome Back” issue will be in each and everyone’s
mailboxes, patiently awaiting you. This issue, as with every
issue, is not just to be thrown in the trash can by the mail
boxes but to be read!
A lot of wonderful and tragic incidents occurred on
campus this year. Many Stephens College students won
awards both on and offcampus, President Kierschtannounced
the new basketball team, Stephens Life was resurected, and
“Stephens Day of Caring” showed how active students on
campus can be. On the other hand, negative events such as
the exhibitionist sightings, the assault on the fellow Stephens
College student, and the bad publicity Stephens College
received because of the new basketball facility, also gave
Stephens Life something to write about.
The staff of Stephens Life is saddened by the loss or
emptying of many of our historical buildings, but realize that
with progress, changes have to be made. We are hopeful for
the future of Stephens College, and look forward to the day
when we return to campus, as the alumnae did during April
16-19 to tell our own stories.
With the many changes, came the release of the
disappointing Master Calendar. After careful scrutiny by
Stephens Life, students were spurred into action giving SGA
even more power when they again went to the administration
to request the changes students wanted (and that SGA had
requested in the first place). Students will be pleased to
know that the Administration is working on a revised version
of the Master Calendar that will be better geared toward
students needs.
Another of the positive, and most recent, changes that
occurred this year was the new method the residence life
office chose in handling room changes. We remember when
we were freshman during this time of year. Many of our
friends decided they were going to sleep outside so they
could be first in line to choose a room.
Now we look back and wonder what we were thinking—
was this the most important thing we had going on in our
lives? This new change as well as the changes mentioned
above will certainly make it easier for students to concentrate
on the truly important things, their final exams.
Stephens Life
Box 2014, Stephens College, Columbia, Mo. 6S215
Published since 1928 Circulation: 2,000
News Room: (573) 876-7254 Fax: (573) 876-7264
Advertising Sales: (573) 876-7104
Editorial S taff
Editor: Jenalea H. Linn. Staff Writers: Sara E. Lien, Jennifer Pope, Jennifer
Smaligo. Photographers: Erin Kistler, Jenalea H. Linn, Jennifer Pope, Jennifer
Smaligo Designers: Sara E. Lien, Jenalea Linn, Jennifer Pope, Jennifer Smaligo.
News Assistant: Priscilla Linlon. Distribution Manager: Max Ornles. Faculty
Adviser: Beth S. Riggert.
Advertising S taff
Advertising Manager: Jennifer Pope. Business Manager: Edda Mangini.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions to Stephens Life are $12 per semester for first class deli very.Contact
Edda Mangini, (573) 876-7133. Stephens Life is published biweekly during the
academic year of Stephens College.
Stephens Life is the student newspaper of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
Opinions expressed in Stephens Life are not necessarily the views of the college,
its students, administration, faculty or staff.
Stephens Life welcomes all letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and
must include a telephone number. Letters may be edited for length, style, grammar
or clarity. Withholding names will be considered upon request. All decisions
regarding publication will be made by Stephens Life editorial staff.
Letters to the Editor----------------------------
Student, alumnae prompt
college to protect its future
Dear Editor:
After speaking with several al­
ums this weekend concerning vari­
ous campus changes and sales, I
am flabbergasted that the fate of
our campus is following the road
thatit is. Having attended Stephens
College for three years, I am used
to being told that changes are made
or not made based upon the whim
of the alums. My conversations
with the alums have resulted in
agreement and surprise about the
fact alums have been used as an
excuse about campus actions.
The alums and the students seem
to concur on almost every'issue of
importance at Stephens College.
So why, when we ask for a particu­
lar action to be taken are we told
the alums will not allow it? For
instance, both parties are still con­
fused about the motivation behind
the new basketball building. We
understand that athletics attract
prospective students, but with the
WNBA [Women’s National Bas­
ketball Association] now intact,
women interested in playing bas­
ketball are going to attend a col­
lege that can offer them scholar­
ships and has an already
established, competitive team. In
the future, basketball at Stephens
College may be an asset, but so
many other aspects of the campus
seem more relevant.
The alums appear to agree.that
we are spreading ourselves too thin
by trying to please every type of
woman. Programs and buildings that
were once showcased are being dis­
missed to build newer, less substan­
tial ones. The equestrian program,
the house plans, and many of the
historical buildings on campus have
taken a backseat to what appears to
be a quick fix to attract students with
the latest trends.
Our programs can be so strong
and our faculty are so dedicated,-
please tell me why we are not build­
ing on the assets we already have. I
believe most students and alums
want to preserve the historic cam­
pus whether or not we would all be
consolidated on one quad. Yes, it is
true that we must cater to the woman
of the new millennium, but we must
work with what we have before we
can move on to new tasks. It is a
though we are trying to build on
quick sand. We cannot add new sto­
ries until we build a stronger foun­
dation, otherwise, it will all sink. I
ask that anyone voice their opinions
about this one way or another and
dissipate any misconceptions I may
have. I would truly like to under­
stand the reasons behind the action
ofour college. I wish Icould offer
a solution to our problems.
By writing this letter, I do not
want to promote negative atti­
tudes, I simply want to tell people
that they need to make their voices
better heard. This is not accom­
plished by complaining at the
lunch table or after class, we must
beeffective in our opinions.Make
sure you are talking to someone
•who can actually do something
about the problems. Telling your
best friend that you don’t like the
food or that your ceiling is leak­
ing will not fix it.
Our words must fall into the
right ears so there will be no
claims of ignorance. We have
made great strides in improving
communication between students
and the administration so we must
take advantage of the open doors.
Eventually, they’ll have to stop
hearing and start LISTENING! I
feel if we truly to one another, we
could come up with effective so­
lutions to please past, present,
and future students. The wants of
the current student should be ex­
tremely important, after all, aren’t
we future alums?
Vanessa Solomon,
’99, Tower
yes! iwant to subscribe to Stephens Life!
Stephens Life welcomes you to keep in touch with Stephens College by starting or renewing your
subscription. Life is a laboratory student paper published biweekly. Our student writers report on
a variety of college and community issues, and developments in academics and extracurricular
activities across campus. Just send adieck for $12( a one semester subscription; first class
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MAIL TO: STEPHENS LIFE, ATTN: SUBSCRIPTION, BOX 2014,STEPHENS COLLEGE,
COLUMBIA, MO 65215

3. Letters to the Editor.
StephensLife,April24,1998_ _ _ _ _ _ Editorials •
'!
Do not rock the showboat
To the Editor:
Once upon a time, there was a
showboat, and on this boat lived
many women. Now this boat was
fairly insignificant in comparison to
allthe Kathy Lee fun ships chugging
about, but sometimes a life boat
looks like acruise ship when you’re
drowning. Of course these women
did not know that. Not- at first,
anyway, how could they? It wasn’t
mentioned in the brochure.
Now this little showboat’s
biggest claim to fame was that it
was built for women only. In fact,
before boarding, the captain
announced thatthis boatwas indeed
very specialbecause women would
be encouraged to learn, question,
challenge, and freely express
themselves in a female-centered
artist-friendly environment. This
was quite a relief for these women,
for they came from a land that
regarded them as a second class
citizens where their voices were
dismissed, their art unappreciated,
and where they were rarely called
on in class. With a skip and ajump,
each woman thespian boarded the
little showboat with big dreams of
sailing the boundless ocean of
theatre. However, they were all
much too excited tohear theCaptain
whisper, “Shhhhhhh, don’t rock
the showboat.”
After the women were aboard,
they attended a class educating
them on the history oftheatre. They
were taught that censorship was a
constant threat to this beautiful art
and that if one person was silenced,
nobody was truly free. These
women took this very seriously
since they were aspiring actors and
designers. However, the glorious
days on this boat were numbered.
This realization began to dawn on
the women when they firstchecked
some of the shows that were being
featured that season. For example:
Joseph and the TechnicolorDream
Coat, featuring one of the 12 male
surprises that were sprung on the
women once they paid their fee
andjumped on the boat, scholarship
student, Stuart Blue. In addition,
there was Speed of Darkness; A
Dickens Christmas Carol featuring
Ad Myerson; Company, featuring
guest artist Brian Tent, among
many others.Sure, the piays chosen
seemed to cater to the male faculty,
but there were all sorts of bit parts
for white women (unfortunately
this boat chugged slowly and had
yet to embrace m ulticultural
waters) as servants, and maybe a
wife, mother or girlfriend if you
were lucky. Although there were
exceptions, it became clear that the
content of the many of the plays,
even if they featured women, were
m ale-centered and often
demeaning to women, limiting
them to the stereotypical roles that
were offered back on land. One
would think that these intelligent
and infinitely creative women
would unite and challenge the
capitalist captain who really didn’t
give a damn about Art, or at least
demand a refund. Instead, these
women kept silent because
somewhere someone spotted land.
For two and a half years these
women kept their eyes on that
lovely shiny island— Okoboji.
They were told that there they
would be in m any shows and live,,
breathe and eat theatre. Well,
commercial Theatre for the elderly,
in a cornfield. But after two years
everyone was thankful for the
stagetime. Besides, the sad reality
was that two prevailing ideas were
implanted in these women’sheads
the very day they arrived: It’s all
about Box office sales, and
shhhhhh...don’trock theshowboat.
Theatre exists not only to
entertain, but also to question
challenge and educate. We attend
the theatre not always knowing
whattoexpect; sometimes we leave
transformed, or atleast alittlecloser
to understanding that we are.
Colleges also exist to educate,
challenge and help us understand
who we are and Women’s colleges
offer an alternative to co­
educational, gender biased
educational institutions. Now
imagine theatre at a Women’s
college where these ideals are
realized. Now imagine theatre at
Stephens College. The Stephens
Theatre Department has silenced
its students by instilling a sense of
fear of not being cast, or being
outcast. In fact, even the audiences,
when composed prim arily of
students, are censored. Nobody
wants to challenge casting choices,
particularly those that cater to the
male faculty or even the play itself,
which could in any other academic
settingcreateintelligentdebate. Just
the other day I was talking with a
designer who was at odds with of
the creative decisions the director
wanted her to make and she said to
me, “Well, I don’t want to rock the
boat. They’ve never let me design a
show yetand ifIcause anyproblems
I may not get another chance.”
Unfortunately, the Stephens
TheatreDepartment is a microcosm
of the commercial entertainment
business atlargethathas anunwritten
“keep your mouth shut if you want
to work” policy. This type of
censorship may not be legislated,
but it exists and Stephens teaches it;
and if we buy into it, we perpetuate
it and nothing ever changes.
I realize that Stephens prides
itself in training women for
professional com m ercial
theatre;however,^ I’m of the
opinion that perhaps the Stephens
Theatre department should keep
its professional commercial theatre
training at Okoboji and create a
more inclusive, educational, and
fem ale centered theatre
environment here at Stephens.
*Name withheld apon request
Adviser honors
staffers as Life
draws to a close
To the Editor:
The semester really has flown by—this is the last regular
edition of Stephens Life. As you read this edition, I want to let
everyone in on a little newsroom secret.
As you may recall, there are only four regular staff members
working on Life— the editor, Jenalea Linn, and her team, Sara
Lien, Jennifer Pope and Jennifer Smaligo. Together, these four
women produced 36 pages of news for you this semester. They
wrote the stories, designed the ads, and took many of the photos.
And they spent many, many late hours in the newsroom (particu­
larly on Wednesday nights ... or should I say, the wee hours of
Thursday mornings) attempting to force our tired computers and
drastically overworked printer to spit out the fruits of their efforts.
As Iunderstand it, the Mass Communication Program students
did not receive any individual recognition at the Honors Convo­
cation, and I think that is unfortunate. I cannot speak to the efforts
of the public relations and broadcasting students, but I can
guarantee that my four journalists worked their tails off, fighting
off fatigue and frustration week in and week out, tojump-start Life
after a semester out of production.
In years past, the Mass Communication Program honored a
deserving student with a Journalism Award. This year, no such
award was given out. But in my mind, all four of the Life staffers
deserve Journalist of the Year honors.
I’m proud of them, and I hope you all are too. And I hope you
are looking forward to next year, when at least three members of
this year’s staff will return to the newsroom to celebrate the 70th
anniversary of Stephens Life production.
Beth S. Riggert, ’92
Stephens Life Adviser
Stephens Life th+nlcs
One Stephens College
students, faculty, st+ ff
+nJ +Jnninistr+tors
for *11 their support
ilnls semester!!!
Has Stephens College lost perspective on the real issues?
Dear Editor,
What is the purpose of
Stephens C ollege? W hat gave
this C ollege the prestige it
has?
The purpose o f this college
is to g iv e w om en the
op p ortu n ity to undertake
leadership roles. Stephens
C ollege challenges w om en to
thrive in their ed u cation ,
q u estio n the u n k n ow n ,
understand how the natural
world and the professional
world works.
Stephens C ollege’s prestige
was built on the Equestrian
d ep a rtm en t’s elo q u en t
horsem anship, the Fashion
d ep a rtm en t’s im m a cu la te
creations o f styles, and the
Theatre department’s pinnacle
perform ances. T hese plus
co n trib u tio n s from oth er
d ep artm en ts su ch as the
m odern focu ses lik e m ass
com m unication and science
have made Stephens C ollege
a W om en’s Liberal Arts and
Sciences C ollege.
Over the years, many of
th ese d ep artm en ts h ave
suffered from the loss o f funds
from the C ollege and support
from the administration.
R oofs have leak ed and
destroyed many creations and
many rooms. The stables are
falling apart. Departments are
being dow nsized, som e to the
point o f annihilation. Lela
Raney W ood, som e day, will
be renovated to hold the
adm inistrative offices. The
m oney for LRW will com e
after the new gym is built.
Oh yes, the new gym. Why
do we need the new gym?
Because we need a better gym
that w ill hold a crowd for
p e o p le to co m e w atch
basketball games.
W hy do w e n eed a
basketball team? D on’t we
have enough with the four
sports we already have and
also the g o lf course that is
there for our enjoyment?
T he k eyw ord here is
enjoyment. Y es, it is great
that physical recreation is
provided for the wom en on
this campus to keep physically
fit and active.
There may be some interest,
but students’ focus at Stephens
is not athletics. We are here to
learn. W e are hear to expand
our minds with knowledge. The
women that attend Stephens
C ollege are here to become
academic professionals, not
sports pros.
If the women that came to
this school wanted to play in
professional sports leagues,
they w ould not com e to
Stephens. They would go to
Duke, Rice, MU and bigger
schools.
I can n ot con d em n
adm issions or administration
for trying to attract a larger
number o f students to attend
S tep h en s. L e t’s fa ce it,
Stephens needs to pick up its
enrollment numbers and keep
it high if the school is going to
survive.
But don’t you think that we
need to fix what we have before
we go on to building bigger
things?
There are some things that
need to be done on this campus
before w ebuildagym that many
residents in Columbia as well
as students at Stephens are
against.
First, let’s renovate LRW.
Let’s get all the administrative
o ffic e s and the costu m e
collection situated first. A
strong foundation is needed to
keep a house together; the same
goes for the College.
S eco n d ly , le t ’s fix the
residential halls...PL E A SE !
How can you keep students here
if the building they are living in
is condemned by the health
department?
Third, let’s not tear down
anym ore buildings on this
campus. N o more. We love the
C ollege’s history. It’s a part of
us.
Fourth, let’s do something
about the departments. An
example is to start replacing
professors that retire or do not
return. A student’s performance
is linked to her professor’s
performance, and frankly, a
professor cannot perform to her/
his highest potential if they are
the only one in their department.
Another example is to begin
to support the differen t
emphases. As all humans are
equal, so are all departments.
T hey all need funding,
recognition and administrative
backing.
Seeing all this, do you think
we should build something we
don’t need? W e have other
“projects” to finish before we
can go onto higher goals.
Ilove Stephens and so do the
majority o f the 500 students
that attend, but many are willing
to find another school that at
least attem pts to repair its
problem s before it creates
bigger ones.
Priscilla Ann Linton,
‘00, Prunty

4. 4 News
SIFE debate sparks discussion
between instructors
Chris Prestigiacomo Bruce Ballard
Text by Jennifer Smaligo
Stephens Life Staff
Photos by Jenalea H. Linn
Stephens Life Editor
The Stephens College Students
in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter
hosted the last of the ‘Real World:
101’ discussion
series last
Thursday, April
16. The topic
was Socialism
Vs. Capitalism
debate featuring
Bruce Ballard,
P h ilo s o p h y ,
Law and
R h e t o r i c
instructor, and
C h r i s
Prestigiacom o,
Administration instructor.
StephensCollegestudents were
encouraged to “critically examine
all the different ways the world
can be view ed,” said
Prestigiacomo. “We’re here not
necessarily to convert, but to
inform and educate so you can
make your own decision laterdown
the road.”
Both instructors were allowed
10 minutes each to argue for their
side. This was followed by 20
minutes for rebuttals from each
side, then 30 minutes for questions
and answers from the audience.
Ballard defined socialism as
“worker democratic ownership and
control ofthe means ofgovernment
production for the good of the
people.”
According
to Ballard,
socialism is
equal to
e c o n o m i c
d e m o c ra c y
w h i l e
c a p i t a l i s m
h a m p e r s
d e m o c ra c y .
“The reason
people would
even want
democracy in the first place is
because it protects us from rule of
the minority.”
“In work, you are treated as an
adult with decision-m aking
ability,” Ballard said. “In work in a
capitalistic society, you are treated
as a lifelong child, you’re always
being told what to do next.”
Prestigiacom o said, “With
capitalism,peoplehave the freedom
tomakedecisions forthemselves—
to improve themselves. The many
‘rags to riches’ stories prove that
we are not stuck in an economic
class.”
Prestigiacomo is not in favor
of “pure capitalism,” meaning he
supports some ideas of socialism
including public parks, public
transportation, and public schools
among others. “We pay for these
through our tax money and we
would pay if an entrepreneur
charged fees for their use.”
Trisha Burns, ’98, LOC, said,
“I’ve had classes taught by each
professor, Prestigiacomo formicro
economics and Ballard for Jesus
and the Philosophy ofLove, and it
has opened my eyes to both sides
of the issue. It broadens your
perspective to listen to them debate
capitalism and socialism, and
makes you wonder which one is
the right view.”
Michelle Sharp, ’98, LOC, said,
“I think SIFE has done such a
wonderful job of bringing real
issues to light. They have such a
variety ofeducational discussions
that concentrate on situations
confronting us in the workplace,
at home, and at school.”
“I’m really glad SIFE has
brought these-types of programs
to campus, and I hope they
continue to educate the students
of Stephens,” Burns said.
We’re here not to
convert, but to
educate.
-Chris Prestigiacomo,
Business Program Chair
33
Business
College defines feminism
by Sara Lien
Stephens Life Staff
According to Stephens College
students,during their freshman year
most students encountered
feminism. Feminism is one of the
issues discussed in the women’s
studies course.
Women’s studies instructor
Margret Campbell said she
identifies with thedefinintion
offeminismproposedby bell
hooks acontemporary author
who addresses, gender, race
andclassinarticlesandbooks.
Campbell said hooks defines
feminism as “movement to
end sexism and sexist
oppression.”
' Language and Literature
instructor Tina Parke-
Sutherland, said she also
followshooks’delintion“Feminismis
a struggle to end sexist oppression.”
Parke-Sutherland said. “A
commitment to feminism would
demandthateachindividualparticipant
acquireacriticalpoliticalconsciousness
based on ideals and beliefs.”
Parke-Sutherland said many
other definitions includeing a
universal defintion and an academic
definition. Butherpersonaldefintion
is “a movement to end sexist
oppressionm, and in our world that
means ending other kinds of
-oppression, like class and race
oppresssions.”
ManyStephensCollege students
also have diverse defintions of
feminism. Rebecca Pendelton, ’00,
Roblee, says feminism is “the
realization that women are equal.”
Others referred to authors for
their definitions.
The best explanation I can give
comes from author Rebecca West,”
Katy Kiser, '98, Tower, said. “It’s
the radical notion that women are
equal.”
But many students rely on very
basicdefinition.“A feministissomeone
who believes that people are created
equal,’’JenniferScarberry,'01,Searcy,
said. “To work towards aplace where
that is the norm.”
Because ofsomenegativeimages
often associated with feminism,
some students shy away fromcalling
themselves feminists.
Icall myself a womanist, and we
deal with many issues including
women’s issues of education and
sexism,” Shaashawn Dial, ’98,
Tower, said. “Sometimes the term
feminism has negative
connotations, and you have to
explain why you are a feminist.”
But on the whole, students
defined feminism as equality.
Women areequal human beings
in every aspect of life in education,
careers, and with
believing a woman can
do the job.” Stephanie
Swanson, ’99, Tower,
said.
Many of Stephens
College's alumnae also
have a strong opinion
about the definition of
feminism.
Feminism personifies
aperson whowantsequal
rights,” Kirsteen Buchanan, ’83,
said.
Joy Underdown, ’54 said, “It's
the assumption that women have
equal participation in society.”
Although feminism seems to
have become an intregal part of
women's education today, in the
past things were very different.
“It wasn't a term,and we never
talked about fem inism ,”
Underdown said. “The college
created a strong woman,and
Stephens has always done that.”
i i
A feminist is someone who
believes that people are
created equal.
-Jennifer Scarberry,’01 .Searcy
--------------------m
Alumnae dinner
declared a success
by Jenalea Linn
Stephens Life Staff
Tables were covered with
crisp white linens, napkins were
placed delicately in laps and
sparkling crystal goblets sent
prism s o f lig h t acro ss the
elegantly decorated dining room
as Stephens College alumnae
and students spent an enchanting
evening of dining and talking
during the sophom ore class-
sponsored alum nae dinner at
5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16.
“It was a huge success,”
Sophomore Class President Tina
Garmon, ’00, Searcy, said. “The
dinner was supposed to bridge
the gap between alumnae and
students.”
The idea was developed after
Garmon saw The Dining Room
la st fall in M ack lan b u rg
Playhouse. Garm on said she
believed the play to be about
how people do not spend enough
tim e together. She said she
thought this phenomenon also
existed at Stephens College, and
she wanted to extinguish it.
Garmon spoke with Alumnae
D irector Nancy Truesdell, and
the plans began.
“T here w a sn ’t too m uch
planning, just a couple of phone
calls and m eetings,” Garmon
said.
A lth o u g h G arm o n ,
T ru esd ell and G a rm o n ’s
classmates planned the event,
Garmon was unable to attend.
In her p la c e , .S te p h a n ie
Stewart, ’99, Tower, ensured
everything ran smoothly from
the students’ perspective.
The dinner began with an
alum na sp e a k in g ab o u t
p ro fe ssio n a l e tiq u e tte ,
including inform ation about
in terv iew in g , d in in g and
many other areas o f how to
behave in a b u s in e s s
atmosphere, Stew art said.
“S tudents w ere v e ry
responsive to the speaker,”
Stewart said.
S tew art e stim a te d th a t
close to 25 neonle attended
the dinner, which was catered
by Bon A petit on the upper
east level of the Com m ons.
Students and A lum nae w ere
served during th is sem i-
formal set down dinner.
S tew art said ab o u t 50
alumnae attended, although
more alumnae were expected
to attend.
“There was a nice turn­
out from the s tu d e n ts ,”
Stewart said.
Sign-up system
creates confusion
By Jennifer Pope
Stephens Life Staff
Changes in the room sign-up
system forthe 1998-1999 year, which
began this week, are leaving students
with mixed feelings.
Residence Life has developed a
lottery system to avoid the problem
of students camping out in Stamper
Commons to secure choice room
assignments. Under the lottery
system, students drew for numbers
according to their class year, and the
number they drew determined the
order in which they would be allowed
to sign up for rooms.
“It’s a risk to the college to have
students sleeping outside their
residence halls,” Interim Residence
Life Co-director Ebony Tanner said.
Tanner said the new lottery system
will reduce the chance of liability and
alsowi]lhelpgivestudents whocannot
spend the whole day over in Stamper
Commons a chance.
Priscilla Linton, ’00, Prunty, said,
“I feel that if you want a different
room you won’thave achance. There
are too many people front of you,
and it should be first come first serve,
not luck.”
Along with the lottery system,
changes have also been made to
the assigned smoking floors. This
year, smoking was allowed on the
third floors ofeach hall. Next year,
however, the top floors of Prunty,
Searcy and Tower halls will allow
smoking, while half the rooms on
each floor of Pillsbury and Roblee
halls will allow smoking. All other
rooms will be non-smoking.
“The smoking floors have been
the same for a number of years, to
my know ledge,” Tiffany
Thompson, ’99, Tower, said. “To
change them is incovenant for
those who do smoke and want to
keep their same room.”
According to Tanner, the
changes in the smoking floors
came from some students who
said they were bothered by the
smoke.
“The change is to stack smokers
on top ofeach otherbecause smoke
Pavels,” Tanner said.
“I’m glad I don’thave to worry
about this anymore since I’m
graduating, but now I have to
worry about getting a job and an
apartment and things little that,”
Katy Kiser, ’98, Tower, said.
Share Life
with a friend-take the
paper home for everyone
to enjoy!

5. [? News 5
Stephens College sororities participate in Greek Week
photo by Jennifer Smaligo
(Left to right) Sorority members Lisa Wilson,'99,
Pillsbury, Ashley Wellman,’99, LOC and Lindsay
Hughes,’00, Pillsbury, wait in linefor a barbecue.
By Jennifer Pope
Stephens Life Staff
Stephens College sororities
participated in University of
Missouri-ColumbiaGreekWeek for
the firsttime this year. The sororities
on StephensCollege campus, Kappa
Delta(KD) and SigmaSigmaSigma
(Tri Sigma), acquired nationalstatus
last year.
The sororities asked the Greek
Week committee for permission to
participate in Greek Week along
with the MU fraternaties and
sororities.
According to Tri Sigmamember
MelissaWilson, ’00, Pillsbury, who
also serves as the Stephens College
Greek Week Liaison, Stephens
College sororities presented their
case to the GreekWeek committee.
Some of the issues addressed to the
committee were recent national
status gained by Stephens College
sororities and the fact that the MU
has 31 fraternities and only 18
sororities,shesaid. TheGreekWeek
com m ittee granted Stephens
College permission to take part in
Greek Week.
“We are all really excited, we
are happy to do things with MU—
it gives us more of an opportunity
we don’t have here at Stephens and
we get seen more in the
community,” KarieBoughton, ’00,
Pillsbury, and a member of Kappa
Delta, said.
Greek Week kicked off with a
blood drive on Monday, April 13.
Wilson said the idea behind Greek
Week is service, and onFriday,April
17, Greek members donated their
time to the Lenoir Senior Center to
help with odd jobs and clean up.
Missouri SpecialOlympics washeld
on Saturday,April 18.Athletes from
all over Missouri come to compete
intheevents,andtheGreekmembers
helped.
“Everything has been fun—
Special Olympics was a really
worthwhile event, but I thought that
the attitudes of some of the Greek
members at MU could have been
more positive,” Lisa Wilson, ’99,
Pillsbury, and a member of Tri
Sigma, said.
On Sunday, April 19, the SAE
fratematy sponsored a barbecue, with
a live band entertaining and speeches
from all king and queen candidates.
Greek Week
sponsored a
canned food drive
onWednesdayand
Thursday,April22
and 23, along with
“Fling”— a
performance of
skits and lip syncs
by Greek
members, and the
hanging of the
banner made by
Stephens College
KD andTri Sigma
members and
MU’s Kappa
Sigma members.
Greek Week
games are scheduled for today and
tomorrow. The games include soccer,
flag football, sand volleyball, tug-a-
rope, basketball and sumo wrestling.
Q.U.E.S. needs on-campus support to survive
By Sara Lien
Stephens Life Staff
With a dwindling membership
and lack of supportive leadership,
the fate of the three-year student
organization Q.U.E.S is up in the
air. Queer, United, Educated,
Sist’as, or Q.U.E.S for short, was
started on Sept. 25, 1995 to give
queers and allies within the student
body, administration, staff and
faculty a foundation from which to
work from ” according to its
proposed constitution. However,
Q.U.E.S has not been active on
campus this year because of weak
leadership and negative incidents.
“It has not existed this year
because there w asn't any
leadership,” Emily Cunningham,
'00, Roblee, said. “All the leaders
graduated, and there is no one that
wants to take on the role to get the
organization running again.”
One ofthe problems with getting
the organization “running” again
is the negative reputation
homosexuals have acquired on the
Stephens College campus.
Construction-----
Continued from page 1
streets, Fitzgibbon said. He said the
college needs to start basketball and
volleyball programs to maintain its
status as an NCAA Division Three
school, as Stephens College has been
notified that it needs to add one more
team sport by the Fall 1999 semester.
Fitzgibbonsaid administratorsalso
hope touse the multipurposebuilding
to house facilities, which used to be
housedintheHenleyBuilding,located
westofCollegeAvenue.Aspartofthe
MasterPlan,thecollegesoldtheHenley
Building earlier this year. However,
the 1995MasterPlan—which did not
include the multipurpose building—
alsodid not address theissue ofwhere
facilities, which was housed in the
Henley Building, would be moved.
For now, facilities is in Hillerest Hall.
AtMonday'scitycouncilmeeting,
Fitzgibbonsaid.StephensCollegeplans
to build the 220- by 150-foot
multipurpo"se~building out of sheet
metal, similar to the material used to
build Macklanburg Playhouse. He
told thecitycounciltheeast sideofthe
building will house the basketball and
volleyball courts as well as room for
300 spectators, while facilities will be
on the west side of thebuilding. With
thisdesign,facilitiesvehicleswillenter
and leave the garage on Willis Street,
“Stephens College is not any
more or less receptive than any
other college,” Languages and
Literature instructor and Q.U.E.S
adviser Grace Epstein said. “But
the tone set a few years ago makes
it uncomfortable to even begin to
make an alliance.”
The tone was set in the fall of
1994when a fewStephens College
students with multi-colored chalk
marked thecampus sidewalks with
phrases like “I love queers,”
“We’re queer-we’re here-getused
to it,” “Bi-pride,” and “Dyke is not
a dirty word.” according to the
Nov. 18 issue of Stephens Life.
Although at the time, most
students on campus were
supportive of the chalking, not all
students agreed.
“I can understand both sides,
but some things written were
unecessary,” Angie Collier, ’97,
said.
Although Q.U.E.S was not
founded atthe time ofthechalking,
theorganizationcurrentlyisfeeling
repercussions from it.
Homophobia pervades all
a one-way residential street.
Fitzgibbon also saidthecollegeplans
toplace access ways on the north side
ofthebuildinganduselandscapingto
buffer the building from the street.
Building Problems
Although the city council gave
initial approval for the multipurpose
building, the college still must
convince the city’s Board of
Adjustmenttooverridetwocityzoning
ordinances. Fitzgibbon will present
thecollege’sarguments attheboard’s
next meeting, scheduled for May 12.
City zoning ordinances require
buildings to be 25 feet from the curb.
However,Fitzgibbonsaidthatbecause
ofNCAA width requirements forthe
basketball court, Stephens College
cannot place the building any further
than 15feetfromDorseyStreet.Before
the college can place the building this
closetothestreet,itmustgetavariance
from the Board of Adjustment.
Fitzgibbon said the other issue to
be addressed with’ the Board of
Adjustment is parking. Area C
currently is zoned as R-3 to allow for
multiple-family housing, but the
proposed building may be classified-
as a C-l commercial building.
Fitzgibbon said that because the city
has not yet determined how to zone
the proposed multipurpose building,
aspects of life,” Quyn Horton, '00,
Roblee, said. “But a women’s
college is supposed to discuss
women’s issues and many still may
feel uncomfortable with lesbian
issues.”
However, the attitude many had
worsened over the summer when
the Q.U.E.S office was vandalized.
“Q.U.E.S offices were
vandalized,” Jamie Valentine, '00,
LOC,said. “Nothing wasdoneabout
it and no suspects were ever found,”
According to Mandy Leamon, ’99,
Roblee, the vandalism consisted of
tornsigns,paintsprayedontheoffice
walls, and graphic profanity.
This vandalism caused great
confusion within the organization
that still remains.
“It was very emotional and sad
because no one found out who did it
and it was never discussed on
campus.” Leamon said.
Leadership and Programming
D irector M argaret Campbell
disagreed.
“The vandalism was reported to
security, and no leads were found,”
Campbell said. “It happened over
thecityhas notyettoldthecollegehow
much parking it will have to provide.
However, he said the college only has
room to add 14 new parking spaces.
Neighbors Opposed
According to East Campus
NeighborhoodAssociationChairJanet
IIcmmen,theareasaroundWillisStrcct
and Bass Avenue is part of the East
CampusNeighborhood,whichislisted
on the National Register of Historic
Places.Accordingtotheneighborhood
association, Stephens College owns
fiverentalhousesonWillisStreetacross
the street from Macklanburg
Playhouse,theproposedmultipurpose
buildingandthecollege’stenniscourts.
Hemmen saidshe isconcerned the
college’splanswilldestroythehistoric
natureofthatarea.Shesaidthecollege’s
1981 Master Plan calls for tearing
down these rental homes as well as
Fielding-SmithHall,southofStamper
Commons on College Avenue. She
said that although Stephens College
administrators have not told the
neighborhoodassociationwhetherthey
still plan to teardown these buildings,
iftheydo,then thevieweastward from
CollegeAvenuewillbeallparkinglots
and the sheet metal building, which
she predicted would be “an eyesore.”
Hemmen said she is concerned it will
destroy the historic nature ofthe area.
the summer before students arrived
on campus, while the halls were
being cleaned so the doors were
propped open,” Campbell said.
As a result of the incident the
membership of Q.U.E.S has
dwindled to a handful of people.
“The incidents, have spooked the
organization,” Epstein said. “Overall
the students arc supporting the
organization but it’s difficult.”
So because of dwindling
numbers, the purpose of the
organization, which was to raise
consciousness about gays, lesbians,
and bi-sexual, andthereforeestablish
a broader sense of diversity across
the Stephens College community, is
lost.
“It was a good idea to have a
support base and to be with other
queer women and gay friendly
people,” Cunnigham said.
Others see no other outlet for that
support at Stephens College.
“I joined Q.U.E.S because
Stephens was supporting lesbians
on campus and I was really excited
to be a part of action and diversity,”
Valentine said.
Another association member, who
ownsahomeonWillisAvenue,agreed
with Hemmen.“’I'his is going to be a
huge, sheet-metal, warehouse-type
building,” Charlotte Overby told the
citycouncil atMonday’smeeting.“It’s
cheaply made. We don’t want to look
across our porches at this.”
A major concern Hemmen has is
notknowingwhetherStephensCollege
will tear down its rental houses along
Willis Street as it proposed to do in its
1981 Master Plan. She said the
neighborhood association has asked
college administrators to put in writing
an agreement nottoteardown itsWillis
Street rental houses.“If Stephens
Collegewould notteardown theWillis
Streethomes, wewould notstand inthe
way of the building,” she said.
Christian and Julie Els, who own a
home byStamperCommons on Willis
Avenue, said they told Fitzgibbonthey
would support the college’s proposed
multipurpose building ifhewouldgive
them an assurance that college will not
tear down the houses down the street
from them. They said Fitzgibbon has
not yet responded to their request.
Fitzgibbon said the college
administrators“havenoplans” toenter
into any such written agreement with
the neighborhood association.
ElsalsotoldthecouncilatMonday's
meeting he isconcerned aboutparking
Despite the organization's
apparently bleak future, many
members said their experience is
not wasted because they learned a
greatdealbeinginvolved inQ.U.E.S.
“Ilearned that agood cause needs
more structure and commitment to
operate, but I feel primarily that
support and education are needed to
educate the community about
different types of oppression,”
Cunningham said.
Valentine said, “I learned how to
express myself, accept others points
of view and how to deal with other
minorities.”
According to Epstein, for
diversityto flow,society must accept
homosexuality.
Most women’s colleges have
some kind of organization for the
gay population, but it’s always a
stragglebecause it's not mainstream
yet,” she said.
Althought the organization
currently is struggling some remain
optimistic for the future.
“It’snicetoknowwchave roots,”
Epstein said. “I’d like to believe the
culture as a whole is changing.”
and cars blocking his driveway,
because Willis Street is one-way. IIe
said he is worried the traffic from the
proposed multipurpose building will
cause gridlock on the street.
Fitzgibbon saidparking will notbe
a problem because there are 38
available parking spaces in the lot on
the west side of Macklanburg
Hayhouse, and another 10 parking
spacesontheeast sideofMacklanburg
Playhouse. He said college
administrators also are working with
Boone County Hospital to obtain
shared use of parking at the doctors'
offices, located atthe southeast comer
of Broadway and William streets.
When Kierscht addressed the city
council atMonday’smeeting,shesaid
themultipurposebuildinglikelywould
not cause parking problems.“I wish I
had the optimism everyone else has
about this building,” Kierscht told the
council. “I remind you that we are a
women's college, and we will not
havehundredsofpeoplecomingtosee
ourgames. We are lucky ifwe get 25,
and they are coming from campus.
Nellie Shapiro, ’98, Tower, said
Kierscht’scommentsdisappointedher.
“It is sad that the president of our
women’s college has such a negative
voice,”shesaid.“Asourpresident,she
should be more ‘optimistic’ in
preparing us for our future.”

6. 6 Features StephensLife,April 2j 1998
True love finds home outside
of heaven in City of Angels
by Sara Lien
Stephens Life Staff
On Friday, April 10, the film City o fAngels
sta rrin g N ico las C age and M eg Ryan
prem iered in theaters across the country. The
film is based on the Wim W enders’ 1988 film,
The Wings o f Desire , which is about two
angels traveling through B erlin reading
people’s thoughts. City O f Angels begins
with a doctor who, while operating on a heart
patient, makes contact with an angel who is
there to take the patient to heaven. Seth (Cage)
is stunned when he realizes that the doctor
Maggie (Ryan) can see him.
Eventually Seth and M aggie fall in love,
and Seth must decide whether to stay an angel
or becom e a human and be with M aggie.
Throughout the film, Seth and M aggie try to
sort out their feelings for each other and try to
find a way to be together.
The movie also stars Dennis Franz (of
NYPD Blue ) as a former angel who gave up
his wings for love and Andre Braugher (of
Homicide ) as an angel who helps Seth deal
with his feelings toward M aggie. However,
despite its strong rom antic characters, the
screenplay is not strong enough to convey the
overwhelm ing feeling this man and woman
share for each other.
The main m essage of the film is that
everyone— angels and people— should trust
th eir feelin g s and have free w ill over
themselves. Maggie had to rely on her feelings
for Seth even though she did not know
anything about him or where he came from.
She even doubted if he was human or not
because when Maggie cut him by mistake,
he didn’t bleed. The film also teaches the
audience about honesty. When Maggie meets
Seth, she asks about his jo b and Seth
responded, “I am a messenger, a messenger
from God.” Even when faced with great
adversity and pressed to sway from his
beliefs, Seth always told the truth about
himself.
An enjoyable aspect of the film is the
simple love story and the theme that love
can conquer all. Also, it was wonderful to
see a leading lady role featuring a very strong
and intelligent woman, who is also soft and
vulnerable. Roles that recognize woman in
this way are unique in Hollywood. This role
recognizes a woman as tw o-dynensional and
not just a one-dim ensional sex pot.
A nother interesting aspect of the film is
how director Brad Silberling deaLs with the
appearance of the angels. They dressed in all
black and had a transfixed look on their
faces. Living people could not see them, but
the audience was able to see them. The angels
stand on billboards, read over people’s
shoulders in the library and even lie in bed
with the humans. The feelings from the
angels are very surreal. Overall, City o f
Angels likely will not stay in theaters long,
so if you want to catch a film where love
conquers all and angels fall from heaven to
earth, then go check out this film at a theater
near you! In Columbia, it currently is playing
at the Hollywood Stadium Theater.
Harbinger features
Stephens College
creative writers
by Jenalea Linn
Stephens Life Editor
Hear ye! Hear ye! Harbinger is coming to Windsor Lounge, near
you! On April 28 Harbinger, a literary magazine published for Stephens
College students by Stephens College students, is releasing its 1997-
1998 edition.
“The magazine will come out officially, and the authors of the
different works will be reading from the book,” Editor Samantha
Johnson, ’99, Wood Hallway, said. “It is a celebration that the book is
out and published.”
Every year that Harbinger is published, the team working in the
Harbinger Internship have Harbinger Nite, Johnson said.
Harbinger Nite will feature the published authors reading their
manuscripts. Stephens College students, faculty and staffare invited to
attend and even get their books signed, Johnson said. The celebration
is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in Windsor Lounge.
A new feature to Harbinger this year is that Lincoln University’s
and Westminister College’s students’ original works are published in
the 100-page magazine.
“This is mainly because of the joint reading series,” Johnson said.
[See related story on page 7.]
This year’s edition costs $3. Students, faculty and staffcan purchase
both the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 editions for $5 total.
f" "She's going to The chapel,and she's ^
going to ger m m e d r
CongmTuhmons to STepbens Lipen
Jenmpen Sm hgo on hen necem
engagewem toJoseph Mangim!
Our love, Beth,Jenalea,Jennifer P., &Sara J )
Cory Crow helps redefine ‘beauty pageant’ image
by Jennifer Smaligo
Stephens Life Staff
Some may be familiar with the
typical “beauty queen” image—
perfect body, big hair and no brains.
What is not known is that the Miss
America Organization, which
started in 1921 as a “bathing
beauty” contest, has changed
drastically.
Cory Crow, ’99, Tower, is one
Stephens College woman who is
helping to change this image by
taking advantage of the many
opportunities these pageants have
to offer. They offer women a forum
to voice their opinions as well as
display their talents and
intelligence to a large number of
people while gaining money to
further their education. Many
people do not realize that the non­
profit Miss America Organization
has provided more than $100
million in scholarships making it
the world’s largest provider of
scholarships exclusively for
women.
“Through the Miss America
Pageants, I have learned great
communication skills, gained
money for school, and I’ve kept up
my singing talent, which Iprobably
wouldn’t have otherwise,” she said.
Since Crow began competing
for Miss America at age 17, she
has won three titles— M iss
Columbia, Miss Mid-Missouri and
Miss Lake Cook—and she even
made it to the Top 10 both years in
the Miss Missouri pageant. She
won the title of Miss Lake Cook in
February, and she will be
competing for Miss Illinois during
the first week in July. She also has
competed in other local pageants
in her home state of Illinois. She
won third runner-up in her first
pageant in 1994, and received a
$200 scholarship. Since then, she
has won a total of almost $8,000.
“The great thing about the
scholarships is that I have to use
them towards school,” she said. “I
can’t just go out and spend the
money on anything. I think that’s
awesome.”
Crow said she does notcompete
just for the money, however. Since
1989, the M iss A m erica
O rganization has required
contestants to have a personal
platform. Crow said the platform
is a very important part of the
competition and usually reflects
the contestant’s personality. She
said the contestant must be highly
educated about her topic, because
judges use the platform as a basis
for questions during the interview
and the on-stage question during
the evening wear competition.
“The personal platform gives
Miss America a job,” she said.
“It’s notjust about ribbon-cutting.
During her reign, she travels all
over the nation speaking on behalf
of her cause.”
Crow’s personal platform is
titled “Think Purple.” Her goal is
to promote gender equity in
classrooms for both girls and boys.
She has devoted a great deal of her
time spreading her m essage
throughout her hometown.
She said she has worked with
various teachers and
administrators, pointing out the
unintended m essages society
conveys. She also has spoken at
many student assem blies
encouraging students to have
dreams and then to follow them.
She said her message is simple:
“Don’t think in shades of pink and
blue... think purple.”
Crow’s biggest goal right now,
in relation to her platform, is to
finish an informational video on
which she has been working during
the past six months. She also is
waiting for a response about a grant
for which she applied. Crow said
this grant would help her create a
gender equity workshop for
middle-school and high-school
students.
“Some ideas for the program
include using a diverse panel of
college women and men who could
speak and answer questions about
issues facing teen-agers,” she said.
In this program, she said she hopes
to include theater and the arts,
which have been a big part of her
fife.
Crow is practical when itcomes
to pageant fife. She said she knows
some women are involved only for
the crown, but as the pageant is
evolving, so are the attitudes of
those contestants. Just the fact that
so much more is required for the
com petition in the areas of
scholastics, community service,
talent, and interview skills, has
made the quality of the contestants
increase, she said.
“When you have that crown on
your head, you have every 7-year-
old’s attention, and that’s fragile,”
she said. “You have the ability to
mold them. It’s a power and a
privilege.”
Becoming involved in pageants
can start at a very tender age. For
example, JonBenet Ramsey was a
6-year-old beauty pageant princess
when she was killed in December
1996. Crow began competing in
pageants when she was seven and
Photo submitted by Cory Crow
Cory Crow pauses to smile for a
picture after winning her most
recent title.
stopped when she turned 10because
she began entering “that awkward
adolescent stage.” Crow said the
pageants in which she competed
were more “innocent,”compared to
Ramsey’s experiences, but she said
she still would not recommend that
parents enter theirchildren. She said
she does not see any advantages of
competing at such a young age.
“Children need that time to be
kids because you can never get that
back,” she said.
Crow said she is aware of the
stereotypes of the Miss America
pageant, butshe said she alsoknows
that stereotypes exist everywhere
and that she cannot let that stop her
from doing something in which
she believes.
Photo submitted by Cory Crow
Cory Crow was crowned Miss Lake Cook in February, and she will
compete for Miss Illinois in July.

7. StephensLife,April24,1998 Features 7
Reading, writing
‘adventure’ brings
students together
by Sara Lien
Stephens Life Staff
Amid the glamorous dresses designed by Oleg Cassini and
Arnold Scaasi, nine college students shined almost brighter than
the famous designs.
On Thursday, April 9, Stephens College students, along with
students from Lincoln University and Westminster College
gathered in the Stephens College Davis Art Gallery to read aloud
their original writing pieces at the Third Annual Joint Creative
^Writing Exchange.
Approximately 40 people— including students, instructors,
friends and family members—attended the reading while the
students read poetry, short stories and fiction.
The students wrote about such issues as feminism, domestic *
violence, college life, and the adventures of road trips.
The Joint Creative Writing Exchange started in April 1995.
According toStephens CollegeLanguages andLiteratureinstructor
Tina Parke-Sutherland, the idea for the exchange started while
hanging out at at coffee shop.
“We were all just sitting at Lakota Coffee in Columbia and
decided to come together and start a creative writing exchange,”
Parke-Sutherland said.
According toTinaGarmon, ’00, Searcy,saidthemost important
aspect of ’
creative writing is to make it a healing experience.
“It really is a cathartic experience,” Garmon said. “It allows
you to make a connection with reality and helps you choose how
to shape your own reality.”
Another healing aspect of the reading is the experience of
reading out loud.
“Getting up in front of people makes you a better writer and it
makes you more comfortable with what you write,” Chris Porter,
’99, Lincoln University, said.
Lincoln University Languages andLiterature instructorGinger
Jones agreed.
“Studentsareused toreadingintheirowncollegian atmosphere,”
Jones said. “I like the idea of reading in others’ company that you
don’t know because you get a different perspective and different
opinions on how to improve your writing.”
Many of the students at the readings felt the experience at the
writing exchange was very positive.
“It was a really good experience,” Jessica Gidtman, ’99,
Westminster College, said. “If I want to continue in this line of
work, I better get used to the idea.”
Westminster University Languages and Literature instructor
Wayne Zade agreed.
“With getting up in front of people to speak, the students have
a chance to hear the rhythms and get close to the inspiration of the
writing of the piece,” Zade said. “Reading aloud will always find
the rough spots in a piece, and it helps the students find what to
revise for the piece.”
The audience also felt inspiration from the writings.
“I think creative writing is an outlet,” Courtney Yount, ’98,
Pillsbury, said. “It allows people to gain a new perspective on
life.”
Another student said hearing others read their writing helps her
with her own writing.
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Program secretary makes
multicultural experience work
by Jenalea Linn
Stephens Life Editor
In the last few weeks, independent investigator
Kenneth Starr questioned President Bill Clinton’s
secretary as one of the many witnesses in his grand
jury inquiry into Clinton’s alleged involvement with
Monica Lewinsky. With issues like this making
news, one wonders how far a secretary at Stephens
College would go to protect a program’s secrets.
Edda Mangini, academic secretary for the Business
Administration and Mass Communication programs,
probably would protect the programs’ secrets if
doing so would not compromise her fully developed
sense of duty and ethics.
Mangini, who was born to Italian parents, speaks
with a thick Peruvian accent untarnished from her 29
years in Columbia, Mo. Born in Lima, Peru, she
traveled all over the world, including Italy, New
York, San Francisco, Spain, Switzerland and all over
Central and South America before she was married
in 1969 in Lima. She gave birth to two children in
C olum bia, M o.—
Francesca andJoseph—
whom she raised by
clearly establishing their
heritage when they were
very young. Mangini,
who is fluent in three
languages and the
Genovese dialect, also
taught her children
Spanish as they were
learning English.
Mangini said she
believes that at least one
second language is very
important.
“You know you
know a language when
you (hink in the
language,” Mangini
said.
M angini said she
wanted this for her
children so they could
enjoy both the American
and Spanish culture.
Mangini graduated from Wilson Business School
in Peru, was trained as anexecutive bi-lingual secretary
and took her first job in Columbia, Mo., working for
the Columbia Public Schools as a teacher’s aid after
her children were in school. Mangini said her decision
to take the job revolved around her children.
Mangini said herfamily is very important to her, but
she has an even stronger sense ofresponsibility. When
she moved from Peru to Columbia, she missed her
parents, sister and the rest of her family very much, but
sheaccepted the responsibility ofliving independently.
“We were a very close family,” Mangini said.
“When Iwasyoung, wewerealways together.”Mangini
said she had to overcome enormous homesickness to
stay in Columbia and raise her children.
“Once you make a decision, you have to bear it and
keep going,” Mangini said.
Because Mangini is from an upper-middle class
family in Lima, ifshe had stayed in Peru, she would not
have had to work, she said. However, she said she does
not mind working at Stephens College.
“I enjoy working,” Mangini said.
Mangini said she likes the people with whom she
works, and herjob gives herextended breaks thatallow
her to visit her family in Lima. Mangini travels to Peru
regularly, spending many holiday and summer breaks
with her mother, sister and daughter, all of whom live
in Lima.
“When I am here, I work hard, then when I take
vacation, I do nothing,” Mangini said. “I could be
home when my kids were home and have the summer
breaks and Christmas.”
Mangini came to Stephens College in January
1982 to work 20 hours a week, again to be home with
herchildren. She first worked as the athletic secretary,
then as the Science Department’s administrative
assistant, then she became the secretary for the
Psychology Department and the Searcy House Plan.
In 1992, she began dividing her time between Mass
Communication, Psychology and Science, but now
she is working for the Business Administration and
Mass Communication programs.
Mass Communication Program Chair Elizabeth
Clark said she believes Mangini is an asset to the
program because of “her persistence, self-assurance,
capabilities and strong sense of loyalty to Stephens.”
“She is very dedicated to keeping the program
going,” Clark said.
As with everything else in Mangini's life, she does
not take the simple, uncomplicated road. Mangini
takes her work experience and real life point of view
and does what needs to be done.
“Edda seems to go beyond what secretaries usually
do,” Business Administration Program Chair Chris
Prestigiacomo said. “For
example, she reviews the
budget and sees what
needs to be done. She
seems to take personal
responsibility for it. She
goes above and beyond
the call of duty.”
Mangini’s reluctance
to make sw eeping
judgements stems from
her very realistic point
of view, which is
influenced heavily by her
extensive traveling and
cultural upbringing. For
example, Mangini will
not com m ent on the
changes happening at
Stephens College.
“People manage their
homes differently,” she
said. “I am not in the
position to comment.”
Mangini said she also
enjoys working with each
program’s student assistants, who Mangini said are
good helpers. Sally Wibbenmeyer, ’98, Tower, is the
studentassistant intheBusiness Administrationprogram,
and Priscilla Linton, ’00, Prunty, helps Mangini in the
Mass Communication program.
“Both Priscilla and Sally are good assistants,”
Mangini said. “Priscilla has been in Mass
Communications for the last two years. We enjoy
working together and cracking jokes in Spanish.”
“I like to be around the students,” Mangini said. “It
is nice to be around young people.”
Mangini spends a lot of her time working. Along
with her responsibilities to the two programs atStephens
College, Mangini also is an Avon representative and
works for the University of Missouri-Columbia
proctoring tests.
When Mangini does has free time, she likes to
travel and is a firm believer in gaining knowledge
from different and unique cultures through traveling.
Mangini said she believes traveling is a vital part of
growing up. After her daughter, Francesca, graduated
from Stephens College in 1993 with an Elementary
Education degree but before she accepted a job,
Mangini prompted her to travel for two months in
Europe.
“I did lots of traveling before and after I was
married, and I am a firm believer in learning from
traveling,” Mangini said. “Traveling helps open your
mind and help you understand other cultures.”
Mangini said she could not decide on her favorite
country or city. “It is hard to tell because each place
has its own beauty,” she said.
Photo by Jennifer Smaligo
Edda Mangini pauses during her work in the
Mass Communication Program office.
Mnvmrd for Ou&tanelirg Sentoe to StephetG Life
Sn recognition of her dedication, patience, and h a rd work, the s ta ff of
Stephens Life would like to thank
Gracias y Te Qaeremos— fSeth, fenatea, Sara, Jennifer, and Jennifer

8. SGA goals same for
1998-99 school year
8 News_________ StephensLife, April 24,118
by Jennifer Smaligo
Stephens Life Staff
The Student G overnm ent
Association (SGA) elections for
the 1998-99 school year were held
Tuesday, April 14 in Stamper
Commons. Candidates gave their
speeches the day before the
elections at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
April 13 at a political rally
sponsored by SGA. The results of
the election were posted on
Wednesday, April 15.
Newly elected SGA Vice
President, Katie Shannon, ’00,
Roblee, said, “I believe the
elections went very well. There
was a high voter turnout, but I do
wish there could have been more
com petition for positions so
students would have had more of a
choice.”
To be eligible to run for an
office, students had to have a
minimum GPA of 2.0 for both
cumulative and for the previous
semester. Students in the Executive
Board positions had to have a
minimum cumulative and semester
GPA of 2.5.
All positions were voted on
except the freshman offices.
According to the SGA Constitution,
the freshman officers and senators
will be voted on in the fall.
Reelected SGA President
Janene Van Leeuwen, ’99, Tower,
said, “We plan to keep going in the
direction we’ve been going. We
want to continue bridging the
communication gap between the
administration and the students.
Also, we want to find more ways to
rid the campus of apathy,and I feel
we’re already accomplishing those
goals now.”
“One of the greatest moments
of my term was participating in the
‘Stephens Day of Caring,”’ said
Van Leeuwen. “The freshman class
organized 80 students, staff,
faculty, and administrators to clean
up the campus. This is a great
example of how we are achieving
our goals.”
Junior Class President Karie
Boughton, ’00, Pillsbury, said,
“Being a Senator lastyear, I believe
it gave me a great foundation for
this position.
“M elissa W ilson, the vice
president, and I will start this
summer trying to make contacts
for a possible commencement
speaker,” said Boughton.
• Student Government Association
Election Results
•
•
Executive Board Class of 1999 Class of 2001
President President President
Janene Van Leeuwen, ’99, MandyLeamon, Roblee Tori Seiter, Searcy
Tower Vice President Vice President
(none) Joanna Williams, Searcy
Vice President Secretary Secretary
Katie Shannon, ’00, Roblee Diedre Sorenson, Roblee Jesse Evans, Roblee
Secretary
Activities
Ashley Rae Wellman, LOC
Senator
Bonnie Hahin, Searcy
Kayce Matthews, ’01, Searcy Senators Crystal Pratt, Searcy
Treasurer
Becky McCafferty, '0 0 ,
Roblee
Susan Anderson, Roblee
Lisa Wilson, Pillsbury
Class of 2000 Class of 2002
*
Programming Chair
Cindy Schler, ’01, Searcy
President
Karie Boughton, Pillsbury *To be elected at the
Academic Affairs
Vice President beginning of thefall
Melissa Wilson, Pillsbury 1998 semester.
Angela Barto. ’00, Prunty
Public Relations
Jeannie Baker, ’00 , LOC
Secretary
Alex Balladares, Roblee
Senators
(none)
Holocaust victims remembered through drawings
By Jenalea H. Linn
Stephens Life Editor
The art program at Stephens
C ollege had a guest artist
displaying his talents through a
slide presentation show ing
holocaust victims in drawings.
Akiva Segan, a University of
Missouri-Columbia 1980 alum.
Segan, who now resides in Seattle,
WA has been
working on a
collection of50
drawings.
“The series
will have 50
major works,”
Segan said.
“About 40 are
done.”
The partial
slide show,
shown during
an art class at
Stephens College, was titled,
“Under the Wings of God.”
“The drawings are drawn from
photos of murdered Jews,” Segan
said.
Segan said he finds the photos
in books and even from photos
given to him by fam ilies of
Holocaust victims. The drawings
of the “anonymous, nameless
victims” have wings that are
modeled after actual bird wings
Segan said.
Segan hopes that his drawings
will be accessible to many people
and restore the dignity stripped of
the Jewish individuals because of
the acts of the Nazis.
“I am doing my small part to
p r o m o t e
activism to
—— 1
— combat racism,
an tisem itism
and hate,”
Segan said.
Segan said
he deals with
the emotionally
trying topic
with great
difficulty and
has a strong
lim it on how
much he can take regarding the
holocaust.
“Ihate it [the holocaust],” Segan
said.
“The project is a labor of love,”
Segan said. “I will complete it.”
Segan presented his portion of
the slide show, which is half of the
entire show, on Monday, April 20
during art instructor R obert
The Holocaust occurred in
eastern Europe during World War
The drawing are
from photos of
murdered Jews.
— Akiva Segan
Holocaust Artist Drawing provided by Akiva Segan
Ceshia Mendrelawska, 1910-1943. She died during the Warsaw
Ghetto uprising in Poland in April - May 1943. Ink, 1994
Friedman’s class. Segan received
his Master of Fine Arts from MU
in 1981 at the same time that
Friedman received his Bachelor
of Fine Arts. Segan received his
undergraduate degree from South
Illinois University at Carbondale.
This trip was Segan’s third annual
trip to Columbia.
II. During this time, over 6 million
people of the Jewish faith were
killed by Nazi soldiers using
various forms to commit mass
genocide. Jewish people, gypsies
and other groups were brutally
murdered orforced into slave labor.
It is also estimated that 1 112million
children died during the Holocaust.
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