Commencement Ceremony Goes Virtual, Seniors Left Wondering Why
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The News Source For Webster University Lifestyle Sports For one graphic designer, Track athlete wins first love of music and art mixes in SLIAC Indoor Track together Championships Page 5 Page 4 Volume 76 Issue 4 March 3 - March 16, 2021 @websterjournal websterjournal.com Commencement ceremony goes virtual, seniors left wondering why By Jenna Jones comments were similar to Editor-in-Chief that of student Catherine Boren, a senior secondary Part of the reason Abby education social science Anderson chose to go to major. Webster four years ago was “I am very mad about the graduation ceremony at their decision. I get last year the Muny. was very different because So, when she opened we didn’t know much Facebook on Feb. 25, she about COVID,” Boren said. was disappointed to see “However, now I feel they’re Webster had posted an playing it too safe by saying announcement: there would no [in-person] graduation be no in-person ceremony at all. Especially since high at The Muny for the 2021 schools held graduations graduates. last year who had a bigger “It feels horrible to see the graduating class than we did.” news on Facebook first and Boren started a petition to see so many other larger citing these reasons and the schools having ceremonies fact that another tier for for their grads in safe ways,” vaccinations will open in Anderson said. mid-March. Her petition calls The university’s statement for Webster to re-evaluate cited the restriction of large its decision closer to May gatherings in St. Louis or for the commencement County as the reason for ceremony to be pushed off moving the ceremony online. until the summer after more Anderson commented vaccinations have happened. on the post, criticizing the “Us seniors have already university for posting the been through enough, having statement on Facebook to go our entire senior year instead of emailing graduates through this pandemic, don’t first. Anderson also pointed take our graduation from us out the university was as well,” Boren wrote in the holding in-person classes petition. CHARLOTTE RENNER / The Journal and The Muny will be putting on shows during their See Graduation This is what graduation will look like again this year at Webster University. The university decided that the commencement ceremony will be virtual this Page 2 year, similar to 2020's ceremony. In a statement, the university said it's working on "enhanced features" for this year's graduates. summer season. Anderson’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference has record-breaking year By Cas Waigand Other panels touched on issues Vincent Flewellen, chief di- Managing Editor which have found less discussion versity officer at Webster Univer- in the mainstream media, such as sity, said the conference received Webster hosted its sixth Annu- Maryam Laura Moazedi’s “The over 2,000 registrations. The al Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Urgent Need for a New Narrative event had 48 speakers. Accord- conference from Feb. 23 to Feb. on Ageing.” During the lecture, ing to Flewellen, 15 were students 25. The conference focused on Moazedi talked about how we see at Webster, which is the highest having constructive conversations age. number of student voices DEI has about diversity and inclusion. Students can see the full dis- had. Keynote speakers included cussion here. Flewellen said he was excited transgender activist Charlotte There were also panels and to see the conference grow and is Clymer and Black Lives Matter discussions with current Web- now looking to future events. co-founder Patrisse Cullors. ster students. On Feb. 24, a panel “We will be challenged to Panels and lectures touched titled, “Voices of Diversity: Global outdo ourselves, but I am look- on current topics such as Black Student Leaders” brought seven ing forward to partnering with Lives Matter. Cullors's panel was students from campuses across Chancellor Stroble and members titled “When they Call You a Ter- the globe together to discuss di- of the 2022 Diversity, Equity and rorist: A Black Lives Matter Dia- versity. On Feb. 25, Webster stu- Inclusion Planning Committee to logue with Patrisse Cullors.” Cul- dent Nae Lowery and her family. begin work on our seventh annual lors spoke on Wednesday, Feb. On YouTube, Webster present- conference,” Flewellen said in a 24. Clymer closed the first night ed the Champion for All Awards statement. of the conference on Feb. 23 talk- to Mayor Ella Jones, mayor of Fer- ing about being trans in a post- guson, Missouri, and Valerie E. See Page 3 for more DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION CONFERENCE / Screenshot Trump era. Patton. coverage on this Patrisse Cullors speaks to Webster students Grace Gilliam and CJ Berry on Feb. 24. Cullors led a panel titled conference "When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Dialogue with Patrisse Cullors." Student-athlete works to balance two sports as seasons overlap By Kelly Bowen on the Webster men’s basketball men’s soccer coach, Michael Siener said, “but he is probably get playing time in soccer games he was First Team All-State, and soccer team. Siener, saw him play and told in the minority of student because if someone plays well Conference Player of the Year, Staff Writer Due to COVID-19, the him he could play both sports at athletes that can pull it off and at practice and I’m not there, I Regional Offense Player of the Wake up, workout, shoot basketball season was pushed Webster. not be very overwhelmed.” really can’t show what I can do,” Year, among many other things. hoops, eat, shower, go to class, back and collided with the “[Moore] is extremely As of right now, Moore is Moore said. “It’s something I For basketball, he was a two- do homework, shoot hoops, soccer season, forcing some focused and organized. With his prioritizing basketball over just have to live with because of time All-District Nominee and soccer practice, basketball two-sport athletes at Webster background of playing multiple soccer. He is putting in a lot what I choose and something I First Team All-Conference his practice, eat again, ice muscles, to prioritize one sport over the sports in the past and juggling more work for basketball and knew would happen going into senior year. lights out and go to bed. other. work along with everything will miss the first two soccer it.” This is a regular day in the Moore always wanted to play he does, I knew it would be a games to play basketball. Moore was a versatile athlete See Overlap life of Mark Moore, a freshman basketball in college until the challenge to do both schedules,” “It might be difficult for me to in high school. For soccer, Page 4 From voice memos to EPs, student Keshon Duke has grown as an artist By Robby Floyd the middle school orchestra Learning piano was a Sports Editor before picking up drums later. transformative time for Duke. When he got to high school, Not only did he pick up a new In one of the band member’s Duke realized he wanted to instrument, but learning piano basement, next to the washing learn the piano. also made him better at other machine and cat litter, Keshon “I always wanted to add instruments. Duke met for the first time [piano] to my arsenal,” Duke “One of the maestros at my with three friends to jam said. “I started going to the church told me when you learn as a band. The group called practice rooms and basically organ and piano, it helps you themselves Hazel Avenue, started self teaching. I taught learn everything else,” Duke after the street that West Hall myself bass, drums and keys said. “I started to understand dormitory sits on. up until this semester.” every note. Like when I’m Duke was living there when Duke had never taken a playing bass, if I don’t know he met Grace Robertson and music lesson prior to this what the route note is, I just Ben Shafer. It was fellow audio semester. look at what the piano player production major Aden Biggs’ He would watch some is doing and I can find what basement where they all met YouTube videos to master note I’m supposed to be on.” to record as a band the first techniques or pick up small Robertson shares Duke’s time. details, but he mostly just love for music and agrees with Hazel Avenue was the listened to other music. the importance of piano. culmination of a lot of hard After listening to hundreds work for Duke, who had of hours of music, Duke got a JENNA JONES / The Journal taught himself how to play feel for each genre and what Visit our website for Musician Keshon Duke plays piano while vocalist Grace Robertson sings behind him. Duke and Robertson play in a instruments since sixth grade. elements he wanted to put in more. band together and also recorded a song together for Duke's new EP, "love letter." He learned to play bass in his music style. Page 2 News March 3 - March 16, 2021 No more days off: Will remote learning kill the snow day? Severe winter weather leaves students stranded at home Schools shift to alternative method By Kate McCracken Staff Writer of learning when snow hits This past week, St. Louis re- By Cas Waigand said he also sees the appeal of ceived a snowstorm the likes of Managing Editor snow days. He said snow days which many Webster students give children the opportunity Around the St.