Womens soccer, mens soccer and volleyball teams prepare for their respective NCAA Division III tournaments.

Pages 4 and 5.

THE JOURNAL
Volume 66 Issue 11

The Student News Source For Webster University

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WINS RE-ELECTION

By Collin Reischman

FORWARD
P
Staff Writer

Nov. 7-Nov. 13, 2012

websterjournal.com

resident Barack Obama won a second presidential term during the late-night hours of Tuesday, Nov. 6 by a 303-206 vote as of 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the Electoral College after one of the closest presidential races in history. The historic campaign was the most expensive in U.S. history. The presidential candidates combined fundraising exceeded the $1 billion mark. The Associated Press declared Obama the winner at approximately 11:38 p.m. eastern time. Other statewide races trended toward Democrats as well, with the party retaining control of the Senate. The states of Colorado and Washington voted to decriminalize marijuana for the first time in their history. Maine and Maryland, two democratic strongholds, also passed laws legalizing gay marriage. Webster University students were welcomed into the University Center (UC) for an election night watch party hosted by Bob Holden, former Missouri governor and Webster adjunct professor. The event, attended by more than 300 students, lasted until midnight. Holden hosted the event as the final part of his election series. It brought students together on a weekly basis every Tuesday to watch elections and hear expert speakers discuss the campaign. I got into politics in college and its important that Webster students get the chance to do the same, Holden said. We wanted to focus on the students, bring them in in a nonpartisan way and let them watch the democratic process unfold. Students were given red, white and blue hats, food and beverages, as well as games to play. The event, which Holden coordinated with the UC staff, also featured cardboard cutouts of all the candidates for students to take photos next to. The standing-room-only crowd erupted with cheers when the swing state of New Hampshire was awarded to Obama. Paul Wilson, a Republican Party strategist and former advisor to Paul Ryans congressional campaigns, predicted the race would be tight. Its going to be a photo finish the popular vote will be close, Wilson said. I dont like what I see in Ohio, but Virginia is definitely making the Republican Party happy right now. Wilson said Obama had an advantage, but Mitt Romney was still in the race. Less than 20 minutes later, CNN predicted Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill would win her re-election bid against Republican Todd Akin. I think Akins loss will be significant, Holden said. Because I believe McCaskill and (Governor) Jay Nixon, both Democrats, will win here. But I believe the president will not win the state, and its interesting to see that kind of break in party lines. Nixon would win re-election against Republican challenger David Spence for the governors mansion in Jefferson City. In Missouri, Proposition A, which took control of the St. Louis City Police Department out of Jefferson City, passed easily along with Proposition E, which prohibits health care exchanges without a popular vote. Proposition B, which sought to increase taxes on tobacco products, was narrowly defeated. Amendment 3, which would have altered the selection process of Missouri judges, was also defeated. Holden predicted a very late evening, but not everyone agreed. Adam Schneider, senior speech communications and political science double major, said he thought the presidential race would be decided well before midnight. I doubt itll go later than 10:30, Schneider said. The way things are looking right now, its panning out to be an early night for the president. Schneider predicted an Akin win, only to shrug happily minutes later when McCaskill was announced to a round of applause. Schneider said he still felt comfortable about his other predictions. Its not as close as people think, Schneider said. The popular vote maybe, but not the electoral. Election night is like the Super Bowl to me, and I never miss a chance to see (Governor) Holden. Its going to be fun to watch. The critical swing states broke overwhelmingly for the president. Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada and New Hampshire all voted for Obama. Margins were close in several states. Final tallies were still being calculated at the time of publication, but initial results showed Obama winning both Ohio and Virginia by less than a million votes. Florida remains too close to call at the time of publication. The announcement of Obamas victory was greeted with enthusiasm in the UC, as cheers rang throughout the halls and students embraced. Romney began his concession speech at approximately 12:50 a.m. eastern time from his headquarters in Boston. Ive just called President Obama and congratulated him on his victory, Romney said. I pray that the president will be successful. Obama took the stage in Chicago at 1:35 a.m. eastern time to deliver his victory address. Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony earned the right to determine its own destiny, the task to perfect our union moves forward, Obama said to the massive crowd. It moves forward because of you, because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression. We are more than the sum of our individual ambitions. Thats what makes America great.
ILLUSTRATION BY VICTORIA COURTNEY

HOW THE SWING STATES SWUNG

Key:
= Barack Obama = Had not been called before publication

18 electoral votes

Ohio

13 electoral votes

Virginia

9 electoral votes

Colorado

6 electoral votes

Iowa

29 electoral votes

Florida

YOUR VOTE
READ THE JOURNALS POLITICAL COVERAGE ON PAGES 8 AND 9

THE JOURNAL
Volume 66 Issue 10 Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2012 websterjournal.com

2012

The Student News Source For Webster University

Webster provides free Metro passes to faculty, staff, students

By Haley Luke
City News Editor

Former D-I athlete powers womens soccer team

Copy Chief & Layout Editor

By Josh Sellmeyer

Steward Stiles III lives in north St. Louis County and travels to south St. Louis County to attend Webster University. He doesnt own a car, so he takes public transportation each day. Stiles rides two buses and two trains to and from school. He said the time of day he boards determines how long his travel takes. During morning rush hour or later rush hour, it (the buses and trains) connects better, said Stiles, junior music education major. In the morning, I would say it takes about 40 minutes to an hour. During midday or late at night, which I take a lot of times because Im doing things here at school, Im getting home late at night. I take the bus that comes here around 10:30 p.m. and I wouldnt get home until about 1 a.m. In a new contract Webster set up with Metro Transit, the frequency of buses to the university will be increased. The contract will now include more stops in the mornings and evenings at the bus stop in front of Webster Hall. The changes are said to start in mid-November. Two additional MetroBus trips in the morning will leave the MetroLink station at 7:26 a.m. and 8:14 a.m., ensuring that faculty, staff and students will be on campus by 8:30 a.m., said a press release from Webster University. In the evening, two additional MetroBus trips leave Webster Hall at 9:44 p.m. and 10:16 p.m. In addition, all currently-enrolled students, faculty and staff will be provided free Metro passes. Greg Gunderson, Webster vice president and chief financial officer, said the passes are available to be picked up at the Bursars Office in Webster Hall with a student or employee ID. Previously, students could purchase Metro passes at a discounted See Metro Passes
Page 3

Webster University junior center midfielder Ally Nikolaus shoots during a Monday, Oct. 29 practice at St. Louis Soccer Park. Nikolaus played one season of Division-I soccer at the University of Mississippi before transferring to Webster last year. This season, Nikolaus has scored 10 goals and assisted on 10 others to compile a team-best 30 points.

BRITTANY RUESS / The Journal

As a Division-I soccer player at the University of Mississippi, Ally Nikolaus was living out her lifelong dream. She and her teammates traveled to Southeastern Conference campuses like Alabama, Florida and South Carolina to play against some of the best soccer squads in the nation. Nikolaus started three games and played in 18 total contests her freshman year, despite not being one of Ole Miss scholarship players. Her role on the Rebels figured to only expand as she spent more time in the program. She loved the campus as well as the city it was located in. Life was good. Except that it wasnt. As much as Nikolaus didnt want to admit it, she disliked playing at Ole Miss. I tried my hardest to make it work there, but I think I knew deep down it just wasnt for me, Nikolaus said. I stayed an entire year. I took summer school down there. I just wanted to want to be there, but I didnt. My family and I went on vacation, and I came home for a little bit in the beginning of August (2011). I just didnt want to leave. So I didnt go Ally Nikolaus back there. And she hasnt looked back since. Shortly after electing not to return to Ole Miss, Nikolaus, who was born and raised in St. Louis, decided on a whim to attend Webster University. Shes not entirely sure why she settled on Webster, but shes glad she did as is her coach at Webster, Luigi Scire. What I like about her is that if no one asked, no one would really know that she played Division I her freshman year, Scire said. Its never been, I was a Division-I player and look at me. Shes humble, first and foremost. And with that, when it comes to the work rate and the way she approaches the game itself, she will never allow anyone to outwork her on the practice field or in a game. In just her second year in the Webster womens soccer program, Nikolaus, a junior center midfielder, has already made her mark. Last year, Nikolaus started all 19 of the Gorloks games and led the team to a 12-6-1 overall record (7-1 conference). She recorded seven goals and two assists for 16 points, which ranked her third on the team. For her efforts, Nikolaus was an All-Conference firstteam selection in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She was then named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Central Region third team. This year, Nikolaus has taken her game to new heights. She has captained Webster to a 14-5 overall record and a 7-1 See Nikolaus
Page 14

Administration reacts to top-5 issues from Delegates Agenda

Administrations tone at Delegates Agenda Response frustrates student
Assistant Multimedia Editor

By Gabe Burns

Michael Grosch, Student Government Association (SGA) president, asks Websters administration follow-up questions at the Delegates Agenda Response on Thursday, Oct. 25 in Sunnen Lounge. His questions included the topics of budget jobs, graduate test reimbursement and alumni-student mentorship.

MEGAN FAVIGNANO / The Journal

Paul Carney, Webster University vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, recently advised students to get out from in front of the TV and apply for budget jobs if they want one. Carneys comment has drawn ire from sophomore Stu Macki, who presented on budget jobs at Delegates Agenda on Oct. 2. Macki said he was fine with the administrations response. However, he felt administration didnt present its thoughts respectfully. I just dont like the way they presented it like, I dont mean to be a dad here, but you need to get off your butt and do it (get a budget job), Macki said, paraphrasing Carney. Who says that to students that are frustrated about getting jobs? Hes not the one trying to get the jobs on campus. Macki said he was upset by Carneys advice because it overlooked how effectively students can live off budget jobs. Macki was unable to attend the administrations response on Thursday, Oct. 25, but he heard about Carneys presentation from his fellow Student Government Association (SGA) members. Both Carneys and Mackis presentations focused heavily on budget jobs for international students. International students cannot receive work-study jobs from the federal government

I just dont like the way they presented it like, I dont mean to be a dad here, but you need to get off your butt and do it (get a budget job). Who says that to students that are frustrated about getting jobs? Stu Macki

Delegates Agenda student presenter and cannot work off campus because of their visas. They rely on budget jobs on campus to make money. International students hold 16.5 percent of the budget jobs on campus while representing five percent of the student population. About 50 international students fill 76 positions, meaning several international students hold more than one budget job at a time. But Macki said the number of jobs isnt reflective of the quality of the budget jobs program. Certain jobs provide just two to three hours of work a week. See Response
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THE JOURNAL
Volume 66 Issue 27

The Student News Source For Webster University

Salary proposal discussed at Faculty Assembly

By Megan Favignano Webster University administration discussed faculty input on the salary proposal and transparency in Websters budget process to Faculty Assembly. All seats were taken and some faculty members stood in the crowded library conference room for the Tuesday, April 16 meeting. President Elizabeth Stroble, Provost and Senior Vice President Julian Schuster and Chief Financial Officer Greg Gunderson attended. Faculty Senate called the April 16 meeting after faculty expressed concerns at its regularly scheduled Faculty Assembly meeting the previous Tuesday. Gwen Williams, next years Faculty Senate president, said there was a great deal of anger from faculty at the April 9 Faculty Assembly meeting. The anger, Williams said, was in part because the administration hadnt recently met with the Salary and Fringe Benefit Committee, which works with the administration to put together a proposal for faculty pay, to work out a salary package. We didnt have a (salary) proposal (from the administration) that the faculty had been part of, Williams said. The proposal itself was a fairly low raise (1 percent). And I think there are a number of other areas in which the faculty feel there has not been complete transparency, faculty input into budgeting and a number of things. A faculty member at the April 16 Faculty Senate meeting said the facultys understanding was that the facultys Salary and Fringe Benefit Committee didnt have a lot of access to Schuster. The faculty member asked Schuster to clarify if faculty pay was a negotiation or not. Schuster said discussions regarding the budget included academic deans, faculty, Webster Staff Alliance representatives as well as administration. If anybody thinks that this is a charade and that there are a small group of people who decide behind closed doors where money is going to go, I assure you that this is not the case, Schuster said. Schuster said it is a negotiation, and the administration wants to give faculty the best deal when it comes to employee pay. Williams said to her knowledge, the Salary and Fringe Benefit Committee had emailed and called Schuster several times to request a meeting. She said some meetings had been scheduled but were canceled. Jeff Carter, chair of the Salary and Fringe Benefit Committee, was out of town on April 16 and was not available for comment on the committees communication with the provosts office. (Regarding) access to me, as I said, I was spoiled by (previous committee member) Joe (Stimpfl). Somehow Joe always found a way to find me, Schuster said. I said my door is always open, and it truly is. See Faculty Pay
Page 2
Managing Editor

Webster alumnus Tony Reed, family safe after marathon tragedy

Copy Chief & Layout Editor

BOSTON BOMBINGS
By Josh Sellmeyer Webster University alumnus Tony Reed stood near the finish line of the April 15 Boston Marathon about 15 minutes before the first of two bombs exploded during the race. Reed and his wife, Deborah, were in attendance to watch his stepdaughter, Jaulik Watkins, compete in her firstever Boston Marathon. Brandon Watkins, Jaulik Watkins husband, was also at the marathon. Jaulik Watkins attended Webster in the fall of 2000 before transferring to Baker University (Kan.), where she completed a degree in business. When the Reeds and Brandon Watkins arrived at the finish line from their previous spot at the 16.5-mile marker,

April 17-April 23, 2013

websterjournal.com

Had we not gone inside to get something to eat, we would have been in the area of the explosions. We would have been the people that were mingling around waiting for (my stepdaughter) to cross the finish line.

Tony Reed

Webster alumnus and Boston Marathon spectator

Above: Brandon Watkins (left) hugs his wife, Jaulik Watkins, who attended Webster University in the fall of 2000, after the two met near the 25.5-mile marker of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15. A Boston Marathon volunteer told Jaulik Watkins to stop running at that point because two bombs had detonated near the races finish line. Right: Jaulik Watkins (right) hugs her mother, Deborah Reed, near the 25.5-mile marker of the Boston Marathon. Watkins said she heard the twin bomb blasts during the 19th mile of the race but wasnt stopped until the 25.5-mile marker.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY REED

they realized they still had about 40 minutes until Jaulik Watkins would cross the finish line. They decided to go to a nearby malls food court to grab a quick bite to eat. Had we not gone inside to get something to eat, we would have been in the area of the explosions, Tony Reed said. We would have been the people mingling around waiting for (Jaulik Watkins) to cross the finish line. Once we got inside the mall, the explosions occurred. And the food court was near the second explosion. There was a stampede inside the mall of people running to get out. From where we were, we couldnt tell if people were running because there was a gunman in the mall or what was going on. So, we just took off running. And when we got outside the mall is when from just talking with other people we found out about the explosions. When they ran out of the mall, Tony and Deborah Reed got separated from Brandon Watkins. After the Reeds tracked him down, they called and texted Jaulik Watkins. They couldnt get a hold of her, so they walked the marathon course and found her between mile 25 and 26. Police and Boston Marathon volunteers had stopped all the runners near that spot, Tony Reed said. Jaulik Watkins was doing fantastic, Tony Reed said. Jaulik Watkins said while she was running, she noticed lots of police officers on the sides of the course talking to spectators. But she didnt know what had transpired until a Boston Marathon volunteer told her two bombs had been detonated near the finish line. We heard the sound like a big boom right around mile 19, Jaulik Watkins said. And then by mile 21, there were a bunch of helicopters in the sky. We saw ambulances going towards the finish line around mile 21. None of us reacted. The crowd was still going; the runners were still running. I didnt notice anything until I was stopped. And that was at mile 25.5, when a volunteer pulled myself and another woman to the side and said, Go ahead and stop because theyre not going to let you cross the finish line. After he found Jaulik Watkins, Tony See Marathon Page 2

Webster-Florida counseling professor dies in alleged murder-suicide

By Sheren Khalel
Staff Writer

Michelle Muenzenmeyer, Webster University adjunct professor, and her boyfriend, Brian Trump, were found dead in Trumps apartment the night of Wednesday, April 10. Muenzenmeyer was an adjunct professor of counseling at Websters Melbourne and Tampa, Fla., satellite campuses. Muenzenmeyer was killed during an alleged physical altercation with Trump, who proceeded to shoot and kill himself in the same apartment, according to a Brevard County, Fla., police press release. Brevard County Sheriff s Office said in the

release that officers responded to a dispute at Trumps home in February. No arrests were made then. Muenzenmeyer had also called the police last October, according to records obtained by WFTV, a Florida news station. WFTV also reported Muenzenmeyer and Trump broke up in October and that he threw things at her, according to a police report. Webster issued a statement on Thursday, April 11. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the friends and family of Brian Trump and Dr. Michelle Muenzenmeyer, the statement said. Websters statement said Muenzenmeyer

started teaching at the university in 2010. Her classes at the Melbourne, Fla., satellite campus were canceled through Monday, April 15. Earlier this year, Muenzenmeyer presented two workshops on military family counseling at the European branch of the American Counseling Association in Germany. According to Muenzenmeyers LinkedIn profile, she received her doctorate in counselor education from the University of Central Florida in 2010. For the past 10 years, Muenzenmeyer has worked for various courts, mental health facilities and universities.
Contact the writer: websterjournal@gmail.com

Michelle Muenzenmeyer

Brian Trump