On Tuesday, April 24, indie rock band SWMRS played a show at St. Louis concert venue The Ready Room.

The band of childhood friends from Oakland, CA, delighted fans with a show that sped along at breakneck speed. Almost the band’s entire catalogue was on the setlist, and the quintet rocked through the songs one by one, barely taking a breath in between. This seemed to be completely fine with the fans in attendance, who responded to each song with just as much enthusiasm as the next.

The Ready Room is a small, intimate space, requiring bands to really connect with the patrons in the audience. SWMRS, of course, is no stranger to St. Louis’s small clubs. In fact, the band mentioned that the Ready Room was a size upgrade from the last show they played in St. Louis, when the group played at rock club Fubar. The group were experts at engaging the crowd. The band has two lead singers, brothers Max and Cole Becker. Cole was obviously the energy of the band, often jumping down from stage into the crowd and encouraging them to sing along. His energy was contagious as he danced across the stage, almost in a trance, seemingly propelled involuntarily by his band’s music.

The group includes the Becker brothers, drummer Joey Armstrong and bassist Seb Mueller, along with Armstrong’s brother Jakob, who joins as a touring musician. All fives’ skilled musicianship was on full display during the set, and the songs were played fast and tight, without a single note out of place. The five were in musical harmony, creating a wall of sound that perfectly filled the space at the ready room. The band’s music, which is a unique mix of punk and indie rock with pop sensibilities, played even better during their live show than on their recorded albums. SWMRS’s music is clearly meant to be played live, and their catalogue creates the perfect balance between quick punk-rock musical interludes designed for moshing and dancing (check out “Lose, Lose, Lose,” “Berkley’s On Fire,” or “Hellboy” for some examples) and sweet sing-along moments that had couples in the crowd wrapping their arms around one another and singing at the top of their lungs. Mid-tempo fan favorite tune “Lose It,” with its heartbreak theme and delightfully romantic lyrics “Tell me why’d you have to have such a damn good taste in music? Yeah if all my favorite songs make me think of you I’m gonna lose it,” drew the loudest crowd participation of the night.

Having only casually listened to SWMRS’s music before this show, I knew I would enjoy the show, but I was not prepared for just how impressed I would be by not only the incredible live show they put on, but by the band themselves. The group very rarely stopped the show to talk, but when they did, they made sure to profusely thank the crowd for coming, to mention that they wanted everyone to feel welcome and to use their platform to express positive support for members of the LGBTQIA+, African-American and Immigrant communities. Cole Becker told the crowd that we were all working together to make sure we made the world better and that by coming to a SWMRS show, we had all joined a community and that everyone belonged. The show had a beautiful tone of positivity, love and support.

SWMRS played a rock show with no gimmicks. The music and the message were the prevalent focus of the night. It was evident that the band members were enjoying themselves, and their infectious music made it impossible not to get involved and dance along. The genius of SWMRS, which became evident throughout the night, was that their music appeals to a multitude of generations and fans of all music genres. The group has obvious punk influences, and it is easy to hear the echoes of bands like the Ramones or Green Day in their music. But it is also just as clear that SWMRS uses pop/dance mechanisms and song-writing and that the music is uplifting and engaging. Overall, SWMRS is a must see, and maybe next year, they will play an even bigger show, continuing their upward climb through the music clubs of St. Louis.

Thursday, April 11, the Student Activities Board’s annual free student concert VIBE took place. The headliners this year were rapper B.o.B and pop singer Andy Grammer.

B.o.B, or Bobby Ray Simmons, is known for more than his popular rap tunes. In recent years, the rapper has become known for his controversial views and statements, especially within his music.

In one of his songs, “Flatline,” which is an entire tune dedicated to conspiracy theories, B.o.B, both mentions his belief in the “flat-earth” conspiracy and appears to support David Irving and his theories. Irving is a known Holocaust denier with strong anti-Semitic beliefs.

In the same line, B.o.B seems to reference an anti-Semitic conspiracy that the government is controlled by members of the Jewish community, while also stating that, “Stalin was way worse than Hitler.”

This controversial song is not the only place that the rapper has shared his problematic views. On Twitter, B.o.B has been known to post messages about his belief in the flat-earth conspiracy and has even faced off with respected astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who he also disses in “Flatline.”

His support for these conspiracies – along with others about the moon landing and cloning – has affected B.o.B’s performances at other universities. Last April, the Campus Activities Board at Boston College, a private Jesuit university in Massachusetts, invited the rapper to perform at their spring concert, which proved to be an unpopular decision among many of the students.

The Anti-Defamation League in Boston told reporters that they were “disappointed” that the rapper had not apologized for his lyrics and statements promoting anti-Semitic beliefs – a feeling shared by many other BC students.

B.o.B also drew criticism from the students at Drake University in Iowa where he was scheduled to perform. A statement from the Drake University Hillel organization urged students to support the University’s Jewish students by not attending, writing, “A few hours of entertainment should not be more important than our identity as Jewish students.”

The University News reached out to the Student Activities Board to discuss the controversy. While SAB was unable to sit down for an interview, VP of events, Sequoyah Lopez, did express a willingness to meet with the UNews in the future and sent the statement that SAB follows for all their event-booking:

“SAB believes that all students should be able to enjoy free activities, paid for by their own activity fee, without bias, hate, or intolerance. SAB aims to provide a range of varied, inclusive programming. SAB accepts a performer’s right to creativity, however, an invitation for a performance on our campus does not indiscriminately express an overt endorsement or approval of the performer’s ideals on behalf of SAB or Saint Louis University. Tonight’s performers’ intellectual property is exclusively their own. Thank you.”

The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). During April, organizations hold programming and disperse information in order to raise awareness of the issue of sexual assault. Programming throughout the month seeks to educate communities about the importance of consent, and to educate people about preventing sexual violence in their own communities. Sexual assault is an increasingly prevalent issue in every community. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be victims of sexual assault at some point in their life.

At SLU, Campus Wellness has been holding events throughout the month to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and has more events and programs planned for the rest of April and into the beginning of May. SAAM is something that Campus Wellness has recognized for several years. The events this year have included “Speak About It,” an award-winning presentation about sexual assault, a trauma-healing yoga session and various workshops and exercises focused on support for survivors of sexual and gender violence, among other events.

Jodi Seals, assistant director for health education and promotion at SLU Campus Recreation, spoke to the UNews about the importance of planning appropriate and impactful events for SAAM.

“We wanted to make sure we had something for everyone,” said Seals. “We have presentations, creative workshops, movement opportunities, advocacy sessions and fun events to engage students wherever they are at in their experience with sexual assault prevention.”

There are several SLU departments and on-campus student groups that are involved with Campus Wellness to hold events for SAAM, such as UNA, Billikens After Dark, Beta Theta Pi,  and the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. Seals said that all on-campus groups should get involved in SAAM, because it is such an important issue that affects the SLU community.

“There isn’t a group that shouldn’t be involved honestly,” said Seals. “This is a community issue and we all have a role to play in preventing sexual violence. We try to make sure we have a variety of opportunities for students that may be at higher risk, but we really want as many students as possible to engage in preventative strategies.”

As well as being an incredibly important international issue, sexual assault is prevalent on college campuses as well. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 20-25 percent of female college students and 15 percent of male college students are victims of sexual assault at some point during their college experience. The NSVRC also reports that more than 90 percent of victims on college campuses do not report the assault.

Seals said that planning events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month are especially important because of information like this. She said that it was incredibly important to make sure that students and the college community are able to talk about sexual assault now, because the college years are higher risk times for students to experience sexual assault.

As mentioned, sexual assault affects all communities, and the Saint Louis University community is no different. A quick Google search can prove that. There have been several claims and reports of sexual assault and harassment at SLU made in recent months by students and staff alike.

In July of last year, a former student pled guilty to assault. In the same year, reports from female students and faculty members at the Saint Louis University Medical School were revealed, claiming that there was a culture of sexual harassment within the Medical School. SLU’s Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity investigated the reports last year. Some of the claims against doctors and officials included in the report detailed how men on the hiring committee would often comment on the physical appearances of female candidates, even going as far as to create a ballot so others could vote. The hiring committee defended this behavior as “a joke.” The investigation found that the doctors were not in violation of SLU’s harassment policy. In addition, last year several SLU athletes on numerous teams were suspended, and one expelled over allegations of misconduct.

Of course, these are just a few of the reports of sexual assault and harassment that have been made surrounding members of the SLU community, but it is clear that sexual assault and harassment are prevalent issues on the Saint Louis University campus.

This is why Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the programming surrounding it is so important. However, Seals hopes that the spotlight on preventing sexual assault continues throughout the year.

“I hope people understand that this is something we need to keep talking about and not just during the month of April,” said Seals. “I want people to leave these programs and start conversations with others about how they can be part of the solution. To feel empowered to do something even if it seems small. I hope people see that support and advocacy take many forms but the most important thing we can do is keep pushing forward for a safer community free from sexual violence.”

Last week the Muslim Students Association held a vigil in honor of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Muslim students in attendance were called to prayer at the beginning of the vigil, and non-Muslim guests were able to follow along with an Arabic/English translation, making the experience inclusive to all in attendance. Inclusion, cooperation and acceptance were significant themes of the event.

Muslim Students Association Co-President Nadia Sirajuddin said that including all members of the community was a main goal for MSA when planning the vigil.

“I wanted to impart on the community members that we are one community,” said Sirajuddin. “Whether we are Muslim or not, we should mourn this tragedy because we are all human beings.”

Muslim Students Association Co-President Maaz Tariq emphasized the community that the place of worship provides for Muslims, and how the Mosque is a place of peace that feels like home to many. He specifically emphasized his horror at hearing that someone could attack Muslims while they were engaging in peaceful prayer, and how the pain of this attack goes beyond just the Muslim community itself.

“This is not just an attack on Muslims, it is an attack on all humanity,” Tariq said.

Sirajuddin agreed, saying, “The deaths of these victims at the mosque, God’s home, where they are praying peacefully at their most vulnerable state, has left our entire community of humanity hurting.”

Before he concluded his speech, Tariq made sure to note that people of all faiths and backgrounds must work together to eliminate hate, saying, “Even if we have different beliefs, it is our love for one another that overcomes all.”

After Tariq, Jonathan Smith, Ph.D., vice president for diversity and community engagement at SLU, gave a brief and passionate address to the community members in attendance. Smith began by acknowledging that there were “no words in any language I know that could sufficiently offer any comfort or consolation.”

Smith spoke to the importance of working to create and foster a community that accepts and supports people of all races, faiths and backgrounds.  

“We can no longer seek to find a beloved, safe, sacred community,” Smith said. “We are charged with making that community.”

After Smith’s speech, the Muslim Students Association invited representatives from other faith-based organizations on campus to offer up prayers. Students from the Hindu Students Association, SLU Campus Ministry and the Jewish Students Association all came forward to share prayers from their own faith traditions.

Regarding the inclusion of other faiths along with the other events held at the vigil, Sirajuddin said, “I wanted to make this vigil something not just for the Muslim community alone to mourn the victims. I wanted to get everyone involved, which led me to try and reach out to all the different faith-based organizations.”

MSA also provided opportunities for community members to send their prayers, thoughts and support to the Mosques in New Zealand where the attacks took place. At the entrance of the vigil, attendees could fill out a paper heart with messages that would be sent to New Zealand.

Sirajuddin said that she hoped that students took away a sense of community from the vigil.

“From the vigil, I hope they [the students] took away how similar we are when it comes down to the themes of our beliefs. I hope that people realize that sometimes we are alienated more by the media than we ought to be and that Islam is a beautiful religion.”

A main theme of the vigil, and of MSA’s programming, was to include and educate all members of the SLU community about Islam and how they can better support and ally with the Muslim community. Sirajuddin said that there are many opportunities for students to become closer allies with the Muslim community.

“I want the SLU community to really know that you don’t have to be scared to ask questions. Please ask and learn about Islam, about anything that you are curious or confused about whatsoever. I think people are often times scared to ask, thinking it’s offensive, but wanting to learn can never be offensive,” said Sirajuddin. “I recommend that you attend our MSA events such as Islam Awareness Week, Fast-a-Thon, Hijab Awareness Day, where we really try to educate the campus on Islam. However even aside from these events, you can always reach out to MSA.”

Over the last few weeks, a scandal like none before has rocked the world of higher education. Over 50 people, including some famous celebrities, were charged by the FBI with fraud after they participated in a scheme to bribe university officials into accepting their children, who did not meet the qualifications for admission.

The scheme was run by a college counselor in California named Rick Singer, and apparently this fraudulent operation had been going on since at least 2011. Singer would use this money to bribe officials of college entrance exams in order to allow cheating on the exams. Sometimes another person would take the exam for that student, or the student would be allowed to take the exam in a separate room with extra time or with an official who would then falsify the test to assure a higher score.

Another method used by Singer was to bribe coaches and administrators at the universities in order to have a student “recruited” as a student athlete. The catch was that most of these students had never even participated in the sport they were supposedly a top tier collegiate recruit for. One of the most high-profile people caught in this scandal was actress Lori Loughlin of “Full House” fame. Loughlin paid Singer $500,000 for him to secure her daughters’ admissions to the University of Southern California. The girls were recruited as members of the crew team, but neither had ever participated in crew.

The money paid by the parents was often disguised as a “charitable donation,” which also gave the families another benefit of being able to write off the bribe as a tax deduction.

Universities that were named in the charges included Yale, Stanford, Georgetown University, the University of Texas, the University of Southern California and UCLA. Administrators and coaches from these universities were named as participants in the scheme, including Yale’s former women’s soccer coach and Georgetown’s former head tennis coach. On Wednesday, the former head basketball coach from the University of San Diego was named in the cheating scandal as well.

It is no secret that many spots in a university could be seen as up for sale. Many universities have policies where students are benefited if they are a “legacy” student and a parent or sibling has attended the university. There are also often provisions made for students of faculty and staff members at universities, often allowing these students to be admitted to school and attend for a lower cost. Usually, these policies are seen as standard and allowed to continue without controversy.

However, according to the FBI, this scandal is a completely different matter. Predictably, the idea that an under-qualified student could “take” a spot from a qualified student solely because their parents paid for them to cheat their way in does not sit well with many current and prospective university students.

Most of the schools that were named in the case claim to be prestigious centers of learning, with high standards for admission. The idea that a student could be admitted without meeting those standards raises questions about all universities that claim to have high admission standards.

The UNews has reached out to SLU’s admissions office for comment and is planning on updating this story in our online edition with their answers and commentary, which we hope will help answer SLU students’ questions about their own admissions process.

On Thursday, the world woke to news that the Jonas Brothers were reuniting and releasing new music. For fans like myself, it had been a long and arduous wait.

Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas, brothers from New Jersey, had dominated the pop world a decade ago. Formed in the early 2000s, the band was a powerhouse, not only touring the world with their extremely popular music but also starring in their own Disney Channel show and in the Camp Rock movie franchise, at the same time helping to launch the careers of other pop stars like Demi Lovato. They were unique—a boyband that played their own instruments and wrote their own refreshingly original and unique pop/rock music. During that time, the Jonas Brothers put out several albums and traveled the world, gaining a following of fiercely dedicated fans.  I was one of those fans. I had seen the Jonas Brothers 9 times before they devastatingly broke up in 2013. So, when the news broke that the brothers were reuniting this year, I was ecstatic, and anxious to see what song would be our introduction to the new and improved Jonas Brothers.

Thankfully, after six long years, the band did not make fans wait any longer, and released their first single, “Sucker,” and its deliriously fun music video at midnight on Thursday. “Sucker,” a fast and fun song, fits seamlessly into both the Jonas Brothers’ previous music catalogue and today’s pop music sound. The song is driven by an infectious bass line and quick drum beat, making it almost impossible not to dance, or at least bop one’s head along to the tune. The song has a bright sound, with sparse guitar riffs adding to the sugary pop-rock sound.

“Sucker” has incredible vocal production, highlighting both Nick and Joe Jonas’ voices, blending the two together effortlessly to create a delightful harmony that invites the listener to sing along with them to the quick and clever song lyrics. “You’re the medicine and the pain, the tattoo inside my brain… I’m a sucker for you,” the brothers sing, with a perfect rhyme and rhythm which makes this song a must for any road trip sing-along.

The song was accompanied by its unique music video, shot in England and including not just the Jonas Brothers themselves, but their significant others. Sophie Turner, Priyanka Chopra and Danielle Jonas star in the music video, alongside their respective partners, and effectively steal the show, providing beauty, style and comic relief. The video features the couples frolicking around a lavish England estate, complete with dancing, an expensive looking dinner party, bubble baths on the lawn, and an Alice-In-Wonderland inspired tea party. The video speeds along at breakneck speed, drawing the viewer in for a fast joyride until the very end. Elaborate and stylish music videos is a hallmark of the Jonas Brothers’ brand, and “Sucker” came out ahead, continuing and improving on the videos from the bands’ past.

When hearing that the Jonas Brothers’ are reuniting, a casual listener might expect to be hit with a nostalgic copy of the music that brought the brothers their original fame. But if “Sucker” is anything to go buy, this new Jonas Brothers music is anything but old or nostalgic. It is not only extremely relevant, but it reminds us of what made the Jonas Brothers icons in the first place. Their music is fresh, fun and extremely well-written. It is never stale and is never copycat work. “Sucker” carves out its own unique place in the top-streaming songs of the day and stands out as miles ahead of most of it, in my opinion.

“Sucker” and its accompanying music video are a breath of fresh air in to today’s pop world, bringing music fans something that is completely new and exciting. According to reports and interviews with the band, this tune is just a glimpse of what the Jonas Brothers have in store for fans and is a perfect introduction to the new era of the band. So, if you weren’t a sucker for the JoBros back in the day, do yourself a favor and hop on the bandwagon. You won’t regret it.

On Monday, the new members of the 2019-2020 SGA Senate were elected. Voting started Monday morning online and in-person at certain poll locations. The executive board positions and several college senator positions were up for election. Last week, the Executive Board candidates held a debate where they laid out their platforms and goals for the upcoming year.

The incoming executive board is headed by President-elect Maleah Fallahi, VP of Academic Affairs Jordan Glassman, Vice President of Communications and Internal Affairs-elect Robbie Lasky, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion-elect Shreya Dash, Vice President of Finance-elect Alhan Sayyed, Vice President of International Affairs-elect Zainab Alramadhan and Vice President for Student Organizations-elect Ella Dotson.

Senator seats for the College of Arts and Sciences, the College for Public Health and Social Justice, Doisy College of Health Sciences, Parks College, Chaifetz School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Nursing and the School of Professional Studies, as well as the senate seat representing Commuter students, were also filled.

This election season was a dramatic one, with lots of campaigning and publicity surrounding the election. Many students felt the campaigning was far more aggressive this year than in years prior.

Senior Brenna Salen said, “This campaign season became contentious and that comes from the candidates, not their constituents.”

Many students expressed mixed reactions about the future of SGA.

Other students were far more optimistic and hopeful, saying that they would like to see the positive work of this year’s SGA, under President Katlyn Martin, continue.

“The current SGA administration has done a lot more than I’ve seen in the past, especially with Katlyn Martin helping to form the Jesuit Student Government Alliance,” said senior Claire Cunningham. “Hopefully this election will bring in an era of student leaders that are less interested in their own resumes and are more interested in achieving tangible goals.”

Senior Tommi Poe felt that the new crop of candidates was refreshing.. “Personally, while voting, it was really cool to see lots of younger people running for positions and I am excited to see how that turns out,”she said.

On Feb. 21, the 2019 SGA Vice-Presidential and Presidential Debate was held in Kelley Auditorium. The candidates took the opportunity to outline their plans for the upcoming year and make their case for why they would be the best person for the job. While many positions had only one candidate running unopposed, several had two candidates campaigning for the vote.

First up were the candidates for the Vice President of Student Organizations. The two candidates debating were Ella Dotson and Jacob Neal. Both spoke about the importance of improving the connection between SGA and CSOs on campus. Dotson mentioned that she has noticed that SGA makes a lot of decisions about CSOs without those CSO members and leaders involved. She said that this is one of the main things that she would like to focus on changing if elected. Neal also spoke about the importance of improving the transparency and easing the financial burden placed on CSOs.

Vice President of International Affairs was the next debated position. The two candidates running were Zainab Alramadhan and Hee Jae Choi. When speaking about her main goals, Choi said that she would focus on the academics and financial concerns of international students. She would make sure that students coming to SLU with English as their second language are supported in the classroom and able to adjust to a new learning environment. She also stated that she would make sure that international students have equal opportunities to find jobs on campus.

Alramadhan said that his main goals would be to help create regular meetings between leaders of international and cultural CSOs, where they could meet and discuss how they can support international students. He also discussed having more international options at the dining hall, and making sure that international students have enough time to take advantage of those options.

The next contested position was the role of Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. The two candidates debating were Shreya Dash and Marissa Ornelas.

Dash spoke about the importance of making sure that identity and diversity groups on campus are able to access the resources they need from the Diversity and Leadership Cabinet. She stated that one of her main goals for the year would be to “emphasize pride and identity through education.” Dash’s main emphasis would beto help the university become more educated on different cultures and to help bring resources that would foster that education to the SLU Community.

Ornelas stated that she wanted to be an “adequate representative for all marginalized groups,” and that she hoped to restructure the diversity and inclusion at SLU. She said that she feels that the campus is lacking in diversity programming and visibility for students that need it.

Both candidates were asked about their plans to assist undocumented SLU students. In response, Dash said that she feest it is important to reach out to the students affected and make sure that she herself is listening and learning about what SGA can do for undocumented students on campus.

Ornelas said that working with undocumented students is something she would focus on, and that she wants to create a scholarship base for students where they would not need to state that they are American citizens, along with creating more resources and safe spaces for undocumented students on campus. She hopes to make legal services and citizenship classes more accessible as well.

The final debate of the evening was the Presidential debate. The two candidates running were Maleah Fallahi and Shanaya Shah.

Fallahi said that her main goals are to “prioritize students, increase emphasis on the Oath of Inclusion, and increasing communication [between students, faculty, and staff].” She said that she realizes how necessary it is to improve the “behind the scenes” systems of SGA that many students aren’t even aware of.

Shah summed up her main objectives with three words: “Acting, Empowering, Engaging.” She said that she wants to empower students by taking advantage of SGA’s “shared governance” with the SLU administration and by bringing resources to the students. She also placed a heavy emphasis on accessibility, saying that students should have around the clock access to places like the BSC, because it is a student space, and that accessibility to all of campus should be made easier.

Both candidates spoke about how they would ensure representation for non-traditional students as well. Fallahi said that she wants to make sure groups, such as commuter students, are able to have spaces and to make those places as personal and accessible to them as possible. She also spoke at length about working with the Veteran’s Student Association, and how important it is to make sure that groups of non-traditional students are able to work with SGA and have accommodations and constant communication.

Shah said that she wants to make sure that she listens to non-traditional students and helps campus become more accessible to students that are not able to work on the traditional SLU student schedule. She also mentioned that she wants to make sure that Student Support Services are advertised to every student who needs it.

At the end of December, the longest government shutdown in American history began due to disagreements between Congress and the White House over border security. The shutdown lasted over a month and during that time federal workers were unable to receive their salaries. Federal workers were either unable to work at all or were forced to work without pay, as in the case of many TSA agents. This affected families all over the country, including those here in St. Louis.

Without salaries coming in, many students at SLU were affected financially. Some students found themselves unable to pay their tuition or pay off loans. When the financial services office heard from a few students about the situation, they knew they had to help by implementing its “disaster emergency plan.”

Financial services offered a few types of assistance to affected students. They extended deadlines and worked with students to find a payment schedule that would work for them. The office offered loans to students for essential living items and made it possible for students to charge their textbook/school supplies fees at the bookstore. Campus Ministry and Billiken Bounty also stepped in to help as well, offering counseling, other monetary assistance and offering clothing and food to students in need. The office also worked with students to make sure they were not affected by a delay in IRS documents that are required to process student loans.

This is not the only time that financial services have assisted students in their financial needs. The office has a reputation for helping students facing family financial issues and veteran students that rely on government funds to help pay their tuition.

Cari Wickliffe, assistant VP and director of financial services, said that they did not expect the problems to be fixed immediately by the government’s opening, and that financial services would continue to help students whose families were facing financial hardship after the shutdown.

Financial services may find themselves continuing this policy further into the semester, as another government shutdown could be on the horizon. If President Trump does not sign a compromise bill by Friday, the government could be shut down again. The new bill, which is supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, offers President Trump money for some “border fencing and immigration detention” but it does not quite offer as much money as he originally wanted. The disagreement over border security measures and money for a wall at the southern border is what kept President Trump from signing the original bill back in December and caused the government to shut down.

If the bill isn’t signed by Friday the same families who were affected by the shutdown last month could be financially impacted again, for the second time this year. In the midst of uncertainty it is hard for students to focus on their schoolwork and responsibilities. Wickliffe said that SLU financial services recognizes this and that it is “part of their mission” to help students be able to focus on their education, and that they would be there to help students with their financial burdens.

With final exams coming up, this is the most stressful time of year for most college students. The last few weeks before winter break are often jam-packed with last minute assignments, papers, reviews and exams. All of this cramming and studying causes one major issue for most students– stress.

“I’m stressed at a 10 out of 10,” said SLU senior Brenna Salen, “Finals is the last chance to make up [grades]. It’s also very stressful for seniors as it’s down to the wire on deciding what to do after next semester.”

SLU sophomore Gracie Simon said that this year’s finals week is especially hard for her.

“I have two massive finals and I’m preparing to go abroad,” said Simon, “It’s been hard to balance the two out.”

Stress can be extremely harmful for the mind and the body; unfortunately, most college students experience high levels of stress throughout the year, but they are at their highest during final exam season. Students often stay up all night studying for exams, but stress itself can cause lack of sleep, stomach and headaches and can cause students to become less focused and more forgetful, a terrible side effect during exams. The close proximity of most college students to one another can also exacerbate the problem.

“I think that it’s very overwhelming. A lot of professors also forget that students are in nine to 15 other hours of class,” said SLU senior Marissa Schiro, “I especially get stressed out when things aren’t posted on Blackboard or when I don’t know where I am in a certain class. I want to know which finals I should prioritize over others. I know that we only have a week for finals, but it would be great if professors would spread out their deadlines.”

Tony Buchanan, Ph.D., associate professor of an experimental program on cognition and neuroscience and director of SLU’s neuroscience program, researches stress.

In an article for the SLU website, he said that he discovered that even being around other people who are highly stressed can cause someone to become more stressed out and anxious, even if they were not experiencing stress before.

According to a study done by the American College Health Association in 2016, close to 35 percent of students indicated that stress had a negative affect on their academic performance. Stress can also affect students’ long-term physical and mental health, causing anxiety and depression, high blood pressure or even weight gain and diabetes.

Here at SLU, there are many students experiencing this finals week stress–but also many others who are doing their best to try to alleviate some of it. Just this past week, the Graduate Student Association and Campus Rec and Wellness held Winter Wellness Week. Tuesday and Wednesday, the groups put on several events, such as free yoga, massages and pottery painting, to give students a chance to take a break from studying, relax and enjoy themselves.

“I rely on self-care things like making a healthy meal or going for a run,” said Schiro.

Many students attest that taking study breaks are a great way to destress while preparing for finals, as long you stay on top of your study plans. Simon says that she tries to stay on top of her time management in order to keep stress levels down.

“I like to make a to-do list of things I need to get done,” said Simon. “I just take it one day at a time.”

Buchanan said that there are some effective ways to reduce stress, including getting out of the “stress bubble.” Being around your friends that are stressed can cause you to be stressed. He also suggested that changing your mindset about finals and exams can do wonders and that you will get through them.