The University News

Museum is mix of hits and misses

Bonnie Rosenberg • March 26, 2009

Within walking distance of Saint Louis University's campus is a hotbed of artistic activity: the Grand Center arts district. Beyond the art on display on SLU's campus at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, the Saint Louis University Museum of Art or even the posters that line the walls of the typical collegiate dorm room, there is significant and accessible art to see.

Green River Ordinance sets out to sweep the nation with their bluesy, classic sound

[email protected] • March 26, 2009

Green River Ordinance hasn't exactly been true to its namesake. This Texas band is made of five friends from high school who just enjoy playing music together. The band consists of Josh Jenkins (vocals/guitar/piano), Geoff Ice (bass), Jamey Ice (guitar), Joshua Wilkerson (guitar) and Denton Hunker (drums).

Local musician shakes up the St. Louis music scene, copes with personal demons

Elliot T. Finn • March 26, 2009

In a quiet corner of St. Louis, Raphael Maurice is working. Surrounded by hundreds of books, a smoldering ashtray and cold cups of coffee, he writes and writes from early dawn, composing poems and songs inspired by his intense 31 years of life. Maurice belongs to local rock group Miles of Wire.

Local roller derby league packs in fans and delivers a knock out

ADAM TAMBURIN • March 19, 2009

Local fans are getting a new reason to get riled up. After starting in 2005, the Arch Rival Roller Girls, St. Louis' all-female roller derby league, has been thrilling fans of all ages. "We have fans that were into roller derby in the '70s. It's interesting for them to see how much things have changed," said Mindy Jahn, known by the moniker Trixie Gnosis in the league.

Happy 50th birthday to my fabulous old friend

Brigid Kinsella • March 19, 2009

Barbie was "born" on March, 9 1959, in the fictional town of Willows, Wisc. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Ken Carson, her boyfriend of 43 years, never put a ring on it. Barbie and Ken broke up in 2004, but rumor has it the two are back together again.

Café Ventana reaches out to SLU community

Landon Burris • March 19, 2009

Café Ventana is a quaint little bistro located on 3919 West Pine Blvd., practically across the street from the Saint Louis University campus. The café promotes itself as "a Bohemian bistro with a French-Quarter feel," and, though many personally may not know what either entails, it certainly seems to live up to its word.

New SLUMA exhibition is a mixed bag; some inspire, others overwhelm

Bonnie Rosenberg • March 19, 2009

When entering an art museum or gallery space, patrons have certain expectations. Perhaps they expect to find paintings on the wall, historical trinkets, objects that inspire thought, or, rarer still, objects that evoke emotion. Few people, however, anticipate a closer connection to the divine.

Considering David Lean’s red headed stepchild

Will Holston • March 19, 2009

David Lean started his career directing small snapshots of contemporary British life before, during and after World War II and quiet and quaint adaptations of Charles Dickens novels like Great Expectations and Noel Coward plays. However, say his name and what usually comes to mind are the lush settings, soaring musical scores and war torn melodramas that made up the second, more prolific section of his over 60-year-long career.

Majerus and Me: A meeting of minds over chili

Bill Winfrey • March 19, 2009

What's it like to meet the biggest celebrity on campus for chili? Well, I had the opportunity to find out first-hand. I walked into the interview with men's basketball coach Rick Majerus with palms sweating and knees shaking. We were meeting at The Fountain on Locust.

The Department of Fine and Performing Arts announces two new sponsored events

Will Holston • March 19, 2009

The Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Saint Louis University is sponsoring two local events next week. The Music Program, housed within the department, is hosting a concert by SLU alumnus and current faculty member William Hopkins at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the historic Samuel Cupples House, located in front of the John Cook School of Business.

Who really is watching the Watchmen?

Jonathan Ernst and Adam Tambur • March 19, 2009

Take one: a fan of the graphic novel on the film The apple didn't fall far from the tree in Zack Snyder's long-awaited, big-screen adaptation of the graphic novel, Watchmen. Aside from a few details, this adaptation is a dead-on representation of the brilliant graphic novel created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins.

2009 Oscars go to the “Slumdogs”

Landon Burris • February 26, 2009

Another year, another Academy Award ceremony with less than stellar ratings-though ratings were up by 6 percent. One has to wonder when the AMPAS will become more in touch with the general movie-going public. Regardless of what the general consensus was of Academy members, a Wall-E or The Dark Knight Best Picture nomination would likely have boosted ratings significantly.