Ask STL: What problems are plaguing you?
I asked five people about the problems they face in the greater St. Louis community, as well as on Saint Louis University’s campus.
Jacob Wilfong
“A big problem that affects the city and the surrounding area is wealth divisions,” Jacob Wilfong said, a St Louis native. Jacob is a senior at Saint Louis University studying computer science and has been around St Louis his whole life. Homelessness and poverty are problems that are prevalent to Jacob due to the area he grew up in. “While I haven’t had to deal with the brunt of it, I still have noticed some of the effects of it,” he said. When thinking of practical solutions to the problem of wealth gaps Wilfong said, “At my high school we had this community closet where you could get free clothes and free hygiene products.” Having readily available access to basic necessities is a palpable solution to the divergence between socioeconomic groups. Thinking further, Wilfong said “a well maintained area for homeless people, like a homelessness camp, could be a solution.”
Mark Foster
When asked what problems are prevalent in the greater St Louis area, Mark Foster said, “the deterioration of the family unit.” A St Louis native, Mark said that the lack of strong fathers and families leads to broken families and broken people. “We don’t have a society without family,” Mark said. To reestablish family bonds, Mark said engaging with the greater community, whether it be in St Louis or past the cosmos, is the best solution. Respecting culture, individuality, and the inherent dignity of humanity are more solutions offered by Mark to reestablish strong fathers and strong families. Mark said it starts with him, “I do what I can to inspire fatherhood, to teach endurance, to shine with the knowledge that anything is possible.”
Athena Valera Barrios
Athena Valera Barrios, a 19 year old sophomore studying international business and marketing at SLU says a major problem in St Louis is the, “Lack of attention towards people that are struggling.” Athena attended Duchesne High School while living in Florissant, MO. She said, “people at my school would say ‘I can’t hang out with you, I can’t go to Florissant.’” Now, Athena is starting a club to address the problems she sees on campus called Association for Latino Professionals for America. The club focuses on supporting all students on campus and teaching life skills, like learning how to submit tax forms, create a budget, and cultivate a place where people can learn from each other in a safe environment. Athena said “You don’t have to be Latino, we just want to make sure that that community has a little bit of extra support.” She said she wants to create a club that will last after she graduates and to create a long-lasting impact in the SLU community.
Tavin Matiszik
Tavin Matiszik, a junior studying aerospace engineering at SLU said, “The biggest problem from a Missouri standpoint is there is a very large disconnect between the urban and rural areas across the state.” Tavin is a St Louis native, but has studied in countries across Europe like Germany and England. He said the greatest difference he saw when returning is seeing the effects a lack of culture can have on different areas of Missouri. “Politically, in education, even with the internet, there feels like there’s no cohesive state identity,” he said. This lack of state identity is what Tavin said is the root cause of stereotyping and palpable divisions urban and rural areas. When it comes to solutions, Tavin said, “I think the best thing is kinda starting with yourself,” he said. Tavin recognizes his own internal biases and has make an active effort to remove barriers like offensive and biased language from his vocabulary. “Cultural fairs, festivals, and clubs around campus are really helpful when it comes to dismantling stereotypes and cultivating culture.”
John Scott Lancina
John Scott Lancina, a senior double majoring in finance and art history at SLU, said the city’s greatest problem has to do with funding and infrastructure. “Roads, residential buildings and homes and access to a higher quality of life are all major problems this city has,” he said. The lack of well-maintained infrastructure within St Louis is a major problem that has plagued the city since the early 50s. Potholes, sewer flooding, lack of clean water, and dismal residential housing options have affected a great deal of St Louis residents. “There’s no public transportation here, and if there is it’s scary, or it’s just not efficient,” John Scott said, “I own a car, I felt both pecuniary damages and overall experience of driving in the city is terrible.” He said he has not been able to move into his home yet because of a city sewer problem, leaving him and his roommates without clean water. “The city is not good at fixing their city problems in an efficient manner,” he said. John Scott said that while he doesn’t know exactly what a specific solution would be, he knows that seeing more city effort in maintaining infrastructure is a necessary part of the fix.
