April 2011 Globe,

globe the

ARTS FAIR 2011 Students from Litzinger and Neuwoehner Schools came to CHS for a day of more than just fun and games.

pg. 12

1 Mark Twain Circle

Clayton High School

Clayton, MO 63105

www.chsglobe.com

Volume 82, Issue VIII

April 13, 2011

As summer classes fill, administration works to address enrollment issues

Sarah Blackwell

By Laura Bleeke and Jocelyn Lee The words “nerd,” “dork,” and “geek” have long had negative images associated with them.

Movies have portrayed the stereotypical nerd being picked on, the geek being antisocial, or the dork making a complete fool of himself. However, the terms seem to have become more positive as technology plays a growing role in our culture.

They have become everyday words at CHS, as well as in the rest of popular culture.

But perhaps the terms are defined differently at CHS than at other places. Here they can have positive connotations, and many CHS students proudly declare themselves nerds, dorks, and geeks.

“I can be a nerd, because I like science, and science and math are usually nerdy,” senior Amanda Davis said.

Teachers, too, can identify with the labels.

“I would call myself all of them,” science teacher Gabriel de la Paz said. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t have been one of the cool kids in school.”

Nerds, Geeks and Dorks, pg. 6

275

}

?

NERD DORK OR GEEK

A distant dream of summer break – an infinite white sand paradise of freedom from the harsh realities of school - is already thawing and lurking in the back of the minds of students.

Yet, for the more than 270 CHS students who have registered for summer school in the Clayton Summer Academy (CSA), summer break is seemingly the perfect time to set aside the beach towel, return to school, and complete a required course or gain an extra high school credit. With such high levels of registration this year, however, the administration faced significant difficulties in attempting to meet the needs of students and is now considering revising the current registration process for future years.

The CSA offers a variety of 4-week courses from the state mandatory classes of Personal Finance and American Government to more unique classes that allow students to focus on a specific topic.

“CSA serves several purposes,” CSA Director Paul Hoelscher said.

“It allows students to make up some missed credit in courses like math and English, it provides other opportunities for kids to take required courses such as government, fitness

Applicants to Personal Finance (48 accepted)

CSA applicants as of April 7

150}

{83

THE NUMBERS Applicants to Amer.

Gov. (70 accepted) CSA applicants on the first day

and personal finance; lastly, it offers unique classes that are not found in the school year like filmmaking, computer programming and the history of St. Louis.”

Despite the fact that the State of Missouri does not require school districts to offer summer school programs, the Clayton administration acknowledges the student interest across the district by providing summer opportunities for elementary students and middle school students as well as CHS students.

However, summer school is a significant financial commitment for the School District of Clayton.

It costs the District approximately $350,000 to operate its K-12 summer school programs. Like the

}

Zach Praiss Community Editor

76

regular school year budget, 80 to 85 percent of the operating costs are for teacher salaries. Yet, the district cannot charge students by law who are receiving academic credits that will be going on their transcript. As a result, many school districts that are struggling to balance their budgets are now reducing or even eliminating their summer programs.

“Summer programs, while very important and valued by school districts, are costly to deliver, staff, and operate,” Dottie Barbeau, the Clayton Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, said. “Some of our neighboring school districts are facing financial challenges and in some cases have had to make significant budget cuts and teacher re-

ductions… Every dollar that is spent for summer programming is a dollar that is not spent during the school year.

When cuts start impacting teaching and learning during the school year, districts have to look everywhere possible to reduce costs and unfortunately because the state does not require summer programs that is one possible place for reduction in costs.”

This year, Clayton’s summer school programs are limited to only Clayton students, precluding students from other districts to attend the Clayton summer programs.

“If we look at other districts, I think we should very grateful for the chance to provide summer school,” Hoelscher said. “While there are obvious limitations with a short program, our teachers provide our students with a valuable learning experience. Every year, I am amazed at the amount of content that is presented in four weeks. Teachers use every minute of every day to help students.”

With the first come, first served approach to registration this year, around 150 CHS students raced to turn in their summer school slips on the first day of registration.

Summer School, pg. 4

Science labs, classrooms near completion Dylan Schultz Editor

As the end of the year approaches, the long awaited completion of the new addition to the high school nears. One of the main features of this addition is the new science wing equipped with larger classrooms, better lab space and other enhancements to add to the already excellent high school science program.

The new science wing, located on the top floor of the three-story building, will feature biology and chemistry classrooms and labs. New hallways will also contain lockers and a couple of study spaces that overlook the quad.

Physics classrooms, other classes and the science office will be located

in the old but refurbished area that is the current science wing. These renovations are set to take place during the summer.

A new aspect to the biology space is a sunlight porch and a roof greenhouse for growing space. Biology classes could utilize these areas for labs, personal projects and clubs for activities necessitating the aid of earth’s primary energy source.

“We’re going to definitely do some stuff to utilize the green house,” AP Chemistry teacher Nathan Peck said.

AP Biology teacher Sally Lazaroff has a strong interest in using the greenhouse for class work and possibly extracurricular activities.

Science Wing, pg. 3

Zach Praiss

A chemistry lab is still under construction in the new addition. The new wing will have special features such as a sunlight porch and rooftop garden. Teachers should start moving into their new rooms this May.

Education for the future CHS alum Elad Gross has founded the non-profit Education Exchange Corps, a volunteer organization that works to improve education in St. Louis City schools.

Dawn Androphy Co-Editor in Chief

Courtesy of Elad Gross

An Education Exchange Corps volunteer takes a break from a math lesson with his elementary school students.

When CHS alumnus Elad Gross was a sophomore at Duke University in 2008, he had an idea. Through a program at Duke, Gross was able to get a community service grant to teach St. Louis Public School District students over the summer after his sophomore year. That summer, Gross went to St. Louis with four Duke students and three other volunteers.

This collective of volunteers was setting the stage for what would become Education Exchange Corps (EEC), a nonprofit serving to educate underprivileged youth in the St. Louis Public Schools. While the overall focus is education, Gross said that the purpose of the Education Exchange Corps is multi-faceted.

“When we’re saying ‘exchange,’ it’s really an attempt

to connect communities and really have people learning on all sides,” Gross said. “So, if we bring a volunteer into a classroom to teach some math lessons to a group of kids, yeah, the group of kids is learning. But so is the volunteer. And, oftentimes, so is the teacher and so is the principal. I know, sometimes, if we get businesses involved, they learn something about the community and kids get to learn something about how to make a shirt or how to run a business.”

Gross founded the organization with fellow Duke student Lauren Lee-Houghton, but now runs the organization mostly by himself as the full-time executive director since he gradated from college in 2010. He was inspired to work with students over the summer after similar experiences beginning over his high school summers.

Education Exchange Corps, pg. 2

Inside: 2 Community 5 Sports 6 In Depth 13 Features 16 A&E 21 Forum 24 Interest

4

Wings in the City art project brings butterflies to St. Louis

11

Despite expectations, local basketball teams disappoint

16

Love ‘em or hate ‘em: the top five chick flicks

19

Students embrace new, improved Pokemon game

2

Community

April 13, 2011

www.chsglobe.com

Ladue students rally to support teachers Dawn Androphy Co-Editor in Chief

Everyone who passed by Ladue Horton Watkins High School on the morning of Monday, Mar. 14 saw an unusual sight. Dozens of Ladue students stood hunched over in the snow in front of the school, some even carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from the snow. The students weren’t just standing outside their school aimlessly, but with a distinct purpose in mind. They were in the bitter cold to demonstrate that they care about their teachers and staff with signs and shirts declaring their support.

The rally was in response to a series of layoffs and reassignments that had been announced at school the previous Friday.

“Well, the reason the changes were made is because, like most school districts, we’re seeing a significant decline in revenue,” Ladue High School spokeswoman Susan Dielmann said. “It had gotten to a point where, in order to balance our budget…we had to make about $5 million dollars in cuts.”

After already making $2.5 million in budget cuts over the last few years, the District had gone as far as it could without reducing the staff, according to Dielmann. Only six teachers were eliminated, of which four were full-time employees. Most

of the changes were reassignments.

After school on the day of the layoffs, a group of students met in the parking lot to discuss the situation and what steps to take next. Afterwards, they waited outside a faculty meeting and spoke with administrators before finally deciding to organize a rally. One of the students, Katie Rank, was proud of the collaborative nature of the rally.

“The rally was a collaboration of efforts,” Rank said. “There was not one person who started it; it really was a team effort. It began with a few confused, shocked, and upset students standing in the parking lot after school, and with the support of so many people, turned into something much bigger.”

Although the students were upset by the fact that some popular teachers were among the teachers whose jobs were eliminated, what most upset them was the fact that teachers were taken out of their classrooms during the day and told that they were being reassigned and no longer working for the School District.

“We were upset at how the teachers were told they were let off,” Ladue student Saya Jacobs said. “We were upset over who got laid off, too. The main thing was just that we thought it was very disrespectful to the teachers for the administrators to come during their class time and tell them.”

Jon Young

The group of Ladue students who organized the rally showing their disapproval for the layoff of Ladue teachers pose for a picture with a sign that says “We Support Our Teachers and Staff.”

Rank was in one of the classrooms interrupted during the day.

“We were taking a test and one of the administrators came in and pulled our teacher out of class,” Rank said. “It wasn’t too long, but it was probably like six minutes and we were confused. Then, at one point, the administrator was sitting in the class. Then she left and another woman came in. Then, our teacher came back and said, ‘Well, I just got fired.’”

Dielmann said that the Superintendent and his cabinet made the decision to proceed with the layoffs and reassignments in this way.

However, the process did not go as

Newspaper advisor retires

ciative of all of our teachers and staff on a whole new level,” Rank said.

“Despite being a second semester senior, I started working harder than I was before, not only for myself, but for them. They really do deserve that much from us students.”

Jacobs also concedes that the District layoffs and reassignments may have been unavoidable and is “sure that they’ve done a lot to cut the budget.”

Despite the fact that no changes were made as a result of the rally, Rank is still proud that students were able to get their point across.

“It was just a way to show the whole Ladue community that we

care, regardless of whether what we did would make any specific change,” Rank said. “Of course, that would be ideal. I would have loved if there could have been some kind of change, but it didn’t. What’s most important is that we got our point across: that we were upset.”

In fact, Dielmann was also proud of what the students accomplished and the positive message of the rally.

“The students were awesome,” Dielmann said. “They were so organized and supportive. There wasn’t a negative tone to it. I was really quite proud of them. I mean, they have every right to do what they did and they did it very well.” 

Education Exchange Corps brings opportunity to inner-city students Continued from pg. 1

Shiori Tomatsu Reporter

For 15 years, journalism teacher Nancy Freeman has advised the CHS Globe and this year will be her final year at CHS. “I didn’t start teaching until I was 38 years old,” Freeman said. “I was kind of a late bloomer. I had six children before I started teaching. I had originally started college at St. Louis University right after high school where I had a full scholarship, but my mother was very ill so I quit school after a year to stay home and take care of my mom. I didn’t go back to college until our youngest child was two, so I finished college the same year our oldest son graduated high school.”

Throughout her career, Freeman has taught multiple subjects.

“I’ve taught lots of English classes from freshman through senior English classes,” Freeman said. “I’ve taught creative writing, done a literary magazine and I did the yearbook a couple years when I taught at Fort Zumwalt North.”

The one subject she has always taught every year is newspaper.

“I’ve taught newspaper every single year or something involving it and I’ve loved it so much because you get to talk about everything that happens in the whole world with your kids,” Freeman said.

She has taught this every year because she enjoys how students can write for an actual audience in the community.

“I think that’s something that really empowers students and teaches them to be good writers because people are really reading what they say,” Freeman said.

“Usually when you’re writing a paper for school, it’s for your English teacher or for your science teacher. However, when you write for the Globe you’re writing for a real audience, and your words have impact and power.”

Loving her job so much makes it slightly bittersweet to leave the CHS Globe she has raised and supported for 15 years.

“It’s always hard to leave,” Freeman said. “It’s kind of like having a baby and raising it up till they’re old enough to go to college and then giving them over to somebody else to take care of. It kind of feels a little bit like that because you love that child, that program that you’ve grown, and it’s kind of hard to push it out the door and make sure that somebody’s going to support it.

Somebody else is going to have to support it after you’re gone, but that’s part of the process. I know that I can’t stay here forever, and I do trust that the students will do what’s right and that the new adviser will help them to do what’s right.”

Staff members of the Globe also find it sad that Freeman is leaving the Globe.

“In all of my years on staff for the Globe, Mrs. Freeman has been has been nothing short of amazing,” CoEditor in Chief Dawn Androphy said. “She’s a wonderful teacher and adviser. She has a true understanding of journalism and school publications and I’ve learned so much from her.”

Co-Editor in Chief Noah Eby also sees Freeman’s leave as a bittersweet goodbye.

“We’ve loved having her as our adviser and she’s done an amazing job,” Eby said. “We know she has left a lasting impact on us as students and on CHS as a whole.”

Freeman has confidence in next year’s adviser Erin Castellano.

“She’s new and this will be her first real experience

planned and Dielmann concedes that the District should probably have waited until after school had ended.

“The intention was not for teachers to go back to their classrooms,” Dielmann said. “Teachers chose to go back to their classrooms despite the fact that we had substitutes to take their classes over for the rest of the day.”

Even though students were upset by the way that the incident was handled, Rank still believes that it was an experience that students could learn from.

“As disgusting as this whole situation has been, it has made me appre-

Courtesy of Nancy Freeman

Nancy Freeman’s diligence and enthusiasm will be missed.

of actually teaching a journalism class but she has really great training and is very talented so I think she’s going to do a wonderful job,” Freeman said. “She’s very different than I am in some ways. She’s probably a little more organized than I am which is probably a good thing.”

One other thing Freeman has confidence in is Castellano’s technology skills.

“She’s very into technology,” Freeman said. “I am too for somebody my age but she’s much younger so it’s more of a second nature to her, so she already has some good ideas about the website.”

Androphy is also excited about Castellano coming next year.

“I think that losing Mrs. Freeman will be difficult for next year’s Globe staff, but I’m also confident that Ms. Castellano will be a wonderful advisor,” Androphy said.

“All of the editors who have spoken with her, including myself, were very impressed by her knowledge and commitment to journalism and education.”

Freeman also has high hopes for next year’s Globe and Castellano.

“What I really hope is that the new newspaper teacher will keep up the high quality and the ethics that the Globe has long been known for,” Freeman said. “I also think that the standards of good journalism are what are really important and also the relationship between the students. One of the things that I’ve always liked best about teaching journalism is the relationship that develops with students. When you get to work with them for three or four years, you really get to know them and you get to see them grow up and mature as they go through their high school years. They not only learn so much about journalism, teamwork and meeting deadlines but also about how to treat one another as they work on projects together and I would like to see that continue as well, that idea of camaraderie.”

After the year is over, Freeman plans to move to Jacksonville, Florida.

“I’m excited about retiring and we’re moving to Jacksonville for a couple of years. I’m excited about living in Florida, being on the beach and having some personal time which I haven’t had a lot of in my life,” Freeman said. “I’m also looking forward to having more time for my 12 grandchildren. But it’s also hard to leave a program that I love and I feel like I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into building. It’s hard to leave students that I care about so it’s both exciting and a little sad.”

Eby believes that Freeman’s dedication to the Globe has made her deserve her retirement in Florida.

“She’s definitely worked hard and earned a nice retirement on the beach in Florida,” Eby said. 

“I used to work at Summerquest with Mr. Peck over at the high school during the summer for three years before that,” Gross said. “I just thought that it would be really cool to do something similar where kids who are underprivileged could have some kind of similar opportunity.”

Gross wanted to focus on the summer after learning about summer learning loss, a phenomenon wherein a student regresses over the summer after the extended absence from academics.

“What studies have found is that a lot of students have this,” Gross said. “But, the question is, how much so does it happen? For kids of lower socioeconomic statuses, that gap is really a lot wider. That’s one of the reasons that some people point to for the disparity in academic achievement gaps.”

Over the summer, Gross observed the full extent of the achievement gap firsthand, but was proud of the impact he had made.

However, he also believed that he wouldn’t be able to make a lasting impact unless he kept returning to the students.

“I was working with a kid for a long time on learning the alphabet and he knew one letter when we started,” Gross said. “It was the letter ‘X’. He was going into first grade and I worked with him for a few weeks and, you know, he got up to the letter ‘E’ and I was really excited and then, you know, he didn’t come to school anymore.

It kind of highlights that there are a lot of issues with the District, that a lot of kids fall through the cracks and need some extra help, but even the kids who are ahead need to be pushed further. That a lot of kids are homeless and they don’t know if they’ll to be going to school that day. There’s a lot of uncertainty.”

Afterwards, Gross ran a fall pilot program from his college and, from there, “It just kept getting bigger and bigger,” Gross said.

Typically, volunteers are assigned to a classroom in a St. Louis elementary school on a semester-by-semester basis. From there, volunteers will work with students one-on-one, in small groups, or even with large segments of the classroom.

Ariel Arpadi, a CHS alumna who is a recent volunteer for the EEC, has enjoyed working with small groups in her second grade class at Lexington Elementary School.

Arpadi chose to work with the EEC because she wanted to “do something useful” with her time while also gaining experience working with at-risk students.

“While I have worked with the whole class before, I tend to mostly work with a small group of students, usually three to four, who have fallen behind,” Arpadi said.

“In the small groups we focus mostly on site words from the kindergarten level and work on basic addition and subtraction problems.”

For Arpadi, the experience has been extremely rewarding as it allows her to pursue her passion in education and help children improve their academic skills.

“I really enjoy my time at Lexington Elementary,” Arpadi said. “The teachers there are really welcoming to any and all assistants they receive, and the kids, while at times can be exhausting, are a joy to be around. It’s always great to see a child’s face light up when he finally puts two and two together.”

Jefferson Elementary Principal Nathalie Means has been working with EEC since last summer. Although the school hasn’t tracked any statistical evidence of academic improvements, she appreciates the help of the volunteers

and that many of the volunteers have plans to pursue a career in education. “[The reception has] been pretty positive from my staff who appreciate the additional bodies to help grade, file or work one-on-one with a student or small group of students,” Means said. “It’s been a great relationship and we plan to continue to utilize EEC volunteers.”

Maureen Nolan, Head of Volunteer Services for the St. Louis Public Schools, has observed a widespread appreciation for the EEC and is impressed by its development into a “signature program” over time.

“The response from students, quite naturally, is great,” Nolan said. “What student doesn’t appreciate extra help from someone closer to his or her age that can make learning fun? Staff, principals and teachers especially have been very appreciative as resources continue to dwindle. Parents appreciate the extra attention that their children receive.”

In fact, Nolan believes that the EEC’s model could work effectively in other areas, too.

“It is a program that could well be duplicated in other urban districts which have numerous colleges and universities in their town,” Nolan said. “I know of no other program (staffed by a volunteer) that has prepared and placed college students as volunteers in urban schools and school districts (as interns) and followed up with the students and staff with evaluations to be able to make future improvements.”

Gross also sees the potential impact of EEC and believes that people in Clayton and other areas can “bridge the gap” and help neglected school districts and communities in the area.

“On a lot of days, we’re working with third graders who still can’t read, fourth graders who can’t read, fifth graders and sixth graders who can’t spell their name,” Gross said. “That’s something that’s pretty present in a lot of these schools that we’re working with. It’s not something where we’re saying the schools can’t really teach their kids. There’s a lot of things that are stacked up against these kids outside of school, too. When we’re talking about an impoverished community, the schools can only do so much.”

Gross believes that education is an essential tool for kids to find success.

He cites the story of an elementary school student who entered school on a summer day in a somber mood, but who was elated after an EEC volunteer taught him how to solve fraction problems.

“People make a lot of assumptions about what’s going on,” Gross said. “But, when you get down to it, kids are kids. They know what’s going on, especially as they get older, and by older I mean fourth or fifth grade. They know that they’re in a bad spot and they know that education is something that can really help them out.”

Currently, he’s welcoming applications from high school students interested in volunteering as teaching assistants over the summer, as well as more experienced adult professionals interested in working for EEC on the administrative level or providing advice for the young organization.

“This is really something we’re looking to bridge the gap between these communities, especially in St. Louis city, that have kind of been neglected in general,” Gross said. “The relationship between these communities and other areas of St. Louis isn’t really there, and [we’re] really trying to leverage the community to really get involved and really benefit these kids. Right now, the outlook for them isn’t all that great. There are tons of ways for people to get involved with that.” 

Community

www.chsglobe.com

Goody Goody diner fuses great cooking, down-home feeling Jackie Leong Managing Editor

This is not a restaurant review.

This is not a nostalgically charged historical feature. This is not a sales pitch, endorsement, or celebration.

There are simply no words to describe the Goody Goody Diner, and so each category will probably make its way in here. One doesn’t find too many a feel-good place these days after all.

In this day and age, there isn’t a lot of time to find a worthwhile place to sit down and relax. Which is why, of course, one might refer to the diner as a hidden gem of St. Louis.

Family-owned and proud of it, the place exudes a homey atmosphere reminiscent of the diners of eras long past.

That feel is right—the diner started as an A&W root beer stand in the 1930’s. It evolved into a diner, complete with a carhop service, later on, and current owner Richard Connelly’s father bought it in 1954. The rest, as they say, is the proverbial history.

“I was 13 years old when I started as a carhop at the diner,” Connelly said. “I’ll be 70 in August. I’ve been with the diner for 57 years, and it has gone from being a hamburgerand-milkshake place to a full diner menu.”

Which is why I was able to drop by for breakfast.

The place wasn’t too crowded when I walked in, family in tow, an early Sunday morning. The diner is rather open. Peek around the bar and you can catch Connelly cooking along with his employees, just as his father did before him.

There’s a newer portion of the diner that was built in the summer of 1990, which blends right in with the original floor plan. By no means is the Goody Goody shabby, nor is it of the upscale five-star variety. It resides in a comfortable medium that has patrons driving in from miles and miles around, just to get a taste of the old diner experience.

Our waitress and diner manager, Chris VanDike, cheerfully poured coffee and took our orders that took a record time to arrive. She has been doing so for the past 20 years as of this month.

“I started with my brother in ’67,” VanDike said. “Six of my eight siblings have all worked here.”

Sticking around is what the Goody Goody does best, it seems.

Not only have the Connellys and their two managers kept with the business for a respectable amount of time, but the diner itself stuck with its original location.

“We’re one of the few white businesses that stayed,” Connelly says.

“The others fled the area in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. The community has been so supportive. They’ve taken us into their hearts.”

That explained the warm atmosphere. Most of the customers, Connelly added, were regulars who came mostly every day, all of whom he knows by name.

As he does with the kitchen, Connelly immerses himself in the diner, gets to know the patronage, and converses freely with them. He pours coffee alongside his workers and puts in every minute he can.

I had prepared to ask for the manager, and then from there ask to speak with the owner. Instead, I

Sharing Center with city brings challenges, benefits Parker Schultz Reporter

Staff Photo

The Goody Goody Diner at 5900 Natural Bridge opened in 1948, on the spot that once held an A&W Root Beer stand in the 1930s. It has become a St. Louis landmark.

found him refilling a customer’s coffee mug, which was a rather pleasant surprise.

The diner, however, wouldn’t be able to make good on its food and hospitality if it weren’t for the dedication of the staff as well. Combined with the dedicated customers, the Goody Goody is a wonderful place to duck in on a cold morning.

“The quality of my staff and customers puts a smile on my face,” Connelly said.

That said, watch out for the wait.

The Goody Goody fills up quickly, and for good reason. It’s a gold mine for comfort breakfast foods, from the classic pancakes and eggs to chickenand-waffle platters, if fried chicken in the morning happens to be your thing. I decided to go á la carte with a biscuit with gravy and a small bowl of cheese grits.

I was not disappointed. Neither, VanDike told me, was Al Gore, when he dropped in.

“I served him his coffee,” she said.

“Cedric the Entertainer was here, too. We get a lot of people here that

New science lab layout, equipment to be included in new CHS building Continued from pg. 1 “The greenhouse is probably the most exciting element of the new building,” Lazaroff said. “I am looking forward to using plants as model organisms in studies of cell biology, genetics, evolution and ecology.”

Peck is also excited about the arrangement of the classrooms, as he will get to watch his favorite sport, baseball, from the large windows in his room.

The chemistry rooms are certainly an upgrade from the current classrooms.

There is a large lab space with high ceilings and new ventilation lines.

The drawers for lab materials are more abundant for better organization of materials, which is quite an obstacle for current AP Chemistry students.

The additional utilities such as a vacuum line will allow for a wider variety of labs to be performed in both the AP and sophomore Chemistry courses.

“Part of the cool things is the coziness of the classroom,” Peck said. “Then you come out to lab and the ceilings are vaulted, unfinished and a lot more spacious.”

Lazaroff also enjoys the split classroom/lab design.

“We can move tables and chairs in the new classroom for better interaction and discussion and leave experiments to run in the lab for as long as it takes,” Lazaroff

3

April 13, 2011

said. “Students would be welcome to come in to the lab to make up work, or replicate an experiment while another class is going on in the classroom.”

Another neat addition is the natural lighting system that reflects sunlight through glass for light. These lights can be dampened and turned off. The building is not only better designed, but it is also more environmentally conscious.

Since the teachers of the science department constructed the plans for their new wing, they have maximized the project’s success and reduced any negative aspects that may have come from changing classroom arrangements.

“We designed it ourselves for doing what we want to teach,” Peck said. “The rooms are set up really nice for doing science.”

In mid to late May, current science students will move chemistry and biology equipment into the nearly finished rooms.

Except for a few more finishing touches, the rooms are nearly complete.

A few counter tops are missing, walls need painting and some lab equipment still needs to be installed, but even at first glance, the new rooms look like they will ignite students’ interest in science.

Peck is also very enthusiastic about the new science wing era: “It’s going to be awesome.” 

you wouldn’t expect.”

These days, the Goody Goody hums along on its own rhythm, one that is genuinely happy to see you.

There’s something in itself you don’t see too often. It is every inch the opposite of the usual impersonal chain restaurant, and worth the drive up north.

“When I was younger, I looked farther,” Connelly said. “But now that I’m older”—he gestured to the wall beside him—“I’m closer to my end. The end is this wall. Everything I’ve built, my business—it’s not about expanding. I’m not selling.

I’m going to work as long as I can.”

When I went to pick up the tab, I was surprised to hear VanDike smilingly inform me that Connelly had taken care of it.

“He said not to worry about it,” she told me.

And so, flabbergasted, I didn’t.

It is impossible to worry while under the Goody Goody’s roof. Take a seat. Sit down. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find, taste, and see. 

During the winter, CHS was plagued with the same boring announcement every day: “The center will be closed this afternoon due to winter-sports training.”

Even people who don’t use the courts were relieved when the announcement finally stopped.

The repeated message did bring up a few questions. After all, why shouldn’t students be allowed into the center? For Bob Bone, the athletic director at CHS, the issue was numbers.

“Basically it comes down to the number of teams we have using the center courts,” Bone said. “We had some additional teams with our no-cut policy, and there was just mass confusion down there with people everywhere. To get the season started, we closed the center after school for a couple of weeks.”

The policy has been in effect for three years. Bone says it helps winter sports teams shape up.

“It seemed to help a lot because our teams were able to get a little bit organized,” Bone said. “As you can imagine, the first few days of any season are hectic with getting stuff turned in, figuring out who’s going where.”

Bone says the policy is not likely to change anytime soon. Clayton has a special relationship with its community center – it’s attached to it. Most schools have their own facilities, which means Clayton students have to share their courts and track with the public.

One group that was forced to do this over the winter was the Winter Running Club.

The extended winter kept them off the track. The runners didn’t run into any problem using the

facility.

“We took our turn just like everyone else,” Coach Kurtis Werner said. “We put our thirty minutes on the bikes and got off. We went and found other things to do.”

Werner eventually ran into some difficulties in sharing the center.

“You have these old, grandmotherly figures, walking, seventy plus years old, and you have teenagers flying by them, doing a work out that they [the grandmotherly figures] don’t quite understand,” Werner said.

The club never received any formal complaints, although they did get several frowns and headshakes. Werner said using the center was easy for the club to do.

Beyond the size of the small track, there were never any difficulties. The biggest concern with the Center’s use policy is the students who use the center after school each day.

Junior Lauren Hill is such a student. After school, she enjoys using the center to work out. She says she never has any trouble using the center.

“I’ve never had any difficulty with it [getting into the center],” Hill said. “Sometimes it can be troublesome when I forget my card.”

Hill uses the center all year round, including during the winter. She gets in with her student ID. Considering all the challenges of sharing a public center, CHS has done a great job of managing when the students can work there.

“I think any time you have a joint-use facility like we have it can be challenging,” Bone said.

“It’s work, but it helps immensely in those first few practices.” 

dos

Zach Praiss

School Board members observe the view of Shaw Park from the roof greenhouse while touring the construction.

R ESALE B OUTIQUE

Buy

●

Sell

Styles you want at prices YOU can afford

FOR

TEENS

Trade

●

SEVENS ● AMERICAN EAGLE HOLLISTER ● ABERCROMBIE JUICY ● LUCKY ● FOREVER 21 PINK ● FREE PEOPLE ANTHROPOLOGIE ● J.CREW TRUE RELIGION ● JOE’S ● BCBG (And

MORE!!)

HOURS

Best Jeans in Town!

MONDAY - SATURDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

10% OFF entire 7525 Forsyth ● Clayton (Next to Barbizon Models) purchase with student ID 862-4022

4

Community

April 13, 2011

www.chsglobe.com

Beloved forensics teacher retiring after years of influencing students Sarah Blackwell Editor

Elizabeth Sikora

Wings in the City has worked with Wings, a non-profit organization, to have over 56 butterfly sculptures showcased throughout St. Louis and Clayton.

Butterfly sculptures provide new inspiration and expression Meredith McMahon Editor

Butterfly sculptures have been flying into different nooks and crannies of St. Louis over the past month, adorning the city with bright and vibrant sculptures of hope. These sculptures are being showcased as part of the public art project, Wings in the City.

The project, Wings in the City benefits the non-profit organization, Wings, the BJC pediatric and palliative care program, and, more specifically, the Jennifer and Jim Koman Expressive Therapy program.

“We started the Wings in the City program as a way to bring the community together while raising funds for an incredible program,” Wings in the City committee member Sally Gelfman said. “The butterfly is an iconic symbol of hope and beauty and is also the symbol for the Wings program. Jennifer Koman saw a similar project in Florida with sea turtles and thought a butterfly project would be great for our city.

The money raised from this program will go specifically to the Jennifer and Jim Koman Expressive Therapy program.”

Each of the 56 butterfly sculptures around the St. Louis area has been created by local artists, in partnership with a sponsoring individual or organization. Mary Engelbreight

is the event’s honorary artist has been a key leader in finding artists to create the butterflies. Artist’s designs were selected by a jury in March of last year.

Each butterfly is made of fiberglass, is 5 foot 4 inches and weighs about 250 pounds.

In the Wings in the City press release Barbara Westland, Executive Director of BJC Hospice said: “Wings in the City is such an exciting project.

While it promises to raise awareness and important funds for the Wings program, it will be such a wonderful event for our community and sponsors, too. Our butterfly logo symbolizes both hope and grace.”

The Wings program was created in 1997, and it is a one of a kind program that gives palliative and hospice care to children with progressive or life-threatening illnesses, regardless of whether the family can pay or not. The Expressive Therapy program offers expressive therapy to patients and families during the exhausting and traumatic times of the illness.

Expressive therapy offers an alternative form of expression of feelings and thoughts to children undergoing life-threatening illnesses and their siblings who have many emotions running through their minds. Different forms of expression include various forms of art, ranging from drawing to stories to photography.

Expressive therapy—the healing of emotions through the creation of art—can be a relief to anyone, according to CHS art teacher Laura Sher.

“I think if a person has experienced some kind of deep pain or trauma then any type of creative outlet can be a vehicle for healing, whether it’s visual art, writing, music, dance or theater,” Sher said. “I think it’s very natural for human beings to express themselves creatively.”

Sophomore Alex RaymondSchmidt agrees with Sher.

“It’s a great idea for kids to be able to express their feelings through art,” Raymond-Schmidt said.

Not only are the butterflies helping the Expressive therapy program, but even for their short showcase time—March to May 21—they enhance the Clayton and St. Louis ar ea.

“I think that the butterflies really make Clayton look great, and make people aware that we’re not only are supporting the beautiful artwork but also we support a great cause,” sophomore Ravali Poreddy said. “All the butterflies raise awareness, which is fantastic.”

After the butterflies have been premiered in several locations throughout the city and county of St. Louis, they will be rounded up again to be sold at the Art Takes Flight Auction May 21. 

Brenda Bollinger, English teacher and speech and debate coach, plans to retire at the end of this year. After finishing her twelfth year at CHS and thirtieth year teaching, Bollinger plans to spend her time relaxing with her family. She will be missed by her students, who call her “B” and adore her hard-working personality.

“I don’t have any specific plans yet,” Bollinger said. “I hope to spend a quantity of quality time with my family, including my grandchildren and my mother who will turn 90 in September.”

She is excited to spend more time with her family when she retires.

“Two weeks ago I spent four hours at the Magic House with my 3-1/2 year old granddaughter,” Bollinger said.

“More outings like that need to be on my calendar.”

In the years to come, she is thinking of going on family vacations, reading books and getting a dog. However, prior to this year she didn’t plan to retire so soon.

“Actually, I had planned to continue teaching for one more year, but several weeks ago I sat and weighed the pros and cons of retiring this year and decided to take the earlier option,” Bollinger said.

When she leaves CHS, she will also be leaving her speech and debate team. The future of the team lies in the hands of a new coach and the current student leaders.

“As long the new coach has a passion for the activity, the program should continue to be a major force in the speech and debate competition arena,” Bollinger said.

Becca Steinberg, president of speech and debate, discusses the need for a good coach.

“I think it is really important for the new coach to maintain the sense of community that makes our team so unique,” Steinberg said.

Bollinger mentions some other qualities needed in a new coach.

“Passion for the program is number one, even above years of experience,” Bollinger said. “Coaching the team is demanding by nature, and I have seen some truly successful programs wane when taken over by someone who really doesn’t want to be there.”

Sophomore Emma Riley, part of the speech and debate team, fully agrees.

“The success of the team depends on the new teacher, and how much they’re willing to dedicate for speech and debate,” Riley said. “It’s all about dedication. You’re the best when you can give it your all and put in all the time that you can into it.”

According to Riley, It will be hard to live up to the degree of dedication that Bollinger provides. Bollinger spends many weekends at speech and debate, and said tournaments can be up to five hours away by bus.

“Ms. B. does everything for us,” Steinberg said.

“When we need to print several hundred pages of evidence, she’s there for us. When we get to school at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning to take a bus to Jefferson City, she’s there for us. When we need a hug after a rough day, she’s there for us. She is just an amazing person, and I will miss everything about her.”

That being said, the team members want the new coach to be helpful also. However, Riley mentioned that this year’s juniors will be strong leaders for next year’s

Laura Kratcha

Speech coach Brenda Bollinger will retire in May after 12 years at CHS.

team. Bollinger thinks so too, and promises to help with the team next year as well.

“The forensics program is strong and the student leadership is solid,” Bollinger said.

Steinberg believes that the team will continue to do well because of the leadership.

“We’ve got some very talented juniors who will take the wheel next year--both Corrine Yap and Gabrielle Lachtrup qualified to nationals this year, and Paul Lisker has also been very successful,” Steinberg said. “I think the upcoming challenge will be very conducive to strengthening their teamwork and leadership skills.”

Strong student leadership is vital and abundant at CHS. “The way we work right now is that B is more likely to help the more experienced members and part of the varsity members’ responsibility is to work with the freshmen,” Steinberg said. “I think that this train of responsibility will continue and the freshmen will continue to excel.”

The speech and debate team is in no danger of weak leadership.

“I am confident that the Clayton community realizes the short-term and long-term importance of the program to the students and will do whatever necessary to allow it to continue under a competent and committed coach,” Bollinger said.

A good coach, however, will not keep Bollinger’s students from missing her.

“She’s a really easy person to get along with, she’s an amazing coach, and she’s the most dedicated teacher I know,” Riley said. “She’s also just an amazing person to talk to and hang out with.”

The team as a whole will miss her. She will miss them too, in addition to the other enjoyable aspects of teaching.

“I will miss what drew me to teaching 30 years ago-the students,” Bollinger said. “While I earlier made fun of the long bus rides and the tall stacks of papers to grade, I will miss the connections with students and parents. I will miss witnessing the sucesses and growth of speakers, debaters, and interpers. I will miss watching the fear and uncertainty in new performers turn into self-awareness and confidence.” 

High enrollment at Clayton Summer Academy raises issues Continued from pg. 1 “While there has always been demand for certain classes, the counselors this year helped provide information on summer courses,” Hoelscher said. “As a result, there was a much heavier number of returned applications on the first day. The district administration is reviewing this process and has already made some plans for changing the structure for next year. It is challenging to offer enough classes to meet the current demand.”

Personal Finance quickly filled up with 83 students registering within a few days and 76 students signing up for American Government within a couple of weeks.

In response, Barbeau explained how the administration decided to create an additional Personal Finance section and increase the class sizes for both of the mandatory courses.

Originally the Personal Finance class was going to be taught by two teachers with a limit of 30 students.

However, due to the large student registration, the Per-

sonal Finance class was split into two separate sections each with 24 students.

Likewise, five students were added to each of the American Government classes that originally had 30 students each.

“The summer school staff has been working tirelessly,” Janet Crews, the director of the District’s summer programs, said. “It’s been a difficult process confronting the increased student registration this year and having to create waiting lists for classes. Nobody wants to turn a student down…We are truly trying to meet the needs of all the students.”

Nevertheless, the administration recognizes the flaws in the current registration process that promotes the competitive race for students to sign up for the popular mandatory classes offered in the CSA. “The [current] registration process, while in use for a long time, results in inequities for those students who do not get their applications in during the first few hours of the registration window,” Barbeau said. “We want the

registration process to be fair for all interested students, and therefore are working to revise the registration process for next year.”

The administration is already considering a lottery system in the selection process for next year’s summer school program.

“For next year, the actual registration process will involve the counselors and will be modeled after a registration window - lottery type selection process rather than a first in first served model,” Barbeau said. “We know this doesn’t help the students who have already been placed for this current year, but we have tried to make accommodations to help serve more students in the current course offerings.”

In the end, the administration will continue to listen to feedback from students, parents, and the community, as it continues to strive to meet the needs of students in providing summer school programs.

“Our administration supports our summer programs and feels this is something our community values as

well, so we plan to continue offering summer opportunities for our students,” Barbeau said. “Our goal is to be responsive to student interests and also responsive to student needs as we plan for the summer programs offerings. Because our summer program coordinators are dedicated to providing the best program possible, they are continually evaluating the program and analyzing feedback so that we can make changes or improvements where needed.”

However, as the District continues to face difficult economic times, it will continue to evaluate its summer school programs.

“As we enter into deficit spending status we do have to more closely monitor our district costs, and that means looking at all of our budget items for areas to conserve funds where possible without adversely effecting programs and services that impact students,” Barbeau said.

“The budget and summer programs costs will also be part of our evaluation process conversations, just as they always have been in the past.” 

www.chsglobe.com

Sports

April 13, 2011

5

1

VARSITY SOCCER Lauren Friedman Reporter

As they launch into a new season, members of the girls’ varsity soccer team reveal both determination and optimism. While the team is extremely hardworking and devoted this year, they are also very close and have a unique relationship in the way that they get along both on and off of the field.

Several members of the team have developed personal goals for themselves to supplement the three goals that the team developed together at the start of the season. Junior Petra Petermann devised a few goals as a way to allow herself to stay motivated throughout the season.

“One of my goals is to maintain a high pace of intensity as the season goes on,” Petermann said. “I am hoping this will help me to always play my hardest.”

Members of the team this year are pleased with the way the teammates are so close and get along so well, which really adds to the experience. Junior Taylor Gold is happy to be a part of something so special.

“There is a lot more team bonding this year than ever before,” Gold said. “Everyone gets along, and it is a very fun and positive

environment.”

Coaches as well as teammates are anticipating a strong season.

Head coach and history teacher Paul Hoelscher is pleased with the way that the girls are really working hard this season and supports the goals that the team has established.

“The girls developed three main goals for the season,” Hoelscher said. “They include scoring above 500 (winning more than half of games), scoring the first goal of each game, and being more successful in the games in which the score was 1:0 last year.”

Returning for her fourth season on varsity, senior Alison Bayly has high hopes for the team and maintains a very positive outlook.

“I am really optimistic about this season,” Bayly said. “The energy in our first game was great, and I could tell that everyone had put in a lot of work during the offseason.”

A promising new addition to the team this year, freshman Caroline Avery is thrilled to be a part of the varsity team and looks forward to contributing to what she anticipates will be a successful season.

“I feel honored to be a part of the team this year,” Avery said.

“We play really well together, and with all of the skill and positive attitudes, I know that we have a lot of potential.” 

2

1) Girls’ varsity soccer players are optimistic for this season. 2) Senior Alison Bayly keeps her eye on the ball. This is her fourth year on varsity. 3) Junior Karley Woods dribbles down the field during a game against Westminster. 4) The team talks strategy with coach Hoelscher. 5) Junior Katie Marvel fights to steal the ball from a player on the opposing team.

3 5

4

All photos by Claire Bliss

6

inde

www.chsglobe.com

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE CHS

Jac kie

Leo

ng

NERD DORK

& GEEK

Dee

DEFINING THE ROLES Jocelyn Lee World Editor

The terms “nerd,” “dork,” and “geek” are used so frequently in everyday conversation that it is often unclear what the words themselves mean, or if they even have definite meanings.

The words have become cultural slang and social labels, so much so that they are perhaps constantly changing to fit the needs of each generation.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a nerd is an “unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially: one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.”

First used in 1951, its origin perhaps lies in the name of a creature in a children’s book by Dr. Seuss.

Merriam-Webster merely defines “dork” as slang, but Oxford American Dictionaries calls a dork a “dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person.” The first known use of this term was in 1967.

A geek is described as “a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked OR an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity” according to MerriamWebster, and as “a person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest” according to Oxford American Dictionaries.

The word itself probably comes from “geck fool” in English dialect and has origins in German. Merriam-Webster says its first known use was in 1914.

These may be the so-called official definitions of the words, but what they mean to people, especially

high school students, can vary quite a bit from dictionary entries. “[A geek] is really into video games, like World of Warcraft and that sort of thing,” senior Ali Meyer said. “A dork is someone who has a social life and is goofy with their friends – really unaware of what people are looking at and thinking of them. A nerd is super invested in their schoolwork, they’re best friends with all their teachers.”

According to sophomore Noam Kantor, the labels have more to do with a person’s smarts.

“I think that nerds, dorks, and geeks are set apart by what they do,” Kantor said. “I’d say ‘nerd’ is usually more academic-related or school-related, like someone who really likes to do, say, math, whereas a geek or a dork might be someone who is actually really bad at school or doesn’t really like school, but, say, likes to play a lot of video games. So it has to do with academic levels.”

Junior Andrew Spector, who considers himself a nerd, also thinks intellect plays a significant part in the definitions.

“A geek I always like to say, as it used to be in the British terms, is a guy who bites the head off chickens and lizards in carnivals, because people like that thing – but in modern-day terms, a geek has absolutely no idea about anything,” Spector said. “A nerd at least is an intellect.

[A dork] is someone who either has intellect or physical ability, but isn’t particularly good with people.”

Other students, such as sophomore Ellie Gund, find all the terms synonymous. Similarly, senior Alison Bayley said all of the words have

negative connotations, so they are pretty similar. However, she said that “nerd” is becoming more positive, because people often call themselves “nerds” without meaning it in a bad way.

According to Gund, there can be misconceptions about nerds.

“The negative connotation of being a nerd is that you don’t have a social life, but that’s not true,” Gund said.

To freshman Izzy Greenbladt, the words “nerd,” “dork,” and “geek” as labels can be interpreted in different ways depending on the setting.

“I think sometimes they can be hurtful, but it depends on who is using them and how they are using them,” Greenbladt said. “I call everyone a dork sometimes, but that’s just for fun because everyone has their own inner dork to me. With geek and nerd, though, those just seem more hurtful.”

On the other hand, some do not take the terms very seriously, but rather use them in positive ways.

“If someone calls me a dork I take it as a compliment,” Meyer said. “A nerd is also [good] because you’re studious and will do well for yourself. And I’m friends with lots of geeks. They all have positive connotations to me.”

History teacher Kurtis Werner said that the terms are less negative at CHS compared to other schools, because we are more accepting of different types of people.

“At a normal high school – to be a dork, a nerd, or a geek – it’s tough,” Werner said. “There are students who go through the rest of their lives hating high school because they were

either teased, picked on, or bullied, so it really does have some very negative attributes.”

However, he said that different can also be good, particularly at CHS. “Here the Harry Potter Club is kind of geeky, but at the same time it’s kind of cool, because they’re the best selling movies,” Werner said.

“So you kind of have to take the good with the bad, and you have to find a middle ground in which you can relate to people and not necessarily value them by their geekiness, their nerdiness, or their dorkiness.”

When depicting high schools, Hollywood often uses terms such as “nerd,” “dork,” and “geek” when exaggerating and stereotyping specific social groups.

However, do Hollywood representations actually reflect some aspects of real high school social scenes?

“I’d say that in many cases, the labels define social groups, but that’s not absolute,” Kantor said. “I think a lot of times, the reason that defines social groups is because people will be in similar activities, so they’ll happen to hang out with each other because they’re interested in the same things. For example, I did the SRM [Student-Run Musical] this year, and it’s really interesting to see that I’m friends with a lot of people who I consider nerds, just because I’m in SRM with them.”

According to math teacher Annie Etling, perceptions of social labels change with age.

“I think when you’re older you see that it’s cool to be a dork, but in high school it does define school.” 

LABELS @

Laura Bleeke

Managing Editor

At CHS the labels “geek”, “ner used often. But whether or not th tive or negative, they do have an eff body.

These labels can define social g said, or be used playfully within t ting.

But CHS students have found have made their way into their dail High school is a delicate time fo they are trying to figure out who they are going to define themselves life.

“So teenagers are struggling to fi are,” psychology teacher David Aie they resolve that question durin most people, is laying out who they the rest of their life – their person their likes, their dislikes, things of High school is a time of change lic high schools students are force settings as they are separated from change schools.

But, as Aiello explained, the Cla is different than many other pub there is only one middle school an kids attend.

The result is that in Clayton, sta students know most everyone else in many other schools, kids have they come to a new school, and change their personality to figure people they identify with.

“You really get to try on differen meet different people in these sch “And this may be one of the expl Clayton is not so clearly defined by It is difficult for CHS students t in a two-dimensional way when th so thoroughly. This familiarity can groups and cliques. The labels of “

Accordin

The Nerd

T

kie Jac g on

Le

MCT Campus

Hermione Granger (‘Harry Potter’)

(

epth So as far as literally look like, they’ve got to have waist high pants, suspenders with a button down shirt, horned rim glasses--but not the hipster kind--like seriously wearing them, and that’s about it.

(Josh Portman, 11)

r

rd”, and “dork” are hese terms are posiffect on the student

groups, be hurtfully the high school set-

d that these terms ly conversations. or teenagers because they are, and how s for the rest of their

figure out who they ello said. “And how ng adolescence, for y are going to be for nality, their friends, that sort.” e, and at many pubed to change social m friends when they

ayton school system blic schools because nd high school that

arting in sixth grade, in their grade. But a clean slate when so they can easily out what types of

nt personalities and hools,” Aiello said. lanations as to why y cliques.” to define each other hey know their peers lead to less defined “nerd”, “dork”, and

“geek” may define social groups at CHS somewhat, but not completely.

“I think it does [define social groups] at CHS somewhat,” senior Charlie Beard said. “But not as much as at other schools. I think there is more blending amongst the social groups at Clayton High School.”

While these labels may describe a person to a certain extent, students are often able to see beyond those descriptions.

“Labels are just ways we can simplify things,” Aiello said. “So we can do the more complex work.”

Some students believe these labels have negative connotations, but others believe that they are positive.

“If someone calls me a dork I take it as a compliment,” Meyer said. “A nerd is also [good] because you’re studious and will do well for yourself. And I’m friends with lots of geeks. They all have positive connotations to me.”

Some students, like Spector, believe that the terms “nerd”, “dork”, and “geek” can be negative, but the labels do have a purpose in helping people know where they would comfortably belong.

“They have negative connotations,” Spector said.

“But it really just serves to help people guess where they belong rather than trying repeatedly and not fitting in with various groups.”

Other students, like senior Amanda Davis, agree with Spector that the labels do have negative connotations.

“They’re good and bad labels,” Davis said. “Because it’s not good to label somebody like that. It’s not good to stereotype them.”

These negative connotations have evolved over time, as some have become more socially accepted.

Although technology has often been associated with “geekiness,” the recent exponential increase in technology and the country’s obsession with gadgets such as the iPhone, has moved technology away from the classic “uncool” and toward “cool.”

“Because technology has become such an integral part of our life, I think that that stereotype has softened a little bit,” Aiello said. “It’s now a lot more acceptable and sometimes cool to be a technologically

ng to H llyw

The Dork

“

I think I’m a dork, because I’m goofy, I’m kind of awkward, I snort... Maybe I’m kind of geeky because I really like working out [math] problems with my friends. In college, we would go work on them and get excited. And before I would go out, in high school and in college, I would get all my work done on Friday or Saturday morning. And then I would have a good time. I enjoy life, and I’m kind of goofy, and I don’t take myself seriously.

(Barbara Dobbert, math teacher)

-----------------------------

I imagine a geek would wear a videogame T-Shirt, and they would probably be on the computer a lot, and have big headphones and listen to music all the time.

(Charlie Beard, 12)

@ CHS

e

o Lu

e De

Maybe someone wearing purple socks over their pants, a polka dotted shirt, something really obscure, and taped up glasses.

(Alison Bayly, 12)

Luo

7 THE CHS IDENITY...

April 13, 2011

e

De

o Lu

savvy person.”

CHS is known for being academically successful, and, for some, it is this welcoming environment that allows for their academic pursuits.

Many students feel comfortable in making academics one of their top priorities without feeling socially exiled.

“I like the idea that being smart is cool at Clayton,” Aiello said. “And at a lot of schools that is not the case.

Smart is only for the geeks and the nerds. But I think, in that sense, Clayton is a little ahead of the curve. For the most part, Clayton values its kids to be smart, and successful, and on the cutting edge of new research, new ideas, new tools, new gadgets. I think society has begun to catch up with us in that.”

Over the past few decades these labels and stereotypes have begun to change in society, and it can be seen in TV shows and movies, as they move from negative to more positive.

“I hate to make generalizations,” Aiello said. “But I think that when I was growing up, one of the worst names you could call somebody was a ‘Trekkie’—a person who was a fan of Star Trek—because they were the stereotypical pocket-protector users, and took all the really high math classes, and used graphing calculators before graphing calculators were the standard, and that was the real nerdy and geek kid, and they were definitely the sort of person you made fun and picked on.”

But now, 40 years later, the idea of a geek has become more accepted and even popular in popular culture. “‘The Social Network’ is a perfect example of that,” Aiello said. “Here’s a total geek and yet he has become incredibly powerful and has used his ability to use technology to make a lot of money.”

Whether or not students believe the labels are positive or negative, it is impossible to define a person by a single word.

“So you kind of have to take the good with the bad,” Werner said. “And you have to kind of find a middle ground in which you can relate to people and not necessarily value them by their geekiness, their nerdiness, or the dorkiness.” 

d...

The Geek

I would call myself a nerd, because I don’t really like video games that much, but I definitely like math a lot.

(Noam Kantor, 10)

----------------------------I’m kind of a nerd, because I like school.

And then I’m kind of a dork because I do a lot of embarrassing things. But I’m not really into anything weird I don’t think. But I probably am.

(Kat Miller, 10)

----------------------------I would say I’m a dork, because I’m really socially unaware.

(Ali Meyer, 12)

----------------------------I call myself a nerd, because I like video games, and computers, and all that weird stuff.

(Antonio Wilson, 11)

----------------------------I think I’m a combination of a geek and a nerd at times, I mean I’m wearing corduroy pants right now and corduroy hasn’t been in since the 1990s and I really don’t care because I think they’re comfortable. I also think I’m a geek, because I really do “geek out” on some things such as reading history, sports like cross country. I think I really have an eclectic group of values that would would make me geekish.

(Kurtis Werner, history teacher)

-----------------------------

MCT Campus

Mary Horowitz (‘All About Steve’)

MCT Campus

Mark Zuckerberg (‘The Social Network’)

I don’t think I am [a dork, nerd, or geek] because I’m not especially studious, and I don’t think I dress like a dork.

(Jessica Jancose, 9)

”

Sports 8 NFL lockout brings chaos

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

Sri Panth Reporter

With four seconds on the clock and only losing by two, the Indianapolis Colts have only one more chance to win the 2012 AFC title game. The opposing team, the Baltimore Ravens, firmly stand their ground, not one bit relaxed. Though the Colt’s are 80 yards away from the end-zone, with Peyton Manning as the quarterback, miracles could be made. The football slides into Peyton Manning’s hands and the final play begins. Manning, realizing the Ravens are throwing a blitz, instantly fakes a pass to his go-to receiver Reggie Wayne and creates a hole in the defense.

He jets past the linebackers and with every ounce of strength remaining in him, heaves the ball to his second wide receiver, Pierre Garcon. The Baltimore players look in horror as see they what is about to happen: Garcon, who only has one player covering him, uses a nice juke to get past his defender, catches the ball, and runs it in for the game winning touchdown. Manning did it again; he threw another incredible touchdown. For the second time in

three years, the Colts are going to the Superbowl.

Now imagine this scenario: it is mid-January, when the NFL playoffs would normally be taking place, however Peyton Manning and his several league mates are in their houses just watching some television.

Sounds absurd, huh? However with a financial disagreement between the players and the NFL taking place, this scenario could actually come true. The disagreement between the owners and the players led to a lockout, which if not resolved, would mean there would be no 2011-2012 season at all.

The NFL and the NFL Players’ Association are currently in talks to install a new collective bargaining agreement before the 2011-2012 season. A collective bargaining agreement is where a labor union and an employer set forth the terms for the employees who are members of the labor union. However, the employers (NFL team owners) and the employees (players) are having disagreements on the terms of the new CBA. Thus, the team owners imposed a lockout on the players which means until their disagreement is resolved, there will be no NFL season.

Let’s look at the perspectives of both sides. According to Sports Illustrated, the team owners want to take in 2 billion dollars (an extra 1 billion from what they are taking already) off the 9 billion dollars the NFL makes a year in order to upgrade stadiums and to fund for other construction. This would mean the players would likely take a cut from their salaries; however, the players are ready to abide by the owners as long as the owners provide them with a full financial disclosure of their dealings. The owners are declining to do so, which is why there is a rift between the two sides.

Though the players did respond by suing the owners for antitrust, another recent twist was added to the dispute. According to the New York Times, on April 6, the players requested an injunction to the lockout. An injunction is basically a ban, so if Susan Richard Nelson, the United States District Judge handling the case approves the injunction, the lockout would be lifted.

If she rejects the injunction plea, the lockout would resume and next year, we can forget about buying snacks and inviting friends to “the big game on Sunday.” 

Thalia Sass

TOP: Senior Jordan Henry goes for a ground ball with two Chamindade players closing in. BOTTOM LEFT: Face-off specialist Henry squares up with Chaminade. BOTTOM RIGHT: Sophomore Adam Luxon defends Rockhurst.

Lacrosse team shows promise with historic win, close losses Mimi Liu

Boys’ lacrosse has confronted a new challenge this year by moving up to Division 1. So far, they have impressed by beating De Smet and losing a close game to SLUH. harder for the Ladue game.

“Last year we had an outstanding record, but the games that meant anything we did not come through,” With a new season comes a new challenge for the sophomore and varsity starter Adam Luxon said. “We boys’ lacrosse team. The team has moved up a division lost to Ladue in the state championship. It hurt, espeand will have to play harder competition every night. cially for the seniors who had to leave on that game.”

This has gotten the team to work a lot harder than last Even with the focus on the new schedule and goal of year. beating Ladue, the team realizes it will The team has come together very not be easy. well in the past weeks and suffered a Winning games depends largely on “We had two rough heart breaking lost to Saint Louis Uniperformance and work ethic in pracversity High School by one goal. That tice. These things need to be done by losses in games we is one of two very tough losses for the should have come out the players, but also happen in large hounds, but they have proved thempart by the coach. This year the team on top in. Beating De has found a new coach. selves by beating De Smet in their last Smet was a big step in game.

“With the move up, we also had our “We had two rough losses in games our program because old coach retire,” Klein said, “With our we should have come out on top in,” it was the first time new coach, Hjelle, we have stepped up. senior and team captain Drew Klein we defeated them in His attitude has whipped us into shape said, “It’s a long season though and more than ever, in order to compete Clayton lacrosse his- with the better competition.” beating De Smet was a big step in our tory.” program, because it was the first time As with many teams, the Hounds we defeated them in Clayton Lacrosse have not quite hit their stride, but they Drew Klein history.” are confident once they do they will be Senior So despite the rough start the team in great shape for the end of the season. looks to stay positive throughout the They will need a good deal of senior season. They realize that it will take leadership if they want to make a run much more effort than last season when they blew many in the state tournament. teams out.

“I would say that seniors Brad Puricelli, Drew Klein, “Our team goals for this season are to beat Ladue and Sam Muslim have stepped up to be team captains and win the state championship,” senior Gabe Nicolazzi and leaders,” Luxon said. said.

With all the pieces in place to make a run, the team Last year the team failed to beat Ladue in the regular just needs to win games. With all the pieces, this should season, but as if that wasn’t bad enough they met again not be a problem. While the team looks ahead to a difin the state finals and lost again in an intense game. This ficult season, they also believe that they can have a lot of has motivated returning players to work and prepare success with their new situation.  Paul Kieffer Reporter

www.chsglobe.com Clayton’s source for up-to-date



community news, sports, photos and video Friend us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

www.chsglobe.com

Sports

April 13, 2011

March Madness: A look at the women’s side of the contest on quite a show for viewers the very next night.

It is on very rare occasion that my brother will put a women’s basketball game on TV. Even though I wasn’t I watch and I want to be there. I want to make the invested in the game’s outcome, I found myself inspired backdoor cut for an easy layup, dish the ball to Maya by the players. As a basketball player, I work day in and Moore for the trey, and dive for a loose ball playing with day out to improve my game and seeing other extremely the intensity and knowledge that I’m fighting for a na- skilled women competing for a national championship tional championship. shows me where hard work can take you.

March Madness, a time for immense competition, While seeing Texan A&M’s Danielle Adams put up filling out brackets, and hours watching 30 points is exciting, I am more inspired by college basketball. the strong emotions of all the players. Their BALLER STATUS Perhaps it resonates more with me as a celebrations, hustle, and shouting make it basketball player, but I can’t help but watch clear that they are extraordinarily invested the game with perhaps the same intensity in the game. To see them fight with such as the players playing. Unfortunately there intense emotion to the final seconds motiare many critics who contend that women’s vates me to work even harder. basketball is “a joke” or “not a sport.” Such In the final minute it seemed that the critics must not consider the energy, drive, game was decided with Texas A&M ahead and effort given by these women throughby five points and possession of the ball. out the year as they strive to be the very But the fighting Irish did not give up.

ANAT GROSS best.

Sophomore point guard Skylar Diggins The men’s bracket certainly lived up to stole the ball and drew the foul. She then the madness aspect of the tournament with Butler re- followed up with two made free throws, making it a onepeating as Cinderalla, making if to the championship possession game.

But Texas A&M would not give it up that easily. Misgame for the second consecutive year. The road to the finals was chalk full of bracket busters and major upsets, souri’s own Tyra White and Adams led Texas A&M to but the low-scoring championship game featuring Butler their 76-70 win over Notre Dame. and UConn fell short of fan expectations.

To see these two women move from small backBoth teams shot below 35 percent and accounted grounds to national champions is beyond inspiring. To for less than a total of 50 points at the end of the half. dismiss their hard work and talent as “a joke” is beyond UConn came out victorious with a final score of 53-41. offensive. The performances of both Notre Dame and Fans complained the next day, claiming they “fell asleep” Texas A&M outshone that of Butler and UConn in the or were even forced to turn off the game. Thankfully the men’s tournament and will hopefully cause more people women’s teams from Notre Dame and Texas A&M put to take the women’s game more seriously. 

9

Anat Gross Sports Editor

Julie Shafferkoetter

Junior Sam Fox winds up for a pitch against University City on April 6. The Greyhounds won 8-7.

Baseball team steps up to the plate for the upcoming season Despite the loss of several seniors, the boys’ baseball team remains hopeful for a successful season.

Jon Knohl Reporter

Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant/MCT

Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins helps up teammate Brittany Mallory after the Fighting Irish got possession of the ball in the second half of their semi-final game in the women’s Big East tournament at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, Monday, March 7, 2011. DePaul’s Keisha Hampton, right, lost the ball out of bounds on the play.

Notre Dame won, 71-67.

In what was supposed to be a “rebuilding” season, the Hounds’ baseball team sure aren’t having too much trouble on the diamond. After six starters departed due to graduation, a lot of holes needed to be filled. The team is currently 5-5.

The Hounds started their season with 1-2 in Murray, Kentucky. There the Hounds defeated Livingston 4-3, lost to Davidson Academy 7-8, and also lost to Union County 1-13.

“The Kentucky trip could’ve gone a little better,” junior Jeremy Phillips said. “We should’ve gone 3-1, but we made some silly mistakes that cost us one of the games and one was rained out. It’s just something you learn from.”

This season the Hounds are led behind the plate by junior catcher Freddy Barnes. Filling in the infield

is Sam Horn at first, Carter Ellston at second, Sam Fox at shortstop and Trevor Mills at third. Also coming in as key reserves in the infield are A.J. Joseph and Auggie Mense.

However, the infield is lacking depth. In centerfield is Phillips followed by Kellen Green in left and Dominic Mena in right. Kidd Sutherlin is also a key reserve in the outfield.

“Our team is a lot younger this year, which is a change from last year because it consisted of mostly seniors,” Fox said. “We’re pretty solid besides the lack of depth in some positions, but I think we’ll be fine.”

Leading the team at the plate is centerfielder and Male Athlete of the Month Phillips, carrying a .500 batting average. Following him is the designated hitter and backup catcher Chris Daughtery with a .429 batting average.

“I just go out there and try and

hit the ball basically,” Phillips said.

“If you want to win you just have to get a hit.”

On the mound the team is helped out by Noah Eby, Jack Ellston, Fox, Joseph, Mense, Mills, and Phillips.

Fox has a team best, 1.00 ERA, followed by Mills and Phillips, who have ERAs of 1.75. The team has a 13.46 ERA so far this season.

The team has beaten Livingston (KY), Afton, Murray (KY), Bayless, and University City.

“The U. City win was a big win for us,” Green said. “Carter’s (Ellston) walkoff hit was a huge motivational boost for the team.”

The team will do some damage once playoff time rolls around. The Hounds are part of District 5, which features teams such as MICDS, John Burroughs and Westminster.

On April 20 at 4:15 p.m., the team is on the road and takes on rival Ladue. 

10

Sports

April 13, 2011

Fans rev their engines for Formula One racing season

JEREMY PHILLIPS

Jack Holds Editor

Julie Shafferkoetter

male athlete of the month games and getting the job done,” Sucher said. “Sometimes if a guy is labeled as a relief pitcher, it’s because Junior Jeremy Phillips is not the he’s not good enough to be a starter most vocal player on the baseball but in Jeremy’s case, he’s just good team nor the biggest, but he has at closing games and is very valuable played a vital role in contributing to otherwise in the outfield.” the team’s success.

Phillips’ abilities in the outfield Philips carries more than his fair are indeed not to be underrated. share of weight on the team as the Phillips matches his offensive intenlead-off hitter, centerfielder, and sity with just as aggressive defensive occasional pitcher. Though some play. might crumble under such pressure, “Jeremy is our best outfielder,” Phillips has excelled.

Sucher said. “In centerfield, we’ve Junior Freddy Barnes has been instructed him to go catch every ball playing with Phillips since freshman that he can.” year.

As centerfielder, Phillips is the “Offensively Jeremy’s our lead-off leader of the outfield. Phillips is not batter, so it’s Jeremy’s job to score a an obvious leader, nor is he at all lot of runs and get on base so that dominant or overbearing. Instead, other people can drive him in,” Phillips displays leadership by acting Barnes said. “He starts off the order as an example for others players on and we have to start strong. I’ve been the team. hitting behind him which has been “I think his biggest strength is a lot of fun because he gets on base that he is one of our best leaders in a lot and it creates terms of leading by a lot of opportuniexample,” Barnes ties for me.”

“Jeremy is a quiet leader. said. “Whenever Phillips has Jeremy comes to He’s always out there proved he is more practice he’s ready than able to fulfill competing. When things to work hard. He the role of leadnever asks for a are going well, that off batter, hitting day off. He’s aldoesn’t disrupt him, and ways working the 0.500 in the first when things are going hardest, which sets eight games.

Though it’s ob- bad, that doesn’t disrupt an example for the vious Phillips can him. He’s always giving guys who haven’t take tough pitches, been around as everything he’s got.” he can also throw long and even for a few himself. In those who have Craig Sucher recent games, Philbeen around for Head Baseball Coach lips has stepped in a long time. He as a relief pitcher might not be as in later innings, vocal as others but pitching an impressive 1.75 ERA. we need people like him to set an exHead coach Craig Sucher stipu- ample for the team.” lates that Phillips was not designated Sucher agrees that Phillips’ deterthis position as a reflection of lack- mined presence is vital to keeping luster pitching skills, but instead the team intact. because of his ability to handle late “Jeremy is a quiet leader,” Sucher game pressure. said. “He’s always out there compet“Jeremy has distinguished him- ing. When things are going well, self over the last few seasons as be- that doesn’t disrupt him, and when ing adept at coming into close ball things are going bad, that doesn’t Sarah Tait Editor

disrupt him. He’s always giving everything he’s got.”

Phillips determination on the field carries into the off-season as well. Phillips’ current success is no doubt a result of the work he put into improving his game over the years.

“I’ve gone to lots of hitting instructors over the years so I’ve improved my hitting,” Phillips said.

“I’ve also gotten quicker hands and gotten a lot stronger through practice.”

The main work Phillips has done is to refine his game around his impressive natural athletic abilities.

Phillips’ superior strength and speed have played a large role in his success, but it is his work to better these abilities and his baseball skills that has made the greatest impact on his play.

“When I started playing with Jeremy freshman year, he was really raw in terms of baseball skills,” Barnes said. “He was always the best athlete on the team, but he might not have been the most developed baseball player. Jeremy has developed a lot of baseball skills and gone from being just an athlete that happened to play baseball to a baseball player who happens to be a really good athlete.”

With these refined skills plus raw talent, Phillips has a good chance of continuing his play past high school.

Already, colleges have begun to show interest in his blossoming talent.

“I’m looking to play [Division One] after high school,” Phillips said. “I’ve been contacted by Michigan State, Louisville, UConn, Georgetown, and Yale.”

With the season just beginning however, Phillips has more pressing goals to focus on.

“I’d like the team to get through the first round of districts,” Phillips said.

If Phillips continues to play as he has at the start of the season, the team has a good chance of achieving just that. 

Stop by for your favorite candy!

Who knows, you may find a new favorite.

www.chsglobe.com

For car and motor sport enthusiasts, Formula One, or F1 for short, is the pinnacle of mankind’s land racing achievements, the bridging of man and machine in perfect harmony. Streamlined super-machines designed to pump out a mandated 750 brake horsepower at 18,000 rpm whip around a track, pushing the drivers’ limits with g-forces fit for an astronaut.

Now, after months of wait since the end of the 2010 season, the 2011 Formula One season has finally revved up after a brief hiccup – the Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled due to violent revolts in Manama, Bahrain – and in the final week of March, things got underway for another thrilling Melbourne Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel, 2010 F1 World Driver’s Champion, was out on the hunt yet again in Melbourne, posting a dazzlingly quick time in the qualifying round, thus starting the race in first position, otherwise known as ‘pole position’. His team, Red Bull Racing, was ecstatic to have garnered another early win, as was he that, “Everything worked perfectly,” according to Vettel in a post-race interview on f1.com.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been a great race without fierce contenders, and Lewis Hamilton of team McLaren Mercedes came in second, coping with a broken floor board on the bottom of his car for the majority of the race. The real surprise came with Vitaly Petrov’s third place finish, his first ever podium finish and a huge step for his team, Lotus Renault.

The excitement of the race stemmed not only from the remarkable driving prowess, but also from new implementations and regulations in the 2011 season.

First, the 2011 F1 season will boast the return of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS for short.

This powerful technology restores charge to a battery when the F1 cars brake, taking advantage of the otherwise lost kinetic energy. There are many stipulations as to when a driver can use KERS, how much per lap, and for how long, but the ultimate result is a brief boost.

Essentially, the button for KERS that drivers press is a ‘push to pass,’ allowing for overtaking and therefore a

more exciting race. It will be interesting to see how the return of KERS from the 2009 season revitalizes passing around the track.

As a side note, and perhaps to further glorify champion Sebastian Vettel, his car did not use KERS and he therefore had no advantage. While the Red Bull car was equipped for KERS, it was not functioning properly and he had to tough out the race on pure engine power.

More changes for the 2011 season include movable rear wings, prohibited in 2010, which facilitate less downforce and drag on the straights, and more downforce in the turns, allowing for more overpassing. Also, the tires from last year were changed from Bridgestone to Pirelli, altering the grip dynamic entirely. The new Pirellis wear faster since they are have more grip, forcing F1 drivers to make more pit stops, as was intended to, again, create more nail-biting races.

So where do all the changes in the rules lead for the 2011 season?

What does Vettel’s win portend?

Well, perhaps nothing. But let’s hope they mean everything.

Vettel’s first place finish is reminiscent of last year, suggesting he’s still as focused as ever and prepared to fight hard on the asphalt in order to defend his champion status.

With the big names of the business like Lewis Hamilton still refusing to relent, and other major threats such as Fernando Alonzo of team Ferrari still racing hard, it’s not clear who will be the 2011 driver’s champ.

Furthermore, if Vitali Petrov has continued his success after his podium finish breakthrough at Melbourne, it could make for a very interesting point distribution between the hot shots of F1.

Ultimately, the new rule implementations and possible pecking orders of the finest drivers can mean only one thing. Excitement. The thrill of watching humans achieve the impossible at astronomical levels. Hopefully the 2011 season will bring more viewers to an otherwise unappreciated sport in America, and longtime fans will get their fair share of entertainment.

Either way, worldwide F1 fans’ thirst for petroleum has surely been quenched. 

Upcoming Home Games Boys’ Varsity Baseball 4/14 - 6:15PM vs. MICDS

4/19 - 4:15PM vs. Jennings

Girls’ Varsity Soccer 4/14 - 4:00PM vs. John Burroughs

4/20 - 4:00PM vs. Rosati Kain

Boy’s Varsity Tennis 4/19 - 4:00PM vs. Priory

4/26 - 4:15PM vs. Webster Groves

Track 4/21 - 6:00PM vs. Normandy & Jennings Boys’ Varsity Golf 4/14 - 3:50PM vs. Kirkwood Girls’ Lacrosse 4/22 - 4:00PM vs. Hazelwood Central

4/25 - 5:30PM vs. Parkway North

Varsity Water Polo 4/14 - 5:00PM vs. Rockwood Summit

4/15 - 4:30PM vs. Mehlville

Sports

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

11

All my single ladies, all my single ladies, put your hands up Julia Grasse helps lead the water polo team as the only female player this season.

Jake Lee Editor

One of the most unique sports team in spring is the CHS is water polo. Why? Because there is only one female on the team, junior Julia Grasse.

Water polo is one of the few sports that are coed because of the few female members involved. There are not enough females in most school districts to make a whole female league, and thus, boys and girls compete together.

Though some would say that females may be at disadvantage on an all male team, Grasse stands out as one of the stronger members.

“She’s probably one of the best females in St. Louis,” teammate Jack Layden said. “Other females are nothing compared to Julia and can’t compete with her.”

Co-captain Brett Virgin-Downey also agrees with Layden.

“She’s really good for a girl,” Virgin-Downey said.

“Though some girls find trouble playing with a lot of males, she finds no difficulty playing with the other guys.

She definitely knows what she’s doing.”

Head coach Wally Lundt praises Julia for her effort and her crucial role on the team.

“Julia is doing very well and she’s in our starting lineup,” Lundt said. “She’s great on defense and her placement of shots is very accurate. When she’s not guarded well, she can score easily.”

Though it may seem awkward to be the only female on the team, Grasse says that she is used to and that being the only female is nothing new.

“When I was in 8th grade,” Grasse said, “I was the only girl so I’m pretty much used to it. Since this is also my third year on the team, I feel like my teammates respect me and it doesn’t affect our teamwork.”

Despite Grasse’s and other team members’ efforts and participation, the team had a rough start in the begin-

ning of the season. One of the main reasons why the team is not as strong as last year is because last year’s star JB Garfinkel graduated. As a result of the loss of Garfinkel and other graduates, many JV members have been moved to varsity.

“We lost JB this year who was a major basis of our team,” Virgin-Downey said. “We have moved up a lot of JV members and they are still transitioning to the varsity level.”

Layden states that the loss of graduates has been motivation for many of the team members to pick up their game.

“I think everyone has picked up their slack and developed their abilities even though JB left,” Layden said.

“We’re doing really well this year and we’ve beat a lot of teams that gave us trouble last year, so I think we have improved a lot.”

The water polo team’s game is not yet perfect and they are focused on improving several aspects of their game to do better in tournaments.

“There’s usually at least one quarter in the game where we do badly,” Grasse said. “But if we go strong for the whole game, we could do a lot better. We need a little more practice in the fundamentals, but everyone is trying their best and the team is playing great.”

Lundt also agrees with Grasse and encourages the team to put more effort into the offensive side of the game.

“The biggest thing we need to improve is scoring,” Lundt said. “Not everyone goes for the shot and plays as offensive as they should. However, more members are starting to take shots, which is an improvement.”

Though the team struggled, they now have four wins and four losses and are continuing to improve.

“I hope by the end of the season we will have more flawless games,” Virgin-Downey said. “We have some shining moments and other times where people make a lot of mistakes, but we learn from them and by the end of the season, our team should be in good shape.” 

Alison Bayly

Elizabeth Sikora

Junior Julia Grasse assesses the defense in the game against U-City. The Hounds defeated U-City in the Founders Cup 14-5.

Returning after strong seasons, area basketball teams fail to live up to fans’ expectations Jake Bernstein Editor

Claire Bliss

female athlete of the month position on the field at any time.”

Bayly’s leadership and drive make her an excellent player to fill such a position, where she can set an exHard work, determination, and talent: Three of the ample for her teammates to help encourage them and most sought after skills by any athletic coach. Four-year lead them to a victory. varsity player and second year team captain Alison Bayly “Alison is not only a great leader, she is also a treencompasses these characteristics and is expected to have mendous player,” senior Lily Gage said. “She plays cenan outstanding season to close her high school career. ter mid and really helps to hold the team together when “Alison trains year round,” head coach Paul Hoelscher we’re on the field. She helps a lot with transitions and said. “She is always seen in the Clayton area jogging out- switching fields.” side in any weather. She is disciplined, reliable and inWhile Bayly’s work ethic makes it clear that she is credibly determined to do well. She is tireless because committed to having a successful season, her number she works year round to stay in great one goal is geared more towards her role shape. Many students in Clayton as team captain. pretend to be year round athletes, but “My number one goal for the season “To be a good soccer they don’t have the determination or is to be a great team leader,” Bayly said. player you can never discipline to really stay with it week “Last year as a captain I don’t think I was after week. Alison hasn’t gone three become complacent with as vocal as I could have been, so this year days for the last four seasons without your abilities. No matter I am working on that.” running.”

Bayly is a standout due to her skill how much you have imBayly’s strong work ethic is as and determination, as well as her attievident to her teammates as it is to proved or how good you tude towards her coach and her teamare, you must continue mates. According to Hoelscher, Bayly’s Hoelscher.

“Alison’s role on the team is to lead greatest strengths include “humility, to push yourself.” by example,” junior Andrea Stifflekindness, [and] work ethic.”

Alison Bayly man said. “She is always giving 110 “It’s easy to use ridiculous clichés Senior percent effort and helps to mainin this type of article,” Hoelscher said. tain a serious tone in practice and at “But Alison is literally one of the kindgames.” est people that I know. She is polite and It comes as no surprise that Bayly understands what kind - two qualities that will never go out of style. She is takes to be a good soccer player. She plays on select cares about other people and has a selfless attitude about teams in the offseason and works tirelessly to maintain the team.” and improve her fitness throughout the year.

Her “selfless attitude” and hard work have earned “To be a good soccer player you can never become Bayly a spot on the Grinnell College soccer team next complacent with your abilities,” Bayly said. “No matter year. Perhaps more importantly, she has earned the rehow much you have improved or how good you are, you spect and love of her teammates. must continue to push yourself.”

“I love playing with Alison because I know she always Not only does her work ethic make Bayly an asset has my back,” Gage said. “Alison goes 110% to every to the team, but also she plays center midfield, which ball, and her energy makes everyone else want to do the Hoelscher contends to be “perhaps the most important same.”  Anat Gross Sports Editor

Last April I published a story about college basketball. I heavily recommend going back and reading it online, for it is very humorous to look back at it today. Last year Saint Louis University (SLU) played Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in a smaller postseason tournament final.

Both were in similar situations, SLU was the youngest team in the country and VCU was building as well with only two seniors. VCU won in two close games and the game commentators continually referenced SLU’s and VCU’s promise for the future. Of course, as we know today, their seasons were dramatically different, VCU being broadcast in homes across the country for their success and SLU for their off the court problems.

While the off the court problems embarrassed the university, SLU did not perform well enough for people to forgive the players’ violations: they went 12-19 after finishing 2312 the prior season. Not only did I reference SLU’s promise, but also Missouri and Illinois’ predicted success for 2010-11.

Both Missouri and Illinois kept

their core team together between the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. The experts agreed with my predictions, ranking Missouri 15 and Illinois 16 in preseason and big things were expected of Missouri and Illinois come tournament time.

Quoting last year’s article, all three teams should improve “with SLU losing no players to graduation next year, Illinois only losing one major contributor and with Missouri having the depth to overcome their losses.” Of course, none of the teams improved, with SLU taking a huge step back and Illinois and Missouri staying put.

SLU’s two best players, Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed, as well as other role players, were excused from athletic participation this year following an incident involving multiple SLU basketball players and a SLU student. No matter the player’s testimony, these off the court problems cannot be tolerated, especially at a mid-major school like SLU. Some schools keep their respect despite suspensions and NCAA probations with one easy solution: winning games. A perfect example of this is Connecticut, who has been hammered by the NCAA for violations in recent years, yet because of their ability to win, they have maintained

their respect in the eyes of much of the American public. However, SLU is not the team most area basketball fans follow, that title usually belongs to Missouri or Illinois, who had drastically disappointing seasons.

Missouri cracked the top 10 during the season and generated national attention. The team’s depth was on display during the non-conference games, beating Vanderbilt- a possible Final Four team next year, Illinois and Old Dominion. Then, the season slowly began to unravel due to Missouri’s inability to win a conference game on the road. It was not a quick drop with one terrible loss, the losses added up as Missouri continually lost to lower-tier Big 12 teams.

Illinois’ downfall was even more mysterious, beating great teams in North Carolina and Wisconsin, but having horrific losses to Indiana and Illinois-Chicago. Last summer, it looked as if area basketball could reach its height this year, but because of off the court issues, inability to win on the road and inconsistency, SLU, Missouri and Illinois disappointed viewers across the country.

An opportunity to make some noise on the national scene was knocking on the door of all three colleges, but they all failed to answer. 

Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT

Saint Louis University’s Brian Conklin (14) reacts to a foul called against him in first-half action against Dayton at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday, January 5, 2010. Dayton slipped past Saint Louis, 60-50.

12

infocus

April 13, 2010

www.chsglobe.com

Arts Fair CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Junior Dylan Schultz helps put on an exploding display using diet cola and Mentos as a part of the AP Chemistry class’s contribution to the Arts Fair; Senior Kevin Matheny shares a special moment with a buddy; Sophomore Nina Murov uses stickers with her buddy at one of the arts and crafts stations. Visiting children were given the chance to make necklaces, masks, as well as spin art, shrinky-dinks, and decorate sunglasses, as well as dig for treasure and take pictures of themselves with their buddies; Freshman Adam Zoll helps his buddy string beads on his bracelet.

BELOW: Various buddies enjoy the festivities.

All photos by Paul Lisker

lifestyles Clayton High School

1 Mark Twain Circle

Clayton, MO 63105

Outside the Bubble

April 13, 2011

Adventures in Ladue Volume 82, Issue VIII

www.chsglobe.com

LITTLE SHOP OF

HORRORS pg. 18

Q&A

Alexis Atkinson

Spring fever sprouts in Clayton

Rebecca Taylor

{

From garden-tending to spring cleaning, CHS students have their own unique rituals to celebrate the arrival of warm weather.

{

English teacher Rebecca Taylor speaks with us this month on the subject of life, the Clayton universe, everything in it-- and beyond

By Steven Zou

I became a teacher because… I got really lucky. My mother was a teacher, and I never really thought about it, but I am very fortunate because I really like teenagers.

I also really like reading and writing and really like being at Clayton High School. I am just really lucky. I thought of being a teacher when I was in college.

I think that English is just as important as math or science is because… Just as important? I would say it is even more important because you can’t do math or science without English if you are in an English-speaking culture. I think math and science are fascinating and I would love to go to school here and study all the things that the students get to study here in math and science.

But when you are doing a lab report, you are writing in English. Generally in this culture and when you are doing a math problem, you are reading it in English and if you had to write out your answer, you would be responding in English, so it is the basis of everything.

When I was in high school, I loved to… I had horses and I liked to ride horses. I like to go to basketball games and football games and cheer and stuff like that.

Now, I like to… I am an English country dancer, which is like Jane Austen dancing and I am a member of two groups. One group is a social group, and I am the president of that group, and we put on dances twice a month and two balls every year. I also dance with a performance group and we dance in all kind of places.

This Sunday, we will be dancing at the History Museum, which is our second gig at the History Museum this year, and we are dancing for the Napoleon exit. And a week from Saturday, we will be dancing at downtown St. Charles for their historical days and we dance every year in St. Genevieve for their Felix Valley days. I think in the upcoming weeks we have probably four or five gigs.

We go out and perform a lot in costume, but the social group is not in costume.

My greatest fear is… I don’t have too many fears.

Well, sometimes I don’t like when our government overextends itself and pokes its nose in to other nations’ business. I really wonder about the no-fly zone in Libya right now because that is our third invasion of an Islamic country, which, if not disrespectful, is certainly questionable.

If I could go back to any time period, I would go back to… I would go back to the 18th century England because that is what I did my PHD dissertation on, the status of unmarried women and men in 18th century England. I think it would be really interesting to go back there and just compare the way we live. I think they lived an incredibly Spartan life, even the people

vegetable garden we have radishes, lettuce, broccoli, & cauliflower.

Later on this season we will add Spring is in the air! Well, almost asparagus, rhubarb, corn, sweet poin the air. Surprising snowstorms tatoes, and cherry tomatoes. And hindered any warm weather and of course we have many flowerbeds excitement one might be feeling through out the yard. I keep a small about the new incoming season. collection of irises in various colors However, the weather has not hin- and shapes.” dered devoted gardeners. Though Though gardens can be used to many flowers were destroyed, some grow valuable produce, many conare still blooming despite the un- sider planting a garden simply for fortunate weather. its beauty.

“The winter “I have a weather hasn’t hurt couple dif“We have a butterfly our plants too badly,” ferent gargarden in the back cor- dening spots junior Grace Cohen said. “The magnolias ner of the yard, with lots in the backreally got it though.

Cohen of coneflowers and of yard,” The day after it said.

“We snowed, the petals course butterfly bushes. I plant impaturned brown and fell love sitting in the ham- tiens in the off. However, most of flowers pots mock, watching the the other plants are around the butterflies land on the patio every still in the very early surrounding plants.” growing stages, so I’m spring. It’s a hopeful they will be tradition of Grace Cohen just fine.” sorts, all the Junior Though the weathorange and er has postponed garpurple imdening, gardeners patiens symnevertheless are eager bolize the to carry on with their springtime start of a new gardening season. planting rituals. Gardens come in We have a butterfly garden in the many different varieties, as there back corner of the yard, with lots are endless possibilities as far as of coneflowers and of course butwhat to plant is concerned. terfly bushes. I love sitting in the “My family has both an herb hammock, watching the butterflies garden and a vegetable garden,” ju- land on the surrounding plants.” nior Taylor Kloha said. “We have Though springtime is appealing many and various herbs, includ- to the eye, the sinuses take a hard ing basil, parsley, sage, coriander, blow. thyme and rosemary. So far in the “I have occasional allergies, Anna Williams Reporter

Sarah O’Brien

who are really wealthy. It would be interesting to see how the time period lines up with the way it’s represented in the texts that I read.

If I could be any book character, it would be… I don’t know about character but there is a book that I am reading and I really admire the author. It’s a memoir and its called “The Grace of Silence” and it’s by Michele Norris, who is a national radio co-host of “All Things Considered.” She came to St. Louis on her book tour last fall, and she was so impressive that she really set a mark in my mind.

The most awesome thing I have done in my life is… I don’t tend to think of myself in those terms but I really enjoyed living in Oregon. I was living in a look out tower in Oregon and I was up in the woods for several months living in a tower with my cats. I was in eastern Oregon and I was on Snow Mountain Ranger District and also I was on the Wall Wotman Ranger District in North East Oregon. I used to walk with my cats in the night, and it was just really beautiful to walk in the woods at night and there are no lights around. One time we were walking and we scared up a deer, and we probably scared that deer a lot, but that deer also scared us too because he came charging out of the woods and my cats were like “Aeeee!” So that was pretty fun.

My favorite quote is… my favorite passage from Macbeth. “Light thickens and the crow makes wings to the rookie wood.” I like this quote because I have been reading Macbeth since high school. I just think it is so beautiful, just lovely. I don’t think the quote has impacted my life but I certainly enjoy reading Shakespeare and reading it with my students. I think that we are really lucky to have Shakespeare.

The most important lesson I’ve learned is… not to fight with people. No point in fighting with people, especially the people you work with and people you live with,. It’s just pointless and it took me a long time to learn that. Some time you have to fight. I am not a pacifist, but I think most of the time it is better to choose not to fight. It may happen that by the time you get over being mad, the other person is not over being mad. You would like to make peace, but the other person is not ready or maybe the other person isn’t really that mad and you didn’t do what you thought. It doesn’t get you anywhere to fight with people.

When I stop teaching, I want to… I want to have more time to dance, which will be really fun. I can imagine myself teaching part time some place like at a teaching gig in a university in the evening, you know, like one class. So I can’t imagine stopping teaching ever. 

especially when the cherry tree blooms,” Cohen said. “It releases tons of pollen which literally covers the cars and the driveway, tuning them green. I’m not looking forward to that.”

Kloha added that though she is not as allergic as she once was to pollen, such as that of the pear tree, the smell is still horrible.

Besides the joys of gardening, spring cleaning is also a common ritual that takes place. This is the time when people leave the lethargy of Winter behind and begin anew.

“For the past few years, every time we haven’t gone anywhere for vacation, it’s been manual labor city,” freshman Chandler Kropp said. “Two years ago we did the garage and the gutters. Last year we redid my sister’s room.”

Spring cleaning involves more than just manual labor. It also involves shedding ones skin, so to speak.

“Spring cleaning involves tidying up inside and going through my winter clothes, donating the ones I don’t wear at all anymore, storing away the rest, and getting out my summer clothes,” Kloha said.

Whether one is working in a garden or working on one’s house, everyone can agree that the flowers are the most beautiful and beloved part of the season.

“I love irises and snow drops and crocuses,” Kloha said. “I get really excited when I think about planting them. One can never have too many spring bulbs.” 

Lending a hand in

Honduras

>> pg. 15 << Fergus Inder

14

Features

April 13, 2011

RISKY BUSINESS:

www.chsglobe.com

Notable stats from the student health survey

Ninth graders who have been bullied on school property in the past year

20% Have tried alcohol 9th Grade 11th Grade

47%

30%

CHS health teacher Melissa Hobick recently released the Health Department Survey to teachers and faculty. Last February, Clayton eight, ninth, and eleventh grade students took the state-mandated, online survey.

The biannual survey is a compilation of anonymous student responses relating to student usage of drugs, alcohol, and other drugs. Also included are questions relating to bullying, cheating, and mental health issues.

All of the included statistics are from the 2010 survey. 

14%

“Sometimes it is ok to cheat at school” 9th Grade 11th Grade

10% 39%

11%

Ninth graders who have a person in their home with an alcohol or drug problem (other than self)

12%

Ninth graders who have been in a physical fight in the past year

98%

Ninth graders who have seriously considered suicide in the past year

14%

Eleventh graders who have engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days

41% 72%

Ninth graders who reported feeling safe at school and on the way to/from school

Have tried marijuana 9th Grade 11th Grade

Eleventh graders who rode with a drinking driver (past 30 days)

Eleventh graders who have used marijuana in the past 30 days

30%

28%

Facebook expands services, increases value Marilyn Gund Reporter

The social networking site Facebook has been increasing in value since its creation, and in January, it was valued at $50 billion by Goldman Sachs. This makes its perceived value more than companies such as Yahoo or eBay. Facebook is indeed an Internet giant, as proven by the fact that in 2010 it took over the title of the most visited web page on the Internet from none other than Google.

Facebook is without a doubt an enormously successful company. But has their increasing wealth and power changed the way that some users think about Facebook in general or their Facebook page? Most CHS students say no. “[The new value of Facebook] hasn’t changed my view, I just hope that they don’t change it to make it different because they always seem to be updating it and they don’t give people enough time to catch up,” Freshman Maggie Schedl said. “Like, this used to be over here, but now it’s over there kind of stuff. If the majority of people want it, then all right. But they shouldn’t change the fundamental aspects of it.”

However, some students think that Facebook’s constant updates, new additions, and changes are helpful.

Sophomore Varun Chakravarthy said, “[Facebook]’s been changing always, and the new updates that they’ve been doing…have pretty much changed the way I use

it.”

With $50 billion to back up any changes that they make, some students suggested ideas like a video-chatting option added into your Facebook account, or a dislike button. But, as Chakravarthy adds, “It’s kind of hard to offer more services because they’ve offered so many…I mean, if they can, great, but I think they’re doing enough already.”

One of the reasons that Facebook has been able to earn so much money is that they have been able to outdistance other social networking sites such as MySpace and Xanga. By offering some amenities to their customers that others cannot, they can slowly get more and more users. But getting more users, they sell more ads.

The advertising on the site (such as the banners in the sidebars) is what makes a site like Facebook profitable, even without having users pay.

As Schedl says, “[The ads] are pretty much the only way for them to make money, except for making us pay, and that I do not want to do. I don’t actually mind ads, to be honest, I don’t even pay attention to them, so I think it’s okay.”

Sophomore Emily Widder adds, “It’s free. For other sites you have to pay whatever monthly fee…and so I think they’re doing good for being free.”

So many people use Facebook every day that they hardly think about how their usage is affecting the growth of the company. But it is, and clearly Facebook has been doing very well. 

Nicole Indovino

Courtesy of the Polinsky family

Hava Polinsky practices playing the violin. She won the St. Louis Got Talent competition with a violin piece.

Wydown student wins talent competition Caroline Greenberg Reporter

By using her impressive violin skills, sixth grader Hava Polinsky recently won a local talent contest and, in the process, defeated more than 80 competitors.

The St. Louis Got Talent competition was held by the organization Nishmah, which is a local Jewish organization that serves and builds community amongst Jewish women and girls.

“My mom used to be really involved [in Nishmah],” senior Ruthie Polinsky said. “But she is very active in the St. Louis Jewish community now.”

Nishmah is run by families all over the St. Louis County and has helped many younger kids with mentoring and volunteer opportunities.

“Nishmah has lots of programs for young women. I am on what is called the Banot Board, which is a part of Nishmah,” Nishmah member Meredith Joseph said. “We set up fun activities that have to do with women empowerment.”

The competition was open to anyone no matter his or her religion.

It was held on Feb. 14 with the 14 finalists. Hava was the youngest fi-

nalist.

“I was nervous to play in front of the crowd, but once I got on stage I felt great,” Hava said.

Hava has been playing the violin for six years.

She has been learning through school and private tutors.

“I’ve had two private teachers, Nora Tiepen and Dana Myers,” Hava said. “I also play in the honors orchestra through school.”

Every night, anyone in the Polisnky household can hear Hava practicing for hours on end.

“I practice every day for at least three hours,” Hava said.

Her family had been behind her throughout her violin career, supporting and encouraging her.

“My whole family has a passion for music, so we try to keep her motivated by doing things she loves with the violin,” Ruthie said. “My dad also acts as a private coach. He practices with her and helps her almost every night.”

For St. Louis Got Talent, there were two honors: the winner selected by the judges’ panel and the winner selected by the audience. Hava won both.

“I won $250 dollars for an audience grant award, and then $500 from the judges at the event,” Hava

said.

Hava is giving some of the money back to the organization, Nishmah and is starting her first bank account that she hopes to reward herself with a little bit.

However, money is not the only thing Hava that Hava got from this competition.

“I really wasn’t planning on winning, I just wanted the experience of a performance in front of a large crowd,” Hava said. “So, winning the competition definitely boosted my confidence as a musician.”

Amongst the large audience, Hava’s family was also there to see her performance and provide support.

“It was probably one of the greatest moments of my life to see her win.

That’s not an exaggeration,” Ruthie said. “To see my baby sister perform in front of hundreds of people and WIN a competition against professionals made me so incredibly proud and happy for her. She deserved it more than anyone in the world.”

Despite her talents, Hava was surprised to have one the competition against so many professional competitors.

“When I won I felt like it wasn’t really real,” Hava said. “It kind of felt like a dream. I was very proud. I cried from joy.” 

Features

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

15

Fergus Inder

A WEEK IN CATACAMAS A

s some students spent their spring breaks relaxing on beaches and skiing down slopes, juniors Paul Lisker and Fergus Inder woke up at 6:30 every day to help the helpless and treat the sick in the small Honduran town of Catacamas.

Noah Eby Co-Editor in Chief

Lisker and Inder spent a week in Catacamas working with a group of doctors from Wash. U. and across the nation to treat patients. Both found out about the trip, which is an annual event in its tenth year, through their parents who work at Wash. U. The town itself was small but spread out, consisting mainly of small, one-story buildings.

“The hospital was about 15 minutes on paved roads from the center of the town, which has a cathedral,” Lisker said. “And as you go out from the small center of the town, the fringe communities are mainly stricken with poverty, and you can see that as you go out, the poorer the community becomes.”

Fergus and Inder saw upwards of 300 patients a day at El Hospital Santo Pedro Hermano, with common ailments ranging from asthma to epilepsy.

“A lot of the time, [the doctors] would prescribe medicine, we would go get it, and then teach the patients how to use the medicine,” Inder said. “But then some doctors would have you do preliminary interview on what medicines [the patient] is taking and what their symptoms are.”

Asthma is a major problem in Honduras because cooking is often done with firewood and trash is often burned. The dusty roads only add to the problem. As a result, Lisker and Inder gave out inhalers to many of the patients.

Much of what struck them was the poverty that they encountered in Catacamas, things like illiteracy that are so foreign to Clayton.

“The memorable part is seeing people come in without shoes, and you’d give people their prescription and they’d say, I can’t read this,” Inder said. “I’ve never been in a place where that sort of poverty exists and where people are so grateful despite that.”

Indeed, the people were grateful. Lisker said that you could see by “how they smiled” that the patients knew they were getting great treatment.

But at the same time he said that patients would often ask for just a bit more medicine, hoping that it might last them the year until the next doctors come.

“The interesting thing about all of [the patients] is that, regardless of their socioeconomic status, they always came with their Sunday best – they came with their best clothes to see the American doctors,” Lisker said.

Inder and Lisker had a chance to get to know some of the patients and doctors that they met in Catacamas. Inder mentioned a neurologist from Cuba, Otico, who taught him how to diagnose Parkinson’s, and a pair of young girls he spent time with.

“I worked a lot with the kids,” Inder said. “I would entertain the kids while they were waiting because I worked with the pediatrician for two days. There were a lot of really cute kids – I had them playing Fruit Ninja on my phone.”

Lisker, too, found his experience working with children especially remarkable. He described one patient, a young boy, who was microcephalic, meaning the circumference of his skull was much smaller than usual.

“As I worked with one of the pediatrics, there were several extremely tough cases which I thought were very memorable,” Lisker said. “There was a particular case of a microcephalic patient who had unfortunately developed the condition prenatally because of radiation to the mother with cancer. So just seeing the father with the microcephalic [son] was a rather impressive experience.”

In short, while most students spent their spring break sleeping in, relaxing and vacationing, Lisker and Inder spent theirs changing lives. And as they gave an impoverished town life-changing medical care, they found that they, too, were changed by their experience.

“It’s hard to decide if one week changes your life,” Lisker said. “But there’s no doubt that this week was a memorable experience that will last me throughout my life. 

TOP: Power lines run across a road in the small Honduran town of Catacamas. TOP LEFT: Patients crowd a hallway of El Hospital Santo Pedro Hermano as they wait for treatment. TOP RIGHT: Junior Fergus Inder holds a small Honduran child that came to the hospital. BOTTOM LEFT: Junior Paul Lisker sits with two girls at the hospital. BOTTOM RIGHT: Inder works in one of a series of rooms down one hallway in the hospital. BOTTOM: Hazy air covers the spanning town of Catacamas, composed mostly of small, one-story buildings.

“It’s hard to decide if one week changes your life, but there’s no doubt that this week was a memorable experience that will last me throughout my life.”

All lower photos by Paul Lisker

16

A&E

April 13, 2011

iPad 2 displays new technologies, options for personalization onto the side and over its screen.

The new cover’s configuration allows you to prop the iPad up vertically Magical. or create a slight horizontal incline, It’s truly the only way to describe optimal for typing. Furthermore, it the new Apple iPad 2. Sleeker, showcases the nearly instantaneous lighter, and faster, the iPad 2 serves startup time of the iPad 2 because as as a significant improvement off the you open the cover, it immediately original ground-breaking techno- awakens from its sleep, ready for logical marvel. use.

At less than one In the end, and a half pounds, one might wonthe new iPad has a der what they “The iPad 2 is a blank 10 hour battery life could do with palette- a beautiful with a minimum an iPad that is multi-touch platform, sometimes seen storage space of 16 gigabytes. Its front as merely an overfor you to install, exand back cameras sized iPod. Yet, plore, and enjoy any open a whole new the options are multitude of applicarealm of opportunimind-boggling, ties including Face- tions from the App store considering the Time, high definiover 65,000 that personalize your tion video recording, iPad applications iPad to fit your lifestyle.” that are available and Photo Booth.

Nevertheless, dein Apple’s App spite these improveStore. ments, Apple has maintained the The iPad 2 is a blank palette – a same price for the iPad 2 as the origi- beautiful multi-touch platform – for nal, starting at $499, and now offers you to install, explore and enjoy any the iPad in black or white while hav- multitude of applications from the ing 3G options provided by AT&T App Store that personalize your iPad and Verizon. to fit your lifestyle. Whether you are In addition, to complement the a high school student or a grandpariPad 2 is Apple’s new Smart Cover, ent, there are numerous ways of utiwhich masterfully integrates with lizing your iPad, including some of the device, magnetically snapping the following on the right:

Book

Zach Praiss Community Editor

Fast Facts:

Newspaper

Arcade

FaceTime

HD Video

Email

Instrument

Television

Computer

Apple has already sold 100 percent of its first batch of iPad 2s, released March 10. It is estimated that 450,000 to 500,000 units were sold in the first day alone, a big jump up from its predecessor: the original iPad only sold 300,000 units in its first weekend.

www.chsglobe.com

First off, the iPad is a great way to read a book. Indeed, some cannot stray from the classic paper of a book but the iBooks, Kindle and Nook applications on the iPad have thousands of stories that you can download in a matter of seconds and leaf through with the simplicity of a swipe of a finger.

As more newspapers switch to online subscriptions, the iPad has huge potential as a revolutionary way of embracing online journalism through the multi-touch interaction of media applications. Most newspapers like the New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USAToday now have interactive applications.

With advanced graphics performance, the iPad can be your video game arcade. Choose from thousands of games in the App Store and challenge your friends to virtual competitions through the Game Center application built into the device.

FaceTime is one of the greatest new additions to the iPad 2. You can now video call any of your friends if they own more recent Apple products and take advantage of iPad’s two new cameras.

The backside of the new iPad features a HD video camera that is perfect for capturing classic moments on the go. Then, you can edit your footage on the iMovie application for the iPad.

The iPad is also a easy way for you to browse through your email, organize your inbox and send messages. At first, it is a little unusual typing on the touchscreen keyboard, but, with time, it comes naturally.

With its advanced multi-touch technology, the iPad can become a piano, guitar, drum set or music editor through applications such as GarageBand.

Through subscription to applications such as Netflix or Hulu Plus, you can actually stream your favorite television shows or movies straight from your iPad with either a 3G or a wireless connection.

With applications such as Pages (like Word), Keypoint (like PowerPoint) and Numbers (like Excel), you can create and print documents and give presentations by connecting the iPad to a digital projector. 

‘Fiery Pool’ exhibit highlights Mayan beliefs with art

gossip tears perfect guy romantic comedy shopping humor shoes guilty pleasure sugary sweet addicting popcorn cheerleaders wishes granted chocolate hormones devious plotter happy ending sighing girl friends the wrong girl/guy opposites attract sentimentality blind dates best kiss sleepovers passive-aggression women rose cheesiness feelings predictable young girls night out girly college emotion Prince Charming drama romance happily ever after bad boy idealistic hate to love blonde friendship boy talks unfulfilling staple actors star-crossed lovers tear-jerker pink

Andrea Glik Reporter

Chick Flick Caitlin Kropp

Top Five: The True Queens of Romance Caitlin Kropp Features Editor

Noun: Chick flick. Definition: Colloquially, a movie generally associated with females, normally comprised of at least a romantic subplot. Sound familiar? Love ‘em or hate ‘em, chick flicks are an indelible part of our culture.

And everyone has their favorites, their secret loves that can only be complemented with a late night ice cream binge and/or a heapful of crying. But which flicks are the best, the cream de la crop? There are only five movies that, in my opinion, take the cake. These are the queens of chick flicks.

5. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” Ah, the course of true love never has run smoothly. Especially if the people involved are trying to sabotage each other at every turn. Meet Andie [Kate Hudson] and Ben [Matthew McConaughey], both of whom have a secret: they’re pretending to love each other to win something. Ben is trying to get Andie to fall in love with him for a bet, while all Andie wants is to drive Ben away for an article. Their mismatched motives result in some truly hilarious sequences (the love fern, for instance), but, in the end, they predictably fall for each other anyway. It’s sweet, silly, and it introduced me to the work of Carly Simon. Who knew “You’re So Vain” before this movie, anyway?

4. “Sleepless in Seattle” Before I go on, let’s reflect on something: “Sleepless in Seattle” came out in 1993, the year in which the majority of our student body was either born in or even later. So why is such an old movie (relatively speaking) still so relevant? Two words: Tom Hanks. Another two words? Meg Ryan. Both their performances beautifully resonate on screen. Sure, the matchmaker plot is a little cheesy, but the idea that it is initiated by a little kid redeems it in my eyes. Hanks is truly believable as the lonely single dad, and, only five minutes into the movie, we all want to see him find love. Plus, the finale? Possibly the most epic meeting ever. Meet me in New York.

3. “Titanic” “Titanic” is a true classic. The music, the costumes, the big hulking boat.

Pretty much everyone knows the story of doomed lovers Jack [Leonardo DiCaprio] and Rose [Kate Winslet], finding love on the equally doomed Titanic. A multiple Oscar winner, “Titanic” is one of the few chick flicks that have actually received accreditation, and that will continue to place it high up on people’s lists. Mix that with a hit song (Celine Dion, anyone?) and you’ve got yourself a winner. The only drawback? Spoiler alert: Jack dies.

And this is why it takes the number three spot on my list. Everyone wants the happy ending; Titanic can only end in tears.

2. “The Devil Wears Prada” Wonderfully snarky and yet enlightening, “The Devil Wears Prada” isn’t the average chick flick, as it focuses on something other than romance (although there is some romance in the movie, with the addition of adorable boyfriend, Nate [Adrian Grenier]). Instead, this movie thrusts decidedly unfashionable journalist Andy Sachs [Anne Hathaway] into the fashion world.

Hilarity ensues. But, at the end, there is a lesson learned which, again, is different from the chick flick norm. “The Devil Wears Prada” gets number two on my countdown, mainly for the reason of its hilarious quoteableness.

Lionel is a genius.

1. “The Notebook” At last, number one. There can be no doubt that “The Notebook” is the epitome of all that is the chick flick. Focused on the forbidden romance between rich girl Allie [Rachel McAdams/Gena Rowlands] and Noah [Ryan Gosling/James Garner], the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, “The Notebook” is utterly predictable and yet still so addicting. It’s the same romance, continually played out, but it’s also sweet and poignant and wonderful. Allie and Noah will always get their happy ending. But isn’t that the true beauty of chick flicks, however contrived they may be? The characters always, always get their happy ending. 

By looking at the artifacts of the ancient Mayan civilization, many beliefs that they held about the world they lived in can be seen.

The ancient Mayans believed that life began out of the sea. A massive crocodile ripped the humans in the sea to shreds and formed a bloody ocean that all life came out of. Today, this might be called a primordial soup. This concept is shown in the Mayans’ many works of pottery that display crocodiles viciously attacking creatures. There is one particular bowl that has a lid made out of a clay crocodile. Around the bowl shows the events that led to the creation of life.

Mayans also believed there was no land at the start of time. There was only the ocean where the mythic beasts, like the crocodile, lived. One of those creatures was the world turtle. This great turtle’s back came out of the water and formed the land that the Mayans called home.

To the Mayans, wind deities held up the air and sky, similar to the ancient Greek god Atlas who held the sky on his back. This is shown in an ancient throne that belonged to one of the Mayan rulers. The wind gods are holding up the throne, and it is clear that the god’s muscles are tightening from the weight of the sky.

One clay bowl displays a proud Jaguar who breathes across the Mayan villages. The Jaguar is the god of the Mayan underworld. He is reborn in the East at dawn as the sun god. His breath turns to clouds, and clouds mean rain. This deity controls the lives of Mayans because of rain meant crops could grow into food.

Seashells were the sacred life force of ancestors that had returned

to the sea at death, continuing the belief that all life begins at sea. They thought that it was also the final resting ground for their dead.

The Mayans also developed a culinary masterpiece that is still eaten today: chocolate. One of the pieces of the exhibit was a cup that was designed for chocolate eating. With water, cocoa beans and hot pepper, they would blow into a conch-like bowl and make frothy chocolate that they would both drink and inhale.

Mayan hot chocolate is now a regular on coffee shop menus.

Incense was another substance that the Mayans used during their rituals. One of the key pieces of the exhibit was an intricate incense burner that showed detailed and almost frightening faces of different Mayan gods. The smells and smoke that filled their temples made the intricate carvings of the incense burners look haunting and powerful. The thick smoke would wrap around the faces of their deities and the intense smell would fill the air.

The most haunting and interesting of all the pieces in the exhibit is the Queens’s bloodletting ritual carving. The Queen passes a stingray spine through her tongue and drips onto a cloth, which is then burned.

The smoke from this cloth turns into a serpent and the rain god comes out of the serpent’s mouth. The Queen and the deity’s meeting is the purpose of the ritual. She would also take a hallucinogenic substance that would allow her to see the deity from the smoke of her burning blood.

In 900 AD social, climate and political upheavals led to the downfall of dynastic rulers. This led to the fall of the Mayan empire a few years later, their past lives on through exhibits like ‘Fiery Pool’ and desserts like chocolate. 

A&E

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

17

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE

LADUE

Kara Kratcha and Caitlin Kropp Section Editors

Excuse me? LaWHO? As much as we hate to admit it, CHS, we have a confession to make: there are actually things to do in Ladue. That’s right, the land of our rival is not filled only with big houses, sprawling lawns, and Ladusers. In fact, there are some good places to eat and hang out.

You may have to avoid some powder blue Rams on this venture out of the Clayton bubble, but the risk involved is bound to pay off. So get ready, if you dare, to leave your comfort zone in a most extreme way. Just don’t blame these places for their location; they can’t help that.

Plaza Frontenac’s unique films Plaza Frontenac is not usually known for its fabulous shopping, at least to the teenage generation, but they do boast one of the best non-mainstream theaters around.

Plaza Frontenac Cinema is the place to go for those movies that make limited release only, or just don’t float around on the popular circuit. Normally these descriptors apply to films like great period dramas and

quirky documentaries, both of which are always worth the occasional view. The small size adds to the allure of it all. Sure, there are fewer movies, but there are also shorter lines and more snacks at the concession stand.

This may be a theatre frequented by senior citizens, but, when you’re enjoying “The Young Victoria” in a dark theater, who’s really going to care?

Hannah Feagans

Schneithorst’s international exterior may stick out in the middle of its Ladue parking lot location, but is worth a visit purely based on its eccentric theme and design.

Schneithorst’s German delights Despite an impossibly perplexing entrance location and pronunciation (shine-thorst’s? shnith-horst’s?), this rustic German restaurant is an amusing place to spend a lunch.

The overusage of wood and the quaint pictures of vegetables and geese adorning the walls contribute

to the feel of an authentic German inn setting. The menu itself is more diverse, with only a slight sprinkling of native amenities, and they serve a killer pancake on the weekends.

The German fare itself is slightly harder to fathom, let alone digest, and it is apparent that in order to

dine here, one’s sandwich-eating skills must be up to par. Failure to do so is disastrous. Additionally, senior citizens generally populate the restaurant. But that’s only a negative if you don’t mind the stares/occasional snoring. Besides, those pancakes? So worth it.

Hannah Feagans

Schneithorst’s diners enjoy lunch at the German restaurant surrounded by the German cottage decor.

Hannah Feagans

The Plaza Frontenac Cinema is one of the only movie theaters in the area that shows limited release films.

House of India’s delicious fare As the name implies, House of India offers consistently good Indian food to the Clayton and Ladue area. Located right behind the Ladue Schnucks, getting there is no hike. Though the food is a little pricey, the deliciousness is well worth the splurge.

I particularly recommend the takeout for a fun evening in with a friend or two. Entering the restaurant and catching a glimpse of the clean, somewhat formal interior, I told the hostess my name to pick up my order. She, perhaps perplexed at the contrast between my all-business phone voice and flip-flopped appearance, raised an eyebrow at my adolescent presence and asked delicately, “Dinner time?” I just grinned.

With an evening of naan (order the plain, not the chicken) and chicken biryan, I did not mind her amused skepticism.

Hannah Feagans

House of India is perfect for getting takeout or gorging on the buffet.

Hannah Feagans

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe, a dessert restaurant located right next to House of India, is a bright, modern environment in which to enjoy a decadent treat.

Although the restaurant offers an array of lunch options, the cupcakes definitely steal the show. From the basic sweetness Birthday Sundae Delight to the over-the-top richness

of the Reese’s cupcake, Jilly’s treats are fun and delicious, and the shop features a selection of Easter and spring-themed cupcakes for April.

These cupcakes are stuffed with rich fillings and are big enough for two, so plan to share.

For around six dollars or less, Jilly’s cupcakes make great birthday surprises or even snacks for study breaks.

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe is great, but the cupcakes are the true highlight of any visit.

Hannah Feagans

A&E 18 Whatever they offer you, don’t feed the plant!

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

This year’s Student Run Musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” delights and terrifies with the show’s excellent music, characterization and creative, frightening adaptation of the seductive, man-eating plant, Audrey II.

1

Maria Massad

2

3

Alexis Atkinson

4

Alexis Atkinson

Maria Massad

Maria Massad Editor

Feed me, Seymour, feed me all night long.

This year’s student-run musical (SRM), “Little Shop of Horrors,” was performed at CHS from April 1 to April 3 and from April 8 to April 10. Directed by senior Ian Miller, “Little Shop of Horrors” was absolutely excellent. It depicted Seymour’s inner struggle between what he wants to do and what he knows he actually should do about his carnivorous, blood-loving plant named Audrey II, as well as the blossoming (no pun intended) romance between Seymour and Audrey.

Sophomore Robbie Love and freshman Ben Diamond played Seymour, the main character, alternating every performance. Each had his own take on the character, although both effectively interpreted Seymour’s inner struggle. Love’s interpretation of Seymour was clearly showing his struggle with the decision of whether he should stop feeding his plant human blood or not, and so he played a decidedly more aggressive Seymour. Diamond, on the other hand, was a more innocent, lovestruck, helpless version of Seymour. Diamond played a more believable Seymour, but Love was able to deliver his lines with more humor.

Senior Sarah McAfee played Audrey, Seymour’s romantic interest. McAfee had great stage presence, and she was able to maintain an unnatural, high-pitched accent throughout the play. She was able to channel Audrey’s low self-image through dynamic facial expressions and an aura of helplessness.

Junior Fergus Inder added to “Little Shop of Horrors” through his lead role of Mr. Mushnik, the owner of the flower shop that houses Seymour’s strange and interesting plant. He was able to channel life into Mr. Mushnik’s character through over-dramatization; this was great, though, since Mushnik believed himself to be greater than the others in the play, and Inder’s performance reflected this fact. Mushnik’s humorous lines and actions were delivered perfectly by Inder as well.

It was fulfilling to see new faces added to this per-

formance. In particular, sophomore James Kerr played one of the lead male roles, the dentist, extremely well by using a confident, slimy voice that only hilarious antagonists could have. The dentist added comic relief because of his craziness.

The obvious challenge of “Little Shop of Horrors” was the plant, Audrey II. Audrey II needed to be mobile, able to talk, and have an overall creepy factor. Miller solved this challenge by using students as extensions of the center of the plant, which was played by senior Ali Meyer. Audrey II was a very seductive, fear-inspiring plant in Miller’s version of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Of course, the play would not be complete without the music, as “Little Shop of Horrors” is, of course, a musical. Senior John Holland was the musical director and arranger, as well as the piano player. The orchestra was able to perform beautifully under his direction.

The set was also an excellent addition to the play. The iron fence and trashcans upstage showed that the location of this musical, Skid Row, was a not a great place to live and added to the overall creepiness of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Senior Erin Knadler was in charge of the lighting. The lighting added tremendously to the mood to the play. The lights grew dim whenever the plant was present on stage, creating a feeling of intensity to the already-sinister plant scenes.

In addition, Moira MacDougal and Marin Klostermeier’s costumes enhanced the performances. Audrey’s silver sparkly dress added to the girly-ness and, therefore, helplessness of her personality. Mr. Mushnik’s attire demonstrated the time period’s stress on similarity and cleanliness. The dentist’s leather jacket depicted his toughness and added to the “bad boy” personality. Seymour’s clothes emphasized his timidity when around the other characters. When he tries to impress Audrey by wearing the dentist’s leather jacket, Audrey is not impressed and, in fact, begins to cry because it reminds her of the toughness of the dentist. The leather jacket did not suit Seymour’s personality at all.

Overall, this year’s SRM was not one to miss.

Oh, and as a final warning: don’t feed the plant. 

1. Audrey II, the voracious plant, grows after each feeding of human flesh and blood. Senior Ali Meyer played that plant’s original pod. In director Ian Miller’s adaptation, the plant expands by the addition of more actors.

2. Senior Sarah McAfee plays Audrey after a particularly brutal encounter with her sadistic dentist of a boyfriend (played by James Kerr). Trapped in Skid Row, the play’s dilapidated urban setting, Audrey works in the florist shop with Seymour and Mushnik. 3. The florist Mr. Mushnik (junior Fergus Inder) speaks to his newly adopted son, Seymour Krelborn (sophomore Robbie Love and freshman Ben Diamond, not pictured) in a fatherly tone. Seymour is propelled from poverty to fame by the success and notoriety of his newly discovered fly-trap, Audrey II, though his newfound prosperity is tainted by the guilt of increasingly necessary murder to keep the plant alive. 4. Sophomore Emily Gudmestad and seniors Tracy Clapper and Phoebe Raileanu punctuate the performance with catchy tunes and pithy, 1950’s-themed observations as the doo-wop girls.

A&E

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

19

Pokemon exemplifies video game innovation Shuyang Li Reporter

By the time I first encountered Pokemon, the games were already two years old. Nonetheless, Red and Blue seemed like their own magical world, despite occupying just the 66mm screen of my Gameboy Color. Twelve years later, staring at a blank word document, my mouse pointer drifts to a Gameboy emulator and the familiar Pokemon Red starting screen flashes up once more.

Turn back to those rainy Autumn afternoons of California, 1998. As the Monica Lewinsky scandal threatened to bring down Clinton, as Sergey Brin and Larry Page brought forth Google, the harbinger of a new internet age, I sat absorbed in the magic of â&#x20AC;&#x153;pocket monsterâ&#x20AC;? battles - occasionally throwing an oath or two at the sheer multitudes of Pokemon trainers who dared challenge me.

I spent an entire Saturday morning training a Mewtwo to level 99 with Strength in an attempt to capture #151, the legendary Mew. After the ship refused to budge, I swore off the game forever.

As usual, I returned to play it later that day.

Missingno was another integral part of the game - a glitch that allowed for the duplication of any item up to 99 times, most often used for rare candies to level oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pokemon up - useless in the long run, as base statistics would not improve.

I wish I could say it taught me to not utilize artificial methods of boosting output, but in the end the experience was nothing more than a sad waste of time, a passing annoyance.

Perhaps the longest lasting legacy of the first generation of

Pokemon was its innovative battle system. While Squareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groundbreaking Final Fantasy (I) utilized a turn-based battle format a full ten years before the release of Red and Blue, it was Pokemon that turned turn-based gaming into an art form. With an efficient and intuitive layout of the combat menu, Pokemon made encounters streamlined and tactical, with a variety of attacks, each having its own flavor and effect.

As the generations of Pokemon came into existence, the franchise only improved.

Gold and Silver, Generation II, released in 2000, drastically improved immersion by introducing day and night cycles monitored by an in-game clock, allowing for time-contingent events. It also inaugurated Pokemon breeding, an addictive addition to discover new Pokemon.

The 2003, third generation of games, Ruby and Sapphire, added double-Pokemon battles, vastly deepening the tactical considerations of in-game combat, as well as Pokemon contests to add a non-combat portion to the games.

The fourth generation of Pokemon, released in 2007 (2006 in Japan), innovated by allowing wireless gameplay and pseudomultiplayer.

Pokemon Black and White, the fifth generation, has so far represented a major reworking of the basic function of learning new moves, allowing for TMs not to be consumed on use and saving major grinding for levels.

With each new generation of Pokemon, the dynasty only improves. Embrace the call of Pokemon, students of Clayton High School, and go forth to catch them all. ď&#x192;ź

Nicole Indovino

Fast pacing is not enough to redeem â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Limitlessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plot jets, and a New York City penthouse.

The film is a lot of fun to watch. The viewers are bombarded with elements of Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful life. Each What would I do if I could be the best version of accomplishment is always bolder and crazier than the myself? one before. The effects team also contributed to the fun Many viewers probably couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but to ask factor of the movie. For example, the color is enriched themselves this question after seeing the recent thriller during Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drug highs, making everything look vivid â&#x20AC;&#x153;Limitless.â&#x20AC;? and even heavenly.

The movie helps you answer this tough question by Eddie soon learns that everything comes at a price. taking you through the journey of Eddie Morra, a strug- The more fame he gains, the more he has to watch his gling novelist played by Bradley Cooper. back. He constantly worries about his business rivalries When the viewer first sees the real life of Eddie, â&#x20AC;&#x153;lim- and most importantly the supply of his pills. The pill itlessâ&#x20AC;? is nowhere close to the first word that comes to means everything to Eddie, and throughout the movie, your mind. In fact, the best word to describe his state of it serves as a driving force behind all of his actions. being is hopeless.

While the watching part is as exhilarating as riding a Eddie spends his days staring at a blank computer rollercoaster, when the rollercoaster comes to a stop, one screen, trying to start his book with its publishing date realizes that the movie lacks substance and many of its approaching. His hair and clothes are messages are flawed. unwashed. His run-down apartment The movie portrays the Edin New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chinatown is a mess, die on NZT as a dignified perand so is his personal life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he just son with a grand goal in mind, got dumped by his girlfriend Lindy not as a drug addict. However, (Abbie Cornish). the movie never made it clear Eddie then runs into his drugwhat Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal was. Instead, it dealing brother-in-law, who hooks seems that Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only goal was him up with an experimental drug to acquire power through financalled NZT. With nothing to lose, cial gains. It is pathetic that out Eddies pops the pill, and, you guessed of all the ways he could have imit, he becomes a whole new person. proved the world with his special Eddie becomes the best version of ability, he chose the greediest himself, but the way through which and the most selfish â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to make he achieved it, much to the disapmoney for himself. pointment of the viewers, is simply In its essence, Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey by taking NZT. The movie claims is a tale of rags-to-riches. This arthat this magical pill expands the chetype, best embodied by Benportion of the brain we can access jamin Franklin, is close to the Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times/MCT from 20 percent to 100 percent. heart and is even inspirational The pill makes everything pos- Bradley Cooper, star of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Limitlessâ&#x20AC;? at for many viewers. However, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards sible. Eddie finishes his book in a at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, there is nothing inspirational few days. He earns a good amount California on March 7, 2010. about Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise to fame. The of money by playing poker first, key factor in his success was his and then he starts investing. With pill, not himself. total recall of everything he had learned, Eddie comes Just as disappointing as the movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message is the to understand the stock market extremely well and soon movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ending. Through an unpredictable and illogienough is responsible for overseeing the investment of cal series of incidents, Eddie secures the supply of his millions of dollars. pills and continues to enjoy their benefits. The poorly Of course, accompanying his booming career are executed ending is a truly disappointing finish for this some other fun things: girls, parties, fast cars, private rollercoaster ride. ď&#x192;ź Phillip Zhang Editor

Jonathan Wenk/Courtesy Summit Entertainment/MCT)

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan star in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Source Codeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a sci-fi thriller that appeals to a wide audience.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Source Codeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thrills, defies labels David Androphy Reporter

Summit Entertainmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent science fiction thriller, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Source Code,â&#x20AC;? didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fail to impress. A blockbuster success in its opening weekend, director Duncan Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film features an outstanding cast featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga.

Despite its sci-fi label, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Source Codeâ&#x20AC;? is definitely a film that would appeal to all sorts of moviegoers, not just the typical sci-fi and action fans.

It is in no way one of those â&#x20AC;&#x153;good guy defeats the bad guy, the endâ&#x20AC;? movies, which we all have seen time and time again.

The film starts off with a confused Cpt. Colter Stevens, (played by Gyllenhaal), living in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body, not knowing where he is.

However, as the film progresses, Stevens learns that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his duty to find a bomb on the train that is a threat to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives.

The catch is that every time he fails, he is sent back in time to retry his mission through the â&#x20AC;&#x153;source

code.â&#x20AC;? The common theme is that each attempt he is given 8 minutes and every time he learns a little more about fellow train passenger, Christina (Monaghan), and he soon befriends her.

After each failed attempt, Stevens is sent back to a mysterious portal in which he soon questions what is real and what is not and if he even is in reality. His questions are answered by a mysterious government worker named Cpt. Colleen Goodwin (Farmiga).

Throughout the film, the viewer is able to connect easily with Stevens and understand his strategy and the enormous pressure placed upon him to â&#x20AC;&#x153;find the bomb and find the bomber.â&#x20AC;?

However as the film wares on, the uncertainty about the ending still lingers on and the viewer, who is anxiously waiting to see whether all will be lost or saved when time runs out on Cpt. Stevens.

Unlike many sci-fi films, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Source Codeâ&#x20AC;? blends together a contemporary and futuristic setting, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really lean on one side or

PLANNING TODAY . . .

Will Protect Their

the other. The technology the U.S. government controls creates a second dimension to this world, which is futuristic, yet impossible. On the other hand, the US is still involved in the War in Afghanistan, but a specific year is not identified.

What makes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Source Codeâ&#x20AC;? a must-see in the theatres or at home is its truly unpredictable ending that has its sudden twists and turns as the film reaches it climax.

Along the way, we learn more about the backgrounds of Stevens and Christina and what their roles entail in the movie.

When the credits appear on screen, there are more questions than answers to be asked, which provide us with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;what if?â&#x20AC;? twist to the ending.

This sort of ending adds more meaning to the film and we are left thinking about the film in our heads rather than thinking about what to do next.

This movie most certainly has a general appeal to all males and females ages 13 and older. I give it an 8.5 out of 10. ď&#x192;ź

.POEBZ 'SJEBZ B N Q N 5VFT 8FE 5IVST B N Q N

at

WILL PROTECT ALL THEIR TOMORROWS. Estate Planning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wills â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Living Wills Powers Of Attorney â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Probate & Trust Administration Succession Planning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Business Planning

Robert W. Paster, L.L.C.,

Clayton High Class of 1984 Board Member of the CHS Alumni Association 7733 Forsyth, Suite 2000, Clayton, MO 63105 314-862-3535 Licensed in MO & IL

bobp@accessus.net www.robertpaster.com

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising.

-PJT #SZBOU

:FT 8F %FMJWFS

4 $FOUSBM "WF $MBZUPO .0

'SFF )PVTF 4BMBE XJUI 1BTUB 0SEFS XJUI TUVEFOU *%

20

A&E

April 13, 2011

www.chsglobe.com

Although eReaders are less heavy, paper books convey so much more end. I like turning pages, and I find the eReader’s page-flipping feature a little bit hokey. I want to read with a As a book nerd heading to college, pen in hand, ready to write to a fuI am conflicted. Do I give in to the ture reader or to myself in a reread. newest advancements in lightweight Books, unlike eReaders, foster reading technology? Or, do I remain community. Even if an electronic a stubborn paper-book reader, re- device allows book sharing, the exsigned to carrying heavy, expensive perience of passing on a paperback physical copies? to a friend or reading a dog-eared, Phrased like that, the answer underlined copy of a book someone seems clear. you know really loves is lost in the An eReader, like the Amazon cold, silver database of a Kindle.

Kindle or the Barnes & Noble An eReader may be able to recNook, is actually relatively inexpen- ommend books based on your insive, around $100, considering the terests, but it cannot start a converprice of digital books. The devices sation about books it has read and are lightweight and can easily fit into loved recently. An eReader is not a a backpack or purse, which is par- library, a bookstore, or a café; it has ticularly useful to a college student, no atmosphere or personality. like me, heading for a big city.

Despite all of the services and I have even held both a Nook savings this literary technology ofand a Kindle in my hands and can fers, the lacks it presents make me attest to the fact that their screens hesitant to try it. are pleasantly matte and book-like, With the impending move of not harshly backlit like an iPad. And newspapers and magazines towards yet, I have some online and tabvisceral reaction let publication, against purchas- Blots and Scribbles I will inevitably ing such a practibreak down, folcal gadget. low the trend, The Kindle and purchase a and the Nook Nook.

Perhaps lack certain even this summer, qualities a bookfaced with the ish young adult long drive to New enjoys in an York and only one honest-to-God, box to haul heavy made-of-paper books, I will wish novel.

Books for something smell good, like lighter and more binding glue and accessible to pass yellowing pages the time. But my or crisp paper, heart will always depending on be with real ink, Kara Kratcha the age. not the digital ink There’s somefont, the texture thing nice about watching pages of paper, not a screen made to look gather from one cover to the other like paper, with crumbling and broas you read closer and closer to the ken spines, not a shiny catalogue of Kara Kratcha A&E Editor

Monica Gierada

Wiz Khalifa proves a wiz of originality

His music is not that only thing that is making him so popular though. Khalifa’s style and originalA young rap celebrity. A teen ity also have an impact on people’s idol. One of the most successful mu- interest in him.

“He is original by the different sicians in the industry. Wiz Khalifa.

Cameron Jibril Thomas, better type of attitude which he expresses known as Wiz Khalifa, was born in in his lyrics,” senior Leah Johnson Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 2006, at said.

Khalifa not only expresses origiabout the age of 19, Khalifa released his first album, “Show and Prove.” nality through his words, but also Just one year later, he signed to War- through his fashion.

“He makes a different fashion ner Bros. Records.

After signing with Warner Bros., statement, especially with his blonde his first single “Say Yeah” reached hair patch,” Johnson said.

Khalifa has a tendency to deconumber 25 on the billboards in only rate his body in 2008. Khalifa then a way that makes began signing with other companies, “He is my favorite rap- him stand out such as Rostrum per. Personally, his new from other rappers.

When Khalifa was Records.

Again, just an- album is my least favor- younger he got his other year later, ite of all his projects. It’s first tattoo on his he then released all good music; I’m just arm, which simply stated his stage his second alnot feeling all the sing- name. bum “Deal or No ing he is doing.”

Actually, not Deal.” only did Khalifa Once he had Jeremiah Camp tattoo his arm, but signed with AtJunior most of the rest of lantic Records, his body also. He Khalifa’s hit single put body art not “Black and Yellow” reached number one on the only on his arms, but also on his chest, stomach, back, neck and even Billboard Hot 100.

“He is my favorite rapper,” junior his forehead. Khalifa strives to be Jeremiah Camp said. “Personally, his known as one of the most popular new album is my least favorite of all artists with the most ink on their his projects. It’s all good music; I’m body.

This just being another reason for just not feeling all the singing he is his originality, Khalifa then created a doing.”

Even though Khalifa creates mu- song based off of his body art called sic that can hit number one on the “Ink My Whole Body.”

His latest album “Rolling Papers” charts, fans tend to favor his alterjust hit the shelves; nearly 500,000 nate art, like his mix tape.

“I really became a fan when his copies have already been sold.

While Khalifa still struggles to be mix tape Kush on Orange Juice came out,” Camp said. “I also follow number one, he is making quite a name for himself.  his webisodes.”

Payton Sciarratta Reporter

MCT Campus

The Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook are leaving competitors in the dust this summer and are locked in a war that has dropped prices by more than half in just a year. (Barnes & Noble/MCT)

abstract stories to be called up on a whim.

I recognize, of course, that my reasoning is flawed. I can already see myself as an old person, glaring down at fresh-faced readers of the next generation (assuming, of course, that future people still read) screeching, “Back in my day, we had these buildings called libraries! And if you wanted a book you had to actually go somewhere, check it out or

buy it, and carry it home!” And the children will scoff at my elderly, obstinate misunderstanding of how the modern world works.

Will I, by that time, learn to love reading on a screen just as I have learned to love music on a tiny electronic device? Perhaps.

In the meantime, I shall continue reading novels in book form and waiting to be converted to the way of the literary future. 

Lavigne’s new album strays from tradition Nina Murov Reporter

Avril is back. After taking about four years off so she could create her own clothing line, develop her own fragrance and divorce lead singer of Sum 41, Deryck Whibley, Avril Lavigne has made her way back to the music scene with her new studio album, “Goodbye Lullaby.”

Now, everyone remembers jamming out to “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi,” and, really, who could blame everyone from doing so? Lavigne showed the entire country that being a punk-rock tomboy is not only okay, but it’s cool. She had that I-really-don’t-care attitude, and it was fun for fans to be able to let go when rocking out.

In the following years, Lavigne let people know her emotional side with songs like “I’m With You” and “When You’re Gone.” She showed a

more girly side with her number-one hit “Girlfriend.” So when Avril decided to take a break from recording, a car ride just wasn’t the same without Avril’s punk-rock tunes jamming musically in your ears.

Now fastforward to present-day, 2011.

As mentioned earlier, Lavigne got divorced, started her own clothing line and created her own fragrance. And finally came out with her new album “Goodbye Lullaby.”

Something different about “Goodbye Lullaby” was that it didn’t really sound like the same old Avril music. She had a tiny fall-out with her label because her producers wanted more mainstream radio music, but Lavigne wanted more of an acoustic album, and that’s what “Goodbye Lullaby” is.

W i t h www.avrillavigne.com songs like “Push” and “Remember When,” it seems as though Lavigne is singing about her life and directly to her ex-husband.

“Push” talks about a failing relationship: “All the memories that we’re losing /all the time that I spent with you everyday/I think it’s running down the drain/I’m feeling that we’re fading.”

“Remember When” also talks about her surprise when a relationship didn’t work out: “Remember when I cried to you a thousand times/I told you everything/You know my feelings/It never crossed my mind/That there would be a time/For us to say goodbye.” Both “Push” and “Remember When” have a beautiful, strong acoustic guitar in the background.

Although there are spurts of the old Avril in “What the Hell,” the single off of the album, and “Smile,” an upbeat song that does make one want to grin, “Goodbye Lullaby” is something different. Fans will get their Avril-Lavigne-fix and additionally get to hear something new. 

www.chsglobe.com

Forum

April 13, 2011

21

Talking Points: Should America keep pursuing the use of nuclear energy?

YES, it’s reasonably safe NO, it’s much too risky Shuyang Li Reporter

Caitlin Kropp Features Editor

Ever since the atom bomb was unleashed on Japan in 1945, nuclear power has been an international point of contention. Whereas some countries, such as France, rely almost completely on nuclear energy, others, such as Australia, forbid nuclear plant construction completely.

Yet 66 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in the middle of March, Japan suffered yet another nuclear tragedy.

Hammered by tsunami waves and smashed by the largest magnitude earthquake Japan has ever felt, the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant exploded, killing two and necessitating medical care for 39.

What does this say about nuclear energy sources? De- tractors immediately flocked to the accident as proof of why nuclear energy is unsafe and unusable in today’s society.

Nonetheless, one must identify why and how people were injured to make a legitimate conclusion.

Of the dead and wounded at Fukushima, both deaths were due to physical damage from the explosion itself, and only two workers needed medical radiation treatment.

Hypothetically speaking, had a coal or gas power plant been in place instead of a nuclear plant, the damage would have been far greater. In order to prepare for containment breaches or massive natural disasters like tsunamis or earthquakes, nuclear power plants are built far sturdier than other types of power plants.

If a nuclear power plant does collapse, the isotope released into water has a half-life of eight days. Thus, sea radiation levels would be reduced many times over in as short of a period as a month.

In the Chernobyl disaster, damage was mainly caused by operator ignorance and the fact that many of the reactor’s safety measures were off.

Another famous accident was Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, where a reactor suffered a meltdown.

It is interesting - and perhaps inconvenient for nuclear alarmists - to note that while measurable quantities of radioactive isotopes were released in that incident, no deaths were attributed to either the meltdown or the radiation.

It goes without saying that after the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island incidents, safety regulations have been heightened for nuclear power plants all across the world.

A catastrophic disaster such as Chernobyl has a negligible chance of happening again.

Mining accidents continue to claim far more lives than nuclear accidents, to the tune of several tens, if not hundreds a year. Furthermore, toxic heavy metal leakage from coal and gas plants have caused widespread and long-term ecological damage beyond that of Chernobyl.

One must note, of course, that nuclear power plant waste is not nearly as ecologically damaging as that of conventional power plants. Gases released amount to, at the most, steam from the cooling towers - not nearly as damaging as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide from coal and gas plants. Similarly, the majority of radioactive waste produced by reactors has minor levels of radioactivity and can be stored in a compact and safe manner.

In addition to their safety, Nuclear power plants are less expensive over the long run than conventional plants.

While the up front cost is much higher due to the necessity of advanced containment facilities, the fuel and maintenance costs combined total less than the operating costs of coal plants.

Longevity of the fuel itself is also under debate. Detractors claim that there is far less available uranium in the earth than coal, oil and gas reserves.

This is technically true, but the energy density of uranium is such that the energy available from one ton of uranium is equivalent to that of several million tons of coal.

In nuclear terms commercially available technology in the form of “breeder” reactors alleviates any fuel constraints that may have existed.

This is done in two ways: breeder reactors can run on more common radioactive isotopes, obviating the need to mine and refine uranium ore; moreover, breeder reactors produce usable nuclear fuel as a biproduct of the energy generation process.

In essence, very little fuel is actually and irrevocably consumed, a majority of it being converted back into useful nuclear fuel.

Thus, nuclear energy could even be termed renewable - indeed, some scientists estimate that nuclear power could feasibly be used until the sun scorches the earth to smithereens.

Ultimately, the viability of nuclear energy cannot be based on a few accidents, just as how coal-fired power plants are not declared useless on the basis of the numerous accidents and deaths related to that source of energy.

When one considers the facts, the legitimate and scientifically correct conclusion is that nuclear energy must be used as an energy source to both bolster our energy capacity as well as preserve the environment. 

There’s a reason that no new nuclear power plants have been approved in the United States since the late 70s: nuclear power is not safe. Although it does produce massive amounts of energy, nuclear power production is also fraught with uncertainties, where even the smallest of human errors can result in massive nuclear fallout.

The sides are clear: the risks of nuclear power far out weigh its benefits.

As of today, there is no safe method of disposing of radioactive waste. Most institutions simply store it at the reactor sites themselves, where, as their processes continue, nuclear waste continues to accumulate.

No one has any idea how to get rid of these hazardous containment facilities. The 430 current nuclear dumps are just accidents waiting to happen.

Other proposals for nuclear waste disposal are just as bleak. Most experts agree on the need for deep underground storage facilities, where good technology and heavy guarding could potentially contain the radioactive materials safely.

However, that is no guarantee that this method would be viable, and there are currently no countries that employ such storage facilities.

Chief among nuclear power concerns, however, is safety.

As if the current crisis in Japan isn’t lesson enough, there have been countless nuclear disasters spanning the decades, all of which were due to basic safety failures in the nuclear power plant system.

Kyshtym, 1957:

Kept secret as a result of Cold War tensions, the nuclear power plant at Kyshtym was not well known until it exploded in September of 1957, having an estimated explosion force of 70-100 tons of TNT. The 10,000 citizens of the neighboring towns were not evacuated until a week later, at which time the skin began sloughing off their faces from the radiation.

The fallout cloud covered 800 square kilometers, over an area that is now known as the East-Ural Radioactive Trace, which is still heavily contaminated with radioactivity.

Mimi Liu

Chernobyl, 1986:

ers estimate as

Three

Mile

Island,

Classified as the worst nuclear disaster on record, this resulted from a sudden power surge during a systems test in a nuclear power plant in the Ukraine.

Attempts to stop the power surge failed miserably, and the resulting explosions and fire plume sent out highly radioactive smoke into the atmosphere.

Conservative estimates place the death toll at around 4,000, while othmany as 200,000 people died as a result of Chernobyl.

1979:

Situated on a small island near Harrisburg, Penn., the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant worked normally until March of 1979. It was then that confusion over a stuck valve led to the partial core meltdown of the second reactor.

When the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was called in to clean up, they authorized the dumping of 40,000 gallons of radioactive waste directly into the Susquehanna River. Reports on mutations and injuries from the fallout vary, but shortly after the incident, protests against nuclear power rose to a fever pitch.

Japan, 2011:

Since the disastrous earthquake and tsunami on March 11, the world has been waiting with bated breath to see the outcome of the increasing failures at various nuclear power plants.

Citizens have been warned against consuming water, plants, and even meat that have been shown to contain levels of radiation. As the fear and paranoia surrounding the fallout continues, one solution becomes eminently clear: nuclear power is simply not the answer.

Renewable energy is the answer. Although nuclear power does aid in the clean power movement, the inherent safety risks and logistical problems associated with its upkeep are simply too much to handle. Until there is a proven and safe method of nuclear power production (which could very well never happen), nuclear power is simple not a viable option. Production plants should instead turn to other sources of renewable energy, such as wind, solar, or geothermal power.

These methods are safe and effective, and, although they do not provide as much of a power kick as nuclear power, they are safe for people and the environment, which should be our chief concern. 

MYAC provides opportunity for youth involvement in politics The concept of awareness is fast becoming commonplace in American culture. There are movements for technological awareness, personal health awareness, environmental awareness, historical awareness. The list is nearly endless.

But the type of cognizance which is often most difficult to spread and certainly most affects the viability of our democracy is political awareness. In recent election years, voter turnout has been disappointingly low—the last time more than half of eligible American citizens voted in a mid-term election was 1982—and there is legitimate cause for concern regarding the stability of our nation’s form of government if people simply stop caring about politics.

It is my opinion that all American citizens have a responsibility to their cities, states and country to vote in elections ranging from communal to national importance when they become eligible, so the staggeringly low voter participation in recent years is particularly troubling to me.

However, I was greatly encouraged and relieved upon seeing a surefire solution as to how to get more people politically active at a debate between candidates for the City of Clayton’s Board of Aldermen and the Clayton School District’s Board of Education held on March 31st.

The debate was held in the CHS commons in conjunction with Clayton’s Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC), an organization I was vaguely familiar with— as several of my friends participate in it—but of which I had little prior knowledge. I had been asked to do a live blog of the event for this newspaper’s website (you can

read it by going to the following link:http://www.chs- ramifications that can be seen right outside their front globe.com/online/2011/03/candidate-forum-liveblog/) doors. and was excited to have the opportunity to hear the variIt was precisely for this reason that CHS Junior Drake ous candidates promote their platforms. I fully expected Pinkston decided to apply for the MYAC. a spirited debate, which the forum delivered.

“I first became involved with the MYAC when I apWhat I didn’t expect was to see so many members of plied in the spring of my sophomore year,” Pinkston the MYAC actively involved in the debate. said. “I saw a poster up around school advertising the In fact, MYAC members oversaw the entire evening’s MYAC looking for incoming juniors and seniors so I proceedings, mediating and documenting submitted my application because I wanted the debate, fielding questions from audience to build a solid foundation of knowledge members, and timing each candidate’s reabout government.” sponses to ensure the forum was efficient.

The MYAC helps students find their poI was thoroughly impressed and decided litical bearings by allowing its members to to investigate the organization further by serve on various committees for the year— visiting their website. What I found was ranging from Parks and Recreation to the an exemplary model for connecting young Chamber of Commerce—and holding regcitizens with local politicians and prominent ular meetings to allow the members to discommunity figures. cuss their experiences with each other. CHS The organization gives youth a much Junior and MYAC member Maria Massad needed opportunity to see the inner workconsiders these gatherings to be an integral Ben Colagiovanni ings of Democracy and provides input relatpart of the program’s success. ing to issues that are important to them.

“We meet about once every two months, Young people often perceive of national and certainly and at these meetings everyone on the MYAC comes global political issues to be daunting. They are complex, together to discuss the goings on of local government,” multi-faceted, and difficult to connect to because of how Massad said. “I was assigned to the environmental comdistant they seem from our daily lives. Often times, it mittee and so I attend their meetings. I follow what is difficult for younger Americans to find their political they’ve been doing and report back to the MYAC about bearings. their activities. The other people from the other commitHowever, the partnership between the City of Clay- tees come and share what they learned about the comton and MYAC is so unique and successful because it mittee they attend, so I get a feeling of what is going on allows maturing Claytonites to acquaint themselves with throughout the entire local government through these a type of politics that is extremely accessible and has reports, which is really informative.”

The MYAC also emphasizes that community participation is a privilege and reserves the right to remove any member from the council should they fail to meet a set list of standards, among which are the requirement that each member attend 67% of his or her committee’s meetings and that each member refrain from dishonorable behavior.

As Pinkston alluded to, the results of such a focused effort are resoundingly positive.

“MYAC has really ignited the desire within me to take an active role in our government,” Pinkston said.

“Even though some of us are not of voting age yet, we do want to get our peers involved--we’ve had a successful voting drive for example---and I’m really grateful to be a part of this program.”

By focusing first on a local scale, MYAC is ensuring that its members will gradually develop a genuine understanding of the fundamentals of politics, a knowledge which will allow them to appropriately develop the skills necessary to understand completely and participate fully in both the American and international political arenas.

If other communities in the U.S. follow MYAC’s lead, there is reason to believe that our country’s political landscape can be changed to the better.

“It [having multiple organizations like the MYAC across the country] would really allow the younger generation to start early and understand and participate in their government and realize that even the smallest amount of input can make a significant difference in government,” Pinkston said. “In turn, people will be more inclined to vote and become educated about the issues that will affect them.” 

22

Forum

April 13, 2011

www.chsglobe.com

In any format, journaling gives insight, memories Although I have endeavored several times to keep a journal, even a weekly journal—many of these plans have become futile.

I can remember first starting a journal with my mom when I was in kindergarten. Over the years, I would write briefly after a vacation or my plans for a new school year.

Although what I wrote was indeed very cryptic, I have returned to my first personal record over the years— bringing back memories from my early childhood.

I am grateful for the information that this first journal provides. I only wish I would have written more. It is amazing how memories can be so clear in our minds, later to find, that we remember only scant details.

Although there were years in which my efforts to put the pen to paper were more fruitful than others, overall, these chronicles proved to provide little description or detail.

These accounts simply summarized large spans of my growing up years.

I struggled to create a constant habit, something that would be become part of my daily routine. Additionally, I was in conflict to find a writing medium that would prove easy to write in.

Although I had kept an irregular journal in a paper book, I desired to have something that was in a digital form.

Due to the vast time I spend on the computer typing away for a school assignment, I desired to try something different.

On Jan. 14, 2011, I decided to start a new habit, to spend 10 minutes before I went to bed to type my journal on the screen of my iPhone

with the Notes application. I wanted ewan and North Dakota. Although, to faithfully follow the challenge. they probably thought little of these The first entry was the hardest—it journals’ affect on future generaproved again to me that generally tions, I am grateful for the time they the first time we start on a new goal, spent to write—even though their it is indeed the most difficult. lives were as demanding and gruelI am proud to say that I have kept ing as they were. a journal for the most These journals have part since that day. I atallowed me to undertempted once more to stand my own idenstart a goal that I had tity and family hiswanted my whole life to tory. Perhaps, one day abide by. Truthfully, I my journal will have admit I have not always a similar affect on my followed my goals as future posterity. faithfully as I wish, but As I have kept a I have to say, it gives me journal, I am reminded some satisfaction that I of how much I should Jonathan Shumway am doing this every day be grateful for, and This new daily habit how in spite of varienforces the belief in ous trials, I was able to my mind that we can aspire to what overcome them. we aim to be, if we are but willing to A journal gives us hope and inspend the time and effort to accom- spiration, as we learn that no matter plish that goal. our situation, life is overall pleasant Now I look forward to this time and jovial. That does not mean we to be with myself, analyze the day, re- will not have certain days when we flect a little bit, and keep feel let down or in low spirits, but track of my life. It is nice I promise that with a daily journal, to pause and reflect over one can lead a more interesting and the whole course of the fuller life, as one keeps track of not day—ponder what I only the good days but the tough could have done bet- ones too. ter in some respect If it were not for journals that and attempt to make were penned by many individuals the following day throughout the era of humankind, even better. much of history would remain a Perhaps, latter mystery to us. generations will We may not all become the funot have the same ture President of the United States, fascination or in- but the small difference that we terest in my jour- make matters to this world. It would nal as I do. But I be a shame if our life experiences know it is worth and lessons were lost as we left this it to write in a world—only for our mistakes to be leeke Laura B journal—even repeated in the impending generathough no one may ever tions and the happy times of life to pick it up and read it except me. be forgotten.

I remember my ancestors, specifiWho knows? Someday your jourcally those of Icelandic heritage, who nal or mine might become a best strove to tell their personal story as seller or might become the key to they attempted to make a new life in unlocking some mystery. You never the unforgiving frontier of Saskatch- know. 

Jackie Leong

Drinking at dances is foolish Clearly, it’s a bit unrealistic to expect all high school don’t think that anybody in the CHS community would students not to drink on prom night. As everyone knows, like any more students to go through this experience. many CHS students drink every weekend, and prom It should also be noted that arriving at prom intoxinight won’t be an exception. However, we do think that cated isn’t just putting yourself at risk, but also putting it’s not only realistic, but also incredibly imperative, that the rest of the CHS student body on the line with you.

CHS students who do choose to drink alcohol on prom Each time a student is found to be under the influence of night do so responsibly. alcohol at a dance, the likelihood of future CHS dances That means that students shouldn’t be as we know them today dwindles even furstaggering into a school event in an intoxither.

Staff Editorial cated state. That means that there shouldn’t However, just because the suspension be a layer of smelly vomit on the dance of one student can affect the entire student floor. body doesn’t mean that students should And, most importantly, it means that chaperones place all of the blame for the cancellation of the spring shouldn’t have to call an ambulance to save the life of a dance on those who were suspended at Peppers. Clearly, student suffering from alcohol poisoning or have to call they were not the only intoxicated students at the event, the parents of a student who just got into a car accident but the only ones who were caught in the act. How are while driving drunk. they any guiltier than those slightly more skilled at camIn fact, no matter where you are, no one should be ouflaging their drunkenness? drinking so much alcohol that they become If CHS students as a whole continue to sick and put their health, as well as their show up to dances in an obviously intoxi93Agree 87% life, in danger. cated state, then CHS may become one of Disagree 13% the many schools nationwide that chooses In light of the recent spur of students being suspended for consuming alcohol to have no dances at all to avoid the liability and other drugs at school or school-sponsored events, of intoxicated underage students under their supervision. prom should be the event where CHS students finally As we saw with the cancellation of the Spring Dance, it buck the trend. Sure, many students will likely want to wouldn’t be out of the question for the administration to drink at after-parties, but surely that’s better than drink- do so. For many CHS students, dances are an important ing at a school event. Why put yourself at risk for sus- part of their high school experience, and it would be a pension just for a few drinks? shame to see CHS eliminate dances altogether.

The fact of the matter is that if you are suspended for Prom 2011 will hopefully be a fun event for all stushowing up to prom intoxicated, you’re putting your- dents in attendance. In fact, let’s make it even better by self at risk for a suspension that all of the colleges that waking up the next morning with the knowledge that you apply to will see on your application and take into nobody was suspended from school and nobody went to consideration. The consequences aren’t short-term, and I the emergency room. 

Media feed the Sheen frenzy

Photo IIllustration by Anat Gross

Although senior Justin Elliot did not want his photo taken as he went to vote, he decided the day was worth remembering.

First vote marks a day to remember Smile! Snap. Flash.

Almost every slightly significant moment in my short 18-year-old life that I remember has also been accompanied by my parents insisting that they take a picture so the moment can be remembered forever.

Sure, the picture may damper the mood temporarily while my parents attempt to work the complex machine digital cameras have transformer into, but they still believe the photo is worth the expense of the several minute time investment and my social dignity.

The tradition started from a very early age. I recall one of the most significant moments of my early childhood climbing aboard the big yellow school bus to kindergarten. As I sulked in my anxiety of what was to come, of course, my mom had to hold up the bus so she could get a picture of me on the school bus steps – I should have known high school was going to be a long four years.

Just last week, another one of these photo opportunities came around, my first voting experience. However, this time I felt as if the paparazzi was unwarranted.

As I walked into the polling place my Justin mother insisted that I stop in front of the sign that read “Polling Place” to take a picture. It is hard to say if it was because I was resigned to the fact that she was still taking these pictures after all of these years, or if it was because I really didn’t think it was that significant of an event, I stood by the sign slouched and without a smile to spite her.

After the photo shoot, while the two older women

poll workers slowly found my name, one of them praised me for voting while she mumble some depressing fact about young people today and there lack of motivation to vote.

However, right before I tuned her she said something slightly profound -she hasn’t missed an election since the day she was old enough to vote, and from her looks that is a lot of votes she has cast.

Her theory was that if people are dying everyday for the right to vote, it would be shame not to if you had the opportunity.

Mulling her thoughts in my mind, I moved on to the voting machine where I voted in the three elections. Two of which were uncontested and the other was for the prestigious position of “County Appraiser.”

I had officially voted.

Regardless of the lackluster feel to this election, I kept the poll worker’s words in mind and tried to realize what a privilege I had partaken in.

I had joined the political society that I have always studied and admired. As the poll worker had noted, without risking Elliot my safety, without even imposing on my day except waking up a few minutes early, I had joined the arms of the government “for the people, by the people and of the people” something some only can dream of.

As I started on my way to school, I realized my mom was right.Today was definitely a day worth bringing out the camera for. 

This JUST in!

We have heard a lot from the media about Charlie Sheen lately, however, I wonder if this is the right to way to be going about his personal issues. Sheen first and foremost lacks a compass. A moral compass, that is.

We all know that he has ruined his life all by himself by getting involved in drugs, and treating multiple women like property, yet calling them goddesses.

Charlie Sheen even got kicked off his show, “Two and a Half Men”, his character illustrating a man who sleeps with multiple women. In the show, he is a cartoonish, over-exaggerated sex addict”. The fact of the matter is that the real Sheen is even worse.

Let me just say, that having mulScott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/MCT tiple girlfriends is one thing, but to outwardly encourage disloyalty, is a Charlie Sheen arrives at Enclave nightclub after an appearance at the Chicago Theater in Chicago, Illinois, April 3. shallow vie for attention.

Sheen chooses with which girl he sleeps every night, having them both case, the two problems he has com- many relationships and personal in the same room. To put up with piled into a whirlwind of mental ill- conflicts have become known to the this disloyalty seems unbelievable to ness and horrifying behavior. Thus I public on one basis alone: he wants see no other than to conclude that attention and the media is willing to me.

Charlie Sheen has ab- give it to him.

Why would anysolutely no moral comone publicize someIf he knows anything, it’s what pass. thing so sick and the media will do when they hear an Frankly, I find every- actor say that he has two girlfriends private for any other thing that he has done that he calls goddesses. My firm bereason than to get disgusting; however, lief is that the public does not need publicity. I could go what is even more dis- to hear about his shallow endeavors; on and on about the gusting is that Charlie it needs to put him in his place as a many creative ways Sheen is getting an ex- person.

Sheen has found to treme amount of media What happens when you pay atdegrade women but attention.

What people tention to a screaming toddler? The this is not the half of Arya Yadama do not realize is that he toddler screams more. Charlie Sheen what he has done to is asking for attention by is hardly more mature than a little ruin his own life.

Sheen was kicked off the show dating multiple women and ranting kid, yet he is getting undeserved atbecause of his drug use and his in- about his “exceptional” nature, and tention that the media happily provides. ability to get along with the produc- the media is feeding right into it.

He may have a mental illness, he My view? Cut people like Charlie ers.

We see a lot of celebrities getting may have a disease, he may even (god Sheen out before they “bless” us with onto drug problems, yet in Sheen’s forbid) be normal; however, Sheen’s their faces all over the news. 

Forum

www.chsglobe.com

April 13, 2011

Increasing IsraeliPalestinian conflict shouldn’t be ignored

MCT Campus

Yarn shops, as pictured above, offer a lush, inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for lightening the gloomiest of days.

Unexpected discovery breaks tiring routine, monotony of college search It was rainy and chilly and for some reason I was carrying my umbrella under my jacket like a sword, gripping the handle in case the gray-cast skies decided to ruin my day and pour.

This was not how spring break was supposed to happen.

College visits are pretty much the norm for a spring break when you’re a junior, meaning that instead of going to some nice resort, you tromp around campuses and hope to like what you see. I had started my (slightly) epic trek in Chicago, with a quick detour to see the family, and now I was in Ohio, hoping to God that it wouldn’t rain on the little town of Oberlin.

The skies, stormy and dark, seemed to think otherwise. I had a feeling my prayers were going to be futile.

Don’t get me wrong. The countryside that surrounds Oberlin is lovely, and the campus of the college itself is huge and vast and green. After that phase in my childhood during which, not uncommonly, I had insisted that I was going to go to Wash U and live at home, I had since decided that I was getting out of the state of Missouri.

So I was faintly annoyed when every town I passed looked like an imprint of South County, each with its own McDonald’s and Applebees and the like. What was the point of going so far away from home when every place you went looked just like St. Louis?

At that moment, I had never more abhorred chain establishments. After the tour at Oberlin ended, I went to the small downtown area, hoping to find some nice unique place to eat. I ended up at a Subway, all the while thinking that I could have gone anywhere for a meatball sandwich.

And as I was walking back to the car, I noticed something. A yarn shop. In the middle of Oberlin. In the middle of nowhere.

The plain exterior belied the lush selection inside.

A little old man sat at the register; an old woman rearranged skeins of wool on a nearby shelf, watching me as I admired a display of Malabrigo.

“It just came in,” the man said. “Pretty, eh?” He told me he wished more college-goers would come in. I was surprised—Oberlin is known for its arts, after all.

As we made a little more small talk, I began to relax. This was not a talk about college, or admissions, or classes. Here was a place where I could escape it all for a little while.

I remembered that my six-yearold cousin back in Chicago had asked me what a college visit was, and I, being the kind older cousin, had tried to make it sound as fun as possible.

Of course, I knew the campuses were going to be largely deserted due to spring break, and that it was going to be cold, possibly rainy. This was true.

But I had always thought of college tours as excursions, where you took a look at the interesting architecture and examined the libraries and the town near the campus and tried to imagine yourself there. They were supposed to be insights into your own person, a way to explore one’s own personality.

Well, sure. Here it was. As I walked out of the store, two of the sapphire skeins in a bag, I could feel what had been stifled in the long days of college tours and dry information revitalize. My feet, which had been aching, felt like they could maybe take on another giant tour or two, or maybe a marathon. I had had yarn as therapy.

Who knew?

It didn’t rain that day. 

in our shoes

Jackie Leong

It is a story that, given the flurry thority Prime Minister and many of of international news in the past the residents of Awarta. Israelis are, weeks, few have heard. On March naturally, appalled.

11, the same day that a catastrophic The story of the Fogel family is tsunami hit Japan and a day before one of unimaginable brutality and the Arab League asked the United terror. Adults murder each other Nations to impose a no-fly zone over every day, but to kill two young Libya, the Fogel family was brutally children and an infant is simply unmurdered as they slept. thinkable.

It is the circumstances of the FoThis massacre in Itamar cannot gel family’s death that makes their be looked at in a vacuum, however. story so significant. The Fogels were It occurred, after all, almost exactly a Israelis, living in the settlement of year (according to the Islamic calenItamar in the West Bank. The fam- dar) after two 19-year-old Palestinily members – young parents in their ians were killed by Israeli soldiers in thirties, two small children and a Awarta. Even the Israeli military conbaby – were slashed to death in their ceded that the shootings shouldn’t beds. They were discovered when have taken place. And less than two their twelve-year-old weeks after the Fogirl came home that gels were murdered, Noah Eby night. One can only on March 23, a bus imagine the horror bombing in Jerusaof opening the front lem killed a woman door to discover and injured dozens such a slaughter. others. It appears Across the valthe Israeli-Palestinley from Itamar is ian conflict may be Awarta, a Palestinheating up at a time ian village. It is when the world, esthere that the Israeli pecially the Middle Army has centered East, is struggling its investigation into and failing to keep what many Israelis the peace. consider a terrorist Both the Israeattack. lis and the Palestinians must search Only a few hours after the bod- within themselves to find some ies of the family were found, Israeli shred of will for peace. Palestinian troops overtook the Palestinian city, militancy and terrorism must stop, essentially ruling by martial law. just as Israeli provocation, aggresThey established a curfew for four siveness and stubbornness must be days, split the town into quadrants, toned down. It seems both sides are and required that boys over the age determined not to compromise in a of 15 had to report to military posts situation that requires just that. for questioning, fingerprinting and In the meantime, the internaDNA swabbing. tional community cannot neglect The Israeli military has searched the conflict in favor of more hothigh and low for the killer or killers. button issues such as Libya. Planes Of the 1,500 houses in the town, may not be dropping bombs in the about half have been searched; of the West Bank and there is as of yet no 7,000 residents, 300 have been ar- gunfire, but for many reasons – for rested and 25 remain in custody. No the issues it raises about the Israelicharges have been filed. Residents Palestinian conflict, for the way it claim the Israeli soldiers have broken has been too aggressively addressed down doors and destroyed property. by the Israeli military, for the pure Some houses, they say, have been horror of the atrocity – the story searched upwards of four times. of the Fogel family is not one that Many nations and international should go untold.  organizations have condemned the SOURCES: Fox News, The New attack, as have the Palestinian Au- York Times, CNN

Highs and Lows

Fantasy baseball sparks interest in baseball statistics, games

I never used to be a fantasy base- In other words: me.

Before joining a fantasy league, ball kind of kid.

But this year, after joining a fan- my breadth of knowledge about tasy baseball league for the first time, professional baseball was limited to the St. Louis CardiI’ve finally seen the light, nals club. It’s not that so-to-speak, of spending I didn’t wish to expand countless hours in front my knowledge of baseof the computer screen ball, but there was simscrutinizing over stats ply no efficient way to and lamenting the early follow a dozen games season injuries of my per day coupled with star players. the hundreds of colSure, it may not offer lected stats. Such a task the roar of the crowd, or seemed overwhelming. the peanut shells strewn Jack Holds However, upon joinacross tiers of seats, but fantasy baseball offers ing a close-knit league a unique style of excitement that of students from CHS, I instantly bridges the physical and virtual dove into the complexities of baseworlds of baseball. More than any- ball, taking advantage of the inforthing, I’ve found fantasy baseball to mation-laden interface that fantasy completely engage its participants. baseball offers. It hasn’t taken long

-- in fact, it’s only been about two weeks -- to reach the point where I can casually discuss the majority of players in both the National and American Leagues.

While I was at first bewildered by the task of sifting through and organizing hundreds of players I didn’t know, I was immediately comforted by the abyss of online stats, fantasy projections, columns written by professional baseball analysts, and virtually endless forums discussing top prospects for the year.

One such prospect, for example, is such a result of scouring team rosters. Upon reading reports of prospects and then looking at injured lists and cross-referencing team rosters, I picked up Brandon Belt of the San Francisco Giants in my league. Not only has he been an excellent acqui-

ing of a topic that we were passion- ers start teaching to the test. ate about or was it so that we could Thus a course that was originally check an extra box on our college designed to further engage and chalapplications? lenge students to think at a deeper Our generation has level becomes a maragrown up brainwashed thon of facts to memoby a culture that defines rize. Furthermore in a quality education by a survey conducted last scale gauged by numyear of 1800 college bers. We are constantly students enrolled in told the more the betintroductory biology, ter—more classes, more chemistry, and physics extracurricular activities, courses found little evihigher test scores, and dence that high school more APs. Advanced Placement Katherine Ren However the first courses significantly fault that exists in our boost college perforcurrent education system can be mance in the sciences. found directly in the APs. The typiLikewise, a survey of 8,594 colcal AP Biology class is taught with lege students taking introductory a 56-chapter textbook containing science courses found that students roughly 1400 pages of microscopic who took and passed an AP science facts and tongue twisting terms, all exam did only about one-third of a of which is considered fair game for letter grade better than their classthe end-of-year exam. And so teach- mates with similar backgrounds who

2010-11 Staff Co-Editors-in-Chief Dawn Androphy Noah Eby Senior Managing Editor Maddy Bullard Managing Editors Laura Bleeke Jackie Leong Section Editors Community: Zach Praiss World: Jocelyn Lee Sports: Anat Gross Features: Caitlin Kropp Arts: Kara Kratcha Forum: Justin Elliot Page Editors Jacob Bernstein Sarah Blackwell Ben Colagiovanni Jack Holds Jake Lee Maria Massad Meredith McMahon Dylan Schultz Jonathan Shumway Sarah Tait Philip Zhang Web Team Appi Sharma Dan Zeng Graphics Editor Dee Luo Art Directors Mimi Liu Helen Wiley Photo Editor Elizabeth Sikora Reporters David Androphy Chris Cho Adam Ferguson Lauren Friedman Andie Glik Marilyn Gund Aidan Hayward Paul Kieffer Jonathan Knohl Shuyang Li Nina L. Murov Eudora Olsen Srijesh Panth Steven Paster Payton Sciarratta Katherine Ren Parker Schultz Shiori Tomatsu Christian Thomas Anna Williams Aishwarya Yadama Steven Zou

Photographers Alexis Atkinson Claire Bliss Hannah Feagans Madeleine Fleming Laura Kratcha Paul Lisker Sarah O’Brien Regine Rosas Thalia Sass Elana Schuman Elizabeth Sikora Andrea Stiffelman Devan Westermayer Artists Sarah Blackwell Monica Gierada Taylor Gold Nicole Inodovino Emma Riley Business Managers Simon Warchol David Behrend Adviser Nancy Freeman

MCT Campus

Holds’ acquisition of Brandon Belt of the San Francisco Giants was the result of much online research. He hopes Belt will pay off throughout 2011.

sition, but he has also engaged my interest with the Giants, their success thus far, and I’ve learned about the managerial conflict whether to make such-and-such changes to their rosters.

If none of the preceding information made sense, that’s completely

understandable -- in fact, it further proves that fantasy baseball is conducive to a much greater understanding of Major League Baseball.

I may not win overall, but the boy who’s never been “that fantasy baseball kind of kid” may know a thing or two by the end of the season. 

did not take an AP course.

Yes, memorizing 60 million facts does successfully classify the course as challenging, but to what extent are these AP classes benefiting students in the long run if there is little evidence of future success due to enrollment in such courses?

AP exams prove to be no different from college entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT, in which students drill through hours of practice test in attempts to raise their score. We must ask ourselves in what ways do these tests directly measure intelligence?

What’s the predictive validity of a four-hour long multiple choice test that has no limits as to how many times a student can take it?

Instead of wasting our time trying to game these entrance exams, it would be much wiser to focus on high school courses that, based on evidence, will prepare us for college and our future goals.

There must be a shift in our perspective of quality education. Maybe it’s time to start believing less is more. The increased number of AP courses taken or the increased point average on the SAT doesn’t correlate to an increase in intelligence or long term learning. We must redefine our idea of quality education in order to highlight the intents of focusing on bigger concepts to stimulate more analytic thinking—focusing on what we will be able to do with their knowledge and not just what score we can get.

Furthermore, we must stop giving numbers so much credit. Numbers don’t reflect a student’s sense of purpose. They don’t measure creativity or wit and they certainly can’t predict the future.

Let us take a step toward creating a culture where we make choices solely on passion and not the desire to increase a number on a scale. 

‘Race to Nowhere’ takes the fun, passion out of learning The disappearance of a childhood in favor of private tutors, coaches, and other résumé-building activities has become the reality to a many of today’s youth.

Our ongoing belief in the quantity-driven model of education and obsession with achievement gauged by numbers has kept us from our original goal—which was to enrich and educate our future generation.

Instead, we have produced sleepdeprived kids struggling to become number one in the race to nowhere.

It is easy to get caught up in the race to succeed when it seems like everyone else is a 4.0 student body president and team captain of the football team who recently started a non-profit organization in their free time. However we must take a step back and analyze our original motives for striving for those flawless SAT scores and piling up on APs. Was it to enrich our understand-

23

The Globe student newspaper exists primarily to inform, entertain, persuade and represent the student voice at CHS to the best of its ability.

It serves as a public forum for the Clayton community.

All content decisions are made by the student editors.

The Globe is self-funded for all publishing costs and offers advertising to all school-appropriate businesses. Please contact our office for more information.

The Globe is distributed to students and staff FREE. We also offer bulk mailing subscriptions for $20 a year and first-class subscriptions for $30 a year.

Letters to the Editor All letters to the editor must be signed when submitted to the editorial staff; the editorial staff will consider a request for a letter to be printed without a name only under rare circumstances. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for length and repetition. Letters are subject to the laws of libel, obscenity, incitement and copyright. All compliments, opinions, complaints, and suggestions are welcomed and should be forwarded to the Globe Office.

Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 854-6668 Fax: 854-6734 globe@clayton.k12.mo.us Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service Winner of MIPA All-Missouri, NSPA All-American with four marks of distinction, Quill and Scroll Gallup Award, CSPA Silver Crown (2004, 2005, 2009), Pacemaker winner (2003), NSPA Hall of Fame Member (2006)

interest

17

million barrels

sievert

In light of the recent radiation scare from Japan, here are some radiation stats to put everything into perspective: 0.0000001 Sv from eating a banana, 0.05 Sv is the dose limit for radiation workers, and 8 Sv is the lethal dose. The dose radiation limit for workers who stayed to help cool down the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine was 0.25 Sv. After standing next to the Chernobyl reactor core explosion and meltdown for ten minutes, the dose was 50 Sv. Source: xkcd.com.

80

percent

Ladies and gentlemen, the image below depicts one of the most common “animals” in today’s rainforests: the machine.

Deforestation has wiped out 80 percent of forests, and 90 percent of West Africa’s coastal rain forests since 1900.

Seventeen million barrels of oil can fuel one million cars per year.

You know what else uses approximately 17 barrels of oil per year?

Producing the 2.7 million tons of plastic used to make water bottles every year. On top of that, only one out of five plastic water bottles is recycled. The other four contribute to the three billion pounds of waste produced by water bottles every year. Water bottles are not exactly worth it considering that it takes three times as much water to produce the water bottle than to fill it. Source: webecoist.com.

Allergies Pollution Spring thunderstorms and crazy weather

Summer Vacation is near!

Arts Fair

AP, SAT, ACT, EOC, and finals testing

SPRING! Earth Day

Near-government shutdown

Prom

CHANGES GREEN

THAT KEEP

Designed by Dee Luo

Great weather, sunshine and drizzling rain

LITTLE

50

www.chsglobe.com

Thumbs Up

EARTH COOL AND

Go Go Figure Figure

24

April 13, 2011

Thumbs Down

Amount of oil America consumes per day = 1 million barrels of oil

Current dependence on foreign oil

The U.S. Produces only 11 percent of the world’s oil

Amount of Carbon dioxide produced from: a 30 minute workout on a treadmill driving from New York to Chicago

Clothes discarded annually, per household

= 5 lbs

Clothes recycled vs. clothes wasted

= recycled = wasted = 20.6 lbs of CO2

driving a car for a year

Amount of Beef Americans consume per year

With one billion people participating in Earth Hour, turning off

Greenhouse gas emitted from raising 6.2 million cattle for steak annually

If every car in America has one more passenger for one year = 1 billion gallons of oil saved

= 2 billion lbs

If every in America person ate a vegetarian diet for seven days, the amount of greenhouse gases we could save

1,543,500

= 500 lbs of CO2

a minute of breathing

Number of Google searches that produce the same amount of carbon dioxide as making

0.037 grams On the other hand, a tree consumes = 500 searches

= 10 million lbs of CO2 conserved

The next Earth Hour will be on

= 100 lbs of CO2 = 20 billion lbs of CO2 conserved

March 31, 2012

lbs of CO2

We all know about Earth Day, but have you ever heard of Earth Overshoot Day? Earth Overshoot Day represents the day we use up our annual ecological budget -- when what humanity consumes exceeds what nature can produce, filter, and renew that year. From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, the ecological resources we demand come from resource stocks, and the greenhouse gases we produce accumulate in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In 2010, we reached Earth Overshoot Day on August 21, spending approximately 50 more days in ecological debt than in 2000. The portion of the clock above the grey line represents 100 percent of the natural resources earth is able to provide.

For more information on Earth Overshoot Day, or to receive notice when we hit Earth Overshoot Day this year, got to www.footprintnetwork.com.

However, the U.S. consumes 25 percent of the world’s oil.

CARPOOL

Go on a jog Plant a tree.

Keep breathing.

Carbon dioxide produced by Google searches per month = 2 billion lbs www.ers.usda.gov www.planetsave.com www.1bog.org www.digisecrets.com www.good.is. www.treehuger.com

www.worldstream.com www.visualeconomics. com www.webcoexist.com www.atmoz.org www.eia.doe.gov

Zoom In In Zoom

This red section represents the 50 percent we demanded further in 2010.

By heavily exceeding our ecological income, going into resource debt and accumulating harmful waste, we deplete and unbalance our environment. We need to start decreasing our deficit because we only have one Earth.

Dee Luo

What is this a picture of?

Go to http://www.chsglobe.com/online/2011/04/april-zoom-out/to find out.