G L OBE issue 1, volume 87
clayton at work clayton high school, clayton, mo.
august 2015
f o llow t he
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1
GLOBE
august 2015
Thank you to our sponsors! Issue Sponsors ($2000): Red Key Realty Leaders Gail Workman
12
Clayton at Work Clayton students find summer employment throughout the St. Louis area.
News
8 News and Notes
Catch up on what you may have missed this summer.
10 Flores Visits Google
The Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. We receive no funding from the school district for printing. Each issue of the Globe costs approximately $2000 to print. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their support of our publication. They make our work possible.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email us at globe@claytonschools.net.
Wydown student corresponds with the major tech company.
Sports
20 New Basketball Coach Get to know the new coach, Blake Ahearn.
19 Athlete Profile Read about CHS football star Tyler Melvin.
Opinion 21 Things Sophie Hates 22 Gay Marriage
9 Calender of Events Find out what’s coming up in STL this month.
Review 23 Paper Towns 23 Scream
CONTENTS
3
GLOBE
staff
editor - in - chief alex bernard
sophia barnes
eunice shin
barrett bentzinger
petra sikic
senior managing editors grace harrison
michael bernard
katie spear
sophie bernstein
heather stone
kevin rosenthal
jacob blair
amy tishler
ellie tomasson
gabrielle boeger
cosima thomas
jack chereskin
saori tomatsu
section editors sophie allen
eunice chung
karena tse
william clay
neel vallurupalli
noah brown
nicholas d’agrosa
angelica vannucci
brian gatter
alexandria darmody
angelo vidal
nicholas lee
lise derksen
catherine walsh
camille respess
emma ebeling
monte wang
max steinbaum
ella engel
zhizhang wei
elise yang
theodore fehr
welch donald
phoebe yao
brandon ford
elizabeth wysession
sarah franzel
samuel youkilis
devin froehlich
samantha zeid
mariclare gatter
anne goode
hugo hoffman
lucas hoffman
robert hogan
mitchell hu
peter indivino
olivia joseph
sehoon kim
rahul kirkhope
cody krutzsch
san kwon
sol kwon
jacob lagesse
elise levy
marissa lewis
benjamin litteken
madison lockett
rowan mccoy
ona mcguire
grace morris
lauren praiss
lisa raymond-schmidt
reporters madeleine ackerburg
mia redington
nikki seraji
marty sharpe
copy editors charlie brennan harry rubin webmaster lemuel lan business manager lucy cohen photo editors bebe engel
katherine sleckman
distribution editor robert hollocher editors
dimitri baldauf
nisha klein
olivia reuter
mitali sharma
zachary sorenson
albert wang
ashleigh williams
tara williams
daniel cho
madeline bale
photographers sophie argyres
emma barnes
jennifer braverman
lily brown
felix evans
alexandra gerchen
akansha goel
ava hoffman
ricky kuehn
elizabeth mills
carolyn niswonger
hava polinsky
elizabeth poor
hannah ryan
claire schwarz
graphics editor victoria yi graphic artist cherry tomatsu design editor lawrence hu adviser
erin castellano
Professional Affiliations: Sponsors of School Publications . Missouri Interscholastic Press Association . Missouri Journalism Education Association . National Scholastic Press Association . Columbia Scholastic Press Association
FROM THE EDITOR Summer is the time for adventure and exploration. This summer, I got to do a lot of that. The first six weeks of my vacation, I worked as a counselor at El Lago del Bosque, a Spanish immersion sleep away camp in Bemidji, MN. Surrounded by my 50 co-workers from countries around the globe, I learned more about myself and the “real world” than I ever thought possible. The final month of my break consisted of a family road trip, a Globe leadership camp and, most recently (excluding “Girl’s Night” at my grandmother’s house), a camping and canoeing trip in Steelville, MO with my friend, Molly, a University City graduate. When my mom came home to find that Molly and I had reserved a campsite for two nights the weekend before the first week of school, she was not thrilled -- however, by this point, my own $35 was down as a deposit and Molly and I were beyond committed to the idea. Besides, we had gotten an incredible deal: by reserving in the “loud area” as opposed to the “family area,” we saved nine dollars and only had to put up with our neighbors’ noise until 2:30 am. Mom’s threatened veto fell flat. Arriving at the campsite, however, I began to see the source of my mother’s apprehension. Evidently, it was rare for two teenagers to go camping alone, as the countless times we were asked “How old are you girls?” and “Just the two of you?” brought me to realize. Directly to the left of our site was a group celebrating a family reunion from Granite City, and across the gravel road was a party of about 20 seniors from Mizzou. Needless to say, the loud area lived up to its name. Despite our age and our lack of a group, Molly and I thrived that weekend. I came to realize that, although a journey may present some dangers, there is no substitute for the pride of having survived without the support of my parents. The knowledge that independence is proven, not earned, is something I will carry with me as I enter these upcoming years of increased independence. This year on the Globe we will be going through a season of adventure and exploration as well. With enrollment in the journalism classes jumping from around 70 to more than 100, we have more than outgrown our space; our weekly full-staff meetings will be taking place in
the CHS Black Box theatre. The size of our group will result in several changes in the way the Globe functions, one of them being the role of every member of the Globe. Each student will develop his or her sense of independence and leadership as he or she works towards the production of the newsmagazine. As always, we will be creating a nationally award winning newsmagazine. However, this year in particular, we will also be growing a community of young, independent leaders. Keep an eye out for this year’s seven issues of the Globe, and do not be afraid to delve into your adventuruous, explorative and independent side this school year.
Alex Bernard, Editor-in-Chief
The Globe Newsmagazine exists to inform, entertain, persuade and represent the student voice at CHS. All content decisions are made by the student editorial staff and the Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. Not every story that our reporters write is published in the print newsmagazine. Visit www.chsglobe.com for additional stories and photos and for more information about the Globe itself. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement - for more information about advertising and subscriptions, please contact our office: Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 EDITOR’S (314) 854-6668 N OT E 5 globe@claytonschools.net
Junior Kate Force skydives while in Nadi, Fiji over summer break. PHOTO BY ANDRIES BURGER
PA N O R
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AMA 6
review
commentary
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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Supreme Court Ruling At the end of June, the Supreme Court released decisions on two major cases, including the legalization of same-sex marriage. SCOTUS voted 5-4 in favor of gay marriage in Obergefell vs. Hodges, stating that marriage is a constitutional right for all Americans. The White House was supportive of the ruling announced on June 26. President Obama stated in a press conference the same day that the legalization is a “victory for America.”
New Teachers at CHS Ohio Governor John Kasich speaks with the media in the spin room after the Republican presidential debate at Quicken Loans Arena on Aug. 6, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/TNS)
NEWS
AND
notes
GOP Primary Debate
On Aug. 6, 10 hopeful GOP candidates took the stage in what was the highest-viewed presidential primary debate in American history. With a viewership of approximately 24 million, the 10 Republican candidates who polled highest in the months leading up to the debate discussed key issues at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. According to an article published by CNN, the first Republican primary debate attracted more viewers than all of last season’s MLB World Series games, as well as the finale of the hit TV series “The Walking Dead.” Most polls currently place business tycoon Donald Trump as the clear frontrunner for the GOP nomination. According to a poll published by FOX News a few days before the debate, Trump led former Florida governor Jeb Bush by as many as 11 points, with other polls providing a similar margin. Ohio governor John Kasich and Florida senator Marco Rubio, both of whom trail Trump and Bush by significant amounts in the polls, made strong appearances at the debate. The two GOP frontrunners, Trump and Bush, however, are considered to have had worse performances.
by CAMILLE RESPESS and MAX STEINBAUM news section editors
Clayton welcomed 10 new staff members for the 2015-2016 school year. CHS introduced Blake Ahearn as ISS Supervisor, Roshaunda Cade and Sean Rochester in the English department, Elizabeth Carson-Bird and Kayra Merrills in the world langagues department, Daniel Henderson and Erick Price in the fine arts department, Alexandra Libby in the PE/ health department, Matthew Boswell in the Learning Center, and Mia DeGreef with SSD.
Cardinals Streak Continues The St. Louis Cardinals are currently experiencing one of the greatest seasons in franchise history thus far. With the fifth month of the MLB season now underway, the Cardinals have compiled a leading 75-42 record entering Aug. 16 despite injuries to key players such as Matt Holliday, Matt Adams and Adam Wainwright. Additionally, St. Louis is on pace to earn over 103 victories this season. No team has won this many games since the 2009 New York Yankees finished with a 103-59 mark, a team which would ultimately go on to win the World Series. The Cardinals have reached the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, missing the postseason a total of only four times since 2000.
COMING UP IN
STL
With these fantastic local and free admission* events, what more could you ask for? Step right up for a taste of STL!
Festival of Nations
Second Annual St. Louis World’s Fair Heritage FestiCelebrated in Forest Park, the venue for the 1904 World’s Fair, the Second Annual St. Louis World’s Fair Heritage Festival features events incorporating the history of the 1904 World’s Fair. The fair aims to highlight the culture of St. Louis today by featuring family activities, favorite St. Louis eateries, live musical performances, historical exhibitions, live art displays and a World Business Expo supporting local businesses. Aug 22 & 23 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (22) 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (23)
For two days each year, Tower Grove Park hosts the Saint Louis area’s premier multicultural celebration. Complete with ethnic food booths, original arts and crafts as well as vibrant music and dance, this event is a great get away from the stress of student life for those seeking an authentic cultural exploration. Whether you’ve lived in STL all your life or you’ve just come in, get yourself down to the Festival of Nations for a taste of the world! Aug 29 & 30 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (29) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (30)
*Cardinals
Aug 31 7:15 Washington Nationals Sept 1 7:15 Washington Nationals
Musical Nights at Oak Knoll Park Hosted in the scenic Oak Knoll Park, fun-filled, family friendly concerts provide the perfect atmosphere for a quick and relaxing night out in town. Gather your picnic blankets and lawn chairs to hear the local bands rock out through out the evening. Better make this your next Sunday plan! Aug 23 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sept 2 7:15 Washington Nationals Sept 4 7:15 Pittsburgh Pirates Sept 5 3:05 Pittsburgh Pirates Sept 6 1:15 Pittsburgh Pirates Sept 7 1:15 Chicago Cubs Sept 8 7:15 Chicago Cubs Sept 9 12:45 Chicago Cubs (average Cardinals ticket price in 2015) admission: $34.20*
St. Louis Art Fair Every year the streets of Clayton’s central business district are closed off for one September weekend to celebrate the visual and performing arts. Artists from across the nation showcase and sell their arts and crafts in booths lining the streets. In addition to exhibiting handcrafted wares, Art Fair also presents live performances, educational hands-on activities for children and showcases some of St. Louis’ top restaurants and more. Sept 11-13 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (11) 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (12) 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (13)
by ELISE YANG and PHOEBE YAO section editors
NEWS 9
FLORES VISITS GOOGLE Wydown student Lucy Flores studied at Singularity University this past summer. by NOAH BROWN feature section editor She clicked send. The email was off to Northern California. Within hours, Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering at Google, responded to Wydown student Lucy Flores’ email. Flores, a 7th grader at the time, was required to write a 10 page paper and create a presentation on a topic of her choice for her class at WMS called DaVinci. While other students in the class were choosing to research history, sports and other ordinary topics, Flores was inspired to do otherwise. Flores’s father, Hugh, tried to get her to think outside the box, and was successful in doing so. “When the DaVinci class came around, she had some good ideas, but I was really trying to push her to challenge herself more, so I threw out some more hardcore science topics,” he said. After a little help from her father, Flores had the perfect idea. She was to focus her project on immortality via singularity, with a special emphasis on living in virtual reality. After reading his book “The Singularity is Near,” she chose to reach out to Kurzweil for advice on her project. When Kurzweil replied to her request, Flores was pleasantly surprised. “His response was ‘I’m happy to answer some questions,’” Flores said. “He was very supportive, and I was happy because I didn’t want to email anyone else.” With the assistance from Kurzweil, Flores completed her research paper, and Kurzweil even Skyped in to her class presentation. Her paper was also posted on Kurzweil’s website. After an extended back-and-forth email conversation, Flores was invited to take part in classes at Singularity University, a research university in Silicon Valley, that was founded by Kurzweil himself. “I went for two days to audit the Graduate Studies program, which is a 10 week program, where they learn about exponential technologies,” Flores said. “There were 80 graduate students from several different countries that went this year. There were people from all sorts of backgrounds.” Flores learned a lot from her time at Singularity University and through her correspondence and mentorship with Kurzweil. When asked what advice she would give to someone with similar aspirations, she said, “Reach out and try to challenge yourself, and take the opportunities that you have.” Flores’ persistence and hard work enabled her to establish a strong relationship and connection with someone she admires, as well as prepared her for continuing opportunities in the science world. “It’s opened up a possible long-term mentoring relationship. [Kurzweil has] been very supportive,” Hugh Flores said. “He said ‘If you need anything for your future projects, let me know. I’d be happy to help out, and keep me posted on what you do.”’ In addition, Kurzweil has strongly encouraged Flores to apply for the teen programs at Singularity University once she is in high school.
NEWS
10
Despite not getting to attend any workshops or do any projects while at Singularity University, Flores did get the opportunity to tour Google’s Innovation Lab, which she enjoyed. “They had a bunch of technology, three virtual reality headsets, a telepresence robot, drones and a flight simulator,” she said. Due to her time with Kurzweil as a mentor, Flores’s research interests have grown dramatically. She has kept her interests going by doing projects at home. “I am especially interested in artificial intelligence and robotics, and plan to do more with that,” she said. “I’m doing a project right now. I am building an arduino nano mouse with a set of instructions on a website.” By watching Flores go after her interests so passionately, her father has realized the capability of teenagers. “Teenagers are capable of a lot so it is important to take the chance to push yourself and go out of your comfort zone,” Hugh Flores said.
Flores with Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google. (Photo courtsey of Lucy Flores)
clayton at work
Profiles of Clayton High’s Summer Jobs by ALEX BERNARD, NOAH BROWN, CAMILLE RESPESS, ELLIE TOMASSON and ELISE YANG
cover
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Lily Brown
Lifeguard Shaw Park Pool
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: Too little. I get paid $8.00 an hour.
Q: Biggest mistake you’ve made on the job? A: Talking instead of watching the pool. You can’t help it when you see your homies.
Q: How do you pass the time? A: Being a lifeguard is the ultimate challenge of passing time. I sing, twirl my whistle, talk, try not to think about the time, divide how much time I have left into small fractions, wave to the little babies in the pool and maybe sometimes actually watch the people in the pool.
Q: What have you learned from being a lifeguard? A: I’ve learned how to be a dependable person. Being a lifeguard requires having parents trust you with their kids swimming which is a big responsibility. At times it can be a stressful but very rewarding job. I’ve learned how to clean a very large bathroom in less than 10 minutes. I’ve also learned how to work with other people and have more patience.
photo by Katherine Sleckman
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photo by Elise Yang
jAMES dANIEL Concessions Attendant Hi-Pointe Theater
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: $8.50 an hour.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened here? A: This one lady came up to me and asked me for some “mix.” And I was like, “I don’t know what that is.” She goes, “How do you not know what that is?” The “mix” turned out to be half orange soda and half Coke. I made it for her, but of course I had to try some for myself. It’s not bad, but it’s not good either.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made? A: I didn’t turn on the sound of a movie, but luckily it was just the previews, so the audience didn’t miss the actual movie. The previews were going and there was no sound. The way it works is you have to start the sound and the movie at the same time, so I had to restart the whole movie.
Q: What have you learned from the job? A: I’ve learned to be a whole lot more patient. I’ve also learned to take certain things with a grain of salt and not be personally insulted when someone is angry, as people are just frustrated sometimes. If it’s out of your control, just shrug it off and focus on doing the best you can.
Kate
Reeves
The Center of Clayton Rock Wall Belayer
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: $8.00 an hour.
Q: What does your job consist of? A: I have to watch the climbers at all times, but I’m also responsible for the safety of the kids waiting to climb. You either tell the kids waiting to sit on the bench or line up against the railing, and if they can’t follow any of the safety procedures in the climbing area, they’re not allowed to climb.
Q: What have you learned? A: Having patience is something you really need when dealing with younger kids because they’ll get distracted and you have to make sure that they focus on what they’re doing so they don’t hurt themselves.
Protip: I want to make sure people know that the Center is a great place for people to find a job. It’s a really great environment, everyone’s really nice, it’s easy to get there from the high school and hours are really flexible.
Grace Monshausen Hostess Half & Half
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: $8.00 an hour plus tips, but I get tax taken off which stinks.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened on the job? A: A woman with a party of 10 that came in got really mad at me one time. She stood behind the hostess’ stand and yelled in my ear for a really long time. She told me that I am really bad at my job and that I should have sat her somewhere else. She also said that I should figure out how to be better. After my co-workers got involved, she apologized and said that she works at a restaurant too.
Q: How do you pass the time? C OV E R
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A: There’s a receipt feeder at the hostess’ stand. So I always push the button to get blank paper and draw my co-workers pictures. Sometimes if cute kids are in [the restaurant], I go and talk to them. I also eat a lot.
Q: What have you learned from the job? A: People are mean when they’re hungry.
photo by Katherine Sleckman
Jack
Snodgrass
Busser Cantina Laredo
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: $6.00 per hour and 40% of the server’s tips, and my own tips.
Q: Biggest mistake you’ve made? A: I dropped four glasses. I was carrying a big tray of glasses and I was just thinking to myself, “Wow, I’m really getting better at balancing these glasses.” Right after that, I turned a corner too sharply and all the glasses fell off. All of my co-workers made fun of me after that.
Q: weirdest thing that’s happened on the job? A: One time a server dropped all of these people’s food on their table. I had to clean it up and it was pretty awkward.
Q: What have you learned? A: I have learned more social skills. Especially how to hold up a conversation with strangers.
opposite page: photo from Kate Reeves, photo by Katherine Sleckman
ha nn ah
Hannah
rYAN Usher The Muny
Q: What’s your hourly wage?
A: I get paid $17 an hour or $9, depending on what we are doing each night. I get around $35 every night.
Q: wHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART?
A: There are so many things I love about working at The Muny. I love being around the shows and seeing all these really great performers. I love giving tours of backstage and seeing kids get excited about being backstage or being on stage because that was me when I was little. I love the people and interacting with them.
Q: What have you learned?
A: I have learned a lot of people skills. I have learned how to deal with difficult situations where people might be angry that the parking lot is full and I might direct them or apologize. I have learned how to deal with people.
q: aNYTHING ELSE?
A: I have this great memory. I was working in free seats, where people don’t have to buy tickets, they just wait in line to get seats at the top. It was the Buddy Holly show and my boss came up to me and had an extra ticket that he wanted me to give away to someone who was alone in free seats. So I was checking the bag of this older woman, because that’s what I do in free seats. I asked her if she was alone and she was, so I offered her the ticket and it was a really close to the stage. She said, “How much is it?” and I said, “No. It’s completely free.” She almost started crying, she was so excited and gave me this huge hug. It was amazing to be able to impact someone’s night. That was probably a great memory for that woman and I’m glad that I was able to do that.
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photo by Katherine Sleckman
photo by Nahuel Feher
Intern The City of St. Louis Office of the Mayor
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: I’m an unpaid intern. I get paid in recommendation letters.
Q: Hours per week?
n ow br
Henry
A: I usually get in there around 7:45 or 8:00 and I stay anywhere from 5 to 6:00, five days a week.
Q: dress code?
A: I’m in a suit, I always wear a tie and I always wear a jacket around because you never know what’s going to happen on the job.
Q: what’s been the most interesting task you’ve had? A: For my first assignment, I was given the official DOJ on the Ferguson “incident,” as they called it. Two hundred pages. So I learned about all that and I became the office person for that, along with most police matters.
Q: what have you learned? What I’ve learned is that it’s people like [firemen, policemen and paramedics] who make the city go round. We help the cogs turn, we grease them, but it’s the people who actually go out on a daily basis who are the cogs themselves.
photo from Felix Evans
fELIX
evans Waitress Cafe Manhattan
Q: What’s your hourly wage? A: Minimum wage, or $7.65 plus tips. But people don’t usually tip on take outs, even though you’re supposed to.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened here? A: I worked a double on both days of the July 4th weekend. A guy came in for the first three shifts and he ate at the counter twice. It was just really awkward, but he was nice and he complimented me for working so much. But we both clearly had no plans for the Fourth of July, so it was pretty weird.
Q: What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made? A: I messed up an order and gave the wrong food to a lady and she left with it. But the girl who actually ordered that food came, so I had to redo her order. The first lady returned and I had to give her the original food that she wanted. I ended up with an extra pizza and a salad from redoing the orders, so I at least got free food in the end.
Q: What have you learned from the job? A: I’ve learned to be a lot more patient. But I’ve also learned to be efficient and fast, because other people aren’t patient. Oh, and if you flirt with the guys, they give you bigger tips.
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ATH
PRO
LETE
FILE
T Y-ING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER
Record breaking Senior Tyler Melvin prepares for the fall football season. by BRIAN GATTER sports section editor In a single season 1,574 yards sits atop the CHS football record book. In the 2014 football season, Tyler Melvin, a junior at the time, set this record, surpassing one of his role models, Tyler Walker, who now sits at fifth on this list. “Tyler [Walker] has always pushed me to go my hardest but recently he told me as a senior I have to step up and start a new atmosphere for everyone around me and Clayton football,” Melvin said. Although this record was incredible, coach Gene Gladstone expects Melvin to be more than one of the best running backs in CHS football history. “Last year he was a great contributor to the team,” Gladstone said. “This year, that contribution is expected and his role now has become that of leadership. He has become a guy who has taken on an example’s role for the rest of the team.” Melvin has embraced this new role of leadership coming into his senior year. “Starting football my freshman year, I was quiet. I mean, I was always good, one of the top players, but I never really spoke up or was a leader of the team or gave my opinion,” Melvin said. “This year, I’m getting all the guys together. I’m more vocal. I’m fixing mistakes. I’m more of a leader.” While stepping into a senior leadership role, Melvin is also keeping
photo by Katherine Sleckman
himself humble and trying to focus on the team. “We were very close as a team [last year] and this year we are even closer,” Melvin said. Melvin is grateful for many role models that have helped his football career as it has progressed. “My dad, he’s my number one, my mom. Some of my own teammates like Kerry, Robby, Josh, Will. Those guys push me,” Melvin said. Gladstone noticed Melvin’s commitment to the program and drive early on. “Well, we started together on Jan. 5, when we came back from winter break and during that time we had 120 workouts that guys were able to make and Tyler made over 80 percent of those,” Gladstone said. “So, we got good exposure to him and who he is and what he’s about during that time. What we have seen is a steady maturation as an athlete and as a person and it’s lead him to the point today where he’s a real leader of our football team.” The effect that the change in coaching had on the team did not go unnoticed to the players. “It improved us a lot all around,” Melvin said. “We are a better team. Everything is different. It is a new environment.”
S P O R T S 19
CONTINUING A LEGACY Blake Ahearn steps up as the new varsity boys’ basketball head coach.
Ahearn shoots while playing for the USA team. (Photo from Blake Ahearn)
“I’ve played on four different continents, I’ve played in the NBA, I’ve played in the minor leagues, I’ve played in China. Two years ago my wife and I lived literally through where the war started between Ukraine and Russia. There were 130 people murdered within a seven iron of where I lived,” former NBA player and current CHS basketball head coach Blake Ahearn said. Ahearn was hired as CHS’ new varsity boys’ basketball coach in late May. “I applied for the job for family reasons first. My wife and I, we just had our third kid about three weeks ago,” he said. “So I knew I was going to be having my third and playing-wise, health-wise I felt great, like I could continue playing professionally, but I knew at some point that is not very family conducive.” The Ahearn family has left a legacy in Clayton basketball. “My dad and uncle went to Clayton, I’ve had eight cousins go through Clayton and I’ve worked out at the Clayton Center ever since it opened,” Ahearn said. “So I have a lot of history, and I feel when you have [history] with something, not that I wouldn’t work as hard as I possibly can somewhere else, but you always try to do a little bit extra when you have some type of history with the school.” After Ahearn was hired, he immediately went about seeking to change the culture of the Clayton basketball program. “I feel fortunate enough to have played for, I feel, the best organization, not just in basketball, but in sports in the last 15-20 years with the San Antonio Spurs and the coach I had there, Gregg Popovich,” Ahearn said. “He’s an Air Force guy, so he was strict, but he was fair. I’m not a guy or a coach that’s gonna be a drill sergeant, but there needs to be a disci-
SPORTS 20
by BRIAN GATTER sports section editor
pline factor, people need to be held accountable and I don’t think that only comes from me. As far as leaders, Josh, David and Robert, our three seniors, they need to hold people accountable.” Many players on the team were impressed with Ahearn, especially the seniors. “[Coach Ahearn] is a great guy and a hard worker,” senior Robert Hogan said. “He really emphasizes team basketball which I believe will lift our team to a higher level.” Senior Josh Johnson noticed the same emphasis. “He’s helped us be more confident in ourselves and in our teammates. He’s taught us how to play together as a team and not individuals,” Johnson said. Ahearn stresses confidence for individual players as well as an outstanding work ethic as keys to success. “If I was walking down this street right now, not many people would think I played in the NBA, actually nobody,” Ahearn said. “I would go to my own bus when I played in the NBA for Utah in San Antonio where I had already played before and the security guard wouldn’t let me on the bus. So, I don’t look like a basketball player, but the confidence that I gained was because I knew I practiced more than anybody. That’s the mentality you have to have and that’s what I’m trying to tell these kids: if you practice and you work at it enough, you deserve the right to be confident. You may not win every game, you may not make every shot, but it will put you in the right frame of mind to be successful.” Ahearn’s work ethic allowed him not only to play Division I college basketball for Missouri State, but also to eventually hold both the records for all-time free throw percentage for a career as well as a single season. Ahearn’s records boil down to, according to him, practice and confidence. “There’s a lot of things in basketball and in life that you can’t control. And when I was growing up I couldn’t control how tall I was going to be. You’re just kind of given what you’re given,” Ahearn said, “The one thing that I could control as a kid was how hard I worked with the basketball and how much I practiced.” Although he enjoyed success as a player and won countless awards at very high levels including the NBA D-League Rookie of the Year in 2008 and the D-league leading scorer in 2012, Ahearn still says that relationships are one of his favorite parts about sports. “Coach Popovich was great at always caring about your family situation and off the court stuff and all the best coaches I’ve had were like that,” Ahearn said. “That’s what I want to be as a coach: to be able to carry relationships with these players past high school, help them get to college.” Senior David Brake is just as eager as Ahearn to get into the season and see where Ahearn can lead the team. “I’m really excited about what Coach Ahearn brings to our team,” Brake said. “He’s a laid back guy but still has an intense side that I think will not only help the varsity team get better, but also the basketball program as a whole.” Ahearn also lots to be excited about regarding the upcoming season. “For me, it’s a new opportunity. I always knew I wanted to get into coaching and to have the opportunity to start at a place that I have history with,” he said. “There are times in practice that I look up and I see my dad’s name on a banner, I see my uncle’s name on banners. It’s kind of poetic in a way. To some people, it’s just high school basketball. To me, it’s something that I’ve worked hard for.”
THINGS
S PHIE a column by SOPHIE ALLEN, opinion section editor
HATES
Donald Trump is running for president and Megyn Kelly helped America realize that we don’t want that. On Aug. 7, 2015, the Republican presidential candidate debate drew a record-breaking 24 million viewers. Donald Trump, self-titled “businessman and reality television star,” contemplated on Good Morning America the next day, “I wonder what the ratings would have been if I wasn’t in the mix. It would have been very interesting to see, frankly.” And he’s right. Without the draw of Trump, the debate probably would have passed without a second thought from most Americans. Normally at this stage of the game, before preliminary elections have even begun, most of us wouldn’t have picked out a candidate to stand behind yet. But Trump is taking the nation by a storm with his celebrity status and hardcore Republican values. But I’m not here to talk about that, really. I’m here to talk about how I don’t want a man who makes derogatory jokes about women on TV to lead my country. Please and thank you. At one point during the debate, FOX News moderator Megyn Kelly brought up Trump’s history with women. She began her question by saying, “You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘slobs’ and ‘disgusting animals.’” Trump chose this moment to interrupt her. “Only Rosie O’Donnell.” Which, to say the least, is half-true. Trump has called O’Donnell all of those things ever since 2006, when O’Donnell questioned Trump’s decision to not fire Tara Conner, a controversial Miss USA, over drug abuse. The Trump-O’Donnell feud has been growing ever since. But Kelly continued her question after the interruption, saying,
“For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell. Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound like the temperament of a man we should elect president?” I stand with Kelly, and probably every other American woman at this point, in saying that no, this is not the temperament of a man we should elect to lead our country. For those who do not already understand the concept, the president of the United States would represent everyone in it. Even if he (or she, with the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming the Democratic candidate in 2016) consistently poked fun at half of the country’s population. Trump’s interjection about O’Donnell generated a lot of laughter from the audience, and it was clear he made the joke simply for that reaction. A presidential candidate is not debating for America’s personal entertainment. He should be debating to prove his ideas are worth listening to and that he would make a good leader of our country. If Trump gets any further in his journey for presidential candidacy, women will have to face scarily ignorant comments about their health, abortion and their physical appearance all day long. If you ask me, our next president, if he is a man, should respectfully say he has no idea what women’s health issues are really all about and appoint a woman to help him effectively deal with them. 50 percent of Americans don’t need anyone telling them what to do with their bodies, especially not Donald Trump.
(Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune/MCT)
(Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/TNS)
T H E G AY D AY S O F S U M M E R The Supreme Court finds in favor of gay marriage nationwide.
Outside the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, a massive crowd cheers as the verdict is returned. The vote falls five to four. On June 26, 2015, gay marriage is legalized across the United States of America. Before this moment, fourteen states still prohibited same-sex marriage, including Missouri. The Obergefell v. Hodges case overruled the ruling of the 1971 Baker v. Nelson case, which gave states the power to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In President Obama’s words, “This ruling is a victory for America ... When all Americans are truly treated as equal, we are more free.” However, this decision was not greeted with consensus all around. Various groups, both religious and political, voiced their disagreement with the decision. Several raised the question of whether or not religious institutions would have to grant marriages to same-sex couples if it went against their beliefs. However, the court stated that these matters would have to be determined underneath state laws. Still, in a recent poll conducted around the time of the decision, nearly 60 percent of Americans support extending the same rights and privileges to same-sex couples. But by the glance of the numbers, these results indicate that only a little more than half of America supports the extension of fair treatment to same-sex couples. Even the Supreme Court decision could have easily swayed to a vote of denying gay couples legal rights to marriage. Certainly these are grand steps that America is taking, a push for equality to provide the rights of union between two people in love. Should one person be denied the right to call their beloved their partner for life simply because of being the same sex? The great dissent for many lies within their belief and construct of what defines marriage. A number of Americans hold to the notion of a traditional marriage
OPINION
22
by LEMUEL LAN webmaster
involving the union between one man and one woman. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the judge who wrote the majority opinion in favor of legalizing gay marriage, stated, “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions.” Should America hold its beliefs within an age-old tradition, a tradition that has justified holding slaves as property and depriving natives of their land because of their belief in manifest destiny? America has always been known as the country to offer equal opportunities and equal rights, as well as the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. The decision made has set America down a path that cannot, and should not, be altered. Restrictions should not be set for those who wish to pursue their own sense of happiness, no matter who their love interest may be. As a nation, why do we spend our time judging and limiting one another, instead of working as a unified country? We waste time refusing others the right to love and to be married when we truly have no business meddling with their union. Marriage is, indeed, a sacred union, meant for the two partners involved to confess and promise their undying love for each other. The bond made between two individuals is of no one else’s concern, whether they be straight or gay. Indeed, there is no time like the present. How we, as citizens of America, take the decision, will be in our own hands. On June 26th, America stood for equality and fairness. On that day, America took a step forwards towards happiness for all. On that day, love spoke. And nothing speaks louder than love.
PAPER TOWNS “Paper Towns” was recently released as the movie version of yet another teen romance/adventure by John Green. High school senior Quentin (Nat Wolff) experiences the night of his life when Margo (Cara Delevigne), Quentin’s neighbor and the most popular girl in school, enlists him to help her get back at her cheating boyfriend. Quentin hopes this will spark the romance he had always imagined between them, but, the next morning, he finds that Margo has disappeared. While Margo’s parents do not find this unusual, this time it appears Margo, at 18 years old, may be gone for good. Quentin, his best friends Ben (Austin Abrams) and Radar (Justice Smith) and Margo’s closest friend Lacey (Halston Sage) embark on a journey to find the missing girl. Unfortunately, the movie adaptation didn’t quite live up to the magic of the book. Although Delevigne and Wolff do a remarkable job playing the two main characters, and filmmakers capture senior year of high school perfectly, those factors do not make up for the fact that the story is not realistic. As a book, playing with “reality” works well, but it’s hard for a viewer of the movie to embrace the idea in only two hours that Margo ran away frequently to do amazing things as a teenager. Hundreds of pages work much better for that sort of premise. Green’s novels are great to read, but his movie adaptations fall short in comparison.
SCREAM “You can’t do a slasher movie as a TV series,” Noah Foster (John Karna), one of the pivotal members of the main cast in the hit summer series on MTV, “Scream,” said. However, it seems as though the producers of the new show completely went against Foster’s advice. Loosely based off of the movie franchise, “Scream” follows a group of teens in the small town of Lakewood, haunted by a killer who is bent on revenge. The series starts off with a bang, revealing a startling death within the first eight minutes of the pilot, before setting off the chain of murderous events that shake Lakewood’s residents. Paying tribute to the original movie franchise, “Scream” follows a similar archetypical set of characters, including a Sidney Prescott character type with Emma Duvall (Willa Fitzgerald), the curious-yet-fame-driven reporter with Piper Shay (Amelia Rose Blaire) and the sex object, Brooke Maddox (Carlson Young). In this series, every character has his or her own motive and agenda in mind. Everyone has a reason to be the killer and everyone has secrets to hide. The series reveals underlying plots and crucial character development that viewers miss in the standard cinema setting of slasher films. Jealousy, lies and betrayal are taken to the extreme as the teens of Lakewood determine who is truly their friend and who is just pretending. “Scream” also includes various witty and snide remarks, helping to keep the show contemporary by using modern slang and references. Social media and technology are prevalent motifs that run throughout the
by SOPHIE ALLEN opinion section editor
Cara Delevingne and Nat Wolff in “Paper Towns.” (Michael Tackett/20th Century Fox/TNS)
by LEMUEL LAN webmaster series, along with the ever classic ominous phone call from the killer. Viral video scandals are ever foreboding, and, as Foster states, “It’s the age of Instagram, YouTube and Tumblr. I mean, we need to share the things we do or it’s like it never happened.” Of course, viewers may still hold protests against the seemingly naive and foolish characters. Surely she would not have gone there alone, or he would not have tripped while he was running. But despite its rather cheesy acting and predictable outcomes found only within a slasher film, “Scream” offers a breath of fresh air to the MTV network. Quick turns of events and sudden deaths propel the series onwards, enough to keep viewers watching week after week. In a series that seems ever centered in the feelings of the modern day, “Scream” provides the horror that we, as high school students, face everyday, both with technology and finding our place in society. The exaggerated escalation in murders reveals our greatest fears of a nightmare world. The thrilling uncertainty with its modern taste is what gives “Scream” the great potential to become the next horror series. So, be sure to lock your doors and have your phone close by when you tune in to watch. You never know if your own phone might soon get an unknown caller...
REVIEW 23
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