Globe Newsmagazine, December 2019, Issue 4, Vol. 91

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+ THE GLOBE EXAMINES THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE VAPING EPIDEMIC pg. 18

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+ AN UPDATE ON SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES IN ST. LOUIS pg. 9 . VOLUME 91 . ISSUE 4 .

CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL. CLAYTON, MO. DECEMBER 2019.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! 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.

ISSUE SPONSORS ($2000 Level) Gail Workman Herbie’s in Clayton

GOLDEN GREYHOUND SPONSORS ($200+ Level) DTLS Landscape Architecture Dale Avenue Pediatrics Windsor Madonna O Cotlar Centene Yeung Realtors Melissa Clark Clayton Pilates Studio

The Thompson Richardson Team St. Louis Suit Company Clayton All in Coalition Van’t Hof Family

WORLD TRAVELER SPONSORS ($100+ Level) Northwest Coffee The LaGesse Stanton Family The Sturmoski Family The Abburi Family Jane Cross Eugene Cross Bob and Betsy Cuneo The Stemmler Family Charlotte de Sauvage Nolting The Curtis Family Sangeeta Khanna and Aseem Sharma The Chung Family Washington University Physicians Allergy & Immunology Clinics Mary and Dick Anthony Robin and Neil Snelling Maya Jerath and Sanjay Baruah Venkatesh Narayan and Gita Krishnaswamy

Christy Hager DDS Ann Sachar Angela and Troy Quinn Chandrakant C. Tailor Alex Waldbart Florist Protzel’s Delicatessen Cobblestone Quality Shoe Repair Celsius Cryo-Therapy The Erlin Family Debbie and Andy Schwartz Chandrakant Tailor The Choo-Kang Family The Family of Lary Baker Go Inc. Kay Quinn Malone Geoffrey Espe David LaGesse and Laura Stanton Mindy Keller Jill Moran

The Chatterjee Family The Palamand Family The Fisher Family Sharon and Riley Gordon

December 2019 Photo of Congressman Adam Schiff during the impeachment hearing on November 21, 2019 by Michael Melinger.

07 Panorama

Editor Michael Melinger captures a scene from the impeachment hearing.

11 Filling the Gap

Editor Sara Stemmler and reporter Abby Hoelscher take a look at gap years.

18 Vaping The Globe examines electronic cigarette usage.

30 Divers Seniors Brooke Becker and Bridget Walsh represent the Clayton diving squad.

globe.

STAFF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Grace Snelling and Lila Taylor

CHIEF MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Michael Melinger

CHIEF DIGITAL EDITOR Richard Cheng

SENIOR MANAGING EDITORS Ashley Chung Katie He Noor Jerath Sara Stemmler

SECTION EDITORS Cece Cohen, BREAKING NEWS/ DIGITAL Shane LaGesse & Kaitlyn Tran, NEWS Disha Chatterjee & Sofia Erlin, FEATURE Jimmy Malone, SPORTS Eliot Blackmoore & Danny Choo-Kang, OPINION

REPORTERS Owen Auston-Babcock Isabella Bamnolker Luka Bassnett Emma Baum Sophia Boyd Danny Bui Jenna Bush Seraphina Corbo Chloe Creighton Isabelle Cross Sonali Dayal Hannah Do Paige Espe Tiancheng Fan Thomas Gustafson Alexandra Hagemeister Max Hagemeister Abigail Hoelscher Sasha Keller Ryan Kerr Daphne Kraushaar

Rachel Liang Moriah Lotsoff Isaac Millians Ana Mitreva Sofia Mutis Ruby Nadin Sofia Puerto Reese Quinn Emma Raine Ivy Reed Helena Reuter Maya Richter Ananya Shah Kathryn Smith Samuel Smith Sophie Srenco Abigail Sucher Sava Tamanaha Carola Vaqueiro Elaine Yoo Sophie Yoshino

Siddhi Narayan & Bridget Walsh, REVIEW

COPY EDITOR Yiyun Xu

PHOTO EDITOR Ella Cuneo

PAGE EDITORS Sarah Baker Vivian Chen Josephine Cross Kate Freedman Sahithya Gokaraju Tallulah Hawley Maxwell Keller Kaia Mills-Lee Margy Mooney

Neema Naemi Naveed Naemi Ruth Pierson Dheera Rathikindi William Redington Junyi Su Sophia Thompson Angela Xiao

PHOTOGRAPHERS Natalie Ashrafzadeh Celia Baer Natalie Bone Lillan Brown Jelani Christmas Isabella Clark Abigail Cooper Audrey Deutsch Gwen Duplain Ellayna French Sophie Furdek Davia Goette Lucia Johnson Kate Lay Whitney Le

Haley Lewis Naomi Merrihue-Irving Eli Millner Mallory Palmer Deborah Park Elise Restemayer Elia Rios Ryan Rosenthal Katherine Rother Annika Sandquist Emma Siegel Emma Stipanovich Katherine Walsh Olivia Williams Lauren Wolff

Professional Affiliations: JournalismSTL, Missouri Interscholastic Press Association, Missouri Journalism Education Association, Journalism Education Association National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Please visit chsglobe.com for our editorial policy, mission statement, and ethics code. You can contact us at chsglobe@claytonschools.net with comments, story ideas or letters to the editor.

5

from the editor There is a Korean word called han. Not easily translated into English, han is both an emotion and a theme. Han is the feeling of grief and despair. In the TV show “The West Wing,” one of the characters Josiah Bartlet explained, “It’s a state of mind. Of soul, really. A sadness.

A sadness so deep no tears will come. And yet, still, there’s hope.” The idea of han drives Korean society and makes up its identity. Everyone will suffer at some point during their lives, but still, life goes on. Instead of ignoring the pain, han calls Koreans to embrace it.

However, in American culture, there is no concept like han at all. Instead, starting from a young age, ideas like the American Dream and stories like Cinderella and the Little Mermaid encourage us to follow our dreams and tell us that we will be happy when we fulfill those goals.

At its roots, this message is reasonable, as it encourages us to set high standards and work towards our goals. However, the implications of this idea are concerning. When we finally reach our goals, what’s next?

We think that everyone is doing better than us. The grass always looks greener on the other side. Pictures on Instagram and other social media platforms advertise incomplete realities of the people that we know. Because we are not as happy as they seem, we wonder what we’re doing wrong.

Living in Clayton, it is especially easy to fall for this illusion. Surrounded by people who lead seemingly perfect lives, we do all we can to succeed. Thus, when we struggle to balance extracurriculars, schoolwork, sleep and social lives, we feel incompetent. We think that taking more AP classes means that we will be closer to success. We think that joining every extracurricular will help us reach the college of our dreams.

However, we never think about what happens after we reach that college or goal.

We feel happy when we get a good grade or project. But as soon as we get a bad grade, our day is completely ruined. There is not a single person at CHS who has not experienced that feeling. Understandably, receiving a less-than-average grade after working hard is disappointing.

However, when students begin to work hard only to receive good grades, we lose sight of the more valuable process and instead, merely focus on the result. In the grand scheme of life, grades are insignificant, so why is so much of our happiness dependent on the results of our grades?

As a result, we look for an escape. To avoid

the pain of everyday life, we turn to harmful activities like drugs or smoking that temporarily take away our pain and make ourselves feel better.

We use these more, slowly getting addicted, thinking we are happier. However, the opposite effect is observed. As the temporary distraction fades away, we realize we must face reality again.

We need to rethink our idea of happiness.

Happiness should not depend on matters that change easily, like grades. Along with major life events, our happiness should come from the little moments of life. To be truly happy, we don’t

necessarily need to be happy all the time.

Through my years at high school, I have learned to look for joy in the simple moments.

High school is a time in life that is truly unique, and once we finish, we can’t go back. There is no other time in life where all your social circles and job are together in one building, all working towards the same thing. Through high school, I have realized that part of life is understanding that there will be good times, but there will also be bad times. Those bitter parts of life will help make the good days even better.

ASHLEY CHUNG | SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR MICHAEL MELINGER | PHOTOGRAPHER

HILL ON THE HILL Fiona Hill, a British-born American foreign affairs specialist, is sworn in for testimony during the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill on Nov. 21, 2019. In her opening statement, Hill described Russia’s goal in weakening the United States by inflaming dissent: “President Putin and the Russian security services operate like a super PAC,” Hill said. “They deploy millions of dollars to weaponize our own political opposition research and false narratives. When we are consumed by partisan rancor, we cannot combat these external forces as they seek to divide us against each other, degrade our institutions and destroy the faith of the American people in our democracy.”

Photographer MICHAEL MELINGER

8

news & notes SHANE LAGESSE | KAITLYN TRAN

NEWS SECTION EDITORS

sangus high school shooting

teachers’ grants On Oct. 25, Clayton School District teachers were awarded grants by the Clayton Education Foundation for various projects. Totaling at nearly $100,000, these grants will be used for initiatives throughout the district.

stl climate strike

airpods pro The latest model of Apple’s wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro, was released on October 30. The new earbuds feature noise cancellation, in-ear design, “hey siri” accessibility, water resistance and a $249 price tag.

At around 7:38 am PST on November 14th, a shooting broke out at Sangus High School in Santa Clarita, California.

Two were killed and at least three were injured. The shooter was identified as Nathaniel Berhow, who turned his weapon on himself, later passing away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The weapon used was a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol that is being called a “ghost gun”, an untraceable firearm. This brings forth further concern about homemade or 3D guns, which are comparably lethal, but are not traceable and do not require background checks.

On November 29th, St. Louis climate activists and supporters will be rallying outside the Galleria Mall. This is timed to be directly before the 2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Madrid, Spain, from December 2nd to December 13th.

hotel on forsyth Marriot has put forth a request for permission to build a new hotel in downtown Clayton on Forsyth. The location is near the Straub’s, only a short walk from CHS.

xc excels The CHS boys varsity cross country team placed fourth in State, trophying for the first time in two decades. The two freshman girls, Isabel Erdmann and Sophia Pelligreen, qualified for All State.

isis leader killed ISIS leader and caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died on October 23 in the village of Barisha, in the northwestern Syrian provence of Idlib. Al-Baghdadi was caught in a US raid, and President Trump reported that al-Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest while hiding in a tunnel with three of his children.

Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al-Qurayshi has been named his successor.

9

the syrian clayton connection An update on the lives of Syrian refugees in St. Louis.

BRIDGET WALSH | REVIEW SECTION EDITOR GRACE SNELLING | EDITOR IN CHIEF It was Thanksgiving Day 2016, and former Louis. This would often entail searching for better CHS Current Issues teacher Debra Wiens had housing, schools, neighborhoods and jobs that just put the finishing touch on a traditional would ease the jarring transition to life in the home-cooked meal when her daughter, a college United States. In this way, she often became the student in a social work program, saw the spread greatest link between their home life and the of food on the dining room table. outside world. As she helped his family adjust, “[My daughter] spent the summer before that Wiens and Almalla became fast friends. He in Germany with Syrian refugees, and making even came to her first to ask her opinion them aware of sex trafficking and the dangers and on a trip in the summer of how to avoid it,” Wiens said. “So she became friends with a lot of the young Syrian women.

And she came home for Thanksgiving, and she said, ‘Mom, you “And he stood there, have enough food outside of his house, here for 20 more people, where are and he looked at me, the Syrian refugees?’ and he said, ‘Lady She said that there were a lot of Syrian Debra, please believe refugees in St. Louis and that she was me, you are my family going to go get them now. [...] Please always and bring them here for Thanksgiving. This was be my friend’” two hours before the meal.

-Debra Wiens So we had an hour-long argument, and I took 2019 her car keys away.” to Turkey That day, Wiens to visit his and her family ate relatives. alone. However, she She was strongly made a promise to her opposed to the idea. daughter and to herself “He wanted to go back and see that she would get to know his mom and brother, nieces, nephews,” some Syrian refugees and have Wiens said. “I kept telling him not to go because them over for Christmas. it wasn’t safe, I was reading in the news that it Years later, Wiens would once again find wasn’t safe. Even my American friends didn’t herself sitting down to a celebratory meal with believe me that it wasn’t safe, but I kept reading family. This time, though, that family would be about the problem growing worse. I told him that the wife and children of one of her closest Syrian it wasn’t a good time to go and that he didn’t have friends, and the celebration would not be for a the money to go. Against my wishes, he went. holiday, but rather for the safe return of their During his trip, I was in Shanghai and Seoul. As father from Turkey. soon as he arrived in Istanbul, he realized that Wiens met Ebrahim Almalla and his family what I had been telling him was true.” after making her initial commitment to help The Turkish government had begun deportmake Syrian refugees feel more at home in St. ing Syrians back to Syria. Almalla’s fear of capture

triggered PTSD symptoms that resulted from his proximity to the Syrian civil war. This prevented him from eating or sleeping and sparked overwhelming anxiety. When he was able to call his wife, who remained in the US with their children, he had a single request: that he could speak to Wiens.

As soon as Wiens called him back, she could hear his distress.

He was terrified that, if he stayed in Turkey any longer, he would be forced back into Syria and never see his family again. He wanted Wiens to fly to Istanbul and help him return safely to the US early. Overpowered by distressing physical and emotional symptoms, boarding an aircraft felt impossible. However, Wiens agreed to call him as he boarded his flight, and again when he reached his connector in Chicago. Each time, she convinced him to get on the plane.

Finally, he touched down at Lambert International Airport, where Wiens and his family were waiting for him. Upon their arrival at his home, he waited for everyone else to go inside.

“And he stood there, outside of his house, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘Lady Debra, please believe me, you are my family now. My family in Turkey, yes they are my family, but everyone is different after the war. You are my family. If we do not have you, we will die in this country. Please always be my friend,’” Wiens said.

Today, Wiens is retired and spends much of her time teaching Muslim women to speak and write English. She believes that this is one of the most integral parts of transitioning to life in the US, as proficient English is necessary to gain citizenship. However, perhaps most importantly, what these families need is someone to look out for them. “[The Syrian refugees] need friends,” Wiens said. “And I realize what that friendship means for their family.”

debra wiens

10

2012

the almalla family

Almalla family flees Syria to Egypt

Kurdish parties establish Rojava in Northern Syria Almalla Family nearly flees Egypt, decides against it Syrian government retakes Aleppo, a rebel stronghold Muhammed Almalla, the youngest son, is born in Egypt Family arrives in St. Louis, moving first to Holly Hills Wiens begins her involvement with Syrian refugee programs Wiens brings students to Hodiamont to deliver supplies for refugees The Globe’s first coverage of the Syrian Refugee Crisis President Trump blocks immigration of Syrian refugees Family moves from Holly Hills to Affton

President Trump pulls troops out of Syria

2019

Ebrahim and Hadeel and their children Rana, Reem and Muhammed are as integral to the St. Louis community as the community is to them. With them, they bring vitality, wisdom and hope. They see the world as it is rather than as many want to see it.

Here in the United States, the violence in Syria seems more than a world away.

However, St. Louis is host to many Syrian refugees who have experienced firsthand the destruction that has occurred in Syria. While they are physically separated from the war, families like the Alamallas still have relatives in Syria and surrounding countries that serve as a permanent tether to the events that continue to take place. These families often have a difficult time adjusting to a new culture while simultaneously learning English and working to become citizens.

For the Almalla family, escaping the conflict in Syria was a long process. Before eventually making their way to St. Louis, they spent three years living in Egypt. In 2014, they nearly escaped across the Mediterranean, but Hadeel was pregnant with Muhammed and they felt the journey too unsafe in the rickety boat that was supposed to take them.

Rana, the eldest daughter was so affected by the trauma of the war that she had not been speaking; the family was growing very concerned. The first time that Wiens met the family was the first time Rana talked. The parents cried from the joy and relief they felt.

During the family’s time in Egypt, it was unsafe for any of the children to attend school, yet, through hard work and a love of learning, they are all in the grade that corresponds with their age today. Not only this, but Rana is involved in her student council; Reem, their second eldest daughter, plays team sports at school; Muhammed, their youngest son, is a normal, energetic 4-year-old who spends his time bouncing around and ignoring his parents wishes for him to give back their cell phones. Sometimes, it is hard to imagine that they used to be caught in the middle of a civil war in Syria. That was a lifetime ago.

After moving from Syria to Egypt, the Almallas were sent to St. Louis by the United Nations to settle in Holly Hills, a neighborhood in south St. Louis city. This area turned out to be less than ideal. Additionally, when Ebrahim began his painting company, he and Hadeel lost their health insurance coverage because Missouri chose not to expand its Medicaid program.

However, as the Almallas can attest, life in St. Louis does get better.

With help from Wiens, the family was able to move into a nicer neighborhood with access to good schools and a friendly community. As of now, everyone in the family except for Hadeel has healthcare. However, only the children are on Medicaid.

Ebrahim is connected to a program through Barnes-Jewish Hospitals which allows him free healthcare, but only at BJC facilities.

Both Hadeel and Ebrahim work to support their family. Hadeel taught herself how to crochet when she moved to St. Louis, and she now makes hats and ear-warmers to sell at local bazaars and markets. Additionally, she caters parties for up to 200 people and cooks all the food by herself.

Ebrahim works in the field of construction and also acts as a handyman for Wiens and other families around St. Louis. He has been hired to work in almost every county in the area. Unfortunately, his health was poor in the past, which prevented him from working as much as he would have liked, but he is working on improving it every day.

The whole family has a very bright future ahead of them. Rana, now a high school freshman, hopes to continue her education past high school and work in the medical care field. She is already exceeding the expectations of teachers and peers. After only one semester in the Affton School District, she won the award for outstanding student not only for her grades, but also for helping the principal with Arabic translation. Rana continues to apply herself, both in school and alongside her mother making jewelry and candles, to focus on her future education and goals.

Both parents are becoming increasingly active in their St. Louis community, and they have nothing but words of praise for it. According to them, the community has been nothing but welcoming, and they truly feel that they have found a home here.

The Almallas aim to gain citizenship within the next few years, because they love the United States and all that it has done for them. They also hope that someday they may be able to bring their family in Syria over with them.

“We love America; this is our home now,” Ebrahim said. “I am never leaving again.”

11

filling the gap The Globe investigates both the decisions and experiences of prospective and former CHS gap year students.

SARA STEMMLER | SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR ABBY HOELSCHER | REPORTER Elementary school, middle school, high school, college. Most current CHS students are privileged enough that this sequence of education is an expectation, even an assumption, from the start. But could it be that this is not the only path to earning a substantial education? Some, albeit few, current students and graduates believe that they will benefit or have already benefited from straying from this sequence by not immediately attending college following their high school graduation. The Globe investigates the ins and outs of those who have previously taken gap years and those who are considering doing so.

Morocco

SAM WILSON CHS English teachers will be thrilled to learn that current CHS senior Sam Wilson’s life has been changed by a book. Specifically, a recent AP Language assignment has caused him to consider taking a gap year following his graduation this spring.

“I think it was the summer going into senior year I really got serious about it,” Wilson said. “I’ve always wanted to do a gap year, but after reading Walden on Wheels, it kind of inspired me to do something on my own.”

Wilson, a passionate nature enthusiast, hopes to take the year to explore both himself and the beautiful world around him. Some of his aspirations include working as a park ranger and hiking or his days off, or perhaps traveling the world and visiting family members in other states along the way. One would not be surprised to hear that Wilson believes having a year-long break from school would be “really nice,” however, this choice is also due to his desire to not be institutionalized and to “find out who [he is] outside of school.”

While Wilson and many other seniors dream of idyllic futures such as this, parents are sometimes hard to see eye to eye with.

“My dad doesn’t love the idea,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if he gets why I want to do it. My parents really want me to work for a bit, I think three to six months of the year.”

Wilson further described this by detailing his ideas for the following year: “I don’t want to work or do something that I could do after college, I want to do something that I’d be underqualified for. I’m just trying to find out what I really like.”

As a result of the immediate college culture at CHS, Wilson feels slightly isolated by his consideration.

However, many CHS grads have gone through the process of transitioning to a gap year, with most claiming that taking the leap was one of the best decisions they ever made.

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It was March of 2018. Clayton grad Catherine Walsh was fully prepared to accept her offer of admission to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, that had been extended to her a few weeks prior. But then, one passing comment from close friend Anna Dinsmore sparked a sort of paradigm shift for Walsh.

Dinsmore mentioned that she had recently decided to spend a semester in France before heading off to college the following year. Walsh fell in love with the idea.

“I think the reason that sounded so good was because I just felt so burnt out from high school. Especially at Clayton, it’s just so competitive, you’re always working hard, and I needed a break from that. I wanted to mature in a different way than I thought I could in college, so I decided to do a gap year,”

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The passion was there -- the next step was convincing the parents. Her mom was on board since the beginning. Her dad, however, was slightly more hesitant. He shared the mindset of many parents of prospective gap year students that his daughter wouldn’t want to begin college the following year, or ever.

Walsh navigated this obstacle by doing research. After solidifying the fact that UWM would allow her to defer her acceptance, she dove into a search for programs that combined study abroad experiences with those typical of a gap year. It turned out that Spain housed many such programs, and Walsh eventually chose one that would allow her to live with a host family while taking classes at a local university. Ability of deferral and a sketched out plan proved to be enough security to convince Walsh’s dad that taking a gap year was an acceptable, if not beneficial, option for her.

Soon, Walsh was living with her family in Seville, taking Spanish culture classes such as cooking and art. Although her deferral meant she couldn’t earn credits towards her eventual college degree, Walsh experienced no shortage of gained knowledge, spending her time traveling around Europe with friends when she wasn’t in class. She was infatuated with Spain.

“I loved every part of it. I got to meet people that were already in college and make friends with them. I got to be completely immersed in the Spanish culture. I was living with a Spanish family, I was speaking the language everyday, I was eating the food, I walked around. . . finding that new home was my favorite part,” Walsh said.

Entering college as a nineteen-year-old freshman the following year proved to be slightly uncomfortable at first. The minuscule age gap was perpetuated by those who felt that they were superior to Walsh. Even so, she was easily able to make friends, while still maintaining those she made while in Spain. Her travels even inspired her to take classes such as Chicano/Latino Studies and Social Work.

Needless to say, Walsh is endlessly grateful for the opportunities she seized during her time away from the traditional school system. She believes that these opportunities would also be beneficial to many other students at Clayton, yet college mindsets often get in the way.

“Everyone seemed supportive of [my gap year], but at the same time, no one was like ‘oh, I should do that.’ It was the alternative option. I think at Clayton, college is the only option. I hadn’t even thought about taking a gap year until March. That just shows you how one-track minded I was like all the other students are and were. I would say there is a little bit of a stigma around it,” Walsh said.

It is true that an immediate college track is often assumed for a majority of CHS students, yet within a school atmosphere that is in constant pursuit of broadening perspective, a gap year may be the platform to do just that.

“I’m so glad I took a gap year. I came back really refreshed, ready to work, with this new experience and new maturity that I wouldn’t have gotten if I hadn’t done it. I found my passion for travel. It opened my eyes in a way I wasn’t expecting.”

ANNA DINSMORE Craig and Monica Dinsmore had brilliant recommendations for their daughter when she came to them mid-junior year, stressed about college and conflicted with the many opportunities for her future. Monica had the idea of a gap year before college, and Craig proposed sending Anna abroad for a semester to study in France.

“He actually had a general idea of what city he wanted to send me to,” Anna said. “And he found me an apartment to rent through Airbnb.”

Monica was supportive of her daughter, but initially, she didn’t want to send Anna away to another country. She helped to organize and get Anna settled to “lessen the culture shock.” Anna’s former teachers at CHS were also quite encouraging, reassuring Anna that she was making the right decision by explaining how much she would grow and change from the incredible opportunity at hand. Anna recognized that it’s not financially possible for everyone to be able to spend a semester studying abroad, but she still recommends taking a gap year to anyone interested.

“Take a year off, work and grow up a little bit, and just give yourself a little time,” Anna said.

In August of 2018, two months after Anna graduated, she flew by herself across the world to France. She got an internship in a high school to tutor kids in English and was able to explore the language and culture of the country each day, learning more about France in those months than she ever had in school.

“It was rough, but it was worth it,” Anna said.

The other semester was utilized by Anna to get serious about the next steps of her life. She started working at Pink, selling and cleaning as a customer relations worker to save up money for college. With Anna having time off, the Dinsmores were able to research and visit colleges sparking her interests.

Anna admitted that she thinks there is a stigma about taking gap years at Clayton. Despite this, she repeated that, “if you are set in the idea that you want to go to college, then it’ll stay there if you just ignore [the stigma] and know that [a gap year] is best for you.”

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It is snowing in Argentina. Hard. Four feet to be exact. CHS graduate Daniel Soares, ‘17, drives to a launch site at 4:30 a.m. to complete the task given to him as a result of his position as the youngest intern for the Perlan Project: shoveling snow.

First, Soares must clear a path so that the Perlan glider’s doors can open for the pilots. After the glider launches, he must stay on the ground for the next several hours, clearing a place for the glider to land, where he will help the pilots out of the cockpit, then begin checking the breathers and the radiation gauges for the next flight.

Such was Soares’ routine for a month and a half beginning in August, a time when most other CHS grads were just beginning school. Of course, working for a company that researches more efficient methods of flying with natural weather patterns wasn’t always his plan.

Initially, Soares was to hike the Pacific Crest Trail with a friend from the High Mountain Institute in Colorado, which Soares attended for the first semester of his junior year. When this friend backed out in March due to parental concerns, Soares found a replacement, peer Fabio Zihlmann, and they headed off, quite literally, down the trail.

Unfortunately, several days in, Zihlmann got sick, and they had to turn around. This was far from the end of Soares’ gap year adventures. After returning from Argentina, his backup plan, Soares taught himself to code in Javascript while working at Clementines shortly after its opening. This effort was in preparation for the sole portion of Soares’ gap year that wasn’t purely spontaneous: a month and a half internship with a company in Brazil working to code a platform that would allow companies to manage the status of their hirees.

Needless to say, Soares thrived during his gap year, which served as a much-needed break from his normal routine.

“It was nice to reset. It was a much needed break. I got kind of burnt out at Clayton,” Soares said.

After so many unique experiences, Soares’ transition back to a school schedule at Colorado College the following year was palpable.

“It felt weird to go back to school. My roommate took a gap year as well, so we were both in this weird place. We would be sitting in class thinking ‘Oh, a couple of months ago, I was in Argentina and Brazil.’ It’s kind of weird to see the real world and then have to go to school,” Soares said.

Even so, Soares’ internships provided him with a zest for learning that carried him throughout his first two years.

“They were both unpaid, so that was a bummer for the bank account, but they were both good learning opportunities. I wasn’t sure about studying computer science before I took my gap year. I had never really coded. My internship made me want to delve deeper into it. If I hadn’t taken it, I would’ve wasted a lot of time freshman year figuring out what I wanted to do. It was nice to go into college being several steps ahead of my peers.”

Similar to Walsh, Soares feels that Clayton’s enforcement of a college track takes away from the potential benefits of gap years.

“Clayton is so regimented. You have to study your ass off to get good grades, and to get a good ACT score to go to the best schools. I feel like once people get into the school, they want to be rewarded and have the satisfaction of going to the school, so they don’t want to wait. When I took my gap year and told people about it, they were like ‘Oh, you’re not in school?’ I think it’s a bad stigma. [Gap years] have a lot of benefits.”

14

the comic connoisseur Keilan Morrissey, comic enthusiast and movie maker, explains his artistic inspirations and process.

THOMAS GUSTAFSON | REPORTER

Keilan Morrissey with his comic figure collection THOMAS GUSTAFSON | PHOTOGRAPHER Not many people would guess that someone six foot three with long hair and perhaps the deepest voice at Clayton High School would be someone who has never missed a St. Louis Comic-Con since the 7th grade.

Now, he’s a senior.

When I stepped into Keilan Morrissey’s basement, my field of vision was bombarded by hundreds of action figures, thousands of comic books, two full size stuffed bears, a flat screen TV and a live hedgehog.

Posters covered the walls, many of them autographed by famous comic artists, and some of them hand-drawn.

The world of comics has been Morrissey’s passion since he was a small child. In his basement, there are shelves and boxes overflowing with comic books. He buys many of them himself, including new ones published every month, but he also owns old comics he got from his grandfather.

Morrissey has read them all.

He pulled out an aged 1940s comic and showed me how old artwork drastically differs from the modern.

“When [these] were created, a lot of it was done by hand… the printing was completely different, it used to be on this cheap paper and there were these goofy little advertisements,” Morrissey

explained.

Morrissey pointed out that comics originated out of people’s desperation for a better life. “[Many comics] were conceived during the Great Depression… as a form of escapism, to show people and readers that there could be a better tomorrow.”

Not only does comic history interest Morrisey, but comics also stand out to him because of their artistic skill.

“To me, when you open up any comic, the detail is so incredible. Any panel in a good comic could be a stand alone art piece,” Morrisey said.

Morrissey’s favorite comic characters are the Green Lanterns, and the majority of the action figures on his shelves are characters from this series.

Morrissey clarified that unbeknownst to the general public, “there’s actually a spectrum of different lantern colors called the lantern corps, [and] each one is fueled by a different emotion.

Red lanterns are powered by rage, yellow lanterns are powered by fear, black lanterns are powered by death, they’re zombies, they’re kinda crazy.”

Since the 1930s, comics have become infinitely more complex, with heavily digitized artwork and elaborate plots, but Morrissey has kept up.

“Every month, at least 52 new issues come out from DC Comics. I buy anything related to Green Lantern,” Morrisey said.

Although Morrissey has numerous Marvel characters in his collection, he prefers DC, because “[DC has] more artistic productions… I like the risks they take with their content, and I think they take the superhero narrative in interesting directions.”

Morrissey not only reads, but writes comics.

In fact, Morrissey aspires to a comic writing profession. He has already written comics for multiple online clients, as well as a 12-issue series that his girlfriend illustrated, “Abandoned Destinies.” He explained that a comic writer almost never drew the pictures, but they came up with the ideas and laid out everything for the artist.

“My dream would be to write a Green Lantern series. Even if it’s not the main character, that would be incredible to me.”

To aid his writing, Morrissey is taking AP Language at CHS, as well as a number of online college courses. After high school, Morrissey plans to jump right in to the comic writing field.

But Morrissey doesn’t just make comics.

Ever since he was in first grade, Morrissey loved making movies, and he thinks his love for movies stemmed from his love for comics.

15 “There’ are some serious similarities between scripting a comic and scripting a movie because if you think about it, a comic is panel-by-panel… and that’s exactly what a movie is, [but] a movie is broken down into shots. It’s no different than a comic, it’s just that one you watch and one you read.”

“To me, movie making is an extension of writing...

I spend all this time creating a story… and whenever I go out and film it’s like bringing the story to life.”

-Keilan Morrissey Morrissey posts every movie he makes on his Youtube channel, Keilan Morrissey, and on his website, keilan.com. To Morrissey, everything is about spreading the word about his pieces, but he doesn’t let other people’s opinions of him seep into his creations.

“As an artist, I create stuff that comes from a place in my heart,” Morrissey said. “I never like to put out art that doesn’t feel true to me… As soon as you’re making movies for the crowd, it’s not true to yourself anymore.”

Now, Morrissey is working on the biggest movie he’s ever made. It’s called “Write Away,” and it’s a story about a supernatural pen that supposedly grants any wish someone writes down. Morrissey is still in the scripting stage, but he expects the film to be out on his website and Youtube in late January.

Morrissey has made horror, mystery, romance, action and even animated films. His favorite part of making movies is creating the story itself.

“To me, movie making is an extension of writing… I spend all this time creating a story… and whenever I go out and film it’s like bringing the story to life. I have very limited technology, and a very limited cast, but what I want people to take away from it is the story,” Morrissey said.

Every month, Morrissey is being hired by more clients, learning new things and advancing his art form.

And he hopes to follow his passion for the rest of his life.

“At my core I’m just a writer, and so I just want to tell as many different kinds of stories as I can.”

16

stirring up competition The Globe focuses on one of CHS’s lesser-known teams: the ProStart Hounds.

NOOR JERATH | SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

Dr. Compton works with students to come up with creative presentation techniques, such as a plate made from melted cheese.

HALEY LEWIS | PHOTOGRAPHER You’re walking down the hallway, and all of a sudden, the smell hits you. The intoxicating fragrance of butter and vanilla perfectly melded together in the form of a warm sugar cookie. The day takes its course, but you can’t focus. All you can think about is the delicious smell. In class, you sidle up to the lucky student taking culinary, smugly holding their coveted white paper napkin, and beg for a tiny morsel of the round piece of heaven.

Chances are, as a student at CHS, you’ve experienced this scenario at some point. Within the CTE hallway are four walls decorated with cooking-related decals that encase a room unlike any other.

Although many students are familiar with the scents wafting down the hall and the fun classroom design, not as many know about what else is housed in the room: the CHS culinary team.

Not your typical Clayton team, the ProStart Hounds compete against other Missouri schools in an annual qualifier for the National ProStart Invitational.

The curriculum followed by the class is part of the nationwide program ProStart, which aims to prepare high school students for careers in the food-service industry. With two levels, the course

“The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity.”

allows students to first develop basic cooking and safety techniques, before diving deeper into marketing and advertising within the industry, as well as its history.

All of the skills that students acquire through the year are put to the test in February during the state qualifier in Springfield, Missouri.

Beginning in December, the five students chosen for the team and Dr. Lauren Compton, the ProStart Hounds Culinary and Management Competition Teams advisor, begin preparations for the tough competition that requires innovative thinking and creative problem solving.

Almost daily in the months leading up, the team meets to first create and then perfect a three-course menu. In past years, the team has experimented with Southern, Italian, Asian Fusion and Greek-influenced cooking.

While meticulously planning the perfectly scripted interactions that will play out in February, the students learn more than just how to navigate a kitchen.

“Obviously they walk away with some culinary skills,” Compton said. “They get to work with an industry mentor throughout the season who helps them take their original ideas for their menu and elevate them to the level that we need for competition. But I think that the biggest thing that the kids walk away with is understanding of true teamwork and collaboration.”

In the busy months spent preparing, the students are faced with challenges that teach them valuable skills that are also applicable outside the whimsical walls of the culinary room. “[The students] learn things that are going to help them not just in the restaurant and hospitality industry, but in general as a student and as an adult. Management skills, communication skills, leadership skills--all of that just comes to play within the classroom and behind the stove top,” Compton said.

Additionally, the team works with a former-chef, Ed Russo, who mentors members individually and as a whole. With his guidance, they scour the internet and build a competitive menu around a central theme; this year, fruit.

After a busy few weeks spent rehearsing the perfectly-timed menu that will unfold at the competition, the team loads up the car and heads over to Springfield.

According to the National ProStart Invitational’s website, “The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity.”

Working on two tables in 10 square feet of

17 space under these tricky conditions, the team’s hard work pays off. Judges score teams on safety, sanitation, teamwork, level of difficulty and menu presentation, in addition to the actual taste of the dishes.

“Overall, it’s just a fun experience for the kids, whether or not they want to go into this field.

They just enjoy cooking, and this is something that they’ve found to enjoy here at Clayton,” Compton said.

For those who do aspire to work in the industry, the top three teams at the state level are awarded scholarship money toward different culinary and restaurant hospitality programs around the country, and the top team advances to the national competition in Washington, D.C. Regardless of how students foresee their futures, the intense-yet-fun nature of the culinary team appeals to a broad range of students.

“I’ve had people who have gone on to work in the industry, and I’ve also had students that go on and study, you know, psychology,” Compton said.

“But this [team] was just kind of where they found their place.”

Culinary students work on perfecting their menu for the state competition in February.

HALEY LEWIS | PHOTOGRAPHER

VAPE

Despite recent medical research on the potentional health risks of vaping, the trend is increasingly popular among both teens nationwide and at Clayton High School. JUULs, THC vapes and black market nicotine pods float through the hands of CHS students daily. As this so-called empidemic is sweeping the country, how hard has CHS been hit?

By Vivian Chen, Jimmy Malone, Sava Tamanaha, Lila Taylor and Yiyun Xu Photos by Eli Millner and Lila Taylor Art by Sonali Dayal

20

USERS Vaping. The popular trend, the dangerous epidemic, the social drug of the 21st century. The topic of dinner table talk. While teen cigarette use is at an all-time low, vaping has taken its place in high school settings. The long term effects are unknown. It’s prevalence isn’t.

42.2 percent of Clayton High School students have tried vaping. 12.8 percent are currently addicted to nicotine. And almost 80 percent have seen JUULing and vaping on Clayton’s campus--a third of all students report seeing on-campus vaping daily.

“It was my sophomore year,” said CHS senior Catherine*. “A friend of mine had bought a Sorin Drop. I would use it before practice and then I went and bought my own a month after because I just liked getting buzzed I think. I thought it was kinda cool. I don’t really get buzzed anymore, but I remember that it’s like this blackout, dizzy feeling. It’s more of the anticipation of it that’s better than the actual buzz.”

It became a constant part of Catherine’s life quickly. She developed a dependence on nicotine.

“When I would go without it, like on a family trip or something, I couldn’t sleep. I had insomnia. At home I couldn’t go more than a couple hours without hitting it. I would go crazy without it. Summer of junior year I switched to JUUL,” said Catherine.

Catherine is aware of her addiction, but has no plans to stop using JUUL. “I have no intention of quitting anytime soon,” said Catherine. “My parents know, they’ve been getting on me about it. It hasn’t had any consequences. I rely on it but it’s something I look forward to at the end of the day that can’t be replaced. I’m not scared by what I’ve been reading in the news because it’s false. There’s nothing innately wrong with nicotine.”

Not only are her parents aware of this drug use, but they support it by supplying her with nicotine refills biweekly.

“I don’t spend my own money on vaping anymore,” said Catherine. “My parents buy me a pack of four 3 percent [nicotine JUUL pods] every two weeks. They said that if I got off other drugs they’d be okay with me JUULing.”

She’s used JUUL as a tool to stay off harder, and potentially more dangerous drugs. Her reliance on JUUL allows for distraction, but also dependence that goes beyond solely nicotine

addiction.

“When I would do Adderall, I would be so high for so long that when I would come off of it, it was so hard for me to be normal unless I had my JUUL,” said Catherine. “I would be so depressed sometimes that I didn’t have anything, but I had my JUUL. Nicotine has gotten me through cravings for some much stronger stuff. When I don’t have it I feel like I have to use something else.”

Catherine usually uses one JUUL pod, the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes, every two or three days. This forces her to ration her JUUL usage and turn to old pods as the two weeks comes to an end.

“I have a baggie of basically empty JUUL pods and when I’m out I’ll go through all of them. Even though there’s essentially nothing in them. It will

“Nicotine has gotten me through cravings for some much stronger stuff. When I don’t have it I feel like I have to use something else.”

-Catherine make me feel sick but that’s what I do.”

Another CHS student, Isaac*, has a similar dependence on nicotine products, but opts for devices other than JUUL. “I started about a year ago,” Isaac said. “The first thing I got was a Sorin Drop. And I just haven’t stopped since. I heard about vaping online and just decided I wanted to do it. I paid some minor to get it for me. They bought it from a store that sold to minors.”

Isaac has also tried various THC products, which he purchased illegally online.

“I’ve used dab pens too,” Isaac said. “I would buy [THC cartridges] online. Using the dark web.

There’s people at the school that go on the dark web. It’s this special browser that you download

onto your computer. There’s all of these encrypted links and you can buy whatever you want. Drugs.

Guns. Whatever you want. It’s really easy.”

While JUUL may be one of the more popular devices at CHS, Isaac uses a variety of other products.

“I don’t have a JUUL. I have a Sorin Drop. The Sorin Air Plus. My box mod. This yellow thing and a Boulder. I have all of them on me right now,” Isaac said. “The most I’ve ever spent on vaping was this month. I bought $100 box mod. I have it on me.”

Isaac attributes his continuation of vaping less to nicotine addiction, but to the social aspects and “clout” surrounding the habit.

“It’s definitely a social thing,” Isaac said. “We used to have sessions between classes. One time there were 16 of us in there. Everyday I see squads in the bathroom vaping. Every passing period.

I’m a part of that. People vape in class. Whenever the teacher turns their back they just whip it out.

It’s everywhere.”

Isaac’s pattern of vaping is heavy during the school day, with a decline in the afternoon when he gets home.

“I usually go overnight without vaping. I usually do it right when I wake up. Going to school. Before first period. Before second. Before third. Between every passing passing period. On my way home. Sometimes I hit it in class, through my sleeve or through my shirt. I’ve never been caught--at school,” Isaac said.

But he has been caught at home. His vaping has had a negative impact on his relationship with his parents.

“My parents have caught me so many times,” Isaac said. “They’ve taken a lot of my stuff. I think it makes them really sad. I kind of feel bad about that. It made our relationship worse. They’ve stopped taking my stuff now. I don’t need to hide it anymore. My mom found my [Sorin] Drop pod on my bed after it had fallen out of my pocket.

She just handed it back to me.”

Another student, Noah*, uses vape products as well.

“I probably vape three to four times a day,” Noah said. “It’s gone down cause recently I’m trying to quit. Well, I don’t know if I’m really trying to quit. It could be bad for me potentially so I want to do it less.”

Noah sees a lot of people using dab pens in

21 *Names changed for anonymity.

a school setting and on a regular basis, although he does not use them regularly like some of his friends and classmates.

“I know a lot of people that hit [dab pens] everyday. People will hit them before basketball practice and their performance is obviously worse,” Noah said.

Additionally, THC vaping has been an introductory drug for CHS student Jack*, whose drug use has been extensive.

“I wouldn’t say that vaping is a gateway drug, but dab pens definitely have been,” Jack said.

“I’ll go from least illegal to most illegal: nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, THC, cocaine, LSD, shrooms, Xanax, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Robitussin, Adderall, but I take that everyday. And molly.”

While vaping and JUULing have become an obvious trend among teens and young people, it’s a trend adults have taken up as well as a means to replace cigarette smoking.

“I didn’t smoke cigarettes until I was 30 years old,” said Clayton resident Jackson*. “I smoked for ten years, maybe a pack or two a week. I wasn’t a regular smoker, it was more social. Step out and smoke a cigarette with the boys, if I was drinking some alcohol I’d want a cigarette. Some would consider that not a real smoker. I started to get a little self conscious about that. Once I saw less people smoking, combined with the smell, the coughing, I was done with it.”

For Jackson, the final straw was when he caught a cold and went to smoke a cigarette when his next craving hit.

“I stepped outside to smoke a cigarette,” said Jackson. “I’m coughing while smoking and I thought, ‘I’m good’. I stopped right there. I didn’t smoke for a year, until I discovered JUUL. I go through about two, max three, pods a week.”

Jackson’s introduction to JUUL was not love at first sight.

“At first I didn’t like it,” Jackson said. “I was so used to smoking cigarettes and it wasn’t the same. People 21 and under don’t really know the difference. Vaping is their cigarettes. I believe the issue that people are smoking multiple different options of vape. It’s not just JUUL. People hear vape and think of JUUL.”

While the high concentration has been appealing to Jackson, he found that the main draw has been the convenience of vaping over cigarettes.

“I found convenience in not having to smoke a full cigarette,” said Jackson. “When you smoke a cigarette, you step outside and you smoke the full thing. It’s going to take you maybe five or ten minutes. For me, vaping I can literally hit it twice now, set it down and move along. Nobody smokes part of a cigarette. It doesn’t happen. The issue at times is usage for young people. They don’t know the alternative of smoking a cigarette.”

While Jackson has not experienced any adverse side effects from JUULing, he thinks that many abuse the product because of its inherent convenience.

“It comes without a smell,” said Jackson. “I’ve had no health issues. I don’t cough and phlegm in the morning. No chest pain. There are some people that are definitely abusing it, and the answer there is to not carry it with you wherever you go.

Nicotine is definitely going to be addicting. Period. I think it’s less about the addiction and more about the convenience. It’s too convenient. I don’t know if you can really control that.”

As a parent, he has experienced vaping as both a user and a father.

“My son at one point has JUULed. My daughter hasn’t,” said Jackson. “I don’t love that, but I understand it. I’m not one to push back on something because I just don’t agree with it.”

As JUUL has been in the media spotlight, Jackson remains skeptical of the recent reports and articles detailing the hospitalizations and deaths allegedly caused by JUUL. “I think the THC and black market pods have been a bigger issue,” said Jackson. “Let’s say a kid gets sick and goes to the hospital. He becomes one of these articles that we’ve been seeing online.

Does this kid tell his parents everything, or does he just say that he’s been JUULing? How does a doctor truly know that it’s JUUL? Do most adults even know you can smoke marijuana out of a vaping option?”

And while Jackson knows that not vaping is healthier than vaping, he finds that moderation surrounding guilty pleasures is inevitable.

“You should be able to put it away,” Jackson said. “You should be able to leave the house without it. Everyone’s always going to have vices, even if you don’t want to hear that. A grandma might drink two pots of coffee a day. You know what? That’s not healthy for you. Someone might eat McDonald’s all the time. You know what?

Not healthy for you. Vaping is just another one of those vices.”

22

JUUL LABS Jim Isaacson, a mechanical engineer, recently left his position at JUUL after a little over a year of employment.

“I’ve been in the medical device industry for over 30 years. I was approached by JUUL for a quality position, specifically it’s called design assurance. That’s a quality oversight type of position relative to product development in general.

A lot of what JUUL was doing, while technically unregulated by the FDA, was putting in a quality system. Policies and procedures for conducting business, mimicking what many of us know from the medical device field. I was brought in to create and build a group for doing that support,” said Isaacson.

Isaacson was drawn by JUUL’s mission and ideals.

“Very simplistically, their mission is to eliminate the cigarette,” said Isaacson. “Their targeted

audience is adult smokers. The idea is, and I personally ascribe to this as well, knowing all of testing and such that were done in house, that it does represent a harm reduction in comparison to smoking cigarettes. I will say that putting nothing into the lungs is better than something into the lungs. It should not be used by anybody, be it adults or teens, that aren’t addicted to cigarettes.”

One concern Isaacson has is the black market and counterfeit material being sold that is attributed to JUUL. “There’s a lot of counterfeit product out there,” Isaacson said. “It’s possible to walk into some places, some convenience stores, and be able to buy what looks like JUUL product but isn’t. It may be a flavor that JUUL never manufactured.

You’re buying, by the virtue of the packaging, what looks like a JUUL product. Additionally, there are other companies that make unautho-

rized pods compatible with the JUUL device.

The problem there is that we can’t speak to their safety in terms of testing. The liquid in the pods, the contents, the ingredients, any of those things.

That’s where a lot of the problems have come from.”

Additionally, he stated that the hospitalizations and deaths in the media recently are not the fault of JUUL as a corporation.

“My understanding of the recent hospitalizations, much less deaths, is that much of it has been associated with THC, which JUUL does not partake in,” Isaacson said. “Or it’s been very much associated with counterfeit and unauthorized product. I’m not aware of JUUL being associated with any of the hospitalizations.”

These counterfeit products are dangerous, and the effects of these pods are unknown.

“From a toxicological standpoint, JUUL goes

23

through a rigorous amount of testing in terms of the e-liquid,” Isaacson said. “There’s a whole list of potentially harmful constituents that we look for and testing synonymous with what happens in the pharmaceutical industry. We can’t make any claims on chronic or long term usage. We’ve not had the opportunity to perform those tests. More time has to go by.”

While his recent departure fell around the time of JUUL’s media attention, Isaacson’s leaving had nothing to do with the company’s negative publicity. In fact, he supports the mission JUUL has taken on.

“JUUL has a great mission if you push aside the unintended consequences of the youth and so forth,” Isaacson said. “Here in the United States, we’ve done a great job as a society of taking care of smoking and making it taboo. Smoking is far more prolific in Europe and Asia. Those places are behind America in recognizing the ills of ciga-

rette smoke. And secondhand smoke is another big part of that as well.”

Isaacson does acknowledge the obvious effect JUUL has had on youth and teens, but doesn’t think that the benifits of JUUL should be weighed against its cons.

“I don’t know if I’d say that JUUL’s mission outweighs youth use,” said Isaacson. “It’s a very disruptive technology with a lot of heavy lobbying on either side. There can be a lot of manipulation in the government and media if big tobacco feels threatened by e cigarettes and JUUL. Because of the benefits, I wouldn’t want to look at it as a this or that decision, but rather find a way to still eradicate the cigarette but inhibit the ability for youth to use it.”

Isaacson described the recent change in JUUL’s executive team and its newfound involvement in big tobacco.

“In December of 2018, Altria, a big tobacco

brand whose big brand is Malboro, bought a third of JUUL At the end of September, JUUL’s CEO Kevin Burns stepped down and was replaced by an executive from Altria. The new CEO [K.C. Crothswaite] comes from Altria, but it still is a job change for him. He resigned from one company and joined another company,” Isaacson said.

Altria is currently the company with the largest share of the U.S. cigarette market, and it now owns 35% of JUUL lab, one of the nation’s fastest growing e cigarette manufacturers. Altria’s shares are valued at around 12.8 billion dollars. Now that big tobacco has a foot in JUUL, this could lead to Altria’s dominance in the nicotine market.

On November 7, JUUL announced its discontinuation of mint pods, one of the most popular flavors among teens. While JUUL will still be producing both menthol and tobacco flavored pods, this ban is yet another step JUUL has taken to combat teen use.

EFFECTS

Many electronic cigarette companies advertise towards teenagers, claiming that their products are safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes in terms of nicotine delivery. However, Farrah Kheradmand, Professor of Medicine-Pulmonary at Baylor College of Medicine, remains skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of electronic cigarettes.

“Despite the fact that there was a lot of unsubstantiated advertising trying to push their product, I did not see any research or any factual information about [electronic cigarettes] being any safer or any less harmful to the body than cigarettes,” Kheradmand said.

As a result, Kheradmand started a project in her laboratory three years ago to find out the true harms behind the supposedly “safe” electronic cigarettes. One of her graduate students at the time, now Dr. Matthew Madison, took on the research and tested the effects of different ways of smoking by comparing four groups of mice.

One group was exposed to tobacco cigarettes, one group was exposed to electronic cigarettes with nicotine, another one was exposed to electronic cigarettes without nicotine and the last group was treated with filtered air. The experiment went on for about four months, which was about 20 to 25 years for mice.

“Over this four month period, we didn’t really see the same effect [on mice exposed to e-cigarettes] that we’ve seen in cigarette smoke, meaning that mice did not develop a lung disease or destructive phenotype as [we] had seen in cigarette smoke,” Kheradmand said.

The team discovered that the group of mice exposed to tobacco cigarette smoke developed emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that damages the alveoli in the lungs, while the groups that were exposed to electronic cigarettes, independent of nicotine, had no airway inflammations.

Madison then looked at the slide of the cells that he collected from the lungs of electronic cigarette exposed mice and discovered that the cells of the first line of defense in lungs had been damaged, similar to those of the patients who had vaped extensively. In the past few years, there had been patients who had vaped very often and developed infiltration within their lungs that doctors had seen and described as a form of lipid induced pneumonia, or lipoid pneumonia. Since the solvent in most electronic cigarettes is made out of vegetable materials, specifically vegetable glycerin, doctors assumed that the pneumonia was caused by inhaling the fat extracted from vegetables.

“We tested our hypothesis, which was asking whether the oil that’s accumulating within [the] cells in [the patients’] lungs, is coming from an outside source,” Kheradmand said. “And the outside source would be glycerin, right? You should be able to crack the cells open and measure and quantify the amount of glycerin and show that it is or isn’t.”

However, the team discovered that there was no increase in glycerin material inside the cells, which meant that the lipids in patients’ lungs were not from an outside source, but instead were produced by their own bodies. When Madison compared the cells of the electronic cigarette exposed mice to that of mice exposed to filtered air, he determined that the abnormal lipids in the first group of mice was a result of accumulation of many fats that are normally associated surfactants, which is a combination of fats and proteins secreted by the body that allows lungs to mature.

Normally, the human body uses macrophages to recycle the surfactant in the lungs so they can be reused again, but inhaling the e-juice in electronic cigarettes disrupts this recycling system, which causes the excess surfactants to build up in the lungs.

“We discovered that this accumulation of fats are inside the same cells that have been described in patients that had vaped and got sick,” Kheradmand said. “In a way, our animal models copied what happened in patients that were sickened by vaping.”

In short, patients who vaped felt shorter breaths because their lungs were filled up with these cells that were not capable of recycling surfactants.

The team also discovered that the immune system of mice that were exposed to electronic cigarettes, independent of nicotine, was weaker than that of normal mice.

Since solvents used in the vape solution disrupt lipids that are part of the surfactant in the lungs, macrophages within the patient’s body removed and stored the dissolved lipids in themselves, which caused those macrophages to fail to provide protection against the influenza virus.

Kheradmand warned that inhaling second-hand electronic smoke might be just as bad as vaping itself, just like how long exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is still very harmful for the body.

“We absolutely do not advise people to switch from e-cigarettes to regular cigarettes because regular cigarettes are just as harmful in a different way,” Kheradmand said. “They actually cause destruction of the lungs, and that particular destruction is irreversible. Time will tell whether the lung problems [from e-cigarette smoking] are reversible.”

Kheradmand advised people struggling with addiction to seek help early and consult with psychology counselors.

“Discuss with doctors and try to understand that there are always ways of medically dealing with addiction,” Kheradmand said.

25

BY THE NUMBERS

The Globe surveyed over 280 CHS students to obtain the following data.

26

“Youth e-cigarette use has skyrocketed, so much so today that I am officially declaring e-cigarette use among youth an epidemic in the United States,” Jerome M. Adams announced at a press conference in December of 2018 concerning the use of electronic cigarettes in the country’s youth.

Adams has held the role of the United States Surgeon General since 2017.

“I don’t want there to be any misconceptions about this… I do not use [the word ‘epidemic’] lightly,” Adams said.

This bold statement was a response to the staggering results from the 2018 MTF (Monitoring the Future) survey, a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with goals to observe and report trends of drug use in the teenage and youth population in the US. It was found that 37.3% of 12th graders had used a vape product in the past year, a large spike in data compared to 27.8% in 2017. With that, the percentage of 12th graders who had used a vape product in the month prior to when they received the survey was 20.9%, compared to 11% in 2017.

Dr. Erin Morrison from the child and adolescent psychiatry department at Washington Uni-

PSYCH versity believes that one of the main reasons for the prevalence of the use of electronic cigarettes in teenagers is companies specifically targeting young people, as is elucidated by the variety of flavors that electronic cigarette come in.

“There’s a large percentage of teenagers that just smoke the vape juice that doesn’t even have nicotine in it,” Morrison said. “It’s just the flavoring.”

However, Morrison also observed that vaping may be a way for high schoolers to socialize or “fit in”. Teenagers may sometimes feel that using electronic cigarettes will help them to have social interactions that they wouldn’t have had otherwise, prompting them to use them.

As soon as that first cloud of vapor hits the tongue, the highly addictive product begins its work in the body. “[The chemicals] can mimic neurochemicals that you already had in your brain,” Morrison said. “It’s a lot like the neurochemical acetylcholine.”

E-cigs also spark a feeling of pleasure in the user, due to its dopamine-mimicking stimulation of the brain’s reward center. Similar to alcohol,

users who become addicted and subsequently quit vaping will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety and nausea or sickness.

The addictiveness of electronic cigarettes is especially dangerous to people struggling with mental health. A study conducted in 2014 by a group of researchers at UCSD found that 30-50% of all electronic cigarettes used in the US were consumed by people with self-reported mental illnesses.

“We know that people who have mental illnesses are more likely to be tobacco users than people who don’t have mental illnesses.

And part of that is because some of the effects of nicotine on the brain is being perceived as helping them feel calmer or less stressed out,” said Dr. Mark Myers, a professor in the department of psychiatry at UCSD who contributed to this study observing the connection between mental state and electronic cigarette use. “[Sometimes] the anxiety or depression is really a product of nicotine withdrawal… [Some] can’t really tell the difference. To them, it just feels bad and nicotine makes them feel better.”

27 Vaping Trends From 2017 to 2018

2018 Vaping Trends Among Grades 8-12

Nicotine Source: 2018 Monitoring the Future Study

Marijuana

Just Flavoring

Source: JAMA Pediatrics 2017;171(8):788-797

Electronic cigarettes were originally created lack of available information about electronic ly… These sorts of things evolve quicker than with the intention of helping people get off of tocigarettes. Because electronic cigarettes haven’t the Food and Drug Administration and our bacco cigarettes and onto something less harmful. been around for as long as other prevalent drugs, government… The amount of nicotine has gone However, Myers believes that the chances of a there is still a lot left unknown about just how bad up significantly in the last three or four years. young person who had never smoked a cigarette electronic cigarettes really are. And when there is It’s difficult to study something that’s evolving in before getting hooked onto e-cigs are higher real-time.” than the chances of a smoker getting off of The mental effects of vaping are not its cigarettes and onto e-cigarettes. In fact, he has only significant impacts. In recent months, 47 reasonable suspicions that electronic cigarettes people have died from vaping, and this numactually prompt teenagers to begin using ber is one that continues to rise every day. tobacco cigarettes further down the road.

Most people, when they first start vaping, 21% “Cigarettes deliver nicotine very, very do not notice what is happening to their bodrapidly,” Myers said. “If you were to take a puff ies. Going beyond the enormous amounts of of smoke off of a cigarette, the nicotine would nicotine that most JUUL pods contain, vaping get to your brain in about seven seconds. It’s a itself is harmful to the human body. very efficient drug delivery device.”

These effects are not always noticeable at 44% When one inhales cigarette smoke, it is a first. A cough or a bit of trouble with breathing result of combustion. It goes directly to the here and there is something that would seem lungs, from which nicotine in the blood is minor to the average person. However, these then pumped to the brain. However, with elecminor issues do not reflect all of the cata34% tronic cigarettes, the nicotine takes a longer strophic damage that is occuring inside of the time to arrive at an individual’s brain due to lungs. vapor inhilation, which ends up in the airways A study by the University of Pennsylvaand must be absorbed to get to the brain. nia showed that from the very first time that For a young person someone uses a vaping who is addicted to nicotine, device, their body will According to an article by the National Public the faster nicotine delivery be affected. After just 16 time of tobacco cigarettes 3-second uses of a vape Radio, of high schoolers who vaped in the might be more appealing device, participants showed than an electronic cigarette. a stunted flow-mediated last 30 days, 44 percent did so fewer than 20 However, a single pod dilation. Flow-mediated of JUUL e-liquid contains dilation is the widening of days/month, 34 did so for 20 or more days as much or more nicoone’s arteries so that blood tine than about twenty can flow through it. This is and 21 percent did so daily. cigarettes, delivers nicotine something that is an essenmore rapidly than its comtial element of maintaining petitors and has a much nutrient transport and higher potential for addiction. less data backing up a claim, that claim is taken other critical bodily functions, and, after only a Students are constantly being reminded of more lightly. few hits, is negatively impacted. the dangers of electronic cigarettes at school, Research in this area is not only limited, but As this trend gains popularity among teens whether it be by listening to stories in health class also difficult to conduct. and comes under fire in the media, research on about addiction or seeing posters discouraging “The problem is that research, it costs money. the subject will increase. However, until then, the individuals from using them. So why is it that the It’s a lengthy process, particularly with something impact of JUULing and vaping on culture and the number of students still vaping is so large? like this,” Morrison said. “The other problem is human body will remain a dangerous unknown.

Dr. Morrison believes that this is due to the that a lot of these products evolve very quick-

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29 BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY Players to watch:

BOYS’ BASKETBALL Players to watch:

2018-2019 Record:

2018-2019 Record:

2018-2019 Record:

Goal:

Goal:

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Players to watch: Sara Litteken Mira Upshaw Ruby Gallegos Sammy Williams

16-11

To win districts for a second year in a row

GIRLS’ SWIMMING Players to watch: Sophie Thompson Caroline Foley Kellen Mottl

2018-2019 Record: 6-6

Goal: To advance more swimmers to state

GIRLS’ SIDELINE CHEER AND DANCE Players to watch:

Hunter Chesnutt-Perry Rohan Tripathy Tyler Walker

Cooper Barnes Eli Baumstark Walt Baumstark Jean-Martin Gerchen

11-9

11-15

Goal: To win districts

To win the Wick Cup, become more disciplined, and overcome adversity

WRESTLING Players to watch:

GIRLS’ DIVING Players to watch: Brooke Becker Bridget Walsh Willa Melander

2018-2019 Record: 6-6

Nate Martin Khaylie Ross Joshua Julian

2018-2019 Record:

Goal: To have more divers advance to state

N/A

Goal: To grow the team and do well at state

JIMMY MALONE | SPORTS SECTION EDITOR CECE COHEN | BREAKING NEWS EDITOR

Christa Resinger Taylor Waren

2018-2019 Record: N/A

Goal:

To hype up the crowd and be there for each other

Rivalary Schedule Boys’ Basketball: 12/20 7:00 vs. Ladue Girls’ Basketball: 12/20 5:30 vs. Ladue Girls’ Swim and Dive: 1/28 4:00 @ Ladue Hockey: 12/5 8:15 vs. Ladue 12/30 8:15 vs. Ladue

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Photo from Globe Archive

30

brooke and bridget Senior divers look to improve their skills and support the other divers on the team for their final year at CHS KAIA MILLS-LEE| PAGE EDITOR KATE FREEDMAN | PAGE EDITOR RUBY NADIN | REPORTER

brooke When you think about gymnastics, your first thought probably isn’t about diving. However, like having a trampoline in your backyard, gymnastics cultivates many skills that can be used on a diving board.

This is something that Brooke Becker, a senior at CHS, benefited from when she joined the dive team her freshman year. “[Becker] came with her gymnastics background, which is helpful because she had some awareness of where she was in the space and some basic tumbling, which definitely helps when learning how to dive,” her coach of three years, Janet Hollocher, said.

As well as her skills as a gymnast, Becker’s attitude and positive mindset helped to set her apart as a diver, and are two of her many strengths.

Seniors in sports take on many responsibilities on the team, and Becker is no exception.

“I love being able to set an example for the

younger divers and help them build up the physical and mental strength to do a dive for the first time,” Becker said.

Following in the footsteps of past upperclassmen, Becker makes sure to help and support the younger divers, as well as create good relationships with them.

“Last year when I started diving, [Becker] really welcomed me onto the team and was a great role model. She was awesome at explaining everything and is always fun to be around during practices and meets,” said sophomore Abby Sucher, who joined the dive team last year as a freshman.

According to Becker, not only has diving provided a strong out of school community, it has also made her both physically and mentally stronger.

“I think that’s what sets good divers apart from bad divers. It’s all about your ability to push yourself and having that mental toughness,”

Becker said.

As well as gaining mental strength, Becker has learned the most effective ways to improve a dive throughout her past three years on the team.

“It’s not like practice makes perfect: it gets it better, but if you have a bad habit, you have to break that. It’s not always about doing a dive over and over again.”

Becker has also learned that improving your dive is much more important than the score.

“Obviously we look at the score, but we don’t focus on it. I think the most important thing is to not get in your head after a bad dive. Just focus on the next one,” said Becker.

As she enters her final diving season at Clayton, Becker’s main goal is to learn some new dives and enjoy the season with her team. “It’s our senior year, so we’re just going to make the best of it.”

31 bridget Like her teammate Brooke, CHS senior Bridget Walsh’s diving career didn’t start in the pool, but on a trampoline in her backyard. “[Walsh] was comfortable with going high and pressing the board like you press a trampoline to get the height and do some tricks… so she came with some different experiences, but very helpful to progress pretty quickly as a diver,” said Janet Hollocher, the diving coach for the past three years.

Ever since her freshman year on the dive team, Walsh has always had a great attitude and the desire to try something new. Beginning with a lack of prior experience, she has experienced mental blocks over the course of her seasons, but has ultimately been able to progress into a diver who anyone would take pleasure in watching.

“Bridget is just so beautiful and graceful in the air… her reverse dive and her back dive in the straight position were my favorites because she just has that long, lean, very beautiful entry and little splash, and her toes are always pointed so nicely,” Hollocher said.

Walsh’s trampoline skills and technique may have sparked her passion for the sport, but her willingness to try new things with little fear is what has allowed her to excel in diving. Even trying out for dive as a freshman wasn’t something

that Walsh had originally planned on.

“We heard that the divers from last year were seniors, so they were going to leave and they needed more divers. I asked Brooke if she wanted to do it with me, and she said yes. Then we just went out for diving,” Walsh said.

This courageousness is difficult to come by, but crucial in diving, which, according to Walsh, is as much a mental sport as it is physical. “[Walsh and Becker] can laugh at their crashes, which is a great thing because you can’t get too wound up in it, you have to know that, ‘Okay, you’re gonna learn from that mistake and we’re gonna get better,’” Hollocher said.

Divers have to not only recover and learn from mistakes, but continually visualize themselves performing dives in the form that they’d like to have in competitions.

“You have to picture yourself doing it right and then you have to get everything out of your head and really focus… I just try to shut off my mind and focus on one dive at a time,” Walsh said.

Over time, Walsh has developed strategies to maintain her positive and constructive attitude while diving, which she consistently shares with underclassmen.

“[Walsh and Becker] are so supportive and kind, they give good advice and they give good support, and they’re all able to cheer for each other, to root each other on, and to be able to laugh when things don’t go the way that they’re supposed to,” Hollocher said.

Last year, Walsh offered the two new divers on the team the the same advice she was given as a freshman: that it will get better, and it will get easier. “[Walsh] is a very supportive and influential teammate who has helped me grow in many aspects of the sport,” teammate and sophomore Willa Melander said.

As a senior on the team this year, Walsh looks to continue offering her help to girls on the team. She hopes to advise the girls on visualizing themselves executing the dives with precision and pushing through the self-doubt that often comes with diving.

“If I don’t push myself, no one else is going to be able to push me. If I can’t motivate myself to learn something new and get back up after I hurt myself, no one can,” Walsh said. “[Diving is} never something I expected myself to do in high school. But it definitely has become a big part of who I am.”

Left: Divers Bridget Walsh and Brooke Becker pose next to the pool. Above: Walsh executing dives.

ANNIKA SANDQUIST | PHOTOGRAPHER

32

sticker solidarity The Clayton community rallies to support Fin Nayler, a CHS lacrosse player diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

JIMMY MALONE | SPORTS SECTION EDITOR CECE COHEN | BREAKING NEWS EDITOR

A CHS football player with the decal on his helmet.

ELI MILLNER | PHOTOGRAPHER “We felt that it would be important for us to share support in any way possible,” said Murdoch.

“As large or as small as that may be, we just want

e lm

t De c al

FIN

He

“You can learn a lot of life lessons through sports, from wins to losses to injury, and especially when tragedy strikes,” Athletic Director Steve Hutson said. “I like to think of each of our teams as a family. When someone in that family is affected, it affects the entire group, and that extends outside of that team.”

Tragedy struck over the summer when sophomore Fin Nayler, a Clayton Lacrosse player, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, forcing him to leave CHS for treatment.

“He was tragically diagnosed with a rare form of cancer,” Hutson said. “I guarantee he would want nothing more than to be a part of a team and be able to come to school everyday.”

In this time of hardship, the Clayton community responded with immense support for Nayler and his family, especially Clayton parent Doug Murdoch.

to let them know that we’re thinking of them throughout the school year and especially the

season.”

In an effort to bring awareness to Fin’s situation and his rare disease, Murdoch started an initiative with the CHS lacrosse team.

“I had a meeting with Doug Murdoch, who leads our boys lacrosse team,” Hutson said. “We talked about the history of the lacrosse team and how its grown in the community. We were talking about ways to support it.”

Murdoch decided to create a blue and orange decal to display on the helmet of every player on the team.

“As a club, we arrived on the idea that doing these decals might be the easiest way to to bring attention to the Nayler’s situation, and to show our support for Fin,” Murdoch said.

However, his plan did not stop there. Murdoch spoke with the MSL (Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association) to connect with coaches

33 from all around the area about Fin’s situation.

“We are doing a black and white version for the other lacrosse teams in the area,” Murdoch said. “I went to the MSL meeting and spoke with all of the coaches about Finn’s situation. The teams were very receptive to supporting him.”

The response from other teams was overwhelming. Today, more than 700 athletes have stickers on their helmets to support Fin. “It’s small in comparison to what he’s going through,” Murdoch said. “Personally, as a father, my heart goes out to him and his family, and collectively as a club, we certainly care about what’s going on. We want to let Fin know that his teammates and others in the St. Louis lacrosse community are thinking of him and supporting him.”

In addition to lacrosse, the CHS football, hockey and baseball teams will also be wearing the helmet decals throughout their seasons.

Outside of Clayton, the Burroughs, CBC, De Smet, Eureka, Kirkwood, Lafayette, Marquette, Northwest, Parkway South, Rockwood Summit, Vianney, Wentzville and Westminster lacrosse teams will all be wearing the stickers in support of Fin, as well as the Northwest Hockey team.

“I thought it was a brilliant idea,” Hutson said. “But we took it a step further, to have all the sports that wear a helmet put the Fin stickers on

“Personally, as a father, my heart goes out to him and his family, and colectively as a club, we certainly care about what’s going on. We want to let Fin know that his teammates and others in the St. Louis lacrosse community are thinking of him and supporting him.”

- Doug Murdoch

their helmets. [Murdoch] thought that was a great idea, and he went out purchased and provided the stickers.”

This fall, the Clayton football team was the first team to display the blue and orange decals.

“When I first introduced it to our football team, you know, we tied it into a bigger conversation around accountability,” Hutson said. “In the locker room, I know that some of the kids have a strong connection to his family, whether they played lacrosse or not. I saw a lot of head nods, a lot of eye contact, which meant I knew our kids were taking that conversation seriously.”

One of the first players to wear the sticker was Greyhounds senior quarterback Ty Sucher.

“When Coach Hutson told us about the stickers, we were really excited,” Sucher said. “As a hgh school athlete, it’s cool to be a part of something bigger than sports.”

In addition to Fin’s difficult situation, his brother received open heart surgery on the same day Fin had his first cancer treatment. A GoFundMe to fund the expensive medical treatment for both brothers has gained over $70,000, as well as additional funding of about $3,000 from teams participating in the decal initiative. Donations are greatly appreciated. Visit chsglobe.com for a link to Fin’s GoFundMe page.

Fin’s teammmates on the lacrosse team.

CAROLINE MARSDEN | PHOTOGRAPHER

34

pizza of stl The Globe explores iconic pizza places of St. Louis.

SAHITHYA GOKARAJU | PAGE EDITOR DHEERA RATHIKINDI | PAGE EDITOR JENNA BUSH | REPORTER

ALEXANDRA HAGEMEISTER | REPORTER MAX HAGEMEISTER | REPORTER MORIAH LOTSOFF | REPORTER

Pastaria Located in downtown Clayton, Pastaria is an Italian restaurant featuring several pizzas, pastas and gelatos. However, despite its appealing menu, Pastaria did not hold up to our expectations. Walking in, the decor was very eye-catching. Bright colors made space look open and inviting, and the smells coming from the kitchen were mouthwatering. However, the usual inviting feel of the restaurant was not matched in its service. We were surprised by our interaction with the staff, because they were not as welcoming as times that we’ve visited in the past.

Once seated, we were pleased to see that we were given bread to dip in the assortment of four dipping sauces that were already on the table. After looking at the menu, we ordered the four cheese pizza, which was $14.25. However, the pizza didn’t look as good as Pastaria pizzas usually do. There was a large amount of grease, which caused a series of holes to form in the cheese. After eating the pizza, it met our expectations and was superb. The crust was very flavorful and not too crispy, and the four cheese blend was tasty.

A popular restaurant for couples and family alike, Pastaria is a prominent stop in Clayton.

Dewey’s As you walk through the doors of Dewey’s, you are immediately hit by the smell of bread, cheese and sauce. You see the friendly faces making the pizzas, and fond memories of you as a child sitting and watching the chefs spinning the dough and throwing flour at you flood back.

Dewey’s in University City has a New York-style pizza that is scarce in St. Louis. As soon as a host saw us, we were warmly welcomed. The waitress that served us was helpful and allowed us as much time as we needed to peruse the menu. Dewey’s is a casual restaurant, but not your average stop-in pizza place.

There are plenty of pizza options at Dewey’s, ranging from southwestern barbecue chicken to veggie pizzas. Although the pizzas took a little while to come out, it was well worth the wait.

The classic cheese pizza was anything but boring, and the veggie pizza was something even the biggest meat lover would enjoy.

“There are a lot of options… it’s nice to be able to go somewhere where I can customize the food to fit my needs,” said vegetarian and pizza enthusiast Dheera Rathikindi.

Though Dewey’s is not the most price-friendly option, it is still definitely worth your time.

IMO’s While it is one of the most controversial pizzas on the list, Imo’s is an iconic St. Louis classic. To those who grew up in STL, it is a must-have restaurant, reminiscent childhood and birthday parties. Imo’s is famous for their St. Louis style pizza with a very unique thin and crunchy crust and signature provel cheese.

“Imo’s Pizza is very black and white, because it just depends on which chain you are buying the pizza from.

Depending on the chain, it can be very good or very soggy and sad,” CHS sophomore Deana Talavera said of her Imo’s experience.

While trying the famous cheese pizza, we were surprised at the appealing taste and texture. The pleasing aroma definitely added to the overall experience.

Opinions may not always align, but Imo’s is a part of St. Louis culture and will continue to be for decades.

Their tasty provel cheese and iconic thin crunchy crust made it one of our favorites.

35

MOD MOD pizza was originally created 11 years ago by Scott and Ally Svenson in Seattle, and is a very popular casual dining place among Clayton residents.

Located in the Ladue Crossing Shopping Center, this pizza spot has a very upbeat family-friendly vibe. When we walked in on a Sunday morning, the happy and inviting ambiance drew us in.

Though their menu has a wide variety of options, MOD’s option to create your own pizza, from the sauce to the cheese and toppings, gives it an edge over the other restaurants on this list. The service was great, with very friendly staff. There was enough seating for everyone in the booths and tables, even though they were extremely busy.

We ordered two mini pizzas: one cheese and one meat, both of which were absolutely exceptional.

For only $6.80, the pizzas were cheaper than we expected, especially for a restaurant in the heart of Clayton. The strawberry milkshake we ordered created the perfect balance of sweetness and the natural taste of strawberries.

MOD is not only budget-friendly, but it is great place to go grab a bite to eat. If you are ever in need of a cheaper option in a family setting, MOD pizza is the best place to go.

Peel Peel is a pizzeria and brewery in downtown Clayton that has been open for around a year and a half. The interior of Peel is beautifully modern, with hanging lights and unique decor.

As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the manager and were seated without any wait. The manager gladly took the effort and time to go over his personal menu favorites with us, as well as a little bit about the history of Peel.

Peel is a franchise originally founded in Illinois, with two other locations in Edwardsville and Fenton, Illinois. This Clayton franchise is the first in Missouri. After speaking with the manger, we decided to order a simple margherita pizza and a prosciutto pizza.

The margherita pizza is a classic, but we were thoroughly impressed. From the sauce to the perfect crust, this item was well balanced in flavor and texture.

The prosciutto pizza, topped with prosciutto, parmesan, mozzarella and basil was a group favorite.

“The pizza is really unique, as it has a lot of interesting flavors. I especially like the meat, which has a salty bite to it,” said Maya Goldwasser, CHS sophomore.

“We always talk about Peel family. We embrace it with our employees and everything, the owner’s wives are very prominent in the business and everything from the top down is like a family and it is a very close niche.” Manager Chris England, who has been a dedicated employee for three and a half years, said.

Peel is also a very family-friendly restaurant, even with the ajoined brewery. We saw numerous families enjoying a meal there, as well as young couples.

England continued to say that the owners “expect excellence because they want themselves to be excellent. They may not be here seven days a week, but they are at one of the restaurants every single day of the week.”

Peel is a pricier sit-down restaurant, but is most definitely worth the price, as their service and food was impeccable.

Conclusions The best pizza place according to The Globe in St. Louis is MOD. MOD’s price point, accessibility and accommodation for those with dietary restrictions sets it a rank above the other establishments that we visited. Peel is the second best, but for those looking for a more formal, sit-down experience it is ideal. Dewey’s and Imo’s are both worthwhile stops, but Peel and MOD are better restaurants for their prices. Pastaria is another popular sit-down restaurant with a nice ambiance in Clayton, but in our opinion is more catered to pasta rather than pizza.

36 DANNY CHOO-KANG | OPINION SECTION EDITOR ASHLEY CHUNG | SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

In addition to the original St. Louis Bubble Tea and the popular Corner 17, the Delmar Loop also includes several other boba places that are not as wellknown, plus some newly-opened places.

How do they all compare?

Art by Danny Choo-Kang Photos by Ashley Chung

St. Louis Bubble Tea St. Louis Bubble Tea, the first boba place in the Loop, has a bright, tropical-themed interior, with one wall painted with fruit and one wall displaying the menu behind the counter. Of the boba places in the Loop, St. Louis Bubble Tea has the most drink choices, including flavored milk teas, pudding teas, icy slushes, chai teas, snows (smoothies), flavored teas, and hot drinks.

The menu includes some uncommon drink flavors, such as durian and peppermint, and some uncommon add-ons, like green bean. However, the exciting variety of flavors is the result of artifi-

Boba first popped up in St. Louis over ten years ago on Olive with St. Louis Bubble Tea. Boba, or bubble tea, is a drink with tapioca pearls that originated in Taiwan. Boba’s popularity has since skyrocketed, with more and more boba places appearing around the city and five in the Delmar Loop alone. The Loop has many shops within a small area and is close to Clayton.

Boba traditionally consists of a tea, with or without milk, but now, most places offer many creative variations.

For the sake of review, the drinks ordered were regular milk tea with boba and had no modifications. However, opinions of boba differ according to personal preference and each place is worth consideration.

cially colored and flavored drinks. St. Louis Bubble Tea also serves a variety of American-Chinese food. The milk tea was $3.75 ($3.25, plus $0.50 for boba) and was ready almost immediately after ordering, with the shortest wait of all the places.

The drink came in a flimsy plastic cup with the classic boba puncture lid. The tea had an almost chocolate-like flavor and was a bit too sweet. Partially hard and partially mushy, the boba lacked the desired chewiness.

Overall, St. Louis Bubble Tea is not the greatest place to get boba but has the greatest selection and deserves credit for popularizing the drink in the area.

St. Louis Bubble Tea’s milk tea with boba, $3.75

Corner 17 Half designated for the restaurant, which is popular for its handmade noodles, and half for drinks and desserts, notably boba, Corner 17 has developed a positive reputation among St. Louis residents.

The interior theme is overwhelmingly green, but the drink counter is nicely decorated with glass canisters filled with tea leaves. Queue poles create an organized line to order at two cash registers.

The menu includes a decent variety of drinks: boba milk tea, Corner 17 specialty teas, caramel milks, flavored teas, fresh juice, slushes, fruit smoothies and sago. The medium-sized regular

Corner 17’s milk tea with boba, $3.99

milk tea with boba cost $3.99. At 2 pm on a Friday, the restaurant side had a fair amount of customers, but there was no line for drinks, so the wait for the drink was short.

The cup itself was sturdy and closed with a snap-on lid. The tea was not too sweet and tasted brewed, not powdered. The boba had one of the best textures, as it was not too chewy, but also not too firm. The only downfalls were the price and that there seemed to be too little boba relative to the amount of the drink.

Overall, Corner 17 has dependably good drinks that defend the restaurant’s popularity.

37 Tasti-tea Slightly off the main street of Delmar, customers outdoors sit around Tasti-tea. Inside, string lights stretch across the ceiling, and the blue-painted walls are decorated with wood panels and a wooden lattice, license plates and a bicycle-themed clock.

The restaurant was surprisingly crowded for early afternoon, but despite its name, Tasti-tea’s many customers were enjoying the food options, rather than the drinks, and several customers actually had boba from other places.

The drink menu had the most limited number of choices but still offers several uncommon drinks and flavors, including milk teas, dirty

teas, cheese teas, cloud smoothies, fruit teas and yakults. There was no order line, and the drink was prepared fairly quickly.

The large milk tea was $4.55 and came in a sturdy plastic cup with a snap-on lid, the same as Corner 17. The boba was warm despite the ice on the top of the drink. The liquid tasted rich but didn’t have a strong tea flavor. The boba was soft, sticky and had a watery taste.

Although the drink was disappointing, considering the delicious scent of the food, Tasti-tea might be worth a visit.

Tasti-tea’s milk tea with boba, $4.55

Kung Fu Tea On the corner of an intersection stands a boba place, Kung Fu Tea, which, despite being newly-opened, was the busiest of the five boba places. With locations all over America, this cafe is the only franchise in St. Louis.

Catering towards younger customers, Kung Fu Tea has a casual red, black and white theme and is complete with Wi-Fi and a comfortable sitting area. Kung Fu Tea offers a variety of drinks, but not any food.

Drinks are available in two sizes. A medium milk tea costs $3.25, and boba is $0.50 extra. The line extended to the door, but the interior of the shop seemed poorly planned, as the empty middle space seemed wasted and the line blocked patrons from moving around. Despite the line, the cashier was efficient, and the drink was also prepared fairly quickly.

The drink came in the classic boba puncture lid and included ice, making the tea refreshing. The tea, which tasted real and not powdered, was pleasantly sweet, but the honey boba was overwhelmingly so. The boba had a nice chewy texture, but the honey made it slightly sticky.

Overall, the tea and boba were decent, and drinks can be improved by requesting a lower sweetness.

Fun Café’s milk tea with boba, $5.49

Fun Café Above Vapor Exchange hides Fun Café, a new boba shop. Although not easily accessible due to its second-floor location, the café is inviting with its friendly owner and millennial aesthetic. Green plants, wooden crates and grey velvet, marble and gold furniture decorate the interior.

The menu, displayed on clipboards at the register, includes milk teas, milk cap teas, which are milk teas with salty cheese “caps,” cold brew teas, fruit teas and specials. Fun Café is the most expensive, with all the drink options priced at $5.49, but the cost includes boba, and the single size option was larger than any of the large-sized drinks at other boba places. Drinks are made with organic milk, real fruit and natural tea.

They also offer a 10% student discount.

The tea was very thin, the boba was decently chewy and the drink had a sweet aftertaste. The café had various board games available by the wall for customers to play while waiting for or enjoying their drinks.

Despite being more expensive, Fun Café is worth visiting to try their natural drinks and spend time with friends and family.

Kung Fu Tea’s milk tea with boba, $3.75

38

STAR WARS: A SAGA

As the Star Wars saga comes to an end with the last movie, “Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker”, many fans have realized that the beloved series has truly run its course. The world-building, story-arcs and aesthetic beauty of this cinematic classic influenced the childhoods of many children of the ‘70s and ‘80s, who now, along with a new batch of avid young viewers, await the closing chapter of a culturally pivotal work of science fiction.

1977 We begin our journey on May 25th, 1977 when the first Star Wars movie was released: “Star Wars: A New Hope”.

In the opening scene, a colossal ship breaks into view, chasing down our newly discovered heroes. As the ship is boarded and the crew is massacred, we see a black knight walk through the carnage, single-handedly creating a legend that would live on for decades to come.

Even today, it’s easy to see why original audiences walked out of the theatre feeling like they’d witnessed something unprecedented.

SAM SMITH | REPORTER

1983 Three years later, a sequel was released. May 21, 1980: “The Empire Strikes Back”. The movie begins on a cold and icy planet.

Audiences see enemies win fight after fight, each battle taking a tangible toll on the characters.

The movie ends with uncertainty.

As our protagonists, worn and defeated, gaze out into the empty cosmos, we are forced to grapple with something foreign: defeat.

December 15, 2017, “The Last Jedi”. Widely regarded as the worst Star Wars movie ever released, this film somewhat diverged from the tone of previous films. A scene in which one of the main characters pretends he can’t hear a supreme general over a holochat perfectly sums up the relative lack of seriousness in this movie. It did still retain some classic saga elements, and mostly left audiences wondering how this final chapter will be concluded.

2017

1980

May 25th, 1983. “Return of the Jedi”. The movie starts as the last ended: with the empire winning and the construction of a new superweapon. Fear looms before characters as they struggle with the possibility of losing.

However, as the plot unfolds, the tides seem to turn in favor of the rebellion. Audiences, though pleased, are set on edge by the idea that their story may be reaching its conclusion.

1999

On May 19, 1999 “Phantom Menace” was released. As many fans flocked to gaze into Geroge Lucas’s newest creation, hype was at an all-time high. And just as hype rose, it fell as we witnessed a CGI blowout of cinematic failure.

A bore-fest of epic proportions.

For the first time in Star Wars history, the fans had been divided.

It was at this point that viewers began holding Star Wars to unrealistic standards of perfection.

December 18, 2016, “The Force Awakens”. It had been 11 years since the last film, and the divide between fans had dispersed. This movie mixed old plot elements and characters with a new batch of story lines and protagonists, which meant that some aspects were controversial among older fans. However, theaters were full, and as the opening credits rolled out, a new generation of Star Wars fanatics was born.

May 19, 2005, “Revenge of the Sith”. As people packed the theaters, preparing for the worst, they were taken aback by the fluid motions of starfighters and warships filling the screen.

Anikan’s change to the dark side in this film is equally disturbing and heartbreaking, yet its gravity calls back to the beloved original trilogy. This movie was well recieved, but the future of the series was uncertain.

2016

2005

May 16, 2002, “Attack of the Clones”, a deep unrest swarmed in the Star Wars community at the idea of a continuation of “Phantom Menace”. The movie begins with death and sadness as Anikan turns closer and closer to the dark side. Battles are few and far between, but when there is action, it is well done. Some audience members, however, were still bent on the idea that these new CGI-based movies would destroy the franchise.

2002

39

fast vs fancy: taco edition Shane, Sofia, Grace and Ella compare the value, prices and quality of two opposing taco joints.

GRACE SNELLING | EDITOR IN CHIEF SHANE LAGESSE | NEWS SECTION EDITOR ELLA CUNEO | PHOTO EDITOR SOFIA MUTIS | REPORTER In order to keep our comparison fair, we attempted to order a variety of items from each taco menu to explore the breadth of their options.

Taco Bell boasts a much smaller repertoire of tacos. We decided to try the soft taco and the nacho cheese Doritos locos tacos. The total for the bill was about $6.50, meaning each of the four tacos were around $1.60.

The packaging was simple and uniform, although it did not prevent the taco grease from escaping into the rest of the bag. Additionally, it was difficult to which taco was which compared to Taco Buddha’s clear labeling.

Although some may say it’s generic and halfhearted, the packaging isn’t what Taco Bell cares the most about; food holds that priority.

That being said, in the nacho cheese Doritos locos taco, the bottom of the shell was soggy and didn’t have the right amount of crunch to it. However, this could be due to it being take-out, suggesting that the hard shell tacos aren’t the best choice for ordering to-go.

The nacho cheese Doritos locos taco is a very innovative idea, and the Doritos shell brought a unique additional flavor to the taco as a whole.

Moving on to the ingredients of the item, the so-called “meat” was not at all desirable. When we tasted it by itself, it was unclear to any of us what kind of meat it was, though beef would have been our best guess. This did not add to the food’s appeal. On the other hand, the lettuce felt fresh, the cheese was good enough and the meat was not a problem once consumed as a whole.

One could easily order a nacho cheese Doritos locos taco and be satisfied.

Next was the soft taco. At first examination the taco had a very good flop quality to it great rigidity yet an appropriate amount of give, especially for take-out. It had the same ingredients as the nacho cheese Doritos locos taco.

If you are looking to leave this experience satisfied, it is imperative that you eat the taco altogether in order to get the best out of your dining experience. Menu-anxiety becomes obsolete at this popular chain, because no matter what you choose, all the options are at the same level of low quality-though its quick delivery of food and low prices give it an edge to hungry customers looking for a faster and more cost-effective meal.

Logo art by Ella Cuneo

From Taco Buddha, we opted for a chicken tinga, thai street beef, green chile pork and veggie saute taco. The total bill came out to be $19.50, averaging around $4.75 per taco.

The tacos (which we ordered for take-out) were neatly packaged and labeled with no grease or sogginess running off into the container. Compared to our recklessly paper-bagged and near-soaking Taco Bell items, this was a plus.

All of the tacos were well-constructed and easy to consume without making too much of a mess. Both the chicken tinga and green chile pork tacos were well-seasoned and dressed with an appropriate amount of veggies and toppings. The mix of ingredients in each complimented each other well-- both tasted good but fell short of anything spectacular.

On the other hand, the veggie sauté seemed an abrupt contrast to the distinct flavor profile of the other items. It was packed full of slightly dry, near-flavorless vegetables and was lacking any type of meat-substitute, which would have elevated it greatly. The addition of a vegetarian crumble or jackfruit are two options that can give vegetarian or vegan items that extra kick. Although it isn’t a terrible choice for those with dietary restrictions, it fell flat compared to the other Taco Buddha tacos.

By the time we had finished, the vegetarian option remained almost untouched. Juxtaposed to this glorified veggie wrap was the best dish that we tried during the test: the thai street beef taco. This item was perfectly balanced in terms of flavor; the rich, expertly seasoned beef hits the taste buds first and is cut through by a healthy portion of red onions, slaw, red chile crema and cilantro.

We could all agree that this taco was one of the best we’ve ever had. If you happen to find yourself at Taco Buddha and have not committed to a meatless diet, skip the menu anxiety and head straight for a plate of thai street beef tacos.

40 OPINION

student activism Students have been a part of political and social movements for decades. Now, the presence of these students is being recognized by the general public.

EMMA BAUM | REPORTER

CHS students participate in an international climate strike.

SOPHIE FURDEK | PHOTOGRAPHER “While it’s true that parental and school influence are totally a thing, and valid, that’s not all that young people’s voices are,” Clayton High School junior Belle Gage said.

This year, Gage has helped to organize numerous protests, including a rally for reproductive justice that was attended by over 1,000 people, the CHS climate walkout and a rally for affordable menstrual products and an end to the tampon tax in honor of National Period Day. Some people have been very supportive of Gage and her fellow student activists, and she has gotten praise from adults, as well as students.

However, Gage has also been told that her voice isn’t as important because of her age.

Student involvement in politics and society as a whole has been sweeping the nation, and Clayton hasn’t been left behind. Over the last few years, students have participated in protests both during the school day and outside of school.

In March of 2018, about 100 CHS students walked out of class as part of the National School

Walkout, following the death of 17 students and faculty by guns at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. On September 20, 2019 Clayton students walked out of class as part of the international Climate Strike. After legislation was passed in Spring 2019 that would make Missouri the first state without an abortion clinic since Roe vs Wade, Clayton students decked out in pink on May 17 in support of women’s rights and the pro-choice movement. Every year, the Clayton Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) sponsors a Day of Silence to protest the discrimination of LGBTQ+ students in schools.

The concept of students being involved in social and political movements is not new. On May 2, 1963, 2,500 students in Birmingham, Alabama took to the streets to protest segregation in their city. June 16 is celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa, in memory of a 1976 student protest, known as the Soweto Uprising, against the requirement that high school classes be taught in a language not used by students. The Velvet Revo-

lution, led by thousands of college students, ended a 40 year Communist rule in Czechoslovakia on November 17, 1989.

Student presence in protests have not always been recognized by the general public, but it seems that in recent years, the idea of the student activist has been, if not accepted, at least normalized. The frequency, the widespread impact, and the sheer number of students involved in activism has been compared to that of the 1960s, a decade famous for being the height of the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. With increasing participation from students, schools are dealing with the question of how to respond to students who miss classes or use school property to protest. Clayton was criticised by some after the March 2018 National School Walkout for giving students at Clayton High School and Wydown Middle School detention for walking out during class. For the second walkout, Wydown students were offered the option to report after school to plan for the walkout with school officials and student representatives from the high school, in place of a detention. Detention was also given to students who participated in the Climate Strike in September 2019. The threat of detention have made some CHS students uncomfortable with protesting during school.

Just as student protesters have been present in society before, so has the issue of how to penalize students. In 1965, Mary Beth Tinker and four other students at Warren Harding Junior High School wore black armbands to protest the continuation of the Vietnam War. After being suspended by their school for wearing the armbands, the students sued the school, and their case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, where, in 1969, it was ruled that students and teachers still held the freedom of expression and freedom of speech, as outlined in the First Amendment, in school.

However, this ruling came with an exception: student protests that occur during school hours or take place on school campus cannot disrupt school environment or infringe on other students’ rights.

While Tinker vs. Des Moines set precedence in the United States that students are allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights during school, the vagueness of the exceptions have left the extent of student rights up to the interpretation of individual school officials.

41

OPINION

love, the globe: a column IVY REED | REPORTER

The Metro stop in Clayton. ELI MILLNER | PHOTOGRAPHER I really hate the word “sketchy.” I hate it every time people in Clayton use it to describe the metro, or the city, or basically anything that’s not Clayton. But I never really say anything, because I know they won’t get it.

When I hear you tell me about all the people who sell drugs and get shot on the Metro, I want to say that I love taking the Metro, especially in the early morning when the air is thin and music sounds so much more beautiful. I want to describe how cavernous and quiet the station feels, and how when I take the metro at the end of the day, with all the other people coming home from work and school, I feel like I’m just one small part of something bigger. I want to tell you that in the early morning, I forget how much I have to do and the long day I have to get through. How between the Skinker and Forsyth stations, when the train goes underground, I can imagine I’m in a strange city that I don’t know, speeding through a dark tunnel beneath unfamiliar streets, and it’s somehow comforting.

When you say the city is scary, I don’t talk about the nine years I lived in South City, but if I did, I would describe Tower Grove South and Shaw and how well I knew all the paths and pavilions of Tower Grove Park.

How I thought Natasha’s had the best falafel on South Grand because it was the crispiest, and how we used to go to Pho Grand for tofu and

spring rolls so often that the family who owned it recognized us.

I’d talk about the dog park my dad and I used to take our dog to in Shaw, and I would tell you about burritos on Cherokee, and playing cards at the Mud House, and going to protests downtown.

“The same way you love Forest Park and the smooth-paved roads and wood-fired pizza restaurants of Clayton, I love the uneven bricks and the funky coffee shops, the bumpy alleys and close-together houses that surrounded me as I grew up.”

I’d tell you everything I remember about farmer’s markets, sledding in Benton Park, spicy-scented Osage oranges, early-morning picnics and summer afternoon library visits.

I could tell you countless memories of the city

that were anything but sketchy, so why is that the only thing you think of when you think of the city? Is it just because not everyone in the city is privileged and white? Or because living in Clayton your whole life has given you a skewed idea of what the city is that’s so different from my idea of the place I grew up in?

But instead, I don’t say much.

I don’t try to explain that when you label the city as sketchy, because you grew up in the Clayton bubble and didn’t need to think of it as anything else, you label the things I love as sketchy.

The same way you love Forest Park and the smooth-paved roads and wood-fired pizza restaurants of Clayton, I love the uneven bricks and the funky coffee shops, the bumpy alleys and close-together houses that surrounded me as I grew up.

I love the Schnucks on Arsenal that’s not as fancy as the ones in Clayton, but I love it because it’s part of me. I love Tower Grove Park even though it’s not as big as Forest Park and there aren’t golf courses or museums or a zoo. I love the round library on Kingshighway with the book quotes on the walls, that’s not as new as the one in downtown Clayton, but I love it because that’s where I remember learning to love books. And all of those city places and memories and people I love - that’s what I’m thinking about while you talk about how sketchy the city is.

42

OPINION

standardized tests

Standardized tests are integral to the current college admissions process, but they aren’t as equalizing as they seem.

SOFIA ERLIN | FEATURE EDITOR

The multiple choice format is common on major standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. Some colleges have started offering test-optional admissions because of data suggesting GPAs can be a better indicator of student performance. LAUREN WOLFF | PHOTOGRAPHER In 2018 alone, over 3 million high school students took either the ACT or the SAT. These standardized tests, along with AP and PSAT tests, hold significant value within the college admissions process. Students spend hundreds of hours and dollars prepping for these tests to try to secure the best score possible. But should our education system really place so much emphasis on them?

Standardized tests are supposed to help provide an equal opportunity for all students to show what they know. Students answer the same questions during the same amount of time, therefore their scores should theoretically be comparable. However, this is not the case.

More privileged students are able to pay for tutors, who give them an enormous advantage over students who can’t afford this luxury. But this isn’t the only advantage wealthy students can get.

Cheating on these tests is also a significant problem among elite students. In 2011, a cheating scandal involving high school students paying over $3600 for their classmates to test for them surfaced. Just last year, a scandal involving celebrities like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin paying for different testing advantages for their children made waves. Wealthy students are able to pay to rig the system and get higher scores.

Another important issue with standardized tests is the cost of the tests themselves. The cost for a CHS student to take a single AP test is $104.

The cost to take the ACT varies from $52-$68 depending on if the student chooses to take the optional writing section. The SAT costs between $49.50 to $64.50 with the writing portion.

The price for students to take these tests multiple times, or even just once, can be too great a financial burden on low income families. It’s not fair to expect students to pay hundreds of dollars to take these tests, plus more for tutors and other studying resources.

Furthermore, while testing companies like CollegeBoard and ACT are nonprofits, their recent actions show that they still care more about their profits than about education. Just this year, AP test registration date was moved up from March to November. Now, students, specifically seniors, are forced to decide to pay for the tests before they know what college they will be attending. This means they won’t know if their future school will accept their AP scores when they sign up. The cancelation fee was also raised from $15 to $40.

Another major change to a prominent standardized test, the ACT, is that starting next year, students will be allowed to retake portions of the test instead of retaking the entire test. While this change seems like it will help students save time and money, it places more emphasis on test prep and is another example of the ACT trying to increase its profits. Students who can afford tutors will be able to study intensely for a single topic, retake that section and then move on.

Additionally, since the individual sections will be

cheaper, students who might not have retaken the entire test before might be motivated by the lower commitment of just retaking a section. This means that more students will be paying for retakes, so ACT will be increasing its profits.

To combat the corruption and inequality caused by the use of standardized tests within the college admissions process, some colleges, including the University of Chicago and Wake Forest University, are transitioning to be test-optional.

This means that students are no longer required to submit their scores as a part of their application.

Universities that choose to go test-optional do not experience a decrease in the quality of their students. DePaul University in Chicago asked students who didn’t submit test scores with their application to submit them after they were admitted and found no difference between the first year grades of students who submitted test scores and those who didn’t. Although the students who chose not to submit had an ACT scores 5 points lower on average compared to those who submitted, these scores weren’t predictive of their college success.

Overall, standardized tests give unfair advantages to wealthier students. They force an unnecessary burden onto low income students, and their usefulness within the admissions process has dwindled. As we move forward towards a more equitable and educated future, colleges should move to a test-optional system.

43 OPINION

trolley troubles DISHA CHATTERJEE | FEATURE SECTION EDITOR RUTHIE PIERSON | PAGE EDITOR Recently, the heritage street-car line, the Loop Trolley, requested $700,000 to keep operating. Otherwise, it faces bankruptcy.

Ever since its delayed start in November, the trolley hasn’t been fulfilling its ridership and revenue goals.

After hearing about the exorbitant amount of money requested, we decided to see whether the Loop Trolley was worth rescuing.

We arrived at the Forest Park stop, only to immediately realize there was no timetable. With no estimates for when the trolley would arrive and depart, we had no idea how long the wait would be. An hour? Two minutes? How would anyone work a trolley ride into their schedule without knowledge of when each one arrives?

Fortunately for us, the trolley came only a few minutes after. The conductor had to step down and help individuals work a confusing pay station. Meanwhile, we sat and waited patiently for around fifteen to twenty minutes. Our ride was already off to a subpar start.

If you’re inside the trolley and look up, the

first thing you may notice is the lack of advertisements. Both sides feature several panels designed for advertisements, but merely two were occupied. While fares and taxes are additional sources of revenue, advertisements make up a big portion of the streetcar line’s total earnings as well. Coupled with the lack of passengers aboard, it was no surprise to us that the trolley is hemorrhaging money.

When we reached the end of the line, the conductor went through the aisles and flipped every seat to face the opposite direction, yet another time-consuming process. As people who do not mind riding backwards or facing other passengers in seats that face one another, we were confused by the costly idea of making these sort of seats.

It certainly looks nice, but it couldn’t have been cheap.

Halfway through, I posed the question of whether the Loop Trolley is a tourist attraction or a transportation service. The simple answer seemed to be neither. It wasn’t designed well for tourists-- otherwise, the conductors may be serv-

ing as tour guides, and the line would go through more notable parts of St. Louis worth seeing.

While one can certainly observe the sights and sounds of city roads while riding the streetcar, most of the scenery was mundane. Yet the trolley’s slow, ambling speed and dragging wait times at certain stations made it a far cry from the Metro or other means of public transport available in St. Louis. Most likely, those looking to transport themselves in an efficient manner would never choose the trolley.

The idea of bringing back history, such as the streetcar line from the 1900s, sounds good in theory. For those looking to relive an old facet of St. Louis or simply with too much time on their hands, we would certainly recommend the Loop Trolley. However, the fact remains that the streetcar line is merely a nostalgic object of the past more than anything else. It isn’t an efficient means of transport, nor is it a valuable tourist sight.

Overall, the trolley seems like a good addition in theory but has proven to be a costly, tedious obstacle in the Delmar Loop.

A view from inside the all but abandoned Delmar Loop trolley.

DISHA CHATTERJEE | PHOTOGRAPHER

44 OPINION

pro: gap year Taking a gap year between senior high in high school and freshman year of college can help students learn more about their desired career path and explore the world while doing it.

OWEN AUSTIN-BABCOCK | REPORTER

CHS alums Daniel Soares and Fabio Zihlmann hike the Pacific Crest Trail during part of their Gap Year. (Photo from Soares) Many students, especially Clayton’s scholars, gap year counselors. The demand for gap year or impoverished countries, doing charitable work picture themselves half a year after graduation at a counselors isn’t high enough for high schools to such as teaching, building, and leadership experigorgeous university, learning how to apply themhave any, but there are a number of private comences. In addition to volunteer work, internships selves to the career they’re passionate about. panies who consult students and their families at home and abroad are available to students in We at Clayton take college for granted; that on crafting a responsible gap year. Others, such many professions. we’ll finish our four Although most stuyears here, and move dents believe that a gap on to the next four at year will be a distraction The 2015 National Alumni Survey by the Gap Year Ascollege, without considfrom school, the oppoering the possibility of site effect is had. sociation cites that a vast majority of students complete taking time off.

The 2015 National a four-year college after taking one gap year, and see a After 13 years of the Alumni Survey by the significantly higher grade point average, as well as inschool grind, the last Gap Year Association creased job satisfaction, and 81% of students surveyed four staying up too late cites that a vast majority stated they were “very likely” to recommend taking a doing homework, it’s of students complete a hard to imagine taking four-year college after gap year. one year off before taking one gap year, and college - a gap year. see a significantly higher Contrary to popular grade point average, opinion, a gap year doesn’t consist of students as well as increased job satisfaction, and 81% of as EF Education First, a well-known company blowing all their cash in casinos in Las Vegas students surveyed stated they were “very likely” specializing in international education programs, or partying in Ibiza, but in reality, a majority of provide opportunities to travel and learn around to recommend taking a gap year. students who take gap years spend their time Those who like to travel and grow would most the world - providing the options for a 25-week volunteering or working. gap year or 12-week gap semester trips. likely be interested in a gap year, as many leaderIt allows students to finally explore jobs and As well as or in place of traveling, many ship experiences are offered across the world to career paths that they’re passionate about; an students explore career paths through companies students interested, with clear results of students’ experience pre-university schooling doesn’t allow. personal growth and scholarly improvement or volunteer organizations. Students interested Every high school in the United States has shown. in volunteer work often go to organizations that at least one college counselor, but none have place students abroad, especially in third-world

45 OPINION

con: gap year

Although appealing, delaying college can lead to a decrease in academic success and sometimes the total omission of college.

SOFIA PUERTO | REPORTER Students do not plan to accumulate gap years, loans when deciding to reenter college.

Taking a gap year between high school but this can happen often for those who don’t and college is an option that many students Not only is taking a gap year costly, but plan or who are not vigilant in sticking to their it requires a lot of extra planning. If not well around the nation consider. Some students plans. With each year that students stay away want to get internships in their field of choice, thought out, the person who takes the gap from school, they stray further and further year can be left without sufficient money and volunteer and do community service, or gain from the academic path and become less without a plan for how a gap year will be other experiences. While many students think likely to go back to school long term. Without this is a great idea, it is an ideal that can not beneficial to their life. Losing sight of goals higher education there are far less job opporand getting off track from the intended path is always be reached. tunities available with Many students substantial pay. Withall over the U.S. find out substantial pay, this option appealing According to the Gap Year Association, only 28 percent even the possibility of because it will allow of students who take a gap year gain work experience. returning to school them to work and gain begins to disappear, experience. However, no matter how slim. according to the Gap While taking Year Association, a gap year may be only 28% of students a fine choice for who take a gap year some students, it gain work experience. can end up causing Depending on the field a world of problems for others. Lack of work, of work that each person is interested in, it easy when living day to day without a set plan. unpreparedness and insufficient funds are can be rather difficult to find work, or even an Scheduling and setting deadlines are things all problems that are likely to come up when internship for a field of work that they would that many students ‘don’t get around to doing’ dealing with taking a gap year. The fundalike to pursue. Not only do students find during their gap year. Then, before they know mentals of taking a year off are a lot more themselves lacking work experience, they find it, the year is up. They have not accomplished complicated than some students would like themselves lacking a paycheck. Even if sometheir goals, and a gap year turns into a second to think. Though taking a gap year has the one takes minimum wage or slightly higher gap year. potential to be helpful, it also has the potential paying jobs for a year, it proves to be very difAnother thing that students don’t seem to for a disaster. ficult to save funds for college, or pay student think about is the accumulation of gap years.

The welcoming plaque to Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois. Photo by Lulu Hawley

46 OPINION

staff ed: would you want school on christmas?

Winter Garden resident Shari Albert, with her son Corey, 10, checks out the giant Menorah as members of the community and residents of Winter Garden gather for the Menorah lighting ceremony. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) Imagine if, in the winter of 2020, Clayton School District held finals from December 24th to the 26th. There would be petitions made against the school board. Parents would be distraught. In fact, everyone who celebrates Christmas would be stressed and angry. They couldn’t open presents on Christmas morning or eat a big dinner with friends and family. There would be no time to do yearly traditions and enjoy the spirit of the holiday.

They would have to stay home and study.

The pressures of school take away from the purpose of a holiday. Holidays are about being happy, peaceful and stress-free rather than cram-

ming for tomorrow’s exam.

The School District of Clayton is not holding finals over Christmas next year, but this is often how Jewish students at Clayton feel when they have to choose between celebrating the Jewish holidays or homework each year.

Going to school on these holidays is not an option for many Jewish students.

According to CHS Principal Dan Gutchewsky, one third of CHS students do not come to school on Jewish holidays.

During the holidays, Jewish people are expected to be with family, go to synagogue and think about the meaning of that holiday. This makes the

day very busy, and there is not much down time. Even if there is time to sit on the couch or take a nap, there is not supposed to be any sort of work on holidays. Many people don’t even use technology. For instance, they wouldn’t use a phone or a computer or even turn on the lights. That’s why it is irrational to have school on Jewish holidays, let alone assign homework on them.

Judaism is more than just a religion for many CHS students.

“Judaism really means a lot to me. It’s a big part of my identity. I don’t actively go to synagogue on the weekends, but I do really like to participate in the High Holidays,” CHS sophomore Lily Befeler said.

Judaism is a culture and a community that Jewish people can turn to and rely on. The High Holidays, being the most important of the Jewish holidays, are something that the Jewish community really comes together for.

These holidays are meant for the Jewish community to reflect on their actions from the previous year and to say sorry to people they have hurt or have had a negative relationship with. Yom Kippur is one of the most important holidays of the year. During this holiday, Jewish followers fast to think about what they have done wrong and who they need to apologize to.

“Other than Christmas, which also happens to be a federal holiday, we’re not really out of school for any other religious holidays,” Chief Communication Officer Chris Tennill said.

At CHS, teachers are sent an email to inform them that Jewish holidays are coming up. This reminds them that they should probably reduce the homework load.

Many teachers seem to disregard these messages and continue to assign homework.

This is not fair to the many Jewish students at CHS. In the Torah, the Jewish bible, we are told to not do any work on Shabbat and all other holidays.

So how are we supposed to do our homework when we are told to rest?

It is stressful enough to miss a day of school when you are sick. You already have to find time to make up all of the work. But it is even more stressful when you have to miss school because of the religion you practice. You should be enjoying the holidays. Not stressing over the homework you have to make up.

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