May Issue 2013 Vol. 84, Issue 8 Globe Newsmagazine by CHS Globe

GL ď&#x192;źBE May, Vol. 84 Issue 8

THE FUTURE OF GAY MARRIAGE Social Media & Drinking 18

Food Revolution 12

Jackie Robinson at CHS 29

GAY

MARRIAGE

22-28 aishwarya yadama & zach bayly

ADHD

Z PIZZA

abraham bluestone

20-21 &

parker schultz

jeffrey friedman

CONTENTS FOOD REVOLUTION 12-14

gwyneth henke & peter schmidt

OPENNESS TO DRINKING 18-19

peter baugh & eudora olsen

COACH PANKE 34

rebecca polinsky 3

Cover photo by William Wysession

get creative. T H E

G L O B E

C A P T I O N

C O N T E S T

LAST MONTH’S WINNER “Soulmates.” -Izzy Greenblatt (Junior)

SUBMIT YOUR AMUSING CAPTION AT CHSGLOBE.COM Editors in Chief Meredith McMahon Katherine Ren

Photo Editors: Olivia MacDougal William Wysession

Senior Managing Editors Eudora Olsen Parker Schultz Shiori Tomatsu Aishwarya Yadama

Editors: David Androphy Peter Baugh Abraham Bluestone Rachel Bluestone Chris Cho Neil Docherty Emma Ehll-Welply Jeffrey Friedman Jessica Jancose Nina Murov Peter Shumway Christopher Sleckman

Webmaster: Dan Zeng Senior Web Editor: Addison Leong Graphics Editor: Audrey Palmer

Business Managers: David Behrend Ben Diamond Richard Simon Distribution Editor: Steven Zou Web Editors: Varun Chakravarthy Peter Shumway Reporters: Sophie Allen Zach Bayly Bridget Boeger Gabby Boeger Jeffrey Cheng

Gwyneth Henke Sierra Hieronymus Audrey Holds Joseph Katz JiHyun Kim Claire Lisker Rebecca Polinsky Peter Schmidt Richard Simon Daniele Skor Rebecca Stiffelman Albert Wang Phoebe Yao Eunnuri Yi Photographers: Patrick Butler Sierra Carrel

Noah Engel Seth Lewis Megan McCormick Hanna Park Regine Rosas Margaret Schedl Alexis Schwartz Dana Schwartz Alessandra Silva Rebecca Stiffelman Graphic Artists: Christina DiFelice Rachel Han Cherry Tomatsu Victoria Yi Adviser: Erin Castellano

The Globe Newsmagazine exists to inform, entertain, persuade, and represent the student voice at CHS. All content decisions are made by the student editorial staff, and the Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. Not every story that our reporters write is published in the print newsmagazine. Visit www.chsglobe.com for additional stories and photos, and for more information about the Globe itself. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement - for more information about advertising and subscriptions, please contact our office: Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 854-6668 Fax: 854-6734 globe@claytonschools.net Professional Affiliations: Sponsors of School Publications . Missouri Interscholastic Press Association . National Scholastic Press Association . Columbia Scholastic Press Association

EDITOR’S LETTER

BE NOT AFRAID As the school year winds down and seniors start counting down the few days left on our fingers, I find myself spending time reflecting and reminiscing about my high school years. Upon closing one chapter of my life and before opening another, I take pleasure in going back in my mind and highlighting the most memorable sections of my CHS chapter. Accounts of the scholarly rigor, excitement and curiosity that fill CHS classrooms go on for many pages in this chapter of my life, and these accounts together demonstrate the academic excellence the District has embodied for the past 13 years I have been a student in the District. I also happily reflect upon memories of camaraderie and invigorating discussion in the Globe office, as well as passion, focus and the rewards of dedication in the music wing of CHS, which attest to the commitment the District has to the character and personal lives of its students. There is much that I believe that makes Clayton the incredible place that it is, and despite the occasional criticism (hopefully constructive) it may receive from the Globe, we cannot forget that it is an environment in which incredible experiences can, and have, happened. Thus, in highlighting so many sections of my life, I have found great comfort in the fact that I have few regrets. However, in reading back through my chapter, I found that some stories had been cut short. There were doors unopened that I had not walked through, and it is looking

at those doors, those opportunities not taken, that gives me the most regret. Of course, there is never enough time to go through every door. We are finite beings with finite time constraints. However, I realized that in the case of some doors unopened, there was something limiting me again and again: fear. I very recently read the book “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg, and a question she posed has stuck with me. She said, “Ask yourself, ‘What would I do if I weren’t afraid?’” And it made me ask myself a hard question—what would I have done in my high school career had I not been afraid? Clayton, as we have described in the cover story, is a very open, supportive place. Therefore it’s ironic and unfortunate to identify fear, especially fear of peers’ judgment, as something that limits students. However, during adolescence when insecurity is rampant and self-confidence can be fleeting, this fear is a very real thing. We get caught up in the image of ourselves as viewed and judged by others, limiting us in what we are willing to try, in how we express ourselves to others, and in taking a risk to try something outside our comfort zone. We end up putting our dreams second behind familial and societal expectations. Most of all, we fear failure and disappointing those close (and not so close) to us. The list goes on and on, and it is unique for each person. Indeed, it is fear that limits us most in the environment of Clayton, even though it is a place that contains all the ingredients for suc-

cess. I know that my words of encouragement can never really dissipate that fear. But I hope that my peers, as we head off to our post high school endeavors, as well as students who will be at Clayton next year, will find the courage, not necessarily to rid themselves of fears, but look past them to things more important. I hope that we will be able to dream anything and everything for ourselves and this world, without fear-driven doubts of what is possible, and never limit ourselves simply to what we think we can handle or what others think is acceptable. If we do this, then hopefully in the next chapter of our lives there will be fewer doors unopened. We will have raised our hands, gone to those events, joined those clubs, returned those phone calls and impressed ourselves by doing the things we didn’t think we were able to do. Clayton has provided the foundation and environment for our success—the only thing stopping us is the limit we impose upon ourselves from within. So let us acknowledge the fears and self-doubt, but not let them define us as we move into the next chapter of our lives.

MEREDITH MCMAHON Co-Editor in Chief

5 Photo from Karen McBride

PANORAMA April 27, 2013

A GOOD RUN Sometimes considered more competitive than the state meet, it is an honor to qualify and especially to place in your event at the annual Marion Freeman Varsity Invitational at Gay Field. Junior Andy Hoddapp, after staying in the middle of the pack for the majority of the race, sprints ahead in the last 150 meters to finish a good three or four strides ahead of the others. Winning in the second of three heats, Hoddapp won fifth overall for the 800 meter run. The Clayton girls’ track team also did very well, taking first place overall in the meet. Both girls’ and boys’ track teams hope to qualify for the state championship.

PHOTO BY ALESSANDRA SILVA

Junior Joey Dulle and Alyssa Fritz having a fun time with the various activities offered at the Arts Fair. (Dana Schwartz)

CLAYTON’S FINEST HOUR by ALBERT WANG

n Thursday, March 11, over 500 CHS students arrived at school on a day that they could have chosen to stay home. They came to participate in the annual Arts Fair, where CHS students played with children with disabilities. Some students chose to stay at one station, while others traveled to various stations around the school with their buddies. From bead necklace-building to getting spray tattoos to listening to jazz band, each station promised the buddies something fun to do. The quad was filled with people playing baseball or simply socializing. The auditorium was screaming with music and dancing. Rarely is Clayton so full of energy and excitement as it is on the day of the Arts Fair. The tradition of Arts Fair has lasted for many years here at CHS. “The Arts Fair was started 24 years ago,” Principal Dr. Dan Gutchewsky said. “CHS students wanted to create a day for community service. But they didn’t want to do something related to sports since other schools were doing that. We wanted to be unique. So they came up with the Arts Fair.” The theme for this year’s Arts Fair was superheroes and fairy tales. “Every year, we choose a new theme and then change around six stations based on the theme,” Activities Director Mike Nelke said. In previous years, themes included carnival, Hollywood, day at the museum and the Olympics.

This year, all Litzsinger and Neuwoehner students received a superhero cape to go with the theme. CHS students are put in charge of planning the event. “The Arts Fair is organized by a student committee of around 12 to 15 students,” Nelke said. “We meet starting in October every two weeks. Then about a month before the Arts Fair, we meet once a week.” Even with all of the fun and games that the day provides, students to do more than just have fun making necklaces and listening to music. The day teaches CHS students a lot about kids with disabilities. Freshman Maddy O’Reilly Brown described the day as a true opportunity for growth. “I feel really bad about saying this, but I was honestly not very patient with disabled people before, particularly mentally disabled people,” she said. “But now I see how whole they are as people.” Other students, such as freshman Thomas Schweich, feel as though they have accomplished something. “I think that the Arts Fair opened my mind a lot more to what kids with disabilities go through on a day to day basis,” Schweich said. “It served as a great way to feel like I could truly help someone, and allowed me to much further understand kids with disabilities.” Many students who attend the Arts Fair before return year after year and are still changed by it.

Senior Shun Tomatsu, who has been running the Tri-M sponsored station all four years, is an example. “Initially, I was reluctant to go [to the Arts Fair] since I was already involved in the percussion ensemble,” Tomatsu said. “But as I played our music for the kids, they smiled and enjoyed the music and thanked us for playing it. That’s why I’ve helped with the Arts Fair all four years.” Others, such as sophomore Jeffrey Yung, who has only attended the Arts Fair once, are ready to come back next year, . “I do believe Arts Fair is worth the time and effort,” Yung said. “This was my first year of Arts Fair and apparently it was also my buddy’s first year. I’ve never experienced anything like Arts Fair before and I believe that everyone should participate in it. Arts Fair turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be, and the ‘thank you’ I received from my buddy at the end of the day made me feel like a better person.” Not only does the Arts Fair make a big difference in CHS students’ lives, but it shows how committed CHS students are to helping others and making their community better. “I am continually impressed by how much work students put into the Arts Fair. I especially love seeing students who I wouldn’t expect to go to the Arts Fair show up and passionately help their buddies,” Gutchewsky said. “When the Arts Fair had just started, the Clayton High School Principal at the time ... called it ‘Clayton’s Finest Hour,’ and I truly believe in that.” 

CHS STUDENTS AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

UPFRONT

by JESSICA JANCOSE

ne time someone told me that I was ‘entering a Nazi death camp’. When I was walking in a couple of weeks ago, this man yelled to me that I was walking into a pile of dead babies.” These and other incidents have colored CHS senior Allison Peipert’s experiences entering Planned Parenthood for her bi-monthly meetings for Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (TASH). Patients, employees and volunteers alike are subjected to many outlandish statements when walking into the main Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis. “A lot of people have the wrong view of Planned Parenthood. They think that it is simply an abortion clinic,” Peipert said. However, in reality, “most of their services are actually education or preventative services.” TASH is an example of one of the hundreds of educational programs that are run through Planned Parenthood. Through TASH, teen volunteers are given the opportunity to discuss issues of equality and sexual health and to make a difference in the battle for legal inclusiveness by gathering petitions and talking to lawmakers in Jefferson City. According to Judy Lipsitz, program director for TASH in St. Louis, only 6 percent of the services that Planned Parenthood performs are abortions – the other 94 percent is devoted to health screenings, preventative care and education based services. Planned Parenthood provides STD testing and treatment for both men and women, general health testing, contraception options, cancer screening and prevention procedures, pregnancy tests and prenatal services. They provide healthcare for men and women who may not be able to afford appointments with specialists. People can come into a Planned Parenthood clinic and “depending on what your income level is, you don’t have to pay as much as going to a private doctor,” Lipsitz said. Educational services also account for a major portion of Planned Parenthood’s activities. “We have sexuality educators that go into places in St. Louis, whether it be to schools or youth serving agencies or to adults that want to learn more and train,” Lipsitz said. Planned Parenthood’s website says that Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) works overseas to provide men, women and young people in neglected areas with access to “the healthcare that they need to control their bodies and their futures.”

PPFA partners with local advocates and medical providers to build sustainable healthcare networks in these countries and also advocates for more inclusive laws and policies. However, the battle for political equality and inclusiveness is not only fought overseas. Locally, members of TASH are lobbying for a change in the Missouri Sex Education Bill. Currently, the bill does not stipulate that Missouri schools are required to teach students sexual education. If a school does choose to teach sex ed, it has the option of delivering an abstinence-only education. The other option is to teach both abstinence and comprehensive sexual education, which includes information about contraceptive use and STD prevention. “We feel that every young person deserves comprehensive; to deny information is not helping the teen. We are not encouraging teens to go out and have sex, but, if they do it, they deserve to know how to be able to protect themselves,” Lipsitz said. Peipert agrees. “A lot of students don’t receive proper education, and I believe that that’s the first step to having a healthy young body of people.” Comprehensive sexual education emphasizes not only medically accurate information about sex, but also, as Planned Parenthood’s website states, “self-awareness, self-respect, respect for others and relationship-building skills.” By giving children a comprehensive health education from a young age, Planned Parenthood hopes to address the bullying and intolerance that many children in school face today. At their meeting on April 24th, TASH members were also made aware of Planned Parenthood’s fight against HB457, which has been dubbed the “Denial of Care Bill.”

Currently, in Missouri, doctors who are morally against providing specific women’s health services are allowed to deny their patient care. However, this bill would extend that right to nurses, pharmacists and hospital employees. By educating TASH members about local legislation and the legal system, Planned Parenthood attempts to empowers teens with the knowledge that they need to be advocates for legal reform. It is this emphasis on equality and education that first attracted CHS senior Seth Lewis to being a part of Planned Parenthood through TASH. “Planned Parenthood has opened me up to seeing a lot of things that I didn’t normally think of in the way that we talk and about being politically correct and understanding diversity,” Lewis said. “I’ve also realized how prejudice and oppression get integrated into political systems or just systems in our everyday lives that we wouldn’t recognize unless we were tuned into what was going on.” Lewis, along with senior Hannah Bledsoe, was invited to attend the Planned Parenthood Leadership Summit where teens from around the nation involved with Planned Parenthood come together to discuss the issues facing them and to rally around the cause of promoting equality. At the Leadership Summit that Lewis attended, teens were asked to come up with a motto for Planned Parenthood. “We were trying to come up with ways to describe what Planned Parenthood does for us and what it does for a lot of the people that it helps take care of,” Lewis said. Ultimately, Lewis and other teens from around the nation found a motto that they all agreed upon: “Planned Parenthood cares.” 

Students gather to discuss Planned Parenthood’s ideals. (Seth Lewis)

UPFRONT

CLAYTON’S FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVERS FPS members pictured above from left to right: David Kim, Julie Kim, Grace Choi and Gabrielle Choo-Kang. (Nuri Yi)

layton High School has many clubs, ranging from politics club to rocketry, from Harry Potter club to baking club. There are so many clubs, in fact, that it is entirely possible to go through school life without being aware of some clubs’ existence. Future Problem Solving Club (FPS club for short) is one such club: membership is in the single digits, group meetings are irregular and on the whole, the club is so low-key that you’re unlikely to hear about them. “FPS is basically a competition where you’re given two hours to complete six problem solving steps in order to solve the future scene,” freshman and club co-founder Sonya Liu said. “The fuzzy [future scene] is an extrapolation of events into the future pertaining to the topic.” The lingo may be confusing, but the process is fairly straightforward. After identifying challenges in the future scene in 18 different categories and figuring out the underlying problem (the big picture problem), Future Problem Solvers write 16 solutions that could potentially solve the underlying problem. Then, they create criteria to evaluate the best solution and then rank the top eight solutions using those criteria. There is then a threeparagraph action plan describing the solution, how it solves the underlying problem and how it relates back to the original situation that was given. “If you want to succeed, you have to think

by NURI YI outside the box,” Liu said. “It’s more about flexibility. Creativity is important, but we still have to keep within pragmatic boundaries.” According to Liu, the mission of FPS is “to develop the ability of young people globally to design and promote positive futures using critical, creative thinking.” Another goal seems to be “teaching children how to think, not what to think.” There are some similarities between policy debate, a speech and debate event, and future problem solving in format, but FPS isn’t a headon competition with opponents. “In policy you take the resolution and the affirmative team gives a plan of addressing it,” Liu said. “Then the negative team says why that plan isn’t a good plan, but FPS is more than that. After you list challenges the plan has, you propose a counter plan based on the main challenge. In policy you don’t have the opportunity to do that.” You can enter a competition in one of three categories: individual, team and community. In community FPS, “you get a group of four to 18 people and you do the problem solving process for any topic,” Liu said. “And then you physically carry out the action plan. You make a difference; it’s really cool. Also, those groups have the most fun at internationals.” Liu is going to internationals this year as an individual, as is sophomore Jeffrey Cheng. Freshmen Julie Kim, Gabby Choo-Kang, Grace Choi and David Kim placed fourth at the state

competition, but will be going to internationals as well through a wild card. Two teams from Wydown will be going to internationals. Having qualified for internationals in 6th grade, Liu knows what the expect. “Internationals is a four-day event in America with different events like scavenger hunts and dances. And it has a buffet. When they had it in Wisconsin, we had unlimited ice cream,” she said. “I’m really excited. Last year I got to be the flag bearer for Missouri and I got to dress up as Sacagawea.” Liu recommends doing Future Problem Solving “if you’re looking for a more relaxed alternative to debate and don’t mind writing.” Meeting times are flexible and really only limited by group members’ schedules. At the moment, FPS club operates mostly through the middle school under teachers Sandra Sermos and Linda Gwyn, who do FPS in the classroom for the class Exploratorium. Future Problem Solving is becoming more popular at the local level as well. “The competition is getting harder,” Liu said. “Last year’s junior international qualifying group didn’t make it to state. Pattonville has also started [doing FPS].” In a club as small as this, the members don’t do it for glory. “We do it because it challenges us to think differently,” Liu said. “We have to examine how our actions today affect the future, 20, 50 years further.” 

FOOD

REVOLUTION IN

AMERICA’S

HEARTLAND

By Gwyneth Henke and Peter Schmidt. Photography by Noah Engel.

FEATURES

On the wall of chef Gerard Craft’s gleaming new Clayton restaurant, Pastaria, there hangs a pizza platter which reads the following haiku: “Flour and Water Wood Fired upon Hot Stone Divine Alchemy” When Craft opened Pastaria —his fourth restaurant in St. Louis— he sent pizza platters to all the chefs, mentors and friends who inspired him on his path to becoming a nationally renowned chef so that they could write him well wishes and advice. They represent his rise from a dishwasher in Salt Lake City to his culinary travels in France and Italy. Most recently, however, Craft’s “divine alchemy” has worked a binding spell on the city of St. Louis, putting him and his four restaurants-- Niche, Taste, Brasserie and Pastaria--at the forefront of the food revolution in America’s heartland. Craft first stunned the St. Louis food community with the establishment of his restaurant, Niche, in Benton Park (Niche has since relocated to Clayton in November of 2012). “I took a shot in the dark, a little bit: I saw a lot of young chefs starting to do things in St. Louis. It really wasn’t about the region until I lived here, and then I started to really understand the region, and that helped to define my personal style of cooking,” Craft said. Niche’s sous chef Nate Hereford described Niche as “an evolution in food... We’re constantly learning, constantly trying new techniques and flavors and what not.” Out of all the restaurants, Niche, with its modern design and artistically inspired decor, employs the most “forward” approach. For instance, Hereford gestured to the six foot tank of liquid nitrogen hulking in the rear corner of the kitchen. “We use that to make ice creams,” he said. “It freezes things at such a cold temperature... you can take this coffee that I’m drinking right here and turn it into ice cream in front of your eyes.” The nitrogen tank is just one example of the staff’s avant garde approach to food. “I mean, it’s

not just your normal ‘steak and fries,’” Hereford said. “We put thought into our dishes, and we put thought into how flavors and textures and temperatures contrast and work together with each dish.” While Niche was receiving ardent praise— STL Today proclaimed that it “sets the standard for haute cuisine in St. Louis” — Craft set out to establish a “sophisticated place to drink” with a more classical agenda. The result was Taste. “It was groundbreaking, the first of its kind,” Ted Kilgore, the head mixologist, said. Taste was originally an 18 seat bar with only eight items on the menu. Since then, the bar has moved to the Central West End and adopted a prohibition-era “speakeasy” theme. On any given night, the dapper “mixologists” behind the bar are mixing, shaking and stirring up a dizzying array of alcoholic drinks and spirits (one of the greatest selections in the state), in addition to creating non-alcoholic mocktails for the under-18 crowd. Under the direction of head chef Matthew Daughaday, the Taste kitchen has expanded to form an independent identity: sous chef Heather Stone described the cuisine as a twist on foods that customers associate with their childhood. For example: Daughaday’s recently crafted pannacotta of gelatinized carrot juice was inspired by carrot cake. For his next project, Craft was galvanized by his personal experiences abroad. “I cooked in France when I was younger and fell in love with French food, and French bistro food especially,” he said. Craft named his new restaurant Brasserie, which translates as “beer house” in French. As Brasserie sous chef Adam Guess described Craft’s nod to French cuisine, he stirred and

sampled an array of colorful sauces simmering on the crowded stove-top. In contrast to the cutting edge Niche, “we spend a lot of time perfecting classic [French] technique and procedure,” he said. Finally, in September of 2012, Craft opened the doors of Pastaria in Clayton’s glistening Centene Center, next door to the renovated Niche. Craft says that the inspiration for Pastaria, with its bright yellow walls and mason jar glassware, stemmed partly from his role as a father. “I have two kids, I have a seven-year-old and a four-year-old, and I wanted to have a place where I could take them and I could still eat good food and drink good wine,” he said. It seems fitting that Craft was inspired by his family in an industry that requires a massive degree of teamwork and cohesiveness. “We help each other out,” Niche chef Nate Hereford said. “ [People go to] baby showers, people go to weddings, people get gifts for everybody, and we’re always coaching each other.” In the high stress culinary world, close relationships can be integral to a restaurant’s success. “It’s tough, and it’s tiring, but these are your comrades in the good fight...It’s a partner under fire,” Brasserie manager Sarah Klipper said. Although the hectic nature of the industry requires each restaurant to work mostly individually on a day to day basis, friendships extend beyond the walls of the kitchen. Adam Guess, Brasserie’s sous chef, described his friendship with Taste head chef Matthew Daughaday, saying, “I work with [Daughaday] any time I’m in need of something...We bounce ideas off each other, taste things, vent to each other, that type of thing.” In addition, each member of the team is eager to promote their comrades’ success. “We always like to keep it very friendly and keep it like a family. We trade employees. Ricky, our old line cook, we traded him over to Pastaria so he could get more experience and a broader view of things,” Stone said. In addition, Craft’s kitchens are spotted with college majors in philosophy, chemistry and premedical studies, a variety that has allowed each team to developed a famously thought-provoking repertoire. “I studied anthropology in college, and it kind of got me into cooking,” Hereford said. “We put a lot of thought and a lot of energy into the food

...We’re all driven and passionate about what I think it’d be egotistical to make that statewe do.” ment, but ... we hope that people take that [iniFor many, the hectic stress of the kitchen tiative] and continue to push,” Craft said, to a can be highly gratifying. “So to me, it’s almost background of hissing steam and shouts of the a high, a buzz to be in here and enjoying this,” kitchen. Guess said. “And when I walk out into our dinCraft chuckled at the suggestion that he was ing room, our beautiful dining room, and to see at the forefront of the food revolution. the windows open on a beautiful day like this, “No. I think there’s a lot of good chefs in that just... gives me chills.” this town, and it’s kind of a newer generation One particular point of pride is customer of chefs,” he said. service. In other words, Craft and his res“We hardly ever tell the guests taurants are merely one face of no. We’ll go leaps and bounds the movement that is sweepto give the guests what they ing across St. Louis. It’s want,” Pastaria and Taste “Kevin Nashan down employee John Cowan at Sidney Street Cafe and it’s said. is cooking really great but these are your In addition, the staff food now; there’s a lot treats each request as a of people that are dochallenge to expand their ing really great things,” in the repertoire. “If people Craft said. Others pointare requesting oxtail and ed to Kevin Willmann good fight beef tongue and things like of FarmHaus, Cassandra that, then we can expand our Vires of Wine Kitchen, and knowledge,” Stone said. Christy Augustin of Pint Size And, of course, at the head of it all Bakery. is Gerard Craft. “The midwest region is really starting to “[Craft] is a true cook. He knows how to define itself, and I think it’s an exciting and an work hard, but he’s not afraid of it. He’s not the inspiring time to be here,” Craft said. type of owner or cook that doesn’t know how “We’re seeing a huge resurgence of food to get on the line and get dirty, get gritty, and culture here, and it’s food from all over. With sweat,” Guess said. that I think we’re seeing a lot of product quality Pastaria bartender Cedric Aubuchon de- going up, trying to stay local, fresh ... Once the scribed Craft as a triple threat restaurateur. idea takes off and does well, it spiders out to the “He’s got a great business mind, he has a great rest of the community,” AuBuchon said. restaurant mind, and he’s an amazing chef; all One strategy that is particularly important three of those together is unique,” AuBuchon to the team is the integration of St. Louis gesaid. ography and culture into the food. “It reminds Despite the glowing praise that Craft’s staff me of a brussel sprout dish,” Hereford said. “It’s gives him, Craft himself is the picture of humil- really simple ... We get rye soil from the wheat ity. While confident in his team’s abilities, he is fields, we get brussel sprouts from the farmhumble about their accomplishments. lands, we get ricotta cheese from the milk from “I would hope that our food inspires people. the cows ... We’re inspired by the region and the

tough, tiring,

comrades

Clockwise from left: Adam Guess works in the Brasserie kitchen, Phil Azanov weighs pasta at Pastaria, Taste’s assortment of bitters. Pg. 12 displays the interior of Pastaria.

food is reflected upon that.” After describing the weekly visits of a local farmer who carries her shiitake mushrooms in a cloth sack to Brasserie, Klipper expressed a similar inspiration born from the use of local food. “We are the midwest, this is America’s heartland, and you can grow so much here, it would be a shame to not utilize it and to show people that you don’t have to get something that’s frozen or imported,” Klipper said. However, Stone believes that the entire community must make a passionate commitment to quality food. “If we get all the restaurants on board to be a cohesive unit, to think the same, that we don’t want to just put food on the plate, but that we just want the best quality of food, that starts from the bottom up,” she said. For St. Louis, a city that has suffered high crime rates and plummeting populations, this cultural resurgence could offer enormous benefits. “Everyone knows Anheuser Busch, the Cardinals, and the Rams, but I think there’s a lot more culture to be found in St. Louis. As best as we can help everyone else succeed, the best we’re going to do overall as a group, and the best we do at putting our city on the map,” Klipper said. All the while, Craft’s team is working towards that goal by excelling at what they do best: crafting delicious and thought-provoking cuisine. A tub of magenta pomegranate-pear gelato emerges from the freezer while, one kitchen over, Nate Hereford flash-freezes ice cream with liquid nitrogen. At Taste, Daughaday sprinkles caramelized sugar on his carrot pannacotta and, next door, the scent of Guess’s bourdellaise sauce wafts out of the kitchen into the bright dining room. The first customer of the evening walks through the door. Divine alchemy indeed. 

FEATURES

Dead Zone

[For Learning]

Cell phones are invading everyday life. What impact are they having in classrooms? The trends are surprising...

Story by Chris Cho, Design by Parker Schultz

Why Classrooms are Losing focus “Needless to say, cell phones do not belong in the learning environment.”

The Research:

Cell phones are everywhere. At CHS, students are constantly checking their phones for Facebook updates, text messages and emails. Immersed in the bright LED screens, students have become fully dependent on their phones. “The popularity of cellphones is undeniable,” senior Noam Kantor said, “but the distractibility of these phones with computer capabilities has definitely created negative effects on top of the positive effects.” New technology has created problems including texting while driving, cyberbullying and Internet predation. Phones in particular have become a daily obstacle. Students have become accustomed to texting while in class, while doing homework, and while at lunch. The AP Language and English Composition Class, taught by Emily Grady, sought to analyze the relationship between cell phone usage and academic performance at Clayton High School. The class created a multiple-choice survey administered to 268 students across all grades in the high school; approximately 1 to 3 students

at CHS. After administering the survey, AP Lang students looked for a correlation in the data. The students reached several startling conclusions. Senior Gray Harlan, a student in the Lang class, was, “amazed at the specificity associated with the process and the groundbreaking data that the survey produced.” The research conclusively proved that cell phones negatively affect learning.

Phone Usage:

The first trend the Lang students discovered was that higher performing students were using their phones to study. The students who used their phones more often for social purposes, such as checking texts or Facebook, often had lower grades in school. AP Lang students were astonished by the trends because there was a clear correlation between students’ GPAs and how they choose to use their cell phone. Senior Paul Kieffer was one of the astonished students. “I never realized how obvious the correlation among the use of the cellphone

and one’s academic performance would be,” he said. “I never expected the results to be so telling.”

Responsiveness:

The research also showed that higher performing students are slower to respond to texts. While the percentage of students with a GPA in the 2.0s who immediately respond to text messages is closer to 33 percent, the percentage of students with a GPA in the 4.0s who immediately respond is closer to 4 percent. This stark contrast displays the effects of texting while class is in session. “This finding points to the fact that there are certain habits associated with higher achieving students than lower achieving students,” Senior Ravali Poreddy said.

Gender:

The third finding showed that females were 6 percent more likely than males to “always” text and 7 percent more likely to “often” text while doing homework. Also, a whopping 71 percent of females said their primary purpose of texting

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Audrey Palmer

during homework was social and therefore of no help to their grades. However, women are 12 percent more likely than males to check their phone during class and not respond whereas males are more likely to respond immediately. Women are two and a half times more likely than males to have their phone in their backpack and out of sight. Senior Oji Onwumere fully concurred with the results. “Girls should be smarter than boys,” she said. “Their attention spans are greater in both capacity and strength.”

Phone Types:

The Lang students also discovered that the type of phone has little effect on academic success. A smartphone is just as likely to be distracting as a normal phone. The percentages are surprisingly similar in both instances. “I never expected students with smartphones to have similar levels of academic success to those with regular cell phones,” junior Josh Lee said. “Smartphones pose as a huge distraction personally.”

The Effects:

The last finding was that GPA and phone usage while completing homework showed a strong negative correlation. If a student texts more while completing his homework, then that student is not likely to hold a high GPA. Around 15 percent of students with above a 4.0 report that they never use a cell phone while completing homework. That number drops off dramatically with the next set of GPAs with only around 5 percent of students with a 3.5 to 3.9 saying that they refrain from cell phone use during homework.

Solution:

The research demonstrates that there is a need for adjustment in the Clayton High School policy regarding cell phone use. Jerome L. Rekart, author of “Taking on Multitasking,” says “dividing attention by multitasking impedes learning and performance in the short-term and may, by under-utilizing brain structures necessary for the correct type of learning, affect long-term memory and retention.”

The findings show that students who spend less time on their phones, or less time multitasking, while doing homework, maintain a significantly higher GPA. Cell phones provide instant social gratification, which is the cause of another consequence of excessive use, cell phone addiction. Needless to say, cell phones do not belong in the learning environment. The class proposed that students leave their phones out of sight and out of reach during academic work, as they have proven to distract. To the administration, the class proposed a stricter cell phone policy because, as many teachers and students would agree, the current policy is not effective or consistently enforced. In the end, students such as Kantor should be putting their phones on silent and leaving them out of the classroom. “Cellphones pose as a strong distraction both inside and outside the classroom,” Kantor said. “Smartphones could lead to extreme effects in students’ academic performances if they become even more prevalent.” 

Artwork by Rachel Han

SOCIAL DRINKING TO

SOCIAL MEDIA In today’s age where people post pictures of everything from the burger they had for lunch to hourly updates of their spring break vacation, it has become socially acceptable to post pictures online of teens drinking alcohol. For students at Clayton and at other high schools, it is not uncommon to see images of underage drinking appear on Facebook or Twitter.

by PETER BAUGH AND EUDORA OLSEN

i ke*, a CHS student, is showing off a bottle of whiskey in his Twitter profile picture. The photo is on a public setting for anyone to see. On a Sunday morning, if a CHS student were to scroll through his/her Facebook or Twitter news feed, he or she would most likely find photos of their classmates clearly intoxicated or holding alcoholic beverages: photos just like Mike’s. Though the world of the Internet is open to his future educators and employers, Mike is not concerned about his profile picture. “It doesn’t really bother me,” he said. “If I

were applying for a job, I might change it, but I don’t see any serious reason to.” Though he allows some of the photos to remain on his social media pages, Mike says he does take precautions, such as taking away his tag on an image. “I usually don’t really do anything because I don’t think any colleges are going to see it or anything like that, but if [the picture is] someone chugging a beer then I might remove myself from the image,” Mike said. On the contrary, Joe*, another CHS student, does not feel comfortable with any of these types of pictures on the Internet, despite the

fact that they have become socially acceptable for many students. “It’s cool to just have a good time and then live it in the moment, [but] I personally don’t like how you have to capture that forever,” Joe said. “I think it’s better to just have it be a moment in your life and then it fades and it’s gone.” Joe, who does go to parties and does drink, feels he has the right attitude towards situations in which people may be taking and posting pictures of people holding drinks or drinking. “There are definitely friends who do it [post photos of drinking], but, personally, I know a lot of people who do it this way: they just really

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try not to get into any of the pictures … I usually am not at parties when people are trying to take a bunch of pictures … that’s not what I want to do,” Joe said. Student Resource Officer John Zlatic also feels that photos of underage drinking should not be posted on the Internet. Zlatic feels that minors need to remember that it is illegal to drink under the age of 21, also saying that photos could serve as a bad influence on fellow classmates. “What you tend to get is underage people drinking in what they believe is a justified manner, and I kind of see it as, in colleges people [are] putting it on Myspace [and other sites], and that only reinforces the same behavior,” Zlatic said. “It concerns me because you are actually engaging in a criminal activity and there’s consequences to that.” Joe feels that in today’s world, a person’s online image is looked at as a representative of who that person is. “Your Facebook page almost is like a resume. You need to watch what you post,” Joe said. “And it’s not just a resume for school, it’s a resume for people you want to know, somebody you’re trying to be friends with. They look at that, [so] you want to put your best foot forward at all times.”

An admissions officer at a local university, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed Joe’s concern about how prospective students display themselves via social media websites. But if the activities seen online are not interfering with a candidate’s school work or academic achievement, this admissions officer said online posts will not necessarily count against them. “As long as the partying and drinking is not interfering with their work, it does not directly affect the admissions process in my book,” the admissions officer said. But the officer did confirm that some admissions officers will look up a prospective student on Google to make sure he or she is not over exaggerating academic achievement. “We Google some candidates mainly because we are excited about their accomplishments,” he said. “But if they have lied about receiving an award or some other accolade, that is grounds for rejection.” However, the “resume” that Joe describes may work to the advantage of some, depending on their goals. Certain groups and people want to see photos of drinking, which will incline them to be that person’s friend. “A lot of fraternities, when you rush, they check your Facebook and it gives you an edge if

you have a lot of pictures of alcohol and partying stuff, because then they want you in their frat,” Mike said. Mike, who hopes to join a fraternity in college, feels he would be more inclined to post photos if it would give him a better chance of getting into the group. A University of Arizona fraternity recruitment chairman agrees in some respects. Though he says his fraternity focuses on leadership qualities, he does think that some chapters on the Arizona campus do like finding members who enjoy partying, but photos on Facebook or other social media accounts are not the deciding factor. Joe says that what the issue comes down to is how people want others to view them. “My thing is, why would you want to put it [a picture] on unless you want people to see that you are this type of person?” Joe said. “Like, if you are a person that puts a bunch of their sports photos up, they are trying to show people what they are interested in and who they are. And if you are someone that likes to party, that is what you put up.” 

*This person’s name has been changed to preserve his or her anonymity.

Photo By Erin Castellano

Adderall, pictured, is a common type of ADHD medication (Abraham Bluestone).

FOCUSED ON SUPPORT

by PARKER SCHULTZ and ABRAHAM BLUESTONE

t’s in our genes, it’s rooted in the family environment, it’s caused by the food we eat, it’s in our water; no one is really sure what causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or how exactly it should be diagnosed. Over the past decades, ADHD has become an increasingly large

problem in the American school system. More students than ever are being diagnosed. While some question the very existence of the disorder, the medical community has been able to reach a general consensus. Yes, ADHD is real. Yes, it’s a problem. But how do we treat it? The Clayton School District is no exception to these trends. Teachers and staff are working to accommodate students with the disor-

der, but the system isn’t perfect. For many of the Clayton students who have been diagnosed with ADHD, the battle is uphill. “It’s incredibly hard to do homework when your brain is literally fighting against efficiency,” senior William Wysession said. Students affected by ADHD struggle to maintain focus in class and after school. The disease manifests itself with behaviors such as high energy, lack of concentration and impul-

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siveness. ADHD doesn’t always make students fidgety or bounce off the walls. The disorder can also affect calmer students, who just can’t maintain long periods of focus. “A lot of people that I knew, especially in middle school, didn’t know that I had ADHD,” junior Alessandra Silva said. Silva is another Clayton student who has grappled with ADHD. For her, the battle has been a personal challenge to overcome the setbacks. “Having all of these impediments on my learning, it’s been hard for me to get the same opportunities as others who are in honors or advanced classes,” Silva said. When she initially tried to register for honors classes freshman year, her eighth grade teachers suggested lower level courses. “When I went in to the high school, my middle school teachers were very against me doing any honors classes,” Silva said. “It was the homework aspect, and spending twice as long as most people on homework assignments was going to be a real inhibitor.” Despite her setbacks, Silva did eventually move into the honors courses. For most students, being diagnosed with ADHD happens during elementary school. ADHD symptoms manifest themselves in children before the age seven, and so one job of elementary school teachers is to be on the lookout for attention issues. Rachel Spann, who is a counselor at Glenridge Elementary school, plays an important role in exploring ADHD in students. Often times, teachers will bring concerns to Spann, and she will coordinate “time-on-task” obervations. During the day, an observer will follow an elementary student to their classes. The ob-

server notes how often the student is on task. The observer then takes this data and creates a percentage. “The last observation I remember hearing, the average peer was on task 85 percent,” Spann said. “The student we were looking at was on task 35 percent.” While the District cannot make diagnosis itself, the data it collects helps parents understand their children’s needs. The data also helps teachers adapt to their students. Elementary teachers create incentive plans and give attention cues to their students with ADHD. “Teachers will often have strategies that they will put in place for the student and scaffold them,” Spann said. Even at the high school, students with attention problems continue to receive support. Learning Centers provide extra structure that can help students in need of organization. “It’s finding what works for particular students and then watching that ‘ah-ha’ moment,” Learning Center Director Joyce Bell said. Another method that students utilize to regain focus in the classroom is through medication. Initially, when ADHD was first being understood, Ritalin was one of the few medications offered. Today, there are far more options, making ADHD medications more personalized and effective. However, the medications often bring unwanted side effects, and certain pills have become hot topics in the news because of their potentially addictive qualities. Spann fears that medicating young children without a proper diagnosis is becoming a common practice. As more people are being diagnosed, receiving a diagnosis has become easier. Spann believes that parents should spend time to consider before they put their children on medications. “I will often tell parents, ‘If a doctor says they want to just put your child on medicine, find somebody else,’” Spann said. “A doctor that is doing what they really should be would contact the school and ask us to fill out scales ... and

then compare those with how the parent concerns are along with the school’s.” Still, some students have had positive experiences with medication. For students with a genuine need for focus, the medications allow them to learn in school. “When I’m not on my medicine, I cannot basically do any homework or focus on any kind of school work,” Wysession said. Wysession has tried several medications, and after finding the correct one, has seen a remarkable improvement in school. Silva has also had a positive experience with ADHD medications. “When it comes to school and doing homework and assignments, I need that medication,” Silva said. “I can completely tell the difference between when I’m on the meds and when I’m not.” A common misconception is that students claim to have ADHD to get extra time on tests. While it’s always possible to cheat the system, both Silva and Wysession have found it very difficult to receive extra time, even considering their legitimate conditions. “I think if extra time is something that your parents aren’t going to fight for, I don’t think you’re going to get it,” Silva said. She has worked with both the District, as well as College Board and the Princeton review to receive extra time. She was denied extended time on both the SAT and her AP tests. Wysession has also experienced being denied extra time. “Finishing tests and doing things in a certain amount of time is pretty difficult, to be honest,” Wysession said. “I had just briefly looked into receiving extra time on tests, and basically they said that wasn’t an option, just because I do well in my classes.” Ultimately, Silva and Wysession have been pleased with the services the school has provided. If anything, they simply want people to realize that ADHD provides real, concrete challenges. “It’s hard for people to put themselves in the shoes of a person with ADHD,” Wysession said. “I would ask anyone to do that before they are judgmental.” 

Having all of these impediments on my learning, it’s been hard for me to get the same opportunities as others. -Alessandra Silva Junior

GAY

As the Supreme Court weighs the

constitutionality of DOMA and Proposition 8, the Globe looks into these court cases and the people in our community that they affect.

BY AISHWARYA YADAMA AND ZACH BAYLY

with reporting by MEREDITH MCMAHON

MAR. 26, 2013 -THE DOORS OF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING SWUNG OPEN, PREPARING THE U.S. TO BE AN EYE WITNESS TO HISTORY. SHIVERING BODIES LEFT THE TENTS THAT THEY HAD CAMPED IN FOR DAYS, CLAMBERED UP THE WHITE MARBLE STEPS AND CLAIMED THEIR SEATS IN THE COURTROOM STILL SHAKEN BY THE AFTERSHOCK OF THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT DECISION. For those watching, the world silently faded away. Justice Anthony Kennedy began to speak. In a nation fraught with love, anger, hope, dismay and prayer, the hearings questioning the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 had begun.

DOMA The politically divisive, high-profile case was born in a small Greenwich Village restaurant, where Edith Windsor first met Thea Spyer, the woman who later became the love of her life. In an interview with NPR, Windsor described a drive to the countryside in 1967 where Spyer asked her what she would do if she got an engagement ring. Edith worried that if co-workers saw it, they would ask relentlessly to meet “the guy.” So, when they reached their rented home, Thea got down on her knees and presented Edie with a circular brooch adorned with diamonds. Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer were engaged for 40 years. After Spyer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the couple decided to get married in Canada in 2007. 21 months later, Thea Spyer died and Windsor received notice that she would have to pay $363,000 in federal taxes on the inheritance of her wife’s estate. Had Windsor been married to a man, this tax would not exist. Prepared to face the grueling journey to the Supreme Court, 77-year-old Windsor set out to combat the injustice that she saw in

the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act, commonly referred to as DOMA, was enacted on Sept. 21, 1996, after passing both houses of Congress by large majorities and being signed by President Bill Clinton. Essentially, it is a federal law that restricts federal marriage benefits and interstate marriage recognition to opposite-sex couples. Section 3 of this legislation, which codifies the non-recognition of same-sex marriage for all federal purposes, including insurance benefits for government employees, Social Security survivors’ benefits, immigration and the filing of joint tax returns, has been determined unconstitutional by the Obama administration and eight federal courts - which leaves the decision up to the Supreme Court. Laura Rosenbury, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis and a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, clerked for Judge Dennis Jacobs, who ruled DOMA unconstitutional in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Rosenbury practiced family law and has dealt with the legal proceedings of these unions extensively. “At the time I was practicing, no state recognized same-sex marriage, so that meant same-sex couples that wanted to pass on money upon their deaths couldn’t rely on the default state law, so instead it was very important for them to execute wills that would give money to their surviving partner,” Rosenbury said. Rosenbury has noticed some changes in the process as states have legalized same-sex marriage. “Under current law, if you’re in a marriage recognized and valid by the state in which you die, even if you die without a will, the state will give money to your partner. But if you’re not legally married, then your partner is seen as a stranger in the eyes of the law. So it’s very important in that case for same-sex couples to execute wills, living wills, and power of attorneys, that would empower the dead spouse to give the surviving spouse property.” While Rosenbury is confident that overturning the Defense of Marriage Act will reduce contracting and legal fees for samesex couples in states where they can be legally married, it will not change the legal proceedings for couples in states that do not recognize same-sex marriage. “Those who are representing same-sex couples in those states will have to focus on what to do until same-sex marriage is available,” Rosenbury said. “So, that will involve providing resources that will make contracting for same-sex couples available. But I don’t know how long it will take states, either on their own or forced, to recognize same-sex marriage.”

PROP 8 In May 2009, an Alameda County Clerk-Registrar, Patrick O’Connell, denied Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier a marriage license because they were a same-sex couple. Five years earlier, they were among the 4,000 couples that were given marriage licenses by Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, only to have the California Supreme Court outlaw gay marriage six months later. For the same reason, Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan, denied Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo a marriage license. The couples responded by suing the two county clerks and several state officials, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown. Although the couples initially sued public officials, the state declined to defend Proposition 8 in court; as a result, the official proponents of Proposition 8, ProtectMarriage.com, led by Dennis Hollingsworth, sought to intervene as defendants. The District Court allowed the official proponents to intervene, filling the position left

GLOBE

Demonstrators gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, as the court hears arguments on a part of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that prevents legally wed same-sex couples from receiving certain benefits by defining marriage as between a man and woman. (Olivier Douliery/ Abaca Press/MCT)

by the state’s acquiescence. When the Supreme Court decided to officially review the case on Dec. 7, 2012, they were taking the opportunity to consider whether a state can define marriage as a union strictly between a man and a woman. The Supreme Court’s decision will inevitably concern intense debates over familial life and societal structure, as well as religion and morality. From the District Court to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court, Hollingsworth argues that a state may define marriage as solely between a man and a woman because it is a “bedrock social institution” that “advances society’s vital interest in responsible procreation and childrearing. Conversely, Perry argues that gay men and women should have equal rights to marriage and that “responsible procreation is not the purpose of marriage.” “In California, there’s a robust domestic partnership law which basically gives same-sex couples in California all the rights and ben-

efits of marriage, but the voters of California said that could not be given the label of marriage,” Rosenbury said. “I don’t think that the Supreme Court is ready to dictate to the states what they have to do on this issue, so I predict that the Court will likely find some way to avoid the issue, and permit states to continue to decide whether or not to accept same-sex marriage.”

MOVING FORWARD As this debate continues to progress, vying for the attention of millions on cable news networks, it can be easy to forget the modest origins of this movement. It began with municipal courthouses, suburban neighborhoods, middle-class American couples and the phenomenon of human conviction. Missouri State Representative Stacey Newman, who represents the Clayton area, stressed the importance of getting involved with local politics, including the simple act of going to the polls on local election days. “You have to start right here in your backyard,” Newman said. “I mean, how many parents know who their state representatives are? A lot of people know about me because I do all of this campaigning, but there are still so many people who don’t know. You have an election coming up where you get to choose your congressman and your state rep. and, in 2014, your state senator. And these are people that could become governor, I mean, these are people you should know. These are the people who actually vote in the legislature.” Regardless of what you believe, it is important to have a voice says Newman. “You spend hours talking about this after school, in your classes and then the one power that you have you don’t use?” Newman asked. “Therefore, why care about this stuff? Use the power that you have.” The Supreme Court decisions regarding United States vs. Windsor and Hollingsworth vs. Perry are expected in late June.

Everyon opinion on w is connected

recogn THE PEOPLE In light of the gay marriage decision, the Globe reached out to members of our school community who identify themselves as LGBT. We want to tell the stories of the people whose everyday lives are affected by whether or not same-sex marriage is legalized in order to fully understand the impact and relevance of the issue. In Clayton, we are lucky enough to be in a community where people are willing to share their life experiences, and are protected by District policy if they choose to do so. Sharing these stories is necessary for all of us to become more educated citizens and voters. And, although a single voice may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, these people influence the manner in which we view ourselves. These stories of newfound identity and sexual orientation are not just personal and disconnected accounts of separate individuals: they are part of the bond that ties our community together.

COMING OUT One of the major choices confronting LGBT adolescents is whether to come out to their family and friends. Junior Adam Zoll described the process as more of an inner struggle. “I wanted to make sure I knew myself,” Zoll said. “You have to know yourself first, and then you can tell other people about yourself. Then you have to take into consideration your environment, and how other people will react to it. Coming out was more like a transition for me.” For Zoll, coming out was not a single, dramatic moment. “My family was fine with it, then I started coming out to more people, and one thing led to another and I was also fine with it.” Senior Hannah Bledsoe was similar to Zoll in that she never publicized her sexual orientation, and thus did not experience any kind of dramatic life change. “I think that it was a mostly positive experience. I haven’t really gotten any sig-

one has a different what marriage is, how it ed to love and whether it should be gnized by the law. nificant negative feedback. At the same time, I am not super loud about it. I feel like a lot of people don’t really know that I am gay and I think I have spent a lot of time focusing on other parts of myself more so than that,” Bledsoe said. “If I were more vocal about it I think maybe I would have gotten a little bit more backlash, but Clayton’s a fairly liberal community and all of the people that I interact with on a daily basis don’t really care and so it hasn’t really made that much of an impact in my life.” Bledsoe also experienced a period of confusion where she grappled with her new identity. “You sort of first figure out who you are and how that’s different than how you perceived yourself previously,” Bledsoe said. “That period of reconciling those things is really difficult and figuring out how this one part of yourself affects the rest of yourself.” Many knew that they were gay long before coming out, as in the case of CHS Theatre Manager David Blake. “I just knew there was something different about me,” Blake said. “I didn’t know what it was exactly that was different about me, but I knew that I was different and I knew I wasn’t like the other boys.” The transition process wasn’t as easy for Blake, who faced a lot of discrimination in his school. “That [identifying myself as gay] really came from guys starting to bully me and calling me gay. That’s when I was like, ‘“Oh, that’s what’s different about me.’ And that sucked, because it confirmed that there was something different, but that it wasn’t good.” In fact, coming out at Clayton is very different from coming out at most other American high schools. Journalism teacher Erin Castellano grew up in a small conservative town that wasn’t all that accepting of LGBT people. However, being in the younger, more liberal generation affected her experience in coming out. “It’s funny; my uncle who’s about 50-years-old came out to my grandparents after I came out to my parents. And my mom hadn’t told my

grandparents about me yet,” Castellano said. “I was gay and my grandma started to tell my mom, ‘Oh honey you don’t know how hard it is to have a gay kid.’” These members of our Clayton community made the choice to come out to their families, but there are many people who make the choice not to come out until later in their life, or choose not to come out at all. One student at CHS has made the decision not to come out just yet, at least for a couple more months. For privacy purposes, this student will be referred to as Jane. “I guess freshman year I really kind of accepted myself for who I was,” Jane said. “I decided not to come out at that point because I was scared. I was scared of the new me and I was scared of what people would think of me if they knew the truth.” Although this student made this personal choice, she expressed a sense of comfort and security, unique to the Clayton community. “I totally feel comfortable with CHS knowing that I’m gay. I feel like Clayton is a place where my sexual orientation doesn’t define me. I’m not gonna be known as the ‘gay kid,’” Jane said. “If people are gonna label me, there are lots of other categories I would fall under that would define me more than my sexual orientation does.” Whether to come out is a conflict that every gay person faces. In every case, there is one unyielding question: how will coming out affect their future lives and relationships?

RELATIONSHIPS & LIFE DECISIONS After coming out, relationships can change, and a lot of times, that is what people are afraid of. “Family opinions play a huge role. I’m pretty close to all of my family members,” Jane said. “And as hard as it is to keep such a huge part of my life a secret from them, I think it would be even harder to be totally estranged from them should they react badly.”

Junior Brianna Latham’s mother came out after she got married and had children. Because of her family background, she received a very negative reaction. “When my mom came out, my grandpa basically disowned her,” Latham said. “He wouldn’t talk to her at all for 10 years. Just recently he has become accepting of it, after he realized that she can’t to go back to being straight.” Blake had a more positive, but memorable experience of coming out to his mother. “I was excited about it and I wanted to tell her about it. She sat down on the floor and cried,” Blake said. “I just was like, ‘Mom, this is so good, it’s a huge weight off, I’m so happy. This is just the best time of my life so far.’ And she just stopped crying … [and] she just said, ‘I just always thought you’d be such a good father.’” Although Blake’s mother is accepting of his homosexuality, she, like many parents, was caught off guard. By the time a person comes out to their family, they have most likely made peace with themselves and who they are, often leaving family and friends overwhelmed and surprised. “Sometimes I think it’s harder for families and friends to come around than it is for the gay person,” Castellano said. “But you need to give those people a little bit of time to adjust too.” LGBT people must also decide whether or not to pursue a relationship once they have adjusted to their sexuality. A lot of times, coming to terms with their sexuality has a lot to do with having feelings for someone of the same sex. David Blake, who has a boyfriend, is definitely conscious of how they act together in public. ”It’s really hard for me to hold his hand in public depending on where we are,” Blake said. “I mean, if we are in the Central West End, not a problem. It’s all about geography, it’s all about where you are.” Adam Zoll pursued a relationship after he came out to a lot of his friends and family. However, his relationship did not come without complications. “It [dating guys] only feels different because its not really the norm. It feels totally natural to me,” Zoll said. “[My boyfriend] and I are always careful and conscious of how we act in public ... we just don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.” Castellano never allowed her sexuality to get in the way of what she wanted. She got married, had children and made it clear to her employers that she is gay. “When I was at Bayless High School, and when I came here, both times in the interview process I made it clear that I was gay,” Castellano said. “If they didn’t want me teaching there because I was gay then I didn’t want the job.” Along with having to be aware of social constructs, LGBT people face lots of stereotypes. Bledsoe refuses to let these stereotypes define her. “I got to the point where I realized I was ex-

actly the same person as I was before and just the people I wanted to date were different. I think getting to that point was hard, but once I got there I sort of realized ‘okay, I still like getting dressed up and wearing heels, and I don’t have to be really good at sports or conform to a lot of the stereotypes that I think people have when they don’t interact with gay people on a regular basis,’” Bledsoe said. “Once I sort of got past all that, I realized, I’m still exactly the same person I was before.”

GAY MARRIAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY The lives of our interviewees will be altered if same-sex marriage is legalized. Although she married in Boston in 2008, Castellano’s marriage is not recognized in her home state of Missouri , so she receives none of the benefits of being legally married. Art teacher Christina Vodicka is in the same position. She also wed her partner in 2008 in the state of California, right before Proposition 8 outlawed marriage in the state. “So while my partner and I weren’t consciously trying to make history,” Vodicka said, “we were certainly aware of the narrow window of opportunity.” Naturally, almost everyone who is LGBT has a generally positive sentiment towards legalizing gay marriage. But despite his sexuality, Zoll believes that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. “I think that people are people, and sexual orientation is just a label like race or gender.

It shouldn’t define you, just like it shouldn’t define marriage. If two people love each other they should be able to get married,” Zoll said. “I think everyone has their own opinion, and I’m not saying that anyone’s opinion is wrong.” There is clear religious and political opposition to gay marriage, and gay marriage is not yet part of the social norm. Despite his assurance in his sexuality, Blake expressed his own hesitation on the topic of gay marriage. “Even seeing same-sex couples getting married on TV in a courthouse, there’s still a part of me, and I think it’s part of most people, that thinks it’s a little strange because it’s not the norm. It’s still a thing. Seeing a bride and groom being photographed in Forest Park isn’t a thing. Two men being photographed there is still a thing. Eventually, gay marriage won’t feel like a thing anymore,” Blake said. Ultimately, Clayton High School is a safe haven for people of all opinions. Though still not officially “out,” Jane said, “Honestly I can’t think of a more accepting place for gays than Clayton. If same-sex marriage were made legal, I don’t know how much of a change there would be, but I think there would be a big show of support for it, and that means the world to me.” And this seems to be the general sentiment. If someone is confused, or struggling with their sexuality, there is one thing they can count on: Clayton is an accepting place for everyone. As Blake put it, “I have never known a school to be as open as this one ... I think that’s really exciting.” 

(Left) Theatre Manager David Blake and his boyfriend, Paul. (Below) Journalism Teacher Erin Castellano, her wife, Annie, and their two children, Julia and Tommy. (Photos from Blake and Castellano, respectively).

SPORTS

A PART OF HISTORY

In 1953, two Brooklyn Dodger stars visited Clayton High School. In more than half a century of CHS history, the visit has mostly been forgotten. Through a mix of primary sources, the Globe looks back on the historic day. by PETER BAUGH

T THE VISIT

Though he only visited one time and though it was 59 years ago, Carl Erskine still remembers Clayton High School. Erskine visited CHS in mid September, 1953 with his Dodger teammate Jackie Robinson, who broke the baseball color barrier in 1947. Erskine and Robinson presented for around 40 minutes to a CHS audience about various subjects, including race, the major social issue of the time. Following the presentation, the two Dodger stars mingled with the crowd of students for another half an hour. “I do remember being around a lot of students and answering a lot of questions,” Erskine said. “We were playing a night game that night with the Cardinals and so during the daytime we visited Clayton High School.” At the time of the Dodgers’ visit St. Louis was still a segregated city. CHS would not become integrated until the summer of 1954, Forest Park still had separate drinking fountains for each race and black baseball players had to stay at different hotels than their white teammates. Harriet Spilker, a CHS alumna from the graduating class of 1954, and two other CHS students were selected to moderate the panel that organized Robinson’s visit. They also trav-

eled to the African American hotel during the Dodger’s road trip to introduce themselves to Robinson and ask him questions. Spilker remembers the main message that Robinson gave at both the hotel and the high school. “I said, ‘Why are you willing to come to Clayton High?’ … and he said, ‘Well I want them to see that we are all alike,’” Spilker said. “And I thought that was interesting, and that was really what he stressed when he saw us.” In a 1953 article published in the St. Louis Argus, Robinson said he appreciated the three seniors coming to see him at the segregated hotel. While in St. Louis, Robinson commented about Spilker and the two other students, saying, “You’re the ones to take our places … You’ll be the leaders tomorrow …” Spilker went on to coordinate the OASIS program, a tutoring system, and has chaired the Clayton Connections Committee - which connects elderly citizens and CHS students - up until this year. As Robinson predicted, she became a leader in the St. Louis area. Spilker felt that visiting the hotel may have calmed some of the nerves Robinson could have felt before presenting to an allwhite school. “I think us going down and meeting him … made him comfortable, and … when we were with him, I had no reason down there [at the hotel] and at Clayton High to feel that he was not comfortable where he was,” she said.

“It was a part of history and I kind of like to be involved in things like that.” Harriet Spilker Class of 1954

When he was at CHS, which was then located on Maryland Avenue, Robinson talked in depth about the segregation that he experienced throughout his life, continuing to pass on the message that he gave Spilker at the hotel. Spilker remembers Robinson talking about the separation he felt. “He did say how hurtful it was,” Spilker said. “He thought it was harmful for the … club as a whole that he was so ostracized in some of these cities.” While at the school, Erskine remembers appreciating how nicely he and Robinson were welcomed. “I was pleased that at the high school in Clayton we were warmly received and [it was] a fun time and exciting time to be there with the students,” Erskine said. Spilker agrees, and feels that the students

Robinson and Erskine holding pictures of themselves. Courtesy of Carl Erskine.

were well prepared with their questions. “The kids were very receptive, there was no animosity,” she said. “He made an excellent presentation and the kids’ questions, you know Clayton High, they were good.” The visit at CHS left a lasting impact on Spilker, and she feels it was one of many steps in the Civil Rights Movement. “I thought that it was a step toward change, an important step … we wrote papers about it, we studied it, we talked about the injustice of him being separated,” she said. “It was a part of history and I like to be involved in things like that.”

IMPORTANT PEOPLE Because of the impact that Robinson left on her, Spilker still collects newspaper clippings and books about the Dodger Hall of Famer. She

remembers both the lessons of acceptance he taught her and his warm personality from when she met with him at the hotel and at CHS. “He would greet people and he would be very gracious, but he wasn’t an in-your-face type of person … he was a real gentleman,” Spilker said. The visit was made possible by Margaret Dagen, a CHS history teacher and Human Relations Club director. Dagen, who passed away in 2002, was a civil rights activist and a friend of Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodger’s general manager. Dagen contacted Rickey to set up the event, and the two Dodgers players visited during a road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals. AP World History teacher Donna Rogers-Beard feels that, along with Robinson and other influential African Americans, white civil rights activists should be recognized. “It’s so important to look at Branch Rickey and a Maggie Dagen … these are white people who saw their humanity,” Rogers-Beard said. “[T]hey didn’t see themselves in terms of race … and they have got to be celebrated.”

ROBINSON’S LEGACY As an African-American growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, Rogers-Beard remembers how Robinson was looked at as an exemplary person for her and her peers to emulate. “[T]here was nothing that anyone could criticize about Jackie Robinson … at school, Jackie Robinson was the model for how we were to behave. At home, Jackie Robinson was a model of how we were to behave,” Rogers-Beard said. “Jackie Robinson was a very important person.” Spilker agrees about his importance and has passed on lessons he taught her to younger generations. She feels Robinson’s calm demeanor and his ability to withhold from resorting to insults are examples that many young people can learn from. “I have five grandchildren, and I talk to them about it frequently … it’s not always easy to get where you want to, but you’ve got to persevere and you’ve got to work at it, you’ve got to be willing to follow the guidelines,” she said. Along with her grandchildren, Spilker has also talked to elementary school children about the lessons that can be learned from Robinson. Erskine feels Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier led the country to become a more accepting place. Erskine and his wife gave birth to a son, Jimmy, in 1960 who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Seeing his son grow up led Erskine to write the book “The Parallel” about Jimmy and Jackie Robinson. Erskine wrote the book to fundraise for the Indiana Special Olympics program, which Jimmy participates in. “I believe in my heart, that when my son Jimmy gets a gold medal in Special Olympics for swimming or track and field, when he gets a medal, that Jackie, my teammate, had something to do with it because of the momentum he started in breaking the color barrier,” Erskine said. “That caused people to become more sensitive, more inclusive, a whole society began to see people who are different in a different light.” 

(Cover Photo) Michael Hogue color illustration of Jackie Robinson. The Dallas Morning News 2004/ MCT Campus. Erskine and Robinson (bottom) talking with students after the presentation at Clayton High School. Courtesy of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Robinson celebrating with Erskine on the mound after a Dodger victory. Courtesy of Carl Erskine. Brooklyn Dodger logo from Wikimedia Commons.

31 29 31

UNIQUE PURSUITS

ommitment, patience and steady work ethics are not qualities that every teenager has mastered, but for senior Leslie Goodman, becoming a horseback rider meant mastering those traits and applying them in her everyday life. by EMMA EHLL, graphics by AUDREY PALMER Photos from CHS students. (Left to Right) Leslie Goodman, Katie Spear and Alex Gabliani.

SPORTS Goodman began riding six years ago and, although she initially started as a hobby, her love for the sport transformed her life. “When I first began riding it was completely recreational, and overtime it changed into a lifestyle,” Goodman said. “I am just ‘a little girl who fell in love with a horse and just never looked back.’” Her love is clear, given that she practices up to five times a week and will continue to ride in college. Goodman expressed her excitement for the sport. “I did not apply to a single school that did not have a riding team,” she said. “Next year I will most likely be riding Division III on a varsity hunter jumper team for Sewanee University.” Even before Goodman leaves to ride in college, her sport has proven to be a huge part of her life and school experience. “Even when I am not riding most of my other activities revolve around riding,” Goodman said. Goodman is one of many students at CHS that participate in unique pursuits that require them to venture beyond the norm and explore activities outside of the school’s offering– many times finding lifelong passions and rare skills. Freshmen Katie Spear’s love for ice-skating mirrors Goodman’s passion for riding. She too started about six years ago and practices between five and six hours a week. “Some practices are individual and others are for my synchronized team,” Spear said. “On-ice sessions are usually one to two and a half hours long but we also have different off ice practices to work on choreography and training.”

Her dedication to her sport has definitely paid off, having won many times in the six competitions she participates in annually and even receiving national recognition. “This year we got first place at a mid-America competition and fourth place at nationals,” Spear said. She, like Goodman, plans to continue her sport for several years in order to gain even more expertise. “I’m definitely going to try and skate for the rest of high school, and I might even continue it through college,” Spear said. Jumping straight into circus training from gymnastics and never missing a beat, describes senior Alex Gabliani’s childhood. She made the switch when she was about eight and quickly climbed the ranks, now performing in one of the most elite circus programs in the area. “I first got involved in the circus when I was eight-years-old and I was taking a summer camp,” Gabliani said. “The guy who ran the summer camp took me to the City Museum where Circus Harmony is located and I started taking classes there.” From there Gabliani used her background to her advantage and after a short time began performing. Although she started with Circus Harmony, today she works with a more elite branch, The St. Louis Arches.

“The Arches are more of daily sport,” Gabliani said. “We go in and practice anywhere for three to six days a week. The Arches are the highest level and they are the ones that do Circus Flora every single summer.”

“Goodman is one of many students at CHS that participate in sports that require them to venture beyond the norm and explore activities outside of the schools offering – many times finding lifelong passions and rare skills.”

As she has grown as a performer, she has found her niche in specific arts. “Each student gets to specialize,” Gabliani said. “I focus on aerial work and I do both static trapeze and swinging trapeze.” Whether flying through the air, marking up the ice or clearing a fence, the variety of extracurriculars that students participate in outside of school is not only a tribute to the unique interests of each and every student, but a testimony to the payoff stepping outside of one’s comfort zone can have. 

Panke with a number of his players. (Megan McCormick)

COACH PANKE THE ABSENCE OF FEAR

very day, Uncle Sam would hand him a 58,000-pound airplane loaded with 20,000 pounds of fuel and canisters of napalm that could fly twice the speed of sound. “Here kid, go kill yourself,” they would say, and with that, the venturesome Bob Panke, a high performance jet aircraft pilot, would valiantly begin his typical day in Vietnam. In 1943, Panke was born in Oklahoma and, throughout his childhood, he lived in over 20 states and attended three different high schools. “I had a strong sense of duty, honor and country. I hated losing, even at an early age, and played or engaged in every activity with the expressed purpose of winning,” Panke said. “I loved risk and disdained security. I soon learned that the bigger the risk the bigger the potential award.” From the age of eight, Panke’s dream was to fly the fastest airplane built by mankind. “I didn’t choose to go to the Air Force Academy,” Panke said. “I was destined to go.” Panke volunteered for three tours in the Vietnam War. He was involved in part of 1967, 1968 and a portion of 1969. “Try for one minute, if you can, to reconcile the absolute irony of loving to drop napalm and

by REBECCA POLINSKY

bombs on things and then refusing to think what might have happened as a result of those actions,” Panke said. “It was indeed a fantasy and you were caught in it like a character on the movie screen, so when you came home you simply stepped out of the screen, onto the stage, down the aisle and out the front door of the movie theatre ... nothing on the screen is real so nothing you did in Vietnam was real either.” Although Panke’s ultimate dream of flying had come true, the irrationality and horrors of combat were present throughout his experiences. Before the age of 26, he had buried his classmate. He saw his roommate lying in a hospital bed in the Cam Rahn Bay Intensive Care Unit with burns over 85 percent of his body. “He looked like a hotdog cooking on the BBQ grill,” Panke said. However, the war did not change Panke’s every day life or negatively impact his character. “After the war I was exactly the same person I was when I went to war with one exception,” Panke said. “I no longer trusted my employer, the United States Government. I also no longer trusted the President of the United States, no matter who he was, and to this day I hold all elected officials in high disdain.”

Since 1955, Panke has had experience with the game of lacrosse. He played in high school and was captain of the team at the Air Force Academy. He now coaches the Clayton High School JV girls’ lacrosse team. “I’m not teaching these girls to be all-American lacrosse players. We are teaching them about the unending, relentless, day to day pursuit of excellence,” Panke said. The JV team currently has the highest record the team has ever had, and Panke feels that his wartime experience has influenced the way he coaches the team. “I want to emphasize to these girls to not be afraid to compete in whatever environment that they choose through the rest of their life,” Panke said. “I hope that they become so dedicated that they lead lives of service and purpose not only for themselves, but for their country.” The absence of fear has shaped the man Coach Panke is today – witty, charming and extraordinarily articulate. “War was the absurd and the sublime all mixed together. It was great joy followed by overwhelming grief,” Panke said. “After it was all said and done I would do it again in a minute.” 

ATHLETE PROFILE

by STEVEN ZOU

LILY KANEFIELD I t was down to the last minute in the second half of the girls’ lacrosse game. The Greyhounds were tied. Senior Lily Kanefield went for a ground ball, raced toward the opposing goal, took a shot in the final second. The game was won. This is typical of the hard work and dedication that Kanefield puts into each lacrosse match. Her effort is what led Kanefield to be named a co-captain of the team along with seniors Marin Garavalia and Rosie Kopman. Kanefield started playing lacrosse her freshman year. She switched from soccer because she felt that lacrosse was a faster and more enjoyable sport. Head coach Darby Hogan feels that Kanefield’s skills have improved tremendously over the years “Her stick skill has definitely improved,” Hogan said. “She always had the speed but she keeps getting a little faster and faster. Also, her shot is just very intimidating for a goalie. So it’s good that we can start off the game by scaring the opposing goalie.” Kanefield is not only an excellent shooter, but also has a tremendous work ethic during practice. “Probably her only weakness is that she does not know when she is tired because she pushes herself beyond her limit every time,” Hogan said.

One of the best moments for Kanefield during this season was scoring two goals in 30 seconds right after coming back in from a yellow card during a game against Rockwood Summit. With over 40 players in the girls lacrosse program this year, Kanefield has made sure that everyone feels at home and encourages others to do their best. “I want to get all the players excited about lacrosse,” Kanefield said. “I have always been excited for the lacrosse season and I have been trying to work with everyone to get the team in a motivated mind set and have a desire to be on the field all the time.” Fellow varsity player Maddie Mills, a junior, appreciates Kanefield’s positive impact on and off the field. “She leads the team by keeping up a positive attitude and constantly encouraging us to work hard,” Mills said. “She works very hard to pump up the team before games, and makes sure the intensity is kept up throughout the game.” Even when the Hounds are down, Kanefield steps up and keeps the team focused. “If she sees we are down, she tries to pump up the team,” Hogan said. “Or she will get the ball into the net on her own to get everyone’s spirits up.” With many veteran players returning to the team, Kanefield has high hopes for the team this season.

SPORTS

“I am hoping that the team has an improved record from last year,” Kanefield said. “We are a much faster and more skilled team this year. I just hope that everyone knows that we can achieve something special this year.” With this season being Kanefield’s last, she hopes that the legacy of the team and the sport of lacrosse are passed on for generations at Clayton. “I hope that the juniors and underclassmen will keep Clayton lacrosse spirited and popular,” Kanefield said. “We are known as a very clean and energetic team so I hope that that legacy is kept up and that everyone just continues to love the sport.” 

“I just hope that everyone knows that we can achieve something special this year.”

Kanefield charges down Gay Field in a game against Parkway Central (Charlie Katzman)

BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL by PETER BAUGH

> Christina DiFelice: Field Hockey, Rhodes College Christina DiFelice had a tough choice to make when she decided to attend Rhodes College: would she play field hockey or soccer? Ultimately, DiFelice chose field hockey because of the Rhodes coach, who made her feel welcome and wanted by the team. From her first visit, DiFelice was able to picture herself at Rhodes due to its friendly atmosphere and the balance between studies and athletics. Though she is excited about playing sports at the next level, DiFelice is going to miss many things about the Clayton athletic program and is grateful for what it has given her. “I’m definitely going to miss the coaches that I’ve had because I know I would not be the same player or person today that I was four years ago when I first started playing Clayton sports,” DiFelice said. “I am definitely going to miss the coaching for sure, and all the teammates I met along the way, of course. It will be hard to say goodbye to all of that.”

> Addison Joseph: Basketball, Drake University

Addison Joseph did not emerge as one of the Greyhound’s top players until his junior year and was not a full time starter until his senior season. However, with hard work and dedication, Joseph has blossomed into an exceptional basketball player, earning first team All Conference honors and finishing second in the area in three point field goals. With encouragement from his coaches, Joseph decided to play basketball in college. He plans to walk on with Drake University, a Division One school that also has strong academics. In college, Joseph looks forward to having a team of friends as he did at Clayton. “I love being on a team, I like the sense of having that kind of family,” Joseph said. “They [teammates] are all guys that you can go to for help.”

> Tyler Walker: Football, Lindenwood University

Every time Tyler Walker touches the football, there is a chance that he will score. Walker led the Suburban East Conference in touchdowns, scoring 27 for the Clayton district champion team in 2012. Walker was an athletic standout in basketball as well, earning the All Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. Since the end of his freshman football season, Walker knew he wanted to play football in college. His goal was achieved this spring when he signed to play football with Lindenwood University. Walker feels that spending time with his teammates was the best part of his football experience at Clayton. “It’s just a great group of guys that I love spending so much time around, putting so much effort in for …” Walker said. “[T]he relationships I had with my teammates is a thing that will last forever.”

> Carly Cassity: Tennis, University of Arizona

Carly Cassity has placed at the state tennis competition in three of her four high school seasons. Cassity earned first team All-Metro honors, one of only four Clayton athletes to do so in the fall sports season. When thinking back on her tennis career at Clayton, one memory stands out in Cassity’s mind. “This year me and my younger sister, Connor, and Caroline Greenberg all made it to state … it was cool this year because I made it to the state championships in singles, and Connor and Caroline made it to state championships in doubles and we were on the two courts next to each other,” Cassity said. After looking at many schools, Cassity decided to attend University of Arizona for their facilities and the team members, who she said were very kind when she visited.  Photos courtesy of Globe archives, Cassity photo courtesy of Carly Cassity

REVIEW

TAYLOR SWIFT Her silhouette stood perfectly centered against the fire truck red draped curtain. The music hadn’t even started yet, but all you could hear were the energized screams of thousands of fans, eagerly waiting to see one of the most famous pop stars on the planet—Taylor Swift. The “Red” tour is the third concert tour by Swift. Tickets for 14 stadiums sold out within minutes of going on sale. St. Louis was Swift’s second stop on the tour; she performed two nights, March 18th and 19th. She sang most of her songs off of her newest album, “Red,” but she also sang some old songs, like “You Belong with Me,” “Love Story,” and “Mean.” Ed Sheeran, an up-and-coming English singer, opened the show. He and Swift later sang their duet, “Everything has Changed,” as well. Swift’s vocals sounded stronger and had more range than she’s had in the past. She’s been criticized for her live vocals before, but there was not much to disapprove of in this show. Swift was exuberant and thankful for the entirety of the concert, making it an enjoyable performance for the fans. Swift is known for the high tech, impressive

BY NINA MUROV    

Taylor Swift performs in South Carolina. (Jeff Blake/The State/MCT) stage sets that go along with her performance. She did not disappoint this time around. Not only did she perform on both ends of the Scottrade Center, but she also stood on a micro-mini stage that floated around the arena, so all of her fans could feel what it was like to be 20 ft. away from Taylor Swift. The last song of the show, “We Are Never

Ever Getting Back Together,” was filled with confetti dropping from the ceiling, the color red (everywhere) and the loud, booming voices of the fans singing along to every word of the hit single. It was a great finale that left St. Louis Taylor Swift devotees wishing the show could never end. 

JIMMY’S ON THE PARK On a cool spring night on DeMun, a warm hand outside of Jimmy’s on the Park was there to greet me and lead me to my table. The atmosphere after sitting down was outstanding, since the room temperature was just right with the fire blazing in the fireplace to complement the wooden floors. Water poured from a glass bottle helped set the scene. Once I was done admiring the atmosphere,

I found thin breadsticks with cheese on them waiting to be devoured. They were truly addicting and were a nice precursor to my meal. Jimmy’s has a variety of options, from salad to seafood to steak. I selected a full dinner salad, which was quite filling. Between the time the salad was ordered and delivered, I was too busy consuming slices

BY RICHARD SIMON    

of bread in olive oil to notice time passing by. While enjoying my salad, I happened to notice a server bringing various parties brownies with sparklers in them, to celebrate birthdays. Considering this added bonus, plus the hospitality from the servers, I fully recommend Jimmy’s to anyone who wants to go to a restaurant that is formal while at the same time still classy and affordable. 

Photo by Patrick Butler

Photo by Alexis Schwartz

Z PIZZA Z Pizza has created and is fulfilling its one simple goal: the pure pizza revolution. The brand-new Z Pizza restaurant, located on the corner of Wydown Boulevard and Westwood Drive, exceeds expectations. You walk in thinking you’re going to have your basic pepperoni, and walk out with a blown mind because you never knew how good pears and Gorgonzola cheese could taste on pizza. The largest gourmet pizza franchise in the world that features fresh, organic ingredients, Z Pizza has found a way to make eating pizza guilt-free. They are uniquely healthy, providing the customer with countless possibilities such as whole wheat crust, vegan dishes and glutenfree options as well.

     BY JEFFREY FRIEDMAN

Plus, they offer a nice variety of tasty pastas, salads and sandwiches. They strive to use as many natural ingredients as possible. Although the Clayton location is very small, there is seating available outside and one always has the option of carry out and delivery. And the cool thing is that the Clayton location is the first Z Pizza in all of Missouri. To put this in perspective, the franchise has locations in 17 other states, as well as in the Middle East and Vietnam. For how unbelievably convenient this restaurant is, how friendly the people are and how excessively delicious the food is, it would be silly to not check it out. What else could you ask for in a restaurant? 

(Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

“GENTLEMAN” On April 13, 2013, PSY, the South Korean mastermind behind Gangnam Style, released a new single titled “Gentleman.” The song debuted on the Billboard Charts at 12 and its ranking continues to rise. PSY said in a recent interview that he was frustrated when Gangnam Style was second on the Billboard Charts but never got to number one. He said that if Youtube views had been included in the formula that the Billboard Charts use to determine hits, then Gangnam Style would’ve gotten first on the charts. Since then, Youtube views have been includ-

ed as a means to calculate hits. PSY hopes that “Gentleman,” will, with the help of the views, top the charts. But even if this particular song does not prove to be as popular as Gangnam Style, it shows doubters that he is not a one hit wonder. The song, like his former song, is an electronic-pop song that has catchy beats and a very eccentric--but funny--music video. The music video shows PSY acting rude towards kids and adults alike; it shows him kicking a soccer ball away from a group of kids and pressing all of the buttons in an elevator, just to annoy the person

   BY JULIE KIM

in the elevator. In past music videos, PSY pokes fun at people who act like what they are not. But as opposed to him making fun of those who try to act classy, which is what he did in “Gangnam Style”, PSY focuses on a slightly different theme. In “Gentleman,” PSY pokes fun at those who act refined on the outside, but are actually the opposite of that on the inside. PSY’s future in the music industry is looking bright. Whether or not this most recent song’s popularity will surpass “Gangnam Style,” only time will tell. 

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MARRIAGE IS MORE THAN LOVE

n this article, I will outline several arguments against the establishment of same-sex marriage. This is a tender and emotional topic that involves people’s lives, children and relationships. However, it is my goal for people to try to consider the long-term consequences of legalizing gay marriage. First, I want you to reflect on the origins of civil marriage. Governments became involved in the “marriage business” because a man and woman produce something no other relationship can — children. These children will be our future doctors, lawyers, CEOs and presidents. A civil marriage makes couples legally bound, so they have more of an incentive to support their children. James Q. Wilson, a famous sociologist and political scientist, summarized the importance of marriage by saying, “[Traditional] marriage is a socially arranged solution for the problem of getting people to stay together and care for children that the mere desire for children, and the sex that makes children possible, does not

solve.” Heterosexual marriage is unique, because it is a multi-faceted relationship that distinctively and inherently includes the procreation and protection of children. As I walk through the halls of CHS I see countless posters that quote Jay-Z’s, Ben Affleck’s and George Clooney’s views on legalizing same-sex marriage. I have read and studied these posters and how they portray “love,” and how nothing should get in the way of a person’s desire to get married. Indeed, love can be found in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Yet when we use only “love” to characterize a marriage, we debase marriage and reduce its original meaning to nothing but an emotional bond. This redefinition of marriage sends a subtle message that marriage now only depends on how long this emotional bond lasts. A recent study in the New York Times displayed how an emotional bond, or “love,” often does not hold together a relationship’s sexual

exclusivity and faithfulness. “With straight people, it’s called affairs or cheating,” said Colleen Hoff, the study’s main investigator, “but with [male] gay people it does not have such negative connotations.” Obviously, there are unhealthy heterosexual marriages, in which spouses have sexual partners outside of their marriage. Yet a heterosexual marriage with unfaithful partners is called a dysfunctional marriage. One famous gay activist Dan Savage has even acknowledged that allowing same-sex marriage to pass would change the boundaries of marriage. Additionally, Savage even encourages this societal change and says that spouses of heterosexual or homosexual relationships need to have “a more flexible attitude” towards partners’ sex life. I acknowledge that Savage does not represent the beliefs of all gays and lesbians, but his prominence in the gay community demonstrates that this is not a completely unacknowledged idea. If heterosexual married and unmarried couples adopted this same “flexible attitude,” would not more children be conceived in less stable relationships? If children see their parents’ and mentors’ “flexible attitude” toward sex, wouldn’t teen pregnancy increase? Would this “flexible attitude” keep fathers supporting their families, even if it is now acceptable for men to have numerous uncommitted sex partners? If we adopt a “flexible attitude” toward sexual exclusivity, fatherlessness will increase and there will be serious consequences. “[Fatherlessness] is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sexual abuse to domestic violence against women,” founder and President of Institute for American Values David Blankenhorn said. Furthermore, while talking about the importance of fathers in general, President Barack Obama said, “We know the statistics—that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and twenty times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home, or become teenage parents themselves. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.” Indeed, legalizing same-sex marriage will belittle the role of the father in a marriage—decreasing the health and longevity of marriages. Robert Rector who was one of the major designers of the 1996 federal welfare reform act discovered that traditional marriage lowers the probability of child poverty by 82 percent. In addition, a study conducted by the Brookings Institution found that $229 billion in welfare expenditures between 1970 and 1996 was due to the breakdown of the marriage culture. This study displayed even more how the break-

down of marriage increased adolescent pregnancy, poverty, crime, more drug abuse and increased health problems. Robert George who is a professor at Princeton University as well as a visiting professor at Harvard University summarized the consequences of redefining marriage by saying, “When marriage breaks down, the family breaks down. When sexual anarchy replaces what was once a flourishing marriage culture, all sectors rich and poor suffer. Do you know who suffers the most? It is the poor. It is the most vulnerable. They are the ones who cannot buy themselves out of the material consequences of family breakdown, sexual anarchy, and fatherlessness.” This breakdown of marriage culture by redefinition will increase the United States’ social problems. Lastly, Newsweek reported in 2009 that there were more than 500,000 polyamorous relationships (relationships with more than two partners) within the US. Therefore, if marriage is reduced to being solely an emotional bond, it very possible that the next step in the marriage debate could be the legalization of polyamorous relationships. Furthermore, in a document titled “Beyond Same-Sex Marriage,” 300 LGBT leaders, scholars and activists asked for the marriage rights of polyamorous relationships. It is important for me to say that I am not anti-gay or anti-lesbian. I do not pass judgment on gays or lesbians. I acknowledge that people can biologically have strong emotional attachments to people of the same sex. Yet, I do believe that simply having an emotional bond does not deserve the title of marriage — as marriage is more than just that. I am in support of certain civil unions (as the term “civil union” has different definitions in different states). The civil union that I support allows partners to have certain rights like visitation rights in a hospital — as does not everyone deserve to visit with their loved ones? For those of you that still think that I am anti-gay, I have several beloved members of my extended family who are openly gay. Several are politically active, and all are likewise against legalizing same-sex marriage. I doubt that this article changed any of your beliefs, yet I do hope that every American attempts to actually understand the other side’s point of view. I believe in protection of the most vulnerable of society, namely the children and the poor. We must not allow our emotion to override logic and past experiences that point to many unintended social consequences if we legalize same-sex marriage. 

- PETER SHUMWAY

COMMENTARY

STAFF ED

’m a student, a baseball player, I write something almost every day and I think about life more than I ever thought I would. Some of these things I can control, and others I have no control over. While I choose to spend a lot of my free time playing baseball, I think without thinking about it, which I know is common. People tend to see things from a small picture perspective. For example, in a Physics class some students may get so bogged down on little details such as memorizing unit prefixes and manipulating energy equations that they never completely understand the overall idea of energy. Much like we are often distracted by the minuscule, unimportant details of everyday things, we naturally focus on being successful and enjoying ourselves during each individual episode of our lives instead of taking a step back and observing where we will likely end up in the future. Often the most successful people are the ones who see life in a big picture way. These people periodically check in with themselves and ask themselves overarching questions: If I made a list of the titles I could go by today, would I need to change anything? Do I live my life building up relationships or breaking them down? Would I want everyone, including myself, to remember me for the way I acted today? That being said, be brave by controlling the things over which you have control and shed no worry on the things you cannot change. Think about where your life will likely end up if you keep the same rituals which you have at the moment. Change can be something as simple as remembering to brush your teeth twice a day, or something as complicated as doing

your math homework in an exact manner. Give thought frequently to what you want to see yourself doing as an adult. In the words of Steve Jobs, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Don’t be intimidated if you have no idea what you want your career to be. There are infinite possibilities waiting in the future, and you will find an excellent one. Just remember to let your true passions take over. No matter who wants you to take a job that you aren’t interested in, how much better another job pays, how convenient another job’s hours are, or what type of image a certain job provides, you simply won’t be happy unless you spend the majority of your life doing something which you absolutely love. It may seem as though school and other things that require dedication in life are pointless. That there is no tangible reason to strain yourself at this point in your life. But I have no doubt that every ounce of struggle you put in now will pay you back tenfold later in life. Right now we are all on very similar paths. We attend Clayton High School every day, learning about similar concepts and skills that will help train our brains to operate in the real world. But sooner or later, our shared path is going to split into an endless number of paths. I’m not here to tell you what to do with your life, and I’m not here to tell you how you should go about doing it. But in the words of our 16th president Abraham Lincoln, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” 

Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times/MCT

SAY NO TO GUN CONTROL

[CON]

With the issue of gun control gaining attention, one CHS student explains his perspective

uns have always been a part of my life. Ever since I was old enough to hold a rifle, I have been busting up old soda cans or scaring the local game in the woods behind my grandpa’s farm house. I never really thought twice about the right to keep and bear arms. It was always simple to me. We had guns, and I could shoot them – they were safe as long as I was safe with them. When I would be in Clayton I never really heard anybody talk about guns except for the occasional parent scolding their child for pretending to shoot someone, or telling a screaming 10-year-old that they can’t buy the latest X-Box game because it has guns in it. Perhaps in the city, guns get a bad rep from drug-related shootings or from the rare and horrible public shootings. Here, all we see is the bad side of guns – we never get to see that the majority of Americans legally buy their guns and carry out safe and legal activities with them. It is true that guns are meant to kill. There is no way around it, but when people use this as an excuse to ban them, they are missing an important piece of information. In a recent survey almost 2.6 million Americans called themselves active hunters. Most people use guns to kill animals for sport or for food. The point is that guns can and almost are

always used legally and for hunting or target purposes. When one crazy person decides to go into a room full of children and murder them at pointblank range, it causes an emotional reaction to limit the access to guns. Although these killings are often carried out with guns, it is not the guns that are responsible. If all guns were banned, or if background checks and magazine limits were enforced, gun control would likely reduce the number of public shootings, but it would not stop the killing from happening. As shown by the recent horrific bombing attack at the Boston Marathon, people who are determined will always find a way to kill, with or without guns. Weapons can always be made no matter which laws are passed or enforced. The real problem lies in America’s failure to realize that the problem rests on the people committing the crimes with the guns and not the guns themselves. If more money were put into detecting and treating mental illness or having armed guards at public places such as schools then the mortality rate would most likely go down, and our nation’s wounds would heal and everyone would live in peace. 

- NEIL DOCHERTY

[PRO]

[ Sophie Allen (Con) vs. Audrey Holds (Pro) ]

tumblr. Many people use social media sites to express their emotions, but is this really the best outlet?

] S

itting at your desk, behind the shield that is your computer screen, you feel like you can say anything. Tumblr is one of the most popular websites being used as an outlet for people to vent their excitement, frustration, happiness and sadness in a community of other online “followers” who feel similarly emotional. Though it is a great platform for blogging about popular boybands and the most recent gossip running through the rumor mill, there’s another much darker side of the Tumblr site. Occasionally mixed in with the rainbows and butterflies of the majority of Tumblr users posts, there lie the depressing and often suicidal blogs. Users don’t shy away from graphic images of drug use, self-inflicted wounds or plans to end their lives. And the worst part? They’re getting support for these ideas. Although it may seem as though the Internet is full of “friends” who understand you and are willing to help you no matter what, that’s not always the case. The i-SAFE foundation surveyed over 1,500 students in the 20032004 school year, and the results concerning cyber-bullying were scary. According to the surveys, over half of the teens online have been cyberbullied, which is around to the number of people who have bullied others online.

] J

ust a warning to those who want to join Tumblr, you’ll get addicted,” sophomore Ellen Wooten says. Over recent years, Tumblr has attracted millions of users, including many students from CHS. Wooten blogs for at least two hours a day, but she is not the only one who spends hours scrolling down her dashboard. Tumblr is a social media website unlike Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites. As Wooten says, “there’s no connection to the people you meet there unless you want to make one. So if someone sees your post they aren’t going to come find you.” The privacy and anonymous identity on Tumblr leads to more self expression in many cases. Some people begin to emotionally invest themselves online, something that is becoming more and more common in today’s technological world. The question that comes to mind is, why do people feel safe venting on Tumblr?

Imagine just how much those numbers have changed since 2004. Technology has advanced so much, and the Internet has gotten much less safe. The more emotions you share with the people following you on Tumblr, the more vulnerable you are to their responses. Sarcasm can’t be detected in the typed word. Even the difference between excitement and anger isn’t clear all of the time. The online cutters and drug addicts are also a confusing phenomenon. Though it’s highly likely that these people are actually doing what they say they’re doing, that doesn’t make them experts. People who feel similarly to you online can never replace a therapist. It’s much safer to vent about your problems to someone you know in real life. You’ve met them. You’ve had a real conversation, no textmessage-sarcasm to be found. You know how they really feel about you, and you know that their intentions are definitely to help, not hurt. Your Tumblr followers, on the other hand, may not be people you’ve met in real life. They may not even be the people you think you know online. Tumblr profiles don’t always tell the truth. It’s not safe to assume that the people you’re talking to on the Internet are who they say they are. You’re having real emotions, so share them with real people. The feelings you share with people in your life help to establish relationships built on support and encouragement, which are much healthier than relationships built on “gif”s and rants. 

Sophomore Linda Kim thinks she knows why blogging is so attractive. “Sometimes I think it’s easier for other people to know how you’re feeling online, rather than verbally,” she said. “When you’re face-to-face with someone, it’s kind of awkward. You know when you tell people something and you’re afraid they’ll tell other people, well, you don’t have to feel that way on Tumblr. Teenagers keep a lot of stuff inside so when they go on Tumblr it’s a way to get it out.” The sense of community amongst Tumblr users is surprisingly strong. Many people who don’t get support in the world around them can turn to Tumblr for help. Sophomore Alaina Curran agrees, “a lot of people on there might feel the same way so on Tumblr you have people who can message you and help you. It can be comforting to know other people might feel the same way.” 

Graphic by Audrey Palmer

AGLEE OR DISAGLEE? by CLAIRE LISKER When Brittney S. Pears, the dumb, blonde, cheerleader of Fox’s “Glee,” warned the rest of the show choir “New Directions” that an asteroid would be hitting the Earth, neither the students on the show nor the show’s viewers at home predicted that that week’s episode “Shooting Star” would be based on a school shooting. Perhaps it was ominous that this episode was aired five days before the bombing in Boston but it was not surprising that witnesses of Newtown’s December shooting were not the only ones to protest Glee that week. Glee has always been surrounded by controversies about what it promotes socially. But does it break down societal issues or reinforce them? “Glee” is based on a show choir of students from every type of high school clique and identity. Most students are associated with a stereotype; the cheerleaders are blonde and dumb, the African American is a diva, the theatre geeks are gay, the Jewish girl has a big nose, the football players are, well, “players,” and it goes on from there. What they all have in common is a passion for singing and a “loser” status in the eyes of the rest of the school which mainly expresses its sabotage by drenching them in slushies and calling them names. The show is about these in-

teractions, the development of the show choir group, and other problems commonly faced in high school. These problems are presented along with dancing and singing—music of every genre— luring many viewers into a drama when they really want a musical, or in other cases, attracting viewers that fast-forward through the song numbers since they want a soap opera. For the former audience, usually of a younger age than of the latter, the show can be problematic. Senior Lindsey Berman was watching Glee with her parents and her 11-year-old sister during an episode where every couple had sex. “That was a little shocking, a little uncomfortable,” Berman said. Many kids that are too young to comprehend the seriousness of the show are being exposed to it. The result is a misguided child, or one with many unanswered questions. Berman said, “One kid I babysat asked me what ‘transgender’ is. The kid was only five and I thought he should be having that conversation with his parents.” For many Gleeks, the show is positive because it can prompt conversations between parents and their children. Seeing TV stars struggling with problems that the watchers can relate to may motivate them to accept their curiosities or emotions and seek a solution as well.

But according to Junior Megan Nierman, the show has failed to illustrate a realistic image. “I think that Glee trivializes the issues that teenagers face because they don’t give enough time to explain them or their long-lasting significance.” Many issues are covered in a single episode and not mentioned again. For example, one episode is about a car crash caused by texting and driving. A few episodes later, the character appears in a wheelchair but not much is mentioned about the incident. Before long, she is dancing on her feet again and receiving an acceptance letter to Yale University. By exposing hardly any obstacles to the character’s happiness or success and simplifying the incident, the show lowers its stakes and implies that consequences to such a mistake are paid only with time, and not with emotional or physical scars. Unfortunately, the disapproval of the show has had a cyclical effect. A risky plot attracts attention. Conversely, the lack of one lowers ratings, pressuring producers to make the show more engaging. “It definitely did not start like that,” Berman said. “Problems used to be ‘I like two boys’ or ‘I want to be prom queen.’” The problems exposed have gradually esca-

mer

COMMENTARY mentation to domestic violence, bulimia and gun violence. In the earlier seasons of the show, the school counselor would give students specialized pamphlets with simple step-by-step solutions for any problem. Clearly, the show was satirizing the idea that every obstacle can be easily overcome. Now, in Season four, Emma has virtually disappeared from the show, along with a focus on the solution to problems. While Gleeks are singing along to the songs or laughing at the ridiculous things that the characters say, it is very hard for them to be critical and judge what the show might actually be mocking society for. “I think the show does a great job of showing that you’re supposed to accept people,” Berman said. “But I think the show can go a little over

the top and actually make more stereotypes. By making five main characters gay, it reinforces the stereotype that if you are in theatre, you are gay. This is not true.” The show certainly suggests that one should be accepting of everyone, regardless of background, disability or sexual orientation. But when most Gleeks are back in a social setting, not much has changed. “Maybe it’s because we go to an accepting school in which no one would ever bully someone for being gay,” Berman said. “But I have definitely experienced people saying names jokingly. People could get offended.” Fortunately, the disappointed Glee fans have been as blunt as the show, voicing their complaints through the media. The directors of “Glee” have been quick to respond and make

changes. On a recent episode called “Lights Out,” two characters reveal that they experienced sexual assault as children. At the end of the episode, the two characters reappear to address the viewers, displaying the National Sexual Assault Hotline and urging victims of sexual violence to disclose their situation. Hopefully this episode will serve as the prototype for a “Glee” message that will combine the acceptance of issues and their solutions with a balance of comedy, musical and drama in order to successfully satisfy its various audiences. Most importantly, society should continue its progress toward acceptance and a decrease in violence. 

What to Do This Summer By Claire Lisker and Sierra Hieronymus

Refreshing From the Heat

- Aquaport

- Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags - Raging Rivers - Ted Drew’s Ice Cream - Serendipity Ice Cream - Tropical Moose Shaved Ice

Not To Miss - Shakespeare Festival (May 24- June 16) - Taste of Clayton (June 2) - Tchaikovsky and Ravel (June 8) -Grub and Groove (June 22) Lonely Hearts Club Band, SLSO (June 28) -Pridefest (June 30) -Festival of Nations (August 24-25) -Festival of Nations (August 24-25) -Fair St. Louis (July 4, 6, 7) -45th Anniversary Celebration of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, SLCO (June 28)

Night Outside the Bubble

- Central West End - Soulard - Westport Plaza - Historic St. Charles

Adventure Adrenaline

Tourist Temptation

Museum

- Biking on Katy Trail - Boat Ride - Rock Climbing at Upper Limits

- The Arch - Forest park - St. Louis Zoo - Citygarden and sculpture park - Botanical Gardens - Muny Shows - St. Louis Symphony Orchestra - Night at Busch Stadium

- Planetarium - Science Center - City Museum - St. Louis Art Museum

your words Maalik Shakoor, a current junior at CHS, had the lead role in a Missouri Lottery commercial this year. He filmed the role of “Mike” over winter break, and the commercial aired in April. The Globe interviewed him about his experience with auditioning for and shooting the commercial.

What was the audition process like? Photo courtesy of Maalik Shakoor

Q&A

Globe reporter Christopher Sleckman interviewed Maalik Shakoor about his Missouri Lottery commercial, “Maggie” How did you first hear about the audition?

I first heard about the audition while I was in a play at Villa. The director of the play, Susie Wall, thought I did a really good job in the play “Almost Maid,” so Ms. Wall told me about the audition and got me in contact with a casting agent named Jonie Tacket who asked me to come audition.

Why did you decide to audition?

My thought process behind auditioning was, “Why not?” If I don’t get the job then, “Oh well” and if I do then that is a cool highlight in my life.

The audition process was like landing on a new planet for me – my mom didn’t tell me when my audition was until the day of. We took two photos of me off of Facebook and used them as my headshots. When I walked into the audition room I felt out of place. I thought that there was no way I’m getting this job. But when I was called I still performed my lines as best I could, however I felt I didn’t do well enough and I thought I wasn’t going to get a callback.

How much competition was there at the audition?

There was a lot of competition and casting all over the state, and when I got my callback the director told me I was the only person from St. Louis who they wanted to call back for the lead role of Mike.

How long did it take you to shoot the commercial?

It took 12 hours to shoot a 30 second commercial.

Did you get paid or receive any lottery tickets?

I did get paid but the experience was so fun I would have done it for free. The pay was just a nice bonus.

Why have you not previously done acting at Clayton High School and

do you plan on participating in the Drama Guild next year?

I haven’t done acting previously at CHS because I felt like I would never get along with the drama kids, only because I don’t have that type of personality. Also, I did not think I would enjoy acting as much as I did. My friend Tori Liggins had to beg me to do the play at Villa, but I did it to keep the play from being canceled and I really enjoyed it. I do plan on joining the CHS Drama Guild after my experience.

Do you enjoy the attention you get or would you rather people leave you alone?

To be honest the attention I’m receiving is enjoyable. It feels good when people congratulate you for doing something well.

What was your favorite part of the whole process?

My favorite part of the process was riding up to Kansas City with my uncle and grandfather. They talked to me about staying humble and keeping a level head.

Do you have any advice to other people who wish to find jobs in acting?

Don’t take my job! Just kidding. Just try your absolute best and keep your head up even if you don’t get the part you wanted. 

* Ad was paid for by good samaritan parent, all images from wikimedia commons/public domain