THE
MIRROR
De Smet Jesuit High School
SENIOR EDITION Volume 47 Number 4 / April 2017 De Smet Jesuit High School/ 233 N. New Ballas Rd. / St. Louis, MO 63141
2 THE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MIRROR
Contents Opinions
Sports
4 / Let ‘em have it
19 / Courage and Composure
Who really benefits from an increased minimum wage may be surprising.
5 / One step back for two steps forward
is a
4 / Opinions 7 / News 10 / In-Depth
21 / The magic of the hats
Taking a gap year can play a key role in boosting students’ performance in college and onward.
Ultimate frisbee team explains their superstition on a quest for their 10th straight state title.
News
Entertainment
7 / One Away
22 / Best BBQ in STL
Theatre department comes one point away from advancing to finals in one act competition
Check out some of the best barbecue in the St. Louis area.
8 “
14 / Feature 18 / Sports 22 / Entertainment
Sophomore Dylan Radke talks history between the pipes.
“I was afraid that I wouldn’t love my own child.”
- Bill Kowalski, One Classroom at a time, Page 10
Are you on social media? 17 / The end of an Era
18 /Greatest of All-time
We are
After 34 years on the job, the Dean of Students is ready to hang up his coat.
Lifetime activities teacher uses taxidermy head to motivate his students to give their all.
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Table of Contents
To say goodbye, this year’s staff decided to dedicate the final issue as a tribute to our seniors. A lot of our content is aimed to revolve around or interest seniors preparing to hit the road for college. On our cover, made possible by the various photographers over the last four years, was our way of capturing the memory of the last few years. The staff has wanted to put it together ever since we were inspired by the Pearl Jam 20 cover earlier this year. Hopefully, the senior will appreciate what we have included for them. In addition to our senior double truck, we wanted to take one last shot at telling the seniors’ stories. Regardless, I think the content of this issue will be enough to distract the seniors from studying for their exams. As a senior, this is my last issue. Thge staff has been through thick and thin this year, and I am proud to say that we went above and beyond and managed to exceed all expectations. I would like to give a big thanks to our friends of The Mirror. When I pitched where we wanted to take The Mirror at the beginning of this year, they were the one’s to believe in us. Thanks to them, this year’s staff exceeded all expectations. From day one, my goal has been to set the stage for the years to come for our publications. Well, the stage is set.
-Brendan Johnson, Editor-in-Chief
Our Mission The goals of The Mirror, as De Smet Jesuit’s official student newspaper, are to provide accurate information in the spirit of responsible journalism, to entertain and to offer a forum for the ideas of students, parents, graduates, faculty and administrators. By-lined commentaries represent the opinions of their writers; they do not necessarily express the views of the administration, faculty, student body or The Mirror staff and its adviser. Editorials without bylines represent the opinions of the editors and the staff. At least a three-fourths majority of the staff is needed for an article to be considered an opinion of the paper. The Mirror welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be limited to 500 words and should be submitted to the publications office in Room 212 or emailed to desmetpress@ gmail.com. All letters must be signed, but names will be withheld upon request. page design by Alex Kramer
STAFF
THE
Letter from the Editor’s desk
3
Kevin Berns / Adviser Brendan Johnson / Editor-in-Chief Drew Brown / Managing Editor Alex Kramer /Sports Editor Patrick McHugh / Entertainment Editor Jacob Young / Social Media Editor Mario Ghazal / Staff Writer Nick Einig / Staff Writer Chris Bateman / Staff Writer Grant Stegman / Staff Writer Alex Cleveland / Staff Writer Dalton Hahn / Staff Writer Darian Sandoz / Artist Matthew Hillmer / Artist
Friends of The Mirror Editor ($25) Andrew Rivituso ‘02 Editor-in-Chief ($50) Henry Pfeil ‘01 Joe Jennings ‘88 Mike McManus ‘90 Publisher ($100+) James Ortbals ‘94 Mark Jansen John Goessling ‘71 Kurt Jones ‘78 Bill Dulle ‘84 Gregory Pohlman ‘78
Jason Fank ‘01 Michael Mahoney ‘97 Michael Jett ‘00 Henry Autrey ‘71 Michael Wiseman
Become
a friend of The Mirror Contact desmetpress@gmail.com desmetmirror.com
4
Opinions
Let
‘EM
HAVE IT
Who really benefits from an increased minimum wage may be surprising
by Alex Kramer, Sports Editor
I
art by Brendan Johnson
desmetmirror.com
n 2018, the minimum wage in St. Louis will be $11, with the rest of Missouri remaining at $7.70. Ultimately, the new law will benefit the people who go to college and into the professional workforce. The twist: it will also push down those who are at the bottom and were not motivated to do so even further. The new wage could be good for any young person pursuing a college education and young people with a degree already. Since minimum wage working people without college degrees will be making more money, a lot of them will not be trying to go college, get an education and go into the professional world to support their families. Therefore, young people coming out of college with a degree will be more desirable since there will be less of them. There will be fewer people in the professional workforce, making it easier for college graduates to get jobs. The majority of college prep students are pursuing higher education and are more motivated to go beyond the minimum requirements and more likely to go on to compete in the professional workforce. In turn, the less educated will stay at the bottom, leaving less competition in the workforce for people with college degrees.
People believe that a raise in wages will cause companies to look for ways to replace labor since the costs. For example, places like fast food restaurants could resort to kiosk-type ordering, as opposed to an employee taking someone’s order. A change like that could get rid of three to four employees in a given day. Contrary to that, Amazon, for example, has already added 15,000 robots for labor, regardless of the change of the minimum wage. Companies are going to find ways to replace labor regardless since technology is a fast moving industry. Those that are happy with making minimum wage will only realize that they screwed up when they are hurting down the road. The problem with a higher minimum wage is that competition will increase, therefore making it harder for people to get jobs. Yet, competition is also a very good thing. More competition means more productivity within the workforce. So, people that are willing to compete enough to keep their job, they will be happy living on a humble $11 an hour. In the end, a higher minimum wage will be ineffective, making getting ahead easier for people going into the professional workforce and holding a job harder for those at the bottom.
page design by Brendan Johnson
5
Opinions
One step back for two steps forward
cartoon by Darian Sandoz
Taking a gap year can play a key role in boosting students’ performance in college and onward by Mario Ghazal, Staff Writer Most students leave high school and either start the beginning of their lives in the real-world workforce or immediately head off to a university. A smaller selection of students chooses a third option: a gap year. A gap year is a deferred period of time granted by a college after a student is accepted. They can range from three months to a year or even longer. They give students time to explore the world and themselves, personally and professionally. Students should seriously consider taking a gap year. A gap year gives students time to step back from the constant busywork of turning in essays from four different classes all at once and discover what they actually want to do with the lot that they have been given in life. This time off gives students the opportunity to go out into the world and experience other cultures, do volunteer work or start an internship. Regardless of whether or not graduating high schoolers intend to use their gap year as a real experience, working with gap year programs still provides students with real-world experience to help them realize what they want to achieve in their college careers. Students who take gap years often report growing in their understanding of themselves and the world, and the development of their communication skills. Over 90% of students that took a gap year surveyed in a study by the American Gap Association (ACA) reported desmetmirror.com
a multitude of benefits: development in their communication skills and their ability to communicate with people of other cultures, an increase in maturity and self-confidence and allowed them time to reflect and develop as a person. This boost in maturity and direction often yields physical results that persist throughout a student’s college career. The study found that at Middlebury College and the University of North Carolina, students who took a gap year almost always performed over the Questions to average academically, consider before often to a statistically taking a gap significant degree. year The added time from a gap year helps For more students to mature information and develop some well on the study thought out goals in their upcoming college and professional careers. While this feeling isn’t measurable, a study found that 60% of students who took a gap year reported that their experience had a direct effect on either confirming or changing their majors. Students who take a gap year will find their experiences invaluable for their success in college. Upcoming graduates should apply for their college before going on their trip, and defer the start of their freshman year in order to make time for their trip.
LETTER TO THE
EDITOR Let me first say that I am impressed with the work you all do at The Mirror. It has come quite a long way in presentation and professionalism since I attended De Smet some 30 years ago. The article you all wrote regarding Drowsy Driving was impactful, well written, and important. This was something I shared with my three teenage children and it was something that hits home. My profession is gathering evidence used in court proceedings all over the country. Not a day goes by that we do not see the tragic impact distracted driving has on lives whether it be from drowsy driving, texting, or drinking. We see lives lost that are full of potential, as well as families impacted forever by one bad decision behind the wheel, and the article did a very good job of pointing this out. The graphics that accompanied the article were spot on, and eye opening. I would encourage you to re-run this article before you all head off for summer break. It is a good reminder to your fellow classmates that automobiles can be dangerous behind the wheel of a distracted driver. The other thing I may add is this: Each and every student of De Smet is attending that school because a parent or loved one cares deeply for them, it is not an easy thing to do for the student, as it is a challenging academic environment, as well as the parent(s), as it is a commitment of upwards of $50,000+ in cost per child. Modern technology can help save lives when it comes to this. As a teenager, it may seem “weird” to ask but as a parent, I can say nothing is more important than the lives of our children. Ask your parents to set you up with Lyft or Uber on your phone. If you need a ride for whatever reason, call a ride. Your parents can set it up on your phone and it would bill directly to the parent’s credit card. The life of a child is far more important than a $40 ride home for you all or your friends. Asking is a sign of maturity, it is the smart thing to do. The article was very good, spot on. Great job to you and your team. Joe Jennings Class of ‘88 Alumni Board Member
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Opinions
6 STAFF EDITORIAL
STATE
OF THE
SCHOOL
The Mirror staff addresses the highs, lows of this year The administration made great strides last year in overhauling the image, strategy and game plan of the school. The 2016-2017 school year was a chance to develop alongside those new changes. By fostering a community that encourages students to go above and beyond and try new things, the school has developed a student body with a myriad of diverse interests and talents. The mission to urge students to become better versions of themselves is on the right path and must be continued in the years to come. And, with this year being the end of an era with the retirement of the Dean of Students, it is time to reform the disciplinary code. The school is on the right path but should take steps to ensure that their students are getting the most out of their high school experience. School spirit losing luster With the school’s encouragement and resources, a number of clubs, organizations, and teams went above and beyond this year. They worked hard to provide fun activities and events for students to attend. It seems, however, that in recent years the school spirit has lost its luster. That’s a problem because it is that same school spirit that unites the student body and promotes true brotherhood. There were a few memorable moments this year, like the student section at the soccer and football games. Those moments not only encourage students to love and take pride in their school but also the people in it. With the administration pushing to build character, respect, and diversity among students, school spirit should be a focus. So, school spirit is in need of an overhaul. As a result, students will have more of a reason to go on and tell their kids about the brotherhood that they built in high school. Developing well-rounded students De Smet is identifying weaknesses in the areas of students’ character that they feel need improvement and offering ways to guide them. One of their strategies to do so was developmental videos, which often included inspiring desmetmirror.com
and thought to provoke messages that could have done right by the students. There was only one problem: the faculty and teachers who were in the rooms with the students watching the videos were not trained to make sure students got the most out of the advisory. There ought to have been a faculty development day where the teachers watched the video together, talked about it then planned how to properly address issues with the students and have conversations to follow the videos.Teachers are not counselors; they do not know how to properly work with students in those situations. According to some students, their teacher not only allowed but also encouraged, that behavior. If teachers are given the chance to understand why the messages in the videos are important and how they can help promote them, the videos will be more effective. Speakers fell short as well. Again, the messages were in the right place. The issues were very real issues, but in most cases, the speakers did not make an impact. Students respect good speakers. Jeff Yalden was a perfect example. He was not only a good speaker but also respected where the students were, he spoke naturally, went off script and was sincere. Those are the qualities of a good speaker that the school should look for when they bring someone in. So, bottom line, Yalden worked, the others didn’t. If it takes more money to bring in speakers like him, so be it. Quality is better than quantity. Delivering on promises The new idea to develop a new, more modern, library stood at the forefront of innovation this year. So much so that parents and teachers cannot wait to see it in place next year. It was a good idea for the administration to incorporate the select students’ perspectives in its development as well. It’s that kind of real contribution that not only makes the students feel like they have a voice in what goes on here but also ensures that their needs are being met. The administration made a big deal about creating the new space,
but in doing so they ought to be ready to follow through. If they are able to pull off creating the library, that would be a major new addition to the school that everyone could benefit from. If not, however, they will tarnish the trust they have built with this student body. Not following through will show that these great ideas are just ideas, but nothing to be taken seriously. The bottom line is, when it comes to the school’s greatest innovation this year, the administration needs to follow through on their commitment. The need for discipline Lastly, the school now has the opportunity to commit to a feet-to-the-fire disciplinary code with the retirement of Dean of Students Mike Dressler. In order for the school to prepare students for the real world, where there are also expectations, they should be held to a by the book code of conduct in high school, the time where they are most developing. That code needs to be properly enforced, firm and consistent. Reforming the disciplinary system takes buy-in from the faculty. Before the start of next school year, the administration should meet with teachers and clearly lay out school rules. If sweatshirt, untucked shirts and being late to class are against the rules, then every teacher should enforce that without exception. It is difficult to enforce the rules if teachers are picking and choosing which ones students have to follow. Faculty members who are lenient are doing their students a disservice by teaching them that the rules can be bent. Having a stricter code of conduct will prepare students to follow the rules anywhere, whether that be at college, the company they work for, or society in general. Overall, the 2016-2017 school year was a step in the right direction. The administration should continue to take steps to ensure that their students are going out into the world wellrounded and well-prepared. page design by Jacob Young
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News
A legacy of
Love
by Nick Einig, Staff Writer
One Away
Robert (John Cary) and Jeff (Luis Mejia Ahrens) look out at the final shot of their movie.
photo by Drew Brown
Theatre department comes one point away from advanacing to finals in one act competition
by Patrick Mchugh, Entertainment Editor
T
he De Smet One Act cast competed in the state competitions April 21, finishing one point away from qualifying for the finals. Seniors Luis Mejia, Danny Cogan, Michael Tran and John Cary all performed the one act “Hidden in This Picture” by Aaron Sorkin. “I feel like we were one of the best acted one acts in the competition,” Mejia said. “[Theatre director Kurt Knoedelseder] really prepared us well and we knew that, since we didn’t have intricate sets and big costumes, we had to nail the acting category.” The cast was able to advance to state after placing first at districts March 4. Knoedelseder was a judge himself for these competitions for ten years . “Our focus was on the acting,” Knoedelseder said. “It was about playing to the strengths of the actors by doing comedy which is something we do well. Of the 16 schools that were competing we were one of three to do comedy.” In addition to acting, judges graded performances onscript choice, style, stage composition, movement, costumes, tempo,
desmetmirror.com
rhythm and set. “Our one act didn’t need a big set or extravagant costumes,” Mejia said. “We knew that points were going to be taken off for set, but Knoedelseder knew what to play to and what the judges wanted.” Despite receiving highest scores in the acting category, the cast was one point away from qualifying to the final round when points from all the criteria were tallied. “It’s frustrating that we were so close,” Knoedelseder said, “but, it’s more about the learning experience and what the actors gained from it.” Despite not making it to the final four, Mejia and the rest of the cast still held their heads high. “We were not upset by it,” Meijia said. “I think the fact that we were one point away from qualifying, up against other schools with huge sets and it shows our theater program is ready to get us to the next level. It was a really rewarding experience and a great way to end my theater career at De Smet.”
Director of personal and academic counseling Donna Noonan, known and loved by the students as “doctor mom”, will be leaving after 15 years of practice. Her husband’s job took him to Florida last August, but Noonan decided she wanted to finish out one more year before she left to join him. Noonan has gotten out of bed each morning to go to work, ready to see the faces that she knows and loves right back. “I see so much potential in every single person, I love watching people going down the halls and laughing and joking because that reenergizes me,” Noonan said. “I love the games, the plays, the sporting events. I love all of it, the students are totally what fulfill me everyday.” Guided by her motherly intuition, Noonan, along with the rest of the counseling staff, has spent her time at the school helping the students academically, emotionally and spiritually. “It’s hard because the students don’t see the potential that I see, in all ways,” Noonan said. “As a mom, my heart bleeds for kids who don’t see their self-worth and give up on themselves.” And she has spent her career trying to build them up, just like her own kids, because to Noonan, the students are family. “That’s the beauty of this place, it’s the relationships,” Noonan said. “I am so blessed that God has given me five children, but I really feel like he has given me thousands more.”
page design by Jacob Young
8
News
is a by Mario Ghazal, Staff Writer
desmetmirror.com
page design by Brendan Johnson
9
News
The latest advancement in chaotic classroom learning has a method to its madness
S
houting erupts in the classroom and can be heard all the way down the hall. There is hollering, cheering, jeering and all manner of noise for almost the entire class period. You might think that the students had just won the Olympics. But in fact, they’re making use of the latest online teaching tool known as Kahoot. Kahoot is a new, experimental teaching tool for teachers to add a whole new studying dynamic into their classrooms. Many teachers have adopted this tool, including psychology teacher Joshua Klein. “When I saw [Kahoot] for the first time, I was very pleased,” Klein said. “I was impressed with how it lights up a classroom. There’s an excitement that you start to see when Kahoot shows up on the screen.” How it works Adored by most students and infamous among the staff for the chatter it creates in the classroom, Kahoot adds a kind of interaction that - through technology and competition - humanizes the lecture style classroom. “A tool like this is important in a world where we are getting more concerned about how people interact. Because of how technology is so prevalent, we want to continue the human interaction.” Klein said. “Kahoot is a bridge for people to interact on a technological level, where even though we’re using computers, we are still turning and facing each other.” Learning on a whole new level Kahoot creates a competitive environment to studying. Unlike the usual competitive aspects of education where students take a test and compare their scores at the end - it provides a scoreboard for the top five students after every question. Every student can compare themselves to the top students to see how they are doing every step of the way, as they strive to get onto the list themselves. “What Kahoot does that a flashcard technique doesn’t is the competition,” Klein said. “High school boys thrive on competition. Whether it’s athletic or academic, I think that when you throw in a certain level of competition, it creates a desire to study, a desire to learn.” It’s not all just about the competition, either, as it can help students pinpoint what they need to learn.
page design by Brendan Johnson
“[Kahoot] can tell you if and when more review is necessary,” freshman Harrison Evers said. “After a game or two, you remember the questions that you got wrong, so you know what area you need to go back and look over again.” A win for both parties One of Kahoot’s strongest points is how it shows a teacher what his or her students don’t understand, bringing an end to an entire class of students staring at their test without any idea of how to complete it. “What Kahoot gives [the students] is instant feedback,” Klein said. “Kahoot tells you if the answer is right, and it also tells you if the answer is wrong. When a whole class of students answers a question, you know right away if they’ve learned the material, or if they haven’t. Kahoot can bring a massive amount of data for teachers to work with as well and can improve the academic performance of a class. “I did not use Kahoot at the beginning of this semester, and I noticed that test scores were not how I liked them,” Klein said,“so I tried to use Kahoot with, in some cases, 45+ questions that would help them understand the material more. I noticed a general improvement not just in the scores but in the mood of the classroom after a test.” Kahoot provides information for both students and teachers for the subject they are studying. The quizzes provide instant feedback to both students and teachers, pinpointing exactly what material that a class as a whole might need to spend more time on. “If a majority of students get an answer wrong, that’s a big signal to the teacher saying, ‘we need to stop and try learning this material again,’” Klein said. “Prior to Kahoot, a teacher might just assume that if he or she has spoken it to their class, the students have absorbed it. It’s not always the case.” Get started Kahoot can be a new way that teachers can inspire interest in their students. Just go to getkahoot.com to make a quiz or find one for your subject online. “Teaching is an apprehensive job. You can never be one-hundred percent certain how a high school student is going to behave or react,” Klein said. “Take a risk, try something new. You might surprise yourself.”
WHAT
is your favorite part about
Kahoot?
“You’re actively engaging in an activity where you can show off if you’re a lot better than others. It’s pretty hard to top that in a normal classroom HAYDEN ECKESTEIN, SOPHOMORE setting.” Nickname: Pike Mence “It’s fun to yell about something that is educational. It’s a win-win, the teachers and students both get what JACK COMBS, SOPHOMORE they want. “ Nickname: Rarepepes “The nicknames are the best part. They add an entertainment aspect to the game, so it’s like being in school without being in JOSHUA REANY, JUNIOR school.” Nickname: Fabio “I’ve never been more excited to review. During a test most, I can tell Kahoot works when I can remember those color coated answers for questions.”
JACOBE BLAKEMORE, FRESHMAN
Nickname: Lil Kodak desmetmirror.com
10
News
photo courtesy of Bill Kawolski
Anna Kawolski is one of the many children that could benefit from the One Classroom’s mission of inclusive education.
One
Classroom at a time Theology teacher aims to begin inclusive education program to integrate students with special needs desmetmirror.com
by Brendan Johnson, Editor-in-Chief Anna Kowalski loves to sing, dance and cook. She would give the world to be able to wear a princess dress to school, and her parents, Bill and Sarah, would do the same to make sure that school is Catholic. But because Anna has down syndrome, that’s easier said than done. The One Classroom program may be the Kowalski’s beacon of hope for a Catholic education. Whether the program itself has a future at Catholic high schools is still to be determined, but theology teacher Kevin Poelker is hoping to begin making dreams into realities for families like the Kowalski’s, starting with De Smet. “For a lot of these families, there’s no place to go,” Poelker said. “Especially at a school [like De Smet] that is for and with others, I think that’s a need we should be trying to meet.” But at one point, the only dream that the Kowalski’s had was to have a sister for their son, Joseph. So, for five grueling years, Bill went with his wife Sarah, who suffered from infertility, to an In Vitro Fertilization specialist to make that possible. For five grueling
years, time after time, they cried in that specialist’s office after their eggs didn’t take. But after five grueling years, one finally did. “It was like a miracle,” Bill Kowalski said. “After all that time, just after all hope seemed lost, we were floating on cloud nine.” 12 weeks later, however, the Kowalski’s went in for their ultrasound, where they were told that their miracle would have down syndrome. And just like that, the Kowalski’s were knocked from cloud nine to rock bottom. “I was afraid that I wouldn’t love my own child,” Kowalski said. “Then I met her. When she was born, just looking down on her, all I saw was this beautiful baby; my baby. That was it.” What Kowalski wanted most for his little princess still seemed far from reach; that is: a Catholic education. “I came to feel like my child would be a burden to the Catholic system,” Kowalski said, “but giving that education to her was so important to me. I would much rather have a Catholic education than a perfect page design by Brendan Johnson
News education. The Catholic part of it can’t be replaced.” When the time for school came around for Anna, the Kowalski’s dream was just that, a dream. So, instead of going to school at her family’s parish as the Kowalski’s had hoped, Anna attended Henry Elementary School. It was not until later that the Kowalski’s encountered what would be their shining armor, at least for grade school. An email from Tony and LeAnne Armitage told them about One Classroom, a non-profit organization that helps Catholic schools welcome children with special needs and develop an institutional capability for them. The Armitages co-founded the organization with Fred Brown Sr. They have mainly targeted grade schools. High schools in St.Louis, however, have yet to enter the picture as options for boys and girls like Anna. “According to our Catechism, parents are responsible for choosing the educational pathway for their children,” Armitage said, “and it’s the responsibility of the pastors, teacher and institutions to make that possible.” The Armitage’s son, Christopher, also suffers from down syndrome. He had help from special programs early on, but, like the Kowalski’s, the Armitage’s wanted the best for their child. So, when they discovered inclusive learning classrooms around the country, they set out to fill a void and bring the model to St. Louis. “Initially I could not imagine how my son could be successful in that kind of environment, until I began to understand how inclusion works and what the goal really is for my son.” That goal is not to meet some arbitrary standard, rather to maximize special needs students’ potential. Inclusive education benefits both the student with special needs and the normally developing student both, regardless of whether they are a boy or girl; in grade school or high school. A 2012 study by Hehir and colleagues cited that students with disabilities who spent a larger proportion of their school day with their non-disabled peers performed significantly better on measures of language and mathematics than students with similar disabilities who spent a smaller proportion of their school day with their non-disabled peers. “In segregated environments, the only model they have to follow is that of other students with special needs,” Armitage said. “If you put them in a typically developing environment, though, they will model children they are typically developing. That’s the way that I would want for my son.” Special needs students are not the only ones who stand to benefit from inclusive education. In 2007, researchers from the desmetmirror.com
11 University of Manchester analyzed a variety of studies on inclusive education from several different regions, including the United States, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Eighty one percent of those studies indicated that nondisabled students either experienced no effects (58 percent of studies) or experienced positive effects (23 percent of studies) on their academic development as a result of being educated alongside students with disabilities. “In that environment, [nondisabled] students will begin to develop genuine relationships and collaboration skills with their peers,” Armitage said. “In addition to that, teachers will become more adaptable and ultimately better at meeting all of the students’ needs.” Thanks to One Classroom, the Kowalski’s will finally get their wish. Anna will attend Incarnate Word next year along with three other special needs children. “If I could ask one thing in this world, this is it,” Kowalski said. “It means that much to me. When I see her wearing the skirt come August, I’m going to be a mess.” Anna represents the larger demographic of children that could benefit from inclusive education. According to theinclusivechurch. com, one in 691 children are born with down syndrome, while one in 31 boys are diagnosed with Autism. Those are the two of the many types of children with disabilities who the One Classroom program aids. And those are the type of students that Poelker is hoping to start a conversation about. “Knowing that [De Smet] is trying to bring up issues of diversity and sexuality, I think we are becoming more cognisant of the language we use and the atmosphere we build,” Poelker said. “This could become another component of having a broader notion of inclusion.” The idea is on a distant horizon. Poelker hopes that Incarnate Word, which is also his parish and is about to begin its first year with One Classroom, will set a precedent. “For a lot of these families like the Kowalski’s, it took a lot of time and energy to get to this point,” Poelker said. “The hope is that they can turn into advocates to speak to how effective the program can be.” Poelker plans to collaborate with One Classroom to bring inclusive education to the school. In doing so, he will help the program pave a path for special needs students to continue their Catholic education at the high school level. “With programs like these in our schools, we will be able to get a greater understanding of and relationship to all members of our communities,” Poelker said. “Hopefully, in doing that, we can give Anna, and all boys and girls like her a happily ever after.”
photo courtesy of Bill Kowalski Bill and Sarah Kawloski, along with their children Joseph and Anna.
photo by Brendan Johnson Theology teaching Kevin Poelker plans to collaborate with One Classroom to bring inclusive education to the school. page design by Brendan Johnson
Intended field
Class of 2017,
L
ook at where we are. Look at where we started. It seems like it was just last week that we all met for the first time during Odyssey Days. Now, it’s hard to believe that our time here is dwindling to close. During our time here at the Palace on Ballas, we've had our triumphs and failures. We’ve laughed and we’ve cried. But more importantly, we’ve learned and we’ve grown. Both as human beings and students. We've had memorable moments that are core to our experience that we dare never forget. Whether that may be singing Sweet Caroline arm in arm at the top of our lungs, sitting in class with the Bandwidth Bandit, watching Lochner and Valleroy throw shade at each other onstage, or sharing our life during Kairos. These are the stories that will remind us of the brotherhood to which we belong. What makes the Class of 2017 unique is that it is filled with so many talented and diverse people. Artistically, athletically, and academically. Our skills and gifts span across a wide array, proven by the success of so many clubs and organizations at De Smet. Many of which are led by members of our very own Class. Take our robotics team for example, who had a very thrilling and victorious season competing at the FIRST Robotics Competition! And how about our theatre department? Who performed not one, but two emotionally riveting performances this year! (Not to mention being the first to take a One-Act to compete at State) And of course, let’s not forget about our sports teams! There are so many to name, but each performed exceptionally well! Whatever it may be; be it a robotics competition, or theatre performance, or sporting event. Our varied gifts show the true extent of our abilities and potential that we have a class. Brothers, it has been both an honor and a blessing to serve as your Student Body President. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know so many of you and listen to your individual stories. When I look at our class, one word comes to mind: limitless. Each of you are all limitless in your talents, skills, abilities, and potential. We all come from different backgrounds and I believe that God put us all here together for a reason. That reason being is that we may establish friendships and foundations that will last a lifetime all while growing our faith. When you were just a freshman, could you have imagined the friendships and experiences you’ve had now? As you look forward to the future and go to pursue your passions; may you never forget where you came from and to whom you belong. Go on and set the world on fire… Ad Majoriam Dei Gloriam!
-Michael Tran
Starting the college search 13.9% 19.4% 16.7% 11.1% 22.2% 16.7% 5% 70 seniors polled
10%
Across the
Country 16 different states 19 still undecided 59% staying in state 52 different universities Based on decisions of 187 seniors
THEIR
FAVORITE TEACHERS
Dan Likos, Math
r, Kevin Poelke y g Theolo
Jim Bu
g, Math
Jeff Wendlin
rshek S
.J., The
ology
page design by Drew Brown
16 14
Feature
Jonathan Nelson
Chris Cody
by Alex Kramer, Sports Editor
by Brendan Johnson, Editor-in-chief
E
veryone has their own pastime. Some play sports, some play video games. Senior Jonathan Nelson enjoys playing Magic. Magic: The Gathering is a card based game that two or more players can play. The game focuses on playing and building a strong deck through trading in order to win more cards. “It’s an interesting strategy game that let’s you interact with all of your friends and I think it’s just fun all around,” Nelson said. “My favorite part of Magic is the atmosphere it creates where everyone is having fun and are very open.” In order to beat the best, Nelson explains that a player has to master the two main aspects of the game: building the perfect deck and playing that deck skillfully. “You are good at magic if you
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can build good decks and play well,” Nelson said. “You can be good in deck building but still be bad at actually playing the deck and then vice versa.” In the end, he ultimately uses his favorite strategy game as a way to spend more time with his friends. Nelson and his friends play every day in homeroom, activity period, and study hall. Magic is also their go-to conversation topic. “If you are in a community of people that know enough stuff about Magic, you have something to talk about.” ” Nelson said. “It’s one of my favorite things to do with my friends because it is a fun activity that usually takes a convenient amount of time without the need of too many other materials other than cards. Making it a great pastime.”
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or senior Chris Cody, it is easy to step into Narnia. His Narnia, however, is inspired by bagels, donuts and a bit of dyslexia. For years, Cody has been crafting characters, stories and landscapes on pieces of paper, but in the blink of an eye, his fantasy world can become a reality. He and his cousin Andrew Ferkale began working on a graphic novel, Shadow Manipulator. The story and its characters, however, are all by-products of Cody’s “pure imagination” that has been five years in the making. Cody’s eighth grade class always looked forward to bagel and donut day. Everyone would sit together, talking and eating their pastries, but Cody would keep his distance from them. Since he had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease, he felt like he had no other choice. He looked to his imagination and a scrap of paper at first to keep him company. “It was lonely at times,” Cody said.
“But that’s where I was able to begin the drawing and storytelling that I carried on for years later.” After diving into creating new characters, Cody found that it was easy for him to immerse himself in a world of his own with a blink of the eye. He could watch his characters come to life right in front of him. Cody looks at it as his unique way of seeing the world and a perk of his dyslexia. “That’s probably why I have a better imagination,” Cody said. “Most people might see dyslexia as a pure disability, but I prefer to look at it as something that has pushed me forward with my ideas.” And those ideas are what drove his graphic novel. Though he prefers to keep those ideas a secret for now, Cody hopes to get published within the next year so all that can change. But no matter where his ideas take him, they will always trace back to that one scrap of paper that Cody began with, reading in big letters at the top: Shadow Manipulator.
page design by Drew Brown
16 Feature
15 Feature
Rafael Da Costa
David Braun
by Drew Brown, Managing Editor
by Patrick McHugh, Entertainment Editor
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I
alling down to his knees, the audience blurs out, and the silence takes over. He is in the moment, only praying. All the years of rehearsals, late nights, and friendships culminated in his final play as the role of Jesus Christ in Godspell. “It put me in his shoes for a second,” senior Rafael DaCosta said, “and I was flooded with this rush of emotion.” He has not always been in the spotlight. In fact, in his first ever audition, DaCosta did not get casted. After not getting a part, he avoided the theatre all together. Now that theatre had been ruled out, DaCosta tried to get involved through other clubs, singing at mass and joining the tennis team. DaCosta enjoyed all these new activities but still felt like he was missing something. At the end of sophomore year, Visitation one act play auditions were coming up and after a lot of convincing, he
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reluctantly tried out. He had gotten a part and, after only a few rehearsals, DaCosta was starting to fall in love and think, “I might be getting a knack for this.” It all came together for him on show night as the judges handed him the award for best actor. “It was a big lift from not getting a part freshman year to me getting this award,” DaCosta said. “It proved to myself that I could do this.” With this confidence, DaCosta auditioned for every play possible back at school. Slowly working his way up from the one acts to a background character, then to one of the main roles while gaining friends, skills and experience along the way. In the final play, he got the lead role as Jesus. Everything came together in the final night and as DaCosta was getting nailed to the cross, the cast was crying real tears knowing it was the last time all those seniors would be on stage together.
t is hard to play sports when a person can only use one arm. Having a rare brain hemorrhage that limits basic motor skills is even harder. Senior David Braun knows the feeling. It is why he turned to creating music. When he is able to do that, he feels like he is a master of his own destiny. “I have full creative freedom,” Braun said. “I write the rules and don’t have to listen to anybody tell me what to do a certain way.” Braun did not always plan to make music, though. He played baseball during grade school, despite his disability. “It was tough and I nearly quit a couple times because I didn’t get hits a lot, I struck out all the time,” Braun said. “I let my fear get the better of me.” Braun knew that he would not be able to play baseball in high school. Inspired by the music he listened to at home, he turned to creating his own.
Now, he creates electronic music through his computer, where he lays down different kinds of beats and rhythms. He has released three songs on his Soundcloud account and plans to release an Extended Play Album (EP) before the end of the year. Creating music has not always come easy for Braun, as he struggles with the idea of letting the whole world judge his productions. “It’s scary sometimes because you’re taking every thought you’ve had in your head and projecting it into a microphone,” Braun said. “Then you’re putting it out for the whole world to hear.” What keeps him going is the thought of connecting with those who both struggle and are inspired the same way his is. “I want to be able to tell my story to help other people get through their struggles.” Braun said. “I feel people will be able to relate to what I do, and that’s why I make music.”
page design by Drew Brown
16
Feature
Tony Luebbert
Tyrell Mosley
by Patrick McHugh, Entertainment Editor
by Drew Brown, Managing Editor
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H
o senior Tony Lubbert, singing and dancing in front of hundreds of people is very nerve-racking. Having to worry about stuttering the lines does not help either. Despite being the vice president of the student body and having a lead role in the musical “Spamalot,” Luebbert stutters, something that he has struggled with since his childhood. “In grade school it was more of a problem,” Luebbert said. “It scared me and I thought that I would stutter my whole life, so it affected what I did freshmen year.” Luebbert thought that he would only play lacrosse at De Smet, but other opportunities arose that put him outside his usual comfort zone. “Trying out for the musical opened up a brand new world for me,” Luebbert said. “I realized that my friends won’t treat me differently. In fact, I made new friends. I wanted to get the most out of De Smet. I figured,
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for example, why can’t I be a STUGO guy or a theatre guy?” However Lubbert still thinks about his struggles with his stuttering, even though he now has control over his fear. “To this day, I dread being the guy who goes up and says a prayer,” Lubbert said, “Because I still have that fear inside of me about what happens if I do stutter, but I can’t run from that. It’s a matter of trying not to let that fear of what might happen change what you do in the long run.” Ultimately, by joining STUGO and performing in the play, Lubbert conquered his fear in hopes of being an example and helping others to do the same. “Everyone has their own demons. They have that one thing they don’t like about themselves and that’s never going to change,” Luebbert said. “I’m never going to like my stutter, but at the end of the day these small flaws don’t define you as a person.”
e might be walking through the halls head down not making conversation with others. People around him think that he is having a bad day but he is just thinking and dreaming of his future. He could be imagining himself in front a crowd talking to them about success, dreaming big and the opportunities they can take advantage of. His future was not always clear. Coming into high school, Tyrell Mosley knew none of his classmates and with his shy personality, he kept to himself. Slowly breaking out of his shelling and talking to more people, he got involved in football, wrestling, and then became the president of the Multicultural Awareness Club (MAC). Mosley started to realize his love for helping others and always being there to talk with
anyone. Within his group of friends, he is like a “dad” figure making sure nothing gets too out of hand and looking out for everyone. Helping out a few close friends is just the start. Mosley wants to reach out to more than just his friends, he wants to inspire and guide the younger people in his neighborhood in South City. His ultimate goal consists of reaching people on a global scale. To him, it all starts small and within his community. Then by building relationships and aiding individuals in South City, he can start to grow and reach more people. Next year, while attending Maryville University and obtaining a psychology degree, Mosley hopes to get a jump start on doing service and making an impact close to home.
page design by Drew Brown
Feature
THE END
17
of an
ERA
After 34 years on the job, the Dean of Students is ready to hang up his coat by Nick Einig, Staff Writer He has had tables for the last 29 years and detention in Room 119 is his second home. But as the Dean of Students, Mike Dressler Photo by Nick Einig was just doing his job. Mike Dressler has been the Dean of Students for 29 years. Dressler’s career started 34 years ago as a basketball coach. Dressler has been all around season. He then moved up to the assistant Dressler is still thinking ahead to the future. the school, over the years he taught American varsity coach. As coach, he focused on being Dressler has been going to seminars on History, Sociology, Geometry, and even a there for the players when they needed restorative justice, which is a different typing class. He is now the Assistant Principal attention and established a relationship with way to discipline, it is based on the Gospels and the Dean of Students. Having lived for 65 the players. The players went up to him if and is focused more on reconciliation than years that means the Dean of Students has they had any problems. punishment. He is thinking ahead to how his worked at the school for over half his life and After coaching he taught classes and was job can be better when he leaves. That is not is now retiring leaving his legacy of justice the Dean of Students at the same time. Then the only thing that is going to change because and fairness behind. after that he is what the current students best of Dressler. He also wants to make the school “I will miss all the relationships I have with knows him for and became the full time Dean better by changing everything from demerit all the people, not only with the teachers but of Students. cards to the way teachers interact with also with the students,” Dressler said. “De “His is student centered, he loves students, students. Smet has been a big part of my family’s life for and he is a great mentor,” principal Trevor “He looked at how things used to be and such a long time.” Bonat said. “Even though he knew he was at wanted things to change a little,” Rebore said. He didn’t always want to be a teacher. He the end of his career here, he was always open “He is going to have a very positive impact on started out in pre-med and playing college to learning new things and exploring new and the future.” basketball at Tulane as a 6’6 center where better ways to care for the students.” The school has been such a big part of he averaged about 5 points and 4.2 rebounds Being fair and just was his main goal all Dressler’s life and he loves bringing the a game. He was the starting center his these years. He wasn’t trying to pick on community together through his words. sophomore and junior year, but then got certain students and he’s not out to get Dressler will give students a lesson on life replaced his senior year with a new player people. The results show that what he does when they are stuck and need direction. After straight out of Loyola college. He was too busy is helpful and is impactful on most students. he retires he plans to relax and take things playing basketball to continue his medical People who were expelled from the school in slow. He will even come back to the school career and realized education was his first the past will come back and talk to Dressler every once and a while to visit. Since Dressler love. He helped with the summer basketball and tell him a few things. It is not what most is leaving he says the only person he can give camps at school and then was offered a job would expect but the previous expelled tables to after he leaves is the person who as a coach and took it. About five years later, students thank him for doing his job because takes his job. Dressler became the Dean of Students and it was a wake up call to them and got them “Students and teachers, alumni, parents has held that position for 29 years and is back on the right track. and people that are involved, I try to let notorious for patrolling the halls and catching “The kids respect him, and they think he is them know how important De Smet is to me,” people who are out of dress-code. Doing that fair,” assistant principal Ronald Rebore said. Dressler said. “De Smet has been apart of my is apart of his job and he can’t let anyone get “As he leaves, an era is going to be over, and he life and I would like that to be apart of their by. has also been helping to bring in a new era.” life too.” He started at De Smet as the head coach Even in his final weeks at the school, for the B team, winning over 20 games each
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page design by Nick Einig
18
THE G AT
Sports
Photo courtesy of Robert Steeples
Lifetime activities students pose with the goat head after winning their class’s baseball tournament.
Lifetime activities teacher uses taxidermy head to motivate his students to give their all by Alex Kramer, Sports Editor
L
ifetime activities teacher Robert Steeples has revolutionized a new way to not only force students to take his class seriously, but to inspire them to play with enthusiasm. Rumor has it that Steeples found a goat and “used [his] bare hands to let the goat know that [he] was the G.O.A.T.” Steeples calls his incentive the “Goat Tournament.” The tournament gets its name from the head of the famous goat that he found. After a week of playing a certain sport, such as basketball, soccer or baseball, two to four teams compete in a class period-long tournament. The winning team is rewarded with Gatorades and a photo with the goat head. “I saw it as a way of encouraging competition and also motivation for the students,” Steeples said. “It’s kind of a reflection of some of the quirky thoughts that go through my mind. I kind of want to give students something to look forward to and to take pride in the class.” To Steeples, the real power of the goat is in its ability to bring classmates together. “I feel like the combination of competition and
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making it fun forces guys to have to work together,” Steeples said. “When you get the teams mixed up, it’s a way of getting the students to get to know the people that they probably wouldn’t have spent time with or work together on anything else.” Steeples’ method has forced a lot competition among students in his class. Senior Jacob Goodwin has won the goat in three different sports in one semester of lifetime activities. “I put all of my effort into the class when the goat’s on the line,” Goodwin said. “You’re not just going to play just to mess around. To win a picture with the goat is a big deal.” Along with the championship game for each of the tournaments, Steeples also has a consolation game. The captain of the losing team in the consolation game is given the “honor” of taking a photo with a toilet seat around his head. “It kind of brings it full-circle and gives everybody something to compete for,” Steeples said. “I would say the motivating factor for it has been awesome and the pride that kids take in it definitely makes it fun.” page design by Alex Kramer
19
Sports
Courage
and
Composure Sophomore Dylan Radke discusses what it takes to be a lacrosse goalie by Jacob Young, Social Media Editor
S
Photo courtesy of Rob Wetzel
Goalie Dylan Radke makes a save against #2 team in the nation, Culver Academy.
page design by Alex Kramer
hot after shot, save after save, sophomore Dylan Radke just wanted to be one with his brothers and their friends. Being 5’5” hasn’t helped Radke’s career. College coaches want taller goalies to cover most of the net, but Radke has to show coaches he has other skills. “It’s definitely harder to be a 5’5” goalie, because it leaves a lot of the net open,” Radke said. “I have to be faster with my hands to compensate for my height.” Dylan has three older brothers who all have graduated from De Smet, all of them played lacrosse; two of his older brothers played positions that required shooting the ball at Dylan every day after school. Derek plays attack, and Danny played midfielder. Radke didn’t want Danny’s friends shooting on him, because they all had fast shots and a majority of them played in college. “My brothers are the whole reason I am the goalie that I am,” Radke said.
“They would just rip shots on me everyday.” Dylan was in sixth grade when his brothers first told him to go stand in the net for them. Radke’s brothers just needed a goalie, and Radke just wanted to fit in. “I have to put in more work to become the best in state, because I am less experienced,” Radke said. “I have to go to more camps and put in more work in the offseason so that I am always improving.” The average high school shot comes in at about 75-85 mph from anywhere around the goal. Because of that, Radke’s brothers used to put at minimum five bruises on his legs everyday. The brothers would have competitions to see who could score the most, but this was Radke’s ploy of getting out of goal. “The shots are a tad scary, because I definitely don’t want to get hit with the ball,” Radke said. “A save’s a save, and I got to do what I got to do to help my team win.”
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Sports
20
Photo by Jack Hummel
Remaining Schedule May 1, 2017 at 4:15 p.m. @Windsor May 2, 2017 at 4:15 p.m. vs. SLUH Photo by Alex Kramer
Fixing the Past Baseball coach uses past plaques for motivation by Nick Einig, Staff Writer Two plaques were hung up in the baseball dugout at the beginning of the season by Head Baseball Coach David Stewart to influence his players to get better. The plaques are for second place finishes in the district championships for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The plaques are meant to show the players that no one can take any days off and everyone on the team has to come to practice and work to strive for the best. “It’s the first thing they see when they come into practice every day,” Stewart said. “It’s so they know to get their minds right.” The team is rather young, starting a freshman, a few sophomores, a lot of juniors, and have only a few seniors on the team. They are currently first place in their conference and have beaten teams
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such as Chaminade, Vianney and CBC. “We play a really tough schedule, we have probably played already six or seven top 10 teams in the state,” Stewart said. “And for our youth we are doing all right.” All the members from last year’s team and two seniors remember the emotion they had from the two district championship losses. When the players see the plaques they remember how it felt. And for the players who are new to the team, Stewart hopes it will make them strive to be leaders this year and into next season. “It’s a quick reminder that every day is important, every practice is important, every rep is important,” Stewart said. “You stack every day on top of each other. If you waste a day you can retract in your skills.”
May 4, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. vs. CBC May 6, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. @Cape ND May 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. @Cape ND May 9, 2017 at 4:15 p.m. vs. Seckman May 12, 2017 Districts May 23, 2017 Sectionals page design by Alex Kramer
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Sports
Photos by Kevin Berns
The Magic of the Hats Ultimate Frisbee team explains its game day superstition by Grant Stegman, Staff Writer He spends most of his time teaching history but after school he is known for his expertise in coaching. Coach Peter Lenzini also has a history with his own thing, history with his hat. The ultimate frisbee team hasn’t lost an out-of-state game since Lenzini’s coaching career started 17 years ago. Winning 10 straight state championships while wearing his Cardinals hat the entire time. “There is some definite superstition with the hat,” Lenzini said. “Just look at our program history.” The hat is key to Lenzini and the program’s success. Lenzini has been through three Cardinals hats in his career. Lenzini’s hat may have rubbed off on other players as senior Connor Blair has also worn his own special Patagonia hat. “I have been wearing the hat ever since I started playing here.” Blair said. “We do win a lot with all of our hats.” The team, won 2nd place in their national tournament. The hats mean
page design by Alex Kramer
something and continues to produce results. Another player, sophomore Max Van Sciever also has worn one. “I do see some superstition with it.” Van Sciever said. “I find myself wearing it even when it is cloudy.” At this point in his career, Lenzini tells himself that he should never take the hat off. If he didn’t bring it to the games, possibly something could go south. “I just can’t stop wearing it because all we’ve done is win.” Lenzini said. “If I lost the hat, a certain sacrifice would have to be made.” The hat serves as a fear for opposing teams, as the team goes for their tenth straight title. The continuous superstition plays apart in the journey and will until playoff time. “My philosophy is, what would be the point of not wearing it?” Lenzini said. “After all the history and winning, and something like a hat has been with you long enough, you don’t change it. I just can’t.”
Photo by Bradley Estrada
Coaches Peter Lenzini and Howard Place prepare for a JV game against Francis Howel Central.
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BA
22 EQUI
RB
NG
STL STYLE
TOP PICKS
Entertainment
by Alex Cleveland, Staff Writer
Restaurants in the city with food that every BBQ lover needs to get his hands on
PAPPY’S SMOKEHOUSE 3106 Olive St., St. Louis Famous for apple and cherry wood smoked meats, Pappy’s Smokehouse went down in the books as a Central West End favorite by winning “Best Barbecue” for three years in a row after opening. The menu there includes pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, turkey breast, spicy sausage and burnt ends; all of which are available to order on a sandwich
or by the pound. They have a small selection of salads too which features a Frito Pie that is topped with onions, baked beans, cheddar cheese and any choice of meat. Also, there is a variety of combination plates and “E-Z Carry-Out Combinations” that can be ordered. Side dishes come with all orders and can be bought additionally in quarts and gallons.
LIL’ MICKEY’S 1020 Cave Spring Blvd., St. Peters Holding down the fort in St. Peters is Lil’ Mickey’s Memphis Barbecue. People can’t let this gold mine’s size determine their opinion, unless for some odd reason they don’t appreciate any of their dry-rubbed, hickory smoked meats which include ribs, pork steaks, brisket, pulled pork shoulders, rib tips, chicken and turkey breast. Also, their signature sauce goes on anything by starting out sweet and slowly climbing to a nice hot flavor. All of these meats are available to order on dinner plates, which usually include any two sides, and sandwiches.
BOGART’S SMOKEHOUSE 1627 S 9th St., St. Louis Located near Soulard and the City Museum, Bogart’s Smokehouse is a place for all barbecue lovers to unite as one. Their menu of basted or dry-rubbed meats include pulled pork, turkey, brisket, burnt ends, pastrami and ribs. All except the ribs are available for purchase by
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the pound, on sandwiches or on plate. Rib orders and sandwiches are served in two sizes and all sizes include any two sides. A plate order, however, is only one size, but is still served with two sides. The menu also has a few combos and specials along with more than five options for sides.
page design by Patrick McHugh
23 Entertainment PROS
Design: Extremely thin and light - 0.6 inches thick and weighs just under three pounds - with a sleek top that is not too glossy Display: 13.3 inch screen with 1920x1080 resolution and a vibrant IPS monitor for better and more accurate colors Hardware: Snappy hardware suite for academic use; 256GB of SSD storage Battery: Rated for 12 hours
CONS
The screen only folds 110 degrees back No Touchscreen
Dell XPS 13 (2017) $999
by Mario Ghazal, Staff Writer
The
Value
The
Useful
PROS
CONS
Only one USB-C port for ALL INPUT DEVICES; lots of dongles! Has a 480p webcam. This is a $1300 laptop. Even the HP EliteBook has a 720p webcam. No Touchscreen What you’re buying with this laptop costs far more than the features and components alone; the premium goes towards buying into the Apple experience.
Asus ZenBook UX330 $699
BEST MOST
Design: Extremely thin and light - 0.5 inches thick and weighs approximately two pounds; once again flaunts Apple’s clean, universally praised design. Display: Beautiful 12 inch screen with Retina Display with a high resolution of 2304x1440 in its small form factor. Hardware: The hardware is very quick for academic use, and fits 512GB of fast SSD storage Battery: Rated for 12 hours of use
23
College Companions
The
PROS
Design: Extremely thin and light - 0.54 inches thick and weighs just under three pounds. Display: 13 inch InfinityEdge monitor at 1920x1080 resolution for more vibrant and more accurate color. Hardware: Quick hardware suite for academic use; 256GB of SSD storage. Battery: Rated at 22 hours of use, and Dell claims that it can last 13 hours of Netflix streaming and web browsing.
CONS
The external design on the laptop is a little unexciting
Apple MacBook (2016) $1299
APPLE Experience
PROS
HP EliteBook Revolve 810 Provided by De Smet
The
Display: The IPS display provides a large viewing angle, functions as a touchscreen Hardware: The Revolve 810 has a comfortable amount of horsepower for ordinary academic use, and includes 128GB of fast SSD storage Design: The Revolve 810 is Light, small, and easy to carry Battery Life: The battery is rated for 12 hours of use Students currently own it
ECONOMICCons
CHOICE
page design by Mario Ghazal desmetmirror.com
Mouse Pad is a little small Speakers can only fill a small room Small touch screen at 11.6 inches with a 1366x768 resolution, but it still is an IPS monitor Students who choose this option will need a wipe of their computer’s data by installing a fresh install of Windows in order to restore their laptops to top condition.
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GOOD LUCK TO THE CLASS OF 2017!