Ladue Panorama, April 2015, Volume 63, Issue 9

Ladue

Panorama

Ladue Horton Watkins High School • 1201 S. Warson Road • St. Louis, MO 63124 • Volume 63 • Issue 9 • April 3, 2015

news (pg.2)

MEET THE CANDIDATES

features (pg.5)

INDIA TRIP

in-depth (pg.8)

PROM

a&e (pg.11)

WINSLOW’S HOME

opinions (pg.13)

U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST

sports (pg.14)

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW

(Photo by Elyse Mack)

photo (pg.16)

SPRING IN BLOOM

Wingin’ it:

Check out the back cover for a look at a seasonal event hosted by the Butterfly House

(Photo by Sydney Ellis)

2 news

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Missouri officials commit suicide

In the

School State auditor victimized by false advertisements mary xiao w ART EDITOR

KMOV-TV sent a reporter to the high school to film a segment which aired March 5. The piece highlighted the new renovations the district is planning and how it affects the way classes will be taught.

Kindergartner Joey Chen and second-grader Peter O’Shaughnessy were named to the Blues Bookworms All-Stars 2015 list.

Ladue alumna Alice Conway will receive the Legacy of Leadership Award from the St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired April 25.

Conway, who is visually impaired, attended law school at Washington University St. Louis and works as a lawyer for Monsanto.

Juniors Rasika Sant and Jackie Wong and seniors Benjamin Collinger and Miriam Hauptman qualified for the State Speech and Debate tournament at the district tournament Feb. 27.

Sophomore Michael Burke and juniors Semhar Mekonnen, Simi Falako, Jackson Gould, Malanie Rush and Preston Borrow qualified for the DECA International Tournament after placing at the Missouri State DECA tournament.

According to an article March 5 by the Daily Beast, Hancock grace kim targeted conservative Christian NEWS WRITER donors and the anti-semitism issouri Auditor Republi- sentiments held by some Missouri can and a contender for citizens. In today’s world, it may governor Tom Schweich be viewed as discriminatory to not committed suicide Feb. 16. He support a politician based on his believed he was the victim of a heritage and background. “whisper campaign” that threat“People just tend to gravitate ened his lobby for election, accordtoward others who are similar to ing to an article March 5 by The them in background, ethnicity and Washington Post. Robert Jackson, race, and it can become an issue,” his media director, also committed social studies teacher Robert Snidsuicide March 29, prompting disman said. “Personally, I think you cussion regarding suicide around should vote for the person who has the state. the political values most similar to Merriam-Webster dictionary you, not the person who is most defines a whisper campaign as ethnically like you.” “an effort to spread rumors about An article by The Daily Beast someone in order to hurt that March 5 states that Schweich had person’s reputation.” no concrete evidence to accuse As reported by The Missouri Hancock and could not publicize Times in an article March 8, the purposeful damage he had John Hancock, chairman of the supposedly caused. The article Missouri claims that Republiclose People just tend to gravitate to- his can Party, friend ward others who are similar to Rev. Jack started this by spreadthem in background, ethnicity, Danforth ing a rumor and race, and it can become and warned throug Schweich issue. other Mistwice to souri politi- social studies teacher Robert Snidman refrain cians that from anSchweich was of Jewish descent, nouncing his accusations. It also even though he was a devout Episstated that his narrative was denied copalian. According to a Missouby the press, and his attempt at rinet.com article March 5, it was setting up his own interview was done to deflect political support rejected for lack of substantial from Evangelical republicans. evidence. The article suggested that “Race, religion and heritage Schweich felt strongly abandoned play a really big role in politics,” and alone due to the rumors and sophomore Julia Lieu said. “It’s their malicious intent, which those mostly about getting popularity close to him believe caused him to to be elected to office, so people commit suicide. with similar backgrounds can often “Politicians have a right to what relate more easily to someone who they think. However, the public understands their traditions and also has the same right,” junior beliefs.”

STUCO secretary Lucy Jonas said.

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“Our country is a democracy and students, can raise awareness and we need people’s voices to shape knowledge about mental health, the system. It’s impossible for the suicide and depression. whole entire country to be coher“It’s one of our biggest units ent in regards to political policies. and we go really in-depth with Though I may not be fully in favor emotional health and mental towards health,” ‘dirty’ health The school itself should be a pretty tactics, teacher safe-to-share school, and I think the they are Alena staff is trying to start a movement unArmavoidstrong where students feel more comfortable.” said. able going to teachers to talk about An “We their problems article talk March - health teacher Alena Armstrong about 5 by suicide The and its Washington Post stated that a different types, its warning signs radio ad targeted Schweich’s and what it is. We talk about ways appearance and skills, possibly to get someone help, mentally and adding on to his feelings of worry emotionally. We go pretty in-depth and helplessness. However, it is un- on that topic just because it’s such known whether or not this ad, or a big element of health, and I think any other criticism that Schweich as a society we tend to skip over it faced from other politicians, played most times.” a large role in his suicide.

However, readily available sup“There have been much worse port from peers and trusted adults said about Obama and other is a powerful tool that should be politicians,” Jonas said. “I think comfortable and easily accessible [politicians] need to be strong and for students. Programs such as able to handle the various negative the recently-implemented safe-tocomments and tactics thrown at share initiative aim to provide a them.” protected environment for students Jackson’s suicide occured that need help. nearly a month after Shweich’s in “Programs like the safe-to-share a similar manner. Clayton police program are really essential,” Armfound a written note at the crime strong said. “It’s when teachers scene, although the contents had decide if they want to have a classnot been revealed as of press time, room where they take the responsiaccording to a stltoday.com article bility to help students that feel like March 30. they need to go to a trusted adult.

“We’re very aware of the politiThe school itself should be a pretty cal issues surrounding Schweich’s safe-to-share school, and I think death and within a month, we have the staff is trying to start a movethe death of his spokesperson,” ment where students feel more Jefferson Police Capt. Doug Shoecomfortable going to their teachers maker said. “It is our goal and obto talk about problems.” jective to do the best job we can for Friends of Schweich noted that the family. We want to make sure in the days leading up to his suiwe have some level of closure.” cide he seemed more angered than No evidence has been found usual about those criticizing him that links the two suicides to each in the political world, according to other, according to the article. the article. These kind of signs are However, police in Jefferson City just one of the items that the health have already contacted those work- curriculum covers. ing on Schweich’s case in Clayton.

In addition to sponsoring the In the wake of his boss’ suicide, health class, the school also proJackson spoke out against those vides counselors, administration who started the rumors that evenand a psychologist so the students tually caused Schweich to commit feel comfortable confiding in them suicide a month prior to his own with issues they are facing. Howevapparent suicide. er, the safe-to-share program builds “Jackson called for the resignaupon an open atmosphere in which tion of Republican state Chairman teachers can be more aware and John Hancock, because of Schinvolved. According to Armstrong, weich’s allegation that Hancock this will help students as they enter had conducted an anti-Semitic their adult lives. ‘whispering campaign’ against “We don’t just educate,” Schweich,” the article said.

Armstrong said. “We teach them Many schools have various prohow to apply the knowledge to grams that educate students on the real-life situations. We ask what is topic of suicide and how to prevent that going to look like when [the and recognize its symptoms. A student] grows up, and how can semester of health class, which is [he] become a healthy, productive mandated at the high school for all citizen of society?” v

Panorama

April 3, 2015

news

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Hotels allow foreign visitors In the Maternity leave: to stay in order to give birth Nation katie bohnert NEWS WRITER

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mmigration and Customs Enforcement officials conducted raids on many hotels that double as maternity wards in California March 3. These establishments house foreign, pregnant women who come to the U.S., typically from China, to have their babies so that their children may become U.S. citizens.

This tactic of obtaining citizenship has become known as “maternity tourism.”

“Maternity tourism is where an expecting mother comes to the U.S. on a tourism visa to have their child,” freshman Annie Liu, a second generation immigrant from China, said. “Their child is then an American citizen because they were born here.”

The mothers want their children to have the option to come to the U.S. if the kids face strife in their country. Issues that could prompt this travel range anywhere from economic or political struggles, to issues with pollution or education, a CNN article March 4 said. The mothers also want their children to receive the benefits that citizens have.

“Usually what happens then is the mother and child go back to where they came from, and they then send their child back when they start school or when they’re 21,” Liu said.

The expecting mothers are coached on how to get a visa without mentioning pregnancy and are directed to get a tourist package. This ensures that the mothers look like they are coming to the U.S. as a vacation, said the LA Times article. Most of the time, the expectant mothers get a package deal with the maternity tourist companies that are very expensive, costing anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000.

With these packages, the families receive care, food, a social security number and a

passport for their unborn child, and in extreme situations, can even receive a visit to a popular U.S. destination like Disneyland.

The term often given to these children is “anchor babies” because the families have a child “anchored” to the U.S. and are able to come here or send their child to the U.S. when necessary, the NBC article said.

According to the CNN article, because having a child in the U.S. is not illegal, there is little that can be done about these maternity hotels.

The raids on many of the establishments simply served to send the message that maternity tourism will not be tolerated.

“The appeal for these women is that they want their child to have a better life with more opportunities,” Liu said. “The environment is also healthier and a nicer place to be with better air quality, water and educational benefits.”

Many are angered about the situation and feel that it’s unfair for women to visit just to give birth to their children. Liu hopes that action will be taken in order to stop this.

“It’s unfair for people to come here illegally only because they have lots of money,” Liu said. “It’s especially unfair to the people who worked really hard to come to this country.”

She is not alone in feeling this way. The CNN article said that because maternity tourism is so expensive, it is highly popular among people of wealthy backgrounds who could afford to become a U.S. citizen legally. Birth tourism has proven to be tough to crack down on because it is not illegal to have a child, The LA Times article said. However, it is possible for these women to be convicted of fraud.

Most of the time, the hospitals the women go to are told that the families have no insurance and the hospital is left to deal with the cost. According to the NBC article, the package deal the women receive gives them prenatal care and a hospital to go to, and the women

are spread out over a few different hospitals to avoid attracting attention.

There is controversy regarding whether these children should get all the educational benefits U.S. citizens receive because the families of the children won’t be taxed and the children won’t have to pay taxes until they have jobs.

“Those children will be coming back to get an education here, but they won’t have to pay taxes or anything like a normal U.S. citizen,” Liu said. “If they receive some benefits, then other children who were born here legally won’t get those same benefits.”

Liu said she is worried that this growing population will impact the amount of available resources. Many people want the benefits provided to U.S. citizens for their children.

“This could possibly affect me indirectly because there’s only so much here, and if the other children get [government benefits] then I won’t,” Liu said.

Liu said there is a lot of appeal for women to come here when they receive packages with care and transportation. However, there are still questions about what these children are entitled to when they go back to China.

“I think maternity tourism is useless because a child would still have to go back to China once they were born,” Liu said. “It’s unfair to the child because they can’t grow up in America but also wouldn’t have privileges in China.”

According to the NBC article, the federal raids on many California maternity hotels are a small step to crack down on birth tourism.

These raids hope to send a message to not only the families, but also the hotels and apartments housing these women.

“This may not necessarily affect me right now, but maybe in the future if it gets bigger,” freshman and first generation immigrant Kathryn Xu said. “It is unfair because [legal] immigrants had to work for citizenship.” v

mary xiao w ART EDITOR

National Security Agency workers killed one man and hospitalized another March 30. The men had driven an unauthorized vehicle at the agency’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Md.

A man riding a St. Louis public train was beaten March 28 after refusing to give his opinion regarding the controversial Michael Brown grand jury trial.

The prosecuting attorney for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev rested his case March 30 after 15 days of testimony.

Illegal Immigration million children are born to illegal • 6immigrants live in the U.S billion are spent yearly on educating • $52 children of illegal immigrants

ma ry x

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percent of adult illegal immigrants • 84 live with a child born in the U.S.

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Indiana Governor Mike Pence authorized a bill March 26 that will allow businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples based on religious freedom.

Pennsylvania police returned a 4-year-old girl to her home at po3 San a.m.Francisco after she had lice found a suitcase boarded a bus by filled in with loose herself order to body parts Jan. 28 buy a “slushie” from after responding to a a local gas station. suspicious 911 call.

4 news

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Restricting access to nuclear weapons

In the

World World leaders negotiate with Iran to regulate uranium mary xiao w ART EDITOR

Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed in the French Alps March 24. French and German prosecutors believe the crash was intentionally caused by the co-pilot, 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz. At least 150 people were killed in the incident.

Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation acquitted Amanda Knox for the murder of Meredith Kercher March 27, finally ending the appeals process.

More than 1.5 million people paid tribute to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died March 23 at the age of 91.

Many foreign leaders, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, also came to pay their respects.

Guinean President Alpha Conde declared a 45-day “health emergency” due to an Ebola outbreak in parts of the country March 28. The measures enable authorities to restrict travel in western Guinea.

A Turkish court ordered two cartoonists to pay a fine of $2,700 March 25. The court ruled that the speech bubbles and hand gestures in the cartoon were insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

isabella fu NEWS WRITER

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resident Obama and other world leaders have developed an agreement that would limit Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons.

As of press time, negotiators from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and Iran had until March 31 to establish this deal, according to an article March 8 by The New York Times. The talks focused on restricting Iran’s ability to enrich uranium. These regulations would slow the rate at which the country could create a functional bomb.

In exchange for the regulation of uranium, the U.S. and other world powers will ease economic sanctions in Iran. Such restrictions include the ones on the country’s oil exports and banks.

The suspension of these sanctions will significantly improve Iran’s economy, according to Iranian officials in a CNN article March 24. A deal could eventually lead to more than half a million barrels of Iranian crude oil heading into the global market, according to an article by The Wall Street Journal March 16. This, in turn, would lower oil prices in the U.S. Obama said this “extraordinarily reasonable deal” will test whether the Islamic nation is serious about resolving the dispute concerning its nuclear program.

“My message to you– the people of Iran– is that, together, we have to speak up for the future we seek,” Obama said in a televised Nowruz address March 19. “Our negotiations have made progress, but there are people, in both our countries and beyond, who oppose a diplomatic resolution.”

While quite a few Democrats support the negotiation, many Republicans remain skeptical and thus, drafted legislation, which has since been delayed, intended to give Congress a say in whether an agreement would be appropriate.

The controversial deal led Speaker Republican John Boehner to extend an invitation to Israeli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to share his opinions in front of Congress. In Netnyahu’s speech March 3, emphasized his concern for the safety of Israeli citizens.

“That deal will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “It would guarantee that Iran gets those weapons, lots of them.”

Senior Miriam Hauptman, who has been following the issue, supports Netanyahu’s view, believing the agreement would endanger Israeli citizens. She said that Iranian nuclear weapons are likely to be used against Israel, since the former group’s leaders have long spoken of their desire to annihilate the country. Furthermore, the deal may also become a threat to international security, as some Iranian groups have funded terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda.

“In a country like Iran that is known for its ties to terrorist groups and human rights abuses against women and other groups, a negotiation doesn’t seem like a reliable solution,” Hauptman said.

Hauptman’s concerns about Iran’s credibility when it comes to promises about slowing nuclear development are shared by others as well. In general, Israelis believe that Obama’s negotiations with Iran are not strict enough, according to Hauptman.

“Israel has and will likely continue to object the prospect of these negotiations,” Hauptman said. “This could easily hurt the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, which has proven vital on both ends for decades.”

Israel remains firm on its stance on the issue, but Obama continues to move forward with the talks.

However, acccording to an article

by The New York Times March 8, Obama said he would definitely “walk away from a bad deal.”

“If we are able to verify that in fact they are not developing weapons systems, then there’s a deal to be had,” Obama said. “But that’s going to require them to accept the kind of verification and constraints on their program that so far, at least, they have not been willing to say yes to.”

UNITED TOGETHER w

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He addressed the nuclear power issues within his country and said Iran was committed to peace. (Photo courtesy of Zuma Press/ MCT Campus) CIA Director John Brennan said in a Fox News interview March 22 that no matter the outcome of nuclear talks with Iran, the U.S. will “keep pressure” on the country. He added that the U.S. will continue learning from its past mistakes in future negotiations with Iran and the Islamic world.

“And so, what we have to do, whether there’s a deal or not, is to make sure that Iran is not able to continue to destabilize a number of the countries in the region,” Brennan said.

Opinions differ among Iranian leaders. Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke out against Iran’s talks with the U.S. in a speech in Tehran March 21. “[The U.S.] insists on putting pressure on our dear people’s economy,” Khamenei said. “Their goal is to put the people against the system, because the politics of America is to create insecurity.”

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad

Havad Zarif has been one of the leading advocates for the deal. According to a Feb. 28 article by The Associated Press, Zarif said the world should not allow Netanyahu to stop the Islamic Republic and world powers from reaching a nuclear deal.

“Through scaremongering, falsification, propaganda and creating a false atmosphere even inside other countries, [Israel] is attempting to prevent peace,” Zarif said.

In an interview March 5, Zarif said negotiators were very close to reaching an agreement. He added that Iran is currently trying to resolve the problem of rising international hysteria regarding its nuclear capabilities.

“The object of this exercise is to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program will always remain peaceful,” Zarif said. “You can either have sanctions and continue to seek that path of confrontation, or try to resolve this issue through negotiation and through an agreement.” v

April 3, 2015

Panorama

news

Meet the board of education candidates

5

(All information gathered from ladueschools.net; all photos courtesy of Laura Shea)

sophia li

NEWS WRITER

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ive candidates will compete for the two available seats on the Ladue Board of Education in an upcoming election April 7.

According to the district website, Sheldon Johnson, Sheri Glantz, Nancy Goldstein, Donald Buck II and Kisha Lee spoke at a “Meet the Candidates” night located at Ladue Middle School March 24. During the event, which was supervised by the League of Women Voters, the competitors answered questions from the audience for nearly two hours.

Additionally, the candidates described their backgrounds.

Johnson holds an accounting degree and worked in real estate for 32 years. He has advised several non-profit organizations such as the National Industries for the Blind and Autism Speaks. Johnson believes the board needs to maintain its budget in order to operate effectively.

Glantz spent nine years on the Ladue Board of Education and served two years as president. In addition, she participated with the district Science Curriculum Committee. Glantz believes property taxes, which provide most of the funds for the school, have fallen “flat,” and aims to seek additional sources of revenue.

Like Glantz, Goldstein taught elementary, secondary and college students for more than 40 years. Goldstein hopes to improve the science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses in the high school.

Buck earned his medical degree from John Hopkins University School of Medicine and currently works as an assistant professor at Washington University School of Medicine.

Buck would like to ensure that the district is providing the necessary educational foundation for students to succeed.

Lee has served on the school district’s Curriculum and Instruction Board Advisory Committee. She aims to upgrade the school’s facilities to accommodate the need for technology in classrooms to prepare students for STEM careers.

The two who win will serve on the board for the next three years. v

Nancy Goldstein

“I will push the district to improve our STEM classes,” Goldstein said. “[I will] enhance the professional development programs to give our teachers new tools for improving student achievement and look hard at the effectiveness of the high school building for meeting the demands of 21st century education." v

Sheldon Johnson

Sheri Glantz

“The [board] must maintain a strong financial foundation to operate its facilities efficiently while not losing sight of its purpose to educate its students,” Johnson said.“I look forward to sharing my experience as a Ladue Schools parent, businessman, educational fund raiser and arts supporter, to bring a new perspective to the board.” v

“Our high school is in dire need of updating,” Glantz said. “In order to be congruous with 21st century learning initiatives, our science labs will require renovation, as they are archaic in comparison with today’s educational standards. Supporting and fortifying our STEM program will keep the [district] a top-notch educational institution.” v

Donald Buck II

Kisha Lee

“As with all public school districts, the issues of fiscal responsibility, facilities upgrades, increasing class sizes and educational standards are ever present,” Buck said. “We must provide our teachers with the resources that they need to be at their best.

We must provide a curriculum that fosters scholarship without allowing students to fall behind.” v

“I am running because I have seen the educational benefits and opportunities that have been afforded to my children while attending the Ladue School District,” Lee said. “I will utilize my background in public policy to ensure that the district stays on top of proposed legislation targeted towards public education.” v

6 features

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Students against cancer

New club fundraises and gains awareness for cancer lily hauptman FEATURES EDITOR

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uperman fights Lex Luthor and Batman fights the Joker, but a new club fights an even greater foe: cancer. Founded by juniors Henok Getahun and Ashwin Govindan, Ladue Students Against Cancer is determined to combat the disease in young patients. “[Getahun] and [Govindan] saw events like Coaches vs. Cancer and wanted to build upon them,” science teacher and sponsor Mark Miller said. “Their hope is to learn more about cancer and raise [funds] to help fight [it].”

Getahun and Govindan hope that through joining the club, students will give back to and also learn from the community. They plan on implementing a plan to help those affected by the disease.

“Our first goal is to spread awareness of cancers that affect teens, like leukemia and bone sarcoma,” Govindan said. “Our second goal is to fundraise money for kids who have these diseases.

Our third goal is to visit kids who have [cancer].”

LSAC members will learn “For the kickball game, we more about cancers that affect want to have one team comprised teenagers through presentations by entirely of teachers,” Getahun guest speakers. The hope is that the said.“It will cost a certain amount club members will be able to share to play and a certain amount to their knowledge with others. watch. It is a fun way of fundrais“In the club, a majority of the ing money.” members know someone who has The club will also give back been affected by cancer,” junior to the community by visiting Hanlu Jin said. “Anything we can teenagers affected by the disease do to help, whether it’s fundraisin hospitals in the area. After they ing, volunteering or being active graduate, Govindan and Getahun in getting our message heard, will hope that fundraising and visiting help us raise awareness for the children will continue. club. In that aspect, I think the club “When we visit the kids, we will [gain] awareness in the school, will see how we can help,” Getaespecially to those who haven’t hun said. “We hope that our club been directly will [raise] affected by We hope that our club will awareness cancer.” how kids [raise] awareness about how about The club are affected [by kids are affected [by cancer] cancer] and to will collect funds by what extent.” and to what extent. organizMiller - junior Henok Getahun ing events strongly besuch as a lieves in allowcar wash, a bracelets sale and a ing the students to make most of teachers vs. students kickball game. the important decisions and plans Getahun and Govindan want the independently. He encourages kickball game to become an annual the student leaders to conduct all event. The money raised from the discussions during meetings so that game will go to St. Louis Chilthey can develop their leadership dren’s Hospital for cancer patients. skills and learn to take charge.

THE GAME PLAN w Preparing for the next meeting, club founders juniors Ashwin Govindan and Henok Getahun work in the library during Ac Lab. “We saw how great a job Dance Marathon did and we thought we could help do something similar to what they did, but more focused on cancer,” Govindan said.

“I think their learning comes out of running the club,” Miller said “It’s their club, they need to take it in the direction they want to take it.”

Discussions usually center around fundraisers, hospital visits and ways to bring attention to the disease in the school, the district and the community. LSAC members meet the second and last Tuesday of every month in room 247 after school.

“I’m most excited to get others to join the club and spread the word,” Jin said. “It’s a magnificent club. The meetings are always

lively and productive, and it’s student led and created.”

The members of LSAC think the idea of teenagers reaching out to other teenagers is important for the club to be successful. Through the experience of communicating with a similar age group, Getahun and Govindan believe the members of LSAC will not only learn about cancer, but will also make the individuals who are affected by cancer feel more comfortable and hope to connect with these individuals.

“We take a lot for granted being healthy,” Govindan said. “It is really nice to help [others].” v

enter sewing and designing contest Pillows with a purpose: Students through Family and Consumer Sciences class ing, the girls just entered the contest just for fun and to learn word out to students and to parents, so the girls [could] get more about design and craft. While all seventh grade as many votes as possible.” albert liu students had the opportunity to enter, these two Even if they don’t win the competition, Duncan FEATURES WRITER decided to pursue it after finding inspiration for and Zoellner have both learned much about the their designs. t may seem as though a fox and gingerbread man don’t fashion industry through this. The contestants “I came up with this design around Christmas have much in common, but two determined Family and worked hard on their designs and will therefore Consumer Sciences students at the middle school believe time,” Zoellner said. “There were plenty of movies be more prepared for high school level fashion and shows on television about the holidays, so the otherwise. Seventh grade students Eileen Duncan and Kathor art classes. For Duncan and Zoellner, their idea just kind of appeared.” erine Zoellner entered in a national competition, presented tenacity will prepare them for and carry them far Both Zoellner’s and Duncan’s designs were

by Haan Crafts, in hopes of having their own personalized in higher level education. displayed on the Haan Sewing Facebook pillow designs added to next year’s sewing kit.

“A lesson I learned was to work your page until the voting closed March 30.

“The Haan Crafts company chose the finalists from hardest and believe in yourself and As of press time, the results were undesigns submitted by FACS teachers around the country,” have confidence in your design and kown, however, the students middle school FACS teacher Debra Beckrich said. “The what you are doing,” Zoellner said. learned much about both students draw out and color a design that they would like to “Also, have fun with it.” the fashion industry and hard work see as a project offered by Haan Craft in their catalog. The This can also potentially lead the stuthrough this experience. finalists’ designs are shown on the Haan dents to consider careers in the fashion “I am hopeful that these two Crafts Facebook site. Winners are chosen industry more seriously. The contest girls will get the top two votes,” by which design gets the most likes on also awarded a $100 gift certificate to Beckrich said. “I think it would Facebook.”

Haan Crafts as a prize to the winner of be exciting for them to see their Students around the nation stepped up to the competition, and a $50 gift certificate designs made sewing projects the challenge and submitted their ideas to the to the students who receive honorable art by katherine zoellner that students around the country company. Zoellner, who entered a gingerbread mentions. can make for years to come.” man design, and Duncan, who entered a fox de“I really hope to gain more confidence about However, the Facebook judging system has sign, have qualified as finalists in the competition. my drawing and designing skills and just overall, great come in the way of the two contestants. As middle This recognition reflects the talent, hard work memories,” Zoellner said. schoolers, they are too young to have Facebook acand dedication that each student has put into The top two designs will appear in the Fall 2015 Haan counts, which made it hard for them to monitor their this competition.

Craft catalogues for purchase. More importantly than winstatus in the contest and campaign for votes.

“I put a lot of effort into this design, ning, this contest can also attract a student into a fashionHowever, they still found ways to get the down to the color of the buttons and the based career. This can then lead the student to pursue what word out to gain support for their dethread,” Zoellner said. “I worked on this they’re skilled at and like to do. signs, mostly by encouraging friends design until I believed it was perfect.”

“The fashion industry is always going to be huge since and family members to vote.

The Haan Pillow Design Competition also clothing is one of the basic needs,” fashion teacher Kimberly “It [was] hard for students to vote, since Boyles said. “My hope for students that have a talent in sewhelps students practice and develop enhanced art by ei many middle school students are not old enough ing is for them to continue their love as a hobby or possibly motor skills for sewing. Although jobs in the leen du ncan to be on Facebook,” Beckrich said. “I tried to get the fashion industry require proficiency with sewpursue the fashion industry as a career.” v

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Panorama

April 3, 2015

features

Getting wired up for the camera

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Broadcast students start online video series katie bry

FEATURES WRITER

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nstead of taking notes and listening to lectures in class, senior Jane Nelson and junior Marissa Glantz are making videos for their YouTube channel, “Wired Up,” during school.

The students decided to create the channel for their broadcast technology independent study. They wanted to explore the more creative side of journalism and diverge from the hard news they normally report on in their Broadcast Technology II class.

“We love making jokes, and we love having a fun time,” Nelson said. “[Glantz] and I decided we wanted to share our fun with everyone and have the whole world see it.”

Broadcast technology teacher Don Goble encouraged them to develop a new, creative project for their independent study. However, Glantz and Nelson came up with the idea for a YouTube channel on their own.

“We decided to make a YouTube channel and just make it a comedy show because we were just thinking of ways to make our videos more funny,” Glantz said. “There are not a lot of young girls on YouTube so we are just trying something different.”

The duo comes up with its own concepts and production schedule and discusses the videos with Goble twice a week.

Glantz and Nelson film mostly during their independent study in school, which can prove difficult to do because they only have 90 minutes; however they make an effort to ensure that they get the work finished. The girls then edit the video and upload it every Monday.

“We decided to brighten Mondays because Mondays are terrible,” Nelson said. “We think creating this YouTube channel has been important because we think that comedy is a good way to share a good laugh and make someone’s day brighter.”

The videos consist of Nelson and Glantz completing random funny activities: saying words backwards, trying mystery jelly beans, doing a makeup tutorial and more. To think of ideas, they watch other videos for inspiration and then add a twist to it to make it their own. “[Glantz] and [Nelson]’s creative choices aren’t necessarily the ones I would make, but I am not their audience,” said Goble. “This is the YouTube generation, so [they] wanted to tap into that audience.”

Broadcast technology independent studies are rarely offered to students, according to Goble. This special privilege allowed them to gain more experience with filming and editing because they have the opportunity to make more videos apart from the ones they normally do in their Broadcast Technology II class.

“They are motivated, engaged and driven to succeed at this new project,” Goble said. “From the YouTube channel, to their website, to social media, they are hitting all areas of multimedia while having a lot of fun, which is the goal I have for all of my students.”

Throughout the week, they promote the new video on social media. The channel has a twitter account and a website that explains the purpose of the project and includes a short bio of each of the girls.

Between their independent study, Broadcast Technology II class and occasional filming during the weekends, the girls have spent a lot of time together. Working on the videos

All about that bass ali gold

FEATURES EDITOR

B

julia biest

FEATURES EDITOR

oom, crash and bang are sounds normally associated with an accident, but at the Mid-Missouri Percussion Arts Trophy Competition, these sounds are considered anything but accidental.

Senior Tyler Christner won the High School Multiple Percussion category at MMPAT March 7. This gave him the chance to participate in a master class taught

by Matt Henry, the percussion ensemble director at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

During this, Henry gave Christner feedback to help him become a better player.

Sophomore Miles Kim placed third in the same category. The percussionists in the competition had the chance to play their solos in front of a crowd and judges who scored the performances.

“I practiced a whole lot– sacrificing my grades, social life and basic human necessities,” Kim said.

High school students from around the nation signed up in the months leading up to the competition. In the multiple percussion division, the performers used more than one instrument. For example, Christner used eight instruments for his piece, which he started practicing at the end of November. “[I loved] the feeling of relief, after I had finished playing, that I would never have to practice that piece again,” Christner said.

To see and hear more of these talented percussionists, students can attend Night of Percussion April 16. v

(Photos courtesy of Miles Kim and Tyler Christner)

TAKE ONE w

Filming a video, senior Jane Nelson and junior Marissa Glantz work on their YouTube Channel during their Broadcast Technology independent study. “Wired up is a YouTube channel that I created with [Glantz] because we wanted to have a fun spin on journalism,” Nelson said. (Photo courtesy of Jane Nelson)

together has helped the two girls strengthen and advance their friendship.

“My favorite part of the process is definitely becoming better friends with [Glantz],” Nelson said. “We have definitely grown together as people from this, and our friendship has grown exponentially.”

She said they chose the channel’s name to encourage viewers to get excited and pumped up to watch their videos.

The videos have gained more than 300 views and the channel has 44 subscribers.

“It is just crazy to see that we have already had so much support not only from the school but from places outside the school, too,” Nelson said. “Our goal is to get 500 subscribers by the time we are finished. We are really hoping that people will watch our stuff, like [it] and subscribe.” v

@humansofladue

Everyone in this school has a story to tell. Follow us on Instagram to see more.

“What makes you happiest?”

“Well, when I have food, but besides that, when things are going my way and when there is not a lot of conflict in my life. A good way to resolve a conflict is to add all your effort and your work toward resolving a problem. You kind of emotionally attach to resolving that problem because if you don’t, how are you going to solve it if you don’t care about it?”

8 features

Panorama

Polls of the People How have you been affected by cancer?

Read more about the new club Ladue Students Against Cancer on pg. 6

60 50 40 30 20

19%

10 0

Blue is not only for Ladue

Students lead Autism Awareness Month celebrations haley horowitz FEATURES WRITER

P

59%

12% I have not been affected

A family member has had cancer

My friend has had cancer

10% I have not been affected

What’s your favorite kind of YouTube video to watch?

Read more about a YouTube Channel run by students on pg. 7 Tutorials

Comedy videos

11%

56%

Vlogs

ennies may not look like much sitting in the bottom of a wallet or backpack, but used in the right place, they could change the world. Members of Autism Speaks to Teens provided a use for these stray pennies by running a “penny war” throughout the week of March 30, with proceeds benefitting the organization.

The students chose this week for their event, because April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, as decided by the United Nations eight years ago, occurs during this time.

On this day, coined by Autism Speaks as “Light it Up Blue Day,” people and organizations gathered to fundraise and further awareness of autism. Autism Speaks to Teens’ mission is to promote the aforementioned activities, especially during April, Autism Awareness month.

“Autism Speaks to Teens is a branch of the national organization Autism Speaks,” junior Madeline Billeaud said. “We do several fundraisers throughout the year like our bowling event in September and penny wars in April.”

One of the organization’s biggest events is penny wars.

During this event, the grades compete with each other to see which could raise the most money. These funds are dedicated to funding autism research and to providing resources to children with autism and their families.

“With rising numbers of students being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it is important for student peers to build awareness that fosters an inclusive com-

munity,” special school district teacher Katie Ford said. “I feel Ladue students are compassionate towards peers with disabilities, and as a community, we should build awareness with purpose.”

The members of the board helped raise awareness throughout the year. They educated the teens of St. Louis about what autism through social media and pamphlets.

“I participate because it is an important cause,” vice president junior Alaina Muchnick said. “As a board, we host events and reach out to teens on the spectrum.”

The board is always hoping for new people to help join in on its endeavor to bring attention to the disorder. During Autism Awareness Month, the effort is amplified.

“It’s important that people learn that people with autism are just like everyone else,” Billeaud said. “We are always looking for new members to provide fresh ideas to the group. If anyone feels that they would like to join and make a difference in autism awareness, they are more than welcome.”

One of the board’s priorities is to spread awareness about how to reach out to those affected. They hope to help teens understand that they should make an effort to be educated on the topic. “[People with autism] might take the same classes as you, be interested in the same music as you, but they often get left out or made fun of because they are a little different,” Billeaud said. “I believe if people learn about autism we can make everyone more inclusive. Instead of people seeing a student with autism as different, they will realize they might have a lot in common.” v

Autism is...

9% 5 times more likely to occur in boys than girls

Music videos

April 3, 2015

the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the U.S.

present in 1 of 68 children

(Graphics by piktochart.com; statistics from autismspeaks.org)

24%

What has your favorite state-required class been?

Read more about course requirements on pg. 14.

54% 25%

Health

13% 8%

U.S. History

Government

Personal Finance (Statistics based on 331 sampled)

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Keep calm and curry on

features

Thanks for the memories Elephant ride, Amer Fort

Students spend spring break in India ali gold

FEATURES EDITOR

hannah frankel FEATURES WRITER

A

group of students spent spring break in a faraway land, riding towering beasts, visiting castles and eating exotic food. This magical land is called India.

The group was supervised by social studies teacher Eric Hahn.

Hahn came up with the idea for the trip last year and had been planning and advertising for it ever since then.

“Last year, in a lot of the world history classes, I asked students where they would like to go the most,” Hahn said. “India came up as the top choice. It was really a student-driven idea. I’m glad [because] it was a good idea.”

Students who did not help select the location quickly found out about it and wanted to learn more.

In the end, a group of 14 juniors and seniors signed up to go.

“Hahn put up posters one day early in the fall, and you can’t miss a bright orange sign thats says that there’s a trip to India going on,” senior Abigail Miller said. “I was so intrigued. It’s India. You’re never going to get the chance again. It was like the opportunity finally presented itself.”

The group went with Education First tours. They visited many places, including two of India’s most bustling cities: New Delhi and Jaipur.

“Jaipur was very busy, steeped in Mughal architecture and history,” Hahn said. “It had all of [the] things it is known for, like the jewelry and leather work factories.

[It was] colorful. I would have difficulty describing Jaipur to anybody. It’s incredible.”

In New Delhi, the students saw modern cars trapped in traffic as well as carts on dirt roads. Seeing these different sides of the city opened the travellers eyes’.

“There are many pictures that I have, just on my camera, of all the cars just packed behind our bus,” Miller said. “It was so busy and so crazy– people [tried] to cross the street every second. Everything looks like it’s about to run into each other, but it never does. Delhi was really crowded and crazy but also really beautiful. On the side of the roads there were beautiful gardens, winding hills that people were laying on, in contrast with a lot of pollution.”

Many of the students wanted to experience a new part of the world and had never been to India. This drove them to sign up. Many of their preconceived ideas about the country were disproved by what the saw on the trip.

“In the two cities, Delhi and Jaipur, I initially thought there was going to be more dirt roads and poverty, but there were buildings and shops, and it was bustling,” junior Jordan Smith said. “I felt like my eyes were opened much farther than they have been ever.”

Even Hahn, who teaches world history, learned new information on the trip. His previous knowledge about Indian culture was expanded by the sights he saw, the foods he ate and the conversations he had while there. “[India] was definitely different [than what I expected],” Hahn said. “I don’t think there’s any way to know what to expect when visiting a place like India. It was just really different. It was a lot deeper, more varied and richer than I thought it would be as far as culture goes.”

Students also formed many unique memories while on this eye-opening trip. In addition to visiting the cities, the group bonded over sunsets, elephant rides and shopping. The new experiences the students had on the trip taught them about the world and its diversity.

“I think everyone needs a chance like this to escape the bubble of the United States,” Miller said. “You don’t realize how much of a bubble you live in until you leave. Especially in a place like India, it’s such a culture shock that everyone needs to experience.

It was one amazing thing after another. It was all breathtaking.”

The students, who spent a week in the country, visited monumental places including the Taj Mahal and Amer Fort. They made amazing memories and friendships with each other on the tour after spending so much time together.

“When we began this trip, there were 14 of us [and] I didn’t really know everyone,” Smith said. “But we decided to go on the roof of a hotel in Jaipur, and it was just a really nice bonding experience.”

Hahn believes that through travel, students may obtain perspectives and experiences that can’t be taught in the classroom.

He thinks that the success indicates that taking a similar trip in the future would be valuable to the student body.

“This was a great trip,” Hahn said. “We happened to have a really good group, the tour was set up well [and] the guide was good.

I definitely would consider another trip like this, maybe to another place. It was a lot of fun doing this on spring break. It’s good for the school– we become more global and worldly.” v

Double Take junior Austin Powell

“One Tree Hill” actor James Lafferty

freshman Maayan Gazit

One of the highlights of the trip was when students had the opportunity to ride on the backs of elephants up to Amer Fort, a palace located outside of Jaipur.

City rickshaw tours, Jaipur The group took rickshaws, small two-wheeled passenger carts, around the city of Jaipur and observed the local daily life. It also witnessed the city’s culture and diversity.

Hotel rooftop sunset, Jaipur The group members had one of their favorite bonding experiences of the trip on the rooftop of their hotel in Jaipur, where they talked and watched a sunset.

Elementary school visit, Jaipur The headmaster showed the students around. They met students and then they drank tea and talked about the differences between the American and Indian school systems.

Taj Mahal, Agra On the last day of the trip, students spent sunrise visiting the Taj Mahal. The massive, marble monument is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is located in Agra, India.

(Photos by Eva Grench)

We scoured the halls in search of Ladue’s best look-alikes... here’s what we found.

singer Lorde

9

social studies teacher Shante Lyons

“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Jason George

(Student photos by Julia Biest, Sydney Ellis and Ali Gold; celebrity photos by www.olivesofoblivion.com, flavorofwire.com and collaborationsworkshop.com)

10 in-depth

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Seas the night hayden hunt IN-DEPTH EDITOR

audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

A look at Prom 2015, the days that lead up to the event and what happens after the dance

YELP: Prom edition David’s Bridal - 10760 Sunset Hills Plaza $$ Located somewhat out of the way, David’s Bridal has a pretty large selection of prom dresses.

Although the store specializes in wedding dresses, there are many fun and exciting options for prom.

Promtroversial Polls It is not okay to drink on prom night.

Not applicable (9%) Strongly agree (30%)

Strongly Disagree (19%)

Somewhat Disagree (24%)

Breeze Blow Dry Bar - 9916 Clayton Rd. $$ The perfect look is topped off by a great hairstyle. Breeze Blow Dry Bar can do updos, blowouts, braids and more. They also have makeup artists who will add the final touches.

Somewhat agree (18%)

Prom buses are a good idea for students to go on after prom.

Not applicable (11%) Strongly Disagree (10%)

Stallone’s Formal Wear - 9644 Clayton Rd. $$$ For boys wanting to rent a tuxedo, Stallone’s is the perfect store. Located right by the middle school, they have everything to make for a memorable night— jackets, cummerbunds, bow ties and more.

Strongly agree (31%)

Somewhat Disagree (13%) Somewhat agree (35%)

Students should have a designated driver on prom night.

Strongly Disagree (5%)

Not applicable (6%)

Somewhat Disagree (4%)

Nordstrom - 1453 Saint Louis Galleria $$ Nordstrom is a great place to find shoes. Although the large selection of heels and flats can be overwhelming, the attendants do a good job of helping you navigate the store.

Somewhat agree (15%) Strongly agree (70%)

Breathalyzers should be used at prom.

Paperdolls Boutique - 7700 Delmar Blvd. $ This funky boutique offers many options for prom dresses. There’s a variety of dresses ranging in length, style and color. The employees are happy to help customers find the perfect dress.

(Photos by Sydney Ellis)

Not applicable (6%) Strongly Disagree (23%)

Somewhat Disagree (17%)

Strongly agree (25%)

Somewhat agree (29%) Results based on a sample of 176 juniors and seniors.

Panorama

April 3, 2015

in-depth

April 18th Agenda

Party Planner

Boys

Girls

11

A sit-down with STUCO junior class vice president Rachel Avery

Wake up and eat breakfast

8:00

Sleep

Hayden Hunt: What was your favorite part about planning prom this year?

Get mani-pedi

10:00

Slowly wake up and take a quick shower

Rachel Avery: My favorite part was probably picking the theme and going to the food tasting.

Pick up boutonniere

12:00

Run around trying to find a corsage

HH: Why did you choose the theme Palm Beach 1960?

Get hair and makeup done

1:00

Take a nap and play some FIFA

Try on dress one more time and practice posing

3:00

More FIFA

Arrive at pictures and wait for date

6:00

Try to figure out how to put on a tux mary xiao w ART EDITOR

Perfect Promposals One of the most exciting parts of prom is getting asked, or the so-called “promposal.” People often come up with elaborate plans to pop the question. Creativity always pays off when it comes to promposals. Take a look at how some students asked their dates to prom. v

RA: We needed to pick something very retro and bright, and Palm Beach was different than anything done before. The colors are blue, pink, orange, yellow, etc.

HH: How will the decorations advance the theme?

RA: We have many bright colors all around the room.

We also have shells and little decorations to tie the room together.

HH: What are you most looking forward to at prom?

RA: The dessert and dancing.

Juniors Kyle Cook and Gabrielle Smoller

HH: Will there be a band or a DJ? Why did you make this decision?

RA: A DJ— ZDDJ. We chose a DJ because it is easier with song requests.

HH: Do you think people will like prom and why?

Juniors Noah Krause and Sabrina Medler

Seniors Hannah Jacks and Aaron Garriga (Photos courtesy of Lucy Jonas and Gabrielle Smoller)

RA: Yes, I think prom is super fun and something you only have the opportunity to go to in high school, so it makes it special.

12 arts and entertainment

Panorama

April 3, 2015

What’s Happening Around Town?

Things to do around St. Louis in the month of April

“RiverWorks DISCOVERY: A Journery of Exploration” Union Station Until May 3 Cherokee Nights Cherokee Street April 9

OK Go The Pageant April 4

“Utopia: Revisiting a German State in America” Exhibit Missouri History Museum Until April 19 all art by audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

Home sweet home

juliann bi w ARTIST

Fresh, friendly and organic janey sheth A&E EDITOR

L

ocated on Delmar, Winslow’s Home is a familyfriendly restaurant that resembles a general store. The shelves are lined with children’s books and purchasable items, such as coffee mugs. The menu is seasonal, easy to choose from and very well-priced, considering that everything is fresh and organic.

The restaurant serves breakfast all day as well as some sandwiches, salads and daily specials. After ordering, the server brought us complimentary sliced fresh bread with herbed butter. The bread slices were relatively small, and there were only enough for each person to have one. Despite the modest quantity, the herbed butter provided a flavorful touch to the fluffy bread.

Everything looked appetizing on the menu, but I decided to order something from the breakfast menu. I selected the “avocado on toast.” This consisted of avocado and a poached egg on top of ninegrain bread. On the side of the dish was arugula, which had a nice pep-

(Photo by Janey Sheth)

pery taste and a lemon dressing.

The nine-grain bread was thick and substantial, while the avocados were fresh and soft. The poached egg was perfectly done– the middle was not overdone or too runny. It was topped with some spices, giving this dish a powerful punch.

My dining partner ordered the grilled cheese. Although this may seem like an average meal, it wasn’t any ordinary grilled cheese; it was loaded with fontina, chedder, herbed butter and topped with thyme. The cheese was nicely melted inside and there was a generous amount of butter on the slices of bread. However, this sandwich was a little heavy and rich, due to all the cheese and butter.

Additionally, Winslow’s Home has a wine room, featuring a 500-bottle collection, fresh-baked goods, meat and grab-and-go items. Although I didn’t get a chance to try the baked desserts that were on display, they looked very tempting.

I would definitely come back to Winslow’s Home; the atmosphere was very welcoming, the high quality food was brought to the table promptly, and the meal was offered at an affordable price. v

janey sheth A&E EDITOR

M

any know AWOLNATION’s mainstream hit “Sail,” however, the band’s new album, “Run,” strays from the sounds of former works. Whereas AWOLNATION’s first album, “Megalithic Symphony,” seemed like a random collection of songs and did not progress the band’s overall direction, the new record cohesively unifies tracks to tell a story with lyrics that are relatable.

Lead singer Aaron Bruno combines indie electronic sounds with killer vocals in a variety of songs, ranging from ballads to head-bangers, creating a well-balanced album.

The title track, “Run,” has one of the best beats on the album. The song starts off with an electronic sound, and then some hardcore bass and screaming from Bruno follows. In this track, Bruno sings, “I am a human being, capable of doing terrible things.” This is a perfect opening track, as it draws the listener in.

If one track on the album is going to get radio time, it would be “Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf).” This song alternates between Bruno screeching accompanied by deep electronic sounds and bass with piercing vocals. This would definitely be a crowd pleaser at concerts.

Another track that is full of passion is “Windows.” This song is indescribably different from all the rest, but in a great way. The high energy, hypnotizing chorus and multi-layer vocal harmony make it a novel track.

The screaming on the album can get a little overwhelming sometimes, which is why I like “Headrest for My Soul.” This acoustic song is simple and melodic, featuring soothing vocals and lyrics like, “There’s a leak in this boat/ someone toss me a rope/and a headrest for my soul.” This work gives the album more balance and is one of the more placid tracks.

One of my favorites on the album is “Woman Woman.” Although the lyrics are

somewhat cliché, I was captured by the rhythm.

Bruno tells a story in this song that most listeners can probably relate to. He screams, “I may be worthless without you/ I’ll never decide to replace you.” Even though Bruno shouts the lyrics, he manages to retain a deeper meaning in this love song.

However, some of the songs were not so alluring. Although the lyrics in “I Am” are powerful, the chorus became too monotonous for me. I liked the slowed down keyboard riff at the beginning, but the rhythm of the chorus became repetitive and disrupted the flow. Additionally, “Lie Love Live Love” has some of these same problems. The song starts off well with simple guitar chords, but the chorus seems to drag on.

Some other noteworthy songs are “KOOKSEVERYWHERE!!!,” “Jailbreak,” “Fat Face” and “Dreamers.” The transitions between fast drumming, soothing vocals and sci-fi infused synth rock sounds in “KOOKSEVERYWHERE!!!” create an enticing sound.

“Jailbreak” sounds the closest to “Sail” with its metronomic pace and piano melody. In this song, Bruno sings, “Now I’m living in a dream/ And I don’t think I’m ever gonna wake up.”

Despite its potentially offensive name, “Fat Face” does not provoke negative feelings because the lyrics express the artist’s admiration for his subject. This is a pleasant track with crooning vocals and light percussion.

“Dreamers” is short and sweet. It boasts pummeling drums, heavily distorted guitars, some signature killer screams by Bruno and an abrupt ending.

Bruno ends the album with “Drinking Lightning,” a more serious and dampened tune. He stays away from the electric effects and opts for a more relaxed sound. Bruno’s gritty vocals are also absent in this song and he instead showcases his smooth voice.

Although all the songs aren’t flawlessly produced, the new release, equipped with dark electronic sounds and shout-singing, will leave AWOLNATION fans satisfied. v

Panorama

April 3, 2015

arts and entertainment

How vinyl spun its way back

13

Tower Grove venue arranges listening parties aaron greenberg A&E EDITOR

T

he Demo, a concert venue, and Music Record Shop located in Tower Grove work together to create a fun and unique listening experience.

Every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the venues jointly host New Release Happy Hour– a listening party wherein audiophiles gather to hear that day’s new releases, relax over food and enter in record discounts and giveaways.

“We have a turntable set up in Music Record Shop, and it is hooked up to their amp and house speakers as well as piped in to The Demo’s professional house sound system,” Brandon Cavanagh, owner and promotions manager of The Demo, said. “We listen, chat with people, serve food and drinks... and then at the end of the night, Music Record Shop draws tickets and gives away the new releases of that day.”

Tuesday is the perfect day for a program like New Release Happy Hour because it is a standard in

the industry for new works to be released on this day. This norm, however, may be altered soon.

“The word on the street is that the change will take place sometime this summer, so when that happens, New Release Happy Hour will also change,” Cavanagh said.

The overall environment is very relaxed. The main attraction is the music, and that’s evident. It’s not a club scene or a party scene, rather an inclusive, casual hangout for music addicts wanting to kill time.

The extent to which people care about the actual music itself is almost shocking; they actively listen and comment thoughtfully. Patrons aren’t there for the beer or pizza– they’re there for the music.

The venue is intimate and cozy, but the small number of attendees makes it seem expansive. In addition, the professional grade sound equipment and concert venue acoustics make for great sound quality.

Cavanagh has always had an interest in organizing a project like this, and when the record store opened up next door, he and

Music Record Shop special events manager Dan Sexauer saw an opportunity to launch the program.

“I’ve always been passionate about going to a record store on release day and picking up whatever was coming out that day,” Cavanagh said. “[I] wanted to find some way to integrate that with my business.”

Anyone could fit right in at New Release Happy Hour. Age demographics are wide and music tastes sweep genres.

“All kinds of people [come],” Cavanagh said. “We get all ages here, and all different scenes, since we try not to pigeonhole the releases that we highlight.”

Sessions aren’t saturated with Grammy nominees and mainstream pop acts. Many smaller artists find a willing audience here. “[March] 24 we listened to new music from JEFF The Brotherhood, Courtney Barnett, J. Cole and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion,” Sexauer said. “We’re open to any genre of music.”

However, it’s not just unknown artists who receive play time.

Works by larger artists are also

SPIN THAT RECORD w Visitors at a New Release Happy Hour Session relax and unwind. This event, held every Tuesday, is especially effective because artists often release their works on this day of the week. featured at the weekly sessions.

The near future will hold new music from artists like Death Cab for Cutie, Brian Wilson, The Mountain Goats, Sufjan Stevens and Blues Traveler.

“We’re very excited about the new Death Cab [for Cutie] album coming out,” Cavanagh said.

The first session took place February 24. Although it’s only a month old, the program’s success has already pleased Cavanagh.

“Typical turnout is probably around 20 people,” Cavanagh said.

“But… it’s hard to gauge because it’s still in its infancy.”

Sexauer agrees and believes that holidays and the coming of spring will attract even more listeners.

Cavanagh knows exactly what he wants this experience to amount to. Ultimately, he wants New Release Happy Hour to bring people together in celebration of music.

“I’d like to see [the] community coming together and listening to new music, talking, picking up records, holding them [and] buying them. It’s infinitely more rewarding than pulling out your phone and downloading something from iTunes,” Cavanagh said. “There is life in vinyl, and beauty in life.” v

14 arts and entertainment

Panorama

Five seniors demonstrate their talents one last time teddy turner

April 3, 2015

Students give the inside scoop about their One Act plays and prepare for the shows May 1-2

A&E WRITER

“How to Go on a Date in Queens”

“What I Meant Was”

directed by senior Lacey Christ and written by Richard Vetere

directed by senior Jack Lavey and written by Craig Lucas What feelings do you hope your play will evoke?

I want my audience to feel uncomfortable watching my show. It should be extremely off-putting to watch people insult each other in perfectly calm voices, plus the text itself covers some controversial issues that should make the audience squirm just a little bit.

What inspired your play?

I knew I wanted to do a funny and heart-warming comedy, and the script for “How to Go on a Date in Queens” really jumped out at me. It was really well written, and it had a cast size that I was looking for.

Why are your participating in the One Act plays?

I’m participating in One Acts because it’s a nice capstone to my theater career at Ladue. I’ve performed in every show since freshman year, including One Acts, so it’s really interesting now to get a totally different view from the director’s side of the production.

Why are your participating in the One Act plays?

I have always taken theater classes, and I have taken pre-directing and directing this year, which makes me qualified to do the One Acts. I also participated in them last year, and I had so much fun doing it. I have seen the One Acts every year, and each year all of them are amazing. I have always wanted to direct my own.

What stage production do you think Ladue high schoolers should watch?

I think that high schoolers should come see all of the One Acts. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see your peers perform some great works of live theater. v

What feelings do you hope your play will evoke?

I really want to make my audience laugh at some of the scenes, because they are pretty funny at times, but I also want my audience to step into some of the characters’ shoes and understand their struggles. v rt w ewa le st stee

IST

ART

“The Red Coat” and “A Lonely Impulse of Delight”

“The Huntsmen” directed by senior Abigail Donahue and written by Quincy Long

directed by senior Janine Norman and written by John Patrick Shanely What sets your plays apart?

My plays are unique because instead of one long show, it is two short ones. Also, I believe they are unique because they examine true human emotion in a natural way, without overplaying things.

What’s the biggest challenge you have encountered with your play?

My biggest challenge so far has been learning more about the technical side of things and trying to figure out how to work lighting. Pecka has taught us the importance of seeing a larger picture than just our show or just the acting side of things. v

What’s your play’s basic premise?

This teenager, Devon is having a conversation with his lawyer father when Devon starts telling his dad about a club he made with his friends called “the huntsmen.” As they continue the conversation, it becomes clear that something went wrong in the club, leading to the death of a girl.

steele stewart w ARTIST

“Casting Shadows” directed and written by senior Jarami Calhoun What inspired you to write this play?

I wrote it inspired by watching shows like “Sherlock” and “Backstrom.” Both are interesting shows about very cerebral detectives, but, of course, each has its flaws, and so that “Casting Shadows” was born. actors What sets your play apart?

The play uses a feature that I call “stage rewind.” The scene happens, but through skill and staging it is possible to rewind the scene on stage. On top of this, the majority of the play happens in the characters’ memories.

Why are your participating in the One Act plays?

I’m really waiting to show the school my work. I started writing it last year, and I hope that it is as good as I think it is. v

What has been your favorite part of the One Acts so far?

My favorite part of doing the One Acts is helping my actors to explore their characters and the plot in-depth. This show is all about subtleties need a lot of time and good to execute. v

Panorama

April 3, 2015

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Kocher’s Corner audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

keona kalu OPINIONS EDITOR

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he only words I will always be able to say about myself were first said by author Maud Casey: “I was born with a reading list I will never finish.” I consume books the way most do food: with an impossibly voracious appetite. My book bucket list totals 92 books and series and the complete works of four authors. By the time you read this, it might be twice as long.

Though I don’t expect most to read as if it were a sport, fewer people are reading electively these days.

According to a Common Sense Media report from May 2014, 45 percent of 17 year olds admit to reading for pleasure no more than twice a year. What’s worse, especially for an aspiring bibliophile like myself, 42 percent of people will never read a book on their own again once they graduate from college.

Nowadays, there are more and more forms of entertainment that books must compete with. Why read “Water for Elephants” when you have six seasons of “Lost” waiting on Netflix? What does “Of Mice and Men” have on a Buzzfeed list of people who should be banned from the Internet immediately? Need I even mention the rabbit hole that is YouTube? With all these options, some of us need a little encouragement to pick up something that seems like 300 pages of sleeping aid.

Countless students have been goaded into cracking open the nearest book by teachers constantly lauding the vocabulary-enhancing quality of it. While exposing readers to new, more sophisticated words is definitely one positive aspect of reading, there are many more benefits.

An 2013 Emory University study confirmed temporary lingering biological effects of reading. They found increased connectivity in a part of the brain associated with language days after participants finished a book.

These new connections could be affecting students’ health in the long run. The National Institute on Aging said that playing “brain games,” attending lectures or reading keeps a person cognitively active throughout his life. “These intellectually stimulating activities may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s,” the NIA website reports. Generally, thoroughly exercising your brain with intellectual activities, reading included, preserves its health into old age.

Furthermore, reading is a wonderful stress reliever.

A 2009 study from University of Sussex tested various methods of reducing stress like music, coffee and walking, but reading proved to be the best method, reducing stress by 68 percent.

Of course, if reducing your stress levels, increasing brain connectivity and lowering your risk for Alzheimer’s are not enough to make you wonder exactly what lies between those book covers, none of the other myriad reasons will either. But you should really do yourself a favor and go grab a book right now. v (This column reflects the opinion of the writer)

Panorama Editorial Board Policies fail to effectively alter student eating habits

said that the decline was influenced, along with other factors, by the The school nutrition guidelines, implemented in 2012 and new requirements. spearheaded by first lady Michelle Obama, became more restrictive 46 percent of schools saw a decrease in revenue after the stanin the 2014-2015 school year. Currently, all snack foods, includdards were implemented, according to the SNA study. Students ing vending machine and a la carte items, must meet healthier are either wasting or abstaining from the new food because they standards. Proponents of the new regulations argue that students do not like it. In a Washington Post article from May 2014, child need nutritious, balanced meals– meals that include a hefty portion nutrition director Dolores Sutterfield stated that “older students of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, the standards are too know what they want, and some days they simply don’t want a expensive to implement, and are ineffective fruit or vegetable.” The SNA reported that 81.2 percent because students do not care for the food that of schools experienced “an increase in the amount schools are serving. of food being thrown away by students” since the The first lady’s qualms do have some regulations took effect. At Ladue and schools across validity. In theory, healthy breakfasts the country, the food they have spent so much and lunches for students across America money on eventually ends up in the garbage. make sense. However, the logistics of the One could even argue that the regulations plan do not. have actually made students less healthy. The An article from The Daily Signal 1.2 million kids that dropped out of the lunch from June 2014 reported that schools program could bring their own lunches that are are spending too much money abiding less nutritious than school-supplied ones. There is no by the regulations. Some “have reportedly transferred ting ding w ARTIST way to force teenagers to eat what is served, and when they money out of their teaching budgets to cover the food drop out of the program, they are impossible to monitor. Likecosts.” Food expenses soared in the 2013-2014 school year. wise, students have seen that some of the standards offer the same In a study published by the School Nutrition Association, 87.4 unhealthy food, just in smaller portions. Consequently they have repercent of schools, in a 238 school sample, reported an increase in sponded by buying more– leaving them just as unhealthy as before. costs during that year and 84.9 percent predicted that they would Childhood obesity must be addressed, but these guidelines are continue to rise in the coming years. not the way to do it. Providing educational information is a more Whole-grain and low-sodium foods are not only expensive, effective method of achieving better health. The current restrictions but also less popular among students. According to a Government not only cost thousands of dollars, but they also do not effectively Accountability Office study, participation in the National School fulfill their purpose of fighting childhood and adolescent obesity. v Lunch Program in the 2012-2013 school year dropped by 1.2 mil(Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board) lion students after many years of increased participation. Officials

Panorama strives to entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication aims to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among our readers.

Panorama is produced 10 times per school year by the journalism class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63124 (314)-993-6447 ext. 5463 www. laduetoday.com

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sarah Jacob Sabrina Medler

FEATURES EDITORS Ali Gold Julia Biest

OPINIONS EDITORS Benjamin Collinger Keona Kalu

A&E EDITORS Janey Sheth Aaron Greenberg

IN-DEPTH Hayden Hunt

PHOTO EDITORS Sydney Ellis Jeanne Wilkinson

ART EDITORS Audrey Kocher Mary Xiao

NEWS EDITORS Ethan Shuchart Sasha Rice

SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Bry Sam Shevitz

Panorama welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Panorama aims to accurately represent issues most important to readers and serve as a public forum for all students, staff and community members. Letters voicing readers’ opinions strengthen the paper.

Please bring signed letters to Room 216 or email them to panorama@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as the original intent remains unaltered. v

WRITERS Max Baker Katie Bohnert Katie Bry Hannah Frankel Isabella Fu Lily Hauptman Haley Horowitz Joel Hsieh Grace Kim Albert Liu Sophia Li Michael Petersen Mark Rogers Teddy Turner

PHOTOGRAPHERS Sophia Garland Jackie Gordon Ula Lijowska Jocelyn Kaza Sammy Leary Meghan Proskey Jenna Shanker Julia Tackes Sarah Waldman ARTISTS Juliann Bi Ting Ding Kira Svoboda Steele Stewart Wenxin Chen WEB MASTER Warren Biest BUSINESS MANAGER Lizzy Puyo ADVISER Jillian Miesen

16 opinions

Panorama

Students must pass citizenship test to graduate

PRO

Exam ensures awareness of major history and fosters political discourse knowledge to fully engage in the politics that affect his life.

Yet, according to a study by Xavier University in 2012, sasha rice one in three native-born Americans would fail the test. In NEWS EDITOR states that require students to take comprehensive civics he U.S. is known for being home to a score of immicourses, such a test may not seem necessary; however, basic grants, or as Israel Zang called it in 1908, a “meltfacts are important and should be viewed as a prerequisite for any high-level discourse about government and politics. ing-pot” of cultures. However, before immigrants become legal citizens, they must pass a citizenship test that States should follow Arizona’s lead, where the legislature passed the American Civics Act Jan. 15, requiring high natural-born Americans aren’t required to take. In order to ensure basic knowledge of civics for all citizens, native or school students to pass the 100-question Immigration and foreign-born, all students should be required to pass this Naturalization test in order to graduate, according to the citizenship test in order to graduate from high school.

Washington Post Feb. 2. Also, North Dakota became Applicants for naturalization “must demthe second state to pass such a law, and in both states, onstrate an ability to read, write and speak the bills passed with landslide votes. Further, at least 15 [English], and have a knowledge and underother states are currently considering civstanding of U.S. history and government.” ics test requirements, including Missouri.

Requiring a citizenship test secures a According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, after meeting other eligibility requiremore positive future in which youth play ments, prospective citizens must also correctly a larger part in the improvement of the country. All naturalized citizens should be answer at least six of the 10 questions given to them from a list of 100 questions from the required to have a comprehensive grasp on the nation’s political system. standardized civics test form.

For many, a passing grade on a 10-question test “If we want our political process more open audrey wang w ARTIST doesn’t seem daunting. However, when high school stuand free, with a truly informed citizenry, our young dents in Oklahoma and Arizona were given the same civics people need to learn real-time civics and real history,” Carl Bernstein, investigative journalist famous for reporting on test, less than four percent achieved the necessary score, according to the National Review Feb. 26. Contrasting starkly the Watergate scandal, said to the Civics Education Initiative in 2014. with the 91 percent passing rate of immigrants, it is clear that many students don’t have working knowledge of civics.

The American public needs to be more aware of the poliRequiring students to take the citizenship test could alleviate tics that govern life. In order to maintain the functionality of the country in the future, the younger generation must be this issue. properly educated and engaged in its workings and history.

The test should be re-administered as many times as necA test is not the solution to apathy, but setting a standard to essary for a student to achieve a passing grade, as the goal is simply to confirm that the test taker possesses sufficient generate discourse is a positive step. v

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Testing is needless and an ineffective promotion of civic education benjamin collinger OPINIONS EDITOR

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joel hsieh

OPINIONS WRITER

ivic literacy is a problem for a surprisingly large number of Americans, but simply mandating another test will hardly do enough to foster student participation in the political system.

The growing trend, led by Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona, requires students to take the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization test, a set of 100 basic questions regarding U.S. government and history. Students will have to get 60 of the 100 questions correct in order to graduate.

Such a test would create another hurdle in education and ineffectively measures students’ aptitude. It would encourage rote memorization instead of generating genuine discussion about civic involvement.

“I don’t think the test measures what is most important for students to learn,” said Diana Hess, a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and senior vice president of the Spencer Foundation, an organization that gives grants in support of education causes, as quoted in The New York Times Jan. 27. “If all we’re asking students to do is answer very simple questions, we’re not going to be working on the complex understanding that I think students need in order to participate well.”

Arizona is using this new requirement as a catch-all solution for its overall mismanagement of education. Last year, a court order was issued to repay schools for funding that lawmakers cut during the recession, approaching $3 billion. State lawmakers around the nation should focus on solving the broader problems in education and examine why students are not learning from their civics classes. Neglecting the root causes of poor education and administering ineffective tests will only hinder progress.

A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found in 2014 that more than a third of respondents could not name a single branch of the U.S. government. Additionally, while fewer than a quarter knew that a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate is required to override a presidential veto.

These adults studied these topics in school and were tested for mastery. However, the problem is that they don’t remember the concrete factual information as a result of not forming habits of an actively engaged citizen. Citizenship mustn’t be cheapened by the requirement of another test.

“Every teacher will tell you a test is not a measure of what a kid knows,” said Darcy White, a social studies teacher in Phoenix, quoted in The New York Times Jan. 27.

“Just because I think it’s easy, and I think my kids will do well is no guarantee.”

Further, this test would be redundant, as many states and school systems already mandate a basic level of civic education. For example, Missouri students are required to pass the Missouri Constitution test and districts nationwide have additional requirements to graduate. In addition, the variety of social studies classes can satisfy this need.

Rather than testing, schools should devote Corrections from Mar. 6 more resources to pg. 6 Last month’s International encourage volunteerWeek was not the first one ing, speech and debate that Ladue has ever had. and participation in their respective communities. A broader approach is required to create an educated population with the desire to engage in the political process. v

pg. 17 The signing ceremony took place on Feb. 4. pg. 8 The girl pictured is Amber Jackson. pg. 14 Lupita Nyongo’s name was misspelled.

April 3, 2015

Collinger’s

Contemplations audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

The case for debate

benjamin collinger OPINIONS EDITOR

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alking to walls, strange schools and competitions have been a staple of my typical weekend throughout high school. Granted, speech and debate tournament experiences can be strange.

Although unusual, the activity allows participants to engage in important dialogues.

There is no better activity to develop essential academic, life and professional skills than speech and debate. Preparing cogent speeches requires forensic students to refine their written communication to a substantially higher level than required by high school English classes. In addition, when students are tasked with explaining an idea to others, they must be in command of that idea.

The term “interdisciplinary” is a topical buzzword in education. Its goal is to combine two or more academic disciplines into one activity in order to drive learning to greater depths. Forensics– another name for speech and debate activities– achieves this objective marvelously. At Ladue specifically, Forensics should be a central part of our educational focus for all students.

Advocacy skills taught by Forensics are a prerequisite to effective communication and leadership. As Joe Bellon, a senior lecturer and debate coach at Georgia State wrote in 2000, the activity breaks down barriers to civic engagement and has leveled the playing field for students because it teaches them to be assertive and confident citizens.

Speech and debate reaches all subgroups of students equally. As Kevin Minch, director of debate at Truman State University, wrote in 2006, students find “a sense of direction and the intellectual stimulation they felt they lacked in their normal curriculum.”

Minch finds that from growth in leadership skills, higher attendance and improved behavior, debate yields higher productivity and quality of life.

Personally, speech and debate has been a transformational experience that helped me develop an informed, confident and capable voice. Despite my lack of natural skills, I have worked tirelessly throughout my high school career to shape my argumentation, public speaking and poise.

First, policy debate has educated me on topics ranging from Venezuelan politics to outer space. It has taught me how to research efficiently and effectively and forced me to adapt to a variety of paradigms and styles. Exposure to ideas through debate has improved my critical thinking skills, and changed the way I approach my life.

Second, extemporaneous speaking taught me how to consume news and understand international affairs, while synthesizing complex ideas orally in front of others with limited preparation time.

Finally, the activity has given me the opportunity to lead. Teaching the complex concepts and skills of speech and debate to younger students has made a concrete impact on others. Judging, participating in practice debates and providing constructive criticism have allowed me to raise the performance of myself and my team. I have been empowered by my unique experience and will utilize the knowledge I have gained throughout my life. v (This column reflects the opinion of the writer)

April 3, 2015

Baseball’s back

Panorama

sports

Senior Sit-down

Preliminary report of St. Louis Cardinals’ new season

aaron bry SPORTS EDITOR

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nce again, the weather is warming up and plants are reaching full bloom. With the arrival of spring comes along a St. Louis staple as prominent as the Gateway Arch and toasted ravioli: Cardinals baseball.

The St. Louis Cardinals enter the season as the defending champions in the National League Central, after finishing the season last year with an impressive 90-72 record. In the playoffs in the Divisional series, the team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 in games and destroyed Cy Young winner and MVP Clayton Kershaw for the second year in a row. Then, the Cardinals went on to face the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series for the second time in three years. Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost the series 4-1 in games, and the Giants went on the win the World Series over the Kansas City Royals in seven games.

The team started the offseason in the most deplorable way imaginable: losing a young player, outfielder Oscar Taveras, in a car crash. The loss was especially hard for the Cardinals and fans because of his fame and popularity. Taveras was signed by the team when he was only 16. The team plans to honor him this year by wearing patches with his initials on their right sleves.

The club addressed the loss by acquiring outfielder Jason Heyward from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for starting pitcher Shelby Miller.

This was not the club’s only offseason move to address potential holes on the roster. The Red Birds also signed relief pitchers Jordan Walden and Carlos Villanueva in order to replace All-Star Pat Neshek who signed with the Houston Astros.

The Cards will rely on veteran Adam Wainwright, as they have for the past eight years, to lead the young pitching rotation. Behind him will be Michael Wacha who is still trying to put together his first full MLB season after missing the majority of last year because of a minor shoulder injury.

In addition to Wainwright and Wacha, 36-year-old John Lackey will start games for the Cardinals.

Lackey’s contract this year is very atypical for a veteran of his talent and caliber; he is currently under contract to make $500,000, the MLB league minimum. He isn’t making more because when the Red Sox traded him to the Cardinals, his contract included a clause that stated that if he were to miss significant time because of an elbow injury, he would be obligated to pitch for a year at the league minimum.

Overall, the starting rotation looks strong, despite some questions at the bottom end. Currently, manager Mike Matheny is still deciding who the fifth starter will be. Carlos Martinez, who has started sparingly

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Each month, Panorama sits down with a senior athlete. April’s athlete is Michael Wielansky from the baseball team.

ALL-STAR STANCE w In a spring training game against the New

York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina awaits a pitch. Molina has played for the Cardinals since 2004, and has been an All-Star for the past six seasons. This year, he will hope to continue his excellent defense, while improving his offense. (Photo courtesy of Miami Herald/MCT Campus)

and pitched in relief roles for the past two seasons, is the frontrunner, but Marco Gonzales, a left-handed rookie, is also in the running. Late in games, the Red Birds will look to closer Trevor Rosenthal to take care of the ninth inning. Rosenthal finished the year last season fourth in the MLB in saves, with 45 total.

Despite this, he blew six saves, a number he hopes to reduce this upcoming season.

Offensively, the Cardinals will again have one of the strongest, deepest lineups in the game. Matt Carpenter, who has been selected as an All-Star for the past two seasons, looks to be the leadoff man for the third year in a row. Newly acquired Heyward will most likely bat after Carpenter, with veteran Matt Holliday anchoring the three hole.

Matheny will switch up the lineup throughout the season, especially at times when the team is not performing at a level that he is comfortable with or likes.

Veteran catcher and perennial All-Star Yadier Molina hopes to have a bounce-back year in terms of homeruns and batting average as he saw a decline in both this past year. Another key to the team will be third-year player Matt Adams.

Adams looks to be the starting first baseman. Last year, he proved that he can handle the role defensively, but is vulnerable against left-handed pitching as he only batted .190 against southpaws.

The Cardinals enter the season as the favorite to win the NL Central, but will have to face harder competition than in recent years. The Pittsburgh Pirates, a relatively young team, will continue to improve, while the Chicago Cubs have potential to make a playoff spot especially after signing Joe Maddon to be their new manager, and left-hander Jon Lester to be their ace. The Cardinals will kickoff its season in a game against the new-and-improved Cubs April 5. v

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Aaron Bry: What are your team’s goals for the season?

Michael Wielansky: Definitely to win conference, to improve on our record from last year and ultimately win districts.

AB: What do you do on game day to prepare for it?

MW: Really I just try to stay hydrated and make sure I’m mentally ready to go and play my best.

AB: What is your favorite thing to eat before a big game?

MW: Jimmy Johns is my go-to pre-game meal.

AB: What is your walk-up song?

MW: Currently, it’s ‘Public Service Announcement’ by JayZ, but I might change it to ‘No Role Modelz’ by J-Cole.

Drop your plans and hitch a ride to go cheer on your Rams at these must-see match ups:

• April 6 - Baseball vs. Whitfield • April 6 - Water Polo vs. University City AB: Do you have any individual goals for the year?

• April 8 - Boys tennis vs. Oakville

MW: I’m going to try and hit over .500 for sure.

• April 13 - Girls soccer vs. Parkway North • April 22 - Girls Lacrosse vs. Cor Jesu Academy (Photo by Meghan Proskey)

AB: How is this year’s team different from other teams you’ve played for?

MW: We’re younger, but we work harder, and it will pay off.

(Photo(Photos

by Meghan Proskey)

by Jessica Puyo)

18 sports

Panorama

April 3, 2015

Spring sports preview: a look into the new season of Ladue sports Girls lacrosse

Boys tennis max baker

michael peterson

SPORTS WRITER

SPORTS WRITER

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ast spring, the girls lacrosse team had an outstanding season, finishing the year with an impressive 21-7 record, including tournament play. After a heartbreaking postseason loss, the team is ready to start their new season strong, with ambitions of advancing further in the state tournament.

Besides the team’s impressive record, the girls were able to pull off several victories against strong teams. In addition, many players made the list for most points scored per game.

“Last year our team was super talented, and it’s a team that I will never forget,” senior Jane Nelson said.

Unfortunately, last season came to an end too soon when Ladue faced Ursuline in the Sweet Sixteen of the state tournament. After a long, hardfought battle, and two overtime periods, Ursuline finally scored the sudden death goal that ended the game.

“It was a tough loss, but we gave all we had in that game,” Nelson said.

The girls’ first game was against Nerinx March 30. The team hopes to put last season behind it and focus on the current one.

“I am really confident in this year’s team,” junior Lucy Jonas said. “We have such positive energy every minute during practice.”

Although the girls team graduated eight seniors last season, the team is not fazed. Instead, it will rely on the upperclassmen to lead the younger players.

POWER CRADLE w Running

past the defender, senior Jane Nelson works to advance the ball upfield. This is Nelson’s fourth year playing lacrosse for Ladue. Next fall, she plans play at University of Central Michigan. (Photo by Sydney Ellis) “While we may not have a huge team, each individual contributes in her own way,” junior Carly Rosenthal said. “Also, throughout the past couple of years, we have all formed close bonds with one another, which I feel will really help impact our success this season.”

The girls will play at home against Marquette April 6 and then will host MICDS April 14. v

he boys tennis team hopes to rebound in its upcoming season after a tough loss against CBC in the district finals last year.

Newly hired coach Margaret Junker will lead the squad into a promising season. The team has great leaders and added two key freshmen. These younger players will carry the team in the future when the seniors and juniors graduate.

The team began its season March 31 against DeSmet High School. The team is led by junior Ben Cobin, who qualified for state last year in doubles and plays in the top seed. Cobin admires his teammates for their hard work and commitment to the sport.

“He is a great player that athletes on the team look up to, and he always brings positive attitude,” Junker said.

Junker loves the game because it is a lifelong sport. She enjoys seeing kids start playing when they’re young and continue to play throughout their lives.

The junior varsity team also shows promise. The team consists of 11 freshmen who have the potential to become strong players for the school. Many of the junior varsity players will compete for varsity spots next year, with the varsity squad graduating six seniors. With this experience, the varsity team plans to have a successful year and hopefully try for the state title.

“Winning state would probably be one of the biggest accomplishments in my life,” Cobin said.

TWO HANDEDw Perfecting his

backhand, senior Eric Millner practices. This year Millner hopes to improve off of his strong season last year, in which he helped the team capture a conference title.This is Millner’s fourth year playing tennis. (Photo

by Sammy Leary) Seniors Tyler Christner, Eric Millner and Austin Burton are the senior leaders of the team. Burton is still recovering from injuries he suffered in the soccer season, but will be ready to compete at full-speed by the start of the season.

Christner provides a lot of experience for the team. This will be his third year on the varsity squad. Millner will look to build off of a strong year last year, his first in which he played for points on the team.

“I’m very excited for our run at state this year,” Millner said. “We have a very deep squad, and I cannot wait to see what we’ll be able to accomplish this year.” v

Boys and girls track and field aaron bry SPORTS EDITOR

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rack and field is by far the school’s largest sport, with 112 participating student athletes. However, despite the team’s enormous size, it remains one of the closest teams at Ladue.

“We all compete in different things, but we still support each other and root for one another on meet days,” senior Cal Weisman said.“The closeness of the team is definitely one of my favorite parts about track.”

The close-knit squad entered the season with high aspirations. Both the boys and girls teams hope to send several athletes to the state meet. The coaches stress individual progress and self improvement in order to strengthen the

team as a whole. While the squad competes in meets for points against other teams, track and field is ultimately an individual sport.

“Our main goal is for all of the athletes to improve throughout the season,” coach Keith Harder said.

In track, unlike in team sports, athletes cannot rely on their teammates to make the big play. Each member must bring his best to every meet. A track and field athlete’s time or score is solely based on his skill, preparation and fitness.

All of the subjectiveness of team sports, such as potential bad calls, are effectively eliminated in this sport.

Because of the sport’s reliance on the physical shape of the participating athletes, conditioning and fitness are vital to the success of the team. Members of the squad took initiative regarding their fitness and spent countless hours in the offseason training, in order to reach their prime competition physical shape.

“I trained really hard to get my 400 time down,” senior Tahjai Lashley said. “I’m going to be a part of the 4x4 team this year so I want to do well in that relay.”

Lashley not only runs for the track and field team, but also for the cross-country team, so in a way she has been training all year. Her goal is to make it to state and ensure that the team remains close and that not too many cliques emerge.

The track and field team will rely on its many strengths to carry it to wins over the opponents it faces. The season can be long and hard on the athletes’ bodies so they will rely on one another to keep each other focused and motivated. v

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT w (Top) Running past his teammates, sophomore Iyayi Ogbevoen trains to lower his times. (Bottom) Kicking along the track, senior Tahjai Lashley completes her pre-practice warm-up. The boys and girls track teams practice together and break up into groups based on their respective events. (Photos by Aaron Bry)

April 3, 2015

Baseball michael peterson SPORTS WRITER

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ast year the baseball team had an impressive season with a 16-6 record.

However, this year, with many young players joining the squad, the team hopes to surpass last season’s record.

Along with the team’s outstanding winning record, the boys also claimed the conference championship against the Clayton Greyhounds. Another highlight for the team was the destruction of fellow conference school, Normandy, with a victory of 36-3. Unfortunately, its postseason run was stopped short with the unfortunate loss to the Chaminade Red Devils 5-2 in the first round of districts.

After graduating six seniors from last season’s team, the squad has picked up several young players to fill their large shoes.

“We have a lot of strong defensive players returning, and I think some young players are going to step up and play very well for us,” coach Robb Garrett said. “I look forward to seeing what they can do.”

The boys began the season on opening day, March 20. In addition, the team participated in the Troy Tournament, where the Rams faced tough competition such as CBC, DeSmet and Francis Howell. Senior captain Michael Wielansky is not worried about his players’ ability though.

“The team is really looking good this year,” Wielanksy said. “We’re very young but have a lot of talent.”

The team earned its first win March 29 when it defeated the Parkway West Longhorns 2-0. Sophomore Ty Buckner tossed a perfect game, not allowing a single opponent

Water polo

Panorama to reach base all game. This was a huge accomplishment that he and his teammates will never forget.

“I didn’t even know he had a perfect game until the last out,” senior James Dunger said. “But after I realized, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen or been a part of.”

Besides the strong core of upperclassmen, the team will rely on younger players to make an immediate impact and play with the older kids. Sophomores Buckner and Ben Sheinbein will be big players on the team this year.

The boys look to have a strong season and repeat as conference champions. They also want to make it further in districts than they did last year, a tough task– but an attainable one by this talented squad. v

aaron bry SPORTS EDITOR

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he girls soccer team kicked off its season with an out-of-town tournament in Quincy, Illinois. The girls captured second place with a record of 1-1-1.

“Since we have a lot of freshmen this year, Quincy was a great experience for us to get to know them on and off the field,” senior Sarah Kessel said. “We really bonded as a team and came back a cohesive group.”

The girls played Seckman first and lost 2-3. After that, the team rebounded with a 1-0 win over Plainfield Central and then went on to tie host-team Quincy, 1-1.

The squad returned from its trip March 28, enjoyed a day off day the following day and then played another game March 30.

The team hosted conference and district rival Clayton and defeated the Greyhounds

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2-0 with junior-captain Lizzy Puyo netting both goals. The defense, along with senior goalie Danielle Thompson, played an excellent game in the shutout.

The Lady Rams hope to continue their early success as they play a slew of games throughout the first weeks of the season. They will host Principia April 6 and then play Parkway Central the next day. This year, the team hopes to improve on its outstanding record of 20-5 from a year ago. However, this year their schedule is more difficult.

“Our schedule this year is harder than ever before,” junior Madeline Billeaud said. “We’re playing a lot of state-ranked teams, so our goal is to try to win as many of those statement games as possible and just improve as a team throughout the season.”

Moving forward, the girls will rely on the leadership of the experienced upperclassmen, as well as the talent of the younger girls. The team hopes to continue their success throughout the year. v

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GETTING HOT w Warming up between innings, senior James Dunger works on his breaking ball. This is Dunger’s fourth year playing baseball. (Photo by Sydney Ellis)

see themselves as part of a system make them great leaders,” Clay said.

The St. Louis water polo community max baker is small and many of the athletes know SPORTS WRITER players on other teams. The athletes become part of an exclusive group that very he water polo team is looking few teenagers are apart of. to have a breakout season and A water polo player must be wellconditioned and have the essential physicompete for the district title after an impressive finish last year. cal skills to wrestle the ball away from The team will take on the Clayton the opposition. The players must give Greyhounds March 23 to open the highly maximum effort for the entire game to surmount their opponent. anticipated season.

“Water polo is different from other First year varsity coach Michael Clay loves the depth on this year’s team. He sports because it requires maximum believes the team has an excellent chance effort at all times,” junior Noah Krause of competing for the Final Four. said.

The junior varsity team finished the The Rams benefit from great leadership displayed by senior goalie Matthew season last year with an astonishing record of 32-3. This performance will Richards and senior Salim Douaihy.

“Their willingness to try things outside hopefully set them up for a successful of their comfort zone and their ability to 2015 season.

Coach Clay enjoys watching his team develop and exceed its own expectations. He stresses that constant hard work in practice pays off in games. He loves the balance between the varsity and junior varsity teams this year.

“The junior varsity team is the strongest group of freshman and sophomores that I DEFEND THE GOAL w Treading water, senior have had in years,” Clay goalie Matthew Richards anticipates an opponent’s shot. said. “They have a bright (Photo by Meghan Proskey) future.” v

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Girls Soccer

sports

Gathering in their pre-game huddle, the girls get psyched for a match-up in the Quincy Tournament.

The girls displayed a strong showing, going 1-1-1 and finishing second. Upon return, the girls defeated their division rival Clayton 2-0, improving their record to 2-1-1. (Photo courtesy of laduesoccer.wix.com/laduesoccer)

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Panorama

April 3, 2015

Social butterflies

The Butterfly House’s March Morpho Mania kicks off spring sydney ellis PHOTO EDITOR

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jeanne wilkinson PHOTO EDITOR

ings flapped and fluttered throughout the month of March at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. The house hosted a special event known as March Morpho Mania, named for the Blue Morpho butterfly. At the event, the tropical conservatory was flooded with this South and Central American butterfly. Despite their beauty, Morphos often hide to avoid predators, so seeing them in person is rare.

The Butterfly House is a St. Louis favorite, and Morpho Mania is the perfect way to start spring. Whether viewing Morphos or Monarchs, a trip to the butterfly house is sure to delight. v