Ladue Panorama, November 2014, Volume 63, Issue 4

Ladue

Panorama

Ladue Horton Watkins High School • 1201 S. Warson Road • St. Louis, MO 63124 • Volume 63 • Issue 4 • November 7, 2014

news (pg.2)

CHANGES TO THE ACT AND SAT

features (pg.5)

PEER MEDIATION

in-depth (pg.8)

EBOLA UPDATE

a&e (pg.11)

“SEEDZ” REVIEW

opinions (pg.13)

AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT

sports (pg.14)

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

photo (pg.16)

This season’s tastiest treats! (story on back cover)

(Photo by Sydney Ellis)

(Photo by Elyse Mack)

PUMPKIN TREATS

2 news

Panorama

In the

School mary xiao w ART EDITOR

Math teacher and field hockey coach Barb Dwyer received the Janet Esrock Coach of the Year Award.

She was chosen for the award by other area field hockey coaches.

The boys varsity soccer team won the district tournament Oct. 30 with their 1-0 win against Clayton.

The Ladue Early Childhood Center staff received a 2014 Women’s Champion for Social Change Award Oct. 23.

The award recognizes people in the community who try to improve the lives of women in both the workplace and in their recovery from domestic violence.

Standardized tests to change their standards katie bry NEWS WRITER

C

ollege placement test changes will soon affect students who plan to take the ACT and SAT. The biggest change is that the state of Missouri will now require all juniors to take the ACT, according to college and career counselor Ken Fox. In April, the entire Class of 2016 will take the ACT, and the Class of 2017 will take a practice ACT. “Given that the ACT is required in April, the college and career office encourages all juniors to get some experience with the ACT in October and or February,” Fox said. audrey wang w ARTIST In order to further familiarize students with the test, the school offered a practice ACT Oct. 15. However, some students opted to take the PSAT instead. They needed to take the PSAT to be considered for a National Merit scholarship.

“In the past, students had the true option of choosing between the ACT and SAT,” Fox said.

School shuts down iPad apps NEWS WRITER

The girls varsity field hockey team won the Public Schools Tournament Oct. 18, making it the district’s first win in the tournament.

“With the introduction of the ACT for the high school Class of 2016, the only question now is whether students will choose to take the SAT in addition to the ACT.” According to the Princeton Review, because “technology-enhanced assessments are the wave of the future,” a computer-based version of the ACT will soon be available. However, test creators did not announce any changes to the subject matter.

“ACT does not plan content changes,” the Princeton Review said. “They are taking the stance that their test is already a good predictor of college readiness.”

On the other hand, pressure from the academic community influenced the SAT writers to make changes in order to “go beyond assessment,” according to the College Board. It added that this occurred because the current version of the SAT does not accurately test students on what they have learned, or measure their level of college preparedness.

The Princeton Review said that the new SAT and PSAT will impact the Class of 2017 and the ones that follow. Because of this, Fox believes that students in the Class of 2017 should be aware of what the redesigned SAT will look like when it comes to deciding which standardized test to take.

Junior Madeline Billeaud decided to take the PSAT in order to help her determine whether she would prefer the format of the SAT to that of the ACT. Billeaud said that a large percentage of the Critical Reading portion of the test involved vocabulary knowledge.

“We had to choose what word would fit best in the sentence, and all of the choices were words that you don’t normally use in your daily vocabulary,” she said. “Those are the hardest questions because studying doesn’t help that much. It just depends on your range of vocabulary and your understanding of the context.”

The Princeton Review said that the redesigned SAT will include more relevant words in the context of a passage. The words will be less obscure and more colloquial.

Similar to the ACT, the redesigned SAT will not penalize students for incorrect answers. This policy will encourage students to take a chance on answers they may not be sure of, which in turn could improve their score. The current version of the test penalizes students one-fourth of a point per incorrect answer.

“They advise you to not answer a question if you have no idea what the answer is because you get more points off if you miss a question than if you leave it blank,” Billeaud said. “I think this is a little unfair because if you are deciding between two possible answers, you could get penalized.”

Overall, the redesigned SAT will be more focused and useful, according to the College Board. With this in mind, the test writers hope to engage students by focusing on topics covered in the classroom. v

Disciplinary crackdown: hannah snidman

The Foreign Language Association of Missouri honored Ladue Horton Watkins High School alumna Magda Lijowska for Excellence in Foreign Language Study. Both Lijowska and Spanish teacher Maritza Sloan were honored at FLAM’s annual fall conference in Kansas City Oct. 18.

November 7, 2014

T

he administration and technology staff shut down applications on iPads of more than 100 students who downloaded an application called a Virtual Private Network.

Students use VPNs because the applications can create a different profile on electronic devices.

Once downloaded, the apps allow students to get around the school’s SonicWall on some websites.

“Students want to use VPNs because with the added privacy comes the ability to bypass filters from employers, schools and sometimes national governments,” senior Michael Prablek said.

He also said that students use VPNs to access sites such as Youtube, Reddit and Facebook.

However, the district’s acceptable usage policy prohibits the use of these websites.

“Everybody who picked up an iPad signed an acceptable usage policy,” technology coordinator Adam Stirrat said. “[The policy] says you are not allowed to download any software that tampers with, damages or works with our network– that’s what a VPN does.”

When the technology department discovers that a student downloads a VPN application, the student’s iPad partially shuts off.

Students must bring the iPad to the library to reset it.

For the first offense, students do not receive any severe consequences. However, the administration will use disciplinary actions, including possible suspension or iPad confiscation, if a student downloads a VPN multiple times.

“Let’s say you’re using your iPad and you decide to download that VPN app because everyone’s saying how easy it is. Our system scans and finds that– now all of your apps are gone,” Stirrat said.

“They’re not deleted; they’re just hidden and locked, so the only way to unlock them is to come down to us. We then discuss what happened, why it happened and encourage you not to do it again.”

VPN applications bypass security in the iPad settings and the school’s protected WiFi network.

This hole allows students to surf the internet and play games without any restrictions.

“Certain websites that students want to use are blocked,” senior Malcolm Davis said. “The problem is that students will find ways to get [around] the rules.”

Due to contracts with Apple, the district must use the App Store to obtain resources for teachers. For this reason, the App store cannot be blocked.

Consequently, the technology TAP TO LEARNw Focusing on the screen, staff must use senior Malcolm Davis uses his iPad. The new iPads have other various allowed for enhanced learning; however, they can also be methods to misused to play games. Often, this requires a forbidden monitor stuVirtual Private Network. (Photo by Sarah Waldman) dents’ iPads.

“The first for the most part, it’s games. And thing that we’ve done in the manwith games, it’s specific to Madden agement system is create a scan NFL.” in a profile where our system is After the district learned more always scanning the iPads,” Stirrat about VPNs, they put rules in said. “As soon as we see a target place to prevent students from word on our list, it triggers a lock, downloading them in the future. which then hides [apps] and makes The technology staff has not yet your iPad not very useful.” detected any VPNs after the introIn most cases, students downduction of such measures. loaded a VPN in order to play “The school doesn’t want stugames that would otherwise be dents to have VPNs because they blocked. Around school, the video can bypass the filter and prevent game series called Madden NFL the school from tracing student gained popularity among students.

Internet activity,” Prablek said.

“In theory, you’re opening up “It’s a liability to have students some of the social media sites that using a public school’s Internet to a we’ve blocked,” Stirrat said. “But potentially mischievous end.” v

Panorama

November 7, 2014

‘Yes means yes:’

news

California passes landmark bill to In the prevent sexual assault on campus

Nation

mary xiao w ART EDITOR

ethan shuchart NEWS EDITOR

Freshman Jaylen Fryberg opened fire at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington Oct. 24, killing one student and injuring four others before committing suicide.

A

California bill supporting affirmative consent on college campuses became law Sept. 29.

The legislation requires any student wishing to engage in sexual activity with another student to obtain an explicit sign of consent.

According to the bill, “consent can be conveyed by a verbal ‘yes’ or signaled in a nonverbal way, but lack of resistance or objection can not constitute consent.”

Until now, the “no means no” approach was taken to prevent assault. With affirmative consent, students wishing to be sexually active must not just look for a ‘no,’ but actually obtain a ‘yes.’

“Communication is key to learning whether all parties in a sexual encounter are in agreement; it is not enough to act based on circumstances,” Cornell law professor She also argues the new law will Mary Beth Grant said in a written flip the “innocent until proven outline defining consent. guilty” way of investigating cases.

Although some universities Although sexual assault afalready have affirmative consent fects those of all demographics, laws in place, California became statistics show that the problem is the first state to back this policy at prevalent on college campuses. The the state level.

National Sexual Violence Resource However, some believe that this Center reported that 7 out of every law will do more harm than good.

200 women on college campuses Author experience Shikha rape or sexual Every student deserves a learnDalima violence every ing environment that is safe and academic has reservahealthy. The State of California school year. tions Stereotypiwill not allow schools to sweep cally, about college rape cases under the rug. the law. campuses are In an - Sen. Kevin De Leon notorious for editopartying and rial about the issue, she said that underage drinking. According to the problem is that affirmative the National Institute of Health, consent policies assume that sexual nearly half of reported sexual asassault is the result of miscommusault cases on campuses involved nication instead of an intended act the consumption of alcohol by one of violence. or both of the involved parties.

“The assumption is that “Inability to consent due to insomehow one partner didn’t ask or toxication means ‘no’,” Grant said. realize that the other wasn’t into When a person is the recipient of it,” Dalima said. “But the fact is sexual advances but is highly in[that] most [people who commit toxicated, he or she may be unable assault] know exactly what they to consent to any sexual conduct.” are doing.”

Sen. Claire McCaskill agrees She also said that people who that sexual assault on college are capable of being violent could campuses is a serious issue. She realso lie about obtaining consent. cently conducted a national survey

3

(Photo illustration by Sydney Ellis) and found that almost 40 percent of schools haven’t received a reported incident of sexual assault in over 10 years. However, McCaskill believes that this does not mean it isn’t happening, but that it indicates a lack of understanding on how to report assault.

To combat this, she embarked on the “Claire on Campus” tour, giving talks at 10 campuses across Missouri. Student and faculty representatives from over 50 Missouri schools attended these discussions.

According to a press release on her website, McCaskill discussed information concerning cooperation between colleges and local law enforcement, and the challenge of raising student awareness about available resources.

“Getting at the problem of sexual assaults is complicated, and requires folks on all sides to be fully engaged,” McCaskill said Oct. 10 in a press release on her website. “So having these discussions where stakeholders were in the same room and talking to each other was immensely helpful.”

Using feedback received from her college visits, McCaskill led a group of bipartisan senators to create the Campus Accountability and Safety Act. The act aims to help protect and empower students

by ensuring that resources for preventing and reporting assault are available.

“Prevention should be the utmost priority,” Sophomore Donna LaMore said. “Without preventive measures the problem [of sexual assault] can spiral out of control.”

By forcing schools to be more proactive in controlling sexual assault, lawmakers believe that they will counter colleges’ attempts to suppress or downplay the issue.

Sen. Kevin de Leon, who wrote California’s affirmative consent bill, believes that it will positively reform how cases are investigated.

“Every student deserves a learning environment that is safe and healthy,” De Leon said Sept.

28 in a press release. “The State of California will not allow schools to sweep rape cases under the rug.”

Keeping sexual assault off of college campuses and making victims feel safe are the main goals of the legislation. Students should feel confident reporting incidents of rape and understand what can constitute assault.

“Based on the cases that come before the campus disciplinary system, we know that some students have not learned fundamental information about the line between fun and assault,” Grant said. v

Secret Service dogs Hurricane and Jordan were honored as heroes after being injured in their efforts to stop the White House fence jumper Oct. 20.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Oct. 26 that there will be no consequences for the 3,100 graduated students who took fake courses in order to raise their GPAs.

An unmanned Atares rocket exploded Oct. 28 at the Wallops Flight Facility off the coast of Virginia.

However, no deaths resulted from the large explosion.

Three 13 year-old girls were hit by a speeding vehicle while trick-or-treating Halloween night in Santa Ana, Calif.

All three girls were pronounced dead at the scene.

4 news

Panorama

In the

World

mary xiao w ART EDITOR

The mayor of Vendargues, a town in southern France, banned clown disguises for the month of November after several violent assaults were commited by teenagers dressed like clowns.

Michael ZahefBibeau stormed the Canadian Parliment building Oct. 22 and killed a Canadian soldier before dying in a shootout with police.

A Canadian woman handed back a piece of ruins from the ancient city of Pompeii in October, more than 50 years after she first took it.

Three men were arrested after an explosion at a bus station in northeastern Nigeria, which killed at least four people and injured around 32 others. The Boko Haram Islamist insurgency are the primary suspects in the ongoing investigation.

Israeli police reopened Temple Mount or alHaram al-Sharif, a key holy site, after its closure following the shooting of a prominent Jewish activist.

The site was reopened to Muslim worshippers Oct. 31, with entry to men restricted to those over 50 because of fears of unrest.

November 7, 2014

Hong Kong students protest government

Officials attempt to limit free representative elections as citizens fight to keep democratic practices and principles isabella fu NEWS WRITER

A

negotiation occurred between the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Hong Kong officials Oct. 21 to end pro-democracy protests.

The most recent conflict began Aug. 31 after China stated that it will allow direct elections in 2017, but that voters must choose from a list of pre-approved candidates.

This decision caused public outrage, and was seen as a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, causing a series of protests now known as “Occupy Central.”

The students desire the resignation of Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, who was chosen by an electoral college of largely pro-Beijing lawmakers. They are also pushing for the reversal of China’s Aug. 31 decision to require voters to choose from pre-approved candidates and the submission of a new electoral reform plan that includes the civil nomination of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. But, the discussions ended in a stalemate.

The events occurring in Hong Kong have not only affected people around the world, but also local residents. Junior Jessica Matson lived in Hong Kong for 12 years because of her father’s job.

“It’s very different living in a large cosmopolitan city compared to the suburbs because it is safe– kids take public transportation alone starting in middle school and there is always a lot going on,” Matson said.

Matson still maintains contact with many of her old friends in Hong Kong. Like much of Hong Kong’s youth, they participated in pro-democracy protests.

“My friends have been down [in] the protests and have told me that it is incredibly peaceful,” Matson said. “People are offering tutoring to students protesting [and] places to sleep, shower [and] charge phones.”

SITTING FOR CHANGEw Occupying a street in the Mong

Kok neighborhood of Hong Kong, protesters face the police Oct. 17. The people protested against restricted elections for the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong. (Photo by Stuart Leavenworth/MCT) Sophomore Alex Tan’s family “I support the protests as long is from Wuhan, the capital of as they remain peaceful,” Matson China’s Hubei province. Though said. “Hong Kong has a superiornot directly affected by the protests, ity complex toward China and his family holds strong opinions therefore has a huge feeling of about the anxiety for the conflicts.

The protestors will have to be fact that at any “I bemoment [the] patient and the government lieve that Chinese will the govern- will have to be flexible in order take over.” ment is Sevfor the two parties to reach an justified in eral steps have agreement. controlling - sophomore Alex Tan been taken to the protestend the proers with tests, including force, but should be more open to many fruitless negotiations. The compromise with the protesters,” Oct. 21 meeting between HKFS Tan said. leaders and Hong Kong officials The protests have generally marked a major turning point in been nonviolent, although the the conflict, but it failed to produce Hong Kong Police Department reany results. ceived criticism recently for the use “I think everyone hopes for of pepper spray and tear gas. Many a peaceful, quick resolution that of Matson’s friends were among benefits both sides, but that is probthose pepper-sprayed. ably not realistic,” Tan said. “The

protesters will have to be patient and the government will have to be flexible in order for the two parties to reach an agreement.”

Counter-protests emerged in response to the pro-democracy demonstrations. According to CNN, though the latter aims to give a voice to the poor, many counter-protesters are low-income individuals who blame the prodemocracy protests for disturbing their lives and disrupting their work and earnings. Even so, many people support the peaceful methods shown by demonstrators.

“I completely agree with the methods to which the protestors are achieving their goals,” Matson said. “They are grabbing the attention of the world. But then again, it is incredibly risky because at some point, if this doesn’t end and nothing changes, China will most likely come in and take the matter into its own hands.”

China did start responding to these protests. According to CNN, in late September, the Chinese government blocked Instagram and other social medias and censored certain phrases such as “Hong Kong” on Sina Weibo, a popular microblogging site in China.

“The Chinese government fears that the kinds of protest and exercise of rights demanding greater political freedom will be contagious and trigger something in China,” Xiao Qiang, an adjunct professor for the School of Information at the University of California at Berkeley, said in an article for “I Know Today.” “That’s what they fear the most.”

The stalemate between the government and the protesters continues as both sides stand strong for their positions. However, the government, activists and affiliated peoples around the world still have hope for peace as plans for future negotiations are underway.

“I believe that the protesters have a right to protest and [should eventually] expect change in their government,” Tan said. v

Panorama

November 7, 2014

features

We can work it out together

5

Peer mediation allows for conflict resolution

Before it ended, it was a popular program among students. rachel steiner FEATURES WRITER “[The program] just kind of went away when those student mediators graduated,” Tabscott ver had a disagreement said. “[Serot] picked it up again, with another student but and I’m glad that it’s back.” didn’t think an adult could The students in this program help? The new peer mediation each had to go through training to program offers a solution. gain the necessary qualifications to Counselors David Tabscott and handle certain types of conflicts.

Joe Serot reintroduced peer mediaThe National Council of Alcohol tion this year, which had been in and Drug Abuse facilitated existence ten years earlier.

A lot of times, adults aren’t the this training.

The program helps students “When I say that we resolve problems between right ones to [solve issues] so a coutrained them, I mean that themselves with the use of ple of teenagers with some training we really gave them the lana trained peer to facilitate and structure could be more able to guage– how to help people peaceful communication. talk about their problems “Just as the name implies, help these two reach a solution. and try to find a way they [peer mediation is a group] - counselor David Tabscott can either agree to disagree, of fellow classmates trying find some type of comto help their peers mediate a mon ground or otherwise make that peer mediation has to offer to situation,” Tabscott said. it so that it’s no longer an issue,” the student body.

Peer mediators are specifically Tabscott said.

“Students may feel more comtrained on how to handle conflicts.

Applying to be a peer mediator fortable talking to fellow students They act as unbiased judges for was advertised on the announceabout their issues rather than a quarreling students trying to reach ments. Six mediators were chosen teacher, counselor or faculty mema solution. This lets students work ber,” Tessler said. “We’re not really and trained, including junior out their disagreements without Logan Wolfe. there to solve the issue for them, getting an adult directly involved. “[On] an early release day we but to guide them and help them to “A lot of times, adults aren’t were excused from our classes develop their own resolution.” the right ones to [solve issues] so [and] we had a representative of This is not the first time that a couple of teenagers with some the program teach us how to be peer mediation has been at Ladue. training and structure could be

E

more able to help these two reach a solution,” Tabscott said. “As we report [to] the administrative team that we’ve successfully resolved a dispute peacefully, what I anticipate is they’ll start seeing more and more that peer mediation is a good resolution to help solve student problems.”

Junior Ally Tessler participates in the program, serving as a mediator. She believes that there is a lot

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

“I really like [advanced literature and composition] because it’s a different kind of writing style than I’ve [done] before. It’s more challenging than in middle school because you have to put your own quotes into it, and the way you write is just different. I really like it because it’s like discovery writing, like journalism, the way you put quotes into [the writing.]”

mediators all day,” Wolfe said.

“She led activities and simulations of mediations to prepare us.”

There are guidelines as to what kinds of issues are appropriate for a student to mediate. Mediators do not handle situations that they are not prepared for or that would put them in danger.

“There can’t be any threat of violence or something like that, and it can’t be something that was like a hate crime,” Tabscott said.

“It’s often people that are friends or have been friends that disagree, and that’s typically the kind of issue that comes to the attention of the mediators.”

In addition, there are guidelines in place for peer mediators to use in solving each dispute. According to Wolfe, privacy and respect are among the most crucial of these. “[The entire process] is confidential,” Wolfe said. “We all sign a

ting ding w ARTIST

contract that states that everything discussed at mediation will stay between the members. If the issue between the two students involves issues we are not qualified to handle, we must stop the mediation.”

Students seeking mediation should contact Tabscott or Serot to set up an appointment. The program relies on competent facilitators, but a great deal relies on the conflicting students having the ability to work out their disagreements for themselves.

“We simply lead the people fighting to find out what went wrong between them and to have them talk about how and why their feelings are hurt,” Wolfe said.

“The students are fully responsible for how the situation ends, and it’s all in their own hands.” v

6 features

Panorama

Polls of the People Which standardized test will you submit to colleges?

Read more about standardized testing on pg. 2

This town is ‘Our Town’

Fall play features new faces and challenges cast with difficult acting techniques and minimal props

Both the SAT and the ACT

20%

ali gold

FEATURES EDITOR

Neither the ACT nor the SAT

1%

SAT only

4%

ACT only

75%

How have you perceived media reports of Ebola?

0.6 0.5

Read more about the Ebola outbreak on pgs. 8-9

54%

0.4 0.3

November 7, 2014

U

julia biest

FEATURES EDITOR

nder the big lights, a play about a small town was performed. The fall play this year, “Our Town,” entertained audiences by utilizing challenging acting techniques, a few simple props and a talented cast.

“Our Town” takes place in small-town America during the early 20th century. The play centers on the fragility of life and the way people fail to see its beauty until they feel they are in danger of losing it.

“I prepared for [my role] by learning all of my lines and understanding that things back in the early 1900s were a lot slower and totally unlike the fast pace of today’s world,” sophomore Michael Burke said. “The set was as minimal as possible so the audience was focused on the show. The only props we had were a couple newspapers, a book and umbrellas. As actors, we had to learn how to pantomime holding and using objects that are fake.”

A play written in 1938 by Thornton Wilder, “Our Town” was revolutionary in breaking the fourth wall. This means that some of the actors speak directly to the audience during the performance.

“It was very strange because the number one rule of acting is that you ignore the audience,” senior Jack Lavey said.

“You’re supposed to be aware of them, but never directly address them. To have these monologues of just talking to the audience for like 10 minutes was very strange.”

Sophomore Julia Kennedy snagged the leading role of Emily Webb. In the past, Kennedy had been on the technical side of the plays, so she enjoyed gaining a new experience center stage.

“I have learned during this play that I love to perform,” Kennedy said. “It makes me so proud of myself and the cast when we finish a show because we have achieved our goal.”

The three-act play abandoned the traditional two-act model. Additionally, “Our Town,” used a stage manager as a narrator in order for the audience to understand the show’s message. There was also a dramatic change in the cast. A large number of theater students graduated at the end of last year, so many underclassmen had the opportunity to play leading roles in this play.

“This year we started off our school year with quite a few freshmen and then some other students who had never done this before,” theatre director Michael Pecka said. “That was a little bit stressful, but also kind of exciting to have some new faces in the fall show.”

These new actors had to learn how to get in character before they took the stage. In addition, the technical crew worked to make the show run smoothly. All of the students’ efforts were necessary for the success of the show.

“My involvement with plays has taught me that every production is a team effort,” Burke said. “Each performer is equally important to the story and everyone has to be completely committed to making the show amazing for it to be amazing.”

The cast practiced during the six weeks leading up to their opening night Oct. 22. Cast members had to attend practices until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After all of their hard work, the crew was happy with the results of the play.

“You get a real feeling of pride after each performance,” Burke said. “At the beginning of rehearsals, it seems like we’ll never be ready in time for the show. However, a month of rehearsals can make a terrific show [and] all the hard work worth it.” v

30%

0.2

16%

0.1 0.0 I think the media has overexaggerated the threat.

I think that the media has covered the case fairly.

The media reports about Ebola have greatly scared me.

What is your favorite Halloween activity?

Read more about a newly released horror film on pg. 11

39% 25%

like to go to a haunted house

LET’S PLAY w

like to go apple or pumpkin picking

19% 17%

like to go trick-or-hopping

like to see a scary movie (Statistics based on 160 sampled)

(Above) Senior Jack Lavey breaks the fourth wall during “Our Town” by speaking directly to the audience. (Top Left) Senior Jarami Calhoun and sophomore Michael Burke converse during act one. “This play didn’t use props because we wanted the audience to imagine everything that was going on, and also because props would require a lot of set changes and movements with different props,” Burke said. (Bottom Left) Sophomore Julia Kennedy’s and junior Joe DeBoer’s characters get married during act two of the play. “The most rewarding part of the role was being able to work with such an amazing cast,” Kennedy said. (All photos by Sammy Leary)

Panorama

November 7, 2014

features

Positivity through pins

7

New cyberbullying campaign strives to cultivate welcoming, safe environment by getting the school community involved. They liked the idea of spreading kindness in person and online.”

The LSHS club was based off of the Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide Coalition, which is a way for students to learn about how to identify signs of suicide. The suicide prevention program visits health classes each semester. Coming off of this idea, the LSHS club has expanded to also promoting bullying prevention and awareness.

“Last year, I had a few students approach me about sponsoring a

stand up and speak out against all forms of bullying. hannah frankel “I hope it will strengthen relaFEATURES WRITER tionships and improve the way we hile many associate interact with one another,” Ross October with fall, said. “By spreading happy, inspirapumpkins or Hallowtional messages around, hopefully een, members of Ladue Students the school will get the shot of Helping Students correlate the positivity it needs.” month with bullying prevention.

Senior Marim Salib is another LSHS members participated in a student involved in LSHS and the campaign called #StartsWithUs to #StartsWithUs campaign. She increase awareness about cyberbulhopes that through the club and lying, beginning Oct. 16. the campaign, students will feel Teacher sponsor and school more welcomed. psychologist Maggie Travers got “We want students to know Ladue involved when she took that there are peers that are willing LSHS to a CHARACto help them out with any TERplus cyberbullying of problem they face Bullying is something we all know kind workshop. The club socially, emotionally or even about, but we often shove it into the academically,” Salib said. participants worked with eight other high schools, back of our minds. Hopefully this “All the members of the club including Lafayette High been or will be trained campaign will be the start of positive have School, Lindbergh High so that we know how to change.

School and Mehlville handle situations.”

High School.

Apart from the - senior Katharine Ross “The goal was to leave #StartsWithUs campaign, with a plan to help stop the LSHS club hopes to procyberbullying,” Travers said. “The club about similar subject matter mote positivity around the school. eight schools worked together on a and I thought this would be a great The club members want to reach plan that they could [use] on social format,” Travers said. out to students experiencing any media with #StartsWithUs.” Senior Katharine Ross is one sort of difficulties.

The idea they came up with of the leading individuals pushing “The goal of LSHS is to involved a basic item: a clothespin. for the program. She wants the promote a safe and inclusive Club members wrote supportive news of the movement to spread school environment, so this was a messages on the clothespins like throughout the community. perfect opportunity for them to get “You make my day,” along with “The purpose of the campaign involved,” Travers said. “The club “#StartsWithUs,” and spread them [is] to inform members of the members are very passionate about throughout the school by pinning community of bullying, and just reaching out to others who are them onto other students’ clothes to get everyone thinking,” Ross experiencing mental health issues and backpacks. said. “Bullying is something we all or problems related to bullying.”

“When someone gets pinned, know about, but we often shove it To accomplish its goal, the club [he is] encouraged to take a picture into the back of our minds. Hopehas activities like “Free High Five of the positive message and post it fully this campaign will be the start Fridays,” where they walk around on social media with ‘#StartsWith- of positive change.” giving high fives to students in Us,’ and then pass on the message Ross wants the campaign to the hallway. Another is “Jolly to someone else,” Travers said. have a beneficial impact on the Monday,” where members pass “[LSHS members] want to proschool. She believes it will inspire out Jolly Ranchers in an effort to mote empathy among their peers students and encourage them to promote a cheerful week.

W

Double Take assistant principal Elizabeth Grana

“Gone Girl” actress Missi Pyle

sophomore Pranay Saahit Peddinti

YOU’VE BEEN PINNED w Junior Emily Bebee participates in the #StartsWithUs campaign by pinning a clothespin with a positive message on it onto a classmate’s backpack. “I think it’s great because it spreads awareness just by a simple clip,” Bebee said. “People passing it on represents togetherness.” (Photo by Jackie Gordon) “The pins were just the start,” Ross said. “We’re still brainstorming ways to get the word out and strike up discussion about bullying and other negative behaviors among students. We’re constantly thinking of ways to improve the community.”

LSHS members welcome interested students to attend their meetings Mondays after school.

They really appreciated the strong response students had with continuing to spread both the pins and the campaign’s message.

“The goal is for everyone to be involved,” Travers said. “[Students] can attend a club meeting or contact me directly if they want to help. We would also love to partner with other clubs so we can be unified in our efforts.”

Club participants believe that making the school a more positive place starts with the students themselves. They hope that even small acts of kindness, like giving free high fives or passing out Jolly Ranchers, will continue to spread encouragement and optimism throughout the school. Promoting a happy environment is the ultimate goal of the club. Members belief that this campaign is just the first step to achieving this goal.

“The club wants to enlist the help of everyone in the school to take responsibility for their behavior,” Travers said. “It’s very easy to give a compliment or say kind words to someone. You could really make someone’s day by just saying hello or giving them a smile.” v

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

“Life of Pi” actor Suraj Sharma

senior Claire Crow

“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Jessica Capshaw

(Student photos by Ali Gold and Julia Biest; celebrity photos by hollywoodreporter.com, justjared.com and celebritybabyscoop.com)

8 in-depth

Panorama

Ebola

Misconceptions about Ebola have led to fear and panic in the U.S.

November 7, 2014

The Mystery of

The virus can only be transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva or blood, through objects contaminated with the IN-DEPTH EDITOR virus or through infected fruit bats and monkeys.

Originally discovered in 1976, Ebola first appeared in the African countries of Sudan and Zaire. The primary outbreak fter several reported cases of Ebola Hemorrhagic of the disease had a mortality rate of 53 percent, infecting Fever in Dallas, Texas, people across the country more than 284 people. began to fear an outbreak would develop in the U.S. Many people do not know that the current outbreak is Anxiety developed when doctors at Texas Health Presbynot the first time Ebola has appeared in the U.S. In 1989, terian Hospital in Dallas diagnosed Liberian Thomas Eric scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Duncan with Ebola Virus Disease Sept. 30. Duncan was the Infectious Diseases diagnosed a different strand of Ebola first person diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. in monkeys being kept in Reston, Va. Soldiers, supervised About two weeks later, nurses Nina Pham and Amber

by CDC specialists, entered the building with space suits to Vinson were diagnosed with Ebola as well. The two helped euthanize the monkeys and decontaminate the building. treat Duncan, who died Oct. 8.

According to pathologist Dr. Frederick Murphy, this Many people began speculating about an Ebola epidemic strain of Ebola, known as Ebola Reston, was almost as in the U.S. following the outbreak in African countries such deadly as the current African as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. strain. However, no humans The World Health Organization “When I first heard about Ebola, initially reported cases of Ebola in I was concerned. Even though the were infected with the disease, so the story was not as publiAfrica March 24. As of Oct. 24, more disease has been around for years, I cized as it is today. than 10,114 cases had been reported The country has watched in the three countries. Of these cases, didn’t know anything about it when the disease closely since the 4,912 resulted in death. this epidemic started.” confirmation that two nurses People all around the world - junior Rasika Sant contracted it from Duncan. are wondering whether or not this After Pham’s diagnosis Oct. 12, disease is something that they really need to worry about. Most do not know all of the facts about health organizations, schools and airlines panicked, as Pham had flown to Cleveland, Ohio and back before her diagnosis.

Ebola, including its symptoms, its methods of transmission All of the people on both of her flights were warned that and its overall science. Due to this lack of knowledge, many they may have contracted the disease, and several schools people feel frightened. shut down for a few days.

“When I first heard about Ebola, I was concerned,” “When I heard about the nurses, I felt bad for their famijunior Rasika Sant said. “Even though the disease has been lies,” sophomore Brian Carter said. “I was also nervous that around for years, I didn’t know anything about it when this it would start to spread and that there was a chance it could epidemic started.” spread to people I know.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Thirteen days after her diagnosis, however, Pham was WHO have an abundance of information about the disease declared Ebola-free. After receiving plasma from an Ebola on their websites to help educate the public. Ebola is a viral survivor, Pham beat the disease and even received a hug disease, with an average 50 percent fatality rate. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. from President Barack Obama. hayden hunt

A

kira svoboda w ARTIST

“I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today,” Pham said at her press conference Oct. 24. “I am on my way back to recovery even as I reflect on others who have not been so fortunate.”

Vinson, who was treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, has also been declared Ebola-free. Doctors discharged her from the hospital Oct. 28. After her release from the hospital, Vinson held a press conference. She urged people to remember that even though there are very few cases in the U.S., there are still people suffering across the globe. She prompted the country to use its resources to aid in the treatment of victims of the disease in Africa.

“I’m so grateful to be well and, first and foremost, I want to thank God,” Vinson told NBC News.

“While this is a day for celebration and gratitude, I ask that we not lose focus on the thousands of families who continue to labor under the burden of this disease in West Africa.” audrey kocher Many healthcare workers outside of the U.S. are at highrisk of contracting the virus. Doctors Without Borders sent

all art by audrey kocherw ART EDITOR

Less Contagious Patient 0

Person Infected

by Patient 0

Ebola

Hepatitis C

SARS

Panorama

November 7, 2014 many doctors to the heavily infected areas of Africa to aid in the treatment of Ebola victims. Since the doctors are in direct contact with infected patients’ bodily fluids, they are at risk of being infected by the disease.

For example, New York doctor Craig Spencer was diagnosed Oct. 23 after returning from Guinea. Doctors Without Borders requires doctors coming out of this area to monitor their temperatures, and if they catch a fever, call the Doctors Without Borders officials. Spencer did so and was admitted to the hospital shortly after.

Spencer received treatment at Bellevue Hospital in New York, and according to health officials, responded well to the treatment. The methods used by the medical staff at Bellevue Hospital were very different from the response to the initial case in Dallas.

Workers brought Spencer into the hospital through the back door, rather than making him sit in the crowded emergency room. The CDC also sent a team to New York before Spencer tested positive for the disease. As this demonstrated, hospitals and the CDC are becoming much more prepared to handle Ebola than they were when the first case occurred in Dallas.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital received a great deal of criticism concerning the way it handled the case, but many feel that no one in the country was prepared for Ebola when it made its first appearance in the U.S. “There had to be a first hospital,” Dr. Sean P. Elliott, Medical Director of Infection Prevention at the University of Arizona Health Network, told The New York Times. “Unfortunately for [Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital], it was them.”

Some think that the way the government and the CDC initially dealt with the disease was not efficient or substantial enough.

People wanted to shut down flights from places near the highly-infected areas.

Others, such as science teacher Mark Miller, wish that the government had intervened promptly, when the first cases of Ebola were detected.

“I think a lot more should have been done early w ART EDITOR when it was an outbreak in Africa,” Miller said. “If more had been done to contain it, the outbreak would have been

in-depth

9

SUITED UP w Stepping out of an ambulance, a person from Frisco, TX who was suspected of contracting Ebola arrives at the emergency room of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Healthcare workers dressed in full containment suits helped transport the patient. Texas Health Presbyterian treated the first Ebola patient in the U.S., Thomas Eric Duncan, who arrived in Dallas from Liberia. The hospital received some criticism for their handling of the case, as they originally sent Duncan home with antibiotics as treatment. (Photo by Lucas DeLuca/Dallas Morning News/MCT) over already, and it wouldn’t have slowly trickled out like it twice, and the second temperature suggested that she had a did.” fever. Subsequently, police escorted her to a hospital, where The government and the CDC have since taken more she sat in quarantine for three days before being released. precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreadHickox spoke out against the policy and its ambiguity. ing anymore than it already has. There are no direct flights Many people were outraged about her treatment. Pressure from Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia to the U.S. The CDC from the White House and the press led to changes in the has also set up entry screening checkpoints at five major quarantine policy.

U.S. airports that receive The policy was amended so health94 percent of all travelers care workers can serve the quarantine If [Ebola] gets out and we don’t from the infected countries period in their homes and receive comcontain it, it has the potential through indirect flights. pensation for the work they miss.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo Government officials, doctors and to kill more, but there are other and Gov. Chris Christie civilians are all trying to find the right diseases that are much more of a implemented a quarantine balance between excessive caution and threat.” policy Oct. 24 for all aid blissful denial. While the disease does workers that had contact - science teacher Mark Miller pose a threat to Americans, so far that with Ebola patients. Many threat has been effectively contained. claimed this policy was Many people are anxious to see if the inhumane after the handling of nurse Kaci Hickox’s case policies and protocols that have been implemented will be was reportedly disorganized. effective enough to prevent a true outbreak in the U.S. Hickox volunteered with Doctors Without Borders in Si“There needs to be a certain amount of worry because it erra Leone and flew back to New Jersey Oct. 24. According is a disease that can spread and can kill fairly gruesomely,” to an editorial she wrote in the Dallas Morning News, she Miller said. “If [Ebola] gets out and we don’t contain it, it was greeted by a somewhat chaotic environment. Officials at has the potential to kill more, but there are other diseases Newark Liberty International Airport took her temperature that are much more of a threat.” v

More Contagious HIV/AIDS

Mumps

Measles

infographic inspired by Adam Cole/NPR

10 arts and entertainment

Panorama

November 7, 2014

What’s Happening Around Town?

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

Timeflies and Kap Slap The Pageant Nov. 11

5th Annual Green Ball Moonrise Hotel Nov. 14

Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival Venues vary Nov. 13-Nov. 24

“Motown: The Musical” Fox Theatre Nov. 18-30

all art by audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

Health conscious

juliann bi w ARTIST

Café offers vegetarian cuisine janey sheth A&E EDITOR

I

was pleasantly surprised by Seedz Café’s flavorful dishes and soothing ambiance. This quaint café, located in Demun, was well-decorated, equipped with a friendly staff, offered a tasty menu and played great music.

The staff was extremely helpful and answered all my questions about the exotic ingredients used in their creations. For example, they explained to me that Macha, an ingredient used in their drinks, is a superfood. I had a hard time deciding what to order because I wanted to try everything on the menu. In the end, I decided on the veggie burger. As a vegetarian, I can honestly say this may have been the best veggie burger I have eaten. The burger was loaded with sprouts, tomatoes, avocados and a cashew chipotle cheddar sauce that took the burger to a whole new level of perfection. Made from chickpeas, the crispy burger

(Photo by Janey Sheth)

was rich with flavors. It came with a side salad and a handful of tortilla chips, providing me with plenty of food to fill me up. Although simple, the salad, with greens and sunflower seeds, was topped with a lemon vinaigrette, which gave a kick to my taste buds. After eating their delicious burger, I knew I just had to try their desserts. At the front counter they had small, raw cacao brownie bites that looked similar to cake pops. I bit into the brownie ball and savored the flavor.

This healthy take on a brownie was a definite winner.

All in all, this café offered a healthy option for many everyday dishes, such as Fettuccine Alfredo and Pad Thai. I walked out of this café feeling perfectly satisfied.

Whether or not one is a vegetarian, he can find something to enjoy at Seedz. The café offers unique dishes as well as some guilt-free treats to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.

The menu is so tempting that I will have to return to Seedz to try all the tasty items that this undiscovered café has to offer. v

teddy turner A&E WRITER

M

ary Lambert, an up-and-coming artist, went from singing on Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ smash hit “Same Love,” to making her own name. She recently released her full-length debut album “Heart On My Sleeve.” Lambert mixes confessionals with love songs and depicts her lesbian relationship as an important aspect of her identity. Her contemporary pop style combines acoustic and electronic instruments.

In “Secrets,” Lambert’s latest radio single, she introduces herself by detailing her flaws and quirks, including “my family is dysfunctional/ but we have a good time killing each other.”

Listeners can relate to her vulnerability and honest lyrics. The track features a piano riff with hearty drums, triumphant horns and even an opera section.

Both “Secrets” and the title track “Heart On My Sleeve” clearly show that Lambert is not a reserved songstress. She champions body positivity in the two-part song “Body Love” on her 2013 extended play “Welcome To the Age of My Body.” Both take inspiration from her slam poetry days. In “Body Love, Pt. 1,” she graphically describes how some plus-sized girls struggle with self-esteem and consequently, resort to self-harm and suicide. In “Body Love, Pt. 2,” she encourages women to embrace their bodies and recoil like a “tree stump with leaves sprouting out reborn.” Her message is based on the adversity she faced as a child, giving “Body Love” credibility.

Many already knew about Lambert’s homosexuality since she sang the famous chorus from “Same Love,” but in her own music, she presents her sexual orientation more deftly. When she recycles the chorus from “Same Love” in “She Keeps Me Warm,” she doesn’t turn homosexuality into a political rant. Instead, she makes the song a love story about finding a girlfriend, with the line “she says that people stare cause we look so good together.” In the Rick Springfield cover “Jessie’s Girl,” Lambert dampens the original’s power-pop bravado, transforming it into a somber piano ballad.

The song, which is about loving a male friends’ girlfriend, retains the original intent but adds a new depth to Springfield’s work.

Overall, Lambert recounts her struggles to empower others. In “Sum Of Our Parts,” her voice flutters as she sings, “we are more than our scars.” She paints herself as a Phoenix leaving her troubles and asks her listeners, “are you raising yourself/above your father’s empire?”

She compares herself to a Phoenix to show that even though she has faced many hardships, she can rise above those moments, reborn as a better person. Finally, she utilizes spoken-word, rallying listeners to rise from the wreckage and “live again.”

Lambert exhibits her personal problems tastefully without glazing over them. As one of the mainstream’s few openly LGBT artists, she gives a voice to those struggling with their identity. All listeners can appreciate Lambert’s music when it comes to facing life’s difficulties. Lambert skillfully uses music to empower herself, and sets an example for those who need help overcoming their own issues. v

Panorama

November 7, 2014

Ouija bored: ethan shuchart NEWS EDITOR

T

he modern horror genre tends to succumb to the same formulaic plot with every horror movie. There are very few surprises or differences between these films. A few movies like the 2010 remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Insidious” have surprised me with a new twist on horror; however, Stiles White’s “Ouija” failed to fall into this category.

Note: this review contains spoilers. The movie centers around a group of teenagers who believe that a Ouija board led to the mysterious death of their friend Debbie. However, as more of the teenagers start dying, they realize that through the board, they have released sinister, demonic spirits.

With, ironically, the board as their only real tool for the furtherance of their survival, the kids must navigate their unwanted connection to the spirit world before it kills them.

I find it hard to describe the plot of the film past this point.

arts and entertainment

11

Predictable new horror movie fails to break the mold with classic scare formula and reliance on anticipated gimmicks

No scene logically follows the one before it, making it incredibly difficult to follow the time line of events. The movie was full of elements I’ve seen repeatedly used within the genre. For example, the pretty girl walking home by herself died, and when her friend drew a bath, she drowned in it. Although these scenes were originally intended to be climactic, in reality, they failed to surprise diligent horror movie fans.

The movie is titled “Ouija,” so I understand why the board made many appearances throughout the 90 minutes. However, the group’s reliance on the board quickly became boring. At least in typical horror films, the spirit has to seek out its victims. Instead of

turning away from the source of their haunting, the kids stupidly revert to it. Not only do these actions produce more trouble for them, but the notion simply does not make sense. Even in decisions not involv-

wenxin chen w ARTIST

ing the board, the characters acted without real purpose; there was no reasoning behind their actions.

From a scare standpoint, I knew the PG-13 rating would limit the intensity, but the writers missed

many opportunities, continuously opting for simple jump-scares that could be seen from a mile away.

Despite the movie’s gross oversaturation of the Ouija board’s presence, not a single scare occurred during any of the scenes featuring the game.

These and other scenes had the potential to be truly frightening, however the number of misleading, disappointing gimmicks was far greater than that of legitimate horror moments.

As far as the actors go, most of them played their roles well despite the poor writing. The movie consists mostly of newcomers. The leading actress, Olivia Cooke, just made her feature film debut earlier this year with “The Quiet Ones,” also a supernatural horror film. She por-

trayed the grief of her character, Laine, over her dead friend very effectively; however, this aspect of the film swallowed up any chance Cooke had to develop her own character. Her sole purpose became to cry over her friend; this prevented her from displaying any of her character’s other traits.

While strong female roles often enhance a movie, White tries to make his female lead prominent by emphasizing the weakness of the male characters to a ridiculous degree. Trevor and Pete, played

by Daren Kagasoff and Douglas Smith respectively, were present in almost every major scene of the film, but they lacked lines or any power in the outcome of the film.

They often just went along with what the girl wanted and rarely voiced own their opinions. Their actions did not alter the course of the movie in any way.

The best actors in the world would struggle to bring such a lacking script as this to life. This movie failed to meet any of my expectations, and horror movie fans alike will agree that “Ouija” is not worth the price of admission. v

12 opinions

Panorama

November 7, 2014

Kocher’s Corner

Collinger’s

Contemplations audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

Let it go!

benjamin collinger OPINIONS EDITOR

D

espite the popularity of the song “Let it go” from “Frozen,” its clear message has yet to be implemented. After a certain point, people have little control over many aspects of their lives, yet they continue to hold on tight. This lack of control leads to unnecessary stress. Generally, we often become too preoccupied with things that are completely outside of our control like the decisions of college admissions officers, or the performance of fantasy football players. As a result, we lose focus on what our actions can truly change.

For this reason, people must practice emotional detachment, looking at the past as a sunk cost in relation to their own lives. Dwelling on anything, success or failure, is not beneficial to anyone’s well being. It is self-defeating and hinders progress. Try to adopt the football coach’s mentality– only this week’s matchup matters. Put conflicts and successes in perspective in order to move forward.

Contrary to popular belief, emotional detachment is not about relinquishing motivation or disregarding relationships. Nor is it a state of apathy or indifference. Emotional detachment allows individuals to stay balanced and think clearly. As a result of employing certain detachment strategies, they are able to handle daily tasks more efficiently. While some students employ these strategies naturally, others need guidance.

First, pay attention to your state of mind. We often construct realities based upon perceptions that may not be true. In moments when your mind is flooded with negativity, it can be hard to identify the right course of action. Find one positive part of your day to focus on in these moments. Then, realize aspects of your life that make you stressed and learn to manage them. Try to focus on something you can take control of. In my own life, I have found that my efficiency and ability to think clearly are often closely tied to the cleanliness of my room. To clear my mind, it sometimes helps to organize physical surroundings.

Second, don’t take comments or actions too personally. Avoid making judgements too quickly and create a space between yourself and your reactions. In doing this, you’ll remove any purely emotional responses and poor decisions that could result. Play devil’s advocate with yourself in order to see your actions from contrasting perspectives, ensuring that you aren’t carried away by a perception obscured by emotion.

Third, act pragmatically. Use evidence to back up your decisions and examine the logic behind that evidence. When making difficult decisions under pressure, your judgement can be negatively impacted. However, research from the University of California at Berkeley reveals that moderate levels of stress can be positive.

The study concluded that the onset of stress catalyzes the growth of new brain cells responsible for improved memory. However, this effect only occurs when stress is intermittent, not for prolonged periods.

Managing stress through emotional detachment is imperative. To move forward, people must focus only on what they can control. For the rest, as Elsa might say, “Let it go." v (This column reflects the opinion of the writer)

We are Ladue Panorama Editorial Board audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

News media has obscured coverage of Ebola virus

Additionally, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ebola coverage is everywhere. It appears in screaming headlines across newspapers, television and talk shows. Indeed, in Guinea, Li- implements policy, the risk of an epidemic developing in the U.S. continues to shrink. World Health Organization told the New York beria and Sierra Leone, more than 4,500 people have died of the virus; however, hyperbolic public discourse has distracted from reality.

Times Oct. 29 thatww the outbreak in Liberia may be slowing, with no increase in lab-reported cases. The The threat posed by Ebola is very real, but alarmist media coverage WHO is confident that the global effort is makof the issue has created undue paranoia among U.S. citizens. ing substantial progress. Domestically, mandatory A CNN headline on the network’s show, “Legal View,” read: quarantines, airport screenings and newly equipped ‘Ebola: The ISIS of biological agents?’ Critics such as Joe Coscarelli laboratories contribute to containing the virus. of New York Magazine discussed that the “semi-respectable coverWhile professionals insist the virus is under control age of the Ebola virus could only last so long on cable news.” in the U.S., media continues to irresponsibly sensaAccording to a poll reported Oct. 29 by the Washington Post, 60 percent of respondents said they were “somewhat” or tionalize coverage. Unfortunately, this is a by-product “very” concerned about an Ebola epidemic in the U.S. of 21st century media culture. The hype it creates is solely for ratings, creating unnecessary fear.

Yet, as of Oct. 30, only eight people in the U.S. had Professionals need to work more closely with been diagnosed with the virus. news outlets to ensure that when complex informaRealistically, the chances of contracting Ebola in the U.S. are slim. According to Dr. tion is brought down to the colloquial level, the Peter Hotez, Dean of National School integrity of the original statements is maintained.

The industry should turn to sources such as Naof Tropical Medicine at Baylor tional Public Radio as a model for high-quality University and a member of the responsible journalism.

Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease, Government agencies should leverage social patients cannot spread the virus to others until they themselves show symptoms. As a media to share developments in an accessible way to all steele stewart w ARTIST result, it is more likely to be intercepted at early stages. citizens. Meanwhile, news networks should pragmatically report developing stories without excessively alarming the American public.

Further, the virus can only be spread through contact with an Focus should be on the epicenters of the disease in West Africa infected patient’s bodily fluids. Although Ebola is highly infecand the international response. Otherwise ‘fear-bola,’ as CNN comtious, it’s not very contagious. Luckily, the response has been swift.

Researchers from Canada, the U.S. and Mali are racing to develop mentator and legal analyst Mel Robbins said, will persist. v (Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board) vaccines to ship to West Africa as early as December.

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 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

NEWS EDITORS Ethan Shuchart Sasha Rice

PHOTO EDITORS Sydney Ellis Jeanne Wilkinson

SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Bry Sam Shevitz

IN-DEPTH Hayden Hunt

PHOTOGRAPHERS Sophia Garland Jackie Gordon Ula Lijowska Jocelyn Kaza Sammy Leary Meghan Proskey Jenna Shanker Julia Tackes Sarah Waldman

WRITERS Katie Bry Hannah Frankel Isabella Fu Haley Horowitz Hannah Snidman Michael Peterson Rachel Steiner Teddy Turner

BUSINESS MANAGER Lizzy Puyo

ART EDITORS Audrey Kocher Mary Xiao

PLEASE RECYCLE Panorama welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Ideally, Panorama accurately represents the issues most important to readers and should serve as a public forum for all students, staff and community members. Therefore, 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

WEB MASTER Warren Biest ADVISOR Jillian Miesen

ARTISTS Juliann Bi Ting Ding Kira Svoboda Steele Stewart

November 7, 2014

Panorama

opinions

Colleges revisit sexual assault policies

PRO

13

New policy defines consensual sex and protects women on campus jeanne wilkinson PHOTO EDITOR

S

exual behaviors are very difficult to regulate, but this doesn’t lessen the need for laws about them to be enacted. Yale, Dartmouth and other colleges have put the new affirmative consent policy in place. The law strives to make campuses safer for women and remove the grey area between consensual sex and rape. Women are raped more frequently than men, accounting for more than 90 percent of reported victims according to the 2005 Rape and Sexual Assault Survey.

Therefore, the new law is more prevalent to women than men.

Without an unambiguous signal of consent before all sexual encounters, the interactions can be called rape. Law prevents males from distorting the events to seem consensual. No matter what took steele stewart w ARTIST place, without the unambiguous signal, the interaction counts as rape. The law aims to better protect women on campuses by better defining consent, thereby solidifying womens’ rape allegations.

The “no means no” slogan is a victim to many jokes.

Sayings like “No means have aNOther drink” illuminate the fact that if a girl is too drunk to state that she is not willing

CON

to have sex, her lack of resistance could be used as a viable defense for her rapist. However, with affirmative consent this would not constitute as evidence because there was no explicit consent. Enforcing the new consent policy assures that people who are too drunk to resist sex will still be considered victims, which enables the law to better protect them.

Opponents of affirmative consent argue that the law would increase the number of false rape accusations. While false accusations do occasionally occur, the number of them is actually quite low. According to the U.S. Justice Department, false accusations “are estimated to occur at the low rate of two percent– similar to the false accusation rate of other crimes.” This rate isn’t likely to increase considering victims of sexual crimes are often made to feel ashamed because of what happened to them. Victims are thrust into the spotlight and are often subjected to insults and humiliation from strangers. To say that anyone would consciously bring these feelings upon themselves with a false accusation of rape is ridiculous.

Rape and sexual assault are very serious matters, especially on college campuses where its seriousness is often overlooked. Affirmative consent greatly contributes to the present issue by redefining the way people approach sex. The new policy needs to be adopted everywhere because it takes steps to clarify what is considered consent and helps women in their battle against sexual assault. v

Law deprives accused assaulters of innocence until proven guilty aaron bry SPORTS EDITOR

U

niversities have dealt with sexual assault for decades.

Now, everything pertaining to the fight against sexual abuse will radically change with affirmative consent. Though assault on college campuses is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed, lawmakers should direct their efforts away from affirmative consent because it offers no solution to the problem. This new policy turns the current “no means no” concept into “yes means yes.”

According to The Washington Examiner, when colleges investigate sexual assaults post the implementation of affirmative consent, they will have to allow the preponderance of evidence standard. In other words, if a person accused of committing rape is found guilty by just 50.01 percent, he has to be convicted and punished; however, in other types of cases, the defendent must be found guilty, “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This law lowers the standard for establishing guilt. As a result, the accused face trials without guaranteed fairness. After the policy’s induction at Harvard, 28 law professors claimed that the procedures “lack ...basic elements of fairness and due process, [and] are overwhelmingly stacked against the accused.”

In sexual assault cases under affirmative consent, the accused are deprived of their presumed innocence. Because sex is normally a private act, neither party can prove whether or not consent was given. But with affirmative consent, even if the prosecution does not have enough evidence to definitively prove guilt, the defendant can still be punished. In this way the law undermines basic rights to due process.

Opponents of affirmative consent are also wary because the law could increase false accusations. Gordon Finley, an adviser to the National Coalition for Men, which defends

males against false accusations of rape, said that “this campus rape crusade bill” shouldn’t be signed because it presumes the guilt of the accused.

Additionally, the bill helps only after assaults occur.

Victims will be better equipped to provide strong defenses in court, but they will still face sexual assaults. The bill just lowers the bar for what is considered rape.

Aside from that, the bill depersonalizes sex, an act that should be viewed as an indicator of attraction or emotional connection. But the law makes sex seem more contractual than personal, draining it of romance or spontaneity. Consenting parties must all but sign a document before proceeding with their interactions.

Sexual abuse on college campuses is running rampant.

Colleges are notorious for ignoring sexual assault cases to avoid negative press. For example, four years ago, an ESPN Outside the Lines investigation discovered that University of Missouri Columbia did not investigate a sexual Corrections from Oct. 17 assault that lead to the victim’s suicide. pg. 2 Adeel Qayum is a junior, Sexual assault not a senior. needs to be addressed pg. 3 Statistics are quoted from both by colleges and The Polaris Project. lawmakers. However, while this initiative somewhat helps women, it does not solve the problem. Lawmakers can best address this issue by protecting victims of sexual assault while still upholding the due process rights of the accused. v

pg. 5

Sydney Ellis’ and Ethan Jablonow’s names were spelled incorrectly.

Andrea, not Renae, introduced Eva Adams to modeling. pg. 16 No tennis match occured on Oct. 18.

pg. 7

ting ding w ARTIST

Oppression in Options keona kalu OPINIONS EDITOR

T

he people at Baskin Robbins really know what they’re doing: 31 flavors! What kind of madness is that? When people walk through the doors, their brains immediately scream, “I must have all the flavors!”– that is, until their wallets begin to shrivel up in disagreement, and the burden of choice settles comfortably on their shoulders. Never do the concepts of an economics class ring more true than when inspecting tubs of ice cream while at Baskin Robbins. Everyone has to face the dilemma of satisfying unlimited wants with limited resources.

The aforementioned burden that escorts the patrons out of the store and back to their homes is called “the tyranny of choice.” It is the reason why the freedom to choose can often be stifling.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, there have been more and more products offered each year. Think about how many models of cars just one dealership offers and multiply that by the over 17,000 dealerships in the U.S. alone.

Unfortunately for us, more choices leads to more speculation about the quality of the other options. Because it is often impossible to properly consider each and every option, consumers are left with anxiety and fear that they didn’t make the right decision. These feelings are magnified by the fact that realities are no match for our bloated expectations.

I still regret choosing the Reese’s cupcake over the shiny gold one from my first trip to Jilly’s Cupcake Bar– and that was a few months ago. It isn’t that my cupcake was bad; it’s just that the other twenty might have been better. This isn’t an isolated incident; similar situations occur all the time with people everywhere, most frequently in western cultures.

Robert E. Lane of Yale University conducted studies that have shown that increased levels of affluence and increased numbers of choices, which occur in the U.S. and other westernized countries, actually lead to a decrease in the overall well-being of people. The previously described feelings of anxiety and fear are everpresent in Americans due to the countless choices people have to make each day and the abundance of options they have with every choice.

The “tyranny of choice” is also the reason that frequent customers at a restaraunt review the menu in its totality three times or more, only to settle on the meal that they order every time. In every single choice that people make, they want to ensure that they have chosen correctly.

Americans pretty much worship their freedom of choice, probably in an effort to separate themselves from communism. Though people feel freed by a sea of options to choose from, these choices are in fact chains. They restrict us to anxious states even when we are surrounded by good choices. The “tyranny of choice” teaches us that just because some choices are good, that doesn’t mean more choices are better. To get rid of those residual negative feelings, we must lessen our worship of choice. v (This column reflects the opinion of the writer)

14 sports Senior Sit-down Each month, Panorama sits down with a senior athlete. November’s athlete is Chris Reichert from the boys swimming team.

Panorama

November 7, 2014

Reigning champs seek renewal of title Boys basketball team works to defend district winning status as season opener draws nearer

“I think we are MARK YOUR MAN w In last season’s game against Jennings, looking pretty good senior Jordan Cosby squares himself up to play defense. “It was an honor for sam shevitz without last year’s sethe coaching staff to name me captain, and I think our togetherness and unity SPORTS EDITOR nior class, and I think will win us games,” Cosby said. “I have learned as a leader that developing an that we are going to s fall sports come to an end and the individual relationship with each player is what will help make us successful.” make a run similar to briskness of winter comes around, The point guard has big shoes to fill this season after the graduation of 2013 basketball season approaches. The boys last year,” junior Mark alumnus Cornell Johnston. (Photo by Sammy Leary) Rodgers said. “The on the team are putting their all into offseason intensity in training has not been as high as it “We have a high potential and everyone is training in the hopes of defending their prestihas been in the past, but it’s still extremely high stronger. In the eight weeks that we have been gious district title. compared to most teams.” doing workouts, we have seen big jumps and The team has gained insights from new The team will open its season at home improvement in our skills,” Small said. “We coach Doug Small who joined the team after against Ritenour Nov. 24. The game is highly have worked a lot harder this year because there coaching Marquette High School last year. anticipated by the players. is more at stake.”

Small has coached and trained the team in the “Our unity will be the strongest part of our This year, the team has some very exciting offseason and will be coaching the freshmen team this year. We will all take it one game at a match-ups on its schedule, including a home team when the season begins. Despite his newtime and play as a game against St. Louis University High Feb. 10 comer status, Small Night in and night out, every time we family to achieve and the Coaches vs. Cancer game against Clayhas set a high bar for step on the floor, no matter who we are our goal,” senior ton Feb. 13. Ladue has not lost to SLUH in the the team, especially past two seasons or Clayton in the past three. after last year’s displaying, it’s going to be a good game Jordan Cosby said.

“If there is one team that I am looking trict championship. and we will put everything we’ve got Not only do forward to playing against, it would be SLUH. “My main role is out there.” the players feed Cosby said. “It’s always a good game against to coach the freshoff one another, them and to play them at home will make it men team, but I also - senior Jordan Cosby but they also gain that much better.” run the conditioning motivation from their fans. They are excited to As a whole, the team is prepared for the for the varsity, JV and freshmen teams,” Small see the same turnout as they have had in past tasks at hand. The individuals have a lot of said. “I’m excited, but a little nervous since I’m seasons. The first game is a Blue Crew event. confidence in one another and look to repeat the new coach, and we have done so well in the “We always seem to have those eager, outgothe successes of the past with a new generation past, but I’m looking forward to the beginning ing fans and it will be fun to have the vibes that of players. of the season immensely.” they give us to keep working,” Cosby said.

“Night in and night out, every time we step With the addition of Small and the loss of From a coaching standpoint, the players’ on the floor, no matter who we are playing, it’s such a successful graduating class, the team training is promising. Their work ethic and going to be a good game, and we will put everydynamic is different; however, the team’s goal dedication will pay off during the season. thing we’ve got out there,” Cosby said. v remains to win the district title.

A

Sam Shevitz: How did you get into swimming?

Chris Reichert: When I was seven I used to swim at the YMCA . I joined a club team and have stayed on it ever since.

SS: What are your goals for state this year?

CR: I want to finish in the top three for 100 meter back stroke and 200 meter individual medley.

SS: Do you have any pre-meet rituals that are unique to you?

CR: I always go to Mcdonald’s and get a shake before my meets. Then when I get to the block before they say ‘ready’, I shake each of my feet 13 times, and finally when they say ‘ready’, I am the last person down in ready position.

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

• Nov. 7 - Football @ Webster Groves SS: What do you think about while you are swimming in competitive meets?

CR: I think about the people around me and simply how I should just keep going. In practice I think about how I can better my stroke.

(Photos by Julia Tackes and Sophia Garland)

• Nov. 14 - Ice Hockey vs. Whitfield @ Queeny Park • Nov. 24 - Boys Basketball vs. Ritenour • Dec. 9 - Girls Basketball vs. McCluer North (Photo by Meghan Proskey)

November 7, 2014

Panorama

sports

15

Hockey team poised for big year Athlete of Ice mob f inishes preseason strong and hopes to the Month use speed and skill to beat challenging opponents “Our team is definitely more unified this year,” Millner said. “Passing will be a key to our defense and team all aaron bry SPORTS EDITOR year.”

In addition to playing defense, Millner hopes to produce fter losing several key seniors last spring, the hockey offensively. He plays in a roller hockey league weekly and team has a drastically different look this season. accredits this to improving his ice hockey skills.

“Roller hockey has definitely improved my game,” Many players believe, however, this look is better.

“We are really playing as a true team this year,” senior Millner said. “It’s four on four so I get more practice making passes down the ice and on breakaways.”

Ian Thomsen said. “No one’s selfish, and we have a lot of guys who can score.”

Another key to the team’s defense will be junior Brogan Thomsen is one of the few upperclassmen on a relaWalters. Walters has played varsity since he was a freshman, bringing a lot of experience to the young team. tively young attacking corps. Accompanying Thomsen are The team displayed underclassmen its vast potential with a Zach Levy and Jordan Stern. In strong start to the preaddition, junior season. They started unTommy Hawkins defeated after they beat the first two opponents is assuming an they faced, Deuschene assistant captain’s and Francis Howell. role for the team.

The team The team hopes to boasts a lot of carry this momentum into its first game Nov. potential with 7 against Fort Zumwalt an impressive North. After that, the combination of team will have a rematch experienced upperclassmen and with Deuschene Nov. 10 talented underand then a big matchup classmen. Seniors against Whitfield Nov. Eric Millner and 14. They will have to Jason Hodgins play these games in the will lead the first week of the season, defense and hope SPEED SKATERS w Focused on the puck, senior Eric Millner tries to presenting a challenge to get open for a pass. This is Millner’s third year on varsity. This year Millner looks to fill the holes this capable team. left by Thomsen’s forward to being a leader on the defense. (Photos by Meghan Proskey) Chemistry will be a move to offense vital asset to the team’s and key players that graduated last spring. Of the seniors success. Some players attribute this chemistry to their relawho graduated, two were the team’s leading point scorers. tionships off the ice.

Without these players, the team will have to spread the puck “We’re all good friends and really close so it helps us play around the ice. as a team,” Stern said.

A

LADUE’S MOST RECENT SCORES Football

21-14 win over Pattonville. The goal-line defense made a game-deciding stop late in the fourth quarter when Pattonville threatened with a potentially game-tying drive.

Soccer

1-0 win over Clayton in the District Championship. The game was a hard-fought defensive battle but the offense finally prevailed when junior Chris Naunheim scored a second-half game-winning goal.

Field Hockey

4-1 loss to MICDS. MICDS won this “War on Warson” after starting hot when they scored three first-half goals.

Ladue tallied a goal when freshman Kathyrine King scored her fifth goal of the year in the second half.

Cross-Country

Runners the boys and girls cross-country teams participated in the sectionals meet Nov. 1. The boys team’s best finish was senior George Garner’s 17:00:00 and the girls team’s best finish was senior Tahjai Lashley’s 21:31:00.

Each month we will pick one athlete to spotlight that has excelled in her sport.

This month’s athlete is:

Natalie Behrens

Behrens, a junior captain on the girls cross-country team, qualified for sectionals through her time in the district race Oct. 25. Behrens’ 5k PR is 20:43:00. “I love cross country because I really like the team and we have a lot of fun,” Behrens said.

(Photo by Jeanne Wilkinson) This chemistry will be crucial to the team’s success throughout the season. The team strives to play balanced hockey by passing with frequency and accuracy.

“The greatest strength we have this year is our chemsitry,” assistant coach Mike Hawkins said. “Our players have been in our system long enough that they all know their roles and responsibilities. Our goaltending is also a strength for us.

We are always looking to improve, but I think this year we’ll surprise some people." v

16 photo

Panorama

Beyond the patch: A look at creative pumpkin products

all art by audrey kocher w ART EDITOR

Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons Where to buy: Trader Joe’s Highlight: use of pumpkin as a savory flavor Lowlight: general flavor too strong

jeanne wilkinson PHOTO EDITOR

W

November 7, 2014 sydney ellis PHOTO EDITOR

hat do you think of when you hear the word autumn?

Leaves? Sweaters? Halloween?

How about pumpkins? Whether it be on your front porch or on display at the local grocery store, it’s hard to go anywhere during the fall without seeing a pumpkin.

Pumpkins are critical to many of the strongest fall traditions, from visiting patches to carving Jack-o’-Lanterns. To add to the festive spirit, many restaurants offer pumpkin items on their menus.

While pumpkin pie is a standard fall dessert, and the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a typical treat, there are many more amazing pumpkin-flavored items to enjoy.

A variety of pumpkin snacks from around town were sampled and rated on a scale of one to five, as illustrated by the pumpkins. The item’s general taste, texture and use of pumpkin flavors were taken into consideration. Also included is where to purchase them, and the best and worst element of each item.

From ice cream to croutons, this guide explores all the great uses for this delicious fall staple. v

Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels Where to buy: Trader Joe’s Highlight: salt complements sweetness Lowlight: too many flavors

Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Where to buy: Starbucks Highlight: perfect blend of pumpkin and coffee flavors Lowlight: too much cinnamon

Pumpkin Scone Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Where to buy: Baskin Robbins Highlight: creaminess Lowlight: a bit too sweet

Where to buy: Starbucks Highlight: subtle pumpkin flavor complements sweetness of icing Lowlight: too moist to be considered a scone; more like a muffin