Pano February 2024

LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124

2024 VOL. 73, ISSUE 6

IN

Editors’ Note

The past few years have changed the lives of countless adolescents in Missouri. Transgender youth are being disproportionately targeted by legislation to limit their ability to transition as minors. The rise in anti-transgender legislation stems from various trends in our nation’s political environment, one of which being the increased popularity of representatives who align themselves with anti-transgender views. The hundreds of bills that have been passed by Missouri Congress in the past year have already had a tremendous impact on transgender youth’s accessibility to healthcare, and it is imperative to be prepared and informed for the coming months as we near election season.

That is why for this issue’s in-depth, we tackle the current Missouri legislation and how it has affected Ladue students. We also address a letter to our Missouri Congress urging them to remember who they are meant to be protecting and representing as our state legislators.

& Sports for some ways to manage stress and improve mental health through daily habits. Look one page over for a feature on a Ladue student playing for the St. Louis City Soccer Club. Elsewhere in this issue, we recognize the accomplishments of various students, one of whom received the Congressional Award Gold Medal and others who joined the prestigious AllState Band. Learn more about the LEADS Academy and the traveled by Ladue’s worldly population.

We hope you enjoy the February issue, and if you agree with our letter to the Missouri Congress, we encourage scanning the QR code to send a copy of the letter to our legislators. Also, be on the lookout for a specialty issue next month!

Tarek Al Husseini

Mimi Zhou Riley Coates

Jay Heintz

Mimi Zhou

Olivia Chen

Vincent Hsiao

Web Editor in Chief

Arti Jain

Katie Myckatyn

Laura Shareshian

Opinions Editor

Emily Liu

Lathan Levy

Michael Zegel

In-Depth Staff

Ella Bender

Ella Braig

Features Staff

Ira Rodrigues

Cindy Liu

Maya Mathew

Sara Rohatgi

Aaron Lin

Opinions Staff

Grace Kweon

Sylvia Hanes

Frank Chen

Madeline Awad

Nitya Nara

Will Kodner

Photographers

Sydney Proper

Harper Buxner

Web Staff

Alzhraa Mahmoud

Josh Devine

Mason Eastman

Marie Demkovitch

Grace Huewe

Ryan Snyder

ID Editors in Chief

Mac Huffman

Annie Zhao

Rory Lustberg

ID Staff

Luke Lochmoeller

Arti Jain

Kelly Zhang

Ishaan Pandey

Nyla Weathersby

Celina Zhou

Advisers

Sarah Kirksey

Abigail Eisenberg

PHOTO

(Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Issue

The Rodrigues Family

Ariel Premium Supply

Steve + Ginger Lochmoeller

The Awad Family

Lisette and Bill Odell

Ladue Blue

Anonymous

The Snyder/Rosenberg Family

Olesia + Michael Myckatyn

June Collings Ogden

Heidi Long Real Estate

Jim and Kathy Davis

Demkovitch Family

The Mathew Family

Jennifer Poindexter

The Armbruster Family

Bill and Rowena Coates

The Hsiao Family

Ying Du

The Levy-Thomeczeck Family

The Cross Family

The Patney Family

The Devine Family

Gold

Nagarajan-Toon Family

The Luetje Family

Myckatyn Family

David + Karen Kurtzman

Ellen Levy + Carl Desenberg

Dennis + Judy Holcomb

Southern/Lochmoeller Team

The Chang Family

Jeanette Daun

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Blair Keltner and TJ Tenison

Silver

The Biernacki Family

C. Joyce

The Gellman Family

Shelly & Barry Milder

Sponsors

Rick & Ardell Oliver

The Kurtzman/Levy Family

Anonymous

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The Arun Family

The Antony Family

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Marc + Krista Luckett

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The Poindexter Family

Pat and Jerry Coates

The Brooks Family

Alan + Donna Rosenberg

Anonymous

The Gyawali Family

The Harkonen Family

The Lackey Family

Friendly

The Hartrich Family

The Saleeby Family

The Zhao Family

Anonymous

Anonymous

The Kekec Family

Anonymous

The Goldstein Family

Becky Vasta

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Leslie Fortner

The Hofer Family

Arnold Kelly

Yuwei Zhang

Hongxian Zhang

The Gong Family

The Su Family

The Liu Family

Daphne Lui

The Chen Family

The Larrew Family

The Hawkins Alumni

Anonymous

Viragh-Mayo Family

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Judy W. Levy

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Lynne + Mike Lippmann

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Mimi’s Aunt

Lisa Litvag

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Anonymous

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Anonymous

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Avery Anderson

Allen You

Anonymous

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Bill Moore, Queenie Moore & Gina Hua

Cathy + John Hoehn

Kodner Art Gallery

The Popu Family

The Rothman Family

The Kodner Family

Marsha and Larry Rothman

Alexandra Signore

Linda Null and Denise Kist

Mrs. Tracy Ward

Sydney Collinger

International Week

The annual International Week, organized by the world languages department, is a celebration of global cultures and traditions Feb. 5-9. The event was packed with a lineup of activities, including cooking sessions, games, short film day, a poster contest, a talent show and Festival of Nations parade. With a myriad of events, there was something for everyone. Don’t worry if you missed it this time, as it’s coming back next year!

STORY BY MADELINE AWAD

International Activities

Students share the activities they did during Internatonal Week

“I made a poster for Spanish class that represents ‘A Different Language is a Different Vision of Life.’”

GABY VERSTAPPEN (10)

“In Spanish class we watched a movie. We’ve been studying for tests all week so it gave us a nice break.”

DEVIN

FREEMAN (10)

“I did lion dancing with my friends for the Parade of Nations. It was really cool to participate in this event.”

ARIC

News to Know

Exploring activities at Ladue this February

Spring Musical

Ladue Theatre presented the spring musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” with performances held Feb. 22-24 in the Performing Arts Center. Additionally, the performing arts department will hold its first ever 8-Hour Play Festival March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater. Students will assemble to write, perform and technically design a play in only eight hours. Suggested donation is $5.

WANG (12)

BELOW LEFT: Sara Rohatgi (11), Gia Grillo (11), Alexandra Tsygankov (11) and Luca Pinon-Dickey (11) walk through the hallway holding flags of different countries. The parade took place during seminar Feb. 5. “I like seeing all of the countries come together in one event,” Grillo said.

BELOW RIGHT: Spanish teacher Haydee Taylor-Arnold stands for a photo during the parade. She has been teaching Spanish at Ladue for 18 years. “I am from Panama so I loved to represent my country,” Taylor-Arnold said. (Photos by Vincent Hsiao)

FAR LEFT: Luca Pinon-Dickey (11) recites his lines during rehearsal. They have been rehearsing for more than two months. “I’m excited for people to see the chaos that the musical has and all the work we’ve put in,” Pinon-Dickey said.

LEFT: Lily Warenberg (12) throws her hands up as she acts out a scene during rehearsal. The musical is over two hours long. “This is one of my favorites that we’ve done this year,” Pinon-Dickey said. (Photos by Sydney Proper)

SANVI PRASAD (10)

“When we got to the Airbnb, I had to speak in French with [the owner]. That was a challenge, but we managed. The next day we went to the beach, and I got stung by a jellyfish. We explored the city instead, and there were little shops everywhere. It was a really nice vacation.”

PEYTON

O’SHAUGHNESSY (11)

“I played in the Maccabi games for the pan-American game for Team U.S.A. in Buenos Aires, Argentina. [My favorite part was] getting to meet my teammates and exploring South America.The biggest culture shock was the driving. No one follows traffic laws; it’s a free-for-all”

Around the World

74%

VINCENT LIM (11)

“One of the most notable aspects of my travels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the food I get to eat there. For example, there are mangosteens, mangos, durians, guava, coconuts and rose apples. There are a lot of street foods [and] street markets that aren’t very common in the U.S.”

Most visited states

187

175

Least visited states

HOLT SCHULER (12)

“I loved Prague, [Czech Republic] because it was kind of self-contained. I could just walk around, and the architecture was beautiful. The layout of the city was not in a grid pattern; it was like everything went back into a circle. You kind of just walk until you get back to where you started.”

123 visitors

133 visitors

21 visitors

22

19 visitors

20 visitors

120 visitors

18 visitors

NORTH

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Monaco

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

U.K.

ASIA

Bangladesh

Cambodia

China

India

Indonesia

Israel

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kuwait

Malaysia

Maldives

Oman

Philippines

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Thailand

U.A.E.

Vietnam

AFRICA

Botswana

Cameroon

Egypt

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Libya

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Zambia

Zimbabwe

AUSTRALIA

Australia

New Zealand

LEAD the Way

LEADS Academy strives to support and encourage students

STORY BY MAYA MATHEW

AWAY FROM THE commotion of the rest of the school building is the secluded hallway of LEADS Academy. It sections off into several passages with classrooms tucked away in every corner. The walls are covered in posters with encouraging phrases and norms: “Communicate,” “Never Make Assumptions,” “Respect Boundaries.” Many Ladue students are unfamiliar with the hallway, as some have never set foot in it. For students like Ezra Adams (11), however, these passages have become a second home.

“It’s great if you need individual [focus], or if the regular Ladue learning style isn’t working for you,” Adams said.

The LEADS Academy faculty team is composed of teachers,

counselors, a social worker and other administrators who work closely with students to align their interests with their aspirations.

“It really helps to have a lot of people who are on your side that advocate for you,” Adams said. “Usually, you’ll have your own team of teachers, and Dr. Rapoff

what each student needs.”

Dr. Beth Rapoff, founder and director of LEADS, established the program with the goal of supporting Ladue students who wanted a more personalized experience in high school. The core values of LEADS are spelled out in its full title: Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, Drive and Social responsibility.

“LEADS Academy is designed for a little bit of a different experience, and some students thrive in a different environment,” Rapoff

HOW TO ENROLL

said. “Sometimes it’s a smaller class setting or the way we organize our classes. Students have opportunities to take virtual classes in LEADS as well to accelerate their credit or to catch up on cred-

student who just transferred here, a student who’s particularly shy or has had a loss or a student who wants a consistent start to their day and a smaller environment.”

Adams, in particular, utilized the program as an opportunity to graduate a year early by completing online credit recovery courses. He plans to attend the University of Memphis in the fall and earn a degree in social work.

“It’s hard to explain how I got here,” Adams said. “I was really lucky. I dropped out of class my freshman year, but it was far enough in [the] semester that I got the credit for it. Now, on top of

BELOW: A line of papers are displayed in the LEADS hallway. The norms on each poster were designed for the 2023-2024 school year. “I want students to know that LEADS is a great opportunity,” LEADS founder Dr. Beth Rapoff said. “It’s not for everyone, but it’s a really good home.” (Photos by Vincent Hsiao)

RIGHT: LEADS history teacher Matthew Horn works with Kyle Kennedy (11). Horn began teaching at LEADS three years ago. “[LEADS has] taught me that you have to adapt to your student and meet them on their level,” Horn said.

everything with LEADS, I’m only one credit away from being able to graduate, so I’m just taking online classes to succeed in that.”

Matthew Horn has been teaching sustainable investigations and wellness and skills at LEADS for the past three years. He’s had the opportunity to witness the personal development of his students over this time.

“The ability to see [your students] every day means you can build a genuine relationship with them,” Horn said. “In any classroom, kids have issues in life, and you have to be patient, lend an ear and try to guide them through whatever issues might arise.”

In his sustainable investiga-ibility when creating his curriculum, as he is able to modify his lessons based on current events that relate to sustainability.

“We’re doing a unit on food waste, and we’re going to start a composting bin with Chartwells to collect food scraps and reduce our food waste imprinting,” Horn said. “[Sustainable Investigations]tions to the problems we face.”

LEADS allows students to take up to three core classes and semester courses for additional credit. The program hosts a diverse set of sophomores, juniors and seniors of various academic levels.

“We’ve had students who’ve been in AP classes, students [who’ve had some] academic

A DAY IN THE LIFE

7:30 a.m.

LEAD-In: student check-in

7:50-8:35 a.m.

First period

struggles [and] anywhere in between,” Rapoff said. “If you’re looking for something different that’s a little bit off the beaten path, LEADS might be a good opportunity for you.”

have multiple opportunities to show us that they’ve mastered the content.”

8:35-9:20 a.m.

Second period

In LEADS Lab, a homeroom-like class, students are able to set goals with their teachers, gain additional time to complete their schoolwork and work on credit recovery. The LEADS Academy environment fosters growth for students by recognizing that learning

“

Horn stresses that students who are unfamiliar with LEADS Academy should recognize that the program is meant for students from a variety of academic and personal backgrounds.

I think high school is an incredible place, but a traditional high school setting isn’t for everyone.”

9:20-10:05 a.m.

Third period

10:0510:40 a.m.

Blue day: L2 seminar

White day: LEADS Lab

10:40 a.m.2:30 p.m.

Blue and white day classes

“[The program has] taught me that kids have many different learning styles,” Horn said. “When things might not work for a student in a general educational setting and they come [to LEADS], they succeed.”

Horn views the program’s grading system as one of the aspects that makes it more equitable. Through a standards-based grading system, LEADS students can still earn A, B, C, D and F grades, but each of their assignments are graded on a scale of one to four.

“Four points means you’ve mastered it, three means you’re getting close [and then there’s] two to one,” Horn said. “We do have the ability to reteach skills [until] they master them, so they

“[I

BETH RAPOFF founder of LEADS P

“I think there [are] some people that might not know what LEADS is [which makes them form] stereotypes,” Horn said. “We have kids in here that are amongst the brightest minds that our school has, but for whatever reason, the general education setting didn’t work out.”

After six years of developing LEADS, Rapoff intends for the program to continue to evolve and thrive. By spreading awareness, she hopes that even more Ladue from LEADS.

“I’m always thinking about how we can best serve our students, get them excited, get them Rapoff said. “I would like to see more students taking advantage of this opportunity [instead of] thinking it’s not for them because I think it is a program for a lot more kids than we currently serve.”

“My

AZORHIA SWANN (10)

“I liked [the idea of] having smaller classes and getting more time to catch up on work.”

teacher last year thought it’d be super beneficial for me, and it has been.”

MADDY TA (10)

TREVOR WARWICK (11)

wanted to be in a place] where the teachers are able to talk to you and check up on you often.”

spread

Q: What does the audition process look like?

A: It’s really nerve wracking because there’s a lot of down time. But also it’s fun to hang out with other musicians. I get to meet new people which is an added bonus. The audition process is definitely my least favorite part.

Q: How has being on All-State brought you closer to music?

A: I think I definitely got a lot better at clarinet [when I made All-State] because I was practicing music so much. I don’t really look at music much differently, I just think that I see another depth to it. I also thought I would never be able to play all of this music, but I now know that if I just practice hard, I can definitely play them.

STORY BY CINDY LIU

In Tune

Get to know some of the Ladue students who made the All-State Band

Q: What is the All-State schedule like?

A:It’s a really busy schedule, they have you wake up at 6 for sectionals, which is practicing with just your instrument, not with the whole orchestra. Then they have you up till midnight some nights to practice.

FELIX ZHANG (9)

SARAH LIAO (12)

KIMMI LIN (10)

clarinet

flute

timpani

Going for

STORY BY IRA RODRIGUES

PHOTOS BY VINCENT HSIAO

IN JANUARY, IT CAME

400 CRITERIA for winning a Gold Medal volunteer public service hours months of personal development

200 5

24

hours of physical fitness days of an overnight trip

SCAN FOR a look at the congressional awards website

LD

BELOW: Gianna Francis (12) holds up her Congressional Award Gold Medal in her home Feb. 5. Francis won the award in January after four years of hard work and determination. “I finally got it,” Francis said. “Everything submitted. Everything’s in order. It was just a big sigh of relief.”

Gianna Francis wins Congressional Award

In Transition

Students and parents reflect on the impact of Missouri transgender legislation

* Indicates a false name to protect the identity of an anonymous student

STORY BY ELLA BRAIG, ELLA BENDER & KATIE MYCKATYN

AUG. 28, 2023, two laws regarding the treatment of transgender individuals went into effect in Missouri. One limits the participation of transgender minors in sports. The other bans them from receiving gen-

the age of 18.

Senate Bill 39 forbids both private and public schools from allowing transgender individuals to participate in sports that don’t align with their sex assigned at birth. Any school that violates this act could lose state funding.

Senate Bill 49, called the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, bars doctors from performing gen-

under the age of 18 and prohibits medical professionals from administering hormones or puberty

8 to

SCAN FOR

blockers to minors. However, if said minor had been receiving the treatment prior to Aug. 28, 2023, the obstruction is void. Any doctor that violates this act could lose their medical license.

Senate Bill 49 was introduced after a whistleblower alleged misconduct by the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She claimed that the center rushed mi-

ing care, didn’t fully explain the side effects of hormone replacement therapy prior to treatment and coerced consent.

Multiple former patients of the Washington University Transgender Center have since denied that this malpractice occurred. They claimed to have had multiple appointments before being provided

that they had been informed of the side effects of hormone replacement therapy and had given full

Tracking Transgender Milestones

A timeline of transgender history in the U.S.

Christine

and informed consent before treatment began. Independent investi-duct at the Washington University Transgender Center.

refers to medical treatments and procedures intended to align a person’s physical characteristics with their gender identity. These treatments include a range of interventions such as voice therapy, hormone replacement therapy andcording to the National Institute of Health, the regret rate followingproximately 1%.

In Missouri, hormone replacement therapy is the most commonhealth care. The treatment is comprised of puberty blockers, which limit the production of testosterone or estrogen, and taking hormones to stimulate masculinizing or feminizing puberty.

New York Supreme Court rules in favor of Renee Richards, allowing her to play pro tennis

Student Response

Amelia Rossi (12) started hormone replacement therapy just weeks before the enactment of Senate Bill 49. She was supplied puberty blockers through the Washington University Transgender Center, but the clinic was shut down before she could build up to a full dose of estrogen.

“For a couple months, I was on an extremely small dose of estrogen and I was a wreck because when your hormones are that out of whack for that long of a time, life does not go okay,” Rossi said. “I’ve transferred to Planned Parenthood in Fairview [Heights, Illinois] and now I’m on the full dose of hormone replacement therapy.”

Like Rossi, student Tyler Sullivan* began hormone replacement therapy prior to the passage of Senate Bill 49. Since the bill’s enactment, his clinic has been shut down. He now has to travel four hours to receive care.

“These laws are not about protecting Missouri youth,” Sullivan said. “[They’re] just to have a sensationalized, hot topic that people can pin themselves to. There’s real consequences because these lawmakers don’t actually know transgender kids. They don’t actually know the consequences of the things that they’re doing.”

Oftentimes, people attempt to show their allyship towards the transgender community by conducting research on the politics of the issue. However, Rossi feels most supported when she is spoken to directly about the transgender experience.

“The biggest thing [people can do] is to talk to trans people and have trans people in [their] life,” Rossi said. “The only real way to sympathize with the experience is to have a personal relationship with someone like that in your life. ”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 35% of transgender youth attempt suicide during their teenage years,ly to attempt suicide than their cisgender peers. In a study conducted by Diana Tordoff Ph.D., it was

results in a 73% reduction in selfharm and suicidal thoughts over a 12 month period.

“I faced a lot of really bad anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation [before my transition],” Rossi said. “That was ongoing for years. With [Senate Bill 49] restricting for other people the resources that I have the privilege of accessing, this bill is going to kill kids.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Aug. 1, 1993

Minnesota becomes the first state to ban antitransgender discrimination in housing, employment and public accomodations

52% of transgender youth found school to be genderaffirming

35% of transgender youth found their home to be genderaffirming

64%

In 2023, of transgender youth felt discriminated against due to their gender identity

SCAN FOR

more information on the Trevor Project

As stated by the National Institute of Health, the intention of symptoms of gender dysphoria, a state of severe distress caused by one’s gender identity not matching their sex assigned at birth. As a transgender man, student Henry dealing with dysphoria.

“[Have] you ever been in a situation where you are wearing clothes that are really tight off?” Cook said. “That’s what [dysphoria] feels like. Being able

like being able to take off those clothes and getting to wear normal clothes.”

Senate Bill 39 and Senate Bill -

islation to impact transgender individuals. On a national scale, the Pupil Privacy Rights Amendment prohibits educational facilities from asking for student personal information. Under this, the Ladue School District, along with many others, is disallowed from inquiring about student pronouns.

Source: The Trevor Project

“We’re just asking for basic human respect,” student Samuel Perry* said. “Treat us like any other individual [and use] our correct pronouns. What we do genuinely does not affect you.”

Sept. 29, 2005

California law bans insurance companies from discriminating against transgender individuals

Parent Response HONING IN ON HEALTH CARE

In 2019, Rabbi Daniel Bogard traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri to protest against Senate Bill 39. As the father of a transgender child, Bogard was motivated by a desire to grant his son the same opportunities as his cisgender peers.

“There were literally more bills last year trying to ban transgender kids from participating in youth athletics than there are transgender kids in Missouri high schools who have asked to participate in Missouri athletics,” Bogard said. “There is no real controversy. It is entirely being done by the Republican legislature in bad faith as a political bludgeon. They believe that getting people to be scared of my kid and disgusted by my kid is a winning political issue for them.”

Since the passing of Senate Bill 39 and Senate Bill 49, David Williams, Rossi’s father, has feared for his daughter’s continued residency in Missouri.

“[Amelia] is actively looking for college options outside the United States,” Williams said. “And then if international really is not on the table, [she’ll choose] schools and states that are more welcoming than Missouri. Missouri seems to be going out of its way to be the biggest and the loudest on the anti-transgender [legis-

1% of transgender youth are on hormones

65% of which are concerned about losing access to this care

2% of transgender youth take puberty blockers

94% of adults who have transitioned said it improved their life

lation].”

It’s a common misconception that transgender individuals only resonate with the label due to an underlying mental illness. However, according to the University of Washington School of Public Health, transgender individualsing care are 60% less likely to develop depression or other mental health conditions. Like many transgender children from an accepting household, Bogard’s son doesn’t have a history of depression or mental illness.

life. Nonetheless, many individuals who transitioned past the age of 18 claim that they regret delaying their transition.

“[Transgender people] can’t make the same decisions [to postpone puberty] at 22,” Bogard said. “When you talk to adult trans people who were not given access to puberty blockers and hormones, they often have extensive trauma.”

“

The binaries that we live with are delusions and social constructs. Queer joy is amazing.”

to

2 3

Physically transitioning takes years on average

Sources: National Center for Transgender Equality, The Trevor Project

“[My son] is not a kid [who is] suffering in any way, or [a] confused or sick kid,” Bogard said. “He’s like any other kid. The obsession of our government believing that they should know what his genitals look like and be able to sort him into categories based on what they imagine his genitals look like is disgusting.”

DANIEL BOGARD parent

While Senate Bill 39 and Senate Bill 49 were in the process of passing, Bogard once again traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri the restrictions. Though many Missouri families with transgender state, Bogard is intent on staying put and advocating for his son.

Despite the low regret rate of people who have transitioned, one of the primary arguments against granting minors access to genthey will feel guilt-ridden about their transition later in their adult

Oct. 28, 2009

President Barack Obama signs federal Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill into effect

“There’s no way to truly make transgender people go away because it’s just another way of being human,” Bogard said. “No matter how hard our legislature tries to wipe transgender kids and transgender adults out of existence in our state, there are always transgender people being born every day. It’s a really beautiful, profound way of being a human being.”

June 11, 2015

Lawsuit filed against the Gloucester County School Board for revoking Gavin Grimm’s access to boys’ facilities. Taken to U.S. Supreme Court

Legislation on the Map

U.S. state policies on transgender health

35.1% 1.6%

of transgender youth

live in states that ban access to gender-affirming care of youth aged 13-17 identify as transgender

KEY

Equality in Legislature

28 bills 49 bills

Missouri in Focus

Aug. 28 2023, the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act went into effect. Here’s what changed:

Transgender minors in Missouri have no access to puberty blockers, hormones or genderaffirming surgery.

Medicaid can no longer cover gender-affirming care or care for prisoners and inmates.

Current Status

in 2022, 4 states limited access to gender affirming care

in 2024, 23 states do Ala.,

In 2023, 36.4% of antiequality healthcare bills introduced in state legislature were passed

A Look at Law

Feb. 22, 2017

Trump administration revokes policy, stating that policies for transgender student bathrooms should be set by states

Passed, not yet in effect Permanently blocked Temporarily blocked Temporarily blocked in part

Aug. 28, 2023

Senate Bill 49 and Senate Bill 39 effect in Missouri

Photos courtesy of Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, DVIDS, Smithsonian Institution, CC BY-NC 2.0, Steven Martin, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Pax Ahimsa Gethen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Make It Old, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, The Trump White House Archived

Panorama Perspective

Missouri legislators must stop weaponizing anti-transgender legislation for their own political gains

14 out of 14

DEAR MISSOURI LEGISLATORS, Missouri Congress passed Senate Bill 49ing care for transgender people under 18. Additionaladults. Anti-transgender bills have exploded exponentially in the past few years. In 2018, there were 26 anti-transgender bills introduced to Congress. Last year alone there were 589.

It’s your job as legislators to respond to your constituents if they’ve raised concerns about transgenderrians, that isn’t what is happening. You’ve perpetu-

gender legislation when transgender people are such -

professionals telling you otherwise. These false -

lie based on your rhetoric. The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey of 92,329 people shows less than 1% of peotheir lives afterward. Additionally, social support as Trevor Project’s 2022 national survey of over 34,000 queer youth shows that when transgender youth have social support, their suicide rate drops by over half.

If you truly cared about protecting kids, you wouldics like Senator Josh Hawley has. With this bill and

to 462 anti-transgender bills introduced in 2024. Yournating. It has struck fear in Missourians for you tothing very few cisgender students even knew about country. Most students are learning about transgenderal transgender people or healthcare professionals, so -

While you see the results of your anti-transgender

Survey shows 24% of transgender people do not seetheir gender identity. Additionally, the Trevor Project’s 2022 survey shows 54% of transgender youthcide in 2020.

This is the cost of using people’s lives for political

Outside the Box

Now more than ever, niche sports are worth noticing

Only opinions spread design by Emily Liu & Mac Huffman | Frank Chen 17

STORY BY FRANK CHEN

THERE’S EXCITEMENT in the air as a family gathers in the living room. They assemble on the game of … teqball?

Well, why not? From the Bronze Age civilizations to the upcoming Olympic Games, sports have been, are and always will be an important part of human society. They unite us, inspire us andmal” mainstream sports have their shouldn’t be discounted either.

First, niche sports can help encourage cultural exploration. From medieval European buhurt ancient roots with deep culturportals across time and space and encourage exploration of others’ cultures and your own. Second, needed for other sports. Teqball, for example, can enhance a soccercision. Finally, niche sports don’t always stay niche. According to

game was played with peach basMany other mainstream sports, such as football, baseball, soccer big thing is already here.

Frank’s Faves

Chessboxing is a hybrid sport that combines chess with boxing. Two players alternate between blitz chess and boxing until someone loses by checkmate or knockout. Merging these two games forces chessboxers to use both their brains and their brawn to win.

TEQBALL

Invented in 2014, teqball blends elements of ping pong and soccer. Two players or teams pass a ball back and forth across a curved table. Ladue recently won a teqball table from the United Coaches Association. It’s currently at the Fifth Grade Center.

CHESSBOXING WATER POLO

ILLUSTRATION

Water polo is a fiercely competitive team sport where two teams of seven attempt to get a ball into the other team’s goal. Originating in Scotland in the mid-19th century, it has been described by some as one of the most difficult sports in the world.

BY OLIVIA CHEN

BY THE NUMBERS

65% follow less than three sports

69%

73%

of Ladue students play less than two sports believe that society should pay more attention to niche sports

Panorama surveyed 201 students Feb. 12

Source: Gitnux

The Modern Boycott

TSTORY BY SYLVIA HANES

Why boycotts are effective at provoking social change

HE FIRST TIME THAT many students hear the word “boycott” is in the context of the Montgomery bus boycott, sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks. The boycott began Dec. 1955 and lasted until Nov. 13, 1956, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation violated the 14th Amendment. It succeeded because 75% of Montgomery bus patrons were Black passengers, meaning that each day the Montgomery City Lines lost 30 thousand to 40 thousand bus fares for as long as the boycott continued. This event inspired many of the famous nonviolent protests of the Civil Rights Movement.

However, Montgomery was had already been used for years, including during the American colonial period as a method to re

sist British control. Heavily-taxed British products, such as tea and sugar, were avoided by colonists is an example of an boycott in which the public targets products and goods instead of targetting a service like the bus system.

Boycotts are still effective in our economy today, but they’ve changed form. Now the public avoids certain corporations that problematic causes. These movements are spurred by concerns about human rights, environmental impact, animal abuse, political issues and more. In an economy where trends arise quickly and fade even faster, boycotts can have a lasting effect on the ethics and economic stability of a corporation. For example, a boycott

2012 after its CEO Dan T. Cathy

FREEDOM JUSTICE PROTEST SKIP THE BUS Photo courtesyofChrisGreen CC BY-NC-SA 2 .0

BOYCOTT BREAKDOWN

25% of Americans are participating in a boycott would cut ties with their favorite business if it supported a cause they

58%

made multiple statements opposing same-sex marriage. The company also donated to many anti-LBGTQ+ organizations. As a was damaged, and they lost part of their consumer base. The company stated later that year, “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”

One obvious effect of a boycott is that it can cause a dramatic decrease in the public consumption of a product or brand. This impact

of Gen Z said celebrities or influencers impacted their decision to boycott. EQUAL RIGHTS BOYCOTT

Currier

would have little effect on its overall income and security due to our reliance on it. However, boycottsed and widespread followings or with smaller and less stable corporations. In these cases, large-scale budget cuts and bankruptcy.

Mainstream avoidance of a certain brand or company can lead to a negative public association with its goods or services. Instead of simply enjoying the product, consumers start to doubt the source and wonder what happens behind the scenes. This doubt can snowball into even more avoidance,

causing the business to lose out on more and more customers. A

success are intertwined, making a boycott especially effective.

Unfortunately, boycotts can have consequences outside of the economic loss of a business are workers at the bottom of the corporate ladder. These workers are not the ones making the company’s decisions, and pay cuts or job losses can be devastating for their individual lives. In addition, boycotts can have the opposite effect on a corporation’s reputation or economic status. Criticism of a brand can generate strong support among its loyal customers, leading

HSIAO

FOR BOYCOTTS

Brand affiliations

TOP CAUSES PHOTOBY VINCENT

Health practices Cultural/ racial attitudes Environmental impacts Product recalls P spread design by Mimi Zhou & Sylvia Hanes

to what is known as a “buycott.” This is the opposite of a boycott, where supporters of a company will purposefully buy more of its products to compensate for the criticism and lost revenue. However, with organization and consistency, boycotts have the potential to affect the ethics and budget allocation of a targeted business. For example, in cases of exploitation and corruption, boycotts can lead to better wages and conditions for employees. When opposing unethical policies and beliefs, boycotts can force a corporation to pull support or funding from problematic causes.

Economic boycotts can be incredibly effective instruments of change. While often overlooked, this method of nonviolent protest against corporations should be taken more seriously when addressing social issues. With dedication, a clear goal and a loyal following, a boycott has the power to institute real change.

Casting Color-blind

Color-blind casting limits the diversity and representation it seeks to promote within media

WSTORY BY EMILY LIU

HEN I WAS A KID, I immersed myself

FILM FACTS

16.8% of theatrical film directors are people of color

12.4% of theatrical film writers are people of color

Theatrical films with casts below 11% minority had the lowest global box office performance

SCAN FOR

a list of recent and upcoming movies by people of color

P

PHOTOS BY VINCENT HSIAO

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Aaron Lin reviews five popular fried chicken restaurants

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

At the top of this list, Cane’s had everything. From the food to the environment to the price, everything was excellent. The restaurant was clean, and the decorations, including disco balls and posters, along with the music made for a very welcoming atmosphere. Incredibly, after I ordered it took less than two minutes for my food to be ready, so the workers were definitely more than prepared. Next, the food was simply amazing. The chicken fingers were moist and crispy on the outside, and even though it was a bit lacking in seasoning, the Cane’s sauce made up for it. Combined with the Texas Toast and fries, Cane’s gave me a meal that was incredibly tasty, filling and relatively cheap.

Chicken Out

Falling just behind Cane’s, Chicken Out had even better food, but with a higher cost. The worker was very nice, though the wait time was on the higher end. The environment was very clean, and decorations throughout, including trophies from local competitions and a mural with a modified Hollywood sign reading “Cluckwood,” made for a very welcoming vibe. When the food came out, it was noticeably better than every other restaurant. With a much cleaner presentation compared to the others, the chicken and fries were seasoned with their signature Chicken Salt. The texture was consistent throughout every part of the meal, and the flavor was full but not too strong. As a local restaurant, Chicken Out gave me the most important thing I wanted: good food.

With above average food and exceptional service, Chick-fil-A was good, but not good enough to make it into the top half of the list. When I went to order, I was immediately greeted with a very polite worker and received my food in no time. The seats, floor and tables are all spotless, and a different worker even gave us sanitizing wipes when I was nearly done with my food. The chicken, while slightly unseasoned, had a nice crunch to it. The fries were very slightly undercooked, but the sweet and tangy Chick-fil-A Sauce made up for it. Overall, Chick-fil-A was a very pleasant experience that left me with a smile.

Popeyes

Unlike the top three, the remaining restaurants were not as impressive. As soon as I walked in, the energy was different. There was a lack of decorations, the floor was dirty and for some reason, there were random jugs of hand sanitizer on the tables. After the longest wait time out of all five restaurants, I finally received my food. Heavily contrasting with the restaurant’s interior, the food was decent. The chicken had a nice crunch, was very moist and was well seasoned. The fries didn’t stand out by any means and the nuggets smelled a bit suspicious, but the taste was very solid overall. Popeyes, while not bad, didn’t have any qualities that made it stick out of the bunch.

Shake Shack

At the bottom, Shake Shack’s chicken was clearly below-par. Even though Shake Shack isn’t known for its chicken, I was still surprised at how dry and bland it was. The sauce that I asked for was also questionably cold, like it had been just taken out of the refrigerator. The fries didn’t have any outstanding qualities, being slightly under-fried and lacking flavor. Overall, the taste couldn’t compare to the other restaurants. The environment on the other hand was not bad with decent lighting. There was even a shuffleboard table! However, as a chicken review, there was nothing good that I can really say about Shake Shack.

Life is strange

Life is strange is a story game where your decisions fully affect the outcome of the game and the way that the story goes. It starts with a girl named Max who realizes one day during class that she can rewind time. She then realizes that her ability is making a storm loom upon the bay. Will you

Sally Face

Gamer Guide

Sally Face is an invigorating game with many puzzles and a story line that is as eerie as it is entertaining. Sally Face is a top tier indie game with many gut churning aspects that you wont want to play out on a full stomach. From the bologna incident to Charley’s pony figurines, this game one of the most disturbing games on the market, but you can never manage to look

Fortnite is one of the most popular video games of this year. With the new update, this game has attracted old and new players alike. From the reckless railways to the ruined reels, Fortnite is the epitome of a game that has everything. You can play alone or with friends, on any console and there is even a mobile version. It is a shooting game and a building game combined into one; it is a game that basically anyone can enjoy.

Jay Heintz plays and reviews four popular video games

Monopoly

The OG instigator. Remember the hours lost trading fake cash for imaginary properties? As the hours tick by, alliances (that make or break the balance between victory and bankruptcy) are formed, broken and reformed. It’s a game that lasts longer than family feuds.

Monopoly Deal

In Monopoly Deal, players play sets of cards representing properties, money and action cards. And because bankrupting your loved ones should be a sprint, not a marathon, it lasts around 30 minutes to an hour. Who needs a board when you can experience the highs and lows of capitalism in the palm of your hand?

Then vs. Now

Family game night edition

Connect 4

Connect 4 is all about casual brilliance. Drop a chip, hear the satisfying “clink” and watch the drama unfold. Real victory is declaring “Connect 4” with a smirk while your opponent wonders how they missed the memo. Sometimes though, it feels like playing chess against someone who thinks they’re playing checkers.

ROHATGI

Connect 4 Basketball

Modern standards are a real overachiever’s nightmare. It’s not enough to have a solid strategy; now you need to flaunt your basketball skills too. One bad shot, and suddenly your game turns into a tragic comedy. Talk about setting the bar — or the hoop — way too high!

STORY & PHOTOS BY SARA

Girls swimming & diving team breaks school records, wins medals at high-profile meets

PHOTO STORY BY VINCENT HSIAO

photo panorama february 2024 // laduepublications.com 26

Splashing Records

6TH AT STATE SEASON RECAP RECORDS BROKEN

5 TIMES

AWARDED PLACED

School records; 200 medley twice 2 Center of Clayton pool records 2

TOP RIGHT: The state team watches and cheers the 400yard freestyle relay during the state championship finals at the St. Peters Rec-Plex Feb. 16. The relay swam a 3:40.46, earning third place and 32 points. “[Cheering] really helps with the team morale,” Phoebe Chen (12) said. “I honestly think it’s one of the best parts of swimming — the team aspect.”

BOTTOM RIGHT: Swimmers gather with MJ Bezzant (12), middle right, after the 100-yard breaststroke championship final. Bezzant defended her champion title after claiming it in 2023.

FAR RIGHT: Meg Willmann (11) stands at the blocks before the 400-yard freestyle relay during state preliminaries Feb. 15. “You don’t get this [experience] a lot,” Willmann said. “Being on this team, having this jacket, being able to experience having a school record. It’s only four times in your entire life you get to experience this and so it’s just really important.”

Lily Hsieh

as MJ Bezzant (12) reacts after the 200yard medley relay during the COMO Invitational finals at Mizzou Jan. 20. The squad of Hsieh, Bezzant, Ta and Meg Willmann (11) had just swam a 1:50.50, good for third place in the statewide mid-season meet but breaking Ladue’s 2019 school record of 1:51.07. The relay ranked first in Missouri Class 1 teams from this performance. “It was like a fantasy coming true,” Ta said. “My freshman year I had a picture taken next to the record board and Gentry, the old coach Hap, was like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna get your name on that wall one day,’ and that had actually happened.”

CENTER LEFT: Head coach Robert Peglar shows the 200-yard medley relay team their record-breaking time after the race during the COMO Invite. The old record was set by the 2019 state championship team that won the state title, which Ladue has only achieved twice in school history. “It was wonderful to see them set the school record,” Peglar said. “What they do in the pool every day at practice, nobody sees that. They put in the work when nobody notices and that’s what makes champions.”

CENTER RIGHT: MJ Bezzant (12) shows her medals from state finals Feb. 16. Bezzant placed second with the 200-yard medley relay and in the 200-yard individual medley, first in the 100-yard breaststroke and third with the 400-yard freestyle relay. “I’m pretty sad that it’s the end of the season,” Bezzant said. “This is my last one. Ladue High School swimming has been a huge impact on my life. It’s one of the reasons I’m swimming in college.”

LEFT: Lily Ta (11) swims the butterfly portion of the 200-yard medley relay during state finals. The team swam a 1:49.44, beaten into second place by 0.21 seconds to Clayton but blowing out their month-old COMO school record set by over one second. “I think we all want it. We want it bad,” Ta said. “I think we worked so hard on our communication with each other too. That’s how we’re so fluid with our time and the event.”

SCAN FOR results from the state championship

LEFT: Lily Ta (11), center, embraces

(12) in celebration

‘Due’s On Top

Ladue Hockey Club finds success on their way to the Wickenheiser Cup

STORY BY MICHAEL ZEGEL

the team for a pregame speech

their game against Priory Dec. 2, 2023. The team is currently preparing for the semi-final match against Rockwood Summit Feb. 23. “I love the energy of our team, especially after our win over Clayton,” said Colin Tilley (12). (Photo

LADUE HOCKEY

club shows out for an 18-2 season, their best performance since 2020. Thetiful amount of triumphs. With as a team. -

terms of as a team. But then after the team continues to move to-coaches.

100

309

Even with the amount of wins, continual improvement.

ABOVE: Jack Adams (12) gathers

during

by Harper Buxner)

CONNOR HUBER

LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY

DI Football

LOGAN WALLACE

MISSOURI SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DII Soccer

ALISON NIEDER

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

DI Rowing

WILL KUNITZ

MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY

DII Baseball

MAYA MANN

GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY

DIII Basketball

Signing Day 2024

Signing Day 2024

Senior athletes commit to playing sports in college

DANIEL GARZA

DENISON UNIVERSITY

DIII Swimming

MADDY GLADSON

UNIVERSITY-TENNESSEE MARTIN

DI Volleyball

MJ BEZZANT

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

DI Swimming

STORY BY NITYA NARA ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA CHEN

Tips, tricks, lifestyle changes and methods to prioritize mental health

MEDITATE MAKE YOUR BED

Finding comfort in the middle of chaos is a necessity rather than a luxury in today’s fast-paced world. A brief mindfulness meditation might provide the haven your mind needs in order to calm down. Despite the turmoil of everyday duties, you carve out ten minutes to sit in silence, focusing only on the motion of your breathing. In this peaceful state, your mind relaxes, lets go of worries, reduces tension and provides many more benefits. According to the National Instituites of Health, regular mindfulness practice can have profound effects on mental health; including reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia. Over time, you may notice improvements in concentration, productivity and efficiency in your daily tasks. By dedicating just a few minutes to mindfulness each day, we grant ourselves the gift of inner peace, allowing us to navigate life’s challenges with clarity and perserverance.

Within our intricate daily schedules, the simple effort of making our beds acts as self-care. It might seem to be an ordinary activity, yet it has a significant impact. Taking a few moments to arrange our bed sheets before a hectic day provides us a sense of accomplishment and peace. This sets a pleasant tone for the day ahead, providing an environment of peace.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

In the symphony of life, music emerges as a strong emotional healer. Immers ing oneself in music provides mental well-being. From the calm tone of a classical music to the vibrant beat of a popular pop song, music has the power to elevate moods, calm our minds, and provide peace.

LIMIT SCREEN TIME DO SHORT EXERCISES

Finding time for exercise can feel like an impossible challenge. But what if you could scatter moments of movement throughout your day? Believe it or not, it actually helps your mental health. Picture this: during your coffee break doing a quick stretch session to relieve tension, or taking a quick walk around the surrounding area to energize both your body and mind. These small actions not only improve physical well-be ing, but also operate as power ful remedies for mental health. Short breaks are key for healthier lifestyle.

In this digital age, social media demands endless scrolling and notifications. By intentionally limiting our time spent on social media, we create valuable moments of peacefulness. Detaching from the constant overflow of information allows us to regain our attention and mental balance. In a so ciety filled with technology, cherishing real-world connections acts as a remedy for the mind, atten tion and mental balance. By prioritiz ing meaningful relationships minimizing screen time, we gain the precious moments that create true connections and improve how we live in the real world.

Nate

The Great

SOME PEOPLE SPEND

their entire lives hoping to meet their idols, and many never get the chance. Nate Harmon (11) gets this opportunity six days a week playing for the St. Louis City SC U21 team. Harmon started playing soccer at 2 years old, and at 4 years old, joined Scott Gallagher, playing there until he was 14. He then got hand picked to play for St. Louis City where he has been for the past three years, just two levels below the professional MLS team.

Through his time playing with City, he has had the opportunity to travel to many different locations for games including Virginia, Ohio, Atlanta and, most recently, California. The team travels once or twice a month, bringing them very close together despite the age gap. Being on a U21 team, Harmon is one of the youngest players at just 17 years old.

“We have practice six times a week,” Harmon said. “We get Tuesdays off and we play games on the weekends. Normally we go in early three times a have gym for like half an hour everyday.”

Playing for such a highly competitive team requires many commitments, such as the inability to play for the Ladue High school boys’ soccer team. Nate aspires to continue playing soccer in college and beyond.

Harmon said. “My goals are [playing] in college and being successful there and then hopefully playing professionally. I feel like St. Louis City gives me the atmosphere I need to make it to that next level.”

Being personally selected to play for City, Harmon pays nothing to be on the team. This includes frequent travel, a plethora of free gear, equipment and state of the art facilities. Harmon also gets the opportunity to interact with professional soccer players daily.

João Klauss or Eduard Löwen. [These are] people that I look up to and I try to replicate how I play.”

Being talented at a sport is only half of the equation. Supportive parents complete the puzzle. Nate’s parents have supported all of his athletic endeavors from day one.

“My parents are unbelievably helpful and I’m super grateful to them,” Harmon said. “Up until I could drive they would drag me out to practice every single day, and before I was on City they’d pay for my travel.”

“ The standard that we hold ourselves to is so high because we are representing our city every day.”

NATE HARMON

Athletes on City have dedicated their whole lives to soccer and are proud of the opportunity to represent their home city every day. Watching Harmon grow up with soccer, his parents take extreme pride in watching watching his love for the sport develop.

“We have the nicest facilities ever,” Harmon said. “We have a super big

team locker room so on any day I will run into [people] like Roman Bürki,

“I love the fact that he has found a tremendous passion because so many people go through life without nding theirs,” Harmon’s mom, Kara Harmon said. “Even when he doesn’t have training that day, he goes out and plays.”

Junior Nate Harmon plays soccer for St. Louis City SC U21 team

STORY BY LATHAN LEVY

Nate Harmon walks out of the locker room onto the field before a match Feb. 5 against Chiriaco FC. Harmon ended this season with nine goals and six assists. “We play in the UPSL League, which is a semi professional league,” Harmon said. “There’s a lot of ex MLS players and USL players and it’s really fun to play against high level professionals.” (Photo courtesy of Mike Ritterbeck)

Students participating in the annual Parade of Nations sit and stand for photos on the student staircase Feb. 5. The parade represented 72 countries. Tyler Hofer (12) held up the flag of Switzerland as he is half-Swiss and has family in the Central European country. “I just thought it was a really fun experience seeing the whole school be able to get together,” Hofer said. “It was cool to see all that representation because Ladue is such a diverse community.” (Photo by Vincent

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