Pano recaps important January

JANUARY

illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG

IN THE CLUBS

RECAP

ETHAN WILLICK

editor in chief

CLUB NEURO

Club Neuro, which deals with neuroscience, meets every other Tuesday over Zoom at 3:00 p.m. with 45 minute meetings mainly focused on preparing for the

Brain Bee, which is currently scheduled for March 27 at Washington University in St. Louis.

“We all have a brain; why not learn more about it?” senior and club co-president Ashna Chali said.

“Neuroscience is one of the most fascinating and interdisciplinary areas of study. If you look at any field,

I guarantee that you can relate it to neuroscience, because the way we perceive the world, in a sense, shapes our reality.”

The upcoming Feb. 2 meeting will include information for registration for the Brain Bee. New members are still able to join by emailing achali66@ ladueschools.net.

“We welcome anyone who is remotely interested in learning about how their brain works, or about mental health issues, or in fundraising for brain-related causes,” Chali said. TACTIC

TACTIC, also known as Teens Against Child Trafficking, meets every Monday at 2:30 p.m. to brainstorm new anti-child trafficking initiatives, such as their upcoming video project.

“Every video will have a purpose aside from simply spreading awareness,” senior and president Joshua Wolk said. “Some will function as PSAs for child safety [and] some as calls to action for policy change.”

The group has already interviewed Professor of

Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis

Rumi Price, among others, to begin production of the videos, and has more interviews planned. The club plans to release the videos on their YouTube and social media.

“We’d love to see new people at our meetings since we have a lot to accomplish beyond the horizon,” Wolk said. “If you’re interested in spreading awareness through mixed media, participating in

U.S. politics, or are simply passionate about the issue at hand, this is the club for you.”

IN THE CLASSROOM

AEROSPACE SCIENCE BAND

The aerospace science course consists of learning The concert and symphonic bands have had to about the engineering of aircrafts, physics of flight implement new ways of rehearsing in an attempt to and history of aviation. mitigate COVID-19 spread.

“I think the construction and testing of the air- “If you watch our band rehearse, you’ll see stucrafts is [what] I am most excited about,” aerospace dents wearing special masks designed to cover the science teacher Jeffery Vetter said. “The construc- nose and mouth while still allowing the instrument tion is about the anticipation of a successful proj- to be played,” band director Aaron Lehde said. “Bell ect and the testing of the aircraft is where the real covers are placed over the ends of the instruments to learning occurs.” keep any airborne particles from escaping. To catch

This semester, due to the inability to do group brass players’ spit condensation, we’re using puppy projects, more building materials had to be pur- training pads on the floor.” chased. This is Vetter’s first time teaching the class, Rehearsing with these safety measures has been which has previously been taught by Richard Witt, a unique experience for band members. While the

Jesse McGlaughlin and Theodore Waterson. precautions can make it more challenging to play the

“The intuitive aspects of construction may be instruments, they also allow the band to finally play realized by learners who do not succeed in academ- music together again. ically-challenging coursework,” Vetter said. “And “The precautions make it harder to play tuba,” juvice-versa, those who do find academic success more nior Jake Goldman said. “When I put the mouthpiece readily may discover that real-life construction proj- in the mask, the mask nearly comes off my face. But, ects are very difficult.” it feels great to play in person again.”

CAPITOL RIOTS

On Jan. 6, a pro-Trump rally turned into a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol police were overwhelmed by rioters who destroyed property, stole documents and threatened the lives of Congress members. Since the riot, dozens of individuals have been arrested for their involvement, and the FBI are continuing to investigate and identify those involved.

Arguments have been made that President Donald

Trump encouraged these riots. (Source: National

Public Radio)

IMPEACHMENT

On Jan. 13, the House of Representatives impeached former U.S. President Donald Trump for a second time due to his role in encouraging the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Ten Republican representatives voted in favor of impeachment, which is a break from the unanimous Republican vote against the first impeachment in 2020. Although Trump has left office, he can still be convicted in a Senate trial. Trump is officially the first U.S. president to be impeached two times. (Source: New York Times)

CORI BUSH

Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri’s 1st Congressional District introduced a resolution to expel those involved in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection in Washington D.C. House Resolution 25 requires the House Committee on Ethics to investigate whether members of the 117th Congress who sought to overturn the 2020 election violated their oath of office and thus should be removed from Congress. (Source: congress.gov)

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

On Jan. 20, Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri National Guard will help establish

COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state. Each of Missouri’s nine highway patrol regions is being assigned a mass vaccination team. The teams consist of 30 personnel who will control traffic, support the administration and input data. These vaccination sites have the potential to administer up to 2,500 doses per day per team. (Source: governor.mo.gov)

IN THE NATION

INAUGURATION

On Jan. 20, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as the 46th President and the 49th Vice President of the U.S. In Biden’s speech, he identified four crises his administration wishes to focus on:

COVID-19, climate change, the economy and racial injustice. Following Biden’s address, the youngest inaugural poet in history, Amanda Gorman, delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb.” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ casual inaugural outfit also took the internet by storm. (Source: National Public Radio)

Photo courtesy of Executive Office of the President of the United States

IN THE STATE

JOSH HAWLEY

Following Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri’s clear stance on objecting to the legitimacy of the 2020 election and raising a fist of solidarity towards the riot that stormed the Capitol, seven Democratic senators have filed a complaint against Hawley and

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The Jan. 21 complaint asks the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Hawley and Cruz for their efforts to overturn election results. (Source: congress.gov)