February 2020

FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAST FASHI FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAS

PANO RAMA

Read more about the dangers of fast fashion on pages 12–15.

FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAST FASHION FAST FA

02.12.20, Vol. 68, Issue 6, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, 1201 S. Warson Rd. Ladue, MO 63124

STAFF Editors-in-Chief

Jackson Bry Katie Shaw Bradford Siwak

Head Design Editors

Cassie Beisheim Anna Liner

Managing Editor

Sydney Crump

Head Copy Editor

Alexander Fu

Print Photo Editor Managing Photo Editor

Nicole Kalishman Burke Howe

News Editor

Rhea Patney

Features Editors

Katie Holland Erin Turkieltaub

In-Depth Editor

Grace Hu

Opinions Editor

Ethan Willick

-Katie Shaw, Jackson Bry and Bradford Siwak

Arts & Entertainment Editors

Hugh Chan Caroline Tyrrell

Sports Editors

Domenic Fenoglio Jacob Korn Grace Hensley

News Staff

Lucy Lochmoeller Jamie Korenblat

Features Staff

Clayton Coughlin

In-Depth Staff

Sophia Liu Marissa Mathieson

Opinions Staff

Caroline Edgar Tariq Lashley Charlotte Woodhill

Sports Staff Business Managers Staff Writers

Staff Artist

2

Sunny Lu

Sports Photo Editor

Social Media Editor

EDITORS’ NOTE

Thomas Margulis Jason Pummer Jake Tackes Madalyn Abady Abigail Jansen Oviya Srihari Kiran Varadachari Cindy Wang Allen You Joanne Sung Danielle Zhang

Staff Photographer

Ginger Schulte

Adviser

Sarah Kirksey

02.12.20

We chose fast fashion as our in-depth topic this month because it is a major facet of most people’s lives, yet it is often overlooked. Our goal is to educate people about the human and environmental impacts of their closets.

We would like to emphasize that we are not trying to shame anyone for their shopping habits. We get it: fast fashion provides customers with larger, inexpensive wardrobes

that frequently echo designer styles.

We each own plenty of unethically sourced clothes ourselves.

It is naïve to suggest that everyone should boycott all fast fashion businesses immediately; many people do not have that luxury.

Rather, we hope that everyone who picks up this edition of the Panorama reconsiders the decisions they make and the cost of their clothes, finances aside.

COVER STORY After deciding on the in-depth topic of fast fashion, ideas immediately started pouring in: mannequins, dolls, piles of clothing and more. We first tried taking pictures of mannequins from the Ram Shack. While those photos looked deliberately unsettling, like the quiet realization that everyone contributes to fast fashion’s negative effects, they didn’t quite convey the destructive nature of fast fashion — invoking something more AI-related instead.

We turned to burning dolls afterwards, a process that involved hot-glue, a blowtorch and multiple plastic victims. Barbie was the perfect image because she is the quintessential American icon: plastic and too good to be true. Despite her unattainable aspirations, Barbie represents all of us because of her prevalence. Ultimately, four images of flames and smoke were stitched and edited into one image for the greatest effect. Fast fashion is not only detrimental to the environment and the workers who are forced to submit to its demands; if let to run amok, it will only come back to hurt us and the fashion industry it once defined.

SPREAD DESIGN BY J. BRY, K.SHAW & B. SIWAK

NEWS 5. An update on a few Ladue clubs.

6–7. Black Studies classes bring history boxes to elementary schools.

8. Ladue Education Board approves new teacher salaries.

A&E 9. Senior reviews her favorite reading assignments from English classes throughout her high school career.

10-11. Girl Scout Cookies fall into rank in a series of reviews.

IN-DEPTH 12–15. A look into the rapidly spreading fast fashion industry and its effects on our world.

OPINIONS 16. Awareness is the vaccine to a deadly alcohol problem.

17. Where is the divide? Does Ladue need a gifted program?

18. Our generation’s great power: our voice, our vote.

19. A tryst of love and loss and love again.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

FEATURES 20-21. Max Wasserstrom researches worms’ ability to digest plastic in his independent study class.

22–23. Senior Harper Gerardi spent her first semester traveling throughout Austria.

STAFF & CONTENTS

SPORTS 24-25. Ladue students compete in the casual JCC Youth Basketball League.

26. New XFL football team comes to St. Louis.

27. Girls join Ladue wrestling program.

3

POLICY Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among students.

It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm.

All surveys are completely anonymous and cannot be used against you. Panorama welcomes letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered.

Panorama is produced 9 times per school year by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Rd.,

St. Louis, MO 63124. The publication lab is located in room 1311, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduepublications. com.

Follow @laduepublications on Instagram and @laduepanorama on Twitter. Editor-in-chief photo by Sunny Lu. Cover photo by Grace Hensley. Cover illustration by Katie Shaw. Back cover photo by Bradford Siwak.

SPONSORS ISSUE

Lisa & Kevin Korenblat

Drury Hotels Company

Christy Crump The Dickson/Turkieltaub Family

Mandarin House

Jeffrey Korn

Michael J. McAvoy

Jill and Matt Powell

Emma Weller

LADUE BLUE

The Patney Family

Jim & Julia Stecher

The Fundoukos Family

Arleen & Phillip Korenblat

The Pummer Family

Joan and Phil Siwak

Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Jerry

Cathy Woodhill

The Sachs Family

Judy Steener

Greg & Stephanie Kinney

The Coughlin Family

The Schlueter/Sutter ‘22 Family

The Jurgiel Family

Hannah Rose Suffian

Ellen Levy

The Suffian Family

The Korn Family

The Hawkins Family

Friends of Ladue Girls Cross Country

The Tackes Family

The Korn Family of D.C.

Jackie Zeng

The Hu Family

The Trelz Family

The Levy-Thomeczek Family

Jeff Siwak

The Jansen Family

The Tyrrell Family

The Mathew Family

June Lei

Jodi Blucher

The Weller Family

The Merrims Family

Katie Bry

Ladue Education Foundation &

The Zhang Family

Alumni Association

Mimi

Lynda Baris

Ms. O’Connor

The Mills Family Nagarajan Family

Lochmoeller/Schulte Grandkids

SILVER

The Osborn Family

The Lu Family

The Arun Family

P. Chint

Peyton St. James

The Shaw Family

The Baumstark Family

Reese Schuler Family

The Rose and Norris Family

Stephen & Virginia Lochmoeller

The Beisheim Family

Roger & Diane Edgar

Sara Willick

Brooks Woodhill

Southern/Lochmoeller Team and

Sherry Osman Stephen Bowen

GOLD

4

The Hoefer Family

The Brooks Family

Dielmann Sothebys

Backer LLC

The Bry Family

The Turkieltaub Family

Dr. + Mrs. Bernard Davis

The Christner/Dunbar Family

The Silver Family The Steinberg Family

The Freeman Family

Corey Miller

FRIENDLY

The Tussey Family

Gabrielle & Mark Tullman

Dean and Bonnie Brooks

Adam Rush

The Varadachari Family

The Hardester Family

The Family of Carly Woodhill

Amy & Jackson DiBlasi

The Warren Family

Judy Bowman

The Fenoglio Family

Anonymous

The Weller Family

The Kalishman Family

The Gaither Family

Anya Tullman

The West-Serrano Family

The Biernacki Family

The Wild Family

The Kaw Family

The Gershon Crew

The Korn Family

The Goldman/Willick Family

The Bland Family

Zach Weller

The Koul Family

Heather & John Flaherty

The Bussmann Family

The Zigo Family

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY J. BRY, K. SHAW & B. SIWAK; M. MATHIESON

A QUICK CLUB UPDATE Animal Allies ABIGAIL JANSEN staff writer

news editor

DECA After competing in the district competition Feb. 4, qualifying Distributive Education Clubs of America competitors will compete at state March 22–24 and internationals April 29–May 2. Students will compete in events such as Hospitality and Tourism Research and Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series.

Spanish Honor Society

Spanish Honor Society will have teenagers from the World Pediatric Project, a program that offers medical aid to children in developing countries, come to Ladue to shadow students. They aim to show these patients what an American education is like.

art by ANNA LINER

he Animal Allies club was founded last year by then-junior Cecilie Horwitz. It combines students’ compassion for animals with helping those in need.

“People forget that we’re not the only ones suffering,” Horwitz said. “I had just volunteered at the humane society, and I saw that they had an increase of animals that needed support. They needed a lot of resources, so I wanted to have a pet supply drive. Later, I thought, ‘Why don’t I just start a club where we can just do stuff like this all the time?’”

The club is currently focused on raising money for animals in need. They are creating crafts like bracelets to sell, and all proceeds gathered will go towards the World Wildlife Foundation’s efforts to help animals affected by the Australian bushfires, where an estimated one billion animals have been killed.

“Right now, our focus is on Australia, and [we’re] trying to raise some funds to send over there, even if it’s a small amount,” club sponsor and social studies teacher Riley Keltner said.

“Anything helps them.”

Later this semester, the club plans to begin its second spring shelter drive for the Animal Protective Association, a St. Louis-based animal rescue and adoption center. They also hope to organize a field trip to visit the APA center and spend time with animals waiting for adoption.

“I think it’s pretty easy to get involved,” senior club member Lizzy Feinberg said. “It’s not something that’s going to take a lot of time, but it’s also really rewarding because you’re doing something for the better.”

art by CASSIE BEISHEIM

T

RHEA PATNEY

Club Neuro members will be competing in the Brain Bee Feb. 29 at Washington University in St. Louis. The competition is focused on neuroscience and based out of the Brain Facts Book, published by the Society for Neuroscience. The competition consists of a written exam and a triple elimination oral exam to determine the winner.

art by JOANNE SUNG

Club Neuro

Speech and Debate

The Ladue Talking Rams will be competing at the Marquette Invitational Feb. 14 and 15.

Then, the team will move on to Missouri State High Sch00l Activities Association and National Speech and Debate Association district competitions. Qualifiers from NSDA will move on to the national tournament June 14–19.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

SPONSORS & NEWS

5

HISTORY OUTSIDE THE BOX Black Studies classes create miniature museums for elementary students LUCY LOCHMOELLER

RHEA PATNEY

the obstacles she had to overcome to become a physician.”

The projects will be brought to the Ladue elementary schools in order to educate the younger generation n December 2019, Black Studies students made miniature museums in boxes that depict various im- of students. The boxes will be set up in a makeshift muportant events and people throughout Black history. seum, and kids will be able to pick up the items inside the boxes to learn in an interactive way.

This month, high schoolers are bringing these boxes to “Right now, the plan is that, through a Google Form, Ladue elementary schools to share some of the many teachers will have the opportunity to ‘check out’ the stories of Black history. boxes,” District Social Studies and English CoordinaBlack Studies is co-taught by English teacher Brantor Laila Crabtree said. “The boxes will be sent to that don Murray and history teacher Ashley Lock. The class teacher to use with their classroom and then returned, focuses on Black history and culture and is offered so it can be checked out again. The Curriculum Office during both semesters, broken up into Black Studies I will facilitate sending out the boxes.” and II. This project has inspired the creation of addition“Our mission is to center Black culture in a space al Black history curriculum for the next school year. where it’s not always centered,” Murray said. “We show This upcoming summer, teams of students the rich and expansive teachers will be creating hands-on history and literary tradition of Black history lessons that will beBlacks, not only in America, but come a permanent part of elemenalso on the African continent.” tary school curriculum, in addition The students were given a time period from 1619, the year the first I hope the kids learn a lot from to the already made boxes. Junior and Black Studies student Andrea ship arrived with enslaved Afrithese boxes because Black His- Swihart-DeCoster hopes that the cans, to 1870, the middle of Recontory Month is supposed to shine new curriculum will give Black struction. Lock and Murray left it to the students to decide what light on the great African Amer- kids a more detailed depiction of went into each box. icans that have given a positive their history.

“When I was in elementary “Even though the Underground contribution to our country.” school, there wasn’t a lot of eduRailroad wasn’t an actual railcation about African Americans in road, we had a student turn their -Paris Hamilton, 11 school,” Swihart-DeCoster said. box into a railroad,” Murray said.

“Young African American kids are “Inside the box were certificates not really exposed to a lot of history about people like related to the services of Harriet Tubman to the Unitthem, so there is not a lot they can relate to. I think it’s ed States. Henry ‘Box’ Brown is a person who shipped himself in a box from the deep south into Philadelphia, important for them to get different views about how different people have impacted the world.” so someone put a doll-like figure into the box to exemUltimately, the goal of the project is to bring lost plify his journey from the south to the north.” stories of Black history to life and educate elementaThroughout the project, the students were able to ry school children on those stories. The boxes were a look further into some of the stories and people that creative extension of all the knowledge the high school have not been represented throughout history and restudents learned last semester, and they aim to take a tell them in their boxes. Junior Paris Hamilton chose to step further than the commonly taught names of Martin make her box about Rebecca Lee Crumpler, one of the Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. first Black female physicians in the U.S. “We wanted [Black Studies students] to see how they “I personally loved this project because I was able could extend their learning, along with helping younger to shine light on a woman who no one knows because students understand that there are other disparate voic[she] is not really spoken of today,” Hamilton said. es out there who are not often heard,” Murray said. “We “[Crumpler] went to a school in Massachusetts, an all-women’s school, and she was the only African Amer- wanted to do that in a way that was fun and approachican to graduate from that school. I think it’s important, able, so even a fourth-grade student could look at these boxes and understand the story being told.” especially to the kids who will see the boxes, to learn news staff

news editor

I

“

6

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY L. LOCHMOELLER & R. PATNEY

What is in a box?

Junior Lauryn Donovan creates box about the underground railroad

1.

2.

Haitian Money: The money represents the Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791 and ended in 1804 with Haiti’s independence from France. This was the only successful slave rebellion in history that resulted in sovereignty.

Quilt: Quilts were used in the Underground Railroad to send encoded messages. The patterns represented codes and helped slaves escape to freedom.

1.

(Photos by Burke Howe)

3.

4.

3.

54th Regiment Badge: This regiment was the second Black regiment to ever be created. It was organized in the northern states during the Civil War. Alexander L.Twilight: This book represents Alexander L. Twilight, the first Black person to earn a bachelors degree from a United States college.

2.

4.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

NEWS

7

EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES NEW SALARIES

8

Teachers gather in the multipurpose room as U.S. History teacher Mike Hill speaks to the Board of Education Jan. 27.

There was a large teacher presence at the January board meeting to show support for the new salary schedule. “As an LEA rep at the building, any of my colleagues are free — or should feel free — to come to me and say, ‘Here’s an issue that I’m having,’” Hill said. (Photos by Nicole Kalishman)

SYDNEY CRUMP managing editor

T

he 2019–20 school year marks the end of the Ladue School District’s salary schedule, known as the Master Agreement. Salary schedules determine how much money a teacher is paid based on their education level and experience.

Every three years, the district’s salary schedule is reevaluated. The revised Master Agreement was approved in a 6-1 vote by the Ladue Board of Education Jan. 27.

The task of negotiating a new salary schedule that satisfies both the board members and teachers is a long and exhausting process for everyone involved.

This school year, U.S. History teacher Mike Hill is the director of the Meet and Confer group, which includes three administrative representatives and three teachers who take into consideration teachers’ concerns regarding their salaries.

“Public school teachers in Missouri are allowed to join unions, but Missouri statute does not allow them to strike,” Hill said. “So, what public teachers do to have their collective voices heard within a district is elect a group that will act as their bargaining agent with district administration.”

Three years ago, the salary schedule was revised to compete with the salary schedules of other surrounding districts. It is important to compete with other districts to attract new teachers and staff.

“The idea behind [the most recent salary schedule] was, ‘Let’s get Ladue teachers up to where they’re competitive with surrounding school districts,’” Hill said.

The Ladue Educator’s Association is also involved in the negotiation of Ladue’s salary schedule every three years. LEA president and English teacher 02.12.20

Shruti Upadhyay works with Hill and attends the Meet and Confer meetings to work on creating a salary schedule that meets the needs of teachers.

“Once a month, we meet and talk about district level concerns,” Upadhyay said. “It’s not just about the high school.”

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, many states, including Missouri, are feeling the effects of the nation-wide teacher shortage, in part because many teachers can find higher-paid jobs elsewhere. The starting salary for most teachers in Missouri is $31, 842, placing the state at number 49 in the country.

“Right now, there’s a teacher shortage across the nation,” Upadhyay said. “For the amount of hours and work that we put in, teachers are not paid enough. One of the reasons why people are leaving the field and going into other professions is salary.”

Students like senior Lisa Miller want to see teachers paid more for the long hours and hard work they put in to meet the needs of students.

Miller believes that to prevent the teacher shortage from worsening, school districts need to incentivize them by increasing their salaries.

“I think [teachers] should absolutely be paid more because they’re amazing – and they’re here for us,” Miller said. “I’ve always said if I had my way, football players and teachers’ salaries would be switched.”

The Master Agreement not only addresses teacher salaries but also issues like health insurance. The main goal of Meet and Confer is to create a master plan that meets the needs of the district as a whole.

“What we’ve negotiated with the Board of Education is going to be something that a lot of teachers are going to be really pleased with,” Hill said.

SPREAD DESIGN BY J. KORENBLAT; C. TYRRELL

Top three assigned reads Senior Cindy Wang looks back on favorite reading assignments from high school CINDY WANG staff writer

“Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell A very fitting start to a class entitled “AP English Language,” George Orwell’s essay on the collapse of the English language felt groundbreaking. The essay revealed that writing I had once thought was sophisticated and mature-looking was actually much more convoluted and imprecise than it should have been. I’d once strived to complicate my sentences, thinking that more pretty words, phrases and syllables would prove my worth as a writer. However, by pointing out the prevalence and weaknesses of overused metaphors, words clearly taken from the thesaurus and phrases instead of single words, Orwell’s essay transformed how I approach and view literature of all forms.

AP English Language

art by JOANNE SUNG

“Nickel and Dimed,” Barbara Ehrenreich In her extended report, Barbara Ehrenreich chooses to leave her financially stable life as a successful writer to investigate whether or not people can truly make a living on minimum wage. What appeared to be an unnecessarily long and detailed report turned out to be one of the most fascinating reads of my years in high school. After following Ehrenreich through her ups and downs as she worked for restaurants, assisted-living facilities and cleaning-lady companies, I developed a new, poignant and informative perspective. There was so much about the world around me and our society that I’d made assumptions about and never questioned until I read “Nickel and Dimed.”

AP English Language “The Iliad,” Homer Poor Hector. Although I read “The Iliad” back in freshman year, I will always remember the travesty in that one scene when Achilles acts like a jerk and drags Hector’s body in circles after his death, refusing to give Hector a proper burial. Whether it was the action, the emotional drama or purely my nostalgia for all the Greek mythology I’d read as a child that drew me into the plot and the characters, I found Homer’s work to be thrilling. While not as life-changing and perspective-shifting as some other literary works I’ve read in various English classes, it was interesting to see the parallels and the shifts in gender and societal norms from hundreds of years ago to now.

Advanced Literature and Composition

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

9

E L B M U R C S E I K O O C E H T HOW

Mi n i old s s e ooki C t u S co all Girl

HUGH CHAN a&e editor

i ur o ss

ranks labilty issues. d n a s w e i v i e Hugh r e to ava anked du

en’t r *Lemonades wer

1. thin mints

a rt

by ANNA LINE R

Predictable? Perhaps, but Thin Mints remain the epitome of Girl Scout Cookies. The layer of chocolate enveloping the cookie is thick enough to enhance the overall flavor but it doesn’t interfere with its crispy texture. The mint is incorporated subtly; at first, only the chocolate is noticeable, but the mint establishes its presence well by the end, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. Thin Mints are by far the most popular Girl Scout Cookie, and after just one bite, it’s clear to see why these delightfully crisp cookies remain so popular.

2. do-si-dos

Do-si-dos came extremely close to ranking ahead of Thin Mints, and my preference between the two ultimately depends on my daily mood. The peanut butter is not thick enough to ruin the delicate harmony established between the various components of the Dosi-do, but there is enough so that it is the underlying flavor in the cookie sandwich. The delectably crunchy cookies are moistened by the peanut butter, while a slight tinge of salt prevents the cookie from being too sweet, making it one of the most balanced treats in the Girl Scout Cookie lineup.

3. trefoils

In the words of Albert Einstein, “Everything should be made as simple as possible.” This mantra is best exemplified by the deceptively basic Trefoil. While it’s the least complex of all Girl Scout Cookies, the clean notes of vanilla and butter are accentuated by the Trefoil’s simplicity. The shortbread cookie is crumbly but moist, one-dimensional but immensely satisfying. Trefoils are one of the most addicting treats, and those who shun them for their plain appearance are painfully unappreciative of the Trefoil’s true beauty.

10

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY H.CHAN

4. samoas

This ranking, which is relatively low when taking popularity into account, may be somewhat controversial, but Samoas are far too sugary to be enjoyable. The components of chocolate, caramel, coconut and shortbread cookie should work well together, yet the coconut and cookie flavors are entirely overwhelmed by the aching sweetness of the caramel and chocolate. After biting into just one Samoa, I could feel my arteries begging for mercy. The overall Samoa experience was deeply disappointing, and the widespread popularity of these cookies is unfathomable.

5. lemon-ups

Lemon-Ups are new this year, but their debut is largely underwhelming. Rather than tasting bright and tart, as all lemon-flavored things should, Lemon-Ups taste like stale Fruit Loops. Savannah Smiles, which Lemon-Ups replaced, were vastly superior to these overly dry, wannabe-citrus disks. The cookies aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re extraordinarily boring and rightfully reside in the lower echelon of Girl Scout Cookies.

6. tagalongs

The individual flavors of the Tagalong are delightfully pronounced, but the cookie is distinctly nausea-inducing. The revoltingly slimy peanut butter is encapsulated so abundantly within the cookie that each bite is laborious to swallow. Putting aside the sickening mouth-feel of the cookie, the flavors of chocolate and shortbread are actually well pronounced. If the texture of the peanut butter didn’t resemble the mucus of someone suffering from the flu, the cookie would probably rank near the top. Nevertheless, the fact remains that each part of the cookie I ate threatened to come back up.

7. s’mores

These disgraces of a cookie smell like sweetened Play-Doh, and they taste like it too. S’mores combine the worst traits of the other Girl Scout Cookies into a catastrophic monstrosity of a treat. The filling has the same vile texture of the Tagalong’s peanut butter and manages to be sweeter than a Samoa, while the two cookies above and below the filling are as dry as Lemon-Ups. I almost always offer some redeeming quality in a negative review, but S’mores manage to defy this expectation by being utterly atrocious. Additionally, these blasphemous cookies cost a dollar more than their far superior counterparts. The very existence of these cookies dishonors the integrity of the Girl Scout tradition, and the image of all other Girl Scout Cookies are tarnished by the dreadful S’mores.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11

T S CO

THE

D BEHIN

THE

CLOTHES

An overview of the history, impacts and alternatives to fast fashion GRACE HU in-depth editor

80 BILLION clothing items are thrown away every year

10 PERCENT

50 BILLION

of the world’s carbon emissions are from fast fashion

plastic bottles worth of microplastics pollute oceans from fast fashion art by CASSIE BEISHEIM & GRACE HU

12

02.12.20 SPREAD DESIGN BY G. HU & S. LIU

P

op music pumps through the building, adding to the sensory overload of the Saint Louis Galleria. Rows upon rows of almost identical shops fill multiple floors, each storefront boasting their latest styles and massive sales.

Inside, each shop contains dozens of racks with the same style of tops and bottoms. As soon as next week, storefronts will be dismantled and reassembled, with no recollection of the old “trends” that seemingly emerge and disappear within a couple hours.

Welcome to the world of fast fashion, where clothing is produced as quickly as possible, all for the enjoyment and constant demand of consumers. Although fast fashion maintains the façade of affordable, fashionable clothing, the true nature of the industry is far more sinister.

The definitions of fast fashion varies, but they all share a common theme — fast fashion is characterized by quick, cheap and mass-produced clothing. Many “slow fashion” brands will produce collections three to four times per year to match the season. However, fast fashion corporations like Zara, H&M, Hollister and Forever 21 churn out new collections every few weeks, producing thousands of new styles annually.

“It’s definitely a very profit-based business,” junior Reese Schuler, a former Hollister employee, said. “It’s them trying to churn out as many clothes as they can before a style goes out of fashion and trying to overprice these teenagers for [low-quality] clothes.”

Although the clothes that fast fashion produces are cheap, especially compared to the designer styles they mimic, the enviornment pays a steep price. Due to the inexpensive material used to manufacture such clothing, companies are incentivized to produce quickly at high levels and throw out many garments, creating huge amounts

of waste. According to the University of Queensland, the majority of fabrics are comprised of synthetic materials, meaning that when the 80 billion items of non degradable clothing purchased annually end up in landfills, they produce chemicals that seep into the ground for thousands of years. Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme states that the fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply and pollutes our oceans with 500,000 tons of microplastics each year — the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. “[Hollister] would get a lot of big boxes,” Schuler said. “They would just have individually packaged clothes and all these clear plastic bags. We would get multiple shipments every week … There was so much waste. Every time I did it, we had to get new bins just to put them in because there were so many plastic bags piling up.”

Abroad, workers pay the price of fast fashion. According to The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Institution for Human Rights, garment workers in Asia and Latin America labor in sweatshops rife with toxic chemicals for hours on end, only to make an average of $67 a month.

“It’s like a factory style,” family and consumer sciences teacher April Dalton said. “They have an expectation and a quota.The machines that they work at aren’t protective, and [the workers are] so mentally stressed to fill a quota. Either way, it’s mentally and physically damaging. It’s your cookie-cutter-label factory worker sitting down, doing work and getting hurt.”

Fast fashion has permeated the fashion industry with flashy ads, cheap prices and on-trend clothing. Despite the allure of fast fashion, its negative impacts provide an imperative for consumers to look for sustainable

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

IN-DEPTH

alternative options. Movements like “slow fashion” focus on promoting sustainable production and brands, but the clothing they produce can be pricey. However, there are other affordable options, such as shopping at independent boutiques that source their clothing.

“Although my lines are relatively inexpensive for boutique price ranges, all of my clothing is made here in the USA,” owner of women’s boutique Never Enough Lisa Lorenz said. “I really looked at that when I bought the store, and I can’t say that all the materials are necessarily sourced here, but they are made here in the U.S.” A less expensive alternative is second-hand shopping, better known as thrifting. There are a multitude of online and in-store options that sell high quality clothing for lower prices while also encouraging sustainability.

“I love second-hand shopping and thrifting,” Lorenz said. “I just happened to buy a business that sells new items, but I really hope that anyone that shops at my store would donate or swap their old clothes. And I know that my customers shop at my store, other boutiques, Marshall’s, The Vault and … shop in all different ways based off of what [they’re] looking for.”

At the end of the day, fast fashion has become an industry built on an incessant desire to make a profit, harming both consumers and producers. In order to mitigate these harms, Dalton believes companies and consumers must become increasingly mindful of the impacts of this business model.

“Companies need to take into consideration their impact on everything when they’re designing,” Dalton said. “[For example], creating jeans uses so much water that could be used for feeding people.

Those companies aren’t taking that into consideration, and they have the power to change.”

13

art by GRACE HU sources: semanticscholar.org, tremer, fashionista, edology

the history

FAST

1800s

the process

fash fash

1900s

The first sweatshops emerge in the United States in the early 19th century, along with substandard pay in unsafe conditions.

The Industrial Revolution results in clothing made in bulk rather than being made to order.

Massive textile mills open across the developing world in order to compensate for the growing need to keep up with trends.

the alternatives

Clothing items are made in sweatshops in Asian and Latin American countries where harsh conditions cause injuries and skeletal issues.

t he c is hr

tin ed

ts h torren

The clothes are shipped to garment factories in locations like Los Angeles and Chicago where detail sewing is done.

el

l ja

ck e t : $6

t fit

ap e

r je

an:$35 v lee l on g s

New clothing items are shipped out to warehouses and distributed to stores across the nation two to three times a week.

e

l oc color b

Customers rapidly buy clothing items in stores and online, generating about $3 trillion in profit annually.

k

14

ress: $218

regular

sources: the new york times, madewell.com

New styles rapidly emerge, incentivizing fast fashion corporations to order about one billion clothing items annually.

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY G. HU & M. MATHIESON

ba g

: $ 14

te e

:$18

hionFACTS hion

64

2000s

Zara is founded in Spain in 1974 and comes to New York in 1990. Zara is credited with popularizing the fast fashion model of production.

reformation

the profit $$$

$

$$$

$

Pact is Fair Trade Certified and is certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard. They also use sustainable materials like organic cotton.

thrift stores

$

Online options like thredUP or local thrift stores like Goodwill and Avalon provide affordable clothing options while minimizing waste.

$

the language circularity

When products are repaired, remade, reused and eventually recycled or biodegraded at the end of their use.

fair trade

Trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries, in which fair prices are paid to the producers.

slow fashion

A deliberate choice from consumers to slow down their consumption and buy less clothing while investing in high quality pieces that last longer.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

IN-DEPTH

sources: remake.world & smartaset.com

pact

sources: reformation, patagonia, levi’s, pact, good housekeeping

$$

Traditional jeans take over 2,000 gallons of water per pair to make. Levi’s Water>Less collection aims to produce high quality jeans with 96 percent less water.

Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara has a net worth of $58.3 billion.

Fast fashion accounted for 66 percent of online fashion traffic in the first half of 2018.

The McKinsey Global Fashion Index forecasts the fashion industry to grow at 4.5 percent next year.

Patagonia uses sustainable materials like recycled wool, down and cotton. Additionally, they provide guides on how to fix clothing to make it last longer.

levi’s

$ $

In 2018, the fast fashion industry was worth $35 billion.

Reformation tracks the enviornmental footprint of every piece it produces by measuring pounds of waste, gallons of water used and carbon emissions.

patagonia

Fast fashion becomes more mainstream as prominent women such as Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton wear clothing from H&M and Zara.

The first H&M locations open in the U.S. in March 2000 in New York City.

15

PANO PERSPECTIVE Ladue students are affected by alcoholism, too

F

or much of our early education, health courses and programs such as D.A.R.E. have diligently warned us against the many dangers of underage drinking: liver damage, car crashes, chronic health issues and more. These classes offer the simple solution of completely abstaining from underage alcohol use, but this advice falls on deaf ears more often than not.

In addition, the risks of underage drinking are generally taught as long-term effects; however, a relatively unexplored danger of alcohol use is teenage alcoholism.

Alcoholism is defined by Mayo Clinic as a “physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would result in withdrawal symptoms.� Generally, alcoholism is thought of as an affliction that affects only people later in their lives. The school curriculum emphasizes this addiction as something that underage drinking can eventually lead to, but this

ailment is not exclusive to adults.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.8 percent of teenagers suffer from some form of alcohol addiction. Rather than treat the disorder as if it were a problem developed as an adult, teenagers must be informed about the possibility of teenage alcoholism. There is a distinct difference between having a few drinks at a party and having a physical dependence on alcohol.

Ladue students must also be aware of the various risk factors associated with alcoholism. According to the Addiction Center, students with a family history of alcoholism are four times more likely to develop the disease. If students plan on partaking in alcohol use, they should research their family history and understand the level of risk they position themselves in when drinking alcohol. More importantly, students are at greater peril of alcohol dependence when facing high

levels of stress and anxiety. As high school students with a particularly demanding curriculum, Ladue’s student body is especially at risk of falling victim to alcoholism.

The Ladue community must recognize that teenage alcoholism is a legitimate issue and take steps to minimize its impact. We realize that an expectation for students to stop drinking is unrealistic, but we implore all students to understand and draw the line between having fun with friends and depending on alcohol to function. Health classes and substance abuse programs should teach students to practice moderation rather than preach complete abstinence of alcohol. Students should be wary of symptoms of alcoholism and support any friends who are struggling from the disorder. Ultimately, teenage alcoholism should be regarded as a serious concern within the community, and measures should be taken to reduce its influence.

photo illustration by

16

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY E. WILLICK

GR A C E

HE N SLE Y

Should we have a gifted program?

YES, a gifted program is necessary to help students who need it ETHAN WILLICK opinions editor

A

gifted program at the high school is necessary for two reasons: it provides a format of education that some students need, and it is against the law to not have one.

There are students in need of a gifted program, and it is important to clarify that a gifted program is not a reward. In fact, many states consider it a special needs program rather than an advanced program.

“I am very clear about referring to the classroom as an intervention class because that helps to separate it from, ‘Hey this is a fun elective,’ to, ‘There are pretty specific things that we are trying to do,’” Ladue

Middle School gifted teacher Kathleen Mercury said. Gifted kids struggle to connect with other people, get motivated and focus. Because of this, Mercury believes a high school gifted class would need to emphasize choice, goal setting and individual pursuits of students’ interests.

In addition, it is illegal for the high school to not have a gifted program. There is a law in Missouri stating that high school classes for gifted kids must meet the current Missouri definition for giftedness, including a “competent professional evaluation.” Advanced classes do not count toward this requirement.

This is especially notable because, “In high school, honors and AP classes are thought by some to meet the needs of gifted kids,” Mercury

said. “But, there’s no evidence to show that really is the case.”

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not actively regulate this law, so it is up to individual schools to self-enforce.

There are several ways to make a gifted program work at the high school level. Local school districts like Parkway and University City have high school programs.

“Whether it’s a gifted resource office or actual gifted classes, there are a lot of different models that could work,” Mercury said.

The high school could incorporate gifted classes without needing to hire many new staff by implementing scheduled classes during seminar or simply providing a gifted resource office for students.

?

NO, a gifted program is unnecessary at the high school level ALLEN YOU staff writer

B

ritish philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell once said, “It’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted,” and now is the time that we must hang a question mark on the concepts of the intelligence quotient and the concept of gifted programs.

The logic may be intuitive that placing gifted students in a separate class suited to their needs is beneficial; however, the very ideas of IQ and intelligence should be examined here. Any reasonable analysis of IQ tests will conclude that the

tests oversimplify what intelligence actually is.

Steve Connor, science editor for The Independent, writes that, “IQ tests have been used for decades to assess intelligence, but they are fundamentally flawed because they do not take into account the complex nature of the human intellect.”

IQ tests attempt to objectively measure intelligence when such a thing is not actually possible. Out of the numerous qualities that make up intellect, it only measures a few of them. The idea that some students can be considered “gifted” and others not based off a single test is absurd.

“It has always seemed to be odd that we like to call the human brain LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

OPINIONS

the most complex known object in the universe, yet many of us are still prepared to accept that we can measure brain function by doing a few so-called IQ tests,” Roger Highfield, co-author of the study “Fractionating Human Intelligence,” said.

These flawed ideas of who is “intelligent” enough to get into a gifted program are destructive towards education. Misuse of labels such as the term gifted encourage fixed mindsets about learning, and those who don’t qualify are discouraged from thinking they can perform as well as their gifted peers when they certainly can. Because of these fundamental flaws with IQ tests and its effects, a gifted program would do more harm than good.

17

art by JOANNE SUNG

TO KNOW THE BALLOT The school has a duty to educate future voters MADALYN ABADY

staff writer

A

fter the 2016 presidential election, the United States government conducted a census to determine the rates of voter turnout per age group. It revealed that of all the groups, young people, ages 18–29, displayed the lowest turnout by far. This may seem surprising, but historically this has been the case in all major elections dating back to 1972, when the voting age was lowered to 18. As the age group that will be affected by future policies for the longest period of time, it is sad to see that youth are the ones who are the least likely to vote on the policies considering they directly affect their futures.

At 18 years old, I am now a part of this young people voting demographic, which means that my peers and I hold the power to change the

18

historic trend of low voter turnout, as well as the future of our country.

However, as first time voters, many of us lack the experience needed to act as responsible voters. Personally, I know that I will not fully understand all of the things I will encounter on a ballot when I vote.

I am confident in my age group’s ability to vote intelligently and change the world that we live in if we are taught how. It seems to me that there should be more of an emphasis placed on helping make sure the next generation of voters is ready to conduct this voting right. I can’t help but wonder if the environment in which I receive much of my information and knowledge could assist me in my journey as a first time voter. That’s why I believe that Ladue should offer a course about voting.

This semester-long class — primarily meant for seniors who are

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY C. EDGAR

eligible to vote (in Missouri, citizens are eligible to register to vote at 17 ½ years old) — would tackle many of the issues facing young voters. This means class time would be used to conduct in-depth discussions about issues on upcoming ballots. Everything all the way from candidates to referendums and initiatives to polling place etiquette and requirements would be discussed regularly in the class to make sure Ladue’s voters are as educated as possible.

Additionally, all students in the class would come out as registered voters.

Voting is a civic duty held by the citizens of the United States. If Ladue invested time and resources into a class to make sure that its students were prepared to become intelligent and well informed voters, then students may feel more prepared to vote. In the end, it would benefit not only the Ladue community but also our country as a whole.

Pause, Unpause

My on-and-off relationship with music

IEL

LE Z

HA

NG

do not enjoy the chasing game or the “faking dumbness” ploy. Playing hard-to-get or putting on an act is a turnoff for me.

K-pop eventually overwhelmed me with her sheer brilliance and nonstop change. I wore myself out trying to keep up with that ball of pure ambition.

Now, does this column seem like a music rant while creepily associating genres as relationships to pity my IRL single status? Nay, conceited I am not. I indulge in a little of everything because I love music more deeply than some others, but this general love prevents me from staying in one place too long— hence, this on-and-off relationship.

Whether it be searching for a certain genre or a certain someone, your past interactions define your future meetings. When I scroll through my playlist, I see songs that I’ve kept since elementary school from all the genres I’d explored.

They are lasting memories and encounters that have positively shaped my character today, and as I add more to the catalog, I come closer to finding “the one” — music or person — for me. Is it selfish? Probably.

Futile? Maybe. Heartfelt? Absolutely; all in the name of love.

AN

I

have met and broken up with all kinds of music … a lot. I am a playa’ in every sense of the word, including the piano, and it has really burned me out. I do not try to be a playa’. In fact, I sometimes wish to be like those who have committed to a genre, being bound at the hip, a red, aural string tying them together.

Alas, I am not like that, for almost each month I dump genres like one would broken vinyls into a trash bin. The following genres are but a few in my jar of hearts.

My first serious relationship began at the end of fifth grade: western pop. Young, wild & free. I thought, with my naïve rationale, that she, young, wild & free, was “the one.” I was thankfully still young when I made this mistake.

At first, it was fine. We knew each other growing up, so I thought our relationship would be awesome.

But, western pop quickly became too wild for me. It became all “party track” this and “mumble rapper” that. Also, I simply couldn’t take the constant need to be up-to-date and relevant. Turns out, I didn’t care about what was popular, yet she

repeatedly tried to trap me with the hi-hats and Chainsmoker clones.

Needless to say, we fell off quickly.

My following two relationships were J-pop and K-pop. No, I was not two-timing. Nevertheless, they did each share some commonalities.

Both were breaths of fresh air after western pop music. They were bright and welcoming, and they both globalized my views at the end of things.

J-pop had a deceptively pure and clueless appearance. Once we began interacting, I gradually discovered her depth. Similarly, K-pop is misunderstood as the one who copies whatever western pop does just to be popular. Yet, K-pop integrates these trends into her own character, creating an independent and ambitious identity that is more than the sum of her parts. Despite the language barrier, I became very close with these two during our time together.

We all know, though, the end to this tale of love, lies and lyricisms. My problem with J-pop was her inability to fully open up. She pushed me away with her happy-golucky façade, believing that people only like to see that one trait. For the sake of brevity, let’s just say I

by D

head copy editor

art

ALEXANDER FU

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

OPINIONS

19

G

QUIT BUGGI N

Max Wasserstrom researches how bugs digest plastics

20

TOP: Max Wasserstrom works overtime at his lab Jan. 18, blending plastics for his experiment.

Wasserstrom has been prepping since summer 2019 and is finally close to starting his inquiry into how bugs can digest plastic. “On the weekends, I went in and spent four hours weighing materials — then I ended up blending up plastics in a blender,” Wasserstrom said.

MIDDLE: Wasserstrom displays a darkling beetle from his series of observational studies. He keeps bugs both at his house and inside Monica Bowman’s biology classroom. “I had a spark of creativity and started naming the beetles that survived my intense observation,” Wasserstrom said.

BOTTOM: A whip scorpion crawls up Wasserstrom’s arm using its irregularly long legs to sense its surroundings. The bug is one of the many that Wasserstrom has observed and researched. “It’s a subspecies or a cousin of the bug that was in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,’” Wasserstrom said.

(Photos by Bradford Siwak)

02.12.20

SPREAD DESIGN BY C. COUGHLIN

art by CASSIE BEISHEIM

Wasserstrom has faced many challenges during this project, from accidentally getting bitten by a bug to breathing in some polyethylene. But once he overcame he blender whirs loudly, but senior Max some initial obstacles, both he and Bowman were Wasserstrom is not making a fruit smoothie. pleased with his experiment plan.

Instead, he is blending different plastics, “[Wasserstrom] has designed something that could producing a toxic smell, all for his pale, orange really be a money-changer when it comes to climate worms. He coughs and makes a joke with a distinct change and how to dispose of plastics,” Bowman said. nonchalance. Throughout this school year, Wasserstrom Once completed, this experiment will consolidate has been conducting intensive research that focuses on other research and allow the information about a variety of different critters. plastic-eating worms to be found in this report by Throughout his independent study with AP Biology microbiologists. Wasserstrom’s experiment will provide teacher Monica Bowman, Wasserstrom has observed the him with a starting point for further experiments and behavior of a myriad of insects and arachnids. However, research opportunities in this field as well. neither Wasserstrom nor Bowman ever predicted his “I am trying to build credibility for some aspirations interest in bugs.

I have later down the road, but I definitely want to “He was all, ‘I want to go into medicine,’ and then do another project in microbiology this summer,” he saw some of the bugs that we were keeping because Wasserstrom said. of the Lexus Eco Challenge,” Bowman said. “We don’t Although he is receiving assistance from know what happened next, but he’s ‘Bug-man’ now.”

Bowman and science teacher Dr. Allen Weltig, Wasserstrom has studied a vast range of bugs like Wasserstrom has taken the reins of the experiment. the bombardier beetle, which shoots a toxic, burning He had to independently attain approval from chemical.Wasserstrom feels a strong connection with Ladue administration, science department chair his bugs and has gone as far as to name many of them. and his guidance counselor before embarking on There is Dennis the whip scorpion and a pair of beetles his independent study. In addition, he secured an known as Uno and Dos. internship at the Jerry F. Costello National Great “To me, what makes bugs so interesting is that each Rivers Research and Education Center in Alton, Ill. bug has its own individual ability, summer 2019. Until he begins his making them like superheroes experiment, he will continue to when compared to other animals,” use the space for its equiptment.

Wasserstrom said. “[Wasserstrom] contacted Despite observing and people, interviewed with them, To me, what makes bugs so learning about many species demonstrated that he was really of bugs, Wasserstrom is now interesting is that each bug has interested in this field of study mainly focused on three types its own individual ability, making and basically created this entire of worms. He is attempting to research project,” Bowman said. them like superheroes when confirm scientific suspicions that Although Wasserstrom sought the worms can consume plastics help from an organization outside compared to other animals.” and turn them into eco-friendly of Ladue to help assist him with minerals, eventually hoping to this research, any Ladue student reduce plastic waste in the world. with a unique interest, experiment idea or research “I’m researching their ability to biodegrade plastics,” project can pursue an independent study class.

Wasserstrom said. “It’s been confirmed that the “If a student wants to create their own independent mealworm can actually eat plastics and mineralize study and have a research opportunity like this, they [them], but the superworm has yet to be confirmed.” need to wind up talking to a teacher in that subject area Wasserstrom’s experiment, inspired by the Lexus to see if there is any interest from that staff member,” Eco Challenge, will consist of 160 worms from three Bowman said. species. He will create an environment in which the No one knows from where the next scientific worms will have to eat the plastics in order to survive. breakthrough will come. Like Wasserstrom, other He will record the worms’ growth, development and Ladue students might accidentally stumble into new mortality rate while analyzing their feces in hopes of advancements in any subject. finding no remaining traces of plastic.

“We’re hoping that Max and myself [encourage] more “I’m probably the first person to say that I’ve made a students that are interested in conducting research complex nutritional diet for worms, which is not exactly during the school year [and let them] know that [it] is the legacy I want quite yet,” Wasserstrom said. still a possibility for them today,” Bowman said.

CLAYTON COUGHLIN features staff

T

“

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

FEATURES

21

EXPANDING HORIZIONS Senior Harper Gerardi travels to Austria for semester abroad OVIYA SRIHARI staff writer

H

iking, biking and skiing.

Beautiful sightseeing. The last school bell of the day ringing at 1:30 p.m., releasing students to rolling, green landscapes framed by the snow-capped Alps.

This was a semester in the life of senior Harper Gerardi, who spent the first half of her senior year studying in Austria.

Gerardi studied abroad during the fall semester through Greenheart International Exchange, a company based in Chicago that plans study abroad trips for students worldwide. The inspiration for her trip came from her aunt. “[Harper] ... said to me, ‘I’m ready for something different. I don’t want to do another same old, same old high school experience,’” Harper’s mother, Debbie Gerardi, said. “So we texted her aunt, who’s done a lot of traveling … She said, ‘Well, maybe Harper could explore doing a study abroad program.’”

Through Greenheart, Gerardi traveled to Vienna, Salzburg and Krotz, stayed with a host family in the rural region of Styria and also took a short trip to Dublin, Ireland with other members of her exchange program. Though she was initially apprehensive about missing part of her senior year, Harper decided senior year was the perfect opportunity to travel abroad and add to her high school experience.

“I think that traveling during senior year was good because I’m older, and I feel like I’ve had a lot

22

Senior Harper Gerardi stands in front of a mountain in Austria. Gerardi spent three months attending school in the country. “My favorite part was getting to see how different things are and how people live totally different lives than we do here,” Gerardi said.

(Photos courtesy of Harper Gerardi)

more time to mature,” Harper said.

“I was really doing things all on my own. I had to ride the transportation on my own [and] figure things out as well.”

Being away for the first semester of her senior year meant Harper would miss events such as her last homecoming dance, football season and first day of school. Lizzy Feinberg, one of Harper’s close friends since middle school, missed her friend for half of their last year of high school together.

“At first I was thinking that [studying abroad] was sort of crazy — and she was going to be missing college applications,” Feinberg said.

“But then when she told me all of her plans and how she already had a lot of it figured out, I was like, ‘Good for you.’”

During her time away, Harper experienced a whirlwind of different emotions. She first was in a sense of disbelief that she followed through with her plans to travel abroad.

“In three words, the trip would be independent, challenging and exciting,” Harper said. “Challenging … at times with the language barrier­ and just not really knowing what to expect — it was hard — then excit-

02.12.20

ing because I was in a new country.”

Aside from being an interesting experience, Harper’s time in Austria expanded her way of thinking. Feinberg noticed Harper’s broadened outlook of life gained from her time away in Austria.

“I think that it was cool for her to experience something on her own and take a step back from St. Louis and our whole friend group here,” Feinberg said. “She gets to come back and have a new perspective, and I think that it’s pretty cool … she now has a totally different way of seeing things.”

However, what Harper believes she will always keep from her time spent abroad — other than her newly-developed German skills – are the memories she’s made and the experiences she’s gained. Through travel, Harper made new friends, too.

“My best memory was [when] I got to go to Dublin with a bunch of other exchange students from all over the world,” Harper said. “I met people from New Zealand and Mexico and such. Everything was so green and beautiful. It was … an amazing experience, totally different than life in St. Louis. I’m really glad I got another view.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY E. TURKIELTAUB

Want to make the Varsity tennis team or play college tennis?

Come check out Miller Tennis Academy located at Forest Lake Tennis Club!

Learn to play tennis from the coaches that have produced over 50 high school State Champions.

Contact Miller Tennis Academy Mike Miller 314-341-8945 mm63141@aol.com Contact Crane at Forest Lake Tennis Club 314-878-2722 info@forestlaketennis.com www.forestlaketennisclub.com

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

FEATURES & ADS

23

DISORDER ON THE COURT

Ladue students compete with friends in community basketball league DOMENIC FENOGLIO sports editor

T

he FOBs came dressed in faded, white tank tops with their numbers and logo spray painted on their backs Jan. 25 at the Jewish Community Center in Creve Coeur. They warmed up to the sound of the Cantina Band from “Star Wars” played by the other team’s speaker. Fans for both teams gathered in two sets of metal bleachers adjoining the court while children played on the other half of the gym, oblivious to the game about to begin. While the game lacked the decorum of a schoolsanctioned sport, it contained all of the energy and spirit of one.

The JCC Youth Basketball League serves as an alternative source of exercise and competition for those who do not play organized high school basketball. The FOBs are one of the many teams from different grades with players from Ladue in the JCC Youth Basketball League. The teams consist of closeknit friends who seem to care more

about the joy of basketball than competition or the scoreboard.

“It’s not as serious, so you can have fun while playing,” senior Nahom Tadesse said. “There’s no pressure, and you’re with friends.

Nobody cares if you play poorly.”

During the game, players did not argue, yell or belittle each other after a miss or turnover. Instead, the FOBs chose to continually pass to Tadesse until he finally made a three-pointer from the corner of the court – his first of the season.

An all-out riot followed it, as fans rushed onto the court as if he had just made the game-winning shot.

“It was exhilarating because everybody was so happy for him,” senior Elliot Loitman said.

“There’s nothing better; everyone [was] having the time of their lives celebrating. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

The closeness of the FOBs’ fans to the game, seated inches from the bench, and their constant involvement created a feeling of community for the team. As the game progressed, the final score

seemed less important than which team’s fans cheered the loudest.

“We have a lot of supporters who have our back through the best of times and the worst of times,” Loitman said. “They’re all very loyal.

They always bring the noise.”

The team cannot help but joke around, on and off the court. This lighthearted nature is a common theme of the JCC Youth Basketball League, as shown by the FOBs’ opponents, who instead of last names on the back of their jerseys, wore nicknames like Bambi and Baby J. The FOBs have no hesitation to poke fun at themselves.

“My entire life, I wanted to go to the [NBA], so I decided to start off small, hoping a scout might come watch a game,” senior Isaac “Jando” Molina joked. “I heard the Kentucky coach might stop by.”

Amidst the joking and celebrations, the FOBs lost the game 48-13.

Instead of sulking, they came away with their heads high, laughing.

“When you have fun, you just can’t lose,” senior Eyob Tewelde said. “That’s why we’re undefeated.”

24

league

the

Team Superlatives

Eyob Tewelde Best Handles

“

I’m raw. My friends are raw.

Raw means I’m an animal; I’m wild; I’m raw.”

02.12.19

SPREAD DESIGN BY D.FENOGLIO

FAR LEFT: Senior Wasihun Gema argues a foul call from a referee Jan. 25. He was named one of the team’s leading rebounders. “I am very proud to have such strong teammates to play with,” senior Elliot Loitman said.

RIGHT: Senior coach Tyler Benford draws a play during a timeout Jan. 25. The FOBs did not run a set offense; instead they chose to play freely. “We don’t have any practices, except right before games, so we don’t have many plays or anything,” senior Nahom Tadesse said.

BELOW: The FOBs and fans gather together during a timeout call Jan. 25. They are coached by basketball players from Ladue’s varsity team.

“It’s a lot of fun to coach basketball instead of play,” senior coach Frankie Goebel said.

“

Nahom Tadesse

Whenever I shoot, I shout, ‘Kobe.’

After his death it’s not going to be the same.”

Best Teammate

Elliot Loitman

“

We just care about having fun. It’s great to get to play basketball together.”

Best 3-point shooter LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

SPORTS

Photos by Ginger Schulte

25

New football team comes to St. Louis

St. Louis BattleHawks begin competition in the XFL “I’m really excited that there is TOMMY MARGULIS 2020 Schedule a new football team in St. Louis,” sports staff

junior Stewart Dove said. “Once the Rams left, I was disappointed I couldn’t see any live professional games in the St. Louis area.

Now that the BattleHawks are coming, I’m excited to make a trip downtown to see them play.”

The BattleHawks are led by running back Christine Michael, who played for Texas A&M from 2009 to 2012, and rushed for 1089 yards and seven touchdowns in six NFL seasons, primarily with the Seattle Seahawks. The BattleHawks also acquired the University of Missouri’s wide receiver L’Damian Washington and the University of Nebraska’s wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El after they did not make it to the NFL. Although the XFL isn’t as large as the NFL, it will likely bring many opportunities for athletes and the city of St. Louis. Ladue students seem excited for the new team to begin competition.

“I’m excited to see the opportunities the team will create for the city,” sophomore Russell Malone said. “I also can’t wait to see players I enjoyed watching who never made it to the NFL.”

T

Captains’ Corner

he St. Louis Rams relocated to Los Angeles Jan. 4, 2016.

Now, four long football-less years later, St. Louis is getting a football team once again. This time it’s not an NFL franchise but an XFL franchise. The XFL is an American football league owned

by Vince McMahon that has the same basic rules as the NFL, plus some modifications. These changes were added to make the game more exciting and entertaining for the viewer. St. Louis will be receiving one of eight teams in the league: the St. Louis BattleHawks. The BattleHawks will play 10 total games.

Their home opener is Feb. 23, and if their record is good enough by the end of the season, they could be featured in a four team playoff at the end of the regular season.

Football fans in St. Louis are excited to again have a team after the Rams’ departure. The BattleHawks will play at the America’s Center Convention Comples. This marks the first time a professional football team has competed there since the Rams’ departure to Los Angeles.

26

“

I really love it because it’s a super fast paced game with constant action all the time.”

“

My biggest strength is how I trust my teammates and how much they trust me.”

Tyler Deutsch, 11 Assistant Captain

Jake Tac ke Head Ca s, 12 ptain 02.12.20

2

1

Feb. 9, Dallas

3 Feb. 23, New York

5 March 8, Washington D.C.

7 March 21, Los Angeles

9 April 5, Tampa Bay home game

Feb. 16, Houston

4 Feb. 29, Seattle

6 March 14, Tampa Bay

8 March 28, New York

10 April 12 Washington D.C. away game

art by ANNA LINER & CASSIE BEISHEIM

“

I’ve always loved skating; hockey lets me do that, and I’m happy to represent my school.”

Ryan McKenzie, 11 Assistant Captain

SPREAD DESIGN BY D. FENOGLIO & T. MARGULIS

Sophomore Camila del Cid, freshman Scarlette Maier and freshman Saba Fajors practice Jan. 29. They competed in their own division for the first time this year.

“Since I was new, I really had no idea what to expect,” del Cid said.

“I walked in for the first time to wrestling for open gyms before the season started. Then, one of the seniors taught me the basics.”

(Photo by Ginger Schulte)

GIRLS JOIN LADUE WRESTLING TEAM New MSHSAA rule introduces individual girls wrestling league KIRAN VARADACHARI staff writer

T

he whistle rings throughout the wrestling room, and sophomore wrestler Camila del Cid is off. She immediately scans her male opponent and looks for a way to attack. Her feet quickly dance around the mat; she knows there is no room for her to look weak in the eyes of her opponent.

While her approach to the match remains the same, there is one difference from last year: she – along with her teammates freshmen Scarlette Maier and Saba Fajors – is competing in the first-ever season of girls wrestling for Ladue.

Girls wrestling, a sport that became sanctioned by the Missouri State High School Activities Association before the start of the 2018–19 school year, made its way to Ladue through the additions of del Cid, Maier and Fajors. Together, these rising athletes look to grow the sport for future generations of fellow female wrestlers.

“I think it’s important for the development of girls sports because

wrestling is seen as more of a guys sport,” del Cid said. “It’s really rough, which is why it gets that reputation. Showing girls that they can put themselves out there is one of the biggest improvements. It allows girls to show that they can do things that boys can do.”

Although this is the first time that female wrestlers at Ladue have had their own division to compete in, the Ladue wrestling program has had girls participate in the past.

“Females [have] had the opportunity to wrestle with us all the time,” varsity wrestling head coach Kevin Clawson said. “This year, we were able to start the program. Those girls that previously participated gave our current female wrestlers the opportunity. Hopefully, the three girls that wrestle now can do the same for incoming female wrestlers on a much wider scale.”

While girls compete in a separate division than boys on match day, a typical practice at Ladue contains all peoples, regardless of gender.

These athletes strive to train with each other, play against each other and ultimately better each other.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

SPORTS

“The coed team has worked really well,” Maier said. “It seems different from some other schools because they have separate teams.

Trying to work with the guys definitely helps. I feel like it makes me a better wrestler, and I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Working with the opposite gender may seem difficult in the realm of sports. For the female wrestlers on this team, though, this was normal.

“The fact that it was a guys sport predominantly didn’t bother me because I grew up playing with guys,” Maier said. “I played football.”

The culmination of backgrounds and determination allows these girls to compete in wrestling and also in the outside world.

“It’s a very tough sport, but having grit and toughness helps,” Clawson said. “It’s a mixture of mental [strength], physical [strength] and techniques. They have what it takes to be great wrestlers. I couldn’t ask for a better core of people to grow this sport, not only for themselves, but also for all female athletes around the world.”

27

the cost cost of of the fast fashion fashion fast

FAST FASHION FAST FASHION SHION FAST FASHION