RAMPED UP JOURNALISM II EDITION 1201 SOUTH WARSON ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 MAY 2022
DROP THE BUSYWORK
ramped up JOURNALISM II EDITION 1201 SOUTH WARSON ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 MAY 2022
Our policy Ramped Up is an annual newspaper created by the Journalism I class that strives to inform and entertain Ladue students, staff and community members, as well as to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among our readers. It aims to reflect the
News Senior Assassin ---- 3
diversity of the population it serves and observes the journalistic principal of doing no harm. Ramped Up welcomes letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311. Ramped Up maintains the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains preserved.
Staff
Art Show Returns + Club Update ---- 4 May We Look Into May? ---- 5
Features Five Star Restaurant for a Five Star Gal ---- 6 DECA Competes at Internationals ---- 7
NEWS: Riley Kovacs Matt Shifrin Irelyn Barger Sophia Tarpey
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Amber Carr Charlie Berezney Leah Mockler Ksenia Quick
FEATURES: Rosie Huewe Charlie Rosenbloom Rory Lustberg Tarek Al Husseini
OPINIONS: Laura Shareshian Taariq Ahmed Kevin Hernandez Joseph Baker
Triple Threat ---- 8 In this Corner of the World ---- 9
Health and Sports Live-Love-Lax ---- 10
Cards- Molina & Wainwright ---- 11 It’s time for a Spa Day ---- 12
Arts and entertainment
Stranger Things Refresher + The Hellfire Club ---- 13 Around the World ---- 14
Top 10 Friends Episodes ---- 15
Opinions
HEALTH AND SPORTS: Sam Siegel Cooper Bieneman Melody Abady Hannah Trovillion
PHOTO STORY: Nicholas Cowlen ARTIST: Jae Choi
Editorial: Drop the Busywork ---- 16
Leave the Books on the Shelves ---- 17
Marijuana Legalization on the Way ---- 18
Photo story Kaleidoscope Concert ---- 20
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ADIVISER: Sarah Kirksey
DESIGN TEAM: Tarek Al Husseini Charlie Berezney Laura Shareshian Sophia Tarpey
may 2022
SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL SENIOR ASSASSIN GAME
Senior Assassin
Story By | Riley Kovacs
may 2022
Seniors started a game called “senior assassin” this school year with the goal of being the sole survivor and winning a grand prize of $250. “Currently there are only five people left, which is super stressful,” senior Domenic Fenoglio said. Seniors are assigned targets (other students that are participating) and they have one week to shoot their target with a water gun before the end of each round. To play the game, seniors have to pay a $5 entry fee. “I carry my water gun with me everywhere, to the parking lot, practice, even home because I don’t want to be killed,” Fenoglio said. Each week, seniors will be assigned a person to “kill” (spray with water) and the seniors get one week to get their target and if they don’t get them in the time frame, they will automatically be taken out of the game. Once the senior has gotten that week’s assignment, they’re safe until the next week unless they’re taken out by someone else. “Senior assassin is interesting because it feels extremely creepy to partake in but it’s societally accepted for some reason,” senior Sasha Atterberry said. Seniors must submit a video/photo as evidence of their kill and there must be a clear water mark on the person for it to count. Any
Survival Tactics
“I just stay away from the other four, trust issues for the next week. I’m just going to try to get my target and not get shot” - Sasha Atterberry, 12
type of water gun or water balloon is allowed, although garden hoses or large objects aren’t. They may use shields (rain jackets and ponchos, no trash bags) to protect themselves, but they must be able to hold the shields. “Me and my friend Juana were trying to get out this girl Katie and we got Katie’s brother in on it to help us. He told us she was at Baskin Robins but when we showed up, Katie was wearing a life vest and my friend Marlee came out to shoot me. It was a very good setup,” senior Kendall Connors said. Seniors are not allowed to get their target in their house unless they were invited in. If someone is assassinating someone else, the victim may defend themselves by spraying the assassinator with water; the victim will then be safe for 15 minutes after they spray the assassinator. Also, their gun must look like a water gun and they are allowed to get help from others to assassinate, but their helper can’t have physical contact with the assassinator’s victim (holding down, tackling, taking weapons etc). “I thought senior assassin was very fun, although I got out the first week,” Connors said. Finally, If they wear a floatie, they are deemed safe; floaties must be fully inflated and they must wear it visibly. “But, I think if I’m super careful and sneaky enough to catch someone off guard, I can win,” Fenoglio said.
THREE SENIORS EXPLAIN THEIR PLANS ON HOW TO SURVIVE
“I’ve been trying to mix up my schedule to try to be unpredictable, and I’m always checking corners and have my water gun on me.” - Domenic Fenoglio, 12
“During the school week I go to school clubs, track and home and since I’m not at school so much I figured no one would be able to get me.” - Kendall Connors,12
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wrapping up the clubs
DANCE MARATHON ROBOTICS
BEST MOCK TRIAL BUDDIES
Junior Sam Deutsch is on Dance Marathon and has been doing Dance Marathon since he was a freshman. As an upperclassmen, he has gotten more involved. “My experience in Dance Marathon has been incredible this year,” Deutsch said. “I have been able to meet many new underclassmen, and most importantly, we were able to raise over $77,000.”
Anastasia Chostner is a freshman on the Mock Trial team. She has always enjoyed doing things like arguing. “I wanted to try out something new in my freshman year. I ended up really liking this club and want to definitely do it again in the future,” Chostner said. “The work load is a lot, though; it was hard to both keep up with school and Mock Trial.”
Mahdey Kahn is in Robotics and has enjoyed doing Robotics since he was little. “I’ve done robotics camps in the summer for a while now, and I was super excited to join the robotics club in my freshman year this year,” Kahn said. “The whole experience was very fun. I love all of my new friends I made during the club and we placed pretty well in the end of the year competition.”
Jake Oberman is in the Best Buddies club. His older sister, Riley, is involved in a lot of other clubs and she convinced him to join. “At first I didn’t really have any interest in the club,” Oberman said. “But once I started going, I really enjoyed all of the new people I met, and there were plenty of my friends that already were doing Best Buddies and we had a blast.”
Story By | MATT SCHIFRIN
Senior Art show returns “I wanted to illustrate the feeling of burnout and depersonalization that I’ve noticed myself, my friends, and really all those around me experiencing in recent years. This feeling overwhelms us, yet due to the stress of trying to look our best for others, we push it to the side. This is why I painted her “decomposing’ underneath the water. Artist: Jiya Singh Title: Decomposition
“I was inspired by imitation and playing roles, how these roles can change the person playing them, how life imitates art or how art imitates life. My favorite piece of mine was the Roll For Initiative Series, but specifically the one with fire for hair; She is a Dungeons and Dragons character in a long-running campaign and has a great aesthetic.” Artist: Eleanor Fister Title: Arlo Fister
“Doing this sustained investigation present in my art felt like making a visual diary. It’s a nice reminder that I’ve accomplished some things during my time in high school. Although most (if not all) of my art in the show this year was made during this school year, I loved just seeing where I’m at in my creative journey right now. Artist: Nicole Gorrell Title: Yuzuru Hanyu
Story By | IRELYN BARGER
may 2022
news | 4
MAY WE LOOK INTO MAY? SUN 1 MON2 TUE 3 WED4 THU 5 FRI 6 SAT 7 AP EXAMS:
US GoVT & PoLITICS SPAN LiT and Culture CHEM
MOTHER’s DAY
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AP EXAMS:
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CALC A CALC BC
AP EXAMS:
Enviro science PSYCH
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SeniorS LAST DAY & AP EXAMS: English LANG & COMP Physics
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AP EXAMS:
ENG LIT & COMP COMP ScI A
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Senior finals & AP EXAMS: SPANISH LANG BIO
AP EXAMS: STATISTICS
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Senior finals & AP EXAMS: FRENCH LANG World HISTORY
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AP EXAMS:
EUROPEAN HISTORY US HISTORY MICRO
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AP EXAMS: GERMAN LANG MUSIC THEORY LATIN
Viva VOCE CONCERT
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GradUATION Rehearsal
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GradUATION
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24 w4 FINAL
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B5 FINAL & W6 FINAL
B1 FINAL & w2 FINAL
B7 FINAL & w8 FINAL
SUMMER STaRTS!
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MEMORIAL DAY
page By | SOPHIA TARPEY
May 2022
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FIVE STAR RESTAURANT FOR A FIVE STAR GAL
RACHEL ADDISON JUGGLES BURGERS AND HOMEWORK STORY BY | ROSIE HUEWE The second she walks into the restaurant, she knows that this is where she will work. There is no question about it. The comforting yellow gleam of the lights combined with the smell of burgers is a pairing sent from the heavens. As each of the noticeably younger workers greets her with a genuine smile, Rachel feels at home. She strides over to the wooden hostess stand and stands behind the counter, her hands on both sides of the podium. This is where she belongs. “We have a really great working environment and every day I go in it doesn’t really feel like work,” sophomore Rachel Addison said. “It just feels like hanging out while doing a bunch of tasks, and it’s actually kind of fun.” Addison has been working her first job as a hostess at Five Star Burgers for four weeks now. She works from 4-9 p.m. every night that she is at the restaurant and enjoys her work immensely. Unfortunately, there are a few challenges she has been forced to face with the job. “I get hungry a lot and I’m not allowed to eat during my shift so that’s a little difficult,” Addison said. “I also get really sleepy since the hours are later in the day, and I need my rest.” Addison had some help from both her boss as well as her friend Teich during the process of being brought in to work at Five Star Burgers. Without them, she wouldn’t have been able to get a job at all, due to the fact that the restaurant is one of the few available workplaces that is in a close proximity to both of her houses.
6 | FEATURES
She feels lucky to have had such a close friend to bring her into the work environment. “Cooper recommended the job to me,” Addison said. “I don’t think there was a lot of convincing involved too because I’ve wanted a job really bad for a while, but I remember she just said that they would be lucky to have me and that she would be happy to train me since I had never had a job before.” Cooper Teich, a sophomore at Clayton High School, has been close with Addison since the beginning of the school year. She wanted to bring in a friend to work with, and thought Rachel to be the ideal choice. She has been working at Five Star Burgers for almost nine months now and is proud of Addison’s progress while working as a hostess. “She’s actually doing a really good job,” Teich said. “She’s super nice to everyone and she’s picked up everything super fast. She al-
ways seems to have a smile on her face and is so excited to come into work.” Teich and Addison work together two days a week, with Teich supervising Addison as she learns the ways of the restaurant. However, she does feel as though there are a few things Addison struggles with. “I think she probably would need to learn our menu a little bit more,” Teich said. “It takes a while to learn the menu. But I think that when she gets it done, it’s gonna be easy.” On the other hand, Teich observes that Addison has been trying hard to be the best hostess she can be, and appreciates it. She especially admires how Addison treats customers, and overall has been very impressed with her work so far. “She’s just super friendly with all the customers,” Teich said. “She kind of just fits in super well, and everyone loves her because she’s super kind and nice to everyone.”
Left: Rachel
Addison stands at the hostess podium where she works from during all of her time spent at Five Star Burger. She had started working there as a result of some help from her friend, and spent most of her afternoons there. (photo by r.huewe)
MAY 2022
LEFT: Junior Liam Oiknine stands in front of the DECA flag in buisness teacher Chris Geisz’s room. The buisness teachers (picured above) Jessica Kennedy and Giesz organize and run the Ladue DECA team. April 27 Geisz and Kennedy brought the 17 members of DECA to Atlanta Georgia for DECA internationals.
DECA competes at INTERNATIONALS 17 MEMBERS OF DECA TRAVEL TO COMPETE IN ATLANTA Story By | Charlie rosenbloom April 22-27 17 DECA students traveled to Atlanta to compete in the internationals. Junior Liam Oiknine competes alongside his other 16 teammates for a DECA international title. Just one year ago, Oiknine decided to join the DECA team. “I joined DECA because my brother did it, and it was sort of me following in his footsteps,” Oiknine said. In order for him to compete, he had to take some mandatory classes required by DECA. “You have to take at least one business class every year in order to compete,” Oiknine said. School is a big factor of Oiknine’s life and DECA. It has helped shape Oiknine to become a better competitor and person. “I think going to school sort of forces me to follow some form of a schedule. So that makes me a little bit more
may 2022
organized,” Oiknine said. Now headed to internationals, Oiknine’s goals are set for his debut at the competition. “I want to do well. I don’t really know what place would make me proud but I want to leave feeling somewhat accomplished,” Oiknine said. DECA is something Oiknine has participated in since last year. Unfortunately Oiknine wasn’t able to make it past state. However that taught him some valuable lessons about life and about business. “One of the most important lessons I’ve taken away is that it can always get better,” Oiknine said. The lessons he’s learned over the past year of DECA help guide Oiknine to become a better competitor. This year headed past state, past districts, and now internationals, emotions run high for Oiknine. “I’m definitely excited, and a bit
stressed. I would say just because of the hard deadline. And, it’s ramped up from the state and district competitions. So, I’m not necessarily familiar with what type of competition will be there,” Oiknine said. As April 27 came around, Oiknine and the 17 students competed for the DECA world champion title. “I didn’t accomplish every goal I sought out for, but I placed in the top 15,” Oiknine said. Not every goal of Oiknine may have been accomplished, however out of more than 10,000 students, Oiknine placed as one of the top 15 people in the world for the development of business. “I didn’t place as high as I’d hoped, but the competition taught me about what I need to improve on,” Oiknine said. “My goal for next year’s competition is to win the world champion title like my brother.”
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Triple threat SENIOR KATIE MARKS DIRECTS 3 ONE ACT PLAYS Story By | Rory Lustberg Actors bustle backstage, rushing toward the stage before the house opens. Costumes are zipped up and shoes slid on. Makeup is brushed across the eyelids of performers, their excitement palpable in the hairspray-filled air. As the directors stride on stage, they describe the creative process of their plays to their friends and family populating the audience. They take their seats, and a spotlight swings onto the stage as the curtain opens. The first show is about to begin. The Senior-Directed One Act Plays occur each spring, with most seniors directing one short play. However, senior Katie Marks has taken it upon herself to add an extra serving to her plate. Originally only supposed to direct two plays, one by herself and one with fellow director Juana Derdoy, Marks stepped up when on the day of auditions, it was announced that there would be four plays instead of five. Now, she directs three one acts: One by herself, called The Home for Retired Canadian Girlfriends, one with director Bronte King-Levine called Oh, What a Tangled Web and one with director Juana Derdoy called Tracks. “I kind of felt obligated to give everyone more of a chance because they expected to be auditioning for five shows, and then it just was out of their
control, basically,” Marks said. “There weren’t as many opportunities for them, which I didn’t think was fair. So I tacked on one more.” The one acts are overseen by theater teacher Stephen Howard. Howard teaches each level of acting, technical theater and directing class. “There is no clear roadmap to good directing so I really try to give them [the directing students] the space they need to try things, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes to get better,” Howard said. Marks, who has committed to Point Park University to pursue a BFA in acting, has been a cast member in the Senior-Directed One Acts each year of high school. And although she’s a seasoned performer, the directing side brought her new logistical challenges. “I have a lot going on in my brain with three [plays]. I have to pay attention to how each actor in each different show is doing with their role and give them direction and see where they are.” Though she juggles the three plays, Marks tries to slow down and focus on one at a time. Her favorite to direct, she Retired Home for Canadian Girlfriends, has only two cast members. “I’ve just really liked it because I’ve also gotten really close with my cast and because there’s only two people
it gives a lot of opportunity for me to give them very specific direction and spend a lot of time with their acting and stuff like that,” Marks said. The directors have almost total creative freedom over their one acts. They decide the show, the cast and figure out all technical aspects. The Retired Home for Canadian Girlfriends cast member Lily Warenberg, who began theater this school year, admires Marks’s directing style. “She would really kind of let us develop our own characters instead of micromanaging which was just really helpful,” Warenberg said. As Marks puts her effort and time into directing, she consistently credits her cast members. Through collaboration with the other directors, as well as her own acting experience, she’s learned the importance of teamwork. “The best moments for me are just seeing them act. That’s the only part that has never stressed me out. I just love seeing them act and try new things,” Marks said. And her enthusiasm is contagious. Marks’s passion and investment in her actors stands out to her casts, specifically Warenberg. “She was interested in helping us become better actors. And that’s what really just made the difference,” Warenberg said.
Senior directors Bronte KingLevine, Katie Marks and Juana Derdoy bask in their post-show glory as the show’s casts clap behind them. Marks also participates in theatre at other companies, like Stages. “I do some theater outside of school and I also take some dance classes and voice lessons,” Marks said. (photo by A. Pinon-Dickey)
may 2022
Features | 8
Story By | Tarek Al Husseini Pacing down the hall sporting a light pink Champion hoodie from her Spanish Honor Society Officers meeting, junior Sassy Saleeby enters her corner of the school: the culture corner. Founding the Club Saleeby started the club her sophomore year after joining the organization Fluency for Teens over the summer. The organization focuses on learning languages and wanted to start more chapters at high schools throughout the area. Saleeby decided that just language wasn’t enough– especially considering the honor societies and clubs established in the district already, so she decided to expand it to be about culture as well. “I’ve always had a fascination for world cultures,” Saleeby said. “I love learning about geogra-
phy and different cultures and languages, so I decided club at school would be great.” With the idea in place, Saleeby naturally turned to her AP World History teacher, Rebecca Rubin-Schlansky. Saleeby figured with her background in geography and vast knowledge about culture, she would be a perfect fit for the club. Saleeby also likes her passionate dedication and care towards her students. “She’s really easygoing and nice to meet,” Saleeby said. “Everything about her personality is very warm and friendly, and I think it bodes well for a club sponsor.” Rubin-Schlansky was immediately on board. “Sassy, she’s hard to say no to,” Rubin-Schlansky said. “I felt like it aligned with all the things that I teach. What I think is important in this building, and for a high school experience, is to have a multicultural lens. So I was really flattered when she asked me…to help out.” Club Meetings Now, Saleeby works with Rubin-Schlanksy to decide what and when they are going to do per meeting. The meetings originally began as presentations over Zoom during the 2020-21 school year. Now, the meetings are a lot more activities-based in hopes to have more fun, featuring events like a march madness food bracket and international film watching. “My favorite meeting so far has probably been the first one,” Saleeby said. “We had a bunch of members, returning and new, and we played games
may 2022
from around the world.” Even with this change from Zoom to in-person, one thing remained true. The meetings are designed to be safe spaces for students of different backgrounds to have fun and share their culture. “I really love learning from my students,” Rubin-Schlansky said. “When they bring in their family stories and traditions and foods, I get a window into their lives outside of school, and I don’t think I would get that otherwise.” The Future With the club growing and entering its third year, Saleeby and Rubin-Schlanksy have some big plans. In fact, they have a growing list of ideas for the upcoming year that would allow its members to engage more in discovery and exploring different cultures. “I’d like us to have one or two outside of school things that we go to experience all of the different cultural activities that there are in St. Louis,” Rubin-Schlansky said. Also, Saleeby wants to engage more with other language and culture groups within the school. “I know a lot of clubs, language clubs, have events for International Week,” Saleeby said. “We can definitely do something with that because culture corner has a lot of similarities with International Week.” However, the biggest goal of the club is to continue growing its numbers and bring in more individual experiences from the community. “I think that the Ladue community is inherently accepting and embracing of multiculturalism and diversity of perspectives and experience,” Rubin-Schlanksy said. “I hope that everybody in the school community feels welcome to be a part of culture corner.”
IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD
SASSY SALEEBY RUNS CULTURE CORNER
Features | 9
Live-Love-LAX KEY PLAYERS
BOYS LACROSSE TEAM RANKS AS #1 BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN MISSOURI JACOB GOLDSTEIN Midfielder Junior 21 Goals .80 FO% 54 Shots
Story By | Sam siegel Balls go flying. Hits come from every angle. The Boys Lacrosse Team’s recent success shouldn’t go unnoticed. As of April 25 the Boys Lacrosse Team has a positive record of five wins and two losses. This comes as a result of an intense practice environment. “Everyone pushes each other to be the best player they can be,” junior Jacob Goldstein said. There is no doubt that working hard in practice leads to good results from games. Having done well in previous years, they have been put in the top league for this season. With this, the team will have to overcome more adversity than before. “It’s definitely more of a challenge this year,” junior Eli
Above: The team huddle before their game against Westminster. They played Westminster April 1 and won 15 to 2. (All photos by L. Armbruster)
10 | Health & Sports
TOMMY MARGULIS
DAVISON BIRCHFIELD Goalie Senior 73 Saves 323 Minutes .58 Save %
Tenenbaum said. “We have to stay focused every game and give all we have.” While also playing other sports, Tenenbaum understands the sheer amount of effort required to be on this incredibly skilled team. Though talent and hard work is important, in a sport that uses 10 players at one time, teamwork is equally essential. “Playing on a team with my friends is great,” Tenenbaum said. “Obviously, you meet new people, but the team as a whole is very tight.” Being on a team surrounded by friends is a very fortunate thing to have. To state more, it’s easier to trust teammates when their opportunities arise. Along with that, adversity tends to be easier to resolve while high points feel
Midfielder Senior 24 Goals 7 Assists 31 Points
that little bit sweeter. “My mental health is great,” Goldstein said. “Our team is really cool, and when you win it makes it just that more enjoyable.” Having a fun and enjoyable team is one thing, but winning is completely separate. Having defeated the likes of Francis Howell, Lindbergh and Webster Groves, they’ve asserted themselves as the number one ranked public school in Missouri. With the season winding down, the team wants, but more so needs to win every game they can in order to go as far as possible in the Missouri State Championship. “We believe we can do well. The team has done well in the past couple of years and I feel like we’ve only become stronger,” Goldstein said.
Left: Senior Tommy Margulis takes on multiple defenders before scoring. This was one of 15 goals scored at the Ladue Middle School.
Left: Junior Aiden Goldstein battles with Westminster’s 32. Goldstein won six out of eight faceoffs and won two ground balls.
may 2022
molina’s career comes to an endE MOLINA ANNOUCES THIS WILL BE HIS LAST YEAR IN THE MLB Story By | Cooper Bieneman
may 2022
Oct. 28, 2004 Yadier Molina plays in his first MLB game.
Nov. 30, 2008 Molina recieves his first Gold Glove award.
Dec. 4, 2012 Molina recieves his first defensive player of the year award.
Nov. 6, 2013 Molina wins his first ever Silver Slugger award. The award is to honor the best offensive player at each position.
2015 Molina is awarded the Darryl Kile Award. The Award is presented annually to the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros player who best exemplifies traits of a good man.
Molinas Career timeline
Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher Yadier Molina has played for the St. Louis Cardinals for 18 years, his entire MLB career. Molina first entered the MLB during when catcher Mike Matheny went on the disabled list in the Cardinal’s 2004 season. On Aug. 7, 2004, Molina would make one of his first career game-winning hits against the New York Mets. Molina swung a broken-bat single out to shallow center field in the bottom of the ninth. On the play, center fielder Mike Cameron started to run towards the center-field wall, but soon realized Molina had only made partial contact due to the broken bat. By the time Cameron noticed this, it was too late; the ball had fallen for a single, allowing Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds to score. Molina’s walk-off hit would be the start of a hall of fame career. Molina’s immediate impact on the team was well noticed; he had a strong throwing arm, throwing out more than 50 percent of base stealers. During The off-season of 2004, starting catcher Mike Matheny signed a three year $10.5 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, clearing the way for Molina to become the starter. During the 2005 season Molina registered a career-high of nine pickoffs and a caught stealing percentage of 64. According to baseball reference, Molina was ranked as the 26th all-time season single caught stealing percentage. Before the 2006 season, Molina decided to change his number from 41 to his iconic number 4. But the season continued the same trend of poor offensive performance. Molina had a career-worst batting average of .216 in 461 regular-season plate appearances. Even though Molina had a poor regular season performance, the Cardinals managed to make the playoffs. The playoffs marked a turning point in Molina’s career offensive output. In 16 games he had a .358 batting average and a .424 on-base percentage. Also, Molina had two home runs and 18 RBI’s. The Cardinals man-
aged to make yet another World Series appearance. Through their playoff journey, they knocked off the 1 seeded San Diego Padres and 3 seeded New York Mets. The Cardinals faced off against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, defeating them in five games and giving Molina his first championship ring. In November 2008 Molina received his first Gold Glove award, becoming the third catcher ever to win the honor. Next season, Molina was selected through fan vote to represent the Cardinals in the All-Star game, his first appearance. Molina was named the National League’s starting catcher. At the end of the year, Molina would also earn his first Most Valuable Player award. Throughout these three years, Molina put up great statistics offensively and defensively. On opening day April 5, 2010, Molina hit a grand slam, becoming the third Cardinal to do so on opening day. Molina continued to have an up and down season offensively. Defensively, Molina won his third consecutive Gold Glove award. In 2011 the Cardinals had a very poor season, but they ended up winning their last 20 of 28 games, giving them a spot in the wild card. By making the playoffs, Molina became the first catcher in history to appear in five postseasons for the Cardinals. The Cardinals had a postseason turnaround, advancing them yet again to another World Series. They faced off against the Texas Rangers. In game 6, Cardinal player David Freese hit the famous walk-off home run in extra innings, securing the championship for the Cardinals. For the next nine seasons, the Cardinals would only appear in one other World Series: 2013, coached by former teammate and catcher Mike Matheny. The Cardinals struggled through the next few seasons, but Molina tended to put up the same stats, earning many more accolades. When the 2022 season rolled around, Molina announced he would retire, also joined by former teammate Albert Pujols.
Aug. 5, 2021 Molina annouces that he will retire. The 2022 season will be his final year.
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it’s time for a
SPA DAY
WHERE TO GO? AV NAILS: LADUE
AQ NAILS: CREVE COUER
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“I go to AQ Nails, I usually get dip and tip and it’s around $50, it’s somewhat overpriced but it will always be my number one.”
GRACE HUEWE (9)
“I go to Serenite Nail Salon and I get acrylics and it’s $55. The people are always so nice, and they offer drinks and snacks during the appointment.”
AV is my go-to salon because I love how nice everyone is, and the atmosphere is so calming. They are fast, but do great work and I can just walk in whenever.
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RYLEE HARRIS (12)
12 | health & sports
MANI $20 PEDI: $30
MANI $23 PEDI: $35
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This place isn’t my go to place but they give amazing pedicures and their customer service is great.
MELODY ABADY
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CHLOE ENGLANDER (11)
“I love AV Nails. The nail techs get you in and out so fast. I get powder dip with tips and it is $50. The nails last long and they do such a good job.”
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FRONTENAC NAIL LOUNGE LADUE NAILS
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The atmosphere is relaxing, however my nails did not last and chipped after a day.
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HANNAH TROVILLION
THINGS TO GET DONE ON YOUR DAY AT THE SPA Art by Jae Choi and Canva
First, start off your day with a manicure. This is a great kick off to your spa day.
VIOLET COBAUGH (01)
“I go to STAR Nails in Des Peres. I usually get gel polish with tips and it is around $50. This is my go to place and I love all the workers.”
I really like AQ and their color selection, I always go in with an open mind never knowing what I am going to come out with and the workers are very friendly.
MELODY ABADY
Hannah Trovillion
TOP
STUDENTS SHARE WHERE TO GET NAILS DONE
MANI: $20 PEDI $32
MANI: $23 PEDI: $32
Story By | MELODY ABADY & HANNAH TROVILLION
LET’S TALK NAILS
PLACES TO TRY OR AVOID FOR NAILS
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Second, treat your feet with a nice pedicure.
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Facials are a MUST. They are so hydrating and gives you glowy skin.
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5 Getting brows waxed, plucked, or threaded is the best finishing touch; it is super benefical to get them cleaned up.
Eyelash lifts are such a great touch. They transform your eyes to any look you’re going for.
Massages are the finishing touch to your spa day. They are so relaxing and will ease your mind.
may 2022
Stranger Things season 3 refresher
Warning spoilers from season three Story By | AMBER CARR 1. Grigori (Andrey Ivchenko) was ordered to kill Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) because they found the Russian plans. 2. The Mind Flayer flayed 30 residents of Hawkins. El (Millie Bobby Brown) lost her powers fighting off the Mind Flayer. 3. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and El break up then get back together.
4. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) got ahold of a Russian transmission. He then works together with Steve (Joe Keery), Robin (Maya Hawke) and Erica (Priah Ferguson) to sneak into a Russian Lab. 5. Hopper and Joyce come across an underground laboratory. This is where they come upon Dr. Alexei (Alec Utgoff). They then take him to Murray (Brett Gelman) for a Russian-to-English translation. 6. The Byers and El move out of Hawkins.
ART BY VICTOR MENDOZA
THE HELLFIRE CLUB Story By | Charlie Berezney
Around 64 million people have tuned into Stranger Things season three, and this is the highest number of viewers for a season they have gotten. Season three aired July 4, 2019, and it can only be hypothesized that the same number of viewers or more will join to watch season four. It was said by the creator’s to be a Max-focused season. All theories are based off what was seen in the trailers and what was said in the trailer breakdown by the Duffer Brothers. HOPPER: It is clear that Hopper is no longer with the group and all alone. It is said by the Duffer Brothers that he is in some unknown place in Russia. However, the most probable place he’s at is a Gulag or a prison camp. He can be seen fighting a demogorgon in one of the trailers; the demogorgon combined with the new monster will make for some interesting tag teams.
may 2022
DEaths in season three 1. Billy (Dacre Montgoery)-The Mind Flayer stabbed Billy in the heart with it’s tentacles. 2. Grigori-Hopper pushed Grigori into the machine. 3. Dr.Alexei-Grigori shot Alexei through the stuffed animal. 4. Heather Holloway (Francesca Reale)-Her entire body melted and merged with the Mind Flayer monster. 5. Jim Hopper-Jim got stuck in the semi-open gate and they ended the season with him presumed dead.
STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4 THEORIES
ELEVEN: Eleven has said in the trailer that her powers are gone and that she is needed because a war is coming. Based on the time and year, it must be during the Cold War and maybe in an alternate reality where the Cold War is escalating to grander heights and Eleven is needed to take down the USSR. VECNA & DEMOBATS: Vecna is the name of the new monster/villain. As a D&D nerd, something that should be noted is that Vecna looks slightly similar to a Dungeons and Dragons fifth Edition Mind Flayer. Although we already had a Mind Flayer, there may be another one. There is also a new type of monster other than Vecna. There are now demobats, the flying version of the demodog. Steve can be seen fighting one in the Upside Down in a trailer. This also lets us know we will be seeing more of the Upside Down, unlike season three.
CLOCK AND CREEL HOUSE: The Creel house is a seemingly haunted house that not much is known about the house. However, it has this clock that can be seen everywhere. The Duffer Brothers said to note that if you see the clock, something bad is about to happen. The Creel House has an interesting background about it; in one of the trailers, it can be seen that after the family moves in, the lights start to flicker, which never means anything good in Stranger Things. Then a shot of the children dead and the father still alive? Maybe a new number like 008 and 011? Either that, or a possession theory given the atmosphere that it turns into a haunted house. However, we will not know if any of these theories are true until the end of May 27, and July 1. Image from Wikicommons
Arts and entertainment | 13
Where to next?
Are we there yet?
Places students have visited in the past
Out of 61 students surveyed...
Canada Charlotte Kerr (9) Norway Chloe Gaither (11)
Will be staying in the US this summer
Travel one to two times per year
Prefer to vacation in the mountains
South Africa Theo Miller (12)
Have traveled outside of the US
Argentina Camila del Cid(12)
Plan on traveling this summer
China Annie Zaho (10)
France Michael haybron (11)
93.3%
73.8%
68.5%
54.1%
44.1%
Story By | Leah Mockler
AROUND the world TAKE A LOOK INTO WHERE STUDENTS PLAN ON VACATIONING FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER
Where are you traveling this summer?
A lot of places but one of the places I’m most excited for is Costa Rica
How often does your family travel per year?
Where are you traveling this summer?
Aspen, Colorado How often does your family travel per year?
One to two times
Five times or more
What Countries have you been to? Mexico, Hawaii, Dominican Republic, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the U.K.
What Countries have you been to?
Turkey, France, Italy, Mexico, Bahamas
What is your favorite location you have traveled to?
What is your favorite location you have traveled to?
Hawaii Dream vacation spot?
Bora Bora
Morgan Andrews (10) 14 | Arts & Entertainment
Amalfi Coast, Italy Dream vacation spot?
Indonesia, New Zealand, or Iceland
Emma Danis (12) May 2022
FTopr10i eepisodes nds THE ONE WHERE KAT CHOOSES HER FAVORITE EPISODES
s
The One after Vega
Ross and Rachel I like this because ther in Vegas even getting closer toge ving a hard time though they are ha getting along.
2
The One with Ross’s te
eth
I cringed at this one the most because in this episode it shows how Ross acts around a different gir l then just Rachel and goes overboard wit h it.
5
The One with the football
the I laughed during this one because er bett e ther k thin both s boy and girls . than each other at football
8 may 2022
The One w it
h the Shark I had a lau s gh during this, becau shows the se it motherho od Rachel gone thro has ugh and h ow she isn to give up ’t going on being a mother.
1
The One with the thum
The One with the race
b
I freaked out on this be cause we get a closer look into Phoe be’s personality and what shes intereste d in.
car bed
s one the most I had memories in thi you can be a kid because it shows that er. even when your way old
3
4
ss got high
The One where Ro
cause it peaks into I loved this one be r’s past friendship Ross and Chandle re in collage. we from when they
6
The One with Joeys
I enjoyed this one becau Porsche se Joey tries to act like he has some cool, expensive car, which he doesn’t actually own.
9
The One w it
h
the nap pa I adore this rtners one the m ost becau see how J se we oey and R oss more abo ut each oth get to learn er.
7
be runs The One where phoe
cause this I appreciate this one be oebe and episode shows how Ph ether tog Rachel work out living h each wit al de to and learning how . ms others proble
10
ARts and entertainment| 15
al
art by jae choi
drop the busywork
CLASSES SHOULD AVOID BUSYWORK TO GET THE MOST OUT OF HOMEWORK If you’re a student, or have ever been a student, it’s likely that you’ve done homework. At-home assignments have become a staple of the high school experience, but not without criticism. Although oversized workloads and reduced recreational time account for most homework-hatred, a new culprit has been identified: time consuming homework with minimal educational value. But there are better ways to teach outside of school hours. Personalizing assignments and removing “busywork” creates a more effective structure for learning. Often, students feel homework is impractical. It’s easy to pass this off as normal teenage laziness, but many students are observing a real problem: busywork. Busywork is defined as being time-consuming but with little educational value. Although homework is accepted as useful in improving students’ performance, there’s one caveat. In a 2007 article, psychologist Ulrich Trautwein states that the amount of time spent on homework leads to minimal improvement in success. When teachers assign lengthy and monotonous homework, it fails to help students. Busywork does more harm than good. It is important to consider the abilities of individual students. A class is more defined by the room students learn in than a universal skillset. When the assigned work is blind to skills like organization and problem solving, already
editorial | 16
struggling students fall behind even more. Disparities in the classroom are common, and universal homework inhibits success. Assignments aren’t “one size fits all,” and treating them as such harms students. Some may argue that busywork is important, that it’s practical, and its repetitiveness can help to solidify students’ ability to solve specific problems. But schoolwork isn’t all or nothing, and repetition isn’t inherently helpful, especially if students lack a fundamental understanding of their work. Although individualized school work is a good idea , there are practical limitations to its implementation. Teachers already have a large workload, and creating additional homework is time-consuming. Additionally, who gets what work isn’t always clear. If students decide, they may be misguided. If teachers decide, students might feel alienated from their peers. While teachers should veer away from overly standardized busywork, students should learn to make it more effective. Examining the hows and whys of the assigned problems is a helpful technique to get the most out of a boring assignment. Universally assigned time-consuming homework is often ineffective and harmful to performance. Students and teachers must work together to ensure that assignments are beneficial to every student.
may 2022
leave the books on the shelves BOOK BANS NEGATIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS IN NUMEROUS WAYS Story By | Taariq ahmed Radiant Fugitives, a novel written by my uncle, Nawaaz Ahmed, exploded into the literary world with outstanding success. Radiant Fugitives was nominated for the Pen/Faulkner Award for Creative Fiction, as well as the Edmund White Debut Fiction Award. The book was also acclaimed by various reputable magazines and journals. After I read the book myself, I completely understood the praises. The book spectacularly navigates a massive range of subjects, from familial and domestic relationships to sexual orientation and religion. However, a recent surge in book banning, specifically attacking topics such as those found in Radiant Fugitives, is occurring in institutions all over the country. In my opinion, these book bans are deplorable because they discourage certain students’ individuality and all students’ ability to understand different perspectives.
TARGETED ATTACKS Books about race and sexuality are the evident main victims of the war on literature. According to The New York Times, the majority of the most challenged books of 2021 were about race or sexuality. The targeting of these books leaves many
may 2022
Black and LGBTQ+ students unable to access books they can relate to, which is particularly negative considering that high numbers of youth from both of these communities already struggle with poor levels of mental health. The Trevor Project found that 94 percent of LGTBQ+ youth have suffered negative mental health tolls from recent politics, and a report by Children Now claimed that Black and other minority youth are highly susceptible to depression, stress and anxiety. Now more than ever, Black youth and LGBTQ+ youth deserve the opportunity to read stories that will empower and strengthen their identities. Unfortunately, books bans restrict this. NEW PERSPECTIVES Those in favor of these book bans often claim that they protect students from reading books that contain “sensitive topics.” Nevertheless, I firmly believe that these types of stories are meant to educate youth about these “sensitive topics” in a meaningful and explanatory way. In a constantly-changing social environment, these stories answer children’s questions about these topics with precision. I have seen it with my own eyes. As I progressed through Radiant Fugitives, I began to better understand the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community on a personal, social and political level. I quickly realized the value of stories such as these; they place people in the shoes of others. As children view the world from unfamiliar, yet new perspectives, their tolerance and knowledge of those around them is greatly enhanced. These books must be supported because they provide children with precious insight into the lives of people from diverse backgrounds and identities.
THE BIGGER PICTURE Many parents, lawmakers and school authorities have expressed their concern that these books contain content too inappropriate for students. Although these concerns are marginally understandable, it is essential that the future generation of the country is exposed to stories that force them to think critically and draw their own conclusions on the numerous social issues surrounding them. Without learning to see both sides of the equation before developing their opinions, students will be severely underprepared to face reality.
All in all, these book bans are dangerous. They negatively affect specific minority students by diminishing their access to stories that will provide them with positive reinforcement, and they keep all students from understanding different perspectives. Students must take a stand to support their fellow classmates and protect their ability to view the world through the eyes of others. The next time you read a book similar to those which are targeted, think about the way that the story is applicable to the struggles of real people. You’ll find that more than not, it very much is.
opinions | 17
states who have fully legalized MASSACHUSETTS
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
Marijuana legalization on the way CANNABIS INDUSTRIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO GROW AND CHANGE IS INEVITABLE
ILLINOIS
CALIFORNIA
OREGON
NEW MEXICO
NEVADA
MONTANA
MAINE
COLORADO
ALASKA
MICHIGAN
NEW JERSEY
ARIZONA
WASHINGTON
NEW YORK
CONNECTICUT
MEDICAL USE ONLY STATES RHODE ISLAND
WEST VIRGINIA
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
NEW HAPSHIRE
MARYLAND
ALABAMA
NORTH DAKOTA
ARKANSAS
MINNESOTA
LOUISIANA
MISSOURI
OKLAHOMA
opinion | 18
SOUTH DAKOTA
OHIO
PENNSYLVANIA
UTAH
MISSISSIPPI
HAWAII
Story By i kevin munoz-hernandez Between 2001 and 2010 8.2 million people were arrested for any crime that included marijuana. Out of those 8.2 million 88 percent (7,216,000) were arrested for only having marijuana. Although the usage of cannabis is around the same for blacks and whites, black people are three times more likely to be arrested. There has been a popular movement in the United States to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, with several states already doing so. Advocates of the movement suggest that marijuana’s commercial availability could benefit tax revenue, reduce crimew and even improve public health. At the beginning of April, the US house of representatives passed a bill to decriminalize marijuana; this is not recent news though, since back in November 2020 the house of representatives passed a similar bill that got turned down in May 2021. The new 2022 bill, however, will make it illegal for federal agencies to deny cannabis users security clearances, will allow the Veterans Administration to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans with PTSD, will create a revenue through the establishment of a marijuana sales tax, and expunge the records of people who committed any non-violent marijuana-related offense. In the United States, the lack of federal marijuana legalization has not slowed the establishment of industries. Cannabis businesses produced an estimated $27 billion in revenue in 2021, up 35 percent from 2020, according to MJBiz. Right now over 425,000 jobs are tied to cannabis businesses, and housing prices in Colorado have risen at rates considerably above
the national average, possibly as a result of the legalization of recreational cannabis. Marijuana’s impact on the economy seems to be beneficial in every way; I see no reason to not support legalization. The use of cannabis as a medicine is a very popular idea. It’s said to help control nausea and vomiting, pain relief, help stimulate people’s appetite, and some have used it as a therapeutic medicine. Its psychological effects such as euphoria, anxiety reduction, and sedation may benefit the potential therapeutic value or in some cases be a negative for patients. Cannabis may also help people who are addicted to alcohol or opiates overcome their addictions, according to research published last year in the journal Clinical Psychology Review. On the other side of the spectrum, regular cannabis smokers have an increased risk of chronic cough, but it is still unclear if smoking cannabis could worsen lung function or increase the chance of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Further scientific research on medical uses for marijuana is needed to fully understand if its benefits outweigh its negatives, but in my opinion, I believe that marijuana has huge potential for medical uses. Cannabis legalization on a large scale in the United States appears to be closer than ever. More states have adopted recreational-use legislation, and the industry is rapidly maturing. The popularity of legalization of medical and recreational cannabis has grown a lot since 1969 when only 12 percent of adults in the US supported recreational cannabis and now more then two in three Americans support the policy change.
May 2022
43% of school districts
In Missouri, 809,680 people are facing hunger and of them 202,900 are children. (Feeding America)
1in 7
children face hunger in Missouri
- (Feeding America
data)
& Education-
reported an annual increase of students who couldn’t afford meals. (Educationdata)
75.1% of surveyed stu-
dents at schools had unpaid school lunch debt. (Educationdata)
Free Lunches should stay FREE LUNCHES SHOULD STAY FOR EVERY STUDENT AT SCHOOL Story by | Joseph baker Imagine you’re in a cafeteria at a school and you see people eating and enjoying their food, only to find yourself with an empty lunch box. Over 1.54 billion students can’t afford school meals according to EducationData Initiative. I believe that It’s important to have free lunches because it’s a convenience for many students who don’t have time to pack their lunches or don’t have food at home for them to bring to school. This issue of food not being free for students is a major problem because of what’s going on in our world with the oronavirus that’s still affecting us today. The virus has made getting food and other essential items harder on parents who provide for their families and give them the most that they can for their well being. Also many people are suffering from the rising inflation in our country, which forces parents to pick whether they pay for food or pay for gas at the pump. Students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds were all affected by the pandemic and are just now getting back to normal, but they still have to endure the struggles of
may 2022
our forever changing world. The free lunches at school are a very special thing and gave students a meal that relieved parents of worrying about food to give to their children. All across St. Louis organizations that work as non-profit pushed to provide support for people by donating food to relieve parents. These food organizations really helped out families and made getting food an available resource during the pandemic. President Joe Biden in March, 2021 signed a 1.9 billion dollar COVID relief bill, which would aim to help family members from the pandemic and provide assistance to struggling Americans. The Nutrition Assistance Program finance increased by 15 precentage through September and gave more than $120 billion to K-12 schools according to CNBC. I believe that even students in more stable communities should also get some relief for free lunches because they could be struggling with their families who are having to pick and choose what they can get that fits into their budgets. Also, other students considered to be in middle-class families might pay a lower fee than upper-class families do, while students
from lower class families would be excused from paying for lunches at school. Being virtual in 2020, The pandemic was really hard for me and my family. Not being able to see people in person or my friends was really hard and painful to endure. When free lunches were being provided, it became a great asset that helped my family and many others get through the pandemic. St. Louis, Missouri helped fund food boxes and distributed them to people, providing aid for food distribution in communities. This really helped my family get some weight off our shoulders and we didn’t need to worry about getting food over the pandemic. I believe free lunches should stay at our school because it’s very supportive for students and puts less stress on them, which benefits their overall education. I truly hope that our government and school reconsider getting rid of the USDA ‘‘Free Meal Program’’ that makes it possible to have free lunches at our school. We should extend the program for another year and push for it to stay for the time being until we get to a point where our economy is more stable.
Opinion | 19
THE Kaleidoscope CONCERT
A COLORFUL & NEW PERSPECTIVE ON MUSIC FAR LEFT: Ladue Sophomore William Li plays violin in front of his audience. William and his group were one of the first to play at the concert. (photo by n. cowlen) LEFT: The audience sits silently, watching the orchestra performance. (photo by n. cowlen)
ABOVE: Ladue sophomore Ari Willick (middle) plays with their group. Their piece consisted of both violin and cello. (photo by n. cowlen) right: Sophomore Nyla Robinson plays piano with her group. She performed with Dimitri Tompras and others. (photo by n. cowlen) far right: Sophomore Dimitri Tompras plays violin with his group. His group had to start over after making a few mistakes at the start of their performance. (photo by n. cowlen)