Panorama September 2020

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LOOK INSIDE:

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READ ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LADUE’S TRANSITION TO ONLINE LEARNING

Ladue Horton Watkins High School 1201 S. Warson Rd. Ladue, MO 63124 09.30.20 Vol. 69 Issue 2

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

EDITORS’ NOTE

EDITORS IN CHIEF ETHAN WILLICK, GRACE HU & HUGH CHAN

In the era of COVID-19, education has changed. Classes take place in Zoom sessions and attendance depends on the reliability of students’ internet; technology is now the main factor for academic success.

This month, we chose to focus on how the Ladue community is adapting to this virtual environment. From a plethora of new digital educational tools, including increased cybersecurity measures, to various technology-related struggles from the Ladue community, the pandemic has left important short-term and long-term impacts on the district. Change is often accompa-

Ethan Willick

nied by conflict; Securly, for instance, is a new filtering system installed on school-issued electronics to replace SmoothWall, but its methods of censoring certain websites have generated much backlash among students. In addressing these tech-related conflicts, we sought to capture multiple Ladue perspectives, from administrators and teachers to students, to best portray the issues plaguing our community in an unbiased way.

Another topic touched upon this issue is mental health. Mental health is especially important right now, and not just because September is

Grace Hu

National Suicide Awareness Month.

With social distancing guidelines in place, heightened feelings of isolation only exacerbate existing mental health issues. From students adjusting to a new school or new classes to seniors traversing the arduous college application process, the beginning of fall introduces numerous mental strains.

These burdens are only worsened by COVID-19; in addition to existing pressure, students must now adapt to online learning. Thus, for our September Issue, we sought to underline the importance of mental health throughout various pages.

Hugh Chan

PANORAMA STAFF Editors in Chief Hugh Chan Grace Hu Ethan Willick Associate Editors Domenic Fenoglio Rhea Patney Art Editor Danielle Zhang Photo Editor Grace Hensley News Editor Caroline Tyrrell

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Health & Sports Editors Katie Holland In-Depth Editors Erin Turkieltaub Marissa Mathieson Web Editor Sophia Liu Annie Pan Opinions Editors News Staff Zeru Marut Caroline Edgar Mika Kipnis Carly Woodhill Features Staff Arts & Abbey Carrico Entertainment Ryan Tung Editor Lucy Lochmoeller Features Editors Clayton Coughlin Oviya Srihari

STAFF & CONTENTS

In-Depth Staff Joanne Sung Opinions Staff Kanishk Shanmugam Nico Skapof Arts & Entertainment Staff Emily Walker Tariq Lashley

Health & Sports Staff Kiran Varadachari Tommy Margulis Staff Writers

Business Managers Jacob Korn Sarah Suffian Adviser Sarah Kirksey

Max Eastman Yongjoon Kweon Devanhu Pandey Hansika Sakshi Artists Nicole Gorrell Erica Shi

SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HU

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

NEWS

FEATURES

10. Junior Megan Byer shares her experience with COVID-19 11. A look at how the tech team has been affected by online school 12-13. Junior Alexandra Maranto returns to the U.S. from the U.K. during a pandemic

14-18. The effect of virtual school on Ladue’s students, the technology department and teachers across the board

OPINIONS

A&E

HEALTH & SPORTS

5. Clubs adjust activites for upcoming school year 6-7. Practical and fine arts classes shift curriculum for e-learning 8-9. The high school’s turf field is under renovation due to flooding damage

19. Pano Perspective: students need routine 20. New monitoring program Securly raises questions of student privacy 21. The proposed banning of TikTok sparks teenage outrage 22. The pros and cons of reinstating high school sports LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

23. A review of the video game “Fall Guys” 24. A guide to several experimental rap artists 25. A timeline of Chadwick Boseman’s life 26-27. An interview with students about their high school experiences

IN-DEPTH

28-29. Panorama editors share their hot takes on professional sports 30. A resource guide to help those who are or who have a loved one experiencing suicidal thoughts 31. Sophomore Samuel M’Pemba gained many recruitments after playing varsity football for only a year 9.30.20

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PANORAMA 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 the results cannot be used against respondents.

Panorama is produced 10 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 illustration by Joanne Sung and Danielle Zhang. Front and back cover art by Joanne Sung. Back cover design by Grace Hu. Corrections from the First Day Issue: George Floyd’s murder was May 25.

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Amy DiBlasi Ethan’s Aunt and Uncle The Freund Family The Goodman Family Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Jerry The Hawkins Family Johnson Family The McKenzie Family The Schuldt Family The Steinberg Family Summer Roberts The Swihart-DeCoster Family Wasserstrom The Warren Family The Weinstein Family Sara Willick Zoey Danger Zenter

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If you are reading this online, you can print this out. Mail it to the high school at the address listed below. We can also mail the order form to anyone interested if you email Ladue Publications at the address listed below.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HU & RHEA PATNEY | ANNIE PAN

ABOVE: Last year’s UNICEF members attend their first meeting. This year’s officers are trying to come up with new ideas in order to raise money. “Although we may not be able to meet in real life, we’ll try our best to help our community,” senior Samuel Cobin said. (Photo courtesy of Samuel Cobin)

illustration by | RHEA PATNEY & DANIELLE ZHANG

LEFT: Senior Diya Diwakaran and the members of CARE Animal Allies club volunteer at an animal shelter. Like most clubs, the CARE Animal Allies club is trying to adjust to going virtual. “Because most of our activities revolve around volunteering and animals, we’ve had to rethink some plans,” Diwakaran said. (Photo courtesy of Diya Diwakaran)

CLUBS GO VIRTUAL CARE Animal Allies and UNICEF adjust plans for new school year

HANSIKA SAKSHI staff writer

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any clubs and organizations are making adjustments in order to meet virtually during the upcoming school year, as in-person meetings are not possible due to the ongoing pandemic.

“Since our main events revolve around volunteering and gathering donations for local animal shelters around St. Louis, we now need to come up with new activities,” senior Diya Diwakaran, president of the CARE Animal Allies Club, said.

Because of safety recommendations, people need to maintain six feet of distance between one another. As a result, clubs that focus on volunteering and socializing must think of new ideas for their members.

“We can get a guest speaker or watch a movie, but it can be hard to ensure people are paying attention,” Diwakaran said. “Last year, we had guest speakers come in and also made dog toys to donate. However, our club mainly wants to volunteer at events around our community.”

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

UNICEF, another club at Ladue, However, Diwakaran sees more seeks to raise money and awareness cons than pros in the virtual club about issues that affect children fair. She believes it will be harder for around the world. Senior Sam Cobin, students to learn about clubs because president of UNICEF, agrees that it is all of the information is virtual. difficult to engage with people virtu“For a club to gain more members, ally. However, clubs like UNICEF are I feel like people need to tell others much easier to about it,” Dimanage online wakaran said. because their “For example, Even though clubs are meeting events don’t someone tellrequire meeting someone virtually, don’t let that deter you ing in person. there’s a from getting involved.”

“We’ve meeting in JENNIFER STROHBECK | activities director this room already set up a GoFundMe at this time page,” Cobin said. “We have a lot of and [that] they should come is much plans for adapted fundraisers that will simpler than signing up and going to work online.” a Zoom meeting.”

Jennifer Strohbeck, the activities Despite these new adjustments, coordinator, has helped organize Strohbeck hopes that everyone finds clubs at Ladue for the past eight clubs they wish to join. She encouryears. One event she plans is the ages students to reach out and join as annual fair. many clubs and organizations as they “In previous years, we had the want for the school year. activities fair in the cafeteria,” Stroh“We have had so many clubs probeck said, “but this year, because we vide information for the virtual fair,” are going virtual, we’ll be placing Strohbeck said. “This shows that stulinks to different clubs and organizadents still want to be involved, even if tions on the activities website.” it’s online.” p

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9.30.20

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WORKING FROM HOME Practical and fine arts teachers adjust their curriculums for virtual learning ZERU MARUT news staff

MIKA KIPNIS news staff

illustration by | ERICA SHI

PRACTICAL ARTS

WOODWORKING As teachers come up with new ways to teach a class over the internet, Woodworking has tried a new method for the first time in almost two decades.

“We use the textbook,” Stephen Schmidt, who has taught all levels of Woodworking classes for almost 20 years, said. “I [haven’t] used the textbook [in] 19 years, probably.”

However, this shift doesn’t make up for the difficulties of online learning. For Schmidt, Zoom audio issues have been a challenge.

“I’m gonna be using my iPad to go around to different machines to demonstrate,” Schmidt said. “And there’s a lot of echo in here, and in

turn, the iPad has a very sensitive speaker on it. That in turn [produces] a lot of feedback.”

Overall, the new Woodworking experience has been unusual for everyone involved. Despite the inconveniences of virtual learning, Schmidt understands that it is necessary and knows that his students understand as well.

“They understand we’re living in a world right now where everything has changed,” Schmidt said. “So most of them have been very understanding and very good about it. But I know they’re all hoping to come back so they can get their hands on the machines and material.”

Junior Ryan Silver lays out his Woodworking textbook. So far, his class has covered types of wood and measurements for woodworking. “I get a little bit of detail in the Zoom, but it’s definitely not to the same level that it otherwise would be,” Silver said.

(Photo courtesy of Ryan Silver)

FOODS

Senior Annabella Seeger makes a vanilla cake. Seeger chose to focus on the pastry and baking arts this year. “It’s a much different setting because in the [school] kitchen, there’s more space than in my personal kitchen at home,” Seeger said. (Photo courtesy of Anabelle Seeger)

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NEWS

Without the benefit of one kitchen for all students, both staff and students in the Foods classes are adjusting to the new virtual environment.

“I would say time and delivery of material has been the most difficult,” Chef April Dalton, who teaches all levels of Foods, said.

Dalton finds that the biggest challenge is focusing on the most vital topics with limited class time. Along with other FACS teachers, Dalton had to devise a new strategy to make sure students are still taught what they need to know.

“The FACS department had to meet over Zoom and discuss what

were the essential topics we should be delivering so as to not overwhelm the students,” Dalton said.

Senior Annabella Seeger is taking an independent study in Foods, where students choose their own assignments. But with a lack of a rigid schedule, Seeger can find it difficult to start working.

“There’s already a lot of stuff on my list to do each day, so if we were in school I would have a designated time to do it,” Seeger said. “I don’t really have to meet with Chef [Dalton] in the mornings in my time slot ... so it’s kind of hard to motivate myself, but I think I’m doing alright with it.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY ZERU MARUT

FINE ARTS CERAMICS Students taking Ceramics this year are adapting to new methods of learning pottery without being able to access the same supplies they would at school.

“We got a big thing of clay given to us,” sophomore Riley Kovacs said.

“I’m not in person with [Mr. Robbins], so he can’t really help us do hands-on work when we’re making projects.”

To start off the year, Kovacs’s Ceramics I class made 3D pop-up cards.

This allowed students to have an interactive experience at home before beginning to work with clay.

“When you open the card, its mouth opens,” Kovacs said. “It was a little hard to learn how to fold it online, [but] it worked out.”

Robbins uses a unique setup with two cameras to teach his classes. The

first camera is facing him, which allows him to talk to students, while the second camera is facing the table at which he works, allowing the students to get a closer view of what the teacher is working on if they need a visual guide.

“When someone has a question, he just helps them through it with the camera that is [pointed] on the table,” Kovacs said.

Even though virtual learning is unlike in-person classes, Ceramics students have found a way to make up for the difference. The flexibility between seeing the teacher and having an up close view helps make online learning feel more familiar.

“I feel like I’ve kind of gotten a schedule … so it’s going pretty good,” Kovacs said.

Sophomore Riley Kovacs shows her pop-up card for Ceramics. Kovac’s class used these as a way to have a hands-on experience at home. “It can be hard not having teachers there to ask for help,” Kovacs said. (Photo courtesy of Riley Kovacs)

BAND

Sophomore Sela Masaki plays the euphonium for Band. Masaki noted that without all the students together, there needs to be a mutual trust. “There’s so much subconscious tuning to the people next to you and the whole ensemble, which is just gone now,” Masaki said. “You just have to cross your fingers and hope everybody is in tune.”

(Photo courtesy of Sela Masaki)

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Band directors and students were forced to remodel the structure of their class due to the constraints of virtual learning.

Since the sound of musical instruments transfers poorly over Zoom, the band had to rethink practice during class. Eventually, it was decided that playing warmups, which would normally be done together as a band, would be best done muted.

“If we all unmuted, it would be chaos,” Aaron Lehde, band director, said. “One of the hardest things is figuring out how to use technology in the most effective way.”

Zoom software has not been the ideal way to listen to and transport high quality sound. However, Zoom has continuously updated their soft-

ware to accommodate musicians who need to be utilizing Zoom for music classes and lessons.

“From what I hear, Zoom has an update specifically for music coming soon,” Lehde said. “However, the internet connection is a bigger problem than the microphone settings.”

The band is utilizing a new program this year called Soundtrap, which allows each student to record their part of a piece and upload it to a program that puts every part together.

They can then listen to tracks uploaded from other students and hear how the final product sounds.

“The ideas behind what we do in band remain the same,” Lehde said. “[Now] it’s focusing on recording, as opposed to live performances.”

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FLOODED TURF FIELD REQUIRES IMMEDIATE RECONSTRUCTION

Summer flooding causes considerable damage to athletic field CAROLINE TYRRELL news editor

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he athletic field didn’t last a full year; it is currently under reconstruction due to flooding damage caused by a storm that occurred over the summer.

At the end of August, seven inches of rain flooded many areas of St. Louis, including Ladue High School’s turf field. Although the rain lasted less than an hour, it heavily damaged the field.

“The part of the field that was damaged quite severely is called the underbase, so it’s not necessarily the turf but it’s the drainage system that’s under it,” Nicholas Gianino, director of activities, said. “Essentially, there were sinkholes and then there were waves caused.”

Due to the destruction, the field has to be redone. This fix is not an easy one, as many layers of the field now need to be repaired.

“In order to fix [the damage], the turf has to come up, which means all the seams have to be ripped, the turf has to be rolled, and more of the under base has to be brought in and leveled,” Gianino said. “The drainage system has to be repaired, and then new turf comes in.”

Although a large portion of the field has to be torn up and rebuilt, it will not change the look of the field.

The district decided that since the field is so new, they will not change the design.

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NEWS

“It will be the same exact field, exdeductible,” Gianino said. “It costs cept for brand new,” Gianino said. “It very little in comparison to the total will be the same design, it will have cost of the project of the renovation.” all the same markings on the field, it Unfortunately, this is not the first will just be brand new turf.” flooding issue that Ladue has dealt Since the field is no longer usable with. The creek that runs behind the at this time, some sports have had to school causes frequent problems by find practice space elsewhere. Footoverflowing when heavy rain storms ball, for example, now practices at occur. However, the district improved Ladue’s Fifth Grade Center. the creek’s floodway prior to install“Kids have adjusted really well ing the new field last year in hopes with everything,” football coach Mike of preventing an incident like the Tarpey said. “I think the hardest thing current flooding damage. is for the three programs — [football], “There’s quite a bit of tension built soccer and field into the hockey — all underbase basically sharing that helps one turf field.” with a lot There was a rippling effect and However, the of those underground sinkholes which field’s destrucissues,” Gicreated the safety issue. tion is not as anino said. inconvenient as “The probMIKE TARPEY | assistant principal it seems. Due to lem was, it the restrictions was just so placed on high frequency sports in St. much rain so fast, that the water came Louis County this year, the football up so fast and there was nowhere for team is unable to play any games for it to go.” the time being.

The district addressed the prob“Fortunately, we’re not in the situlem immediately and has once again ation where [hosting football games] started working with ATG Sports, is an issue because of the pandemic,” the company that built the new field Gianino said. last year. They have made a plan to Despite the many repairs that need reconstruct the damaged parts of the to be made to the field, the process field and are hopeful that it will be will not be overly expensive. Since the finished within the next month. field is insured, the insurance compa“We hope that it’s done by the end ny will pay for most of the construcof the first or second week of Octotion work. ber,” Gianino said. “They started at “It’s the very minimum. The the beginning of September and it’s insurance covers everything but the about a four to six week process.” p

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SPREAD DESIGN BY CAROLINE TYRRELL

LEFT: A construction worker operates machinery while working on the renovation of the field. The construction crew has been working for a few weeks now and are about halfway done. “Right now, they have about half of the field’s turf rolled up, so we’re getting close to bringing in the new turf,” Nicholas Gianino said. (Photo by Grace Hensley) BELOW: ATG Sports parks their vehicles are on the athletic field. Sports such as football and cross country were unable to use the field and track this season due to the renovation.

“The facility is shut down because of the construction,” Gianino said. (Photo by Grace Hensley)

TURF TIMELINE FEBRUARY 2018 Ladue City Council approved the renovation of the old field.

AUGUST 2020 Rain caused flooding that damaged the new turf football field.

SEPTEMBER 2019 Ladue hosted Webster Groves for the grand opening of the stadium.

OCTOBER 2020 Ladue is hopeful that the field will be complete by this October.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ATG Sports started working on the reconstruction of the field.

illustration by | GRACE HU LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

9.30.20

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BYER RECOVERS FROM COVID-19 Junior Megan Byer overcomes her positive diagnosis of COVID-19 OVIYA SRIHARI features editor

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unior Megan Byer’s summer break looked a little different than a typical break. Rather than spending the final months of her summer seeing friends, traveling or visiting family, Byer spent the weeks leading up to the school year quarantining after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

“I tested positive on July 8 and I had to quarantine,” Byer said. “I was tired, but that was literally it.”

Byer quarantined at home for 14 days following her diagnosis. Her father and both sisters, Ashley and Lindsey Byer, also tested positive.

“It was scary because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Lindsey said. “[Megan] was really tired and didn’t want to do anything and didn’t feel good, and I wish I knew what was going to happen because it’s different for everybody.”

Missing a trip to see her extended family was upsetting, but Byer’s support system of friends and family ultimately helped cheer her up. They remained by her side as quarantine ended and school began.

“When school started, when sports started, I had to get my physician to sign a note saying that I was cleared,” Megan said. “I had to do a checkup a couple weeks ago just to get [my physician] to sign a form.”

There were also adjustments made at home. While Byer’s case of COVID-19 was relatively mild, she continued to grapple with lingering symptoms even after the recovery period.

“I cannot smell,” Megan said. “I lost my sense of smell, and I still don’t have that back. I wish I would have just taken that first symptom — and even though that was my only symptom — I wish I just would have taken that more seriously than I did.”

Megan’s experience with COVID-19 has only strengthened her belief in respecting federal lock downs, mask wearing and social distancing guidelines. Since recovering, she has remained cautious about taking proper health precautions.

“I still think that it’s really important to take all the precautions because even though myself and the rest of my family didn’t have bad cases, you never know,” Megan said.

“So it is really important to protect everybody’s health, even though it may not be affecting you personally.” p

38 %

have been tested more than once

SPREAD DESIGN BY CLAYTON COUGHLIN | ABBEY CARRICO

Ladue’s tech team works to maintain online learning.

The team has guided students and teachers through thousands of tech issues so far this year.

“We figure out where our fires are the hottest and position towards the most urgent issues,” Adam Stirrat said. (Photo by Ginger Schulte)

TECH TACKLES TROUBLES Technology department helps district navigate online learning

RYAN TUNG features staff

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t 4:30 a.m., the phone buzzes. 645 unread emails fill the screen — computers have broken, applications have crashed and servers have failed. As Adam Stirrat grabs his phone and sifts through the messages of distress, he braces himself for the day.

Stirrat, an instructional technology specialist entering his 20th year at Ladue, works alongside D’Ante’ DuCasse’, Rob Highfill, Dan Marks, James Nahrgang, Jeremy Smith and Drew Woerther in the Ladue Technology Department.

Dedicated to building, maintaining and teaching educational technology, this team works behind the scenes to provide the resources needed for online learning.

“The Technology Department gives support for classroom technology,” Stirrat said. “[We] show teachers how to integrate technology in their classes, are in charge of servers and accounts and repair damaged laptops.”

As a global pandemic forces schools to rely on technology to maintain education, the need for technological support has surged. In Ladue alone, the number of assistance requests to the district Help Desk has skyrocketed since the start of the school year.

“Traditionally, [the number of requests] hovers between 100 to 160 Help Desk tickets per week,” Stirrat said. “At the end of last week, we were almost at 800.”

In response, the department has dramatically expanded its efforts. Through early mornings and late evenings, the small team scrambles to tackle the most pressing issues.

“It has been massive,” DuCasse’, the department’s Help Desk Manager and Webmaster, said. “[The influx] has caused each person to be stretched in terms of what we’re LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

normally able to handle.”

Despite the immense efforts, the sheer volume of issues has started to overwhelm the team’s operation. With every Ladue student now paired to a device, district-wide technical issues continue to grow.

“We’re all hands on deck,” Stirrat said. “Sadly, we don’t have enough hours in the day and people on the team to satisfy the constant problems we’re having.”

Although the onslaught of technological issues shows no signs of slowing, the department perseveres.

Understanding technology’s crucial role in education, the team continues to aid as many as possible.

“It’s important for us to make sure that [technology] is working properly so that teachers can [teach] and students can learn,” DuCasse’ said.

This support is vital for teachers struggling to adapt to the new digital environment. For Patricia Chavez, art and graphic design teacher, initial technological issues prevented her from moving forward with curriculum.

Without a solution, Chavez feared she would not be able to continue teaching “There were so many problems [that] I could not troubleshoot,” Chavez said. “[The Technology Department’s] help was essential. I’m grateful for their kindness and patience — they’re always willing to solve the problem and go the extra mile.”

Through persistent effort, the Technology Department strives to make online learning a success. While the rush of issues is far from over, the team remains ready to tackle the struggles of the unconventional school year.

“We’re doing our best,” DuCasse’ said. “Our ultimate goal is to give kids the best possible education we can and also to keep them safe.” p 9.30.20

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TOP: The Maranto family packs up all of their household belongings May 26. After moving out of Great Cambourne, England, they stayed in an apartment in Cambridge, England. “I needed to be out of the house for movers and that was hard to do with COVID,” Maranto said. (Photo courtesy of Alexandra Maranto) ABOVE: A moving truck arrives at Maranto’s home in St. Louis Aug. 17.

Her household goods were shipped across the Atlantic and arrived a month after she landed. (Photo courtesy of Alexandra Maranto) RIGHT: Maranto says goodbye to her neighbor’s dogs on a walk around Great Cambourne June 16. This was her last time visiting Great Cambourne before she left Britain. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to a lot of people because there were restrictions,” Maranto said. “It was really difficult.” (Photo courtesy of Alexandra Maranto)

MARANTO MOVES CONTINENTS Junior Alexandra Maranto relocates internationally during pandemic RHEA PATNEY associate editor

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unior Alexandra Maranto doesn’t like to settle down.

She has never lived in the same place for more than five years at one time and has lived in four different countries. Her father, Michael Maranto, is a civilian working for the U.S. Department of Defense, and after living in St. Louis for five years, the Maranto family decided it was time to relocate.

Alexandra and her family moved to a village in the U.K. called Great Cambourne in 2016 after Michael received a job at a Royal Air Force Base. They knew they would be returning to St. Louis eventually due to a Joint Travel Regulation preventing personnel from being assigned overseas for more than five years. After four years in England, the Maranto family decided to return to St. Louis in time for Alexandra to start her junior year. They did not anticipate having to move internationally during a global pandemic.

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FEATURES

“It was hard to move because of COVID-19,” Alexandra said. “I didn’t really get to say goodbye to my friends in England in the way that I wanted to, [and] it wasn’t until a week before we left that I was even sure that I was going to be able to.”

Because of the pandemic, the Maranto family was unsure if they would even get the chance to move. In the early stages of COVID-19, the U.S. Secretary of Defense stated that no one working for the Department of Defense was allowed to relocate. After collaborating with a military office that specializes in permanent change of station, the Maranto family was able to get an exception to this policy and leave England as scheduled June 21.

“When we got on this plane that was meant to take hundreds of people across the Atlantic, everyone had their own aisle,” Michael said. “We were required to wear masks the entire time; [however], on the flight from Chicago to St. Louis, they made no attempt at all to space out people, and a lot of people took their masks off.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY RHEA PATNEY & OVIYA SRIHARI

After arriving in St. Louis, the Department of Defense “She’s always there for you, she’s honest and she’s required the Maranto family to quarantine for 14 days. also really funny to be with,” Lobo said. “It’s sad that she They had to stay in a hotel until Aug. 17 because their moved, but I think at the end of the day, social media lets household belongings were shipped separately from Enyou talk to someone across the globe. You’re still friends gland and did not arrive until then. with them even if they leave.”

“It’s one thing to be quarantined with your family and Readjusting to life in St. Louis has been challenging be able to go outside for walks,” Alexandra said, “but it’s for Alexandra. She has had to start her junior year online, another thing to be in a single hotel room and not be able which has brought various complications. to leave. We were all stressed from the move so that was a “It’s definitely weird to be on Zoom,” Alexandra said. very tense time.”

“There’s part of me that says Post quarantine, Alexandra ‘I recognize these people’ finally reconnected with junior but there’s another part Anna Cochran, who had been of me that says ‘I have no There’s only so well moving could looking forward to Alexandra’s clue who these people are.’ have gone. I’m glad to be back, but return ever since she left. When There’s [also] been some Cochran met Alexandra for the complications with vocab[COVID-19] was difficult to move in. first time in four years, she realulary that my friends won’t ALEXANDRA MARANTO | JUNIOR ized that their friendship dynamleave me alone about.” ic hadn’t changed.

Alexandra looks forward “I had brought my dog, and to finishing her last two she had never met him,” Cochran years of high school and said. “She was 100 percent more excited to see my dog reconnecting with the people she left behind. Despite the than me. I think that [my pets] are the only reason she’s challenges moving internationally and the COVID-19 panfriends with me, honestly. Right now, we’re kind of just demic have brought, Alexandra remains optimistic about trading jokes with each other, but I look forward to having her goals for her future in the U.S. a more genuine conversation with her in the future.”

“Right now, I’m just trying to focus on keeping my Alexandra is grateful that she had friends in St. Louis grades up and staying active,” Alexandra said. “I’m not to return to but is also sad to leave her friends in England. necessarily sure what I want to do with my life at this Ashish Lobo, one of her friends in the U.K., was sad to see point, so [I’m] keeping my options open and just trying to her leave but recognizes that he will likely see her again. enjoy life as much as I can under the COVID situation.” p

“

“

They divide education into four key stages, which are just grades they group together. After key stage three, you prepare for GCSEs, which are big exams after year 11. You end up making life decisions at 16, which can be daunting.”

I played rugby, which is like American football but with a lot less stoppage in play and it is faster paced. There is also netball, which is kind of like basketball and ultimate frisbee combined. You can’t move with the ball and only certain people can score.”

O

G

“

ETICS

“

Speed limits are so much lower in the United States.

Driving in general has also been challenging because in England, they drive on the left side of the road while the U.S. drives on the right. I’ve freaked out a few times while driving in the U.S.”

A

L TH

GUAGE AN

“

They insert a lot of U’s in words like ‘honor’ and ‘color’.

They also use a lot of double L’s in words like ‘canceled’.

There’s also a lot of words that mean completely different things. Elevators are called lifts and underwear is called pants.”

DRIVIN

L

L

SC H O

HONOR vs. HONOUR

Differences between the US and the UK, according to Alexandra

illustration by | GRACE HU & DANIELLE ZHANG LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

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ELECTRONIC EDUCATION Teachers and students switch gears as they enter school in a virtual world

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for the shift to a virtual setting once the rubber hit the road. Challenges have arisen for students as well, from students entering a new school district and the freshman class navigating an unfamiliar setting to seniors navigating college applications from home. Schools are also making adjustments to prioritize the online security of students’ devices as learning becomes increasingly centered around technology.

With August and September marking the return to school and the weeks of calibrating that followed, it’s imperative to stay informed of the changes and monumental progress occuring in education during such uncertain times.

n the wake of COVID-19, transitioning to a virtual setting has soared in popularity for schools across the world. While countries are at different points in containing the virus, UNESCO estimated in April that there are more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures.

While online learning has its benefits, some may struggle with accessible and secure internet while others simply have difficulty concentrating amidst distractions at home. Back in March, the sudden withdrawal from a school setting made seemingly banal tasks — staying on task or completing assignments — difficult. For this reason, many teachers spent their summers preparing, hoping to form a strong connection with students and prepare

illustration by | SOPHIA LIU & JOANNE SUNG

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01. Resources SOPHIA LIU

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in-depth editor

urrounded by eerily silent hallways devoid of the people usually filling them, AP Psychology teacher Amanda Kaupp sits alone in room 2127. Kaupp clicks her trackpad to individually transfer students from a virtual waiting room into a scheduled Zoom meeting. Her computer screen rapidly rearranges to fit the stream of students trickling in, displaying students in little boxes, resembling a grid.

Class begins.

Amidst the pandemic, Kaupp is in the same boat as hundreds of other Ladue teachers that have taken to teaching in an online format. While ensuring an effective learning experience was a daunting task back in March, Ladue has since taken time and internet constraints into account when accomodating for the needs of students and teachers alike.

Perhaps one of the most important assets at Ladue is the readily available technology department. Kaupp believes that the team, composed of multiple dedicated members, plays an integral role in facilitating a quality education and teaching experience for students and teachers.

“We have an unbelievable tech department that is working nonstop,” Kaupp said. “They’re not only dealing with hyper-individualized things like online textbooks not working, [but] they’re also dealing with global outages like Firewall issues.”

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

More than ever, technology has become an indispensable component of school, leading to an influx of new and improved online resources.

For instance, students and teachers are encouraged to regularly check or update the new E-Learning Hub. Here, students can access a weekly overview of their classes with helpful resources posted by their teachers. In addition to the E-Learning Hub, teachers also obtained a new assessment tool, DNA, which drastically simplifies the process of online testing by enabling teachers to create or upload tests in various formats. Most notably, DNA automatically grades tests and can directly upload results to Infinite Campus, saving teachers from having to score and enter test results manually.

“Google Forms can only go so far,” math teacher Jacob Jagodzinski said. “[DNA] has been a really good way for us to look at the data a bit closer and interpret what we’re dealing with.”

Since it is impossible to fully emulate the structure of in-person learning, there is concern over online learning impacting students’ abilities to grasp concepts. While the gallery view setting on Zoom can display as many as 49 participants on a single screen, creating individualized interactions with students through a virtual setting remains a challenge.

“You lose the ability to read body language, the cues of someone laughing or somebody sighing in frustration,” Kaupp said. “I feel particularly vulnerable not being able to read my students, especially since I don’t know all of them yet.”

To combat this issue, many teachers are prerecording lectures to highlight key topics. This utilization of technology in this manner allows teachers to maximize shortened class lengths to replicate traditional components of in-class learning, such as answering questions or holding immersive discussions. With easy access to these videos, students have the freedom of learning individually at a pace in which they are comfortable.

“A lot of my teachers are doing recorded videos through Loom to teach content outside of class,” senior Shriya Koneru said. “It makes this year feel more structured than last year. Since some of my classes had Zooms at the same time, it felt like I was choosing between which classes to go to.”

Undoubtedly, maneuvering through online school during a pandemic has been a strenuous adjustment for both students and teachers. However, despite these adjustment difficulties, improved accessibility to resources makes adapting to school a much easier task, regardless of the format.

“We’re trying to figure everything out as we go,” Jagodzinski said. “Having people to bounce ideas off of and to come up with different creative solutions has been extremely helpful.” p 9.30.20

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illustration by | MARISSA MATHIESON & JOANNE SUNG

re s

TO DO: BE A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT Tips for virtual school

02. Cybersecurity JOANNE SUNG in-depth staff

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e grew up watching movies where bent paper clips could shimmy open doors and distracted guards were all it took to rob a bank. Today, instead of manipulated metal and diversion techniques, the focus has shifted to powerful programs that can steal money, information and even our identities before we can click “I agree” under the terms and conditions.

As Ladue makes the transition to online learning, the role of cybersecurity has become more important.

Because students are using technology for almost every aspect of their education, Ladue had to put off their typical projects to focus on technical safety.

“Many of our summer projects and responsibilities were pushed off for later in the year,” Rob Highfill, director of informational technology services, said.

IN-DEPTH

One of the decisions that had to be made was which video conferencing software would be used for learning. The two main contenders were Zoom and Google Meet; ultimately, Zoom rose victorious in this battle because of students’ familiarity with it.

“In the spring, when we moved to virtual learning, Zoom offered their service for free to schools through the summer,” Highfill said. “Since teachers and students were familiar with features, we decided to stick with it. Breakout rooms and screen sharing options were not available on Google Meet.”

Another decision made was the implementation of a new filtering system: Securly. One of the main reasons for this shift was the amount of bandwidth Ladue’s old filtering system used.

“Previously, devices were being filtered through the Smoothwall content filter,” James Nahrgang, director of networking, said. “This actually consumes a significant amount of bandwidth. With more people using Zoom, we decided to change filters so that students’ internet traffic would get funneled through Securly.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY MARISSA MATHIESON

Set up a egular, clean study space

Actively participate and ask questions

Create a weekly schedule using a planner

While the shift to Securly was a major change, the transition has overall been smooth. However, the sudden shift raised some confusion among students.

“My first reaction to seeing Securly was honestly annoyance,” junior Katie Silver said, “because I felt like learning from home is hard enough and by limiting what we can use, it makes it that much harder for us. Something a little bit aggravating to me was that Securly showed up without much explanation or a notice beforehand.”

In terms of what websites are blocked, Ladue has stayed relatively consistent with previous security measures. The websites were blocked based on the educational resources and safety they provide to students and teachers.

“Content filters … utilize people and robots to analyze websites and determine categories to the website,” Nahrgang said. “It was determined which categories were necessary and which were not … The general deciding factor is ‘is it safe for students?’ and ‘is it needed for our educational purposes?’ When we moved to Securly, we kept those same categories.”

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Break down tasks and take small breaks

Eliminate distractions by putting them far away

However, if any websites are miscatergorized or deemed necessary by a teacher, a request can be sent to the technology Help Desk. In addition to ensuring student and teacher safety, Ladue had to take into account student privacy.

Set by the Board of Education, the terms regarding student privacy — found under the Technology Usage section in Ladue’s Board Policy — state that “electronic communications, downloaded material and all data stored on the district’s technology resources, including files deleted from a user’s account, may be intercepted, accessed, monitored or searched by district administrators or their designees at any time.”

Such searches would occur in a circumstance where a student is using too much bandwidth, and are used to ensure students are adhering to district policies. Although security measures have affected learning, students have begun to adjust.

“Overall, while I’ve run into a few issues, especially the internet, it has been going smoother than I expected,” Silver said. “I’m excited to see where online learning takes us in the future.” p 9.30.20

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03. Perspectives The Ladue community shares its experiences with virtual learning MARISSA MATHIESON in-depth editor

RUTH WORKINEH (10)

SARAH LIAO (9)

“[I’ve been using] social media to stay in contact with my friends. But with new teachers you don’t get to know them because you don’t have one-onone time. For example, in discussions, you’re not as comfortable with the teachers and students so you don’t say as much, or even if you want to say something you get too afraid.”

MICHAEL FARRELL (math teacher)

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IN-DEPTH & EDITORIAL

JOHN YELDHAM (12)

“I am always impressed with how versatile teenagers are. I think adults in general have a harder time adjusting to changes and this is a major change both locally, in our school and our community, and also in the world. There’s just so many changes and it’s really inspiring to see how all of our students have been able to adapt to this.

They didn’t ask for this — it’s not their fault — but you know what, you all are doing an amazing job of fighting through this and making the best of the situation.”

“So far, virtual learning hasn’t affected my grasp of concepts. I get distracted very easily, so ... technology [makes it harder to stay focused]. Phone, phone, phone; I will never iterate that enough.

At the end of the day, I can manage my time on my phone. Just if Zoom get[s] boring, I won’t lie, I’ll check it every now and then and miss an important part.”

“I like the self-directed learning aspect of virtual school. My teachers typically put lectures and work for us to do before class and then class is for discussion.

This really allows me to work at my own pace.”

HELINA BIRHANU (11)

“I’ve seen a few new students but I’ve never talked to them because we don’t get time to talk to students in class. And group assignments are awkward because over Zoom, it makes it awkward and you don’t get to really meet teachers so it’s not the same.

It’s also hard to talk to your friends. Outside of school, I talk to my friends through texting or FaceTime.”

illustration by | JOANNE SUNG

SPREAD DESIGN BY JOANNE SUNG | DOMENIC FENOGLIO

illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG

PANO PERSPECTIVE Students need to create a schedule to allow for a sense of normalcy 29 out of 30 Panorama staff members agree

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ue to a fear that returning to in-person school would result in a spike in COVID-19 cases, students are in the process of adapting to an entirely virtual school environment. Instead of waking up in the early hours of the morning, students are able to sleep in until their first class at 10 a.m. Eight hours of school have shrunk to less than three and a half hours on some days. To compensate for lost class time, teachers have assigned significantly more homework, including at-home labs. Clearly, students are facing a different challenge at school this year, and they must adapt accordingly. Keeping a routine amidst this constantly changing world would help teens to better reach their full potential.

The classroom looks starkly different for each student this year; it could be a kitchen, a couch or even a bedroom. Most of these places are meant for something else.

Habit has established them as places of relaxation rather than work. Data from National Geographic suggests that logging on to Zoom while still in bed causes a student to never fully awaken and lose the ability to fully concentrate on learning.

Instead of sleeping until 9:59 a.m., students can wake up as they would on a mandatory attendance school day, allowing them time to complete homework. Then, they should leave their bedroom to go to an office or designated workspace. Creating a definite line between school work and the rest of a student’s day will ease their worries.

In a study done by the University of California Berkeley, screen time was shown to lead to higher levels of depression, increased anxiety and even neck and back problems.

While the time spent attending Zoom classes is unavoidable, students should reduce their time on screens during the rest of the day. During the lunch break allotted during the middle of the day, students should put away their computer. Immediately after class, students can go outside for a break. While working on homework, students should take breaks periodically to reduce strain. This helps relieve students that feel the school day never ends.

Students not only have to learn alone, but must do so in a virtual environment. With the aid of a routine, students can organize school work and separate it from their social life, helping to reduce stress. p

Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the staff. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers, and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311 or email Panorama at publications01@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length as long as original intent remains unaltered.

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illustration by | CAROLINE EDGAR

SECURLY MUST BE STOPPED Students feel that Securly violates their right to privacy KANISHK SHANMUGAM opinions staff

A

dministrators at Ladue recently installed Securly, a filtering and control software, on school computers in an effort to make sure that they are used appropriately. However, Securly has caused more problems than relief because of its inefficient censorship, privacy violations and blockage of internet resources needed by students for classes and other activities; it’s evident that Securly needs to be revised or removed.

Securly is able to scan the emails sent by students through their school Google accounts. Doing this allows the program to identify keywords in emails that may relate to bullying or activities leading to self-harm or violence and send them to administrators. Though Securly claims that these actions prevent dangerous situations from happening in the first place, it can also stop students from contacting counselors since students know that information within sent emails are not confidential and will be open for administrators to see. As a result, these “security” measures lead to a decrease in students turning to counselors for help with severe emotional and educational struggles. In addition, some of the keywords used to censor searches are unusual. For example, students simply looking up what Securly is will have their searches blocked because Securly’s own company name is a censored keyword. This censoring of certain words, which can be irritating due to the inefficient and oftentimes random method, ends up not being beneficial for the student population.

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OPNIONS

Furthermore, Securly has a reputation for invading user privacy. Common Sense’s privacy website, a nonprofit devoted to promoting safe media and technology usage, rates Securly at 68 percent. According to their credible rating system, this puts Securly in the warning zone, which means that the filtering system as a huge risk for its collection of geolocation, behavioural, personally identifiable data and more private information. Securly’s blatant disregard for privacy outweighs any security the program claims to provide.

Another problem with Securly is its blockage of online student material. For example, students who mainly use their school laptops for clubs such as the Ladue Chess Team don’t have access to some necessary sites. The blocking of lichess.org, a common chess website, prevents the chess team from practicing before a match.

It’s absurd that members of Ladue’s state-winning chess team cannot practice and hone their skills using school provided resources. Additionally, websites like DuckDuckGo.com, a professional internet search engine with an emphasis on user privacy protection, are also blocked on school computers. Although DuckDuckGo.com isn’t used too widely among students, Securly’s ban on the search engine is another instance of disdain for students’ privacy on the web.

Ultimately, Securly underperforms in all categories, and its incompetent security system and inefficiency hinder Ladue students. Reforming or removing this system would not only prove most effective in adapting to student concerns and wishes, but also overall be the best option for the school to protect their students’ privacy. p SPREAD DESIGN BY CAROLINE EDGAR

TRUMP'S TIKTOK BAN IS UNJUSTIFIED Due to security concerns, Trump wants to wrongfully ban TikTok NICHOLAS SKAPOF opinions staff

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ikTok, a popular social media platform best known for lipsyncing teenagers, has recently been designated a national security concern and is in danger of being banned. While fears over a potential security threat are understandable, there simply isn't enough evidence to warrant a ban.

TikTok is owned by a company called ByteDance, one of the largest tech companies based out of China.

A 2017 Chinese law requires that any Chinese company give their data to the government if requested. This means that if TikTok were asked, they would have to give all the American data they collected to China.

Understandably, this is being treated

by the American government as a potential national security threat. The distrust of this application is largely bipartisan, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer echoing President Donald Trump’s concerns and agreeing with the president’s call for a ban on the app.

While TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance claims that data collected from the U.S. and China are kept completely separate, with U.S. data only being stored in the U.S. and Singapore. According to ByteDance, this data has never been shared with the Chinese government.

An investigation or audit would be sufficient to verify Bytedance’s claims; because there is currently no evidence of these claims being false, an outright ban is not justified for the time being.

Furthermore, TikTok’s data practices are no different than American social media platforms. Facebook, for example, frequently appears in the news for data breaches, election meddling and other sketchy practices that should be just as scrutinized as TikTok's actions. All social media platforms make money from collecting and selling user data to third parties; TikTok is no different. Thus, a ban is an unnecessary overreaction.

While TikTok’s security concerns should be taken very seriously, the company is no different than any other domestic social media company in the U.S. TikTok should not be singled out solely because of its connection to China. With the information currently available, TikTok’s security concerns are not severe enough to warrant a ban. p

TIKTOK TAKEOVER

100 130

60 800

The numbers behind TikTok's popularity

million active users in the U.S.

million U.S. downloads in the first quarter of 2020

Sources: CNBC and Wallaroo Media

percent of U.S. TikTok users are aged between 16 and 24

illustration by | CAROLINE EDGAR LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

percent increase in userbase since January 2018

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TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY Panorama debates the return of high school sports this fall illustration by | JOANNE SUNG

DOMENIC FENOGLIO associate editor

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ports drive athletes to succeed in both the present and future.

The environment that competition creates leads to friendships found nowhere else. For their mental health and futures, student-athletes need the return of sports.

COVID-19 has been tracked in the U.S. since the beginning of February.

In that time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 315 deaths due to the virus in adolescents aged 15-24. While these deaths are tragic and extremely important, it is important to note that over 11 times as many adolescents of this same age range die from suicide each year. The mental health of athletes rests heavily on the friendships and communities created through sports. Removing this support from athletes’ lives will take

ATHLETES NEED THE RETURN OF SPORTS a greater toll on their mental health than their physical health.

Additionally, for many athletes, success in school is motivated by a desire to play sports; this is the reality for students who feel that their talents lie on the field rather than the classroom. According to MSHSAA guidelines, students must pass three credits (or six classes per semester) in order to compete in a sport. In addition, school attendance during the day of a sporting event is required. Without the motivation to play, student athletes will not be held accountable for their academic performance, and their education will be negatively impacted.

Most importantly, more than 460,000 high school athletes go on to compete in an NCAA-sanctioned sport. Many of these athletes would

not have the option of attending college without this opportunity.

On average, college graduates earn over $30,000 more than those with only a high school diploma. Taking away the competition of high school sports takes away the possibility of recruitment for thousands of potential collegiate athletes. With the cancellation of sports, these athletes are missing out on more than a season of high school competition. They are ultimately losing their futures.

The benefits sports have on its participants’ lives cannot accurately be measured, as they continue to help athletes long after they stop playing.

However, high school athletes across the country are being denied these valuable experiences. This fall, high schools sports should return. p

SAFETY TAKES PRECEDENT OVER SPORTS

CARLY WOODHILL

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he return of high school sports in the the midst of a pandemic would be an absolute disaster, contributing more problems to a year already historically chaotic.

To prove this statement, one needs to look no further than the professional sports teams that have tried to return to competition unnecessarily and suffered severe outbreaks of COVID-19 as a result. Back in August, the St. Louis Cardinals had nine players and seven staff members test positive for COVID-19. Consequently, one of the Cardinals’ staff members passed away.

While professional organizations have millions of dollars to tackle whatever problems may arise, high school sports programs lack the re-

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OPNIONS | A & E

sources to ensure testing on a regular basis or effective anti-infection measures. High school competitive sports are based around the cooperation of a team, where the players are working closely together. These close quarters could spell disaster in the middle of a pandemic; in an environment where large teams are all running, breathing and coming in contact with one another throughout every match, the spread of COVID-19 would be rapid and unforgiving, between both players and their families.

Aside from the public health risks, juggling the rigid schedule of sports with the challenges of distance learning and careful quarantine is a lot for any student to face. The detriment to mental health that could come about

opinions editor

because of this would outweigh the benefits of returning to sports.

Additionally, not all students in these sports could return even if athletics were to come back. Some students have family members that are at higher risk for COVID-19 and need to be more careful than their peers to keep their loved ones safe.

These students would have to refrain from playing sports, meaning the return of athletics unfairly prevents these students from participating.

Before anything else, public safety and the wellbeing of students must be preserved. COVID-19 needs to be stopped, and opening up high school sports would be a mistake that we can’t afford — especially when the cost is human lives. p

SPREAD DESIGN BY DOMENIC FENOGLIO | LUCY LOCHMOELLER

GAMEPLAY

DESIGN

How the game is run

How the game looks and feels

“Fall Guys” offers quick and enjoyable game play. Many of the rounds end quickly, so playing a lot of games in one sitting isn’t difficult. Because contestants are eliminated once they lose, the player can immediately leave and join a new lobby, starting fresh.

However, there are a massive amount of cheaters and hackers that plague the game’s community. “Fall Guys” also fails to retain many players due to its basic game play which can become stale.

The game is designed with plenty of vibrant colors along with fun and oversized objects.

Because the developers wanted “Fall Guys” to be accessible and easy for anyone to play, the game doesn’t require powerful machinery to run. However, players are not allowed to choose their own username. Instead, everyone is assigned a number. Unfortunately, all of the characters have a similar shape, so pinpointing where specific players or friends are during a minigame is difficult.

FALL GUYS: HIT OR MISS?

A review of the different aspects to the new and popular video game “Fall Guys” DEVANSHU PANDEY staff writer

ABOUT THE GAME:

YONGJOON KWEON staff writer

“Fall Guys” is an up-and-coming video game that places 60 cute oval blobs into party style minigames. Players go through a series of four to five rounds. After each round, contestants are eliminated until a single winner is left.

MECHANICS

LEVELING UP

How the game rewards players

Aside from moving, jumping, gliding and holding, players rely on the different maps to bring mechanical changes. This is one of the best aspects of “Fall Guys”; there is no need to worry about a learning curve or how to perform complex tasks. Despite the simple movements, characters can be hard to maneuver due to the nature of the camera controls. At times, the player’s point of view gets out of control, which makes manipulating the character much harder.

There is a reward system that lets players get costumes for their character. The better players perform, the faster they unlock the different outfits and designs for their “Fall Guy” character. Unfortunately, the reward system does not benefit long-time players as the leveling system caps early. New players may feel good unlocking all the outfits and characters, but more experienced players might find that the outfits are repetitive and will have no incentive to play the game.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM

9.30.20

illustration by | NICOLE GORRELL

How the character is controlled

23

OF RAP AND

EXPERIMENT The experimental hip-hop artists that shouldn’t be skipped

TARIQ LASHLEY a&e staff

Today, many live with the pigeonhole view that hiphop and rap are unvaried — basic and homogeneous.

From popular to relatively unknown, these three unconventional and experimental artists push the boundaries of the hip hop genre.

JPEGMAFIA

While JPEGMAFIA is the least popular artist on the list, he deserves a place in anyone’s playlists. His albums are bubbly and experimental, with musical productions that make the LP pleasant to listen to. While JPEGMAFIA is the least lyrical of the three artists featured, he makes up for it with charm and iconic background tracks. Unlike Earl Sweatshirt’s signature flow, JPEGMAFIA has a diverse discography that boasts various musical styles. Some tracks can be pumped to on aux while others are perfect for relaxing; several songs are simply colorful in sound while still sounding enjoyable.

Favorite Albums:

“Veteran,” “All My Heroes are Cornballs”

MF DOOM By far the most popular and successful of the three artists reviewed, MF DOOM has recently experienced a resurgence in listeners due to TikTok. I found DOOM early in the first few months of quarantine, and he quickly became one of my top 10 favorite artists of all time. DOOM is undoubtedly one of the best lyricists of the past few decades, and his use of unique and esoteric samples makes his music even more engaging. Albums are embedded with samples from old cartoons to write stories spanning the rise of Marvel supervillain Victor Von Doom to a concept album composed about food. If I had to suggest one artist to take away from this list, it’d be DOOM.

Favorite Albums:

Favorite Songs:

“MADVILLAINY,” “MM… FOOD”

“1539 N. Calvert,” “BALD! (Remix)”

Favorite Songs:

Earl Sweatshirt

“All Caps,” “Rhymes Like Dimes”

I used to pay little attention to Earl Sweatshirt, but after spending some time listening to albums like “Doris” or “IDLSIDGO,” Earl has joined the ranks of some of my favorite recent artists. His heavy lyrical flow combines with a melancholic lo-fi production to craft a discography that can easily be played on repeat. Even his more disliked songs, such as the controversial “EAST,” can grow on any listener. Distinct from the traditional hype hip-hop, Earl’s songs have become one of my favorite types of headphone music. For fans of old-school Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt will be a welcome treat.

Favorite Songs: “Huey,” “Chum”

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A&E

Favorite Albums:

“Doris,” “Some Rap Songs”

SPREAD DESIGN BY TARIQ LASHLEY | EMILY WALKER

REMEMBERING BOSEMAN A look back on actor Chadwick Boseman’s life and career EMILY WALKER a&e staff

BLACK PANTHER RAKES IN AWARDS

1976

Chadwick Boseman was born Nov. 29 in Anderson, S.C.

Screen Actor Guild Award for Outstanding performance by a cast

om IM image fr

BD

MTV Movie and TV Award for Best Movie Academy Award for Best Music

2000

Boseman graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts in directing.

MTV Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture

illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG

2013

Boseman had his breakthrough in his acting career with the film “42.”

2014

Boseman filmed the movies “Get on Up” and “Draft Day.”

2016

Boseman filmed the movies “Message from the King,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Captain America: Civil War.” At the same time, Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

2017

Boseman filmed the movie “Marshall.”

2018

Boseman filmed the movie “Black Panther.” The film, which was the most critically successful movie of Boseman’s career, won 30 awards.

2020

Boseman filmed the movie “Da 5 Bloods,” which was released a couple months before his passing. After battling colon cancer for four years, Boseman died Aug. 28 in Los Angeles.

Sources: IMDb, The List, Biography.com

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William Huber Freshman

Alyssa Jackson Sophomore

Q: Do you have a favorite class?

A: “I really like my Spanish class. I feel like I am really understanding it. I like the people in my class and my teacher.”

Q: What do you miss about middle school?

A: “Recess. It was fun playing football, which was the main thing we did.”

Q: What has it been like starting high school online?

A: “It’s definitely more challenging than learning in person, at least for me. I feel like I learn better face to face rather than virtually.”

Q: What is something you are or were nervous about starting high school?

A: “The teachers; I thought they would be more strict.”

Q: Do you currently or want to play a sport at Ladue?

A: “I play football, and I’ll play lacrosse in the spring.”

Q: What is the best part about online school?

A: “Being home, and you don’t have your classes in one day so it’s more spread out.”

Q: How have you been staying organized?

A: “Using my planner so I can remember everything and don’t get missing assignments.”

Q: How does it feel to no longer be a freshman?

A: “It feels good to not be the underclassman, so no one’s picking on you, and you know your way around things now.

It feels good.”

Q: Do you miss anything about being a freshman?

A: “No. I miss my teacher, Mrs. Lock, but that’s really it.”

Q: What is something you learned about being in high school?

A: “People change.”

Q: Do you have any high school advice for incoming freshman?

A: “Try to get in a lot of clubs and meet upperclassman.”

Q: What is your favorite part about the Ladue community?

A: “Having a high [quality] education, and the diversity.”

Q: Do you like online school?

A: “Its okay. It’s better than waking up at six in the morning.”

Q: What was the scariest part about high school that turned out to be not as scary as you thought?

A: “Having a set of upperclassman in our classes with us.”

35 QUESTIONS WITH Panorama asks students questions about their high school experience

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A&E

SPREAD DESIGN BY LUCY LOCHMOELLER

Reginald Dickerson Junior Q: How does it feel to finally be an upperclassman?

A: “I honestly don’t feel any different.”

Q: Are you nervous about taking hard classes online?

A: “I feel like it’s harder to stay motivated and focused when I’m at home because I can easily get distracted.”

Q: So far, what has been the worst part of learning through online school?

A: “Personally, having the willingness to get up and go sit in front of the computer for that long.”

Q: So far, what has been the best part of learning through online school?

A: “The time. I usually come to school late, so now knowing I can wake up whenever before 10 and still come to school on time is nice.”

Q: Do you have any advice for students starting their sophomore year?

A: “Stay focused.”

Q: What is your biggest tip for being successful at online school?

A: “Cut all distractions, don’t keep your phone in your room.”

Q: Do you have a favorite class that you’ve taken so far at Ladue?

A: “AP World.”

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Eric Yin Senior Q: What is your favorite memory in high school?

A:“I’m on the high school Ocean Science team and it was a pretty good moment at nationals earlier this year.”

Q: What are you looking forward to this school year?

A: “Being done with school, just finishing.”

Q: What was your favorite class you took in high school?

A: “AP Calculus BC with Mr. Farrell.”

Q: Do you have any advice for incoming juniors?

A: “For easier classes, sometimes you can make use of your time and do other homework when you can.”

Q: What is your favorite part of the high school building?

A: “I like the new student entrance from the renovation.”

Q: Did you do anything fun this summer?

A: “I went on a lot of hikes in multiple places.”

Q: What is something you miss from being an underclassman?

A: “There was a lot less stuff to worry about. Back then I didn’t have as many important things to worry about, like applying to college or having a high pressure to achieve things.”

Georgette Seeger Senior Q: How do you feel about starting your last year of high school online?

A: “I feel like it is best for the safety of everyone, but it is kind of disappointing not being able to go to school and do all the fun things we normally do at the beginning of the school year.”

Q: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in high school?

A: “Probably time management, and being able to set things in importance.”

Q: What has been your favorite memory in high school?

A: “Probably the first football game I ever went to. I didn’t think I would have fun, but I ended up having a lot of fun with my friends.”

Q: What are your plans for after high school?

A: “I plan to go to a four year university, and study English and Secondary Education.”

Q: Do you have any advice for students starting their junior year?

A: “Just take it slow and prioritize.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about Ladue?

A: “People are competitive, but still willing to help each other. It’s a good community.”

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PANORAMA HOT TAKES Panorama staff members share their opinions on professional sports

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS WILL WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HUGH CHAN: EDITOR IN CHIEF

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Tottenham Hotspurs might be infamous for a lack of trophies, but I believe this is the year the club will finally win the Premier League. With new signings Matt Doherty, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Sergio Reguilón and Gareth Bale, Tottenham have addressed nearly all their positional needs. World-class forwards Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are also in their primes, meaning that the season looks bright for Tottenham.

ST. LOUIS BLUES WILL NOT DO AS WELL IN THE NHL LUCY LOCHMOELLER: A&E EDITOR The St. Louis Blues have done pretty well the past two years, but I think this upcoming season they’ll do worse. They have already lost Jake Allen, their backup goalie, and they might also lose their long time captain Alex Petrangelo because he will cost too much to resign. Additionally, Vladimir Tarasenko is never healthy. For these reasons, I think the Blues may have a rough upcoming year.

MIAMI HEAT HAVE THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE IN NBA DOMENIC FENOGLIO: ASSOCIATE EDITOR The Miami Heat have the brightest future in the NBA. In addition to the superstar-caliber player they have in Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat have outstanding young talent in Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. Their system is built around strong three point shooting and cutting to the basket, and that style of play created one of the greatest dynasties of all time: the Golden State Warriors.

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HEALTH & SPORTS

SPREAD DESIGN BY ERIN TURKIELTAUB

PHOENIX MERCURY CAN GO FAR THIS WNBA SEASON RHEA PATNEY: ASSOCIATE EDITOR I believe that the Phoenix Mercury have the potential to go far this playoff season. They have great team chemistry and run an extremely dynamic offense which is hard to defend. Led

by WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi and backed by many up-and-comers, including former University of Missouri star Sophie Cunningham, this team can’t be counted out.

CHICAGO BEARS WILL MAKE THE NHL PLAYOFFS CLAYTON COUGHLIN: FEATURES EDITOR I think the Chicago Bears will make the playoffs this year because Mitchell Trubisky will finally perform to his potential and win the AP Comeback Player of the Year award. Trubisky has good receivers to throw to in Allen Robinson as well as Anthony Miller, who I think will have a breakout year. As usual, the defense is good and will help carry the Bears to a wildcard position in the playoffs.

NAOMI OSAKA POISED TO WIN GRAND SLAM SOPHIA LIU: IN-DEPTH EDITOR Right now, we don’t know for sure if Naomi Osaka will play at the French Open. However, if she does, I think that she is poised to win another Grand Slam, as she is such a bright tennis player whose talent is off the charts. Hopefully, she can keep her winning streak after her recent win at the U.S. Open.

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SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH: WHAT TO KNOW The severity of suicide and suicidal thoughts affects people around the world each day, so it is necessary to understand what you can do to help yourself or a loved one if they are suffering. Panorama hopes to give its readers the specific tips and resources needed to help a person combat suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

KIRAN VARADACHARI health & sports staff

HOW TO HELP

Matt O’Connor, Adolescent Therapist at LOGOS Therapeutic School, discusses tips and techniques for how to help someone suffering

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Q: What are some of the strategies that you use to help a teenager suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts?

A: “You want to try to understand sort of what perpetuates the feelings and understand kind of what’s the source of that around, so you want to ask direct, open-ended questions.”

Q: In what ways is it more challenging to help people through an online platform and how have you adapted?

A: “It’s just harder to use relationships and connections to help buffer those negative feelings, so people have to work much harder to connect on a human level and interact with each other.”

Q: What are the best ways for a person to reach out to someone without crossing emotional boundaries?

A: “There are always risks involved in reaching out, but if you can be open and willing to help, you could really help someone just by letting them know that you support them.”

Q: How important is it to reach out to someone if you know that they are depressed or feeling suicdal?

A: “Connectivity and human interactions are extremely powerful. Even if one is nervous about getting involved, if they think about it, they could save a life with their presence.”

RESOURCES

Places you can reach out to for yourself or struggling loved one National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1 (800) 273-8255: The lifeline offers around-the-clock, confidential support for any person.

247 Youth Connection Helpline (314) 628-2929: A local contact for immediate assistance at any time of day.

The Trevor Project 1 (866) 488-7386: Provides young people in the LGBTQ+ community around the country with valuable resources, including a crisis hotline for anyone feeling suicidal or in need of a safe place to talk.

The Latest Kate @thelatestkate: Instagram account dedicated to promoting messages about self-confidence and self-care.

SIGNS OF SOMEONE STRUGGLING A closer look into common warning signs of suicidal behavior The person talks about feeling empty, hopeless or having no way out of their problems.

The person often discusses the idea that people or the world would be better off without them.

The person’s sleeping patterns change to the point where they do not want to get out of bed.

The person begins to socially isolate themselves more and close doors to the outside world.

Sources: Child Trends, The Mayo Clinic, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Patient.Org, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Rethink Mental Illness, Bridge to Recovery

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HEALTH & SPORTS

SPREAD DESIGN BY KIRAN VARADACHARI | KATIE HOLLAND

In a game against Liberty High School Nov. 23, 2019, Samuel M’Pemba prepares to sack the quarterback during state quarterfinals. While this season’s schedule remains undetermined, M’Pemba is optimistic about what this year will bring for the team. “I hope this season goes great for the whole team, with no injuries,” M’Pemba said.

“Hopefully I can continue to achieve the rest of my goals.”

(Photo courtesy of Samuel M’Pemba)

M’PEMBA RANKS NATIONALLY Samuel M’Pemba gains several football recruitments as a sophomore MAX EASTMAN staff writer

S

ophomore Samuel M’Pemba currently has numerous offers from colleges and universities across the country. He’s a four-star recruit and number two in Missouri football rankings — and it is only his second year on the varsity team.

According to 247Sports.com, one of the frontrunners of high school sports coverage, M’Pemba is ranked 23rd in the nation for the class of 2023.

M’Pemba’s position is weak-side defensive end, and he is currently ranked first nationally for this position in his graduating class.

“He’s the most recruited this early in his career ... in terms of how many offers he has and him only being a sophomore,” varsity head football coach Mike Tarpey said.

M’Pemba’s level of recruitment has increased drastically over the last three months, with 17 Division I football scholarship offers. While M’Pemba is a highly rated prospect, he is relatively new to the game of football.

“I started playing football in seventh grade,” M’Pemba said. “It was weird, but I was still just trying to figure things out and learn all the rules and stuff.”

After his freshman year, M’Pemba started to play seven-on-seven football, essentially a faster, more compact version of the sport. There, his high level of play raised interest among scouts. “[The team is] basically just the best players in St. Louis,” M’Pemba said. “It’s just seven people playing offense without a line, and seven playing defense without a line. We went all over the country

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and played the other top players. We played Florida teams, we played California teams [and] we played Texas teams. And when you do well against those teams, you get recognized.”

M’Pemba quickly rose through the ranks of recruiting and received offers, his first coming from The University of Texas at Austin after playing in Houston during a tournament. While coaches seeing him play in person certainly helped, M’Pemba attributes a large portion of his success to the social media platform Twitter.

“There’s a lot of college football coaches on Twitter. Once they see that you got an offer, they all start following you and start talking to you,” M’Pemba said. “Most of the time they [direct message] me and then I’ll get their number and after a couple of weeks talking, they eventually [make an] offer [to] me.”

Twitter isn’t the only platform that’s accelerated M’Pemba’s rapid growth as a college scholarship prospect. The rankings done by 247Sports.com also played a major role in M’Pemba’s virality and wave of attention from colleges and universities.

“The week after the rankings came out, I got nine offers in 10 days,” M’Pemba said.

M’Pemba is hoping to continue improving and use his newfound popularity to get an offer from his dream school, the University of Alabama, widely acknowledged as one of the premier college football programs. Additionally, he has high aspirations of continuing the sport after college and ultimately playing in the National Football League.

“I believe that everyone who has the opportunity to play [football] in college wants to go to the league,” M’Pemba said. “So of course I want to go to the league.” p 9.30.20

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E-LEARNING FAVORITES Ladue students share their favorite website, software or tool to use during online school

REVIEWECON.COM

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“The review games on the website help me study the [class material] in a unique way.”

ANNA DEMKOVITCH (12)

GOOGLE CHROME

NETFLIX PARTY

ARTFUL AGENDA One of my favorite tools for online learning is planner by Artful Agenda. It’s a really good online planner that allows you to organize your life by the month, week and day, but it also allows flexibility in how you want to plan and take notes!

NYEAL BIDENSTEIN (11)

a a

ReviewEcon

ARTFUL AGENDA

REVIEWECON.COM

THE FAVORITES

GOOGLE CHROME “I like [Chrome] because all my school info is already all organized, I can easily transfer data between them due to it all being a part of the same company, and I am used to using it.”

TAREK AL- HUSSEINI (9)

NETFLIX PARTY “My favorite Chrome extension is Netflix Party because it makes movie nights quarantine-safe!”

SHREEYA RAVINDRANATH (10)