Nov. 13. 2009

the

Vol. 41, No 3

Image

what’sinside

Nov. 13 2009

Need For Zzzzzzz’s Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Road Wildwood, MO 63011

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Lack of sleep takes toll on body, mind As students get involved in activities, relationships and school work, they have less time to catch the much needed Z’s that their bodies and minds require.

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Meals on Wheels: Driver Education uses its transportation capabilities and FACS students use their cooking talent for community service by participating in the “Meals on Wheels” program.

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The True Cheer: Behind the drills. stunts and chants lies difficult workouts, risks and even potential demerits for failing to follow the rules.

Max Thoman / Asst. News Editor

For many Americans, the candle is burning at both ends, which is leaving less time for sleep.

Though the average American teenager is supposed to sleep nine to ten hours a night, the National Sleep Foundation puts the amount closer to seven hours.

Rockwood’s Supervisor of Wellness and Health Services Amy Wehr said, “Studies show during teen years, adolescents still need 9-10 hours of sleep each night. Many don’t get that, especially throughout the week and tend to try to ‘make it up’ on weekends.”

Sleep deprivation is a common occurrence for many students, but many do not realize the effect it has on their bodies and their minds.

First, there are the mental issues that a lack of sleep can create. Such issues include elevated stress levels, anxiety and depression. Mood swings and other side affects of tiredness can also occur.

Not only can sleep deprivation be detrimental to a teenager’s mental health, but sleep has been linked to the immune system and its health.

Therefore, a lack of sleep could physically hurt a student.

“The human immune system is impacted by many different forces, but the primary ones are pathogens (viruses and bacteria), nutrition, hydration and sleep, not necessarily in that order,” Wehr said.

A lack of sleep can put a student in danger, mentally and physically, yet factors causing a lack of sleep find their way into teens’ lives.

Sleep deprivation can be linked back to homework, extra-curricular activities, later nights and earlier mornings, but also can be traced to other feelings and activities that occur during the day.

Protest Power: On Nov. 2, Westboro Baptist Church held a protest on Clarkson Road, igniting unity among Marquette High School students and outside anti-protesters who disagree with Westboro’s controversial message.

“Stress, anxiety and depression can interfere with healthy sleep patterns. Daily physical activity, a sleep routine and avoidance of stimulating substances such as caffeine late in the day also help in promoting healthy sleep,” Wehr said.

Students all over Lafayette have experienced sleep deprivation.

Sophomore Maddie Van House did not sleep for two nights consecutively due to a semester research project outline.

She said lack of sleep had dramatic affects on her body and mind.

Van House said, “I felt very sluggish the next few days and slept over the next weekend. It starts in your head and it’s a big headache and then it goes down to the rest of your body as tiredness and not being alert.”

Sophomore Jean-Luc Panchot also experienced sleep deprivation due to clubs and activities along with various upper level courses.

“I get to bed between 11:30 p.m.12:30 a.m. but I wish I had lots more sleep because it’s detrimental to my health. But, things have to be done and sports don’t finish until 5:30 p.m. usually, and after dinner, once you get settled, you have to work for the “x” amount of hours that you need to do,” Panchot said.

Panchot said though he rarely gets enough sleep, the affects are less apparent in his personality.

“I don’t really know what the alternatives are for how I would act be-

cause I have been getting a minimal amount of sleep since high school started, so I’d say that it doesn’t affect me that much but it does affect my work ethic the next day and makes me slower and less likely to want to do things,” Panchot said.

Junior Aleks Husic also said he is sleep deprived. He said that usually during the school year, he will get to bed around 1 a.m.

Husic described how sleep deprivation affected his social life and mental health.

He said, “[My social life was not affected] because my social life is usually during the weekend, because during the weekdays I am too busy to do anything else.” “[My immune system is] not permanently damaged, but last year I got really little sleep, and in the end I got mono too,” Husic said.

Senior Christie Holland not only goes to sleep late at night due to her work load, but she must also wake up even earlier than most because she lives in the city.

Holland usually gets to sleep at around 11:30 p.m. and wakes up at 6 a.m. to catch the bus.

“When I have a zero hour, I have to get up at five,” Holland said.

Her bus ride is about an hour and a half long, which gives her a chance to sleep.

Holland said her busy schedule and assortment of Advance Place-

ment classes take a toll on her.

“Not only do I not sleep, but I don’t really get the chance to eat either because I’m moving so much, so I’m always hungry and nauseous feeling,” Holland said. “[The lack of sleep] affects my social life because sometimes I have to get up early for zero hour and I am extra sleepy in the morning, and then I live in the city too, so I’m getting up like two hours early just to be at school.”

Holland said, “I don’t really have time to talk because as soon as I get home, I have to get straight to the books.”

Panchot did say he was a victim of “crashing.”

He said, “Definitely in the afternoon, because when I wake up, I take a shower and I’m ready to go, but as the day goes on I just want to go home and sleep.”

Many students have found ways to combat their sleep deprivation throughout the day.

Panchot said, “I just drink a lot of water and try to sleep when I can.

High school is relentless and so you have to sleep whenever you can.”

“A couple of energy drinks never hurt, but besides that there is nothing you can do about that unless you get really healthy sleep,” Husic said.

Van House said, “I have used 5 hour energy drinks and caffeine, and at one point during the night I thought that I was going to die because I was jittering so much and it felt like I had too much.”

Ultimately, the only real way to combat sleep deprivation is a solid sleep pattern.

“It’s restorative and rejuvenating,” Wehr said. “It impacts not only alertness, but hormone levels, mood, and ability to concentrate.”

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comingsoon Nov. 20 Benefit Orchestra Concert 7 p.m.

Nov. 21 Father/Son Game Night Mother/Daughter Bunco Nov. 22 STUCO Turkey Dinner/ Dance Nov. 25-27 No School for Thanksgiving Break Dec. 5-6 Lancer Marketplace Dec. 8 Choir Concert 7 p.m.

STUCO Meeting 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 Staff Development Day Dec. 10 Band Concert 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 ACT Dec. 21-23 Finals Dec. 23 First Semester Ends Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Winter Break Jan. 3 Second Semester Begins

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Opinion

Nov. 13, 2009

2009-2010

Image Staff Editorial Board:

Courtney McBay Managing Editor Mina Yu News Editor Max Thoman Asst. News Editor Rachel Brown Opinion Editor Kara Campbell Campus Editor Chelsea Coleman Feature Editor Adam Harris Feature Editor D.Anne Vollmayer In-Depth Editor David Adams Entertainment Editor Mia Schenone Asst. Entertainment Editor Andrew Martin Sports Editor Gian Wessel Sports Editor Jessica Zadoks Ad Manager Nancy Smith, MJE Adviser

Staff:

Teresa Avila, Kelley Bauer, Leanne Beasley, Ian Bernstein, Mary Buttram, Caleb Cavarretta, Daniel Clutter, Dominic Corvington, Christine Jackson, Katie Jardine, Maddie Johnson, Alyssa Knowling, Alicia Mestre, Alex West, Molly White

Information

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class.

Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2008-2009 Image received a rating of First Class with two marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Philosophy

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population.

The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment.

Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. While the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, or libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Contact Us

We are located in Room 213 at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us Visit us on the web at: www.lafayettepublications. com

Policies

Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board. Participation through letters to the editor by students, faculty and the community is encouraged.

Letters must be signed but names will be withheld upon request and with the concurrence of the Editorial Board.

Letters should be limited to 300 words. The Image reserves the right to reject, edit or shorten letters. Letters may be submitted in writing to Mrs. Nancy Smith in Room 213, or to any Image staff member, or via e-mail to smithnancy@ rockwood.k12.mo.us.

by Santiago Diz

Student rights under scrutiny again Right now, you are reading these words because the Image is a public forum. This means we make all contest and coverage decisions about what goes to press and what doesn’t.

A features article on tattoos destined to run in the October issue of the Wolf ’s Howl at Timberland High School was pulled from the paper by Principal Winston Rogers.

He said the subject was not suitable for a high school audience.

The Image staff believes tattoos are an emerging trend and a topic that is relevant and appropriate for an audience of high school students.

In fact, in the last couple years, the Image has run two stories regarding tattoos; one on their growing

the

Image

STAFF EDITORIAL popularity within the student population along with body piercings, and one regarding the impact tattoos can have on employment and professionalism.

We believe the story on tattoos in the Wolf ’s Howl should not have been pulled and feel disgusted by the censorship demonstrated by Timberland’s administration.

Students have a right to be informed, and to make choices for

themselves regarding body art.

Not only are many students at Lafayette old enough to go out and get a tattoo themselves, but students 16 and over are also able to get a tattoo with the consent of their parents.

The censorship of the Wolf ’s Howl was unwarranted and unreasonable, and it begs the question, “Where does it end?”

If Timberland pulls a story on tattoos on the basis it is not fit for the audience, what else will they pull?

Can stories now be deleted from a student newspaper on the basis they are too controversial or too mature for their audience?

Does this put important topics like teen drinking and drug abuse

in an untouchable category? What about teen pregnancy? For that matter, what about politics? What about war? Is there an official age when readers become “old enough” to be informed?

We are incredibly fortunate that this sort of unjust censorship does not exist here.

We thank our administration for their cooperation and support in our endeavors to best inform the student body and to function as a public forum and for the liberty they give us to report to our readers as we best see fit.

We hope one day all student journalists will be able to experience the same freedom of expression that we do.

Waiting to grow up doesn’t mean waiting to live Adulthood. It means legal freedom from parents, and a chance to make decisions autonomously.

It means striking out for that first job, joining the military, attending college, leaving the nest.

It means the right to chain smoke, buy stacks of pornographic magazines and scratch lottery tickets until your fingers bleed.

No two people take turning 18 the same way.

Legally, this has been deemed the American official age of adulthood.

But when the clock strikes the hour and minute exactly 18 years from the moment your mom was screaming bloody Mary (while a doctor roared “PUSH!” and your dad fainted), does anything really change?

Call me a skeptic, but when I turned 18 this August, it was actually a bit of a letdown.

Late on that fateful day, I was holed up in my room, eyes glued to the clock, unwilling to miss a moment of my transformation from child to adult.

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it was something along the lines of bursting out of a cocoon, or expanding into a giant she-hulk, flooding with maturity, sprouting wisdom teeth and flying away into the sunrise.

After nervous hours of waiting, my clock struck the magical minute, and I held my breath, hearing my heartbeat in my head, ready for something, anything, to let me know that the supernatural transformation

was taking place.

I had become an adult.

I waited one minute.

Two minutes.

An hour.

Today, approximately three months later, I am still waiting.

And it may be another eight years before my wait is over.

According to a study released by the University of Chicago, Americans believe, on average, that adulthood begins at age 26 and that markers of adulthood are financial independence, getting married and having kids.

When you think about it, these results seem quite bizarre.

Just a little over 50 years ago, most people in their early 20s had chosen a life partner, completed their schooling and begun working as either a full time bread winner or a full time mommy.

But today, things are so different.

Instead of going straight from being a teen to being an adult, a hefty undefined stage of life has been smushed between the two.

It goes something like this: You go to college for about a million years, get married in your late 20s (between 26 and 28 on average).

Then you spend the next five or so years digging yourself out from under the crushing student loans gleaned from those million years of college and graduate school in a deadbeat economy.

As for having kids? That goes to the back burner until your early 30s,

Rachel Brown, Opinions Editor maybe even 40s.

After all, 30 is the new 20, and 40 is the new 30, and so on and so forth. Does this mean 20 is the new 10?

This alarming trend in our generation has grabbed the attention of professors and psychologists all over the country, prompting the Conference on Emerging Adulthood in Atlanta two weeks ago.

I feel vaguely disturbed by the trend as well.

I mean, when it’s all on paper, how much of your life do you really want to spend in school? How long do you plan on waiting to find your “one and only?”

I’m not trying to give anyone any ideas, but the most fertile time in a girl’s life is between 17 and 21, even though most couples now wait MUCH longer to start a family.

On a long enough timeline, the fertility rate drops to zero. Really, how realistic is it for us all to wait to have kids until we’re of grandparenting age?

Now, I’m not suggesting that we rush through life like its some sort of rabid race to the finish, marrying the

first moderately attractive person we meet and skipping out on an education.

I’m just worried that, in a way, many of us are waiting for our lives to begin, telling ourselves that since we’re not “adults,” our lives haven’t started yet.

We’re gaping slack-jawed at a proverbial clock like I did on my 18th birthday.

We’re the generation that will still be “kids” on the day of our high school graduation, and the day of our college graduation.

We will still be “kids” on our 21st birthday whether we drink ourselves into a stupor or not.

We will be “kids” as our first wrinkles mar our faces, and we begin to lose our first hairs.

But Lafayette, none of this matters. We can’t let this hold us back.

Today 14-year-olds compete in the Olympics, 11-year-old girls write novels, and there are concert pianists who can’t see over the top of their piano.

All I’m suggesting is that we stop waiting to “grow up” and start living now.

No one is ever too young to become a productive member of society, and to enjoy the fruits of life.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on wasting my time in an “I’m too young” purgatory.

I don’t want some 30-year-old lady wondering if I’m allowed to start living yet, uncertain if I’m completely “grown up.”

Opinion Salute brave custodians at Lafayette

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The Image

The Image staff believes our custodians are downright fantastic.

Every day, armed with the tools of their trade, these brave men and women confront messes students leave indifferently in their wake.

Invisible to the average student, the custodians take care of our untidiness at night or unobtrusively on the sidelines, fading into the background of the academic setting.

Like the quiet crew of a play, the mark of a fabulous staff of custodians is that they go unnoticed.

That is, if things seem to stay perpetually clean, with the trash taken out, the tables disinfected and the bathroom stocked, their hard work often slips under the radar.

However, if one tiny thing is out of place, if something does not live up to our rigorous standards, we will suddenly take notice.

To be a custodian is to work hard at an endless job, and oftentimes dwell unseen in a thankless shadow.

The better their job is done, the more they will go unnoticed.

That is why, when we say almost nobody notices the custodians, we mean it as the loftiest of compliments.

But here and now, let us bring

the

Image

STAFF EDITORIAL them into the spotlight to publicly express our gratitude.

We would like to thank you custodians, for executing a typically thankless job.

But there is something even more powerful, even more exceptional than a simple thank you that you can do to brighten the days of the custodians.

You have power to lessen the burden of the custodians. Do your part to keep your school clean.

While it is the job of the custodians to disinfect desks, take out the trash and to mop the floors, it is not their job to play nanny.

This means that you pick up what is yours, clean up your own messes and take responsibility for yourself and even your peers.

We can take it upon ourselves to reduce the custodial workload. If all of us spend just one minute a day

cleaning up, it will help out more than you may realize.

Such a tiny amount of time may not seem like much, but it adds up. One minute a day per person amounts to about 2,000 minutes a day, or 73,000 minutes a year, or approximately a solid week of work.

Here are some examples of quick, simple things all of us can do, and should do, to help out.

At lunch or breakfast, pick up your trash and carry it to the trash cans. This seems like it should be common sense, but every day there is a sprinkling of at least a few folk who seem to deem themselves too good to pick up their own garbage.

News flash: leaving behind your junk doesn’t make you look more important; it makes you look like a lazy jerk.

If you threw tater-tots for some juvenile and for some inexplicable reason, round them up at the end of lunch. If you dropped a handful of napkins on the middle of the table, gather them before you throw away your trash.

In the bathroom, try your hardest not to spit gum in the sinks, drop reams of toilet paper on the floor, or to pee all over the seats, whether

you are a girl or a boy. The janitors should not have to deal with this type of mess.

In the classroom, try to live by the ol’ boy scout rule; leave things better than the way you found them and try to reduce any evidence that you were there.

Recycle any used unneeded paper, and recycle those little furry perforated things produced when pages are ripped from a spiral notebook.

Or at least throw them away.

Upon leaving a classroom, pick up food wrappers and erase the profanity or the lovely doodles you penned on the surface of the desk.

And, as always, push in your chair.

If everyone tries to keep things neat before they get dirty, if each one of us takes responsibility for our share, perhaps we will be able to create a culture of cleanliness, an environment where everything gleams the way it does in the bathrooms of the new wing.

It doesn’t have to end in our school.

Go out into the world empowered to combat the litter and grime of our world. Make our custodians proud.

Only you can correct your high stress level Relationships, grades, sleep, sports, homework and projects. Worry, complete and repeat. This is the life of a busy teenager, and with it, comes stress.

The stress that we learn about in Health class is portrayed to us as two separate entities; eustress and distress, or good and bad stress.

Sure, they are different, but as time goes on and the stress piles up, it can sometimes feel as though all of the stress has formed a massive unstoppable form that can swallow a person whole.

When this happens, the line between the two becomes blurred and there ceases to be any difference between the two.

It all seems too overpowering from that time forward, and every stressor seems to push the human psyche a little closer to the brink of destruction.

But some of these stressors are just unnecessary.

Take, for instance, the eternal question: “Am I beautiful?”

It is natural to be self conscious, and with the media’s portrayal of beauty today, it is completely understandable. Still, the words, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” should

always overpower that self consciousness.

You don’t think you are beautiful? Well we do. We, your loved ones and close friends, believe that you are beautiful in your own way, no matter what.

In addition, confidence is beautiful. If you love yourself, then you already have the components of true beauty, and eventually someone will see.

It’s not easy to love yourself in every way possible or to be completely confident with your body and psyche.

In fact, it’s a journey to just begin along the path of self confidence, but it is necessary to try because it will take pressure off of you and ultimately allow you to truly be you.

Another factor that affects a students life is doing too much. To those who are culprits of this, slow down. You are only causing yourself strife.

After all, this is the time to live.

This is the time to laugh.

This is the time to be a kid while you still can.

There are ways to balance what you do with what you want to do and what you love. It may require

It’s My Turn

[A Rotating Column] This Month: Max Thoman

cutting a club or activity that you love, but it is for your health and for your own sake.

The fact is, the more time you have for yourself, the better.

When you are well rested and happy with yourself and the life that you are leading, you adjust better to other stressors.

That means relationships could feel like fun instead of work, friendships could feel more gratifying and school could even become easier.

Life could be so much less difficult if you just took the stressors one by one and slowed down, but only you can make that decision.

High school was never meant to be a torture device, a sleep depriver or a horrific and epic battle. It was originally meant to teach students the basics like math and science, but also teach them how to survive in the real world, prepare them for the world and ultimately teach the students about life.

Now, school has become a chore.

It is something that keeps students up into the earliest hours of the morning. It has become a sort of fiend to students. This was not the intention.

In all seriousness, it’s not anyone’s fault but our own.

Many students involve themselves in too much.

Students became involved in too many clubs, too much socialization and too many classes. It is their own fault that this stress has befallen them.

Now that school has been equated to work, late nights and pain, it seems as though all stress is school related, which is untrue. Students can take control of their stress, but many don’t.

Its up to you to make your life easier, happier and more productive because only you can save yourself.

So think about it, Lafayette. Take a load off and smell the roses.

This Month, the Image ?asks...

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What do you do to relieve stress?

Opinions expressed are those of the individuals interviewed, and not of the Image staff.

stars & gripes stars to: As part of the construction, trees planted by parents and friends of students who have passed away had to be torn out to make room for the new addition. The good news is a series of commemorative plaques are being placed in the new courtyard in memory of these Lancers.

Twilight’s much anticipated sequel New Moon will be bursting into theaters Nov. 20, sporting a cast of sparkly and growly heartthrobs.

Many girls will be forced to ask themselves the now classic question, “Edward or Jacob?”

A lovely new path is being built that reaches from Oakridge Trails, all the way down highway 109 to Lafayette, and will make it safe and easy for many students living off of 109 to walk or bike to school, instead of driving.

Thanksgiving. Eating pounds of turkey and then falling into a tryptophan induced slumber with distant relatives is a good time.

Fall is here and it means business.

gripes to:

The New York Yankees win the World Series, much to our dismay.

Our old buddy Jostens, who charged us an arm and a leg for class rings sophomore year, is now determined to take our last remaining limbs in exchange for Senior Graduation Announcements.

There are no “peanut free” zones at Lafayette.

In the rising tide of peanut allergic students, it may be time to make some adjustments.

Swine Flu vaccines, whose production and distribution nationwide has been much slower than expected. Federal health officials estimate one in five children have already been sickened by the flu.

“No Shave November,” and all of the boys who started growing their peach fuzz in October in a sad attempt to look more manly.

“I workout or go to wrestling practice.”

“I just don’t think about it and sleep.”

“I make a schedule in order to make sure I get everything done.”

“I play my drums.”

-Nick Olejnik, 9

Marilyn Dick, 10

Claire Thibodaux, 11

Ryan Soroka, 12

The timing of closing the old library and opening the new media center.

While the new facility is quite snappy, the week without access to books, computers and comfy chairs sort of cramped our style.

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Campus

Nov. 13, 2009

Meals on Wheels

Club News

Black Student Union will be visiting other high schools to see the differences between a city and county school the first week of December.

Step 1: Prepare food Step 2: Load food

Step 3: Deliver food

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is accepting new members until Jan. 15. To join FBLA, students don’t need business experience and should go to Betsy Rivas’s Room 223.

Lancer Regiment won first place at the Greater St. Louis Band Competition along with Outstanding Music, Visual and General Effect. They won fourth place at the Blue Springs Band Competition.

JROTC donated a total of 3,289 clothes to Bryan-Hill Elementary School and St. Patrick’s Homeless Center for their Halloween Clothing Drive. Tracy Gladden’s language art’s classes also donated over 1,000 clothing items.

On Campus Nov. 14-20 is American Education Week.

Sophomore Advisory is collecting cans for the Canned Food Drive until Nov. 20. The cans will be donated to Circle of Concern and the class who collects the most cans will receive a prize.

Dec. 11, fashion students will be strutting down the runway in the Commons. During all lunch shifts they will present a Fall Fashion Show displaying their designs.

Cheer for Charity is collecting money and toys for the organization Toys for Tots. Admission will be $5 to get into the main gym at 5 p.m. on Dec. 12. Cheerleaders will announce which classes donated the most money and toys.

Those classes will receive a prize.

All-Suburban Band members: Seniors Tate Herman, Nick Maluf, Christian Pierce, juniors Natalie Ferre, Kelly Lamarche, Ryan Park, sophomores Mihir Parthasarathy, Lucas Shapland and Adam Whiteley. On Dec. 5 they will audition for the Missouri All-State Band in Columbia.

Culinary Cooks

FACS class, Foods III begins the three-step process by making the food during class.

Packing Up

Outside the FACS room, the Driver Ed students pulled up to pick up the food Foods III made.

Off They Go

For the last step Driver Ed. delivers the food that Foods III made. (photos by David Adams)

FACS, Driver Ed cook up new program Kara Campbell / Campus Editor

The meals and the wheels are rolling due to Family And Consumer Sciences (FACS) and Driver Education (Driver Ed) teaming their departments to create a new program.

Driver Ed teacher Matt Landwehr and FACS teacher Becky Lawrence developed Meals on Wheels in late September.

“I was pushing a cart of food down an empty hallway with Mr. Landwehr. We were talking about how it would be cool to get the classes together. We are in the same department, but we have always wanted to connect our classes . Then we looked at each other and he said, ‘Meals on Wheels.’ We laughed, but now were actually doing it,” Lawrence said.

Originally, Meals on Wheels of Greater St. Louis was created in 1972 by Church Women United.

Their goal was to provide affordable and nutritious meals to the elderly, handicapped and those physically unable to shop for themselves.

Landwehr and Lawrence’s version of Meals on Wheels however, is more school-based and requires students to get involved for the program to run smoothly.

The FACS class Foods III makes the food and Driver Ed delivers it to different people in the district.

When deciding on who to deliver food to Lawrence said, “We try to give back to people who have promoted us.”

The first delivery was made to Steve Ayotte, who is the Coordinator in the Annex for Driver Ed, Industrial Technology and Practical Arts.

“It was a thanks for the work he did for getting us the new kitchens, the support of our new curriculum and this program,” Lawrence said.

“When Mr. Landwehr and Ms.

Bon Appetit

Foods III junior Sara Duncan prepares the cold entrée of hummus and cucumbers on rye topped with feta cheese to be delivered to the Central Annex.

This was Meals on Wheels sixth delivery. (photo by David Adams)

Lawrence approached me with the idea I thought it was a fantastic. To take what we are already doing in each class and combine their ideas to do something great for the community is an excellent example of the hard work and dedication of two fine instructors,” Ayotte said.

He said he was surprised he was the first delivery, but excited to be involved.

“I wish I could take credit, but that lies with Matt [Landwehr] and Becky [Lawrence]. I just give them my support in any way I can as Coordinator of their departments. But I have spread the word to the other high schools encouraging them to consider this same model in their buildings,” said Ayotte.

Other deliveries have been made to Superintendant Craig Larson and Rockwood Valley Middle School FACS teacher Michelle Piefer.

Food was delivered to RVMS to encourage enrollment in the FACS and Driver Ed classes.

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Driver Ed students usually pick up the food to be delivered during 6th or 7th Hour, because Foods III needs to prepare the food first.

Foods III senior Kevin Gleich said, “I thought it was a cool idea. It makes me feel like I’m more involved with stuff at school since I don’t do Key Club or anything.”

The food each person receives depends on the unit Foods III is on.

They make an extra food item during each unit that will be delivered to a different place in the district or community.

Gleich said, “I really like it. We’ve only done a few things like make cookies and cake, but its fun because it makes us actually have a reason to cook besides for just us to eat.”

He added, “It actually affects someone else and we get to share our creations with other people.”

One reason Landwehr and Lawrence started Meals on Wheels is so students would be able to make a connection to life outside the class-

room.

“The students get real world experience in the classroom, like catering for FACS and Driver Ed gets experience driving on real city roads,” Lawrence said.

Ayotte agrees, “I think the possibilities for interaction with the community around LHS is endless, and it shows folks that students really do great things inside and outside of the school walls.”

He added, “It shows students the value of thinking creatively, working collaboratively on a common goal and giving back to the community. These are 21st century skills that all students and staff should take note of, and the experience will serve the students involved well.”

Landwehr said, “There are different drivers and students every time which allows numerous people to participate. It can depend on the rotation of drivers and the when the food can be prepared though.”

“When the students hear Meals on Wheels is a rolling, they get pretty excited,” Landwehr added.

However, Meals on Wheels is still developing.

Currently Landwehr and Lawrence are looking into expanding the program.

They want to deliver food to nursing and retirement homes, along with the fire department.

The nursing and retirement homes won’t let the residents receive the food, but Lawrence would like to deliver food to the workers.

Landwehr said, “Even if the program changes a bit, the idea will still be the same.”

He added, “Meals on Wheels is all about the kids. It’s the idea to take the best of our school and show them off to the community. To show the kids we are doing something real, that affects other people.”

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Commons

The Image

5

News

United We Stand

(Clockwise) Marquette High School Diversity Alliance members and students join together to silently show their support with “coexist” stickers.

Four of six members from WBC express their beliefs with signs on the side of Clarkson Road by Marquette High School on Nov. 2.

Counter-protestors voice their opinions against WBC alongside MHS. (photos by Alex Vanderheyden)

WBC’s controversial protest fuels anti-protesters Caleb Cavarretta / Reporter

On Nov. 2, the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church demonstrated at Marquette High School (MHS).

The church, not affiliated with any national Baptist associations or conventions, is known for its anti-gay, anti-military, and anti-United States protests.

The Westboro Baptist Church and its leader Fred Phelps, are widely known for controversial sermons and demonstrations.

Established in 1955 by Phelps, the church has had over 40,000 demonstrations, often four or five a day. They are known for displaying signs at these demonstrations that say things like “God hates the USA,” “God hates fags” or “Thank God For IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).”

They claim God hates everything from Jews and homosexuals, to the countries of Sweden and Italy.

The church has picketed schools, soldiers funerals, the Marine Corps, the Academy Awards and many other locations.

In a press release, the church said, “WBC will picket these fag-infested, pervert-run Missouri high schools, Monday, Nov. 2.”

Six church members, including three children, took part in the demonstration.

They were met by several counter protests, including one planned by Aaron Malin, Diversity Alliance President at MHS.

“We actually were not going to get started until a few weeks from now. We found out they were coming and thought this would be a great springboard event,” Malin said.

The group gathered around the school’s flagpole for a silent protest, displaying signs and shirts that said, “Coexist.”

“We are trying to send a message to people that come by Marquette today that just because they see the hate from those people, Marquette does not accept that message. We accept people even though they may not,” Malin said.

MHS student Carrie Dunn attended the counter protest, after hearing about the demonstration.

“I think it is kind of ridiculous. None of the people here have done any harm to them,” Dunn said.

Dunn was surprised at the turnout of over 100 students attending the counter protest.

“I think it is great that all these people are sticking together for a good cause. I thought it would only be four or five people out here,” Dunn said.

Facebook was widely used to spread the news of the counter protest. Events such as “Marquette’s WBC Welcoming Committee” and “WBC Silent Counter Protest” attracted hundreds of members, which led to the large turnout for the counter protests.

Many wondered why MHS was selected as a location for the demonstration.

“I think they chose Marquette because it is a busy intersection [Clarkson Road],” Malin said.

Chris Dupoch, a MHS Diversity Alliance member, said the demonstration by WBC was unwarranted.

“I think it is highly inappropriate how they just hate everyone. I think that even though they may not agree with some people it is not a reason to hate them. We are here to combat that hate,” Dupoch said.

MHS student Paula Steinmeyer also came to support the counter protest.

“I am really opposed to this kind of hate. It is really disturbing. It is just really intolerable, protesting at a school like that,” Steinmeyer said.

The counter protest arranged by MHS was not alone, as students from other schools and people from the area demonstrated outside of the school grounds.

Parkway West High School’s Diversity Alliance president Zach Hayworth also participated.

Hayworth believes the Westboro demonstrators took their protests too far.

“I think it is really ignorant, and I cannot believe that they are doing it on a school of all places. I cannot believe that they are even allowed to do this,” Hayworth said.

Malin said, “They certainly have every

right to protest and hold their protest, and present their point of view, but we have the exact same right to present ours. They can say what they want and we can say what we want and let people decide what message they want to choose.”

Hayworth said the demonstration was offensive to everyone, not just homosexuals.

“It is insulting to everybody, Christians, gay people, and any minority. It is slander.

It has gone beyond them from just talking about their views to the point where it is actually insulting people,” Hayworth said.

Hayworth believed the counter protests were much more effective than the Westboro Baptist Church demonstration. “[The counter protest] is awesome. It just goes to show you how they are not making a difference. It is pointless what they are doing, because the force against them is so much stronger than the force behind them,” Hayworth said.

The church held several more St. Louisarea demonstrations after MHS including one at Hazelwood Central High School, where it also met large counter protests.

Though the Image and other student journalists wanted to interview protestors from WBC, police would not allow any students access to the WBC demonstrators.

-Mina Yu also contributed to this story

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6

News

Computer proficiency requirement cut

News Briefs

Alyssa Knowling / Reporter

Fundraising for Ty Krewson Last spring, Ty Krewson, Class of 2009, faced a life altering injury during an accident over spring break in Mexico. He was airlifted to Miami, FL, where he received treatment.

Eight months later, Krewson has recovered some feeling and control in his legs after suffering from a broken vertebrae in his neck.

The accident has had a large effect on students and staff, which is apparent in a widespread expression of concern.

On Oct. 16, students banded together to raise money for Krewson at the home football game against Parkway South.

Senior Berkley Idel was in charge of the event.

“On Friday night, we set up a table and had a whole bunch of friends of mine and Ty’s help out,” Idel said.

Idel said the administration was on board the entire time.

“When I first brought it up to the administrators to donate money to him they were all for it and it kicked off from there,” Idel said.

Idel said this game was an opportunity to showcase the good in the community, as well as encourage Krewson.

“Ty was right there.So many people went and talked to Ty and wished him the best as they donated, which was really great to see people be supportive,” Idel said.

The cause raised $181.25 during the first half of the game alone.

Lafayette also donated $500 from a portion of ticket sales from the football game.

Overall, Idel says the game was a success.

“The game for Ty, despite the rain, turned out really well,” Idel said.

“And best of all, Ty got to come out and see everyone and just hang out with all of his old friends again.”

- by Alex West

Without any warning, the computer proficiency requirement for graduation has been eliminated.

“This decision came down from the federal government. They handed the decision down to the states, and then the state sent it out to the schools. We decided to end it immediately to be as open, up front and fair as possible with our students,” Rockwood Director of Guidance and Counseling Sharon Sevier said.

The idea of getting rid of the requirement went to the school board in September and the requirement was approved to be dropped immediately.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) decided the requirement to take a class to be considered computer proficient was unnecessary.

“Nowadays, students are introduced to computers probably in kindergarten, if not before, so I think it sort of lost its use as a requirement in high school,” counselor Mary Desloge said.

Now, students in the 8th grade must take a computer proficiency test as a part of their curriculum to show a sufficient amount of computer knowledge.

The question is if there will be problems because of this dropped requirement.

This decision is not phasing out

with a determined graduating class.

It is going into effect immediately for all students, including this year’s seniors.

“I would anticipate that some students may not select technology related courses by choice now that the state and local requirements have changed,” Rockwood Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Carrie Luttrell said.

Counselors are willing to help students switch schedules if needed, but if there is no room in another class that a student wants, nothing can be done.

“The only issue is that so many of the other classes are full for 2nd semester,” Desloge said.

Many seniors are enrolled in classes like Information Technology second semester in order to meet the

dropped graduation requirement.

Seniors who were taking it for the requirement may want to switch into a different class.

“I needed to take the class to get the graduation requirement. I’m going to talk to my counselor. The class would be an easy A and I like the teacher, but if I can drop it, I will,” senior Darcy Singleton said.

Because there is still a practical arts credit requirement for graduation, the technology classes are still expected to have enrollment.

“The skills that you learn in Info Tech are really critical and it’s interesting because students every year, no matter what level of skill they came into the class with, tell me how much they learn in result of taking the class, so it’s a really good college preparation course,” Business Department Chair Betsy Rivas said.

In classes such as Multimedia Applications or Video Animation, students are given ways to be creative through technology.

“In Multimedia Applications we focus on Photoshop and Premiere Video Editing. In the Premier part of the class we also make music videos,” Rivas said.

Regardless of whether or not the requirement to graduate is needed, the technology classes have importance in education.

“In this day and age, we can never have enough technology skills,” Rivas said.

did not notify the school with an excusable absence. But AlertNow will be taking over that timely task.

“We found that this is much quicker, one phone call, one time to everybody allows our secretaries and grade level offices to do more work instead of spending so much time on the phone,” Principal John Shaughnessy said.

After seeing the success of the AlertNow attendance system at Rockwood Summit High School during the Rockwood Summer Academy, Rockwood decided to further test out the system at Wildwood Middle School.

All other secondary schools were

included starting in the month of October.

Rockwood Communications Director Cathy Orta said, “We know that regular attendance is important for our students’ success in school.

Rockwood is using AlertNow in an effort to keep parents informed regarding their child’s attendance, as well as improving the efficiency of office staff members who make those phone calls to parents regarding student absences.”

Orta said, “The AlertNow system allows us to send a phone message home and it’s my voice and it’s basically saying that after 3rd Hour, if we don’t hear from somebody as to

the reason why that students are absent, then we turn to a automated message home”.

“We’re trying to make sure parents are aware of their students’ attendance. The second thing is a safety thing for families to know that their child is at school where they’re supposed to be,” Shaughnessy said.

However this won’t look over students who have unexcused absences after 3rd Hour. If students are absent from hours 4, 5, 6, or 7th, grade level offices will still call home.

Shaughnessy said, “We just want to make sure we’re communicating, keeping the lines of communication open between school and home.”

Proficiently Informed

In order to become “proficient” in the world of computers, students in Information Technology follow Business Department Chair Betsy Rivas’ instructions. Although the computer proficiency requirement is no longer in effect, InfoTech still counts as a practical arts credit. (photo by Alicia Mestre)

Attendance monitoring system takes affect Mina Yu / News Editor

Implemented for the 2009-2010 school year, Rockwood has incorporated the use of the AlertNow system to administer the attendance of students.

The Rockwood School District is now in its second year with AlertNow, the automatic notification phone call system.

To be efficient, AlertNow sends automated messages to students’ homes for announcements, allowing for improved communication.

In the past, grade level offices called homes individually if a student was not present at school and

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7

News

The Image

Though Wildwood Town Center continues to expand, local favorite Planet Smoothie closes Caleb Cavarretta / Reporter

At the end of October, the Planet Smoothie franchise in the Wildwood Town Center, which employed seven people, closed its doors after not renewing its lease.

“It was pretty much just rent issues,” manager Jake Frichtel said. He also said that winter and fall usually means less business, which contributed to the decision to close.

The closing has upset several students, such as juniors Hannah Lemoine and Aly Nowell.

“I liked Planet Smoothie a lot. I mean it closing sucks. I didn’t want it to close because I knew a lot of people that went there, and I went there, and I was so upset,” Nowell said.

“I used to walk there every day over the summer. It was a trauma,” Lemoine said.

Despite the economic downturn hurting businesses across the country, according to Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther, the Town Center is still doing well.

“While we have not seen the sort of growth that we experienced three or four years ago, we continue to see development occur,” Woerther said.

Wildwood Town Center will be having multiple new businesses moving in.

“Recently, Studio 3, ground breaking and grading for a movie theater, plans for development of apartments and condominiums, as well as a dental office have all been approved,” Woerther said.

The movie theater, which is being built

by B & B Theaters, will have construction begin this month, and is expected to be done by May of next year.

The theater will have 10 screens in the facility, all being capable of digital projection. All screens will also have stadium seating, wall-to-wall curved screens, rocking seats, and DTS, Inc. surround sound.

Even with the new additions to the Town Center, senior Sam Stulce said, “I don’t really feel [the new theater] is going to affect me because I am going to go to the theater in the Valley. To be honest, if it is cheaper I will go there.”

Junior Justin Oliver had a different opinion. “I think because of the movie theater being built more people will go there [Wildwood Town Center],” Oliver said.

In order to attract more people to the

Final Closed Doors

The lot that was once Planet Smoothie is now vacant and open for lease. Although the Wildwood Town Center continues to prosper with new businesses, Planet Smoothie decides to discontinue their lease because of low sales in the winter. (photo by Caleb Cavarreta)

Town Center, as well as more businesses, Wildwood has hosted several events such as the Annual BBQ Bash.

“Something we continue to try and do from an administrative standpoint is to host as many events as we possibly can for the city sponsors in the Town Center area.

What this does is bring people into the Town Center area that typically have not had the opportunity to come in,” Woerther said.

“Wildwood is a big city in terms of square miles, and many times individuals do not have the need or opportunity to come into the Town Center because perhaps they live in the north side of the city and are much closer the Chesterfield Valley, or the south side and go to Eureka,” he added.

New wing brings new space but more work for custodians

Sparkling Clean

The newly opened wing has provided much needed space for teachers and students but also demands more work to maintain the building.

The new wing includes classrooms, lockers, a courtyard and a new media center. (photo by Alicia Mestre)

One of the issues that has come from these events is parking space, especially in the case of the BBQ Bash. “We have heard some complaints [about parking],” Woerther said.

“The BBQ Bash brought about 20,000 people to the Town Center in a period of 2 days, so parking was a premium,” Woerther said.

Even with this being the case, Woerther said that there is still “ample parking” in the Town Center. “I think we handled it pretty well, but we always take that sort of thing into account and try to improve upon it for next year’s event,” Woerther said.

With Planet Smoothie closing, Woerther said it is much more a business issue.

“They are just not able to generate the sort of traffic that they would like to in order to

Alicia Mestre / Reporter

After five months of anticipation, teachers and students have moved into the new wing. Teachers who have been in the trailers have already expressed their gratitude towards the new classrooms.

“I enjoyed getting my room together and hanging posters/pictures on the bulletin boards and walls,” language arts teacher Tracy Gladden said.

The new wing features new classrooms, lockers, a court yard and a new media center.

The once occupied trailers will be torn down and construction for varsity lockers are in progress.

But along with the huge space, comes work to maintain it.

Head Custodian Sue Jessen said each of the four sections of the school takes two custodians about six and a half hours to clean.

The new wing, excluding the library, takes an additional seven and a half hours. That is around 67-70 man-hours a day to clean the entire building.

“The district—according to David Blickenstaff, District Director of Facilities—added the equivalent of a large middle school [to LHS] since any increase in custodial staffing,” District Custodial Coordinator Doug Coleman said.

“Additional staffing is being requested for the coming year to accommodate the increased area,” Coleman said.

Each of the 14 custodians now has an increased workload which they have to repeat every day.

By the end of the night, there is a slew of tasks to

stay in business,” Woerther said.

Frichtel felt differently. “I think that we had a good customer turnout, but rent is pretty much the thing that is getting us,” Frichtel said.

Even though more businesses will be coming to the Town Center, it will not grow in size.

“The Town Center itself in acreage will not be expanding. What we have recently done is just getting closer to wrapping up the process of the update to our Town Center plan,” Woerther said.

The Town Center plan has been in effect for the almost 11 years, which set up the zoning and development of that center.

With the new additions, the Town Center will continue to compete with the Chesterfield Valley and other locations.

be tackled.

Trash cans must be emptied, white boards must be cleaned, door windows must be cleaned, messy desks must be wiped down, all carpets must be vacuumed, all floors must be swept and mopped, workroom tables must be cleaned, stairwells must be cleaned, shelves must be cleaned, bathrooms must be cleaned and about seven rooms per section must be dusted.

LHS custodians also deal with the mess of school activities.

After each football game, the custodians have to clean out the bleachers.

Before and after every sports game that takes place in a gym, the custodians have to make the area spotless.

Custodians even prepare rooms for banquets, meetings, concerts and theatre productions; then clean up afterwards.

All of this extra work can add several hours of work to each week.

And, the administration has taken notice of their hard work.

“They [custodians] have been awesome. I’ve never seen the school cleaner,” said secretary Betsy Zieseniss, who has worked at LHS since its second year.

Associate Principal Renee Trotier agreed.

“This is the cleanest building out of the four district high schools. I know the custodians take a lot of pride in their contributions to our school climate,” Trotier said.

8

News

Nov. 13, 2009

Know Before You Go

Driver Ed teacher Matthew Landwehr explains some driving tips to his students to make sure that they are ready for the road. (photo by Teresa Avila)

Driving Under Instruction

Sophomores Abby Finder and Jenna Judlin get ready to practice their driving under careful supervision. (photo by Alex Vanderheyden)

Driver Education could face cuts as District struggles to balance budget in financial pinch Teresa Avila / Reporter

As the budget begins drifting towards dangerous waters, Rockwood is seeking new ways to cut costs.

Driver Education is on the list of possible programs to be scaled back, though many argue changing this program would do more harm than good.

Driver Ed is currently one of, if not the most, budget-consuming class offered by the school district, according to Superintendent Craig Larson and Mark Sissom, Rockwood’s Coordinator of Health, Physical Education, and Driver Education.

“The reason why this class is targeted by the Finance Department is because we have three teachers teaching a classroom of 30 students. Then we have the cost of the automobiles, the cost of gasoline, and the cost of the insurance. So when you add all those components up, it’s a very expensive class to run,” Sissom said.

Currently, the district is considering a new idea for Driver Ed, where the driving portion would be moved to after school, and would require an additional fee.

The classroom portion would take place during the school day.

“We’d make [students] pay for that driver’s training part, that part that makes it so expensive. And, the additional staffing needed for in-the-car training would be borne by the students and their families,” Larson said.

The chance of seeing these changes within the next few years is about 50/50, he added.

“This is in level two of the three levels, which means it’s in consideration but it’s not a strong consideration…and it is on the

district’s potential cut list,” Sissom said.

Level one items are the most likely to happen, level two items could possibly happen, and level three items would only occur in “dire straits,” Sissom said.

However, both Sissom and Larson warned much depends on how the budget pans out over the next few years.

Recently, the district has received a state stimulus that’s meant to soften the effects of the current economy.

This school year is the first where the stimulus money is being used. Larson expressed a hope that the money would survive through the next few years.

“That’s the point of this stimulus, to get schools through the economic difficulties to a point where the economy picks up again. And if all that’s true, then it’s quite possible the district will not make any cuts with Driver Ed,” Larson said.

However, he identified another possibility for Driver Ed to be altered.

“The district could decide to make some changes with Driver Ed, even without financial pressures, to just share the cost of Driver Ed with the families that want to have driver training, mostly out of respect to the taxpayer,” Larson said.

Nonetheless, there are those who say the Driver Ed program should remain as is, no matter the budget.

Driver Ed Department Chair Allyn Workman said there are some difficulties associated with offering driving after school.

“We really have a nice model here, the way we’re set up for kids to drive during the day as well as after school if they want.

Some of the schools I have talked to who only have an after school program say it’s

hard to get all their kids in to drive after school because they run into other activities. So therefore, sometimes they’re driving on Saturdays and Sunday. So [driving time only] outside of school is going to make it a little harder to schedule kids in,” Workman said.

Workman added students unable to participate in the driving portion would miss a key component of the class.

“With the way the class is structured now, by being able to go out and drive, it reinforces what we taught in the classroom,” Workman said.

“Sometimes things would happen out in the car, then we’d bring that back in the classroom and discuss it. That’s the piece that would be missing,” Workman said.

Another factor the board has in mind while considering Driver Ed is its implications for teen drivers, and the high rates of fatal car crashes that are associated with the 16-17 age group.

“There is some research that Driver Ed across the country is being cut much more often in high schools, because, not only of its cost, but because it encourages students to drive at a young age. Driver Ed would imply to families and kids that you come in, you take Driver Ed and you get your license and you’ll be a fine driver. And that’s not true,” Larson said.

Workman disagreed.

“Do you think because we don’t have Driver Ed, students are not going to drive?

Even if you don’t come here [to Driver Ed], you’re still going to drive. But you won’t have all the information. And that’s why we think it’s so important to keep this, so we can give the information to student drivers and make sure they go out and make the

best choices possible,” Workman said.

Those affected have a variety of viewpoints.

Lafayette parent Andrea Bowman expressed a concern about the fee, along with the possibility of students not being able to attend an after-school driving session.

“I think if [the students] are taking the class, driving should be a part of it,” Bowman said.

“The driving part is important, [but] I would pay for [Driver Ed] if I had to, because no matter what, my kids are going to take it,” parent Suzannah Hessler said.

Former Driver Ed students also had different reactions to the possible changes.

“I probably wouldn’t drive because I have other things to do after school, like cheerleading,” sophomore Abby Newsham said.

“I did the after school sessions [currently offered] and I think it’d be okay. When it’s during class, you miss other classes and it’s annoying to make it up,” junior Misha Emanoil said.

Despite various forces at work, the general consensus seems to be that the option to drive during class time should be maintained, if at all possible.

“We feel it’s extremely important that the students drive and that we have the Driver Ed teachers to teach them during class,” Sissom said.

Workman said, “This should be AP Driver Education. You will make high level decisions in the shortest amount of time possible. This is a life-long serious learning skill.”

“We have an opportunity to help these students become better drivers,” Workman said.

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9

Feature

Minus The Meat:

Vegetarians speak out about dietary habits Kelley Bauer & Leanne Beasley/ Reporters

We all hear about the stereotypical vegetarian: a healthy vegetable lover who frowns upon the consumption of animals. Someone who eats wide variety of foods while still avoiding any type of meat.

Contrary to popular belief, many vegetarians struggle to find a wellbalanced meal that meets all nutritious requirements.

Junior Rachel Dennis was first introduced to vegetarianism during the summer before freshman year based on her distaste for meat.

Although Dennis does not eat meat, she does not consider herself the average vegetarian.

“The first question out of everyone’s mouth is, ‘So you eat a lot of salad?’ And my response is generally ‘No, I’m not really big on veggies, so I don’t have that typical salad, tofu burger, and green vegetables diet of some vegetarians,’” Dennis said.

As with many vegetarians, Dennis finds it hard to obtain protein and a healthy, substantial meal.

“I will admit to a ‘never quite satisfied’ feeling,” Dennis said.

Finding lunch options at school poses a difficult task, as Dennis’s diet occasionally consists of Three Musketeers, trail mix and fruit snacks.

But Dennis is not alone in the struggle to find food options at Lafayette.

Sophomore Hannah Boxerman also believes that Lafayette does not provide enough healthy and suitable vegetarian options for her to eat.

She has to mainly rely on snack foods to keep her metabolism up.

“I can’t buy anything because I don’t know where it has been or what it has touched, like a random bowl of chicken touching the cheese pizza. My biggest difficulty is finding healthy things to eat in public because the majority of American food has meat in it,” Boxerman said.

Boxerman became a vegetarian at the age of ten while dining at Hunan Express with her family.

“I got beef and broccoli, my favorite. Don’t get me wrong, it did taste good but I know it’s an animal.

I said to my mom, ‘Is this a cow?’ and she said, ‘Yes, it is,’ and I said, ‘Is it okay if I don’t eat it anymore?’ and she said we would talk about it. And after that I became a vegetarian and I realized that I didn’t need meat,” Boxerman said.

At Lafayette, not eating meat has become a hassle as Boxerman and Dennis search for foods throughout the day that are able to satisfy and rejuvenate their bodies.

Cafeteria Manager Wendie Bening said there are many vegetarian options in the lunch line.

“We have a Boca burger, black bean burger, salads with just vegetables and a salad bar. We have a

couple kinds of soups. Students can even make a vegetable sandwich,” Bening said.

However, Dennis prefers not to go near any food labeled “vegetarian.”

“I absolutely refuse to even try soy or tofu products, they look so gross. I’ve never liked salad or soup and what kind of name is a Boca burger? I probably wouldn’t eat that stuff even if it was free at our school,” Dennis said.

On the other hand, Boxerman sees soy and tofu as her main source of energy.

“My mom makes a ton of tofu products which is our [family] main source of protein,” Boxerman said.

Other protein options include protein shakes or pills, hard-boiled eggs and peanut butter, but both girls agree they lack sufficient protein.

“I always felt sick and guilty after eating meat. I know I need to and I want to eat more well rounded, so like being able to make a legit sandwich for lunch isn’t doable,” Boxerman said.

She continued, “I just end up taking a bunch of snacks for lunch which I know isn’t healthy or helping me... I know I’m not getting enough protein though… We [as a family] do worry about protein a lot.”

As a long distance track runner, Dennis relies on food to keep her

going and depends on iron supplements to maintain protein levels.

“My doctor always inquires as to how I’m getting my protein, and generally he believes my dietary habits fall short of the expected protein intake. In which case my doctor routinely tests me for anemia and instead I have very high iron levels,” Dennis said.

But eating at school isn’t the only place where finding nutritious, vegetarian options is a difficult task.

Eating out is a challenge that has yet to be conquered by Boxerman and her vegetarian family since they dine at non-vegetarian restaurants.

“It’s just really hard in general to go to a regular restaurant and find good vegetarian options. I’ve never been to a vegetarian restaurant,” Boxerman said.

She added, “When we go out to eat my whole family has to order vegetarian. My brother and mom are vegetarian and my dad only eats kosher meat.”

Dennis, however, prefers ordering simple meatless dishes right off a regular menu.

“I’m way into pasta so I love the Pasta House, the Cheesecake factory and any pizza,” Dennis said.

Vegetarianism to some doesn’t always have to include the salads and tofu. Sometimes even vegetarians pass on the vegetables, proving they are just as picky as everyone else.

Vegetarian Options at Restaurants California Pizza Kitchen 284 Chesterfield Mall Road, Chesterfield, MO (7.0 miles from LHS) Appetizer: Mediterra nean Spring Rolls Entrée: Italian Tomato and Basil Pizza Dessert: Chocolate Banana Royale Cake P.F. Chang’s 1295 Chesterfield Pkwy W, Chesterfield, MO (6.73 miles from LHS) Appetizer: Chang’s Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps Entrée: Vegetable Chow Fun Dessert: Great Wall of Chocolate Gokul’s Snacks and Sweets 10633/B Page Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri (35.06 miles from LHS) Appetizer: Vegetable Pakora Entrée: Yellow Daal Dessert: Mango Ice Cream Blueberry Hill 6504 Delmar in The Loop, St. Louis, MO (22.94 miles from LHS) Appetizer: Veggie Sticks Entrée: Veggie Lasagna Dessert: Blueberry Pie

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10

Feature

Nov. 13, 2009

Off the Break

(Above) To start the round, senior Greg Huxen, juniors Ryan Tegethoff and Patrick Sherman move to exchange paint with the enemy. (Left) While his team moves up in the field, Sherman provides some supporting fire. “The greatest thing about paintball that keeps me addicted is the adrenaline you feel. As you get better the adrenaline makes you feel invincible like no one can take you down, like you can win any fight in the world,” Sherman said. (photos by Daniel Clutter)

Team Relentless:

Paintballers live out their passion Adam Harris/Feature Editor

Most boys have had an interaction with the sport of paintballing, either messing around with a friend’s gun, or playing an intense game with high-tech gear.

Casual or intense, most kids have experienced the pure adrenaline rush of the sport.

The sport of paintballing is split up into two different varieties, woodsball and speedball.

Woodsball is usually played at a nonprofessional level in a natural environment with rocks, bushes and trees as protection.

Speedball is played on a field with several blow-up bunkers on each side of the field and is usually played at a professional level.

“Personally, I prefer speedball any day over woodsball because it’s like a game of chess,” junior Patrick Sherman says.

Sherman, like many others, picked up the sport around elementary school and has been playing on teams since the 6th grade.

“As of now, two of my friends and I are putting together a tournament grade level team,” he added.

These two friends are senior Greg Huxen and junior Ryan Tegethoff who have organized Team Relentless with Sherman.

“I started when I was 9 with my brother and dad just out having fun,” Tegethoff said.

Huxen has played for seven years as well,

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having played woodsball for three years and speedball for four years.

“What made me start were my friends and my old church soccer team,” Huxen said.

Like any other sport, paintballing has a price to pay when it comes to buying equipment because of gun upgrades and paint supplies.

“My gun is a DM6 and is completely stock. Other equipment would be goggles, doo rag, jersey, paintball pants, knee pads and elbow pads for sliding, cleats, also the gun, the hopper which loads the paintballs to the gun and the air tank which fuels the gun enabling it to shoot,” Tegethoff said.

According to Sherman, who owns two guns, “There is the Angel a1 Joy and the Bob Long Vice. The Vice came fully upgraded so I haven’t invested in any new modifications yet but for the Angel, I have invested over $500 worth of accessories including: Mango valve, Mango hammer, three piece eye cover, detents, CP clamping feedneck, CP regulator adaptor, CP shorty regulator, Leopard stiffi barrel and critical raze trigger.”

Huxen who has spent over $1,500 on the equipment said, “It was worth every cent.”

“I currently own two markers, an Eclipse Autococker pump with ccm pump kit, frame and auto trigger. Also a CP regulator and ASA and a sock ’07 Planet Eclipse ego, all black,” Huxen added.

Huxen, Sherman and Tegethoff usually

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go paintballing every other week, “but then we started slowing down the pace because of school and money,” Tegethoff said.

Both Sherman and Tegethoff plan on attending Mizzou and playing on the college paintballing team.

“In the future I see this being more of a hobby, but possibly a career. I really want to go into the Navy after college and I don’t think you can play paintball on an aircraft carrier,” Huxen said.

As for Sherman, he sees paintballing as being a side career and hobby, because paintball is not a professional sport which pays millions of dollars.

Being like any other professional sport, paintballing has teams and famous players who have fans across the globe.

“I follow paintball on and off because sometimes it’s on TV and sometimes it’s not. My role model for paintball is Oliver Lang and Chris Lasoya,” Sherman said.

Huxen said he follows the professional level and has two favorite players: Rich Telford and Billy Wing.

Because paintball takes up time and money and can also be potentially dangerous, many parents are hesitant to it.

“My parents have always been very supportive of paintballing. My dad used to play all the time but now he rarely goes out unless it's really nice out. My mom has actually gone with us before and likes that I enjoy the sport more than anything. They just tell me make sure I have money because it's an expensive sport,” Tegethoff said.

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Sherman said, “My parents say ‘If you can pay for it, you can play it.’”

“My dad is willing as long as my school grades are good, but my mom is not happy about it at all,” Huxen said.

There are many paintballing fields scattered around St. Louis and Illinois, so it is easy to find a local course.

Team Relentless mainly practices at Xtreme Paintball which is in Millstadt, IL. “I love their big X-ball field and the NPPL field, both are speedball. If I’m not there, I like going to the Wacky Warriors field in Wentzville, MO,” Huxen said.

In paintball, like any other sport, there has to be some element present to keep its players excited about the game.

“The greatest thing about paintball that keeps me addicted is the adrenaline you feel. As you get better the adrenaline makes you feel invincible like no one can take you down, like you can win any fight in the world,” Sherman said.

Huxen enjoys the adrenaline rush as well, but said he also enjoys having a good time with friends and team members.

For Team Relentless, paintballing is more than just a sport, but a passion.

“Paintball takes skill, strategy, conditioning, technique, team bonding, cooperation, respect, pride, joy and over all, it’s just an amazing game, whether you’re going out to shoot your friends or going out to compete against other teams. On Team Relentless, we do quite a bit of both,” Tegethoff said.

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11

Feature

The Image

Sophomore pursues racing career Molly White / Reporter

Hands on the wheel with the engine revving, deep breaths are taken to soothe his anxious mind. Eyes focused on the track ahead, he’s trying to zone out the incantations being yelled from the crowded stadium. The stoplight transitions from red, to yellow, to green. It’s go time.

It’s thrilling. It’s exhilarating. It’s race car driving, and sophomore Kyle Amerson gets to partake in this breathtaking experience nearly every weekend. “I repair them, I put them back together, I set them up and I race them,� he said.

It all started when Amerson was two years old and would play his dad’s PC racing NASCAR game.

Kyle’s mother, Marvina Amerson, said, “Kyle would get two pillows for the chair and a box for the pedals so that he could race entire races [on the game]. He was always focused when it came to racing.� “It’s just the way I grew up,� he said. “I’ve always liked it,�

Amerson also participated in JRP Speedway, a racing school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was seven years old. “They [instructors] basically taught you how to race and how to do everything- like how to set yourself up for corners [turns].

You get the feel for everything,� he said.

The instructors give separate advice to individuals about how to set up their car a little better. “Basically set up for corners because that’s the biggest thing. If you do a bad corner, you’re done,� Amerson said.

The cars Amerson races aren’t fullfledged $2 million NASCAR cars, but Micro Sprints or quarter midget race cars. “His Micro Sprint car is made by a national chassis manufacturer; just like Chevy or Ford,� Marvina said. “His motors and carbs [carburetors] are maintained by FTZ [FTZ Performance Inc.] in Missouri and by Gordon Seros, a company in California.�

Amerson’s intensity for the sport led to the accumulation of ten race cars. “The latest one I got was last year and the first one I got was in 2000,� he said.

His favorite car has a black base and red flames along the side. This car is also a lucky one, since Amerson won it in a raffle.

However, as race cars are rarely won in raffles, they are usually huge financial investments.

As Marvina put it, racing is a “never ending money pit.�

Amerson said, “If you’re going to race on a national scale, you’re going to need new rear tires every two races, which costs around $220. Plus the gas, the methanol, costs four bucks a gallon and you’ll need a lot of fuel. The cars cost around $15,000 and that’s sometimes with the motor, or

Straightaway

In his Micro Sprint race car, sophomore Kyle Amerson races to the finish line. “His Micro Sprint car is made by a national chassis manufacturer; just like Chevy or Ford,� Marvina said. “His motors and carbs [carburetors] are maintained by FTZ [FTZ Performance Inc.] here in Missouri and by Gordon Seros, a company in California.� (photo courtesy of Marvina Amerson)

you can spend from $1,000 all the way up to $10,000 for a motor,�

These cars are comprised of many different parts and a lot of work is required to keep them up and running.

Amerson said, “I put three hours a week, or more, into a car sometimes; trying to fix it up. You can spend a whole day just working and not actually racing.�

Marvina said that the preparation for the next race begins the day after the previous week’s race. “What is wrong with the car, what is broken that needs to be repaired, what can be tuned better for more horsepower. Then come the calls on Monday morning to the parts company to order replacement or repair broken parts,� she said.

The stress of finding the appropriate parts for the car is taken care of as early as possible so when race day comes around, Amerson can concentrate on winning and not worry about the cars. “Race day is choosing gears for the motor and axle depending on track and weather conditions. Packing extra parts, supplies, lunch, his race suits and equipment,� Marvina said.

Fire-proof boots, socks, gloves, and helmet are all important items for preventing Amerson from catching burns.

“[The clothes] won’t catch on fire at all.

You could put a lighter to it and it wouldn’t catch on fire,� he said.

Despite his protective clothing, Amerson has still endured some injuries from race car driving. “The biggest injury I’ve ever had was when I broke a rib last year,� he said. “I was coming to the finish and this car broke. I was trying to go on the outside, and I caught my tire on the edge so when I came back down my rib landed on the seat.�

Despite this setback, Amerson was able to toughen it out and race the next week. “I mean, it’s painful, but you get through it,� he said.

He has participated in competitions including the National Series, the Regional Series, Powri races, Farmington races and other races across the country. “I’ve been as far north as Pennsylvania, as far south as Georgia, as far west as Colorado, Michigan and Ohio. I’ve been about everywhere,� he said.

Amerson’s attendance at many of these competitions has produced a few great accomplishments. “This year in my rookie season at the National Series, (with my Micro Sprint), I led basically the whole race until the very

end where I got passed by a three-time champion [Dereck King from Illinois],� he said.

Amerson won a total of 18 races in his rookie season.

In Farmington, Amerson was given the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award as well.

Amerson said he has learned sportsmanship and made friends with opponents. “You’re always trying to make friends with people because you don’t want any enemies on the track. You just become friends with everybody,� he said. .

Amerson said he would love to be in NASCAR races someday. “You make so much money and it would be nice to race and that’s like all you do. It’s so much fun doing it,� Amerson said.

Marvina enjoys watching her son race. “It is the enjoyment of watching your son come from behind and lap the field, set a track record, or just have a great big smile knowing he did well that makes every dollar and mile we just travelled worth it,� she said.

For anyone interested in becoming involved with racing, Amerson has some advice. “Be smooth, because not being smooth kills your time. It’s just all about being fast.�

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12

Feature

Nov. 13, 2009

Have Your People Call My People Acting, modeling provide avenues for expression Maddie Johnson and Mary Buttram / Reporters

“I dyed my hair brown, because it was what [Pitts] suggested. He cuts my hair the way he wants it because he The heat of the spotlights, a stomach full of butterflies, a knows what looks good,” Welchans said. racing pulse and the snap of a camera shutter are the surNo matter what she chooses to do with her career, Welroundings of what they do. Show business is a far cry from chans has a constant basis of support behind her. the typical routine in the life of a student.

“My family loves it,” she said. “They’re totally for it; I Another unlikely step some teen performers take is join- don’t think they’d be against it. They support me in everying an agency which can be an advantage and disadvantage thing I do. Whatever my choice is, whatever I want to in furthering a career in the entertainment business. do with my appearance, they support me.”

Sophomore Samantha Peterson has experienced these In addition to modeling, acting is becomsituations on many occasions; she has been pursuing mul- ing another area of interest for students. tiple forms of entertainment for most of her life.

Freshman Jack Sippel has been a cast “I’ve been doing [modeling] since I was 5. My mom member of the Muny for the past six kind of put it all together for me. I’m not really sure how years and spends much of his time it began, ” Peterson said. practicing at his dance studio as well as Peterson has modeled in print ads for companies such taking voice lessons. as Dillard’s and Wal-Mart, as well as in commercials for “I like musical theater the best bechildren’s organizations, such as Boys and Girls Town. cause singing and dancing is more ‘my She also had a role in the movie, Alice. thing,’” Sippel said.

“I didn’t go into the business to act, but to model,” Once he made the Muny, Sippel Peterson said. auditioned for Muny Kids. The group A unique aspect of Peterson’s interest in the hobby is tours around St. Louis. that both of her siblings, as well as her mother, partake in “They [Muny Kids] take music forms of modeling and acting, as well. The four are mem- from that season of the Muny and bers of a talent agency called Talent Plus. make sort of a medley. This year I’m in Being involved in an agency is becoming more promi- Muny Teen,” Sippel said. nent among teen performers.

Having an agent is viewed for only celebrities “Some companies will see what you have done and call but there are advantages and disadvantages to havyou because they think you’ll do well for whatever they’re ing one. trying to sell. Other companies go through my agency to Sippel said, “The benefits of having an agency find people for what they want,” Peterson said. are that they do all of the looking for you. They Though she enjoys modeling, Peterson’s focus on mod- put your pictures on their website so then if directors are eling is as more of a side job. looking for something they will go to that website.”

“The most recent work I did was a commercial about a On the other hand, Sippel believes not having an agent year ago,” she said. leaves room for independence.

It is unknown what opportunities the future will hold.

“It makes you more open to do what you want,” SipWhile Peterson has been part of an agency for most of pel said. her life, others are just beginning to take this route.

Sippel is still looking for the right agent that fits what Sophomore Mary Welchans recently began her involve- he is looking for in terms of professionalism and security. ment with modeling, starting with her hair. Welchans posSenior Brittany Handler would also like to pursue a es for ads for the hair salon she goes to, Studio 703. future in acting and performing on stage.

It started one day when she was getting her hair done.

Handler doesn’t have an agent, but she perfects her actWelchans said, “Bob Pitts, the owner of the studio, ap- ing and singing skills by involvement in multiple shows. proached me and said, ‘You have a really symmetrical face.

“I’m always in a show somewhere and I’ve been doing You should get into modeling.’” that since I was five,” she said.

She added, “I just went to his studio and he did my Having done several shows by herself, Handler is not makeup and took pictures, and those pictures have been sure if it is quite time to look into an agency due to her sucposted throughout St. Louis. It’s been in Alive magazine cess on her own. While it may be an option in the future, and on a business card and it’s in the West County Pa- she is currently content without one. per.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get an agent because getting an As far as her appearance goes, Welchans has only agent puts a lot of restrictions on you. I feel like at 17, I changed slightly. don’t need an agent,” Handler said.

In The Spotlight

(Top) With photographs in hand, sophomore Samantha Peterson displays examples of her modeling experiences from both her childhood and teen years.

(Bottom) A model for Studio 703, sophomore Mary Welchans displays two pictures from a hair modeling shoot. (photos by Mary Buttram)

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13

Feature

The Image

Fateful Friday:

Students explain varying reason for superstitions Chelsea Coleman /Feature Editor

“I usually don’t catch myself practicing superstitious habits. It’s more like second nature to me.”

-Mackenzie Miller, Sophomore

When the 13th of the month lands on a fateful Friday, some find themselves feeling a little more superstitious than normal.

Whether it is avoiding a crack in the sidewalk or knocking on wood, small superstitious traditions have almost become reoccurring social norms.

Now these superstitions are practiced on a daily basis rather than just on Friday the 13th.

Some students think their superstitious beliefs relate back to a strong belief in luck.

Sophomore Mackenzie Miller, who deems herself superstitious, considers her particular superstitions to be a natural part of her personality.

“I usually don’t catch myself practicing superstitious habits. It’s more like second nature to me.”

Miller added, “For example, if I spill salt on the table, I’ll just pick it up and toss it over my shoulder, I don’t really think about it.”

Miller said her superstitious ways started when she was a child.

“I was always pretty superstitious.

I remember it starting around kindergarten because that’s when I first remember hearing about Friday the 13th,” Miller said.

She added, “I’ve been superstitious all my life, and it would just be weird if I stopped now,” While some of her superstitious practices might not be common, Miller thinks her most of them are widely accepted.

“I’m mostly superstitious about the traditional things, such as no walking under ladders, no opening umbrellas indoors, broken mirrors, knocking on wood, spilling salt and throwing it over your right shoulder and not crossing a black cat’s path,” she said.

While many people might be superstitious, those born on a Friday the 13th might be extra cautious in these types of beliefs.

This is not the case, however, for sophomore Anisha Chellaswami, who was born on one Friday the 13th in 1994.

“I don’t believe that being born on Friday the 13th makes me any more superstitious than others,” she said.

“Since I was born on that day and

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I was fine, I don’t really believe in all the hype. People might think that I have worse luck, but I don’t.”

Chellaswami said that none of her family members actually noticed her brith date fell on one of the famously superstitious Fridays.

“My family didn’t really pay attention to the fact that I was being born on Friday the 13th,” she said.

Having her birth date land on this exceptionally chilling day could have caused her to have a superstitious personality, yet Chellaswami believes her character and personality are quite the opposite.

“I’m cool with it, but I joke around and use it as an excuse sometimes. I actually think that I’m pretty lucky,” she said.

“Whenever I tell people I was born on Friday the 13th, some tend to freak out, or think I’m weird or maybe have bad luck.”

Chellaswami has concluded that, in reality, her birthday does not make her any different from anyone else.

She and some of her friends do believe her spooky birth date can sometimes attribute her clumsiness.

“People do tell me that I’m such a klutz because I was born on Friday

the 13th,” she said.

Athletes have also been known to have superstitious practices to encourage luck and keep a winning streak.

“I knock on wood a lot, especially for soccer tournaments. If someone’s said, “You haven’t lost yet,” I’ll knock on wood. I won’t jeopardize my team’s luck,” Miller, who plays junior varsity soccer, said.

She continued, “I believe in luck; so if I can do anything to prevent bad luck, I’ll do it.”

Senior Jacob Ripp agrees. He explained that he becomes especially superstitious when it comes to baseball.

He said, “On and off the field, we never say the pitcher is throwing a no hitter if he actually has one going.”

Ripp also said, “We have the same routines before every pitch.”

Whether for sports luck or for personal practice, superstitions have been a long standing part of daily life for many.

So this Friday the 13th, will you be the one who steps on the sideway crack or knocking on wood to keep good luck?

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14

Sports

Nov. 13, 2009

Volleyball beats number one seed, but falls to defending State champs Christine Jackson/Reporter

Calling The Shots

In the red zone against Marquette, senior quarterback J.T. Miller prepares for the snap.

Miller finished the season with 997 passing yards and eight touchdown passes. (photo by Gian Wessel)

The volleyball team’s successful season came to an end with a loss to St. Joseph’s in Sectionals for the second year in a row.

Seeded second in the District Tournament, the Lady Lancers went up against number one seed Washington in the District final.

“We didn’t like the fact that Washington was ranked above us, so we decided to prove the standings wrong. Girls on the floor and girls on the bench all contributed to an insane victory,” senior co-captain Berkley Idel said.

The team won the final match 25-21 with a kill from Idel and a violation from Washington.

“The night we won Districts was the best game. We played out of our minds,” senior co-captain Abbey Meier said.

They won the final 2-3 and the Lady Lancers moved on to face defending champions St. Joseph’s Academy in Sectionals.

“Going into the game [against St. Joe’s] everyone wanted revenge from last year when we lost to them in Sectionals. Unfortunately, we ended up losing in the third game, but I honestly can’t complain. We came so far this season and although it was disappointing. No one could walk away being mad about anything,” Idel said.

The Lancers won their first match against St. Joseph’s 30-28, but fell to the Angels 22-25 and 25-17 in the second and third set.

“I was nervous about being able to bring back the same energy from the District match, but in the first and second games against St. Joe I was definitely proved wrong,” Idel said.

Despite an early end to the season, the team feel good about their performance this year.

“We continued to play strong against tough opponents, had a record of 20-4 in Conference, and were ranked in the top ten in the State,” Coach Steve Burkard said.

Hopes for football State Title live on through Sectionals Andrew Martin/Sports Editor

Lafayette continued on the road to a State Title by defeating favored McCluer North 38-22 on Oct. 7 giving the Lancers their first playoff win since 1994.

“It was an awesome game, and was one of the biggest games I have been a part of,” senior linebacker Jack Hoover said.

What do many of the team members attribute their success to? Coaching.

“The coaches put us in a great position to win by watching video and giving us the tools to succeed,” junior linemen Jared Brinkmeyer said.

As the team moves on to Sectionals they take on another Suburban North opponent Hazelwood Central.

“We need to prepare the same as we do every week, by focusing on the little details,” Brinkmeyer said.

The team looks for its defense and offensive line to take step up and take charge as what they did against McCluer North.

“Our line did a great job creating holes for Swoboda and Green to make plays,” Brinkmeyer said.

The offensive line showed its strength with over 150 yards rushing in the game.

The team will take advantage if Hazel-

wood Central’s fast paced offense similar to that of McCluer North.

“They are the same style team and look to capitalize on the same things as we did against North,” Hoover said.

Hoover led with 14 tackles in the game, seven tackles better than McCluer’s leading tackler.

The coaches are going to keep it the same as usual and not add any extra pressure to the players.

“We live by the rule: one play, one quarter at a time and make every play count,” Head Coach Boyd Manne said.

With that word of advice the team is staying loose and looking to prove themselves on the field.

“Our team is under rated and we want to show the state that we are a team that is a force to deal with,” senior defensive back Jacob Ripp said.

The players will have to get used to playing at a different time because Hazelwood Central has no lights in their stadium meaning the team has to play tomorrow at 1 p.m. rather than a Friday night under the lights.

“No matter what time of day it is, we have to bring the same focus and intensity to get the victory,” Ripp said.

Congratulations, All-Suburban Orchestra Members!

Ned Campbell - Bass Shannon Horner - Cello Richard Lu - Violin Ramya Natarajan - Violin Anthony Orso - Violin Amanda Prescott - Viola Stephen Sherman - Violin Jake Stergos - Bass Christopher Thompson - Viola Riley Underwood - Viola Elizabeth Worley - Violin Jacquelin Yap - Violin

Eyes On The Goal

Junior Lindsay Carr puts a shot on goal as junior Jordan Woolums stands ready for the return. The team ended a successful season of 18 -4 with a lose to MICDS in the Elite Eight. (photo by Christine Jackson)

Promising season ends abruptly Dominic Corvington/Reporter

During their time at the Midwest Field Hockey Championships, the Lady Lancers defeated Riverview Gardens 10-0 and Nerinx Hall 2-1, but fell short in a quarterfinal match against MICDS, losing 1-0.

“We probably should have beat MICDS, but all in all we did well,” senior Christine Hibler said.

They ended third in Conference with a record of 8-3, and finished 18-4 overall.

This year they were second behind U. City among offensive leaders, scoring a total of 77 goals and averaging 3.5 per game.

Defensively, the team was ranked at the top of the Suburban West, allowing only

11 total goals in their 24 played games.

The Lady Lancers faced two consecutive losses against Ladue, but despite that setback, the team reached its peak being ranked the ninth high school field hockey team in the nation at one point this year.

By the end of the season, senior Christine Hibler led in scoring, with 66 points.

She took second in goals with 23, and in assists behind fellow teammate, freshman Kate Barber who led Conference with 24.

Nevertheless, this past season allowed Head Coach Kate O’Connell to learn the true value of teamwork, and working “I just think it’s so important to play as a team. It’s important that everyone plays on the field,” O’Connell said.

The Image

15

Sports

Fall season wrap ups Girls Golf

The team ended its season with a strong showing at State. Overall they placed sixth and only missed the fourth place trophy by two strokes.

“I thought we could make up the difference on the second, but the other team had a girl shoot her low round of the year,” Coach Gaylen Laster said.

The girls played through some tough windy conditions on the second day but still shot six strokes lower than the first day.

“Our two seniors Sarah Whitman and Lindsey Carper made big contributions to the team,” Laster said. Whitman earned All-State with a two day score total of 166 and Lamarche missed All-State by one stroke.

Sophomore Maddie Van House and freshman Ashton Goldhammer participated in State tournament for their first time.

Laster said, “It was tough to overcome the jitters when many people are watching your group play, but I thought they came through great.”

-by Daniel Clutter

Soccer

Opponents this season learned nothing came easy against the Lancers. Despite lower expectations and being less experienced than recent years, the team went 11-6-1 and never lost by more than one goal in any game.

“Every game was going to be a one-goal game. We competed consistently on a daily basis which is a sign of a successful team,” Head Coach Tim Walters said.

Junior Nick Tolmais attributed his team-leading 10 goals to his teammates being in good position to set up scoring opportunities. Both Talmais and sophomore Lucas Hake finished the season ranked among the top 12 conference leaders in goals. Leading the team in assists was junior Zac Walters with seven.

Lafayette’s unexpected success ended prematurely with 1-0 loss to Eureka in the first round of the District tournament. The Wildcats entered the game with a 15-6 record and was undefeated in conference play.

“Hopefully the experience will help us next year. Inexperience defensively was a difference at times but we did improve. Although disappointed, we grew as the year went on,” Walters said. -by Gian Wessel

Softball

“I am very proud of this team's effort to achieve excellence just as all those before them who put on the uniform have done. This year the post season wins just were not in the cards for us,” Coach Scott DeNoyer said.

The team reached the District Tournament with a league record of 6-2. The Lady Lancers defeated Marquette 6-3 in the first round, but then lost to the St.Joseph Angels 1-4 to end their post season play.

“I mean, we wish we could have gone farther than the District Championship, we were hoping to be more of a success, but it’s over now and we can’t change that,” senior captain Liz Desloge said.

The team faced difficulties including injuries, lineup changes, new players, and the ever changing Missouri weather. The rain was a constant issue for the Lady Lancers; swamping fields and cancelling games, but the team continued to work hard to improve their game.

“Our captains, Anne Park and Liz Desloge, never let an opportunity to practice go by. This is the first season that players chose to practice every day rain or shine and I commend their efforts to push the team to do better every single day,” DeNoyer said.

The team ended their season in third place with an overall record of 20-5 and 132 runs scored. -by Christine Jackson

Girls Tennis

With an early loss against Nerinx Hall in Districts, the Lady Lancers run toward State ended sooner than anticipated. However, it only took Head Coach Donna Stauffer one word to describe the Lady Lancers play this year rewarding.

“We always set the bar high and we are extremely satisfied with our dual record of 13 wins and 2 losses this season,” Stauffer said.

The team was especially strong in doubles play, only losing one match among the 45 they played.

“Our doubles were really strong and we were deep all the way from start to finish,” sophomore Chelsea Weise said.

The Lady Lancers finished the season with 5-0 in Conference and 10-1 overall. They played a close match against Kirkwood, winning by only one court and defeated Parkway West, a team that took first in the Suburban South. -by Dominic Corvingtion

The Taste Of Victory

The Lancers swim team celebrates after taking first place at the Conference meet. Four divers placed in the top eight at the competition, with junior Colman Swisher’s third place performance being the highest. (photo courtesy of Rockwood Swim Club)

Boys swim captures Conference; will send 9 members on to State Gian Wessel / Reporter

With several very accomplished swimmers, the boys swim team enters State having high hopes.

Senior Sam Collier, junior Colman Swisher and freshman John Glaser have been especially impressive according to Head Coach Todd Gabel. “[Collier] has the potential to place in the top eight and [Swisher] is the first State diver in at least six years,” Gabel said.

Glaser is entered in two State

events and attributes his success to working hard at practice and focusing on warm-ups before races.

Overall, Lafayette is sending eight individual swimmers and divers and two relay teams to the State competition.

Gabel also said his team was especially strong in dual meets, having only lost three this season.

The following swimmers will compete in the State Meet Nov. 13-14 at the St. Peters Rex-Plex:: seniors AJ Bennet, Collier, Tucker

Nyhan, Connor Peters, junior Alex Vavra, sophomores Lucas Bruder, Josh Daminato, Alec Morgan and freshman John Glaser.

At the Conference Meet last weekend, the Lancers placed first with a total score of 530.5.

Lafayette had four divers place in the top eight, with Swisher being the highest with a third place finish.

“We pulled everything together [and] pulled out all our hardwork during the season for a win,” sophomore Lucas Bruder said.

Cross country season ends at Districts Dan Clutter / Reporter

Boys cross country had a disappointing District tournament and wasn’t able to advance to Sectionals as a team.

The team placed third overall in Conference.

However, junior Kurtis Harshman, who placed in the top six in every meet this year, did make it to State as an individual.

His best time this year, 16:36, was in a 5k race which is approximately three point one miles.

“Kurtis had a really great season,” Coach Randy Seagrist said.

He placed second overall at Conference, fourth sat Districts and eighth at Sectionals.

At State on Nov. 7, Harshman finished in 20th place with a time of 16:58.

Another big part of the team

was senior Zack Legenzoff.

Legenzhoff was very close to making it past Sectionals but missed the cut by seven runners.

Girls cross country did advance three runners to Sectionals.

At the Sectional Meet, senior Elizabeth Worley, sophomore Hannah Thurauf and freshman Jessie Maddox failed to make times fast enough to qualify for the State Meet.

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Sports

Nov. 13, 2009

Teams mix tryouts with walk-ons for competitive results Dominic Corvington / Reporter

Tryouts serve as a time for both incoming and returning players to show their developing skills in an attempt to earn a spot on that season’s team.

The process determines which players can provide the fuel needed to win. Some think it’s the best method to use in order to ensure a successful season.

Depending on what sports players choose to try out for, the amount of athletes seeking one of the few available positions has a wide range, so tryouts are used to simplify the numbers as much as possible.

During most team tryouts, players are put through a series of drills, exercises and scrimmages so coaches may evaluate their skills in each aspect of that sport.

This gives a good insight as to what level of play should be expected during the year.

“I think tryouts will show how coachable the kids will be, and how hard they are willing to work. They are fighting for a spot on the team, so they usually give their best effort,” Coach Jennifer Porter, varsity girls basketball, said.

While skill level remains an important factor when determining who stays and who goes, good work ethic and a positive attitude are other key features that are not easily overlooked.

“These are key features you’re going to look for with the season,” Coach Doug Ell, varsity boys volleyball, said.

Tryouts also allow more advanced and experienced players to be moved up to the highly competitive junior varsity and varsity levels, where their abilities may play a more significant role.

“I was really excited and I wanted the

season to start. Having upperclassmen around you makes you feel more comfortable,” sophomore Jordynn Martin said.

Martin played on the varsity girls basketball and soccer teams as a freshman, and recently finished her season as a member of the varsity field hockey team.

As for incoming freshmen, many have yet to face their first high school tryout, some are experiencing mixed emotions.

“I’m excited but nervous at the same time,” freshman Kamron Emamjomeh said “It’s gonna be fun,” freshman Elliot Montgomery added.

With no-cut sports, nearly all of the nerve-racking and anxious feelings that come with tryouts can be avoided, and doubtful thoughts about making the team are eliminated.

However, a new form of competition arrives as more people begin to play the same sport. For the teams in which a tryout process is not needed, all those who wish to participate are accepted.

Even though a limited number of players can play in a game at any given time, having a few extra players is a necessity.

“We take all the players that want to come out. Obviously you’re going to play the best athletes, and you need extra players in the game of football,” Coach Boyd Manne, varsity football, said.

Football is one major sport that does not call for a tryout, but for a player looking for field time, a high skill level is still required.

Whether a player chooses to put their talent to the test through a tryout, or utilizes the opportunity to take part in a no-cut sport, it all comes down to each individuals level of play.

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Working Overtime

At a nighttime open gym, freshmen Bryce Witzman and Shacquille Holley participate in a scrimmage. Open gyms and other preseason activities provide coaches with an opportunity to evaluate players before tryouts. (photo by GIan Wessel)

17 Sports Winter sports teams hit court, pool, mats The Image

Scott Allen Boys Basketball Coach

Jennifer Porter Girls Basketball Coach

Todd Gabel Girls Swimming Coach

Scott Sissom Boys Wrestling Coach

When the Lancers take the court for their season-opener, the team will have a much different look than in recent years.

They will be without four of their top five scorers, including forward Tyler Griffey who broke school records for career points and rebounds.

The team will also miss the production of Will Kirksey, who was second in scoring and led the team in rebounds. Together, they combined for 34.6 points per game. “You lose experience along with a lot of size,� Head Coach Scott Allen said.

Without the dominant inside presence of the two All-Conference forwards, Allen has a new offensive philosophy to better suit the team’s size. “We’ll have to be a little more patient in attacking this year,� Allen said. “We are a smaller team so this offense will create more open shots for our guards, which we can use to our advantage,� senior Michael Messer added.

Messer is the team’s top returning scorer and will be asked to take on a much greater role this season. “I will have to be a leader and take a bigger role because I am one of the only (starters) with varsity experience,� Messer said. -by Gian Wessel

Coming off an 18-8 record, the team looks to build off a young team from last season. “This group of kids will really play well as a team, and from night to night you will see different players stand out,� Head Coach Jennifer Porter said.

The team will start the season with two returning starters sophomores Kayla Hall and Jordynn Martin who will be looked upon to carry the load. “They were both really successful last season and have a year of varsity experience under their belt that will make them more comfortable,� Porter said.

Martin was second on the team with 12.5 points per game and was also second with a 44 percent field goal percentage.

Hall had a very productive season last year coming in third on the team with 32 assist in just 26 games. “There are several kids who played well during the off season, so it will be fun to see who steps up and makes an impact on our team,� Porter said.

The team will look for players to take the lead as they hit the ground running with a tough Suburban West schedule. “We have a solid Conference and District and those games are always fun and intense,� Porter said. -by Andrew Martin

The Lady Lancer swim and dive team is gearing up for another strong season.

Many of the girls have been swimming for Rockwood Swim Club in the off season, and the team has already started meeting to make plans for the upcoming season.

Coming back from their 24th straight Conference title and third place at State, the team has high expectations for this year’s season. “Our goals are to swim well throughout the season, go for the 25 wins in a row at Conference, and be in at least the top three at State,� Head Coach Todd Gabel said.

The Lady Lancers seem prepared to meet their coaches steep goals.

Senior Shannon McCoy, who has been accepted to Colorado State University on a scholarship, and knows what needs to be done to succeed throughout the season. “My main goal is to come in first or second in both my events, as well as the relays,� McCoy said, “We also hope to break the state record in the 400 freestyle relay.�

Also returning this season are seniors Jessi Holz, Ashleigh Grammar, Hannah Witzig, Sam Wright, junior Taylor Paskoff,and sophomores Hannah Chobanian and Kelsey Kirchhoefer. -by Christine Jackson

As the wrestling season nears its start, big goals are ahead for the team, including a shot at Districts and State.

The team’s first match is Dec. 2 against Oakville, but it is not the one that will determine the team’s chemistry. “The Parkway South Tournament [Dec. 4 and 5] will really show us what we have,�

Head Coach Scott Sissom said.

With returning State qualifiers Kyle Black, Chris Cooper, Dan Droege, Andy Early, Vince Farinella, Ryan Jones and Danny Wrocklage, the group has a drive to win. “We are looking to place high this year as a team, with a lot of qualifiers who are looking to prove something to everyone,�

Early said.

The team is also looking to redeem their lost dual meets, a match type when each wrestler competes one by one with the opposing team “It will be interesting to see how we do against Northwest, who are 55-0 in recent duals in our Conference,� Early said.

With a strong attitude and lineup, big things are in store for the team. “We’ll be a competitive team, we hope to win Conference and Districts,� Sissom added. -by Ian Bernstein

Fall means go for scholarship athletes Other Fall Commits For every high school student, the two month period of November and December is the low point of the year.

Everyone knows the feeling that these 60 days can feel like 60 weeks of studying for finals and begging for the holiday break to arrive.

We usually don’t notice them, but scholarship athletes take the same classes and go through the same dog days of school as everyone else.

The difference is that for this select group, October also means the clock is ticking to decide on a college before the Nov. 11 deadline.

Senior Shannon McCoy is the perfect example of the under-the-radar athlete that we should be celebrating, given that I had to ask around just to learn her story. Having recently committed to Colorado State on a swimming scholarship, McCoy has experienced the year-round recruiting process firsthand. “I was out of town every weekend in October on recruiting trips. [Over the summer] it was pretty nerve-wracking at

Gian Wessel club meets with college scouts watching,� she said.

The fact that these student-athletes fly completely under the radar on signing day proves they don’t fit the attention-seeking special-treatment stereotype as seen on ESPN. These aren’t the Derrick Rose-talented athletes who can get away with cheating and whatever else they have to do to get into college.

Maybe it’s because of jealousy that we don’t celebrate their accomplishments like we should, but that doesn’t stop us from

going crazy for Ivy League-bound students at the Academic Pep Assembly. In the end, they also benefit from special talents not everyone else has.

Football commitments don’t experience the same lack of attention, as their signing day is separate from the other fall sports and attracts all kinds of local media.

Activities Director Steve Berry deserves credit for giving the other fall sports the same kind of attention by scheduling the signing day for every sport on Dec. 16. It should be that way with all athletes signing on the dotted line.

Everyone should follow Berry’s example and give this select group the credit they deserve for representing our school so well.

We should be thankful for them providing us with quality sports on a Friday night under the lights that we can enjoy with friends.

It’s not everyday that we see one of our friends or classmates rewarded for their hard work in such a big way. After all, when they’re not playing sports, they’re stressing over the same classes as the rest of us.

Liz Desloge- Rockhurst UniversitySoftball Christine Hibler- Cornell University- Field Hockey Jessi Holz- University of Illinois -Champaign- Swimming Hillary Lawless- Missouri StateField Hockey Sarah Whitman- Westminster College- Golf Samantha Wright- University of Kentucky - Swimming

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Sports

Nov. 13, 2009

Demerits, stunts keep cheerleaders on point Andrew Martin/Sports Editor

With pom pons and signs in hand, all the cheerleaders have to do is be loud and cute, right? Not quite. Cheerleading is a sport that requires precision and teamwork.

“It actually takes skill and practice; stunting and tumbling are two things that we actually have to work towards,” junior captain Payton White said.

Stunting is the part of a cheer consisting of girls lifted in the air with the support of other girls.

“If a flyer is dropped and not caught in the correct way, she could break any bone and suffer severe neck or spinal injuries,” senior captain Tori Rigman said.

Teamwork is an important factor to a girl’s safety because if one girl is not on time the flyer can get seriously hurt.

“If one person in the group does not give 100 percent to the stunt, the flyer will fall and that is when the injuries happen,” White said.

According the National Center of Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, around 65 percent of injuries in college or high school are related to cheerleading.

“It is very dangerous and a serious matter. That is why we have clearly stated rules and mats for the girls’ protection,” Head varsity Coach Amy White said.

To ensure stunts and performances are on point, the team practices at least three times a week.

“For normal practices, we usually stretch for about 10 minutes and do jumps and kicks, and then the rest of practice we either work on cheers, new stunts or our quarter cheers,” Rigman said.

For those who think it requires no conditioning to perform, they may be sur-

prised to learn that in cheerleading strong physical and mental stamina is necessary to be on point throughout an entire routine.

“We work just as much as any other sport. I get just as good a workout from practice than if I went to the YMCA,” senior captain Leah Bartmess said.

The team also has a 45-minute cardio session called “zumba.” Zumba is a mix of Latin dancing and rhythms.

“Zumba always keeps us moving and we also do toning work with the body; a little bit of everything and it shows,” White said With people unaware of the hard work that goes into cheerleading, the team sometimes finds itself needing to stand up to a preconceived stereotype.

“I would not say a bad reputation, but some people on the squads over the past years have not given cheerleaders a good image. We are definitely looking to improve on that,” Rigman said.

The first way to improve on the image is strict but fair discipline. The squad follows a strict rule book that includes demerits for inappropriate behavior.

A violation of team rules, like being late to practice and wearing the incorrect attire, can earn a demerit, depending on the severity of the specific occasion.

Some of the rules, however, are harder to follow, as they are particular and specific to the cheerleading handbook that cheerleaders receive before every season with new rules.

For example, cheerleaders cannot chew gum at anytime when performing and nails cannot have colored polish. Even failing to cheer “full out” can earn a demerit.

“Some rules are not hard to follow but some are very particular and specific,” junior Riley Rogan said.

Stunting Is A Habit

To make sure sophomore Tiffany Lee does not fall to the ground, seniors Courtney Hudspeth and Jontya McKinney and junior Ashley Bonn hold her steady. Stunting is a difficult and dangerous trick requiring strength and hard work of the cheerleaders. “It takes a lot of practice to get the stunts right, the girls are not just out there to look cute,” Cheerleading Coach Amy White said. (photo by Amanda Trog )

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Raditude: Weezer

For alternative rock fans, Weezer is a household name. with the release of their latest album Raditude, it will likely stay that way.

Known for their catchy songs, the band keeps their simple formula for most of the CD. The song Put Me Back Together is an instant pop classic, with its rhythmic guitars and distinct chorus. The Indian themed song Love Is the Answer, shows the bands ability to branch out of their comfort zone. Weezer’s usual satire hasn’t gone away either. Can’t Stop Partying mocks the reckless lifestyle that is often glamorized.

While Raditude is more of the same, with a reputable band like Weezer, that’s not always a bad thing. - Ian Bernstein

The Men Who Stare At Goats Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey lead the cast of The Men Who Stare at Goats, the best Coen Brothers movie that the Coen Brothers had no involvement with.

Similar in tone to such movies as The Big Lebowski and Burn After Reading, Goats tells the unbelievable true story of the U.S. Army’s top secret First Earth Battalion. These soldiers are trained to use paranormal powers to fight the enemy.

Featuring numerous laugh out loud moments, and an incredibly witty script, The Men Who Stare at Goats doesn’t strive for deep satire, but simply to entertain.

All four actors are at the top of their game.

- David Adams

Play On: Carrie Underwood Easily her best album to date, Carrie Underwood’s Play On, is also one of the best albums of the year.

This album will appeal to country-fans and noncountry fans alike. It features an even mixture of sexy, upbeat songs and emotional ballads.

The first single, Cowboy Casanova is already climbing the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Highlights include, Mama’s Song, a tearjerker ballad about a daughter leaving home for college, and Temporary Home, a ballad about the afterlife.

Underwood co-wrote seven out of the 13 tracks.

With Play On, Carrie Underwood just may dethrone Kelly Clarkson as the most successful American Idol winner. -David Adams

19

Infotainment Lone Wolf Coffee Company

Guitar Hero 5

The Lone Wolf Coffee Company offers all the perks of a traditional coffee house: a menu composed of soups, salads and sandwiches, live music here and there during the week and, of course, free Wi-Fi. The sandwich and salad options are unusual, like the Palermo Portabella mushroom salad or Marrakesh sandwich with yogurt sauce. The beverages are fine, but are not anything to rave about. Particularly when they’re priced about same as the next coffee vendor.

The lodge-like interior attempts a cozy feel, but the spacious layout and the use of bikes and skis for décor detract from intimacy.

The Colorado-esque café would undoubtedly appeal to many, especially fans of outdoor sports. - Katie Jardine

Featuring new playing modes, features, and innovations, Guitar Hero 5 is the best in the franchise because of its fantastic soundtrack.

Highlights include The Rock Show by Blink-182, Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, and Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon.

Guitar Hero 5 can be played with a full band and is available for PS3, PS2, X-Box 360, and Wii. It costs $59.99 for the game by itself, and the prices vary for bundles that include instruments.

Chances are, if you start playing Guitar Hero 5 you will be playing all night long.

- David Adams

Reviews At A Glance: The entertainment staff gives its opinions on new movies, albums, video games and restaurants.

Chesterfield Mall Food Court Whether you are craving chinese or subs, you can always find something that will satisfy your taste buds at the Chesterfield Mall Food Court (“The Court”).

The court has everything from newly added Andy W.O.W Chicken Fingers, Charley’s Steakery, Hibachi San, Panda Express, Sabbaros Italian Eatery and Subway.

The court is constantly being cleaned, making for a nice environment to enjoy a meal with friends and family.

But, be prepared to have conversations interrupted with loud, obnoxious crowds of middle schoolers who never seem to leave. -Mia Schenone

The Fourth Kind The Fourth Kind is getting a lot of publicity because it’s said to be backed up by real studies performed in 2000.

After being very disturbed by the movie, I did some digging, and came to the conclusion that the

whole thing is a hoax.

According to The Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Dr. Abigail Tyler’s story about alien abductions in Nome, AK is the basis of the movie, and that’s about the only bona fide thing in the film.

The “real footage” turns out to be not so real, just marketing used to lure people in.

There are points of nail-biting suspense during the movie that will leave anyone freaked. But save your money, it’s not worth it. - Mia Schenone

New Moon Soundtrack A mix of acclaimed and indie artists make up the second soundtrack in the Twilight saga.

However, some songs from established acts are disappointing. Notably, Death Cab For Cutie’s Meet Me on the Equinox. A song that is dynamically boring compared to their other work.

Thom Yorke’s Hearing Damage is his typical electronic sound, with haunting synths and electro style drums. Artists Bon Iver and St.Vincent team up on the duet Rosyln, easily the best songs on the album.

The song Friends by Band Of Skulls, provides an upbeat feel, a contrast to the rest of the album. The musical quality of the soundtrack is rather mediocre, but hopefully that doesn’t reflect on the movie. - Ian Bernstein

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Infotainment Nov. 13, 2009

The Art of Dating

thingstodo Film Releases

Considering the condition of the economy, for dating on a budget, these dates offer solutions for any wallet

$

David Adams and Mia Schenone / Entertainment and Asst. Entertainment Editors

Dating: some see it as an outdated social practice. Teenagers tend to do their courting with groups of friends instead of as a couple.

But sometimes, a couple date is just what is needed to get to know someone, without the distractions or interruptions of others.

Senior Ronnie Loewenstein agrees.

“I like going on dates because it gives me a chance to get to know somebody a little better and helps me find different qualities I like in them,” she said.

But senior Katie Kaczmarczyk never went on dates while she was in a long-term relationship, She said, “We didn’t feel the need to. I didn’t need to be swooned. We

$25 5 7 $

started out as being friends and always just hung out with other friends.”

Dating can also be a new way to expand one’s network.

There are no real rules in the world of dating.

Nobody is required to pick up the bill. However, there are guidelines that should be followed.

Always be polite, well-mannered, appreciative ,and most of all, charming.

Some argue that dating is too expensive, but below are four exciting rendezvous to fit any budget and any date, whether it’s your first or twenty-first.

Give them a go, they are sure to shake things up a bit.

0 5 $ $100

Matinee at AMC Chesterfield 14 & Lunch at the Food Court Lunch & Fun at the City Museum At the AMC Chesterfield 14, all movies that start before noon are only $5 a ticket.

Sure, waking up a little early is required, but the deal is worth it. The $15 that is left can be used to eat lunch at the Food Court. (see review on pg. 19)

Dinner & a Show at the Fox

Student rush tickets are available to buy at the door at the Fabulous Fox theater on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings.

They are $20 a piece and a valid Student-ID is required for purchase. That will leave $35 to spend for dinner before the show.

In The Heights, the Tony-Award winning musical premieres at the theater on Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 22.

The City Museum is the perfect place to go to feel like a kid again. Enjoy a craft or two on the art floor, climb through the narrow tunnels, go down slides that span the entire building and just run wild.

There is a great restaurant on the second floor called Samwiches that serves sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza. Each ticket to the City Museum costs $12 which leaves $26 to spend on lunch.

Dinner for Two at Annie Gunn’s

Located in the Chesterfield Valley, Annie Gunn’s has been a top choice in fine dining for years.

Gunn’s has a rustic charm to it with wood floors, wood blinds and an outdoor patio that sits in a flower garden.

The wide variety of unique steaks are available courtesy of the Smokehouse Meat Market next door, so you know it’s fresh.

Save this date for a very special occasion because it can get pricey.

Nov. 13 2012 Pirate Radio Nov. 20 Planet 51 New Moon The Blind Side Nov. 25 Old Dogs The Road Ninja Assassin The Fantastic Mr. Fox Dec. 4 Armored Brothers Everybody’s Fine Dec. 11 The Princess and the Frog Invictus The Lovely Bones Dec. 18 Did you Hear About the Morgan’s Avatar

Concerts Nov. 13 Boys Like Girls w/ Cobra Starship, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon, VersaEmerge at The Pageant Nov. 14 Bo Burnham at The Pageant Nov. 15 Rob Zombie at The Pageant Nov. 17 Skillet w/ Hawk Nelson at The Pageant Nov. 20 LMFAO w/ Shwayze at The Pageant Nov. 21 All Time Low w/ We the Kings at The Pageant Dec. 10 Star Wars in Concert at Scottrade Center Dec. 12 Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Scottrade Center

Picks of the Month

Katie Jardine’s top entertainment choices for the month of November

Book:

Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand’s acclaimed and notoriously controversial novel that tells the stories of individuals who refuse to be oppressed by society.

Though this 1,000+ page book is no quick read, it’s definitely worth the while.

Store:

Why is it that one of the world’s original vintage shops is continuously overlooked?

This known charity organization offers the treasures of your average consignment store, minus the expense. It’s a challenge to find something over $10.

Album:

Takk... By Sigur Rós With guitar swells created by a cello bow, and a singer who uses his voice as means of an instrument, this band offers a form of beauty like nothing you’ve ever heard. This album is a perfect sample of the soothing sound Sigur Rós is capable of making.

Place:

An atmosphere of extreme relaxation radiates from every square inch of this café, making it the perfect locale for study-time, hang-time or down-time.

And not only are the beverages delicious; they’re certified organic and fair-trade, too.

Movie:

It’s a zombie/comedy/action/horror film that follows four characters trying to survive a zombie-infested world. Its hilarity, in everything from dialogue, effects and “rules for surviving a zombie apocalypse,” has made it the most successful zombie film in history.