Dec. 16, 2005 Image

Inside This Edition

•Q&A with a professional regarding Dating Violence

see page 8 •Stressed out because of the holiday season?

see page 10 •Lafayette grad Ryan Howard talks about his NL Rookie of the Year honor.

see page 13

image the

Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 Vol. 37 • Issue 4

Lafayette High School • 17050 Clayton Road • Wildwood, Missouri • 63011

Personalities poured into students’ online blogs Friday, December 16, 2005

Lauren Graham • News Editor

The latest edition of Business Week magazine reports that 87% of teens use the internet. Many of those are sharing their thoughts on blogs.

A new way of peeking into other people’s personal lives has arrived.

Forget the days of picking the lock of a diary. With numerous online weblog sites, students are catching onto the craze of online journals, otherwise known as ‘blogs’.

“It’s their friends, their pictures, their lives. People are addicted to [blogs] and are on them constantly,” librarian Ms. Nichole Ballard-Long said of students’ obsessive weblog usage.

To name a few, Xanga, MySpace, LiveJournal and Facebook are websites that let students maintain personal pages. The content is entirely up to the user.

MySpace states it is “a social networking service that allows members to create unique personal profiles online in order to find and communicate with old and new friends.” Xanga states it is “a community for online diaries and journals.” LiveJournal was created for use among a small group of friends and grew into a massive online community without any advertising. Now, there are 8,956,710 accounts.

One of the most popular weblog sites for students is Facebook.

Facebook states it is “an online directory that connects people through social networks at schools.”

There are separate sections for students in high school and in college. In order to maintain an account, a student must be invited by another student.

Out of these four specific websites,

Facebook appears to be the most controlled and guarded.

It was designed to keep the information of each personal page from being available to anybody with a Facebook account. The Facebook site states it was “intentionally designed to limit the availability of your profile to only your friends and other students at your school.”

According to Business Week magazine, 87 percent of teens in the U.S. use the internet with 44 percent logging on every day.

The motive for students to create their own weblogs differs.

Sophomore Tyler George began his Facebook account the past September. “Everybody else invited me,” George said.

Other students constructed weblogs because of their own personal interest.

“Mine started out as a way to make people laugh. I put funny things on there.

It’s kind of a way to express yourself,” junior Colin Guthrie said.

Guthrie maintains sites on Facebook, MySpace and Xanga.

The appeal of weblogs seems to remain fairly universal. It serves as a type of selfexpression.

“I like it because you can put icons on it and say what you did last night. You can keep in touch with friends,” freshman Lauren Savel said.

Guthrie enjoys the ability to customize

weblogs as well.

“I like to customize [my blog] and put my music on it. That’s cool. It gives people a sense of what I’m into,” Guthrie said.

Using weblogs connects people also.

“You can find people that like the same things you like,” George said of Facebook.

While many students are open to the use of weblogs, there are still those who refuse to be part of the blog scene.

“I don’t see any point in putting personal information on the internet,” senior Laura Jackson said.

Despite the requests of her friends, Jackson does not maintain a blog. “[My friends] have told me that it is safe and everything, but I’m sure there are people who can get into it and I just don’t want information telling who I am up there,” Jackson said.

While many weblog sites were available to access online at school earlier in the year, Rockwood is gradually blocking more and more of the sites students commonly used during school hours.

Of course, students are finding back doors to get in to their favorite sites.

“With my Flex kids, a lot spent a significant amount of time on the Facebook. I don’t know if it kept them from doing their work or if they were already done. Because, I mean, it is their time when they finish their work,” Ballard-Long said.

•story cont. on page 6

More supplies heading to Pass Christian

Fine Arts, organizations collect gifts for holiday season Lori Vaughn • Reporter

Lindsey Crowe • Reporter

While many families affected by Hurricane katrina are still forced to live in community tents or shelters, some have been fortunate enough to move back into their homes.

However, many of the families are living without furniture and without luxuries.

The Music Department and Visual Arts Department are helping out the families from Pass Christian, MS by sending music and games.

The choir, band, orchestra and others donated things that may not be necessities, but are still needed badly this holiday season.

The Music Department created a music library including CDs, new or gently used CD players and batteries.

The Visual Arts Department collected board games because the kids said that there is nothing to do when

they are not in school.

Members of the Visual Arts Department thought that board games, markers, colored pencils and coloring books would also help pass the time.

Along with CDs and board games, the two departments also collected Wal-Mart gift certificates.

There is a Wal-Mart store about 30 minutes away from Pass Christian. With gift cards, the students will be able to choose their favorite music instead of having to pick from the limited selection sent by Lafayette.

The music library will be sent to Pass Christian’s choir and band directors. The directors at Pass Christian High School said they would not censor the music they received because they know every person has a different taste in music.

Additionally, the departments also collected hotel

soaps, shampoos, conditioner and lotion.

The Music Department and Visual Arts Department were not the only school organizations to team up and help out.

Student Council (STUCO) and Key Club also joined forces to benefit the students at Pass Christian High School.

STUCO and Key Club members are adopting the students of Pass Christian.

Each student has made up a list of three things they need or want.

The requests of the students range from clothing to a beard trimmer.

STUCO and Key Club rushed to make their purchases for the student they adopted in order to ensure that the students get their gifts in time for the holiday season.

page 2 • editorial

Dec. 16, 2005

& Stars To:

How Rockwood continues to steal Christmas each year editorial The Lancers of Wildwood like holidays a lot. But the Rockwood School District clearly does not. Every year it seems our cries go unheard, so this time we’re adding some rhymes to our word.

So how does Rockwood steal Christmas? Let’s count the ways. They don’t give us time off for our extra snow days.

We work and we strain, we sigh and we cough, but stupid Richwoods always gets the day off. And when we come to school, it isn’t so pleasing, because all of our classrooms are freakin’ freezing.

That’s right, in an effort to cut all their costs, Rockwood School District turns all the heat off.

And if that isn’t enough to freeze us to death, they’ve made it impossible for students to exempt. Gold card students work to the bone, but starting next year they can exempt only one.

But it doesn’t matter what Rockwood has said, the parking lots are so icy you’ll fall on your head.

As a cold icy winter puts things to a halt, one thing they’re forgetting is parking lot salt. You’ll slip and you’ll

image info Staff Members

News Editor • Lauren Graham Opinion Editor • Naji Pitts Campus Editor • Britt Peters In-Depth Editor • Sabina Saakova Feature Editor • Kevin Pinney Entertainment Editor • Niky Norton Sports Editor • Bobby Mortimer Ad Manager • Nick Kelly Artist • Kate Webb Adviser • Nancy Y. Smith MJE Photographers • Mike Kurlowski, Alexis Myers Reporters: Allyson Angle, Ryan Bueckendorf, John Cox, Alex Davis, Lindsey Crowe, Ashley Edlund, Jeanne Francois, Josh Handler, Matt Hibbard, Darren LaCour, Kevin Montes-de-oca, Sarah Morris, Lori Vaughn

sloop, they don’t even clean it, they don’t salt the lots and you’ll most likely eat it.

Why does Rockwood hate Christmas, the holiday season? Nobody knows exactly the reason. Maybe their hearts are too small like the Grinch.

Or maybe they’ve run out of pennies to pinch.

The bottom line is that we’ve seen all the signs. The parking pass prices drive us out of our minds. The soda price jacks and the freezing cold rooms, the icy parking lots and overpriced food.

So what can we do, to combat this foe? We’re just students and teachers, what do we know?

Maybe they’re right, and the budget is scrooged, but isn’t there anything else we can do? We’ve got a riding floorscrubber, but the hallways are grubby. Is that a machine on which we should spend money?

New technology is great, and Smart Boards are neat, but it’s hard to learn when you turn down the heat.

We’re not saying we should cut out all luxuries, we’re just saying we need the necessities.

Opinions do not necessarily 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.

And if “I Am” Renaissance, why don’t you tell us why you’re not rewarding the students busting their butts? The exemption policy was fair and inspired motivation, but now for our hard work, we get little compensation.

So Rockwood, we love Christmas, and we know you do too. We know in your heart you have it in you. Maybe you’ll listen to our hopes as we pray that your hearts will grow three sizes someday.

Until then, we’ll keep on, that’s how we got to this spot, but Christmas is coming whether you steal it or not.

stuff these in your stockings

• Thanksgiving. The pilgrims were really on to something – nonstop eating and football. And even in those days, the Patriots killed the Redskins.

• The kind, well-thought out and insightful responses received over last issue’s column. It’s so refreshing to see that intelligent young people can settle their differences in a respectful, mature and dignified manner.

• Eggnog. Truly one of the best parts of the holiday season - a delicious blend of spices, sugar, egg and nog.

• Jennifer Aniston winning GQ’s “Man of the Year” award. Finally, we have a reason to thumb through an issue of GQ while waiting in line at Schnucks. Go Jen – you da’ man.

• Awesome gadgets available just in time for Christmas. Between the PSP, the new iPod and the Xbox 360, we can finally justify skipping college.

• Exploding golf carts. Luckily, nobody was hurt, but there is no better way to raise student morale than blowing stuff up. Next week: flaming floor scrubber.

Gripes To:

• The Pulp being unable to sell their buttons for fundraising because the pins can be used as weapons. Yes, because studies have proven that stylish buttons are the number one cause of stab wounds among high school students.

• The holiday shopping season in full swing. Nothing says love and togetherness for all mankind like pimp slapping a soccer mom for the last Xbox 360.

• Horrible Thanksgiving weather.

With Interstate 70 all but shut down due to blizzards and high winds, somebody up there is giving stranded travelers yet another reason to stay out of Kansas.

• Political scandal in Canada involving Prime Minister Paul Martin and the misuse of federal funds. When the Canadian military was asked for their opinion, all six of them agreed it was a disgusting situation. Hey, just kidding Canada, we’re just happy to see you finally adopting the American way.

• Increased “random searches” by airport security. Which basically means increased searches of guys named Ahmed, Mohammed or Naji.

• Name change of Sex, Drugs, and Rock N’ Roll to Rockwood Real World. Because the real world doesn’t contain any of the above mentioned things.

Publication Information

The Image is published nine times a year by Lafayette’s Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $25 per year. Free issues are distributed on campus.

The 2004-2005 Image was named an International First Place winner from Quill And Scroll, Superior by the Sponsors of School Publications of Greater St. Louis and received an All-American rating with four marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. It is also a 2004-2005 NSPA Pacemaker finalist.

Philosophy Statement

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.

How To Reach Us:

We are located in Room 213 at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 458-7200 ext. 2338 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us

op-ed • page 3

the image

You have the freedom to speak - use it letters to the editor

Dear Editor, Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights individuals enjoy. It is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity. It is also one of the most dangerous rights, because freedom of expression means the freedom to express one’s discontent with the status quo and the desire to change it.

As such, it is one of the most threatened rights, with various people, even governments all over the world constantly trying to silence voices which differ from their own. In many places abroad and even within the US, this is often manifested with violence in the attempt to suppress controversial discourse.

The protection of free speech is essential for the discovery of any truth. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get it’s self accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes can safely be carried out.”

Student periodicals such as the Image, offer students a forum to express their voice and enter this “marketplace of ideas”.

It offers opportunities to challenge the status quo and courageously express those opinions and ideas which affect students’ daily lives.

I encourage students to use this forum and make themselves heard. In your search for truth, ask the hard questions, challenge the psyche of others, but most of all, be willing to participate in this greatest of American freedoms. In reference to freedom, John Milton said it well, “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties.”

Let your voice be heard!

Sincerely, Matt Dieckhaus, Junior Class Principal Dear Editor, The last issue of the Image released an article entitled “The problem isn’t drugs, it’s attitude,” written by Naji Pitts. This article describes an opinion on slacking off in high school and how going to community college leads to a poor life.

This opinion couldn’t be more incorrect for many reasons, including successful people who never went, or didn’t graduate college. The wealthiest man on the planet, Bill Gates, dropped out of Harvard to put his life into Microsoft. Is Bill Gates living a poor life?

Thousands of very wealthy people never even finished college, or went to a community college. When talking about community college students, you can’t forget those who cannot afford larger universities. Just because these intelligent and hardworking people can’t pay for Harvard, doesn’t mean their lives are insignificant.

Going to a big university can be extremely expensive. SLU’s tuition is about $21,000 a year and Wash U is almost $28,000.

Compare that to St. Louis Community College, a tuition of about $2,000. Many parents can’t afford to spend $20-30,000 per year on their children’s schooling, especially if they have several teenage students to plan for.

Many people who choose to have fun in high school over academics will go on to the same universities and have the same opportunities as you.

It can be frustrating to be a high school student who cares more about their friends, family, and enjoying life more than their grades, so whenever I get down on myself, I look at those kids who put their lives into school, carrying around enormous stacks of books and freaking out over a test.

When I see them, I feel better about myself, because I think about all the fun times I’ve had during my high school years. I think about all the fun times you guys have missed out on, and I get a new view on my own life. The idea that all of the students who mess around in high school are drug addicts is completely false. Just because some of the people who mess around in high school do drugs, doesn’t mean they all do.

Furthermore, what about those kids who are straight A students during the week and drug users on the weekends? Will they go to the same universities as everyone else? How will their lives turn out?

The article offended many students. The students who choose to mess around are not less than you, so start treating them like it.

Sincerely, Max Huber, 12

At long last, first semester is drawing to a close. For many students, it means the end of the last first semester of high school ever. And that, my friends, is a wonderful thing.

So what does second semester mean? Besides Turnabout and Prom, graduation and Celebration, and of course, spring break, it means filling in those last minute credits. And for me, that’s gym. Well, I use the term gym loosely. I’m taking Lifetime Recreational Sports, a riveting and exhilarating class where students play exhausting games of badminton, shuffleboard and bowling.

I can, with complete honesty, predict the greatest semester of my high school career.

But that being said, the one poor class that gets left out with this schedule change is Newspaper Production. Sadly, and much to the chagrin of my readers, I’m sure, I won’t be on the newspaper staff next semester. It’s been fun. I’ve made many friends, I’ve made many enemies, I’ve made many memories, but most importantly, I exercised my right to express myself. That first amendment right shouldn’t be taken for granted.

There have been many cases of “student” publications at other high schools being edited or controlled by the school’s administration. In one case, a student paper featured a story about STDs, birth control and effective forms of contraceptive.

However, that school’s administration felt it was inappropriate for a school environment. That was only one of many cases of student newspapers being controlled.

If an administration isn’t going to let the students have their say and express themselves, they ought to just write and circulate the paper themselves. Oh wait, I think that’s called a newsletter.

Many of you don’t care about the paper. Many of you don’t like what we say and disagree with our opinions. But

the freedom to express that opinion is vital to everyone.

The Image staff is lucky because as long as we don’t print anything

by Naji Pitts libelous or obscene, we are protected under the First Amendment. In addition, a lot of the information we cover is actually really insightful and useful stuff students need to know about and our administration respects that.

And even if it isn’t (like my column), it’s still essential in the sense that we as students are expressing ourselves. As an opinions writer, I’ve seen a lot of the stuff written this year cause a lot of conversation and controversy.

Whether or not people agree with what we say is irrelevant – we’re letting ourselves be heard, and we’re providing something that makes people think. It’s better you hate me for what I have to say than to not read what I have to say.

So next semester, it won’t be my ugly mug on this page. It won’t be my sarcasm and sense of humor on this page. It won’t be me that gets kicked around for my opinion, unfortunately.

But it will be someone else. Because we have the right and the need to be heard.

And hey, so does everyone else in the form of letters to the editor. No subject goes unheard. If you’re upset about what I or anyone else has written, address it. But do it maturely, not like a bunch of mindless idiots. Take advantage of the freedoms we have that many others don’t.

That being said, I wish the next opinions editor all the luck in the world. And while he or she is stressing over deadlines, sorting through letters, coming up with Stars and Gripes, and taking criticism and abuse over the latest column, I’ll be breaking a mean sweat in a fierce game of table tennis.

The last judgment - don’t miss the point Fair students of Lafayette High School, I an ever popular trend among teenagers. Even regret to inform you I will no longer be writthough the brain releases hormones during ing my column, due to wonderful scheduling sex that cause the He’ll-Love-Me-Forever conflicts and graduation requirements.

Syndrome in girls and Holy-Crud-I-MightHere at Judgment Day I’ve attacked key isBe-A-Daddy Fever in guys, it’s ok for us to be

by Darren sues, but there are so many more to expose. promiscuous and put out because men have LaCour And so I present you: The Last Judgment. created contraceptives. This all but eliminates On a happier note, I’m pleased to announce the male Fever and any form of responsibility, Missouri has finally adopted the proper gradleaving guys scot-free. uation requirements. I, too, believe my physical education Of course it doesn’t really do much for women in this is underrepresented in high school; for that reason I will regard, but when have women been a major concern? Conno longer be humoring you in the paper so I can fully enjoy traceptives prevent us from doing crazy things like killing Lifetime Recreational Sports. the unborn. Besides, everyone knows that sex is all about Fortunately, the younger generations will not have this making yourself feel good and using the other person. problem since they now have to take three P.E. classes to Unless, of course, I’m missing the point. graduate. Everyone knows that school isn’t about academic This self gratification is important in our society, which achievement; it’s about humiliating those who cannot play is why I’m happy that we all responded so well to Naji’s sports. column last month. He has no right to call you out on the Unless I’m missing the point. things you do, and especially no right to tell the truth about Luckily, despite humiliation, we can all find friends to what happens if you don’t apply yourself. have fun with in our wonderful school environment. Of Everyone knows that as long as you ignore the truth it course, everybody knows that the only way to have fun in will never come to fruition. And to avoid any further confuhigh school is to get stoned and drunk. sion, we both like our eggs scrambled.

And for the record, it’s just a coincidence that we use Unless I’m missing the point, but that hardly ever hapthe term “wasted” to describe something useless as well as pens. drunk people.

While we’re talking about confusion, this time of year reUnless I’m missing the point. ally gets me scrambled. All these people start talking about Speaking of useless, how about our final exemption this Jesus guy and how He was born and He was God and policy? Funny how the majority of kids who really apply that’s the true meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown. themselves and get A’s are enrolled in all the classes that What? Come on, everyone knows that Christmas is won’t let you exempt. Which is fine with me, because every- about shopping and swearing and freaking out about those one knows keeping an A for a semester doesn’t show you’ve relatives you hate that are coming over. learned the material, but a single test will.

Unless I’m missing the point.

Unless I’m missing the point.

Hopefully you have understood that the sarcasm in my One test even more dreaded than finals is the pregnancy column is dripping into a puddle on the table, mixing with test. the drool falling out of your dropped jaw.

Despite our aversion to the end result, baby-making is If you haven’t, I guess you’ve missed the point.

Just asking... photo opinion

This month the Image asks “If you could be snowed in anywhere, where would it be?”

-compiled by Darren LaCour & Naji Pitts

Brad Davis, 12 “The Playboy Mansion because of the gracious hostesses.”

Brian Holthouse, 11 “A Jello party. There’s an infinite amount of Jello and you don’t have to worry about it melting.”

Dawn Allison, 10 “The yearbook room so we can actually get our work done.”

Robert Eames, 9 “An igloo because you’re perpetually snowed in anyway.”

Mr. Bill Senti, Art Teacher “Someplace that sells sleds and mittens.”

the image

Vandals Strike

news • page 5 Damage to trailers will cost several thousand dollars Kevin Montes-de-Oca • Reporter In a large case at Cleveland Heights High School in Cuyahoga County, OH, one student decided to take a small blue permanent marker and color all over the schools lockers, walls, carpets, floors, and throughout the auditorium.

Little did the student know that their one tiny, blue permanent marker would cause $1.5 million in repair costs.

In a very similar, but smaller scale case here, a couple vandals defaced the trailers.

During the Thanksgiving break, on late Friday, Nov. 25 and early Saturday, Nov. 26, two people were caught on the school’s video cameras in the back of the school vandalizing the trailers.

The profane words and pictures were discovered early Saturday morning and the authorities were notified.

Shortly after the vandalism was discovered, a company came in and removed and painted over all of the vandalism that was found on each trailer.

The total cost to repair the trailers will come to around $3,000-$4,000.

The insurance company will

Photos • Ashley Edlund

•Cover Up. (above) Shortly after vandalism to the trailers was discovered, a company was hired by the administration to clean up each vandalized trailer. White paint was used to cover up the inappropriate content left over the Thanksgiving break.

•Fence Post. (right) The hole in the fence behind the trailers seems to be permanent, as students continue to cut it open after numerous repairs. The administration is hoping cameras will stop the repeated vandalism done to the fence, as simply repairing it does not seem to be working.

pay for the damages and repairs.

Shortly after the vandals were caught on the video cameras, the tape was turned over to the police department.

If the vandals are identified, they will be prosecuted, because with the size of the crime, it is classified as felony status. As of now, the case will proceed through the courts.

As a result of the vandalism, “we have relocated some cameras so we can catch better cross angles,” Principal Larry Schmidt said.

Lafayette is also in the process of installing 16 more cameras so if something like the vandalism were to happen again, footage would be able to be taken from multiple angles.

Installation of a Pan-tilt camera is being discussed.

The camera will be able to be operated from inside the building and will be able to zoom all the way down to the girls’ softball field and see a player catch the ball.

Administration and teachers are hoping that installation of these devices will help stop the vandalism problem on school grounds.

Blocked websites cause frustrations for students, teachers Brett Hamlin • Reporter

“They’re worried about their image,” junior Brad Schweizer said. “If they didn’t have [certain websites blocked], parents would call up.”

The internet is arguably the quickest, easiest, most efficient way of gathering information. Using it in the classroom is a simple solution to almost any question.

But there is more than just information that lies on the internet.

Pornography, gambling, misinformation or any kind of obscene materials make the internet a distraction to students. These distractions can be countered.

For the last seven years, the Rockwood School District has been using a website blocking device due to the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000.

The act protects minors from viewing obscene material in schools. This device closes off access to inappropriate content from any computer in the district.

Who decides what content is appropriate or not appropriate?

In a recent poll of 111 students, 82 percent of the students did not believe the website blocker was necessary.

“I find it really annoying. The system is too sensitive to what is and what is not appropriate,” senior Ryan Steele said. “I personally don’t got to sites that the district would think inappropriate. So when I’m doing research in school, why are informative sites being blocked from me?”

Students have encountered problems with the website blocker while doing assignment. Eighty-one percent of the students polled said it had affected an assignment in school.

When asked if the blocker affects students from doing assignments while in school, Latin teacher Mr. Jeff Tamaroff said “It can, but its benefits outweigh its damages.”

While researching for a project on Shakespeare in Schweizer’s AP Literature class, an informative website was blocked from his access because of the website’s content.

“The only websites I see students having trouble with in the library are sites that are needed when doing a government project,” Librarian Nichole BallardLong said.

Some students and teachers do not agree.

“I understand why some sties are blocked,” music teacher Michelle Rodgers said. “But I wish I could use sites that would be helpful to my class.”

Rodgers has trouble reaching www. jwpepper.com, a music site that gives her audio samples.

A website can be unblocked if a teacher emails Mr. William Blaylock, the district’s Director of Technology.

If he is unsure of the need for access to the site, he contacts the curriculum coordinator. After discussing it with the coordinator, the site may be unblocked, or a teacher will receive a message explaining why it is blocked.

The district policy describes the sites that are being blocked as sites contain-

ing “unlawful, harmful, abusive, obscene, pornographic, descriptive of destructive devices, or otherwise objectionable materials.”

One website being blocked that has recently sparked interest is www.ratemyteachers.com, the popular site in which students can rate and comment on teachers.

The website blocker explains the category of it being blocked as unsavory and dubious.

Blaylock said the website was becoming a disturbance at several schools.

Because of the disturbances, the schools requested that www.ratemyteachers.com be blocked.

“That’s pushing it,” sophomore Nick Malone said. “This is stupid because you aren’t allowed to say anything inappropriate on the website anyway.”

“There is definitely a lot of good information available on the Internet,” Blaylock said. “But there is definitely a lot of information that has no purpose in school.”

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page 6 • news

Dec. 16, 2005

Infinite Campus replaces iSIS

Teens log onto blogs more often

Grades more accessible with new program

cont. from page 1

Ashley Edlund • Reporter Technology’s fast pace is never ending. But recently, the Rockwood School District has been given an opportunity to keep up.

On Jan. 3, online grade book system Infinite Campus (IC) will go live and replace the old system, iSIS. “I think the age of technology has provided us with opportunity to look at systems that are much more accurate and much more up to date,” Assistant Principal John Shaughnessy said.

The need for a new gradebook system was decided through a number of meetings and committees held last year, as many secondary teachers became unhappy with iSIS. IC was then selected by the district to be a 100 percent web based solution.

According to Chief Information Officer Steve Beatty, the new system did not come without a cost.

One-time implementation costs are approximately $125,000, while the ongoing cost will be around $179,000 per year.

However, Shaughnessy believes the cost is well worth it.

“IC will provide a commonality among our teachers and a more systematic and

photo • Ashley Edlund

•Teacher Lesson. While all teachers will learn their way around the Infinite Campus program on Jan. 3, a handful of staff members opted to receive early training. With her knowledge of IC, Ms. Diane Tinucci trains teachers on how to use the new gradebook system.

accurate approach, with regards to grades and assignments,” Shaughnessy said.

Parents, students and teachers within the Rockwood will receive full access to information online.

This includes census attendance, schedules, grades, assessments, health and behavior.

The system will allow students to log in and request their courses in the 20062007 school year.

“Campus is currently used successfully by hundreds of districts and thousands of teachers, serving hundreds of thousands of students,” Beatty said.

Parents may even receive their student’s attendance through PDAs and smart phones instantly.

While parents being more informed might bother some students, others such

as senior Steve Moxley don’t feel it is a problem.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Moxley said. “I don’t miss much school and when I do my mom knows about it.”

Some staff members are currently receiving training for the program, which all teachers will receive Jan. 3. Some, including Ms. Sarah Rummel, are ready for the change. “iSIS wasn’t easy to navigate and I don’t think it would have been student accessible,” Rummel said.

Parents will receive pass codes to log in to the site. The system is similar to using a commercial based website, so parents will not receive any kind of training.

Information about the new system turn over has been on the district’s website for the past semester.

Now, Facebook.com is blocked throughout Rockwood.

“Rockwood is blocking a lot of the personal sites because they’re afraid of the predatory nature of some sites. We can’t regulate what students are putting on there,” Ballard-Long said.

The safety of keeping a blog is a pressing issue as well. Sometimes information users post can be enough to be tracked down.

This was the case in May 2002 when a 13-year-old girl was murdered by an internet sexual predator.

Parents are encouraged by the weblog sites to be sure their child is being safe and cautious of what they post.

Savel’s mother once talked to her about having a weblog. In response, Savel reassured her mother. “I told her I couldn’t get stalkers because it didn’t say where I lived. I said I lived in Louisiana,” Savel said.

George’s parents approached him when he started using Facebook. “They think it’s cool because they see that it’s controlled. They don’t really care,” George said.

While some parents are aware of their child’s online journals, others are in the dark. This is another reason why Rockwood blocked the weblog sites.

“If it’s something parents don’t want students on, we don’t want to play with having that here [at Lafayette],” Ballard-Long said.

Second try for Rockwood bond issue

Artificial turf not on wish list, but construction items, technology are Britt Peters • Campus Editor With the unsuccessful April 2005 Bond Issue, The Board of Education is preparing to release a new bond issue this April which will have many similar items, and a few notable changes.

“The turf seemed to generate the most concern in the last issue.

I think some people wondered if a more balanced bond issue could have been offered for their consideration,” Principal Larry Schmidt said.

The items for the April 2006 bond issue have not yet been approved by the board, but according to committee member Mr. Greg Holthouse, the bond issue should be finalized when the board meets in December.

On Nov. 3, at the Rockwood Board of Education meeting, Ms. Nancy Hanks and Holthouse presented the proposal to the board.

In it, $41.5 million would be spent on safety, security, maintenance, improvements and technology.

When a bond issue is decided there are necessary needs.

The size of the population in the commons is noticeably growing by the students gathering in the hallways instead of at the tables.

“There may be seats for the maximum capacity, but if you look at the capacity at a restaurant, everyone waits so they can be seated together,” Schmidt said.

The Commons would also be redesigned and enlarged. This includes a new kitchen that will receive new lighting and a larger freezer.

“The Commons will have a platform stage that will accommodate Madrigal Dinner. To get all of that in, you have to have two mezzanines,” Schmidt said.

The platform stage will bring things up to standards with a permanent lighting and sound system.

With the redesigning of the Commons, a new elevator and

set of stairs will be installed in a more proper location.

“Lafayette does not have a theater, it has an Auditorium.

We are the only facility out of the four high schools to not have a theater,” Schmidt said.

The Auditorium will be refurbished and made into a theater.

The stage will be changed and the pit will be extended.

The seats will be moved back and the cement wall will be removed to add additional seating.

“Mr. Schmidt wanted a theater so he could hold class meetings.

A new theater will seat 560 but if it was rebuilt it would only seat 500 and then the class meetings would be moved to the gym,” Holthouse said.

Along with a redesigned theater, the lighting system will be upgraded. Two new classrooms will be added to the theater area.

Construction would start taking place during the fall of the 2006-2007 school year and will

finish at the end of the school year.

The front of the school could also be receiving a face lift.

The overhang would be enclosed to hold the new Welcome Center and the offices enclosed in the Welcome Center.

The Welcome Center area would then be turned into a new classroom.

Summer school will continue to be at Marquette High School because of the internal construction, involving Commons and Welcome Center.

Construction will be completed to the Commons and Welcome Center in the beginning of the fall 2006-2007 school year.

The school building is not the only place to receive many new additions. The field hockey field and track will be changing, as well.

Many safety concerns dealing with the field hockey field and track have been brought to the attention of the administration.

The field hockey field will be expanded to address the concerns that have been brought up.

The track, which was last replaced in 1996, will be resurfaced and additional curbs and drains will be added.

Along with all of the major construction projects, there will be minor projects.

Schmidt would like to implement ethernet, a wireless technology program.

“Our hope is in the very near future, that you can bring your laptop into the library and flip open your laptop to get on the internet. It is really designed for you so you can do what you have too,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt wants to make all students aware of what is going on in the bond issue and how it will affect them.

“It’s essential that the community supports the upcoming bond issue. Many components will have a positive effect on the community,” he said.

news • page 7

the image

Spacing Out On Vacation

Space tourism industry sparks interest Matthew Hibbard • Reporter When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969, no one realized this treasured milestone would start a new era for space exploration.

Although it was only one small step, the event sparked new ideas and dreams for space tourism today and in the near future.

The dream of exploring space has been a dream for many people around the world and for many students here as well.

In fact, several students still remember dreaming of becoming an astronaut in space when they were a kid.

“Whenever I looked into the sky, I always wondered about the planets and the stars,” junior Kate Webb said.

Becoming an astronaut may not be the only way to get into space. The popularity of space tourism has allowed several people the opportunity of a lifetime.

Space tourism was created mostly to aid the Russian Space Program in funding for their space operations.

Since the average tour to space costs around $1 million, it gave the space agency the ability and flexibility for new expeditions.

“The revenue from orbital tourism is currently giving partial support to the Russian Space Program for allowing them to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Soyuz,” Space Tourism Marketing Director Janice Starzyk said.

Organizations such as Space Advantages have already sent three private citizens out of orbit using the Russian Space Station.

“Though orbital tourism is likely to remain mostly Russian, the suborbital industry, which constitutes the majority of those revenues, is picking up the most steam in the United States,” Starzyk said.

Though we have the Russian Space Agency as transportation to orbit, only a few wealthy explorers will pay the heavy price tag.

“While today there are an extremely limited number

of people in the world who can afford a $20 million vacation, we should marvel not at the price but at the fact that the demand exists at all,” the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry said.

Even if the demand was high, mass-production of space shuttles still would not lower the price for middleclass families.

“The average citizen will be able to afford the parabolic flights that allow people to experience weightlessness,” Starzyk said.

Though space tourism comes at a hefty expense, many of the ideas will impact the classroom.

Being able to observe the world by tourism will spark new interests in science and math programs around the world.

“There are several items that result from space travel, whether it is the paper you write on or the satellite you watch your television from, space exploration has made it possible,” Colonel Mike Berenc said.

Private organizations, like Space Adventures, have teamed up with other nations to find easier ways to get into space.

“The main focus for many of the space agencies around the world, primarily the Russian Space Program, is how they can earn a buck,” Berenc said.

China, Pakistan, Japan and many other nations have shaped their space program to attract eager tourists.

However, accomplishing expeditions and improving ways for space exploration are still main goals for every scientist today.

With improving technology and exciting developments in the field of science, space programs around the world are hoping to receive some positive results in future years.

Starzyk said, “As space tourism becomes popular, it is up to the teenagers of today to envision where to take space exploration in the future.”

photo • Bryant Vander Weerd

•Up In Smoke. Vacant during parking lot attendant Mr. Bob Coleman’s lunch break, the golf cart spontaneously became engulfed in smoke and flames.

School golf cart goes up in flames

Ashley Edlund • Reporter

“Shock was my first reaction,” parking lot attendant Mr. Bob Coleman stated, “I didn’t believe it.”

The Lafayette golf cart caught fire around 1:38 p.m. on Dec. 5.

Fortunately, Coleman was inside getting lunch, so nobody was injured.

“We’re thinking that some wiring became frayed and the vinyl cover made it catch fire,” Principal Larry Schmidt said.

Security cameras show the golf cart giving off puffs of smoke before suddenly going up in flames.

Although the fire department arrived quickly, officials don’t feel like the incident could have been prevented.

“The deterioration is natural,” Schmidt said, “the fire department says it happens often.”

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page 8 • in-depth

Q•

Dec. 16, 2005

A

Dating Violence

Victim’s advocate offers advice concerning abusive relationships Q: Where does abuse normally occur?

A: In the home. When one person assaults another, the main reason is about power and control.

Q: How does an abusive relationship affect an individual?

A: When a woman is assaulted, she is affected in many ways. The main one being the destruction of self-esteem. She may also feel very isolated.

Q: What are some signs of abusive relationships?

A: The controlling. What the other individual does it for is control. Isolation. She may also make up stories about noticeable physical injuries. The lack of any self-esteem is the most horrific. If the relationships is physically abusive then the abused individual may have bruising or other injuries visible.

Q: What is the best way to help or confront someone in an abusive relationship?

A: If you know that this is happening, offer support and be there for them. Give them a help number to call. There are many services out there to listen and help like shelters, support groups, and counseling.

Q: Do most people stay in their abusive relationships? Why? A: A lot of people do stay. They leave an average of seven times before they can stay away. There are various reasons why. The lack of financial support, many times the car is solely in the other person’s name, the couple may have a child together. Unfortunately, leaving is a very difficult thing to do.

These important questions were answered by the Director of Bridgeway Women’s Center, Ms. Pat Kulik. Kulik has had 13 years of experience advising victims of abuse.

Abusive relationships can have serious emotional and psychological effects on the victim. If you or somebody you know is in an abusive relationship, don’t stand by and watch. Seek help.

• Bridgeway Women’s Center • 636.946.4780 Artwork by: Meredith O’Neill

Teen dating gone wrong

Her story

One night, a broken heart, a lesson learned One out of three teenagers experience an abusive relationship. The following is a story written by a senior student at Lafayette. Her experience shows that dating violence is a very real and serious problem. A surprise party for her boyfriend, turned into a horrifying surprise for her.

I never thought I would fall victim to the whole cliche of “if you love me you will.” I thought I was stronger than that.

But I guess I underestimated the power of a first “love.”

My boyfriend and I had been together for about a year and a few months by the time his 16th birthday rolled around. I decided to throw him a surprise party at his house with a few of our close friends.

Later we all ended up in his basement watching movies.

That was when he asked me to go upstairs with him.

I didn’t think anything of it, I considered his house a home away from home for me. Then the whole situation changed.

He started pressuring me into situations that I didn’t want to be in. We talked about it before and it just made me think, “Was he not listening to me? Did he care about me?”

And then he said it. That line....“if you love me you will”...

I remember sobbing and looking at him, saying I couldn’t and I didn’t feel comfortable and I could tell by the way he tightened his grip around my wrist that he didn’t like my answer.

He turned around, his back to me then all of a sudden, he backhanded me.

I instinctively turned away and ended up smashing my face on the hinges of his door, cutting my forehead and spots near my eye.

I ran down into the basement, pleading for one of my girl friends to leave with me because I didn’t know if I was able to get home myself.

Today, I still have a small scar from where I hit the door.

In retrospect, I cringe every time I think about that night. I thought he cared for me and even though after this all happened he claimed he was sorry, I knew he didn’t respect me.

And to me, that’s even worse.

I’ve found that it takes me more time to trust a guy in a relation-

ship now. I also have set barriers, as a self defense system.

But I’ve come to terms with it now. I’m not saying what he did was okay or that the incident was my fault, because it wasn’t my fault and it’s not okay.

But, it’s made me look at relationships and people’s mentalities in a different way.

If it wasn’t for my friends, who knows what would’ve happened to me.

At first I bottled everything up inside, I was more embarrassed than anything to admit that “my boyfriend hit me.”

But looking back, I had no reason to be. Talking about it helps. But, just by talking, it’s not going to make the problem go away, you need to be able to overcome it honestly within yourself.

It has taken me a while to be able to come to terms with it, I have now, and that’s a step in the right direction.

Sabina Saakova • In-Depth Editor “I’m sorry for hurting you.” “If you listen next time it won’t happen again.”

These words may be all too familiar for some: those who have heard them repeatedly and those who have said them.

Violence is an unfortunate reality. That reality becomes more unfortunate when that violent abuse is coming from someone you’re dating.

Statistics provided by the United States Bureau of Justice show that one out of three teenagers have experienced violent relationships.

So what really defines an abusive relationship? Relationships become abusive when individuals attempt to gain control and their partners suddenly feel intimidation and fear.

Often times these people will blame their partners for the violence that they have caused.

The harassing words, the bruises, and the final apathetic apologies cause the victims of the abuse to feel imprisoned and manipulated by the domination their abuser has created.

The list of types of abuse is long. The more prominent types of abuse experienced among teen couples are physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Physical abuse is defined as physical force or violence that results in bodily injury or pain.

Those who have been hit or restrained in some way may suffer from visible bruises, sprains, and/or burns.

The term sexual abuse is often referred to force, unwanted sexual activity or rape.

Statistics show that teenage girls are more likely to suffer from this type of abuse than teenage boys.

Emotional abuse is often also associated with psychological abuse and is often difficult to recognize.

Emotional abuse may be the most dangerous form of abuse for young couples. Young teens are still impressionable and may be emotionally deterred in later relationships.

Although no visible scars are left after verbal abuse, the damage is done to the victims selfimage.

Many don’t realize it, but silly actions such as gentle “play pushing” and false name-calling are mild forms of abuse and can later develop into a serious problem.

It is important to remember that abuse can stop, only if you’re strong enough to get help.

features • page 9

the image

With finals season right around the corner, students look for an extra boost of energy. Prepare for all-nighters with our guide to study fuel.

vs. Energy Drinks

Coffee

The Pros.

Do you prefer coffee or energy drinks?

•Black coffee has 145 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. cup.

•It costs about $1.50 for a bottomless cup in most restaurants.

•New studies say it improves long-term memory.

•It comes in many flavors, and in hot and cold varieties.

Coffee - 29% Neither - 43%

The Cons.

Energy Drinks - 28%

•Coffee stains your teeth.

•Unfiltered coffee beans can raise your blood cholersterol by 20 points.

•It can taste pretty nasty if left on the burner for too long.

215 students polled

Why do you prefer coffee as opposed to energy drinks?

“I like coffee. It’s more natural, where energy drink’s [creators] are like, ‘cyanide...more chemicals! Let’s dump more caffeine in and more artificial colors!’ Coffee is at least from nature, or was at one time.”

• Jessica Kollar, 11

The Pros.

•The average energy drink contains 130 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. can.

•Most are clear or extremely light, so they will not stain your teeth.

•Most of the time, energy drinks taste alright.

•There are tons of vitamins in energy drinks.

The Cons.

•They cost about $2.25 a can, and you do not get refills.

•At an average of 30 g. of sugar per can, it will rot your teeth.

•They taste terrible warm.

•What is vitamin B-9000, and how could I possibly be getting 700 percent of my daily allowance for it from one can of Red Bull?

Why do you prefer energy drinks as opposed to coffee?

“Monster [energy drink] tastes like socks, but it gives me a boost faster than coffee, and I need that to get through high school.”

• Travis Hamm, 12 Jessica Kollar

Travis Hamm

Death by caffeine:

•It takes 66 consecutive cups of coffee to kill the average Lafayette student.

•One-hundred-twenty consecutive cans of Red Bull are required to kill the average Lafayette student.

Sarah Morris • Reporter

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page 10 • feature

Dec. 16, 2005

With college application deadlines and finals season creeping nearer, students feel

Stressed For Success There’s something about Guckes Like most students, commitments such as school, work, family and yearbook all contribute to senior Beth Guckes’ hefty load.

Darren LaCour • Reporter

Top 10 List: “Things I Don’t Want To Deal With This Season”

We asked 116 Students what stresses them out.

The average student is a champion of busyness and multi-tasking, dealing with school, homework, extracurriculars, friends, family and sometimes even jobs.

Senior Beth Guckes has a perfect example of the ideal student’s resume: besides school, she is Sales Manager at The Cages and makeup crew chair for theater productions. Topping it all of, she also has to juggle her boyfriend, friends, chores and family.

Like most seniors, she’s also dealing with college deadlines. “It’s not so much applications, but picking a college that’s going to affect the rest of your life,” she said.

“Then there’s yearbook,” Guckes said. “I’m technically the Academics Editor, but I’m also taking on an editor-in-chief role.”

Her days typically consist of 14-15 hours of hard work, seven for sleeping, leaving “two to three hours a day where I’m non-functional or eating.”

Her lack of free time doesn’t discourage her, however. “I wish I had more time during the day, but it’s definitely worth it,” she said. “I’m one of those people who has to be doing something even when I’m watching TV. Unless it’s Lost.”

Guckes also keeps a secret weapon hidden up her sleeve. Her family dubs them “Mental Health Days.”

It’s for when I’m overworked, “under slept” and overstressed, knowing that I’ll fail everything,” she explained. “I take the day off.”

Even the Energizer Bunny has to charge his batteries sometimes.

1 3 5 7 9

Finals

2 4 6 8 10

College Applications Money

Homework Relationships Grades

Family Work

CLS

Sports

Artwork by: Ankit Barghava

’Twas the month before Christmas

Senior Nikky Pierro is worn out from pressures from school, family, and especially her job at Best Buy. Juggling a part-time job while still keeping good grades is hard enough as it is, but with the holiday shopping season in full swing, it becomes a lot harder to bear.

“I have to deal with school, my parents, work, the SATs, homework - did I mention work? - and on top of all that, I’m dealing with being new,” said senior Nikky Pierro, who moved here from England before the start of this school year.

Her job at Best Buy is very demanding, and the day after Thanksgiving brought her to the brink. “It was crazy because a lot of people expected you to know everything,” she said.

With all these things going on, Pierro reveals that she almost quit her job. “The hours were killing me,” she said. “I needed to be home for family and schoolwork.”

Getting in an accident recently hasn’t helped her stress, adding hospital checkups, insurance calls and the inability to drive where she needs to go.

In spite of all this, Pierro has found a few ways to lower her stress levels: ice cream, hot baths, talking to her friends and especially listening to music.

“Music calms me down and makes my problems go away for the moment the song’s on,” she said.

Despite her intense workload, Pierro does find merit in all her stress. “I know it’s cliché, but I know in the long run it will pay off, even if it doesn’t feel like it now,” she said.

“At least it better pay off!”

Winter season brings some flurries, worries The winter season produces tremendous amounts of stress that nearly overwhelms millions of Americans each year.

For students, it comes from final exams and the end of semester; for workers it comes from end of the year layoffs and the oncoming threat of credit card bills and taxes; for almost everyone it comes from the hassle of buying gifts and seeing family.

“We see a lot of increase in stress levels – from anxiety and also due to various holidays,” said Ms. Lynn Weaver, R.N. “December is an incredibly busy social month.”

In fact, many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that typically occurs at the close of fall and lasts through winter.

While many are eager to attribute this seasonal depression to the holiday stress factors above, research

shows that the main culprit is none other than everyone’s favorite burning ball of gas: the sun.

The decrease in the length of days (and therefore lack of sunlight) has been proven to increase feelings of depression.

“Lack of sunlight reduces some key hormone levels that affect mood,” Weaver explained. According to Science Daily, a study from Ohio University has proven that fluctuation in the lighting provided to hamsters produced more anxiety in the animals during conditions that mimicked winter lighting. Other influential factors included the lighting in which the hamster was born as well as its gender; creatures born in winter lighting and females were more prone to this anxiety.

Clearly, at least in small rodents, the winter season causes more uneasiness due to this lighting deficiency,

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and the same seems to hold true for humans.

For this reason, many doctors recommend light therapy - exposure to a bright light for at least 30 minutes – in order to help cope with feelings of depression.

Weaver says lights that mimic sunlight increases Vitamin D which in turn increases serotonin, a chemical involved in elevating mood.

But what about holiday stress? Truthfully, the media has overblown statistics about wintertime suicide rates (which actually reach a very low point in December) and our own experiences make it seem like holiday stress is unbearable.

The best way to cope would be to take a few deep breaths. “Look on your plate and prioritize; decide whether things have value,” Weaver said. “Enjoy what’s around you and smile.”

features • page 11

the image

Evolution of the

Revolution

Kevin Montes-de-Oca • Reporter “It’s popular. If everyone didn’t have one, I wouldn’t have one either,” sophomore Ben Cole said as the number one reason he has an iPod. While many people just want an iPod to fit into the crowd, many others have reasons for their want and need of iPods.

Nowadays, people not only buy iPods, but accessories for them. One very popular accessory is the iTrip, which allows the iPod to play through a radio .

“I can hook it up to my car and listen to whatever I want,” junior Kathryn Bannister said.

Another reason many people love their iPods are the fact that there are no CDs. “With a CD player you have to change the CD every time you want a new band, but with an iPod you have all your music altogether,” sophomore Dawn Allison said.

Freshman Nick Stading agrees the best reason to have an iPod is, “So I don’t have to carry around all my CDs.” While many teachers and administrators allow students to listen to music during class, many do not. In one such case, freshman Julie Wrocklage received detention.

“I think it’s ridiculous that I got detention for listening to my iPod during lunch, while most of my teachers allow it in class anyway,” Wrocklage said.

As all students know, most of their teachers don’t allow the use of cell phones, iPods, and other things that might cause disturbances.

“I promote technology,” Principal Larry Schmidt said, “but there’s no point to having an iPod in school, because it’s not beneficial.”

In the Hibler family, they share iPods.

“There’s no point to having my own, because there’s always one not being used,” sophomore Theresa Hibler said.

The only iPods that remain on the market include the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, and the Video iPod.

What kind of iPod do you own?

A - Mini - 31% B - Nano - 9% C - Shuffle - 42% D - Photo - 5% E - Video - 12% 129 Students Polled

2001 • First iPod introduced (Mac only)

2002 • iPod released (Mac and PC)

2004 • iPod Mini released • iPod Photo released

2005 • iPod shuffle released • iPod Nano released • Video iPod released

E

D

A

C

B

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page 12 • sports

Dec. 16, 2005

Basketball hopes team depth will prevail Ryan Bueckendorf • Reporter

The 2005-2006 season arrived with high expectations weighted down with the daunting prospects of departed talent.

Gone are last year’s senior standouts Jared Kreienkamp, Matt Lawrence and Landon Shipley.

That trio combined for more than 45 points per game last season as the Lancers made their way to a Conference championship season, going 24-5.

Those personnel losses would be tough for any team to take, but the Lancers have retooled with style in the form of a youthful roster guided by talented seniors.

Returning from last season’s roster is senior guard Cartez Parker, who Coach Dave Porter expects to be equal parts electrifying playmaker and team leader.

“Cartez is an outstanding athlete,” he said. “He can score on defense as well as on offense, and brings a lot of leadership to our team.”

Parker will attract a lot of the defense previously devoted to Shipley and Lawrence, which should free up the Lancers’ other players.

Among these is one of the most heralded freshmen ever to arrive at Lafayette, Tyler Griffey. The 6-8 center is a brilliant mix of shooting touch and post power, and is already generating much interest within Division I circles.

Porter is never short on praise for Griffey and what he brings to the team, but cautions that adjusting to high school play will take some time.

“Tyler Griffey is a phenomenal player.

He’s a kid you dream about, but you have to remember that he is still a freshman.

There will be some games that won’t be as good as others. He has the potential, however, to do it all.”

Joining Griffey up top will be senior

Mark Fitzgerald, with junior T.J. Shaffer coming off the bench.

The Lancer backcourt will consist of Parker, senior Mark Buckley and junior Kevin Fessler, with senior Andrew Freeland and junior Kevin Peifer also seeing time.

The depth the Lancers enjoy is something Porter said was missing from last year’s edition. “We have three or four guys available at every position,” he said, “Last year, we were very thin. This year we have a lot of guys who can step in and play.”

Another strength is the leadership provided by the upperclassmen.

Griffey and fellow freshman Gavin Wiss, who should see varsity playing time, are willing to soak up all the experience they can get. “[The seniors] are stepping up great,” Griffey said, “Cartez, Buckley, all of them.

They are teaching me all kinds of new things.”

This improvement process began when the Lancers opened with St. Francis Borgia/Pepsi Cola Thanksgiving Tournament in Washington falling to host Borgia (Nov. 26) in a nail-biter championship game 47-49.

Regular season action kicked off against Eureka (Dec. 2) as the Lancers netted another win. They beat the Wildcats 66-31.

Their most recent game was a loss to Jackson (Dec. 10), as the Lancers fell 45-50. They next play tonight against Oakville. Lafayette’s 3-2 record is good for sixth in the Suburban West Conference, but they are only 1.5 games back of conference leading Parkway South.

Griffey believes though the team is off to a slow start that they will soon be on the right track.

photo • courtesy of Prestige

•Going Big. During the Lafayette boys basketball game senior Cartez Parker goes in all alone for an easy layup. Parker finished the game with 17 points to lead the Lancers to a huge victory of 66-31.

Lafayette ties Marquette in three great periods of hockey Josh Handler • Reporter After losing star defensemen Brock Gale, the Lancers have relied on their younger roster to step up.

As the season starts, the Lafayette Hockey team appears poised for a run at the playoffs.

Led by Coach Ryan Kane, the team has its goals set.” Coming away with the division title is always a goal,” Kane said.

As for leading players, Kane declined to name individuals stating that “every piece is equally important.”

He sees the team’s strong work ethic and team centered attitude as the team’s strengths for the year.

The Lancers were fifth in the Suburban West conference as of press time, trailing Marquette, Parkway South, Parkway Central and Parkway West.

Senior Kyle Moore leads the team with six goals and is tied with Junior John Neumann with six points each.

Moore is sixth in the Division in goals as well.

Junior Mitchell Hayes has three goals, junior Robert Medlock and freshman Alex Corno each have two goals.

Neumann leads with five assists. He is followed by freshman Andy Simpson with four and senior Jake Silverman with three.

Both of the team’s goalies, junior Matt Germer and senior Adam Saeger, have played well. Germer has a 2.799 goals against average(GAA) and Saeger has a 0.738 GAA.

On Dec. 9, the boys strapped it up for their biggest rivalry, Marquette.

The game started off with Lafayette going down to a quick 2-0 start. The lancers worked their way back to a 3-2 lead in the third period.

The game ended with a 3-3 tie with Marquette capitalizing near the end of the third.

As the season begins things look bright for the future of LHS Hockey as they start the season at 1-2-4.

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sports • page 13

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LHS grad gets nod as NL Rookie of the Year Josh Handler • Reporter Seven years ago, Ryan Howard played on the Lafayette baseball field.

In fact, he holds the LHS record for most home runs in a season with eight. Today he plays at Citizens Bank ballpark in Philadelphia.

Ryan Howard graduated from LHS in 1998. On Nov. 7, 2005, he was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year. Not a bad jump.

While a Lancer, he participated in basketball, baseball and the marching band.

Sound like a normal student? Today, Howard is quickly becoming the most prominent LHS alumni ever, as the starting first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Howard looks back on his days at Lafayette remembering his first varsity game in which he hit two home runs.

He jokes about beating Parkway West, where a good friend played.

Howard also gave some advice to current LHS students about why should take Driver’s Ed “Take Driver’s Ed because I don’t want cats crashing in to me,” he joked in a recent interview.

He is back in town with family and staying in shape by working out and training for nest season.

Howard said his favorite play-

Photo • courtesy of Mr. Paul Dryden

•Alumni Bats Big. Former Lafayette student Ryan Howard was named the National League Rookie of the Year. Howard will be the starting first basemen for the Phillies in the 2006 season.

er growing up was centerfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. Now Howard is following in the 10-time AllStar’s footsteps by slugging his way to the 2005 Rookie of the Year Award.

Prior to the 2005 season Howard was ranked as the number one prospect for the Phillies

by Baseball America.

After an injury to starting first baseman Jim Thome, a former all-star, the way was cleared for Howard to make his major league debut.

And, 22 home runs later, Thome, not Howard as earlier expected, was traded by the Phillies. Howard will have the starting position next season.

Howard’s first pro hit, home run and run batted in (RBI) came in a game in July of 2001.

“It was my first professional hit, home run and RBI and it was in the same at-bat, so that was pretty cool,” he said.

The Phillies did anything they could to dump Thome and his large contract, and to be able to give Howard, their prized prospect, an opportunity to start.

Howard is one of 23 Lafayette grads to be drafted by a major league team and he along with Garrett Bauer, a 2000 27th round draft pick by Arizona appear to be the two with the highest hopes.

As a student at Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University, Howard led in hits in 2000 with 83, homers in 2000 with 18 and 2001 with 13, RBIs in 2000 with 63 and batting average with .379 in 2000.

In 2001, Howard was cocaptain at SMS along with Ben Margalski, nephew of LHS track coach Marty Margalski, and John Rheinecker But only Howard, pitcher John Dettmer and outfielder Scarborough Green got the chance to play for a team in the majors.

Lancer Pitcher Wes Jaillet was also drafted by the Cardinals, but never made the big leagues.

Howard was in the same graduating class as Jaillet, who after one year with Johnson City,

a Cardinals single-A affiliate played for the River City Rascals, a team in the independent Frontier League.

Howard’s graduating class was full of talented athletes.

“We had a bunch of athletes.

Wes (Jaillet) wound up going to SLU, played some pro-ball, my man big Rob (Archibald), he went to Illinois, played basketball, went to the NBA. (Scott) Brewster played ball in college, we had a pretty talented class,” Howard said.

Howard will be starting at first base in 2006 for Philadelphia and is thrilled with the new opportunity.

“It feels cool to be able to go in there this year, and not have to answer those questions (about my role with the team),” said Howard on the subject, “he (Thome) helped me out, he gave me advice, he is a stand-up classy guy.”

Howard is being honored tonight at the boys basketball game against Oakville.

He will be part of a special half-time ceremony, and will take part in the Hot Hoops event.Howard has high expectations for the game, “I’ve heard good things about their squad, I’m looking for big things, I’m looking for people to get dunked on Friday.”

Although some of his future is uncertain, one thing is clear: we haven’t heard the last of Ryan Howard.

page 14 • sports

Dec. 16, 2005

Lady Lancers Hold Court

Girls basketball confident as they enter Visitation Tourney John Cox • Reporter The varsity girls basketball team has started the season on a roll, winning four out of their first five games.

The season began with the annual Randi Perkins Tournament at Marquette. Seniors Amy Vickroy scored 19 points and Danielle Boraz contributed 11 rebounds in the first game’s win against St. Charles West, 67-38.

In their second game against Webster Groves, Vickroy scored 18 points and had 15 rebounds and both Boraz and senior Tori Hartin had 12 rebounds in the 47-28 win.

In the semi-final match-up, Vickroy’s triple-double, Hartin’s double-double, and Boraz’s 13 rebounds helped the girls soundly defeat University City, 64-37 But, the ride ended there. Despite sophomore Sami Dunger’s three 3pointers, senior Michelle Moody’s nine points and Hartin’s 13 rebounds, the girls couldn’t overtake Marquette and lost 3642 in the championship game.

This game was the fourth in five days.

Vickroy said the girls were tired and their shots were not falling.

“They [Marquette] came out playing a defense we hadn’t seen before,” Vickroy said.

Coach Denise Meyer said the five senior starters played with composure throughout the first three games of the tournament.

“We couldn’t win with composure alone,” Meyer said of the loss to Marquette.

However, the team bounced back strong against Summit. Boraz, Hartin,

photo • Bobby Mortimer

•Running Hard. During practice Coach Denise Meyer has the girls running sprints. Their work is paying off as they are well on their way to holding onto their Conference title from last year.

Senior Amy Vickroy leads the sprint and the team in points and blocks.

and Vickroy all scored in double-figures as the girls cruised to a 67-35 victory.

Through five games, Vickroy leads the team in points scored and blocks. “I’ve worked hard in the off season to get in shape,” she said.

Meyer added, “Since the team shootout in August, it’s obvious she has worked very hard to improve on both offense and defense.”

Hartin is second on the team in points scored and rebounds. “Tori has played aggressive and strong in the post,” Boraz said.

Boraz leads the team in rebounds and assists. “Since I’ve been playing the highpost, I just throw it down low to Tori and Amy when I see a smaller girl guarding them,” she said.

There are seven new players on the

team, making a very large varsity roster.

“Our priority is to create team chemistry,” Meyer said.

“We don’t talk about State. We know we have the ability to beat any team. We’ve been looking forward to this season since these seniors were freshmen,” she added.

The defensive guard play of senior Sheena Connely has been nothing less than exceptional this season, as she leads the team in steals.

“Sheena’s quickness makes her one of the best defenders in all of St. Louis,” Vickroy said.

Both Connely and junior Chelsey Carmody have been playmakers. Carmody has contributed significant minutes off the bench.

The added threat of Dunger has given the team a three-point threat they haven’t had in the past.

Tonight at 6 p.m, the girls host Oakville in the first home game and Conference game of the season.

Last season, the team went 6-2 in Conference and ended in a five-way tie for first in the Suburban West. The girls’ goal is to the win Conference outright.

The team plays in the annual Visitation Christmas Tournament beginning Dec. 18 at 6:15 p.m. against Perryville.

The Visitation Tournament is one of the most prestigious in the area.

The team placed fifth last season and this year the are seeded sixth, giving them the chance to play powerhouses Incarnate Word and St. Joe’s.

Playing these teams this early in the season would give the girls much needed experience so they are not surprised later.

Starting With A Splash

Boys deep in talent with returnees, new swimmer Allyson Angle• Reporter

Boys swimming is already off to a fast start. The team’s record for dual meets is currently 2-0.

Even with three guys missing, they won their first meet against Parkway Central (99-84). At their next meet, they beat SLUH (108-77).

They were the 2005 Marquette Relays Champions last weekend, scoring 311 points. Kirkwood was a distant second place with 258 points and SLUH was third with 252 points.

The Lancers were definitely the favorite going into finals in the Marquette Relays because they were the only team that

had only one relay that didn’t make Top 8, which was the 300 breaststroke relay.

All of the other relays placed high in the Top 8 finals.

The team took first in four of the nine relays: 400 medley, 600 IM, 300 backstroke and 300 butterfly. They were second in the 200 medley relay, and placed fourth in three relays: 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 900 freestyle relays.

Last year the team placed second overall at Marquette Relays.

“We were very happy about the success at Marquette Relays and hope to build upon that for the rest of the season,” Zach

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Levko said.

The team is very strong and deep this season.

Second year Head Coach Todd Gabel and senior captains Levko and Marc Phillips are leading them.

Levko was All-American in the 100 backstroke last year. This year, he received the best time so far with 54.56 seconds.

Other senior returnees are Alex Frueh, Lee Holaday, Paul Reinisch and diver Alex Sandroff.

Reinisch is second in Conference in the 50 freestyle. Levko is ranked fourth also on the freestyle.

A few other returning key members for the team are juniors Max Beushausen, Sean Mathews and Jason Weise.

Mathews is ranked number one in Conference for the 100 freestyle.

A new, very dominant addition for the Lancers is junior Taylor Parsons. He swims year round, but this will be his first year competing for Lafayette.

Parsons is ranked at the top of the list for the 500 freestyle with a time of 5.01.33 seconds.

The team’s goal is to place at least third at State this year, which is not impossible based on their overall talent.

sports • page 15

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No first year jitters for this experienced new head coach Alex Davis • Reporter

•Caught Up. During a match against Lindbergh junior Ashley Hudson ties up her opponent. Last year Hudson went to compete in State.

Coach Jake Lapinski has taken over the reigns as head wrestling coach.

And although this is his first year as head coach, Lapinski has had six years prior to this season as an assistant coach.

The first match was a Parkway South tournament, and the Lancers came in fourth place out of 12 total teams. Their first actual dual-match was against Lindbergh High School and the final score was 38-27, Lancers.

Starting out 1-0 is good, but Lapinski has got a long way to go to beat last year’s team, which

After having an entire year off of hockey, the Blues have been nothing but a joke. St. Bobby Mortimer Louis at 5-17•Sports Editor 4 has been the doorway to success for many teams.

After trading their big unit Chris Pronger and losing star defensemen, Al MacInnis the Blues have nothing to show for their season. Starting off with an 11 game losing streak should have been a sign for things to come.

tic compared to most teams.

Jaromir Jagr on the Rangers has 43 points. On the Senators alone they have three guys with 40 or more points.

The Blues lack many talents on the ice, the main stumbling block being that they can’t score.

How are you going to win games when you can’t score?

The Blues have the worst goals for record this year. They have only scored 62 goals. The leading scorer in the league has almost half that amount just by himself.

One major problem is that

photo • Mike Kurlowski

ended the year 9-1 and also tied for second in Conference.

He is lucky enough to have returning State qualifiers senior Josh Moore and junior Ashley Hudson on the squad.

Hudson is the only girl to ever win a State match and was only two points away from placing in state. This is Hudson’s third year on varsity and she is in the 103 lb. weight class.

Moore, on the other hand, is in the 171 lb. weight class and is undefeated in his career. He has won two tournaments and is a returning State qualifier.

Lapinski is looking for this

team to finish in top two for District. Also, he is hoping to have placed in the top five for State, with eight state qualifiers on the team.

For now, the team needs to be looking into what’s happening soon; like the 31st Annual Lafayette Invitational on Jan. 20.

With highly-contested matches like the one versus Northwest on Dec. 14, it should be an interesting first year for Lapinski’s head coaching career.

He said, “It’s going to take everybody wrestling to their levels, and some beyond their level to be able to pull these off.”

The Side Liner: Blues have no chance for winning season after horrible start The Blues have many things they need to change to turn their season around. Right now, they have no goalie to speak of.

Patrick Lalime was being set up to be a great goalie! But to our luck he couldn’t stop a puck if his life depended on it.

So we had to rely on back up goalie Curtis Sanford who has stepped up as the starting goalie now, but is unimpressive to say the least.

How do the Blues measure up in scoring? Their leading is Petr Cajanek. He leads the team with points with 18, a pathetic statis-

there are only a few names that the fans can still remember from last season. For example, Keith Tkachuk, who has only played in five games this year.

The other few months he spent at fat camp trying to loose weight. Way to go Keith. I am glad we pay you the big bucks to play for us.

Another thing I can’t get out of my mind is Dallas Drake.

What have you done for the team this year? All I’ve see of you is sitting in the penalty box.

Oh, did I mention the Blues are for sale. Who is going to want to

buy the Blues? The games don’t sell out and I bet there is better attendance at Lafayette’s games than at the Savvis Center. Right now any high school hockey team could dominate the Blues.

But, I have a few ideas for a winning season.

My first tip is to try to win back the crowd. With a bigger crowd there will be more enthusiasm throughout the area. Also MORE fights. Crowds love to see two grown men butcher each other… My last piece of advice is to make some trades. We cannot go on with a losing season.

Play Rugby this spring!

No experience is necessary.

High School Rugby is now available to Lafayette and Rockwood Summit High School Men. Be a playing member of the Eureka Rugby Club, one of six St. Louis area high school Rugby Teams.

The Eureka Rugby Football club will compete in the St. Louis area High School Championship. The St. Louis area Championship team will compete in a regional and potentially a national High School Rugby Championship. The governing body of Rugby in St. Louis, The Missouri Rugby Football Union, will also assemble a Select-Side team to represent St. Louis in a national Under 19 tournament. That tournament is used to select the United States Under 19 Select-Side Rugby Team. Four St. Louis area players, including a Eureka player, were invited to the Select Side Camp.

Practices start for the Eureka Rugby Club on Tuesday, January 10 at Eureka Elementary School. The address is 442 West Fourth Street, Eureka, MO 63025-1804.

For more information contact Coach Matt Strickland Phone: 314-607-1141 Email: stricklandmatthew@rockwood.k12.mo.us For more information about High School Rugby in St. Louis go to www.morugby.org.

For More information about High School Rugby in the United States go to www.usarugby.org.

in•out•about page 16 • entertainment

Upcoming Events Mississippi Nights 314.421.3853

photo • Niky Norton

•Light up the Night. Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka is just one of the many light displays in the area. With over two-million lights, it is the largest in St. Louis.

Celebrating The Season

Local displays add to holiday festivities Niky Norton • Entertainment Editor The holidays mean something different for everyone. For some, it means time with family around the Christmas tree. For others, it means sledding down Art Hill with friends and still for others it means lighting candles for eight nights of light.

No matter what special traditions we have, there are many things to enjoy during the holidays in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Zoo is one of the most popular and eventful places to enjoy during the holidays.

Although cold outside, the Zoo still offers a lot for those looking to celebrate.

For gifts, the Holiday Zootique located in the lower level of the Living World, has stocking stuffers, decorations, ornaments, clothes, toys, games, stuffed animals, books and candles.

Also at the Zoo, the U.S. Bank Wild Lights display features electric exhibits of penguins, flamingos, butterflies, elephants, fish and bullfrogs. There are also opportunities to meet the birds, take a photo at the Polar Express

and enjoy rides such as Glacier Run and an animated motion simulator.

Admission is $4 per member and $5 per non-member. It will last from Dec. 15-23 and 26-30 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Finally, the zoo offers a festive Breakfast with Santa. The meal includes Belgian waffles with sausage, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, doughnuts and beverages.

The event will have costumed characters and those who come can take a picture with Santa. At the end of the event, visitors receive a treat bag.

Breakfast will take place the weekend of Dec. 18 from 9-11 a.m. Pre-paid reservations are required at $14 for children and $18 for adults and can be made at (314) 768-5413.

If cuddly animals and Santa aren’t enough, a trip to the historic Lemp Mansion also offers an entertaining experience. The Lemp is currently hosting Holiday for Scrooge.

This comedy, murder mystery encourages audience participa-

tion and includes a four-course dinner.

The show takes place weekly at 7 p.m. now through Jan. 14. Reservations can be made at (314) 664-8024. Seats are $38.95.

Through the years, Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park has become a favorite for many.

Senior Lauren Goede goes every year to this display with her family.

“I like to see the creative designs the most. It’s fun to see how they do everything,” Goede said.

Goede liked the show so much, her family bought some light displays for their home.

“We bought one of the deer with the moving heads because it looked so cool,” Goede said.

This display has over two million lights illuminating holiday scenes.

The display is open 5:30-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:3011 p.m. Friday-Saturday, lasting through Jan. 2.

Save $4 Monday-Thursday by

donating a new unwrapped toy or pay $16 per car and $12 for the train ride.

A bit further away, Tilles County Park is holding Winter Wonderland 2005. The park exhibits over 1 million lights and carriage rides.

Visitors can enjoy the display from 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday, except New Years, at $9 per car. Carriage rides are offered only on Saturday.

One of the oldest and most frequented holiday light displays is Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville.

One of the better things about this exhibit is the fact that it is free. It lasts until Jan. 6, and occurs nightly.

For those who celebrate other holidays, there are festivals offered at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

On Dec. 18, from noon-4 p.m., there is a free Chanukah program and on Dec. 28, also from noon-4 p.m., there is a free Kwanzaa celebration.

Kwanzaa celebrates tradition, culture and family Niky Norton • Entertainment Editor Other than being a holiday celebrated from Dec. 26 -Jan. 1 by African-Americans, not much is widely known about Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is an African- and Pan-American holiday that celebrates community, family and culture.

The holiday is derived from the first harvest celebrations of Africa, for which it gets the name “Kwanzaa,” derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza.” This saying translates to “first fruits” in Swahili.

This holiday is based on the five fundamental activities of “first fruit” celebrations: ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration.

It is therefore shaped around the activities of gathering of people and reaffirming bonds, thanking the Creator and having respect for the beauty of creation, remembering the past to better the future, bringing forth the best of African culture in thought and practice, and celebrating existence.

Kwanzaa was first created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, a professor at California State University, to reaffirm African roots

and celebrate that culture while reconstructing African culture with the Black Liberation Movement. The Organization Us founded Kwanzaa and regulates the traditions to confirm bonds among the people who choose to celebrate.

The Organization Us also introduced the concept of Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles, which are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

Finally, Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday and not a religious one, which unifies all followers under one common belief based on culture and values.

Sophomore Miya Norfleet-Aiken said, “When I was in kindergarten we celebrated it at my school. It was really important because it was all black kids. Since then, though, I haven’t really celebrated it. I really don’t know anyone who does it anymore which is sad because it was really fun.

Jan. 4 @ 6:30 p.m. The Click Five Jan. 6 @ 7 p.m. Centerpointe, The Dog and Everything, Eclectic Fusion, Feb. 11 @ 7 p.m. Less Than Jake, A Wilhelm Scream, Rock N’ Roll Soldiers, Damone March 18 @ 6 p.m. The Academy Is…, Acceptance, Panic! At the Disco, Hellogoodbye Creepy Crawl 314.621.9333 Dec. 20 @ 7 p.m. Plain White T’s, Spitalfield, Dropping Daylight Dec. 22 @ 7:30 p.m.

Femme Fatality, Hyperbubble, Murder Happens, Electrozoids Jan. 1 @ 2 p.m. Eclectic Fusion, Standpointe, Sliding Society, ADHD, Fail to Succeed, Larkspur, Radio Drive, Harvey, Dressed for a Funeral Jan. 3 @ 7 p.m. Crimson Addict Lafayette 458.7200 Jan. 16 @ 7:30-11 p.m.

Hot Hoops featuring Eclectic Fusion, Nexus, Living Water, Seraphix, Upheavel Tilles County Park 314.615.7275 Nov. 23-Jan. 1 Winter Wonderland 2005 The Pageant 314.726.6161 Dec. 21-22 @ 7 p.m. Wish You Were Here: A Tribute to Pink Floyd Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Dec. 8-Jan. 2 @ 5:3010:30 p.m. Sun-Thurs. and 5:30-11 p.m. Fri-Sat Santa’s Magical Kingdom