Feb. 24, 2006 Image by Lafayette High School

Inside This Edition

•Is Cancun ready for you during Spring break?

see page 6

•Students face challenges of being homosexual.

see pages 8-9 •A closer look at eyes.

see page 11

•Boys swim team finishes third at State.

see page 15

image the

Friday, Feb. 24, 2006 Vol. 37 • Issue 6

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

Likelihood of drug testing increases Schools look into possibility of testing all students, not only athletes Ashley Edlund • Reporter Drug dogs, security cameras and Breathalyzer tests before school sponsored dances. Restricted web sites on school provided laptops. Precautions like these are common at private schools like Christian Brothers College (CBC). But recently, administrators at CBC have announced that they hope to take those precautions even further with a mandatory drug test policy. Drug testing of students involved in school activities became a legal option to public school districts in the United States back in 2001, when the Supreme Court ruled in Pottawatomie City v. Earls. Oklahoma Tecumseh High School student Lindsey Earls argued drug testing was an invasion of privacy and a violation to the Fourth Amendment. But, the court found drug testing would give students involved in extracurricular activities a reason to stay away from drugs, and found the law to be constitutional. Therefore, students at public schools who participate in athletics or activities could legally be asked to take a drug test, however, the Rockwood School District has not moved to make policy concerning the tests. Students at CBC have had mixed reactions about the testing. If approved by parents, students enrolled at CBC would be randomly selected through the school year to take a hair follicle test. If they do not pass, students would be given 100 school days to clean up and retest. If students fail the test a second time, they will be removed from school. If approved, the testing would begin next fall. Among those with a mixed reaction is CBC senior Logan Killingsworth. Killingsworth said he believes the testing will not only stereotype CBC in a negative way, but it will also pave the way for drug testing in other private schools. “We’re starting the chain reaction,” Killingsworth said. “Once we do it, SLUH will do it, Vianney will do it; we’re escalat-

photo • Lauren Graham

•Pending Policy. Christian Brothers College (CBC) administrators announced they hope to implement a mandatory drug test for every student at CBC. If parents of CBC students agree to the policy, students will be randomly selected through the year to take a hair follicle test.

ing this.” Officials stated in a press conference that although they don’t feel like CBC has a drug problem, they hope that implementing random drug testing will give their students a reason to say no. The idea that a school could require testing has some wondering could mandatory drug testing happen in a public district such as Rockwood? School board member Ms. Mary Battenberg said she believes the reaction would be similar. “As it has been the case at CBC, I believe parents would be on both sides of the issue,” Battenberg said. Drug testing within the district is voluntary, instigated by consent of both a student and their parent(s). Due to this, Rockwood has focused on drug education and awareness through programs like DARE and STAR.

Activities Director Steve Miller said he believes drugs are a societal issue. “Whether you’re on a sports team or not, it’s out there,” he said. “I hope kids, in extracurricular activities or not, aren’t using them because if they’re caught, there is a severe consequence.” With new technology, parents are able to take matters into there own hands. Breathalyzer tests, as well as other drug detecting methods, are common and found at stores like Walgreens. Students like junior Ben Kappel think drug testing won’t solve the problem. Kappel said, “The lack of trust won’t change anything and the invasion of privacy is wrong.” Kappel is attempting to start a Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The program would go against drug testing and discuss current drug laws and the consequences. Assistant Principal John Shaugnessy

said though he supports the need for drug testing in certain venues, he believes the district’s drug awareness programs are just as important. “I think there’s a strong support for establishing programs that are more proactive,” he said. “One of the neat things about working with students through programs like DARE and STAR is you create a opportunity for student voice to be heard and a trust factor develops between all parties involved. By implementing drug testing, you create a sense of guiltiness and that the problem already exists and you’re trying to catch people, which deteriorates the openness you established from the start.” Parent Ms. Vicky Huesgen agreed. She said while she favors drug testing, she would rather see help given then expulsion. “If they were actually doing drugs I would rather know and help them,” Huesgen said. She added, “I don’t think expelling them from school would help. I think counseling would be better.” Athletes tend to play a more visible role in representing their high school, whether it’s public or private. Due to this, many schools around the country drug test and hold athletes to a higher standard than other students. Basketball player senior Michelle Moody said mandatory drug testing would have a positive impact on sport programs at Lafayette. “I think it would actually make our performance better,” Moody said. “People wouldn’t want to get caught so they wouldn’t do them.” But some parents feel it’s more important to test suspected students, rather then to start blanket testing. “I think kids who are suspected should be tested and I think all athletes should be tested for safety,” parent Ms. Katie James said. “You don’t want a pole vaulter to come to practice stoned and break his neck. Athletes should be held to a higher standard.”

Fields earns Teacher of the Year honors

“ .”

Kevin Pinney • Editor in Chief After teaching for seven years, a giant reward in the form of Teacher of the Year has come Ms. Colleen Fields’ way. Fields was awarded the honor after the staff voted at its faculty meeting on Feb. 17. A very personal speech was delivered by senior Demetria Rainey involving teen pregnancy and thoughts of dropping out of school. Rainey said Fields persuaded her not to quit. “Speech has a lot of power in persuading faculty,” Language Arts teacher Mr. Nathan Willard said. “We want the speech thing to be the

Ms. Fields shows respect to her students even when they don’t respect her •Senior Demetria Rainey

thing that biases the voting.” Last year, a student delivered Willard’s nominating speech when he won Teacher of the Year. As the Freshman Class sponsor, Committee of 520 facilitator and an assistant coach for the Speech and Debate team, Fields is very active at school. She teaches 9th and 10th Reading Strategies and Language Arts. There were 12 nominees, and from those, five finalists were selected. The committee looks at a nomination form, the nominee’s resumé, and written answers to two educational questions.” Ms. Fields shows respect to her students even when they don’t respect her,” Rainey said in her speech. Other finalists were Mr. Brad Balog, music; Ms. Susan Glenn, social studies; Ms. Jennifer Murray, mathematics; and Ms. Nancy Smith, journalism.

•Head of the Class. Ms. Colleen Fields’ attitude and personality inside and outside of the classroom were contributing factors in her win of this year’s Teacher of the Year honors.

page 2 • editorial

Feb. 24, 2006

what you didn’t say to your Valentine

Stars To:

It’s not all bad in the Middle East, despite what you think We are known around the world. We are richer than other countries and feel threatened by those unlike us. We think it is our job to police the planet. Well, maybe it’s not. Since entering Iraq, the United States has overthrown a dictator and established a new government. This leaves yet another country living in a nicer, more civil way. Or at least it’s nicer in our eyes. Unfortunately, the American way of seeing things isn’t always the most appealing to other countries. And maybe these countries don’t want us to step in and change their government. It may not be our way. It may not be democratic. But they’re used to it. No one ever asked us to change Iraq. We just went in and created another Vietnam War. After the 1940s, there has been a continuing trend of the United States trying to spread democracy and stop communism. If a bodybuilder was walking past and alley and saw a scrawny guy getting mugged, he would hopefully stop and help him. The United States is a bodybuilder, and the world is our alley. But the situation is completely different. It is not our job to help the scrawny guys from getting hurt unless they call for help. It’s too hard for the United States to

image info Staff Members

Editor in Chief • Kevin Pinney News Editor • Lauren Graham Opinion Editor • Mary Belzer Feature Editor • Sabina Saakova Lifestyle Editor • Niky Norton Entertainment Editor • Britt Peters Sports Editor • Bobby Mortimer Asst. Sports Editor • Josh Handler Ad Manager • Nick Kelly Artists • David Sajewich, Meredith O’Neal Adviser • Nancy Y. Smith MJE Photographer • Mike Kurlowski Reporters: Allyson Angle, Jen Apoian, Ryan Bueckendorf, John Cox, Jasmine Cross, Alex Davis, Ashley Edlund, Jeanne Francois and Brad Schlemmer

understand that everything doesn’t have to be our way all the time. In all honesty, it shouldn’t always be about a system that doesn’t agree with our beliefs. In the midst of the war, we seem to have forgotten about the people. These people are just like us. They live everyday like we do, just trying to get by. The extremists, such as members of al-Qaeda, are the problem. The United States is full of extremists, too. We’ve all heard about the gang wars. But that doesn’t make every American a bad person. And what about the Ku Klux Klan? In theory, they’re the same as al-Qaeda. Both are a hate group. Both kill innocent civilians. But not all Christians are bad, right? Not all people of Middle-Eastern descent are bad, either. They’re people just like us. Their children go to school, their husbands work all day and their wives go to the grocery store. These people are in danger everyday, which is only worsened by the war. They’re just like African-Americans after the Emancipation Proclamation of the Civil War. The Iraqi people are history in the making, just like us. Although teenagers of the Middle East are exactly like teenagers of the United States, racism exists, even in American schools. After Sept. 11, the discrimination in

editorial 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.

our schools was outrageous. Though it has calmed down, the racism still exists. We need to leave the people of Iraq alone and let them live. Just as we want to. Maybe it’s time for the United States to step back a bit. We need to stop trying to be better than everyone. Does being the first country to posses and the only country to use nuclear weapons make us better than the rest of the world? Of course not. The only reason why the United States spends billions of dollars each year to keep it’s nuclear arsenal in service is as a last ditch bargaining chip. But we can’t forget that we’re also dismantling many of our warheads too. Policing is not our right. It’s not our job. It’s not our time. It’s not our place.

•Pretzels are the perfect food. We dare you to think of another food that you can dip in mustard, chocolate or cheese and have it taste good in each. •We’re sorry about what happened in New Orleans, but Mardi Gras is coming up, and maybe this will give St. Louis a chance to be number one in something other than meth production. •Sure, the last Escadrille performance was a little explicit. But if you’re going to act all shocked about a show at a pep assembly, no more bumping and grinding for you at Turnabout. •The Olympics are bringing together patriotism and drunk skiiers. Let’s hear it for the underdogs who have taken hotdogging to a whole new level. •Seniors only have 83 days left until the end of their finals. That’s 83 days until freedom from our humble halls. Freshmen, however, have 83 days plus one week plus three years. You do the math.

Gripes To:

•Soda names are getting ridiculous. Before we know it, we’ll have Diet Cherry Vanilla Jalepeño Chocolate Soy Bean Orange Grape Strawberry-Kiwi Caffeine Free Coke. Delicious. •The boys swim team placed third in State apparently thanks to inspirational words from the one and only Chuck Norris. Maybe the first place team didn’t spend so much time making up stories. •Professional hockey players were caught betting and breaking all kinds of rules. Thanks for setting a great example and a wonderful reputation. Oh, and thanks for taking away press coverage from the Olympics. •As if wearing pants with words on the butt alone weren’t distracting enough. If your pants say “pink” then make sure they’re pink, or you become both distracting and confusing. •A political cartoon is no reason to burn down a KFC. It may have been offensive, but it’s not the Colonel’s fault. Ask yourself: What would Mohammed do? •Vice President Dick Cheney shot his hunting buddy without even having a license to shoot quail. I’d have to say the hunt for terrorists is getting a little extreme. •What ever happened to tator tots in the lunch line? I haven’t eaten all day. Bring back the tator tots, gosh.

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

More like LaCoste way too much letters to the editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the article “There’s the line, don’t cross it” in the last edition of The Image. In Mary Belzer’s article she attacks President Bush for “declaring himself the right to listen to or view any phone calls or emails of suspected terrorists without a warrant.” When you write, “the media has us convinced that anyone with dark skin is going to place a bomb in our car”, you are very wrong. It is just our society. The United States is a melting pot, and there are many different religions, ethnicities and skin colors. All people stereotype, you do it yourself and you probably don’t even realize it. We are at war in case you forgot. Things have to change during wartime. Take World War I for example, people were arrested when they said they opposed the war. Finally, President Bush nor any other government official isn’t going to share with us “where these terrorists are.” If they know that we know where they are, they’ll move somewhere else. It’s called “top secret” and happens to be a question of national security- of which protects all Americans- look it up. If the government needs to bend the rules to ensure planes aren’t flying into the White House, full baseball/ football stadiums, then so be it. By the way, it is very disrespectful to the call the President of the United States a “farm-boy” regardless of your freedom of speech. Some things written and said are just a matter of manners. Sincerely, Garett Rosswick, 9 Dear Editor, I recently attended a party to listen to some music and have a good time. One of my friends was playing in a band and I wanted to support him. Preceding their act was a two person group, whose songs left much to be desired. One song, “Dirty Mexican” can be categorized by its filthy name. Another song, about a ‘perfect woman’ spoke only of her making sandwiches and falling prey to a man’s every whim. The lyrics were profane and vulgar, and a child, no more than eight was in the room listening to and absorbing all of it. I was so sickened I left after three songs and didn’t even get to hear my friend play. Now maybe I missed out on the “high school experience,” or maybe my parents just raised me with morals, but the distasteful display unfortunately spoke volumes about our student body. In the guffawing audience were some of the school’s most prominent and respected students. The example they set, instead of righteous, respectful, and mature, is crass, vulgar, and completely disgusting. As we all grow to adulthood and set our personalities in the forms they are sure to hold through our lives, let’s remember what’s important and try to live up to our “finest students in the nation” reputation. Sincerely, Lauren Hibler, 12

Letters to the Editor Policy

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 Ms. Nancy Smith in Room 213, or to any Image staff member, or via e-mail to smithnancy@rockwood. k12.mo.us

Just like any girl, I’ll admit there’s nothing like putting on a new pair of jeans or reaching in a new purse. Especially when that purse cost me a few hundred dollars. Looking through our humble halls, I’ve noticed a rising trend of ridiculously expensive fashion. In particular the $30 white Hollister tank top that I could also buy at Target for four bucks. Wearing brand names is apparently the only way to get noticed anymore. A green tee is just a green tee unless it has the little tiny American Eagle bird in the corner. Then it’s gold. And worth about three times as much. The varied selection of shoes has also become very popular. It seems like every girl has a pair of black stilettos, gold flats and fuzzy boots. It’s really amazing how many hundreds of dollars are spent to keep our feet from getting cold and dirty. Comfort, however, is overrated. Getting stuck behind a pair of heels when you’re late to class is never good. Learn to walk in them before you wear them, ladies. But, it’s not just girls. I know a handful of guys that would trade their souls for a pair of Diesel jeans faster than they could work up the courage to ask a girl to prom. Guys used to just wear jeans and a tee shirt all the time. Occasionally, they’d whip out the button-down for a nice evening. Now I see way too many guys dressing better than I do, more expensive than I do, and wearing way more pink than I do. And enough with the popped collars, boys. Your neck won’t be warmer and you won’t look any more attractive. Just put it back down before I do it for you. I don’t really understand why things are the way they are. Maybe the pricey threads are just a confidence

Quite

Contrary by Mary Belzer

booster. That way some girl might look pretty enough for that guy to finally ask her to go for a ride in daddy’s new BMW. But why do we need this cheap form of satisfaction? Most of my wardrobe comes from Target and Goodwill, and I’m doing just fine. I can’t imagine how some of you must feel in those $200 jeans. And who exactly decides what is cool? The fashion police does not really exist. It’s not like the fashion Gods came down and taught us how to live peacefully and look cool doing it. Maybe we should thank the designers themselves. Whether something is cool or not, if Abercrombie charged $60 for it, half the school would be all over that. My last question is simple. Where does everyone get the money for this? I find it hard to believe that most people work hard enough to buy $70 track jackets. If mommy and daddy are funding you, have fun after college when they cut you off. If you fit this description, hopefully you understand where I’m coming from. If not, just remember me next time you’re searching for your two dollar chap stick in your $800 purse.

I see London, I see France

Everybody has them. They’re on your body almost everyday. They’re involved in one of the oldest tricks in the book. Oh yes, they’re underwear. Whether you wear boxers, briefs, panties or anything inbetween (if you catch my drift), what I’m about to say may shake the very foundation you were raised upon. You don’t need underwear. I mean, what has underwear ever done for you? Let’s think back to when we were little. When you wet your pants (come on, we all did it at least once) what did you have to change along with your pants? Yep, your tighties. And in middle school, when we had to disrobe in front of our peers, some things had to go. Namely your batman (or if you’re a girl, your pretty pretty princess) undies. Guys had to get something new. Something that said, “I am now a man.” So we went with shark and lego boxers. And ladies, how often have you bought a pair of pants that you can see the underwear through? Or better yet, you have to wear a certain pair with those by pants. The truth is, underwear is a hassle and causes more problems than it’s worth. They’re expensive, and what do you do once you get an awesome pair that you absolutely love? Show them off? I think not. I can hear this one coming. “What if I’m wearing a skirt?” I’ve got a solution. Maybe if you didn’t dress like the ladies in the red light district you wouldn’t have that problem. Think about that while you’re wearing your stilettos.

But I do understand there is a perceived need to wear undergarments for some sporting events. The only reason is because you have to change in the locker room in front of other people. I say go without underwear anyway. To the people that don’t like that idea, I say this to you: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen (or in this case, the locker room). I’m not talking about being homosexual either. That’s what pages eight and nine are for in this issue. I’m talking about being secure. Now if there were some alternatives to the current underwear selections I might have a different opinion. One example of an alternative might be this: why pay $20 for a mass-produced, sweatshop-created, piece? To help the economy? To serve as a half (insert synonym for donkey here) barrier between you and your pants? Yes, and yes. I’ve got a solution to that. Since the ladies are so into designer purses, I thought to myself, why not Gucci Gutchies? They’d be hot. Just think, leather outside, fur inside. You know that sounds appealing. For the people that don’t want to pay a lot for their drawers, I’ve got a solution as Kevin Pinney well. Spray on underwear. It comes in a can and after you’re done in the shower, you just spray ’em on. How cool is that? Frigid I’d have to say. They’d wash off too, don’t worry. Here’s a fun fact as well. Most cavemen didn’t wear underwear. Trust me, my grandpa, who claims to have been alive during the time of dinosaurs, says so. Why would he lie to me? They wore loincloths. I’m thinking they were on to something. So put that in your mouth, chew it. It’s delicious.

A Pinney For Your Thoughts

Just asking... photo opinion

This month the Image asks “What’s your favorite corny joke?”

-compiled by Mary Belzer and Kevin Pinney

Buddy Blevins, 12 “What has two legs and bleeds all over the place? Half a cat.”

Allison Hancock, 11 “Why did the vampire go to the doctor? He was coffin.”

Nick Williams, 10 “Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep. He waits.”

Cindy Solomon, 9 “True or false - Pi r squared? False - pies are round.”

Nichole Ballard-Long, Librarian “What do you get when you cross a teacher and a vampire? Lots of blood tests.”

page 4 • campus

bits& pieces

news at a glance

• compiled by Jasmine Cross

Thanks, Mom and Dad

Senior year for the Class of 2006 is winding down. Now is the time to celebrate with parents at the Mother/Son Brunch and Father/Daughter Dance. The Mother/Son Brunch will be held on March 11, at the Double Tree Hotel from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Father/Daughter Dance will be held on March 11, at the Doubletree at 7 p.m. For more information contact Ms. Jacque Speed at (636) 2735992 or speedjacque@yahoo.com or contact Ms. Ann Leonard at (636) 458-2139 or rleonard01@earthlink.net.

Eagle Scout betters Babler

Senior Nick Robinson completed his Eagle Scout project this past fall. Robinson chose to build 10 bat boxes to mount in Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park. The goal of the project was to keep the bats from building nests in the historical buildings located in the park. Robinson has been a Boy Scout since elementary school and has continued through high school because he “enjoys being outdoors and being able to explore new things.” The Boy Scouts of America is a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. “It’s a great experience, there is tons to learn, and if people enjoy being outside and exploring, join scouts or any other outdoor group,” said Robinson.

Changes to Highway 40

Construction on Highway 40 from Sarah Street in St. Louis to west of Spoede Road in Frontenac will begin in 2007 and will end in the year 2010. This project will consist of the road, bridges and the interchange of Interstate 170 and Highway 40 being rebuilt. The interchange of Interstate 170 will include additional changes outside of the rebuilding. It will receive a new lane that goes in each direction between Spoede and Interstate 170. This project will cost $535 million to complete. However, some of Highway 40 will remain open for use.

fyi

Feb. 24, 2006

(compiled by students in Writing & Reporting)

activities at a glance

Escadrille

Varsity Escadrille will be competing at State Nationals in Kansas City on Feb. 24 -25. The girls appeared in the St. Charles Competition recently and placed first and second in the Pom and Jazz categories.

Black Student Union (BSU)

Several members of BSU completed a Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Conference that eight members attended. Also, Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Cooperation (VICC) is doing an article on BSU for the front page of their March issue.

Yearbook

March 3, marks the end of Legend yearbook sales. After that date, the yearbook’s price goes up and nameplates (which are an additional $5) are no longer available. If you want to purchase a yearbook and nameplate, applications can be found on the website at wwwlrockwood.k12.mo.us/lafayette/smith

Robotics Team

On Feb. 20, the Robotics Team sent in their robot for inspection before their competition. The team worked on the robot almost everyday preceding the send in deadline in order to correct errors in the robot’s operation. The competition will be in March.

Renaissance

The Renaissance Student Steering committee has recently held new member selections. The seven new members representing the Freshman Class are Joseph Deavenport, Alexandra Holder, Ashley Mace, Keely McCaskie, Christina Napper and Ashley Zerr. The new members will join the current members in the preparation and planning of the Academic Pep Assembly. The pep assembly will be held on March 14. The freshmen will also have the opportunity to attend the Jostens Renaissance Leadership Conference held at Camp Wyman from March 31- April 1. Schools from all around the United States will be there to learn new leadership skills to implement in their own Renaissance programs.

Key Club

In March, Key Club will help build a trail in Chesterfield Bottoms with “Friends of the Big Muddy.” They are also looking for more volunteers to join in Relay for Life in June.

Junior Advisory

Junior Advisory will be volunteering at Taste of West County on Feb. 27. It will run from 5:30-8 p.m. in the Commons. Over 25 area restaurants will be participating this year. A silent auction will also be part of the fundraiser. Individual tickets are $10 and a family of four is $35. Tickets will not be available at the door, but can be purchased in the Junior Office.

Your Ad Could Be Here!

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news • page 5

the image

Schedule choices down to 5 with final decision nearing Lauren Graham • News Editor

The process of picking a new schedule model has been long. Taking everything into consideration and picking one schedule type that accommodates for all class types and class structures has been one cause of the long process. Now, the Rockwood Building Schedule committee has narrowed its choice down to five models. “Each type of schedule has it’s advantages and disadvantages for both students and teachers and parents,” committee member Ms. Deborah Parker said. One of the models is the Pattonville Model (ABC). On type A days, there would be seven periods. On type B and C days, the classes will be in a blocked schedule making class time for each subject longer. The second model is the Parkway West Model (Hybrid). In this model, it would be a seven period day or

block schedule, depending on what the teachers prefer to teach. “Parkway West and Pattonville schedules both have regular seven period days as well as at least two blocked days. Students could have more homework on the days they have all seven periods but they might have more time to do it because in between will be the blocked days. There will be built in time during blocked classes to have Science or FACS Labs,” Parker said. The third model is the Drop Schedule. This would be a seven period day, dropping one class each day so that the classes would go through a cycle. The Trimester is the fourth model. In this model, it would be a five period day with three trimesters a year. This would replace the current two semesters per year schedule that is currently in

action. “If we were to go with the Trimester schedule, we would have to figure out how to keep up with our AP classes and their exam times,” Parker said. Last is the Modular. This model would consist of six periods per day. It’s built on a concept of 20 minute pods and the class times could differ. “If we were to go with the Modular, we would have to figure out what our students would be doing with their ‘extra’ time during the day and where we would be able to accommodate students within the building,” Parker said. “Each schedule offers something different for the committee to study,” Principal Larry Schmidt said. With such an important decision, one may think that the process the committee has gone through may have been a tense and stressful one. However, this is far from

the truth. “The people on the committee are so wonderfully open-minded; how it ought to be,” committee member Ms. Katie Klahn said. Schmidt agrees. “I have found everyone on both the building and district committee to be very open minded and cooperative throughout this entire process. This will be a decision with wide ranging effects so the process is designed so we can address all questions or concerns before arriving at a final decision,” Schmidt said. Whichever the committee chooses as the final choice, the main concern is picking the best one for the Rockwood School District. “I want something that’s flexible for all classes. Some classes I realize need block and some that need to meet everyday, so something that accommodates both of these things would be good,” committee

member Mr. Jeff Tamaroff said. Committee members will soon be visiting different schools that employ the five different types of models. After hearing about each model, eventually one will be decided upon and picked as the final choice. “Following the visits, the committee will meet again and discuss the pluses and minuses of each schedule. That will probably not occur until the end of March or early April,” Schmidt said. Parker said, “This is an exciting time to work in one of Rockwood’s high schools. We have a lot of possibilities out there for us. I believe Rockwood will continue to offer the best high school education around and Lafayette will make the best of whichever schedule is chosen.” The new schedule will go into affect for the 20072008 school year.

AMC is looking for friendly, enthusiastic, honest and smart people to join our Film Crew team as Concessionists, Ushers & Cashiers Apply online at www.amctheatres.com or Call 1-866-HIREAMC AMC recognizes and rewards shining stars.

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page 6 • campus

bits& pieces

news at a glance

• compiled by Jasmine Cross

Thanks, Mom and Dad

Eagle Scout betters Babler

Changes to Highway 40

fyi

Feb. 24, 2006

(compiled by students in Writing & Reporting)

activities at a glance

Escadrille

Black Student Union (BSU)

Yearbook

Robotics Team

Renaissance

Key Club

In March, Key Club will help build a trail in Chesterfield Bottoms with “Friends of the Big Muddy.” They are also looking for more volunteers to join in Relay for Life in June.

Junior Advisory

Your Ad Could Be Here!

Contact The Image at 458-7200 ext. 2338

15529 Manchester Road (636) 227-9100 Across From Royal Gate Dodge

$10 Off Any Special Occasion Styling With any color service, get a “free” bottle of Biolage Color Care Shampoo

And for you men, choose a “free” styling aid from our line of American Crew after your haircut.

page 6 • news

Feb. 24, 2006

Paradise: hardhats included Vacationers travel to Destin, Cancun despite damage Jen Apoian • Reporter

“

Beginning with Arlene and ending with Zeta, Mother Nature didn’t have time to sleep in 2005. Last year’s hurricane season broke records and produced the some of the most disastrous hurricanes in United States history. After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf, the only thing on anyone’s mind was news of relief efforts—both local and somehow federal. A total of 27 hurricanes and tropical storms emerged last year. The average hurricane count is six. 2005 surpassed that number by 9— making 15. Over half made landfall, and over half were indicated at Category Two or higher. Others, like Tropical Storm Franklin, whirled around a bit and quickly died out. With the Spring Break season coming, Americans are focused on travel plans. Classic hot spots—mostly Cancun and Destin—are prime examples. Destin, Florida boasts of emerald waters, sandy beaches and mild temperatures. “It’s always pretty and crowded and fun,” sophomore Sarah Stumpf said of her vacation spot in Florida. “I’ve been going there periodically for seven years.” Cancun, Mexico is also at the top of many teenagers’ lists. It, too, includes shimmering oceans, white beaches and an extended nightlife. However, the 2005 hurricane season didn’t spare either of the sun-drenched locations. Hurricane Wilma, with the most intense cyclone in U.S. history, made landfall in both des-

Truthfully, I would stay away from Cancun, but only until late April. -Ms. Marsha Schuman Delmar Travel and Cruise

.”

tinations. It’s not difficult to find a beautiful hotel or resort in both places—usually. Nearly half of the hotels in Cancun, like Barcelo Tucancun Beach, Cancun Palace and the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, won’t be open for the 2006 Spring Break period. Many hotels in Cancun have pushed back their openings, surprised guests with minimal working facilities and limited the number of restaurants available. It’s not uncommon to lay on the beach, soaking the rays and see the glimmer of hardhats and hammers. “Truthfully,” Ms. Marsha Schuman, President of Delmar Travel and Cruise said, “I would stay away from Cancun.” She later added, “But only until late April.” When asked about alternative Mexican locations, she said, “The Mayan Riviera. It was not affected by the hurricanes and the airport you travel into is right there.” Schuman gave the names of her two recommendations in Mexico. “Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. Los Cabos is an upscale place with no damages.” Puerto Vallarta was “on the side that wasn’t hit” and brags of being paradise. Speaking of being paradise, a 20 million-dollar beach recovery is underway in an attempt to restore Cancun’s tropical-ness. “It should be done by April 30, but that probably won’t happen,” Schuman said. “They’re redoing Cancun with 6,000 new palm trees, 165,000 new plants and 2,500 other trees in an effort to make it look tropical-looking.” Other than vegetation, the beaches in Destin and Florida were also affected. Both areas have lost significant coastline. More fish are appearing on the coast as a result. Junior Travis Yowell said he would change travel destinations if the beach was undesirable. “Of course. The beaches would be more crowded which means less room for activities.” “A beach is a beach,” sophomore Tommy Verseman said. Senior Katie Brewer disagreed. “There is

more to do than just hang out on the beach. The best part is getting to go clubbing with my friends.” Hurricane Wilma cost the federal government and the individual a pretty penny. Vacationers also felt the consequences. “You need travel insurance,” Schuman said. “When you’re going on vacation, buy it to have the piece of mind that your vacation is safe. Without it, there’s a chance you aren’t going on vacation.” This was the case with senior Matt Onesko. He had planned to go to Destin with friends and family, but his plans were changed. “They [the travel agency] didn’t even call,” he said. Luckily, the Onesko family purchased travel insurance. “First of all,” Schuman said, “we make customers sign a waiver. People should always take out travel insurance. At Delmar Travel, we tell each client to have insurance. Otherwise, they have to sign a paper [documenting their preference to go sans-insurance].” Travel agencies, she said, were the middlemen of traveling. The resort or hotel is at one end while the customer is at the other. Travel agencies are like the telephone line that connects them. And some resort or hotel chains don’t refund customers without insurance. Schuman defended travel agencies. “Some [hotels or resorts] give all the money back. Some give none at all. They all have different responses.” It had nothing to do with the middle-man. Travelers would except to find a deal when going on vacation post-devastating hurricane season. However, Schuman fervently explained that this was not the case. “Absolutely not!—no packages or deals. Travel agencies are not affected by this any longer, but they were when it happened. Initially, there were remarkable deals,” she said. Despite the destruction and inconvenience caused by a particularly fierce hurricane season, Spring Break is still happening. In fact, Señor Frog’s is set to open in a couple of days.

lifestyle • page 7

The Prince of the Pageant •And The Winner Is. Judged on school participation, casual wear, dance skills and improvised answers, Venu Raghaven impressed the judges enough to be awarded the title of Mr. LHS. For his talent, he had to dance for the crowd.

•Group Hug. Before the introductions of the Mr. LHS candidates, the guys gather on stage chanting “What time is it? Game time.” All the contestants sported T-shirts and boxers for the introductions and opening dance.

Raghaven takes crown as Mr. LHS Niky Norton • Lifestyle Editor

•Taking It Off. Following Mr. LHS tradition, the contestants rip off their shirts at the end of the opening dance, hoping to impress the judges and the audience members. •Playing Dress Up. Clad in formal wear, the five finalists were escorted by some ladies of the Junior Class.

Eager faces and shrill voices filled every inch of the Auditorium. Cameras were poised and ready for the notorious shirt ripping during the opening dance. Separating the boys from the men, Mr. LHS is a Lady Lancer dream come true. And the Junior Class sponsored parade of Lancer Men on Feb. 2, did not disappoint the sold-out crowd. Based on creativity, stage presence, casual wear, activities and on the spot interviews, Mr. LHS is truly a Renaissance man. The boxer-clad boys also had to perform in a dance choreographed by Escadrille after giving their introduction speeches. The original contestants were narrowed down to 15 semi-final-

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ists and were then five finalists by staff judges, Ms. Brittany Bowers, Ms. Marybeth Desloge, Ms. Laurie Fay, Ms. Jessica Hauser, and the 1996 Mr. LHS, Mr. Jake Wilson. The finalists included senior Buddy Blevins, Mr. Track; senior Venu Raghaven, Mr. STUCO; junior David Sajewich, Mr. OSEP; senior Troy Schreiber, Mr. Thespian; and senior Pat Siebels, Mr. Cheerleading. Charmed by his suave answers and chiseled physique, the judges crowned Raghaven as Mr. LHS. Last year’s winner, senior Brandon Faerber, helped in handing out the honors to Raghaven and the runners up.

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page 8 • features

features • page 9

coming out of the closet... Feb. 24, 2006

Their Stories: Teens reveal personal struggles

Gay, bi-sexual students face wide range of discrimination, misunderstanding Brad Schlemmer • Reporter

“I think the worst part of being gay is just being different. It is so hard to be different, especially during the crucial middle school years. Probably the funniest story of my entire life was when I asked out this really cute girl who was in my 7th grade math class, and she said she had heard about me “with” another guy at a party. The funniest part was I didn’t try to deny I was gay, all I could say was “I’ve never even been to a party!”  Needless to say, we never dated.” • Alex Klein, 12

When people discuss discrimination, primarily the topics are about racial, ethnic, religious or gender stereotyping. But, there are many more types of discrimination that people are facing. One group struggling for equality and understanding is homosexuals. Teens who are just coming out as gay face a struggle as the environment in a high school or middle school can be particularly homophobic. Some schools around the country have worked to relax tensions and prejudice between homosexuals and heterosexuals through a group called the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) which has been quite successful in schools like Parkway West, Parkway North and Ladue. According to the sponsors in other schools, kids of every age and orientation have attended meetings and that the goal is to make people feel comfortable with each other. Principal Larry Schmidt said there are no barriers stopping students from starting the GSA at Lafayette. Like any club, it just needs a sponsor and members and no one has initiated the club here. But, there are certainly gay students at Lafayette and the Image talked to several of them to learn about the challenges they face. Because of political and religious beliefs, acceptance of homosexuality is an ongoing national debate. Some believe one’s sexuality is a choice, while others believe people’s sexual orientation is part of them at birth. This conflict and the strong emotions on the topic often make it difficult for gay students to come out. One example of the struggle for acceptance is the story of one gay Lafayette student we’ll refer to as Tom. Although Tom came out to his family in 2002, he said his mother cannot accept the fact that he is gay. She has sent him to multiple therapists. Ironically, Tom’s most current therapist is recommending he shouldn’t listen to his mother; he thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with him. However, there are families who have accepted their children completely. Senior Alex Klein came out during his junior year, around 2004. Klein’s parents actually approached him and asked him about his sexuality, and Klein was honest. There was no tension; his parents didn’t mind at all. “When Alex told us about his sexuality my husband and I had no problems. I think that if parents do have issues they should contact Parents, Friends and Families for Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), an organization for families who deal with these issues at home,” Ms. Jeanne Klein said. And, whether or not gay students find acceptance at home, being gay can be even more challenging in high school. For Tom, he began telling his friends he was gay during the start of his freshman year. Unlike Klein, he was a victim to incredible backlash. While he was in another high school, some of his friends asked him not to speak to them again, and at one point, Tom was physically assaulted. One of the attackers was one of his friends. There were some other small offenses such as writing obscenities on his locker. Many of the violent actions are simply a response to their environment. Many Lafayette students said there is a sense of homophobia at school.

But others disagree on the cause of the discomfort with the subject of gay students. “I think it is more intolerance than a phobia,” junior Nathanael Smith said. Another student disagrees that males don’t like homosexuality in general, but are particularly uncomfortable in the case of male homosexuals. “When there’s two homosexual girls, guys think it’s cool, but they don’t like it when there are two homosexual guys,” sophomore Danielle Myers said. Another student, we’ll refer to her as Ginger agrees. She is bisexual, and believes homosexual women have a lot less pressure than homosexual men. With no refuge at home or at school, one must wonder how gay students have persevered. Both of these students, said the key was their friends. Klein agreed and said he talked to his friends before his parents questioned him. He was apprehensive about what might happen, but his friends reassured there was nothing wrong. The case goes the same way for Tom. He depends on his friends to get him through the misunderstanding he faces at home. “My friends are my family,” he said. Even with their friends, they had to let them know with some careful planning. Klein told only his closest friends at first, one at a time. “Eventually I just didn’t care anymore, and I became totally honest with everyone,” he said. Much of the national debate is focused on gay marriages. A large facilitator of this is the Defense of Marriage Act, created in 1996. This act states that states may deny “marriagelike” relationships between persons of the same sex. Approximately 21 states have enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, 11 states have banned both gay marriages and civil unions, nine states have no legal defense against gay marriage or civil unions, six states, including Missouri, ban gay marriage but allow civil unions, Hawaii has limited gay marriages and Massachusetts is the only state with fully legalized gay marriages. The problem isn’t necessarily in Missouri, but in traveling to other states. For states that use the Defense of Marriage Act or ban both types of marriages, a civil union started in Missouri will not be recognized in other states. This means that they will not receive any marriage benefits in these states. For some, this might not seem bad, but there are some vital marriage benefits that aren’t sanctioned by law. For example, there are insurance and benefit concerns. Also, gay partners could be denied the right to make medical decisions for one another and even burial arrangements for their partner. Although Klein and Tom both oppose the ban on samesex marriage, they’re not going to go crazy. “I’m certainly against it, I’ll talk about it, but I’m not going to go out with a picket sign,” Tom said. “I don’t want to be activist and protest because it feels like I’m forcing my beliefs on other people,” Klein added. Still, the students are hopeful by the accepting attitudes of many of their classmates. Many students interviewed shared the beliefs of freshman Patricia Yeng. She said, “I think people should be able to express what they feel. It shouldn’t matter to other people. In my opinion, they are just like other people.”

Alliance grows stronger Schools like Ladue, Parkway West, and Parkway North all have Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). According to the sponsor at Parkway North, the purpose of the GSA is to, “provide a group wherein all students feel safe and valued, to provide an atmosphere in which students can discuss issues of acceptance, discrimination, school and others in a supportive environment; to provide a group willing to publicly advocate for the rights of all students, no matter their sexual orientations.” So far, GSA has been incredibly successful. Students of every grade attend, and the number of people that attend can range anywhere from 10-40 students. The club has caught the student body’s interest, and people of all orientations go and it has made a considerable effort to unify the schools’ students. Principal Larry Schmidt said that the GSA can be established like any club; Lafayette only needs a sponsor and some students to start it.

Figuring out and dealing with the fact that I am gay was a long and difficult realization. It started about mid-8th grade. I found myself not having the same thoughts and feelings that my male peers were having. I found myself being more attracted to people of my own sex. And, as it would with anyone that age, it scared me. I told nobody about my growing knowledge of myself, for I didn’t even know what was going on in my own head. While this was all going on I went through the motions expected of someone my age. I dated girls, I said things like, “she’s hot,” and such. But, inside I knew it was all a lie. I kept my secret to myself, and it wasn’t until my girlfriend freshman year, broke up with me that I really started to let people in. She was the first person I told and she accepted me. Because of this, I went on a coming out spree. I told all of my more liberal friends and my cousin. They accepted me and told me they loved me for who I was. Because of the amount of support, I decided to go further and come out to all my friends. A couple of them were not too happy; three of them tried to queer bash me. And it was at this point that I realized people are going to hate me no matter what I do. So, I decided to come out to the entire school. Besides a little name calling and being tripped in the halls, I was for the most part accepted. At this time I found my only defense against hurtful words. My defense was laughter and jokes. Yes, it hurts when people say those things, but if I just laugh it off and make jokes about myself, it helps soften the blows. But because of these words and the queer-bashing, I started to hate myself. I felt lower than trash. I tried to commit suicide. Once my friends caught word of this they began to truly support me, not just with coming out, but they defended me, they called me every night to say that they cared about me. With this kind of love and support I quickly grew out of my slump and truly began to like myself. Queer and all. Shortly after this I changed schools to Lafayette. Here I had a hard decision to make. Be out or go back in the closet. I chose to be out because I am happy with myself and if anyone had a problem with it then that’s their problem. Excluding obscene words being written on my locker a couple of days, the amount of homophobia was surprisingly small, but still existent, I originally thought. But soon my carefully made world would come crashing down. I think this is the best time to inform you that up to this point my family, excluding my cousin, had no idea that I was gay. But then, one of my sister’s friends who found out through friends I work with got drunk and told my older sister that I liked guys, not girls. That night, as I returned home from work, she decided to start shouting at me in the kitchen. I told her multiple times to lower her voice so she wouldn’t wake up our mother. Sure enough, in about 10 minutes, my mom walked down the stairs and told both of us to come upstairs. What followed was a four hour inquisition of me from both my mother and sister. Half way through my mother started crying, asking me why I was this way. She then put down some “conditions.” I had to go back into the closet at school and work. I had to go to therapy. I had to try my best to act as straight as possible. I agreed to them to cause less drama. But, I am not going back into the closet no matter what she says, and I only go to therapy to keep my mother from completely taking away my life. I am not trying to tell people to be gay or not to be gay. I am just retelling the experiences that I have had happen to me. •Tom

Questions to consider before coming out: 1. Are you sure about your sexuality? 2. Are you comfortable with your gay sexuality? 3. Do you have support? 4. Are you knowledgeable about homosexuality? 5. What’s the emotional climate at home? 6. Can you be patient? 7. What’s your motive for coming out now? 8. Do you have resources? 9. Are you financially dependent on your parents? 10. What is your general relationship with your parents? 11. What is their moral societal view? 12. Is this your decision? Source: PFLAG

Do you think there is a sense of homophobia at Lafayette?

What do they think about homosexuality? The Image asked students to share their views on homosexuality. Results showed a variety of attitudes about sexuality and what social and legal rights should be given to those who are gay.

Like most people, I first became aware of my sexuality during the preteen years. Sex-Ed taught us about puberty, but said nothing of sexual orientation. When the hormone thing started, I was confused by my attractions towards both males and females. Slumber parties became awkward, and I would feel depressed for weeks. I began to realize the sting of social prejudice against homosexuals. The first time I told the truth about my sexual orientation was during a conversation with my older sister. She sort of laughed it off; she said I didn’t know what I was talking about. I didn’t tell anyone for years following that. However, I eventually had to ‘come out’ when I got my first girlfriend in 10th grade. Most people were fine with it, and no one was really shocked. Honestly I think my mom prefers to ignore it. Today I am single, so the bisexual thing is really not that big of a deal. Although a lot of people have feelings against the gay lifestyle, it’s important to be accepting of everyone and respect the right to pursue happiness. Since ‘coming out’ in school, a surprising number of people have talked to me about their own gay or bi-curious feelings. It’s not a disease, it’s as natural as any other feelings, and everyone needs a friend. For anyone who’s questioning themselves, the web is a great resource for articles about orientation. A counselor, friend, or family member can be helpful, as well as a national hotline. Above all, one must never try to suppress who they are. If you find something or someone that makes you happy, go for it. Some people say cruel things, but as with anything else, you move on and live life the best you can. •Ginger

Kevin Fitzgerald, 12 “Morally I think it is wrong. I would not hold that against someone if they are homosexual. But, I am a little upset to find some girls to be lesbians because it takes my chances away at dating beautiful women.”

Elise Bailey, 12

Tyesha Wade, 11

“I don’t mind the topic at all. I believe that marriage is a holy sacrament so the marriage of a gay couple should be allowed legally, but not inside a church. Gay couples deserve all other benefits that other couples have as well.”

“I really don’t have much to say about the topic. It is not any of my business on how other people feel about their sexuality.”

Collin Rigg, 11

Joshua Cavarrett, 10

Kaitlin Beike, 10

Jacob Smith, 9

“I don’t feel that it is any of our business to tell them how to live their lives or make their choices. I figure they are not bothering me and I am not bothering them.”

“I know that homosexuality is an issue, but it is definitely wrong. If you can’t make a child the relationship is obviously not working. The Bible says it is wrong in every way.”

“Homosexuality does not hold within my views. God created a man and a woman to be together. I am not homophobic, but if I knew my friend was gay I might try taking them to church and talk to them to figure out why they feel like that.”

“I don’t mind being around gay people or being friends with someone who is gay. I believe that they have their own decisions to do what makes them happy.”

Chelsea Salzman, 9 “The definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. If gay couples want to join for life then they should call it something else.”

4% Not Sure

76% yes

20% No

333 students polled

page 10 • feature

Feb. 24, 2006

Getting rid of that sweet tooth may be more of a hassle for some than others and will this cause negative problems for the future? Eat healthy and smart with our guide to foods high in sugar and salt.

Sweet

The Pros. • The brain needs sugar to function. • With sugar, bitter medicines taste better. • Studies have proven that eating excess sugar will not generally cause diabetes. • Eating excess sugar does not necessarily cause obesity. • Sugar may help to trigger the memory.

The Cons.

vs.

Do you prefer to eat a sweet or salty snack?

25% Salty

66% Sweet

• The main concern of excess sugar is tooth decay. • Excess sugar also may cause low levels of blood sugar. • Consuming too much sugar doesn’t actually cause hyperactivity. Instead it may produce a state of relaxation or drowsiness. • Foods with great amounts of sugar are often high in calories. • Sugar calories are often called “empty calories.”

8% Both

398 students polled

The Pros.

• It’s an excellent preservative. • Salt will stop ice from melting fast. • Adding salt to water may cause it to come to a boil faster, reducing cooking time. • Salt acts as an antimicrobial or microbiological control agent. • Sodium helps to stimulate muscle contractions and helps to regulate body fluids and body tissue • Salt is a good disinfectant.

The Cons.

• Salt can dry out your lips causing them to become chapped. • Often times salty items trigger thirst and may cause dehydration. • Eating too many salty foods may cause water retention which causes uncomfortable feelings in the stomach. • Salty foods may raise blood pressure.

What makes your taste buds crave salty snack foods?

What makes your taste buds prefer sweet snack foods? “I like to eat sweet foods because they make my world marvelous because the sweetness excites my brain.” •Jake Bremler, 12

Salty

Jake Bremler

Sabina Saakova • Features Editor

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Stephanie Miller

“I enjoy eating salty foods more than sweet foods. I’m not really sure why, but I guess my tastes buds just prefer salt instead of sugar. I also feel that salty foods fill me up more than sweet snacks.” • Stephanie Miller, 11

Features • page 11

the image

Recently developed LASIK surgery revealed

Eye care neglect may cause some serious problems

Jeanne Francois • Reporter Eyes are a really interesting organ. They are one of the first parts that people see while they are talking to you. Eyes are often times used to communicate and charm. Women often use make-up to accentuate their eyes. Oftentimes, make-up highlights the eyes. Luckily, for those who get sick of wearing glasses, contacts are available to help correct vision. Often times contacts are more convenient than glasses because they are cheaper, more effective and work better for those who are active in sports or swimming. Today, fantasy contacts are becoming more and more popular among teens. Fantasy lenses are those that are colored and have unique designs to cover the pupil. Fantasy lenses do not often correct vision problems; instead they are used as a decorative feature for the face. Unfortunately, as effective and helpful that contacts maybe, people choose to neglect their eye care. In spite of all the advantages of make-up and contacts, a lot of dangers exist and sometimes wearing make-up or contacts can be more dangerous than you believe. One of the biggest concerns with women who wear contacts is that they neglect to take their eye make-up off before going to bed. Infections, itchy and watery eyes are often a result of such neglect. Injuries while applying make-up to the eyes result as well. Often times, scratches to the eye with the mascara wand may cause infection and bloodshot eyes. To prevent infections, be careful around the eyes, wash your hands before and make sure your tools are clean. Remember to not use old cosmetics, store them at temperatures higher than 85 degrees and never share make-up. Contact lenses are very safe if you care for them correctly. The comfort is the biggest concern for people wearing contacts. In some cases ill- fitting lenses can lead to abrasions to the cornea. Abuse of contact lenses can also lead to minor problems or major problems such as infections and poor oxy-

Sabina Saakova • Features Editor

photo • Sabina Saakova

•Eye Spot These students took time out to flaunt their stylish eye glasses. More and more teens are switching to glasses from contacts because glasses are becoming increasingly comfortable to wear and offer a wide variety of styles.

gen distribution to the eye. To prevent problems like conjunctivitis, scratched corneas, dry eyes or viral infections, never spend the night with lenses and girls remember to take off the make-up. Contacts need to be cleaned and disinfect properly in order to avoid problems. Sharing contact lenses can be very dangerous. Those who seem to suffer the most problems form any type of contact lenses are those who wear the fantasy lenses and those who buy their contacts from discount outlets.

Several years back, medical science determined a way to change the shape of the eye’s cornea in order to help reduce the need for glasses or contacts. This still relatively new procedure, developed in 1998, is called Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, more commonly known as LASIK eye surgery. The cornea is the part of the eye that helps focus light to create an image on the retina. When the shape of the cornea and the eye are not perfect, the image on the retina is distorted. Although LASIK is becoming more popular among middle aged adults, teens younger than 18 are not prohibited for this operation. As with any surgery, LASIK is not for those who do not dare to take a risk. Any surgery may have complications and currently there are no long term data reports available to see the long term effects of this refractive eye surgery. So how do you know if this procedure is for you? LASIK is not for those who are constantly active with sports because injuries to the face and eyes may have harmful effects after the operation. Those people with dry eyes are not advised to undergo LASIK because it tends to aggravate this condition. It is also wise to check with your doctor to undergo an evaluation for pupil size and thickness of cornea. Younger patients and those on certain medications are inclined on having larger pupils in dim lighting. Those with large pupils may experience a glare and ghost images after surgery. Furthermore, this may effect their ability to drive a night or in certain weather conditions. During the baseline examination, the doctor should inform patients whether or not they are good candidates for this procedure. Doctors say that if you cannot stare at a fixed object for at least sixty seconds, you should not be considered for this operation. LASIK surgery is about a 30-minute process that involves a laser system with a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen. A knife called the microkeratome is used to cut the flap in the cornea. Once the eye has been properly corrected the flap of the cornea is placed back in position and the operation is complete. Recovery takes up to eight weeks after LASIK surgery.

page 12 • sports

Feb. 24, 2006

Lancers take home Conference title Ryan Bueckendorf • Reporter Having wrapped up the regular season Feb. 17, against the Lindbergh Flyers, the Lancers now look ahead to the postseason and an elusive State title. Heading in to last Friday’s game, the Lancers had a solid 17-8 record, good for a tie with Lindbergh for best in their Conference. The Flyers, before the Conference Championship game, held the tiebreaker by virtue of a 7-0 record in Conference to the Lancers’ 6-0 Conference record, but the Lancers have put up better marks both offensively and defensively. The Lancers beat Lindbergh 62-52 to win the Conference title. They were led by Parker with 23 points. Griffey continued to see success with 12 and junior Kyle Meyer had 14. Lindbergh is dangerous from the perimeter. Sophomore Robert Williams owns the top scoring average and 3-point per game average in the Suburban West, and is a constant scoring threat. Senior John Wuennenberg and sophomore Tyler Kiel join Williams in the top 20 3-point shooters in the Conference. While they allowed 17 points to Williams, they were able to hold Kiel to nine points and Wuennenberg scoreless. The Lancers are riding a late-

season surge, going 5-0, and 8-2 in their last 10 games. The win over Lindbergh secured a Conference Championship and also gave them some momentum going into Districts. “It would be huge to go in riding a 5-0 streak,” center Tyler Griffey said. In a season where the Lancers have never been able to get on a winning streak longer than their current four games, momentum could be the difference maker in the postseason. As Griffey sees it, the keys for the Lancers in the postseason remain the same as in the regular season. Hustle and work hard, and good things will happen. The teams the Lancers face in Districts are all dangerous. From Rockwood Summit to Washington to Northwest, a letdown or dropped guard could spell an early exit for the Lancer squad. Even so, it is tough for the team not to look ahead to Conference play, where the Lancers have epitomized perfection for years. Sporting a 25-0 mark in Conference games, the Lancers have not lost since the 2002-2003 season. The streak stretches through the entire high school careers of this year’s graduating class, and they all want to leave with the record intact. During Senior Night on Feb. 15, they made that clear. “The seniors really want to

leave the streak as their legacy,” Griffey said. “The underclassmen are ready to step up and take it over.” The teams the Lancers will have to face are expected to make things interesting as the Lancers try to add to their already impressive streak. They sport a 2-0 record against Lindbergh and Marquette, and split two games with Kirkwood over the regular season. Over the regular season, the Lancers were solid all around the court. What kept them from fulfilling their potential was a lack of consistency. Rather than build up frequent 4-5 game winning streaks, they stopped and started again, never picking up momentum. Statistically, Griffey and senior guard Cartez Parker built up excellent seasons. Heading into the Conference game, both ranked in scoring, and Parker was second in assists and first in steals. Griffey dominated in blocks and rebounds, and Mark Fitzgerald and TJ Shaffer both ranked in blocked shots as well. The team appears primed for a deep run into a postseason that’s filled with tough contenders. Now the most important thing, however, is something the team has made a goal: Hustle, work hard and win basketball games.

photo • Mike Kurlowski

•Slamming It Home. As a Parkway South player can only stand and watch, freshman Tyler Griffey soars to the rim in the Lancers’ Feb. 15, 70-57 victory. Griffey scored 14 points before leaving the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.

Four qualified wrestlers left, two receive 4th place medals at State

photo • Alexis Myers

•Pinned Down. Holding down his opponent, senior Josh Moore continues to rack up wins for State. Moore ended his year with an impressive 4th place finish in State in the 171-pound weight class.

Alex Davis • Reporter Seniors Alex Boggs, Josh Moore, junior Ashley Hudson and sophomore Matt Brewer all made the trip to State last weekend after impressive finishes at Sectionals. The top four wrestlers in each weight class in a District compete at State. They go on to a 16-person bracket and the top six wrestlers medal. Both Moore, 171 pound weight class, and Brewer, 189pound weight class, placed 4th after finishing 3-2 and 4-2 respectively. At Districts, Moore took first in his weight class and Brewer and Hudson both earned second

place in their individual weight classes. Boggs, 135 lbs, also qualified for State by placing fourth in his weight class. At State, Hudson and Boggs lost early in the meet. Hudson lost her first two matches and got knocked out. Boggs went 1-2 before being knocked out. This was Boggs and Moore’s last season of wrestling which they end on a final run for a State Championship. Brewer and Hudson will pick up were they left off next year and hope to reach State once again. The squad faced many challenges at the end of the season as an outbreak of staph infections

and ringworm hit the area. The Francis Howell meet on Jan. 25 did not turn out as expected. Approximately 15 of the Francis Howell wrestlers tested positive for ringworm and one for staph infection before the meet causing it, Lafayette’s planned Senior Night, to be cancelled. Luckily, no Lancer wrestlers were infected with these diseases during the meet, but LHS has had some cases this year, along with every other school in the District. “Every team has had problems with this [illness] to their own capacity, with no exception for us,” wrestling Coach Jake Lapinski said.

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sports • page 13

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Senior ladies lead in victory over Parkway South John Cox • Reporter The girls basketball team wrapped up regular season play on Feb. 15, which was Senior Night. Senior Tori Hartin scored a game high 29 points and hauled in nine rebounds, as the ladies knocked off Conference opponent Parkway South by a score of 84-57. Senior Danielle Boraz followed Hartin’s high score with 19 points of her own, surpassing the 1,000-point mark for her career as a Lady Lancer. Seniors Sheena Connely and Amy Vickroy finished with 10 each, while senor Michelle Moody scored nine points, only one point away from having all five starters in double figures. On breaking the 1,000-point mark for her career, Boraz said the feeling was “exhilarating. As a freshman I never thought I’d be able to do that.” The team finished fifth in the Suburban West Conference with a Conference record of 4-4 and an overall record of 14-10. The team’s defense ranked second best in the conference, only allowing opponents to score 42.4 points per game on average. To close out the season, the girls went on an impressive winning streak, winning their final seven home games. “We felt like it was our last time, every time,” Boraz said. When Connely went down with a concussion, the team was in need of another guard. They brought up freshman Jessica Steinmetz from junior varsity. Steinmetz has been making the most of her move up to varsity. Steinmetz is averaging 4 points a game, has made 6 out of her 7 free throws, and also has 6 offensive rebounds. “She plays with composure, takes it to the hole, and takes time on her free throws,” said Boraz. In early February, the girls squared off

against powerhouse Howell Central. At the time, Howell Central was 17-1 and rolling through their opponents. Shakara Jones of Howell Central was dominant in last year’s match up. However, this year was quite the opposite, with Vickroy and Boraz holding Jones to only 12 points, 14 below her average. The team handed Howell Central its second loss on the season in the 58-42 win. Boraz is among the St. Louis area leading free-throw shooters, shooting just over 80 percent from the line. She is averaging nine points per game, and just over nine rebounds per game, good for third most in the Suburban West Conference. Boraz has also contributed 47 assists in her senior season. Vickroy is among the St. Louis area leaders in blocked shots, with 55. She is also the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points per game. Vickroy leads the team in three-point shooting, and also hauls in 7.5 rebounds each game. Hartin leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. She is also the team’s second leading rebounder, at 8.9 per game. The senior guards have also stepped up and made significant contributions. Connely is among the Suburban West Conference leaders in steals, with 60. She is also averaging 7 points per game and has 47 assists on the year. Moody is averaging 4.3 points per game; draining 30 percent of the threepointers she’s taken this season. Looking back on her four-year varsity career, Boraz has nothing but smiles. “We’ve come together so much as a team over the last four years,” Boraz said. “We’ve all grown so close together and I’m going to miss everyone so much.”

photo •Mike Kurlowski

•Laying It In. Going up to the basket, senior Tori Hartin takes a shot against Parkway South as senior Danielle Boraz looks for a possible rebound. Hartin had 29 points in the Lancers’ 84-57 victory on Senior Night.

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page 14 • sports

Feb. 24, 2006

Students try to start LHS Badminton Club Alex Davis • Reporter Approximately 2,000 years ago in Gloucestershire, a town in southwestern England, the sport so called Badminton was created and first played. In 1992, The Olympics in Barcelona was host to the debut of Badminton as an Olympic sport. The very first Olympic winner for the men’s competition was an Indonesian named Alan Budi Kushuma. The women’s champion was also an Indonesian named Susi Susanti. Now, sophomore Ryan Maddox is hoping to get Badminton to catch on at Lafayette. The game Badminton, which is mostly known at LHS for its role in the lifetime recreational sports class, has been recently introduced as a potential club here. Maddox has high hopes for this club, and hope for it to become an inter-district sport. “Right now, we already have a sponsor and we are trying to work with [Athletic Director Steve] Miller to get permission and time for this club to work,” Maddox said. Spanish teacher Mr. Brian Reed agreed to be the club’s sponsor as long as the appropriate measures were taken to get the club organized. “I will support the team by doing my best to research the game and strategies – once we get to that point,” Reed said. Maddox said there is a lot to learn

however, and for someone who doesn’t know the correct terminology for this sport, nor the basic guidelines and rules. “I researched a lot on the basic rules and it can actually get quite confusing,” Maddox said. For instance, most people wouldn’t know that the correct term for the ‘birdie’ is actually a shuttlecock. Also, a lot people might think that the only sport with an inning is baseball, but badminton too has innings. An inning in badminton is composed of a single rally of serves for one team. This means if a team served twice and then lost a volley, one inning would be over, and the next one begins once the other team begins their service. Despite its complex representation, Badminton can be a fun game with a lot of history. In 1948, the first Badminton World Cup was played; this was known as the Thomas Cup. 44 years later, the Olympics played Badminton for the first time and from then on, it continued to spark interest of many. Maddox is currently waiting approval from Miller and MSHSAA officials. But once it gets approved,

this will eventually become an intra-district sport, and then hopefully move on to an inter-district sport, that’s if MSHSAA approves it as a sanctioned winter sport. “Right off the bat it wouldn’t become a district sport, but we are hoping by the second semester of our senior year that it will become a sanctioned winter sport,” Maddox said. Another positive aspect about having badminton as a school sport is that it wouldn’t cost a lot of money for the school. The school already has all of the shuttlecocks, rackets and lines on the gym floor. The equipment, which is mostly used by the Healthy Active Living [HAL] classes and the Lifetime Recreational Sports classes, is in decent shape. The school also recently bought some new equipment. So as of now, Maddox is patiently waiting and until then, he will attempt to extend the members list, which is currently sitting at 37 signatures, nine of which are girls. “About a fourth of the list is girls, which is what was expected,” Maddox said. Another hope for Maddox is that he can get the sport to become co-ed so that the thought of this is being a single sport is more appealing that it being boys and girls, which would require more than just a single spot in the gym. Therein lies another problem: gym

time. If this does become a winter sport, w h e r e would they practice? Seven basketball teams that are separated into time slots for gym space take up both lower and the upper gym. Just bec a u s e Ma d d ox has 37 signatures and a sponsor doesn’t mean that it will become a sport right away. Actually, Maddox and the rest of the group will have to find opponents. “I have made contact with the Athletic Director at Marquette and told him about what I was doing, and I still am waiting to hear back from him,” Maddox said. Playing in their Lifetime Recreational Sports class is going to have to do for Maddox and all the others. At least until Miller gets the time to contact them in order for this club to progress any further. “I don’t know anything about this [Badminton Cub], this is actually the first that I have heard of this,” Miller said. “Coach Reed or Ryan [Maddox] have got to get a hold of me otherwise I cannot go through the certain procedures to make sure the club is legitimate,” Miller said.

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sports • page 15

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photo • Allyson Angle

•Off The Deep End. On his way to two individual State titles, junior Sean Mathews swims the 200 freestyle. He also took first in the 100 freestyle. Mathews led LHS to third place in State, the team’s first Top 3 finish since they were State Champions in 1997. Their final score of 223 was bested by strong Kansas City area rivals Blue Springs and Rockhurst.

Swim team sprints into 3rd Place at State Allyson Angle • Reporter

Going into State, the Lancers were undefeated and had just won Conference for the 23rd consecutive year. After the scores were put up half way through the State meet, they were second behind Rockhurst. “We were really excited to see we were ahead of Blue Springs and it pushed us for the rest of the meet,” junior Sean Mathews explained. But, the Lancers failed to score any points in diving, the 500 freestyle or the 100 breaststroke, which caused them to fall behind. However, the team swam some very impressive races, which still allowed them to place third overall. Mathews swam a personal best time in preliminaries, which seeded him first. In

finals he dropped nearly a second and a half more, for a time of 1:42.68, to capture his first State title. Mathews went on to win the 100 freestyle, bettering his prelim swim by almost a second and swam a 47.02. He also broke the school record, which was a 47.40 set by Kristopher Morrow in 1997. “Winning the 200 took the pressure off and winning the 100 was kind of a surprise and like an added bonus,” Mathews commented. Senior Zach Levko also had a very notable State Meet and finished his final meet for the Lancers with some exciting swims. He placed second in the 100 fly and third in the 100 backstroke for the second year in a row. Levko set a new school record that was also previously held by Morrow. He

swam the 50 freestyle in 21.50 to lead off the 200 relay. Paul Reinisch was one of the key players for the Lancers this year. He placed fourth in the 100 fly and sixth in the 50 free. Marc Phillips, another one of the dominant seniors, placed sixth in the 200 IM and ninth in the 100 back. Newcomer junior Taylor Parsons helped give the Lancers some depth by placing 10th in the 100 fly and 16th in the 200 free. Juniors Stephen Noce, Jason Weise and sophomore Nathan Rahe were also a part of the state team. The team’s relays were strong. The team of Levko, Phillips, Reinisch and senior Lee Holaday started off the meet with the 200 medley relay and finished third. The 200 free relay, which placed third

as well, was comprised of Levko, Reinisch, Holaday and Mathews. “We were kind of disappointed about the 200 free relay because we wanted to win,” Levko explained. The 400 freestyle relay of Phillips, Parsons, junior Max Beushausen and Mathews finished in fifth place. Holaday said, “I was overcome with happiness with our success and never having to swim again.” Although the team was very proud with all of their performances this season, they thought there could have been a better ending had their coach received Coach of the Year honors. Coach Todd Gabel has turned the program around in the last two years. He led the team to two undefeated seasons and top 4 finishes at State.

After losing two star names, the St. Louis Blues have had a complete turnaround. After trading Doug Weight to the Carolina Hurricanes Bobby Mortimer and Mike Sillinger to •Sports Editor the Nashville Predators, many fans have seen this turnaround as uncalled for. Weight and Sillinger were number one and two on the points leaderboard for the Blues, but as the new rules set in, teams around the league had to make sacrifices. At first I wasn’t too thrilled about the Blues getting rid of Weight and Sillinger

for a first round draft pick and three fourth round picks, but I later learned that we didn’t need them. Getting rid of those two players has opened up the salary cap and has allowed St. Louis to spend some money on future prospects. Even though Weight was one of the players everyone loved to see I thought the club needed to make this sacrifice. I would almost even recommend getting rid of Keith Tkachuk and Dallas Drake after the year comes to an end. Tkachuk is the highest paid athlete in hockey with $7 million a year and I don’t think the Blues can keep affording that with their new prospects and new first

rounds picks for next year. Since losing both players the Blues have been on a streak. They have won five of the last seven games. This is almost half of the wins they tallied up in the first 30 games. It’s ironic that the GM was going to just give up on the season but instead the team started to actually score goals. People might not know many of the newer faces that have contributed to the Blues success. For instance Lee Stempniak, a rookie from Dartmouth has been a key factor to the team. Stempniak in his last few games has been scoring a lot of key goals. On Jan. 30,

Stempniak scored in the third period to tie the Calgary Flames at three . Then in the shootout, he buried the game winner. Another player who has impacted the team is left-winger Dean McAmmond. McAmmond was always one of those players who you would see on the third line offense who put up about 20 points through a season, but with the new rules McAmmond has become a key contributor to the Blues. Hitting the Olympic break the Blues have had a sudden change, giving hope to the fans and the team. Hopefully the Olympic span won’t effect the Blues as they continue to win.

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in•out•about page 16 • entertainment

Upcoming Events Concerts

Turnabout Payout

Prices for clothing, accessories differs among the sexes

Creepy Crawl • The Dog and Everything, CenterPointe, Happy EndingsMarch 9 @ 6 p.m.

photos • Britt Peters

Hair: $40

The Pageant •“The #1 Beatles Show in the World”-March 3-4@ 8 p.m.

Tie: $44

CD Releases-Feb.21

•Kid Rock “Live Trucker” •Hawthorne Heights “If You Were Only Lonely” •Eric Clapton “Eric Clapton”

Shirt: $39 Necklace: $15 Dress: $65

Coming Attractions

•Running Scared-Feb. 24 (R) •AquaMarine-March 3- (PG) •Joyeux Noel-March 3- (NR)

Tivoli

Suit: $395

•Manderlay- Feb. 24 (NR)

New DVD Releases

•Yours, Mine and Ours - Feb. 28 (PG) •Pride and Prejudice- Feb. 28 (PG) •JarHead- March 7 (R) •Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire- March 7 (PG-13)

Nails: $30

Shoes: $65 Shoes: $30

University Theater

•Lucky Stiff- March 3-4 @ 8 p.m.

Repertory Theater •Henry IV-March 10

Megan Drissells’ Total: $180

Jon Davis’ Total: $543

Edison Theater

•Much Ado About NothingFeb. 24-25 @ 8 p.m., Feb. 26 @ 2 p.m., March3-4 @ 8 p.m., March 5 @ 2 p.m.

Fox Theatre

•Little Women-Feb. 21 - March 5 •R. Kelly-March 10

Science Center

•Friday Nigh Lights live NashidFeb. 24 @ 6:30-9 •NASCAR! The IMAX Experience-Jan. 6-Sept. 4 •Lunch and Learn about Hubble Telescope-through March 5 @ 1 a.m.

Around Town

•Bissel Mansion Restaurant and Dinner Theater- Phantom Of the Grand Ole Opry-Friday-Sat. @ 7 p.m. •Magic House- Free Family Night-Every third Friday of each month @ 5:30-9 p.m. •Savvis Center- PBR Built Ford Tough Series- Feb. 24 @ 8 p.m. •City Museum- Monstrosity Fire-every Friday @ 5 p.m.

Mardi Gras

•Downtown to Soulard- Mardi Gras Grand Parade- Feb. 25 @ 11 a.m.

Britt Peters • Entertainment Editor With Turnabout tomor- sell said she spent a total of $180 row night, guys and girls for her dress, shoes, necklace, are spending their money nails and hair. Some girls also buy bracelets, on necessary expenses. But what does it really cost the earrings and purses. Although with getting pedicures and their average dance-goer? Although guys’ wallets make-up done. “At Homecoming, guys comrun deeper, the girls end up paying more in the long plain about paying for everything but even then girls end up run. Sophomore Megan Dris- paying for more,” she said.

“At Turnabout girls pay for the tickets, even though they are cheaper, dinner, their dress and accessories,” Drissell said. Girls will end up paying for new items like the dress and accessories for each dance. While guys may have to fork out some big bucks for shoes and a suit, they can be worn for many events and dances to come.

Turnabout “Neon Nights” Feb. 25th @ 7:30- 10 p.m.

Date idea of the month The St. Louis Mills excels in adventurous indoor activities this season Britt Peters • Entertainment Editor Vast, empty fields surround the site of the St. Louis Mills Mall. Located off I-270, in Hazlewood, the Mills is a 20 minute drive from Chesterfield, Clayton and downtown St. Louis. The Mills provides over 100 stores, a movie theater and approximately 22 dining options. NASCAR Speed Park is a large activity area filled with four racetracks, rides and many attractions. During the winter season, the weather is not a problem when racing on

The Champions. A two story figure eight track is unique to the Mills Mall. When spring and summer weather come, the Family 500 features family fun in a single or double-seater cars is opened. Along with the Side Wayz, a slippery, well polished track causes the driver to experience unique twists. On the Mini-Motor Speedway, drivers must be 16 and have their official state drivers’ license. This premiere track features a scaled down version of the Nextel Cup Cars. The NASCAR Speed Park

is open Monday-Thursday, 109:30, Friday-Saturday, 10-10 and Sunday 11-7. The outdoor racetrack is closed until March 10, or unless the weather is permitting. “The go carts and bumper boats weren’t open when I went so it would be better to go in the summer,” junior Sara Jolly said. Each type of ride varies in prices from a daily ride pass to individual tokens. A daily ride pass for adults is $25.95 and includes rides on the Champion Track, Side Wayz Track, Qualifier Track, Family 500 Track, Pro-Tow, Tot Rods, Junior Speedway and Bumper

Boats. Otherwise, an individual price for one ticket is $1. NASCAR Challenge Mini-Golf is $7, and includes an outdoor 18 hole putt-putt golf course. The Mills features over 1,500 square feet of laser tag, a two story rock climbing wall and the Speed Dome Arcade featuring 100 arcade games. “I think it would be a cool place to go on a date because you wouldn’t get bored easily, they even have an ice skating rink that is outside of the NASCAR Speed Park,” Jolly said.