Jan 22, 2016 by Lafayette High School

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January 22, 2016 • Vol. 47, No. 5

I LOVE baking because making sweets is fun. — Layla Maze I LOVE my dog because she is so energetic. — Natalie Nehrkorn I LOVE to read because it is a distraction from school. — Sophia Oelsner I LOVE sleeping because it gives me a Love is in the air! chance to not have to think or listen to people. — Check out pages 8-9 Uche Ijei I LOVE Starbucks to experience love because it is delicious. — Ashley Queen I LOVE through different horseback riding because I people’s eyes. find my confidence in it. — Emma Durham I LOVE singing because it brings out my creative side. — Emma Wahl I LOVE wasting time because I’m not doing any work. — Alex Wollam I LOVE my family because they are always there for me. — Andy Liscio I LOVE baseball because it is fun. — Mitch Congiu I LOVE cookies because I’m good at making them. — Franki Petrosino I LOVE Spongebob because I’ve been watching it since I was little. — Matt Welby I LOVE lunch time because it is relaxing. — Matt Ference I LOVE Netflix because that is how I spend my time. — Ali Neskar

Lafayette High School • 17050 Clayton Rd. • Wildwood, MO 63011 • lhsimage.com • @LHSimage

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page two • opinions

Jan. 22, 2016

Awareness contributes to change

staff editorial Opinions expressed on the editorial pages 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 columns, blogs, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.

Staff • Policies

Editors

Seth Boester • Editor in Chief Anna James • News Editor Jessica Collins • Lifestyle Editor Kayley Allen • Opinion Editor Ben Rachell • Entertainment Editor Josh Waitsman • Sports Editor Kaitlyn Wylie • Feed Editor Suzy Blalock • Webmaster Garrett McBay • Asst. Webmaster Nick Horstmann • Ad Manager Nancy Y. Smith, MJE • Adviser

Staff Members Image:

Tyler Burnett, Jessica Cargill, Erin Coogan, Arpan Das, Jack Deubner, Kira Downing, Brinlee Frazier, John Levine, Elly Levy, Sabrina Ross, Dominic Scaglione, Shwetha Sundarrajan

Digital Media:

Logan Jordan • Editor in Chief Julianne Beffa • Editor in Chief Malcolm Beattie-Hauser, Jimmy Bowman, Nathan Hinton, Olivia Jaeger, Shelby Robbe, Mason Smith, Laura Stewart, Cameron Wolk

Information

The Image is published nine times a year by the News Production class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2014-2015 Image received an AllAmerican rating with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. The 2014-2015 website received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction. The 2014-2015 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

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.

Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 7334118 and our e-mail address is lhsimage@gmail.com or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

Policies

A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

It’s the day of. News travels quickly. Rumors are spread of what might have happened, but soon enough the unfortunate facts are announced. Faculty and staff receive an email to share the unfathomable news with their students. From that moment on, nothing is the same. Immediately after is a heartbreaking mess. People are crying, screaming, stuck in a trance, unable to move or think. Those who are a complete mess are huddled into the gym or the flex room where “counseling is available.” No matter who you are, what grade you’re in or how well you knew him or her, it affects you. It affects the entire school, the schools around us, the community. It shakes us in some way. We reflect on every memory that contained him or her. That night we hug our family and friends a little tighter. Immediately people turn to social media to express how sorry they are. Posts are shared saying things along the line of “We should live each moment like it’s our last” or “Being nice to people goes a long way.” Why do we only suggest these things when it’s too late? It’s the next week. Prayer circles and balloon releases are held in memory of our angel. The wound is still there but it’s starting to scab over. People are forcing themselves to move on, but allow themselves not to forget. But for a lot of us, we’re still upset. In fact, we’re almost angry. Why would they do this? Didn’t they know how many people loved them? Cared about them? Would’ve helped them in anyway possible? What most don’t understand is that it’s not that easy. Suicide is a real issue, one we are all too familiar with as a school and community. Though Lafayette has been lucky enough this school year to not have lost someone in this way, other schools around us have not; therefore, this is an issue we need to continuously be aware of.

Even if it isn’t affecting us at the time, it’s affecting someone. Though not all suicides can be prevented, about 90 percent can be with the correct treatment and counseling according to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE). Any form of help is better than no help at all, which is why we need to stop tip-toeing around the subject and educate ourselves about depression and other mental illnesses. Yes, depression is a mental illness. And a serious one at that. According to I Need a LightHouse, a depression and suicide awareness program, approximately 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. Our generation is so quick to assume that any sign of depression is just a way to get attention. We notice someone’s acting different and most won’t think anything of it. We grip onto our egos for dear life instead of putting them down for a second to ask if someone’s okay. It’s ironic how we’re constantly searching for the right solution when a step in the right direction is always right there in front of us. “A few symptoms that one may show who is suffering from depression could be that they’re sleeping a lot, if they aren’t acting themselves, if they have trouble seeing positivity in situations,” Molly Bozada, the school nurse, said. Though there are many obvious symptoms that one can take note of, in some cases, these obvious symptoms aren’t evident. “There are other times where they look completely fine on the outside. You just never truly know what people are going through unless they open up to you,” Bozada said. Instead of turning a blind eye to someone who you know or even suspect might be in trouble, take a second out of your life to help theirs. Reaching out in any way is better than

acting like you didn’t notice anything. A common problem in schools across the nations is a weak relationship between students, teachers and parents. A strong relationship would be helpful in order to communicate problems and unusual behavior. According to the American Psychological Association, teachers who foster positive relationships with their students create classroom environments more conducive to learning and meet students’ developmental, emotional and academic needs. Without this type of relationship, we don’t feel comfortable sharing information. We think that if we share anything with someone else, especially someone that has the power to help such as a parent or teacher, that we will then hold the title of being a “tattle tale”. When it comes to someone’s safety, there are no “tattle tales”. It’s better to be safe than sorry in any situation dealing with someone’s life. With that in mind, we need to be more comfortable with our peers and guardians, such as our classmates and teachers. We need to make it the social norm to report unusual activity that we see. If we see someone acting out of character, even if we aren’t close to them, we still need to be aware that reaching out to them in any way can make a big impact on their life. We need to get comfortable and care enough about one another so we can always have each other’s backs. By being educated and aware of this serious issue, we can then work as a community towards making an impact and helping to prevent it. If you or someone you know is dealing with depression or thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is there to help. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

Disagreeing with parents is okay, must educate before forming opinions I’m sitting at the dinner table with my parents and my little brother. Call us old fashioned but we still do this every night. Tonight’s topic consists of my parents going back and forth about what they think of the presidential candidates. They aren’t extremely political people, in fact they never bring up politics. But due to the presidential election being less than a year away, the media has been actively and frequently bringing attention to the candidates. Usually I am an equal participant in dinner conversation, but tonight I stay quiet. I sit and thoroughly listen to their opinions and what they have to say. They finally ask, “What do you think Kayley? You don’t have to agree with us.” I’m extremely grateful that I have the type of parents that don’t force their own opinions down other peoples throats, including my brother and I. It is important for parents to set examples for their children, those example being whatever they perceive to be the best; however, something that all of us need to understand is that it’s okay to disagree with our parents. Take for example politics. Some parents may have very strong views about politics. Some couldn’t care less. Some could be in the middle. No matter what opinion they have, our parents opinions shouldn’t be the only way we get information and see things going on in the world. Just because they have an opinion about a certain politician or viewpoint doesn’t mean we have to agree with them solely for the fact that they’re our parents. Our parents might have that opinion because their parents had that opinion, or there’s the possibility that the media greatly influenced them in forming that opinion, which isn’t always the best thing.

It’s easy to say that the media holds a lot of power. Unfortunately, not every source of media is completely unbiased; therefore, people may form their opinions based on facts that were misunderstood or just plain wrong. Also something to consider is that our parents lived and experienced the world at a very different time than we are right now. Whether anyone wants to believe it or not, the world is currently a different place to grow up in compared to the one that our parents did. Times have changed, and so have the majority of the people who inhabit it. In my opinion, the world has become a lot less discriminative place than what it was only few decades ago. According to Gallup, in 1958 only 38 percent of Americans said they would vote for an African-American presidential candidate. By 2012, that number was 96 percent. Thus, our first black president was elected. This percentage didn’t go up due to African-Americans becoming more educated or qualified. There have been African-Americans who were qualified to be president for hundreds of years. It was with the help of our parents generation who thought differently than their parents, which allowed the majority of Americans to become more open-minded. In other words, because our parents disagreed with their parents opinions, America is experiencing the nicest, most open-minded people in history at this time. According to the 2013 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) in 1979 women were paid about 62 percent of what a man was paid for the same job. In 2013, that number was about 82 percent. This number still isn’t where it should be, but we’ve at least made some progress. We know that we are improving as a nation instead of getting worse.

That’s What She Said kayley allen opinion editor But according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, if change continues at the same slow pace it has for the past 50 years, it won’t be until 2059 that we finally reach equal pay between men and women. Therefore, we can’t stop now. Racism still exists. Sexism still exists. Discrimination against sexual orientation still exists. Even if you don’t agree that all of these things are bad, you should have that opinion because you’ve educated yourself on that topic and came to the conclusion that it’s truly what’s right, not because it’s what your parents think is right. I’m not saying we should go against every single thing our parents say. In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, most of the things they say are good pieces of advice that we should put to use in our lives. But before we agree with them on everything just because they’re our parents, we should try looking at the other side of things first. And of course it’s always okay to coincidently agree with our parents, just as long as we know it’s also okay to not agree with them as well.

Jan. 22, 2016

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page three • opinions

Presidential voting is a big deal; inform yourself about politics It’s the end of January, meaning that we’re only weeks away from the New Hampshire Primary and the Iowa Caucuses, marking the beginning of the 2016 Presidential election season. For many, this means having to sit through the droning noises of TV analysts arguing about who’s the right candidate and ignoring everything they say. After all, politics are boring and you’re not going to vote anyway, right? But should this be the case? Does it not bother anyone else that so many voters in this country are uninformed, or that some people don’t vote at all? The U.S. Census Bureau reported that merely 54 percent of the country’s voting population actually participated in the 2012 election. Who even knows how many of those votes were decided by educated research or by a flip of a coin? This is the leader of the free world that we’re choosing here. Shouldn’t we as a country at least try to make an effort to figure out who we want to run the United States for the next four years? Because of this, I feel that it is my duty to get the Lafayette voting population to become informed of the election before it heads into overdrive later this year. For those of you who won’t be of age to vote this November, I still encourage you to listen to this advice for future reference. The first step of becoming an educated voter is simple: know the candidates. It may be a little hard in the beginning when there seems to be a billion people running for each party, but as the state primaries and caucuses roll out through the year, it should become more clear as to who’s going to be leading each side. Now, I’m not going to sit here and list off every single candidate and his/her

characteristics, but I would encourage you to look up their policies and stances, preferably on a non-biased/educated source (You many want to avoid places like Fox News or MSNBC). While Wikipedia is generally lambasted by teachers, the site does have informative pages regarding the stances of certain political figures, as well as accurate citations backing them up. A sad, yet true fact of all politicians is that they will lie at some point or another. A good way to check what they’re lying about as well as how often they do it is www.politifact.com. Type in a politician’s name and poof! You have a full list of important statements they’ve made, as well as the credibility of each one. While guys like Bernie Sanders appear to be squeaky clean a fair amount of the time, somebody like Donald Trump fails to tell the full truth in a lot of instances. Take these things into consideration when choosing who you want to vote for. Another major tip is to not blindly attach yourself to a party. In my opinion, the two party system in our country is inherently flawed, and voting for someone because they essentially play for your favorite political sports team doesn’t help anything. For instance, while I generally fall into the Democrat side of the spectrum, I agree with several Libertarian stances of ideology, particularly those spoken by candidate Rand Paul, a registered Republican. Vote for what you believe in, not what a whole party believes in. My final key to success in voting is to be flexible in your opinions. While this statement holds true for virtually everything in life, it’s especially a problem when discussing politics. People like to close their ears and yell their opinions at each other.

Real Talk seth boester editor in chief Don’t let that happen. You may hear nothing but bad things about a candidate on a cable news network, only to then discover the full truth about them from some other source and realize that you support them in the election. It can happen to anybody. Just be understanding of other political views and you are already a step above that person who puts “Cookie Monster” as a write-in vote. To close out, I just want to reiterate that elections are a big deal. Not only do they choose who will be heading our country for years to come, but they also show the political makeup of the population, what stances we have, what ideologies we agree with, etc. You may only be one voter, but so are the other millions of people who view themselves as “one voter.” Choosing to go out on that Tuesday in November is choosing to make your country a better place to live in. Wouldn’t you want that?

stars & gripes

Stars: - Nominees for the 58th Annual Grammy’s have been revealed, with rapper Kendrick Lamar up for a show-leading 11 awards, including Album of the Year. Suddenly, cries were heard from all around the country of old people complaining in unison. - Fuller House, sequel to the hit 90s sitcom Full House, will release via Netflix on Feb. 26th. Sadly, fanfavorite character Comet the dog will not be reprising his role in the show. - With the recent cold weather, let’s give a quick shout out to joggers. Whoever had the idea of making sweatpants a fashion statement honestly deserves an award. -Course Description Guides are in the hands of freshmen, sophomores and juniors now which means it is officially the kick-off of senioritis season.

Gripes: - After calling this city their home for over two decades, the St. Louis Rams have announced their plan to relocate to Los Angeles later this year. Watching a team struggle to win five games a season in an overpriced stadium sounds like the true L.A. sports fan experience. - Alan Rickman, aka Professor Snape from the Harry Potter franchise, has passed away at the age of 69. 10 points from Gryffindor, 10 points from our hearts. -Why is the school suddenly devoid of cell phone service? You’d probably be better off carrying a telegraph around with you to send messages at this point. -Asking Principal John Shaughnessy a question has just gotten more complicated. He recently completed his doctorate degree so now there are insurance forms and co-pays and all sorts of shenanigans involved in speaking with him.

Good Vibes:

Before death David Bowie releases final album Blackstar to critical acclaim ben rachell • entertainment editor

Legendary English rock star David Bowie passed away on Jan. 10 at the age of 69, two days after the release of his 25th and final album, Blackstar. Often known by his zany alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Bowie had a remarkable ability to continually reinvent himself over and over again throughout last half century, finding his own distinct and individual style while synonymously still fitting into trends and styles of the present day. Bowie’s capability to stay trendy and energetic helped him sustain his iconic status throughout the years. Bowie’s ability to reinvent himself allowed him to broaden his creative pallet throughout his nearly six decade career, expanding into many genres such as glam rock, art pop and most recently, jazz. Working with artists and groups such as Tina Turner, Nine Inch Nails

and John Lennon, Bowie’s career was one of the most unique that we’ve ever seen. This most recent release, Blackstar, has received high praise from critics. Bowie’s death has, in my opinion, changed how the album is perceived; it gives the album another meaning. It makes an album that would have been seen as “sad”, literally sound like the last thoughts of a dying man. This noteworthy observation gives the listener insight into Bowie’s perspective; his last thoughts before exiting this world. It’s not just art; it’s his last testament; knowing that these are actually Bowie’s genuine final thoughts is surreal. While listening to this album it’s apparent that Bowie is drained musically; he created this album on the cusp of death and he gave this record his last bit of stamina before he passed. Bowie embraces his naturally withered away voice fantastically to give his final narrative. Blackstar as a cohesive body of work certainly has its exciting moments; but for the most part, the album is rather dark. The opening track, also titled Blackstar, follows suit to this bleak outlook; it’s dark, dim, and docile. The song is a story of going back home to heaven jam packed into a 9 minute opera. During around the halfway point, the song goes from a sad and depressing closure, to a lighter, jazzier, acceptance of his

impending death. The lyrics remain similar to the first half of the song, but the change in instrumentation gives the second half a brighter feel. The next song stays in a similar mood. It’s got quick progressive exciting drums, but lyrically, it’s still sad. In this track, Bowie talks about his regrets with a woman. He seems to have gotten some form of closure on the situation, but the listener can still feel that he is bothered by this unresolved situation. The third song on the album is titled Lazarus; and it’s probably my favorite on the entire album. Lazarus sounds fantastic and it represents Bowie’s climatic finish to his life here on Earth. The opening lyrics read, “Look up here, I’m in heaven/I’ve got scars that can’t be seen/I’ve got drama that can’t be stolen/Everybody knows me now.” These lyrics, I’m assuming inspired by his 18-month battle with cancer before he passed away, throw a morbid and gruesome type of imagery into the ears of the listener. Not only is the music an eerie backdrop, but the music videos attached for the songs Blackstar and Lazarus also allow the listener to see exactly what transpired in his last months. The next couple of tracks explore Bowie’s grim present state even more. After the song Lazarus, the next few tracks contain a lot of lively orchestration and dark instrumentals that help coast the

record along. In the song Sue (Or In a Season of Crime), the abundance of energetic drum-breaks and intergalactic background noises mesh together his message of a missing woman together in an alluring fashion. During the following track Girl Loves Me, Bowie scopes in on his impending death in a rebellious fashion. His warped vocal distortions call out for answers hysterically and get progressively more intense as the song moves on. Dollar Days is also a very reflective song and introspective song that leads nicely into Bowie’s final track he would ever record, I Can’t Give Everything Away. I Can’t Give Everything Away is probably my next favorite track after Lazarus. It sounds like something that would play at the end of a long movie where the main character dies for the greater good of the world. And that’s exactly what’s going on; Bowie, the main protagonist in his music (despite all of his alter egos), artistically captures his own death intentionally in a beautiful way. Not only did he capture this album beautifully, but throughout his career, he composed a great deal of great music along with always being a fantastic person. Bowie’s influence will continue to infect the music industry for generations to come. If you have a chance, certainly go out listen to this album.

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page four • news

Jan. 22, 2016

The right to bear arms?

Current issues regarding gun control brings up an age old debate “We know that we can’t stop every act of violence. But what if we tried to stop even one?” - President Barack Obama brinlee frazier • reporter The recent dark events in San Bernardino, CA have resparked the debate over gun control and policies. According to the Brady Campaign, around 31,573 people die every year in the United States due to gun violence, compared to 5,000 in Canada. This includes suicides and homicides.

Gun Debate Rages On With this in mind, the White House is seeking reform concerning current firearm policies. New ideas and strategies are being introduced to curb gun violence. In one of his addresses to the nation, President Barack Obama emphasized his concerns about the easy accessibility felons have to buying firearms. “A violent felon can buy (a gun) over the Internet with no background check, no questions asked,” he said. Obama is hoping to reform background check requirements that will augment and assist the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Although the policies are subject to update, the current policies require gun selling facilities to have a license to sell firearms, encourages the NICS to update its system and increase its body by 50 percent, requires mental health information in background checks. Rapidfire weapons are on the way to becoming illegal. While these aren’t all of the current policies, Obama revealed new policies that were announced Jan. 12, during his speech in the State of the Union. Although Obama didn’t make gun control a main feature during his address to the nation in his final State of the Union, he left a seat empty in the first lady’s guest box empty. It was a stark and blunt reminder of the victims of gun violence in 2015. The hopes of the new policies are to control the distribution of firearms, and to ensure the safety of Americans. In a like manner, the main idea of Obama’s regulations is to enhance old laws and requirements and to engender new ones to control and monitor the gun market. It’s clear that everybody is reacting to this change differently. While the National Rifle Association (NRA), whose purpose is to protect the Second Amendment, or the right to bear arms, is an advocate for gun safety, it ultimately stands for limited gun control, or what it calls ‘freedom’. In fact, the NRA’s background on its Twitter page reads, “When nothing less than freedom is at stake, we fight.” The NRA was founded in 1871 as a recreational group who encouraged “rifle shooting on a scientific basis”. Since 1934, it has gained modest political power, helping the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) come to pass. On the other hand, organizations such as The Brady Campaign are advocates for tighter gun control. The Brady Campaign was established in 1974, known then as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). However, it was renamed after James “Jim” Brady was permanently injured and paralyzed by a gunshot wound during the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt in 1981. This organization supported the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1994, also known as the Brady Law, which requires background checks to be performed before an individual purchases a firearm. Moreover, the act prohibits certain people from shipping or transporting any gun interstate or foreign, or receiving any firearm which has been shipped or transported in interstate or

foreign commerce, or possessing any firearm in or affecting commerce. While both sides of the great debate are logical, some say it is impossible to“win” the argument. Both sides are supported by copious facts and historic moments. In addition, each stance has many supporters.

Students Offer Opinions Politicians aren’t the only ones who have opinions on guns and the future of gun control. Lafayette students have varied opinions concerning the matter. Junior Johnny Trout believes there should be limited gun control. “I believe there should be less gun control, because all around the world, for example, Honduras, has the tightest gun control in the entire world, and they have one of the highest homicide rates,” he said. He added, “Then you can look at a nation like Switzerland, which has the loosest gun control, and has the lowest homicide and crime rate.” Trout then said, “Then you can look at states or cities, within the United States, that have extremely high gun control, like Chicago, and they have on of the highest murder rates. Just from evidence like that, it’s clear that gun control doesn’t work,” On the opposing side of the issue, Junior Alex Miss describes his views concerning guns. “My dad and I can go into a sporting goods store and 15 minutes later walk out with a gun. Most places, currently, don’t have to do a background check,” Miss said. According to Miss, the seller can deny selling an individual a gun, but that will not necessarily stop criminally charged individuals from obtaining a firearm. Junior Kolbe Koziatek, who supports the Second Amendment, said, “People shouldn’t have to go through numerous trials, wasting their time, just to acquire something that is promised to them in the Constitution. Gun control won’t stop violence, because will still be able to get guns, and it’s going to stop law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves.” Freshman Marcos Alvarez shared his view abou, s the rights under the Second Amendment saying, “The Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms, but you should not hold weapons in public places.” On Jan 6, Obama held a press conference to announce a new group of executive orders to reduce gun violence and deaths. A summary of the main ideas include: • No matter where a gun is being purchased, a license must be present and a background check must be conducted • Promise smart and enforced gun control laws • Increase mental health awareness and create new resources to provide mental health care • Include Social Security information to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining a gun • Make certain that States are supplying records for the background checks and are cooperating in enforcing legislation • Make background check system effective • Ensure legal gun dealers or stores inform the government that a gun has been lost or stolen • Address gun safety and educate people about it

Julianne Elise Custom made dresses for every occasion

Instagram: @julianne_elise_

GUN Control

297 students surveyed

Do you own a gun?

46% YES

53% NO

Do you believe that there should be more gun control?

68% YES

32% NO

Attention Seniors-Juniors ACT/SAT Tutoring

Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org

Jan. 22, 2016

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CityArchRiver represents historic expansion Project plans to expand Arch grounds, including bike paths, park space jack deubner • reporter In July of 2014 the CityArchRiver project began its monumental construction by connecting the Arch grounds to the city over Interstate 44. This connection with the symbol of St. Louis and the actual city is a big deal for some residents, and so is the rest of the CityArchRiver project. The now 53 year old symbol commemorates the westward expansion to the United States and often referred to as “the gateway to the west” is soon getting a much needed upgrade. With the roadway now covered up, walking from the City Garden sculpture park, to the Old Courthouse and to the Arch grounds is finally possible. With the walkable stretch now in action, the CityArchRiver project has some exciting plans for the Arch grounds and surrounding areas for St. Louis to enjoy. The project plans on having walkways and bike paths leading from the heart of downtown St. Louis to the Arch, spaces for outdoor concerts near the riverside, additions to the Jefferson National Expansion Museum, a new entrance into the Arch and plenty more. This allows for a more accessible area surrounding the Arch, the riverside and the Cardinals stadium for visitors and locals alike. The project hopes to change the image of downtown St. Louis and entertain generations to come. With the project already set and in action, in the future, if all goes well, the main staple of St. Louis could look better than it ever has in the 50 plus years since it’s been built. The modern design, enticing walkways and bike paths planned for construction should be hard to pass up for a weekend get together, in addition to the upcoming concerts and events like Fair St. Louis already in the plans for the finished Arch grounds. Plus, if all goes well, the rates in tourism in St. Louis should shoot up, gain revenue for the city, allowing for even more benefits for the city to come in. This could help city schools, clean up certain areas and parks, being a benefit to the entire city. Junior Bradyn Herrboldt has lived in St. Louis his whole life and has not visited the inside of the Arch museum. “I remember visiting the outside of the Arch

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page f ive • news

The current standings of the Arch grounds including the famous Old Courthouse.

The predicted finished product of the construction, including some bike paths and new museum entrance. (Photo courtesy of cityarchriver.com) when I was very young but never went in, but after the construction is all finished I’ll definitely have to check out everything when it’s all done.” The CityArchRiver project hopes the new expansions of museums can hope to bring students in with public educational spaces and the great experience the park provides. The inside Jefferson National Expansion Museum and trips to the top of the Arch will be closed for construction until March 4. When the monument reopens and until all construction is finished the Old Courthouse will serve as the ticketing for Arch tours. All plans with the CityArchRiver project of the Jefferson National Expansion Museum, the new entrance to the Arch and more all plan to be finished by the Spring of 2017. Check cityarchriver.com for frequent updates and announcements about the progress of the construction.

Taste of West County 2016 Monday, February 22, 5:30-7:30pm LHS Commons Come enjoy wonderful culinary samples from over 30 area restaurants, plus Live Auction (6:30-7) Silent Auction and Raffles Proceeds benefit graduation activities for the Class of 2017

Ticket prices: $12 individual, $5 kids <5, $45 family of 4 Cannot guarantee ticket sales at the door. Enquiries to: LHSTOWC@gmail.com Updates and news on: Facebook: Taste of West County 2016 Twitter @TOWC2016

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page six • news

STUCO Presents Frosted Formal Saturday, February 20 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Dress Up Days:

Tuesday: Grout Fit Wednesday:Sweater Weather Throw Back Thursday: 80s S’winter Friday: Summer in the Winter

Tickets: $10 on sale February 17-19 *10% of all ticket sales will be donated to Relay for Life

Jan. 22, 2016

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page seven • news

‘Not one of them’

Students with traditional Islamic beliefs work to overcome negative stereotypes anna james • news editor

Freshman Fatuma Adballa wears a hijab, commonly worn by Muslim women. She said she does sometimes feel she is negatively judged because of what she wears. However, she is proud of her religion and her beliefs and works to educate people about the real philosophical beliefs of Muslims. (Photo by Anna James)

Freshman Fatuma Abdalla said it is difficult sometimes to live a day-to-day life being a Muslim teenage girl in America. “I go out in public wearing a hijab and I see people staring at me. I just know they’re thinking in their minds ‘terrorist’,” Abdalla said. Recent attacks by ISIS-sympathizers have elevated an unfounded fear and distrust of Muslims in general. In fact, Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has suggested he would temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United States and potentially initiate a program where Muslims already in the U.S. would have to register. But, ISIS is a far different organization than the large population of people referred to as Muslim, which in general means someone who follows the practices of Islam. Some very radical members of this group have become associated with terrorist organizations. Professor Vernon Schubel at Kenyon College, said only around 30,000 people are ISIS fighters in comparison to the large majority of Muslims, which has approximately 1.6 billion followers world-wide. ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) is a radical Sunni Muslim organization whose aim is to restore an Islamic state in the region encompassing Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and southeastern Turkey. Their actions and the reactions of many concerned citizens has led to stereotyping and targeting of all Muslims. Senior Shafi Chowdhury, a practicing Muslim, understands Abdalla’s feelings. He said, “It (ISIS) just gives a bad name to us [Muslims] and it is a shame, because it’s the few that do it to so many of us,” he said. Violence is not part of Muslim beliefs. The Pew Research Center, a survey done in 2011 found that 86 percent of American Muslims said tactics like suicide bombings and other forms of violence are never justified. Abdalla said, “I don’t understand why one act makes all of us the same person when really Islam means peace.” Still, there are some Americans who believe all who practice Islamic beliefs are terrorists. Following the attack in San Bernardino, someone left a threatening voice message at the Islamic Center of Greater St. Louis. Other Muslims reported being threatened personally. “If I were to encounter someone who believed that all Muslims were that way then I would have to overlook it and treat them with respect. Bashing these people and getting mad at them when they accuse you is just

supporting their beliefs, so you just have to be nice and show that you’re not one of them,’’ Chowdhury said. Though he said he has not experienced any direct backlash since the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, incidents have been on the rise in the U.S. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino released a study earlier this month indicating that hate crimes against Muslims have tripled since the two attacks. “It’s really hard for me to watch some people judge our religion when Islam is supposed to be a nation of peace. We weren’t meant for violence but one crazy radical will spark a whole new issue for our rather accepting religion,” Abdalla said. Chowdhury agreed and said he has learned to curb his anger most of the time. “You have to be tolerant. It’s the best thing you can do. I try to tell them what the religion is really like so they can stop making assumptions from what they see on TV.” This positive attitude is shared by Abdalla. She said if she encountered discrimination “I would have to act with kindness and show them what our religion is actually about. You can’t let it be spoiled with your anger.”

Senior Shafi Chowdhury expressed his feelings on Twitter about ISIS attacks and some backlash that followers of Islam were subjected to online and in person. Chowdhury said strongly believes Muslims express peace and the few that spoil it in the name of their religion don’t deserve to be called Muslim.

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What is love?

pages eight and nine • cover story

No matter what point a person is at in their life, an individual always has an attachment to something or someone. With Valentine’s Dy approaching, the Image asked what LOVE means to some Lancers.

Sports take a tremendous amount of time and effort. Sophomore Katlyn Fastenau loves volleyball. She started playing in 4th grade and has been hooked ever since. She spends her time playing for a club team and for Lafayette. Between the two, Fastenau prefers the club season due to its longer length and diversity of players. “I think [the amount of time and dedication] is worth it because I enjoy playing. It’s cool to win and see all the hard work pay off,” Fastenau said. On top of practicing two to three times a week, she also works out twice a week with some of her friends from the school volleyball team. Any club sport is typically demanding, including volleyball, and to go above and beyond with training takes a significant amount of time and effort.

Katlyn Fastenau, 10

“Love is always being there for someone in a caring way.”

“Love to me is consistently having a feeling that everything is and will be okay when you’re with the one you love.”

“Love is being able to do something every day, and never become tired of it.”

There are different types of love that often get forgotten about. People can love their sibling or twin, but love doesn’t always have to be with another person. Someone can love the sport they play. Love isn’t exclusive to just people or a significant other. One example of this is senior Nick Lavanchy and sophomore Lexi Lavanchy. This brother and sister have a close relationship that some siblings don’t have. They share common interests like volleyball. That is one of the major factors that goes into their close relationship. “We’re always there to support each other at our club tournaments and manage for each other’s high school teams,” Lexi said. Since they both play, it is easier for them to support each other because they can help push each other and coach one another to improve.

Love can be described as having a unique connection with someone. Junior Hailey Schue and her boyfriend junior Logan Panchot are familiar with this kind of relationship. “We met in 6th grade in art studio, and I knew who he was, but had never worked up the courage to talk to him before. We got to pick where we sat, and we ended up just hitting it off the second week of school,” Schue said. For the past two and a half years, the pair has had a long distance relationship while Panchot was at a residency program for the US Soccer team. The two have been dating for four years total. To exhibit her commitment to Panchot, she flew down to Florida and surprised him multiple times. “Everyday, I’m completely blessed to have the people I do in my life, friends and family to constantly provide me with the feeling of love and comfort,” Schue said.

Hailey Schue, 11

Lexi Lavanchy, 10

“Love is doing whatever you can for the person you love and never abandoning them.”

“I believe love is trusting and caring for someone whole-heartedly despite any flaws the person may have.”

Many people know what it is like to have a sibling, and sophomores Madison and Hailee Holt have a different kind of sibling relationship. They are identical twins. The pair does everything together, which has created a bond that is unbreakable. One of their favorite things to do together is watching their favorite shows right before they go to bed. “We have shared rooms and we do everything together. It has caused us to be so close,” Madison said. Since they spend so much time together, they inevitably bicker, but the two are always quick to reconcile. “I always tell my mom that she can’t understand because she doesn’t have a twin. We fight and call each other names, but then we giggle about it. When you’re a twin, you have a different bond that can’t be explained,” Madison explained.

Senior Kelsey Baich took extreme measures to prove her love for her sister. Her entire family played a role in trying to make her sister completely apart of them. “I went on a vacation to Hawaii with my family, and my oldest sister, who is my half sister, really opened up about feeling like she wasn’t a real member of our family,” Baich said. To exemplify how much she cared for her oldest sister, Baich and the girls in her immediate family decided to get the same tattoo to symbolize how much they mean to each other and the dedication they have for one another. “We all got the Roman numeral four tattooed. The significance of it is that it’s a whole number, showing her that she is necessary and an important part of our lives, not an option or just a portion of us,” Baich said.

Kelsey Baich, 12

Jan. 22, 2016

Young Love

Madison Holt, 10 jessica collins • lifestyle editor erin coogan • reporter

The Image asked two pre-schoolers, Beckett and Lorayne, what they thought about love. Here’s what they4.said.

Image: What’s something you love? Beckett: I love to eat cookies because they are so good. Image: Who loves you and why? Beckett: My mom because she makes mac and cheese, hotdogs and hamburgers. Image: What is love? Beckett: Love is a hug. Image: What’s something you love? Lorayne: I love my mommy because she is so cuddly inside. Image: Who loves you and why? Lorayne: My daddy because he always wants to sit next to me. Image: What is love? Lorayne: Love is when you really, really love each other! 6.

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page ten • lifestyles

Jan. 22, 2016

What’s On Your Mind? First Facebook statuses create embarrasment for LHS students kira downing • reporter

Created in 2004 at Harvard by psychology major Mark Zuckerberg, “the Facebook” was originally created just for college students. After a month over half of Harvard’s undergraduates had joined and Zukerberg extended the program to other Boston universities and eventually all college students. It became Facebook.com in 2005 and opened to high school students but as soon as middle schoolers heard of this site they made fake accounts lying about their age to get online. In 2006, anyone with a registered email address could create a profile. And, as older people started populating the Facebook world, teens started abandoning it for he next wave in social media. Because many current high school students were so young when they first made these accounts, they did not remember their first statuses. But, the Image did some digging and found a few students’ first post to share all over again.

Coby Brown, 11

Remembering this old post brought back memories for Brown. He thought he was free of all school obligations. “That’s the last day of 5th Grade and I was happy, but reminded by a friend that I had summer school the next week.”

Breanna Hunt, 12

As Hunt looked back at her first Facebook status she said, “I was young, naïve and didn’t know what I wanted. It’s kind of funny looking back at it now.” Hunt’s claim to “like someone” was a throwback all the way from 2010.

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Aaliyah Johnson, 10

As Johnson looks back on her first status from 2010 and said, “This typo makes me want to cry, it’s so bad; It should say fun.”

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Morgan Kantouth, 12

Meghan Mayes, 9

Reflecting on her first Facebook post, Kantouth said, “Embarrassing, [I’m] not really sure what any of those are, or what they mean and stand for.” This post confused Kantouth and definitely made her feel a little embarrassed.

She used to use Facebook as a way to give an easy birthday shout out. Reflecting on this old post she said, “I posted that when I was younger and it was my Mom’s birthday. So, I wanted to giver her a birthday post!.”

Jan. 22, 2016

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page eleven • lifestyles

Staffers go B.A.L.D to raise cash for cancer kayley allen • opinion editor sabrina ross • reporter “It’s a reminder that no matter who you are, how old you are, where you are, it can happen to anyone at anytime,” world language teacher Gina Luerding said. Lafayette’s Be A Little Daring (B.A.L.D.) awareness project originated in 2000. The goal of this project has been to raise cancer awareness for those who are being directly impactes by the disease. “This year, we’ve brought it back to honor Ms. Ingram to show her how much we love and support her during this time,” Luerding said. World Language teacher Theresa Gornet is also working to coordinate the B.A.L.D. project and will shave her head if students reach

the goal set for the amount of money to be collected. Language Arts teacher Jennifer Ingram, a Lafayette graduate herself, is currently battling breast cancer, and undergoing chemotherapy treatments. B.A.L.D. is working to support Ingram by raising awareness and money that will be donated to a charity of Ingram’s choice. “She chose to donate all the money that will be raised to St. Jude’s hospital because not only do they do cancer research, but they also help kids, and Ms. Ingram is all for helping kids,” Luerding said. When B.A.L.D. was held at Lafayette in 2000, the school raised about $4,000; therefore, that’s the goal for this year. “One of the hardest things while going through chemo, especially for women, is losing your hair. As a three-time cancer survivor

myself, I know what it’s like getting that first diagnosis. I know what it’s like to lose your hair. You walk around in public and it pretty much pegs you as a cancer patient,” Luerding said. In order to get people motivated to donate, several Lafayette teachers have agreed to shave or cut their hair if the $4,000 donation goal is reached. “How I’m getting kids to donate is by giving them a chance to shave one part of my head for every, say $50, they individually donate,” Leurding said. The B.A.L.D. event will take place Feb. 5 during all lunch shifts. Staff members who have agreed to do so will take turns getting their hair cut very short or completely shaved. Students are able to donate money at lunch or in their teachers’ classrooms. FACS teacher Lauren Arnet has signed on

to have her head shaved. “It’s supporting people who are dealing with something that I hope I never have to deal, or anyone has to deal with, and trying to show a unified force for them,” Arnet said. Getting the school and her students involved is a goal that Arnet has as well. “I’m getting my kids aware of what’s happening by making sure they see the poster that is hung up on my wall and by encouraging them to participate and to watch the actual event too,” Arnet said. Other staff members who have volunteered to have their heads shaved include: John Becker, Andrea Bielecki, Dean Bryan Jennifer Curtis, Sarah Hicks, Stephanie Mullins and Emma Tamaroff “I think it’s awesome the school is coming together for this,” Arnet said.

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page twelve • lifestlyes

Jan. 22, 2016

Pictured (top), senior Caleigh Glazer (left) and sophomore Marissa McCarthy (right); Pictured (bottom), Special Education teacher Krista Wyatt (left), junior Allison Hine (middle), junior Coco Barnes (right)

Needle & the Nose Individuals look to separate themselves from general public by piercing nostrils, septums dominic scaglione • reporter Every year there is a new trend students tend to follow. Last year it was chokers, and this year it’s nose piercings. Whether it’s a nostril or septum, students who choose this body modification said they want to branch out from the norm and show the world that they are different. Although nose piercings are a fashion trend now, the nose ring originated from the Middle East 4,000 years ago. They were brought to India in the 16th century and from there the practice was taught to Americans in the late 1960s. Originally, Americans used them as a sign of punk-rock rebellion. Junior Coco Barnes, who got her nose pierced at the beginning of sophomore year, said “At the time I was really bored with my appearance

and wanted to do something different, not permanent and simple,” Barnes said. The cost of getting a nostril piercing costs $30-$80, depending where on the nose a person gets it pierced. Other factors that play in are the shop the person goes to and what jewelry an individual chooses. When it comes to the procedure itself, people who have been pierced said the pain only lasts for a second, and healing process isn’t too bad. Still, people who get any type of piercing should be careful because of the risk of infection. Concerning the aftercare of nose piercings, piercing specialist Joshua Kantola said, “As long as your piercing is done by a trained and licensed professional with proper tools and equipment in a suitable environment, you will be fine. It is up to you to keep it clean and healthy

during the healing process to be free from infection.” If one decides to get their nose pierced, they can get it done with a piercing gun or a needle. The gun is a blunt force through the cartilage which can cause tissue damage. Using the needle has less of a risk of infection and is rumored to hurt less. Most commonly according to Kantola, people get a normal nostril piercing. But, some others crave more than that. Junior Allison Hine got her septum pierced in the beginning of August 2015. Unlike the regular nose piercing, the septum is the middle of the nose that separates the left and right air tunnels. The septum piercing was originally popular in Native American tribe leaders and farm animals. Hine said, “I didn’t feel like a regular nose piercing would have

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looked good with my nose shape, and it seems to be a very popular piercing. A septum piercing isn’t as common, especially at Lafayette. It makes me stand out just a little more and can even be a good conversation starter with people I’ve never talked to.” Nose piercing is growing in popularity for all ages. Kantola said, “We may do anywhere from 5-10 piercings a day and that may end up being around 15-25 nose piercings per week. We will not pierce anyone’s nose younger than 16 years old, so 16-18 year olds I would estimate make up only roughly 10-15 percent of those figures. Most of the clients are in their mid-20s.” Although the nose ring seems to be far more popular among the students, some teachers even sport a stud in their nose.

Special Education teacher Krista Wyatt said, “I always wanted one and my daughter wanted one as well so we did it on a whim. I used to work at a Catholic school, and they were very strict about piercings. Teachers and students weren’t allowed to have piercings and nail polish. When I left there and came to the public school district, my daughter and I did it as a team.” Nose piercings do have a certain stigma about them. It depends where an individual works and what the requirements are for that job, but now they are commonly allowed in the work place Kantola said. “It’s really funny, when I left the Catholic school I went directly to Rockwood Summit. The first teacher that I worked with had her nose pierced. I was concerned with it effecting my job interview, but it’s so tiny most people don’t notice it,” Wyatt said.

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Down 1. mentally or physically inactive; lethargic. 2. poor; needy 3. the quality of being religious or reverent 4. slow and gloomy 7. easily evaporated at normal temperatures 8. isolate or hide away 10. tending to induce drowsiness or sleep 11. the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts 13. revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement) 14. sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon) 17. suave, courteous, and refined in manner

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page fourteen • sports

Jan.. 22, 2016

BIG SHOES TO FILL

Players follow in siblings’ large footprints

Trey Griffey hopes to continue his family’s Despite family success, Jake Messer legacy and take his game to next level looks to create separate individual path tyler burnett • sports reporter Forward Trey Griffey of the boys varsity basketball team is continuing the lineage of Griffey’s at Lafayette. He has three siblings, two who are Lancer alumni. His older brother, Tyler, played basketball at Lafayette and wore number 42 on his jersey, just like Trey does currently. Tyler, Class of 2009, also played basketball at Illinois University for four years after high school. One of his older sisters, Brenna Griffey, Class of 2014, is currently attending McKendree University and plays volleyball. Trey’s other sister, Taryn Griffey, is a senior and helped bring home a fifth consecutive State title with the girls volleyball team. She committed to North Florida University for volleyball. Trey is a freshman with a height of 6 feet, 5 inches, one of the tallest players on the team, and he is already getting varsity experience. So far he’s scored six points this season and has 16 rebounds as well as three blocks. He hasn’t filled up the stat sheet this year because he isn’t a starter which limits how

much he can do on the court. Nonetheless, Trey has the skills and talents to one day assume a starting role for the varsity team. His older brother Tyler, as well as his father, have really helped his interest in basketball. “He’s just a big inspiration for me,” Trey said about his brother. “and to watch him play on TV, I want to follow in his footsteps.” Trey got to see his brother play the most in the 2012-2013 season. Tyler played 36 games that year and posted solid numbers. He shot 43 percent from the field and had a 35 percent threepoint percentage and he scored 259 points on the year. With a height of 6 feet, 8 inches, Tyler grabbed 125 rebounds and blocked 20 shots in his senior year. Tyler even hit a game-winning shot against number one Indiana in his senior year at Illinois. Trey wants to do what his brother did and continue the families basketball history. “I kind of want to play college basketball like he did,” Trey said. If Trey can take his game to the next level, then expect him to be the next big sensation in college basketball, but be sure to keep an eye on him throughout his high school career and look for Trey in the future to live up to the Griffey name and become the next star talent.

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arpan das • sports reporter Guard Jake Messer is following in his brothers’ footsteps, becoming the next in the line of Messers to play for the Lancers varsity basketball team. He has three older brothers, all of whom played sports at Lafayette. However, it was not basketball that they all excelled at. Jake’s oldest brother, Mike, Class of 2010, attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and graduated last year. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his senior season and made over 40 percent of his three-pointers. Nick, Class of 2011, is a senior at William Jewell. He played linebacker on the football team this past season. Nate, Class of 2014, is currently a playing basketball at Navy. In his final year at Lafayette, Nate scored a team leading 14.2 points per game, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and an amazing 45.5 percent from three. Jake is currently a junior and is in his first year of playing varsity basketball. He has played in every game so far and is averaging 5.3 points per game. He has been an integral part of the offense, being sixth on the team in points,

and fourth in assists. He primarily plays the guard position, and like his brothers, loves to shoot threepointers. He looks to build off his best performances this season, where he scored 17 points in a rout over Washington on Dec. 8, 2015, and scored 14 points and dished out 6 assists in a win over Springfield Parkview on Dec. 3. He chose his number, 24, after Kobe Bryant, his favorite player. His family has greatly influenced Jake to continue to play basketball. However, he doesn’t play only because of his brothers. For Jake, the main thing pushing Jake to continue basketball is his love for the game. “We used to play basketball all the time growing up, on the hoop down the street; we would always play one-on-one against each other and push each other to get better,” Jake said. The Messers have been a big part of Lancer basketball in recent years, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Jake continues that legacy. Just two years ago, Nate was part of a Lancers team that went 24-5. `Despite all the praise about his brothers, and his expectations to continue that, Jake isn’t focused on that aspect of playing as he said, “I just want to make my own path.” Be sure to look for Jake for the next couple of years as the next in a great line of Messers.

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page f ifteen • sports

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Game On:

eSports gain relevancy professionally and casually, among variety of age groups seth boester • editor in chief joshua waitsman • sports editor

Ethan Chapin

Senior Ethan Chapin, despite being an avid player, disagrees with the term “eSports.” “I think it is really dumb because it’s not a sport. It is a video game.” It is no surprise that the sports industry is one of the most financially viable in the world. Some stadiums can fit upwards of 100,000 people (and are more often than not filled to that capacity), and viewership has remained at a constant high, with last year’s Super Bowl drawing in over 114 million viewers in the U.S.

alone. But while traditional sports have etched their place into culture, a relatively new type of competition has slowly been making its way into the mainstream. Professional video gaming, or eSports as it’s more commonly known, has developed in the last 15 years, not just as a form of entertainment, but as a viable career. The e-sports scene finds its roots back in the early 90s, when game companies such as Nintendo would hold occasional tournaments to help promote their consoles, such as the 1990 Nintendo World Championships. While these competitions such were more casual and held mostly for commercial reasons, the first major pro-gaming tournaments started to appear during the late 90s, with the induction of computer games such as Counter-Strike and StarCraft. Since then, the viewing audience for these games has only gotten larger. Twitch.tv, a popular live streaming website used primarily for game broadcasts, averages over 100 million unique viewers per month, with about 1.7 million people broadcasting during that time frame. Not only does this industry bring in a constant viewership, but it’s also a financially viable career for players. This past August, video game publisher/distributor Valve held the fifth iteration of The International, an annual tournament for the company’s game Dota 2. The prize pool totalled over $18 million for the winning team, adding out to about $3.6 million per player. The 2014 League of Legends World Championship final took place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, with an attendance of 40,000 viewers for the tournament. So while it’s apparent that pro-gaming has had big-money tournaments, as well as players with high salaries, the industry still has room for smaller, local competitions. Senior Ethan Chapin is avid player of Super Smash Bros Melee, one of the first widespread eSports games played in the country. He is currently ranked 39 in the state of Missouri and goes by the name “wepeel” while playing. Chapin started his eSports career around the same time that the industry reached a massive spike in popularity. “I started playing two years ago, but I only started playing competitively six months ago.” Chapin said.

The 2015 edition of the Dota 2 tournament The International sells out at the KeyArena in Seattle. The prize pool for the tournament totaled over $18 million for the winning team, with a total of over 20 million unique viewers on the Twitch.tv livestream. (photo used with permission from Valve Corporation) He added that Melee was “as eSports as it gets,” when it comes to competitive games. Chapin said the differences between regular sports and eSports are obvious. “One is physical one is not,” he said. But even though there is not a full-body aspect to progaming, playing for extended periods of time can still cause nerve damage and carpal tunnel in the hands and wrists, as well as mental strain. “At the end of a rough match you can still feel exhausted,” Chapin said. This is most likely attributed to the intense mental focus required to play competitively. When asked as to whether or not he plays other eSports games, Chapin said “I follow the competitive Melee scene, but not much else.” This is a testament to how diverse the competitive gaming scene is. Someone may enjoy a fighting game such as Melee or Street Fighter, whereas another person might enjoy first-person shooters like Counter-Strike, or even other popular competitive games like League of Legends or Dota. The future of e-sports has a bright future ahead of it. Twitch viewership of major gaming tournaments has increased annually, and major companies and entrepreneurs like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have become interested in investing in the scene. When referring to his recent participation in a League of Legends charity tournament, Cuban said, “It’s like one of the smartest games I’ve ever played, you’ve got to have dexterity, you’ve got to be quick. This is a real sport and people are going to figure it out really really quick.” As for Melee, despite it’s relatively small presence in the e-sports industry compared to other games, Chapin firmly believes that the competitive scene for the game will never die. “It’s a 15 year old game, but it’s being played now more than ever,” he said. The ceiling for success for the e-sports industry appears to be endless, given it widespread appeal, both in casual and professional circles. At its current pace, it could potentially end up rivaling traditional sports, both in revenue and in popularity.

Team Alliance player Jonathan “Loda” Berg hoists the championship trophy following his team’s victory in the grand finals at the 2013 edition of The International. (photo used with permission from Valve Corporation)

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636-220-1101 14560 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011 World’s Largest Selling Binyouni

the feed

Jan. 22, 2016 • page sixteen

kaitlyn wylie • feed editor

Coping with cold

“To keep warm I usually relax and watch Netflix under lots of blankets. Most of the time I also have a large cup of hot chocolate with me that warms me inside out.” Aeriana Fulghum • 11 “This winter to have fun and be social, my friends and I go to Forest Park to skate. We may not be the best, but we all have a good time when we go!” Olivia Stebner • 10 “During the winter, my family and I like to go skiing. We’ve been to Breckenridge, where there are great slopes to ski. The only downside was when I broke my skis, lost my parents and had to climb a mile up a mountain to get to our car.” Matt Scharf • 12

Are Your Dates Outdated?

In high school dates are not always the most extravagant, but that’s no reason to get stuck in a rut. While dinner and a movie or chilling at home is nice when it gets old check out these 10 ideas.

1. Go to an Arcade

Video games may not be for everyone, but an old school Pac-Man game can definitely be made fun with a little friendly competition. Have a foosball or air hockey tournament; loser buys pizza.

2. Brunch

No one really like to get up early enough to get breakfast on the weekends, but a 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. brunch won’t make you miss too much sleep. Try new places like a creperie in the city such as City Coffee House and Creperie. Mix it up from the average breakfast.

7.Concert

These are great if you have similar taste in music, but make sure both parties are on board. While everyone thinks they have the same taste this is rarely the case. Even just deciding on a concert together can be fun, as is sharing music with each other.

Picnic lunch

There are many parks in this area: Babler, Castlewood and

Bluebird just to name a few. Go on a walk and when you find just the right picnic table, take a break for lunch.

skating 5. Ice in Forest Park

Few of us are pros, but that’s half the fun. This gives you a chance to hold hands without it being weird at first because you really need to hold on to something to remain standing.

8. Six Flags

For those who like roller coasters this may be a fun date in the summer. Although, most of us ditched our seasons passes, if you are willing to pay a little to get it you may find a great time here.

Work out together

Finding the motivation to push yourself in a work out can be challenging, but not if there’s someone there that you wouldn’t mind impressing. Go for a jog together, a swim or even to the gym. You just might find that exercising isn’t too bad.

6. Make dinner at home

This sounds a lot easier than it is. But while destroying the kitchen and making something fairly edible you may just have sparks fly.

A day at the Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo is great for the high school budget being that it is free to get in. The Zoo is an excellent place for a first date when you want to talk and get to know someone, but if there are any awkward pauses you can always comment on how funny the anteaters look.

10. Cosmic Bowling

This is a great double date, and even if you’re not good who cares. That’s what bumpers are for, right?

Would you rather...

StL Hot Cocoa

How do you take your cocoa?

47% Ski in the Alps

Surf in Hawaii

53%

Bread Co.’s Signature Hot Chocolate

Their chocolate chip marshmallows offer a twist to the norm.

Starbuck’s Hot Chocolate

For those who need both a vanilla and mocha fix.

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