[This Month] Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. Did you know there are 13 traditional variations of this delicious dessert? Without icing, the average number of calories for a slice is about 352.
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Law Lockdown
Get N or Get Out!
New Missouri laws may shake up the way local districts handle student fights.
After years of collecting, two brothers have amassed a huge collection of Nintendo 64 video games. See Page 11
See Page 4
Jan. 27, 2017 [Volume 48, Number 5]
Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Road Wildwood, MO 63011
“It’s a program of stories. It’s a program of students. As much as this program will phase out, the legacy of the program won’t ever go away.” -Terry Harris, Rockwood Executive Director of Student Services Lafayette Class of 2000 and VICC Program Participant
See pages 9-10 to read about the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation’s desegregation program in St. Louis and how it will be phased out by 2024. Currently 174 students out of the 4,420 total in the program attend Lafayette.
Image
[2] OPINIONS
lancerfeed.press
[image editors] editors in chief opinions editor cover story editor asst. cover story editor sports editor webmaster digital media editor social media editor artist ad manager adviser
Staff Editorial
This is not a drill The threat of an intruder is no joke. The fact that many schools across our nation have faced the threat of an intruder is proof enough that attacks on schools are very real occurrences. Just because our demographic area is considered ‘safe’ does not mean being prepared for an active shooter is not important. Students must consider the importance of complying with the intruder drills, and not blowing it off like the information being taught is completely useless. In the past two school years, the Image staff has praised changes in how potential active shooter situations are handled. These changes are meant to be more efficient in preventing injury during an active shooter situation. This new protocol was introduced to students during the 2015-2016 school year as the Four E’s: Educate, Escape, Evade and Engage. The procedure is known as an “option based training,” meaning we are trained in multiple courses of action rather than just a single set of drill instructions. The purpose of this protocol is to have a plan for different scenarios involving an intruder, because hiding in a locked classroom is not the best plan for every situation. We are now given the option to barricade the door, evacuate the school and meet at a nearby rendezvous point or fight back against the intruder
kayley allen & anna james jack deubner nick horstmann erin coogan tyler burnett jessica cargill jack weaver travis bodell ty prozorowski thomas francois nancy smith
[reporters] kyran ballard, jackson bartholomew, arpan das, kate golder, abby karandjeff, clare mulherin, amisha paul, gehrig prozorowski, ty prozorowski, delaney stulce, shwetha sundarrajan
[digital media staff] kiley black, jimmy bowman, jack deubner, emma grant, jack weaver
based on the circumstances at hand. In addition to the Four E’s, a new alarm that is unique to the intruder drill has been implemented. Although there has been many improvements to the drill process, one thing, unfortunately has not changed— the level of seriousness students take regarding these practices. All students need to take the initiative and learn the proper protocol for an intrusion so we are prepared if the time comes. “I would say take it seriously because when I was in the Marine Corps they would always say, ‘the more you sweat and practice, the more prepared you are in a combat situation, so we should always take it seriously as if the real thing were to be happening,” School Resource Officer Jim McDonald said. Students should pay attention to what is going on around them during a drill. Just a few students helping the teacher barricade the door while the remainder socialize in the corner is not getting the most out of the exercise. But, the reality is that in an intruder situation, our lives are on the line. Working together and listening to the teacher are important parts of ensuring the safety of our peers. If just a few people refuse to comply, the lives of an entire classroom can be jeopardized. As fellow students, we understand the thought of an intruder entering our building can be an uncomfortable
[student publications policy statements]
and scary topic to discuss. Some students would rather ignore the drill’s importance and goof off rather than cooperate and prepare themselves because the latter makes them feel uneasy. Facing the topic in all of its seriousness is worth the piece of mind, knowing that you are fully prepared if an intrusion ever took place. So how can we gain more insight on how an intruder situation actually feels in order to better our understanding for the drill’s significance? All of the faculty members went through a training taught by the SWAT team and local St. Louis County police officers that involved one of the officers acting as a shooter, with a gun loaded with dummy rounds. This training could be offered outside of school hours for those interested in further preparing themselves. The drill is realistic and intense, so performing it during school hours with students present wouldn’t be taking into account the varying levels of stress different students can handle. Students need to recognize that school intrusions and mass shootings do happen. It is important to cooperate with intruder drills instead of treating them as a joke. It’s better to be prepared and knowledgeable on what to do instead of ignoring the drill and potentially paying the price down the line.
general information The Image is published nine times a year by the News Production class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2015-2016 Image received an All-American rating with four marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. It was also named a Pacemaker Finalist. The 2015-2016 website received a rating of First Class. Quilland Scroll named the 2015-2016 Image an International First Place Award Winner.
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.
contact us Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail is thelancerfeed@gmail.com. Visit us on the web at www.lancerfeed.press and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @thelancerfeed
policy statements The Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications as well as the specific policies and procedures used by the student publications staffs can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.
PICK Five things you shouldn’t miss out on in St. Louis this month.
Circus Harmony: Bravura, hosted at the City Museum, is an annual confluence of music and circus arts. This year’s event will take place on Jan. 28.
The Foundary Art Center is hosting a board and card game festival starting on Jan. 29. Go play some games!
Baseball is back! The Cardinals first pre-season game in Jupiter, FL is Feb. 25! Go Cards! You read correctly, the Lewis & Clark library is hosting a Harry Potter yoga session on Feb. 4 from 2-3 p.m.
Want to have a spooky Valentine’s date? Head out to Lemp Mansion on Feb. 14 with your date for a nice dinner for two for only $110.
Image Jan. 27, 2017
Stars
& Gripes Stars Hungry? McDonald’s recently unveiled new sizes of Big Macs. The Mac Jr. for those who aren’t willing to face a challenge, and the GRAND MAC for those who DARE to throw hands with it. ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT A DRILL, CHICK-FIL-A ON CLARKSON OPENS FEB. 9. GET YOUR NUGGIE NEEDS READY Paul McCartney recently sued Sony for the rights of the entire Beatles catalog ever since Michael Jackson pulled that “hey let me buy all your music lmao” prank.
Gripes
First the Rams, then the Chargers, heck, when is it our turn to move to LA? I’m over this bipolar weather. The Ringling Brother’s announced they will shutter their circus act, putting a big hole in the clown industry. Looks like 2017 isn’t getting better for clowns. Zoopotia only came home with Best Animinated Feature Film from the 74th Golden Globe awards. Only? This January local news teams hyped up the most boring ice storm we’ve had in a while. I’m fine with a day off, but at least give me something to fear. Donald Trump announced he’s running again in 2020 with the tagline “Keep America Great,” assuming that everything is great whenever it’s all said and done. Might have to switch it up to “Make America Great Again, but fo’ real this time.”
OPINIONS [3]
Act reasonably, this is America now On Nov. 8 2017, Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States of America whether you like it or not. To start things off, I don’t like Donald Trump and I don’t like Hillary Clinton. So when I woke up one morning to a fun “Looks like Trump did it!” text from my Mother, I wasn’t too excited (I wasn’t going to be either way.) That aside, what did I do in reaction? Did I rally up and down the streets chanting “he is not my president!” or flip a car or two? Not at all. Now, this rally against the other side with inane acts of violence from both Democrats and Republicans is what led this election (and many others) to be so stupid. This has been a common theme for a while now. Lots of Democrats this election threw a hissy fit throughout city
streets and lots of Republicans in the past few years (yes, you do this too) slung some not so fond comments toward Barack Obama. Is this how you should react to losing? Absolutely not, unless you’re a brat. Just because you lost doesn’t mean the whole system is flawed or that the person to be elected isn’t really American or some other ridiculous reason the whole thing could be rigged (see also: Alex Jones from InfoWars.) Imagine you’re on a little league baseball team, your little 9-year-old self just tried it’s hardest the big game and didn’t win. If you’re a little stubborn brat, your initial reaction would be to cry and complain that it’s, to quote every bratty kid ever, “not fair!” If you’re a reasonable child with a little bit of moral and ethics (or maybe just a simple fatherly chat post-game)
hopefully you’d just respond with a “shucks, better luck next time!” This baby-like attitude that so many people are putting on with the election of our newest president is, to put it simply, childish. I consider myself a Democrat, and to be on the same boat as these people whining about Trump’s racist statements and nothing else is embarrassing. Don’t get me wrong, the guy has said some racy stuff, but there are a few more reasons to dislike the guy. Around December of 2015 I went to a Trump rally whenever he was touring the states and to say the least, it was definitely something. A popular video floating around the internet of the event (of which you can see me in the background if you keep your eyes peeled) had a pro-Trump supporter question an anti-Trump person, and the entire interaction is so dumb.
[ ] Hi-Jacked by Jack Deubner Opinions Editor
When questioned “Why do you think Trump is racist?” the antiTrump person’s reaction was simply “Are you kidding me?” That’s it. As someone who throws their opinion at the entire school every month, that’s a horrible way to lead to any meaningful opinion. To wrap things up, you want to hate Trump? Go for it. But don’t be a baby about it, and backup yourself with some knowledge. And, yes, he is your president.
Your claim of acceptance isn’t accurate The generation I live in prides itself in saying we are the future; and in that, we have been a turning leaf to many controversial ideas in our society, all dealing with human rights and the acceptance of how a person identifies. However, being raised around religion, I’ve come to notice my peers aren’t so accepting of people that don’t share the same beliefs as they do. I see people ranting all over Twitter about acceptance of the LGBTQ, dressing the way you want, etc. but I see a large group of hatred toward the people who don’t accept those. We try to act so high and dry about being humanistic and accepting, but the second a religious person tries to stand up for their beliefs, we are calling them awful people for not having the same views on topics like abortion, gun laws, etc.
While I do understand in the era we live in that we should accept all human beings for what they choose to be, I also believe we shouldn’t hate on certain people that choose to not accept the way of life some choose. Everyone is raised differently, and we all form our own opinions in ways that not everyone understands. Honestly, how are you going to praise someone for being fluid with their gender then turn around and disown someone for not accepting those beliefs? Quite contradictory if you ask me. I’m not taking either side, I just believe we as a generation shouldn’t single out one group to put hatred on; and if you’re going to call yourself an open and accepting person, don’t get hurt when someone doesn’t agree with you. It’s a part of life that people from different backgrounds have to interact, so please try to civilize
yourself and don’t attack a person when they say something that you don’t quite believe. This goes for both sides of the argument, not just one or the other. I’m just trying to make everyone realize, you sound a little crazy when you contradict yourself. I’m proud my generation wants to make a change in how things are viewed, but I also think some of us are skewed in our own ideals. We don’t know all the facts and figures; so who are we to argue one side and shut down another? I respect that everyone has strong beliefs on certain topics; however, you’re never going to understand where someone is coming from if all you do is shove your opinions down their throat. So either hear everyone out when they start a controversial topic, or keep yourself out of it.
A LITTLE
Southern
Charm
Anna James editor in chief
Run the Jewels 3 is a lackluster release from a full-frontal outfit In Case Jack Deubner opinions editor
These guys aren’t fooling around, and they haven’t been for their last two albums. Run the Jewels are a hip hop duo combining the Atlanta sound of rapper Killer Mike and New York City production and flow of El-P. On their last two albums the two rappers bounced off each other and kept the flow going song after song, but on Run the Jewels 3 the synchronous flow and gritty attitude honestly isn’t there between the duo. The lyrics are there, both rappers have their moments but lyrically it seems like the duo weren’t on the same page with one another. Some songs are dominated by one of the two rappers, then a verse by the remaining one is sort of slopped together near the end of the song. This cycle repeats a few times on the record.
Production wise, this album is the cleanest Run the Jewels album yet, given it’s spotless El-P charm, which has it’s perks and downfalls. A clean bassline and kick and snare hits (or the occasional bongos and killer saxophone solo) lie in the back of every song with a signature El-P hook in front of it. Distorted synths, guitar feedback and jangly guitar licks are what lead a good majority of the songs. Don’t get me wrong, all of these sound great, but with that politically hyped attitude that RTJ put on these clean bassy sounds don’t match up. On their last LP, the song “Blockbuster Night Part 1” is a perfect example of a classic RTJ sound. A heavy distorted bass clearly matches up with Killer Mike’s verse talking about how their last album was brutal. On the new LP, Mike tries to do something to the same effect as “Blockbuster Night” on the song “Talk to Me.”
“I told y’all suckers, I told y’all suckers. I told y’all on RTJ1, then I told ya again on RTJ2, and you still ain’t believe me. So here we go, RTJ3.” I get what he’s going for, but I can’t really hold onto that unfh attitude he’s putting out with a silly sounding wavy synth behind him with the occasional crash cymbal. The song after that, “Legend Has It” has better success with sounding grittier, but lacks on bringing hype for the listener. The song’s hook is simply, and I quote, “Woo!” Come on. Both rappers show their styles and success as individual rappers on this song, but again, fail to be in synch with each other’s flow. This album is set up for success, but the feelings and hype behind it just isn’t there anymore. I want to love it, I want to call it the best RTJ album but I honestly can’t. I’m not disappointed, to be honest I expected worse. I expected a forty five minute long version
Missed It of Mike’s song “Reagan” off of his “R.A.P. Music” but all about Trump. I can happily say this album isn’t entirely about our President, just kinda. Run the Jewels started as just a fun little idea and expanded into a three part success story for both rappers, and it should stay that way. To say it simply, this album isn’t horrible, this album is fine. This should be the final Run the Jewels album. Their “Run the Jewels, you sucka” statement has been made a bit too many times at this point and it’s starting to get a little old.
The XX released their moody new album I See You
Legendary producer Brian Eno unveiled his new ambient piece, Reflection
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[4] NEWS
lancerfeed.press
MO Laws, MO Problems? Administrators clarify concerns over revised MO laws Ty Prozorowski reporter
D
espite early concerns that revised Missouri statutes regarding fighting and harassment in school could result in jail time for students, it appears school policy won’t be greatly affected by the
changes. The Missouri General Assembly revised two assault statutes and two harassment statutes which went into effect Jan. 1. According to the Missouri Revised Statutes, a person commits harassment in the first degree if he or she means to, and succeeds in causing another person “emotional distress.” First degree harassment is now a Class E felony. The revised statutes further says a person commits third degree assault if “he or she knowingly causes physical injury to another person.” Assault third will be a Class E felony. A Class E felony could result in imprisonment for up to four years. The revised statutes also create an additional classification of assault, which is assault in the fourth degree. Student Resource Officer (SRO) Jim McDonald offered a simplification of the changes in the law. “They made the statutes broader to encompass more. Any unwanted touch, someone poking you in the chest, calling you names, that can be considered an assault third, which is very minor,” McDonald said. Assault in the third degree used to be classified as a misdemeanor. With the new statute, assault fourth takes the place of assault third. Assault third is now assault with injury. “When you start to involve more injury, that’s going to make it up to an assault third, which is now a felony, a class E,” McDonald said. “They have a new class altogether.” “While the changes may appear as though there will be more police involvement in the event of an altercation at school, Rockwood School District’s policy has not and will not change,” Executive Director of Student Services Terry Harris said. Associate Principal Karen Calcaterra said, “While our district will always comply with the law, we have been informed that at this time we will continue to follow the same practices we always have.” Since the passage of the Safe Schools Act,
school districts are required by law to report certain crimes that are committed on school property to law enforcement. The Rockwood School District will still follow the state mandate requiring crimes committed on school property be reported as they have done for years prior to the passage of the revised statutes. “I am there to assist [the administration]. I’m not charging anybody unless I think it’s necessary. I’m going to do what the administration wants me to do,” McDonald said. He said the goal is not to give kids felonies or to send them to jail. “There is a little more officer discretion involved. They’re just making more consequences for the same stuff,” McDonald said. Each instance remains in a case by case basis, but the revisions do allow law enforcement to charge offenders more quickly if they determine there is a need to do so. Administration is still active in students’ lives, and consequences are not entirely left up to law enforcement. Students will not be treated differently because of the changes. “School is often the safest place to make mistakes and learn from them during these formative years. As our students get older and grow into adulthood, the stakes get higher if one displays behaviors that are not okay, and it is often our goal that between home and school, we can help our students learn about choices, consequences and repairing wrongdoings,” Calcaterra said. McDonald recognized the benefits to the revised statutes. “People are thinking, do I really want to get in a fight now? Do I want to do this?” Maybe that’s enough to make them dial it back a little bit and make it a legitimate peace disturbance if they are just going to yell at each other and call each other names as opposed to puffing up and throwing a punch. People are talking about it, they’re thinking about it, and they’re recognizing the consequence,” McDonald said. However, McDonald recognizes the concerns that accompany the changes. “You could get charged with a felony for getting in a fight. You’ve got to keep your head out of your back side and think,” McDonald said. “That’s the problem with most of these kids, they react emotionally instead of stepping back and saying do I really want to do this.” With all that said, even if a student gets charged with a felony, it doesn’t mean they will be convicted.
Is a school fight a school issue or a police issue? Here's
what you thought!
Police
Issue 24%
School
issue 76%
Attention Seniors-Juniors ACT/SAT Tutoring
Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org
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NEWS [5]
Jan. 27, 2017
Schedule shape up
Rockwood high schools may be up for major changes Amisha Paul reporter High school as we know it, could be facing some major changes. A High School Review Board is meeting once a month, in order to assess the four Rockwood high schools, and make recommendations for the future. “The High School Review Board consists of about 100 people, made up of administrators, teachers, parents and students,” Principal John Shaughnessy said. Many of the teachers on the committee volunteered to serve, and students were chosen as well. “I was nominated by someone at our school and was emailed by the Assistant Superintendent,” senior Julia Holdmeyer said. Holdmeyer is one of the three student liaisons from Lafayette to serve on the committee. One aspect of student life clearly affected by the decisions of this committee is the class scheduling. Some possible schedule changes include deciding between an all-block or all-standard schedule, earlier or later start times, and a built in study hall for every school day. However, none of these changes are set in stone. “Under the topic of scheduling, there were a lot of topics that were thrown out for us to research. So what we’re doing 4 right now is– BW x 6.5
trying to narrow down what topics we are going Under scheduling, class size and to research and then we will take those into professional development is also included, review and actually make some final decisions. but depends on what type of schedule the But right now no decisions have been made committee recommends. and we have not even started researching yet,” “These are just things for us to look at, and Biology teacher Lauren Posenau said. research to see if there is a way we can do this Posenau volunteered to serve on the better. And we might research and find out committee as a representative from Lafayette. that what we have right now is working, and we “I would say might not recommend to change that it’s really anything,” Posenau said. “We are interesting to just going back and saying, ‘Is this see all sides of the best way that we can have our the argument for high schools run?’” different things, The committee is mainly and what affects working toward bettering the high certain people, school experience and ensuring but how it that students are given access to the doesn’t seem to tools and environments that will be an issue from bring success. another person’s Lafayette is for sure perspective,” Lauren Posenau, accomplishing a lot academically. Holdmeyer said. “That’s the first thing we started science teacher off with our committee. We made “We have had three lists of what is going really well and meetings so what is bringing results. And from far, and we have really only been narrowing there we looked at further improvements we down what we as a committee want to look at. could make,” Librarian Melissa Twombly said. Scheduling is only one piece among many other Twombly is also a Lafayette representative things we want to look at,” Posenau said. on the committee. Shaughnessy said the committee has These potential changes, however, are only narrowed down its research into five categories. in their initial stages. These categories include scheduling, social “Any changes that are recommended would and emotional learning, innovative instruction, not be in place next year, and maybe only student engagement, and college and career the following year. That’s the soonest it could readiness. happen,” Twombly said. (Lafayette)
are just going “We back and saying,
‘Is this the best way that we can have our high schools run?”
Start college before you even graduate high school. Through St. Louis Community College, you can earn college credits that will transfer to universities nationwide. To jump start your college career, call 636-422-2000 or visit stlcc.edu/Enroll.
Speak Due to possible suggestions, start time and schedules could undergo changes. Here’s what students thought about that:
Start Time
135 students polled
10% for earlier than 8:16 a.m.
38% for current 8:16 a.m.
52%
for later than 8:16 a.m.
Scheduling 77 students polled
3% for an all blocked schedule
38% for an all standard schedule
59%
for a mix of both
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[6] NEWS
lancerfeed.press
From Backpack To Badge
SRO resigns over break; LHS alum takes over his duties
R
Erin Coogan reporter
eturning to school after Winter Break, students may hace noticed there was a familiar face missing from the hallways. Officer Bernie Widdis resigned from his position after two years of serving as the School Resource Officer at Lafayette. He also was the SRO at Rockwood Valley Middle School for five years. Widdis’ successor, Officer Jim McDonald, started this semester. McDonald is a 1992 Lafayette graduate, and he has served for St. Louis County Police Department officer for 10 years. Many things have changed since McDonald last walked the halls of Lafayette. For example, the school previously had trailers in the parking lot to house more students before the school underwent renovations to compensate for the unexpectedly large number of attendees. McDonald said there have been many other changes to the school since he was a student.
STUDY SKILLS
“Mine was the first class to go through, so it looks a lot different. There used to be a courtyard where the Welcome Center is, and my office used to be the library. It’s great to be back here but so much has changed,” he said. While many things have changed within the school, some things stayed the same. “Mr. [Roger] Fischer, Mrs. [Jean] Peters and Mr. [Paul] Krull were all here when I was,” McDonald said. He said the transition to being an SRO has been pretty easy so far. “I have a lot of responsibilities throughout the school. I listen to the walkie-talkie and they call me for medical emergencies. It is easier for me to call an ambulance than anyone calling 911 due to the amount of questions the operators ask. I direct traffic in the morning and the afternoon because we don’t want traffic backing up onto Clayton Road and Highway 109,” he said. In addition, he said, “I’m also here to be a visible presence and enforce the law when required and to assist the administration as needed.” Before becoming a police officer, McDonald was in the Marine Corps. He left the Marines in 1998 and did various jobs before he joined the
M AT H
S AT / AC T P R E P
WRITING
READING
police force. “I didn’t go straight into the Police academy after the Marines. I actually worked security at St. Louis University. Doing that I met a lot of old city cops, and from there I fell in love with policing and all of the stories,” McDonald said. Even though the student body welcomes McDonald, many are still confused as to why Widdis resigned. Concerning Widdis’ resignation, Principal John Shaughnessy said, “Officer Widdis was a wonderful resource to the school. When you work the hours of school, it doesn’t leave a lot of off time. He has some personal things to deal with regarding his family. I know his mom and dad have been sick. His mother passed away over Winter Break. I think he needs the time to stay with his father and take care of his family.” As of now, Widdis is back on patrol with the St. Louis County Police Department. Even though Widdis will be missed, the administration is pleased with his replacement. “It’s fun to have him back in the building. He is very excited to be here. We are really excited to have him here,” Shaughnessy said.
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The school’s new Student Resource Officer (SRO) Officer is LHS grad Jim McDonald. [photo by Kyran Ballard]
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NEWS [7]
Jan. 27, 2017
Theft decreasing overall, but still threatening problem Abigail Karandjeff reporter The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) says more than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in America in the last five years. Along with any other institution filled with people and valuables, Lafayette is not exempt from cases of theft. Administrators have to deal with both the victims and those who steal. Most of the theft at LHS takes place in the Cafeteria, locker rooms and unlocked lockers. Cafeteria Manager Kim Moore has been at Lafayette for 15 years. She said there is theft in the lunch line almost daily. Although teens sometimes steal due to not having enough money to buy things they want, she said this is usually not the case. Moore said, “What really bothers us (cafeteria staff) is that some of the students that steal do have money in their account.” It’s common for students to steal food right in front of cafeteria workers. They often give the student a chance to pay for the item, but they usually don’t. If they do not pay, they are reported to an administrator and could potentially face in-school suspension. Moore said, “There really isn’t a good reason to ever steal from us. I would never let a student go hungry.” She said she has even paid for students’ lunches before if they truly did not have money to eat. “Our lunch prices are reviewed every year, and I am not sure if theft at the schools is a factor in that decision (lunch prices),” Moore said. However, retail organizations have no choice but to pass on the cost of lost items to consumers. In addition, the cost for theft prevention such as cameras, security guards etc. also have to be added into retail prices. Assistant Principal Timothy Jones said in his 14 years at Lafayette dealing with theft issues is part of his job. He has been involved with helping to resolve theft cases and recover stolen items. “In my experiences and opinion, most thefts occur in the Physical Education locker rooms, primarily due to students failing to secure their items in a locked locker. The second leading cause of thefts, much less frequently, is when students leave items at a table in the Commons or at their desk in a classroom,” Jones said. The good news is, he said, that cases of theft have been decreasing in his opinion. Jones said, “The thefts have decreased over the last few years, as staff members have been communicating more often to students about securing their items more thoroughly in a
Three times a day a large group of students pass through the lunch line, opening up the opportunity for shoplifting of certain items to slip through. The main problem is the small and busy space making it hard to be closely supervised and for all food to be accounted for. (Photo by Kyran Ballard) locker, etc. For the Sophomore Office, we have less than one report a month for this school year.” And though theft has become less common, it is still important for students to carefully store their personal items. There are also still severe punishments in place for those that do choose to steal. Jones said, “Students that participate in a theft or possession of a stolen item can receive up to 10 days out of school suspension. In addition to the discipline consequences, students are also required to make restitution if they can’t provide the original item back to the victim. A referral may also be made to the legal authorities (SRO) regarding the item, specifically if it is of high value such as a phone.” Jones said, “Students that are thinking about stealing must realize their are severe consequences for their actions, including possible legal action, especially for anyone that is no longer a minor.” Stealing is also a major issue in retail and accounts for a big portion of mark-up in pricing.
Buddy E., (whose full name cannot be disclosed due to his position), has been working in loss prevention at Gordmans stores in the St. Louis area for nine years. He deals with theft daily. “About 60 percent of shoplifting cases in Gordmans stores are done by teenagers,” Buddy said. Buddy said typically there are about four cases of theft per week at their Fenton location and one per month at the Chesterfield location. Not only is the company often faced with stealing, but they also have to deal with the youth that commit these crimes. Buddy recalls an incident where a teen entered the store with her baby and filled the stroller with merchandise. “She pushed the stroller out with the baby in it. When we went out to stop her, she just kept going as if we weren’t even there,” Buddy said. Eventually the police came and arrested the teen, but the experience still remains in Buddy’s mind. A few of the items most common stolen from retail stores are clothes, perfumes and shoes.
“Items like this are stolen by teens especially as the seasons change, before school starts back up and before school dances,” Buddy said. He believes peer pressure has a lot to do with teen shoplifting. He said the theft is often committed by teens because they want to fit in or want a certain item. “Most of the reasons that teenagers give make no sense. ‘I didn’t have it,’ or, ‘I wanted it,’ or ‘all the kids are wearing it.’ It doesn’t make sense why they’re doing this. Think about your future and what you’re really doing,” Buddy said. Teens caught stealing will face punishment. The first two times that a minor is caught they will go to the Chesterfield or Fenton City Court. After three offenses, they will go to County Court and will be facing a felony charge. Buddy said, “If you’re charged with a felony it’s harder to find a job in the future. So just think about what you’re doing.“ Theft is not taken lightly no matter your age, and it can lead to serious consequences. As Buddy says, “Think about your future and what you’re really doing.”
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[8 & 9] COVER STORY
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The Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) is a program that many St. Louis County school districts have taken part in for the past few decades. It offers students in the City of St. Louis the opportunity to attend county schools and allows county students the opportunity to attend city magnet schools. Though first the program was a federal mandate, it has been a volunteer program since 1999. It is the country’s largest and longest running desegregation program. The program is officially being phased out beginning in the fall of 2019.
Kayley Allen editor in chief Kate Golder reporter Nick Horstmann cover story editor
As a way to help freshmen prepare for finals, senior Nick Cleere, a VICC participant, volunteers at Link Crew’s Operation Preparation. “The different types of classrooms that the school offers and the teachers give this school a good atmosphere,” Cleere said. [photo by Megan Greenstein] At the baseline, Regan Johnson, senior, cheers for the boys basketball team as they face off against Pattonville. Johnson is one of the 174 students in the VICC program at Lafayette. “I like attending Lafayette because the administrators are nice to me, and the community is really welcoming,” Johnson said. [photo by Marlo May] At field hockey’s Senior Night, goalie Keilah Moore, senior, walks to join the other seniors at center field. To see additional video coverage of Moore and her experience with the VICC program, visit www.lancerfeed. press [photo by Nick Horstmann]
Participants, administrators discuss success of deseg program The Plan In 1972, a group of black parents sued to desegregate St. Louis Public Schools. In 1975, St. Louis judge James Meredith agreed the schools across the St. Louis area were segregated and he issued a decree to desegregate the schools to the St. Louis Public School Board, and a program began to start bussing city children to the county six years later. “The program began in the early 80s and then it was constituted to its current form in 1999, and then the program was extended for 10 more years. The expectation was for it to end in 2009, but back in 2007 the board approved a five year extension, and then in 2012 we extended it another five years, which is where we are now,” David Glaser, VICC Chief Executive Officer, said. The program was not created with the intention of lasting forever, and according to Supreme Court rulings, it couldn’t. “Legally school-based school integration programs can’t continue in perpetuity,” Glaser said. The extension made in 2012 will be the final extension granted to the VICC program. However, students will still be able to enroll with some exceptions that are in place. “One of the key things that is part of the recent agreement is giving priority to siblings because we think it is very important to keep families together,” Glaser said. According to VICC, students will be permitted to enroll from 2019 through 2023 if they have siblings already in the program. This means any student currently in the program, whether they be a senior or kindergartner, their siblings will be able to enroll at any time that they are still in the program, and Rockwood intends to fully honor that aspect of the extension. Though the program is not being extended any further, it’s not going to abruptly vanish anytime soon. The 2023-2024 school year will be the last year that new students, who are exceptions due to their siblings, will be able to enter the program; however, VICC has predicted only 150 new students for that year. In theory, VICC students could be participating in the program through the 2035-2036 school year.
The Result The initial goal of the program was to desegregate schools in the St. Louis area; however, it became much more than that for many people. In 2007, the Missouri Board of Education revoked St. Louis City Public School’s (SLPS) accreditation. The district was graduating only 56 percent of their students. That same year, the VICC program received a five-year extension. “There’s a couple of ways that you can look at VICC. When my mother decided to put me into the program, it was less of the intention of trying to desegregate schools and more of the intention of trying to find a quality education for her child,” Miya Norfleet-Aiken, Lafayette Class of 2008, said. “I’m appreciative of what VICC has done for me and so many other students, but at the same time, I wish that good, quality education was everywhere at that time, so that my mom
didn’t have to make that decision,” NorfleetAiken said. Norfleet-Aiken said there were some disadvantages for her when she was participating in the program. For example, she cited the young age she was and the maturity she had to develop due to her being bussed an hour away simply to go to school. “That’s a big deal if you’re sending your kid an hour west just to go to school. When I first got into VICC, I was in 6th grade, and I was still very well a kid. My mother just had to trust that I get on this bus, and I got to school safely,” Norfleet-Aiken said. Though going to school an hour away from home is not an ideal or easy situation for any aged child to go through, Norfleet-Aiken credits a lot of her success that she has today to Rockwood and the VICC program. “My best friend from middle school through high school lived in Chesterfield, and we are still best friends to this day. I wouldn’t have met her and been best friends with her if it weren’t for me being bussed to Rockwood. Even the career path I’ve chosen is partly due to VICC,” Norfleet-Aiken said. Norfleet-Aiken was a part of the first group to take the course DVD Yearbook, which in the recent years became Digital Media Production. It was there that she learned how to shoot and edit videos, and what a career in digital communications has to offer. After high school, Norfleet-Aiken graduated from Webster University with a major in video production and a minor in Spanish. She now works for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri as the digital communications manager. Like Norfleet-Aiken, VICC continues to offers quality education and opportunities for students today as well. In 6th grade, senior Keilah Moore transferred from the St. Louis Public School system to Rockwood Valley Middle School, then to Lafayette, where her four older siblings have graduated before her. “I know how lucky I am that I got the opportunity to come to Rockwood School District,” Moore said. Although Moore found it easy to adapt to the academic climate of a new school, as she was in all honors classes, she struggled with the culture shock of a county school. “It was totally different at first, I remember the sea of white,” Moore said. Moore not only faced an internal struggle to adjust, but she often faced racial intolerance from her peers. “A specific kid I remember who would always be like ‘What did you have for dinner last night? Fried chicken?’ and I was like ‘No, spaghetti and meatballs,’” Moore said. Still, Moore recalls a generally positive experience in Rockwood, but believes she would have been in a very similar educational atmosphere if she were to have gone to Metro Academic and Classical High School, the school she would’ve attended if she stayed in the SLPS system. “I feel like me personally, I really wouldn’t have done any different, but I know for a lot of kids that was the deciding factor on the rest of their future,” Moore said.
The Future With the general feeling of sadness among the VICC and Rockwood community, there is
also hope and excitement for the future. “You watch this program grow up, but just like high school kids, they grow up, they graduate and go on to do bigger and better things. I think the program is the same way,” Terry Harris, Executive Director of Student Services for Rockwood, said. Harris also attended Lafayette, graduating in 2000, and was a participant in the VICC program. He is aware of the reality that the phase out of the VICC program will cause less diversity within Rockwood as well as its community. Brittany Hogan, Coordinator of Educational Equity and Diversity for Rockwood, said, “Without the VICC program, diversity in Rockwood is about two percent. That is pretty low. There are parts of the district that without the program would probably only have a few black families in the entire building.” Like Harris, Hogan is aware that the VICC program not only brought diversity district wide, but it created diversity for the individual lives of each student, whether residing in the county or the city. “I struggle with knowing the program is ending soon because what is that going to look like? What is that going to look like for Rockwood? What is that going to look like for students who reside in St. Louis city? How much exposure are they really going to have to other kids? Diversity is good for everyone, because that is what the world looks like,” Hogan said. Rockwood administrators like Harris and Hogan are committed to making these last years of VICC count in educating the next wave of students and achieving the original goal: integrating schools. “Our job is to be very intentional; about race relations, diversity, and making sure we are putting people in spaces where they can work together. The VICC program doesn’t necessarily do 100 percent of its job if it’s simply just to have black kids and white kids come out to school together. It has to be more than that,” Harris said. Although struggling with the idea of Rockwood without VICC, Harris and Hogan are confident in the future education of students residing in the city. Many students who would have utilized the VICC program will now attend SLPS. On Jan. 10, the State Board voted unanimously to give full accreditation to the city’s school system. “We should all be jumping up and down and sending well wishes to St. Louis Public because of the hard work they have undergone and put themselves in a situation where they are fully accredited. They did the hard work, so we should applaud their work.” Harris said. The SLPS is now fully accredited like other schools such as Kirkwood, Ladue and Rockwood. “What I am really excited about is the fact that we were able to extend the program twice. I think for us, it’s a sadness to watch the program end or phase out. But when you think about the thousands of students who were able to walk the doors of Rockwood and receive a wonderful education, and interact with people who are from different backgrounds and cultures. It was a success. We are focusing on the students we have here and the next wave of students we continue to get, and we will educate them until the program is completely phased out,” Harris said.
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[10] FEATURES
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Mixing cultures, making friends Local organization brings youth from different parts of St. Louis area together Shwetha Sundarrjan reporter In society, people often divide and separate themselves into groups of similar backgrounds, religions, opinions, and appearances, often excluding those who don’t fall into their paradigm. “A majority of society is so focused on picking apart everybody’s differences and separating people. The core of Interfaith work is sharing what everyone has in common because at the end of the day, we have more commonalities than differences,” Beth Damsgaard, former Executive Director of Interfaith Partnership and the founder of Interfaith Quest, said. Damsgaard has been doing Interfaith work for 13 years in the St. Louis area. Interfaith is a non-profit organization committed to helping those of various faiths and races come together in the St. Louis area. “The purpose of Interfaith interactions is the opportunity to learn someone else’s perspective but also is a way to understand the shared and core values religions have,” Damsgaard said. The organization is affiliated with various faith groups and religious associations to host Interfaith events such as lunch or dinner dialogue groups, as well as ethics meetings on current issues. The organization hosts meetings with other faith groups during Ramadan or Christmas, for example. “Some of the community projects I have done with Interfaith was a Thanksgiving dinner where we bring two or more different faith groups together and make Thanksgiving baskets where we donate it to the poor. Now we do dinners quarterly
called Friendship lunches. The next one is at the Daar-Ul-Islam Mosque where people of different faiths and ages can come together and enjoy a meal together,” Damsgaard said. Annika Renganathan, junior, participates in Interfaith activities with her faith organization, Balvihar of St. Louis. “It’s really fun because you get to learn about a lot of different religions and you get to compare them with your own. Not in the sense of that mine is better, but accepting and realizing how similar each religion is,” Renganathan said. Albeit that the majority of Interfaith consists of the three Abrahamic faiths, Interfaith also accepts people of different nationalities, atheists, and minority faith groups such as the Bahá’í faith as well. “Interfaith isn’t just limited to a few select groups. The majority of the faiths are associated with us are the three Abrahamic faiths-Christianity, Judaism and Islam as well as Hindu and Jainism faith groups. Anyone can participate in Interfaith, as long as they follow our rules to create and maintain a space for free conversation without feeling threatened,” Damsgaard said. Some of the faith groups associated with Interfaith are: The United Church of Christ, The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Balvihar of St. Louis. Besides helping adults, Damsgaard has created a branch of Interfaith called Interfaith Quest which works with teens. “A majority of Interfaith work being done is for adults and college students. For me specifically, I kept saying to myself that I was done working with teens, and each time I thought I was getting away from working with teens, another
opportunity appeared and I couldn’t resist. Working with teens is more entertaining than working with adults because teenagers have more open and interesting conversations as well as being daring to talk about subjects adults are hesitant to open up about,” she said. Through her love is to help teens, Interfaith Quest partners with various youth groups across the area to have periodical dialogues and community projects as well as an annual community project at the St. Louis Science Center called CANstruction, where students construct a mural from different colored cans relating to the theme of the feature Omnimax film. “The CANstruction project is a mural made of differently colored cans, created by teens of various faiths in the spirit of Interfaith cooperation and service. The canned food is then donated to Operation Food Search after the structure is dismantled,” Damsgaard said. She believes bringing people of different values together is a great way to heal the rifts that have torn through the nation recently. “It’s really important to think about the pain everyone is feeling from the recent events that have unfolded in the past few months and we should use our peace work to overcome that hate that has enveloped our nation,” she said. Top: Interfaith Quest members pose with the finished CANstruction. Lafayettw sophomore Pranav Vashita is part of this group as well. (Photo courtesy of Beth Damsgaard) Bottom: At the Annual Interfaith Dinner and Celebration, guests get to interact and enjoy dinner with others from various faiths and backgrounds. (Photo courtesy of Phillip Deitch)
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FEATURES [11]
Jan. 27, 2017
Super Paczkowski Bros Twin brothers collect N64 video games Thomas Francois ad manager Who has an identical twin brother, plays the clarinet in the marching band and owns a massive collection of over 173 Nintendo 64 game cartridges? Senior Matthew Paczkowski. Paczkowski’s fascination with vintage cartridges began in 2013, when his family purchased a Nintendo 64. He said, “It arrived with a few games and they were really fun, so I looked around and found a few more that I was interested in, and I just kept buying and buying. After doing some research, I realized that there were only about three-hundred games released, so I began to try to collect them all!” When asked about updating to a new Xbox or PlayStation, he said since the N64 is an older system, the games are a lot less expensive and he can search Ebay and Amazon for historic titles. “Being as old as they are, they are a heck of a lot cheaper than a game you can buy for current generation consoles,” Paczkowski said. An N64 game can run as cheap as a few dollars. “In my opinion, for the price that these games are, they can be even more fun than a newer game that I would have to drop $60 into,” Paczkowski said. The Nintendo revolution began in the early 1990s, when the video game industry was dominated by the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The Nintendo 64 or N64 to which it is often referred, was released in the United States in September 1996 and quickly took over the industry. Its name stems from the 64-bit central processing unit. At that time, there were only three games released, Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64 and Saikyo Habu. To stir up a frenzy in the market, Nintendo’s slogan was “Get N or get Out!”, with retailers selling 350,000 of 500,000 available units on the system’s first three days after release, with 3.6 million units being sold in the United States by 1997.
When they can find the time, Andrew Paczkowski and his twin brother Matthew chill out by playing their Nintendo 64 together. The massive collection is stored on shelves along their basement wall. (Photo courtesy of Paczkowski family) In 1996, Next Generation magazine called it the “best kept secret in video games” and the “world’s most powerful game machine.” Time named it their “Machine of the Year,” saying that it had “done to video gaming what the 707 did for air travel.” As of 2016, the Nintendo 64 remains one of the most popular retro systems in North America. With 32.93 million units sold worldwide, the console received positive reviews and was praised for its advanced graphics and gameplay. The biggest overall complaint with the system was the lack of games available during the system’s lifetime. This made Matthew’s collecting obsession a bit easier. “If you are insane enough to go and try to get every game for a system, I would recommend getting the most expensive titles out of the way first. The prices of the most collectable ones continue to increase in value. Do your research and know what the games are going for, so that when you see the ones you want to buy, you will know if you are getting the best deal,”
Paczkowski said. He also recommended having a lot of patience. “If you wait long enough, sooner or later the price will come down to what you are willing to pay,” Paczkowski said. A total of 388 games were eventually released for the console and the Nintendo 64 remains one of the most recognized video systems of all time. Its games continue to have a huge impact on the industry. Out of his massive compilation, Paczkowski said that his all-time favorite N64 game is GoldenEye 007, which has been ranked as the most influential game of its genre. “One thing that I really like about collecting video games is that you could stockpile something like bottle caps, but at the end of the day, you really can’t do anything with them. Every game you get, however, equals hours of entertainment that you have at your disposal to play whenever you want and I think that’s pretty cool,” Paczkowski said.
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[12] FEATURES
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Retrieve to Achieve
Tarpey trains dogs for hunting competitions Gehrig Prozorowski reporter Anna Tarpey, senior, competes in hunting competitions with her labrador, Lucy, at Busch Wildlife. She first discovered an interest for competetive dog shows when her family got Lucy four years ago. “We just didn’t know what we were getting into, but we started training and then one thing turned to the next and we got Lucy into her first competition. I ran her in that and it just kinda spiraled from there,” Tarpey said. The competitions, either hunt tests or field tests, take place in the spring and the fall. The American Kennel Club (AKC) holds field tests which are more specific and dogs compete against each other to earn points. According to the AKC Field Test Guidelines, “When ordered to retrieve, a dog should proceed quickly and eagerly on land or into the water to marked falls, or on the line given to him by his handler on falls he has not seen.” The United Kennel Club (UKC) holds field tests, and according to their guidelines, the purpose of field tests is “to test hunting retrievers afield under actual hunting conditions.” For competition, there are different levels of difficulty. Ducks can be shot and fall so the dog sees them, but also there are ducks that fall and are hidden. After the ducks fall, Tarpey sends Lucy to retrieve them in the field. Tarpey uses a whistle to stop Lucy so she faces Tarpey, and then hand signals instruct Lucy to go right or left, forward or backward, or diagonal. With more difficulty, the distance of the marks increases, and a duck may fly out by surprise, Tarpey said. Then, the handler needs to shoot the duck and still keep the dog steady and calm. The dog may have to watch multiple ducks fall and remember where each fell and retrieve them. Tarpey trains her dogs every day either at home or at Busch Wildlife and teaches obedience and field work since Lucy was a puppy. Also, drills test memory and obedience commands. Tarpey said occasionally she sets up competition simulations to prepare her dogs. Duck hunting takes place in the winter as well. In the field trials and hunt test, Lucy has two
Senior Anna Tarpey and her labrador Lucy won a ribbon for earning a qualifying score for an AKC field test. Tarpey has been training dogs for four years for hunting and field test competitions. [photo courtesy of Anna Tarpey] titles. “That is an accomplishment in itself. We’re working toward the higher levels,” Tarpey said. “Lucy’s only four, and I’m just a beginner trainer.” Tarpey said the training is enjoyable because the dogs love it and she likes her dogs to be active. She recommended getting a labrador retriever or golden retriever, and there are many activities in the AKC and the UKC to start training dogs for field competition. “It’s a really great activity to bond with your dog and get outside and do something active instead of sitting inside and letting your dog be a couch potato,” Tarpey said. She said the dogs love to compete more than some humans. After Lucy retrieved several times, she was bred to a field trial and hunt test champion this previous summer, and she had a litter of puppies. Tarpey said they now have Lucy’s son, Cody. She is training him to hunt and to eventually compete like his mother.
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Cody is the new puppy that Tarpey is training to compete in competitions. Lucy was bred with Ranger, a field trial and hunt test champion. [photo courtesy of Anna Tarpey] Lucy splashes into the water to retrieve a duck. (photo courtesy of Anna Tarpey]
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FEATURES [13]
Jan. 27, 2017
New hall monitor puts his focus on family, community service Clare Mulherin reporter Hall monitor, Devyn Rhodes, joined the Lafayette staff straight out of college. He is a husband and father, and has a focus on helping others around him. At De Smet High School, a school Rhodes only attended a year before going to Ladue, it was instilled in him “To be a man for those who can’t be themselves,” Rhodes said. With this lesson in mind and his father’s encouragement to give back and serve others, Rhodes began his community service in earnest. While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, he participated in several non-profit organizations with the goal of giving back to others. Rhodes was a Bonner Scholar Officer of Community Services, and said the program provided him with financial in exchange for community service. “I had in an issue base in education, I was a supervisor of the Boys and Girls club, a nonprofit organization in a positive neighborhood designed for education,” Rhodes said. He worked in inner-city schools teaching children reading and math skills. He is a member of the “Boys to Men” organization which focuses on young men and boys who grew up in single parent households. “I like to work with them because I grew up with a single parent,” he said. He has served as a Hunger and Homeless program coordinator. At the program’s Thanksgiving
Class of 2010 grad, April Ehrhardt, has joind the Lancer staff as the new Flex Resource teacher. (Photo by Kyran Ballard)
LHS grad fills flex position
Devyn Rhodes, hall monitor, has multiple responsibilities at Lafayette and at home. Not only does he play a role in school safety, he is also a father to a young son and has a daughter on the way. (Photo by Kyran Ballard) feast haircuts, clothes and food are provided to the homeless. At Morehouse College, Rhodes studied sociology and focused on education. While here at Lafayette he wants to one day teach a social studies course and hopes to eventually move
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into administration. “I want to work with people. I’m big on teamwork,” Rhodes said.“I like to see kids’ development and push them to perform better,” he added. Visit lancerfeed.press to see more pictures of Rhodes and some of his activities.
April Ehrhardt, Class of 2010, is Lafayette’s new flex resource teacher. She was hired to replace long-time flex resource teacher Janey Whiteaker, who passed away over Thanksgiving Break. “I loved it here so much that I wanted to be back,” Ehrhardt said. She coaches junior varsity cheerleading, the Sparkle Squad and also coaches at Hi-NRG cheerleading. While a student at Lafayette, Ehrhardt was an Escadrille member and was coached by Whiteaker and former head coach Susan Glenn. She said the three were close and Ehrhardt is proud to be following in Whiteaker’s footsteps. Ehrhardt said, “I have some big shoes to fill, but I am happy to do it.” She said she has many happy, good and funny memories with Whiteaker. In addition to her duties here, Ehrhardt loves to travel, go to the beach and spend time relaxing. She is interested in high school counseling and physical education as well. After graduating from Lafayette in 2010, Ehrhardt studied Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FACS). Ehrhardt said she is enjoying her job in the Flex Room which consists of record keeping, supervising resource and working with the flex teachers.
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We’re With
Witter
Fundraiser held to support coach’s cancer battle Arpan Das sports reporter “We’re with Witter.” That was the message during the girls basketball game against Mehlville on Jan. 20. It was time to give back to one of the school’s teachers, Dave Witter, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in August. Because of his symptoms, Witter has been out of school since the beginning of the second semester. Witter also hasn’t had very much interaction with the team since their game against MICDS right before Christmas due to effects of the chemotherapy treatments. Both the players and Witter said that the assistant coaches, Ashley Lewis and Denise Meyer, have really stepped up to fill Witter’s shoes for the time being. “Fortunately, along with Mr. [Steve] Berry, Coach Lewis, Coach Meyer and the rest of the staff, we were able to plan ahead anticipating a time during the season when I would no longer be part of the day to day schedule until I would be able to return to school and basketball. Everyday I’m confident that the players and coaches are working hard on the court and I look forward to returning when I’m able to contribute,” Witter said. Lewis has been working in the basketball program for eight years as a coach for freshman and junior varsity teams, but this is her first year back, as Lewis has been gone from the program for a couple of years. “This is my first year back. I’ve been gone from the program for a couple of years since I had a baby. Something this summer was calling me to come back. Now, I’m able to step in and run the team how I think it should be and how Witter would want me to,” Lewis said, “It’s been a blessing to have Coach Meyer on staff because she was my coach here, so we work really well together.” Junior guard Lydia Harris said, “It’s been
different, but our new coaches have really stepped up and helped us out a lot.” It’s been difficult for the players to continue their level of play without their head coach, but the girls are on pace to finish with even more wins than last year. Battling cancer is an enormous challenge for everyone and can be a life changing experience. “Anytime you are faced with a significant challenge in your life you have an opportunity to meet it head on. After diagnosis I heard from so many folks that a positive mindset was an essential part of successful treatment. As a health teacher my illness provided a unique and teachable moment for my students,” Witter said. In support of Witter, the school held a fundraiser during the week of Jan. 16. Leading up to the event itself, all three lunch shifts had members of the basketball team selling t-shirts for $10, bracelets for $2 and basketballs to write encouraging messages on for $1. During the game, the team held raffles for prizes that included an Apple Watch, LHS gear, buy one semester get one semester free parking passes, car washes from On the Run and more. The fundraiser was mostly organized by Harris and sophomore forward Tara Robbe. “I can’t easily share the gratitude and appreciation me and my family have for all of the fantastic and compassionate people that have reached out to us during this challenge. We are completely amazed by folks who have done so much for us,” Witter said. He has completed all of his cancer treatments, and should slowly be recovering from the side effects of chemo and radiation. Over $5,300, and counting, in donations were raised for the Witter family as a result of the fundraiser. He plans to return early February and be ready to contribute to basketball upon his return. Above: Coach Dave Witter’s presence on the sideline provides inspiration for the Lady Lancers against Mehlville. They defeated the Mehlville Panthers 65-36 in a heartwarming performance. (photo by Nick Horstmann) Left: The bench celebrates as the team put up 21 points in the first quarter to Mehlville’s 12. The team went on to dominate throughout the rest of the game, with six different players scoring eight or more points. (photo by Nick Horstmann)
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SPORTS [15]
Jan. 27, 2016
The tyrant: Roger Goodell
NFL playoff expansion would do more harm than good
F
Tyler Burnett sports editor
ACT: Back in early April of 2016, Roger Goodell spoke on the matters of expanding the National Football League (NFL) playoffs. Goodell had a meeting with Jaguars season ticket holders and said that the NFL will “likely” be expanding the playoffs in the near future. Currently, the NFL playoffs allow 12 teams to compete for the Lombardi trophy at the end of the season. Of those 12 teams, six reside in the National Football Conference (NFC) and the other six reside in the American Football Conference (AFC). Teams are given seeds based on their regular season record and performances and are then pitted against another opponent. The first four games that are played, in the first round of the playoffs, are called the Wild Card. After that, teams battle for the Divisional crown as well as the Conference crown. Then it’s on to the Super Bowl. Goodell is proposing that the NFL expand it’s playoff bracket and add more teams to the postseason. Goodell isn’t 100 percent on how many teams, but analysts have come to the predictable conclusion that two NFL teams would be added into the system. Of course, if Goodell and the NFL go through with the playoff expansion there will be some aspects of the broadcasting media and labor-relations to consider. In regards to broadcasting, if two more teams are added, then that means two more games would be played on Wild Card weekend. The problem stems from that. If more games are added to Wild Card weekend, then some teams would likely play in a Monday Night game. The winners from the Monday night showdown would be at a disadvantage due to a short week of rest. On the labor end, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) might ask for something in return for the expansion of the playoffs. One idea that has floated around the past few years is shrinking the NFL preseason, due to recent complaints by multiple players and franchises in the NFL. With all that said, it remains to be seen if Goodell will make the move to expand the NFL playoffs and if the NFL and NFLPA will vote it into regulation.
the
Dance Bag
O
Jackson Bartholomew sports reporter
PINION: Roger Goodell is a tyrant who needs to be stopped. Just about everything he has done has hurt the National Football League(NFL). Whether it ranges from him taking all the contact out of the game, giving senseless fines or attempting to ruin entire franchises (New Orleans Saints), Goodell has ultimately given the NFL the moniker of the “No Fun League”. This moniker will continue for Commissioner Goodell and the NFL if they rule in expanding the playoffs. At first glance, this might seem like a good move for the league to do this. More games would equal more TV time and more fans coming to games. However, this would be a terrible move for the game of football itself. For instance, say the league decided to have eight teams from each conference make the playoffs. This would put a one seed against an eight seed and so on for the first few rounds of the playoffs. This would do nothing but water down the level of play that playoff games already have. Also, this could create a nightmare scenario for the NFL. If for some reason a lower ranked team like an eight seed would beat a one seed, the whole playoff would be shot. For one, the most favored team in the conference would be out of the playoffs, which would decline interest in the rest of the postseason from a whole fan base and whoever was rooting for the team to win, but you would also see a subpar team, who more than likely got lucky, most likely lose in the next round to a more superior team. This would have ramifications on the playoffs as a whole. The rest of the playoffs would have watered down games with teams that are not up to snuff. On the flip side, if the favored team does win, it would more than likely be a terrible game to watch for fans both at the game and on the sofa at home. This is what Goodell does not understand. He only does what he wants to see happen and does not look out for the best interest of the game or the fans. The only thing Goodell sees out of this deal is dollar signs. He does not care a lick about the fans. All the fans want is to see quality football, with the best teams.
Nobody in their right mind would want to watch a blowout or a good team play down to a bad team and a possible upset happen. Either scenario is terrible for both the league and it’s fans. The worst part of all of this is that Goodell will do what he wants. For multiple years now, Commissioner Goodell has proposed this at the owners meetings and the feeling was not mutual with the owners in regards to postseason expansion. Moreover, the simple fact that he keeps bringing it up shows that he wants it, so he will have it. So when that happens we, as fans, will have to suffer. We will have to sit through atrocious games or have our collective hearts as fans destroyed by the fact that a team that shouldn’t have even been in the playoffs just knocked a favored team out of the postseason. This would not be the first time that Roger Goodell has attempted to ruin the game of professional football. Over the past few years, he has put many rules in place that limit the contact of the game and put the power in the hands of the offense. A few of these would be the new head to head contact rules, the defenseless receiver rule and the targeting rule. He also has given senseless fines to many players that are generally a large lump sum of money. The worst thing he has done while being Commissioner of the NFL, was his disgusting display of power over the New Orleans Saints organization and the Bountygate Scandal. He ruined an entire franchise for doing something many other teams in the league were doing. All in all, Roger Goodell is a terrible man. He likes to think that he is helping the game of football, but in reality, he isn’t. The recent NFL game ratings show the truth about how fans feel about the National Football League. In all honestly, Goodell should have his position as the Commissioner of the National Football League revoked and go find a hole to live in so the public never has to see his face again. He should be ashamed of what he has done to the league and for what he wants to do with it. Goodell may think he is benefiting the league, but in all seriousness, he is just making it worse. As fans we pay good money to watch our favorite teams and players compete and win. Now, Goodell is ruining the fan experience and the league is trending in the wrong direction. Don’t expect the NFL to get any better anytime soon.
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[16] ENCORE
lancerfeed.press
Pistols & Puppies
Those who oppose easy access to firearms often bring up the fact that it is easier to get a gun than adopt a puppy. The Image wanted to see if that was fact or an urban myth Anna James editor in chief
Guns The Brady Act of 1993, enacted to reduce handgun violence, was the start of the Federal law requiring licensed firearms sellers to issue a background check before issuing a firearm. That background check can take one phone call or up to three days. There is no waiting period. Purchasers must be 18 years old. In Missouri, no permit is necessary to purchase a handgun, registration of handguns is not required and ownership licenses are not required. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, Missouri allows individuals to carry concealed firearms in most locations without first obtaining a permit.
Puppies
The adoption process for most local shelters includes completing an application of interest that will be reviewed by the shelter. Adopters must earn approval by the shelter. After that most shelters require a waiting period while the shelter makes a home visit to ensure of a safe environment for the animal to live in. The shelter has to record all animals already at the home and things like yard size, fence height, etc. Most shelters keep contact with adopters and follow-up to ensure the new pet is being well cared for. Missouri state laws require that all dogs be licensed and wear proof of licensure at all times. Proof of vaccination against Rabies must be presented at time of licensing.
Surprisingly, these items are also more difficult to obtain than a gun •Beyoncé Lemonade Tour tickets —17 second sellout •Missouri Hunting & Fishing License — buyer must provide social security number; license can be revoked •Girl Scout Cookies — Only available for eight weeks of the year •Wireless cellphones — Most providers require a credit check on the card as well as a two-year contract. Some also require a security deposit on your device(s) •Getting a reservation at The French Laundry in California; diners have a dress code, $310 per person bill and six month prior reservations • Cold Medicine — Consumers must show ID to purchase. Some, like Sudafed, must be placed in a database system •Food Stamps require a 30-day waiting period •Hermés Birkin bags auction up to $220,000 and can take six months to manufacture