theimagemagazine Lafayette High School - Wildwood, Missouri - May 17, 2019 - vol. 50, issue 7
Hijabs express religious freedom, not oppression
Muslim students face discrimination, alienation due to religious coverings. See it on pages 22-23
photo of KADRA HAJI and FATUMA ABDALLA by JACK WEAVER
Opening 2
theimagemagazine
In This Issue: pg 6
pg 13
Opinions 4
RAP MUSIC Is rap something parents should be scared of or can it be beneficial for society?
6
TRANSPARENCY
7
SEX ED
Trump claims to be “the most transparent president,” but his administration falls short. Abstinence-only education quite simply doesn’t cut it for teenagers.
News 9
NEW SCHEDULE The Image rehashes the changes coming next year, like mandatory Flex Time.
12
SAFER STREETS
13
FAREWELLS Six teachers who will retire following this school year talk about their past and future.
pg 24
pg 30
Lifestyles 22 24 26
HIJAB Muslim students talk about what the religious tradition means to them.
TASTE TESTER The Image staff reviews local bubble tea joints.
VINYL COLLECTIONS Teachers and students who collect records discuss why they like the hobby.
pg 16
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt talks about his new crime initiative.
Sports 28 30 31
ELITE SOCCER
Features
15 16 18 20
SUMMER CALENDAR
The Image breaks down this summer’s must-see concerts and events.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Check out the athletes and volunteers who made the Special Olympics possible.
MILITARY KIDS
Families of active, retired military members discuss how that service to the country has impacted their lives.
STUDENT MODELS
Three students talk about their forays into the world of modeling.
Meet the Lancers in St. Louis’ only Elite Club National League team.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Stay Connected
A German foreign exchange student talks about his time playing Lancer sports.
HEAT OR ICE?
The Lancer Feed
What do medical experts advise for treating athletic injuries?
@thelancerfeed
General Information and Policy: This year represents the 50th volume of the Image. The publication is produced by students in the News Production class. Free copies are distributed on campus. The publication’s primary purpose is to inform its readers about events in the school and community, as well
as issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. While serving as a training ground for future journalists, we adhere to all rights and responsibilities granted under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional
journalistic standards and ethics for decision-making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the publication. A full listing of all the policies and procedures used by student publications can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.
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Opening 3
May 17, 2019
FROM US TO YOU A
s the school year winds down and students prepare for finals, graduation and summer, here on the Image staff we are still pushing through the end-ofyear burnout to get you the best stories with the most information. Whether it’s taking a deeper look into students’ lives, or informing our readers about events going on in the community, we plan to keep reporting it. In this issue we look into the culture of hijabs, the lives of military families and investigate deeper into how to make our hometown of St. Louis safer. Also included in this issue is an overview of events going on over the summer both at Lafayette and in our local community. Throughout this past year,
members of our staff have attended several workshops at Webster University and Kirkwood High School in order to better improve all aspects of our publications program, whether that be our newsmagazine, social media or online website. While our first year of a newsmagazine is coming to a close, we are already looking for what we can do to improve for next year. We already have editors and future editors stepping up to plan for the next volume of the Image and future coverage on the Lancer Feed. With hopes to improve our layout and online website, we are looking to next year with a positive mindset and improved coverage for our readers, on all platforms. So stay tuned and see ya next year!
Image Staff: Editors-in-Chief: Travis Bodell Amisha Paul Web Editors: Chloe Baker Grace Kirtley News and Features Editor: Delaney Stulce Opinions Editor: Alex Rozar Lifestyles Editor: Hayden Cottrell Sports Editor: Kayla Carpenter Social Media Editor: Jack Weaver
Advertising Manager: Jasmin Kim Artist: Grayden Kurtz Staff: Makayla Archambeault Shelby Darnell Elizabeth Elliott Hannah Fitts Morgan Goertz Lourdes Hindi Melina Hudak Caroline Kesting Carson Luther Maya Manor Naomi Saegusa Sophia Scheller Corren Tipton Morgan Vehige Jacob Ward
Digital Media Staff: Digital Media Editor: Jack Weaver Staff: Emily Budde Jackie Day
Janka Gerber Sam Knutson Jonah Nickerson Ryan Post Ava Saegusa Colin Swan
Adviser: Nancy Y. Smith, MJE
Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the journalism program. Makayla Archambeault and Chloe Baker Staff Writer and Web Editor
Carpenter Family Paul Family Baker Family McDowell Family Heather Pick, Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services
4
OPINIONS
Staff Editorial
theimagemagazine
Student editors determine the content of the Image including all unsigned editorials. Views stated in the staff editorial represent the majority opinion of the publication.
Rappers use their voices to tell different stories. It’s not accurate to characterize all rap music as the same. From left: Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Logic and Drake. Photos labeled for reuse. (photo collage by MORGAN GOERTZ)
Opinions 5
May 17, 2019
Rap promotes cultural change, not violence Since its birth in the Bronx in the 1970s, rap has quickly become the dominant music genre, both in the U.S. and around the world. However, modern rap music sounds quite different from old-school hip-hop—which has led some to be concerned about rap’s potential impact on today’s youth. We understand where previous generations are coming from, but above all, rap is an art form, and an effective tool for political change and a defining element of Generation Z. The recent change in hip-hop is a direct result of the rise of music streaming services, which favor shorter tracks that can fit on many playlists. To set themselves apart from the crowd, many of these “SoundCloud rappers” choose to stir controversy— and like it or not—it tends to work. But more often than not, these “controversial” songs tend to be more inane than outright detrimental. Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang”, for example, does reference lean and cocaine, but it also repeats its title 45 times within the song’s two minutes and four seconds. And now that Lil Pump has made it past the initial popularity hump, he’s able to rap about more serious topics, such as his troubled upbringing and how he dropped out of high school, to a larger audience. Yes, many rap songs center around drugs, violence and sex. But simply addressing societal issues does not glorify them, as some are keen to believe. Rather, most rap songs talk about the desire to escape abject conditions or look back introspectively at a rapper’s rough past. To claim that an entire wide-ranging genre of music is bad for society based on a selection of songs is short-sighted. This argument overlooks projects like Lin-Manuel Miranda’s educational hip-hop musical “Hamilton”, as well as so-called “conscious” rappers like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Rap music can and will provide a platform for education and activism, though not all rappers choose to use the medium in that way. But the ones who do use their voice to make a difference should not be faulted for such—and moreover, young people should not be blamed for engaging in culture and seeking to
better their knowledge of the world. Some adults may be worried by names like Trippie Redd, Smokepurpp and Ski Mask the Slump God. But today’s rappers aren’t all that different from the bands and artists that came before them. Those acts, too, were often seen as violent and obscene. Even Elvis Presley was initially derided by reactionaries—TV programs in the 1950s were told only to show Elvis from the waist up. The push to regulate explicit music is not a new one. In 1985, Tipper Gore, activist and the ex-wife of politician Al Gore, formed the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). The PMRC sought to warn parents of albums with explicit or suggestive lyrics, and, despite shutting down in the 1990s, are the reason most big record labels still use the “Parental Advisory” sticker. But rap, like all other genres of music, is an art form, and with that status comes a level of artistic license. Musicians have always sought to push the envelope socially. Rappers are no different. Many are choosing to use their voice to stand up for something larger than themselves. Across the world, rap is being used as an effective tool for political change. In Spain, rappers fight against government censorship. In Thailand, rappers protest military rule. And in the U.S., songs like Childish Gambino’s “This is America” and Logic’s “1-800-273-8255” tackle real-world issues like racism, violence and suicide. These songs have results. After 12 Spanish rappers were arrested on vague charges stemming from their protest, public outcry led to a reduced sentence. A massively-viral song by a group called “Rap Against Dictatorship” is thought to have influenced the latest Thai elections, and according to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, calls rose by 50 percent after Logic performed his song at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. These rappers, though separated by oceans and continents, share a platform and a message—using rap to make real change. This spirit is what defines Gen Z, a generation that is already beginning to take the lead on national and international issues such as climate change and gun violence.
Opinions 6
“Summer at Last”
theimagemagazine
comic by GRAYDEN KURTZ
It’s time to end Trump’s transparency war “I have been the most transparent president and administration in the history of our country by far.” President Donald Trump spoke those words to a group of reporters in late April, seemingly without a shred of sarcasm or self-awareness. Of course, Trump’s presidency has been less than open to the public and the press. The administration holds historically infrequent press briefings, fails to produce White House call and visitor logs and refuses to allow White House aides to testify to Congress, even if subpoenaed. Even now, the administration is shaping up for a battle against releasing the president’s tax returns—despite Trump’s campaign promise to “produce my tax returns, absolutely”. The impact of the Trump administration on openness is so significant that Transparency International dropped the U.S. down four spots on its Corruption Perceptions Index since 2016,
noting that the U.S. is facing “an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power”. What all this means is that the federal government can no longer be trusted to work in the best interests of its citizens—or rather, it cannot be held accountable if it actively works against those interests. I’m not speaking hypothetically. The Trump administration has repeatedly obfuscated its most controversial policies—“zerotolerance” immigration, cutting environmental protections, banning migrants from seeking asylum, limiting hurricane relief aid for Puerto Rico, rejecting transgender people from joining the military— and decried any report on those policies as “fake news”. The people have a right to know what their elected officials are doing in office. This administration’s tendency to hide the truth and even tell flat-out lies—or as Kellyanne Conway calls them, “alternative facts”—is directly contrary to the American values that
ALEX ROZAR Opinions Editor every prior president regardless of party affiliation has adhered to. This lack of clarity is revealing in and of itself, for if everything were really operating as it should, there would be no reason for the government to not willingly share information to the public. Conversely, by failing to be open with the public and the press, the government calls more scrutiny to themselves—a phenomenon known as the Streisand effect. Therefore, Trump’s best bet is to be upfront about oncoming policy changes. Still, it isn't too late for Trump to actually value transparency as he alleges he already does. He still has another year and a half left in his first term.
And whoever is elected in 2020, whether Trump or someone else, will have the chance over the next four years to truly become “the most transparent president” in history. Ultimately, it comes down to a few crucial choices that Trump and all else vying for the presidency in 2020 need to take. Candidates should disclose all funding sources, as well as the past 10 years of their tax returns. This measure would hinder potential corruption and make the public aware of any and all ties to industries and corporations if the candidate does take office. Candidates should also pledge to comprehensive and timely disclosures of agendas, call logs and visitor logs if elected. Public schedules would help avoid President Trump’s workaround of “executive time”, thus ensuring public officials actually do the work they were elected to do. In 2020, I will vote for the first time, as will many of you. Let’s make this election about having leaders we can trust.
Opinions 7
May 17, 2019
There isn’t one definition of smart Is smart defined and set by harsh limitations, or is it relative and left open for anyone’s interpretation? No one is certain. Between AP and honors courses, ACTs, SATs and IQ tests, there are numerous ways that society tries to figure out how “smart” people are. But people can be smart in more than one way, and in more than one aspect of life. If you have all A’s, a 36 ACT or a 1600 SAT, you’re definitely “smart.” But what about those who receive good grades but score lower on the ACT—or only do really well on standardized tests but don’t have the grades to show for it? Are you smart if you can explain the ins and outs of computer programing, but can’t get above a D+ in language arts? Sure. Does being in the Gifted Program make you smart? No, it means you were able to think quickly, and solve problems in a way that others didn’t. Memorization of subjects, which are how most classes in high school are, just tests your ability to hear, remember, and reiterate. Students who try to take this stand to argue why they should drop might be able to show how people can become rich or successful, but those are for the wrong reasons. Sure people like
Jay-Z, George Foreman and Simon Cowell exist, but they are far and few between. Those people didn’t get rich and famous by using their own intelligence, they got lucky. So no, I don’t think the high school drop-out, turned millionaire is as simple as people say. They’re lucky, not smart. On the contrary, people who don’t excel at school, or who don’t learn in this type of way, should not be labeled as dumb, can’t make money, or can’t be successful. I know people who went to 12 years of school, have high knowledge of things, but are drowning in debt. Are you smart for going to a dozen years of school, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on schooling just to receive a paper that you can use to show how ‘smart’ you are? Would it change if you went to no school but had the experience or achievements to show for it? In my opinion, yes. If you’re able to go and build cars, provide people with services they need, then you’re smart. If you can use your abilities to design programs for computers or phones, you are smart. One’s ability to keep going in life, their desire for something, should be where their intelligence lies. Where do you look next, if it’s not the undermining repetition of
Stars: • Katy Perry lit up the Met Gala with her chandelier costume, which other guests simply couldn’t hold a candle to.
CARSON LUTHER Staff Writer memorizing, then regurgitating? Some go to money, but how much can that really do for you? It is generalized that smart people make lots of money. In 2019, stupid people make a lot more money. If you just look on social media, people are jumping from counter to counter in gas stations, throwing drinks and destroying the store. Somehow that makes them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Money doesn’t make you smart, but fame doesn’t make you smart either. For a person to be defined as smart, they have to have found their ‘calling’ so to speak, and their passion. You’re smart when you realize you can do something that brings you both happiness and fulfillment. When you can do something you love, that comes naturally, and can lead you to go on to new adventures or new experiences, then you are smart.
• The Kentucky Derby has been in the news after a controversial last-minute disqualification, which led to a new winner being chosen. Finally, a good reason for horse-race journalism. • The Blues are facing the Sharks in the Stanley Cup semifinals, after an exciting Game 7 win that left Dallas seeing stars.
Gripes: • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will name their son Archie, presumably in hopes that the royal baby takes after Harry’s ginger complexion. • Game of Thrones made a dragon-sized blunder recently when it let a Starbucks cup make it into the final edit. Maybe all will be forgiven if they give us a Jon SnowMocha. • The year is coming to a close, and we just wanted to say this: thanks for taking the time to read this magazine right now rather than study for your final exams.
Abstinence-only sex ed just doesn’t cut it for teenagers In the state of Missouri, sex education is optional and, if included in the curriculum at all, required to teach abstinence. But an abstinence-only sex education can do more harm than good, due to the fact that it does not give enough education for kids to make smart and informed decisions regarding their own body and sexual health. It is important for young adults to be equipped with the knowledge they need for when the time comes. Many on the pro-abstinence side say that it’s the job of parents to educate their teen on personal things—but most parents are not equipped with enough knowledge to teach their child. Often, they censor information that could be helpful to their teen, and frankly, many teens do not feel comfortable with “the talk”. The point of school is to educate youth—so why do we fail to teach them about a topic so important?
SOPHIA SCHELLER Staff Writer When sex is talked about in the classroom, it is talked about in an anatomical way. Students see medical diagrams of sex organs and learn about sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Teens are taught that sex is only for reproduction, even though that is not true. Knowing personal anatomy is important—but many students are left with questions that abstinenceonly education fails to answer. With no comprehensive knowledge of consent or safe sex outside of a slight mention of a condom, teens are frequently turning to the internet for answers
that their schools fail to respond to. In a British study, 60 percent of youth learn about sex through porn. This is a frightening statistic, as porn sets unrealistic standards and often shows unsafe sexual behavior. A comprehensive sex ed program would correct and explain issues seen in porn. Some parents may want to say, “my kid doesn’t watch porn,” but it is highly unlikely that is the case. According to The Huffington Post, by the age of 11, most kids have been exposed to porn. Watching porn itself should be nothing to be ashamed of—but it’s scary that kids are so desperate to understand sex that they have to turn to an unrealistic example. Teens are also turning to other places on the internet to get their questions answered. According to a 2011 study, “adolescents overwhelmingly responded that they use Internet search engines to find answers to
sexual health questions; specifically, Google was mentioned in every focus group.” Plus, sex ed doesn’t teach relevant information for a large portion of the population. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are often left in the dark on anything other than heterosexual vaginal sex. In six states, “no promo homo” laws directly ban teachers from discussions of gender or sexual identity. This could all be corrected very easily. School districts, as well as local, state and the federal government, have the power to make abstinence-only sex ed a thing of the past. But we need to be the spark. For real change to take place, we need to encourage those in power to take action. And for the time being, it’s our responsibility to educate ourselves as best we can.
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9
NEWS
May 17, 2019
Next school year brings new schedule, registration changes DELANEY STULCE News and Features Editor CARSON LUTHER Staff Writer Many changes are coming to Lafayette for the 2019-2020 school year. The most drastic change being implemented is the completely redesigned schedule. Rather than having a basic, seven hour plus lunch school day, the new schedule will include mandatory blocking of classes and will include an hour of Flex Time in the middle of the day. Flex Time is designed to provide time for all students to be able to get help from teachers, make up tests and any other things students cannot do in class. Some clubs and other school organizations will also be able to schedule meetings during this time. This free hour will allow all students to take care of their business during school hours, alleviating the need to arrive to school early or stay after. This time includes lunch, removing the traditional three separate lunch schedule, except on days when there is no Flex Time. Unlike study halls or resource hours, Flex Time will be completely independent and each student will be able to choose how they spend
that time. Associate Principal Mike Franklin said, “The spirit of this whole schedule was to give kids freedom and an opportunity to choose what you want to do with that time. It would be going against that to track your every move.” The only time the school will have students sign in are for areas that have the potential to become overcrowded. “There will be spots where we’re going to have kids sign in and out and track you that way but thats just because we don’t want to overload those spots. It has nothing to do about wanting to track where you are,” Franklin said. Many areas throughout the school will have a set limit of people allowed in order to make each space as productive as possible. “The library is one of those places. We are going to work with the librarians this summer to figure out how many kids they want to allow in so they don’t get overcrowded. Once the kid signs up for the last spot, then it’s cut off, nobody else is allowed in,” he said. The gym, fine arts hallway and two study rooms are other areas that will have a select number of spaces. With this major alteration to the schedule comes many other changes as well. Class times will shorten to 45 minutes each and 60 minutes for
A
1st 2nd Hour Hour
3rd Hour
B
1st Hour
3rd Hour
91 minutes
91 minutes
C
2nd Hour 4th Hour
Flex Time, and 91 minutes for blocked periods. Unlike the previous ABCBC schedule, the schedule will now have every class blocked one time per week. “The five day weeks will be AABCA, but we agreed that any four day weeks, which there are a lot of were probably going to BCBC. We want to emphasize those blocked days because the teachers and student will really benefit from blocked periods,” Franklin said. Due to the drastic changes, the first week will be a slow integration into the Flex schedule in order to prevent chaos. “Next year we are going to start slow with Flex, so that we have time to train you guys on how it is going to work. We’re not just throwing you all out there and saying ‘Here you go with Flex’,” Franklin said. “We are going to take a soft opening.” The first two weeks of school, students will not be partaking in the true Flex schedule in order to ease students into the new process. “The first full week, we start on a Monday, we aren’t going to do Flex Time until the Thursday. Really that Flex Time is going to be class meetings. It’s not going to be a true Flex Time,” Franklin said. “The following week we are going to do the same thing.” Despite the changes being enacted with the new schedule for next school year, many things will
4th Hour
Flex 5th
Hour
remain the same, such as half days and late start days. “They will be just how they are now. We will go through the regular seven period schedule with shorter periods,” Franklin said. Also new for next year will be a reduction in the passing period time from six minutes to five minutes. “I predict fewer kids will be tardy with five minutes because there is less ‘stop off and meet up’ time,” Principal Karen Calcaterra said. And, not only will Rockwood high schools be receiving a new schedule, but school registration is completely changing as well. Unlike past years where students were required to come to registration to receive schedules, locker combinations and turn in forms, everything will be filled out and turned in online. Calcaterra said, “Really registration on Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be about getting to walk your schedule, set up your locker, see where your classes are, get your ID/yearbook picture taken and for juniors and seniors that bought a parking pass, that’s when they will pick their pass.” There will be some special giveaways for students on that day and 2019 yearbooks will be distributed. Also, 2020 yearbooks will be on sale for a special one-day discounted price. More information will be sent home this summer.
6th Hour
7th Hour
45 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes 60 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes 45 minutes
91 minutes
91 minutes
5th/Lunch 121 minutes
Flex
121 minutes
7th Hour 91 minutes
6th Hour
91 minutes
News 10
‘Cordcutting’ reaches record high Decline of cable TV leaves streaming services to expand
theimagemagazine MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT Staff Writer In the last three months of 2018, about 985,000 customers dropped their cable or satellite TV plans, the highest rate of decline to date. This dramatic drop in people watching cable TV isn’t necessarily due to low quality of service from providers, but simply switching out the cables for streaming services. The increasingly common action of canceling cable subscriptions to exclusively use streaming services has been dubbed “cord-cutting”. In 2019, it is predicted that six people will cord-cut every minute. Language arts teacher Jennifer Ingram is among those who have decided to cut the cord. Ingram said, “With cable, you don’t have to worry about interruption due to a weak Wi-Fi connection, but streaming services give you so many options. Almost anything you want to watch, whether it’s a show or a movie from 30 years ago or one that is currently being played on the small or big screen, is available.” When it comes to deciding whether to cord-cut, the biggest consideration is the cost. Cable TV like Spectrum offers their services anywhere from $64.99–$104.99 a month. With those prices, it’s not hard for customers to look at Hulu’s cost of $5.99 a month, and wish to switch over for the small price of having to wait until the next day to
see the latest episode of a show. As far as streaming services go, Ingram enjoys watching her favorite shows on shared accounts with her sisters to reduce the cost even more. “I gave my sister my Netflix information, and she gave me her HBO Go information. My other sister gave me her Hulu information,” Ingram said. However, not everyone has hopped onto the trend of cordcutting. Junior Katie Tremper and her family currently take advantage of AT&T’s cable TV service. Tremper recognizes the benefits of cable, “[On cable there are] less channels to flip through and is reliable because of the set schedule for the shows and news.” Although Tremper does appreciate the benefits of cable, she also recognizes some of the faults, “When it’s windy or there’s bad weather, then the signal can be spotty and there are not a lot of diverse channels.” AT&T offers a U-verse TV package and a DIRECTV package that both reportedly lost 750,000 subscribers in 2018. While cordcutting has become more common in recent years, there are still reasons families choose to stick with cable. “Some families don’t want to pay for the streaming services and others don’t have the time to get their movies worth out of it,” Tremper said.
In 2018... 33 million
U.S. residents became cord-cutters.
By 2022...
the number of cord-cutters is predicted to be
55.1 million
News 11
May 17, 2019
N
etflix, as of right now, is the most watched streaming service with 148.8 million subscribers globally. The cost of Netflix when it was first released was $8 per month of service and was mostly focused on sending DVDs to homes rather than offering all movies and TV shows on one app. Now, the service has three options for services: the basic service plan, which is $9 a month, the standard service, which is $13 a month, and the premium service, which is $16 a month. The difference between the services are benefits such as number of screens that are allowed to watch at one time and HD quality streaming. Netflix has also produced many very successful Original Series and movies such as Orange is the New Black, Master of None, The Crown and Stranger Things.
H
ulu first hit the market in 2007 and by 2013, Hulu only had 5 million subscribers. Since then, the streaming service has blown up and currently has 25 million subscribers worldwide and costs users $5.99 a month (with commercials). The cost of Hulu has decreased from 2007, when the service cost $7.99 a month. Hulu typically offers episodes of various TV shows the day after they air. Hulu also produces Original Series, some of which include The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock, and Marvel’s Runaways.
A
mazon Prime video is available free for those who subscribe to an Amazon Prime account. Prime allows subscribers early access to buying items online, free 2-day shipping on products, a Prime Music account, a Prime Reading account and, of course, a Prime Video account. All of which include a selection of media that is free with Prime as well as media available to buy and rent. Currently, Amazon Prime Video has about 101 million subscribers and charges $13 a month, a significant increase from the price of Prime Video when it first launched in 2006, which was only $6.60 a month. Amazon has also found success in Original Series and movies such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, Sneaky Pete and Goliath.
O
n Nov. 12, 2019 a new service will be hitting the competitive market of streaming services. Disney+ will include TV shows and movies from all studios that Disney currently owns. Just a few of these studios include ABC, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and, of course, Walt Disney Company. Disney is currently in the process of pulling all movies and TV shows owned by them out of other streaming services’ lists in order to add them on to Disney+, which is set to cost $6.99 a month. Disney has also announced that they will also produce original shows such as Star Wars, Marvel and Muppets Original Series. When the service launches, approximately 7,000 episodes of television series and 400 to 500 movies will be available to stream.
News 12
Safer Streets Initiative proposed to increase prosecution of criminals DELANEY STULCE News and Features Editor Due to excessive crime in the St. Louis area, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the Safer Streets Initiative on Jan. 22. The initiative entails state prosecutors as well as federal prosecutors to begin to crack down on the high crime rates in St. Louis. The official Missouri Attorney General’s website states, “The effort will be focused on specific geographic locations within St. Louis, and the increased prosecutorial support will assist local law enforcement’s efforts within this area. The initiative will also focus on continual community outreach,” This initiative will be Schmitt’s first action as Missouri Attorney General, as he was sworn into the position on Jan. 3, 2019 In a press release when first announcing his plan, Schmitt said, “We are here to be part of the solution to violent crime in St. Louis. I am proud to announce that the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office will be partnering to reduce violent crime within the St. Louis area.” This initiative will attempt to reduce crime in the St. Louis area by having U.S. Attorney prosecutors focus and help advance cases in the more crime ridden areas of the city. “Our prosecutors will focus on crimes committed in the most dangerous areas, including in Chief Hayden’s rectangle,” Schmitt said. “This rough rectangle—bordered by Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Goodfellow Boulevard, West Florissant Avenue and Vandeventer Avenue—is where much of the violent crime is occurring.” Schmitt also plans to be more involved with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD). “I met with St. Louis Chief of Police John Hayden, and I pledged that our team will work collaboratively to address this epidemic,” Schmitt said. SLMPD views the initiative in a positive light and welcomes the MO U.S. Attorney’s offices aid in reducing crime. According to Hayden’s media team, “The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will continue to diligently and rigorously investigate incidents of violent crime, and we appreciate any assistance from our State and Federal partners.” Along with his increased local involvement, Schmitt is also working closely with U.S. Attorney General’s office, which is deputizing five Special Assistant U.S. State Attorneys. As stated on the MO Attorney General website, “The Special Assistant United States Attorneys will handle all types of federal cases, specifically homicides, carjackings, and gun crimes.” These five, newly sworn-in attorneys are Katharine Dolin, Gregory Goodwin, Jennifer Szczucinski, Natalie Warner and Jordan Williams. After being assigned to the Safer Streets Initiative, Szczucinski said, “We’ve seen and we continue to see how violent crime plagues this community. It tears apart families, it tears apart communities, it tears apart neighborhoods. I’m very excited to be a part of this initiative.”
The Alarming Missouri Crime Statistics
32,420 1 in
48
chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in St. Louis
violent crimes in MO in 2017
595
STL rape arrests in 2017
Across MO
19,885
auto theft reports 2017 in MO reported in 2017
594
murders
22,740
MO, STL crime rates growing each year
theimagemagazine
25,261
reported crimes in
St. Louis annually reported assaults in 2017 across MO
in become a victim of a violent crime statewide
29
reported cases of
Human Trafficking across MO
According to MO Highway State Patrol, NeighborhoodScout
News 13
May 17, 2019
Retiring staff reflect on careers Mary Buhr Q: A:
Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? I am finishing my 20th year in education. I have been a College and Career Counselor for two years. I taught high school social studies for nine years, and I have been a counselor for 11 years.
Q: A:
What was one of your wildest experiences as a counselor? On the very first day of my internship, a student arrived at school (on time) coming straight from a night out drinking. She was still in her “clubbing” clothes, but had school clothes to change into. Her friends were trying to help her into school, but she was clearly too intoxicated. I knew right away that there would never be a dull moment in school counseling.
Todd Decker Q: A:
Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? I have taught 19 years total, 13 here at LHS. I have taught Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Physical Science, Dual Credit Biology, AP Chemistry and Applied Biology and Chemistry (ABC).
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What was one of your wildest experiences as a science teacher? One day, I was looking into the chemistry lab from my classroom [at my prior school] and noticed smoke billowing from a trash can. I had to get the fire extinguisher to put it out. Turns out that putting powdered zinc in with paper towels will get hot enough to ignite.
Theresa Gornet
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Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? This is my 33rd year of teaching at LHS. I started here as a student teacher under Luis Campos in 1986, and was hired back for the 1986-1987 school year. My entire teaching career has been here at LHS. I have taught all levels of Spanish 1 through 5AP. Why did you choose to become a teacher? I cannot say that I chose teaching, but rather it chose me. I have always had a calling to help others, and I love languages. I knew as young as the 4th Grade that I had a talent for teaching and languages. I have never really considered doing anything else.
Dave Cugier Q: A: Q: A:
CHLOE BAKER Web Editor
Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? My entire 26 years of teaching have been at Lafayette. I have taught 48 separate curriculum. Some of my favorite highlights are teaching self-image, resume writing and job interviewing, sexism, prejudice, effective speaking, writing and listening and suicide prevention and awareness. What are your future plans? I plan on training for full marathon, volunteering at an animal shelter, golfing, reading, getting involved in community service at the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois (my wife is a director there), getting involved in more church work and expanding my grandpa duties.
David Freeman
Q: A:
Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? I have been working in the Special Education Department since August of 1999, so 19 years. I am a social studies teacher by certificate, but I have helped supervise students in the pre-vocational program at LHS, as well as helping teach IEP history and government.
Q: A:
What was one of your wildest experiences? Most of them are un-printable; so let’s just say it has been eventful. I have survived cancer in 2004, a wicked school bus crash in 2007 and three spinal surgeries in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
Marty Taylor
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Can you give us a short glimpse of what your career in education has looked like? Nineteen years have been at Lafayette, so it’s been around 29 years of working. I’ve taught woods, metals, drafting, architectural drafting and there used to be a tech lab that I taught, and I even used to do crafts when I taught junior high. What was one of your wildest experiences as a teacher? During the last hour of the day, there was a kid that kept falling asleep. I’m a prankster, so I had all my kids go into a different classroom and I changed the clock to look like it was after school. This kid was still sleeping at his desk, so I asked him why he was still there, he woke up and looked at the clock and sprinted out of the building.
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FEATURES
May 17, 2019
Summer in St. Louis
Calendar offers plenty to do over break from school HANNAH FITTS Staff Writer
CAROLINE KESTING Staff Writer
Start of Summer Vacation
MAY St. Louis Senior Olympics
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Summer classes will be June 3-28 at Marquette High School along with several sport camps at Lafayette.
May 23-27 @ 8 a.m. Jewish Community Center Staenberg Family Complex Promotes the health and wellness of men and women 50 years of age by providing them opportunities to participate in competitive sports and social events.
Spring Music Festival
May 31 @ 8 p.m. Chaifetz Arena Avant, Jaheim and Donell Jones will be preforming at this festival.
Juice Wrld
June 4 @ 8 p.m. Chaifetz Arena The tour begins April 25 at the PNE Forum in Vancouver and ends June 8 at Bomb Factory in Dallas with support from Ski Mask The Slump God and The Lyrical Lemonade All-Stars.
JUNE SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Shawn Mendes
Ariana Grande
JULY SUNDAY
July 21 St. Louis Zoo People will have opportunities to feed, watch and touch the stingrays. art by HANNAH FITTS
St. Louis Comic Con
June 22-23 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. St. Charles Convention Center The event will showcase over 100 artists, guests, venders and creators.
June 30 @ 7:30 p.m. Enterprise Center Mendes will be performing his self-titled album, which includes In My Blood, Lost In Japan and Youth.
Sting Rays at Caribbean Cove
May 23 @ 3:17 p.m. All Rockwood schools
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
July 6 @ 7:30 p.m. Enterprise Center Grande will be performing her Sweetener World Tour.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros
July 26 @ 7:15 p.m. Bush Stadium The Cardinals face off against American League rivals in a three-game series after the All-Star Break.
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theimagemagazine
Games On
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Inclement weather outside fails to dampen spirits as LHS moves Special Olympics events inside JACK WEAVER Digital Media Editor 1. As athletes from 23 schools arrive at Lafayette, the Special Olympics executive board gathers for a group handshake prior to the opening ceremony. Executive board members met several times a week in the weeks leading up to the event. (photo by SHANNON WORLEY) 2. In the Wrestling Room, an athlete winds up to throw a ball. Athletes tried to throw the ball as far as possible as track officials marked each distance. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 3. JONUS NUNS thanks Lafayette and Special Olympics Missouri for their efforts in hosting the event. Special Olympics Missouri puts on several events throughout the year for athletes with special needs. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 4. At the girls golf Victory Village booth, BROOKE BIERMANN helps an athlete putt a golf ball. Over 20 school groups and organizations staffed booths in Victory Village. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 5. As athletes enter the building after unloading from the buses, junior KATIE HALLUMS greets an athlete with a high five. Buddy leaders formed a tunnel for athletes to walk through on their way to the gym. Buddy leaders were responsible for facilitating any medical or dietary concerns with staff members from each school to individual buddies. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 6. Concluding the day’s activities, an athlete participates in a relay race. All athletes participated in throwing, running and jumping events during the day, with a few chosen for relays as a part of opening and closing ceremonies. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 7. Painting on an athlete’s hand, junior ORQUIDEA CAMPBELL-ESPINOZA participates in Photo Club’s Victory Village booth. “[The athletes] were all really unique and full of personality, so it was fun interacting with them,” Campbell-Espinoza said. (photo by SHANNON WORLEY) 8. GRACE FICK, junior, cheers on her buddy as he competes in the 50 meter race. Over 475 Lafayette students volunteered at the event. “I wanted to put some joy in someones life. I had so much fun and it was super cool being able to make a new friend,” Fick said. (photo by JACK WEAVER) 9. Swinging back and forth, junior CLAIRE GEURKINK dances with an athlete at the Student Council booth. “He knew all of the words to every song we played,” Geurkink said. “It made me feel really happy that he was having such a good time.” (photo by JACK WEAVER)
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May 17, 2019
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theimagemagazine
Families of those in military feel impact of short term, career in service GRACE KIRTLEY Web Editor
CORREN TIPTON Staff Writer
Many important lessons can be learned through having a parent in the military. Through the thick and thin of being a military kid, it can also change person’s perspective. From moving around the world, experiencing different cultures firsthand and defining a path for the future, some of Lafayette’s military kids and parents share their perspective of what it’s like to be connected to those who serve.
Aiden Murphy, 11
(father retired from Air Force) “I’ve lived in Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, Alabama and Japan, but Japan is my favorite. [Living on a base] is very regimented. There’s rules for absolutely everything. The main pro [of moving] is that you get to see the world. The con is essentially leaving everyone that you know behind and starting a new life. I’ve learned how much life can be different from other countries. In Japan, we had tsunamis and hurricanes--that was crazy.”
of those serving 55 inpercent the military are married of those 43 inpercent the military have children the average 10 isnumber of schools a military kid attends while their parent is serving
After completing his last flight, LT. COL. MURPHY is doused with water, along with his family. Fire extinguishers filled with water and water guns were used to douse them. (photo courtesy of AIDEN MURPHY)
Jim Smith, ROTC instructor
(retired Marine Corp/Air Force, with son Garrett, Army Nat’l Guard) “It took a little while to get used to [moving]. I started off with the Marine Corp, and the Marine Corp didn’t move me around as much as I experienced with the Air Force. The Air Force I was in for 21 years and the Marine Corp just four years. In the Air Force, I was in more of a leadership role and moving around every two or three years. By that time [I was taking Air Force ROTC], I was married to my wife, who was a Marine, and we were living in Marine Corp housing. I only saw my wife three months out of the year for four and a half years. That was probably the biggest thing I had to get used to. [My son] joined the Missouri Army Guard. He went to boot camp over the summer last year, so he is signed up and has raised his hand. There’s education benefits that go along with joining, and I don’t think he was too afraid of joining because he’s been exposed to it as a dependent all these years. I’m extremely proud of him, absolutely. As long as he serves with integrity and keeps those things at the forefront, I know he’ll serve with distinction.”
In 2018, SAVANNAH ISENBERG watched her father fly over a Tennessee Titan’s football game and poses with him after the flight. He retired as a LT. COL. (photo courtesy of SAVANNAH ISENBERG)
Savannah Isenberg, 10 Retired Marine LT. COL. JIM SMITH celebrates with his son Garrett Smith after Garrett’s boot camp graduation day in Fort Jackson South Carolina. (photo courtesy of JIM SMITH)
(father retired from Air Force) “[My dad has] been deployed three times. It was hard, but as the years went on, the technology was better so we could talk to him more with FaceTime. It was hard, but I know they alway run drills and practices so they’re safe. I have more respect for people in the military. I think for outside people it’s harder to see what they go through. There’s a lot that goes into fighting for your country, and I hate when people disrespect the military.”
Features 19
May 17, 2019 Alex McMillen, 11
(father retired from Army) “[My dad] was deployed in Iraq and Baghdad, that kind of area. He doesn’t like talking about it too much. He got deployed three months before my younger brother was born so I was one and a half. He came back probably about nine months to a year later. Usually I don’t think about it as if he was actually in danger but he was, he was in an area where war was happening so I do have a little more empathy for people who are experiencing that. It really gives me more respect for people who choose to go into the military. It’s not an easy job, you have to be away from the family and I can imagine that was hard on my Dad. He missed my younger brother’s birth, I’m sure that was difficult for him.”
Cameron Kratky, 12
(father retired from Marine Corp)
After his father’s second deployment to Iraq, ALEX MCMILLEN embraces his father who retired as a LT. COL. (photo courtesy of JULIE MCMILLEN)
“When I was younger, [my dad] taught me a lot about work ethic. I would always see him working out and being very disciplined. When I would see him doing pull-ups, I would start doing pull-ups. It actually really got me into working out and making sure I was staying fit. It was always really cool having a military dad because whenever someone says ‘oh, he’s really athletic because his dad’s a marine’, I was like, no—it’s because he taught me to work hard.”
Nancy Smith, journalism teacher (son served in Marine Corp)
“My son, Jordan, actually just completed his four years of service on May 10. I am so proud of his service and how hard he worked serving our country, but also incredibly thrilled to have him home again. It’s tough having a family member gone for so long with very few opportunities to come home on leave. He missed every major holiday for four years and other big events, but that is just what comes with the job. He was deployed twice and that was especially difficult. It is strange to go from having basically a child in your home that you talk to every day to having a Marine who is serving. We sometimes went months without hearing from when he was out of the country or off base training somewhere. I’m really excited to see what the next chapter in his life will bring. He learned so much in the Marine Corp and has so many opportunities now.”
After one of his overseas deployments, CAMERON KRATKY, age 3, embraces his father at the airport upon his return home. LT. COL. KRATKY retired recently after a career in the Marine Corp. (photo courtesy of CAMERON KRATKY)
In 2017, CPL. JORDAN SMITH completes field training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. (photo courtesy of NANCY SMITH)
Lt. Col. Michael Fitts (Marine Corp, retired) “I joined the military out of college. I was young and wanted adventure. My inspiration came from military movies and studying American history. [I liked] getting to see the world, experiencing other cultures, food and diversity of expression and thought. However, having a place you call ‘home’ is very important. It grounds you to something. Moving around does not afford this.”
Hailey Fitts, 9
After a career in the military that began straight out of college, LT. COL. FITTS celebrates his service with his family in a retirement ceremony. (photo courtesy of HANNAH FITTS)
“[My family] never personally lived on base, but I had friends and a daycare that I went to after school [on base]. It was like living in any other neighborhood, but to get in, you had to show your military ID. There were [also] restrictions on places you could go. [Having a parent in the military has taught me] that it takes a lot of work for a parent to put themselves in that situation, because he went back for us. When he was overseas in Afghanistan for seven to eight months, it was hard, but he’s doing this for our country and our family.”
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photo provided by LINDSEY LEONARD
photo provided by BELLA KITZELMAN
photo provided by CASSIDY KLOHMANN
Students pursue modeling careers ELIZABETH ELLIOTT Staff Writer Sophomore Lindsey Lenoard has been modeling since the age of 13 when she was scouted in Chicago by a local agency called Mother Model Management. “Some of the major things to keep in mind are you have to be on a good diet, mainly veggie and protein based, as well a working out and skin care. It’s a lot that you have to keep in mind,” Lenoard said. Lenoard’s first event was an annual runway show called Tribute. She gets booked for photo shoots about twice a month and occasionally travels to Los Angeles. “Going to Los Angeles has probably been my favorite experience. It’s a lot different than St. Louis. There are a lot more jobs and agencies, and it’s a lot bigger,” Lenoard said. “In St. Louis it’s more local with the magazines. Whereas in L.A, it seems a lot more real.” For photo shoots Lenoard starts in a basic tank top and jeans with no makeup. With her, she brings simple clothing items like different tank tops and pants that the designer can add if needed. After that, she goes to hair and makeup. One struggle of the industry Lenoard has encountered has been the standards set for measurements. “The measurements to really get somewhere are 34 inch bust, 24 inch waist, 34 inch hip. Those are the desired measurements, and It’s been a struggle because the diet is such a strong part of that,” Lenoard said.
Not all models have the same level of experience, though. As a newer model, junior Bella Kitzelman is still learning the ins and outs of the industry. Kitzelman was first scouted on her way back from visiting family in Brazil, but unfortunately the opportunity fell through. This however inspired her to pursue modeling further. After reaching out to a few agencies, Kitzelman signed in December 2018 with Centro Models. Before signing, Kitzelman had to take headshots without makeup and photos in tight simple clothing, so the agency could get an idea of her body shape. She also had to send in a personality video. “My first experience modeling was for a shoe company. I hadn’t realized how much work it was. That day the photo shoot lasted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It was basically nonstop shooting other than our lunch break. The whole process was definitely a lot more work than I thought it would be,” Kitzelman said. Her favorite experience so far has been the fashion show at Washington University. The small show was her first runway experience. “I developed more of an appreciation for fashion, and now I can see more of the creativity and work behind it. I got to meet a ton of other models as well.” Kitzelman has found that one struggle throughout the industry is body image and not comparing yourself to all of the other models. “You really can’t compare yourself to other people,” she said. “You just have to be the best
that you can be. Everyone has their insecurities, but you just have to embrace what you have and work with it.” Senior Cassidy Klohmann began her career when she signed with the agency West Model Management after going to an open call. Her first shoot was a portfolio shoot. “First, I had to create a portfolio. I met with a photographer and she taught me how to pose. It was intimidating at first because I had no idea what I was doing in front of the camera,” Klohmann said. The photo shoot process is quite long and requires many changes to wardrobe, hair and makeup. Klohmann did an all day shoot for St. Louis Bride, which ended up being one of her favorite experiences in the industry. “I did a shoot for a bride magazine. I was with six other girls from my agency, and we had four different looks. We were put into hair and makeup, and are in and out of each station,” Klohmann said. “It was awesome to be on the cover of a magazine. I never thought that could be me, and it was just an overall really cool experience.” For Klohmann, modeling has definitely impacted school, considering most photo shoots are generally during the day. As a result, Klohmann has left early and there have been days where the photo shoot took all day and she couldn’t come to school. However things like runways are always on the weekends. “Modeling has really taught me a lot. This job has given me the chance to get a sense of the workplace and given me the confidence to take on more responsibility,” Klohmann said.
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May 17, 2019
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22
LIFESTYLES
theimagemagazine
Muslim students wear hijabs as personal expression
“For me, the hijab defines who I am as a person and my dignity,” - Fatuma Abdalla, 12 photo of KADRA HAJI and FATUMA ABDALLA by JACK WEAVER
Lifestyles 23
May 17, 2019
Religious coverings encourages a positive, unique lifestyle among those who practice the Islamic faith GRACE KIRTLEY Web Editor
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atuma Abdalla, senior, and Kadra Haji, junior, are two Lafayette students who show their dedication to their religion at school every day in the form of wearing a hijab. As women of the Islamic faith, wearing a hijab is a choice once they reach puberty. For Abdalla and Haji, the hijab became a lifestyle at a young age due to their desire to express their faith. The covering acts as a form of modesty that allows women to interact with society without being seen as a sexual object. “In Islam we have to cover everything. We are hiding our beauty from man because only our husband can see our beauty,” Haji said. Although this covering is an age-old practice, western perspectives have portrayed the veils as a sign of oppression and lack of identity. This is not the case for the women wearing it as it is an individual’s preference based on religious practice. “It’s not a form of oppression. It’s a personal choice. No one is forcing you to wear the hijab. I choose to wear the hijab because of my religion and my practicing. It’s my choice,” Abdalla said. Some argue wearing the hijab in western culture actually increases the attention contrasting from the original intent of modesty through the veils. However, Abdalla finds this argument is misguided. She said the attention she receives allows her to raise awareness of her culture rather than attract unwanted attention. “It’s good to be unique and diverse in your own way and people seeing you in the hijab just allows you to educate them,” Abdalla said. “It’s not wrong or bad, I’ve been wearing the hijab my whole life and dressing modestly my whole life. People will compliment me and say how beautiful my dresses are. I feel comfortable within myself.” To Abdalla and Haji, educating people is an important and daily aspect of their dedication to the hijab. However, curiosity of their lifestyle is best led with a question for permission to ask beforehand. “For me I don’t care if they ask, but if I had to advise them [on asking] is to say, ‘Can I ask you this question?’ Instead of just going off and asking ‘Why do you wear the hijab?’ Some people feel like they’re getting attacked [without the question first],” Haji said. Although many are curious and interested in learning more about the hijab, Haji and Abdalla
most commonly just find stares in their direction. “When I first came to [Rockwood] people would stare and look at us because we look different than everyone else,” Haji said. A contributing factor to the judgment is the association of the Islamic faith with extremist groups, however, Abdalla and Haji noted a distinct separation from these groups. “Extreme terrorist groups don’t define who I am. They say they’re Muslim, but really that’s not who they are,” Abdalla said. The hijab is not the only way women of the Islamic faith can express their dedication. The burqa is a full body coverage veil, including the eyes. Due to the fear of the extreme terrorist groups and belief in the burqa’s hiding of one’s identity, France has banned the burqa since 2011. “The reason people wear the burqa is a choice, and once you start wearing it you cannot stop. The burqa is religiously extreme, but they are not hiding their identity, they’re just covering their face,” Haji said. Both Abdalla and Haji had strong feelings against any banning of their coverings, agreeing to protest if their rights were taken away from them. “Some Christians wear the cross, and I don’t think anyone would go up to them and tell them not to wear that because it’s a symbol of their faith. We should always be able to wear a symbol of our faith,” Haji said. Practicing faith is an important part of Haji and Abdalla’s daily activities, including praying and studying the Quran after school. Through their faith, these two students are able to find more confidence in standing out. Although Haji and Abdalla have continued wearing the hijab, they found that many girls shift away from the commitment. “I’ve known several people who threw off the hijab because they didn’t feel confident within themselves, and they felt insecure because they felt they would get bullied. But I didn’t let that get to me,” Abdalla said. Social media and globalization have allowed for many to be exposed to other faiths and cultures such as Islam, however, the extreme terrorist groups have increased a negative view of Muslims. “It’s just really hard how Muslims are being portrayed as the bad people. But really people need to get to know us and understand us beyond what is portrayed on social media,” Abdalla said. However, a positive social media portrayal of women in hijabs has been growing, making
“
One time in history class the teacher asked ‘How can you spot a terrorist?’ and this one guy named everything I was wearing and I was sitting right there. I wasn’t very angry. I got over it because he was just a jerk. People fear what they don’t know.” —Kadra Haji, 11 a hijab something more familiar to those not exposed to the culture. Both Abdalla and Haji are inspired by women’s hijab fashion through social media. Ibtihaj Muhammad, the hijab-wearing Olympic fencer, is an inspiration to Haji. In 2017, Nike released a sport hijab to the public and Muhammad competed with one in the Olympics. “I love Ibtihaj Muhammad, and I love the Nike hijab. I’m hoping to get one. Now the country is getting so diverse and I think they’re trying to help the future generation with their dressing,” Haji said. Another recent change is Halima Aden’s modeling for Sports Illustrated in a “Burkini,” a modest swimsuit that is accompanied with a hijab. Aden will be the first hijab covered model featured in the magazine’s swimsuit edition. Along with social media, YouTube allows for hijabis to learn all the different styles of wearing the hijab to help with their daily lifestyle. The hijab not only represents the Islamic faith; it also is a symbol of their culture. “I see a lot of Muslim women who are losing their own culture, I would advise them to not be embarrassed with their own culture and blend in. When I wear the dress, I get comments and I stand out. My advice is to not lose your culture and be yourself,” Haji said. Both Haji and Abdalla assimilate into American culture during the school day and into Islamic culture in their homes at night. The lifestyle of the hijab and language set the two apart yet it’s just another choice they get to make. “I want people to know that the hijab isn’t something we are forced to wear, it’s our lifestyle,” Haji said. “It’s something that we do in our daily lives. It is not a threat. We aren’t forced to wear it, we want to wear it, we choose to wear it.”
Lifestyles 24
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theimagemagazine
Bubble Tea Edition
or this issue, two Image staffers sampled bubble tea from Corner 17, St. Louis Bubble Tea, Cube Tea and Tasti Tea. Here are their reviews for the best bubble tea this summer:
HAYDEN COTTRELL Lifestyles Editor
art by HAYDEN COTTRELL
KAYLA CARPENTER Sports Editor
Lifestyles 25
May 17, 2019
Corner 17
Grade: A Price: $3.99 Delmar Loop
Cube Tea is the only place we visited that was not located in the Delmar Loop; however, it is well worth the detour. The cup is creatively shaped like a thick test tube and is sturdy and reusable, but the only downside is that it is a bit hard to insert the straw. The tea came with lots of perfect boba that wasn’t too hard, too soft or too gummy. The location is also in a very cramped, crowded and cube-like building, but you can see how your tea is made, which was a very interesting and cool experience. The bubble tea is on the thicker side but has a strong tea flavor that’s well complimented with the perfect amount of sweet milk. Cube Tea is not a bad second place after Corner 17. It had a five minute wait.
St. Louis Bubble Tea Grade: BPrice: $3.25 Delmar Loop
This was the second best packaging we had all day. They use reusable cups with fun designs and strong insulation to keep the tea cool longer. The boba was disappointing as it was extremely soft and felt almost like dissolved gummy bears. The tea itself is immensely sweet and has a weird tea taste. The high milk-to-tea ratio amounted to an unpleasant, tangy flavor. For those who are more adventurous, there were several types of exotic beverages on the menu including cloud smoothies and cheese teas. Tasti Tea is in a modern location with a slight vintage feel, making it very welcoming and cozy; however, the wait was fifteen minutes.
This cup comes with a thin break-through lid, so it is easy to spill. Overall, they have the best boba since the tapioca pearls are soft and extremely chewy. The tea is light, refreshing and had a strong yet not overbearing tea taste. Overall, it is very flavorful and the chewiness of the boba nicely compliments the refreshing tea. However, since Corner 17 is also a popular restaurant that boasts several dishes with handmade noodles, it is often quite busy. Because of this, there was a 20 minute wait for the tea. The building and atmosphere were very modern, bright, and clean creating a laid back and youthful feeling.
Cube Tea
Grade: APrice: $5.18 Olive Boulevard
The bubble tea comes in bland packaging. Since it is a thin lid, there’s a high risk of spilling while inserting the straw. The boba inside is harder than normal to chew. The first taste is pleasant with a smooth, light tea flavor, but the aftertaste is quite bitter. The actual store front is slightly concealed from the street and dirty, but once inside, it is very welcoming and relaxing. There are over 100 flavors of bubble tea, pudding tea, chai tea, icy slush and snow to choose from as well as scores of snacks and dishes on the menu. At the time, we were the only people in the restaurant, so the wait time was only two minutes.
Tasti Tea
Grade: C+ Price: $3.55 Delmar Loop
Lifestyles 26
theimagemagazine
Record Breaking Students, faculty build large vinyl record collections SOPHIA SHELLER Staff Writer Ever since the invention of Long Play (LP) records in 1945, records have been collected and cherished until music streaming services were introduced. Recently, with the help of the music streaming industry, more and more people are reverting back to hard copies of music, with the main demographic of this record revival being people under 30 years old. Freshman Sheridan Morris was first introduced to records when she was seven by her grandpa. “I was helping him in his office and I picked up papers and saw his turntable and asked him what it was, and he grabbed a Nowhere Man vinyl by the Beatles and played it for me. After watching the record spin around on the turntable, I just wanted to have records of my own,” Morris said. She was then able to inherit many records from her grandfather, but, due to the rising price of LPs, she cannot always buy new music right as it comes out. “When I want a new record, I normally ask for them as gifts around the holiday times. I have brothers who hate cleaning their rooms, so they pay me to clean their rooms. I use that money for vinyls,” Morris said. Even with the financial aspect of record collecting, Morris has found a way to grow and expand her collection. She currently owns 286 records, most being music from the 70s and 80s. “I own a lot of Queen, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Def Leppard and more. I rarely listen to newer music, so most of my records are older bands that most people don’t listen to,” Morris said. Another branch of the music collecting scene is the Compact Disk (CD) side. Language arts teacher Nathan Willard has collected CD’s since he was 16. “When I was 16 instead of a car, I got a stereo and a CD player. I wanted digital music. I’ve been buying stuff ever since then. I’m
not down with music streaming like today’s generation; I want to own it, have it and be able to record, transfer and so on,” Willard said. The internet was able to help Willard decide what to collect, as he could sample it online and then decide if the purchase was worth it. “There are very few stores left. There is Euclid Records and Vintage Vinyl in the city, but online I’ve had a lot of luck with Amazon,” Willard said. “All of those are kind of hit or miss, though. If you are a serious collector, there is a magazine called Goldmine where you can find all sorts of rare singles and imports.” It also assured that he was not overspending on CDs that he was never going to listen to. Collecting CD’s is generally a cheaper hobby than record collecting, due to the easier production process on the labels behalf. “CDs, back then, were usually $15 and maybe $12 on sale. Now it’s pretty common that you can get them for under $10, especially if they are new,” Willard said. Willard also likes the interactive part of CDs that today’s digital music streaming cannot give you. “When I was growing up, we had vinyl with its big artwork, the sleeve itself and lyrics. You had a whole bunch of pictures and other stuff; losing that textile aspect of music is really bad, and owning it and having the physical copy is more satisfying than having it be in the cloud,” Willard said. Willard recommends having a large storage space when the collecting begins. “Figure out your storage situation first because, coming from someone that has probably 6,000-8,000 CD’s, that becomes a big thing,” Willard said. Unlike CDs which can be easily played on different device platforms, records require a record player to
be able to adequately listen as well as preserve their condition. “My advice would be if you are actually going to listen to the records buy a nice turntable and not a cheap one. The nicer the player the less risk you’ll have of scratching/damaging a record,” Morris said.
art by HAYDEN COTTRELL
Lifestyles 27
May 17, 2019
AP Art Studio showcases student work during annual end-of-year show in library 2.
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1. With her photography, senior LYDIA FRANCE captures the stories of the people. 2. Starting as decay and decomposition, junior JO HUNTER developed her pieces into the physical elements of life and death. Hunter used both graphic design and colored pencil in her pieces. 3. To celebrate African American culture, senior MORGAN GOERTZ uses paint and photography to highlight unappreciated aspects. 4. Goertz honors and celebrates the staff members that influenced her high school career through photography. 5. The power of the zodiac and the people surrounding junior STEVIE SIGWART inspires her digitally rendered pieces. 6. / 7. Through paint, ink and photography, junior CASPIAN BELL illustrates forensic files inspired by medical documentation and human experiments. 8. Senior LAURA CHAMPION, although not inspired in the typical sense, used a digital media to express herself through art. 9. The support of her friends and others around her act as inspiration for senior NINA DAILY. (photos by ELIZABETH ELLIOTT)
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SPORTS
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A lot of girls on my team come back from high school, and they struggle. They’re out of shape, and they develop a lot of bad habits that don’t help. High school soccer is detrimental to your development.” —Meg Nemnich, 11
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The amount of practice I get in games is good for experience and playing with my high school teammates for a couple of months is fun, too.” —Natalie Phelps, 11
During an ECNL game during the 2018 summer season, junior MEG NEMNICH prepares to head a ball. Despite competing in year round soccer, Nemnich has never played high school soccer. (photo courtesy of MEG NEMNICH)
To Play or Not to Play?
ECNL teammates differ in views of H.S. soccer
KAYLA CARPENTER Sports Editor MAYA MANOR Staff Writer Over seven months a year. Practices three days a week. Games every weekend. Out of town competitions every other weekend. This is what being on an Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) soccer team requires. ECNL is a competitive soccer league for young female athletes that includes 94 teams from across the nation. The league includes eight regional conferences that each team competes in throughout the season to qualify for ECNL Nationals and the chance to compete for the ECNL National Championship Title. In Missouri, there is one club that competes in ECNL: St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG). SLSG has six girls teams, one in each age group from U13 to U18, that compete in ECNL. Juniors Meg Nemnich and Natalie Phelps both compete on SLSG’s U17 ECNL team. “ECNL is definitely highly competitive. You have to be very committed because at the end of the day, it’s not a casual thing. You’re competing for [college athletic] scholarships with other girls, and you’re competing to win National Championships, which is hard,” Nemnich said. “The season’s very, very long. It’s pretty vigorous, and it’s emotionally and physically draining.” For Phelps, ECNL is not something she takes lightly since it provides her several opportunities to grow as an soccer player and as a teammate.
“ECNL requires a lot of dedication and commitment. All of the girls who are on the team are constantly working to get better and pushing each other to make each other better. We also have to be coachable and be willing to learn and listen to our coaches so we can learn plays and know how to improve due to the constant hard-core competition,” Phelps said. “It also takes a good teammate to play on ECNL because we need to be able to back each other up and be able to trust each other during tough games or practices.” Nemnich and Phelps’ ECNL team is coached by former St. Louis University assistant womens soccer coach Ralph Richards who also played professionally with the West Michigan Edge of the Premier Development League. Along with Richards, the ECNL team is coached by several distinguished coaches who help Nemnich and Phelps improve as soccer players. “ECNL takes you to the next level, and the coaches push you to achieve your full potential and competing with girls that are so good really makes you push yourself to want to be better,” Phelps said. “My coaches are very professional and have taught me technique, reading the game, positioning and everything that comes with being a goalie, so they have really helped me improve a lot over the past two years as well as my teammates.” Both Phelps, a goalie, and Nemnich, a midfielder, are verbally committed to play Division I soccer. Phelps has committed to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while Nemnich plans to attend the University of Memphis, and she attributes much of her success and growth as an athlete to the competition of ECNL.
May 17, 2019
Sports 29
In the April 8 girls soccer game against Francis Howell, junior NATALIE PHELPS punts the ball down the field. In addition to playing ECNL, Phelps is also the starting goalie for Lafayette’s girls soccer team. (photo by SHANNON WORLEY)
“ECNL has helped me prepare for college because you’re playing against girls who are going to top really big schools, and when you’re playing against them, you’re getting that exposure so much earlier. You’re getting pushed a lot more,” Nemnich said. She added, “ECNL has also made me understand that you have to work very hard in order to achieve your goals because if you don’t also do the little things right such as hydrating and stretching and working on your own, then you won’t play.” Although Nemnich participates in soccer year-round with SLSG, she does not compete in high school soccer because she believes it impedes on her development as a soccer player. “I chose not to play high school soccer because, for me personally and for all ECNL athletes, [when you play high school soccer] you aren’t developing yourself as a player, you aren’t being pushed. A lot of the girls on my team come back from high school, and they struggle. They’re out of shape and they develop a lot of bad habits that don’t help,” Nemnich said.“High school soccer is detrimental to your development.” On the other hand, Phelps chose to play on the Lafayette soccer team in addition to her ECNL team, so from August to February, she competes for SLSG and from March to May, she competes for Lafayette. “I have been playing high school soccer since my freshman year, and I’ve been the goalie on varsity all three years,” Phelps said. “I started playing on the ECNL team almost two years ago and I switched to that team because I had just become a goalie about half a year before that, and I wanted to live up to my full potential and being on the ECNL team would mean that I got some of the best training around. I plan on continuing playing both high school soccer and ECNL because I get the benefits of both.” Nemnich also chose not to join the high school soccer team due to the threat of injury that could potentially end her ECNL season and the trust she has in her coach’s knowledge of the sport. “We had five girls [on my ECNL team] tear their ACL in the high school season. That’s why I don’t like high school soccer,” Nemnich said. “My coach knows how much to push us and when to give us rest. In high
school, you’re playing three games a week. I know Lafayette scrimmages the whole time [at practices]. You have to balance it out.” Although there are several games each week during the high school season, Phelps views the numerous competitions as an opportunity to improve her skills. “With high school, there are a lot of games packed into every week, so the amount of practice I get is good for experience and playing with my high school teammates for a couple of months is fun, too,” Phelps said. Despite not competing in high school soccer, Nemnich still participates in the sport while Phelps and many of her other SLSG teammates play on their high school teams. She plays on a spring team with 15 other girls where she practices three days a weeks and competes against Division II college teams and 6th grade boys teams. “I’ve definitely grown a decent amount by playing with boys teams. They’re not big, but they’re very fast and quick and playing against SLSG teams, they also think fast. They’re very creative, they’re very unpredictable, so you have to kind of just be sharp and on it or else they’ll score within two seconds,” Nemnich said. “It’s made me have to think more in games. It’s made me have to move my feet quicker and focus on the little things.” Because Phelps competes on an organized team 10 months out of the year, she can get quite busy, but she finds ways to balance both teams along with her other duties. “It’s not too hard to balance high school soccer and ECNL because while I’m playing with one team, I’m not playing with the other, but I do have to fit in workouts and training on my own to be ready for ECNL during the high school season,” Phelps said. After three years of simply being a spectator to the Lady Lancer soccer team, Nemnich hasn’t been disappointed being on the outside. “I don’t have a single regret [not playing high school soccer]. Freshman year I did want to play a little bit just because I was young, and I wanted to be like ‘Oh. I can play soccer too.’ Maybe I missed a little bit of the social part of high school soccer too, but otherwise, I can hang out with my club teammates, so it doesn’t feel like I’m lonely,” Nemnich said.
Sports 30
theimagemagazine
Exchange student compares U.S. sports to teams in Germany SHELBY DARNELL Reporter
At the varsity boys track meet at Richard Park, LARS NGUYEN runs the 300 meter hurdles in the Richard Park hosted by Eureka with Eureka, Parkway Central and Lafayette track athletes competing. His personal record in the event is 43.96 seconds. (photo by SHANNON WORLEY)
At a varsity boys soccer game against Kirkwood, on Sept. 6, LARS NGUYEN looks to pass the ball to his teammate from the defensive side of the field. The Lancers won the game with a score of 1-0. The win advanced the boys record to 3-2 and they finished with a 8-12-2 record. (photo by SHANNON WORLEY)
Foreign exchange student Lars Nguyen, junior, played on both varsity soccer team and the junior varsity boys track and field team during his year in America. His performance in both sports has stacked up to make him an equal with the American athletes on the team, but his past experience in the sports has been a bit different. “Lars never had any experience with track prior to this year,” head track coach Matt Warren said. High school in Germany does not have the same level of competitive sports that America does, making it all the more notable for Nguyen to be participating at such a high level. In fact, German athletics are usually offered outside of school in sports clubs around the community rather than school-sponsored activities. This is a stark contrast to sports in the United States, since the vast majority of American high schools offer school-sponsored sports. For example, 7,980,886 students participated in high school sport in the 2017-2018 school year according to the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS). Because of the lack of schoolsponsored sports in Germany and the increased level of athletic competition in the United States, Nguyen has had to adjust to the differing atmosphere of athletics in America. “It’s definitely hard work every day, and I don’t really have that in Germany. We have practice twice a week in Germany and here it’s every day after school,” Nguyen said. Another key difference, that seems minute for most American players, is the requirement of a physical to compete. “In Germany, anyone can play any sport no matter if they are not physically able to,” Nguyen said. Overall, the experience of sports in America is different for Nguyen, not just in the amount of practice, but in his motivation as well.
“I think the spirit is different. The high schools show up as a team together, and you do everything for the team,” Nguyen said. Despite cultural differences between Nguyen and other players, he’s been able to form strong bonds with his teammates. “He quickly gained the respect of his teammates, and they enjoy having him around,” Warren said. School sports provide a unique opportunity to gain a new group of friends just by being around each other so often, especially in Nguyen’s case. “For me, it was easy to get friends just by having the same interests like playing soccer or doing track and field now,” Nguyen said. A key difference for Nguyen, though, is that at the end of the year, he will be returning to Germany and will not be able to compete with the Lancer teams he joined this year. “It’s disappointing because Lars is a good kid and he has a lot of talent, but I’m enjoying working with him this year,” Warren said. Nguyen has been in America for the entirety of the 2018-19 school year, and he will be heading back to Germany in June. “I would definitely come back to America because I have some memories here, and I want to see more parts of America,” he said. Despite the bittersweet ending of the sports season, track has provided memories and opportunities of competition Nguyen otherwise wouldn’t have had. “The best memory [was] probably the first meet I had because the hurdles were new to me, and I was winning as the first time. It was surprising,” Nguyen said. Despite being a foreign exchange student and not being accustomed to American sports, Nguyen quickly adapted to his new environment and made the most of his time while in the United States. “He is very competitive and tenacious. He is a quick learner and works hard with the team and on his own to be the best he can be,” Warren said.
HEAT vs. ICE
May 17, 2019
Sports 31
Opinions vary on best treatment for athletic injuries MORGAN VEHIGE Staff Writer No matter what sport is played, no matter the season that it’s in, athletes are being injured all across the board. From muscle sprains, to fractures, to regular pain in the joints, athletes and their trainers usually use one of two methods of healing: heating or icing. In most sports, when the injury is immediate, ice is necessary. However, some athletes believe that ice is the catch-all, that it is the only thing that is needed when dealing with an injury. Eric Doherty is the athletic trainer at Lafayette and has seen all kinds of injuries. “I mainly see an overuse of ice in everything,” Doherty said. “People today think you just ice everything, but it’s really only for acute injuries.” According to the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), ice is a vasoconstrictor, which means that when the cold is in effect, the blood vessels tighten and decrease circulation to the injury. It is only necessary when the injury happens or when there is a large amount of swelling on the area.
Overuse of ice is possible. When it happens, the area around the injury can become too numb and make it hard to move or heal. But Doherty has some basic advice for icing an injury. “Use ice for about 20 minutes at a time, twice a day. It’s really not necessary to do it more than that,” Doherty said. “Also elevate the injury and let gravity help bring the swelling down.” The swelling and inflammation happens due to a rush of cells trying to get to the injury to heal it. Lafayette nurse Rita McLafferty said, “The body’s natural reaction is an inflammation reaction. You kind of need the inflammation in order to get all the cells to heal the body injury. But that also causes pain for the body, and that’s what ice will help with.” To use heat on an injury is something that is not as common as ice. When it comes to taking care of injuries, athletes automatically think that if ice was suggested the first time around, it should be used again, which isn’t necessarily the truth. “Chronic injuries, like back pain or injuries that happened a year ago, they are the ones that are more likely to be treated with heat,” McLafferty said. “Heat is also good before practices because
it loosens muscles and joints and allow for mobility.” Muscle strains and tightness are the number one injuries to use heat for. Also, after the initial swelling of the injury is over, an athlete could then go over to heat. If heat is placed on an acute injury immediately, however, this could cause even more swelling and make the athlete possibly immobile. Getting guidance could be a key factor in quickly healing an injury. “If you’re going to ice or heat something frequently, get some guidance from a nurse, athletic trainer or even a coach,” McLafferty said. It’s important to know the mechanism of the injury. Where it might currently be in the healing process, signs and symptoms of it getting worse or better or even how quickly the athlete needs to heal. If all of those are made clear, it’s easier to decide what method to use to heal it. “Each injury is specific, use science and anatomy to figure out which method to use. There is rational to each one and why you’re using it,” Doherty said. “If you use basic principles and be a little more specific on your injuries, you’ll get better results and faster recovery.”
What The Experts Say Effects of Heat
How to Heat
Benefits of Heat
Risks of Heat
When Not to Use Heat
When to use Heat
It can increase circulation in the body. It can also increase metabolic activity and some inflammation.
Hot packs are the main method in how to use heat. There’s also taking a hot shower or bath in order to soothe muscles.
Relieves muscle pain and spasms. Heat is useful in warming up stiff muscles before stretching or exercise.
If used too long, can cause swelling and inflammation. It can cause burns if the temperature is too high and left on skin without a barrier for too long.
If the area is cut open in anyway, is numb or if the body temperature is already elevated.
For 10 to 15 minutes at a time before exercising or activities.
Effects of Ice
How to Ice
Benefits of Ice
Risks of Ice
When Not to Ice
When to Use Ice
Ice decreases circulation in the body and numbs the skin. Like heat, it can also increase metabolic activity and inflammation.
The best way to use ice is through a makeshift ice pack or an ice bath.
Ice can decrease swelling, inflammation and pain. It can also help with muscle cramps or spasms.
If used too long, ice can cause numbness and can cause minor cases of frostbite.
Using ice before an activity that involves the injury or on an already numb area could potentially cause further damage to the injury.
Either after physical activity or if swelling is visible. It can be used for 20 minutes at a time, twice a day.
Information from The International Sports Sciences Association, Eric Doherty and Rita McLafferty
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It’s not a form of oppression. No one is forcing you to wear the hijab. I choose to wear the hijab because of my religion and my practicing. It’s my personal choice.” — Fatuma Abdalla, 12
photo by JACK WEAVER