Nov. 3, 2006

Inside This Edition Fatal shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin and now Missouri pose the question: why? But the aftermath begs another question.

Do students feel safe at school?

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see page 5

image the

Friday, November 3, 2006 Vol. 38 • Issue 4

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

photo courtesy of Mr. Lance Wheeler

•Poll Models. As Election Day 2006 draws near, juniors Stephen Pan and Mike Rudd give a voting presentation to Rockwood Valley 8th graders. Pan and Rudd are part of a group that visited local elementary and middle schools last week to talk to students about the importance of participating in politics.

Election has long-range impact As campaigns draw to a close, relevance of ballot hits home Nancy Stiles • Reporter “Vote or die!” was the exclamation seen on celebrities all over MTV before the 2004 presidential election. The most notorious proponent, however, was Paris Hilton.

The celebrity heiress told young people to “vote or die” in P. Diddy’s Citizen Change campaign when she herself was not even registered to vote.

Is this how the youth of America want to be represented to foreign nations?

In West County, high schoolers are constantly debating issues and being “activists” in the area.

But what about voting? According to the US Census Bureau, only 47 percent of 18 to 24 year olds voted in the 2004 election.

The most-cited reason for not being registered to vote was that the people “were not interested in the election or were not involved in politics.”

Usually, voter turnout is even lower in midterm elections.

Only 19.3 percent of 18 to 24 year olds voted in 2002, even though this year there are issues at stake that will affect almost all of the students at LHS by the time they are adults.

“This election is really more about high school kids than it is about people my age,” State Auditor and Democratic Senatorial candidate Claire McCaskill said.

“So much of the [national] debt is going to be shifted to kids that are seniors now. Secondly, it’s conceivable that there could be a larger conflict that could break out in Asia and the Middle East which would impact dramatically the young people in America,” McCaskill said.

The usually “unexciting” midterm election into a race for a crucial seat.

The outcome could take control of the Senate away from the Republicans if Democrats gain a mere six seats, which would closely affect the 2008 and presumably 2012 presidential elections, or cause the Democrats to take a serious look at party platform and leadership if they cannot gain control of Congress.

And, the tight race for the Senate is not the only hot ballot item in Missouri.

Although the most controversial issue on the Missouri ballot is stem cell research, a possibly more immediate concern is minimum wage.

Currently, the minimum wage is the same rate as the federal minimum: $5.15. If Proposition B is passed, the minimum will jump to $6.50 per hour.

Seniors Alex Lehman and Johnny Kelly make $5.50 an hour at Abercrombie Kids in Chesterfield Mall.

“I think it’s wrong that [Ab-

ercrombie] pays $5.50 because they think a lot of kids want to work there,” Kelly said. “People would rather go work a boring job for $2 more.”

Lehman agreed, especially because the clothes there are more expensive but the employees don’t get paid very much.

However, the financial burdens don’t just apply to nonessential things like trendy clothes.

“Gas prices have gone up so much that you need more money just to drive your car,” Lehman said.

“I’m in favor of the minimum wage increase. My opponent [Senator Jim Talent] and I had a big difference on that subject.

He’s voted against raising the minimum wage 11 times,” McCaskill said. “I’ll be voting yes, but Senator Talent has refused to tell people how he’s going to vote on it, which frankly, is hard for me to figure out.”

Critics have said that Republican Senate incumbent Jim Talent has been evasive of the Proposition B issue throughout his campaign.

The Image attempted to contact Senator Talent, but he did not respond to interview requests.

However, he did say in the Kansas City debate on Oct. 18 that people don’t realize where the money for the increased wages

will come from.

“I don’t want them cutting other people’s wages and other people’s jobs to pay for it,” Talent said in that televised debate.

Opponents of Proposition B said an increase in minimum wage would cost many small businesses a large amount of money, making the prediction of layoffs and fewer jobs feasible.

Funding for college is another major campaigning issue this election.

As most students know, receiving scholarships are increasingly important as the cost of going to even an in-state public university has risen considerably.

McCaskill pledges to increase grants for middle class families who are not wealthy enough to pay for tuition themselves but are not poor enough to meet financial requirements for many government scholarships and grants.

“I’m for tax cuts, but I think the tax cuts should be focused on the middle class,” McCaskill said.

“And one of those tax cuts should center on giving parents a $3,000 tax credit for any student they have, any child they have, in college full time,” McCaskill argued.

In 2005, 50 percent of graduates from a four-year program

at the University of Missouri at Columbia were in debt from student loans, the average amount of debt being $17,907.

McCaskill said her plan would put more money back in the economy, thus reducing the national debt while equipping America to compete globally.

On the other hand, the long term effects of this positivesounding policy have to be examined.

It is uncertain whether there would actually be enough state money for this kind of tax credit, which would let parents with college students write off $3,000 from their taxes not give families $3,000 to use for college.

Talent also voted for tax cuts for middle class families and $46 billion in tax cuts for small businesses in 2000.

However, the burning question still remains: how can today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders without turning into Paris Hilton along the way?

Of all 2003 college graduates, 67 percent were forced to move back in with their parents because of financial issues.

By 2016, many current students will be out of college, entering the real world—or moving back in with their parents.

Clearly, decisions made by politicians today will have long range effects for all students.

page 2 • editorial

nov. 3, 2006

&

stuff these in your turkey

Stars To:

Violence comes from unexpected places To students and administrators alike, hearing a gunshot echo through the halls of a school could be the most intimidating sound in the world. We’ve seen school shootings take over the nightly news lately, but too many of us are still thinking it would never happen to us. Even if it did, how prepared are we?

Sure, certain security measures are taken to prevent any type of weapons from being brought to school, but those schools that were under fire most likely attacked school violence with the same approach. Part of the solution is, obviously, to heighten security. But maybe we also need to start looking at the source of the problem and try and stop violent acts before they’re even considered.

The gunmen aren’t always the people we would suspect. Two of the recent shootings were initiated by adults with no ties to the schools whatsoever. Last year we had a woman circling our own school with weapons, possibly planning to enter

holla back Every month the Image will conduct a lunch time poll based on a current event. When you see us coming with our clip boards, stand up and be counted!

image info Editor in Chief • Kevin Pinney News Editor • Britt Peters Asst. News Editor • Matt Hibbard Opinion Editor • Mary Belzer In-Depth Editor • Sarah Southerland Feature Editor • Jen Apoian Entertainment Editor • Nicole Castellano Sports Editors • Ryan Bueckendorf, Josh Handler Ad Manager • Brian Ruyle Artist • Ankit Bhargava Adviser • Nancy Y. Smith MJE Staff: Kendall Brewer, Aaron Casias, John Cox, Alex Davis, Ashley Edlund, Brett Hamlin, Sydney Miller, Brad Schlemmer, Nancy Stiles, Brooke Thibodaux and Nina Walters

the building, and do something terrible to our students and faculty. Obviously, we can’t control every member of the community. We need to keep the building safe and not just worry about the occasional angry teenager. Of course, we also still need to look deeper into the student body and see where these violent acts originate.

Even minor violations can spark anger in students. We all know that kid that pushes everyone out of the way in the hall with no regard to personal space. We all know that kid that yells obscenities every chance he gets. And we all know that it’s offensive. Perhaps Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the killers in the infamous Columbine shooting of 1999, were just sick of being pushed around.

Once we find out where these minor acts of violence are coming from, we need to put a stop to them. We need to stop worrying about little things that don’t hurt anyone and start talking about school vioIn October it happened in Colorado, Pennsylvania and even Missouri. Armed gunmen have attacked and students have brought weapons to school. The country watched in horror as the reports of violence at schools flooded the media.

All schools take security measures, but obviously it is nearly impossible to be prepared for the worst. Officials around the country are re-evaluating how they work to keep students and staff safe at schools.

Is LHS prepared to protect its students from potential violence?

editorial

Opinions do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.

lence seriously. After all, cell phones aren’t killing anyone. Guns are.

It all comes down to being prepared.

As a school, we need to be preparing ourselves for anything; preparing to heighten security, preparing to stop a gunman and preparing to punish those who might endanger anyone in the building. What’s important is keeping school a safe place. We never know what might happen when our backs are turned.

Yes 8% No 92% 221 students polled

•Midterm elections are next week.

This could mean big changes in Washington and possibly influence the next Presidential election. Not that most students will vote anyway.

•Lancer Regiment Marching Band.

It earned first place in its division with best music, best percussion and best visual at the Edward Jones Dome as part of the Greater St. Louis Marching Band Festival. Well, at least there’s one group winning on the field.

•Lafayette graduate Ryan Howard won the Hank Aaron Award to recognize him as the best offensive player in the National League. Hey, maybe MVP is next. Let’s go Lancers.

•St. Louis native Chuck Berry is 80 years old and still rocking fans with his music. He recently celebrated his birthday at the Duck Room in Blueberry Hill and friends as famous as Steven Tyler were in attendance.

•Detroit didn’t lose just one title. In addition to losing the World Series, it lost the Most Dangerous City “award” to none other than the home of the Cardinals: St. Louis.

•Kentucky Fried Chicken eliminating trans fats from its chicken. Now that finger lickin’ good food won’t kill you... as quickly.

•The LHS football team (1-9). To offset the losing season, the Lancers are psyched up to win the only game that matters: the one against Marquette tonight.

Gripes To:

•The back doors to the Library that serve no purpose to students. Teachers use them because it’s faster than using the front doors. Students should too.

But maybe that just makes too much sense. We don’t want that.

•Suspicious foreign substances on the hands of Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers. Pine tar or not, cheating is cheating. We Cardinals always wash our hands.

•The weather outside is getting frightful and it’s doing so frightfully early. Keep an ice scraper in your car and cross your fingers for snow days.

•The Pulp bombarding our ears every morning with the announcements and with the posters all around school.

We get it. Here’s our submission: Roses are red, violets aren’t yellow, try a campaign that’s a little more mellow.

•The internet filter that blocks out everything important to students.

How are we supposed to keep up with Michael Kors if the site is blocked?

•The political ads everywhere. With phone calls, yard signs, radio and TV spots, it’s becoming too much. Still undecided? Vote for the candidate with the fewest ads.

Publication Information

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Publication Class. Subscriptions cost $25 per year. Free issues are distributed on campus.

The 2005-2006 Image received a rating of All-American with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. The 2004-2005 Image was named an International First Place winner from Quill And Scroll, Superior by the Sponsors of School Publications of Greater St. Louis and received a rating of AllAmerican with four marks of distinction from the NSPA.

Philosophy Statement

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. While the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, or libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

How To Reach Us:

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

op-ed • page 3

the image

Power lies in the hands of the white man letters to the editor Dear Editor, As high school students, we have spent the last nine to twelve years of our lives working hard. A few “golden numbers” at the end of the trail, meant to get us into college and thus send us on our way to what common belief holds to be success. Without these high scores and college, we’ve been taught through implications that we cannot be successful.

But I’ve been asking myself recently, why not?

Beyond financial security, perhaps getting high scores and going to a top notch college may get you a high paying job, but is that success? I can’t agree with that. If I end up living in a crummy apartment making minimum wage, but I am happy, then I have reached success.

Even as I say this, like most Lafayette students, I am a child of West County, living in the upper crust of society. However, I know that the house in which I currently reside will be the largest house I ever live in, that I will never be able to eat out every night, and that I will never own enough cars to fill a threecar garage. But that’s okay. I don’t expect any of that, and it really doesn’t bother me. While allowing my schooling to consume my life may get me closer to scholarships towards an overpriced college, it will not get me any closer to happiness. I am an individual, not a test score, and it is who I am as a person that my success depends upon.

Sincerely, Kasey Klimes, 11 Dear Editor, My name is John Cox and I am the editor in chief of the 2007 Legend, our school’s yearbook. At the recent meeting to announce the ordering of graduation announcements, Dr. Tim Jones explained the procedures for completing and turning in activities/quote sheets for the yearbook. These forms were handed out to all seniors on Oct. 18.

The deadline for tuning in forms is today. Only two-thirds of all seniors in the Class of 2006 turned in their completed sheets and therefore did not have their activities recorded in the yearbook with their senior portrait. This is your chance to be part of the permanent record. Get those forms in and be sure you have a portrait session with Prestige.

On another note, every year we receive calls from former students interested in purchasing a yearbook from their senior year. Unfortunately, yearbooks from previous years are rarely available for these graduates who call, leaving them disappointed. I can’t stress enough the importance of purchasing a yearbook.

In fact, due to the cost of printing full color yearbooks, there will not be any extra yearbooks ordered this year and only about 50 extra books will be available in August for students to purchase.

Get all the forms you need at www.lafayettepublications.com Sincerely, John Cox, 12

Letters to the Editor Policy

Participation through letters to the editor by students, faculty and the community is encouraged. Letters must be signed but names will be withheld upon request and with the concurrence of the Editorial Board. Letters should be limited to 300 words. The Image reserves the right to reject, edit or shorten letters. Deadlines will be announced in the school bulletin and in each issue of the paper. Letters may be submitted in writing to Room 213, or to any Image staff member, or via e-mail to smithnancy@rockwood. k12.mo.us

By 2008, most of the people reading this will able to vote in the presidential election, if they haven’t already.

All kinds of people. Black, white, male, female, Christian and Atheist. So why is it that, well over 200 years after our country’s establishment, we have yet to see a nonmale, non-white President?

It amazes me that, in a society that claims to be so diverse and accepting, we are still so close-minded about who we have in power. As a country, it seems like we care far too much about the frivolous aspects of a person rather than his or her intentions for the country. This goes from religion to gender and back to ethnicity. If we have no established religion, then the religious affiliation of our President should not impact the decision as much as it does. I mean, come on people. It took us until the 1960s to get a Catholic man in power, and all he got was assassinated. We haven’t had another since.

Lately there’s been a lot of talk about candidates for the next presidency, and in the Democratic Party a few controversial names have come up. Senator Hillary Clinton has stepped away from Bill and made a name for herself as a politician. For the most part, you either love her or you hate her. I myself am a fan of hers, but a lot of people on the other side have one major problem: she’s a woman. And she’s in power.

I know you’ve all heard the feminism bit before, but this is an opportunity for you to hear it one more time. If men can do the work they want, so can women. If men want to be President of the United States, so can women.

And if men are forced to sign up for the draft when they turn 18, women should have to as well. I’m talking about an even playing field across the board. Even the bad stuff.

Take that, you anti-feminists.

This issue doesn’t just lie with women. On the cover of a recent Time magazine, Senator Barack Obama was pictured for an article about his life, his book and why he’s a fair contender in the next race for the White House.

Unfortunately, white America seems to have a problem

Quite

Contrary

by Mary Belzer, Opinions Editor

with him as well: he’s black. And he’s in power.

At this point, I can only wonder why it has to be this way. Obviously discrimination still exists and will always exist in all forms. And I’m not saying that it’s just conservatives, or even all conservatives, that are the problem.

But it’s time we get the wealthy white male out of power.

We live in a melting pot, and it’s time our administration starts to represent that.

We say that society has changed over the years to be more open and accepting. Legally, this may be true. All races, genders and religions can vote and work wherever they please. Pay is supposedly distributed fairly. But for some reason we can’t get our fat American heads around the issue. Perhaps the law has grown to accommodate everyone, but maybe US citizens still have some work to do. Whenever it comes to Election Day, the white male usually prevails. Sure, it’s gotten better over the years.

There are more non-white and female politicians than a lot of people probably care for. But there’s still work to do.

So if you can vote for your next president, keep this in mind. I’m not saying vote for the woman just because you want something different. I’m saying look past the person’s appearance, ignore their gender and never mind what God they pray to. There are more important things to worry about as a country than what the President does in their free time.

Parking lot brings out Hyde in students I’ve noticed something. We’ve all seen its effects: neardeath experiences in the parking lot and frustration in the hallways. Students are in a hurry.

I don’t know what happens to us once we’re out of school and into the parking lot. It’s like we’re all harboring dual personalities, or maybe just our original personalities are amplified. It could be the perceived anonymity granted by our vehicles that transforms the majority of us into insensitive idiots.

I’m guilty of it and I think it’s because everyone else is doing it. The other day, there was a gap in the line of cars and I pulled out into it. It was clearly another kid’s space but I shot the gap. A girl (go figure) almost hit me pulling into the same place in line. I was tempted to crash into her giant, shiny Yukon.

I felt sort of like a jerk but I was over it before the next song could play on my iPod. Why? She was just doing the same thing as me, trying to get out.

The problem is, unless you have a ton of really nice friends, you aren’t getting out without bullying yourself a position in the procession of cars. Our lot isn’t like Marquette’s where they have one exit and they all take turns pulling out of their rows. Ours is every man for himself and the reason is that everyone wants to get away from school as quickly as possible.

It’s because we’re inside all day. We’re cooped up breathing in bad smells like the Axe fumes mixed with body odor that waft from the freshman hallway. We get stuck in traffic jams in the hallways and behind humongous backpacks on the stairs. Students want to be away from all the so-called learning that happens at Lafayette.

A Pinney For Your Thoughts

by Kevin Pinney, Editor in Chief As soon as the bell rings at 3:04 p.m., students pour out of the building and into the parking lot. It’s a race to beat the busses. If you have somewhere to be right after school, I don’t blame you. But if the reason you’re rushing is because you have a hot date with Jeopardy, that’s just ridiculous.

I’ll bet that there aren’t many people that want to idle in the lot for 10 minutes waiting. And it is the worst to get stuck behind a stupid twinkie full of freshmen on the way home.

They always stare and make faces. If they ever start driving, they won’t find it funny when kids do that.

There is no need to rush. Mom won’t beat you if you’re not home 15 minutes after school is out. Even with half days, your friends won’t hate you if you don’t beat them to Jack in the Box. Take some time and talk with friends. If everyone rushes, we’re all more likely to not see our friends the next day. Nobody wants that.

Just asking... photo opinion

This month the Image asks “If you could be any Thanksgiving dish, which would you be?

Photo opinion compiled by Alex Davis and Brad Schlemmer

Mike Margherita, 12 “Pumpkin pie because everyone loves you.”

Charlotte Gaw, 11 “Yams. I like things that are orange.”

Drew Carter, 10 “������������������������� The pig with an apple in its mouth doing the LHS cheer because it's tight.”�

Chelsea Shapland, 9 “�������������������������� The casserole that no one eats.”�

Assistant Principal Kerti Mehrotra “������������������������ Chocolate mousse pie. I like chocolate a lot.”�

page 4 • campus

bits& pieces

news at a glance

•compiled by Ashley Edlund and Brad Schlemmer

Plans set for Senior-Parent activities

Senior end of the year activities will kick off with the Mother/Daughter Fashion Show and the Father/Son Game Night.

Applications were handed out to seniors during their meeting on Oct. 18 and were due Nov. 1.

Tickets are available until the end of school today. Prices are $50 per couple and $25 for individuals.

A 5x7 complimentary picture will be included with the purchase of a ticket.

Dillards is providing the models with outfits for the fashion show.

Models are also required to have a fitting at the Dillards store in Chesterfield on Nov. 16.

Those participating in the event are required to be at the Doubletree Hotel on Nov. 18 in Chesterfield at 10:30 a.m.

The event begins with a registration, followed by photos and a reception at 11:30 a.m. A light lunch and drinks are served at 12:30 p.m. Finally, the fashion show will begin at 1:30 p.m.

All checks should be made payable to Celebration 2007.

As for the Father/Son Game Night, this event will be on the same night but it will be located at Amini’s Gameroom in the Chesterfield Valley.

The tickets are available until the close of school today and are $35 per couple.

The price includes two and a half hours of Texas Hold ‘Em. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. Arcade games, foosball, air hockey, shuffle board and pool tables are all also available.

Although the Father/Son Game Night is ‘younger’, “it has gained in popularity each year,” Senior Director Ms. Rose Sapp, said.

Sapp said all of these memory makers have about 75-85 couples in attendance.

Freshman publishes novel

The upcoming book The Past is in the Past, was recently released by freshman Blair Dinucci.

It focuses on a typical girl in high school who finds herself experiencing the trials and tribulations of teenage romance.

Dinucci feels that many high school students can relate to the plot of the story, since her first hand experience helped the book come together.

“The hardest part was trying to contact my –ex again to speak with him about it, because I mentioned him in the book,” Dinucci said.

Dinucci worked with Dorrance Publishing to edit and publish her book, which took her two months to prepare.

“It’s mostly non-fiction [but it’s] based off of a true story,” Dinucci said. “It [also] has some spiced up parts in it.”

Growing up, Dinucci always found an interest in creative writing. “I’ve always loved telling stories,” Dinucci said.

fyi

nov. 3, 2006

activities at a glance (compiled by students in Writing & Reporting)

The Pulp

The Pulp ended its “Pulpie Darko” submission drive on Oct. 31. They are now seeking musicians to audition for a new Pulp CD. Performers will also play in the Commons to preview the CD. Auditions are scheduled for Nov. 6-7, from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Musicians should report to Room 155.

Between November and December, the Pulp will begin its annual Frosted Pulp contest.

Winners and honorable mentions will be featured in the Pulp, which is published at the end of each school year.

Pulp members have been noticing a lack of submission to the literary magazine. All students are encouraged to submit art work, poems, short stories and other written work.

“We just haven’t been getting a lot [of submissions],” language arts teacher and sponsor Ms. Angela Koons said.

After the new Pulp face design, released in October, the new Pulp face will be used in all advertisements, to catch students’ attention.

The winner of the Pulp face design contest was freshman Matt Slimmer.

Turkey Dinner Dance

Student Council (STUCO) had its Trick-or-Treat for Cans Drive this week.

Students were able to ask for donations or bring their own, earning five points per can.

The STUCO Turkey Dinner Dance will be on Nov. 19 in the Commons.

photo • Britt Peters

•From The Heart. Presenting a breakout session, juniors Charlotte Gaw, Drew Petry and senior Brian Holthouse talk to teachers about the role of a student steering committee in a Renassiance school. Over 400 participants from over 32 schools in the Midwest area were present for the 11th Annual Heartland Renaissance Regional Conference.

The dance is worth 50 points and students can also bring pies for 25 points each.

It lasts three hours and provide an afternoon of dinner and dancing to area senior citizens.

The next STUCO meeting is on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

Junior Advisory

Members of Junior Advisory picked up trash outside on school grounds in early October.

Social Students teacher Ms. Ashley Dutton, sponsor, said, “It looks much, much cleaner.”

Nail-Fashions

Nail Salon & Spa Professional Nail Care Appointment & Walk-ins Welcome

Members can gather up toys to donate to the St. Louis Crisis nursery.

The meeting will take place before Thanksgiving and the toy drive will start after the holiday is over.

Step Team

Eighteen members were selected to join the Urban Step Team sponsored by math teacher Ms. Sophia Stephenson.

She hopes to have the Step Team take part in the Renaissance program in future Pep Assemblies.

Monday to Friday 9:30 to 7:30 Saturday 9:00 to 7:00 Sunday: Closed

20% off on full set (reg. $25) & manicure/pedicure (reg. $32) for students

15224 Manchester Rd. Ballwin Oaks Plaza 636-527-5007

Seniors:

TODAY is the last day to turn in your quotes and activities sheet for the 2007 Legend. Turn in sheets to Room 213, the Welcome Center or the Senior Office by 3 p.m.

TODAY

news • page 5

the image

Students feel safe despite wave of recent shootings Ashley Edlund • Reporter Colorado, Wisconsin and now Missouri. Splattered across the media, these are just a few of the fatal shootings that have taken the lives of some and threatened others.

“Safety is always an issue anywhere,” School Resource Officer Oliver Helbig said.

But “anywhere” seems to be everywhere, as school violence continues to happen throughout the nation.

“I would have to say that probably you’re dealing with somebody that probably is carrying a grudge of some kind,” Hall Monitor Mr. Terrance Wippler said. “Whether it be against a teacher, a principal; you have no idea.”

Although problems have not occurred at LHS, drills and procedures are practiced regularly to ensure that in the event of a school safety concern, people would know what to do.

During an intruder drill, lights are turned out, windows are covered and students are expected to remain quiet.

It is similar, if not identical, to what would happen in a real emergency.

“Our goal is by practicing it is that students will respond to teacher instructions and in a way that will keep them safe,” Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said.

Some schools even take it a step further. Assistant Principal Tim Jones said the St. Louis County Police Department bringing the S.W.A.T. team in to practice in the Fort Zumwalt District.

“They would ask students from theater and drama class to play like they were hostages and there was a shooter,” Jones said.

“They brought the team in so if it happened at that school, they knew what they were to do.”

But Associate Principal John Shaughnessy said LHS practices through drills, rather than the

method used at Fort Zumwalt.

“We kind of use our emergency evacuation plan as a test to see how we can do in terms of getting people out of here,” Shaughnessy said.

He added, “Our big issue is attendance [and] making sure all students are counted for. I think our whole attempt at the emergency evacuation plan was to put into play something that will allow us to utilize our safety measures here.”

While safety drills are helpful, decisions in tough situations aren’t as easy to make.

Students like junior Blake Zimmer said they believe the worst thing to do is panic.

“I would definitely try and stay calm,” Zimmer said. “When you panic, you don’t get anything done.”

Guests entering the building are required to stop at the welcome center and obtain permission (a visitor pass) to come in.

Hall Monitor Mr. Joe Belfiore said he has turned people away in the past. “They make nasty remarks, but words aren’t going to hurt me,” Belfiore said.

But intruders don’t always enter the building.

In the event of an intruder outside the school, administrators would use what is called the yellow alert system.

The system, added last year along with improved security cameras, would allow the outside of the building to be locked down in the event of an emergency Helbig has been working on the Rockwood safety committee, to improve safety and to work on disaster management.

“It’s an ongoing thing,” he said, “and something that should never stop.”

In wake of recent shootings, states like Iowa, according to desmoinesregister.com, are increasing employee training on how to handle an armed intruder.

School Violence Timeline •Columbine High School, CO

April 20, 1999 14 students killed by two classmate

•Buell Elementary School, MI Feb. 29, 2000 1 student killed by classmate

•Rocori High School, MN

Sept. 24, 2003 2 students killed by classmate

•Westminster Christian Academy, MO Sept. 13, 2006 Student shot in leg by policeman after carrying a gun onto school grounds and threatenig to harm himself

•Platte Canyon High School, CO Sept, 26, 2006 1 student killed by intruder

•West Nickel Mines Amish School, PA Oct. 3, 2006 5 students killed by intruder

•Joplin Memorial High School, MO Oct. 10, 2006 Student fires AK-47 assault rifle at ceiling

Educators have also organized anti- bullying programs, and believe that there is a link between bullying and violence.

“There is no such thing as any answer that applies to everyone,” Wippler said. “You have to consider the individual.”

Every other year, students are given a survey called Environmental Building Inventory.

The survey asks students whether they feel their school environment is safe. So far, it has shown very positive results. “[I feel safe] just knowing that there are people around and not everyone is a bad person,” freshman Samantha Laiderman said.

Despite this, some students believe it would not be hard for an intruder to walk in unnoticed.

“If somebody really wanted to get in, they could,” senior Lauren Edens said, “[but I feel] as safe as I would everywhere else, not more, not less.”

photo • Alex Davis

•Fire Alert. Fire trucks block the entrance to get to the smoke in the Science Resource Area. Students were evacuated from the building at 11:50 a.m. and were kept outside for about an hour before being allowed back in to get their materials and report to the Gym or head home.

Fire drills pay off during the real thing

Britt Peters • News Editor The fire alarms sounded for what students thought was another planned fire drill, but this time it was for real.

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on Oct. 18, students were evacuated from the building.

A few minutes earlier, a staff member in the Science Resource Area smelled smoke and contacted administrators and custodians.

A ceiling tile was removed and a cloud of smoke came out.

Administrators went to fire alert and called 911 to verify the alert. All students and staff were evacuated.

Seniors and students with third lunch and transportation were already off campus since they had been released earlier.

During routine fire drills, teachers are required to take attendance. This situation was a bit different because so many students were not in class.

“In a situation like that, we know we won’t be able to count who’s in our building. So, our purpose was to make sure the building was evacuated with our check list,” Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said.

Students in lunch were led to the front of the parking lot, while administrators checked to make sure the school was evacuated.

Fire officials and maintenance discovered an electric motor that

had created smoke.

Students were released from the parking lot starting with the east lot and moving west.

Students riding buses were allowed to load onto their bus, although some had to head out to Clayton Road to find their bus.

“My bus was coming in and I had to walk all the way to my bus on Clayton Road. The police were blocking it [the entrance],” freshman Kelly Pinney said.

Staff and students were allowed back into the building at approximately 12:50 p.m. to gather their belongings and continue with their day.

The fire gave administrators the chance to figure out what they would do in extended events.

“If it’s raining, we have buses sent. This time all our buses were loaded and they [fire officials] said we could occupy the gym,” Dieckhaus said.

Administration is planning how it is going to handle other unique situations.

“We have a plan if it’s 26 degrees and its starting to rain. Our back up plan is to take students to Babler Elementary. The police would block off the street and everyone would walk over,” Dieckhaus said.

Maintenance stayed to clean and make sure the building was ready for school the next day.

page 6 • news

nov. 3, 2006

Around the world in an hour

•Across The Ocean. Students travel via the airwaves to Israel to meet Mr. Neil Lazaurs to discuss the Hezbollah conflict in Ms. Brittany Bowers’ Fifth Hour Contemporary Issues class.

Students were given the choice to either be on the panel that spoke directly to Israel or to sit in the Large Flex Room and watch Lafayette’s first ever video conference. photo courtesy of Mr. Bill Stewart

New video conference center undergoes first live test with a one hour hook-up between Contemporary Issues class & Israel Britt Peters • News Editor Traveling to Israel in one class hour is now possible thanks to new video conference technology.

Ms. Brittany Bowers’ Contemporary Issues class traveled to Israel to meet Diplomat Trainer Mr. Neil Lazaurs.

The new technology was funded by the Rockwood District. Teachers were introduced to the program last year during a three-day workshop where they were taught how to use the technology.

“I think video conferences

let students see the real world through the Lafayette window.

It is something the teachers and text will never show,” Bowers said.

In order for the conference to work, the Coordinating School District (CSD) finds a provider that’s willing to do the conference.

Then a bridge is found to connect the CSD to the bridge.

A time is then set for the conference and at that time, the University of Wisconsin, Lafayette’s bridge, calls Lafayette and then Israel. Once the connection is

made the video conference can begin.

However, there can be complications in the process, “Israeli, Lafayette, University of Wisconsin and CSD couldn’t pick us up.

You always have to be prepared for something to go wrong. I just got the PowerPoint Fourth Hour and I was frantically trying to get it shown,” Bowers said.

Lafayette is the first and only high schools in Rockwood to provide students with an international conference.

“They get to see the real world, first hand, of what’s going

on. It’s an interactive dialogue, it’s experience, it’s history,” Bowers said.

Students in Bowers’ class were allowed to choose if they wanted to be on the panel or watch the interaction.

The panel was comprised of 12 students who were told to wear dark colors to avoid blending into the background and were given set questions to ask.

The panel was connected to Israel by a microphone, in the middle of the group and video conference equipment which allowed the panel to see the participants in Israel.

The other students sat in the Large Flex Room where the conference was projected on a screen.

“I think that the opportunity

for Lafayette to be involved in this is an honor. This also emphasizes the advances in technology. Not only can we talk to someone over in Israel, but we can see them which has a strong impact on our understanding of what we are learning,” senior Katie Vollmeyer said.

Bowers has already written a grant to purchase a plasma screen television, computers and document cameras.

“I think other schools should definitely begin to use the video conferencing because you can learn so much from knowing both sides of the issue rather then the opinion from just one side,” senior Kaiti Moore said.

“We are making history and learning at the same time,” Bowers said.

Teachers offset tight budgets with personal cash Sydney Miller • Reporter

Gaps in Rockwood’s supply budget have sometimes caused teachers to dip into their own pocketbooks in order to finance supplies for their classroom.

Associate Principal John Shaughnessy said several factors contribute to the ever-fluctuating budget, which for the Visual Arts Department, was changed from $3,000 last year to $8,000 this year.

Rockwood Chief Financial Officer David Glaser said the budget is divided among departments.

This year’s per pupil budget was $167, which increased $5 from the budget last year. It’s an overall decrease from the $175 per pupil budget in 2000-2001.

“In the 2004-2005 budget year, due to reductions in district revenues, we had to reduce

the per pupil allocation by 10 percent,” Glaser said.

The instability of the supply budget means some teachers end up spending their own money to cover materials needed for class.

“I wouldn’t say that it [Visual Arts supply budget] went up, I’d say that it stayed consistent with the fluctuation of the budget, the actual budget, over the last five years,” Shaughnessy said.

Photography teacher Ms. Lauren Paul said many departments have an office supply budget that pays for everyday used items, “In the Art Department, we could do the same but it would take away from the kids’ supplies. Therefore, any art supplies we have to purchase ourselves,” Paul said.

She said she spends around $50-75 of her own money on

supplies per year.

Visual Arts Department Chair Pamela Senti said she pays $200-$300 a year on supplies.

Teachers in other departments also end up paying for supplies out of their own pocket.

“I easily spend over $300 per school year out of my personal budget but it is well worth it if it allows more opportunities for students to become proficient in Spanish,” Foreign Language teacher Brian Reed said.

Shaughnessy said although teachers typically pay for some supplies out of their own pocketbook, Lafayette has never required any teacher to do so.

“Now that’s not to say teachers don’t buy their own things and use them, but that’s simply a choice that they would make, nothing that we would ever tell

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them to do,” Shaughnessy said.

Departments are given an Office Supply that doesn’t favor one department from another.

“I think that each department has to budget that [office supply budget] into their department as well because they all use the same supplies at various rates. Pretty much all of the offices in our building do control the spending. We try to be real consistent with all of our departments,” Shaughnessy said.

Math Department Chair Danna Phillips said budgets are determined based on the amount of supplies needed for that department and the number of teachers within the department.

“Budgets by department tend to run a lot higher if the department uses a lot of consumable supplies,” Senti said.

Due to this, the current Math Department supply budget is $3,000 and the Visual Arts Department budget is $8,000.

Despite belief that budgets have decreased within the past year, both the per pupil budget and the departmental supply budgets have increased. And despite this increase, Phillips said that she believes teachers will always spend their own money for certain supplies each year.

“As the number [of students enrolling] are increased, we are asked to spend the same amount of money to give them the same experience,” Paul said.

“We would love to have more money. Are we going to be able to teach what we’re supposed to [teach] with this budget? Yes. You just do the best you can with what you have,” Senti said.

features • page 7

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Baby Got Back Problems Bulky backpacks, uncomfortable chairs take their toll on the backs of students

Erin Petry, 11

Aaron Casias • Reporter Let’s face the facts: school is a breeding ground for stressful situations.

And, as if managing homework, tests, after school activities and sports isn’t enough, there is one more thing to worry about. Bad posture.

Yes, it sounds stupid, which is why it is so often neglected by students. The truth is, it is a subject that deserves attention.

“I always say, ‘maintaining a car is the exact same as maintaining your body.

You want it to be running smoothly at all times.’ Too often do people neglect their back issues until there’s a problem,” Dr. Michael Van Horenbeeck, of the Wildwood Health and Wellness Center, said.

All around the school, it is apparent that things students are doing can cause severe damage to their backs and spines.

Take, for instance, the stackable chairs found in almost every classroom around school. The Health 24 website said the stackable chairs common in many schools are very bad for the back.

“As if toting around a heavy backpack all day isn’t enough, when we get to sit down, the chairs hurt your back too,” junior Joel Brewer said.

The problem, according to the website, is the backward slope on the chairs that makes them stackable. This backward incline offers little to no support to the bottom and back, forcing students to slouch

forward when writing or typing.

In the district’s defense, however, there is little the school can do about the lack of support in these chairs. There is only so much money in Lafayette’s budget.

Van Horenbeeck said, “Chairs with decent support are pricey. They can be as much as $500-600.”

Principal Larry Schmidt said cost is a large contributing factor to Lafayette’s choice of chairs.

Yet another catalyst for spine problems is backpacks. Everyone has seen the students who carry what seems like a lockerfull of goods on their back. This can be extremely damaging to the spine.

The Kid’s Health website suggests that if you have trouble taking your backpack on and off, if you have to lean forward to carry your backpack or if you have back pain from carrying your backpack, then an adjustment may be necessary.

Van Horenbeeck said a big problem is students carrying their backpacks on only one shoulder.

“When you carry your backpack like that, your shoulders are going to shift because of all the weight on one shoulder.

This causes muscle tension and effects spine structure,” Van Horenbeeck said.

Among all the other issues, sports are the largest contributor to back problems in high school students.

Lafayette FACS presents

Recipe of the Month Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake 1 3/4 cups finely crushed gingersnaps 1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted 4 8-ounce packages cream cheese 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 16-ounce can pumpkin 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 3 eggs 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans 1 1/2 teaspoons shredded orange peels 1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Pecan halves

Directions: For crust, combine crushed gingersnaps and margarine or butter. Press mixture onto bottom and about 2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium to high speed till well combined. Beat in pumpkin, flour, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and allspice. Add eggs all at once. Beat on low speed just till combined. Stir in chopped pecans and orange peel, if desired. Pour into crust-lined pan. Place in a shallow baking pan in oven. Bake in a 375 degrees oven for 45 to 50 minutes or till center appears nearly set when shaken. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Stir together sour cream and granulated sugar; spread over top of cheesecake. Loosen crust from sides of pan. Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides of pan. Cool completely. Chill at least 4 hours. Garnish with pecan halves and orange slices, if desired. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

“I mainly deal with sports-related injuries. Football, cheerleading and wrestling are the big ones,” Van Horenbeeck said.

Also, sports-related back problems among students are a big issue due to pressure to recover faster from coaches, parents and other players. When athletes continue to play with injuries, it can lead to even more severe injuries and lasting effects on the spine.

Junior Alexis Myers knows first hand the effects of dealing with sports and back problems. Myers, a member of the swim and cross country teams, has had back problems for over two years.

She has a condition in which she has an off-centered pelvis, which has caused her chiropractor to put her on a strict posture program.

“About two or three times a week, my chiropractor would ‘pop’ my back and adjust my neck and collarbone,” Myers said.

Part of her treatment consists of about 400 different exercises which she had to perform daily in order to treat her poor posture and back problem.

Her back problems have had a significant effect on her role as a athlete.

“Right now, I have my back taped up from the top of my shoulder to my lower

back. This year I was out of cross country and I just recently got back into the pool.”

With chairs, backpacks and sports all leading to potential back injuries, having poor posture and developing back problems seems unavoidable.

However, there are some things you can do.

“Stretching, doing regular exercises, sleeping properly and drinking enough water,” Van Horenbeeck said, “can all help you avoid back and posture problems.”

He added, the biggest thing that you can do for yourself, is be more aware of issues you are having.

“Students just need to be more conscious of their problems and get them treated earlier, especially with sports injuries. I think that if students become more aware and get checked out faster, we can prevent a lot of things,” he concluded.

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page 8 • features

nov. 3, 2006

Passion for (cheap) fashion Sweater - $3 Blouse - $6

Shirt - $1.50

Shirt - $6

Belt - $.50

Accessories - $1.25 Libby Engemann, 11

Jeans - $10

Pants - $7 Shoes - $6

Shoes - $12 Kate Webb, 12

Total - $25.25 Jen Apoian • Features Editor “Avoid the mystery stains and you’re good,” senior Kate Webb said.

Fifty years ago, purchasing clothing from secondhand stores was a fashion sin; no prim housewife would admit to browsing a resale boutique. But today, in a world of booty skirts, oversized sweaters and anything goes, “thrifting” is raising an eyebrow.

Webb was nearly broke when she stepped into her local Goodwill.

“I have a long-standing attraction to antiques, the pungent dusty smell and the objects of the past,” she said. “Every item tells a story.”

Some students may be put off by the thought of venturing into the world of Goodwill. There are racks filled with enormous collections of worn, discolored shirts and pants and fur jackets from the past. Shoes—some scattered on the floor—are reminiscent of bygone decades. The idea of searching through the

Total - $28 photo illustration • Jen Apoian

unwanted garments seems overwhelming.

After she “dug through the things at Goodwill,” Webb found her prize. “It [the shirt] was soft, colorful, unusual and it cost me $2.”

Junior Kasey Klimes said he “found a sweet guitar.” Junior Claire Walk added she found a wedding dress.

“I found this great blue-plaid shirtdress for $7. It was delightfully 50s, very comfy and very cheap,” Webb said. “It’s also pretty versatile, so I can dress it up with a variety of things.”

Wholesale prices prove to be a huge catalyst for the trip to Goodwill.

“Generally, it’s [retail prices] too expensive for what you get,” Webb said. Besides, she finds the clothes of Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister “pretty pedestrian for such a huge price tag.”

Junior Alex Renken is happy to pay for a wholesale purchase at stores like Aber-

crombie. She adores how they make her feel “clean, confident and pretty” and although she knows her clothes are expensive, she believes “you get your money’s worth.”

Renken tallied up the price of a typical outfit she would buy. “Jeans, $70. Shirt, $30. Shoes, $50. Accessories, $10. Probably about $160.”

Then she looked up, stunned. “That’s really ridiculous, actually.”

Secondhand shopping involves visits to vintage boutiques, thrift stores, individual consignment items and resale places like Plato’s Closet.

Junior Libby Engemann composes outfits using secondhand pieces. “A lot of times I go to Goodwill and local antique shops.”

Typically, she finds jewelry for $1.

Once, Engemann walked away with an entire bag of jewelry for $1.

Webb said, “My usual haunt is Rag-

O-Rama, where prices hover between $4-$20 for tops, $10-$25 for jeans or skirts and a large range from $5-$30 for shoes or bags.” That adds up, on average, to about $46. Goodwill, she noted, was “even cheaper.”

Webb believes trends recycle themselves. Trench coats from the 40s revolve.

Leggings from the 80s revisit. But, she said, “More importantly, good fashion is timeless.”

For the untried secondhand shopper who may be dazzled by the piles of ugly, misshapen or absolutely wonderful garments, it’s comforting to know most resale items are cheap.

They can also develop into something très chic when worn by someone with a good eye.

Webb said, “Take the time to look around and try things on. Take a chance and you might find your new favorite piece of clothing.”

in-depth • page 9

the image

Dear Diary, I’m Addicted to Technology

Brooke Thibodaux • Reporter

Most teenagers are no “newbies” to the internet, as well as the technology around them.

Facebook.com, instant messaging, iPods, cell phones, the internet and television are some of the technological devices human beings take for granted every single day.

Think about living without the comfort of these devices for a day, a week, a month or forever.

Would you be able to survive?

Four volunteer students kept journals for a week, documenting whether or not they were able to live without tech devices.

The rules were simple: no cell phones, no internet (unless for educational purposes), no iPods, no CD players and no TV (excluding local channels) for a week.

The struggles to stay off were almost unbearable for senior Jason Salvatore, junior Kristin Strollo, sophomore Taylor Criswell and freshman Sharniqua Clark.

All but one was able to succeed without these 21st Century luxuries for the entire week; however, at times they had to result to the unthinkable to stay busy.

“Since I occupied myself with homework yesterday, I have none [no homework] left so laundry is my only option,” Clark wrote in one of her entries.

Most of the time, homework was used as a distraction to keep them occupied from dwelling on the restrictions.

In one of his entries Criswell wrote, “As of tonight I still have not cheated. Without these distractions and by some feat of luck, I finished my homework in very little time, and used this time to clean my room. Let me say, this will be a good week for my parents.”

Salvatore even resorted to

sleep in order to keep his mind off temptations. “It sucked, so I went to bed and then to work,” Salvatore wrote.

Unfortunately, Strollo was unable go through the week without the comfort of technology. “iPods are easy to do, cable is easy, too, cells are impossible to do because you subconsciously use them, such as text messaging,” Strollo said. “Once you start using them [technological devices] you can’t go back. We have the technology so I guess it’s easier.”

Society has become incredibly dependent on the use of technology over the past 20 years.

“That’s how we’re raised. If we didn’t grow up with it, then it probably wouldn’t bother us so much,” freshman Paige Kaprelian said.

“That’s why old people never use the computer; they don’t know how to use it,” freshman Alison Balducci said.

Half of the new tech toys such as iPods, Facebook.com and Myspace.com are brand new, while others such as the internet, cell phones and televisions have simply been improved.

So many people take these luxuries for granted.

More and more people are growing up with these benefits, making them more dependent on technology at younger ages.

“People like to stay updated,” senior Allison Hancock said, “I don’t think I could go without it.

I’d feel so isolated.”

Technology has become a way of life, a custom, a habit.

The feeling of connection to the world draws people to become addicted to its constant use.

Would you feel isolated and out of the loop if you were cut off?

Plugged in

Jason Salvatore, 12 Taylor Criswell, 10

Sharniqua Clark, 9

Kristin Strollo, 11

photo illustration • Brooke Thibodaux

“The world is so advanced now that without technology there’s almost nothing to do...we have become impatient in a fast-paced world.” -Clark “I’m glad I can say I made it a whole week! I learned how distracting all of these things are, and how much time I simply waste.” -Criswell “Technology is an important part of our society, I don’t know how my parents lived without it.” -Salvatore “Whenever it [my cell phone] runs out of battery, I go crazy. When you don’t have one, you don’t realize how easy it is to become addicted.” -Strollo

Students discover when it comes to technology, there is a fine line between love and addiction

Sarah Southerland • In-Depth Editor In ancient times, technology simply referred to tools that made life easier.

Today, when someone utters the word technology, most people think of electronic or digital products.

We have become increasingly dependent on technology, and the technology that once made our lives easier has become almost vital to our existence.

We use technology everyday. So much so that most of us struggle to visualize a life without the luxuries science has graciously provided.

Two innovations in particular, mobile phones and computers, have brought many conveniences; however, many believe modern existence relies too heavily on these novelties.

We are, in many ways, “addicted” to technology.

Today’s cell phones are full

of beneficial, although unnecessary, features, making them even harder to put down. Cell phones now have the capabilities of taking pictures, making videos and running games in addition to simply making a call.

Senior Liz Waddell owns an LG phone with internet capabilities that even allow her to view low-memory web sites. In addition, Waddell is able to watch two-to-six minute clips.

“I can get clips from ESPN, MTV and NBC Nightly News.

Sometimes I even watch little portions of Laguna Beach,” Waddell said.

While today’s cell phones are equipped with the latest innovations, they leave people in a state of perpetual distraction.

“I find myself constantly checking my cell phone for new calls or new voice mails,” sophomore Cory Griffin said.

“Sometimes I think my phone

is ringing, even when it isn’t,” junior Kristin Donnell said.

This phenomenon is known as “phantom ringing” and often affects heavy cell phone users.

Junior Kelsey McCowen experiences a similar sensation, even when her phone is set on vibrate.

“I’ll think that my phone is vibrating if my purse moves,” McCowen said.

Teenagers are rarely found without a cell phone in their possession.

“It’s not like I have to have it surgically attached to my hand, but my cell phone is usually with me,” Waddell said.

Many people have entire phone books programmed on their phone. “[Without my cell phone], I wouldn’t know anyone’s number,” McCowen said.

Cell phones are especially considered essential when be-

hind the wheel. “What if I get into an accident and I don’t have my phone?” Donnell said.

Dependence on electronic devices is not limited to cell phones. Computers have infiltrated homes and become an inseparable part of society.

In 1977, Ken Olsen, the founder and CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation, famously rejected the idea of the personal computer, and told a convention of the World Future Society, “there’s no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”

Living in 2006, we consider this a humorous prediction. Our generation has grown up and become quite skilled at using computers.

People have replaced human contact with “instant messenger” services like AOL Instant Messenger and society has traded interpersonal relationships for

the convenience and speed of the internet.

A complete reliance on email and instant messenger has brought out the death of the handwritten letter. While e-mail allows instantaneous correspondence, it lacks the personal impact of “snail mail” or face-to-face contact.

Although technology is a useful tool, the establishment of a complete dependence could lead to serious implications.

Computers and mobile phones will always be a dominant presence in our lives.

Therefore, integration of tradition and technology is necessary. Increasing dependence must also be moderated with the conservation of face-to-face human interaction.

Ultimately, there is a fine line between utilization and obsession that needs to be realized.

page 10 • features

nov. 3, 2006

Think you’re seeing double?

Over 30 sets of twins work to make single statements Kendall Brewer • Reporter Two wrongs don’t make a right, nor do two twins make one person.

Approximately 30 pairs of twins, either fraternal or identical, attend Lafayette. Yet some students do not realize the number of their peers who are twins, nor do they understand what twin siblings have to experience.

“I don’t really know any twins. I think I know two kids [who have a twin],” sophomore Robby Campbell said.

While several students do not realize the large number of twins, other students are shocked by the statistics.

“There actually are a lot of twins in the school; it’s almost freaky,” sophomore Shawn Brands said.

The question of whether the number of twins is a “freaky” coincidence, or a scientific pattern, has been answered throughout studies by the National Health Information Center. Since 1980, twin births have risen by 62 percent.

Life for the twins at school has both its pros and cons. Most twins that the Image talked to said the main benefit of being a twin is having someone there for you all the time.

“My sister is my best friend and is always there for me to talk to; we have too many inside jokes to count. Also, I never have to go anywhere alone,” sophomore Alex Labat said.

Sophomore Ashley Mace would also call her twin brother, Alex, her best friend. She said, “My brother is my best friend, and I wouldn’t change him one bit.”

The Maces are taking a majority of the same classes and they are both active in sports and church activities. Ashley appreciates her brother and that he can relate to her struggles in high school.

“It’s just more fun having a twin. Alex and I have stayed up and had dance parties to Michael Jackson music at 2 a.m. in the morning while trying to finish outlines for school,” sister Ashley said.

While the Maces and Labats wouldn’t trade their twin for the world, other twins would do anything to be an individual. While some siblings just get tired of their partner, other twins hate being judged based on their sibling.

“My sister and I are able get along, but she also gets on my nerves,” sophomore Erica Donaldson simply said.

Sophomore Cindy Solomon loves her twin brother; she just dislikes the judgments that come with it.

“Sometimes people expect you to be the same,” she said. Solomon said she is the hard, studious worker, while her laid back brother would prefer to slack off.

While there are those twins who are expected to be similar and are complete contrasts, there are others who don’t seem to be related at all, such as the Donaldson sisters.

“People are just surprised that we are twins, let alone sisters,” Donaldson said.

“Some teachers don’t even figure it out until [parent-teacher] conferences. People are normally so surprised because I am shy, while she is outgoing.”

it takes two

• More fraternal twins are conceived in July than in any other month, while January has the fewest twin conceptions.

• Famous people who have parented twins include: President George W. Bush, Mel Gibson and Muhammad Ali • Twins are much more likely to give birth to other twins.

• Eight of every 1,000 natural births involve fraternal twins. Four of every 1,000 natural births involve identical twins.

•Up tp 22 percent of twins are left-handed, while the number in the non-twin population is under 10 percent.

•The United States has one of the highest rates for twins. facts from http://www.allbaby.com/babyinfo/multiples.htm http://www.showmenews.com/2005/BabyLove/20050214Baby001.asp

Tori Thoman and Lexi Thoman, 10 photo illustration • Kendall Brewer

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227-3592

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features • page 11

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Hot off the press

Students share name, but not always same interests as famous dads Matt Hibbard • Asst. News Editor Their lives are as normal as any high school student’s are except for one thing: their dads are featured on television or in the newspaper daily.

Whether you know them or not, a few students with famous fathers have learned to blend into the student body and live normal lives just like everyone else.

For senior Tori Burwell, trying to follow her dad, Mr. Bryan Burwell’s work of writing sports articles and a column didn’t seem like her favorite thing to do.

“People assume that I know everything about sports,” Tori said. “I don’t want to be a sports writer when I grow up.”

At the top of her list of interests is the stage, performing theatrical productions as well as dancing.

“I auditioned for the Tisch School of the Arts New York University. I love to dance, sing, and act,” Tori said.

Even with a life so different from her father’s, she still understands the hard work and dedication her dad has put in his writing ever since she was born.

“When he’s in the basement, he is at work writing a story for the next day, but when he comes upstairs to have dinner, he is a part of the family,” Tori said.

Yet with work and family separated at home, there are times when famous sports scandals seep into the conversations.

“Whenever I have done something wrong, my dad compares sports analogies with my actions,” Tori said.

Whether her father deals with her wrongdoings by sports stories or not, he acknowledges that Tori’s life is as normal as anyone else’s.

Burwell said, “One of the ways I try to insure that my daughter leads a normal life is by doing just that-let her live her life just like any other teenager.”

With Tori’s goals already set for a life under the lights, her dad shares some of the brightness with her with words of support.

“My dad has always encouraged me by

things you didn’t know about...

junior Jesse Smith compiled by Brett Hamlin

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist Mr. Bryan Burwell

KPLR News Anchor Mr. Rick Edlund

KMOV Chief Meteorologist Mr. Kent Ehrhardt

saying, ‘easy reading is damn hard writing,’” Tori said. “I try to follow my dad’s advice and am not afraid to share my opinions every once and a while.”

Both sophomore Alec and freshman April Ehrhardt have had their share of people expecting them to know the latest weather report like their father, KMOV Chief Meteorologist Mr. Kent Ehrhardt.

“I always know what the weather is going to be,” Alec admitted, “but it’s annoying sometimes since people always expect you to know the weather.”

Like Tori, both Alex and April have lived separate lives from what their dad forecasts on the evening news.

Alec participates in school in athletics such as football, wrestling and possibly running track in the spring. Yet he has an interest that he does share with his father, motocross.

“I have been riding ever since I was 5-years-old. I guess my dad used to do it, and it just got addicting ever since,” Alec said.

Both siblings enjoy competitive sports.

In fact, April has been active in competitive cheerleading as well as dancing. With

both children active in extracurricular activities, Ehrhardt has managed to see his children accomplishing their own goals in life.

“Having the time to spend with my children makes every minute that more important to me,” Ehrhardt said. “In a way, they’re stars in their own rights.”

At work Ehrhardt is a meteorologist helping many citizens of St. Louis prepare for any kind of weather, but when he is at home he enjoys the role of an active father.

“A job is a job, and even though I enjoy my job very much and have a passion for the weather, it’s nothing like the passion I have towards my kids,” Ehrhardt said.

But, some students with famous dads do hope to follow in their footsteps. Senior Ashley Edlund, whose father is KPLR news anchor Mr. Rick Edlund, said her interest lies in broadcasting and in writing.

Her father acknowledges Ashley’s love for the media and reporting and knows that his job has given her an advantage in this field.

“If there is any advantage to her pos-

sibly going into broadcasting, it’s that she already knows some of the pitfalls of the business, as well as some of the people,” Mr. Rick Edlund said.

With their dad working in the news studio every night, some might think that time would be an issue, but the Edlund family is like any other family.

“It’s like any other job, with only the difference being that I have my last name on the news all the time,” freshman Connor Edlund said.

Throughout both of their lives their father has been able to balance work with family events.

“I’ve been able to help coach my son and daughter’s sports teams [when they were younger] and attend many of their school events,” Edlund said.

Although each family has a famous figure in the media, other than being recognized a little more in public or having a name that many people know, they all said their lives are pretty normal.

Edlund said, “You have to juggle some things, as most parents do these days.”

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photos courtesy of Tori Burwell, April Ehrhardt and Ashley Edlund

page 12 • sports

nov. 3, 2006

Soccer takes top flight defense, Cross country teams hit roadblock; offense on road to District game 5 individuals advance to Sectionals Nina Walters • Reporter

With the season coming to an end, boys soccer entered the pressure-cooker of Districts at a solid 15-3-2.

However, the team knew what it takes to succeed on this stage.

“We need to cut down on mistakes.

Any mistake can end the season for us,” Coach Tim Walters said.

The Lancers faced Parkway West in the first round of Districts, and to get ready they needed to “work 100 percent during the last season games to improve,” junior Myles O’Reilly said.

Ranked at the top of the Suburban West, the Lancers have benefitted from several players stepping up and playing to their potential.

Junior Sean Butler has been the Conference’s leading scorer this season, using a good work ethic and quick feet to net 21 goals.

Senior defenders Drew Bishline, Brad Schweizer and junior goalie Mike Hamilton have also impacted the team on the defensive side of the field.

One of the Lancer’s greatest strengths is their depth, with a number of quality players capable of coming off the bench and filling in.

“Finding different players to come off the bench for some quality minutes will help the team,” said Walters, who has enjoyed a surprising amount of contribution from his bench players.

Along with having strong players come off the bench, the starters need to be strong as well.

“Me, Boston [sophomore Kyle Biernacki], and Ralph [sophomore Brett Schweizer] attack the wing well, but need to

Alex Davis • Reporter

be much better for Districts,” sophomore Matt Bleazard said.

When it comes to the training, most players say it will be more intense and serious, with a little joking around to keep the mood loose.

“To prepare for Districts, it is going to take a whole lot of hard work and a lot of repetition,” senior Drew Dolan said.

The Lancers, ranked number 10 by the Post Dispatch Top Ten area teams and at the top of their Conference, are fixing to make some noise at Districts.

Parkway West, the team’s opponent on Oct. 30, faced the Lancers twice during the season, with Lafayette shutting them out both games 2-0 and 3-0 on Oct. 2 and Oct. 12.

With the Conference’s most potent goal-scorer in Butler on offense, some focus can drift from the Lancer’s defense. “[Senior defender] Brad [Schweizer] stops the other team’s offense from scoring, and Mikey is an amazing goalie,” O’Reilly said.

The defense has been all but impenetrable this season, allowing a Conferencelow 17 goals.

Hamilton has been involved in nine shutouts, with six of them coming solo.

His .911 save percentage and 0.47 goals against average rank near the top of the Conference rankings.

Junior Joe Weis has been equally effective, gaining five shutouts of his own while going 5-1.

On Oct. 30 the Lancers played the unranked Longhorns in the first round of Districts, however results were not available at press time.

Every year, advancing through the postseason meets to State is what every team wishes for.

This year, both girls and boys cross country both were stopped at Districts, although the girls team was set back for a different reason.

The team sustained multiple injuries near seasons end with sophomores Kelsey Pischel and Brooke Thibodaux, and freshman Sam Wright. Pischel was ill, Thibodaux suffered an ankle sprain, and Wright injured her hip.

“Overall I am happy with the team’s performance. It is a very young team and they are just starting to learn the sport,” girls cross country Coach Scott Brandon said. “For next year they will have one year more of maturity, so I will increase mileage because they will be physically more mature.”

The team was eliminated at Districts, but junior Katie Cover and freshman Elizabeth Worley moved on to Sectionals, where they went on to qualify for State.

Worley placed 24th at Sectionals, with Cover close behind at 25th.

“Elizabeth Worley has been our number one runner consistently all year,” Brandon said. “It’s not a real shock [to have a freshman doing well]; it’s a pleasant surprise.”

The boys cross country team met the same fate at Districts, falling one place short of qualification.

Seniors John Buttram, Zach Engleman and junior Eric Lutz advanced to Sectionals, and then went on to qualify for State.

They will be running this Saturday, Nov. 4 at Jefferson Barracks, along with Cover

photo • Ryan Bueckendorf

•1-2 Punch. Eric Lutz and John Buttram gave the Lancers one of the District’s most potent running duos this season. Both competed at Sectionals on Oct. 28.

and Worley “I feel like we ran really well [during the season]. We had a lot faster times. I dropped my times 30 seconds, and Buttram dropped his a minute,” Lutz said.

Except for the disappointment of Districts, the team did well during the season.

Despite only one win, the Stan Nelson Invitational, the team did come away with multiple second place finishes.

The boys team will be hit somewhat harder than the girls by graduation. They will be losing “the strongest runner on the team” in Buttram as well as Engleman and fellow senior John Neumann.

Both teams will return talented juniors and sophomores next season which provides the core for a very successful 07 season.

“We just need to work harder over the summer and increase our mileage for next year,” Lutz said.

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sports • page 13

the image

Always in season: eight swimmers headed to State Nina Walters • Reporter As the regular swimming season comes to an end, the boys swimming and dive team are preparing themselves for Conference and State.

During the season the team is always working, but as Conference and State get close, it rests more and swims fewer yards.

“For Conference and State we take it easy and swim less, when in season, we had harder practices,” junior Nathan Rahe said.

“We swim longer sets, but shorter distance as we get closer to State,” sophomore Matthew Welsh said.

Along with Rahe and Welsh, seniors Max Beushausen, Sean Mathews, Stephen Noce, Taylor Parsons and Jason Weise, and freshman AJ Bennett will be swimming at Conference and State.

Conference was held on Nov. 1-2, but results were unavailable at press time.

The team was shooting for its 24th consecutive Conference title. State will be held on Nov. 11-12 at the Rec-Plex.

When it comes to the surroundings at Conference and State, it is a whole different environment than regular meets.

“The atmosphere is stronger. It gets me and everyone pumped up,” Parsons said.

“We do weights in the morning and some swimmers go on certain diets,” Bennett said.

“We try and push each other, but some are lost causes and we notice people who are messing around,” Beushausen said.

To be selected to swim as an individual, “Coach Todd Gabel picks the swimmers with the best times and who he believes will do best,” Welsh said.

“It feels good and it is very encouraging to be picked to as an individual swimmer,” Rahe said.

“You feel really good when you’re an individual swimmer. It is nice and relaxing,” Beushausen said.

“Swimming as an individual is you versus yourself, unless you are up against someone good,” Beushausen commented on the sport’s demanding individuality.

photo courtesy of Prestige Portraits

•Flying Forward. Swimming towards the finish line, sophomore Stephen Grott races in a recent meet. Grott is one of swimmers who will return next year, fueling the Lancer’s attempt to continue their run of successful seasons.

Football plans to leave struggles behind in end of season matchup with Marquette Brett Hamlin • Reporter With the Lafayette Lancer (18) football season wrapping up tonight against rival Marquette (3-5), the final whistle will blow on what has been the Lancers’ worst season in seven years.

With expectations higher than ever after the 2004 7-3 season and 2005’s 6-5 District Championship season, the 2006 Lancers were given a challenge with a competitive schedule.

But that challenge exposed a team that lost a significant chunk of players to graduation, trotting out 14 junior starters.

The team ranks fifth in the Suburban West Conference in overall defense and fourth in overall offense, epitomizing a season where the team has been good, but not quite good enough.

Tonight the Lancers look to play a dismal Marquette team that averages only 12 points a game, and have only put up 104 total points, but always provide a tough and entertaining matchup for the Lancers.

Offensively, the Lancer attack has been spearheaded by junior Matt Brewer at halfback.

Brewer, a Division I prospect, has 11 touchdowns while rushing for 843 yards on 128 carries, good for 6 yards per carry.

Seniors Anthony Fullilove, Matt Messer, Mike Stasiak and juniors Kyle Haberberger, Dan Holaday and Garrett Millman all had one touchdown.

Fullilove and fellow senior Marlon Gee both rushed for 110 yards.

At quarterback, Stasiak has thrown 44 for 91 for 441 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions while splitting time with senior Chris Padgette, junior Millman and sophomore quarterback Tyler Rigman.

The front seven of the Lancer’s defense boasts a much needed bulk.

Brewer has 64 tackles and Millman has 55, with three sacks and a fumble recovery.

Senior tackle Matt Lewis has 39 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery.

Senior tackle Jimmy Begemann has 39 tackles, one fumble recovery, one sack, and an interception.

Junior linebacker Brian Fercho has 38 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.

The Lancers look to push a big win out in this particular game.

Despite lacking the postseason ramifications as in past seasons, the Lafayette-Marquette rivalry promises a high-energy, intense display of football.

“When Lafayette and Marquette meet,” Coach Boyd Manne said, “you throw records out the window.”

Marquette, led by University of Iowa bound running back Albert Thomas, will look for revenge against last year’s 24-17 loss which lead the Lancers to

the District Title.

Thomas leads the team with 813 total yards on 176 carries for a 3.2 yard per carry average.

On Oct. 27, a change in the schedule moved the Lancers to CBC due to rain.

The Cadets play on FieldTurf, making rain games possible, a road Lafayette almost went down before Proposition W failed to pass in 2005.

The Lancers fell short of their bid of an upset of CBC (8-1).

Brewer rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the Lancers 39-14 loss.

In the second quarter alone, CBC scored 20 unanswered points, while the Lancers only scored 12 in the second half.

Stasiak threw 9 passes for 71 yards and 2 interceptions.

CBC Halfback Rayon Simmons ran all over the Lancer defense with 195 yards on 23 carries.

In spite of this season, the team looks ahead to tonight’s game against Marquette.

The rivalry started in 1993 with the construction of Marquette. The Lancers hold a 7-5 edge all time against the Mustangs.

Marquette hasn’t beaten Lafayette in football since 2003 when the Mustangs beat Lafayette 14-7 on their home field.

Lafayette plays Marquette tonight, Nov. 3, at Lafayette at 7 p.m.

Whitman overcomes weather for 37th place State finish John Cox • Reporter In the Class 2 District 3 Tournament held at Aberdeen Golf Course, the girls golf team placed fourth out of nine teams.

Francis Howell Central led the way with a score of 360, seventeen strokes better than the Lady Lancers.

Freshman Sarah Whitman continued her strong play, shooting a 91 to place eighth individually and advance to State.

“I thought we had a chance to get a couple more girls in to State,” Coach Gaylen Laster said.

Freshman Lindsey Carper could not shoot well enough to place in the Top 10 individually and did not advance to State.

Despite her shortcomings at Sectionals, Carper has the advantage of being a freshman, as does Whitman, and will have three more chances to get to State.

In preparation for State, Laster took Whitman to several area courses to try and let her get a feel for what kind of course she would be playing at.

“Since I knew the course, we worked a lot on pitching and putting,” he said.

The first day of the State Tournament, held Oct. 16-17, fell on a day of horrendous weather conditions at Deer Lake Golf Course in Springfield.

The combination of strong winds, pouring rain, and 50 degree temperatures sent the scores skyrocketing, but the golf-

ers found ways to cope.

Whitman shot a 92 on the first day, putting her in a great position to finish well on the second day.

Her second day score of 87 and a total of 179, placed Whitman 37th overall for the tournament.

“I did better than I expected myself to do” Whitman said.

Out of 121 total golfers competing, only seven of them were freshmen.

“When I first got there it was intimidating with all juniors and seniors. It was scary to know they’re all really good,” Whitman said.

“I wasn’t nervous,” she said.

“I didn’t have any expectations of placing really high.”

Looking ahead to next season, the team will try and top this year’s dual record of 9-3.

“A year of maturity is going to help these girls,” Laster said.

The team will lose seniors Shannon Hinkle, Jessica Kollar and Aftin Rexroat to graduation and will have to fill the void, but that should be no problem.

“A few girls from junior varsity are going to have to step up and play well for us,” Whitman said.

Especially after this years success, the team makes no bones about what is expected of them next season.

“We should be the team to beat next year,” Laster said.

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page 14 • sports

nov. 3, 2006

Field Hockey ends season with loss to Edwardsville John Cox • Reporter With a season record of 18-4 and an eighth straight Public School Championship for the field hockey team, the girls exceeded expectations by all accounts.

Undefeated in games against public schools, the team won yet another Public School Championship.

Led by captains seniors Alicia Brennan, Katie Steis, junior Taylor Stellern and sophomore Nina Walters, the girls were seeded fourth to start the State Tournament.

Their fourth seed gave them a bye in the first round and a match-up with Edwardsville in the second round.

Edwardsville, an Illinois team, plays Missouri teams in the regular season and competes in the Missouri State Tournament instead of traveling to Chicago to play the Illinois teams.

To prepare for their match-up with

Edwardsville, Coach Kelly Yates had the girls watch Edwardsville’s first round game, scouting and taking notes on their Second Round competition.

The girls went into this second round game with confidence, yet the score was still knotted up at 0-0 to begin the second half. Edwardsville dominated the beginning of the second half.

“We had trouble putting the ball in the goal in the second half,” Walters said.

Walters and the girls stepped it up after a timeout late in the second half and held off Edwardsville to finish out regulation, still tied at 0-0.

The game went to two periods of sudden-death overtime and neither team scored in these periods.

To break the 0-0 tie, it came down to what is known as strokes which are similar to penalty kicks in soccer.

On Edwardsville’s third stroke, the ball got past Brennan for the game-winning goal. The 0-1 loss ended the girls’ season.

At the Kentucky Bluegrass Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, the girls defeated the top team in Kentucky.

“Everyone just clicked,” Steis said.

“If we had played every game like we did in Kentucky, we’d still be in the tournament,” Walters said. “We played our hearts out.”

Two out of the team’s four losses were to out-of-town teams, proving the girls showed strength in St. Louis area games.

In area match-ups, they won in overtime strokes against St. Joseph’s, 3-2, yet lost to Ursuline 0-1. The schedule did not include many private school teams.

“We could have beaten a lot of the private schools,” Steis said.

Strong goalkeeping by Brennan was a

strength throughout the season.

Steis considers Brennan “one of the best goalies in St. Louis.” Brennan played 1190 minutes this season, with 10 shutouts and 108 saves.

She led public schools in fewest goals allowed and finished with a .893 save percentage.

“It’s going to hurt us next year, not having her,” Walters said.

The Lady Lancers led all public schools in fewest goals against at 13. Emily Leeker led the girls with 14 goals, 35 points and four game-winning goals.

Walters followed with 10 assists and 24 total points for the season. Walters started every game, playing almost the entire time in each game.

“The difference this year was we weren’t expected to do well,” Steis said. “We did do well and had a lot of fun doing it.”

Tennis enjoys postseason firsts The Rivalry Continues: as coaches receive recognition Final Four-bound Marquette sends Lady Lancers to early exit

Ryan Bueckendorf • Sports Editor

The Lady Lancer tennis program has always been one of the area’s strongest, but its trophy case has been missing key pieces of hardware. This year, in one of the most successful seasons in program history, they took care of all that and more.

“Before the season we felt we had the strongest team in our history, and we proved it by winning our third Conference Championship in four years and, more importantly, our first District championship,” Coach Donna Stauffer said.

They won Districts in style, wiyh juniors Gabby Demos and Anna Prasch facing off in the Finals.

That by itself guaranteed a title for the Lancers, but the thrill of a Lady Lancer Final wasn’t lost on Stauffer.

“At that point, you can just sit back and enjoy watching your players compete,” she said.

At State, Demos drew perhaps the toughest match-ups of any player en

route to bringing the school its first State medal in history. After losing in the quarterfinals, she won her next three matches, good for fifth in the tournament.

“Overall I think I played really well Saturday,” Demos said.

“I have never seen her so focused, so determined to win,” Stauffer said.

Heading into next year, the graduation of seniors Rachel Costello and Laura Meier leave two Varsity spots open.

“We have 10 returning players to Varsity, and a number of very strong JV players who will challenge,” Stauffer said.

Stauffer and her husband, Scott, were recognized for the excellence of their program by being named the Outstanding High School Coaches for the St. Louis District and the Missouri Section of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

“We are honored to represent such an outstanding program,” Stauffer said.

Ryan Bueckendorf • Sports Editor The Lafayette softball team endured a disappointing loss to Marquette, 3-0, ending a magical season on a tough note.

“We all wanted it so bad,” senior Sarah Bieser said.

Sophomore pitcher Meghan Lamberth (0.33 ERA), who has been superb all season, pitched four innings, giving up two earned runs (three total) on three hits.

She walked two while striking out seven.

Senior Chelsey Carmody (0.49 ERA) came on in relief, pitching two scoreless innings.

The Lancers could not find an answer for Marquette starter Veronica Schreve (1.21 ERA), who went the distance, striking out 10 and shutting out the Lancers The loss ended a season in which the Lancers’ expectations had them headed for the State playoffs, but it doesn’t detract from what had been a stellar season.

“We played well all season, and that

game was no exception,” senior catcher Shelby Krammer said.

Finishing 22-5, softball enjoyed strong seasons from all of their players, winning key games against a talented Oakville, and an early season game against Marquette The Lancers, led by Carmody (.560 avg.) and Krammer (.443 avg.), also had senior Jessie Reynolds (.377 avg.) and Lamberth (.356 avg.) among the Top 20 hitters in Conference.

They had two of the District’s best pitchers toeing the rubber in Carmody and Lamberth. Ranking third and fourth in wins in Conference, respectively, the duo gave the Lancers the one-two punch necessary to propel them to the upper echelon of area teams.

As for next year, graduating seniors Bieser and Krammer agree a team to be hit hard by graduation should “do their best and go as far as they can.”

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sports • page 15

‘Cat Scratched: Volleyball upset by Eureka Alex Davis • Reporter “After seeing our play and the play of our opponents, I don’t think there’s a team we could not beat,” Coach Steve Burkard said as the girls volleyball team headed into Districts and Sectionals.

But, that mind-set wasn’t enough to get the team past the first game versus Eureka.

“We felt like we could handle Eureka if we just played our game,” Burkard said.

If the Lady Lancers had won, they would have been headed to Washington, to face off against the number two seed.

Prior to the post-season stretch, the girls suffered two

more losses out of their last six single match games.

In between those wins, however, the team attended an invitational at Lebanon High School.

“We finished second and did very well. I think Lebanon played out of their head. However, they played their best match and we just played,” Burkard said.

The team was hit by a loss to Lebanon and a tie to Glendale, as they took second place.

“Lebanon is a very strong team, we played well against them,” senior captain Allison Kerr said. “They [Glendale] played well, but I think we are a

better team,” she added.

“We try lots of things that other teams do not even attempt.

Therefore we are often prone to more mistakes,” Burkard said.

Juniors Casey Chernin and Natalie Emro made the AllTournament team, and Chernin was crowned tournament MVP. Along with Chernin and Emro, sophomore Brooke Boggs played “really strong” in the tournament at Lebanon.

“Brooke has just really surprised all of us over the past month that she has returned,” Kerr said.

Boggs’ first game back was in

the Lebanon tournament. “She [Boggs] came out and played very well at the tournament.

After her three or four month break she really surprised a lot of people that weekend,” Kerr said.

“The team came together nicely. We started to act like family. We all had a great time, and it would have been nice to win, but second isn’t bad,” Kerr said.

The team’s focus was then honed into the postseason, and teams like Washington who they might have faced further down the road if they would have beaten Eureka in the opening round.

“On this particular night we

had several players who did not play their best while every one of the EHS players did play their best,” Burkard said.

Considering the team soundly defeated the Wildcats in the second game of the regular season, maybe a case of overlooking Eureka was one of the reasons to the unexpected loss.

“We probably spent too much time focusing on Washington instead of Eureka. We felt like we could handle Eureka if we just played our game. Take nothing away from EHS, they played well, but we did not play up to our potential,” Burkard said.

This Cardinals Fan has a question: Where is the love?

The Cardinals weren’t supposed to be here. In fact, according to most national media members, they shouldn’t have been in the playoffs.

Well, the national media was--here’s a shock--wrong.

“Their only weapon is Pujols,” they said. “Carpenter can’t pitch every game.”

It looks like that won’t be necessary.

After the Redbirds beat the Padres and a dramatic homer by catcher Yadier Molina gave them the NL pennant, surely these members of the Anti-Cardinals nation would give us a chance, right?

Well guess again. Most of the media said the Tigers would win in four to six games.

However in Game One, wouldn’t the media accept that the Cards made a statement with a dominant 7-2 win? Not quite.

These “experts” said that it was a fluke, and that Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander had a bad game.

I believe it was Detroit-raised Aretha Franklin that once said something about r-e-s-p-e-c-t. Isn’t it about time this team got some from these “analysts” on ESPN and Fox? It seems as though the Cardinals, or the “Crudinals” as I heard someone on a National radio show refer to them last week (not surprisingly a Mets fan but more surprisingly he was older than seven and has his own nationally syndicated talk show), have become the villains of Major League Baseball.

As for that “dirt” on Kenny Rogers’ hand in Game Two, I have never seen dirt that color, and it wasn’t totally gone in the second inning.

In my opinion, he looked like he was suffering from a little bit of ‘roid rage as well. I have never seen anyone go that crazy in the middle of a game.

On Oct. 21, I saw something for the first time in my life. The Cardinals won a World Series game.

On Oct. 24, I was at Busch Stadium watching the game of my life as Chris Carpenter pitched the game of his life.

Then Oct. 27, I went to what ended up being baseball heaven. I watched as my heroes lifted the World Series trophy About a month ago I had one wish: that before I graduate I would get to see the Cards as World Series Champions. I felt like that was unlikely, but now that dream is a reality.

On Oct. 29 I went to the victory rally.

Even though it took forever to get in, every

second that I spent waiting outside the stadium was worth seeing my team inJosh Handler troduced as Sports Editor the champions.

For the first 17 years of my life it was always ‘wait until next year’. Now next year is here.

Kenny Rogers: haven’t you ever heard that cheaters never prosper?

My message to the national media is simple. Go ahead; predict a last place finish next year. Then shut your mouth (you sound stupid anyway), step back and watch us roll.

Off the bench

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page 16 • entertainment

in•out•about Who Is That Guy?

Beatle Bob dances to the beat of his own drum Nicole Castellano • Entertainment Editor All right, you are at you favorite concert, rocking out to the music and you notice a man shaking his groove thing in the corner by the stage. First thought that comes to mind would probably be ‘Who is he and why is he dancing?’ That guy is 53-year-old Beatle Bob who was born and raised in St. Louis. He goes to shows to illustrate his support for his love of music. I sat down with this St. Louis music scene icon. Our interview went something like this.

•What is your real name?

My first name is really Bob, and my last name Matonis.

•How long have you been dancing at shows?

The first year I started dancing was in 1975.

•What are the moves you do? I know you have a signature dance.

Well the signature Beatle Bob move is a mixture of bowling and rolling dice. First I shift the right leg behind the left like you do in bowling, and then move my right hand like I’m shooting dice. At least that’s how it has been described to me.

•Where did the name Beatle Bob come from?

I got the nickname from grade school. I was in sixth grade and we were supposed to be reading our geography books. Behind that I was sneak-reading 16 magazine’s “All Beatles” issue. Sister Celeste got wind of it and raced down the aisle snatched the magazine out of my hands and said ‘that’ll be enough of that Beatle Bob.’ After that, my classmates started calling me that and it stuck all these years.

•Do you have a day job?

I’m a social worker. I got my master’s at St. Louis University and I work with kids who have drug problems and who have been abused. I also do freelance writing for some publications. The one in St. Louis is called Sauce magazine. The rest are for magazines out of town because I go to and host so many music festivals.

•Have you ever missed a show?

That last time I stayed home instead of going to a show was Christmas Eve 1996, so if I keep going out until Christmas Eve this year it’ll be 10 years exactly. A couple years ago, I called up Riverfront Times and Get Out Magazine and told them that next week at that time would’ve been my 1,000th night without missing a show. Since then that streak has reached 3,000.

•What kept your streak going?

I’m into so many different genres of music. I dig the blues; I love rock and roll, such as roots rock, and pop punk, reggae, jazz, African pop and bluegrass. That’s what inspires me to go out every night because we have such a good local scene that you don’t want to miss out on something new.

•When did people start recognizing you?

It started happening in the 80s, when the club scene first started. Also, bands would mention my name saying, ‘hey Beatle Bob thanks for dancing.’ Then people would ask the bands ‘who’s that guy dancing?’ and other people would hear about me and so on.

•Are you aware of the hate websites and petitions to get you to stop dancing at shows?

The guy called me distracting and that I’m a show off. My point is, that most of the time I’m not the only one dancing.

If one person distracts him, what happens when there is dozens or hundreds of people dancing. As for showing off, he wouldn’t have said that if I was dancing with a girl. When I go to shows I’ll stand to the far right or the far left. For me, music is a real rejuvenating, spiritual thing. If you go through a hard days work or if you’re having troubles in your life, music can’t get rid of all your problems but for a few hours at least it can whisk you away into many joyful euphorias.

•How many shows do you go to a night?

Sometimes two or three shows a night. I’ve average about 500 concerts a year. On Saturdays and Sundays, sometimes I go to three shows.

•When you go to shows do you have to pay to get in?

Luckily no, I get in free and it’s a blessing. I’ve told people that I’m not rich but I’m not poor.

•What’s the first show you ever went to?

It was Nov. 7, 1960 in St. Genevieve. My Uncle Bill was taking me on a fishing trip and just so happens that legendary Jerry Lee Lewis was playing in a tiny little club. All of a sudden, just like a scene from a movie, a big fight broke out in the crowd and there were bottles over heads and chairs thrown. I’ll never forget that even with all the fighting going on, Jerry Lee Lewis with a devilish grin on his face was not missing a note and still played.

•What was the first show you danced at?

Mississippi Nights in 1975, it was Dwight Twilley. The funny thing was that a really good friend of mine, Paul Yamada, walked up to the front and started shaking it up. I was so shocked to see him dancing, but went up the front and joined him •When was your favorite time to dance on stage?

James Brown at a club called Club 54; it was an African American club on North Grand. I had interviewed him before and he asked me to come and dance. It was such an honor.

•Have you ever been married?

Nope, never been married, always single. What hurts me is my crazy schedule.

•Why do you keep dancing?

I keep going because I had so much fun that night, I told myself that I was never going to stop.

The band is laying down that propulsive beat and there’s that charismatic energy flowing out of you like guns and you’re feeding off them and they are feeding off you it’s like kinetic energy.

Upcoming Events Creepy Crawl Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

The Hush Sound w/ Murder By Death and more $14 Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

My American Heart w/Action Action and more $10 Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.

A Static Lullaby w/ The Classic Crime and more $14 Nov. 24 at 7 p.m.

The Final Show Femme Fatality w/ LAPUSH and more $10

Mississippi Nights Nov. 25 at 8 p.m.

Sugarcult w/ The Pink Spiders and more $17

Pops Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.

The Man in Black: a Tribute to Johnny Cash $15 Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.

Lithium: A Tribute to Nirvana $10

The Pageant Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.

Hawthorne Heights w/ Relient K and more $22.50 November 13 at 7 p.m.

30 Seconds to Mars w/ Head Automatica and more $21 Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Story of the Year w/ Anberlin and more $18

CD Releases photos • Nicole Castellano

In Tune with Nicole There is more to St. Louis than the Gateway Arch Nicole Castellano • Entertainment Editor St. Louis has harvested many musicians through out the years such as Chuck Berry, Story of the Year, and Tina Turner.

A band that you may not be familiar with is LAPUSH. “We put the band together in December 2002; although we didn’t play our first show until 2003. We spent most of that first year together in the studio writing and recording,” lead singer Thom Donovan said.

LAPUSH includes Donovan, bassist Kevin Bachmann and new drummer Brad Booker. Former drummer, Brett Voelker, left the band in September due to personal reasons.

“I think he was ready to move on to something else. We wish him luck,” Donovan said.

In 2005, LAPUSH signed with a label called 456. Thom said, “They heard some of our early demos which eventually led to us signing with them.”

Their debut album Someplace Closer to Here includes “Quit You Now” and “Aurora,” was released in summer 2005.

“Hopefully we continue to grow musically. I want to take these songs around the world,” Donovan said.

Check out LAPUSH Nov. 24 at the Creepy Crawl, where they will play along with Lafayette’s own Fail to Succeed. photo used with permission from Thom Donovan

Nov. 21 Brand New-The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me Snoop Dog-Blue Carpet Treatment Sufjan Stevens- Songs For Christmas Nov. 28 Incubus- Light Grenades

Coming Soon Nov 3.

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