Nov. 10, 2005 Image

Inside This Edition

•New requirements will mean a new schedule for Rockwood high schools.

see page 5 •Do you use SparkNotes or Cliffsnotes? Check out the pros & cons of both.

see page 7 •Water polo reaches the Final Four for the first time taking 3rd Place in State.

image the

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 Vol. 37 • Issue 3

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

Students purchase T-shirts for themselves and students at PCHS in the Commons.

The truck of supplies is loaded up at Lafayette before the 1,200 mile trip.

Black garbage bags cover the broken glass on the front of Pass Christian High School.

Students from Pass Christian High School help unload and sort through supplies.

A sign directs students to the trailers which are their new classrooms.

‘I was just in shock’

Hurricane damage around the city of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Group returns from Pass Christian after delivering supplies, support Ashley Edlund • Reporter “It’s really a disaster down there,” Mr. Bill Stewart, instructional technologist, said.

On Nov. 2, Principal Larry Schmidt, Stewart, Ms. Diane Tinucci, technology coordinator and seniors Elise Bailey and Renee Ruello traveled to Pass Christian, MS to see first-hand the damage Hurricane Katrina left behind.

“I was just in shock,” Ruello said, “I really can’t describe it. While Ruello did not attend Pass Christian High School, she has family and close friends in the area.

She said one of her friends had to leave her home with nothing but a duffel bag.

There is still no running water, sewage system, or any businesses operating.In the wake of the hurricane, the relatively new PCHS building and everything in it was left severely damaged. The two upper levels of the PCHS building were demolished, while the bottom level was flooded with 17 feet of water.

The high school is currently functioning out of 20 trailers, with three phone lines available for the entire district. With no where to put any supplies donated, storage has also become a problem.

So to lend a helping hand, Lafayette made PCHS our official sister school. The purpose of the trip was to deliver donations from Lafayette that students and staff at PCHS desperately needed.

The items included 10 TV’s, 10 VCR/ DVD players, 6 overhead projectors, 10 carts and several cases of books.

Also, they presented a check for $5,000 which was earned from football ticket sales and the Powder Puff game.

But rather than just delivering the items, Principal Larry Schmidt wanted to be able to talk to the students and staff personally.

“It’s even hard for me to understand the enormity of that devastation because of the limited resources available to them,” Schmidt said. “Imagine if you’re a senior and you went back to school with 20 trailers and nothing. No sports, just school.

That’s what those kids are facing.”

The PCHS football team has been try-

ing to get together for practices, while Prestige portraits have offered complementary picture packages to students.

To help out academically, LHS is offering to provide the students with the selfdirected search test and the Kuder test for free. But despite the devastation, Tinucci said they have the right attitude.

“It’s worse than the news cameras show,” Tinucci said. “Homes washed from under their roofs, refrigerators still stocked with food. Yet as we visited a temporary tent village, a woman greeted us with ‘isn’t this beautiful weather?’ Weather had changed her life and she still smiled on me.”

Many items were displaced or lost during the hurricane, especially those in the former school building. But some items such as silver cups from the 1920s and 1930s were salvaged and left out on the front lawn of the building. “[On] the priority of survival; [cleaning up] way down the list,” Stewart said.“No one had time to clean this stuff up.”

Tinucci and Stewart took the mudcaked plaques, along with a tattered color guard flag and a baseball helmet. They plan to make a display for students at LHS to view.

Organizations at LHS have also been working to help the relief effort.

“We got involved right off the bat,” Key Club sponsor Mr. Jay Buck said. Key Club began to help the relief efforts by giving $750 to the Salvation Army.

Lafayette also began selling T-shirts, designed by Graphic Arts teacher Mr. Bill Senti, at lunch. The shirt features half a pi-

photos • Ashley Edlund, Diane Tinucci and Bill Stewart

•Left Over. Items salvaged from the lower hallway cases at Pass Christian High School sit in a pile outside of the damaged high school building.

rate, which is the Pass Christian mascot, and a Lancer. Students purchasing a shirt had the option of sending a card to one of the PCHS student victims.

Schmidt took 600 shirts to PCHS and many notes from students to present to the students.

“I just think it’s really good to take out the time to help them,” senior Amy Vickroy, who wrote one such note, said.

Other clubs such as Senior Women have also lent a helping hand. The 2005 Powder Puff proceeds were donated to PCHS relief funds.

“Every tree, every home, every part of their community was displaced,” Stewart said. “You see this big pile and it’s everything those people owned.”

Most of the students and 85 percent of the staff, including the principal, were left

•Home Away From Home.

Mr. Bill Stewart tours the area known as “The Village”.

Some families who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina are living in these temporary homes set up by the government. They are small and only consist of four beds and an air conditioner.

homeless.

This was also the case for most students. “It has been very hectic,” Schmidt said. “Many people fled the hurricane path and everything was destroyed.” When enrollment began again, 325 of the 600 plus students were present. The number has now grown to 400, as people continue to return to what is left of their homes.

Ruello described her worst fear as people not continuing relief efforts. “The thing that worries me is that students might lose interest in helping in the spring, when we’re still trying to do stuff.”

The group will be working on efforts for the holidays and finding a way to create more storage.

“It’s hard. We’re trying to send stuff down there but there is no room,” Ruello said.

page 2 • editorial

Nov. 10, 2005

& Stars To:

Kate Webb

Seat belts on school buses is $80 million well-wasted editorial Budget cuts. Cost-cutting. These are words that commonly find their way into Rockwood and other school districts.

But now, despite the supposed budget crises, Governor Matt Blunt proposes to spend $80 million - for seat belts on school buses.

The welfare of students, especially elementary school children is the absolute most important priority for the state and the Rockwood School District.

However, how much would seat belts help? Anyone who has ever taken the bus to school can attest to the fact that bus drivers can’t pay attention to everything that happens on the bus because they are trying to drive, not supervise children.

Even if seat belts are implemented, how will they be enforced? Are bus drivers expected to check to make sure every passenger is wearing his or her seat belt?

And what if the kids take their’s off? That’s $80 million wasted. Hypothetically, if the seat belts are implemented and enforced, how much safer will they make school buses?

Over 23 million students ride school buses each year, and on average, there are seven fatalities in bus accidents on a yearly basis. That means that school buses are already extremely safe.

In fact, seat belts could do more harm than good. Young children may not be able to get out of the seat belt by them-

image info Staff Members

News Editor • Lauren Graham Opinion Editor • Naji Pitts Campus Editor • Britt Peters In-Depth Editor • Sabina Saakova Feature Editor • Kevin Pinney Entertainment Editor • Niky Norton Sports Editor • Bobby Mortimer Ad Manager • Nick Kelly Artist • Kate Webb Adviser • Nancy Y. Smith MJE Photographers • Mike Kurlowski, Alexis Myers Reporters: Jared Anderson, Allyson Angle, Jen Apoian, Ryan Bueckendorf, John Cox, Alex Davis, Ashley Edlund, Jeanne Francois, Josh Handler, Darren LaCour, Courtney Manchenton, Kevin Montesde-oca, Sarah Morris, Kelsea Roccia, Brad Schlemmer, Lexi Sesti, Jenna Starck, Lori Vaughn

selves, and the harnesses could cause neck injuries.

And where exactly is this money going to come from? Even at Lafayette there have been price increases and budget cutbacks in an effort to save money. The only way to raise this sort of money is raising taxes.

Also, implementing seat belts would reduce the number of passengers who can ride on the bus, as there can only be as many students as there are belts. Buses would go from having an average of 71 kids to only 44.

This will force the state to use even more buses. The cost of these buses, as well as their maintenance and fuel, further raises the cost of this project.

If Blunt is really committed to helping kids and students, why not raise this money and put it to use for something that schools and districts need?

Instead of worrying about keeping students safe on the way to school, how about worrying about keeping them safe at school?

Fighting and bullying at schools is becoming increasingly more prevalent at schools of all levels. What can be done to reduce these behaviors at schools?

What about poorer school districts?

Forget computers and Smart Boards, these districts are short of the basic necessities such as book, desks and school

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.

supplies.

How about using some of this money to hire more teachers?

If we had more teachers, huge class sizes wouldn’t be such a problem. Or - dare we say it - raise teacher salaries. Teachers are underpaid and under appreciated for the vital job that they do.

It just seems that education should be one of the most important priorities as far as budget planning. But for some reason, districts are always short of money.

And then a plan like this is introduced, a plan that is not only extremely expensive, but overlooks the more important concerns.

Learning is imperative, and we should spare no expense to better the learning environment - but only when it actually does some good.

super-sizing your laughs. free of charge.

• Forget raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Half-day on Thursday and no school on Friday, these are a few of my favorite things.

• The beautiful changing leaves of autumn. Nothing like driving down 109 with the sunset radiating over the leaves of crimson and gold.

Yeah, we’re sensitive like that.

• The Image being nominated for the Pacemaker Award for high school publications. That’s a national award, meaning we’re one of the best papers in the country. We’d like to thank all the little people for giving us material to write about.

Come to Room 213 if you want an autograph.

• Lafayette sports teams. Water polo won third for the first time ever, softball won third and the football team made the playoffs. We give you guys trouble sometimes, especially the football team, but you know we got your back.

•Baptisms in the Lafayette pool. So that’s why the water polo team did so well this year. I can’t wait to see the swim team.

• The Rams. Gee, Mike Martz leaves and we win two games in a row.

Running the football more than twice a game helps, too.

• Cruise liner Spirit fending off a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia. That’s right, modern-day pirates with machine guns and grenades can’t pillage a cruise liner filled with grandparents playing shuffleboard.

Captain Morgan could probably do better than these wanna-be pirates.

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Gripes To:

• The rumor mill at Lafayette. At the beginning of the day, a girl shoved another girl into a guy, and by the end of the day the same girl got punched and her head popped off. Joey Smith saw it, I swear! And for the record, nobody had a heart attack.

• Lafayette finally getting press coverage for our shining achievements - brawling and religion.

• The St. Louis Blues. With a 2-11 record, it looks like a year off really did them some good.

• Soda in the vending machines past the expiration date. Students are trying to stay healthy, but how do they expect us to do that when we’re forced to drink calorie-filled sugarcans that are a month old?

Publication Information

The Image is published nine times a year by Lafayette’s Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $25 per year. Free issues are distributed on campus.

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

Philosophy Statement

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

How To Reach Us:

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

op-ed • page 3

the image

The problem isn’t drugs, it’s attitude letters to the editor

Dear Editor, In last month’s Image, there was a letter to the editor concerning prayer in school, specifically the prayer circles.

Though everyone has the right to express themselves in the way they want, I found the attitude of the writer to be unsupported and extremely offensive.

Last month’s letter showed a complete lack of understanding of my faith. Christianity is not about, “accepting religion.” It is a lifestyle, in which prayer plays the most important role. It’s ridiculous to say I should lock up that part of my life at school. I spend a heck of a lot of time here and I don’t think I should have to hide who I am quite that often. Fortunately, I don’t have to.

The Constitution protects my right, not only to accept, but also to practice my religion. While no one should be forced to join in praying, no one can be denied their right to participate just because they’re in school.

It’s fair to say that school is a time for learning, but unless any actual learning is going on in the commons at 8:18, I don’t see how that’s relevant.

Still, people ask why we pray in a big group. It’s not because a single prayer is unacceptable to God or because He likes loud prayers best. It’s kind of like joining Key Club.

You could do a community service on your own, but it’s nice once in a while to be with a group that’s interested in doing the same things as you.

While prayer isn’t a club, the same idea applies.

Ultimately, I don’t pray because I’m such a sinful person.

I pray because it’s an integral part of my faith, and even more because I want to. No matter what is said, prayer is a piece of my life that I can’t leave at home.

Sincerely,

Sara Flower, 11 Dear Editor, I feel I should write to you about the fight last week.

Unfortunately, when black students are involved in anything negative, some students connect that incident with members of the Black Student Union or all black students in general, as if the actions of a few students reflect on all of us.

But, those actions should reflect only on those participants, not black students in general. Members of BSU are concerned that whenever something negative happens that involves a few black students, the backlash is on all of us.

Being a voluntary student and being bussed all the way to this school, the last thing I want to feel is that I am being singled out. Sometimes I feel that some administrators and staff members feel like they have to watch all of us closely because of the actions of a few.

Students also group us unfairly. I am a very active and involved student in this school, and there are many other students like me. But to be known as “that black kid” is really discouraging.

These incidents show the importance of having a Black Student Union. Everyday I see the difference in the treatment between black students and those of other races.

There is a suspicious cloud that follows black students at this school and we need to get away from it. The last thing I want to think is that racism exists in my school.

The BSU allows me and other students to vent our frustrations, but we need to have a forum of open discussion with other students and administrators.

So, part of the solution is up to us. Whatever problems students have, black, white, whatever, should not make its way into this school, but it seems this school expects the absolute worst out of the black students.

Maybe the students don’t feel that the administrators won’t listen to their problems, or maybe they don’t. And, it is hard for any student to achieve and prosper when these feelings exist in a school.

What we all need is equal, fair treatment and not to be judged by the actions of others in the school.

Sincerely,

Miya Norfleet-Aiken, 10

The dreaded month of November means more than turkeys and cranberry sauce still shaped like the can.

It means the beginning of the end for seniors. It means the college application process goes into full swing, and the pressure is heavier than a 20-pound turkey (and not nearly as delicious).

Between finding the school you want to go to, getting the applications in, getting the grades up, taking the standardized tests, writing the essays and finding some way to pay for it all, there’s only time for one thing – freaking out and twitching in a puddle of your own panic-induced vomit.

The fact is, college applications are a nerve-wracking process, especially when you come from a school like Lafayette, where even great grades and test scores can be drowned in a sea of talented and intelligent students.

This can cause many students to lose focus and confidence. Some may even begin to doubt their abilities.

The stress is overwhelming. Ten years ago, you wouldn’t see a 17-year old going gray over class rank or whether or not he got into Yale, but the current field of prospective college students is fiercely competitive.

Every year it seems grades, AP and standardized test scores get higher, and colleges raise requirements. So what can a good student do to keep from feeling mediocre? Whenever I start feeling down about myself, I look at my peers. That always makes me feel better.

I mean, walk down the halls and look for “those kids.”

You know the ones – they smell like cheap vodka and weed masked by copious amounts of Axe spray.

Somehow, these “intellectually challenged” people seem to get through their day to day lives without falling through an open window or drinking paint thinner (sometimes they need a little extra help with that one).

And they seem blissfully ignorant and happy – kind

of like cattle. And usually, even they can get into college with minimum effort and menial test scores.

Granted, they usually fail and drop

by Naji Pitts out first semester after one or six too many bingers, get burnt out at 24 and spend the rest of their lives pushing papers for a brokerage firm, but at least they made it to college.

I’m not saying that everyone who didn’t celebrate Red Ribbon Week is stupid - in fact, I know partiers who get Bright Flight, National Merit and 5’s on AP exams.

They’re mostly balanced, happy, intelligent people, because they know the difference between use and abuse. I think the problem isn’t so much the drugs as it is the attitude - an attitude of resigning to mediocrity. The attitude of many intelligent students who go through life with the ability to do something special but settle for average.

I mean, I’m no genius, but at least my ACT score is higher than my shoe size, and I strive to improve it. So come on, just because you didn’t get a 36 on the ACT, and you’ve only got a 3.5 GPA, doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. Don’t feel bad - you’re the cream of the crop.

Colleges will look at the great work you’ve done, realize the effort you’ve put in and welcome you by sticking you in horrible classes at ungodly hours taught by apathetic, sadistic teacher’s assistants.

Of course, this only applies to those who actually do their work. To the aforementioned lazy, complacent group, I hope you look at the successful students and learn from them. If you haven’t learned anything at all, I have some words of consolation.

Community College. Now bag my groceries.

Everybody is Kung Fu fighting-now stop Violence has gotten out of control. Just Yes, it’s true; our culture has a growing the other day I was calmly asking my friend obsession with violence. Look at all of our about a Statistics quiz when he suddenly prime time T.V. shows: CSI, Nip/Tuck, Prisjacked me in the face. A few weeks earlier on Break - they’re all obsessed with showing I had my head shut in my locker by large as much gore as possible. Funny how much

by Darren thugs. the Federal Communications CommisGranted, in the first incident, my friend LaCour sion hates skin but doesn’t really care much was trying to push back another friend and about censoring what’s beneath the skin. his hand got deflected into my face; in the Of course, in reality it’s not the governsecond incident two big dudes were playfully shoving ment’s fault. I blame the parents. In an effort to stay “hip” each other and one fell into my locker. and “cool,” moms and dads aren’t showing enough disDespite the accidental nature of those two examples, cretion with their children’s entertainment. violent outbursts are spreading faster than sex tapes of “Oh wow, Timmy! Your mom’s taking us to Saw II? Paris Hilton. These past weeks there have been break- My mom said she wouldn’t let me see that until I’m at outs of fights in public high schools all over St. Louis, and least 10!” even here. We even made the news because of the latest “My dad got me Uncivilized IV: The Genocide for brawl! Whatever happened to the simple my-dad-could- my birthday last week! It’s so awesome because you can beat-up-your-dad game from elementary school? punch people until their eyeballs fall out!”

Now, administrators are feverishly worrying about And then parents wonder why their children hang how to contain this problem. I have just the solution: dogs and beat them to death. shock collars. Simply place these devices around kids It may seem like a far cry from the gladiator days of with a history of fighting and violent tendencies. Then, Rome, but is it really that different? Yes, ethically we’re when they show signs of attack, administrators can sim- fine - we aren’t killing real people, but that begs the quesply push a button and – ZAP! Instant knockout! The best tion if the real sin in the act or the idea? Doesn’t mimpart about this plan is that it would work: I saw it in a icking a brutal and bloody death desensitize us to real psychology video. violence? It might even have the same psychological reIf we really wanted to torture them, we could put these percussions. kids in a room by themselves and force them to spend Violence and fighting won’t get you anywhere. You’re the entire school day listening to Celine Dion and Avril not going to convince anybody of anything by beating Lavigne. Sort of like RPAC, but so much more Canadian him or her up, except maybe the fact that you’re a jerk. and terrible. In fact, we could mix the two punishments That’s why these fights at school are pointless; all they do and call it “Shock and Awful.” is make us respect the perpetrators even less.

The real solution is expulsion. If these kids can’t conSo beware, all you thugs. Your fighting will eventually trol themselves and haven’t learned to from over nine lead you into a small, dimly lit room where you will be years of schooling, there’s no hope for them here. The zapped as you continuously ponder, “Why’d you have to state has its own ways of dealing with that – the Big go and make things so complicated?”

House.

Just asking... photo opinion

This month the Image asks “Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?”

Seiji Larsen, 12

-compiled by Darren LaCour & Naji Pitts

“Ernie because he gets to sit in his bathtub and play with his rubber ducky.”

Matt Cronin, 11

“Cookie Monster because in the Christmas episode he ate the phone AND the tree.”

Leanne Tracy, 10 “Oscar the Grouch because he makes grouchy people look bad.”

Helen Black, 9

“Elmo because he’s so cute and he acts like a crackhead sometimes.”

Mary Jo Hagedorn, Social Studies Teacher

“Snuffleupagus because he’s Big Bird’s “imaginary” friend.”

page 4 • campus

Nov. 10, 2005

bits& pieces

Thanksgiving Day History

news at a glance

•compiled by Britt Peters

Final Exemptions

Next year, as the time comes to start worrying about which final (s) to exempt, students will find the exemption policy for the 2006-2007 school year will be a little different.

This year’s exemption policy will stay the same as previous years. If a student receives a gold Renaissance card, they will be allowed to exempt from two finals. If a student receives a silver Renaissance card, they will be allowed to exempt from one final.

Each high school in Rockwood had the option to begin to phase in new exemption policy during the 2005-2006 year. Lafayette will maintain the previous policy until next year.

“A district committee was formed to create an incentive program that would be the same in all four schools,” Principal Larry Schmidt said.

The new final exemption policy will allow a student to exempt from only one final exam per semester if the student is earning an A in the course at the time of the exam.

However, there are a few exceptions. Freshmen will not be allowed to exempt from any final exams during first semester.

Although, during second semester, freshmen may exempt according to the regulations.

During the final semester of senior year, seniors, may exempt from final exams in all courses in which they are earning an A at the time of the exam.

Students taking Advance Placement (AP) courses will not be allowed to exempt from any first semester finals, but will be allowed to exempt from second semester finals in all AP classes if they take the AP exam and are earning at least a B at the time of the final. Students who qualify for an AP exemption may still exempt from one other final exam that is not an AP class.

Hot Hoops

Basketball, rock n’ roll and visual arts collide in the newly created event called Hot Hoops, which will take place on Dec. 16.

Hot Hoops is an all-inclusive night for $10, which includes the basketball game, six musical performances on three stages, free food and door prizes.

The night will start off when the Lancer basketball team plays Oakville and the performances will follow immediately after the game in the Commons.

It was created not only to support the basketball team and promote school spirit but also to involve the entire school, not just one group.

Creator Ms. Mary Battenberg said, “It is an event for the entire school. Usually an event centers around one group but this night is for everyone. It includes athletes, musicians and people involved with the visual arts. I want it to be a drug and alcohol free thing where kids can come to support their school and their friends.”

Battenberg also said if anyone wants to bring friends from other schools, they are welcome as well.

Lancer Regiment

The Lancer Regiment finished its season with a great performance at the Edward Jones Dome on Oct. 29.

The band performed all of the pieces from their Galactic theme and took second place in the Red Division. As the season comes to an end, the band hopes to gain more players from the incoming 8th grade class.

On Oct. 26, the band held an event for the middle school players to encourage them to join the Lancer Regiment when they get to high school. The band will lose one-third of the band next year because of the graduating seniors.

“Even though we were smaller than most bands this year, I think everyone made huge improvements in our playing,” junior Kelsey Stoffel said.

Band Director Mr. Brad Balog said, all four Rockwood high school bands are trying to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Rose Bowl.

For now, they will continue marching in the Mid-American Thanksgiving Day Parade with Eureka, Marquette and Rockwood Summit marching bands.

Balog said the reason for bringing students together from all four schools are to “try to build good relations.”

Although each marching band has to sign up and then be accepted, “we’re in it every year,” Balog said.

In order to prepare for the parade, the band will begin with small, sit down rehearsals. Then they will have a total of three sectional rehearsals, where all four marching bands will come together and combine their music and marching. The four bands will play an arrangement of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Rockwood will lead off the parade west down Market Street.

The parade begins at Busch Stadium and will end with the arrival of Santa Claus at Union Station.

Although preparing for the parade may seem stressful, it is “very low stress and fun.” “If the kids have fun and enjoy the experience, it’s always successful,” Balog said.

The Mid America Thanksgiving Day Parade will be televised on Nov. 24, from 9-11 a.m., on KSDK, News Channel 5.

Five Random Facts

• compiled by Matt Hibbard, Kevin Montes-de-oca and Lori Vaughn

•In 1789, President George Washington declared Nov. 26 as a National Day of Thanksgiving •In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be observed on the last Thursday of November.

•In 1939, 1940 and the beginning of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the calendar and declared that Thanksgiving would be celebrated the third Thursday of the month •In 1941, Congress made it official and declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday celebrated on the third Thursday of November.

•Student Council Turkey Dinner Dance was first recorded in yearbooks in 1993.

For more than 12 years, the Student Council (STUCO) has sponsored a Turkey Dinner Dance for area senior citizens.

The dance is meant to be an “outreach to the community,” STUCO sponsor Mr. David Choate said. The dance provides local senior citizens with an opportunity to get out of their homes.

Also, it gives them a chance to dance, eat, and dress up.

“Flyers were posted in nursing homes, grocery stores, so we get senior citizens from all throughout West County,” senior Venu Raghavan said.

The cafeteria staff will prepare all of the food for the dinner. Ice tea, coffee and water will also be served. “The cafeteria ladies do an excellent job,” Choate said.

As for the members of STUCO, they will be serving dinner for the senior citizens for the night. Also, each STUCO member will bring a pie to the event for dessert. For each pie provided, members will receive points.

A DJ will provide the music for the night.

The Turkey Dance will be held on Nov. 20 in the Commons from noon-3:00 p.m.

Each year the Turkey Dance has been a success and the reason for continuing with this event is “because it’s nice to reach out to the community,” Choate said.

fyi

(compiled by students in Writing & Reporting and Design & Desktop Publishing)

activities at a glance

Sophomore Ring Ceremony

On Jan. 13, a Sophomore Class assembly will be held, where Mr. Larry Glennon, from Jostens will share information about purchasing class rings. Costs will vary on type and style of rings. Sophomores can purchase rings Jan. 19-21. Students will be presented with their rings at the Sophomore Class Ring Ceremony scheduled for April 11.

Improv Squad

Quick thinking and comedy came together for Improv Squad’s first meeting on Nov. 1. The club is sponsored by Mr. Chris Lofgren, science teacher, and led by juniors Mary Belzer and David Sajewich.

The meeting focused on welcoming new members and introducing everyone to improvisation. After a turnout of over 30 actors, Improv Squad is planning another meeting for Nov. 15. The meeting will take place in the Large Flex Room from 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.

Escadrille

On Dec. 3, Escadrille will compete in its first competition of the season at Lindbergh High School. This competition will help prepare the girls for State in January. Captain Hannah Steriff, Co-captain Renee Ruello, squad leaders Kaitlyn Malone and Christina Calandro have helped to perfect the squads’ routines. To prepare, they have started a competition in practices.

Coach Susan Glenn told the squad even though this is the smallest squad she had ever had, it is also the most talented.

Japanese Anime

Studying Japanese culture and art has been the main goal for many students in the Anime Club this mouth. The club will be looking at professional artwork of several Japanese artists and watching Azu Mariga Daioh, a Japanese art movie.

These examples give many students the opportunity to absorb the culture in drawing and in animation. Also, to celebrate Thanksgiving the club will get the chance to experience many dishes of Japanese cuisine.

Club leader junior Hope Ashley said, “The Anime Club is a great way to experience many of the cultures and artwork the Japanese have to offer.”

Interested students should listen for announcments about upcoming meetings.

Supporting Teens at Risk

Supporting Teens at Risk (STAR) is an ethical leadership organization which utilizes techniques for helping teenagers who have problems with drugs or alcohol.

Every Staff Development Day, STAR meets from 10-10:45 a.m. in the Old Weight Room. Any student interested is welcome to attend. The club sponsor is Assistant Principal John Shaughnessy.

Freshman Academic Lab

The Freshman Academic Lab (FAL) is a new program which provides freshmen with a place where they can work on their homework after school and get help from teachers or student tutors.

FAL was designed to decrease the failure rate and increase of test scores, after their transition from middle school to high school. In middle school students worked as a team, and once in high school students become more independent.

Language Arts teacher Ms. Colleen Fields said teachers were starting to realize some students were beginning to struggle, and they thought they would create a freshman support system. In this they hoped students would achieve a new found responsibility. Four years ago teachers came up with the idea of an academic detention but, this did not offer teacher assistance, and was soon stopped.

At FAL, which is held in the library, any freshman student can get help in any subject. Students can either come on their own for help or a teacher can send them. Staff members include several teachers and Mu Alpha Theta members.

FAL is held every Wednesday from 3:15- 4:15 p.m. in the library.

Speech and Debate

The Speech and Debate team brought home some gold on Oct. 28. Lafayette’s total score left it at third place among 23 other schools. About 22 members attended the invitational at Parkway West, and seven individuals won trophies.

The following students were winners: junior Colin Guthrie, first in Novice Radio Broadcasting; junior Joey Meyer third in Novice Radio Broadcasting; David Sajewich second in Novice Dramatic Interpretation; Brad Schlemmer third place for Novice Prose; Kate Webb second in Varsity Oratory, sophomore Jenni Steinkmeyer third in Novice Oratory; and freshman Joe Deavenport third in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking.

The speech team’s next event is a Novice Invitational at Ladue High School on Nov. 18-19. The team will still attend Greater St. Louis events every Tuesday in November.

news • page 5

the image

Rockwood Schedule Change Avian flu pandemic

New graduation credit requirement not likely, but experts in Missouri leads to schedule change prepare for worst Jared Anderson • Reporter

be affected by this law because the first year with a new schedule is set to be the 2007-2008 school year.

However, current freshmen and sophomores will have a new schedule once Fall 2007 arrives.

Kevin Goldfarb, an 8th grader at Rockwood Valley Middle School said a new schedule would be helpful, “I guess if you can get your classes done early, then it is an advantage,” he said.

As for the difficulty at Lafayette, Goldfarb said, “The difficulty of high school won’t be affected because the same curriculum is still being used.”

However, the new Missouri requirement requires students to complete a credit in personal finance and health education.

It has yet to be determined which department will offer the personal finance course, and the health education course will be offered in the Physical Education Department.

Other potential changes face Lafayette such as new staff, transportation schedules and food service adjustments to tie in with a new schedule.

Schmidt said he doesn’t think

Lafayette will need to hire new staff because staffing is not determined by scheduling but by student enrollment.

The requirement forces Rockwood to find a suitable bus schedule and fit a lunch period into the school day once the schedule is changed.

Schmidt said, “The bus scheduling and food services will simply have to adjust to the new day.”

Current sophomores and freshmen as well as incoming students will not face any additional curriculum changes according to Rockwood’s Deputy Superintendent Kathy Peckron.

Freshman Alex Davis said, “I think it’s unfair that the seniors and juniors get to graduate and we’re stuck with the new schedule and requirement.”

The schedule in Rockwood will be changed no matter what to accommodate the need for more class time during the day.

Either more class periods or a block schedule will be applied to the school day.

“Regardless, the school day as we know it now will change,” Schmidt said.

Courtney Manchenton • Reporter In August 2007, high school ments, such as a health and students in Rockwood will be personal finance, the required starting the school year with number of certain types of credits a new schedule, selected and is also changing. modified by a district-wide comMandatory credit requiremittee. ments will now increase to inThe committee has a large- clude four of English classes, two number of things to consider in of physical education classes and making a new schedule. an additional math, science and For a schedule to be approved social studies credit. by the state, various requirements However, the required nummust be met. ber of electives is dropping from These include having a mini- nine to seven. mum of 7,830 minutes of instrucWith all of these changes tion per one high school credit, “students will have choices that a minimum of 250 minutes of they have not had before. It gives teacher plan time a week and a students more choice,” schedule school day between three and change committee member Ms. seven hours.

Ann Gilman said.

Because of the new requireThe committee is making

sure teachers have time with all of their students every day, while considering ideas such as intervention time, time for departments to meet weekly instead of just monthly, a 50 minute lunch period and a built in study hall.

With all of these concerns and ideas to sort through, the committee has looked through the original 16 schedules and narrowed the list down to a group of eight options.

The committee’s options include a more familiar 7-period schedule, an 8-period schedule, a more flexible block schedule and even a hybrid of both schedules.

The final decision is slated to be made this spring.

A new Missouri state law requires all public high schools to have 24 graduation credits beginning with the Class of 2010.

Rockwood currently requires 22. So, what does this mean?

A new schedule will be needed to add opportunities for students to take additional classes.

A district-wide committee will make the final proposal to the Board of Education.

Currently, a Lafayette group is examining scheduling options so that it can make a recommendation to the district committee.

The district hopes to have a final proposal by April 2006.

Thirteen proposed scheduling models have been discussed, but none have been selected yet.

A few of the models that are under consideration include a trimester schedule type, a block schedule and simply adding more class periods to the day.

Principal Larry Schmidt said, “Only one building meeting and one committee meeting have been held. The goal is to get down to recognizing three models and to discuss which is the best fit for Lafayette.”

Seniors and juniors will not

LHS committee reviews different scheduling options for 2007-2008

Jen Apoian • Reporter Mr. Steve Klawiter laughed when he explained that students shouldn’t expect the avian flu virus to echo any scenes from “28 Days Later.” However, zombies aside, there is a definite risk of the influenza contaminating the United States and eventually mutating.

This isn’t the first time influenza—or even a specific avian flu influenza—has mutated and killed humans. In 1957, reports the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an “Asian flu” appeared in China. Eventually, it killed 70,000 people in the United States.

Of course, the most famous flu virus was the 1918 Spanish Influenza. In a single year, it killed nearly 40 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, it killed around 600,000. He also compared it to another deadly pandemic—the Black Death.

Ms. Lynn Weaver, a registered nurse of LHS, said of the comparison to the Black Death, “It’s a risk. It’s a possibility. Absolutely.

It has potential to be the next bubonic plague.” Why is this? What is so extreme about the avian bird flu that leads people to compare it to a pandemic that killed one-third of Europe?

So far, the avian bird flu has only been transferred from bird to human. That human—who is also known as Patient Zero—has the potential to spread it to another human.

However, the CDC reports that it doesn’t go farther than this.

Millions of birds actually carry the virus in their intestines but rarely die of it. The problem lies in mutation.

If it does mutate, the influenza will be spread human to human.

And it won’t stop with just Patient Zero. It’ll become a pandemic.

Several countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Turkey, Russia and Romania have reported several deaths caused by the bird flu. It is transferred by saliva and feces. Domesticated birds get it—chickens and turkeys—and transfer it to one another.

It begins with symptoms of the flu such as coughing, a high fever and vomiting. It progresses into something more though.

Eventually, it will move into the secondary complications stage.

It’ll cause bleeding into the lungs and kidneys.

Weaver said over-the-counter flu vaccines would do little. “The problem is that we haven’t been exposed to it before. So the vaccine would be inadequate to fight it off,” she said.

CDC officials are working with the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Health to find a vaccine. They are also assisting in pandemic planning efforts.

Recently, President George W. Bush agreed to stockpile massive amounts of vaccines at a cost of around $1.7 billion.

One-fourth of the U.S. could be affected by the virus if it becomes a pandemic, Weaver said. But she predicts the U.S. will fare better than areas where fresh water and fruits are not abundant.

During past pandemic outbreaks of influenza, city leaders across the world took precautions by quarantining cities. In fact, towns in the middle ages often isolated places where plague was abundant, signaling to travelers not to enter by a flag.

Weaver doubts schools and other public facilities will be shut down. Klawiter said, “Well, if things get bad, the CDC will be on the scene. There might be fighting over vaccines. It might be like New Orleans, but instead of flooding, there’s a deadly virus.”

Weaver said there are things students can do to stay healthy.

Washing your hands after using the restroom, getting enough sleep, eating lots of fruits, reducing sugar intake and especially managing stress are essential.

Overall, Weaver said, “The most important thing is to maintain a healthy, strong immune system. And don’t expect to skip finals, either.”

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page 6 • news

Nov. 10, 2005

MORE

•Browsing Books.

Students are able to access a plethora of book options in the LHS Library for either research or just for fun.

Books are just one way that students can get information along with the internet and student databases.

than just the

BOOKS

photo • Ashley Edlund

With 20,638 items available for checkout in the library, most students opt to use generic search methods over books and expensive databases Lauren Graham • News Editor Underestimated and under used.

That’s how staff members describe the school library which they say is a beneficial resource for students that is often overlooked.

“It’s a resource for students to go and make connections with information from around the world. It opens up a cacophony of opportunities for them,” Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said.

Librarian Ms. Nichole Ballard-Long, said the library is mostly used for checking out fiction books, using the computers and by Flex students to meet and work.

Because there are too many people in the Flex program, not all of them can stay in one room during their Resource hour.

Ballard-Long believes one of the most valuable resources the library has is the one students use the least.

“We have databases that are very expensive. Because students don’t know we have it or how to use it, they use Google first but it’s not as good,” Ballard-Long said.

She said although they are readily available, most students do not take advantage of the resources the library provides.

“I’ve only used the library for doing last minute homework,” freshman Elena Edge said. “I also went in there for Language Arts and we had to look up books but that was only for the freshman introduction to the library.”

Senior Meredith O’Neill uses the library more often.

Although she said she mostly goes in there for resource, O’Neill has used the library for research, studying and class before as well.

O’Neill also found the databases helpful to her school work. “I had to do a research paper on an author for AP Lit. I used GAIL to look up the essays about the author and it was helpful,” O’Neill said.

Even though there are an array of things the library can provide students, Ballard-Long recognizes it lacks some things, too.

“Our collection is old. We need updated books. We need more money, more computers. We need more couches to make the library more lounge-like, like Borders,” she said.

photo • Ashley Edlund

•Library Time. Despite close quarters at the library compurters students finish classwork and complete projects. Hopefully, there will be more room with the addition of eight more computers. The internet and student databases that these computers provide are perfect for students that need to complete research projects given to them by teachers.

O’Neill has noticed the computers as well. “There aren’t enough computers. It’s always kind of awkward at the computers because there’s not a lot of room for your stuff,” she said.

The librarians are working on improving the library.

“We are continually updating what we have. We are getting at least 8 more computers. We’re working on displays. We’re going to try to make it as user-friendly as we can,” said Ballard-Long.

Dieckhaus acknowledges the library should always be evolving.

“A good library media center should always be in a state of flux. We live in a very fast pace information world and therefore it always needs to be looked at.

Always being looked at and always being updated,” Dieckhaus said.

With the changes being made, Ballard-

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Long is hoping to see more usage of the library. “I’d like to see more students come in here. More book check outs and more hits on the databases,” she said.

Dieckhaus also thinks students should regularly be using the library.

“Curriculum should be tied to activities involving research and there is no better place to perform that research than the library,” said Dieckhaus.

Although not set in stone, there may be an addition to the library that would open up new educational opportunities.

“We’re investigating inquiring a video conferencing center for the library,” Ballard-Long said.

This would include cameras, microphones and TVs being set up in a room especially for video conferences.

“Classes would be able to set up conferences with people in the community and

all around the world. You can interview and talk to people from all over,” BallardLong said.

In five years, if money were not an issue, Ballard-Long would like to see the library change in big ways.

“I could see wireless laptop computers. I could see a lot more comfortable places to sit. Probably three-fourths of the library would go and we would get new books. I’d see more artwork, too,” BallardLong said.

However, as of now, this is simply a vision for the future.

Ballard-Long has hopes for changes this year.

“I’d like to have more online databases.

I’d like to see more teachers bringing students in here other than just for mainly language arts classes. I’d like to work with more of the teachers,” Ballard-Long said.

features • page 7

Mystery men

the image

Magical duo looks cool while helping community Two people serve one purpose. Their role is to dazzle, to mystify, to entertain and to amuse.

Junior John Kinney and freshman Blake Douglass are magicians who started at a young age, and enjoy this art of illusion, simply to delight others.

At age 7, Kinney received a magic set for Christmas. It was filled with the traditional things: making saltshakers disappear, having a coin vanish in your hand and the “guess-your-card” trick; he loved it.

Today, Kinney performs professionally and for a fine purpose.

Since his freshman year, Kinney has been performing for non-profit organizations including AIDS groups, Leukemia charities and a company that promotes and subsidizes theatrical art.

Kinney’s experiences as a magician weren’t his first time in front of an audience. In fact, he participates in professional theater through an organization called States St. Louis.

Students who attended Coffeehouse might remember his open-mic card trick where he struck an entire card deck into his mouth and found the volunteer’s card with his tongue.

Stages St. Louis actually gave Kinney his first gig. The group decided to use his talents to raise money at their annual fundraiser. This fundraiser included silent and live auctions.

Kinney auctioned off his act for $5,200.

“It was pretty cool to have all that money raised for me,” he said.

Kinney donated all the funds to the construction of a new stage

in Missouri. A representative said Kinney was extremely professional and skilled.

He will be auctioned again at the next fundraiser due to his renowned success.

Douglass is considering magic as a career. For two years, Douglass has been hired by organizations, clubs and for children’s birthday parties. He’s been interested in magic since he was around 11 years old. “It’s a great hobby to get into,” Douglass said.

Today he does card, con and even mind-reading tricks.

Both Douglass and Kinney agreed comedy is one of the best elements to keep their audiences interested.

“It’s also important to keep the audience at the edge of their seat, to be suspenseful,” Douglass added.

The suspense element is used more for the children’s parties in order for the magician to keep the kids’ focus.

Another thing one must keep in mind is how to spread your name around.

Douglass had to use multiple ways to get mentioned. This mostly involved work of mouth and handing out business cards. Once a few clubs and families hired him, his name got around.

Douglass also noted if people are interested in learning magic, they could learn from books, DVDs and credible Internet sites. All of these were his sources for getting ideas.

When Kinney began magic he started with one of his friends. They researched and taught each other. Although they attend different high schools, “I still partner up with people once and a while,” Kinney said.

As Kinney learned more magic, he also discovered a group called the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M). A branch of this group is called the Society of Young Magicians (S.Y.M). Both of these groups have websites with information.

When asked if this would be a future hobby or career, Kinney and Douglass had varying responses. “I want to be the uncle who shows his family cool card tricks,” Kinney said.

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page 8 • in-depth

Nov. 10, 2005

GET READY TO TALK TURKEY

Traditions make Thanksgiving unique for each family Lexi Sesti • Reporter

•Feather Facts

•Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited.

•Forty-five million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.

Twenty-two million turkeys are eaten each Christmas.

•Nineteen million turkeys are eaten each Easter.

•Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They especially like oak trees.

•Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.

•June is National Turkey Lover’s Month.

•The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger.

•Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

•The American Indians hunted wild turkey for its sweet, juicy meat as early as 1000 A.D. •Turkey feathers were used to stabilize arrows and adorn ceremonial dress, and the spurs on the legs of wild tom turkeys were used as projectiles on arrowheads.

•The male turkey is called a tom.

•The female turkey is called a hen.

•Tom turkeys have beards. These are black, hair-like feathers on their breast.

•Turkeys lived almost ten million years ago.

•Turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining Information from: www.urbanext.com

Artwork by: Junior Ashley Anders

•The Price is Right

Grocers give thanks to big holiday spending

How much money actually goes into a Thanksgiving meal? With the turkey, yams, and pumpkin pie the wallets deflate while the tummies inflate. The Image took a trip to a local grocery store to uncover the prices of some popular Thanksgiving foods.

Russet Potatoes •10 lbs/$3.99

Candied Yams •10. 9 cents per oz/$3.39

Green Giant cut green beans •$1.03

10 Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits •$1.49

Pepperidge Farm Stuffing •20.6 cents per oz/$2.89

Honey Suckle White Young Turkey •$1.39 per lb.

Musselmans Applesauce •5.4 cents per oz /$3.45

Exchange students share thoughts on foreign holiday Jeanne Francois • Reporter After the candies of Halloween, everybody is thinking about the Thanksgiving turkey. For foreign exchange students, this typical American event is a total surprise.

“I’m really exited about this holiday,” Esther Vollmer, German exchange student said. Vollmer’s host family has many relatives.

Vollmer is looking forward to becoming closer with the relatives during this special occasion.

“I would like to cook if I have the opportunity,” Vollmer said.

She is not the only one who wants to cook. Keita Yoshizawa, ex-

change student from Japan, is ready to cook, too.

For Thanksgiving Yoshizawa’s host family has invited relatives to their house.

“The women of the family will help my host mother for the dinner,” Yoshizawa said.

He has some doubts about this event, thinking it may be boring.

“The only information that I know is about eating the turkey,” he said.

Nevertheless, he remains positive and excited to see what the day will bring.

This feast is a good occasion to

thank everybody for everything and to be together,” Yoshizawa said.

Coming from Belgium, I do not have Thanksgiving either.

We had one week of vacation for All Saint’s Day, like some countries in Europe. I hope that celebrating this new holiday will allow me to become closer with my host family and to understand their customs better.

I am so exited to have this mysterious holiday.

Like Yoshizawa and Vollmer, I will spend Thanksgiving with my American family around this famous outstanding turkey.

As Americans, we are expected to know why Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. Unfortunately, many young Americans are unaware.

When asked the question on why Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, freshman Dontè Lightfoot said, “Because we have been doing it for a while when people came over on a ship.”

This is true, but with these “people”, many traditions came over on that “ship” as well. Some of the early traditions consisted of eating crow, men and women not being able to sit next to each other, and the original Thanksgiving was actually held in October.

Over hundreds of years, traditions changed to eating turkey, coed seating, the fourth Thursday in November and the main focus being the score of the football game.

Not only have the traditions changed nationally over the years, but they have changed within families as well.

For foreign exchange student, Jeanne Francois the idea of Thanksgiving is a new event.

Francois said, “I am excited for this because in Belgium we don’t have anything like it. I don’t really know what will go on but I will soon learn.”

Senior Alex Klein and his family vacation to the Virgin Islands every five years for Thanksgiving.

Klein’s grandparents started the tradition by just having vacation around the time of Thanksgiving. Cheap airfare during this season turned this vacation into a family tradition.

It has become a tradition to eat at The Mine Shaft. The Mine Shaft is a restaurant down in the islands and was built over an old iron mine.

Klein said, “It’s really fun and relaxing. We have our own house down there. It is not on a huge resort so there are not many people. This makes it a lot more peaceful. ” Lightfoot shared how his family has fried Calamari (squid) as the main dish, in replace of the traditional turkey.

At his traditional Thanksgiving, his family plays the guitar, and prepares sushi.

Lightfoot celebrates at his aunt’s house, where there are many people of different races and ethnicity present, including his own of Native-American and African-American.

Lightfoot described his Thanksgiving as being, “More loose and fun! Not the traditional uptight turkey and gravy, grandma and grandpa Thanksgiving.”

Freshman Jenna Starck never knows when she will celebrate the holiday. Starck’s sister is a police dispatcher who doesn’t always get the holiday off. Starck said, “Sometimes it bothers me when we can’t always go the big family celebration, because having it with just my family is boring. It is also frustrating to my sister because she is rarely ever off on holidays.”

But the Starck family doesn’t always have a home cooked meal. “Sometimes we go out to eat because it is easier than making a home cooked meal,” Starck said.

Although most years her family is unable to celebrate with the other members of their family, the years when they are able, the women sit and talk while the men watch the “game.”

Whether the whole family is surrounding the dinner table or just Starck’s immediate family, they make it a tradition to pray in thanks before their meal.

Every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions, but as a nation celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends is a traditions everyone can share.

•The Global Gobble Americans hear “gobble-gobble”, but around the world the sweet sounds from these feathered friends hit a different key.

Afrikaans: Kalkoen kloek Albanian: Krrull-krrull Danish: Kalkunen klukkerv Spanish: Glu-glu-glu French: Glouglou Hebrew: Tarnegoley hodu mekarkerim Portuguese: glugluglugluglu Turkish: Glu-glu Information from: www.celebratelove.com

features • page 9

the image

Clues for the clueless. Quick, easy and grade-saving. Cram your brain with shocking similarities between two study aids.

Cliffsnotes The Pros.

•It’s bright yellow so it’s a little difficult to miss.

•Two flavors are there for your choosing. Online or in book form.

•It offers practice projects for teachers to use in class.

vs.SparkNotes

Do you think using Cliffsnotes or SparkNotes is cheating?

Yes - 18%

The Cons.

The Pros.

•They’re free •Many works of literature are available online 24/7.

•Significant quotes are analyzed and explained in depth.

•It offers suggestions for further reading.

The Cons.

•Since it’s bright yellow, teachers can see it just as easily as you.

•You have to buy the book. And sometimes you can’t find the one you need.

•It does not offer audio notes for your iPod like SparkNotes does.

•Once the new year rolls around, they will no longer be free.

•Computer paper printouts blend in with the rest of your handouts •They don’t have character maps.

No - 82%

97 students polled

Why do you think using Cliffsnotes and SparkNotes isn’t cheating?

Why do you think using Cliffsnotes and SparkNotes is cheating?

“I use them for Mr. Willard’s reading classes. It’s not cheating, it’s just reinforcing the material.”

• Brian Ruyle, 11

“I didn’t read this book, and the SparkNotes told me what happened. It’s not cheating. Okay it’s cheating.”

• Garrett Brinton, 11

Brian Ruyle

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page 10 • feature

Memories flood back

Nov. 10, 2005

Current staff able to replace lost 1964 Legend after Hurricane Rita strikes Texas coastal area

Kevin Pinney • Feature Editor When Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf, Richard Fisher lost a few things.

In a storage facility, along with military documents, photographs and college memorabilia was something special – his high school yearbook.

Fisher, a 1964 Lafayette graduate, currently lives in Houston, TX. When Rita struck, the storage facility’s roof blew off exposing everything inside to the elements. He lost everything he had stored there.

“You become insensitive until it happens to you,” Fisher said.

With the news of his destroyed belongings he worked to replace as much as he could. Military papers could be replaced, but as for photos and memorabilia from the past, they would prove difficult to find.

When he called Lafayette to inquire about the possibility if finding another 1964 yearbook, he got lucky.

“We happened to have two copies from that year, so we were able to send him one,” adviser Ms. Nancy Smith said.

“I used to spend hours just scanning the yearbook just read-

ing what people had to say,” he said.

But Lafayette isn’t the same school it was 41 years ago. The school Fisher attended is currently Crestview Middle. He was a member of the second class to graduate from the high school that used to be housed there.

“Because we were a new high school, we were on the cutting edge of everything, including sports. We had a very successful sports program and really interesting teachers,” Fisher said.

He was a member of Chess Club but also actively participated in football and track.

After high school, he went to SMS and University of Texas and later joined the military and fought in Vietnam in 1972.

He went on to be an equipment salesman for a hospital company, and is currently an officer at a trust company. He is also married with a family.

“The most important thing I’ve learned in high school is respect for my fellow man. If you respect the people around you, they’ll respect you, and that’s what I’ve applied all throughout life,” Fisher said.

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Off

features • page 11

Putting things

Staff members and students alike look into a plague called procrastination Darren LaCour • Reporter There’s a terrible disease going around, causing students everywhere to get bad grades. It’s called procrastination.

Faced with this growing epidemic, teachers must certainly be alarmed.

However, Social Studies Department Chair Susan Glenn, while acknowledging that procrastination is a problem for students, mentioned that students aren’t the only ones who fall victim.

“Procrastination is an unconscious defense mechanism,” Glenn said, “because it gives people an excuse for their failings.”

Poor performance on a procrastinated project can then be attributed to doing at the last minute, not because of a lack of effort.

Senior Zach Maxwell is one who experiences procrastination in the form of senioritis.

Like most students, he has determined that his procrastination is due to his laziness, but is also attributed to other factors.

“Other activities are more important,” Maxwell said.

Others agree and add that there’s a lack of motivation for a lot of students.

For Senior Devon Pucel, senioritis has led him to “finding an excuse not to do my homework every night.” This ultimately leads to students staying up

late, frantically attempting to get their big projects done the night before they are due.

An elite few seniors have wised up about procrastination and have changed their ways.

One of them is senior Lauren Hibler, a former procrastinator who reformed because, as she said, “It was a pain in the butt to stay up until two in the morning and get a bad grade.”

Of course, as widespread as it is among seniors, procrastination affects almost every student.

Freshman Yoon-Oh Kim, citing laziness as his main reason, is just one of hundreds of underclassmen catching weaker strains of Senioritis.

As he finished his geometry homework at lunch, Kim said, “Procrastination is great, but eventually it [stinks].”

Due to its appeal, Glenn doesn’t see a solution to the procrastination problem. “I think people have brief moments [of not procrastinating], then slip back into it,” Glenn said. “It’s human nature.”

Students agree that no solution is in sight. “I know it’s not a good thing,” Maxwell said, “but it’s become more of a habit because I haven’t done anything to change it.”

Kim however has learned from his mistakes. When asked if he would reform his habits, he replied, “Yeah… tomorrow.”

The Image asks:

A - 3%

If a project is assigned on Monday that’s due on Friday of the following week, this is when it gets done:

B - 30%

D - 44%

C - 24% 203 Students polled

A: First week B: Weekend C: Second week D: Night before

Former CLS students confess procrastination horror stories Students enrolled in CLS (now known as ALARP) are required to complete two semester-long research projects with presentations, but most don’t spend the semester working.

Ben Kappel, 11 “After one year in CLS, I became a seasoned veteran of doing absolutely nothing until the last minute...and pulling all nighters. Somehow, I still got an A”

Lori Vaughn, 11

Naji Pitts, 12

“We have to turn in a 30-page outline and I stayed up all night working on it. I went to sleep at 5 a.m. and woke up at 6 a.m. to finish. Caffienated soda and chocolate are CLS procrastination fuels.”

“I remember staying up until 2 a.m. the night before my project was due pasting my posters together. I got light headed from the rubber cement fumes and fell asleep on my desk.”

Just asking... photo opinion

This month the Image asks “What is the worst you’ve ever procrastinated?”

-compiled by Darren LaCour

Will Petry, 12

Joey Meyer, 10

Jessi Roach, 10

“I put off two chemistry tests from third quarter until the Monday before finals week.”

“I still need to do my lab from last week.”

“I turned in something for CLS two weeks after school ended.”

Brandon Callier, 9 “I still haven’t turned in my stuff from 6th grade football.”

Shelia Albers, Assistant Principal "I've currently been procrstinating on my doctoral dissertion, but it will get done on time."

Bring In 3 Cans of Food and Pay a $4.00 Studio Fee!!

A Great Place To Create Holiday Gifts

page 12 • features

Nov. 10, 2005

Singing out loud

Live music, karaoke spark interest in community Jenna Starck • Reporter The notes of Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath my Wings” began to flow from the karaoke machine. But the voice that accompanied the music wasn’t Bette Midler’s—it was science teacher Ms. Katie Kupfer.

“When I was 11, I karaoked for the first time.” Kupfer said, “I sang Bette Midler’s ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ with one of my mom’s best friends.”

“My defining moment of karaoke was my sophomore year of college when I was doing nothing with friends and we broke out the karaoke machine, and I sang a song from the movie ‘South Pacific.’ I was phenomenal.” Kupfer said.

She is only one of the many Americans that karaoke. Karaoke originally started in Japan.

Legend has it that it began in Kobe City at a snack bar. When the musicians didn’t show up, the owner opened the floor to the patrons. This was in the 1980s, and karaoke has increasingly grown more and more popular.

The word karaoke comes from two Japanese words, “karappo” and “okesutura”. “Karappo” means empty and “okesutura” means orchestra. In other words, when people karaoke, they provide the live vocals and the back-

•Mad Skills. Social studies teacher Mr. Steve Klawiter plays his guitar as language arts teacher Ms. Angela Koons waits for her chance to sing. The two teachers played at the Coffeehouse in September. photo • courtesy of Legend

ground music is on the CD. Along with Kupfer, language arts teacher, Ms. Tracy Willborn karaokes. She started karaoking as a dare to herself. Willborn usually sings privately at school, during lunch, in her classroom where she practices playing her guitar.

Although, outside of school, she performs more often. Recently, she won the Kountry-Oke Contest at the Argosy Alton Bell Casino. Willborn then went on

to participate in the final round at the UMB Bank Pavilion during “A Day in the Country.”

Willborn didn’t start karaoking until after college. “I was always too shy to sing in front of people,” she said. “I always sing a variety and vocally challenging.

I enjoy singing classic rock the most.”

“I have karaoked at a restaurant and at parties,” freshman Kristina Passi said. “Usually I was forced.” Passi, a student of

Willborn’s wants to hear her sing.

“We ask her to sing only about seven times a class period.” Passi said. “I want to hear her really, really bad, but she’s always like ‘No!’” Freshman, Brad Solomon, also a student of Willborn’s, hasn’t ever karaoked, and he doesn’t want to. When he found out Willborn karaoked, he thought it was funny, and he thinks she won’t sing for the class, because

she doesn’t like to sing in front of certain people she knows.

Most karoake places in St. Louis aren’t accessible to teenagers. Places like Harrah’s, Wild Country, and the Argosy Alton Bell Casino are places where people over 21 can karaoke.

However, teens 11 to 18 can karaoke at the St. Louis Mills Mall.

Kupfer sings classics and Willborn sings a variety, but they both agree they karaoke beause it’s fun.

sports • page 13

the image

Third In State

Stormy weekend doesn’t dampen team’s spirit Lori Vaughn • Reporter Lady Lancer softball was at its best this year making it all the way to the State semifinals.

They defeated Marquette to win Districts and then went on to defeat Incarnate Word in the sectional game and Francis Howell in the quarterfinals to finally make their way to State.

The team was confident going into the tournament and prepared for both Oakville and Helias. Coach Scott DeNoyer said, “We weren’t just happy to go to Columbia, we were going to win.”

Lafayette scored three runs in the first inning and they were off to a good start. However in the 6th inning Oakville rallied and the Lancers had a meltdown.

Fielding and coaching errors were made.

The Tigers had already scored three runs and the winning run was on third. DeNoyer said he had a chance to go out to the mound and a chance to run a play they had practiced, which involved their exact situation.

However, DeNoyer talked himself out of the risky play and Oakville scored, making the

photo • Mike Kurlowski

•District Win. On the mound senior Erin DeStefano finishes the season at 20-3. DeStefano was named Player of the Year by Post-Dispatch.

score 4-3 Tigers.

DeNoyer took the blame for the bad inning. The Lancers couldn’t come back, despite a great effort.

The loss was very upsetting, especially for the seniors because it was their last game as Lafayette Lancers.

DeNoyer said, “It is never easy to set goals as high as we

did, and fall short.” Lancers softball worked hard at state and despite the tremendous effort, placed 3rd.

“This was a very satisfying season for us. We had great success, we accomplished many of our goals, we experienced State competition, and we had a lot of fun,” DeNoyer said.

The team ended up 25-4 and

individual players put up some impressive statistics as well.

The highest batting average on the team was achieved by Junior Chelsey Carmody, which was 548, while Jenny Mann, Jodie Shead, Shelby Krammer, and Erin DeStefano all posted above 350. Krammer had 35 RBI’s and DeStefano had a .56 ERA also batting in 29 base runners.

The future looks bright for the Lafayette Softball program with many returning players and some strong junior varsity players coming up.

Top returning players include shortstop Carmody who will pitch more next year and catcher Krammer who will also contribute as major offense.

Junior Ann Reisch will return as third baseman and junior Sarah Bieser will get her chance to play outfield and continue her speed on the bases.

Junior Jessie Reynolds will also get her time on the field and continue the offense.

Freshmen Paige Park and Meghan Lamberth will come back with their second year on varsity after an impressive first season.

Senior earns Player of the Year honors from Post Lori Vaughn • Reporter Senior Erin DeStefano has only been playing competitive softball for about five years but her hard work to catch up has paid off earning her Post-Dispatch Softball Player of the Year honors.

“I was actually really surprised because it is such a great honor to achieve that,” she said.

Despite losing in the State semi-final game, she was very happy about the season and proud of the team.

DeStefano said, “All of the success of this season is due to my teammates. We were so close on and off the field and that really helped us achieve our goals.”

The Lancers set their sights on winning State, so losing to Oakville was a shock.

“It was really hard to come that far and lose. It’s just one of those things where you have to move on.”

DeStefano ended up with a .56 ERA, a batting average of 365 and 29 RBIs to her name, not to mention 20 wins and only three losses. She also had a perfect game against Incarnate Word in the Sectional game.

She will attend Marshall College in West Virginia on a softball scholarship.

O’Connell heads to Indiana on a full ride scholarship Josh Handler • Reporter The field hockey team’s 3-1 loss to Villa Duchesne in the quarterfinals on Oct. 25, not only marked the end of the season for the Lancers but also marked the end of an era.

After a four-year varsity career Senior Meg O’Connell is headed to Indiana on a full ride scholarship to play once again alongside sister Kate, who she played with during her freshman and sophomore years at LHS. Prior to the loss to Villa Duchesne, The Lancers beat MICDS by a score of 1-0.

They were matched up against St. Joseph’s Academy, the #13

seed on Oct. 22, and led by two goals from Seniors Katherine Aslin and Lauren Goede.

They ended up beating the Angels 4-1.

O’Connell and Goede each had two assists in the game as well. Junior Alicia Brennan, goalie, also played well in the MICDS and St. Joes games.

Seniors Melissa Lantz, Kelly Dowell, and Annee Ballard repre-

sented LHS in the Nov. 2, Senior All-Star game.

O’Connell leaves the team after leading St. Louis in goals, assists and total points. She was followed by Melissa Lantz, who was second in each category.

Coach Kelly Yates says that senior Jana Fullmer was the most improved player.

Yates also said Goede and Aslin were key contributors to the team.

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“Katherine Aslin and Lauren Goede stepped it up and scored some important goals at the end.”

Yates also says that Ballard, Sophomore Taylor Stellern, and Freshman Nina Walters played well on defense.

O’Connell, Fullmer, and senior Amy Karim have all been nominated as Academic AllAmericans.

O’Connell has also been nominated for the All- American team for the third time.

Seniors accounted for 14 of 22 players on this year’s team.

Other seniors include Cyn-

thia Held, Morgan Goldammer, Niky Norton, Samantha Spears, Katie Voss and Emily Wilson.

O’Connell will play for an Indiana team that is currently ranked number seven in the nation.

She made her decision after ruling out schools such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Iowa.

Last month O’Connell moved ahead of Kristen McCann from Pennsylvania’s Emmaus High School for the national career leader in assists.

McCann had 84 assists for Emmaus between 1992 and 1995.

page 14 • sports

District Champs

Nov. 10, 2005

Football faces H.Central Friday in Sectionals game

photo • Mike Kurlowski

•Breaking Loose. During the Lafayette Mehlville game senior Chris Reyering places a block for senior Cartez Parker. Lafayette dominated Mehlville 38-7. After defeating Marquette for the Class 6, District 3 title, the Lancers will take on Hazelwood Central in the Elite Eight on Friday at 7 p.m.

Bobby Mortimer • Sports Editor The varsity football Lancers have made a great comeback from the beginning of the season.

Starting off at 2-4 the boys knew the last few games had to be wins for a chance for a District Championship.

“We just kept believing in ourselves” senior Woody Blevins said.

On Nov. 4, the team dominated rivals Marquette Mustangs 24-17 for the Distrit Championship.

The game started off with senior Cartez Parker rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

The second quarter belonged to Lafayette. Parker with a 69 yard pass to senior Ben Vesser capitalized with a touchdown to make it 13-7. Vesser went for 74 yards with three receptions.

The Lancers also had a blocked punt.

Senior Mike Franklin was able to deflect the punt right into senior Alex Kister’s hands where he returned the block punt 44 yards for a touchdown.

At the end of the second quarter the score was 21-14.

In the fourth quarter, senior Ryan grate added some insurance when he kicked a 31 yard field goal to put them up 24-17.

“Billy Graft and Josh Moore both have stepped up on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball,” Coach Boyd Manne said.

Graft has been putting up great numbers on offense all year. Graft has completed 104-180 passes for 1485 yards. He sustains a 93.8 pass rating.

Moore has also stepped up on defense.

Moore had 67 solo tackles with 9 assist, he also has six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

“We are focusing on finishing every play and completing every down,” Manne said which helped them with a few big games which include Parkway south were they won 41-7 and against CBC 38-14.

The team is living up to their goals “to be the best team we can be” Manne said, and they have proved it lately in the last few games.

The last time the boys have been to the Districts was in 1999.

Ironically it was also the last time they also lost their Homecoming game.Tomorrow, the boys take on Hazelwood Central at home at 7 p.m.

“We really need a lot of fans to show up” Blevins said.

Cross Country sends indivduals, boys team to State Meet Boys: Team unity ends season

Girls: Baker places 7th in State

Ryan Bueckendorf • Reporter

Ryan Bueckendorf • Reporter

The theme was team unity from the time the 2005-2006 cross country season kicked off, and the team reaped the rewards for their hard work this past month.

Beginning with the District Meet at Jefferson Barracks (Oct. 22), the boys were consistently placing high both as a team and individually.

The Lancers placed fourth with 104 points and had four runners in the Top 30, good for a ticket to the Sectional meet (Oct. 29).

Also taking place at Jefferson Barracks, the Lancers took third place as a team with 91 points and stuck five runners in the Top 30.

This finish was more than enough to

push them into the Class 4 State Meet (Nov. 5) where, senior team captain Nick Robinson says the real work began.

“Basically, the cross country season is 13 weeks long,” he said. “Twelve of those weeks are all training for this meet. We’ve been working hard for this.”

For runners Robinson, juniors John Buttram, Zach Engleman, John Neumann, sophomores Eric Lutz, and Drew Stiehl and freshman Steven Stallis, that work paid off at State. The Lancers took 15th with 370 points, and Robinson took 70th place individually.

“I think everybody ran a really good race,” Robinson said, “Especially everybody who was running in their first State meet.”

Though the girls did not qualify as a team, Lafayette had three representatives at the State Meet in seniors Emily Baker and Kelsey Henshaw and junior Sarah Flower.

At Sectionals (Oct. 22), Baker paced the group and took fifth, with Henshaw and Flower close behind at 17th and 29th respectively. All three qualified for Sectionals, at Jefferson Barracks.

At Sectionals (Oct. 29), the trio of Baker, Flower and Henshaw turned in three more exemplary times and all three of the qualified for the State meet (Nov. 5).

The State race saw Baker achieve her goal of finishing in the Top Ten at State, as she finished seventh.

“I was really excited. I thought I ran a really good race,” Baker said.

Henshaw finished 53rd, and Flower came in at 63rd.

The girls coach, Scott Brandon, stressed it was important for his runners to go into the meet realizing it was just another meet. “[State] is not some huge, all-important event,” Brandon said. He was very happy with the way all three of his runners ran their races.

He also was impressed with the way Baker finished up her high school running career.

“Emily ran the best race of her high school career at State this year. That is a wonderful way to finish up.”

LAX looks to become a state-sanctioned sport in future Ryan Bueckendorf • Reporter On any given fall afternoon after school, a glance at the LHS athletic fields will show groups of football, softball and field hockey players hard at work.

Look some more and several lacrosse players will be present they, too, practice for their spring season. Those four groups of athletes are similar in that they all perform at high levels for their school.

But, hey are different because the first three receive funding from Lafayette, while lacrosse does not.

The immense success of the lacrosse program here has many people, lacrosse players and otherwise, looking to the Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) to sanction the sport.

“We definitely deserve some [funds],” senior lacrosse player Kyle Hirsch said, “We run, work out, and play as hard as those other guys.”

Hirsch is not alone in his sentiment.

MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Fred Binggeli feels confident lacrosse will be the next sport MSHSAA’s Board of Directors will sanction.

“I would definitely say lacrosse will be the next sport to receive state sanctions,” Binggeli said. “I am surprised it has not already happened.”

Boys lacrosse coach Ren Pettinelli

believes they are doing all right without school funding. “[Not receiving funds] doesn’t hinder us at all,” Pettinelli said, “Even if we were funded, it would still cost $250 per player. With all that money directed at equipment, we wouldn’t be able to travel as much.”

The lacrosse team travels more than any other Lafayette sport. They frequently compete out of state, playing in tournaments in Florida and Maryland. They also are competing in a fall indoor season. For all of this, they organize their own transportation.

For local games, they arrange carpools or drive themselves. For the longer trips, they charter buses. If they had to rely on District buses, as do school-funded sports, the program would have to severely cut down on this travel.

Pettinelli also stressed he has turned no potential player away simply because of lack of money. The high cost of equipment does not deter very many players.

At the high school level most players are very dedicated to the sport and already own most of the necessary equipment.

If a player thinks the expense is not worth it, he is allowed to drop it. The fact that such a sacrifice, both monetary and

time-wise, must be made to play creates a sort of attrition that Pettinelli said is healthy for the team.

“Because of the money involved, most of our players are very serious,” he said, “If a player is not as committed to lacrosse, they have probably dropped the sport of their own choice.”

Even with the high cost of equipment, the lacrosse program is running at near capacity.

Pettinelli’s program fills varsity, junior varsity and freshmen squad rosters, and wouldn’t have room for too many more players even if they were available.

The administration has very little to do with who gets the money provided

by MSHSAA. The vote must pass before a State Board. This board is composed of one representative from each member school. Lafayette’s representative is Activities Director Steve Miller.

“We are allocated a certain amount of money from the District, who receives sanctions from MSHSAA, for the entire athletics program, not just one sport,” Miller said, “The teams that are sponsored by the school put the money into three main categories: Equipment and supplies, fees and officials, and transportation.”

MSHSAA regulates how much money

they get to put towards these three categories.

There is precedent for a sport achieving the funding sanctions. Boys volleyball did it several years ago, when a group of coaches got together and petitioned the sport through the system and onto the State Ballot.

“The board felt that boys volleyball deserved to be sanctioned by the State,” Miller said. “Every school in the state of Missouri, whether they would have volleyball or not, voted on it,” Miller cautioned that allowing boys volleyball to become a sport represented a unique situation for the school.

Since they already sponsored the girls volleyball team, they had all the necessary equipment.

If it had represented a significant financial burden to the school, with the budget as it is now, boys volleyball may not have gone through so easily.

It seems only a matter of time before lacrosse gets the opportunity to get sanctioned for school funding, but they feel they can wait.

As Pettinelli put it, “We don’t have a problem with not receiving any money because we have the best situation of any public school program in the area.”

sports • page 15

the image

Soccer finishes with tough loss to Marquette John Cox • Reporter

In the Class 3 District 9 Championship game, the boys soccer team faced off against Conference rival Marquette.

The game ended in a heartbreaking loss, 0-2.

Going into the game, the team knew that it was going to be physical. Marquette scored first and the rest of the game continued to be physical and both teams went back and forth with the ball.

Neither had good scoring chances as the game progressed. Marquette scored a devastating second goal late in the game on a questionable cal and took the District Championship in the shutout.

To advance to the District Championship, the team defeated Francis Howell Central, 2-1.

The Lancers finished fifth in the Suburban West Conference with a record of 3-41 and finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-8-6. The team scored 42 goals and only allowed 24.

“We played better than expected this season, having lost a great deal of talent from last year’s team,” junior midfielder Ryan Garrone said. After hitting a low point midway through the year, the team bounced back and finished strong.

“By switching around the positions, Coach [Tim] Walters helped to make us more competitive than we were expected to be,” said Garrone.

The two captains, senior Sean Mueller and junior Brad Schweizer, stepped up and led the team this season.

Sophomore goalie Mike Hamilton finished with 11 shutouts and 93 saves.

Sophomore Brandon Manzonelli led with 10 goals, while fellow sophomore Stephen McMahon was close behind with nine.

Solid foot skills and plays set up for Manzonelli helped him lead the team with six assists and total points with 26.

Manzonelli and senior Chris Bartelsmeyer tied for the team lead in game winning goals with four.

Girls volleyball ends with heads held high Alex Davis • Reporter

The volleyball team had their hopes set on facing the Metro St. Louis Area, number one ranked, Washington High School. But, they fell just short losing to Marquette 2-1.

Still, the Lady Lancers were consistently ranked in the Top 10 in the Metro Area.

Their final record was 24-7-1.

“I was very pleased with our play this year with three exceptions. One, our loss to Parkway Central. We lost our focus. It was my fault as a coach, should have never happened. Two, our loss to Lebanon. As a team we let down after we had a big leads in game 2 and 3. Three, our first loss to Marquette.

As a team we knew exactly what they were going to do, yet we did not execute our defense,” Coach Steve Burkard said.

Juniors who will be coming back for a last year are Amanda Gober, Allison Kerr and Claire Wood. Casey Chernin is the sole sophomore who will be returning. And, end of the season starters, freshmen Brooke Boggs, Korie Klosterman and Whitney Seaton will return.

Burkard said, “I’ll be looking for the best players with the greatest attitudes from those teams. I’ll be looking for girls who put the team above themselves and are willing to work their tails off to get the job done. I’ll be looking for the kind of player who will train over the summer to make herself the best she can possibly be. In other words, I’ll be looking for the total package, the total athlete, the volleyball player willing to take us to the next level.”

photo • Allyson Angle

•H2 Oh-Yes. Right before senior Zack Levko is attacked by two of Kirkwood’s players, he takes a shot. The Lancers ended up winning this Final Four match-up, 8-7 and placed third overall at State. It was the first time for a Final Four appearance by the Lancer water polo team.

Final Four Finish

Water polo makes waves Allyson Angle • Reporter For the first time in 10 years, water polo made it past the first round of the State tournament and into the Final Four.

The fifth-seeded Lancers defeated Parkway West 15-5. In the second round, they defeated fourth-seed MICDS, 7-6, only for the second time in history.

Advancing all the way to the semifinals, they faced top-seed Chaminade and lost 6-9. With the exception of the Championship game, this was Chaminade’s closest game all season.

The Lancers went on to defeat Kirkwood 7-6 on Nov. 5, taking third overall, which is the school’s highest placing team ever at State for water polo.

“Our third place finish really shows the integrity this team has. We started 0-5 and could have just given up then. Instead we worked hard everyday, improved, and won games many people thought we had no chance to win., senior Zach Levko comments.

The Lancers ended with an overall re-

cord of 16-10 and tied for first in Conference (5-1).

Although everyone played an important role on the team, there were a handful of seniors who were especially responsible for the success the Lancers had this season.

“Each person on the team had a role, and what made us so successful, was each person’s willingness to accept their role and do it to the best of their ability,” Levko explained.

Vojslavek came up big at all the right times. His blocking ability earned him fourth in the State for his 253 total saves this season, which also broke the school’s previous record of 193.

Levko was once again a standout and had a total of 103 goals this season, which is third in the State for total goals scored.

Whether he is playing offense, defense, or 2-meter, Levko is a very unselfish player and makes passing to his teammates a priority.

Scott Sibley and Vojslavek agree “hands down” Levko is arguably the best water polo player Lafayette has ever seen.

Senior Alex Frueh was a defensive ace and could always be relied on to stop the other teams’ offense.

Sibley was the team’s assist leader with 44 assists this season.

Senior Marc Phillips solidified himself as a constant scoring threat with 44 goals and over 20 assists.

He scored 4 goals against Kirkwood, which was half of the team’s goals on Saturday night.

The win was especially sweet for the Lancers because they had lost to Kirkwood twice earlier in the season.

The victory, by far their best game of the season, was mainly due to their great teamwork and the seniors stepping it up and playing really well.

“It was the perfect way to end the season,” Vojslavek said.

The Side Liner: Postseason drought What is wrong with all St. Louis professional sport teams? They all come up big in regular season but then lose in the postseason.

Bobby Mortimer What will it take for •Sports Editor a winning postseason?

Why work so hard to be the best and end up losing it all to a team that doesn’t deserve to win?

My theory on all this is that each team takes what they have for granted. The Cardinals relied too much on first basemen Albert Pujols. Yes, he can dominate on both side of the ball but one player doesn’t win a championship.

The Rams also relied on their offense to win games. Ok, I know what you’re saying, at least we have an offense, but there are two sides of the ball. Last year the Rams were one of the worst defensive teams in the league, and our kick off and punt returns were just pathetic.

Last year in the postseason, the Rams actually looked like they had a chance after coming back and beating the Seahawks, but once again the team broke

down and got destroyed by the Falcons.

The defense played like little girls while Michael Vick destroyed the entire defense both in the air and on the ground. We basically spoon-fed the Falcons the win.

Another set back is the injuries. Can we have a postseason please were we don’t lose a starting player. I mean we might actually win when our players are healthy!

Is that IRONIC or what?

For the Cardinals they lost many players throughout postseason. Two years ago, 3B Scott Rolen was out for the first half of the postseason when he injured his shoulder, and came back with no help on the offensive side of the ball, which contributed to the World Series sweep of 04.

Then of course the streak continues when Reggie Sanders sets a record in the first series against the Padres for RBIs but then bruises up his entire body leaping for a ball on the warning track.

Even though he was out for a game when he came back his numbers started to drop, which concluded with a 4-2 series for the Astros.

Two years ago I recall a similar incident happing to the St. Louis Blues also.

Defensemen Al MacInnis ended up injuring his eye. This injury cost the team their motivation. Without their star veteran player the blues concluded the postseason by getting embarrassed by the San Jose Sharks losing the series 4-1.

What needs to be done to win a series?

When you are asked to step up, STEP UP to what! Maybe the players are tired from a long season and can’t handle the other postseason games. Or maybe the players are too old!

Larry Walker is a prime example of this. He looks good throughout the regular season but when he is force to face the best of the best in extra game he tends to go on a slump. his last series he went 3-19 while other younger players had to step up for his lack of hitting.

For once I want to see a St. Louis team come out on top. The last time we held a title was Super Bowl XXXIV. What ever happend to being the number one sports town? I just hope we don’t keep embarrassing ourselves in situations that we should prevail in, and for once make this city a championship city which we should have been all along.

in•out•about page 16 • entertainment

Don’t be left out of the Loop . . .

Upcoming Events The Pageant 314.726.6161

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Nintendo Fusion Tour ft. Fall Out Boy w/ The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack, Boys Night Out, Panic! At The Disco 11/26 @ 7 p.m.

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The Point Ho Ho Show ft. 311, Alien Ant Farm and Living Things Mississippi Nights 314.421.3853 11/11 @ 7 p.m.

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•(Above) Down the streets of the Delmar Loop are dozens of shops and restaurants. Some of the more popular spots for students include Blueberry Hill, Vintage Vinyl and Rag-o-Rama.

•(Right) The Tivoli Theater is best known for showing foreign and limited release films.

•(Center) The University City Loop regularly bustles with traffic.

11/22 @ 8 p.m.

My Morning Jacket with Will Johnson 11/23 @ 7 p.m.

Rushmore Academy w/ Princeton, Blinded Black, The Famed, Amsterband and Eyes Catch Fire Creepy Crawl 314.621.9333 photos • Niky Norton

Niky Norton • Entertainment Editor The University City Loop in Delmar is one of the most unique places in St. Louis.

Filled with over 100 restaurants, entertainment venues, shops and people, the Loop offers something for everyone.

This six-block expanse explores social, ethnic and cultural boundaries through restaurants like Bubble Tea, Thai Country Cafe, Tomatillo Mexican Grill and Saleem’s, as well as highlights St. Louis history with the Walk of Fame.

Bubble Teas, originating in Taiwan, are popping up all over the country, including the UCity Loop.

The milk tea drinks are filled with tapioca balls, boba and can

be mixed with various assortments of flavors and jellies.

Thai Country Café offers old-fashioned Thai country food with an intimate atmosphere and ethnic flair.

Those looking for Mexican cuisine should check out Tomatillo, with “larger than life burritos” and other Mexican staples.

Finally, for the food curious, Saleem’s boasts authentic Lebanese cuisine with hearty helpings of garlic.

All of these epicure restaurants, not to mention Fitz’s and Blueberry Hill, are not the only exciting places for those exploring the Loop.

The area boasts great shopping with retail like Hot Pink,

Tantrum, Vintage Vinyl, Rag-ORama and Ziezo.

Try Hot Pink if you are willing to spend a little extra money while looking for chic, trendy clothes. Tantrum offers a wide range of styles from LA for men and women.

Rag-O-Rama is for those looking to save some money or even earn some.

This novelty shop offers gently worn clothes, accessories, costumes and shoes. Save some time for this store, as it may take a while to dig, or bring clothes of your own to trade in.

Ziezo, a small boutique, holds a premiere collection of designer labels for both men and women.

Vintage Vinyl offers great

deal on used CDs and obscure music.

For live entertainment, there is no place better than The Pageant. Most small bands traveling through St. Louis will stop here.

This venue features bands of all sorts including jazz, pop, rock, reggae and soul, with special shows by comedians and speakers.

Upcoming shows are listed in the Upcoming Events section.

You can also check out a movie at the Tivoli Theater featuring foreign and limited release films.

There are so many things to explore in the U City Loop; this outing could easily take an entire day. To find out more, visit www.ucityloop.com.

in touch with teachers

12/22 @ 7:30 p.m.

Femme Fatality w/ Hyperbubble, Murder Happens and Electrozoids Mizzou- Jesse Auditorium 11/12 @ 7 p.m.

Bright Eyes Downtown Washington 888.792.7466 11/25 @ 6 p.m.

Holiday Parade of Lights Savvis Center 314.241.1888 618.222.2900 11/25 @ 8 p.m.

Australian Pink Floyd 12/2 @ 7:30 p.m.

Keith Urban with Little Big Town

Four kick off boredom with Tae Kwon Do skills Niky Norton • Entertainment Editor “Its fun to surprise people.” Do would be a “good activity for This is what French teacher, [her] children, ages 9 and 11.

Once signed up, Master Park Ms. Gina Luerding said about of Park’s Martial Arts Academy, her hobby.

Along with Luerding, three offered a package family deal and other teachers are experts in Zipfel and her husband started lessons soon after.

Tae Kwon Do. Taking lessons for two years, Foreign language teachers Luerding, Ms. Jill Dunn and Zipfel feels confident with her Ms. Renee Rehfeldt are all black skills and believes if ever needed belts and language arts teacher they would “take over as a reflexMs. Julie Zipfel is currently ive action.”

Zipfel has competed in two testing for hers.

All were looking to combat contests; one at Parkway South personal issues and thought High School in October, and the martial arts would be a good other at Lindbergh High School.

Luerding took to martial arts way to get back into shape.

One wanted to have fun with in college. She ended up gainher family, one gained a family ing a life-long hobby and a husand another thought it would band.

She believes the concepts be a good way to help recover taught in Tae Kwon Do of comfrom cancer therapy.

Zipfel thought Tae Kwon parison with one’s self and focus

11/17 @ 7:30 p.m.

Steel Train w/ House of Fools, Daniel and Grover

are “crucial concepts in life.”

Dunn faced growing older by adopting a great hobby to help keep her in shape.

She also took on Tae Kwon Do to become more fit after surgery dealing with her colon cancer.

Also taking lesson at Park’s Martial Arts, Dunn acquired her black belt in 3 ½ years, training three hours weekly and practicing at home.

Feeling more aware of her surroundings and more comfortable with her presence, Dunn has learned to handle herself better in everyday situations, including falling, which was easily dealt with using Tae Kwon Do skills.

She also had a good experience with competition. Although not allowed to spar (hand-tohand combat) due to age, Dunn

won her class in a contest for forms, in which she “showed knowledge of the moves and controlled strength.”

At 5’9”, the trophy was taller than she.

Something she really endorses with Tae Kwon Do is the “philosophy of respect for others” and emphasis on non-aggressive, passive ways to handle problems.

The teachers all seem to agree their hobby has helped them in many ways.

Helping them gain confidence, understand their surroundings and respond better in tough situations, Tae Kwon Do has given the teachers quite an excuse to kick some butt.

12/14 @ 7 p.m.

U2 with Kanye West Fox Theater 314.534.1111 11/9- 11/21 @ 2, 7:30, 8 p.m.

Chicago 11/16- 12/4 @ 2, 7:30, 8 p.m.

Wicked St. Louis Science Center 314.289.4424 11/4-12.2 6-9 p.m.

Friday Nights Live Open Mic Night Tilles County Park 314.615.7275 11/23- 1/1 Winter Wonderland 2005 Frederick’s Music Lounge 314.351.5711 11/10, 11/17 @ 8 p.m.

Open Mic and Jam Session