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Vol. 45, No. 4
Nov. 8, 2013
What makes you lhsimage.com
Lafayette High School – 17050 Clayton Rd. – Wildwood, MO 63011
Unique?
We all have something that individualizes us and makes us special. Whether it is an interesting talent, experience or condition, we all have a story worth telling.
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The decision to say the Pledge every day hasn’t come without controversy
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The necessities for safe driving during the harsh winter months
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02misc. In This Issue
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Analyzing the dangers of weight management for wrestling
Nov. 8, 2013
page 20
Debunking the myths of local haunted attractions
On The Web Sports: Cross Country enjoys stellar season led by underclassmen on both teams
Video: Lancers’ Landing Opinion: Degrading undergoes significant people for something changes they love has left its mark on society
For breaking news, check out lhsimage. com and follow @lhsimage on Twitter
and
Staff Policies Editors —
Information —
Gabby McDaris – Editor in Chief Emily Pascoe – News Editor Jack Rogan – Asst. News Editor Alex LaMar – Opinion/Entertainment Editor Avery Cantor – Features Editor Arianna Demos – Sports Editor Lucas Meyrer – Webmaster Hannah Marshall – Asst. Webmaster Katie Blackstone – Multimedia Editor Delaney Eyermann – Social Media Editor Jessica Brown – Business Manager Nancy Y. Smith, MJE – Adviser
Philosophy Statement —
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Emily Altic Jennifer Butler McKinzie Duesenberg Hannah Martin Daniel Martinez, artist Garrett McBay Jordan McDonnell Kelly Panzitta Monica Piccinni Ben Rachell Megan Rigbar Alaina Strollo
Digital Media Gabby Breiten Jalyn Henderson Courtney McFarland Haley Gassel Jacob Robbe Brendan Rodgers Ellie Swoboda Kyle Witzig
The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.
Contact Us —
Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@ rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www. lhsimage.com
Policies —
A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.
TIME TO BRING IT HOME Sophomore Dylan Quisenberry placed third as Sectionals with a time of 16:26 leading the Lancers to their first place title. The boys cross country, girls cross country and girls volleyball all claimed Sectional titles last weekend, advancing to State this weekend. The boys and girls cross country teams are defending their respective third and sixth place state finishes from last year, while volleyball is hoping for a third state championship in a row. — photo by Marie Rogan
The Cover
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Staff Members —
The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2012-2013 Image received a rating of First Class with two marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association and is a Pacemaker Finalist. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction. The 20122013 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.
The Importance of Individuality
It’s easy to make generalizations about large groups of people. But with over 2,000 students, Lafayette is filled with unique individuals. We found students whose stories are begging to be told because they have something special that separates them from the crowd.
Senior Activity Sheets Due in Room 137A By Nov. 22 132 Hilltown Village Center Chesterfield, MO 63017
636.728.0066 Custom T-Shirts In House Embroidery In House Screenprinting Signs/Banners Promotional Products Team Apparel Corporate Apparel
We specialize in international air travel, tour bookings, and cruises. For best rates and services, call (636)-532-4156 Email: bomi@bmc-travel.com
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Nov. 8, 2013
E-cigarettes: rising from the ashes of traditional tobacco cigarettes monicapiccinni –reporter–
How They Work:
1 3
2
1. Battery / Button
2. Atomizer
3. Cartridge
E-cigarettes use a rechargeable battery with a sensor that activates when the user presses the button to begin inhaling through the mouthpiece. An LED at the base lights up when inhaling, and flashes when the battery is low.
The atomizer is responsible for the production of the vapor. It consists of a small heating element that vaporizes the liquid and a wicking material that draws the liquid to it.
The cartridge is the storage compartment of the e-cigarette. It is filled manually with the liquid nicotine and holds it there to be taken up by the atomizer.
E-cigarette usage on rise offering alternative to tobacco cigarettes For decades, the war against smoking has raged. Warnings in the form of advertisements, Surgeon General warnings and school organizations have rallied for an end to cigarette use among teenagers and adults alike. Tobacco companies have managed to find a loophole in the anti-cigarette campaign: e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes offer a new way to deliver nicotine to the body. Created in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist, the intended purpose of e-cigarettes was to offer smokers a significantly healthier, risk-free alternative to traditional cigarettes. They mimic the act of smoking by producing a thick vapor inhaled by users. The electronic device is filled with liquidized nicotine that with the push of a button, the liquid is vaporized and prepared for the user to inhale. The user simply pushes the button, inhales through the mouthpiece and exhales the thick vapor, just like an actual cigarette. By smoking e-cigarettes, smokers avoid the harmful effects of tobacco combustion. No smoke is inhaled, and therefore the risk of carcinogen intake is eliminated, including that of cancer. The intended effect is proven successful in its endeavors to provide a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, but along with the benefits, e-cigarettes come with speculated consequences. As far as Lafayette goes, all nicotine-delivering mechanisms of any kind are not allowed at school. However, some students are still unclear on the policy because many e-cigarettes do not contain nicotine. It’s no secret all forms of e-cigarettes have made an appearance on school grounds recently. Principal John Shaughnessy clarified the policy and reiterated the district stance. Shaughnessy said, “The discipline book clearly states no electronic cigarettes... whether or not they contain nicotine, they’re not
Two Views Against e-cigarettes
In Favor of e-cigarettes
On one hand, critics say e-cigarettes may be encouraging non-smokers to pick up the smoking habit. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions suggests that more children and teens are trying e-cigarettes, most of which have never used a traditional cigarette before The shared middle and high school students who have tried ecigarettes reached 1.8 million teenagers in 2012, double that of the previous year. It’s no accident that more and more young people are catching on to the trend. E-cigarettes offer a variety of flavors such as traditional menthol, cherry, wild berry, chocolate and Mountain Dew. Critics of e-cigarettes see them as a gateway to encourage kids to develop a lifelong nicotine addiction, or to transition into smoking traditional cigarettes. According to nicotine expert Neal Benowitz of the University of California – San Francisco, nicotine is so addictive it rivals heroin and cocaine. For this reason, 20 percent of adults will continue to use traditional cigarettes despite their knowledge of the severe health risks. Not only are they appealing to a younger audience, they’re more accessible to them as well. Only about 20 states specifically outlaw the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Due to the novelty of the product, potential repercussions of using them are still widely unknown. Because of this, anticipations for government regulations are underway. Questions surrounding the issue include whether or not to lump them with other tobacco products, place other specific regulations on sales, or to ban them altogether. Senior Meagan Russell said, “As far as teenage use, its pointless. It can cause an addiction to nicotine, which could lead to use of the real thing.”
On the other hand, e-cigarettes have served their intended purpose in offering an alternative to cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes subtract the combustion factor from smoking. No tobacco or filler product is burned or inhaled and no ash or odor is produced. Because of this, virtually none of the thousands of chemicals and carcinogens are present. Since the nicotine itself is not what is believed to cause the health hazards, the hazards are virtually eliminated to both smokers and to bystanders. In an attempt to answer the question as to whether or not ecigarettes presented any potential harm to consumers, a 2010 court ruled that “the FDA has cited no evidence to show that electronic cigarettes have harmed anyone.” A study in New Zealand studied the behavior of 657 people trying to quit smoking, through use of nicotine patches, e-cigarettes and placebo e-cigarettes containing no nicotine. Some 7.3 percent using the e-cigarettes quit smoking through this method, as compared to the 5.8 percent that stopped through using the patch. The placebo alone racked up a 4.8 percent quitting rate. In response to criticism of e-cigarettes, an e-cigarette user who did not want to be identified said, “Personally, smoking e-cigarettes has turned me off to smoking traditional cigarettes. They’ve made me aware of the fact that the vapor is healthier than smoke, and I have no desire to try smoking traditional cigarettes because of it.” The president of Lorillard Tobacco Company, Murray S. Kessler, estimates two billion traditional cigarettes will not be smoked in the U.S. due to e-cigarette usage. Another e-cigarette user said, “Even if the nicotine is addictive, there’s no proven harm in smoking e-cigarettes. The addiction in that case is similar to that of caffeine – harmless.”
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04opinions
Nov. 8, 2013
Bullying has not gone away, it has evolved staff ed
Opinions expressed on the editorial pages do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed columns, blogs, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.
Old-fashioned face-to-face bullying may be a thing of the past, but the act of bullying has not gone away, it has evolved. Most people do not think a joke about somebody in a Facebook post or an embarrassing picture on Twitter could be considered bullying, but, it is. What gives cyberbullying such a powerful impact is that it is virtually unavoidable. Victims of bullies used to have an escape. Maybe at school people were vulnerable to taunting and teasing, but when they got home it ended. As technology and social media has evolved, this ability to escape from in-yourface taunting has disappeared. There is no way to turn off the internet. Once somebody has decided to post something about a classmate or teacher online there is nothing the victim can do to hide from it. Cyberbullying has even more of a harmful effect because it is more permanent than a passing remark in a hallway. When something goes up on a social media site, or even a personal email, traces of it will remain for as long as the internet exists. Students have been told this countless times by their parents and guest speakers in class, but for some reason, a lot of people still have not completely grasped this concept. Most likely the biggest reason behind the rise of online bullying is that the factor of im-
mediate reaction has been taken out of the equation. Everybody knows it is harder to say certain things to people when the conversation is face-to-face. Most people would never feel comfortable telling a certain joke or blindly insulting somebody if that person where able to react immediately. Yet students had no problem making relentless jokes and harassing fellow classmates when the Rockwood Confessions Twitter account existed last year. Once accountability has been removed, students at a school that prides itself as an accepting community have no problem poking fun at anything they can about their peers. Acceptance gets a lot of lip service at school. Sure, we say we are very tolerant of each other because we have programs that promote acceptance. But does just having Challenge Day and a Gay-Straight Alliance equal a real lasting impact? A lot of this stems from the fact that we live in a time of hidden animosity. To the outside observer, our school may seem like a melting pot of different types of people that all get along in harmony, but such is not the case. Every day people are made fun of for being different. Anyone who chooses to dress differently, act differently or say things that are different are subject to becoming the bane of
Two Minute Doodle
criticism from their “normal” peers. We claim to celebrate differences and things that make us unique. But, truthfully, some differences make people uncomfortable. And some people feel more secure when they make others feel insecure. So, they tease or make jokes or taunt via social media where a big audience can “enjoy” their comments and their targets have no power. It’s a shame that in today’s world, people are made fun of for being different. It’s an even bigger shame this problem continues because of the ease of hurting people anonymously through social media. Anyone who believes cyberbullying is not a real problem has not been the butt end of the joke or paid any attention to recent news accounts of bullied students committing acts of violence or taking their own lives. The solution is as simple as it sounds. Students need to stop and think about what they do online before they do it. That status update about a kid from Trigonometry might get a laugh out of some people, but who’s to say the subject will have as good of a sense of humor about it? Who’s to say that the victim won’t take it as the last straw and commit suicide or bring a gun to school the next day? It’s a slippery slope and we do not even realize that we are on it.
stars & gripes Stars To:
• Thanksgiving — the only national holiday that poses a serious threat to the calorie intake of its citizens. • Low gas prices. It feels good not having to suffer from severe mental breakdowns whenever we go to fill up. • The extra hour Daylight Savings gave everyone last Saturday. But seriously, if there was ever a day when everybody needed extra sleep, it would have been a school day. • On Nov. 15, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and volunteers will turn San Francisco into Gotham City so a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with leukemia can ride around in the Batmobile all day and “save the city from distress.” • The ultimate trifecta of film sequels to release soon: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Catching Fire.
Gripes To:
• The Cardinals getting their tail feathers handed to them in the World Series. They really dropped the ball this year. • After a shaky reformation, the Jonas Brothers have finally decided to split up the band indefinitely. They are in for the most awkward Thanksgiving dinner of all time. • The National Security Agency (NSA) has recently been found to be spying on leaders of foreign countries like Germany and Russia. Looks like the government got bored with reading our emails and decided to see what the neighbors are up to. • No-shave November. An unkempt neck-beard is not a good look for everyone. Or anyone for that matter. • Post-Halloween sugar-low/depression. It’s all fun and games until you wake up on the basement floor in a fox costume surrounded by Snickers wrappers.
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Nov. 8, 2013
Stricter gun control laws offer only solution to ending mass shootings Sandy Hook. Aurora. Virginia Tech. Columbine. All were sites of mass shootings that have happened in our lifetime and all had one thing in common; they could have been prevented. Whenever these shootings occur, there seems to be a set timeline of events. Asking why this happened, how it could have happened and what the country should do to prevent another tragedy. Gun laws are discussed — how making them stricter could have saved lives. But, nothing is ever actually done. Something has to change or these tragic events are going to keep happening. It’s not so much that people don’t want their guns taken away, but more that they don’t want their freedoms taken away. This country is in a deadly stalemate that seems to have no end and as long as this continues, nothing will change. When the Second Amendment was established, times were much different. There were no police officers, and people needed a way to protect themselves. We no longer live in the Colonial times. This is obviously an epidemic in our country and it needs to be treated. A mass shooting is defined as four or more victims not including the killer. It is now so prevalent that I don’t become surprised anymore when I hear about them, but rather more and more enraged. What will it take for a change to be made in this country? Obviously losing many innocent lives is not enough, so what is?
Let Me Tell You
gabbymcdaris –editor in chief–
Although there may not be a significant statistical uprise in mass shootings, our generation seems to have lived through the bulk of them. Making guns available to teachers is in no way the answer to school shootings. No matter the training and preparations the teachers may go through, fatalities will still occur and there is nothing that will change this. It may be even more dangerous, although schools and government officials claim the guns will be safely locked away, such claims from parents in the past haven’t stopped anything. “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” seems to be the one of the most prominent catchphrases in America. Correct, people kill people, but people with guns kill more people. Back in September, there were a series of stabbings at a school in Texas. Four teens were stabbed and one of the four died. In Hong Kong, a man stabbed 22 children in an elementary school. Although several of the children were put in critical condition, none of them were fatally wounded.
If the knife had been replaced with a gun, the fatalities would have climbed tremendously. The stubborn attitude of these “freedom fighters” needs to be quelled with the simple argument of human lives. Americans need to ask themselves what is more valuable; someone’s right to keep a Glock in their bedside table or a parent’s right to feel confident in the safety of their child as they head off to school each day. People will kill no matter what, but if we limit the means by which they kill, countless lives will be spared. This is not a call to ban all guns. Statistics show that this may lead to an increase in crime rates. It is instead a call for stricter gun laws. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. has the highest gun-related murder rate in the developed world. To go along with this, the United States has the most firearms per 100 people. The correlation between the two numbers is blatant, but for some reason no one seems to want to change anything. My dad once made a point about gun owners, “it’s not that they don’t want their guns taken away, but that they don’t want their rights taken away.” Because we live in the “free world”, whenever there is some sort of imposed threat to our freedom, there is a boy cried wolf situation and everything is swept under the rug. There is almost no doubt that there will be another school shooting before 2013 ends. They have become an alltoo-common occurrence and will continue until we stop reflecting and asking questions and start changing laws.
Around the country, across the web and all over the school we find things that intrigue us. Here are a few things that are on our radar this month:
1
- With Turkey Day fast approaching, the time to be thankful is here once again. Here are some great places to look up for opportunities to volunteer for the less fortunate: • Food Outreach • St. Louis Area Food Bank • Circle of Hope • Ronald McDonald House • Circle of Concern
- Thanksgiving is turning into Black Thursday. Stores like Target and Macy’s are opening on Thanksgiving Day to beat the Black Friday rush. Check the websites of your favorite store to see if their opening time changed, too. Or, don’t, and enjoy what is supposed to be a holiday.
3
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- New club posters seem to be popping up every day. We can’t wait to join the Sharknado Appreciation Coalition just in time for the sequel.
4
- The working TVs in the Commons were replaced with flat-screens. Now all we need to do is replace those stupid clocks with the horses on them.
Religious intolerance often comes from those least suspected Recently, a good friend of mine crossed the line. A group of my friends were sitting around, eating lunch as we usually did, when the topic of discussion switched to Christian practices. It started out harmless. One person asked about the scripture passages that priests read during mass. She asked what we do when we run out of Bible verses to read, but before I could answer the question, another friend of mine jumped in, reiterating the question with a bit of a mocking tone. “Don’t they ever get tired of listening to the same stories every year?” she asked, “Like, there are only so many stories in the Bible, don’t they ever run out of stuff to say? They just read the same stuff over and over…” “Yeah,” another one chimed in. “They’re all like ‘Oh, I guess we’ll just read this one again...’” she said in a goofy, imitative voice. I nonchalantly challenged the point, asking her if she went to mass often and
pointing out that the scriptures read at mass do not rotate on a yearly cycle, but she became sort of argumentative. It got to the point that I started trying to discreetly change the subject instead. It was obvious I was becoming frustrated at this point, but she continued to drive the conversation in a direction that I was not comfortable with. It was not until I blatantly asked for us to change the subject when the group decided to let it rest. A few days later, she found me and apologized, which I greatly appreciate and respect her for, but I would be lying if I said I was not still upset about it. I know she has always been a good friend to me and even when our vastly different political views caused heated discussion, she is a reasonable person and would never try to personally offend me. Even so, that only made it even more concerning that she said everything she did about my religion without giving much thought to my feelings until after
the fact. Anyone who knows me well might think it’s a bit hypocritical for me to say all this. I have a bit of a reputation among my friends for telling jokes which may sometimes come off as disrespectful. That being said, I know there’s a line to be crossed and if I ever do cross it, I am nothing but apologetic. In the heat of the conversation, I was becoming uncomfortable, yet pushed further until I became downright offended. This is not the first time I’ve faced blind discernment from a peer with a liberal agenda. Being a young conservative in a liberal world often leads to arguments and advances at my personal beliefs. It is no secret the left side of the political spectrum is generally not a fan of the Christian faith. Every day I see internet memes, television shows and even segments on wellestablished news networks such as MS-
NBC that speak about my religion with extreme distaste. I know there are definitely religious groups who go too far, but I’ve seen that a lot of people assume every Christian is a gay-bashing, judgmental fanatic, just because the Westboro Baptist Church exists. People say the actions of extremist groups like Al Queda do not reflect the true nature of Islam, so why does the same argument not work for Catholics? Despite its negative depiction of Christianity, the liberal-dominant media claims to be a big proponent of religious equality. I could not tell you how many “Coexist” bumper stickers I see on a daily basis, yet Catholics are somehow exempt from this outlook for acceptance of all religions. Is this not supposed to be the age of equality? Maybe it’s about time some people realize religious equality should not entitle
I’m Just Sayin’ alexlamar
–opinions editor– talking up certain religions that appear to be downtrodden and breaking down others that they don’t agree with. I am not saying I have no sense of humor on religious manners, but there is a difference between poking fun and being blatantly disrespectful. To an extent, I can tolerate a joke or pun about the church here and there, but this circumstance was a spiteful challenge of my practices, even if the speaker did not aim to offend.
Your Turn What do you think about saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day?
jordanmcdonnell –reporter–
Sophia Kornfield, 9
Erica Anderson, 10
Emily Toscano, 11
Zach Tulloch, 12
Ollie Helbig, SRO
”I don’t mind it. It doesn’t really bother me standing up and saying it.”
“I think it’s fine. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s just kind of lacking meaning and deflating the importance of it by saying it every day. ”
“It’s important to honor our troops.”
“I think it’s nice. It doesn’t bother me.”
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06news >Community Care
Can We Do It? Drive aims to collect 25,000 cans meganrigabar –reporter–
“
I think that kids don’t realize the need that is in West County. They think there is somewhere far away that this need exists, but it’s not. It’s right here. There are families that don’t have jobs, not just one person. In some families, both the husband and wife don’t have jobs. kirtimehrotra –Asst. Principal
”
Affluence. Wealth. Business. These are the words that come to mind at the mention of West County, rather than words such as job loss, starvation and poverty. The reality is that poverty does exist in West County. Organizations such as Circle of Concern exist to serve people living in poverty by providing food for families who cannot afford to feed themselves. In 2012, Circle of Concern gave out 45,706 bags of groceries-enough to put a bag of food on every single seat in Busch Stadium...and then some. “Hunger is hidden. We don’t know whose stomach is growling and who will go home and know that there’s nothing to pour into a bowl,” Juliet Holden, Community Communications Director at Circle of Concern, said. While working at Circle of Concern, Holden has found that all too often, the stereotype of a wealthy West County is actually gilded: the seemingly nice outside disguises the underprivileged inside. “What we’re finding is that people who might even still live in really nice homes in West County are struggling to pay the mortgage on them or their homes are about to be lost because there’s no job. We have people who are in an area that looks so affluent but are struggling to just get food on the table,” Holden said. In order to provide those in need with food, Circle of Concern accumulates a majority of their stock through both individual donations of food and cash donations, which go directly towards the purchase of food rather than the organization itself. “Overall for our agency, half of what comes in our door is canned or donated food. The other half is cash, which then gets applied to food that we choose and buy at very reduced prices,” Holden said. Just like food pantries everywhere, Circle of Concern experiences ups and downs in its stock due to its reliance on individual donations. The months of September through October as well as the months of February through April are usually months when the food stock is particularly low. “What we see happening in September and October is that people are preparing to be so generous during the holiday season, but in those months beforehand, the food is getting really sparse on pantry shelves,” Holden said. Although stock is very low in September and October, an influx of food comes around the holiday season. In fact, the quantity of food that is received from Thanksgiving through December helps stock the shelves into January and February. Items such as canned chili, canned meat, canned pastas and sauces are important yearround. In addition, items such as cereal and peanut butter are valued for the nutritional value and simplicity. “We like to be able to have peanut butter handy because it is a good, solid nutritional source. Cereal is important for us because that’s an easy thing for a family to serve and to eat. If they don’t have good cooking facilities, cereal can help them get through those times,”
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Holden said. The abundant supply of food during the holiday season enables Circle of Concern to create Thanksgiving baskets to give to those who otherwise might not get a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In 2012, 791 families signed up to receive Thanksgiving baskets. “When we send out a Thanksgiving basket, it has the turkey, it has canned vegetables and it has boxed stuffing. It also includes potatoes, carrots and onions to cook with. We look for all of the traditional fixings of a Thanksgiving meal,” Holden said. The ability to create the Thanksgiving baskets and other holiday meals is additionally fueled by the many food drives that take place during the holiday season, namely in schools. “We rely on school food drives. Young people have a very clear sense of care for others. I don’t care what anybody says, that’s what we find. When young people know that there are people starving and hungry in their neighborhoods and communities, they want to do something about it,” Holden said. Holden encourages young people to expand food drives beyond schools and into the other “circles of influence” in the lives of youth, such as sports teams and religious organizations. “If young people look at all the other circles of influence they have, all the other places where they go, and promote the idea of doing a food drive, we will get many more people fed without worry of running out of anything,” Holden said. School drives are important not only because they supply food, but because they provide Circle of Concern with the resources to satisfy more than people’s immediate needs. “We start getting a lot in, for example, when Lafayette does a food drive; you bring it in and we’re so grateful because we can both address immediate needs for people coming in and we can do special programs, like the Thanksgiving baskets,” Holden said. Fortunately, the poverty in the West County area is often matched by the generosity of others. We have very generous neighbors in West County. We’re so grateful for what we get,” Holden said.
>Lancer Leadership Students are combating hunger in the community through the annual Canned Food Drive Oct. 31-Nov. 30. Although it was originally started by Student Council (STUCO) many years ago, the Canned Food Drive has recently expanded under the leadership of Asst. Principal Kirti Mehrotra. “I took it on probably five years ago. The first time we collected only 2,000 or 3,000 cans and then the last two years we’ve done 18,000 [cans]. Now the goal is 25,000 and I’m really hoping that we’re going to be able to achieve it. With all the kids supporting us, I think we can do it,” Mehrotra said. The food drive was kicked off with STUCO’s Trick or Treat for Cans on Halloween night. David Choate, STUCO sponsor, said 25 kids collected about 1,000 cans in the hour and a half they spent going door-to-door.
Nov. 8, 2013
The food drive lasts the entire month of November. Afterwards, the cans will be donated to Circle of Concern during the first week of December. The drive will be initiated through 1st Hour classes, where leaders in each classroom will help encourage class donations. Since the Canned Food Drive is ultimately headed by Mehrotra and the Junior Class, Junior Advisory is taking a lead role in can collection through its Junior Advisory participants. “We asked the juniors to take a leadership role in their 1st Hour classes and go to their 1st hour teacher and say ‘Hey, what can we do to help our class collect a bunch of cans?’” Todd Decker, Junior Class sponsor, said. In addition, Junior Advisory will be taking the initiative outside of Lafayette. “Advisory is going to go to different subdivisions and post flyers and collect cans throughout the houses in their subdivisions,” Decker said. Aside from students in Junior Advisory, students involved in Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), Key Club, National Honor Society (NHS) and STUCO are also involved. “ROTC is helping us with putting the boxes in all the classrooms and collecting the cans, so they are going to have a big role. NHS and Key Club are supporting us with volunteers and STUCO has always done an amazing job because they get points along with Key Club for bringing cans in,” Mehrotra said. Extra measures are being taken in an effort to expand the scope of the drive beyond Lafayette. “We’re doing can pickups at Dierbergs, Schnucks and Wal-Mart. We’ve had dented cans donated to us from these grocery stores in prior years, so we’ve collected them. For the whole month of November, they’ve given us their dented cans,” Mehrotra said. Recently, representatives of the Junior Class collected about 951 cans at the Schnucks can pick-up on November 2. Also on Nov. 2, other students collected 1,093 cans outside of Wal-Mart on behalf of the Senior Class. On Nov. 3, representatives of the Sophomore Class collected 863 cans at Schnucks. Help is needed for the last can pick-up on November 16 at Schnucks. Although this can pick-up represents the freshman class, volunteers from all grade levels are welcome. In order to reach this year’s goal of 25,000 cans, cooperation among all levels at Lafayette will be necessary for success. “I really think involving every single kid is going to be the key; teachers motivating the kids to get involved and kids motivating the teachers to get involved. If we had a goal of 10 cans per kid, we could achieve our goal very easily,” Mehrotra said. Still, the Canned Food Drive is about more than just fulfilling a quota of can donations. The drive serves to foster a passion for community service and generosity in the lives of students and teachers alike. “My ultimate goal is really to fill the football field with cans. That’s my dream and if we can do that in 20 years, I’m fine with that. Eventually I want our kids to understand that it’s their responsibility to serve in the community in which they live,” Mehrotra said.
Marcie Handler
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Nov. 8, 2013
The Power of Petition
Student effort leads to daily Pledge, but not all students agree with change lucasmeyrer –webmaster–
Freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution serve as the backbone of America, and few rights are more sacred than those guaranteed under the First Amendment. Free speech, freedom of established religion, free assembly, free press and the right to petition are all practiced daily, but recently the latter has been making waves at Lafayette. Due to junior Taylor Kaddouri’s petition to the administration, students and staff have been saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day since Oct. 7, as opposed to the previous recitation once a week. In an interview with Image digital media editor Katie Blackstone, Kaddouri explained why she started her petition. “My friend didn’t come back [from the U.S. military conflict in the Middle East] and another friend came back in a wheelchair. [Not saying the Pledge every day] has bothered me for the past two years, but I never had enough courage to do something about it,” Kaddouri said. Missouri state guidelines stipulate that public high schools are only required to say the Pledge a minimum of once a week, and Kaddouri began her petition to increase this frequency in her classes. “I have Study Hall blocked, so I went class to class and waited at each teacher’s door and waited for an acknowledgement, and said, ‘Can I take three minutes and just explain what I’m doing,’” Kaddouri said. Kaddouri accumulated “around 479” signatures during the week of Sept. 30 and turned in the petition to Principal John Shaughnessy via his secretary later that week. Shaughnessy first heard about the petition when his secretary gave it to him. “It was just an item in my inbox, and I read it,” he said. Shaughnessy took steps to address the petition by adding it to the agenda for the next meeting the administration was having. The administrators wrestled with the pros and cons about what implementing
the Pledge every day would mean. “The conversations were very good; they were very purposeful. This was something at the time that I felt, after our conversations, we could implement here easily without a lot of issues,” Shaughnessy said. He had not been confronted with a student petition before, and the Rockwood School District does not have specific guidelines established regarding the subject. “[The administration] would look at the reasons why [it was signed]; the implications. We would look and see how it fits current practices and current policies that we follow here,” Shaughnessy said of how petitions would be addressed. The signatures on Kaddouri’s petition amount to roughly one-fourth of the student body, but Shaughnessy said the specific number of signers, in a school setting, doesn’t necessarily matter. “I’m not aware that if it reaches a certain number of signatures I have to implement this whether I like it or not. I don’t think the sheer number of signatures has anything to do with it in the final decision,” Shaughnessy said. The administrative team approved her request and Shaughnessy informed the staff at its meeting on Oct. 7, where they decided to have the Pledge read at the very start of the day rather than during the 3rd Hour announcements. Kaddouri said she started reciting the Pledge the very next morning. While saying the Pledge every day has become standard, it has not been without some opposing points of view. Freshman Josh Essman began a petition himself on Oct. 11 to stop the practice of saying the Pledge daily. “There were just a lot of people who did not like saying it every day. A lot of people were thinking of starting a petition, and I thought I would,” Essman said. Essman had his own personal reasoning behind why he started his petition. “[Students] don’t really understand what it means...Most of them don’t know much about politics and what they’re saying when they say the Pledge every morn-
ing,” Essman said. Essman walked around during lunches, passing periods and before and after school to advertise his petition. By Oct. 18, he had collected over 350 signatures. Essman’s petitioning was not without controversy. He met with Assistant Principal Colleen Fields on Oct. 16 regarding a verbal altercation with a student in his 7th Hour class. Essman said the student, when seeing the petition a second time, saw her name on it and claimed she had not written it herself. “She [Fields] said that I can keep doing what I’m doing, and I was not disciplined at the time but I might be in the future,” Essman said. Reaction to both petitions has been mixed. In the interview with Blackstone, Kaddouri discussed both positive and negative feedback. “I’ve had one teacher basically make fun of it, saying, ‘We should say it every class period and run around with sparklers.’ And I’ve also had some that said, ‘It took a lot of courage, and I’m really proud of you and really glad that somebody was able to do that,’” Kaddouri said. When asked about Essman’s petition, Kaddouri remained committed to the Constitution. “It’s a free country. I respect that, and I wish him well,” Kaddouri said. Essman also noted when it came to his petition, student response varied. “They would either say ‘Sure,’ they would say ‘What is your reasoning?’ and then I’d explain, they’d say ‘No thank you,’ in which case I’d move on, or they would call me a Communist...maybe 50 people called me Communist, and that concerns me because that’s not quite what Communism is,” Essman said. Essman also noted that many didn’t really have an opinion on the topic either way. “A large number of people did not care. They wouldn’t care whether or not the pledge was said every day,” he added. Shaughnessy said he had not really heard of any student opposition regard-
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FREEDOM DEMONSTRATED In Language Arts teacher Jeffrey Landow’s 1st Hour AP Language class, students stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance while senior Eric Rodriguez practices his Constitutional right to not stand up during the Pledge. — photo by Lucas Meyrer ing Kaddouri’s petition and its implementation. When asked about the possibility of considering a petition with a similarly large number of signers stating they didn’t want the Pledge said every morning, Shaughnessy said, “I can’t give you an exact answer right now on that.”
What do YOU think? Log on to lhsimage.com to vote whether you think students should say the Pledge every day or once a week.
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You Can’t Stop the
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Students, staff anticipate upcoming shows; reflect on favorite concerts, venues from past jessicabrown
–business manager– It seems the month of November is bringing an unusually large number of big name artists to St. Louis. Selena Gomez, Florida Georgia Line, Timeflies, P!nk, Justin Timberlake, Hunter Hayes and Elton John are just a few of the acts stopping by this month. Senior Margaret Broz is hoping to see MGMT Nov. 12 at the Peabody Opera House. The group has been around since 2004 and their most notable songs include Kids and Electric Feel. “I’m looking forward to hearing them live and getting to see the kind of show they put on. I haven’t been to many live shows but I saw The 1975 and it was insanely fun so now I’m addicted,” Broz said. Junior Cassie Breiten is going to get to see Justin Timberlake perform on his 20/20 Experience World Tour when it comes to town on Nov. 19 at the Scottrade Center. “I think just seeing him sing live will be awesome, I’ve always been a big fan of him. The 20/20 Experience is my favorite of his [albums] so far,” she said. St. Louis has no shortage of concert venues. There are both large venues like Scottrade and smaller venues like The Pageant or The Firebird. Sophomore Julianne Beffa prefers Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. “It’s outside and there’s lots of places to go. It’s
good in the grass because there’s no assigned seats so you can move around and see all your friends,” Beffa said. Freshman Jack Deubner saw Elton John the last time he came to town at the Peabody Opera House. “The lighting was fantastic, sound shook the entire place, you could clearly see Elton from any seat. Unforgettable,” Deubner said. Sophomore Katherine Murphy has seen concerts at the Scottrade Center. She said, “It’s a really good sound. There’s a lot more the performer can do like go up in the air because they have more room for the stage and special effects.” Murphy saw the Carrie Underwood concert last year at the Scottrade Center as part of Underwood’s Blown Away Tour. Language Arts teacher David Choate prefers seeing concerts at The Fox. He has seen Bruce Springsteen perform twice. “The Fox has a way of making a large space feel intimate. Just Bruce, his guitar, his harmonica and Choate,” he said. Keep your eyes out for tickets to concerts in December and beyond. Drake, Beyoncé, Panic! At The Disco, Lady Antebellum, Demi Lovato, Cher Lloyd and Cher have already been scheduled to perform. Check individual artist’s websites to see when tickets go on sale, which venue they will play in and ticket prices.
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What’s the first concert you ever saw? “I haven’t [been to one] but I like pop music.” Selena Gomez in 6th grade.
Kevin Chang/9
“Selena Gomez in 6th grade.”
Sarah Harshman/10
Brad Paisley two years ago “Brad in May. Paisley two
years ago in May.”
Brenna Schomburg/11
“Cheetah Girls in 5th grade. It was great!”
Upcoming Concerts
• P!nk @ Scottrade Center Nov. 11. Tickets $36.50-$96.50 • MGMT @ Peabody Opera House Nov. 12. Tickets are $32.50. • Asking Alexandria @ The Pageant Nov. 14. General admission tickets are $27.50. • Hunter Hayes @ The Fox Nov. 14. Tickets start at $32.50. • Selena Gomez @ Chaifetz Arena Nov. 18. Tickets start at $29.50. • Justin Timberlake @ Scottrade Center Nov. 19. Tickets $45-$278. • Elton John @ Chaifetz Arena Nov. 24. Tickets start at $39. • Kanye West @ Scottrade Center Dec. 2. Tickets $46.50- $127 • Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys, Gavin Degraw, Five for Fighting @ The Family Arena in St. Charles Dec. 8. Tickets start at $29.75. • Drake @ Scottrade Center Dec. 11. Tickets start $46.75- $96.75 • Beyoncé at Scottrade Center Dec. 14. Tickets $45-$250. • Panic! At The Disco at The Pageant Jan. 22. General admission tickets are $29.75. • Lady Antebellum @ Chaifetz Arena Feb. 13. Tickets start at $51.50 • Robin Thicke w/ Jessie J @ The Fox March 15. Tickets start at $45. • Demi Lovato w/ Cher Lloyd @ Chaifetz Arena March 20. Tickets start at $26.50.
Nov. 8, 2013
Rachel Ruppert/12
“My first concert was Chicago.”
Mandy Lewis/ staff
Chemistry/Physics Tutor Available
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Represent your school at a community band event Nov. 23rd
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Nov. 8, 2013
An Unorthodox Thanksgiving
Students, staff share unique traditions for their family holiday celebrations delaneyeyermann –social media coordinator– Thanksgiving is an American tradition in which families come together and have a feast to celebrate and give thanks, but there are some students and staff that have managed to put their own twist on this holiday. Because the holiday is an American tradition some families that immigrated may not celebrate it. Immigrating to America when she was 9, junior Adriana Chepote’s family does not celebrate Thanksgiving. “We’re from Peru and over there, Thanksgiving doesn’t exist,” Chepote said.
Chepote said her family acknowledges the holiday, but instead of having a traditional Thanksgiving they add their own twist. “We embrace Thanksgiving, but we don’t celebrate it,” Chepote said. One thing Chepote and her family do not like about Thanksgiving is the food. “Peruvian food has a lot of seasoning and has a lot of rice and chicken,” Chepote said, “so we don’t like the traditional Thanksgiving food. The stuffing is so weird.” Someone else who has managed to merge their own culture with the American culture is Assistant Principal Kirti Mehrotra. “We celebrate all our Indian holidays and all of the [American] holidays,” Mehrotra said.
Originally from India, Mehrotra has incorporated her native culture with this American holiday. Mehrotra said, “My kids like mashed potatoes a lot and I make apple pie, but I will also make four or five Indian dishes with it.” She added, “We don’t do a turkey because I’m a vegetarian, but we have done Cornish hens because my kids eat meat. Then we combine it with some of the Indian delicacies my kids like.” Mehrotra and her family engage in the tradition of giving thanks for one another, but they also like to have a little fun. “We have fun playing games with each other,” said Mehrotra, “and we usually watch a movie; we might do an all-nighter movie.” While a Thanksgiving feast traditionally includes
turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, vegetarians may have a hard time participating in this feast due to the limited amount of dishes they can eat. Because some cultures also choose a vegetarian lifestyle, participating in the holiday with all its traditional foods is challenging. Radhika Patel, junior, said, “My entire family is vegetarian, but we still celebrate Thanksgiving.” As Patel points out, there are many alternatives that allow even vegetarians to have a feast. Though Patel does not have a traditional Thanksgiving feast, she said her and her family has their own feast that is vegetarian friendly. Patel said, “We don’t have turkey, but my mom makes a bunch of fake meat alternatives like meatless hot dogs and beef.”
Your Turn What is something unusual about your family’s Thanksgiving celebration?
meganrigabar –reporter–
Nick Brook, 9
Michael Swisher, 10
Kayla Eckardt, 11
Noah Hendel, 12
Marietta Koziatek, Math Teacher
“I have eaten snake on Thanksgiving. My uncle brought it and it was good.”
“For Thanksgiving we’ve had a tur-duckin. It’s a duck inside a chicken and a chicken inside a turkey.”
“I have ‘pink stuff’ which is also known as molded fruit salad. It’s my favorite dish.”
“My family is very into Black Friday, so to save time, sometimes they just order pizza.”
“I have a corn casserole that’s southern that has grits, corn, cheddar cheese and onions.”
Join us for FRESHMAN PREVIEW DAY. Friday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. tour campus / learn about academic programs / check out financial aid & scholarships
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What makes you
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Unique?
Some differences are noticeable right away, but often others go unseen. It is these special traits that make us individuals. They should be celebrated.
way, or at least noticed his hair. Tim Thompson, sophomore, is used to getting attention for his hair. Possibly the coolest thing about his afro is that it just grows that way. “It’s natural. It’s curly right when I wake up,” Thompson said. Styling it doesn’t take long either, as Thompson said it only takes 10 minutes to “pick.” Thompson usually gets a positive response to his hair, but he admits his dad and grandpa dislike it mainly because they don’t think he’ll be able to get a job if he continues to rock the afro. As far as compliments go though, Thompson said, “[People] say that they like it, really. There was a speaker yesterday in one of my classes and he said that it was cool.” Many are fascinated by Thompson’s hair and even ask to touch it. Thompson said his afro never really gets in the way because, “it’s just like anybody else’s hair.” While Thompson said, “I just don’t like getting it cut, I hate getting it cut,” he does admit that he will most likely change his hair when he gets older.
–reporter–
I am Katie Hansen
Sophomore Katie Hansen has been racing junior dragsters since she was about ten. Her dad was the one who introduced her to racing. “My dad has been doing this stuff since he was a kid. He started off racing normal bikes, then he got into building cars, and now we race together” Hansen said. Hansen’s first racing experience was against an eighteenyear-old boy. She was a bit hesitant to racing at first. “I was really nervous; he was experienced. My dad just told me what to do and I told myself ‘I can do it.’ Then we raced and I beat him,” Hansen said. Races take place on an eighth of a mile straightaway. Each race is single elimination, so the more you win, the further you advance in competition. Hansen has won several competitions and races in the Gateway Junior Dragster League in Illinois. Last summer, she won second place out of the 60 participants in her division. “I really like the energy of racing. It’s really exciting beforehand and then, it’s fun going really fast and beating people,” Hansen said. In addition to the adrenaline rush, Hansen said she likes getting to spend time with her dad. “We work on it at home together and then we have to determine the times we are going to get and estimate how we’re going to finish,” Hansen said.
&I race Jr. Dragsters
lucasmeyrer –webmaster–
I am Trevor Dillon & I am a Yu-Gi-Oh! Fanatic
averycantor
chair. Some people may say that is an obstacle that I have to overcome, but throughout my life I’ve turned that into an advantage over others, in a positive way,” senior Ryan Scott said. Scott is an opportunist. Being confined to an automatic wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy might be enough to drain somebody’s motivation completely, but Scott uses his disability as an amplifier to his determination instead. “I try to turn this negative into a positive,” Scott said, “I don’t let it define me.” Over the years, Scott has been able to use his physical disability to expand his mental capability by a large margin. This has proven very beneficial when it comes to schoolwork. “I can’t write, so I’ve adapted to be able to do math in my head. Every math problem that’s on the board I can solve mentally. In lectures, I don’t ever need notes, and because of that, I never study. I feel like I have an advantage over most by doing that,” Scott said. Despite his inability to participate in some activities because of his situation, Scott still finds himself able to enjoy everyday life. He is a joker. “You have two choices in life: you can either laugh or cry,” Scott said, “Personally, I prefer to laugh.”
jessicabrown
I should be in 8th Grade
–features editor–
& I am in a wheelchair “Obviously, I’m in a wheel-
& I have an afro
While most high school sophomores are preparing for the freedom they get with their driver’s license, Meghana Bharadwaj has accepted that she will be dependent on rides for a few more years. Bharadwaj won’t turn 16 until October 2015 and if she decides to graduate early she will not be able to get around independently until her freshman year of college. What makes Bharadwaj special is her advancement in education; she is the youngest member of the Class of 2016. “I did this weird thing where I skipped half of preschool and half of kindergarten. I went into kindergarten not knowing how to hold a pencil or write and all I really knew was my alphabet,” Bharadwaj said. Bharadwaj skipped a semester of pre-school, a semester of kindergarten and all of 6th grade to get so ahead. She went to the Thomas Jefferson School for middle school and entered Lafayette as a 12 year old. Despite her youth, Bharadwaj excels academically. She took Advanced Placement (AP) World History in 8th grade, AP Economics as a freshman and is currently in place to take five AP Exams this May. “I love taking these advanced classes and being around more mature people. I like being in high school,” Bharadwaj said.
Senior Trevor Dillon has titled himself the “Lafayette King of Games” in reference to his passion for the popular card game, Yu-Gi-Oh!. Dillon began playing in 1st Grade when his friend introduced him to the cards and taught him how to play the game. He received his first starter deck on Christmas of that year. “I got a glimpse of the game and I knew it was for me. I really got into it and I started to get better and better every time,” Dillon said. Dillon often duels outside of school and occasionally brings his cards to school to duel against his peers. However, most students are not much of a challenge for Dillon. “No one has ever beaten me here, but if anyone is willing to give me a challenge they can,” he said. After over a decade of dueling, Dillon has obtained quite the collection of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. He estimates that he has over a thousand cards in total. “I can’t really have a favorite card because every card has a specific purpose in the duel. Not one card ever stands out; you always need to have a backup because you may not always draw your best card,” Dillon said. Although Dillon said the best thing about being an excellent duelist is “bragging rights,” he also enjoys teaching others how to play the game. “If anyone is interested in learning the game, you can come find me, or someone I’ve trained, and we can help you,” Dillon said.
I am Ryan Scott
I am Tim Thompson Chances are, you’ve probably seen him in the hall-
I am Meghana Bharadwaj
I am Tyler Woodsmall
& I am colorblind
mckinzieduesenberg –reporter–
& I have Alopecia
astonished at her changed appearance. “I'm sure they were shocked. A lot of them probably still don't really know what is going on,” Marshall said. What Marshall is referring to is the rapid development of Alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles which makes the affected areas to stop growing and the hair to fall out. There are three types of Alopecia: Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis, all of which affected Marshall within a nine month period and caused her to gradually lose all of the hair on her body. Despite the dramatic change in her life, Marshall has managed to remain grounded with the help of her volleyball team and coaches that were extremely supportive throughout the ordeal. “I’ve heard a lot of kids with Alopecia become deeply depressed, quit everything and became homeschooled, but I never went through that,” she said. Marshall is eager to answer any questions about her situation and requests that anyone who is curious to ask. Marshall said, “Please, anyone who wants to know about it can come talk to me. Seriously, I would much rather that than everyone make assumptions.”
emilyaltic –reporter–
I am Harry Young
I am abnormally flexible
alexlamar
Sophomore Sam Strobel’s accident in 4th Grade changed his life perspective. While visiting his family’s farm, catastrophe struck. Strobel and his father were taking a tractor ride and Strobel held on to the side of tractor. Then, the tractor hit a septic tank and Strobel went flying. “I hit my head on the step and landed right in front of the rear wheel. The tractor started rolling and rolling and it stopped right before it got to my head,” Strobel said. Immediately after, he was rushed to the emergency room, only to find out their hospital didn’t have a suitable children’s trauma center. He was then airlifted to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. His injuries were minimal compared to what they should have been; he suffered a fractured shoulder blade, bruised lungs and other minor injuries. “That was when I finally figured out I wasn’t invincible like every other kid,” Strobel said. After this near-death accident, Strobel learned to appreciate his friends that much more because he realized how quickly they could be taken away. “You see differently after going through something like that,” said Strobel, “Every day is a gift.”
I am Sam Strobel alainastrollo
&I got hit by a tractor
–reporter–
I am Paige Burnet
–features editor– and discovered the way he had been seeing the world was very different from how others see it. A standard color blindness test was performed and Woodsmall was presented with images of dots with hidden numbers in different colors. “Most of the pictures just looked like random dots to me. I thought it wasn’t true because I can see colors and I always thought if someone was color blind they only could see black and white,” Woodsmall said. For the most part, he has not been affected by being colorblind. “Sometimes my friends will say look at that guy in the blue shirt and I’ll have to look for something purple,” Woodsmall said. This color deficiency, although it poses some minor troubles at times, has given Woodsmall a more creative outlook on life and the way colors are portrayed.
I am Hannah Marshall When senior Hannah Marshall entered high school many of her peers were
–entertainment/opinions editor–
averycantor
The term “color blindness” is often misleading as most diagnosed as color blind are actually not color deficient. Senior Tyler Woodsmall was born with this color deficiency. He does not see the world like everyone views old cartoons, but he does struggle to recognize the colors we see everyday. “There are a bunch of colors that I will get confused. It’s mostly colors that are similar, like blue I see as purple, red as pink, yellow as green, dark green as black and brown as red,” Woodsmall said. When Woodsmall was in the 5th grade, he recognized something was different about him. “I was giving my friend trouble for having a pink backpack. He said it was red but I didn’t believe him. After everyone in the class agreed it was red I thought something was up,” Woodsmall said. Woodsmall went in for a routine eye exam
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&I had a blood clot
I am Frankie Biondo
& I was legally dead
The list of people who have died and come back to life is a short one. According to the United States government, senior Frankie Biondo is on that list. The problem arose when Biondo’s grandfather, with whom he shared the same name, passed away. “My grandpa died and we have the same name and I lived with him, so we had the same bank. The bank put him as dead, but apparently that wasn’t enough. They decided to put me as dead, too,” Biondo said. It didn’t take long for Biondo to realize something was wrong. “My school stuff started not working for some reason and I didn’t know why and then my mom told me I was dead,” Biondo said. Since he wanted to get the situation resolved as soon as possible, Biondo had to go to the Social Security office to resolve the problem. “It went all the way to Social Security and so we had to go to the Social Security office, not once, but twice to get it resolved,” Biondo said. Rest assured, Biondo is currently alive and well. Although the event was a hassle, Biondo regained his legal existence after a week and developed an unbelievable story in the process.
meganrigabar –reporter–
When junior Paige Burnet was in 3rd grade, she was taken to the hospital after she passed out and was unresponsive. The doctors found a severe problem in her brain. “I had a blood clot the size of a golf ball,” she said, “I was taken to Children’s Hospital where they said I had a 10 percent chance of living, and if I did live I had a two percent chance of ever walking again.” The operation lasted six hours and the blood clot was successfully removed. After the operation, however, Burnet was unresponsive in the ICU for three days. “When I woke up, my speech was totally normal and I was moved to a normal unit,” she said. Walking became her next obstacle. “We custom ordered a wheel chair because they didn’t think I would be able to walk,” she said, “but by the time the wheelchair came, I didn’t need half of the things on it.” For the next few days, Burnet gradually began to walk again. “Every day they would take another part off the wheelchair until, four days later, I was walking with a walker. The next day, with a cane, and the next day, I was walking normally,” she said. Now, Burnet can walk, talk and function just as she was able to before her operation, and is left with nothing but a scar.
jackrogan
–asst. news editor–
“To be special is to be able to do something out of the ordinary,” sophomore Harry Young said. Young is a bit different than others with his ability to move his entire leg behind his head. Young discovered his talent in the summer of 2011 after being challenged by a friend. “[My friend] asked, ‘Is anybody here really flexible?’ And told him that I would see if I was. In the end, I was able to get my leg up there,” Young said. Though this task requires exceptional flexibility, Young said he has never done anything that could improve his flexibility, like gymnastics. “In the past I have broken my leg, but I don’t know if that did anything that affected it,” Young said. Though Young doesn’t know how he learned how to put his leg behind his head, it has profited him in the past. “In the Chesterfield mall this summer, I got really bored. I started doing it in public, and started making some cash. I made $50 street performing,” Young said.
garrettmcbay –reporter–
I am Allison Chippendale
& I lost 50 pounds
Junior Allison Chippendale is a fitness junkie. She’s a varsity lacrosse player, an avid runner and a frequent visitor at Lifetime Fitness. However, Chippendale did not always lead such an active, healthy lifestyle. “I was really unhealthy. I ate so much. I noticed I was different from everyone and I wanted to be healthy,” Chippendale said. Starting in 8th grade, Chippendale made major modifications to her diet and activity level. Chippendale said, “I started eating a lot of fruit and veggies, and going to the gym pretty much everyday.” Unlike many others who attempt to diet and exercise, Chippendale still continues with her healthy eating, even after losing the weight. “Every morning I have a protein shake and either a banana or an apple. I get a salad with fruit and water for lunch, and then dinner is whatever my mom makes,” Chippendale said. Chippendale has a rigorous workout regimen. “I will do some sort of cardio every day, whether it’s running or Insanity Fitness DVDs. Then, I’ll do either arms or legs exercises, or work on my abs,” Chippendale said. In recent months, Chippendale has increased her activity level even more. “This summer was when I started actually running a lot. I run 20+ miles a week,” Chippendale, who recently participated in her first half marathon, has lost over 50 pounds in the past two and a half years. For those interested in losing weight or just becoming healthier overall, Chippendale said, “Don’t give up, and don’t give in to the food.”
jordanmcdonnell –reporter–
How much caffeine does it take for LHS to wake up?
Caffeine Dance Battle
People who depend on coffee, soda doing harm to their bodies jenniferbutler –reporter–
*176 students polled
Lancer’s Landing Soda Order
*Order for 10 days
Although the few hours of energy needed to pull an all-nighter studying can be provided by coffee, the long-term effects can be dangerous. Coffee triggers the production of adrenaline, the hormone secreted during vigorous exercise or during overwhelming situations. Adrenaline causes a constant state of alertness, or the “fight-or-flight” state. This is useless when a student is sitting at his desk taking notes, though. After the coffee has worn off, the person is even more tired than before. Some students who rely on coffee even fall asleep in later classes. Students also may go through headaches, fatigue or irritability. Although some students think coffee relieves stress, in reality, coffee heightens stress level. This is because the adrenaline released in the body causes a reaction in the body similar to a constant state of paranoia. Due to this short-term effect, many continue to receive caffeine, whether it be a Monster Energy, soda, or more coffee. This reliance on caffeine has a serious effect on the body. According to FitDay.com, coffee behaves like a stimulant. “Caffeine goes to work quickly in your body but dissipates quickly, too. And therein lies the problem. Much like drugs, you find that you want more
Dangers of Soda and Diet Soda Soda may be worse than coffee. Unfortunately, soda is more commonly consumed by teens compared to coffee. Many recent studies over the health effects of soda have concluded regular and diet soda is linked to an increased appetite, kidney failure and cancer. Diet sodas specifically contain a higher possibility to a heart attack and stroke. Regular sodas have been
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proven to elevate blood pressure. According to WebMD.com, most overweight children receive 1,000-2,000 calories from sodas a day. Recent studies have shown a correlation between soft drinks and obesity. Other studies have also shown the higher sugared drinks people drink increase the possibility of obesity. Jeffrey Sirrine, senior, is not allowed to drink cof-
and more coffee to accomplish the same ‘high’ effect of being alert,” FitDay.com said. Over time, more and more coffee is needed to stay awake until there is a dependency on it. Jeff Landow, language arts teacher, knows exactly what a coffee addiction feels like. “I started drinking coffee my first year of teaching here at Lafayette, which was also my first year of teaching. I never drank coffee in college, I drank tea, and then I got here and it was winter and it was cold and there was free coffee,” Landow said. Like many new coffee drinkers, Landow had to start gradually. “I loved the smell, I loved smelling other people drink coffee, then I would try it, I thought it was awful. Now what I had to do was start with milk and sugar to water down the flavor of coffee,” Landow said. However, Landow is specific about coffee. He drinks richer, more expensive coffee. “I teach 1984, and we talk about how they have Victory coffee, and it’s ironic because it doesn’t really taste like coffee, and that’s how I feel about cheaper brands of coffee,” Landow said. Because Landow drinks his coffee black, he may be doing some good to his health, but the amount of coffee is not healthy. He drinks between 36 and 48 oz. a day, “I try to switch over to water after lunch, but it doesn’t always work out,” Landow said.
fee because he is a Mormon. However, he also stay away from other caffeinated drinks, like soda and tea. Sirrine said, “Coffee is more of a requirement, so more people stay away from that, but soda is not. I choose not to because I don’t think it’s good for you. I think it’s not healthy for your body. I drink Sprite and Root Beer, because they don’t have caffeine.”
Nov. 8, 2013
Healthy Alternatives 1. Fatigue and drowsiness are usually caused by a lack of protein. Put a scoop of any kind of protein powder, some milk and ice and be energized for the rest of the day.
2. Smoothies with fruits and a hint of vegetables are a great way to get some vitamins and natural sugars. Green vegetables offer vitamin B, which helps produce energy.
3. Green Tea has a smaller dose of caffeine than coffee. It can help improve bone strength and can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer. It is also proven to help mental clarity and performance.
4. Although water does not contain nutrients, it helps transport nutrients through the body. Metabolic reactions happen in water. Also, dehydration is a common cause of lower energy. *All of these except green tea can be found at Lancer’s Landing
Class of 2016! It’s Time For Ring Orders Orders Will Be Taken: ♦Thursday, Dec. 5th-6th at lunch ♦Thursday, Dec. 5th 4-6:30 p.m. in the Commons ♦Saturday, Dec. 7th 9 a.m.-noon in the Commons
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Nov. 8, 2013
wonderland
Driving through a winter
As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, driving gets more and more dangerous. Here are some tips and tricks for staying safe behind the wheel. Forecasters anticipate unpredictable winter Fox 2 News reports this winter can be summed up by unpredictably. Meteorologists are guessing for several snowfalls and also rain storms due to St. Louis’ radical temperature swings. “Do not expect the mild, almost non-winter of last year. This winter will be very different,” Fox 2 News said. December calls for mild winter weather. Nothing below zero degrees, and the temperature will drop toward the end of the month, but the temperature will remain relatively low. Two potential snow storms are in the works, one at the beginning of the month and one toward the end, but the temperature might stop that in it’s tracks. In January, Fox 2 News is predicting a wide range of temperatures that are customary for St. Louis. Around the third week of the month will be a January Thaw with temperatures above freezing and beyond. Snowfall is a bit under the average because of the temperature changes, but snow is still predicted if not overtaken by rain. February will consist of a normal amount of snowfall and below average rainfall. Mild temperature moments will be slim to none. March has potential for snow storms so don’t jump on the spring bandwagon just yet,. “It’s not a huge snow year,” Fox 2 News said, “but enough to keep forecasting a challenge and the snowplows busy.”
Slip Sliding Your Way Simple tips for driving in harsh conditions make world of difference in case of emergency With another winter comes a lot of important factors to remember. Before winter even begins, be ready. “Make sure your tires are in the best shape they can be in,” Driver Education Allyn Workman said. Tires in top condition have good tread depth, which is necessary in cold weather. “If you’ve been driving in the summer with bald tires and snow season comes, it becomes a lot more critical,” School Resource Officer Ollie Helbig said. The importance of having good tires is for better contact with the road surface. For optimum safety, winter tires are an option. Also, in advance, check your fluids, belts, antifreeze and get your oil changed. If possible, avoid driving in bad weather conditions at night. Traveling at night is always more dangerous than during the day because it becomes more difficult to see. “Out here in Wildwood, we have certain places that are always dangerous in snow like a big hill on St. Albans that goes out to Ossenfort. That’s one of the many places people get stuck,” Helbig said. Areas with hills and winding turns are places with more accidents, so take extra caution. Also, bridges and overpasses require more caution because they are the first to freeze. “Make sure you have plenty of following distance,” Workman said. One of the most important tips to know is to have room between you and the cars surrounding you. Leave as much space between you and the car in front, behind and beside you as possible. If you do get stuck, stay in your car, because it’s more dangerous when you get out. Instead of spinning your wheels, turn them from side-to-side, to re-
move snow around the wheels. Then, push the gas pedal lightly to ease your way out. “If you have a car charger, it’s a good time to have that with you when you’re traveling just in case you do get stuck,” Helbig said. “The first snow we have, people don’t slow down,” Workman said. No matter what age you are, going the speed limit or below is crucial. Snowy and icy roads are dangerous enough without speeding to add to the danger. Even with a vehicle with four wheel drive, remember that steering or breaking is more difficult. Rain, ice, snow or shine, abiding by the speed limit is essential in safety. “Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads,” weather.com said. “When you come to a stop light, it’s always harder to stop in ice or snow, so give yourself a whole lot of room and time,” Helbig said. To avoid skidding, ease off the brake. In case your wheels lose contact with the road and start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator and pump your brakes gently. Generally, the key factors to remember when driving in winter conditions is drive slowly, always be alert, and avoid traffic if possible. You can never be too cautious in winter conditions. Though it may seem lame, keeping supplies in your car is vital for staying safe in the face of emergency. “Just remember that the speed limit is designed for roads under normal conditions,” Helbig said, “so it’s okay to drive slower if you want to.”
alainastrollo –reporter–
Before You Go
Junk In Your Trunk
Driving in potentially hazardous Safe winter driving requires conditions requires thought being prepared for emergencies Weather.com and Driver Education before hitting the road
Conditions can change quickly. Instead of just throwing on a pair of slippers and rushing out the door, be prepared. These are tips from School Resource Officer Ollie Helbig. • Make sure vehicle is in good working order “Make sure to tune up the oil change and now is a good time of the year to check your anti-freeze,” Helbig said.
• Keep gas tank full “Have your gas tank at least half-full during the winter because it gives you more weight,” Workman said. Also, in case of emergency, you’ll have enough gas to stay warm.
teacher Allyn Workman suggest drivers keep the following items in their car during winter driving season:
• Kitty Litter “Kitty litter sounds crazy but it works well for getting you out of stuck spots because you can use it as an absorbent and it will give you some traction to get out of the spot,” Workman said. Salt is an alternative to kitty litter, which is good for adding weight to a car, but salt can rust your vehicle. • Bags of sand truck beds or cars “You need some sand bags to add weight for traction. Or you could use it for getting out in case you get stuck,” Workman said.
• Keep your phone charged “Make sure your phone is charged just in case you do get stuck,” Helbig said.
• Blankets, gloves, hats, hand warmers, boots If emergency strikes, staying warm is important. Winter staples like mittens and blankets are crucial.
• Check the weather report If you are going out, pay attention to weather changes on the radar from the time you arrive to when you will leave.
•Bottled of water, snacks “Any little snacks would be good to munch on in case you do get stuck,” Workman said.
• Make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to arrive “Always let people know where you are at and where you are going,” Helbig said. Communication is a key component of safety while driving in the winter. Avoid texting and talking on the phone while driving at all times. • Clear your car completely If the windows are fogged up or ice is covering the windshield, take the time and clear your windshield. What teenagers fail to realize is the danger of driving with ice on their cars.
• Flashlight • Shovel and snow scraper Snow scrapers are vital if ice is on your windshield. If you are stuck, a snow shovel can make a world of difference in helping you get out. • Flares/Light Sticks According to weather.com, “These cost almost nothing at a dollar store and can be used either as a light source or to wear in case you are shoveling snow around your wheels at night. Flares should be in your trunk in all seasons for putting next to your car if you are pulled over in distress.”
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14sports
Winter Preview
Nov. 8, 2013
Returning athletes look to lead teams to success benrachell
-sports reporter-
Boys Basketball The Lancer roster last year was dominated by juniors, with only four seniors on the team. The junior-dominated group from last year has been cropped into a very athletic and fundamental team. Now with the improved and upgraded roster, commanded mostly by seniors, the boys basketball team will be looking forward to playing competitively throughout their season. Varsity Head Coach Scott Allen said, “I expect all of our returning players to be better this year than last. We’ve had a good summer and they’ve worked extremely hard in the weight room this fall. Our newcomers will have to find their way and fit in with what we are trying to accomplish.” With scorers like Nate Messer and the Scales brothers (Evan and Cameron) running the floor, defense will be a premium if an opposing team wants to have a chance at containing them. The Lancers also fill up the paint with fundamental and versatile athletes. Juniors Cameron Scales and Garrett Steins, who both played varsity their sophomore season, will be looked upon to compete at a high level for the Lancers this season. In fact, Scales was one of the top scorers last year and stepped up as a leader for the team. Allen acknowledges he has a young team this season. “We do have quite a few guys returning with varsity experience, which is a good thing. Hopefully
we can learn from past experiences and utilize those experiences to our advantage this year. We also have a solid group of guys who played JV last year so our biggest challenge will be guys accepting their roles and coming everyday trying to get better,” he said. The team opens the season Dec. 6.
the ongoing seniors from last season. Winning another Conference title will be the Lady Lancers’ first goal for this season. Eventually, the squad hopes to advance to State and continue their winning tradition. They hit the pool Dec. 14 at Marquette.
Wrestling
Girls Basketball The girls varsity basketball season could be a thrilling one, with both veteran and young players returning for another go. Senior Kate Pennington and junior Maddie Seifert will need to play significant roles if they expect to fair well this year. With new Head Coach Mike McAteer taking the wheel, he certainly will have the necessary experience needed for coaching the varsity roster. McAteer has been the assistant varsity coach for the past few seasons under former Head Coach Jennifer Porter. “Coach McAteer has brought a new sense of hard work and we can’t wait to start the season. Our team is not only a team, but have become a family over the course of the season,” sophomore Taylor Dent said. After losing seniors Hannah Finley and Hannah Schneider, the Lady Lancers will seek underclassman such as Dent and Maria Johnson to step up as leaders. “We will definitely have to run our plays confidently and play smart if we expect to compete at a high level,” Johnson said. Sophomore Jenny Kohl will compete in her second varsity season and her play will also be a critical part in determining the team’s success. The girls start the season at the Randi Perkins Tournament at Marquette on Dec. 2.
GOING FOR GOLD Junior Claire Kirchhoefer competes in her signature event, the breaststroke. — Photo courtesy of the 2013 Legend
Girls Swimming
The girls swimming and diving team enters the season with no shortage of talent as it looks to make a splash. Senior Madeleine Wilmsen will guide the team, as they have high hopes of performing well. Last season, the Lady Lancers won Conference and placed fifth at the State meet. After losing seniors Gretchen Cox and Laura Paskoff, Lafayette needs to find success with younger swimmers and must continue to grow. For now, seniors Lauren Hansen and Mollie Macrae along with juniors Claire Kirchhoefer and Olivia Vanlue will need to duplicate the success achieved by
Losing their star wrestler Nick Olejnik to North Dakota State at the end of last season was rough for the Lancers, but they still have many young wrestlers who will fill his absence. Sophomore Alex Wier, one of the top wrestlers in the school, said, “We have a lot of underclassman such as Chase Behrndt and Tim Bogar who will step up and have good seasons. Brendan McKenna will also compete well.” Upperclassman like Christian Alexander, Adam Bogar, Brendon Schlote and Jamel Smith will be the Lancers’ go-to guys this year. Last season, as a team, 10 out of the 14 total wrestlers advanced to State competition. The now-departed seniors will provide room for the younger athletes to step up and contribute to the team. “We just want to get everyone as far as possible. Like every year, we want to go as far as we can in duals and go undefeated in State. It’s just a matter of us applying ourselves. If we can, we won’t have any problems,” Wier said. The Lancer coaching staff has successfully developed their upperclassman along with a roster full of young weapons like McKenna and Wier. The wrestling season gets underway at home Dec. 4 against the Northwest Lions.
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Nov. 8, 2013
Let’s Get Ready To Rumble
Our faculty members have advanced degrees and sports15 bring real-world experience to the classroom.
Wrestling shifts efforts to healthy conditioning, but making weight still weighs on student competitors ariannademos
MSHSAA Wrestling Guidelines
HIS HONOR
–sports editor–
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Wrestling Weight Management Program has made efforts to shift focus from weight loss to strength, conditioning, technique and skill development. Still, wrestlers tend to concentrate on cutting weight, which has promoted negative and unhealthy dieting. In April 2011, the National Federation of State High School Associations Wrestling Rules Committee approved a change in the weight classes moving each up about three pounds in an attempt to stop athletes from struggling to make lower weights. Assistant Wrestling Coach Joe Wier wrestled in high school and college, clinching a Big 8 championship at the University of Missouri, and receiving a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-American title. “Back when I wrestled in the dark ages, things were quite a bit different. A wrestler was only limited by the pain he could inflict on himself to drop weight classes. My sophomore year I decided that I wanted to make varsity and we had a senior strong group around my weight of 150 lbs. I decided to drop to 135 lbs to challenge for the starting spot,” Wier said. Wier became fixed on healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, water and minimum breads. After he dropped the weight, Wier won the starting spot for Belleville East. Three days before a meet, Wier gained 13 pounds. To cut back down to his weight class, he severely lim-
• Regulates a minimum weight based on 7 percent body fat for males & 12 percent for females. • If minimum weight is within 9/10s of a pound of one of the weight classes, that wrestler must participate in that class. • If weight falls between two weight classes, that athlete must wrestle at the higher class. • Wrestlers must be assessed & have minimum weight established before competition with opposing schools. Assessments include body fat and hydration testing.
ited his food and water intake and worked out Wesley Bell, J.D. every night. “When I got in the match, I cramped up very badly, calves and arms. I won the match and Criminal Justice then threw up all of the food I had eaten after
weigh-ins as there was an hour or so between weigh-ins and competition,” Wier said. To prepare for weigh-ins, Wier ran in a sauna suit at least an hour a night, which is illegal today. He could lose two to three pounds of water weight as long as he started hydrated. Sauna suits as well as the use of a sauna can cause severe dehydration. Dehydration, combined with excessive work out habits and dietary supplements, is extremely dangerous, sometimes fatal. Many wrestlers today face the same obstacles in maintaining weight before large competitions. But, experts stress the importance of planning far in advance to avoid rushed and unhealthy weight changes. National wrestling associations have specifically warned their athletes for over two decades, but high school wrestlers continue to
Our faculty members have advanced degrees and bring real-world experience to the classroom.
focus on weight loss with the goal of gaining a competitive edge. Major health problems have occurred including weakened heart strength and kidney impairments. Lafayette wrestling alumni Nick Olejnik, now a Division 1 wrestler at North Dakota State, has experienced one of the most dangerous side effects of unhealthy wrestling diets. “My senior year, I had to make 138 for the Fox dual. I ate a protein bar in the morning the last two days before and ran off all my water weight. On the bus ride down, I was doing sit ups and jumping jacks and was going in and out of consciousness, but I ended up making weight,” Olejnik said. In high school, Olejnik noticed crash cutting where kids wait until the couple days before to lose their weight. They then binge eat after weigh-ins and gain 10-15 pounds, which they have to lose again in the next week. “Planning for a weigh-in event was the key to success. A wrestler wants to have body fat as low as is healthy to maximize lean muscle mass. Being big or strong in a lower weight really helps wrestlers by giving them that extra
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Wrestlers earn their weights through discipline, diet and good old-fashioned hard work. joewier – coach
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push to win the 50/50 battles of wrestling,” Wier said. If done correctly, weight control can also be a positive thing. According to livestrong.com, physical conditioning is a major advantage of wrestling. Wrestlers have to be in top physical condition, so they engage in rigorous training that build strength and develop endurance. Wier’s son, Alex, is a sophomore who wrestles. As a freshman, Alex made varsity and advanced to round three of State competition. “Wrestling diets are not dangerous at all as long as they are done in the right way. It is important to watch your food intake and discipline yourself correctly,” Alex said. Wrestlers compete in weight classes, which means they must follow a strict diet and monitor their physical condition constantly. Wrestlers learn how to control their impulses while they prepare themselves for a wrestling match. “Wrestlers earn their weights through discipline, diet and good old-fashioned hard work. Wrestling is actually one of the healthiest sports, as there is no sport in the school that requires more physical stamina,” Wier said.
HIS HONOR Wesley Bell, J.D. Criminal Justice Our faculty members have advanced degrees and bring real-world experience to the classroom.
Your potential. Your plan.
stlcc.edu/getstarted Your potential. Your plan.
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16sports
Nov. 8, 2013
Spirit extends BLUE October Red October beyond Busch Fans’ Cardinal Fever takes many forms Stadium
kellypanzitta
–sports reporter–
The best team in baseball was back in the World Series for the fourth time in 10 years. The Cardinals have won more pennants than the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers combined. After destroying the Dodgers with a 9-0 NLCS Game 6 blowout on Friday Oct. 18th St. Louis faced the Boston Red Rox in the 2013 World Series.
Even though the Cardinals lost, the town of St. Louis celebrated their Cardinal Pride as they change the color of the water in the Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis to Cardinal Red. Named in honor of Kiener who was born in St. Louis, he was an amateur boxer, wrestler and swimmer, but he is most noted for his position on the U.S. track team at the Olympics.
Marsh counts on his Cardinal superstitions Attending three postseason games this year Senior Andrew Marsh may be one of Lafayette’s most die hard fans. Growing up with attending games at the old Busch Stadium and playing baseball since he was younger has led to his “crazy fandom”, he says. Marsh has been lucky enough to attend one of each of the three series the Cardinals have played in October. Being able to attend Game 6 against the Dodgers, he said it was a “great experience”. He also adds that, watching the Birds play against the Red Sox is fun since they’re such a historical franchise and we typically don’t play them. Marsh in 2011 and 2012 had a superstition that if he sat on his “lucky
couch” the Cards would come home with a win. Due to the 2012 lost, he had to “retire” it. But this year he had a new lucky charm, that seemed to be working earlier in post season “I’ve switched my superstition into what I wear during the games. I have lucky red pants and a cardinals hoodie” said Marsh. When he’s not at the game he doesn’t have a set location where he likes to watch but he does say, “wherever I am, I’m usually zoned into the game and not moving”. The last time he saw the Red Sox play was in the 2004 World Series. “Watching it all again nine years later makes it pretty special,” Marsh said.
Phillips proclaims love for her Birds
Math Department Chair Danna Phillips has always loved the Cardinals. Meeting many players, she has collected pictures that she displays in her classroom with former and current players. Each year the Phillips’ participate in Mike Matheny’s charity golf tournaments and are able to meet and get autographs from many Redbirds. During the 2006 World Series Phillips tried to get tickets by signing up for the lottery the Cardinals hold. “We signed up on every computer we and our children owned, but didn’t get any of the tickets” she said. Her son decided to investigate and find a sure way to have playoff tickets so he bought 4 “Founder’s Club” seats in the Red Bird Club section 246. This allows those exact four seats for all the games and even playoffs.
CARDINAL CRAZED Danna Phillips meets Carlos Beltran (left) and Adam Wainwright (below) at the annual Mike Matheny charity golf tournament. — photos courtesy of Danna Phillips
CARDINAL PRIDE- St. Louis celebrates the Cardinals by creating red fountains in Kiener Plaza — photo by Laura Paskoff
Food Truck Throwdown:
As the players competed on the mound for a win, so are several food trucks companies. Competing in the Food Truck Throwdown are 17 St. Louis food truck vendors and 13 from Boston. Food trucks from these cities are serving World Series-inspired dishes and the public will vote for their favorites. Each dish that the vendor offers has to have a “world series inspired name”. Some fan favorites have been: “Holiday Carmel Apple” from Holy Crepe! in St. Louis “Yadi Brau” at My Big Fat Greek Truck in St. Louis “The David Freese Steak & Cheese” from Curbside Cookery in St. Louis “The Green Monstah” at Cookie Monstah in Boston
Siblings take on Downtown St. Louis Junior Blair and Sophomore Ben Bollinger were lucky enough to attend Game four on Oct. 27 against the Red Sox. Wanting to experience the downtown rallies, the Bollingers headed down to Bush early that day and went out to eat at Joe Buck’s. Blair said, “It was so exciting being downtown early. The environment was so energetic and fun to be a part of it all.” Although the Cards lost the game, 4-2, she said it was worth it because her brother was able to catch a foul ball.
Diehard fans feel no shame in being Boston Strong
NUMBER ONE FAN Ellie Dieter decks out her Honda Civic with her personalized plate and a Boston Red Sox sticker along with a Boston Strong sticker. — photo by Kelly Panzitta
Seniors Ellie Dieter and Haleigh Chobanian are not part of the Cardinal crazed town. These two girls have been rooting for the Red Sox since day one. Chobanian’s love for the Red Sox began when she lived in Boston. She said, “My dad has always been a huge fan, so I guess I got it from him.” Although she wished she could attend a game she rooted on her favorite player, David Ortiz, from home. Dieter’s love for the Sox also began when she lived in Boston. “I moved here in 3rd grade which was the 2004 World Series when the Sox swept the Cardinals,” Dieter said. Taking her obsession with the Red Sox to the next level, her license plate proclaims her love for her team. Dieter said driving this car around in St. Louis during this time of the year is tough, but she says most negativity from people comes from social media sites.
FAMILY BONDING Blair and Ben Bollinger attended Game 4 with their younger brother. The Red Sox clinched a win on St. Louis turf with a final score of 4-2 — photo by Blair Bollinger
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Nov. 8, 2013
Third Time’s a Charm
sports17
Panchot brothers share common passion for soccer hannahmartin –sports reporter–
For Jean-Luc, Austin and Logan Panchot, soccer has always created strong ties between the three brothers. “My men tend to bleed soccer at times,” Pamela Panchot, mother of the boys said. Jean-Luc, Class of 2012, lettered varsity four years for the boys soccer team where he played goalie. He decided to not play soccer after high school so he could focus on his studies, but did do some interim goalkeeping for Georgetown when their goalie was hurt his freshman year. Junior, Austin has had a very successful soccer career thus far by playing for the Academy Team in the United States Soccer Development Academy (U.S.D.A.) League. It is a demanding team in terms of training, traveling and playing soccer. Austin played soccer for Lafayette his freshman year with his brother Jean-Luc, who was a senior at the time. It was an experience Austin says he will never forget. The Academy team played a huge part in his decision to not play for Lafayette after his freshman year. “I had a fun season with Lafayette and was glad I got to experience a year of high school soccer, but for me the choice was easy because there is nothing I want more than to get better everyday, become a professional soccer player and play for our national team one day. By playing Academy, this all becomes a possibility,” Austin said. Austin has received national recognition by playing on the Academy team and has recently committed to Indiana University (IU) to play soccer. “There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Indiana was the university for me. From a soccer standpoint alone, IU is the dream school, but I had to ask myself, ‘if I wasn’t playing soccer at this school, would I still have the opportunity to be successful and enjoy myself?’ and the answer to that question was absolutely,” he said. Austin also claims that “red is his color.” Austin is on track to graduate from Lafayette a semester early so he can start training with IU to quickly get a feel for the higher level of soccer and to achieve his goal of being drafted into Major League Soccer. Although he has not been called up to play for the national team, his most memorable experience was when his Academy team got the opportunity to play the national team. “4,000 plus people showed up for the game. During the first five minutes of the game, I scored a goal and the place erupted. From the minute I scored that goal, to when the final whistle was blown, I played my best and gave
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY the boys compete in a showcase for their club, Scott Gallagher, which is well known and recognized in the St. Louis area along with the country. They all train with each other and have fun while doing it. — photo provided by Pamela Panchot it my all,” he said. After years of being overlooked by the national team, it was a great feeling for Austin to know that he could hold his own against the team. By not being called up to this day, it has taught him to work as hard as you possibly can for anything you want. The youngest of the three Panchot boys is Logan, who was to be a freshman at Lafayette this year until he was asked to join the Youth Men’s National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fl. This program is to train and prepare the potential players for the 2017 World Cup in Chile. If he makes the cuts, Logan will spend his freshman and sophomore years in Florida and return to Lafayette his junior year. It’s not just soaking up the sun and vacationing on the beach though for Logan. He wakes up every morning and trains for two hours. Then, about an hour or so of fitness comes after that.
On Saturdays, he has games. “Here you don’t have much free time; you have a lot of soccer and school. But one of the hardest things is I miss my family and my girlfriend,” Logan said. They try to send the players home every 6-8 weeks. Logan will also get to spend some of the summer home and he recently came back for Homecoming at Lafayette. Logan started playing for the Youth Men’s National Team when he was 13 years old and has since then traveled to places like Mexico, Spain and all over the country. The three boys follow in the footsteps of their father, Jeff Panchot, who played high school soccer for Lindbergh. Panchot continued his soccer career into college where he played for Indiana State/ Evansville and played when he transferred to and graduated from South Carolina University. The Panchot boys have very driven mindsets as Austin and Logan both hope to play professional soccer.
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Having two brothers who also play soccer and enjoy it as much as me is a pretty special thing. austinpanchot –11
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The boys agreed that they have all made each other into the players that are today. Soccer has brought them all closer together and has always given them something to talk about. “Having two brothers who also play soccer and enjoy it as much as me is a pretty special thing,” Austin said.
Officer John Young
505 Strecker Rd. Wildwood, MO 63011
Excel Driving School, LLC
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“Be Safe”- Learn from Law Enforcement
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Picks of the Month
Book: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
It’s time to appreciate a classic. In 1979, English writer Douglas Adams published The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a science fiction adventure-comedy that travels the scope of the unknown universe, poking fun at everything it can along the way. Arthur Dent lives in a small house in the English West Country until a fleet of Vogon construction ships came to destroy planet Earth in able to make room for the new hyperspace express route. As it turns out, Arthur’s best friend Ford Prefect is actually an alien from a small planet in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and the two are able to hitch a ride off the planet before its destruction. Once in space, the two meet up with Marvin, the manically depressed android; Zaphod Beeblebrox, two-headed president of the galaxy; and Trillian, a girl that Arthur met at a cocktail party once. At the guidance of the most useful book of all time, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, these new companions travel through space in search of the answer to life, the universe and everything. Douglas’ style is unique, yet hard to approach at times. He has the uncanny ability to let his writing trail off subject for large passages and then find a way to relate it back to the original subject. Anyone who is able to appreciate his brilliant narrative will love this book.—Alex LaMar
The Image staffers give their entertainment picks for the month of November.
Album: The Marshall Mathers LP 2
TV Show: Parks and Recreation
Nov. 5 saw the release of The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Eminem’s highly anticipated sequel to 2000s The Marshall Mathers LP. Fans of the classic Slim Shady are rejoicing at how notably old-school the tracks are. Eminem is finally back to his snarky, incredibly confident and chaotic ways. Rap God sees him rap 97 words in 15 seconds, and the Berzerk video features a return of the bleachblonde haircut he sported when he burst onto the scene in the mid 1990s. After struggling with drugs and family issues, Eminem’s reemergence makes The Marshall Mathers LP 2 a must-buy.—Lucas Meyrer
Beginning its sixth season this fall, Parks and Recreation continues to be one of the funniest shows on television. The show centers around Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) who has been recently elected to the city council of her beloved town of Pawnee, IN. The show has great writing and an all-star cast including two of the funniest characters on television, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) and Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt). With so many great original characters, it’s no wonder this show has such a great following.—Gabby McDaris
Movie: Thor: The Dark World
App: Timehop
Timehop is an app available only for Apple products in the App Store. It tells people what they did on that day the previous year, and even older years as well. The app uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Flickr, the device’s camera and desktop photos to collect status updates and photos posted or taken on that particular day in past years. Timehop helps to reminisce the good times and possibly laugh at your less mature past self. Also, Timehop helps show people who they’ve lost connection with in the past years, reminding them to branch out and reconnect with those that they have lost touch with.—Jack Rogan
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Nov. 8, 2013
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In today’s biggest theatrical release, Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as “Earth’s mightiest Avenger” in Thor: The Dark World. This is the second highprofile Marvel sequel this year, so prepare yourself for everything you saw in Iron Man 3, but with heavy accents and big red capes. Apparently, there is not much that the audience needs to know going into this film. Some bad people are doing some bad things, and Thor needs the help of his brother Loki to hit them with a hammer. It looks to be a shameless crowd-pleaser, but what else would you expect?—Alex LaMar
November Lit Link Crossword *Turn your completed crossword in at the stage during lunch for a chance at prizes!*
Down Across
2. hard to please 3. blatantly and disdainfully proud 4. not capable of change or susceptible to change 12. moving or advancing by steps 13. very well suited or expressed; pleasant, delightful 14. endanger 15. exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling
1. a tirade 4. marked by a contumacious or cocky boldness 5. pointless of annoyingly talkative 6. implied 7. excessively thin and angular or empty 8. hateful or shockingly evil 9. easily accomplished or attained 10. characterized or reflecting economy in the use of resources 11. done by stealth 13. weakness
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Today, Nov. 8, the new Marvel movie, Thor: The Dark World, begins its opening weekend . Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, is a part of the dream team, The Avengers. The Avenger’s consist of six strong, heroes — Thor, Black Widow, Hulk, Iron Man, Hawkeye and Captain America . Each Avenger has unique characteristics and crippling weakness that make them true to their names. Using the information below, you decide who is The Ultimate Avenger and vote online at lhsimage.com.
Hulk Originally the brilliant Bruce Banner, he transformed into the mighty Hulk after being exposed to a large amount of gamma radiation. With super strength, endurance and extreme amounts of rage, there is almost nothing that the Hulk can’t bring down. However, his great rage can turn him against his allies, making him both a hero and an occasional villain. Math Teacher Thomas Beckmeyer shows his strength coaching football, as well as his brains in the classroom
Iron Man After a nearly lethal encounter with terrorists, brilliant millionaire inventor Tony Stark created a chest mounted arc reactor that pulled shrapnel away from his heart. He would then use the reactor to power a suit of armor, fighting crime as Iron Man. His technological gizmo’s span from rockets to jet boots, to being able to shoot lasers out of his hands. However, it is possible for the suit to run out of power, leaving Stark nearly defenseless. His resemblance to Language Arts teacher David Choate is uncanny, with a great goatee and extreme sarcasm.
Thor
Black Widow
Natasha Romanov, known as Black Widow, is a trained Russian Spy who has transferred over to work for the United States. Her extreme agility and speed gives her an edge over her enemy’s. Black Widow is extremely good at appearing innocent and naive and then turning against her opponents in a butt-kicking, 180. Black Widow is a lethal weapon in retrieving information but her weaknesses, including being human and her affection for Hawkeye, sometimes makes her the damsel in distress in need of saving. Music instructor Traci Bolton reminded students of the Russian spy. Bolton’s red hair is identical to Natasha Romanov in The Avengers movie.
Nick Fury
Nick Fury is the leader of The Avengers. He is the one who called upon the super humans and assembled them in order to save mankind. So, a big shout out to Fury for saving us all. Principal John Shaughnessy is the Lafayette leader, therefore, making him a perfect comparison to Fury.
Captain America The first avenger, Captain Steve Rogers, is the oldest of the Avengers. One of the country’s first super heroes, The Cap’ has super strength, stamina and agility thanks to the super human syndrome injected into him during the first world war. As well as his physical attributes, Rogers has a nearly invincible shield, invented by Tony Stark’s father, Howard Stark. Though it is his greatest weapon, problems may arise when he throws it and it doesn’t bounce back. Vince DeBlasi is a veteran of the Army reminding us of the star spangled hero.
Loki - “The Ultimate Supervillian”
Thor is a god from the alternate Universe, Asgard, who can control lightning and fly using his supernatural hammer. Thor’s hammer can’t be destroyed or lost, so if he throws the hammer, it will return, unlike the captain’s shield. Though Thor is a god, his earthling companions could still best him. Iron man can become exponentially stronger after being zapped by Thor’s lightning. Math teacher Ken Willis is pictured as Thor. Willis was a professional kicker for the Dallas Cowboys and his foot can be compared to the hammer of Thor.
Hawkeye Although the seemingly weakest of the Avengers, Hawkeye still packs a punch. He has no superhuman abilities, but has been trained to the peak of human conditioning and acrobatics. He is a master at martial arts and archery, and is known to almost never miss his target with a bow. Hawkeye also uses a variety of arrows, from pointed sticks to miniature missiles. Even though he reigns supreme with his weapon of choice, he is at a disadvantage when he runs out of arrows. Hawkeye can still uses his bow as a club, but it is much weaker than the arrows that the bow could shoot. PE teacher Joe Schoedel would make a great Hawkeye, using his strength
Loki, the maniacal brother of Thor, became one of Marvel’s biggest villains, nearly destroying the world twice so far. With his extreme insanity, sarcasm and witty banter, it’s hard not to love the guy. Science teacher Ryan Bixby is pictured in a Loki-like pose, as if he is plotting to take over the world [again].
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GHOST BUSTERS: emilyaltic –reporter–
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uncovering the truth Stories behind various paranormal legends of local sites Thornhill Mansion What better way to get your adrenaline pumping during the eerie fall season than to visit a classic haunted mansion plagued by lost spirits? Thornhill Mansion, located in Faust Park is rumored to be occupied with the spirits of Frederick Bates, a former Missouri governor, and his deceased family. Thornhill is known to be the oldest governor’s home that remains in Missouri; the Bates family took residence in the mansion in the early 1800s. In 1825 Bates died of pleurisy, a condition that causes swelling of the lungs and chest. He is currently buried in the family cemetery that holds the graves of Bates, his wife, Nancy Bates, two of their four children and three friends of the family. Though the official Faust Park website portrays the Thornhill estate as a fun learning experience to perceive what life was like in the 1800s, others who have visited the mansion feel there
Zombie Road Nothing is more inviting to challenge human curiosity than the words “keep out” plastered on a faded sign. Lawler Ford Road, commonly referred to as “Zombie Road,” is well known around the area for its dark and mysterious past. Perhaps the gruesome rumors circulating are what lead many people to venture down and explore the forbidden territory. “I heard an insane asylum got let out and a bunch of kids were killed,” senior Brendon Shlote said. “I heard an orphanage was burnt down,” junior Mandy McCarthy said. According to the book Haunted Missouri by Troy Taylor, the road was first developed in 1860 to provide access to the Meramec River and the railroad tracks near it. Though ghosts of children in orphanages aren’t mentioned in the book, there was a woman named Della Hamilton McClough who was reported to be struck by the nearby train in 1876. Along with the spirit of this lost woman, local residents reported many accidents that occurred along the train tracks.
is something supernatural that lingers in the aged vicinity. As firm believers in the paranormal, juniors Lauren Mansker and Mandy McCarthy visited the house with high expectations for a haunting experience. “As soon as we got there we felt something hovering over us, we just up and left,” Mansker said. When asked whether they could confirm the haunting suspicions of Thornhill Mansion a representative of the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission replied, “We do not discuss any kind of paranormal activities associated with our Historic Sites.” Whether the lost spirit of Bates lingers in the old fashioned halls of Thornhill Mansion is unknown. However, guided tours are available to the public by appointment during the week for those that are curious and want to experience the timeworn estate for themselves. For more information on Thornhill Mansion visit http:// www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages/Faust/ Thornhill
“It finally got so bad that service was discontinued on the tracks that led around the bend in the river,” Taylor wrote. School Resource Officer Helbig said the paranormal is possible, but in his personal opinion the stories of hauntings on ‘Zombie Road’ are myths. “There are a lot of legends, some might be true and some aren’t, I don’t know of any incident on ‘Zombie Road’ where anyone saw anything. It’s a local rumor,” Helbig said. Although Helbig is doubtful about the stories, he said the legal horror stories are all too real, “There’s signs up that say it’s closed at night so you get arrested if you’re out there. There have been a lot of arrests over there.” Helbig said “Zombie Road” used have an ominous appearance that caused people to believe it was haunted, but now it has been cleaned up in the recent years, it’s really just a normal road. It’s a lot nicer, it’s not really that spooky. It’s closed at night because a subdivision backs up to it, the people [who are visiting the house] are making noise,” Helbig said. Unless a hefty fine will fuel the haunted experience in the fall air, it is strongly suggested people stay off of Zombie Road rather than being just another individual arrested for trespassing.
Powell Hall To some music is lively and full of happiness, whereas other pieces can make ears bleed and have people wishing to be locked away into solitary confinement. Powell Hall, home to the St. Louis Symphony, captured the soul of someone who music could not bring life back to. George, commonly referred to as the Powell Ghost, is the presumed ghost that haunts the symphony setting. Built in 1925, Powell Symphony Hall (formally the St. Louis Theatre) is one of the world’s finest concert halls that emits a feel of European grace. George, flaunts the same sense of style. He has been spotted by staff members and others donning a white top hat, tails and a handlebar moustache. This character is believed to be a former vaudevillian (a performer of songs, dances, and comedic acts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries). George has been known to have a fascination with turning on and off lights, opening and closing elevator doors, and bring-
ing his music back into the Hall. The St. Louis Ghost Hunters Society went to investigate to confirm the Powell Ghost’s existence and reported that “several voices were heard but it was hard to pinpoint from where.” Members reported on their official website they had heard everything from papers shuffling to doors opening and shutting. Erika Ebsworth-Goold, a publicist at Powell Hall, spoke of the most recent sighting. “Several years ago, a new custodian was passing through the boiler room in the basement of the hall. He saw a man with a white tux, top hat and moustache standing by a wall and said hello. When he turned around, the man was gone.” When junior Johnnie Glover visited Powell Hall with orchestra in 8th grade, he had a frightening paranormal experience of his own. “The orchestra was playing a really old song, and I promise you, it went from being really hot in that room to cold. I was done, I quit and I walked out,” Glover said. Don’t mistake this gorgeous building as all for show, not only does the St. Louis Symphony like to perform, but the ghosts of Powell Hall have prepared a little play, too.