Oct. 12, 2012 by Lafayette High School

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Lafayette High School

17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011

Inside Islam

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Whether they are more modern or traditional in their practices, Muslim students are sometimes misunderstood especially in the wake of unrest between America and Islamic nations. Two students share information about their experiences in West County. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;See pages 8-9

Volume 44, No. 2 / Oct. 12, 2012 / lhsimage.com

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misc. / 02 Oct. 12, 2012

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Reaching for the stars

After becoming part of the cast of Memphis, senior Jack Sippel takes his acting, singing and dancing career one step further.

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8/9 Inside Islam

Students share information about their faith, which is often misunderstood due to the prejudices derived from the conflict in the Middle East.

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Athletes to watch

STICK IT TO CANCER/ Varsity field hockey players junior Tara Deskin, sophomores Avery Cantor and Alexa Simpson and junior Tanya Grover watch the game as the Lancers go into overtime against the Mustangs during the annual “Stick It to Cancer” game. The game raised $367.27 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Marquette won 2-1. (Photo by Saba Bajwa)

Freshman standouts Sarah Nicholson and John Wilmsen are helping to lead the Lancers to success on the course and in the pool.

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Election connection

Read up on the positions of the presidential candidates and see what some of your peers are saying about how they will be voting.

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Down on the Farm

In West County, most families go to Rombachs Farm for their Halloween pumpkins. Marsha Rombach talks about the farm’s past, present and future.

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Photoofthe month

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upcoming events

Here are some events to plug into your calendar app or pencil into your planners.

Oct. 12/ Homecoming Parade at 5 p.m. from Green Pines Elementary to LHS Oct. 12/ Homecoming Game vs. Parkway South at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13/ Homecoming Dance in Commons from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 15/ First Quarter Ends Oct. 26-27/ Fall Play in Theater at 7 p.m. Oct. 28/ Fall Play in Theater at 2 p.m.

image staff / policies Editors:

Grace Bueckendorf.............................Editor in Chief Paige Antolik............................................News Editor Gabby McDaris........Opinion/Entertainment Editor Katie Blackstone.................................Features Editor Dylan Corbet..........................................Sports Editor McKayla Treat............................................Webmaster Karre Wagner...................................Asst. Webmaster Kelly Carpenter ...............................Business Manager Rebecca Ferman..................... Social Media Director Veronica Knysh...........................................Cartoonist Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ...............................Adviser

Staff:

Emily Altic, Avery Cantor, Arianna Demos, Eric Deter, Alex LaMar, Hannah Marshall and Emily Pascoe *some photos/illustrations used with permission from BigStock Photos

Information:

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2011-2012 Image received a rating of AllAmerican with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction. The 2011-2012 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

Philosophy Statement:

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.

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.

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Mommy & Me Avery Cantor / reporter

Photos / Avery Cantor

World language teacher Theresa Gornet has been teaching Spanish here for 27 years. Three of those have been spent with her daughter, junior Leah Gornet. Leah said that has had its ups and downs. “If I leave something in her car, I don’t have to call her and have her travel all the way back. I can literally Theresa and Leah Gornet just go down to her car and get it. But a bad thing is I have to wake up extremely early and get here at 7:30 a.m. every single day. And she teaches with my baby pictures, and that gets kind of weird,” Leah said. Gornet said she feels blessed to share her teaching experiences with Leah and is able to connect on a more personal level than most parents would be able to. “I truly love teaching at Lafayette, and having my daughter here is a terrific bonus,” Gornet said. “I enjoy seeing her every day and interacting with her about her classes and activities.” As with any teacher, students often gossip or complain about them. This situation is a little different and very difficult when the teacher you hear kids complaining about is your mom. “I let kids have their opinions,” Leah said. “Sometimes it hurts my feelings when they say she’s a horrible teacher or she’s mean, but she’s not. Usually the people who say that get F’s and D’s.” All in all, neither would change their situation. “She’s a wonderful mom, don’t let anyone fool you, she’s just giving it her all,” Leah said.

Denise and Tanner Meyer

news / 03 Oct. 12, 2012 April 26 is National Bring Your Child to Work Day, but some teachers bring their kids to work everyday Physical Education Department Chair Denise Meyer, also has a daughter at LHS, sophomore Tanner Meyer. “For me, teaching here is a lot of fun because not only do I get to be around the things that she [Tanner] does but I know so many of her peers. I’ve watched them grow up since she was in kindergarten,” Meyer said. Tanner also enjoys having

her mom near during the day. “It’s nice, I really like it. It’s good to have someone I can always talk to if I absolutely need it. Plus, it’s a great place to get some money for food and stuff,” Tanner said. Tanner also said she gets an inside look on everything and knows what is going to happen before most other students do. Sometimes going to the same school that your mom teaches at is full of awkward situations. “It’s really weird when I get in trouble. All the teachers tell her before I even know that I’m in trouble. Or they tell her before I get a chance to,” Tanner said. Meyer also said she often tells her classes stories about her family, but now that Tanner is here, she has to be more careful with what she says at school. “When I used to tell stories when she was 4 or 5, it didn’t matter, but now it’s like, ‘Ugh I can’t tell those stories’ because everybody would be like ‘okay…your kid is 15 now’. So I just have to be extra careful not to embarrass her,” Meyer said.

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Expiration Date: 11/30/12

Another teacher who has a student here is Physics teacher Shannon Campbell and her daughter, senior Steph Campbell. “I like having my mom here. It helped, as an underclassman, with rides. It also helps me stay in the loop with any special events. If no one is at school and I don’t where to go I can just Shannon and Steph Campbell know visit my mom. It sounds dorky but we have a good relationship,” Steph said. Campbell also likes teaching at the same school Steph attends. “For me, I can always get a hold of her if necessary. I also know more about who she hangs out with. Then I know more about the kids that I teach and I like that,” Campbell said. But for Steph, her mom isn’t just another face in the hallway; her mom is her AP Physics teacher. “I do call her mom in class. Calling her Mrs. Campbell would be too strange,” Steph said. Many think Steph gets special treatment due to her situation. “People assume the only way I am doing decent in her class is because she’s my mom. That’s bothersome,” Steph said. Campbell said, “I think I’ve probably helped her more with calculus than physics. But if she does need help I tell her to read her notes, read her book, do that, and then I’ll help her.” Campbell said she even locks up all tests so they are secure. “I wouldn’t want to cheat anyway. I want to succeed in her class on my own like I would for any other class,” Steph said.

Senio

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features / 04 Oct. 12, 2012

a star making in

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Kelly Carpenter / business manager

fter years of performing in school productions and shows at the Muny, senior Jack Sippel is traveling on the national tour with the cast of Memphis for the rest of the school year. “I’ve been basically performing all my life. I’ve done school shows from elementary school up to high school productions,” Sippel said. He has been an active participant in several school shows. He said those shows helped him with his acting career. “You get a different perspective on theatre everywhere you go. I always learn something every day in the environment. You can always learn from everyone around you from every experience you have,” Sippel said. Natasha Toro, drama teacher, has had Sippel as a student since middle school. She said, “My first impression of him was that he’s got talent. He’s so talented it’s ridiculous.” Toro said they both learned from each other due to his professional experience. “He has inspired so many kids and myself. Everyone keeps asking how proud I am to have taught him when I really didn’t teach him; I used and abused his talents,” Toro said. In addition to the school plays, Sippel

has performed at the Muny. He started as a Muny Kid and worked his way to the Muny Teen ensemble. Two years ago he joined the professional ensemble. At this level, Sippel gets paid for his performances and is considered a professional actor. He has performed in 12 Muny plays like Singing in the Rain and Bye-bye Birdie. Memphis originated on Broadway and has been travelling the country for a year after closing in New York in August. Sippel sent a video to the production company in hopes of receiving a part being vacated because another actor was leaving. “I’ve been close to a lot of things but I have never expected to make a show. My goal going in is trying to do my best and be seen by everyone at the audition,” Sippel said. After the choreographer and production team of Memphis saw his video, they called him in for a live audition. “I danced and did my whole audition and then they looked at each other, looked at me and said ‘Welcome to Memphis’,” Sippel said. He flew to Seattle on Sept. 24 to meet the cast of Memphis and rehearse for two weeks. The last show in Seattle is Oct. 7 and he will have his first performance on Oct. 9 in Denver. By committing to the tour, Sippel will have to leave school for the rest of the year. He plans to

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Sippel takes acting, singing, dancing career further as cast member in touring company

email his teachers back and forth and do most of his learning online. However, the hardest part for Sippel is the time away from home. “I’ve lived here for 18 years, so not being in St. Louis will be rough. Also, living on a suitcase in a hotel room for nine months could be a hard part. I will miss being around all my friends and participating in the senior activities, but I will have Skype,” he said. Traveling on the tour has benefits, too. The costs of the hotel and traveling to each city are provided by the tour. Sippel only has to pay for his food and extra living expenses. Sippel is traveling alone, but he has had strong parental support throughout his career. Sippel’s parents, Erin and Rick Sippel said their reaction to his offer to perform in the Memphis tour was “pure happiness, not for us, but for Jack. It’s good to know that hard work pays off. Although having said that, we don’t believe Jack ever thought that any of this was work. He loves it so much. We could not be more proud of him.” Sippel said, “My dad has taken me to New York for all of my auditions. Both of my parents have been very supportive of me going after what I love to do and wishing me the best in succeeding in my career.” Despite the time away, he said everything in the process is worth it.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT / Jack Sippel rehearses for the tour of Memphis. (photo courtesy of Jack Sippel) “I love the live performances and the direct feedback you get. It keeps you on your toes, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s always a different show every night.” The last show of Memphis is May 19, the day before graduation. “Hopefully my plane gets there in time. I want to be the first flight out of Orlando,” Sippel said.

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features / 05 Oct. 12, 2012

Family Feast

Students whose families own PM BBQ, Corner Pub and Grill and an ice cream truck know plenty about the ups and downs of working day-to-day in the food industry Katie Blackstone / features editor

At The Grill/

Starting as a vendor at Farmer’s Markets, two families decided to take their food to the next level. Senior Annie Lamers and junior Justin Ruck’s families co-own PM BBQ, located at 103 Chesterfield Towne Center in Chesterfield. Lamers said the restaurant started when the two families began selling barbeque at the Wildwood Farmer’s Market. “It became really popular and a lot of people kept telling us the food was great, so we thought we should try to make a restaurant,” she said. Today, they both work in the restaurant, but play different roles. “I work in the kitchen most of the time,” Ruck said. “I like cooking and being able to go in there and test out new food ideas is a lot of fun.” While Ruck helps with the cooking, Lamers said she stays in the front of the restaurant and waits on tables. The two agreed the biggest downfall of a restaurant in the family was the extra work they have to put in. They said that they are often the first to be called in to fill in for someone. “Also sometimes I get forced into some of the chores that my co-workers wouldn’t usually do,” Ruck said. “I have more responsibilities because my parents are the owners.” Despite this, both said there were some perks to outweigh the complaints. Ruck said he enjoyed learning how to cook better. Lamers added, “My favorite part is just how different it is. You don’t hear people owning a restaurant often.” Though neither plans to own PM BBQ later in life, they said they both enjoy having in their families for now. “I’ll rather go off and do something else in the future,” Ruck said, “but I hope it stays in the

family for a while.”

A Family Affair/

For siblings senior Katie Fogarty and freshman Jon Fogarty, the family restaurants has grown from a simple idea to a full business. Today their family owns four restaurants in the area, the closest being the Corner Pub and Grill at 15824 Fountain Plaza Dr. in Ellisville. “My dad and his best friend had always wanted to open a restaurant and after he worked in some restaurants a bit they were able to make it happen,” Katie said. The Fogarty’s first bought the Corner located at Big Bend in 2007, later opening three other restaurants: The Corner Pub and Grill in Ellisville, The Tavern Kitchen and Bar and The Shack. Though Jon doesn’t plan to work until he’s done with football, Katie currently works at the Corner in Ellisville as a hostess. Katie said she does get treated somewhat better by her co-workers because her family owns the restaurant, though her boss is a different story. “I definitely don’t get any kind of special treatment from my dad. I have to work 10 times harder because he’s tougher on me. I have higher expectations at work than at home,” she said. Despite this, the Fogarty’s still enjoy other the perks of having a family-owned restaurant. “If I need a day off and I can’t get it I can have my dad figure something out. I’m never in a crisis,” Katie said. Jon said he is excited to be able to immediately start working and not have to job-hunt. “When I start working I’ll be able to make money instead of having to constantly ask for it,” he said. Katie also added that she probably won’t go into the restaurant business when she’s older. “I don’t want to own any restaurants. I see my

dad always stressed and he’s never home, always going to one place to the next. I don’t think I could handle that stress,” Katie said. The Fogarty’s did agree on their favorite part of having a restaurant in the family – the food. “It’s nice to always have somewhere to go to eat!” Katie said.

Sweet Tooth/

Instead of working in a restaurant after school, senior Hannah Meuret and her siblings decided to take a different approach to making money this summer. “I was looking for a job for two months and I really hated working for someone else,” Meuret said. “So, over the summer my dad bought an ice cream truck off of eBay.” Meuret said after getting the truck it took her family about a Meet the Hostess / Katie Fogarty (right), pictured with while to be able to get the busianother hostess and manager, works after school at her ness started. father’s restaurant. “The Corner has become a second home, “It took a couple of weeks to get especially since I started working there,” she said. (Photo the business licensing done, but courtesy of Katie Fogarty) my mom is a lawyer and helped get all that all done quickly and easily. Then we had to get freezers. However, there is still some downsides to So it took about two months to get it ready.” owning an ice cream truck. With the cold weather, Meuret is selling less “The worst past though is having to drive ice cream, but during the summer her family out to get the ice cream because it’s all the way was able to get the new business in motion. down in South County and the drive takes “I’ll go to neighborhoods, parks and birthday forever,” she said. parties. I get a lot of business there,” she said . Meuret’s family hopes to be able to keep the Meuret said her favorite aspect of the job is ice cream business in the family for a long time. the money, she’s able to sell a lot of ice cream “My brother, who is 3, will be able to drive it on hot summer days. is what we’re hoping, so it’s going to be in the “Also, I don’t really have a boss. I’m my own family for quite a while,” Meuret said. “I have a boss because my parents don’t drive around lot of siblings after me who can sell ice cream with us. So that’s pretty cool,” she added. in the future.”

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features / 06 Oct. 12, 2012

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Your Meals R evealed Consumers are asking restaurants more about the nutritional values of their meals, but do they like the information they are getting? See how students’ favorite restaurants are stacked up as the most healthy and unhealthy meals are exposed. Hannah Marshall / reporter

One of the most common meals that is purchased at St. Louis Bread Company is a “You Pick 2” meal. A half Caesar Salad at Bread Co. is 160 calories, and a cup of All Natural Low Fat Chicken Noodle soup is 80 calories. One of the side options, a French baguette, is 150 calories. Bread Company also has various smoothies, and their Strawberry Smoothie is 260 calories. Being one of the healthier sit down/fast food restaurants, this is the total calorie count for a meal.

Taco Bell is a student favorite Mexican restaurant. It is possible to get a quick, Mexican meal that’s cheaper than those sit down restaurants, but the quickness of the delivery may be risking unhealthy nutrition. One Soft Taco is 230 calories. This type of taco is the simplest at Taco Bell, so it does not have the fancy nacho cheese or anything of that nature. Just a side of Nachos is 320 calories. A small Mountain Dew Baja Blast, Taco Bell’s specialty drink, is 220 calories.

Total Meal

Calories: 660 Fat: 15g (23%) Saturated Fat: 4.5g (23%) Sodium: 1660mg (69%) Carbs: 112g (37%) Calories from Fat: 140

Calories: 770 Fat: 30g (46%) Saturated Fat: 6.5g (33%) Sodium: 1010mg (42%) Carbs: 113g (38%) Calories from Fat: 270

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McDonald’s is one of the biggest fast food chains in the world. Looking at a meal that is the bare minimum of the menu, a single item may not seem too bad, but it all adds up quickly. One McDouble has 390 calories. A small fry has 230 calories. A small coke has 150 calories. A Baked Apple Pie has 250 calories. Again, every item adds up quickly, and this total does not include larger sizes or duplicates.

At Steak ‘n Shake, a single Steakburger with only the bun, meat, and cheese is 330 calories. Though this isn’t too unhealthy, most people do not get just a burger. A Small Fry is 240 calories, and that is without sauce. And, of course, when one goes to Steak ‘n Shake, you can’t have the Steak without the Shake. A chocolate milkshake is 630 calories. By themselves, the items do not seem bad nutritionally, but the values add up.

Total Meal

Calories 1020 Fat: 43g (66%) Saturated Fat: 17g (85%) Sodium: 1230mg (51%) Carbs: 135g (45%) Calories from Fat: 390

Calories: 1200 Fat: 47g (72%) Saturated Fat: 23g (115%) Sodium: 1020mg (43%) Carbs: 152g (45%) Calories from Fat: 240

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Wilhelm practices with her team, the Aquanuts.

sports / 07 Oct. 12, 2012

Successfully completing three human pyramids on skiis.

A line of 26 girls water skiing side by side.

Wilhelm’s team waterskiing with a six-girl pyramid.

Out of the Ordinary

Traditional sports take sideline to fencing, rowing, water skiing Dylan Corbet / Sports Editor

ootball, basketball, soccer and baseball lead the way for America’s most popular sports, however these three students have special talents in lesser-known sports.

Making a Splash/

Sophomore Layla Wilhelm competes in Wisconsin as a water-skier. She spends the summer there and travels back to her home in St. Louis County every week. The St. Louis area does not have much to offer when it comes to waterskiing, especially for competitions. Wilhelm made it clear that despite her immense love for the sport, there are a lot of difficulties. “Waves make it really hard, but I have the support of my team, the Aquanuts,” Wilhelm said. The Aquanuts is made up of girls with a similar passion of Wilhelm’s for waterskiing. Wilhelm aspires to compete at an even higher level next summer. “I didn’t go this year, but I am hoping to compete in the Mercury Invite State Nationals next summer,” Wilhelm said.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat/

Senior Shivesh Kabra rows out on Creve Coeur Lake during the spring season. He practices two hours a day, six days a week. “Not too many people around here know about rowing. It’s mostly Ladue kids and kids who go to private schools,” Kabra said. Similar to waterskiing, the physical demands of rowing are immense. “Pain, extremely early practices and sitting

Garrett McBay / Guest Writer on racing single which is like sitting on a pencil, it takes a lot of balance. Most people flip their singles, I haven’t yet,” Kabra said. As for competition, Kabra said, “I only row in the spring and we go to three regattas, one of which is at Creve Coeur Lake.”

Let’s Duel/

A slash, a cut, a parry, a stab. All in an average day of fencing for senior Kevin Dick. Although he started with soccer, Dick began to lose interest in normal sports. Dick said, “I loved watching sword fighting movies, like Zorro, and wanted to try it.” Dick picked up his first sword in the 6th Grade, and hasn’t put it down since, practicing twice a week, every week, for almost four hours a day at the Academy of Fencing in Webster Groves with his coach, Bruce Sikes. Fencing is a form of practice fighting in which competitors where protective gear and fight with three types of swords, sabers, epees and foils. Though there is no actual season or league, Dick practices and competes year round in many different venues, contests and tournaments. Dick’s favorite victory was his first tournament win when he was a freshman. Up against 21-year-old Chris Slaughter, Dick clinched the victory when Slaughter’s sword broke. One fencer that Dick looks up to is Tim Morhaus. Dick said Morhaus was his role model. “He moped the floor with me, but it was still

Attention

Seniors-Juniors Spring 2013 ACT/SAT Tutoring Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org

WATER WORKS/ Sophomore Layla Wilhelm practices her skills by water skiing backwards while on one leg. Wilhelm practices and competes all summer in Wisconsin. (photos courtesy of Layla Wilhelm) one of the best experiences of my life getting to fight a medalist,” Dick said. Though he says that fencing is fun and a

great way to stay in shape, he is planning on retiring soon to focus on other things, such as school and his friends.

Lafayette Theatre Company Presents

A Midsummer Night’s Dream October 26-28, 2012

Performances: Friday: 7 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 2 p.m.

Admission:

$5 in advance $7 at the door

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cover story / 8

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cover story / 9

Oct. 12, 2012

in Students in West County practice Islamic faith amid many stereotypes

1. AMERICAN PRIDE/ Holding the American flag, Hawo Abud, senior, attends a festival for international people living in America. She was born in Africa. 2. PEACEFUL PROTEST/ At a protest outside of St. Louis, Muslim people hold up flags and signs defending their faith. “They’re just trying to show that we’re good people,” Abud said. 3. DEEP IN PRAYER/ Muslim women, dressed in the Hijab, pray during the month of fasting. (photos courtesy of Hawo Abud)

Paige Antolik/ news editor Emily Pascoe / reporter Most students are well informed on the Christian religion. But when it comes to the Islamic faith, many people either know very little about it, or are quick to jump to conclusions. Islam is a monotheistic religion that 23 percent of the world practices. What most people don’t know is that it is on the same branch as Christianity and Judaism and they have many beliefs similar to the Old Testament. But instead of believing that Jesus was God’s son, Muslims believe he was a prophet of God, along with Muhammad, who is the last prophet. The Islamic faith is separated into the Sunnis and the Shias. Sunni Muslims believed Ali, a leader of their faith, didn’t have to be related to Muhammad while Shia Muslims believed the leader should be related to him. Most Muslims now practice Sunni beliefs.

Modern day Muslim/

2. FAQ/

Many people don’t know a lot about the Islamic faith, which can lead to quick judgements or prejudices. To help disprove those stereotypes, frequently asked questions regarding the Islamic faith are answered.

Junior Layla Husen is a Sunni Muslim from a culturally mixed family. Her father is originally from Palestine and her mom was born in the United States. Like some Americanized Muslims, Husen doesn’t dress in the traditional body-covering attire and Hijab headscarf. However, she doesn’t wear short shorts and still dresses fairly modestly. “I only wear the scarf when I’m praying,” she said. “We’re living in America, which makes it different.”

3. Q: What is the difference between the terms “Muslim” and “Islam”? A: Islam is the name of the religion that Muslim people practice.

Q: Who is Allah? A: In the Quran, God refers to himself as Allah.

Since Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam, they must pray five times a day facing Mecca. But Husen has to find time to fit in prayers, called Salat, into her schedule. “I can usually make up the prayers before school is out and I won’t have missed a prayer, but during the winter is when people usually mess up because the days are shorter. I just do them when I get home. I don’t pray at school,” she explained. Husen eventually wants to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, which is also part of the Five Pillars of Islam. “My parents haven’t gone to Mecca yet because it’s expensive to travel, so I’ll do it with my family,” she said. Another requirement of the Five Pillars of Islam is fasting during Ramadan, called Saum. Ramadan is a holiday celebrating when Muslims believe the Quran, their holy book, was revealed to Muhammad. The date of the religious holiday changes every year because it follows the lunar calendar, and gets 10 days later every year. Husen said, “I tried fasting for Ramadan once during 7th Grade and I was so sick by the end of the day that I couldn’t even eat when it was time to eat.” Because of this, Husen only fasts during the summer. “I’ll switch my schedule around so I’ll sleep all day and eat all night so I don’t feel like I was missing anything. It’s kind of cheating but its easier,” she said. She continued, “With Christianity, not everyone follows every single rule. Things change as years go on.

Q: What is the Muslim population in America?

Q: What are the main Islamic holidays?

A: Approximately 5 to 12 million Americans are Muslim. There are about 300 million people in America.

A: Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, which is the month of fasting. Eid Al-Adha is celebrated at the end of Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca.

American Muslims are like secondgeneration, so we kind of cheat a little bit. It just happens.” Husen and her family still celebrate traditional Muslim holidays. “We get to take off school and sometimes we go bowling, or eat Chinese food. But my dad will also cook Arabic food,” she said. Husen said she’s never faced any discrimination because of her religion. “I don’t think anyone actually wants to criticize me for my religion, so I’ve never really taken it as a way to make me upset. I don’t feel anyone actually wants to hurt my feelings,” she said.

Traditional practices/ While Husen practices more of a modern day Islamic faith, senior Hawo Abud, a Sunni Muslim, was open to talking about her traditional faith. “I like talking about my religion,” she said. Abud explained the Islamic faith simply. “We submit ourselves to God. We do everything the last prophet Muhammad did,” she said. Because of Salat, which is part of Five Pillars of Islam, Abud prays five times each day even though she has to go to school. “I used to pray in Dr. [Tim] Jones’ office during lunch, but I don’t do that anymore. Now I do it when I get home. Then I just wait an hour and pray the next one,” she said. Another part of the Five Pillars of Islam is called Hajj. Muslims are encouraged to travel to Mecca, which is where the Kaaba is located. The

Q: What language is the Quran originally written in? A: The Quran was written in Arabic text.

Kaaba is a shrine to the Arabian tribal gods. “I have not gone on the pilgrimage to Mecca. I think I’m going to do it after I get married, but I plan on doing it,” she said. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims restrain from drinking or eating in the hours between dusk to dawn. It is considered one of the most sacred months on the Islamic calendar. “I can’t eat or drink anything [during daylight hours]. During fasting season, we eat sambusa. It’s a rectangle and it has wheat, onions and all these types of spices in it. During Ramadan my mom cooks all of these different foods. But normally, we just eat foods like rice, pasta and lasagna,” Abud said. Also according to the Quran, women should not display their beauty to anyone with the exception of their family members. “It says it in our holy book, the Quran, that we have to be fully covered. That’s why I dress differently,” she said. After 9/11, discrimination has become more common for Muslim Americans. “When 9/11 occurred, we had school and I went to a memorial service to pay my respects. These kids behind my cousin and me asked, ‘What are these two terrorists doing here?’ I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I am not a terrorist,” Abud said. She said it is hurtful that there have been many ‘Anti-Islam’ groups, videos and people that degrade Muslims and their religion and belive the steroetype that Muslims are all radical and extremist.

Q: How does the Islamic religion address war? A: Similar to Christianity, war is allowed for reasons of self defense or religious defense. It has strict rules about harming innocent people.

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five pillars of Islam

• Shahada/ testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God

• Salat/ pray five times a day facing Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holy city • Zakat/ partake in charitable donations and donate 2.5 percent of their your assets to the poor • Saum/ go through spiritual renewal and fasting during Ramadan • Hajj/ take a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia at least once during your lifetime

[the]

sports / 10 Oct. 12, 2012

[ watch[ Athletes to

Wilmsen, Nicholson compete on varsity as freshmen; hope to lead teams to successful showing at State

Arianna Demos / reporter

ith fall sports in full swing, two outstanding freshmen have earned their spots on varsity. Sarah Nicholson and John Wilmsen are October’s athletes to watch. With strong support from teammates, Nicholson and Wilmsen continue to shine at every meet. FAST FROSH / Sarah Nicholson sprints to the finish in the Hancock Invitational at Jefferson Barracks where she placed 2nd with a time of 19:01. (photo by Lauren Taylor)

Sarah Nicholson/

image

Freshman Sarah Nicholson is October’s female athlete to watch. Nicholson has served as a major asset to the Lady Lancer cross country team, despite being a rookie. “I first became really interested in running at the 8th Grade Cross Country Meet. I really enjoyed the whole set up and ended up placing first,” Nicholson said. Basketball and soccer were Nicholson’s main focus before she became a talented, competitive runner. It wasn’t until just last year that Nicholson developed into a cross country competitor.

“Sarah is potentially the most talented runner we’ve had come through Lafayette in about eight years. Not only does she have talent, but also an outstanding work ethic,” Coach Scott Brandon said. This year, Nicholson competed at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival and received a 5K time of 18 minutes 48 seconds, placing 11th. She was the only Lady Lancer to finish in the top 15 and she set a personal record. “I was very surprised and excited after I found out my time. My whole experience on the team has been a ton of fun and every day, I am going do my best to get better,” Nicholson said. Being a freshman on a varsity team can present issues between the girls, but Nicholson said her teammates have been extremely supportive and it is an honor to be on varsity with them. “My goal for the rest of the season is try to have a good time and continue improving every meet. I would love to make it to State and do well there,” Nicholson said.

John Wilmsen/ Freshman John Wilmsen is making a splash on the varsity boys swimming team. Along with playing lacrosse and water polo in other seasons, Wilmsen is proving he is a well-rounded athlete. “I started swimming nine years ago and still compete on Rockwood’s Swim Club. This year, our team is very talented. We have only lost one meet,” Wilmsen said. Wilmsen has mostly been swimming the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke for the Lancers in competitions. With a time of 59.68 seconds in the backstroke, he has landed in the top 25 times in the St. Louis area. “I don’t feel a lot of pressure, even though I am a freshman. We have a pretty young team and we support each other’s success,” he said. With the potential to win Conference, Wilmsen and the boys swimming team are hoping to use their talent in every meet to become contenders for State. Although he has not received a State cut yet, there is still enough time left in the season for Wilmsen to prove what he is capable of.

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sports / 11 Sept. 21, 2012

oh,

deer

utumn brings along the beginning of various hunting seasons for different game and weapon style. While venturing out into the wilderness to make a kill may seem like a bit of an exclusive and time-consuming sport, senior Clayton Hilderbrand still finds time to fit this recreational activity into his schedule. Alex LaMar / reporter “Just about everything you can shoot, I hunt,” Hilderbrand said. “It really teaches you about the beauty of nature, it brings family and friends closer.” Though the sport requires skills involving dangerous, and potentially fatal, firearms, Hilderbrand has been hunting since his early years. “I’ve been out there hunting pretty much for as long as I can remember. I probably started somewhere between 7 or 8 years old,” Hilderbrand said. The main fall deer hunting season (with firearms) runs from Nov. 10-20. The fall archery deer hunting season spans from Sept. 15 until Nov. 9. Fall turkey season (with firearms) runs all through October.

During this season, Hilderbrand hunts on his private estate along with senior Alec Neuman and Brendan Neuman, an 8th Grader at Wildwood Middle School. “I own about a 100-acre piece of land. During deer and turkey season we go down there about every day after school to hunt,” Hilderbrand said. “For deer I use my Hoyt Viper Bow, rifle and my custom bushmaster AR-15” The North Zone duck season runs from Oct. 27 to Dec. 25. “My favorite thing to hunt is probably duck,” said Hilderbrand. “During duck and dove season, me, Alec Neuman and his little brother drive out to St. Charles to hunt. There’s a farmer there who leases his land.” The rabbit season runs from Oct. 1 to Feb. 15 and dove season began on Aug. 9 and runs until Nov. 9. “For duck, dove, goose, rabbit and turkey we use our shot-

SHOOT TO THRILL / Senior Clayton Hilderbrand shows off his kill of the day with senior Alec Neuman and his Remington 870 12 gauge. (photo by Brendan Neuman) guns. I have a Remington 870 12 gauge.” Whether it is done for survival, or for sport, hunting has always been a part of American culture. Like many American families, hunting has been in Hilderbrand’s family for generations. “I think it’s good to carry down a family tradition,” Hilderbrand said. “Basically everyone in my family hunts or has hunted. My father, my brother, my grandfather, my great-grandfather and both my uncles [all hunt].” Unlike hunters that venture into the wilderness purely for sport, Hilderbrand takes pride in making sure all of his kills are put to good use. He cooks and eats everything he kills. “‘Nothing goes to waste,’ my father always said, ‘Love the land; respect it. And you shoot it, you clean it and you cook it. Don’t just kill to kill, son,’” Hilderbrand said.

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opinions / 12 Oct. 12, 2012

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American two party system limits choices [Staff Ed] Victims, bystanders must standfor up to bullies if behavior is ever to end 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.

Bullying is like a disease that can’t be cured. It seems to never go away, even though schools across the country constantly hold seminars, post flyers and even create clubs to try to combat it. At one point in your life you may have bullied someone and not even realized how harmful your words or actions were. People sometimes think all they are doing is “telling the truth,” and that what they say has no negative effect on the person it is directed at. A majority of the time the person perceived as the “bully” wouldn’t know he was offending someone because the person being bullied didn’t tell him how the words or

actions hurt. This is the main reason why bullying is still a part of almost everyone’s high school lives. Those being bullied don’t speak up and those who witness it fail to intervene. Administrators and parents seem to think bullying persists is because students are not educated enough. Almost every year a STAR meeting is dedicated to informing students to the dangers of bullying and how it impacts everyone, not just the people involved. What administrators don’t realize about this is we know bullying is bad. We have seen the gruesome news reports about a troubled teenager

taking fire on his peers or taking his own life and how all of it could have been stopped if he hadn’t been bullied and had been accepted by his classmates. We understand bullying is bad. As teenagers we may be stubborn, but we can take a hint. Schools across the nation need to stop wasting money on speeches and presentations that have no effect on the problem at hand. Teenagers need to be taught the easiest way to stop bullying is to stand up for themselves and in the end those being bullied are the ones with the most power. The majority of the time the bullies don’t know their actions hurt as much as they do.

So if they are told the truth, there is a good chance it all could stop. And for those bullies who do know what damage they are causing, but keep doing it anyway, don’t give them what they crave most— a reaction. Reacting to a bully is what gives them the power and fuel to continue to negatively impact someone’s lives. Although it may seem those being bullied don’t have the power to make a difference, they do. Bullying is still a problem in schools today because those being hurt don’t stand up for themselves. The only way to stop this problem is for the tides to change and the victims to become the ones in charge.

To fit personal agendas, voters now seem to take advantage of First Amendment Whatever happened to a separation of church and state? I know it's still around and a part of our Constitution but why don't people utilize it anymore? It seems now more than ever, religion has somehow wiggled its way into America's government. People tend to misuse their right to religious freedom more now than ever, and with the Presidential Election quickly approaching this has become a major problem. The problem is that religion seems to be respected more than the Constitution itself. It is important to remember that this country was built solely on what our founding fathers wrote over 200 years ago. If you base your political views on what the Bible says, than they are not political views, they are religious views. If you are voting for the president of the

United States, don't act like you are voting for the next Pope. If you are voting to put a proposition in place, do not act like you are voting to choose if something lines up with what the Bible says. It's as simple as that. Say you are against gay marriage. It is totally fine to be against it, sure I may disagree with you, but you have that right, but only if it is for the right reasons. If someone is against gay marriage because they feel the “definition of marriage is between a man and a woman,” that is fine. But, if they are against gay marriage because “the Bible says it’s a sin,” then that is a problem simply because it goes against the First Amendment. How about a review on what the First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Let's go over that first phrase, "no law respecting an establishment of religion." This in elementary terms means, “no law should be put in place just because it is what ONE religious text says." In case some people have forgotten there are more than 15 types of religions in the world and many of those 15 religions have multiple branches that contain even more specific beliefs. Every single one of them are important to the individuals who follow them. And these days it seems that even political candidates are forget-

ting this very important fact. The person you are voting for is going to be in charge of helping everyone who lives in America. Gabby McDaris, Yes, that means, gay people, AtheOpinions Editor ists and Buddhists, Muslims. So make sure that the goals they have for America line up to help everyone out, and not just those of your religious group. Let all political candidate know that EVERYONE matters and that your political views are based on what the Constitution says and not what a passage from the Bible says. You have the power to make the right choice for not only yourself, but an entire nation.

Outside The Box

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opinions / 13 Oct. 12, 2012

Students should embrace their opportunities at high school Think back to when you were in 8th Grade wondering what high school was going to be like. It was scary and nerve-racking to think that you wouldn’t know half of the kids coming in, you were afraid of the classes being too difficult and probably had more than one nightmare about getting lost. Going into high school, I was certainly very nervous. The pictures painted by the media weren’t very enticing either. If my first day was anything like Cady’s in Mean Girls, I was sure that I couldn’t survive four years of it. But everyone assured me that high school was one of the best experiences of their lives. Not surprisingly, I didn’t believe them. But then came the big day. I walked through the doors of Lafayette, and was nervous, but also kind of excited. I was surprised by how much I liked high school. I thought that the upperclassmen would be mean and uninviting, but they were helpful mentors throughout high school. I thought the classes would be too hard, but I found that the material was much more

Gracefully Said

Grace Bueckendorf, Editor in Chief

interesting than anything we had studied in middle school. I was afraid it would be intimidating not to know everyone, but everyone was friendly, and it’s strange to think that on that day, I didn’t know half of the people I know now. I was afraid to join cross country, but it turned out being one of my best decisions in high school. The same with newspaper, which also turned out to be one of my favorite experiences at Lafayette.

And I didn’t have a nightmare first day like media would suggest. It was easy to find friends in the lunch room, and I found that I really liked my past four years at Lafayette. As cliché as it is, high school is what you make of it. Later down the line, no one will remember who you sat with at lunch, or the friends you hung out with. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take everything you can from the experience. High school is a time to find out what you love to do, so make the best of it. Get involved in clubs for no reason, and choose to take classes you never thought you would like. Looking back, I never regret getting involved. Actually, I regret all the things I didn’t do that I could have. Freshmen should embrace high school, not shy away from it. Nowhere else in life offers so many opportunities to take. There are so many clubs tailored to every interest, and the best time to try new things out is now, when everyone is an amateur. So don’t let the media and their depictions of high schools scare you. It is what you make of it, so make it great.

[My Turn Now] I’m a junior which means the college search is finally beginning. The recession has been tough on my family, but luckily we were able to save a good amount of money for my future. But it isn’t enough. I will still have to rely on financial aid and student loans to get me though at least four years of college. And I know many other Lafayette students are in the same boat. Almost everyone needs some sort of financial aid, just in varying degrees. College is expensive. According to collegeboard.com, the average four-year in-state tuition in 2011-2012 is $8,240 each year. And that doesn’t even include room and board and books costs. We are told when we’re young that we need to do well in school so we can go to college and get a good job.

Stars To:

• NFL referees reaching an agreement. #roughingthefans •Cardinals still in the playoffs after losing to the Reds and then a wild ride in Atlanta. #12in12 •Varsity football starting the season undefeated. #lancernation • No bacon shortage. There is light at the end of the artery. #diabeetus • Homecoming’s Superhero theme. About time they recognized our superpowers! #holyhomecomingbatman • The release of the iPhone 5. #olddocknotworking • The Redefining Beautiful postit notes in the girls bathroom. #beautyisnotasize • Human Anatomy teacher Chris Lofgren making a Twitter account. Follow @clanatomy to become #partoftheclan

Gripes To:

Lack of financial support for college hurts students, country Katie Blackstone / features editor

stars & gripes

But it seems this isn’t often the case. Someone could be a very good student and yet not have the financial support to make it thought college. Perhaps the aid is given to another deemed more worthy. Our high school careers have been turned into a competition with the rest of the school and the country. We choose our academics and activities by what we think colleges will like the most. Since when are we in competition to decide who gets a better education? Why does one group of strangers get to decide that some are not good enough to continue their education without truly knowing who they are? If the U.S. wants intelligent citizens, they should stop punishing them for receiving higher education. Congressmen Todd Akin once compared federal student loans to the “stage three cancer

of socialism.” He argues to end the federal government’s role in student loans. He’s actually right and wrong. Student loans have buried America’s students in debt, what we need is actual aid instead of just loans. But Akin wasn’t talking about giving students extra support, instead he believed it’s better for the federal government not to get involved with aid whatsoever. (According to politicmo.com) Akin overlooks the benefits of having more successful students. More educated people means more ideas, more inventions and more scientific advancements. America will benefit from having an overall smarter population. Everyone knows that knowledge is power, and if the U.S. wants to remain the number one superpower, it needs to stop ignoring its students.

• Amanda Bynes getting in four car accidents in six months. Apparently her high school dropped drivers education, too. #liveandletdrive • iPhone maps. Ever heard of beta testing? #getlost • Billie Joe Armstrong going to rehab. #americanidiot • Justin Bieber throwing up on stage during a concert. #onelesslonelyhurl • Todd Akin calling Claire McCaskill a wildcat. We think his new nickname should be honey badger. #honeybadgerdontcare • Mitt Romney questioning why airplane windows can’t open. No comment. #nooxygen • Charter moving their headquarters to Connecticut. At least we still have Budweiser.... oh wait. #theshowmeWHATstate

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image asks

What are you going to be for Halloween? Sabrina Ross, 9

Wonder Woman. She kicks butt and she’s pretty awesome!

Megan Hardie, 10

Slenderwoman, because I enjoy playing the video game Slender.

Bobby Boxerman, 11

Jake the Dog (from Adventure Time) and my friend Shayne (Hayes) is going to be Finn.

Killian Gray, 12

The Eleventh Doctor. I watched way too much Doctor Who and got addicted.

Brad Balog, band director My daughters want me to be a flying monkey from The Wizard of Oz.

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opinions / 14 Oct. 12, 2012

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Election Connection

As the Nov. 6 presidential nears, many seniors are preparing for one the most important decisions they will ever make— which presidential candidate will be best for America? To help make the decision easier, the Image has compiled the views of the candidates on some of the key issues and hears from two seniors ready to vote for their choice for the next president. Gabby McDaris / opinion editor

Eric Deters / reporter

Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Economy/

•Would extend tax cuts to Americans who earn less than $200,00 if single and $250,00 if married • Looks for the overall one percent of Americans to pay more taxes than those of the middle class • Would launch “Campaign to Cut Waste” to rid “wasteful spending” in every federal government agency

• Tax cuts should stay consistent with the Bush tax cuts, geared mainly toward the wealthy • Lower corporate tax cuts • “Cut, Cap, and Balance” the federal budget • Streamline or cut regulations on corporations • Reduce trade with China

Foreign Policy/

• Set a time line to pull a majority of troops out of Afghanistan by 2014 • Calls to work with multiple coalitions to help bring down dictators in countries like Syria, Egypt and Libya • Withdrew troops from Iraq • Favors drone strikes and special operations instead of full invasions • Gave the go ahead to invade Osama Bin Laden’s mansion, resulting in his assassination

Education/

•Looks to replace No Child Left Behind act put into place by George W. Bush • Race to the Top program awards states for innovative ideas that look to build on both student and teacher quality

Political Party/ Democrat Full Name/ Barack Hussein Obama Age/ 51 DOB/ August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii Previous Position/ President of the United States Spouse/ Michelle Obama

Political Party/ Republican Full Name/ Willard M. “Mitt” Romney Age/ 65 DOB/ March 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan Previous Position/ Governor of Massachusetts Spouse/ Ann Romney

• Aid governments of post-revolution Middle East • Maintain robust military campaigns in the Pacific • Remove North Korea’s nuclear bombs • Decrease Europe’s energy reliance on Russia • Strengthen economic ties and the Rule of Law in Africa

Education/

• Promote choice and innovation • Ensure high standards and responsibility • Recruit and reward great teachers • Make higher education more affordable and more applicable to the outside world *info compiled from CNN.com

*info compiled from CNN.com

Senior Joe Flannery gives his thoughts on why he will be voting for Barack Obama

Senior Brian McKanna gives his thoughts on why he will be voting for Mitt Romney

“When President Obama took office, he faced a multi-trillion dollar debt established during the terms of George W. Bush, and the economy teetered on the edge of collapse. An estimated $1.8 trillion of that debt was accumulated between 2002 and 2009 as a result of the “Bush Tax Cuts”. These Bush-era tax cuts were essentially forced into law by reconciliation procedures, allowed the wealthiest Americans to lower their tax rates, and the government collects less income tax revenue to this day. President Obama held his 2008 campaign promise to end the war in Iraq. As is common knowledge, Obama was the man to order the military strike that ultimately killed Bin Laden. President Obama’s experience and judgment make him the candidate to elect and represent America as Chief Diplomat. Barack Obama has lowered and has further plans to lower college tuition, and has stated details like incentives and penalties for schools that do or do not keep their costs down. Mitt Romney’s plan for higher education is also a reward system, but he plans to spark competition between schools rather than simply lowering costs for all schools. Barack Obama’s plans to improve education in America are more concrete and substantive than his opponent and give him an edge with students.”

“Mitt Romney has years of experience in the private sector, and that’s exactly what we need to alleviate the economy’s problems. President Barack Obama insists the rich pay more taxes while he and his friends in Congress continue to spend and spend. With high unemployment and an economy that’s still hurting, we cant afford to let this presidents failed policies stay in place. Governor Romney explained his economic plan in the first debate and it’s the idea that we need to run the government like a business. For a business to succeed they need more regular customers than just a few high end ones. As long as president Obama continues to raise taxes and attack the rich, our economy isn’t going to get any better. It’s clear to me that neither candidate has much of the necessary experience with foreign policy. However, Romney does have a bit of experience overseas for from his time at Bain Capital, so that sets him above Obama for me. I don’t think either candidate can or will do much about the state of our educational system right now. Although education is important, I don’t believe it’s in such bad shape that we should focus on it rather than our failing economy at the moment.”

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Picks of the Month

entertainment / 15 Oct. 12, 2012

Staff Writer Arianna Demos shares her opinion for the best entertainment of October

Movie/

TV Show/

App/

Study Spot/

Producer of hit movie Paranormal Activity, Jason Blum, released a must-see new horror film, Sinister. Starring Ethan Hawke and Juliet Rylance, Sinister has already received top reviews. The main character, Ellison (Hawke) knowingly moves into the same house as a family of five that was recently murdered. Ellison and his family try to escape the evil remaining in the house. I chose Sinister because I love scary movies, especially in the fall with cozy blankets and a fireplace. FYI underclassmen, this movie is rated R, so bring your parents.

At first glance, yes, the show may seem for girls only, but this is not true. With an exciting plot, full of constant twists and turns, PLL leaves everyone wanting more. Even though the four girls are only in high school, they are trying to solve every mystery and crime committed in Rosewood. Their lives include problems with school, love and friendship, just like every other teenager, which makes the show easy to relate to. The new season is coming out at the end of October, and I am literally counting down the days.

Although this app resembles Pinterest, there are key differences that make Fancy unique and easy to use. The app focuses mainly on fashion and products, which are priced and ready to be instantly purchased. Also, by recommending that friends download the app, you earn Fancy money for every friend that signs up. That credit can be used to buy your next winter jacket or pair of riding boots! With the easyto-view slide show and access to connect with friends, Fancy is a great, free app for shoppers on the go.

With a French influence, CafĂŠ Ventana is a new study spot for students as we prepare for midterms, big tests and finals. Located near Central West End on West Pine Boulevard, this little cafĂŠ serves delicious New Orleans-inspired treats along with soup, salads, roasted coffee and sandwiches. Along with great service and peaceful atmosphere, this cafe is the ideal place to complete school work or meet with study groups. The environment is cozy, clean and quiet, so go join the St. Louis University college students to study, study, study!

Sinister

Pretty Little Liars (PLL)

Fancy

Cafe Ventana

entertainment / 16 Oct. 12, 2012

Down On

Rombachs

Farm Emily Altic / reporter

or over half a century, the Rombachs have been growing pumpkins and other crops for the St. Louis area. The family farm has been run over the years by the descendants of the original three Rombach brothers. Now, Marsha Rombach talks about the history of the business and what it’s like to own a modern day farm.

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Past/

Rombachs farm has been open since 1914. It started out as a well-known vegetable stand and evolved into the popular pumpkin patch we know today. Brothers Emil, Norman and Walter were the original founders of Rombachs. Today the base of the farm is still operated by family members. People in West County know Rombachs as a Halloween tradition with visits there starting when they were just kids. Junior Odessa Magafas said her family goes there every year. She said, “My sister and I always get pumpkin pictures, then we race through the maze and pick pumpkins.” Sophomore Jacob Aliano said one of his favorite childhood memories of the farm is “getting stuck in the maze.” Some staff members also have memories of picking pumpkins at Rombachs when they were children. Math teacher Tom Beckmeyer said, “I went there on my birthday in high school with my friends and we picked pumpkins then took them home and carved them.”

Present/

Growing pumpkins and other crops take long hours, patience and hard work, according to owner Marsha Rombach. “Farmers are a lot smarter than you think. We know how to grow the vegetables and get the best product in the end.” This season there are a lot of pumpkins to go around due to the recent drought, because pumpkins actually grow best in hot and dry weather due to their deep tap root. Rombach said, “The pumpkins this year are fabulous. The current rain hasn’t been very good, but we still have plenty of pumpkins.” In addition to pumpkins, the farm produces peanuts, cotton, cucumbers and peppers. They have special activities during Halloween like hay rides, mazes, pony rides and a haunted house.

Future/

The Chesterfield Valley is home to a new outlet mall, which is scheduled to open up August 2013. It is located just down the road from Rombachs and will open with nearly 80 stores over a span of 310,000 square feet. Junior Erin Gallaher said, “I’m so excited for the new outlet mall, it’s about time they put one in” But, that excitement does carry over to their neighbors. While there will be more shopping opportunities, there is a cost. The outlet mall with be built very close to the farm according to Rombach who said, “It’s closer [to the farm] than I thought. It’s a shame to see beautiful land being destroyed with buildings.” She also said they were concerned about the impact on available parking during their busy season.