theimagemagazine Lafayette High School - Wildwood, Missouri - Oct. 25, 2018 - vol. 50, issue 2
See pages 18
-19
Opening 2
theimagemagazine
In This Issue: pg 4-5
pg 10-11
Opinions 4 6 7
SEXUAL ASSAULT The Image staff addresses the sexual assault culture so prevalent in the news.
LEGAL MARIJUANA Medical marijuana can help treat several illnesses. So why is it still illegal?
BAD ROMANCE Teenage romance movies set unrealistic standards impossible to live up to.
News 9
JUUL LAWSUIT The FDA has sued Juul Labs for intentionally advertising to teens.
10
TEENS IN POLITICS
12
PLAN B Learn about Plan B and other popular contraceptives.
pg 24-25
pg 28
Lifestyles 23
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Students, classes and clubs share how they celebrate this Mexican holiday.
24
TASTE TESTER
26
EXPLORING CHIVALRY
Image staff members review donut shops around St. Louis.
Even in the 21st century, the medieval practice of chivalry is alive and well.
Sports 27 28 30
pg 16-17
As the midterms approach, students have participated by joining campaigns.
SPORTS TEAM CUTS
Features
15 16 18 20
NEW CLUBS AROUND SCHOOL
Several new groups have been launched during the 2018-2019 school year.
TEACHING WITH CANCER
Staff members Paige Hartley and Jennifer Ingram open up about their battles with breast cancer.
STUDENT ACTIVISM
Check out how some Lancers are staying politically active and fighting for the issues they care about.
THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAMES
Students share the interesting stories behind he origin of their names.
A lawsuit from a Ladue soccer player began a discussion on team cutting.
RUGBY PRO Language Arts teacher Jennifer Pautz plays on a local women’s rugby team.
Stay Connected
GIRLS WRESTLING
The Lancer Feed
Lafayette has added a new girls wrestling team that will compete this winter season.
@thelancerfeed
General Information and Policy: This year represents the 50th volume of the Image. The publication is produced by students in the News Production class. Free copies are distributed on campus. The publication’s primary purpose is to inform its readers about events in the school and community, as well
as issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. While serving as a training ground for future journalists, we adhere to all rights and responsibilities granted under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional
journalistic standards and ethics for decision-making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the publication. A full listing of all the policies and procedures used by student publications can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.
@thelancerfeed
Web
lancerfeed.press
Opening 3
Oct. 25, 2018
FROM US TO YOU F
rom the Friday Night Lights video to the impact of Sept. 11, 2001 on our school, you can practically find it all on lancerfeed.press.   We are Grace Kirtley, Web Editor, and Chloe Baker, Assistant Web Editor, and our goal this year is to keep you updated on all the important happenings at Lafayette. With stories posted every week day, we aim to tell the unique stories of Lafayette. This year we redesigned our website with the help of our dear friend Jack Weaver, and we are excited to continuously improve throughout the year. A new addition to the Lancer Feed are guest columns. We are always looking for community
members and students to share their voices. All information can be found on our website. While our main focus is on the website, we are very excited about the Image’s second issue. Our staff has worked hard to illustrate the amazing people that populate our school. The strong voices of student activists and the resilient women fighting breast cancer are just a few examples of what we are excited to share with you in this issue. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on our print issue and website. Now, enough of us and on to the magazine!
Image Staff: Editors-in-Chief: Travis Bodell and Amisha Paul Web Editor: Grace Kirtley Asst. Web Editor: Chloe Baker News and Features Editor: Delaney Stulce Opinions Editor: Clare Mulherin Lifestyles Editor: Natalie Karlsson Sports Editor: Kayla Carpenter Asst. Sports Editor: Addie Watson
Social Media Editor: Jack Weaver Advertising Manager: Jasmin Kim Artist: Grayden Kurtz Staff: Hayden Cottrell Shelby Darnell Melina Hudak Carson Luther Maya Manor Alex Rozar Naomi Saegusa Sophia Scheller Jacob Ward
Digital Media Staff: Digital Media Editor: Jack Weaver Staff: Travis Bodell Emily Budde Jackie Day Janka Gerber
Connor Jones Sam Knutson Jonah Nickerson Lucas Nickerson Ryan Post Jack Roe Colin Swan
Adviser:
Nancy Y. Smith, MJE Chloe Baker and Grace Kirtley Asst. Web Editor and Web Editor
Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the journalism program.
Carpenter Family Paul Family Baker Family McDowell Family Heather Pick, Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services
4
OPINIONS
theimagemagazine
Staff Editorial:
Student editors determine the content of the Image including all unsigned editorials. Views stated in the staff editorial represent the majority opinion of the publication.
The Culture of Sexual Assault
Opinions 5
Oct. 25, 2018
Time to stop silencing victims, start changing rape statistics
A
s a generation, we’ve become desensitized to the violence happening around our homes. The #MeToo movement has exposed numerous cases of sexual assault spreading through 85 different countries. Wellknown celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Anna Faris have shared their personal narratives of assault. The Brett Kavanaugh story has raised talk of assaults and there are unprecedented wait times on the National Sexual Assault Hotline because of it. But students often forget that things like sexual assault and domestic abuse don’t only exist among celebrities and politicians, it occurs in our communities as well. In a world where one in four girls and one in six guys are sexually assaulted before age 18, teenagers deserve the opportunity to feel safe in their surroundings. The stigma attached to being a sexual assault victim is at the root of the problem. Victims are not willing to speak out about their own experiences, which allows the assailant to continue preying on others, creating a vicious cycle. We’re angry because when a woman gets assaulted, people ask what she did to provoke it We’re angry because there is a systematic abuse of women. We’re angry because hundreds of people—not just women, but people—are sexually abused or raped every day, and they are shamed into silence. We’re angry because 97 out of 100 rapes go unreported. We’re angry because people think sexual harassment is a joke. We’re angry because nothing is really being done about all of this to change the culture for future generations. There is a phrase often repeated that “boys will be boys,” but when did being a boy excuse someone from committing sexual assault? Society has taught girls to romanticize nearly everything a boy does. A guy who says, “I won’t take no for an answer,” is seen as passionate and romantic. Getting your pigtails pulled on the playground by a boy means “he likes you.” Society has taught girls to romanticize abusive traits. We live in a world where “no” means “convince me.” Where women are told, “be careful or you’ll get raped” and men are rarely told, “don’t rape.” Where slutshaming is encouraged and victims are blamed. Where speaking out about rape is a call for attention and rape victims are silenced. We live in a world where rape culture is normal and that is unacceptable. Brock Turners grow up to be Bill Cosbys. People don’t change. But our generation has the opportunity to change the path that we are on. It is as simple as teaching what is right versus what is wrong. Right now, all over the country, teenage girls are reading newsfeeds filled with posts written by adults in their lives that say boys trying to rape them is “just how boys are” and they “can’t help it” and will “grow out of it.” Or that it was “just a little harmless fun.” Think about
what that does to the girls reading those articles. And then think about all the boys reading the same thing. The idea that teenage boys should get a pass because they’re not mature enough to understand consent is beyond unsettling. This isn’t something that will happen and be forgotten about. Victims are four times more likely to develop PTSD, major depressive episodes and drug abuse habits. Promoting changes to a woman’s behavior to “prevent” rape, is really just saying make sure he rapes the other girl. Teen dating violence is experienced by 23 percent of girls and 14 percent of boys before they even reach age 18. Domestic abuse isn’t just limited to sexual assault, but includes physical, emotional or psychological aggression, and can present as stalking. Youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at a higher risk to have unhealthy relationships later in their lives. Many adolescents struggle to pinpoint exactly what domestic abuse might look like for a teenager, but any sort of violence can have lasting consequences. Looking out for signs of abuse, including pattern changes, less interest in school and losing friends due to partner control can be important in recognizing a potentially violent relationship. We will be the ones to change the standards of assault within our generation and the future ones. By stopping the normalcy of sexualizing teenager’s bodies, we are forging a new pathway for ourselves. Teach guys to not take what isn’t theirs. Teach girls that their bodies are their own and they shouldn’t be ashamed to speak out. Teach politicians, law enforcement and the courts not to overlook the crime of assault. The future of a woman’s autonomy is in our hands, prevent the next generations from even knowing what sexual harassment or assault is. Our voices will allow things to change. Stop the phrase “tattle-tale.” Stop indirectly telling children that if they speak up about someone or something that’s bothering them, they’re doing something wrong. Stop contributing to the culture of abuse. People must be held accountable for their actions. Traffickers, pimps and rapists will succeed as long as communities continue to tolerate the injustice of human trafficking and violence in their own backyard. The sexual assault hotline is open 24/7 and can be a great resource for those too afraid to speak to someone they know. Calling 800-656-HOPE provides support from a trained member of a sexual assault service provider in the area. Don’t be afraid to tell an adult, it doesn’t need to be a parent or teacher, but tell someone. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There is nothing to feel guilty for. The only person at fault is the person committing the assault. This extends further than a reputation or fear of being embarrassed. Staying silent only allows the assailant to continue. To hurt other people. Let’s stop reading statistics and start changing them.
Opinions 6
“A Timeless Treat”
theimagemagazine
comic by GRAYDEN KURTZ
T
Let’s make pharmacies 420 friendly here is a huge stigma regarding medical marijuana in our society. People, whether they happen to be prudes or potheads, have been misinformed on the subject. Some who recreationally use marijuana believe medical marijuana is a far more “legit” way to get high, and those who are against marijuana believe it’s an excuse to get high all the time. Both would be wrong in the case of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana primarily contains CBD, a chemical extracted from the hemp plant that has no mind-altering effects and is a non-addictive medicinal herb, according to Harvard Health. Though some strains of medical marijuana also contain the cannininoid THC, which creates the high, the medical marijuana used for most patients is primarily the CBD strain. That fact begs the question: Why is it illegal? Currently, 30 states across the U.S. have legalized medical marijuana on the state level. Our own state of Missouri has decriminalized it. The main reason for medical marijuana’s illegality is that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to run
the necessary clinical trials to approve it, despite the fact that medical marijuana has been proven to treat children with potentially life-threatening epilepsy as well as chronic pain, fibromyalgia and help reduce the pain from multiple sclerosis. With legalized FDA approved medical marijuana, doctors wouldn’t have to prescribe opioids, which are highly addictive. We could naturally lessen people’s pain and cut down the opioid epidemic plaguing America. If doctors were able to prescribe medical marijuana we wouldn’t have many of the side effects that come with prescription painkillers. It would be a natural supplement for pain management, not a chemical cocktail someone could overdose on. Medical marijuana can also be used to treat more than pain, it's been prescribed to manage nausea, weight loss, glaucoma, even helped veterans manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Medical marijuana has so many benefits that I can’t help but feel people just need to see them to start getting help. Despite the fact that many studies
CLARE MULHERIN Opinions Editor indicate that marijuana is not physically addictive, recreational legalization might not be in society’s best interest at this time. I am in favor of legalizing it in order to cut down on the unnecessary drug charges and arrests. It’s silly for someone to be put into prison for weed; it’s not as harmful or as illegal are heroin or meth. But that’s an argument for another time. When students come of age we should press for the legalization of medical marijuana, if not for us personally than for others. Medical marijuana is a great resource that’s natural, non-addictive and you can’t cause an overdose. It can treat so many things and won’t get you high in the process. I believe it’s stupid to keep something illegal that isn’t actually harmful.
Opinions 7
Oct. 25, 2018
Idealistic love isn’t actually realistic Everyone has seen the cliche teenage love story. Sure, there’s one argument that obviously gets resolved, but they always end in the perfect relationship. Most are marketed to teenagers, yet set an impossible standard. The idea that love is a perfect, dreamlike state is a damaging lie. Many teenagers adore this idea and wish to have relationships like the films with the ‘perfect partner,’ also known as a stereotypically attractive actor. The stories teens are fed constantly show unrealistically attractive people paired together. Even worse, whenever there’s a teenage love-story, the ‘teenagers,’ are played by 20-something year olds who look nothing like any real teenager. For example, Riverdale, is meant to be about students in their sophomore year of high school. Most of the cast members are about 25 years old. These shows set the standard that teenagers should look both like actors and adults in order to be the ‘perfect,’ person. Recently there’s been a surge of Netflix teenage love-story movies like, To All The Boys I Loved Before, and The Kissing Booth. Both feature stereotypically attractive actors, all around 20 years old. This is noticeable in the male love interests.
They’re tall, have six packs, and are considered ‘perfect,’ by the protagonist. They’re the coolest guys in school and the ‘dream boy.’ This stereotype of the perfect guy is beyond stupid when considering these films’ target audience. No teenager should be expected by their peers to look or act like a scripted, ‘attractive,’ character. The idea that guys have to have abs or need to have a specific personality to be attractive only harms people. Fitting this ideal is nearly impossible for teenagers and shouldn’t be the standard because it only makes people feel worse about themselves. This also applies to girls, as most female romance characters are portrayed as the quiet but ‘weird,’ people who falls for a guy ‘out of her league,’ Convincing teenage girls that looks determine their chances at dating someone and that they should be saved by some handsome jock is awful and only makes teenagers want unattainable romances more. This promotes young girls to believe they need a boy to make them better and popular, just like they always do in these new films. Nobody should look to these characters as inspiration for a perfect relationship. If teenagers spend their time longing for a relationship with the ‘perfect,’
SHELBY DARNELL Staff Writer person and hope it will somehow make their lives indescribably better, they have another thing coming. Relationships take work and time to happen; they don’t happen in a week by some coincidence that takes them on a magical journey. In order for it to work, both parties have to understand each other’s flaws and insecurities. Basing relationship standards off of 20-something year old actors who’ve been given a script to make themselves the perfect partner is the worst thing a teenager could do. Shows should instead teach teenagers how being in love doesn’t necessarily mean having the ‘perfect,’ guy/girl. Teens don’t have to be the epitome of perfection and beauty in order to be loved; the best thing shows could do for teenagers would be to let them know they’re good enough as they are. We live in the real word, not the one of Netflix originals. People are imperfect and that will never change. Attempting to push perfection onto people only damages them.
Stars: • Voter registrations skyrocketed after Taylor Swift took a stand in an Instagram post. At first, the pop star was worried it would damage her reputation, but she realized that most people were ready for it, and anyone that wasn’t could just shake it off. One thing’s for sure— there won’t be a blank space on her ballot. • Artist Banksy made headlines by shredding one of his works after it sold at auction. The painting is now said to be worth twice its original price. But don’t get any ideas — your diploma is NOT worth more when it’s shredded. • Drake and Migos are performing in St. Louis on Nov. 10. Unfortunately, it’s almost certain that if you’re reading this it’s too late to buy tickets.
Gripes: • Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson broke off their five-month engagement, basically the span of a semester. Ouch. • In his White House visit, Kanye West told President Trump his Make America Great Again hat made him “feel like Superman.” You know, without the flight, x-ray vision, super strength and adoration from the majority of the American public. • After 125 years in business, Sears is closing down. It’s sad news for fans of lawn mowers, fridges, shoes, shirts, washing machines, jewelry and literally anything else.
Student athletes must earn positions on teams St. Louis has been abuzz with the news of the Ladue Horton Watkins High School student whose parents sued the school district when their son was cut from the soccer team. Although the boy’s parents have since dropped the case, they cited age and gender discrimination as their reason for pursuing legal action. The boy’s parents do have a point; all students should have an equal opportunity to participate in athletics. But that isn’t the end of the argument. An all-inclusive athletic environment may not be completely feasible, or beneficial, to student athletes who compete at the varsity level. Some schools simply do not have the resources or the funds to accommodate every single student
AMISHA PAUL Editor-in-Chief who would like to play a sport. Even if multiple freshmen and C-teams were run solely as participation opportunities for students, there are still two major problems: funding and finding other teams to play. It takes a lot of money to fund a sports team, and most schools are unable to bear the cost of additional teams or an excess of players. Additionally, many complain about the excess of money spent on athletic programs in the country, and making the teams all-inclusive
would only up this price. And, even if students make the team, there is no guarantee that they will actually see playing time. It is the responsibility of the coach to play the athletes who will contribute the most to the success of the team, meaning some kids will inevitably sit the bench for the entire season. These athletes who sit on the bench for much of the season could develop a resentment for the sport; they find no purpose in attending practices and will eventually lose their love for the sport. Students might be better off pursuing the sport outside of school. The school’s team is not the only avenue of playing a sport; there are numerous club and recreational teams for students to play in, which might be a better use of time and money. If a student is not competing at
the varsity level for a sport in high school, the likelihood of getting a scholarship for college is slim to none. Thus, kids who are cut from a sport are not missing out on any potential scholarship offers. It may seem necessarily harsh to cut kids from teams, but he fact of the matter is that nobody is entitled to a spot on a team. This really just is a reflection of the way most things go in life. Kids try out for plays, audition for music groups, run for class office or apply for an editor position and many do not make the cut. Being cut from a team can provide crucial learning experiences for students, and can stimulate growth and improvement for students. And sometimes, it might be a sign that one’s efforts might be better off directed elsewhere.
Ads 8
SENIORS
theimagemagazine
Grad Ads for the 2019 Legend are due Nov. 16! Check the mail for an order form or visit lancerfeed.press www.RockwoodCoalition.org
Protect your brain this school year by living above the influence
The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth — John F. Kennedy
NEWS
Oct. 25, 2018
FDA sues Juul Labs
Unrestricted sales lead to problems for youth
J
CARSON LUTHER Staff Writer uul Labs’s mission statement and goal is simple: “Improve the lives of the world’s one billion adult smokers.” However, that’s not all the company has managed to do. Since it’s launch by PAX Labs in 2015, underage e-cigarette usage has skyrocketed. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, 11.7 percent of high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students are e-cigarette users as of 2017. Noticing the rise of teenage e-cigarette usage, many families and consumers have sued Juul Labs, claiming that the company has purposely been targeting teens in advertisements and not taking enough action to prevent sales to minors. In an effort to start putting limitations Student Resource Officer Jim McDonald, holds some of the items he has confiscated from Lafayette on the vaporized tobacco consumption students and teens he has pulled over in the St. Louis area. He has over 20 Juuls in his box from the two by teens, the FDA asked for consumer years he has worked on campus. (photo by CARSON LUTHER) reports and other data from Juul Labs. As Juul Labs failed to originally hand over underage consumers. They have flavors, at this point, so access to all products is the said reports in April of 2018, the FDA which sound really good, and you don’t granted on a trust system. conducted a surprise search on Oct. 2. smell like smoke,” School Resource Before a consumer makes a purchase, This search yielded heavy evidence Officer Jim McDonald said. “Part of the they must make an account, and at the against the Juul Labs. According to the problem does involve the law. As of now, time of purchase, a valid driver license FDA’s search, it’s not illegal to possess a Juul underage. number is between 2011 and It’s only illegal to buy one, and to use it in required, which 2017, the use of public.” is used to e-cigs in middle Laws in St. Louis County are set determine the and high schools to change in 2019, making it illegal for purchaser’s age. W e primarily rely on the students to let rose 5.5 times, anyone under 21 to own a vaping device. In the wake from 0.6 percent us know when students are vaping at of this lawsuit, The number of Juuls found in Lafayette to 3.3 percent. varies from day to day. Juul Labs school. Students can’t just ignore the “The new and “Sometimes we find two to three has released people who are vaping if they want to the following highly disturbing Juuls in a day, but sometimes we go data we have two to three weeks before we have an statement: see change.” on youth use incident. Most are groups of people in the “JUUL is demonstrates bathroom,” McDonald said. intended for —Karen Calcaterra, Principal plainly that The FDA has left big companies current adult e-cigarettes like Juul Labs untouched until this smokers only. are creating year. This has resulted in two years of We cannot be an epidemic of advertisements, flavors and evolution put more emphatic regular nicotine right into the hands of underage users. on this point: use among teens,” the FDA said. “The biggest harm to students is the no minor or non-nicotine user should Juul Labs has argued that the small fact that they are becoming addicted off ever try JUUL. Our packaging includes a e-cigarette helps adults stop using real of an unknown and unregulated amount of prominent nicotine label and clearly states cigarettes, and was never intended to be nicotine,” Principal Karen Calcaterra said. for adult smokers. We are committed to considered a smoking cessation product “There is little to no knowledge of the long preventing underage use of our product, because a Juul pod still delivers the same term effects of using a Juul, and no one and we want to be part of the solution in amount or more nicotine than traditional knows how much they actually consume.” keeping e-cigarettes out of the hands of cigarettes. However, Calcaterra has noticed fewer young people.” The company claims that in an incidents regarding vaping and Juuling Despite the company’s recent efforts effort to help curb underage usage of this year than in previous years. to reduce teen use of the product, there Juul products, its website first asks for “I do believe the FDA should have is still a tremendous amount of appeal for authorization that you are over 21 years stepped up and taken responsibility for the e-cigarettes. of age. But, there is no further verification vaping well before this,” she said. “It’s a lot more appealing to the
“
9
News 10
theimagemagazine
Blackstone’s passion leads her to seek change in community HAYDEN COTTRELL Staff Writer
During the Women’s March, senior EMILY BLACKSTONE pauses before the march starts to take a picture similar to a familiar face in history. “I went as Rosie the Riveter, a symbol of strength for women since World War Two,” she said. (photo courtesy of EMILY BLACKSTONE)
BLACKSTONE holds her homemade poster at the March For Our Lives. The march was to take action, make people aware and encourage reform to the gun laws in the country. (photo courtesy of EMILY BLACKSTONE)
Her sophomore year, she wrote a rebuttal to a “Liberalism is Nazism” piece and participated in the Women’s March. Her junior year, she helped organize the Walkout for Gun Sense Legislation and walked with millions of other students across the nation in the March for Our Lives. In the summer before her senior year, she attended a protest at Josh Hawley’s office. She even registered to vote at a protest rally. All of these events helped senior Emily Blackstone understand politics on a deeper level. The first march that Blackstone attended was the Women’s March. As a feminist, Blackstone felt that expressing her beliefs was an important thing she needed to do. “[I marched] because I felt like some of the things the candidate said and some of his policies were not supportive of women or our rights as human beings,” she said. She added, “Some of the things he said on the campaign trail were both demeaning to women and insulting. It was also to just get our voices out there to let them know that, we might have lost due to the electoral college, but the majority would still always be there.” Since then, Blackstone has joined multiple political organizations. Recently, she went to a Cort VanOstran campaign event, Students Demand Action St. Louis and Moms Demand Action. “To advocate for Moms Demand Action, I get the word out, I tell other parents about it, I wear their buttons proudly and I attend multiple events for them such as the Webster Groves’ Fourth of July Parade. [My mom and I] walked alongside [Moms Demand Action]. I walked [in the March for Our Lives] with my mom and my sister while I held a homemade sign that said that ‘I don’t want to be next,’” she said. These marches have helped Blackstone focus on the political issues she cares most about. In joining Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action St. Louis, Blackstone has started to speak out on about gun violence and gun control laws. Gun control laws have lead to her attending and leading numerous events. “We went to Josh Hawley’s office in downtown St. Louis with a bunch of other students from different area high schools and private schools. We spoke out about his obvious connection to the National Rifle Association (NRA), how they’re funding his election for senatorial position and how we
“
You can be moderate, you can be independent, but as long as you go out and vote because it’s your civic duty. It’s the most important thing you can do in this nation.” —Emily Blackstone, 12 don’t believe it’s right that the NRA has a voice in our elections,” Blackstone said. “The NRA is creating and forming legislation that could potentially harm people later on, such as enabling everyone who wants a gun regardless of potential background checks or domestic violence history,” she said. In 2017, Blackstone wanted to take part in an event to help others understand how gun violence impacted schools in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. “I was the original person to contact the principal to talk and discuss logistics. I was then added to a group chat with a few other girls. We created a walkout leaderboard to discuss who would be the ones running it, where we would go, what time we would do it, stuff like that,” she said. She continued, “I was one of the first people to walkout of class because we want to make sure that people wouldn’t feel like they’re alone walking out, so I was one of the main leaders and participants of the walkout.” Blackstone also keeps track of national bills and Missouri politicians. She gets a weekly email that updates her on any House or Senate bills of interest, as well as what Missouri Senators Claire McCaskill, Roy Blunt and Missouri Representative Ann Wagner vote on. “I can read through what they voted on to make sure that they’re voting for stuff that I would agree with, and that I would want to be put into place in our nation,” she said. Blackstone will be going off to college next year, and her passion for politics will play a large role in her plans. “For the longest time, I didn’t want to go into politics, but I’ve decided, going into college, I’m going to be studying international relations and history with a minor in American Politics and Russian. It may change around, but I do know that I believe that the politician should be someone who listens to the people that they are governing,” she said.
News 11
Oct. 25, 2018
6 Questions with Katie Barefield
How to get involved in politics when you can’t vote Q A What are ways you get involved in politics outside of school?
A really big thing I’m doing outside of school is this thing called Civitas. It is this huge organization of kids in high school all over the Saint Louis area who get together certain Saturday mornings, and we have speakers come in who talk to us. We honestly sometimes just talk together and have great discussions. It’s always about what’s happening in our city and our state, even America or the world. It really helps teach kids what’s happening and what’s around.
QA
What clubs do you participate in at school that help with your understanding of politics?
Q
How did you discover you enjoyed politics?
A
Q Q
Model United Nations (Model UN) is a good club because even though it does not meet a lot, it does force you to think about things that are happening in the world. If you are in Model UN and you make a resolution or even if you are just at the event and watching it, you see all these different resolutions and topics, and it helps you kind of understand what is happening in the world.
I was raised in a very political family. My father was very strongly political, my brother is very strongly political and my sister is too. And they are very different from my point of view. My brother and my dad are very Republican. My sister is very Democratic. I had to somehow find my own way. I didn’t like being influenced by people, so I just researched myself. I ended up finding a really big passion of mine.
What classes have you taken to help you with your passion?
A
I am currently in AP Economics with [John] Deken and AP Government with [Lori] Zang. Both of those are really cool. With AP Economics, you learn more about the economic and fiscal side which you can use to realize what’s happening in the decisions that our government and global governments are making, and AP Government is obvious. You’re learning more about stuff you didn’t realize about politics as well.
Can you bring people to Civitas or to another event with you?
A
QA
I would love to bring more people. I am happy to have anyone get involved that would like to. If anyone is interested in the Cort VanOstran case, I would love to introduce people as well. I actually personally know Rasheen Aldridge, so I can help others get involved there as well.
Do you know any ways for people who aren’t really as heavily involved as you to get into politics? There’s two ways to go about it. If you’re already into politics, have discussions with people. Try to meet someone with a different view than you and just talk about it. Don’t fight, don’t argue, but just try to explain your side. I write down things that I see that are going on politically. Like let’s say you’re at school, you can’t automatically look at it, write it down, so you can look at it later to keep updated with it, especially if you find it interesting.
Candidates on midterm ballot for both Senate, House seats
Katie Barefield, center, is a junior who has been involved in politics since she was young. Barefield takes part in an organization in Creve Coeur called Civitas with other politically and socially active kids from all over the St. Louis area. She also volunteered for the Naral Gala in 2017. Barefield is well acquainted with Rasheen Aldridge, who is the youngest Councilman in St. Louis history from Ward 5.
(photo courtesy of JOSH HAWLEY)
(photo courtesy of CLAIRE MCCASKILL)
(photo courtesy of GAGE SKIDMORE)
(photo courtesy of CORT VANOSTRAN)
Josh Hawley is the Missouri Attorney General. He has held the position since 2016. Hawley is the Republican candidate for the Senate.
Claire McCaskill is one of Missouri’s two Senators. She has held the her seat since 2006. McCaskill is the Democratic candidate for the Senate.
Ann Wagner is one of Missouri’s eight Congressional representatives. She has held that seat since 2009. Wagner is the Republican candidate for the House .
Cort VanOstran is an attorney. This is his first time running for a political position. VanOstran is the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives.
News 12
theimagemagazine
Plan B:
Use of morning after pill continues to stir controversy DELANEY STULCE News and Feature Editor
The science behind emergency contraceptives At first glance the morning after pill seems pretty simple to understand. If birth control is not used or malfunctions, taking the morning after pill within the next few days can prevent pregnancy. The truth of the matter is a little more complicated than that. Despite the name of the pill, a woman does not actually have to wait until the morning after to take a pill, otherwise known as emergency contraceptives. In actuality, the pill is still effective up to five days after sexual intercourse.
NAOMI SAEGUSA Staff Writer
Plan B attains widespread availability The majority of morning after pills are available over the counter, which means an individual of any age or gender can walk into a drugstore and purchase morning after pills without needing identification. The only morning-after pill that requires you to have a prescription is Ella. To obtain a prescription, individuals can either go to Ella’s website or place a call to a local pharmacy or doctor. Because Ella requires a prescription, most insurance companies will cover either a portion or the entire cost of the Ella pill, which can be anywhere from
$50-$67 depending on where it is purchased. For women who don’t feel like spending the kind of money that other non-prescription pills cost, Ella is a more affordable option. Another option for those who might feel uncomfortable with the idea of a physical prescription is to go to a Planned Parenthood. It’s possible to get the morning after pill for a reduced cost, or possibly even for free, at any location.
Balancing religious beliefs, use of pills Despite morning after pills being readily available and legal in the U.S., there is still great debate about whether or not women should use them, especially taking religious beliefs into consideration. In the many religions, especially
Roman Catholicism, the use of contraceptives is frowned upon and receiving an abortion is prohibited. The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church states, “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being,” Jeff Mathews, teacher of the sexuality portion of Pre Cana marriage classes and the Pauline Coordinator of Immacolata Catholic Church in St. Louis, said emergency contraceptives are unwelcome in the Catholic church due to the way the pill works.
Emergency contraceptive accessibility evolves over time 1998
The FDA approves the “Preven Emergency Contraceptive Kit” to be first FDA approved emergency contraception product in the United States.
The FDA approves Plan B as first progestin only emergency contraception available in the United States.
1999
2003
Barr Laboratories, former manufacturers of Plan B, submit application to FDA requesting to switch Plan B from prescription to nonprescription status.
FDA denies Barr Laboratories request. After a revised resubmission, over the counter (OTC) sales are approved for ages 16 and older.
2004
Oct. 25, 2018 Since pills like Plan B work in two ways and the inability to know which way the pill took effect, it is seen as preventing a pregnancy that has already begun to take place. “This would mean a human life may have already been conceived and started to grow. Even though this new life may not have been planned, it does not change the underlying truth that a human life has begun and we are taking actions to destroy a life that has begun,” Mathews said. Although this belief persists through other topics, such as abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment, there are ways to help prevent pregnancies to rape and sexual assault victims. “If a woman is sexually assaulted and presents to a Catholic Hospital Emergency Room, hormonal treatment can be given to prevent ovulation and/or prevent fertilization of the egg in the first place,” he said. Catholics strictly believe in the practice of abstinence before marriage. The ability to purchase emergency contraceptives is a challenge to that belief. “I also fear the easy availability of Plan B can take away from the inherent dignity of women, where men believe there is little or no consequence to engaging in sexual activity since consequences appear to be easily avoided,” Mathews said. Although religion is a large factor for why many people are against the
2006
The FDA announces it has approved Plan B for OTC sales to ages 18 and older. Barr Laboratories begins shipping Plan B to pharmacies throughout the United States.
“
I do practice my religion and believe in it; however, I have a strong personal belief that a woman has the right to be in control of her body and decide whether or not to use resources such as emergency contraceptives.”
—Kendell Oelschlaeger, 12 use of emergency contraceptives, senior Kendell Oelschlaeger does not allow her religion impact her views on women’s rights. “I do practice my religion and believe in it; however, I have a strong personal belief that a woman has the right to be in control of her body and decide whether or not to use resources such as emergency contraceptive,” she said.
Providing sexual safety For those living in America who do not follow strict religious doctrine, institutions like Planned Parenthood are accepting of the use of emergency contraceptives and various other outlets for sexual and overall women’s health. They stress the difference between the morning after pill and
The FDA approves OTC sale of Next Choice, the generic tablet equivalent of Plan B, to ages 17 or older.
2012
News 13 methods to terminate a pregnancy. Jesse Lawder, vice president of marketing and communications of Planned Parenthood St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri said, “Emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy from occurring, so there is no pregnancy to end. That is the difference between emergency contraception and abortion.” Although morning after pills are sold over-the-counter at most drugstores, emergency contraceptives can also be purchased at all Planned Parenthood locations. “Accidents happen, but there is still a way to prevent pregnancy if you’ve had unprotected sex. Emergency contraception is available in many places, including Planned Parenthood, for very low cost. You should definitely use contraception if you’re having sex, but if you don’t, you’ll want to use emergency contraceptives to prevent pregnancy,” Lawder said. Despite the controversy, Lawder said the reason to have both emergency contraception and birth control available is to provide sexual safety for sexually active women. “Decisions you make about your body are personal, and should be made knowing you have the resources available to find the safest options no matter what you are choosing to do,” Oelschlaeger said.
2013
The FDA approves Plan B One-Step for OTC for ages 15 and older, and then later approves Plan B One-Step for OTC use with no age restrictions.
How It Works Levonorgestral: the hormone that allows morning after pills, like Plan-B, work
Pills are effective up to five days after sexual intercourse After being taken, the pill works in one of two ways: 1. It provides a temporary delay in the 2. It release of prohibits an egg or the fertilized ovulation egg from attaching to the uterine wall
The FDA approved generic alternatives to Plan B for OTC use with no age restrictions.
2014
14
FEATURES
Chivalry is NOT dead
theimagemagazine
art by GRAYDEN KURTZ
Students, staff assess etiquette’s place in today’s society JACOB WARD Staff Writer
B
ack in 11th century France, the chevalier was one of the most noble protectors. They were the protectors of all people, but especially women. In English, chevalier means “horseman” or “knight,” and was a high honor to be bestowed upon a man. In present times, this term has been adapted into chivalry, which is less about having courage, honor, respect and nobility, but is more about the respect one conveys towards women. Holding open doors and car doors, letting women eat before you and overall putting the woman before yourself are well-known acts of chivalry. The act of chivalry has turned into more of a romantic and courteous gesture than it was when it first originated. Nowadays, there is some dispute around whether or not younger generations have forgotten the moral code of chivalry. Thus the phrase “chivalry is dead” has become popular. However, quite the opposite is true. Older generations have found that chivalry was a quality passed down generation to generation and remains in societal behaviors even today. “I’ve always been taught to demonstrate good behavior. It’s just how I was reared,” substitute teacher Harry Dillon said. “My parents were both disciplinary. Especially my mother, because she stayed home while my dad was off working.
My dad was a well-respected shoemaker and taught me to do the right things, act the right way and tell the truth.” Dillon believes the way he was brought up in childhood impacted how he raised his own children. “My children never back-talked. They knew my wife was the matriarch, and that I was the patriarch. They have all found success in their lives and carried that type of behavior down to their own children,” Dillon said. Behavioral learning is a key component in why people commit chivalrous acts they see their parents or other influential figures do as well. “People may continue to engage in chivalrous acts due to carrying on tradition and values that have been taught to them throughout their young lives,” psychology teacher Krista Silvernail said. The commonality of chivalry may also be tied to the gratification people feel after helping others. “The positive emotions that we feel when we commit an act of chivalry may be a reason alone, but also explain why we may behave that way again,” Silvernail said. “Some commit chivalrous acts as a way to abide by societal norms. Holding a door for a young lady might be interpreted as a social norm in a particular culture.“ Throughout varying cultures across the world, these kind-hearted acts differ. When French teacher Emmanuelle Tamaroff moved to the United States, she found that France had vastly different chivalrous manners. “Men let women go before them in everything.
Holding open doors and car doors. If you were eating pizza and there was only one slice left, the man would let the woman have it. People were more respectful [in France] as compared to when I came to America,” Tamaroff said. Russian chivalry was something that was demanded and strict. Art teacher Lyubov Briginets said acts of kindness were essentially rules and regulations to live by. “I lived in Russia for the first 21 years of my life. Men held open doors, and my future husband was always very respectful towards me and would do these type of actions,” Briginets said. Students also had plenty of thoughts on chivalry and how a woman should be treated, but also on how one should not be treated. “Don’t talk about girls behind their back. You have to be friendly and respectful. Holding open doors, holding things they have trouble to carry, things like that are nice,” senior John Nicholson said. Junior Karsen Jurenka agreed, but believes girls shouldn’t expect too much. “Holding open doors is nice, but flowers and chocolates are not expected,” Jurenka said. “Simple things like that are nice, though.” When it comes to dates, junior Ashley Skaggs believes independence is important. “I’d rather alternate who pays. I’m very independent, and I don’t need to depend on a guy to always pay for my stuff,” Skaggs said. It seems that chivalry is not dead, but has taken on new forms in modern society.
Features 15
Oct. 25, 2018
Join In
New clubs embrace many student interests
JASMIN KIM Staff Writer There are several new clubs that have been formed for students school year. Each of these new clubs brings a new perspective to the student body. Here are four of them:
Girls Who Can
Girls Who Can attended St. Louis Autism Speaks Walk to support the fundraising event for people with autism. (photo courtesy of Sarah Agolia)
Girls Who Can was created to empower women and foster leadership within their communities. Senior Sarah Agolia, club leader, said, “I always thought women needed a place to feel empowered and involved in the community as a leader.” During meetings, club members will discuss topics such as specific aspects of women’s leadership and acceptance of differences in the society. Outside these meetings at Lafayette, every month, the club will participate in different group activities with various organizations around the St. Louis area. For example, On Oct. 13, they joined St. Louis Autism Speaks Walk in Forest Park. Anyone who is interested in joining should go to Room 210 and talk with sponsor, Emily Benner for meeting dates and more information.
Latino Student League Senior Joseph Quick began Latino Student League after he saw a growing number of students with Latino background at school. He said, “I started the club at the beginning of the year with our sponsor, Jessica Foley, after I noticed that there was growing number of Latino students like myself at the school who might be interested in an organization focused on Latino culture.” The club’s goal is to share the Latino culture with other students. “The group was created to promote cultural awareness and unity [and to] provide opportunities for social activities and community service,” Quick said. In a typical meeting, they will have discussions on Latino identity, culture and involvement in community events. The club meets three times a month on Tuesdays after school in Room 256.
Latino Student League participated in the Homecoming parade. Their float celebrates their Latino heritage. (photo courtesy of Joseph Quick )
Grilling Club
With their aprons on, the members of the grilling club get together at Wildwood Park and enjoy a special cookout. (photo courtesy of Arjun Ramachandran)
Grilling Club is another group that is new this school year. Seniors Chris Drake, Cory Haberberger, Daniel Lee and Arjun Ramachandran organized the club after they realized how they and others appreciated eating and talking about food together. “Our goal is to bring together our school community through grilling because I’ve personally always enjoyed the environment of a weekend cookout,” club leader, senior Daniel Lee, said. Grilling Club meets on every Early Release Day. During the meetings, members bring their own food to the club. Their sponsor is Office Jim McDonald. For now, they will hold their meetings at Wildwood Park. Anyone who wishes to join should refer to their Instagram page @lhs_grill_club.
Indian Culture Club Seniors Rishi Ray and Maurya Akula created Indian Culture Club this year to spread appreciation for Indian culture at Lafayette. “The goal of the club is basically to have a fun relaxed time while learning some Indian culture through either movies or songs,” senior vice president Maurya Akula, said. Additionally, they play games and hold Kahoot competitions to make Indian culture more approachable and enjoyable to all. Besides their regular meetings at the school campus, they plan to take trips to local Indian restaurants. Indian Culture Club is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Indian culture. The meetings are held in Room 248 on every other Tuesday.
Indian Culture Club watches Chak De India. The club leaders hope different media can make Indian culture more approachable to students. (photo by Amisha Paul)
For more info on new clubs at LHS, go to lancerfeed.press
Features 16
Built to SURVIVE
art by TRAVIS BODELL
theimagemagazine
A Survivor’s Advice:
“Just throw up your hands, live your best life and deal with what comes your way.” — Jennifer Ingram
Features 17
Oct. 25, 2018
Fighting
Hartley receives cancer diagnosed, begins treatments MELINA HUDAK Staff Writer Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, so odds are good that most people will know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease. Paige Hartley, Lafayette’s gifted counselor, was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer this year. Hartley was fortunate the cancer was caught very early, and she attributes that to Language Arts teacher Jennifer Ingram’s experience and her message to all women to get checked annually. “Every year, Lafayette has a mobile mammography van come while the teachers are here on work days. I’d been meaning to have a screening mammogram done, but I’ve put it off for a few years. After Ms. Ingram had breast cancer, I decided that I really just needed to do it. I remember coming in from my appointment that day, and telling her I went to get screened because of her.” Although the diagnosis has been
a frightening experience, Hartley is maintaining an optimistic outlook towards the entire process. “So far, all of my news after the initial diagnosis has been the best it could be. My tumor was small and slow-growing and hadn’t spread to any other areas. That made it easier to be grateful throughout the process. Had I waited another year, it could have been much worse. The stage and type of cancer I have has a 100 percent five-year survival rate, so while I was scared of the treatment, I was never scared that I would die from this,” Hartley said. And treatments for cancer, although developing, can be quite scary. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are common methods of cancer removal. Hartley has already undergone a lumpectomy, a surgery to remove the affected area, and needs radiation, but will find out about chemotherapy requirements soon. Prevention and early detection is key, because many women will have no symptoms until the cancer has already significantly progressed. Self
breast exams and mammograms are important for women to check for anything unusual. Mammograms can detect breast cancer up to two years before a tumor can be felt. “I would start by telling people to be screened for cancer whenever their doctor recommends it. Waiting is not a good idea. The earlier you catch it, the easier the treatment might be. Then I would tell people that cancer treatment has changed radically in the past few years, so it’s important to listen to people who know current information and research,” Hartley said. Despite facing a huge fight ahead of her, Hartley is reveling in the immense support she has received from her friends and family. “I honestly had no idea how many friends I had — how many people truly care about me. I have been so surprised at the way people have reached out and sincerely offered to do anything to help. Even once this is over, I’ll feel much more like I have a family here at school that I can count on. I will also never hesitate to reach out to someone
else to offer help because I felt so much support when people did it for me.” She said good health is a luxury that many people take for granted and raising awareness of breast cancer can potentially save lives. Breast cancer occurs in one of every eight women, and finding it early presents more treatment options and a higher chance of survival. Hartley has allowed the obstacle she’s been faced with to change her own personal outlook. “I think it gave me perspective. I tend to be a person who worries and plans and likes to control things. I have learned I don’t get to do that, and things can still work out. I’m willing to let go of the little things now and see what the universe has in store for me,” Hartley said. A GoFundMe has been started to aid Hartley in her medical expenses. Anyone seeking to help support Hartley can access this fundraiser on GoFundMe’s website under Help Ms. H Fight Cancer.
Fought
Now 3-years cancer free, Ingram reflects on her battle GRACE KIRTLEY Web Editor “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you,” — Neil deGrasse Tyson This was the motto that language arts teacher Jennifer Ingram lived by during her fight against breast cancer in 2015-2016. After noticing a tingling sensation and a lump in her left breast, Ingram visited Mercy Hospital on Oct. 2, 2015. “I was a little scared, but I wasn’t completely panicking. I was still able to go and eat lunch at the Mercy cafeteria because that’s how I roll,” Ingram said. The following Monday, Ingram received the news of her positive diagnosis. The cancer that Ingram would fight throughout the next year was a fast-growing cancer that had progressed to Stage 2.
Before any surgery could take place, Ingram had to undergo chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs attack the quickly-dividing cancerous cells. However, other rapidly dividing cells such as bone marrow are also attacked, resulting in a number of side effects such as nausea and fatigue. “It was frustrating that I didn’t have the energy and health to do my job at 100 percent,” Ingram said. “There were times where I wish I was able to give the same amount of energy to the class that I usually would, but I just couldn’t because I was so tired,” she said. Looking back, the experience of chemotherapy enlightened Ingram. “I realized the paradox of the human body, in that it’s so resilient and yet at the same time so fragile,” she said. Ingram lost her hair and some of
her nails due to her chemotherapy, yet she fought through it with the support of her family and friends. “That’s the part that makes me emotional, just thinking about all the people who were so good to me when I was sick. Being sick really does remind you of the people in your life who really mean so much,” Ingram said. Funny encouragement cards were sent to Ingram along with a garland hung in her room with encouraging messages from her friends and family. Ingram felt supported throughout the whole fight against breast cancer and she advises those fighting to embrace the emotion and the support. “Just don’t try to fight whatever emotion you’re experiencing. Whatever it is, don’t try to deny it, embrace it. And when people want to help you, let them help you,”
Ingram said. During her treatment, Ingram moved in with her parents so they could care for her, and she wouldn’t have to pay bills by herself. “My parents were really so supportive. My mom was essentially my nurse,” Ingram said. “She went with me to every single appointment. Every chemo session, she came with me.” For three years, all of Ingram’s tests have been cancer-free. Once she reaches five years of cancer free tests, she will be declared officially cancer-free. Even though no signs pointed to Ingram’s cancer, after her diagnosis she found peace in her motto. “It’s sort of freeing that things just aren’t going to make sense all the time. That’s the way it is,” Ingram said. “Just throw up your hands, live your best life and deal with what comes your way.”
Features 18
theimagemagazine
What do you stand for?
Support for beliefs shown by students in variety of ways
C
urrent events make ignoring social issues, politics and the general happenings of the United Stated virtually impossible. Because of the frequent media coverage of police brutality and acts of racism as close to home as Ferguson, Missouri and across the nation, the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has become crucial in its role uniting black communities. Following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, teenagers from thousands of schools came together with the survivors of the shooting to spearhead the #NeverAgain movement, a push for gun legislation that garnered national attention. Each time something of such magnitude occurs,
opinions turn into something more — a spark begins and movements are born. In today’s political climate, being a part of some sort of activism or movement is becoming increasingly common. And, doing something about what you believe in has become more accessible with technology. Social media has been utilized as a method of getting the word out about events and causes. Lafayette is home to students from opposite ends of the political spectrum, with an array of passions and beliefs. In the past, events aimed to amplify student voices have been held at Lafayette, largely organized by members of the student body. Such events include the #NeverAgain walk out during the 2017-2018 school year. Take a look into how some students are bringing their beliefs to another level.
TRAVIS BODELL Editor-in-Chief JACK WEAVER Digital Media Editor
Features 19
Oct. 25, 2018
photos by JACK WEAVER
“
I am a classical Indian dancer, and as part of my first solo performance, I had the opportunity to choose a creative piece that expressed myself. My dance told the story of a mother who stood up to society in order to send her daughter to school, which was very empowering for women. To go along with that dance drama, I raised $2,000 for the Malala Fund.”
Sadhana Matheswaran, 11
“
I believe that although women should have the right to control their bodies, all lives should be treated equally. Since babies can’t speak for themselves, it’s our job to do that. I went to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and it was so empowering to see half a million people rallied around for this cause.”
“
Mason Hewlett, 11
There was a lot of injustice going on in St. Louis, and I decided to be brave for once in my life. So I held a protest week at school, with an open discussion and walk out. It was the start of my involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement. Even though I’m graduating soon, I’d like to see an event here every year to raise awareness about police brutality.”
Treasure Smith, 12
“
I do a lot of activism involving LGBT+ rights. I’m not straight, so it’s really important to me to see that [members of the LGBT+ community] are treated well and equally. Once I went into high school, I realized students have a lot of opportunities to get involved. Participating in the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) helps me do that.”
Zoe Spriggs, 11
Features 20
theimagemagazine
You Name it!
Students reveal stories behind their identification Hello my name is
AMISHA PAUL Editor-in-Chief SHELBY DARNELL Staff Writer
Often, our names have a meaning behind them. Some cultures name their children after the events they were born in, like the surge of storm-themed babies in the wake of numerous hurricanes. Some are named after celebrities, ancestors or nature. Some people are just given names because of how they sound. No matter the reason, many names have a meaning behind them whether it’s cultural or an interesting story. Here are some names within our school with a meaning behind the nametag.
“It’s more of a ‘creative decision’ by my dad. He was eating Chinese food with my mom, and whenever he was reading the fortune cookie and it said something about Sunshine, he thought ‘Oh that’s a great middle name.’ I think it’s nicer and has more of an impact than my first name. Sunshine just has more of an impact. At first [my mom] didn’t approve, but she calls me Sunshine, too. One person called it a hippie name, so it’s a mixed reaction.” — Sunshine Clemens, 11
Hello my name is
“It basically means “horizon” in Hindi, and I was born in India, and we speak Hindi so that’s what it means. I don’t really know how I got the name, I think they just thought it was a cool name, but it’s super unique. I’ve been called ketchup in 2nd Grade. A substitute teacher called me “she-teek,” so that’s what I call myself now.” — Kshitj Sinha, 11
The Face Behind The Name
Alphabetically, freshman Subhan Abassi is the first name to appear in all school lists.
Hello my name is
“My parents didn’t know what to name me, but on the way to the hospital they were listening to the radio and a list of dog names came on. The top dog name was Max, and my dad liked it. Since my mom got to name their first child, it was my dad’s turn. [My mom] didn’t like it at first, but she said it grew on her.” — Max Loomis, 11
And, junior Christian Zinngrabe is the last name to appear in school lists.
Senior twins Sam H. Tran (pictured above) and Sam T. Tran wound up with the same name after a confusion with paperwork.
Features 21
Oct. 25, 2018
Hello
Hello
my name is
my name is
“Yuhan is Chinese and so is my last name. It’s very common in China, and it’s actually pronounced ‘soon.’ Yuhan is two separate words. Yu means rain in Chinese, and Han means cold. My parents thought it sounded pretty, and I was born on a rainy day. My teacher used to call me ‘Sun’ all the time and I would never know who he was calling.” — Yuhan Sun, 12
“I was named after Blues hockey player Brendan Shanahan. My mom grew up with hockey all her life, and Brendan Shanahan was her favorite player to go and watch. Growing up, all her friends played the sport, so she was just always around it. Since his name was spelled with an -an she wanted mine to be different and ended mine with -en.” — Brenden Jackson, 12
Hello
Hello
my name is
my name is
“My mom was a big Pierce Brosnan fan, and he had been in a relationship with a Keely Smith in 1999, and then I was born in 2000. So she named me after her. He’s Irish, he’s attractive and he’s also a really nice guy, as she would know.” — Keeley Cronin, 12 Shortest Name
“I named my son after the English author Henry Fielding. He is my favorite author. In fact, he is the author who inspired me to become the failed novelist that I am.” — David Choate, language arts teacher about his son, Fielding Longest Name
Everyone knows a...
Everyone Knows A... Katherine/Kathryn/Catherine
With 29 girls at LHS named some variation of Katherine, it’s the most common female name.
And a...
Senior Sam T. Tran is currently in the process of changing his name to Steven.
Junior Ang Min, at six letters, has the shortest name in the school.
And at 28 letters, junior Tajirisha Kasher Israel-Cazembe has the longest name in the school.
Jacob/Jakub
With 24 boys name some variation of Jacob, it’s the most common male name at LHS.
22
LIFESTYLES
theimagemagazine
Día de los Muertos
Remembering ancestors with lively Mexican tradition CHLOE BAKER Assistant Web Editor
D
ía de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead” in English, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 1-2 each year to remember and commemorate deceased relatives. Though it is held in honor of
loved ones who have passed away, Día de los Muertos is also associated with bright colors and food and festivities. It is a combination of Catholic holidays and an indigenous holiday. Día de los Muertos falls on the same day as the Catholic holidays All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Families often visit the grave
sites of family members, as well as build ofrendas, or altars, in remembrance of their loved ones. They light candles, decorated with items that once belonged to their ancestors, and prepare their loved ones’ favorite food. Cempasúchils are traditional marigold flowers used to honor the dead and decorate the altars.
Many families that live in the US and celebrate the tradition often cannot visit grave sites, since many of their ancestors are buried in Mexico. While the traditions of the holiday vary from area to area and family to family, they all celebrate life and remember those who have passed away.
Students with Hispanic backgrounds celebrate culture
M
any students at our school celebrate Día de los Muertos to remember their family members and to continue their culture, even though they may not live in an area where the holiday is widely celebrated. Senior Lucas MasoeroBarros was born in Brazil, but moved to Mexico when he was four years old. Growing up in Mexico, he participated in many of the traditions, such as making altars for deceased family members. One of his favorite traditional foods from the holiday is a sugar-coated bread called pan de muerto. This bread is commonly placed at altars, and tastes like oranges. In Mexico, MasoeroBarros saw people take the holiday to different levels, some even taking loved ones out of their graves and cleaning them while others just decorated the altars. As Masoero-Barros grew up in Mexico, he witnessed the holiday’s evolution. “I think some of the kids [in Mexico] are changing it a little bit. Instead of celebrating Día de los Muertos, they are celebrating Halloween, so maybe Halloween is starting to kill Día de los Muertos,” he said. “I 100 percent think they should
be separate. It’s part of the culture, and we can’t let it die.” Junior Orquidea Campbell-Espinoza, along with her mother, was born in Mexico. CampbellEspinoza moved to the United States when she was very young. At home, her mother still speaks Spanish. While Campbell-Espinoza understands the language, she doesn’t speak it as often. Her family goes to Mexican festivals and maintains the culture within their household. Her family still celebrates Día de los Murertos as best they can, even though her relatives’ graves are located in Mexico. Instead, her mom makes sure to create altars to remember her past family members’ lives. Campbell-Espinoza has also noticed Halloween is beginning to overlap with Día de los Muertos, but sees it more as the merging of two cultures. “I think it’s fine if they sort of merge. We should still recognize there’s a difference. We just need to realize that one is religious,” she said. Brother and sister Neil and Camila GilchristCasale, sophomores, grew up in Mexico for their whole lives until they were 14 years old. Both of their parents were born in Europe but came from Hispanic families. Their mother moved to Mexico soon after she was born, while their father moved later on for school. They described the three days of Día de los Muertos as always incredibly colorful. School in Mexico during that week is full of games and decorations. They also set up an altar for their grandmother, decorated with photos of her and flowers. “We celebrate people that have died in our families. We don’t celebrate the death itself, we celebrate the people that we have lost,” Camila said. “I lost my grandpa about a year ago, and this brings me closer to him now.”
Students in Spanish and Art classes create sugar skulls to remember and honor Día de los Muertos. The sugar skulls represent departed souls and are a common symbol of the holiday. Sugar skulls are presented in many traditional Mexican art forms often used in association with Día de los Muertos. One type of art, alambroides, uses wire to create a sculpture decorated with bright colors (art by LAURA CHAMPION).
Lifestyle 23
Oct. 25, 2018
Spanish classes experience the holiday in classrooms
D
ía de los Muertos is an important part of Mexican culture, and Lafayette’s Spanish classes recognize that. All levels of Spanish take time in class to learn and celebrate the traditions and culture of the holiday. In past years, students have used Google Cardboard to take virtual tours of cities where festivals took place, utilizing technology to give students a more visual lesson. Students also previously participated in a “market” to barter for items that would be needed to create an altar. They also go through slideshows and videos, and teachers often compare it to Halloween to pinpoint the
drastic differences, due to the common misconception. “I think it is definitely worth comparing how we celebrate Halloween [to Día de los Muertos]. It gives people an idea of our neighbors to the south and their traditional holiday,” Spanish teacher Brian Fish said. “I think it’s misunderstood to some degree,” he added. “People don’t understand the complete background behind it and the importance of it, but I do believe that it is very important. It gets people excited about learning new culture.” This year, they are hoping they can have a native Mexican guest
speaker come in and talk about how she celebrates the holiday, as well as show students how she sets up an altar at home. Spanish teachers believe this will be a great way to connect students to the culture. Spanish teacher Samantha Brown-Perez believes it is important to not only teach students the Spanish language but also the Hispanic culture behind it. “I really like having the kids help make the decorations. We get them to think about how this is this different from how we address death and passing in American culture and why they do things this way,” Perez said.
“
I think [Día de los Muertos] is misunderstood to some degree. People don’t understand the complete background behind it and the importance of it, but I do believe that it is very important. It gets people excited about learning new culture.”
— Brian Fish, Spanish teacher
Students in all levels of Spanish take time to learn about Dia de los Muertos, most years they simulate a “market place”and barter for items that would be used to decorate an ofrenda, or alter. Spanish 1 and 2 teacher, SAMANTHA BROWN PEREZ hopes to have a guest speaker. (photo by NATALIE KARLSSON)
Latino League honors holiday
T
he Latino Student League hosted a viewing of Coco on Oct. 16 after school to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The viewing was open to anyone and included cultural food and festivities. The Latino Student League is new to Lafayette this school year. Its goal is spread awareness of Latino culture. Junior Joe Quick started the club and organized the movie viewing. He hopes to establish bonds between students of
Latino decent as well as create a greater awareness about Latino culture. Events such as the movie viewing are held in hopes to bring in more members. “The movie watching was mainly for fun, and to bring Latino students together, or just students from Lafayette in general. We had a lot of people show up,” Quick said. He added, “It’s important for Día de Los Muertos to be remembered so people think of family first, that family always comes first and to remember those who have passed.”
Spanish students create sugar skulls to learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos. Sugar skulls are often made as decorations for offerings made for deceased relatives. The skulls are often decorated with lots of color and sometimes the name of the ancestor that is being honored is written on the forehead of the skull. The skulls are made out of sugar and water molded together. Another central symbol of Día de los Muertos is the cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico. The flower is placed around altars. Their vibrant color and strong scent is believed to guide spirits out of their grave and into the family’s home. Despite the common misconception that Día de los Muertos is a celebration of death, it is actually a celebration dedicated to the life of those who have passed. The holiday is celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, mostly commonly in Mexico, where many festivals are held in larger cities such as Mexico City. (photo by CHLOE BAKER)
Lifestyles 24
taste tester
theimagemagazine
Glazed Donut Edition
F
or this issue, two Image staffers sampled plain glazed donuts from Dierbergs, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Donut Palace and Schnucks to find out which place earned the grade for the best donuts. Here’s what they thought:
NATALIE KARLSSON Lifestyle Editor JASMIN KIM Ad Manager
Lifestyles 25
Oct. 25, 2018
Dierbergs
Diameter: 4 inches Price: 89 cents each
The donut purchased from Dierbergs looked as if only the top half was dipped in glaze. It was soft and sticky at the same time, making it very sweet. The donut was also very dense which made it filling, not to mention its size.
We give this donut a B.
Donut Palace Diameter: 3 inches Price: $1.09
The donut from Donut Palace was completely glazed. It was dense, and not as sweet as the other donuts tested. It had a slight hint of cinnamon, probably because of the various other donuts it sat next to all morning. It was very soft as well, but it was one of the smaller donuts tasted.
Dunkin’
We give this donut a B-.
Diameter: 3.5 inches Price: 79 cents
Dunkin’s glazed donut was completely glazed with the smell of coffee surrounding the outside. The size was suitable as a snack or a light meal. The butter and sweetness of the donut was fulfilling, but after few bites it can come off as excessive.
We give this donut a B-.
Schnucks Diameter: 4 inches Price: $1.09
The Schnucks’ purchased donut was shiny and completely glazed. It was the biggest of all the donuts. It was crispy, which made it stand out from others. This donut was as sticky as the other ones. It was very rich and soft.
We give this donut an A.
Krispy Kreme Diameter: 3.5 inches Price: 84 cents
Krispy Kreme’s donut was also completely glazed. However, we found that the glaze for each donut in the box was different. There were some which were only partially glazed and therefore, less sweet. The texture was soft and fluffy. The size would be good for a quick snack.
We give this donut an A-.
26
SPORTS
theimagemagazine
The Cutting Question
Coaches, players alike struggle with team placement decisions
KAYLA CARPENTER Sports Editor An unnamed junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri played on the junior varsity (JV) soccer team his sophomore year and was one of the team’s leading scorers, yet when the boy tried out for the team this August, he was cut and shortly thereafter, his mother and stepfather sued the school district. The family accepted that the boy wasn’t put on the varsity soccer team, but they were upset that he was not given the chance to play on the school’s JV team. According to the school, junior boys who are cut from the varsity team are not allowed to play on the JV team because younger players need to have a chance to develop their skills on JV. After filing unsuccessful complaints with school administrators, the boy’s mother filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri that claimed the school is guilty of sex and age discrimination saying that the school had allowed female juniors to play on JV teams in the past but refused to allow her son to do the same. On Oct. 10, however, the family decided to drop the lawsuit due to a lack of sex discrimination evidence. Although there is no longer a federal lawsuit concerning the issue, the boy was still one of eight juniors at his high school who was cut from the team. Every year, a similar situation involving teams cutting several juniors occurs at Lafayette. Many
junior athletes are cut from programs due to many factors including available positions that specific year, the coach’s mindset of their program and the student athlete’s skill level and character. Mark Linneman, the Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) Board of Director representative for the St. Louis District, says there is no state policy that prohibits juniors or even seniors from playing on their school’s JV team. In addition, MSHSAA does not have any requirements or advice for schools when it comes to cutting athletes from programs; therefore, all cuts and team placement policies are decided upon by individual schools and teams. Similarly, LHS doesn’t have any policies regarding cutting athletes from teams, nor does the school have any rules against placing upperclassmen on JV teams. Furthermore, several LHS sports do not cut players from their programs at all. These sports include cross country, field hockey, football, girls lacrosse, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, water polo and wrestling. Activities Director Jon Sumner said for the sports that do require cuts to be made, individual coaches are responsible for setting their program’s expectations. Head girls basketball coach Denise Meyer has been coaching high school athletics for 18 years. She says when determining when to cut players from her program, she considers several factors. “[I consider a player’s] academic eligibility, sports specific ability,
and character [such as] their discipline record, peer and teacher relationships, school attendance and past commitment to team events,” Meyer said. Meyer says placing juniors and seniors on JV teams often depends on the given year and the amount of available spots on her teams. “I have coached teams where I offered juniors and even once a senior to play JV. I have also coached teams where I cut juniors and seniors and didn’t offer this opportunity,” Meyer said. “Each team and player is different. I believe this option needs to be flexible based upon the ever changing student-athlete population.” When a situation does arise where an upperclassmen could possibly play on a JV team, Meyer says there are several things a coach must consider. “Being a part of an extracurricular team, at any level, is a privilege, not a right. Each coach and program may make this decision based on a variety of factors: talent pool, philosophy in player development, numbers of student-athletes trying out, skill level and projected success,” Meyer said. One anonymous junior soccer player at LHS was one of many junior athletes who was cut from the soccer team this fall. “I was initially shocked when I got cut,“ he said. “I played hard during tryouts and never gave up on a play. The coaches even told me I’m a very vocal player, had good vision on the field, could make key passes well and my dribbling was on par
with the midfielders. I think I should have made the team, but everyone on the team is very talented, I have to admit.” Along with being cut from the varsity team, the boy is also disappointed because he wasn’t given the chance to play on JV. “I would much rather have played on the JV team because I’d like to do what I love by playing instead of not doing it at all,” he said. Last year, senior Sara Moore was given the opportunity to compete in both JV golf and JV basketball as a junior. “I really liked being a junior on JV. It was really fun to get to know people who are not in my class, and I definitely think I improved as a golfer because I set a new personal best and became more consistent,” Moore said. “An advantage of playing on JV is being able to focus on improving without having to worry about the pressure of varsity.” Cutting athletes from their programs is a difficult decision for coaches to make, and they often have to deal with backlash from parents. Although most condemnations are not as severe as the Ladue lawsuit, Meyer says it’s still important for coaches to be proactive in how they lead their programs. “It is fairly common to receive criticism in the cut process. It is important to set clear expectations in advance, include subjective data and speak the truth in a kind fashion,” Meyer said. “After all, the only thing worse than cutting student-athletes is being the athlete who was cut. Empathy can go a long way.”
Sports 27
Oct. 25, 2018
Language arts teacher JENNIFER PAUTZ (center) and the St. Louis Sabres Women’s Rugby Club face off against the Kansas City Jazz Women’s Rugby Club. (photo courtesy of JENNIFER PAUTZ)
School’s Out, Goal’s In
Language Arts teacher Pautz plays on women’s rugby club in spare time ALEX ROZAR Staff Writer While it may not be the most common sport in the U.S., rugby is an international sport played by over 8.5 million men and women in 100 different countries. Lafayette Language Arts teacher Jennifer Pautz is one of those women. She decided to start playing rugby in 2007 when she was a freshman in college at Truman State University. “I did no activities for the first semester of my first year,” she said. “I was super bored, so I looked at the bulletin board next to my dorm room, and it said ‘rugby’, So I told my suitemate ‘Let’s go try it out,’ and I’ve played ever since.” Pautz’s current team, the St. Louis Sabres Women’s Rugby Club, is one of the most successful women’s rugby teams in the nation and one of the oldest. The team was created in the fall of 1972, when wives and girlfriends of members of St. Louis’s men’s rugby team, the St. Louis Ramblers, decided to form their own rugby team, then named the Pink Ramblers. They played their first match on April 22, 1973. Since then, women’s rugby has dramatically grown in popularity. There are now hundreds of clubs across the nation competing at the amateur, collegiate and professional levels. Even today, the Sabres remain one of the most dominant teams in the United States.
“Last June, we went to Denver to play in the National Championships for the Women’s D-II league,” Pautz said. “We did not win that game, but we did take second in the nation, so we passed through pretty much all of the teams in all of the Playoffs up until the Championship. We played teams from Texas, California, Missouri, Kansas, and we beat all of those to make it to the championships.” Pautz said as a teacher and a rugby player, she has had to find a balance between her responsibilities to both her students and her teammates. “[Rugby] can be very distracting [from school] because you do want to bond with your teammates, because that’s how a lot of the stellar plays happen on the field, but I think I’ve found a pretty good balance so far,” Pautz said. Last season, Pautz was president of the team. However, she chose to step down from that position because she said it was interfering with her love of the game. “As president, I had to deal with a lot of petty stuff,” she said. “My goal was to ideally step down from a leadership position in the team so that I could then help promote rugby throughout St. Louis.” Pautz has made significant progress with that goal since then. “We just started a girls team, the St. Louis Vipers, encompassing all high schools in the St. Louis area this year, so I’m hoping to help build that up in the upcoming years,” Pautz said.
As of right now, Lafayette does not have a rugby team. Marquette and Eureka both have boys rugby teams, but none of the Rockwood high schools currently have a girls rugby team. Pautz said, “I tried to start a girls team a couple years ago,” she said. “I just did not have enough time to play and coach and teach. That was too much on my plate.” However, Pautz said she would “absolutely” support a rugby team at Lafayette. “It’s the camaraderie. It’s an instant bond anywhere you go. If you play rugby, it’s something that you can talk about. It’s something that in the Midwest, not a lot of people know about,” she said. Camaraderie has certainly been an important aspect of the sport for Pautz. She said many of her teammates over the years have become lifelong friends of hers. “One of my favorite stories to tell about rugby is at the intro meeting at Truman, the coach at the time said, ‘You’re going to build friendships with people that you’re close to in rugby, and you’re not going to need anybody else,’” she said. “And that is true. I still talk to, went to the weddings of and celebrated the babies of the girls that I played with at Truman, and I know the girls I play with now, I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” The St. Louis Sabres competed at home on Oct. 20 against the Kansas City Jazz. The team’s next game is on Nov. 10 when they will compete in the Ozark Tournament.
Sports 28
theimagemagazine
photo by JACK WEAVER
Fighting Like Girls EMMA COLE, COACH BERENICE BLANCO AND FAITH COLE
Sports 29
Oct. 25, 2018
Pin This On The Calendar
Girls wrestling prepares for inaugural season MAYA MANOR Staff Writer For the 2018-2019 school year, a new sport has been added by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). Girls wrestling is now an official competitive sport and female students at LHS will be competing this winter. The decision to include girls wrestling as an official high school sport was only made last May by MSHSAA. This decision makes Missouri the ninth state in the country to add the sport to its high schools. About 85-90 percent of high schools in the St. Louis area have at least one female representative for their new team. Rockwood Summit High School will have about 15 to 20 girls on their team this winter. The boys are girls wrestling teams will compete with the same schools throughout the season. Activities Director Jon Sumner, former head wrestling coach, anticipates the success of the new team.
“I am very excited for the addition of this program. The more outlets that allow more students to get connected in our building and pursue a passion, the better,” Sumner said. The coaching staff for girls wrestling is highly experienced and will work and train the new team so they can reach their full potential at Districts and State. Berenice Blanco, the new head girls wrestling coach, is going to be one of those experienced additions to the coaching staff. She was a high school State Champion in California and went to Missouri Baptist University to wrestle. Joe Wier, head coach of the boys wrestling team, will also be helping with practices and trainings for the girls team. Sisters Emma Cole, junior, and Faith Cole, freshman, have been very active in the formation and preparations for the girls wrestling team as it readies its debut on the LHS mats. Emma, the only female participant on the Lancer wrestling team last school year, will bring
many benefits to the team. This will be her second year wrestling for LHS, but she also wrestles on the Missouri National Team and participates at the Purler Wrestling Academy and Bonhomme Wrestling Club during the week. Faith also wrestles on the Missouri National Team, and has been wrestling for six years. The Cole sisters are also very confident in the success that this team will achieve. “I think that this year will be a success but also a learning year for everyone,” Emma said. “Our coaches are amazing and always have a plan, so they are going to make sure that everything runs smoothly for both of our teams. Practices will be very similar [to last year’s]. So far, we have girls who are interested and are coming out to the team. We plan on getting as many as possible.” Despite the fact that Emma was the only girl on the wrestling team last year, she enjoyed it and is excited to be on the team again, except that now the team will be exclusively female.
“Last year was amazing, I loved being on the team and didn’t really take notice or think about the fact that I was the only girl. I was just part of the team,” Emma said. “We are all teammates and I was treated no different, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.” Faith is also ready to take on being a support and guide alongside her sister for the team. “My sister and I are hopefully going to be someone the newer girls can look up to and can ask for anything, not only wrestling. The team is a family and we want to make the new girls feel welcome. I do think it will be a success,” Faith said. Lafayette’s coaches and students are looking forward to being a part of the rise in girls wrestling throughout the state as well as the country. “Our wrestling program is a family, they will make it work,” Sumner said.
Blanco uses experience to guide new team KAYLA CARPENTER Sports Editor In 2012, she was the California girls wrestling State champion In 2013, she was the third best wrestler in California and was ranked as the fifth best wrestler in the nation. After graduating from Santa Ana High School in Santa Ana, California, she wrestled at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. And now, hall monitor Berenice Blanco is the girls wrestling head coach for the team’s first season. Blanco was initially going to return to California after graduating from Missouri Baptist, but she heard about an available hall monitor position from her friend, hall monitor Mack Ivory. After being hired, she was offered the head coaching spot and promptly accepted it. “[Coaching wrestling] has been my dream. I went into education to do that. I specifically wanted to
coach,” Blanco said. She is greatly anticipating the team’s first season and the growth of girls wrestling as a whole. “I’m excited to start [the new girls wrestling program] with the team. I remember when I was younger, I always wanted a girls wrestling team. It was difficult for us to get girls involved, so now that our sport is growing, it’s inspiring, and I want to help —Berenice those girls out,” hall monitor Blanco said. “Wrestling built my life. It shaped it. I just want to give back.” Not only does Blanco want to be an effective coach, but she also wants to have a positive influence
“
on the girls and be someone they can turn to. “It’s difficult not having a girl coach, a girl mentor, so I really want to care for [the girls] and have them come to me if they have any issues or any problems. It’s not even about wrestling. It’s the girl-code,” she said. “I really want our new girls to fall in love with the sport and themselves.” Wrestling has had a profound Blanco, impact on Blanco’s life, and she’s made many memories through her time competing. She wants to help female wrestlers at LHS have a similar positive experience with the sport.
“Technically, they say wrestling’s a man’s sport, but just because it’s defined as that doesn’t mean that us ladies can’t do it. It’s very empowering.”
“I’ve learned about growing as a person [through wrestling]. You just experience so many things. Your wins, your losses. It’s just an incredible sport,” Blanco said. “[My favorite part is] how it’s a family bond. You’ll remember your wrestling team forever. They’re always going to be there for you especially at your worst time when you’re cutting weight or when you lose a really big match that you knew you could win.” Despite this only being first season, Blanco has high expectations for the Cole sisters and the entire Lady Lancer team. “I know Faith [Cole] and Emma [Cole] could get to State, and if we could get a couple more girls to score points for us, I definitely want to bring back a State medal,” Blanco said.
Sports 30
theimagemagazine
photo JACK Onby Sept. 29,WEAVER senior ANNA KARNER watches the rest of the runners make their way to the finish after she came across the line in the seventh spot at the Parkway West Dale Shepherd Invitational. Karner has consistently placed in the top 10 this the season. (photo by KAYLA CARPENTER)
K a r n e r o v e rc o m e s s t re s s f r a c t u re s , leads girls cr oss country team
SOPHIA SCHELLER Staff Writer
Senior Anna Karner has been consistently placing in the top ten of her races and is the top runner for the girls cross country team. She placed 10th at the Forest Park Cross Country Invitational out of 148 runners, and ninth at the AllSuburban Meet. What’s even more impressive, though, are the obstacles that she’s had to overcome. Karner was able to run full-time freshman year. But not long after the season, she realized she had been running on a stress fracture. “I didn’t know what a stress fracture was at the time,” she said. “Everyone thought it was just shin splints, but I found out I was running on a stress fracture for a couple of months. I tried to heal that one; I stayed off of it for six weeks. I came back into running slowly, but I got another stress fracture right at the beginning of my sophomore cross country season.” That was when she met Dr.
Lauren Hendrix, Director of West County Spine and Joint Chiropractic. Hendrix has stuck by Karner throughout her running career, as a coach and as a doctor. Hendrix said Karner’s stress fractures originated from Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, commonly known as shin splints which are caused by an overuse of the lower leg along the shinbone. Because Karner’s shin splints were not properly treated, they turned into stress fractures. “I didn’t run my sophomore year. I was weight training, I was biking, but I didn’t get a season,” she said. When track season came in March, she attempted to return to running, but she ended up getting a third stress fracture. Every stress fracture that Karner suffered was in the same place on her right shin. “One of the major reasons I was injured is because my running form
was bad. I used to prone my leg inward [breaking the kinetic chain].” Karner had to spend over a year recovering from her injuries. Her injuries not only caused pain, but also mental frustration. But, with the help of her teammates, Karner was able to overcome her obstacles. “When I found out I had my latest stress fracture, I sat in the hallway and cried, but I got through it,” Karner said. “Really my teammates just kept me going. They were like ‘Anna, you got this, you can do it,’ and just seeing them every day and hanging out with them is always motivation. I dedicated myself to being the team cheerleader. I would just go around screaming at everyone at every race.” Karner’s positivity has caused her teammates to look up to her as a teammate. “Anna is not only a strong runner, but she is also a great teammate.
Running is not always an easy sport to stay positive in; however, Anna never fails to bring motivation to the team,” junior Stella Chang said. “When she was injured, she never ceased her training. She was determined to get back in the next season and continuously crosstrained through the rest of her time injured.” Karner now has her sights set on placing in the top 25 individually at the Sectional Meet on Oct. 27 to qualify for the State Meet in Jefferson City on Nov. 3. Although Karner’s running career has been plagued with injuries, she has been able to overcome them with the help of a positive attitude and mental fortitude. “Anytime you play a sport and get injured, it just takes a lot of determination and willpower. No one’s gonna do it for you, you have to do it yourself,” Karner said.
Oct. 25, 2018
Ads 31
ARMY RESERVE STUDENT S ARMY RESERVE LOAN REPAYMENT UP TO LOAN REPAYMENT $50,000/ENLISTMENT BONUS UP TO $20,000 $50,000/ENLISTME Staff Sergeant Popa West County Recruiting Station 13956 Manchester rd. Ballwin, MO 63011 636-227-2371 and 314-372-1508 Staff Sergeant Popa Facebook.com/ArmyWest
UP TO $20,000
West County Recruiting Station 13956 Manchester rd. Ballwin, MO 63011