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Lafayette High School
17050 Clayton Rd. Wildwood, MO 63011
Reality Check lhsimage.com
Thanks to their addictive qualities, reality television shows have gained massive popularity, but how close are they to being real? ... pages 8 and 9
Volume 43, No. 3 10.7.2011
2 contents
tableof
October 7, 2011 6
shark-infested waters After an actionpacked night of football, the seniors emerged victorious in Powder Puff 2011. For more Homecoming photos, check out lhsimage.com.
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6 totes adorbs From the Coach tote to the man-satchel, purses are many students’ prized possessions.
8 keeping up with reality
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Viewers struggle to discern reality from fiction as TV shows give larger-than-life portrayals of real industries.
14 fright fest
As Halloween approaches, the Image explores psychological effects of horror movies.
Photo by Alex Vanderheyden
cover sounds
In a day and age where most Americans are more likely to remember the words to their favorite TV show’s theme song than the words to the National Anthem, the line between reality and fiction has become blurry. Does reality TV distorts and change people’s views? How close are the TV depictions of real life to real, real life?
Cover Photo Illustration By Max Thoman
theimage people&policies Max Thoman................. ..................Editor in Chief Leanne Beasley...................................Managing Editor Grace Bueckendorf......................................Webmaster Jessica Zadoks.....................................Campus Editor Hannah Boxerman..............................Lifestyle Editor Sarah Greenlee......................................Opinion Editor Christine Jackson ...................................Sports Editor Mia Schenone.............................Entertainment Editor Danielle Slauter ..............Asst. Entertainment Editor Gian Wessel ...............................Online Sports Editor McKayla Treat ...................................Asst. Webmaster Maddie Henning ..............................Asst. Webmaster Kelly Carpenter ...............................Business Manager Teja Vogirala...........................................Photographer Yoon-Jae Kim........................................................Artist Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ...............................Adviser
Staff:
Paige Antolik, Katherine Blackstone, Anisha Chellaswami, Dominic Corvington, Alyssa Knowling, Alex LaMar, Gabrielle McDaris, Claire Norfleet, Sydnee Stottlemyre and Molly White
Information:
The Image is published nine times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2009-2010 Image received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction.
Philosophy Statement:
The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.
Contact Us:
Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com
Policies:
A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.
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NOT EVEN ” ONCE
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Former addicts, community leaders urge prevention, awareness as heroin deaths increase in St. Louis County
hannah boxerman lifestyle editor
John* was an incoming Lafayette sophomore when he tried heroin for the first time. “It was the cool thing to do and naturally, I was trying to fit in. So I tried a little bit and liked it,” he said. It was not the last time John would use. His battle with addiction spanned the course of his high school and college years until he was forced to leave the St. Louis area to seek rehabilitation. John’s story is not an isolated one; recent rising heroin usage in St. Louis County prompted the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition (RDFC) to host a public forum on the issue at Marquette High School on Sept. 21, the day after St. Louis County Police reported another heroin overdose death in the area. In 2001, the police recorded 10 deaths from heroin in the region. By 2010, the number was up to 60. Two of these were Rockwood graduates. One attended Lafayette. “Heroin used to be thought of as a ‘city drug’”, RDFC Project Coordinator Renee Heney said. “Now it’s an issue that’s close to home.”
Heroin in the halls Heney said the increased rate of heroin usage in the suburbs may have less to do with changes in the community than changes in heroin itself that have fostered a more affordable, easier to use form of the drug. Changes in heroin’s purity have allowed it to be sold at a fraction of the previous cost. In some instances, a tab or “button” of heroin costs about the same as going to the movies. This heroin can also now be snorted or smoked. According to Heney, this innovation has played a major role in heroin’s increasing popularity among teens. “There’s a certain stigma that comes with injecting yourself with heroin. Teens think of junkies with noticeable track marks. A lot of teens think that’s gross. With heroin that can be snorted or smoked, the stigma is gone,” she said.
At the Sept. 17 demonstration in Ballwin, Misty Totra holds up signs to attract the attention of motorists on Manchester Road. (Photo courtesy of Suburbanjunky,com)
“What’s more, the dealers are coming to high school parties and they distribute to kids for free. The kids become so easily hooked that the dealers have just expanded their customer base,” Heney said. However, John said obtaining heroin was as easy as knowing the right people at school. “Purchasing heroin was possible at Lafayette. It was very behind-the-scenes, but it was easily obtainable through certain people. People were bringing it in from the city,” he said. St. Louis County Chief of Police Tim Fitch said for some area schools, heroin’s presence in their halls is hard to imagine. “We had a difficult time when we first started talking about holding this meeting in our community, getting school districts to step up and say, ‘You can have it here,’” he said. “Some of them are still in denial.”
Addiction and recovery For John, addiction was at first a distant notion. “I didn’t understand until midway into my senior year. It takes a while…then all of a sudden I was doing it and doing it and I tried to stop and I got sick. That’s when I realized I was addicted,” John said. He developed ways of keeping his habit a secret. “You learn as you become an addict; you become great at manipulation and doing whatever it takes to hide. I hid it from my parents until my grades just went to straight F’s within a semester,” he said. When his family eventually discovered he had used heroin, John told them it was a “one-time thing”. “I kept going with that lie until it just became too hard to hide,” he said. “They started noticing things missing from the house, spoons and other paraphernalia...they were digging harder and they started listening to my phone conversations.” John was in and out of rehab until his freshman year of college, where failed his first semester and asked for help. “[My parents] dragged me as far away as possible, which was the best thing…to get me out of the area
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and away from all the things I knew. I realized that I had a problem and that nothing was going to get fixed in my life without getting help for my problem. So that’s how I did it. I went to rehab, actually tried to get better myself,” he said.
Prevention and awareness Heney said prevention is essential as heroin’s danger for teens lies in the high probability of overdose and addiction, both of which are possible after one use. “That’s the problem with heroin; you can try it one time at a party and become addicted. That’s why our focus is ‘not even once’,” she explained. For John, the public forum represents progress. “Denial is what I and my parents dealt with, a lot. Now they have to admit there’s a problem,” he said. “My parents would scream and scream and tell the school administrators, ‘You guys have a problem. It’s in the school. You have to face it,’ and they’d say ‘No, it’s your son.’ It didn’t start with me.” Now fully recovered, John runs suburbanjunky.com, a resource for addicts and their parents in the St. Louis area from a user’s perspective. He urges students or parents to visit his site if they or a loved one struggles with heroin addiction. Dan Duncan, Director of Community Services for the St. Louis Area branch of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, told those present at the Sept. 21 meeting that before the problem could be solved, St. Louis County had to admit to its presence. “We like to think that the people who are using drugs are those people over there-whoever they are,” he said. “These are wonderful areas, in St. Louis County. We shouldn’t have heroin here, but we do,” he continued. We have to be more real with students about what could happen to them…actually talking to them rather than just going through what’s in some textbook or curriculum,” John said. *name has been changed
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October 7, 2011
@Twitter_Takeover
Clubs utilize Twitter as main source of communication claire norfleet
reporter
In the past few months, Twitter has emerged as a new social networking superpower. Twitter allows you to post updates, or “tweets”, about any kind of topic, but the space is limited to 140 characters. All the hype and excitement about Twitter has carried over into the halls of Lafayette. Several clubs and sports teams have created accounts to give updates and information about scores and meetings. News spreads quickly through this form of social networking. Senior Superfan captain Kyle Glennon started the accounts @LHSSuperFans and @LafayetteStuco to send out information about upcoming events. “I created the accounts because the Twitter game was hot at the time. I believed it was a great way to have humor while still getting the message out about games or STUCO meetings and events,” Glennon said.
He added, “People who don’t have a Twitter account are missing out.” Glennon keeps both accounts up to date, as well as his personal account and alerts followers about important information. The accounts already have a number of followers, which include a large majority of “tweeters” at Lafayette. Another popular account is @LancerNation12, which was created by a group of seniors on the football team. A few of the players are in charge of the tweets are seniors Dominic Bisesi, Anders Fladda and William DuPont, all of whom post their thoughts and quotes from students talking about upcoming games. The tweets include predictions about the outcome and statistics for players. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), an after-school club that meets once a week, also has a Twitter account: @LafayetteFCA. They created the account in order to send out information about the time
and location of each meeting. It makes things less complicated and allows students to know details in advance. Senior Michael Mueller is in charge of sending out the tweets and believes it makes things easier. “It’s really the quickest way to send out the word,” Mueller said. He added, “We figure that if we get the word out to our followers, they will help everyone else out.” And because most students have some type of mobile device, Twitter updates can be sent directly to the phone, which proves sending tweets is quicker than updating Facebook groups. The Twitter world is taking over, not only with students, but also multiple clubs and teams. It creates larger gatherings at meetings, and a larger fan base at sporting events. Glennon added, “Twitter is taking over the world and everyone has one. People can tweet us and give us feedback. I like to have fun with the accounts and get more people involved.”
Across West County, dedicated students are expert Tweeters with a large following. They share their secrets of Twitter success: Kelsey Clayman, 12 @kclay9 152 followers “You can tweet anytime, anywhere and whatever you want.” Top Tweet: “When Mondays are easy, you know #lifeisgood”
West County @Westcountykid 527 followers Top Tweet: “Got pit stains in my new Ralph Lauren polo from mowing the lawn... #ChildLabor #problemsofawestcountykid
Lane Rommel, 12 @Laner_Gator 130 followers “I just like to read other people’s tweets.” Top Tweet: “Library needs to go back to playing SportsCenter, I don’t care about the Nevada unemployment rate.”
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The Chips are on the Table Sissom purchases Colossal Chip Company alex lamar
reporter
When a Missouri potato chip company landed on the buyable market, business teacher Scott Sissom saw an opportunity. After spotting an advertisement for the company in July 2010, Sissom dove into a month’s worth of research. “I saw that the snack foods category was up 22 percent,” Sissom said, “So I figured it wasn’t too big a risk [buying the company].” After examining the benefits of owning the business, Sissom pitched the idea to his older brother Kirk Sissom and sister-in-law Tamara Sissom. The three purchased The Colossal Chip Company in January, including their younger brother Todd into the deal. During a poor economic time, most entrepreneurs are hesitant to start a business for fear it will not profit. However, the previous owner of Spudmaster had already established the brand, giving Sissom an advantage when beginning negotiations. “Re-establishing a good brand makes it easier than
going around trying to get people to try something they’ve never had before,” Sissom said, “and since we’re able to make the product in the same quality range it was made before, we automatically retained the prior clientele, so it gives us a step up from starting from scratch.” The reason for Colossal Chip Company’s uniqueness is its unusual production process, Sissom said. For starters, everything is handmade, including the bagging. “There’s no automation in the production line,” Sissom said, “We’re going to have to tweak it as we bring in income, though.” Colossal Chip Company chips are made from the largest potatoes available in the state of Idaho. Each potato is inspected before processing to ensure maximum quality. The name Colossal Chip Company comes from the size of the chips. Instead of the potato being sliced crosswise, as most potato chips are, Spudmaster Colossal Chips are sliced from the potato long wise, making them over twice the size of a common potato chip. Since the company is still in its beginning phases, there is not a large budget to advertise. “At times we’re not able to advertise or do the promotions that we’d like because cash flow is not there even though we’re increasing sales,” Sissom said. Though the company does not have a large budget for advertising, The Colossal Chip Company products
have still made it onto shelves in Straub’s, Central Market and Schnucks stores around the Missouri area where they are sold for around $7 a box. In addition to Missouri, the company has begun an outward spread to expand into farther territories and find new sales. “Our first product came out in March,” said Sissom, “And then this summer, we were able to get into Schnucks as well as small areas in Texas, Michigan and we’re about to go into Kansas City.” Although the Spudmaster brand is not well known, people familiar with the product are pleased with it. Sophomore Lucas Meyrer was immediately satisfied when introduced to Colossal Chip Company. “I really like their unique size and taste,” said Meyrer. “They’re also a lot healthier than other name brand potato chips, which is always better.” Not only do these gourmet chips have a distinct appealing taste, but they also include many health benefits not present in other brands of potato chips. According to The Colossal Chip Company website, the chips contain no trans fat, cholesterol, hydrogenated oil, MSG (monosodium glutamate), artificial preservatives artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners. The chips are also GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and gluten free. “It’s the most healthy unhealthy snack you could eat,” Sissom said.
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6 lifestyle
October 7, 2011
The Power of the Purse It’s all in the “man-bag”
Whether it hangs across their body, is clutched under their arm or is carried by hand, a pur se is a girl’s best friend. No matter what color, shape or size they take, females have a purpose and preferen ce for their tote or cross-bodies. Due to their prevalence in the hallways, it’s no surprise that when polled, a majority of female students preferred Vera Bradley and Coach handbags. However, what some girls carry on a daily basis is more unique. All ends of the spectrum were found within the purses, from fake mustaches and 15 used movie tickets to antiitch bug cream. From the weird and wacky, to “man bags” to everyday essentials, Lafayette has it all. sydnee stottlemyre reporter
A Closer Look: What’s in that bag?
Senior Swati Sankar’s purse packs a punch. With items that meet her basic needs to advancing her hobbies, Sankar’s bag is filled with just about everything she’d need in a day and more. From the everyday to the extraordinary, here’s what’s in her bag.
Just in case items . . .
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“I keep an umbrella in my purse. Just so happens I needed it when we had a fire drill and it was raining. Everyone was soaked, but me.”
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1. Script for Fame, the fall play. “I memorize my lines and blocking throughout the day, and I have rehearsal everyday. I can’t come to school without it,” Sankar said. 2. Key chain (with Angry Birds plush toy). 3. Because of the amount of travel she does, Sankar carries 20-plus lip balms and liquids in a zip-lock at all times. 4. “My phone is my lifeline. I could never live without it,” Sankar said. 5. Wallet 6. Sankar carries food in her bag to relieve frequent migraines. 7. Sankar’s rings are her good luck charm, and she never goes anywhere without them. 8. Sankar said her iPod is one of the most important items she carries with her. 9. Gum
-Anne Perry, 12
“I keep anti-itch bug bite cream in my purse. I get bit a lot.”
-Haley Morrell, 12
“I keep a scarf on top so that no one can see in.”
-Lindsey Pecoraro, 11
“I keep fruit smiles in my bag. They taste so good. In science, especially.”
-Latherine Shoeder, 9
“I have 15 movie tickets in my purse.”
-Maddie Jones, 11
“I keep a shirt in my purse. You never know.”
-Andi Lanning, 12
While ladies use their purses to carry around whatever they please, some gentlemen have also found use for a travel companion. Senior Jean-Luc Panchot sports a Michael Kohrs leather laptop case. “My grandma gave me a shoulder bag for Christmas so I ended up using that...I carry it for my laptop, for when I need to type things up,” Panchot said. Teacher and varsity basketball assistant coach Matthew Landwehr carries up to four bags to school at once during the year. “I teach three different classes in two different class rooms and I have an office that is away from my classroom,” Landwehr said. In order to ensure his students have what they need, Landwehr carries everything with him at all times. He has two brief cases, a workout bag and a backpack for the basketball team laptop during the season. Landwehr said, “I do my best to keep it organized. Obviously when you get 75 papers turned in at once, a lot of paper clips are used.” Between personal finance, Driver Ed, Community Service, the Renaissance program and basketball duties, Landwehr keeps his hands full, literally. Other than space to move around in the hallway, Landwehr did have one other wish, “I do not have any designers though. If you would like to get me a label, that would be awesome.”
To see the best of Vera Bradley go to:
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Fall 2011 October 13th, 14th and 15th 7:00 PM
the
Day WorldSmile:D
Braces, Invisalign among options for putting best smile forward katherine blackstone
reporter
Beginning in 1999, World Smile Day has been celebrated annually on the first Friday in October. According to the holiday’s official website, it was founded by inventor of the Smiley Face symbol, Harvey Ball. On this day, people are encouraged to “do an act of kindness - help one person smile.” During this holiday, not only are students trying to make others smile, they’re trying to fix their own. Numerous high school students have had to go through some form of orthodontic treatment. From starting treatment to remembering to wear retainers, braces have had a big impact on the student body. Junior Alexis Lowenthal got braces over the summer and has mixed feelings about them. “I think they express me as a nerd,” she said. She has some other complaints as well. Lowenthal hopes to get them off by the end of the school year because she misses not being able to eat the food she wants. However, it’s not just the limited diet that’s the problem. The main complaint of most students who have worn braces was the pain that often comes with it. Sophomore Michael Palazzola said the first few days
were the worst. “You can’t eat anything and your teeth hurt a lot,” he said. Freshman Kaycee Cohen said getting her braces on and off hurt, but the rest of her treatment was fine. “I didn’t like them but it wasn’t too bad,” she said. Lowenthal said, “They’re not as bad as you think... they’re actually quite okay.” She also said she liked that she could change up the bands to different colors. Sophomore Courtney Geller didn’t think braces were too awful, despite the fact she got them on five days before her birthday. However, she was disappointed that the braces affected her day. The braces weren’t the worst part, according to Geller. Both Lowenthal and freshman Delaney Eyermann agreed with her that spacers, put on earlier, were much more painful. Geller said she was glad the spacers only lasted a few days. Eyermann, who’s already had braces for a year and expects to have them for another, said she does not like her new appearance. “They’re not very good to look at,” she said. She’s still appreciative of the benefits though. Eyermann said she knows braces will make her smile prettier and will prevent more
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dental problems in the future. Students aren’t just limited to traditional braces. Sophomore Anjana Renganathan has had Invisalign for the past year and a half. She’s found that after her first set of braces, Invisalign is a lot easier. “You don’t have to wear it all day and it doesn’t hurt,” she said. She still warns about possible problems that include having to wash the parts often, forgetting to wear them and losing them. Orthodontic Assistant Tara Huesgen of Century Orthodontics explained that it’s important for users of Invisalign to keep wearing it throughout their treatment. If they don’t, a patient might have to restart their treatment all over again. “With Invisalign, the patient has to be responsible,” she said. Students have advice for those about to start treatment, ranging from wearing wax during the first few days to protect the mouth from sharp wire to wearing a retainer after braces. However, Palazzola had some different advice. “It’s going to hurt at first, just suck it up,” he said.
Snickers
-Alexis Lowenthal, 11
Buy 2
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-Michael Palazzola, 10
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-Delaney Eyermann, 9
lifestyle
lifestyle 7
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lifestyle
In a world dominated by television theme songs and larger-thanlife characters, the line between reality and TV is becoming increasingly blurred. The drama is captivating, the fights are intense and the viewers are addicted. But in the midst of tuning in to see what will happen next, Americans may lose sight of what the true definition of reality really is. leanne beasley
managing editor
lifestyle 9
October 7, 2011
jessica zadoks
campus editor
Reality Check
Top model struts her stuff on the Lancer runway . . . err hallway Upon tuning in to America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), viewers know exactly what to expect: skinny girls, couture fashion, intense drama and of course, lots and lots of Tyra Banks. However, only certain aspects of the show are true to the real-life industry. Senior Kristen Kessler began modeling at a young age and has experienced the ups and downs of the modeling world. “I do mostly runway modeling in high fashion shows. With each runway show I enjoy gaining more knowledge about the industry,” Kessler said. As the ANTM competition suggests, young models are constantly judged and scrutinized in a variety of ways. “The fashion industry is harsh. If you have five insecurities before you come to an agency, you will leave with 25 more,” Kessler said. Although to viewers it may appear fun and easy at times, modeling is more than smizing (a Tyra-coined phrase, meaning “to smile with your eyes”) and posing. Kessler said that the pressure can be tough on the body and affect self-confidence. “There has been a case where I came in one day for a routine meeting with my agent and she pointed out every area of my body that did not look good to her weight-wise and that I needed to work out on. Two weeks after that she told me I was too skinny.” To attract viewers, a large part of the show centers on the drama between contestants
yelling at each, rather than modeling. In reality, however, tempers don’t run quite as high. Kessler said, “There isn’t nearly as much drama between models [in reality] because you will only spend six or seven hours together before the runway show, and there is no competition so you really get to know each other.” ANTM also depicts many runway shows and photo shoots. Kessler said the chaos seen in the show is pretty close to what actually happens. “From my experience of doing about 20 runways, I have come to accept the fact that they are always unorganized and even important details of the show may be changed the second before you walk on,” she said. Despite all the misconceptions and the drama, Kessler feels that the show does a good job of depicting models. “What I really do like about the show is that the contestants are real aspiring models who may or may not have had prior experience,” she said. Banks often says that the show strives to teach girls how to be successful in the modeling world while still being themselves. Kessler said, “There are many common misconceptions about models. I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid. I don’t starve myself, I like me some food. And like any other part time job, I have to work at it every day.”
Reality mimics TV with little bridal shop of horrors Grad slices into future Knives are flailing, grease is spattering, the cherries are placed on top... and time’s up. Competitive cooking shows have been an emerging trend that have extended beyond the television channel, Food Network. With shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Top Chef, viewers are thrown into the cooking world as colorful chefs from around the nation and world come together in the ultimate test of their abilities. Class of 2011 grad Jessica Bax has held the spatula and served the dish. She has been through the culinary track at LHS and is continuing on as she plans to attend culinary school in the winter. “I was a part of the culinary competitions and the experience was amazing. What I took home from that was a true sense of accomplishment and a deciding factor in my decision to go into culinary arts,” Bax said. As an artist wields a brush, Bax takes on her art in the form of sizzling dishes and plates dressed for success. “When everything is completed, the dish is plated and sent out I get a feeling of satisfaction. Plating the dish is always fun for me because I like to make it eye appealing as if it were a piece of art,” she said. But the question remains, is what television shows us really what is going on in every restaurant? Bax agrees in that shows like Iron Chef completely tests a chef’s abilities but she also understands the real world point of view as she works at her mother’s brand new restaurant, Letty Lou’s. “There is no doubt in my mind that cooking shows challenge a cook’s abilities. The chefs perform under extreme pressure and not only do they have to create, cook and complete their dishes in a certain amount of time but also have to reach or exceed the standards set forth by the completion. Not to mention they are on television and are being watched by millions of people... But my mom’s restaurant has helped me to truly understand the hard work and dedication that it takes to not only run a business but a kitchen effectively,” Bax said. Up to her ears in not only elbow grease but others as well, Bax plan to press on into the cooking arts with her culinary experiences in tow. “Before entering high school I never had a culinary background at all but the experiences I went through in high school opened many doors for me and my future plans are to help my family establish a new restaurant.”
Clothed in white, donning pearls and hidden beneath a veil, here comes the.. Bridezilla. Bravo! bursts down the doors to every bridal shop, catering store and florist as their slew of brides come in with demands as high as the sky and expectations that WILL be met. It isn’t uncommon to see tears and bridges burned before the big day, and lucky for viewers, cameras are there to catch it all on tape. Senior Sarah Park is the right hand woman in handling brides in their journey to spouse-hood. Park is an employee of Maiden Voyage Bridal and works as an assistant bridal consultant. The rumor of bridezillas has reached Park, but she has not been witness to them. “I’ve never seen really crazy brides. I’ve only heard of them from some of the other employees. But even then, from what I have heard, our customers haven’t been outrageous,” Park explained. Although Park says that certain brides do have their moments, they can’t compete with reality TV. “They may not be portrayed as exaggerated as on television but some really do have attitudes with the workers and manager...there was one bride who’s parents actually were the ones who got angry and began to complain
about how long the dress was taking to come in, even though they were aware of the time that a dress takes to be ready.” She continued, “When people are ignorant and stand right in my way so that I can’t maneuver through or when they leave a whole bunch of bridesmaid’s dresses everywhere is what mostly irritates me. Leaving these expensive dresses all over the floor and not bothering to hang them up or even zip them makes me want to scream sometimes.” There are ups and downs at the bridal shop. Park has just learned to go with the flow, even though it difficult at times. “It’s when the bride brings a ton of family and friends and there are multiple parties all at once. It gets hectic and hot and there’s dresses here and there that I have to put away. It’s all very frazzling,” Park said. Even with the drama, Park loves her job. “It’s fun to watch brides who find their dresses and are happy and giddy and all they want to do is take pictures,” Park said.
Escadrille dancers, parents, coaches move in sync In the new Lifetime Network show, Dance Moms, parents and children become absorbed in competitive dancing to the point where they’re “livin’ on the dance floor,” as the show’s theme song suggests. The show centers on Abby Lee Dance Company, a competitive studio in Pennsylvania, and features girls between ages 6 and 14, who all compete in several styles of dance at a very high level. The drama of the show is caused by their overbearing and opinionated mothers, who along with studio owner Lee argue over just about everything. The Lafayette dance team, Escadrille, also participates in competitions, but the relationships between the moms and the coach are quite different than their TV counterparts. Escadrille mom Jodi Schwietz has been supporting her daughter, senior Mackenzie Schwietz, in competitive dancing throughout her childhood. She said, “Mackenzie has danced since she was 5 years old and has always had a passion for it. When she decided she wanted to do it competitively, I definitely supported her but certainly didn’t encourage. We knew it was enormously expensive and very time consuming, so that was a definite concern.” She continued, “From what I have seen of the show, none of
the Lafayette parents, including myself, are as involved with the dance team as moms [on the show].” Katherine Whiteside, Escadrille coach, also believes the roles of parents and mentors should be supportive rather than hostile. “There is a delicate balance between coach, dancer and parent,” Whiteside said. In the show, Lee is often seen yelling at her students and their parents in her goal for perfection. As a result, there is a lot of resentment and tension between all parties involved. Schwietz said, “Although it is a very competitive sport and is definitely intense at times, the shows seems a bit exaggerated to me. I have never witnessed the yelling and screaming that I have witnessed on that show.” Whiteside said, “In my experiences, the relationship between dance coach and student is a positive one. I think being the coach of a dance team or any activity or sports team provides a unique opportunity to connect with students outside the regular classroom.”
DANCE MOMS
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October 7, 2011
Heads Up: New law aims to limit concussions christine jackson
sports editor
In the pile of pre-season forms that each student athlete is required to “read”, sign and return, some may have noticed an addition. Because of a new Missouri law, known as the Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act, every student must sign off on and submit a concussion form prior to their first competition. While the law’s passing date of Aug. 27 has kept new concussion materials out of the current physical form, it is an important step toward the education of student athletes on the dangers and prevention of concussions. The new law states that each athlete must submit a concussion form before they can compete, and outlines procedure for dealing with athletes with concussions, saying that “a youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in a practice or game shall be removed from competition at that time and for no less than 24 hours.” However, this requirement has
QA &
Senior Abby Uphoff shares her concussion experience and advice
Q: What exactly happened that gave you your concussion? A: I was running home in a softball game. I was in the middle of going down into my slide when the throw went wild. The catcher stretched across the base path and clotheslined me. I flipped over and landed head first. The catcher had pushed my helmet down so
caused some concern that athletes will not come forward about their injuries to avoid being benched. Senior Abby Uphoff advises otherwise. “If you think you have a concussion, go straight to the doctor, don’t wait like I did,” she said. Activities Director Steve Berry oversees the implementation of the act. “Because of the date of the statute passing, we were unable to include the concussion materials on our current physical form,” Berry said. “This will be an addition that will be made for the upcoming years. Our approach, due to the timing, was to provide the required concussion literature for the fall athletes, along with a sign off form to adhere with state requirements.” These include the The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) concussion packet as well as the school’s concussion form. Berry said the new statutes will not change LHS’ approach much, and will focus less on dictating programs and more on the education of athletes on the danger and care of concussions.
the back of my head was exposed, and when it hit the ground I blacked out for a split second. When I opened my eyes I was on the ground with people around me. Q: What were the first signs that let you know something was wrong? A: I had a bad headache and I got nauseous. Q: What were the most obvious/worst symptoms that you experienced? A: My headaches were constant and different than a normal headache. Everything was painful. I couldn’t concentrate at all. Q: What tests were taken to see if you had a concussion? A: At first they did a general cognitive test. They shined a bright light in my eyes to see how they dilated. Then the doctor made me follow his finger with
As the opposing catcher reaches for the ball, senior Abby Uphoff’s helmet is thrown askew and she is knocked to the ground. (Photo by Steve Worley)
For more information on concussions
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my eyes and try and walk a straight line, which I failed. Lastly, he gave me several CAT scans to make sure there was no brain damage. Q: What steps have you had to take to be able to play again? A: In the beginning I was on “zero activity”. I stayed home from school and slept almost constantly. Then I slowly began working back into functioning state. I went to school and simply sat there, tried to listen, kept my head down, and wore sunglasses to avoid worsening my headaches. Then I started trying to focus and do things like read. Once I was able to focus and make it through the day, I went to Heather, our trainer. Every day after school Heather would see how I was feeling and have me try different activities to see how my brain would react. Every day I
progressed further and was able to do more activity, slowly working towards getting back in the sport. Q: What advice would you give to those looking to avoid a concussion and for those trying to recover from a concussion? A: Be aware of the danger that’s there. You never know when it’s going to happen, so you don’t know how to prepare for it. If you think you have a concussion, go straight to the doctor, don’t wait like I did. If you have a concussion the best advice I can give is to sleep. Your body needs to heal, so you will feel sleepy all the time; don’t fight it. It’s good. Also, don’t stress out about getting caught up in school, the teachers are all very cooperative and just want you to get better. Plus, stress gives you more headaches.
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Zerr breaks down high school barriers dominic corvington
reporter
Daring enough to defy typical high school norms, senior Jacob Zerr has found his niche in an activity that involves neither balls, cleats nor a high octane crowd. Instead, his passion lies with an unlikely group; the LHS color guard. Involving a combination of dancing in costume with flag and rifle tossing, color guard is usually not a popular choice for the average high school boy. “It’s something that a lot of people can’t say they’ve done,” said senior Lancer Regiment drummer Ryan Beike. But after scheduling conflicts kept him from continuing as a member of the marching band’s drum line, Zerr was looking for something new. “I wanted to stay in marching band but I couldn’t take the band class,” he said, “but I wanted to be in it so I said,
‘Why not do color guard?’” As a member of color guard, Zerr travels with the Regiment to compete in various marching band festivals against other schools. He has most recently earned the rifle solo in the show’s opener. “I think he’s gotta have a lot of confidence and he’s awesome at it,” senior Abi Davis said. Though he is the only male participant in a group of girls, Zerr’s enthusiasm has sparked much interest among the student body. Still, he continues to take his role in stride. “At first I joined the group for myself because I enjoyed it. But as I continued I realized I had to continue because I had become a symbol for many kids at Lafayette that you can break down social norms and barriers if you really want to,” Zerr said.
When a scheduling conflict meant he could no longer perform as a member of the Lancer Regiment drumline, senior Jacob Zerr traded in his drumsticks for a flag, saber and rifle. (Photos courtesy of Kim Lee)
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12 opinions October 7, 2011 Students play vital role in helping charitable causes at home, away Laziness is a stereotype for teens and is one that is arguably sometimes dead-on. We are notorious for sleeping in, slacking off and for “senioritis”. But at the same time, there are always notable exceptions to the rule, the ones who make the stereotype far from the truth. The Image is proud to recognize Lafayette students as some of those exceptions. Of course, no one is saying the students who walk through our halls are perfect, but we commend the fact that students here don’t just walk through the halls. The student body goes above and beyond when asked to help others.
We rally, we fundraise, we support our community and we get involved. Just in the last few weeks several events helped show our support for the community around us. Stick it to Cancer, the field hockey hosted event, collected $783.34 to donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization dedicated to the research and development of a cure for breast cancer. Senior Women also stepped up to the plate for their selected charities by collecting a total of $7,105.65 which will be divided between Habitat for Humanity and Water for Panama. Not only do these seasonal organizations make a large impact in lives both near and far, but also,
certain organizations regularly serve their community. Both Key Club and National Honor Society spend hours participating in events such as cooking dinner for burdened families at the Ronald McDonald House. Key Club, for instance, was just featured on the Eureka-Wildwood Patch in an article that highlights the club’s commitment and specifically its actions during the recent restoration of Greensfelder and Laumeier Sculpture parks. NHS’s reach can also be seen all around the area. In the next few weeks, the club will be assisting various elementary schools in Rockwood during their fall festivals.
JROTC, which performs a huge amount of community service and charitable work will be getting into the philanthropy game full swing as their 8th Annual Clothing Drive has kicked off and will run through Oct. 26. With NHS and Community Service students, they hope to collect a huge amount of clothes for distribution around St. Louis. All in all, the dedication of students to important causes is a commendable feat. Their actions are exemplary. And if you are a student who is not involved in one of these organizations, however, it’s never too late. Get involved or even just donate a dollar during any drive. Who knows? You might just change a life.
“Generation me” lacks real culture
Unfiltered Sarah Greenlee
After the senior literature field trip to see Red at the Repertory Theater at Webster University, I was surprised by the responses of many students. The play revolves around the life of the famous painter Mark Rothko and his apprentice. The Tony-winning play consists of only these two actors the entire show and the set never changes. Because the play didn’t change sets or introduce new characters, the play could have easily been boring to an audience, considering of the lack of visual stimulation. However, the diologue was magnificently written, capturing the intensity and depth of Rothko’s emotions and his intent behind his abstract paintings. The play was written in a way that it appeals to all categories of people. Understandably, the deeper content was above most of the students’ heads, but the play was relatable on every individuals own level. Maybe at least the “f-bombs” could have proved to teens that art isn’t as boring and rigid as they think. Or maybe the intensity of the acting alone could have sparked them to mentally engage in the play. But our generation, “Generation Me,” is closed off to learning new things from art. We’re so wrapped up in impressing our
friends that we laugh at things that challenge us intellectually and things that make us feel strong emotions. We’re so caught up in being cool that we spend our time doing pointless things that don’t add to our experience or understanding of the world. Students slept through Red, laughed at the actors in an attempt to look cool in front of their friends and said they thought the play was bad or boring. Many students said they went simply so they could miss a day of school. Yes, the actor spit when he screamed in rage. Everyone does. It’s not funny and laughing is completely inappropriate and disrespectful. As a generation we’re much less cultured and understand very little about art, how we should perceive it and how we should react to it. Sometimes in order to experience what the artist wants us to, we have to open ourselves up and let our emotions be vulnerable. As a school we have so many opportunities to experience art. Near St. Louis there are a multitude of places to attend shows, visit gallerys and be patrons to the arts. Lafayette students should take advantage of the wealth of culture the community offers them.
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Lafayette’s graduates succeed
In what is perhaps a fitting vindication for college on a regular basis. students sick and tired of being graded, Why? Rockwood School District receives an These institutions are no less leannual “Report Card” as well, from the gitimate than Mizzou or SEMO, common State of Missouri. choices for Lafayette grads. Their profesGenerally, Lafayette’s ‘grades’ are very sors are no less learned, their programs no high; our ACT and graduation rates are less instructive. well above the state and national averWhen I attended the recent District ages. Because of this, one would expect College Fair, I noticed that some of the the rate of graduates entering post-high busiest tables were community, technical Hannah Boxerman school education to be high as well. and military schools. And so it was from 2006-2009. In those These “non-traditional” avenues for years, the average percent of graduates higher education might be the key to attending four-year, community or techniraising Rockwood’s report card again. cal school hovered somewhere around 91 This time of year (application time), percent. talk amongst seniors is all of deadlines, However, in 2010 there was a drastic acceptance letters and scholarships. Howdrop to just under 60 percent. ever, students don’t need to be applying Put simply, Lafayette went from an to prestigious four-year schools to feel the A- to a D-. sense of accomplishment that comes with Many factors could be responsible for this decline. Some attending an institution of higher learning. graduates may choose to forgo attending college for personal Although many successful, intelligent adults make a living reasons; others because of financial concerns; and some, without a college diploma, having this education on your because no one in their family has attended college. The drop résumé increases opportunities for employment and advancein 2010 may have been a coincidental fluctuation in the averment. age based on these causes. This is true whether your degree is from Yale, or St. Louis But, let’s not make it a trend. Community College in Wildwood. College is enormously costly, so for many students, Lafayette, with its promotion of the A+ Program and the four-year universities are not an option. The expenses are excellent resources available in its College and Career Center, mind-boggling, especially in a struggling economy. deserves to be commended for its efforts to ensure that However, recent increased funding to the A+ program, students are successful even after they leave the school. which allows eligible students to attend community or Students deserve this commendment as well, who are technical schools in Missouri on scholarship, makes college a seeking to better their own futures, no matter what avenue possibility for students who before, may normally not even they choose to pursue education through. have been able to consider it. Maybe the Class of 2012 will be the ones to make the I hear students speak disparagingly of attending community grade.
Take a Minute
Heroin use has gone too far This conversation is long overdue. That it hasn’t been brought up sooner is disparaging. What worries me more is the absolute lack of any drive whatsoever to fix the problem. The problem is that we are dying. In the past year, the age range boasting the most deaths due to heroin overdose in St. Louis County has dropped from 25-30 year olds, to an uncomfortably close Max Thoman spectrum of 18-24 year olds. And, for the most part, addiction comes before this point. This means that heroin has truly become a force to be reckoned with in the high school’s of our area, with Lafayette being no exception. As St. Louis County Fire Chief Tim Fitch put it, “We know that the heroin problem is in the high schools. I will also tell you that there are some high schools that are in denial about it.” It’s time to snap out of this denial. According to a recent article from KMOX radio entitled, Heroin Overdose Victims Younger, Less Interest in Latest Town Hall, the majority of these deaths are occurring in our own backyard, West County. Heroin has become cheap, and thanks to its new forms of ingestion, easier to become addicted to. But it is still just as deadly as always. In 2010, there were 60 fatalities due to heroin overdose in the county itself. For 2011, predictions are much higher based on the 55
deaths that have already occurred thus far. But heroin’s effects can be felt on an even closer level than county-wide. Lafayette alumni names mingle with those of the dead, an unbearable thought for many, and one I never hoped to see. The consumption of heroin is on the rise, and its horrifying ascent in our schools needs to be stopped now. Parents need to be more aware of the truth that lies behind common street knowledge of this drug. It is no longer a “city” drug. It is out there. It is hitting close to home. We are being affected. Students are using this drug. It’s a fact. We need to accept this, and with this, we need to watch for its evidence. Parents need to be educated on this monster, because if they aren’t, it will rule their children. As for the students, the same thing goes. It is up to us to defeat this epidemic. We are the source, and we can end its reign. I urge the student population to help their friends, save themselves and come together as a body against this drug. We, too, need to be better aware of heroin’s infestation in our lives. We, too, need to become educated of what we are up against. So to all I beg, attend awareness meetings put on by the Rockwood Drug-Free Schools Coalition, pay attention to the devastation that heroin has wrecked among our students—past and present—and save those who need it. It’s about time that we stop this epidemic in its tracks.
On the Contrary
stars & gripes Stars to:
•Free donut with purchase of flu shot at Krispy Kreme. We can finally see whether vaccines get through blocked arteries. •Buffalo Wild Wings for holding the 92.3 Spirit Bracket Challenge and providing a convenient postPowder Puff meal. We promise to leave the jorts at home next time. •The Cardinals for making up a 10 and a half game deficit to win the National League Wild Card. Let’s make the Underbirds Twitter’s next trending topic. •Rockwood for making Lafayette, Marquette and Eureka Homecomings on different weekends. Thanks for allowing three solid weeks of parties, TPing and other juvenile activities.
Gripes to:
•The upcoming Footloose remake. Because “dancing it out like Kenny Wormald” will never be the same as “dancing it out like Kevin Bacon”. Hey, at least it’s not in 3D. •Wagner Portraits for losing nearly 100 student ID’s from Orientation. We will never be able to replicate those early morning, back-to-school smiles. •Rockwood for being the subject of controversy over a construction scandal. They say any publicity is good publicity. •Couples, especially freshmen, who can’t wait until after school to show their affection. You’re not going off to war, you’re going to class. •The continued lack of cookies from the cookie stand! Seriously guys, the seniors are starting to go through withdrawal.
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entertainment
14 entertainment
October 7, 2011
The Psychology of horror
Students, staff discuss what makes horror movies tick danielle slauter
asst. entertainment editor
Your heart beats faster; your palms get sweaty; your blood pressure increases as you get a rush of adrenaline. “What was that noise? I locked the door, right? Is someone in here?” The feeling of panic is common, especially when watching horror movies that are meant to play on these sensations. But can horror movies affect the way we feel subconsciously? To understand why horror movies make us feel the way we do, we need to dig a little deeper. The adrenal gland is the producer of many different hormones, including adrenaline, which gives us the “fight or flight” feeling in the sympathetic nervous system. Horror movies play on this hormone production and add elements in the movies to give the audience a bigger rush. But could this affect how we think and act? “I definitely think it depends on the person. I think it can also cause nightmares and trouble sleeping,” said AP Psychology teacher Susan Glenn. “Some people may thrive on it, but I definitely think it depends on the movie as well.” Counselor Dr. Shari Sevier has a different take on the subject. “I think [horror movies] definitely can affect you,”
Sevier said. “It all ties into to people’s fears, so when certain images are on the screen they can raise them [fears] tremendously, and then those fears often take on a life of their own.” Sevier also thinks movies have changed a lot since the dawn of horror films. “They [movies] are much scarier. I think mainly because they are so real, whereas the horror movies of long ago were so imaginary, you pretty much knew those things weren’t going to happen,” Sevier said. “But today everything is based on reality situations, and they are so much more graphic, and I think much bloodier than they’ve even been before. I think people love the adrenaline rush. It is that fun to get into that fantasy world and to be scared out of your mind.” Students also have similar responses. Senior Kyle Siebert explains his theory. “ I definitely think horror movies affect your psyche because anyone you talk to will always be able to say that some horror movie gave them nightmares as a kid,” Siebert said. “Some way or another we are all affected mentally by what we experienced in our childhood.” Siebert also thinks horror movies aren’t usually very well written, but only play on the emotions of the audience. “ I do believe horror movies have gotten much more
intense since the dawn of cinema, but intensity in no way is equivalent to ground breaking. We tend to see a lot of gore in horror movies nowadays because that is what evokes the most emotions out of the audience. Writers see that as a good thing,” Siebert said. But Siebert still has his favorite horror film. “My all-time favorite horror movie is Psycho. Even today, that movie has a great plot line with such a suspenseful twist.” Senior Sammi Orlowski, known as a “horror movie buff,” expresses her opinion. “I think that movies can affect your psyche,” Orlowski said. “They can also give you a sense of security because you feel that if you were ever thrown into the situation you would know how to handle it.” Orlowski also thinks the occasional horror movie can be healthy. “They can be good for you because it is a way to get an adrenaline rush without actually being in a dangerous situation,” Orlowski said. “But they haven’t gotten much more intense psychologically.” When asked what her favorite horror movie is, Orlowski said, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre because it makes me jump every time and I absolutely love the ending.”
Top five grossing horror movies of all time 1. Jaws (1975)-$842,758,600 2. The Exorcist (1973)-$727,541,800 3. House of Wax (1953)-$332,500,000 4. Psycho (1960)-$280,746,700 5. The Amityville Horror (1979)-$226,568,300 *according to Forbes magazine
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Picks of the Month
Movie:
The Three Musketeers
The famed Musketeers Athos (Matthew Macfayden), Aramis (Luke Evans) and Porthos (Ray Stevenson) plan to steal designs from a high-security vault. When plans go wrong, the Musketeers call it quits. But when the young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) finds the Musketeers’, he’s bound to find adventure. Now the Musketeers must find a diamond necklace and return it to the Queen before chaos erupts.
Asst. Entertainment Editor Danielle Slauter makes choices for October
TV Show:
Album:
Event:
2149: the world is dying. The future of the human race is in jeopardy until an ordinary family, the Shannons, agree to a risky experiment in order to try and save mankind. The experiment? To resettle humanity in the past, caused by a fracture in time. The new world is full of dangers. Produced by Steven Speilberg, Terra Nova is bound to be a hit.
Coming back for their third studio album, Family Force 5’s new EP III is highly anticipated. Following the 2008 release of Dance or Die, III is full of the Family Force 5 sound that everyone will love. Including the hit single Get on Outta Here and the Warped Tour hit Wobble, III is slated to hit shelves Oct. 18.
Happening Oct. 11-15, Saint Louis Fashion Week has a variety of events that will appeal to all. The main event, Indulge at Plaza Frontenac, happens Oct. 14 from 8-10 p.m. Everyone will be allowed to shop straight from the designers to find unique pieces. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Sponsored charity for the night is Friends of Wings.
Terra Nova
Family Force 5 (III)
St. Louis Fashion Week
Book:
Kill Alex Cross
When the President’s son and daughter are kidnapped, Detective Alex Cross is first on the scene. Soon Cross finds out that someone in the FBI is trying to keep him off the case. Then a deadly contagion is tainting the water supply, and one of the worst attacks in American history is about to be unleashed. Cross decides to go against everything he believes, a decision that could change the fate of the entire country.
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entertainment
16 entertainment
October 7, 2011
DUB ‘till dawn
Dubstep music genre begins take over of U.S. music scene; students begin mixing their own tracks mia schenone
For a list of the top five dubstep artists, and a link to their websites, go to:
entertainment editor
It’s time to reach a new music statement that will help this generation define the early 2010s. The 60s had good vibrations, 70s kicked off with disco, 80s had Blondie and Duran Duran to define their generation, 90s started the alternative rock movement and 2000 had a rap and pop revolution. And now, we have Dubstep. Generally instrumental, dubstep music consists of mixing drum and bass into a two-step UK garage/ grime sound. The feel is commonly dark and frequently uses a minor key and can feature dissonant harmonies. A propulsive spare rhythm is commonly used along with wobble bass. Wobble bass is an exaggerated bass note, twisted and repeatedly used throughout the track. Originating in south London in the height of the UK’s garage scene, dubstep music began to really get noticed around 2001 when London clubs started playing the remixes. In 2003, BBC radio DJ John Peel started playing the tracks on air. Peel played them until 2004. On his last show, he ranked three dubstep DJs in his list for top 50 hits of the year. From there on the genre kept gaining popularity, moving up from local clubs to radio stations and even some websites completely devoted to dubstep started popping up on the Internet. Former BBC radio DJ Mary Anne Hobbs started a show deemed “Dubstep Warz.” The show created a new global audience for the scene, after years of exclusively UK underground buzz. When the scene hit the USA, it exploded. Dubstep clubs started showing up in cities like New York, San Francisco and
lhsimage.com
Denver. Senior Evan Reinisch started listening to dubstep about three years ago. “I didn’t enjoy the type of music at first, but after going to a few shows I got to experience the music for what it’s worth,” Reinisch said. For Reinisch, going to shows are a thrill and made him become interested in making his own tracks. But it requires over $800 in equipment and more than just your typical bass and drum set. Reinisch said, “For basic instruments to produce tracks you’ll need a sequencer, turntables, sampler, keyboard, drum machine, synthesizer and a personal computer.” He added, “Powerful bass lines, sample clips, repetitive drum patterns that vary and the occasional vocals go into making a typical track.” Over the summer, Reinisch attended a handful of shows and festivals that all featured dubstep artists like Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Skrillex, Excision, Porter Robinson, 12th planet and Lynx. “These DJs inspire me because they have a true passion for their music by making it their own for everyone to experience,” Reinisch said. Dubstep is a music genre that lets people let loose and go wild. It’s appealing beats and fast paced rhythm isn’t easily denied. “The music is catchy and just gives you the motive to get up and dance and rave!” Reinisch said. Dubstep music is blowing up left and right. Its diverse sound is something many haven’t heard or experienced before and it’s made a statement for itself. Dubstep is definitely something you won’t be able to ignore.