2351 clarkson rd. chesterfield, mo 63017 issue VI
marquettemessenger.com march 2017
THE MESSENGER MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL
pg. 8-9
INTRODUCTIONS
INSIDE TODAY
ROLL CALL
11
12
demo record
14
student businesses
Editor in Chief Associate Editor Copy Editor News Editor Community Editor Features Editor Arts & Leisure Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor Advertising Manager Advertising Designer Business Manager Illustrator Cartoonist Online Editor Assistant Online Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Lead Photographer Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Adviser
Ellie Toler Athena Zeng Brittany Freeman Greg Svirnovskiy Alia Arif Tali Gorodetsky Austin Woods Maddie Eveland Ryan Berger Jenica Bunderson Aleanah Arraya Kyle Reamer Delaney Neely Michael Robinson Neelansh Bute Abhi Srirangam Mahika Mushuni Kenzie Winstead Taylor Styer Nick Brouk Jen Bosche Mark Goldenberg Kavya Jain Sabrina Lacy Alex McAteer Elena McCormick Adam Noll David Paine Emily Jorgensen
OUR POLICY varsity athlete
pizza reviews
16 2
The Messenger Editorial Policy: The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the News Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, Mo., 63017. The publication office is located in Room 226, (636) 891-6000 ext. 26228 Opinions of Messenger columnists or the Editorial Board are not representative of the opinions of the entire Messenger staff, the newspa-
per or the administration. The Messenger takes responses for any issue. Send these in at marquettemessenger.com. The Messenger reserves the right to edit submitted material and to refuse to print material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor in chief and adviser deems appropriate including advertisements and letters to the editor.
CONTACT US 2351 Clarkson Rd Chesterfield, MO 63017 (636) 891-6000 Twitter: @yourMHSnews & @MustangReport marquettemessenger.com
OPINIONS
editorialBOARD Fake news and bias. There’s a difference.
“
BREAKING: ‘TENS OF THOUSANDS’ OF fraudulent Clinton votes found in Ohio warehouse.” “Woman arrested for defecating on boss’ desk after winning lottery” “Pope Francis shocks world, endorses Donald Trump for president” Wow what headlines. Surely, many people would read these news stories. In fact, together these stories amassed hundreds of thousands of views. However, there’s one problem: each is one of the top fake news headlines in 2016. Media trust is at an all time low. According to a 2016 Gallup poll, only 32 percent of citizens polled had a “great deal of trust” in media outlets, leading many to turn to alternative news sources for their information. But issues arise when people turn to these alternative sources. Oftentimes, these alternative sources can provide “alternative facts,” meaing they often provide false information.
These instances of fake news aren’t only a partisan issue either. Liberals and conservatives alike are faced with the issues of fake news from alt-right sites such as Breitbart News and left leaning sites like Alternative Media Syndicate. Each has produced stories that are inaccurate and don’t follow journalistic guidelines. A number of people also turn to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to obtain their news. Here, countless fake news stories are shared among an often easily influenced audience. The issue with thses sites is that anyone can create a story on Twitter or Facebook regardless of whether or not they are a reporter. This leads to a slew of misinformation that rarely if ever follows any sort of journalistic guidelines. As fake news continues to garner more and more attention, it’s important to remember what is not fake news: longstanding, reputable news sources. CNN, New York Times or any other media source may have their biases, right or left, but they are in no way fake
news. It’s important to recognize media bias, especially in such polarized times. It’s even more important to not cast news sources contrary to your own opinion as “fake news.” Mainstream media sources may be even less biased than when they first began. According to the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, the idea of objectivity in media only began in the 20th century. Before that newspapers were expected to biased as a product of political party propaganda. American media has come a long way since then. Although there is still bias within media sources, it’s not as bad as it once was. News media now is staffed with professionals who understand journalistic ethics and guidelines. The key to moving forward is to recognize media bias and take it with a grain of salt. Bias doesn’t mean fake - understand the bias and read multiple sources. Only then can you get a complete picture of what’s real news and what’s fake.
3
OPINIONS
End the flawed system of “flipped classrooms” SOME THINGS ARE OKAY TO FLIP: PANcakes, houses, hair. Some things should not be flipped: babies, cars and classrooms. A flipped classroom is when the student completes the class lesson outside of school, usually via videos of the teacher, and uses class time for homework. Personally, that method is useless for the students. I understand students are given time to ask questions in class but that does not mean the student will ever be able to fully comprehend the material. Students who are absent can stay current, yes, but students might be unmotivated to do work outside the classroom and fall behind. Students who put minimal effort into their schoolwork most likely will not get online every night to be taught a lesson. In addition to laziness, some students may not have access to the Internet outside of school or libraries. It’s also likely that for these students, transportation to these places isn’t the easiest to find. Adults nowadays often complain about the amount of time kids use technology, but these teachers are only adding on the amount of time a child spends on the computer. For example, if a daily lesson is about 10 minutes long, and a student must watch three a week for 36 weeks, that’s 30 extra minutes on the computer each week, amounting to 18 extra hours a student must put into learning the material a teacher is supposed to be teaching. Eighteen hours doesn’t seem like a lot over an entire school year, but group it with having essays, research, projects and homework. I know students trying to accomplish four hours of homework each night, along with having a job and participating in an extracurricular. Flipped classroom also have negatives for the teachers. The visual aid of seeing students during lessons helps teachers to critique and change their lessons accordingly. If a teacher makes a mistake in the video, and doesn’t catch it, then all of their students will be learning that mistake as correct, and that could cost them points on a quiz or test. Students do not need to be given more to do at home; they need to be given less. A flipped classroom, even if the material is easy, is a waste of time. I don’t see much of a difference between a flipped classroom and me babysitting my neighbors’ kids and helping them with their homework. Only teachers are getting paid a lot more than I am. So teachers, leave outside the classroom learning to Khan Academy.
BY DELANEY NEELY
4
“WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TRAIN full of Boy Scouts and a train full of Jews? The train of Boy Scouts comes back from camp.” Did that offend you? Were you surprised I’d type that awful “joke”? I was shocked when someone first told me that joke. The worst part: they had just found out I was Jewish and they told me it. It was the first response that came to their mind. I’m extremely pro-free speech. Without it, we face issues contrary to the foundations of our nation. I don’t really have an issue with “blue jokes” or off-color humor either. However, jokes like the one above are hacky, unfunny and show a deeper issue within our society: anti-Semitism. I understand that sometimes people don’t always say what’s right. Just because one has said a joke like that before doesn’t mean they’re an anti-Semite. However, it’s important to understand the implications behind those types of statements. According to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Association of North America, there have been more than 100 bomb threats called into 81 different JCC locations and Jewish schools this year. There also have been multiple attacks on Jewish cemeteries since the start of the year: one in University City, a part of St. Louis with a large Jewish population; Philadelphia; and potentially another two in New York state. At these cemeteries, criminals desecrated the burial sites of Jews, many of whom were Holocaust survivors. When I heard about the attack in University City where more than 100 headstones were knocked down, I was immediately scared and worried that the final resting place of my grandmother, who escaped the Nazis by way of Shanghai, was disturbed. Luckily, it was not, but others were not so lucky. Many of these people were Holocaust survivors like my grandmother; they experienced enough hardship in life, they deserve a peaceful final resting spot.
FLIPPED
Help stop rising anti-Semitism Make no mistake, these were acts committed by criminals. These acts were all sickening hate crimes, not just prank calls or acts of vandalism. In fact, according to 2015 FBI hate crime statistics, 52.1 percent of all religious based hate crimes were perpetrated against Jews, the largest percentage of hate crimes toward any religious group by far. As the common saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Right now, these anti-Semitic actions are screaming a message of hate to Jews. It’s a message so strong that it scares many of us. My cousin wants to cover up her Star of David tattoo, a tattoo she’s proudly displayed for years, because she’s worried about anti-Semitic violence. Many parents fear sending their children to Jewish schools because of recent bomb threats. I worry for the safety of my family and my people now more than I’ve ever before. There are rays of light cracking through the darkness of anti-Semitism however. After the attack on the University City cemetery, a Muslim group raised more than $75,000 to aid in fixing the grave sites. That truly was an act of kindness and unity that gives me some hope for the future. As I said before, actions speak louder than words. The actions of those Muslim citizens, an oft-persecuted group as well, and the actions of other supportive citizens are the ways we can combat rising anti-Semitism. Your actions speak volumes, but your words are still important. Think before you share a joke like the one above or call me and my counterparts Jewish slurs (which has happened here at MHS). Speak out against anti-Semitism and hate wherever it may occur. Help end the frightening rise in anti-Semitic language and actions throughout the nation.
BY RYAN BERGER
Don’t be the next partisan pinhead LIBTARDS. DEPLORABLES. IDIOTS. We live in an era where political polarization has become the norm. In the past 20 years, partisan hostility has risen significantly. According to the Pew Research center, 49 percent of Republicans say they’re afraid of Democrats and 55 percent of Democrats say they’re afraid of Republicans. This trend is not one sided: political antipathy extends across party lines. As Americans become more certain of their beliefs, they become more hostile toward ideological opposites. They retreat into groups of similar-minded individuals and deem the “others” intellectually inferior. Now, let’s think about this from a statistical perspective. According to a recent Gallup poll, 25 percent of Americans identify as Democrat and 28 percent identify as Republican (the other 44 percent of Americans are independent). While many liberals say all conservatives are idiots or vice versa, the fact of the matter is that 25-28 percent of Americans are not intellectually disabled.
Intelligence is not dependent on party affiliation. To put it bluntly: there are smart people and stupid people in each party identifying with both ideologies. Thinking oneself intellectually superior to political opposites has frightening societal implications. If you are a Democrat who considers yourself “too smart” for Republicans, you will miss out on hearing the viewpoints, opinions and ideas of 28 percent of the country’s population. Perhaps part of that number is a potential employer, roommate or friend. Perhaps someone in that 28 percent is a family member. Diversity of thought is a major tenant upon which our country is built - let us not destroy this tradition by invalidating opinions that differ from our own. Let us instead go forward with an open mind and remember that intelligence and stupidity are not political terms.
BY JENICA BUNDERSON
NEWS
Candidates announce campaigns for Board BY GREG SVIRNOVSKIY
O
N APRIL 5, RSD WILL HOLD ITS BOARD of education elections for three positions of three years. Five candidates are running for the roles, united all by their support for Proposition T and STEM education.
SUDHIR BRAHMBHATT When it was opened in 1992, the Balvihar Center for Indian Cultural Education served only handfuls of students. It was a small program, with few staff members and even fewer classrooms. Today, under Sudhir Brahmbhatt, president of the Bal Vihar Center for the last 24 years, it has more than 300 young students and staffs more than 40 teachers and volunteers each week. Brahmbhatt said he’s running for school board because of his ties to RSD. His two sons attended RSD and the Bal Vihar Center throughout their youth. “I’m already running the Bal Vihar center. We’ve had almost a thousand kids run through our system,” he said. “With my background in community service, I see this as an opportunity where I can serve the community for the betterment of our children.” Brahmbhatt has spent 40 years in the technology industry and is currently the President of Technology Services Incorporated, a company he opened in 2013. Brahmbhatt also served as President of the Lafayette PTO when his sons attended LHS. “I think my educational background, administrative background and medical skills, as well as my strength in community service qualifies me to be on the school board,” Brahmbhatt said.
LEONARD KINDER
Throughout his 17-year career at RSD, Dr. Leonard Keith Kinder did it all. He was the associate principal at LHS for seven years and at MHS for three years. He served as head principal at Eureka for seven years before retiring in 2003. He currently teaches at Maryville University’s Graduate School for Education. “I have a long-term connection to Rockwood,” Dr. Kinder said. “But I also realize that a lot of people, when they retire from a job or a position that really helped them find themselves, they have nothing to do after that. I thought, I need to get back to the Rockwood community.” Dr. Kinder was first elected to the board in 2011, before seeking re-election in 2014. He is seeking a third term on the board, made doubly important by the relative inexperience of other candidates. “We face the possibility of having five brand new members on our seven person Board,” Dr. Kinder said. “That’s an awful lot of change for any one time.” Dr. Kinder said his most valuable skill for the Board is his knowledge and love for the district. “I’ve lived in Rockwood for 30 years and I worked here for 17,” he said. “I know all of the high schools. I’ve been at every possible school in the whole district at least once and probably multiple times.”
Board candidates Sudhir Brahmbhatt, Tamara Romberg, Dr. Leonard Keith Kinder, Randy Miller and Lynne Midyett answer questions at the Board of Education Forum at the Rockwood Annex at Eureka on March 7. Photograph by Greg Svirnovskiy
LYNNE MIDYETT Lynne Midyett first started in education in 1978. Two children, five grandchildren and 39 years later, Midyett still serves her field. She has served as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent for a number of school districts around the country. Her motivation stems from a passion to give each student a fair opportunity. For her, education is less about teaching and more about “leading learning.” “I truly embrace the concept of all means all,” Midyett said. “Every single child in the Rockwood School District should find their spark and passion.” Midyett joined the Board in June of 2016 and is running for her first full term in this year’s election. Midyett said she wants to use the skills she has gained in her six months as a board member to push those with no prior experience in the right direction. “Part of it is to share the knowledge and the mentorship that has been shown to me by my fellow board members. It is a training process,” Midyett said. “We have to learn how to come together as a team and respect each other's views.”
RANDY MILLER Randy Miller’s path to a candidacy for Board of Education began with a pivotal decision he and his family made six years ago. “When my son started school, we decided to put family first and take a step back. I resigned from my career and started volunteering in the schools with him on a daily basis,” Miller said. Miller joined the PTO of his son’s school, serving as president of the organization in Fenton Elementary School for the past two years. “Once you get involved in something like that you really realize what a need there is for parents to vol-
unteer their time to add that extra tidbit to the school,” Miller said. “You really start to dive into some of the issues that confront our schools and you realize that you could do some good. These have been the most rewarding years of my life.” Miller’s son is now entering middle school. “My child’s more mature,” Miller said. “He doesn’t need dad around as much. He doesn’t want dad around as much. But I can’t just not volunteer anymore. I need to continue to give back and I feel like this is a way for me to give back to all the kids in Rockwood.” Miller said his technology background gives him a unique perspective on the Board’s inner workings. “My career was in a technology based company,” Miller said. “We were on the cutting edge of most of the technology that’s coming out right now, with the STEM programs that are coming out as well as the addition and maintenance of our schools.”
TAMARA ROMBERG Tamara Romberg has served the education community for over 50 years, working as a teacher, a reading specialist, and an administrator. She is currently an adjunct professor at both Maryville University and Webster University. “I’ve devoted the largest part of my career to education,” Romberg said. “ I believe this is a time when I am able to give back to Rockwood School District, and because of my background, I can bring that experience forward to the benefit of my district.” Romberg is currently the President of the Missouri State Reading Association and has served previously as President of the St. Louis Suburban Reading Association. She has also been President of the St. Paul Parish Council, where she had the opportunity to “network with a large number of parents.” “All of these experiences give me that insight information on what children need and how we can make their education the best for them,” she said.
5
NEWS
Educators grapple with class sizes BY GREG SVIRNOVSKIY STUDENTS ON THE FLOOR, STUDENTS ON desks, students lounging on makeshift stools throughout the cluttered space. When Scott Szevery walked into his sixth hour AP U.S. History class on the first day of school, he was shocked to see more students present than there were chairs. So they made do. Extra desks were brought in, louder voices were adapted to fit the ambiance of the classroom, and class plans shifted to accommodate the 33 students. “I knew it was going to be a challenge for myself because I was going to have to devote more time to grading just so that I could give the right amount of feedback,” Szevery said. “Some of my typical ideas modified as well. Instead of doing a full class thing, I’d put students into groups so that they could be more involved.” Students who score high in Szervery’s AP U.S. class must often put in more work than those in smaller classes. “For students who read and prepare diligently, more often they get better grades,” Szevery said. “I also think the stronger students tend to engage no matter what the class size is. They elbow their way into discussion or get involved.” Teachers generally agree that smaller class sizes are better to teach and nurture students. A study by the Brookings Institute reported that a reduction of seven to 10 students from a classroom of 22 will have “significant long-term effects on student achievement and other meaningful outcomes.” Evan Del Carmen, junior, is a student in Scott Cleer’s second hour AP Government class. Cleer’s second hour class has 16 students, while his third hour class has 32. Del Carmen said this discrepancy is the true side effect of class sizes. “There’s no reason that in an AP class there should be 30 kids,” Del Carmen said. You can’t teach that many kids.” Del Carmen said the class size discrepancy is due to RSD’s use of the hybrid block schedule and softwares which bar changes to the schedule. “We’re letting the computers do all of the work for us,” Del Carmen said. Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said the hybrid block schedule is a compromise between student choice and feasibility. “No matter what schedule you have your always
going to have pros and cons,” Mathison said. “You do have an influx of which classes are greater than others. Typically it’s the standard classes.” Dr. Mathison said the administration has been working to balance class sizes by increasing the amount of blocked classes offered. “As you increase the amount of block classes in the schedule, the more balanced that it can be,” Dr. Mathison said. We’ve worked hard this year and the previous year to try to balance those numbers and we’ve seen a better balance, and hoprefully next year we’ll se an even greater balance.” But Dr. Mathison said the augmentation of blocked classes limits student choice. “You have less choice for students on wheteher they want class standard or blocked,” he said. “You put students in blocked that may have not requested block so that you can balance the classes out.” Dr. Mathison said Proposition T, the $95 million bond issue scheduled for the ballot on April 4, will allow for the building of a new elementary school in Eureka. The expanded school will decrease the necessary funds to service students at lower grade levels, creating a trickle down effect which will provide more resources for MHS to bring in teachers. “With Proposition T, we’re looking at trying to raise funds as a school district to total about $95 million to build an elementary school in Eureka because the area is bursting at the seams,” Dr. Mathison said. “If we don't have new additions where populations are exploding, resources will have to go someplace else to address those issues. This means that we might not be able to keep as much staffing as we currently have.” Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost said the only way for RSD to continue its high quality education offerings is to add space for students. “It comes back on simple math exercises,” Dr. Knost said. “There's no way that we can maintain the class sizes that we have and add the students who over time will be produced by new homes.” Dr. Knost said the district has been progressing in its quest to decrease class sizes, yet it still has a long way to go in reaching its goals to keep classes down. “In my three years as a superintendent we’ve been intentionally driving class sizes down,” he said. “We’ve been aiding a decline in enrollment by adding teachers which has allowed us to make great improvements to our class sizes. However, it’s not perfect and there are still areas in which we need it improve.”
BY THE NUMBERS
20 to 1
Student to teacher ratio at MHS
16 32
students in Scott Cleer’s Second Hour AP Government class students in Scott Cleer’s Third Hour AP Government class INFOGRAPHIC BY ELLIE TOLER
MARQUETTE BOWLING This fall the United States Bowling Congress is looking to expand youth bowling programs. Bowling is a great chance to win scholarships, meet new people and be a part of a team.
No experience needed •Practice is twice a week at West County Lanes •League is on Sundays •The season runs fall through spring •Contact: Brentwood Voss at West County Lanes (636) 227-1469 or Lindsay Werner (314) 732-8880
6
COMMUNITY
A year after construction ended, the Great Street Initiative includes new street signs, light posts, bus stops and paved roads. The project, which involved Ballwin, Ellisville, Wildwood, Manchester and Winchester, began in 2007. Photographs by Athena Zeng
Citizens reflect on outcome of Great Streets Project BY ATHENA ZENG
A
SHORT DRIVE ON Manchester Road in Ellisville, Wildwood or Ballwin reveals a completely different scene than what a passerby might have seen one or two years ago. New traffic light poles line the street, accompanied by updated street signs and freshly paved roads. Inspired by East-West Gateway Council of Government’s Manchester Road Great Streets Master Plan, these efforts were an outcome of the Great Street Initiative, a process taken in the St. Louis region to integrate land use and the transportation network. The project closest to the MHS
community started in 2007 and involves the West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce cities of Manchester, Winchester, Ballwin, Ellisville and Wildwood. Bill Schwer, city manager, was one of the representatives from Ellisville who helped with planning and implementation of the project. “I’m certain the project helped spur development along the corridor,” Schwer said. “Also, I believe the beautification elements of the project have provided a better sense of community.” Currently, the actual completed work entails $7.5 million of resurfacing by MoDOT and $5 million worth of grant money used by Ballwin, Ellisville
and Wildwood for enhancements to Manchester Road such as wayfinding signage, illuminated street name signs, landscaping, a trail extension from Wildwood into Ellisville and architecturally-enhanced bus shelters. Erin Cahill, senior, lives in an area of Ellisville directly affected by the changes. Her neighborhood used to have two entrances, with one on Manchester that had allowed residents to take a left into the neighborhood. Due to an island extension, that entrance is now blocked, something Cahill said was hard to get used to but not a huge deal. “I think the new roads are tedious at times, having to make u-turns and what not to get somewhere,” Cahill said. “But
I do like the medians with the plants and lights. I think it brings a classy element into the places it was done on.” When a new median was built by the entrance of Carmen Murphy’s, senior, neighborhood, Ranchmore, she said it caused more problems coming and going, which already was an issue beforehand. The left turn into her neighborhood would often get full with cars, forcing Murphy to have to pass it up, make a U-turn, and then go into her neighborhood, something she said takes about three times longer. “I think everyone who lives around me was aggravated because it was just unnecessary and it caused more problems than it solved,” Murphy said.
Ballwin
Parks and Recreation IS NOW
HIRING
Ballwin Parks and Recreation is seeking applicants for summer positions including: Summer Camp Counselors (Due March 31) Pointe & North Pointe Lifeguards Babysitters Concession Stand Attendants Pointe & North Pointe Front Desk Attendants Park and Golf Course Seasonal Maintenance Workers For more information and to find an application visit www.ballwin.mo.us or call The Pointe at Ballwin Commons at 636-227-8950.
7
IN-DEPTH
STANDING STRONG “
1.
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.” “No ban no wall, America is home to all.” “It’s not a choice. It’s a life.” Lauren Bayne, sophomore, remembers climbing the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 29 to protest the immigration ban put in place by President Trump. Overcome with spirit, pride to be in a country which supports all beliefs, Bayne said the experience changed her outlook on the way she interprets change. “There were people of so many different religions, ethnicities, backgrounds and genders, and they were all coming together because they believed there was an injustice in the world and they were going to help set it right,” she said. As she chanted about America’s democracy, Bayne saw representation from all walks of life. Together, they were able to voice their convictions. “It was absolutely incredible to see how there was so much unity in this division that our President caused.” Bayne is not the only student who has engaged in peaceful protest to convey her viewpoints. Whether it be pro-life, pro-choice, women’s or immigration rights, since the start of 2017 students have chosen to give a voice to their beliefs in order to make a difference.
M WO ’S EN RC
MA H 4. MARCH FOR LIFE
Pro ac
PLANNED PAR
Most recentl march on Feb. 1 “I really enjo ple who care ab The event be CEO of Planned rally the crowd Many partici While walking p stand in solidari “I believe th with vital and so one, and I wante cause,” Haas sai Although Ha said he felt enco “It was nice walks of life for
PROTEST AGAI
The momen Kazmi, senior, g speak against th “It was good nation and that with what was g As a Muslim countries and o a refugee is a re joined the rally For the time the momentum voices to be hea don’t facilitate g “When peop feel like protest “You should do sion instead of g
MARCH FOR L
MHS stu the nation Washin “I port tha D
8
IN-DEPTH
otestors gain traction cross the nation
RENTHOOD MARCH, FEB. 11
ly, students participated in the Planned Parenthood 11 to protest the defunding of the organization. oyed being surrounded by a lot of other passionate peobout the same cause as I do,” Devin Haas, junior, said. egan with a speech from Mary Kogut, president and d Parenthood of St Louis and Southwest Missouri to of about 5,000. Afterward the march began. ipants held signs and chanted to support the cause. past the Planned Parenthood, protesters fell silent to ity with the women getting abortions on that day. hat Planned Parenthood’s mission, providing women ometimes lifesaving healthcare is an incredibly noble ed to go to express my support and solidarity for the id. aas had never been to a march as a form of protest, he ouraged by the energy of the people around him. to be with a group of people who come from various r a cause they all really believed in,” Haas said.
INST IMMIGRATION , JAN. 29
ntum continued in St. Louis as hundreds, including Ali gathered at the St. Louis Lambert Airport on Jan. 29 to he travel ban that President Trump put in place. d that there was such a large public outcry across the the establishment knows that the people aren’t happy going on,” Kazmi said. m, Kazmi felt it unconstitutional to single out seven only allow Christian refugees into the nation. To him, efugee, and he said all should be treated as such. So, he with poster boards and chants to depict his beliefs. e that they are occurring, Kazmi said protests feed on of the people, and it is that momentum that allows ard. But, once the energy is gone and organizations growth, then people will fail to continue speaking out. ple get together and protest it gives them a voice, but I ting should not be the only thing you do,” Kazmi said. actual service because that will actually change a decigoing out and protesting and yelling stuff outside.”
LIFE, JAN. 27
udent involvement in social activism expanded across n as students including Haley Downs, junior, traveled to ngton D.C. to voice their opinions. went to the pro-life march because I believe that it’s imtant that all lives are protected and that includes those at some people believe aren’t lives until certain stages,” Downs said. With a peaceful and prayerful mindset, Downs embarked on rallies, speeches and marches during her time in D.C. She said she was able to achieve a sense of purpose for the words she fully believes in. People from all over the country gathered on the National Mall to speak for the lives that have been aborted. From the Washington Monument to the Supreme Court, Downs and thousands of others
walked to show the importance of their sentiments. “Personally, it’s feeling like you’ve stood up for something that’s very important to you, as well as making it public,” she said. Whether or not President Trump was elected into office, she said that people will always disagree. It is that disagreement that fuels a person’s drive to change. “Whether there’s a lot of people who disagree or just a couple, the people that disagree are going to do something about it,” Downs said. “That’s just how people are sometimes. They want to be heard.”
WOMEN’S MARCH, JAN. 20 Yujin Kim, senior, attended the Women’s March on Jan. 20 in St. Louis. Reaching more than 600 U.S. cities and including 4.2 million people, the march sparked social activism all over the nation and was the first protest during the new administration. “I think this isn’t necessarily protesting the Trump administration, but I think his campaign and his election kind of shed light on a lot of important issues that have been underlying society for a while,” Kim said. As a firm believer in human rights, Kim said the Women’s March was an opportunity for her to take part in a social issue. “People were basically just standing up for rights in general, not just women’s rights but also their rights to voice their opinion if they think something is wrong,” she said. In Kim’s opinion, this was just the first action among many to represent the important issues in scope right now. She said people will continue to partake in movements with increasing levels of participants. “I can’t say that we will see immediate change or immediate results, but I think it does a good job of bringing that tension to important issues and since these problems will continue to persist,” Kim said.
THE MOMENTUM As history shows, there has always been a large amount of street activism, Cyrus Zirakzadeh, political science professor at the University of Connecticut, said. “What tends to vary are the types of protest activities, the agendas of the protesters, the extent and spirit of the media coverage and the willingness of politicians to affiliate themselves with something as an unpredictable as a protest event,” he said. Zirakzadeh said these protests raise the visibility of an issue to the bystander while also showing the protesters that they can advance their agenda through alternative measures. It is these lessons that will continue to diffuse across the nation. The protesting mentality is not new to the world. Shanty-towns in Tehran, gay districts in the United States and religious institutions prove that some communities are more prone to social activism than others, he said. “The reasons that people attend any protest are quite diverse,” Zirakzadeh said. “Politics makes strange bedfellows, as the saying goes.” The media covers events that other people see, hear and read. The physical protest is just one part of the act. As the energy diffuses among people, it is the act of communication between protesters and bystanders that spreads across the nation. “Often a coherent ideology is imposed by outside observers who are trying to make sense of the world,” Zirakzadeh said. “The protests themselves tend to be ideologically inchoate.”
BY BRITTANY FREEMAN AND ALIA ARIF
9
FEATURES
Words from a refugee family
The Bošnjak’s retell the story of fleeing the Yugoslav War
BY MAHIKA MUSHUNI
S
IXTEEN YEARS AGO, NINA Bošnjak, junior, and her family came to the U.S. as refugees fleeing from the war in Bosnia. The war in former Yugoslavia was between three respective ethnic groups: the Bosnians, the Croatians and the Serbians. The dividing factor between the groups was religion. The Bosnians are Muslim, the Croatians Catholic and the Serbians Orthodox. Because she was only six months old when her family left Bosnia, Nina doesn’t remember the war, but has heard stories from her parents. “Once my mom was hurrying while holding my cousin who was a baby at the time,” Nina said. “As she was hurrying to my uncle's apartment, she passed a park, and right when she passed the park, a bomb was dropped on the playground. It's the worst thing she's ever heard: the sound of the mothers’ screaming.” From the stories she was told, Nina said the war was gruesome. Her family’s experiences affected her outlook and approach to life. While hostilities still remain be-
Nina Bošnjak, junior, and parents Svjetlana and Dalibov in Kiseljak, former Yugoslavia in 2000 sitting and waiting for Nina’s baptism. The Bošnjaks left almost six months after to escape war in what is now Bosnia. Photo printed with permission by Nina Bošnjak tween older generations, that tension hasn’t spread to the younger generations who were either very young during the war or born after it. “In my experience, [teens] embrace the fact that even though we’re different, we’re all from the same area and we bond over that,” Nina said.
6 x 4 – BW (Marquette)
10
The Bošnjaks are ethnically Croatian, though they resided in Bosnia. Prior to the war, the entire region was Yugoslavia and different ethnic groups were dispersed in various towns across the region. The redrawing of borders led to ethnic groups in different countries.
After the war, ethnic pride grew for all three groups including Nina’s. “Having a culture that I belong to and people that I belong to and relate with is just really cool and interesting,” Nina said. “It's definitely something that I hold close to heart.” For Nina, the pride lives on primarily through her parents who lived through the war in Bosnia. Dalibov Bošnjak, Nina’s father, said the family considered moving for two years before actually doing so. Landing in the Chicago airport with only $300 in his pocket and the inability to count to ten, Dalibov said the transition to life here was difficult. Dalibov said the people in America made the move easier. “I never felt unwelcome,” Dalibov said. “No matter at school, at work, at the store.” For Svjetlana Bošnjak, Nina’s mother, the language barrier and separation from family made the transition rough. “You kind of just try to survive,” she said. “You go day by day and try. Everyday it's better, you know in the beginning it’s rough, and it just gets better. You just get used to it and one day it's just home.”
ARTS&LEISURE
Sophomore records demo of original songs BY AUSTIN WOODS AND MARK GOLDENBERG
N
UMEROUS MHS STUDENTS PLAY, WRITE and perform music, but not many students actually set foot in a professional recording
studio. Jeremy Slobodzian, sophomore, is an exception. On Feb. 12, Slobodzian entered Native Sound Recording Studios on Cherokee Street to record “Experience Me,” a short demo of original songs recorded as The Underground Lemon Experience. “It’s pretty much just a collection of general heavy metal tracks,” Slobodzian said. “I kind of put it in a progressive direction, so there’s some sludginess in there as well.” The songs are structured around Slobodzian’s guitar, with occasional screamo vocalizations. He left the tracks mostly unprocessed with the occasional flaw intact. “I didn’t want to have one of those albums that’s really processed and polished to where it sounds weird,” he said. “Without that aspect, it’s really got some depth and body.” This was Slobodzian’s first time in a professional studio, but he didn’t feel taken aback. At this point in his life, he’s used to being surrounded by heavy equipment and music gear. The process cost him $450, all of which came from his own pocket. He saved up the money over time through his job at Lion’s Choice. “I’m not one of those kids who’s like, ‘Hey mom,
can you get this for me?’ because that’s not how you get anywhere in life,” he said. “It means more to me if I get a piece of gear with my own money.” Slobodzian became serious about his music in seventh grade when he started practicing for three hours a day, a regimen he still adheres to. Slobodzian handled every aspect of his musical output, including getting it out to the public. To promote the demo, Slobodzian uploaded it to Bandcamp and advertised it on Instagram, @therealjahominofficial666, and Snapchat, @jahomin. He also told all his teachers and friends about it. Gina Slobodzian, Jeremy’s mother, is highly supportive and appreciative of her son’s initiative to work on his goals without the help of others. “I’ve always been very supportive of him playing,” she said. “He learned a lot by ear. He took interest and watched a lot of Youtube videos, and he spent a lot of time practicing. He takes his craft very seriously.” Gina said while she doesn’t dislike her son’s abrasive choice of music, she prefers when he plays jazzier or more blues-based material. She said she supports everything he does, and sees it as a great outlet for him. “Mentally I think it’s a good outlet,” Gina said. “Some kids will do sports as their outlet or they’ll write as their outlet, but Jeremy’s outlet is his music. I think it gives him discipline that maybe he would be lacking if he wasn’t into music like he is.” Harry Whitehead, junior, listened to the demo on the day it was released, and, despite being only a
Jeremy Slobodzian practices with his favorite guitar, a Gibson 120th Anniversary Explorer. Photograph by Austin Woods casual fan of heavy metal, enjoyed it immensely. “He worked on it for a very long time and he put a lot of effort into it,” Whitehead said. “I think he’s a really good guitar player.”
11
ARTS&LEISURE
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Hannah Trotta, junior, sells handmade cards on Etsy. Her username is ArtOfThanks. Photograph by Tali Gorodetsky
Arman Virdee, junior, has his own clothing line called Maestro. He launched the company October 2016. Photograph printed with permission by Jasmine Virdee
BY ALIA ARIF
BY AUSTIN WOODS AND MARK GOLDENBERG
W
HILE SOME CHILDREN ENTER THE WORLD OF entrepreneurship through a lemonade stand in the front yard, Hannah Trotta, junior, started by selling handmade cards online on Etsy. “All the ideas are based on my own,” Trotta said. “I’ve always liked making cards for my family and stuff growing up, and I really like watercolor, so just kind of put the two together.” Trotta started her path in business through the Whatever It Takes Program (WIT), a national program that allows its student members to create their own business ideas and ventures. She said she joined the program as a way to learn about business as well as a way to earn money. WIT also allows its participants to choose the course of their profits. Businesses can be set up as non-for-profit or for-profit, or a mix of the two. Trotta’s business directs 10 percent of their proceeds to a local St. Louis art program, Community Arts and Movements Project (CAMP). “Because I give 10 percent of the sales off my cards to this art program downtown, it’s just my way of giving back to the community,” Trotta said. “That’s why they’re a little on the pricier side.” The business is primarily located online on Trotta’s Etsy page “ArtOfThanks.” However, Trotta said she hopes to expand her cards to local shops and businesses to reach a more steady audience. Due to her product’s higher price range of $5 per card and the lengthy process of creating the individual cards, most of Trotta’s online customer base has come from older age groups. “Right now they’re only sold as one, but I’m hoping in the future once I start doing more bulk orders, I can get the cost down,” Trotta said. Trotta designs each card by hand. Many of the inspirations behind the card designs are drawn from Trotta’s social media accounts, including Instagram and Pinterest. “My favorite ones are the ones with the puns, my friends always hate me because I’m always making bad puns,” Trotta said. “They’re always so cheesy but cute at the same time.”
12
A
RMAN VIRDEE, JUNIOR, STARTED AN INSTAGRAM page in 2014 to showcase his collection of soccer shoes and cleats. After he began many followers at a quick pace, he saw the opportunity to capitalize on his success and create a clothing brand, Maestro. Arman said he started his business to showcase creativity. Despite gaining a following relatively quickly, starting the business was not without its challenges for Arman. “The main challenge for me was finding the right materials. I wanted it to be high premium, but I wanted it to also be cheap because kids don’t have fifty bucks on them to spend on a t-shirt,” Arman said. After sorting out which materials to use, Arman got his business off the ground and began distributing not only to his friends, but to complete strangers as well. The shirts are made by a friend of Arman’s in Los Angeles. “I might be able to make it cheaper somewhere else, but I like that it’s made in America,” he said. The shirts are then sent to Arman, who packages everything Friday night and then ships it on Saturday or Monday morning. Arman said he focuses on marketing first and foremost, as it’s the most important aspect of running his business. Arman said his biggest source of support comes from his family, specifically his father who’s been involved in business for more than 25 years. Despite occasionally helping out, Pritpal Virdee ensures that his son is doing most of the work himself. Pritpal said his son’s business will undoubtedly aid him in the college application process, as well as in future career prospects. “He sort of built his entire following, and people value the things you can do with that type of following,” Pritpal said. Jon Zink, junior, bought a white t-shirt from Arman for $25, which he thought was a reasonable price for the high quality. Zink also find it impressive that Virdee is running such a high quality business at such a young age. “It’s impressive just how professional it is for how young a kid he is,” Zink said.
ARTS&LEISURE
Students start their own companies
Saira Ingram, freshman, sells handmade necklaces made of wiring, beads and materials from old jewelry. She has earned about $400. Photograph by Ellie Toler
Juniors Vinai Kumar and Akash Sarkar plan to launch Vesta Socks in April. Ten percent of the profits will go to charity. Photograph by Mahika Mushuni
BY KAVYA JAIN
BY ELLIE TOLER
I
NSPIRED BY THE CHOKERS SHE WANTED TO BUY FROM Urban Outfitters, Saira Ingram, freshman, decided she could make similar necklaces herself and save the money. By combining materials from old necklaces she has at home with wiring and beads from Joann Fabrics, Ingram creates her own chokers that first gained attention when she wore them to school. “I just decided to make them and people started noticing and wanted me to sell them,” Ingram said. Ingram said after she created an Instagram account for her business, Chokers by Saira, she gained followers who bought necklaces from her. As her account became popular and people began wearing her necklaces, Ingram gained more customers. Currently she has 90 followers. In total, she has sold from 30 to 40 necklaces and earned about $400 that she put in savings. While Ingram sees her business as short term, she said if her necklaces gain more popularity she would be interested in selling them online through a website. Ingram said she doesn’t have different styles and each necklace is one-of-a-kind. Because of this her chokers are priced anywhere from $10 to $15 depending on how long it takes to make them. “I honestly just make whatever comes to mind, so there’s one of each and that’s kind of a downside,” Ingram said. Ingram said she use to make necklaces every week, but because her schedule doesn’t permit much extra time and a lot of people already have them, she has slowed down to every two weeks. However, Caroline Grosman, freshman, who has purchased three necklaces from Ingram, said she actually likes the uniqueness of each choker and it’s one of the reasons she buys necklaces from her. She also appreciates the quality. “I know it will be good quality, and if I have a problem with it then she’ll fix it,” Grosman said. Grosman said she thinks it’s cool that Ingram has a hobby and wants to support her. She is also into fashion and likes chokers as accessories. “I just think they spice up your outfit and add a different dimension,” Grosman said.
F
OR $50, STUDENTS CAN PURCHASE 500 SHARES OF A total 100,000 in what Vinai Kumar, junior, calls the next great thing in charity-based socks. The company is called Vesta Socks. “Our biggest thing is not to just to promote a product, but to promote ideas,” Kumar said. Ten percent of the proceeds from each sale will go to a nonprofit organization related to the theme of the sock. So, for example, 10 percent of the proceeds from the Native American inspired sock will go toward Native American Aid. Kumar thought of the idea almost a year ago, and he brought it to Akash Sarkar, junior, last September. They played around with the idea for about a month before it took off in October. Kumar and Sarkar sent samples of their designs to a company in China. The company produced the designs, usually about 100 pairs per design, before they sent the socks back to Vesta. One pair of socks goes for $9.99, two for $16.99. Kumar and Sarkar aim to sell to five different high schools in the St. Louis area by using representatives at each school. Kumar said about 20 people have been interested in investing in the company, but Vesta is currently using 10 students at different schools to represent them. “We’re evaluating our company and our shares,” Kumar said. “If you’re interested, we’re offering negotiations as well.” Sarkar said if the representatives sell a certain number of socks, they’ll receive a specified portion of the profit. Sarkar and Kumar will also receive a portion of the profit. He said Vesta will probably launch at the beginning of April. Tyler Sieli, junior, invested $50 in Vesta Socks because of his interest in business and finance. Sieli said he didn’t invest with the expectation of obtain a high return on his investment. He just wanted to see what it would be like to invest in a company. “I see it being a sustainable small business that creates profit at a reasonable rate and can really take off with the help of the right people,” Sieli said.
13
ARTS&LEISURE
MOD PIZZA
(1.4 miles from MHS) 15809 Fountain Plaza Dr.
With warm lighting and gentle music, Mod Pizza is welcoming and homey. Despite its speedy service, Mod Pizza is no fast-food chain, considering how community oriented it is. The straightforward process of choosing toppings behind the glass keeps things hassle free. The pizza, which is light and crispy, nicely pairs with a salad and one of the wide selection of drinks, ranging from vintage lemonade to caramelized pear iced tea.
PIZZARELLI’S PIZZERIA
(2.2 miles from MHS) 15858 Manchester Rd.
Pizzarelli’s is a small, classic pizzeria. Behind the counter, in front of a fake brick wall, you can see employees making dough and taking pizzas in and out of the oven. Red and green checkered tablecloths are spread across tables and topped with vases of fake flowers. While the menu lacks vegetarian toppings, the restaurant has many options regarding pizza size, including pizza sold by the slice. Their crispy Chicago-style pizza is delicious and I expect nothing less from their New York-style pie.
14
BOARDWALK PIZZA
(2.8 miles from MHS) 15638 Manchester Rd.
Tucked into a strip mall on Manchester, Boardwalk Pizza takes you to the beach. With light wooden planks and sky blue paint on the wall, the environment lives up to its name. The food is modest and casual, so if you're looking for a pizza with nothing too fancy going on, Boardwalk is the place for you. There’s an amazing lunch special that gets you a personal sized pizza, a salad and a fountain drink. They also offer a variety of uniquely curated calzones, but beware, the to-go sauce comes cold.
FORTEL’S PIZZA DEN
(1.5 miles from MHS) 15483 Clayton Rd.
With Cardinals jerseys on the wall, baseball playing on the TV, and an arcade, Fortel’s is a laid-back family restaurant. The place has an old-time feel with their dark green decor and ceiling fans. Even if you’re not a pizza fan, Fortel’s has a variety of appetizers in the menu and plenty of ongoing deals. Although the place isn’t updated, the medium thickness crust, special homemade tomato sauce and loads of cheese make a tasty combination that can be enjoyed more as take out.
SPORTS
MAKING WAVES Girls swimming, diving find success at State BY ELLIE TOLER
G
OING INTO THE RACE, SHE was nervous. She doubted herself. She slapped her legs to warm up because her friends heard from a Mexican Olympian that it helps to start the blood flowing. The buzzer sounded, and Alyssa Lemon, senior, dived into the pool. “It was really intense,” Lemon said. “This was the fastest State has ever been, the most competitive. Tensions were high.” It was close. But then in the last 50 yards, she knew she wanted it so badly. Her fingers touched the wall. At State on Feb. 18, Lemon won the 200-yard freestyle, edging out Paige Mitchell, LHS sophomore, by a little more than a second. Lemon triumphed with a time of 1:50.87, while Mitchell finished with 1:51.93. Taryn Zweifel, sophomore, said she cried tears of joy when Lemon won. “Everyone was crazy,” Zweifel said. “Everyone was cheering. I’ve never seen us cheer that loud. I lost my voice just cheering for her.” Going into the competition with an undefeated record, the girls swimming team placed third at State with a score of 201 points. Rock Bridge placed second with 220.5 points, and LHS won with 224 points. Head Coach Joe Schoedel, LHS physical education teacher, said he expected the team, with its fast swimmers and strong leaders, to finish in the top four at State. He said this team was the fastest he
has ever coached. “While we've had teams with good top speed, and teams with good depth, this year we have both,” Schoedel said. This year, he said the atmosphere of the competition was more intense, which created more pressure and excitement for the girls. At State, Schoedel said the biggest challenge for the team was the high level of talent from the other teams. “In a head-to-head meet, and even in invitationals, we're unbeatable,” Schoedel said. “When you bring in all 128 teams around the State, it's much tougher to score and our depth doesn't play much of a factor. Still, they swam and dove well, dropped time, and finished on a high note. As a coach, I couldn't ask for more.” In the 500-yard freestyle, Lemon finished fifth at 5:05.00. Seniors Anna Davis and Katiana Porporis; Amanda Yu, freshman; and Lexi Basler, junior, took home fifth place in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:48.60. Yu took twelfth in the 100-yard butterfly, Davis finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle and Porporis placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke. Porporis also finished fifth in the 200yard IM. Lemon, Basler, Yu and Porporis took third in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:37.60. Davis, Yu, Lemon and Lauren Berning, sophomore, also finished third in the 400yard freestyle relay at 3:34.20.
Alyssa Lemon, senior, prepares for her race during prelims at State on Friday, Feb. 17. The next day, Lemon won the 200yard freestyle with a time of 1:50.87. Lisa Roth, diving coach, hugs Sarah Rosson, sophomore, during the State prelims. Girls swimming finished third overall at State. Photographs by Ellie Toler Davis said State was a nice finish to her high school swimming career. Going into the State, the team was confident they could win due to their victory at Conference. “We just had a really strong group of girls, a fast group of girls,” she said. “So that made it really cool because we had never been that good before.” Despite the 10 graduating seniors leaving, Davis said she thinks the team next year will still be strong, She predicts that many girls will step up and become leaders for the team. “I’ll miss them, but I think they’ll be able to keep up the undefeated season,” Davis said. After snagging a first place finish
last year at State, diver Ashley Yarbrough, senior, claimed another victory in the one-meter diving competition this year at State. Her final score was 451.05. Meagan Saleh, junior, finished eleventh with a score of 348.70. Yarbrough said she was very stressed going into the competition because she didn’t know if she could win again. However, she kept herself calm because there’s so much mental strength that goes into diving. “I can only control my dives and how I do each and every dive,” she said. “I can’t control the scoring. I can’t control what other people do. So I just focus on that.”
Prescription misuse
is drug abuse.
Is your name on this bottle? Only take medication as prescribed to you.
15
SPORTS
Sophomore plays three sports at varsity level BY CLAIRE JONES, MARTA MIEZA AND MADDIE EVELAND JAKE HANSEN, SOPHOMORE, WAS throwing and kicking the ball around with his father when he was only 2 years old. By age 5, his father introduced him to competitive sports. Hansen now not only plays three separate sports—baseball, soccer and basketball—for MHS, but he also plays all three at the varsity level. “It feels really good to be one of the only ones to play three varsity sports as a sophomore,” Hansen said. “I did not expect that." Hansen’s great-great grandfather, George Sisler, who has been recognized in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, first inspired him to play baseball, which is Hansen’s favorite sport of the three. Sisler once played for the St. Louis Brown's as first baseman and held a record for the most hits in a single season starting in 1920, a record that was broken after 84 years by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004. Though he would love to play Major League Baseball, Hansen said he feels no pressure from family to follow in his great-great grandfather's footsteps. Hansen did not start off on varsity as a freshman but worked his way up throughout the season. “As a freshman, I started the baseball season as a JV player, but because
Jake Hansen, sophomore shoots a ball during the varsity basketball game at Eureka on Feb. 25. Hansen plays three sports at the varsity level: soccer, basketball and baseball. Photograph by Maddie Eveland of a varsity player’s injury, I was able to continue the rest of the season on varsity,” Hansen said. John Meyer, personal finance teacher, chose to put Hansen on varsity because he considered him to be one of the best players of the postseason. “Playing varsity as freshman could not have been easy,” Meyer said. “But the skills Hansen acquired give him
many great opportunities for his future.” Meyer said he is proud that Hansen is now the first sophomore at MHS to play three varsity sports at the same time. “The skills he has developed to get to where he is now, makes it easy for him to adapt to any position, in any sport, making him the center of what
the team needs,” Meyer said. As another three-sport varsity athlete, Nick Bulanda, senior, said the most difficult part of being a three sport athlete is time management, and there's a lot of late night studying and homework invloved. "As a sophomore, it's weird to play one varsity sport and extremely weird to play three," Bulanda said.
Stang Gang leader wraps up year of cheer BY BRANDON INGLI, CONNOR KARST AND MADDIE EVELAND
Mitchell McCandless, senior, watches the football game during the annual MHS Whiteout on August 26, 2016. Photograph by Taylor Styer
16
THEY SHOW UP AT EVERY HOME GAME, SHIRTS off, voices loud, cheering on athletes with loud bravado and spirit. They are the Stang Gang, MHS’ student section and pep club. The 30 members are known for bringing enthusiasm and an electric atmosphere to sporting events, including football, basketball and hockey games. Mitchell McCandless, senior, is the head of Stang Gang, selected by last year’s leaders due to his participation in the group in past years. As leader, it is up to him to decide the various theme nights and chants for each game. Some of the most popular themes have included lumberjack night and jersey night. Stang Gang is sometimes criticized for not going to every sports game offered. With the coming of spring, lesser known sports, such as water polo, and all-day sports, like wrestling and track and field, are not very spectator friendly, McCandless said, which make it difficult for Stang Gang participation more difficult. Though McCandless said Stang Gang is trying to improve volleyball and baseball participation, the
lower attendance levels usually brings Stang Gang to an end around spring. Additionally, the difficult of getting to away games and the other things going on in peoples' lives also makes attendance falter, McCandless said. “We consider ourselves a part of the team, essentially,” McCandless said. McCandless is tasked with spreading awareness of the Stang Gang via their Twitter account, @MQStangGang, which has more than 800 followers. One of McCandless’ favorite sports to cheer for is hockey. He said the administration is usually not present, so they can be a bit rowdier than usual. His favorite chant at these games is “it’s all your fault,” because he says it “affects the other team’s psyche.” McCandless lead the Stang Gang in a rush of the field after the varsity football team beat LHS in the fall. He also lead a storm of the court after the varsity boys basketball team’s close-cut victory against the Lancers in early February. Shortly after the basketball game, a few members of the LHS team approached McCandless with a very encouraging message. “They said if they had a student section like that every game, they would have been undefeated,” McCandless said.