19-20 Marquette Messenger: Issue 5

the

MESSENGER

n. V

VOLUME XXVII, ISSUE V | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | FEBRUARY 2020

ONLINE

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

See pg. 8-9

ROLL CALL

Editors in Chief Kavya Jain Marta Mieze Associate Editor Sarah Harris Copy Editor Mansi Mamidi Online Editor in Chief Kailin Zhang Executive Producer Jackson Estwanick News Editor Waha Siddiqui Features Editor Jessica Li Arts&Entertainment Editor Stephanie Lei Sports Editors Jeff Swift Connor Del Carmen Opinions Editor Will Roach In-Depth Editor Sabrina Lacy Events Editor Austin Richard Social Media Editor Zara Tola Illustrators Jilian Bunderson Mason Kellerman Business Manager Aarushi Bute Advertising Manager Akhila Swarna Equipment Manager Ben Hughes Staff Reporters Caroline Cudney Sydney Goldsmith Alayna Higdon Emily Kaysinger Shrija Maganti Ella Musial Lauren Pickett Peyton Rubenstein Molly Sillitto Arpitha Sistla Anika Talyan Carter Van Buskirk Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen Freshman wrestling took on three opponents at the Rockwood Quad Invitational.

INSIDE Ray Holmes, language arts teacher, prepares his chapbook for publishing.

curriculum

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4

basketball

poetry Students and staff weigh in on Super Bowl LIV.

ONLINE Mel Caruso shares her experience in switching from teacher to parking lot monitor.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Students and staff share their experience with hot tea and its value in their culture.

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Super Bowl

The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the Newspaper 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 newspaper or the administration. The Messenger

SNAPCHAT @MHS MESSENGER

hot tea

takes responses for any issue. Send these in at mhsmessenger@rsdmo. org.

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.

INSTAGRAM @YOURMHSNEWS

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LATER START DATES

Schools should give students a day off for other religious holidays, such as Diwali, Eid and Yom Kippur.

To put things in perspective for Christian students, not being able to celebrate Diwali or Eid is like being at school on Christmas day. We constantly emphasize the importance of “embracing your culture,” yet are not given the opportunity to do so.

As a Hindu, last year coming home late from school, I was not able to go to the Temple and burst crackers at home: two important components of celebrating Diwali. It may seem like counting a religious holiday as an “excused” absence is enough, but students still miss important course work and exams. For non-Christian students, observance of religious holidays often forces them to choose

About one third of MHS’ student population is enrolled in at least one AP course. Most of these AP-enrolled students choose to participate in their course’s corresponding exam.

Last year, the Missouri legislature passed House Bill 604 requiring school districts to begin schooling no earlier than Aug. 24 in 2020, with later start dates in the future. While this legislation may allot additional summer days to students, it forms a new conflict with AP exams. Exam dates are nationwide, beyond Missouri’s legislature. The adjusted school year dates reduce time given to AP students to prepare for their May AP exams and places these students at a disadvantage due to their loss of time in class before the exam. Due to the smaller period of time between school’s start and

between going to class and honoring their faith. According to CBS, “Kevin Thomas, New York’s first senator of Indian descent, is sponsoring a bill to give districts the ability to close on six additional religious holidays— two Islamic, two Hindu, one Sikh and Christian Good Friday.” New York schools are currently setting an example it is possible to honor all religions. We claim to be a secular nation, yet fail to acknowledge other major religious holidays. It is time America steps up to prove that it is truly a melting pot of cultures and religions.

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OUR POLICY

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Sincerely, Monisha Balaji junior

Language Arts department adds new courses to junior and senior curriculum.

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Visit our website to view more stories and MHSNews: marquettemessenger.com

Students share their opinions on changes made to Flex Time.

This weekend varsity basketball teams travel to Knightstown, Ind., to play Lindbergh at the famous gym from the movie “Hoosiers.”

YOUTUBE @MHSNEWSPRODUCTIONS

TWITTER @YOURMHSNEWS

May exams, teachers must adjust their classes, whether by spending less time on required material or reducing days of review. With less time to cover all necessary material and prep before the exam, AP-enrolled students are forced into greater pressure and stressful circumstances. This state law will affect every individual among thousands of AP students as they must adjust to prepare for this exam. In addition to the potential shift of final exam dates, Missouri’s legislature opens new holes and gaps to a school year with heightened stress-inducing time limitations.

Sincerely, Jonathan Madsen senior

issue V

NEWS

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AT A GLANCE The Winter Dance is on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase online through Feb. 6 or in person Feb. 3-7 in the Theatre Lobby during Flex Time and lunch.

Jocelyn Fretwell, language arts teacher, works on her laptop during her planning period. Teachers are given two conference periods to plan lessons. The state currently requires districts to allot a minimum of 250 minutes as teacher planning time each week. Photograph by Shrija Maganti

Teachers petition for planning time marta MIEZE WHILE STUDENTS HAVE A seven-hour class schedule, teachers only have five. Teachers spend the other two hours lesson planning, grading and meeting with colleagues.

Currently, this time is also protected by law with the state requiring districts to allot at least 250 minutes of planning time for teachers each week.

As the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) begins to adapt the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6, teachers around the state noticed the language of planning time was different than that of the current MSIP 5, which has been in effect since 2012.

Lee Mitchell, head librarian, was among those who noticed the newer model leaves out the minimum requirement of 250 minutes, leaving it up to individual districts to decide their teacher planning time.

“Planning time for teachers is important for students,” Mitchell said. “It gives [teachers] a chance to collaborate with each other to differentiate lesson plans and things like that.”

However, teachers are not giving up, she said.

Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) has taken legislative action against the proposed changes and is also collecting signatures through a petition. MNEA wants MSIP 6 to include the current minimum requirement of 250 minutes while also specifying and emphasizing it as teacher directed, meaning teachers can dictate how they choose to use their planning time.

“In some districts teachers could lose a lot of their planning time if it were not in DESE’s guidelines,” she said.

Mitchell said she has seen that many teachers from RSD have signed

so we can get that next iteration out the petition, which has collected 4,739 and use that as our new mechanism for signatures as of Jan. 27. accountability for school districts in Mallory McGowin, DESE director Missouri,” McGowin said. of communications, said the changes Tim Abney, foreign language teachto MSIP begin at the Office of Quality er, serves as a building representative, Schools and stakeholders within the acting as the liaison between the NEA field of education. and the concerns that may arise in McGowin said a public comment period follows any change like this. The MHS, and as 1 of the 12 members of the Executive Board, which advises the MSIP 6 public comment period closed Jan. 15, which was the second period of local organization on changes that may be made by bringing up issues educafeedback for MSIP 6. tors may have.

“Our staff has been processing the He said his initial reaction was thousands of comments that we got confusion as to why the change would from folks regarding any or all of the be made, guessing it is due to the legisstandards that are outlined in MSIP 6,” lation wanting to get the “most out of McGowin said. their buck,” for the less time teachers She said a large number of these have of planning time, the more comments was about the they can spend instructing. changes to planning time, However, Abney said this which the Office of is counterproductive beQuality Schools will “How does cause it would infringe be presenting at the hurting teachers on their quality of next State Board of instruction. help students? The Education meeting “How does hurtFeb. 11. answer is it doesn’t.” ing teachers help McGowin gave students?” Abney no comment in said. “The answer is regards to the TIM ABNEY it doesn’t.” reasons behind FOREIGN LANGUAGE He said prior to changes to the TEACHER the petition, there was language of teachalready a lot of pusher planning time back on the issue, but a requirements. petition is an effective way “To speak for them to get educator voices out. at this time would probably “Certainly it doesn’t hurt to be ill-advised,” McGowin said. put names to paper and say ‘we are the She said the Board will present people who are affected by this, these their rationale behind the changes at changes concretely will hurt us and the Feb. 11 meeting. will hurt our students in the following Even after the meeting, there is ways,’” Abney said. no telling if the final decision will be Regardless of the final decision, reached McGowin said, as the State Abney is hopeful the RSD Board of EdBoard of Education determines the ucation will not make any change and next steps. Therefore, there is also no will remain collaborative with educaset school year when MSIP 6 would go tors and have their and their students’ into effect. best interests in mind.

“We’re certainly hoping to get that approved and move forward on that,

The RSD-administered Junior ACT is Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Parent Teacher Conferences are Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 20, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The National Honors Society blood drive Monday, Feb. 3, will take place throughout the day in the Small Gym.

This year’s Spring Break trip will be to Savannah, Ga., March 14-19, where students will be working to help with Hurricane Irma relief.

Teacher of the Year nominations are open until 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 5.

District calendars for the current year, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 are posted on the RSD website.

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feb. 2020

NEWS

Snow days raise communication concerns arpitha SISTLA KALIAH RODGERS, SENIOR, SPENDS her snow days like most other students: resting, catching up and spending time with family.

“This is a day that if I was missing an assignment or I knew it was gonna be late, I could make it up now,” Rodgers said.

However, her snow day may begin differently than most if RSD waits until the morning to call the day.

Rodgers lives in the city and comes to school through the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) program.

On a normal day, Rodgers’s bus is at her stop at 6:40 a.m., and she normally gets to school about 8:10 a.m. Because the VICC program is selective, there is rarely more than one student at each bus stop, further contributing to the long bus ride.

On the flood day in August, she recalled waiting for more than half an hour for her bus the morning school was canceled.

She is thankful her parents can sometimes wait with her to avoid this situation, but she said she knows most other kids’ parents in her neighborhood have already gone to work.

She also said she knows some students don’t have access to the internet and rely solely on the automated phone message their parents get to know if school is canceled, making it even more imperative for there to be clear and early communication between the superintendent and students’ parents.

Because of this, she also wishes the

superintendent could let students who live in the city know earlier if they have a snow day.

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said calling snow days depends on a multitude of factors. These include what type of precipitation will occur, when it will occur and what the roads look like for that day.

To gauge conditions, district-level employees communicate with the Missouri Department of Transportation or get out on the roads themselves, sometimes as early as 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. the morning of a prospective snow day.

He said the superintendent has a tough decision to make, but it all boils down to the safety of staff and students.

“The expectation is if you are able to come in and it’s safe to do so, you come in,” he said.

Dr. Hankins said both staff easily adapts to missed time through email, computers and other resources that allow them to work from home.

“The overall attitude towards snow days is very positive,” Dr. Hankins said.

“People don’t mind reschedules, and I think everyone manages just fine.”

Steve Schmitt, AP Calculus AB and Geometry teacher said his Geometry class is more affected by snow days than his AP class, but, for him, as long as he plans ahead, snow days do not significantly disrupt his teaching schedule.

“I try to plan accordingly, so if we get the day off, it doesn’t affect it as poorly as if I had just waited for it to happen,” he said.

State mandates allow room for one more day of inclement weather Additional days of inclement weather will lead to extra days of school to be added onto the end of the calendar If RSD has more than 14 days off due to inclement weather, extra days of school will not be added Because AP tests are scheduled by a national organization, they don’t move because of snow days.

Associate Principal Tracey Waeckerle said she hopes that, as the teachers and administration have, students will become more comfortable with using email as a means to get the help they need when they cannot directly talk to the teachers.

No matter how many days of school are canceled due to inclement weather, the last day for seniors will remain May 15. This is because graduation events are scheduled in advance.

The MHS community posts the activities they do on snow days. Seniors Adam Fathy and Arjun Hiren pose while sledding, Laura Coverstone, language arts teacher, posts pictures of her kids sledding. Photo Illustration by Waha Siddiqui

Language arts curriculum adds upperclassmen courses mansi MAMIDI FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL year, the Board of Education has agreed to adjust aspects of the language arts curriculum to introduce a Black Literature class and a Topics in Literature class due to community interest.

Natalie Fallert, coordinator of Secondary Literacy, Speech and K-12 Library Media, said the changes that will be made for the 2020-2021 school year are focused on the junior and senior curriculums.

The books pictured above are part of the Topics of Literature curriculum. Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick

This year, the freshman and sophomore curriculums were tweaked to align with what district expectations were for students going into upper classes, as opposed to lining up with Common Core standards. Freshman classes now focus more on reading and writing, and sophomore classes have an emphasis on synthesizing those two skills.

However, Fallert said the new junior-senior rollout has less to do with curriculum changes and more to do with providing a wider variety of options for upperclassmen.

RSD conducted a survey of alumni and teachers to see which courses the community wanted to see present at the high school level, and Fallert said an overwhelming majority wanted to see a Black Literature class.

Fallert said the Black Literature and Multicultural Literature curriculum writing teams are made up of mostly the same people, so that overlap in the taught content of each class is kept to a minimum.

“They’re their own individual classes and they discuss different topics and books,” Fallert said.

Ultimately, Fallert said the biggest goal was to introduce more diversity, give more choice and voice to teachers and students and to honor what the community wants to see.

“If you look even at current curriculum, we never say to teach specific texts,” Fallert said. “We focus on broader concepts and themes, and there are a bunch of different classes and books and ways to teach those ideas.”

Black Literature will focus on old and new texts written by predominantly black authors from both the United States and other parts of the world.

Laurie Shultz, Language Arts department chair, wrote the curriculum for Topics in Literature, and said it discusses contemporary novels over different genres.

“British Literature is now going to focus on the classics, while Topics in Literature will discuss new, modern novels,” Schultz said.

She said both classes are important, because the classics are referenced so often within day to day life, and they’re necessary for understanding the state of modern literature, which is more relevant to students.

“In order to foster a love of reading in students, we need to offer them something more current,” Schultz said.

“But we don’t want the classics to go away, so this is a happy medium that gives both.”

Schultz said the goal is to get students to read more.

Kyle Ross, junior, signed up to take Black Literature next year.

“In a lot of these classes, we read old classics by white guys from the 1900s,” Ross said. “A lot of history and literature is told from the straight white male perspective, so classes like Black Literature can help broaden the often narrow scope through which we see the world.”

Ross said taking a class that involves texts from different perspectives will allow him to become a better person with greater understanding for others.

“Even in the few black authored texts I’ve read so far in AP Lang, reading them just allows for us to see how different concepts persist,” Ross said. “It helps to really show you what’s happening as opposed to just believing only what you’ve been taught and told.”

issue VI

OPINIONS

SPEAK OUT

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In Missouri, convicted felons of non-violent crimes have their voting rights restored, so The Messenger asked:

SHOULD FELONS ON PROBATION OR PAROLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE? WHY?

DJ MCCASLIN,

freshman

“Yes, they should be allowed to vote because they’ve learned from their crime and they’re probably not going to do that again. I don’t think that should affect their voting or like U.S. citizenship because as U.S. citizens it’s their right to vote.”

Photograph by Kavya Jain

editorialBOARD DISTRICT STUDENT PRESS SUPPORT AS A STUDENT PUBLICATION, WE HOLD Dispatch, Leader Publications and Fox 2 News to ourselves to the highest standard to cover issues student news stories on the district’s Twitter feed that affect our community, our faculty and, reveals this disparity. To name one instance in most importantly, our students. We often report particular, the district retweeted a student profile on controversial issues, pointing out flaws and written by KSDK that was weeks earlier published by discrepancies in our school and district. We The Messenger, so clearly it’s not a matter of content believe our publication serves a part in the studentbut authority. administration relationship, giving students a voice.

The lack of accreditation of student publications However, this voice, coming directly from is present in RSD news as well. As an educational students, seems not to be heard or listened to unless institution, the district should be championing and it’s published on a “professional” platform. empowering student work, rather than being in Last month, a Messenger staff writer’s letter competition with them. Too many times has to the editor was published in the St. Louis the district news reproduced well-written Post-Dispatch describing the lack of student work, instead of celebrating it. diversity in Advanced Placement Student media should be linked on the and higher level classes at MHS. “District News” of the RSD website We are Community members spoke out as a truer reflection of what is the liaison of and as the letter was read by actually going on at the high school communication administrators, meetings were level. set up with the student to further When the district has between discuss policy changes and other announcements, we ask them to administration and ways to solve the issue. us break the news. We are here students, so let us toletdocument The Messenger wrote an events, no matter act as such. article about this exact problem in how big or how small. Tell us when last year’s May issue. But instead of something is happening and give us being met with emails and phone calls the opportunity to cover it. We are for change, the administration gave no the liaison of communication between response. administration and students, so let us act as The readiness with which the district approached such. the letter seemed to be fueled more from concern At the very minimum, read our work and share for public appearance than student satisfaction with it on social media. Read the opinions of our student their educational environment. This establishes not body. Read about their accomplishments. Read about only the district’s disregard for student media, but the challenges they face and changes they wish to the perspective that in order for student experiences see. to be validated, “real-world” media needs to get After all, if anywhere, an educational institution is involved. where student voice should be amplified and matter The ratio of local news such as KSDK, the Postmost.

ALLYSON BARTH,

sophomore

“Yes, because they served their sentence in jail. They cannot vote in jail, so I think they have already served their punishment. A lot of people believe not being able to vote is a form of punishment for committing a felony, but, the punishment should be jail.”

“Regardless of their mistakes, their opinion matters. When people go through prison, they learn so much and I think that could really bring a lot of insight into voting.”

AARUSHI BOINEPALLY,

junior

“Yes, I think that they do. They still need to share their output even if they had been in jail.”

ARJUN HIREN,

senior

TRACEY WAECKERLE,

Associate Principal

“They’ve served their time and are trying to make amends with society and should still have a say in how our country is run. As an active member of society, they should be able to participate in their civic duty like others in their community.”

OPINIONS

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feb. 2020

EMPOWERING DIVERSITY Embrace black history sabrina LACY FEBRUARY: VALENTINE’S DAY, Super Bowl, Leap Day. These are a few of the events people think about when they think of February, but Black History Month is usually not on the top of everyone’s list.

When February comes around, part of the month passes before I even realize it’s Black History Month.

The reason I forget about it is because there is not much emphasis on the importance of Black History Month and it can feel like the same history is being taught repeatedly every year.

There are facts on the announcements about black history, and while I appreciate the gesture of having those facts, most students don’t notice them.

Students should be introduced to more people who influenced American culture. There is so much focus on leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Fredrick Douglass, but not a lot of education about other black leaders. But when people think about white leadHenrietta Lacks’s cells ers, there is not were used to develop just one person the polio vaccine. who is seen as Illustration by Mason the major leader Kellerman of history.

For instance, when others think about black people who changed society, Henrietta Lacks would probably not be the first person people think about. But her cells have had a major impact on scientific discoveries, for example eliminating polio.

Implementing more education about black people who have impacted society could help lessen boredom of Black History Month and spread the idea that there is more to black history than Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Because there is little representation of black people who influenced America, it can seem black people have little to give to America.

There should be more initiative by schools and teachers to put more time and effort into teaching about black leaders who have impacted the U.S. But even if teachers don’t offer information about black leaders, people should take some time every week to learn about different black historical people. Black history should be important for the whole year and not just one month.

Love your locks

Juniors Amara Bonner and Lindsey Chan and senior Claire Vilbig flaunt their natural hair at school.

Photographs by Zara Tola

zara TOLA MY NERVES TINGLED AS THE sensation of a cloud of hot smoke dissipated between my fingers. I combed the ends of my freshly straightened hair as I looked in the mirror. I thought I looked “put together” as I got ready to go to school.

But I never felt “put together.” For years, I would always check my hair with whatever was available. Was it too poofy? Did it become slightly curly?

Did the split ends from the endless hours of flat-ironing show?

Sometimes the hair maintenance became so much I couldn’t bear to break out the flat-iron to spend 40 minutes scorching my hair into a perfectly straight line. That’s when my curls would peek through, and people saw the real me.

“Do you usually straighten your hair?” a couple of my teachers asked me, to which I replied yes. “I like your hair better curly,” they’d say.

It was at this point that I started to wonder if maybe I should try wearing my hair curly. In my free time, I

watched videos of other girls transforming their hair by switching from straightening to wearing their natural locks. I was hopeful. Maybe my hair could look that good too.

This past summer, I started wearing my hair curly. I learned how to take care of my hair: wash with cold water, use lots of conditioner, let it air dry and don’t brush it. I couldn’t be happier with my natural hair.

Last semester, with my transformed look, I gained so much confidence.

Now I can talk to people who I was too insecure to talk to. I can walk with confidence through the halls. I feel comfortable to let people know about me because now I feel like myself.

Within the past few years, there has been overwhelming support for people who choose to wear their natural hair.

YouTuber Eva Gutowski released a video on how she fixed her natural hair

after straightening her hair for so long.

Actress Zendaya also released a video revealing her curly hair routine, which has gotten more than 8 million views to date. The response to this video has been extremely positive.

Everyone should embrace their natural self. Having curly hair isn’t as rare as it may seem: about 11 percent of people have curly hair, according to Microsoft News. It is often hidden through the use of styling tools or artificial hair, but nowadays, there’s no shame in rocking your natural hair.

The support for natural hair must continue. People tend to stick to looking like everyone else, and that’s where they start to change themselves in order to be accepted. As I have experienced, as have others, natural hair is the way to go.

Be happy with how you look. Be happy with the real you.

Women’s March & feminism: ‘separate but equal’ lauren PICKETT ONCE AGAIN, THOUSANDS OF Women’s March attendees flooded the streets of Washington D.C. Jan. 18, showcasing bold phrases on signs.

Protesters displayed support for critical women’s issues to increase voter participation like immigration and the environment.

This “more diverse” protest spread awareness of an underlying issue: the Women’s March represents the social divisions of feminism and the concepts of “separate but equal” concerning women of color.

The injustices began when the original title “Million Women March,” mirroring the 1997 protest for black female awareness, was replaced. Then its initial goals of vast representation were deserted to accommodate the influx of supporters.

This year, Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles wasn’t invited to the fourth annual demonstration for the first time. The Women’s March Foundation provided a statement saying this is an “important” election year, therefore, they will only invite those “who have

a mission to register and encourage people to vote.”

Traditional feminism only spares time for coverage of inconvenient issues when the opportunity for significant change will pass, or if it alludes to ideals of white, middle class women.

As a black female, I cannot choose between my womanhood and my blackness for representation in today’s feminist ideas. Black women are still the most marginalized women in society.

Black women are reduced to organizing demonstrations to advocate for our safety and concerns such as systematic oppression and disproportionately low academic achievement.

Not all women may ever be represented in a women’s march because of a lack of emphasis on minorities’ histories of discrimination.

However, there are too many complexities within feminism to think there is a one size fits all compromise to solve systematically ignored political conflicts.

Marginalized and transgender women’s issues are also women’s issues.

They should be important to voters because democratic candidates target

Demonstrators at the Women’s March on St. Louis Jan. 21, 2017. Recently, the march has placed an emphasis on voter registration. Photograph by Marta Mieze

them the most.

Even though I preach strength in numbers and support protests, I cannot encourage my black sisters to support the Women’s March next year until the march begins to meet a higher standard of inclusivity.

Women of every color and creed can be triumphant together, but first we must understand the importance of our shared values to be true changemakers.

To support all women, the March needs to repair their reputation and address their prejudice by allying with minority and transgender advocacies, and allowing them to hold leadership positions.

issue V

patheti c

FEATURES

b m u d

annoying

ugly

psycho

CANCELLED

stupi

worthl

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rude idiot r e s o l

ess fake

snake

Photo Illustration by Jessica Li

The Internet’s Burn Book:

Cancel culture paints teenage social landscape stephanie LEI CASUALLY TALKING TO HER FRIEND ON A CHILLY Monday morning, Emily Lory, sophomore, never intended to get canceled on the bus ride to school. Yet a few comments and two bus stops later, Lory found herself deemed “canceled” on a friend’s private story.

“I really don’t even know what I did wrong,” Lory said. “It was something I said about who my [friend] hated, and the next thing I know, my [friend] posted on social media and told her friends I was canceled.”

Lory isn’t the only one to experience this ceremonial “cutting-off” that is becoming more and more popular. She knows a friend who was completely shunned by her entire friend circle.

“One of her friends didn’t like that she talked about pop culture all of the time and was always on her phone, and one annoyed friend turned into two annoyed friends, and so on and so forth,” Lory said. “I honestly wasn’t that affected by my ‘canceling,’ but my friend has been feeling really alone since all of her circle stopped talking to her.”

Across the nation, millions of teens are picking up on this trend—“cancel culture,” a term that originated on YouTube with viewers “cutting off” celebrities.

The term “cancel” was recently coined amidst the YouTubers James Charles and Tati Westbrook drama last May, and it has been trending ever since. However, the concept itself has been around for centuries.

Matthew Del Pizzo, social studies teacher, has not heard of cancel culture in the contemporary context but recognizes the age-old interaction. He has seen the trend and its consequences throughout history.

“People who disagree politically try to cancel the other side out by using lies, misinterpretation, anger and other emotions to gain

support,” Del Pizzo said. “It is all driven by emotion.”

While unfamiliar, the concept today does not surprise Del Pizzo.

In fact, he finds the trend to be mean and immature at times, although understandable.

“It is pathological to cancel people,” Del Pizzo said. “People cancel people who do not agree with them or who do not support the narrative that the canceler has created.”

Teja Guduri, sophomore, is familiar with the trend but has not seen it play a large role in her daily life.

Guduri, like millions of others around the world, watched the initial conflict with Tati Westbrook and James Charles occur over social media platforms.

“The word cancel really is just a different word for not liking people,” Guduri said.

“I guess it’s just a general thing. You’re not going to like everyone, and not everyone is going to like you.”

Although Guduri understands the many negative implications associated with cancel culture, she does believe it comes with its fair share of positives.

“It could make another person see their flaws,” Guduri said. “Like with the James Charles thing, he ended up apologizing for what he did, something he may not have done otherwise.”

Rutaiba Siddiqui, freshman, said cancel culture is extremely normal and common for both influencers and peers.

“I had a friend, and when her and I had a falling out, everyone around us had a falling out as well because people ended up taking sides,” Siddiqui said. “It’s inevitable.”

Siddiqui said the media has played a large role in keeping the trend popular and relevant.

“I think the thing you can compare to most is if your friend does something and your other friends don’t like it — then everyone else decides to stop associating, and someone or multiple people are left out,” Siddiqui said.

“People cancel people who do not agree with them or who do not support the narrative that the canceler has created. It’s all driven by emotion.”

MATTHEW DEL PIZZO, HISTORY TEACHER

feb. 2020

IN-DEPTH

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issue V

IN-DEPTH

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SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPES YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN POLITICAL, SOCIAL CAUSES As seen on pg. 1

Modern information consumption raises accuracy concerns ella MUSIAL “WORLD WAR III IS HAPPENING! Everyone get ready!” read political memes and humor on social media at the start of the decade.

Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube users constantly share the latest bits of information, but it is sometimes not the most accurate, causing users to have to filter misinformation.

Katherine Bauman, social studies teacher, said making memes and humor out of serious political situations is not new. She said people frequently use humor to criticize government or politicians.

“It’s a tradition as old as government itself,” Bauman said. “What we learn on social media can be helpful, but it should not be the sole source.”

Bauman said there are ways to determine accuracy. Users should pay attention to the title of the article, articles about the same topic and emotional, powerful words the article may use.

Instagram is attempting to filter out false infor-

FACT CHECKING POLICIES

mation using their recent fact-checking technology, which tells the Instagram user something is false and then gives the user a documented fact as proof.

Lee Mitchell, head librarian, said fact-checkers are not a good source to rely on.

“I think you have to check all your facts,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think you should leave it to some fact-checker. You have to check more than one source and you have to check whose making a statement and why.”

Mitchell said it is also hard to tell what information is accurate and what is not on social media.

“Anyone can say anything and make it sound like it is a fact,” she said. “Social media, a lot of times, is an opinion, not facts.”

Ryan Kelley, senior, does not trust fact checkers now but has hope for its future.

“I think it’s a good idea in theory, but I don’t feel like it works very well quite yet,” Kelley said. “I think we’ll get there and I think it will be useful, but we aren’t at that point.”

Instagram When content has been rated as false or partly false by a third-party fact checker, we reduce its distribution by removing it from Explore and hashtag pages. In addition, it will be labeled so people can better decide for themselves what to read, trust and share. When these labels are applied, they will appear to everyone.

He said political memes and humor is an overly-simplified version of political issues.

“A lot of [political memes] are made by people who I don’t think understand the process,” he said.

Kelley said he tries to avoid political humor.

“I definitely make an extra effort to go out of my way to figure out what’s happening in the world,” Kelley said.

Mason Barkofske, junior, said political memes take away the seriousness of situations on social media.

“I feel like it can be funny,” he said. “But sometimes there’s stuff that shouldn’t be joked about and should be taken more seriously.”

Barkofske does not recommend using social media as a news source.

“I think it can be risky because there’s a lot of misinformation that happens on social media,” he said.

Barkofske said he would to use a verified profile as a news source but would not depend on what normal people say as news or fact.

Facebook Fact checkers will review content, check their fact, and rate their accuracy. If a fact-checker rates content as false, it will appear lower in News Feed. Pages and websites that repeatedly share false news will have some restrictions and their distribution reduced. They may also have their ability to monetize and advertise removed, and their ability to register as a news page removed.

Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick

Q

A

AND

DR. REBECCA DOHRMAN, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communication Maryville University

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA BEING SO WIDESPREAD? Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick

Activists utilize social media in light of Australian wildfires peyton RUBENSTEIN REPORTS OF THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES consequences, and these often stem from what peocurrently sweeping Australia have circled the globe, ple often consider to be positive aspects of the Interwith updates being shared to billions within seconds net such as quick and widespread communication. thanks to modern technology.

“There are several downstream consequences: inAccounts flood into social media platforms from formation is consumed rapidly and then people move Australians experiencing effects from the fires and on with much lower attention spans, misinformation pleading for help. and fake news can spread faster, and deference to “I want to give some perspective for people not authority is diminished,” Bridgman said. from Australia. More Aussie land is currently burnThis spread of unreliable information and less ing than exists in the entire country of Belgium. The respect for experts can give slacktivism a bad reputasmoke is causing breathing problems in New Zeation. land, 2,000km away. Half a billion animals have been However, Bethany Riley, senior, said there are killed. Eight people are dead,” tweeted Bodie Ashton, positive aspects of this form of activism.

Australian writer and historian.

Riley said because social media is In this age of widespread use of a platform utilized by such a wide detechnology and social media, it is easier of people, it’s a good place “Anyone who is mographic than ever to stay informed about global for anyone to speak out on issues they willing to be a leader believe in. issues and to take action to help.

As a result, disastrous events, who is willing to be a leader can be an activist.” can“Anyone therefore, often call into question peobe an activist,” Riley said. ples’ true intentions of helping others Amy Wetton, artist, is an example of and their commitment to important an activist.

BETHANY RILEY issues when it matters.

Communication through social media, SENIOR Devastating occurrences also have a contributing factor to Wetton’s knowlgiven rise to a new type of activism: edge of the wildfires, inspired Wetton to slacktivism. According to Cambridge take matters into her own hands. By sellDictionary slacktivism is “activity that uses the intering a print online of an artwork she painted, Wetton net to support political or social causes in a way that raised almost $1,000 to be directly donated to WIRES does not need much effort, for example creating or Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit organization actively signing online petitions.” working to care for and rehabilitate Australian wildThis term was coined in the early 2000s and has life affected by the fires. become involved in almost every major social or Wetton said she will likely continue to use social political conflict since. media to raise money for causes she believes in.

Aengus Bridgman, Ph.D. Candidate at McGill Uni“This experience really opened my eyes to how versity, said the long-term effects of slacktivism are much I can help with a small piece of art and one largely a mystery because of the novelty of the consocial media post,” Wetton said. “The response cept. One of the only certainties about slacktivism blew me away, warmed my heart and inspired me to is the widespread use of the Internet has profoundly explore more ways I can make a positive impact with impacted peoples’ interactions with each other and my social media platform. I hope to continue to use the political issues in the world they live in. my art and following to spread some joy and a little Bridgman has observed immediate and negative bit of good.”

“The main benefit is that relationships can be maintained across great distance thanks to social media and companies are able to reach new markets because of social media. The disadvantage is that it is hard to sift through so many voices easily, so it can feel overwhelming at times.”

WHY MIGHT PEOPLE TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA AS A NEWS SOURCE? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THAT AFFECT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE? “I think of social media as the new town square, and citizens have gone to the town square for centuries to get information about local politics and news, so I do think it has made it in some ways easier for people to take part in the political process and be informed about any issue that they are interested in.”

HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPED ACTIVISM? “It has provided a platform for people to share their views with a wide audience, although social media is subject to all of the cultural biases that exist offline, so privilege still works in the same ways to raise some voices and make invisible others.”

HOW CAN PEOPLE STAY INFORMED AND USE SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSIBLY? “I also think it is important to regularly seek out longform articles about how technology is changing so that people can stay educated about social media and how it is evolving. And talk to your friends and family regularly. I love to ask them how they are using social media which helps me think about social media use from a 10k foot view instead of just how I am using it.”

feb. 2020

IN-DEPTH

8

issue V

IN-DEPTH

9

SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPES YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN POLITICAL, SOCIAL CAUSES As seen on pg. 1

Modern information consumption raises accuracy concerns ella MUSIAL “WORLD WAR III IS HAPPENING! Everyone get ready!” read political memes and humor on social media at the start of the decade.

Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube users constantly share the latest bits of information, but it is sometimes not the most accurate, causing users to have to filter misinformation.

Katherine Bauman, social studies teacher, said making memes and humor out of serious political situations is not new. She said people frequently use humor to criticize government or politicians.

“It’s a tradition as old as government itself,” Bauman said. “What we learn on social media can be helpful, but it should not be the sole source.”

Bauman said there are ways to determine accuracy. Users should pay attention to the title of the article, articles about the same topic and emotional, powerful words the article may use.

Instagram is attempting to filter out false infor-

FACT CHECKING POLICIES

mation using their recent fact-checking technology, which tells the Instagram user something is false and then gives the user a documented fact as proof.

Lee Mitchell, head librarian, said fact-checkers are not a good source to rely on.

“I think you have to check all your facts,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think you should leave it to some fact-checker. You have to check more than one source and you have to check whose making a statement and why.”

Mitchell said it is also hard to tell what information is accurate and what is not on social media.

“Anyone can say anything and make it sound like it is a fact,” she said. “Social media, a lot of times, is an opinion, not facts.”

Ryan Kelley, senior, does not trust fact checkers now but has hope for its future.

“I think it’s a good idea in theory, but I don’t feel like it works very well quite yet,” Kelley said. “I think we’ll get there and I think it will be useful, but we aren’t at that point.”

Instagram When content has been rated as false or partly false by a third-party fact checker, we reduce its distribution by removing it from Explore and hashtag pages. In addition, it will be labeled so people can better decide for themselves what to read, trust and share. When these labels are applied, they will appear to everyone.

He said political memes and humor is an overly-simplified version of political issues.

“A lot of [political memes] are made by people who I don’t think understand the process,” he said.

Kelley said he tries to avoid political humor.

“I definitely make an extra effort to go out of my way to figure out what’s happening in the world,” Kelley said.

Mason Barkofske, junior, said political memes take away the seriousness of situations on social media.

“I feel like it can be funny,” he said. “But sometimes there’s stuff that shouldn’t be joked about and should be taken more seriously.”

Barkofske does not recommend using social media as a news source.

“I think it can be risky because there’s a lot of misinformation that happens on social media,” he said.

Barkofske said he would to use a verified profile as a news source but would not depend on what normal people say as news or fact.

Facebook Fact checkers will review content, check their fact, and rate their accuracy. If a fact-checker rates content as false, it will appear lower in News Feed. Pages and websites that repeatedly share false news will have some restrictions and their distribution reduced. They may also have their ability to monetize and advertise removed, and their ability to register as a news page removed.

Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick

Q

A

AND

DR. REBECCA DOHRMAN, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communication Maryville University

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA BEING SO WIDESPREAD? Photo Illustration by Jackson Estwanick

Activists utilize social media in light of Australian wildfires peyton RUBENSTEIN REPORTS OF THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES consequences, and these often stem from what peocurrently sweeping Australia have circled the globe, ple often consider to be positive aspects of the Interwith updates being shared to billions within seconds net such as quick and widespread communication. thanks to modern technology.

“There are several downstream consequences: inAccounts flood into social media platforms from formation is consumed rapidly and then people move Australians experiencing effects from the fires and on with much lower attention spans, misinformation pleading for help. and fake news can spread faster, and deference to “I want to give some perspective for people not authority is diminished,” Bridgman said. from Australia. More Aussie land is currently burnThis spread of unreliable information and less ing than exists in the entire country of Belgium. The respect for experts can give slacktivism a bad reputasmoke is causing breathing problems in New Zeation. land, 2,000km away. Half a billion animals have been However, Bethany Riley, senior, said there are killed. Eight people are dead,” tweeted Bodie Ashton, positive aspects of this form of activism.

Australian writer and historian.

Riley said because social media is In this age of widespread use of a platform utilized by such a wide detechnology and social media, it is easier of people, it’s a good place “Anyone who is mographic than ever to stay informed about global for anyone to speak out on issues they willing to be a leader believe in. issues and to take action to help.

As a result, disastrous events, who is willing to be a leader can be an activist.” can“Anyone therefore, often call into question peobe an activist,” Riley said. ples’ true intentions of helping others Amy Wetton, artist, is an example of and their commitment to important an activist.

BETHANY RILEY issues when it matters.

Communication through social media, SENIOR Devastating occurrences also have a contributing factor to Wetton’s knowlgiven rise to a new type of activism: edge of the wildfires, inspired Wetton to slacktivism. According to Cambridge take matters into her own hands. By sellDictionary slacktivism is “activity that uses the intering a print online of an artwork she painted, Wetton net to support political or social causes in a way that raised almost $1,000 to be directly donated to WIRES does not need much effort, for example creating or Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit organization actively signing online petitions.” working to care for and rehabilitate Australian wildThis term was coined in the early 2000s and has life affected by the fires. become involved in almost every major social or Wetton said she will likely continue to use social political conflict since. media to raise money for causes she believes in.

Aengus Bridgman, Ph.D. Candidate at McGill Uni“This experience really opened my eyes to how versity, said the long-term effects of slacktivism are much I can help with a small piece of art and one largely a mystery because of the novelty of the consocial media post,” Wetton said. “The response cept. One of the only certainties about slacktivism blew me away, warmed my heart and inspired me to is the widespread use of the Internet has profoundly explore more ways I can make a positive impact with impacted peoples’ interactions with each other and my social media platform. I hope to continue to use the political issues in the world they live in. my art and following to spread some joy and a little Bridgman has observed immediate and negative bit of good.”

“The main benefit is that relationships can be maintained across great distance thanks to social media and companies are able to reach new markets because of social media. The disadvantage is that it is hard to sift through so many voices easily, so it can feel overwhelming at times.”

WHY MIGHT PEOPLE TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA AS A NEWS SOURCE? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THAT AFFECT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE? “I think of social media as the new town square, and citizens have gone to the town square for centuries to get information about local politics and news, so I do think it has made it in some ways easier for people to take part in the political process and be informed about any issue that they are interested in.”

HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPED ACTIVISM? “It has provided a platform for people to share their views with a wide audience, although social media is subject to all of the cultural biases that exist offline, so privilege still works in the same ways to raise some voices and make invisible others.”

HOW CAN PEOPLE STAY INFORMED AND USE SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSIBLY? “I also think it is important to regularly seek out longform articles about how technology is changing so that people can stay educated about social media and how it is evolving. And talk to your friends and family regularly. I love to ask them how they are using social media which helps me think about social media use from a 10k foot view instead of just how I am using it.”

FEATURES

10

feb. 2020

Class Act: Junior finds surprise success in beauty pageants jackson ESTWANICK AFTER MAKING A SCHOOL presentation on common sense gun legislation, few would expect to be approached about joining a beauty pageant. But for Sarah George, junior, that’s exactly what happened.

George entered the 2020 Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Pageant held Dec. 21 at MHS and won first place with no previous pageant experience.

“That’s why it was such a shock that I won,” George said.

During her sophomore year, George presented to faculty members as part of her ALARP II final. In attendance was Paula Ake, guidance counselor, who was “extremely impressed” by George’s speaking abilities.

“It wasn’t the content of the presentation. It was the delivery,” Ake said.

“Her being very well spoken and clearly very intelligent. Her overall outward presentation and speaking ability is very much aligned with what the Miss America organization stands for.”

Ake is a director for the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Pageant, an official preliminary to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Ake originally encouraged both Sarah and her sister Susan George, junior, to sign up for the Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen pageant.

After Sarah decided to give it a try,

Ake gave her the paperwork to sign up. Aside from some advice from Ake, Sarah was on her own until the pageant in December.

“When she won, I was jumping up and down backstage,” Ake said.

Ake said Sarah’s “genuine sense of self” set her apart from other girls who were far more experienced.

“Seeing someone like her jump in and just be Sarah and be successful is super exciting,” Ake said. “That’s why I thought she would be a perfect fit.”

Sarah said she didn’t practice before the pageant. Her talent was an original oratory, but instead of writing a new speech, she reused one previously written for speech and debate.

She didn’t buy a new evening gown either, opting to wear a dress previously purchased for a wedding.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t want to put effort into it,” Sarah said. “It was because I had finals the entire week, so it was the last thing on my mind.”

Sarah said she felt intimidated by the thought of competing in a pageant.

“You don’t see a lot of people with my skin color or a lot of Indians doing beauty pageants,” Sarah said.

In addition to her appearance, Sarah said her talent was also unique compared to the other competitors.

Susan watched her sister compete with the rest of their family. She said the announcement that Sarah had won came as a surprise.

Sarah George, junior, poses next to Kyleigh McCourt, student at Washington Middle School, at the 2020 Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen Pageant Dec. 21 at MHS after both received title positions. George was crowned Miss Gateway St. Louis Outstanding Teen. “It definitely has changed my life,” George said. Photograph by Paula Ake

“It was mind blowing because I didn't expect that and neither did our entire family,” Susan said.

Susan said their family hopes Sarah will find success at the State level, the Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen pageant, June 12 in Mexico, Mo. “I’m sure that if she doesn’t go past the State level, she’ll still be proud of herself and we’ll still be proud of her because it was more than what we expected,” Susan said.

As a title holder, Sarah must now

develop a social initiative and a public platform, as well as raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Sarah plans for her platform to educate young Asian Americans on their voting rights and encourage them to act on issues that matter to them.

“It definitely has changed my life,” Sarah said. “I’m not going to even deny that because I’ve never been in this world and I just got dropped into it.

The beauty pageant world is revolutionary.”

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FEATURES

issue V

11

HARVARD? 35 ACT 3.8 GPA

VS.

Class president

32 ACT 4.0 GPA Varsity athlete

Illustration by Jessica Li

HEAD TO HEAD: aarushi BUTE

THE DAYS LEADING UP TO A PHYSICS TEST ARE coming closer and Sameer Iyer, sophomore, is growing more anxious for one primary reason.

“Competition,” Iyer said. “If I ended up doing better than the smarter kids in my class, it would be such a huge accomplishment.”

Iyer said academic competition is especially prevalent at MHS. “There is so much competition here,” Iyer said. “So many kids who want to do good, but their peers who want to do better. It’s this constant fight against your classmates, and a lot of the time the competition tends to be your friends.”

But even then, Iyer said the academic competition does add a lot of benefits.

“When I sign up for a competition and my main competitors are my friends, it makes me extremely nervous about our friendship and the tournament,” Iyer said. “But at the same time, the academic competition pushes me to try harder and better.”

Dr. Thomas L. Good, professor of educational psychology at the University of Arizona, said there are positive and negative aspects of academic competition.

“In some ways competition is like rain,” Dr. Good said. “Some amount is good, but too much or too little creates major problems.”

Dr. Good said there are also different ways to react to competition. Some students will resort to cheating, while others will focus more closely and work harder.

Academic competition places pressure on students

“Even with benefits, extreme competition tends to make kids ignore what was learned, the meaningful effort in preparing and the gains in their knowledge,” Dr. Good said.

Dr. Cathy Farrar, sponsor of Science Bowl and Science Olympiad, encourages her students to participate in tournaments that expose them to the academic competition.

“Academic competition makes you a stronger competitor and it can also be a humbling experience,” Dr. Farrar said. “You may assume you are undoubtedly smart but then get surrounded by students who are smarter. It makes you realize that you have a little bit of work to do, and it really helps you find your niche.”

However, there are still occurrences where friendships could lead to fights due to the competition. Dr. Farrar said she always intrudes on any arguments leading to a bigger issue, but sometimes it can be inevitable.

“Even with the risks, academic competition is definitely a vital part of MHS,” Dr. Farrar said.

Claire Zhang, senior, said academic competition is beneficial rather than harmful.

“If anything, it’s brought me closer to other students because we have something in common,” Zhang said. “We all want to become better.”

Zhang said she has tried out for first chair in orchestra, and has competed with other students.

“It was very stressful, but at the end of the day, I got to learn from others who were better than me,”

Zhang said.

With standardized testing and college applications, Zhang said senior year was the hardest year for the competition.

“When I don’t do well in a competition setting, it does hurt,” Zhang said. “But I have to keep reminding myself that I will be stronger because of it.”

However, Vishwasri Aleti, junior, said academic competition is more harmful than beneficial.

“American culture is a very individualist society,” Aleti said. “In people’s minds, only individual people shine, no groups ever do.”

Aleti said due to this view, competition changes people.

“They are willing to do literally anything if it helps them,” Aleti said.

Aleti said she has gone through friendships being broken because of academic competition and teachers encouraging their behavior.

“Some teachers definitely foster that mentality,” Aleti said. “The mentality that a student will only succeed if they rip others down.”

As a junior, Aleti said her current year in high school is the worst for competition because most colleges focus on a student’s junior year grades and test scores.

With standardized tests and leadership positions, she said she has faced a lot of competition from others looking to bring her down.

“I hope that all students understand grades in high school isn’t everything,” Aleti said.

thewolfstl.com

feb. 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

12

POETRY

Abbas named St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate 2020 waha SIDDIQUI AS THE LIGHTS CENTER ON HER, Sarah Abbas, junior, takes a deep breath with a microphone in hand and opens her eyes to an audience.

For Abbas, this scene is all too familiar. She has been performing her poetry in slams and competitions since her freshman year. Over the years, Abbas has won a multitude of accolades, ranging from school-sponsored slams to the Brave New Voices international competition, making history as the youngest person to perform at Button Poetry.

Last week, Abbas became the STL Youth Poet Laureate, a representative for change through poetry in the community. Out of the four STL Youth Poet Laureates, two of them have been from MHS, with Zack Lesmeister, class of

SARAH'S PICKS Favorite Poets

SAFIA ELHILLO FATIMAH ASGHAR OCEAN VUONG

Sarah Abbas with her agent, MK Stallings, accepts the position of STL Youth Poet Laureate at UrbArts. She was the youngest to win the MHS poetry slam and has won many awards and accolades including Brave New Voices. Photograph by Rachel Steurer

2018, being the 2017-2018 Youth Poet Laureate.

“As Laureate, you’re trying to make a change and help others with your words,” Abbas said To become the Laureate, Abbas said she had to go through an application process which included interviews, performances and hosting a poetry slam.

As the STL representative, Abbas said she will visit different schools and events to perform her poetry as her agent sees fit.

In a couple of months, she will be in

line for the Midwest Laureate. If Abbas wins, she’ll be among the top four youth poets in the nation to apply for the National Laureate, which she said is highly competitive. In the next few months, her goal is to enter different contests and publications in hopes of beefing up her resume.

“It’s really weird because I always neglected writing, even when I excelled at it, because I thought I wanted to go into medicine,” Abbas said. “It is comforting knowing that there is something that I can do well. I’m honestly considering this as a career choice.”

Abbas developed an interest in poetry when she joined Poetry Club and Shelly Justin, club sponsor, told her to participate in the school poetry slam.

She went on to win the slam that year, becoming the youngest winner in MHS history. Justin then encouraged Abbas to join her poetry team, where they compete with area schools.

Justin said she spotted talent in Abbas from the beginning, which is why she encouraged her to get involved.

“Sarah is extremely talented, but she is also very modest, which draws people to her,” Justin said. “At times, talent comes with some amount of arrogance, but she doesn’t have that.”

Justin said because a lot of people tend to have a negative view of poetry as a career, it is significant that Abbas is breaking out and highlighting the positives of artistic expression.

“I think it is important for all people to see that artistic expression should be something that all of us strive for and that it is needed in life,” Justin said.

Lindsey Haas, junior, also said Abbas has had a positive influence in her life as one of her best friends over the past years. Haas saw Abbas’ potential during their poetry unit in their Ninth Grade Honors Language Arts class.

“She developed a passion and love for [poetry] and found herself through it,” Haas said. “Now, she openly expresses herself which makes me so proud of her.”

Looking forward to Holmes' “Lookaftering” LA teacher shares his experience publishing first book jackson ESTWANICK RAY HOLMES, LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER, IS turning a new page in life as his first poetry chapbook, a small collection of poems usually 40 pages or less, “Lookaftering” is set to be released in early May. In emails sent to students and staff Jan. 10, Holmes announced the upcoming release of his chapbook as well as the digital presale.

Holmes started writing in high school, but it wasn’t until he began his undergraduate studies at Truman State University that he truly discovered his love for writing, and more specifically poetry. Later in graduate school at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he earned a masters of fine arts degree in creative writing with a focus in poetry.

“I enjoy the sort of ambiguity there can be in a poem,” Holmes said. “The sense that you can get the feeling of what a speaker in a poem is going through, and yet not everything is set in crystal clear terms for the reader or even the speaker.”

“Lookaftering” focuses on the positive aspects of familial relationships, as well as appreciating the strange parts of life. Holmes said his poems normally start with something he personally experienced before fleshing out new ideas.

“For me, it always starts with something personal that I’ve experienced or felt or thought, but then eventually as I write something and develop it, it’ll change into a totally different scene,” Holmes said.

Holmes said he spent a long time organizing his material and researching publishers before sending out the original manuscript in 2012. At the end of

last school year and after 13 rejections, he received an email from Finishing Line Press notifying him the chapbook had been accepted for publication.

“I almost couldn’t believe it when I got the email that it had been accepted just because I had been so used to emails that it hadn’t been accepted,” Holmes said.

Dr. Jamie D’Agostino, associate professor of English at Truman University, taught Holmes in his third year at Truman. Dr. D’Agostino read the original manuscript of “Lookaftering” and continues to share Holmes’ poetry in his classes.

“To see all those poems really floored me,” Dr. D’Agostino said. “They’re all so beautiful and so unique.”

Dr. D’Agostino said as a student, Holmes looked to help others with their writing.

Carlen Hite, sophomore, is in Holmes’ Tenth Grade Honors Language Arts class. She wants to write a book one day, and while she doesn’t write poetry herself hearing about “Lookaftering” has further inspired her.

“I think that says he’s actually a very good teacher and he loves what he does,” Hite said. “It seems to me he wants to be the best for his students.”

Holmes said while his curriculum doesn’t include much poetry, he enjoys the small amount it does have and sharing it with students.

“I feel like there’s value in, as a language arts teacher, saying this is something I love and pursue even outside of my teaching life,” Holmes said.

Ray Holmes, language arts teacher, collects course requests from his Eleventh Grade Language Arts students.

Holmes' first chapbook is set to be released in early May. Photograph by Jackson Estwanick

"Lookaftering" is available for pre-order online at www.finishinglinepress.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

issue V

13 7

t

ey ho H

te

ROOIBOS CHAI

a

SOUTH AFRICA

TEA TIME: anika TALYAN

Tea Traditions

Students and staff share their tea time habits.

Examining tea from cultures around the world sarah HARRIS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, TEA is an agent for relaxation and detoxing the body. However, within other cultures around the world tea has a greater cultural significance.

In Taiwanese culture, tea is a staple drink. Tea trees are native to Taiwan, and a developed tea culture was introduced to Taiwan through the earliest waves of Chinese immigrants from the Fujian province.

Clay Huang, junior, drinks mostly green and black tea. Huang has lived in the U.S. his whole life, but his grandparents live in Taiwan. He said when he visits them in Taiwan, he drinks more tea because it is a more dominant part of their culture.

“For them, they don’t drink soda, juices or anything like that,” Huang said. “It’s either water or a cup of tea.

Because it’s this long-standing tradition, you’ll find it in any store as like a side drink.”

For his family, there is no specific time tea is served.

“My grandparents drink tea a lot, but my parents serve it when you need a pick-me-up or sometimes in the morning,” Huang said.

Huang said he drinks caffeinated tea to help him stay awake throughout the

SENCHA GREEN TEA JAPAN

day.

Similar to Taiwan, tea is India’s most popular drink. The ritual of drinking chai happens regularly throughout the day, and roadsides are dotted with chai wallahs, or street vendors who serve it boiled with spices, sugar and milk.

Shalini Yagnik, senior, enjoys drinking chai.

“Tea is a time for families to sit together in the morning or in the afternoon, and I think it’s a friendly thing,” Yagnik said. “Whenever someone visits your house, you always offer them chai.”

Yagnik said tea plays a larger role in India’s culture opposed to America’s culture.

“It’s a bonding experience and something shared between everyone in India,” Yagnik said.

Rita Roussin, Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher, teaches World Cuisine. In her class, students learn about the different cuisines throughout the world.

“It’s important for students to learn about different cultures,” Roussin said.

“A lot of students enjoy making food from different areas in the world as it provides them with a new perspective.”

“I drink tea five or six times a week. I drink Sleepytime tea with honey and lemon, it’s a Chamomile tea. It helps me sleep and it tastes really good.”

PAIGE MENKHUS,

freshman

JIAN ZHANG,

junior

“I drink tea in the mornings when I have zero hour. I really like green tea because it is not super strong and the flavor lies in the aroma of the tea. It has a unique taste where it is really subtle and focusing on that kind of helps me calm down and center myself.”

“I drink hot tea every day. Probably three or four cups a day. I just like black tea, I don’t like any other flavorings. I like black tea because I enjoy the taste of it and I like to have a hot beverage during the day that I KENNETH BAREMORE, can drink. It just gives gifted teacher me something to do.”

KASHMIRI KAHWA TEA

“I just started drinking. My favorite tea is the true fruit sampler, especially the blueberry tea. I like it because it is fruity and warms me up.”

INDIA

ROB DURHAM,

language arts teacher

14

feb. 2020 7

SPORTS

CONNOR’S CONNIPTIONS Unruly parents ruin youth sports connor DEL CARMEN BARRY LEE JONES EXECUTED A perfect takedown at a high school wrestling match Jan. 18 in North Carolina.

The only problem is Jones is not a high school wrestler.

A video surfaced of Jones charging onto the mat after an opposing wrestler performed an illegal maneuver on his son. Jones was arrested and charged with assault, but was released from jail on a $1,000 bond.

Though this incident falls on the extreme end of the spectrum, it symbolizes a growing trend of unruly parents at athletic events.

Whether the move performed on his son was legal or illegal, parents must detach themselves and let the officials handle the situation. Having another person with a clouded perspective enter the situation will only make everything worse.

From my observation, the incident in North Carolina is different from most incidents of poor parent behavior.

It seems most unruly parent behavior occurs at youth games, which is surprising because one would think most parents would want to model good behavior for their child.

We have fewer incidents of poor parent behavior at MHS due to the fact that most children of poorly behaved parents quit sports by high school. Seventy percent of kids quit playing sports when they reach age 13, and they often cite overbearing parents as a main reason, according to the Changing the Game Project. The Changing the Game Project works to enable kids to take charge of their sports experience.

This is a shame because maybe a kid would’ve enjoyed high school sports at MHS if it weren’t for an overzealous parents.

Rowdy spectators are affecting youth sports on a wider scale too. The National Association of Sports Officials reported 70 percent of sports officials quit within three years. In the survey, quitting officials said verbal abuse from parents was a main reason they quit.

The worst part of it all is that few parents are looking to improve their behavior.

Go online, and while you can find some articles about correcting out of control parents, you find more blogs discussing how a parent should approach their 9 year old’s coach to get them more playing time.

Even Frank Martin, head men’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina, told reporters he never argues with his son’s coaches or officials despite being outspoken while coaching his own team.

At the root of it, the individuals hurt most by poorly behaved parents at youth sports events are the children.

Seniors announce their commitments to different colleges on the first national signing day of the school year, Nov. 23. Four incoming athletes signed to state schools and three signed to junior colleges. Photograph by Robert Swift

Under Pressure:

Student athletes face challenges on collegiate sports recruiting

connor DEL CARMEN CONNOR THRONEBERRY, JUNIOR, slow and making sure she doesn’t make verbally committed to Penn State for a decision too quickly. baseball as a sophomore which puts “I think there’s pressure for athletes him on the younger end of athletes who to commit early, so it’s common for commit to a school. athletes to overvalue a fast recruiting “With all the juniors and seniors process,” Gruender said. worrying about college, I don’t because She said in an age where immediate I know where I’m going,” Throneberry success is desired, some athletes said. “But since I picked where I was overlook basic things such as social going as a sophomore in high school, media and grades which can tell I wasn’t the most educated about colleges what type of attitude and work colleges at that point.” ethic an athlete may have.

Since his freshman year, “Having good grades makes you Throneberry has travelled around the stand out for a spot on the team,” country to tournaments and showcases Gruender said. “You also have to be with his club team the MidSouth careful with how you present yourself Prospects. online because even if one person “In the summer, I’m not even home doesn’t like what you post, it’s unlikely a quarter of the time because I’m you’ll be on the team.” playing games everywhere in a bunch Michael Stewart, head football of different states,” Throneberry said. coach, said he tries to give his athletes With all of the different aspects as much exposure as possible by of modern recruiting, many are allowing all college coaches the left wondering what aspects are opportunity to talk to the team. most important in a college “Following the season, in the recruiting process. winter, there’s a revolving Throneberry said door of college coaches he values the school “You also have to be who want to speak to season in the spring our kids,” Stewart careful with how you said. as much as the club season in Stewart said present yourself online the summer. when college because even if one person coaches However, he said talk to colleges value the doesn’t like what you post, the athletes, they summer season it’s unlikely you’ll be on the emphasize grades more because above all else in the team.” coaches can watch recruiting process. all the best players “The first thing in the same place at JENNA GRUENDER a coach will ask when one time. he comes through the JUNIOR Throneberry also doors to ask about a kid are said college recruiters value his grades,” Stewart said. “They the opinions of an athlete’s current weed a kid out quickly or move a kid coaches. up the ladder and help them receive “My coaches would always talk to academic assistance.” the college coaches and give a good Although most athletes dream of word about me, but they would still playing Division I in college, Stewart be honest about my strengths and said this is often unrealistic. weaknesses,” Throneberry said.

“I have to be as realistic as possible Jenna Gruender, junior, is currently because we don’t have many Division I being recruited by multiple schools athletes in our school,” Stewart said. “I for volleyball and is uncommitted. have to be realistic with them to ensure Due to the National Collegiate Athletic they get the most financial aid and Association rules, she cannot disclose scholarships possible.” which schools she’s talking with.

Stewart said some athletes feel Gruender said she’s taking things pressure to be on the field to get more

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the largest of the three collegiate associations.

Athletes generally attend schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with smaller scholarships, but still with a chance of playing professionally.

Schools in the National Junior College Athletic Association offer a two-year long education and are generally a gateway to the NCAA and NAIA.

exposure, but college coaches are good at picking out the players with the most potential even if they don’t have the best statistics or most time on the field.

Stewart also said players have a higher probability of being recruited if they take charge of the process by attending camps and showcases in the offseason, but Stewart said the biggest thing to remember is that college sports are a full-time job, which isn’t always for everyone.

15

SPORTS

issue V

Super Bowl LIV: Football fans weigh in jeff SWIFT THIS SUNDAY, THE SAN Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs will play in Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers, affectionately nicknamed the Niners, will represent the National Football Conference in the Super Bowl, after dominating on defense and allowing only 18.9 points per game, fifth in the league.

The Niners have not been in the Super Bowl since 2012, when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-31.

The team has not taken home the Lombardi Trophy in 25 years.

Super Bowl LIV marks the first Super Bowl since the 1999-2000 season that a team from Missouri will compete for the Lombardi Trophy. The Chiefs, led by the 2018 Most Valuable Player quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are third in scoring and fourth in passing yards in the NFL, and are widely regarded as having the best passing offense in the nation. The Chiefs are dealing with a title drought as well.

This will be the first time they’ve appeared in a super bowl in 58 years.

The two teams will clash in Miami, at Hard Rock Stadium for the venue’s fifth super bowl, and be accompanied by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, who will be performing at the halftime show.

Who do you want to win?

Kickoff: San Francisco 49ers v. Kansas City Chiefs 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2. on Fox Sports

80.5% CHIEFS

Who do you think will win?

66.5% CHIEFS Based on a poll of 205 Students as of Jan 28. Infographic

by Jeff Swift

VIDUR VEMULAPALLI sophomore 49ers “It’s been some time since we’ve been there, and it’s been even longer since we’ve won one. I’m just excited to see what the Niners can do and I really hope we pull away and break the 25-year drought.”

JESSICA BROWN teacher Chiefs “I really wouldn’t have cared if I hadn’t gone to Arrowhead to experience it for myself. You feel the same energy there during the playoffs that you would at Busch. Let’s go Chiefs!”

SAMANTHA PRUITT junior Chiefs “My family has a drum in our basement that we like to bang whenever the Chiefs score. It’s been such a long time since the Chiefs have been this far that I hope we bang it a lot.”

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16

SPORTS

feb. 2020

Highway to Hickory

Kennedy Watkins, junior, shoots against Ladue’s Mia Collins, senior.

Watkins scored 27 points, had 5 steals and 8 rebounds in this game, Jan. 23.

Mustangs lost 78-61 at home. Cole Petch, junior, looks to pass the ball during the team’s season opener against Troy Buchanan Nov. 26. The Mustangs fell 82-70. Photographs by Jeff Swift

Basketball teams travel to famous Hoosier Gym ben HUGHES BOYS AND GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL WILL and width, which could have the biggest effect on the travel to Knighstown, Ind., this weekend to match up game. against the Lindbergh Flyers in the famous gym from “I expect it to be an intense game because the 1986 movie “Hoosiers.” the court will be smaller, so I hope our full-court “Hoosiers” follows the story of a dysfunctional pressure will be more effective,” Blevins said. basketball team of a small Indiana town that comes Despite the smaller court and differences in some together and overcomes all odds to win the State of the lines, Blevins said the team must maintain their Championship. Although the Hickory team and composure to win the game. people in the movie are fictional, they’re based on Junior Brenden Harter, boys leading scorer, said the 1954 Indiana State Champion Milan High School “Hoosiers” helped inspire him to play basketball. basketball team.

“It’s exciting to get to go somewhere that I have “Hoosiers” was filmed at Hoosier Gym, but dreamed of playing my whole life,” Harter said. the Milan High School basketball team The Stangs are one of the first teams in never played at the gym. High school St. Louis to take advantage of the special Both the teams from around the country experience with other schools in the boys and girls frequently play at Hoosier Gym for a area making plans to make the trip in fee from anywhere from $50 to $650 teams will play the the future. dollars.

Both tournaments and Freshman Taryn Blevins, point Lindbergh Flyers Feb. 1. individual games, such as MHS vs. guard, said she’s looking forward Lindbergh, are played at the gym.

The girls will play to the experience of traveling to These non-tournament games only one of the most famous gyms in the at 5 p.m. and the boys have significance towards both world. records. will play at 6:30 p.m. teams’ “It’s a really cool experience “We are definitely scrappy like because so few people get the chance they [the team from “Hoosiers”] were,” to do it,” Blevins said. “We’re just gonna Harter said. “We aren’t afraid to get in want to go out and do our best to make it some faces and do what it takes to win.” a memorable experience for the program as a Eric Schweain, varsity boys basketball coach, whole.” said he hopes the trip is an unforgettable moment in Although Blevins is excited to experience the the players’ basketball careers. historical aspect of the gym, she said the features of “This is something we have never done,” Schweain the court are slightly different from a modern gym, said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience.” which could have an impact on the game.

Schweain said he also hopes the game and other The court has no half-court line and the threeaspects of the trip will help build team camaraderie. point line is extremely faint because the line didn’t “This is about more than wins and losses,” exist in the time period the film was set in.

Schweain said, “These players will talk about it 20 Blevins also said the court has a smaller length and 50 years from now.”

The Hoosier Gym was the set for the famous 1986 film, “Hoosiers,” directed by David Anspaugh. Photograph used with permission from the Hoosier Gym

History of Hickory The movie “Hoosiers” was filmed at this gym.

The film was nominated for two Academy awards.

The NBA’s Indiana Pacers wear an alternative jersey in reference to the film.

70,000 people visit per year from across the world.