the
MESSENGER
n. II
VOLUME XXIX, ISSUE II | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | OCTOBER 2021
‘We are not that different.’ See story on pgs. 8-9
INSIDE 04
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11 04 BEHAVIOR AT BOARD MEETINGS Parent formed groups voice their opinions. 07 COSTUMES ARE OVERLY SEXUALIZED The discrepancy between male and female Halloween constumes is sexist. 11 HALLWAY HARMONIES Edward Bolton, science teacher, plays guitar in the hallways during passing periods.
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14 SOFTBALL SENIORS FINISH THEIR SEASON Softball finished their season second in the district, but their athletic careers don’t end there.
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Senior Sydney Rehling runs STL boutique’s social medias. See full story on pg. 10.
ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Marin Ellington Associate Editors Aarushi Bute Akhila Swarna Copy Editor Stephanie Lei Online Editors Rue Siddiqui Arpitha Sistla Production Editor Ben Hughes Features Editor Lajja Patel Arts & Entertainment Editor Anika Talyan Sports Editor Taryn Moore Opinions Editor Liza Cooper Illustrator Mason Kellerman Staff Reporters Annie Alcorn Aiden Burkhardt Elle Devous Carter Long Annabelle Miller Jacob Robinson Aleena Shaik Emma Tyulyayev Carter Van Buskirk Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen
16 HISTORY OF MOOKIE MHS mascot continues to bring joy. Photographs by Liza Cooper, Marin Ellington, Ben Hughes, Lajja Patel, Sydney Rehling and Aleena Shaik
OUR 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 or the administration. The Messenger takes
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Messenger staff members attended various Halloween events to review them. See full story on pg. 13.
ONLINE
PREVIEW
MHS students share their love for both the world of car culture and mechanical work. by | russell armstrong
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 deem appropriate, including advertisements and letters to the editor.
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MHS librarians set up interactive displays in the library to highlight controversial novels during banned book week. by | liza cooper
issue II
NEWS
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Students help custodians clean after lunch shifts aiden BURKHARDT With a severe lack of cafeteria staff, multiple clubs have stepped in to fill the gap and help clean up between lunch shifts. Among them are the National Honor Society (NHS), Marquette Academic and Cultural Club (MACC) and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC). Major Terri Zuber, AFJROTC teacher, said her students help to clean after all four lunch shifts on the first B-Day of every week. “Community service is a big part of leadership,” Maj. Zuber said. “If students haven’t noticed, the people cleaning the tables every shift are your principals. And so after learning about the shortage, we saw an opportunity to help serve the school.” Maj. Zuber said the AFJROTC’s voluntary lunch cleanup efforts also have a second objective. “Hopefully it helps bring awareness from a student perspective about the little things each student can do to
clean up after themselves,” Maj. Zuber said. “Half the battle is students who leave trash. We’ve gotta clean up the trash before we clean up the tables.” Senior Principal Carl Hudson sponsors MACC and helps clean up after lunches alongside faculty and students. “There’s no way that the administrators can do this all day and every day of the year,” Hudson said. “We’re shorthanded some days. Administrators could be out of the building, and so by students helping out, it helps us out also.” Audrey Rhine, sophomore, is a student in AFJROTC who recently started volunteering to clean up. “It’s just another way to help make our school a little cleaner,” Rhine said. Rhine said she hopes that she and the rest of her peers’ efforts will bring recognition to the issue at hand. “I think it’s a good reflection on our school because if we keep our school clean, it shows we care about it,” Rhine said. “It will hopefully encourage others to pick up after themselves because if we didn’t do it, it would be a mess.”
Sa ir a orps ave s oo
ar se ior e ps to ea p t e a o ever ee a o it t e rest o t A R a or erri or A R ee ta i adva ta e o t is opport Photograph by Aiden Burkhardt
eteria or a o r s i ts o t e rst e Air or e ior Reserve er rai i tea er said t at er st de ts s as ar it to s o dedi atio to servi e or t e
HVAC system continues to increase building temperature marin ELLINGTON As a result of the construction that took place over the summer, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units in certain areas of the building have been malfunctioning, causing many classrooms to be overheated. Owen Alexander, sophomore, has experienced overheating in his 10th grade Accelerated Language Arts class. “I just feel like my output of work in that class has decreased a lot since it’s been so hot,” Alexander said. His window seat in the sun only adds to that heat, and he said moving classrooms is not an effective change. “I wouldn’t even call it a solution,” Alexander said. “That would definitely be better for learning, but it seems like it doesn’t solve the problem because it’s just gonna force another classroom into the poor learning environment.” Alexander’s language arts teacher, Jessica Brown, said she agrees moving rooms is a temporary solution to what seemed to be a long-term problem. “If somebody is willing to give me their room for an hour, that’s really great,” Brown said. “But with no end in sight, if I do that consistently, I’m displacing them from their room every single day for the foreseeable future, which just doesn’t seem fair or right when I have what should be a viable classroom.” Though she has tried moving to other classrooms, the Commons and even outside, Brown said getting her students to focus in these different learning environments has been a challenge.
One language arts classroom measured 82.5 degress in early October.
Jessica Brown, language arts teacher, capt red t e te perat re o er roo i as de rees otter t a a avera e roo te perat re o r o s is ore o o o orta e o are rat er t a at s appe i i ass ro said Photograph by Jessica Brown
“I can’t say I blame them. I feel like we’ve tried and tried and tried, but after a month and a half, I’m fighting a losing battle here,” Brown said. The district provided fans to teachers though Brown said they are not making a difference as they only cool down those who they are directly facing. “That makes it even more difficult to teach because there’s a mask and two fans going that I still have to talk over, so typically then I have to turn the fans off so that I can hear students and students can hear me,” Brown said. The unit serving rooms 148-169, as well as classrooms 243, 245, 246, 247, 248, 253, 254 and 260, had a leak in the refrigerant condenser coil. In addition, the unit serving the third floor C-Wing had a supply motor that failed, according to an email sent to staff members
from maintenance and grounds coordinator Bill Branson. Though the unit ran at 50 percent capacity for most of the school year, it was replaced on Thursday, Oct. 14, and classrooms have significantly cooled down since then. Jordan Shelton, language arts teacher, has seen a significant drop in the temperature of her room as well as a shift in the atmosphere of her students. “Whenever students are sitting in a classroom and are starting to feel really hot and sweaty, they start to get on each others’ nerves a lot more,” Shelton said. “Confrontations and just frustrated exchanges between students, that I’m not seeing quite as often.” The unit surrounding the Library also had a supply variable frequency fail, and though no definite arrival date has been set, a new one has been
ordered and temporary modifications have been made. The gym building also had a supply fan VFD failure, and student athletes such as Maya Esparza, senior volleyball player, have felt the effects. Esparza was injured in her game on Friday, Oct. 8, as a result of a slippery floor, coated in sweat. “If it was a little colder I feel like this wouldn’t have happened,” Esparza said. The heat in the gym often causes delays as the floor has to be wiped up to avoid safety hazards. Esparza said playing in such conditions drains the team as it takes their focus away from the game. “I honestly don’t know why it hasn’t been fixed yet,” Esparza said. “I get hot classrooms, but I feel like the gym is becoming dangerous.” Senior Principal Carl Hudson oversees facilities at MHS and said he recognizes the extent of the problem in other areas of the building and is working to have it fixed, but is happy that they have been able to resolve the problem in primary areas of the building. “Thus far, everything has been good,” Hudson said. “It has been comfortable in the rooms.” Though the lack of air circulation did have the potential to provide a breeding ground for the COVID-19 virus, Hudson said was never worried as the air in the building circulates at 11 times per hour and even more in large spaces like the Commons which is nearly double the recommended amount.
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NEWS
oct. 2021
Members of the community attend the Thursday, Oct. 7, Board of Education (BOE) meeting at Lafayette to communicate their positions on the mask mandate, va i atio s a d t e arass e t o staff i RS essi a Rise oover pare t spea s during patron comments about the current harassment of teachers, administrators a d e ers RS pare ts a d o it e ers is is ot o e s o d e as a so iet a d as a o it Rise oover said As a ad t a d as a pare t o ar ette i dre t ere s ero a e oi to a o t at to appe i o it t e past t o ears t ere as ee a i rease i o it a d pare t i vo ve e t at eeti s eadi to o trovers et ee opposi vie poi ts Photographs by Ben Hughes
RSD encourages civil discourse at board meetings aarushi BUTE
RSD REACTION
When Stevion Griffin, sophomore, was confronted by two white Interim Superintendent Dr. Tim Ricker said the BOE has women while walking toward the bus after football practice, he the same policies from pre-COVID regarding the parent code of never expected what he believed was going to be a sports interview conduct. But due to the escalation of controversial speech at BOE to instead be a one-sided confrontation. meetings, the administration, who is in charge of acting on the Griffin said the women told him to take off his mask because consequences, has had to reinforce the policies more quickly and slaves used to wear masks as a punishment. seriously, he said. As a Black man, Griffin said he felt targeted. Dr. Ricker said the escalation has stopped community members “I felt targeted because I was doing the right thing to wear a from coming to meetings due to fear of getting targeted or mask around the school,” Griffin said. “I was following the rules but videotaped. I was still targeted.” “People are entitled to First Amendment rights, they’re entitled Griffin said a police report was filed and he was called down to to their opinions, they’re entitled to agree or disagree with anything the office, but it hasn’t been addressed since. that takes place,” Dr. Ricker said. “It’s the fashion in which the The two women were on campus to people disagree that makes it either attend the Thursday, Sept. 2, Board of inappropriate or appropriate. It’s not the “My hope is that we’ll learn Education (BOE) meeting. content, it’s the action.” Griffin’s experience is not an isolated something from now into the One of the policies allows RSD admin incident at RSD board meetings this year. future so that we’re back to that to restrict community members from coming into facilities if they threaten the civil discourse” PARENT EXPERIENCE safety of students and employees, Dr. Ricker said. Jessica Risenhoover, parent, is To decide on the consequences, Dr. - Dr. Tim Ricker another community member who has Ricker said he looks at how the incident repeatedly been called derogatory names affects the district, the school, the Interim Superintendant when attending BOE meetings. students and employees. “I’m not the only parent who has In serious situations where been subjected to this stuff,” Risenhoover said. “It’s why parents employees or students don’t feel safe after enforcement, higher aren’t coming to the meetings. They are terrified. We are being authorities like the FBI will get involved and a safety plan will be harassed coming into the meetings and during them.” designed, Dr. Ricker said. But Risenhoover said she will continue to speak at BOE “My hope is that we’ll learn something from now into the future meetings regardless of other opinions. so that we’re back to that civil discourse,” Dr. Ricker said. “We can “I don’t care how much fire that causes me to get,” Risenhoover agree to disagree and make people feel comfortable about their said. “[The BOE] need to hear voices that are supportive of them positions on whatever it is.” and that show a different side to our community.” Steven Aspinall, school resource officer, said the inappropriate Risenhoover said the lack of consequences for this behavior behavior has divided the community but it would also be hard to over the last 18 months is what eventually led to more extreme prevent further incidents. incidents like the one Griffin experienced at MHS. “I don’t know if you can prevent further incidents,” Officer But Risenhoover said she is hopeful due to a statement Attorney Aspinall said. “It’s freedom of speech so you can’t hinder that. If General Merrick Garland released Saturday, Oct. 2, regarding you say yes to someone but no to someone else, that’s picking sides, increased strategies to address harassment against school board and we can’t do that.” members, teachers and workers across the country.
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issue II
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issue 7II
OPINIONS
SPEAK OUT HOW INVOLVED SHOULD PARENTS BE IN ACADEMIC CURRICULUM? “When parents send their children to school, they should know what they are learning. If they don’t like [what their children] are learning, they can change it.” MICHAEL LO,
freshman
“I think they should be because they have kids that go to the school. And it’s good to be involved in your kid’s lives.” KATELYN HEITERT,
sophomore
“From a legal standpoint, what does the government, or whoever’s regulating the school think is appropiate to be discussed? The parents shouldn’t really be in charge of that.” WILL EVERSON,
junior
“They should not be involved because it is the teacher’s job to teach us. [Parent involvement] should not put pressure on the children.” NOELLE POLITTE,
senior
ANNA BARTON,
School Store volunteer
“I think they should be mostly involved. Maybe not 100 percent, but more like 70-75 percent. I think it’s important that the parents know how the kids are doing and what’s expected of them.”
ar a eister at tea er o ds a si o tside o er roo o t e t ird oor d ri passi periods to re i d students to wear masks over their mouths and noses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, masks st e or orre t over ot t e o t a d ose or t e to serve t eir i te ded effe t o s o i t e spread o t e COVID-19 virus. Photograph by Jacob Robinson
Mask mandate must stay Earlier this fall, Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against Columbia Missouri’s public schools asserting that their mask mandate infringed upon civil liberties and state laws. “Forcing schoolchildren to mask all day in school flies in the face of science, especially given children’s low risk of severe illness and death and their low risk of transmission,” Schmitt said to the press. “Additionally, forcing schoolchildren to mask all day could hinder critical development by eliminating facial cues and exEDITORIAL pressions.” Though Schmitt’s concern about development could hold true, it is not reason enough to risk children’s wellbeing. Masks are not only effective in hindering the spread of COVID, but also more effective when all parties wear one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reports masks contain “no significant adverse health effects in wearers.” Masks do not deplete oxygen levels. They are safe to use during exercise and are proven to safeguard people from the virus. The tool to prevent the spread of COVID is in
our hands, but we must use it accordingly. Fort Zumwalt, which happens to be the largest district in St. Charles County, reversed their mask mandate. Though they began the year with a mask optional policy, they started enforcing a mask mandate less than a month ago. However, due to an uproar of anti-mandate rhetoric within their community, the Board of Education overturned the mandate on Tuesday, Oct. 12; the decision was 6-0. This decision occurring in such close proximity to RSD begs the question of the future of the mask mandate within our district. Currently, RSD requires masks be worn properly at all times on school grounds. It isn’t asking much to expect students to wear masks for the wellbeing of themselves and their classmates. In fact, since RSD doesn’t require vaccinations, having a mask mandate is an understandable middle ground. The mask mandate in schools is put in place to help us return to normalcy. We urge RSD to keep the mask mandate amidst community controversy, as it’s the absolute best way to protect students’ wellbeing.
BOARD
Letters to the Editor Dress code disparity
Mandate vaccines
The Rockwood School District Dress Code is sexist to women and influences the fetishization of the female body. First of all, showing a little bit of stomach and shoulders shouldn’t be enforced at all. Nothing is wrong with a girl getting dressed how she wants and her stomach being visible. People shouldn’t be sexualizing that girl’s body. She shouldn’t have to feel forced to hide because the school blamed the girl’s body for what happened. How is it fair to the girl if she has to wear a jacket all day, but the jock in the gym can rip off his shirt? A male will look at a woman and find anything they can to find sexual about them. I think it is time for the school district to stop punishing women for being “sexual” for showing skin and it is time for men to be punished for sexualizing women in school.
Vaccines should absolutely be mandatory for students and teachers, and people who do not get vaccinated should not be allowed on school premises. Not only is the vaccine free, but it is now in many cases better than free, with incentives for getting vaccinated. If someone isn’t willing to do the minimum amount of work required to not kill fellow members of society, there is no reason that person should be entitled to society’s tax dollars funding their education, which is evidently a wasted expenditure for the anti-vax crowd anyways. The availability of the coronavirus vaccines in America is unprecedented, and if a large portion of the population continues to refuse to get vaccinated, then they should simply be removed from society for some time, until they have reduced their presence in the gene pool by means of their decision.
- Bella Rose, senior
- Logan Herhold, senior
oct. 2021
7
OPINIONS
Yes, you should get the vaccine Gabby Petito onlyone oneout outofofthe Gabby Petito is is only approximately 268,744 women who go approximately 268,744 women who every year. gomissing missing every year.
Information from Statista Infographic by Liza Cooper
All missing women need justice liza COOPER Over a month ago, Gabby Petito went missing while on a cross country road trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. The two ran a small YouTube channel with 6,000 subscribers and planned to vlog the entirety of their trip. The newly engaged couple left on Friday, July 2. After traveling around the western United States for a little over a month, the first sign of trouble appeared. Police were called on account of “disorderly conduct” between Petito and Laundrie in Moab City, Utah, on Thursday, Aug. 12. Just under a month later, on Saturday, Sept. 11, Gabby’s family reported her missing after Laundrie flew back to their shared house in Florida alone. After a search of Teton National Park, which was the last location the two visited before she went missing, remains of Gabby’s body were found on Sunday, Sept. 19. The media went crazy. Various na-
tional news channels covered the incident, TikTok users conspired about the identity of the killer and #gabbypetito on Instagram garnered about 21,800 posts. With all the fanfare, one would think the disappearance of a woman is a rare occurrence in the United States. That could not be further from the truth. 268,744 women went missing in the United States in 2020. That means approximately 736 women go missing everyday. It bothers me that the 735 other women who potentially went missing on Sept. 11 aren’t household names too. These women aren’t getting the media coverage or attention they deserve. It shouldn’t take a social media presence to have others mourn your disappearance. You shouldn’t have to be young, white and beautiful to have the whole nation looking out for you. America needs to stop acting noncha-
lant toward its other missing women. Bringing awareness to this dire situation could possibly help prevent it. If the media frequently covers cases of missing females who are not the typical “American sweetheart,” it would increase the amount of caution women of all races and ages take in their everyday lives, decreasing the amount of women who disappear. I am not saying Gabby Petito doesn’t deserve justice. She and her family deserve to know that her abductor is going to be punished for his crime. But so do the families of the other 735. They too deserve to know that whoever caused harm to their wife, sister or mom will be rightly indicted. Silence must not be allowed anymore. If we remain passive, more and more of our nation’s women will quietly slip through the cracks without anyone to save them.
Stop sexualizing Halloween costumes rue SIDDIQUI I looked at the women’s section of my local Spirit Halloween: “sexy nurse,” “sexy flapper,” “sexy cop.” I looked across the room to the men’s section: “doctor,” “police officer,” “firefighter.” I was confused. Even a lobster costume for women was labeled as “sexy.” Why do all of the costumes geared toward women tend to be far more revealing than men’s, and why do women’s costumes have such sexual connotations to them? A finger can and should be pointed at manufacturers, as they are making women’s costumes to be far more sexual than men’s. I’m not saying women should not wear what they want on Halloween, but that the people creating these costumes fail to realize that some women may simply want to be a simplistic version of a doctor, rather than a “sexy nurse.”
Though manufacturers and advertising companies play a major role in sexualizing women around the Halloween season, it is also society’s fault. Our patriarchal society further perpetuates the ridiculous idea that women need to be “sexy” or are merely objects on display for people to view. Companies take advantage of this sexist ideology and market women’s costumes in the same light. It is not okay for manufacturers to label women as “sexy,” and “slutty”. I prefer to take the “art imitates life” route and go as pop culture references; however, I understand how Halloween is a chance to be whatever you please and different women interpret that in different ways. What I don’t understand is advertisers and manufacturers restricting women to merely objectified versions of costumes. It defeats the whole purpose of Halloween as it limits what women can wear on the holiday.
e differe e et ee aea d e ae ost es is ear t e o e s ost e is revea i a d s estive iet e e s ost e is ore odest Photographs by Liza Cooper
arpitha SISTLA With mask mandates being reconsidered and regulations generally starting to loosen up, 42% of currently unvaccinated Americans may be asking themselves, “Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?” As someone who is fully vaccinated, my answer is a resounding yes. Several of my relatives have unfortunately lost their lives due to the virus. At the time, they did not have easy access to the vaccine. But, their doctors told us that if they did, their chances of survival would have been significantly higher. My vaccination status has allowed me to go to concerts and public events, travel without anxiety and more. I still am an advocate for mask wearing to prevent the spread of of Missouof COVID, but the CO- 49%49% population VID vaccine provides ri’sMissouri’s population is is currently a safety net and the currently vaccinated. surety that even if I vaccinated. were to get the virus, I mRNA would likely be okay. mRNA are vaccines While breakvaccines 95% are 95% effective through cases (a effective in inpreventing preventing positive case for a COVID related COVID related vaccinated person) hospitalizaare naturally going to hospitalizations of people ages of people occur, the chances of tions 18-64. ages 18-64. those breakthroughs from Missouri’s being fatal are greatly Data Data fromDashboard Missouri’s COVID-19 reduced if a person is COVID-19 and CentersDashboard for Disease Control (CDC) vaccinated. and the CDC Additionally, despite what many anti-vaccine advocates believe, there is no evidence of any harmful long-term side effects or hasty vaccine trials. The trials for all versions of the vaccine were extremely thorough and tested on a substantial number of people. What frustrates me most about people’s refusal to receive the vaccine is many of them are equating quick social media research to the many months of work world-class scientists have done to ensure our safety. Misinformation via social media is the biggest reason I have seen people feel hesitant toward getting vaccinated. I get it: it is hard to avoid the dramatic messages of caution by public figures like Tucker Carlson, Chet Hanks and even Nicki Minaj. However, by looking at the official data and hearing testimonies from people who have had their lives saved by the vaccine, it is clear to see: in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting seriously sick due to COVID, getting vaccinated is the best way to go.
IN-DE
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Students, staff celebrate disability inclusion arpitha SISTLA
“People with disabilities represent the biggest minority in the world. It is a minority that any one of us can suddenly become a part of. They are very under-represented in the workplace but people with disabilities are the largest group of untapped talent.” - Kimberly Chaplin, District Supervisor at Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation As of 2021, 22.36 percent of people with a disability are employed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a month to celebrate the contributions individuals with disabilities bring to the workplace. MHS Special Education Administrator Dr. Stacy Heuberger said RSD is celebrating NDEAM on a district level by highlighting on the district’s main website stories from all over the district that are disability specific. “The importance of celebrating disability awareness is to teach people that there is a large scope of disabilities,” Dr. Heuberger said. “Often, people only think of individuals in wheelchairs or individuals who are nonverbal. But, there is a vast array of disabilities and abilities that are important for people to be educated on.”
To help students with employment after high school, Dr. Heuberger said RSD and Special School District (SSD) work in tandem to guide students with disabilities through a comprehensive program designed to suit their personal goals and needs. “When kids are younger, we focus more on academic skills,” she said. “As they get older, so late in elementary and middle school, the focus is transitioning to life after high school.” Dr. Heuberger said the greatest challenge individuals with disabilities face upon entering the workforce is bias and a lack of understanding from employers. “While it may take someone with a disability a bit longer to do certain jobs, it does not mean they are incapable of doing it,” she said. “Sometimes people need a little extra time or support regardless of whether or not they have a disability.” SSD’s Parent Education & Diversity Awareness Program provides parents of students with disabilities guidance about Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, navigating life after high school and other resources. “We are always there to help out in whatever way we can and give our students and families the support they need,” Dr. Heuberger said.
Living With a Disability For sophomore Harsh Bains, who uses a wheelchair, the most important part of celebrating disability awareness is ensuring individuals with disabilities feel included. “We don’t necessarily want to be treated as different and receive special attention,” Bains said. “Really, we want to feel part of the pack because we are not that different.” Bains said MHS and RSD have been both accessible and inclusive of his needs, providing him with a physical therapist, academic resources, college and career guidance and more. As someone who has always been tech savvy and resourceful, Bains said he is confident his disability will not hinder him in his pursuit of a career in computer science after graduation. “Some employers may be paranoid by looking at someone with a disability’s physical capabilities,” Bains said. “But what really matters is that person’s integrity and capability.” Junior Richard (Richie) Tienter, who is blind, echoes Bains’ statement. “People with disabilities have just as much potential as anybody else,” Tienter said. “We just need to accommodate them so they can get around their disabilities and live up to their full potential.” Tienter said the Gifted Resource Office, his teachIllustrations by Mason Kellerman
ers and his parents have all been helpful to him in planning for his career and succeeding academically. He would like to be a history professor and said that being able to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes and their respective AP exams have helped him feel more confident in his future. “I don’t think my disability blocks me from achieving my goals, provided the right accommodations are granted to me,” Tienter said. “Very little separates me from my classmates besides the fact that I use a white cane to get around school and sometimes have a person to assist me.”
Parent Perspective Ann Tienter, Richie’s mother, said SSD and the St. Louis Society For The Blind have been helpful to her in navigating high school and finding resources to support Richie. Though at first Richie did not have all the appropriate accommodations needed to reach his full potential, she said working with the Gifted Resource Office has been significant in the process of advocating for changes as well as in their search for scholarship opportunities. Ann Tienter said the biggest advice she has for other families of students with disabilities is to support their children as much as they can. “Your kid’s success is important, but so is them failing sometimes,” she said. “Our job as parents is to put things into perspective for our kids and make sure they understand that they are supported and capable.” When she was in high school, Ann Tienter said, there was little integration of special education students and other students. She said having Richie interact with a variety of peers has helped him develop socially. “Families of kids with disabilities and kids with disabilities, we are incredibly resilient,” she said. “We know how to problem solve and we will fight for what our kids deserve.”
Work Opportunities at MHS SSD Applied Skills teachers Molly Italiano worked alongside SSD teacher Kalina Raytchev to open up the Wake Up MHS Coffee Shop across from the Library, in which some of the students who receive SSD services sell coffee and other drinks. Wake Up MHS is aimed not only to allow for interaction between students and their peers, but also to teach job skills like customer service, money handling, sales skills and more, Italiano said. “We use the funds for buying more supplies, but also to throw pizza parties for our students,” Italia-
EPTH
9 Students at MHS who are involved in the Special School District (SSD) ave e or i at t e a e p S offee S op se i offee to st de ts a d staff i t e or i e st de ts or i t ere parti ipate i a a tivities t at are si i ar to a rea or p a e e viro e t to e p t e prepare or t eir areers i t e t re e a d e tas s s as sto er servi e o e a d i sa es s i s a d ore Photographs by Elle Devous and Ben Hughes
no said. “It’s really important that our kids see the reward for all the hard work they have been doing.” Also an SSD Applied Skills teacher, Eric Kipp works primarily with juniors and seniors who receive SSD services and supervises field trips and community outings. He said the coffee shop’s profits also greatly help cover those costs. “The coffee shop teaches our students really important skills of being able to follow multi-step directions,” Kipp said. “It really is designed to model as closely as possible one kind of job students may have in the future.” In addition to operating the coffee shop, students who receive SSD services are also involved in school activities like recycling and helping maintain the Commons. Additionally, Kipp said, some graduates of the program come back to MHS to work in the Cafeteria. “Marquette is incredibly inclusive of kids with disabilities,” Kipp said. “The Dazzlers, the football team, the students; everyone is so accepting of them. They understand that there is no reason to be nervous around kids who are different from them.” The Dazzlers, a dance team of MHS students who receive SSD services that dance at events with Mystique dancers; the football team; and the buddy classes are all ways MHS has promoted inclusivity. Joseph Zheng, senior, works at the coffee shop. He said that, as a social person, his favorite part of working at Wake Up MHS is having the chance to interact with a variety of people each day. “I like the coffee shop because I get to see everybody and talk to my friends,” Zheng said. “I really like going up there and giving people coffee.”
Support From the Community Kimberly Chaplin, district supervisor of the St. Louis Downtown Vocational Rehabilitation Office,
said the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation centers help eligible individuals with disabilities prepare for, enter into, engage in, advance in and retain competitive integrated employment. “A big part of what we do is assure job-seekers with disabilities that not only do they have disabilities, but they also have abilities,” Chaplin said. “It is really important to help people with disabilities understand the skills they bring to the table and how to make sure they are accommodated so they can use their skills.” She said the St. Louis Vocational Rehabilitation Center works closely with SSD in St. Louis County and special education programs in St. Louis City by assigning Vocational Rehabilitation counselors to each high school. These counselors then work with SSD staff and administrators to connect students with opportunities. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 1998 (WIOA) defines competitive integrated employment as work that is performed by an individual who works with both coworkers with disabilities and without. Under WIOA, another defining characteristic of competitive integrated employment is that an employee with a disability is paid at or above minimum wage as compared to their coworkers without disabilities. Competitive integrated employment also includes the principle that employees with disabilities should be provided with the same level of benefits and opportunities for advancement as their coworkers who do not have disabilities. Chaplin said, along with the WIOA, the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Centers abide by guidelines set out by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. She said the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Centers look for businesses that are accessible to both
Additional Resources & Policies •
• • • • •
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). Sheltered workshops Paraquad St. Louis Governor’s Council of Disability
employees and consumers. “An important part of accessibility is accommodating people with physical disabilities,” Chaplin said. “But it is also important for businesses to do things like make sure their website is accessible and disability-friendly to accommodate people with all types of disabilities.” To aid job-seekers with disabilities, Chaplin said, the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation Centers connect prospective employees with services that teach them how to request for and utilize any accommodations they may need. “People with disabilities represent the biggest minority in the world,” Chaplin said. “It is a minority that any one of us can suddenly become a part of. They are very under-represented in the workplace but people with disabilities are the largest group of untapped talent.”
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FEATURES
oct. 2021
is i a e portra s t e da e st e a ed arat at a i i e ta t i t e dia assi a da e arat at a da ers ear vi ra t o t ts a ed saris it o ers i their hair called veni and bell anklets called ghungroos during their classical Indian performance. Senior Shriya Aachi has been helping to start the club and encourages anyone who’s interested to come and learn more about the style of dance. “It’s for people who want to learn about Indian dance, Indian culture,” Aachi said. “It’s for everyone.”. Photograph by Mike Oransky
Junior starts Indian classical dance club emma TYULYAYEV Supraja Deevi, junior, was placed in Nrithyakshetra, a Bharatnatyam dance school, by her mother when she was in seventh grade. At the time, she didn’t have any interest in Indian classical dance. Later, Deevi developed a passion for dance, which sparked her interest in starting a dance club at MHS. She said learning that many students dance outside of school also inspired her to start the club. She wanted to create a club where she could teach others about traditional Indian dance and culture. Bharatnatyam is a type of dance that achieves communication through facial expressions, body language, eye movement and gestures. Deevi said
classical Indian dance is often used to tell a story. Traditional clothing, jewelry and makeup are worn to be pleasing to the eye, so the audience can be drawn in. “The club’s mission is to really turn to talk about our culture. We’re trying to be like ‘hey, you know, we have a club about Indian classical dance, and what their traditions are, and like each dance has its different forms, and how we do it,” Deevi said. When the club is finalized, Deevi said she hopes to teach others who join about the different classical dances. Nicole Roberts, SSD Environmental Science and Biology teacher, is sponsoring a club for her first time and said she is excited to be a part of the whole process. Although she doesn’t have much background knowledge in Indian
dance, she hopes to learn more about it. “I’m excited; I think it’ll be fun to work with the students and with the community,” Roberts said. Morgan Mitchell, SSD U.S. History teacher, is co-sponsoring the club with Roberts. Shriya Aachi, senior, who has been dancing the Bharatnatyam form for more than six years, is helping Deevi with the club. Looking forward, Aachi said she hopes the club, which currently has six members, is a stress reliever and fun. “This is our first year, so we want a lot of engagement from the students and classmates,” Aachi said. Nartana Premachandra, president of Dances of India, said hearing about a high school student starting a club about Indian dance is something that
is nice to hear. Forty-four years ago, when her parents first started Dances of India, Indian culture and dance was not something common in the area. Premachandra said Indian classical dance is unique when it comes to expression and emotion portrayed through the stories, with intricate poses and hand movements separating Indian dance from other forms of dances. She said many people from different backgrounds can learn and dance it, and a club like the one Deevi is starting, is a good way of doing that. “As long as you have the imagination, and you like music and dance, then you can learn it,” Premachandra said.
Senior runs boutique’s socials rue SIDDIQUI
S d e Re i se ior desi s o t ts si clothing found at the Pure by Jen boutique. S e ta es pi t res i t ese o t ts a d posts them on the boutique’s social media. Photograph by Sydney Rehling
On a typical Saturday while most teenagers are sleeping in, Sydney Rehling, senior, is up and planning her Instagram posts for her job by 10 a.m. Less than a month ago, Rehling began a new job at Pure by Jen, a boutique located in Wildwood where she works as both a sales associate and social media coordinator. She assembles outfits using clothes from the store and posts them on Pure by Jen’s Instagram and Facebook. Though the company’s target demographic is middle-aged women, Rehling works to create outfits that attract people of all ages. Rehling said she wanted to work at a boutique because she wants to major in fashion merchandising in college. It also interested her because she has carried a love for fashion since the stayat-home order last spring. “As a 17 year old, there’s not too many ways I can go around expressing myself, but I feel like fashion is a really good place to start expressing yourself and getting out of your comfort zone,”
Rehling said. “I feel like everyone needs something to push themselves and fashion was that for me.” At Pure by Jen, Rehling said she has a great deal of creative control. “I’ve never looked forward to work before because I was always put in a box and told what to do,” Rehling said. “But at this job, I just go in and I get to do whatever I want. Obviously there’s some restrictions, but not nearly as many as I did when I was a waitress.” Rehling advises other teenagers to get a job that pertains to their passions as it makes it more enjoyable. “It honestly barely feels like I’m working,” Rehling said. Kelly Hobbs, manager at Pure by Jen, said Sydney adds a hint of youth to the company. “She’s doing a great job,” Rehling said. “She’s trying really hard, and she’s really interested in learning new things and trying new things.” Hobbs said Rehling’s work ethic shines through in her work, and so does her love for fashion. “I see her adding a lot to the company,” Hobbs said. “She’s filling that
social media niche that we have, and she’s doing a great job doing that, so I think she’ll continue to be a great asset to Pure by Jen.” Echoing that, Sydney Goldsmith, senior, who has been one of Rehling’s closest friends since Kindergarten, said she has noticed a drastic change in Rehling’s attitude toward work since working at the boutique. “I visit her a lot, and I know that when she was just working at bigger businesses where she didn’t get to be as hands-on, she didn’t enjoy it,” Goldsmith said. “So, I think she actually gets excited about work now and is learning stuff about fashion through her job. It’s definitely a better fit for her.” Goldsmith said she is glad to see her friend pursuing what she loves to do and can see her accomplishing a lot in the fashion realm. “I think that seeing someone I’m close to find their passion and flourish in it is one of the simplest joys of life, and I’m so proud of her,” Goldsmith said.
issue II
FEATURES
11
Bolton’s guitar tunes fill science wing elle DEVOUS Edward Bolton, science teacher, has caught the attention of students walking by his classroom with tunes from his guitar. He plays in the third floor science wing during the passing period. “Last year during school I missed the interaction with students in the hall,” Bolton said. “I’ve always stood in the hallways and talked to kids, but with the online and in person at the same time, it was hard to get that interaction.” Bolton started learning to play in June from his wife who is a guitar teacher at Lafayette. Bolton said he wanted to find something to do that wasn’t on a computer screen, so he took interest in a musical instrument. “The eventual goal is to play well enough that I can freestyle songs about chemistry and students,” Bolton said. Until then, he will continue to play songs such as “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles and “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker.
Susan Hartley, science teacher, has a room near Bolton’s and said she enjoys the environment his music brings. “I think it makes Bolton stand out by leaving a lasting impression on students. It draws more attention to science and the awesome classes he teaches,” Hartley said. Students in Bolton’s classes particularly enjoy his music. Harshini Malarvannan, senior, is in Bolton’s AP Chemistry class and said hearing Bolton play in the hall puts her in a good mood. “When I come in during zero hour and hear him play, it wakes me up and puts a smile on my face,” Malarvannan said. Malarvannan said his music makes the school more lively and brings excitement to rough days at school. Patrick Schrappen, science teacher, has the room right next door to Bolton and hears his music every passing period he plays. “The sound is pleasant and gives students who pass by something to look forward to,” Schrappen said.
Edward Bolton, science teacher, strums his guitar during the passing period before module two of Academic Lab. Bolton said he is currently in the learning phase as a guitarist, but he hopes to be able to master the craft with more practice and venture beyond his current range of songs. Photograph by Elle Devous
STUDENT SP
TLIGHT
Sophomore trains to become arborist lajja PATEL
Owen Alexander, sophomore, climbs mostly sycamore trees and brings essential gear such as a helmet, gloves and throw line on his climb up. Photographs by Owen Alexander and David Morton
Through his interest in competitive rock climbing, Owen Alexander, sophomore, discovered arboriculture, the study of how to care for plants. Arborists and rock climbers use similar equipment and techniques, just on different terrain. Arboring allows him to connect to nature. Alexander said his perspective and point of view is drastically higher, so he sees the world quite differently from those at normal elevation.
“I have had many times where birds such as a red tailed hawk fly close enough to touch or watch me as I ascend. I also get to see deer and other animals,” Alexander said. When his interest sparked the summer of 2020, Alexander read books on tree climbing and tree felling (chopping down a tree by the base of the trunk). He also found a local arborist trainer, EJ Turner. Once he started training, he said he knew this was a passion of his that he hopes to turn into a future career. Alexander said his hobby is dangerous due to the height associated with climbing
a tree. While moving up the tree, he uses a harness (referred to as a saddle), a climbing line and a friction hitch (a knot used on ropes under tension). “Once, it was 15 degrees outside, and I was 80 feet up. My fingers were strained, and I was unable to move my fingers,” Alexander said. His accumulated experiences made his love for arboriculture grow, and Alexander said there is so much more information he would like to learn. “I love the critical thinking required and adrenaline caused,” Alexander said.
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12
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
oct. 2021
nktober
Students participate in daily art challenge anika TALYAN As Keaton Mabie, junior, saw his friends work on She said she likes making the drawings but the prompts for the art challenge Inktober, he became commitment can be hard. interested. “Sometimes it’s difficult and sometimes the Mabie does not have much experience with draw- prompts are hard to interpret,” Shockley said. ing, so he wanted to use this challenge to work on his Zoe Lloyd, junior, started doing Inktober two drawing skills. years ago when she heard about it from the app Ami“It's relaxing and I have a really creative mind, so no. it's fun to put that down on paper,” Mabie said. “It's kind of cool to look up reference photos of Inktober is an art challenge during the month of stuff I don't usually draw and just learn how to make October that focuses on getting people to share their it,” Lloyd said. “And it’s fun.” art. Artists are given a different In years past, she would particiart prompt everyday to create a It's relaxing and I have a pate everyday until she failed a day drawing based on that prompt, really creative mind, so and stopped doing the challenge. which they can post on social year, Lloyd hasn’t been able to it's fun to put that down This media under #inktober. draw every day because of school, on paper Mabie said he has not been but is going to keep doing it when able to participate as much as she has time. he’d like to because of school. Lloyd said she tries not to look at - KEATON MABIE “This is a month of just trythe prompts ahead of time because ing my best,” Mabie said. she said she likes coming up with the JUNIOR Mabie has worked on three idea of her drawing the same day. or four prompts and plans to practice and improve When Lloyd does a prompt for Inktober, she starts by before he does the challenge again next year. searching up the word to see different ways she could Layla Shockley, freshman, who started drawing interpret it for inspiration. in first grade, heard about Inktober two years ago Melissa Wilson, art teacher, heard about Inktober from social media and started the challenge last year. a few years ago when one of her Drawing 1 students Although Shockley gave up halfway through last year, participated. she has participated in Inktober every day so far. While Wilson has not participated because she “It was a good distraction, but as I got better, it said she does not have enough time to commit for a became a way to set goals for myself,” Shockley month, she said Inktober is a good way to encourage said. creativity with artists. Shockley said she likes to draw realism, but if “I think anything that can help promote and enshe is doodling, then prefers a more cartoony courage the arts is a good thing,” Wilson said. style. Zoe Lloyd, junior, drew this illustration for the Day 2 prompt, "Suit." It takes Lloyd about an hour to do each illustration, depending on how inspired she is as well as how intricate the drawing is.
Today's prompt is "Open". How would you draw that?
Send in a picture to our Instagram (@yourmhsnews) for a chance to be featured!
Layla Shockley, freshman, created this illustration for the Day 12 prompt, St S e ased it off o a s are crow from the movie "Howl's Moving Castle."
Zoe Lloyd, junior, made this illustration for the Day 5 prompt, "Raven." Normally she draws people, so illustrating a bird was something new.
issue II
13 7
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HALLOWEEN Places
Spooky Spots
Messenger staff visits spooky and not-so-spooky spaces
Six Flags “Fright Fest” closes Oct. 31
Butterfly “Booterfly” House closes Oct. 31
Fabulous Fox Ghost Tours
Friday and Saturday in Oct. and Oct. 31
Zoo “Boo at the Zoo” closes Oct. 31
Photograph by Marin Ellington
Photograph by Emma Tyulyayev
Photograph by Maggie Ellington
Thies farm “Pumpkinland”
ScaRE MeTEr
closes Oct. 31
Grant’s Farm “Drive-Thru”
Union Station
$14.99 per person Until Oct. 31
closes Oct. 31
Photograph by Maggie Ellington
Photograph by Marin Ellington
Millstadt Fun Farm
$16 per person Sat.-Sun. w/ limited activities Wed.-Fri.
Legends and Lanterns
Brookdale Fear Farm
closes Oct. 22-24
$25 per person Fri. & Sat. in Oct.
The Darkness Haunted House Faust Park “Halloween Hayride”
Friday and Saturday until Nov. 6
marin ELLINGTON
emma TYULYAYEV
liza COOPER
The event starts with a walkthrough of a mini haunted house with spoofy creepy scenes and actors dressed as skeletons. Then there is a stop at a pumpkin patch followed by a walk throughout the interior of the wonderfully decorated train as actors pop out to scare people as they walk. For anyone not wanting to be scared, this is the perfect Halloween experience.
They have a lot of activities for kids and families as well as teens. Rides like “Spin the Apple” and the haunted hayride were really fun. The hayride had multiple jump scares and while it was predictable at the beginning, it got more scary as it went on. Although the corn maze was messy and underwhelming, the food was really good. If anyone wants a blend of scary and fun activities, this is a great place.
First, we went on a fun hayride where actors in costume jumed on and off tractors. Then, we got off and went into the main attraction: the corn maze. Various actors in scary makeup jumped out and scared people as they walked by. There were also five mini haunted houses throughout the maze with cool special effects. The corn maze took about an hour, with lots of smoke and jump scares. Fear Farm has the perfect amount of scary.
COME TO OUR STORE!
Oct. 22-23
Purina Farms “Howl-o-Ween Fest” Oct. 22-24
Science Center “Science Spooktacular” Oct. 29-30
Arch “Ghost Cruise” Friday-Sunday in Oct.
You want it? We have it! • Personal essentials: deodorant, hand sanitizers, Kleenex • School essentials: pencils, sharpies, locks • Spirit wear: hoodies and sweaters • Food/ snacks: candy, cup noodles, chips • Drinks: Gatorade, juice, water
MHS School Store
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 12.20 p.m.
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oct. 2021
SPORTS
Varsity softball success produces college athletes ben HUGHES Varsity softball made it to the championship game of the Class 5 Distict 2 tournament Saturday against Parkway South but lost 4-0, placing second in the District. Since their State Championship win in 2017, the Mustangs have brought home a fourth place finish in 2018 and a third place win in a shortened 2020 season. “Last year was so different with COVID, and we only had 10 games,” Jess Willsey, senior, said. “This year we have had to learn how to have a long season and work together.” The Mustangs finished the season 25-9 with a recent 10 run to none win over Lebanon in the first round of the District Tournament and a 3-1 victory over rivals Lafayette on the road in the second round. To achieve these successes, Wilsey said the Mustangs had to overcome early season challenges. “It took us a little bit to find leadership and find people to lean on,” she said. “But once we got it going, we have just been rolling.” The Mustangs have been rolling— Wilsey is tied for second in the St. Louis area in home runs with 11; Maddie Carney, junior, had 9; and Mackenzie Gieseler, senior, had 8, all three in the top 10 players in the St. Louis area. Giesler said the turning point in the Mustang’s season was at the Ozark’s Fall festival in Springfield where the team played five games in two days. The Mustangs were 4-1 in the tournament with their only loss to Rockwood Summit with a score of 3-2. “How hard we fought through those five games in such a short amount of time I think really showed our grit and how strong we really are,” Gieseler said. Giesler will play softball for St. Louis Community College next year and attri-
butes her success to the Mustang program. “How fast we move, how quick we practice and really trusting the process helped me have confidence in myself and have confidence in my team, knowing that we’re good enough and we can do it,” Giesler said. Wilsey will be playing next year at the University of Evansville, a NCAA Division I team. Lauren Argo, senior, has also committed to play at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., at the Div. III level. Natalie Cox, junior helped to shut out Lebanon in a dominant pitching performance only allowing three hits and recording seven strikeouts, Wednesday, Oct. 13. Cox said this year’s team is similar to teams of the past. “It’s really great because we all know each other and trust each other,” Cox said. “This is probably the most talent we have had in a really long time.”
College Athletes:
Mustang softball players committing to p a at t e o e e eve
Mackenzie Giesler, St o is o it o e e AA Lauren Argo, Millikin University, AA iv ess i se University of Evansville, AA iv
Lauren Argo, senior, celebrates with her teammates after blasting a home run against e a o i t e sta s vi tor i t e rst ro d o t e istri t o r a e t Sop ia se ior its a do e to e ter e d to o ti e t e sta ead a ai st e a o ed esda t e sta s e t o to eat a a ette rsda t t ost i t e to r a e t a pio s ip a e to ar a So t Sat rda t Photographs by Ben Hughes
National referee shortage causes student sport cancellations terested i becoming a referee?
stephanie LEI Across Missouri, student sports games are being postponed or cancelled due to a shortage of referees. But according to Activities Director Shane Matzen, it’s not just a “Missouri problem.” “The problem we have spans across the nation,” Matzen said. “The median age of our officials keeps going up every year. We’ve got a lot of dedicated officials that have been doing it for a long time, who are getting older, so we have to find that next generation of refs.” As the activities director of 23 sports and upwards of 80 teams in the MHS program, Matzen cannot simply “go out” and find officials as smaller schools might. Instead, area assigners schedule and assign officials to games across the state. Unfortunately, Matzen said the shortage of referees spans across all high school sports, although certainly some more than others. This, Matzen said, is partly due to inconvenient timing, especially for those officials with responsibilities at home. “Young officials have to take care of their own children and families,” Matzen said. Matzen said referees also are often subjected to harsh criticism, discouraging many
ie d o e re erees ead sta a d rs i e A ada aptai s t ro t e coin toss before their game rsda Sept e sta s o over t e ears Photograph by Ben Hughes to fill this role. “To be honest, coaches, players and parents need to show some respect to these people, so they can do their job,” Matzen said. “We need to do a better job of putting ourselves in their shoes and recognize that they perform a very important service for us.” A few weeks ago, junior varsity volleyball had a game against Parkway West cancelled and postponed. “I mean, it’s just frustrating, but it’s something as coaches all know is going on,” Tim Boeddeker, j.v. volleyball coach said.“We’ve been lucky enough that nothing
has been cancelled...but I’ve talked to some other coaches that they weren’t even able to reschedule those games because they still couldn’t get referees.” Coach Boeddeker said COVID-19 may have worsened the issue. “A lot of our refs were older, for a long time, and I think a lot of them just decided it wasn’t worth it anymore to be exposed to a bunch of different schools and kids all the time,” Coach Boeddeker said. Like Mazten, Coach Boeddeker said that being a referee is a “thankless job”. “At some levels where you’re working by yourself, you’re expected in volleyball to
see all 12 players, both sides of the net and everything, and it’s just hard. Other than increasing referee pay, which Coach Boeddeker said may not be a plausible solution, he suggests recruiting local college students to referee. Collin Imig, junior, has experienced the effects of the referee shortage firsthand when an entire soccer tournament was cancelled over the summer. “Some people don’t get the opportunity to play if their games get cancelled, so if a college coach comes, they can’t watch their game,” Imig said. “I think it kinda sucks because you don’t get that opportunity to play in games or you get robbed by refs that make bad calls in games.” Imig is a referee for middle schoolers and said becoming a referee consists of an 8-hour in-person class and passing a test with a 70 or above. Mazten said becoming a referee is rather simple and lends itself to its fair share of benefits. “MSHAA offers rewards and scholarships to people of age that decide to become a ref,” Matzen said. “They’ll even pay the entry fee. There are plenty of area officials around to help all around the area for different sports.” Additonal reporting by Carter Van Buskirk & Jacob Robinson
issue II
SPORTS
15
Family bonds over love of mountain biking marin ELLINGTON Racing down the trails at Castlewood State Park, Tanner Jesperson, junior, quickly realized something was wrong. During his first ride mountain biking, he and his dad had taken a wrong turn onto a much more difficult trail where he ended up crashing with his leg stuck in the bike and was forced to walk the rest of the trail to avoid injuries. Though he had this rough start over five years ago, through practice and determination, Tanner developed a love for the sport. “It has definitely taken a long time to get to where I am today,” Tanner said. “It has taught me a lot about grit, perseverance, overcoming fears and not giving up.” Tanner, along with the rest of his family, have been mountain biking together for years on various courses around the country. They used their free time during the pandemic to build their own trail in the woods behind their house. “It was a great family project to tackle during the pandemic and it definitely brought us closer together,” Tanner said. Though he sees it as a positive family venture, Tanner said mountain biking often proves to be dangerous with crashes resulting in scrapes and bruises or worse. “The biggest challenges I have overcome are mental blocks,” Tanner said. “Some of the stuff you do on a
Tanner Jesperson, junior, rides over an obstacle on a trail at Castlewood State Park. “Raci is ver da ero s a d it is de ite ot or t e ai t o eart a er said o ever t i it is i porta t to st eep oppi a o to t e i e a d ta i t e a e e a ai a d a ai t is t e o a o a ro Photograph by Matthew Jesperson
mountain bike can be pretty scary, but sometimes you just have got to trust yourself. My dad always says, ‘If you don’t have any scratches at the end of the ride, were you even trying?’” Tanner began to develop his passion for mountain biking after his family moved to Missouri, and his father, Matthew Jesperson, reignited an old passion for the sport. Matthew grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by mountains, and mountain biking served as his childhood pastime.
Matthew said his family has always been big fans of the outdoors, and they found the terrain in the St. Louis area to be hilly with deep enough forests to create fast and enjoyable trails. “You’ve got to get out on the bike consistently to improve, so we ride together as much as we can,” Matthew said. Over time, the design of mountain bikes themselves have improved, allowing riders to take on more challenging courses, and Matthew said it is exhil-
arating to have been able to watch his kids experience the thrill of riding and to work with them along the way. “Like any activity, don’t try to do too much too soon. You’ll likely get hurt and discouraged, so I don’t put any pressure on my kids,” Matthew said. “The best rider in the world is simply the one having the most fun.” Kate Jesperson, freshman, has taken her love of mountain biking to the next level as she is a part of The Rockwood Composite Vipers, a team that is a part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). The group is composed of both middle school and high school students and competes against other NICA teams on the weekends. Kate said she can have practice up to three times during the week and would love to practice more on her own, but her other time commitments leave her missing practices. “The practices I am able to make it to are super fun,” Kate said. Though she is passionate about the sport, Kate said often times it can become frustrating having to explain the concept of biking on trails versus biking on actual mountains. Kate said she has received lots of compliments on her talent, as many people are surprised to see her taking on the difficult trails she does as a girl on the team. “It’s cool that they are impressed, but I wish that they wouldn’t act all surprised all the time,” Kate said. “We can totally do anything they do, if not better in some cases.”
16
SPORTS
oct. 2021
The newest Mookie costume, made in 2017, features a muscular horse with the school colors of green and navy blue in the mane. These colors, along with the mascot of the Mustang, were chosen purely for aesthetic according to Hannah Clampitt, class of 1996, who was a part of the group that made this decision. “I was proud to have been a part of the naming process,” Clampitt said. “I really liked the colors and thought it was really classic.” Photograph by Aleena Shaik
MAKE WAY FOR MOOKIE
Mookie the Mustang returns to games to bring back school spirit aleena SHAIK Mookie the Mustang, MHS’ mascot, was not around during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID health guidelines, making it almost two years since students have seen the mascot. “I brought him out during a game and the crowd absolutely loved him,” senior Nick Jensen, Stang Gang leader, said. “He makes the games so much more fun and the crowd enjoys it way more when he is in attendance.” Jensen acknowledged the lack of mascots at high school football games. “Whenever you go to a high school football game you rarely see a mascot, but when you come to Marquette, you may see Mookie,” Jensen said. “It makes us stand out more.” Mookie, who usually makes an appearance a few times a year, was named by Zach Ide, Class of 1996. Ide was co-editor in chief of the Messenger and a member of Mustang Council (MUCO). Ide had a mostly satirical segment in the newspaper called “Marquette and Me,” and in the November 1994 issue, he wrote about the school and its students including the idea of a mascot name. “I wish that I could say that the name Mookie was somewhat motivated by school spirit. It really was just me being snarky,” Ide said. Ide, who was going through a baseball phase, recommended the name “Mookie,” inspired by the former Met’s center-fielder, Mookie Wilson. “I loved Mookie. I was really proud of the part I played in naming Mookie,” Ide said. “To be honest, I’m still a bit proud of it. I think the Mustang Council did a great job with it.” To become Mookie now, students must express an interest to Freshman Principal Dr. Dan Ramsey and then tryout for the role. “After a thorough vetting and consideration, we move the best people forward, “ Dr. Ramsey said. Dr. Ramsey said Mookie shows up mostly at football games and pep rallies. Yet, Mookie made his first appearance at a varsity basketball game against Mehlville on Jan. 12, 1996. Unlike the Mookie students see today, Mookie at that time was a plain brown horse with a black mane. The first ever Mookie was James Blake, Class of 1996. He didn’t intend on becoming Mookie, but heard tryouts were occurring and gave it a shot.
“I put the costume on and managed to complete a cartwheel in that large horse head. The rest is history,” Blake said. Blake said he’d mostly join in with the cheerleaders. “When there were breaks in the game, I tried to go into the stands to interact with little kids and any students I could sense weren’t interested,” Blake added. In the fall of 2017, Mookie transformed into a more muscular horse with a navy blue and green mane and an M tattooed on his biceps. The colors of Mookie’s mane, green and navy blue, are MHS’ school colors that were chosen by a committee of mostly students alongside faculty and parents who came together before the school opened in the fall of 1993. The incoming students for the new high school, students from Selvidge and Crestview Middle School, then finalized these decisions. Hannah Clampitt, Class of 1996, said the chosen colors don’t have any significant meaning and were purely chosen for aesthetics. “The blue, green and white felt really classic, and it was different from the Lafayette colors,” Clampitt said. Out of Cavaliers, Hornets, Mavericks, Mustangs and Trailblazers, a Mustang was chosen by the group because it started with M like MHS. “The group liked the alliteration of the M’s,” Clampitt said. “It seemed like a pretty neutral mascot in terms of not being connected to trendy suggestions.” Zach Ide, former Marquette Messenger staff e er suggested the name Mookie for the MHS mascot in the 1994 edition of the Messenger. Before it changed design in 2017, the Mookie costume featured a more traditional look with a dark colored mane and no added muscle. James Blake, class of 1996, served as the first ever Mookie for MHS. “There were strict rules to keep the human identity of Mookie a secret, so that was sort of fun,” Blake said. Photographs by Anna Tovar