the
MESSENGER
n. V
VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE V | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | FEBRUARY 2019
26% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder
9.5%
of American adults will suffer from a depressive illness
#STOPTHESTIGMA
Teacher increases mental health awareness by giving students and staff a space to share their experiences on a mental health awareness wall. Students plan a mental wellness day to teach ways to reduce stress.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine
See Mental Health pg. 3
INSIDE
ROLL CALL Kavya Jain Jen Bosche Kailin Zhang Jackson Estwanick Marta Mieze Sarah Harris Mansi Mamidi Jessica Li Jeff Swift Will Roach Rene Moore Sabrina Lacy Waha Siddiqui Tanner Rojewski Abigail Nebot Jilian Bunderson Sam Hall Michael Schmitz Kayla Schweitzer Alyssa Shellabarger Connor Del Carmen Austin Richard Addie Watson Srija Maganti Caroline Cudney Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen
Editor in Chief Online Editor in Chief Associate Editor Production Editor Copy Editor News Editor Features Editor Arts&Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor Assistant Online Editor Page Designer Social Media Editor Photo Editor Business Manager Illustrator Staff Reporters
Humans of MHS features five community profiles every week.
Goals provide an alternative to New Year’s Resolutions.
Principal Dr. Greg Mathison presents Darcy Hachmeister, math teacher, with the 2018 Teacher of the Year of the year award.
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history brings hardships to the MHS community.
Marco Perla, senior, practices his wrestling technique during practice.
wrestling
teacher of the year 4
16
13 7 government shutdown one acts Cici Bailey, freshman, participates in the Marquette Theater Company’s One Acts production.
ONLINE Visit our website to view more stories and MHSNews: marquettemessenger.com
Kylie Bowen, sophomore, hits the slopes with MHSNews. MHSNews leaves nothing up in the air about aerial dance.
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Art Fundamentals is now offered as part of the buddy-class initiative.
11 art
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issue V
NEWS
3
Mental health day scheduled for April 2 Continued from pg. 1 kailin ZHANG WHILE STRESS, STAYING UP LATE and procrastinating may seem normal to students, these issues hold the potential to harm students’ mental well-being if not addressed properly. On April 2, a small group of students hope to change this problem. Morgan Kovis, senior, serves as the president and founder of the club Mustangs for Mental Health. While juniors take the ACT, she said the club is inviting two speakers to present to the freshmen and sophomores. The second half of the day will consist of two break-out sessions for workshops, lectures and hands-on activities for all students. “Since it’s the first wellness day, we decided to put it on the ACT day
to get some more teacher and faculty support,” Kovis said. “Hopefully this will give students a reason to come because everybody’s going to be doing something really exciting and hopefully learning something.” For Kovis, it’s important to set aside time to learn about mental health so students feel more comfortable with reaching out to others to get help. She hopes to open up discussions and engage the community in learning about mental health. “When talking about mental health, there’s a stigma that prevents many people from being really able to talk about things going on in their lives,” Kovis said. “So often, students don’t learn how to cope with stress or how to manage time just in everyday classes.” Elena McCormick, senior, was previously involved in Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide Coalition (CHADS). McCormick said Mustangs for Mental Health is inspired by CHADS in the effort to help teens with mental health issues. “This subject naturally has grabbed my attention and getting involved with Marquette is just super important to me because I want to see this school do
well,” McCormick said. McCormick is excited for the wellness day because MHS has never hosted an activity like wellness day before, and she looks forward to seeing the discussion and impact it will generate. McCormick said one of the biggest challenges the team faced was scheduling because on the ACT day, each grade is participating in a different activity. While the juniors take the ACT, the seniors have a field trip and the underclassmen would have had a normal school day. “I think sacrificing my skip day was a little bit of a challenge, but the whole club is basically all seniors and we want to support our event,” McCormick said. Katherine Bauman, Mustangs for Mental Health sponsor, said in addition to partnering with Renaissance, they have also been in contact with Eureka High School’s principal for insight because EHS has been holding wellness days for three years. The organization also has been reaching out to members of the faculty and community to invite them to host workshops. Bauman said a mental wellness day is especially important in today’s generation with students busier than students have ever been. “The atmosphere at Marquette is
Ashley Hobbs, social studies teacher, started a mental health awareness wall on Jan. 22 in her classroom in honor of her mental health unit in AP Psychology. Students and staff members can contribute to the board and all sticky notes are anonymous. focused on scholarship, achievement and succeeding,” Bauman said. “Students take a lot of AP classes and often find themselves overloaded. A lot of times we don’t have outlets for those students to cope with that stress.” During this first run, Bauman said she hopes to impact the MHS community in a positive way and receive feedback on ways to improve in order to continue with wellness day in the future. “It is our hope and I know it is also the administrations hope that this taste of a wellness day will inspire the understanding that this is something that is needed and something that we want to definitely continue and potentially devote an entire school day to,” Bauman said.
Library Computer Lab transforms into new AR/VR lab jessica LI INSTEAD OF READING FROM A textbook about human anatomy, students will soon be able interact with different parts of the body up close with the installation of an augmented/ virtual reality (AR/VR) lab this month to enhance technology. Principal Dr. Greg Mathison decided to pursue AR/VR after General Stewart Rodeheaver spoke about the use of virtual reality in the military at the TEDx Conference held at MHS last spring. Dr. Mathison researched various groups and chose zSpace before bringing a group of teachers to St. Genevieve High School to see the use of AR/VR in the classroom. “My teachers used it for two hours and said ‘wait we have to go?’ because they were just engaged in all the technology and all the possibilities,” Dr. Mathison said. Gregory Mathews, science teacher, was one of the teachers who experienced the AR/VR technology. “It’s exciting because it’s new and advanced technology that allows you to things spatially and manipulate it with the computer system,” Mathews said. “Students love technology, so it will enhance the learning process.” The lab consists of 15 zSpace AIO
zSpace augmented/virtual reality computers have recently been delivered to the Computer Lab. By February, the AR/VR lab should be ready for educational use. Photograph by Sarah Harris
units, with a stylus and two pairs of special glasses for each station. As one student uses the computer, another will have virtual reality glasses on to see the computer screen in a 3-dimensional format. For example, a biology student can hold the 3D heart with a pen that vibrates in time with the heartbeats. The student also can click links to learn more about the heart. The zSpace hardware also includes more than 3,000 animals for virtual dissections. Dr. Mathison wants students to use the lab, even if it means just playing around with it. He said he is always looking for
ways to prepare students for higher education. The use of AR/VR will give students an advantage prior to going to school or joining the workforce. He predicts AR/VR will become extremely popular in five years. “Sometimes in education we say that we’re on the cutting edge, but truthfully where we are is where the world already is,” Dr. Mathison said. Arjun Khorana, junior, is captain of the Gluons, a MHS robotics team. He said the capabilities of the lab would impact how useful the technology is for robotics. “Integrating VR and AR can help with testing probably and can improve creativity with what we can do in the
The AR/VR lab costs 4 times as much as a regular computer
season,” Khorana said. Deb Ketring, chief information officer, said the other RSD high school principals will have chances to view the complete AR/VR Lab. RSD will then meet with each principal to discuss the pros and cons of using a part of the bond issue money towards the lab. The zSpace Lab hardware has software for different subjects such as chemistry, anatomy, physics, math and art. She said research has proven active learning to be more effective, so students are expected to learn more content and apply that learning. “The use of augmented and virtual reality will help students through the “hands on” experiences they engage in,” Ketring said. Ketring said the technology department posted a request for proposal of an AR/VR lab in Sept. 2018. After reviewing the costs, which was roughly $50,000, she ensured Dr. Mathison thought the lab was something still worthwhile. “The cost for the zSpace equipment and software licensing is approximately four times that of a traditional desktop computer,” Ketring said. “Therefore, we want to make sure that the lab truly provides the opportunities and experiences for students to develop a deeper, richer understanding of their curricula.”
NEWS
4
feb. 2019
STUDENTS NOMINATE TEACHERS FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR marta MIEZE AS THE ALARP STUDENTS practiced their presentations in the Library on a quiet afternoon in 2015, they were suddenly interrupted by administrators, balloons and congratulations as Brittany Sharitz, language arts teacher, received her Teacher of the Year title. It all started with four nominations from her former students. “It is so very kind to see that many students go to an effort to vocalize how much they appreciated me as a teacher,” Sharitz said. More teachers than ever have been nominated this year as Principal Dr. Greg Mathison sent out a Google Form on Jan. 14, to be completed by students who wish to nominate teachers for the award by Feb. 8. This is the first year students have been able to submit the form electronically, replacing the paper version of the submission. Associate Principal Dr. Stephen Hankins said some of the nominations submitted were not completed, with some missing explanations of why a teacher should receive the title. While those nominations will not be counted, others already have reached numbers past a 100, which in prior years used to be in the teens. Dr. Hankins said the quick access to the form has been a large reason for the increase in nomination, which is due to everyone having a Chromebook. He said a part of the surge in nominations could also be students wanting to thank their teachers without actually having to confront
Darcy Hachmeister, math teacher, won Teacher of the Year in 2018. Although speaking at graduation is a requirement, Hachmeister was unable to attend. “I was suppose to speak, but my son was a senior at Pattonville and his senior awards night was the same night,” Hachmeister said. Photograph by Jackson Estwanick
them face-to-face. exposure to more teachers before they “It’s an honor to be nominated and put a nomination in,” Sharitz said. even bigger honor to win,” Dr. Hankins Many teachers nominate their said. colleagues, which Sharitz said is a After winning Teacher of the Year great honor because they have known at MHS, the teacher has the honor of each other longer than many students competing at the district level and have known their teachers. However, later state and even national levels. she said student nominations are of Dr. Hankins said great value due this ability to be to their different Past Teachers of the Year recognized comes perspective 2018 Darcy Hachmeister with a lot of work from inside the 2017 Melissa Burger as well where classroom that teachers need to many teachers 2016 Laurie Schultz write essays and fill don’t get to 2015 Brittany Sharitz out forms. experience. 2014 Erin Sullenger Sharitz usually Being Teacher teaches freshmen, of the Year comes thus she didn’t with many perks feel like announcing the possibility and responsibilities, some of which of nominations to her classes was include the parking spot and obligation appropriate. to speak at graduation. “I feel students should have “It’s definitely one of the biggest
thewolfstl.com
compliments I feel like I’ve received while teaching here,” Sharitz said. While students are able to nominate teachers for the award, teachers are the only ones able to vote due to the rules of the bigger national and state recognition system. Sharitz said it is a fair way to acknowledge teachers because some teachers may receive more votes due to their larger class sizes, which wouldn’t necessarily show their prestige. “I love that students get to have a say and get to express what they see from their perspective in the classroom in a day in day out basis,” Sharitz said. “However, you would hate for it to turn into a popularity contest.” Logan Schmitt, sophomore, said he was not aware of the email regarding the Teacher of the Year nominations. However, Schmitt said he would consider nominating a teacher because it is important for teachers to be recognized for their efforts. “It is their everyday job. They deserve to be told they are doing good,” Schmitt said. He said the opportunity for students to have a say should be known and advertised throughout MHS. “Maybe make an announcement,” Schmitt said. “Or make checking your email seem important to students since I never had a reason to check my email.” Schmitt said the decision to make the form electronic is definitely more convenient and would also attract more student feedback because it is much more accessible for students. By the end of February, the voting will be closed and the Teacher of the Year for 2019 will be announced.
issue V
OPINIONS
editorialBOARD BREAKING AWAY FROM THE GENDER CONSTRUCT IF WE COMPARED BALLET TO A religion, it would probably be Catholicism. It is almost as dry as those communion wafers that are still used: rigid, cold and above all else heavily based upon tradition. This semester, Boston Conservatory at Berklee (BoCo) changed several of its dance classes to now start with the qualifier “Constructed Gender Identities in Classical Ballet.” These courses will take precedence over what are traditionally women and men’s variation classes and allow for all students regardless of how they identify to have access to these classes. Knowing all too well of the strict and unshakable foundation ballet was built upon, we expected for a throng of angry pitchforks and cries of heresy upon hearing of this change. While there hasn’t yet been rioting to that degree, many people have found the change odd. While it is common to identify with the gender given at birth, we appreciate BoCo for going against both ballet and gender norms. The type of support BoCo gives to students to foster an environment of
inclusivity helped us to better understand some of the privileges we may have solely by choosing to identify as our birth genders.
in the curriculum. This is a rather simple solution. We need to update the curriculum, like BoCo has done to fit the needs of not only some but all of our students. We can start by introducing books about kids who question their gender. One book we have found particularly interesting is “Symptoms of Being Human” by Jeff Garvin. The young adult fiction novel explores how a young teen questions gender identity and fluidity in a way so the reader never knows the birth gender of the main character. We believe some parents and students don’t fully understand why people don’t identify with the gender binary or their cisgender, which is their birth gender. This allows Illustration by Jilian Bunderson them to become judgmental or We were inspired to research fearful about making this addition to what resources are available in school the curriculum. settings. In our search, we have found Which is all the more reason we close to nothing besides emotional need this addition. Education is vital support. to understanding one’s self and others When speaking to the president around you. of the of Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), We don’t live in a world where Wesley Rhodes, junior, agreed the staff everyone’s the same. Portraying that and administrators provide more than we are in the curriculum is equivalent enough emotional support, but Rhodes to a sin. would like to see themselves reflected
5
SPEAK OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TURNABOUT STYLE DANCES? “They’re kind of weird, like they’re not as popular, and not a lot of people go to them compared to the other dances like Prom and MADDIE KELSEY, Homecoming.”
senior
“It’s not the traditional way, but it’s fine because the girls get a chance to ask the guys this time.” HAILEY BENTING,
sophomore
Covington Catholic threats are unacceptable mansi MAMIDI OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. weekend, there was a video in which the Black Hebrew Israelites, a group of white boys in high school and a Native American man clashed literally, loudly and all at once. In the first half of the video, the Black Hebrew Israelites are insulting the boys, to which the boys respond, and the Native American man, Nathan Phillips, goes in the middle of the groups. In the second half, a boy, Nick Sandmann, is in front of Phillips as he beats his drum and chants, a disconcerting smirk on Sandmann’s face. Conservative news sources got a hold of the first half of the video, while liberal news sources got a hold of the second half. Once the entire video was found, conclusions - including mine - were dubious at best. For those first few hours, it seemed that the internet had gone to hell in a handbasket. A few hours later, the boys’ school had been pinned down: Covington Catholic High School (CCH), an all boys Catholic high school in Park Hills, Ky. I’m from Kentucky, and my sister
had gone to Covington Latin High School, which shares the same archdiocese as CCH and its sister school, Notre Dame Academy. I know the boys in the video and went to middle school with a few of them. Their political views are seemingly still polar opposites of mine, but that doesn’t change the fact that kids I used to spend all my time with are being threatened so intensely. Case in point: one of my friends who goes to Notre Dame posted that neither Notre Dame or CCH had school on the Tuesday after the video went viral, as death threats flooded the school. Among these include tweets remarking that a “school shooting at Covington Catholic would be acceptable” or hopes that the boys in the video get raped by Catholic priests. Both schools have since had police stationed all throughout their buildings. Whether these boys were in the wrong or not, these tweets are completely heinous. But people feel comfortable posting them for the world because the boys are white and go to a fancy private school.
Since white Christians are deemed the last demographic that can be made fun of without backlash, it’s commonplace to see white norms being jeered at. This is the mentality: it is okay to make fun of white people because white people, for so long, oppressed the rest of the world for not being like them. The jokes are almost a political statement, reclaiming the ways we differ from white people and celebrating what we were once ridiculed for. And I get it. I get it, because I make those jokes too. But it can go too far. The CCH archdiocese dealt with systematic clergy sexual abuse in years as recent as 2009, with the aftereffects of such trauma still present. School shootings are at the forefront of our country’s mind as threats come about everyday, as we remember students like ourselves that have died as a result. These are true and real problems that are still present in society, problems that affect everyone the same. Saying that just because the boys at CCH are white only furthers division and discord.
“I personally don’t think it was interesting. Turnabout, I feel, is somewhat like an oddity it’s just kinda thrown in TARUN NARAYAN, there.” junior
STEVE CONWAY,
social studies teacher
“I think it’s a great social event. The girls ask the guys, equal rights. Girls should be asking the guys out. Guys are too shy.”
FEATURES
6
feb. 2019 7
THE %#!@& SWEAR CULTURE OF MARQUETTE jilian BUNDERSON WALKING THROUGH THE HALLS, THERE’S A buzz of gossip, stories and talk of fun weekend plans. But there are those several words heard throughout the halls that cause a mixture of emotions - swear words. Whether they make you cringe, agree or debate, swear words are prevalent throughout MHS and controversial among many. One student who disagrees with the controversy behind these swear words is Ellen Resek, junior. “These are literally just random words people have made to have such a negative or strong connotation,” Resek said. “They wouldn’t be ‘bad’ words if someone didn’t tell us they were.” Although Resek said “bad” words aren’t all bad, she disagrees with swearing in a high school setting. “I don’t think swearing in necessarily a good habit to have because it does offend some people, and that’s why I try not to do it,” Resek said. Resek also said swearing is consistently increasing and growing in popularity. “I think with social media outlets, swearing is more popular because younger kids are seeing people do it and they’re having more exposure and normalizing, it which I don’t necessarily think is good,” Resek said. In the Student Handbook, the section under Disrespectful Speech or Conduct defines this speech as, “Disrespectful verbal, written, or symbolic language or gesture which is inappropriate to public settings directed at a staff member.” Using this type of language can result in up to 10 days of out-of-school suspension, and if the offense continues, it may result in in-school suspension, up to 180 days of out-of-school suspension, or even expulsion. Junior Principal Rick Regina has his own form of “dealing” with students using this type of language. “When I hear foul language, typically I’ll pull them aside and say, ‘Knock it off’ or get in my former English teacher mode and say, ‘Hey, can you select a better adjective than that one you chose because that word just didn’t fit’,” Regina said. Regina also said swearing has evolved throughout the years and is prevalent today more than ever before. “Now, with cell phones because of communication, it’s definitely a bigger part of our language and it’s more accepted because it’s not as jolting,” Regina said. “When I was a kid, if you heard someone say the ‘F’ word it was a jolt - like you knew what it was. Now, you hear it often, you become almost desensitized to it and even in television shows, words that
were completely unacceptable 20 years ago on TV - now they are and now you can turn on and hear them on primetime television at just 7 p.m.” Along with this desensitized generation, Regina also said that faster and easier communication also contribute to the increase of this foul language. “It‘s a unique situation because we hear it so often because of social media and because of how quickly communication gets spread,” Regina said. “It’s not as jolting to hear those words anymore like it used to be 15-20 years ago.” Regina said that while the popularity and reliance of swear words has grown through the years, there are often many other words that could be used in their place. “As a former English teacher, there are better adjectives and better verbs that students could use,” Regina said. “I think with swearing, I don’t want to say there’s a time and a place, but back in the day, if someone swore they almost did it for a fact and now they just do it. I think you could choose a better adjective than going back to the normal one that starts with the letter ‘F.’” Bryden Behrens, sophomore, often uses swear words when he’s angry or frustrated. “I swear in stressing situations just because it’s kind of way to do away with the negative energy that you’re feeling and just let it out,” Behrens said. This “discharge of energy” is a common appeal of swearing to many students, but there are still many who would prefer not to hear these words being said. “I have never had someone ask me to not swear around them, but I do try to refrain from cursing in front of people that don’t like swear words,” Behrens said. Behrens also said swearing is very prevalent among its students. “If you walk around the hallways, you can always hear a swear word or two or many more, and people don’t ever hesitate to filter it,” Behrens said. “People should have a filter, especially around school, just because you don’t know what other peoples’ beliefs are and it’s better to keep it neutral,” Behrens said. “Just think about what you’re doing and how it affects other people.”
“...Words that were completely unacceptable 20 years ago on TV can now be heard on primetime television at just 7 p.m.” RICK REGINA JUNIOR CLASS PRINCIPAL
Illustration by Jilian Bunderson
SWEARS VS. SLURS? In Conversation With: JOSHUA HYDE SOCIOLOGY TEACHER
Q: What’s the difference
between swears and slurs?
A: Swearing would be something
that’s wrong, but it’s not something that all of society would condemn you for. A slur is some sort of a derogatory remark based on religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Q: How do swears play into the school environment?
A: “I think that in certain subjects, students are going to be exposed to it. Obviously it’s been around in literature for many years. I think that our culture just sees it as not as shocking as it once was. But I hear it more in the hallways from, and I usually try to remind students, ‘don’t forget where you’re at!’”
Q: How do slurs play into the school environment?
A: “Kids are much more careful
about using slurs because they still have that taboo and offensiveness. Kids have looked back and seen how slurs have been used or presented in the past, so they’re more careful about it due to others’ perceptions of slurs.”
issue V
IN-DEPTH
77
The longest government shutdown in history impacts the MHS community
sarah HARRIS • marta MIEZE PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED AN END TO THE longest government shutdown in U.S. history on Friday, Jan. 25 for three weeks, until Feb. 15, for negotiations to continue in hopes of landing a deal through a compromise. The shutdown began on Dec. 22, following discussions about border security after Congress did not approve President Trump’s proposed budget to build a wall at the southern border. Government services deemed non essential were closed during those 35 days while some services were still available even with employees not receiving pay. Among those was Jack Tapy’s, junior, dad, who works for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) where he checks imports and household products to make sure they follow safety standards. “He is in a managerial position, so his employees are more susceptible [to being affected],” Tapy said. Tapy did not experience financial hardships because his mom works and could provide for the family while they also had money in savings. For this reason, his father did not discuss much of the effects of the government shutdown at home. However, teachers faced questions about the government status. Marc Ostrowski, social studies teacher, said the government shutdown was considered a partial shutdown because only some of the federal departments were affected because they had not agreed on the federal budget. “One of the local impacts of this was that the Gateway Arch was closed during the shutdown,” Ostrowski said. Ostrowski said some laboratory research was interrupted or stopped and the publication of critical economic data had to be postponed. He said during a shutdown like this one, the government is faced with a loss of revenue. “I’m not a finance expert, but from what I’ve read the loss of revenue is very likely over $1 billion,” Ostrowski
Photographs by Marta Mieze
said. In order to avoid such circumstances in the future, Ostrowski said elected officials need to be able to work to compromise because otherwise the government can’t work efficiently. He said he has heard of not only negative stories in regards to the shutdown but also of positive ones. “There were over 800,000 federal employees impacted by the shutdown,” Ostrowski said. “I’m sure every one of them has a different story to tell.” Some of those stories were shared by students, so Brenda Casey, MHS social worker, thought of ways to help out those who were facing hardships. She said she still plans to organize a districtwide food drive in the event that families do not receive future food stamps. When the government shutdown in
December, families relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were granted both their January and February food stamps. While the gesture seems reasonable, it’s hard for families to save enough money for the two months. “In theory, it’s nice that the government gave out the food stamps, but when we are living in poverty, we will probably spend what we have,” Casey said. At MHS, Casey helps organize and run a food pantry every week. She said that in the past, many organizations like football, wrestling, choir and band have helped contribute food. At the end of the week, she sends the food home with students whose families are on food stamps. “My hope is that if we get the green light to go, every student, parent and staff member in this building supports the food drive and tries to contribute the most they can,” Casey said.
Continued on the next page
8
Places & services affected by the government shutdown Food stamps People relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) received their February benefits in January and had to spend them so the supplies would last through both months.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) TSA in Missouri has nine federalized airports, employing approximately 600 Transportation Security Officers who remained on the job during the shutdown without receiving pay.
National parks and monuments National monuments such as the Gateway Arch were closed during the shutdown. The National Park Service turned away millions of visitors to more than 400 sites, to an estimated monetary loss of half a billion dollars from visitor spending nationwide.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) The IRS were not able to verify income and Social Security numbers during the shutdown. Billions of dollars of tax refunds were also delayed.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FDA was able to carry out vital inspections and inspections funded by user fees. However, almost 900 inspections were delayed. According to Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Dennis Thompson, Assistant Federal Security Director for Mission Support
IN-DEPTH
feb. 2019
STRUGGLE OF THE END Federal workers and their families face consequences after shutdown While she hasn’t worked out all the details, she said she hopes to collect food at schools throughout the district and send it to Circle of Concern, a food bank for families on food stamps to receive their food. On Jan. 18, Casey met with Dr. Terry Harris, head of student services, to discuss the possibility of the drive, which he supported. “Regardless of what the government does, I do believe Rockwood as an entity will figure lunches out,” Casey said. On a larger spectrum, many non-profit organizations and food banks provided supplies to families around the St. Louis community affected by the shutdown. One of those places was the St. Louis Area Foodbank, which serves 26 counties throughout Missouri and Illinois.
least two paychecks…and we know the need is gonna be there.” On Tuesdays and Thursdays the food bank has times when individuals can come to gather anything they may need, from food to cleaning supplies. Many community outreach programs and partner agencies are working together to provide the help people need over the shutdown, Farmer said. The food bank worked alongside them, hearing out ways they can better help them and the public. In preparation for the shutdown, Farmer said the food bank had placed orders through the United States Department of Agriculture, which supplies them with one-fourth of the food. Even though they couldn’t receive the compensation they usually do for distributing the resources to the community, Farmer said they did so regardless because of the needs. At the end, he said they distributed more than 43 million pounds of food. He said food is usually the first thing that gets cut Ryan Farmer, director of communications for the out of people’s budgets during hardship. St. Louis Area Foodbank, said it is critical to offer help “We don’t want anyone to have to choose between to people at times like a government shutdown because food or other basic necessities,” Farmer said. “We’re many people who have never faced food insecurity and going to do anything and everything that we can to other obstacles are at risk of facing it. get food into the hands of people who need it.” Farmer said the food bank set up a special Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) webpage where those affected can find the were among many of the federal workers nearest food bank, shelter, food pantry receiving help from organizations like “Regardless of or any other non-profit organization the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Emily which is offering help. French teacher, heard what the government Thompson, “We also are a United Way from her dad, Dennis Thompson, does, I do believe agency so we link information to who works as the assistant federal their 211 phone line that people director, in human Rockwood as an entity will security can call if they needed assistance resources for the Transportation figure lunches out.” outside of food whiter it was Security Administration (TSA), utility or any other resources that about the hardships some of the individual may find themselves in families affected by the government need of,” Farmer said. shutdown were facing. BRENDA CASEY When it comes to those receiving He said as the government shutdown SOCIAL WORKER went past the first week, many passengers SNAP benefits, Farmer said the food bank actively posted on social media to let people thanked the TSOs for continuing their work know not to spend the money given for February in without pay. As the week continued, the public January, while also making resources and assistance increased their encouragement as people wanted to readily available to those who were not able to ration know how they could help. the money. Many organizations volunteered to provide food Due to the shutdown, the food bank decided to for the entire TSOs, including multiple food banks do a mass distribution of food, which they do twice a around the St. Louis area, while others have offered month, once in Illinois and once in Missouri, but don’t to provide cash. Thompson said one individual usually do during January due to the weather. Over wanted to leave an envelope of $1,000 but the Jan. 29 and 30., they looked to serve up to 300 families. employees could not accept it due to ethical rules. “We usually bring about 20,000 pounds of food “Our employees continued to work through at any given time for these mass various hardships during this, but have been distributions,” Farmer said. overwhelmed by the tremendous outpouring of “We know that even though positive sentiment from the public,” Dennis said. “It the government is very gratifying to know what we do is important reopened, the and appreciated, and this is what really kept our recovery may workforce motivated and encouraged to keep doing take longer. their jobs.” Many people Dennis said TSA employees sign a pledge to missed at continue work during situations that classify as emergencies, such as the government shutdown. While some employees are placed on furlough, others, whose positions are deemed essential, must continue their services without pay.
Community Outreach
National Park Conservation Association estimated a daily loss of $400,000 from entrance fee revenue. Due to the lack of National Park workers, many parks were vandalized and polluted.
issue V
IN-DEPTH As published in the Washington Post, 179,000 Homeland Security officers were working without pay while 32,000 were not working at all.
On Jan. 16, President Trump signed a bill declaring all federal workers will be paid at the shutdown’s conclusion, including those furloughed. After announcing the end of the shutdown on Jan. 25, federal workers should have been paid on Friday, Feb. 1. “Not receiving a paycheck has an impact on every employee and their family members,” Dennis said. “Those that can afford to move money out of savings or some other area may be less impacted but the stress and uncertainty takes a toll on everyone.” Some students whose parents work for government agencies faced the same issues.
Monetary Loss Natalie Heath, senior, heard from her friend whose family relies on the income from the government. “My friend doesn’t exactly know how he’s going to afford college because the little he had saved up for community college got spent during the shutdown,” Heath said. “He no longer has enough money to pay for his first semester of community college.” Heath said she doesn’t think President Trump will announce another government shutdown after the three weeks because a spending bill will be passed. She said she has heard numerous stories of federal workers and their families having to ration food and medication and finds the government officials too detached from the citizens at times of such hardship. “The disconnect in the financial status from our politicians and our everyday citizens is absolutely heartbreaking,” Heath said. This disconnect was not limited to the citizens but it also extended to the environment. Kyle Reamer, Class of 2017, is currently majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences while also minoring in Law at Tulsa University. As he studies environment, he has learned about the national parks and said they were among those experiencing the downfalls of the shutdown. While during the past shutdowns, national parks had been closed, this time they were kept open despite the lack of staff to keep track of visitors and keep the parks from being vandalized and polluted. “I guess they weren’t really concerned with
According to the Statistical Atlas 329 people in Chesterfield receive food stamps. 68.4 percent of those are children.
protecting the parks so much in this instance,” Reamer said. “I think there are different priorities in mind in terms of a shutdown.” Many national parks charge entrance fees, usually about $30 per vehicle, Reamer said, just like any National Park Service installation. “They are having to dig into those visitor fees in order to repair the park, instead of kind of being in a safe zone of accumulating that money over a time period,” Reamer said. “They’ve just been having to dig into all of those funds and it’s not finite either, so it will run out eventually, it is just a matter of when.” Joshua Tree National Park was among one of the parks hit the hardest by the shutdown, Reamer said. Parts of the tree, which is the centerpiece of the park, were cut down due to the lack of employees who usually prevent such vandalism from occurring. Reamer said in some places like Arizona and Utah, historic Native writings were vandalized and damaged as well. He said as far as the three-week reopening of the government is concerned, negotiation talks will have little to no impact, and if the government is on shutdown again, it is up to the Department of the Interior, which manages all the public lands, and the National Park Service to decide on the opening or closing of national parks. “Many of the parks are increasingly opening up since the government is open now,” Reamer said. “But they are still taking time to mitigate the environmental impacts that happened over the government shutdown.”
If your family is affected by the government shutdown go to www. stlfoodbank.org/ shutdown
9 IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCY BESCH JUNIOR WHO INTERNED AS A SENATE PAGE
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE A SENATE PAGE? “I might want to work in government in the future. It was cool to learn how everything worked and be a part of helping things work smoothly. I applied through Senator McCaskill’s office and she appointed me. So I worked for the Democratic Clerk room.”
WHAT DID YOU DO AS A SENATE PAGE? “Basically, I was on the senate floor every day helping out the clerk rooms and the senators. I got senators water, took their speeches after they were finished, got them set up to speak and took papers all over the capital.”
WHAT WAS THE DAY TO DAY LIKE DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? “The legislative branch was still funded, so I still went to work and got paid. It affected my work because they were in session when they were supposed to be in recess. The senators spoke more and there was more floor debate than there was in the past because they wanted to get the government reopened. A lot of them were passionate about it and their constituents were greatly affected by that and the paychecks that they weren’t getting. “
AS A PAGE, DID BOTH PARTIES SEEM LIKE THEY WANTED TO WORK TOGETHER TO END THE SHUTDOWN? “It wasn’t a good situation. It was a hard situation on both sides. Both of them greatly wanted to resolve the situation, but both of them had a different way that they wanted it to end.”
FEATURES
10
feb. 2019
Multilingualism helps students in school, business world connor DEL CARMEN DANIEL GUARDADO, SOPHOMORE, HAS A SKILL that puts him at an advantage over many of his peers: he speaks both English and Spanish fluently. Guardado learned Spanish at home by speaking to his parents, who are from Mexico. However, Guardado said he speaks more English, which influences how he processes information. “I think it’s because I am more exposed to English because I speak it with my brothers and at school as well,” Guardado said. Guardado, still in high school, has already seen the benefits of being bilingual. “Speaking both languages makes life easier,” Guardado said. “If I’m in a place where there are Spanish and English speakers, I can communicate with both.” According to the Kids Count Data Center, more than 22 percent of children in the U.S. who speak a language other than English at home find the skill to be advantageous in school and in the business world. Carol Logue, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teacher, said finding a job may be easier for bilinguals. “Many companies and businesses pay extra to have a bilingual employee,” Logue said. Logue said many corporations notice how valuable the skill of communicating directly to a foreign company can be, especially in an increasingly globalized world. Being multilingual may be rewarding, but it is still a difficult feat to achieve. This is especially true for foreign born students. “Often, they have to work doubly hard in their academics,” Logue said. “Not only are they learning new content, they're doing it in a new language.” Logue also said many bilinguals realize how important the ability to speak two languages is when they use it to get critical tasks done. “Many of my students translate for their families
with things like negotiating contracts or detailing medical procedures and doctors appointments,” Logue said. Lea Sousani, senior, a student in Logue’s class, has experienced this. Sousani is a refugee from Syria and speaks English, Arabic, Turkish, and Armenian. “When we came to the United States, I helped my mom translate from Arabic to English, and sometimes I help my grandparents when they go to the hospital or public centers,” Sousani said. Sousani’s work translating has proved to be very important because her mom does not live in the U.S. Her parents still live in Syria, even after sending Lea and her brother to the U.S. to live with her grandparents. Sousani also said that since English is the only language you need to communicate with people in American life, many never learn more than one language. “It’s good to speak many languages, but it depends what country you are in. It only takes English to speak here; I haven’t seen anyone speaking Arabic or Armenian here.” Robin Harvey is a professor of foreign language education, bilingual education and teaching language to speakers of other languages (TESOL) at New York University. She said speaking multiple languages can affect future opportunities for students in the real world. “I think bilingualism is valued in many areas of business because we are such an increasingly globalized world,” Harvey said. “I think that you’re seen and understood differently when you have the knowledge of a second language.” Harvey added that bilingualism has a positive effect on the brain. “We know that being multilingual helps the brain
29.88%
of MHS’ population is
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Out of 2,306 students there are 7 total ethnicities
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to develop flexibility,” Harvey said “People who speak more than one language find it easier to solve certain types of complex problems at school.” These types of problems can include written response questions in history or language arts that force students to view a situation from a new cultural perspective. They could also be questions focusing on the roots of words that are shared throughout different languages. Although Harvey said the benefits of speaking multiple languages are sizeable, many bilinguals who learned a language within their households feel the pressure to assimilate entirely to American culture as they age. “As kids begin to get older and want to start fitting in more with their peers, they begin to move more into English,” Harvey said. “Then, gradually they may start only speaking English to their parents.” Harvey said this could cause a loss of ability to speak a language. She said society should recognize the potential in being bilingual, and ease the pressure for multilinguals to exclusively speak English. “I think this is a good thing because when we have lots of different cultural backgrounds, we become a place that really understands the world,” Harvey said.
There are currently 34 ESOL students who make up 1.5% of the population at MHS
Lea Sousani, senior, speaks four languages. Check out this story online for a video interview about her perspective.
FEATURES
issue V
Paint Pals:
11
Buddy-Class Initiative introduces Art Fundamentals
waha SIDDIQUI WHEN THE BELL RINGS FOR FIFTH hour, Taylor Hensler, junior, makes her way to Art Fundamentals to be a mentor to students who receive Special School District (SSD) services. Hensler has been involved with the visual arts all throughout her high school career, taking both Painting 1 and 2 after taking Art Fundamentals in middle school. When requested to be a mentor in this new buddy-class initiative, Hensler said she was extremely overwhelmed. “I thought it would be a really cool experience because art is a passion of mine,” Hensler said. “Working with these kids is amazing because I really get to see what they know and the skills they are developing in this class.” Each day Hensler is paired off with a student who receives SSD services. Her job is to become comfortable with the student and guide them in their artistic ventures. “I want to go into education so being a mentor in the lives of kids with special needs is great,” Hensler said. “They are able to do and be involved with the same things as us, and that’s something that needs to be understood.”
Austin Combs, senior, laughs with his mentor Mary Olubogun, junior, as he draws on his folder during Art Fundamentals. The buddy class allows for students to mentor students who receive SSD services in different classes that are on rotation. Photograph by Waha Siddiqui
Hensler was picked to be a mentor by Stephanie McDaniel, art teacher. “The art teachers sat down together and came up with a letter to use to invite the students that we thought would be interested in the program,” McDaniel said. “We went through and
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hand selected students that were good in art but also work well with the kids.” The buddy-class initiative is new to MHS as of this semester. There is also a buddy-class for Acting 1, Life After High School (Cooking Class), and Personal Fitness and Wellness (PFW).
PFW is offered every year while Acting 1, Life After High School, and Art Fundamentals are offered in rotation. “I just hope that through this initiative, people as a whole get more comfortable with people that are different than them, for whatever reason,” McDaniel said. McDaniel said the students who receive SSD services are responding positively to the buddy-class system. One of those students is Jack Killeen, junior. He said he loves to draw and his friends at his table always help him when he needs it. “My friends and I love to draw and have fun in class,” Killeen said. “We learn to draw something new everyday.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Creve Cou
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feb. 2019
“We like going to Top Golf or going hiking or running together - anything where we can be outside.” - Emily Bowdern, technology teacher
Cost: $$ Address: 16851 N Outer 40 Rd
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“We love spending time together at Creve Coeur Park - kayaking most often. We have lots of history there and were actually married in the park on the hillside overlooking the lake. Our favorite date night restaurant is Rice Thai Bistro. We really love the Salt and Pepper Squid and the chef there is amazing.”- Brittany Sharitz, language arts teacher
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“We love going to Stony River, mainly because of the atmosphere, and because of the great food, of course. But you can get a giant booth all to yourself, and you’re not sitting right on top of other people. Sometimes you go to nice restaurants but you can’t really get any space between you and other couples, and your conversation overlap, which can be really awkward. But it’s nice to go someplace and have guaranteed good food and some space.”- Lisa Del Pizzo, science teacher
Teachers’ Favorite Date Spots I-70
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“We don’t necessarily have a favorite place, but if we have a chunk of time without the kiddos sometimes we go golfing, or venture out to try a new restaurant that someone has suggested. We also might head to a concert at the Peabody or a Cardinals game.” - Laurie Schultz, language arts teacher
Cost: $$$ Address: 1400 Market St
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issue V
13 7
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
That’s a wrap:
One Acts are an opportunity for three seniors to choose and direct a play sarah HARRIS
Senior Mustafa Naseem, who played phone voice, stands behind Junior Mariela Vera-Briggs, who was Losh. “My favorite part would be when all of us get in a fight together at the ending,” Vera-Briggs said.
Willa Burns, senior Anger Management
Why:
“I decided to do a comedy because my sophomore year I was in the One Acts and all of them were very heavy. This would be good because it tackles a heavy topic in a humorous way.”
about a group of people in anger What: “It’s management class, and basically the
whole show is about them recounting the experiences that they’ve had that had made them angry.”
Photographs by Jilian Bunderson
Senior Dallen Carrell, who played Andrew at age 44, speaks to the other members in the scene. “The most iconic part for me would be the dancing.” Carrell said. “A lot of people came up to me and said I made them laugh.”
Sophomore Elise Ambler, who played Anne and Cop 2, tries to convince freshman Chloe Inman, who was Monica and Jogger 1, to stay up. “I had a super great time doing it and I have great friends from it,” Inman said.
Why Do We Laugh?
4 a.m.
Jack Cunningham, senior Megan Haenni, senior Why:
“I originally had another one I wanted to do and I was convinced that was the one. But then I found this One Act and I thought it was really cute”
a cute little story about a couple What: “It’s from when they’re five and six all the
way till they are in their sixties and it shows the story of them starting out as friends and then falling in love.”
Why:
“It has a bunch of different plot lines that are really relatable and I think the audience will be able to relate to it.”
a bunch of different stories about What: “It’s these different teenagers and what they are doing at 4 a.m., like there’s a girl who just attempted suicide and is learning why she should stay alive.”
14
feb. 2019 7
SPORTS
OPINION Rene’s Reactions Jersey burning is disrespectful rene MOORE OVER THE YEARS, JERSEY burning has become big among angry fans, especially in the National Basketball League (NBA). On Jan. 28, 2019, Jim Strickland III posted a video of himself holding a lighter over Anthony Davis’ jersey before pulling it away and thanking Davis for his time on the team. However, this incident does bring back times when people really did burn jerseys of players including Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, Gordon Hayward, and LeBron James. All of these players changed teams and were branded “traitors” before having fans burn their jerseys. Burning a jersey is disrespectful and wrong. Players leave teams for several different reasons, whether it’s financial or just better for the player to be on a different team. Burning a player’s jersey just because they switch teams, which happens quite frequently, eliminates their right to a choice. Not respecting a player’s choice to do what’s best for them is not something a true fan would do. There is a chance that every single player could change teams at any point, so their jersey may not be permanent. If that’s a problem for some people, they shouldn’t buy the jersey. Players give a lot to the teams they’re on. They have to travel frequently so they don’t get to spend as much time at home or with their families as people just watching the games do. Professional athletes sacrifice so much to play professionally, and disrespecting their sacrifices by burning their jerseys is unacceptable. Burning a jersey is also extremely wasteful. They often cost anywhere from $50 to $150. If someone is that upset about a player switching teams, they should donate their jersey. There are plenty of people who can’t afford to buy jerseys. They would greatly appreciate being able to buy it for a lot less at store like Goodwill. Another option is selling it online. There are also a lot of people who would buy a jersey online for a cheaper price. This way the person buying it gets a jersey and the person selling it doesn’t waste their money and belittle the player’s right to switch teams. Jersey burning is disrespectful and wrong. It belittles the player’s right to choose what’s best for them, and there are so many better things to do with the player’s jersey.
Coach Klein leaves for Blue Springs South Matt Klein, football coach, prepares his players for the Mustang Football Camp in 2017. Photograph by Shane Matzen
jeff SWIFT a lot of this tradition existed during FOLLOWING THE MUSTANGS’ prior coach’s reigns, I’m really proud of district-winning season last year, head how this current group has been able to football coach Matt Klein announced build on to it,” Klein said. he is stepping down from the team. George Williams, junior, is the varKlein has accepted the head coach position for the Blue Springs South Jag- sity starting quarterback for both this year’s and next year’s teams. uars in Blue Springs, Mo., for the start “It’s a shame to of the 2019-2020 see Klein go, but school year. Klein he’s really built a said he wanted to Last week was strong, competitive return home. the first week program and I want “Before I us to keep that gocoached at [MHS], of interviewing for ing,” Williams said. I was the head Williams is still coach for one of the new head football very confident that the schools out in coach. Currently without Klein the Kansas City, and team will be able to [BSSHS] would no favorites have succeed past their only be a few miles been selected. current heights. away from there,” “Maybe we’ll see Klein said. him again, but this Klein said he time on the other is also hoping to restore the once successful school to its sideline,” Williams said. Geoffery Meyer, senior, has played former glory. all four years with Coach Klein as a “They’ve won three State titles linebacker. since 2007, but they’ve struggled these “He’s great at motivating and keeplast few seasons, and I want to bring ing you on task, which helped all of us that success back to them,” Klein said. improve from freshman year to senior As for MHS, Klein said he is proud of the changes the Mustangs have made year,” Meyer said. Meyer said he hopes that both the since he took over as head coach. team and Klein continue their success. “Marquette has developed a really “He’s a good coach, and I hope he great tradition for football, and while
Under Klein, the program has earned: • 2 conference Titles • 57 percent win percentage • an Undefeated conference record in 2018 continues to succeed,” Meyer said. “It was really an honor to play for him.” Activities Director Shane Matzen said that, as far as replacements, they have just opened up to interviews and they have no one in mind yet, but they hope the next coach will be as strong of a leader as Klein. “Leadership is a really important quality that we want,” Matzen said. “If we can find a strong leader with the experience that Klein had, we’ll be happy.” As for Klein... “He’s done a really great job here at MHS and has amped up the program in the best way, and I really wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Matzen said.
AT A GLANCE Girls Basketball is 9-9 as of Feb. 5. They are going to play the Parkway Central Colts on Feb. 11. Leah Ozersky, sophomore, became the first ever State qualifier in the girls wrestling divison from MHS as of Feb. 2.
Basketball, hockey, skateboarding, snowboarding and aerial dance have all been covered in MHSNews videos. Find them on marquettemessenger.com
issue V
15
SPORTS
Undefeated Girls Swim & Dive looks to end State drought connor DEL CARMEN ALTHOUGH GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE HAS NOT lost a regular season meet in five years, they are still pursuing their first team State title since 2000. Throughout the regular season, the Mustangs won the Marquette Relays, COMO Invite, Kirkwood Invite, Conference and all of their dual meets. The most competitive of them, the COMO Invite in Columbia, showcased some of the best athletes in the state. The Mustangs remained undefeated, winning the meet by 73 points over the next closest team, Rock Bridge. Joe Schoedel, swim coach, said the team’s depth always proves critical at big meets. “Our strength is our ability to have a lot of girls score,” Schoedel said. “It wasn’t one person that won it for us.” Although Schoedel credited the team’s high number of point scorers for winning meets, he also said it has proven to be an obstacle in the past at the State meet. “We know we have to collectively work together to earn as many points as we can, which at the State meet is tough,” Schoedel said. “Once you bring in the fastest girls from each team, it bumps all of our girls down a little bit.” Kelley Sinning, senior, said Conference is always a confidence boosting meet before State. “Winning Conference was big for us,” she said. “It’s always where you have the most competition from a lot of different teams.” Sinning said that although the team is confident and has been working hard to prepare, the outcome of the State meet can be unpredictable. “Swimming at State is very mental,” Sinning said. “There’s a lot of pressure to perform well for Marquette. We have good times, but we just need to make
Taryn Zweifel, senior, dives into the water at the beginning of the 500 free at the COMO Invite in Columbia on Jan. 5. Zweifel finished eighth in the event and the team finished first out of 40 teams. Photograph by Jeffrey Nebot
sure we perform our best at State.” Taryn Zweifel, senior said that going into State this year, the team is more confident than they have been in the past. “This year I feel different because we do have depth, but we do have some fast girls,” Zweifel said. “We could get second or third in a couple of relays, and we do have girls who can get in the top eight in individual events.”
Zweifel added that the team is motivated because of the frustration of previous years from not doing as well as they hoped at State. “Many of us realized we have been doing the same thing and putting up the same times, but if we want to win we have to change some things like our diets and lifting routine,” Zweifel said. “We know we have the potential to win, and the seniors are especially hungry to end on top.”
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SPORTS
16
feb. 2019
1000 points Photo Illustration by Kailin Zhang and Jeff Swift
Seniors White, Montgomery earn record status sarah HARRIS • waha SIDDIQUI JALEN WHITE, SENIOR, SCORED HIS thousandth varsity point playing Kickapoo at a Sedalia tournament on Jan. 10, becoming the fourth person in MHS history to score 1,000 points. “The ceremony celebrating my 1,000 point was surreal because my whole extended family attended and I felt extremely proud at that point,” White said. White transferred to MHS this year from Lutheran North High School, where he was a captain of the varsity team for two years. White transferred to MHS to pursue a better educational program. White signed to Trinity University where he will play basketball and be involved in the ROTC program in hopes to join the Air Force in the future. “I’m motivated by the possibility of progressing and being successful at Marquette and beyond,” White said. Within his short time at MHS, White has scored more than 200 points during the basketball season, became flight commander of the AFJROTC program, and been actively involved with National Honor Society (NHS) and Key Club.
“The shock from coming from a school with 200 students to one with over 2,300 was a lot, and I knew that getting involved and making new friends would help me,” White said. White played basketball on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team last summer with Jason Montgomery, senior, who scored his 1,000 varsity point on Jan. 5 to become the third person in MHS history to score a thousand points. “It was a good accomplishment and it is always good to be recognized for your hard work,” Montgomery said. From a young age, Montgomery has wanted to play basketball in college. He recently committed to Drury University on a full-ride scholarship. Montgomery said he is excited to continue his basketball career in college and is pleased to have no student debt. For as long as he can remember, Montgomery has always played basketball and is grateful for everything it has brought him and taught him. “Basketball introduced me to a lot of new people
that I have formed strong bonds with,” Montgomery said. “My coaches have always been there for me and basketball has brought me closer to them. It truly has connected me to a network of people.” Eric Schweain, varsity basketball coach, has coached Montgomery for three years; his freshman year on junior varsity and his junior and senior year on varsity. Schweain said that for two players to both earn their 1,000 points in the same season is extremely rare and should not be taken for granted. “I think the other players on the team are very fortunate to have such great role models to look up to,” Schweain said. “I’m very fortunate, and so is the rest of the coaching staff, that we have great players who are also great students and great human beings.” Schweain said both Montgomery and White make an enormous impact on the court. “Both of them will go on and these gifts they brought to Marquette will continue to be used through future generations,” Schweain said.
Wrestler becomes second to win 100 matches jeff SWIFT
Marco Perla, senior, won his hundredth match on Jan. 9. Photograph by Shane Matzen
AFTER ALL THE STRUGGLES AND TRIALS THAT he has faced, Marco Perla, senior, has become the second wrestler at MHS to reach 100 wins. But Perla hasn’t always been this dominant. During his sophomore year on the team, Perla learned all about struggle. Perla finished with a 12-25 season with no postseason appearance. But over these past two seasons, all of Perla’s struggles have paid off, as he finished off a dominant season with fourth place at State. “In my sophomore year, I lost a bunch of weight and muscle, and moved down a weight class,” Perla said. “I felt really weak, and I saw the other guys I was going against and just sort of gave up.” Perla said most of his recent performance has been a result of his new mentality. “Now that I’ve gained back the weight and the muscle, I feel much more confident,” Perla said. “I look at the other guy and totally feel like I can take them.” Perla currently sits at fifth in the 220 weight class for Division 4.
“When other players see me, with the confidence that this has given me, they’ll be scared,” Perla said. Perla has medaled in every tournament he has competed in this season. Most recently, he placed in the De Smet Tournament, where he earned his 100th win. “It was one of my best performances. I capitalized on my opponents’ mistakes, and that’s what pushed me through,” Perla said. C.J. Hebisen, junior, has wrestled alongside Perla for three seasons. “It’s really cool to see such a rise,” Hebisen said. “I remember my freshman year, he struggled hard, but he really turned it around.” Matt Dieffenbach, wrestling coach, said Perla has grown tremendously throughout the last few seasons. “It’s been great watching him become such a strong wrestler,” Dieffenbach said. “He’s been a great addition to the team’s depth.” Dieffenbach said he is confident that Perla will continue his growth. “From what I’ve seen, the sky’s the limit for him,” Dieffenbach said.