2016-17 Issue 8 (May)

2351 clarkson rd. chesterfield, mo 63017 issue VIII marquettemessenger.com may 2016

THE MESSENGER MARQUETTE HIGH SCHOOL

ILLUMINATED pg 8-9

INTRODUCTIONS

INSIDE TODAY

14 tennis

15

volleyball

OUR POLICY The Messenger Editorial Policy: The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the News Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, Mo., 63017. The publication office is located in Room 226, (636) 891-6000 ext. 26228

Opinions of Messenger columnists or the Editorial Board are not representative of the opinions of the entire Messenger staff, the newspa-

per or the administration. The Messenger takes responses for any issue.

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The Messenger reserves the right to edit submitted material and to refuse to print material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor in chief and adviser deems appropriate including advertisements and letters to the editor.

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OPINIONS

editorialBOARD RSD must address the issue of lunch shaming

T

HE DATE WAS MAY 15 AND ROCKWOOD School District was featured in the front page story of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Unlike most news stories featuring the district, this one was largely negative. It dealt with the issue of lunch shaming. According to the Post-Dispatch, lunch shaming is a practice involving singling out students who can’t pay for their lunch.

The front page incident occurred at LaSalle Springs Middle School, where cafeteria workers allegedly threw out the lunch of a student who couldn’t afford to pay for it. Instead, she received a cheese sandwich.

In an email statement to the district, Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost said, “My most important overarching message remains that I would never support causing a child to go without a lunch.”

When it comes down to it, the problem is the way the situation was allegedly handled. By dealing with the issue in front of other students, the child

was shamed for their inability to pay for their meal (hence the term “lunch shaming”).

The dispute at LaSalle Springs Middle School brings to light another concern: the district lacks clear regulations on dealing with students who can’t pay for a meal. Many schools within the district, including MHS, lack clearly written rules for managing student meal debt, although many have established regular practices.

Providing clear-cut guidelines would alleviate situations such as the one at LaSalle Springs.

However, this road goes two ways. While the district is not actively trying to take away students’ lunches, they can’t condone burgeoning lunch debts.

Parents must uphold their responsibility to their children by regularly checking their lunch accounts.

Families within the district have the ability to receive email notifications when lunch account balances get low, and cafeteria workers are trained to tell students about their low balance. Furthermore,

the usage of MySchoolBucks, an online lunch payment program, makes it convenient to add money to student lunch accounts. Students also have the option to apply for free and reduced lunch plans.

Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said practices at MHS don’t allow for lunch shaming.

He said issues regarding student lunch accounts are handled discreetly, and all students are provided a lunch (or an alternative to the daily lunch) if necessary. Dr. Mathison has even paid for students’ lunches before in times when they need it.

The lack of clearly written regulations allows space for possible instances of lunch shaming, as was the case at the middle school. But this takes concrete action initiated by community members.

Change doesn’t start itself. It takes people talking to their administrators, bringing the issue to a board meeting or even writing a simple email. It takes work.

In the mean time, if people need help with lunch payments, all they need to do ask.

3

OPINIONS

Choosing my college roommate WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR MY COLLEGE roommate, I told people these things: I sleep late, I don’t like the cold and I despise country music.

Two people messaged me back. Potential roommate 1 said she slept early and she preferred the cold.

She also LOVED country music. Hmm. Potential roommate 2 said she liked to sleep late, she enjoyed the warm and she despised country music just as much as me. So can you guess which person I asked to be my roommate?

Initially, roommate 1.

Why did I choose roommate 1 when I was clearly more compatible with Roommate 2?

To put it bluntly, roommate 1 is white. Roommate 2 is Asian.

For some context, I’ll refer to a term we recently learned in psychology: in-group bias. This term is basically the tendency to see the people in one’s own group as different and unique from each other, then also to see the individuals in other groups as much more similar and non-unique.

As minorities, we are forced to be constantly vigilant of how much we actually are that minority.

This is never blatantly said; in fact, it seems like we

are pretty decently exposed to a spirit of cultural embrace in our schools and social media.

But it is this explicit embrace that masks some underlying disparities.

For one, think about friend groups. If I were to only have Asian friends, or even just mostly Asian friends, I would so easily and so quickly be shunned to “that group of Asians.” This is where the in-group bias applies. Once you are in “that group of Asians,” you are quite simply the stereotypical Asian to everyone. And from there, it is so difficult to differentiate yourself as a distinct person. People begin to assume things about you, for you. It implies that associating yourself with a certain minority is a problem, and this applies to all minorities.

For example, I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin next fall. When I told my classmates this, I was reminded pretty frequently that UT was “hella brown,” which was always said carrying a negative connotation. I question why it is an issue that a school is “hella brown.” You never hear people complaining that a school is “hella white?” And the funny thing is that only brown people said this to me, so it’s almost as if we are conditioned to sell ourselves

out first, which isn’t healthy.

In the end, due to enrollment complications, I ended up going with roommate 2 as my roommate. I have no qualms about this arrangement, despite my initial thoughts.

My intent with this opinion is not to bash on one group of people.

I aim simply attempting to bring to light some of my own personal experiences and to get people to think. We should encourage behavior in which we seek to understand others before we make rash judgments.

ILLUSTRATION AND OPINION BY ATHENA ZENG

Ovary-acting Prioritize bus safety

Reduce tampon cost

PEOPLE WHO THINK TAMPONS ARE A LUXURY ARE more annoying than the reason for tampons.

Luxuries are things people want but don’t need — a fancy car, designer jeans or wireless headphones.

Tampons are not a luxury. They, along with various other feminine hygiene products, are a necessity for women, and I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Oh, sorry, boys. I know the word “tampon” makes you giggle and cringe, but it’s an issue that needs to be discussed.

Missouri Assistant House Minority Leader Gina Mitten agrees that feminine products are necessary.

Mitten is supporting legislation to reduce the tax rate on feminine hygiene products to make it equal to that of the retail sale of food.

According to Huffington Post, the average woman uses about 20 tampons per cycle and has an average of 456 periods, equaling about 9,120 tampons. A 36-count box of tampons at Walgreens costs about $7.

After doing the math, that’s $1,800 each woman has to pay in addition to her other necessities. This doesn’t include pads, various medications and new underwear.

Women do not have a choice to have periods, nor do we enjoy them. They are painful and annoying. Men don’t have to buy tampons for themselves, and I guarantee they aren’t spending anywhere close to the $1,800.

Closing the wage gap won’t be easy if women must spend extra money on items we need, on top of everything else.

That’s $1,800 more that we could have to spend on ourselves. On our houses. Our cars. Our kids. Our medical bills.

That’s $1,800 we won’t have. That’s $1,800 some women desperately need.

So next time you’re thinking about donating to the poor, remember: tampons are a necessity that’s often overlooked.

BY DELANEY NEELY

4

ON THE MORNING OF MAY 11, A PARKWAY school bus carrying 13 elementary school kids crashed through the guardrail on Highway 44 in Kirkwood while trying to avoid another vehicle.

One of the 13 children was ejected from the emergency exit upon impact but luckily only sustained moderate injuries.

Kids and teens are constantly reminded to put their seat belts on when they enter any vehicle, and the consequences of forgetting to buckle up are always repeated to kids by speakers at school assemblies, parents, and teachers.

However, school buses in the state of Missouri are not required by law to provide seat belts, so most buses, including the one involved in the accident, do not have seat belts available.

We feel student safety is put at risk by not having seat belts available for them. When parents send their kids off to school, they expect their kids to return home safe and sound. On average, five children die in school bus crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Risks of injury are even worse without seat belts.

School buses do have some safety features. They are compartmentalized in such a way that students are protected in many situations. However, compartmentalization does not protect students once the bus flips over.

“If this would have flipped over it would have been a whole different ball game,” said Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Al Nothum, suggesting that if the bus would’ve flipped, the injuries would be worse, which could’ve been avoided with seat belts.

Student safety should be the number one priority for schools across the state. In order to keep kids and teens as safe as possible, seat belts should be added to all school buses in the state of Missouri.

BY BRANDON INGLI, CAMRYN KESSELRING AND MARTA MIEZE

1,353 PEOPLE

killed in school transportation related accidents from 2003-2012

RSD buses passed statemandated safety inspections with

100 percent approval RSD operates and maintains school buses

191

SOURCE: NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tracey Waeckerle, psychology teacher, works on her computer during class. Waeckerle will be an assistant principal for the 2017-2018 year. Photograph by Taylor Styer

Waeckerle to become principal

BY AUSTIN WOODS AND MARK GOLDENBERG

T

HEY THOUGHT SHE WAS HAVING A BABY. Tracey Waeckerle’s first hour U.S. history students were surprised when three administrators walked through her door with a bundle of pink balloons and an air of excitement.

In reality, the pink balloons symbolized the fact that Waekerle has been named an assistant principal, replacing the departing Dr. Michael McGehee.

Waeckerle plans on focusing on communication in her capacity as assistant principal.

“Teachers and administrators dedicate a lot of time to communication,” she said. “It’s important to make sure that students, parents and staff are always informed on what is happening at Marquette.”

Waeckerle said she is excited to further work with the community.

“I hope to inspire the new Freshmen Class to be strong and dedicated students,” she said. “High school is a time of great challenge but also of great success.”

Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said he respects Waeckerle and sees a lot of potential in her as assistant principal.

“She does well teaching wise,” Dr. Mathison said.

“She helps organize Prom. She works with our ACT program. So she’s a go-getter and someone that relates very well with students but also can take on the managerial tasks, and I think all of that balances to being a good principal.”

Waeckerle will oversee discipline and various curriculum areas, while also working with teachers as well as with families and parents.

“What’s really unique with her position is she’s a current staff member moving into the assistant principal job, and that’s a great perspective for ‘what are some of the things you see with students and teachers’ to improve upon,” Dr. Mathison said.

Megan Barton, freshman, is in Waeckerle’s history class and thinks she’s a good fit for the principal position.

“I think she’s a good role model and a leader,” Barton said.

Barton said Waeckerle is an enthusiastic teacher who cares about her students’ level of engagement.

“If the day is long and we’re doing a bunch of notes then she’ll find ways to put fun into it and make sure we don’t get bored,” she said.

Officer Early to leave MHS

BY GREG SVIRNOVSKIY AND NICK BROUK

Early said his time as an student resource officer is very similar to his previous work in the field.

“It’s just a matter of learning to work with people FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER JOE EARLY, in all different aspects. That’s what a policeman has the past eight years at MHS have been a blur. He has to do anyway,” Early said. “We work with the public helped secure the building, train students and lead whether we’re on the road, in lessons on safety metha school or on a specialized ods such as the 4 E’s. unit.”

The city of Clarkson “The teachers and Early said he will miss the Valley recently chose a character of the district most. bid from the Chesterthe administration “The school offers a lot field Police Department were great to work for its students and it’s been to service its policing with and work a good experience,” Officer needs. Early is an emEarly said. ployee of the St. Louis for.”

Head principal Dr. Greg County Police DepartOFFICER JOE EARLY Mathison said the services ment, and as such will and charisma Early provided be transferred out of his will be missed throughout the role at MHS at the end of administration. the school year.

“Officer Early has meant a lot to his school and Early said his experiences at MHS allowed him to to me personally,” Dr. Mathison said. “Officer Early’s see a new side of police work within the community.

“I worked as a road officer for many years before I demeanor, I think, is always one someone that looks to help out when situations arise.” came here,” Early said.

Boys baseball won the Class 5 District 3 baseball championships on May 16.

They will play Vianney in Sectionals next Tuesday. “I’m always just very happy for the kids,” John Meyer, head coach, said. “When they work hard all off-season and get to enjoy the fruits of their labor from a game like yesterday’s, that’s what it’s all about, to watch them just play their best at the right time.” Photograph printed with permission by John Meyer

MHS ranked 1,024 on The Washington Post’s list of most challenging high schools.

After consulting with the Missouri Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost, announced that no makeup days will be added to the calendar due to the flooding.

The Class of 2017 will be painting murals in the main stairwells as their senior gift.

The Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC), is switching bus contracts for the onset of the 2017 school year

5

NEWS

Technology shapes cheating

BY KAILIN ZHANG JESSICA LI, FRESHMAN, IS ENROLLED IN ALL honors classes and maintains straight A’s.

She also finds answers to her history study guides on Quizlet.

Li’s tight schedule leaves little time to complete what she views as busy work. From performing with the most advanced group at Alexandra Ballet, to attending speech and debate meetings after school, she has little time left in the day to find the connection between the Rustbelt and Sunbelt.

“There’s always pressure to get good grades to shape my future everyday in high school,” Li said.

The abundance of work she receives from each class every single day requires her to prioritize assignments in order to get enough sleep. Li said technology has made it easy to get answers from friends or search up keys for homework assignments online.

She does not face this issue alone. A simple copy and paste tempts students to participate in the surge of academic dishonesty.

Donald McCabe, former professor at Rutgers University, conducted a survey of 24,000 students in 70 high schools. He found that 95 percent said they participated in some form of academic dishonesty including cheating on tests, plagiarism and copying homework.

Emily Conley, junior, witnesses the impact of technology on academic dishonesty each day.

She said group chats, especially for students in AP classes, are often a prime environment for cheating due to the challenge of the course.

“It’s probably easier to hide when taking a test with devices like smart watches,” Conley said.

She said the rise of cheating in high schools is attributed to many factors including pressure, technology, busy schedules and peer influence.

Conley also said fast access to information in the digital age has made academic dishonesty an increasing issue.

Cevin Soling, director of documentary “The War on Kids,” cites the system of grading as the motivation behind student cheating in high schools.

“There would be no reason for anyone to cheat if students individually pursued their own academic interests based on their own curiosities without any outside evaluation,” Soling said.

Soling said if students get to work on things they are passionate for, they would have no motivation to cheat.

“Students in compulsory schools do not choose what work they must perform and they do not agree to be graded,” Soling said.

He views cheating as a relevant form of resistance in a despotic environment.

“If you are interested in learning how the banking system works, for example, and you opt to engage in research. Why and how could you cheat?” Soling said.

YEARBOOK

SOURCE: Donald McCabe’s, former professor at Rutgers University, survey of 24,000 students in 70 high schools

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NEWS

The New Drug?

Movement fights pornography viewership “It’s really destructive,” Howard said. “It affects our communities, our families and our relationships.

When people get married or get in long-term relationships, they are expecting to have encounters with STARES GRAZED MATT HOWARD, SENIOR’S, their significant other in ways that they see in those shirt and followed him as he traveled from class to messed up videos.” class one day.

Ashley Hobbs, psychology teacher, teaches a unit Howard wasn’t wearing the hot pink Crocs, or on motivation, which encompasses sexual motivawhizzing through school in Heelys or making any other typical MHS fashion statement. He was, howev- tion.

She said pornography can make people devalue er, making a literal statement with his fashion. their partners because forms of media often choose “Porn kills love,” read Howard’s shirt. the most desirable characters to be Inspired by one of his friends in these magazines or movies. who wore a “Porn Kills Love” shirt She also said researchers have to school, Howard too decided to “It’s really destructive. found the women whom people don a similar shirt at MHS. These would normally rate as average or shirts were produced by Fight the It affects our above level of attractiveness before New Drug, an anti-pornography communities, our they look at porn, after looking at organization that tours the nation’s families and our pornography, would rate as far less schools with its message. attractive.

Howard said at first he thought it relationships.”

Additionally, the Report of the was kind of weird, but then he began MATT HOWARD Fourth World Conference on Womto appreciate it as it raised awareness SENIOR en (United Nations, 2005) referred on a topic important to him. to media that depicts rape or sexual “The message I was trying to slavery, including pornography, are factors contribsend through that is that stuff isn’t love,” Howard uting to the continued prevalence of such violence, said. “Looking at people engaging in sexual acts adversely influencing the community at large. through a computer screen and pleasuring yourself Junior Jesse Meyers, whose name has been through that is not going to bring you connection. I changed to protect his identity, started watching feel like as humans we need connection.” pornography the same way many youth begin. Initial Some people went up to Howard to tell him what curiosity, followed by internet searches and then self he was doing was cool. But most people didn’t really get it, Howard said. Some laughed at him. Some asked discovery. Meyers watches porn now for the same reason other people watch it as well, he said, because if his shirt was even allowed. Some called him gay. it arouses them.

Howard didn’t want to be “like those people that Meyers said in our society, he thinks pornography go out in public areas with a megaphone and say ‘God is taboo because nudity in general in Western society hates you!’” he said. But he did want people to think has always been taboo. But because pornography is the issue through, especially because the progression often a tool for masturbation and sexual health, he of technology and smartphones has made accessing said he thinks the taboo against pornography should pornography easier and faster.

BY ATHENA ZENG, MAHIKA MUSHUNI AND JENICA BUNDERSON

7

change.

“Any guy, any girl, anybody, they don’t want their parents to find out they’ve been doing that,” Meyers said. “Parents, they probably know, but they don’t wanna catch their kids on it. But with friends, people talk about it all the time. I’ve never been ashamed or embarrassed around friends because despite everything they do they are open minded individuals and more or less respectful individuals.”

Meyers also said though he supposes pornography can be misogynistic in some ways, we have to remember there’s all sorts of porn not just focused on women. There’s also gay porn, Meyers said, and he watches both straight and gay porn if he’s in the mood for whatever.

Andrea Friedman, professor of Women’s Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, said it is difficult to make generalizations about pornography and its effects.

“Pornography is simply sexually explicit material that is produced and used for purposes of sexual arousal,” she said. “There are many different genres of porn that convey diverse messages and many different contexts for viewing and using pornography.”

Friedman said while some porn on the internet is indeed misogynistic, other films are made by feminist directors whose aim is to provide all genders a broader universe of sexual possibility.

“It’s important we understand these differences,” she said.

While many point to pornography as a destroyer of relationships, Friedman said many experts actually view porn as a useful tool for facilitating communication between partners.

“I suspect that, if one partner’s pornography use becomes a problem in a relationship, it’s a symptom of an intimate relationship that is already less than healthy, rather than a cause,” she said.

IN-DEPTH

THERE G

Constructio

BY KAVYA JAIN

A

T THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR, students will walk into a revamped MHS. This includes the completion and retrofitting of the new STEM wing.

Junior Principal Carl Hudson said the STEM addition will allow the administration to better service the needs of its students.

“Other schools in the area like Kirkwood have built new science and STEM-type classrooms, so we’re a little behind in it, but we’ll be able to catch up now and provide greater opportunities to our students,” Hudson said.

The project consists of the addition of six new science classrooms, two new science labs and the renovation of Language Arts classrooms on the third floor. Hudson said the goal is to enclose the STEM Wing by the end of May so air conditioning and cabinetry can be put in. Construction is set to be completed by Aug. 6. and school resumes on Aug. 16.

Ed Bolton, chemistry teacher, said the completion of the STEM wing will bring forward two requisite entities which will help to service his own teaching abilities: chairs and sunlight. During construction Bolton’s windows were covered, blocking the natural light.

“The chairs are gonna be really weird for the kids,” Bolton said.

“I’ve seen them. You can sit on them backwards and upside down and they don’t fall over. And the other thing that’s gonna be really great is my windows are going to be back. And if there’s one thing that’s actually been proven by science to improve scientific performance, it’s natural light.”

Bolton said the renovations represent an exciting future for science in the RSD community.

“I think any time the community is willing to support education, that’s a wonderful thing,” Bolton said. “It shows that our community is interested and engaged and wants our students to have the best opportunities. And so that makes me feel wonderful as an educator.”

William Howard, junior, is a student in Bolton’s AP Chemistry class. He said the loss of windows made the room more intimidating and uninviting.

“I think that you feel less comfortable, more enclosed and more claustrophobic,” Howard said. “You can’t see the sky so you lose a sense of comfort and I think that the artificial lights in the room really don’t make up for it.”

Howard said most of his classes this year don’t have windows and this affects his grades. Without as much light he said students aren’t as happy and don’t perform as well.

“Honestly I do fine in most of my classes, but the ones I had a lot of natural light in last year I felt I did better,” Howard said.

Katelynn Freese, senior said only two of her seven classes have windows, Fashions II and Drawing I. “It’s always nice to have the sunshine because it’s more light, and I feel like it almost brings more energy into the room,” Freese said.

Freese said this could contribute to her lack of alertness in some classes.

“That could explain why I’m not always as awake in some class-

8

IN-DEPTH

GOES THE SUN

on diminishes natural light es,” Freese said. “I never fall asleep, but I feel more drowsy in less lit rooms.”

However the loss of light is an issue that will be resolved for Bolton after construction, it will remain for many language arts classrooms on the second floor. Due to the transition of some third floor English classrooms to the second floor, some second floor classrooms such as language arts teacher Brittany Sharitz’s are losing their windows.

“I used to have a really beautiful view of some trees outside, and now obviously that’s all been boarded up,” Sharitz said. “I think it will be a hallway next year.”

Sharitz said she heard complaints from students about feeling more depressed without the windows and she has felt the consequences herself.

“I do think that not having windows and not getting natural light has an effect on individuals’ moods so I’m actually requesting to be moved to a different classroom next year that has windows because I think it does have an effect on me personally,” Sharitz said.

Dr. Erik Herzog, biology professor from Washington University in St. Louis, corroborated Sharitz’s experience saying the color and brightness of light can affect mood.

“Natural light can improve mood if it is bright enough and has enough blue,” Dr. Herzog said. “Artificial lights tend to be dimmer and more red than natural light.”

Dr. Herzog said humans respond positively to light because it increases alertness and is used to navigate and synchronize to local time.

“Life on earth evolved to anticipate the challenges of light during the day and dark during the night,” Dr. Herzog said. “Humans and many other primates are diurnal, finding food, friends, and shelter using available light. In addition to navigating by light, humans use light to synchronize their daily schedule to local time.

Light signals through our eyes to adjust the timing in our internal body or circadian clock.”

Dr. Herzog said when light enters the eyes it activates photoreceptors that signal to the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) in the brain, which synchronizes our daily clock to local time. The SCN also signals to other brain areas to regulate daily rhythms such as metabolism and hormone release.

“These rhythms can change how well we store and recall information,” Dr. Herzog said. “So some people learn better in the morning while some learn better in the evening.”

Dr. Herzog said students should be exposed to natural light at school.

“Natural light, especially from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., helps students to shift their internal clock so they are more awake in the morning,” Dr. Herzog said. “Students who go camping for example, wake earlier and do better on cognitive tests.”

Despite lighting issues, Hudson said he looks forward to the end of construction.

“It’s like moving into a new house,” Hudson said. “Some people are upset they have to pack up their rooms, but when their rooms are brand spanking new and we have the latest science equipment for our students and staff to work with it will be very satisfying.”

“LIFE ON EARTH EVOLVED TO ANTICIPATE THE CHALLENGES OF LIGHT DURING THE DAY AND DARK DURING THE NIGHT.” Dr. Erik Herzog Biology Professor

9

FEATURES

W

Students celebrate Ramadan

BY KAVYA JAIN

Prescription misuse Is your name on this bottle?

Only take medication as prescribed to you.

10

HEN THE NEW MOON IS SIGHTED IN THE night sky, at sunrise the following day sophomores Balqees Abdel and Zaneb Bajwa along with millions of Muslims around the world will begin fasting during daylight hours for Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month in the Islamic lunar-based calendar and is predicted to begin on May 26 or 27. The holiday occurs once a year approximately 10 days before the previous year.

Bajwa’s mother, Saima said while most people associate Ramadan fasting with abstinence from food and water, there’s a deeper meaning behind it.

“It’s abstinence yes, but not just from food,” Saima said. “It’s abstinence from lying, cheating, doing anything that in most religions would be considered disobedience of the Lord.”

Saima said during the month of Ramadan Muslims increase their worship, do more charity work and view the time as a chance to reassess themselves and work on becoming a better human, the primary goal of Islam.

Saima, whose family is from Pakistan, said because Islam is such an ethnically diverse religion, the customs may look different in different families.

Abdel said her family stays up and eats throughout the night, a Middle Eastern tradition. They begin by eating a huge meal and eat desserts and side dishes until sunrise.

Abdel said the purpose of fasting is to experience what those around the world who are less fortunate may be experiencing. It’s mandatory for everyone to fast after

is drug abuse.

puberty, and while outsiders may view this as suffering, Abdel said she looks forward to Ramadan.

“A lot of people see it as this torture, but we don’t think so,” Abdel said. “It actually brings us together and makes us feel like we understand what other people in other countries may be going through. It makes us realize that we shouldn’t take our stuff for granted.”

Bajwa said her sleep schedule during Ramadan is very different. At night, Bajwa goes to the mosque and prays with community members. There, the Imam, similar to a priest, reads from the Quran in what is called Tarawih.

After this she breaks her fast with her family in a meal called Iftar. Bajwa said she usually sleeps at 9 p.m. and wakes up 4 a.m.

“I look forward to Ramadan because everyone feels unified,” Bajwa said. “Everyone feels together and I see my friends a lot more frequently and it just warms my heart.”

While this year Ramadan is in the summer, Bajwa said it becomes more difficult to fast when it’s during the school year. When this occurs, it is typical for her to spend her lunch period in the Library.

When the new moon is sighted again after 29 to 30 days, it signals the ending of Ramadan. The following day is a celebration known as Eid, Bajwa said.

The day begins in a community center where 3,000 to 4,000 Muslims of the St. Louis area all from different cultural backgrounds meet for prayer.

As a parent and Sunday school teacher, Saima said she believes that it’s really important to pass on the traditions of Ramadan and its meaning to the next generation.

“I saw my parents doing it and my parents saw their parents before that,” Saima said. “It’s a generational thing and a religious thing that is moving along. Living here, because we live in a mixed country where we have Muslims and Non-Muslims all together, it’s very important that we as Muslims pass the tradition on to our children.”

FEATURES

WORTH IT?

BY ELLIE TOLER

A look at the impact of where you go to college

to graduate.

Low-income students are, on average, less likely to LARA TAPY, SENIOR, RETURNED FROM HER graduate from college, according to the U.S. DepartSpring Break trip to Paris and encountered quite a ment of Education, most likely because they attended shock in her kitchen. There, on her counter, lay sevinadequate elementary and secondary schools. These eral large letters from Washington University in St. students also are more likely to “undermatch” with a Louis. Four weeks of research at the university had school, meaning they could succeed at an elite college paid off. She was in. but don’t because they never applied or attended.

Tapy said she allowed herself one day of celeBerkman, who graduated from Stanford Univerbration before submitting her deposit to a different sity, also said there tends to be elevated expectations school, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. for success at elite colleges, which can most greatly “For every school, you only get two nominations impact first-generation college students. for big graduate grants, such as Rhode Scholars and A study conducted through the National Bureau presidential internship programs,” she said. “At of Economic Research found that most students who schools like Wash U, you’re fighting tooth and nail to were admitted to the most selective colleges but get those nominations. At a school like Alabama, I’m opted to attend a less-selective state school earned as already the top choice for the nomination, and I can much as the students at those top schools. just work hard to excel those programs.”

This would suggest that displaying the positive So, does it matter where you go to college? qualities elite colleges want to see in their student The short answer is it’s complicated. body is what really matters.

However, the study also found that this wasn’t the case for low-income students who benWHEN IT MATTERS efit more from attending elite colleges “As you get older, A correlation exists between attendand universities. where you went to ing an elite institution and achieving “Highly selective colleges are exfinancial or professional success. tremely invested in making sure that college matters less According to Quartz Media, from all of their students succeed, and they to employers.”

1996 to 2014, 38 percent of Fortune 500 tend to offer the most generous finanCEOs graduated from an elite institution cial aid,” Berkman said. “Typically, JUSTIN BERKMAN, while only 2 to 5 percent of all underlow-income students can’t rely as much COLLEGE CONSULTANT graduate students attended these same on parental support.” prestigious universities.

Although correlation does not prove causation, WHEN IT DOESN'T students who attend elite colleges are more likely to actually earn their degrees.

A study conducted by the Wall Street Journal For instance, Harvard has a four-year graduation concluded that the prestige of your alma mater affects rate of 86 percent while Mizzou’s is 46 percent, acthe future earnings of business or liberal arts majors. cording to the U.S. News and World Report.

However, those who majored in a STEM field saw no Justin Berkman, college consultant and former impact on their future earnings. writer for PrepScholar, said very selective colleges “I can’t definitively say why that is, but my will only admit the top students, meaning the majori- assumption is that because there’s more variation ty of their student body possesses the drive that often in the incomes of business and liberal arts majors,” ensures they will graduate.

Berkman said. “Those who are considered the best On the other hand, Berkman said larger and less prepared or most competent receive significantly selective state schools usually admit more low-inhigher incomes. And the income disparity tends to come or nontraditional students, who are less likely increase over time.”

Berkman said in most industries, people’s experience and references matter more than their college.

“As you get older, where you went to college matters less to employers,” he said. “However, graduating from an elite college can help you get your foot in the door with certain employers.”

The high cost of an elite college also could offset any potential financial benefit of attending that college, Berkman said. Still, many of these schools offer very generous financial aid to those who need it.

Arjun Devraj, senior, will attend Princeton University next year.

He said the cost of his Princeton education is the equivalent of buying a brand new Tesla in August and then proceeding to drive the Tesla off a cliff that May, once a year, every year, for the next four years.

However, Devraj said his other options had a similar cost to Princeton, and he is lucky enough to have parents who are willing to pay for his education.

“I think the education that I’m going to get at Princeton is more than its monetary value,” Devraj said. “Being able to place an emphasis on that education as an education rather than simply as a means to a greater end is important to evaluating its worth.”

ADVICE FOR THE FUTURE Berkman said he advises students to live on campus their freshman year if possible and to take a slightly lighter course load their first semester to make the adjustment easier. However, they shouldn’t shy away from exploring a subject that interests them.

“Take a class in a subject that wasn’t offered at your high school,” he said. “Get involved in a volunteer activity or on-campus organization. Go to sporting events. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Dawn Michel, college counselor, said college is time for students to both further their education and develop personally. For many, this will be the first time they make their decisions— about how to spend their free time, manage their responsibilities, take care of themselves— on their own.

“As they are developing into responsible young adults, the influence of their peers, their environment and their choices definitely shapes who they are by the time they graduate,” Michel said.

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ARTS&LEISURE

Melting Away

Clementine's features ice cream flavors for a cool summer treat

everything must be all-natural. For Keefe, the values of a micro-creamery aligned with her own.

“I was going to do a super premium product, the AMARA KEEFE, FOUNDER AND OWNER OF best in the region, so it was important for me to do it Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Ice Creamery, right, do it different and be better,” Keefe said. decided one day to leave her corporate job and Clementine’s currently has 16 flavors on the build a new sense of community. Well, actually, she menu; however, the shop is home to dozens of others. started making ice cream.

The shop has two categories of ice cream: naughty In 2014, Keefe, also known as the “Flavor Temptor nice. The naughty signifies ice cream with alcohol ress," began making her ice cream, which she deadded, strictly for customers over the age of 21. The livered herself, in her own kitchen. By 2016, she nice, on the other hand, includes all other non-alcoexpanded Clementine’s to a 5,000 square foot parlor holic and vegan flavors. in Lafayette Square, located at 1637 S For Keefe, the ice cream is much 18th St. more than the product.

“I’ve been making ice cream my “I think ice cream is very fundamenwhole life, ever since I’ve been a kid Sunday to Thursday tal for families and a lot of people in with my family,” Keefe said. “It’s been 11a.m. - 10p.m. building those happy memories for the my hobby, my passion, and I wanted to future,” Keefe said. go and follow my bliss by making ice Friday to Saturday Morgan Kovis, sophomore, is a frecream.”

11a.m. - 11p.m. quent customer of Clementine’s.

As a lover of vintage, Keefe named For her, going to Clementine’s allows her shop after her grandmother’s genher to support small and local businesses. eration.

“You’re supporting people that started from the “My grandmother had a friend who’s name was bottom and worked their way to the top,” Kovis said.

Clementine, who I thought was elegant and beautiKovis usually orders the vegan salted caramel or ful,” Keefe said.

Meyer lemon. However, there are many other differClementine’s is one of 14 micro-creameries in ent types of non-traditional ice cream flavors. the United States. It’s also the only certified all-natIn early June, a new location will open at 730 ural ice cream maker in the state of Missouri. All ice cream choices do not include artificial flavors, colors, DeMun Ave. in Clayton. A third location will open in Southampton in early fall. fillers nor multipliers.

“The ice cream paired with the comfortable atmoIn order to qualify as a micro-creamery, there sphere makes Clementine’s worth the trip out of the are certain regulations you must follow, she said.

Marquette area,” Kovis said.

All products must be small batch, hand-crafted and

BY TALI GORODETSKY AND ELENA MCCORMICK

T

HOURS

Clementine's features flavors such as gooey butter cake (pictured), basil candied ginger and decadent coffee. New locations will open this fall in Clayton and Southampton. Photograph by Taylor Styer

12

ARTS&LEISURE

30 IN 30

St. Louis County Parks offer new hiking program

BY KENZIE WINSTEAD

F

OR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, St. Louis County Parks has offered a program in which you can punch your way to fitness.

Anyone who would like to participate must visit the official St. Louis County Parks website and print out a trail punch card.

The card lists 30 trails that can be completed in 30 minutes. Appropriately, this is titled the 30/30 Hikes Program.

“The program is focused on having fun, walking and getting fit,” Diane White, manager at the Pavilion at Lemay, said.

In total, all of the trails add up to 15 hours and 55 minutes of exercise. People of all ages are allowed to participate in the program.

According to the St. Louis County Parks website, hikers will find a

map at the beginning of every trail.

The maps describe the trail in mileage and the most desirable route.

“We developed the program by choosing only trials that can be completed in 30 minutes,” White said. “They are located all over the St. Louis County.”

There is another program offered to those who prefer biking.

The 10/10 Biking Program covers 144 miles of the St. Louis County.

The same rules apply regarding the punch cards. People can now acquire their punch cards online, at Faust Park, Laumeier Sculpture Park or the Clayton office.

In the past, both programs have offered patches to those who turn in a completed punch card. This year, after sending their completed card to the Affton Community Center people will receive a Buff, Survivor- style multipurpose headwear.

Laumeier Sculpture Park is featured on the 30/30 Hikes Program card. The park offers 105 acres of sculptures.

Photographs by Kenzie Winstead

Students capitalize on fidget spinner trend using his own 3D printer. His prices range from $8 to $10, depending on the size of the spinner.

Perini said he usually asks people to help cover IN THE BASEMENT OF RYAN INGLI, SENIOR, LIES the cost of making the spinners, but he doesn’t make about $2,500 worth of 3D printers. There are five in a profit off of them. total, one of which he made himself.

Perini uses the 3D modeling software Inventor to His first 3D printer cost him about $500, Ingli design the files, which his printer then produces. said. However, he was able to make enough money John Palmer, junior, said he started using fidget by selling 3D-printed items to make up the cost of spinners to help him stay focused in school during his the first printer and then to purchase more. golf season.

Starting last month, Ingli has been 3D-printing “During school it allowed me to focus on what I fidget spinners after a classmate asked was getting ready to do, and it would him to make one. He has since made give me time to focus on rememberabout 50 or 60 spinners, which sell for “I would [recommend ing the course rather than listening $10 each. them]. If you take time to teachers when I knew there wasn't Fidget spinners— the whirling to learn how to use them anything important I needed to listen gadgets that have grown in popularity really well, then they’re to,” Palmer said. this spring— can sell from anywhere really beneficial.”

Brunella Orlandini, freshman, between a few dollars to upwards of JOHN PALMER picked up her own spinner for $10 from $20 online.

JUNIOR a kiosk at the Chesterfield Mall.

Ingli offers the spinners in several She decided to purchase her spinner colors and seven different models. from a vendor from the mall, rather “They sell themselves,” Ingli said. than a student selling them, because the cost was To make them, he writes code into his computer, cheaper. She said she knows students who are selling and then the printer builds up layers of plastic in the fidget spinners for up to $20. specified shape.

She said she wanted one because she saw a lot Ingli said he suspects the fidget spinners have of people playing with them around school, and she become so popular because people have seen them thought they looked fun. on various forms of social media.

She now plays with her spinner about twice a day, “It was kind of a side job,” Ingli said. “It started usually during tests to help her think through the taking off a bit, and now people are asking for other things to be made as well, anything from phone cases problems.

“It helps to do something with my hands while I to car parts.” think,” Orlandini said.

Weston Perini, junior, also makes fidget spinners

BY ELLIE TOLER AND ALIA ARIF

13

SPORTS

Baby got backhand Boys tennis prevails over Lafayette at team Districts

3 Photo 3: Boys varsity tennis huddles together prior to their game against the Lafayette Lancers. The Mustangs beat the Lancers 5-1 at the Missouri Athletic Club. “We have definitely shown growth throughout the season, and that is because our teammates are a lot closer,” Michael Yin, senior, said. “And we have an expectation to make it to State again, so we really push each other in practice.” Photograph by Brittany Freeman

1 Photo 1: Trenton Wherry, senior, and Simon Kauppila, sophomore, warm up before the team District Championships at the Missouri Athletic Club on Thursday, May 11. “Anytime that you win districts, it is a huge thing because that means that you are top 16 in State,” Alex Nelle, boys tennis coach, said. “We did it last year for the first time and this is our second year doing it, so it is a big accomplishment.” Photo 2: Ethan Hinni, freshman, and Jack Shi, junior, practice before their doubles match against Lafayette. “We go on pretty strong even though we lost number one,” Shi said. “Overall the teams still holding strong throughout the season.” Photographs by Athena Zeng

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2

SPORTS

2

1

Bump. Set. Spike.

Varsity and jv volleyball compete against Oakville 3

1

varsity

1: Reilly Keeven, senior, jogs onto the court during the lineup. 2: Thomas Washington, sophomore, and Micah Hollenbeck, senior, reach for the ball during the boys volleyball senior night. The Mustangs beat the Oakville Tigers 2-0 Thursday, May 11. Photographs by Brittany Freeman

jv 3: Sophomores Presley Ingram and Ben McDonough attempt to block a set at their game against Oakville on Thursday, May 11. MHS won. “We had a rough start but then as we transitioned later into the season we played more as a team,” McDonough said. Photograph by Athena Zeng

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SPORTS

Boys lacrosse plays on home turf

BY DAVID PAINE LACROSSE IS GROWING IN popularity across America, yet only 25 schools in MSHSAA sponsor boys lacrosse due to the excessive contact that occurs between players.

Junior Alex Farrell, goalie, wants to be able to show off the team’s skills in front of the entire school, but for this to happen, the sport needs to be sponsored by the school.

The team practices at the Chesterfield Athletic Complex and plays games at Crestview Middle School.

“I want a crowd so we can really be inspired during games,” Farrell said.

Farrell lives in Ellisville and has a hard time getting to and from practice because of the lengthy drive.

“I wish we could practice here and not drive 35 minutes,” Farrell said. “It’s not like we don’t have the room.”

However, Activities Director Shane Matzen said one main reason lacrosse can not practice or play games at MHS is the space limitation.

“There is not enough room on any of the fields,” Matzen said. “With all the spring sports, lacrosse just doesn’t quite make the cut.”

Matzen understands the lacrosse team wants to play at home and has been trying since the beginning of the season to find the time and resources in order to make this happen.

Jared Gruender, senior, and juniors Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Wagoner and Will Sturgill cheer on their teammates at at their game against Rockwood Summit on Tuesday, May 16. Will Crater, sophomore, guards against a Rockwood Summit player. The Mustangs lost 8-6. Photographs by Ellie Toler Matzen found the time at 7 p.m. on May 16 against Rockwood Summit for the first playoff game. Matzen was able to secure the field for this game because Chris Elledge, girls lacrosse coach, gave up their field practice time.

“Nobody is saying we don’t want you,” Matzen said. “We simply haven’t had the facilities to do so, but it still has the support of the entire Marquette school and administration.”

Senior Jared Gruender, midfielder,

said it was awesome to play on home turf. It boosted team morale because they wanted it for so long.

“All I have to say is it’s about time,” Gruender said.

Ultimate Frisbee gains popularity

BY MADDIE EVELAND THE UNITED STATES ROUTINELY SPENDS MORE tax dollars per high-school athlete than per highschool student unlike most countries worldwide, as stated in The Atlantic.

As a way to resolve this ongoing issue, a few MHS students and teachers began to start a few non-sponsored sports, such as ultimate frisbee.

Ultimate Frisbee began 13 years ago and is funded completely by the players, with a starting price of $34.50 for girls and $126.50 for boys.

The team is co-ed and all players are required to try out and be students at MHS, even though the team is not sponsored by the school.

As co-captain AJ Diekroeger, senior, said reducing the price for girls will improve the girls program.

“The high price that is required for uniforms and competition fees tends to steer people away,” Diekroeger said. “The biggest problem that we have encountered is with getting girls to commit, so this is our attempt at improving that.”

Diekroeger started playing ultimate with some MHS students at the end of his sophomore year but did not join the team officially until he was a junior.

“The reason I joined the team was because I fell in love with the sport itself,” Diekroeger said. “I’ve always been really into sports and I just love the game dynamics.”

16

Evie Rohrbach, junior, is one of the few girls to play for the team .

“Last year I was one of four girls,” Rohrbach said.

“Now I’m one of seven. We just hope the number keeps growing.”

After giving up dance, Rohrbach was looking for a sport to pick up, so she began playing ultimate frisbee her sophomore year because she sees it as a fun sport to do with fun people.

“All of the players are supportive and everybody is treated equally,” Rohrbach said. “It’s also easy to catch on to and it’s a nice way to get involved and make friends.”

MHS was one of the six teams to start the St. Louis Ultimate Juniors League in 2004.

Jose Artiaga, current head coach, has been playing ultimate frisbee for 15 years. He started at out in high school, then at the University of Kansas, and he’s been organizing leagues from then on.

“When I moved back in 2012, I was looking for a way to get involved with the St. Louis Ultimate Community again,” Artiaga said.

It can definitely be a demanding sport. Players easily run three miles a day and play eight to ten games over the course of two days.

“It requires the endurance you would expect from soccer players, athleticism from basketball and the speed from football,” Artiaga said.

Alex Dodd, junior, and seniors Brad Bulczak and AJ Diekroeger chase after the frisbee held by an opposing team on April 27. MHS lost to SLUH. Photograph by Ariel Ashie