September 25, 2020 by RHS ECHO

WHEN RHS SPEAKS WE

ACTIVITY TO ATTEND

Football: it’s a contacts sport

RHS drama presents “10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine” as a drivein production, 7:30 p.m, Oct. 9 & 10.

See DRAMA, page 2

NUMBERS TO NOTE

Two new coaches

join RHS Bulldog staff. See COACHES, page 6

STUDENTS TO SEE

RHS alum Rebecca Janke breaks state record in basketball. See JANKE, page 5

RHS senior Alexis Lugo gets published in Pluto magazine. See LUGO, page 4

ADVICE TO APPLY

ECHO staff provides answers to students seeking advice. See ADVICE, page 8

Rolla High School’s football team playing the first game of their 2020 season. Photo by Quinn Guffey.

epotism has been flitting into every position of power, plaguing popes and cardinals of the 13th century, along with the presidents and celebrities of the modern world. However, some of the most famous cases of pedigree-induced opportunity were not founded in the antebellum architecture of Washington D.C. or in the sprawling sets of the silver screen but

rather on the field of the sport we all know and love: football. In the famous case of the Lions’ head coach Rod Marinelli hiring his son-in-law, Joe Barry, as the defensive coordinator, the bold reporter Rob Parker asked Marinelli, “Do you ever wish your daughter married a better defensive coordinator?” after a 42 to 7 loss to New Orleans. Many cases of “parent-partiality” exist in the NFL, some even as humiliating as Barry’s,

and others as enthralling as Bill Bellicheck’s. Bill Bellicheck of The New England Patriots--a man deemed the greatest coach of all time by CBS sports--was able to benefit from the NFL career of his father and thrive off the opportunity. In a realm as big as the National Football League, a coaching staff of 672, players numbering 1,700, and an entire country of athletes and coaches to choose from, the NFL still considers a player’s last name as a factor.

See FOOTBALL, page 7

Rolla educators advocacy group strives for racial equality in the classroom

hile most people spent quarantine catching up on sleep or picking up forgotten hobbies, Rolla educator Laurie Myers and her former student Chantae McMillan had their sights set on something larger. When McMillan approached Myers over the summer with a proposition to better educate and integrate racial equality curriculum into the Rolla school system, Myers suggested they host a get-together with other passionate educators. “After seeing all of the bad things happening on the news with the deaths of black men and women, Chantae said to me, ‘You know, I wish that I could talk to a group of teachers about this,’” explained Myers. “And I said ‘You can. Let’s do it.’ I used to teach seventh grade art, so I have a good core group of friends that are seventh grade teachers; there are probably ten of us. Anyway, I just sent a message out in

that group saying, ‘Hey, we’ve been talking about this ourselves and Chantae would really like to talk to a group of teachers,’ I said, ‘What do you think?’ From that point on, everybody was on board.” Birthed from the small get-together at Myers’ house was Advocates for Change: an organization for Rolla teachers and faculty that focuses on addressing and combating racism in the classroom. “The goal was to speak to teachers and say, let’s focus on Rolla and just our district,” said Myers. “Not that we shouldn’t worry about what’s going on in other communities, but let’s start right here, and take care of ourselves, our kids, and our school district first. And let’s start with racism.” Since graduating from Rolla in 2006 and later pursuing a degree in art education, McMillan has maintained a long-standing close relationship with Myers. “She works in the school system, obviously, and I went through that same school system,” explained McMillan. “I wanted

her thoughts on how we could make an impact through [racial equality] education, and she reached out to other teachers, who were all very receptive. I’m still thinking of other ideas on how to reach the students. They need someone that maybe they look up to, or that they feel inspired by. Maybe by talking to team captains or club members... my head is still spinning with ideas on how to impact the area of Rolla from the school system outwards.” Recently retired after teaching in the Rolla school district for 28 years, Laurie Myers is now armed with newfound free time and enthusiastic support to further grow Advocates for Change. “Everyone that’s a part of this seems passionate about it, but like Chantae said, everybody should give where they can give and how they can give, and right now I have more time to offer. I have some time that I’d normally be working on stuff for classes which I can dedicate to finding resources for our Facebook group.”

See ADVOCATES , page 5

LEtter from the editor

eginning from the time I was old enough to unfold a newspaper, I dreamt of the day it would be my own-- my byline on the front page, my photo next to the top story, my column which would be filled with consistently original content. This year, I finally found myself in the position I’d rehearsed endlessly in my head, but under a new set of circumstances completely foreign to me. Now, as we are all catapulted into the mayhem of the new school year (not to mention navigating the completely uncharted waters of attending school during a pandemic), it is easier than ever to sink into a familiar rut. While the world at times appears to be crumbling at my feet, I’ve challenged myself this month to put some thought into where I am and how I got here. At the end of last year, I was informed that my beloved mentor Dr. Gillis would be stepping down as publications adviser. While I would have no trouble filling a column that endlessly discussed the paralyzing devastation that ensued, I’d rather put it this way: I was lost. Not only did I feel thrown into a position I was neither seasoned nor equipped for, I also found

RHS ECHO

myself challenging the most fundamental aspects of myself as a writer. Did journalism truly inspire me? Or had I vicariously loved journalism through the people who inspired me? Mrs. Hall was able to step into Mrs. Gillis’ position, which interestingly made a full circle, as Mrs. Hall had been on the ECHO staff in high school. She imme-

diately clarified that she would not be attempting to fill shoes that were-- in her words-- impossible to fill. Instead, she eagerly took on the role of adviser and advice-giver, mentor and confidant-- and, as anyone who knows Mrs. Hall would predict-- she did so gracefully and humbly. Mrs. Hall has been-- to me-a maternal, intuitive, and endlessly warm force in my life. When at times she feels as lost as I do, she is able to share it, embrace it, and laugh about it. Just as Dr. Gillis’s metaphorical imprint is instilled in all of her staff, Mrs. Hall has already managed to begin carving her own. It is easy to find myself consumed by stress, frustration, and the anticipation of answers I don’t seem to have. I have found the only antidote is to look around at the people who I am fortunate enough to work alongside. I see bright, passionate, resourceful individuals whose potential is limitless. For as often as I find myself overwhelmed and debilitated, more often I find myself brimming with hope, a newfound sense of purpose, and inspired by the spark, passion, and capability of those around me.

COMIC

t ECHO is the bes dog place to ﬁnd Bull news!

“EC pla HO i ce s th t new o ﬁnd e bes Bu l t s... new news.. ldog . s...”

Meet ECHO’s 2020 staff

I and h ou t ve y e wi I lo t to b ver! wan u fore yo

be want to “...I just friends... ... friends. friends.”

[From left to right] Mandy James, Jillian Launius, Helen Weiss, JJ Giesey, Belle Staley, Kyle McCutcheon, Mallory Moats, Nathaniel Jackson, Emma Starns, Kristina Gresty, Genevieve Huber, Meghan Williams, Quinn Guffey

Sept. 25, 2020

NEWS

RHS ECHO

COVID-19 cases rising rapidly in our home town

n Jan. 20, 2020, the first laboratory case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States. Ever since it hit the States, the nation has been in a state of disbelief, and panic. On March 11, 2020, the novel Coronavirus disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Cases spread around the world, with cases into the millions. The United States has stayed as the leading country with roughly 6.3 million confirmed cases and 182 thousand deaths. When COVID-19 had its first big spike, it shut down entire countries and shuttered businesses across the globe. With stores just now opening up and the U.S. and many other countries trying to return to a normal economy, cases are still on the rise. COVID-19 became locally relevant to Rolla citizens when it made its way into our small home town. As of Tuesday, Sept. 17, Phelps county had 81 active cases and 2 deaths. When the virus first hit our city, as well as many around the area, store hours got cut and many closed doors completely. The Phelps/Maries County Health Department posted on Facebook that most people with cases are not cooperating with them on reporting where they had been. The Lack of cooperation has led to an unknown amount of exposure to groups of people. “It’s really hard to say if the cases in Phelps county will grow or lessen-- there is so much unknown about COVID-19 and what causes this disease,” said Paul Hack-

barth from the Phelps Health Marketing Department. Phelps Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended safety guidelines for the public to keep the spread in check. “Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water,” said Hackbarth. “If not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid close contact with others. Try to stay at least 6 feet from other people who don’t live in your household. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others who don’t live in your household. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Also, do not spit. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, etc.). Stay home if you feel sick.” Hackbarth also has a few recommended tips regarding how to be safe with a face mask. “We at Phelps Health follow CDC recommendations for the types of masks that people should wear,” said Hackbarth. “First, the CDC recommends people wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay six feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others. The CDC recommends people wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19. The mask should cover your nose and mouth and be secured under your chin. Masks should be worn by people age 2 and over. Children under age 2 or people who have trouble

Students re ect on new online education model

o help stop the spread of COVID-19 cases in Rolla, RHS is offering virtual learning for those choosing not to return to in-person school this fall. Missouri Course Access and Virtual Learning Program (MOCAP) provides courses for students K-12 so students can learn virtually from a computer with internet connection at any time. Online education, for many students, is a great way to continue learning but still practice social distancing. “Online school is nice. I like having the ability to wake up at whatever time I feel like and do work at my own time instead of having to wake up at 6:40 a.m. every day,” said David Fan, an RHS online student. An obstacle students face with online learning face are problems with their programs, Launch and Edmentum. Multiple students have reported having difficulties with Launch. “Not only did it become available after school started, meaning we had to rush to finish some assignments, but the online textbooks’ access codes also failed to work,” said Fan. Despite problems with turning in assign-

ments and textbook issues, students still enjoy online learning. “I like being online. You can cater to your own needs in the classroom to get things done and you can run it at your own pace, which is nice,” said junior Alicia Williams. One seemingly big obstacle that online brings to students is learning without a teacher. “If you have a good teacher, then I think online negatively affects education, as there is no longer a motivation for you to learn any of the material. However, if someone has problems with a teacher’s methods or the teacher him or herself then online lets you explore a lot more ways to learn,” said Fan. Many students grow and learn better in school with a class full of peers but for some, online learning is a great alternative to continue their education while in the comfort of their own homes. “Not every person is the same, and having this flexibility for students means that they can explore different or unique ways of looking at the problems presented to them,” said Fan.

Rolla’s COVID-19 testing center across from Phelps Health. Photo by Genevieve Huber. breathing or who cannot remove a mask without assistance should not wear masks. The public should not wear masks intended for healthcare workers, such as N-95 respirators. The CDC also does not recommend the use of face shields or masks with vents or exhalation valves.” According to the NPR St. Louis Radio, once a virus infects someone, it takes some time for the virus to make enough copies of itself that the host begins to shed the virus, through coughs or sneezes, for instance. This is the virus’ incubation period. For hosts, it’s generally the time between when they are first infected and when they start shedding the virus, which may be before they start experiencing symptoms. What are some symptoms of COVID-19?

The CDC advocates but does not limit them to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. As the novel Coronavirus Disease spreads, it is easy to get caught up in fear and red flags raised by the media. There is misinformation spiraling around about the infectious disease, so it’s important to watch your health and stay informed. “You can find information on Phelps County COVID-19 cases on the County Health department’s Facebook page. They post updated numbers every Monday and Thursday,” said Hackbarth.

Combating “cabin fever”

ometimes it feels like there are just too many options of things to do-- books to read, videos to watch, people to talk to and games to play. This feeling can be a double-edged sword, positive or negative for a person, sometimes exciting and often overwhelming. However, the opposite of having too much to do is unbearable for many people, and earned its own phrase: cabin fever. This refers to the stressful conditions an individual or a group experiences when stuck in an isolated place or confined space for a prolonged period of time. The symptoms of cabin fever are extreme boredom, exhaustion, and general irrationality. Although cabin fever is not a true disease, the irrationality it causes can put one into dangerous situations. Rolla High School’s AP Psychology teacher, Amanda Engelke, is familiar with the phenomenon. “Cabin fever is a general term to describe feelings of unrest, anxiety, or depression that tends to pop up when we get stuck in one place for a long period of time,” said Engelke. “There is no official psychological diagnosis for cabin fever. However, it is true that rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues people struggle with tend to increase in situations like these, where people feel stuck.” It is no secret that this year has been particularly stressful with quarantine leaving

the lives of people around the planet in shambles. Civil unrest has broken out. “When people are under high levels of stress, we can be enraged more easily,” said Engelke. “So the world does feel more chaotic and turbulent right now, with of course the stress of quarantine, the stress of some incidents that caused civil unrest, and it is an election year, which sort of like a perfect storm. People are more touchy.” Engelke added: “We have been relying more on social media for communication, which isn’t the most effective way of communicating. We do much better face-to-face where we can clarify and check our understandings,” said Engelke. In the event that we go back into quarantine, Engelke has some suggestions to combat poor mental health. “Even if you are stuck at home, you remain active both mentally and physically,” said Engelke. “You can get up and stretch periodically or walk around your house or yard. Physical activity during the day for about 30 minutes is good. Also following a regular schedule of eating healthily, sleep, and connecting with others.” Alongside these, Engelke recommends doing something to challenge the monotony of day-to-day life. “[You can take advantage of] doing a project, hobby, or activity, reading a book- stuff you usually wouldn’t do because of your busy schedule,” said Engelke.

“College is a good choice in its own right. It can be a game changer if you want to have a professional career. College can be a great opportunity to launch your career if you have a good plan once you graduate,” said Gesualdi. Gesualdi knows that he wants to further his education, so he works hard in school and is involved in a lot of extracurriculars. Staying involved makes students appear engaged to colleges and keeps them on schedule. “I like being involved with clubs and sports because it’s a good way for me to

interact with my friends, and to figure out what I want to do in the future,” said Gesualdi. Samuel Insall has aspirations to attend Missouri S&T next fall. “I would like to get a degree in chemical engineering,” said Insall. Insall has ambitious plans. “For my undergrad, I want to do chemical engineering. For a master’s degree, I’d like to get a degree in physical therapy. I’ll probably look into St. Louis College of Pharmacy,” said Insall.

Seniors contemplate futures post high school

eniors experience pressure each year when it comes time to make plans after high school. Some people feel pressured to have everything figured out right away. Despite the pressure, moderate levels of stress can be a good boost to stay productive while making plans for the future. Senior Logan Welch is making plans with the workforce in mind. “Right now college isn’t for me, so I’m

probably going to use my A+ and go to a trade school to be a welder,” said Welch. Most people have been asked what they are going to do after college. It can seem like a heavy question, particularly if you are unsure. Sometimes, you might even be asked where you’re going to college. College is not for everyone. A lot of students, such as Logan, have a drive to go straight into working as soon as possible after graduating high school. Senior Jack Gesualdi, however, has his eyes set on the University of Arkansas after high school.

FEATURES RHS ECHO

Sept. 25, 2020

Young adults exercise new voting freedoms

very election, be it local, state, or national, requires voters to make the election’s outcome represent what the majority of voters want. For those who can vote, registering is easy. “I actually just registered to vote online at vote.org,” said Jeron Hicks, a RHS

alum. “Registering can be annoying, but ultimately it’s worth it to just get it done as soon as you can.” Registering to vote this year is more important than any other, as the presidential election is this November. Voting isn’t just about choosing a president-- it’s about making a change that is important to you. However, voting is not the only way you

can have a voice in our government, “It’s incredibly important to vote, especially locally-- but to think our civic responsibility stops at the polls is where Americans seem to get off track,” said Hicks. For those who can’t vote this year, we have to remember voting isn’t the only way you can have a voice. “Ultimately we cannot vote for every-

thing,” said Hicks. “We must start working outside of the polling booths and in our communities, first and foremost.” Some great ways to spread your voice could be social media, protesting, or even just a simple sign in your yard. If registering to vote online is unavailable to you, you can also do it in person at a local election office or send in a registration form via mail.

Alexis Lugo published School nurses juggle in From Pluto magazine increased responsibility

right light shone through the windows of room 213 of the Rolla High School as two students chattered of recent success. Nearly a year earlier, Alexis Lugo´s bedroom window did not have this light as she wrote through the night. Lugo, senior at RHS, recently had her poem, Stardust, published in “From Pluto magazine.’ “Last year, in my creative writing I class, Ms. Hargis told us this story about this girl who wrote about a night she had stayed up all night and documented it.” said Lugo. “ I was like, ‘Wow, that is a really interesting idea, but I suck at writing non-fiction.’ So I kind of took that and made it my own.” While this may be her first time being published, Lugo had an abundance of material to choose for the magazine. ¨I picked the one that I was most proud of,¨ said Lugo.“I felt like it had the best chance of getting published. I’d already written it last year sometime. And I read through a bunch of them, and I was like, ‘You know what? I’m still very proud of this one, so I’m going to submit it.’” The unique technique sparked a passion in writing for Lugo. “I’m actually writing poetry for a book right now that I’m planning on having done by December, but it probably won’t be out until like spring semester,” said Lugo. Her interest in writing does not stop at poetry. Lugo has recently been taken on as a staff writer for Pluto Magazine. “I’m very passionate about this.” said Lugo. “A teen magazine by teeneagers, that’s pretty cool. And it’s also very aesthetically pleasing, and they care about the issues that I care about . So, I was like, ‘I’m going to put a lot of time and energy into this.’ And then it was fate, because staff writer positions opened up.” Lugo described the interview process as standard. “So, I applied and it was basic questions like: ‘What are you interested in writing? How long have you been writing? Do you have any ideas for our future?’ And I fill out the application,” Lugo said. Lugo’s approach to securing a position on the magazine, however, was far from basic. “And then I didn’t hear anything back, so I was like, ‘You know? I’m going to get in touch with them.’” said Lugo. “So then I messaged them like, ‘Hey, even if I don’t get the position I still think that these are some great ideas.’ And I think on the 26th, I got a message back that said, ‘Congratu-

lations, you’re on the team!’” said Lugo. Similar to her previous perseverance in the sake of passion, Lugo aspires to stay in the writing field. “If I can live off it, then yes, it would be what I would like to go into.” said Lugo. “But, I know that’s not the highest paid or the most realistic expectation, so I’m going to become an English teacher and do this on the side.” Her position on From Pluto magazine seems to be the first step toward this aspiration. The magazine, found on social media sources, is said to be made “For teens By Teens’ and is a source of much of Lugo’s admiration. “I was really excited about my poem being in there.” said Lugo. “But, I think even if it hadn’t been published I would have still bought the first issue, because it’s just teens talking about what I care about, writing things I can relate to, and I think that’s really cool.” Lugo finds her interest in writing has continued to inspire her and hopes it could do the same for others. “Find something you’re really passionate about and go into that, because I feel like as long as you’re passionate about something, it will never feel like a chore.” said Lugo. “With other things I have done that I haven’t been as passionate about it’s been like, ‘Well, I don’t really want this, so I’m not going to go on to the next round, or I have other things going on in my life.’ But this, I’m really, really passionate about, so it just feels right.”

Nurse Laura Robinson working in her new first floor office. Photo by Mallory Moats.

olla High School’s nursing office is composed of Nurse Laura Robison and Nurse Robin Stockstill. Robison is the director of health services for the district. She oversees everything health-related that goes on in the district. Robison and Stockstill have put into place certain precautions to keep the students and staff out of harm’s way. “Everybody’s going to be masked. We’re making sure that everybody having symptoms of sickness needs to stay home,” said Robison. “So things like that would be a new cough or anything that’s different than typical. A baseline cough, any kind of fever, any symptoms really, even if they’re questionable, students need to stay at home. We are sending kids home based on an algorithm that we created with the local health department and the superintendents. So we are sending students home based on what symptoms they’ve had.” Students with possible COVID-19 cases should report to the nurses’ office immediately. It is considered an isolation area and is located downstairs near the cafeteria. “If a teacher sees symptoms, tell the students to go to the nurse, “said Stockstill. “Some students will come on their own if they show two or more symptoms, they go home. They need to stay at home for at least 72 hours. After 72 hours, they can get tested or talk to their doctor about what to do, but it is up to the parents.” In the nurses’ office, the nurses have to be safe in getting the students home. “Everybody that comes into our office is masked,” said Robison. “And if we determine that they are symptomatic, we call whomever their contact is to go home, and we isolate them and we have a system set up to where a parent or guardian comes to pick up a student, they just call it to the attendance office and then the student leaves directly from our office and to the parents, so to prevent more interaction.” Safety isn’t only rational for students’ health, but also for the nurses’. When you go down to their office, they ask that you stop at the door and keep your mask on. Nurses recommend that students wear masks and follow all safety precautions. “A safety tip is assuming that everybody that you interact with has had it, or is around somebody who is positive, and not so much to live in fear,” said Robison. “Just be cognizant that it’s everywhere, and there’s not a whole lot that we can do about it. We all want to keep seeing everybody in school. So, just being smart about things and taking precautions, hand washing, all the stuff that the basic hygiene. There’s not a whole lot that we can do to control it or prevent it, but we can at least slow the spread. If you are symptomatic, the biggest thing is to stay home or get tested.” The janitors have been doing a very thorough cleaning job around the school, but the student body should still be cautious. “I really think everybody has done a great job so far; I’m really impressed with people adhering to the mask requirements, and all

the new rules that we have implemented at this point,” said Robison. “I honestly feel like we’re doing everything that we can. We’ve thought about most scenarios and what we can do to make things better. And there’s just going to always be some set of variables that we can’t control.” There are high risk students and there are low risk students. However, most of the students at RHS are lower risk, according to Robison. “High risk students would be students who have chronic conditions affecting their lungs or things like that,” said Robison. “Students that have asthma, or students that might have just other diagnoses that would make them more susceptible to infection. If somebody has an autoimmune disease, that means your body does not fight infection as well as a rate of a person without autoimmune disease. Those would be considered more of a higher risk. A lot of our students that are weighing that decision have chosen to be virtual. I don’t know that anybody is necessarily low risk, because everybody can get it.” If a student does get COVID-19, the school system employs contact tracing in hopes of preventing the spread of the virus. “The process depends on when the symptom or the symptoms began in that student, but there’s something called contact tracing, which I would be involved with,” said Robison. “That’s something where we would determine when a person would potentially be infectious to other people. We would go by like seating charts, things like that. We also figure out where that individual had been from the time that they were symptomatic until the point of positive tests, and then notify anybody that that person had interacted with. High school is by far the most difficult school in the district to keep track of just because of everybody’s schedules. We are trying to track the movement to the best of our ability.” Both Tylenol and Ibuprofen can mask some of the symptoms of COVID-19. “If somebody comes in and has a history of headaches, then we will ask and it’s going to be based a little bit on nursing judgment,” said Robison. “We’ll ask if they’ve had something to eat, if they have had enough sleep, and some different questions to determine if we think it’s likely that they are sick, or if the incident is isolated. If it’s just a headache because you have been staring at bright lights, we are happy to give Tylenol but we’re just kind of taking it a case by case. The main thing is we don’t want people to come to the office if there is not an emergency, just because we are dealing with more of the students that could potentially be symptomatic. So we don’t want to expose anybody unnecessarily. They can’t rest in the office. We try to get people in and out as quickly as possible just to maintain a limited time of exposure.” The nurses are doing these things for the safety of the students and staff. “It’s not to be mean-- it’s to be safe,” said Stockstill.

FEATURES

Sept. 25, 2020

RHS ECHO

Rolla educators’ advocacy group seeking racial equality in the classroom From ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE, page 1

at the time, Rolla was not at all considered a diverse place to live,” said Sherod. “I would say my experience growing up there would not match other children that have grown up in areas that lack diversity. It wasn’t inherently hateful at all, but there were definitely lots of scenarios where I felt ostracized and people just reminded me of how different I was.” McMillan, who identifies as mixed, acknowledges that race is an important part of identity as is empowering students to be comfortable in their own skin.

“I’m black and white and there’s people from both sides that I’ve faced problems from,” said McMillan. “It’s so common to say ‘I don’t see color’ and that’s a nice idea, but at the same time, you need to see color to understand me and my background, and the differences that we have. There’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s important to remember that we’re so alike, and we can get along, because we’re all just human.” Advocates for Change currently has well over a hundred members on Facebook,

according to Myers, and positive momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. “I think Chantae’s main message was ‘speak up’-- speak up if you hear somebody say something derogatory or racist, whether it’s in your classroom, or sitting in the bleachers, or at Walmart,” said Myers. “Her message was that you can speak up without being aggressive-- without being angry or accusatory.” Meanwhile, Advocates for Change will continue to host open conversations about confronting racism in action as well as compiling lesson plans, discussion starters and other classroom resources for teachers. “I think there was this lack of intentionality to validate my blackness when I was in Rolla,” explained Sherod, “So, to normalize that for other kids and to create a platform where my peers are also learning about culture is so important. It means a lot to me to see educators not just saying ‘I’m not being hateful, so that’s good enough,’ but rather saying, ‘I want to do more than just not have bad intentions. I want to be intentional in a positive way. I want to pour these messages into my students educationally and culturally’ and I think that’s exactly what [Advocates for Change] is doing.”

like if everyone has this like I smile, and they smile back. I know they’re ready to move on...Everything can be taught, but it’s not necessarily learned.” Kinder said. Miss Stormes is an English teacher and the Yearbook advisor and this is her second year teaching. “I know you all are already aware, but the grades actually count this go around. So whenever we dismissed last year, students could turn in work to increase their grade, but nothing could hurt their grade. This year if we do end up having to go online, students are being held accountable. So that does put a little bit more stress on everybody. Being a new school year, we have to move forward so that we can start to make progress again,” Stormes said. There are some resources that help online students such as Slader, Google Meet, Zoom, Sora, or Photomath. “I won’t be holding regular scheduled classes every day because that’s not realistic for students who maybe work or need to watch their younger siblings or who have responsibilities at home during that time. I’m also trying to make sure that my students are already used to the practices of using their web based tools such as Google Classroom, Sora Library Resource Help page, and all those other websites that they’ll need to assess for English language

arts class. That is just in the event that we do go back to distance learning,” Stormes said. Mrs. Angie Anderson teaches Chemistry I and Earth Science I and II. “I would prefer to stay in school, but I completely understand the reasoning behind going online, and I am supportive either way.” Anderson said. However, there are still things that science teachers are unable to do. “Mainly labs. At this point, there’s a lot of safety concerns with labs and people touching stuff and cleaning them frequently. And so we’re trying to make a virtual component of every lab so that if a student is quarantined and the rest of us are still at school, they can still proceed with some kind of lab activity, but it won’t be a hands-on lab activity. I would very much like to, and there’s no way I can do those labs safely... I don’t think that they gain as much knowledge or experience having a virtual course. I think that they’re definitely missing out on that hands on experience” Anderson said. Coach Jon Franks is the weights teacher, football coach, and Track & Field coach. There is a possibility of students hurting themselves if they weight lift wrong. “Well, obviously that’s the thing about being in school is we have constant super-

vision and correction. We’ve got guys that lift all the time and professionals that have glitches in their form. Sometimes it’s hard to stop that.,” Franks said. It is more difficult to do weights online. “At the end of the year last year, we broke off and started online, it did not go very well, because I think everybody was caught off guard...To fix the miscommunication, we are focusing on the enrollment in the classroom and making sure we have daily calendars.” Franks said. Aaron Loker is a history teacher that teaches AP European History and World History. Loker has to record his lectures for his students. “I use an app called screencastmatic, and I just go through my lecture and by myself during my planning hour, and I just record it, so it’s not nearly as long. it’s a very condensed version of it. Everything will be recorded and my voice will be there. Anything I can do to help further the knowledge, or further the learning online,” Loker said. It can be hard to learn from lectures when the students are not there. “I think it’s easier to learn in person. But again, pros and cons on both sides. The major positive is fewer cases of COVID, the spread would be slower,” Loker said.

because I know some things like that can take time, and I wasn’t really expecting it to come this soon, honestly,” Janke was not aware she had set a record before her coach pointed it out. “I didn’t realize until Ellie Rogers and I were invited to a radio station picks-- an all star team kind of thing,” said Janke. “And our coach was talking about both of us. And he said that I had [broken the record] and it really hadn’t even crossed my mind that that was a thing I could do until he announced it.”

Janke has been playing basketball since she was in second grade. She has played for traveling teams, Rolla High School’s girls’ basketball team, as well as Amature Athletic Union (AAU). Janke was also on Rolla’s track and volleyball teams. Janke now attends Lindenwood University in St. Charles where she continues her passion for athletics. She currently plays for their volleyball team. “Sports are just so fun for me,” said Janke.

ecause the organization is unaffiliated with the school (although it is made up of Rolla teachers and faculty), most of the information and resources are digitally shared via Google Drive and Facebook. “From there, that jumped us into Zoom meetings. We started calling the Zoom meetings ‘Conversations with Chantae,’” said Myers. “First we had Andrea Sherod, who didn’t graduate from Rolla, but who grew up here. I invited her to speak to us and basically share her story and experiences [with racism in the school district].” Andrea Sherod first met Myers through church and later had her as an art teacher. Even after Sherod moved away from Rolla in 2009, the two kept in contact similarly to Myers and McMillan. When Myers reached out and asked if she’d be willing to share her experience growing up in Rolla and what insights might benefit teachers, Sherod thoughtfully obliged. “I grew up in Rolla and I’ve seen how diversity has grown since living there, but

Teachers prepare for potential pivot to online

ecause of COVID-19, teachers are preparing for the chance that we go online. Mrs. Cyndi Kinder teaches Algebra I and Algebra II. “My brain is prepared, my Google Classroom is prepared, but my heart is not,” Kinder said. If the student body does go online, students will have to utilize technology. “You have to be careful. I love how technology gives students immediate feedback. And I love how, if you’re stuck and not understanding something, you could scan a problem with Photomath and it’ll show you step by step solutions. But you need to try it for yourself first and use it as a tool to reinforce your progress and you’re learning, and not fall into the trap of allowing it to do all of the work for you, because if the tools are doing all the work you’re not learning or growing,” Kinder said. Online learning can be difficult for students. “I’m losing that personal connection of the interaction and knowing if, like when I see the look on their face of confusion, I know to stop what I’m doing and ask clarifying questions, or when everyone’s writing and then all of a sudden their pencil stops I know they’re ready to keep moving

RHS alum Janke breaks state record

Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has recently confirmed Rolla High School alum, Rebecca Janke, as holding the girl’s basketball record in field goal percentage in the state of Missouri. Janke ranks No. 1 with a 88.7 percent, over 21 percent more than second place. “I was excited,” said Janke. “I wasn’t really sure when they’d actually make it official

Photo submitted by Rebecca Janke.

Sports RHS ECHO

Experienced coaches join RHS

is year, all sports teams are facing changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some teams are facing an additional change: their coaches. The new head soccer coach, Mike Armstrong, will replace previous coach Mike Howard. Howard retired last spring after coaching in Rolla for twenty-nine years. Armstrong is familiar with Howard and his team’s success in the Rolla soccer program. “Coach Howard is a good friend of mine,” said Armstrong. “I got my start in coaching as one of his assistants, so I kind of knew what to expect. And then just being over at Waynesville, we kept in touch and we [compared] what the different programs were like, so it wasn’t a mystery to me. I knew that he’d done a great job and there were high expectations, but I like having a challenge, so that didn’t bother me at all.” Armstrong is changing a few things up this year for the Bulldog soccer players. “As a new coach, one of the things that I hear I’m doing differently is making everything a competition by making the kids try out for their spots,” said Armstrong. “I did that kind of stuff differently. We did a whole ranking system where you had to outperform everybody to earn your spot, and that was a little different for them.” Ultimately, Armstrong has a simple goal in mind for his team this year. “I just want to beat [COVID-19] and actually get to play,” said Armstrong. “The other teams keep cancelling on us.”

Soccer is not the only team coping with a change in their routine. New volleyball coach Tammy Miller, who is coming off a 22-year stint at Logan-Rogersville, can relate to the changes COVID-19 has caused for her team. “[COVID-19] has put another spin on it,” said Miller. “A lot of times in the summertime, or even now, we’ll go do things as a team, like going floating, going to the lake, or going to somebody’s house to do team building stuff. I’ve not been able to do that, which has kind of been weird. Also, having kids social distance and trying to keep up with all the steps has been a challenge. Like, trying to wash or sanitize hands or trying to stay away from each other. ‘Wear a mask’ and ‘Don’t wear a mask.’ So, that’s been hard.” However, COVID-19 has not affected Miller’s coaching philosophy. “How am I as a coach?” asked Miller. “I have high expectations. I’m a pusher. I’m a demander. I expect excellence, understanding there is a way to get there.” As for the overall program, it appears the values will remain the same. “We try to develop leaders,” said Miller. “We want to practice success that translates to life. We want to develop young ladies. We want to train in reality, honesty, trust, respect and positive attitudes and provide a meaningful learning in volleyball and in life. We want to make improvements fun, develop character and self confidence, and understand that the game of volleyball is not life or death.”

Soccer fans cheer at home

s COVID-19 rages across the nation, interrupting plans and destroying lifestyles, it is a rare gift to have an event go smoothly this school year. Rolla High School has allowed sports to continue expressing their support, spirit, and hardwork -- six feet apart of course-in order to provide students the activities they all look forward to. The first home game of the boys’ soccer season was on September 16, 2020. “I feel very excited about this event,” said Abby Turner, a fan of the boys soccer team in the fall and a key player on the girls soccer team in the spring. “I feel like we’re going to do great and I feel like we’re going to win. It’s the one thing I can look forward to.” However, there are restrictions. While flurries of vouchers pass through the hands of players to friends and families, there never seem to be enough. In turn, many are sequestered to a seat outside the fence. This doesn’t deter supportive fans. “We love the support but we also know we want to keep playing, so we ask people to be smart,” said Matt Calvert, assistant coach of the RHS soccer team. “We’re doing the voucher thing. We’re keeping it as safe as we can while keeping the stands filled this weekend.” The unlucky few who are unable to get vouchers do not go unnoticed by fans or players. “It’s nice to see the kids on the outside, the fans who are still trying to come to support the teams when they actually can’t even come inside,” said Jerry Laster, a supportive fan of RHS soccer.

Photo by Belle Staley. Even when the games are canceled, the coaches still find a way to let the team exercise the skills they have been honing for the season. “So, we’ve lost a lot of games. Some of our games have been canceled,” said Amy Laster, mother of senior Lane Mabe and sophomore Carter Mabe. “Some of the family can’t come in, but [the players] are able to still have fun when they’re still playing. One of the first games was canceled so we had a scrimmage between varsity and JV. The coach is doing everything to let it play so that’s good.” While it is unpredictable, the team and the coaches will take advantage of every game they can get.“It’s tough and unpredictable,” said Calvert. “We don’t know how many games we’re gonna get in, we’re not gonna know when our seasons are gonna be cut short. We’re kind of taking it game by game. It looks good so far; we haven’t had too many games cut out, so we’re staying positive.”

Sept. 25, 2020

Camaradarie over competitions in 2020 band season

Photo by Quinn Guffey.

he Rolla High School Marching Band’s 2020 season has only just begun and already they are running into COVID-19 related complications. Social distancing is difficult with a group of about 200 students, even more so when they are blowing through instruments. Band director Michael Goldschmidt has been trying his best to keep his students safe during this complicated time. “This year we’re doing the same process that the school is, so anytime students are closer than six feet apart in our rooms, they have to have a mask on,” Goldschmidt said. There have already been a few roadblocks discovered, though. “The big thing that we’re finding is in order for you to play your instrument, you can’t have a mask on,” Goldschmidt said. “And so our school isn’t necessarily set up the best for the size of program we have-- its facilities are far too small. We are struggling with finding spaces that we can use appropriately for social distancing while being able to play.” Goldschmidt and fellow band director John Slowensky have already made some tough decisions, such as cancelling summer band camp. “This year, we decided not to have any band camps or anything like that before school started-- just due to liability in getting everyone together and setting all those precedents, so we opted not to have the summer camps,” Goldchmidt said. Unfortunately for the band, all competitions were canceled this year. “We had already anticipated that that they would probably be canceled so it was in the back of our minds that, ‘Hey, this probably isn’t going to happen,’ and it wasn’t very surprising when things started shutting down,” Goldschmidt said. “A typical marching competition brings together 20 or more bands from all around the state, so it would definitely be a hot spot as far as we’re concerned,” Goldschmidt said. While competitions might be out of the picture, the band plans to proceed with a modified version of their show. “We still are planning to do a show. In fact, we are planning to do several different smaller shows. Guard will be on the field doing the normal things that they do with equipment. They’ll have flags, probably rifles, maybe sabors.” Senior trumpet section leader Heidi Dunn was a little disappointed with the cancellation of the large marching show they normally perform. “It’s really disappointing to not be able to put a show on the field for my senior year, because that is definitely the part that I enjoy the most about band,” Dunn said. “So once that was taken out, I was really upset.” Dunn is still trying to remain optimistic. “I’m still excited for what they have planned,” Dunn said. “And I think it’s pretty cool to be able to be a part of these changes for my senior year. Maybe we can have a more relaxed season, and that could

include doing fun stuff that we normally wouldn’t do during competition season.” Junior and percussion section leader Angela Yang was also upset. “On one hand, I’m disappointed because I don’t get to have that experience with the freshmen or my section like I usually would,” Yang said. “But I’m actually kind of looking forward to this year. I mean on the other hand, just staying safe is the best thing I could want for my section. So, if this is the best option, which I do believe it is, then I’’m happy that we’re taking it.” Junior drum major Morgan Korich experienced some nostalgia. “[Marching band] is normally whenever everybody makes their best memories, and makes really good friends, great bonds and relationships,” Korich said. “I think it’s kind of rough to hear after we had everything planned out.” Senior color guard captain Kaylee Stanley is having a tough time this season as well. “I feel really discouraged about this being my senior year, and especially since I’m captain this year,” Stanley said. Friday, Aug. 28 was Rolla High School’s Pride Night. The band performed Rolla’s fight song and “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as participated in senior night. Per COVID-19 policies, only a certain number of people were allowed into the stands on the 28th. To regulate this, Rolla gave football players a number of vouchers, six for freshman, sophomore, and junior players on the Rolla team and eight for Rolla seniors. The opposing team was also given a handful of vouchers. Rolla High School’s marching band was not. Senior band and guard members felt the sting. “I think it’s unfair because that is the only thing that they’re involved in and their parents would like to see,” Dunn said. “I know that most parents would like to see their kids involved in their extracurricular activity, and for most kids band is their extracurricular activity.” Stanley offered a solution to this. “I was really upset when I saw they were doing Pride Night, and they could have vendors out there, but we can’t perform a show,” Stanley said. “That was really sketchy. I understand why the band didn’t get tickets-- it was just the fight song and the Star Spangled Banner. It’s nothing special. However, I know my mom was really upset that she didn’t get to come watch me. So, I feel like the seniors should have gotten about two tickets each.” Following these interviews, band members were given the option to sign up for two vouchers for home games. Goldschmidt hopes that business for the band will soon resume as normal. “We’re doing our part to at least get the students out there, get them performing,” Goldschmidt said. “We’re still able to do our pre-show, we’re still able to do our halftime-- as much as we can for this season. Hopefully, people will start cooperating, wearing masks, doing their parts, so we can reduce the spread and get things back to normal for the band.”

Sept. 25, 2020

Opinion

RHS ECHO

Hunting essential to con- RHS students divided trolling deer population over school face covering mandate E very year, September marks the beginning of deer archery season. There is a great need for deer hunting in Missouri. Since the deer population has seen an incredibly steady increase since the 1930s, it has grown so high that hunting them has become encouraged and even needed. In 1925, the deer population was approximately 400. In 2019, the deer population was approximately 1.4 million. With deer being so populous in Missouri, you would have a difficult time finding someone who has not hit a deer with their car. Over 38,000 deer are hit by cars every year. When a deer is hit by a car, obviously many problems follow. Along with damage to a car, the driver, or sometimes multiple vehicles, the meat is usually wasted as well. If you do hit a deer, you have to

contact a conservation agent and before you can possess the animal. The best way to control an animal’s population is to hunt the animal in a controlled and respectful way. This starts with educating our citizens about the need and benefits for hunting. Some groups such as PETA are against hunting wild game. Their argument is that it is cruel to injure or kill any animal. While it is true that deer and other hunted game are sometimes injured, hunters are educated and trained to cleanly hunt animals in a way that provides an ethical death. Not hunting the deer leads to them being injured or killed by cars and sometimes going to waste. Therein lies the trade off of risking injuring the animal so that the population can be ethically controlled. Many deer hunters also donate a vast amount of meat that they kill. In 2019 alone, 260,000 pounds of venison (deer meat) were donated to the Share the Harvest program-- a charity formed in 1992 so that hunters could donate meat to the less fortunate. This is one huge benefit to the community. Hunting deer is not only sustainable for the deer population, but for people all across Missouri.

t is pretty hard to get through the day without hearing someone say ‘Wear your mask.’ I am sure many are aware of the current COVID-19 situation, but are still struggling to understand the effects on different communities. Here at Rolla High School, the biggest change is the mandatory mask wearing policy. However, the amount of challenges presented against this evidently controversial subject is unsurprising. The biggest question surrounding wearing a mask is simply ‘Is it necessary?’ I mean, the school is going to all this trouble to enforce it, so it must at least help… right?

I presented the question to several high school students. “I think that wearing a mask is a good thing, because even if it is a slight inconvenience, you are still protecting your peers from potential harm,” said senior Layla Sutton. “If I was told tomorrow that they do not do anything and it was a hoax, I would be content with the fact that I cared for other people.” Junior Ashley Wood adds to Sutton’s empathetic point. “I think it is necessary [to wear a mask] for people who are high-risk or know someone who is in high risk of getting very ill and maybe even dying from [COVID-19],” said Wood. “And if students did not wear a mask, then the outbreak would be spreading much faster.” Despite mask mandates, people have proven that they are still entitled to their own opinions.

Work isn’t working: student responsibilities mount

oing to school and working at the same time can be a struggle, now more than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. More people than ever appear mentally exhausted and losing sight of what they want their lives to look like. People are

out of jobs and out of school, so those still working and keeping their attendance up are now required by most employers to pick up the slack in the workplace. But with increased hours, in addition to going to school, life can get pretty stressful. Homework is often left unfinished and basic needs cannot not be met, such as hygiene and nutrition. This can lead to grades slipping, and ultimately a lacking work ethic. In an article written by Brookings.edu, with students trying to bridge a learning gap and instructors scrambling to put online information together, the lower achievement of students is almost expected: “Current school closures have added

to the time that most students already spend at home during the summer months without explicit face-to-face instruction from teachers. Meanwhile, teachers are scrambling to adapt content for an online platform and parents are juggling work responsibilities (if not joblessness) with caring for and educating their own children. Students themselves are faced with isolation, anxiety about a deadly virus, and uncertainty about the future. In so many ways, the current situation is unprecedented for most people alive today.” With a sense of uncertainty about the future, it can add additional stress in that nobody knows what to do to be prepared,

especially for college or high school students looking for job opportunities in their area of interest. Learning online rather than actively in the classroom is where this dilemma begins. This limits personal instruction between the student and instructor as well as hands-on learning. Even if those skills are mastered virtually, students are filled with anxiety once it is time to apply those skills to an everyday job-- assuming the job is still available because of the pandemic. This can cause an irreversible gap in the working force.

Football: It’s a contacts sport (continued) From FOOTBALL, page 1

n comparison, Rolla High School is made up of ten coaches, and with an average of 100 players each year, prominent names do not go unnoticed. “It’s not every family, but a lot of your highly competitive families have multiple children and they’re all going to come through the same sport,” said RHS assistant coach Brian Owens. “Now I don’t think it’s just football. I can think of some other sports. But if dad’s ‘got his name on the wall in the trophy case’we know the son’s coming through.” While a family name can spawn opportunity, what an athlete does with an opportunity is his own choice. Gary Miles was the Rolla football coach from 1988 to 2002. Miles was not only a beneficial addition to the Rolla coaching staff, he also was added to the Missouri Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Miles’ son, Travis Miles, was named all-state quarterback in 1996, having accomplished 1,396 passing yards,

and 19 TDs by the end of his senior year as captain. Travis was also distinguished as a key player during 1994-- Rolla’s second undefeated season since 1954. After high school, Travis Miles went on to win two different national championships for the NCAA Division II school Northwest Missouri State’s football team. Travis Miles was an amazing athlete regardless of his father’s position on the football team, and he clearly distinguished the line between nepotistic opportunity and natural talent. “It’s who shows great effort and practice and who’s really committed about what we’re doing. We look for those kinds of players,” said assistant football coach Josh Corbid. However, being familiar with the program and those involved can allow a player to be recognized above the nameless masses. “Whenever I do look at somebody and I do know them, it definitely helps a little bit because I can bridge that relationship easier than with somebody I don’t know,” said Neal Myers, an assistant coach at RHS. “What’s ironic is being born and raised here. I’m able to a lot of times--I call it the old Kevin Bacon rule-- but somehow I can find a connection with them if they’ve been from around here and I just know their family.” Even being able to observe the atmosphere of the team can be a huge benefit. “So they’ve kind of got an upper hand,

especially if they’ve been around the program since they were younger, and they’ve seen it,” said Owens. “They’ve been to some practices to watch their older brothers. I mean it kind of gives them an upper hand in that aspect.” The “old-boy-network” is a social construct built on cronyism (under-the-table deals) and past connections. However, the practice seems to be a thing of the past. “In the past I would say [nepotism] could have,” said Owens. “But I don’t believe it does right now. I think Coach Frank does a pretty outstanding job as the head coach getting kids in the program, getting kids to buy into the program, getting kids to work hard for their teammates. We needed a change of culture when he came in. And if we had a Rolla guy, I don’t know if they would have changed the culture like he did.” Coach Franks has been coaching for 27 years, most recently as the head coach of RHS football for the past five years. Frank chalks up success to a mixture of hard work, mental toughness, and passion and refutes any accusation of cronyism. “We just pay attention to things and make sure we’re getting the best people we can on the field, because we think we owe it to all the kids, to our community, and to the school to put the best product we can on the field,” said Franks. “Sometimes we might make mistakes- that’s just part of

making decisions-- but as far as nepotism and cronyism goes, we really think that’s pretty void in our program.” Neil Myers agrees with Franks, and adds that one of the most important concepts on the field is the relationships between player and coach. “In my eyes, it’s about forming those relationships,” said Myers. “Because ultimately, it’s a team game. So there’s got to be a lot of trust within.” The RHS football team is built on relationships, whether it be between father and son throwing a football in the backyard, older brother and younger tackling each other twenty years later at the Thanksgiving game, or the player and the coach roaring in delight after a turbulent win, the relationships football create is what matters most. Nepotism and cronyism is the result of our society. In every corner of the world, privilege of the familiar is paired with opportunity, thus making way for success. While it would be ignorant to believe RHS is void of any “-isms,” to disregard the fact that each coach fights valiantly to instill values of hard work and passion in order to cultivate talent would be a disservice to each player and coach in the history of RHS football.

Have an opinion you’d like to share? Email your letter to the editor at rollahsecho@gmail.

ECHO EXTRAS

Sept. 25, 2020

Dear Echo

RHS ECHO

. . . can you hear me?

“Honey, I cut my hair!” quarantine ‘dos make the news Photos by Mallory Moats & Belle Staley

Angela Yang said, “I thought it would be nice to have a change, and I thought it would grow back by the time we had school, though I was very wrong. Ultimately, I decided no one would see it so, why not?” Dear Undecided Student, We hear you. It’s totally okay that you’re unsure of what you want to do after high school. Sometimes the high pressure of teenage dreams can seem overwhelming, especially when it feels like everyone around you has already somehow made up their mind. The unsalted truth is that very few people know exactly what they want, even if they advertise they do. In other words, you’re not the minority, just the misguided majority. Still, it can be spooky when asked to make speciﬁc decisions about the looming ghost of the future. Truth is that colleges will give you some leeway on the stupid descisions you make in highschool which end in bad grades, less screen time, or simply a lunch detetion. That is not to say school does not matter or that getting good grades are a waste of all of our time. This is simply to suggest that there are other things out there besides high school. Don’t be afraid to try new things out. Even if you have no idea what you are into, taking a class in a certain subject or ﬁeld might help you. No one is asking you to have a spreadsheet or even assume your plans are “set in stone.” After all, there is a huge world out there, and you gotta get your steps in somehow!

Dear Drained Friend, We hear you. If you are feeling emotionally drained from a friendship, you deﬁnitely have work to do on the relationship. If you are putting time, energy, and effort into a friendship in which you are getting very little in return, some communication is in order. It would be best to talk to this person, because it could potentially be harmful to your mental health to continue a relationship with that person. Consider what your friend might have going on in his or her life. Does he or she seem distracted lately? It’s possible that your friend does value your friendship but has simply gotten a little uninterested lately. In most cases, though, this is a slimy case of a one-sided relationship and talking to your friend might help, but sometimes you are not so lucky. You may lose a friend that you thought you’d have around for a while, but in the end you should make the decision that is best for you and what you care about. And who knows-sometimes people have a mysterious way of showing back up in your life later on.

Alexis Gillman said, “I was in the shower, and I was like bangs would be fun, and then me and my sister cut bangs later that night. I like it better after I cut my hair, but also the bangs kind of got hard to maintain so I grew them out.”

Mr. Loker said, “It was really long, and I got tired of it being a hassle. I thought it would be interesting to get a quarantine cut, so my partner cut my hair. Mostly, I cut my hair just because.” Brenan Kean said, “I originally cut it off because it wouldn’t fit in my helmet, and then I dyed it orange because I like David Bowie.”

Need advice? ECHO has your back. Submit your anonymous message using the QR code.

Dace Murrary said, “I thought it was the better look and would keep hair out of my face. I would have to say it definitely looks better, and goes with my style more. And it stays out of my eyes. So it’s a win-win.”

Isolation sparks local music revival, musicians say

hile it may seem the pandemic has spurred nothing but unrest for months on end, many in the music industry have been able to see a different view. The pandemic’s crushing effects will continue to overflow into music culture, prompting the question: Can we expect to see a shift in the business model and values of the nation’s music industry. And if so, how does our small town stack up? According to international reports from Rolling Stone, sales in gear and software have skyrocketed online, seeing an additional increase in beginner equipment so ld. Merle Alderson, longtime owner of Rolla’s all-things-music hotspot, Merle’s Music, reports initially positive blowback. , “When we opened back up in May, a lot of people were in quarantine and.” Alderson said. “Things really took off in May, June and July.” Alderson is not the only in town to report a trending interest in music.

It’s no surprise that people phased through a period of inspiration during a hot Missouri summer in isolation. The interest in learning new instruments, however, has not translated to in-person lessons. “This place has been empty, but I haven’t seen people signing up for lessons,” said Alan Sperling, who has spent the last 50 years teaching quitar. “I think they are worried about the one-on-one lessons being close together.” This trend of COVID-19 awareness has been seen in all aspects of Rolla’s music industry. “We were going normal, or below normal in January, February, and April.’ said Alderson. “And then we had to close down in April, so I was expecting a pretty bad month.” More noticeably were the changes found in already established musicians. I have seen some people have become more prolific, really have taken advantage of the time, while others have not lost interest, but simply stagnated.” said Jason Adams. Music teachers and stores within Rolla attribute a majority of their increased business to these musicians no longer committed to common societal scheduling. Stores have seen larger amounts of guitars and software sold than in previous years in the area and not only find this beneficial to their business, but as a sign of hope for change in the music industry. “Maybe with all the people someone

will come out with a new talent level, a new guitar hero.” said Alderson. “ You’ve probably heard of the old ones, Jimmy Hendrix, Eddie Van Halene, maybe it will be one of those types of people who come out.” A common association with new hope is technology. “What’s been interesting is to see established musicians getting together online in their homes from all around the world, entire orchestras coming together.” said Sperling. Adams, owner of Modern Guitar Studio, attributes technology to the sustenance of his business along with the potential paramount change the pandemic will create in the music industry. “‘Hopefully people can find a way to change the old system.” said Adams. “The old system isn’t working. You couldn’t see live music even before the pandemic. It was hard to go out and see small-time live music. You could see giant concerts, but there was no culture for seeing small live music, which is a scary thing. Small music is what creates the big thing, for every Taylor Swift there are a million people singing in bars out there. You have to have one thing to have the other.” The change will not come without its setbacks. “Most of us agree that online lessons don’t work,” said Sperling. “You can’t get to a person and move their hand just a

certain way. It’s easy to get bad habits. I would rather have somebody right here where i can show them and teach them that way.” On a broader spectrum, the independence that comes with technology will also have its downsides. “That’s the problem within the music industry today, you can almost say it may be too easy,” said Adams. “So many people do not study the fundamentals because they have the individualism thing. Individualism can be good, but it can also be detrimental. If you find yourself thirty years in realizing that you’ve just invented the wheel. The wheel is important, but they already invented the wheel. Musically it’s important to get on people’s shoulders and keep evolving. Maybe people are hibernating and self teaching, but is that work they’re going to have to do over in the end. It’s important to not waste time, so if you’re going to take lessons to learn something or be a musician take lessons from someone that is going to properly teach you. That’s going to save you some steps, not cost you steps.” Whether changes are considered beneficial or simply inevitable, spikes in participation in the music industry assure their existence both in and out of Rolla. “Music is supposed to say something.” said Sperling. “This is the experience they’re going to say, they’re going to talk about.”