CHiNa ProGraM
NEwt GiNGriCH
Mr. Gleich summarizes the Chinese Exchange students’ experiences Page 2
Priory students weigh in on the presidential candidate hopeful. Page 3.
THE RECORD
Vol. Xlii, issuE 12 2/9/12
tHE oFFiCial studENt NEwsPaPEr oF saiNt louis PriorY
Blues Triggering Fan Revival In case you haven’t been paying any attention to the world of hockey recently, the St. Louis Blues are competing for first in the Western Conference. This wave of success has really stimulated the city’s fan base. As senior Carter Gage puts it, “I’d say about 2/3 of the school could care less about the NHL. Until the Blues started winning, I could count the true fans on a couple fingers. Now they’re all the rage.” With the youthful talent that continues to appear after some incredible drafting over the last couple seasons, this success does not appear to be vanishing soon. The average age of the Blues is in the bottom half of the league and many of the most important players on the team are below that average, including David Perron, Matt D’Agostini, and T.J. Oshie. There is no doubt that new coach Ken Hitchcock has played a huge role in this record-setting season. Before Hitchcock took over early in the season, the Blues had a losing record and appeared to be heading towards another mediocre season, but after Hitchcock came to St. Louis, the Blues have gone 26-7-6 as of Thursday night, and have subsequently soared to the top of the Western Conference and the NHL. Hitchcock came in and loosened up the style of play, allowing the young talent to succeed. The biggest adjustment he made though was the
By Clay Swanger Staff Writer
defensive attitude. With both Jaroslav Halak and All-Star Brian Elliot playing extraordinarily in net, and the team defense doing outstanding, the Blues have cut their goals against average in half and are undefeated when scoring 3 goals in a game. But with sudden success comes
haters, and there are certainly many of those around as many people around hockey still are not believers in the Blues’ success. This doubt has even come about within our school. Junior Thomas Burton recently posted this as his Facebook status: “To all you so-called “Blues fans”: First of all, hockey sucks. Secondly, this exact same thing happened
last year. They got hot and won a few games early in the year, but, in the end, they lost because they were are not a very good team. That is all.” This sort of thing did not happen last year. This is the latest that the Blues have ever been at the top of their conference. And this success has not been a few games, but well over 30 at this point. All of us honest Blues fans can be thankful that we have good hockey fans like Carter Gage and Alex Haueisen to support us against such negative statements. Gage stated in a response to Burton, “Some players (Oshie as an example) are finally playing up to their capabilities. Davis Payne was not right for this team, and the Blues are a genuine threat in the NHL under Hitchcock.” Haueisen added, “Finally, just look at the players, it honestly reads like an all-star team: Backes, D’Agostini, Oshie, Stewart... This team isn’t hot. They’re just good, and they will continue to be.” It is clear now that the Blues are legitimate, and will continue to be legitimate. Those people that deny their abilities deny the stats themselves and have absolutely no ground to argue on. Without a doubt this team will be competing for a division title (in a loaded Central Division with 4 teams in the top 6 of the West), a number one seed, and a championship, in this year and in the years to come.
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tHE rECord staFF t H E P r i o rY r E C o r d @ G M a i l . C o M
Editor iN CHiEF luKE d slaBauGH
laYout Editor trEVor JiN
CoNtENt Editor CartEr GaGE The Record is the official student publication of Saint Louis Priory School in St. Louis, Missouri. It is produced by student editors/ staff members. Its purpose is threefold: to inform students of events in the community; to encourage discussion of local, national, and international issues; and to serve as a training ground for budding journalists, photographers, and graphic designers. The Record accepts contributions from all members of the Pr iory community, including students, faculty, and alumni.
China Winter Program Saint Louis Priory, Villa Duchesne and Barat Academy joined hands this year to host 47 students from Taiwan and China for their winter holiday. The students from Taiwan came from top schools in and around Taipei, while those from China came from excellent schools in Beijing and Changchun. The two-week educational and cultural experience, running from January 21 through February 5, included home stays for the 24 boys and 23 girls. Our sophomore and junior exchange students were paired with students from each of the three schools, and additional “day hosts” were assigned to
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fringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy, or material disruption of the educational process. Student edi tors apply professional standards to the production of the newspaper and are solely responsible for all content, both explicit and implicit. Letters to the Editors are
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enrich the student experience. Activities highlighting the two week stay were: a day long trip to the University of Missouri-Columbia, a New Year’s Eve reception, a service trip to the Food Bank, an excursion to the Science Center, a talent show by the exchange students, several sporting events, calligraphy workshops, numerous classroom visitations, field trips into the city to experience the life and culture of our community, and a Farewell Dinner highlighting the two week
experience. Administrators and teachers from each of the three schools were thrilled to host such a large and diverse contingency this year. They were especially grateful for the hospitality their families and students who have made such a personal visit possible. This program truly advances the concept of a global society, bringing together young men and women from diverse cultures and backgrounds in a warm and caring environment. Photos and more details are forthcoming, as we will capture and cherish the time spent with our friends from overseas.
College Signing Day
The Record will not publish content considered
By Mr. Gleich
Four members of the senior class will pursue the opportunity to play sports at a competitive level in college. It turns out, interestingly enough, that all three co-captains from the state champion Varsity soccer team are committed to play in college. Andrew Rhodes and Kyle Martin, a striker and back, respectively, elected to play for D1 Colleges. Andrew will attend Holy Cross and Kyle will be a Xavier Musketeer. Co-captain and midfielder Jacob Mohrmann will play for Washington University in St. Louis. Football cap-
By Luke D Slabaugh Editor In Chief
tain and wide receiver Seve
Esparrago will take his talents to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a college featuring D3 athletics (the same division as the aforementioned Wash U). Channel 5 news stopped by Priory on Monday to cover the signings of Martin and Rhodes. Both Mohrmann and Rhodes were featured as Athletes of the Week in The Record. All four men were honored in some way or another by the state for their outstanding performances in high school play, specifically in the 2011 season.
Editorial
Newt Gingrich Analysis Patrick Lindmark: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is a Republican candidate for President of the United States. Gingrich has Conservative views on almost all issues. In terms of economics, he claims he can balance the budget in five years. The former Speaker also plans to lower taxes, limit unemployment benefits, and employ a system close to Reaganomics. Gingrich has aggressive foreign and defense policies. He wants to increase “eavesdropping” abilities for counter-terrorism forces. Gingrich has criticized Obama and Bush on their actions towards Iran and North Korea, claiming that they are “a form of appeasement.” Gingrich is opposed to torturing suspected terrorists and criminals, except in “extraordinary cases.” Gingrich’s social platform is much like that of other Republican candidates. Gingrich wants to cut funding for abortion services, ban gay marriage, and put more spending towards immigration reform. However, Gingrich has a strange view that no other candidates have. He wants NASA to further space technology and try to achieve more ambitious space missions. One goal that Gingrich has set is a permanent manned base on the moon by 2020. Newt Gingrich is a candidate with a great deal of political experience and conservative views. Alex Noddings: Personally, I favor Newt Gingrich over the other candidates in this year’s Republican Primary because of his experience. As Speaker of the House under the Clinton administration, he received first-hand experience with the legislative process, negotiating across the aisle on a number of issues. He and President Clinton were able to compromise in order to bring about a number of important reforms, such as welfare reform and the balancing of the federal budget. As president, he would be able to promote this kind of bipartisanism, something which has been a serious issue for at least the past six years. Neither Santorum nor Romney can boast this level of involvement in the passing of legislature. Also, because of this experience, he is a master of debate; I was amazed at how he was able to simultaneously receive and re-
turn fire with Perry, Paul, Bachmann, and Romney all at once. I am confident that if he were the Republican presidential candidate, he would trump the President in this category. He speaks his views, stands by them, and rarely changes them even when they are controversial. However, it is because of this edge that he may not be the best choice for Republican presidential nominee. His appearance and manner are not what many consider to be “presidential”; Romney trumps him in this category. Also, due to the facts that he cheated on his wife and was fined $300,000 because of an ethics violation, leading to his resignation, many people see him as exactly the type of politician whom we are trying to get rid of. All in all, some of his less mainstream views and less politically correct statements could hurt his image with the valuable independent voting bloc in the presidential election. Although he may have my proverbial vote, if he wants to be taken seriously as a potential candidate, he will have to re-make his image into a more dignified, stately personage, and do it fast. Luke Slabaugh: The Record does not in any way, shape, or form endorse any of the standing Republican nominees for the presidential nomination. However, as a United States citizen who will be eligible to vote in the 2012 election –and not having written an opinion for this newspaper since August – I will give my two cents worth. People tend to be caught up in Gingrich’s fidelity issues, having been married twice and accused of cheating on both. That’s a tender topic if you ask anyone, and it’s one best left forgotten by the media and pundits. I feel like most citizens want to elect a man who is of high, upstanding moral character and does everything right. Everyone envisions the smiling, confident, well-spoken Christian gentleman sitting in the Oval office every day with a framed photo of his two beautiful children and wife holding a puppy. However, this image is hardly ever real. We’ve seen past the flaws and several mistakes our politicians have made in their checkered pasts, for example, John F Kennedy’s affair with Marilyn Monroe or incumbent president Barack Obama’s
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drug use in college. In my opinion, no one should discriminate against Newt’s judgment, and should give him a clean slate. I admire how Newt has focused his campaign on taking down Obama. Sure, he’s thrown some blows at fellow candidate Mitt Romney several times during the debates, but the way Newt carries himself (especially after destroying Romney in the South Carolina primary) suggests that he is determined to bring change to the White House now. He paints himself as an authentic conservative candidate, one whose contrast on both political and social issues will draw more votes and make the Republicans victorious. During the Florida debate, Newt said, “Every time we nominate a moderate, we lose.”Of course, he was referring to the 1996 and 2008 presidential elections, which were massive failures for Bob Dole and John McCain, respectively. Rather, Newt has highlighted his campaign by promoting how he worked with the pride of all Republican presidents, the late Ronald Reagan (whose son endorsed him already). With this mindset and support, Newt’s sights are set on Obama. All he needs now are the votes and delegates. Desperately. His comments about expanding space technology and running several space shuttle missions a day disturbed me. The idea is unrealistic. When I heard him say how he wanted to have the best space program in the world and – get this – establish a colony on the Moon (that’s right, the place where there’s, like, no air), I said to myself, “Who even cares about the Moon?”After all, we as a nation do not have the money to fund all those missions, nor do we have enough energy to expend on something as otherworldly as outer space. In response to Newt’s proposed space program-funding, Ron Paul said,“I don’t think we should go to the Moon. I think maybe we should send some politicians up there sometimes”to a chorus of laughter. Which is funny, because when we fail to waste trillions of dollars on colonizing the moon, we can always tell Newt that he’s the president up there. Although Republican candidate Rick Santorum may already have that position. But that’s just my opinion.
Editorials
4 Valentine’s Day Dating Tips By Tommy Yoon
Valentine’s Day occurs on Tuesday, February 14. To to impress your lovely ladies, or ladies that will soon be yours, here are some great ideas to do for your special evening. First, since it’s Valentine’s Day, so a gift is mandatory. Flowers are the best gifts that girls can receive, besides diamonds and weddings. Take initiative and purchase a set of red or pink rose at either Dierberg’s or Trader Joe’s for, in my history, I have found them to be the best place for beautiful flowers your sweetheart will enjoy. Another great gift to add is chocolate. Many girls like the cliché heart shaped box, but as long as you get the kind of candy she loves, she won’t complain. Just make sure you don’t give her too much chocolate, as such a gesture might display a bad message you neither intend or wish her to re-
Staff Writer
ceive A final gift idea is a stuffed animal. Bunnies, kittens, and horses are great ideas, but bears are the best stuffed animal. A teddy bear is not only cute, but usually displays a heart-felt, loving message that she will cherish forever. Dinner is the most important part of the Valentine’s evening. You want to take her to a restaurant that’s romantic and out of the ordinary. Charlie Gitto’s, (an expensive, Italian option at the intersection of Olive Blvd and Chesterfield Pkwy), Cheesecake Factory, Sugo’s, Kobe Steak House, PF Chang’s, or The Melting Pot (another pricey restaurant) are all great dining options. You always want to step a little out of your price range on holidays to impress the lady. However, there are alternatives to restaurants, such as a private dinner. “I would
Cryptogram
- Newt Gingrich
take her to my mother’s house for a romantic home-cooked meal,” said Taj. Have an activity planned for after dinner. A movie is never a bad idea. You have 2 film choices this year. Either take your woman to the theater and watch The Vow. Or take her home and watch the classic 2004 film The Notebook. Every girl dreams of watching either of these films with their sweetheart on this day. So take the hit, guys. Just watch one of the movies. Even senior Zach Behnen says of The Notebook, “It is a sad but good movie. As long as you watch it with a girl.” There are some tips for your special day. Have a happy Valentine’s Day. If you take anything away from this article, just make sure to remember flowers. Every girl wants flowers.
Puzzles
Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1. ____odil 5. He had the golden touch 10. Louver 14. Margarine 15. Critical 16. Long prison sentence 17. Backside 18. Go-between 20. Half woman and half fish 22. Social deportment 23. The genus of
macaws 24. Concur 25. A possible significance 32. Pasture 33. 1000 kilograms 34. Fall behind 37. Whip 38. Rub 39. Small brook 40. Nevertheless 41. Bullwinkle for example 42. A series of connected rooms
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43. Theorization 45. Killed 49. Sheep sound 50. Extremely wicked 53. Add together 57. Mortician 59. Cards with just one symbol 60. Stair 61. Spy 62. Formal dress 63. Party thrower 64. Warms 65. Initial wager
Sudoku Difficulty - Not Fun
DOWN 1. Student residence 2. Out of the wind 3. Dread 4. According to an established custom 5. Lunatic 6. Chilled 7. Excavated 8. “Smallest particle” 9. Stiff hair 10. Informal language 11. Metric unit of capacity 12. Previously 13. Brusque
19. Silly 21. Dry 25. In doubt 26. Approximately 1.6 km 27. Partially carbonized vegetable matter 28. A Musketeer 29. Breakfast bread 30. Surmise 31. A single thing 34. 53 in Roman numerals 35. Countertenor 36. Secluded valley 38. Adult male swan 39. Turnip cabbage
Cryptogram
- Newt Gingrich
41. Country estate 42. Defraud 44. Terminates 45. Quieten 46. Slowly, in music 47. Anagram of “Aside” 48. Klutzy 51. Great Salt Lake state 52. Wise one 53. Copper 54. Religious figure 55. Semiaquatic salamander 56. Feudal worker 58. New Zealand parrot
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News
Hockey Caps Off Its Season By Peter Cogan
It’s safe to say that Priory hockey had one of its more disappointing seasons. After coming off of a 6-14-1 regular season and a 13-0 loss to Westminster, the Rebels entered the Wickenheiser Cup tournament as the 14th seed out of 16 teams. They faced off against a strong Francis Howell Central team who won the Challenge Cup only a year ago. The Rebels had an especially young team this year with only three seniors: Colin Kopsky, Brendan Thomas, and Alec Atkinson. Kopsky and Atkinson led the team in scoring, and Thomas wasn’t far behind. Combined, the seniors scored 31 of the team’s 72 points, and over half of the team’s goals. Priory was shut out in the first
Staff Writer
game of the playoffs 6-0. Needing to win the second game in the series to stay alive, the Rebels improved and only lost 6-1, but still the effort was not enough. Howell Central scored early in the game and was up 4-0 by the end of the second period. However, sophomore Brayton Briggs scored Priory’s only goal in the playoffs with a slap shot early in the third period to avoid being shut out by Howell Central for a second time. Hopefully Brayton’s goal is a sign for good things to come for his class of hockey at Priory. The class of 2014 has seven players, many of whom were contributors this season. T.J. Niemann saw significant goalkeeping time as a freshman and as a sophomore and
will improve in these next two years. Carlo Herbosa also saw lots of time on the ice this year. The underclassmen will have to contribute much more next season for the Rebels to be competitive, since the only senior next year will be Jack Rourke. The Rebels were outscored this year 62-120.The Hockey games are great for the school, and the fan support is extraordinary, but will be even better when Priory competes neck-in-neck with their opponents once more. The close 5-4 loss to rival MICDS was perhaps the most enjoyable game to watch this season, and hopefully there will be more of the same exciting hockey playing next year.
Photo of the 2011-2012 Priory Hocky Squad Elaine Collins | Record Weekly