April 2014 U-Times by Utimes

U. City High School 7401 Balson Ave. University City, MO 63130

NEWS MAGAZINE

U-Times April 2014 Volume 24, Issue 4

Robotics Competition In between matches, robotics captain Walter Deitzler, junior, and head electrician Christine Politte, sophomore, repair the sliders after they broke during competition. PHOTO BY EMILY LOOBY

Months of preparation leads to early elimination due to robot malfunction By Emily Looby Assistant Editor Teams from all across the Saint Louis and Midwest region filled the Chaifetz Arena on Sat., March 15. Each school brought their robot which they’d tirelessly worked on since the middle weeks of December; this time period is called the build season and is associated with late nights and caffeine to keep the young engineers alert while operating power tools. “We drink a lot of caffeine,” said junior team captain Walter Deitzler. “I cannot qualify how much, but if nobody in the lab has soda or coffee something is

PROM SAFETY OPINION 2

seriously wrong.” Every year, FIRST robotics issues some sort of task that the robots are required to complete. This year’s objective was entitled Aerial Assist. The main objective was to launch exercise balls into goals on the other side of the playing field. This particular game is similar to basketball in the sense that teams want to work the ball down the field (aka court), passing it to each other. The RoboLions placed 11th out of 48 teams on the first day of competition and then dropped down to 23. The lesser rank on the second day was due to the cage on the back of the robot falling off. If the

PROM PREPARATION STUDENT LIFE 4-5

cage had not popped off, they would have placed higher on the final day, according to junior Lily Lewis-Stump. “If the catcher would have stayed on we would have been 100 times more successful,” said Lewis-Stump. “There was no way to catch the ball because of the cage falling off. We also lost points in the assist category since there was no way to drive the ball down the field without anything to keep it in. Not many teams actually put the ball in the catapult. “ Freshman Bria Harris, who is the media manager for the team, decided to join robotics because of her interest in engineering and love of taking photos.

SINGLE MOMS CLUB FEATURES 6

“I thought it would be a great experience and really fun,” said Harris. “After attending a few practices I really started to enjoy helping the team, not just taking pictures.” Even though the team was disappointed with their overall performance, they are optimistic going into next season. “Next year,” said Deitzler, “we hope to build a consistent robot that will be chosen by an alliance to play in elimination matches Saturday [the final day of competition].” VISIT UTIMESONLINE.COM FOR VIDEO OF THE ROBOTICS COMPETITION

SPRING MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT 8

2013-2014 U-Times Staff

Editors: Lily Lewis-Stump & Alice Mutrux Assistant Editor: Emily Looby Web Editor: Christine Politte Staff Writers/Photographers: Brooklyn Bass Kayla Holmes Sherrell Jefferson Alex Jolliff Sophia Kenyon Jihira Patton Anna Russell Ar’Reon Watson Daniel Williamson Reneise White

Adviser Mrs. Mary Williams

Philosophy

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of the issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. While establishing U-Times as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision-making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. Inasmuch as the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, or libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Contact Us We are located in Room 346 at University City High School, 7401 Balson Ave., University City, MO 63130. Our email address is marywilliams@ucityschools.org. Tweet us or follow us on Instagram @utimesonline.

Policies Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not reflect the viewpoints of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons, and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the U-Times Editorial Board. The U-Times reserves the right to reject, edit, or shorten letters. Submit letters to Mrs. Mary Williams in Room 346, or to any U-Times staff member, or to marywilliams@ucityschools.org.

OPINION

U-Times April 2014

Prom night: turn down for what? mr. watson knows what’s poppin’ By Ar’Reon Watson Staff Writer While prom may be the most memorable moment of a person’s high school experience, it can also be the most dangerous. People should probably repress the YOLO mentality and follow the simple guidelines of having a safe night so that they can make it a night to remember and not the last night of their life. It’s a common cliché to say that many students don’t think before they act, but this cliché is applicable to students on prom night who ignore safety issues and mindlessly get drunk and drive, text and drive and have unprotected sex. It is no secret that students will “turn up,” or in other words have their older relatives buy them liquor to party with in their unsupervised hotel rooms. According to National Highway and Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately “33% of traffic deaths of children, 15-20 years of age, are alcohol related.” This statistic only applies to prom season (April and May) nationwide, not even considering

the other 10 months of the year. The school obviously can’t stop alcohol consumption by all teens, but they are trying to prevent it. Every two years, U. City brings awareness by showing a live simulation (mock car crash) of what could happen if someone drives drunk. The setting involves student actors, a damaged car, fake blood, actual fire trucks, and a person being carried away in a body bag to evoke a visceral response from the students. The mock car crash will take place on April 4, planned by Officer Burks, Officer Potte, and Officer Gill. “Students and actors didn’t take the simulation seriously in the previous years,” said Ms. McKenna, English teacher. “They were laughing and I had to leave because I know some friends who died from this. This is serious.” It would serve students well to take the simulation more seriously. Besides the fake blood and the actors, this is a rather grotesque simulation that can hopefully persuade students to think twice before “taking it to the head” on prom night. Besides alcohol, the number one cause of death before and after prom is texting. Whether under the influence or not, students also have to be aware of the horrors of texting while driving. Prom is a special night, so people will be cruising along the roads taking pre-prom “selfies,” updating their statuses: “omw to prom!” and even texting their friends just to say, “omw to pick u up.” With just a blink of an eye, their

YOLO: Party Smart

cars could be upside down, in pieces. Students need to be cognizant of these acts that could have a huge negative impact, not only on their future, but on others’ as well. Participating in drinking and driving or texting and driving are setting an expiration date on people’s lives. Prom is seen as a rite of passage, but students don’t seem to see it as a transition from one stage of life to another, but rather a transition from adolescence to adulthood, meaning for some a night to lose their virginity. This leads to an even more critical mistake that teens make on prom night, which is unprotected sex. An unprecedented number of students spend pre-prom time considering “should I give it up on prom or graduation?” Actually, neither event should be treated like a wedding night. Students are mistaking themselves for adults, when in reality they don’t understand the consequences. Unprotected sex can not only lead to impregnation but also to HIV and STD’s. People may laugh at slogans such as “click it or ticket”, and “you booze, you cruise, you lose,” but no one wants prom babies or to mourn for their friend after prom. Simple slogans such as these predicate the huge importance of staying safe throughout prom night, when people tend to party first and think later. No one wants to spend their graduation day looking at a screen or a huge blown up picture that says, “In memory of…”

Cartoon by Anna Russell

FEATURES Changes put common core to the test

U-Times April 2014

By Christine Politte Web Editor The Common Core standards have caused a great deal of controversy in recent years, but at U. City, the debate has been largely theoretical. Next year, however, students will begin to see real changes in end-of-year testing. Common Core is meant to create consistent academic standards for students nationwide. While some parents have protested the standards, they are being implemented in 45 states, according to the Common Core website. To meet the standards, revisions are being made not just to curriculums but also to standardized testing. Some states are using additional tests, but Missouri is among several states opting to instead revise existing End of Course exams (EOCs), according to Ms. Hill, 11th grade principal. “As far as the EOC exams, they’re going to be more rigorous than in the past,” she said. Some of the exams will also include “performance events,” she said, which require students to apply knowledge to real-

world problems. Additionally, Hill said, fewer EOCs will be required by the state, so students won’t necessarily have to take the tests for courses such as Geometry and U.S. History. It is uncertain whether the district will opt to test in these fields anyway, but the state won’t pay for it, said Hill. Beginning next year, at the same time as the EOC changes, the state will also begin requiring juniors to take the ACT, which will be aligned to the Common Core standards. This may seem like a big departure from the norm, Hill said, but it won’t be much of an adjustment for U. City. “We have always tested all of our kids,” she said, except now the state will pay for the test instead of the district. “It reinforces our focus on the ACT, that we need to prep our students for the exam.” Students and teachers have mixed feelings about the changes. Ms. Hackmeyer, English Dept. Instructional Team Leader, likes the standards but is concerned about their implementation. “I think Common Core is a good set

of expectations but will be difficult and time-consuming to implement,” she said. “Students in lower grades will be much better prepared for the expectations in high school, but students in upper grades will experience a gap.” To minimize this gap, the English department began adjusting to the Common Core standards more than two years ago, Hackmeyer said. However, the curriculum must still be overhauled, which is a long and sometimes frustrating process for teachers. “I think we’re going to really have to examine what we spend time on in the classroom,” she said. Although the school is aligning all the core curriculums with the standards and working to provide students with the resources necessary to make the transition, Hackmeyer emphasized that the results depend on students’ attitudes. “Until all of our students take the tests seriously and put forth their best efforts, it will not show their ability accurately,” she said. As teachers, she said, “we have to meet the kids where they are.”

For their part, students have mixed feelings about the changes. “The EOCs really don’t bother me,” said Tave Hollins, sophomore. “It’s the ACT — I don’t think I’m fully prepared for that step yet, nor do I think anyone else will be.” Hannah Fuller, freshman, is also concerned. “I think it would put more pressure on the student,” she said. She is concerned that students taking EOCs for the first time might be scared off by the more rigorous testing. Additionally, Fuller said, the increased emphasis on the ACT might be a problem for students who prefer the SAT or need it for their choice of college. “I think kids should be able to choose,” she said. Hollins thinks the outcome will ultimately be positive. “It will take people a while to get there,” she said, “but it will push them to get better and to realize they can’t slack like they used to.”

Unraveling the mystique of the feminist movement By Joseph Chunn Staff Writer In 1993, during a rally supporting women’s rights, Gloria Steinem articulated a statement that would forever change the feminist movement. Affirming what she deemed the true aim of the women’s right movement, Steinem said “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” With this quote, the focus of the feminist movement and what it stands for was brought into question. With their historical importance unnoticed and not included in the collective memory of society, the actual feminist cause has become shrouded in uncertainty, and still today, most don’t know what it means to be a feminist. “The problem with feminism is that it isn’t one defined thing,” said junior Robert Kneller. “No one really knows what it is, since no one understands what they stand for, I question if even they [feminists] know what they stand for,” said Kneller. In a most basic sense, feminism is simply a movement for social, political, and economic equality of men and women, but even its strongest proponents see a different picture of what the movement is. Though the feminist movement is intended to convey the humanity of women and counter the perceived inferiority of

females, it does much more. Utopian socialist, Charles Fourier, who coined the term “feminism” in 1837, never established a specific definition of the term, and since then the movement’s evolution from promoting equal property, contract, marriage, and parenting liberties for women has broadened to encompass promotion of voting, economic, and reproductive rights as well, and defining what it means to be feminist has become ever more difficult. Lacking rights and relegated to secondtier gender, the rise of American patriarchy in the 1960s allowed the feminist movement to sprout. “The sixties is when the women’s rights really became a hot button issue that everybody started caring about,” said Lillian Getachew, junior. During the 1960s, a leading figure in the feminist movement, Betty Friedan, led over a hundred protests in support of women’s rights, and when asked about the objectives of the movement she helped spearhead, she said, “This isn’t about women, this is about the whole of the human race.” “There was a stigma during that time that women were less than men, obviously that’s not true, but that stigma, even though it’s less pronounced, still exists today,” said Ms. Adkins, librarian. “Feminism tried and still does try to level the playing field, which helps everybody.”

While the purpose of feminist movement may be debated, it has caused a paradigm shift in jurisprudence, like the landmark case of Reed vs. Reed in 1971, over the real estate rights of women, which resulted in the Supreme Court’s decision that discrimination against females is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. But while such cases eliminate some barriers for women, most feminists agree that more work needs to be done. “The law should protect women, and I think that more and more, protesting for more women’s rights is making that happen,” said sophomore Jerron Carrico. Though patriarchy is very deep, equality of the male and female gender has become

Support the U-Times We thank our supporters for donating to our student publication! If you are interested in donating, please e-mail Mary Williams at marywilliams@ucityschools.org.

more apparent as societies and the laws they adhere to change over time. Though feminism has broadened, it isn’t undefined because the basis of its existence remains constant; feminism is about both women and men. Though its primary aim is to reinforce the humanity of women, it is not an effort to degrade the humanity of men. Rather it is a cause to dismiss patriarchy by promoting the humanity of the male and female gender alike. “I’m a traditionalist in that I believe there are things that both genders should and should not be allowed to do,” said Adkins. “But still, men and women are created equal as humans, and it pleases me that this is becoming more generally accepted.”

Writer/Photographer ($20 or less) Anonymous Kendra Bertlestein Joseph Chunn Cindy Finkenkeler John Gordon Iris Holmes James and Melinda Looby Martha Mahon Meg Jill Sander-Chali JMV & DGP

Assistant Editor ($25-$40) Eric Jolliff Editor-in-chief ($45-$75) Publisher ($80 or more)

are you ready?

rom

Students modeled a wide array of formal gowns and tuxes at the Prom Fashion Show. Shown left to right: Simone Clerk, Jahmahl Jennings, Jillian Pritchard and Gianni Cook.

By Sherrell Jefferson Staff Writer The perfect dress. A matching tuxedo. Car rentals and hotel rooms. Prom season is in full swing and it’s the time of year seniors have been waiting for. “It’s not going to be as exciting as last year because my boyfriend is away at college and I don’t have anyone to share my special moment with me,” said senior Deshunai Barlowe. “I’m still going to try to have as much fun as it would be if he was here my senior year.” The prom theme, Cirque du Soleil, was brought about by the junior class officers after being inspired by different elements of a circus. With the possibilities of not only having a DJ, but also rumors have spread that there will be stilt men, flame jugglers and waitresses in circus attire. “We decided on ideas that would shock people,” said junior Lilian Getachew. “Look forward

PHOTOS BY AR’REON WATSON

to a room full of colors and props, unwitnessed at any other prom.” Very few juniors go to prom, wishing not to ruin any excitement for their senior year. “The majority of the people I am friends with are seniors this year and I want to see them off,” said junior Kinyata Robinson. “I don’t mind spending $300 on a dress that I’m only going to wear for one night of my junior year.” Preparation can be a major stress if one hasn’t bought a dress early or planned for the night in a great enough time in advance. “I’m very nervous about not having a dress yet with only 25 days to go but I’m still optimistic and determined to go,” said senior Deja Bowie. “I’m stuck between two dresses as of now.” To spark up the excitement, FCCLA hosted the second annual Prom Fashion Show which features local stores such as Calla Lily, in the Delmar Loop, and Savvi Hollywood.

“Jillian Pritchard wore a royal blue dress with multi-colored essential studs from Calla Lilly on the runway which is something like the dress I wanted to get made, but I’m going with something a little different,” said senior Daja Miller. A week prior to the big day, the cafeteria was swarming with flyers and posters of seniors campaigning for their spot to be announced Prom King or Queen. This year, the senior runners up will be Prom Prince and Princess, instead of juniors claiming those titles. Elections will be held during A and B lunch on Friday before prom. “I’ve planned this since freshman year, I specifically didn’t run for anything prior to this because I wanted this specific crown,” said senior Gianni Cook. “This is my year of winning things.” PROM PHOTOS AVAILABLE AFTER PROM AT UTIMESONLINE.COM

5 FCCLA hosts prom fashion show

By Kayla Holmes Staff Writer On Fri., March 7, the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) club drew the curtains and turned on the spotlights to reveal prom dresses borrowed from vendors including Calla Lily, ScholarShop, and Refresh, and tuxedos from Savvy Formal Wear. The occasion was the annual prom fashion show. The show began almost immediately with students modeling everything from flowing gowns to bright bow ties and tuxes. Students volunteered to perform in the show and held a practice Thursday and Friday before the show to perfect their catwalk. Behind the scenes models were in a dressing room doing their hair and makeup and changing. “The dressing rooms were crazy,” said model Brianna Sanford, junior. “It was a mess. We had like five seconds

to change, clothes were everywhere, and people didn’t know what to wear. We just had to be quick.” FCCLA spent two months finding vendors, promoting the show, recruiting models, choosing music, and making programs for the show. They had planned for the show to be a fundraiser because they needed to make money to attend a fashion show together, improve the show next year, and participate in other activities. Though raising money was one of their goals, it wasn’t their only. Their other objectives for the show included having fun and showing prom fashion trends. “I had fun modeling the dresses and being cheered on,” said Sanford. “I didn’t expect so many cheers from such a small crowd.” Halfway through the show Taylor Bass, sophomore, performed John Legend’s “Ordinary People.”

“Her voice brought me to tears,” said Kayla Jones, sophomore. “I’ve never heard her sing like that.” Eventually the show ended with a raffle ticket pulling for prom tickets and two gift cards. Caitlynn Ward, senior, won a prom ticket, Ayonna Tiption, freshman, won a $15 gift card to Froyo and Michael McMahon, freshman, won a $15 gift card for Cocktailz Beauty Bar. Model Katrina Allen, senior, was also given a tribute in the show when everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to her since the show was held on her eighteenth birthday. “I was shocked when everyone started singing to me,” said Allen. “My boyfriend asked Ms. Strohm to do it for me so it was a surprise. It was really shocking and I appreciated it and I thought it was funny because everyone was rushing me to put on my dress and I didn’t realize why. ”

Illustration by Anna Russell

Making Plans for Prom 4

With months of prepartion, students plan out their special night.

Q. A. 6

Q. A.

GIRLS Do you have a budget for Prom?

“I have a budget of $1,000 plus my ticket, I spent over $500 on my dress but I’m really satisfied with it.” -senior Bria Smith

What are you ultimately looking forward to on prom night? “I’m really looking forward to the scenery and what everyone is wearing. I’m also excited to see what my boyfriend has planned for us after prom.” -senior Kendall Harris

Q. A.

BOYS What do you think will be the most common color for tuxedos this year? “It’s hard to decide, because gray coordinates more properly than black does, and black would be too expected and traditional. It could also be white, because it shows elegance. But overall, I think guys will be thinking outside the box, but not too outside the box, because other colors may be too tacky, overboard, loud and obnoxious.” -senior Kaellin Clabon-Barnes

What is the best way to ask a girl to prom? “I would go all out and have a group of friends hold signs while music plays and I’ll hold her hand and just ask her.” -senior Carlos Lopez

Formalwear from the Prom Fashion Show 1. Katrina Allen 2. Tamereka Lofton and Gianni Cook 3. Marquise Williams and Brianna Sanford 4. Asha Garrison 5. Jillian Pritchard 6. Tyerenei Davenport and Gianni Cook 7. Nile Scott 8. Anastasia Whittington 9. Dajeh Warren and Jahmahl Jennings 10. Gianni Cook 11. Tyerenei Davenport and Rontrell Gentry 12. Teaira Wilhite 13. Nile Scott and Gianni Cook 14. Brooklyn Bass

FEATURES 6 Disorder di lemma

Mental illness alienates teens; stigmas and misconceptions still persist By Alex Joliff Staff Writer Mental illness seems to be a growing problem in the U.S., with one in five teens having a mental disorder, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). The average teen experiences the same amount of anxiety today as a 1950’s asylum patient, according to Psychology Today. “I think [mental illness] is becoming a bigger problem,” said Ms. Meyer, psychology teacher. “I think our diet has a lot to do with it. ... we are living longer so some of them [mental illnesses] that manifest later are coming out and just as the population grows so will the number of people with diseases.” Along with mental illnesses becoming more common, some stigmas and misconceptions about mental illness have also gotten worse. A recent study by the American Psychology Association (APA) shows that 68 percent of Americans don’t want someone with mental illness to marry into their family and 58 percent

do not want people with mental illness in their workplaces. A mental illness diagnosis can cause many people to do things they shouldn’t do without thinking about it, or cause them to avoid doing things they do want to do. A student who asked to remain anonymous said, “In the past, it has resulted in me being a little antisocial and introvertive, I didn’t have many friends and I didn’t make any so I was always kind of a loner until recently.” The APA also discovered that most individuals are afraid of people with mental illness, and people are twice as likely to assume someone with mental illness is violent like they were in 1950. However, mentally ill people are no more likely to be violent but instead are more likely to be violently abused. “Going around the school when people hear I have bipolar they basically assume I’m a serial killer,” said Duncan Harting, senior. For people suffering from mental illness, support from family and friends can make a big

difference in how well they cope. “If someone has a friend suffering from mental illness, they should make sure the friend gets proper help, they can study the illness themselves and practice tolerance, understanding and patience,” said Meyer. Stigma about mental illness doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, despite efforts by many organizations, such as the APA. “There is a stigma because we are afraid of what we don’t know about and what’s different; once we know more the less weird they will be, and once we know more about it we recognize it in ourselves and see that they’re not that different,” said Meyer. According to the APA, 56% of people are unwilling to have a person with mental illness spend an evening socializing with them. “Just because you have anxiety doesn’t mean you’re a freak; we’re no different than anybody else,” said the anonymous student.

Tyler Perry’s parent pinch reveals flaws REVIEW by Brooklyn Bass Staff Writer  When it comes to a typical Tyler Perry film, one can expect the movie to begin with an opening scene introducing the audience to the protagonist, who almost always happens to be a disadvantaged woman at the hands of an abusive man. Then after a showcase of men dressed in drag and many modernized, offensive caricatures of black stereotypes, that woman finds happiness not because she found her inner-self or built up her self-esteem, but only because she found yet another man. However, this time around she finds a good man. Perry’s “Single Moms Club” ultimately ended perpetuating the same theme to its audience. Nevertheless, the movie approached the idea from a slightly different angle. This might have to do with the nature of the topic addressed in the film, single-parenthood. As a result, the standard, vile male of a typical Perry film had a very small presence or even proved to be completely absent in some of these women’s lives. “Club” follows five women, May (Nia Long), Hillary (Amy Smart), Lytia (Cocoa Brown), Jan (Wendi McLendon-Covey)

and Esperanza (Zulay Zenao), as their paths cross when their children are caught smoking and vandalizing at an exclusive private school. Fortunately for these single mothers their children do not get expelled; however, they are put on a probationary period and the parents become responsible for organizing an upcoming school dance. Throughout the film, personalities clash and a child goes missing for a short duration. Nonetheless, in predictable Perry fashion, all goes well; every character gets matched with a good man, underdeveloped characters make the most meaningful friendships, and the hardships and realities of real single mothers are insultingly idealized. Instead of attempting to raise awareness of all the distress single mothers are faced with on a daily basis, Perry touches on little with lacking characters and a plot full of faults. In addition, in his striving to maintain diversity, he distorts reality. The mothers live in upscale apartments and trendy, large homes made for the upper class and he leaves only one mother to live below the poverty line. For example, Hillary cries over not being able to afford her maid after a vicious divorce settlement, while in reality, many single mothers cry over the prospect of not being able

to feed their children. Due to the lack of realism, some of the drama Perry tried to weave into the story left an imbalanced effect on the audience. One can praise the casting if one only considered their attractiveness. Of the mothers, Nia Long and Zulay Zenao stood out as big screen beauties. Then for the men, William Levy as Manny, Esperanza’s love interest, and Eddie Cibrian as Santos, Esperanza’s ex-husband, looked gorgeous on camera. The acting, however, proved not to be as strong as their looks. Despite the major mistakes Perry made with this film, he was successful at creating a feel-good film that highlighted problems that went beyond single motherhood. He touched on sexism in the workplace as Jan strived to have it all as partner of her book publishing firm. Poverty was also addressed, albeit in a minor way. Altogether, the film has the potential to prompt movie-goers to become appreciative of their mother, whether she is single or married. Without much thinking, one can be soothed by “Club”’s tribute to all mothers who do so much for their children’s wellbeing.

U-Times April 2014

RESOURCES If you are suffering from symptoms associated with mental illness, the following organizations can help: Catholic Family Services 1-800-652-8055 Lutheran Family Services (314) 787-5100 CHADS Coalition for Mental Health (314) 952-2046 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) STL (636) 940-7440 BJC Behavioral Health (314) 206-3700 Safe Connections (314) 646-7500 Kids in the Middle (314) 909-9922 Our Little Haven (314) 533-2229

Mr. and Miss Independent set new familial standard By Brooklyn Bass Staff Writer It is a reality that American culture has recently gotten accustomed to over the past fifty years; the picture-perfect two-parent household is slowly disappearing as divorce rates increase and teen pregnancy remains as a social issue. In fact, approximately 22 million children are being raised by a single parent, according to About.com. At U. City, students’ opinions on their family environment differ. Some admit to feeling neglected by the non-custodial parent or freed from another potentially overbearing parent. “There is more freedom when you live in a one-parent home because with two people there is always a parent there annoying you,” sophomore Erinn Ward said. When addressing single-parent families, many sociologists question whether the occurrence should be treated as another social issue or an alternative lifestyle. With regard to new advances in the medical field, similar to In Vitro, single parenthood is often chosen willingly. Junior Perri Griffith finds that single parenthood should not necessarily be pursued but occurs depending on specific circumstances. “It depends on the situation,” Griffith said,”I believe there is always a chance to co-parent.’ Of course, some would say that single parenthood does come with its challenges. Single-parent families are more likely to live below the poverty line than two-parent families. In addition, the custodial parent might also find that they must bear responsibilities traditionally shared by two parents. Junior Lillian Getachew, however, notes that she is fortunate to have a father who contributes to the family despite the fact that her parents are divorced. “My dad helps my mother raise me,” Getachew said. Ultimately, Ward believes that her 18-year experience under one parent instead of two differs very little. “It’s the same thing but different,” Ward said.

SPORTS 7 Water polo demands IRON MAN strength

U-Times April 2014

By Alice Mutrux Co-Editor What do an egg beater and Iron Man have in common? Ask the players on the water polo team — or as they like to call themselves, The Aqua Lions. Participating in what many consider one of the most challenging sports and being coached by physics teacher Anthony Thomas often leaves athletes tumbling into the “depths of psychosis,” where these terms seem to carry some significance. “Water polo is a really challenging sport, it’s like a combination of drowning and soccer with your hands,” said co-captain Isaac Clark, junior. “On top of that, not many people know what it is.” The difficulty and anonymity of the sport, however, hasn’t kept students from joining this year. An influx of five new participants has created a dynamic new to the once miniscule team as well as boosted the spirits of returning players. “The new people are fresh and exciting,” said returning player Walter Deitzler, junior. “They’re fun to be around so it helps us work together and raise the overall morale of the team.” Ericah Brown is the only freshman on the team and didn’t know what to expect when she started water polo on February 24. After excelling on the girl’s swim team, Brown found that water polo was “much harder” than swimming and “takes a lot more energy”. “I was a bit scared when I started since everyone said it was so challenging, but so far I really like it,” said Brown. “The most demanding part is learning the ‘eggbeater kick.’ It’s when you move your legs in a circular motion and you have to do it the whole game. It’s way harder than it looks to keep afloat.” Last year, the team struggled with only 10 members. With a required six field players and one goalie in the pool at any time during a game, the athletes often had to play entire 28-minute games with only a few subs-- something

dubbed “playing Ironman.” “An Ironman triathlon is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon,” said Coach Thomas. “So a game with no subs is called “playing Ironman” because it lasts really long (like a triathlon) and it’s difficult. It tests your endurance.” Derek Mills, sophomore, learned how to swim during the 2013 water polo season and, therefore, didn’t play in any games his freshman year. Now he awaits his opportunity to play and bring home a win. “There are more people this year so we’ll actually have substitutions when we play-- which is a big plus,” said Mills. “Hopefully we’ll win at least one game this year. Obviously returning players are more experienced now and the substitutions will keep people from getting tired and fatigued. There’s always a possibility [that we’ll win].”

El Shaddi Ackles, junior, shouts for his teammates while wrangling the ball away from his Ladue opponent. PHOTOS BY ALICE MUTRUX

Co-captain Sophia Kenyon advances toward the ball during the season’s first game on March 25 against Ladue. Although the team lost 12-0, both the coaches and captains are hopeful. “Even though most of our team is new and we lose a lot a, we try and feel like we win,” said sophomore Korinna Brandt. “We have fun in the pool ad even on the sidelines. We get along so well; it definitely adds to the experience of being a waterpolo player.”

Sam paves way for openly gay athletes in pro sports By Sophia Kenyon Staff Writer Upon the premiere of the Feb. 9 episode of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” the country was shocked to learn that Michael Sam, defensive end for the University of Missouri’s football team, came out as gay. “I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it,” said Sam on Chris Connelly’s show. “I just want to own my truth. No one else should tell my story but me.” Sam is well on his way to becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in the NFL. His emergence from the proverbial closet in arguably one of the most masculine sports in America has presented a long-debated topic. Many are left wondering how sports are affected by gay athletes and how gay athletes are affected by the attitudes of others. Junior Marquise Williams, who came out of the closet while he was on the

soccer team his freshman year, believes that the attitudes of some of his teammates were altered because of his sexual orientation. “Some of them had a negative attitude towards me because of my sexuality and being a freshman on top of that,” said Williams. “Sometimes I felt uncomfortable when we would do certain things. I would be uncomfortable when they took their shirts off. I would keep my shirt on.” For Williams, one of the main problems with being a gay male on an all-male team was that some of his teammates suspected that because he was gay, he was interested in any male on the team. “They always think that you’re looking at them or that you want them but you don’t,” he said. Williams’ former teammate, Isaac Clark, junior, doesn’t think that Williams’ sexuality should matter in their sport. “I didn’t care at all.” Clark said. “I would

have been uncomfortable if he would have made any advances, but he didn’t. I can think of a couple people who were uncomfortable around Marquise. It was mostly casual homophobia.” Michael Sam openly speaks about his teammates reactions to his sexuality, which he revealed to them just before the 2013 season began. “Some people actually just couldn’t believe I was actually gay,” he told the New York Times. “But I never had a problem with my teammates. Some of my coaches were worried, but there was never an issue.” Another case of an athlete revealing himself and gaining largely positive feedback from the public is Robbie Rogers, a professional soccer player for Los Angeles Galaxy. In a Feb. 2013 post on his website, Rogers announced his sexuality as well as his intention to retire from the game at just 25 years old. His reluctance to continue

playing was foreseeable due to the history of openly gay athletes in soccer. One of the first professional soccer players to come out as gay during his career, Justin Fashanu, a striker for various English and American teams, committed suicide in 1998. In total, only nine professional male soccer players have come out as gay, either during or after their sports careers. The negative feedback that Rogers anticipated never came. Because he received so much support, he returned to soccer three months after his retirement and continues to play for Los Angeles Galaxy, a top-of- the-league team that supports him for who he is. “I feel like people are going to say what they want and what I say won’t affect their opinions,” said Williams. “I’m not trying to impress anyone else. I live for myself, I don’t live for the rest of the world.”

U-Times April 2014

SPRING MUSICAL

The musical opens with lead dancers Mia Hicks-Thomas, Azariah Washington, Michael Lavender, Deja Bowie and Haley Clemons-Landre performing to “Live in Living Color.” “The opening act was so energetic,” said Clemons-Landre. “It was choreographed by Ms. Morgan and set the mood for the musical.” PHOTOS BY FRANCENE BETHUNE

Henry Braeske, junior, played the second lead, Hanratty, sings “Man Inside the Clues” while taking a moment to reflect on his past.

CON ME IF YOU CAN: Musical catches on By Francene Bethune Staff Writer After being postponed, the spring musical staff were ready for the production of “Catch Me if You Can” on March 28 and 29. Once again, Mrs. Ibnabdeljalil and Mrs. Morgan teamed up as the directors of the musical. Students spent long hours rehearsing since December and over spring break. The week prior to the musical, students rehearsed from 4:30-9:30 pm. Several students were ready to show everyone their acting skills and encouraged many of their fellow students to come and witness their moment of stardom. Prior to the show, the auditorium stage was completely covered with decorations and props done by the volunteer backstage staff. The show opens in 1960’s America

with sophomore Joshua Mayfield playing Frank Jr., a young con man who takes after his father, Frank Sr., played by Julian Bowens, freshman. Frank Jr. is caught at the Miami Airport by the Chief of the FBI Agent, Carl Hanratty, played by Junior Henry Braeske. Frank Jr. was at the airport trying to meet back up with his love interest. The story begins at this point and then traces his life as a con man. As soon as he read the first line, Mayfield was interested in the musical and wanted to continue. “‘Catch Me if You Can’-that phrase just caught my eye and since I am a big fan of Theater Arts, I decided to try out,” said Mayfield. “I was very surprised when I got one of the major roles.” As the musical approached, numerous performers experienced anxiety about going

Joshua Mayfield as the lead, Frank Jr., is escorted by Molly Paterson and Alana Mayo during the opening act as he takes everyone through his life as a con man. “Although everything was rough during tech week and things had to be changed last minute, the cast pulled together and put on an awesome show,” said Paterson.”

on stage and remembering their lines. “I get nervous when it gets closer and closer to the date of the musical. I am afraid I will forget my lines and say something completely different from the original lines, because in this musical we have to sing and dance,” said Mayfield. “My biggest fear is to freeze up on the stage and get embarrassed.” While rehearsing, the actors were advised to use improvising as a strategy to get over anxiety if they are on stage and forget their lines. After attending the fall play, sophomore Taylor Bass thought it was amazing and had no doubts that the spring musical would dazzle viewers. “U. City is known for its arts programs; we excel in performing arts,” said Bass. “Putting music, art, dancing and acting

During the final scene, dancers Mia Hick-Thomas, Michael Lavender, and Azariah Washington perform “Stuck Together (Strange but True)“ with the cast. “We had so many costume changes,” said Hick-Thomas. “I had to enlist the help of other cast members to run my things back and forth.”

together to make a musical are a challenge, but as we have done it before I know we can do it again.” After performing in the fall play, freshman Johanna Hill played Cheryl Ann in the musical. “The musical is much bigger than the fall and it is way more intense because there are so many elements,” said Hill. “In a play, you focus just on acting, but in a musical, you focus not only on acting, but also dancing and singing.” According to Hill, “Catch Me if You Can” is a complicated musical because the plot is really involved and it moves really fast. “It really was awesome,” said Hill. “The cast was small and we were all close. The energy was really intense which is important to a successful show.”

During a splilt stage scene, Joshua Mayfield (Frank Jr. ) and Henry Braeske (Hanratty) share the spotlight. Frank Jr. is at a Christmas party and calls Hanratty which gives away an important clue about his identity.