U-Times U. City High School 7401 Balson Ave University City, MO 63130
U-Times 2016 Volume 27, Issue 2
NEWSMAGAZINE
After playing the tenor sax since seventh grade, Nashir Robinson, sophomore, takes the stage for the winter concert. “The concert turned out really well, it was better than I expected it to be after our practices weren’t as good as they could have been,” said Robinson. PHOTO BY LUCY WURST
Reveling in the final moments of the orchestra’s performance, India Reedus, sophomore, focuses on the music. “I think the best part was the last song we played, ‘Wenceslas Meets Vivaldi,’” said Reedus. “They all sounded good, but that was the best one.” PHOTO BY LUCY WURST
For the first concert of the year, Henry Giles, freshman, plays the piano for the high school jazz band. Giles has been playing the piano since he was in Kindergarten. “Jazz band brings out my creative side,” said Giles. PHOTO BY REBECCA RICO
Playing the cello since third grade, Deion Williams, junior, is first chair. “I like music, it’s fun and I hope to major in some type of music in college to pursue my career,” said Williams. PHOTO BY LUCY WURST
Face the music By Lucy Wurst Co-Editor
The band, orchestra, choir and jazz band gifted the district with music-filled events in early December. The band and orchestra performed on Dec. 1 and the choir and jazz band played on Dec. 3. “I think that splitting up the concerts was bittersweet,” said Destiny Moore, junior and 1st violinist in the orchestra. “We have to miss out on seeing four groups play and see their talents, but it was also time consuming for the players and parents.” The band played three songs, “Ghosts of Taman
Negara,” “Blazing Clarinets,” and “Jolly Old Saint Nick Goes Dancing.” Tyann Scales, junior, has played the cymbals and timpani since eighth grade. “The ghost song was my favorite because I played timpani on it and it was exciting because it had loud parts and soft parts and a nice rhythm,” said Scales. The orchestra this year is the largest it’s been. It is made up of two cellos, two violas, four second violins and five first violins. “The orchestra has grown in the past few years, it’s still growing,” said Jasmin Pointer, senior and 1st violinist. “The orchestra needs to continue to grow because the full sound hasn’t come in yet.”
A tenor and a veteran to show choir, Julian Bowens-Robinson, senior, is glad to see potential in the choir compared to last year’s. “This year, we have more people who are dedicated to making a great performance,” said Robinson. “Last year, we had people who liked to sing but weren’t really into creating a good performance.” PHOTO BY ALONA JENKINS
IN THIS ISSUE
2-3
Opinion/News
•Cyberbullying •Mike Pence •Reaction to election •Veterans day assembly
Loop Stars •The best and
brightest in the Loop
4-5
Reviews •Staff picks •’Atlanta’
6 •’The Get Down’ •Layla
7-8
Sports/Features •Girls swim •Boys basketball
•Wish list •Spirit of the holidays
December 2016
2
opinion
STAFF EDITORIAL
Election results further widens ideological gap Many of us remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the news that Donald Trump secured the presidency. Regardless of which news outlet you were watching, there’s no doubt you remember the banner floating at the bottom of the screen reading, “Trump Declared President-Elect,” or something of the sort. The following day was Wednesday, an “A” day, and most teachers and students came to school with the same mindset: “Let’s just pretend that didn’t happen.” For the first few classes, the students who actually wanted to confront the reality had issues getting their teachers to let them address the election, likely because many teachers were having trouble addressing it themselves. Most of us were in a state of shock, however the most unbelievable aspect about this election was the fact that so many people were so surprised. It is appalling that so many people genuinely thought that America was incapable of electing such a terrible man. Since America was founded on racism and bigotry, it seems we all accepted the possibility of a Trump presidency. It finally became apparent that a large part of the reason Trump secured
the candidacy was due to many Clinton supporters living in echo chambers, or surrounding themselves with people who shared the same political ideals and opinions. This led many Clinton supporters to believe that there was no possible way that Trump could win, because they figured since everyone they knew was voting for Clinton, she would be the next president and they weren’t required to go out and vote. This, obviously, was not the case. It is a part of human nature to gravitate toward those who think like you and hold similar values dear, but that was the downfall of Democrats in this election. Diversity of thought is something that many people who are liberal-leaning have trouble grasping because they figure since they’re liberal, diversity is inherently a part of their platform. They don’t have to take extra steps to be open-minded. Social media is a huge indicator of this-- liberals follow other liberals. The same can be said for conservatives, however, since most people at U. City are (or identify most with) liberals, criticizing conservatives won’t incite change within the liberal community.
On Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr, liberals and Democrats live within their own little bubbles which is fairly easy since social media will recommend articles based on what you’ve looked at in the past, further feeding your political views. It’s almost gotten to the point where a liberal can log onto Twitter and not expect to see any moderates, much less conservatives. This is an issue because, when a liberal and conservative do meet on the internet, it often becomes less of an open dialogue and more of an argument. In person, it’s much worse. In the unlikely event these two very different people were to meet in real life, it would likely end up in a screaming match or the silent treatment. The disconnect between liberals and conservatives is a much larger problem than it seemed. It’s not just an ideological split, it’s a split between neighbor and neighbor, cousin and cousin, many times even parent and child. It’s time to bridge this gap. Actually, it’s past time. It’s not about agreeing on everything, it’s about having the ability to have actual dialogues and not arguments. Contrary to popular belief, calling someone who disagrees with you an idiot is not
progressive, nor is putting others down. Instead of completely shutting down and giving someone the silent treatment or blocking them on social media, maybe engage them and ask why they feel that way. Respecting political opinions and differences is important for change, so is diversity of thought. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and ableism are not political opinions, however. Those are examples of bigotry, internalized bias and prejudice and they need to be called out in an appropriate manner. It starts by giving the person the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, people aren’t trying to be racist or homophobic, they may genuinely not know what they’re saying is bad. This is where you come in, as an educator, not an enemy. Changing the language you use toward people is the best way to open them up to difficult conversations, and surrounding yourself with people you don’t necessarily agree with gives you practice using that language and having those conversations. So give it a try. It won’t be easy at first, but as you get used to it, it becomes a comfort knowing everyone doesn’t think the exact same way you do.
New vice president-elect stirs up controversy By Linsey Sparks Staff Writer On Nov. 8, our country elected a new president. Donald Trump has benefitted from serious time in the spotlight, but we really do not know much about his running mate, Michael Richard Pence. He successfully ran for Congress in 2000, was elected governor of Indiana in 2012 and now holds the position of Vice President-elect of the United States. Pence’s stance on a multitude of current issues are highly controversial. He has created many laws and has beliefs that are plainly discriminatory. As second in command, we need and deserve to be informed about his stances and policies that could come into play for this country. According to the Huffington Post, “Pence signed the most abortionrestrictive regulations in the nation, banning abortion even in cases where the fetus has a “genetic abnormality” such as Down syndrome and holding doctors legally liable if they had knowingly performed such procedures. The law also required that aborted fetal tissue be buried or cremated.” This law never ended up going into effect but, the passing of this law would create struggles for women, least of all carrying a baby they do not want. Imagine being a woman who was raped and then became pregnant, stuck with a baby who serves as a reminder, every day for nine months at
2016-2017 U-Times Staff Co-Editor: Lucy Wurst Co-Editor: Kathryn Fuller Sports Editor: Julian Albright Web Editor: Julian Albright Staff Writers/Photographers: Linsey Sparks Daniel Pomerantz Jake Giles Kaya Blount Nicole Holahan Adviser: Mrs. Mary Williams
least, of that horrible day when they were raped. Pence knows nothing about being pregnant or being reminded of it every day. He is not a woman, he should not be making decisions about what we should or shouldn’t do to our bodies. Pence, although he believes that all children should be born in our country, does not want them to be open about their different sexual orientations. During a speech in 2010 about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” act that he openly supported, he said, “ ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a successful compromise in 1993 and so that compromise should remain.” He has a history of supporting anti-LGBTQ acts such as conversion therapy, which comes in many different forms. For example, shock therapy and relating “gay” images with bad feelings. Only privileged and homophobic people would vote a man like that into power. Conversion therapy itself is life threatening because of shock treatment and other dangerous treatments. Conversion therapy not only damages the person physically, but emotionally as well. For example, on Dec. 28, 2014, a transgender 17-year old named Leelah Alcorn took her own life, according to Time magazine. She is just one of many teens who have committed suicide because of the “treatment.” This is not okay. These teens have just started accepting themselves for who they
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
truly are and have finally decided to let other people know who they are. Not only is this a danger to their lives, but it has a huge impact on their self-esteem and how they look at themselves. Just imagine being a member of the LGBTQ+ community for a second (if you aren’t already). Picture yourself finally telling your family your biggest and best kept secret and them hating you for it. Imagine being disowned, or worse, being sent to a form of therapy where they think they can change who you are. It’s devastating. These are just two of Pence’s troubling policies. As you can tell, when he says “Make America Great Again,” he means “Make America White, Christian, and Straight Again.” One of the beautiful things about our country is our diversity. People from all over the world want to live here. We are the melting pot. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, our population was 63.7% white, 12.2% black, 0.7% Native American or native Alaskan, 4.7% Asian, 0.15% native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 1.9% mixed, 0.2% other and 16.3% Hispanic or Latino. In
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
addition, according to migrationpolicy. org, immigrants made up 13.3% of our population in 2014. Only xenophobic and racist people would want to change that. Donald Trump (the president-elect) has no prior political background. That’s where Pence comes in. Trump will more than likely be relying on Pence for most decisions. But, a little bit of the weight has been lifted off of our shoulders because Pence has very little, if any, power over the presidential budget. That means that Pence cannot do to the entire country, what he did to Indiana. I propose that we, the citizens of the United States, work together and come up with a way for the election to be decided by the popular vote instead of the electoral college. If this were to happen, not only would Pence be out of office, but we would get rid of Trump as well. This election needs to be reversed.
of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.
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
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December 2016 news 3 Cyberbullying: the new schoolyard bully
Assembly guest speaker promotes awareness, education, positive change By Jakob Giles Staff Writer
suicide.” As Meier explained, cyberbullying is a major problem. According to nobullying. com, 52% of young people have reported being cyberbullied, not including those who choose not to report a case. “I almost feel like cyberbullying has become the new bullying,” Deborah Kravitz, counselor, said. Cyberbullying takes many forms. In some cases, people are unaware that they are, by definition, cyberbullying. For example, behind the mask of a computer screen, things like sarcasm or dry humor can be misunderstood. Posts can be blown out of proportion, even if they were meant as a joke. However, the post also can be blatant verbal abuse, which is meant to tear someone down. That abuse can be too much to bear, and ultimately lead to someone taking their own life. This form of bullying has a leg up on the former “schoolyard” bully. They can hide behind their computer screens or phones and fulfill their sadistic intentions without anyone ever knowing their true
Most people find themselves online just about every day. Whether it is to check email, do some homework, hop onto Instagram or send a Snapchat, students spend a lot of time in the cyber world. Just like the real world, this place can be nasty. Rude comments, false identities and harassment run rampant through the waves of the internet. Some people ignore them, some get offended and some even take their own lives. One such person is Megan Meier, who committed suicide in 2006 at age 13 after being bullied online. Meier lived in Dardenne Prairie and her neighbor’s mother hid behind the false identity of an online admirer. Megan Meier’s mother, Tina Meier, came to the school Nov. 15 to talk to students about cyberbullying. Tina Meier founded the Megan Meier Foundation in 2008 after her daughter’s suicide to “promote awareness, education and positive change in response to issues surrounding bullying, cyberbullying and
identity. In many cases, people have created false accounts and posed as other, or fake, people. Not only does this ability give people another vehicle to bully, such as the adult who bullied Megan Meier, it is also a form of identity fraud. Cyberbullying has affected people across the country including about 57% of our school, according to a survey sent out to students. That is slightly over the national average. “There is a lot of cyberbullying that occurs here,” Kravitz said. “I don’t think I would even be able to count. The problem is, most of the incidents here are related to something that happened on the internet.” Many fights in school can be traced back to cyberbullying. People send distasteful comments online, other people get mad, and a fight breaks out in the hallway. Not only is this affecting those in the fight, but it disrupts the school’s environment and the larger student body. Instead of fighting, one could ignore cyberbullying, report it or block
the sender. The best option, since cyberbullying is illegal in Missouri, is to report it to a trusted adult, or the police. However, according to our school survey, only about 26% of students say that they have reported a case of cyberbullying. The most common option was to ignore the comments, at 61%. “Sometimes standing up and looking at them [the bully] face to face and calling them out on what they’re doing gets them to think differently,” said Meier. Though the common solution is to unplug, that simply isn’t realistic. According to Pew Research, 92% of our teenage population goes online every day. People aren’t going to yield their electronic devices to some words on a screen, even if those words demean and devalue. Meier said,”Bullying and cyberbullying are just words, but underneath are the things we do with them.” Survey distributed to student body via Google Forms with a 10% response rate.
Veteran’s Day assembly gets mixed reviews By Nicole Holahan Staff Writer Almost a week before the Veterans Day assembly, students were prepped on proper assembly etiquette in order for the school to show respect towards the guest speaker and the military traditions. Col. Thomas Henson thought everyone at the assembly was very respectful. Veteran Peggy Halter agreed. However, JROTC students Shianne Garner, sophomore, and Ronald Hampton, freshman, saw things differently. Hampton says that during the national anthem he heard many
kids around him talking and being disruptive. “Talking during the national anthem is disrespectful,” said Hampton. For the most part, Garner said she didn’t have a problem with her peers, but when the assembly was wrapping up and two JROTC students were folding the flag, many students began to laugh. “I thought it was super disrespectful when the students laughed,” Garner said. “You all need to calm down.” While she was sitting in the front row, Halter claims that she couldn’t really hear the laughing and didn’t know about it until she was told. She
was shocked by this, but at the same time, she figured it was bound to happen. “I personally thought it was the highlight of the assembly and I thought they did a really good job,” said Halter. “It is disappointing to hear that and very disheartening but I don’t think it was their intent to be disrespectful.” Halter’s reasoning behind this statement is that it was a Friday and the students were all sitting still for a long time in an assembly. Halter may be disappointed with this one incident, but in the end she was proud with the way everyone was trying their best to be respectful.
As Dominic Bryant, sophomore, began to fold the flag many students began to laugh. “Some people don’t understand how much it means,” Bryant said. PHOTO BY NICOLE HOLOHAN
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A DAY IN
Located at 6608 Delmar Blvd. is a store many people see, but not many frequently visit. “Sunshine Daydream is a clothing store, but they also sell jewelry, incense, semi rocks, blankets, backpacks and other stuff,” says I’Aiyana Redden, sophomore. “There’s a really colorful vibe.” Sunshine Daydream is a hippie’s paradise with 60’s them dyed band shirts and a laid-back atmosphere. However, Redden goes for the incense. “They have various scents, like Root Beer and Fairy Dust,” she said. “Some [incense are even decorated with sparkles.” That’s not all she gets, though. She often leaves with full bags, little money and a satisfied grin. “I buy candles, shirts, gems and jewe Redden, “Once I bought a hemp backpack from there.” The store is stocked with a plethora of items, and despite its Bohemian, free-spirited aesthetic, there’s something everyone. PHOTO BY KAYA BLOUNT
With a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, Chuck Berry stands tall over his hometown. The statue was crafted by local artist Harry Weber and was installed in 2011. The statue was controversial because Berry spent time in prison. “He played at Blueberry Hill once a month for years at the end of his career,” Curtis Stuart, English teacher and U. City resident, said. “And there’s lots of creative people who have been in jail.” PHOTO BY LINSEY SPARKS
Rocket Fizz is a retro candy store which offers items such as abnormally flavored soda. Bre Westbrook, freshman, goes to Rocket Fizz because of the decor, which includes life-size cardboard cut-outs of super heros. “They have lots of cool stuff to look at, like those antique gumball machines,” said Westbrook. PHOTO BY NICOLE HOLAHAN
Like most other restaurants in the Loop, Salt + Smoke has casual outside seating area and a varied menu, featuring BBQ as the most popular item. Cooper Deitzler, sophomore, enjoys eating at the restaurant. “It has a relaxing atmosphere with exceptionally good food,” Deitzler said. PHOTO BY KATHRYN FULLER
THE LIFE
i-precious med, tiee sticks] elry,” said g there for
Signs like this are posted with directories to the businesses in the Loop. Some students, such as Cam’ron Churchman, senior, never use them. “When I’m in the Loop, I’m with people who know the Loop like the back of their hand,” Churchman said. PHOTO BY NICOLE HOLAHAN
The streets of the Loop can be filled with artists, from dancers to musicians; art can be found everywhere. Nicole Kellogg, freshman, recognizes this trumpet player who plays in the Loop often. “I’ve seen him play in the Loop before,” said Kellogg. “He’s always by Chipotle and collects a lot of money. I like how he uses his talent to earn money.” PHOTO BY LUCY WURST
LOOP STARS
U. City comes alive in the Loop By Lucy Wurst Co-Editor Our town attracts visitors from far and wide. The vibrant business district known as “the Loop,” is walking distance from school. Along with the visitors, many students spend their free time in the Loop. Some students even work in the Loop, like Nashir Robinson, sophomore, who works at Which Wich, a sandwich shop, but likes to eat at a variety of Loop restaurants. “Seoul Taco is one of my favorite places in the Loop,” said Robinson. “Sometimes Which Wich trades food with them for
employees’ lunches.” Jonathan York, junior, goes down to the Loop for entertainment. “People on the street playing music is very pleasant, especially when you’re walking around and get to see a mix of talent, like dancers and musicians,” said York. Students also go to the Loop because it’s a safe environment to spend time with their friends. Alex Cunningham, junior, said, “I like that the Loop has a diverse atmosphere and the amount of different activities that I can do.”
December 2016
6
entertainment
REVIEWS
By Daniel Pomerantz Staff Writer
‘Atlanta’
With a unique, thought provoking style of situational comedy, Donald Glover’s new show on FX, “Atlanta” will temporarily morph your everyday thoughts into deep, hypothetical questions. You may know Glover as his hip-hop alter ego, “Childish Gambino,” famous for his poetic and personal lyrics, produced over catchy and seemingly futuristic beats. After taking a hiatus from the musical limelight, Glover returned to the surface of stardom with a powerful new show, which he directs, writes, and stars in. It’s very hard to compare “Atlanta” to any other current TV show. The show depicts two cousins in Atlanta steering their way into the rap game. Alfred, also known as “Paper Boi,” is an Atlanta-native rapper, who people know from “that one song.” Earn, played by Glover, is a young Princeton dropout with the composure to compensate for his cousin Alfred’s wild actions. Together,
they play an unlikely duo. Despite their many conflicting personality traits, it’s hard to imagine the pair without each other. The best part of Atlanta is that each character has a complex form of humor, emotion, tone, intelligence and stupidity, creating a very realistic approach to everyday life. Whether or not you can relate to Earn and Paper Boi’s lifestyle, it’s easy to relate to these characters as people. The weirdness of Atlanta is somewhat addictive. It’s difficult to take your eyes off Earn’s awkward conversations, mainly because of Glover’s superb acting. But the best actor, in my opinion, is Alfred (Paper Boi). His facial expressions are priceless, and his casual tone makes you truly forget that he is an actor. When watching Atlanta, it’s easy to get lost in the world of sarcasm and hope that Glover has created with his stellar new show.
‘The Get Down’
By Kaya Blount Staff Writer
Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis’s Netflix hit, “The Get Down,” is nothing short of a masterpiece. Whisking you away to the Bronx in the late 70s, the golden age of hip-hop, “The Get Down” chronicles the journey of Ezekiel Figueroa, an introverted teen with the ability to paint vivid pictures with his words. He and his love interest, Mylene Cruz, find themselves among a world of romance, gangs, politics, poverty and music as they both try to make it big, Ezekiel as a rapper and Mylene as a disco singer. However, that short synopsis does not do this show justice. The characters are extremely well thought through and very three-dimensional, as is the plotline. The cast itself is extremely diverse, and not just by race. LGBT people are represented in this show as well, making it something that everyone can relate to. From the technical side of things, the cinematography in “The Get Down”
puts many shows on Netflix to shame. It makes great use of intense colors, stark contrasts and money shots (shots that cost a lot, but are worth it for their “wow” factor). “The Get Down” cost a whopping $120 million, around $20 million an episode, and it was well spent. The best part of this show is that one can tell the sheer amount of effort put into its production. The writers and creators put a lot of energy into the making of this show, from the cast choices, to the themes presented, to the perfect portrayal of the 70s hip-hop subculture. The show even managed to cite the influence of kung-fu on 70s hiphop—leading some to believe “The Get Down” is a biopic on 90s hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, which it isn’t. All in all, this show is an experience. The new faces in the cast are a breath of fresh air, and the inventive storyline and aesthetic of the show is simply unbeatable.
Food in the Lou By Daniel Pomerantz Staff Writer
Layla’s bright red sign is easy to spot. A belly dancer is depicted on the sign, because the restaurant was initially a traditional Lebanese Restaurant.
Layla’s burgers are made with locally produced beef. Customers get to leave with the satisfaction of knowing where their meal came from.
Crunchy, flash-fried kale is an appetizer
big enough for two to share.
PHOTOS BY DANIEL POMERANTZ
If you’re looking for a hearty, delicious, well-cooked burger, Layla is the perfect spot. Everything about this restaurant is appealing and welcoming. Whether it’s the kind staff, the hipster art, or the comforting food, this local burger joint never fails to make the customer feel at home. I ordered the “Standard” burger, but there’s nothing standard about it. It starts with a classic beef patty topped with cheddar cheese and romaine lettuce. Pretty standard right? But here’s the twist; sumac onions and chartreuse pickles are added to create a
unique, sour take on a classic burger. All the burgers and sandwiches come with a choice of side; I chose the fries, which were crispy and delicious. I also ordered the crispy kale as an appetizer, which to my delight, came very quickly prior to ordering my main dish. The kale is flash fried, and seasoned with lemon juice; it felt rewarding to eat such a healthy vegetable that actually tastes good. Layla provides coziness and satisfying cuisine, all for a relatively good price, with entrees from 9.5015.50 4317 Manchester Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 314.553.9252
STAFF PICKS
APP: Snapchat
APP: Postnotes
I enjoy keeping up with a lot of my friends
It makes getting food a lot easier and I’m
that I don’t see much. I am also addicted
a lazy person so I don’t want to have to
to keeping my streaks with people.
get out of my house.
ALBUM: Coloring Book
ALBUM: Rock Sound
The album has everything; songs that
Presents: The Black Parade
make you sad and songs that make you
The orginal album is one of my favorites
hype. My favorite song is “Blessings.”
of all time and this one revamps it with my
MOVIE: Dope
favorite bands.
MOVIE: Suicide Squad
It has a nice 90s vibe and I like the
I love the cast and the soundtrack is
soundtrack. The characters are funny and
great. The plot was not the best but the
animated. It’s cool that they made a movie
soundtrack makes up for it.
about nerds who know how to hustle.
Daniel Pomerantz
BOOK: Freakonomics
BOOK: Looking for Alaska
It is basically the psychology of money. It
It is a roller coaster of emotions and parts
talks about everything, ranging from real-
are really relatable. It can also be hilari-
tors to sumo wrestlers.
ous.
Linsey Sparks
7
sports
Winter pep rally
December 2016
By Kathryn Fuller Co-Editor
For the first time in several years, winter sports got equal time in the spotlight. On the afternoon of Dec. 9, student council put together a pep rally, featuring all the winter sports teams. Kesli Bryant, junior class president and cheerleader, played a part in the planning. “I think that having pep rallies are a good idea,” Bryant said. “I want to have more.” Bryant made sure all the winter sports teams were represented and helped organize the cheerleaders. “I had to make sure that everyone was included and that no sports were left out,” Bryant said. The pep rally got a positive review from Jacques Garrett, sophomore. “I think it’s [the pep rally] is a good way to see who is on our sports team, have lots of fun and take a break on classwork,” Jacques Garrett, sophomore, said. “The glow sticks were cool—I wanted one, but I didn’t get one.”
Dancing with the Liontenettes, Teri Blake, senior, takes the lead during the dance performance. PHOTO BY DELLA COX
While taking a break from playing in the drumline, Terran Williams, junior, jokes around with Marco Gillispie, junior. PHOTO BY DELLA COX
While announcing the wrestling team, Tramel Harrell, senior, mentions Chanting a tradtional U. City cheer, Jayla Robinson, senior, tries to pump up the crowd. the wrestling team’s record of 4-0. PHOTO BY DELLA COX PHOTO BY NICOLE HOLAHAN
Boys basketball preview Julian Albright Sports Editor
Not only was it the first home game on Dec. 8, but it was only the first win of the season, 89-71, over Riverview Gardens. T.J. Crockett, senior, scored 28 points. “It feels good to win, my brothers and I played together like a family and as a result, we won,” said Crockett. PHOTO BY TANEYA PARKER
After losing to Parkway West last year in the district championship game, the boys varsity basketball team is back this year with a big chip on their shoulder. At a preseason jamboree on Nov. 19, multiple exhibition games between schools were played so everyone could catch a glimpse of the season ahead. U. City did not put on the best performance, ending without a win. “We got off to slow start but overall everything was cool,” said Moore, senior. Moore, along with T.J. Crockett, Wallace Simmons, Treyvonn Gentry, and Darrion Smith are the returning seniors along with 10 underclassmen. One of the biggest keys to success for the Lions this season is senior captain T.J. Crockett, who is nothing less than crucial. After recently signing to Lindenwood University for basketball, he has proven himself as the team’s best player. “It’s a big accomplishment,” says Crockett. “And I’m going to be playing next year so I’m ready to go.” His teammates are also behind him the whole way. They recognize that this isn’t a frequent opportunity. “It’s not every day a kid from U. City gets out like this,” said Wallace Simmons. In addition to Crockett and the rest of the seniors,
two freshmen and four sophomores are on the roster this year. The underclassmen are ready for an opportunity to contribute. “It feels good,” said Crawford. “I love the coaches. They gave me a chance, and the work that I put in to get here really paid off.” Since it is after all a varsity team, the youngest guys are not always the go to players, but that doesn’t faze them. They are in it for the team. “We want to make this the senior’s best year and to learn things that could help help us be more successful,” said Crawford. “The good thing about having sophomores and freshmen is that the future looks bright,” said coach Hurlie Cozart. For now, the upperclassmen have accepted them on a tight-knit varsity team. “My captains (Crockett and Smith) are really taking the young players under their wings,” said Cozart. “I really respect how they have stepped up to help the freshmen and sophomores out.” Cozart, a coach new to U. City this year, is enthusiastic about the chance to get to work with the guys. He loves his team. “[This season] you are going to see a group of players playing hard and getting better every day,” said Cozart. “I can honestly see the team improving as a whole.”
New swimmers make a splash Swim team doubles size; gains ability to compete in more events By Kathryn Fuller
Co-Editor The swim team dove into a new season with more than double the amount of girls that were on the team last year. The previous year, six girls were on the swim team and this year there are 15. Emma McMahon, freshman, is one of the new additions to the team. “I wanted to do a winter sport,” said McMahon. “It’s really good exercise.” Others, like Brandi Redmond, junior, are returning swimmers who encouraged their friends to join the team to increase the amount of people. “At first, a few girls were going to join and then my other friends wanted to join so I could spend quality time with them,” said Redmond. Redmond plays field hockey in the fall and her coach encourages all the girls who play to participate in a sport during the off-season. “Six girls from field hockey came to the swim team this year,” said Redmond. For Redmond, joining the swim twin was a
positive decision. “I really like swimming,” said Redmond. “It’s relaxing.” Redmond believes that the girls on the team are much more dedicated than last year. “There’s more people showing up for practice,” said Redmond. “There is more enthusiasm.” Last year, the swim team had an ongoing struggle of producing enough people to partake in multiple events at swim meets. “With a smaller team, it was kind of hard because if one of us was sick, it was harder to do the relay,” said Ericah Brown, senior. “Since we only had so many people, we couldn’t participate in as many events as a team.” Brown, who has been on the team since her freshman year, is looking forward to the future of the swim team. Brown said, “It makes me really happy because I know when I leave, there will still be younger students on the team.”
Leticia Jorge, junior, practices butterfly, practicing for her first swim meet. “I like swimming butterfly because it’s different than the other strokes,” Jorge said. “It’s harder and more challenging.” PHOTO BY KATHRYN FULLER
U-Times U. City High School 7401 Balson Ave University City, MO 63130
U-Times 2016 Volume 27, Issue 2
NEWSMAGAZINE
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Dancing Queen
Haley Rhiney, junior, performs with the
Golden Girls at the winter sports pep rally. Pep rally coverage on page 7. PHOTO BY NICOLE HOLAHAN
PHOTO BY LINSEY SPARKS
December 2016
8
features
Most-wanted gift list
As the upcoming holiday season approaches, students choose what gifts they want to receive the most
Aniciea Nelson
Kevin Worthy Tangible
PS4
Intangible Item For everyone to have a loving, beautiful life
Shu’Rya Butler
Marcus Shelton Tanglible Cash Intangible Item To not argue with her sibling
Tangible New graphics card Intangible Item More sleep
Tangible A big art set Intangible Item For everyone to stop killing each other
The spirit of giving lives on By Jakob Giles Staff Writer In the season of giving, from thanks to presents, students and staff are afforded many great opportunities to give back to their communities. One such opportunity is the clothing drive. Located in the main office, students and faculty can drop off clothing which will be given to families in need. Another program at U. City is the Helping Hands program. Run by Christine Woodward, counselor, this program collects gift cards, clothing, or toiletries to give to families in need. This program
has grown significantly in the last few years under Woodward’s leadership. It has grown from a handful of families to 15 families at the high school plus 5 families around the district. William McAnulty, social studies teacher, offered extra credit to students who participated in the program, which seems to be a very good motivator. “It’s my personal belief that if you have the means to help, then you have an obligation to do so,” McAnulty said. “It is part of an initiative to have do more service in social studies classes.” McAnulty hopes this is just the
beginning of more student led service projects. Though these are the only students participating, the program is mostly supported by teachers. Though the holiday season makes for a great time to give, it doesn’t have to stop there. “Even though the Christmas season is in December... we have a lot of families who need help all year long.” Mrs. Woodward said.
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