WG ECHO October 2015 Issue by wgecho

ECHO Pg. 8-9: Teachers live football ‘fantasies’

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wgecho.org October 2015 Volume 101 Issue 2 100 Selma Ave st. Louis MO 63119 Photo by jack killeen webster groves h.s.

Table of Contents

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Pg. 3............................Older generation’s judgements misguided but true Pg. 4.............................................Authenticity, favorability directly related Pg. 5.........................................School needs updated lockdown procedure Pg. 6................................Junior temporarily banned from sporting events Pg. 7..............................................................Seniors dance last Friendship Pg. 8-9..........................Teachers live football fantasies via WGHS league Pg. 10...........................................Junior Thespian gender-bends ‘Hamlet’ Pg. 10................................................Men find style in man-bun hair trend Pg. 11.........................History teacher sheds light on government theories Pg. 12........................................Sophomore plays for the Futures program Pg. 13................................................................Bennett from the Bleachers Pg. 14...............................................Halloween brings haunted attractions Pg. 15............................................................Movie will give ‘Goosebumps’ 2015-16 ECHO STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jack Killeen JUNIOR EDITOR: Andy Kimball BUSINESS/ADS MANAGER: Ashli Wagner OPINION EDITOR: Abby Botan GRAPHICS EDITOR/NEWS EDITOR: Jake Collins SPORTS EDITOR: Bennett Durando FEATURE/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Irene Ryan VIDEO EDITOR/ WEB EDITOR: Caroline Fellows CIRCULATION EDITOR: Kadifa Tabakovic ADVISOR: Donald Johnson SOME MATERIAL COURTESY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS/MCT CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER SERVICE The ECHO is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write wgecho@wgmail.org. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer. Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The ECHO has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged. The ECHO is a member of SSP, Quill and Scroll, MJEA, JEA, MIPA, NSPA and CSPA. Follow the ECHO on Twitter and Instagram @wgecho; like ECHO on Facebook. Visit ECHO’s website at wgecho.org.

October 2015

The ECHO FAMILY The ECHO Family helps make the ECHO possible. To become a member of the ECHO Family, please contact Ashli Wagner at abwags99@gmail.com. Thanks to all of our members! Julianna Fellows Bret Waelterman Peggy Smegner Curtin Family Melodie Carroll Kathy Whaley Laurie Murphy Don and Mary Ann Schafer Webster Groves Baptist Church Zychinski Family Gavin Turner Billy Johnson Devon Cutack

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Editorial

Older generation’s judgements misguided but true 90 80 70 60

Percentage

50 40 30 20 10 0

Keeping up with news is someonewhat important

Get news daily

Regularly follow five or more news topics

Usually see diverse opinions via social media

Pay for at least one newsspecific service, app. or digitial subscription Chart by Tyler Coleman

Statistics from “Are Millennials Unaware Of Current Events?” on the Keene Trial Consulting website show how millenials feel about and keep up with the news. We’re sure you’ve all heard it from one of your grandparents or older relatives: “You and your generation are so self-centered.” The older generations often blame this unawareness on our obsession with technology and other more material and topical things. They call us narcissistic, tell us we have short attention spans and don’t care about the heavy issues. However, a lot of these claims are simply myths. According to The Media Insight Project in a survey of 1,046 adults aged 18-34 years, Millennials actually keep up with traditional “news” stories as well as the more topical, entertainment ones.

Eight-five percent of people surveyed said keeping up with the news is important to them. Forty-five percent said they regularly follow five or more “hard news” topics. While we know these stereotypes of our generation are false, there is a grain of truth to what these older folks are saying. There is a slight air of ignorance in our generation, not in the sense that we aren’t aware of social issues. On the contrary, we think the young people of our generation are on the spearhead of the social revolutions taking place. However, when it comes to political, economic, etc. issues of the world, we find a prevalent lack of knowledge. We think people of our generation should take

their education into their own hands and prove the Baby Boomers and other older generations wrong. So many resources are available to us that learning about the world around us is a really just a Google search away. We are responsible for our own education. To fix this, WGHS should offer a current events class for students to learn about local and world events. While U.S. government classes cover some of this, it is not nearly as frequent as a class solely dedicated to the topic would be. Students should also sign up for school clubs like Amnesty International, history club, the Feminist Coalition, SAA and so many others that deal with these issues.

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Opinion

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Authenticity, favorability directly related

Photo Credit: Brian Cahn/ZumaPress/MCT

Caleb Bolin Contributing Writer Every candidate for president has his/ her own identity: Republican Donald Trump is an outspoken, at times harsh, businessman who is not afraid of sounding politically incorrect. Democrat Bernie Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist, and though he is very progressive, he connects with many voters because he is true to himself. Republican Carly Fiorina is a business woman with firm, seldom changing opinions. Despite not being a politician, her unshakable views and intelligence have won her support. Republican Ben Carson is a retired neurosurgeon turned presidential candidate with fact based, conservative views. Then there is Hillary Clinton, who has been criticized for lacking a persona. Clinton, former Secretary of State, First Lady and New York senator, is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party nomination. Leading challenger Sanders, Clinton has jumped in the polls as of late. In lateSeptember, Clinton led Sanders by 7 percentage points. One reason for Clinton’s boost in polls could be her new found authenticity; vot-

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ers previously did not know who Clinton was, as she seemed to change who she was daily. Junior Will Smith, who will vote in 2016, said of politicians and authenticity, “In terms of talking about their campaigns for presidency, I feel that most [politicians] make promises that they cannot commit to in order to gain votes.” Previously, Clinton seemed to be making promises to try and please all groups, too. Then Clinton’s advisors said in late September in interviews by telephone that they would like to see her be more genuine. In and of itself this comment about being more genuine raised serious concerns. Who had been speaking on that stage all these months since Clinton declared she would run in April? If those were not Clinton’s true views and self, what were they? If Clinton was not being genuine in the first place, where would this new authenticity come from? The simple act of trying to be authentic is more than a little unauthentic, and after her aides made such comments, it would be hard for Clinton to regain the authenticity she may have had. Then Clinton played a bartender named Val in a sketch on Oct. 3, on “Saturday Night Live.” Val had a conversation with

Kate McKinnon’s character, Hillary Clinton. In the sketch, McKinnon and Clinton poked fun at Clinton’s critics. McKinnon introduced herself: “Well, first, I’m a grandmother, and second I am a human being entrusted with this one green earth.” Clinton’s character said in response, “Oh, I get it. You’re a politician.” The sketch, while poking fun at those who see Clinton as just a politician, also showed Clinton’s personality and true self. Together, Clinton and McKinnon sang, “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, and talked about the stresses of being Hillary Rodham Clinton. Overall, Clinton came across as very personable and relatable. The presidential election has had surprising winners and losers. September saw one of the early frontrunners for the Republican nomination, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, drop out of the race after polling below 0.5 percent following two lackluster debates. It also saw non politicians surge in the polls to the top of the Republican Party. Success all has to do with authenticity. At this early stage in the election voters are gravitating towards the candidates with the passion, the heart, the gumption and the energy to lead. Trump currently leads the Republican Party with 24 percent of the vote, closely followed by Carson at 23 percent. Clinton leads Sanders by 20 points with 45 percent of support, after gaining a large boost in recent weeks. Walker, though in a much larger field of competition, succumbed to a problem that has plagued Clinton. He did not speak up or do anything to establish himself as a candidate and fell out of favorability. Clinton, too, at times has had issues with voicing her true opinions and distinguishing herself. She leads the race for the Democratic presidential nomination so far, but the Democratic field has significantly fewer players. To succeed in the election, Clinton, and any other politician who wants to succeed, must continue to step up and give the people what they really want: a real person with original ideas and beliefs, not someone who tells the people what they want to hear.

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Opinion

Kimball Konception

School needs updated lockdown procedure

Andy Kimball Junior Editor Each of the last two years the high school has had to go into a lockdown procedure. Most recently, on Sept. 25, the school

went into lockdown mode from first hour until 9:50 a.m. because a suspect was involved with a nearby altercation on East Jackson Road. During the lockdown students sat in their classrooms and were told of the lockdown, but they were not told why the schools decided to go into lockdown. A phone blast was sent to parents, but students only received the announcement to go into “lockdown mode.” Without knowing specific information, students may rely on their parents or outside information that will not be as accurate as hearing from the school itself. After all, the school has to have a lockdown for a reason. Also, if a student is getting outside in-

Willie’s Comic

formation, he/she could misinterpret the information and spread it to other students. A solution to this problem is to give students texts on their phones during the lockdown or to be more specific and thorough when giving the announcements during a lockdown. Students are mature enough to be able to handle this information. After the most recent lockdown, Principal Jon Clark commended students on their behavior. This solution will ensure that students receive the most accurate information regarding the lockdown and will tell students about what is going on in their community.

Comic by Jack Killeen

Don’t forget to set your clocks back on Sunday! October 2015

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Junior temporarily banned from sporting events

Photo by Jack Killeen

Seniors Becca Riley and Gavin Ashley complain about a call made at Webster’s game against Kirkwood on Oct. 15.

Jack Killeen Editor in Chief During Webster’s game against SLUH on Sept. 15, junior Daniel Kennebeck saw a SLUH player pushing down a Webster player go uncalled. Kennebeck then yelled to the referee, “Get off your knees, ref. You’re blowing the game.” Dr. Jon Clark, principal, heard Kennebeck�� ’�� s comment and approached him about it after the game. According to Kennebeck, Dr. Clark asked if he had said it, and Kennebeck replied with, “Uhhh yeah.” Dr. Clark then said, “I know it was a slip of the mouth, but we’ll talk tomorrow.” The next day Dr. Clark pulled Kennebeck out of class and told him he would be punished, but Kennebeck would choose the punishment himself. He had the option of a two-and-a-half hour detention, no sports for at least one week or to join one of the respect clubs at WGHS, like the feminist coalition and pep club. Kennebeck had a day to decide. After his 24 hours, Kennebeck went to Dr. Clark and said he wouldn’t attend any Webster sporting events for two weeks and would also join the Pep Club to “promote positive cheering.” Kennebeck said, “I think that’s a fair punishment. I understand the reasoning, and I’m okay with [the punishment], but some

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people thought it was over the top.” Dr. Clark said, “I’m proud of our WGHS Statesmen pride and positive spirit at our athletic events. However, it is important to remember that school rules and behavior expectations apply. Profanity, negative comments to the opposing teams or referees, and inappropriate comments are not tolerated. WGHS is known for having great school spirit, supportive fans, and positive energy. It’s important that we continue this legacy. Go Statesmen!” About students who deviate from school-appropriate chants, co-pep club president and senior Becca Riley said, “I don’t really care that much. Jerry Collins (activities director) doesn’t really like it. If I tell them to stop, they don’t listen.” Varsity soccer player and senior Mick Hanrahan has seen and heard student sections from his four years of varsity soccer. He said, “Usually when they yell at refs or players, you hear it, but you don’t really pay attention. It’s funny sometimes, even when opposing student sections yell at me. I’ve had a couple times where the ref says something to me about the student section and laughs.” Junior Emily Rapp said, “I feel like they do have a freedom of speech but also like they get too competitive. Have something nice to say or don’t say anything at all.”

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Seniors dance last Friendship

Photo by Bret Waelterman

Alumnus Joey Azar dances while fellow students cheer him on at the 2014 Friendship Dance at Kirkwood High School.

Ashli Wagner Business Manager Friendship Dance will be Nov. 7, from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. For seniors this will be the last Friendship Dance they attend. “It’s a little bit bitter sweet. It’s fun being a senior, but it’s sad that it’s going to be my last time going to the Friendship Dance,” senior Mitchell Paulson said. Mick Hanrahan is adding Friendship to the list of last things he is going to do this year. He is “going to do the same things he’s done the past couple of years, just take some pictures with friends and hang out with them after.” The day before Friendship Dance, senior Maddie Winkelmann and her friends will decorate the gym. “I think it’s so sad. Friendship is a really good tradition we have at Webster, and it’s a fun thing to be a part of,” said Winkel-

mann about her last Friendship Dance. Tickets go on sale Oct. 26 for $10. The price goes up Nov. 5, to $12 and then goes to $15 Nov. 7. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Students are allowed to bring outside guests to the dance with an outside guest form, but there are only 50 outside guest forms and there is a first come first serve rule. Students can pick up a pass in the activities office as of Oct. 21. The last day to get an outside guest form is Nov. 3. The Friendship Court will be one girl and one boy nominated by band, ECHO, football, STEP, cheerleading and STUCO. Students in those groups nominated senior couples who were placed on the ballots. Ballots were passed out during sixth hour on Oct. 20, and students picked one king and one queen to be the 2015 Friendship King and Queen, who will be named and crowned at the dance. Nominees are Alison Gilmore and Dorian Palmer from band, Irene Ryan and Jack Killeen from The ECHO, Caitlyn Simmons, Jasha Keller, Jerry Yates and Chris Taylor from football, Kayla McNutt and Leland Bradford from STEP, Cayce Sloan and Kris Jones from cheerleading and Ronnetta Brassfeild and Mitchell Paulson from Student Council. “I am very excited about it. It’s going to be a fun interesting experience,” Paulson said about being nominated. Sloan said she is excited about Friendship because “it’s the last dance I get to spend with my friends without being in college. I’m actually just ready to get out of this school.” The D.J. for the night will be D.J. Crucial; the school will not be using TKO like the school used for the other dances. A photo booth from Lifetouch will take photos all night. Student Council sponsor Kristin Cole estimates 1,500 students will come from both Webster and Kirkwood to the dance. In 2013 Webster Groves sold 809 tickets when the dance was at Webster, and last year Webster sold 850 tickets for Friendship when the dance was away at Kirkwood. Each school can sell 1,000 tickets, but Webster has never sold out of tickets. Webster has, however, sold out of guest tickets before.

News in brief... Soccer team receives honors

Run4Webster raises funds for projects

Statesmen men’s soccer was one of 400 teams to receive the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for 2014-15. NSCAA annually recognizes high school programs that have excelled in the classroom, in addition to their work on the field. To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for the entire academic year.

Webster Groves School District Foundation raised over $17,000 at its Oct. 17, Run4Webster and pancake breakfast at the high school. About 460 participants took part in the run/walk, and 550 attended the breakfast. The group will use the money to fund grants and scholarships.

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Teachers live their football fantasies

Eric Dunn: 5-2 (tied second place) “Some of us do mock drafts over the summer... Some of us get mocked for doing mock drafts.”

Jon Petter: 6-1 (first place) “I am the best player in the Social Studies department.”

Justin Mathes: 2-5 (tied last place) “I haven’t lost by over a hundred yet. I don’t know why you’re interviewing me.”

Jon Clark: 4-3 (fourth place) “A lot of teachers spend tons of time developing their teams. I spend 10-15 minutes.”

Ken Winningham: 3-4 (tied fifth place) “I’m the old man legend of the league.” (Despite mediocre record, leads league in points.)

Patrick Bommarito: 2-5 (tied last place) “How’s my team? Not good. Jamaal Charles just tore his ACL, and my QB situation is a toss-up.”

Bennett Durando Sports Editor

who along with founding the prestigious league has proven to be its resident fantasy fanatic, put up an all-time single-week points record with 189, beating Petter by 103. “I definitely sort of said, ‘Welcome new guy, how does this taste?’” Dunn said about the Week Three blowout. “I just annihilated him in a historic beatdown.” Dunn’s team so far this season is 5-2, and his recent success is not coincidental; he leads the league historically with three championships, the latest of which came last year. “[Dunn] does like 10 mock drafts, then plugs them into an algorithm to make sure it’s doing what he wants it to,” Wright said. “He’s the waiver wire king. He’s dominating this year.” Winningham said of Dunn’s success, “He must not be teaching; he must be researching all day long.” Latin teacher and retired league star Jeff Smith had a different opinion of Dunn. “He is a lying, cheating, bald fool,” Smith said. “He convinces weaker souls like Chris Allen to do his bidding.” Allen, who had a one-year residency in the league, reached the championship, where he was defeated by none other than Dunn. “Allen’s bald too! Coincidence? I think not! Bald guys stick together!” Smith noted. While no other contenders in the league shared Smith’s theory, several did note it’s unwise to trade with the commissioner. “Trading with Dunn is like trading with the devil,” Wright said. Verstraete said simply, “Yeah, do not trade with Dunn.” While Verstraete has avoided trades with Dunn, teachers say he has struggled to avoid failure in every other aspect of the game. Of the Original Six, he is the only competitor who has never won the league championship. “He’s really bad,” Wright said. “I don’t think he’ll ever win. I feel bad for him.”

Caleb Bolin Contributing Writer A dangerously addictive past time is sweeping the nation. Started in a hotel room in New York in 1962, it is rapidly spreading, and has come to the staff of WGHS. “It’s a virus; it’s a disease,” biology teacher Chris Allen said. “I’m an addict,” counselor Ken Winningham added. What is this craze, which touches adolescents and adults alike? The answer is the game of fantasy football. Fantasy football is an Online game in which contestants in a league create statistic-based teams of professional football players and have their teams compete with each other. The game came to the WGHS staff in 2004, when math teacher Eric Dunn introduced it to several teaching friends, having previously experimented with it with some of his old college buddies. The “Original Six” league members were Dunn, principal Jon Clark, English teacher Steve Leftridge, math teacher Jason Grote, social studies teacher Terry Verstraete and Winningham. The league has since expanded and currently also includes trainer/teacher Sean Wright, along with rookies Spanish teacher Patrick Bommarito, math teacher Justin Mathes and psychology teacher Jon Petter. “I definitely have no idea what I’m doing,” Petter said, despite having started his debut season with a 6-1 record. “I really expect to lose every week the rest of the year.” Petter’s lack of confidence was perhaps ignited in Week Three, when he took his first career loss in jaw-dropping fashion. Dunn,

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through prestigious WGHS league Sean Wright: 5-2 (tied second place) “I don’t like my team. They haven’t performed up to typical standards of my team.”

Terry Verstraete: 2-5 (tied last place) “When I lose, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh here we go again.’”

Jason Grote: 3-4 (tied fifth place) “I’m the perennial regular season winner and playoff loser.”

Steve Leftridge: 3-4 (tied fifth place) “I have by far the best team, but I always do. I’m one of the few players that actually knows what he’s doing.” Photos by Jack Killeen and Caleb Bolin

Verstraete agreed with Wright, “I’m like the Cubs of fantasy football. A lot of misery, punctuated by a couple moments of glory, followed by a lot of misery.” Verstraete is struggling this year as well, with a 2-5 record. “He is a laughingstock,” Winningham said. After Verstraete defeated him for his first win in Week Three, Winningham stated, “He beat me this week; I’m disgraced.” “I don’t really think it’s polite to talk about Mr. Verstraete’s quite obvious cognitive disabilities,” Leftridge said. However, he went on to say, “In fantasy football, he has the unique ability to place his entire head in his rectum.” Verstraete, upon hearing about Leftridge’s comments, sadly responded, “I just wished him a happy birthday last week...” He didn’t feel that he had the leverage to return the trash talk though. “If you’re the loveable loser, you don’t really have the grounds to smack talk.” Verstraete is not the only target of Leftridge, an avid trash talker. “He’s one of the greatest smack talkers of all time,” Dunn said. However, record seems to impact the level and frequency of the trash talk. After Leftridge started 4-0 last year, he went on to finish in eighth place in the league. “Leftridge started off hot, then we didn’t hear from him for the rest of the year,” Wright said about Leftridge’s smack talk in 2014. Leftridge was not pleased by this. “You know those smelling salts that they put under people’s’ noses when they have concussions?” he said. “Sean Wright eats those.” Teams’ records often reflect the amount of bad-mouthing done by their general managers. Rookie Justin Mathes, off to a slow start in last place, didn’t have much to say.

“I choose to devote my energy to pigskin pick ‘em,” said Mathes on his struggles. “The first week I did [trash-talk], but afterward I had to subdue it based on my record.” Mathes added, “The first week I had to lose for general job security purposes; I was playing Dr. Clark.” Dr. Clark has won the league title twice (both times over Verstraete in the finals), second to only Dunn. Mathes isn’t the only one who seems to avoid confrontation with Clark either. Opponents find that as principal Clark adds an unintentional intimidation factor that phases even such brash opponents as Leftridge. Leftridge remarked Dr. Clark is the player against whom he would least like to play. “I don’t like to trash talk with Jon Clark, because he has the ability to fire me.” After a Week Five victory against Dr. Clark, Winningham said, “I didn’t just beat him. It was a pounding, I was actually a little afraid. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to go to work on Monday.’” Even the rookie Bommarito, a self-proclaimed mild-mannered player who likes to avoid the league conflict, was worried he angered Clark in the draft by stealing the quarterback of Clark’s beloved Miami Dolphins. “I was concerned for my job when I took (Ryan) Tannehill one pick over (Clark),” Bommarito said. “Everyone says Dunn gives me help because I’m his boss,” Clark said, “but I’ve received no help from Dunn this year.” Teachers found that despite the often intensely competitive nature of the league, it all in all is an enjoyable experience. “Sometimes you get so wrapped up in your department, it’s good to get outside that sometimes,” said Bommarito. “We all hung out for the draft. You get to make friends you might not have otherwise.”

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ECHO 10 Feature Junior Thespian gender-bends ‘Hamlet’ the

Jake Collins Graphic/ News Editor Thespian Troupe 191 officer Hannah Leatherbarrow, junior, starred in drama teacher Todd Schaefer’s re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s classic play “Hamlet” in the Jerry R. Knight auditorium on Oct. 22, 23, and 24. “This year’s Thespian officers have made the department such an inviting place for everyone,” said Leatherbarrow. “The bonds and friendships that are made within the department and Thespians are so strong.” Leatherbarrow, who helps run the Thespian Organization within the high school, has been trying to make the Thespian organization run better by being more proactive in planning and deciding on things. In order to be invited to join the Thespian’s club, candidates need to earn 10 “points.” These “points” are received for doing things related to the drama department, for example, working lights and sound for a show earns a certain number of points. This year's officers are senior Kate Arendes, senior Jonah Schnell, junior Jacob

Photo by Jake Collins

Hannah Leatherbarrow, playing Hamlet, speaks with Rowan Van Horn, playing Lord Claudius. “Hamlet” was performed Oct. 22-24, in the Jerry R. Knight Auditorium. Noce and Leatherbarrow. Other people are involved in the department who are not officers but still help out with things that the officers need. Leatherbarrow has done theater since sixth grade. She did not attend Webster schools first through eighth grade, but she did theater through Sacred Heart. “I was the cat in ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and after that I was hooked,” Leatherbarrow said.

“All the people like Schaefer, Romo (drama teacher Sarah Romanowski) have been so great, and I can never thank them enough,” Leatherbarrow said. “The best way to get involved in the program is a one act. That’s how I got into theater here at the high school...That is the most inviting space to really get started,” Leatherbarrow said. Leatherbarrow’s advice to people who want to get involved: “Just try out for whatever you can.”

Men find style in man-bun hair trend

Photo by Abby Botan

Junior Jack Austin puts his hair in a version of his bun.

Abby Botan Opinion Editor Men having their hair styled in a bun has become a trend this past year. Simply known as a man-bun, this style has made its way to Webster Groves High School. “It’s really comfortable, and convenient,” Jack Austin, junior, said about

October 2015

why he wears his hair in a bun. Austin was first introduced to this trend when he began playing hockey. It’s a custom for hockey players to grow their hair long, so, as a hockey player he followed the crowd and decided to grow his hair. “Anyone can wear a man-bun, but not just anyone can pull off the look,” Devon Tucker, junior and also a non man-bun wearer, said, “It just depends on the guy, but I’m not a fan.” Although the man-bun is attractive and very popular, according to Men Hairstyles Trend, wearing the man-bun too tightly can result in hair loss caused by pulling or tension over a long period of time. This can be prevented by wearing a man-bun loosely. Also, wearing a man-bun too tightly makes men eligible for hair loss which occurs along the hairline, so, beware of the man-bun.

“I think man-buns are great as a whole,” Emily Gahagen, junior, said, “but only some guys can pull it off and still look good. I personally think guys from high school up to late 20s or 30s is a man’s chance to wear a man bun.” Gahagen said one of the main reasons that she likes the man-bun because of how previously guys who didn’t have short hair were seen as “gay” or “girly” and that now some men are showing that one can be masculine while having long hair. Some people who don’t like this manbun trend at all. Brigham Young University’s in Idaho banned the man-bun from being sported because they felt it was too “extreme.” The rule only applies to men so women will continue to be allowed to wear the man-bun without being penalized.

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Feature

History teacher sheds light on government theories Andy Kimball Junior Editor Social Studies teacher Martin Milstead has taught at the high school since 1993. Milstead has taught Honors U.S. History, Comparative Politics, Intro to law, U.S. Government and Geography. Milstead said, “Over the years I have had my leaders killed by assassins, none of them were brought to trial, none were ever tested, and it took a long time before I thought that maybe there might be more to (the assassinations).” Milstead has talked about the assassinations of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., during class. Junior Matthew Cota said after an Honors U.S. History test, Milstead talked about the theory John Kennedy was killed by the CIA. Junior Matthew Fuller said Milstead has talked about theories but “talks about facts and lets (students) think about (the theories) for themselves.” About the JFK assassination, Milstead said, “The CIA was given (from) the government plausible deniability, so basically they were doing things with the minimum amount of involvement by the official government so that the government could say they didn’t know what (the CIA) was going to do. (The CIA) could take out anybody that they deemed was necessary for the protection of the country.” Milstead added, “After the Bay of Pigs (invasion of Cuba in 1961) President Kennedy gave out national security directives, which would essentially break up the CIA. He fired the top three people at the CIA, then you couple that with, who

Artwork by Mary Kimball

History teacher Martin Milstead has talked about conspiracy theories like the CIA killing President John F Kennedy and NASA filming the moon landing during various social studies clases. could redirect the parade route, who could take away protection on the parade route, who could relocate the six policeman who should have been right next to the limousine (that Kennedy was in), but they were behind (the limousine) that is the first time that that has ever happened. And it makes you wonder.” About why he shares information about the assassinations, Milstead said, “One of the things I want students to do is to think

for themselves. I never say they have to believe what I say. I always want them to check the things out for themselves.” Milstead said students are constantly being bombarded with information and “most of the information, that you are getting is people trying to get you to believe something one way or the other.” Milstead added talking about theories is a good way to relate history to today’s current events.

Keep up with the ECHO Follow us on Twitter - @wgecho, Instagram - @wgecho, Facebook - The ECHO, or visit us on the web at wgecho.org

October 2015

ECHO 12 Feature Sophomore plays for Futures program the

Caroline Fellows Web/Video Editor Varsity field hockey player Hannah Luckes, sophomore, plays with some of the best high school and middle school field hockey athletes in the United States through the Futures program. Futures is a program sponsored by USA Field Hockey as a gateway for future Olympic and National team hopefuls. Middle school and high school athletes get the opportunity to train with some of the top coaches and compete in tournaments. “Field hockey kind of takes up your entire life,” Luckes said. Luckes said hopefuls attend a training session starting in either January or March and are then selected to play if the judges like them. To advance from the second tournament, one must be 16, so Luckes has never gone past it. Luckes has played in the second tournament twice and has been doing Futures for three years. “When I was a kid, I was really bad at every other sport,” said Luckes, and she found a passion for field hockey when her cousins introduced it to her, and she found she was good at it. Luckes, who also plays club field hockey, said, “I’ve become really close with the girls on my team. I’ve been playing with them since I was like seven years old, so we’ve been together a long time.” In order to make it to the first Futures training session, hopefuls must submit videos doing certain field hockey skills. Varsity field hockey coach substitute Jason VanBlarcum said, “What we do as coaches is run a prescribed standard set of skills test and time it, and then we send that it in. If the times are sufficient, they are accepted into Futures.” Besides Luckes, sophomore Lauryn Henry has also been accepted.

Photo by Jason VanBlarcum

Varsity field hockey team holds a team meeting during its game on Oct. 2, against. Edwardsville. Webster lost 3-0. However, Luckes said she isn’t considering field hockey as a future professional career. According to Luckes, the United States has an Olympic team and a National team, which are both comprised of only the best field hockey athletes. Luckes did say she is thinking about playing in col-

lege. About her overall field hockey experience, Luckes said, “I’ve gotten really close with the coaches, and the entire atmosphere is really great, so I just keep doing it.”

Follow @WGECHO for more news updates! October 2015

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Bennett from the Bleachers

Sports

For 4-5 Statesmen, hope still lingers that went to the Dome in 2009 and 2010, time in eight games they scored double but you get the point: Webster just isn’t digits. accustomed to losing like this. Doria, who after sharing a passing role Is that an overstatement? Honestly, it with Jerry Yates had emerged as the startprobably is. It’s not like Webster is 0-8, er, showed signs of maturity, passing for losing to bad teams and getting utterly an- three touchdowns. When on a third and nihilated by good ones. It’s not like the nine late in the first quarter, Doria rolled team is flailing desperately for one win, out of the pocket to earn an extra several for one brief taste of victory in the midst seconds before finding a receiver for 14 of a pitiful season. yards, it hit just how good he could end No, these Webster players and coaches up being. Bennett Durando know that enticing flavor too well, which Webster scored a touchdown on that Sports Editor is what makes this season all the more torturous. They’ve It all started… or ended, really… in that even tasted it at points this fateful District Championship game. season, most notably on When that darned Jack Fox-led Ladue their last second 13-12 win team pioneered its comeback to eliminate at Hazelwood East, on sophWebster football from State title conten- omore quarterback John tion in 2014, it marked the end of an era. Doria’s 26-yard touchdown By the time the Pioneers from Kirk- pass as time expired. wood were rolling over the Statesmen a The Statesmen won again couple weeks later on Thanksgiving for the next week, 19-13, and the second straight year, it was clear a new that alluring taste of victory Photo by Ashli Wagner Webster team was already settling in. was stronger than ever. The Junior K’ron Richardson, pursued by Rockwood That team, in 2015, has something that team was 2-1! Summit freshman Sam Frankowski, carries the Webster hasn’t seen in a long time: a losAfter winning those two football at the Varsity football game at Rockwood ing record. Its 3-5 record is unprecedent- consecutively though, the Summit High School on Oct. 9. Rockwood Summit ed, given its success in the not-so-distant defense, which had allowed won 42-7. past. 12.5 points on average in This has come a year after the Statesmen those wins, could no longer were top ranked in Class Five for the ma- hold the team up. The Statesmen lost four drive to up 14-0 when it converted a jority of the season, two years after they straight. Was the irresistible taste becom- fourth down with a six yard touchdown upset the defending champion Pioneers on ing unattainable? The succulent scent had run. The third and fourth down success the road en route to the Final Four, and teased them for the first three weeks of the had been absent for seven games, but the three years after they lost 21-14 to those season, only to cruelly deny them for the Webster offense figured something out State champs in a very evenly matched, rest of the year. Winning seemed a delica- against McCluer. heartbreaking Round of 16 game. cy Webster could simply no longer afford. This turning trend continued the next I could go on, as far back as the teams That is, until the last week of the regular week in the District playoff game, when season. Web- Webster experienced the sweetest taste of ster captured all: revenge. This time the Statesmen were its first home the underdogs against 7-1 Ladue, and this win of the time it was Ladue who jumped out to the season, a 27-7 early lead. And this time, it was Webster triumph over that rallied with 28 straight points. Things McCluer. This got scary at the end when after fumbling The Webster-Kirkwood Times time, offense with a 15-point lead, Ladue scored and rekeeps you in touch with your community in print every week and online all the time. was coming covered an onside kick. Webster stopped alive. It was the Rams on downs in the last minute Check out our all new website: the first time though, icing a 28-20 win. www.timesnewspapers.com now with major league sports of the season At Pattonville this Friday, Webster’s run coverage from columnist Rob Rains Webster scored will continue. Even after the big win last 20 points, and week, Webster remains hungry. After all, Make a difference in your community: Shop first at locally-owned stores! just the fourth 4-6 doesn’t have a very good taste. Presenting Sponsor of the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival

NO MO' #FOMO!

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Botan beliefs

Halloween brings haunted attractions

Photo by Tyson Coley

Entertainment columnist Abby Botan hangs with a monster at Scare Fest’s Lemp Brewery haunted house.

Abby Botan Entertainment Columnist Halloween is approaching very quickly which can intensify one’s desire for spookiness. Halloween is a “holiday” known for candy, costumes and haunted attractions - of which St. Louis has over five, but they don’t come cheap. Fright Fest is one of the popular haunted attractions in St. Louis considering that the Six Flags attraction has many all tied into one. Fright Fest is at 4900 Six Flags, St. Louis Railroad in Eureka and officially opened on Oct. 2. It goes on for every weekend this month. To get into Fright Fest costs $61.99 on Friday and Sunday, but on Saturday the prices increase to $71.99, and ordering your tickets online makes the prices cheaper by $15. Although the prices for Fright Fest are on the expensive side, you do get a lot for your money. The haunted houses/show at Fright Fest are Deadman’s Party, Love at First Fright, Final Freakout, VooDoo Comedy Hypnosis Show and Freak Out Circus. Their frights include Insanity Alley, Zombieville, Zombie Paintball Apocalypse, The Slaughter House, Sinister Clowns and Blind Fury. Who would want to

October 2015

miss all of that? Helena Eames, junior, said about Fright Fest, “It was pretty scary because there were guys chasing you around with chainsaws.” Red Corn’s Maze Massacre’s attraction holds over 22 acres of terror. It’s held at 8004 Twin River Rd. in Eureka and runs Oct. 2, through Oct. 31, only at midnights. The story behind the haunted attraction is that a man called Jebidiah “Red” Slaughter inherited some property, and he made it into a farm. There was an chemical spill on all of his crops, and he believed he could build a well to help restore the crops, but upon digging a well, with his buddy, they came across a chest. When opening the chest, they were possessed by demons, and then they murdered everyone in the corn field. It costs $13 per person for entry - which is cheaper than Fright Fest. The Retribution Haunted House is held inside of a 22,000 sq. ft. warehouse, allowing plenty of opportunities for one to be frightened. It opened up on Oct. 2, and ends on Oct. 31, hours are 7 p.m. to midnight on the days when it is open. The entrance to this attraction opens up a passageway for you to be taunted by zombies, creepy clowns and murder scenes. Tickets cost $15 on weekends, $13 on Thursdays and $5 for children 10 and under. I went to The Abyss at Lemp Brewery, and it was terribly scary. Upon buying my ticket and standing in line, I was taunted and frightened by three monsters who weren’t afraid to chase you around. It took me longer than normal to finish walking through the attraction because of how scared I was, making me walk faster. It was a long, cold two-hour wait in line, but once I got into the attraction, it was so worth it. If you want to go to the The Abyss it costs $25 per person, and when you get to the ending, you get a $5 off on your ticket price if you plan on going to The Darkness. All of these haunted attractions are waiting for you this Halloween season. Are you ready?

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Movie will give ‘Goosebumps’ Kadifa Tabakovic Circulation Editor “Goosebumps” movie has been number one in the Box Office since its release on Oct. 16, and it has made over $23 million. This action/adventure movie has really kept people in their seats with its witty comedy and its unannounced jump scares that the whole family will enjoy. “Goosebumps segwayed me into horror. I read the Goosebumps series as a kid, and I really loved it, and I hope it gets younger children to read the Goosebumps books,” Graham Curry said about the film. “Goosebumps” stars Jack Black, R. L. Stine, Odeya Rush, Dylan Minnette, Ryan Lee, Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell and Ken Marino, and was directed by Rob Letterman, who also directed “Monsters vs. Aliens.” In the movie, young Zach Copper (Minnette) and his mother (Ryan) move from New York to Madison, Del. Zach is upset about the move because he didn’t want to move to a small town, but Zach finds a bright side of moving there when he meets his beautiful neighbor Hannah (Rush) and her mysterious dad, whom he later finds out is R. L. Stine (Black), the popular writer of the book series, Goosebumps. On accident, Zach and his new friend Champ (Lee) unleash the monsters from all of the Goosebumps tales, and now it is up to Zach, Champ, Hannah and Stine to return the monsters to their original stories. “Goosebumps” movie is rated PG, so it is a family and child friendly movie. It runs 1 hour and 43 minutes. “I think it is going to be a great movie for all ages,” senior Felicia Brown said. Other movies for the season are “Monster House” (2006), “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993), and “The Haunting Hour: “Don’t Think About It” (2007). All are movies both are great for the Halloween spirit.

Photo credit: “Goosebumps”/ Columbia Pictures/TNS

Up Coming Events:

• Friendship Dance tickets are on sale for $10 and go up to $12 Nov. 5, and then to $15 on Nov. 7 • Friday Oct. 30, Varsity football team plays against Pattonville • “Peanuts Movie” comes out Nov. 6 • “Mamma Mia!” at the Fox, Nov. 6-8 • “White Christmas” at the Fox, Nov. 17-22 • “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” comes out Nov. 20

October 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord...â&#x20AC;? Psalm 100:1 Webster Groves Baptist Church invites instrumentalists and vocalists to perform in its weekly services. music@wgbaptist.com wgbc@wgbaptist.com