text:
People to People an enriching experience
Clayton High School
International Day entertains, educates
Fall sports look forward to playoffs
1 Mark Twain Circle
Architecture is a collaborative process between owner, architect, engineer and builder. The idea of single architect in his ivory tower is a commonly held belief that does not exist. John Berglund Bond Wolfe Architects
Volume 81, Issue 3
Clayton, MO 63105
Parents warn children against talking salary, religion, past romances, or politics with others. These can be sensitive and private matters. Yet with an easily accessible online database, all CHS students can find their teachers' salaries. Missouri educators' salaries were published on STLtoday.com last month. The online database includes the salaries for administrators, principals, teachers and guidance counselors. Community members can search by last name, school district, position and salary range. "We Americans love numbers and statistics," CHS History teacher Richard Horas said. "We feel that if we can only come up with the correct formula, we can evaluate almost anything." History teacher Rick Kordenbrock was not startled by the creation of this database. "I was not surprised by the posting of the salaries," Kordenbrock said. "I have seen salaries for other public employees posted online." In fact, this website already posts the public employee salaries of Missouri state employees, University of Missouri System employees, St. Louis city
and county employees and Illinois state employees. This time the site decided to post every public school teacher salary from the 2008-2009 school year. Teachers like Horas were taken aback that the St. Louis Post Dispatch posted the salaries online at such open access. "I was surprised," Horas said. "However, as a public servant and an advocate of government transparency, I believe the public has a right to know what they are paying their employees." Some CHS students were shocked to find such detailed information on the website. "It seems like an invasion of privacy," sophomore Marguerite Daw said. "They could have created this database without employee names and included a pay salary chart for each school district." This online database showcases the differences between merit pay and seniority pay. Clayton builds salaries through seniority and education while Ladue uses merit pay. "It's not just a seniority pay system," said Sharmon Wilkinson, Clayton Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. "We pay teachers using a single salary schedule model. Pay is based upon two factors, years of experience and education. Teachers will receive higher salaries for Bachelor's Degrees,
Jen Maylack
History teacher Donna Rogers-Beard conducts her AP World History class. Her salary, along with that of every teacher in Missouri, is now available for public viewing online. Educators now question whether Clayton's single salary schedule model is the most effective pay system. Master's Degree and for a PhD." Since the single schedule model is objective, it is used by many school districts. "The single salary schedule model in most school districts has been used
since the early 1930s," Wilkinson said. "Part of the reason the model was put into place was so salaries were objective and never based upon individual discretion. Historically, the model emerged in response to a movement
Exploring the physics of swimming
Staff Photo
Jerry Estes holds his choir class in the fine arts hallway at Wydown Middle School. As larger classes have matriculated each year, the school's population has outgrown its capacity. The bond issue passed last spring did not include plans for the middle school, but community members have organized to develop options to present before the Board of Education.
Wydown Tomorrow plans for imperative renovations Lee by Jocelyn Reporter
New iPod nano features camera
ent because it's a zero-tax rate increase bond, which means that the taxes won't actually go up. Instead of the amount that we are paying currently and it ending at a certain time, let's This November, the group Wydown Tomorrow plans to say 12 or 15 years out from now, we would just continue to present a report regarding the future of Wydown Middle pay that same amount for a full 20 years." School to the Board of Education. An advisory group of 16 Parent Ronna Pohlman said she isn't so sure that the zeroparents and community members, Wydown Tomorrow was tax rate increase will turn out the way it is supposed to. Howformed to develop options for a bond issue for the renova- ever, she said she would not mind paying a little bit more tion of the Wydown building. in order to benefit her children's education. Pohlman has a "In the facility master plan that was done last year, the daughter in the seventh grade at Wydown and two sons who Board of Education recognized that the recommendations will be entering the sixth grade next school year. that were made for Wydown were not adequate," co-chair of Perhaps the greatest issue that needs addressing at Wydown Tomorrow Kristin Redington said. "They thought Wydown is one of space. that further study needed to be done and more options need"It's been an overriding issue at Wydown since I've been ed to be looked at for Wydown Middle School, and more here," Goldberg said. "We had issues with space when I came community engagement was needed to find out what the and they haven't gone away – they've gradually gotten worse. community really wants for our middle school." We have choir in the lobby of the theater every day, and we Redington has several children at have band classes in the hallways." Glenridge Elementary School and the Robert Kuehn, the parent of two stuIt is hard for me to Family Center. In addition, she attenddents at Captain Elementary School, said ed the Clayton schools when she was imagine all those he was shocked after his visit to Wydown younger. Redington said part of the reaon one of the Monday tours that Wydown children, stuffed son why she is involved is that she wants Tomorrow offers. to give back and help provide for future "I never expected to see such a crowdin those cramped generations. ed, clearly inadequate school in a highAlong with co-chair Stephen Nickspaces, getting the ly-regarded, quality school system like elson, Redington began conducting Clayton," Kuehn said. "It is hard for me most from their eduWydown Tomorrow meetings in June of to imagine all those children, stuffed in this year. Scheduled for the second and those cramped spaces, getting the most cational day. fourth Monday evenings of each month, from their educational day. I think almost these meetings are open to the public and Robert Kuehn anyone who visits the school would come focus on the group's main goals. away both disturbed at the cramped, outClayton parent Wydown Principal Mary Ann Golddated conditions and supportive of some berg is one of the 16 community memaction by the School Board to expand and bers on the Wydown Tomorrow committee. upgrade the school." "The overarching goal for the group is to look at options In addition to space problems, Pohlman said the aesthetfor Wydown beyond what came out of the facility master ics of Wydown are lacking. plan, and not to come up with a final recommendation to the "The whole landscape needs to expand the mind, and it board, but to present schemes to the board that they think doesn't do a good job of that," Pohlman said. would be good options for them to consider," Goldberg said. According to Pohlman, her daughter enjoys the drama "The final decision on what is going to happen will be made curriculum at Wydown, but is not entirely happy with the by the Board of Education." provided educational space. However, Redington said there are parameters for the "She has talked about how it feels kind of old and dilapiplans. One of them is that Wydown has to stay on the cur- dated, and so for her, that's an area that is lacking," Pohlman rent Wydown site, and that whatever options are developed said. must require less than $40 million. This will allow the district Teachers too, Goldberg said, feel the need for change. to propose a zero-tax rate increase bond issue this coming "The teachers here are just hoping that something hapApril, in contrast to the bond issue which passed through pens," Goldberg said. "But what we want and what we need is Proposition S last spring. additional space in whatever way it comes to us." "The high school, the elementary schools, and the family Wydown Tomorrow school were all done by a bond that the community voted on pg. 2 to increase their taxes," Redington said. "This bond is differ-
'Sweeney Todd' musical preparations
Index: 2 World
4 Community 6 InDepth 9 Sports 13 Features 17 Arts 20 Forum 24 InFocus
for 'equal pay for equal work,' a demand for greater teacher skills and the desire to diminish bias in the teacher pay system."
Teacher salaries pg. 3
Prom date moved to accomodate AP tests
had been set on that specific date," Inder said. "She was understanding and seemed as though she wanted to help The date of prom was recently us try to figure out the best solution to changed from May 8 to May 15 due to the problem." One of Inder's main arguments was conflicts with AP tests and concerns expressed by students. AP testing takes that a large number of CHS seniors and place May 8-14; prom will now take juniors would be affected by the conplace on the weekend after AP exams flict. In total, 91 students are enrolled instead of the weekend between the in AP Biology and AP Physics, 21 in physics and 70 in biology. two weeks of AP exams. "I looked again at AP Bio and AP "When I first found out the original date of prom I was in a state of shock," Physics and if we have 400 juniors and senior Gabby Inder said. "I couldn't seniors all together roughly you figure believe that the school would choose that AP Bio and AP Physics combined to place the dance in between the two are about 100—that means that 25% of our student population is impacted," weeks of AP exams." AP Physics students, like Inder, Losos said. "You don't want to make a along with AP Biology students, were decision on the needs of a small numespecially concerned because May 8 is ber. But 25% is not a small number." CHS students weren't the only ones the day of the biology and physics final exams. This exam, taken on Saturday, voicing an opinion about the May 8 is designed to prepare students for the prom date. "I had gotten an email from my biology and physics AP exams, which PTO president saying that take place on the following Monday, they had fielded a couple of May 10. phone calls and were ask"Originally, we wanted to set ing about it," Losos said. aside the last weekend of April After consulting with for prom," Principal Louise Lothe leadership council, a sos said. "We thought that it monthly meeting was late enough to feel the advisory group weight of prom, but early of teachers inenough not to interfere cluding all of with APs and final exthe department ams," Losos said. heads, the deciBut this year, the last sion was made Saturday of April falls on to change the a three-day weekend, the date of prom. last weekend that seniors have Student acto visit colleges before their detivity director cision is due on May 1. To set Mike Nelke was the date earlier seemed to able to contact the be too early in the year, venue, Palladium, especially for a dance and successfully that is supposed to be switch the date a culmination of the to May 15 withschool year. out monetary "With the best consequence. of intentions we Traditionwent with May ally, senior 8," Losos said. skip day is the "Part of our thinkMonday after prom ing was that if you weekend, which was wait until that weekend one of the original obto study for the AP exam, jections to the May 8 it's probably kind of late. date because a signifiWe were thinking if cant number of seniors they're studying for their were going to spend final, then really they their free day taking an should be ready to go for AP test. But there is a Monday." new potential conflict The first weekend of with the new date. May is also not ideal be"We might need to cause on Monday May move senior finals up one 3, CHS students will day to Monday," Losos take end-of-course said. "So that things like exams. that are never clean." "We began to get Senior finals start on more students, not a lot Tuesday May 18, but if Mimi Liu of students, but enough they are moved up a day that I decided to relook at it rather that have it be a point of con- the first day of senior finals will also be tention throughout the year with the senior skip day. "I am extremely happy that prom students," Losos said. "If it's that important, I thought, why don't we at least see has been changed to May 15," Inder said. "I feel like there has been a weight if there are other possibilities?" Inder was one of the distressed stu- lifted off of my shoulders. Instead of dents that approached Losos about the having to sacrifice my schoolwork to attend prom, I will now be able to relax prom problem. "When I went to speak with Dr. Lo- and enjoy the last few weeks of school sos, she carefully outlined why prom with my friends." Blackwell by Mary Senior Features Editor
Homecoming by the hours
Oct. 20, 2009
Posting of salaries online raises questions Bernstein by Simone Senior Managing Editor
CONSTRUCTION, pg 6
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American Airlines cuts flights in St. Louis Due to smaller loads and lower fares as a result of the recession, American Airlines will stop servicing flights from St. Louis to several destinations around the country; the company's decision will affect many St. Louisans' travel plans and has caused some CHS students to rethink their college choices. has been a major factor in the reduction of flights over the past few years." Local members of the community With the announcement of new are aware of the reductions, and are flight reductions for 2010, American planning ahead to make sure they are Airlines will be left with 36 flights de- ready. Trent Bernard, who flies out of St. parting daily from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, far fewer than Louis on a weekly basis, is aware of the nearly 500 daily departures from the flight reductions and is making his the airport when American Airlines travel plans accordingly. "It will make traveling a lot more took over Trans World Airlines (TWA) difficult, and extra time will have to be less than 10 years ago. After these cuts, non-stop service dedicated to layovers," Bernard said. from St. Louis will no longer be avail- "Currently I fly American about half able on any carrier to Austin, Texas; the time, but I will probably fly more Nashville, Indianapolis; Wichita, Kan.; on Southwest and other carriers once Jacksonville, Fla.; Madison, Wis.; Nor- the new flight cuts go into effect." Many students who travel know folk, Va.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Richthe possibility of long mond, Va.; San layovers between Antonio, Texas; People fail to realtransfer flights, so this San Francisco; forces their families ize that flight serand Des Moines, to reconsider travelIowa. Non-stop vice and availability ing. The flight cuts ulservice on Ameritimately could change can Airlines will are a function of some students' college cease to eight otheconomic develop- choices, which may er cities by 2010 depend on the access as well, though ment. to flights back to St. other carriers also Louis. offer non-stop Bill Mishk "There are fewer service to these Vice President of Mar- flights which mean destinations. American Airketing and Planning for more layovers in airports," junior Sarah lines has cut down American Connection Graeber said. "This its St. Louis hub makes me not want to multiple times since TWA left St. Louis nearly eight go to college far away, as travel to and years ago. Bill Mishk, former Vice Pres- from college would be too hard and ident of Marketing and Planning for take too much time and effort." Sophomore Carmen Ribaudo American Connection, American Airlines' regional service, said that flight agrees that flight cuts will make travel a headache. Every year she flies the dicuts should be foreseen. "People fail to realize that flight ser- rect flight on American Airlines to San vice and flight availability is a function Francisco, which will cease to exist in of economic development," Mishk said. 2010. "I fly on the direct flight to San Fran"In other words, if there is lots of economic development, the city will usu- cisco every year," Ribaudo said. "We ally get lots of flights. When there is low probably will not be traveling there as economic development, the city will often as we would spend more time in lose flights. And unfortunately, St. Lou- waiting around for connecting flights is has been losing company headquar- which is very inconvenient, and would ters to other cities and the automotive make the travel much more difficult." Though it will make traveling more industries have downsized hugely. This Bernstein by Jake Reporter
Nancy Freeman
American Airlines will stop providing flights from St. Louis to 19 cities by the end of 2010. St. Louis may face a shortage of flights until its economic condition improves. difficult, from a business perspective, American Airlines may have made a correct decision in cutting flights. "It was absolutely the correct choice for American to pull out, as flights are regularly half full and fares have come down due to price competition and the recession," Mishk said. "Combine the lower loads and lower average airfare and the flights are not making any money. I agree, it will be difficult to get to places, but it was a smart financial decision by American." "In my experience, American can't even fill the small jets when they fly,
with the planes only flying at 50% to 75% capacity, so it's understandable why they are cutting so many flights," Bernard said. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay disagreed, calling American Airlines' move a "bad business decision," according to his blog. He said that American Airlines, in cutting more than half of their flights each day, will lose customer confidence and people will just give other airlines their business rather than American Airlines. Though it may be unlikely that American Airlines will step back in the
immediate future, other airlines may fill the gap American Airlines left in abandoning so many routes. Southwest Airlines is picking up two routes American originally abandoned, as well as direct service to Minneapolis and Boston, though service to Boston will be picked back up by American Airlines' regional service. "Even if other airlines do pick up the slack, there is no way that an airline is going to start flying to all these places that American dropped, unless there is much more economic development in the city," Mishk said. "The backfill, a
term used to describe another airline coming in to pick up lost flights, will be muted." "I am not expecting American to pull back to St. Louis, as they seem to want to concentrate on the bigger cities like Dallas and Chicago," Bernard said. "I think Southwest will fill the gap, as I know they made a great decision in filling a gap this year in opening service to Minneapolis." For the time being however, the citizens of St. Louis will have to be content with connecting to other cities through other airlines when they fly.
Elizabeth Sikora
Administrators, along with members of the community, are making plans to expand the Wydown Middle School building.
Wydown Tomorrow plans to remodel campus Wydown Tomorrow pg. 1
As the principal of the school, Goldberg said it is part of her job to ensure students have the educational space they need. "A primary objective of my role as the educational leader for the building is to create spaces so that we can honor the program and the teaching that goes on here for the kids each day," Goldberg said. As to what exactly will happen to the Wydown building, no one is sure quite yet. Several schemes have been looked at, some of which include an entirely new building or an addition onto the gym and theater. "The building has to be built, whether it's an addition or a new building or a renovation, to accommodate future enrollment," Redington said. "The number that they are asking us to build for is 550 students." Other than creating more space for the predicted number of students, designing the building to be more environmentally friendly seems to be among the next most important issues. "Goals would include increasing green space, allowing for natural light and good quality air circulation through the building," Redington said. "The increasing green space would be for outdoor classroom instruction or being able to eat outside. I think our middle school students, especially,
don't get to be outside as much as they could be." Goldberg also said making Wydown more "green" is a priority among the teacher and student body. "We would like to make sure it is LEED-certified, so that it's environmentally friendly, and it's built into sustainability," Goldberg said. "I've talked with the students about it, and they're very adamant about the fact that they want to make sure that whatever we do, whether it's an add-on or a new building, that it be built so that it's based on building green." Redington said that an important part of the process is getting the community involved so that they have a voice in what will happen at Wydown. "We want to present three different options to the community through the website and also through a mailing that we're going to send out at the beginning of November," Redington said. "That will give the community the opportunity to look at the different options and their pros and cons. The community will be able to give their feedback and tell us what they are feeling is the right direction to go in." Redington said, overall, people recognize the need at Wydown and are supportive of the plans for renovating Wydown. She said she encourages anyone who has an opinion or idea to visit the Wydown Tomorrow website or attend a Monday meeting. "The more people we hear from, the easier it is to represent the community," Redington said. "And we've got 4.2 acres, so there are great possibilities."
W orld
3 Anniversary of the PRC celebrated in Forbidden City OCT. 20, 2009
Zhang by Philip Reporter
On Oct. 6, the People's Republic of China celebrated its 60th anniversary in Tiananmen Square with a parade that included 300,000 participants and 60 floats. In addition to a civilian parade that highlighted China's achievements in various sectors of the society, a military parade featured troops and modern military hardware such as helicopters, fighter jets, and tanks. President Hu Jintao addressed the Chinese people from the same Tiananmen rostrum where Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China 60 years ago. "The situation is a lot different now," said Ziqiang Zhang, a businessman who works in Beijing's Haidian district that is also known as China's Silicon Valley. "With a speed of growth that is unparalleled to any other market, China went from an economically insignificant country to the third largest economy in the world." This year, China's GDP could total $4.58 trillion if its economy continues to grow at 17 percent and the dollar trades at an average of 6.3 yuan. At this rate, China may surpass its neighboring country, Japan, and become the second largest economy in terms of GDP. Zhang said that he has witnessed great changes in many other aspects other than the economy. "It has been 30 years since I graduated from college," Zhang said. "Nowadays, it is much easier to get into college because of the increase in the number of colleges. Back then, only one student out of every 50 to 60 students got enrolled." As China opened its economy and merged into globalism, its culture has been greatly changed. Dr. Ming Fu of Washington University lived in China for more than 40 years and has been visiting China frequently since she moved to the United States. "People in China are now welcoming Western ideas that had been criticized and discouraged during Mao's generation," Fu said. "The culture is more diverse; people are able to expose themselves to different cultures from all over the world." Over the years, events like the Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen Square Protest have cast shadows over China's achievements.
"The progress had not been consistent through out the last 60 years," Zhang said. "During the first 30 years, a lot of mistakes were made by the communist leaders; as a result, China's room for growth was very restricted. During the last 30 years, the changes in government ideology gave China more opportunities to catch up with the rest of the world. In fact, the economic power of China today was mainly shaped by the changes of the last 30 years." "Whether some of the past choices made and steps taken were right or wrong, China has certainly matured after overcoming obstacles one after another", said Ye Ji, a typical Chinese girl born and raised in Beijing, who is now a junior in college. "In terms of culture, there have been huge leaps since the end of the Cultural Revolution. More Chinese have become aware of the importance of preserving traditional culture, and recent events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics sure gave China a chance to show the world its rich cultural background." Zhang, Fu, and Ji unanimously agreed that the biggest change in China is the overall improvement of living conditions. "When I was born, natural disasters often led to food shortage and other life-threatening problems," Fu said. "I remember those days clearly; from the early 1950s to mid1980s, food was bought with ration coupons. Nowadays, the young teenagers can eat McDonald's or KFC whenever they wish to." For China, a lot of improvements still need to be made in the future. China's rapid economic growth over the decades has triggered unintended consequences: growing income gaps, government corruption, rising criminality, and environmental pollution. Social tension between different ethnic groups sometimes boils over into violent riots. Despite having the third largest GDP in the world, China still has millions of people living on less than $1 a day in rural areas. "I believe this country could accomplish anything with a sense of unity," Zhang said. "During the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, the whole country, 1.3 billion Chinese people, came together and fought through hardships together. In the future, I wish to see more unity like this among the Chinese people." Like Zhang, Ji also has high hopes for the future of China. "Since China is so largely populated, a small change in each individual can make a big impact," Ji said.
Doug Kanter/KRT
Chinese citizens gather in Tiananmen Square to celebrate the People's Republic of China's 50th Anniversary.
Teacher salary systems analyzed Teacher Salaries pg. 1
Courtesy of Laura Klamer
A group of students in People to People pose in front of the White House on a recent trip to Washington D.C. People to people is an organization that provides students and adults with educational opportunities throughout the world.
People to People promotes cultural awareness, leadership opportunities Viswanathan by Preeti Senior Community Editor People to People is an organization whose mission is to promote cultural awareness and understanding through direct interactions with other cultures. The organization's foundation is based on the People to People movement that originated in 1956 with former president Eisenhower, and the movement started with the hopes of promoting world peace through connections between citizens around the world. Today, People to People provides students and adults with educational opportunities throughout the world and within the U.S. There are four types of programs within the organization: student ambassador programs, sports ambassador programs, leadership programs, and citizen ambassador programs. Former health teacher Doris Smith traveled with a leadership program this past summer to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and enjoyed volunteering with the group. Smith decided to get involved with the organization after retiring when a friend told her about the program. "When I retired from teaching after 31 years I knew that what I would miss most was my interactions with teenagers," Smith said. "A woman I know was involved with the group and told me a lot about it and it seemed like a perfect fit, which it was."
The 10-day program was held at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Smith was assigned to a group of high school students interested in medical careers. Among the 93 total students, Smith worked with a smaller group of 11 students, most of whom were freshman and sophomores deciding whether they wanted to pursue careers in medicine. "The program featured a curriculum on leadership and medical issues that we did in our small groups for a couple hours a day and completed a research project," Smith said. "There was an outdoor leadership activity morning, a service day and some general touring in Baltimore and Washington DC. The most interesting part was the medical field trip activities we did most days. We went to the National Institutes of Health, Quest Labs, Walter Reed Hospital and Johns Hopkins' new simulation lab," she said. In addition to touring, the students talked to admissions deans from Johns Hopkins undergraduate and medical schools, and performed procedures simulated on computers in the lab. CHS senior Laura Klamer has also traveled through People to People, but she participated in a program that traveled abroad to Australia. Klamer and the other students traveled within Australia from the city of Cairns to Sydney. "The purpose of our trip was to make people aware of other cultures
and establish a good relationship between different cultures through socializing with one other, so that in the future they [cultures] will have better relationships," Klamer said. In the program Klamer was a part of, the group of students participated in a farm stay and a home stay. "At the farm stay we had one Australian family that everyone collectively stayed with, and then each student got an individual host family for a couple of days," she said. Klamer's memorable experiences included attending school in Australia for a day and meeting the students there, as well as going to an alligator farm. She said that, overall, schools are similar to those in the U.S. In addition to Cairns and Sydney, Klamer also went to Brisbane, a city close to where her host family lived and other tourist attractions. "We went to many cities along the way and also to the Great Barrier Reef," Klamer said. "I enjoyed the trip a lot, and I really felt like I learned about the culture of Australia." Smith thought her trip was intellectually stimulating but also provided students enough time to enjoy their surroundings. They visited museums and landmarks, including the national mall in Washington D.C. "The medical museum at Walter Reed was very interesting and we had a great time on the mall in Washington D.C.," Smith said.
While the Clayton school district determines salaries using a single schedule model, the Ladue school district prefers the merit pay system. Ladue is the only school district in the St. Louis area to utilize this unique system. "Ladue has had a merit pay-based system since 1954," President of the Ladue School District Karen Webster said. "A committee of teachers and administrators started work in 1952 to devise a system that would set pay increases for teachers based on their individual evaluations. The possibility of earning more money for superior performance and having no salary cap allows for each teacher to be rewarded for his or her efforts as an individual." In the Ladue School District, pay is based off of yearly evaluations and discussions between teachers and the administrators. "Each teacher has an evaluator, most often the principal, but at the middle or high school level it could be an assistant principal, who works with the teacher to set goals," Webster said. "This occurs every year for non-permanent teachers, or every other year for permanent teachers. Based on these evaluations and criteria described in the 'Teacher Evaluation Program Handbook', the teacher is placed in a category. Money available for increases in salary will be distributed to the teachers. A portion of that money is distributed so that teachers who place in a higher category will receive more money, independent of how long they have been teaching, in Ladue, or elsewhere." CHS teachers like Horas believe there are benefits to the merit system, but feel it is extremely difficult to manage.
"I believe merit pay has a place in education," Horas said. "The challenge is coming up with a means by which to determine 'merit'. So much of what teachers do is tough to 'measure'. Can you imagine trying to come up with a 'merit' system for evaluating your parents' performance?" Kordenbrock believes there are some school districts that would benefit from merit pay. "In some districts, other than Clayton, there are situations where teachers have tenure, and then have no incentive to work hard," Kordenbrock said. "Teachers can become stagnant, and merit pay could be a form of motivation." Although the single salary schedule does not pay all teachers the same amount, differences in salaries are solely due to educational levels, credits earned and experience. "The compensation system was so named because all teachers were paid on the same scale, regardless of gender, race, grade level or family status of the teacher," Wilkinson said. "The model does not take into consideration any evaluation of the teacher's professional performance. To have merit pay, a good system is needed for determining salary decisions. How do you determine the quality of a teacher's performance? Fairness is always an issue." While some CHS teachers question the reliability of the merit system, the Ladue School District believes it offers many more benefits. "Every year offers the opportunity for an individual teacher to have his or her salary increased based on his or her contributions- to the classroom, to fellow teachers, to his or her school and the district at large," Webster said. "This allows Ladue to differentiate pay increases for additional teacher effort,
as opposed to paying the same for everyone who has completed the same number of years at a given educational level, regardless of how much they contributed that year." When analyzing the database, a few CHS students were surprised at the varying differences in teacher salaries. "From searching the database I noticed there is such a difference in teacher salaries," senior Melissa Kopp said. "If you work longer, it definitely doesn't mean you are a better teacher. For example, Mr. Kordenbrock is a great teacher with only two years of experience, but he deserves a much higher salary. Merit pay definitely seems like a better system." When viewing the database, many of the extra benefits are not included in the listed salary. The real salary can be significantly more than that published online. The total compensation package for each teacher includes not only salary, but health care, paid sick leave, extra pay for extracurricular activities, grants and pension contributions. This figure is not listed on the database. For example, coaching salaries are considered extra bonuses that aren't included on the site. Coaching contracts are set up through the CHS Athletic Office. "The district places a significant amount of money into a retirement plan, gives us health care benefits and lots of time off," Kordenbrock said. "Our contract includes about 187 contract days, but I also choose to spend time during the summer in unpaid workshops." Whether payment is based upon merit or seniority pay, the Clayton teacher salaries are competitive with the Ladue, Parkway and Kirkwood school districts.
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School district benefits from new Centene building Praiss by Zachary Reporter Clayton's skyline is changing. The new headquarters of the Centene Corporation is under construction after years of challenges. The center, which will host commercial towers, retail stores, and restaurants, will have a significant impact on Clayton for many years to come. Founded in 1984, the Centene Corporation is a national health care provider. Since 2004, the corporation has been searching for a location for their new headquarters. Originally, Centene sought to build the new headquarters at a former bookstore on Forsyth Blvd. Centene also looked into other locations around the country without success, one of which was Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Ultimately, Centene chose to remain in Clayton and to build the new headquarters between Forsyth Blvd. and Carondelet Ave. on Hanley Rd. To encourage Centene to remain in Clayton, the city offered tax abatement to the corporation totaling about $18.9 million. "We want corporate headquarters like Centene because they bring in jobs to the area, and if you bring in jobs, you
Staff Photo
The sign around the construction site shows a projection of what the Centene building will look like once finished. The builders plan to make the new Centene headquarters 17 stories. bring in people, and those people support our restaurants and our retailers," said Clayton mayor Linda Goldstein. In 2007, the city of Clayton called for proposals to redevelop the block of Forsyth. Centene submitted the only proposal, and thus, with permission from the city, sought to acquire the en-
tire block of Forsyth to help expand the new headquarters. However, Centene faced opposition from some companies, and ultimately, the dispute took itself to the Missouri Supreme Court in case known as Centene v. Mint Properties. The court ruled in Centene's favor, and as a result, Cen-
tene acquired all of the retail shops on Forsyth Blvd. Centene's new headquarters will incorporate those businesses into the center's new line of retail shops and restaurants on Forsyth Blvd. and the corner of Hanley Rd. "It's fabulous," Goldstein said. Ac-
cording to Goldstein, there will be a large open sidewalk with outdoor dining. In addition, the spacious plaza will sport an urban garden nestled between the two towers with a fire pit and peaceful water feature. The center will feature two towers that will host mainly offices for Centene employees. The first tower is already under construction and, when completed, will be 17 stories tall. The second will be located just south of the first tower on Hanley Rd. near Carondelet Ave. The new headquarters will attract hundreds of new jobs to Clayton and generate new tax revenue for both the city of Clayton and the Clayton School District. Goldstein explained how Clayton will definitely benefit through the tax base, the property taxes on the development, the people who are brought here and will spend their money here and the presence of a major corporate headquarters "Another corporate headquarters in Clayton will attract others," Goldstein said. Despite the tax abatement, the city is very pleased with the development of the corporation's headquarters. In addition, the school district supports the development despite its nearly 50
percent loss in its future revenue from Centene due to the tax abatement. Instead of receiving $2 million a year from Centene, the school district will only receive about $1 million for the next 20 years. "The psychology of [tax abatement] you could look at that as a glass half full or half empty, you could say we lost a million dollars or you can say we have a million more dollars in revenue that we would not have had without the development," said Don Senti, Superintendent for the Clayton School District. "I think it's a positive thing. It's a million more dollars in revenue." This new revenue, Senti feels, will take some pressure off the residential tax base. However, overall, both Goldstein and Senti respect and admire the Centene Corporation for its continued involvement and support for the arts and education in the community. "Centene has a history of getting involved in the community," Goldstein said. The corporation played a major role in the contributions for the redevelopment of Gay Field. Also, Centene sponsors events in the community such as the Big Read. Both Goldstein and Senti look forward to the center's completion.
StuGo takes on new responsibilities Luo by Dee Reporter Even though Student Officers and Student Government both contain the word "student," they are not the same. A lot of Clayton High School students do not even know the purpose of StuGo. Student Government is, as the name implies, an organization of student-elected members who work to improve and unify the high school. Although the organization does not make executive decisions on school policies, it hosts student activities and community fundraisers. Kurt Kleinberg, a CHS math teacher and one of the sponsors of StuGo, emphasizes that Student Government is not just a name. "We are here to be a body that does things, that organizes, that cares," Kleinberg said. "We are just trying to make a positive impact on the school and that's what we are always working towards." Members of StuGo agree and expand upon Kleinberg's definition. "StuGo is a group of students who represent the student body and do
things the students actually want to do, instead of things the teachers want to do," senior and StuGo president Eve Root said. This year, StuGo is trying to be more active in the community, and has taken on many new projects, one of which is the indoor soccer tournament. Although StuGo is most commonly known for hosting the Halloween Dance, it also hosts the Arts Fair, the Blood Drive, the Three vs. Three Basketball, the canned food drive, the Adopt a Family fundraiser, activities with Clayton Connection, and other forms of community service. "We also do the appreciation breakfast for the staff," Kleinberg said. "My hope is that Stugo is not just some entity of the building that just throws a dance. I want to take a more active role in the community." In response to the additional events, members of StuGo have taken more responsibility. There are 28 members of StuGo, seven elected members from each grade. From the 28 members, four officers are elected. This year, Root is president, vice
president is Shelby Sternberg, treasurer is Joe Evers, and secretary is Sonja Petermann. The sponsors are Kleinberg and social studies teacher Kurtis Werner. "This year, it seems the members have really stepped up, responsibilitywise," Kleinberg said. "It's more of a time commitment than most people realize." StuGo meets 16 times each year, every two weeks, during the school day and at night. StuGo members can be kicked out if they do not attend meetings or develop behavior issues. "Attendance was an issue," Kleinberg said. "A couple of years ago, we put in effect a new attendance policy." So far, issues have been rare. With the Homecoming dance over, StuGo is starting to prepare for the Halloween Dance on Oct. 30. Judging from the success of the Homecoming dance, where tickets sold out, Kleinberg thinks the Halloween Dance will be a success. "I hope, at least in the decoration aspect, to create a climate as cool, if not cooler than last year's," Kleinberg
Eve Root
Kurt Kleinberg and Shelby Sternberg discuss aspects of this year's Halloween dance. StuGo hopes for a good turnout to the dance based off of this year's homecoming and last year's Halloween dance attendance. said. "Last year [the dance] was in the auditorium, the first dance ever to be on stage." This year, the dance is taking place in the Commons. StuGo anticipates a
lot of work decorating and a high turnout for the dance. "From my perspective, and from a historical standpoint, it's one of the best dances that this school has to offer all
year," Kleinberg said. Although StuGo is taking on many new responsibilities, "it's never a burden," Root said. "We always have fun!"
'International Day' returns to CHS Blackwell by Sarah Reporter A couple dances across the front of the Commons. Every student watches as they eat. But this is not lunch—it is dinner. This is the potluck for CHS's International Day. This year, CHS brought back an old tradition: International Day. Students who have experienced a different culture, aside from a tourist experience, were invited to present their knowledge in the form of an assembly. On Sept. 25, every language class attended the presentations that were given during the day. "We realized that there is a community of international children, international students, here," Spanish teacher Teresa Schafer said. "They have challenges with both the language and the culture." Many students at CHS were born in another country or have lived in another country. "It all started with a conversation where we said, you know we have a small yet interesting international community," Schafer said. "We wanted to make those kids shine for a day and also have our kids that have gone to other countries and somehow came back with something to share." This year, the presentations included performances of traditional Indian dances, a martial arts performance, and
Thalia Sass
A cultural dancer performs for students at International Day. The traditional Peruvian dance was just one of many presentations students saw over the course of the day.
visual presentations of trips to countries all over the world. After school, there was a potluck dinner of international food, and performances of traditional Chinese and Peruvian dances. Senior Chi Zeng also performed a traditional Chinese song. Wydown Middle School science teacher Sandra Sermos hosted a trip to India last year. This year, she invited them to St. Louis to visit our schools. These six Indian students presented and performed at International Day along with our students. "They were very entertaining and it was cool not to see just PowerPoint presentations," senior Hannah Klein said. Klein presented a PowerPoint about her trip to Ghana. On her service trip, she visited orphanages and painted a hospital. CHS used to hold the International Day of Languages every year on Sept. 25, but stopped the tradition around 10 years ago. In Europe, they have an International day on Sept. 25 so that is why it is held on that date. "We wanted to make that day not just for them but for the whole community by putting the emphasis on how happy we are to have all these different nationalities in our community," Schafer said. "We celebrate the fact that we have international kids here and kids that have gone places and learned things that have enriched their lives."
Sophomore Dee Luo does a Chinese dance with her dance troupe in traditional Chinese garb.
Thalia Sass
Speech & debate prepares for changes as coaches ready to retire
Faced with the prospect of losing teacher sponsors, members are learning to embrace leadership. Massad by Maria Reporter As the coaches of the Speech and Debate team prepare to retire, the team faces changes. Soon, the team might be struggling to survive. Speech and Debate, or forensics, is a club at CHS that focuses on speaking in front of people while debating moral issues or interpreting fictional works of literature by acting them out in several different ways. If participants perform well, they could receive trophies in recognition of their achievements. Coach Brenda Bollinger will retire from the team at either the end of the 2011 or 2012 school year. Assistant coach Dave Jenkins is leaving CHS after this year. "Because the coaches are going to retire soon, we will have a new leader of the Speech and Debate team in the near future," forensics co-president Will Schedl said. In response, the Speech and Debate team student board has more responsibility this year. "By giving the board members more responsibility, Ms. Bollinger and I will know that the kids will be able to ease the new coaches into leading the team better," Jenkins said. In order to continue the team's excellence, the team is instituting several changes this year. One of these additions to the team is the mentor program. Varsity members help novice-level students improve their work by giving them an audience, by encouraging them, and by offering critiques. "The team has always had this program in place, just not officially," Bollinger said. "Varsity students have always taken the lead in preparing novice
students for competitions. This year, we to write a case, without actually doing are just trying to formalize this. Rather the work for them; they need to underthan it just being a catch-all program, stand the method behind the madness the mentor program becomes more so that they can be successful." formal and more committed." Most participants agree that the The team wants to make sure that mentor program is useful. the transition between judges is as "I believe that the mentor system is smooth as possible. an extremely good idea, even though "By having this mentor program in it can be a small drain on the varsity place, the team will understand how to member's time," Holland said. "The debate and interpret better when the mentor system is a good idea because it new coaches come," Schedl said. cultivates winners in speech and debate Junior John Holland mentors nov- tournaments, and builds relationships ices interested in dramatic interpre- and increases the sense of community tations, humorous in the speech and interpretations, and debate world." By having this poetry reading. However, "I listen to the sophomore Dee mentor program in person's piece and Luo, who has give them advice place, the team will been on the team on how to improve for two years, understand how to their performance," finds that the Holland said. "This program debate and intrepret mentor includes enhancing has not helped their stage presence, better when the new her: She has aldeveloping their ready found a coaches come. characters, choosing informal mentor emphasis on specific last year. Will Schedl words to improve the "To me, findSenior flow and meaning of ing a mentor to the piece, and overall help with someencouraging them to continue their thing new was just embedded in the efforts." speech and debate experience," Luo For those more interested in de- said. "I can see the benefits that it can bating than interpreting, junior Becca provide new members with, but perSteinberg is on the list of mentors to sonally, nothing was gained or lost." help. Sophomore Micah Goodman is "As a mentor, I make sure that peo- also on the team. He chose not to be a ple with less experience understand mentor. what they need to do and feel like they "I have too much to learn myself," are in a supportive environment that Goodman said. "But it's a great idea, will help them be the best they can be," because new debaters can get excellent Steinberg said. "This involves helping advice from people who have been dethem learn how to find evidence and bating, in some cases, for four years." making sure that they understand how Also, the Speech and Debate team
Anna Duranowsky
Freshman Ravali Poreddy, senior Kara Kratcha and freshman Laura Kratcha practice prose reading with the team. Prose and poetry reading are two of the many events in which members can compete. is beginning to raise funds. The team is in debt because of the expenses of going to many tournaments for the past several years. "Our program is an expensive one based on materials, entry fees, and travel expenses," Bollinger said. "As the team grows, the costs become higher and higher. More people is a good thing, but we have to find more ways to raise the money we need to fund going to tournaments." There have been three fundraising ideas to decrease the debt. "One idea was selling candles," Jenkins said. "But that idea was rejected by the board." Luo is not a board member, but she
opposes the idea of selling candles. "I can see the point in getting some much needed money for the Speech and Debate team," Luo said. "But candles? Really? I guess it's a more creative alternative to other things, but we are speech and debaters." According to Jenkins, selling candles is now a last resort. "We are, however, going to have a trivia night in the spring because those are popular and fun," Jenkins said. "The other thing we had in mind was to make a tournament booklet, which is something that team members would give to coaches of other teams that would inform them of places nearby to eat." The students would sell ads for the
book in order to raise money for the team. "We have around 30 schools from around the state, so some people are unaware of dining opportunities in Clayton," Bollinger said. "Our tournament is being held on Nov. 20 and 21." Goodman thinks that fundraising is necessary. "It's not that big of a deal; we'll all just have to put in a little extra work so that the team as a whole can excel," Goodman said. Schedl hopes that everything will go well this year. "It's my last year," Schedl said. "I hope that these changes will add to my last year here."
The WORKS publication will showcase student art, writing McMahon by Meredith Reporter
Perfectly phrased poems and explosive original artwork pour out of every page of the annual CHS literary magazine, the WORKS. It's no wonder that this long-standing magazine has been published for 20 years at CHS. Poems, stories, personal essays and artwork are all part of the Works, a literary magazine that comes out every May. English teacher John Ryan sponsors the WORKS. "We want to publish the best writings that Clayton students have to offer," Ryan said. "We have a pretty wide understanding of what the best writing means: creative work, original work, work that takes a risk, [that is] thought provoking." Student work can be published following student or teacher recommendation, and an occasional contest that comes once a year. The magazine is a creative outlet for students who want to explore their creative writing and artistic freedom, which makes for an eclectic, interesting staff. Senior Andrea Goldstein is an editor of the WORKS. "It's diverse set of people," Goldstein said. "We all bring something different to the production of the Works and we
also are able to get a diverse group of people to submit their works of art to the magazine." Different pieces of art and literature can be submitted to the four editors on staff, who choose pieces with the help of Ryan and co-sponsor Christine Vodicka, a CHS art teacher. The editors, seniors Ken Zheng, Meredith Redick, Allie Lake, Nina Oberman, and Goldstein. "The editors are passionate about producing the best edition of the WORKS we can," Goldstein said. Editors of the WORKS change annually because they are usually seniors, although there have been exceptions. "Last year we had the same staff for two years and this year we have a brand new staff," Ryan said. "What I would love to do is start bringing in juniors this year so that when they are seniors, they may take a role and keep building editors." Ryan has many other goals and hopes for the future of the WORKS. "This year we're hoping to do more than [putting out one magazine in May], you know, posters, bookmarks, small pieces you can put in people's hands so they can say, 'Hey, this is cool.'" Ryan took over the magazine as sponsor two years ago from Nick Ot-
ten, a former English teacher at CHS. Ever since then his goals for the magazine have expanded. "My goal for the first year was to first put out a magazine, my goal for last year was, okay, let's learn from what we did and even do a better job," Ryan said. "So this year, especially working with Ms. Vodicka, I'm hopeful that we can not only have a good magazine but increase our exposure in the school, put the magazine into more people's hands." However, putting more magazines into more people's hands may not be as easy as it sounds. The paper is costly to produce, and the WORKS receives a budget from the Student Activities office to pay for full color issues. At the moment the WORKS can only produce about 200 copies every year, despite desires to make the magazine more prominent in the CHS community. "I believe that the overall goal is to showcase and give recognition to the talent at Clayton and produce something we all can be proud of," Goldstein said. The creative writing and artistic talent of CHS students certainly is astounding when compiled into one, small, shiny glossed magazine, and it would be easy to forget Clayton's real talent without it.
Jennifer Maylack
Senior Jennifer Golden chats with visitors while volunteering at a children's booth at The Big Read. She spent her time helping children design and decorate hats using paper plates and glitter.
Cultural festival celebrates art for all ages Greenberg by Katherine Editor
Caroline Stamp
Seniors Ken Zheng and Meredith Redick peruse a copy of last year's the WORKS. As two of the magazine's editors, Zheng and Redick will select pieces for publication and help to design pages.
A literary festival known as The Big Read was held at CHS Oct. 10. The event was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cindy Lerick, the executive director of Cultural Festivals, ran the event for the first time this year. "I have worked as for eight months as the executive director," Lerick said. "But before that I have had a lot of experience planning events." The event was free and open to the public. The event keynote speaker was Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea. The event also had other speakers, workshops, food, panel discussions and demonstrations. "Our mission is to bring free cultural events to the community," Lerick said. CHS students were able to get involved with the event through the Community Service Club. Volunteers from all over the St. Louis area worked in booths oriented towards children and setting up tents
and spaces for speakers. "We were able to get a lot of people involved and help things to run smoothly," Lerick said. "We recruited people sending mailings out and a lot of people contacted me to help just because they heard of the event through word of mouth." Community Service Club president Jennifer Golden volunteered at the Big Read for two hours. "Clayton students were able to sign up to help with the event online," Golden said. "We were able to work in the kids corner helping out with the different arts and crafts projects or students could work in one of the greeting booths." There were many tents set up for children by volunteers. "A lot of volunteers were students for St Louis University and Washington University," Golden said. There were also volunteers costumed as favorite characters from children's books, including Clifford the Big Red Dog. The arts and crafts booths were set
up to entertain children while their parents listened to the discussions and workshops set up by authors in tents. "We looked at which authors were touring," Lerwick said. "When we saw some that were in Missouri or in areas close we reached out to them and many of them were very interested in attending the event." Not only authors but also book lovers that wanted to promote their bookstores created tents with fun activities for children that drew the whole families interest. Senior Alexa Boulton regrets missing the event. "I read Three Cups of Tea this summer," Boulton said. "It's one of my favorite books and I wish I had known Mortneson was going to be at the event because I would have come and gotten my book signed." Jen Golden was very impressed by the event. "I don't think CHS students took advantage of it," Golden said. "It was very fun to spend time with the kids and see all of the successful writers."
"For Journalism and many of the Tech Ed classes, our facilities really aren't where they should be for our classes to move forward. Especially for Broadcast news: how can my students take the class seriously in a classroom that used to be a living room? We really want to be serving the public with great news stories, and I really want to motivate my students. If we want to be competing on the same level as the other great news program, we need a better facility. The Cottage wasn't made for the things we're using it for. As journalism becomes more technical, our Christine Stricker facilities need to keep up with that. We can't just have great computers in a Journalism Teacher bad environment and expect everything to be top of the line. We're also looking for a convergence model of journalism, which means video and newspaper working together. Without a suite where we can all work together, we can't really have that working. That's why we need the renovations."
"We anticipate that this is going to be an amazing change for our department. One of the things that we always really wanted to do, but was hampered in our efforts, is to create 'cultural islands' for the language classes. The obvious example is that a Spanish class has a whole room themed to make it feel like Spain. You could do similar things with Latin, Chinese and Spanish. With many of our teachers using carts to hold all their teaching material, this has just been something that hasn't been possible. That alone will be a great change for our department. The renovation will also allow our teachers to change from a group that's been spread out all over the building to one where we'll all be in one place. Personally, I know I'll be very happy to spend an entire day in just one room instead of constantly Elizabeth Caspari moving about. We have at any given time a dozen teachers, taking into French Teacher consideration the ones also working at Wydown, in only four dedicated classrooms. We'll be able to double our classroom space after the renovation and have an office next to our classrooms. We really do a lot of rushing around so I think it'll be a fantastic change for us, and I'm extremely excited. I think you'll find that we're one of the most excited departments about the whole thing."
"Originally, the science faculty started Prop S. Now, it's not just the science department that gets the benefit, but other departments as well. We have facilities that are outdated and some that even outdate Sputnik. The additional building is being built to replace the cottage and tech building. The new additon is keeping in mind the idea of staying 'green'. New classes will be offered, and the classes we teach now will become more dynamic. The science teachers were very involved in the planning process because we felt it was a responsibility to make sure our classrooms function the way we want them to."
Heather Jacus Forensics Teacher
Charles Collis Life Sciences Teacher
"I hope that students will want to take more science classes. We have new science electives. I think that the facilities are great and since there's enough space for the kids, it'll draw more students to the science wing. A green house is being built for classes like AP Environmental Science and AP Biology. That can be particularly useful especially when farming and food production are such hot topics. It's nice to incorporate all of that into the new facilities. We're actually getting a new crimescene room, shared by both forensics and biomedical classes, to make things more realistic."
The essential renovations education is kept minima Zheng by Ken Co-Editor in Chief
Parts of CHS are over half a century old. Last spring, Proposition S passed and allocated $51 million to the Clayton district for renovations. The three elementary schools, CHS and The Family Center will be sharing this money with roughly $30 million going directly towards the high school. Wydown's part was removed from the bond issue and is now being discussed by a citizen committee for future consideration. The Cottage and Tech Building are being torn down and a three-story addition is being built. The bottom floor will have business, journalism and FACs classes while the entire floor will have world language classes. The entire top floor of both the new and existing buildings will house only science classrooms, and the English office and history office will also be renovated. Stuber will be getting a two-story addition, and Gay Field will also have some renovations. The entire project should be done by August 2011. "About two years ago, they were looking at how to upgrade our science facilities because they are quite old," Principal Louise Losos said. "The plan there was to build out over the library, but it was so expensive that the Board of Education decided to take a step back and create a facility master plan of the entire district." The proposal for the bond issue grew from the need for updates. Overall the buildings at the high school are extremely outdated. "In the tech building, we have business classes taught out of old wood shops and pre-engineering taught out of an old auto shop," Losos said. "The cottage is decrepit. For all these classrooms, the quality of programming far exceeds the environment in which they are taught." Another reason for the renovation is to add more classrooms to the school. "We are very tight on space," Losos said. "There are few empty classrooms in the building during the day." During the two-year building period, students will be affected since classes will be taught in classroom annexes. The annexes actually provide more space compared to the Cottage.
ding for
By The
The Future
s to the district's schools will take two years to complete. The impact on student al, and the finished buildings will match the high caliber of education at Clayton. John Berglund, Principal and Project Manager for Bond then transfer them to the new tunnel. We'll need to do this Wolfe Architects is in charge of designing most of the reno- in a way that doesn't disturb the students or shut down the vation. Berglund has 16 years of experience as an architect. power in the school. The Cottage and Tech Building have to "The project is being delivered in phases. Approval by be in a safe condition and completely disconnected before governing authorities for permits comes first, then bidding the city even lets us pull the permit for this work." for demolition of buildings, concrete and steel, then the rest S. M. Wilson is currently creating bid packages that inof the building," Berglund said. "We are mostly through with clude collections of tasks to send out to the community. Lothe 'approval' phases, and the demolition is set to begin in cal contractors then bid on these packages by offering their soon." service for a set price. The school district is The school district hired Bond Wolfe The most success- notified of the price for the cheapest qualiArchitects to design the additions to fied contractor. Qualifications mostly stem ful architecture the school and S. M. Wilson & Co as a from the past experience that the contracConstruction Management Agency. The tor has. is one that serves school district still holds all the individ"Once the buildings are down, then the ual contracts but the agency will manage underground work continues before the the community the contracts. foundations can be poured and the steel can best, a backdrop so be erected," Berglund said. "The new buildArchitecture is a very collaborative process between the owner, architect, enfootprint is very similar to what is out that people can do ing gineer and builder. there, but will be much taller and roughly "You need participation from all parwhat they need to the same height as the existing adjacent ties to have a successful project," Berglund buildings." do in the best possaid. "The idea of single architect in his Berglund is responsible for the blueivory tower is a commonly held belief that prints that the contractors will be using. If sible environment. the construction workers have any issues or does not really exist, especially as projects develop in size and complexity. The most questions, they contact him directly. John Berglund successful architecture is one that serves "A lot of detail and time goes into 'bePrincipal and Project the community best, a backdrop so that hind the walls' issues of engineering and Manager for Bond people can do what they need to do in the specifications," Berglund said. "It is critical best possible environment." to have thorough documents, which remove Wolf Architects Schematics of buildings are approxiambiguity so that contractors are all bidding mately 40 percent complete. However, the same thing. There are limited holes in there has already been a problem regarding the demolition of what is to be provided. The drawings are never perfect, but the Cottage, which has been pushed back to January. A utility much like a multiple sieves with finer and finer meshes, each tunnel that takes care of heating, electricity and ventilation successive issue of drawings refines the final product." for the Cottage and Tech building runs under the Cottage in The overall project has a huge budget, though Berglund is the area that needs to be excavated for the new building. still cautious about allotting money. Project Engineer Dan Behler, of S. M. Wilson & Co, is "The project is currently tracking on budget," Berglund working on this problem. said. "Budgets are generated during each phase of drawing "All the utilities that are in the old tunnel need to be re- development; as the scope gets focused, and additional detail routed," Behler said. "So what we're going to do is towards is provided during the design phase, the construction manthe end of the year, we'll take the old pipes out of service and ager is able to gain more confidence that the numbers are
correct." During construction, architects are on site weekly for progress meetings, as well as additional times for review of progress, clarification of intent, and resolution of unforeseen issues. "During this phase, the focus of the architect shifts from managing the design and drawing process, to working with the contractor to successfully execute the intent of those documents, given real-world conditions," Berglund said. "If the design team has done their job properly, there will be minimal issues during construction with changes in the field, cost over runs and schedule difficulties. Some of these are beyond our control, but a good set of drawings will minimize future bumps in the road." Though the buildings will take two years to construct, the new buildings are expected to last 50 to 75 years. "Two years may appear to be a long time, but a typical large school project like this often extends beyond five years from start to finish," Berglund said. "Two years is simply the construction time. The upfront work is important to long term benefits." The new wing will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified as a green building. There are different levels of certification. "We're trying to decide right now how far we want to go," Behler said. "Everything needs to be as efficient as possible and use materials that are recycled. Obviously, the more green, the more money it'll cost." Director of Facility Services Tim Wonish asks that all students be patient during the construction. "Please be safe around the work zones," Wonish said. A bit over half of the Quad will be fenced off later this year. The part of the Quad near the Tech building and Cottage will be fenced off for the construction. Overall Losos, is very happy that the renovations are happening. "If you look at our AP scores, the teaching here is fantastic," Losos said. "I think it's just time for a change. I think it's about the outer appearance matching the inner quality of teaching. It's very exciting, and I'm very happy to see it all falling into place."
1 2
Hydraulic Orchestra Pit.
Story classroom additions between the Commons and Stuber Gym.
"Common" spaces total. One on each floor except the basement. Commons are spaces designated for small group independent learning and presentation space.
Stories in the new instructional wing.
Main offices being improved to comfortably situate all staff near the subject's wing. They are for the math, English, history, science and world languages department.
New instructional spaces including classrooms and storage rooms.
Photos by Tom Haslam Contributions made by Chelsea Cousins Schematics Courtesy of Bond Wolfe Architects
"I think that the new wing will have a positive impact. We will Marci Boland be a Business Teacher part of the school again. The last several years, our program has been in a separate building. It was hard to reach students and promote our program when we are not even in the main building. The trailers are much better than I originally thought they would be and they will work fine for the next two years. I do not have as much storage space as I am used to, but it has forced me to purge and reorganize. I wish the trailers had bathrooms or even running water, but I actually like teaching in them. It is kind of fun and different for the kids. I am very excited for the new wing. The new technology that will be available will make teaching a dream. The flexibility in the room will allow students to move around for different types of learning. It will be wonderful for me and the students."
Square foot Stuber Gym extension.
Square foot addition to Clayton High School.
Charles Brown Project Architect Educational Planner at Bond Wolfe
Marching to the beat
Class of 2010 wins Golden Greyhound
A new band assistant and a vamped up regimen have helped the band improve its marching game. Although it required many hours of extra work for all those involved, the band members seemed receptive to the changes and excited to show off their skills at Homecoming.
Evashwick by Tom Editor
Colagiovanni by Ben Reporter
Changes are also in store for the band's halftime performances. "We usually put the upper classes in Anyone who has ever talked to a the front, then the drum line, and then football player has heard the tales of the freshmen in the back," marching hot, agonizing summer football prac- band director Kim Shelley said. "We're tices, bone chilling fall games that test mixing it this year and are going to have the capacity of each athlete to keep his freshmen mixed in with the upperclassor her head in the game, and the grati- men. We're trying to keep the same infication of watching game tape and see- strumentation in the same lines since ing that the team's hard work has led to it looks much more uniform when the significant improvements. flutes are in one line, where normally However, you may be less familiar we just mixed it and there was a flute with the stohere and a trumpet ries of gruelnext to a flute and The students this year ing marching a clarinet there, so rehearsals we're trying it." have been very open in the parkThe marching ing lot during band is trying to to new ideas and, as a third hour, of expand its playing result, have made great time during the difficult maneuvers which actual game itself strides in improving test the ability as well. of each musi"The drum the general effect of cian to keep line has these the band. his or her eyes little grooves that on the music, we can do during Jennifer Shenberger and the contime outs and we're stant reflection Marching Band Assistant trying to team up that it takes to with the cheermake the next leaders to have a performance more successful than the little bit more interaction going on," last. Shelley said. Just as weekends are game time for However, not all of the ideas hatched football players, they're show time for by the brains behind the brass turn out the students, drum majors, and teach- to be successful. ers involved in marching band. "There were some things that we While the band is always striving for tried last year and for what we were improvement from game to game, this doing for our marching season they year a particularly strong emphasis has just didn't work and so we pulled those been placed on the development of the out," Shelley said. band's appearance as well as its sound. Although it can be frustrating when "This year we added parade chore- ideas don't come to fruition, Shelley ography during the cadence in an effort feels that experimentation is a crucial to enhance school spirit on Homecom- part of the process. ing," marching band assistant Jennifer "As band directors we should always Shenberger said. be trying something different. Whether
"And it showed." The sophomores' commons decorations rivaled those of the seniors, and the sophomore float was declared the Cue that infamous Queen song. After three years of being the cel- best. While Homecoming typically has lar dwellers of CHS Homecoming, the been a senior-dominated event, the seclass of 2010 finally came through. A so-called "friendly competition," nior officers knew something different Homecoming has more in common had to be done this year to inspire the with a frantic sprint than a calm game class. "We really wanted to make Homeof cards. Points were awarded to the classes coming more of a democratic process," for finishes in the powder-puff game, Thyssen said. "So I think it is really apthe log presentation, the penny war and propriate and fair to have four representhe can tab collection. The majority of tatives willing to have others involved. points, however, are awarded for the People will be able to look back at this commons decorations, the float design week and know they were involved." The senior officers prioritized and the bonfire games. bringing more spirit The winning to their class. Over I think it is really class is awarded 50 people ended the coveted Golden appropriate to have up decorating the Greyhound. Challenging the four representatives seniors' commons, which included the seniors throughwilling to have oth- "secret weapon" Batout the week were man moonbounce. the sophomores, ers involved. People "Even though who finished just 32 some of the class offipoints back in secwill be able to look cers are now in some ond place. major debt, I'm still back at this week Pre-Homecomreally glad we got the ing, the general feeland know they were moonbounce," Thysing was that this was sen said. "Having the the year the seniors involved. first ever interative would lose. However, commons is somethe senior class offiEmil Thyssen thing I want this cers felt differently. Senior class president class to be rememFor the previous bered for." three years, the class It was clear that this year the classes of 2010 finished in last place twice and third place once. The class, notoriously as a whole were much more involved. "Last year, I felt that events were low on school spirit, had a bleak outgeared towards specific groups of peolook before the events started. "Other class officers guaranteed ple and not inclusive of people outside we would lose," senior class president those groups," Pinkston said. "When we Emil Thyssen said. "But I wasn't going did our Homecoming decorations [this to let that happen. Even without those year], I was glad to see people working comments, the four of us were going to beyond their group of close friends." The juniors and freshman finished work as hard as possible to show our third and fourth, respectively, but were class what we could really do." Thyssen and the other senior offi- far behind the other two classes. With such a gap between the sophocers said they were worried about the possibility of losing to the sophomores mores and juniors this year, next year's seniors will go in as underdogs. even before the events began. "Maybe next year the other classes "[The sophomores] definitely went in to win, and we did everything with can pull something together," Pinkston the mindset of winning," sophomore said. "But regardless of what they come class president Drake Pinkston said. up with we will dominate."
Christina Perrino
Junior Melina DeBona and senior Allie Lake march in the Homecoming Parade. This years parade featured the four classes and many alums along with an improved marching band. it works or not we don't know, but we won't know unless we try it," Shelley said. Shenberger feels that this year's hard work is paying off and attributes much of the dividends to the musicians. "The students this year have been very open to new ideas and, as a result, have made great strides in improving the overall general effect of the band," Shenberger said. Senior and Drum Major Camille Pegg echoed this statement. "The CHS marching band has been viewed as a more professional band," Pegg said. "I'm really proud of everyone for stepping it up this year. " The discipline and dedication it takes to pull off a successful show have helped Pegg develop aspects of herself
which reach beyond the music. "I have gained so many things from participating in the marching band, but one of the main things is how to be a better leader," Pegg said. "Being Drum Major means taking up a position of leadership to everyone in the band. I have learned how to balance being both strict, and friendly to the members." Noting the successes of this year's band, Shenberger emphasized the importance of the band maintaining the desire to improve. "Our goal now is to make them look as good as they sound," Shenberger said. "The improvements this year were very evident, I think, in the overall appearance of the band. Our hope is that this improvement just keeps growing year after year."
Halloween Fashions Grayson byAlexander Reporter This year's Halloween dance is taking place a bit earlier than expected: three weeks after Homecoming. Fashion has always been a central aspect of the dance. "A lot of people are probably going to dress up as superheroes," sophomore Georgina Kluser said. "They're basically going to dress up as the theme for Homecoming." Last year's Homecoming theme was famous time periods, and many people dressed up as people who corresponded to their classes' theme. This year, there will be a lot of Batmans and Supermans. "I'm going to be Wonder Woman," Kluser said. But there are some people who will decide to dress up as something a bit different, something that has nothing to do with this year's theme. "I'm definitely going to be a Yakuza," senior Hiro Horikoshi said. A Yakuza is a member of an organized crime group in Japan. This year, the Halloween dance will take place in the Commons, while last year's took place in the auditorium. The decorations will include the tarps from last year that will make the room look smaller, and other basic decorations such as bats, spiders, and a lot of glowsticks. "Basically your stereotypical Halloween decorations," said Kurtis Werner, the head of the decorations this year. The Halloween dance last year was very successful, but with Superheroes as the theme this year, it seems too similar to Homecoming. "It's probably going to be just like Homecoming," Horikoshi said. "But with more costumes."
Jen Maylack
Three freshmen show off their spirit by dressing up in Spiderman costumes, class shirts and masks.
Jen Maylack
Upcoming dance to build on Homecoming spirit Han by Rachel Reporter After witnessing the changes CHS experienced throughout the week before Homecoming, it will come as no surprise when our school becomes a dungeon of haunted creatures in preparation for the Halloween dance. The CHS annual Halloween dance takes place on Oct. 30 this year from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the commons. Although the Halloween dance and Homecoming are placed fairly close together in the school year, there will be many noticeable differences between the two events. The Halloween dance encourages elaborate costumes instead of the usual dresses, and the school will be decorated accordingly. "I think the Halloween dance will be more interesting," freshman Amanda Garrick said. "Everyone will be dressed up." Freshman Jessica Rosen disagrees. She believes the Halloween dance will not be as exciting or monumental as homecoming. "Personally, I think it'll be pretty hard to beat homecoming." Rosen said. "The Halloween dance will be fun though!" Not everyone is as hard to please. Some of the students have more simple demands. "I'd like to see some eerie decorations," freshman Jonah Lindblad said. "Maybe a zombie or two." Continuing Lindblad's thoughts, freshman Joanna Shoemaker describes her dream dance in precise detail. "There should be a dungeon theme," Shoemaker said, "with spider webs dangling everywhere, and fog on the dance floor. In any case, the Halloween dance will be more fun and interesting, because of the costumes." An event is only as exciting as the participants make it.
The students at CHS are planning unique costumes for the dance. A sailor, a cloud, the Powerpuff Girls, and a popsicle are only some of the ideas being tossed around. Annual dances have been a tradition for many years. The events have become very popular with most high school students. "The dances are good to help everyone socialize, and they are a good break from schoolwork," said Garrick. This seems to be the opinion of the majority of CHS students. Many people enjoy and anticipate these events. Nonetheless, some disagree. Although the other dances are popular, the Halloween dance doesn't quite measure up in some people's eyes. Students, especially upperclassmen, complain of the as dance being "lame" or "a waste of time." In fact, the dance has been cancelled multiple times, due to lack of enthusiasm. "Two years ago, the dance was cancelled because only 30 people bought tickets," junior Zeina Ziade said. "Last year it was okay, but not many people went." However, she still has hope for this year's dance. "I think it'll be fun if people stop saying it'll be lame," Ziade said. "And if people actually go and have fun, it'll be fun. It's the students that make it fun." The freshman vice president of Stugo, Lily Kanefield, agrees. "I think the dance will be much more fun this year because we're all getting really into it, hoping that everyone else will too." "I think dances are a great idea for high school," junior Sasha Vine said. "Even though they can be a little boring, they're a good way to be social and see people you only see during school."
Jen Maylack
Christina Perrino
FROM TOP: Seniors creating Gotham City in the Commons. Senior Jenna Massey works hard on painting the windows of a skyscraper. The sophomore's beautiful Superman float drives by in the parade.
Oct. 20, 2009
Soccer stands 15-2-2, looks to playoff run Longmore by Schuyler Editor
The varsity soccer team has started the 2009 season with one of the best records of the past few years. A 15-2-2 record has placed the Hounds atop the Suburban East Conference, and awarded them the number two ranking among the area's small schools. With a large group of seniors and juniors, a scattering of sophomores, and one freshman, age diversity is present, but the success lies in the starting lineup's talent and cooperation. Success has been attained with a new defensive strategy, solid goaltending, and a superb ability to keep the goals against to a minimum with six 1-0 games, 14 shutouts, and an astounding goals against average of 0.33 per game. Senior goalie Jack Harned has provided goal keeping in almost every game of the season so far. "We are playing great team defense," head coach Matt Balossi said. "This season we switched from a man-to-man defense to a zone defense and it has made a huge difference for us." The new defense has proved effective with only six goals allowed all season. Three-year varsity starters Kevin Matheny and Josh Goldstein lead the defense. "Our shutouts can't just be credited to Jack and the defensive line," Matheny said. "When the offense plays better, it is easier to play good defense." Defense is a vital aspect of the team's success according to Balossi. "We are not getting a ton of goal scoring, although we are maintaining possession of the ball and creating good opportunities," Balossi said. "When you can shut teams down defensively you can be happy with a lot of 1-0 wins." As the wins continue to stream in, it has become clear that there is skill on the team. Talent is abundant on the starting lineup, with eight of the starting 11 playing some club soccer in their life. "This year we have a lot of solid players," junior center midfielder Beau Haydon said. "Not one position is there a weak spot." A solid line of defense, a 35-goal offense, and a two-way potent midfield provides a well-rounded team that shows cooperation as well as ability. All teams suffer player-player conflicts, but the varsity team has kept distracting arguments to a minimum. "We insist it upon each other that when it comes to game time, we put our differences aside and come together as a team, no matter what the circumstance," junior forward Will Hayes said. Hayes leads the team in goals with nine, followed by senior midfielder Evan Green with seven, and sophomore mid-
fielder Charlie Harned and senior forward David Goss each with four . "When we cooperate on the field, we talk well and play well," Jack Harned said. Where there is cooperation, there exists team pride and a common goal. All starting players put all they have into the game in whatever way they can contribute. "Everyone on the team takes pride in their strong play, and we come out hard every day," Matheny said. With one of the best seasons in Clayton soccer's recent history at stake, the Hounds are keeping the season's successes in check. The team makes sure not to invest too much of the post-victory pride in each consequent match up. Cooperation is crucial to the team's success, as well as keeping a level head and maintaining discipline. "To keep up the great season, we can't let the success get to our heads," Jack Harned said. "We've got to keep playing every game with strength and togetherness." Along with maintaining discipline, the team keeps an emphasis on the impact of all players, whether they are a star forward or a out of spotlight defender. "We have been playing together for a while, and although we are still learning we are beginning to find our teammates' strengths and weaknesses," Haydon said. Cooperation and togetherness have paid off in an excellent record, but the season is not over. The Hounds are looking at district games against three top 10 small school powerhouses: Westminster, MICDS, and Priory. "If we play well we can win districts, but we cannot afford any let downs or soft games against such tough competition," Balossi said. Mental determination and a good attitude are at the forefront of continuing success. Team drive will be tested in the coming weeks with tough games against Priory (Oct. 20), senior night against Whitfield (Oct. 26), and Hazelwood Central (Oct. 27). "As soon as I set the varsity roster in August, I told the team that we should focus on winning Districts – that we had enough talent to make that our goal for the year," Balossi said. A steady team consensus exists in this season's hopes to win districts. "I like the drive of this team, we work hard and we are competitive," Balossi said regarding the team's strongest attributes. "At the same time we are having a lot of fun." Hard work is paying off in wins, and the players are enjoying it. However, the team has been identified as one of the most important teams to beat. "Now that we are getting some recognition, teams are going to be even more eager to knock us down," Balossi said. "We saw that against Lutheran North. They were very spir-
Athlete of the Month
Jen Maylack
The varsity boys' soccer team huddles before the start of the second half during a recent home victory over Affton. The team's record is 14-2-2 and they are ranked second in small schools in the area by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As well, the team recently won the CYC tournament. ited and did everything they could to beat us." Clayton came away with a 1-0 overtime win. Players have a productive and positive relationship with the coaching staff many have been playing under for three or more years now. "Balossi is awesome. Period," Haydon said with Matheny in agreement. The districts tournament approaches with less than a
month of regular season games left. In fact, just four games remain in the regular season. "We know we can win districts, it's just a matter of how much each player is willing to put into the team," Matheny said. Other players agreed. "Anything can happen, that's the beauty of soccer," Haydon continued.
Lanter leads team on and off court The senior leader has helped the young team adapt to the varsity level, while still succeeding with ease on the court. Green by Evan Senior Sports Editor
BY THE NUMBERS 86 percent server 25 percent hitter 69 percent serve receiver
"Maggie is a dedicated player and great captain that always brings the team up when we are down." --Junior Kaily Sciaratta
The Clayton varsity girls' volleyball team is off to a decent start. Even though the team has not performed unbelievably well, the team has a record to be proud of thanks in large part to the play of senior right side hitter and right side defender Maggie Lanter. A three-year varsity member, Lanter knows her way around the court. "I have started varsity since sophomore year, so I have become really accustomed to how the game will play out and the different aspects to the game," Lanter said. As a captain, Lanter has taken the younger members of the team under her wing this season on and off the court. In doing so, her teammates have gotten to know her better and she has made their season a lot easier as well as fun. "Maggie is a dedicated player and great captain that always brings the team up when we are down," junior defensive specialist Kaily Sciaratta. In terms of her play on the court, Lanter has truly led the team, and her statistics back it up. Lanter's best game came against Lutheran North when she had seven blocks. "I was hitting really well that night," Lanter said. On the season, Lanter is an 86 percent server, 25 percent hitter (which means that 25 percent of the time she
hits the ball, the Hounds score), and a 69 percent serve receiver. "I would say the best part of my game is my hitting," Lanter said. Even though she has played extremely well, Lanter still feels there is several aspects to her play that need to improve. "I want to improve my blocking to be much more consistent," Lanter said. At the same time, the team too needs to make improvements. "We need to improve on finishing the play, scoring the point by being more aggressive offensively," Lanter said. As the team has its places for improvement, they are also effective at other facets of the game. "We are pretty effective servers," Lanter said. While Lanter is a good blocker and server, those are not even her favorite part of the game. "I really like to kill (for common people, this means spike), it is an exciting way to win a point," said Lanter. "It really pumps me up." However, serving and spiking do not cover all aspects of the game, and even though Lanter has played well, the team's record does not exactly show it. At the same time, the team's record does not truly reflect their play. "Most of the games we lose are very close, so our record could easily be much different," Lanter said. The team has a chance to wipe the
slate clean come districts, which are the week of Oct. 26. "Districts will be tough because we are in one of the best districts in the state along with Villa Duchesne and Visitation Academy," Lanter said. In terms of the rest of the regular season, there are still some things left worth working for. One aspect is the chance to end the season on a high note and carry the momentum into the postseason. As well, Lanter has a specific home game in mind. "I am really looking forward to the game against Bayless," Lanter said. "It's our senior night and we played them a lot in the summer and they are pretty equally matched with us. At the same time, their coach is really obnoxious so it would be nice to beat them." Even though there are only a couple weeks left before districts, local high school volleyball fans still have several chances left to catch the team in regular season action. The team plays at Ladue on Oct. 19 and Oct. 21 at 4 as part of the Suburban East tournament. That tournament is for the conference title, with the real goal the next week. The following week is the start of districts and the real playoffs. "I have had such a great time this season and I hope that people can make it out to a game in the next couple of weeks and come support the team," Lanter said.
Select sports offer offseason outlet, provide college exposure for athletes Thomas by Christian Reporter The offseason from school sports is usually time to relax from the demanding Clayton High School sports program. There is a select group of athletes that use the "offseason" to continue playing their particular sport to keep their skills sharp, and possibly be recruited by colleges. "I play summer basketball for the St. Louis Eagles," said senior Devonte Bell. "I do it because I like basketball and it also gets me a chance to play against great competition." Bell, a four-year varsity starting point guard, is currently being re-
cruited by several schools, including Southern Illinois University- Carbondale and Northern Iowa University. Both schools have Division I basketball programs and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. "Playing in the summer has also gotten me ready for this upcoming season," added Bell. Senior Max Goldfarb plays competitive lacrosse for the St. Louis Samurai. "The main purpose of playing in the summer is to improve," stated Goldfarb. "Also, the Samurai coaches were really helpful in the recruiting process." Goldfarb has decided to attend Bates College in Maine after considering Sacred Heart, Robert Morris, and
others. "The difference between school lacrosse and summer lacrosse is the intensity. Everyone puts in a greater effort in summer lacrosse and the practices are a lot harder," added Goldfarb. Along with Bell, Goldfarb feels the intensity of the hard work during the summer has prepared him for the upcoming season. Coaches at Clayton have similar thoughts on playing during the offseason. "I encourage all the players in the Clayton basketball program to play summer ball," stated head varsity boys' basketball coach Ryan Luhning. "Whether it's for one of the best teams in the area that compete nationally, or a
smaller team that just competes locally, everyone needs to play. That's the best way to get better." Coach Luhning had five varsity players participate in competitive basketball outside of the required summer leagues. "Hopefully that will reflect on our record this season," said Luhning. The summer games also allow players to improve and work on certain aspects of their game. "I spent a lot of time during summer games working on my weaknesses," said senior basketball player Sumner Ahearn. "Expect to see me do more than just shoot in games this year. I am ready to show my improvements."
Photo courtesy of Max Goldfarb
Senior lacrosse player Max Goldfarb (above) plays club lacrosse in the offseason for Samurai. He is one of many Clayton students that play select sports in addition to high school athletics. Many athletes play select sports in order to expose themselves to colleges and stay in shape.
10 Sports An introduction to field hockey: the secret of the stroke OCT. 20, 2009
Jacus by Sam Editor
Watching a sport that you don't understand is never an easy thing to do. Sports ranging from field hockey to equestrian have skills and techniques that are known by players, but are rarely understood by the average spectator. One of the more confusing aspects of the field hockey game for spectators seems to be the stroke. Strokes are the source of many violations in field hockey games, and so many players and fans have trouble understanding what exactly makes a proper stroke. For those who do not know, a stroke is the field hockey equivalent to a penalty kick in soccer. Like penalty kicks, strokes are often used to decide the fate of a tied game after over time has ended in a draw. As thus, strokes often command significant attention within a game. Strokes can also be awarded during the game for rule infractions. Like the sport soccer, the ball is placed at a set distance, which for a stroke is seven yards from the goal line. This, however, is where the similarities end between the two sports.
During strokes, the restrictions on what needs to be done and when are relatively simple. The shooters are required to stand a stick length from the ball to start the stroke and they are not allowed to make noise while shooting. They are, however, allowed to take as many steps as they see fit. "I stand a stick length away from the ball and do a crossover step following the referee's whistle," senior captain Anna Krane said. "After the crossover step I drop the right shoulder while staying low to the ground in order to lift the ball up high." While the shooters are doing all of this, the goalie stand lined up behind the goal line, motionless like a statue. Upon the referee's whistle, the goalie comes to life, stepping up in order to cut down on the angle. The number of possible violations that can be incurred during a stroke make the process even more nerve-wracking for both goalie and shooter. A stroke is blown down, or stopped, if shooters make any backwards movements prior to the whistle, shooters make noise while shooting, teammates make noise, or if the goalie is in front of the line or moves before the whistle. This large list of infractions is the reason that so many strokes are blown down.
Athlete of the Month
Anna Krane attempts a stroke in a game against Villa Duschene. Krane will play for University of Vermont next fall.
Are sports too competitive? Holds by Jack Reporter
BY THE NUMBERS -Six meets; first for Clayton every meet -Personal 5k Record: 18:35 CROSS COUNTRY
Stone strides toward
"He has contributed so much to our cross country team this year by being our first place finished for every meet we have run in, and I'm looking forward to having him on our district squad. He's going to be a big benefit by catapulting our team to state." --Coach Kurtis Werner DISTANCE RUNNER
As a soccer player dribbles up the center of the field; he prepares to boot the ball into the goal. An opponent attempts to tackle him in a last-ditch effort to save his team from a humiliating goal. The fouled soccer player is left sprawled out on the grass, furious with the opposing player and the referees for letting the foul pass unnoticed. Where is the line drawn when sports get too competitive? When participating in a sport, athletes compete to win, but this craving can sometimes drive them to commit unsportsmanlike acts. However, competitiveness should not be abandoned in sports, as it is at the heart of every sport. Boys' varsity soccer coach Matt Balossi believes competition is vital to soccer. "Without the opponent, there'd be nothing to compete against," Balossi said. Sophomore Charlie Harned, a varsity soccer player, believes that the competition in soccer is what fuels him. "Whenever I do well, it's because of competition and whenever I do poorly its because I'm not competing enough," Harned said. "You can always play harder." The varsity soccer team has a record of 12-2-2 and members are looking forward to going to districts this year. Balossi thinks that the competition has been a key factor in driving the team so far. While Balossi acknowledges that practices and games can get too competitive at times, fair refereeing can hold the reigns on games. "There are times when opposing players can commit a foul that goes unnoticed, and that's where people get upset," Balossi said. "If you have good officials, they'll be able to control competitive games." Varsity football coach Sam Horrell believes it is the responsibility of the coach to encourage competition in high school sports because he believes it prepares athletes for the real world and teaches them discipline and responsibility. "You have to be competitive in any market," Horrell said. "You're competing when you get out of high school and college." Horrell also said high school sports are not too competitive, but there are too many outside agencies getting involved in high school athletics. There is a point, however, where competitiveness can turn into twisted morals for athletes. "Poor sportsmanship is seen when people lose control and let their values and beliefs start dictating," Horrell said. Senior football player Nick Kirchoff has seen people get too competitive at times and believes that it becomes most
obvious in team competition. "That's where a team sport fails, where people start pointing fingers," Kirchoff said. The varsity football team does not struggle with problems due to over-competitiveness, though. Kirchoff is motivated by pride, both for his team and for himself, and he carries this pride with him when competing. "We always keep our heads up high," Kirchoff said. "No matter what the score is, it's always 0-0 to me." Kirchoff, who also plays for the varsity tennis team, took a look at his experiences in both football and tennis and compared the competition. "I get more hyped in football than tennis, but when I do get hyped in tennis, I'm an unstoppable force," Kirchoff said. Players in girls' sports have similar experiences when it comes down to competition. Lizzy Dooley, coach of the varsity field hockey team, thinks competition is healthy for the team and for the girls. "It builds character and unity on a team," Dooley said. "[Competition] keeps the athletes on their game and teaches them good life skills." Dooley thinks that high school sports incorporate the perfect balance of competitiveness and pure enjoyment, making them a great experience. "It's fun but it means a lot too," Dooley said. "It's not about money or sponsorship like college sports - it is real competition in the raw sense. Now college sports; division one, that is another story." Players also represent their schools, something all athletes must realize. Dooley believes that a manner of sportsmanship must always be maintained, no matter how competitive the situation. "I always tell my players that, when they put the CHS uniform on, it becomes bigger than they are - they cannot think about themselves first," Dooley said. When shooting the ball that could potentially win a game, it's very easy to get carried away in emotions and forget to be respectful. However, in high school sports, athletes are expected to maturely handle competition despite tensions and stress. "We sometimes become so competitive that we don't realize how ridiculous we are being," Harned said. "Yelling at teammates never helps, and in the heat of competition you sometimes forget about how immature you can actually sound." One thing is clear from those who participate in sports at Clayton: competition is a beneficial factor in sports, but it should never be placed in front of sportsmanship. "I'd rather have my integrity and be a loser than be a champion without morals," Harned said.
Olympic anticipation grows Knohl by Jonathan Reporter
state Sciarratta by Payton Reporter
Freshman Derrick Stone has been a great contributor to the Clayton crosscountry team this past season and will soon be leading the team to state. Not many people expect to be runners throughout their high school years, but Stone came in prepared and set to make a name for himself. Stone chose running because it stuck out to him as the sport at which he was best. This year's cross-country season proved him right. Stone came into the season not knowing what to expect, but he has made the season a great one. "It's overwhelming," Stone said. "It's a new experience from what I've run in middle school. There are a lot more kids, the training is kind of hard and there are more meets than what I'm used to." In the beginning of the season on Sept. 12 at Forest Park, Stone led the entire race; however, he left the race taking second place. Little did the team know, he had yet to improve. Stone started the season with some common goals in mind. "My main goal was to make it to state freshman year, and to break 18 minutes this year," said Stone. Even though Stone hasn't fulfilled either of these goals yet, he is sticking with it and pushing himself to work harder. Stone previously ran with the Kirk-
Jake Leech
Elizabeth Sikora
In one of the Jorgenson invitationals in September, freshman Derrick Stone heads towards the finish line at Queeny Park. Stone has finished first for Clayton in every race in which he has run this season. wood cross-country club for four years However, Stone still strives to get and also ran cross-country in middle better. "I want to break my personal reschool. These past experiences have helped Stone to build up endurance cord by a minute each year, if that's possible." and strength to prepare for the season. Stone has continued to receive Stone knew that he was going to have to work hard to meet his goals, so medal throughout the season, and he has gained points to help get the team he uses the team for support. The girls' cross-country team en- to state. Stone is heading in the right direccourages him as he runs, cheering on the sidelines. The boys look up to him, tion, and he is pulling the team along and endeavor to stick with him as they with him. "I plan to run all of high school and run as well. Lastly, the coaches constantly offer him structure and advice eventually become captain," said Stone. It's a possibility for Stone to run on as he runs, while they record his cinthe boys' track team in the spring, but credible times throughout the season. "I knew there was going to be a lot he will see where the cross-country of competitive kids, so I've improved season takes him. Stone has had a great season and a lot by running with the team," said has taken the team in the right direcStone. Stone's personal record is 18 min- tion. He will continue to get better utes and 39 seconds for the 5k race, a while maintain the passion that he has distance equivalent to about 3.1 miles. for running.
Vancouver, Canada will be the place to be once February rolls around. Vancouver is the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, where an estimated 5,500 athletes from around the world will compete in 86 different events in various sports for the gold. The majority of most events will be held in the $126 million B.C. Place Stadium. The Olympic torch will stay lit for a total of 17 days, starting on Feb. 12, 2010 and concluding on Feb. 28. Some events that will take place in the winter games are snowboarding, cross country skiing, ice hockey and figure skating, among others. Historically, the most-watched sport in the winter games is hockey. "It's a good chance to see young international hockey prospects," sophomore David Rhodes said. Four years ago in the 2006 Winter Olympics, Sweden defeated Finland in an intense battle to the finish for the gold medal. This year Canada is predicted to win it all in hockey without any trouble. Leading the way for the team are Chris Pronger and Sydney Crosby. "I would expect Canada to win. They pretty much always win and all of the good players are from there," sophomore Gabe Jacus said. "I'll be looking forward to watching Sydney Crosby and hopefully T.J. Oshie." In the world of skiing, Bode Miller is predicted to take the gold in the men's division, and Lindsey Vonn should also put up a good fight for the gold medal in the women's downhill events. "I'm excited for the winter games this year. I've been waiting four long years for this," freshmen Sebastion Juhl said. "I'm really feeling strong about Bode Miller winning the gold in the Alpine events this year. He's only get-
Gary Reyes/San Jose Mercury News/KRT
Martin Rucinsky of Czech Republic runs into Evgeni Malkin of Russia during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Czech Republic won the bronze medal by defeating Russia, 3-0. ting started and he's only going to get better." All the competition notwithstanding, snowboarder Shaun White is projected to take gold in the halfpipe events. White is looking to repeat: four years ago in Torino, White won gold. "Shaun White will probably win it,"
Jacus said. "But who knows? Someone pretty much always pulls off an upset, so I guess we'll have to see." For the first time in Winter Olympics' history, Ghana, Gabon and the Bahamas will participate. The games will be televised primarily on NBC.
Soccer, field hockey, football teams anticipate fall playoffs son than they did last year. "Last year we made it to the second round of the district tournament. As fall sports begin to come to a Overall I think we are a better team close for the season, a number of teams than last year, and hopefully we'll get are looking ahead to the post-season the top seed in districts," Lawlor said. Arguably, this team is one of the and playoffs. Two teams in particular that look to best soccer teams Clayton has had in a be playoff-bound are the boys' soccer while, and it looks like they could even make a run at state. team and the girls' field hockey team. "Of course getting to the state chamThe boys' soccer team is having a terrific season and currently have a re- pionship is the ultimate goal," Lawlor cord of 12-2-2. They are also ranked said. "But we have to make sure we second in the area, and have won both don't get caught up in looking too far tournaments they have entered this ahead and make sure we concentrate on winning districts." year, against MICDS It's not going Another team and CYC. that hopes to make a Head coach Matt to be easy, but I run in the playoffs is Balossi is very optithe girls' field hockey mistic about the team's definitely think team. So far this seachances in the post we are capable of son the Hounds are season. and look to do "This season we winning some of 7-5 some damage in the are hoping to win our post season. district," Balossi said. our last games. Senior Em"There are only 8 disily Wack is confident tricts, so if we win Graham Gold that the team will the district then we Football Co-Captain have a shot in the will be into the quarplayoffs. ter-finals of the state "We will definitely make the playtournament." In soccer, every team makes the dis- offs, and I feel like we will do pretty trict playoffs, so technically the team is well," Wack said. "It depends on who we end up having to play, but we keep already post-season bound. At the end of the regular season, the getting better. We are a lot better as a coaches from each team in each district team this year compared to last year." Optimism for reaching playoffs meet and decide on the seeding for the rests in the field hockey team's talented district tournament. Senior captain Casey Lawlor hopes starting lineup. "We have a lot of returning starters the team goes further in the post-seaVan Almsick by Nick Reporter
who have gotten better from last year," Wack said. "I think we have a good shot at going far in our district, and hopefully winning it." Although the boys' football team has had a rough season, with a 1-5 record so far, they too still have a chance at making the post-season. The way the football playoffs work is that the last three games of the regular season are the only ones that determine if you go on into the post season. Even though this season hasn't turned out as he had hoped, senior captain Drew Hall is excited that there is still a chance to turn the season around and make the playoffs. "In the Missouri high school football system basically if we win two out of the last three games of the season we'll make the playoffs," Hall said. "Although our record doesn't show it, I still think we have what it takes to come together as a team and finish the season out strong." Senior captain Graham Gold agrees. "Once you get to the last three games of the season every high school football team in Missouri starts over," Gold said. "It's not going to be easy, but I definitely think we are capable of winning some of our last games." Making the playoffs would be a big accomplishment for the football team, a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2005. All of the fall sports teams hope to finish out the season strong, and be able to have success in the post season.
Jake Leech
Top: Junior Josh Goldstein kicks the ball towards the net in a Sept. 16 soccer game against Ladue. The Hounds beat Ladue 1-0. Bottom: Junior Kyleigh Smith goes for the ball against a University City field hockey defender. The varsity field hockey team still has games with Kirkwood, Parkway South and Lafayette ahead.
Vikings vs. Packers
Tom Haslam
Trainer aids injured students
and soft tissues without proper time Caroline Greenberg for healing. They begin as a small, nagReporter ging ache or pain, and can grow into a very painful injury if they aren't treated Carrie Sickmann is the woman to early. go to with any sports injury problems. "I go running basically every day "Sport injuries are very common," and worked my legs a little too hard," Sickmann said. freshman Lily Kanefield said. "I pulled Sickmann, the athletic trainer at my hamstring, and now I stretch a ton CHS, has seen it all. and also put heat on Good flexibility it." She has knowledge of various sport injuries plays is a key compo- fieldKanefield and knows the best hockey on the ways to treat them. freshman team. nent to keeping Injured students "I think the most your body away common sports injury depend on Sickmann for advice. the ankle sprain as of from sports inju- isright "Good flexibility now," Sickmann is a key component said. "It has to do with ries. to keeping your body the fall sports, as well away from sports as right now students Carrie Sickmann injuries," Sickmann CHS Athletics Trainer don't have the flexibilsaid. "Many people ity in the Achilles tengo home and do not don and they role the stretch after exercise." ankle. The strength isn't there." According to the National Institute "We have a stretch circle before evof Health website, sports injuries are ery game or practice," freshman socaccidents due to poor training prac- cer player Aidan Hayward said. "We tices. Improper gear can also cause are always careful of where the ball is them. Some people get hurt because and how much pressure we put on our they are not in shape. Not warming up bodies." or not stretching enough can also lead Many sports injuries are due to to injuries. people ignoring the aching of the their Overuse injuries occur over time bodies. People think that it will just go due to stress on the muscles, joints away, while instead it gets worse.
Ritter by Marc Reporter Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings beat Green Bay in a 30-23 victory on Oct. 5. Favre proved his skills by throwing 271 yards for three touchdowns against his former team, the Packers. Adrian Peterson was a little disappointing, only rushing for 55 yards and one touchdown. For a normal running back, this would be considered decent yardage, but fans have come to expect more out of an amazing player like Peterson. Other key players for the Vikings were defensive end Jared Allen and wide receivers Bernard Berrian and Sydney Rice. Allen proved to be the leader of the defense with four and a half sacks and one forced fumble. Berrian had six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, and Rice was targeted five times for 70 yards and a touchdown as well. Although the Packers lost, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for over 384 yards – the most that any quarterback has achieved in all of week four. Rodgers did better overall in passing yards than Favre, but could still not MTC Campus Brett Favre celebrates after a touchdown pass. Favre is the starting quarterback for the Vikings. pull off a win for his team. Rodgers's favorite target during the
game was tight end Jermichael Finley, who had six receptions for over 128 yards and a touchdown. Running back Ryan Grant had 11 attempts for 51 yards, but no touchdowns "I was really disappointed because I wanted to see that the packers could still triumph, even without their old quarterback," freshman David Ingram said. "I wanted the Packers to teach [Favre] a lesson for leaving us after that many years." The team might have lost as a whole, but Rodgers did seem to have beaten Favre in the Q.B. matchup. Rodgers had more passing yards than the heart and soul of the Green Bay Packers for more 16 years. Vikings fans, on the other hand, went home with an "in your face!" feeling. "I honestly think Favre is completely overrated," Vikings fan Isaac Doyle said. "He cries about leaving his team and can never make up his mind. When he came to the Vikings nobody was really surprised or excited, because we were used to this type of stuff from him." Brett Favre is a man of many emotions and years, but this will not stop him from leading the Minnesota Vikings to a Super Bowl.
The physics of swimming Schultz by Dylan Reporter
Photos by Thalia Sass
TOP: A swimmer comes up for air during a butterfly stroke in a race. The butterfly stroke is the most difficult stroke to master, but one of the most graceful strokes when performed correctly. BOTTOM: A varsity swimmer competes in the 100m freestyle. Freestyle is typically the fastest stroke, with the Olympic record for the 100m freestyle at a speedy 46.91 seconds.
Swimming is really just the action of movement through water. Most humans have learned the basics of this skill, allowing them to play leisurely on certain hot summer days. A few humans, however, have mastered the skill and use it for racing and competing. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, there are nine deaths from drowning each day in the United States. These are not due solely to freak accidents, but simply to unsupervised children who are unable to swim. Swimming as a survival skill is simple physics. Humans are made up of 95 percent water. This means that only 5 percent of a person's mass will sink in a large body of water due to the force of gravity. This allows the body to float near the surface of the water, but not on top of it. To stay up, one must push themselves up with their hands or feet to counter the gravitational force. This repetitive action is known more commonly as swimming. Swimming for racing or exercise is slightly more complicated. To move forward, a force must be applied to help the body accelerate from rest in a certain direction. This is more than possible with knowledge of Isaac Newton's third law. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. "Push back on the water as hard as you can and it pushes you forward with an equal force," physics teacher Gabriel De La Paz said. "Also, you need to reduce drag. This can be achieved by shaving your legs." Drag is a force that opposes motion and will reduce a person's velocity while swimming. These precious seconds cannot be spared when racing against opponents at a swim meet. Swim competitions include four different types of strokes. Swimmers are successful depending on how fast they are in the water while using a particular type of stroke. The strokes used at high school meets are freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. "Butterfly is the most difficult stroke because of the major strength needed to maintain consistency," sophomore Alex Yepez said. Yepez swims with the CHS varsity team. "However, it is almost impossible to perform a slow butterfly
stroke." The butterfly is the most complicated of all the strokes and difficult to learn. The correct form involves kicking the legs with a whipping motion as if they were a dolphin's tail. The arms are used for pushing back the water in rhythm with the big kick. A small kick fits in while resting and resetting the upper body and gliding through the water. The freestyle stroke is the most basic swimming maneuver. A swimmer must have legs straight back with toes pointed, kicking up and down the entire time. The arms move in a windmill motion, alternating with each pull of the water. About every three strokes, the swimmer's head comes out of the water for breath on the opposite side as the arm that is coming out of the water. The stroke Yepez feels is his weakest is the breaststroke. Swimmers using this stroke resemble frogs swimming through water. The arms and legs are drawn in close to the torso, bending at the elbows and knees. The legs are thrust outwards and then drawn back in quickly. The arms push forwards and then circle back to the starting position. This will allow the swimmer to rise up out of the water for a breath. This motion is then repeated after gliding for a short distance. The final stroke that the swim teams use for competition is the backstroke. This stroke is basically the same as freestyle, but while floating on a swimmer's back. The legs are straight with toes pointed for constant up and down kicking. The arms once again circulate in a windmill motion opposite to the rotation in freestyle. Coming up for breaths during this stroke is not necessary, as the swimmer's face will be out of the water the entire time. The members of the swim team are each able to perform all four of the strokes. According to Yepez, the team is doing well so far. This year's team has four wins with seven more meets to go. Coach Wally Lundt instructs them with a bit of his own scientific knowledge. Yepez remembers a crucial piece of advice for all swimmers who race: "When you are doing a stroke, it is important to 'catch the water' with closed hands. This reduces the energy you have to use for your hands when they are under water."
INfocus Homecoming by the Hours OCT. 20, 2009
powderpuff Photo by Tom Haslam
Sunday Sept. 27, 3 pm Senior Sonja Petermann makes a run for a touchdown on the senior powderpuff team. The seniors were defeated in the championship game by a team of sophomores.
Heroes and Villains Photos by Jen Maylack
Thursday Oct. 1, 12 Pm:
senior class persident Emil Thyssen dresses as batman and vice president Tom Evaschwik dresses as Robin.
Wednesday Sept. 30, 12 pm:
A group of freshmen pose in the quad dressed in their spiderman costumes.
Commons Decoration Photos by Jen Maylack
Wednesday Sept. 30, 8:30 pm Right: Seniors Charlie
Katzman and Hannah Klien team up to paint buildings for Gotham City. Above: Junior class president Scott Jeffrey builds a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge
Photo by Elizabeth Sikora
Friday Oct. 2, 7:45 pm:
A group of seniors take on staff members in tug-of-war. The seniors put up a good fight, but in the end the staff won.
Pep Rally
photos by evie root
Top Right: Friday Oct. 2, 2:20 pm: a move to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
Senior Emily Wack busts
Top Left: Friday Oct. 2, 2:30 pm: The senior football boys break out into dance and get the crowd excited for the homecoming football game. Center: Friday Oct. 2, 2:45 pm: points at the pep rally.
Seniors cheer for spirit
Bottom: Friday Oct. 2, 2:20 pm:
Varsity field hockey players Thalia Sass, Caroline Stamp, Eliana Harris, Jessica Merrick and Katherine Thompson dance to "Thriller"
Parade Photos courtesy of christina perrino
Saturday Oct. 3, 11:15 am: Junior Dawn
Androphy waves as the junior class float drives by. The junior class had the theme of "x men".
Saturday Oct. 3, 11:30 am: The CHS pep
band marches in the parade, led by drum majors Caroline Stamp and Camille Pegg.
The Golden Greyhound Photo courtesy of Christina Perrino
Saturday Oct. 3, 1:00 pm: A group of seniors re-
joice as they accept the Golden Greyhound award. Although the class of 2010 has struggled to perform during spirit week in the past, the seniors came through with shining colors this year.
Board of Education Approves Dates for 20102011 Calendar The School Board approved key dates for the 2010-2011 school calender. The District is taking more time this year to evaluate nonstudent contact time within the calender. The Board approved these key dates and a completed calender will be bought back to the board in February. School will start on Aug. 18, 2009, winter break starts Dec. 22, 2009 and the last day of school will be June 2, 2010.
Wydown Tomorrow Tours Continue Middle school Monday tours allow crowds to learn about the need for facility improvements at Wydown Middle School. The next tour is scheduled for Nov. 9, 2009 at
SIXTH GRADE CAMP, pg. 24
News Briefs
Sixth Grade Camp Counselor
www. chsglobe.com
Biking for MS Androphy by Dawn Editor
Swarms of bicyclists whisked through an unwelcomingly strong wind in Columbia, MO on Sept. 12-13 with a goal of biking anywhere from 80-200 miles in two days. The cyclists were all participating in the Bike MS event in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. CHS math teachers John Crane and Kurt Kleinberg and CHS librarians Mary Stamborski and Lauran DeRigne were among those participating. MS is a chronic and often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Although a big part of participating in the ride for Kleinberg was the challenge, he was also motivated to do something to further the cause of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "A friend of mine's father from high school has MS," Kleinberg said. "And then I realized a good friend of my parents has MS, so it became something like a joint effort to prove something to myself, but also for a good cause." Despite previously having no personal experiences with Multiple Sclerosis, Crane found that his experiences at the Bike MS event, also referred to as the MS 150, gave him a new perspective on the disease. "Since I decided to do the ride, Mr.
Kleinberg told me about someone he knew that had MSw," Crane said. "At the ride, we met a woman who was the sponsor of the team we're going to ride for next year who has MS. Also, when I was trying to raise money, I talked to a number of friends who knew people who had MS and were willing to donate." As a result of their fundraising for the ride, they were able to raise about $750 combined. Next year, however, they will join the Whole Foods-sponsored team, which has a collective fundraising goal of $80,000. The training and fundraising for the 175-mile route was a difficult task. Kleinberg, in particular, devoted hours of time to biking before the Bike MS event. Cycling and other types of racing events have become a passion for Kleinberg. He first purchased his bicycle while training for a biathlon. He now participates in about five races per year and trains three days a week. Before the race, Kleinberg estimates that he and Crane biked six to 12 hours per week before the race. Both Kleinberg and Crane, however, were up for the challenge and faced both external and internal obstacles during the course of the ride. As a result, both had to push themselves to their limits to succeed.
Halloween Dance On Friday, Oct. 30 there will be a CHS Halloween sponsored by StuGo.
H1N1 Vaccines Every Clayton student nity to receive a free vaccine provided that parents give written consent. Vaccines will be administered during the school day.
Peers Protecting Peers Suvey
86%, had their selt belts on and 42 students, or 13%, did not. One-hundred thirty seven teenagers, ages 16-20, were killed in 2008 traffic crashes. Eighy percent of these teenagers were not buckled up. The MO State Highway Patrol and Clayton Police and Fire Department will be at CHS on Monday, Oct. 26 demonstrating the seat belt convincer and drunk driving simulator goggles.
"It was very, very windy," Kleinberg said. "So there was like 10-mile stretches of just riding straight into the wind and you'd think your energy was gone and then you'd find a pocket of energy somewhere." Crane was proud of his achievements at the ride and was pleased with the results of his hard work. "The first day, finishing the hundred, just coming across the finish line was a great feeling," Crane said. "Seeing the support and the amount of people that were involved and how much people give of their time and money was very nice to see and was a great thing to experience." Kleinberg was also proud of the personal record he set for himself during the ride.
"After having ridden all-day Saturday, during the last 15 miles, my average was faster than in just a 15-mile race," Kleinberg said. "After racing 50 miles, I was biking faster than I had before so it was actually a personal record in terms of pace. That was surprising, especially in terms of the last day after you think you'd be most tired, and it was the fastest part of the race. That was exciting as someone who's progressing in the sport." The event is welcoming to a variety of different people, and both Crane and Kleinberg encourage students to also participate in the coming years. "It's a great activity and a fun thing to do," Crane said. "There are lots of people at a variety of different ages and I think students could get involved if
they wanted to." Kleinberg also hopes that students will make an effort to increase their physical activity through biking and become involved in the cause: "I would encourage other people to be aware of the cause and to also be active," Kleinberg said. "So, you know, get on a bike, go running, do something active, and you'd be surprised you know, how much it might not hurt and how much you might like it." However, he also wouldn't mind if biking became a passion for someone else as it has become for him. "It could be the start of just a hobby, great, it's still doing something good for your body," Kleinberg said. "But, if you do end up liking it, then it could be something really worthwhile."
'Dancing in the Street' an enthralling spectacle
Ho." Dances of India performed an intricate dance of hand movements in their "Dance of Classical India, Dance Hand Movements." There was even a bit of rock n' roll performed Fifty dance companies and 700 dancers, all on four stages, by St. Louis Academy of Dance's Pazazz Performers. ushered in the 2009-2010 Grand Center fall arts season with For Hannah Montana fans, Radio Disney sent a group of the third annual Dancing in the Street Festival on Sept. 26. dancers to teach attendees the Hannah Montana "Hoedown Automobile traffic between Olive and Delmar was re- Throwdown," which was in The Hannah Montana Movie. placed by human traffic as children, adults, teenagers and People walking in the streets were performers walked from stage to often blocked by a huge mob surroundstage, nibbling delicacies and licking Four stages were filled ing Bill "Crutch Master" Shannon, ice cream cones, despite the scattering who gave impromptu performances of with diverse dances rain. skateboard moves on crutches. OthFrom 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., the four ers raised their head to see a romantic ranging from Arabian stages were filled with diverse dances kiss between aerial performers Duo ranging from Arabian belly-dancing belly-dancing to modAmado while they dangled in midair, to modern interpretive dance. Off the on two silk ropes, from a tree branch, ern interpretive dance. stage, the streets hosted hip hop crews, and without a net. aerial ballet, a green walking tree, and In one of the performances, COCA Off the stage, the streets a skateboarding man on crutches. Ballet Eclectica's "Trois Aubrey," a The Washington Stage was conhosted hip hop crews, dancer slipped and landed with an stantly busy with dance companies unsettling crunch. She continued aerial ballet, a green performing intriguing pieces, such to dance nevertheless, while tears as MADCO's "Untitled," a piece of streamed down her face. At the end walking tree, and a the raw basics of dance; The Slaughof the performance, the audience gave ter Project's "Hang Tough," a jourskateboarding man on the performers a standing ovation. ney through tough times; and COCA The complex dances, festive atmocrutches. dance's "Emergence Uplifted," a comsphere, street performances, surprise position of new beginnings. productions and brave persistence Grandel Square Stage featured many cultural dances. made the third annual Dancing in the Street Festival a stunBollywood Shuffle Dance Company performed and taught ning display of art and culture. The best part? The festival was the audience the dance to the Slumdog Millionaire song, "Jai free to the public.
will have the opportu-
are that 277 students, or
Photo courtesy of Kurt Kleinberg
CHS math teachers Kurt Kleinberg and John Crane participated in the Bike MS event in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The goal was to bike anywhere from 80-200 miles in two days in support of the cause.
Luo by Dee Reporter
dance in the Commons
belt check on Oct. 12
Oct. 20, 2009
CHS teachers took a ride to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Columbia, MO on Sept. 12-13. The teachers spent long hours training for the event during the year.
7 p.m.
The results of the seat
It was a phenomenal experience that combined educational experiences with involvement in nature activities as well as fun interactions between teachers, counselors, and students. Taylor Stone
Dee Luo
Dancers perform at the third annual Dancing in the Street Festival, sponsored by Grand Center
Theater production examines perception of homosexuality Viswanathan by Sneha Senior World Editor Eleven years ago, Matthew Shepard, a homosexual man in Laramie, Wyoming, was tied to a fence and beaten to death. Shepard's murder was a shocking revelation of hate crimes against homosexuals. This exposure of a violent hate crime resulted in several reactionary projects, including the landmark production, "The Laramie Project." On Oct. 12, 2009, the Tectonic Theater Project debuted its epilogue to the play. The New York-based theater company had begun writing "The Laramie Project" in 1998 as an experimental venture. The play was based on the torture and murder of Matthew Shepard on Oct. 6, 1998. In November of that year, the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie under the direction of founder Moises Kaufman to interview members of the community about their reactions to the murder. What began as experimental playwriting soon had its first showing as a complete play in several cities across
the United States. Over the years, the play has been performed in theaters, schools, and colleges across the nation and it is widely considered a defining work of art for its depictions of intolerance and homophobia. "The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later", is a follow-up to the original production. It includes new interviews of the citizens of Laramie as well as an interview with Matthew Shepard's murderer. Kaufman created "The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later" to examine changes in American cultural attitudes toward homosexuality. According to Pamela Schneider, publisher of The Vital Voice, St. Louis' only LGBT newspaper, the project hasn't created a significant change in beliefs. "I wouldn't say attitudes have changed as a result of the project," Schneider said. "It has helped by exposing this type of behavior [violent discrimination] in a very public way and that is likely an eye opener for many." Schneider said that although the murder of Shepard was widely publicized through the play, it is a single event in a regular sequence of hostility against homosexuals.
"Even though people were shocked by what happened in Wyoming, that kind of discrimination and 'hatred' occurs throughout the entire US," Schneider said. "The crimes against another may not have as harsh an outcome but they occur every day to people others define as 'different from them'." Although theater has been shown to be an effective medium in communicating messages to a wide range of audiences, Schneider said that other means of promoting diversity and tolerance could be more effective. "For years Oct. 11 has been considered National Coming Out Day," Schneider said. "The very act of 'coming out' is one that can change not only one person's life, but a community as well. When people live their lives in an open way, not hiding who they are, others in their circle will find it hard to discriminate because they would be discriminating against 'you'." Events such as National Coming Out Day have changed mindsets toward gay marriage over time, but more gradually in some parts of the country than others. The public often views homosexuality as a legal issue in terms of gay marriage or broader gay rights
instead of as a difference between individuals to be accepted. "The Midwest always lags behind the east and west coast, but there have been some significant changes - gay marriage in Iowa for example," said CHS art teacher Christina Vodicka, who previously sponsored the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). "In 1998 when Matthew Shepard was killed, gay marriage was just becoming a blip on the public radar and focused more on constitutional bans to prevent it." Exposing a variety of sexual orientations through commonly available modern media has in some ways helped to create a more accepting general public. However, according to Vodicka, people should be careful in their judgements and beliefs about homosexuality that are taken exclusively from mass media. "I think almost any medium can be effective in creating acceptance as long as the message is clear, honest, and doesn't rely on fear or stereotypes," Vodicka said. "I guess an example would be the increase of gay characters on TV sitcoms over the past several years." According to Schneider, public
discussion and exposure of controversial issues is a beneficial way to tackle problems. "Hopefully we have moved a little closer to acceptance and more people will work toward ending all forms of discrimination," Schneider said. "As people share of themselves, others will see themselves in the sharing and hopefully change." The CHS theater department has never produced "The Laramie Project." However, Vodicka believes the reactions to "The Laramie Project" would be original and varied if it were produced at CHS, partly due to the age group of the student audience, most of whom are too young to remember the murder and original play. She said the success of showing the play at CHS will depend largely on the diversity and number of students involved "I think it would be best done as a team effort by several groups," Vodicka said. "If only the GSA puts it on, then only a certain sector of students really pays attention. If the point is to reach as broad an audience as possible, then it should be the effort of several different groups. It's too much work to end up preaching to the choir."
Haunted houses thrill and entertain
Jacus by Sam Editor
exhilarating." Whether you are going to a haunted house or to a haunted forest, people Haunted houses are not truly a center of supernatural occurrences or para- usually rely on recommendations from normal phenomena but rather a great friends to decide which haunted house to see. way to enjoy Halloween Festivities. "I usually only go to a haunted "The best time to see a haunted house is on Halloween," junior Alex house if I have heard really good things Breckenridge said. "There are tons of about it," Breckenridge said. "You know people working, and they really try to it's good if someone recommends it." For those who haven't gotten recmake it scary." ommendations, The Darkness and With haunted houses opening at Creepy World have continually been the beginning of October and remaining open until Halloween, the window highly rated attractions in the St. Louis to go see one is rather large. However, area. If you are a person who prefers if you wait until Halloween, the line to a theme park environment, Creepy World includes a see a haunted house haunted corn field grows. The Darkness in as well as haunted "Last year I houses. However, Soulard is my went on Halloween The Darkness seems to see the Darkfavorite haunted to get the most praise ness, and it was so from attendees. crowded that I had attraction. The Most haunted house to wait an hour to enthusiasts agree people seem to get inside," senior that late night is the Izzy Fratt said. blend in and when prime time to go. Other people "The best time to who see haunted they jump out, it's go is between 10p.m. houses have similar and midnight beexhilarating. feelings, and have cause it's dark and decided that the Connor Waldman eerie," Waldman lines are longest the said. "Going earlier Senior closer to Halloween takes away half the you wait. scariness." "I usually go to a few haunted housAlthough some people disagree es, and the first one I see always seems to have the shortest line," Breckenridge with this, many of the features people look for are the same. said. People consider the costumes as well There is a large number of haunted as the music as must haves at haunted houses in the St. Louis area. But these are not the only option for Halloween attractions. In addition to the music and cosfun; the St. Louis area also has entertumes, haunted house fans feel that tainment like corn fields or forests that the people that work there have to be have scary setups. "I used to go to Markoff 's Haunted scary. "At the Darkness, there was a guy Forest," junior Emilie Schweich said. "It is really fun and scary with people with whose costume had only one arm and I thought the costume was cool so I chasing you with chainsaws and axes." One way to narrow down the deci- grabbed his arm," Fratt said. "He really sion is to decide what kind of atmo- didn't have an arm and I freaked out." The unexpected details seem to be sphere you want. Many of the haunted the scarier features of haunted houses corn fields or forests have a carnival or for most people. other attraction, but the drive to get "The best part is people jumping there is always longer. The haunted houses, although they are usually the out from behind trees with chainsaws only attraction there, provide the rush and other things that are creepy," Schof adrenaline that people seek when weich said. Whether you are someone who likes they choose a haunted house. houses or forests, costumes or sounds "The Darkness in Soulard is my fahaunted houses are something that vorite haunted attraction," senior Connor Waldman said. "The people seem many people enjoy and they all suggest to blend in and when they jump out its people go to at least one.
Emma Riley
CHS Orchestra plans for fun, spooky Halloween performance Leong by Jackie Editor
Photos by Christina Perrino
Left: Attorney General Chris Koster speaks to a group of CHS freshmen and sophomores regarding the dangers of driving drunk. Right: Koster answers questions from an American government class after the assembly. Students found the assembly and question-answer session to be both informative and inspiring.
Memorable guest speakers enlighten sophomores, freshmen about consequences of drunk driving
Attorney General Chris Koster and guest speakers Brandon and Tony Silveria talked to freshmen and sophomores about the dangers of drinking and driving and underage drinking at an assembly in September.
Bleeke by Laura Editor Last October, CHS hosted the Missouri Attorney General debate with Chris Koster and Michael Gibbons. This fall, Chris Koster has returned to CHS as elected Missouri Attorney General. On Monday September 14, Koster talked to the freshman and sophomore classes at an assembly about drunk driving. He then introduced Brandon Silveria. At 17 years old, Silveria was in a car crash while drinking and driving. He suffered severe head injuries, and was in a coma for three months and then spent several years in rehabilitation. He had to relearn how to do everything from talking to walking to eating. "In 2008, 1,697 youth aged 12-20 were killed in alcoholimpaired traffic fatalities across the country," Attorney General Koster said. "It is important we continue in our efforts to stop drunk driving and underage drinking. We must do more to keep our nation's roadways safe and alcohol-free. I
am proud to have Brandon and Tony Silveria with us today to communicate their life-saving message." Silveria and his father Tony Silveria talked about the consequences of drunk driving and underage drinking. In Silveria's moving speech, he stresse the point that teens do have a choice. They have a choice whether or not to drink, a choice to drive home instead of call a parent, a choice to go that party. "I had the world at my fingertips," Silveria said. "It all changed with one stupid mistake." The speech moved many students, and showed them how their choices affected themselves and the people around them. "It made me realize how short life is," sophomore Fergus Inder said. "And how a decision that we make right now can shape our lives and the lives of people around us." Silveria's words moved many teens, and forced them to think before taking that beer. "It was really touching," sophomore Courtney Dickson said. "And I could see that it moved many people."
After Silveria's speech, Koster sat down with the American Government class to answer any of their questions. When one student asked if he had ever met President Obama, Koster answered in a somewhat humorous way. "I have met [Obama] two or three times in the last three months," Koster said. "He is very cool. It's like meeting a movie star. I've met several presidents, but he's got like a George Clooney characteristic about him. When you're around him it's a little different than meeting like Bush or Clinton. He is a real movie star. It sounds strange, but he's even better looking in person than he is on television." The students were able to ask questions in a comfortable environment and learn about Koster's role as Attorney General and how he connects Missouri to the government in Washington, D.C. Both aspects of Koster's visit, the assembly and the question and answer session, accomplished what it set out to do. Both Silveria and Koster brought new insights and information to students, and allowed them to take a step back and see the bigger picture.
Forget the formalities and enter festivities: unlike the usual set, the CHS orchestra's Halloween concert will be an experiment in mixing traditional (and not-so-traditional) music and a more relaxed, hands-on form of entertainment. The concert is scheduled to be held on October 28. Included in the festivities will be a costume contest. Prizes will be offered to participants in kindergarten through fifth grade. Orchestra director Julie Hoffman is excited about her new vision for the concert. "I got the idea as one way of bringing all the schools together," Hoffman said. "The younger students will get to hear the older kids play." The orchestra has been working hard, rehearsing popular Halloween music. Their repertoire includes varied Halloween songs, from classics such as "A Night on Bald Mountain" to more contemporary pieces such as "Thriller". Also included on the list are medleys which contain excerpts of both genres. The music is hardly of the conventional variety. But Hoffman reveals that this was one of the major points of this year's Halloween concert. She wished to show that having heard one concert doesn't necessarily imply that one has heard them all. In fact, this year's concert promises to be more creative and interesting, and certainly different than past years. "Music has specific purposes," Hoffman said. "I don't think people realize that if we take music out of movies, or any everyday activity, there's a big impact. This brings in the multiple facets of art." The more contemporary styles will demonstrate one of the specific modes of music that many don't think about very often, or at all. The concert is intended to be "fun for all ages", and Hoffman encourages students to bring along younger friends or siblings that might enjoy an early opportunity to go trick-ortreating, along with the costume contest. Desserts will also be for sale. The concert is intended to be the orchestra's annual fundraiser, and is serving as a replacement to the usual POPS concert. "The tickets only cost $5, which is a reasonable cost," Hoffman said. "I'd like the place to be full, so that the orchestra has a great audience." The concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium. Anyone interested or with additional questions should contact Stephanie Manny at 314-854-6720, or in the Performing Arts Office.
Features 15 Technological toys that entertain CHS students OCT. 20, 2009
iPod nano features new design, camera to boost consumer interest Sharma by Appi Reporter The iPod nano became popular mainly because of its slim form factor. At a time when other iPods were thick and bulky, the iPod nano offered a model that one could actually stick in their pocket. However, times have changed. Now, iPods keep coming out that have more memory and capabilities but are still fairly then. Also, iPod shuffle, keeps getting smaller and smaller. This was leaving the nano as something that tries to be two things but isn't good at either. Thus, the nano was on its way to becoming useless: if one wanted an iPod with a screen, one could get an iPod touch instead, which is almost as thin as a nano but can do much more, such as run applications; and if one wanted a small iPod for running with, one could get the iPod shuffle. Apple realized this, and introduced the new 5th generation model. With this release, the nano was brought on par with the higher end iPods. Apple did this by making it more than a music player. The main addition to the nano is the video camera. The idea behind this is simple: People like documenting their activities, but don't remember a camera. The video camera is surprisingly good for its size, as it is capable of shooting video at 30 fps, the traditional speed of most digital cameras. Of course, this camera is not suited to making high quality videos, but it is perfect for short clips for Facebook or Youtube. It also includes some simple effects, such as sepia, motion blur, and black-and-white. However, the camera is incapable of taking still pictures. Another problem with the camera is its placement. One needs to hold the iPod in an unnatural manner in order to uncover the camera. Even so, the video camera is a great feature that gives the iPod nano another reason to be in one's pocket. Another prominent feature of the new iPod is the implementation of a FM radio tuner. This allows users to use their iPod to not only listen to the radio, but pause and tag songs. These features, dubbed "Live Pause" and "iTunes Tagging" respectively, greatly enhance the radio listening experience. They allow one to simply pause the radio for up to 15 minutes, and then start listening where they left off. Users can also fast forward to the live broadcast at any time. The iTunes tagging feature simply stores the the information of whatever song is playing on the radio, and allows you to remember the name later, if you wanted to buy it from the iTunes store. These features bring the radio listening experience to the future, as they allow interaction between the listener and the broadcast. Furthermore, these features separate the iPod nano from the other models, which lack them. The iPod nano also gets the VoiceOver feature that origi-
Mac, Windows face off again Lee by Jake Reporter
nally debuted in the iPod shuffle. Basically, as with the shuffle, the nano is capable of reading the song name and artist to the user. It also guesses the language of a song based on its title and artist, and then uses that language to read the title. However, not all languages are supported. The last main feature of the new nano is the addition of a pedometer. This allows users to use the Nike+ training system, which records your runs, without needing to get the special footwear, as it was for other iPods. Other than the major additions, the nano also got a slightly larger screen, and a built in speaker and microphone. This allows one to not only record and listen to audio with their music, but also to listen to the music without headphones. However, as is expected from such a tiny device, the sound quality isn't great. Overall, Apple introduced many new features to the iPod nano, which bring the iPod nano back on par with, and, in some areas, even ahead of the rest of its family. Sonja Petermann
What is your favorite piece of technology?
Microsoft has created another anticipated invention, the Windows 7 laptop, available for purchase on Oct. 22. The touch screen Microsoft computer rivals the new MacBook Pro that was recently made by Apple. The MacBook Pro is known for its simplicity and userfriendliness and is said to be one of the fastest computers to just "do stuff " such as surfing the web, creating a word document, or even editing pictures on photo shop. "I like everything about the Mac, there just isn't much about the Mac that is bad," sophomore Raihana Omri said. "The Macs are more user friendly and don't have virus issues and errors like the Windows computers." However, as appealing as the simplicity of the MacBook Pro is, the Windows 7 laptop is bound to make Apple lovers become Microsoft adorers. One feature of the Windows 7 laptop is the 64-bit processor. This little feature allows the computer to operate
as quickly as or even a little faster than the MacBook Pro and makes the Windows 7 able to hold a massive amount of data. "For games and other such roundabout tasks, the Windows 7 laptop should beat out the MacBook Pro in terms of processing speed, file space, maybe even graphics, and overall compatibility with the 64-bit processor," sophomore Micah Vriezelaar said. Another new idea is the jump lists, which are basically just bookmarks for the whole computer. The most frequent things one opens or does on their Windows 7 laptop is saved onto a jump list, which can then be accessed to reach these often visited applications. The Windows 7 also has an expanded feature that the MacBook Pro has, the taskbar. On a MacBook Pro, one was able to minimize an application and put it in a corner where the applications were still visible. However, the task bar allows a preview of all the applications minimized, so that one can instantly find what they are looking for from the whole screen showing all of the applications currently used with a click.Last of all, the most famous part of the Windows 7 is the touch screen. With the touch screen, a mouse is not needed to access the applications one wants to. However, some people have different opinions on the touch screen for the Windows 7. "Though the battery life can be confusing because it isn't always accurate, the speed is sometimes slow and needs to be restarted, and I wish there were more applications that came with the MacBook Pro, the Windows 7 sounds very complex compared to the Mac," sophomore Claire Bliss said, "A touch screen is a little too much for me" Some students disagree. "Macs don't have a touch screen like the Windows 7, which in my opinion is an advantage of Windows computers", sophomore David Mayer said. Microsoft and Apple will surely be competing for consumers for their new computers. However, many lean towards the well-known Mac computers. "I would keep an open mind about the Windows 7," Omri said. "But I think in the end I'm a Mac person and not a Windows person."
iPhone because it has everything " The all together in one. With an iPhone you always have everything with you.
Dylan Brown Freshman
iPhone because then you don't " The always need a computer with you to go on the internet, you can just use your phone.
Staff photo
Android provides option for consumers that want a phone with all of the features of an iPhone but without having an iPhone.
Emily Clapper Senior
New Google phone 'Android' impresses
The iPhone because it is very easy to use. I also love how small it is and how much stuff you can do on it.
Jennifer Golden Senior
computers because I can do " Mac schoolwork and be productive but also be on video chat and talking to people. Lily Kanefield Freshman
Charrington by Nia Reporter Google. It's a website often taken for granted. We are accustomed to using it on a day-to-day basis with little thought. It's easy to forget sometimes that Google is a huge company with influence that stretches beyond the Internet. Besides being a search engine, Google is an email provider and news provider. It also allows you to edit documents, make notebooks and watch videos on YouTube. People can subscribe and read favorite website articles through Reader, and over 73 other innovative features within the website. In November 2007 Google pushed its influence from the Internet to mobile devices in an operating system called Android. What is unique about Android is that it's an open source operating system for phones. Unlike Windows Mobile or the Iphone, developers can improve or change Android to suit their taste. After only 2 years Google's Android is quickly on the rise. According to the mobile phone research firm Gartner by 2012 Android will be second most used smart phone OS. These projections would appear valid as Google has already released 9 smart phones and that number is quickly rising as more and more network providers have shown interest in Android.
Similar to Google's search engine, email service, and document editor Android has become very successful. As Google moves from the internet and into the real world we can hope to see more innovations in the future. At the forefront of Android's cellular lineup is Sprint's HTC Hero a phone that brings Google's smart phones to the level of other big name phones such as the iPhone or Palm Pre. The Hero is different from other Android phones because of the HTC's Sense UI system which they skillfully laid on top of the standard Android system. Sense creates a more intricate user interface while adding a polished look that previous Androids struggled to attain. The Hero has Qualcomm 528 MHz processor slightly less than the iPhone and Palm Pre's 600 MHz processor. The phone's overall speed during the use of the phone is good despite the lower processor speed. The Hero also sports 3.2 in touchscreen, an impressive 5 megapixel camera, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, GPS capabilities, and WiFi connectivity. The Hero has access to its application store called The Market. The Market holds more than 4,000 applications and is steadily increasing in number. The Market however does not have as many applications as the iPhone application store. The device when used performed well. The ease and customizability of the phone due to HTC's Sense UI make this a great phone that I would recommend to anyone.
A student's perspective
Despite similarities, Harry Potter surpasses Twilight Jenneman by Lucy Reporter
The Twilight and Harry Potter series have both had quite an impact on people young and old, all over the world. The Twilight series is seen through the eyes of a disaster-prone young woman who has fallen in love with a vampire. The Harry Potter series is seen from the perspective of a teenage, orphaned wizard who is fighting for his survival. Both of the series feature action, romance, comedy, and drama. Both show that even in a fantasy world, teenagers are still teenagers. While the character may face slightly different foes than those everyday teenagers face, the relationships they build and the inner conflicts they face ring true for many of their fans, which is part of their appeal. However, there are major differences between the two series. Twilight is essentially a girls' series, being built almost totally on the idea of romance and the idea that eventually love conquers all, even though one of the partners is a vampire.It also centers on Bella and her growth as a young woman. Few boys
would admit to being a fan. The Harry Potter series, on the other hand, has universal appeal, even though Harry is its main focus. It is easier to relate to one of its many characters. Whether you can relate to goofy Ron Weasley, brainy Hermione Granger, or heroic Harry Potter, there is something for almost everyone to enjoy in the series. The variety of characters is an excellent feature of the series, and contrasts with Twilight's three main characters, which can bore readers and leave them longing for more diversity. Harry Potter is also able to reach a broader audience. While both deal with teenage angst and romance, Harry Potter moves past these simple themes to embrace other subject matter. It carries the classic good versus evil motif into a fantastical world of magic powers and supernatural forces, filled with villains readers love to hate and even a good dose of humor at times. Another reason why the Harry Potter series is better is the fact that it's a lot less whiney. In the second book of the Twilight series, the main character, Bella Swan, gets whiney after her boy-
friend Edward Cullen leaves town. Although it's understandable that she'd be upset, but to do nothing but cry, sleep, and feel sorry for herself for several months is a bit on the extreme side. Though the story is more focused on fantasy, the characters of the Harry Potter books, seem to be more down to earth. For the most part, they seem to have more realistic reactions to the situations they are put in. In terms of plot, there's no contest between the Twilight and Harry Potter series. Both Harry Potter and Bella have a central goal, but not only is Potter's goal more heroic and worth while, but the twists and turns in the plot create more complexity and interest than is found in Twilight. Both authors have sold millions of copies of their books, but the Harry Potter books seem to give a more responsible message to the teenagers of today. When Bella Swan is devastated after Edward Cullen leaves, she makes no effort to get over him, wanting to do nothing but mope. I don't think that's the best kind of message to send to heartbroken teen-
15 If you were a wild animal, what would you be? Unicorn Would you rather play basketball with Obama or quidditch with Harry Potter? Quidditch, definitely Who would star in a movie about you? Angelina Jolie Is the glass half empty or half full? Full
age girls reading the series. It tells them that it's okay to mope, do nothing to get over the guy, and ignore all your friends, which is definitely not the best way to cope with a situation. In the Harry Potter books, Harry
is often upset, angry, or feeling down about something, but he always finds a way to push through and get things done. It teaches young readers that even when bad things happen to, or around you, you can't just give up. It
teaches them that you have to keep trying when the going gets tough. Harry Potter inspires ambition and bravery, but Bella inspires female readers to find their identities in romantic relationships.
Eating habits contagious As America searches for the social causes of obesity, recent research proves that friends can negatively affect eating habits.
Burke by Martha Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Henry Zimmerman
Sophomores Henry ZImmerman and Ella Davis model their dresses at the homecoming dance.
Blackwell by Mary Senior Features Editor Sophomore Henry Zimmerman turned heads at the Homecoming dance this year as he strutted through the crowd in a dress. Determined to make a memorable appearance and to play a prank on his mother, Zimmerman borrowed a dress from friend Chelsea Colangelo. "It was kind of a show in front of everyone," Zimmerman said. "I literally got attention from 500 people there. It was ridiculous. Some people asked me to take pictures." Zimmerman made his clothing choices a week before the dance. "Me and my girlfriend weren't going to go but then we ended up going so I was like all right, I'm gonna wear a dress," Zimmerman said. The other reason for wearing a dress was in order to amuse his mother. "My mom always wanted a girl so I wanted to give her that wish," Zimmerman said. Zimmerman's mother was completely unaware of the plan until her son showed up for pictures in a dress. "She took a billion pictures and sent them against my will to all our relatives and family friends," Zimmerman said. Zimmerman wouldn't describe himself as an attention
een Hallow l-Specia F 10% OF eets sw all storethis ad with
Sonja Petermann
The Harry Potter series is overall more applicable to a larger audience and contains a better message than the Twilight series. Both series of books have sold over a million copies and have devoted fans. Although both are wildly popular, Harry Potter has a more diverse group of readers.
seeker, but he reports his level of eccentricity has reached new heights this year. He received reaction from fellow students and teachers. "Ms. Pieper said she almost wore that dress, Kleinberg just laughed at me and Dr. Losos said have a great time," Zimmerman said. Zimmerman's girlfriend, Ella Davis played along by wearing an outfit that looked like a suit, completing the role reversal. Zimmerman sings backup and plays guitar in the band Pinkleef. At school, you can find Zimmerman playing four square. "I'm one of the founders of the unofficial four square club," Zimmerman said. "We play every day after school in the front." After his memorable appearance at Homecoming, Zimmerman is struggling with forming a plan for next school dance. "I probably won't go because if I don't wear a dress, then everyone will be expecting a dress, but if I wear a dress, then that's really lame," Zimmerman said. However, if he decides to attend another school dance, Zimmerman is set on making a statement. "I will dress up like a dragon or I just won't go," Zimmerman said. "I want to be majestic and have wings."
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It has always been known that your friends affect your decisions, both positively and negatively. Recent studies have shown that friends are effecting not only what you eat, but how much of it. As obesity sweeps the nation, America looks for a person to point a finger at. A September cover of the "New York Times Magazine" read "Are your friends making you fat?" in wide bubble letters. This new evidence was first brought up in a 2007 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine." This article suggests that patterns such as a friend's eating habits can be passed on from person to person. CHS students agree that friends' eating affects doing affect them. "I tend to eat more when I'm with my friends," freshmen Chloe Hromockyj said. Sophomore Haley Wartman agrees. "Normally I don't have a lot of good more likely to eat an orange or an apfood or good ple," Wartman said. snacks at my Health teacher Normally I don't house but when Melissa Hobick beI go over to my lieves that the social have a lot of good friends' house aspect of eating is they tend to have food or good snacks what is now motibetter snacks in vating teens. at my house, but their pantry," "Eating has beWartman said. come such a social when I go to my "When I go to my thing to do; ordering friends' we just friends' house, they in, eating out, eating watch T.V. and while doing other tend to have beteat when we have things etc.," Hobick nothing better to said. "It is something ter snacks in their do." that many people do These choices for entertainment. pantry." however might So when people eat not be the out we tend to order Haley Wartman healthiest. more including apSophomore " I eat junk petizers and desserts food more with because the people my friends, when I'm by myself I'm around us are doing the same thing."
Helen Wiley
Although this may create bad habits, peer pressure sometimes has its advantages. "My friends also motivate me to exercise," Wartman said. Hromockyj agrees that friends also motivate her to exercise. "I'm not the only one that wants to get into shape," Hromockyj said. "When I'm with my friends and I feel like quitting they tell me don't because it will pay off in the end." Hobick encourages teens to make their own healthy decisions, regardless of their friends. "You may have one friend who can eat whatever they want and never gain a pound, but you may have another who struggles with their weight and has to watch what they eat, " Hobick said. "It's your life, you have to live it for you regardless of what everyone else is doing."
17 Arts Fox Theatre's 'Phantom' production a masterpiece OCT. 20, 2009
Stone by Taylor Senior Arts Editor
The reputation of "The Phantom of the Opera" precedes any form of viewing. Globally known and critically acclaimed, theatre buffs and average people alike are aware of its famous music and colossal success. However, once "Phantom" is seen on stage, one can understand the reasons for the sensation – it's a darkly simplistic tale wrapped in elaborate, breathtaking theatrical design. "Phantom" truly presents itself as a poignant, global presence through its beautifully composed music and performers that boast enrapturing vocal power. The musical runs at the St. Louis Fabulous Fox Theatre from Sept. 30 through Oct. 25 and tickets are $28 to $130. It is being performed amidst the recent, major news of a "Phantom" sequel titled "Love Never Dies" set in Coney Island. It is reported to premiere in 2010 in London. The musical, based off of Gaston Leroux's 1911 novel "Le Fantome de L'Opera," is a masterpiece of Andrew Lloyd Webber, who composed the music with lyrics by Charles Hart. Webber, knighted in 1992, has composed 13 musicals including "Evita," "Cats," and "Jesus Christ Superstar." One of the richest men in Britain, Webber has won numerous prestigious awards for his creations, including seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. The musical truly possesses the most impressive record in the history of musical theatre. The show has won over 50 major theatre awards, including three Olivier Awards (the equivalent to the Tony Award in London), the most recent being the 2002 Oliver Audience Award for Most Popular Show, seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critic Circle Awards. The Broadway production, the first being in 1988, became the longest running show ever on Broadway when it overtook "Cats", another Webber creation, with its 7,486th performance on Jan. 6, 2006. "Phantom" is also the most financially successful musical ever, as it is estimated that more than 80 million people in 124 cities and 25 countries have seen it since 1986. The total worldwide gross now exceeds $5 billion. The original cast album entered the music charts at number 1, a first in British musical history. Album sales are in excess of $40 million worldwide and it is the best selling cast album of all time.In 2004, a big screen version of the show was released starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum and directed by Joel Schumacher. Numerous other literary adaptations have been created. The story is set at the Paris Opéra Populaire in 1881, where we meet the beautiful ballerina and soprano Christine Daaé. She has been taught operatic vocal skills by a mysterious tutor, an "angel of music" presumably sent by Christine's deceased father. This "angel" is revealed to be the Phantom, a masked musical genius who haunts the opera house and lives in the Paris sewers. He becomes obsessed with Christine and lures her through the Paris catacombs to his lair so that he can mold her vocal talent around his musical aspirations, wishing for "my music and your voice in one combined." But his horrifying appearance and violent despair poisons any potential for love between the two. Chaos ensues when Christine falls in love with her childhood friend and patron of the arts, Raoul. The outraged Phantom plots revenge on the lovers as well as anyone who stands in his way. Disastrous events descend upon the Opera Populaire before the fates of the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul are decided. The musical cannot accurately be defined or described in a single word or simple phrase. There are so many facets of the production that cause it to be both a classic and a masterpiece. The show combines the raw emotional beauty of its mu-
Sarah Blackwell
sic with elaborate theatrical designs for sets and costumes, as well as thrilling special effects. The production retains an aura similar to a magic show, but it has more substance resulting from its intricate plot weaved by characters with a striking amount of depth and bold power. Even if such detailed lighting, costumes, and sets were stripped away from the musical, it would still maintain a haunting command over its audience, which is one reason why the cast album has been so successful. One of the largest highlights of the entire production at the Fox was the Phantom himself, Tim Martin Gleason. Gleason has had a long history with "Phantom," completing
Children's novels mold persona Stone by Taylor Senior Arts Editor
I have to admit that my secret obsession is a little childish. And by childish, I certainly mean awesome. I am a proud member of "The Babysitters Club". No, this is not a group of CHS students and I couldn't tell you what days we meet. It's a children's book series. Perhaps some of you (especially those of you who couldn't read during the majority of the 90s) may not remember "The Baby-sitters Club" book series. Written by Ann M. Martin, the series was published by Scholastic Inc. between 1986 and 2000. It has met colossal success, having sold over 175 million copies. There have been 131 "The Babysitters Club" novels published, with 12 Super Special novels, 40 BSC "Mysteries", and 14 "BSC Friends Forever" novels. There is also an additional series focusing on one of the member's younger stepsister called "Baby-sitters Little Sister", of which there are 83 novels. BSC follows a group of middle school girls living in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. They form a club based on their shared interest in baby-sitting and decided to run a business that helps parents find babysitters from the club. Each novel (other than the Super-Specials or Mysteries) follows a plot line focused on one of the girls. I don't pretend to be accomplished enough to have read every BSC novel,
but I am still an avid fan. I began my obsession in second grade when my parents bought me a subscription to the Baby-sitter's Club "Little Sister" novel club from my school's Scholastic book sale. For a couple years afterwards I would receive four "Little Sister" books a month, to my utter delight. I would gobble them down and impatiently wait for the next month's delivery. I savored my hours following the adventures of Karen Brewer and her two families (her parents were divorced), her best friends Nancy and Hannie, and her multiple pets (one of which was a goldfish named Crystal Light the Second, as the original Crystal Light had perished in a previous volume). Karen's struggles with spelling bees, birthday parties, frightening neighbors, and disastrous haircuts filled me with a sense of wonder. Life was always entertaining for Karen, and I soon viewed life as a sea of beautifully simplistic possibilities. After I had finished all 83 "Little Sister" novels in a later year, I embarked upon an epic quest to gather all of the "Baby-Sitter's Club" novels I could. I was older, so I knew that I would appreciate the tales of older girls and their middle school dilemmas. However, considering this series was published many years before the "Little Sister" spin-off series, I had a grueling task at hand. The tales of the BSC members were very different from Karen's adventures. The members themselves de-
fined the maturity of the novel – they had different backgrounds, opinions, and outlooks on life. These girls came together in the BSC to form a sort of melting pot out of their shared love of babysitting. The stories explored more mature themes, such as challenges with schoolwork and their many babysitting clients, friendships, divorce, and the general process of leaving early adolescence behind. My dad was able to find the first novel, "Kristy's Great Idea", at our nearest Barnes and Noble bookstore. I remember having to clean my messy room before he would let me read it – torture on its highest level. However, I was dismayed to find that the series was no longer in print, and the major bookstores only carried the first novel, if at all. So, my dad and I pored through our nearby Goodwill and another locally-owned used children's clothing store to piece together the series. This is proven to be an optimum system at the beginning of the series, and I was able to follow the novels in a logical, sequential manner. However, once I delved into the higher numbers of BSC, I encountered much more difficulty. I would have to skip a couple volumes here and there that I could not find. I would miss certain elements of the plots. Why did Mary Anne and Logan break up? Did Dawn move back to California permanently? When did Stacy's parents divorce? These are all questions that I frustratingly attempted to answer for myself, searching for
a record-setting tenure as Raoul for three different American companies in over three years. He is the longest-running Raoul in American history, playing the role more than 2,600 times, and he originated the role for "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular." Gleason is absolutely phenomenal in his performance of the title character. His voice is perfectly suited to the emotionally charged songs in the musical as he reaches his higher notes with chilling sentiment and poignancy. His take on the Phantom's character is also significant – Gleason seems to prefer to convey the loneliness and misery of his character in a more subdued manner, commanding attention with-
out overdramatic fervor in such songs as "The Music of the Night," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "All I Ask of You (Reprise)." Trista Moldova, who plays Christine, also contributes to the brilliance of the cast. She played Cosette in the regional premiere of "Les Miserables" at the Pioneer Theater Company and recently worked with Julie Andrews in the John Bucchino musical "Simeon's Gift". She has appeared in many television shows such as "The Guiding Light," "All My Children," and "As the World Turns." Moldova exhibits great skill with a dash of warm feeling in songs such as "Think of Me," "Angel of Music", and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again." Other spectacular additions to the cast include the dashing Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul, who gives a lovely, sweet performance – an appropriate contrast to Gleason's dark Phantom – in songs such as "Little Lotte" and "All I Ask of You." Other actors that deserve recognition are Kim Stengel as the humorously over-the-top soprano Carlotta Giudicelli and D.C. Anderson and Michael McCoy as the opera's bumbling owners. Each of these characters gives the musical a drop of light-heartedness amidst an otherwise emotionally draining plot. Songs such as "Prima Donna," "Notes," and the operatic parodies of Carlotta caused the St. Louis audience to actually laugh, a striking dissimilarity between most of the other scenes. The Fox proves to be a character in itself – its beautiful designs and magnificent height completely transform the performance so that the audience truly feels that they are completely absorbed in the atmosphere of the Opera Populaire. The Fox legitimizes the elaborate, gorgeous period costumes, colorful operatic scenes, and startling lighting effects of the show. A scene where the Opera's chandelier (reported on the Web site of "Phantom" to be 1,000 pounds) is suddenly brightened and surreally raised to the ceiling of the Fox is especially powerful. Other breathtaking special effects include the use of fog on the floor of the stage to simulate a lake in which a boat containing the Phantom and Christine is traveling. The fog ripples as water would, a mesmerizing feat that uses 550 pounds of dry ice for each performance. The scenic design is also unique. Scenes are depicted from behind the stage of the opera, with strategically placed curtains and rooms that transport the audience to the other side of the stage. This masterful design by Maria Bjornson is truly brilliant. The Gothic, haunting music affects all who have the privilege of hearing it in a theatrical setting. They define the musical as dramatic, romantic, and beautifully tragic. Webber establishes himself as a musical genius, enhancing his creation's plot rather than distracting from it with overembellished music. He combines the appropriate mixture of raw power and subtle delicacy to define "Phantom" and the utter complexity of its meaning. Songs such as "The Music of the Night," "Point of No Return," and "Why Have You Brought Me Here/ All I Ask of You" display dilemmas within characters including the meanings of darkness versus light, and emotional versus intellectual supremacy. One could endlessly describe the wonders, mysteries, and delights of "Phantom." Such a musical is proven to be timeless, not only because of its global success but because of the universal themes and moral dilemmas it depicts. The end of the production emphasizes this idea. The standing ovation was clearly an earned response rather than mechanic. Audience members seemed to be experiencing choking emotion from the tragic plight of the Phantom as Gleason somberly bowed. "The Phantom of the Opera" is truly a musical not to be missed. It is a tragedy on a Shakespearean level, an epic, theatrical masterpiece of a lifetime.
Staff Photo
Ann M. Martin' has written 131 "The Baby-sitters Club" novels over her career. Though currently out of print, BSC sold over 175 million copies while being published by Scholastic from 1986 to 2000. clues by delving into previous novels but finding nothing. I sometimes wish I could have considered looking on E-bay for my lost treasures, but I now understand that this pondering and fruitless searching has molded me into the person I am today. I ask myself questions when I
analyze a literary text, I think critically about life's events in an introverted manner, and I've learned to adopt certain qualities while caring for children such as patience and the general appreciation for the simpler things in life. "The Baby-Sitters Club" has shaped me as a person, both as a student and
baby-sitter. One of my prime achievements through my obsession was seeing my two sisters lug out the boxes of "Little Sister" books from our storage area and pore through them just as I once did. I hope that they also adopt the same fascination and wonder for the world that I have today.
'Whip It!' radiates girl power
Barrymore's first attempt at directing is motivated by her childhood, and the movie goes off with a bang.
Glik by Andie Reporter
Barrymore's problems with her own mother inspired her to take on this movie along with the idea that "Whip It!" is a "become your own hero" kind of film.Of course, Bliss must For every girl who doesn't fit in to the typical high school hide her newfound passion from her overbearing mother, mold, who would never attend a football game and who con- who has her heart set on Bliss being Ms. America. siders The Ramones as one of the greatest bands of all time, Pretending to take an SAT class, but really riding the there is the movie "Whip It!" Break out those roller skates Bingo bus with Senior citizens to Austin, Bliss is able to go ladies, slip on your ripped fishnets and to practice and participate in games as Babe pile on the eyeliner. Filled with hot hipster Ruthless. The main love boys in skinny jeans, and a soundtrack that Her mother is not Bliss's only problem. blows Juno far out of the water, "Whip It!" You have to be 21 to participate in roller derby, story in 'Whip is the perfect movie for you. and Bliss is only 17 so she must hide her age It!' is between Meet Bliss Cavendar played by Juno from her team members. Along with boy and actress Ellen Page. Bliss is a resident of friend problems, Bliss had a lot of anger the girl and her best Bodeen, Texas and an employee of the local to take out on the track. BBQ joint that has a giant pig on its roof. It seems the world of Indie movies has mother. Her mother enters her in beauty pagmoved on from awkward, adorable, Michael eants, but Bliss really prefers combat boots Cera and on to hot musicians. Meet local Drew Barrymore to satin heels. Director and actress band member, Oliver (played by real-life muOn a day trip to nearby Austin, Bliss sician Landon Pigg.), who becomes Bliss's love discovers girl's roller derby, and nothing interest. is ever the same. Bliss breaks out her old Barbie skates and The soundtrack goes perfectly with the movie, and ingets on the team, The Hurlscouts. Actresses such as, Drew cludes music from girl led bands such as Peaches, The BreedBarrymore, Saturday Night Live's Kristen Wiig, and Eve play ers and The Ettes. Girl power exudes from every aspect of Cavendar's Hurlscout team members. this film. Think it can't get better than that? Drew Barrymore not Every moment of "Whip It!" is entertaining, and leaves only plays Smashly Simpson, the rainbow haired tough girl, you craving a broken nose and manic panic hair dye. Bliss but she also directed the movie. will be your next style influence with her combat boots, long "The main love story in 'Whip It!' is between the girl and wavy hair and ironic Christian metal tee. It looks like Drew her mother." Barrymore said in a recent interview with In- Barrymore's directorial career is only beginning, and with a Style magazine. great start.
Judi Barrett's 1978 children's book, 'Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs' , provided the foundation for the popular new movie.
Ron Barret
Children's classic sparks comedy for all Gross by Anat Reporter
includes some adult humor for those parents accompanying their children or for those high school kids who secretly miss the Disney movies of their past and wish to hold on to the Yummy! "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" leaves the memories of their childhood. Despite its storybook inspiration, directors Phil Lord and viewers hungry not only for some hot dogs topped with donuts and ice cream, but also for more of the adorable and Chris Miller had very little to work with. Thus, if you go see the movie, do not expect to see the exhumorous animated film. act replication of the 1978 book's plot. The Columbia Pictures and Sony PicSony strategically In fact, the two are quite different. tures movie is inspired by the popular 1978 The movie centers around Flint who children's book written by Judi Barrett and includes some adult invents this machine, which converts illustrated by Ron Barrett. water into food, while the book fohumor for those The film is about Flint Lockwood (voice cuses on two children listening to their of Bill Hader) a young and failing inventor parents accompany- grandfather tell the tale of the town of who continuously attempts to find his big Chewandswallow where food falls from break. ing their children the sky. His big break comes when he invents a In the book, storms force the people or for those high machine that converts water to food in orto leave the town and adapt to the new der to save his town plagued by sardines. school kids who world without food falling from the However, Lockwood's plans soon go sky. awry as the town must be saved from giant secretly miss the It may be because of these major plot pancakes, hot dogs, and a variety of other changes that some parts of the movie fell Disney movies of foods. short. If it were not for the random, yet The animated movie features the voices their past and wish adorable remarks of the gummy bear of many well known actors including Anna obsessed monkey Steve and the great Faris as Sam Sparks, Flint Lockwood's love, to hold on to the animation of Sony Pictures, viewed in James Caan as Tim Lockwood, Flint's fa3D for the first few weeks of the film's memories of their ther, and Mr. T as Earl Devereaux, the town release, these plot holes may have been security guard. childhood. more imposing on the viewer. However, the cutest and funniest charOverall, the cute and quirky aniacter is one of few words, but hilarious animated film is great for all types of mation, Flint's sidekick monkey Steve, voiced by Neil Patrick audiences. Harris. The movie is perfect for the younger audiences and adults Although the movie is inspired by a children's book, teenagers and adult audiences can find as much enjoyment as the seeking a relaxing and comedic 81 minutes. 10-year-olds filling up the theater seats. Sony strategically
Second release provides flashback Gross by Anat Reporter
Taylor Gold
"Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" delights audiences young and old. The second release of the beloved 1995 Disney movies gives the most recent generation an opportunity to view the films in theaters. Older audience members have the chance to revisit their favorite film of their childhood, but this time in 3D. The Disney Pixar classic does not disappoint. The animated feature is about the fantastical world of toys, which come to life when people are not watching. The movie specifically focuses on a group of toys dealing with the possibility of new arrivals during their owner, Andy's, sixth birthday party. Woody, a pull string cowboy toy handed down through generations, is threatened by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, the new space action figure every kid wants. Woody plots to get rid of his competition, but the two end up lost together and forced to work together so that they may find their way home before it's too late. Although the film was originally released in 1995, the wonderful story is still a hit with current audiences. The animation that was released again in 3D is still amazing, despite being over a decade old.
The movie features the voice of many well-known actors including Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. However, it is not the talent, which makes the movie so successful; it is the simple, yet creative, storyline, which keeps the viewer intrigued. Despite the overall appeal of the animated movie, the teen audience may be wishing they had not delved into the memories of their childhood. Even having seen the movie multiple times and wanting to watch it over and over again as a kid, the length of the combined movies was almost unbearable. Yes, the storyline and the animation are great, but the movie is being released again in order to promote Toy Story 3. Those who watched the tape over and over as children, who have memorized the plot may not enjoy the two films as much as those 7-year-olds and their parents giggling in the audience. Overall, "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" are great movies and can be enjoyed by all audience members, but it may be a painful showing for those attempting to connect to their childhood. Wonderful animation, even without the 3D, coupled with magnificent storyline filled with humor makes the double feature a great way to spend the evening if you haven't seen it once too often already.
Michael Moore fails to find solution Elliot by Justin Editor
A pair of blinding white NewBalance shoes, a megaphone, several rolls of yellow crime scene tape, and an armored truck spell one thing; Michael Moore is back again. Moore's newest movie "Capitalism: A Love Story" is a brutal attack on the economic system that sustains our nation. While the movie's sporadic plot, poor attempt at humor, and failure to identify the changes needed to make the situation better detracts from the movie, it still exposes some of the harsh realities of capitalism to those who live a comfortable middle class life. Moore's thesis is that greed in capitalism has made the economics of America only about money. The human factor in the Untied States has gone by the way side and economic decisions are made by the ultra rich to maximize profits, no matter the cost. Moore feels that the world has turned into a great divide where the rich bathe in profits, while the rest are left barely getting by. Moore's story begins in his hometown of Flint, Michigan, where he recounts the demise of the city through the slow shutdown of its main employer, General Motors. From there Moore loses his focus and finds random stories of how capitalism has ruined American lives. His investigation includes the stories of several young teenagers who were wrongfully incarcerated by a for-profit juvenile rehabilitation center, airline pilots on food stamps because of their dwindling pay, and factory workers who
were refused pay because of their companies' poor credit. The most interesting of these stories involve life insurance policies that numerous large companies take out on their employees called "dead peasant" insurance. When employees die, companies cash in, and families never see any of the money. Together, these stories make an illogical and biased case against capitalism. However, by themselves, the stories truly put a face on the negative effects of capitalism. With the push of a button, CEOs and other executives can make decisions that truly ruin lives of innocent Americans. Overall, these depressing stories leave viewers angered at the current system. Although Moore alludes to the importance of voting he still leaves most questions unanswered. Who should people vote for? What changes need to be made? What system would work better than capitalism? All are left untouched. Furthermore, Moore loses his credibility by not only failing to even recognize the opposing view point but also his flawed attempt at humor. With a five-minute exposé on how Jesus wasn't a capitalist, Moore attempting to make a citizen arrest of Wall Street executives and Moore standing outside of the major U.S. banks with money bags and a megaphone demanding the tax payer money back, Moore only makes a fool of himself. It seemed like it was more like a YouTube video than a full-scale movie. Overall, Moore makes some astute points, but his outrageous behavior and illogical arguments don't add up.
Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT
Filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at a press conference in Washington D.C. opposing President Barrack Obama's health care reform.
Artist finds opportunities on sidewalk Olsen by Eudora Reporter
On a stroll through the neighborhood, local architect Janet Goodman discovered new creative opportunities lying at her feet. She picked one up, took it home, and began painting. "It sort of all started because I wanted to give them a new life, or a little appreciation," Goodman said. "You just see the sticks on the ground, and they're just trash." Her passion is sticks, any shape or size, but Goodman says they must be "big enough to have a presence". The architect lives at home in Clayton with her husband, and her twin daughters are off away at college. The walks have become more frequent with the arrival of their new puppy, a miniature poodle, and Goodman adds to her collection of sticks every day. "Sometimes you see something where the stick is branching off, or something has been chewed," Goodman said. "My perfect stick has personality, and the paint on top just brings it out." The architect can't help but see stories in the sticks; a little dent in the bark is a whole new plot line for her to guide to
life. She paints the scenery on the sticks with anything from nail polish to metallic gel pens, taking hours on end to decorate each one. She sees her work as an appreciation of what already exists. In her own words, she explains that the stick holds magic within itself, and the coloring on the surface is merely a device to bring the stick's potential to light. "It's not making something the same way as if you have a blank canvas or piece of paper," Goodman said. "It's just sort of bringing out something that's there." Because it takes her up to three or four days to finish one stick, Goodman's pile of raw sticks has gotten ahead of the actual painting process. She is now focused on just the decorating aspect of her unique artwork, and with each finished product comes the lingering question of how to display her collection. "One of the challenges of the sticks is that there are so many details, but no direction," Goodman said. "If I were ever to display these, I'd want people to see what I saw- the spirit of the stick." Although she is not sure on the display, Janet Goodman is sure of one thing: sticks make a great canvas for the imagination.
Courtesy of Janet Goodman
Local artist Janet Goodman has a positively uncontrollable passion for sticks. She believes each individual stick has a story of its own to tell.
'Invention of Lying' leaves its watchers laughing, pondering Redick by Meredith Senior Managing Editor
Ali Sehizadeh
'Sweeney Todd' cast prepares for upcoming performance Tait by Sarah Reporter Though the spring musical is a far-off event for most, the theater crew has already started to work on what is to be one of their biggest undertakings yet, "Sweeney Todd". "Sweeney Todd" is quite a challenge to perform, but the theater students are sure they're up to it. Auditions have been held and parts passed out early this year so that the cast and crew can have extra time to prepare. "This is the most difficult show I've done by far," junior John Holland said. Holland will play the title role, a demonic barber who slits the throats of his customers and bakes them into meat pies with his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett. "This particular musical is almost entirely based upon song," Holland said, "and the music is based on moods, not melody." Sophomore Fergus Inder, who plays Anthony in the musical, agrees that the music is the most difficult element of the play. "There's a lot of key changes and crazy harmonies," Inder said. "The chorus part is really difficult and that's going to take a lot of work, but it's also just a tough piece to read in general." The composer for this musical is Stephen Sondheim, who is renowned for writing complex musical scores. The cast has already begun meeting with music director Alice Fasman in their free time so that they are able to meet Sondheim's challenge. However, "Sweeney Todd" presents more challenges than just the tricky score. Director Kelley Ryan believes the musical relies heavily
on talented acting as well. "As hard as the music is, acting will be hard too," Ryan said. "This isn't a typical show, it needs really strong acting skills. It will be tough for everyone." Despite the difficulty, the whole theater team is looking forward to putting on the show. "All the challenges will be the most fun," Ryan added. "The music is difficult but it's also witty, funny, and dark." Holland is also excited to get to work. "This is one of my favorite shows and it's always a great experience to get to be in something you love," Holland said. "This is a musical that is so unlike others. You don't get to see a lot of dark but eerily comical productions that strike deep into the audience and make them reflect." The theater crew believes that the unique and memorable qualities "Sweeney Todd" brings to the stage are well worth the struggles. Though they are all extremely excited to begin working on every aspect of the musical, there may be one element they look forward to even more than the others: the blood. "Sweeney Todd" is a musical not lacking in gore and violence to the delight of audience and crew members alike. Though this may raise concerns for some younger viewers, it's not likely to be a major issue. "The violence in 'Sweeney Todd' is just as bad as the sexual references made in Greece, so I don't think it's going to be a problem," Inder said. The crew is instead focusing on how to get the most out of this gruesome production. "We're already working on the effects to make them look really good," Ryan said. "It will be pretty bloody." This year's spring musical is certain to be unlike any others performed before.
It's a world where no one lies. Producer Ricky Gervais has carried the clever, penetrating humor that sensationalized the British version of "The Office" into a bright, whimsical film he calls "The Invention of Lying". The world of "Lying" is almost identical to our own, with one looming difference: in this world, no one has ever tried to lie. The people speak with a startling candor, admitting without hesitation the mistakes and prejudices that fuel the industry of duplicity in our own society. For loner Mark Bellison (Gervais), such transparency means that he suffers insult after insult in his already dismal life. Mark is fired through no fault of his own from a company that produces historical films, the only kind of films that people can think to create in a world without fiction. His incompliant landlord, learning that Mark has lost his job, evicts him. Then to top it all off, Mark's reluctant dinner date, Anna (Jennifer Garner) rejects him- on the grounds that he is fat and has a snub nose. Desperate for a way out, Mark momentarily slips into fantasy as he withdraws his last savings from the bank. He declares to the teller that he has $800 in his account—even though he doesn't—and the teller unhesitatingly gives it to him. Astonished, Mark realizes that he has effectively invented the lie. Mark's powers extend beyond finding quick wealth, however. As his mother lies dying, Mark desperately comforts her with tales of a beautiful world beyond death—a concept that quickly spreads from his mother's deathbed to a voracious world eager for the promise of salvation. As Mark gradually becomes a twisted Christ figure, he realizes that lying may
not, after all, be the perfect force in this world. While the film is undoubtedly packaged like a romantic comedy, Gervais effectively uses this structure along with a comedic hypothetical situation to present relatively profound issues with lightness and dexterity. When Mark discovers the lie, he writes a fictional screenplay that, passed off as truth, becomes a smash hit in the historical movie industry. Gervais' message, then, is that a wholly truthful society is also a society without imagination. This challenging of precepts continues in Mark's transformation into a white-robed, bearded character that writes the rules of the "man in the sky" on a pair of pizza boxes—effectively, a Christ character. While Gervais's satire of Christianity is witty, it also probes the concept of religious faith without arriving at a clear judgment: while the people of the pre-lying, secular society are forced to face their own despair, the concept of eternal paradise only makes them ambivalent to their lives on Earth. These moral issues are handled skillfully by a stellar cast, which includes Jason Bateman and Jeffrey Tambor of the television series "Arrested Development" in addition to Garner and Gervais. Although parts of the script could have easily become trite, Gervais' self-effacing charm and Garner's distinctive smile makes even the compulsory romantic scenes watchable. Gervais's final conclusion is that humanity resides most comfortably between the cold, logical realm of truth and the extravagant fantasies that Mark bestows on his own life upon his introduction to deception. "The Invention of Lying" tries to look like a clever comedy, but its core is an amalgam of philosophical questions designed to leave viewers pleasantly musing about the nature of truth and imagination.
Warner Brothers
Producer Ricky Gervais acts alongside Jennifer Garner in "The Invention of Lying". When Mark discovers the world's first lie, his life changes forever.
Dan Brown delivers in latest novel
In his thrilling new novel, Brown takes readers through a maze of complex symbolism in the nation's capital with the return of his beloved protagonist Robert Langdon.
Kropp by Caitlin Reporter
style, his fast-paced action that whips information and fiction through our mind like a hurricane. We've come to expect his style, and so, it is able to effectively keep us engaged. Something very special happened on Sep. 15. Throughout In addition, Brown once again succeeds in taking a place the country, thousands of people were united. Some stood in we already thought we knew, and turning it into something line, some stayed at home, but they all shared the same goal: completely different. With intense explorations into the arget the book. This book was obviously something extraor- chitecture and decorations of several well-known D.C. builddinary, as on the day of its release, more than one million ings, Brown takes the old and makes it new. He also directs copies were sold. This makes it the fastest selling adult novel our eyes to other, less well-known aspects of the city, making in history. Getting closer? Everyone was trying to get their us want to see it for real. hands on Dan Brown's latest novel, The Lost Symbol. Brown creates the same atmosphere for The Lost Symbol. A story six years in the making, The Lost Symbol can defi- Even now, I want to go back to the capitol rotunda, just to nitely be called one of the most anticipated books of the year. look at The Apotheosis of Washington and realize what it reBefore it even hit stores, this sequel to Angels and Demons ally means. Here's a hint for Washington: start on The Lost and The Da Vinci Code was already a bestseller. But does the Symbol tour, ASAP. story live up to all the hype? The answer is a resounding yes. Another similarity is the introduction of yet another Dan Brown certainly knows how to deliver. brainy heroine/love interest. The newest addition to the The story begins eerily similar to Dan Brown's other nov- Browniverse is Katherine Soloman, a noetic scientist who els. A secret ritual. A distinguishable villain (an albino in aids Langdon on his quest for ancient wisdom. Don't get one, tattooed in the most current). And, the revelation of a me wrong: I love the fact that Brown frequently introduces secret within a secret. Okay, so maybe it wasn't eerily similar. heroines that can hold their own, both in Just a bit disappointingly similar. After all the academic and the outside world. But the research and time that Brown took 'The Lost Symbol' it's the addition of yet another possible to write the novel, it would seem that Langdon love interest that irks me. Even is told in Brown's he could at least deliver something new. though nothing really happens between We've seen this opening over and over Soloman and Langdon, it is implied usual breathless, again in his novels, and it's getting quite enough to leave no doubt in the mind of repetitive. But, just as we begin to despair, the reader what their true relationship highly energetic the story takes off on its own. Cue sighs is. Just once, can't Langdon have just a style. He chucks of relief. smart friend that happens to be a girl? Robert Langdon, our loveable HarThat's all I'm asking for. characters and refvard symbologist, is reintroduced to us, What differs in the newest novel is this time accepting a call to give a lastthe underlying focus of the plots. In both erences and actual minute lecture for a close friend. Instead Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci facts at the reader at Code, the main focus is Christianity, and of jetting off to Europe, however, Langdon goes stateside, in Washington, D.C. exploring the different levels within it. lightning speed. The first real gasp moment we get is when The Lost Symbol strays from this path, it becomes apparent that there is no lecinstead focusing on the concept of Freeture planned for the evening. masonry in America, an equally wellEvents follow in rapid fire succession. A gruesome dis- known and controversial subject. It is simply astounding covery is made within the rotunda, apparently acting as a how much Freemasonry played a part in the formation of the calling card requesting Langdon's help. The prize? An ancient United States, and Brown presents it to us in his new book. wisdom that will supposedly lead to man becoming a god. Also, Dan Brown does incorporate religion, but on a If Langdon doesn't help the mastermind behind it all (a tat- more neutral plane. It is true that the formation of America tooed baddy who calls himself Mal'akh), there will be grave was done so under white Christian males. Brown addresses consequences for those he holds dear. this. But he also seems to back down from his more controThe remainder of the book takes the reader on a breathless versial topics, instead ending with an affirmation of faith. He race through Washington, D.C. Along the way, in true Brown doesn't specify which faith, thankfully, just that there is faith fashion, the readers are enlightened with factual information in general. And this, coupled with the image of the first rays that comprises the complex web that Brown creates. String of dawn hitting the top of the Washington Monument, can theory, capitol architecture, ancient mysticism, and a new make anyone an optimist. field of research called noetic science, exploring the idea that All in all, The Lost Symbol was an excellent read. Althe physical world can be influenced by human conscious- though told a little fast, the action is great, the scenes are ness, are just a sampling of everything encountered. fantastic, and the facts cut to the core. The Lost Symbol cerThe Lost Symbol is told in Brown's usual breathless, highly tainly lives up to the wait of six years. The next question is, energetic style. He chucks characters and references and ac- of course, will Dan Brown be able to outdo himself again? I tual facts at the reader at lightning speed. But we always hang certainly hope so. Life just wouldn't be the same without anon. Why? Because we have come to love Brown's energetic other Robert Langdon thriller to hyperventilate over.
21 Forum Is modern-day trick-or-treating a good idea? OCT. 20, 2009
Trick-or-treating still enchanting for youth despite societal scares Onyema by Ijeoma Senior Forum Editor
Traditional Halloween activity less an experience, more a nuisance Kratcha by Kara Editor
Remember Halloween back in the 90s (oh yes, the decade of the geometric shapes) when you would skip merrily down the street with your friends, highly anticipating stuffing your pumpkin-shaped basket with tooth-rotting treats. Even if you got something lame like a bruised apple or a toothbrush, you wouldn't mind because it was all apart of the trick-or-treating experience. Nowadays, kids can't even accept those gifts from their neighbors due to the fear that it might be spiked with glass or some date rape drug. Possible? Sure. Likely? Not so much. Either way, let's face it: without trick-or-treating, the jokes, the haunted houses, the costume parties, everything about Halloween would cease to exist. "Trick-or-treating," as you all know, is the traditional custom where children go from door to door asking for treats, preparing to do a "trick" whoever doesn't give them treats. However, thanks to the poisoned candy scare in the 70s and 80s, parents are more fearful of kids getting tricked rather than the opposite. It's even worse in Clayton, where I thought many were festive about this holiday; one can see the impact of these scares. When I was trick-or-treating in Clayton, I can specifically recall one time when I knocked on a door; a lady opened the door just a crack, gave my friend and me each two pieces of candy, and briskly closed the door. And this was all before we could even say "trick or treat," mind you. Furthermore, more and more people are turning their lights off earlier than 10 p.m. Back in the day, Halloween night was filled with the hauntingly warm glow of the jack-olanterns, with children frolicking merrily from house to house as Halloween-y music filled the air. Now all the streets are haunted with a freakishly dead silence, with the cold wind hitting the backs of the few trick-or-treaters who drive from house to house. Seriously, I can count last year's quota on my hands and by 9 p.m., I am are still left with more than half of their baskets stuffed with candy (and one would think that would be awesome at first but it's just a nasty start into the holiday season with all that weight increase and whatnot). This just proves that amongst the parents of suburbia, there is this idea that in order to protect their children from the outside world, children must be in the care of an adult every second of the day. It is understandable to be cautious, but parents have to wake up and smell the fresh candy: there is not one place on Earth that is safe. It's hard to comprehend, but get used to it. As for the candy red scare, there haven't been any reported incidents that connected to this scare, so parents should just chill out cut the umbilical cord. Just as birds have to fly, so must children, despite the protest of their parents. Apart from that, Halloween is on a Saturday; having the holiday on a Friday or a Saturday is a rare treat by itself. Kids are already gloomy when they can't go out on the weekend, but parents, if you don't let you're kids go out this Halloween weekend, then they won't love you. A bit of a stretch, I'm sure, but they will be seething. Parents, I'd advise letting them go this year because, there's always next year, when it's a Sunday. I don't know if everyone forgot but hello?! Candy?! Besides grumpy, toothless geriatrics, no one here can say that they don't like candy. It's imperative to let a kid go trick-or-treating so they can engorge themselves with their treasures (after hours of negotiations and trading of course), throw up an hour later, and have an appointment for a cavity filling the next day. It's a rite of passage that simply must be accomplished. Besides, just because a parent is afraid of their child having Halloween fun on the streets doesn't mean he can't go out an enjoy Halloween elsewhere. If anything, many malls and local outlets offer "safe" trick-or-treating in a closed environment. And for the truly paranoid parents, some local fire departments have voluntary x- rays where one can check to see if there's anything dangerous in the treats. To conclude, be cautious Halloween night because it is possible that when the parents are away, the sex offenders might play. But that doesn't give reason to cooping the children up at home all Halloween night with nothing to do. If life is short, then childhood is most definitely shorter, so when times like these come around for the children to going romping around the neighborhood, go on and let them romp.
This Halloween thousands of kids will be knock-knock joking their way around St. Louis neighborhoods in search of a bag full of free candy and a night full of after-dark fun. However, maybe it's not the candy-givers who should be asking "who's there?" when trick-or-treaters fill the streets. Let's face it: if someone were to explain trick-or-treating to a parent out of context, the resulting description would sound pretty bad. "A bunch of small children from house to house in costume, demanding food from strangers in the dark, often on a school night," that portrayal might say. "Oh, and this is also the night adults and teenagers traditionally throw masquerade parties in the same houses kids are approaching for candy." If parents have confidence in the moral caliber of their neighbors, then the scenario described is not dangerous at all. Adults could be expected to conduct themselves responsibly and to monitor their teenagers' Halloween fun. However, with the kids' ever-growing appetite for sugary treats, trick-or-treating territory has extended to include the nooks and crannies of every neighborhood, far surpassing the average parent's ability to know the safety of individual houses, or even blocks. Even in Clayton, total safety cannot be ensured by parents. Then there's the problem of costumes. Should children have to wear tennis shoes and a bulky coat? Are masks really that dangerous? Do props such as plastic swards and fake guns tend to cause accidents? In most cases, parental instinct probably says, "Yes, yes and yes!" Of course, a myriad of safety tips are readily available. The Los Angeles Police Department suggests adding reflective tape to coats and bags for visibility, purchasing "healthy alternatives" to candy to give out at the door, and to use a decorative hat instead of a mask or toxic face paints. Halloweensafety.com advises parents to go with their children while trick-or-treating, or at least to send a teenaged sibling along. Eating Halloween candy before allowing a parent to check it for safety is a no-no, according to kidshealth.org. Unfortunately, these tips are hard to follow for one simple reason: kids think doing so is lame, and with good reason. It's hard to be Scream without a mask and long, dragging cloak. A knight without his sword is barely a knight at all, as is a Jedi without his light saber. Most nineyear-olds don't want their parents trailing behind them, just as most teenagers don't want to follow their ten-year-old siblings around. Teens think egging houses, scaring little kids, and going to wild parties are fun things to do on Halloween because of the danger factor. Can a completely safe Halloween night even be a fun Halloween night? Often, although not this year, Halloween occurs on a weekday. Unlike other holidays, students are not usually given a day off for Halloween or the day after, when kids are more likely to be tired and possibly sick from their night of running around and candy eating. At first glance, this seems like a bad thing. However, not having the day off may be good for children. Perhaps the solution to Halloween danger lies in ensuring that all Halloween festivities fall on a school night. Trick-or-treating should be moved from Oct. 31 to the first Sunday before. After all, Halloween is a commercial holiday, the date of which means little to most people. In this way, trick-or-treaters would be forced to search for candy during the daylight hours. Parents would be more aware of their children's location because of the community-regulated change in trick-or-treating time. Because of the heightened safety moving trick-or-treating to a Sunday would ensure, parents would feel less need to accompany their older children, thus allowing them more freedom to have fun on Halloween. To clarify, moving trick-or-treating is not the same as moving Halloween. Fullfledged adults should be and are allowed to make whatever decisions they want on the holiday. Under the suggested system, the parties of teenagers and adults and the more innocent fun of children would be separated since most people are not inclined to party into the wee hours of the morning on a Sunday. This benefits children, who could then safely wander the streets in search of candy, and adults, who could then enjoy Halloween without the worry that their children are doing just that. Trick-or-treating is in not an inherently bad tradition. Dressing up and receiving candy are fun activities for children and have provided fond memories for many adults. However, today's world is one of terrorism, impersonal neighbors, and swine flu. Trick-or-treating need not be completely abolished; instead, it needs be safer for children and better fit modern times.
Thrift stores provide economical alternatives to commercial 'hipster' stores With that condescending scowl he often wears, arms crossed, my brother barked, "Urban Outfitters is the devil." It was two days before Christmas, and I had foolishly dragged him to the mall to help me pick out a hat for my mother. At the time, I dismissed his words as an arrogant exaggeration, said to get my attention, and in retrospect, I have no doubt that this was exactly his intention. But I could barely hear him over trendy indie-rock on the loudspeakers as I wandered through racks of $60 flannel shirts and preripped jeans. After much thought and research, though, now almost one year later, I have come to agree with what he said that day in December. First, to back my case, I'll provide a brief history of the chain we all know and love. Urban Outfitters originated in 1970
as "the Free People's Store" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The owner, Richard Hayne, ranked as number 262 of the richest people in the U.S., changed the name shortly after to the one we now know, as well as creating the stores Free People and Anthropologie. The brand is expanding, and today has 140 locations around the world. The apparel sold in the original store reflected Hayne's liberal roots and hasn't changed much over the years, though he is now an ultra-capitalist conservative. In fact, according to Philadelphia Weekly, Hayne and his wife, Margaret, have "contributed $13,150 to the campaign coffers of Paleolithic right-wing Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and his Political Action Committee." This is one of the chain's contradictions that irk me the most. The typical Urban Outfitters shop-
per is liberal-minded and craves the "boho chic" hipster look the chain markets. However, it's blatantly obvious that anyone shopping at Urban Outfitters is not poor in the least bit, and in fact, has enough money to buy overpriced, purposelytattered items. I really can't get over the irony of this situation: while shoppers spend their parents' money (most likely), in efforts to look artsy, bohemian, Hannah vintage, etc., they are unknowingly funding a system of beliefs and politics most shopping there would condemn-- a system their "alternative" clothes are a statement against.
Urban Outfitters has mass-produced the thrift-store "look," abusing its authority as a big business to knock-off independent designers, and scam people of their money, selling things that look cheap, but aren't. My brother and I are not the only ones who see the contradiction, though. As reported by Infoshop News in Aug. 2008, a group in Milwaukee voiced their Callahan disgust against the brand, "juggling eggs (all over the merchandise) while informing the customers that the circus was in town, and they were the freak show. Displays were bro-
ken, tables were flipped, and merchandise was scattered all over the store." Most impressively, they yelled, "Die hipster scum!" Not that I'm suggesting anything radical. I just want to provide another option, which is thrift store shopping. Here is your opportunity to free yourself from the shackles of consumerism! Two years ago, I never would have set foot in Value Village or Goodwill. Now, though, I see that I can find the same '90s floral dress, the same scuffed boots, the same acid-wash jeans or oversized sweater for $5 instead of $50. Prior to my discovery, I didn't shop in thrift stores because shopping at Urban Outfitters was so much easier. Everything I wanted was right in front of me, glowing in the windows' display-though I did pay the price. But when the resources are avail-
able, especially during this recession, to find much cheaper, one-of-a-kind clothes (if you're willing to search), it seems completely unnecessary to pay more money for them, while supporting a chain like Urban Outfitters. Plus, the hunt for cheap clothes in thrift stores is exhilarating. Finding your sartorial match holds more value when you've had to search for it (and I don't mean in a catalogue). However, proceed with caution. I say this because while it's easy to become an Urban Outfitters hipster cliché, it's even easier to become a pretentious, scraggly-looking, strictly Value Village-shopping, vinyl-listening, fixedgear riding, carbon-copy hipster (who refuses to admit they're a hipster). Unfortunately, I realize by writing this, I have just placed myself in the latter.
22 Forum Ditching Facebook restores real friendships, sense of self OCT. 20, 2009
For several years, I lived in a different universe. My But as we talked, I realized what I had lost for so long. friends were two-dimensional, and I could summon them I had lost the fluidity of dialogue; I had lost the extended at any moment. Voices did not exist. No one cried, no one silences that weren't awkward at all; I had lost the poignanscreamed, no one laughed. Emotions were reduced to a se- cy of speaking without being able to revise. I had lost their ries of abbreviations. As I looked into people's eyes, they were laughs, each one a unique sound bite that cannot be heard never looking back into mine. in "lol." Some are quick and wispy giggles. Others are shrill Originally, I embraced Facebook as a new way to connect. crows from high in the throat. Others have boisterous gufPictures that used to require printing to share were upload- faws that seem to shake the air around me. able in seconds. Friends who lived thousands of miles away I have resurrected a practice that had disappeared since were suddenly sitting right in front of me on the computer middle school: walking to my friends' houses on weekdays. screen. I felt a rush as I typed my password into the small The distinctive smells of their homes have come back to me, rectangular box every day, entering a as well as the sometimes-bothersome world of endless social activity. My heart check ups by their parents. I am now truly jumped each time a red flag, accom- Hanging bY A MOMENT present in their lives. We are no longer virpanied by the satisfying ping of a new tual images of ourselves floating around message, appeared on the corner of the on each other's computer screens. page. One day in class, a friend pulled a picThe sounds echoed in my dreams, ture out of her folder and handed it to me. and my fingers itched constantly to reThe two of us sat on a sidewalk with chalk turn pokes and flip through the most in our hands, smiling without any front recent albums. I spent my evenings teeth. Nostalgia seized me. I had forgotten wasting away in the home page's beauthat a photograph was an object I could tifully streamlined, navy blue oblivion. hold onto, not just something I could NINA OBERMAN Sometimes, when a friend came over, click. we would explore the Facebook world The picture now sits permanently on together, staring at the screen—but rarely looking at each my dresser rather than being buried in a rarely visited Faceother. book album. I print photos out now, to hang up and to give to I felt more isolated than ever. My excitement for the web- others. My memories feel less transient, more concrete. site's possibility of contact had ironically transformed me into Deleting my account has grown to be the opposite of soan Internet zombie. I associated every person I saw with his cial suicide. Sure, I'm the last to hear the latest gossip or see or her profile picture as though we were all frozen in time. the newest viral video. But I hear the laughs of my long-disAs I spent more and more hours on Facebook, I spent less tance friends, and I walk to the houses of those who live just and less time interacting with friends in real life. Commit- down the block. I can touch the photos I treasure, not just ting what most teenagers today would consider social sui- "like" them. I feel my friends in my arms when we hug and cide, I deleted my account. scream with them when we're crumbling under stress. When "Did you fall off the face of the Earth??" my friends called I look into their eyes, they're always looking back into mine. to ask. They were shocked by the need to resort to such a I live in this universe now, and I don't intend to go back primitive form of communication: actually talking to me. any time soon.
G LOBE 2009-2010 Staff
Photo courtesy of Bleeke family
Laura Bleeke, now a sophomore, wraps arms around her big brother, Jeremy, in younger days.
Filling space of beloved siblings away at college Bleeke by Laura Editor The new school year has brought many changes to my life. I got my license, much to my parents' horror, and the freedom that comes with it. I've begun the long struggle of trying to understand periodic trends and the shielding effect in chemistry, and crew has become my newest hobby, as I continue the endless search of finding a sport that I am decent at. But the biggest difference this school year is the absence of my big brother, Jeremy. At the end of August my family went to Columbia University to attempt to squeeze his clothes, books and electronics into his closet-sized dorm room. My sister flew to college straight from New York, and on the plane ride back, I felt strangely lonely. I had always had one of my siblings with me. My sister had immediately taken on the protective, motherly role, while my brother was my crazy best friend. When I was little my brother and I were inseparable, and even as we've grown up we've remained close. When I was a few months old, I was lying on the floor across from Jeremy. He was three years old, playing with his little yellow truck, and he wanted me to play too. So, he pushed the truck at me lightly, thinking I would catch it. Much to his surprise, it hit me instead, and I burst into tears. Thinking he had hurt me, he started crying as well. In a few minutes I was fine, but Jeremy still couldn't believe he had upset me and was devastated. He has been the same way ever since then. Whenever he has hurt me in any way, his remorse is far greater than my pain. He used to have a little wooden flute that he carried around with him, and if he ever wanted anything, he would play a few notes on it, and I had 30 seconds to get to his side. Now, it sounds abusive, but then I thought of him as the
most important person in the world. Anything he told me to do, I would. This included being a monster-exterminator. Every time Jeremy needed to go to the bathroom I had to go in before him to check behind the shower curtain and in the bathtub for any monsters. Even now I have to stand guard outside the bathrooms of public restrooms to make sure no one comes in. When my family went on any kind of trip, my brother and I would have to share a bed. Jeremy would make an invisible line that I wasn't able to cross, and although I tried, it never worked. I would wake up the next morning wrapped in all of the blankets, with my brother on the floor. My sister and he would argue over who had to share a bed with me, but she always won because "she was the oldest". As I've grown, I've learned the meaning of personal space, but my brother will always hold it against me. Jeremy has always been extremely creative. Since I can remember I've watched him build elaborate railroads, racecar tracks, Lego wonders, and highly structured fort mazes. It takes a lot of work to build these masterpieces and I was his happy helper. But when it came to the final product, I always had to be outside a 20-foot radius, which I never thought twice about. I have never questioned anything my big brother tells me. I trust him and know he is a great role model because he has always had time for me. From pushing trucks at me to taking me out dinner, my brother has never forgotten me. Even though home doesn't feel quite right without him, we talk on the phone a few times a week, and of course, text daily. Maybe we won't go on "adventures" through the backyard or play hide-and-go-seek in the dark anymore, but I know I will always have my big brother to look up to.
Self-discovery at the subatomic level Pondering modern-day significance of Homecoming Court, school spirit
Dee Luo
Homecoming is one of the most holiday on the night of the Homecom- late and leave early, often before the enduring traditions at Clayton High ing dance—another legitimate excuse. coronation of the Homecoming Court School and other high schools around Then a third candidate turned down even begins. the country. Homecoming festivities— her nomination. The junior class was In fact, this may have been a factor themes for each graduating class, deco- left with only 3 nominees to the Home- in the refusal of the nominations to the rating the Commons, the parade, foot- coming Court. Court. Some students are so opposed ball game and dance—are always staple Homecoming queen was once an to staying the extra half-hour to receive in the school year. omnipresent icon in American teen the honor that they would rather refuse However, in recent culture. Once upon a it altogether. Some groups are also reyears, the popularity of time, homecoming king luctant to wait for a friend to particithese events has begun and queen were among pate in the ceremony. to decline. Some students Staff Editorial Compare the current-day scenario the most coveted honors a choose only to attend student could receive. Ap- to one of years ago. Back then, high some events; some choose parently that honor has lost some of its school students focused on school spirnot to go to any. Perhaps this is due appeal. it more than nowadays. Sports were an to new rules regarding the dance, or It's not only the Homecoming Court integral part of the high school expeperhaps it's simply due to generational that has lost its appeal. Enthusiasm to- rience, and not just playing them, but differences. wards other aspects of homecoming watching them. A pep rally used to be One anticipated part of Homecom- has also waned in recent years. the main event on a Friday night, ining is the selection of the Homecomstead of an activity built in The homecoming boning Court. A group of 5 girls from fire is one example; many to the school day to encoureach grade is nominated for this select students don't attend this Agree 64% age attendance. group, and their classmates vote for the long-standing tradition beFor now, the attitude winner for each class. towards the tradition of cause they are to busy or be- Disagree 36% This year, girls from each grade cause they think it's a waste Homecoming remains a were nominated, as usual. But for the of time. minimal issue. More imjunior class, things started to go a little The homecoming parade, too, has portant is the school's academic exceldifferently. become less popular among students. lence and high achievement. One candidate turned down the It's now more of a community event Homecoming, and nominations nomination, because she had already than one that students actually partici- to the Homecoming Court, should won the honor a previous year. This pate in. The football game, too—once not be treated as a joke, as stupid or was at least partly due to an oversight the central component of the week- meaningless. on the part of the nominators. The re- end—has faded into the background. Despite what many students may fusal was probably more out of modAttendance levels at dances, espe- think, being chosen to represent a esty and fairness than disdain. cially in the last few years, have been class of 200 students is an honor, one Another candidate turned down the most obvious example of this atti- that should be accepted with grace and her nomination because of a religious tude. Many students come to the dance modesty.
I flip a switch and gas explodes molecules. into the airless chamber, abandoning Even as rows of numbers blurred the restraints of its pressurized tube. my vision, I began to understand the Electrons energized by electric current spirited revelry happening right bepound the chamber walls like pulsat- fore me in the chamber. Electrons were ing fireworks. It's a grandiose display, exploding into oblivion, tracing fiery stunning enough to grace any Inde- trails on the steel of the chamber. Each pendence Day sky, and yet the chamber dark line, innocuous enough on paper, lies silent, its wires undulating with the was a spark on a blazing pinwheel of whoosh of the ventilation system. excited electrons. For a moment, I had The world within the chamber is in- glimpsed the interior of a world too visible to the human eye. small to see. I discovered the plasma chamber in Excited electrons are only a small a molecular spectrospart of the world that is copy lab run by Dr. hidden from my sight. up in the air James O'Brien of UniThroughout history, versity of Missouri-St. scientists have sought Louis. entry into the enigmatMy task for the ic world that extends summer was to exbeyond our own five amine the changes in senses. excited diatomic molJohn Dalton, whom ecules in the plasma we call the "father of chamber by observmodern atomic theory", ing their absorption of used his observations electromagnetic radiof the visible world ation. Observation, it to detail fundamental turned out, consisted MEREDITH REDICK characteristics of atoms not of staring at the without ever seeing an contents of the chamindividual atom. ber, but at a stark set of lines recorded a In a small way, my own meticulous laser beam noiselessly passed through data collection offers a momentary the invisible particle cloud. glimpse into the breathtaking world of Initially, the lines revealed nothing subatomic particles. to me. Shooting up and down with erThe eruptions within the plasma ratic agility, they taunted me with their chamber may be infinitesimal, but their capricious leaps and dizzying twists. resplendence emanates beyond the As I learned the details of the ex- constraints of a steel chamber because periments, however—wide dips often the seemingly distant world within the meant argon, for example, while pal- plasma chamber is intimately connectladium revealed itself in a more slen- ed with my own world. der valley—I got a sense of what each With luck, this dazzling world will abrupt rise and plunging dip meant. someday reach the eyes of many people. Using only a ruler and a copy of The more clearly I can see the world bethe spectrum, I identified patterns neath my eyes, the more deeply I will within the chaos and determined spe- be able to understand the larger world cific changes within the structure of the I see.
Co-Editors-in-Chief Nina Oberman Ken Zheng Senior Managing Editors Simone Bernstein Meredith Redick Art and Graphics Director Ali Sehizadeh Webmaster Chi Zeng Senior Section Editors Community: Preeti Viswanathan World: Sneha Viswanathan Sports: Evan Green Features: Mary Blackwell Arts: Taylor Stone Forum: Ijeoma Onyema Editors Dawn Androphy Laura Bleeke Maddy Bullard Hannah Callahan Chelsea Cousins Noah Eby Justin Elliot Tom Evashwick Katherine Greenberg Sam Jacus Kara Kratcha Jackie Leong Schuyler Longmore Appi Sharma Caroline Stamp Reporters David Behrend Jacob Bernstein Sarah Blackwell Martha Burke Nia Charrington Ben Colagiovanni Max Diekneite Andie Glik Alexander Grayson Caroline Greenberg Anat Gross Rachel Han Jack Holds Lucy Jenneman Alex Kasnetz Jonathan Knohl Caitlin Kropp Jake Lee Jocelyn Lee Dee Luo Maria Massad Eudora Olsen Zachary Praiss Marc Ritter Dylan Schultz Payton Sciarratta Jonathon Shumway Sarah Tait Christian Thomas Nick Van Almsick Bianca Vannucci Philip Zhang Photographers Jenna Carlie Hannah Feagans Madeleine Fleming Isabel Fratt Tom Haslam Jake Leech Jennifer Maylack Eve Root Ryan Shields Elizabeth Sikora Caroline Stamp Emily Wack Meng Wang Willie Wysession Artists Sarah Blackwell Taylor Gold Mimi Liu Meredith McMahon Raihana Omri Sonja Petermann Emma Riley Helen Wiley Business Manager Simon Warchol Assistant Business Manager Shelby Sternberg Adviser Nancy Freeman The Globe student newspaper exists primarily to inform, entertain, and represent the student body at CHS to the best of its ability. It serves as a public forum for the Clayton community. All content decisions are made by the student editors. The Globe is self-funded for all publishing costs and offers advertising to all school-appropriate businesses. Please contact our office for more information. The Globe is distributed to students each month of the school year. We also offer bulk mailing subscriptions for $20 a year and firstclass subscriptions for $30 a year. Editorials Unsigned staff editorials will appear only on the designated opinion page and shall represent a majority opinion of the staff. A by-lined editorial reflects only the view of the writer. The views expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the faculty, the administration or the board of education. Letters to the Editor All letters to the editor must be signed when submitted to the editorial staff. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for length and repetition. Publication of letters is subject to the laws of libel, obscenity, incitement and copyright. We also remind students that as the Globe is a student publication, all compliments, opinions, complaints, and suggestions are welcomed and should be forwarded to the Globe Office: Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 854-6668 Fax: 854-6794 firstname.lastname@example.com Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service Winner of MIPA All-Missouri, NSPA All-American with four marks of distinction, Quill and Scroll Gallup Award,
CSPA Silver Crown (2004), Pacemaker winner (2003), NSPA Hall of Fame Member (2006)
Healthy choices
Does Obama talk too much?
Raihana Omri
Welcome to the Internet: the place where there is absolutely enough room for anyone and everyone, and then some, and where it's easy to find most anything. Forgo the dictionary, the stationary, the whole paper hassle. After all, why bother when, in the digital realm, everything one could ever want is just a click away? It's constant, it's instant, and it is enormously gratifying. Enter the people. About 20,000 new web domains get added to the Internet each day. The Internet is essentially a forum –and a very free, uncensored, sometimes questionable one at thatso let the debate begin. The founding fathers, whose idea of "free speech" was fairly vague, probably never even fathomed that any of this could have existed. We think: a printing press and leaflets? Bah! Try Facebook, email, Google, blogs, Twitter. Twenty-first century free speech has, frankly, never been quite this free. After all, Obama is known as the first Internet president. What on earth could be possibly wrong with that? Let's dig a little deeper. First off, there are the chain messages- the ones that, for a lack of a better phrase, have "bashed" Obama, Palin, and countless others. Then, there's the recent "Birthers" controversy, which, using
the sheer power of the Internet, the completely fabricated. There is no regroup brought mass scrutiny to the au- quirement that we must confirm the thenticity of Obama's birth certificate. information- we just have to know how Later, a forged Kenyan birth certificate to get it out to the widest audience poswas published on the Web in a rather sible. More and more (be they extremobvious crack at Obama's legitimacy. ists or not) are finding a voice- and getIn the midst of this was a whirlwind ting heard. Just check out Wikipedia. Is it right? Where do of media, despite the free speech, and speakfact that Obama's ing just because we can, (very American) birth clash? How free is too certificate had already free? We may have conbeen produced during demned the Birthers' campaign season. claims that Obama isn't Now pause for a an American, and dismoment. Without missed their opinions the Internet, where that he is thus unfit to be would the Birthers president. We may have be? Their desperate uncovered the forgery in operation would have the so-called "real" birth (probably) not even Jackie Leong certificate, and we may gotten off the ground. have written the Birthers After all, in the old off as a bunch of desperdays, one had to raise money to mass-produce flyers, then ate people clutching at straws. We did stand outside for hours handing out all this rather good-naturedly (or persaid flyers. Then, those who had gotten haps were simply happy to have our a flyer would have had to read, believe, talk-show ratings go up) but should we and then join the cause, to create such a have had to? It seems that the more opened-up massive upheaval. It seems that with the Internet, our world becomes, the stranger the where it's easier than ever to get any- filler material turns out to be. And bething, it's also easier to give information cause we live in a world of free speech, as well, be it one's opinion or something the views that would have once been
immediately discarded as illegitimate are now being given genuine, albeit unwarranted, attention. Not to be a bit clichéd, but it's all fun and games until something like this comes to pass: a ridiculous debate, magnified and blown out of proportion. It's not to say that free speech shouldn't have its place on the Internet, but something about these latest events hits a wrong chord. As the Internet is constantly making it easier for anyone to say anything and everything, we find ourselves having to sift through more and more garbage to get to what we were looking for in the first place. It is safe to say that as readers, we, too, have a responsibility. It's easier to get and give information, and in all of this, it is easier to believe as well- to look at anything we've read and take it as fact. The Internet, wonderful as it is, can't be our one-stop. It can make or break someone: just look at Obama, our Internet president, picking his way out of this latest Internet "conspiracy". We have to be wary. After all, if all the world's a stage, then every crazy extremist with a WiFi and a blog (which, remember, is free) just got the luckiest break they could get, and, given the opportunity, they're going to milk it for all they can get- every time.
CHS is one of the best public schools in Missouri. We are often lauded for academic excellence and I am very proud to be a Greyhound. However, one thing we do lack as a high school community is school spirit, especially in support of our athletics. Everyone knows that Clayton is known more for academics than excellence in sports. But it goes beyond that. Students here do not support their sports teams in the way we ought to. This manifests itself in many noticeable ways, but there is one that sticks out to me. Ladue is our archrival, and the football game against them is maybe the most notable highlight of the year in sports. And yet I remember so vividly entering the stands at this year's game just a little late, and feeling a slight sting of shame at what I saw. Ladue, a very similar community to Clayton, had managed to fill up their
stands entirely with students before I before halftime with any significant even got there. They were adorned in presence in the student section. As a naive freshman, I remember my school colors, some with painted chests, friends and I arriving at the infamous beads and other spirit filled traditions. Ladue - Clayton hockey Then I made my way game that we had heard to the Clayton stands. so much about. What we I recall about ten or so hadn't heard and quickly students representing realized, was that a group Clayton halfway through of a dozen or so freshman the first quarter. Sure, were alone in our section. by the second half our And yet the Ladue stands stands were filled maybe were already completely half as full or less than full and had begun to start the Ladue stands, but their cheers. still, the football playWe were embarrassed. ers looking up from the Alex Kasnetz And although our stands sidelines must have felt were filled by the end of pride in their fans from the second quarter, I was the Ladue side while our still somewhat shocked at this odd players probabaly felt unsupported. The larger problem is that this situ- tradition. I know from experience in basketation is by no means an aberration. I can't recall, at least since I began at- ball that stepping out on to the court tending high school, arriving to a game at the beginning of the game and look-
ing out at our stands to see a smattering of parents and siblings of players is disconcerting, especially when being bombarded by jeers from the opposition's fans. CHS may be known for academics first, and rightly so, but that doesn't mean we can't support our teams. Sporting events should be something we take pride in as a school. They are an opportunity to show our pride as Clayton students. Traditions are an important part of any high school community. But some traditions are due for a change. My hope is that maybe someday we'll end our odd tradition of showing up to support our teams after half of the game is already over. By changing the culture and showing true support for our sports teams, we can all have fun, show pride in our school, and perhaps even change the performance of our sports teams for the better.
"Ijeoma, do you want fufu?" If this were seven years ago, I would have contorted my face into a grimace and have asked for pizza instead. But now, it's practically instinct to say yes. At home, I'm known as the fufu girl; I eat it almost every night. One would think that I'd get bored with fufu seeing as it's a main factor in my daily diet, but I can't help but get excited every time my mom makes a new dish. It all starts on a typical night. I open my bedroom door after forcing myself to get a couple of hours of homework in, and I am hit with a scent so potent that the aroma would linger in the attic for another week, so indescribable that it is only known as a name that sounds like an onomatopoeia: fufu. Basically, fufu is composed of two parts: the soup and the actual fufu. There are hundreds of soups that are eaten with this dish, but there is only
one fufu; the fufu is made of cassava on it now, very…yucky. I wasn't aware but yam flour can be used as a substi- that my technique was wrong. If you tute. It is mashed with water to make a chew fufu, expect a very unpleasant substance that is like mashed potatoes meal, but if you swallow but thicker. it whole, you get a whole Ijeoma Onyema As I was saying, the new experience. Yes it's aroma hits my nose and weird at first, but it's just suddenly I'm downstairs the same way with pills; looking for which soup you chew it and it's nasty, my mom has made tobut when you swallow it, night. Egusi, bitterleaf, it's much better. okporoko; the possibiliHowever, the whole ties are near to endless. topic of fufu isn't always We all sit around a utopia of flavor; I realthe dining table and ize there are some disbegin to eat. As I pinch gusting parts about it too off some fufu from the as I roll my small plop of corner, I reminisce on fufu into a small ball and when I was younger RaNdOmN tiOn!! dip it in a small puddle of and used to make fufu soup. Like the fact that no pizza to improve the vegetarian or vegan will be able to find tasting experience of the meal. I would a meatless soup to eat. There's so much chew the fufu, which, as I look back meat in the soup, sometimes there's no
liquid, just meat, so some people just pour water in the meat and eat it (I am most certainly not one of those people). My mom's soup has at least two different types of meat in it and the soup is usually 75% meat, 25% soup. Also, I'm pretty sure that the majority of people have not seen someone gulping a huge ball of fufu and witnessed it traveling slowly down the throat. Not a Kodak moment in the least. Nonetheless, I've found that fufu is not just a part of my culture, but of me as well. I have been eating it all my life, willingly and reluctantly, and it is one of the few things that will never change. The tastes of all the spicy, salty and bitter soups against sweet cassava will forever be etched in my memory, and as long as I have the taste, I will have my native home to return to, and if I have children (God forbid for both our sakes), so will they.
Teenagers are often thought of as being reckless and irresponsible. And that is true. For some. But it is not true for everyone. Clayton High School as well as our parents and our community have informed us of all the choices we should and shouldn't be making. We have been informed that sex leads to pregnancy and STDs, alcohol to liver damage and a beer gut, cigarettes to lung cancer, and drugs, clearly, to death. This is true. And it's true that if you have promiscuous and unprotected sex, overdose on heroine and smoke a pack a day you are likely to experience a few side effects. But how many students at this high school really fit into that category? Adults have been inBianca forming us of the worst possible outcomes. Health class takes care of that. But maybe the majority of CHS students aren't what health class expects us to be, nor what health class warns us not to be. Most students would probably land in a middle ground of moderation. It's not all black and white. So are we being taught the right things? Rather than being taught to say no to alcohol or drugs, shouldn't we be taught what our limit should be? That the one beer on the weekend with your friends is not going to kill you, especially if you are not planning on a late-night road trip? Health class makes me feel guilty for experimenting with things that it is only natural I should be curious about. I am not a worst-case scenario. If you try one cigarette, that's not the same as smoking every day for years. I want to be informed on what the middle ground is, on what's between the angel
and drug addict. Adults have taken a habit of labeling teenagers in categories. They have generalized and taught us all to "Say No to Drugs," and this is by no means a bad message. There are certainly teenagers who could benefit from being reminded of the risks that they are taking, and I'm not saying that we shouldn't be taught about these risks as well. It just seems there's more to the story than adults would let on. There are things that teenagers take upon discovering themselves, such as their limits and their ability to make choices, which should also be focused on. Maybe it won't help the guy that can't go a day Vannucci without his weed-fix, but there are some worry-warts out there, like myself, that are tired of diagnosing themselves with symptoms from onetime experiments. I would rather know what my chances of pregnancy are from different situations, rather than to be taught abstinence. I would rather know how dangerous it is to be in a car if someone is coming off a high. It is not all right and wrong. If we are expected to be making "Healthy Choices" then we should be realistic in establishing the fact that the percentage of CHS students that are heavy meth addicts is small. The percentage of CHS students who smoke pot on the weekends is much higher. I am tired of feeling like Health class is not for me. I need someone to talk to me honestly about the real situations that I and many of my friends are facing every day.
Why have CHS students lost interest?
A documented tradition of Fufu
Chasing a passion
Courtesy of Nate Townsend
I used to sit behind a cluster of mon- narration. When the documentary was itors, speakers, hard drives and cam- complete, I gave a copy to Ameera, Baleras, wondering why this is what I do. ka, and all of my interviewees. I didn't Why film? Why have I invested most of really know exactly what I was going to my time and literally all of my money do with the video, but I began to move in a field far away from my friends and on to different ideas and projects. A little less than a week after distribpeers? For years I have wondered what makes me so different from them, and uting the documentary, Ameera called my house and asked to speak with me. not until junior year did I realize why. It all started with Ameera and Bal- She explained that the Bosnian presika, my two Bosnian house cleaners. dent was coming to St. Louis to present After hearing stories for years of the current events in Bosnia at a very expain and suffering that they faced dur- clusive dinner party. I was invited. That night, I sat down in my asing the Bosnian War, I decided to make a documentary on the matter. Through signed seat as one by one, local Bosthese two women, I met up with sev- nians shook my hand, thanking me for eral Bosnian War veterans and the telling their story. I was overwhelmed owner of a local Bosnian radio station. with gratitude and a little bit of guilt as When we met at a local Bosnian restau- I felt that I was being way over-creditrant (at their request), I was surprised ed. At the end of the dinner, I went up to Ameera and asked her to see the three veterans why I was receiving all of and their families sitting this attention. Ameera then around a large table, with put her hand on my shoultwo seats reserved for my der and said, "You care, and crewmember and me. I you are going to make othreluctantly set up the camers care." era, but immediately beIt was at that moment came comfortable as the that I knew what to do with gentleman began telling my life and how I was gotheir stories. ing to do it. For more than After about an hour of stories of bloodshed, Nate Townsend a full year after that, I have gone in and out of St. Louis, dying family, and ruined diving into the film industry homes, it became apparent to me that this story was far from easy and striving to be the most professional to tell. I could see the pain in one of the and pro-active filmmaker I can be. I want to continue using film as wives' eyes as she tried to distract herself from the memories by entertaining a medium to affect people's lives, to her young son with a toy car. I left that continue to draw emotion, even if night confused. Why are these people that means from the smallest amount so willing to tell me, a 17-year-old high of people. I believe that if you follow school student about something that a passion, no matter what effect you think it may or may not be having, it obviously hurts to tell? For the next month I compiled my should be pursued; sometimes the little interviews with various footage and things can matter most.
LEFT: Junior Vivian Zimmerman helps Senior Taylor Pasley to scale off the Tango Tower. ABOVE: Senior Jeff Bader walks his campers to an upcoming activity. BELOW: Junior Grace Brumley relaxes between activities.
Photos by Sonja Petermann
Memories of Sixth Grade Camp Townsend by Nate Reporter
ABOVE: Senior Sonja Petermann and a camper show their spirit while adorned in costume. BELOW, CLOCKWISE: Senior Taylor Pasley, Senior Jordan Stern, and Senior Jeff Bader take in the surroundings of Sherwood Forest; A group of counselors help each other scale the Tango Tower; Senior Simone Lenoir and Junior Vivian Zimmerman get excited for a climb up the infamous Tango Tower.
Any kid would love to return to school after the summer knowing that they will be going right back to camp. Luckily for Wydown sixth graders, sixth grade camp has been a tradition practiced in the Clayton school district for years. On Sept. 22, sixth graders from Wydown, counselors from CHS, and teachers from both schools took a ride to Sherwood Forest, the multiple cabin-filled campground that they would call home for the next four days. "The goal is to give the sixth graders an experience they will never have again," camp co-director Ryan Luhning said. "We hope they develop a greater understanding of themselves and create a stronger bond with their classmates." Some of these experiences include activities such as canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, nature writing, nature art, and the notorious Tango Tower, which became the most popular structure at camp. "Tango Tower was my favorite thing to do because the counselors got to bond," senior counselor Max Goldfarb said. "It eventually led to unity between the kids and counselors." Many other high school students took a week off of school to mentor the sixth graders at Sherwood Forest. The juniors and seniors' applications had to be approved by the directors of the camp. Those who were approved then had to attend a team building and informational meeting a few days before camp. Most students chose to be a counselor for similar reasons.
"I did it because I learned a lot last year from the kids," senior and two-time counselor Sonja Peterman said. "I really wanted a similar experience this year and that's why I applied." With her little brother, Andreas, attending the camp as a camper, Sonja had a particularly interesting experience. "It was a lot of fun to see my brother and mess around with him," Petermann said. Like a lot of the other campers, Andreas gave his praise to the Tango Tower. "I loved climbing the tango tower with my friends," Andreas Petermann said. Many of the sixth graders left the camp stronger, more environmentally conscious, and more socially comfortable. "For many of the sixth graders, this experience is their first time away from their family, so they naturally learn more independence," Luhning said. "They also learn leadership roles that allows a group to function successfully." The sixth graders weren't the only ones who went home with a sense of accomplishment; many seniors got a lot out of sixth grade camp as well. "The counselors seem to come back with a sense of accomplishment," Luhning said. "They feel like they made a difference in a young person's life and gave them an experience they will not forget. I think they also come back with a better appreciation for their parents and teachers as they live through the struggles and the joys that kids can put us through." Next year, Luhning hopes to continue running sixth grade camp with a new set of counselors.
TOP: Senior Sonja Petermann, Senior Jeff Bader, and Junior Carter Ellston dress up for a camp activity with their campers. BOTTOM: A group of counselors and campers prepare to climb the Tango Tower while taking turns belaying each other.