Jan. 28., 2011

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Jan. 28, 2011 Vol. 42, No. 5

www.lhsimage.com

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Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Rd. Wildwood, MO 63011

Diagnosed students utilize ADD and ADHD medication to manage their symptoms. However, many others take the prescriptions, without doctor’s consent, in an attempt to gain ‌

2 News ON [theTHEImage COVER ]:

Jan. 28, 2011

Traditional uses for prescription drugs, such as Adderall, include treating Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. However, there are some students who illegally obtain these medications to help them focus in class. (photo illustration by Alex Vanderheyden)

Image Staff

What’s Inside:

[People & Policies] Chelsea Coleman..........Editor in Chief Max Thoman....................................Managing Editor Mia Schenone.............................................Webmaster Kara Campbell.........................................News Editor Alicia Mestre ...........................................News Editor Caleb Cavarretta.................................Opinion Editor Leanne Beasley .................................. Feature Editor Maddie Johnson ................................ Feature Editor Adam Harris .......................... Entertainment Editor Christine Jackson ................................ Sports Editor Gian Wessel .......................................... Sports Editor Grace Bueckendorf . ...................... Asst. Webmaster Jessica Zadoks .............................. Business Manager Santi Diz.............................................................. Artist Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ........................... Adviser

Staff:

Kelley Bauer, Hannah Boxerman, Kelly Carpenter, Dominic Corvington, Nic Fears, Ashlyn Goldston, Sarah Greenlee, Maddie Henning, Alyssa Knowling, Gabby McDaris, Sean McIntyre, Dani Slauter, Sydnee Stottlemyre and McKayla Treat

Information:

The Image is published nine times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30.

Free issues are distributed on campus. The 20092010 Image received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction.

Philosophy Statement:

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment.

Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.

Contact Us:

Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

Policies:

A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

SWEET SCENTS: Students share fragrance preferences … page 7 ARE WE NEXT?: District remains without turf fields … page 13

Study shows many Missouri high school students are not prepared for college Maddie Henning / Reporter A recently released report shows more Missouri public high school seniors attending one of Missouri’s two or four year public colleges or universities need to enroll in remedial classes during their freshman year.

That same study also indicated that Rockwood students are among the most prepared.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published the report on the lack of preparedness of college freshman who attended Missouri public high schools. According to the article, since 1996, the number of students needing to take remedial classes has increased.

In 1996, 26 percent of students graduating from public high schools needed to take remedial classes in math or reading.

The Columbia Tribune, which also published an article on the college readiness of Missouri freshman, defined remedial classes by explaining, “When college freshmen don’t meet basic expectations in such areas as math, English or reading, they have to take remedial college courses that essentially prepare them for college but don’t earn them any college credits.”

These courses can end up being very costly for students and their parents. In a 2008 report from Strong American Schools, the number of remedial students in the country at a public two-year college was 995,077.

For a public four year college or university, there were 310,403 students in remedial classes.

Nationally, this totals to just over 1.3 million remedial students at a cost of $2.31 billion to

$2.89 billion for 2008.

By 2009, 38 percent of college freshman were so behind in college level reading or math they had to enroll in at least one remedial class during their first year of college.

Missouri state and college officials find high schools at least partly to blame. Differing graduation standards in public high schools have led some students to great success, while others are left to fall through the cracks.

The Post-Dispatch article suggests these varied requirements may be a reason why some Missouri school districts, such as Rockwood, successfully prepare students for college level coursework, while other school districts, such as the St. Louis City School District, have had many students struggle during their first year of a public college or university.

To fix this gap, the Post-Dispatch article said officials in higher education are currently working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to more clearly define college readiness and develop a more uniform standard for high school graduation.

The Missouri Board of Education has recently adopted a set of common core standards to improve student success rates during the first year of college.

According to data gathered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, three of Rockwood’s high schools, Lafayette, Marquette and Eureka, all ranked in the top 10 of St. Louis area schools having the lowest percentage of students requiring remedial classes at a public college or university in Missouri.

In comparison, the worst school in terms of

the percentage of students in remedial classes is Vashon High School, with 92 percent of students enrolling in remedial classes.

Lafayette, which ranks fourth overall, had 17.6 percent of its graduates needing to register for remedial classes according to the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s 2009 data.

When broken down into categories, Lafayette had 15 percent in remedial math, 6.9 percent in remedial English and 8.6 percent in remedial reading.

For St. Louis area high schools, the number of students signed up for remedial classes their freshman year of college is correlated with the average ACT score of that school.

Although the number of students taking the ACT varied, schools that had a higher ACT score average often had a lower percentage of students enroll in remedial classes in 2009.

Many districts have already started to work on preparing their students for college by refreshing math and reading skills, especially before standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. Along with adjusting graduation requirements, Missouri’s school districts are using this test preparation to decrease the number of students requiring remedial courses and to better prepare students for the level of coursework they encounter in college.

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LTC hopes to give horrifying performance Sydnee Stottlemyre / Reporter Performed on stages across the nation including featured performances on Broadway, the musical Little Shop of Horrors will be performed by the Lafayette Theater Company (LTC) on Feb. 10-12. ​The show is focused around the character Seymour who works in a flower shop on Skid Row. He works with Audrey, his secret female love interest and Mr. Mushnik, the store owner.

In an effort to attract business, Seymour puts an exotic looking plant in the front window. The plan works with a catch; the plant needs blood to survive. To stay alive, the plant begins to take over the shop, continuing to gain strength. ​Sophomore Jack Sippel got involved with acting when his older sisters attended Lafayette.

“At that time, Lafayette allowed kids from neighboring schools to participate, so I got involved with the school’s production of Cinderella,” he said.

Sippel was cast as Seymour, who is described as an insecure and self-conscious but kind hearted character.

Director Natasha Toro said the play is a classic. Due to the fact that a man-eating plant is involved, Toro has high expectations for the musical.

“We have two sets being moved in and out, and it’s cool how they operate,” Toro said.

She believes the production will be an enjoyable experience for all.

“It’s really funny and the cast is awesome,” she added.

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Toro says the play was chosen because it is such a fun production to put on and perform.

“What makes [Lafayette] great is that the students are really talented,” she said.

Toro continued, “You can expect to see a lot of dancing, a lot of singing and a man eating plant eating humans,” The cast of 27 rehearses Monday through Thursday until about 6 p.m., as well as on some Saturdays to work with the sound, set and lighting crews.

Members of the cast are excited about the debut of the plant.

They are keeping their lips sealed in an attempt not to spoil the outcome, but Sippel revealed that something special does happen with the man-eating plant.

1. On the stage, the cast of Little Shop of Horrors rehearses with one of the two interchangeable sets created specifically for the production. Director Natasha Toro and student managers watch and take notes.

2. As the actors run through the script, sophomore Haley Reynolds supervises by following lines.

3. Surrounded by members of the cast, lead sophomore Jack Sippel recites his lines. He plays Seymour, who works in the flower shop on Skid Row. 4. On the stairs to the flower shop, the cast breaks momentarily to receive some instruction. (Photos by of Alex Vanderheyden)

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4 News

Jan. 28, 2011 Seniors will slide

Next snow day is last built into schedule Kara Campbell / News Editor

The Lafayette parking lot is piled high with snow after the area received six to eight inches of snow and students were treated to two consecutive snow days on Jan. 20-21. (Photo by Kara Campbell)

For the 2010-2011 school year, Rockwood added five snow days into the schedule for high school students.

However as of Jan. 21, Rockwood has used four due to the winter weather.

Seniors will not make up any school days if the district runs out of the allotted snow days because the graduation date cannot be changed.

However, freshmen, sophomores and juniors +-will make up snow days if Rockwood has more than five.

If there is a sixth snow day, students’ last day of school will be May 27.

If there are seven, the last day will be May 31. If there are eight, then the last day will be June 1, and if there are nine snow days then the last day for students will be June 2.

RSD will cut budget, create new revenue Sarah Greenlee & Nic Fears / Reporters The Rockwood Board of Education’s design team, responsible for finding possible cuts and cost reductions, presented a long list of options, and the board has decided which programs to implement.

That group and the Board continue to discuss options and make decisions.

In a press release, Superintendant Bruce Borchers announced that $7 million will need to be cut from the FY12 budget.

Among the options already approved and under review, some will directly impact high school students.

These include increasing the cost of parking passes, cuts to summer school, increasing football and basketball gate fees and reducing high school staffing points, a system used in hiring staff for each year.

The middle schools must reduce staffing by six points. However, high school staffing must be reduced by eight points.

The high school principals will meet soon to determine how many positions each school will lose based on student enrollment.

Lafayette’s student enrollment is expected to drop a bit in 2011-2012.

In addition, Rockwood will freeze administrators and support staffs salaries in 2011-2012.

One impact of the budget reductions that will be felt most immediately by students is changes in summer school.

Summer Academy Director, Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said, “What we’ve done is reduce the number of course offerings.

Traditionally, the state of Missouri provides all funding for summer school. Every indication we get this year is that there’s not going to be any funding. They have until June 30 to decide on their budget.”

“We’ll already be in the middle of summer school,” Dieckhaus said. “So we had to plan a program under the idea that we won’t have any state funding [and] that it’ll all be paid for out of Rockwood funds.”

The summer school program proposed to the board is a much reduced program, and Rockwood agreed to fund up to $933,000.

“In the past we’ve done credit recovery for those students who failed a core class previously. We had also offered multiple physical education classes,” Dieckhaus said.

The reduced program offers only Personal Fitness and Wellness in physical education.

“We’ve also offered a number of enrichment classes, technology courses, some language arts courses, art classes and things like that so students could get a class out of the way to make room in their schedule for AP and those types of things. Those classes aren’t going to be offered this year,” he said.

Rockwood will continue to have courses necessary for students to graduate.

Dieckhaus said, “The only classes we’re offering is credit recovery because that’s for graduation and those kids who need to graduate on time.”

He added, “We’re going to keep Per-

sonal Fitness and Wellness because Rockwood requires that as a course. And we’ll also have a morning and an afternoon session of Art Fundamentals because Art Fundamentals is also a required course.”

In order to cut summer school costs, Rockwood made adjustments to staffing as well.

Rockwood has already notified 27 teachers they will not be teaching this summer even though they have done so in previous years.

“Many students will have to readjust their schedules in order to make sure they get all of their credits in. As [students] are looking at their schedules and planning their four year high school career, we used to have a lot of options available to help plan that summer [before],” Dieckhaus said.

“Starting this year and probably into next year, you’re going to be limited in how you’re going to plan that. So from a student’s standpoint the only real drawback is, they’re really going to have to plan and adjust their schedules accordingly,” Dieckhaus said.

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News 5

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Levee receives artistic touch Kara Campbell / News Editor Kelly Carpenter / Reporter One goal of painting a well-designed mural, which will represent St. Louis on the Monarch Levee being built in the Chesterfield Valley, will bring 60 students, 18 schools and 4 sub groups all together.

The levee, currently under construction by the US Army Corp of Engineers, is located along Edison Road.

The flood wall, which was previously a 100-year flood wall when the flood of 1993 rose over the levee, is being raised and widened to a 500-year flood wall.

Due to the construction, several businesses on Long Road must relocate. Agostino’s was the first forced to vacate in December, but other businesses in the center have until March before they must to leave.

Along the levee, the city of Chesterfield has already started constructing The Monarch-Chesterfield Levee Trail which will total 17 miles that will run along the levee and connect to other Regional Trails in the area.

Chesterfield’s plan is to beautify the city with this project.

When Executive Director of Chesterfield Arts Stacey Morse saw the levee construction taking place, she said, “The levee wall sparked my thinking about a year ago. Mr. Morse [my husband, Stuart] and I did a mural project on the levee wall for Boeing on the North Riverfront Trail downtown and I thought that the process that we used could be implemented in Chesterfield.”

She added, “That big gray surface was a prime candidate for being turned into a work of art.”

As Morse’s idea developed she said, “[Chesterfield Arts] felt that instead of hiring an artist or team of artists to create something on the wall we would create a project that could really be a once-in-a-life time opportunity for kids in the region.”

Morse continued, “We looked at all aspects of doing a project of this scale and broke it down into the main components that the kids could learn from. Turning this into a leadership project really does put the kids at the helm under our guidance so that they learn, develop real skills and facilitate a project that benefits each participant and the community overall.”

While most people will only see the overall product of the mural as they drive by on Edison Road, a great deal of planning has and will go into this event.

Morse took the first step by proposing the idea to Chesterfielsd Mayor John Nations.

After her idea was pitched Morse said she, “put a formal proposal overview together that was presented to all of the key participants involved with the levee wall. These included City staff and the public works department, the Chesterfield Monarch Levee District, the US Army Corp of Engineers and Chesterfield Arts board of directors. I met with each group lead individually to discuss logistics and challenges of the project so that we could build this into our planning.”

However, there were some roadblocks in the construction phase of the project.

“Last spring, the US Army Corps of Engineers hoped to

The Design and Wall Prep teams gathered to paint an ad on the levee advertising the Make Your Mark mural event on June 4 .

(Photo courtesy of Chesterfield Arts) have the grading work completed in time for our October event.

However, Morse said, “We knew that due to the nature and scale of the levee project that we would need to be flexible in our planning for the mural event in order to accommodate any changes in their construction and site work schedule. As a result of our early planning and close conversations with the Corp of Engineers, City, Levee District and the contractor we did need to shift our timetable. We shifted our planning to a Phase I / Phase II time frame.”

Phase I consisted mainly of informing the student-leaders.

“We worked to educate the team about the nature and need of the floodwall in protecting the valley,” Morse said. “We then worked with the team to brainstorm and build consensus on what the opportunities and ideas for imagery could be. Then worked to develop the design and initial planning for the spring event. The result of Phase I concluded in a design unveiling event on Oct. 7.”

On Oct. 7, when the design was revealed to the public and to the parents of the students, all the student leaders gathered into their small groups to show what they had been working on every Thursday night since August.

There are four small groups: Design and Wall Prep, Marketing, Event Planning/Logistics and Fundraising.

Morse said, “[The] Design and Wall Prep teams work together to finalize the design of the mural and figure out the logistics of getting the design on the wall and materials needed.”

However, Event Planning/Logistics is more behind the scenes.

Morse said, “Event Planning is responsible for designing all aspects of the event including the mural painting with the community, food/entertainment and traffic and parking.”

During Phase I of the Mural project, senior Jessica Foley of the Marketing group said, “At first everyone’s role in the group was the same, we all came up with ideas and played around with different themes. When we decided on the sketch we wanted to paint, we all split into different groups.”

Also during Phase I, an ad for the event was painted onto the flood wall.

“I helped make the graphic that is now on the wall,” junior Kyle Bayer said. “We used a technique that allowed chalk to be applied over a giant template. From there we made the outlines where the chalk had made its mark. After that we began to fill it in with the appropriate color.”

Now in Phase II, which will start in Febuary, comes the major planning.

Morse said, “The focus will be on final event planning, logistics, marketing, fundraising and layout of the design on the wall. The event will be on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The entire event is free and open to the public. We hope to have a minimum of 1000 people out that day to help paint and enjoy the activities and entertainment.”

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Spring Break trips go on despite down economy McKayla Treat / Reporter Billions of dollars are spent and hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. vacation every year during Spring Break, which typically lasts from mid March through April.

Lafayette’s Spring Break runs March 19-28.

Although Spring Break is still a month and a half away, now is a good time to be planning a vacation, according to travel agent Pat Jevorutsky. She said obtaining plane tickets is the toughest part of planning vacation, so the sooner the planning begins the better.

Plane tickets can be hard to purchase because of the multitude of people who go on a vacation.

When asked why she thinks this is such a popular time for people to take a vacation, Jevorutsky said, “Especially in the Midwest, where our winters are cold and long, and notoriously not having a lot of sun, I think people just need to get away.”

Sunny places are very popular travel

destinations during break because of this.

Jevorutsky said, “Basically people tell me any place warm. Lafayette’s Spring Break is so early, even down in Florida it can be pretty chilly. If you want hot weather, you are almost guaranteed to have to leave the U.S.,” she said.

However, destinations out of the country can be pricey. Jevorutsky said she has seen someone spend over $20,000 on a vacation. So, the real question is: How do you plan a Spring Break trip without completely going broke?

Jevorutsky recommended planning a trip with a travel agent, rather than on your own, because you will most likely save money.

She said, “Travel agents have the benefits of knowing when promotions are going on. In addition, the travel agent is going to give you information you may not know otherwise.”

Another way to save money on a trip is to simply vacation in the U.S., even if it means visiting some place cold. “[I’m going to] Colorado because I like to ski,” freshman Kathrine Kelly said.

Others, such as sophomore Maria Schou, are visiting family members over Spring Break. “[I’m going to] Florida to visit my grandma.

My parents are paying for [the trip] because I'm going with them,” she said.

Despite the high prices of Spring Break trips, there is still a high demand as minors continue to travel during their time off. “[People] need to have some fun. Primarily I think they just need to have a break from dreary Midwest weather,” Jevorutsky said.

Some people plan a Spring Break trip with service in mind.

For the past four years, a group of Rockwood seniors has traveled to the south to help rebuild the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Assistant Principal Tim Jones said that the trip this year will be to New Orleans.

"Obviously New Orleans got hit [by Hurricane Katrina] and many homes were destroyed, so there’s a great need there. This year will be our second year going into New

Orleans,” Jones said.

In order to pay for the trip, Jones said students pay $100 each and the rest of the trip is paid for by the district. The district gets the money from events, such as when the school hosts home football and basketball games.

One dollar per ticket is put into a charitable revenue account, according to Jones.

“We’re able to access that [charitable revenue account] to help offset the costs,” he said.

Jones said that every year the trip has been a success.

He said, “I’ve gone every year. It’s a great experience. It’s one of the best weeks all year.

You're giving back to the community down there and when you give to others you feel like you're making a difference.”

As of Jan. 18, Jones said there still a few spaces open for seniors interested in going on the Spring Break trip, and if anyone is interested in attending, they should talk to him as soon as possible.

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Jan. 28, 2011

Censorship of Huck Finn stirs controversy Gabby McDaris / Reporter Alicia Mestre / News Editor Over 100 years after the original publication, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the center of a new controversy.

Alan Gribben, head of the English Department at Auburn University, is planning to release a new, censored version of the book with New South Books Publishers.

Gribben has taken out the n-word, which is said 219 times in the book, and replaced it with what he believes, is a less offensive word “slave.” Also, “Injun” will be replaced with “Indian.”

These changes have sparked heated discussions within the literary and national community.

“I’m both troubled and disappointed,” language arts teacher Nathan Willard said. “I don’t like the idea of people making adjustments like this to literature.”

The goal of such edits are to increase the number of books being taught in high school, and to reduce offensive language.

Undermining this goal, Willard said, “With the removal of that word, I’m not sure students and teachers will have the same discussions about race and racism.”

Junior Tawnnie Crisante agrees. “We hear worse things in school halls than we will in a book,” she said.

Other than the issue of race, the idea of changing a piece of literature is viewed unfavorably by some students. “[If you remove the word], it takes away from the author’s style,” freshman David Budde said.

Junior Alec Hoover said, “You shouldn’t take out a word

without a really good point, or you would be removing history.”

However, several students approve of the elimination of the n-word.

“I think it’s a good thing because the n-word is a bad word that shouldn’t be used, and kids reading it in books will learn the bad word and use it, which will lead to conflicts,” junior Que Williams said. “[If the word is not removed] it can offend people, who will then have to be forced to read it,” sophomore Jenna Moore said.

As a rebuttal to this idea, Willard said, “I recognize that the n-word has been used as a tool for racial oppression and I’m sensitive to those who are offended, but I think Twain intended for the word to be uncomfortable given the subject matter.”

“It requires careful analysis and discussion,” he continued.

“Racial implications are its flaw, but are also a wellspring for productive discussions about race.”

Lafayette librarian Nichole Ballard-Long added, “I can see how people are extremely offended by certain word choices, but the bottom line at the end of the day is that it is a historical piece of literature, it doesn’t mean that if you teach it that you endorse the use of those words or that language.”

Rockwood’s Language Arts Coordinator Kathy Ryan, said, “It’s a complicated situation, I don’t think it’s black and white.”

She continued, “My preference would be that we continue to read the original book, but, that being said, [in special circumstances] if a child would be more comfortable reading the revised version, it’s their choice.”

“I met with a group of high school language arts teachers last Monday and asked their opinion, and all of them said we should continue to read the original,” Ryan said.

Unless Rockwood’s outlook on this issue changes, BallardLong plans to keep the original copy of Huck Finn in the LHS library.

She said, “There are a lot of pieces of literature in this library that have language that can be offensive to different kinds of people, but it’s literature and it’s a choice.”

2% 3% No Preference Yes

Should we censor books for offensive language?

95% No

*179 Students polled

Attention Seniors - Juniors Spring 2011 one-on-one

ACT/SAT Tutoring Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 for appointments Tuesday/Thursday evenings or Saturday/Sunday afternoons

www.JackArnold.org

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Feature 7

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Students offer reasons for splurging, saving on fragrance choices Hannah Boxerman / Reporter It's considered the finishing touch to an outfit or a means of attracting the opposite gender.

It comes in a range of sizes, smells and prices and, according to the marketing research company NBD Group, costs Americans $25$30 billion a year.

Regardless of what you spend, perfumes and colognes are considered a tool in every teenager’s date-night arsenal.

In a survey of 200 Lafayette students, the majority reported spending between $20-$30 on perfume or cologne. The second most popular price range was $40-$60, followed by spending $10 and under. Only 10 percent of students really indulged, spending $60 or more on their fragrance selection.

Junior Tim Heath chooses to invest in designer cologne.

His fragrance of choice, Only the Brave

by Diesel, ranges in cost from $60 to $100, depending on the size of the bottle.

“The money isn't an issue. I don’t wear the cologne every day and the bottle lasts several months. Because it lasts longer I use less of it at a time, so I really believe the cost is worth it,”

Heath said.

“It smelled better than other brands such as Abercrombie and because it is higher quality, the smell doesn’t wear off after just a few hours.

If I wear it to school it will last all day,” he added.

Senior Tiffany Manno, who wears scents by the brand Juicy Couture, is also attracted to pricier fragrances because of their higher quality.

“Some people think that designer perfume is stupid, but I disagree,” she said. “It lasts longer than the generic brands and you don’t have to use as much to smell good.”

According to the same survey, good smells are important to Lafayette students.

The majority of students polled said they prefer the smell of perfume or cologne on the opposite gender, followed by more natural smells like shampoo or conditioner. Less than 13 per cent of students had no preference.

Heath says the fact that females prefer the scent of cologne is why he chooses to spend so much on how he smells. "”Sometimes I wear cologne to get the attention of girls I’m interested in,” he explained.

Sophomore Laynie Henning, however, who

How muchdo doyou you spend How much spend on on perfume/cologne? perfume/cologne?

$20-30 35.5%

$40-60 27%

$10 and under 23%

$60 or more 10%

*200 students polled

uses an inexpensive body spray called Secret Wonderland. She said she gets complimented on how she smells often and disagrees with the idea that scents need to have a high price tag to attract attention.

“When they smell me, people ask the usual questions like ‘Where’d you get your perfume?’

‘How much was it?’, things like that. They’re always somewhat surprised, but in a good way, when I tell them what it really is and that is only cost me around $20,” she said.

Henning, a self proclaimed “perfume fanatic,” purchased the scent after sniffing it in a store and cites the price and unique smell as part of the body spray’s appeal.

“Designer perfume kind of bothers me because if it’s designer, it’s obviously more expensive and I’d rarely use it because of that.

I wanted a perfume I could wear everyday. If I wore it everyday, I'd want it to be cheaper,” she said.

“Besides, I feel like about 80 percent of designer perfumes smell exactly the same, which isn’t too exciting. So that’s why I like mine; it may be cheap, but it smells really good.”

Senior Alex Simon also chooses to spend less on his scent. He wears a body spray called

Curve, which costs around $20 a bottle. However, he owns several expensive colognes that he saves for special occasions and dates because he’s been told those fragrances smell better.

“I feel lame not wearing something for a date that costs a little more,” Simon admitted.

Manno says that she doesn’t purchase her perfume with boys in mind, a major difference between males and females. “[Girls] just wear perfume because we like the smell,” she said.

Henning agreed. “When I wear perfume, it’s just like the finishing touch to an outfit for me. I wear it because the smell kind of wakes me up in some way. It gets me happy and ready for the day or event,” she said.

“I don’t wear more for special occasions or to impress someone, but I do switch around between my sprays and perfumes for different occasions,” she continued.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, senior Jamie Andrae has one thing to say to male students who look to colognes to impress their dates.

“Obviously, we don’t want you to smell terrible," she said. "But guys really don’t need a strong scent to attract a girl.”

What scent do you prefer on the opposite gender?

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Perfume/cologne

No preference

60.5%

13%

Shampoo 36.5%

8 Feature

Jan. 28, 2011

Movie, TV programs inspire people to create ‘Bucket Lists’ Ashlyn Goldston / Reporter

“I want to climb a pyramid in Egypt and kill a jungle animal.”

- Ryan Wendt, 12

“I want to go to the mall and free all the children on leashes.”

- Amy Turlington, 9

“I want to live in a third world country for a long term mission trip, get married, have babies and travel around the world.”

- Brittany Willis, 11 “Skydiving, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, base jumping, free falling, fly a jet, fly a helicopter, go supersonic and wind surfing.”

- Ryan Gettinger, 10 “I want to have a pet pig before I die and go to Africa.”

- Amanda Rightler, 11

“I want to become a ninja, write a book and create an army of robots.”

- Sarah Helderle, 10

“The one thing I want to do before I die is stage manage the production of Chicago.”

- Caitlyn Rizzo, 12 “Be in a flash mob, run over water in a giant hamster ball, travel to every continent, hike the Appalachian trail and fall in love.”

- Nikki Frazer, 10

“Write a novel, move to Hawaii, model for Doritos, base jump the Grand Canyon and play my favorite song in a stadium full of people who feel the same way.” - Patrick Vega, 9

Junior tries to live by her own list An obscure and morbid thought, death is not a common conversation among high school students. Instead, certain students focus on what they want to accomplish before high school ends or Torrey Nyhan in their lifetime.

Some have taken these thoughts a step further and created a list of things they want to accomplish before they die, also known as a “bucket list.” These lists became more well known after The Bucket List premiered in theatres. However, the idea of creating life goals has been a common activity lingering among generations.

Junior Torrey Nyhan created her own bucket list.

When asked what prompted her to start a bucket list, Nyhan said, “I pretty much just want to accomplish as much as possible during my life, like taking risks and setting goals.

People are always doing things they dream of, so I figure if I write it all down, there’s a better chance of me actually doing it.”

Nyhan’s list contains around seventy items, some of which include crowd surfing, biking through a state, learning to say hello in 30 different languages, running a marathon, being an extra in a film, crashing a wedding and going hang gliding.

Nyhan said, “[The tasks are] ambitious, so I’ve only done two or three smaller ones.”

Watch the Superbowl, bring pairs of shoes, help George “The Shoeman” Hutchings build water wells. Bring everyone you know! 22 foot HD screen + Chick-fil-A + prizes.

For more information visit lwyouth.org To find out more about donating shoes visit shoeman.org

Feature 9

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Let’s Get Some Shoes

For some, they represent comfort. For others, they are the finishing touch to an outfit. While shoes are necessary for travel and protection, they can also serve to display their wearer’s personality. For these students and staff, shoes show off their personalities, sense of style and hobbies.

Alyssa Knowling / Reporter Gabbie Rhodes, 11 Preference: Uggs Pairs: 6

Though she only has three pairs of the expensive shoes now, at one time junior Gabbie Rhodes had six pairs of Ugg Boots.

“One pair was beaten up because I got them in 6th Grade, one pair I stopped liking and one I gave to my little cousin because she liked them,” she explained, “So now, I only have three pairs, but they go with all of my outfits.”

Rhodes has a black pair, a gray pair and brown pair with turquoise embroidery.

Though the shoes typically cost over $100, the price doesn’t bother her.

“I have a variety of shoes to choose from, so the price is worth it. I have a pair with a really pretty design on them. They are interesting and comfortable,” she said.

Regardless of the debate about whether Uggs are attractive or not, Rhodes is interested in how trendy and comfortable the boots are.

“I used to think they weren’t attractive, but more people started wearing them and I began to see potential in them. They are really the best shoes to wear in the winter,” she said.

Traci Bolton, staff Preference: Converse

Emilie Mulholland, 11 Preference: Everything Pairs: 60

Junior Emilie Mulholland has slowly built up a massive shoe collection.

“I have 60 to 65 pairs of shoes. All of them are in my room. I have those hanging shoecollector shelves and I organize all of my shoes on them,” Mulholland said.

Mulholland stated that she does not buy shoes often, but instead her shoes have simply built up over the years.

“I rarely buy a new pair of shoes, except in the summer because I have a ton of sandals. I just don’t ever get rid of any of my shoes,” she said.

Mulholland does not care what type of shoe it is. She has boots, flats and sandals.

“My favorite pair are my tall black boots, but what I like most changes from season to season,” she said.

Aareon Smith, 12

Preference: Everything Pairs: Too many to count

As the Division Merchandise Manager at Dillard’s, junior P.J. Gigliotti’s dad ends up with a lot of extra products.

“We have a lot of shoes in our basement.

Most likely we have over 100 [pairs],” Gigliotti said.

“We get the sample sizes left over from the stores, so basically we have a full shelf full,” he added.

And though the Gigliotti’s have a large amount of shoes, they do not let them just sit.

“My sister and mom wear them sometimes, but my mom always donates about half of the shoes to charity,” Gigliotti said.

Clara KomroskyLicata, 12 Preference: Heels Pairs: 30

Preference: Nike high-tops Pairs: 13

“I have 13 pairs of shoes… that I actually wear,” said senior Aareon Smith.

Smith is always on the lookout for the next cool shoe and with Nike being his favorite brand, there is a lot on the market for him to choose from.

“I buy whatever catches my eye, and if they are high-tops, they catch my eye,” Smith said.

He added, “I would say that I get a new pair of shoes about every two months.”

Pairs: 14 In the 5th Grade, music teacher Traci Bolton wanted a pair of green high-top Converse.

“I didn’t get them until 6th Grade, but I still wear them. After that, it became a joke to see if I could get every color,” Bolton said.

Since then, her collection has grown much larger. It now includes many colors and designs.

“The flute section [of the Lafayette Lancer Regiment] bought me a clear pair and fluorescent pink socks because they always wanted me to wear pink. I also have a clear pair that glows in the dark,” Bolton said.

Many of her shoes have been bought as gifts, but she has purchased some of her own.

Of the ones she bought herself, one of her favorites is the custom pair that she designed.

PJ Gigliotti, 11

“The custom pair is white with orange stripes and my husband has a pair that is the inverse of mine,” she said.

Converse had been a part of her and her husband’s relationship since high school.

“When he and I both went to school [at Lafayette], boys were not allowed to wear tennis shoes to prom, but he actually got special permission from the principal to wear converse to the dance,” Bolton said.

Though her current collection stands at 14 pairs, she will continue to add on to it.

“I really want a good plaid pair. It’s bothering me. Now they are trendy, so it should be easy to find, but then again, it took me 15 years to find the American flag ones I wanted,” she said.

For senior Clara Komrosky-Licata, shoes are what keeps her fashionable.

“Shoes are very important to me. When I plan my outfits, my first priority is comfort. I don’t want to be too hot or too cold. My 2nd priority is my shoes. Sometimes I just throw on a pair of boots, but that’s rare,” KomroskyLicata said.

She wears mostly heels, whether it be wedges in the summer or platforms in the winter.

“I am willing to spend according to what I think of the shoe. My Prada boots that I bought last year were expensive, but at the same time I have shoes that were $5 from Plato’s Closet.

There is always some sort of sale ripping off designers, so why not buy shoes then?” she said.

10 Features

Jan. 28, 2011

Features 11

Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus Improper Use: F o c u s Focus Students utilize prescriptions Focus Focus without diagnosis Focus Focus

Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus Diagnosed: Focus Focus Focus Focus Side Effects: Focus Focus

ADD/ADHD:

Disorders affect large percentages across nation With long school days, hours of homework, part time jobs and a social life, some students would argue there aren’t enough hours in the day to maintain the hectic life of a teenager.

Between tests, class lectures and inadequate amount of sleep many students find their focus and motivation lacking. These problems can be amplified for students who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

According to Licensed Professional Counselor David Guckes, about 20 percent of the U.S. population has either ADD or ADHD, meaning roughly 200 students at Lafayette have either condition.

Yet with medications, such as Adderall, being prescribed to minimize symptoms, the disorders have become controllable and prescriptions enable those diagnosed to function normally in a school environment.

However, recently the medications have also been consumed by those who are not diagnosed, and in some cases, not prescribed, but who are striving for the heighten levels of focus and concentration.

While consuming or selling any controlled substance is a felony, some Lafayette students shared their reasoning behind taking these medications when they are not prescribed to them.

Wall battles disorder with help from medication

After years of struggling to focus in school, junior Ally Wall was diagnosed with ADD in 8th Grade.

Wall said, “I knew I had it because I just could not focus in any class. So I told my mom and she took me to my doctor. After asking a few question, she diagnosed me with ADD, which came as no surprise.”

She continued, “I was prescribed the same day I was diagnosed.

The prescription is similar to Adderall. It’s called Vyvanse.”

Wall said she noticed an immediate difference in her concentration level after the diagnosis.

She said, “They really just make me focus. I pay attention so much more, and usually manage to get a lot of homework done in school if I have time in class. I’ll take notes like crazy when I take it, but when I don’t, I really don’t do much. My behavior is the same, except it really affects my appetite. I rarely eat lunch when I take it. I usually only eat breakfast and dinner.”

Wall said she tries to take her medication every day after seeing the positive effects it’s had on her school performance. She said, “Personally, I take mine every day of school. If I forget one day, it’s really not a big deal, but I don’t double up considering I have a high dosage already. If I stopped [taking the medication] it would probably have a negative effect on my school work.”

Even with some students consuming these medications without prescription, Wall said she has never been asked about selling or giving away her prescription.

“I think so many people are prescribed to it now that it really isn’t an issue [of being asked about her prescription],” she said.

Wall said her life has been greatly improved thanks to her diagnosis and prescription and has no plans on stopping her medication any time soon.

She concluded, “Besides the whole loss of appetite thing, I see no drawbacks. My school work has improved greatly since taking them. I probably wouldn’t have done as well as I have if I did not take them.”

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*Editor’s Note: Some names have been changed to provide confidentiality.

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Senior John* started taking ADD medication at the beginning of high school, but said he increased his usage this school year.

He said, “[The ADD medication] makes you focus. It allows you to multitask and not get stressed out or overwhelmed. It puts you in a great mood and also makes you want to do things. The meds give you the energy to do something even when you didn’t get much sleep. They also make sure you finish something instead of coming back to it. And it makes you do things to your best.”

John explained the medication helps him focus at school and work more efficiently while at his job.

He said, “They really do help me to focus in class and do what I have to do faster and more efficiently at work.”

While John said he has never been tested for either ADD or ADHD he intends to soon. He said, “I haven’t tested for it but I’ve researched the symptoms and it matches up to the symptoms of ADHD.” He continued, “But, I’m going to get tested for it and plan to actually get prescribed when I turn 18.”

However, for now John said he will continue buying the ADD medication.

He said, “I pay about $2 per pill, but of course I’ll keep taking them. The only reason I’d stop is if it had a risk of dying.”

Senior Sarah* also started taking ADD medication at the beginning of this school year to juggle the stresses of school work, sports and a job.

She said, “I was having problems with energy and concentrating in school and a friend told me that ADD medication might help.”

Sarah said she has seen the most dramatic difference in her performance at school, she said, “I do a lot better in math especially, and I’m way more motivated and eager to work at my job. It’s like it takes away all my laziness. I just feel more awake and alert.”

While she is unsure if she believes she has undiagnosed ADD or ADHD she said she plans to look into getting a regular prescription.

“My mom thinks it’s stupid that I would think I have ADD and I don’t really know if I do, I just know the medicine helps me get a lot more stuff done faster and it helps me concentrate and multitask,” she said.

She continued, “The next time I go to the doctor I’m going to ask about getting prescribed because I can’t afford to take them every day like an actual prescription.”

Sarah also explained how she obtains the medication.

She said, “I get it from random friends who are prescribed and don’t take them on the weekends or during school breaks. I usually pay $2 a pill but I have some friends that will just give some to me.”

As for her continued ADD medication use Sarah said she has no plans to stop, she said, “I don’t see why I would stop in the near future because it helps a lot with school.”

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By: Chelsea Coleman / Editor in Chief

Design By: Max Thoman / Managing Editor

Use of unprescribed meds may lead to medical problems

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Consuming any medication not prescribed to a person runs the risk of facing many medical problems. Licensed Professional Counselor David Guckes said, “If you are taking [ADD or ADHD medication] daily and you are not diagnosed correctly, it can be very dangerous. The medication speeds your nervous system up so people who are normal and take ADD medication can go into a speed effect which can cause psychosis.”

He continued, “This is rare, but taking the medication without prescription can bring about cardiac problems.”

Guckes also explained the legal aspects of consuming someone else’s prescription.

He said, “These medications are a controlled substance and a Class Three felony if you just give it to a friend. It’s like distributing heroin.”

In his profession, Guckes test all ages for both ADD and ADHD, he said, “Usually hyperactive kids get tested younger, by the age of five is usually when the kids start medication. The inattentive kids start getting tested about 1st or 2nd Grade.”

He continued, “I test kids all the way through high school and college.

Many times they are just labeled as lazy or stupid.”

Guckes concluded, “There is only a small group of kids who do not respond to medication. Predominate research says that medication is the most effective way to treat [ADD or ADHD].”

12 Sports

Jan. 28, 2011

Martin surpasses 1,000 points as Lady Lancers improve to 8-6 Dominic Corvington / Reporter In the Lady Lancer’s Jan. 14 match up against Marquette, much more was celebrated than just a 54-49 victory over the rival Mustangs.

Entering the game, junior Jordynn Martin was in need of just nine points in order to signify her prolific scoring efforts of 1,000 career points.

However a series of missed shots made it difficult for the standout guard to achieve such successes.

Then as she was fouled driving to the basket late in the second quarter, Martin knocked in a free throw to earn herself the much needed point, and almost simultaneously a group of LHS Superfans rose from the stands hoisting a sign reading “Congratulations Jordynn, 1,000 points.”

“It’s really exciting for me. My dad and I have always kind of set that as a high school goal, so it’s really cool to reach it as a junior,” Martin said.

The sign commemorating her accomplishment was also made by her father.

Afterwards, a short break was taken during the game so that she could share the moment with both the on looking crowd and her teammates.

Martin was also presented with the game ball, symbolizing her feat.

With this, Martin is currently second in the Suburban West in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game.

Junior guard Kayla Hall also chips in an additional 10.9 a contest.

So far, the Lady Lancer’s are 9-6 overall as their 2-1 record in Conference play is good for a fourth place position.

Earlier this season the team had struggled to gain hold of a consistent winning pattern, however their most recent win over Francis Howell on Jan. 18 marks their fourth consecutive victory.

“It was a bit of a rough start but we’ve definitely improved a lot and all of the girls on the team have been working really hard. We’re just really excited to continue the season going into Districts,” Hall said.

At the top of the key, Martin handles the ball against Fort Zumwalt. She reached 1,000 career points three days earlier against Marquette. (Photo by Alex Vanderheyden)

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For updated LHS sports coverage go to:

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Duo of Pennington, Smith leads Lancers as team reaches 7-6 record At the time of print, the Lancers were 7-6 on the season following a 46-34 win over Marquette on Jan. 14.

In 2009 and 2010, the Lancers beat the Mustangs and proceeded to go undefeated before falling in Districts both years.

Hopefully that trend will continue, only with a different postseason result.

“We’re going to refocus. We obviously want to play our best basketball

at this time of year and hopefully we can do that,” Coach Scott Allen said.

Allen added that senior Aareon Smith (14 ppg) and junior Joel Pennington (15.2 ppg) have been “carrying the load” so far, but that he expects more players to step up down the stretch.

The team’s games against Holt and Parkway South this past week did not make deadline.

-By Gian Wessel

New ‘Fab Four’, Shaw sisters propel swimming in undefeated season After eight dual meets, the Marquette Relays and the Parkway South Invitational, the Lady Lancers swimming and diving team remains undefeated for the season.

“Winning is still a rush every single time,” senior Taylor Paskoff said. “It feels just as great as it did four years ago, or last year at State, or last month at the Marquette Relays.”

Taylor Paskoff, along with sophomores Laura Paskoff and Gretchen

Cox and freshman Mae Riordan have been dubbed the new ‘Fab Four’ after the Invite, winning the 400 free relay with a time of 3:47:77.

Divers have also found success this season. Sisters senior Alyssa Shaw and sophomore Kelly Shaw both qualified for State at the Jan. 19 meet against Mehlville, earning scores of 229.95 and 214.5 respectively.

-By Christine Jackson

Hockey to finish off tough season with senior night versus Marquette The Lafayette Lancers are 8-9 so far this season in hockey, but even though they had a tough season, there were many highlights.

Sophomore Brendan Donahue was one of the highest goalie leaders in the area and junior Andrew Roither was one of the highest gamewinning-goal leaders in the area.

Senior Nico D’Antonio also had an impressive season. He was one of the top GAA leaders, top save

leaders, and solo shut out leaders in the area.

But their season isn’t over yet.

The Lancers still have one game left to play, and could be one of the biggest of the season: Senior Night against Marquette.

The game will be played Jan. 28 at 7:20 p.m. at the Hardee’s Iceplex in Chesterfield Valley.

-By Danielle Slauter

Wrestling places 2nd in Jeff City, continues recovery from slow start After dropping their season opener against Eureka, the Lancers have regained form and hold a 7-2 record.

The team has also fared well in tournament play, taking second place in the Parkway South Patriot DeSmet Spartan Invitationals.

However, the Lancers struggled a bit in the first annual All-Suburban Tournament and placed sixth.

“We played terrible. We are so much better than that,” senior Taylor

McKenna said.

The team is now taking a handson approach to fixing things for postseaon play. They hope to offset the loss of senior Kyle Black with two-a-day practices until Districts and team bonding activities.

“Well, now we don’t have a for sure win at that weight class, but it gives others the opportunity to step up,” senior JakeRobinson said.

-By Sean McIntyre

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Sports 13

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Turf Wars

Rockwood losing battle to local schools for new fields Dominic Corvington / Reporter With each passing season, many high schools find their athletic fields left in ruins from the wear and tear of weather and cleats.

As a result, schools must spend about $18,000 every year for maintenance and repairs.

However, many local schools have found ways to avoid such costs and even save in the long run with the addition of turf fields.

The Parkway School District is the most recent to install the artificial surfaces at its schools and join Mehlville, Fort Zumwalt, DeSmet, CBC and Kirkwood in doing so.

Lafayette had an opportunity join this select group when the issue was presented as part of a bond issue five years ago.

“From what I understand, it was 69 votes short of passing. If it had, then we would have been one of the first [fields] to have it,” Activities Director Steve Berry said.

The costs of installing turf on the Lafayette varsity field would range anywhere from $500,000 to $750,000 due to drainage requirements of the

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Metropolitan Sewer Districts.

Even so, turf fields offer several advantages compared to traditional grass surfaces.

Such grounds allow athletes to compete on a consistent playing field without having to worry about divots, dirt patches or other flawed areas.

“I like playing on turf because it feels more comfortable to run on and you don’t track up as much mud and dead grass,” Kirkwood junior soccer player Max Knudsen said.

A turf field would also decrease activity cancellations and provide an additional practice field for all outdoor athletic teams to share.

“Your speed is going to increase, its less maintence [and] we could practice on it. That would be helpful,” junior football player Dom Bisesi said.

Berry is currently working on an operating budget that could install turf fields in the district one school at a time.

The issue could also appear on an upcoming bond issue, which would require approval from voters in the Rockwood School District.

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14 Sports

Jan. 28, 2011

St. Albans basketball league is just right Everyone’s Got Game

St. Albans League Standings

Gian Wessel, Sports Editor

I remember being cut from the Lafayette freshmen basketball team and wondering if I would ever play competitive hoops again. Basketball was a big part of my life for so long that I wasn’t about to settle for Sunday afternoon pick-up games at the YMCA. I wanted more.

This is something that many athletes face when they reach high school. The level of competition is raised and those who don’t make the cut are forced to go elsewhere or even quit altogether. And that goes for just about any sport.

Fortunately, those looking to pursue their passion for basketball don’t have to look far.

Thanks to the St. Alban Roe Trophy League, kids like me are still getting out on the court when they wouldn’t be otherwise.

For those who can’t or don’t want to play Lafayette basketball, St. Albans is the perfect alternative. It’s casual and laid-back, but the

League All-Stars

Teams are labeled by captain’s name:

Based on players’ scoring average (ppg)

1. Senior Aaron Platts: 4-0 2. Junior Michael Mueller: 3-1 Beckerle (Eureka): 3-1 3. O’Connel (Eureka): 3-1 Senior Matt Thoelke: 2-2 Schuller (Eureka): 2-2 Sophomore Jake Renfro: 2-2 4. Senior Mack Bartus: 1-3 Junior Ty Stulce: 1-3 Brendan Duarte: 1-3 5. Senior Tyler Hoyt: 0-4

Junior Will Dupont: Averaging 23 ppg and scored 30 points on Jan. 9.

Sunday night games can also be intense and competitive.

“It’s better than (high school) basketball because it’s less serious play, but the competition is still good,” senior Thomas Riddick said.

I love the league for the same reason people love dancing. You can be absolutely terrible and enjoy it as much as someone that’s really good.

But in all seriousness, St. Albans basketball has given me and hundreds of other kids great memories over the past few years.

Those long school days on Wednesdays and Thursdays are a little less depressing when you have basketball to look forward to. And Sunday nights aren’t exactly the most exciting, unless there’s a game to be played.

At 9 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday, a small group of high school kids close the books on homework and lace up the shoes for some

Image Staff Super Bowl Picks

Junior Brock Behrndt: Averaging 17.3 ppg and scored 31 points on Jan. 16.

Senior Matt Thoelke: Averaging 9.8 ppg.

Senior Adam Steinmetz: Averaging 12.5 ppg.

Freshman Cole Dupont: Averaging 12. 5 ppg. late-night basketball at St. Alban Roe across the road from Lafayette. By 10:30 p.m., when most of their friends are asleep, they are finally kicked out of the gym - but not before their hoops fix has been satisfied.

Honestly, it isn’t much different than any other form of pick-up basketball. You can just as easily find a game at the YMCA or Lifetime.

The competition might be a little older or a little better at those places, depending on where you go, but it’s all basketball.

What separates St. Albans is that it reminds us of the good-old days playing Rockwood basketball. There’s just something about putting on a uniform and having the same teammates every game. Everything else is pretty similarexcept without the coaches.

“It’s an opportunity to play with friends and not worry about coaches. I could never play for [Lafayette],” senior Drew Garrone said.

Gian Wessel, Sports Editor Along with a great group of receivers and the experience of playing in two Super Bowls, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has everything he needs to win his third ring.

Christine Jackson, Sports Editor I’m taking the Packers for the underdog factor. They’re going to Dallas with something to prove and nothing to lose, making them all the more likely to be our next Super Bowl champion.

Dominic Corvington, Reporter With a strong defense led by Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, the Steelers will force enough turnovers and get enough sacks to win this game.

Sean McIntyre, Reporter The Steelers have experience, but the Packers will score on the Steelers and play solid defense. I like the Packers taking it and Greg Jennings putting the team on his back to win Super Bowl MVP.

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Sports 15

[the]

image Anthony Levy: Snowboarding

Q: How did you get into snowboarding?

A: “I started skiing when I was 6. My family would take a trip to Colorado once a year. I saw someone snowboarding and thought it was really cool, but I didn’t really get into it, though, until my uncle bought me my first snowboard.

I took it up to Hidden Valley and I was terrible.

I got better once I got lessons.”

Q: How long have you been snowboarding?

A: “I’ve been doing it for about eight years.”

Q: Why did you choose snowboarding over other, more conventional sports?

A: “That is a tough question because I have played other sports. I guess I just like it more, and I am better at it. It’s like it’s my niche. I think that I have some natural talent, too.”

Q: What is your favorite part of snowboarding?

A: “It’s one of two things. It’s either the days in Colorado where the powder is knee deep and you’re just chilling on the side of the mountain listening to your iPod, or the community because there is just so much passion for snowboarding.”

Q: You’ve already been sponsored for your sport by Monster Energy Drinks, but

Alexa Benson: Rowing Q: Can you explain the basics of rowing?

What are the ins and outs of the sport?

A: “A lot of people think rowing looks like paddling a canoe. Actually, rowers sit in a boat on a moving seat and pull the oars using leg muscles first, then back and arms. We sit in a boat facing backwards, and the only person sitting forwards is the coxswain, who steers and gives commands.”

Q: How and when did you get started?

A: “I started rowing this summer, and joined the high school team at the beginning of September. I got into it because of my mom, actually. She started rowing last February and encouraged me to join.”

Q: What draws you to rowing versus a more conventional sport?

A: “Rowing is very physically difficult and

what are your plans as far as your future in snowboarding?

A: “I am not really looking to become a professional snowboarder or anything like that. I do eventually want to own my own my own chain of board shops in the Rockies.”

Makenna Burton: Horseback Riding Q: There’s a lot of events and styles of riding, what do you do and can you explain it?

A:“I ride English and do jumpers with my horse. English is more formal and fancier than Western. It’s based more on being graceful and pretty than riding around like a cowboy. And jumping is going over a series of jumps around an arena without knocking them over.”

Q: What got you started in riding and how long have you been doing it?

A:“I started in 5th Grade because two of my friends rode and basically I didn’t want to be left out, but then I grew to really love it.”

Q: How long and how often do you practice?

A:“I have my horse in my front yard, so every day the weather lets me, I ride. I ride all the time in spring, summer and fall, but lately its been to cold to get out much.”

Q: When and how often to you compete?

A: “I don’t get to compete much because it’s really expensive. But I have ridden in shows at Ridgefield and Dublin, which are both local barns.”

Playing Outside the Box:

While LHS is home to 40 teams that play over three seasons, the athletes highlighted here are a little out of the ordinary in their sports choices. Participation in these unique sports opens them up to different experiences and skills that cannot initbe gained from more traditional sports. self. cred-

ibly I’ve - Interviews by Christine Jackson rewardgotten ing. I love really close it because I to the members achieve something of my novice team, every day, whether its simply because we spend improving my form or my times. so much time together. The novice I have played volleyball, golf, thrown shot put and varsity teams work out together, and in the and discus in middle school and high school, winter that means we’re all in one gym. Making but rowing has been more rewarding and new friends is kind of mandatory.” beneficial than any other sport I’ve played.”

Q: Do you participate in a rowing league Q: How often do you row? or club?

A: “The team practices for two hours, six A: “I row with a club, St. Louis Rowing days a week. When the lake isn’t frozen, we take Club (SLRC). The club has junior teams, for out boats and do drills and workouts on the high school students, intermediate teams for water. In the winter, we do workouts on rowing adult novices and master teams for experienced machines, lift weights and do core workouts.” adult rowers.”

Q: What do you think is the best thing about your sport?

A:“The best thing about rowing is the team

Q: What kind of horse do you ride and how long have you had it?

A: “I got my horse in 6th Grade. He’s a thoroughbred racehorse who raced for seven years before we bought him. I retrained him to ride English, which was quite a job. He is very high strung.”

Q: What do you think are the best and the hardest things about your sport?

A: “The best part of horseback riding is the relationship I have with my horse. To be on top of a 1,200 pound animal and being able to control him with the slightest kick or touch of the rein is amazing. The hardest was just training him. Like I said, he’s really high strung and he was so green, it was really frustrating to work for so long and not get anywhere with him.”

Q: What would you say to someone interested in taking up horseback riding?

How should they get started?

A: “I’d say start taking lessons with a trainer and make sure you know what you’re getting into before buying a horse yourself. But I’d definitely say its worth doing. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Reed Buie: Trap Q: Can you explain trap for me?

A: “It is basically a team-based individual shooting competition where you try to shoot clay pigeons.”

Q: How did you get into trap?

A: “It’s actually a funny story. Our family’s plumber came over because our basement was flooded. His daughter shot for a team. Later, my dad asked me if I wanted to try out.”

Q: How long have you been into trap?

A: “This year will be my third year.”

Q: Why did you pick trap over other, more conventional sports?

A:“I’ve been shooting for a while, and I’m always looking for something different. It’s both a team and an individual sport. It’s also very competitive.”

Q: What is your favorite part of trap?

A: “The last 5 to 10 shots in a competition. I always like to see how I placed as an individual and as a team.”

16 Opinions

Jan. 28, 2011

Santi Diz

Censorship in the name of innocence lacks real solution [the] image Staff Editorial

The Image staff find the current effort to remove offensive material from works of literature often read in the classroom to be naive and disturbing.

This is not a matter of race or free speech.

This is a matter of accuracy and authenticity.

The controversial nature of books by authors such as Mark Twain, Harper Lee and John Steinbeck is what makes them so important and vital for students to experience in their entirety.

These works explore issues from our past and present, preparing us for the real world and hopefully enabling us to confront prejudice on all fronts. The youth of this nation is in no bubble. The presence of the n-word in books

such as Huckleberry Finn is not what makes some kids use that type of language.

The prejudice in these pieces, often even portrayed in a negative light, is not what causes prejudice to occur amongst our peers.

We find the supposed bubble that many

think we are encompassed by is penetrated far more by other aspects of culture, rather than sometimes century old literature that is often critical of old time moralities.

We are confused as to why this literature has become such a target, when so many aspects of our society contain implications of racism.

In today’s entertainment, offensive language is often used and encouraged. Rappers, comedians and actors alike frequently make use of questionable language.

This entertainment provides us with little benefit, while the works of literature under attack provide us with true advantage in our world.

Stars to: stars & gripes

How can students understand the original intent and feeling of a work, when its most powerful, piercing, detestable words are replaced?

How can we understand and identify old prejudices when they are hidden from us?

In a world that has, does and will confront us with so much wrong, how can we tell it all apart if we have no historical context to compare it to?

The presence of this literature in its entirety in our curriculum does not serve as a detriment poking a hole in our untouched bubble of innocence, but rather as a tool to help us prepare for the real world, with all its good, bad and ugly.

Gripes to:

• The school for finally fixing the faucet in the girls’ restroom. Now they will finally have time to fix the clocks, heating and the automatic door.

• The Lafayette student body for not sending letters to the editor all year. Yeah, we noticed.

• The snow. In spite of the danger and property damage inflicted by severe weather, we always find ourselves wishing for a terrible blizzard.

• The Girl Scouts for switching bakeries, offering different names and recipes for their cookies. OMG, what am I going to do without my $4 box of Samoas?!?

• Governor Jay Nixon’s visit. His compliments on Lafayette’s cleanliness should make every student proud.

• Award season. Every year, Americans prove they care about the truly important things, by watching award shows such as the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

•The hall monitors’ ability to walk and read at the same time. We would get motion sickness.

• The changes in zodiac signs. My daily horoscope has been so accurate for so long and now it turns out I am not a Pisces.

• The shooting at Club Peek-A-Boo in Brooklyn, IL. Is no place safe anymore to just have good ol’ fashioned family time?

• Parents continuing their ignorance of pick up and drop off procedure.

For real, it’s like pretty much a circle.

Opinions 17

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Missouri fails academically excelled students Tomorrow’s Answers Today

Caleb Cavarretta Opinions Editor

The state of Missouri has failed its academically gifted.

Last year, in the face of looming budget deficits, Governor Jay Nixon introduced cuts to state scholarships intended for four-year university students.

Bright Flight had its funding cut from $16.4 million to $12.3 million, taking a toll on high achieving students intending to stay in state for future university education. This was done in the name of fiscal responsibility.

Yet, oddly enough, the Governor has recently been touting the successes of the A+ program, and calling for its expansion. The program, intended to provide funds to students attending community colleges and technical schools, had its funding increased for 2010 from $25 million to $51 million.

This expansion is no mere

pocket change, as the Governor calls for further expansion of the program, even though the state has serious budget issues, and even though the program more than doubled in size just last year.

Where is the fiscal responsibility here? Supporting the expansion of a program that grew by $26 million last year, while cutting another by $4.1 million, is simply a double standard. Were those cuts really so necessary when the A+ program is growing at such an expansive rate?

This harms the state’s investment in its own future. The goal of Missouri education should be to keep and attract academically excelled students to its universities.

The state should be expanding its investment into kids that will spur economic growth in Missouri in an ever changing and adapting economy.

Missouri’s state universities, not its community colleges or technical schools, are how the state can make itself attractive enough to keep the most gifted students in the state.

If the state is going to provide a system of education, then it needs to protect and provide for those who excel in the system. Missouri has an overriding interest in making sure that these students have the funds available to get the most out of education.

To be blunt, the future of this state’s economy will likely be far more impacted by 4-year degrees, rather than two-year degrees. While community colleges are a valuable service, keeping and providing for the academically excelled in 4-year universities is a far more valuable long run investment into the state’s economy.

The solution to this folly is simply

slowing down the process of adding high schools to the A+ program or reworking it to be less costly, and reallocating funds to programs like Bright Flight.

You may be asking at this point, why this double standard has been perpetrated against high performing students in the first place.

I could pull a Glenn Beck, claiming and attempting to illuminate a connection between technical schools, union jobs benefiting from increased enrollment at technical schools, unions benefitted by increasing ranks and union support of Governor Nixon.

However, I would rather simply prove the surprisingly fiscally responsible solution. Slow down the expansion of an already costly and rapidly expanding program, and make a stronger investment in the state’s future again.

‘Guiding Change’ contains several key issues Welcome to a new era of spending, saving, lending and investing.

Here, cost cutting measures and savings attempts are necessary to survival, not just for individuals, but for corporations, organizations and yes, even school districts.

Welcome to the new economy.

Welcome to the new world.

The fact is, everyone is hurting from this recession, even though reports are coming out stating that world economies are beginning to show improvement, while others are stating that the trough in the economic downturn has already been met.

With unemployment on a slow, but hopefully continual decline and a market which seems to be revealing itself as a bull market, hopes of an impending recovery continue to rise and while this would not be immediate, anything is better than a continual decline.

Still, we have a long way to go before we can even slightly count ourselves in the clear.

No one knows this better than the Rockwood School District, who has made several attempts at cost cutting measures and has consistently been looking for every way to save themselves from a deficit.

After blowing through funding during this recession, mostly because

of a minimization of funding as well as continual spending levels during a deficit, the district has finally taken action towards decreasing the economic gap through the unnecessarily long, yet prosperous “Guiding Change” process, created to utilize stakeholder, teacher and administrative input in the budget cutting process.

However, I personally take issue with a few items contained in, or rather, left out of this process.

First off, the fact that student input was ignored throughout the Guiding Change process was somewhat insulting. In my opinion, no one knows the necessary and unnecessary items contained within the district better than the students.

We know what we need to learn.

We know which classes are vital and which are not.

We understand the gravity of the situation and could actually be of service to the school board and the Design Team, who were the true decision makers during the Guiding Change process.

Student input could have saved time and funding throughout the process, but unfortunately, we were cast to the side like the unfortunate and unloved rag doll during the process and instead of utilizing their resources, those responsible for the

This month the Image asks...

What would be a better alternative to raise funds for the school instead of raising parking pass fees?

Guiding Change system ignored a vital piece to the system and left us only with a survey to convey our voices.

This disappointed me in the highest sense.

Ultimately, every decision that the adult party made was made on our “behalf ”.

We had no say in the matter, and honestly, we are the ones who have to deal with the proposed cuts, some of which are largely controversial within the student population.

Mainly, the conversation surrounding the 80 percent increase in parking pass costs at the high school levels has sprung the loudest uproar from the student population.

Today’s $100 pass, according to the proposal, would cost $180 next year.

Again, I repeat the fact that this is only a proposed revenue enhancing measure to cut the deficit during this recession, however, the proposal is still outrageous.

It is as if the district is seeking to fine students for a falling economic system, which is obviously not our faults.

I find issue with this. Budget cutting is one thing, but an 80 percent increase is, for some people, unobtainable.

Some students will not be able

to afford this price hike, with the price of gas anticipated to reach four dollars a gallon by this summer and with other prices on the rise as well, so what alternatives are being provided for them?

If Rockwood expects to limit the availability of parking though economic means, then they should at least provide a larger unit of public transportation for those who cannot afford to drive to school everyday, however, instead of opening up transportation, the district has made the move to consolidate this, starting with activity bus cuts.

They have put us into a lose-lose situation, and we have no escape.

So, Lafayette, what are you going to do about it?

Are you going to stand up?

Are you going to fight these hikes?

Or are you going to remain as silent as ever, not caring, not moving, just letting it come?

I say we must act, and we must act now. Go to a Board of Education meeting.

Utilize your first amendment rights of free speech, the right to petition the government, the right to peaceably assemble!

It’s the student choice now, do we act, or do we remain, as always, stationary?

“They should sell more cookies.”

- Josh Key, 9

“[Parking] should be free in the first place.

It’s a waste of our money. We have enough trouble paying our car payments.”

- Ali Spry, 10

On The Contrary Max Thoman Managing Editor

“Run a bake sale or cut two school days in half.”

- Trevor Tomasic, 11

“Stop letting buses run while no one is in them.

They just sit there everyday for like an hour.”

- Ashley Lutker, 12

18 Infotainment Picks of the Month

Jan. 28, 2011

Adam Harris makes entertainment choices for January

TV Show:

Metalocalypse An animated television series on Adult Swim, Metalocalypse is a parody and showcase of heavy metal culture. The show follows members of the metal band, Deathklok, who all have hilarious Swedish accents and find themselves in outlandish situations. Colorful language and graphic scenes make this show appropriate for mature audiences only.

Album:

The Strokes Is This It Debut album released in 2001 by indie rock group The Strokes.

With a simple rock sound mixed with fast-paced upbeat rhythms this album launched The Strokes into the public eye. Songs like Hard to Explain, Last Nite and Someday were released as singles.

Event:

Movie:

Book:

Mac Miller @ Old Rock House

Requiem For A Dream

The Boys From Brazil

Released in 2000 by director Darren Aronofsky starring actors Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly.

The film follows the lives of addicts. It spotlights the devastation of desperation and addiction with Aronofsky’s signature montages of extremely short shots.

The year is 1976 and Yokov Leibermann, also known as the “Nazi Hunter”, catches wind of underground Nazi’s attempting a ressurgence. Under the lead of the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele who performed twisted experiments on concentration camp victims during WWII. Leibermann must dig deep to find what the “Fourth Reich” is up to.

Hailing from P, Mac Miller delivers a fresh sound that incorporates both catchy beats and choruses with a classic hip hop lyricism.

On Aug. 13, 2010 he released his latest mixtape, KIDS, which is available to download at Datpiff. com. Mac will perform at the Old Rock House on Feb. 16.

Infotainment 19

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Eyes bigger than your stomach?

Area food challenges offer bragging rights, big bucks for those who can handle it & humiliation, name calling for those who can’t Adam Harris / Entertainment Editor The average human stomach is about the size of a closed fist. Yet making the stomach expand to the size of a small boulder is a form of entertainment and even a sport for some.

Television shows like the Travel Channel’s, Man vs. Food, showcase food challenges from all over the country.

In our own neighborhood it is not hard to find food challenges that are both rewarding and take their toll on the human stomach.

At Surf Dog’s in the Chesterfield Valley there stands a challenge for all who have the utmost confidence in their hot dog eating abilities.

Their “Big Kahuna” challenge requires competitors to consume 10 of the restaurant’s specialty hotdogs loaded with toppings ranging from cheese, chili, pineapples and coleslaw.

The catch: eat all 10 hotdogs, toppings and all, in under 30 minutes.

This challenge was birthed from Surf Dog’s “Hang 10” club where patrons eat all 10 of the specialty hotdogs at any given order and visit and say which one is their favorite.

“These people asked, ‘What if I ate them all today?’, so we came up with a format and time by looking at different food challenges,” Owner Brian Wieher said.

With only a handful of “Big Kahunas” framed on the wall this challenge has proven to be no easy feat.

“The variation of toppings is the hardest part. You have to have the will to complete it.

You have to push,” Wieher said.

“Be prepared to think about what you’re doing. Have a game plan and be ready,” he added.

According to Wieher, Dog # 7, named “The Dog House” is the speed bump for most challengers. This dog is loaded with cheese, chili, onions and coleslaw.

Advice for aspiring “Big Kahunas”, “Sit down and shut up,” Wieher said.

Senior Garland Conners decided to take up Surf Dogs on their “Big Kahuna” challenge.

“I was nervous walking in because I did not know the size of the dogs,” Conners said.

He added,“But I was afraid to do the research because I thought I might end up chickening out.”

So without any idea what he was getting himself into Conners sat down at the bar style table as the Wieher started to doll out fresh dogs.

After only six hotdogs Conners couldn’t hold it in.

He decided to let up his food just as he was putting in his second bite of his sixth dog, loaded with coleslaw.

“It was definitely the coleslaw. It was hard to get down and it wanted to come back up,” Conners said.

“I was disappointed. I thought I had it,” he continued.

Immediately after the hot dog challenge Garland and I headed over to Cheeburger Cheeburger at Chesterfield Mall to take on their one pound burger challenge.

I even decided to order a small fry.

Feeling pretty confident I could eat the burger in under 10 minutes, even though there was no time limit.

The burger was about as big as my hand and apart from being way too greasy it was delicious.

I finished it pretty fast and got my picture taken with a giant hamburger.

So with a completed challenge under my belt I decided to check out Pointer’s Pizza off Big Bend where they had the Pointersaurus Challenge.

Two challengers have to double-team a colossal 10 pound, 28 inch pizza in under an hour. Competitors must choose either two meats or four vegetables.

“We got the idea at a pizza convention in Orlando, Florida about 15 years ago,” owner David Hughes said.

“We met guys from Maine that had a similar contest and offered $50 for anybody who could finish their pizza. They said word of mouth spread all over the state and doubled their sales,” he added.

For those who can complete the challenge a $500 reward is theirs to take home.

“We decided on the reward to get maximum publicity which got the attention of

several magazines, newspapers, TV stations, the Travel Channel and the Food Channel,” he said.

According to Hughes the key to completing the challenge is, “eat as fast as you can so your stomach doesn’t know what’s going on.”

Once again Garland Conners decided to take a shot at the Pointersaurus with the help of senior Jack Bradley.

Conners was excited for the challenge and said, “Your boy is a straight Italian fan.”

On the other hand Bradley was nervous.

“I was shaking. I knew we were about to eat a lot of food and be very sick,” Bradley said.

The duo ordered their pizza with sausage and pepperoni which they later regretted.

“The taste of sausage is the equivalent to vomit being shoved down your throat,” Bradley said.

Conners added, “too much of one taste is kind of like an overdose.”

45 minutes into the challenge both Conners and Bradley started to slow down with nearly 60 percent of the pizza eaten.

“I intended on taking a little breather and a sip of my water, but that’s really what slowed me down,” Conners said.

So with only 10 minutes left in the hour, both Bradley and Conners threw in the towel and waved goodbye to a $500 reward.

“I don’t ever want to do another food competition again,” Bradley concluded.

20 Infotainment

Jan. 28, 2011

Man vs Food Three Men. Three Challenges. One Goal.

(Full Story on page 19)

Objective:

Eat 10 specialty hot dogs in under 30 minutes

Verdict: FOOD Objective:

Eat a one-pound burger in one sitting

Verdict: MAN

Objective:

Eat one 10 pound, 28 inch pizza in one hour

Verdict: food