Volume 63, Issue 1
October 16, 2003
St. Teresaʼs Academy
Cinemark: best seat in town, but not for some Others feel different. “I will never go to the movies Staff Writer with my mom,” said Freshman JesThis past summer, an area sica Weston. movie theater began enforcing According to Falk, the regularegulations that require persons tions have been well received by between the ages of six and sixteen adults. to be accompanied by an adult who “We invite our customers to will attend the same feature. go to our website and give their Cinemark USA, Inc. has over comments about the theater and 3,000 screens in 33 states; the Plaza we have gotten several ‘thank you’ Cinemark is the only theater with emails from adults and many par para VIP room. The VIP room has ents,” Falk said. leather seats and a smaller auditoWiedeman commented on how rium where alcoholic beverages are her parents feel about the recent served. changes. “Originally when we opened “My parents think that it is the theater we wanted it to be good,” said Wiedeman. “They an art–house theater with adult think that more adults will go to the specialty products,” said Ms. Terrell theater now because some adults Falk, vice president of marketing can be intimidated by teenagers.” and communication for Cinemark Falk refused to give information USA, stationed in Texas. “But we pertaining to the current economic had a tough couple of years so we status of the theater. began showing children’s films. In According to Falk, within the re-evaluating our original intent, we Kansas City market, teenagers have decided to go back.” many choices when it comes to theThe regulations at the Cinemark aters. There is another Cinemark Theater on the Plaza have impacted theater in Merriam, KS, where STA students in particular. there are no such restrictions. Junior London Tatum, 15, lives “If they don’t want us at Cinten minutes away from Cinemark. emark, I will go somewhere else,” Before they enforced the new said Weston, who recalls going to rules she went to the Cinemark see movies two Theater every or three times a weekend before month. the rules were “I think that changed. the under-sevenAccording to teen rule is totally both Tatum and arbitrary,” said Metzger, before Tatum. “It’s unfair the regulations to kids over the were put in place age of thirteen. there was loitering We can handle outside of the ourselves in a theater. movie theater. It’s “The last time I a cop–out.” was at Cinemark, Even students there were just so who seldom went many kids down to the Cinemark there,” Metzger photo by Rachel Straughn Theater were said. “Maybe Shoppers stroll past the Cinemark upset by the newly movie theater on the Country Club the rules were enforced regula- Plaza Sept. 29. The Cinemark changed because theater is not allowing patrons tions. they were scaring under the age of 16 to be admitted people away.” “I think the without an adult. new rules are According to unnecessary,” Tatum, she once said Sophomre Katie Metzger. “I stood outside of Cinemark for ten didn’t go to the Cinemark Theater minutes and the security guards that often because the ticket prices harassed her. were outrageous, but that is a place Falk said it is ridiculous for where kids hang out. Where else people to believe that teenagers are they going to go?” loitering outside of Cinemark had Children under the age of six anything to do with the recently are not admitted into the theater enforced regulations. with or without a parent. Students question the longevity “I haven’t gone to [the Cinemark of the retrictions at the Cinemark Theater on the Plaza] since the Theater on the plaza. rules were made,” said Freshman “I don’t think that the rules will Carolyn Wiedeman. “But I think last very long at all, it seems like the it will be easier now to go with teenagers were the main people gomy parents to the movies because ing to the theater,” said Wiedeman. there is not as much peer pressure, “Cinemark will lose a lot of money.” because not a lot of teenagers are Falk suggests that the permadown there anymore. Even though nence of the change is uncertain. I haven’t gone to the movies yet “Nothing is ever permanent,” with my parents, we would go to said Falk. “We are just testing it out the Cinemark Theater.” and so far it is going well.”
Tyler Yarbrough
photo by Rachel Straughn
Brian Robertson of A.L. Huber Construction works around the auditorium circle on the third floor of the M&A building. These offices will be occupied by the Kansas City Community School of the Arts.
Wave of change rolls through STA campus Kathryn Fitzsimmons Staff Writer
Students have noticed the many changes that were made to STA over the summer. The M&A building was renovated, students now hear bells at the beginning and end of each class period and new lunches are being brought in four days a week. “My favorite part [about the construction] is [a] gap between Mr. Fud and Mr. LeCluyse’s rooms,” said Sophomore Abby Edsall. “Now I can get Morality and English class at the same time.” According to an STA press release, more renovations are to come for the M&A building. Although there are no permanent plans made for the restorations, the cafeteria is planned to be redone next summer, and the auditorium the summer of 2005. Firm construction plans will be made after the school raises funds for the changes. STA students, faculty, staff and parents won’t be the only ones to take use of the M&A renovations over the coming years. One of the objectives for the building is for the rooms to be used as the Kansas City Young Audiences Community School of the Arts for area kids. Classes will be offered after school, on weekends and during the summer. The classes will include everything from creative writing to private vocal and instrumental instruction. The classes are set to start in January. In the process of the M&A renovation, many classrooms and even full departments were moved. The English Department is now on the third floor, and the Foreign Language classrooms are on the second floor. Not only
were the classrooms moved, but walls were torn down. Some classrooms got bigger, others smaller. “I like climbing the extra flight of stairs because it will help me maintain–I mean regain–my girlish figure,” said Ms. Wanda VanLeeuwen, STA English teacher. “Plus I’ve always wanted a room with hardwood floors.” The move has confused many students, especially seniors, who are accustomed to the way M&A used to be. “I’ll walk onto a floor and not even know what floor I’m on,” said Senior Katharine Bush. Bells now ring at the beginning and end of classes and activity periods. Some STA students are having trouble adjusting to
STA Changes
•Renovated M&A building •New uniform policy •After-school detention •Bells indicating tardiness •Lunch program •New location of M&A classrooms •Partnership with Community School for the Arts this change. “That [bell] in M&A sounds like a foghorn,” said Edsall. “It scares the bejesus out of me.” Other students agree. “I think they should play music between classes,” said Bush. “So when the music starts, you leave class and then when the music stops, you know you’re supposed to be in your next class.” A lunch program, something that STA has not had for many years, has made a reentry this year. According to Principal of Academic Affairs Ms. Mary Anne Hoecker, in the summer of 2002,
Joe Joe’s restaurant approached STA with the idea of selling lunches one day a week. The idea was a hit, and this year Joe Joe’s added another STA day to their weekly schedule. The owners of Sarah’s restaurant also approached STA last summer with the idea of bringing hot, fresh lunches to the students and faculty. At $5 per lunch, some students say it’s too much, while others pay the price. “I hate making my lunch so I’m willing to pay,” said Freshman Mary Nulton. Joe Joe’s will be at STA every Monday and Wednesday, and Sarah’s will bring in lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Changes were also made regarding the uniform policy. Students used to pay $2 for every uniform violation they received, but now they receive a detention and a Category III SBR. Since some uniform violations are accidents, not defiance, some students think this is a severe punishment. This is also true for juniors. After receiving one uniform violation, a junior must serve a detention and is put on accountability for at least one semester of their senior year. Teachers, on the other hand, brought this strict idea to the administration and like the results they have seen thus far. “Something that’s been a problem for years is fixed in weeks,” said Spanish teacher Ms. Heather Macintosh. Some students have been victim to the watchful eye of teachers and faculty. “I’ve been secretly out of uniform all year long, so when I walked out of the bathroom and was greeted by Ms. O’Brien ready See Cinemark on page 3