Panorama October 2019

PANO RAMA

Read more about Title IX on pages 13–17.

10.31.19, Vol. 68, Issue 2, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, 1201 S. Warson Rd. Ladue, MO 63124

STAFF Editors-in-Chief

Jackson Bry Katie Shaw Bradford Siwak

Head Design Editors

Cassie Beisheim Anna Liner

Managing Editor

Sydney Crump

Head Copy Editor

Alexander Fu

Print Photo Editor Managing Photo Editor

Nicole Kalishman Burke Howe

News Editor

Rhea Patney

Features Editors

Katie Holland Erin Turkieltaub

In-Depth Editor

Grace Hu

Opinions Editor

Ethan Willick

Arts & Entertainment Editors

Hugh Chan Caroline Tyrrell

Sports Editors

Domenic Fenoglio Jacob Korn

Social Media Editor

Jill Goldwasser Grace Hensley

News Staff

Rhea Kaw Lucy Lochmoeller

Features Staff

Clayton Coughlin Jamie Korenblat

In-Depth Staff

Sophia Liu Marissa Mathieson

Opinions Staff

Caroline Edgar Tariq Lashley Charlotte Woodhill

Sports Staff Business Managers

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Sunny Lu

Sports Photo Editor

Art Editor

EDITORS’ NOTE

Thomas Margulis Jason Pummer Jake Tackes

Staff Writers

Madalyn Abady Natalie Ashkar Daniel Chayet Chris Chen Matthew Kweon Diora Ton

Staff Artist

Danielle Zhang

Staff Photographer

Ginger Schulte

Adviser

Sarah Kirksey

10.31.19

-Katie Shaw, Jackson Bry and Bradford Siwak

We set out to help students understand what Title IX is and how it protects them, often in ways they may not understand. This mission felt relevant, considering the chaos of the current American political climate. This is a confusing time: people’s basic human rights are being threatened while a proposed Equality Act (which would prevent discrimination against LGBTQ people) gained steam just this year. We

believe it is important for students to know their rights now more than ever. Title IX is not just about sports teams. People may not know it is illegal to encourage pregnant students to drop out. People may not know it is illegal to treat students differently based on their gender expression. People may not know they have the legal right to gender neutral bathrooms. People may not know what Title IX gives them.

COVER STORY Pulling volunteers from the student body as models, we wanted to portray the reality of the demographics encompassed by Title IX’s protections: everyone. In a high school setting, most don’t even know what Title IX is, much less the rights it grants. Anyone who faces harassment, assault or has their education limited in any way due to their sex or gender, can utilize their Title IX rights to ensure equal access to education. The school is obligated to address such issues promptly and effectively. Students of all genders are protected under this piece of legislation, regardless of whether or not they identify within the gender binary. In the photo, we wanted to portray both whom Title IX protects and detail those basic protections as much as possible by writing on the models’ faces. We were inspired by other editorial portraits, in which an artist would use makeup to write on a subject’s face to convey the message of the image. Please note that the protections stated on the models’ faces are not necessarily reflective of their experiences. (Photo illustration by Anna Liner and Sunny Lu)

SPREAD DESIGN BY J. BRY, K.SHAW & B. SIWAK

FEATURES 9. Shruti Upadhyay opens up about her culture by sharing stories from her past.

NEWS 5. A look behind 10–11. Daniel the scenes of AlJung performs photo illustration by Maine. the National ANNA LINERmost, & SUNNY LU LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM IN-DEPTH IN-DEPTH Anthem at a 6–7. Coalition 13–17. A deBlues game. tries to change scription of the the name of implementation Bernie Park in of Title IX poliCreve Coeur. cy at Ladue and 8. New attractions how it affects come to Downstudents. town West area.

OPINIONS 18. Pano Perspective: entitlement and the Ladue bubble.

19. The real consequences and unfair penalties of flat fines.

20. A take on preparing the next generation for problems in the real world.

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21. The ramifications of using mental illnesses as adjectives and a small lesson in respect.

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A&E 22. The most thrilling true crime podcasts available online.

23. A review of the best spooky movies to watch based on their scare level.

STAFF & CONTENTS

SPORTS 24–25. Junior Kaitlyn Thornton on speed skating at nationals.

26–27. The Dougan family continues their daughter’s legacy after her battle with cancer.

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POLICY Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among students.

It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm.

All surveys are completely anonymous and cannot be used against you. Panorama welcomes letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered.

Panorama is produced 9 times per school year by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Road, St.

Louis, MO 63124. The publication lab is located in room 1311, (314)-9936447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduepublications.com.

Follow @laduepublications on Instagram and @laduepanorama on Twitter. Staff page and table of contents by Jackson Bry, Katie Shaw and Bradford Siwak. Editor-in-chief photo by Sunny Lu. Correction from September: Ginger Schulte took the photo of Officer Ramirez.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY J. BRY, K. SHAW & B. SIWAK; L. LOCHMOELLER

Junior Leopoldo Bochicchio and sophomore Daniel Byer act out their scene, “They Fell,” during rehearsal Oct. 14. The play, “Almost, Maine,” is composed of a series of short stories and will debut Nov, 1.

“The town of Almost, Maine is quiet and isolated, and this small set helps us actors get into the right headspace for performance,” Bochicchio said. (Photo by Ginger Schulte)

ALMOST SHOWTIME Peeking behind the scenes of the fall play NATALIE ASHKAR staff writer

L

adue’s fall play, “Almost, Maine,” will be performed Nov. 1, 2 and 3 in the Black Box Theater. This year’s play promises to set itself apart from those of the past years.

“There haven’t been any fall plays directed by a student, so this is a first for that,” senior Lili Sheley, director of the play, said. “Also, it’s a bigger cast. There are 15 people in the cast, which is four times larger than last year.”

It’s not just the way the play is directed; the structure of the script diverges from Ladue’s traditional fall play. Typically, the show consists of one main storyline, but this year, it is composed of several individual short stories.

“It’s nine short scenes that all take place at the same time in a town called Almost, Maine,” Sheley said. “All the scenes are about falling in or out of love, [which is] the theme of the show. In each scene, we meet two new characters, and they either fall into or out of love.”

Bringing the play to life required weeks of preparation. The procedures for putting the plot in mo-

tion stretched beyond after-school rehearsals and memorizing lines.

“There is a lot of work backstage that goes into a show,” senior Victoria Campos, assistant director, said. “The set design had to get started right away. We had to get our makeup crew practicing as soon as possible, as most of them are completely new, [and] the costume and props crew had to get to searching [for ideas on how to dress the cast].”

To make the audience feel immersed in the story, students worked to set up the stage in a new fashion. They changed the layout of the audience in comparison to the stage in order to produce the feeling that the audience is looking in on the lives of the characters, as opposed to watching something more artifical.

“The acting area is on the same level as the seats, meaning there are several levels of seats,” senior Louis Ritter, lighting director, said.

“We usually have a raised stage and have the majority of the seats on the ground, but this show is the opposite. It is also three-fourths round, which means the seating wraps around the acting area … something you can only do in the Black Box. Since I’ve been here, I’ve have not

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seen a three-fourths round set ever produced at Ladue.”

Every member of the cast and crew is working to contribute their talents and creative ideas to create the best show possible. However, differing opinions sometimes can be a challenge between different members of the production and the crew. The multitude of ideas that come with the new structure of the play have been a new experience to work through.

“I have been working closely with [theater teacher] Michael Pecka and [art teacher] Daniel Raedeke to design aspects of the set, which allows me to take the vision that I have for lighting and create it,” Ritter said.

“My vision also needs to line up with both Pecka’s and Raedeke’s, as well as [Sheley’s], so we’re all happy with the final product.”

This play will breathe fresh life into Ladue’s theater productions.

The new direction, lighting and set will create a unique experience for each audience member.

“I think it’s going to be one of the coolest productions Ladue has done so far,” Campos said. “The visuals will be stunning, and the actors will be in the moment. I’m excited to watch it come through.”

SPONSORS & NEWS

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The Venable Park Coalition aims to change the Beirne Park sign to read “Venable Park”

by February 2020. The coalition believes the park needs visible signage telling the story of the Venables and how the city of Creve Coeur forced them to move because of their race.

“The will of the majority of [Creve Coeur] is that something should be done [to honor the Venables],” Andrea Goldstein said. “That includes permanent signage at the park that tells the true story of how the park was founded and something on the Creve Coeur website as well.”

(Photo by Grace Hensley)

A HIDDEN HISTORY

Congregation Shaare Emeth aims to change name of Beirne Park RHEA KAW news staff

LUCY LOCHMOELLER news staff

RHEA PATNEY news editor

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ongregation Shaare Emeth and citizens of the Creve Coeur area are taking initiative to change the name of Beirne Park after learning the racist origins of the park’s name.

“Two years ago, [Shaare Emeth] began a social justice listening campaign,” Rabbi Andrea Goldstein at Shaare Emeth said. “One of our members, Jim Singer, told this story that he had uncovered of how [Beirne] Park came to be. After learning about it, [Singer] couldn’t think about anything else because he [felt that] it was wrong, and justice needed to be brought. The story of the park didn’t go away, [so] members of our congregation started working on it.”

Beirne Park is located off of Spoede Road on a culde-sac within a neighborhood called Countryview Estates. The park was built in the 1950s after a neighborhood dispute between a black family and white citizens 10.31.19

living in the neighborhood. In April 1956, Dr. Howard and Katie Venable, along with 11 other black families, purchased lots in the neighborhood then known as Spoede Meadows. After doing so, they were approached by a committee of citizens within Creve Coeur and told that they weren’t welcome to live there due to their race. The Venables were determined not to sell their lot and continued to build their house. “[After the Venables chose not to sell], the committee of citizens came up with two proposed ordinances,” Singer said. “If a group of neighbors came up with money for a park land acquisition, the city would then take the property that the citizens had designated and turn it into a park. The second ordinance was that they would take the Venable’s lot for this park. A lawsuit was filed against the Venable’s property in October [1956], and this lawsuit dragged on for three years. Finally, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the city. The Venables were forced out.”

Howard was an ophthalmologist and one of the first black professors at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. He worked at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, Creve Coeur’s hospital for people of color.

Howard was respected within his community. However,

SPREAD DESIGN BY R. PATNEY

his prominence and admiration from others did not “Some people are also talking about [the city of protect him from the forces of racism.

Creve Coeur] or private citizens making a contribution “Dr. Venable was a pillar in his community, and to the Venable Foundation at Washington University St. people really looked up to him, but he was still treated Louis that helps low-income African American students very badly by Creve Coeur,” Andrea said. “The other attend medical school,” Andrea said. families folded right away and left, but the Venables This project is set to be completed by February 2020, fought back, and their case went to the Missouri State as that is Black History Month. In order to achieve this Supreme Court.” goal, Singer, Andrea and other The park is currently named supporters must convince Creve after John T. Beirne, the mayor of Coeur city officials that proceedCreve Coeur at the time. Beirne was ing with this plan is what the the leader of the white resistance majority of Creve Coeur wants to When I was a kid, I used to go do. The supporters of this project to keep black people out of Spoede Meadows. As the citizens of Creve to Beirne Park every day. When I want to educate the public so Coeur started to learn the original realized that a place I have such a that the history of the park’s oribeginnings of Beirne Park, they gins is known to as many people started to try to fix the wrongdoings strong childhood connection with as possible. Senior Eli Goldstein, has this deep history, I wanted a member of Shaare Emeth and the city of Creve Coeur committed in the past. more people to know about it.” Andrea’s son, is trying to make The goal of Shaare Emeth’s Ladue students aware of the campaign is to spread awareness story.

-Eli Goldstein, 12 and make amends. The campaign “[The story of the park] is a is hoping to not only change the name of the park, reminder that the history we read about in our textbut also to have Creve Coeur publicly recognize their books happens right down the road from where we past actions by creating permanent signage at the park live,” Eli said. “It’s helpful to see that things still need to and on the Creve Coeur website telling the Venable’s be changed, even within our school. We preach about history. Additionally, they hope to create some form of diversity, and then we forget. Even things like the name curriculum that teaches students the story in history of the park are a reminder of the history of our city that classes at school. kept black people out of their neighborhoods.”

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COFFEE with the MAYOR OBJECTIVE: Discuss the history of the park and what can be done in the near future to make amends.

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SPEAKERS: Creve Coeur Mayor Barry Glantz and Venable Park Coalition leader Jim Singer will give a presentation.

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LOCATION: Danforth Plant Center. 975 N. Warson Road.

DATE AND TIME: Nov. 6. at 7:00 p.m.

NNA LIN

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NEWS

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New to The Lou

A closer look at the attractions coming to downtown STL

DIORA TON staff writer

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s the year comes to a close, many changes are taking place in St. Louis. Throughout this fall and the coming winter months, attractions will continue to be added to the Union Station area as a part of the $187 million entertainment complex built by Lodging Hospitality Management. The com-

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pany president, Steve O’Loughlin, considers the new construction a part of a “St. Louis Renaissance,” alongside the changes to the Gateway Arch grounds, the City Foundry Public Market and the Ballpark Village expansion. Union Station has been a vital part of St. Louis since the late 1800s; with its Gold Leaf Grand Hall and stained glass windows, the once bustling train station also serves as a hotel and wedding

venue. Previously, Union Station housed a shopping mall as well.

Since it was sold in 2012 to LHM, the space has undergone extensive renovations to rebrand it as an entertainment center for locals and excursionists alike. The additions of a Ferris wheel, aquarium and soccer stadium are aimed to attract tourists back to the area and emphasize the reinvention of one of St. Louis’ most celebrated landmarks.

With construction completed in late September, the new 200-foot tall Union Station observation wheel is officially open to the public. Complete with 42 climate-controlled gondolas and 1.6 million flashing LED lights, the wheel promises to impress visitors with a beautiful view of the St. Louis skyline. Tickets are priced at $10 for children and $15 for adults to ride the wheel, and attractions, such as a carousel and mini golf course, are also available at the structure’s base. For those looking for a more extravagant experience, a gondola with leather bucket seats, a stereo system and a glass floor can also be rented for $50 per person.

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The new St. Louis Aquarium, the centerpiece of the Union Station renovation, is set to open to the public by the end of the year. In addition to a 250,000 gallon shark tank, visitors will be able to walk through an immersive switchback tunnel that enables up-close observation of the aquatic animals. The new aquarium will be home to more than 13,000 animals and will boast 44 exhibits, including both oceanic and freshwater habitats. The freshwater habitats will highlight the Mississippi river ecosystem. In addition to the aquarium, visitors can visit three new restaurants, a ropes course and a mirror maze just outside the aquarium center later this year.

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Aquarium

Following the announcement that Major League Soccer awarded St. Louis with its 28th team, architects revealed plans for a $200 million stadium in downtown St. Louis. The renderings of the space show an open-air structure with a stretched canopy to protect spectators and a field that sits 40 feet below street level. The design also includes entrances on all sides of the stadium that accommodate 22,500 visitors. The stadium will host at least 20 MLS home games every year in addition to concerts and collegiate matches. With construction beginning in the upcoming year, the stadium should be completed in time for the 2022 MLS season.

SPREAD DESIGN BY R. KAW; J. KORENBLAT & E. TURKIELTAUB

English teacher Shruti Upadhyay poses while attending a wedding. Upadhyay described the struggles of keeping her Indian culture present in her life. “With my kids, I have to force them to wear Indian clothes, but we try to make them do that even if it’s at home,” Upadhyay said. “I definitely cook Indian food at least twice a week.”(Photo courtesy of Ryan Walther)

DEFINING CULTURE

English teacher Shruti Upadhyay shares stories surrounding culture at Ladue ERIN TURKIELTAUB features editor

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or many students, striving to make all people feel accepted is key. However, those outside of the welcoming arms of Ladue have suffered from cultural discrimination.

English teacher Shruti Upadhyay has seen both sides of the spectrum throughout her journey of accepting her Indian culture.

After moving from Connecticut to St. Louis in second grade, Upadhyay started to feel different from her peers. She went from a confident, outgoing child in Connecticut to a quiet, seclusive classmate in St. Louis, due to the fact that she was one of three children of color in her school.

She was teased frequently for being different from the other students. “[One day], I got up to get off the bus, and the sixth graders held my backpack and wouldn’t let me off,” Upadhyay said. “And I said, ‘let me go, let me go,’ and the bus driver didn’t do anything. So I finally pulled my backpack, ran off the bus [with] tears streaming down my face and [thought], ‘I hate St. Louis; I hate this place.’”

As Upadhyay grew, her interest in her background and heritage expanded as well. Due to her father’s love of Indian music and art, Upadhyay was exposed to the Indian culture. At 14,

Upadhyay saw a performance by an Indian dancer that forever changed her life.

“It was almost like a spiritual, soul-stirring experience of a performance because what [the dancer] did in combination with the music [was] powerful,” Upadhyay said. “I feel like anything I had done before was just insignificant.”

The performance led Upadhyay to pursue Indian dance. She traveled to the southern part of India where she lived for six years to major in dance and modern music.

Upadhyay learned to conform to the cultural differences of southern India. Not having the ability to leave school to buy bread forced her to conform to the cultural standards of India.

“I also had a mission when I came back. I want to make sure that this next generation knows their culture and is proud of it,” Upadhyay said. “I think that when you grow up in America, you tend to downplay your culture because it’s not the majority norm. It feels kind of weird to wear cultural clothing and go outside and feel proud.”

Throughout her lifetime, Upadhyay has faced the pain caused by being a cultural minority in America. But since coming to teach at the Ladue School District, Upadhyay has yet to feel the way she did in

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her childhood.

“I think Ladue is very unique,” Upadhyay said. “I’ve taught at two other schools, and I think Ladue is probably the most diverse district.

I think, naturally, we embrace each other for our differences, and I love that.”

Senior Kashish Dhawan also strives to keep her culture present in her life. Dhawan has learned to find a balance between her cultures. She has also experienced the feelings that arise from being a minority in America.

“Sometimes, I look around and realize that I am the only Indian in the room,” Dhawan said. “I realize that no one else at that moment fully understands where I’m coming from, but at the same time, everyone has different backgrounds.

That’s what makes us all unique.”

Upadhyay takes pride in teaching at a school that accepts all students. She understands that this is not the case everywhere and is greatful to be a part of a community that supports others.

“You can see that with the Sparkle cheerleaders, too; you don’t have that at every school,” Upadhyay said. “You don’t have kids who are able to deal with kids who are different, and you roll with it. It’s kind of cool, and I think Ladue is very unique.”

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RED, WHITE AND BLUES Daniel Jung plays the National Anthem at Blues game Oct. 17

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CHRIS CHEN staff writer

The beginning of Daniel Jung’s part:

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Daniel Jung stands in front Enterprise Center in preparation for the loudest applause he has ever received. After playing trombone for six years, Jung was finally given a chance to do what he loves in front of cheering Blues fans. “[Music is] a hobby I’m good at.” Jung said.“No matter where I go, I think it’ll be a great time-passer.”

(Photo by Sunny Lu)

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uring the War of 1812, lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key witnessed the successful defense of a U.S. fort against British forces. Filled with patriotism, he wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which since then, has been played at countless parades, concerts, military occasions and sporting events. On the ice of a St. Louis Blues home game, senior Daniel Jung added to the legacy by performing the National Anthem alongside a quartet of other students.

Before he could get to the Enterprise Center, Jung had to audition for the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and compete against prestigious musicians, some coming from Ladue.

“You can’t really expect much in auditions,” Jung said.

“It was over 400 contestants.”

Jung greatly enjoys playing the trombone and started learning when he was in fifth grade. His band teacher, Aaron Lehde, has watched him develop his trombone playing over the past five of those seven years.

“Daniel is an exceptional musician,” Lehde said. “His brain absorbs music in a deep, mature manner. It’s really impressive to watch and hear. The best part is watching how much he enjoys playing music.”

Jung’s skills led him to audition for the SLSYO, which is where he initially found out about the competition.

Taking the opportunity, Jung organized a quartet with three other trombone students from different high schools. One key hurdle the quartet had to face was coordinating their differing schedules.

“One guy is in Illinois, so we couldn’t really practice,” Jung said. “In total, we only did three practices: once to send the recording for preliminary rounds, the second to practice and the third to make sure everything was good.”

Out of 250 submissions, only 25 were accepted for the live auditions hosted at Powell Hall. Jung’s trombone quartet qualified.

“The live auditions were terrifying,” Anna Zhong, senior competition finalest, said. “Everyone except us and Daniel’s group were singers, and they sounded amazing.”

Unfortunately for his group, Jung had to miss the first round of auditions due to a conflicting SAT Subject Test scheduled on the same date, which he had confirmed with the group beforehand. Despite this, his quartet managed to advance to the final round, which consisted of 11 other entries including Zhong’s string quartet. Jung arrived just in time for their final audition.

“The judges were very chill and had a laid-back

SPREAD DESIGN BY C. COUGHLIN & K. HOLLAND

manner,” Jung said. “[Our quartet] talked with them, and some of the dialogue eased our nerves.”

Jung’s audition began with quite a rocky start. In the beginning, Jung realized he didn’t have his sheet music properly set up.

“I panicked and thought, ‘What am I going to do?’

There wasn’t time for me to change it when we had a break. Luckily, I memorized it on the spot,” Jung said.

Memorization is one of Jung’s strong suits. By 11th grade, band teacher Lehde noticed that Jung could play through all 44 tunes of the Pep Band repertoire by memory. This same set of skills allowed playing the National Anthem to come with ease for Jung.

“When they were about to announce the winner, we all got into arc formation for the cameras,” Jung said. “The camera was pointed at us, and I thought, ‘Whatever happens, at least I’ll make the shot.’ I didn’t expect much because I haven’t won anything like it.”

When the judges revealed that Jung’s quartet had won, it didn’t register to him at first because he originally thought he had slim chances; the other competitors seemed just as talented. The realization finally dawned on him as three different TV crews crowded around to interview them.

“When they called my name, I just looked at the group and said, ‘Ok, what now?’” Jung said. “I just remember thinking this was something big.”

Jung’s quartet had created an original arrangement based off “The Star-Spangled Banner.” He believes it was what distinguished them from the others.

“I think a key aspect of how we won was that everyone else did a traditional take while we put a bluesy spin to ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’” Jung said.

The rendition was put together thanks to another talented trombonist in the quartet, Thomas Gustafson, a sophomore from Clayton High School. As a result of the competition, Jung has developed a stronger bond with his fellow musicians. He also gained a lot of insight by working with others. “[It helped me] realize what I can do to help the greater community and how can I be a part of something bigger than myself,” Jung said. “The trombone section has gotten a lot closer.”

Jung hopes to continue his passion well beyond his high school years. “[In the future], I’m sure he’ll be involved in something really special. I’m sure that music will be a part of his life, too. I can’t wait to see where he goes next,” Lehde said.

Instrumental vs. vocal Controversy surrounded the contest as fans on social media were divided about an instrumental rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Christopher Singler Sep 4

Replying to @StLouisBlues

For any other team it might not make sense, but for a team named the blues it sure does.

5 Tony Loyal Sep 4

Replying to @StLouisBlues

Wait, what? No actual anthem singer, just a horn rendition of the anthem before each home game?

Uh no, horrible idea. This is the NHL, not a high school game.

17 Alex Donovan Sep 4

Replying to @StLouisBlues

This is perfect. U can’t get anymore St. Louis Blues than this.

1 ZVBO Sep 4

Replying to @StLouisBlues

“The most important song in our country” is going to be played by 4 trombones...

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Check out Jung and his quartet’s rendition of the National Anthem here.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY J. BRY & G. HU

photo illustration by ANNA LINER & SUNNY LU

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IN-DEPTH

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KNOW 1

Reporting

A student, employee or any other person can file a complaint with a compliance officer verbally or through a written complaint.

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The Title IX pr confusing, bu Here’s a b

investigation The school district will immediately launch an investigation. All parties involved must cooperate.

SPREAD DESIGN BY G. HU

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NINE 3 filing

rocess may seem ut it shouldn’t be. breakdown:

After the complaint has been filed for 30 working days, the officer will produce a report deciding whether there was a violation of Title IX policy.

4 appeal

Within five days of the officer’s decision, people involved can appeal. Within 10 days of the appeal, the superintendent will make a final decision on whether there was a Title IX violation.

INER art by ANNA L

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IN-DEPTH

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A look into the usage of Title IX at Ladue SOPHIA LIU in-depth staff

SUNNY LU photo editor

MARISSA MATHIESON in-depth staff

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o person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Title IX is the federal civil law that prevents sex discrimination and ensures equal access in education.

What does that mean in practice? It is actually far more all-encompassing than one may think. Everything

from people at school misgendering or deadnaming — using the wrong pronouns or former names — transgender students, to any sort of bullying and harassment on the basis of gender, gender expression or sexual orientation must be dealt with under Title IX. Federal law ensures that every school in the country that receives federal funding promptly responds to Title IX complaints and create a safe environment for all people, free of gender violence.

“As a matter of fact, for our gender non-confirming binary students, we do have gender-neutral bathrooms available, since that is a right that students have,” Ladue’s Title IX coordinator Derrick Wallace said.

Despite having gender-neutral bathrooms, they are sometimes

locked. Nevertheless, many schools don’t have facilities like these at all.

Additionally, Title IX ensures equal educational opportunities for gender minorities and survivors of sexual violence. However, none of this can be carried out without students themselves knowing their own rights.

“It’s really important that students know about these rights because some of these things that would involve Title IX happen so frequently, but students don’t even know about it,” senior Elizabeth Lloynd, president of Gender & Sexuality Alliance, said.

One of the most common situations involving Title IX is sexual harassment. It is no secret that sexual harassment and assault can be re-

THE STORY OF

A brief history of Title IX policies a rt

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by A NNA L

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1972 Title IX’s Education Amendments are signed into law by Richard Nixon.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY S. LIU & M. MATHIESON

alities for Ladue students. But many survivors are either unaware of their rights in school under Title IX, or they are simply too apprehensive to speak up. Any student, regardless of what they identify as, is legally protected under Title IX. The school has an obligation to protect and keep students safe.

If a student is sexually harassing another student, in or out of school –– whether that be sending them unsolicited, explicit pictures; touching them inappropriately or saying sexual things that make them uncomfortable –– they have the right to report it, and Title IX requires schools to deal with this issue swiftly and effectively. Homophobic and transphobic harassment is an explicit Title IX violation that the school has to address.

“The district does a lot of things to ensure that students are respected, and so, we have teachers go through training every now and then,” Wallace said.

Teachers at Ladue go through seminars or training sessions to help ensure the protection of students. According to federal law, teachers are required to report po-

tential Title IX violations, since they and capability of helping student are mandated reporters. As a result, survivors because of deadline exwitnessing behavior, like calling tension policies and counseling at people discriminatory slurs, will school that they can provide, someresult in a required report. thing that law enforcement cannot “The school actually brought in necessarily guarantee with sexual a social worker during Professionassault cases. al Development, and she gave a This is not even beginning to really insightful seminar on how to touch on the immense harm of respect students’ pronouns, their law enforcement involvement in gender identities or things that sexual assault cases. Police officers might involve students’ rights,” are often not equipped with the American government teacher Molly skills or capabilities to deal with the Beck said. emotional trauma in the aftermath Because Title IX is a civil law of assault. Title IX provides a civil rather than a alternative to criminal one, the legal sysreports of tem, allowing sexual assault for schools to through Title become a safe IX complaints Even if something happenes, stu- space. should not “A lot of dents might not know that Title times, teachers involve law IX protects them.” enforcement. and staff want Law enforceto be involved ment often— for instance, times complirespecting -Elizabeth Lloynd, 12 cates student people’s prosurvivors’ lives, nouns — but dragging a case over the course of sometimes, they don’t know how to months or even years. In reality, ask or how to approach them,” Beck schools have greater responsibility said.

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1979

1988

2011

Title IX Athletics Policy allows equal opportunity in sports.

Schools that receive federal funds must comply with Title IX.

Title IX protects students against sexual harassment.

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IN-DEPTH

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PANO PERSPECTIVE Our community is living in a bubble of entitlement

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e are entitled. Here at our high school, one often hears snide comments filled with constant disrespect toward staff, classes and just about every part of the building.

Whether that is complaining about blocked content on school-distributed Macbook Airs to bragging about one’s wealth, many students display entitlement to the most extreme of standards.

However, it’s important to know why. According to an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2018, Ladue was the highest income zip code in the St. Louis area. With that abundance of wealth comes the plentiful resources that Ladue students can utilize every day, but it can also result in a dangerous mentality where students either do not or are unable to recognize their own entitlement.

It is insensitive to seek out and illuminate the faults in the resources available to Ladue students without recognizing the realities of the many less fortunate school districts across St. Louis.

Our students live in a “Ladue bubble,” both physically and mentally. Students are hesitant to leave the comfort and familiarity of the Ladue community. The first football game of the year was a mere fifteen minutes away at Ritenour High School, yet many students did not want to go on the basis of its distance.

This is just one example of students’ apprehension with leaving and exploring the many things outside of what the Ladue bubble has to offer.

Students are missing out when they ER simply never leave Ladue.

Additionally, it is important to note that not everyone at Ladue comes from economic stability and comfort. That makes it even more crucial for students who do to be aware of the privileges they have and the assumptions they make about the livelihoods of their peers. Not every Ladue student drives a Tesla and has parents fully able and willing to pay their college tuition. Not every Ladue student can depend on consistent parental income. Not every Ladue

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student has an extra laptop at home to do homework if their school laptop is broken. While we might have the reputation and statistical generalization of being high-achieving, rich and privileged, that is not the reality for many Ladue students.

To make students more aware of their entitlement, it is important to point out some of the instances in which students’ actions and words represent their mentality. In the hallways and classrooms, students often complain about how the school looks, as if Ladue had not just undergone an $81 million renovation. After lunch, many students leave trash on the tables in the cafeteria, expecting someone to pick up after them, when it is the students’ responsibility to pick up after themselves. There are students who flippantly talk about spending money on luxury items in class while other students rarely get new clothes. As a student body in general, we often are ungrateful about all the phenomenal facilities and programs we have access to. From the athletic departments to the TV screens in every hall, from all of the caring teachers to the plethora of sports, from the fully stocked library to the award-winning clubs and teams, students rarely appreciate what they are given, and this is a major problem.

Ladue is especially blessed with its faculty who truly care about them and their academic success. We often overlook the hard work and dedication of our teachers. Students need to take advantage of the resources we have and respect what we’ve been given, whether that be our MacBooks or new building space. Some students need to be more conscious of their privilege, some students need to pick up after themselves after lunch and some students need to stop complaining about trivial things when we are surrounded by resources and opportunities. Here at Ladue, we have so much to be grateful for, and the general culture of entitlement of the student body does not reflect that.

It is time that changes.

SPREAD DESIGN BY E. WILLICK & C. EDGAR

NUMBERS ON NUMBERS Statistics about flat fines around the U.S.

20% of those serving time in prison are there because they did not pay a fine according to the Council of Economic Advisors

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states increased their civil and criminal court fees from 2010 to 2014 according to the Brennan Center for Justice

People leaving prison owe on average

$13,607 in fines and fees according to the Ella Baker Center

art by CASSIE BEISHEIM

IT’S NOT FINE The dangers of flat fines and why we should change them TARIQ LASHLEY opinions staff

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rom 2010 to 2014, according to the Fines & Fees Justice Center, Meredith Walker was jailed 19 times and spent 67 total days in a jail cell. She couldn’t afford a lawyer, nor a proper defense attorney. In the end, Walker paid over $15,000 for a thing she couldn’t fix.

Walker wasn’t imprisoned for drug possession, nor any violent crimes.

Her four year journey throughout the U.S. prison system started because of a single traffic ticket. In her first hearing, the judge charged her $1,800, an amount Walker had no means of reaching due to her job not paying nearly enough. After she missed that deadline, a warrant was placed for her arrest, taking away any chance she had to pay the fine.

After her sentence, she was unable to get another job, which lead to even more fines. Walker traveled from court to court, leading to more and more debt. This created a cycle of pain that she couldn’t escape.

For a wealthier person who happens to end up in the exact same situation, speeding poses very little threat. When they are pulled over and fined by a police officer, they may simply shrug, knowing that the ticket can easily be paid off the following day.

Situations like these aren’t rare.

They are normal, everyday occurrences that affect many Americans on a constant basis. This system is called the flat fine, where one’s income does not play a factor in defining the cost of a fine. This gives those who have more money a free pass from the consequences of their actions, while those without suffer. Studies conducted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine

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OPINIONS

even show that those with a higher socioeconomic status have an increased rate of unethical behavior, as punishment and consequences are easier to bypass with supplementary money.

This practice of flat fines has created a systematic, classist system where it is almost a crime in itself to be poor in our country. While America strives to reach a supposedly unbiased system when it comes to the law — where everyone is judged equally — those who live paycheck to paycheck could serve unreasonable amounts of jail time purely for being unable to pay a simple fine because of uncontrollable factors.

In France, Germany, Finland and many other countries, a system of day-fines is utilized, in which the amount to be paid is calculated based on the offender’s daily personal income. This system, while not a perfect fix, would be able to remove the unfair advantages the upper class has when it comes to the fine system.

Changing our system to day-fines would also decrease the amount of people who are forced into the American prison system. Studies

by Duke University School of Law show that in Germany, after implementing the day-fine system, there was a dramatic decrease in the amount of prison sentences, as many of the nonviolent crimes committed were simply due to being unable to afford their fines.

It is clear to me that the simplest answer to our classist problem in the court and government systems in place is to remove flat fines from the equation. This solution can both fix the over-encumbered American prison system and lessen the strain on the lower, middle and working-class families.

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Ladue needs life skills classes

Life skills should be taught in a school environment MADALYN ABADY editor-in-chief

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e have all been there.

You’re sitting in class, and the teacher is covering an extremely complicated topic. As you’re trying your best to keep your focus, you hear a looming voice echo from behind. “Excuse me, but when are we actually going to use this?” it asks. You keep your focus, brushing off the question as just another daily occurrence, but in the back of your mind, you know the answer to your classmate’s question: likely never.

Navigating life after high school can be chaotic to say the least. The things we are currently being taught in class don’t necessarily hold their

own in the real world. As much as I wish it could, memorizing trigonometric values is not going to help with everyday issues like replacing a flat tire. Let’s face it: the things we learn in class are great and extremely important in terms of furthering our own knowledge in specific fields of study that we wish to pursue.

However, they fail to teach us the skills that we need to be armed with to combat life after high school.

Imagine if there were a class in our curriculum in which you would never hear the familiar question of whether we were “actually going to use this” because everything in that class was designed around the problems faced in everyday situations.

I’m proposing that Ladue should start a life skills course that would be required for all students to take in order to graduate.

A life skills class’ curriculum would be filled to the brim with skills that are specifically designed to be used in life. The semester course could cover topics such as first-aid, how to jumpstart a car, how to file taxes, how to cook simple meals and so many more skills that would help the average adult.

After completing the course, students would come out of the class feeling like they have a grip on what life after high school will throw at them. Considering that there is already enough stress and anxiety regarding adulthood as is, a required class could help minimize that burden. I think it would be an amazing investment in a student’s future. If Ladue could implement a required life skills course, I’m certain that students would feel more prepared to face life head-on.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY E. WILLICK & C. EDGAR

A DISORDER ISN’T AN ADJECTIVE

Why nobody should joke about mental illnesses CARLY WOODHILL opinions staff

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hear it in the hallways and in class: people saying things like, “Oh, I just organized my binder. My OCD was really kicking in there!” or “God, I couldn’t focus on that test at all! ADD, am I right?” I hear it so often, and quite frankly, hearing people say things like this makes me irrationally angry — but that doesn’t mean I’m going to say I have anger issues.

Someone who is simply irritated by their messy binder doesn’t necessarily have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the disorder doesn’t automatically relate to cleaning. There is a disturbingly common misconception that OCD actually stands for obsessive-cleaning disorder, but this is not true in the slightest. It is, as defined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “a mental disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions) and behaviors that drive them to do something over and over (compulsions).”

OCD isn’t cleaning up a room, nor is it organizing a pencil case.

The illness’ effects can range from checking the door exactly seven times before someone leaves the house, not necessarily because they forgot to lock it, but because their mind is commanding them to, to compulsively washing their hands until they are raw, and the

skin bleeds from the slightest chafe.

The effects are seen in the horrible and paralyzing fear that comes with OCD — that if you do not do this certain thing this specific number of times, something horrible will occur and it will be your fault.

Quite frankly, having OCD sounds terrifying. And that is just the start of the list of symptoms.

For clarification, I don’t have OCD. I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is classified as “a disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development,” according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

ADHD used to cause almost a daily disruption in my life, with focus being an impossible goal. Nevertheless, with the help of therapy and medication, it doesn’t affect me nearly as much as it used to. However, hearing people trivialize the issue by so casually and thoughtlessly stating that they have this disorder that affects me so much — it hurts.

It is ignorance, flat out, of the issues and suffering caused by mental illness. I encourage anyone reading this to ask themselves if they say things like this, and if so, make an effort to stop saying them.

This change isn’t hard, and it wouldn’t take much effort to accomplish while, at the same time, achieving the effect of making those who do live with these disorders feel a little more safe.

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OPINIONS

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D E N E C S T TRUE E M I R CE C R I M S S PODCAS O R C T O TS ON

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SERIAL “Serial” is one of the most popular podcasts of all time, and it’s easy to see why. Hosted by journalist and radio host Sarah Koenig, the podcast explores one specific criminal case per season, carefully analyzing it over the course of multiple hourlong episodes. Just one episode into season one, I found myself thoroughly fascinated with the case, my mind racing with questions and theories. The most addictive quality of the podcast is its approachability; one of the first things Koenig states in the episode is that she isn’t a detective, but simply someone extremely intrigued by crime. This admission of inexperience connects Koenig with each listener, and rather than listening to an expert give a report about what’s been found, I feel as though I’m uncovering portions of the case alongside Koenig. Pieces of evidence are revealed in a way that makes the listener sympathize with the suspect, then question their motives. Five years after its initial conception, “Serial” continues to satiate the interest in crime of millions of listeners and sets the gold standard in making investigative journalism interesting.

CRIMINAL CRIMINAL “Criminal” is hosted primarily by award-winning journalist Phoebe Judge but frequently switches hosts mid-episode. The podcast touches on a variety of cases and topics that fall under a common theme in each short 20-minute episode. For instance, the first episode delves into the subject of animals in crime.

The theory of an owl committing a murder in a famous homicide case is discussed for half the episode. Then, the narrative abruptly switches to a variety of other animal-related crimes throughout history, as well as the punishment dealt out to the animals. This style of podcast is much less serious than one that focuses on one case over multiple episodes; listeners do not have to play the episodes in order and can select episodes that examine themes interesting to them. The lack of continuity in the podcast may not be for everyone, and I found myself slightly annoyed that each case was probed just enough to pique my interest but then dismissed and forgotten. For those who aren’t seeking to fully immerse themselves in a case, “Criminal” is the perfect light-hearted true crime podcast.

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SPREAD DESIGN BY H. CHAN & C. TYRRELL

Scare Scale: Movie edition Find the perfect movie for Halloween based on your scare tolerance DANIEL CHAYET a&e writer

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Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

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Monster House (2006) Scare Level: Low

If you’re looking for a movie on the lighter side of the Halloween movie gamut, “Monster House” is a great throwback option. This animated piece follows a trio of preteens as they face their fears by investigating the seemingly-haunted house on their street and its elderly owner. Although the graphics might not hold up almost a decade-and-a-half later, the story, co-written by Dan Harmon (“Community,” “Rick and Morty,” “Yacht Rock”), certainly does. This flick explores important themes, such as loneliness, grief and ableism, and has its share of hair-raising moments. Nevertheless, it still remains appropriate for younger audiences. For family-friendly fear, “Monster House” is the way to go.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Scare Level: Medium

For the Goldilocks of scare levels — not too high, not too low — “The Cabin in the Woods” is a solid pick. This movie centers on a cast of five college students (including Chris Hemsworth) as they spend a weekend away at, you guessed it, a cabin in the woods. The flick features many twists interspersed with comedy, so it is a great option for those who want to watch a more balanced movie on Halloween. Its puzzling plot leaves you itching to see the end. Although it doesn’t always work, the movie, with a screenplay co-written by Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly,” “The Avengers”), is somewhat self-aware and pokes fun at the genre ­— slasher films in particular. I found this a refreshing alternative to the homogenous sea of horror movies that fans have to choose from. If you want to enjoy a funny and scary piece that won’t keep you up for a week, “The Cabin in the Woods” will surely satisfy.

Photo courtesy of Foxtel Movies

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Photo courtesy of Blockbusters

Seven (1995) Scare Level: High

With a runtime clocking in at over two hours, “Seven” is on the longer side of the spectrum. However, this action-packed thriller easily fills that time and is perfect for those who want to constantly be on the edge of their seats. Morgan Freeman, in one of the most critically lauded performances of his career, stars opposite Brad Pitt as a pair of police detectives tasked with catching a serial killer whose murders all share a common theme.

While less of a strictly horror film, the gruesome crime scenes, exhilarating pursuits and mythological and biblical references keep this film in that vein. The shadowy, gray and urban setting with perpetual precipitation also serves to darken the mood of the piece, as does the stellar dialogue; it has its share of punchy one-liners, but it also has more depth and complexity than your average cop flick. If you want a movie to make your heart rate jump, “Seven” is for you.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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SPEED SKATER GLIDES TO NATIONALS Junior Kaitlyn Thornton qualifies for national speed skating competition

Junior Kaitlyn Thornton practices speed skating.

Thornton trained long and rigorous hours to become one of the top youth skaters in the country. “[Speed skating] helps you improve your self confidence,” Thornton said. “It helps you get in shape, because literally, speed skating burns the most calories out of any other sport, besides maybe swimming.” (Photos by Nicole Kalishman)

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SPREAD DESIGN BY J. KORN & D. FENOGLIO

JACOB KORN sports editor

MATTHEW KWEON staff writer

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he rapid tap of skates on ice is followed by a periodical slice, each skater reaching speeds of up to 35 mph. An exhilarating rush of adrenaline courses through junior Kaitlyn Thornton’s veins as she competes in the National Speed Skating Championships. All of the other athletes seemed supremely talented, so Thornton tried to elevate herself to the peak of her game.

“Nationals is like walking amongst giants,” Thornton said.

“The people who go to nationals are the people who just barely don’t make the Olympics, so the people there are very competitive.

Mid-westerners don’t win very often, so admittedly, many times I was getting my butt handed to me.”

Thornton originally pursued figure skating as a child. This changed when she saw the 2010 Winter Olympics on her television.

“I saw speed skating for the first time ever,” Thornton said. “I always liked racing; I always liked going fast. I saw that, and I was like, ‘That’s the sport.’ That’s what I wanted to do.”

A love for speed skating continued to develop for Thornton. She began to practice for nearly eight hours a week on the ice and committed herself to about an hour of conditioning every single day. Her coach, Maxine Thomas, noticed her hard work and the contributions it made to her skill. Thomas admired these characteristics and her devotion to the sport. “[Thornton] is very diligent and dedicated,” Thomas said. “She works very hard at the ice rink.

She always is early to practice. She always has been a strong skater and [is] improving every year. She never gives up, and it paid off last

year. She made her [speed skating] times for nationals and was able to attend the biggest competition in our sport.”

When Thornton arrived at the National Speed Skating Championships, she was able to witness Olympians take the ice before her and the other competitors. This was an inspirational experience for Thornton, and it taught her a lot about the sport she loved.

“Oh my god, it was gorgeous,” Thornton said. “You could see them skating, and every single stroke was methodical. It was clean. It was silent. There’s noise when you make contact with the ice, but if you’re a really good skater, you hear almost nothing.”

Thornton started to race with zeal. Hard work and inspiration, combined with an aptitude for skating, gave her a distinct advantage over other skaters.

“Kaitlyn is a really gifted skater,” Chris Knicmmeyer, a teammate, said. “She has competed on the national level, and I’m incredibly excited to see where she will go.”

Thornton’s speed skating run to nationals also included many challenges, such as the danger of losing interest in the sport. Even Thornton admitted that the sport is very monotonous, and it routinely makes her susceptible to a lack motivation.

Due to the nature of the sport, it is up to the skater to push themself to find motivation and their passion for the sport. This allows them to reach their full potential, and Thornton and many other skaters benefit from this work ethic.

“I had a race where I realized how much I loved the sport because, for once, I wasn’t slacking off, and I actually did the work and put it in … and I actually succeeded,” Thornton said. “The first time I qualified for nationals, I actually started crying because I was just so, so happy because I have been trying for four or five years, and I finally achieved it.”

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SPORTS

Captains’ Corner Boys Swimming

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I motivate the team members and am the liaison between the team and the coach.”

Jacob Sheldon , 12

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My biggest role is to oversee the development of all of our team’s members.”

William Pan , 11 Photos by Nicole Kalishman

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Spreading s’

LIGHT

The Dougan family continues daughter’s legacy by creating a foundation in her name DOMENIC FENOGLIO

sports editor

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he sparkling, silver glint of the Stanley Cup sitting on Wightman Field on a sunny Thursday afternoon is reminiscent of Arianna Dougan’s personality; from her Fancy Nancy Halloween costume to her glittering chandelier, everything about Ari radiated like a star. That light shone throughout her losing battle against neuroblastoma. It also sparked an unlikely, unbreakable friendship with St. Louis Blues forward Vladmir Tarasenko.

Tarasenko and the Blues organization supported Ari her life after diagnosis. After her passing, they hoped to do something special for her two older brothers, sophomore

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Aidan and senior Liam Dougan. The Blues arranged to bring the cup to Ladue Horton Watkins High School as a surprise.

“I was a little bit shocked for most of it,” Liam said. “It was a well-kept secret.”

Ari’s story began long before the Blues hoisted the cup. She first met Tarasenko at a Hockey Fights Cancer night; she got to walk down a red carpet with the Blues player. She immediately made an impression, and her mother, Lori Zucker, noticed the bond formed between them because of Ari’s shimmering personality.

“They assigned each kid a player, and she happened to get Mr. Tarasenko,” Zucker said. “He was super sweet. They immediately became friends. Ari had that kind of effect on people; she batted her eyes and they

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became her best friend.”

It wasn’t long before the Blues invited Ari on a road trip with the team to Arizona and Colorado so she could watch them play the Coyotes and the Avalanche. Her mother saw that her dazzling attitude inspired all of those around her.

“It was so amazing. They treated us like royalty,” Zucker said. “[Tarasenko] walked her onto the plane, where they had all kinds of things waiting for us. Everybody high-fived her, and [the pilots] went over the announcements and said, ‘We would like to welcome Arianna Dougan.’ They did anything they could do to make it special.”

The Colorado Avalanche were also kind to Ari, giving her a placard and a stuffed animal to remember her trip. Still loyal to her hometown,

SPREAD DESIGN BY D. FENOGLIO

FAR LEFT: A chandelier hangs from Ari Dougan’s ceiling. It was installed during a room makeover. (Photo illustration by Bradford Siwak; art by Cassie Beisheim) TOP: Brothers sophomore Aidan Dougan and senior Liam Dougan sit in their sister’s bedroom with their dog Coco Chanel, whom Ari named, holding a picture of Ari at a Blues game. Ari battled cancer almost her entire life. “Ari had a very special connection with the Blues,” Aidan said. “When Tarasenko walked Ari down the blue carpet, she instantly made a new friend.” (Photo by Bradford Siwak) BOTTOM: Lori Zucker, Aidan Dougan, Liam Dougan and Shawn Dougan stand with the Stanley Cup Oct. 3. The Blues and the school arranged for the cup to be brought as a surprise. “I got called down to the principal’s office,” Aidan said. “They said the Stanley Cup was coming, and we got to present it.”

(Photo by Laura Zoeller)

Ari left the small mascot behind for someone else. The hotel staff, however, thought that she would miss it, so they mailed it back to her home. “[The Colorado Avalanche] gave her a little doll,” Zucker said. “After they left, she said, ‘Mom, why would I want this? I’m a Blues fan. Can I just leave it on the bed? Maybe somebody will take it.’”

After her passing in November 2017, the Blues held a moment of silence at a home game. It felt like the entire team, each and every person she had touched, mourned that day. The student body also provided support to Liam and Aidan.

“The ripple effect she had on the world when she passed away [was amazing],” Aidan said. “I remember coming to school after she passed away, and everyone [was] being really supportive. One kid even wrote a poem about Ari that was really

sweet, even though he never met Ari had a gift. According to her her.” mom, she had the unique ability The Dougans appreciated all of to develop positive relationships the help they received during Ari’s with everyone she encountered, battle, so they looked for a way to even while battling cancer. After give back. Ari her passing, her loved dancing; family hoped to she performed continue that for a dance group bright legacy. called the Pizzaz “The founWe wanted to help othPerformers. So, dation is someer families. When you go her family created thing we created through the treatment, and because Ari had an organization to people do amazing things for this bright, giant raise money for dance therapy for you, you don’t have the time light that she to give back. But now, for- spread,” Zucker cancer patients tunately — unfortunately — said. “She gave to and other chilwe have that opportunity.” people. She made dren in hospitals: Spread Ari’s everyone she met -Lori Zucker Light. feel like her best “We started the Spread Ari’s friend. Now, she’s not here to spread Light foundation because of all the her light, so we want to spread it for amazing foundations that did things her. That would continue to keep for us,” Zucker said. her memory alive.”

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“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.�