Panorama November 2026 by Ladue Publications

PA NO

Training to Failure PG. 18 - 23 Online fitness culture amplifies insecurity and promotes unregulated peptide usage

LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 VOL. 75, ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents 42

PHOTO In High Gear

Max Frank (12) chases adrenaline through mountain biking

HEALTH & SPORTS Clean Sweep

On the Cover

4 5

NEWS News to Know STUCO Steps Up Setting the Scene

6 8 10

PHOTO On Standby

FEATURES Hooking the Yarn New Voice in the Room

10 12

IN-DEPTH Training to Failure

OPINIONS Students Should Respect Public Spaces Opinions to Hear Indifference Makes a Difference Too Many Towns Kill a Doe, Feed a Hunter

OPINIONS

Kill a Doe, Feed a Hunter

The Cornell case brings light to systemic injustice and protection of predators over victims

PA NO

LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 VOL. 75, ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2026

IN-DEPTH

Training to Failure Online fitness culture amplifies insecurity and promotes unregulated peptide usage

Training to Failure PG. 18 - 23 Online fitness culture amplifies insecurity and promotes unregulated peptide usage

CREDITS: Editor’s photo, front and back cover photo by Teo Lee. Front and back cover design by Emery Mao. NOVEMBER 2026

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24 26 28 29 30

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT In the Spotlight Mashing Cultures The Good, the Bad and the Lazy

32 34 36

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HEALTH & SPORTS Sports in Review Clean Sweep

38 40

PHOTO In High Gear

New Voice in the Room FEATURES

“

“Something I have learned through my life is if you’re not really enjoying what you’re doing, it’s gonna be hard no matter what it is. And this is something I enjoy.”

Lindsay Gibson, speech & debate coach

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor’s Note Among the many obsessions high schoolers delve into, the focus on a perfect body has grown over the decades, promoting various activities to reach this so-called “healthy” goal. However, as patience runs out, many have resorted to injecting other substances that speed up the process. And with the convenience of social media, it has never been easier to pull people into this peptide trap. In this November issue’s In-Depth, we explored the influence of the online community on body dysmorphia and peptide usage, directly playing into the rising body standards. Along with the idea of a perfect physique, the story also discusses the implications of peptide usage as an easy way to build muscle. In addition to this, we covered the upcoming November assembly, a feature on the new Speech & Debate Coach Lindsay Gibson, the increasing use of artificial intelligence in movies, a sports story on the varsity football team’s undefeated season and a photo story on Max Frank (12).

Loukya Gillella

Editorial Policy Ladue Media is an open forum for students at Ladue High School. In order to ensure the news we report is accurate, important and relevant to our students, we do not operate under prior review. All content decisions are made by student editors.

Scan to view our full Editorial Policy SPREAD DESIGN BY LOUKYA GILLELLA

Ladue Media Staff EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEFS Madeline Fong Isaac Zelinske PANORAMA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Loukya Gillella DEPUTY EDITORS Medha Chode Amelie Lock DEADLINES MANAGER Emily Pan COPY EDITORS Nathan King Claire Zhang DESIGN EDITOR Margaret Myckatyn ART EDITOR Joyce Li PANORAMA PHOTO EDITOR Teo Lee NEWS EDITOR Alina Tenenbaum FEATURES EDITOR Gabriella Beltranena IN-DEPTH EDITORS Emery Mao Angella Zhang OPINIONS EDITOR Sophie Cowlen ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Cami Welsh HEALTH & SPORTS EDITOR Irene Murphy ASSOCIATE EDITORS Henry Madden Sabrina Tagunkova ID EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josie Stout ID DESIGN EDITOR Tiya Kaul ID PHOTO EDITOR Sarmistha Pulagam ID MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jane Scheffel

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NEWS

News to Know Volunteers watch as a Special Olympics athlete serves a volleyball. During Special Olympics, buddies and athletes were paired together across all the events. “Honestly, the best part for me is just seeing our students interacting with these students with special needs,” Laura Berns said. (photography by Manon Hernandez)

Special Olympics Returns by Ian Jenkins staff

and volunteers for the Special Olympics program began preparation for the upcoming Nov. 18 volleyball tournament at Ladue High School. Math teacher Laura Berns is one of two sponsors for Special Olympics. She has been a co-sponsor for the Special Olympics program for the past six years. “Right now, we’re in the process of signing up buddies for the volleyball event,” Berns said. “And then in the spring, juniors and seniors get to be leaders for the track and field event.” In addition to the process of recruiting buddies — volunteers who are assigned an athlete and accompany the athlete to their events — student leaders are also doing their eaders

NOVEMBER 2026

part in the preparation for various Special Olympics events. “Currently, my group is working on finding activities for arts and crafts, sports and setting aside possible materials we need,” student leader Abby Schreiber (10) said. “We meet during L2 Seminars.” Aside from planning for Victory Village — an event during Special Olympics that provides fun activities such as crafts, games and face painting for the athletes — leaders are tasked with organizing the large scale volleyball tournament. “For volleyball, we typically have 12 leaders,” Berns said. “Then we are going to have about 105 athletes that come, which means we will have about 105 partners or buddies from the high school that will partner with them.” Students are also able to sign up for specialized positions in Special Olympics to further enhance the experience for the athletes. “We also have volleyball athletes who help as referees for the volleyball event and we have students who are on the track team help as officials for the track event,” Berns said. Planning and organizing an event such as Special Olympics

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“

It’s really to make sure that the athletes have a really fun day and get to compete in their events. The buddies and the partners that are paired with the athletes get to help them participate,”

Laura Berns special olympics co-sponsor

can be stressful. However, student leaders gain valuable experiences from challenges that arise. “It also feels rewarding to know you will be watching all of your planning from the process be put all into one day and watch how the athletes and buddies just have a wonderful time together,” Schreiber said. On top of enjoying the events, Special Olympics gives the athletes an amazing opportunity for connection and helps build a supportive community around them. “It allows those students with disabilities to interact and socialize with their peers where they may not get to do that on a regular basis,” Berns said. “It’s really great, and it’s also a really rewarding event for the buddies and partners as well for them to make sure that the athletes have a really fun day.” One of the best ways to support Special Olympics and an accepting environment is to get involved. “All sophomores should consider filling out the form to become a buddy,” Schreiber said. “It’s a truly fun and rewarding experience to help athletes showcase talent and sportsmanship and have fun in that process.” P

NEWS

Club Updates

Around STL

Mock Trial

Sparkle in Focus Sparkle co-sponsor Christine Warner speaks about her experience leading Sparkle What is your role in Sparkle? My role as co-sponsor is making sure that the captains have what they need to be effective and to plan. What does being a co-sponsor of Sparkle mean to you? I would say being one of the leaders of Sparkle means collaboration for the goal of supporting the type of school community that I want to teach in. What is the best part of being a cosponsor for Sparkle? Seeing the smiles on the audience’s faces, there’s something magical about while they’re performing, just the joy that it exudes. What is one misconception people may have about Sparkle? I would say one of the biggest misconceptions about Sparkle is that it’s just for girls.

Mock Trial kicked off the year with an introductory meeting Oct. 13. In this meeting, Mock Trial leaders presented a new case and started planning for the rest of the year. Following a two to three week period of forming teams, Mock Trial began the process of analyzing cases through examination of witnesses and evidence. Initial competitions for Mock Trial will take place during January and February. From there, if teams advance to regionals, they will compete in two more tournaments in March. Next, if teams qualify for state, they will participate in a state competition during April followed by a national competition in May. Mock Trial meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the teleconference room.

Finance Club The Ladue Finance Club met Oct. 27 for a “Shark Tank” themed project where members presented solutions to common problems in finance. For most meetings, Finance Club invites guest speakers from organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or companies like Charles Schwab followed by a Q&A session. For the Nov. 11 meeting, Finance Club will be hosting guest speaker Bradley Beagle who will speak about private equity. Following this meeting, a guest speaker from a New York hedge fund will speak about his job. Finance Club meets Tuesdays after school in Room 2324 every two to three weeks.

Finance Club Meets Finance Club student leaders watch as a member presents a financial solution. Finance Club hosted their third meeting Oct. 26; this was the first featuring a project. “We have about five or six speakers this semester, but today, I thought I’d mix it up and just see how [it] works,” club president Arjun Arora (10) said. (photography by Ian Jenkins) SPREAD DESIGN BY IAN JENKINS

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

SLSO: Pictures at an Exhibtion The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be playing Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Isle of the Dead” and Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” Nov. 28 and 29 with world-renowned teenage violinist Himari Yoshimura performing the Glazunov Violin Concerto.

Sam Barber Sam Barber will continue his “The American Route” tour Dec. 3 at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz Arena. The Missouri native broke into the scene with his viral platinum-certified single “Straight and Narrow.” In 2024, he made his first Grand Ole Opry appearance and released his debut album “Restless Mind.”

Gateway Dirt Nationals The Dome at America’s Center will be hosting the 10th annual Gateway Dirt Nationals Dec. 4-6. This event includes pit stop challenges, championship qualifying, summit racing and many other events related to dirt racing. The prize pool for the Dec. 6 Super Late Model Championship is $70,000.

Want more? Scan for online tickets to SLSO: Pictures at an Exhibition

Scan for online tickets to the Sam Barber concert

NEWS

Students fill the stands in the Nielson gym and stand for the national anthem during the spring pep rally. The spring pep rally recognized all spring sports, including girls soccer and girls lacrosse. “It felt really good to be recognized for lacrosse at the pep rally because spring sports aren’t normally recognized,” Avery Murray (12) said. “People [saw] all the hard work we put in.” (file photo)

STUCO Steps Up Student Council plans hands-on Nov. 20 pep rally to recognize fall sports by Henry Madden associate editor

ined on all sides by

cheering fanatics and armed with a gauntlet of multicolored pool noodles, Ladue’s gladiators sparred under the dim glow of gymnasium lights. Ladue held a pep rally March 10, like never before. As a new Nov. 20 spirit assembly draws near, the pressure is on the Student Council to outdo itself. Planning has been multiphased with seminar meetings every blue day and more infrequent library meetings between STUCO executives. STUCO Vice President Austin Blake (12) went all out for the November assembly, putting together a lengthy pitch involving a series of hands-on activities. “I’m really looking forward to this assembly,” Blake said. “I think it’s going to be leaps and bounds, as far as production, better than last year. I’m really looking forward NOVEMBER 2026

to all the different mini games and just watching how the student body takes to it.” The March pep rally set itself apart from its predecessors with its emphasis on interactive activities. Following that focus, while the plans aren’t entirely finalized, STUCO is preparing a slate of new and returning activities. “We’ve tried to pack this assembly full of mini games,” Blake said. “We’re either going to do a mattress sliding relay or a table rolling relay. We’re gonna do a decibel challenge like they do at college football games [and a] speed spelling bee. Getting kids to spell things will be really, really fun, especially in front of 1,300 of their peers.” STUCO members want to do far more than just reiterate last year’s assembly. Members want something that’s going to stay long after they’ve graduated. “I think it’s gonna be the first of its kind that’s recurring,” Blake said. “It’s fostering some healthy

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SPIRIT WEEK SCHEDULE 1

NOV. 16 PJ Day

NOV. 17 Generations 9 - babies 10 - toddlers 11 - adults 12 - elders

NOV. 18 Adam Sandler Day

NOV. 19 Jersey Day

5 NOV. 20

Color Wars 9 - gray 10 - white 11 - blue 12 - black

competition. I don’t want to necessarily say we shy away from it, but I can’t think of too many times throughout the school year where the grades are competing against each other, and that’s where you get the most healthy school spirit.” In the future, STUCO is set to host three assemblies a year, with the class cup in the winter. “Moving forward, our winter assembly will be the class cup,” STUCO sponsor and librarian MaryKate Mortland said. “So it’s really about the different grade levels competing against each other for points to be able to hoist the class cup trophy at the end of the assembly.” As untraditional as the assembly may be, it will still carry on the fundamentals shaped by prior years’ pep rallies, including a pancake breakfast during spirit week. “We understand that it’s gonna be difficult for a lot of people to dress up or show up outside of hours, so we want to provide

NEWS

more opportunities right before school or during lunch that are gonna be easily accessible for everyone,” STUCO Representative Arjun Arora (10) said. The Friday of the assembly will operate on a half-day schedule, giving students a break in academics to participate in the pep rally. According to STUCO, the event will serve as a unifying event for the student body, not just for school spirit. “I think that pep rallies give students a chance to decompress and connect with peers, whom they may not have otherwise connected [with],” Arora said. “It’s a way to gain exposure to a lot of the different sports we offer.” This ambitious assembly effort is only a small part of a much larger multi-year process: STUCO’s restoration. “We have instituted a lot of changes,” Mortland said. “The first and the biggest is expanding how many students serve on the council. We moved from a council of 12 to a council of 40.” As part of the broader push, STUCO has expanded its impact over and approach to events and the school at large. “I think it has really created more opportunities for more students to be involved,” Mortland said. “Our goal is to be a mirror of what our student population is to help build community, and I think that more hands-on-deck means that there’s more people to do the workw and also just kind of creating a more committee driven council.” Overall, the pep rally is a return to form. It’s a return to a normalcy that disappeared long before any current students at the high school had ever arrived. “Assemblies had kind of fallen off our radar and one of our goals as Student Council was to bring them back,” Mortland said. “[We want to] build up and rebuild our school spirit and assemblies are one of the main ways to do that.” P

TOP Student Council sponsor Steve Boyd emcees the spring pep rally. STUCO has been planning for this year’s winter pep rally since the fall. “STUCO has planned a spirit week and class cup competition leading up to the assembly,” Boyd said. “We’re going to recognize winter sport programs and get everyone hyped for the first games of the season.” (file photo) LEFT Bodie Buxner (12) goes up for a shot during the 3v3 basketball game. Buxner’s team got second place. “The 3v3 tournament was one of the highlights of my junior year.” Buxner said. “I can’t wait for the next one.” (photography by Emily Pan) RIGHT Duncan Kitchen (12) and Charlie Balcer (12) laugh in the stands during a competition. The stands were lined with students from all corners of the gym. “Watching everyone play games was so fun,” Balcer said. “It was the best pep rally in a while.” (file photo)

Fan Favorites

Ladue students share their favorite activities from the March pep rally

“The Rubik’s Cube competition.”

“The chess matches.”

“The Rubik’s Cube competition.”

“The 3v3 basketball game.”

Linnea Krekeler (11)

Harold Trouvere (11)

Jiaxiang Xie (10)

Drew Jones (12)

SPREAD DESIGN BY ALINA TENENBAUM

NEWS

Setting the Scene

The backstage crew brings the double casted fall play “12 Angry Jurors” to life in the round by Maggie Luzecky staff

tudents performed the

fall play, “12 Angry Jurors,” Oct. 27-30. By starting in the summer, the backstage crew ensured the production ran smoothly. “There was a lot of work done over the summer to organize and get stuff set,” Technical Director Kevin Manes said. Manes is a retired teacher in his first year at Ladue. He previously worked at Fort Zumwalt South High School, where he taught theater classes for 28 years. As the technical director, it was Manes’ job to lay out what the audience’s sight lines were in the black box depending on where they sat. “I had to go and sketch up and do our entire black box,” Manes said. “Because with this, we have to figure out what the audience can and cannot see.” Though “12 Angry Jurors” has been done in the

Q&A

past, this was the first performance in the black box theater instead of on the Performing Arts Center stage, which allowed for a brand new approach to the play. “This [play] is going to be in the round, meaning that you have an audience on all four sides,” Manes said. Though Manes created the bare bones structure, it was co-set leads Jane Carrico (12) and Eliza Yawitz (11) that had the task of creating and painting the set. “It usually takes us multiple days of just strict getting ideas out there before we actually come up with an actual design,” Yawitz said. “And then, I’ll make blueprints, and Jane will go and do a color palette.” The play “12 Angry Jurors” was inspired by the popular movie “12 Angry Men.” Carrico and Yawitz decided against using the movie as inspiration when designing and building the set, even though it could have been used as a creative base to build their ideas. “For my own creative process, I don’t want to be influ-

With Page Cox

Page Cox (12) designs costumes for the school production of “12 Angry Jurors”

NOVEMBER 2026

Q A

“

Whenever we are doing something [in] the PAC, it has to look good from 20 feet away because that’s where your first audience person is gonna be. But in [the black box], we have to be a lot more particular.” Kevin Manes technical director

How do you pick out costumes?

I usually pick out outfits based on how I imagine the character, their mannerisms, their personality.

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enced by someone else’s creative process,” Carrico said. In the PAC, the first audience member is around 20 feet away from the set, but because the play was in the black box, the audience was only around two feet away. “I’ve had to [be] a lot more precise with my painting and the techniques that we use,” Carrico said. “We can get away with a lot of less thorough painting from the stage since [the] audience is so far away.” Not only did the painting need to be immaculate, but since the movie was both created and set in the 1950s, the play needed to visually match the style at the time. “Because of the time period, it has to be period accurate with the painting techniques,” Yawitz said. The crew in the play were required to do many time-consuming tasks that required their concentration. No matter how difficult creating and building the set was, Carrico’s supporting crew and colead were ready and able to do it. “Since we have such an amazing crew, there isn’t any task that feels too hard,” Carrico said. P

Q A

How has picking out the costumes for “12 Angry Jurors” been challenging?

A lot of characters are wearing roughly the same style of clothes and I want to make sure that every juror stays distinctive.

NEWS

Two Sides, Same Coin Counterparts of the double cast play “12 Angry Jurors”

Scales Sword

Performed 10/28 and 10/30

Performed 10/27 and 10/29

Foreman

ABOVE Fern Reynolds (12) and Kate Reynolds (9) measure out where the tiles will be painted for the set. A fake floor was layered over the black box’s floor, painted brown and blue to look like linoleum. “[A student’s dad] is a union scenic painter over at the rep,” Manes said. “And he also works at the Muny, and so he came in and he worked with Jane.” MIDDLE The Sword cast performes in their student preview the day before they perform. They were holding a secret ballot that Juror #8 called for. “I’ve gotten to meet so many different people, in the cast and the crew,” Scales cast Juror #7 Fiona Graftenreed said. “It’s great [and] our set looks amazing.” BELOW The Scales cast holds a staff preview two days before their upcoming performance. Performing with the set made acting and getting into character easier for the Scales cast. “The set is super cool and immersive,” Scales cast Juror #4 Evryn Zitin (10) said. “[It’s] really easy to get into character.” (photography by Gabriella Beltranena)

Scan for a photo gallery of the actors in the play

Q A

Has the double casting caused any difficulties?

It has taken us twice as long to do costumes. Usually, for a show of 12 people, it would only take us between two or three weeks.

Q A

Keiko Knight (10)

Gifti Varmall (10)

Juror #2

Liv Rohfling (9)

Declan Wroth (9)

Juror #3

Vera Nahrgang (11)

Micha Meyer (10)

Juror #7

Fiona Graftenreed (9)

Jonah Alper (12)

Juror #10

Has the double casting made it easier to pick out costumes?

Jurors who are played by two people of the same gender, yes, because I have the same vision in my head for both.

Lauren Damman (12)

Anna Szilagyi (9)

photos courtesy of Christine Warner SPREAD DESIGN BY MAGGIE LUZECKY

PHOTO

On Standby

William Weltig (11) embraces community and expression as theater lighting crew head by Teo Lee photography editor

William Weltig (11) tests the set lighting of “12 Angry Jurors” Oct. 28. Weltig first joined the lighting crew in his sophomore year. “I just kept doing it because I really enjoyed it,” Weltig said. “It has made me more open to trying new things, be myself and just do a lot of things that I would just never think about doing in freshman year.”

NOVEMBER 2026

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PHOTO

Weltig manages the cables for the lighting and audio equipment for “12 Angry Jurors” Oct. 19. Weltig and the lighting crew played a key role in creating the set lighting scheme and maintaining the critical equipment on-site. “We map out where we want fixtures or lights to be placed, what colors they’ll be, where they’ll be focused,” Weltig said. “And then in our break time, we do a lot of reorganizing, cleaning out fixtures, making sure everything is working properly.” Weltig engages in conversation with other members of the theater crew. The theater community was deeply influential to Weltig, being one of the key reasons he chose to stay on the crew and pursue deeper involvement. Thanks to theater, he has formed friendships that transcend the set. “The relationships that we’ve built in theater are very strong,” Weltig said. “We are just constantly talking to each other, building a really strong community that is usually supportive and we really just like to see each other succeed.”

Weltig annotates the play script with cues and notes alongside stage manager Molly Hoffman (9). Weltig stressed how each play’s opportunities for self-expression supported an active approach to lighting design and enabled him to be creative. “I was interested in seeing how light plays a part into plays and musicals because a lot of people don’t really consider that when they think about theater,” Weltig said. “A lot of times, [the designs] come through inspiration from the script and kind of picturing it in my mind, doing research and trying to find things that fit the general mood of [the script].” SPREAD DESIGN BY TEO LEE

FEATURES

Hooking The Yarn Grace Liu (9) channels her creativity through her deep passion for crochet by Gabriella Beltranena features editor

illustration by Frano Van Well staff

many freshmen spend their free moments mindlessly scrolling through social media or struggling to adjust to overwhelming high school schedules, Grace Liu (9) finds balance in a much quieter way. Sitting peacefully with a ball of colorful yarn and crochet hook in hand, her fingers move with practiced ease. Loops of thread quickly take shape into intricate plushies, turning a simple pasttime into a vibrant haven from the rush of daily life. Her journey with crochet began five years ago because of her family’s influence. What started as a simple childhood curiosity quickly transformed into an everyday habit, resulting in a personal collection of over 100 completed projects. “My grandparents and my mom knew how to crochet,” Liu said. “I kind of wanted to follow in [their] mindset.” Although her mother and grandmother eventually set down their yarn and needles as the years passed, Liu continued to keep the family tradition alive. To this day, she still carries a piece of that heritage with her everywhere she goes. hile

“My grandmother gave me her crochet hook a while back,” Liu said. “It’s a little fish one from China, and I just love it.” Now navigating her freshman year, Liu faces a constant juggle between her academic load, swim season and weekly club meetings. Finding time to craft requires clever scheduling and taking advantage of short breaks in her routine. Liu frequently fits in stitching during silent work time in class, careful to not disrupt the teachers or her peers. “They’re usually a little bit curious,” Liu said. “As long as [I’m not crocheting while] they’re actively speaking. When we have silent work time and I’ve finished my work, then I will start crocheting.” For those who have shared a classroom with Liu since middle school, her unwavering dedication to the hobby is a familiar sight. Longtime friends notice that her fingers are almost always moving whenever materials are nearby. “She crochets nearly all the time,” Layla Sciaroni (9) said. “If she isn’t making something, it either means she ran out of yarn or she is overwhelmed with too many patterns to make at once.” Seeing someone dedicate so much energy into a single creative focus left a strong impression on those around Liu during their middle school years. Watching her progress in the craft of crochet helped inspire her peers to appreciate

both the time and effort that goes into crafting handmade items. “It was cool,” Sciaroni said. “I never had the confidence to stick with a hobby, and it was fun to have a friend who was so passionate about it.” When there’s downtime during school hours, Liu’s crafting projects frequently turn into interactive group activities. Instead of spending her free periods alone, she often turned her stitching sessions into shared memories with classmates. “When we had less homework at the middle school, she spent all recess in the library crocheting and talking with the librarians,” Allie Fang (9) said. “I remember one time she bought this really frizzy yarn in small packages and she wanted to merge them into one ball, so me and her spent entire periods in a production line untangling and merging the yarn.” Beyond serving as a creative outlet, the craft allows Liu to express generosity towards those in her life. She frequently gifts her handmade creations tailored to the specific interests of her friends. “She has gifted me a few things including a hat, key chain and a whale plush,” Fang said. “Her gifts were pretty impactful since crochet projects take a lot of time and effort.” Liu’s willingness to share her handmade items extends beyond her immediate circle of friends to include school staff members as well. Over the year, her small gestures of kindness have left lasting, meaningful marks on her teachers throughout her time at the middle school. “In eighth grade, she made a flower key chain for Mr. Brown, the French teacher,” Sciaroni said. “Mr. Brown wore

Meet the Crew Take a look at some of the plushies that Grace Liu (9) has crocheted

The Hen

NOVEMBER 2026

The Cat LADUETODAY.COM

The Doll

The Pony

The Dragon

FEATURES

the flower on his badge for the entire year, and I can tell that it made Grace really happy to have her work appreciated like that.” That welcoming spirit translated seamlessly into high school, where Liu joined the Knit and Crochet Club. Her passionate mindset and thoughtful nature quickly made an impression on the upperclassmen in the organization. “When I first met her, she was a very bubbly, willing to help person,” Joyce Li (10) said. “[She] started conversations with everyone and made them all feel included.” The club environment relies on self-guided crafting, allowing members to explore whatever projects interest them most. Members can take part in following crochet patterns or making up patterns themselves. The space is structured around peer support and stress relief. “The overall mission of the club is to help people learn a new hobby and [to] provide a space to relax from all the stress of school and modern life,” Li said. Liu’s willingness to assist others makes her a core part of the club’s community. She regularly steps away from her own work whenever someone needs guidance on a difficult stitch or pattern. Her patience makes her a natural mentor for beginners trying to understand the craft. “She is always ready to start up a conversation with anyone, and will drop what she is doing to help whenever a question arises,” Li said. For Liu, the continuous effort and patience required to bring a new pattern to life provides a deep sense of fulfillment that digital entertainment simply cannot match. Crafting physical objects gives her a productive, hands-on alternative way to spend her time away from screens. “I’m actually actively making something [right now],” Liu said. “That kind of just makes me feel like I’m doing something other than just scrolling.” As her freshman year continues, Liu remains dedicated to finding quiet pockets of time throughout her busy schedule to keep crafting. No matter how demanding her classes or extracurriculars become, her hook and yarn remain a constant source of calm. With every new project, each completed stitch represents both a homage to her roots and a creative outlet for her growing artistic vision. “It makes me feel good when I finish a project,” Liu said. “It makes me feel really creative when I freehand.” P SPREAD DESIGN BY GABRIELLA BELTRANENA

A Stitched Connection This is the crochet hook that Grace Liu’s (9) grandmother gave to her during the first time they both met each other. There is a slight bend, scratches and dirt in the crevices from the amount of use the hook received from Liu’s grandmother.

LEFT Holding her crochet hook and white yarn, Grace Liu (9) sits in the school library during Knit & Crochet Club Oct. 28. Liu joined the club earlier this year and quickly made a tremendous impact on the student crafting community while attending almost every weekly meeting. “Maybe I’ve skipped one because I had homework,” Liu said. “But I like hanging out there because I’ve got a bunch of friends there.” (photography by Landon Page)

16 //

FEATURES

New Voice in the Room Lindsay Gibson brings decades of experience to the speech & debate team

by Aston Liang staff

fter the school day ends,

Speech & Debate Coach Lindsay Gibson bounces between meeting rooms, advising her students on their speeches and encouraging them as they practice. After two years without a permanent coach, the team finally found the experienced mentor that they were looking for, someone ready to guide them through the rigorous season ahead. Gibson excelled in competitive speech & debate, or forensics, long before the idea of coaching entered her mind. In college, she qualified for nationals, worlds and even went on to become president of her debate team. “[Speech & debate] has been so foundational to who I am as an adult in my life,” Gibson said. “I would say my best personal experience was my freshman year. I got to go to nationals that was hosted at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C.” Gibson’s high school coach was a major source of inspiration. He allowed her to a feel a sense of comfort that set her up for success in speech & debate. NOVEMBER 2026

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“At that time, there weren’t many women involved in the activity,” Gibson said. “He encouraged me in ways I didn’t really realize till I started this job.” Gibson believes that forensics has changed drastically from her high school days. More and more students from diverse backgrounds join every year, creating a welcoming environment. “There’s more acceptance of people bringing their identity and perspectives into it,” Gibson said. “I think that if you

composed each time she steps up to the podium, now as a head coach. “When I would get a topic, I would fall in love with one side,” Gibson said. “By college, I took it way more of ‘I’m gonna see these totally equal and my feelings have nothing to do with it.’” Gibson traces her path to coaching at Ladue to a single conversation at the Parent Teacher Organization Candidates Forum, where speech & debate was brought up by a student after the meeting.

“Something I have learned through my life is if you’re not really enjoying what you’re doing, it’s gonna be hard no matter what it is. And this is something I enjoy.” Lindsay Gibson speech & debate coach

did an [Original Oratory] in the ‘90s about an experience – how you experience the world in your intersexual identity or something like that – I don’t think that would be well received.” Alongside the growth of inclusion in speech & debate, Gibson has improved her own abilities. Specifically, she has developed her skills of setting aside her biases in arguments and becoming more

“She told me that the team has been looking for someone who’s passionate about forensics for years,” Gibson said. “And after that, I thought about it for a long time, and this summer I decided to apply for the job.” Although this is Gibson’s first year as a speech & debate coach, she didn’t need much time to find her footing at Ladue, thanks to support from the community.

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“When I told my family and friends that I was doing this job, almost 100% were like, that’s what you should have been doing this whole time,” Gibson said. “They were right.” This season, Gibson has set several goals for the team and herself. Despite the difficulty of these goals, she is confident in their ability to achieve them. “I definitely want to qualify as many people to nationals, to districts, as possible,” Gibson said. “[I] also want to create a sense of stability for the kids who have been here.” Gibson has launched a new team award for the students. She hopes it will give them something to work towards and be proud of even when they don’t take home a trophy from that tournament. “They are the Gibson Gavels of Greatness and they’re going to the top open and top novice speakers and top open and novice debaters from Ladue,” Gibson said. “It doesn’t have to be that you won the tournament. It’s that you did the best from our school, or you improved.” Aside from the glamour of team awards, Gibson gives individual attention to her students. She is dedicated to giving every team member the tools they need to excel in upcoming tournaments. “She is making us prepare extra hard because she’s giving us the motivation to work,” policy debater Kevin Liu (11) said. “She helped me with my speeches.” Gibson’s passion and investment in the program comes from her belief that speech & debate is essential for high schoolers. Not just as an activity one can participate in, but as preparation for the challenges of life as an adult. “I think it’s the most important activity you can do in high school,” Gibson said. “It touches every subject and every skill you need to be successful in the next phase of your life.” P

ABOVE Speech & Debate Coach Lindsay Gibson helps Soumya Prasad (11) navigate her speeches as she prepares for her next debate round at the Parkway West Fall Classic tournament. This was Gibson’s first high school tournament as the team’s new head coach, and as a coach in general. “I haven’t been the head coach of anything,” Gibson said. “When I was volunteering with St. Louis Urban Debate League, I judged and I met with students to work on cases a little bit, but that was it.” MIDDLE Gibson stands beside Liam Shogi (12) with a clipboard tucked under her arm, discussing the team’s success. Gibson spent two days at the Parkway West Fall Classic tournament guiding her students to succeed in their rounds. “I have talked to many novices who are expressing doubts and worry that they’re [not] ready, and that if they put in more time, they would do better,” Gibson said. “And I say, you can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” BELOW Gibson advises her students on their debate rounds during the team’s first tournament. Gibson began the position this year with the goals of getting team members to nationals and achieving competitive success. “I’m confident in my experience, knowing that we’ve prepared you enough, that the coordinators have,” Gibson said. (photography by Teo Lee)

Next Speaker, Please

“

She’s been really helpful, especially for me as the policy debate coordinator, because she has a lot of experience in Ashvik Chilakala (12) policy debate.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY SASHA ZOLOTOV

Team members notice changes in organization with a new coach in charge

“

I’ve definitely seen a lot of changes in the community. Her support has definitely made this a more organized and friendly club.”

Joanna Yuan (9)

“

Last year was scattered and kind of random, but now I feel like everything’s structured. She really has a passion for debate.”

Eric Thiele (11)

IN-DEPTH

Training to Failure Online fitness culture amplifies insecurity and promotes unregulated peptide usage

NOVEMBER 2026

by Emery Mao

photo illustration by Teo Lee

in-depth editor

photography editor

by Eric Tang

illustration by Joyce Li

staff

art editor

LADUETODAY.COM

IN-DEPTH atience is a virtue –– but

it’s hard to be virtuous. After all, why should you wait five years to get your dream build when it can be achieved in just one? As every influencer and celebrity you watch raves over a new miracle dose, it’s difficult not to be convinced. Suddenly, you’re engrossed in the world of peptides. The emerging peptide craze is far from unique: “being healthy” has been America’s greatest obsession for decades. From the 1950s popularization of the hula hoop to the 2000s keto diet takeover, people are constantly searching for the easiest way to gain the perfect physique. Many are turning to what their favorite influencers advise: peptide stacks. Countless high schoolers eagerly inject gray-market substances beneath their skin, failing to notice that the lasting data on usage simply does not exist.

The Online Gym Social media platforms allow for a trove of accessible health information, from nutrition facts to workout plans. Within each app, an online community emerges. Some believe that the overall culture is a healthy environment. “I think online gym culture is pretty positive,” Josh Brown (12) said. “Everybody’s there for the same goal. So I feel like everybody is pretty supportive of each other. And no matter your size, people are just like, ‘At least they’re trying.’ You know, ‘At least they’re trying to get that work in.’” This online influence has seen shifts in the real world; in a 2023 survey from McKinsey, more than half of Generation Z respondents said fitness was a very high priority for them. Science teacher and head football coach Adam Hamilton has seen the same growth locally. “I have seen an uptick in young people going to the gym for non-athletic purposes,” Hamilton said. “Not just here at Ladue, but even at the gym I work out at [I’m] seeing more and more younger kids who are getting involved for non-athletic reasons.” A growing number of fitness influencers steering people into gyms have pushed the culture to focus more on aesthetics, whether it be through physique, clothing or diet. In a Panorama survey of 219 Ladue students Oct. 28, 73% believed that gym influencers are more focused on their overall aesthetics than health. SPREAD DESIGN BY ANGELLA ZHANG

“With social media, there’s a lot of comparison online,” Gus Klaverkamp (10) said. “So you have a bigger group of people they’re comparing to, not even with your school, but the whole world. People are just trying to be the best looking and competing with everyone.” This focus on aesthetic appeal causes a distorted reality: viewers believe they’re getting an authentic experience, forgetting that every video, clip and image has been carefully screened and selected. “I believe in social media, a lot of posts are people at their peak,” Daniel Tang (11) said. “People [post] how they want to express themselves, the best of themselves, and sometimes we just compare and contrast a lot of ourselves and others. It can sometimes be unhealthy.” But more than that, the influencer you’re watching may not even exist. In July, The New York Times found hundreds of doctors, healers and wellness influencers generated by artifical intel-

“People [post] how they want to express themselves, the best of themselves, and sometimes we compare and constrast a lot of ourselves and others.” Daniel Tang junior

legence on social media advocating for the benefits of supplements. False advertising has always existed, but AI is exasperating the problem by selling unknowing viewers fitness plans and supplements. “With social media, you have the danger, obviously, of people seeing someone who’s completely fake,” Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Matthew Maier said. “Especially now with AI, you can create whatever you want and say, ‘Yeah, this is me. This is what you get if you do my program.’ People follow it, and they don’t know what they’re doing. They get hurt or worse.” Even creators that exist in real life aren’t always fully transparent on what methods they took to reach their current physique. Many find that influencers aren’t completely honest on what substances they’ve taken to achieve their results in the past or don’t actually follow their own methodologies that they advertise.

“People often post ‘If you want to get shredded, do this,’ and they look huge,” Brown said. “But they’re taking performance-enhancing drugs. So people might do whatever they’re saying, but it’ll take them a way longer time.” Creators, whether real or not, will then leverage their looks to mold the habits and ideas of their followers. Countless social media influencers will recommend their viewers “the correct” way to eat, sleep, exercise and train without having any true formal education on such topics. “Unfortunately, it has become easier to look like an expert due to social media,” Hamilton said. “There are a lot of things out there that can influence young people into believing that they have to do more. They have to do certain specific things when in reality, simpler is better.” At the end of the day, social media is a zero-sum game. There are only so many seconds before the viewer scrolls to the next video. Before that, the influencer needs to make their payout from a like, follow, share and affiliate purchase, drawing a fine line between advocating for the consumer’s health and wellness and advocating for the creator’s bank account. “When you see social media, we have to remember that social media is a highly cultivated commercial for that influencer to try to make money,” Hamilton said. “It’s not reality. And we see this image on social media of this person, and the idea is that what they do has gotten them that image, and that’s rarely, if ever, the case.”

Raising the Bar As social media algorithms push unrealistic body standards, online comparison has become a major challenge for teenagers. However, the pressure to achieve these standards is not new to adolescence, as present-day social media feeds are only the latest version of a longstanding trend. “Historically, the high school years are incredibly hard,” Hamilton said. “Growth and development is not standard. Everybody kind of goes in different waves, and so a lot is put on us as human beings during that time to meet a certain image. Social media portrays an image, and it’s not the first time. It used to be movies and magazines. This has constantly always been an issue.” Nowadays, teenagers encounter those idealized images through social media platforms on a daily basis. A study by the International Journal of Qualitative

IN-DEPTH

Studies on Health and Well-being found that adolescent males reported feeling pressured by fitness influencers who display unrealistic body standards while adolescent females often experience pressures around body image and internet scrutiny. “I’ve seen people who have started to looksmaxx and [say], ‘Oh, I look better,’ this and that,” Brown said. “But I also can see the harm because if I’m very self-conscious about my looks and I see, for example, [Clavicular] on there talking about looksmaxxing, I might feel worse about myself.” Looksmaxxing is an online trend where people try to enhance their appearance through lifestyle changes. These range from skincare to bone smashing, where the face is repeatedly striked in the hope bones will grow back thicker. Looksmaxxing has recently entered pop culture through Clavicular, a streamer who built his following on platforms like TikTok and Kick. For many teens, that hyperfixation on appearance has begun to outweigh their care for physical abilities. “Obviously I want to be strong,” Brown said. “Strong is cool, but I want to look better. Realistically, I feel like a good portion of people go [to the gym] to look good, but don’t actually do physically demanding jobs. So I think it’s mainly looking the part [rather] than actually being strong.” While prioritizing looks over capabilities has become common in modern gym culture, not everyone agrees with that

Protein Goals The relationships Ladue high schoolers have with the gym vary greatly from person to person Panorama surveyed 219 students Oct. 28

NOVEMBER 2026

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mindset. For Ava Stern (11), the gym has always been about strength. Stern began seriously training in the gym when her brother introduced her to power lifting, which has now become a lasting passion. “I really dislike when people lift just to build a physique or become attractive,” Stern said. “I just want to be as muscular as possible and so that, in some ways, has caused me to lean in a completely opposite direction.” As Stern steers away from appearance-driven lifting, many teens

“Not everybody, but some people [are] looking for a shortcut, looking for that quick fix that they can get in a drink and a bottle and a shot.”

Matthew Maier strength & conditioning coordinator

chase it through whatever advice they find online. Much of that advice frequently exploits self-doubt in teenagers, promising quick and easy transformations that don’t reflect reality. “At the very least, it slows down their improvement,” Maier said. “At worst, it [is] dangerous because [what] they’ve been told by someone on the internet is the great thing to do is, at the very least, ineffective.”

3in4 11.2% Not very

students participate in a form of physical activity inside or outside of school

18.4%

35.2%

A Miracle Dose Peptides, short chains of amino acids marketed online as shortcuts for recovery and muscle growth, have become increasingly popular in mainstream teen gym culture. Whether in conversation or in use, their presence among teens is obvious and hard to miss. On the other hand, what directly draws teens to them is more difficult to pinpoint. “I do realize a lot of people take [peptides],” Tang said. “From what I can see, it’s mostly athletes who are playing competitive sports. I just believe they want to take some shortcuts and try to be better in the sport.” Competitive pressure may explain why athletes reach for shortcuts, but it doesn’t account for everyone. Some believe it reflects a broader unwillingness to accept just how long it takes for people to achieve real progress in the gym. “People don’t understand that working out is uncomfortable,” Maier said. “It takes a long time. Even if you’re genetically blessed, it still takes a long time to develop the way you want to go. Not everybody, but some people [are] looking for a shortcut, looking for that quick fix that they can get in a drink and a bottle and a shot.” Peptides promise to erase the discomfort that comes with working out — a pitch that effectively markets them as too good to be true. Whether the people talking about peptides or taking

How often do you go to the gym? 8.6% Once a month

9.6%

Once a week

23% 12.2%

47.8% 34%

Never/ Rarely

Multiple times a week Very

How comfortable do you feel in the gym?

IN-DEPTH

peptides actually understand exactly what they are, however, is far less clear. “I’m pretty sure people that actually take them know what they’re about, but people who just talk about them, it’s kind of 50-50,” Klaverkamp said. “Some people think it’s like a magic drug that’s going to do something for you.” Although some treat peptides as a miracle, others dismiss the hype altogether. Some consider it an optional boost, no more serious than a caffeinated beverage. “You don’t need [peptides], but if you want a boost, you can take it,” Brown said. “Nobody needs caffeine, but if you want a little boost to stay awake, you can drink an energy drink or something like that.” This frames peptides as a personal decision with no consequences beyond the person taking them. Others disagree with that comparison, arguing that using these substances can influence the teens around them and become perceived as “normal.” “I really am against anything that isn’t natural,” Stern said. “From what I know from lifting, there’s insulins and peptides, but a lot of the ones people use for lifting are super under-researched. I also think it sets a standard where you can achieve a certain physique by artificially boosting yourself with peptides or steroids. Yes, that’s your own decision to choose. But by raising the standards, you’re indirectly encouraging others to do the same.” Under-researched performance-enhancing substances have become highly popularized online and among students. While FDA approved peptides exist, such as the GLP-1 Ozempic, the ones that pique high schoolers’ interest live in a gray market –– the online distribution of unapproved compounds marketed as “for research use only” or “not for human consumption” to bypass legal restrictions. “A high school student’s body is [still] going through puberty,” Maier said. “Some of the things that are out there can actually cause a lot of problems and they don’t bother to learn the science behind it. They follow somebody on the internet who says this is the greatest thing to do. They shoot themselves full of it and they’re shocked and surprised when they have bad reactions.” While certain peptides can help direct muscle recovery and reduce inflammaSPREAD DESIGN BY KELLIE JI

tion among other things, this gray market introduces key issues surrounding contamination. Finrick, an independent testing company, found that approximately 8% of all the peptides sent to them had endotoxins. Hamilton believes in a different approach, one built on patience and repetition instead of purchasing products. “When it comes to strength training, consistency is the secret sauce,” Hamilton said. “It’s not some magic lift or magic workout or magic supplement. Consistently committing to safe exercises is always the best bet, whether you are a teenager or an old man like myself at 48 years old.” Consistency, though, requires longterm thinking, which is exactly what teenagers struggle with. Their developing brains make it hard to weigh what a decision today will cost them years from now, creating a gap in foresight that makes certain substances risky for teen use. “Kids have to be wary about the things they put in their body because oftentimes the brain is not developed well enough to think long term,” Hamilton said. “That’s not an insult. It’s just biology.” As students fail to see into the future, the future of peptides remains wary too. Harvard Health states that the research on injectable peptides simply has not gone far enough to say what the effects on long-term health are. “When it comes to peptides and other things like that, I don’t know that there’s enough good studied information to talk about their long term effects,” Hamilton said. “So that would be something I would not recommend to teenagers because your brain is still developing, your body is still developing.” While the internet has pushed people to believe that they must always get bigger, stronger and better through any means necessary, students like Brown believe health comes down to what works best for you. “There’s plenty of other ways you can be physically healthy without going to the gym,” Brown said. “You can eat right, you can do yoga, you can do plenty of other things besides going to the gym. But the gym provides me, at least, with the most results. That’s why I remain loyal to the gym.” P.

Bulk Up Often neglected muscles and their actual uses in the body

Masseter Located in the cheek and used for chewing, it has two primary parts which partially cover each other. Many neglect to properly train this muscle, as unintentional overtraining from teeth grinding or jaw clenching often occurs.

Serratus Anterior Around the upper ribs, it’s vital for shoulder blade mobility, ribs and spine support. When neglected, it can cause winged shoulder blades.

Gluteus Minimus Located in front of the thigh and below the gluteus medius, it works to move and rotate the thigh. Its neglect is due to most exercises favoring the gluteus maximus.

Tibialis Anterior It acts as the dorsiflexor of the foot. It helps with balance and absorbs impacts, running along the shin and beside the tibia. It is wforgotten during training due to a lack of targeted exercises.

SOURCES: All Sports Physical Therapy, Innerbody, NIH, Us News Health

IN-DEPTH

Spilling the Facts Students share details about creatine supplements usage and prevalence at Ladue Do you know how creatine works?

No 36.8%

Somewhat 43.7%

Yes 19.5%

Do you take creatine?

Yes, in the past 8.9% No 84.3% Yes, currently 6.8%

% 82.9 of students have heard of creatine before

What is creatine powder? Creatine powder is a dietary supplement that helps muscles produce energy when performing short and intense exercise. It can improve strength, muscle growth and performance during exercise when combined with regular training. Creatine is also naturally produced by the body and can be found in protein-rich foods, such as red meat, seafood and poultry. SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic

1. Sodium sarcosinate and

NH H2N

cyanamide are combined in an aqueous solution and heated in order for them to react.

N CH 3

Creating Creatine The process of how creatine monohydrate powder is manufactured NOVEMBER 2026

LADUETODAY.COM

2. The solution is then cooled in order to produce crystalline creatine.

IN-DEPTH Panorama surveyed 219 students Oct. 28

% 38.2

3 to 5 grams

of students were introduced to creatine through friends and family

is the recommended amount of creatine supplement intake per day

“

If you work out enough, you won’t need to use creatine consistently.”

“

How effective are creatine supplements for your needs? Not effective at all

21.2% 11.5%

students were introduced to creatine through social media

Zoran Pan (11)

It’s good because it helps you get stronger and puts water in your muscles.”

15.4% 15.4%

Max Minoff (9)

Very effective

“

3. Then, it goes through a

centrifuge to separate the crystals and remove impurities.

4. The crystals are then dried

and milled into fine powder and are now ready to be packaged.

Creatine Powder SOURCE: VitaQuest SPREAD DESIGN BY ANGELLA ZHANG

I think creatine is really good. I don’t really work out at all, but creatine still has a bunch of benefits.”

“

36.5%

What is your opinion on creatine?

Ayrissa Robinson (12)

SOURCE: Harvard Health Publishing

1in3

Eliot Thames (9)

I think for beginners, it’s really useful to speed up muscle growth and I would recommend using it.”

“

I heard it has benefits to sleep deprivation. It can restore parts of your brain or something. I just saw it in TikTok.”

Sarah Jiang (11)

illustration by Franco Van Well

EDITORIAL

staff

27 LADUE MEDIA EDITORS

Students Should Respect Public Spaces AGREE

t’s no secret some of the most

frequented spaces within the school are left in the most dreadful conditions. For as integral as the bathrooms and cafeteria are to the social experience of high school, they are so often taken for granted. Wrappers, leftover food and misplaced chairs litter the cafeteria. Toilet paper and paper towels are constantly strewn across the floor with the toilets being left in a state of disrepair. Students seem to have no qualms enjoying these public spaces, but appear to forget how to take care of them and make custodians’ lives not as hard. Generally speaking, students interact with teachers or administrative staff on a day to day basis. However, students rare-

ly engage with staff members like custodians, partly because they rarely cross paths. Panorama surveyed 214 students Oct. 28, where only 6.1% of students reported that they interacted with custodians often or nearly every day collectively, compared to 43% reporting rarely. But custodians are also one of the only reasons the school functions as it does. This lack of interaction between students and custodians manifests in a disregard for them and the work that they do around the school, which is shown with the either intentional or unintentional trashing of the bathrooms and cafeteria. While it’s certainly not true that all students treat these public areas with disregard, and they are not always in a

Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff

thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the editorial board. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers and encourages letters to the editors. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length so long as original intent remains unaltered. NOVEMBER 2026

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LADUE MEDIA EDITOR DISAGREES

state of disarray, it’s often enough for people to notice. 22.1% of students noticed the bathrooms or cafeteria were often unclean, with 39% of students reporting that these areas were sometimes unclean. Based on these results, it seems as though people are generally operating with a “not my problem” mindset and think little about how they’re leaving cafeteria tables, bathroom stalls and bathroom counters when they leave them. This means that other students have to use these things that are left noticeably unkempt and unclean. While the act of leaving a mess may not be intentionally malicious, it reveals a lack of care for others that have to use those spaces. The harm is still there, purposeful or not. Something to Add?

Scan here for more on letters to the editor, guest essays, submitting correction and the full editorial policy.

EDITORIAL

The other reason why many of these spaces are the way that they are is because of the fact that some other person, that students most likely cannot put a name or a face to, will clean up the mess for them. The lack of familiarity between students and staff means that students may be less inclined to give a second thought to how they’re leaving the space behind when they go. No matter what is left, someone will mop up whatever is there. These issues are a part of the larger culture of self-interested behavior among Generation Z, represented by statements like, “You don’t owe anyone anything.” Social media has perpetuated the idea that acting in your own self interest is almost always alright, and what happens with other people is not your problem. What started as a movement created to encourage people to stand up for themselves when appropriate has now morphed into a culture filled with individuals who often act selfishly and carelessly, disguised as a healthy prioritization of one’s well being. This has led people to lead their lives as though they live in a bubble and act in such a way that they forget that their actions have impacts on other people around them. Should those actions have consequences, other people will have to deal with it, not them. The

% 3.3 of students interact with custodians every day Panorama surveyed 214 students Oct. 28

% 22.9 of students never interact with custodians

SPREAD DESIGN BY JOSIE STOUT

disarray of the cafeteria, for example, is one of the ways that this culture is so blatantly represented within Ladue. Another aspect of this culture is an increased level of disconnect between teens. Gen Z grew up with access and dependence on technology that older generations simply did not have. More than ever before, teens are communicating and connecting less with each other face to face and more with each other through

% 2.8 of students interact with custodians often Panorama surveyed 214 students Oct. 28

messaging apps and social media. In person conversations still happen, of course, but the ability to talk with people behind the mask of a social media account removes much of the social accountability people need to have for real life interations. Though seemingly unrelated, this broader social transformation has led to teens thinking about each other or inter-

What is your primary role? My day looks like just going through the building in the morning with my staff, just making sure that the restrooms are stocked, that the classrooms have paper towels, that the bathrooms have been cleaned and trash has been pulled. We have a normal routine in the morning that we go through and just check the building out to make sure that everything was completed for the kids the next day. What are some steps that students can take to clean up after themselves? For the cafeteria, if they could just throw their own trash away instead of leaving it on the tables or stop throwing food, that would be helpful. I know it happens, but those are our two biggest struggles.

acting with each other in the more limited context of online, which may explain the reduced amount of care teens have for other people within the real world, translating to the tendency to leave messes for others. The mess people leave behind and the effect it may have on other people may not even cross a student’s mind. They don’t know the people that will have to deal with it, so naturally the perception of harm tends to decrease. Regardless of why these public spaces are often in such poor conditions, the reality remains the same: Ladue students, even unintentionally, are leaving disasters in their wake, consequently disrespecting the custodians who are in charge of keeping them clean. While the broader issues of disconnect between teenagers and the pervasive culture of self-interest don’t have simple or realistic solutions, especially not within Ladue alone, simply being conscious of how you leave spaces behind is an easy fix, as well as making an active effort to talk to and engage with custodians. The act of building connection with the people around you makes it a lot harder to take them and the work they do for granted. Community requires effort from everyone to keep spaces clean and usable. It’s a collective responsibility, not just a job for custodians. P

Q&A with Pam Williams What is your position? I am the Lead Custodian on day shift here at the high school.

OPINIONS

Opinions to Hear Hot Takes

Students and teachers give their hottest takes on college applications

“

College applications are not that

I think people should stop

stressful because if you get in,

centering every conversation

you get in, and if you don’t, then

around college applications, and

you don’t. Your safety might be

people should stop gossiping

someone’s dream school, so just

about other people’s Common

always be grateful.”

App progresses.”

Tracy Wu (12)

Netra Saravana Balaji (12)

COLD

HOT

“

COLD

HOT

“

The processs has become

At Ladue in particular, the

so convoluted because as

process is overhyped. I think

an individual who is writing

kids should look at it more from

recommendation letters, I

the lens that, yes, these colleges

don’t understand how students

are selecting you, but you are

fit in the process anymore.”

also selecting them.”

Jeff Miller, social studies teacher

Emma Lawson, English teacher

COLD

HOT

Student Views

COLD

HOT

Statistics on how students feel about gym culture Do you believe online gym culture is generally positive or negative?

How often do you see gym content on social media?

Panorama surveyed 219 students Oct. 28

Do you care if someone’s physique was attained naturally or not?

Multiple times a day - 24.9%

No opinion 28.8%

Once or twice a day - 24.9% Once or twice a week - 29.1%

Negative 31.7%

Rarely - 16.9%

NOVEMBER 2026

Positive 38.5%

LADUETODAY.COM

No opinion 28.4% No 31.7%

Yes 39.9%

OPINIONS

Response to October Editorial by Patricia Brown District Director of Technology

*Guest Column

RECENT PANORAMA ARTICLES

Illustration by L.S.

ACT

Students and teachers offer advice to students planning on taking the ACT

“Decide what your goal is going to be. Get an ACT test book and use YouTube videos.”

Addie Witt (11)

Advice Audrey Young (11)

“Enroll in some type of preparatory course. Take small bites; you can’t eat a feast in one whole bite.”

Zachary Garrison, social studies teacher SPREAD DESIGN BY LOUKYA GILLELLA

“The day before the test, go to bed at 8 p.m. and then eat a good breakfast in the morning.”

“Spam practice tests and just take it.”

Seph Zhu (12) “Review a little bit each day.”

Eva Liu (9) “Take it at a familiar place.”

Suri Johnson (12)

raised essential questions about technology access, equity and district policy at Ladue High School. I appreciate students using their voices to challenge decisions and advocate for their learning. I also recognize that changes to familiar resources can feel frustrating, especially when navigating college applications, extracurriculars or independent study tools. Those concerns matter. But so does the broader question: What opportunities does technology make possible for our students? At Ladue, digital access opens doors for research, collaboration and creative problem-solving. However, recent data, including a doubling of academic dishonesty referrals, with 67% tied to AI misuse, alongside feedback from parents and teachers regarding classroom and home distractions, required us to establish clearer digital boundaries. Our goal is not to eliminate screens or restrict opportunities. That is why YouTube remains accessible through Google Classroom assignments, and students can still sign into college platforms like the Common App using direct username and password logins. When barriers arise, our Technology Helpdesk and career counselors are available to support. Digital equity means ensuring every student has meaningful opportunities to thrive. As I often say, I’m neither pro-screen nor anti-screen, I’m pro-learning. P Scan to read the full op-ed on why the district made these changes

OPINIONS

I’m just not political Won’t make a difference

Not interested

illustration by Joyce Li art editor

Indifference Makes a Difference Choosing to not be political is an immoral action often taken by people of immense privilege can take many forms: women beby Sophie Cowlen ing denied abortions, trans people being banned from gender-affirmopinions editor ing care, immigrants being dehumanized and deported and more. According to AP News, not only n the days preceding Missouri’s primary elec- do 33% of Generation Z voters tion, I hovered over my think voting is not very important, laptop for hours, my eyes but even those who do vote place locked on a 13-tab Google Doc. less importance on such issues. Each tab had a space for research- When questioned on the imporing the propositions, amendments tance of political topics, as the topand candidates that would be on ics shifted away from the economy my ballot. At 18, I was so excited and towards social issues, responto vote in my first election. But as dents deemed them less important. I told people about my eagerness, I So the problem isn’t only that Gen realized many young people don’t Z isn’t showing up to the polls, share that enthusiasm. “I’m just but that even when they do, they not political” is a phrase I’ve gotten have apathy towards the things on used to hearing. While there are the ballot that don’t directly affect many causes of political apathy, their lives which, once again, often it commonly stems from immense stems from immense privilege. Of course, political apathy privilege and is greater for social doesn’t necessarily mean people issues, and that needs to change. There’s a common link between lack compassion. Many people simabundance and disconnection with ply feel like their vote won’t matter. societal issues. For many, “I’m not In fact, 24% of eligible Gen Z votpolitical” is synonymous with “I’m ers who didn’t cast a ballot did so privileged enough to ignore the in- because they weren’t interested or justice around me.” That injustice felt their vote wouldn’t make a dif-

NOVEMBER 2026

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POLITICAL STATS

77%

of Gen Z adults think the economy is a very important issue whereas

38% of Gen Z adults think issues in the Middle East are very important

Only 38% of Gen Z view voting as very important compared to 68% of people ages 60 and up SOURCE: The Associated Press

ference. But considering about 50 million Gen Z people are currently eligible to vote, that means there could be 12 million empty ballots simply because people don’t believe in their power. If that many people showed up despite that belief, imagine what a difference that could make in elections. It’s important to acknowledge other barriers to voting, too. Lack of time, transportation, education and more impact many people, especially in lower income areas. But when it comes to political disinterest from people of privilege, combating the issues with political apathy is about more than a vote. It’s about standing up against social issues, even when what’s circled on the ballots may not affect you. So next time you hear, “I’m not political,” don’t just brush it off. Ask why. If the answer is because you’re lucky enough to not face the injustices worsened by policy, I hope you’ll choose to vote for the people who aren’t that lucky. And I hope you’ll believe in the power that showing up carries. P

OPINIONS

Too Many Towns People do not understand St. Louis’ government because of how poorly designed it is

st. Louis prepares for another winter full of inclement weather, our newspapers and networks prepare for another year full of story after story about the city and its many smaller surrounding municipalities failing to plow snow adequately. Repetitive failures to clear our roads in the winter are just one of many ways in which St. Louis’ many local governments are constantly failing their citizens, not just in failing to provide services but in allowing some of the country’s worst declines in population, economic standing and public safety. We have to ask ourselves why St. Louis has so many problems and why our government seems to fail so badly to solve them? Well, who is in charge of your local government? I’m serious, who is it? 3.4% of 202 students surveyed by the Panorama correctly identified their mayor (with 6.9% identifying St. Louis city mayor Cara Spencer — good try). If you live in Ladue, it’s Nancy Spewak; if you live in

Frontenac, it’s Pat Kilker; and if you live ment of wealth out of the city of St. Louis in Olivette, your mayor is Bryan Lewis. If proper led to a population and economic you live in any of the five other munici- decline in the city itself and the opposite palities making up Ladue School District, in the county, aided by policies like redlinyou have yet another mayor, and if you ing that created a deeply racially segregated metropolitan area. live in unincorporated arToday, St. Louis reeas of (not part of any mumains one of the most de nicipality) St. Louis County, facto racially segregated the most direct official over cities in the U.S. If we conyou would be County Exectinue to preserve a patchutive Sam Page. work of 89 different cities Obviously, all of that to govern less than two milis a mouthful, but that’s of students could lion people, an objectively just how local government identify their mayor ridiculous arrangement, works, right? Well, no. It Panorama surveyed we are only willingly dragis rare for cities to be gov202 students Oct. 28 ging our own city down to erned as inefficiently as St. Louis. Despite the fact that 3.4% of stu- avoid having to bail out its core. St. Louis dents surveyed could identify their mayor, has to join forces to finally begin to reckon the issue is beyond just understandabili- with its history of past and ongoing racial ty, but in the actual inefficencies and in- and economic discrimination, beyond just equalities caused. Having 89 different cit- the structure of our local government. P ies literally means 89 counties that need to provide emergency services, schools, court systems, collect taxes and so much more. Why would our area ever have voluntarily done such a thing to itself ? Most of St. Louis’ modern suburbs were founded as part of the process of mid-century white flight. The mass move-

Does it Add Up?

Comparing local government structures across the U.S.

by Jackson Lloyd staff

% 3.4

Only one city government (across five counties) and one mayor governs New York City with a population of 8,586,038

compared to 89 mayors in St. Louis County, and a population of 987,059

St. Louis Ladue Creve Coeur

Scan for the full version of the story

SOURCES: St. Louis County Boundary Commission, U.S. Census Bureau

SPREAD DESIGN BY SOPHIE COWLEN

Frontenac Olivette

JACKSON LLOYD

OPINIONS

Kill a Doe, Feed a Hunter The Cornell case brings light to systemic injustice and protection of predators over victims by Sabrina Tagunkova curable disorder that affects every aspect were ridiculously redacted. Not a sinof a person’s life, forever. Freezing and gle new person named in the files was illustration by Joyce Li denial are incredibly common. It’s easi- charged. But the thing is, Epstein got er to act like you wanted what happened away with these monstrosities for so long art editor than admit that you were violated, often because an unbelievable number of peohe “C ornell 7” Case by someone you trusted. ple covered up for him. Some did it besent a shockwave through the The price of reporting is far too huge, cause they got something from it, others United States. Seven men, too. Out of 1,000 sexual assaults, only 25 just didn’t care. What happened to the 50 bystanders. Not all men, lead to incarceration of the perpetrator. survivors? Identities leaked, lives threatbut 57 out of 57. Powerful people who Reasonably so, most survivors don’t want ened. Survivor and advocate Virginia didn’t only think it wasn’t a big deal, but to go through a traumatic, invasive trial Giuffre conveniently committed suicide enabled the perpetrators. The thing is, for a tiny chance of so-called justice. as she was writing a memoir. it’s not just Cornell. It’s everywhere — As a punishment, Cornell UniversiThe Catholic Church is believed to in our schools, in sports, in churches, in ty made Doe’s rapists write essays. No, have covered up thousands of child sexbusiness, in our own homes — it’s always they weren’t all expelled or arrested. ual abuse cases through the decades. Inbeen. One thing that ties all of these hor- They simply wrote essays. So, while Jane stead of facing consequences, countless rible cases together is the systemic, nause- Doe was permanently stuck with medi- priests were allowed to continue working, ating protection of predators. cal problems and had to leave Cornell, protected by church authorities. With On the night of Oct. 19, 2024, an in- simultaneously being scrutinized by the every big accusation, they were simply toxicated Cornell freshman, anonymous- media and threatened to have her iden- moved from one parish to another. It ly referred to as Jane Doe, went to the tity revealed, these men got away with a can’t even be called a punishment; it’s a Chi Phi fraternity house to spend some slap on the wrist. They still freely walk relocation with new children to prey on. time with a friend. Doe was then taken around the campus. The current president of the U.S., to a different room with that friend and What did the other 50 men in that Donald Trump, was found civilly liable another man. According to the lawsuit, group chat do? Absolutely nothing. They for sexual abuse back in 1996. she was pressured into taking more substances and incapable of thinking clear“The judge had given Brock something that would never be ly, sexually assaulted by the two. One of extended to me: empathy. My pain was never more valuable than the perpetrators sent out an “invitation” his potential.” message to a group chat of 57, and several more men entered the room, raping Chanel Miller and assaulting Jane Doe for hours. survivor The next morning, she walked back to the sorority house. Speaking to the Title saw the messages, knew what was hapSo no, it’s not just Cornell or college IX investigators, Doe’s roommates de- pening and looked the other way. Al- campuses. The entirety of our society is scribed her to be “in shock” when she re- legedly, they even had a fraternity meet- built on shielding and uplifting predators. turned. Doe’s body was bruised and she ing where everyone was instructed on “Boys will be boys.” “He’s too handsome, decided to take a UTI medication. what to say. Shocking? Not really. This he wouldn’t need to do that.” “One misFor a while, she referred to the inci- type of thing happens all the time. take shouldn’t ruin a young man’s life.” dent as if it was consensual. This is where In 2015, it was Brock Turner. Oh Such phrases are disgustingly normalthe age-old question of “why didn’t she wait, he goes by Allen Turner now. Brock ized. Though it’s common to hear that report and call it ‘rape’ immediately?” Turner raped unconscious Chanel Miller women are now too angry, I don’t think comes in. It’s one of those sickening, at a Stanford party, was arrested because we’re angry enough. Rather than feeding ignorant ideas that completely overlook two witnesses interfered but got released into this ugly system, each and every one how life-altering sexual assault really is. the same day on a $150,000 bail. Turner of us has to hold these monsters accountResearchers estimate that 81% of sur- was sentenced to six months in jail and able. Whether it’s your friend or your vivors experience significant post-trau- three years of probation, and Judge Aar- brother, your boyfriend or a classmate matic stress disorder symptoms within on Persky famously referred to him as a you barely know — stop being silent. the first week after the assault. They’re “promising young man.” He was released They aren’t a mythical “Cornell 7.” called “survivors” because many don’t after three months for “good behavior.” Their names are Matthew Ingalls, Diego make it out alive, whether it’s because Jeffrey Epstein has been investigated Sarabia, Winston Lee, Scott Kretzschthey’re murdered or commit suicide due since 2005. When, at last, a tiny amount mar, Scott Norris, Gillio Lopez and to severe trauma. PTSD is the type of in- of the Epstein files was released, they Johnathan Newell. P associate editor

NOVEMBER 2026

LADUETODAY.COM

OPINIONS

I AM JANE DOE

The Ethics of Optics Online response to the “Cornell 7” case exposes differences between meaningful advocacy and performative solidarity

I AM JANE D

I AM JA

NE DO

I AM JANE DOE

Sexual Violence Aftermath

% % 2.5 81 of sexual assault cases result in the incarceration of the perpetrator

of sexual assault survivors show PTSD symptoms one week after the assault

95% of men report having used a strategy to get an unconsenting woman to have sex with them, yet only 70% of sexual assaults result in incarceration of the perpetrator

SOURCES: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, Queens University, University of Washington Medicine

SPREAD DESIGN BY SABRINA TAGUNKOVA & LOUKYA GILLELLA

by Amelie Lock deputy editor

“repost if you’re against rape, I can see if you don’t.” As I scrolled through Instagram stories about the “Cornell 7” case, that message made me stop. Not because I disagreed with its sentiment, but because I was being asked to prove something that should go without saying. Following allegations of sexual assault involving seven Cornell fraternity members, media erupted with outrage. It prompted important conversations surrounding consent, institutional accountability and the treatment of survivors. I noticed a troubling shift: advocates seemed far less concerned with the issue itself than with demonstrating one’s allegiance to it. Social media has undeniably transformed accessibility to activism, but when participation becomes compulsory, advocacy risks devolving into performative morality. Rather than encouraging meaningful engagement, it suggests that someone’s unwillingness to repost an Instagram story reflects moral indifference. Public awareness can catalyze change, and many who share these stories do so with genuine concern. But activism is meant to invite thoughtful participation rather than demand visible conformity. Condemning sexual assault and violence is not an extraordinary moral achievement, but a fundamental expectation. P

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

In the Spotlight STL Events

Photo courtesy of Gateway Arch Park Foundation

Gateway Arch Winterfest The Gateway Arch Winterfest will be held at the Gateway Arch Park from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3. You can swing by to enjoy the winter spirit with ice skating, curling and heated igloos. If you go on opening day, you can join the annual lighting of The Salvation Army’s tree of lights.

Art teacher Daniel Raedeke hangs portraits from Patricia Chavez’s drawing classes. Chavez planned to display artwork in many styles. “I [wanted] one wall that’s a lot more free formed, where we tack up a bunch of work that’s informal,” Chavez said. (photography by Teo Lee)

Drawing Gallery The art department uses the Spirtas Gallery for hands-on education by Keller Strauss

SLSYO Season Opener St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra will be opening their season Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. in Powell Hall. The orchestra will be conducted by Samuel Hollister and will play works including the well known song, “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” Be sure to grab tickets soon and support Ladue students in the SLSYO.

The Nutcracker at Touhill Join Saint Louis Ballet through Dec. 23 for a magical experience of “The Nutcracker.” While there, you can get sweet treats and gifts for the holiday season. There is also a shortened version of the show for younger ones to enjoy. This year is as good as any to start an annual family tradition of great stage performances.

NOVEMBER 2026

LADUETODAY.COM

staff

SpirtaS Gallery juSt opened up a new exhibit for the months of November and December. This new display contains work from Patricia Chavez’s drawing classes. The gallery uses various display methods such as pinups and larger framed work. The Spirtas Gallery was a major request from the Ladue art department when the school worked to renovate the space. The intent was to gain a space that could provide even more hands-on learning experiences in art and display. “We all really designed our own classroom spaces with what we want them to look like,” Chavez said. “One of [the art department’s] big tasks was that we had a courtyard space where we could have students working outside, and also [to] have an art gallery space where we could he

teach students about exhibiting work, curating and hanging shows.” This gallery has been a tool to help students understand the work that goes into galleries. Both photo classes and more traditional art classes will learn from their peers’ work in the gallery. The art teachers also have their classes help create the room and install the art. “Students help to hang the show and prepare the work,” Chavez said. “Sometimes, they’ll help spackle the walls in between shows, paint the walls, some of that more practical stuff, and then they’ll help with labels and signage.” Along with curating, the Spirtas Gallery allows students to display their art for the Ladue community’s enjoyment. “I think it shows that they’ve created a piece that the teachers and the community feel like it would be great to share with other people,” Chavez said. Going forward, art teacher Daniel Raedeke and the rest of the art department hope to grow the impact of the Spirtas Gallery in Ladue. The goal is to get more students involved and encourage teachers to get the full benefit out of the space and use it in lessons. “I think we could always do more to make connections with students,” Raedeke said. “I think it’s a good advertisement for our classes, and it’s a good advertisement for students to get involved in visual arts and create something.” P

Photo Classes

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Photography I students crouch on the ground to take a picture of a butterfly at the Green Center in University City. Photography classes went to the Green Center Oct. 29 and 30 to take pictures of the park. “We think about what is it about the world the we want to share,” Photography teacher Christine Warner said.

Recently Released Games A look at new video games to hit the market

Grand Theft Auto VI

Buy or Bye? A review of Honduran cafe, Coffeestamp

Worth the Money MAYAN TORTILLA The red beans and cheese pair beautifully. With the avocado on top, this is a clear cafe winner.

After four years of waiting, “Grand Theft Auto VI” officially released on Nov. 19 with a M-18+ rating. “GTA VI” is a new edition in a long-running series that has players exploring an open world United States city to commit crimes and be in a world with no punishments. “GTA VI” is set in the city of Miami following main characters Lucia and Jason.

Ocarina of Time: Remastered A remake of a classic game, “The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time: Remastered” is an unexpected but welcome edition to the Nintendo Switch 2. It released Nov. 5 with a rating of E for everyone. “Ocarina of Time” follows Link as he travels between his childhood and adulthood as he tries to stop King Ganon and save Zelda.

Loftia

SOURCE: IGN

“Loftia” relased for early access Nov. 3 on Steam and Epic Games. “Loftia” is a cozy online townbuilder set in a solarpunk world floating in the sky. Decorate, farm and craft your neighborhood with friends and a cute animal companion. Don your own pastel outfit and get to building a neighborhood of clean energy in the up in the sky.

Artist Feature

Q 1

What made you choose to play violin?

What made you want to focus on your art?

What do you like to do when creating art?

Maame Ekua (11) finds joy in music and visual art

SPREAD DESIGN BY KELLER STRAUSS

Miss Sacks showed up to the elementary school and she was introducing us to violin, so I decided, let me practice the violin.

I was listening to an album, The Killers, and they’re [releasing] the “Mirage” album, and I saw the album cover, and I thought it was cool.

I want to recreate [art] and actually feel it with my hands, like how they did it with pencil.

DIRTY HORCHATA While not perfect, the flavor will complement whatever you are eating that day.

Not Worth the Money PB&J ALFAJORES Even though the flavor is great, the pastry is too dry. Without more jelly, this isn’t quite right. HIBISCUS TEA This drink is okay, but it dosn’t live up to other hibiscus teas around. Sadly, the drink just lacks flavor.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mashing Cultures Chloe Zhang reviews unique ways restaurants in St. Louis cook cassavas, potatoes and sweet potatoes

by Chloe Zhang staff

p ou

photography by Keller Strauss

us is

staff

fu f

Africana AFTER BOILING AND POUNDING cassava until the paste has no inconsistencies, West African fufu is commonly paired with a traditional egusi soup made from protein-rich melon seeds and greens simmered in a seasoned oil with spicy peppers.

Located at the end of the Delmar Loop, Africana’s egusi soup and fufu are no different. Priced at $20, the savory combo enveloped me in an earthy scent as the egusi coated my tongue with umami flavors common in Nigerian culture. After dipping the fufu into the egusi, the gumminess and slightly bland taste perfectly balances out the richness of the seasoned soup. My only complaint about the dish would be the extensive amount of salt that seems to be present in the

egusi. The salty aspect overpowered most of the traditional spices and the hearty taste of the melon seeds. If I ate the egusi on its own, it wouldn’t take long for me to be overwhelmed by the drastic amount of salt. However, combined with handfuls of fufu, the components create a savory equilibrium that leaves me craving more. If you’re craving a cuisine change within eight miles of Ladue High School, Delmar’s Africana should be at the top of your bucket list.

What’s your favorite potato dish?

“

I like mashed potatoes because my mom makes them a lot, and they always taste really good. They always have a lot of flavor.”

NOVEMBER 2026

“

I really like a baked potato. I eat them with cheese and buttered up with a lot of butter.”

Belle Li (9) LADUETODAY.COM

Landon Page (12)

I really like smiley fries because they are really good and nostalgic and they remind me of elementary school.” Rutva Pachbhai (10)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Noodle Story

le p o

tato snack

THINLY SLICED SWEET POtato strips replace the classic unleavened dough noodle in a nutty burst of flavor. Pulling inspiration from Pan-Asian cuisine, Flower Child’s Glow Bowl combines sweet potato noodles, onions, snap peas, mint, shiitake and sunflower sauce. The sauce was a beautiful mix of a savory cream and a hint of spice that filled the air around me with a delectable aroma. Biting into each juicy shiitake mushroom and onion sliver released a powerful wave of umami flavors and mouthwatering seasonings. That is unfortunately where the positive traits end. Priced at a fair $11.95, I couldn’t help but feel a sting of disappointment for what I received. Although I would eat it again, the savory taste did not extend past the sauce and sauteed vegetables with the snap peas, sweet potato and other vegetable components having little to no actual infused flavor. SPREAD DESIGN BY CHLOE ZHANG

Crispy by Design Ranking fry shapes from crispiest to least crispy

skinny fries A thinly cut shape that is fried to perfection

Flower Child waffle fries A crisscross lattice that melts in your mouth

-st y

Che

FOR ONLY $5, NOODLE STOry’s Chengdu-style potato snack is a steal for fry lovers looking for a Chinese cultural twist. Fried in chili oil, the crinkle-cut slices of potato are perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Topped with cilantro, these crinkle-cut fries might become your favorite spicy to-go snack. The restaurant gives customers four spice options: nonspicy, mild spicy, medium spicy and hot. The main subpar aspect (besides maybe cilantro) was that none of the variants were “hot.” I would compare the hottest spice level to a bag of spicy nacho flavored Doritos, which was quite disappointing. Noodle Story also advertises the flavoring as a “mala” spice, meaning a numbing spice in Chinese cuisine usually from peppercorns, but there was nothing mala about the fries and no peppercorns to be seen. If you hate peppercorn like me, don’t be shy to try these fries.

w Glo

curly fries A winding corkscrew with the perfect crunch

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Good, the Bad and the Lazy The quality of movies decreases as filmmakers turn to AI and leave human effort behind by Cami Welsh arts & entertainment editor

abor has always been

the center of the film industry. Our favorite movies are brought to us by the grit of sleep-deprived editors, a chaotic writer’s room and a director who insists on a 100th take, even as cast members are nearing collapse. The harsh truth

the professionals improving their vocals, which – in case they’ve forgotten – is their job. Marvel has been the real trailblazer in the race to artificialize movies, starting in 2021 with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Watching a movie where AI has been a trusted hire almost feels like plagiarism. Not because these programs are notorious for gathering intelligence from actual

“The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I’d rather die.’”

filmmaker and more of a supervisor who occasionally checks on the work that a robot is getting done. The same excuse for the use of AI has been ringing through the internet: “it enhances creativity.” Maybe people have accepted this rationalization because of how often it’s been repeated. No one has stopped to question what exactly us humans are creating. Anyone can conjure up an idea for a movie while staring at their ceiling one night. Creativity itself means getting up, gathering the materials and bringing your idea to life. When the lights dim in the theater and an AI-powered film appears on screen, whose “creativity” is really being presented to us? Filming a movie is a journey itself, with moments of crises that make the director loathe their career and triumphs to remind them why they started. As AI strips this tradition away, I’ll always think of the 127 takes of hysteric sobbing that Shelley Duvall endured for “The Shining,” or the screenplay for “The Godfather” that catalyzed a fight between Frank Sinatra and Mario Puzo. As directors lose faith in their ability to grapple difficulties that AI can handle, we lose a truly impactful movie. P

MOVIES POWERED BY AI AI was used in visual effects or performance

Dune: Part Two

Guillermo del Toro director of "Frankenstein"

is that no great masterpiece has ever been created with ease. As filmmakers kick back and let artificial intelligence take the wheel, potential masterpieces fail to make it to the screen and viewers are met with sheer carelessness. AI first skyrocketed through the industry in 2024 by tampering with the video effects in movies such as “Dune: Part Two” and “Alien: Romulus.” It also polished characters’ voices in “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Perez” rather than

humans’ work, but because the project isn’t entirely the director’s. The most dedicated artists cherish their work as a prized possession, devoting years of their life to perfecting it. If Michael Curtiz could reach out and touch “Casablanca,” he’d place it on a pedestal with glass casing to bask in its glory for hours. On the other hand, using AI in filmmaking is proof that a director isn’t wholeheartedly invested in the project. They’re less of a

Alien: Romulus

Emilia Perez

SOURCE: IMDb

Guess Which Frames are AI-Powered sports comedy film loosely based on table tennis player Marty Reisman

SOURCE: A24

NOVEMBER 2026

Here (2024) drama film based on the 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire

SOURCE: Pinewood Studios

LADUETODAY.COM

Furiosa: A Madmax Saga (2024) origin story for Furiosa, a character in the five-part action series

SOURCE: Warner Bros.

answer: 2 & 3

Marty Supreme (2025)

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HEALTH & SPORTS

Sports in Review Season Updates

Anya Calfee (12) and Adela Haines (11) celebrate their successful match against Clayton High School Sept. 29. They defeated their rivals and boosted their winning record. “Together, we were able to do something really great,” Haines said. (photography by Emme Hirsch)

Girls Field Hockey The girls field hockey team powered through the season, following their out-of-state showcase split against St. Ignatius and Lake Forest. The girls turned their attention to postseason tournament play and secured a spot in the final four. They lost 1-0 to Villa Duchesne in the semifinal.

Boys Swim

All Rounders Girls varsity tennis wins district tournaments by Lasya Kureti staff

varsity

tennis

girls team competed in their state competition Oct. 19. Throughout the fall season, the varsity girls team has been undefeated, retaining the same unbroken and ideal record as previous years. The main driver of the girls’ excellence over the course of the season, especially seen during their district triumph against John Burroughs High School, has been the support and motivation they’ve inspired amongst each other. The girls won the Class 3 District 2 Team Championship, defeating Burroughs 5-4 in the final after sweeping Marquette 5-0 in the semifinal competition. “Our biggest accomplishment this season was beating Burroughs during district finals, which was NOVEMBER 2026

definitely the most challenging match that we have had all season,” Hannah Lu (11) said. “I think it really pushed the team to be closer together, and the atmosphere of when we were on the brink of [losing] was really important for us. It was a really good morale boost seeing my teammates cheer each other on in order to take first place.” Though the team didn’t have as many returning members this year, co-captains Anya Calfee (12) and Adela Haines (11) led the team through their hardships, instilling motivation and advice along the way. Playing at the varsity level while taking advanced courses in high school can be taxing. However, understanding how to handle exhaustion and balancing schoolwork to perform well in both fields is essential for overall success. “Especially when postseason rolls around, we start missing school for districts and states and it’s a lot to make up,” Calfee said. But in student-athlete, student comes first. “I’ve always let the girls know that if they need help with anything, I’m here. Managing is pretty difficult, but we do well. Just seeing the good side of it and being with them is what pulled me through the season.” P

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“

I think the most enjoyable thing about tennis for me is the community created. My friends are always there to make me feel better, laugh and I can talk about things that I can’t talk about outside of tennis.” Hannah Lu junior

The varsity boys swim and dive team swept through October with victories over Parkway South, John Burroughs and Webster Groves to complete an undefeated 5-0 Suburban Red Conference regular season. Across meets, they captured 14 first-place event finishes. They participated in the District 1 diving competition Nov. 7.

Girls Golf The girls golf team wrapped up their regular season at the Suburban Conference Championship in early October. Led by a combined team score of 348, the Rams then delievered a strong showing at the MSHSAA Class 4 District 2 Tournament, placing fifth as a team.

Girls Softball The girls softball team entered their postseason as the eighth seed in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 2 tournament. Their season ended in the district quarterfinal round Oct. 14 when they lost to top-seeded Eureka High School. The girls finished their season with a 6-13 overall record.

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Season Shots

Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals entered the offseason. President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom announced a new sixweek player development program.

Q&A with Melia Saffold Melia Saffold (11) commits to play Division I field hockey at the University of Iowa What made the University of Iowa feel like the right fit for you? I think one big thing that made University of Iowa feel like the right fit for me was my family living in Iowa. I’m the only one in St. Louis, and so it just made the decision all the easier.

Mid-Season Updates When was the moment you knew

November you wanted toEvents commit there?

When I had talked with some of the athletes from the university, we just talked about the school and how life was outside of field hockey.

How does it feel to have the recruiting process wrapped up in junior year? Relieving, Especially since junior year is one of the hardest academically. It feels like something was lifted off my chest. November Events What did you do to celebrate this accomplishment? I had a couple of people come over and have cake, and my friend got me a balloon. It was really fun and really exciting. My mom and I also just celebrated together.

Fall Action

“

My favorite moment was going to cheer camp because my team and I made a lot of memories and it was fun.”

Suhani Agnihotri (11)

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Blues The Blues opened their NHL season with victories against the Dallas Stars 4-0, Ottawa Senators 7-2 and the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2. They wrapped up October with two home games.

ABOVE Annie Levine (12) jumps to serve the ball. The team won the home game Oct. 5 against Fox High School 3-1. (photography by Melia Saffold) RIGHT Löis Augeron (12) runs for cross country at Webster Groves High School Oct. 10. Augeron’s favorite moment of the season was the meet at Gans Creek. “In France, [the cross country] spirit is not as strong,” Augeron said. “It was a really good experience.” (photography by Laken Hadley)

St. Louis City SC October was marked by a major milestone as City SC defeated the Columbus Crew 5-3 in a penalty shootout Oct. 21 to win the 2026 U.S. Open Cup.

Athletes share their best moments from the fall season

“

My favorite moment was our last game. It was so amazing because I got really close to my teammates.”

Kabir Fatnani (10)

The connections that I made with all my teammates, and I’ll carry those throughout the rest of high school.”

Reagan Early (10)

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The varsity football team runs out of the ram in their game against Parkway West Oct. 22. This was Ladue’s senior night game, and they secured the win to advance them into districts with an undefeated season. “Sometimes, when you focus on the end result, you forget the process to get there,” head coach Adam Hamilton said. “So, that six second mantra is something that we will adhere to.” (photography by Sarmistha Pulagam)

by Irene Murphy health & sports editor

n alarm rings through a

cheering stadium, signaling the end of a thrilling game for the varsity football team. The Rams unite together in celebration for their historic run. After an undefeated season, they are moving onto districts with a determined headspace. “Any objective look at the history of Ladue football shows that we are one of the top five programs in the area,” head coach Adam Hamilton said. “One of my favorite things is helping our kids reestablish that legacy of a really tough, hard-nosed, successful football program and watching how hungry our kids are to make that happen.” This year, Ladue has maintained an incredible streak, keeping up an undefeated record of 9-0 as of Oct. 24. The football team has not been this successful since 2018, the year that Ladue not only went undefeated, but also became the Missouri Class 4 State Champions. NOVEMBER 2026

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Clean Sweep Varsity football team achieves undefeated regular season

“[My favorite part of the football team is] the culture,” captain Emmett McIntosh (12) said. “The football team is not like any other sports team I’ve been a part of. After a win, the linemen all go to Waffle House, and that’s a cool thing.” A standout game this season for the Rams was their matchup against Eureka. Ladue went into overtime against the

The team’s success thus far in their season has motivated them to continue working to maintain their perfect record. A main goal for them is to make it as far as possible in the district playoffs and possibly even become state champions. “[Our preparation] started back in April, and we plan to accomplish that goal the same way we have accomplished

“I’m most proud that the undefeated record has shown improvement in underlying skills throughout the entire time. Wins and losses are less important to me as much as the process.” Adam Hamilton head coach

competitive opponent, winning 40-37. “[My favorite game this year was] the Eureka game,” Hamilton said. “It was a thrilling overtime win, and we were being pushed by a well-coached, tough [and] physical football team and had to continue to respond. It was a culmination of a lot of hard work by our team and it was a really fun experience.”

every goal up to this point,” Hamilton said. “We tell our kids we want them to play six seconds at a time. Take the six seconds in front of their face, do the very best for that six seconds, put it aside, and move on to the next six seconds. We do not think in terms of winning a state title, we think in terms of winning the next six seconds.” P

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The varsity football team is on an incredible, undefeated winning streak. How impressive is it? The last time the team went undefeated was

2018

As of Nov. 2 they are

1st

in the district with a

9-0 record

SOURCE: MaxPreps

Win Percentage

Kickoff to Districts

School Year

Scan for more Ladue football statistics

RIGHT Cheyson Hinson (10) makes a tackle during the game against Eureka High School Oct. 9. They went into overtime, with the Rams winning 40-37. “My favorite game has been Eureka because we didn’t know if we were going to win like most of the other games,” Emmett McIntosh (12) said. FAR RIGHT Captains Evan Via (12), Joshua Brown (12) and Julien Toledo (12) link arms in preparation of senior night Oct. 22. Ladue won against Parkway West 20-14 and headed into districts. “What I love about the undefeated season is not the wins,” head coach Adam Hamilton said “It’s that we have consistently done [things] to continue to get better. when the playoffs hit, we’re the best version of ourselves possible.” (photography by Arin Navjith) FAR LEFT A Ladue football player reaches for the ball in their game at home against Parkway West Oct. 22. The team secured a win in this game, solidifying their officially undefeated regular season record. “As a coach, I’m always trying to find ways that help all of our kids maximize their potential,” Hamilton said. “That means helping everyone from the youngest player to the most experienced player, trying to find ways to push them.” LEFT Trirease Edwards (12) reaches for the ball in the game against Eureka Oct. 9. The team had an exciting 40-37 overtime win this game. “[The toughest game was] Eureka,” Hamilton said. “They’re big, they’re physical, they’re tough. They have a history of success and their kids know how to win.” (photography by Arin Navjith)

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PHOTO

In High Gear Max Frank (12) chases adrenaline through mountain biking by Arin Navjith staff Max Frank (12) jumps through a wooded section of the trail at Figure 8 Trails Oct. 27. Frank played a variety of team sports growing up before discovering a passion for off-road trail riding during a family trip out West, seven years ago. Since then, he has spent hundreds of hours traveling to out-of-state bike parks and practicing complex features to perfect his mid-air bike control. “I first mountain biked seven years ago on a vacation to Colorado,” Frank said. “I had no intention of mountain biking — we just saw it, and I tried it.” RIGHT Frank performs a hip jump on his usual ride after warming up. A hip jump displays an angled takeoff and landing usually forcing the rider to turn their bike midair to complete the trick. “There’s no different feeling than the adrenaline rush that you get from mountain biking,” Frank said. FAR RIGHT Frank pumps as he approaches a jump at Figure 8 Trails. Highlights of the park include numerous berms and many large jumps. “There’s usually jumps, drops [and] technical features,” Frank said.

NOVEMBER 2026

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PHOTO

Frank takes a daring jump on his mountain bike during an afternoon ride. He practiced the jump many times before perfecting the landing. “It’s a super dangerous sport and I mean, it’s just, the feeling of pushing your limits and pushing your skill set and your boundaries,” Frank said. SPREAD DESIGN BY ARIN NAVJITH

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