23-24 Marquette Messenger: Issue 3

the

MESSENGER

n. III

VOLUME XXX, ISSUE III | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | DEC 2023

See pgs.

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INSIDE 16

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14 04 CHESTERFIELD MALL The aging mall is slated for redevelopment in 2025.

07 RISE OF TRUE CRIME Forensics class gains popularity in light of true crime podcasts.

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Ava Nordman, senior, wins national recognition for art. Story on pg. 6 STL artists gain mainstream popularity.

Story on pg. 10

Photo Illustration by Layla Shockley

ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Annabelle Miller Associate Editor Anvi Talyan Online Editor Prashu Sidella Production Editor Elliott Jorgensen News Editors Willem Hummel David Moss Features Editor Eli Ferguson Arts & Entertainment Editor Emily Chien Sports Editors Aubrey Lacavich Hailey Neuner Opinions Editor Claire Lowder Illustrator Layla Shockley Business Manager Luke Graves Page Designer Justin Small Staff Reporters Aiden Burkhardt Kate Jesperson Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen

PREVIEW @MARQUETTEMESSENGER

16 LINDENWOOD CUTS SPORTS Ten sports programs are cut by Lindenwood University.

ABOUT US

The Messenger is a public forum, published six times a year by students in the News Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, MO, 63017. The publication serves to inform readers about issues concerning the community.

Opinions of Messenger columnists or the Editorial Board are not representative of the opinions of the entire Messenger staff or the administration. The full student publication policy can be viewed on the Messenger official website, marquettemessenger.com.

The Messenger takes responses for any issue. Send these to yourmhsnews@gmail.com. The Messenger reserves the right to edit submitted material and to refuse to print material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter,

ONLINE

@YOURMHSNEWS

14 COST OF SPORTS Athletes reflect on the high expenses of sports.

Photographs by Don Adams Jr., Courtney Chiarelli, Sophia Dominicis, AJ Haring, Cheyenne Kelly, Lydia Lange, Marla Olish

ON FRONT As the district prioritizes technology to keep up with the modern expectations of education, aging equipment piles up in the library waiting to be obsoleted and recycled.

11 FESTIVE FABRICS Student sews holiday pajamas as yearly tradition.

@MHSNEWSPRODUCTIONS

libelous content or any other reason the editor in chief and adviser deem appropriate, including advertisements and letters to the editor.

The Messenger is nationally recognized as a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Journalism Education Association, Missouri Journalism Education Association and Quill & Scroll. This year, the publication was named a Hall of Fame recipient and Quill & Scroll George H. Gallup award winner.

Past issues have been named NSPA Pacemaker finalists and CSPA Crown finalists. The Messenger website is a Distinguished Site recipient.

The publication office is located in Room 226, (636) 891-6000 ext.

26228.

OUR MISSION As journalists who strive for accuracy, objectivity, balance and credibility, we stand to bring the school community together by featuring stories that inform, entertain and inspire with an emphasis on giving a voice to the school community.

Featuring: Staff Guess Student Slang, South Tech High School Promotes New opportunities and the Churchill Museum by | Jack

Favazza, Elliott Jorgensen & Rhianna Li

issue III

NEWS

Detentions rise as admin prioritize tardies david MOSS Emily Thompson, French teacher, began supervising detention two years ago. Compared to detention last year, Thompson said there’s one major difference this year: more students.

“With more students comes issues like managing all of them, making sure they’re getting work done,” Thompson said. “It’s like managing a class at that point—a class of kids who had a behavior that put them there.”

Last school year, 32 tardy referrals, or detentions, were given in the first semester, and 56 were given in the second semester. So far this year, 199 detentions from tardy referrals have already been assigned.

Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said tardies are the most common discipline and the main reason for students being in detention.

“Things got a little relaxed during COVID, and we never fully bounced back from being really on top of it,” Dr. Waeckerle said.

Dr. Waeckerle said students roaming the halls and arriving late to class was a concern last year, as it could disrupt the learning environment.

Though referrals traditionally increase second semester, Dr. Waeckerle said she hopes consistent discipline for tardies will result in a decrease in refer-

When Emily Thompson, detention supervisor, talks with students in detention, she often asks why they received it and what they could’ve done differently or can do going forward.

“Making contact with another teacher who isn’t in charge of a grade allows students to find an adult they can connect with,” Thompson said. Photograph by David Moss

rals next semester as students prioritize attendance.

Evan Urkevich, senior, served a weekend detention after obtaining five tardies in his second hour class. He said he was caught off guard by this disciplinary action and would like to see better communication before tardies accumulate.

McKenna Peters, social studies teacher, said on average, one student arrives late to each of her class periods.

“As long as they give me the heads up, they can walk in after the bell, but when the bell rings, that’s what Dr. Waeckerle has asked us to do,” McKen-

na said.

Peters said it’s important that students with challenges, such as having classes that are far apart, communicate with their teachers.

Shashankh Srikanth, senior, has had several after school detentions this year due to tardies. He said tardies will always be an issue, and a change in the punishment may be helpful.

“I understand punishing people for tardies, but I don’t think detentions are the right answer,” Srikanth said. “Maybe during lunches they could help out by cleaning the tables.”

District rolls out new 4-year enrollment process luke GRAVES • claire LOWDER In past years, enrollment requests were written on a physical sheet of paper and submitted to the Guidance Office early second semester each year.

Starting this year, students and parents now will be able to access 4-year plans through Infinite Campus.

Katie Liebers, guidance counselor, said she hopes the new process will help students more effectively plan their current and future courses.

“Now, students and parents will be able to log in to Infinite Campus and make changes,” Liebers said. “It will also be accessible for a larger window of time throughout the school year.”

Alison Carroll, school counselor, joined the staff this year, and found a large number of students looking to

Jeffrey Marx, counselor, explains the new course selection process to a class of sophomores. Four-year course selection will now be available on Infinite Campus. Photograph

by Luke Graves

change classes for various reasons.

“Some of them had good reasons,” Carroll said. “Some of them were just looking to change teachers or hours so that they could be with their friends.”

The new open system could limit the number of students flocking to counselors at the beginning of the year.

Tyler Scheidler, sophomore, said the enrollment process will benefit from flexible deadlines and that the new plan provides more liberty in changing classes.

Scheidler has been prioritizing classes that are important to graduation and college admissions.

“I tried to get classes like health out of the way; then I can do other classes I’m interested in,” Scheidler said.

Counselors have met with freshmen and sophomores to explain the new system. Juniors will meet with counselors during the week of January 15 during their language arts classes.

IN BRIEF

3

Proposition 3 passed with a 66% majority on Tuesday, Nov. 7. This transfer of funding will provide debtfree resources for the district to fund safety, technology and facility needs without increasing the overall tax rate.

The Student Alliance for the Environment (S.A.F.E.) returned recycling to the lunch room Thursday, Nov. 9. There are two recycling bins on either side of the Commons to collect bottles, cans, cartons and paper products.

Residents may file as candidates for the RSD Board of Education from Tuesday, Dec. 5, until Tuesday, Dec. 26. Election Day is Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

A paper form must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian for every second semester course change this year.

The deadline for schedule changes is now the third day of second semester.

4

NEWS

dec. 2023

1.)

Chesterfield Mall opened in 1976 as the largest shopping mall in the St. Louis County area. By the mid-2010s, several of the mall’s largest tenants, such as Dillard’s and American Girl Doll, closed. The only national names still operating in the mall are V-Stock and The Cheesecake Factory. Any redevelopment may affect the district as the district boundary falls just outside the mall’s land. Map data ©2023 Google; Photographs by Lydia Lange

THAT’S A WRAP

Chesterfield Mall redevelopment planned for 2025 willem HUMMEL A young Sofia Maciariello admired the reindeer, the little snow capped mountain and icicles that dotted the ceiling of Chesterfield Mall as she stood in line with her family waiting for Santa.

After a long wait, she sat down with Santa, and wished for a stuffed animal panda bear she saw hanging on a tree. Her family took pictures, and as she left, he gave her a candy cane and promised to fulfill her wish.

This is one of senior Maciariello’s fondest memories of Chesterfield mall, which is now largely closed and will be demolished in 2024 to build apartments and shops.

“It felt like the end of an Era,” Maciariello said.

The mall was also where Maciariello’s job was, at the AMC theater, which closed Thursday, May 18.

“We had a little last huzzah. I think everyone went and watched ‘Fast and Furious 10’,” Maciariello said. “We all had pizza, and then it was like, ‘hey it’s

been a pleasure working with you all,’ and we had that bye moment.”

Maciariello said she enjoyed her job, but she didn’t realize it at the time.

“You kind of take it for granted,” Maciariello said. “It was a home away from home for me.”

Like Maciariello, Iman Mohamed, senior, is sad the mall is being demolished because she said she also had childhood memories there, like going to the food court, shopping and hanging out, but she said it is necessary for population growth.

“My first American Girl Doll was from the Chesterfield Mall,” Iman said.

“We went to go see movies all the time.

We went to the Cheesecake Factory a lot, but now there is nothing else really to do at the Chesterfield Mall.”

Cyndy Byous, chief financial officer for the district, said the mall is being redeveloped with the Chesterfield Regional Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan & Project, or the TIF. Byous said property taxes on real estate involved were frozen on Oct. 21,

Where the mall’s four main hallways intersected, there used to be a carousel and small dining kiosks. Now that area is used for recreational badminton and pickleball and the surrounding businesses are closed. Photograph by Lydia Lange

tinues to be revised as the developer 2022 and would continue to be frozen works out issues with the City of Chesfor up to 23 years. terfield and former tenants of the mall.

“Because this is a blighted area, had These revisions could impact original it been left alone, Rockwood’s revenue estimates,” Byous said. from property taxes might have fallen Tim Lowe, senior vice president of as the value of the property continued Leasing and Deto decrease,” Byous velopment at the “Because this is a said. “The communiStaenberg Group ty, city and all taxing blighted area, had said the Staenberg districts will benefit it been left alone, Group, owns 70.3 in the long run from additional taxes at Rockwood’s revenue acres of land that the occupied. the expiration of the from property taxes mallLowe said the TIF even though they might have fallen plan is to replace forego taxes during the mall with a new the development as the value of the mixed use phase.” property continued to urban, development that Byous said the decrease.” will include residenarea outlined by the tial offices, retail TIF largely lies within spaces, restaurants, a the Parkway School Cyndy Byous, supermarket, a park, District’s boundary, Chief Financial Officer multi-family condobut there is still a miniums and public portion in Rockamenities. The new wood’s boundary. development will be called Downtown “The portion within the Rockwood Chesterfield.

School District is planned for the de“ It will benefit the city of Chestervelopment of Wildhorse Village, which field dramatically,” Lowe said. will include a mixture of condominiLowe said it also will create an ums, town homes and apartment units.” urban downtown area that Chesterfield Byous said. “This housing will inevicurrently lacks. tably add students to the Rockwood Lowe said the mall area including School District, which will certainly V-Stock, and the Cheesecake Factory carry a cost in terms of school district will remain open until Friday, Aug. 30. staffing, services and supplies.”

And demolition is planned for the fall Byous said the Parkway School District estimated that 835 students will be of 2024.

“We are currently going through added due to the new zoning, but city planners estimated 236 added students. our municipal entitlement process with Rockwood has estimated an addition of the City of Chesterfield with a hope to start construction sometime by 2025 43 to more than 150 students. and open components of the project in “An additional uncertainty that makes attendance prediction difficult is phases starting 2027,” Lowe said. that the final development plan con-

issue III

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5

6

FEATURES

dec. 2023

1

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AP art student earns national recognition on a Masonite panel to depict their friend, Jonathan Pirrello, senior, in his Only 50 art pieces from around the music studio with an assortment of world are selected to be featured online mixing tools, microphones and cables. for the AP Art and Design Exhibition “It’s kind of like a chaotic piece,” and senior Ava Nordman’s work is one Nordman said. “I wanted to have a lot of them. of stuff going on so that “In all the years I there was not one main “Because it’s 50 have taught AP, I have thing that your eyes out of the whole were drawn to, so you never had anyone be selected. I’ve even could look all over the world of people had a person score a thing and there who take AP Art, whole perfect score on it, was always something it was exciting.” and they weren’t even visually interesting to selected for it,” Melissa look at.”

Wilson, art teacher, Nordman said they Ava Nordman, said. try to do a pretty realissenior Wilson said the tic style of art, and when pool of candidates they were painting, they for the AP Art and Design exhibition made sure to pay attention to small included any students who took the AP details, like making sure the knobs on Art and Design exam, which included the little mixing boards were on the about 74,000- 75,000 students. right setting to make them accurate to Wilson said 15 MHS students took real life.

AP Art and Design and normally 90% “My theme last year was mundane, of her class takes the AP Art and Deboring tasks, and I tried to paint them sign exam. and capture them in a beautiful way “A lot of the time kids don’t necto show that even boring stuff can be essarily, as juniors, come in and have visually appealing,” Nordman said. their artistic voice already developed, In the future Nordman said they but I feel like Ava already did,” Wilson plan to double major in art and envisaid. ronmental science.

Nordman said they were honored to Pirrello said he has always been be chosen. impressed with Nordman’s artistic skill “Because it’s 50 out of the whole and attention to detail. world of people who take AP Art, it “There is something kind of special was exciting, but also a little bit scary about being painted,” Pirrello said. “It’s because now everyone is just going to a peak into my life, it’s what I do when be able to see this piece I made,” NordI am at home and it’s just interesting to man said. see it meticulously painted out.”

Nordman’s painting, “Microphones,” Valkyrie Nordman, Ava’s mother, uses a medium of gouache and acrylic said Nordman’s interest in art began in

willem HUMMEL

3

4

1. Senior Ava Nordman’s art piece “The

Microphones” earned them a spot in the AP Art and Design Exhibition that features only 50 artists of the more than 74,000 students who took the AP Art exam last year. Their painting features Nordman’s friend Jonathan Pirrello, senior, in his music studio.

Artwork by Ava Nordman 2. Ava Nordman, senior, makes a figure out of metal clay for the Eco-Art show. Metal clay is a medium that will turn metallic after being in a kiln. Photograph by Willem Hummel 3 & 4. “Structures” and “Wildhorse Creek” are other pieces in senior Ava Nordman’s art portfolio. “Ava is a great example of what we have to offer in the art program at Marquette,” Melissa Wilson, art teacher, said. Artwork by Ava Nordman

preschool.

“Ava’s art is just so central to the story of Ava. I remember a 2-year-old Ava painting with as much paint on them as on the paper,” Valkyrie said.

“On every vacation, we’ve sought out art supply stores and museums, all to encourage that continued exploration.

I’m not even sure Ava would remember all those trips and museums, but I have to think they left an impression.”

Valkyrie said it has been fun to see Nordman’s art change and develop over time to the present.

“Ava’s style has developed into something uniquely their own and if I saw a painting or sketch of theirs, I would recognize it immediately as theirs,” Valkyrie said.

Ava Nordman, senior, dresses up as an artist for Career Day in fifth grade. Photograph

by Valkyrie Nordman

issue III

FEATURES

True crime piques interest in forensic science annabelle MILLER

explore true crime. She suggests, however, that students who find it interesting get more involved in podcasts, books As Payton Smith, sophomore, walks to and classes. her next class, she puts in earbuds and Dawna Barnhart, Forensics teacher, begins the next episode of her favoroften uses true crime examples in her ite Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) classes. podcast.

“We’ve had a serial killer here in St. Smith said she became interested in Louis, and I talk about him quite a bit,” true crime after seeing reels on TikTok Barnhart said. “He left tire prints, and I that led her to true crime podcasts. use that to talk about impressions.”

True crime refers to real cases, eiAlong with using the serial killer ther solved or unsolved, that have been Maury Travis, Barnhart said she uses fapopularized through books, movies, mous murder cases like the O.J. Simpson shows or podcasts. The top three most case, Micheal Peterson Stairway case, popular true crime podcasts of 2023, Casey Anthony case and Idaho College according to Cosmopolitan, are “Scastudent murder case to teach students manda,” “Letters from Sing Sing” and how to use evidence to build a case.

“Ridiculous Crime.”

Barnhart pulls from crime shows as Smith said her favorite cases are well. She said “CSI: Vegas” includes difunsolved mysteries. ferent aspects of investigative work such “There are billions of possibilities as bugs, hair, fibers and fingerprints. that could be the answer,” Smith said.

But, her students always take more inter“It’s so interesting to see how people est in true crime scenarios and activities have tried to solve them and what than made-up ones. could be missing in the picture.”

Since 2020, there has been a 41% Because of the nature of crime scenes, Smith said many students don’t increase in students enrolled in Forensics. She now teaches four periods of the class.

Many of Barnhart’s “Little Crazy Children” students keep her updated and “Tangled Vines” on the shows, podcasts are two new true crime and news articles they find books in the library. online.

They can be found at “It’s cool when they the Dewey decimal come back and tell me ‘We just watched this on number for true crime: the news, and it’s what we 364.152 learned about it in class’,”

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Ben Buckallew, junior, initially took an interest in investigative work because of his family, especially his stepdad’s work as a detective.

“He’s a detective who’s already in it, so it’s pretty fun seeing what he does,” Buckallew said. “I talk to him about some of the crimes he does and activities he does, for instance, blood sampling, and how that affects his job.”

He said his family often discusses recent crime stories, and his sister encouraged him to take Forensics.

Buckallew said his favorite topics in the class are fingerprinting and blood spatter investigations, which relate to his favorite lab they’ve done as well.

“We put on hazmat suits and jumped inside a tent,” Buckallew said. “With a hammer, we smashed a bloody sponge to get blood spatter on a cardboard paper.”

Iman Mohamed, senior, studies the blood splatter that she created while smashing a fake-blood-soaked sponge with a hammer during her fifth hour Forensics class. Photograph by Sophia Dominicis

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E-waste threatens environment willem HUMMEL • david MOSS Carlos Vences, senior said he plans on getting a set of Sennheiser headphones for the holidays. He has owned close to 35 headphones in his lifetime and has needed new ones for a variety of reasons.

“Sometimes it can be the cord breaking, sometimes it can be one of the headphones stops working, so one side stops working, sometimes it can be that they just don't hold up, or maybe they were a cheap pair,” Vences said.

Like many students, Vences tends to hang on to broken or obsolete pairs.

“I have a collection, it's almost like a graveyard now,” Vences said.

Sanika Saraf, senior, said like Vences, her family tends to hold on to broken, or unused electronics.

“My family, especially with computers and things like that, we just keep them in a box in our basement.

We don't really do anything with it,” Saraf said.

After the district began providing every student with a Chromebook two years ago, Nathan Frankenberger, computer science teacher, began teaching a technology class in which students repaired damaged or broken Chromebooks of RSD students.

“It was probably cheaper than contracting out and having to hire more people,” Frankenberger said.

“The other benefit is we had kids doing it; they’re having fun, they’re learning about the process and getting involved in other aspects besides the programming of computers.”

Though Frakenberger believed the system worked well, the district went under warranty for Chromebooks to help save money on repairs by outsourcing them. Students and staff could not continue fixing the devices, effectively killing the program.

Frankenberger said Chromebooks, like many other electronics, have valuable components and parts.

“Tons of parts inside of a computer are made of precious metals,” Frankenberger said. “Just throwing

What happens to recycled electronics?

1.

Used electronics are taken to an electronic recycling facility or event.

them away you could think of as throwing jewelry into a landfill.”

Steven Monroe, Rockwood technology customer service manager, said all Chromebooks used by middle and high school students will eventually make their way down to the elementary schools.

A similar process is followed with Windows devices, mostly teacher’s laptops, which are replaced with new devices once the warranty expires. Older devices are used as loaners or for substitute teachers until something breaks and cannot be repaired.

“Projectors and SMARTboards go through a similar process, but are typically only obsoleted and replaced if they break completely,” Monroe said.

Once obsolete devices are approved, a company called Nilo Tech pays RSD for the technology, picks up the old electronics,s and brings them to their warehouse in St. Louis.

Justin Nilhas, owner of Nilo Tech, said 5% of their electronics come from RSD. After the electronics are

2.

The electronics are exposed to different intervals of high heat to melt each metal. Common metals in electronics are gold, palladium and platinum.

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9

EPTH

How much do you know about e-waste?

ked up from school, they are sorted into different the environment from pollution. Her family recyegories depending on the type of metal each eleccles their electronics, such as batteries, at her dad’s nic contains. workplace.

“We’re after copper, we’re after aluminum, we’re “All of our choices add up. It might feel like we er gold, silver and smaller ones, similar to jewelry are just 1 out of 8 billion people, but each of us has pe stuff,” Nilhas said. choices in our daily lives, and the ways that we live If an electronic device has any metal in it at all, it them that can continue the trend where we are at,” es through chippers and mills that have giant teeth Toth said. “But we also have choices to make an imat turn the electronics into pact for the better.” lets so they can be reused Ayan Ahmed, junior, said new products, Nilhas said. his family stores many used The district is currently Nilhas said the waste double and triple A batteries managing about 6,000 ey see for electronics has in drawers and cupboards anged over the years. He in their house for lack of an Windows devices, 20,000 es a lot more tablets and obvious, better solution.

Chromebooks, 1,800 projectors mputer towers than before.

“I think the biggest issue and 6,000 iPads this school year.

“Everything is lighter and is that people don’t have time the screens are bigger,” to properly recycle. They just has said. throw stuff in the bin to be Nilhas said electronic recycling is important to done with it,” Ahmed said. “If there was a separate sure contaminants do not go places they shouldn't. bin for e-waste, then maybe people would start doing tals like lead and mercury in electronics can evenit.” lly enter groundwater, so they must be disposed of a specific way.

"The dump does not exist in a vacuum. It exists our community, so keeping bad things out of the mp, that are hazardous, is very good," Nilhas said.

He said it is also important to recycle because it more environmentally friendly to reuse precious tals inside electronics already, and then mine for w metals.

“Lithium, for instance, is a common element that n the battery that we recycle; they’re in your lapps, they're in your phones,” Nilhas said. “It's mined t of the ground. It can hurt the environment, so the st thing that we can do is try to capture the stuff 've already dug up.”

Michelle Dixon, office manager of Arch City Techlogy, said their recycling company keeps resellable ms, like projectors and keyboards. Most things that not re-sellable are shredded, Dixon said.

“Our machine divides them into different comodities and those are sent to smelters where they en melt them down to be used in other products,” xon said.

Bennet Toth, senior, learned about the impact huns have on their environment in AP Environmenlast year. She now plans to pursue environmental ence in college.

Toth said electronic recycling is labor intensive d a little expensive, but worth doing to protect

tals are cilities to factured electronic nents.

Fast Fact

4.

The components are put in new electronics and sold to consumers.

2. Between 2019 and 2023, international electronics waste rose from 53.6 to 61.3 million metric tons. It is predicted that by 2030 worldwide electronic waste will reach: a) 71.3 million metric tons b) 74.7 million metric tons c) 76.7 million metric tons d) 69.2 million metric tons 3. How much of Nilo Tech’s electronics come from RSD? a) 7% b) 6% c) 5% d) 4% 4. As of 2019, how much do American households spend yearly on new electronics? a) $1,860 b) $2,040 c) $1,235 Information from U.S. PIRG, d) $1,480 Statista, and Nilo Tech Answers: 1(c), 2(b), 3(c), 4(a)

Workers from PCs for People sort donated electronics at an electronic recycling event at the Daniel Boone County Library in October. Photograph

by Myles Edgington

1. On average, how much electronic waste do American families generate annually? a) 154 pounds b) 168 pounds c) 176 pounds d) 184 pounds

Which electronics can be recycled?

Electronic recycling centers will accept:

• televisions • cell phones • computer products (like the one to the left) • DVD players • VCRs • video cameras • digital cameras • gaming consoles • stereos • answering machines • photocopiers • scanners • printers

10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

dec. 2023

HEADPHONES IN

STL artists interact with community anvi TALYAN

Raj Gudavalli, junior, takes a photo with Metro Boomin at his concert to open the new St. Louis soccer stadium. Photograph

by Raj Gudavalli

home city, as the word “metro” The clarinet and trumpet's C notes traveled up Junior in his name comes from the St. Tiona Merritte's headphones and flooded her ears as Louis bus line.

"Broken Clocks" by SZA played its opening chords.

Many in the community are SZA is from St. Louis, and is the most nominated connected to the big-time proartist of the year. She was recently nominated for ducer, even before they knew the Nicole Scherder, nine Grammys: Record Of The Year, Album Of The fame he would reach. language arts teacher, Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Duo/Group PerforNicole Scherder, language kept a letter Metro mance, Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B arts teacher, was a student Boomin wrote to Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Progressive R&B teacher at Metro Boomin’s her when he was her Album and Best Melodic Rap Performance. alma mater, Parkway North student. He referred “I have a lot of artists from St. Louis that I just High School, where she helped to her as Mrs. Rasch, adore and it just warms my heart because it's like it's out in his freshman language her last name at the so nice to know that such talented people are from arts class.

She had time. Photograph by here,” Merritte said. seen Facebook posts about his Nicole Scherder Merritte started listening to SZA in fifth grade popularity before, but realized after first moving to the district. She said she discovhis fame at a Cardinals Game.

AJ Hirang, junior, ered SZA from the song "Bro“There was "This is just evidence a picture attended SZA's ken Clocks," which became of him concert in St. Louis. her go-to song. that if you truly want and I was like, Photograph

by Aj One thing Merritte said my gosh, I something and want ‘Oh Hirang stands out to her about SZA is know him like how relatable her songs are. to work for it, you can that was my “It's like every single song, student,' Scherder make it happen."

I feel like I can relate to her,” said.

Merritte said. “And I just felt After seeing this, the emotions that she sings she said she felt excitNicole Scherder, about, and it's so crazy beed because as a teacher cause it feels like she's my language arts teacher she’s had many students brain.” with big aspirations and Merritte said not only is she honored to originate felt proud that he was able to reach his from the same place as SZA, but she is also proud of goals, especially now with his Grammy SZA’s accomplishments, not only with her Grammy nominations. She also said it's clear how nominations but also her growth in popularity with hardworking he is, as he followed his dreams the release of her album “SOS” in December, 2022. without sacrificing his education.

“She's gained so much popularity and she gets to “This is just evidence that if you truly want share her emotions with the world and I think it's something and want to work for it, you can make it so beautiful,” Merritte said. “Especially because I happen,” Scherder said. feel like she was a really good outlet for young Black Raj Gudavalli, junior, became a fan of Metro girls."

Boomin while attending Parkway North Middle AJ Hirang, junior, said something special about School.

SZA is her popularity among men, not just women, Gudavalli went to his concert in March, and Hirang attended her concert on Wednesday, Oct. once the concert was over, Gudavalli said he and his 11, and said he was excited because he figured SZA friends ran to catch up with him. would do something special being in her hometown.

"Seeing him in the flesh was surreal at the moDuring the concert, she played an extra song, “20 ment," Gudavalli said.

Something" from her "Ctrl" album, which is one of Gudavalli said that he feels Metro Boomin deHirang's favorite songs. serves his nominations, and that it's great to watch SZA wasn’t the only St. Louis-born artist up him succeed. for Grammys, as Metro Boomin is a St. Louis artist “He just produces music that I feel like other up for Best Rap Album and Producer Of The Year, producers just can't reach,” Gudavalli said. “Just Non-Classical. the skill and talent he has, you can just tell it's gonMetro Boomin has stayed connected with his na be a good song when he produces something.”

Illustration by Emily Chien

issue III

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11

IT’S SEW SEASONAL: Family celebrates PJ-making tradition jack FAVAZZA It’s a 25° night the week before Christmas. The gentle chatter of a sewing machine awakens the Perz family’s Christmas spirit.

Samantha Perz, sophomore, works with her family friend, Marla Olish, to create holiday-themed pajama pants for the Perz family, a tradition she’s been participating in since she was 9 years old.

“It is heartwarming to spend time with Samantha,” Olish said. “We talk and laugh. I get to hear what’s going on in her life and, more often, she is a good sounding board for me.”

The sewing process begins by picking out a fabric and selecting a pattern for the pants. Perz and Olish then cut out two pant legs using the pattern. They flip the pant legs inside out and sew the open end together on each of them, which creates the inner seam on each leg.

After sewing the inner seams, one of the pant legs is stuffed in the other so that the matching sides of the fabric are facing each other. Next, the pant legs are aligned and sewn together. Finally, the waist and hem of the pants are sewn together with a strip of elastic threaded through the waist.

“It’s satisfying to know you made something from start to finish, and I always have a good time while doing it,” Perz said.

Since the tradition started, Perz and Olish have evolved from using cotton fabrics to fleece fabrics for warmth. They both said that complex patterns and plaids are difficult to sew, so they stick to simpler Christmas patterns that have an ideal amount of

holiday shine.

This year, Perz and Olish are working with a gingerbread design.

Samantha’s younger brother, Daniel, freshman, said he enjoys hanging out with his family during the sewing process and playing Christmas music in the background. Daniel has received pajama pants for the last three years.

“They are quite comfortable and it has turned into a family tradition,” Daniel said.

Olish said she hopes to keep this tradition with the Perz family alive in the future.

“I hope that we keep a placeholder in our calendar each year and, who knows, maybe someday we’ll teach Samantha’s children too,” Olish said. “Sewing is a good life lesson about planning, making decisions, adapting when necessary, and living with the consequences. It is a pleasure of my life to be a part of this tradition.”

Samantha Perz, sophomore, has been sewing holiday pajamas with her family since she was about 9 years old. This year’s pattern is gingerbread themed. Photographs by Marla Olish

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12

7 dec. 2023

OPINIONS

SPEAK OUT RSD recently announced it would be enforcing a Canvas-only learning management system beginning next school year.

DO YOU PREFER GOOGLE CLASSROOM OR CANVAS FOR SCHOOL USE?

“I probably prefer Classroom because I think it’s easier to use and is less laggy.”

CALEB KNUSTON,

freshman

“I prefer Canvas because everything is there and then most of my classes don’t even use Google Classroom to begin with, so it’s easier to just keep track of everything on Canvas.”

EMILY KNESE,

sophomore

“Google Classroom is a lot more student friendly, so for us students it’s easier to navigate through Google Classroom channels.”

LOUIS CHEN,

junior

Canvas is one of the most used college interfaces and is seen in many Missouri universities, such as MIZZOU and St. Louis University. Blackboard is another popular site, while Google Classroom is rare to see in postsecondary institutions.

RSD Canvas investment is valid The Rockwood School District has decided to go all in on Canvas for the 2024-2025 school year. While Google Classroom has been students’ preferred online learning platform, the advancements Canvas brings outweigh the familiarity of Google Classroom.

From MIZZOU to Harvard to St. Louis University, most of the post-secondary world has adopted Canvas as its main platform. If we begin using Canvas in high school, the transition to college will be much easier.

This change doesn’t just benefit students.

It benefits teachers as well. Canvas integrates with the Infinite Campus platform and moves grades into Infinite Campus automatically and seamlessly. Teachers spend less time grading and more time teaching or planning lessons.

While the simplistic design language of Google Classroom is preferred by students, Canvas’ modules are organized more efficiently. Looking back at past assignments is quick

EDITORIAL

and easy in Canvas while you may have to scroll for hours in Classroom.

The complicated design of Canvas may initially confuse students, but the in-depth tools integrated into the service are powerful.

Canvas links to Pearson, Studymate, Google Drive and more course-specific resources.

Most math and science classes have already used Canvas and Pearson for homework, science labs and textbooks.

Google Classroom is often used by language arts, history and elective classes. There isn’t as much of an incentive to switch to Canvas for them because the Canvas tools don’t directly benefit their classes. However, they should embrace this shift to Canvas for their students.

If every class uses the same platform, students will be less disorganized and more likely to find their work.

Change isn’t always a bad thing. Streamlining the assignment and education process will only benefit students.

BOARD

LETTERS to the EDITOR “I prefer Google Classroom because it’s just a lot easier because Canvas has so many different buttons and stuff.”

ANYA MOOLA,

senior

“Google is a free multibillion dollar company that made software that doesn’t break, that is easy to use, that is connected to Google TIMOTHY BOWDERN,

math teacher

Everyone knows the stereotype about the ignorant American in a foreign country. A way to overcome this stereotype is by requiring four years of high school foreign language.

Many students may groan because it’s just another boring and even difficult class added to their already busy schedules, but the benefits would greatly change people’s minds. Emily Thompson, French teacher, says that learning a new language can improve critical thinking skills and one’s ability to see things from multiple perspectives. Increased critical thinking would help you strive in other classes as well as make you more aware of others around the world, making your grades stronger and eliminating the “American” stereotype. According to Forbes, companies are more likely to hire a bilingual applicant, who also on average earn 19% more than their monolingual counterparts. Requiring a foreign language must be implemented to help people not just in their own right, but also to help people understand each other who normally wouldn’t.

A freshman fail letter? What a bad idea!

Think about it: would you rather follow proper dental hygiene and stay cavity-free or start brushing only after you find one?

A proactive measure is always superior to a reactive one. Whereas a failure report is a reaction to a negative event, the progress reports are a proactive measure to help prevent such a failure from occurring in the first place. What is the expected reaction to a fail letter? It only adds pressure on students and parents, and anxiety within the entire family, and nothing constructive. Such a letter can lead the student to give up, or worse, take negative action. It may already be too late to course correct. However, with the progress report, parents can understand the track their child is on in their subjects, helping them identify points of attention to prevent failure. Needless to say, a progress report certainly rings better than a freshman fail letter.

WILLIAM HUGHES, junior

ANANTHAA MADHAVAN, freshman

13 Taylor Swift Graduation date creates trouble for AP seniors aIsgood choice for annabelle MILLER Of the 561 students TIME’s “Person of taking AP tests this year, 191 are the Year” ? seniors.

OPINIONS

issue III

The Board of Education (BOE) approved the 2024-25 calendar on Dec. 7. They scheduled the last day for seniors for May 9, 2025 (a day earlier than this year’s). Graduation is not official, but I hope for next year’s seniors it won’t be May 10.

After all the difficulties graduation has caused for the Class of 2024, the district needs to reconsider having an early graduation.

The 2024 graduation date changed from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, May 11 over the summer. The change, however, creates a multitude of difficulties for seniors.

AP exams are held from Friday, May 5 to Monday, May 17, so this year’s graduation is between weeks one and two of testing. AP U.S. History, AP Spanish and AP Economics students will take their test during graduation practice on Friday, May 10.

AP Calculus students will take their test the Monday morning after graduation. Seniors with exams in week two will have to re-enter the building despite not being a student anymore.

These conflicts will affect a significant number of the Senior Class: of the 561 students taking AP tests this year, 191 are seniors.

I’m an AP Calculus AB student this year, and I debated even signing up for the test due to the difficulties graduation will cause. The Senior Farewell

event begins the night of graduation and lasts until Sunday morning. If I were to participate, I would be sleep-deprived for my Monday morning exam and likely wouldn’t score as well.

I’ve talked to my teacher, parents and the administration to find a solution, but there isn’t a perfect one. There is a make-up test date, but it takes Illustration by Layla Shockley place weeks after our in-class preparation.

I could miss the Senior Farewell, but I distraction from AP tests. wouldn’t get to experience a graduation The administration has done its best tradition. to accommodate many of the conflicts I could have not signed up for the created by the graduation date. For AP Calc exam altogether, but all of my example, seniors are allowed back into hard work this year would go to waste. the building to talk to teachers after Calculus students have to choose begraduation. tween college credit and a memorable The major conflicts, however, reend to their high school career, which main out of the administration’s reach, is a tough place to put any teenager. and seniors will still have to plan their The end of our senior year also studies around graduation. won’t be as meaningful. Instead of As the graduation date is chosen for reflecting on our favorite high school the 2024-2025 school year, I encourage memories, a portion of us will be trythe district to move it to at least Saturing to remember facts, formulas and day, May 17. That way, only students exam tips. I wouldn’t be surprised if with tests on Friday, May 16, will be a few students bring study materials affected. to the ceremony or skip it altogether.

It may be too late for the Class of Graduation is supposed to be a relaxed, 2024, but we can ensure the next class bittersweet event, and not a stressful will have a better graduation.

College essays held to unreasonable standards

Talyor Swift, famous pop artist and lyricist, was recently named TIME’s 2023 “Person of the Year”.

Do you believe she is the best choice for this title?

YES luke GRAVES

The criteria for TIME’s person of the year involves influencing headlines, for better or worse. Above every other notable person this year, Taylor Swift has by far created the most headlines. Her Eras Tour became the highest grossing concert tour of all time, she released a movie and she released re-recordings of her albums “Speak Now” and “1989,” which have dominated the Billboard 200 albums chart. Her stardom has infiltrated even the NFL after she began publicly dating superstar Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce. The Chief’s broadcasts frequently highlight her, much to the chagrin of their football fans. Her influence has been undeniable, with an army of fans known as “Swifties” dedicated to her every move.

Her year has been packed with more headlines than any other contender for TIME’s person of the year. Regardless of personal opinion on Taylor Swift or her music, she is difficult to deny as the most influential person of 2023.

aubrey LACAVICH One girl traveled to Uganda to fight world hunger. Another guy made it to an Olympic robotics team.

These are examples of college essay topics written by extraordinary students, something I am not.

I started writing my college essay in September by looking at example essays. I was shocked to find how many students wrote about extravagant achievements.

I have good grades and a good ACT score, but they aren’t perfect. I participate in extracurriculars, but I don’t compete on an Olympic level. I volunteer and participate in clubs, but I haven’t solved world hunger or climate change.

How was I supposed to write a college essay that stood out against these extravagant essays, when I’m “normal.”

To get accepted into colleges, college essays need to “stand out” and “be unique.” But I know plenty of students just like me who work hard and get good grades, but haven’t been this extreme person.

Lost, I turned to my tutor. She helped guide me through the stigma of unique essays and explained that my essay has to show who I am. It should

NO

aiden BURKHARDT

As the bar rises higher and higher for high school achievements, eventually these types of major accomplishments are going to be the expectation for students wanting to stand out to top colleges. Illustration by Layla Shockley

show my personality and writing style in 600 words. She first had me find objects that represent myself or my personality. After that, I found a core value with a couple different exercises she showed me. The two that stood out the most were “tap shoes” and “growth.”

I wrote my essay about finding rhythm in life and how it helped me get through difficult situations. Dance is a big part of my life, so we incorporated that with tap shoes teaching me

rhythm, and how I took that lesson and applied it to everyday things. I ended my piece with a narrative of how I now teach young girls to find rhythm with their tap shoes.

College essays don’t have to be crazy; they just have to show the best parts of yourself, while also hinting at some of your achievements.

It’s okay to be ordinary. Don’t be afraid to write about yourself, even if you haven’t changed the world.

The criteria for the TIME Person of the Year (POTY), per their own website, is “the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill.”

Taylor Swift certainly satisfies the first of those criteria; the media buzz about her has been relentless. As far as her impact on our lives, however - what has it been? However famous Swift is, it’s hard to argue that she has made a definable impact in the world. Amongst the previous Time nominees, veterans, Ebola fighters and #MeToo women, Swift simply does not fit in terms of enacting change. Some alternatives to the pop icon might have been the Hollywood strikers or journalists covering the Israel-Palestine conflict.

With a TIME POTY nomination comes enormous publicity, something Swift doesn’t need any more of. Shedding light on unsung heroes, rather than celebrating pop icons, should be the goal of the award.

14

dec. 2023

SPORTS HOCKEY Colby Kupaks, junior, started playing hockey when he was four years old. He currently plays for Marquette j.v. and varsity as well as for the Chesterfield Falcons, a club team.

Kupaks said the cost of hockey depends on the level played.

“At the highest level, it probably costs $30,000 a year,” Kupaks said. “But, at a lower level, it’s around $10,000.”

He said hockey costs more than other sports because it requires a lot of equipment.

“Sticks break easily and can cost $300 a piece, while you need two of them,” Kupaks said. “And skates cost around $1,000, so equipment is expensive.”

2

T S O C N O I

T I T E P M O

ce ive dan d t i t e p n ey, complan to spe r k c o h s i e de nt t inclu60% of pare bt to fund th s o c y b e , sports nding Tree to go into d y LACAVICH g n i k e n t aubre hest ra cording to Le 11% expec g i h e h c l hi .A of t Some uestrianism on sports, w and eqthan $1,000 s.

DANCE more en’s athletic childr Jaden Mitchell, sophomore, has been dancing at Re-

C

1

1 2 3

Sophomore Jaden Mitchell performs her solo at Masquerade dance competition. In order to perform, she had to pay a minimum of $100 entrance fee.

Photograph by Sarah Mitchell Junior Colby Kupkas plays hockey as a child for the Chesterfield Falcons, a club hockey team. Kupkas doesn't travel often, so his travel fees are minimal.

Photograph by Nicole Kupkas Senior Eisele Chiarelli and her horse, Cap, perform at a competition. It costs Chiarelli $500 per competition, and she competes twice a month. Photograph by Courtney Chiarelli

nee Johnson’s Dance Studio since she was 2 years old and now also dances on Mystique.

“Just on costumes, I spend about $800 or more,” Mitchell said. “Choreography fees are a solid $300 per dance, and I have about 10 dances.”

Hilary Levey Friedman, Harvard sociologist, studied parents of competitive dancers and found they spend between $5,000 and $10,000 a year on dance.

Fees for Mitchell include choreography, costumes, shoes, entrance fees, and, every other year, a Nationals trip. Booking a hotel, gas or flights, food, and entrance fees are added to her expenses on Nationals years.

Mitchell said it’s 100 percent worth it.

“I feel sorry for my parents because, without me, they would be flooded with money,” Mitchell said.

“But, they knew this was a possibility when they got me into dance.”

Studio dancing mainly differs from school dance in the sense that Mitchell has fewer dances with Mystique. Fewer dances means fewer costumes and fewer competition fees.

Mitchell said that if she has the opportunity to, she will put her children in dance.

“Growing up in the environment, I know that it's worth it, and I’ve made my best friends just in general from dancing in a studio,” Mitchell said.

67% of parents hope that their investment will pay off in an athletic scholarship, and 34% think their child-athlete will go to Olympics or turn pro.

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Kupaks doesn’t travel very far with his club team, so travel fees are minimal, but still about $2,000 per year.

“The price is kind of high, but I get why it’s expensive,” Kupaks said. “It's not like soccer where you have a ball. You need a lot of things to be able to play the spot.”

His parents both played hockey and his mom was a general manager, so they knew it would be expensive.

EQUESTRIANISM Eisele Chiarelli, senior, started riding horses when she was 5 years old.

For her, equestrian costs about $12,000 a year. Chiarelli works during the week and on weekends to pay for her sport, but her parents and grandparents help her as well.

“I’m lucky to have financially stable parents and especially grandparents,” Chiarelli said.

Equestrians usually buy their own horse, which is what Chiarelli did. She bought her horse, Cap, straight off the track for $1,200. Cap is boarded in Labordie, MO where she practices.

Riding equipment price varies by brand, Chiarelli said. Her helmet cost about $800 and boots can be between $100-$800 a piece.

Chiarelli said she doesn’t want her kids to go into equestrian sports because it’s so expensive.

She also has to pay to compete. It costs about $500 to compete, and she competes twice a month.

“It’s really rewarding,” Chiarelli said.

“But, if you don't have the time, commitment and the money, it's definitely not a sport for you.”

3

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issue III

SPORTS

15

Senior athletes reflect on club careers hailey NEUNER Mia Schaefer, senior, doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to maintaining chemistry with her teammates. The Mavericks Basketball Organization keeps Schaefer and six other varsity players on the same court year round.

“I’ve been playing for the Mavericks for two and a half years, and Jess [Aldenderfer], Kiersten [Powell] and Hayley [Ott] pretty much have been with me the entire time,” Schaefer said. “But I’ve also played with them since fourth grade.”

These bonds have kept her motivated and traveling to tournaments in the spring and summer also has had its benefits.

“I always used club to stay conditioned and grow my skills for when high school season came around,” Schaefer said.

Club sports provide athletes with the chance to play competitively, develop their abilities and further the recruiting process.

For Colyn Wright, senior, the Adidas Athletics Baseball Organization brought the college coaches to him.

“Every week, the organization would bring in coaches I could pitch in front of, and I threw a quick bullpen and got an offer on the spot,” Wright said.

Wright, who is committed to play for Westminster College next year, said high school sports focus on the student in addition to the athlete.

“The focus has to be higher because high school coaches keep you accountable,” Wright said.

This emphasis on academics is because many MHS coaches also see their players in class. It is also supported by GPA eligibility requirements, Scholar-Athlete recognition and class attendance policies.

Club coaches are generally excluded from this aspect of student development and teammate rela-

tionships are also at a disadvantage.

“I feel closer with my high school teammates,” Wright said. “I see them every day, and I play ball with them for at least four years, unlike club, where it’s a new team every year.”

Wright’s dad, Chris Wright, head j.v. baseball and softball coach, has helped Colyn through 13 years of club soccer and baseball. He said there are stark differences between the two experiences.

Facilities, custom gear and well-attended showcases are some of the perks of playing for a club.

However, Chris said travel for club baseball has cost him more than $2,000 each season. Meanwhile, most high school teams only require players purchase a set of uniforms, sometimes for less than $100.

“Club is more individualistic where you’re playing with teammates from nine different schools and you only see them in the summer, at tournaments and Colyn Wright, during practices once senior, wears a week,” Chris said. two jerseys as “High school is much he plays for the more of a team atAdidas Athletics outside of the mosphere. Colyn has MHS season. grown up with these Photograph by kids.”

Hailey Neuner Michael Stewart, head football coach, has his own concerns when it comes to clubs.

He said the club scene for 11-man tackle football has gained little traction.

Football is physically taxing and to be played yearround like lower-impact sports could mean burnout and injury from overuse, he said.

“I think one of the things that high school coaches

Seniors Madelyn Haas and Mia Schaefer high five before the girls varsity basketball scrimmage on Friday, Nov. 17. Photograph by Annabelle Miller

fear the most now is sport specialization,” Stewart said. “We want our football kids to be playing multiple sports. Use your athletic ability to better yourself and showcase yourself, and then let the college stuff work itself out.”

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16

dec. 2023

SPORTS

Lindenwood University cuts 10 sports programs hailey NEUNER Marin Lally, junior, held her breath as the news of Lindenwood University’s (LU) cuts to their athletic programs unfolded on Friday, Dec. 1. Lally committed to play Division 1 (D1) lacrosse at Lindenwood last year, and she spent years attending showcases and contacting coaches to earn her spot.

Ten Lindenwood programs were cut, a decision that directly affects 280 student athletes. While the women’s lacrosse team wasn’t cut, the men’s team wasn’t as lucky.

“I know that it was a big part of the culture to hang out with the guys’ lacrosse team. They did a lot of stuff together,” Lally said.

The teams shared facility spaces and ran camps together. This piece will be missing for Lally and the rest of the women’s lacrosse program.

Justin Cutter coached men’s lacrosse at Lindenwood from 2010 to 2012. This time marked a monumental transition for the team from the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) to NCAA Division 2 (D2). Although Cutter no longer coaches at Lindenwood, he’s still friends with the head coach, Jim Lange.

“He was the offensive assistant coach when I coached there, and we became quite close over the years,” Cutter said. “He’s given his heart and soul to that program.”

Lindenwood transitioned to D1 in 2022. However, upon entering the Ohio Valley Conference during the early phases of this transition, Cutter said rising travel expenses brought financial strain on the university.

Teams were commonly traveling more than 400 miles for conference games, which was an unprecedented element for LU. “I heard lacrosse was on and off the cutting block, but ultimately, with the conference travel requirements to play other teams plus men’s equipment costs, the budget was just too high to justify the investment,” Cutter said.

Cutter empathizes with current coaches who will need to find new positions after this season. Before the cuts, LU stood as the only D1 men’s lacrosse program in Missouri.

“Lindenwood Men’s Lacrosse has been a home for so many people. The alumni, both players and coaches, are truly saddened to see the program will no longer exist for them and the future athletes in our area,” Cutter said.

Activities Director Adam Starling said athletic departments have many financial decisions to make and

Jacqueline Lindner, soccer coach, waves from midfield before a Lindenwood University women’s soccer game in 2016 as a senior team captain. As a LU alumna, Lindner was saddened by the news of cuts to the athletic program. Photograph by Don Adams Jr

many hours throughout my four years watching these maintain regarding travel expenses, staff, facilities [now cut] sports compete,” Lindner said. and equipment. But, responsibilities extend beyond She said the transfer portal can be a strenuous these demands. and frustrating process, but this decision is part of a “For any school that goes from NAIA to NCAA, bigger picture. they’re going to have much stricter rules governed “I imagine institutions are cutting to help maintain by the NCAA board. Anytime a school adds football the college experience for the majority of students to the NCAA, the number of football players ends and staff that aren’t impacted,” Lindner said. up putting a strain on the Title IX numbers,” Starling said.

Title IX protects the equality of student-athlete opportunities based on sex. Starling said Title IX is dictated by a ratio of female participants to male participants, not only the number of athletic programs a university offers. So, as football rosters expand, a solution to maintaining the Title IX balance is to cut other male programs.

Starling said he is concerned for current athletes.

The fall transfer portal window closes in mid December, giving athletes two weeks to find a new school, if they choose to leave now. And, unlike the University of Missouri System, which offers transferable credits, LU is a private institution.

“So even the credits for these athletes are now going to be up in 10 Programs the air, if they do choose to leave,” Starling said.

1. Men’s Lacrosse Jacqueline Lindner, soccer 2. Men’s Swim and Dive coach, played for LU’s women’s 3. Men’s Tennis soccer program from 2012 to 4. Men’s Indoor Track and Field 2016 after receiving an athletic 5. Men’s Outdoor Track and Field scholarship. While the university is continuing to honor athletic 6. Men’s Wrestling scholarships, Lindner said it’s still 7. Women’s Field Hockey heartbreaking for the athletes.

8. Women’s Gymnastics “If soccer were one of the 9. Women’s Swim and Dive sports cut, I would be devastat10. Men’s and Women’s Cycling ed,” Lindner said. “I take pride in having been part of the program, and I continue to follow the team, The Student-Athlete Center will have and I participate in soccer alumni 280 fewer athletes as a result of LU’s events often.” program cuts.

During her four years at Lindenwood, Lindner worked Game Day, setting up and breaking down sporting events.

“I worked a lot of the sporting events and spent

Cut

LU commit Marin Lally, junior, cradles the ball down field during a game in April 2023. Lally said she is sad to learn the men’s lacrosse team was cut from LU’s program.

Photograph by Jacob Robinson