23-24 Marquette Messenger: Issue 4

Avenue to undergo improvements.

ON FRONT

Jayla Freeman, senior, shows that though stress is often perceived as a negative, it is still a large source of motivation and can be beneficial in the right amount. Many people experience both positive and negative stress daily.

PhotoIllustration by Layla Shockley

ROLL CALL

Editor in Chief

Annabelle Miller

Anvi Talyan

Prashu Sidella

Elliott Jorgensen

Willem Hummel

David Moss

Eli Ferguson

Emily Chien

Aubrey Lacavich

Hailey Neuner

Opinions Editor Illustrator Business Manager Page Designers Staff Reporters Staff Adviser

Claire Lowder

Layla Shockley

Luke Graves

Shreya Das

Kate Jesperson

Justin Small

Elizabeth Bahr

Aiden Burkhardt

Samantha Perz

Morgan Siegel

Zoey Srote

Emily Jorgensen

a year that happens once every 12 years.

07 LIP BALM Students share their favorite lip balms.

10 STANLEY SENSATION Stanley cups surge in popularity in and around MHS.

11 STL PIZZA Imo’s celebrates their 60th year of operation.

14 BASKETBALL The basketball teams played in a historic gym in Indiana.

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,

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.

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.

05 LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 is the Year of the Dragon,

Photographs by Emily Chien, Luke Graves, Kerry Haas, Elliott Jorgensen, Annabelle Miller, Anvi Talyan

Featuring: Student works at Creperie, Local Volunteers Package Food, Best Buddies Cooking Class and Pathways Wellness Center by | Jack Favazza, Elliott Jorgensen & Rhianna Li

Admin approve Students For Life Club

david MOSS

When Hanna Patterson, junior, first heard about the Students For Life (SFL) Club in early December, her main thought was “Why?”

“I didn’t know why they would want to bring that issue to MHS,” Patterson said.

Junior Aiden Strobel, SFL Club founder, said the club plans to promote discussion and education about abortion during club meetings and organize fundraisers and donations to support women with infants.

He first discussed starting an SFL club in October with Jacob Barton, sophomore, and Natalia Montilla, senior. Strobel said he believed many didn’t fully understand the abortion debate.

“I wanted to positively impact our community,” Strobel said. “We also wanted to do community service related to that.”

Strobel and Barton contacted Activities Director Adam Starling to gain approval for their club. Starling and Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle initially denied the club due to concerns that MHS would be endorsing a political interest group.

“From first glance at the website, it looked like an activist group that was raising money for political change,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “As a public high school, we can’t fundraise to then contribute to political action committees.”

Following the rejection, Strobel and Barton contacted the SFL legal team on Monday, Oct. 23. SFL then sent Dr. Waeckerle and Starling a letter with additional information about the club, noting Eureka High School’s SFL club.

“Dr. Starling and I talked to the activities director and the principal [at Eureka]. They said it’s more of an educational group,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “That’s not really what I thought. Mr. Starling and I called the students back in and asked them, ‘What were you hoping to do?’”

The meeting with Strobel and Barton provided clarity, Starling said. Their vision for the club was to educate and do humanitarian work.

“Their club mission statement here is different from what that mission statement was online,” Starling said. “I think that’s why things have blown up, because of the lack of clarity.”

Starling said he currently does not have any concerns for the club.

“Regardless of which side of hot topics we’re on, everyone can still do good within their community if their heart’s coming from the right place,” Starling said.

As of Monday, Feb. 5, the club is currently looking for a sponsor and will meet as soon as one is found. They’ve contacted eight teachers, and all have declined, mostly citing a lack of time in their schedules.

Natalia Montilla, senior, is the social media manager of the SFL club, which currently has 19 potential members in

communication through social media. She said many feel silenced in the abortion debate.

Montilla said she respects those who are pro-choice, and she doesn’t want the club to exclude them.

“We want to see them in our meetings and learn,” Montilla said.

The national organization will provide the club with speakers, Montilla said, and they want a speaker to come and “talk about the basics.”

“We are planning to do a pregnancy donation drive,” Montilla said. “People think that if you’re pro-life, you don’t care about the mother, but we do and try our best to help.”

A member of the politics club, Sohum Tokekar, junior, said students must accept as many differing views as possible.

“If people have an opinion that they feel isn’t voiced enough, they have every right to voice that opinion,” Tokekar said.

Sophomores launch Girls United Club

claire LOWDER

When Katelyn Skiles, sophomore, noticed the lack of a safe space for girls at MHS, she and Addison Risenhoover, sopjomore, set out to start a new club: Girls United.

Girls United Club held its first meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, in Room 294 with Jennifer Shipp, language arts teacher, as its sponsor. Their first meeting covered introductions and had 15 attendees.

“It’s a club for girls by girls,” said Skiles, co-founder of the club. “We hope that Girls United can be a place for girls to feel safe and less alone in their experiences with misogyny.”

The club’s main goal is to expand and cultivate inclusion at MHS. The club is open to all students, but Skiles

said it will mainly cater to girls’ experiences. Skiles said the club will hold discussions, play games and bond through shared experiences and feelings.

Shipp said her personal goal as sponsor is to help the group get their

Students can sign up for Black History Month events during Ac Lab. On Monday Feb. 12, Dr. Cassandra Suggs will visit and professional basketball player Scott Suggs will join virtually for Mod 2.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, The Black Rep will visit for both Mods to perform “Race in America: Past, Present & Future.”

There will be a Talent Show during both mods on Tuesday, Feb. 20, featuring various performers and the Step Team.

Children’s author Julius Davis will visit during Mod 2 on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Several students made the All-State Band, including Alice Liu, Tina Wang, Clarisse Yong, Jacob Sander and Willem Hummel.

Alex Chen and Eric Chen made the All-State Orchestra.

messageout.Shewantstoprovidea welcomingspacetoallowstudentsto createatight-knitcommunitywhere acceptanceisacorevalue.

“Despiteitsname,theclubisopen toanyonewhosharesthesameideas,” Shippsaid.“[Theclub’s]goalisto supportallwomenregardlessofrace, color,religionorsexualorientation.”

Risenhooverwasinspiredtostart theclubduetothesexismandmisogynysheseesdailyatMHSshesaidthe clubplanstofundraiseandvolunteer aroundthecommunityforlessfortunateyoungwomen.

“[You]shouldjoinbecausewewill provideasafeandfunspace,”saidRisenhoover.“Tojoin,simplyshowup.”

GirlsUnitedtypicallymeetsevery otherMondayinRoom294.

On Monday, Apr. 8, Ac Lab will be moved to the end of the day to allow students to watch the next Solar Eclipse.

Sophomores Katelyn Skiles and Addison Risenhoover speak during the first Girls United Club meeting on Friday, Feb. 2. Photograph by Elizabeth Bahr

Class of 2019 students Shreya Gautam and Maggie Yoon enjoy the eclipse that occurred on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Photograph by Abhijit Srirangam.

Natalia Montilla attends the Students for Life protest in Washington D.C. on Friday, Jan. 19. Montilla is a member of the Students for Life club, which is attempting to organize at MHS.

Photograph by Lara Piszar

District approves semester end before break for 2024-25

annabelle MILLER

Students will no longer need to study over Winter Break because next year finals will be before break

The Board of Education finalized the 2024-25 calendar on Thursday, Dec. 7, endorsing a notable change in scheduling: concluding the first semester before Winter Break.

Dr. Kelly Sollberger, head of the calendar committee and director of Human Resources, said the committee was planning to make this change for the 2025-26 school year but felt it was possible to implement it as early as next year.

losing more instructional days during second semester because of MAP testing and state EOC testing,” she said.

For the past four school years, final exams were scheduled post-Winter Break due to complications arising from a Missouri law. The law requires schools to start no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.

Fast Fact

Next year, the first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 19. First semester will end Thursday, Dec. 19, and the last day will be Friday, May 23.

First semester will be 83 instructional days long and second Semester will be 93.

“We decided that it’s best for our students to be able to end their courses and take finals prior to leaving for Winter Break,” Dr. Sollberger said.

The first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 19, and the last day will be Friday, May 23. There will also be an early dismissal day before break begins on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Because first semester will end before Winter Break, there will be an imbalance of days between the first and second semesters. First semester will have 83 days and second semester will have 93. Dr. Sollberger said this happens often and will even out in the long run.

“What we find is that you end up

Improvements planned for Wilson Avenue

annabelle MILLER

When Ivanka Lopes, junior, drove around a tight curve a few weeks ago, her car skidded off the shoulder of Wilson Avenue.

“It was snowing, and I had to get home,” Lopes said. “It was very scary.”

Lopes and her vehicle weren’t harmed, and Lopes said she continues to drive down Wilson Avenue two to three times a day despite the incident.

Throughout 2023, the City of Chesterfield has been preparing to improve Wilson Avenue. In November, the City began appraising and acquiring the land needed to carry out the project. Construction is estimated to begin in the Spring of 2026 after the City finalizes plans with a construction company.

Dr. Sollberger said the law gives the calendar committee very few extra days to work with.

“If you want to get out before Memorial Day, there’s no way to do it unless you keep the schedule pretty tight,” Dr. Sollberger said.

Joshua Hyde, social studies teacher, supported the decision to shift the calendar back

“It’s a little bit easier on the students to have [Winter Break] in line with how the semester ends versus having to come back after two weeks off and take finals,” Hyde said.

Hyde said a major difficulty of the current schedule is getting students to prepare for finals over break.

Ivy Wang, sophomore, said she appreciates the change.

“It reduces students’ stress during Winter Break, and it just feels better, more complete,” Wang said.

Last year she struggled to not forget information over break.

“Information will just leave your brain if you don’t have finals right before Winter Break,” Wang said.

$2.5 million, with $1.14 million being grant-funded. The road will be expanded from 18 feet to 22 feet wide with four-foot shoulders, and bike lanes and sidewalks will be added. The sharp curve near the intersection of Wild Horse Creek Road will be lessened and the intersection will be reconstructed.

“It’s a difficult project, but it’s certainly not impossible,” Eckrich said. “The worry right now is acquiring right-of-way from some of the adjacent property owners because it’s such an old road.”

“It’s a difficult project, but it’s certainly not impossible.”

Jim Eckrich, Chesterfield Director of Public Works

Wilson Avenue connects Wild Horse Creek Road to Clarkson Road and is frequented by students driving to school. Lopes said she avoided Wilson Avenue when first learning to drive, as it is narrow, curvy and often wet or icy.

Jim Eckrich, Chesterfield director of public works, said the city has been looking to improve the road since 1994. The project was revisited in 2021 due to resident requests.

Eckrich said the main problems with the road are the alignment of the road, danger at the intersection with Wild Horse Creek Road, lack of pedestrian accommodations and an inability to drain water efficiently.

“We don’t maintain many roads like Wilson, so this is a very different project for us,” Eckrich said.

The total cost of the project is

The City of Chesterfield is improving Wilson Avenue within the project limits shown in red. The project will include wider streets and the straightening of two sharp curves, one of which is shown below. Map provided by the City of Chesterfield. Photograph by Annabelle Miller

Although the project was revisited due to resident complaints, Eckrich said there has been much debate over the road’s expansion.

“For a while, the residents in the area couldn’t decide if they wanted the road improved or not,” Eckrich said.

Jessica Aldenderfer, senior, lives off of Wilson Avenue, and her parents attended a town hall meeting about the improvements recently. She said she doesn’t think the project is necessary.

“Besides those two turns at the very end, I don’t think the road is that bad,” Aldenderfer said.

She said she is glad for the improved safety of the road but doesn’t think the road needs to be widened.

Aldenderfer said she uses the road almost every day as a shortcut to the Valley and her church. If the Wild Horse Creek Road intersection is closed, Aldenderfer said she and her family will need to take Baxter instead.

“It wouldn’t be awful, but it would take a little more time which I wouldn’t be happy with,” Aldenderfer said.

Sophomores Fraser Dale and Teo Airasca work together on a quiz in Patrick Schrappen’s chemistry class in November. Chemistry, like many other courses, had a final exam after the Winter Break. Under the new calendar, finals will be before break. Photograph by Audrey Behrmann

MO legislature eliminates presidential primary

david MOSS

Andrew Scognamiglio, senior, is looking forward to voting in the 2024 presidential election this fall and participating in the candidate nomination process.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics and who is running our government,” Scognamiglio said. “How do people elect their officials and why does it matter.”

Due to a revision of Missouri election laws in 2022, party-organized systems will take the place of the statewide open presidential primary. The Missouri Republican Party will have a caucus and the Missouri Democratic Party will have a hybrid primary system.

Jim McHugh, election judge coordinator, recruits and organizes election judges and student election judges with the St. Louis County Board of Elections.

McHugh said the former Missouri presidential primaries included primaries for the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian parties. The state legislature determined the rules and format of the primaries.

“If the state decides not to do a primary, then all of the election rules and regulations go directly to the parties,” McHugh said. “The parties have all of [the decision-making] power to themselves, except for when they have to answer to their national parties.”

This caucus system will give declared Republican voters the opportunity to support their candidates, McHugh said. After candidate representatives speak and supporters of each candidate move to specific areas of the room, organizers determine each candidate’s percentage of supporters. For candidates who do not meet a minimum percentage of votes, usually 15%, those voters either leave the caucus or join another candidate they prefer.

The statewide primary is open to more than only party members, and McHugh said many argue that caucuses, traditionally closed to non-party members, better represent what real party members believe and support. Though McHugh prefers having a primary,

In

he said it requires significant work.

“When we do an election in St. Louis County, there’s a lot of staff hours put in,” McHugh said. “Afterwards, you have to make sure that the votes are counted properly, the election is certified, and all the equipment and all the information from the previous election is properly reviewed.”

McHugh said he hopes many Missouri residents participate in the electoral processes, whether it’s in the general election or nominating a candidate for a political party.

Erin Sullenger, government teacher, said the caucus process often takes more time and resources than a primary.

“It also has the ability for compromise as well,” she said. “If you get the right people together, they can sometimes make a decision.”

Eliminating the statewide primary might discourage some citizens from participating in this part of

In a caucus, after hearing candidate representatives speak, voters move to areas of the room for the candidate they prefer. In the end, a final percentage of votes for each candidate is determined.

the election process, Sullenger said, as the process is now more complicated.

“There is not a huge percentage of people that participate in the primary process as it is,” she said.

Sullenger said the change will require significant communication to Missouri residents as to why it is occurring and how to participate; otherwise, many will simply wait for the general election.

Scognamiglio said he prefers the caucus system the Missouri GOP has adopted for determining the nominee because a primary is often too disconnected.

A major problem in both primaries and caucuses is the lack of transparency, Scognamiglio said.

“A big concern for American voters is ‘When I go vote [for a party nominee], does my vote actually count?’” he said.

Scognamiglio said it doesn’t matter how long the presidential nomination process is, as long as it is thorough and accurate.

Illustration by Elizabeth Bahr

YEAR OF THE DRAGON

2. Children celebrate the Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in partnership with the St. Louis Modern Chinese School at the Richmond Heights Memorial

3. Children at the Annual Lunar New Year Celebration paint traditional Chinese

Lunar New Year celebrations begin

said. “I also prepare the lucky money for my kids and we stay up watching Chinese TV shows.”

The feast the next day is one of the most important parts of Chinese New Year. Zhao’s favorite dish is the fish.

“The fish is symbolic as we point the head to the most important person,” Zhao said.

Grace Dai, sophomore, also, looks forward to spending time with her family and celebrating the New Year.

“My family gets together to make dumplings, eat mooncakes, hang up decorations such as anything red or lanterns,” Dai said. “We also give out gifts to everyone.,”

Dai said her family cherishes her grandmother’s cooking and holds tight to the values of the zodiac signs.

“The zodiac sign is a big part of our culture, and they’re supposed to bring charms and fortunes to our lives,” Dai said. “That’s why I’m really looking forward to the Year of the Dragon.”

Jacob Yn, junior, said this year’s upcoming dragon zodiac symbolizes power and good fortune.

Yn, junior, is ecstatic to celebrate the New Year being half Vietnamese and half Chinese.

“My family from all sides gets together from across the world, from Florida to China,” Yn said. “It’s great to see each other and mark the New

Yn celebrates Lunar New Year in two different ways: one with Vietnamese culture and the other with Chinese

“Chinese culture is more about paying respects to elders and ancestors, while Vietnamese culture is about giving offerings to the Gods,” Yn said. Yn’s favorite part about Lunar New Year is receiving money and eating his favorite dishes.

“I like dumplings, soup dumplings, and I like noodles,” Yn said. “I also help my family prepare these dishes.”

Red Envelopes

Gifting red envelopes to family is a tradition for Chinese New Year. The envelopes are usually filled with money, and the red envelope signifies wishes for good luck, health and

1. The Dragon is a mythical and lucky creature in Chinese culture. People born in the Year of the Dragon are usually charismatic, lucky and gifted, according Illustration by Layla Shockley

RISE & SHINE

Students explore ways to wake up

eli FERGUSON

Lauren Schuert, sophomore, struggles to wake up in the morning, so she tried an app that forces her to solve a simple math problem to turn it off.

“It helped me to wake up faster, and I wouldn’t go back to sleep because I had already gotten my brain thinking,” Schuert said.

Schuert stopped using the alarm after her free trial expired, but she says that it was helpful.

“I play a lot of sports and have a lot of homework, so I’m not sleeping as much as I probably should,” Schuert said. “But it helped me get up in the morning and not oversleep.”

Schuert said students should get enough sleep to minimize dependence on an alarm.

Like Schuert, many teens struggle to wake up for school each morning a rely on a variety of different tools and strategies to get them up and out the door.

Chloe Gilbert, junior, uses the default “Radar” alarm on her phone.

your blood pressure and cortisol levels,” Schoedel said.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that performs functions that impact your mood and fear and can help regulate sleeping and waking cycles. Too much or persistent cortisol can harm your body and cause anxiety, trouble sleeping and a variety of other problems.

Fast Fact

Schoedel said he uses an alarm that gradually gets brighter and simulates a sunrise. After five minutes, when it reaches its maximum brightness, it begins to play sounds of nature or quiet music.

Circadian rhythm is the natural 24 hour clock that a person runs on, making them alert during the day and sleepy at night.

The circadian rhythm can be affected by environmental factors such as how bright or dark it is.

Information from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

“I set multiple because if you do it multiple times, it gets obnoxious,” Gilbert said.

For Gilbert, getting enough sleep is the key to getting up in the morning. When she sleeps enough, she gets up easier.

Joe Schoedel, health teacher, said there are many other types of alarms like one that rolls around the room to force you to wake up.

“I think startling yourself awake with loud alarms or in a panic state is probably not healthy, increasing

“Studies show that this affects your circadian rhythms, lowering your melatonin levels, allowing you to wake up naturally, feeling more rested,” Schoedel said. “This is especially important this time of year when it’s still dark outside in the morning.”

Melatonin is a hormone that induces the feeling of sleepiness and comes from a response to darkness. Neurology Live concludes that teens have a delayed release of melatonin levels due to light exposure from screens and can impact the teenage circadian rhythm (sleep cycle).

Schoedel said the key to getting up in the morning is to stick to a routine. This includes not staying up on the weekends and ending device usage 30 minutes before going to sleep.

“If you are consistent, you get to the point where you don’t even need an alarm clock,” Schoedel said.

Trends boost lip balm popularity

eli FERGUSON

Daya Deepu, junior, often pulls her favorite Burt’s Bees lip balm out in class and gives her lips a quick swipe.

“I just really like how smooth it glides on and it stays on,” Deepu said.

The trends of lip balms come and go, and Deepu remembers some trends in lip balm popularity.

“I remember a couple of years ago everyone was obsessed with Carmex because it was trendy, but now everyone uses a different variety of Chapsticks,” Deepu said.

Another popular brand is Aquaphor, used by Sophia Gile, freshman. The most popular form of this brand is the squeezable tube, but applicator versions are on the market.

“It makes your lips not as cracked as they would be in the winter,” Gile said. “I remember in elementary school, it used to be the EOS ball chapsticks that were popular, but especially now, I feel like it’s Vaseline and Aquaphor.”

Ramy Elbeshbeshy, sophomore, is an avid Vaseline user.

“I heart Vaseline,” Elbeshbeshy said. “It does everything.”

The Vaseline lib balms come in a mini-tub that need to be applied using fingers or a q-tip.

Crystal Strate, business teacher, said Blistex is her favorite.

“I think Blistex goes on smoother,” Strate said. “I also think other chapstick brands tend to dry out my skin rather than help it.“

Strate said certain business strategies influence the “trendyness” of the lip balms over the years.

“Advertisements and pack aging can definitely play a role in customer ap peal,” Strate said. “Seeing influencers use them on social media can also contribute to appeal.

Personally, I think the EOS chapstick sticks out because of the unique product shape.”

Daya Deepu, junior, notes that many different varieties of lip balm are popular now. Besides Burt’s Bees, she also uses Tree Hut. Photograph by Eli Ferguson

The owl clock uses a light-up alarm that mimics a sunrise, which Joe Schoedel, health teacher, recommends as a natural way to wake up during darker mornings.

Photograph by Elliott Jorgensen

Stressed for Success

samantha PERZ • justin SMALL

Every day last summer, Grace Dai, sophomore, spent around three hours in the searing heat preparing for her upcoming tennis tryouts. She played in tournaments, took classes and practiced with her brother and friends in hopes of making varsity tennis in the

While this routine was intended to help Dai build her skills, the exertion led her to suffer from leg and arm injuries, including a ripped muscle.

1. Grace Dai, sophomore, works on homework in the library. After overexerting herself to prepare for tennis tryouts, Dai said she now tries to use stress as a motivator to get things done. Photograph by Samantha Perz

2. Juniors Shruti Sugumar, Daksha Daggumati, and Samvida Batchu craft cards on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The cards were made during a National Alliance for Mental Health club meeting, to be sent to the Letters Against Depression organization. Photograph by Anvi Talyan

3. Senior Maanas Sanjay works on a card during the National Alliance for Mental Health club meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Sanjay recognized the upside of stress. "There is a good amount of stress to be under which prepares you for the real world and also strengthens your mind and makes you less vulnerable to mental health issues," Sanjay said. Photograph by Anvi Talyan

4. Members of the National Alliance for Mental Health club decorated cards on Wednesday, Jan. 31. These cards were sent to the Letters Against Depression organization. Photograph by Anvi Talyan

“The more I played, the worse I thought I was getting,” Dai said. “As tryouts approached, I got more stressed, and it was about that time I had a breakdown.”

Now, Dai looks back and understands how excessive her stress was, but appreciates how a manageable amount of stress pushes her to succeed.

stress where you’re overwhelmed,” Dr. Buchanan said.

Stress becomes unhealthy when it takes a toll on a person’s mental and physical health, Dr. Buchanan said; however, small doses of stress are beneficial for optimal performance. The goal is to find the Goldilocks zone, where a person experiences just the right amount of stress.

The amount of stress is not the only factor that shapes a person’s experience under stress.

“How you think about stress determines how it affects you,” Dr. Buchanan said.

To manage stress, Dr. Roberta Donahue, professor of health science at Truman State University, advocates for self-awareness.

“Everybody’s body will send signals to tell people that they need to manage their stress better at various times,” Dr. Donahue said.

Signals of chronic stress can include insomnia and headaches, but

they differ among

“It’s hard because really busy the things are the things that stress level,” Dr. Donahue Although stress cannot be eliminated. stressful moments appreciation for when resolved, Dr. Donahue

“You have to have trasts in life where you’re stressed and effort into it and then Donahue said. “You and you’re aware relaxed now. You because you did something.”

Utilizing Stress

“I’m stressed because I want to do good, and so that stress furthers my reach and my potential,” Dai said. “It kind of acts like a motivator; it drives you to do what you want, but also it only works in microdoses.”

Like Dai, students at MHS and across America struggle to cope with their stress. Although stress is often a negative experience for many students, however, experts say properly managed stress can be beneficial.

Understanding Stress

Dr. Tony Buchanan, professor of psychology and co-director of the neuroscience program at Saint Louis University, often emphasizes that the impact of stress depends on how much a person has in their life.

“You want to use the stress to motivate you to prepare, but you don’t want to tip over into too much

Jayla Freeman, stands that stress drawbacks.

Students, staff discuss Stress Management:

Stressed Success

discuss benefits of stress

each person. because when we’re things we tend to cut that would help our Donahue said. stress can be reduced, it eliminated. Acknowledging moments in life creates an when that stress is Donahue said. have these conwhere you’re aware that and you put your best then it’s over,” Dr. “You feel that relief that you’re more feel accomplished something.”

Stress

Freeman, senior, underhas benefits and

“It can be a good motivator, but then I feel like sometimes if I’m too stressed out about something and feel like I have too much to do, then I just have no motivation to do anything at all,” Freeman said.

Balancing multiple extracurriculars, such as Student Council, the Superposition club and National Honors Society, while finishing college applications means that Freeman often has to manage her stress effectively.

“This year, I’ve gotten a lot better at getting things done the day they’re assigned rather than pushing them off until the day they’re due,” Freeman said. “I’m still stressed out, but I feel like I can manage it better and know how to see what might be stressful in the future and prevent that now.”

Joshua Wyckhouse, junior, similarly has to balance his extracurricular activities, from football and National Honor Society to Boy Scouts, outside of school.

Management: Do's and Don't's

Wyckhouse said a lot of people don’t know how to handle their stress and learning how to manage it mostly takes time and practice.

“You’re not going to immediately know how to handle stress,” Wyckhouse said.

Wyckhouse often feels stressed before football games and tests that he hasn’t prepared for, but he said stress is often a motivator for him if he plans ahead properly.

Finding the Goldilocks Zone

Many people struggle with their stress levels and write off the feeling as negative. Psychology Today said that moderate doses of stress can actually improve memory and brain performance, which is called finding the "Goldilocks Zone."

“It can allow you to do things faster, and in certain circumstances, make you work harder,” Wyckhouse said.

Managing Stress

Erin Sullenger, social studies teacher, said that stress being positive or negative depends mostly on how a person copes with it.

“What we have to consider is how we address it and whether we allow it to shut us down or whether it actually becomes a motivator to get things done,” Sullenger said.

Sullenger said that everyone should have coping mechanisms for stress rather than attempting to avoid the cause of it entirely, such as breaking things down into small steps or rewarding yourself when you reach a certain milestone or goal as a few strategies.

“I think a lot of character development can come out of stressful situations,” Sullenger said. “We can learn from our experience how we might tackle a situation in the future and tackle it differently.”

Just Right!

Can improve performance and act as a sufficient motivator to set and achieve goals

Lack of motivation, can lead to boredom, procrastination, and being easily distracted from getting things done

Too Little... Too Much...

Can result in feeling overwhelmed, negatively impact physical and mental health

Infographic by Justin Small

Engraving Process

Kevin Sharitz, engineering teacher, is able to engrave cups like Stanleys with a laser cutter. He demonstrates the process below.

1.

The first step is to find the circumference of the cup. Using this measurement, Sharitz transfers a flat design from a document into a design.

2.

Shartiz measures and pin points where the design will be engraved so he can line up the cup with the laser in the engraving machine.

3.

Sharitz sets up the laser and makes sure it can cut successfully. Shartiz said the laser needs to be fired at a specific frequency, power and speed.

4.

Sharitz measures how far the laser needs to be from the surface of the cup and begins engraving.

5.

Once done, Sharitz uses a cleaner called Orange Goop to remove any brown stains on the steel that came from the lasering process. After cleaning, the cup is finished!

STANLEY SENSATION

National Stanley trend reflected at MHS

kate JESPERSON

Founded in 1913, the Stanley cup brand initially targeted workmen and participants in outdoor activities. Yet, over the past six years, it has become a viral drinkware brand.

The skyrocket in popularity occured in 2017, with the help of three female social media influencers, Linley Hutchinson, Ashlee LeSueur and Taylor Cannon, who advertised and vastly helped grow the brand, mainly by expanding focus to women. This is according to Retail Dive who also stated that last year, Stanley saw a 275% year-over-year increase in Quencher sales and experienced a 215% increase in its best-selling category, hydration.

Over the past year, the Stanley company has firmly planted itself as the No. 1 drinkware brand in North America and at MHS.

Arden Conners, senior, purchased her first Stanley last Christmas, when they started to become popular at MHS.

“I love water so I decided I had to get a Stanley and see what the hype is about.” Conners said.

Connors has two Quenchers, a 40 oz. and 30 oz, one pink and the other blue.

“I can use the bigger one when I want more water, but not have to haul around the giant thing when I want less,” Connors said.

Connors said she loves the handle of Stanley Quenchers, and prefers it over the smaller handles of Hydro Flasks. Connors had three Hydro Flasks before purchasing her Stanley and prefers her Stanley.

“The Stanley also keeps the water so cold and the ice can last for so long,” Connors said.

Witt Tatum, junior, purchased his 30 oz. Flip Straw Stanley Tumbler because he wanted an insulated water bottle that could keep ice lasting throughout the whole day.

“I wanted to get a Stanley specifically because I loved the color options and the design of the bottle,” Tatum said. “It’s really easy to hold with the handle on top and it’s very durable.”

Tatum said he is satisfied with his purchase; however, sometimes his straw will get suctioned onto the bottom of the cup preventing water from flowing through the straw.

“I’ll have to take the lid off and screw it back on in order for it to work again,” Tatum said.

With this rise in the popularity of Stanleys, designing cups has also become a popular craft.

Anna Speaker, registrar, began personalizing cups during the COVID shut down and had time for a new project, and now takes on Stanleys.

“Once I had the time, I started doing it and then didn’t stop,” Speaker said.

For the acrylic painting, Speaker first tapes up any spots of the Stanley she doesn’t want painted, and then adds a paint primer. Next, she adds an assortment of paints into a container, alternating colors to create layers she pours onto the cups. After pouring, she takes off the tape and finishes the work off with a resin coating.

Using the alcohol inking technique, Speaker starts off with a white cup in which she adds the paint primer and then the resin. Afterwards, she drops or sprays ink onto the cup. The ink blends while spinning, giving the design a watercolor effect.

Another way to personalize a cup is using Waterslide Decal Paper to add images onto the designs.

Speaker prints the image onto the paper then sprays it with Plasti Dip Glossifier. Afterwards, Speaker soaks the paper in water, allowing the sticker to separate from the paper, which she then puts on the cup, adding a resin coat on top of that.

“This hobby is something I think is a lot of fun to do,” Speaker said.

Kevin Sharitz, technology teacher, personalizes cups by using an engraving machine that uses a laser to cut away at the powder coating, exposing the cup’s interior steel.

“You hit a button to start the laser machine, and then really it works like a printer,” Sharitz said.

Stanley Size Breakdown

Monet Ballard, junior, is one of many students who owns a Stanley cup. The brand has become popular this school year. Photograph by Kate Jesperson

Taste

"If I had to pick one, I'd probably stick with St. Louis style."

Blake Schwartz, senior, and Imo's worker

In 1964, Ed and Margie Imo, a young St. Louis couple, opened a pizza parlor on The Hill. The Imo square cut became synonymous with St. Louis tradition.

of Saint Louis

Fitz's Root Beer and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard are local St. Louis treats that pair great with a slice of pizza. Ted Drewes celebrated its 95th anniversary this year and Fitz's celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

Photographs by Anvi Talyan

PIZZA PIZAZZ!

Students, staff work at local pizza restaurants

Brandt Family

Floerchinger Family

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Steidtmann Family Burkhardt Family Ferguson Family Peach Family

Jillian Oredain, senior, works at Boardwalk Pizza, and the Great White pizza is her favorite.

The Imo's deluxe pizza is one of the best selling items on the menu.

SPEAK OUT

What factors do you think will determine the results of the 2024 presidential election?

“I think climate factors would play a big roll because I think that’s something everyone could relate to about it because we all live in the same world and the decisions that they make affect everyone, climate wise.”

MIRUDUL SOUPRAMANIEN freshman

“I’m not really invested in political affairs right now, but I know a lot of my close friends and family are. I’m more standing in a neutral spot because I don’t really follow those political decisions.”

ERICA FAN, sophomore

“No one really likes the candidates so I really think it’s who is the lesser evil out of all of them, or who has the best name, one of the two.”

NOVA SANDERS, junior

“Our generation, we’re easily persuaded. So social media, such as TikTok, and what you grew up around, like your parents.”

STEVION GRIFFIN, senior

Shelly Justin’s Black Literature class creates posters for Black History Month. Throughout the semester, the students will read literature written by Black authors. A similar class is the topic of controversy in the Francis Howell School District Photograph by Emily Chien

In defense of Black

Francis Howell North High School students organized a walk-out on Thursday, Jan. 18, in response to proposed changes to the curriculum of their Black Literature course.

Their school board voted to remove the course from the Francis Howell School District on Thursday, Dec. 21. This decision was quickly reversed, with a statement released stating the course’s curriculum would be more “politically neutral” going forward.

This is certainly not the first time a course focusing on the Black experience has received significant push back.

In 2023, an AP African American Studies course was outright banned in Florida. The general cause for these occurrences is a fear that such classes could evoke an “agenda” or come off as too politically biased.

Literature

students to expand their cultural awareness by teaching a positive aspect of Black culture.

Shelly Justin, language arts teacher, has taught the Black Literature class at MHS since it was first proposed in 2021 and said she is greatly upset by Francis Howell’s decision. She said the course allows Black students to read about characters who “look like them.”

“Our Black students in this district don’t really get to see the point of view from people like them often enough,” Justin said.

EDITORIAL

Justin said she is deeply confused by Francis Howell’s opposition to the “activist” aspect of the course.

BOARD

Generalizing the curriculum of Black Literature as “political” is deeply flawed, and attempting to remove or change it ultimately does more harm than good.

Black Literature is essential to highlighting a part of the Black experience that is rarely focused on. Discussions regarding Black history are often about racial discrimination, the civil rights movement and slavery – but rarely are works created by Black writers, artists, authors and overall creatives given a large enough spotlight.

Having a class that focuses on those lesser-known aspects is not only beneficial to Black students but also allows even non-Black

“I think the border situation will be one of the more pending topics for most people to decide how they want to handle that. This will be historically one of the more unpredictable elections that you’ve ever seen.”

JOHN MEYER, business teacher

“Not all activism is a form of outcry,” Justin said. “It’s just trying to make a change for the better.”

While the addition of the course to MHS curriculum may encourage students to stand against racial discrimination, that does not necessarily mean it is attempting to force a political statement or spark protest.

Even the Francis Howell students’ walkout is not intended to arouse any upheaval or conflict – it is merely the students speaking out about their understandable frustration at the district’s potentially harmful policies and failure to understand what is best for them.

The volume of their voices should make it clear enough: Black Literature is important and should not be changed because people are hesitant to discuss what needs to be discussed.

LETTER to the EDITOR

Finally, Rockwood has decided to give us an actual Winter Break! Students can now relax and enjoy their vacation without the shadows of exams looming over them. Winter break is the season of celebration with friends and family, and when many travel or visit their relatives. The last thing anyone should be doing then is cramming for their semester exams. This winter break,

I visited friends and family abroad, but I was constantly stressed over the vacation about the upcoming semester exams. It’s only common sense to pair your exams right after your review sessions - and not after a 2-week break - so that students are set up for success. Now we can finally look forward to our Winter Breaks.

ANANTHAA MADHAVAN, freshman

Racial bias affects academic performance

justin SMALL

I remember the day I decided to look around at MHS. I noticed that in all of my higherlevel honors and AP classes, very few people looked like me. Very few people shared my background. Very few people were Black.

And as of now, this has not changed. Black students seeming less likely to take more rigorous classes is hardly a new issue, nor is it specific to MHS. According to a 2020 study by the Education Trust, despite Black students making up 15% of high schoolers nationwide, only 9% are enrolled in AP courses.

However, the achievement gap facing Black students regarding AP courses should not be taken as an indication that they are inherently unable to succeed.

Factors such as implicit biases and stereotypes can have a significant impact on the performance of Black students in school. According to the article “Why AP Classes Lack Diversity — and Why We Need to Change This,” Black and Hispanic students often face barriers such as resource inequalities, biases among educators, and a lack of diverse educators that dissuade them from taking Advanced Placement courses. Educator bias, in particular, is one of the most significant barriers. The article “The Truth Behind the Racial Gap in Advanced Placement Courses”

reports that “educators tend to recommend these courses to [white students] more often” and “bias is generated by the fact that there is a lack of diversity among educators.”

Furthermore, educators who are not Black would naturally have more difficulty relating to or properly understanding the experiences of Black students. MHS, in particular, has very few Black staff members and no Black teachers, which could result in Black students feeling like they are misunderstood or have few adults to trust.

Black students face a major achievement gap in regard to advanced placement courses, as a result of racial biases and curriculum-based limitations that negatively impact their academic performance.

Photograph by Elliott Jorgensen

ally sensitive environment. Furthermore, requirements specific to AP courses such as zero hours could be changed to better accommodate Black students who live further from the school.

Should digital testing be implemented?

The AP history classes will pilot digital AP testing in May 2025. This follows a national trend of digital standardized testing. The SAT also created a digital format that will be available in the spring of 2024.

YES

shreya DAS

To close the gap between Black students and their counterparts, we must begin properly acknowledging and fighting against the systemic and curriculum-based factors that negatively influence their performance, rather than continue to believe in harmful stereotypes against them.

Some ways to solve the issue include the district hiring more qualified Black teachers, ideally to teach AP classes, which would attract a stronger Black student population to enroll in those courses and create a more cultur-

We must also understand that AP courses are not an inherent measure of a student’s intelligence. By recognizing this, we could also halt the stigmatizing of Black students who are not in the AP program.

The biggest solution, however, is understanding that racism in education is still a significant issue, even if it isn’t as explicit as the de jure segregation of the past. We must help people examine their own biases and recognize how they create an environment that limits Black students’ ability to succeed.

Character trope promotes a harmful stereotype

Defined as a female character who “exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures” by film critic Nathan Rabin, the manic pixie dream girl (MPDG) trope has been around since early filmmaking.

Usually a teenage girl or young woman, a MPDG is the stereotypical anti-stereotype. From a male perspective, she’s “different,” she’s “not like other girls.” She is usually impulsive and witty, and neither the audience nor the characters around her know much about her or her life.

by

Layla Shockley

change, but also that men need women to change in the first place.

Think of characters like Alaska from “Looking for Alaska”, Summer from “500 Days of Summer” and Clementine from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” All three are from novels and films whose endings teach the audience that the male lead was in the wrong for believing this “mysterious” and “quirky” girl would be the vessel for his change. All are stellar examples of the stereotypical MPDG.

“Too many guys think I’m a concept or I complete them or I’m going to ‘make them alive’… but I’m just a girl who’s looking for my own peace of mind. Don’t assign me yours.”

Clementine Kruczynski, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

It is also described as a female character whose only purpose is to teach the lost and angsty male lead a lesson and to prompt him to change.

This trope portrays the idea that not only is it a woman’s job to help a man

We should begin recognizing female characters as people, not just through their role in a male character’s life.

At the end of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Clementine bluntly tells Joel that she is not a concept for him to selfishly cling to. She sums up this issue best: “I’m not a concept. Too many guys think I’m a concept or I complete them or I’m going to ‘make them alive’… but I’m just a girl who’s looking for my own peace of mind. Don’t assign me yours.”

The SAT digital tests will allow students to test at their own pace because question difficulty is adapted for each student, allowing them to advance to harder questions comfortably. Sections are also clearly divided, making flagging and returning to harder questions easier. Unlike traditional tests where students have no time extensions, digital tests can be adjusted to suit all students’ needs with accommodations. Typing is easier and faster in comparison to the difficulty of scratching out mistakes and adding more writing on paper exams. Handwriting is also not an issue because online formatting ensures legibility. In addition, the clock starts on each device, allowing all students to have the option to view or hide the clock if it causes stress. Students can mark and annotate passages using Bluebook app tools; for example, highlighting online is clearer than on paper where one can only use dark pens.

NO

annabelle MILLER

AP exams often have multiplechoice questions with documents for students to analyze. In a digital format, students will not be able to mark up the document or cross out incorrect answers. This will hinder most students’ thinking process, and it goes against the testing strategies we’ve been taught since middle school. Similarly, AP history and language tests require essays, and students will not be able to plan out their essays on paper before writing. Poor multiple-choice scores and unorganized essays will characterize the future of digital AP exams. For most students, the digital SAT adaptive questions are entirely unnecessary as well. Adaptive questions get harder as students answer correctly, and the harder questions are worth more points. The adaptive questions will likely cause students to lose out on points they would’ve gotten on a traditional SAT. Why can’t each student be graded on the same questions with the same point value? Is that not the point of standardized tests?

Clementine Kruczynski is a stellar example of a classic and widely known manic pixie dream girl character. Although the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” tries to combat these stereotypes, some viewers commonly misinterpret or misconstrue the true meaning of the film. Illustration

claire LOWDER

Girls basketball wins at 1986 ‘Hoosiers' movie set

hailey NEUNER

The 1986 film “Hoosiers” recreates Milan High School basketball’s improbable win in the Indiana State Championship in 1954 under a newly hired but highly criticized coach Norman Dale, played by Academy-winning Gene Hackman.

On Friday, Feb. 2, a school bus transported the varsity girls and boys basketball teams to the historic town for an overnight stay. The five-hour bus ride was full of singing and laughing. The weekend included a trip to the Knightstown Museum, showcasing decades of high school and college basketball excellence, and a neutral game against Lindbergh High School in the “Hoosiers” movie set.

It’s been four years since the program last made this trip.

The boys’ booster club runs annual Show-Me-Dough fundraisers and raffles to allocate funds for experiences like this. On top of hotel and transportation expenses, renting the famous gym runs at $100 per hour. It’s a popular location for local and distant teams, commonly hosting 60-70 games every winter.

Kieran Burnett, senior, was excited the booster club brought the trip back for his final season, even though the boys fell short to Lindbergh 47-61.

“Just being in the gym that they filmed the movie in is pretty cool,” Burnett said.

Bouncing off of a competitive Nixa tournament, a second weekend on the road means nothing but fun for Burnett.

“It was just a good experience,” Burnett said. "Even though we didn't get the results we wanted."

Knightstown was declared a historic district shortly after film making began. The Hoosier Gym remains virtually unchanged from the 80s. The court is shorter in length than typical and team benches are placed beneath the hoops instead of along the sidelines.

senior Jessica Aldenderfer's 7 rebounds and junior Macie McNese's 17 points.

“I think it’s really cool just to know more about the background behind the sport and what’s possible for teams, like the Hoosiers team,” Bode said.

"I think it's really cool just to know more about the background behind the sport and what's possible for teams, like the Hoosiers team."

Sydney Bode, junior

Artifacts and relics such as the Hickory Husker Bus, Hoosier varsity jackets and old Hickory High set props are put on display inside and outside the gym.

The town is fully immersed in “Hoosiers” history.

Sydney Bode, junior, said the atmosphere was different. She said the team wasn’t going to travel this far just to lose on such a historic stage. The team stayed focused while still having fun.

“Coach Bowdern made it clear when we got in the locker room, we were to be focused on basketball,” Bode said. “When it was time to warm up, we warmed up, and when it was time to play, everyone played their best, and we got the results we wanted.”

The girls walked away with a 58-40 victory over Lindbergh with help from

Timothy Bowdern, head girls’ basketball coach, sat the team down in a classroom after practice in early January, typical for watching film and designing plays in preparation for the next game. But, this time, the focus was on “Hoosiers.”

Bowdern brought in former athletic director Shane Matzen to properly shed light on the cultural significance of the 1986 sports drama.

“Matzen knows a lot about the history, like he’s interviewed some of the actual people who were a part of that back in the day,” Bowdern said.

Tens of thousands of fans filled the stands for Indiana high school state title games.

“Every two to three years, we try to do a trip or something like that. So that way every senior gets to do something really cool, and this is one of those things,” Bowdern said. “I think anytime you can get [the team] together outside of basketball, that means a lot.”

1. Lindbergh High School and MHS line up at half-court in the historic Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana, before tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 3. MHS went on to take a 58-40 victory. Photograph by Kerry Haas

2. The Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana, was the movie set for 1986 sports drama "Hoosiers." Photograph by Madelyn Haas

3. The Historic Knightstown Museum showcases uniforms used in "Hoosiers." Photograph by Kerry Haas

4. The Hoosier Gym locker rooms sit below the court. Inside, practice jerseys are signed and hung by teams along the walls to mark their visits. Photograph by Madelyn Haas

Winter Running Tips

• Layer fabrics and wear synthetic clothing

• Protect your face, head, and extremities

• Stay warm

• Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite

• Stay hydrated

• Shorten your stride in snow and ice

Information from New York Road Runners (NYRR)

Winter Running Club becomes student led

luke GRAVES

With track season starting the last week of this month, cross-country and track students started to meet after school to stay in shape over the winter.

The Winter Running Club is mostly student-led, and meetings take place on the track after school Mondays and Thursdays.

Senior Logan Presnell, club organizer, recalls the event that led to the creation of the club.

“It was at our cross-country awards ceremony,” Presnell said. “Coach Nienhaus came up to a few of us and asked us to start a student-led running club because we haven’t had that in a while.”

Presnell said the cold is a limiting factor for runners, though the club still has between 15 to 20 consistent members.

“The cold is definitely the hardest weather to run in,” Presnell said “We really don’t like it. We’re not like Elsa from Frozen.”

Michael Ebert, cross-country and track and field coach, has provided opportunities for students to run in the winter in years past.

“Before COVID, we had more of an informal thing of kids staying after to run in the winter,” Ebert said. “Then COVID happened, and we lost that momentum.”

Cross-country athletes ran during the winter again under the guidance of their coaches last year. “We went through a regular warm-up

routine, but after that, they kind of did their own thing,” Ebert said. “This year, talking to the other coaches, we felt like the opportunity was there for them to kind of take over because there wasn’t a lot that they needed us for.”

Maleah Eggers, junior, enjoys the opportunity to stay active during the offseason.

“It’s a good way to organize cross-country runners who are really dedicated and want to improve during track season,” Eggers said. Students work together during both warm-ups and practice, which Eggers said benefits the group.

“Since the coaches are getting

busier, it’s better for us to have a student-led club,” Eggers said. “It also helps with the leadership of the team within itself.”

While runners differ in opinion on what weather is too cold to run in, Eggers said he doesn’t appreciate the cold.

“The coldest I’ve run is 28 degrees,” Eggers said. “I could do colder than that, I just try not to because it’s demotivating for me.”

Runs can range anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour. Because of long distance and sprinting runners, members choose how long they want to run based on their own needs.

Logan Presnell, senior, Maleah Eggers, junior, and Evan Voelker, junior, lead warm ups for the Winter Running Club after school. This year, coaches let students run the club.

Photograph by Luke Graves

Opinion: Taylor Swift has

been nothing but beneficial to

NFL

zoey SROTE

With the Kansas City Chiefs now Super Bowl LVIII bound, the Baltimore Ravens’ loss after securing a spot in the second round of the NFL playoffs is not the only thing people are talking about.

It is no secret that Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ record-breaking tight end, is now dating the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Their relationship is a trending topic, especially because Swift has been showing up to Kelce’s games since September.

Some veteran football fans are opposed to Swift being at Kelce’s football games, but Swift has proven to be a valuable component to the NFL. Since Swift started attending games, there has been a noticeable increase in viewers. At the ChiefsJets game during the regular season, the amount of viewers were 27 million viewers, making it the most watched game since Super Bowl LVII, via CNN. Not only is Swift good for NFL profits, but she has brought so many people, including me, into something new to watch.

Since Swift and Kelce’s relationship was publicized, I have learned more about the sport, and I find myself watching NFL games even if the Chiefs are not playing. I am only one example of the many Taylor Swift fans who are now invested in the number one American sport.

One major complaint about Swift has been that she gets too much screen time during the games. Not only is this coming from football fans, but comedian Jo Koy also made a comment while he was hosting the 2024 Golden Globes saying that the difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL is the Golden Globes would show Swift less.

Data from The New York Times shuts down this idea, showing that Swift actually gets less than 25 seconds of screen time during a game that lasts about three hours. It is also important to recognize that Swift does not get to decide where the cameras go and when.

Even if Swift was shown more often, that wouldn’t be an issue. When teams score or make big plays in any sport, fans are usually shown celebrating. What makes this any different?

When Kelce went to Swift’s The Eras Tour in Argentina, fans were excited to see that Swift’s boyfriend was there to support her. When Swift does this, she doesn’t get nearly as friendly of a reaction.

Whether you are a Taylor Swift fan or not, there is no doubt she has been an asset to the NFL. It is time to accept that Swift will be showing up to support Kelce no matter if she’s making “a few dads, Brads and Chads,” upset, as Swift said.

FOOTBALL

FANATICS

Students, staff support NFL teams leading up to Super Bowl LVIII

kate JESPERSON

Running down the field, Kara Miller, senior, carried the American flag across the snowy turf of Arrowhead Stadium at a Kansas City Chiefs home game in the sixth grade.

“With my family being season ticket members, we gain points we can use to participate in game-day experiences,” Miller said.

Miller has gone to Chiefs home games since she was young, and she said some of her favorite experiences have been the pregame events.

“We got to do things such as throw inflatable cheeseburgers into a gigantic cornhole,” Miller said. “It was weird, but fun things like this are what have always stuck out to me.”

Sunday Jan. 28 was the AFC Conference Championship and Miller’s family gathered with neighbors and friends to watch the game.

“The whole time everyone was just yelling, people jumping up and down,” Miller said.

With the Chief’s AFC Conference victory against the Baltimore Ravens, they have moved on to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday. If they manage to win, it will be their third Super Bowl victory within the past five years, allowing the Chiefs to be considered an NFL Dynasty.

“I think this would be so cool,” Miller said. “I’ve been watching the Chiefs for 10 years, watching them since they couldn’t even make it past the first round of playoffs. It’s been cool to see how far the team has

come since we got Mahomes.”

Arnav Busani, senior, takes annual trips to San Francisco to visit family and watch his favorite NFL team, the 49ers, play.

Busani said he got to know the team through traveling to the city so often, and when Christian McCaffery, one of his favorite players, joined the 49ers, he became fully invested in the sport. Busani said he loves attending games in person because of the stadium’s livelihood compared to watching games on TV.

“It feels so real,” Busani said. “Being able to hear the crowd erupt any time a play happens is always super cool.”

With the 49ers making it to this season’s Super Bowl, this will be their second time playing the Chiefs in a Super Bowl matchup, and Busani said the 49ers have what it takes to win.

He said the 49ers as a team are entirely different compared to their last Super Bowl, with a new quarterback and running back Busani said are better.

“I also think just minimizing mistakes and not letting Mahomes throw for so many yards would definitely help them win,” Busani said.

“Though I do also like the Chiefs because they’re the home team, so I hope they both have a good game.”

Forever Fans

Growing up for six years in New Orleans, surrounded by the culture of the New Orleans Saints, Wesley Miller, freshman, has been a loyal Saints football fan since birth.

“I went to a few games when I was pretty young, but now since I’m living in St. Louis, I’ll watch their games on TV whenever I can,” Miller said. “I’d love to go to another game. It’s a great atmosphere, and I love watching football.”

The love of the Saints is something Miller said he and his family have always shared.

“On Sunday afternoons when they’re playing, everyone will get together in the same room and watch the Saints play,” Miller said. “It’s pretty cool that it’s something that can really bring us together.”

Kevin Schultz, language arts teacher, became a committed Chicago Bears fan through a cherished childhood experience.

“I was watching the game with my grandparents, and I remember watching William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry score a touchdown,” Schultz said. “It brought my family so much joy and I became captivated by the moment, and from then on I’ve been a Bears fan.”

Staying committed to a team for Schultz comes from having an interest that is planted and, when rooted, never leaves.

“I’ll watch and enjoy any NFL team play, but every year what I really want would be for the Bears to win the Super Bowl,” Schultz said. “They’ll always be my team.”

The San Francisco 49ers played the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 8. Arnav Busani, senior, takes a picture on the field of Levi’s Stadium before the game, wearing a Christian McCaffrey jersey. Photographs by Raj Busani and Arnav Busani

Kara Miller, senior (far right), and her family attend a Chiefs home game. Miller’s basement is plastered in Chiefs decorations, including a Chiefs-themed Christmas tree that stays up for the rest of the year when they win a Super Bowl. Photographs by Becky Miller and Kara Miller