V2K makes tentative steps toward Commons renovation
Conor Gearin Core Staff
st. Louis u. High’s Board of trustees decided Wednesday to begin formal planning for the next stage of the vision 2000 building renovations of the student Commons and main offices. An architect will begin drawing up plans over the summer. During the first semester of next school year, President david Laughlin will propose the plans to members of the sLuH community for feedback.
Laughlin said that the step to begin drawing up plans is necessary for knowing whether SLUH can finance the construction.
“really, you don’t know what it will cost to do until you formally plan it,” Laughlin said. “the Board agreed to approve moving forward on the formal design—not the actual construction—but to go out and engage an architect, … to really start to come up with some firm design plans—that then we can also work to get some more precise cost estimation.”
Coldren retires after 26 years
Andrew
Kastner Core Staff
F or st. Louis u. High english teacher Patricia coldren, english was not even what she wanted to study in college. that had been spanish, but she had left college to get married. the idea that she would become an english teacher at sLuH, one who is retiring this year after 26 years of teaching, never crossed her mind. It was only when she purchased and read the complete works of shakespeare while her husband was attending school and she was living in Iowa that english sparked her interest.
Seven years after finishing Shakespeare, and two children later, coldren said she returned to school to major in english, having been “blown away by shakespeare.”
coldren started teaching at sLuH in 1984, after teaching two years at university of Missouri – st. Louis. coldren has witnessed six presidents and four principals. she has taught over 3,000 students, primarily sophomores and seniors, in american Literature, Men and Women in Literature, the alienated Hero, Initiation (previously called coming of age), Modern drama, tragedy, expository Writing, and african American Voices, a class she helped define through her experience and expertise with african american literature.
Beside helping define the a frican american voices class, coldren has been accepted into seminars as part of the eisenhower endowment, received grants to study african american literature, and in 2006 took a sabbatical to study and retrace the steps of the civil rights movement. she has also moderated the Pro-Life club and amnesty International.
as junior nick Fandos mentioned in his farewell speech in honor of coldren at the end-of-year liturgy this past Wednesday, sLuH has become a lot more diverse and accepting due in large part to her influence. This
In addition to renovating the student commons into a dual-purpose cafeteria and commons, the main offices will be moved to the current cafeteria. the resulting vacuum in the main offices’ current location will open up room for clubs and organizations’ offices.
so far there are only tentative designs of how to structure the commons space. Although plans are not firm, designs being discussed include a book and apparel store near the Berthold avenue entrance, enlarging the Berthold avenue entrance for use as the main entrance, large windows on the south wall of the commons to let in more natural light, a locker room for coaches and officials, a mezzanine on the north side of the commons, and a lower ceiling.
Laughlin will acquaint the architect with what sLuH organizations want in the renovations. Laughlin has met with student council, looked at plans for the new commons produced by last year’s sophomore geometry classes, and met with organizations such as Mothers club and cashbah. Laughlin
said he gave student groups the same opportunities for input as parent organizations like Mothers club.
In the first semester of next year, organizations will have the opportunity to give feedback on the architect’s plans. Laughlin is not sure yet how students will be involved in the feedback process, saying that with over 1,000 students, there is no good way to involve every student in the process.
“I’m open to some student involvement, but we’re not going to have 1,000 students meeting with the architect,” he said. “But I think as it gets closer to the actual construction of something, I’ll be more keenly interested in some student feedback.”
After the first semester, Laughlin said he is unsure of the timeline for further plans, explaining that the progress of the construction plans depends on sLuH’s ability to finance them, which will not be known until sLuH has a cost estimate.
no construction will take place over the summer.
Keefe leaves 43-year legacy as teacher, principal
Mike Lumetta Core Staff
Well, someone else is going to have to wake up and go open the cafeteria in the morning,” said senior charlie stoltze of the departure of st. Louis u High icon richard Keefe.
Keefe has filled a variety of roles over his 43-year tenure: French teacher, B-soccer coach, yearbook moderator, dean of students, assistant principal for academics, national Honor society (nHs) moderator, and senior Project co-moderator. But most of his students remember him for smaller things like his commitment to proctoring in the cafeteria every morning or his lesson in tying ties, a staple of the French I curriculum.
anthony re’, mentioning Keefe’s help with speeches, Junior Ring, Advancement Office proofreading, and yearbook.
“right now he does kind of the thankless jobs that nobody else does and nobody really gives much thought to,” said senior
to his French students, Keefe stands out for his commitment to learning over grades and his effort to help students accomplish that learning.
“as a teacher, I’d say he’s one of the most knowledgeable guys I’ve ever met,” said senior Kevin Mueller. “But the thing that makes him stand out is definitely his patience with his students and with the learning process.”
“Mr. Keefe is one of those guys who’s big on having you learn the material. It’s a lot of repetition, and he really strives for you to do your personal best,” said senior nick seckfort.
Junior tate Macarthy, who said he struggles in French, said, “as a teacher, he
Klenklen to retire after 50 years at school center
Features Editor
Helen Klenklen has been at the center of st. Louis u. High for 50 years. she has seen principals, presidents, and colleagues come and go, watched the Backer Memorial be built up and torn down, and noted the subtle changes in the boys that make this school what it is. But with the end of this school year, Klenklen will give up her seat right in the middle of things and retire from her position as registrar.
Klenklen was hired in 1960 by Principal Jerry sheehan, s.J., as the secretary to the principal. It wasn’t until the late ’60s that she moved to her current role of registrar. For over 40 years, Klenklen has recorded the grades and prepared the transcript of every student who has attended sLuH, having an often unfelt effect on his
11 students medal in Russian Olympiada
Zach Rauschenbach Reporter
eleven st. Louis u. High russian language students arrived at sLuH saturday evening to compete in the olympiada of spoken russian. the students had been preparing throughout the week leading up to the event in four categories: personal information, recitation of a russian poem, cultural aspects of russia, and the ability to read and summarize a short story in russian. the contest was conducted completely in russian.
two judges evaluated the competitors: Irina yulyanova, a professor from st. Louis university, and Marina chura, the wife of sLuH russian teacher rob chura. the judges reviewed each competitor individually, listening and asking questions as the students moved through the four categories.
senior Michael Meyer, juniors John Barber and Partrick Quinlan, and sophomores aaron smittle, andrew Woodcock, Jack Mohrmann, and Juan Pablo de Legaretta all earned gold medals. Junior conor gearin and freshman dominic Lamantia earned silvers, while freshman James Wirthlin earned a bronze.
Meyer, who was participating in his third olympiada, has won gold each year. Woodcock received the highest individual score out of all participants in addition to receiving a gold medal.
of his preparation for the event, Woodcock said, “I knew a lot of it already, but the civilization was definitely the category I had to practice for the most. I did a lot of cramming the last couple days.”
Quinlan agreed that s L u H’s r ussian language curriculum prepared him well to compete in the event. this year the contest was conducted a little differently than in previous years. Previously, sLuH russian language students competing in the event traveled to rhodes college in Memphis, tennessee. a Memphis high school set up the event, and sLuH students competed against russian students from Memphis. this year, however, the two schools decided to hold individual competitions in which each school would judge their individual students separately and then report their scores to each other.
When asked about the new format, chura said, “chances are good we will have an opportunity to host it again at sLuH.” due to the lack of competition from the Memphis students, chura invited local high schools John Burroughs and soldan, which both have russian programs, to participate in the event. Both schools declined.
four years.
over those 50 years, Klenklen has been called upon to take charge of various odd jobs and crucial tasks around the school. From ordering flowers for the Junior Ring ceremony to preparing graduating seniors’ diplomas each year, Klenklen’s job has grown.
the thing about Helen is that she has these jobs that nobody knows they even get done,” said art teacher John Mueller. “a lot of that might not be in her job description, but she’s taken it on to get it done.”
Klenklen assists Mueller in preparing and serving dinner once a month for st. Peter and Paul shelter for homeless men in south st. Louis where, according to Mueller, she receives warm reception for the desserts she makes and serves.
“(the olympiada) took up less time than last year, but the road trip to Memphis was always really, really fun,” Meyer said of the new format of the competition. the format for next year’s competition is undecided. Both schools will consider the option of travelling or once again competing individually among their own students. doubling up on his russian awards for the year, Meyer also earned a gold in the second round of the american council of teachers of russian essay contest, which was held earlier this year. students from around the country submitted essays to the contest, and 58 from the advanced division were chosen to move on to the second round. second round essays were sent to the Pushkin state Institute in Moscow, where professors at the school graded them. the theme for this year’s contest was “something that is important to me,” and juniors and seniors from sLuH competed in the event. Meyer was one of 28 gold medalists in the second round.
Nick Fandos
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draWIng By roBert LuX
Richard Keefe
PHoto By Mr. Matt sc uto
PHoto By Mr. Matt scIuto
Pat Coldren
Helen Klenklen
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never gives up on you. ... I probably saw him during every one of my free periods first semester.”
Keefe came to sLuH in 1967 from Whitfield School because SLUH needed a full-time French teacher to expand its French curriculum to a four-year program. In his first few years, Keefe jumped into a number of activities, including B-soccer from 1968 to 1971 and yearbook from 1971 to 1973. though he had no experience whatsoever in either, Keefe posted a perfect 22-0 record in the 1969-1970 season, and he successfully produced two dauphin yearbooks.
In 1973, though, Keefe’s career suddenly changed. then-Principal Michael durso, s.J., told him that then-dean of students charlie conway wanted to return to teaching chemistry and offered Keefe conway’s position.
“I remember him telling me, ‘I like the way you deal with students, and I think you’d be good at it,’” recalled Keefe.
Keefe accepted the job and transitioned into the administrative role. according to Keefe, in terms of discipline problems, a few students tried to take advantage of the policy allowing smoking and students had excessive facial hair.
“there were no daily crises,” said Keefe. “the kids here are pretty respectful, and they know the meaning of yes and no, pretty much. they don’t try to get away with too much.”
But in 1977 another school need ended Keefe’s stint as dean of students and landed him in the assistant Principal for academics position.
as assistant Principal for academics, Keefe handled more paperwork and fewer students. However, student contact continued, as students—some struggling, others just wanting to socialize—congregated in Keefe’s office.
Reflecting on the differences between teaching and administrating, Keefe said, “When you’re an administrator, you never know where your next phone call is coming from. you’re always somebody else’s problem or somebody else’s issue is on your front burner.” though he enjoyed both roles, he said that he had more control of his schedule and far less unpredictability as a teacher. as assistant Principal for academics, Keefe also moderated the national Honor society, where he inaugurated Honors night. Honors Night, held at the end of the first semester in January, recognized both parents and students for students’ academic achievements.
“the reason I wanted to do it that way is because a lot of the kids who make good grades here do not do it on their own. there’s a lot of tremendous parental support at home,” Keefe said, explaining that parents deserved recognition for that support.
after 22 years as an administrator, Keefe decided to return to the classroom to teach French again. “I just decided that 22 years
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change was not always easy, however.
“the principal who hired me asked me, in my job interview, if my husband was aware that I was here applying. I, to this day, do not know if he was kidding,” said coldren. not only was she one of the few female faculty members at sLuH at the time, but the transition from teaching in a college classroom to teaching in a high school setting was a difficulty in itself.
coldren remembers walking down the hallway to her interview, while the boys who lined the hallways were “getting silent as I would pass. It seemed like an intimidating all-male environment at first,” said Coldren.
However, with the guidance of english teacher rich Moran, she quickly settled
as an administrator was long enough,” he said.
However, his administrative experience affected his outlook on teaching. Keefe said, “Being an administrator taught me it’s not black, it’s not white, it’s all gray. there is more than one way to look at circumstances or issues or students or students’ performance or whatever.”
With more free time, Keefe re-entered the world of extracurriculars, co-moderating senior Project from 1995 to 2000 and yearbook from 2005 to 2007 with his friend, art teacher John Mueller. according to Mueller, Keefe oversaw details of senior Project between 1995 and 2000 and, at Mueller’s persuasion, learned to use a computer. Mueller, a poor typist, wanted Keefe to use his typewriter skills to create the senior Project pamphlet, and he did.
Keefe joined Mueller in his second stint with the yearbook between 2005 and 2007. He also assisted Mueller with cultural Horizons, the group that explores various sites of cultural interest in st. Louis, and Mueller’s community service Program site at Peter and Paul shelter downtown. In addition, of course, Keefe proctors the cafeteria every morning. the attribute that Keefe brings to all of these activities, Mueller said, is his commitment to getting things done.
“dependable is almost an understatement,” said Mueller. “If he said that this will be done, it will be done. I think that’s one thing he’s taught me, that if you say you’re going to do something, you do it.”
tom sullivan, ’81, a friend of Keefe’s, echoed Mueller’s sentiment. sullivan met Keefe when he was trying to transfer from chaminade to sLuH, and he said that he has asked Keefe for advice in almost every major decision since then.
“I would trust him with anything. I mean, I’m 46 years old now. there’s really not a thing I don’t do in my life that’s important that I don’t run it by him,” said sullivan. He added, “When I was getting married, I wanted to make sure she met him, and he liked (her). I mean, that’s how important he is.”
Keefe decided to retire this spring. “there are circumstances—times in a person’s life—when doing something or not doing something feels right,” he said. “It just happens. and that happened in this case. It’s just time to stop.”
as for what he will do in his retirement, Keefe simply said, “I am going to relish not having any regular commitments—do what I want when I want.”
Keefe has impacted the lives of thousands of students in different ways during his tenure, and his ability to motivate and to reach out to students has extended far beyond his impressive resume. though he has done a hefty body of work for sLuH logistically, Keefe’s presence to individual students has been an even greater service to the school.
Junior s teve Ludwig, who created
When asked about her role in the changing of sLuH’s atmosphere to one more accepting of diversity, coldren attributed it more to the timing of her arrival and tenure at sLuH rather than her own efforts.
“society made people more aware,” said coldren. “I would only bring up things I saw as areas of concern.”
coldren said that one of the forces supporting increased diversity at sLuH was then-president robert costello, s.J., who was “very open to how the female faculty saw things. In his own words, he saw himself as a man in a tradition of male-dominance, and he did a lot to change that,” said coldren.
sLuH saw change towards awareness with the introduction of more diverse literature into the curriculum, as well as the
the Facebook group “Mr. Keefe—sLuH Legend—remembered Forever” to recognize Keefe, said that Keefe has helped guide and improve his high school career. “He’s definitely helped me to relax more and just get stuff done without worrying about things as much,” said Ludwig. “and then he’s also helped me to make sure that I get all my homework done and that I get the most out of sLuH that I can.”
dan Burghoff, ’05, who also stays in contact with Keefe, said, “He pushed me to sort of do the best I could. I always felt like he knew that I had potential and would grade me accordingly, try to push me to reach a new level that he knew I was capable of.”
For junior Bobby Lux, Keefe not only helped him when he needed the help but prepared him to grapple with hardship. “Mr. Keefe was part of sLuH for me, and by that I mean he created an environment where I was comfortable with learning and was comfortable with struggle also,” said Lux. “I knew that if I had problems I could go to him, and he was always there in the cafeteria ready to help me if I needed it.”
ryan Haefele, ’97, has sustained a relationship with Keefe since his graduation 13 years ago, in large part because of Keefe’s interest. according to Haefele, when he was at the university of dayton, Keefe regularly sent him copies of the Prep News by mail.
seckfort said that Keefe would frequently inquire as to how he was doing during his junior year when he struggled with aP Physics.
“I’d do my little sort of one line of complaining, and I’d just go sit there and sulk. and he’d be like, ‘Well, don’t worry. It’ll get better.’ and so for me he’s always been there just to tell me it does get better, and eventually things will end,” said seckfort.
Mueller said that he doubts anyone will pick up the little tasks Keefe is leaving behind. “We won’t even know we’re missing (him) because of all the things that he does that won’t be done: teaching boys to tie ties, sitting with people, helping them through troubled situations,” he said. “I just don’t know if there’s going to be people like him that will take so much interest in every student.”
Macarthy summed up the loss of Keefe: “of course the guy’s going to be missed. there’s no way you’re going to replace him. I don’t really know what I’m going to do next year. I mean, I don’t know who I’m going to visit during my free period. ... But I’m going to try to keep in touch with him, that’s for sure.”
Keefe’s 43 years have left a record of academic and administrative excellence at st. Louis u. High, but many will think of him instead as the man who embraced and embodied the ideal of being a man for others, the man who would always open an office or a cafeteria table and talk a while.
separation of the awards ceremony from the Father/son banquet, a practice that previously blocked mothers from the ceremony. aside from her efforts towards awareness, Coldren has influenced those who encounter every year with her patient nature, caring regard, and love for her students.
“I once heard that when you quit learning from the students, it is time to give up,” said coldren. “I haven’t stopped learning, but I get to leave here with an immense amount of knowledge … I am still a work in progress as we all are, but the students have been a large part of me because of it.”
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Klenklen’s list of responsibilities is sprawling. she generally spends a large portion of the fall preparing graduation certificates and the majority of the spring preparing transcripts. Between these overarching responsibilities, Klenklen finds time to prepare awards certificates, order flowers for the funerals of deceased alumni, and record advanced Placement (aP) scores among other things.
“Bottom line, I think she has, as one woman, done a job that’s at least a two-person job given the stresses and timeframes that are involved,” said French teacher richard Keefe.
Keefe worked extensively with Klenklen during his time as assistant principal in the 1960s through the‘80s. He explained that whenever he was in doubt about a new policy or proposition, he would solicit the opinion of Klenklen whose experience in administrating predated his.
In fact, Klenklen’s tenure exceeds that of every faculty member but theater teacher Joe Schulte. She has worked for five Jesuit and four lay principals and seen a great deal of change in the way the school is run over the years.
“I really think it’s more serious. I think in general, that people are more aware of the image of the school, maybe because of competition with the other schools,” said Klenklen. “you’re always aware that you’ve got to put your best foot forward, because if you don’t, you miss out.” as the school has changed, particular moments and eras—good and bad—stand out from the rest.
“the years during the vietnam War students were very apt to protest inside the building, and there were several times (students) had sit-downs,” said Klenklen. “I think it was very hard for the administration. It was very hard for the students because they didn’t want to go to war, and unless they got into college, and they could get deferred, they were going to be drafted. there was a lot of unrest in this school then.”
despite a great deal of social and technological change, the students have remained a constant, according to Klenklen.
“the student body I don’t see that big a change. the clothes they wear, the music they listen to and that kind of thing has changed a lot, but from my point of view they’re still very respectful and take academics very seriously,” said Klenklen.
Keefe noted that any time someone as tenured as Klenklen retires, the school loses a great resource for historical memory. Klenklen has witnessed a large portion of sLuH’s modern development and roughly one-fourth of its 200-year history.
she plans to travel in her retirement as well as volunteer in the coming fall, which will be her first outside of the Backer Memorial in a half a century.
“the noise, the energy. It’s a place when you come in the morning, you can feel the energy, the movement. I think that’s what I’ll miss,” said Klenklen.
SLUH inline hockey JV coach Dave Richert ,’76, has been elected to the Missouri Inline Hockey Association Hall of Fame Richert has coached inline hockey at SLUH since the program’s inception.