December 2019 U-Times by Utimes

U-TIMES U. City High School 7401 Balson Ave University City, MO 63130

U-Times December 2019 Volume 30, Issue 2

NEWSMAGAZINE

All about that bass

By Samantha Young

Concentrating on his music, Jared Grove, junior, plays the opening arrangement “Ironclads.” “It was an intense piece. It was menacing from the beginning, like you’re waiting to see what happens,” Grove said. “Towards the finale you could tell everyone was getting into it.”

Playing in sync, the orchestra comes together for the start of the concert. “I knew we were going to do good, [because] we did a lot of preparation in class,” Kenwyn Jones, junior, said. “Usually we are pretty nervous before concerts, but this year we were more confident.”

Staff Writer Parents, grandparents, and siblings of students filed into the auditorium for U. City’s winter music concert on Dec. 5, at 6:30 pm. Approximately 120 people came to see the orchestra, choir and band play different arrangements throughout the evening. “I was really excited because we worked really hard,” Kiara Merrell, freshman, said. The program started with choir director, Caroline Ibnabdeljalil, introducing the six songs that the choir would be performing. The song “Something To Believe In” from the play Dear Evan Hansen, was led by Chloe Richardson, sophomore. “I’m a really shy person and I was nervous the day before at practice,” Richardson said. “But I couldn’t let my shyness affect me because then I would have messed up.” After the choir performed, Henry Giles, senior, played “Premiere Ballade Op. 23 in G Minor” by the Polish composer Chopin on the piano. He captivated the audience with his performance. Giles’ family was there to watch his performance, so when he finished and took a bow to the crowd he earned a loud applause in response. “When everyone’s watching me on stage, [I get] a little nervous,” Giles said. “When I finished, it

Shadonna Robinson, junior, alongside Darius Pointer, sophomore, and Anna Herron, freshman, and belt their solo in “Total Praise.” “It was my favorite song to sing.” Pointer said. “It is a part of my culture and it was a gospel song, I felt more comfortable singing it.” PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA YOUNG AND REINA NADAL

felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.” Following Giles’ solo performance, the band came out and played two arrangements, the first a medley of songs from the 2004 Christmas film, “The Polar Express.” As they played, a few audience members even sang along with the band’s playing. “I like that we learn different songs to perform,” Dawson McCree, senior, said. “While we prepared I helped the new [band] members learn the songs.” Up next was orchestra who played four songs. This year featured Amanda Davis, the orchestra director’s first year at U. City. In between each song, Davis, moved the students around on stage. “It’s easier for me to get to know what skill level they’re at by moving them around,” Davis explained during the concert. During the song “Arabian Dreams,” Annie Rhoades, senior, played a solo. Rhoades has been playing the violin since the fifth grade. This concert was bittersweet for her because this is the last year she will be performing with the orchestra. “The orchestra has always been so supportive,” Rhoades said.”So I was a little nervous but mostly excited about my solo. Overall, I think the concert was a success and everyone did pretty well.”

Staying on beat, freshman Merav Portman plays along with the orchestra. “I was nervous for my first high school concert, but I think it went well,” Portman said. “I liked getting to play with the whole orchestra and hearing us all together, besides just playing with my class. We were very synchronized.”

IN THIS ISSUE

2-3 Teen Health

Opinion/News • TIF project

4-5

• The power of the N-word

• Unhealthy diets • Mental health • Sleeping habits

Features/Sports • The changing Loop

6-7

• Passing periods • Winter sports

8 Door Competition • Door design challenge

December 2019

opinion STAFF EDITORIAL

A vote for Costco is a vote for University City There is no doubt about it: a Costco in University City would be a universally beneficial addition to the community. Since a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, was officially introduced into the community in April 2018, there has been a consistent stream of backlash toward the development, and now, as the project pushes into its final stages, another roadblock has presented itself. In what has been an eventful two years of back and forth from community residents, council members and a persistent developer, it’s time to hand over the keys and look at the benefits a new development presents to U. City. When it was first announced that the intersection of I-70 and Olive Blvd. was the target area for revitatlization, it triggered the first instance of community concern. Often considered one of the more distinct areas of U. City, Olive sports a diverse spread of local and family-owned businesses that have resided there for years. Opponents of the new TIF plan made known their issues with the proposal, citing the rich history of the Jeffery Plaza area and the displacement of some of those businesses and residents living in the 3rd Ward. While the development will force people away from the areas they live in or own, it’s not a process that has or will involve eminent domain, and the developer, Novus, has given options for relocation and paid a premium for the land they wish to acquire. The 3rd Ward for years has suffered economic decline, and Novus’ motivation to buy cannot be discounted; in the neighborhoods affected by development, Novus has bought out residents for double their property value. However, what really needs to be considered is the economic benefits that this development would bring to the city. Costco has long been rumored to be the anchor tenant of Novus’ proposal which presents the largest positive to the project. Currently, the nearest warehouse-style store, Sam’s Club, lies in neighboring Richmond Heights, meaning that every time a University City resident—or any resident for that matter—needs to buy items in bulk, or just groceries, household needs,

clothing etc. together, they pay for these in adjacent cities. According to city officials, University City is missing out on millions in sales tax revenue and, obviously, a Costco would solve that issue. Everybody loves to shop at Costco; the lines at the registers are always five or six deep, each extra-large shopping cart filled to the brim with bulk and whatever other miscellaneous items are found around the super center. It wouldn’t be out of the question to guess that anyone entering a Costco is prepared to spend $150 or more. It’s easy to picture the tax dollars flowing back into the community, especially given the reputation of Costco as a business. The closest Costco to University City and surrounding cities is nearly half hour west in Manchester—an unnecessary trek for many families looking to stock up on essentials. Imagine if there was one right in our own backyard? The populations of Clayton, Ladue, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Olivette, Overland, Creve Coeur—name any other surrounding city to the east of Chesterfield—would flock to University City whenever they needed toilet paper or whenever they needed to buy a month’s supply of coffee. The intersection of I-170 and Olive would suddenly become a bustling source of revenue, in an area that desperately needs it. Current-day Olive Blvd. is a shell of its historic past, representing an eyesore in the community that only continues to decay because of lackluster arguments against rejuvenation like, “There’s history here.” This is a common theme among opposition to TIF, as seen by the project’s latest snag. One of the properties in the 3rd Ward affected by the development is Torah Prep, an Orthodox Jewish day school located right within the blast zone. In order for the TIF to progress forward, Torah Prep would need a relocation option within walking distance of their residential area in observance of the Sabbath. This difficult-to-meet condition might normally present a serious dilemma, but fortunately, there’s already a functioning school facility just a few blocks away.

A rendering of the Olive Development. The developer, Novus, aims to break ground sometime in early 2020. Source: nextstl.com

In the past, the school has expressed interest in buying the underused Lieberman Learning Center and Ronald E. McNair Administration Building, which serves as the alternative school for the district as well as central office. Once a month, it also plays host to a school board meeting, where, on Sept. 26, the board shot down a proposal to list the building as surplus and allow Torah Prep, financed by Novus, to make a bid to purchase the property. It is important to note that the vote was not to sell the McNair Building; only to list it as surplus to weigh any potential bid. With that being said, it doesn’t make much sense to crush the proposal before even hearing an offer, which, based on the developer’s offers to homeowners, would likely be well above market value for the property. Sure, there are plenty of arguments to be made against selling the building— such as needing to find a new home for the alternative school—but to not even consider the proposal is unwise. Or using the argument of “we won’t support change because this is the way it’s always been” undermines the legitimacy of the project. Just like the claims to history shouted by community members convinced that TIF is a guised gentrification of the Olive Corridor, the unwillingness of a few school board members to approve the surplus proposal could result in a

huge missed opportunity for the city. Though the developer likely—and hopefully—has a plan B to the Torah Prep issue, the school board has halted the project for the time being. It should be clear that the city stands to benefit from the development, which makes the whole situation even stranger, especially considering Superintendent of University City School District Sharonica Hardin-Bartley has issued her full support of declaring McNair as surplus. Whatever the outcome, this is a tremendous turning-point for U. City, and the issues need to be looked at through all lenses. Costco is a reputable business, commended for its retail, service and employment to the community, and dedication to fair hiring and ethical practices; the Olive Corridor is a faltering husk at the entrance to University City. This development is exactly what we need; and there isn’t a single valid point or statistic or speculation to refute that. If the school board can’t see the value in TIF and won’t budge on the matter, that’s fine, but the community for one should see the apparent upside and needs to vocalize that belief. U. City is at a crossroads, and the citizens need to take advantage of the opportunity.

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2019-2020 U-Times Staff Co-Editor: Eliot Fuller Co-Editor: Ian Feld Web Editor: Jaden Brooks Staff Writers/Photographers: Charya Young Grace Klein Zion Smith Tarren Harris Khloe’ Fox Marley Gardner Kiya Furlow Samantha Young Adviser: Mrs. Mary Williams

Philosophy

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opinion

December 2019

Words have power, especially the N-word By Zion Smith Staff Writer

Out of all the most abrasive words in the American dictionary, the N-word is arguably the most controversial. Harking back to its historical context and negative connotation to its recent surge in popularity through hip hop music, the word itself has garnered a plethora of attention, and has been widely known amongst most Americans as taboo. Despite this, growing up I was around the word all my life. I grew tolerant of it, letting it seep into my everyday vocabulary so much to the point that I hardly noticed when it was used or when I used it. Although the black community in which I was raised used the word as accepting our commonality; at this current point in time, it seems as if the meaning has shifted again and regressed back to a degrading insult. Consequently, with the use of the word remaining a staple in music, then the context in which it is used needs to change, otherwise it only serves to demoralize people of color. Language has forever impacted our planet; words are power. Words have the ability to destroy, create, persuade or sometimes even kill. As a society, we create words that then dictate how we view ourselves and one another. Our language inspires an invisible— and widely ignored—hierarchy, but also provides ample opportunity for

empowerment and definition. The terms “queer” and “f-----” were once considered atrciously offensive, but at some point, the LGBTQ community claimed the words as their own and turned them into almost a term for accepting who you are. This example of the “invisible hierarchy” effect shows how we as a civilization use words to boost our own morale, despite other’s intentions of harm, and though we have the ability to take back the power from words, we sometimes choose not to. At one point, the N-word seemed to have the same evolution. Yes, the N-word was a horrendous slur. Yes, it was used to degrade and dehumanize African Americans. But somewhere down the line, the black community reversed the meaning of the word, giving it the opposite effect that was once intended. The word went from carrying a malicious connotation to being almost complementary and flattering. As media expanded, and as black culture grew because of it; the N-word reverted back to its original meaning. In hip-hop and trap, the word has pushed back toward the line of an insult. 6ix9ine—one of the most successful rappers of 2018—was known for his use of saying the N-word. Though despite him not being black, many individuals discerned his use of it as publicly acceptable. This use of the word most certainly isn’t intentionally negative, it does create a snowball effect, causing said word to possess many different implications. Present day U. City is a good example of this occurrence. The N-word is ever-present within the vernacular of students; the students seem infatuated with dismantling one another by using the word to address one another in

common everyday conversation. The word has a profusion of unique meanings. Originally, it was given the power to remind black people of their status in society. Similarly, I’d consider the current use of the word as a method to drag down black people. In fact, I’d consider the current status of the word as one that contributes to the inferiority that many individuals of color feel constantly because of the context in which it is used.

“...it drives home the point that we are ‘lesser than;’ it connotes pity.” When non-blacks use the word— despite it being in an attempt to get closer to black culture—its resulting impact comes across in a manner I can only describe as “unrefined commiseration.” However unintentionally, it drives home the message that we are “lesser than;” it connotes pity. However, this consequence—a feeling of inferiority— isn’t an effect limited to the words of non-black individuals. Phrases such as “stop being a [N-word],” or “look at these [N-word]s” frequently used by black people only further dishearten the black community. The word trawls us, keeping us in a small yet powerful net, preventing us from evolving. Principal Michael Peoples has very mixed feelings about the word. Seeing as he hears it constantly, and being black himself, he often encourages those

around him to cease with their use of the word. “I think it has a great deal to do with your living experiences. In environments where I’ve lived we typically used it as a term of endearment amongst people of African American descent,” Peoples said. “So in those settings it was not deemed offensive or received that way. But now, the connotation in which the word was used has changed dramatically.” While I don’t necessarily believe we should stop using the N-word, I do feel as if the current connotation surrounding it should be swapped for a better one. I’ve always carried the belief that high school is one of the most competitive environments on the planet. From grades and test scores, to the separation of those who are considered “gifted” and those who are considered “remedial,” high school is the birthplace for competition, and the N-word only contributes to this separation between people. Though I don’t exactly know when the use of the word became negative, I do know that our current use of the N-word isn’t healthy for the black community. For me, as someone who’s entire vernacular is centered around the N-word, I do feel the need for a change to be imminent. As a race that has endured a monumental amount of struggle and plight, it bewilders me as to why we still choose to be brought down again, especially because we’re primarily doing it to ourselves. We have the ability to uplift one another and break the cycle. We have the capacity to prosper and separate ourselves from the colloquial connotations associated with the word. Language has power. It’s time we start using it to our advantage.

TEENAGE WASTLELAND: EAT Unhealthy diets impair student performance By Marley Gardner Staff Writer

There’s a common misconception that teenagers are always eating, and they should be... to a certain extent. The average 16-18 year old male needs approximately 2,800 calories per day in order to live a healthy life, with girls in that age group needing about 2,200 calories per day, according to eatright.org. However, there’s a trend of high schoolers meeting a mark far below that. While eating disorders are significantly more prevalent among teenagers and young adults, many other aspects of life play into the eating habits of teenagers. “I’m too tired to get up in the morning and eat and get ready and get my lunch together,” said Sebastian Gunter, junior. “Waking up at 6 a.m. for teenagers has literally been scientifically proven to

be like waking an adult up at 3 a.m.” As do many other teenagers, Gunter juggles school, homework, extracurriculars and a job. Similarly to Gunter, and even as an athlete, Aaliyah Brown, junior, has struggles with balancing school and eating. “Because of school, I’m really tired, so sometimes I’d choose sleeping over eating,” said Brown. “There are also days were I choose to do school work over eating as well.” With all students qualifying for free breakfast and lunch regardless of income, it’s not as if there aren’t options. “A lot of [the school food] looks nasty,” said Candice Weeden, freshman. For many students, not eating three meals a day also stems from issues aside from the school lunch. “I’d most definitely choose

How many meals a day do you eat?

to sleep over eating,” Weeden said. “I’m just tired after [school].” Coming as no surprise, not eating has clear negative effects on one’s health, and even how they feel overall throughout the day. “I’ll get a protein bar to get me through basketball practice after school,” Johnson said. ”I get real tired on the days I don’t get enough to eat.” Not only is the concept of remembering to eat and planning meals a source of stress for teenagers, especially with limited freedom in the times, due to school, studies show that stress and anxiety can even lower one’s appetite. When these psychological changes in the brain occur, it’s no surprise the rest of the body responds, according to webmd. com. With no appetite or drive to make an effort to eat, one’s health could suffer. While many teenagers have let this get to

them and negatively impact their eating habits, some have found a way to work around it. “I normally try to eat around three to four times a day,” said Jayde McKenzie, senior. “For me as a vegan, I have to plan my meals to make sure I get the right amount of protein and other vitamins.” For other teenagers, not eating isn’t the issue, but rather only eating junk food, or eating too much. While not eating breakfast or lunch isn’t healthy, only eating hot Cheetos, or other junk foods, all day isn’t either. As a result of saturated fats and high sodium content in these foods, they increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses , according to National Center for BioTechnology Information. “[Seeing people eat like this] makes me feel scared,” said Ethan Immer, sophomore. “They’re doomed.”

Even with lunch seen as a break from school, Maria out about school. “There’s so much focus on tests an mental health.” Collins, among other students, exp health. PHOTO BY MARLEY GARDNER

22.4%

of respondents claimed they don’t eat lunch at all *Source for all statistics: Google survey answered by 10% of student body.

Jemmy Ramirez-Chavez, Junior, grabs nachos from breakfast at home,” Ramirez-Chavez said. “I don’t e PHOTO BY ELIOT FULLER

Sleep much?

SLEEP SOLU

Lack of sleep contributes to decline in cognitive abilities By Taren Harris Staff Writer

As a teenager, we are supposed to get 8-10 hours of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. However, 46% of students who responded to a google survey said that the average amount of sleep they get is 5-6 hours per night. In addition, the National Sleep Foundations says not maintaining an average sleep time produces negative results, like having problems with cognitive abilities such as attention, memory and decision making. When students work late hours, it often overlaps time that should be used for homework or sleep. The constant pull to put work on top of school also impacts grades. “I work at Coachlite and I have to work late nights which causes me to go to sleep late and not be focused in school,” Victoria Cushion, junior, said. Equally important, some teenagers who don’t work still don’t get the recommended amount of sleep. Some students

even sleep with their cell phones. The flashlight going off for every notification and the constant notifications from different social media sites keep teens awake. Some students watch movies or TV shows on different streaming services. “I mainly stay up because of my phone,” Wilson Lanaja, junior, said, who gets 3-4 hours of sleep at night. “I watch Netflix, Disney Plus, and [look at] Instagram, etc. till I fall asleep” Putting the phone out of reach at night could be helpful. Some students have limits at home, such as a “no phone” policy after a certain time. “To get enough sleep, one kid charged their phone in the kitchen so the phone wouldn’t be a distraction to go to sleep,” Rachel Bromberg, school psychologist, said. Sometimes it’s that one thing a student does before going to bed that changes the plan. Alara Stewart, freshman, said something as simple as taking a shower before bed can keep her awake.

1. Set a sleep schedule every day without exce

2. Don’t oversleep on t Keep your sleep routine as possible. 3. Follow the same pre tines, such as taking a s ing your face. Missing important information in Chemistry class, Yaniya Battle, sophomore, fills her time catching some zzz’s. “I was sleeping in class because I was tired from staying up until like 3 in the morning doing homework and studying,” Battle said. “I do feel like it affects my learning because I am missing receiving the new material, since I was up all night catching up.” PHOTO BY GRACE KLEIN

How many hours of sleep do you get per night?

4. Be proactive with you Try to break big essays across multiple days. 5. Charge your phone i and stay off of screens going to bed. Source: nationwidechildrens.org

49.3

of respondents cla work keeps the

TING, SLEEPING, STRESSING

ah Collins, sophomore, spends it stressed nd grades,” said Collins. “It really affects my periences the toll school can take on mental

m the lunch line. “Before school, I eat eat school lunches every day, though.”

High stress setting leads to teen angst By Grace Klein Staff Writer

Today’s high school students seem to be burdened with a great deal of stress in comparison to other generations. The expectations of school, maintaining relationships and pressure to be or act a certain way can develop into an unhealthy self image and ultimately fester into a mental health issue. The complexity surrounding mental health can be a controversial topic, especially involving teens, as counselors are heavily pointing towards social media and phones as a trigger. “There’s a huge increase in mental health issues based on the expectations of social media to look and be a certain way,” said Christine Woodward, social worker. “Teens have always been teens, but with phones there’s that added pressure to live up to.” Woodward is not the only mental health expert who believes social media is detrimental to teens’ health and self image. Kimberly Merrill, counselor, also agrees that

the weekend. e as consistent

e-bed time roushower or wash-

ur homework. s or projects

in another room s an hour before

aimed homeem up late

esteem and self worth,” said Woodward. While these may seem like acute issues that every high schooler is bound to go through, developing depression, anxiety and or other mental health issues that are not addressed through coping skills, can lead to even more problems such as drug and alcohol usage. U. City provides resources including group therapy, meditation and counseling available to struggling students. However, Woodward is adamant about students developing coping strategies, such as exercising, meditating and deep breathing while also using their electronic devices in moderation. “Everything in moderation is fine,” said Woodward. “But with the lack of interaction with other people and the dependency on talking to people through a phone, it becomes a problem.” Although it is hard to pinpoint one outlying cause of mental health, especially among teenagers, the stress of school mixed with the pressures of relationships and image

portrayed on social media, is certainly an issue and should be monitored. According to childmind.org, research says that 17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder, more than the amount of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined—almost one million more in comparison to the 16.2 million adults over 18 who will suffer from mental illness in their life. The acknowledgement of mental illness has long been dismissed around the stigma that it can be self treated; however, mental illness left untreated can lead to poor physical health, and in extreme cases—suicide. Suicide is one of the top five leading cause’s of death amongst teens in the U.S.—an issue that desperately needs further addressing. There are many things that can be done to promote treatment of mental health. if a friend or someone you know is struggling, let a counselor know so they can be provided the proper resources.

“A lot of people get [social media] just to have fun, but then it turns into this competition of who can look the best, get the most likes, attract the most followers, etc.” - Alara Stewart

“We compare ourselves and stress ourselves to reach the targets set by our teachers, parents, and society and it can be harmful for us to always feel like we have to reach them.” - Michael Simmons

“Sometimes I don’t feel good enough when I look at my homework or test scores.” - Folake Adewale

UTIONS

e and follow it eptions.

one of the varying factors in depression and anxiety among teens is their obsession with living through the image they portray on social media. “This constant need to be validated through social media can cause depression and anxiety to come out when they aren’t,” said Merrill. “They are creating a reality they want to portray through social media and it isn’t real.” Although the unrealistic expectations of social media can create low self esteem and self worth, Woodward also points to standardized testing as a big source of anxiety for many students. “Every person learns their own way but instead we give tests in one direction, which can be a big source of anxiety for many,” said Woodward. The pressure from teachers and the school to do well on these exams so that the school can maintain its accreditation is a lot to put on the students and inevitably leads to anxiety and poor self image. “When you feel like you failed at something it lowers your self

What causes stress and anxiety in high schoolers? (Students chose all that applied.)

92.5%

Homework/grades

77.6%

Home life

Social media

50.7% 56.7%

Bullying

76.1%

Test scores

How can you cope? Advice from Christine Woodward

1. Exercise 2. Listen to music 3. Meditation 4. Deep breathing 5. Limit phone usage

6. Writing 7. Join an activity 8. Get enough sleep 9. Take some alone time 10. Read

100

December 2019

features

Relaxing isn’t in students’ vocabulary By Khloe’ Fox Staff Writer

Now that winter break is finally approaching, you’re probably ready to kick back and relax and have some quality time with family. However, the hope of having a stress-free break can be crushed by several emails in your inbox from Google Classroom. Some of your teachers have assigned you multiple pages of time-consuming homework. When will it end? Students are allocated a certain amount of days to take a much needed rest from school, which is then ruined by homework. For many students, it truly feels like they never get a break from school. “I feel annoyed because I shouldn’t have to worry about school as much [when I’m on break],” Morgan McGinnis, sophomore, said. Once released from the school building, the thought of doing math problems and answering questions puts a heavy weight on students’ shoulders. “Sometimes it can be overwhelming because of the fact that you probably could’ve had other stuff planned like work or something,” Justice Strickland, junior, said. “You kind of have to manage your time.”

Since Strickland is in the Early said. College Program, she has more While it sometimes seems like homework than the average student. teachers are ‘out to get you,’ one teacher “Even though you have multiple has the same perception when it comes days off from school, they’ll still give you to assigning students homework over homework that’ll take up most of your break. day when you could’ve had family events “In 21 years it has been my personal planned,” Strickland said. and professional philosophy that kids For students like Patrick Fuller, need a break and therefore on spring, sophomore, school vacations aren’t winter and Thanksgiving [break], I have quite the same when homework looms never given homework,” Peggy Halter, over like a dark cloud. English teacher said. “While I’m spending time with my Since Halter teaches some advanced family, I’m still thinking about getting classes, such as AP Literature, College my homework done and Composition 1 and 2, I’m still worried about and Honors Lit and it,” Fuller said. Comp 2, students Freshman Lucy might think that a pile Rhoades feels the same of assignments would way. need to be done over “I have to spend time break; however, that doing my homework is not the case in her when I could be class. spending time with [my “I just feel like it is family], my parents ask important for teachers me everyday, ‘do you to get rest and it’s have homework,’ and equally, if not more I’m like, ‘yeah,’ and important, for the kids they’re like, ‘oh okay,’ to get the rest,” Halter PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY and then we never get to said. KHLOE’ FOX, STAFF WRITER do anything,” Rhoades Sometimes students

understand that there are reasons behind the to-do lists assigned to them. “I guess they’re trying to keep our minds active or whatever,” Rhoades said. “I also kind of feel like they don’t have enough time in the year to teach us so they utilize our breaks.” Fuller has the same understanding, but thinks some things should be changed to lower the stress levels. “I understand that they have work that they need us to do and that we have to learn more, but I wish that they would do it in a different way like not giving us homework on breaks or giving us smaller assignments,” Fuller said. When it comes down to it, no student wants to deal with homework, especially during the time they are given to rest their minds. “I think we as a society have lost sight of what’s really important and that’s the health, welfare and the well being of each child who is in our care,” Halter said. “Yes, we need to educate and we do have a responsibility there, but I think that is has become this vicious and competitive cycle that has spiraled out of control.”

The Loop takes a hit with loss of businesses, trolley closure By Charya Young Staff Writer

Even though the Delmar Loop is one of the most popular places to hang with friends and family, several students feel that the street has lost some of its luster over the years. “I think that the Loop has gone downhill, it is not doing as well as it had in the past,” Sasha Albright, freshman said. “It is not a place where kids can go anymore.” The Loop has lost a number of beloved businesses, including St. Louis Bread Co., Foot Locker and Cicero’s. For students, these restaurants and shops provided places to study and hang out. Principal Michael Peoples has enjoyed dining out in the Loop with his family at his favorite restaurant, Blue Ocean, which specializes in sushi. “It is always disappointing when your favorite places close down,” said Peoples. “It takes away a part of your teen years and your memories.” Although the student visit quota gradually decreased over the years, students who still make time to go to the Loop would like to see more places to

shop and hang out. “I think more stores should be added, or the stores that left need to come back because it is getting kind of boring going to the same places every time you go,” said Lanaja Wilson, junior. Some have assumed that the funding for the trolley, which opened for public use last November, is the reason why so many shops have left, however others presume that shop owners were not in a stable position to keep business running. “I do not discourage the trolley at all,” said Peoples. “I think some businesses closed prior to the trolley being funded and built. Because of lack of revenue, they were not able to support their businesses.” Although some businesses were doomed to close, the construction seemed to be a turning point for others. Access to storefronts were limited and parking became a challenge, which prohibited people from supporting business. “It was definitely difficult to drive in the Loop,” said history teacher Yul Amerson. “They needed to make

a better, safer way for both the construction workers and drivers.” Some also wanted the new trolley to go farther than where it goes currently. Kevin Stapleton-Cloud, math teacher, would have liked to see it reach deeper into downtown. “It was a good idea but it doesn’t go far enough,” said Cloud. “It needs to be a St. Louis thing, not just a U. City thing.” The end of the road for the trolley is nearing sooner than expected.

According to Channel 4 News, the trolley is set to shut down completely on Dec. 29. A resolution to keep the trolley running is still in the works, but most U. City residents like science teacher, Tim Dykas, aren’t surprised that the project didn’t last. “It’s funny how quickly it failed,” said Dykas. “[The residents] could have predicted it a long time ago, but they didn’t listen so now it’s like, ‘we told you so.’”

The much debated trolley rolls through the Loop on a recent weekend. It is scheduled to shut down at the end of the year; however, the executive board of Bi-State Development voted, despite fierce opposition, to negotiate a possible takeover of the financially strapped Loop trolley, according to stl.today. PHOTO BY ELIOT FULLER

Student body not satisfied with passing period time By Kiya Furlow Staff Writer

Sometimes it feels like we are always in a rush. In a recent survey, 85% of 92 responding students said that they do not believe five minutes between classes is enough time. Some students say they are tardy to class every day because they need more time. Salena Roach, sophomore, blames the time crunch partly on crowded hallways. “You’re trying to get past and through people in enough time when your class is on the other side of the building,” she said. It’s no secret that some students goof around in the hallways during passing periods and don’t take it seriously, but what about the students who do? Speed walking takes on new meaning when you have to go from the gym to James Wright’s chemistry classroom on the third floor library wing. Some teachers sympathize with students who complain that the passing period is too short, agreeing that

students should have a longer one. “They need to be able to use their lockers and the restroom,” Eve Abaray, Spanish teacher, said. “They carry everything around all of the time because they believe they do not have enough time to get to a locker.” Other teachers think five minutes is plenty. “I don’t think a longer time between classes is needed based on the number of people in the hallway not moving with a purpose most days,” Kevin Stapleton-Cloud, math teacher, said. “I believe there are a select few who need it, but not most.” Some students say that they have enough time to get to class, but that it’s difficult when the hallways are packed. “Five minutes is usually enough time for me to get from one class to another, but if there is something occurring in the hallway that slows me down, it can be a problem,” Folake Adelwale, sophomore, said. “Usually in those situations teachers aren’t very understanding.”

Students try to beat the stairwell traffic after the bell rings, releasing them from A lunch. PHOTO BY JADEN BROOKS

sports

December 2019

High hopes, new goals for Lady Lions By Eliot Fuller Co-Editor

After finishing with a win percentage below .500 last season, the Lady Lions are looking to bounce back this year with a larger team and the addition of many new underclassmen. Junior Essence Green has been on the team since freshman year, and feels that this year’s team is the strongest she’s been a part of. “In my freshman year, we lost a lot of seniors,” Green said. “In my sophomore year, we were rebuilding, but this year we have a lot of good players.” In addition to their talent, the team is the biggest it’s been in over five years, which Green feels has been very beneficial. “We’re building a family and trying to win as many games as possible,” Green said. “I feel like we can get a winning record this year.” Senior Alexandria Hogan-Wilson has been on the team for four seasons, and has played alongside many different sets of teammates. Like Green, she feels that this year’s team is the strongest it’s been in recent years. “We have girls that actually want to play basketball this year,” Hogan-Wilson said, contrasting this years squad to ones of the past. “We [have] grown

individually and together, as a team at practice.” One of the biggest goals for the team is creating a sense of camaraderie, something that Hogan-Wilson feels is a major expectation for the season. “[I expect the team] to become a family and work together, despite our weaknesses,” Hogan-Wilson said. The Lady Lions are led by returning head coach Dana Walker, who feels optimistic about the new season. When asked about her new squad, she had nothing but praise for them. “This year the team is more versatile,” Walker said. “We don’t have [just] one person to go to, we have a mixture of people.” Additionally, the team’s chemistry is right where she wants it to be. “They’re playing together this year, they’re making every practice, and they seem more excited than usual,” Walker said. Many of the players set personal goals for themselves this season, which Walker hopes to see them meet. However, she also stressed the team’s overall objective. “[Our goal] is to have a winning season,” Walker said. With a handful of new talent mixed with veteran experience, the goal feels achievable to the team.

Walker has been especially impressed by freshman Nyla Brooks and returning senior Nyjah Hudson, who had three 20-rebound games last year. The season kicked off on Dec. 2, with a 61-40 win over De Soto High School. Nyla Brooks, freshman, scored 21 points, including three treys.

At practice, Ayanna Williams, junior small forward, goes in for a lay up. “A jump shot is my favorite shot because it’s closer to the basket and easier to score,” Willams said. “ You are supposed to put your all into the shot.” PHOTO BY ELIOT FULLER

New coach brings new expectations By Jaden Brooks Web Editor

At swim practice, Chloe Easter and Nicole Kellogg, seniors, finish a lap of breast stroke.”When I’m swimming, I think of the most random things like old TV show clips, what I want for dinner or what’s the person next to me doing,” Easter said. PHOTO BY JADEN BROOKS

For the second time this year, U. City and Brentwood are merging sports teams. This fall, the field hockey team combined with Brentwood, and the move is being done again with the girls swim team. In her first year at U. City, Darielle Morris is the new coach of the team, bringing three years of coaching experience with her. At first, Morris was hesitant to take the coaching job because it is her first year in the building, but quickly realized the job was right for her. “Once the job was posted, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to work with some amazing swimmers,” Morris said. Morris was keen to merge with Brentwood, since she came from a school with very few swimmers on the team. “When I walked in day one, the initial interest and talent was impressive,” Morris said. “Once girls were finally able to get in the water, it was like they never missed a beat during the off-season.” The team is up to 17 swimmers, which is seven more than they had last year. Seven of the 13 U. City girls are new to the team this year. The team accepted anyone who was interested, even those who do not know how to swim. As a result, the team features junior Taiyanna Clark, who has no prior experience swimming.

“I was a little nervous, but I know the girls are nice and they made me feel a lot better,” Clark said. Freshman Gayle Stevenson, like Clark, did not know how to swim either. “The hardship is getting scared out of nowhere,” Stevenson said. “Sometimes I’m almost in the deep end and all of a sudden, my mind thinks ‘what if I drown?’ I start thinking [this], but it is just myself being scared.” Stevenson wasn’t the only one who was nervous to swim as a freshman. Chole Easter, senior, joined the team in sophomore year, and had to quickly learn how to swim. “I was a professional drowner and I could not swim at all,” Easter said, reflecting on the early days of her first season. Coach Morris has high expectations for this year’s squad, and she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring out the best of the team. “These girls have a lot of potential that I would like to tap into,” Morris said. “It is going to take hard work, dedication and 150% each and every day.” While the season will certainly brings its own challenges, Morris knows her girls are ready for it. “I know they can do it, and I look forward to seeing their results.”

Corn receives soccer honors at state, region, conference levels By Grace Klein Staff Writer

This year’s boys soccer team has had one of the most successful seasons in quite some time, highlighted by a 14-game winning streak and a second consecutive conference championship. Additionally, forward Jalen Corn, junior, was named to the 2nd Team All-State Class 2 soccer team, in addition to being selected for the Class 2 Region 1 All-Region Team and honored with Suburban Conference Player of the Team. Corn finished the season with 46 goals and 12 winning goals-- making him the leading scorer in the St. Louis area. “He’s really fast and dribbles with creativity,” said Cameron Smith, junior. “His records speak for [themselves] on the level of talent he has.” Head coach Thomas Henson has been working with Corn for the past three years, and like Smith, is impressed by all that he has to offer. “Jalen’s strengths are his creativity, ball skills, speed with the ball and ability to score,” Henson said. “He is without a doubt the most talented soccer player

to come through our soccer program during my six years as head coach.” Not only contributing to the U. City soccer team, Corn has been involved in club soccer for five years and even attributes his success and competitive fire to the club soccer environment. “It’s really pushed me to be the best player I can be because of how competitive the environment is,” said Corn. Corn has been playing soccer since he was four years old and his passion for the sport has not fallen short since. “I have team practices every day and I usually go to the rec on the weekends to do as much as I can to get better,’ said Corn. “Hard work got me where I am today.” Corn hopes to be selected to the First Team AllState next year and proceed to play soccer on the Division 1 level in college. For now, however, it’s all about this season’s accomplishments. “He definitely earned the recognition and it was nice to see a U. City athlete garner state recognition,” Henson said.

During an mid-season match against MICDS, Jalen Corn, junior, tries to get control of the ball. “When I play against a good team like MICDS, I just try to play as best I can and always go in for a win,” said Corn. PHOTO BY TIA MOORE

features

Myer’s door was inspired by her students’ love of horror movies and the Gothic stories they have been reading. “It took the kids and I about three days to do,” Myers said. I think I spent about 60 bucks.

Sam Myer, English

ON OUR COVER: Carol Krueger, English The winning door was a representation of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” a book Krueger believes is a compelling story. She and her 4th Hour students took several days to put it together. PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY CHARYA YOUNG

Hopkins and her Advanced Theatre students were inspired by the production of “Lord of the Flies.” “This display was made from recycled props and elements from the fall play,” said Hopkins.

Katherine Hopkins, Theater

the classic novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, in which the fall play she directed was based off of. Claunch’s door, inspired by Ezra Jack Keat’s childrens book “The Snowy Day,” had elements of nostalgia in it. “That was my very favorite book when I was little,” said Claunch. “The imagery and illustrations from it makes me happy.” Regardless of the winners, the competition gave staff members a positive opportunity to show their creative sides. “I think there needs to be way more staff competition,” said Smelser.

Honorable Mention

Although many activities for staff are based around more traditional ideas of learning, that wasn’t the case for the door competition. To visual arts teachers, and anyone with a inventive edge, the competition felt right up their alley. “It gave teachers the opportunity to be creative,” said Marnie Claunch, art teacher. Many teachers created their door decorations and designs around books that are more currently popular, with “It” by Stephen King inspiring a number of doors. However, others chose books and themes with more personal ties. Hopkins’ door centered around

3rd Place

teacher. While a number of teachers put up more simple decorations, and many recruited their students to help design and create their door, others, such as Catherine Hopkins, theatre teacher, and Carol Krueger, English teacher, took the competition a little bit more seriously. Krueger reportedly even spent upwards of $75 on her design, winning first place, although second place winner, Smelser, spent nothing. “[My door] was more of an experience,” said Smelser. “There were elements that were in the hallway and threedimensional.”

Michael Peoples, principal, presesnts Smelser with her second place prize basket. She worked with her Advanced Sculpture class worked for two weeks, which was inspired by all of Stephen King. “

Sarah Smelser, Ceramics

2nd Place

With the end of the semester approaching, Christina Sneed, English Dept. Instructional Coach, challenged teachers all throughout the building to a door decorating contest. According to Sneed, the Literacy Infusion Team (LIT) sponsored the activity, using the theme of “Falling into a Great Book” to support our work to build more literate students and enhance our school culture. Thirty-six staff members participated, including the counseling team. “Healthy competition is a good morale booster between staff,” said Sarah Smelser, art

By Marley Gardner Staff Writer

Building wide door design competition draws fierce competition

Open the door to literacy

December 2019

U-TIMES NEWSMAGAZINE

U. City High School 7401 Balson Ave University City, MO 63130

PHOTO BY CHARYA YOUNG

WINNING

Carol Krueger takes first place in the literacy door design contest. Details on page 8.

U-Times December 2019 Volume 30, Issue 2