December 2015 U-Times by Utimes

December 2015

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

features

U-Times December 2015 Volume 26, Issue 2 NEWS MAGAZINE

Kinesis headline headline

Dance 7-8 students Kenya Curtis, senior, Aniya Kendrick, senior, and Bria Spiller, junior, perform at the Kinesis dance concert Dec. 12.

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

U-Times December 2015 Volume 26, Issue 2 NEWS MAGAZINE

Second violinist Sarah Garner, freshman, plays in her first high school orchestra concert. Garner has been playing the violin since sixth grade. Her favorite song they performed was the theme song to the popular British show, “Downton Abbey.” “This was my favorite piece because it had a beautiful melody,” said Garner. “The first violins started with the melody and then the seconds came in followed by the cellos. It made a beautiful sound.” PHOTO BY LUCY WURST

Joshua Thomas and DeAnthony Smith, seniors, listen to Maya Shelton, sophomore, belting out her solo during the winter concert. “I was a little worried that I would mess up my solo but I just started grinning and it was really fun,” Shelton said. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE POLITTE

That’s entertainment! By Lucy Wurst Staff Writer

The performing arts dept. showcased their skills in December at three concerts, including Kinesis, choir and band/orchestra. “The jazz band and choir didn’t perform at the winter concert with us this year,” said Kaitlynn Douglas, senior, who plays the flute and piccolo. “This meant the band got to play more since they weren’t there. There was less of a turnout and a shorter program than past concerts.” The band played a total of five songs including St. Louis Blues, Manhattan Beach, Blues March, and Christmas at the Movies, which was a crowd favorite. “We got to play more songs which I liked,” said Marco Gillespie, sophomore and percussion player. “There’s always room for improvement, but overall we did a good job.”

Following the band came the orchestra who finished the concert strong with songs such as “Japanese on a Fantasy Folk Song,” the “Downton Abbey” theme song, and “Symphony No. 3.” “I thought that overall the concert was fun, although we could have been better prepared,” said freshman Nicole Holohan, cellist. “It wasn’t that much different from playing at Brittany Woods, except for the amount of people.” The orchestra has grown, within a year, from a small class of eight people to full class of 16. The class this year has a majority of freshmen, which is a big change. “The orchestra definitely has a bigger sound because of the amount of people,” said Jonah Payne, junior and violinist. “The freshmen add strong personalities to the class, but it’s all about teamwork.”

Playing the saxophone in the winter concert, Sam Watts, junior, said the band and orchestra concert was a success. “I was nervous at first, but after we started playing it got better,” Watts said. The band got their music a month ahead of the concert and practiced every day in class. Watts’s favorite piece was Contraption because of all the rises and falls the piece held. PHOTO BY LUCY WURST

IN THIS ISSUE

News • Perfect ACT score • News in brief

Health • Body image • Sex ed

4-5 • Healthy eating • Local food

Sports • Athletic trainer • Team managers

6 • JV basketball

7-8

Features • Heavy backpacks • Is college worth it?

• Most wanted gifts • Holiday traditions

December 2015

opinion

Heavy backpacks weigh on students

STAFF EDITORIAL Heavy backpacks have plagued students for decades, but lately they’ve been weighing on them more than ever. With numerous textbooks, folders, notebooks, binders, and now Chromebooks, the weight quickly adds up. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, a backpack should not exceed 10% of a person’s body weight. Yet, 55% of American students carry backpacks that are heavier, which can lead to back pain and even emergency room visits. With the introduction of Chromebooks this year, it seemed likely that this would be a problem of the past. With online textbooks, E-books and learning management systems like NEOLMS and Google Classroom, virtually all of a student’s work can be completed and turned in online. The key word here is “can.” In far too many cases, students are finding that they have to carry their Chromebooks in

addition to their textbooks, not instead of them. Teachers aren’t intentionally overloading students, of course, but every assignment means bringing home another textbook, binder, notebook, or folder, until a student is lugging home half their locker each night. This isn’t just a U. City problem. It’s a national epidemic. But at last, our school has the tools to solve it. Naturally, all transitions take time, and the introduction of the Chromebooks is already a huge step forward for U. City. But it’s vital – for the environment as well as students’ backs -- that U. City also takes the next step: transitioning to a truly paperless school. A good place to start is online textbooks, since heavy textbooks are the biggest contributor to the weight problem. We have the technology. Now let’s use it – and take a weight off students’ shoulders.

Rifling through her backpack during lunch, La’She Tomlin-Wilks, senior, rearranges her belongings. “I like to be organized, so I have binders for each class,” said Tomlin. “‘A’ days are the worst, because I have four core classes, so I have to carry four binders.” PHOTO BY JACELYNN ALLEN

The kids aren’t all right: Students face poverty in silence By Payton Bass Web Editor

A staggering number of students in this high school are living impoverished. In fact, over 60 students are known to be homeless, according to Christine Woodward, social worker. Over 60% of students receive either free or reduced-price lunch. Going to school impoverished means not having focus due to hunger or lack of sleep. It means being teased for not having things. It means lashing out quickly at others, because you’re scared and tired. It means withdrawing yourself from peers, because you’re consumed with your individual experience and you feel isolated. It means coming to school worried, or anxious, all due to your outside circumstances, thus making it harder to learn. Because of privacy laws, teachers and staff cannot be informed about which students are in need. Consequently, they have no idea of what individual students are going through. That information is confidential. Ideally, teachers should have insight into the students so they can make proper judgements as to what’s fair for students. So ILLUSTRATION BY students can TAVE HOLLINS

2015-2016 U-Times Staff Editor-in-Chief: Christine Politte Assistant Editor: Kathryn Fuller Web Editor: Payton Bass Staff Writers/Photographers: Jacelynn Allen Francene Bethune Imani Gleason Tave Hollins Pablo Lopez-Reyna Xoe O’Hara Jaylen Williams Daniel Williamson Lucy Wurst Adviser: Mrs. Mary Williams

feel that they care. However, FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, prohibits teachers from receiving personal information about students. It’s a shame students aren’t aware of how much the staff here do for us out of the kindness of their hearts. They donate to Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas Helping Hands during the holiday season, plus help families throughout the school year who come forward to the school, asking for resources. If names were attached to needs, and the giving done to meet those needs, teacher-student relationships would be a whole lot better in this school. “I wanted to participate in Christmas Helping Hands, because Christmas is really the time for me where I feel that people who have the means to give should help those who don’t have the means,” said William McAnulty, history teacher. Behind the scenes, teachers are doing more for us than students know about. Behind the scenes, students are struggling more than teachers can comprehend because they’re not let in on the intimate realities students face on a daily basis. “Teachers do not know the difference between students choosing not to do the work, or not being able to do the work,” said Woodward. “So communicating with the teachers would allow them the possibility to help the students. I think the more the students communicate with teachers and staff about things that are going on in their personal life, they will be more successful in school.” Students should make their needs known. But in order for students to come forward to their teachers about their circumstances, teachers here will need to show genuine interest in wanting to know these realities. No student is going to open up to a teacher who they feel doesn’t care about them. “In our district we have roughly 208 families that are homeless,” said Woodward. “In our school we have 64 students that we know of who are homeless. The issue is these numbers don’t count the students who

Philosophy The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of the issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. While establishing U-Times as a public

forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision-making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. Inasmuch as the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, or libel, obscenity, material disruption

don’t realize they’re homeless. We have a lot of students who’ve lost their houses, and they move in with relatives to make due, combining resources, because they’re impoverished, and cannot afford a place of their own. But they don’t consider themselves homeless. I bet you if those individuals realized they were homeless, it would strike up our numbers quite a bit.” Schoolwork is not the number one priority to the homeless student who doesn’t even know where their next meal will come from, or where they’ll lay their head at night. “My freshman year was one of my hardest years, because during the summer prior to the school year my mom and my stepdad got evicted,” said Fidel Muhammad, senior. “Basically we were homeless for three years. We had it so bad that the school lunch was my only meal. We just got our house my junior year in December. It was hard to focus in school when all of my circumstances were clouding my head. Some of the staff really didn’t care.” Unfortunately, the staff really doesn’t know the day-to-day realities a lot of the students here face to be able to care. Ideally it’d be otherwise. We need to work together as students, teachers and administrators to cultivate that necessary understanding.

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of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Policies Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not reflect the viewpoints of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons, and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the U-Times Editorial Board. The U-Times

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Contact Us We are located in Room 346 at University City High School, 7401 Balson Ave., University City, MO 63130. Our email address is marywilliams@ucityschools.org. Tweet us or follow us on Instagram @utimesonline.

news

December 2015

Stueck ‘chases knowledge’ for perfect 36 score on ACT By Kathryn Fuller Assistant Editor

The third time’s a charm. Josh Stueck, senior, received a perfect score of 36 on the October ACT test after taking it twice before. As a sophomore, Stueck received a score of 33 and only went uphill from there, scoring a 35 while a junior. When assistant principal Susan Hill heard the news about Stueck’s perfect test score, she was not surprised. “He works very hard and I think he’s an excellent example of the bright kids at U. City,” Hill said. Hill believes Stueck’s upward progression of test scores from sophomore year to senior year is typical for a student. “Most students go up at least two points between junior and senior year,” Hill said. “It is not uncommon, but is unusual for kids to get a perfect score.” Stueck didn’t sweat about the ACT when he took it for the third time around. “I knew what to expect because I took it twice before,” Stueck said.

Stueck’s classes and the material taught helped him prepare for the standardized test. “The most helpful class for the ACT was AP Lang [Language] because that was the class that helped me the most with synthesizing information,” Stueck said. Stueck’s attitude towards his school work and his passion to learn helped him achieve a perfect score. “Josh does the work, he tries, he has a good attitude, and he collaborates well with other students,” John Igoe, Stueck’s math teacher of three years, said. One of Stueck’s good friends, Mia Hicks-Thomas, senior, thinks that Stueck flourishes because he participates in many extracurricular activities and challenging classes. “I think with all the stuff he does, it’s very surprising how focused he is,” Hicks-Thomas said. “That’s what makes him a good student. He gets information quickly and he wants to understand everything he’s learning. That’s what makes him a successful person.” Michael Daly, who teaches Stueck’s AP World History class, agrees that Stueck is a diligent student.

Josh Stueck, senior, concentrates on his lab in his AP Physics class. “I enjoy physics but I prefer chemistry,” Stueck said. “The labs are more fun.” PHOTO BY KATHRYN FULLER

“Josh does all the work, even the stuff that isn’t getting graded,” said Daly. “The desire is strong. He’s not chasing grades, he’s chasing knowledge.”

News in brief Funding Princeton Review • Assistant Principal Susan Hill is creating a series of videos with students who were a part of last year’s Princeton Review program. The videos promote a crowdfounding site, bit.ly/ucityschools, which is raising money to continue the program this year to provide ACT classes for free to qualifying students. Students on the Go • About 20 students recently started training for the Go! St. Louis half marathon which will take place on April 10. Students train four times a week to build up to the full 13.1 miles. Any students who are interested in joining can talk to Brian Ashley. School Swap • Eight students spent a day shadowing students at Fox High School in Arnold on Dec. 3 as a part of the Student Summit on Race. The school swap allowed students to see how other area schools are racially different from U. City.

Students gather around Tavon Austin, wide reciever for the St. Louis Rams, during the Diversty Awareness Partnership program, which featured a “Listen.Talk.Learn: Dialogue Across Difference Facilitation Session” with the goal of convening student leaders to discuss race relations and unconscious bias and how the region can move forward. About 40 students were chosen to participate in the two-hour program on Dec. 9.

Spring Musical • Rehearsals have begun for “The Little Mermaid,” which will be presented Feb. 26 and 27 in the auditorium. Compiled from staff reports.

December 2015

health

It’s My Body, By Francene Bethune Staff Writer

So What?

Fat. Big. Gross.Ugly. Pig. Stick. You are too thin, no man would ever marry you. These phrases are typically spoken by Hollywood actors in the movies, but now the same words are heard by females on any given day. For some, these words are momentary insults, but for others it is a constant. Throughout history, body-shaming has become very popular. One hundred years ago, women were expected to look a certain way to appear pleasing to the opposite gender. Frequently, women were objectified by the way they dressed. They were defined by clothing such as flapper dresses or body-shaping objects like corsets. “People body-shame because they feel self-conscious of their own securities so pointing out the flaws in others may make them feel better,” Clara Schock, senior,said. A woman like Marilyn Monroe was one of the women who were portrayed by the media as “perfect”. A human Barbie doll like Monroe left young girls thinking less of natural beauty. Fast forward to 2015. Girls of Generation Z have been sucked in by the media into admiring women not for who they are, but mainly by how much silicone

they have pumped into their bodies. Women who have achieved more, such as the first lady, Michelle Obama, are not held in the same high regard. Females are not the only ones experiencing self-hate. Recently, adolescent boys have been experiencing the pressures of body image. Senior Josh Mayfield is one of boys who have been drawn into the media attention towards body images. “Sometimes I feel as a bigger guy, I’m not looked upon in the same ways as a fitter guy,” said Mayfield. Others like Cameron Davis, senior, don’t have any concerns about his weight, but as a football player, he would gain advantages if he were taller. “I don’t have a problem with my weight,” said Davis. “I am happy with myself right now, but growing some inches would be great.” Even if one possess the media’s image of a perfect body — tall and thin — it is difficult to fully accept their looks. “I personally believe that I’m beautiful, but it took me a while to get there,” Raven Bullard, junior, said. Mayfield confessed that he believes the media exaggerates body images. “I feel like some people are confused about the

‘perfect body’,” said Mayfield. “Everyone has their preferences, but at the end of the day, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect body’ because perfection has many definitions and some people may not fall into those definitions.” Because reported images of a perfect body are so prevalent in society, there is a “trickle-down policy.” A common complaint at U. City focuses on enforcement of dress code. Many females believe the dress code is enforced differently for curvier girls who wear the same outfit as girls who are skinny. “Girls are often the main target of dress code corrections,” said Bullard. “It’s only worse when the girls who get body shamed are on the curvier side.” As a result, the curvier girls feel as though they are singled out, which further shames them.Recently, mobile apps were created to enhance physical features of the human body. Even though Photoshop has been in the hands of photographers for years, these new tools like Retouchify and Photo Plastic give teens easy access to create unattainable bodies for themselves. “I am guilty of avoiding the media,” said Bullard. “I hate pictures because of all the things that people can do to them.”

ILLUSTRATION BY CLARA SCHOCK

Curriculum lacks comphrensive sex eduation class By Tave Hollins Staff Writer

Sexually transmitted diseases. Abstinence. Reproductive organs. All these things have something in common. Sex. And sex is a tender topic. Students must rely on family and friends to inform them about healthy relationships because abstinenceonly is the main form of sex education at U. City. Currently, no comprehensive sex education class is offered, which would include not only abstinence, but also birth control, consent, sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion. The only classes that come close to teaching sex education are Child Development and Health. “In Child Development, we talk about the possible negative consequences of having sex,” Hannah Fuller, junior, said. However, these classes do not teach the mental, emotional and physical changes that come with having

sexual intercourse. The classes only teach the dangers of having sex, diseases, and what happens if one becomes pregnant. “I am asked about a lot of myths that aren’t necessarily true,” Kylee Strohm, Child Development teacher, said. “If students knew, they would be safer.” Strohm believes that a sex education course should be taught. “Teenage pregnancy is a constant situation that could be prevented,” Strohm said. Nurse Michele Flowers also believes that U. City should have sex education. Flowers, a U. City alumna, mentioned that when she was attending school here in 1988, sex education was covered. “There is too much unprotected sex,” Flowers said. “Even one [pregnant teen] is too many,” Flowers said. “You can tell that they feel caught up in the stigma [of being pregnant as a teen].” Michael Maclin, principal, believes that sex education should be handled by parents. “Intricate pieces should be taught at home,” Maclin

said. “We’ve done some things to expose students to it through Health [class].” Fuller said sexually transmitted diseases and birth control are a focus in Child Development. “There’s a million different situations, but we only talk about one side of sex which is straight couples becoming sexually active and resulting in pregnancy,” said Fuller. “We don’t tell students that LGBT females have a higher pregnancy rate than their straight peers.” In addition, Christine Woodward, social worker and sponsor of Gay Straight Alliance, believes that sex education classes would benefit the school. “The more informed students are about sex and how it affects them, the more likely students will make positive decisions for themselves,” Woodward said. However, Woodward also pointed out that even though the school could provide the services, the message may not always come through. “There are some students who would still choose to not use protection or would like to get pregnant,” said Woodward.

health

December 2015

Healthy diet and exercise require balance By Jaylen Williams Staff Writer

For senior Jillian Pritchard, a healthy meal consists of pasta with meat sauce, vegetables, chicken and milk. Senior Briana Hudson prefers baked chicken with corn, greens and a roll to satisfy her healthy cravings. However, both of them agree that “a balanced meal” defines healthy eating. Healthy eating definitely requires having balanced meals. But what a balanced meal looks like is just as controversial as Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Students perceive nutritious meals differently. “Because there are so many different cultures among us, diets are bound to be different, just as we have

Healthy EatingTip #1

different opinions based on our upbringing,” Kayanna Wymbs, senior, said. USDA, the organization responsible for developing and executing federal government policy on agriculture and food, has developed an outline of what exactly a balanced diet should encompass. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products are healthy choices, according to the USDA at choosemyplate.org. They also recommend including protein foods such as poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts and lean meats. “The best thing to eat is chicken and turkey, but stay away from red meat,” Toriano Johnson, senior, said. As far as exercise is concerned, the USDA prescribes

The ideal healthy meal Dairy Fruits

Grains

Vegetables

Protein

“Carbs should be 50% of your diet, and not “soda” carbs. You should get your carbs from fruits, not from bread, candy bars, etc.”

-Carol Kelly, science teacher

“each young person to get the equivalent of at least 60 minutes or more of aerobic activity each day that is at least moderate intensity.” Following the USDA diet and exercise guidelines will help everyone “stay at a healthy weight.” “To maintain my weight I make sure to always stay active,” Anisa Reynolds, senior, said. “If I find myself eating too many sugary things, I’ll try to blend some vegetables in somewhere.” To maintain her weight, Mia Hick-Thomas, senior, has her own way of keeping fitting and feeling good. ”I work out every day, eat twice a day,” said HicksThomas.

Healthy EatingTip #2

“Eat clean. A lot of people do the Paleo diet: no processed food, no dairy or grain or wheat except whole wheat.” SOURCE: CHOOSEMYPLATE.GOV

-Kylie Strohm, practical arts teacher

Don’t forget to treat yourself!

TED DREWES GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

You can have knock-off custard from all over the country, but there is nothing like Ted Drewes frozen custard, which is nicknamed the “concrete” because it is served so frozen that it can be turned upside down without the spoon falling out. Ted Drewes is located on Chippewa in South City.

Gooey butter cake supposedly originated in the 1930s. The bottom layer of the cake is dense and flat, made with a box cake mix and butter. The top layer of the cake is the gooey part which is made of sugar and cream cheese. The cake is typically dusted with powdered sugar for an extra sugary flavor once it’s cool.

VERNON’S BBQ St. Louis-style barbecue might seem normal to locals, but the pork steak is a St. Louis original and is a shoulder of the a pig which is slow-cooked and barbecued. It’s not about how the pork is cooked but it’s about how the pork is cut.

St. Louis

Original

Eats

St. Louis cuisine dates back to 1704 with influence from all over the world, including the population of Italians, Germans, Irish and the French. Some of these unique foods include toasted ravioli, pizza and pastries. BY FRANCENE BETHUNE

TOASTED RAVIOLI Originated on the Hill, this deep-fried dough takes a twist on the classic traditional Italian boiled ravioli. This pastry is filled with beef and sealed off and was first served up in a restaurant called Oldani’s by accidentally placing it into hot oil instead of water, according to mamaonthehill.com.

IMO’S PIZZA Pizza on the whole is usually doughy and thick, but St. Louis proved the Italians wrong by inventing a pizza that was thin crust and not made with yeast, according to slice. seriouseats.com. Unlike Chicago-style pizza topped with mozzarella, St. Louisstyle pizza is topped with Provel cheese, also a St. Louis original.

December 2015

sports

Athletic trainer mends student injuries By Pablo Lopez-Reyna Staff Writer

The real star behind student athletes is the athletic trainer, Ryan Weilandich, who began working at U. City in August. “My short time working here at U. City has been such an amazing experience,” said Weilandich. “I have had the pleasure of seeing and working with our football team in one of their best post-seasons ever. “ Working at U. City for only a short amount of time, Weilandich has helped many injured athletes get back on the field, and along the way has built solid connections with students as well with coaches. “[Weilandich] has helped in the care of our players’ injuries and getting them back healthy in a timely manner,” said head football coach Jameson Allen. “He has a great knowledge of concussion symptoms which is good for our kids and the sports in general. He is also great

with communication, which is needed to help kids get healthy.” Weilandich goes beyond the limits when treating injured players. “I had a high ankle sprain,” Thompson Brown, senior, said. “The first couple of days were icing days which I hated because the ice was extremely cold. Then came rehab (rotations and movements). He even gave me a list of exercises to go through when at home or in my free time.” Weilandich has made a positive impact not only on Brown but many students and plans to grow more with the U. City community in the future. “Being fresh out of college and only working in the field for a short time, I am not entirely sure where I want to go from here,” said Weilandich. “Right now, all of my focus is here at U. City, providing the best care I can, and working to the best of my abilities to improve the athletic training program for the future.”

Ryan Weilandich treats freshman Cashawn Beckum with the STEM machine to help him recover from a minor torn ACL. “Ryan helped me recover from a minor injury in the fastest and effective way possible, which took about 3 weeks,” said Beckum. PHOTO BY PABLO LOPEZ

Team managers provide helping hands on and off field By Lucy Wurst Staff Writer

Seniors Jabriee Mason, Dallas Yates and G’Lina Matthews on the bench at the home quarter-final game. While the players are on the field, Yates makes sure they stay hydrated by refilling their water bottles. “My favorite part of being the manager is standing on the sidelines watching the games,” said Yates. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE POLITTE

The alarm clock goes off early on football Saturdays for not only the football team, but also for seniors Dallas Yates and G’Lina Matthews. As managers, Yates and Matthews arrive in the school cafeteria before 8 am to serve breakfast to hungry football players. The food, catered by senior Jabriee Mason’s mother, consists of bacon, sausage patties, eggs, fruit, and pancakes. For Matthews and Yates, getting up early on football Saturdays is just part of what they do as managers to help out the football players. Serving breakfast on football Saturdays is just one of Yates’ and Matthews’ responsibilities. They take charge of keeping the players hydrated at games and hang up their jerseys after they’re washed.

“I heard the football players talking about how they needed a manager so my best friend (Dallas Yates) and I decided to become the managers,” said Matthews. Team managers are the glue that holds a team together. Although most of their tasks are not very glamorous, they enjoy the time they get to spend bonding with the team. During the fall, Ashlynn Jenkins, sophomore, is out on the field hockey field for every practice and game. Jenkins became a manager because it felt like being a part of the team and she could participate in bonding activities, such as the team retreat and tournaments. “I think the best part of being manager was going to the games and learning the sport,” said Jenkins. “It was exciting watching them at games because I would imagine myself

playing.” On the basketball court, Logan Black, freshman, supports the team and takes stats during games. She became the manager of the girls basketball team when she decided she wasn’t ready to play basketball, and becoming the manager was a good start so she could really learn the game. “I’m not good at basketball, but I wanted to be a part of a team,” said Black. Acting as a team manager offers many benefits, the least of which is feeling as though you belong to something bigger than yourself. Matthews said, “Watching them grow throughout the season and become a family was the best part of being the manager.”

JV girls defeat Burroughs In their second game of the season, the JV girls basketball team emerged victorious against John Burroughs 44-39. The top scorers in the game, which took place on Dec. 9, were Jasmin Pointer, junior, Michelle Shores, sophomore, and Diamonique Dunn. freshman. The team also won their first game against McCluer.

DeAsia Watson, sophomore, looks for the open teammate in the paint while Diamonique Dunn, freshman, gets open for an outside shot. PHOTO BY DELLA COX

In the second half, Diamonique Dunn, freshman, drives to the basket with Kylaa Anderson, freshman, trailing the play. PHOTO BY DELLA COX

Winter sports updates, football highlights Boys Basketball • The boys basketball team started their season with a 1-3 record, winning their first game on Dec. 4 against Maplewood Richmond Heights, 83-66. Tarontate Crockett, Keondre Bledsoe, Zachary Bush and Nicholas Moore are all averaging double digits in points per game with Bledsoe leading in rebounds with 8 per game. Girls Basketball • The girls basketball team lost a close

game at home on Dec. 8 against McCluer, 66-61 where Dejah Malveaux and LaShe Tomlin-Wilks each scored 16 points while Sharee Herrod contributed 15. Football • The final Missouri statewide media football rankings from a 15-member statewide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters lists U. City’s football team as the 10th ranked Class 4 team in the state. After winning districts, the team finished their season with a

record of 7-6. The St. Louis All-Star Classic football game on Dec. 6 included six U. City players: Jabriee Mason, Elijah Trice, Darrian Fields, Caleb Herndon, Keondre Bledsoe and Thompson Brown. The boys all played on the same team which won the game 34-0. Bledsoe was named MVP.

features

December 2015

Students bear load of heavy texts on their backs By Jacelynn Allen Staff Writer

The days of struggling with a stubborn locker combination and locker, balancing armloads of books and dashing down hallways to beat the tardy bell to fetch essential materials are almost gone. Almost. “I carry a book bag,” said Hannah Fuller, junior. “I’ve actually had the same book bag for four years. You have to pick a good one that will last long because you have so much work and textbooks that you have to stuff in.” Students are generally introduced to book bags at a young age and continue to carry them all the way up to their senior year of college. “I’ve been carrying a book bag probably since kindergarten,“ said Joseph Chunn, senior. Using a backpack has certain advantages for students. “I kind of like carrying my backpack around because it makes me feel organized, “ said Fuller. Students carry all the necessary items they need to be successful in their book bags. “I carry my Chromebook laptop, laptop charger, notebooks, folders, pencils, textbooks and binders all in my bookbag, “ said Keeson Taylor, junior. Since students carry all of these items in one book bag their bags are

extremely heavy. “My book bag is between 30 and 45 pounds on any given day, “ said Chunn. Although there are ways to keep extra pounds off students’ backs. “I carry my textbooks so my book bag is not as heavy, “ said Lydia Soifer. “Sometimes I only carry papers that I need for class and not like a whole binder to make my book bag lighter.” Some students like Halley Jones, sophomore, do not carry book bags at all because of the weight. “I stop carrying my backpack my freshman year, “ said Jones. “It was extremely heavy, hurt my back and weighed like five thousand pounds.” Chunn suggested two possible rules that can be updated at U. City to alleviate the problem. “Definitely more time for passing and if we’re going to start integrating Chromebooks into the curriculum then using media for online textbooks so we won’t have to carry them anymore,” said Chunn. Even though Fuller prefers to carry her book bag she’s concerned about others’ health. “I think we need to make sure that kids don’t have to carry all of their work on their backs because it’s really heavy and can cause medical problems, “ said Fuller.

While sitting in Mr.Cloud room Lydia Soifer, senior, attempts to put her journal in her backpack after using her lunch period to get ahead in school work. “It would be nice if it was light but it’s definitely useful to have even though it’s heavy,” said Soifer. PHOTO BY JACELYNN ALLEN

Scholarship advice: Johnson tells all By Xoe O’Hara Staff Writer

Applying for colleges is one of the most stressful times for juniors and seniors in high school, and on top of that finding money to pay for it is even harder sometimes. There are many resources to help students fund their college experiences, and all one has to do is apply. Scholarships help fund a student’s education and there are hundreds of them awarded for everything from being left-handed to wearing glasses. But sometimes they can be hard to find. Senior counselor Katy-Jane Johnson provides help for students in receiving scholarships. “It’s really important students understand that 80% of the scholarship money they receive in general comes from the schools they apply to,” said Johnson. ”It’s really difficult to get third party scholarships because in today’s economy a lot of that money is no longer available. The smaller the community it’s being pulled from, the better.” Just like students, Ms. Johnson encourages parents who can also increase their child’s chances of getting

scholarships. Religious organizations are a great place to start because they often have scholarships or available resources to create one. “It’s also good to have parents talk to their places of employment and ask if they fund any scholarships because the smaller the pool is, the more personal the connection is, and therefore the less competition there is,” said Johnson. “The bigger scholarships like Best Buy or Coca-Cola have a lot of people competing over them and it makes it harder to receive those because you’re competing against kids all over the country.” Another really helpful resource for students is St. Louis Graduates. “It’s an organization here in St. Louis that runs a really detailed website and works with the Scholarship Foundation just for St. Louis students,” said Johnson. “The Scholarship Foundation also has a lot of different resources. They offer students no-interest loans, so if you haven’t been able to get a lot of scholarship money but you still need to make up that gap, that’s a great resource because a no interest loan is obviously the best kind of

loan.” It’s hard to find a sole scholarship that will fund your whole college experience, so collecting them throughout high school can also be useful. “Starting small is usually the best way to do it,” said Johnson. “Students think that the merit scholarships they receive based on GPA and ACT scores are the only ones available, but almost all universities offer departmental scholarships where you can apply for a biology scholarship or if you do a lot of community service or a leadership scholarship those can all be stacked on top of each other, and they’re all determined by different committees.” Most importantly, however, is the student’s academic involvement because it primarily determines the scholarships you receive. “Even if you don’t get an academic scholarship freshman year, you can increase your scholarship fund throughout your high school career, which is why it’s so important to be focused academically your freshman year because you can also lose those scholarships if you don’t meet the requirements,” said Johnson.

Despite downfalls, benefits outweigh risks for college education By Xoe O’Hara Staff Writer

College has the been the most common path for graduating students since the 70’s, but recently increasing tuition costs and debt have caused students to ponder whether or not the risks are starting to outweigh the benefits. According to Lindsay Ellison, college advisor, college is still a more viable option than any other alternative. “Personally, seeing the benefits of college far outweighs the cost,” said Ellison. “[Weigh] your costs and look at the different options; don’t just settle for a school that’s super expensive if your degree isn’t going to make you that much money. It is very important to think about a long term plan in order to pay back your loans,” said Ellison. In addition to weighing your degree and costs, Ellison recommends the possibility of attending community college in order to help with debt. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with attending community college first,” said Ellison. “In fact, it’s a really economical way to start off because you’re still

responsible for getting all of your basic subjects out of the way. For some, community college can be a great starting point.” Although community college may be cheaper, like all options, there are downfalls. “Unfortunately, sometimes there’s bad press that can be associated with community college, and mostly from its students,” said Ellison. “Personally when I attended I had a great experience but I think the biggest attribute is having a positive attitude and make out of it what you want.” According to Ramia Owens, senior, college allows students to continue to develop and broaden their horizons. “I think college is important because once we graduate it’s our time to explore and learn about who and what you want to be,” said Owens. “Being in college allows you to further your education, learn how to be out on your own, and you have this wide variety of possibilities at your disposal. It may be expensive, time consuming, and you have to stay focused, but you receive better results going rather than not going.”

As part of the application process, Jacelynn Allen, senior, writes her college admission essay with the help of mentor Rici Wittkugel during College Bound, a program to help students navigate the college process. PHOTO BY DELLA COX

features

December 2015

Most-wanted gift list By Daniel Williamson Staff Writer

a new phone or car, others greatly prefer to spend with their family and friends. Senior Tanyra Blackmon has a strong desire for a new phone, a designer backpack, and boots. “I feel like the material things are more important because they make me happy and proud,” said Blackmon. Kaitlyn Douglass, senior, hopes to have a new console and video games, but she’d much rather be off work and spend time with her family.

“The intangible things matter more to me,” said Douglass. “I can just get all of the video games and stuff I want later, but the time off that I have with my family is special.” Senior Alonzo Jenkins agrees with Douglass. He’d rather have a higher ACT score and time with his family than a new car. “Some things, like time with your family and getting higher test scores, are a once-ina-lifetime opportunities,” said Jenkins.

Kaitlyn Douglass, senior

Alexander Portnoy, junior

Tanyra Blackmon, senior

Alonzo Jenkins, senior

Makore Rashkis, freshman

Tangible Items

• Rise of the Tomb Raider, Wii U, Mario Kart

• Hover board, cash, heated toilet seat

• Uggs, Michael Kors backpack, iPhone 6S Plus

• PlayStation 4, 50 inch flat screen TV, Chevy Camaro 2016

• Polaroid camera, record player, Lana Del Rey vinyls

Intangible Items

• No work, free time, time with family

• More sleep, time with family, free time

• Free time, no school, time with family

• More sleep, a higher ACT score, time with family

• No more stress, no school, more sleep

The winter holiday season in the U.S. is typically associated with buying tangible items to show a person’s appreciation. This is apparent with the slew of advertisements for sales and discount days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, holiday cheer and the love shared between people can be showed in more than just wrapped gifts and cold hard cash. While some students favor

What do you want most this holiday season?

Cup of cheer: students share traditions By Kathryn Fuller Assistant Editor

Religions and traditions vary throughout the school population, but it doesn’t take away from the excitement of the approaching holiday season. People are counting down the days until they can eat home-cooked meals that only are made at this special time of the year and gather with family from out of town. Raven Bullard, junior, who celebrates Christmas, starts her morning off with opening presents. Bullard is especially excited for the holiday season and the traditions that it brings. “My family loves food. We do brunch instead of dinner,” Bullard said. “We do a really big brunch at my house.” Sandra Asamoah, junior, thinks fondly of her past Christmases in her home of Ghana,

Africa. “My parents make a big deal out of Christmas,” Asamoah said. “We prepare a lot of food and play music.” Although Asamoah’s parents lived a continent away and she stayed at a boarding house, she knew they were thinking of her during the holiday season. “When I was in Ghana, my parents were in the United States for work and school so my Christmas presents were always a bit late because they had to ship them.” Julian Albright, freshman, is one of the few students at the school who is Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah, which is also on the calendar in December. “Hanukkah lasts for eight nights and we light a new candle every night,” said Albright. “We say a few prayers.” Albright enjoys the traditional foods that

are eaten during the time of Hanukkah. “Sometimes my mom makes lakals,” said Albright. “It’s like a hash brown, but is more in the shape of pancakes.” Coumba Tall, junior, is from Senegal, West Africa. Tall is Muslim and celebrates Christmas, but not for the religious aspect. “We just do it to entertain ourselves and the kids,” Tall said. Tall’s favorite part of the holiday season is cooking and eating food with family friends. Christmas isn’t the only time where Tall gets to cook and eat. For Muslims, Ramadan is a major religious holiday season. Tall said, “There is a month called Ramadan where we don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. We celebrate Ramadan to show how grateful and thankful we are to God.”