Issue 3 - Dart News Online

Transcription

st. teresa’s academy
the
dart
volume 69H issue 3H october 8, 2009
DIVIDING LINES
Kansas City is more dangerous than 98 percent
of US cities, with the majority of crime
concentrated in a few neighborhoods.
Are “safe” neighborhoods like STA’s
Brookside separated from crime?
See Pages 12-13
in focus
2
the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009
SCIENCE
behind
romance
A Closer Look
H
1. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagers (fMRIs,-the way to measure and observe
activity in the brain.
2. Ventral Tegmental-part of the human
brain that creates hormone dopamine.
3. Caudate Nuclei, the section of the
brain that is in control of memory and is
associated with the feelings of reward, motivation, and pleasure.
4. Nucleus Accumbens-the area of the
brain which processes dopamine, seratonin,
and oxytocin.
5. Major Histocompatibilty Complex
(MHC)-is the genetic make up of an individual’s immune system that is detectable
through scent.
Chemical Romance H Senior Susie Ancona
engages in a tickle fest with her boyfriend of four
months, St. Pius X HIgh School senior Andre
Tinoco. According to Ancona their attraction is
“really really natural.” Photo by Tracy BurnsYocum
Initial attraction goes deeper
than visual attraction and
involves biological instinct
by SHAUGHNESSY MILLER
News Editor
graphic by Michelle Reichmeier
insideout
Love at first sight
You’ve played that game. You make eye
contact and quickly look away. You’re pretending not to have noticed the other person when
really you remember everything. The way his
hair sweeps across his face, the color of his
eyes, and whether or not he noticed you too. When you are attracted to someone, it seems
the only factors involved are physical. In reality, your brain, nose and eyes are hard at
work. Subconsciously, that is. An anthropologist at Rutgers University
wrote an article which discusses the “attraction
system” humans use to choose a mate. She explained that this system could also affect romantic love (a relationship based on both emotions
and sexual desires).
Normally, the first quality people notice
in others is physical appearance. According
to the Time magazine article, “The Science of
Romance,” most men are attracted to curves
because they show a woman as able to bear children and nurse them. Men with a broad chest
and muscles indicate to women that the man is
capable of taking care of and providing for them. Women are also more attracted to a deep voice. Studies show that men with deeper voices in the
Tanzanian hunter-gatherer community of Hadza
fathered more children.
Thinking of you
Another factor that is nearly impossible
to see, except through functional magnetic
resonance imagers (fMRIs), is activity in the
brain. Ms. Helen Fisher, an anthropologist
at Rutgers University studied these fMRIs in
her article, “Romantic Love: An fMRI Study
of Neural Mechanism for Mate Choice.” She
found that the brain’s ventral tegmental, which
creates dopamine, and caudate nuclei, which is
responsible for memory, become active when
one sees the person they are attracted to. These
areas are associated with the feelings of reward,
motivation and pleasure. In another article,
“Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for
mate choice,” Fisher writes that activation also
occurs in the brain’s nucleus accumbens, which
processes dopamine, seratonin, and oxytocin. Oxytocin causes humans to bond and explains
parental attachment. The function of the nucle-
us accumbens is especially visible in long-term
relationships.
In a video titled “The brain in love,” Fisher
stated that when love is not returned, you simply work harder to feel that reward in the form
of dopamine by becoming more attached to that
person. She even suggests that “romantic love
is primarily a motivation system, rather than an
emotion.”
Romance in the air
Your brain is not the only part of you that is
working hard. When you are attracted to someone, usually their scent lingers, leaving you
wanting more.
Mr. Claus Wedekind of the University of
Utah’s Department of Biology has researched
the importance of pheromones (chemical substances related to smell) to attraction and found
that traces of an individual’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are found in their
scent. The MHC controls which tissues the
immune system will accept as their own, and
which they will reject and attack to protect the
body.
Humans looking for a mate tend to seek
someone who has a unique MHC from themselves. Wedekind conducted an experiment in
which men wore a t-shirt for two nights and
women later smelled them, selecting the ones
See ROMANCE, page 22
Opinion:
The Dart
investigates the
new texting and
driving law and
finds age limit
unfair.
See Page 5
Lifestyles:
Find the story
behind the
infamous “Sisterhood of the
Traveling Skirt.”
See Page 10
dartonline
news
Dart News
Online:
The Dart’s
website released
nine new
regular online
bloggers.
See Page 22
Dunlay teaches despite cancer
English teacher fights illness,
undergoing medical treatments
causes daily struggles, changes
by LAURA NEENAN
Staff Writer
Last December, English teacher Pat Dunlay
woke up with a severe pain in her back and immediately went to the doctor. Dunlay was initially diagnosed with lung cancer, but upon closer
inspection doctors discovered the fluid build up
in her lungs was caused by breast cancer, which
is more easily treated. Although the news of the
changed diagnosis was promising, eight days
later Dunlay discovered the blood fluid had filled
up again and received surgery the next day. Dunlay’s life changed in about a week going from a
healthy woman to living with breast cancer.
“This has been a tough year,” Dunlay said. “I
am more tired than ever and it’s not just the pain
I have to endure.”
Dunlay continues to teach and now has the
cancer under control. Although the surgery was
unsuccessful in removing the cancer, Dunlay considers herself lucky because she does not have to
receive chemotherapy. Dunlay takes medication
once a day in hopes that the cancerous tumor will
“shrink” until it is so small that it is insignificant.
Along with the side effects of the medicine, Dunlay still suffers from pain from the first surgery.
“[The doctors] told me it was a terrible surgery, but what would I know?” Dunlay said. “I
had never really had surgery like that before.”
Dunlay currently has positron emission tomography, or PET, scans every three months
to monitor the cancer and according to Dunlay,
every one that comes back clean is something to
celebrate.
Dunlay continues teaching, making this her
21st year at STA. Dunlay currently teaches various English and literature courses including AP
literature/college composition and world literature as well as junior and senior English electives
British literature and contemporary literature.
“I mostly love the fact that I can be teaching
something I love,” Dunlay said. “I love literature, I love language, and I love the fact that I
empower young women. I can [empower young
women], I think I can, and I feel like I do.”
Senior Laura Yeradi, who took Dunlay’s
Turn it in H English teacher Pat Dunlay accepts a paper to review before her first class on Sept. 28. Last
year at this time, her advisees would have been in and out of her room checking in. Photo by Hanna Katz
World Literature class sophomore year and is
currently taking British Literature, said Dunlay is
known for her advanced teaching style preparing
students for college level classes. Yeradi has noticed the cancer affecting Dunlay physically but
has seen little changes in her personality. Yeradi
says Dunlay has stayed the same loud and vibrant
woman that she has always been.
“[Dunlay] really has a passion for what she
teaches, and doesn’t let the cancer get to her,”
Yeradi said.
According to junior Katie Pautler who was
previously in Dunlay’s advisory, the girls in the
advisory were shocked when they found out the
news of her cancer.
“I found out [about Dunlay’s cancer] Christmas break and didn’t believe it at first,” Pautler
said. “It was really scary, the first thing people in
the advisory had to do was reassure me that she
would be okay.”
Because of the daily struggles she endures,
Dunlay and previous principal of academic affairs Nancy Hand mutually decided that Dunlay
should no longer have the commitment of an
advisory to make things easier for her. For the
2009-2010 school year, Dunlay’s advisory made
changes including Ms. Jeanella Clark as a new
advisor and moving from the M&A Building to
Donnelly Hall.
“Clark is a new advisor so she isn’t quite as
comfortable,” Pautler said. “It’s a little bit harder
because she doesn’t know us as well as Ms. Dunlay. [Dunlay] would give us advice because she
knew us so well, but we’re all making the best
of it.”
Dunlay is not yet ready to give up teaching,
even if that means making changes such as loosing her advisory.
“They’re having to get used to the idea [of
changing advisories], but they will,” Dunlay
said. “They’re all happy I am getting a bit of a
rest.”
According to Dunlay, she puts almost all of
her energy into being a teacher here at STA.
“I am kind of living one day at a time,” Dunlay said. “I would like to remain teaching as long
as I can but I would just like to feel back to my
normal self.” H
STA’s reckless driving causes concern
Neighbors complain
to school administration
about safety on streets
MEGAN SCHAFF
Opinion Editor
For years, STA’s neighbors
have been calling the school and
reporting that students are speeding, neglecting to watch for people
and cars and refusing to extend
courtesy to the houses that surround the school. Already this
school year, principal for student
affairs Mary Anne Hoecker has received two phone calls; each from
different neighbors and each complaining about students’ driving.
“The thing that would truly
change a student’s life forever
would be if they hit somebody,”
Hoecker said. “I know our students. They wouldn’t easily survive that.”
Mr. Steve Bessenbacher, who
lives directly across from STA on
57 th Street, agrees that some students speed and do not pay much
attention while driving.
“There are a tremendous
amount of young children on the
street,” Bessenbacher said. “We
have to make sure people are
aware of what’s going on.”
Bessenbacher’s wife was one of
the neighbors to call this year and
alert Hoecker of reckless driving.
According to Bessenbacher, his
wife offered to have an off-duty
police officer patrol the street if
the problem persisted. Hoecker
said police watching the street is
a definite possibility and it would
only take enough neighbors calling in.
“Police visibility might slow
our students down,” Hoecker said.
“If police are going to be patrolling this area that could be a signal
to [students].”
Bessenbacher said the houses
surrounding the school have discussed putting speed bumps in the
roads. However, the neighbors
decided the problem could be more
easily solved by simple courtesy.
“That’s a dramatic solution to
a problem that could be solved by
mutual respect,” Bessenbacher
said. “ We view STA as a neighbor of ours and we do our best to
keep our eye on the school and
keep it protected. We want to
have the same respect back.”
Junior Leah Miller thinks that
although police patrolling the area
campus news
3
DARTBOARD
by KYLIE HORNBECK and HANNA KATZ
STA discusses new laptops
The STA administration hopes each student
will have a net book, a
miniature laptop with a
longer battery life than a
full size laptop, by next
school year to increase
the use of technology in
the curriculum, according to STA President Nan Bone.
Bone claims that to do this, STA will
need to become wireless, a current project
that she plans to have completed by next
semester.
STA is still in the process of fine-tuning its plan for the net book, according to
Bone. The administration is working on
ways to make the net book cost (which is
still an undetermined amount that will be
built into the current registration textbook
fee) more affordable for students. Bone
and the administration are also studying
the many minor details that factor into this
transition process. They have to make a
number of decisions including whether students will lease or own the netbooks and
whether or not the school will require students to use the net books.
Bringing the net books to STA will allow students to access a form of technology that will help them both at STA and
after graduation.
“In this information age, it is essential
STA commit to preparing its young women to work in an evolving, informationcentered, global community,” Bone said.
“STA students should be provided with
the opportunity to explore, investigate,
analyze, evaluate, design and create using
state-of-the-art technology to solve real
world problems.” H
Parents form booster club
Under the direction of Ms. Billie
Deatherage, publications parents gathered
on Aug. 22 to discuss the new St. Teresa’s
Academy booster club. Journalism at St.
Teresa’s Academy, or J@STA, will support
the four STA publications, the Windmoor,
Teresian, Dart and Dartnewsonline.
The club hopes to be organized by December of this year. Potential committees
include publicity/ technology, food night,
end of the year banquet, special events/
awards/ scholarships and a student committee. They hope to reach out to the publication staffs through a committee of student editors, one being named the student
representative. H
CSC plans Food for Thought
Zoom zoom H A stuent’s car, like many others, hurriedly leaves the STA
parking lot. STA girls’ driving habits have raised concerns in the surrounding
neighborhood. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
would slow speeding, it could
eventually have a negative effect
on STA students.
“I think it would be smart to
make girls slow down but if they
start getting tickets and fines there
is going to be a great complaint,”
Miller said.
Hoecker thinks STA is capable
of changing its ways and keeping
smart driving tactics in mind. The
main goal is to be a safe driver and
keep other people and cars from
harm.
“I would say to all drivers slow
down, put the cell phones down, be
a careful driver and be courteous,”
Hoecker said. “If I could prevent
one driver from having an accident
it’s well worth it to me.” H
Community Service Club (CSC) hopes
to gather more canned goods than ever at
its annual Food For Thought event on Halloween this year.
The club invites all students to help the
cause by trick-or-treating for canned goods
that it will donate to an organization that is
still to be determined.
According to event leader and CSC
member Kelsey Wendland, CSC hopes for
an especially successful event this year because of a few changes from last year. Students will begin trick-or-treating around 4
pm, an earlier start time than used in the
past. CSC will put up flyers at local churches and restaurants along with the houses it
collects from during the week before the
event to attract more interest as well.
“I don’t think we’ve put up flyers at
places other than houses before,” Wendland said. “I think this will help remind
people [to have canned goods ready] and
also draw in some outside interest that we
haven’t seen before. Also, I think there’ll
be a better turn out [from STA students]
because it is earlier this year so people can
still go out afterwards.” H
News
4
Law restricts texting for drivers under 21
Missouri legislation
to limit inattention
of younger drivers
began to read it. She noticed she
was veering off the road and tried
to turn the wheel, but when it
would not turn the way she wanted it to, she turned it the other
way. In a panic, she accidentally
by ELIZABETH WILSON
pressed the gas and skidded across
Managing Editor of Copy
the road, hitting a tree.
Gassman’s airbags went off,
Junior Sara Gassman has first
hand evidence of the effects of the impact breaking her nose, and
texting and driving in the form of her car was totaled.
According to Gassman, this
a broken nose. Missouri legislature has enacted a new law to stop was the first time she had ever texteens from experiencing such ac- ted while driving and it will certainly be her last.
cidents.
According to Hotz, there are no
A law banning sending, readstatistics as to how
ing or writing an
electronic message The Dart asked 135 many people have
for Missouri drivers student drivers, “As of been pulled over for
ages 21 and under Aug. 28, it is illegal to texting and driving
took effect Aug. 28. send, read or write an since Aug. 28.
“Our policy is
The law, passed by electronic message while
the Missouri legis- driving for people ages 21 that any time there
lature, permits law and younger. Have you is a new traffic law,
enforcement
offi- been following the law we try to issue warncials to stop young since it came into place?” ings and educate the
public about the
drivers
suspected
new law for the first
of texting and drivcouple of months,”
ing.
A violation
Hotz said.
of this law includes said YES said NO
Ms. Laura Bar$200 and two points
ton, a recently retired major of the
against the driver’s license.
Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri Kansas City Police Department
Highway Patrol believes this re- (KCPD), believes the new law has
striction was enacted because serious flaws.
“Why does it only apply to
texting causes inattention, which
takes away from properly operat- drivers under 21?” Barton asked.
ing a vehicle. He added that it is “Why are other non-driving redifficult for a driver to pay atten- lated activities not prohibited such
tion to changing traffic and speed as reading, applying make-up or
dialing a number?”
limits if he or she is texting.
According to Hotz, the new
“A lot of people think, ‘If I just
look away for one second, it’s no law only applies to drivers ages
big deal’,” Hotz said. “If you’re 16 through 21 because it takes
driving 60 mph, you move 88 ft. young and inexperienced drivers
in one second. There’s a lot of five years to go from a beginning
driver to an average one. But,
opportunity for error.”
On Sept. 25, Gassman went to Hotz added, anyone can be given a
get coffee before school started. ticket for weaving, a frequent side
As she turned right at a stoplight, effect of texting while driving.
“No matter how old a driver
she received a text message and
37% 63%
TTYL H Senior Abby Schleicher composes a text message while pulling out
of the STA parking lot. Missouri has recently enacted a law that bans texting
while driving for people under 21. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
is, if they are weaving from one
side of the road to the other, they
can be given a ticket,” Hotz said.
“That is driving in a reckless manner.”
Both Barton and Gassman also
believe it will be difficult for police to tell who is texting from
who is simply dialing.
“If a driver denies texting, the
next step would be to look at the
phone,” Barton said. “But if the
driver refuses, some legalities
come into play as to obtaining the
phone against the wishes of the
owner.”
According to Hotz, the Highway Patrol will try to give drivers the benefit of the doubt when
it comes to issues of texting versus
dialing.
“But if their attention seems to
be directed to their cell phone for
a good amount of time and if they
are repeatedly dialing on their cell
phone, that is a pretty good indication they are doing more than just
making a phone call,” Hotz said.
Gassman believes the new
texting and driving law is a good
idea.
“I don’t really think people
should text and drive at all,”
Gassman said. “It causes accidents. [People have texted and
driven] and got[ten] killed. I was
really lucky.”
According to Barton, the texting law in Missouri is a state law
and for now will be enforced only
by Missouri State Troopers and
County Deputies. Kansas City
will need to enact a city ordinance
that mirrors the state law in order
for the KCPD to enforce the law.
Barton also commented that the
legislative temperament on a national level appears to be moving
toward prohibiting cell phone use
completely while driving rather
than just prohibiting texting. H
Cap and trade bill sets limits on emissions
Senate prepares for voting
on law full of controversy
because of potential costs
by CARA MCCLAIN
Staff Writer
The cap and trade bill, which sets a limit
on how much greenhouse gases businesses can
emit, passed in the House of Representatives
in June and now waits for the Senate to vote
on it.
The bill’s main goal is to reduce the amount
of carbon and greenhouse gases that factories
release into the atmosphere. Because the bill
could affect everyday Americans, many people are questioning what they are willing to
sacrifice for climate change and whether it is
worth it.
The Enviromental Protection Agency, or
EPA, said on their government website that
the idea behind the cap and trade system is to
allow businesses to use “pollution credits” in
order to emit greenhouse gases, but once the
credits are all used up, then the business can’t
produce any more pollution. If a business
doesn’t use their credits, then they can sell the
right to emit pollution to another company.
If a company pollutes over the preset
amount of emissions, they can buy an allowance for the extra emissions they produced.
EPA said the bill will “reward innovation, efficiency, and early action and provide
a strict environmental accountability without
inhibiting economic growth.”
According to the Heritage Foundation,
a conservative policy research institute, the
businesses that would be directly affected by
the cap and trade bill are the electric utilities,
oil refineries and natural gas producers as well
as other gas emitting businesses.
Because the bill will require companies to
pay allowances for extra emissions, the Heritage Foundation predicted companies like gas
and electricity companies will end up raising
the price of their products or services to keep
up.
The Heritage Foundation said homeowners, small business owners, car owners, property owners and farmers would be indirectly
affected because the cost that the cap and trade
bill will put on companies would be handed
down to consumers.
However, President Obama has said that
creating a cap and trade program is necessary
and important. Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi believes strongly in the cap and trade
bill and spoke of the subject in January with
the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I believe we have to [pass a cap-and-trade
bill] because we see that as a source of revenue,” Pelosi said. “Cap-and-trade is there for
a reason. You cap and you trade so you can
pay for some of these investments in energy
independence and renewables.”
The Sightline Institute, a non-profit research and communication center based in
Seattle, believes that the cap and trade bill
will “speed the transition to a clean energy
economy.”
Many people like CBS news blogger Declan McCullagh are taking guesses at what the
cost of the effects of the bill per family will
be. McCullagh said the additional amount of
money families will have to pay will be around
$1,761 per year. He said it could cost taxpayers anywhere from $100 billion to $200 billion
overall.
However the Congressional Budget Office
said something different. Their guess is by
the year 2020 the cap and trade bill would only
cost a family $175 on top of what they are already paying. The Heritage Foundation said it
would cost an average family of four $1,870.
EPA has yet to predict the cost of the effects
of the bill per family.
Over time the government will make the
cap smaller as soon as companies have grown
accustomed to it, so they can reach the goal of
polluting the least amount of greenhouse gases
as possible.
The government can take a cap and trade
system and apply it to many different programs, so it is not unique to the bill that is in
the Senate right now. In fact, there are other
cap and trade programs in effect like the Acid
Rain Program and Clean Air Interstate Rule.
In the 1990’s, the Acid Rain Program,
whose goal is to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid rain, saw 100 percent
compliance. The predicted cost of the program
per year was $6 billion annually but actually
cost between $1.1 to $1.8 billion. H
There she blows H The smoke stack at the
Hawthorne Power Plant sends a pillar of smoke
filled with pollutants, into the air. The new
Cap and Trade Program will restrict the amount
of carbon gases that can be released into the
atmosphere. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
opinion
Texting Terrors
After witnessing several car accidents caused by text messaging drivers,
the grim reaper had become well-versed in texting language.
Remove age limit, then we’ll talk
Slowly drifting out of lanes, abrupt stops, slow acceleration, long paus- distracted because they were texting or talking on their phones. If a police
officer notices a distracted driver, he or she has to see, first, if the driver
es. We all see this and think "that person's probably texting."
A law passed in Missouri Aug. 28 banning drivers under the age of 21 is texting, then if that driver is under 21. If he or she pulls over the driver,
only to discover that the driver is over the age of 21, or if the driver wasn't
from texting while operating a vehicle.
Everyone texts. So why enforce this texting ban with only people under texting after all, it will waste the police officer's time.
Having a law that includes drivers of all walks of life would be easier to
the age of 21? Really, the law only applies to a driver for five years, assumenforce and would be a precautionary measure not much different from the
ing someone starts driving at the age of 16.
According to a Nationwide Insurance study, 20 percent of all drivers text law that is in effect right now.
According to an article published in the Kansas City Star last Wedneswhile operating their vehicles. Not 20 percent of drivers 21 and younger,
day, the Obama administration has declared that
but 20 percent of all drivers.
texting and talking on the phone while driving
Why the age limit then? We all know that
has become an epidemic. Last year, there were
texting while driving is reckless, but not just for
approximately 6,000 deaths reported due to the
people under the age of 21. According to a study
so-called "epidemic," with accidents, injuries and
by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute,
deaths escalating each year. While the governthose who text while driving have a 23 percent
ment is taking action on a nation-wide scale, our
higher chance of having an accident than drivers
state government is only prohibiting a tenth of its
who aren’t texting.
population from texting while driving.
Sorry to say it, but young people are way betout of editors voted in
Many politicians are pushing legislation that
ter texters than our parents, who still have trouble
would make states ban texting while driving. If
using their e-mail accounts in this day and age.
support of this editorial.
a state doesn’t pass a law banning the epidemic,
However, our state legislators decided to prohibit
the consequence would be a loss of 25 percent of
texting only from the people who do it best.
government-provided annual funds for state highThis law would be positive legislation if there
was no age limit. It's a bit ageist of law-makers to enforce this, to take a ways. Hop on board Missouri and Kansas! Or the condition of our streets
right away from young people, but not from old. Taking away this right will become even worse.
In Kansas, a law prohibiting drivers 16 and a half or younger from usfrom young people but not from adults makes it seem like our state lawmakers only oppose texting while driving when it's done by a young person. ing a cell phone while driving will take effect in January. This is an even
But when an adult is texting and driving, they show no objection, appar- smaller percentage of the population than the Missouri law affects. These
ently, and deem it appropriate. But, the fact is, texting is dangerous for laws will make little to no difference on the effect texting has on drivers
because they apply to so few people.
every driver.
We can all agree that texting while driving is dangerous, but this law
Recently, when Governor Jay Nixon was asked why texting was banned
only for people under the age of 21, he quickly responded by saying that sta- won't help the problem. It's a personal choice whether to text while you
tistically, more young adults get in car accidents as a result of texting. But drive. Most young people probably will avoid texting behind the wheel not
Mister Governor, teens get in more crashes period, regardless of whether to be safe, but to avoid the possible $200 fine that comes with breaking this
they're texting or not. People with little driving experience will always get law in 0Missouri.
Like 19 other states, including nearby Arkansas and the District of Coin more accidents than people with more experience.
According to the 2008 AAMI Young Drivers Index, 52 percent of young lumbia, both Missouri and Kansas should pass laws banning texting while
driver crashes are caused by inattention. In many cases, these drivers were driving fom all drivers, not just those under the age of 21. H
The staff editorial
represents the views
of The Dart editorial
board
6
6
5
6
I know that I am New age, new punishment: email is the way to go
taller than your
an opinion by
dad; back off
opinion
an opinion by
Taylor Irwin
Paige Wendland
“You’re really tall.”
I can guarantee I’ve heard that extremely obvious statement at least a few thousand
times. Here’s a news flash for those of you
out there who remind me of this wonderful
attribute on an hourly basis: I know I’m tall.
I don’t need to be told every 8 minutes. No,
I would not like to stand up so you can feel
twice as short. No, I don’t play basketball.
And no, I don’t play volleyball. You know,
some people might be very offended if you
called them a waste of a tall person. But,
yes, I do enjoy towering over just about every other girl my age. It gets kind of fun.
And I know you’re jealous. You should be.
Being a 6' 4", 15-year-old girl may draw a
lot of attention, but I think it's fantastic.
However, some people have developed
an uncanny proficiency in the art of stating
the obvious. Although you may think I’d
be elated to hear that I’m as tall as your
dad or your entire hand is smaller than my
palm, I'm not that interested.
I admit I enjoy other people's excitement in small things — feeling miniscule
when standing next to me, for instance. But
it gets old. Really old.
"Do you know your feet are bigger than
mine?" the five-foot girl standing in line
next to me at Panera said. "Why yes I do!"
I responded with way too much enthusiasm. She stared at me like I'm a maniac
and walked away silently. I laughed.
Though I may cast an uncontrollably
ominous shadow toward people sometimes,
I am not plotting to ferociously attack them
anytime soon (just because your head may
only come to my shoulder does not mean
that I have to be a scary, intimidating, Iwill-eat-you monster).
I have friends who are under 5 feet that
can walk next to me and I won’t even notice
the difference. The other day, though, I
saw a girl around my age who appeared to
be about 6 feet tall, and I thought, “Oh my
gosh. She’s really tall.” Then I realized:
I’m 4 inches taller than her. Sweet.
In the future, please consider whether
telling me, “you’re really tall,” when I
stand up is important. And to the new crop
of freshmen: most people do not enjoy being stared at constantly in a free or having
their every move monitored.
On the subject of nicknames: please
be creative. "Jolly Green Giant" does not
qualify. I have been called "Dinopaiger,"
"Paj Mahal," and "Leaning Tower of Paigea," so I am definitely used to being referred
to as a prehistoric creature or ancient piece
of architecture.
Next time you see me, please avoid the
mind-numbingly repetitive conversation I’ve
had too many times: “You’re really tall.”
“I know.” “How tall are you?” “6’4”.”
“Okay then. Bye.” “Goodbye.” H
“Taylor Marie Irwin.”
Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now. I think it’s
pretty safe to assume that every child, teenager and toddler alike, knows to run and hide
when mom or dad utters the middle name.
A whole world of not-so-great possibilities
opens up with just that one addition. But
now, as I have grown older, I have a new
sound to fear.
“You’ve got mail.”
My heart drops into my stomach whenever
I see a forwarded email from Michelle Irwin;
most of the time titled “Taylor Irwin, Progress Report for [insert math class here]”. My
brain hurriedly rushes through all recent activities; what was my last quiz grade? When
is the next test? Did I turn in all my homework?
Hesitantly, I open the email.
“This grade is unacceptable, Taylor,” the
email reads. “If you don’t talk to your teacher, I will. Consider yourself under surveillance until the next report.”
The humorous part was that the email was
dated three days ago and I haven’t heard a
word about it. That’s the funny thing about
mother dearest: she never talks to me about my
grades; she just types.
Our conversations are restricted solely to cyberspace, and usually one-sided at that. Sometimes, I’m even grounded wirelessly.
Take freshmen year, for example, when the
whole email system first began for me. Half way
into the first semester of Algebra I, my grade began to take a turn for the worst; the beginning of
the end if you will. What would soon become
ritual, I opened the forwarded email to be greeted
with the obtrusive red D+ letter grade with an
attached note from my mother.
“This can’t happen, Taylor,” the email read.
“This is not a good way to be in your freshmen
year, this shapes the rest of high school. You’re
grounded until I receive notice that your grade
has been improved.”
Ouch, right?
Now, I want to make something clear; I’ve
never been a math person and can pretty much
guarantee I have absolutely no future in the mathematics department. All you people out there
who actually know more than the first two digits
of pie, or is it pi? Yeah, I’m not so sure we’d get
along very well.
You see, I’m a fan of words, which is why I
take part in lovely student organizations like The
Dart and not the mathletes. I applaud (and even
envy) your abilities, but it’s just not me.
So whenever I see a forwarded progress report from my mom, I know it’s not good news.
So while most girls who receive less-thansatisfactory grade reports grit their teeth as they
bear the verbal beating of “This is absolutely unacceptable behavior,”, “We don’t pay X amount
of dollars for you to perform like this,” (that’s
about the extent of my algebra in everyday life,
might I add) or “We expect more from you” I’m
stuck staring at a computer screen which connects me to a person who is definitely not very
happy with me.
Although I like the continuous updates my
mother sends my way, sometimes it’s inefficient
in getting her point across. Usually, I don’t see
the e-mail until several days after it was sent and
my grounding is over-rided because I’m left unaware that I’m currently on lockdown.
This is mostly a benefit — until I come home
and am informed of my convict status and my jail
time has increased.
Often I find myself wondering how my mom
goes about like nothing is troubling her, when I
know in the back of her mind she’s concerned
about my ever-changing grades.
It just plainl confuses me, when she hands over
a $10 bill for some gas when 10 minutes prior I
received an online lashing. It’s like our Ethernet
connection brings out a new side in her.
Lately, I’ve come to realize my mom believes
in me the way only a mother can; and while she
knows I’m working hard in all my classes, she is
expressing the need for me to do better in the best
way she knows how.
By telling me my performance is lacking —
her words, not mine — via email, it’s her way
of letting me know I need to do better, without
putting me on the spot. She knows I’m capable
of more and this is the way she chooses to inform
me. And while it may be confusing, it is also in
a way, endearing.
When I prematurely warned my mom about
this piece, revealing to her that her methods
would be publicized all over the STA campus,
she wasn’t too thrilled.
“Taylor,” whined Michelle Irwin. “Please
don’t make me sound like some weird mom. I
do it to remind you, not scare you.” H
The fabulous life of a first year DartNewsOnline webbie
an opinion by
Betsy Tampke
As I pass Matt Stewart in the hallway I
give him a highly significant look, not in an
effort to woo him with my eyes, rather to say
“I’m one of you.” Following right behind
him is Sydney Deatherage, who holds up three
fingers and addresses me as “W.” When I get
home from school my phone buzzes with texts
that aren’t meant for me, but for the entire
school. Next I log into a fictional character’s
Facebook account and obsess over what her
status should be.
Why do I get to do all of this?
Because it’s my first year on staff, and I’m
a webbie.
Which, naturally, entitles me to consider
myself an equal with Technology Coordinator
Matt Stewart, have a hand signal created by
Sydney Deatherage to identify fellow staffers,
forward texts to Twitter, and secretly be Teresa Dart on Facebook... well I guess it’s not
a secret anymore.
This year five Dart staffers built www.
dartnewsonline.com using the Wordpress program. Its intention, to keep The Dart’s news
coverage up to date with the ever progressing
and changing world of news coverage.
I am the only member of web staff who has
never been on Dart staff before, yet remarkably I still earned the title, “Web Publicity
Get Clicking H The DartNewsOnline website was
released Sept. 4 at the Fall pep rally. The new web
staff is made up of five Dart staffers Photo by Tracy
Burns-Yocum
Manager.”
Impressive right?
Almost as impressive as the new slew of
technical sounding words I picked up in my
journey through the world of the web. In order to sounds as smart as possible, I try to
use these new words whenever I can. For
example, if you are passing me in the hall one
day as I am talking to Morgan Said, fellow
webbie, you might hear me say, “Last night,
while trying to organize our Adsense account,
I noticed that our Google Analytics ratings,
installed by tracker codes, were up. I also noticed that our google ratings are climbing due
to our increased amount of meta data. Log on
to your word press account to see for yourself
on our widgets, dashboard, and gazettes.”
Sounds fancy right?
Before you are completely overcome by
my awe-inspiring use of vocabulary, keep in
mind that I probably used about a third of
those words incorrectly, I haven’t even figured out how to set up our Adsense account,
and I am unsure if any of the programs I set
up are working like they should be. Mainly
because I have had to teach myself everything
out of a book, test it by trial and error, and
for the most part I have a very narrow idea of
what I’m supposed to be doing.
And I’m not only talking about web
terms.
At the beginning of this year I had never
been a part of The Dart staff, and suddenly I
was the sole person in charge of promoting
it. I had never used Twitter and I was now
in charge of every single tweet that goes up
there. Facebook became an entirely different
kind of friend.
I taking my first plunge into the mysterious, terrifying waters of newspaper, like
many of my fellow first years. But they were
jumping off of the high dive, while I was cliff
diving.... as an amateur swimmer... in shark
infested water... in the middle of a category
five hurricane.
Like five blind mice trying to put together
a jigsaw puzzle the web staff is trying to piece
together a site that embodies STA with no
guide to tell us what to do, how to do it, and
most importantly how not to screw it up.
With most of us working on the website
and the print, were walking a fine line between The Dart’s traditions and The Dart’s
future. As journalists are trying to cling to
their print papers, terrified of multimedia coverage; STA is boldly marching into the future
with a battle cry of “WWW.DARTNEWSONLINE.COM”.
So Matt Stewart, next time I see you in the
hall, don’t act so creeped out. H
7
The deadly circle has a solution at last It’s never too late to call a sibling truce
an opinion by
Cassie Redlingshafer
There is a despised circle of death at
STA; one that could be stopped with just 12
oz. of caffeine.
It all starts on Sunday nights when girls,
understandably, don’t start their homework
until 7 p.m., stay up until 1 a.m. working on
it, and still depend on morning frees to “finish things up” or just, “look things over.”
Monday mornings are spent in a half-awake
state, but the half that is awake is focused
on finishing left-over homework. Since we
aren’t awake for these classes, our Monday
night homework becomes virtually impossible because we don’t understand what we
learned in class. We were busy doing homework or dozing off, remember?
This worthless morning then leads to
lunch where most girls are finally awake.
Lunch is followed by a food-induced, spastic
activity time which abruptly ends once 9-10
begins. I don’t think STA girls are ever really awake for 9-10 because after stuffing our
faces and being hyper, we naturally crash.
Once 11-12 starts, we come around and are
almost completely focused until there are
about 37 minutes left of 15-16. Then, our
time is spent hoping a torrential downpour
will miraculously fall from the sky so the
dreaded after-school practices will be canceled and we can go home and nap.
This evil circle repeats daily because once
we arrive home, which for many of us isn’t
until around 6 p.m. due to extracurriculars,
we have hours of homework. We inevitably
don’t finish it, so it carries over to the next
day.
The cycle could end if one innocent caffeinated drink could be purchased at school.
One during lunch would make us productive
in the afternoon so we could make a dent in
our stack of homework, enabling us to go to
sleep earlier and actually pay attention in our
morning classes.
Offering caffeine would not only stop the
circle of death, but would also stop people
from going on covert missions in an attempt
to rebel against the circle. They stealthily
sneak into the teachers’ lounge to buy caffeinated drinks. These girls risk SBRs, detentions and pride, for 12 oz. of the canned
energy they need to get through the day.
Caffeine is “unhealthy” and therefore not
an option in the vending machines, but we are
offered chips, candy and pop tarts which, according to Forbes Magazine, are less healthy
than soda. So how does that work?
If STA gives us six plus hours of homework each night, they should offer us 12 oz.
of caffeine. H
an opinion by
Avery Adams
Head-banging, thrasher metal music blasting from surround-sound speakers religiously
every night? Sure! Whines of “Will you take
me there? Avery! Come pick me up here!”
Why not! Twenty dollar McDonald’s trips at
11 p.m. on school nights? You betcha! Who
doesn’t love having a freshman brother living
just a wall away?
When Henry and I were little, we were enemies. We competed in almost everything: who
could fit the most grapes into their mouth, who
could run the fastest bare-footed, who was brave
enough to yell the loudest in church, who could
make Mom the most angry. All in good fun…
for the most part.
The competitions used to define our relationship as brother and sister. However, now that
we’re both much older, and, well, somewhat
more mature, I’ve come to look at Henry as
more than just an arch nemesis.
Now when I need someone to accompany me
to PetCo for a new fish, a tour guide around
Westport or someone for mere entertainment,
Henry’s there. When he needs help with hon-
opinion
ors biology homework, picking out new clothes,
that “are comfortable, don’t look girly but don’t
look like [he] tries to look good” or a neighborhood-football teammate, I’m there. In a way,
it’s like having a sidekick.
My mom used to always tell my brothers and
sister and I that one day “we’ll be each others’
best friends.” Sounds really cheesy, right?
Now that we’re all older though, I can see
what she meant. I now see just how important it
is for siblings to get along, because whether you
like it or not, you’re stuck with them for the rest
of your life, so you might as well be friends.
There are some risks involved when befriending your sibling, however. Especially if
he is a testosterone filled, teenage boy. If you
bring your senior girlfriends around when your
brother “just happens” to be shirtless and “wanting to go to the gym,” they will almost always
be confused and will giggle awkwardly.
And if your brother invites all the “bros”
over before a Rockhurst football game, there
will be no food left in the kitchen and dishes
strewn throughout the house.
These risks, however annoying and weird
they may be, make our friendship all the more
entertaining and worthwhile. Oh and if any of
you readers are worried that Henry will disagree
with anything in this article, don’t worry. He’s
read it. And his response?
“Make sure you put my phone number in
that…you know, for all the single St. Teresa’s
girls.”
So there you have it! My brother, best friend
and womanizer! Now go out there and befriend
your siblings! H
It’s the end of the world as we know it, and we’ve got a lot of work to do
an opinion by
Sure there are theories, but it is an unanswer- To me, the “Kingdom of God” will be present
when the entire world
able question. I like
is at peace and we’ve
unanswerable quesall done what Jesus and
tions because I have
here will be acGod have told us to do
the freedom to be
a million times. That
ceptance, not prejlike Nostradamus and
way, we won’t really
make my own theory.
udice.
Love,
not
hate.
be dead. (Well accordI believe the world
Peace, not war. Clear
ing to Jesus and God
will end the moment it
we never really die,
is at peace.
skin, not zits.”
but you know what I
It’s a little sad to
mean.) The earthly
think we’re working
for peace just to die the moment we grasp it, but world will be over and the heavenly world will
begin. There will be acceptance, not prejudice.
that’s not exactly what I mean.
We’ve all learned about “The Kingdom of Love, not hate. Peace, not war. Clear skin, not
God” and how it’s supposedly a pretty cool place. zits.
“T
Rosie Hodes
When is the world going to end? According to
those genius Mayans and that creepily prophetic
Nostradamus, we only have until 2012. If that’s
true, we better start living.
the
Adviser
Mr. Eric Thomas
Editor-in-Chief
Rosie Hodes
Web Editor-In-Chief
Elizabeth Wilson
Sydney Deatherage
Managing Editor of Photos
Tracy Burns-Yocum
Managing Editor of Web
Centerspread Editor
Morgan Said
Sports Editor
Taylor Brown
Mollie Pointer
Web Multimedia Editor
In Focus Editor
Kayla Loosen
Entertainment Editor
Taylor Irwin
Web Technology Editor
Micah Wilkins
Michelle Reichmeier
News Editor
Features Editor
Web Publicity Manager
Shaughnessy Miller
Madalyne Bird
Betsy Tampke
Opinion Editor
Photographer
Writers & Photographers
Megan Schaff
Avery Adams
Chelsea Birchmier
Kathleen Hough
Assistant Photographer
Lifestyles Editor
Katie Hyde
Hanna Katz
Caroline Thompson
Cara McClain
Molly Meagher
Academics Editor
Laura Neenan
Graphics Editor
Kylie Hornbeck
Cassie Redlingshafer
Julia Stapinski
Paige Wendland
dart
This may be naive of me, but it is more comforting than the more logical ice-caps-melting,
ozone-layer-crumbling, slow-demise-of-the-human-species theories.
But, if my theory is true, God is going to
have to use all His tricks to save us from the ice
caps and the atmosphere before we figure out
how to get along with each other. I told a friend
my theory and her response was, “Well, we’re
screwed.”
We’ve been through some tough times before,
so I’m sure we can change our habits and cause
the peaceful end of the world, not the scary end...
Well, maybe my theory is more of a long term —
very long term — goal. Sorry Mayans and Nostradamus, we’re going to miss the deadline. H
staff
Ownership and sponsorship: The Dart is created by the student newspaper staff and is published by
general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St.
Joseph of Carondolet. The Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the
Catholic Church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level.
Editorial Policy: The staff of the Dart is subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern student safety and illegal behaviors by students. Otherwise,
the policies above will guide the Dart. The Dart intends to be a public forum for voices regardless
of diverse ages, sexes, races, cultures, religions, or beliefs. Signed columns reflect the opinions of the
individual, not necessarily the newspaper staff or the school community.
Letters Policy: The Dart encourages letter to the editor about topics covered by the paper or other issues. Letters can be sent in the following ways: in person to Mr. Eric Thomas in Music & Arts 205; by
mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, Attn: Eric Thomas, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo 64113; or by e-mail
to ethomas@stteresasacademy.org or to dartopinions@hotmail.com. Letters should be limited to 250
words. The Dart staff reserves the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.
Photo Illustrations: Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine the limitless possibility of
the drawing with the realism of the photograph.
Corrections Policy: The Dart will print corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.
academics
8
Students take small classes, retain focus
STA’s smallest classes
Out of the 124 courses in the curriculum, STA
enrolls eight students or fewer in 11 full year,
first semester (S1), or second semester (S2) classes
Four on one H Seniors Tracy Burns-Yocum, from left, Maggie Dunn, Kayla Loosen and junior Mary Frey sit among several empty desks in Mr. Mike Egner’s
classroom. The four girls are only students in Mr. Egner’s college western civilization I class. Photo by Hanna Katz
STA offers singleton classes,
students build relationships
with teachers, classmates
by KATHLEEN HOUGH
Staff Writer
A student entered Mr. Mike Egner's college
western civilization I class on her first day of
school this year and noticed something unusual:
there seemed to be more Royals baseball bobble
heads in the classroom than students.
Over the years, STA has provided many "singleton" courses, classes that only have one available meeting time per day. This year, STA has
seen the smallest numbers of students enrolled in
these classes, academic scheduler Kathy Walters
said.
STA is able to have singleton classes because it
has a small student body and uses modular scheduling. The STA administration believes these singleton classes should be offered despite the small
number of students registered. Senior Maggie
Dunn is one of four students enrolled in her west-
ern civilization class this year.
"[Being in a smaller class] is a lot different
from being in a larger class," Dunn said. "You
don’t have to raise your hand, you can just talk
out when you want and ask questions when you
want to."
According to Walters, STA has 16 singleton
classes this year; seven of which are college courses. These courses include classes such a western
civilizations I and II, college composition, AP biology, Spanish IV, Latin III, and Latin IV. Over
half of the singletons contain under 10 students.
"We have singletons in the schedule because
we need to have a variety of courses for all students’ interests," Walters said. "In each scheduling year, students interests vary, so one year we
could have one section of a class, but the next year
we might have two or three because more students
want to take it."
The smallest number of students in a singleton occurs in intermediate dance, where only two
students are enrolled: juniors Alexa Fowlkes and
Tessa Jianas. However, Jianas departed Monday
for Eugene, Oregon to rehearse and perform seven
shows of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty." While she
is away for over a month, Fowlkes remains the
only student currently participating in the class.
"It's really weird being the only one in my
class," Fowlkes said. "When Tessa first explained
to me that she was going to be gone I was kind of
freaking out but have since then I've thought it is
going to be okay. I really enjoy the class and have
fun with [dance teacher Andrea Skowroneck]."
Junior Lilly Kraus is currently taking astronomy, a singleton class of ten students. Kraus finds
the small class size to be beneficial.
"In astronomy, there’s a lot more group discussion," Kraus said. "If you don’t understand a
concept, usually you’re not the only one in your
class who doesn’t and so you can go over it more
in-depth, without feeling like you have held back
the rest of the class."
According to Dunn, these smaller classes also
provide a more focused learning environment.
"I pay attention more in [western civilization]
to the lectures because there isn't really anyone to
distract me," Dunn said. "It feels like it's just Mr.
Egner and you because he talks to you directly,
one-on-one."
Through singletons, Kraus has been able to
form new relationships with other students.
"There are girls in class who I don’t think I
really would have talked to if hadn’t taken astronomy," Kraus said. "Now I've been able to form
Class
Students
enrolled
1.College Western Civilization II (S2)
2
2. Instrumental Music
2
3. Intermediate Dance (S1)
2
4. College Latin IV
3
5. College Western Civilization I (S1)
4
6. Intermediate Dance (S1)
5
7. Technical Theater (S2)
5
8. Debate/Speech (S1)
6
9. Debate/Speech (S2)
6
10. Homepage (S2)
6
11. Technical Theater (S1)
8
new friendships with diverse girls outside of my
friend-group."
Although there are benefits to being in these
singleton classes, Kraus and Dunn believe these
courses also come with their fair share of challenges.
"The attention is more on you," Kraus said.
"For example, in some of my larger classes, if I
forget to do my homework, I feel like it’s more
unnoticed. But in a class where there's only nine
of us, if I didn’t read or something, there’s only
so many people [astronomy teacher Terry Conner]
can call on for a question about the reading."
According to Dunn, the empty classroom can
also be irritating at times.
"When people are sick or something in the
class, you kind of feel lonely," Dunn said. "Also,
if you miss a class, it’s kind of hard to find someone to get notes from."
Overall, Kraus enjoys the experience of having both small and large classes during the school
day.
"I don't think I would like to have a schedule
with all tiny classes," Kraus said. "I think it's good
that I have some classes where I know it will be
the same group of girls, but I also like being able
to see a new group of girls, too." H
Science bowl team looks to attract freshmen
Despite advertising,
team seeks freshmen
with little success
by KATIE HYDE
Staff Writer
After distributing flyers to all
freshmen mailboxes, hanging posters
around campus and making daily announcements, science teacher Mary
Montag was not surprised when two
freshmen out of a class of 142 girls
attended the first meeting.
In her 11 years of moderating the
science quiz bowl, Montag has noticed a pattern in enrollment: freshmen do not join as often as upperclassmen. According to Montag,
there is only one reason why freshmen are not involved in her team:
they are not as familiar with the material as upperclassmen.
“Quite honestly a freshman is
not going to know as much as an upperclassman in many categories [of
science bowl competitions],” Montag said. “They just have not had
the courses [an upperclassman has
taken].”
The science quiz bowl is an academic team of about 20 students who
meet weekly to learn science trivia
and prepare for two annual competitions, the Avila University Women's
Science and Math Challenge in November and the National Science
Bowl at Rockhurst University in
February. At Avila, questions are
multiple choice, and the top members
of each team compete by answering
questions on paper. At Rockhurst,
groups of up to five members partake in a four-round competition with
differently formatted questions. The
teams use buzzers and can only consult with teammates before buzzing.
Although she has not taken botany, chemistry or biology, freshmen
Meaghan Coble joined the team along
with fellow freshmen Ruby Dibble to
get involved at STA.
"When I heard about the team, I
was really excited for an opportunity
to get involved in science and to meet
other students," Coble said. "I think
the quiz bowl is a great way to learn
science and to have fun. Since I've
joined, I have not felt at a disadvantage on the team. All the upperclassmen are really welcoming."
Although science trivia challenged
past freshmen, according to Montag,
freshmen give another reason for not
joining: their friends do not.
Sophomore Megan Hodes, who
joined the team this year, believes social influences impacted her decision
not to join her freshman year, when
two freshmen were on the team.
“I heard about [the team] from
other girls, but I did not do that sort
of thing when I was a freshman because it seemed like it was only for
the upperclassmen,” Hodes said.
“Also, none of my friends were doing it. If you are a freshmen who
does not know the other girls [on the
Short pause H Sophomore Maddie Dang pauses while talking to Ms. Mary
Montag during the science team’s meeting Monday. Last year Dang was one
of two freshmen on the team. Photo by Hanna Katz
team] it is kind of awkward. But
now that I have joined the team [as a
sophomore], I realize the girls are all
really welcoming.”
Coble encourages her classmates
to get involved at STA, despite their
friends' choices.
"Freshmen, branch out!" Coble
said. "Everyone at STA is so welcoming." H
close up
9
FAMILY MATTERS
“Family Matters” is a three
part series, exploring parents’
relationships with their teens.
Part 1: Single mother and daughter
Part 2: Divorced parents
Part 3: Supported by a sibling
Family Portrait H Junior Elle Rauch, left, and her mother Ms. Anne Rauch pose for a photo in their fron yard on Oct. 5. Anne has raised Elle alone for 16 years. Photo by Hanna Katz
Single mother, daughter find perfect relationship
Junior Elle Rauch, mother
discover two-person family
ideal, bond as partners
by ROSIE HODES
Editor-in-chief
Sixteen years ago, a partnership began.
At age 35, single mother, Ms. Anne
Rauch, gave birth to her daughter, junior
Elle Rauch on Jul. 16, 1993. Since then, the
pair has lived together in St. Louis and in
Kansas City. They have not felt the hardships
of a stereotypical single parent atmosphere,
and believe their relationship is much stronger because of their circumstances.
“Growing up with just me and [my mom]
for 16 years, it has made us a lot closer, I
think, than if I had siblings or if I had a dad
that lived with us,” Elle said. “All we really have is each other so we lean on each
other.”
When Anne was pregnant, she and Elle’s
father decided not to get married and Anne
raised her daughter on her own, with the help
of her family and friends. As opposed to half
of the technically single mothers polled by
Babytalk Magazine who have some sort of
parenting partner in their lives, Anne has refrained from dating and kept Elle her “number one priority.”
“I’m content in my life and I never looked
outside to make my life happier,” Anne
said.
at a glance
in
300
words
Modeled after Brady Dennis’ original 300
word series, this series captures people and
moments in 300 words: no more, no less.
by MORGAN SAID
Web Managing Editor
“I think of her as an equal partner and we
Anne, and many single mothers across the
just make sure we cover all areas of our lives
country, think a positive aspect is the freethat need to be covered,” Anne said. “We
dom to raise her child on her terms and not
worry about who has to kill bugs and who has
have to argue with someone else over the
to fix stuff when it’s broken. The emotional
best strategy. Elle and Anne agree that havpart of it has never been hard.”
ing just one parent shows Elle a clear balance
Because Anne was prepared at 35 to cover
between discipline and friendship.
all the responsibilities that come along with
“I think we have created certain boundmotherhood, she supports the idea that an
aries that [Elle] knows exist, and when she
increase of single
crosses or gets closer
mothers is due to a
to the boundaries I
changing culture in
stop being a friend
America; women are
and operate as a pare worry about
now able to support
ent,” Anne said.
a child on their own
According
to
who has to kill
and no longer find a
Anne, “because Elle
bugs and who has to fix
partner necessary.
is such a good kid,”
In 1993, when
the Rauches usually
stuff
when
it’s
broken.
Elle was born, apfunction as friends.
proximately
30
Elle thinks her reThe emotional part of it
percent of births in
lationship with her
has never been hard. ”
the US were from
mom is unique comunmarried women,
pared to her friends
Anne Rauch, mother
according to the
that live with both
Center for Disease
parents.
Control and Preven“Most of the time
tion (CDC). Today, the rate is approximately
[my mom]’s really easy to talk to about
40 percent. The increase is not an isolated
things,” Elle said. “I feel like I can go to her
problem among teens and low income womabout anything and not fear that she’ll freak
en. In fact, the percent of teenage non-marout on me. She’ll let me talk before she says
ital births declined from 50 percent in 1970
anything.”
to 23 percent in 2007, according to the CDC.
Anne said she has created a friendly reAnne said she hopes that her experience will
lationship by making her expectations and
teach Elle to be prepared if something unexboundaries clear, and by sharing responsipected ever comes up in her life.
bilities with Elle.
“W
Daddy’s Little Girl
The first year in St. Louis was
awful.
The second, lonely.
And the third, dull.
St. Louis was where junior
Sierra Stanton lived, but it was
never really home. However, on
an early June morning, she was finally preparing to return to life as
she once knew it.
Her clothes were packed. The
desk in her room was taken apart
and ready to load into the minivan. She took one last look at
her St. Louis room before turning
her back for good. She couldn’t
believe it was actually happening
she finally convinced her mom and
grandma to let her move back to
Kansas City with her dad.
She had missed him, her best
friend. She missed attending his
band’s gigs and listening to old records with him. For the first time
“I always tell her to make a life for herself - to have a career and background so she
can make those choices,” Anne said. “So she
knows that she’s got every option out there.
No one chooses necessarily to be a single
parent.”
Although Anne and Elle think the emotions involved in a two-person family are
easy, they have had trouble with smaller
problems in the past, such as finding suitable babysitters. According to Elle, she went
through countless babysitters, and even one
who convinced her that ants could eat people.
While Elle’s fear of ants has cooled since she
was eight, she knows her mom has trouble
leaving her alone when she travels for work.
Anne is an attorney for the Environmental
Protection Agency, and travels to St. Louis
for trials every few months.
“I think traveling’s definitely making [my
mom] nervous because I’m at the age where
I can start staying home alone more...but
she doesn’t know how much freedom to give
me,” Elle said.
Despite these challenges, Elle and Anne
see their two-person family as positive, overall. They both agree that growing up with a
single mother will most greatly affect how
Elle raises her children.
“I’m hoping it makes her more self-assured to see that I can do it on my own,”
Anne said. “I tell her to take advantage of
all the opportunities in her life so she can
function as a one-parent-one-child family or
a two-parent-ten-child family some day.” H
in three years, Sierra and her dad
wouldn’t have to limit their relationship to two phone calls a day;
instead, they could now eat dinner
together and talk face-to-face every evening.
Of course, leaving her mom
in her St. Louis apartment alone
would be difficult. After a tearful embrace and promises to call
every day, she shut the van door
and headed out.
As she sits on her bed, she
scans the bedroom she has always
dreamt about returning to: the one
with the purple walls, the bookshelf with a countless number of
her favorite books and the two
dressers to store her clothes. Her
boxer, Delilah, pants beside her as
she completes her homework, and
thinks to herself how lucky she is
to have her life back.
Although she misses her mom
and grandma, she would never
choose to live go back and live in
St. Louis again. Sierra is perfectly
content with her life in Midtown.
Because, like they say, there’s
no place like home. H
Lifestyles
10
Dance do’s Campus ministry
Follow this guide to create fun hairstyles
for Teresian dance or any formal event
by CAROLINE THOMPSON
Lifestyles Editor
welcomes interest
Ballerina bun
Kathleen McClain, senior
A loose bun is an elegant style perfect for a
dress with straps. To get this hair:
1. Using hot rollers or a curling iron, curl
hair in different layers, starting with the bottom
and moving to the top layers.
2. Gather the curly locks into a ponytail,
leaving out bangs or the front section of hair.
3. Twist the ponytail into a ballerina bun
and secure it using bobby pins.
4. Apply hair spray to guarantee the curls
will stay intact.
5. Add a flower, ribbon or brooch to add a
special touch!
Curly n’ girly
This style works well with a
strapless dress and takes 35 minutes to create. For this look:
1. Naturally part hair.
2. Curl hair in as loose or
tight of curls as desired with a
curling iron or a Chi.
3. Take two pieces of hair
from each side of head and individually twist back.
4. Bobby pin each strand towards the middle back of head.
5. Use excessive amounts
of hair spray and bobby pins to
keep curls and twists luscious!
Megan Caffrey, senior
Teresian twist
Haley Mize, senior
This twist keeps stray hairs out of the way
and is simple, yet fun. To make this style:
1. Naturally part hair and section off hair
about 2 inches deep from hair line.
2. With that section of hair, make a French
braid with only two strands of hair (more like a
French twist) and stop near the ear.
3. Twist the two strands without adding
more hair, and put all your hair in a ponytail.
4. Take some hair from your ponytail, wrap
it around the ponytail holder (so you can’t see
it), secure with bobby pins.
Photos by Tracy Burns-Yocum
Listen up H Campus ministry leader and senior Anne Marie Whitehead listens intently at the Faith in Action meeting
Sept. 25 in the auditorium. Whitehead was one of the main student participants in campus ministry. Photo by Avery
Adams
Ministry involvement
expands, documents
record attendance
by KYLIE HORNBECK
Academics Editor
A record count of students attended this school year's first campus ministry meeting, even though
campus ministry did not do anything
differently to attract students than in
previous years.
"Over the course of the 10 years
I've been here, we've seen a steady
increase in student involvement [in
campus ministry]," campus ministry
department head Robin Good said.
According to Good, there has
been a great swell in student interest this year, and 46 students were
involved with the first all school
mass.
“[Campus ministry] has always
been inviting,” Good said. “I hope
we have created an environment
that says that [all students] are important and know that we value their
thoughts. We are just trying to keep
communication with the students as
we always have been.”
According to Good, campus ministry has always welcomed all students to participate in masses, liturgies and other campus ministry-run
activities. However, Good believes
students only participate in campus
ministry if they have a true interest.
“I think more students are getting
involved because they feel a sense
of ownership and responsibility that
prayer life is the responsibility not
just of campus ministry, but of the
students,” Good said.
Senior Anne Schwartz, who has
been involved in campus ministry
since the beginning of her sophomore
year, agrees with Good. She also
believes campus ministry's unique
opportunity for students to show
school spirit and its lack of commitment restrictions have contributed to
its expanding student involvement.
"[Campus Ministry] is a re-
ally good way to get involved with
school," Schwartz said. "It's not really time consuming because you can
go to meetings when you want. It's
kind of a come and go thing. It's not
a burden, but it's a really good part
of school to be involved in."
Schwartz personally enjoys the
Campus Ministry Events
H
Respect Life Week
Oct. 5-9
Freshmen Retreat
Oct. 14
St. Teresa of Avila Feast
Day Prayer Service
Oct. 15
Faculty Retreat
Oct. 16
Pro-Life Convention
Oct. 21
Parent Daughter Liturgy
Nov. 12
Fall Kairos
Nov. 17-20
Thanksgiving Prayer
Service
Nov. 23
satisfaction of participating in campus life through campus ministry.
"I like helping plan masses because sometimes they're boring,”
Schwartz said. “It's cool to be able
to actually have a part [in] making
things you want to [see] happen,
happen at mass."
According to Good and campus
ministry faculty member Joe LaScala, campus ministry invites every
student to involve herself in any way
she desires.
"At any time, if a student wants to
see something in campus ministry...
they can come to us and we can help
make it happen," LaScala said.
LaScala welcomes any and all
forms of student input in campus
ministry. He encourages any student who is interested to become involved in campus ministry, whether
by reading at a mass, singing at a
prayer service, helping lead a retreat, providing suggestions for any
part of campus ministry or simply
participating in campus ministry-run
activities.
“Student help has just blossomed,” Good said. “Music interest, especially, has grown in the last
year.”
Campus ministry is able to make
its activities more elaborate, especially regarding technology and
music, because of the influx of interested students. Schwartz feels
that because of this, more students
are willing to participate in and pay
attention during prayer services and
liturgies.
"Definitely the music has
changed," Schwartz said. "I love
contemporary Christian music because it makes mass more interesting
and I love to sing along."
Good and LaScala believe that
even though campus ministry did not
do more this year to promote student
interest than in the past, the department has progressed in a number of
ways due to self-motivated student
involvement.
LaScala takes pleasure in the idea
that so many students have taken the
initiative to participate in campus
ministry in their own unique ways
this year.
“[Students] can take whatever
role, however much ownership they
want [in campus ministry],” LaScala
said. “It’s so awe-inspiring for me
seeing so many people wanting to
make [campus ministry activities]
good experiences. It’s fun seeing
[the] excitement that some people
have and their desire to make a mass
or event better for others and to help
others.” H
Lifestyles
Sisterhood of the
Senior class passes
skirt to different girl
each day at school
Lifestyles Editor
Making her way across the
Quad on an August day, senior
Gaby Wilson overheard snickers
and concealed laughter from fellow students.
“I can’t believe she’s wearing
that.”
“Could she not get it
hemmed?”
Wilson continued on her way,
unphased by the jabs at her ensemble.
“Yeah, I was expecting [that
reaction],” Wilson said. “I didn’t
care. I thought it was funny. I
wanted the younger people to
think I was serious.”
The garment students were referring to is the ankle-length, vibrantly plaid, light woolen “traveling skirt”: the skirt that every
senior would wear at least one
day of this school year.
Wilson and her friends, senior Brady Essmann and alumnae
Anna Boisseau and Anna Ess-
11
traveling skirt
mann discovered the familiar,
tartan plaid skirt while shopping
at the Disabled American Veterans thrift store on Wornall Road
this summer. The skirt resembled
the typical STA skirt, only longer
and included Velcro straps securing the waist. Boisseau tried it on
and Brady followed after. Next,
Wilson slipped into the skirt.
“The skirt fit [Boisseau] perfectly,” Brady said. “... I tried
[the skirt] on and it fit me, too.
We said, ‘If it fits [Wilson]’s tiny
body then it’s a universal skirt
and we’re buying it.’”
The girls left the store $6
shorter and holding a long, outdated kilt in their hands. Because
it seemed to fit everyone, the girls
wanted to pass around the skirt to
each senior to wear for a day.
Brady said it would be like “the
sisterhood of the traveling skirt”
— a play off Ms. Ann Brashares’
popular book and movie series
“The Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants.”
“We thought it would be really funny,” Brady said. “Plus we
thought passing around this kilt
that goes down past your knees
would be a fun way to bond with
the girls in the class.”
The next step was to gain the
approval of the administration.
Brady, the senior class vice president, proposed the idea of the
traveling skirt to president Nan
Bone, principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick and
principal for student affairs Mary
Anne Hoecker at a class officer
meeting in June. The administrators had no problem with the
skirt, according to Brady, as long
as every senior could fit into it
and have an equal opportunity to
wear it. Brady assured them that
the Velcro waist would accommodate any size, and there are
enough days in the school year
for each girl to wear it at least
once, if she chooses.
“[The administration] was
very supportive,” Brady said.
“I remember walking up the
stairs when [Hoecker] shouted,
‘Lookin’ good! How does it feel
to be wearing the skirt?’ I think
they really love the idea.”
The seniors have also responded positively to the “traveling skirt.” Several seniors have
worn the skirt already, passing it
on to a friend or any other senior
who asks for it.
“I love the idea that everyone
gets to wear [the skirt],” said senior Kristina Strader, who was
one of the first girls to wear the
kilt. “It’s a really good example
to other classes of how close you
can get with your class.”
The seniors have not decided
what will become of the traveling
skirt after the school year.
“If we want to keep it as a
memento, we could frame it,”
Brady said. “Or if we wanted
to keep the tradition going, we
could have a ceremony and
pass it down to the class of
2011. It just depends on what
our class wants to do.”
Regardless of where the
skirt ends up, Brady says
the kilt is an important
means of bonding and a
tradition that will hopefully continue after
theseniors
graduate.
That quirky, goofy nature, she says, is something that can only be
found at STA.
“Sometimes I can
hear freshman being
like, ‘Oh my gosh.
What is she wearing?’” Brady said.
“And I think to
myself, ‘You’ll understand in three
years.’” H
Four’s company H Seniors
Caroline Thompson, from left,
Anne Schwartz, Sam Waeckerle and
Allison Pericich joyfully laugh while
walking to the Commons. Waeckerle chose
the first day in October to adorn the “traveling
kilt.” Photo Illustration by Avery Adams
It’s a wonderful life
Whether a stroke of luck, strange coincidence
or small miracle, students recall experiences
that help to make their lives simply wonderful.
Hinken
“A couple weeks ago I was
bummed because I wouldn’t be able
to meet Clinton Kelly from TLC’s
“What Not To Wear,” at Macy’s in
Oak Park Mall because I had to baby
sit that day. So instead my mom and
I went shopping at Macy’s on Friday
to find shoes for a wedding. I turned
around and saw [Kelly] helping a
woman find a nice pair of shoes. I
immediately word vomited all my annoying fan vomit: “I love your show.
I want to do what you do.” He turned
to me and said I’m glad you’re such
a big fan, and I really like your jeans.
I immediately melted inside! It’s a
wonderful life!”
- Maura Hinken, senior
My life sucks
From tripping down stairs to walking into
the men’s bathroom, STA students recall
unfortunate moments in their everyday lives.
Lifestyles Editor
Livers
“During the reading comprehension section of the ACT I noticed
something moving on the floor. I
found myself staring at one of the
biggest spiders I have EVER seen.
It was big, hairy, and moving toward the girl sitting next to me and
rather than focusing on my test, I
spend the next five minutes watching the spider crawl up and down
the girl’s leg and she had absolutely
no idea. I couldn’t say anything or
else I would be kicked out of the
test. Once the spider got bored, it
decided to get a workout... This
mammoth bug started to sprint in
weird patterns across the floor. Because of this stupid spider, I have
to spend another Saturday morning
taking a five-hour test. Thank you,
spider. MLS.”
- Lane Livers, senior
12
13
center spread
CRIMETIME
Kansas City harbors diverse criminal activity, with no
physical division between safe and dangerous areas
1.Guard dog H Signs reading “Beware of Dog” and “No Trespassing” line
the fence of this house on 41st and Forest, the second most dangerous
neighborhood in Kansas City. Photo by Taylor Brown
2. Gotcha H The Kansas City Police Department Tactical Team (SWAT) serves
a search warrant for an aggravated assault suspect last Tuesday in the 64130
zip, an area notorious for crime in Kansas City. Courtesy of the Kansas City
Missouri Police Department
1
by TAYLOR BROWN
Centerspread Editor
3017 Bales Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. Living at this address is a 35-year-old African-American
man named Mr. Rob Lacello, his wife and their
10-month-old son. A cashier at Ben’s Super Market,
Lacello is a high school and college graduate. He
lives in fear of danger and suffering every day of his
life. In his neighborhood, he, his wife and son each
have a one in seven chance of becoming a victim of
violent crime (homicide, robbery or assault), according to neighborhoodscout.com. The FBI considers
the area around 30th and Bales — just a 13 minute
drive from STA — to be the sixth most dangerous
neighborhood in the US.
Lacello became one of these statistics five years
ago when he was one of eight people involved in an
eruption of violence.
“How do I feel about crime in my neighborhood?” Lacello asked. “We were raised with this
killing and crime. If you were raised in a bubble,
how you gonna know it’s a bubble? If we was raised
around danger, how we gonna know it’s dangerous?”
Dividing Lines
“My neighborhood is
really safe, I know basically everyone. I think
knowing everyone and
that everyone looks
out for you is the main
thing.”
– Ali Morgan, senior
Photo
POLL?
“Definitely getting
to know the people
around me and the
activity of the neighborhood.”
– Molly Kenney, junior
“Knowing my neighbors. We all have neighborhood safety things
like a list of phone
numbers; I feel like I
can call them.”
– Katie McCombs,
sophomore
What kinds of things make your
neighborhood safe?
The area of STA and Brookside Boulevard is one of the top 10 safest neighborhoods in Kansas City.
However, STA is just 13 minutes away from the most dangerous neighborhood in Kansas City and sixth
most dangerous neighborhood in the US.
Somebody’s watching me H A crime watch sign sits
on a corner in the 30th and Bales neighborhood, but
according to residents, it does not defer enough criminals.
The intersection of 30th and Bales is the most dangerous
neighborhood in Kansas City and sixth most dangerous in
the US. Photo by Taylor Brown
Although Kansas City is safer than only 2 percent
of all cities in the nation, according to neighborhoodscout.com, Lacello believes most Kansas City citizens do not have the same “dangerous” experiences
that he does.
“I was with eight of my guys the day I got shot,”
Lacello said. “I wasn’t the only one injured. Another
time, I saw my dude die right in front of my face.
Most people [in Kansas City] don’t have things like
that in their life. They don’t know what it’s like in
[our neighborhood].”
Nothing physically separates so called “dangerous neighborhoods” from other areas of Kansas
City. However, according to Lacello, there is a noticeable transition from “hood-to-hood.”
“We got fences around our yards,” Lacello said.
“You got gardens. We don’t have all the Thriftways
and malls that you got. We don’t got all the soccer fields and swimming pools that you see in other
neighborhoods.”
Country Clubs, fountains and parks appear in
safer areas of Kansas City, such as Ward Parkway
Road, and create a different atmosphere than that of
Lacello’s neighborhood. Most people in these areas
feel safe enough to walk their dogs on the streets and
play kickball in their front yards. According to neighborhoodscout.com, the area of STA and Brookside
Boulevard is one of the top 10 safest neighborhoods
in Kansas City. Most people in the community feel
their exposure to crime reflects this statistic.
“I think some of us [in the STA community] are
less exposed than others,” principal for student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker said. “A certain amount of
us are sheltered. We’re lucky and we’re sheltered.”
Those who live near STA are just 13 minutes
from dangerous areas of Kansas City, yet they rarely
come in contact with crime. According to detective for the Kansas City Police Department Kevin
Boehm, this is probably due to socioeconomic issues
that do not affect areas around STA but are heavily
present in dangerous areas.
“[Issues affecting crime include] higher unemployment and concentration of probationers and parolees, lack of education, and lack of jobs in those
areas of the city,” Boehm said. “It’s much more than
just a crime issue.”
Stopping crime
“Crime watch” signs mark the corners of Lacello’s neighborhood; yet, they do not defer enough
criminals he said.
As the coordinator for the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, Boehm tries to do what
these signs cannot. This agency implements many
organizations that work toward the safety of the
Kansas City community. Some of these include the
Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, Metropolitan Community Service Program, Second Chance Program for
individuals released from prison and SAFE (Surviving Spouses and Family Endowment Fund).
However, Hoecker, who considers herself less
exposed to crime, believes it takes personal responsibility from individuals to truly stop crime.
“If a person has had a lot of violence in their life
— if they have been abused physically, emotionally,
verbally — they have to find a way to deal with that
violence,” Hoecker said. “Somewhere along the line
they should say, ‘That should not have happened to
me. I did not deserve that.’ If you don’t deal with the
violence that has come at you in your life, one possibility is that you carry that violence on. Violence
begets more violence. It’s a cycle of crime.”
Many people struggle with this cycle of crime, so
Boehm understands that some look solely to police to
deal with it; but, he believes the police department is
not the only facet of the community responsible.
“Just because the title of a particular newspaper
article says something about crime, you can’t just
say, ‘Well that’s the duty of the police department,’”
Boehm said. “It has to be a community wide effort.
I am a detective, I live in the [Kansas City] community, I have a responsibility as my chosen career
to keep the citizens safe. By the same token, the citizens that live within the city also have a responsibility as a citizen in the society to curb crime and get
involved.”
Crime occurs in ‘safe’ neighborhoods
an opinion by
MORGAN SAID
2
I'm a typical Johnson County
girl. I live in a nice neighborhood
with great neighbors and an abandoned golf course in my backyard.
I live in a safe place — nothing bad
could ever happen here. Or so I
thought.
Over the summer, my neighborhood had a few freak-outs dealing
with pool vandalism and cars being
broken into. Cell phones, iPods
and cameras were taken out of multiple people's cars, leaving them
with shattered glass and sometimes
without means of communication.
As all the adults wondered who
could have possibly destroyed everyone’s property, the neighborhood kids were just as scared.
Rumors spread about who might
possibly be the culprit: was it the
13-year-old troublemaker who lives
right across the street from me? Or
the creepy, unidentified man who
stares at girls at the pool?
Different experiences
The crime statistics of Kansas City present the
city, certain neighborhoods especially, as dangerous.
However, Boehm believes this information is somewhat superficial.
“What you have to understand from that information is what statistics they are measuring,” Boehm
said. “It looks to me like they are measuring calls for
service from a given area from the police database.
My personal opinion is that the label ‘most dangerous neighborhoods’ is kind of misleading. I am not
going to dispute that certain areas of Kansas City are
more dangerous than others or there are more crimes
that occur, but you have to look a little deeper than
that.”
Misleading or not, Boehm has experienced crime
through his law enforcement work in a way many
Kansas City citizens will never have to encounter.
“I am sure there are a lot of people that aren’t
familiar with things that a police officer sees everyday,” Boehm said. “That’s a good thing; they
shouldn’t be.”
And in spite of the negativity surrounding issues
of crime, Lacello remains optimistic about the future.
“The thing is, it can change,” Lacello said.
“Crime can change. We’ve just got to stick together
and stop hating on each other. There can be a sunny
side to it all.” H
DART tube
see the podcast at
www.dartnewsonline.com
Watch Sydney Deatherage’s podcast featuring interviews
with Mr. Rob Lacello, detective Kevin Boehm and more.
Neighborhoods of Kansas City
According to neighborhoodscout.com,
these 18 areas represent the 10 safest
(green) and 8 most
dangerous (red) neighborhoods in Kansas
City. The crime index
of each area determined this information. Crime index measures selected offenses
(including crimes of
murder and non-negligent manslaughter,
forcible rape, robbery
and aggravated assault) reported to law
enforcement.
by JULIA STAPINSKI
Graphics Editor
9
8
2
Paseo Blvd.
1
4
8
3
1
2
6
27
5
4
Parkville / Park College
2
Route 45 / National Dr.
3
Ward Pky. / 68th Ter.
4
Blue Pky. / Raytown Rd.
5
Woodson Rd. / 59th St.
6
Knobtown
7
New Santa Fe
8
9
Weatherby Lake
Barry Rd. / Route 152
10 St. Teresa’s / Brookside Blvd.
5
1
2
10
3
1
Bales Ave. / 30th St.
Forest Ave. / 41st St.
3
4
Broadway St. / 12th St.
5
Harrison St. / 39th St.
6
Penn Valley Dr. / 31st St.
Safest neighborhoods
7
Main St. / Westport Rd.
Most dangerous neighborhoods
8
Paseo Blvd. / 25th St.
Main St.
Prospect Ave.
71 Highway
Interstate 435
7
6
US Route 71 / US Route 24
I have to admit, these crazy
ideas eventually started getting to
my head. I was becoming paranoid
about everything! I was afraid to
go into a dark room by myself or to
sleep in my bed alone. I sprinted
up the stairs because I was afraid a
stranger was following me. Even
when all seven of my family members were home and the alarm system was on, I was still terrified.
Small, daily spooks turned into
huge, irrational nightmares because
of the thefts.
Eventually, I came to my senses
and realized that I sprinted up the
stairs in fear of someone following
me even before the crimes. The
reality of the situation is not that
I have an awful neighborhood, but
instead that crime happens everywhere. You can’t pinpoint where
bad things are going to happen,
because in reality, they happen
all over the place. In the end, it
just comes down to how aware we
are of our atmosphere and to prepare for the worst but hope for the
best.
I still believe that I live in a safe
place, but even the safest of places
have the potential for danger. I’m
learning to get over sprinting up the
stairs, but I do realize that my surroundings don't necessarily mean
that I'm protected from danger. H
sports
14
STA ATHLETICS
from the beginning
Through the growth of the athletic program,
sports have come, gone and changed over
the first 100 years at the Windmoor campus
Golf was introduced to the
STA athletic program in the
fall of 1995 with only six
girls. Softball was introduced in the fall of 1998.
STA joined the MSHAA in 1982.
Throughout the 1980’s basketball,
volleyball, swimming, tennis, soccer
and cross country became a part of
The tennis courts located in
STA’s competitive athletic program. the northwest corner of the
campus were donated by the
Thompson family in 1988.
The Goppert Center
was built in 1983.
Basketball 1989
1900s
Basketball 1973
1920s - 70s
1909: STA moves to
Windmoor campus
1980s
1990s
2000s
The softball field was
developed in 2000.
Girls only played intramurally
or against other catholic all-girl
schools. Sports such as basketball, tennis and bowling were
part of the program.
The cheerleading
squad turned to a
drill team in 1991,
later becoming the
dance team.
“Strolling” served as acceptable
excercise for the girls. Strolling
consisted of walking the premises
of the campus.
Dance team turned
competitive in 2003.
Drill Team 2001
Getting to know our
NEW COACHES
by ELIZABETH WILSON
The athletic department
has made changes for this
upcoming year which include all new coaches for
the three winter sports. The
new coaches will be for
swim, dive and basketball.
The winter season begins
with tryouts in November.
Andy Wilcox
Position: head swim
coach
Background/experience: Coached
the boys and girls
programs at Truman
High School, founded
the boys and girls
swim programs at
Lee’s Summit North High School in 1995
and coached for 14 years, coached United
States Swimming and summer league.
Why STA: Wilcox was aware that STA
was looking for a swim coach and knew
there would be no conflicts of loyalty with
his teaching position at Rockhurst High
School.
Looking forward to: Building a great
swimming and diving program at STA and
go to State meet in St. Louis
Looking for in a swimmer: willingness to
sacrifice, work hard and dedicated
According to Hough: “Wilcox is on the
ball and knows what he wants.”
Contact info: Awilcox1@kc.rr.com
Doug Nelson
Position: head basketball coach
Background/experience:
coached basketball at
Rockhurst University,
Baker University, JCCC
and Missouri Western
State College and high
schools in Kansas, New
Mexico and Arizona
Why STA: “STA has the expectations and standards that I would want to be a part of.”
Looking forward to: “Making progress and
making it back to the glory area of STA basketball.”
Looking for in a basketball player: “They have
to be good students, positive ambassadors for
the mission of STA and I want a team of players
proud to wear black and gold.”
Goals for this year: Win the Irish Cup (a crystal
vase for winner of the STA vs. Notre Dame de
Sion High School game)
According to Hough: “Out of a large stack of
applicants for this position, Nelson really stood
out
Contact info: moneycoach@kc.rr.com
Katherine Mingle
Position: head dive
coach
Background/experience: was a member of
the Homestead Country
Club dive team and
the Shawnee Mission
East dive team and has
been the assistant dive
coach at Homestead Country Club for the past
six years
Why STA: she has known several families from
STA that she has coached including the Arensbergs and the Hutchisons
Looking forward to: getting to know the
“lovely ladies!”
Looking for in a diver: any remote sense or
coordination and a good sense of humor
Goals for this year: at least two state qualifiers
According to Hough: “This job is something
Mingle really wants to do and she is very
excited about it.”
Contact info: kmingle@ku.edu
sports
Teammate to competition
SCOREBOARD
varsity softball
Senior Katie Sharp
ran against STA team
at Rim Rock race
by MOLLIE POINTER
Sports Editor
On Sept. 26, STA and Shawnee Mission East High School
competed at the Rim Rock race,
a distance of 2k. Crossing the
finish line, senior Katie Sharp
found herself racing against the
girls she once called teammates.
Sharp placed 26th individually
while East finished 3rd in the cteam division and STA came in
4th.
Sharp transferred last year
from STA to East in the middle
of her junior year. Sharp participated in the State meet her
freshman year and ran at the varsity level all three years at STA.
According to teammates and
coaches, Sharp was a vital part
of the varsity team and a leader
for everyone.
“It was a huge loss to not have
[Sharp] run for us this year,”
STA cross country coach Karen
Moran said. “More importantly
than her status as a varsity runner, however, Katie was a leader
to her teammates through her
work ethic and enthusiasm for
running.”
According to Sharp, upon entering East, she knew next to no
one and feels that participating
on the cross-country team has
helped her gain a sense of comfort within the East community.
“[Cross country] has made
things a lot easier for me at
school,” Sharp said. “I actually know people in my classes
now.”
The size of East’s team is a
vast difference for Sharp, having
about 200 runners compared to
STA’s 68. As a result of the bigger team, Sharp now mainly runs
JV instead of varsity like she
once did at STA. She has also
found that these larger numbers
make forming close relationships
with her coaches and teammates
more difficult.
“I don’t know [the coaches]
and they don’t know me,” Sharp
said. “They probably still think
I’m the freak kid who cried on
the first day. The first week was
pretty rough.”
Former varsity teammate
senior Grace Krause supports
Sharp’s decision to continue running at the competitive level and
feels that she has become no less
powerplayers
Kathleen Vogel
Sophomore
“I like how you have a team
and it’s not just you,” Vogel
said. “Your team is always
there for you.”
Vogel has played varsity for
STA the past 2 years.
15
9/16 St. Pius 3
STA 18
9/22 Truman 4
STA 5
9/24 Smithville 8
STA 2
9/30 Sion 8
STA 5
10/3 Benton Tournament
STA
In the Belton tournament
Saturday, varsity lost all four
games. According to sophomore Sara Pence, the team
was hurting because two out
of the three pitchers were out
with injury, leaving one pitcher to play all four games. STA
played and lost to Gallatin, St.
Pius, Maryville and Putnam
County. Varsity played the first
game of Districts yesterday.
varsity tennis
9/18 Guifoil Tournament
STA 1st place
9/28 Miege 0
STA 9
9/29 Aquinas Tournament
STA (individual ranks)
10/2 Kickapoo 3
STA 6
10/5 Aquinas 3
STA 6
On Sept. 18, STA won every
division at the Guilfoil Tournament. Senior Kylie Hornbeck
ranked number one singles
player, freshman Murphy Marx
number two singles player,
senior Caroline Farchman and
junior Cassie Redlingshafer
number one doubles team,
and junior Morgan Barrett and
sophomore Caroline Connor
number two doubles team.
varsity golf
9/17 Blue Valley 1st place
STA 2nd place
9/24 Pembroke 2nd place
STA 1st place
10/6 Districts
STA 2nd place
In the District tournment on
Tuesday, STA placed second.
Due to their placement, the
entire team has qualified to go to
State. Seniors Casey O’Flaherty
and Nina Salazar led the team
with a 4th place tie.
varsity cross country
Long strides H Shawnee Mission East senior Katie Sharp races Sept. 30 in
an intersquad meet. Sharp previously raced varsity for STA her freshman,
sophomore and junior years. Photo by Mollie Pointer
a part of the STA team.
“Katie will text me every
morning before a race, wishing
me good luck,” Krause said.
“She hasn’t completely left the
team.”
Moran feels the same way in
that Sharp has continued to stay
a part of the team through conditioning with the girls during the
summer and coming to practices
when East has a day off.
“[Sharp] came into our team
tent [at the Rim Rock] race too,
something we would never allow
an athlete from another school to
do,” Moran said. “I still consider [Sharp] to be a member of our
team, even though she no longer
attends STA.”
Though she no longer walks
the halls at STA, Sharp hopes she
will be able to hold onto her relationships as well as be willing to
let new ones form.
“I love my new team, I love
my teammates and I love STA,”
Sharp said. H
•
ACHIEVEMENTs
Club team, MAVS won the AAU
9/19 Hazelwood Central
STA 3rd place
9/26 Rim Rock Invitational
STA 5th place
10/3 Metro Meet
STA 6th place
varsity volleyball
9/19 Park Hill 0
STA 2
9/19 Lee’s Summit North 2
STA 1
9/22 Oak Park 1
STA 2
9/25 Cor Jesu 2
STA 1
9/25 Incarnate Word 1
STA 2
9/29 St. James Academy 2
STA 0
National Champiosnhsip in
Orlando this past summer
•
Club team came in 2nd for the
junior Olympics
•
Named in “Frosh 59” by Prepvolleyball.com as one of the Nation’s
leading freshman in volleyball
•
FUTURE
Hopes to recieve a college scholarship to play volleyball
On Sept. 19, the top 12 runners went to St. Louis to compete
in the Hazelwood Central meet.
“The St. Louis trip is the most
fun meet in the whole season,”
junior Addie Thompson said.
10/2 Rock Bridge 0
STA 2
10/3 St. Jospeh’s Academy 2
STA 1
10/3 Lee’s Summit West 2
STA 0
The varsity volleyball team
(11-10) competed in the Lee’s
Summit North tournament Sept.
19 at Lee’s Summit North High
School. The team beat Oak Park
High School, Staley High School
and Hickman High School in pool
play, which seeded them first for
tournament play. The Stars then
beat Park Hill South High School
in the quarterfinals, Park Hill High
School in the semi-finals and lost
to Lee’s Summit North 2-1 in the
finals.
On Saturday, the team played
Lee’s Summit West High School,
champion of the 4th Annual Varsity MO/KAN Challenge Volleyball Invitational Sept. 12. Though
head coach Amy Carlson believed the team had a chance to
win, the Stars lost 2-1.
Sports
16
Cheerleaders to coaches
Dance team works
under professional,
experienced dancers
by CHELSEA BIRCHMIER
Staff Writer
When people think of dancers
and cheerleaders, they often envision pom poms, sparkly costumes
and “spirit fingers.” However, according to dance team coaches and
former Chiefs cheerleaders Savannah Vose and Deena Schaumburg,
cheerleading and dancing are much
more than that.
“Cheering for the Chiefs is really dancing,” Vose said. “A lot
of people think it’s all about the
glitz and glamour, the hair and
the fake eyelashes. On the Chiefs
we had an awesome coaching staff
who drilled us and also taught us
to be classy and well put-together.
They wanted girls they could be
proud of.”
Vose and Schaumburg heard
about the coaching job at STA by
word of mouth. Ms. Laura Eilers, who was the coach for STA’s
dance team several years ago, had
cheered with Schaumburg and
Vose on the Chiefs. Eilers told
Vose about the job opening at
STA. Vose originally applied for
assistant coach, not realizing they
were in need of a head coach as
well. When she accepted the position of head coach, she recommended Schaumburg, who then
became assistant coach.
“[STA] was different at first
just because we both went to public schools,” Vose said. “The parents, the girls, the school and the
athletic directors have been very
welcoming. It has been a smooth
transition.”
Sophomore Lindsay Cook believes Vose and Schaumburg’s
coaching reflects the time they
spent as Chiefs cheerleaders.
“They set the standards really
high,” Cook said. “I think they
put more effort into the game
performances than a lot of other
coaches.”
At STA, the dance team has
an unusual season, going from
April of one year to February of
the next. Vose and Schaumburg
prepare the girls for performances
during the school year and dance
camp over the summer. In addition to scheduling and organizing
performances and paperwork, they
work with charities and plan team
bonding exercises.
“We do a lot in the year,” Vose
said. “[The girls] pretty much
have one month off and even then
they’re training. We’ve gone by
what our coaches taught us.”
Vose and Schaumburg enjoy
sharing with STA’s dance team
what their coaches taught them as
Chiefs cheerleaders. This is their
second year, and they feel like
coaching at STA is a great way to
share their experiences.
“I cheered for [the Chiefs] for
four full years and loved it,” Vose
said. “But I’m glad I didn’t go
back for that fifth year because I
would have missed out on the opportunity to coach at STA.”
Vose began dancing at age three
at White Oak Dance Academy in
Blue Springs. In the following
years, she danced on the Blue Valley High School dance team and
UMKC dance team. Schaumburg
began dancing at eight years old
and danced for the Lawrence High
School dance team and KU dance
team. Vose and Schaumburg both
cheered for the Kansas City Comets indoor soccer team for two
years before joining the Chiefs,
an opinion by
Madelyne Bird
Go Chiefs! H Dance team’s head coach Savannah Vose used to be a
cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Vose and assistant coach
Deena Schaumberg both cheered for the Chiefs. Photo Submitted
so cheering on the Chiefs together
strengthened their previous bond.
“As cliché as it sounds, we were
a squad of friends,” Vose said.
“Since 2004, we’ve still got the
same core group of girlfriends.”
Although they had a lot of fun
making friends and doing what
they loved, it was not easy making
it there.
“[Tryouts] are pretty grueling,”
Vose said. “It’s not just about how
good of a dancer you are.”
“They want to see your poise
as well as how you dance,”
Schaumburg added.
Despite difficulties, Vose,
having danced for 22 years, and
Schaumburg, for 18, agree that
they love to dance, and hope to
continue dancing for as long as
they can.
“We’re addicted,” Schaumburg
said. “We can’t stay away.” H
Managers contribute through commitment
Cross country needs extra
help with demands of team,
make coaches job easier
by CASSIE REDLINGSHAFER
Staff Writer
State banners and t-shirts include team
managers, but what do the managers really do?
They attend practice daily and go to all of the
meets, matches, and games but they are busy
with different jobs during these events.
According to cross country coach Karen
Moran, the managers, seniors Jenny Platten, Brady Essmann, and Claire Hansen have
“many, many responsibilities.” Moran also
said that the managers make her job a lot easier.
“Yes, [the managers make practices and
meets easier for me because they] help take
care of a lot of things I don’t have time for,”
Moran said. “This helps me focus on the actual coaching.”
At each meet the three managers set up
tents, tend to minor injuries, and take times
for the runners at the one mile mark, two mile
mark, and finish line which, according to Moran is their biggest responsibility.
The managers attend practice every day
and have responsibilities such as taking attendance, making coolers, and timing the varsity
players when they run hills.
Are sports worth
all the extra work?
Managing madness H (From Left) Senior runner
Grace Krause and senior managers Jenny Platten
and Brady Essmann pay attention in a meeting
before practice last Thrusday. The managers agree
their commitment is just as important as the
runners. Photo by Hanna Katz
Platten ran cross country as a freshman but
sophomore year she was diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis and has managed ever since.
“After I decided I didn’t want to run I
thought about how much I liked the coach and
I loved the girls so I emailed coach Moran and
she suggested that I become a manager,” Platten said.
According to Platten, she prefers managing
over running on the team because she likes to
run on her own time instead of being timed.
Although Platten is no longer a runner, her
time commitment to cross country has not
changed.
“Yeah, I think [managing is as big of a time
commitment as being a runner], I mean there
is a lot of stuff [the managers] do,” Platten
said. “Even though there are three coaches
this year, there are 68 girls [on the team] so
we always have something to do.”
According to varsity runner and sophomore
Kelly O’Byrne, the managers are not only as
important as runners but that they hold crucial
positions on the team.
“Well I feel like the managers are just
as much a part of the team as the runners,”
O’Byrne said. “They go to all the pasta parties and practices and meets and everything.
They also help with individual improvement
by timing everything and they really encourage everyone. They’re also just fun!”
Coach Moran agrees that the managers are
a key component to the team and believe they
deserve more credit.
“Absolutely, [the managers] are just as important as the actual runners even though many
people often overlook them,” Moran said. H
It’s 8 p.m. on a school night. I sit over my
American history book, my eyes drooping,
my body exhausted, taking notes. I have
been sitting at the same table for almost three
hours, I can feel myself re-reading the same
sentence over and over again. I can’t focus
because all I can think about is what I have
to do next.
My eyes skim my planner for the sixth
time that night. The list of things I need to
do seems to grow every time I look down.
All I want to do is take a shower and crawl
into bed. My dad offers to get a pot of coffee
started, I have a long night in front of me.
I softly decline, I don’t want my body to
become used to being hyped up on caffeine
constantly. This has become a common theme
in my nights this year. When school rolls
around in August, I know what’s coming.
I am a proud, third-year, varsity golfer for
good ole’ STA; however, this comes with its
consequences. The grueling hours spent trying
to balance school and golf. Up at seven and at
school till three. Golf practice from three to
six. Homework until I can’t function.
I know I’ll struggle in school from August
to October.
Golf isn’t the most physically exerting
sport that can be found, but I miss more
days than I want to, nine to be exact. It is an
inconvenience to my week requiring constant
planning and talking to teachers, rescheduling
tests, turning in homework early or late. I
have to make sure that teachers know I’m
going to be gone and that I don’t have any
missing assignments in any classes. It never
seems to end and I always fall short with my
efforts at inventory.
So far this semester, I have missed five
days of school and left school early on four
different occasions. I am scheduled to miss
four MORE days of school and leave school
early five more times. I am stressed out.
The fact that I miss so much school isn’t
just an inconvenience to me though. It is [an
inconvenience] to my teacher and my fellow
classmates, who now have to wait an extra
day to give and get their tests back. I feel
guilty for causing so many problems. But
choosing between school and golf is difficult.
Obviously, my classes are important and I try
as hard as I can to make them a priority, but
golf is also a priority to me too. I’m looking
into playing collegiate golf, so my future is
also dangling with it as well as school. So
earlier in the school year when my grades
weren’t good and my parents were pressuring
me to choose between the two, I faltered.
“Is it worth it?” I asked myself. Eventually,
I would stick it out for the rest of the season
and when it ended, I would work as hard as
I possibly could to get those grades back up.
As for now, I’m giving it my best effort. It
becomes difficult in my classes, though. I hate
being the kid who can’t answer the teacher’s
questions when they call on me in class. I
don’t like seeing the look of disappointment
before they say, “No. Can someone else help
Madalyne?”
So in the end there is no way around these
particular facts. Golf can’t be played on the
weekends because there is no possible way
that over 75 people’s schedules would match
up with that. Therefore, we must be taken
out of school, there is no other option, which
I understand. That it unless I pick another
sport....to bad I’m not good at any others. H
arts & entertainment
Teachers’ tunes
on shuffle
Faculty scrolled
through their iPods
and rifled through
CD collections in an
attempt to describe
their music taste
Compiled by JULIA STAPINSKI
Graphics Editor
Mr. Patrick Sirridge
Social Studies teacher
Mr. Richard Shrock
Social Studies
teacher
Favorite song? “Hey Jude” by
the Beatles
Favorite album of all time? Abbey Road by the Beatles
Favorite genre? Jazz
Favorite concert venue? “Smaller places, like the Uptown
[Theatre] or Casino [Theatre].”
What’s your soundtrack on the
way to work? “[A] mix my
son Andy made.”
What do you listen to when
you’re working out? “Who
does this?”
What do you listen to in the car?
Michael Buble, Dire Straits
Do you prefer loud music or
quiet music? Quiet
Have you ever played an instrument? Bass guitar
Have you ever been in a band?
Garage band in a fraternity. “It
was fun... we were terrible.”
Have you ever played an instrument? “I play viola, I have a
banjo but I’m not very good.”
Been in a band? “I was in a string
quartet in high school. We
played at parties... For adults
and stuff. We played at formal
banquets, too. And we tried to
get wedding gigs but... no.”
Favorite band or artist at the moment? Neutral Milk Hotel
Favorite band or artist of all
time? Radiohead
Favorite song of all time? “Needle
in the Hay” by Elliott Smith
Favorite album of all time? “In
The Aeroplane Over The Sea”
by Neutral Milk Hotel
Last concert you went to? Gorgol Bordello in Lawrence, Kan.
in 2007
you’re working out? The album “Honeysuckle Weeks”
by The Submarines
Ms. Jeanella Clark
Math teacher
How would you describe your
taste in music? “Eclectic. I like
a lot of different kinds.”
How many songs do you have on
your iPod? About 240
What’s the best concert you’ve
ever been to? Green Day
What’s the last concert you went
to? Kenny Chesney
What’s your soundtrack on the
way to work? “Usually contemporary Christian.”
What do you listen to when you’re
happy? “Something from Maroon 5.”
Do you prefer loud music or
quiet music? “Depends on my
mood.”
Ms. Amy Carlson
Science teacher
Favorite artist of all time? Madonna
Favorite song at the moment?
“Freak on a leash” by Korn &
Amy Lee
Favorite song of all time? “Bring
me to life” by Evanescence
Favorite album of all time? “Garden State” soundtrack
Favorite radio station? 95.7 The
Vibe
working out? Eminem
sad? Dido
17
Ms. Mary Jo
Coughlin
Theology teacher
How would you describe your
taste in music? “Eclectic.
I like classical music, I like
jazz, I like Irish music.”
Favorite band or artist at the
moment? “I really like Green
Day a lot, and Coldplay.”
Favorite band or artist of all
time? Simon & Garfunkel,
Paul Simon, The Beatles
Favorite song at the moment?
“Whatsername” by Green
Day
Best concert you’ve ever been
to? Garth Brooks. “Not recently but in the 90’s.”
Favorite radio station? “I listen
to 96.5 The Buzz a lot because [my son] always has it
on.”
Next concert you’re going
to? “I thought about going
to Green Day... If Billy Joel
came back I’d really try to get
there.”
you’re happy? “Rock ‘n roll...
I like to sing in the car, it
makes the kids go crazy.”
Scroll through your teachers’ iPods
and listen to their favorite bands and
songs on an audio podcast on Dart
Tube.
Art department fired up over donated kiln
In memory of son, family
gives ceramics class new
kiln to create unique pottery
by MOLLY MEAGHER
Staff Writer
An STA family of alums and benefactors donated a new kiln to the art department for Ceramics classes. The kiln, called a raku kiln, was first
fired by Ceramic II students on Sept. 24 behind
Goppert Center. The estimated cost for the kiln
was around $1,500. A raku kiln is a portable kiln
that uses post fire reduction. Junior and Ceramics II student Eilene McSorley said that although
students are unable to put handles onto the pieces
when using raku, the kiln gives students another
way to fire and experience something different.
“[The raku kiln] is awesome,” McSorley
said. “It’s super dangerous which is probably
why I think it’s so awesome. It makes the coolest
colors that you can’t create with other glazes.”
The Fahey family donated the raku kiln in
dedication to Thomas Fahey, who died in a plane
crash at age 26 in August 2006. The Fahey family found an organization in Thomas’ name to donate to people who need something that Thomas
loved to do. Connie Fahey, mother of Thomas,
is glad that students have the opportunity to use
the new kiln and is able to pass on Thomas’ love
for pottery.
Dibble originally applied for a grant asking
for a raku kiln to the Women’s Circle of Giving
(WCG), an STA organization that gives students
and faculty financial support. The Fahey family, who are a part of WCG, saw Dibble’s grant
asking for a kiln decided to independently fund
for it.
“My daughter is [also] in the [Women’s]
Circle of Giving, Allison Fahey Schorgl, [and]
when she and I saw [the grant asking for a kiln]
it was one of the things we immediately thought
of Thomas,” Mrs. Fahey said. “And [donating
is] just something that gives us a lot of peace and
pleasure to make people happy in his name.”
Unlike other kilns, the raku creates glazes
through a process called post fire reduction. This
process, according to Dibble, draws oxygen out
of the pottery to create unique and unpredictable
glazes. Because of the unpredictability of post
fire reduction, students are unable to control the
outcome of their pieces. Dibble said someone
could make five identical pots but get a different glaze out of all of them when using the raku
kiln.
“Opening the bucket [used for post fire reduction] is like opening Christmas presents because
you just don’t know what you’re going to get,”
Dibble said. “Because of all the firing and the
different variables involved for post fire reduction, the results are always different. [The pieces
change] due to where you put it in the kiln and
how it [reacts] in the bucket. It’s the element of
surprise and it’s kind of nice because of how immediate it is. It’s like opening a Christmas present, you’re like ‘oh, look what I got this time.’”
The raku is also much quicker than other
kilns. Firing with traditional kilns usually takes
several days, whereas the raku uses about 80
minutes to set up, fire, and take down. Dibble
said this gives students “instant gratification”
when firing with the raku.
The art department is primarily funded from
the school budget, student lab fees, and Fine Arts
Boosters club (FAB), an organization whose goal
is to raise money for the art, drama and music
departments of STA. Now faculty members, like
Dibble, are able to submit a request for a grant
through the WCG for supplies or equipment that
wouldn’t be covered with the existing funds.
This is the second year WCG has been together
and so far they have donated recycle bins and a
projector to the school as well as financial support to several students.
Dibble said she is very grateful to the Fahey family for donating the kiln because it has
allowed students to fire ceramics in a different
way. She is also grateful to the administration for
organizing WCG.
“I think that the administration is really supportive,” Dibble said. “Just the fact that they developed this grant for equipment [shows that] innovation in the future is a beautiful thing.” H
Fire it up H Ceramics teacher Lisa Dibble explains
the Raku kiln outside of the Goppert Center on
Sept. 24. Dibble and ceramics students fired clay
pots and sculptures with the Raku kiln, breaking
away from their normal firing kiln. Photo by Avery
Adams
18
Senior excels in
musical world
McKenzie Miller began
musical training at an
early age, influenced
mostly by her mother
by PAIGE WENDLAND
Staff Writer
A three-year old looked up at
her violin teacher. She stared down
at the strange lines of tape going
down the neck of her quarter-size
violin. Looking back up to her
teacher’s hands, she tried to imitate what her fingers were doing,
but the noise that came out didn’t
sound as perfect. She gazed up at
her mom who looked on, giving an
encouraging look every once in a
while. Finally, after an intense set
of seconds maneuvering her hand
to the perfect configuration, the
little girl played the note she had
worked so hard to sound out.
Senior McKenzie Miller was
first introduced to music through
her mother, Barbara Miller, a
bluegrass artist. She says she grew
up listening to her mom’s singing,
which made her interest in music
grow.
“My mom’s a musician, and so
is my brother, so I grew up with
this life like centered around music,” Miller said.
Barbara wanted McKenzie to
be involved in music starting at a
young age, so she enrolled her in
violin lessons.
“One day she just told me,
‘You’re going to play violin,’”
Miller said.
McKenzie’s first teacher, Elise
“M
y mom’s
a musician, and so is
my brother, so I
grew up with this
life like centered
around music.’”
-Senior McKenzie Miller
DART tube
see the podcast at
www.dartnewsonline.com
Watch Morgan Said’s podcast
of McKenzie Miller showcasing
her talents singing and playing
violin on Dart Tube.
Street-Bradshaw, used the Suzuki
approach of instruction, which
starts musicians’ education at a
very young age. According to the
Suzuki Association of the Americas
(SAA), young children learn music
like languages, through repetition
and parental encouragement. The
method uses large amounts of listening rather than reading music
in the early years, similar to how
children learn to speak before they
can read.
“Musical ability is not an inborn
talent but an ability which can be
developed,” the SAA said. “Any
child who is properly trained can
develop musical ability, just as all
children develop the ability to speak
their mother tongue. The potential
of every child is unlimited.”
Although McKenzie stopped
taking violin lessons in middle
school, she was in the instrumental
music class at STA freshman and
sophomore year, and she still enjoys playing in her spare time.
Barbara not only influenced her
enthusiasm for violin but also began
her interest in singing. She began
taking voice lessons before freshman year. Last year, she joined
the choir at STA as a soprano and
began participating in various competitions.
“[At the Classical Singer Convention,] it was just like a bunch of
people in ball gowns at a hotel for
no reason,” McKenzie said. “But it
was still really fun to meet people
who like the same thing as me.”
See INFLUENCE,
page 22
Classical Expression H Senior McKenzie Miller preforms for several students in the
auditorium Sept. 28. Miller also played several chords on the piano during this activity
period, showing her musical versatility. Photo by Avery Adams
Artists feel need to create, express
Three juniors are pulled to
paint, draw, sew and release
creativity, on their own time
by MICAH WILKINS
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The necessities for most STA students to
survive and thrive are eating and sleeping.
For juniors Molly O’Boyle, Clare Odegard
and Anna Rayburn, their necessity is art.
O’Boyle, Odegard and Rayburn find that
they must express themselves, and they channel that expression and creativity through their
artwork that they make.
“I make things,” junior Anna Rayburn
said. “That’s a requirement for my existence.
This is like, what I do now. This is what
works.”
Rayburn has recently begun crafting
clothes and jewelry, and finds herself inspired
by fashion from periods as far back as the
1500s. She also enjoys using old clothes or
jewelry and recreating them.
“Mostly I use stuff that I find,” Rayburn
said. “I like using my grandma’s old jewelry.
If I do buy things it’s really minimal or used
stuff from a thrift store that I can take apart
and modify.”
Like Rayburn, Odegard often feels the
need to create things.
“I’ve always made art, even if it was silly
anime in sixth grade,” Odegard said. “I’ve
always had a need to make things. I’m very
drawn to it and I can’t explain why. It’s there
and I can’t ignore it.”
Odegard uses whatever resources she has
around her to channel her creativity, including her bedroom. She decorates it by drawing
Artistic Expressions H Junior Molly O’Boyle
displays one of her favorite paintings she’s done.
“I feel like artists are sort of born with their
creativity,” O’Boyle said. Photo by Micah Wilkins
Wall of Fame H Junior Clare Odegard, in her room Sept. 26, decorates her room with murals and other
images on her walls. “Most of the things I make come to me at like four in the morning, so I don’t really
know what’s going on then,” Odegard said. Photo by Micah Wilkins
on her walls, and creating webs of yarn and
lights in several corners of her room.
O’Boyle, who began painting abstract
paintings less than a year ago, finds herself
constantly thinking about painting.
“I’ve always been doodling on all my
notes,” O’Boyle said. “Even though I just
started, now it’s like I need to paint. If I don’t,
I get really tense. It’s a real relief to paint.”
O’Boyle also finds painting to be a very
personal act, in which she discovers her faith,
her emotions and nature.
“When I see a painting of mine, I can see
exactly what I was feeling,” O’Boyle said. “I
feel very connected. That’s the thing about
art, you’re putting yourself out there.”
O’Boyle doesn’t display her artwork or
show friends because she feels it’s a more personal activity which few people can relate to.
“Not many people know that I paint,”
O’Boyle said. “I keep it a secret. Most people, when I tell them that I paint, they’re like
‘Hm paint, what does that mean?’”
Odegard also feels that what she creates
is personal, and keeps most of her artwork
to herself.
“I hang [my art] up in my room sometimes
and then sometimes I don’t do anything with
it,” Odegard said. “Stuff I make at home I
don’t really show anybody, unless they ask. I
don’t really give it away. I don’t know how
much people want my art as gifts.”
According to O’Boyle, her artwork is a
part of herself, and showing someone her artwork can be compared to showing someone
her own emotions or thoughts.
“I’m putting myself on the canvas,”
O’Boyle said. “I almost feel vulnerable showing people what I’m feeling even if they can’t
tell what I’m feeling. It’s kind of scary.” H
entertainment
WALL
19
STA takes a shot at new class
Digital Photography Samples
“The Boy Who Knew Too
Much” is Mika’s second album,
but it still highlights his wide
vocal range and ability to
ingrain a tune in your head for weeks
on end. However, the lyrics of many
of its songs lack the whimsical humor
of Mika’s first album, “Life in Cartoon
Motion,” and instead focus on themes
much more melancholy and dark. Its
songs hide stories of Mika’s teenage
life beneath catchy rhythms and steady
beats, an over-the-top sense of merriment
masking his past angst. Although many
of the songs are appealingly upbeat and
quirky, the album in its entirety fails to
measure up to the near inimitable style of
“Life in Cartoon Motion.”
-Paige Wendland
Each week the class is given a new
assignment, ranging from nature, like
Steck’s photo, bottom, to self-portraits
like McNaghten’s photo, top.
CD
-junior Alyson McNaghten
HHH
My first instinct upon
hearing “Automatic” by
Tokio Hotel was to laugh.
It sounds like My Chemical Romance and Hello Kitty collaborated on a single. The song resembles
the “Pokemon” television show theme
music, fully equipped with dramatic
echoes and distant, robotic “whoa”s.
While I will admit the chorus is relatively tolerable and even somewhat catchy,
it’s almost impossible to contemplate
the song’s meaning without getting
caught up in its ridiculous packaging.
“Automatic” is the perfect song for you
if you’re getting pumped to trade “YuGi-Oh!” cards.
-Julia Stapinski
Song
HH
Book
Ever since the Twilight
era came about, it’s
become harder and
harder to find a good fantasy book
among the shelves. And the novel
Swoon by Nina Malkin is no exception. While the parts of the plot were
relatively predictable, the majority of
the story line wasn’t. The writing wasn’t
really challenging, so mostly I felt as if
I was being talked down to. All in all, I
just couldn’t sink my teeth into Swoon,
but then again I’m not one to finish a
book.
-Taylor Irwin
Picture This H Junior Anna Rayburn takes pictures in her front yard for her digital photography class
assignment. Rayburn has been interested in photography since she was 13. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
Juniors, seniors enroll in new
elective; motivated by adviser,
subject and art of photography
by MADALYNE BIRD
Features Editor
STA is offering a new Digital Photography
class the 2009-2010 school year for current
juniors and seniors. Students can earn either a
half-credit in fine arts or a half-credit in computer science.The length of the course is one
semester, where students are taught the technical and compositional aspects of photography.
There is only one section per semester for this
class, complete with only 14 students for the
fall, due to limited amount of computers in the
classroom.
“I like how small [the class] is,” junior Sarah
Wirtz said . “It’s very intimate and we get a lot
of individual time if we need it.”
Publications adviser Eric Thomas who is
teaching the photography class this year, has
been proposing this class since his first year as a
faculty member in 2002.
“There used to be a photography class [at
STA], but it was dropped after they got rid of
the dark room,” Thomas said. “The kids in photography club have also been proposing a class.
If I were only to get to teach one class it would
be photo-journalism.”
After five years, Digital Photography has
been added to the program of studies once
again. During the course of the class students
are taught three major ideas of photography:
technical aspects, using Adobe Photoshop to
edit photographs and rules of composition.
“I love learning how to take better pictures
using better techniques,” junior Alyson McNaghten said.
The class is given a new assignment every
week, ranging from self-portraits to nature.
“I like being able to go out and have the
freedom to take pictures of whatever we want,”
junior Emma Steck said. “I like that it’s not really restricted.”
After students are finished taking photos for
their weekly assignment, they upload them onto
a computer and edit them in Adobe Photoshop.
After they have completed this task they upload
their narrowed selection of photos to Flickr.
com. Students are also required to write a reflection on each weekly assignment, to be submitted
online.
“We’ve already nicknamed this class ‘the
-junior Sophia Garozzo
-junior Emma Steck
best class ever’,” Steck said.
Once a student has successfully completed
the course, they have the option to apply as a
staff photographer for either the Teresian yearbook or The Dart newspaper.
“I’m thinking about applying for a position
as a photographer, “ McNaghten said. “I didn’t
want to take journalism, but I liked the photography part of it, so I figured this would be a
good way to get in to [the publications].”
However, it is not only the photography class
that the students enjoy.
“I think [Mr. Thomas] is an awesome teacher, “ McNaghten said. “He really knows what
he is doing and he’s really passionate about the
subject of photography. His excitement gets everyone else excited too.” H
HHH
The pilot for “Glee”
premiered last spring
on Fox but the actual
season started on Sept.
9. This show is about
a Glee Club that is formed and causes
controversy because the star football
player joins. Even though it sounds a
lot like the High School Musical movies, it’s different because of the more
mature comedy. At some cheesy points
in the show (like in HSM) I stopped and
thought, “Why am I watching this?”
Then I quickly remember, because it’s
hilarious. Although some moments are
completely cliche they are different
than the HSM cliche moments because
you can tell that the writers were cracking up while writing scenes where main
characters break out into duets, not
imagining these scenes as touching moments.
-Cassie Redlingshafer
Show
H H HH
Senior Anna Blanck
Q: What art classes are you
currently enrolled in?
A: First semester: Portfolio,
Ceramics, and Graphic Design. Second Semester: Computer graphics, Portfolio, and
Graphic Design.
Q: What type of art do you enjoy most?
A: Painting.
Q: Any current projects?
A: “To create individual, quicksketch watercolor 8x10 paintings of everyone I work with at
Waldo Pizza. “
Q: How many portraits is
Compiled by TAYLOR IRWIN
In Focus Editor
that?
A: 84.
Q: How many have you finished?
A: Two.
Q: How long have you been interested in art?
A: “Since I was really little. I’ve
always drawn.”
Q: Do you plan on pursuing art
in the future?
A: “Yes, I’m really interested
in painting. I’m looking into
schools for design, that way I
can still make art but have a
more steady income... but right
now I’m happy painting.” H
Figure Drawing H Senior Anna Blanck draws an
outline of a model in her sketch book last Tuesday.
Blanck has been interested in art since a young
age and is currently enrolled in four art classes.
Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
features
20
1.
2.
BRIDGE to
Camellia Jahanshahi left STA
to attend another all-girls
Catholic school in New York
by MICAH WILKINS
Entertainment Editor
Trading Places
Camellia Jahanshahi would be a senior at
STA this year with 130 young women who
would be her classmates. She would be waking up, throwing on her plaid skirt and driving
to 5600 Main street every morning like she’s
done for the past three years. She would be
checking into the Whitney advisory just before
the bell rings.
But Jahanshahi now goes to a different allgirls, Catholic high school, 1,200 miles away
in New York City. She wakes up every morning in Brooklyn and puts on a different uniform
skirt before taking the F Train to join 80 other
girls at her new school.
Hazy Future
The summer after her sophomore year at
STA, Jahanshahi had no idea what her family’s
plans were.
“I remember the end of sophomore year I
thought I was moving to Chicago, Ill. during
the summer, but my parents were like ‘Oh,
never mind,’” Jahanshahi said.
Mr. Kamran Jahanshahi, Camellia’s father,
had been searching for a new job when his employer in Kansas City let him go. Some of their
relocation options and Kamran’s potential job
offers were in places like Barcelona, Tokyo,
New York City, as well as Chicago. Kamran
lia was
traveled
in the midacross the
dle of second
globe to be ingrade. These conterviewed for posistant changes in locations, but when plans
tion were beneficial to
fell through, the uncerthe growth of Camellia’s
tainty was unsettling for
character and ability to adapt
Camellia. Even that October,
to her surroundings.
Kamran was still deliberating
“I believe that your personand going to interviews, accordality is made when you’re a kid,”
ing to Camellia.
Camellia said. “The amount of
“I just snapped one day and I told
time that I’ve moved and traveled
[my parents] ‘Don’t tell me anything
in general has made me develop as
about where we’re going to live until
a person. I’ve experienced a lot of
you actually know,’” Camellia said. “I
cultures. I’ve realized how people are
didn’t want to tell people and then have
different. And, I’ve learned to blend
plans change again, like they had so many
in to most scenarios. I love that I’ve
other times.”
moved around and
Not until last
been in so many forwinter did Kamran fieign places.
Plus,
nally settle on the dewith my background-cision to leave Kansas
he
amount
of
time
my mom’s Southern,
City, which the Jahmy dad’s from Iran-anshahis had called
I’ve moved and
it just suits us. We’re
home for 10 years,
traveled in general has
all hyper-aware of the
for a job as vice presiculture that surrounds
dent for a global busimade me deveolp as a
us.””
ness transformation
person... I’ve learned
Many of the reaat MetLife, a life insons why Kamran
surance company in
to
blend
in
to
most
scedecided to move his
New York. In July,
family around so freKamran, Camellia,
narios.”
quently were for the
her mother Ms. JuCamellia Jahanshahi
benefits Camellia and
lie Milner, their dog
Stephan would in turn
Zara, their cat Calico
receive from being
and their fish Jake
in so many different
moved to Brooklyn, a
places.
borough of New York City.
“Both of my kids had the opportunity to exWorldview
perience different cultures,” Kamran said. “As
Camellia is no stranger to new places, new
a result, they are wiser and more mature dealpeople or new experiences.
ing with people and dealing with change. We
“I was born in Baltimore, [Md.], and then
are more and more becoming a global village
we moved to Florida, I can’t remember where,”
and a very mobile society, so I think they will
Camellia said. “Then after Florida we moved
become more successful in their futures.”
to Greece. After Greece we moved to Belgium.
Hitting the Road
After Belgium we moved to Missouri. After
The first of the month of July, Camellia and
Kansas City we moved to Brooklyn [NY].”
her mother woke up early, packed up their car
Camellia and her family have packed up and
and did a quick check through their now empty
changed their living situations for her father’s
house to make sure they weren’t leaving anyjob more times than she can recall.
thing behind.
“I have global responsibilities,” Kamran
Camellia and Julie squeezed into their Honda
said. “So I have to travel within the US and
Fit, complete with three suitcases, one dog, one
abroad.”
cat, one fish, snacks, CDs and movies for the
The Jahanshahis, Kamran, Camellia’s moth20-hour drive to their new home in Brooklyn.
er, Julie and Camellia’s older brother, Stephan
Camellia and Julie would be meeting Kamran,
Jahanshahi, moved to Kansas City when Camel-
“T
who had
been living there in
a small apartment, working at
MetLife since January.
By July 10, Camellia
was standing in her new
bedroom in the Jahanshahis’ new apartment on the
corner of Court Street and
State Street, deciding which
posters to put up on her new
walls. Joey Ramone facing
the north or the west?
Family Time
The family’s constant movement made them
closer, especially in new or foreign environments in which language or customs would act
as a barrier, separating the Jahanshahis from
others in their new country.
“Basically we were guests living abroad,”
Julie said.
“We have become closer as a family unit,”
Kamran said. “We’ve always had to rely on
each other.”
Camellia and her brother, Stephan, have a
very close relationship as a result of their family’s moves. Stephan, who is 21 and attends
Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada, stayed with his sister and his parents
in Brooklyn this summer and spent a lot of time
with Camellia.
“Most siblings aren’t as close,” Camellia
said. “We rely on each other a lot, because
we’ve been ‘the new kid’ a lot.”
Twists and Turns
After the Jahanshahis decided to move to
New York City, they still had several unanswered questions. How would Camellia complete high school? Where would she attend?
Would she even need to attend school?
At the beginning of the summer, just before she left for Brooklyn, Camellia intended
to enroll in online classes to acquire her necessary high school credits rather than attending a school in New York. After they arrived,
however, she was informed that she needed her
GED (General Education Development test),
which she had to be 18 to acquire. Camellia
would have to attend high school after all.
“My dad didn’t like the idea of me going to a
public school,” Camellia said. “So, he applied
features
3.
21
4.
BROOKLYN
f o r
m e ,
without
asking me, to
several
private
schools. Soon St.
Saviour [High School]
called and told me I was
accepted.”
Traveling Man
For most of Camellia’s
life, her father has been away
on business trips across the
globe. But she got used to a
lifestyle that didn’t always
include him.
“When he was home we lived
one way and when he wasn’t home we lived
another way,” Camellia said. “It was kind of
like we had two separate households. But his
absence wasn’t that big of a deal. It was just
kind of how we lived.”
Despite her father’s frequent travels, Camellia said, he has nonetheless been a reliable
parental figure.
“My dad’s always given me and my family
the best that he could,” Camellia said. “He’s
had expectations for himself as a dad and a provider and he’s always lived up to them.”
Foreigners
Born in Iran, Kamran moved to the US
when he was 16. After Kamran and Julie met
at the University of Minnesota where they were
attending, they decided to marry in 1982.
After college, Kamran decided he wanted a
job that involved a lot of traveling and global
involvement.
“I was looking for a job where I had a
responsibility of international scope,” Kamran said. “I enjoy working with people from
around the world and interacting with different
cultures and backgrounds. In general I just like
being able to have a broader view of the world
and being involved with it, instead of reading
about it or researching it. I get to experience
it first hand.”
Kamran has lived in 11 countries and worked
in many more, including Mexico, Colombia,
Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Germany, Spain,
France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Poland, India,
Hungary, Egypt, Japan and China. Kamran also
travels to several foreign countries on business.
In the next few weeks, he will be traveling to
Delhi, India, then to Hong Kong and then to
b a c k
Mexico
home.
City,
all
“I miss so
on business for
much [in Kansas
MetLife.
City].,” Camellia said.
After living in sev“I miss my friends so
eral foreign countries, the
much, and I miss James,
Jahanshahis realized the difmy boyfriend so much. I miss
ficulties of having a family in a
having a house. I miss driving
foreign country.
my car.”
“They were amazing locations
Trapped at home, Camellia
[where we lived], but we were alyearned for new friends and new
ways foreigners in those locations,
things to do, but she had no resources
which isn’t the best place to raise
to find places to go or people to see.
kids,” Camellia said.
“For the first two and a half months
Kamran also agrees that despite the
of being [in Brooklyn] I was pretty much
benefits of living in different places, the
sitting in my room alone or hanging out
family lacked a set place they could call
with my mom,” Camellia said.
home.
In addition to mak“We
haven’t
ing herself adjust, Cahad the opportunity to
mellia also comforted
establish deep roots,
her mother, who was
so that’s a disadvanthink each one of us
also having a difficult
tage,” Kamran said.
is
re-evaluating
how
time with this move,
“I’m also sure it’s difwith elements of her
ficult for the kids to
we define home. Kamran
life that she loved
make new friends in
and I have always said
back in Kansas City.
new places every time
“My mom took it
we move.”
home
is
where
your
famreally hard,” CamelTaking away one
lia said. “It happened
life for another
ily is. Having a family
really fast, it was kind
Camellia undertogether
is
home.”
of like a vacuum just
stood her family’s
Julie Milner, mother
turned on and sucked
moves when she was
away everything. She
a child. But after stayloves work and she
ing in Kansas City for
loves church and she
ten years, she thought
loved the house, the
she would be able to
neighborhood. We both agree that this was the
finish out her high school years until her next
hardest move. When we see the ‘I heart NY’
move; college.
shirts we don’t get it, but we saw an ‘I question
However, Camellia felt her father found a
mark NY’ and we were like ‘Yes!’”
new job at a pretty inopportune time.
The new kid
“I resent [my parents] a little bit for this
Camellia woke up at 6 a.m. Sept. 9. She
move,” Camellia said. “I had to leave for my
groggily walked the six blocks to the subway
senior year. I’m not going to be able to go to
and boarded the F train with the other early
prom or do senior pranks or do Kairos. I resent
morning commuters. After she arrived at her
that they took me away from my friends and
stop, she walked another four blocks to St. Savmy home.”
iour High School for her first day of school.
Julie also had trouble with this move, but
This is the fifth school she’s attended, and
preferred it to the alternatives.
just like the others, she was considered the
“Mostly I like to move, but this move
“new kid.”
wasn’t something that I would have chosen,”
Though this place was different, she still
Julie said. “We tried living apart with [Kamquickly adapted, like she knew she would.
ran] commuting but that didn’t work for me. I
“When I approached [Camellia] I saw that
needed to support our marriage.”
she was sweet and extremely outgoing,” Erica
July and August found Camellia in New
Shwab said. Shwab is a senior at St. Saviour
York City, lonely, sad and missing her friends
“I
High School this year,
and one of Camellia’s closest friends so far.
“Camellia has came to my house several times,
and I’ve enjoyed the stories she tells and the
conversations we have.”
Finding the way home
As Camellia, Julie and Kamran unpacked
and set up their apartment, they remembered
the last four times they had done so, in four different cities, in three separate countries.
To remind them of their past homes, they
brought with them their piano from Kansas City,
their Persian rugs, furniture from Belgium, art
from Greece, family photos from everywhere
and enough memories to fill a lifetime.
“I think each one of us is re-evaluating how
we define home,” Julie said. “Kamran and I
have always said home is where your family is.
Having a family together is home.” H
1. Shadows H Senior Camellia Jahanshahi, former
STA student, poses for a photo by a mural in her
former Kansas City church. Jahanshahi left STA to
move to New York during the summer. Photo by
Jaime Henry-White
2. Artsy Fartsy H Senior at Saint Saviour Camellia
Jahanshahi draws on her sketch board during art
class at her new school. Photo Submitted
3. Father-Daughter Bonding H Camellia poses
for a picture with her father, Kamram, while in
Tennessee. Photo Submitted
4. New Life H Mother Julie Milner, far left,
Camellia, brother Stephan Jahanshahi and father
Kamram Jahanshahi share a New Year’s Eve
meal in their new home of New York City. Photo
Submitted
in the mix
22
Romance: The chemistry behind
innate physical attractions
Continued from page 2
With a different MHC than
their own as more “pleasant.” He
hypothesizes that the reason for this
is to avoid inbreeding, continually
change the makeup of the immune
system so parasites do not adapt,
and that immune diversity is more
disease-resistant.
However, the nose can sometimes mess up. According to a
study by Mr. Stewart Craig Roberts, an evolutionary psychologist
at the University of Newcastle in
England, the use of birth control
could confuse the scent of your
possible partner and possibly contribute to divorce. Some women
who marry while on birth control
and stop to have children later realize their genes do not match well
with their partner’s.
The nose also functions to allow men to subconsciously detect
when a female is fertile or ovulating. If this is the case, the male
will be more attracted to her because she is able to bear children at
the time. According to a study by
the journal Evolution and Human
Behavior, strippers who are ovulating earn $70 an hour on average, while strippers who are menstruating earn only $35 an hour on
average.
Taste test
Scent and taste go hand in hand
in determining whether a partner
suits you. The fact that MHC is
also contained in saliva explains
kissing.
“Kissing might be a taste test,”
said Martie Haselton, an associate professor of psychology at
UCLA.
Often, testosterone gets into
men’s saliva. Kissing can cause a
transfer of this testosterone which
could stimulate the female to be
more open to greater intimacy.
A study led by psychologist
Gordon Gallup showed that women place more emphasis on kissing
than men. They use kissing as a
way to assess their partner and the
status of their relationship. The
study suggested that since women
can get pregnant from sex, they
tend to be more picky when choosing their partner.
Also, the close proximity of kissing allows you to
learn more about your partner.
“At the moment of a kiss, there’s
a rich and complicated exchange
of postural, physical and chemical
information,” Gallup said. “There
are hardwired mechanisms that
process all this.”
These “hardwired mechanisms”
are so primal that humans do not
even realize they are using them. When people look for these signs
in the opposite sex, they aren’t just
looking for love, but to continue
the human population. H
Taking same steps
STA teachers train,
plan to run half
marathon Oct. 17
by KATHLEEN HOUGH
Staff Writer
STA English teachers Katie Dolan, Carrie Jacquin, Kelly
Fast, Eric Thomas, and world history teacher Richard Shrock have
more than grading essays and vocabulary tests in their lesson plans
for the Saturday of the Teresian
dance.
While STA students wake up
early in order to attend pre-planned
hair appointments, manicure/pedicure combinations, and last minute
alterations to their one-of-a-kind
dresses, the five STA teachers will
be stretching for and running the
Waddell and Reed Kansas City
half-marathon.
The half-marathon covers
H
13.2 miles of Kansas City, beginning at 7 a.m. Oct. 17. The race
will start at Union Station, continue from downtown to the Country Club Plaza, only to loop back
around and end back at Union Station where it began.
According to Dolan, most of
the teachers did not plan to run the
half-marathon together, and do not
train with one another.
“It all started at an English department meeting,” Dolan said. “I
was talking to Mr. Thomas and
mentioned that I was training for
a half-marathon. [Thomas] said
that he, Mr. Shrock, and Mr. Fast
were [training] too, and then Ms.
Jacquin chimed in and said that
she and her husband were doing
[the half-marathon] as well.”
Although all five teachers plan
to run the half-marathon, Dolan
predicts each teacher will run the
race on their own, and not as a
group, contrary to popular belief.
“From what I gather, it sounds
like Mr. Thomas is the fastest,”
Dolan said. “However, Mr. Fast
claims that he’s kind of crazy
about it too, plus Mr. Fast and
Mr. Shrock have been training together, so I’m not sure if [Thomas, Fast, and Shrock] will run together or not.”
When it comes to the actual
race, Dolan confesses her anxiety
about the event. She believes that
her normal schedule in addition to
volleyball season has prevented
her from training as much as she
had planned.
Dolan is worried about her performance at the race.
“I’m actually a little nervous
about [the race] because I’m
afraid I’m going to get injured,”
Dolan said. “I haven’t been doing
the amount of training I should be
doing, but I still want to run [the
half-marathon] because I told myself I would do it. I would be really disappointed and embarrassed
if I didn’t. H
FAB raises money for Scotland trip
Tonight the Fine Arts Booster
club (FAB) will hold their first
meeting of the year. FAB is a parent booster club that works and
raises money to support the arts
at STA.
According to President Alicia
Girardeau, all of the money FAB
raises this year will go toward the
Scotland trip, in which a small
cast will travel to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh to perform the
play, “Greater Tuna.”
“The entire Fine Arts Department designed that all funds will
go for the Scotland trip, which
was very generous of them,” Girardeau said.
FAB raises money by selling
concessions at STA performances,
hosting uniform sales, and selling
donuts every Thursday to students
and faculty in the mornings, with
some other ideas for this year on
the way.
“We are working on a mother/
daughter Bunko night in the winter to raise money,” Girardeau
said. “And we have some other
ideas in the works as well.” H
Influence: A rooted
passion in music
Continued from page 18
McKenzie says her passion in
singing is opera, and she hopes to
major in voice and opera in college. She is preparing an audition
video to send to colleges she cannot visit personally, and she plans
to visit closer schools to audition
in person.
“Opera is something that’s
unique,” McKenzie said. “I mean,
it’s not something that everybody
out there does. I think it would be
really cool to have that as a job.”
Along with McKenzie’s accomplishments playing the violin,
she began taking piano lessons this
year. Although she started quite re-
cently, McKenzie says her knowledge gained through playing the
violin has helped her learn quickly,
especially when doing things like
reading music.
Throughout her life, McKenzie’s mother has been a heavy
influence on her when it comes to
music. She says much of her taste
in music came from her mom, especially her interest in bluegrass.
With years of experience playing
the violin and singing and with piano as a new musical talent to add to
her list, McKenzie has astounded
STA with her musical capacity in
such a variety of areas. H
Issue Two Corrections
H
On page 2, The Dart incorrectly identified Principal of student
affairs Mary Anne Hoecker as the Principle for academic affairs.
The Dart apologizes for this occurrence. H
Web releases blogs
The Dart’s website
launches nine new
online bloggers
by CASSIE REDLINGSHAFER
Staff Writer
Dart News Online launched
its blogs Monday night. A
“blog” coming from the words
“web” and “log” has been compared to an online diary. Blogs
will have a topic unique to every
individual blogger and content
all it’s own.
Bloggers write in an informal
writing style more relatable to
students.
Nine STA bloggers will blog
biweekly about a variety of topics ranging from spirituality, to
weird things, to local news. The
bloggers and the subjects they
will blog about are as follows:
junior Kathleen Hough (Weird
Things), junior Madalyne Bird
(Local News), senior Sydney
Deatherage (Campus News),
senior Taylor Irwin (STA Life),
senior Kayla Loosen (Pop Culture), senior Micah Wilkins (Entertainment), senior Elizabeth
Wilson (Advice), senior Caroline
Thompson (Spirituality), and junior Morgan Said (Academics).
Blogs contain links to related
YouTube videos, news clips, or
news articles depending on the
content of the blogs.
Each blog will be updated on
a different day of the week or
more, depending on the blogger.
The blogs, like most of the
website, are purely for the entertainment of the readers in and
out of the STA community.
Blogs and other information
will are related to the print version of The Dart, with all stories
and other information online for
readers to enjoy.
Readers can comment on
blogs, and after review by the
web staff, the comments will be
posted on the bloggers page. H
Auction plans begin
Although the annual STA
auction is less than two months
away, preparing for the fundraiser includes activities long before.
Sept. 25 was the auction pre-party
hosted by the Lauden family.
Different incentives for selling include receiving STA sweatpants that can be worn at school
in place of the skirt, along with
individual, advisory, and class
prizes. Each ticket in $10, and
one winner is picked at the auction with a choice of a three year
lease on a 2010 Toyota Corollas,
$10,000 in cash, or one year free
tuition and fees at STA.
The theme for the auction this
year is “Starry Starry Night” and
will be the night of Nov. 21. H
Rosie Hodes
5
Patient ‘Angel,’
I am so sorry
1
Angelica, here is my 15th
apology, and it’s more formal
because it’s in writing: I am so
sorry. To all of you who are questioning what I did to hurt this
poor “Angel,” I shall explain.
My second “get to know a
stranger” experiment didn’t go
so well.
Cross-country practice was
over and I had a while to spare
before my date with senior Angelica DeSimio. So, what did
I do? Went to Chipotle, obviously. That seems innocent enough,
but 45 minutes and 450 phone
calls later I arrived at the Roasterie and profusely apologized to
Angelica for throwing my key
(or so I thought) into the trashcan. But she waited! She waited
for tardy, irresponsible Rosie
who didn’t take her subconscious
seriously when it yelled at her to
“Get Angelica’s phone number!
Just in case!” I hear you laughing
now, subconscious. Her phone
number is now safe and sound in
my contact list. When the excitement (a.k.a.
embarrassment) settled down and
Angelica graciously granted forgiveness, she popped open her
Jones’ Root Beer and we chatted
about anything an everything.
Angelica works at Laura Little’s
fudge shop and has trouble resisting the temptation of a nibble
or two. She read “Colleges That
Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think
About Colleges” by Lauren Pope
and has narrowed her list to four
choices, all of which sound incredible and so Angelica-esque.
She is bringing the class of 2010
an incredible gift for Teresian:
and her greatly-missed big-timeNew-Yorker date (see pages 2021). She shares my unconditional
love for the Academy, citing the
friendships she’s made as her favorite part.
Angelica was so relatable to
me and I wondered why I never
let my knowledge of Angelica
go past the superficial, “Editor
of Windmoor, went to Visitation, used to clobber me in volleyball.” I’m glad I dug deeper,
but I can tell there’s even more
to learn.
So, even though getting there
was a little stressful, my date
with Angelica was definitely
worth it. I would stick my hand
in a Chipotle trashcan for her any
day. H
top
MODEL BEHAVIOR
5
3
The Kokondorok Dog. This dog is unique
in the way that it’s fur is long and cordlike,
greatly resembling a mop.
The Angora Rabbit. This is one of the oldest known
breeds of rabbit, known for it’s long hair. The Angora Rabbit originated in Turkey along with the Angora goat.
The Star-Nosed Mole. This mole is found in East Canada
and Northern US. This mole is a great swimmer and can
be found along river bottoms, searching for food.
4
2
Workin’ It H Critter has allegedly been taking
modeling classes ever since his debut as the
“campus kitty.” He has been seen struttin’ his
stuff up and down the Donnelly Hall stairs
between mods. Some wonder if the publicity
has gone to his head. Photo by Sophia Garozzo
compiled by Avery Adams
Information compiled from hubpages.com
[tune in at teresian]
2.
3.
6.
4.
5.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
down- 1. Just a small town girl…
2. Been here all along so why
can’t you see 4. Do me a favor
call me jerk one more time 5. We
used to kiss all night, now it’s just
a bar fight 7. Open up and set us
free, aoooow 11. Somebody call
911! 12. What’s going on on the
ﬂoor? 14. Someone like you and
all you know and how you speak
16. Groove slam, work it back,
Filter that, baby bump that track
17. We were both young, when i
first saw you across- 1. Keep on
with the force don’t stop 3. i never
thought i’d… be in love like this
6. And the Britney song was on 8.
This beat be bumpin’ bumpin’ 9.
Don’t wanna be tough, better do
what you can 10. i was hanging in
the corner with my 5 best friends
13. Fill up my cup- drink- mozzletoff 15. you shoulda put a ring
on it 18. you’re delusional, you’re
delusional, Boy you’re losing your
mind 19. Do you want love or
you want fame? 20. There’s always
gonna be another mountain 21.
Mmm that you only meant well?
Well of course you did.
created by Shaughnessy Miller
Days of our lives
The Dart created a countdown to some of the most anticipated
days of the school year.
8
days until Teresian.
Exactly 66 days until first semester finals.
There are
14 days before the next late start.
days until the next
7 three day weekend.
And only 232 days until summer.
Approximately
DARTSMART
is the one thing you are most
1. What
proud of?
The Leafy Sea Dragon. This animal was named after the
Chinese Dragon, like all sea horses, the males carry the
eggs and become pregnant with their young.
1.
23
Which member of the Bromance are you most like?
Compiled by Taylor Irwin
Blob Fish. The Blob fish is found in the deep
waters of Tasmania and Australia, which are
mostly inaccessible by humans; explaining
why this unique fish is rarely seen.
1
H
[[Weird Animals]]
answers- down: 1. Don’t Stop Believin’ 2. you Belong With Me 4. you’re a Jerk 5. Love Drunk 7. She Wolf 11. Fire Burnin’ 12. Just Dance
14. Use Somebody 16. Starstruck 17. Love Story across: 1. Don’t Stop Till you Get Enough 3. Knock you Down 6. Party in the USA 8. Boom
Boom Pow 9. Beat it 10. Good Girls Go Bad 13. i Gotta Feelin’ 15. Single Ladies 18. Obsessed 19. Love Game 20. The Climb 21. Watcha Say
Nice to meet you
in the mix
a.
My “Freaks and Geeks” DVD collection, the ABC Family TV show based
on adolescence in the 1980s.
b.
My homeboy: Thomas Jefferson.
c.
The person I have become.
d. The giant photo collage of my daughter, hanging behind my desk.
2. What do you do in your spare time?
a. Visit my acting coach to keep up my
lead role status in the annual auction
pep rallies.
b. Look up YouTube videos on government conspiracy theories.
c.
Hang out at the Roasterie and talk
about indie bands like The Shins and
Wilco over coffee.
Take photos of my two children and
d. listen to my 4-year-old daughter sing
“Single Ladies” by Beyonce.
one word describes your per3. What
sonality the best?
a. Awkward.
b.
Breezy.
c. Mysterious.
d. Awesome-ness.
4. What do you do on the weekends?
Nothing until I get my daily coffee
a. fix.
b. No comment.
Go see the latest movies, only to
c. make fun of them with students in
Monday morning classes.
d. Compare The Dart to less-cool local
student newspapers.
if you answered...
Mostly A’s
You are social studies teacher Richard
Shrock and can be
overheard saying
“hi,” in the hall to
everyone you see.
Mostly B’s
You are most like
history teacher
Craig Whitney,
known generally for
your laid back personality and hand
gestures.
Mostly C’s
You are American
Literature teacher
Kelly Fast, and can
often be found in
Eric Thomas’s classroom.
Mostly D’s
You are journalism
teacher Eric Thomas.
You are known for
your use of the nonexistent word “goober” and unique
PowerPoints.
last look
24
VA M P I R E
1
FAC E
STA faculty and staff put on the
annual auction pep rally Oct. 2 in the
auditorium. The theme for this years’
pep rally was the movie “Twilight.”
O F F
3
1. Get your claws out H Teachers face
off during the auction pep rally skit Oct.
2 in the auditorium. The theme for this
years pep rally was based on the movie
“Twilight.” Photo by Laura Neenan
2. The great protector H Drama teacher
Shauna Prentiss hides behind history
teacher Richard Shrock in a scene
from the auction pep rally Oct. 2. The
theme for the pep rally was the movie
“Twilight.” Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum
3. Put’em up H Guidance counselor
Holly Bentley shrieks during the
auction pep rally Oct. 2. Faculty and
staff performed a parody of the movie
“Twilight.” Photo by Laura Neenan
4. Gettin’ jiggy wit it H Government,
sociology, and psychology teacher Pat
Sirridge dances at the auction pep rally
Oct. 2. Faculty and staff ended the skit
in a dance party with the seniors. Photo
by Laura Neenan
4
2

Issue 3 - Dart News Online

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