Francis Howell High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St. Charles, MO 63304

Volume 38 [Issue 8] April 15, 2009

Spo t l i g h t

Want ed–a

Job

A group of people sat in the parking lot of KV Pharmaceuticals, consoling one another. Some were crying, some were furious, and some

seemed to be numb, yet all were suddenly jobless. CEO Marc Hermalin had been cutting corners and evading FDA regulations, resulting in a lawsuit and the recall of dozens of drugs made by the company. Although Hermalin was forced to resign, it was too late for many company employees. The company laid off over 700 people in one day.

This local heartbreak is being shared across the nation. Millions of Americans are finding themselves unemployed, losing benefits, or working jobs they are vastly overqualified for because there is nothing better available. Major corporations, after years of being run ineffectively, are finally falling apart. Unfortunately, those CEOs are not bearing the majority of the consequences. It is the working class that is left to shoulder the weight of financial disorder and poor ethics.

The corrupt actions of those in charge of today’s companies are going to affect generations to come. Future generations

will be faced with the challenge of not just fixing the damage that’s been done, but also rebuilding the entire economy. It is wrong that teenagers, who don’t actually have anything to do with the corruption, are left to clean up the mess that has been made. The pressure is on young people to change what’s happening.

Change will only happen through hard work and determination. The all-too-common teenage habits of slacking off and coasting aren’t options anymore. Doing just enough work to get by won’t cut it in a competitive job market. As young people start to look for jobs, it’s becoming clear that only the most qualified, most able, and those with the highest level of education are being employed. The best thing to do to prepare for an uncertain future is become educated. Slacking off in high school leads to slacking off in college, and without at least a college-level education, there is nearly no chance of having a stable career.

With more people in the work force, the economy becomes stronger. It won’t be easy for young people to repair a damaged economy, but it is possible. It is unfortunate that this generation has to shoulder the burden created by those in control now, but it is a responsibility that must be accepted.

Editor in Chief Andrew CogswellAssociate Editor Dara VintNews Editor Katie GreathouseSports Editor Joe PannulloFeatures Editor Erin KeyAd Manager Maggie HerringStaff Writers

Adviser Michele Dunaway, MA, MJE

2 S p o t l i g h t S p e a k O u te d i t o r i a l s

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

A p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9

Spotlight Staff

Hit or MissEditorial Policy

• Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section• Letters must be signed by the author and verified for publication by the editorial board.• Letters to the editor may be submitted to Mrs. Dunaway in room A115 or emailed to cogswell193@yahoo.com• Letters to the editor should not exceed 400 words, must be signed and must include the writer's address and phone

number for verification• All letters to the editor will be verified by a member of the editorial board to determine the authenticity of the writer• No material will be printed where content is obscene, invasive of others' privacy, encouraging physical disruption of

school activities and/or implies libel• The editorial board reserves the right to have letters edited for length, grammar, punctuation, clarity, etc. • If editing is required, the letter will be sent to the author for consent.• The school newspaper will only publish one letter per author per issue

• All letters to the editor become the property of the school newspaper upon receipt and will not be returned

Purpose of the school newspaper“Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...”- The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

“The vigilant protection of constitutional freedoms is nowhere more vital than in the community of American schools.”- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District The Francis Howell Spotlight is the official student newspaper at Francis Howell High School. The Spotlight began as a Francis Howell publication in 1971. The Spotlight believes it is essential to preserve the freedom of the press in order to preserve a free society and its purpose is to inform, interpret, and entertain through accurate and factual reports. Therefore:

• This school newspaper will serve the best interest of the students of Francis Howell and keep itself free from any other obligation

• The staff of the school newspaper will accept guidance from its adviser, but will make its own editorial decision• only the editorial board may veto any material intended for publication, judged to be in violation of the Spotlight

editorial policy• this school newspaper will vigorously resist all attempts at censorship, particularly prepublication censorship• the school newspaper will serve as an educational laboratory experience for those on staff.• The school newspaper will run as a limited open forum• The goal of the school newspaper is to cover the total school population as effectively and the staff will strive to be

impartial and responsible in its coverage of issues.

AdvertisingAll ads must be approved by the editorial board. An ad rate schedule and ad policies are available by calling 636-851-4820.

Corruption creates reason for teen workers to worry

StaffEditorial

[a quick Howell about the goods and the bads]

Jenn Alloway, Austin Brooks, Kelsey Brown, Hannah Burkett, Katy Carron, Krystle Del Castillo, Dan Dowell, Maggie Flynn, Crosby Franklin, Sam Galloway, Raven Garrett, Michael Gulledge, Nick Holder, Jessica Howard, Moli Hucthinson, Kevin Lanzone, Evan Loveless, Caitlin Page, Tony Pavez, Suzanne Pelley, Rae Strumsky, Sarah Taylor, Austin Thomas, Tara Tracy, Stephanie Wood, Kelsey Wyatt

No attack of the scary computer virusThank goodness we still have the internet. Life would cease as we know it.

Baseball season is underwayAmerica’s favorite past time is back and so is Chris Carpenter.

G-20 conference in EnglandYay for progress towards a more unified global community.

Exemptions for ACT scoresIt just makes it easier to get out of those finals we really don’t want, or need, to take.

Demteri Martin is coming to the PageantFinally St. Louis is included on a comedy tour worth going to.

ER is finally doneAfter fifteen years we no longer have to see a rotating staff of fake doctors.

hit s

Car

toon

by

Han

nah

Car

lson

mi s se sSports Ticket Prices Still HighWith the economy on the downward slope games are becoming more of a luxury.

April Fools prank on bridgeThough we’re sure that hall could have used a cleaning, it wasn’t worth the detour.

Future Zoo fee possibilityIs there nowhere left for free summer fun?

Walking on the wrong side of the hallMost of you can drive. Apply the rules of the road and stick to your right.

Killer pistachiosNot only do we have to avoid the nut, but also ice cream and other pistachio related products.

Mr. Davis retiringAlthough he will be missed, nothing seems more fitting than leaving with his greenhouse.

“I remember when the stock market crashed, and the real estate crashed and the...”

“That sounds familiar!”

Sadness seems to come during the happiest of times. As I

write this column I am sitting on a hotel bed in San Antonio, TX. I’ve just gotten home from spending time with my sister, who graduated from basic training in the Air Force this morning, and my dad who has been in Seattle helping to rehabilitate my grandfather after he broke his leg. This is the first time my family has been together in eight weeks and it’s been a nice relief to see my family together and smiling. After we dropped my sister off at her base, my mom, dad, and I headed back to the hotel for the night. We were a few minutes away from the hotel and my mom’s phone started ringing. The call was from her brother and my dad took what seemed to be a very normal phone call while my mom drove. My dad hung up with my

Uncle Brad and informed us that my Uncle Matt had passed

away that evening from a heart attack.My Uncle Matt technically wasn’t

even my uncle, he was my second cousin’s husband. When my family moved to Missouri in 1999 we would travel to Colorado frequently to visit my mom’s brother and his family, as well as my Uncle Matt and Aunt

Donna. For the most part my sister and I would stay with my Uncle Matt and Aunt Donna more than the rest of the family, sometimes even for multiple weeks while my parents would go back to work and come get us later. My sister and I would spend time with my “cousins” and Donna and Matt, who both worked from home. Thinking back produces vague memories, but I treasure what I do remember, like how Uncle Matt always found enjoyment in eating ice cream for breakfast. He wouldn’t do it every morning but when he did, he loved it. He passed this tradition onto my sister and me, and we would return home asking our parents if we could have an “Uncle Matt breakfast”.

I don’t remember the last time I saw my Uncle Matt or even talked to him but his death has had an impact. I can’t stop thinking about the family he left behind, a wife and two kids, and what they are going through. This is what scares me about

death, the ones we leave behind. I understand that at one point we will all die, but we forget that we also leave people behind. I’m scared to be left by the ones I love, but at the same time I’m scared of dying. My fear of dying has to deal with my position on faith or my lack thereof. The question of what is going to happen to me after life has haunted me for some time. Am I going to lie in a cold emotional-less sleep forever or am I going to burn in Hell because I didn’t give my life to a higher power? I’ll never know until I’m dead but it still bothers me.

We all cope with death in different ways and no one has the perfect method. We lose the people we love before we have the chance to say good-bye, and even if we could no words could be found to describe just how much they mean to us. I remember looking towards an adult I respect and admire for answers after Brianna Carron died and seeing him speechless seemed to just drain all my hope. This was such a wake up call. Death is part of life and I don’t think I’ll ever know how to deal with it. No matter how smart or strong I am, I will have to deal with losing someone else at some point. I may not have dealt with losing my uncle in the most effective way, but I came up with a way to make him proud and remind him that I love him. Tomorrow morning I’m going to have an Uncle Matt breakfast.

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

S p o t l i g h tA p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9 3S p e a k

e d i t o r i a l s

This is lifeby| andrew cogswell

on

Fac

e In

The

Cro

wd “I don’t go out to eat lunch after

school on the days I have SCCC. Instead I eat lunch at school because its cheaper than going out.”

Vann Sontag [12]Davis Bader [11]

“I have cut on driving and I have not been putting on as many shows at

Picasso’s anymore because of the long drive.”

“I do not drive when it is not necessary to because the gas prices are so unpredictable.”

Dale Nelson [10]Michelle Schroeder [9]

“I use things until they are completely worn out before I throw

them away.”

What haveyou had to cut back ?

Letter to the Editor: T h e ruling of West Virginia Board of Education v.

Barnette set a precedent to protect students from a requirement to stand for the Pledge of the Alliance/National Anthem. This is protected by the free speech clause of the First Amendment. In fact, the three-judge panel (11th circuit) of Frazier v. Winn wrote that, “The students have a constitutional right to remain seated during the Pledge.”

True, I’m sure most people who don’t stand are just too lazy or apathetic to stand [Although, I don’t agree with the statement that people don’t stand because they feel that they would be “laughed at for being proud to live in America” and I certainly don’t think people don’t stand because they’re just

“being typical teenagers, rebelling against anyone who tries to tell them what to do”]. However, some people have actual reasons for not standing. I’ve talked to a few people who do not stand/say the Pledge because they do not agree with the words in the Pledge. There are a lot of people who don’t say “under God” because they feel it violates the establishment clause (as a note, it was added in 1954, and was not in the original Pledge). Further, there are people, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose religion does not allow them to swear loyalty to anything other than God.

Regardless of the reason, it is the student’s right to choose if they wish to stand or sit; if they want to speak or stay silent. Judge Rosemary Barkett stated that, “the right to exercise one’s conscience in not reciting the Pledge lies solely with the individual student.” This should not be anyone’s, newspaper

or not, area to decide that everyone should stand. This is the student’s decision.

I think the biggest goal of the United States is to protect our freedom and our rights. Forcing people to stand, when they don’t want to, does the opposite. It takes away our rights. In fact, we should support our soldiers not by forcing people to say the Pledge of Allegiance. We should support them by knowing and understanding our rights and liberties the soldiers fought and died for. Our country was based on our natural rights; we must work to educate people about them, not blinding reciting a Pledge. That is how we should support our soldiers, how we should respect our country. How we should remember the soldiers who died for our freedom.

senior/ Hanna Xu

4 S p o t l i g h t C h a tf e a t u r e s

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

A p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9

how me t h e mon eyby| katie greathouse

If you’re looking . . .

Fa l ling e conomy causes rising cu t back on summer jo bs fo r teens$“W ould you like to

make that a combo?”

Mosthighschoolstudentswouldexpecttofindpeersorpossiblytheirown friends ringing themupat the fast food register,but lately it isn’tout

of thenormtofindsomeonewithgrayinghairandyearsof experience.Whilemostmaythinknothingof it,olderemployeesplayamajorroleinthedrasticdecreaseof teen

employment.InApril2008theteenunemploymentratewas15.4percent(www.hoover.org).Afterayeartheunemploymentrateisstillrising.AccordingtoaMarch6reportfromtheLabor

Department,“EmploymentSituationSummary,”theFebruaryteenageunemploymentratewas21.6percent.

Businessesacrossthenationarecopingwiththeeffectsof theeconomy’ssteepdownfall.Ariseinnationwidelayoffsisdrivingadultstominimumwagejobs.Thesejobs,suchasinfastfoodrestaurantsand

retailstores,aretypicallyjam-packedwithteenageemployees.Lately,however,unemployedadultsareapplyingforthesejobstosurvivetherecession.Theincreaseinolderapplicantsisresultinginfewerjobsforhighschoolstudents.

AlexThelen,managerof theSteak‘nShakeonJungerman,hasnoticedthewiltingeconomy’sinfluencewithinherownestablishment.

“I’venoticedinthelastsixmonthstoayearthattherehasbeenagreatervarietyintheageof applicants,”Thelensaid.“Wehavehademployeesintheirsixties,seventies,andeighties.”

Therehasalsobeenariseinadultapplicantsatplacesotherthanrestaurants. “IworkattheMidRiversmovietheater.Therearealotmoreolderemployees,”juniorCelesteFinkenbinesaid.“It’sdefinitely

beenmorenoticeablelately.” TheRenaudSpiritCenterhasbeenexperiencingsimilarsituations.

“Teensareusuallyhiredfor thegymattendantposition,but latelywe’vebeenhavinga lotof adultsapply for the job,” frontdeskattendantCourtneyCrottysaid.

SkateGalaxymanagerJakeBuhrmanhasseenchangeswithinthelasttwotothreemonths,aswell.

“It’salotmoredifficultforstudents[tofindpart-timejobs]sinceadultsoutof workarecompetingforthesamejobs,”Buhrmansaid. Theincreaseinolderapplicantspresentsstudentswithfeweropportunities.Thenever-endingfrustrationsthatcomewithapplyingandbeingrejectedrepeatedlyhavewornstudentsdown.

“I had trouble finding a job. I filled out seventeen applications and didn’t get interviewed anywhere,”sophomoreJessiRosasaid. Althoughemployersclaimtheagedifferencedoesn’tmatter,theamountof experiencedoes. “Steak‘nShakedoesn’tdiscriminatebyage,butweseewhohasthemostexperienceandif theycanhandlethejob,”Thelensaid.“Idothinkit’sunfairthough.Seniorsaregettingjobsbecauseof layoffssotherearen’tmanyjobsleftforteenagers.” Theeconomicslumpisn’tonlyaffectingjobhunters;it’salsocreatingworriesforcurrentemployees. “Theservers’payrateis$3.34[plustips],butnotalotof peoplearecomingin,sotheeconomyisaffectingtheamountof moneytheserversmake,”Thelensaid. Thefightforjobshasbeenanongoingbattle.AccordingtoaJuly3CBSreport,“SlowEconomyAffectingTeenJobs,Too,”onlyoneinthreeteenagerswaspredictedtohaveajoblastsummer.Jobavailabilityforteenagershasn’timprovedandisn’texpectedtoreboundanytimesoon.AsreportedbytheLaborDepartmentinthe“EmploymentSituation Summary,”March 6 report, 651,000 jobswere lost in February and the unemployment rate rose to 8.1percent. “Ithinkteenswillhavetroublefindingajobthissummer,”Crottysaid.“MylittlebrotherisgoingtotrytogethisfirstjobandI’mafraidhe’sgoingtohaveahardtimefindingone.” Forthoseneedingasummerjobitishighlyrecommendedtobeginlookingimmediately. “Students should begin looking now and they should call two weeks after applying to make sure theirapplicationwasreceived,”Crottysaid.“We[theRenaudCenter]currentlyhaveopenpositionsforlifeguardsandcampcounselors.” Doingextrathingscansetstudentsapartfromotherapplicants.

“Iwouldadvisestudentstosendthankyoulettersandstuff likethat,”Buhrmansaid.

Finding a summer job is a challenge for students, especial ly with summer a couple months away. For students who want a jump on applying, several places are currently hiring.

*If you’re looking for a job with food, look he re: *If you’re looking for a job with dealing with retai l, look he re:

Hardee’s-Location:HWYK-Requirements:16yearsorolder,greatcustomerservice,desiretoimprove

Captain D’s-Location:Veteran’sMemorialParkway-Requirements:16yearsorolder,friendly,enthusiastic

Sears-Location:MidRiversMall-Requirements:16yearsorolder,strongsellingskills,communicationskills,abilitytostandandwalkforlongperiodsof time

Toys “R” Us-Location:SueMandyDr.-Requirements:16yearsorolder,hardworking,“kid-at-heart”

S p o t l i g h tA p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9 5C h a t

f e a t u r e s

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

how me t h e mon ey Put together a simp l e resume.

“ Having a resume to give to a prospective employer shows you’ve put some effort

into finding a job. Even if you have no work experience you can sti l l give the employer

an idea of what your strengths are. I f al l you’ve done is baby sit put it down in

writing and emphasize what you’ve learned whi le baby sitting, challenges you’ve

overcame, etc.”

1)

2)A ppearan ce matters.

“ Make sure when you head out the door you are well groomed and well dressed. You don’t need to be in a suit, just make sure you’re presentable. Make sure ‘your Grandma would approve...’”

3) Stand u p straig ht and be mature .

“ Go to each of the employers on your l ist, walk in the door and ask for that job. Keep your head up, maintain eye contact, have a firm handshake and be confident.

Employers look for certain qualities when a job seeker walks in the door. Demonstrate you are

eager to get the job.”

simp le step s to lan d a summer jo b as to ld by marketing teac he r an d DECA adviso r, La rry Ande rs

Set yourself a p a r t :(3)

Fa l ling e conomy causes rising cu t back on summer jo bs fo r teens

“It’salotmoredifficultforstudents[tofindpart-timejobs]sinceadultsoutof workarecompetingforthesamejobs,”Buhrmansaid. Theincreaseinolderapplicantspresentsstudentswithfeweropportunities.Thenever-endingfrustrationsthatcomewithapplyingandbeingrejectedrepeatedlyhavewornstudentsdown.

“I had trouble finding a job. I filled out seventeen applications and didn’t get interviewed anywhere,”sophomoreJessiRosasaid. Althoughemployersclaimtheagedifferencedoesn’tmatter,theamountof experiencedoes. “Steak‘nShakedoesn’tdiscriminatebyage,butweseewhohasthemostexperienceandif theycanhandlethejob,”Thelensaid.“Idothinkit’sunfairthough.Seniorsaregettingjobsbecauseof layoffssotherearen’tmanyjobsleftforteenagers.” Theeconomicslumpisn’tonlyaffectingjobhunters;it’salsocreatingworriesforcurrentemployees. “Theservers’payrateis$3.34[plustips],butnotalotof peoplearecomingin,sotheeconomyisaffectingtheamountof moneytheserversmake,”Thelensaid. Thefightforjobshasbeenanongoingbattle.AccordingtoaJuly3CBSreport,“SlowEconomyAffectingTeenJobs,Too,”onlyoneinthreeteenagerswaspredictedtohaveajoblastsummer.Jobavailabilityforteenagershasn’timprovedandisn’texpectedtoreboundanytimesoon.AsreportedbytheLaborDepartmentinthe“EmploymentSituation Summary,”March 6 report, 651,000 jobswere lost in February and the unemployment rate rose to 8.1percent. “Ithinkteenswillhavetroublefindingajobthissummer,”Crottysaid.“MylittlebrotherisgoingtotrytogethisfirstjobandI’mafraidhe’sgoingtohaveahardtimefindingone.” Forthoseneedingasummerjobitishighlyrecommendedtobeginlookingimmediately. “Students should begin looking now and they should call two weeks after applying to make sure theirapplicationwasreceived,”Crottysaid.“We[theRenaudCenter]currentlyhaveopenpositionsforlifeguardsandcampcounselors.” Doingextrathingscansetstudentsapartfromotherapplicants.

“Iwouldadvisestudentstosendthankyoulettersandstuff likethat,”Buhrmansaid.

*If you’re looking for something a l ittle different, look he re:

Toys “R” Us-Location:SueMandyDr.-Requirements:16yearsorolder,hardworking,“kid-at-heart”

Skate Galaxy-Location:WestwoodDr.-Requirements:16yearsorolder,energetic,peopleperson

Renaud Spirit Center-Location:HWYK-Requirements:16yearsorolderforlifeguards/swimminginstructorsandcampcounselorsmustpassdrug,alcohol,andbackgroundscreening,musthavevalidMissouridriverslicense

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

6 S p o t l i g h t Cha tf e a t u r e sA p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9

“Thanks to SCC, I am prepared for college, and have taken a leap forward in my four-year plan.”

Ask your counselor how to get started at St. Charles Community College.636-922-8000 www.stchas.edu

~ Brianna Bernardy SCC Dual Enrollment Participant Francis Howell Central Alum, 2008 Freshman at Truman State University

High school newspaper ad10”x6.5”Based on measurements for FH Central newspaper

Since its formation, GSA works for better toleranceby|sam galloway

Whether seniors or freshmen, all have witnessed something change this year. For the class of 2009 especially, the progression of the Gay-Straight Alliance in school has been clearly visible. The seniors this year were freshman in GSA’s first full year.

Club sponsor, counselor Darci Hillyer, has been with the club before it began. Along with 2005 senior Jared Bowers, the foundation of a GSA at FHHS was proposed to the administration. The journey since then has not necessarily been an easy one, but according to Hillyer, the impact has been noticed and continues to grow.

“I do believe that the presence of the Gay-Straight Alliance has changed the environment on campus over the last five years - both with students and with faculty. Because teachers are aware of the club I think they have been quicker to shut down any anti-gay comments they hear in their classrooms,” Hillyer said.

In the club’s first year, some students were quick to show their disagreement with the concept. GSA’s promotional posters were often torn down, and the club got a negative rap from many students.

“Unfortunately, I think the club is misunderstood by many. For some reason, people think it has something to do with sex. I don’t know why they jump to that conclusion,” Hillyer said.

The mission of the GSA is simple – acceptance for all students. In meetings on Friday mornings, members find a safe haven amongst students of all sexual orientations.

“Until all people are treated equally a need for the club exists. Education is the key to changing or softening viewpoints,” Hillyer said.

More students join the GSA year after year in order to accomplish just this. The size of the club has been one of the biggest changes since forming in 2005-2006, when four or five students would attend the weekly meetings.

“Every year the club grows. This year we had 30 students and three sponsors in our yearbook photo. Other than that, our mission has much remained the same,” Hillyer said.

Over the club’s four full school years, the school environment has become more accepting. Posters are no longer torn down, and with the introduction of “Safe Zone” stickers into many teachers’ classrooms, anti-gay slang and discrimination are not tolerated. At times though, controversy still flares up.

“The Day of Silence, for example, continues to be a controversial day year after year,” Hillyer said.

The Day of Silence, which occurred April 17, is a nationwide event held in honor of any student who has ever been silenced by discrimination. Participating students took a vow of silence for the day, and were excused from speaking in class by a permission slip signed by teachers.

Last year, a group of students who did not agree with the Day of Silence concept executed a “Day of Loudness,” passing out stickers which read, “The Day of Loudness: The Way Nature Intended.” Arguments broke out across the school amongst many students, even those not initially involved in either the Day of Silence or Day of Loudness. Junior Chelsea Pepmiller helped organize the Day of Loudness and make the stickers.

“Our intentions were not to create prejudice towards the gay community, but to simply to express our opinions. The Day of Silence is a day for the gay community to bring attention

to their opinions and beliefs. I see no reason why I can’t bring attention to my own thoughts and beliefs,” Pepmiller said.

Pepmiller and the initial Day of Loudness group wore nothing in opposition of any particular sexual orientation. Controversy only began to stir up later in the day.

“I know that a lot of people took the Day of Loudness out of hand, and started saying inappropriate things to people participating in the Day of Silence. I just want to make it clear that these were not my intentions, and I did not support people that abused the Day of Loudness. I simply saw it as an opportunity to voice my opinions, which is no different than what those who participate in the Day of Silence are doing,” Pepmiller said.

Other than the inter-school tension that sometimes comes along with the Day of Silence, Hillyer doesn’t ever sense too much negativity from the school.

“On a daily basis, I don’t sense anything overt [concerning the GSA]. The club has a tremendous amount of support from many faculty members. But not everyone understands the purpose of the club, so I know the controversy still exists. I can even go so far to say there are some faculty members who wish the club would go away,” Hillyer said.

The club continues to grow exponentially each year. With more students joining and more open tolerance from students and staff, Hillyer looks forward to the future of the club.

“I am very proud to be a part of the FHHS GSA. It’s the right thing to do, a matter of human decency. It’s a fact that because gay students are often mistreated and not accepted, their rates of depression and suicide are higher than the average teen. This is not acceptable, and I will do everything that I can to change this,” Hillyer said

7

hile some students go to colleges with names that are familiar to many or within a couple of hours driving distance, there are some who decide to break away

and attend a school far away or because of a different career path.

“Beauty is something I’ve always wanted to do, instead of taking classes that are required,” senior Michelle Lange said. Lange plans on attending the Regency Beauty Institute.

Customarily, attending in-state school can be easier on any financial situation because being an in-state resident can cut thousands off tuition fees. However, choosing an out of state school can be difficult because of the higher prices, but are easier because they have the location and field of study choice a student wants.

“I’m attending Ottawa University in Canada because that’s where I used to live. I really like the school and I got a scholarship for it too,” senior Cenk Papila said.

Thanks to athletic and academic scholarships, other students have the chance to see different parts of the country while doing the things they love, for a fraction of the price.

“I like playing football, but I probably wouldn’t think twice if it I wasn’t getting a

S p o t l i g h t C h a tf e a t u r e s

Francis Howel l High School [7001 Highway 94 South] St . Charles, MO 63304

A p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9

by| evan loveless

by| erin key

Different interests call for diverse collegesW

Erin

Key

Picking a college based on preferences can be hard, but schools that specialize in certain careers can make it easier.

scholarship,” senior Brian Cobbs said. Cobbs plans to attend West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York.

In addition, students who select to attend a specialty school have the chance to get a degree in a fraction of the time, as opposed to being at a traditional four-year school.

“If I go to school for full time, I’ll be able to get out of school within a year,” Lange said.

Besides schools that specialize in technical careers or beauty, there are also art or religion-based schools that can be popular choices for those that have interests in those fields of study. For example, Southern Baptist University provides an environment for students who want to strengthen their views on faith and also offer the opportunity for students to pursue a career in religious studies.

“One of my close friends goes to Southern Baptist because he wants to become a minister and it was perfect for his major,” senior Kristen Felker said. Felker is attending Indiana State to play softball.

Altogether, while attending a traditional college can be a great experience for most high school grads, one advantage of attending a school that specializes in a certain area is that a student has no doubt of what their future career will be.

“The best part about being in the Marines is that I won’t have to search for my job, it’s already given to me,” senior Logan Stone said.

“I’m going to Renken for auto-tech mechanics because that’s not the type of major I can find at an university,” senior Tony Pavez said.

So whether big names, financial stability,

or field of study determines the choice of a college, students that are college bound have the chance to achieve different lifestyles, academic, or athletic accomplishments high school might not be able to offer.

“Going to West Point is going to be a great opportunity in life that I can’t pass up,” Cobbs said.

Alternative budget uses reserve spendingWith the economy suffering from the

recession, the school board approved a budget plan that made necessary cuts in funding. With many people unhappy with the original budget plan, an alternative budget plan was proposed at a board meeting held March 26 and passed.

“Whenever cuts occur, all students suffer. Their educational experience is diminished and lacks depth. Teachers have to cut back on their own budgets at home which leaves no room for purchasing supplies to help teach the curriculum,” science teacher Natalie Frankenberg said.

The alternative budget plan will give every employee a pay increase and reinstate library aides that were cut in the 2009-2010 budget plan. The pay increases will come from the district’s reserves.

“The pay increases are necessary because we have to keep up with other school districts. If other districts give raises then teachers will start looking for jobs in those districts,” math teacher Kathy Stotts said.

When the board made the decision, negotiations were under way with Francis Howell Education Association (FHEA), the teacher’s organization.

Negotiations are a closed-door policy and

“Teachers have to trust the negotiation process

because it is the way we have to get our needs

met.”

– librarian Terry Fingers

happen between the negotiation team and the administrative team. When both sides come to an agreement, the agreement is presented to the FHEA membership for approval. Once a plan

is agreed upon, it is presented to the Board of Education. As of right now, negotiations are not final. According to FHEA, the alternative budget plan bypassed the negotiation process. At the April 2 board meeting, the board said they would return to the negotiation process and FHEA would hear from the board.

No matter what budget plan is finally accepted, it will affect everyone in the school district including teachers and students.

“Salary is the one item in the negotiation process. FHEA encourages members to get involved and volunteer to be a part of the negotiating team,” librarian Terry Fingers said.

Whatever plan the board decides, under the first accepted budget plan, some teacher positions across the district were eliminated. These teachers are under one-year contracts and their contracts will not be renewed at the end of the year.

“If it comes down to dollars and cents then the board has to make certain choices. I don’t take anything personally, if the money’s not there then the money’s not there,” history teacher John Despain said.

Despain is one of three teachers that will not have his contract renewed. Like other teachers whose positions were eliminated, he is eligible to apply for any open positions in

the district.Although the new budget cuts will have

a huge impact, many teachers are unaware of what changes will actually happen.

“After asking several teachers what they thought, it came to light that many of us are in the dark about the details of the plan. In short, teachers need to be more informed,” English teacher Loretta Wylie said.

“What other profession can you think of that the people responsible for the success of a product have to beg for supplies to do a job or use their own money to ensure a satisfactory outcome?” Frankenberg said.

8 S p o t l i g h t F i n a l T hou gh t sb a c k p a g eA p r i l 1 5 , 2 0 0 9

All in a day’s workSenior Rae Strumsky works three jobs to support her family

he economy has hurt every American in some way, shape, or form. No student has

been affected more than senior Rae Strumsky and her family. The family is having a hard time paying for their medical expenses.

“My brother is bipolar and we are not able to pay for his medicine,” Strumsky said.

According to The American Journal of

Psychiatry, the annual cost of bipolar disorder medication is

about $3000 per person. Bipolar disorder, also

called maniac depressive

disorder, affects

about 5.7

million Americans every year. This disorder starts with feelings of depression followed by emotional “highs” where symptoms vary from restlessness, increased energy to euphoric mood, racing thoughts, poor judgment, intrusive or provocative behavior, difficult concentrating, and a decreased need for sleep. The most common ways of treatment are “mood stabilizers,” like lithium or carbamazepine. These products are able to stabilize an individual’s mood swings and help them live a normal life. Not only has the economy affected her household; it has also affected her older brother as well who lost his job as a delivery man. Single and 40, he has been out of a job for quite some time.

“My dad got laid off from his job at the General Electric Company in December and has been looking for a job ever since, and although my brother is looking, he has been out of a job for over a year and a half now since he got laid off from Prairie Farms. This doesn’t help him because he also has to pay child support, which right now he cannot afford,” Strumsky said.

Strumsky is doing the best she can to help out. She is working three jobs four and five days a week.

“Right now I work at the Wet Seal, along with Pretzel Time and the Great American Cookie at Mid-Rivers Mall. Between the three of them, I am working about 30-35 hours a week,” Strumsky said.

To help her parents pay for everything, Strumsky is donating the majority of her paycheck to her family.

Earlier this year, working three different jobs took a toll on Strumsky.

“At one point this year, my grades were slipping so much that I was not going to be able to get credits for some of my classes, and as everyone knows, no credits equal no graduation,” Strumsky said.

Outside of work and school, Strumsky says she cannot do too much for fun.

“Work and school takes up so much of my time, it gives me little time for a social life,” she said.

Despite concerns over grades and the little to none social life she is forced to condone, Strumsky doesn’t think twice about putting in the extra effort. “I am happy to do this to help out. I love my family

and there is nothing I would not do for them,” she said. Keeping her family in mind, Strumsky plans to stick

with the basics for now. “My average day is I wake up, go to school, go home and take a nap, and go to work. It’s all that I can do right now and it’s something that I have gotten used to.”

by|dan dowell

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