january spotlight

Kaley

Per

ceful

and D

ara V

int

Volume 38 [Issue 5] January 21, 2009

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

Spotlight

The entertainment issue

From movies and music, to video games...we’ve got you covered.

Dear Senior, We are only one

semester away from graduation.

More importantly, we are one semester away from possibly one of the most important experiences of our lives, our college education. Don’t let senioritis get in the way of your future. Don’t let apathy ruin all we have done to get to this point.

We have gone through a lot in the past four years. Each of us took those first timid steps through the doors of Howell on Freshman Orientation Day. We all took our ACT or SAT. Don’t let the effort go to waste. And don’t think that just because you have already been accepted to college doesn’t mean you don’t have to work.

The final semester is important, and colleges will send out letters saying students are no longer accepted if applicants let senioritis go too far. It’s happened before,

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

J a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

Spotlight Staff

Hit or Miss

Editorial 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 [email protected]• 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.

Don’t lose out, try to fight dreaded senoritis disease

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, Kaley Perceful, Rae Strumsky, Sarah Taylor, Austin Thomas, Tara Tracy, Stephanie Wood, Kelsey Wyatt

and it will unfortunately happen again. When senioritis rears its ugly head, just

deal with it. Of course we want to have fun, that’s what Fridays are for. And don’t forget Saturdays and Sundays. And honestly what’s going to be more fun, going to school and seeing all of your friends, or ditching class and walking aimlessly around Mid Rivers Mall all by yourself ?

Every class has something that they are remembered for in particular. Maybe one class pulled the greatest prank ever. Maybe another class had a great football team. Don’t let the class of ’09 be remembered as “The class that slacked off second semester and lost their full ride scholarships.”

With the economy in the condition it is, we can’t afford not to go to college. There’s very little opportunity for financial security without a college education these days. So what’s it going to be, McJobbing it the rest of your life, or living the life you always dreamed of?

Stupid Snow DaysSnow days without snow aren’t worth making up.

Rooms Kept at Extreme TemperaturesHow can we expect to pay attention in rooms at sub-arctic and boiling hot temperatures?

Fire Alarms Going Off During LunchHaving to relocate while eating curly fries is not very enjoyable.

Teen Pregnancy Rate Up It doesn’t actually happen like Juno, guys. There are real consequences.

Katy PerrySeriously, stop trying to be all edgy and cool. How obnoxious can you get?

Scraping IceHaving to wake up early and scrap ice off your window is the worst.

Slow Fast Food PlacesIt seems kind of like an oxymoron.

hits

An Extra Day of Winter BreakHaving that unexpected day off was the perfect way to end two weeks off.

Officially Halfway Through the School YearWe only have one semester left until the warm days of summer can be enjoyed once again.

Seniors Receiving College Admissions DecisionsAt least one big stress is out of the way for now.

Award Ceremony SeasonThe movies that are up for best picture are ones we have actually seen.

BeyonceWhy can’t we all be Sasha Fierce?

Inauguration DayCongrats 44th president!

Classes Meeting Their GoalsThanks to the administration for rewarding us for doing well.

Carto

on b

y Han

nah

Car

lson

misses


S p o t l i g h tJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9 3Speak

e d i t o r i a l sFa

ce In

The

Cro

wd

When I was seven, the doctors

diagnosed my dad with brain cancer. I don’t remember a lot about the emotions and feelings that accompanied the news, because at such a young age I didn’t know what cancer was or how serious it could be. I do recall one night before he was diagnosed when he woke up screaming because his head hurt so badly. I remember him going into a surgery less than a year later that was supposed to make him better again. Surgeons opened the side of my dad’s skull and removed as much of the tumor as possible. A few days later I saw him sitting in the recliner in my grandparent’s living room, which is where he was staying to recuperate. He was wearing his favorite blue robe and had staples in the side of his head. My dad’s entire family dropped in and out over the next few weeks, checking on him. I spent that entire summer vacation going to the doctor’s office in downtown Seattle with my dad and sister so my dad could receive radiation for the part of the tumor that remained. Doctors made a plaster mold of his face and he had to wear it

during the treatment to protect him from the lasers. He showed it to my sister and me one day and to this day the mask is still one of the scariest images I’ve ever seen.

We moved to St. Charles the following year. I was pretty much over the whole cancer thing. At eight, all I knew was that my dad had been sick for a while. Years went by and it slowly dawned on me that he wasn’t the same person he used to be, and I wasn’t sure if that person would return. He would have mood swings and leave randomly for several hours. I adjusted and thought it was normal. However, the more I interacted with my friends’ families I started to realize how far from normal my family really was. I longed for the stability I saw.

When we moved to New Melle in 2002, my family hoped a more peaceful environment would help relax my dad. For a year or so, it worked. He seemed to be happy, able to go out in the woods to hunt or fish in the near by lake. Eventually his mood swings returned, and worse then before.

continued on page 8

This is life

What is your favorite source of entertainment?

Staff Editorial

It’s gone too far. Anywhere on the Internet, some of the top googled people are Edward Cullen or the Jonas Brothers. There is something

wrong with that. There are more important things in life than having a huge crush on a book character or boy band.

There are people dying of genocide in Darfur, the Jonas Brothers and Twilight are what’s found in the top ten google searches for 2008.

It does not matter who the individual searching is, they will never be Mrs. Edward Cullen. He isn’t real. And the chances of meeting a Jo Bro, much less becoming Mrs. Nick Jonas, are nearly nonexistent. Nobody cares about the “pieces of flair” on Facebook that have the Team Edward insignia, stating how much better vampires are than werewolves.

It is not just girls either. Starlets such as Jessica Alba and Paramore’s Hayley Williams have had fan boys salivating for quite some time now.

It’s one thing to have a celebrity crush, but when it is impossible to have a conversation without saying “(s)he will be mine one day”, or walking across the school grounds without hearing squeals that Bella is now a vampire, then this infatuation needs to be recognized as a problem.

No guy wants to walk up to a girl he likes and find a locker filled with Zac Efron or Johnny Depp posters. It’s intimidating. Being stuck in such fantasy worlds could be hurting real world possibilities.

All problems have solutions, but this one is mostly about getting heads out of the clouds. To say “grow up” or “get over it” would be wrong, since celebrities are meant to be looked up to and crushed on. But the fixation could definitely be taken down a couple notches in the exuberance.

While it may seem like a damper in a relationship that real humans do not have any supernatural powers, it will just have to be overlooked. It is, after all, the only option. Unless, of course, carrying on in a fantasy world where vampires and Disney Channel kids rule is more appealing.

by| andrew cogswell

Celebrity crushers need reality check

“The computer. I love being able to talk to my friends on Facebook.”

Hannah Connely [11]

“Sports. I have a lot of energy and it’s a really good outlet for me.”

Zeke Kapusciak [9]

“Music. It moves my soul.”

Andrea Worzel [12]

“Listening and creating music because it lets me vent.”

Spencer Husk [11]

Letters to the EditorDear Editor,

Okay so I am going to be straight-forward with you; I love the newspaper. It makes my month. However, when it takes forever to come out, I get irritated. What’s the deal man? I need my paper!

All right, I’m just kidding. I love the fact that this year we get a paper every month that actually has some interesting content. Last year, no offense, but the paper kind of bored me. This year, whenever I see a paper on the ground or crumbled up in the trash, it makes me pretty sad because I’ve actually enjoyed those! You have no idea how much more

fun I have in Howell Time when we get the paper. It actually gives us something to do with that stupid time. But I have to say, some of the stories seem a little rushed in the writing process, which makes them less enjoyable.

Another thing is the music section. Is there one? I’m not sure, but I want one! I know that pretty much the entire school body loves their music, whatever the genre. You really should do something more with music because it influences a lot of people, myself included. I also think that you should focus a little more on relationships and such because so many happen in high school. I am not saying we should have

entire issues on people’s petty lives, but maybe a story every now and then. Hey, maybe even an advice column would be cool!

Oh and before I forget, I like your personal columns! They’re pretty entertaining. All in all, I think all of you fabulous writers on The Spotlight do an amazing job. Keep up the good work or I will be angry.

–sophomore Brinna Ball

Dear Editor, Last months Spotlight Issue was

dead on with their hits and misses. I was heart broken when the news reached my ears that Maggie Moo’s had closed down.

The miss about PDA is also right on. I am utterly disgusted by all the promiscuous activity done by students for all of FHHS to see.

I can understand that it is none of our business on who is taking part in the ‘naughty act’ but when we have to walk around people doing things in the middle of the hallway.

I mean, have some decency. Think of the people that just at lunch, or the ones with weak stomachs! It is an abomination; no one wants to see people cleaning each other’s mouths with their tongues in the hallway.

This is appalling and it needs to stop. Couples need to unglue themselves in the hallway and find more private places.

–junior Matt Long


4 S p o t l i g h t Discussn e w sJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

The Worldat

Largeby| crosby franklin

Jan. 24- SAT Exams Jan. 27- Sophomore Parent Ring Night, 7 PM Jan. 29- Early Release 11:25 AM Feb. 4- Winter Pep Assembly–Main Gym Feb. 9- Progress Reports Distributed in Third Hour Feb. 12, 13 and 14 Winter Play. Showtimes are 7 PM nightly with a 2 PM Saturday matinee Feb. 16- No School on President’s Day

“Cold Nights, City Lights: Coronation 2009.” This is the name and theme of Howell’s upcoming winter formal. After two years since the last attempt to hold a winter dance Howell is trying again. STUCO proves to have many promising ideas to make the dance a success.

“It’s city themed, and STUCO will be making a lot more of the decorations. It won’t be quite as elaborate or expensive as homecoming so the tickets will be $10,” STUCO president Niki Shah said. “Don’t get me wrong though…it’s still going to look awesome, we’ll make sure of it.” The dance is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 28. The estimated time of the dance is 7 to 10PM. STUCO is in charge of putting together most of the dance; however, class officers will also be getting involved. “We figure that’ll get advertising up a little bit and more people will come; and of course, more help would be great, too,” Shah said. According to Shah, senior class will help with tickets and all the classes will help advertise and decorate. Seeing that this is the first winter dance in several years, advertising is key. The amount of ticket sales will overall decide if the dance will take place.

“We need at least 200 people or the dance has to be

cancelled,” Shah said. “We’re a little nervous about how many people will show up, but we figure that if we advertise it the right way, then we’ll get enough people there.” The idea of a winter formal has been discussed several times. “The senior officers have really talked about having another dance, so this subject has been brought up before. We also know that other schools have another dance besides homecoming and prom, and we kind of wanted another one too,” STUCO member Katie Terbrock said. The dance is comparable to homecoming. According to Shah, a spirit week is to be held the week of the dance. Like homecoming, there will also be a court. “Freshmen class is in charge of court and it will be done a little differently than homecoming,” Shah said. “We’ll have one couple from each grade, instead of four couples from the senior class.

Some students recognize the advantages of a winter formal and plan on attending. “I think a winter dance is a good idea because the upper classmen get both homecoming and prom, but the freshman and sophomores only have homecoming,” junior Cindy Barlow said.

UPCO

MING

EVEN

TSSTUCO plans dance,brings back coronationby| katie greathouse

I am convinced that this is my year. In fact, 2009 is just as much my year as 2008 was not my year. I truly knew this for the first time over Christmas break. I went to Ohio to visit my family, and my brother was there. It was the first time I’ve seen him since his graduation in June 2007. I was surprised to find that our reunion, though somewhat emotional, was not forced or uncomfortable. We were quickly able to joke and tell stories with ease.

On Christmas day, I was responsible for making dessert for the family. While I mixed dough, sliced and spiced apples, and carted pans to and from the oven, my brother did the dishes.

We spent several hours just getting to know the person we’ve each grown into, and discussing the people we hope to be. We both saw how the family and personal events that had made 2008 so difficult were the very same events that brought us back to being brother and sister.

Our similarities are more apparent now than they’ve ever been. Neither of us is sure what our future will hold, yet we both have complete faith in ourselves. My new friendship with my older brother is surprising, but in the best way possible. With that, I know that 2009 will be the year of good surprises and new opportunities.

I know I probably sound ridiculous, but I have to admit that I now believe the old saying: life is a journey, not a destination. For a long time, I thought that growing up was a matter of getting ‘there,’ wherever or whatever ‘there’ turned out to be.

In reality, ‘there’ is simply each and every ‘here’ I will come upon in my life. I remember planning my high school schedule in January of eighth grade, barely a teenager and completely anxious to get ‘there.’ However, the there that is high school is actually here, and I am sending in my future plans in the form of college applications through envelopes and e-mails, barely an adult.

If ‘there’ exists, I don’t know how or when I will arrive. I am looking into my future with open eyes, embracing it with open arms. My journey to where I am now has been unpredictable and exciting, in ways both good and bad. I know that I still have many places to leave, like high school and Missouri, and places to arrive, like college.

The view from here is promising. I’m not sure what this year will hold, but I like to think that it will be an excellent continuance of my journey so far. I don’t have any idea where I’m going to college, but I think that will make being accepted even more exciting. I am looking at my future with optimism, no matter what may happen. For all of my uncertainties, I know that my life will be what I make of it.

Controller? Check. Headset? Check. Game Discs? Check. This might sound like a paradise for video game junkies, but for junior Matt Potthoff, it’s just another day at the office.

Pothoff is a professional gamer, which means he is sponsored and paid to play video games such as Halo 3 and Call of Duty. His gamer tag is “rek x b u r n s” and his gaming team is “2 Be determined”, and they are ranked number one in the games Halo, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: World at War. They formed after playing with each other in online game play. Along with

“We actually have a few sponsors,” said Pothoff. “We are sponsored by Pepsi and Platinum Electronics, and the sponsorship is through the store Extreme Computer Center down at Chesterfield Mall.”

Pothoff and his team are seasoned veterans in the competitive gaming world, and they have had much practice and experience in tournaments.

“I started playing Halo 2 in sixth grade,” he said. “Then that’s when I went to my first tournament. Our team took first place and two hundred dollars at a place called Play’N’Trade. That’s when we first started getting to be known.”

The tournaments follow a relatively simple process. Depending on the game, there are usually around one hundred people to a competition. It is basically a free for all, with teams of four playing each other. After a team loses a match, they are eliminated.

These competitions are held all over the country and even internationally, and teams do travel to attend.

“The farthest we ever traveled was to Chicago,” Pothoff said. “At that tournament we also won for Free For All Halo. The prize for that was about $2,500.”

There is a lot of potential to earn money in the world of video games.

“Over the past six years, I have earned about $8,000 by going to tournaments.” Pothoff said.

Matt Potthoff plays games for payby| austin brooks

1312 Hwy DD by the Crossroads

FRANCIS HOWELL SCHOOL NIGHT EVERY

TUES. FROM 4-8 PM10% of purchases will be

donated to the school!


S p o t l i g h tJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9 5Qui ck H i t s

n e w s

Any size stromboliGood till Feb. 17

Howell Time getspositive response

The guidance department hosted a college alumni speech Jan. 9 so seniors could gain a better idea about what to expect in college. Howell alumni came from six different colleges and universities to talk about their first semester in college.

“From what they were saying college sounds like a very

different atmosphere and the level of responsibility jumps to a much higher standard,” senior Colleen Hill said.

Alumni talked about their professors and classes and how they differ from high school courses. Many informed seniors about some of the college clubs and activities they joined on campus, giving them the opportunity to meet new friends.

‘08 grads talk about college experiences

Multiple 2008 graduates like Rachel Guthrie, Sam Abrams, and Katie Herring spoke to the senior class on experiences during the first semester in college.

by| krystal del castillo

by| krystal del castillo

The drama club attended the Missouri State Thespian Conference, Jan. 8-10. The annual conference occurred at UMSL, where students attended theater workshops, one-acts, and plays. Three Howell students participated in the cast of the all-state show, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Seniors Jon Christopher, Kyle Morr, and Amy Hoehn played the roles of Theseus, Egeus, and Puck, respectively. Additionally, junior Laura Coghlan and freshman Zeke Kapusciak performed a duo scene during an individual events showcase. Kyle Myers, Andrea Pepper, Morr, and Hoehn auditioned for colleges and scholarships and each received several callbacks. Schools such as Webster University, St. Louis University, and Savannah College of Art and Design, among others, contacted the four seniors.

by| crosby franklin

Thespians perform at conference

The administration surveyed students Dec 10 regarding Howell Time and its benefits. The survey was given so the administration could determine if Howell Time is beneficial.

Although Howell Time received an overall positive response, many students left comments stating that they dislike the assemblies and activities that occur during Howell time because they feel it disrupts their work time.

According to the surveys, 72 percent of students agreed Howell Time was beneficial. Seventy-seven percent of students said that they are able to stay on task and use Howell Time productively. Students commented that Howell Time helped them get work done, and that Howell Time gave them the opportunity to makeup tests and absent work, rather than before or after school. Many students enjoyed the opportunity to seek extra help in a struggling class.

“I really like Howell Time this year because it allows me go get help in classes that I struggle with,” senior Meghan Newton said.

As of right now Howell time will continue next year and another survey will be administered in April to students and teachers in regards to Howell Time.

“We want to see if the results are consistent or if they change, so the we can determine if Howell Time will continue next school year,” associate principle Dave Wedlock said.

$1 OFF

Senior Amy Hoehn celebrates after performances at state conference, Jan. 8-10. With her is sophomore Olivia Cassidy and alumnus Nick Miller.

The April 1 deadline is coming!To order or pay your

yearbook bill, call Jostens at1-866-282-1516

The junior class officers will be sending a care package to soldiers stationed in Kosovo. The platoon leader is 2002 alumna Amanda Self. The care package will be sent within the next few weeks and contains personal products like shampoo, coffee and candy.

“The box that is being shipped is going to up my soldiers morale. Even the smallest things make soldiers happy while away from home and we appreciate it,” Self said.

by| evan loveless

Junior class sends Army care package

Junior Jana Lynch converses in her mock-competition interview Tuesday, Jan. 12. DECA members participated in mock role plays to help prepare themselves for the upcoming state competitions. Lynch will represent Howell as the junior representative.

Correction–the boom continuesFACS teacher Sarah Devoto was omitted from the Howell

Baby Boom story. She is also expecting, as is English teacher Jessie Altman.

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

S p o t l i g h tJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9 7C h a t

f e a t u r e s

Record store closings. Decrease in album sales. More and more record major companies folding. Illegal downloading could contribute to all of this.

Illegal downloading is one of the largest issues in the history of music. To some downloading provides a new way to promote and distribute music. To others it is just a way to rip off artists of their hard work.

For junior Zane Womack the ends justify the means.“It’s not that I think there’s nothing wrong with

downloading, I just believe that the good outweighs the bad,” Womack said.

He sees downloading as a way to promote young and undiscovered bands.

“With the majority of artists, they have no way to promote their own music. Without a major label record contract, they simply do not have enough money to put out their music,” Womack said. “This is why the internet is changing the way we look at music. For next to no cost, a band can promote their music worldwide, and anyone with ears and an internet connection can hear it.”

Senior Charles Miller also uses downloading to find new artists.

“Downloading makes discovering new artists so much easier,” Miller said. “I have found a bunch of bands that I would have never listened to, if I didn’t download their albums.”

On the other side of the argument is junior Joe Slavich,

who writes and performs his own songs. He believes that illegally downloading music is the same as stealing from the artist.

“The artist doesn’t gain any of the income that they poured into making the music,” Slavich said. “Most artists that aren’t on a record label pay to get their music out there, with money from their own pockets. It would suck to see that money not come back.”

Womack suggests that without downloading the music he never would have found some of his favorite artists and that even though he may not always buy their CDS, he still can support the bands through other outlets.

“I never would have heard of them or their music, which means that they would never make any money from me,” Womack said. “But, because I “stole” their music, I now know about them, show their music to my friends, see them live, and buy merchandise. This, in turn, exposes more people to their music and opens the possibility that these people will buy something from them.”

Miller feels that if one is illegally downloading music, they should be willing to support the artists in other ways.

“I think that if you are downloading from unknown

artists, and you like their music, you should buy their albums or donate money to them in some way,” Miller said.

Slavich still believes that people should still go out and actually buy physical copies of albums.

“People should buy music because they will get the actual album including all the information on the record. They will help keep record stores open. I hate it that record stores are closing,” Slavich said. “Plus, if their computer crashes, they won’t lose everything that they’ve stolen, if they bought the actual record.”

Ultimately, the decision falls upon the listener, whether or not they believe that the act of illegally downloading is ethical.

“It’s not that I think there’s nothing wrong with downloading, I just believe that the good outweighs the bad.” –junior Zane Womack

by| austin thomas

Illegal downloading puts record sales on pauseEven though the seventh and final Harry

Potter book came out in July 2007, the

series following the boy wizard continues to have

an influence in pop culture with its impressive fan

base and their various opinions on the popular

book series.

Not only are there fan conferences around

the world, but the Harry Potter fandom has

created both an entirely new genre of music

and a fan website that contains all news that

belongs to the Potter universe.

Wizard Rock:

“Wizard Rock is a genre of music created by musicians within the Harry Potter fandom. Subject matter covers everything from self-expression to character interpretation to plotline commentary,” sophomore Kassie King said. “Brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge started the movement with their band Harry and the Potters.”

The music prides itself on drawing from different genres, but overall, it seems to have mostly an acoustic feel. Most of the bands consist of only one or two people and rely on acoustic guitars and keyboards with other random instruments such, as pianos, thrown in. Vocal duties are shared between members.

While some may look at this movement and treat it as a joke, the bands regularly tour and even play large shows at some sophisticated venues.

“Experiences at a wizard rock concert vary greatly with the type of concert you are going to and the area where it’s located. At Wrock Chicago this summer, a wizard rock concert prior to the Harry Potter conference, Terminus, fans were jumping up and down so much that the chandelier in the Hilton Hotel ballroom came down,” King said.

When conventions aren’t available, touring bands play anywhere they can, sometimes even at fan’s houses.

“Concerts located in libraries, church basements, or acoustic settings are generally calmer and closer-knit. The environment is very personal,” King said.

The full length documentary The Wizard Rockumentary: A Movie About Rocking and Rowling, was released last

year and shown at the Portus and Terminus Harry Potter conferences and covers the history of the wizard rock bands.

Mugglenet:

In 1999, the world of Harry Potter was only a couple of years old and beginning to grow as people became increasingly interested in the series. In fall of that same year, twelve–year–old Emerson Spartz of LaPorte, Indiana,created what would become one of the biggest Harry Potter fansites in the world, Mugglenet. Spartz, now in his twenties, has turned the site into a six figure business and oversees a group of 120 dedicated volunteers and a paid staff.

“The community between the members of the staff is awesome. We’ve mostly grown up together and have become tight-knit friends because of it. Although we live all over the

world, I feel closer to them than most of the people I sit in class with every day,” King said.

Playful competition also has its role in the fansite community. With hundreds of other Potter fan sites around the world, Mugglenet always strives to be on top. Most of the competition is between The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet for top provider of Potter news, but all of it is friendly. Competition is also abound between staff members of Mugglenet.

“We sometimes race to see who can get out the fastest news stories, and we fight over who interviews who. Emerson does the high profile interviews, like interviewing J.K. Rowling herself,” King said.

Different features appear on the site as various events happen throughout the Potter universe and interactive features like polls and the forums help keep the community alive.

“In 2006, some of the staff published a speculation novel on what would happen in the final Harry Potter book. The speculations section has some arguments and most thought out arguments from the fandom’s best debaters,” King said.

As to how long this intense fandom lasts, no one is really certain but it is obvious that these people have dedicated themselves to something much larger than themselves.

“We came together for this one book series, and it has thoroughly shaped our lives,” King said.

Harry Potter goes beyond booksby| andrew cogswell

Even though the Harry Potter series ended with book seven, the characters and fictional world continue to inspire music and fan web sites.

Check these bands out on Myspace:The Mudbloods-A Texan band with a gentle acoustic sound.

The Moaning Myrtles-A piano- guitar duo created by Lauren Fairweather and Nina Jankowicz.

The Quaffle Kids-Brainchild of vocalist Tim Richardson and instrumentalist Bryce Cone, The Quaffle Kids are a pop-punk/indie influenced Wrock band.

Gred and Forge-After Tyler left the band, Jarod continued making the catchy powerpop he loves about his favorite book series.

The Remus Lupins-Vocalist/guitarist Alex Carpenter and bassist Tyler Nicholas create the Indie pop band that will be playing at this year’s Yule Ball in Okalahoma City.

And the winner is....Award season starts

Hold an award winning movie day by watching these Oscar Best Picture winners!

It’s movie award season, and the competition is fierce. Grab the popcorn and soda, curl up on the sofa, and get ready for the acceptance speeches.

Here’s who’s nominated for the first award show, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which occurs Jan. 25. The Oscars are Feb. 22.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: RICHARD JENKINS (Walter Vale) “THE VISITOR” ; FRANK LANGELLA (Richard Nixon) “FROST/NIXON” ; SEAN PENN (Harvey Milk) “MILK”; BRAD PITT (Benjamin Button) “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON”; MICKEY ROURKE (Randy) “THE WRESTLER”

1939Gone with the Wind

(Civil War epic10 Oscars won)

1997Titanic

(tied with GWTW for Oscars won)

1999American Beauty

(dark look at suburbia)

2000Gladiator

(Roman epic)

2001A Beautiful Mind(based the life of

John Nash)

2002Chicago

(it’s a musical!)

2004Million Dollar Baby

(female boxingtragedy)

2006The Departed

(Scorsese police/mafia thriller)

2007No Countryfor Old Men

1961West Side Story(Romeo & Julietbased musical)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: ANNE HATHAWAY (Kym) “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED”; ANGELINA JOLIE (Christine Collins) “CHANGELING”; MELISSA LEO (Ray Eddy) “FROZEN RIVER”; MERYL STREEP (Sister Aloysius Beauvier ) “DOUBT”; KATE WINSLET (April Wheeler) “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” .

J a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

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


J a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

(This is Life from page 3)

I did whatever I could to get out of the house. His temper took a heavy toll on our family. It took me a number of years to get used to asking him questions because I feared how he would react

A month before my freshman year, my dad came home from a doctor’s appointment. He scheduled the appointment because he could tell there was something wrong. When he came home, he and my mom walked into the other room to talk. My mom started to cry–my family’s greatest fear was back. This time the cancer was malignant, uncontrollably growing and possibly fatal.

My family banded together. We did everything to make my dad more comfortable, trying to reduce as much stress as possible. My dad seemed to change overnight. He started to eat healthier, work harder, and do his best to keep in shape. He would go back to Seattle every so often to see his old

doctors, and they did everything they could to help him be as healthy as possible. All the while, he was taking a pill form of chemo for 5 out of every 28 days. The chemo completely drained him of energy and would cause an upset stomach and various other problems. My mom would always warn my sister and me whenever he was about to “get on” his chemo and remind us to be patient. After awhile we stopped noticing a difference in Dad because his fatigue and other side effects became a part of our lives. He developed a positive attitude and would joke around with the family. Later, the doctors would associate the mood swings on the tumor–it was causing a chemical imbalance because of where it was located on his brain. Other then that, life continued as normally as it could, but there was always that little thought in the back of my head, “How much longer do I have with him?”

The reason I chose to publish this today is because on Jan 19, 2007, my dad came home from a doctor’s appointment with my mom. I was busy getting ready to play a show at the

Pit with Convaria when my parents asked me to come into the living room. My sister was already sitting on the couch, waiting, and I sat down next to her in almost the exact same spot I had sat the previous summer. My dad told us that he had good news. His tumor had stopped growing and was in remission. From the moment those words left his lips, a sense of ease seemed to fall over the house and both my sister and I went to hug him. I’m not sure how long the three of us sat there and embraced each other, but I do know that I started to cry because I knew that this family, the one that used to be so separated and chaotic, was finally going to be whole again. We still have a struggle ahead of us as my dad continues to receive treatment for the tumor, but when I look at my dad I don’t see a sick man. I see a man who is living his life, loving his family, and taking nothing for granted. He is the strongest, bravest person I know and I hope someday I am a third of what he is. He lives life one day at a time and carries on to a much larger goal, which is one lesson I strive to live by everyday.

While the weather outside may be frightful, this time of the year proves to be delightful for most gamers. With the passing of the holidays, many students have warmed their thumbs by playing the season’s latest video games. These games range from the popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band series to Xbox 360’s Left 4 Dead and Playstation 3’s Little Big Planet.

“Last Christmas my grandma bought me a PS3 and I couldn’t have been happier. I prefer it to both the Xbox and the Wii. The games and the overall quality of the PS3 seems amazing in comparison,” sophomore Courtney Bennett said.

This most recent Christmas, Bennett received the games Rock Band 2 and Little Big Planet for her PS3.

“Once I tore off the wrapping paper and saw the big Rock Band logo, I had to pull it our of the box right then. Even Christmas day I played that game nonstop. I definitely prefer it over Guitar Hero, from the set list to the character creator. I think they were originally by the same company, but Rock Band was the first to add the drums. Since I play drums you can imagine how much fun it is for me,” Bennett said.

“As far as Little Big Planet, I strongly recommend that game. A lot of people have told me they don’t get the plot from the commercial but that is the point. There really isn’t a strong plot. You pretty much run across the world doing all sorts of weird tasks as this little sack puppet that you get to decorate. I mean, mine is zebra print and wears a top hat. It’s so eccentric and great,” Bennett said.

Senior Jon Garrison has a very different view on what makes an excellent video game. His standard includes less sack puppet adventures and more intense zombie slayings. This is why Left 4 Dead made the top of Garrison’s Christmas list.

“I am a huge fan of zombies in general, but zombie games are the best. From Resident Evil to those House of the Dead games at arcades, I love the suspense and how the games draw you into the story,” Garrison said.

“Left 4 Dead’s graphics are amazing because they used a lot of the same effects they do in movies. During the cut scenes it really looks like it could be a movie. It has my vote for the hands down best multiplayer game put out in 2008. I love inviting friends over, laughing and just taking out frustration on animated zombies,” Garrison continued.

Sophomore Eric Miller prefers a different game, Guitar Hero: World Tour.

“World Tour has to be the greatest game made in 2008. It’s great to play in a group because of the many instruments to choose from, and it’s great to play alone to see how high a record you can set,” Miller said.

Miller is a dedicated Guitar Hero fan and has been following the series since the first game was released in 2005.

“Guitar Hero was the one thing that I really wanted to get. I wasn’t surprised when I saw it sitting under the Christmas

by| Jessica HowardGamers enjoy video systems, games

The Nintendo Wii offers a unique motion sensing remote that is compatible with different accessories to maximize gameplay.

The latest installment in the Guitar Hero franchise, Guitar Hero: World Tour, follows the same suit as RockBand by adding drums and microphones to gameplay.

tree, but I was still really excited,” Miller said. “World Tour was such a big step up from all the other Guitar

Heroes and it was really needed. I know Rock Band players will be disappointed with Rock Band when they play World Tour. The set list has to be one of the greatest released because of its variety. It has everything from Bullet For My Valentine to Willie Nelson,” Miller said.

Though Miller does have a certain affinity for Guitar Hero, he also was gifted the game Call of Duty: World at War this year, a game which has quickly become one of his favorites.

“Call of Duty is an awesome game to play on Xbox LIVE. The game is really life like and you really get into it when you and your teammates are facing everything together. It’s pretty intense sometimes,” Miller said,

From the light-hearted Little Big Planet to the best-selling Guitar Hero: World Tour, 2008 provided gamers with an excellent selection in all games of all variety.

“I know some people will think that I am weird for being a girl who plays video games, but they really are fun. It’s kind of a way to escape reality for a little while and be part of something a little more interesting. Everyone wants to be a rocks star or a super hero. It’s amazing how games can capture that,” Bennett said.

Being the only console to offer addition entertainment features like a built in Blu–Ray, Sony’s Playstation 3 has an advantage over the competition.

Cour

tney

Ben

nett

Jess

ica H

owar

d

Jess

ica H

owar

d

C h a t


S p o t l i g h tJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9 9f e a t u r e s

“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

by | maggie herring

5As told by president Amy Hoehn

drama club

thingsyou didn’t

know about...

1. They had three people in the All State Show at the state convention.

2. They are an honor troupe.

3. Their winter play, The Tempest, is Feb. 12-14.

4. They are part of the Cappies program, which is a student critic organization.

5. Each play involves around 100 hours of practice and rehearsals.

10 S p o t l i g h t Shouts p o r t s


J a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

Dear Sports Fansby|joe pannullo

UPCO

MING

EVEN

TS

by|dan dowell

There are things in sports that are more publicized than things that really matter. Take for example players salaries, politics, and steroids. The media shows aspects of sports that I don’t care about. Things that athletes themselves shouldn’t care about.

Personally, I play hockey. I play for the simple fact that I love the game, and I play as an outlet. I know that for an hour and a half, five days a week, everything goes away. If I have any problems at home, or at school, or I’m struggling trying to find a column idea, as soon as I step on the ice, my mind clears. I can focus my attention on my team and what I have to do to win.

I don’t play hockey because I want to make millions of dollars playing pro, or because I aspire to have my own equipment line. I play because I don’t want to do anything else. I like to believe that outside of pro sports, most kids are like me. I like to believe that our basketball team plays because they love to, and if opportunities come from playing, so be it.

I have a hard time believing that so many kids work only so they can to get scholarships or go pro. I think there has to be a passion for the game you play to work hard enough to get to the next level.

Where is that passion in pro sports? It really bugged me when basketball star LeBron James was talking about what he was going to do with his contract in two years, in the middle of a season no less. He has a commitment to the team he’s with now, and should have been focused on winning a championship where he is, not worrying about two years from now. It’s one thing for the media to discuss his future but he should just do his job and take care of the rest later. I think contracts should not be public information. Would you expect your family doctor’s salary to be displayed on the bottom-line on CNN? Probably not. We expect doctors to do their best without knowing specifically how much money they make; we should expect the same from athletes.

I miss the “for the love of the game” factor in sports. I miss players who didn’t care what they were paid as long as they were playing the sport they loved. I miss players being there because they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I want to take away the glitz and the glamour and leave the balls.

Varsity Basketball Wrestling Girls Varsity Basketball Varsity Ice Hockey1/23 Vs. Wentzville Holt 1/24 Kyle Thrasher Tournament 1/20 Vs. Wentzville Holt 1/23 Vs. Duchesne1/27 Vs. Ft. Zumwalt East 1/29 Vs. Ft. Zumwalt North 2/02 Vs. Hazelwood Central 1/26 Vs. Howell North1/30 @ Howell Central 2/03 Vs. Wentzville Timberland 2/05 Vs. Ft. Zumwalt South 1/31 Vs. Seckman-Senior Night2/06 Vs. Ft. Zumwalt South 2/07 Howell Central Tournament. 2/10 Vs. Eureka Girls Varsity Swimming 1/27 Vs. Ft. Zumwalt South 2/02 Vs. Ft Zumwalt North 2/10-12 GAC

The varsity wrestling team is off to an 8-2 start with wins against Ft. Zumwalt South: (55-15, Nov. 25), St. Charles West: (73-3, Dec. 3), and Westminister (65-7, Dec. 3). The Vikings continued winning with a second place finish at the Lindbergh tournament, Dec. 13, and a sixth place finish at the Lee Summit tournament, Dec. 19-20, beating the seventh ranked tournament team in the state, Troy. Senor Nick Baker, ranked sixth in the state in the 112 pound weight class, finished fourth.Sophomore Sean O’Leary, ranked third in the state in the 110 pound weight class, finished second in singles competition.

“Our season has been great so far. We are ranked sixth in state in dual meet teams and hoping to continue the success for the rest of the season,” junior Alex Langford said.

The varsity boys basketball team hasn’t quite gotten that “home sweet home” feeling. After starting the season with 10 straight tournament games on the road, the Vikings returned home Jan. 14 for two more non-conference games. The Vikings have yet to play a conference contender. Their first is Jan 23 against Holt. Forward Cody Sorenson reached a career milestone with 1,000 career points. Sorenson leads the team in most major offensive categories, including the GAC South, leading 22 points per game. The team is 5-5 as of press time. “I’m looking forward to getting some more wins. Hopefully we can win districts and go to state,” junior guard Ross Smith said. Upcoming theme nights include a blues brothers night against Holt.

The word of the season for the varsity girl’s basketball team is redemption. With two-point loses to Howell North (51-53, Dec. 5) and to St. Charles (35-37, Jan. 6), the team is looking to turn things around.

“The Howell North game was a big loss for us. We were in it for most of the game, but we just could not pull it out. Luckily, we have another shot against them towards the end of the year,” junior Kelsey James said.

The team has had some key wins this year including Marquette (58-51, Dec. 3), eliminating them from their own tournament, and Clayton (39-33, Dec. 28) in the Lutheran South Christmas tournament.

Wrestling

Girl’s Varsity BasketballBoy’s Varsity Basketball

The varsity club hockey team as of Jan 16 had an impressive record of 12-4. The Vikings currently stand in second place in the St. Charles division of the Mid-States Club Hockey Association. Senior Joe Pannullo leads the team in goals and total points, while senior Matt Reed leads in assists. The Vikings have three games left in the regular season, including games against rival Howell North, Jan 26, and senior night against Seckman, Jan 31. Senior goalie Kyle Volentine has handled the bulk of the work in goals, posting a 8-4 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.34 goals against average before being injured. “It sucks I’m missing games in my senior year, but Adam Rinck has stepped up and played some good games. Hopefully I’ll be back for the playoffs,” Volentine said.

Varsity Ice Hockey

There is one obstacle that the squad has not overcome yet: Howell Central. Both losses this season have been against them including a 24-44 defeat, Dec. 4.

Winter sports season heats up

“For the rest of the season we are trying to concentrate on closing the gap with those ranked higher than us,” senior Caleb Anthonis said.

Senior Cody Sorenson lays up two points in the Troy Invitational, Dec 8. The Vikings won 72-56.

Senior Maxie Johnson fights off a Pattonville defender, Jan 13. The Vikings lost 52-62. Johnson had five points.

Senior Matt Reed and Junior Kevin Walters move towards the puck and a Holt defender in a game Jan 9. The Vikings won 9-0.

Junior Alex Langford wrestles in the 145 division against Seckman. Howell won the meet 57-20, Dec 13.


S p o t l i g h tJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9 11B u z z

e n t e r t a i n m e n t

[The Launchpad]

UPC

OM

ING

by| sam galloway

Fox Theatre314-534-1678www.fabulousfox.com Jan 20 – Feb 1Legally Blonde the Musical $27- $68 2 PM, 8PM

Feb 4 – 5Rain: A tribute to The Beatles $40- $50 8PM

Feb 10 -22Spring Awakening $25- $66 1, 2, 7:30, 8PM

Pops618-274-6720www.popsrocks.com

Jan 31Anybody Killa $15 7PM

The Pageant314-726-6161www.thepageant.com

Feb 5Frank Calliendo $39.75 6, 8:30PM

Feb 14Joel McHale $32.50 7PMFeb 19Galactic $20 8PM

Scottrade Center314-622-5435www.scottradecenter.net Feb 4Celine Dion (rescheduled) $47.50 $125 8PM

Feb 6AVP Hot Winter Nights tour $16.50- $61.50 7:30PM

Tomorrow is open mic night at Picasso’s on Main Street in St. Charles, and you never really know who you’re going to see. All you can really be sure of on Thursday nights in this art-themed coffeehouse is that fifteen musicians are

anxious to jump to the dry erase board for their timeslot; about 75 people are anxious to watch; and I always feel anxious if I’m anywhere else but there.

So much happens between seven and midnight. A really talented musician named Dave runs open mic every week, and starts off the night with fantastic originals and covers of bands like Death Cab For Cutie.

In addition, somebody is always playing for his or her first time; sometimes the music blows your mind, and other times you just have to respect that this microphone is open to anyone.

There are established regulars. “Canadian Dave” just got back from the Hollywood round of American Idol tryouts, but returns to his roots with astonishing modesty. “Old Man Keith” puts on his sweet sunglasses for a hilarious rendition of “Wild Thing”. The crowd may chatter, laugh, or go silent during a performance, but I don’t think they’ve ever booed.

As it is a coffeehouse, the grinders roar on and off in the background. Behind the makeshift stage, the floor-to-ceiling window opens up to the lights and buzz of Main Street, and every week I catch myself staring out of the window wondering what I’ll do in just a few months when I’m gone at college, far from the Thursday nights that I’ve seriously come to call “home”.

I started playing at Picasso’s a year ago. I’ve done duets with almost every open mic regular, been recorded live, had strangers write lyrics for me to put to my music, met people who have gone on to become my best friends, boyfriends, musical acquaintances, fans…

I can’t begin to describe the importance and awesomeness of the opportunity that is open mic night in St. Charles. If you’re a musician, here’s your chance to play anything you want: originals, covers, spoken word pieces, and all in front of a crowd, for twenty minutes, once a week.

If you’re a fan of music, here’s your chance to see fifteen people from across the spectrums of age, hometown, and musical genre perform in a five hour time span. If you’re up for all of this, and some fantastic coffee to sip throughout the entire experience, Picasso’s has you covered on open mic night.

The road was almost entirely empty as junior Kelly Minnick drove home from her job on Thanksgiving night.

“Honestly, who goes to a movie on Thanksgiving? I was appalled that so many people showed up and were rude to me,” Minnick said.

Minnick works at the Galaxy 14 movie theater in Chesterfield, where long hours and interesting scheduling are part of the job.

“It’s like ‘Hey, I’m the one who has to work on Thanksgiving. At least you get to be with your family’,” Minnick said.

With the amount of movies that premier on holidays such as Christmas, employees of the theaters are expected to be ripping tickets instead of opening presents.

“Its kind of a given that when you work at movie theaters you are going to have to work on holidays,” senior Brian Stevison said. “But at [the Great Escape theater] there is some flexibility with the schedule, and I get paid time and a half, so it’s not too bad.”

Even though working on days most people call holidays is a downside, customers at movie theaters can make the job worse.

“One time a lady yelled at me for like 30 minutes because the chocolate covered raisins she wanted were in the back room and I had to go get a manager to grab them,” junior Spencer Husk said.

“Apparently she thought it was my fault that things were locked up in the back. She just kept saying she better get free candy.”

“I think I’ve probably seen just about

everything under the sun while working at the theater,” Stevison said.

The customer might not always have a complaint either. Sometimes they might take things to a new level.

“Right after I started working somebody pulled the fire alarm and everybody went crazy and had to leave the building. About a week later, the same thing happened again. It was a pretty interesting way to start out on my first job,” Stevison said.

After their long shifts end, many movie theater employees still feel pressure to keep up with school.

“Because of the long hours I work on the weekends, I sometimes don’t have enough time to do a lot of my homework. The job has especially caught up with me in anatomy class,” Minnick said.

Long hours can also cut in to an employee’s social life, but life on the outside can sometimes be substituted by making new friends while at work.

“I barely hang out with a lot of my friends because I’m at work so much. But I have met a lot of new people while at work so it kind of evens out,” junior Lisa Bryan said.

The popcorn selling business isn’t all bad. Working at the movie theater has a generous amount of perks.

“I liked working at the theater because there was always something to,” junior Davis Bader said. “Being an usher was my favorite job because

I got to see the end of movies all of the time.”

BecauseStevison is a supervisor, he gets to experience some special privileges.

“I pretty much get to choose when to work, which is very nice. And I also have a say about what goes on in the theater. The managers sometimes come to me for my opinion,” Stevison said.

Life in the movie theater business can have its ups and downs, but most employees will agree that it is always interesting.

Even if they have to drive home at midnight on Thanksgiving.

by| nick holder

No business like show businessMovie theater employees encounter interesting experiences

Juinor Kelly Minnick poses next to a cardboard cut out ver-sion of the High School Musical cast, while working at the Chesterfield Galaxy movie theater.

“Honestly, who goes to a movie on Thanksgiving? I was appalled that so many people showed up and were rude to me.”

– junior Kelly Minnick

12 S p o t l i g h t Final Thoughtsb a c k p a g eJ a n . 2 1 , 2 0 0 9

A day in

www.jillyscupcakebar.com

8509 Delmar Blvd St. Louis, MO 63124

(314)-993-JILLY www.landmarktheatres.com/market/St.Louis/TivoliTheatre.com 6350 Delmar Blvd St. Louis, MO 63130 (314)-995-6270

www.slam.com (314)-721-0072 1 Fine Arts Dr. St. Louis, MO 63130

Jilly’s Cupcake Bar

St. Louis Art MuseumSaint Louis, himself.

photography by| sam galloway

St.

compiled by| dara vint

LouisArt Hill

Tivioli Theatre

If video games, movies, and music aren’t enough, take a

trip through St. Louis. One way to avoid being

stuck at home are spending the morning at the Art

Museum, catch a movie at the Tivoli, and finish the day off with a cupcake at Jilly’s

cupcake bar.

january spotlight

Documents