Summer to See Many V2K Changes
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Inside this week’s Prep News... Opinion: Chik bids farewell to the SLUH com- munity, page 3 Feature: Aylward retires after 27 years of ser- vice, page 9 Reflection:Jones, ’09, reflects on Dallas Diversity “If nothing else, value the truth” conference, page 11 VOLUME LXX ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2006 ISSUE 31 Looking back: Laughlin’s first year as president ... In many ways it is a very humbling growth, and to learn, and to listen; but that’s Sean Kickham, Christian Ronzio really important. In a place that’s such a fine Core Staff and privileged experience, especially to someone totally new. ... But for the most institution as St. Louis U. High, perhaps the Editors’ note: The Prep News decided to part, I’d say it’s been about getting to meet most important struggle I could have my check in with President David Laughlin to the people and learn their traditions, and first year is to be a good listener and to be discuss his first year at St. Louis U. High. that’s been a real privilege, that’s been a real respectful of the success that’s really in place The following are excerpts from two different positive thing. here. interviews, which took place on Wednesday Certainly there’ve been ... struggles. I’m PN: What are the goals that SLUH has at 1:30 (sixth period) and Thursday during not expecting that to change next year, or successfully achieved? Activity Period. any year in the future. Some of that’s being DL: I guess if I simplified it, I would want Prep News: How has this past year gone, new. In terms of the specifics of St. Louis U. to talk about three branches of (success). in terms of successes and failures, both High, I may not be that much different from One would be the academic branch. In any for you personally and for St. Louis U. a freshman. Certainly I know the mission number of ways, formally and informally, High? and the heart of what we’re doing as a Jesuit we’ve had an outstanding academic year not David Laughlin: St. Louis U. High is a high school very, very well, but that doesn’t only with the number of students who have tremendous place. I’ve known that from mean I know what it’s like to see the Blue been recognized on objective achievements, the people I’ve known here for many years. Crew the first fall weekend. but (also) just on the general focus in the So, I think in many ways, what I’ve lived is So, in terms of struggles, I think the building on learning. a reality that I’ve probably heard about for biggest struggle is asking of myself what we The second branch that I would want a very long time. ... ask of our students, and that’s to be open to see LAUGHLIN, 12 STUCO holds last forum of year constitution. As opposed to this year, next Summer to Charlie Landis year’s STUCO will have three representa- Core Staff tives from each of the freshman, sophomore, see many he St. Louis U. High Student Council and junior classes, as well as nine senior of- (STUCO) hosted its final quarterly fo- ficer positions (to go along with homeroom V2K changes rumT of the year last Thursday in the Joseph representatives). Six of the senior positions Schulte Theater. Both the current STUCO will be “student body” positions, represent- Jim Santel officers as well as next year’s elected of- ing the entire school. The other three senior Core Staff ficers sat on the stage to host the forum. positions will report only to the senior class. t. Louis U. High’s campus will con- The agenda included discussions of the The six student body officers will delegate tinue to undergo changes as part of the changes made to the STUCO constitution, responsibilities to the class officers. Merrill VisionS 2000 (V2K) construction program the school’s alcohol policy, and student in- said that one of the reasons for the constitution this summer. These changes will include a volvement on committees. change was “to hold everyone accountable for new student parking lot, which will result The outgoing senior officers sat in the what they are doing and to better streamline in several different parking procedures back, allowing the newly elected juniors to Student Council.” next school year. run most of the meeting. About 30-40 stu- One crowd member questioned the The new parking lot is already partially dents were in attendance, as well as principal removal of one of the junior positions for completed; sophomores and juniors began Mary Schenkenberg. Attendance was down next year, saying that it would take away parking on the lot off Berthold Avenue behind from previous meetings because the forum experienced members from STUCO. Merrill the Science Center on April 18. Currently, was moved from Tuesday to Thursday last responded, saying, “As a student council, the segment of Berthold that separates this week and because of a fine arts field trip. we came up with the conclusion that the lot from the Science Center’s secondary STUCO President-elect Paul Merrill job (of governing the junior class) could lot is being torn up. This section will be opened the forum by outlining the new be done with three people. We didn’t need replaced with more parking spaces, uniting positions provided for by STUCO’s new see FORUM, 16 see V2K, 19 News May 19, 2006 Recycling program expansion breeds results the AP Environmental Science class, Leek on Tuesdays and Fridays. From there it is Kevin Casey has played a key role in the recycling of taken to the paper-recycling bin, which is Reporter paper. located off Berthold Avenue in the senior “ arth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart!” The push for increased awareness of parking lot. Anyone is encouraged to drop These were the cries of the five Plan- paper recycling was started by Environmen- off paper waste in it, as SLUH gets paid a eteersE from the popular cartoon Captain tal Action Club moderator Bill Anderson small revenue for the total amount. “That’s Planet as they fought to save the world towards the beginning of the year when not the reason why we’re doing it, though,” from the fiendish Eco-Villains. In more Abitibi Consolidated, Inc., threatened to added Anderson. subtle ways, individuals and groups at St. remove their recycling dumpster from SLUH In another area, SLUH’s already success- Louis U. High have done their duty to pro- premises unless the school generated more ful aluminum recycling incentive, headed by tect the environment, by either promoting paper waste. Since then the school has seen Science Club moderator Steve Kuensting, is existing efforts or starting new recycling significant improvements. “There is less still alive and flourishing. The club, which programs. paper in the trash and more people putting it also helps with paper recycling, collects Since the beginning of the school year, where it belongs,” commented Anderson. aluminum cans and empties the drainage efforts at SLUH to increase students’ par- From October 2005 to March 2006 about buckets in the cafeteria recycling bins daily. ticipation in recycling paper, aluminum, and 5.093 tons (10,186 pounds) of paper were Kuensting takes the aluminum waste to the plastic have been taken up a notch. “We’ve collected, averaging about 0.849 tons (1,698 recycling center about every two to two and had huge improvements,” said senior Cliff pounds) a month. half weeks, averaging 60 to 100 pounds each Leek. “We’ve come from doing nothing to Various students from different organi- collection. “There is a lot less cans in the doing as much as we can.” As a member of zations collect the paper during homeroom see RECYCLING, 18 SLUH to communicate with MODOT, student body Andrew Mueth information that they hope MODOT would under full capacity if one lane were closed. Core Staff listen to in building the project,” Laughlin This means that much traffic could be re- s both the city and county of St. Lou- explained. “The decision will ultimately be routed to these two roads during construction is prepare to offer their recommenda- MODOT’s decision.” without excessive traffic. tionsA regarding the upcoming reconstruc- Cambridge’s study suggested that MO- One suggested change already included tion of Highway 40/Interstate 64, St. Louis DOT leave open two lanes in each direction in the tentative MODOT plans is the con- U. High has been in communication with at all times during construction. Original struction of an exit ramp at the Hampton the city and plans to communicate with the ideas by MODOT ranged from complete exchange that would allow cars to exit the SLUH community as the Missouri Depart- shutdown of the highway for several years highway directly on to eastbound Oakland ment of Transportation (MODOT) updates during construction to closing the highway Avenue. The plan is to run a ramp underneath and eventually finalizes its plans. one overpass at a time, working from one the Hampton overpass separately from the According to President David Laughlin, end to the other. This proposal would allow actual Hampton exchange. The current SLUH has been working with Mayor Francis some flow on the highway and avoid major junction does not allow cars to turn left onto Slay’s office, “as part of the group in the congestion on all nearby side roads. Oakland from Hampton. city that hired the consultants, Cambridge Information provided in Cambridge’s The addition of that extra Hampton Systematics, from Massachusetts to come study showed foreseen rush-hour traffic exit ramp shows how the Cambridge study look at this issue.