October 2019 Le Journal by Alison Long

LE JOURNAL NOTRE DAME DE SION HIGH SCHOOL | OCTOBER 2019 | VOLUME 38

The Vaping Epidemic

CLOUDED JUDGMENT

A look at the deaths and illnesses attributed to vaping and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dangerous page 14-17

STUDENTS AND THEIR ITALIAN HERITAGE PAGE 27

LOWERING THE VOTING AGE PAGE 13

FRESHMAN CAROLINE DOLD: LOVE OF THE ARTS PAGE 8

CONTENTS OPINIONS

Highlights from Night of One Acts

Food for Thought kicks off with big plans

Open House features tours, fine arts and sports

Reflecting on the vaping epidemic and discussing the newer discoveries of illness and deaths directly linked to vaping devices (Illustration by Kennedy Wade)

ON THE COVER

NEWS

FEATURES

Freshman Caroline Dold expresses herself in music and art

Senior Madi Brown and MADI Apparel

Junior Kathryn Sade dresses up as a zombie for her job

Cancel culture and how it has affected today’s society Should vapes be banned or is it going overboard?

The importance of celebrating cultural heritage months

Why we should lower the voting age

SPORTS

Senior Bridget Schumm injured her ankle

Golf team goes to the Missouri State Championship

Podcast featuring the women from “The Office”cast

Addams Family and Maleficent reviews

What to bake for fall treats

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WHAT’S ONLINE

www.lejournallive.com

(Photo by Madeline Hammett) (Photo by Grace Hills)

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@lejournalsion

A&E

Italian Heritage Month and student traditions like this homemade biscotti (Photo by Sela Kincaid) @lejournalsion

(Photo by Keely Schieffer)

Respect All Life Mass (Photo by Kate Conway)

Dig Pink Volleyball Game (Photo by Paula Sweeny

(Photo by Elizabeth Crabtree, Le Flambeau)

Dance Team Performance at Rockhurst (Photo by Kaitlin Lyman)

Graduation Dress Tryon (Photo by Jenna Barackman)

EDITOR’S INK I OUR TIPS

STAYING WARM 1. Layer Up When the school is cold, wear multiple layers with your uniform by wearing an undershirt, quarter zip or leggings.

2. Keep Extra Clothes for Your Car If you park outside, your car will be cold in the mornings. Be prepared with gloves, sweatpants and coats to wear on the drive to school. Just make sure to take them off before you head in. 3. Warm Drinks are Your Friend Try having warm drinks when you are cold to warm up your hands and body. Warm drinks can range from coffee to apple cider, even hot chocolate. 4. Check the Weather Check the weather app on your phone every morning to see how many layers you need so you can be ready for the cold temperatures ahead. 5. Enjoy the Cool Weather with Friends Fall is a great time to make new memories. Go to a pumpkin patch, haunted house, or something as simple as sharing a cup of apple cider.

t’s finally Fall season, complete with colder temperatures, Halloween spirit and the ever present pumpkin-flavored everything. With the cooler temperatures comes the winding down of fall sports, with the start of the holiday season and second quarter. We are well in the swing of studies and the school year meaning we have had a full schedule of activities and events to participate in and watch. The golf team placed second at State (pg. 21), freshmen Stuco members were elected by the freshmen class (pg. 7), Night of One Acts was a hit involving a piece based off of a famous Saturday Night Live skit (pg. 5) and the annual Open house was hosted with a new touring structure (pg. 6). Another feature of October that we have not celebrated before is National Italian Heritage month. Considering most people don’t know its importance, we should be putting more emphasis on these cultural heritage months since the United States is a melting pot of cultures (pg 11). For how some of our Italian students celebrate this month, go to page 27. The vaping crisis has reached the forefront of the government and the media, causing bans on flavored pods and a panic over the health risks, especially associated with the use of THC in pods. With over 25 deaths so far, learn about the dangers

CATCH YA LATER At the softball senior night home game against St. Michael the Archangel Sept. 26, senior Maya Bair winds up for a pitch in her second game back from her MCL sprain. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers)

of vaping and a doctor’s perspective in the cover story (pg. 14-17). In efforts to stay warm in the colder temperatures, baking can be a great way to do so while hanging out with friends. Check out some of the amazing fall foods and recipes we have gathered including classics like pumpkin bread and roasted pumpkin seeds (pg. 26). If baking’s not your thing, another way to stay out of the cold while hanging out with friends or family is to go see a movie. The Addams Family animated reboot is a great option for the whole family (pg. 25). Le Journal would like to correct two mistakes in our previous issue. Sophomore Abby Thornhill was misquoted in the Nutrition Shakes story. Her quote should read, “I like going in the morning because it keeps me going. It gives me energy and keeps me full until lunch.” Junior Grace Dobbels’s name was misspelled on page 5 and page 25. Lastly, check out the Try Gals on lejournallive. com as they attempt pumpkin carving and taste test Dunn’s Cider Mill’s apple cider donuts. Winter will be here before you know it, so let’s enjoy this Fall season! Sincerely, Ava & Kamryn

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OCTOBER 2019

FATHER DAUGHTER MASS

The annual Father Daughter Mass will take place Nov. 1 in the gym. All fathers, grandfathers and other significant men in students’ lives are invited to celebrate Mass with the students. The Mass is in accordance with All Saints’ Day. Pictured at last year’s Mass is junior Brynna Dow and her father, Peter Dow. “It was great to spend time with my Dad and share a Sion tradition with him,” Dow said. (Photo by Kennedy Wade)

FRENCH EXCHANGE

The French exchange students flew into Kansas City Oct. 20 and are staying with their American host families until Nov. 8. Hosts this year are juniors Emma Aguayo and Sophia Allen; and sophomores Ava Albracht, Elise Stringer, Sophia Ong and Kate Van Hoecke. This year, French teacher Amanda Loflin coordinated the threeweek exchange. The French students were given a full class schedule and also participated in school activities at the grade school. “I’m honestly excited to have someone else in my house and then kind of having another sister,” junior Sophia Allen said. (Photo by Ava Rawson)

LUNG DAMAGE// SMOKING

NEWS IN BRIEF

REGISTERING TO VOTE

Officials from League of Women Voters set up by the gym doors during senior class meetings for anyone wanting to register to vote. In order to qualify to register, students needed to be 17 ½ years old, a United States citizen and a Missouri resident. “It was very beneficial to register at Sion,” senior Phoebe Fridkin (pictured left) said. “It was a very easy process.” For students still interested in registering, make sure you register online by the fourth Wednesday before the election. (Photo by Emma Hutchin)

DEBATE CHAMPS

Debate Team member, junior Morgan Herriott, placed first at Blue Springs High School Novice Lincoln-Douglas Invitational that took place Oct. 11-12. The team was very prepared for the invitational and junior Kat Riggs and sophomore Paige Dernier helped Herriott by scouting and watching other arguments, according to debate coach Damon Brown. “Morgan’s win gave us a lot of confidence,” Dernier, pictured left, said. “So we are definitely bringing that with us to our next tournament.” (Photo by Callie Cameron)

JUUL LUNGS More than 450 possible cases in 33 states of lung illness are associated with vaping. Twenty-six deaths have been attributed to this, according to the CDC.

POPCORN LUNGS The result of bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as popcorn lung, damages the smallest airways. It’s caused by diacetyl used in flavored pods, according to the CDC.

COLLAPSED LUNG After finding out his right lung had collapsed, 18-year-old Chance Ammirata from Florida blames juuling for his collapsed lung, according to CBS News.

LUNG CANCER

Estimated smoking risks show an increase of developing lung cancer in men by 25 times, and of women by 25.7 times, according to the CDC.

(Illustrations by Callie Cameron)

WORLDWIDE Trump Investigation President Donald Trump is under investigation over allegations that he improperly sought help from Ukraine. A possible vote in the House on an impeachment inquiry is likely by Nov. 1. (Photo by MCT Campus)

Turkey Strikes Sixteen hundred Northern Syria civilians fled Oct. 9 when Turkish forces attacked the Kurds after U.S. forces pulled out of the area. Pictured is a young girl fleeing with her family. Vice-President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were sent to mediate a peace deal. (Photo by MCT Campus)

Isis Leader

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died Oct. 26 during a U.S. Special Forces two-hour raid on his compound in Northern Syria. Baghdadi wore a suicide vest while he ran from the troops with three children. When cornered in a tunnel, he ignited the suicide vest he was wearing, blowing himself and the children up. (Photo by MCT Campus)

UPCOMING AND LOCAL NOV 1

CROWN CENTER ICE RINK OPENS (Photo by Molly Conway)

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NOV 12

POETRY OUT LOUD (Photo by Brenna Richart)

NOV 28

THE PLAZA LIGHTING CEREMONY (Photo used with permission by Country Club Plaza Association)

NEWS

Holiday Mart Joins Traditions Local merchants participate in new fundraiser at the high school reunion Oct. 11. BY MALEAH DOWNTON WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At the high school reunion, alumnae shopped at various booths for the first-ever school Holiday Mart Friday, Oct. 11 in the gym. The Holiday Mart is a new addition to the high school reunion experience. Small booths lined the gym showcasing various items for sale to alumnae. Though the Holiday Mart was a new addition, it enhanced the event‘s atmosphere, according to Director of Development Amy Drouin. “It gives them something to do while they’re here besides drink and eat,” Drouin said. “It’s a way to engage the community and our alumnae. It makes it more of a fun experience.” Reminiscent of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri’s Holiday Mart, the school recruited local sellers from around the Kansas

City area. Of those displayed, principal Natalie McDonough presented her shared business with her sister Chantelle Underwood of baby T-shirts and embellished hair bows. Having a booth at the school‘s first Holiday Mart was an obvious winwin, according to McDonough. “I love to make things and so does my sister. It’s just a nice stress relief for us,” McDonough said. “When Ms. Drouin asked us if we would like to sell something to support Sion we said ‘Of course!’” In addition to offering a unique opportunity for the high school reunion, the Holiday Mart provided a great venue for these small business owners. Donor Relations Coordinator Tracy Jones took the opportunity to begin selling her hand-painted crafts. “This is actually the first time I’ve ever had a booth or tried to sell them. I usually just do it for myself or for gifts,” Jones said. “The opportunity was there so I thought this would be a good chance to see how well it would go over since I was

going to be here anyway.” This year’s high school reunion celebrated the classes of 1969, 1999 and 2009 who celebrated 50 years, 20 years and 10 years respectively. As part of the class of 1969’s celebration, they presented all guests with their very own rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman.” Lead singer of the performance Nanette Crump-Moss ‘69 said that she loves the high school reunion and all that it represents. “It’s great to be with friends—it’s a big accomplishment,” Crump-Moss said. “A lot of us have stayed close. It’s just great to celebrate Sion.” Though this year marked only the beginning of the Holiday Mart, the advancement department plans to implement it into tradition. In the coming years, the Holiday Mart is expected to grow vastly, according to Drouin. “Next year, it would be awesome if we could have the same thing Friday night, but it would be open to the public the next day,” Drouin said. “So, Saturday would be a big huge fundraiser for Sion.”

HOLIDAY MART ITEMS FOR SALE Crazy Whims Nativity Animal Set Indy Love Bows Baby Onesie Beebo Boutique Sion Earrings

Perfectly Plated Christmas Plate Cedar Street Toffee Sea Salt (Photos by Maleah Downton)

A Night of One Acts Students performed various skits, plays and improv at the annual student-directed Night of One Acts Oct. 9. BY MALEAH DOWNTON WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The annual Night of One Acts, a student-directed show, was held Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the gym. The student directors were seniors Hannah Sue Kennish and Peyton Wade. The two directors each hold very distinct backgrounds in theater. Wade worked mostly on stage, while Kennish has focused her work backstage on crew. Their unique experiences were what enhanced their directing skills, according to Wade. “We really worked well together, and we were a good team,” Wade said. “We were able to see both sides of the coin.” Night of One Acts had a major increase in attendance compared to last year. As the play began, two additional rows of chairs were added to accommodate the influx of attendees. It was estimated that there were over 130 at the student-run show. “Mrs. Killian had planned to put out almost 120 chairs and I told her not to even put that much out because last year we had about 80 people show up,” Kennish said. “However, it was way more of a turnout than we were expecting—way more than last year.” Freshmen students composed a large portion of the show. Their involvement was at an all-time high, according to Wade. “I think I was the proudest of the freshmen,” Wade said. “They’re brand new, it was a really tiny cast, but they

stepped up.” A new addition to the performance was the inclusion of Commedia dell’Arte, the Italian based improv comedy with stock characters. Visual and performing arts teacher Maggie Killian recruited students from English teacher Shawn Watt’s creative writing class to write scenarios for the Night of One Acts’ performance. “It was really fun,” Watts said. “They came up with them pretty quickly. It was a nice, short and easy way to get into writing.” Of the plays performed, there was only one student-written play. Sophomore Tyra Frazier wrote “Lemonpops and Teardrops.” This was Frazier’s first experience with showcasing one of her self-written plays. “It was nice to have people watch something DANCE MOMS Sophomore Tess Tappan and senior Phoebe that I’ve done,” Frazier Mullen act as dance moms in “Tryouts,” directed by senior Peyton Wade at Night of One Acts Oct. 9. (Photo by Sela Kincaid) said. “It was also ROUND OF APPLAUSE Co-director senior Peyton Wade received vulnerable to me. I put a flowers from the cast and crew at the conclusion of Night of One lot of emotion in it. It was Acts Oct. 9. (Photo by Kennedy Wade) a little scary.” OCTOBER 2019

NEWS

MEET THE FRESHMEN STUCO With posters decorating the hallways, freshmen were voted to Stuco Sept. 26. President Adaline Huhmann Where did you go before Sion? Smithville Middle School Favorite thing about Sion: I love the environment and the HUGE amount of positivity

Food for Thought Preview Food for Thought, an event benefitting Redemptorist Social Services, is just around the corner and Stuco’s plans to encourage the student body are already set in stone with a goal of collecting 10 tons worth of cans and non-perishables as a school. BY CATHERINE CRAYON NEWS EDITOR

WEEK ONE: OCT. 31 - NOV. 8 Food for Thought Skits Oct. 31. Check in to first hour, then go to the gym. Buy a FFT shirt and a portion of your purchase will go to your class total.

Vice President Sophie Gromowsky Where did you go before Sion? St. Thomas More Favorite thing about Sion: Freshman volleyball team

Bring in $5 or 5 cans to wear your Halloween costume Oct. 31. Chipotle night Nov. 5 at 10221 State Line Road with a portion of your purchase going to your class total.

Secretary Emily Dierks

Iced coffee and bake sale during lunches Nov. 6.

Where did you go before Sion? St. Michael the Archangel Favorite thing about Sion: Spirit Week

Bring in $5 or 5 cans to wear out of uniform sweatshirt Nov. 8.

Treasurer Brynna Fitzgerald Where did you go before Sion? Leawood Middle School Favorite thing about Sion: All of the fun traditions

REPRESENTATIVES Kate Beaulieu Anna Golian Kaitlyn Miller Veda Renzulli STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL Eden Davis Zahra Parsons

WEEK TWO: NOV. 11-15 913 Nutrition week $2 of your combo at 913 will go to your class total.

Iced coffee and bake sales during lunches Nov. 13. Make sure to bring cash or use your Venmo.

Civvies day Nov. 15 if you bring in $5 or 5 cans.

CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR GRADE’S VENMO TOTAL

(All photos by Catherine Crayon)

FRESHMAN

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SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

SENIOR

NEWS

Apple Introduces New iPhone Three years after removing the headphone jack, Apple’s iPhone 11 comes with even bigger design changes. iPhone 11

BY KENNEDY WADE PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

More cameras. Night mode. New colors. Sep. 20, Apple released three new iPhones - the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max - with a long line of changes. The iPhone 11’s dual camera system allows for photos four times as wide, with better focusing in low lighting, according to Apple. In addition, the iPhone 11 lets users take clearer photos in the dark with night mode, as well as allowing video editing within the photo app. “The two cameras help with better photo quality,” senior Kristina Kreidler, who bought the iPhone 11, said. “I would recommend it to people who like taking pictures because it’s like having an actual camera.” The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models come with three cameras, one of which is a telephoto lens. The telephoto lens gives the Pro and Pro Max models an optical zoom in ability, enhancing photos taken and allowing them to be crisper than a digital zoom, according to Appleinsider. The three camera system is the first of its kind and makes the two models the most

The iPhone 11 line was the first to use a dual or triple camera set up to improve its photography ability.

advanced Apple has ever created, according to Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller. “The iPhone 11 Pro takes really nice photos,” science teacher Kaci Flippo said. “In the forward facing mode, you can do a portrait mode for taking better photos. It also has a slow motion feature.” Along with the typical red, yellow, black and white, the iPhone 11 line comes in purple and green. The new iPhones are more water resistant than their predecessors, with stronger glass, according to Apple. Two pairs of wireless headphones can be paired at once, and with a Qi certified charger wireless chargers proved to be phone safe by the Wireless Power Consortium the iPhones can be charged wirelessly. The iPhone 11 starts at $699 or $399 with a trade in, and the Pro and Pro Max models start at $999 and $1,099 respectively, with the trade in prices being $599 and $699.

iPhone’s Biggest Changes (Photos from Wikimedia Commons and MCT Campus)

iPhone 7 The iPhone 7 line removed the headphone jack, adapting their phones to have the charging port double as a headphone jack.

iPhone X The iPhone X line was the first iPhone model to get rid of the home button in favor of a larger display.

Open House Used New Touring System Admissions, faculty, staff and students welcomed families from 23 schools around the Kansas City metro area. BY KAITLIN LYMAN SPORTS EDITOR

After reviewing the structure of tours from previous years, the administration created a new structure for Open House Sunday, Oct. 20. This year, the tours were led by a student ambassador and faculty member duo. They lead a small group of potential families on a 40 minute guided tour built on the five roots: sisterhood, student life, academics, faith and global connections. The tour consisted of five stops dedicated to each root. “The idea is that you’re walking through the building, but not necessarily stopping in every classroom,” Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Carmody said. “The tour guides are talking about of those five key pieces.” The day started with a 10 a.m. Mass followed by the 11 a.m. check-in in the commons. Shortly after, families were directed to a classroom for a brief welcome from a faculty member who then played one of the six promotional videos that were highlighted throughout the tours. “We really want to show how we differentiate ourselves from other schools and what we have to offer,” Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Prentiss Earl III said. “We did that through six one-minute videos, and it’s going to quickly allow them to know who we are and

what we value.” After about 40 minutes of going over the academic side of the school, tour guides led their small groups to the Grande Salle for the student life section. Tables were set up around the room including debate, sports, robotics, journalism and the fine arts program. Families also received a VIP pass to any home event and a list of upcoming events their daughter could participate in, according to Carmody. Along with the student life information tables, faculty held two games in the gym. Guests served a volleyball towards a target in a serving game where they could win school spirit items. There was also a musical chairs-type game emphasizing empowering minds, transforming hearts and impacting lives. A group of prospective students stood in a circle and picked one of three hand motions to act out: mind, heart or lives. Once the students picked a motion a faculty member rolled a three-sided dice to decide which motion won until only one person was left. The winners received a prepaid technology fee of $475 for the 2020-2021 school year. “Seven students won the game with two seventh graders and five eighth graders,” Carmody said. “One of the girls who won even had an application submitted.” Along with the games, AP Art held an open studio where AP Art and Portfolio Art students got to work on their projects while prospective students, interested in the arts program could stop by, view student work or talk to Visual Arts teacher Liz Smith Oliver.

“I really liked seeing the girls work on their art projects because I’m interested in being in an art class,” eighth-grader from Académie Lafayette Suzanna Sade said. Open House ended in the commons where families could meet with Director of Admissions Katie Glatz who had a table with school promotional flyers and a notecard with the next steps towards applying. Families could also sign up to shadow and talk to a faculty member or a student ambassador about any final questions. “The day flew by which to me is an indicator that it went well,” Glatz said. “The format this year was much better. The teachers were primarily responsible for the hard facts and the students could chime in about their experience and I think that really helped.”

MINDS, HEARTS AND LIVES Director of Athletics Kate Pilgreen and math teacher Kristi Hilgenfeld lead a game in the gym for a chance to win a pre-paid technology fee for the ‘20-’21 school year. (Photo by Kaitlin Lyman)

OCTOBER 2019

FEATURES

(Photos by Emma Hutchin)

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FEATURES

rock & dold Freshman Caroline Dold embraces the arts by performing with her band and exploring the possibilities of animation and design. BY EMMA HUTCHIN PHOTO EDITOR

s she stood center-stage ready to press down on the keys, Dold says her biggest supporters are her friends and family who have freshman Caroline Dold took in the bright lights. The feel of that stuck by her side since the beginning. She believes that one day she may moment helped her decide that this was what she was going to do for want to pursue a career in the arts, and her family is excited to see where the rest of her life. The soft tap of her foot and the butterflies in her stomach her passion takes her. There isn’t anyone else she can trust as much to be by readied her for the next song. her side through it all, according to Dold. “Being on stage is one thing that I love most in life,” Dold said. “I’m “I’m going to admit that at first, I was skeptical,” Dold’s mother, Rachel really comfortable in front of people. I like the nervousness. It Dold, said. “Was there really a band, or was rehearsal just code for hanging gives me energy.” out with friends? A few gigs in and my feelings have changed. I’m glad Dold is a vocalist and piano player for her band, Zero Below. On her Caroline has this creative outlet.” shadow day last year, after reading a feature story in Le Journal about Pursuing a career in the arts is something Dold has dreamt of since junior Anna McQueeny and her band, The Whips, she sixth grade, and, as of now, she believes she wants to go into reached out to her childhood friend Rockhurst High School animation. However, she still secretly wants to become a freshman Luke Crawford. rock star. “THERE’S “After Caroline joined the group, our performances “I know Caroline would love to eventually make a SOMETHING ABOUT improved a lot,” Crawford said. “She does an amazing job living in a creative field and I hope that happens for her,” MUSIC THAT TELLS keeping what makes the originals great while also adding a Rachel said. “Her dad and I often remind her that even if it new aspect to the vocals that keep the songs interesting.” STORIES BETTER THAN doesn’t happen, she can still pursue her passions. That’s one The alternative-rock band covers songs from Jack of the many beautiful things about the arts. I hope that she WORDS DO.” White bands such as The White Stripes, The Raconteurs will always sing and play and express herself whether that and The Dead Weather. ‘I Don’t Care’ by Fall Out Boy is the be professionally or within the community.” - FRESHMAN CAROLINE DOLD go-to opener for most of their performances, and the group Being on stage with Crawford and guitarist Pembroke is working on some original music, according to Dold. Hill School freshman Robert Allmon is unlike anything “We have a lot of originals, but we haven’t performed Dold has ever experienced. To her, there is something many of them yet,” Dold said. “I think we’re going to try to put more of special about music and she believes her drawings and lyrics speak better them in our future set lists.” than words. A member of the Petite Choeur, Dold thrives through her music. She “Caroline has always been a very talented musician, and from a very has been playing piano for eight years and has been singing with the Stage young age she’s been excellent on the piano,” Crawford said. “She’s the most Right show choir for four years. Apart from just performing with her band, experienced of us all and has a knack for wearing her influences on her Dold is also a theatre performer with Kansas City Young Audiences, a sleeve while also turning the music into her own.” provider of arts education programs in and around the Kansas City metro. Flashing back to the first moment Dold took the stage in fourth grade, Their mission is to promote creativity and inspire success while offering she recalls the time as monumental for her. It was in that moment, eyes on equal opportunity to all children. her, she felt at home. “There’s something about music that tells stories better than words do,” “I think everyone needs a way to really be themselves and be Dold said. “You could speak the lyrics to a song, but once you hear it set to expressive,” Dold said. “Whether you mean to or not, everyone listens to music, it becomes moving in a way that I don’t think any other art speaks to music. Everyone sees a form of art. It’s important to go around and create me. I’m an artist.” things for the world. Be creative. It’s good for you.”

DABBLING IN DESIGN Offstage, Dold spends her time sketching and practicing animation. She uses her artwork as an expressive outlet and since sixth grade has dreamed of becoming an animator. “I’ve been drawing since sixth grade,” Dold said. “It’s something that I really love to do. It’s helpful with stress relief and there are so many different ways to get involved.” (Photos submitted by Caroline Dold)

OCTOBER 2019

OPINION

the

Cancel Cancel Culture This behavior creates a toxic, cut-throat environment and results in unnecessary hostility. BY JENNA BARACKMAN MANAGING WEB EDITOR

Kevin Hart is canceled. R. Kelly is canceled. Justin Bieber is canceled. Shawn Mendes is canceled. These days, it doesn’t take much for fans to turn against celebrities. Whether the mistake has been rehashed from decades ago or is recent, the ridiculous and pompous “cancel culture” ruins the lives and careers of celebrities and regular people alike. Cancel culture is a form of boycott in which someone, usually a celebrity, is called out publicly for previous actions, such as old, offensive tweets, videos or jokes. In this light, cancel culture seems almost beneficial in the fact that it forces celebrities to acknowledge past mistakes. And it definitely does have advantages. However, in most cases, cancel culture is a manifestation of “woke” culture, where people think they are better than others because they are more politically correct. Those “exposed” by cancel culture suffer devastating effects. Cancel culture is used to raise those who are “socially just” on a faux pedestal for calling others out. It also creates competition on who can be more politically correct, greatly increasing hostility on social media. The movie ”Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” released in 2006, was a box office hit that scored a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with positive reviews from both audiences and critics. The Guardian, in their review in 2006, categorized

the jokes as “very close to being offensive.” Now, the movie is regarded as one of the most offensive movies of all time due to racial, nationalistic and religious stereotypes of Kazakh people. Years ago, the phrase “that’s gay,” though regarded as highly offensive now, was used daily without repercussions. The realization that these remarks are offensive is good, but holding people’s actions in the past to the standards of the present is unrealistic and wrong. Because the standards of what is offensive have changed so much, people should not be held to those same standards when determining who is “canceled.” No one should be fired for posts on social media from years ago. Hart was forced to step down from hosting the 2019 Oscars after being bombarded with hate when slightly homophobic tweets from 10 years ago resurfaced. Hosting the Oscars is an honor that should not have to be taken away for mistakes over a decade ago. Comedian and television host Ellen DeGeneres came under fire for sitting next to and laughing with former President George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys’ game. DeGeneres responded that she is friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that she has. Many people in DeGeneres’s situation would have just apologized and kept their head down, but she did the right thing and stood up in the best way against the toxic cancel culture. Although celebrities should not be immediately forgiven for past mistakes, it’s important to keep in mind the differences in social standards between a decade ago. Mendes was canceled for tweets posted when he was only 13 years old. At the age of 13, all people go through a stage of immaturity. However, when Mendes was 13 it was socially acceptable to post immature comments online. Entire careers should not be

dictated by the decisions and thoughts of our 13-year-old selves, as this would create problems beyond just those in the spotlight. Similarly, a video of 14-year-old Bieber singing racial slurs to the tune of “One Less Lonely Girl” resurfaced. It’s horrifying to watch, but Bieber, now 26 years old, should not be bound to that mistake forever. Celebrities are not the only ones affected by this phenomenon. Losing a job as a regular person as opposed to a celebrity, who is likely a multimillionaire, is vastly different. Heather Lowrey was not only fired from both of her jobs at Va Va Vixens burlesque group and American Income Life Travis Moody Agency, but the Secret Service launched a full investigation into Lowrey for tweeting “If someone was cruel enough to assassinate MLK, maybe someone will be kind enough to assassinate Trump #bekind #trump #lovetrumpshate.” The tweet was obviously satirical, but Lowrey’s life is unfairly ruined because of it. Cancel culture has, however, produced some good movements, such as #MuteRKelly, a campaign that sought to end financial support for Kelly’s career after 18 allegations of child pornography, kidnapping, sexual assault and other crimes against underage girls. The #MeToo movement was perhaps the most successful example of cancel culture because many celebrities were finally called out about sexual harassment and assault that had previously gone unnoticed. However, these are rare examples of cancel culture, which usually consists of people called out for petty Tweets or videos from a different point in political correctness. In general, cancel culture is toxic. Though there are a few positive examples, cancel culture is a stain on modern society and encourages hostility.

LED

CANCELED

CE CAN

CANCELED

CANCELED CANCELED

(Photo by MCT Campus)

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(Photo by Ralph_PH WikiCommons)

(Photo by MCT Campus)

(Photo by Kevin Aranibar/WikiCommons)

(Photo by MCT Campus)

STAFF EDITORIAL

The Dangers of Flavors

(Illustration by Kennedy Wade)

The government should ban vaping flavors in order to curb teen usage. This editorial reflects the views of the Le Journal staff. Eighteen out of 20 members voted in favor of this editorial. Mint, strawberry and butterscotch. Sounds appealing, but when concerning products that contain nicotine, the goal shouldn’t be to attract young people.With the recent deaths and hundreds of illnesses reported associated with vaping, the government needs to review the risks associated with this practice. In order to curb more teenagers from vaping, the government should issue a federal ban on vaping flavors, besides tobacco. With flavors ranging from sweet strawberry shortcake to refreshing cucumber mint, the flavor options are endless. These indulgent-sounding flavors are one of the reasons why the younger generation has been so attracted to vaping. While vape companies like Juul say they aren’t marketing towards the younger generation, they continue to make flavors like bubble gum that appeal mainly to younger buyers. Four out of five kids started using vapes with flavored pods, according to Flavors Hook Kids. Thirty-one percent of kids start and continue vaping because of the flavors available, according to the Truth Initiative. If it wasn’t for the vast amount of appealing flavors, most teens wouldn’t have started in the first place and wouldn’t be at the point of addiction. The main addictive chemical in pods, also

known as the e-liquid cartridge, is nicotine. Pods contain the same amount of nicotine as roughly one pack of cigarettes, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Teenagers with developing brains are much more likely to get addicted, especially to nicotine, according to the Truth Initiative. This makes teenagers vaping even more susceptible to addiction and the dangers associated with vaping. Since teens are so vulnerable to addiction, the government should be trying to caution teens from starting to vape as much as possible and work to make vaping less appealing to them. With more teens picking up vapes, the dangers should also be considered. Early age nicotine addiction can harm brain development and alter nerve cell functioning, having lasting effects on teens, according to the Truth Initiative. Furthermore, vapes and e-cigarettes have only been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration since 2016, so no one truly knows the effects long term vaping will have on a person’s body, brain and lungs. Vaping companies make most of their revenue off of flavored products as opposed to the classic tobacco flavor which is supposed to taste like a cigarette, according to Nielsen data. Tobacco flavoring, therefore, should be kept since it should be the most appealing to former smokers, the audience e-cigarette producers say they are marketing to. Flavors besides tobacco make up about 85 percent of Juul’s total sales, according to Juul company officials. The flavors making the news for

the amount of teens using them, mango and mint, made up about 74 percent of Juul’s sales, according to Neilsen data. From this data, it is reasonable to assume vape companies like J are marketing to teens with appealing flavors for profit. The state of Michigan recently banned all flavored e-cigarettes besides the tobacco flavoring, according to the Washington Post. Other cities in the Bay Area have also banned the flavored e-liquids. While these are steps in the right direction, it shouldn’t be up to the state and city governments to ban flavors - it should be the federal government. Many teenagers start and continue to use vapes because of the appealing flavors associated with them. In order for future generations to not join the trend, these appealing flavors need to be banned. The risk of easily contracted nicotine addictions are a danger to teens especially with many risks associated. For teens to stop using vapes, the government must be willing to take the step and ban the flavors. Along with banning flavors, there should be multiple help programs for teens who are already addicted to have a way out without turning to extreme measures like cigarettes. There should also be more education on the dangers of youth vaping to discourage teens from the exotic flavors. We must prioritize the people and the youth over the profits of the company. Companies like Juul should only be geared to and used by the targeted audience - getting smokers away from cigarettes, not a money grab at teens.

Young adults who use vapes are four times more likely to pick up a cigarette within 18 months (according to the Truth Initiative)

68 percent of high-school aged e-cig users prefer flavored pods

(Illustrations by Ava Stoltz and Kennedy Wade)

Four out of five teens start using vapes with flavored pods (according to Flavors Hook Kids)

(according to the FDA)

OCTOBER 2019

OPINION

Don’t Stir the Melting Pot It is important to celebrate and acknowledge the diversity and cultures that bring us closer together. BY PAULA SWEENY REPORTER

Happy National Italian American Heritage Month! Oh, you didn’t know? I’m not surprised. Most people are so caught up in their own lives and problems that only pertain to them, but it’s important to remember to pay homage to not only our own culture but other ones too. Celebrating culture is a core pillar in our community. Our society is built around the diversity of every single person, and it would be wrong not to celebrate everyone’s differences. Without the celebration of diversity and other cultures, society would be bland. America’s melting pot is a blend of so many other cultures, and that’s what makes it

so unique. American culture is “unique in that it draws from most of the world’s dominant cultures,” according to worldatlas.com Not only is celebrating culture beneficial to honor other cultures but it also allows us to see how these groups are continually oppressed and marginalized. Not taking the time to celebrate this diversity further oppresses their culture and takes away the opportunity to learn about them. There’s a difference between cultural appropriation and cultural celebration. Appropriating is using Native American headdresses to enhance your festival outfit, or naming a football team after a Native American tribe and exploiting their icons, or buying anything from Urban Outfitters’ former Navajothemed brand. Celebrating, on the other hand, allows us to fully remember and honor the things we’ve learned and adapted from these cultures. The most stereotypical American things

you could think of are cowboys, hotdogs and democracy. In reality, all of these things have been borrowed and adapted from other cultures. Cowboys originated out of the Spanish tradition of the vaquero, hotdogs were a take on the German staples, the wiener and frankfurter and democracy dates back to the ancient Greek thinker Cleisthenes. For many people, they aren’t intentionally disregarding it, but growing up, we haven’t been taught to celebrate events like this or acknowledge how important it truly is. These months and many other cultural holidays should be taught in elementary and middle schools so we can learn earlier how important these things are to our culture. So many aspects of our current lifestyles would be lost without the influence of other cultures. We need to do better as individuals and a society to make sure celebrating other cultures and thanking them for their contribution to our world and our society. (Illustrations by Paula Sweeny)

October Italian American Heritage Month

November

February

March

May

September

Native American Heritage Month

African American Heritage Month

Irish American Heritage Month

Asian American Heritage Month

Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month

A Move to Hallo-Weekend Halloween should include a Trick-or-Treating Day on the Saturday before the holiday. BY ABBIE SINOW REPORTER

The tradition of trick-ortreating goes back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain where people would dress up in costumes to keep ghosts away, according to history.com. Pope Gregory III established All Saints Day on Nov. 1, later establishing Oct. 31 as All Hallows Eve and including similar traditions as Samhain. To this day, children go out every year dressed in the costumes to ask for candy. With the historical background attached to the holiday, the official Halloween Day should remain on Oct. 31, with an added celebration day. In 2018, a petition launched by the non-profit Halloween &

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Costume Association on change.org went viral for suggesting to change the date of Halloween from Oct. 31 to the last Saturday in October. Although this would entail less stress for parents of young children, it only supports the celebrations of trickor-treating without recognizing the history behind the holiday. The creators have since changed their stance, editing it in July. The petition does not include changing the holiday anymore, but instead adding an additional Trick-orTreating Day on the Saturday before Halloween. This compromise encourages a less stressful holiday for all ages. This idea encourages a convenient celebration, while also keeping the ties of Halloween to All Saints’ Day on Nov.1 and the meaning behind the holiday. It applies to people of all ages that choose to celebrate Halloween, as they can participate in celebrations lasting late into the night without

worrying about getting up to go to work or school the next day. The revised petition’s motives apply to all generations and sides, as children can stay up late trick-or-treating and teenagers and young adults can celebrate at get-togethers and parties. Parents are also supporting this idea as they don’t have to struggle to wake their children up early the next morning. Not only does it give everyone a

day to celebrate, it also keeps the historical background of the holiday. It offers a compromise for all ages and gives those that wish to celebrate on Oct. 31 the chance to do so. The petition is available to sign on change.org, titled “Join the Saturday Celebration,” and has over 149,000 out of 150,000 signatures, and counting. If added, it will mean a more convenient holiday for everyone, including you. (Photo by MCT Campus)

VOTING

OPINION

FOR OUR FUTURE

If voting is one of our most fundamental rights, then it should be extended to the youth who have been leading and demanding policies for change. KAMRYN ROGERS PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Between gun violence, the climate crisis, student debt and other issues, it’s safe to say that these matters plague young people more than older generations. Sixteen and 17 year olds will face the consequences of the choices made in the present, thus it only makes sense that teenagers have the opportunity to make an impact in their state or community by having the right to vote. It’s ironic that teens, in some cases, can be tried in adult courts but can’t take part in the voting process for certain laws that could easily place them in jail. Local political issues affect the youth equally when being compared to adults, so why should they be treated differently? The 1970 Oregon vs. Mitchell case enacted the Twenty-Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It stated that “[t]he right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.” The amendment places the voting age at 18, but it does not clearly prohibit states or localities from lowering the voting age. The first lowering of the voting age movement began during World War II and strengthened during the Vietnam War. This is when 18 year old men were being drafted into the war, yet were denied the right to vote, as the voting age had historically been 21. “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote,” became the slogan that ignited the youth voting rights movement’s fight. Though now it’s not an identical fight to the one they had over 50 years ago, there’s still a valid argument for why young people should be granted the right to vote. One of the concerns of letting younger generations vote is that it will automatically skew numbers toward the left. But in reality, giving young people the chance to vote allows for political parties to recruit members at an early age. However, that doesn’t mean that young people don’t have the power to sway elections. In the 2012 Presidential Election, Mitt Romney would have easily won if he would’ve had more youth support than Barack Obama, according to Politico. In the four most crucial swing states, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Obama won at least 61 percent of the youth vote. On the other hand, many adults argue that teenagers

should not be able to vote because they are still discovering the complexities of politics. Some even go as far as to argue that teenagers are mindlessly following their parent’s opinions without forming their own. The notion that having more life experience creates better decision making drives many to believe that 16 year olds shouldn’t be able to vote because of their limited understanding of the world. Differentiating between society’s “fake” news and cold hard facts can be better understood with time and living through certain mistakes of the past. But that does not necessarily confirm the belief that teenagers can’t inform themselves to make educated decisions. From a survey conducted by Pew Research Center to compare all living generations’ views on the role of government, Generation Z had the highest percentage that supported that the government should do more to solve problems, proving that young people do consider politics to play a substantial role in society. At age 16, citizens can be behind the wheel, pay taxes on their income, work without any restriction on hours and register to be an organ donor. At age 18, citizens can join the military, apply for credit cards, file a lawsuit and of course vote. These privileges don’t come as much from public officials put in office as the privileges that come with turning 16. This is why changing the voting age is arguable in today’s changing climate. Eighteen year old’s are being introduced to new opportunities, such as college and various jobs outside of their original community. Also, when denied the right to vote until 18, some citizens won’t have a chance to vote for their local officials or their president until they are almost 22. By lowering the voting age, it’s setting up a long term increase in voting. When older voters outnumber younger voters it isn’t setting us up for the future. This will help young people who are active in their communities to have a political voice. Voting is not only a right, it is a power. That power should belong to those who have always been at the forefront of social change movements. From the civil rights movement to the most recent movement for gun control, young people have always had the ability to envision positive change even if they weren’t the ones making the ultimate decisions. This might seem like a radical idea, but so was the 15th amendment that allowed black men to vote in 1870 despite the obstacles they would still endure for decades to come. For women, it was 1920. For Asian Americans, it was 1952. For 16 and 17 year olds, we can only hope that for the sake of our country’s future, it’s soon.

GET REGISTERED

Scan the QR code according to your state of residence if you are at least 17 1/2 years old and will be 18 years old by election day Nov. 5.

Missouri Residents

Kansas Residents

Join the movement to lower the voting age

(Illustration by Kennedy Wade)

OCTOBER 2019

COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

CLOUDED CLOUDED

Judgment As the death toll climbs, and as more related illnesses increase, local school districts, activist groups and the U.S. government takes action against vaping. STORY AND DESIGN BY FEATURES EDITOR AVERY BRUNDIGE & REPORTER MAGGIE MCKINNEY

he United States saw its first confirmed vaping related fatality Aug. 23. In the two months following, the death toll has continued to climb as it now nears 30, and more than 1,300 are affected with illnesses possibly connected to vaping. New research by the Center for Disease Control has linked e-cigarettes and THC pen use to lung disease, pneumonia, seizures and, in most cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome. “It took 15 to 20 years for the first reported deaths linked to cigarettes come out,” biochemist and Big Tobacco whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand said via Skype. “Now, we’re seeing the first deaths related to vaping after less than five years? They really portray these devices as being safe when they’re not safe at all.” E-cigarette use has jumped 78% among high school students and 48% among middle school students between 2017 and 2018, according to a survey done by the Food and Drug Administration. And in a 2014 FDA survey, it directly linked the spike in youth vaping to flavor options, as 81% of young users said flavored e-liquids kept them vaping. “I know that they're very attractive,” principal Natalie McDonough said. “They target high school kids, specifically with the ‘cotton candy’ and the ‘latte’ and all those things.” About 16% of vaping-related illnesses afflict minors, according to the CDC. Although this percentage is relatively small, it is on the rise as vapes are becoming more and more prevalent on the black market. E-cigarettes are more accessible to minors and unregulated, making them more dangerous than ever before, according to the Wall Street Journal. “I think what makes them dangerous is kids don’t have to be smart to use them. There is no sneaking around,” senior Grace Parrot said. “The problem is how easy they are to buy and hide.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson spoke out against youth vaping Tuesday Oct. 15. Although he does not plan to place a ban on e-cigarettes at this time, he plans to launch a campaign to stop youth vape targeting and to encourage teens to turn away from all nicotine and THC vapor products, according to the Kansas City Star. “I know girls think that it is safer than smoking, but I hope they heed what is happening to people who are really getting damaged,” McDonough said. “They are so young to be destroying their lungs this early.”

THE EPIDEMIC The primary risk of vaping is addiction. The higher the dose, the greater the risk. One JUUL pod contains more nicotine than a pack of cigarettes. Although addiction is a mental illness, it is the driving factor that leads to more severe physical ailments. Organizations like Tobacco Free Kansas and First Call have recently seen a spike in nicotine-related addictions, especially in teens, according to First Call Director of Prevention Services Margaux Guignon. “Since the use of e-cigarettes has increased, we are getting tons of requests for presentations to both parents and students about vaping,” Guignon said. “Not just presentations about the dangers of vaping, but also presentations to just bring awareness to parents and the community about what vaping is.” In some cases, student athletes who have become addicted to THC pens or vaping products have reported a difficulty in “pulling enough air into their lungs,” according to an interview conducted by NBC News. story continued on page 16

OCTOBER 2019

COVER STORY story continued from page 15

“I know people who have vaped a lot,” junior Mia Legato said. “And I’ve heard them talk about how hard it is to work out and be active because they get out of breath so easily, and they can’t stop coughing.” Most of the fatal cases are tied to the use of THC pens and bootleg cartridges or pods. In a test conducted by a cannabis testing lab in California called CannaSafe, 12 out of 12 black-market THC cartridge samples contained pesticides. Other substances often found in off-brand THC liquids include heavy metals and lead, according to NBC. “There are no long term studies yet looking at habitual use for both types of products,” Saint Luke’s pulmonologist Andrew Schlachter said. “I am not convinced that THC itself is a culprit molecule for lung injury, but rather the chemicals and manufacturing processes of illegal and ‘black market’ products that are more likely the cause of these serious and sometimes fatal cases.” The risk involved with THC is due to the presence of lipids, such as coconut oil and vitamin E acetate, that are not found in e-cigarettes. These lipids can coat the user’s lungs in just a few uses, forming an irreversible, fatty coating that can ultimately lead to lipoid pneumonia. This disease is equivalent to longterm suffocation, according to Wigand. “Pathology from the Mayo Clinic suggests that the nicotine is actually burning the lining of the lungs,” Wigand said.

Of 131 Students Polled:

119

Know someone who vapes underage

Know someone who is addicted to vaping

Know a minor who uses a TCH pen

122

Consider vaping an epidemic

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THE AMOUNT OF NICOTINE IN 20 CIGARETTES EQUALS THE SAME AMOUNT IN ONE JUUL POD, (according to Juul.com)

Youth targeting With the growing number of deaths and hospitalizations surrounding vape usage, state and federal governments are cracking down on the sale and advertisement of vapes and e-cigarettes. In September of 2018, the FDA first called teen vaping “an epidemic” in a statement that urged e-cigarette manufacturers to address the problem or risk having their products being pulled from the market. “I would caution anyone, teens or adults, on the dangers of nicotine independent of vaping,” Schlachter said. “As a lung doctor I cannot condone smoking anything, even if through a vape pen." At the center of the FDA’s war on e-cigarettes is Juul Labs. The e-cigarette manufacturing giant has been the subject of numerous lawsuits, investigations and controversies in recent years. One of the most popular e-cigarettes currently on the market, Juul has primarily been associated with underage vaping, according to Time magazine. Juul has frequently come under fire for deliberately marketing to a younger audience. Juul’s “Vaporized” advertisement launch campaign in 2015 featured younger models wearing clothes popular among teenagers and posing with smiles on their faces and Juuls in their hands. It presented Juul as a trendy, fun and modern product for the modern generation. “I honestly think that the problem was caused more by Juul’s marketing than actual Juuls themselves,” Legato said. “Advertising toward teens when they really should be advertising toward adults is something the government has to regulate better.” Juul’s social media presence in its early days largely contributed to its popularity among adolescents, according to a study done by the Stanford University School of Medicine. The report, published in early 2019, found that Juul relied heavily on “hashtag marketing,” or the use of social media hashtags to promote and popularize a product, as a way to connect with and market to a younger audience. After analyzing the content of every Instagram post

tagged with #juul from June 28 to July 4, 2018, the study found that 69% of posts had “youthful” attributes, 41% had “humorous” attributes, 31% were memes and 29% had some reference to popular culture. “The company is trying to grasp the teens and make them use their product because of its sleek design and intriguing commercials,” freshman Audrey Kowalwich said.

Down with juul The undeniable impact that Juul has made on adolescents has essentially made Juul Labs the public scapegoat of the underage vaping crisis. The government has emphasized holding the company accountable. The crackdown began in late September of 2018, when FDA officials made an unannounced investigation into Juul Labs Headquarters in San Francisco, California. According to the agency’s statement, officials seized “over a thousand pages of documents” during their search for information about Juul’s sales and marketing practices. On July 26, the World Health Organization issued a report concerning the global tobacco epidemic. In the report, WHO cited the resulting success following the introduction of Juul into the marketplace in 2015 as a cause for tobacco companies to invest more heavily in electronic nicotine delivery systems and the diversification of the e-cigarette market. WHO said that Juul is one of the “new industry players continuing to subvert tobacco control,” according to the report.

“I know that they’re not taking away mint, which is one of the most popular flavors. I feel like they’re taking away other flavors just to make it look like they’re doing something."

Sophomore Kendall Brewer

“If someone chooses to vape knowing that it’s not safe, that’s on them. It’s not really the government’s job to say what we can and can’t put in our bodies.”

Senior Samantha Shively “Vaping is an epidemic because, like viruses, it spreads. Peer pressure, to me, would be the biggest reason why so many people do it.”

Freshman Gwyn Johnson

COVER STORY

WHAT'S IN A JUUL POD? JUUL LISTS ITS POD INGREDIENTS ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT WHAT ARE THEY REALLY?

BENZOIC ACID ALSO IN: INSECT REPELLENT

PROPYLENE GLYCEROL ALSO IN: MOISTURIZER

GLYCEROL ALSO IN: ANTIFREEZE

These recent deaths have led to the suing of Juul Labs by several local school districts. The Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts are the most recent to join the lawsuit, following the Olathe school district who moved to sue in September, according to the Kansas City Star. Underage vaping has swept the nation and is now putting the education of young minds at risk, according to Chief of Communication at SMSD David Smith. “We’ve had students tell us that they’re struggling to get through the day without vaping,” Smith said. “You have kids dealing with the challenge of addiction. So, while we’re trying to engage them and get them paying attention to what’s happening in school, they’re trying to figure out how to sneak another puff of their vape.” Less than a week after the first alleged vaping-related death in Illinois Aug. 23, it was revealed that the Federal Trade Commission had begun investigating whether Juul Labs used social media influencers and other marketing ploys to appeal to minors, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. “We brought it before the board some of the impacts we have already seen,” Smith said. "I think the board was convinced that vaping is something where the companies have been directly marketing to kids." Congress held hearings on Juul and the e-cigarette crisis in early August, in which it was revealed that Juul programs targeted youth as young as 8 years old with its community and

school programs, according to the hearing transcript. The Trump Administration announced its plan to ban all flavored e-cigarettes a month later in early September. “What the industry has gone and done is targeted children,” Wigand said. “By having flavors like mango and coconut, they make vaping very appealing, and at the same time sort of removing the hurdle of bad taste that traditional nicotine users would have had to get over to inhale nicotine.” Juul suspended all sales of “fruity” or “dessert-flavored” pod flavors Oct. 17 following the threat from the Trump Administration. However, this only accounts for about 10% of Juul sales, according to the Los Angeles Times. The most popular pod flavor among youth aged 18 to 20 years old is Cool Mint, according to Truth Initiative. Some believe this new legislature will have little effect on sales, according to QuikTrip public affairs manager Mike Thornbrugh. “Who knows what it will look like at the end of the day when the law comes out, but again, it will affect everybody. Our philosophy is really really simple,” Thornbrugh said. “No matter what it is we're going to follow the spirit and letter of the law” On Sept. 15, Juuls former Chief Executive Officer Kevin Burns stepped down, agreed to cooperate fully with government regulations, and denounced Juul use, according to the New York Post. “The amount of kids I see addicted to these devices is unreal,” senior Stephanie Vince said. “More and more, I see people realize how bad these devices are for them.” As deaths continue to rise, Juul and vaping

altogether has become one of the central issues in American media and is not likely to go away any time soon. “Because of how new and unknown the majority of this stuff is, it’s scary to think that half our generation could possibly be dead by age 30,” Legato said. “We don’t know whether or not vaping will kill people so much earlier and so much sooner than they should be dying."

Clouded judgment Despite emerging facts and warnings about e-cigarette usage, there are still widespread misinformations and rumors surrounding what vaping is and exactly how much safer it is than traditional tobacco products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco. “Since vaping is so new, no one really knows what the long term effects are,” freshman Sophie Gromowsky said. “I think that makes vaping an even bigger risk to users. And teenagers aren't equipped to make the decision of whether or not to vape for themselves because they don't fully comprehend the consequences of their actions.” Some believe that vaping doesn’t have the ability to cause diseases. However, the ingredients in some vape juices can cause a wide variety of health issues, due to the wide variety of chemicals. Popcorn lung, pneumonia and general pulmonary and cardiac distress have been linked to vaping e-cigarettes and THC products, according to the FDA. “My opinions on vaping have definitely changed since all the health risks came out,” sophomore Olivia Angles said. “I don’t want to do it and I don’t want anyone I know to do it either. I’m afraid someone I know could die.”

MOST POPULAR JUUL FLAVORS AMONG 12-17 YEAr olds* FRUIT MEDLEY 26% MANGO 25% COOL MINT 16% MENTHOL 5% *ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH INITITAVE (Illustrations by Kennedy Wade, Infographics by Maggie McKinney and Avery Brundige)

OCTOBER 2019

FEATURES

T R S U

CLOTHING QUEEN

At MADI Apparel, senior Madi Brown helps out and visits founder Hayley Beesher in the store Oct. 17. (Photo by Keely Schieffer)

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O R F T

FEATURES

“So I sell the products and tell people about the history of MADI Apparel.” There was a total of 40 volunteers at Runway to Impact, and every volunteer was necessary for the show to go smoothly, according to Beesher. BY KEELY SCHIEFFER “At the runway show, they volunteered in our pop up boutique REPORTER area,” Beesher said. “They helped check people out which was very he feed refreshed and senior Madi Brown began to scroll helpful because there were a lot of people and we needed help to through her Instagram. She glanced at pictures of peers and handle the load.” fashion posts as she skimmed her feed. A picture for a new MADI Apparel teams up with different organizations that boutique popped up on her feed she had never heard of. house women who are victims of domestic violence such as Brown clicked on the account and discovered MADI Apparel. MOCSA and Amethyst Place. Beesher started this business not “When I was a freshman I heard about MADI Apparel on only as a job, but a way to benefit others and give back to her Instagram, so I went there and I met the owner community according to Beesher. and founder, Hayley, a graduate from my school,” “It supports women in need,” Brown said, “ It supports women Brown said. “I connected with her a lot since we “especially for women in domestic violence in need, especially both went to Sion and have become very close shelters, like MOCSA or Amethyst Place.” since then.” women in domestic The women lack basic needs like toothpaste Brown has been a customer of MADI apparel and shampoo, but underwear isn’t commonly violence shelters, like since she first discovered the store. Once she thought of to donate. This is where MADI found it, she supported the business and cause MOCSA or Amethyst Apparel comes in. For every pair of underwear through buying their products and helping out sold, it results in the donation of another pair Place.” behind the scenes. This is why she chose MADI as to women who are victims of domestic abuse. her senior service project. - senior Madi Brown Beecher created an organization where they After her senior service trip to Haiti was make their products locally in Kansas City in cancelled, senior Elizabeth Crabtree opted to order to support these women. help Brown with MADI Apparel. She helped with distributing the “It creates empathy for women that could use the help of their sold items from the auction during “Runway to Impact,” to the community,” Beesher said. “It’s initiates empathy in the students’ buyers, as well as giving out products to shelters. lives and it is very cool that Madi and Elizabeth are exploring it.” “I heard about this through Madi because she shopped there Brown and Crabtree have been quite the help according to and because the lady who started MADI Apparel is a Sion alum,” Beesher. They are aiding the women of their community. Crabtree said. “I think it is important that this is their senior service project,” MADI Apparel founder, Hayley Beesher, graduated from Beesher said.”It shows them the significance of giving back.” Mizzou and didn’t study anything related to business. After graduation, Beesher moved to a small beach town in Florida with LOCALLY MADE her friend. And that is when the idea of starting a clothing business In MADI Apparel, senior Madi Brown works in the shop Oct. 17. The store sells products to help benefit the buy one, give one donation struck the two. She wanted to start a business that benefited others program. (Photo by Keely Schieffer) in every way, according to Beesher. Beesher used sustainable fabric and donated a pair of underwear for any product bought from MADI Apparel. “This all unfolded a bit randomly,” Beesher said. “After I graduated from Mizzou my friend, Molly, and I had the idea to start a different type of business by reclaiming clothing and turning it into new fashion.” Every year they put on a fashion show and auction called “Runway to Impact” as a fundraiser to raise money for their organization. They sell items such as travel trips and do many giveaways according to Brown. MADI Apparel sells their products there and it helps raise money and awareness to their cause. Runway to Impact hosted around 300 people at the show and sold out their VIP tickets. At the boutique, MADI Apparel sold their products during the fashion show to help raise money. “I work the boutique part of the fashion show,” Brown said.

Senior Madi Brown helps put on Runway to Impact and distribute products to women shelters for MADI Apparel as her senior service project.

H N A C GE

OCTOBER 2019

SPORTS IN BRIEF CHEER MAKES IT TO STATE After a five hour day at cheer regionals in North Kansas City at Stanley High School, the cheer team advanced to State. Out of seven competing teams in the 3A division, they placed sixth, which qualified them. Because they earned a score above 80, they received an automatic bid. The three minute routine consisted of cheer, stunts and a pyramid, and lasted a total of three minutes. “State is going to be a great way to show that our team is small but mighty,” varsity captain Brooke McKee said. (Photo by Sela Kincaid)

TENNIS STATE

The varsity doubles duo with junior Addie Vance and senior Logan Dixon placed seventh at State in Springfield, Missouri Oct. 24-25 with the help of new coach Megan Flannigan. The new coach has helped the team become more organized and driven. She’s also given them a new overall attitude of positivity combined with competitiveness, according to Vance. “Getting seventh at State was an unforgettable experience,” Vance said. (Photo by Elizabeth Finn, Le Flambeau)

FIELD HOCKEY SENIOR NIGHT The field hockey team celebrated their four varsity seniors, Fiona Gowin, Sam Shively, Ava Stoltz, and Sophia Angrisano during Senior Night Oct. 22. Seniors were led to the center of the field by their parents, then presented with flowers, gift bags and notes written by all the teammates. “Leading up to senior year, I was excited to finally have it be my turn for senior night,” Shively, pictured with her mom Christy Shively, said. (Photo by Keely Schieffer)

DANCING AT ROCK Dance team performed during halftime Oct. 18 at the Rockhurst High School football game. The team started practicing their Nationals competition dance for the Rockhurst halftime show Sept. 29. They used the game to gauge what they need to fix from this first live performance. “It’s exciting because there’s a ton of energy,” junior dance team member Kaitlyn Quinn, pictured left, said. “Everyone’s cheering. Everyone’s there to see us.”(Photo by Kaitlin Lyman)

First Meet Fracture Senior Bridget Schumm was injured in a race but still continued to run. BY MORGAN HERRIOTT REPORTER

Senior Bridget Schumm was about halfway through her 5K race at Liberty North High School Sept. 7 when a sharp pain pierced through her right leg. As the race went on, the pain only worsened. She fought a sharp stabbing pain every time she stepped down with her right foot. But she refused to give up and pushed away the agonizing pain and continued to run. Three days later, a trip to the doctor confirmed that Schumm had fractured her right fibula. Though it was only the first meet, Schumm was out for the season. “I noticed that my leg was really hurting, but I didn’t really think of it because I had never had an issue with it,” Schumm said. “I just kept running and finished the race, but I couldn’t really move or stand on it afterwards.” Schumm fractured the lateral bone of the calf that plays a significant role in stabilizing the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg, according to innerbody.com. Her recovery time is predicted to be around four to six weeks and staying off her foot. “As much as I hate to admit it, there’s really no chance that I’ll be able to run even towards the end of the season,” Schumm said.

IT’S A BREAK Senior Bridget Schumm is about broke her fibula while racing in a meet Sept. 7. (Photo by Madeline Hammett)

This year would have only been Schumm’s second year on the team. Although her time on the team was short, her positive attitude and humor is what made her a great addition to the team, according to Head Coach Reynold Middleton. “I definitely mess around with her about how she’s the biggest whiner on the team,” Middleton said. “But when it’s time to do what she’s supposed to do, she’s determined and a great worker.” The rest of the team will miss Schumm as they embark on the rest of their season without her. Not only was she a great teammate, but also a great motivator and fun to be around, according to teammate junior Violet Tumlin. “She made practices so lighthearted and more enjoyable,” Tumlin said. “As hard as they were, she still approached them with a fun attitude.” Although her high school cross country career is over, Schumm is still optimistic for the future of her high school sports career. If her recovery goes as planned, Schumm will be ready to tackle the swim season come winter, where she has competed at State competitions, as the cocaptain of the swim team.

STORM SCHEDULE NOV 04

Basketball and Swim and Dive sports begin. (Photo by Molly Conway)

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NOV 9

Cross Country State in Columbia, Missouri. Junior Dillan Elmquist pictured left. (Photo by Molly Conway)

NOV 14

First basketball game, Purple & White 5 p.m. Mia McCley ‘19 pictured left. (Photo by Taylor Pitzl)

Par for the Course The golf team finished second and junior Megan Propeck individually placed second at State Oct. 22. BY KATE VANKEIRSBILCK REPORTER

The golf team placed second at State as a team at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club Oct. 21 and 22. Junior Megan Propeck won second place at State individually. The team of five consisted of senior captains Helen Willis and Barbara Mae King, juniors Lia Johnson, Caroline Giocondo and Propeck. On the first day of the tournament the team was delayed an hour due to rain in the morning. With an already dreary day the weather continued through Tuesday to hinder play as players endured 40 mile per hour winds and temperatures dropping to 40 degrees. After the final shot of the first day, the team, with a score of 309, was down 10 strokes to St. Joseph’s Academy. However, Propeck had the individual lead with a score of 71. Giocondo shot an 80, Willis 90, Johnson 77 and King 81. “I did not change much of my playing, but knew for Tuesday I was going to have to step up my game so I could keep the lead,” Propeck said. Prior to State, to help prepare the team, they scouted the course and played a practice round to see where difficult shots may arise, according to

EAGLE EYES Junior Megan Propeck watches as opponents drive on the tee box. “Keeping up my score would require extra concentration especially playing to the weather conditions we were facing,” Propeck said. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers)

1. PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT As senior Helen Willis is about to finish the last hole of her high school career, she pushes her clubs to the green on hole 18. “The key moments were when I came back with three pars on the first day and made my up and downs to save par,” Willis said. (Photo by Kate Vankeirsbilck)

MEGAN

ROLINE CA

1. Best score: 73 Farthest drive: 250 yd Least putts: 26

2. SWINGIN’ FOR SUCCESS Junior Caroline Giocondo takes her first drive of the day on hole 10 at the State tournament Oct. 22. “You have to put behind the previous holes, good or bad, and you have to look at every hole like it is your last hole,” Giocondo said. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers)

Best score: 64 Farthest drive: 310 yd Least putts: 25

L IA

H E LE N

2. Best score: 75 Farthest drive: 220 yd Least putts: 26

ARA M RB

Best score: 70 Farthest drive: 257 yd Least putts: 28

Best score: 75 Farthest drive: 280yd Least putts: 27

Assistant Coach Randy Willis. On Tuesday, the sun had come out and was ready to shine on the players. The day started with Willis at 9:24 a.m. and ended with Propeck teeing off at 10:26 a.m. “It can be challenging not knowing how your teammates are doing while you play because each mistake or great shot you make can determine so much,”Johnson said. Tee times range from 8:30 a.m. to 10:26 a.m. with the people with the highest scores starting and ending with those with the lowest scores. So, Propeck was one of the final three to tee off. “The golf team is my hardest goodbye. We have spent the last three years together and this team is my second family,” Willis said. Willis and King played their last tournament with the team and their goodbye won’t be easy according to Willis. They walked Propeck’s last three holes as a team to keep up her spirits and to be together for just one more drive. Propeck took her final putt and ends with a score of 74 and the team ending with 313 putting both in second. Propeck second individually and the whole team overall in second. This is the third year in a row that they have won second place as a team and it is Propeck’s first second place individually compared the past two years where she has gotten first in State. “Overall, the girls played fantastic, this was a special group of girls this year,” Randy said.

3. TALK BIRDIE TO ME Senior Barbara Mae King putts on hole two. “Playing in this tournament was a great way to end the season although we didn’t place first, I am lucky to have the greatest team of all time,” King said. (Photo by Kate Vankeirsbilck) 4. PERFECT PLACEMENT Junior Lia Johnson places her ball on hole 8 ready to finish the front nine with a score of 38. “I managed to shoot 38 on the front nine each day which is very impressive because of the course conditions,” Johnson said. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers)

OCTOBER 2019

ZOMBIE

FEATURES

FEELING SPOOKY Junior Kathryn Sade works as a zombie at Union Stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Survive KC located on the sixth and seventh floors. (Photo by Madeline Hammett)

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APOCALYPSE

FEATURES

Junior Kathryn Sade works at Survive K.C., a zombie-laser-tag facility in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. BY MADELINE HAMMETT COPY EDITOR

he took her position in zone five of 10. Multi-colored strobe lights flashed. Sound effects and fog crept in and the zombie prepared herself. Terrified people hurried through clutching each other and screaming when she jumped out as they turned her corner. Grown men jumped as she stormed into their path. But then the people disappeared, the fog faded, the strobe lights turned off and the zombie, once again, became human. Junior Kathryn Sade has worked as a zombie at Survive KC for nearly four months, since they opened in July. She stumbled upon the ad while researching for unique jobs online. “I was looking for a job that I could participate in during the year,” Sade said. “It clearly seemed like I wouldn’t be sitting around at a desk all day, and I’d be more interactive with people.” Survive KC is located on the sixth and seventh floors of the historic Union Station in downtown Kansas City. It is an immersion, liveaction video game that allows players to combat rooms full of zombies. Ticket prices range from $27.99 to -Kathryn $55.99. Originally the attic, the seventh floor is also known as the haunted floor, according to Sade. “It’s supposed to be haunted,” Sade said. “The train workers and homeless people would sleep up there.” The zombie-laser-tag consists of nine to 10 rooms that are pitch black and full of zombies. The strobe lights are the only source of lights, consistently flashing with every new group. “Up on the walls there is writing dating back to the 1960s with names and stuff,” Sade said. “It’s kinda creepy but it’s also pretty cool.” Ever since opening weekend that started July 5, Sade and her fellow zombie workers have been kept on their toes by the constant ebb and flow of petrified people through the zombie zones. Sade and her co workers are assigned to different zombie zones for different shifts to help keep the excitement in the job. “We are packed all day everyday,” Sade said. “You have to make reservations and even then we usually run behind because so many people go through the zones.”

Sade said she enjoys her role as a zombie. Her favorite part is talking with the people that are about to go through the zombie zones beforehand. She then likes seeing the customers go through because of the adrenaline rush and shock of the scare, according to Sade. “You hear all these people talking like ‘this is why I play Call of Duty,’” Sade said. “Then they get up there and they scream. We have had some grown men fall on the floor because they were so scared of us.” Survive K.C. brings a whole demographic of people by adding a more physical aspect to gaming according to Sade’s co-worker, Michael Wilson. The job requires people with creative minds, good acting skills and fun and fast-paced jumpy personalities. “It’s one of the most unique jobs in the sense that you must step out of your own skin each time you go into the game.” Wilson said. Wilson said he enjoys working alongside Sade because she is so charismatic and enthusiastic. People wouldn’t think those traits would be needed to portray a Zombie, but according to Wilson, her spirit keeps him motivated. “Kathryn has a magnetic personality and her energy is very contagious in a very palpable way,” Wilson said. “There is never a dull moment around Kathryn.” Sade intends on working at Survive KC for quite a while. There Sade, 11 is never a boring day when working as a zombie in zombie-laser-tag, according to Sade. “How I dress, what makeup I am doing that day,” Sade said, “how I scare, and where I’m going to hide makes it all so fun.” For the job, Sade usually wears a dark gray T-shirt with red makeup stains on it to look like blood. She pairs that with black leggings. “We can wear pretty much anything to work,” Sade said. “Costumes are worn by a lot of people, like serial killer and clown costumes.” She wears a light green shade of make-up across her entire face and parts of her arms. On top of that she adds some black and red streaks on her face and arms to imitate blood. “It usually takes me around 15 minutes to do all of the makeup,” Sade said. “It depends on the look I am going for on that day though.” Sade enjoys the freedom that Survive K.C. gives her. Having a job as a zombie allows her to branch out, according to Sade. “It’s special up there,” Sade said. “It brings out my more silly side. I can be creative and unique with what I do.”

“It’s special up there. It brings out my more silly side. I can be creative and unique with what I do.”

HAUNTING OF UNION STATION (left) Junior Kathryn Sade works at Union Station on the supposedly haunted level six, or attic, where Survive K.C. is located. (Photo by Madeline Hammett) A ZOMBIE APPEARANCE (right) Junior Kathryn Sade has to redo her full face and body makeup for effect every time she goes to work. (Photo by Madeline Hammett)

OCTOBER 2019

A&E

Candy Cravings 4.

By the Numbers... 153 students responded with their favorite Halloween candy and general candy preferences.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were voted as the number one candy choice.

2. Kit Kats were the second favorite. 3. Twix were voted the third favorite. 4. Half the student body enjoy chocolate as much as sour candy. 5. 55% of students like candy corn. (Photo by Kate Conway)

‘Office Ladies’ Share Scoop, Behind Scenes Insights Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey reflect on the hit show in new podcast. BY MORGAN HERRIOTT EDITORIAL EDITOR

(Photo from (Photo byEarwolf) Earwolf)

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“The Office” stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey announced to fans worldwide that they would be releasing a podcast titled “Office Ladies” Sept. 11. The podcast premiered Oct. 16 on podcast company Stitcher’s comedy network, Earwolf. “Office Ladies” is the ultimate podcast for nostalgic fans, according to Stitcher. Each week, the best friend duo goes through an episode of “The Office” and give listeners deeper meanings behind the episodes, memories from life behind-the-scenes and answer questions that listeners have sent in. The podcast is a great way for fans to look back on the show and commemorate the episodes that brought amusement to all. The trailer, released Sept. 25, was a short preview of what each episode would include. Fischer and Kinsey discussed some of their all-time favorite memories and worst fails throughout the filming of the show. They also revealed they occasionally would have pop-in

phone calls from other cast members. The first episode, released Oct. 16, covered the first episode of “The Office,” both titled “The Pilot.” Throughout the 50 minute episode, Fischer and Kinsey gave fast facts, shared their favorite memories and provided listeners with behindthe-scenes secrets. They also include some audition-day stories and first impressions. The duo couldn’t stop laughing while reminiscing on some of their initial interactions, mistakes and behind-the-scenes moments. Some of my favorite moments include the reveal of Jim and Pam’s first flirts, as well as how Angela’s cat Sprinkles came to be. “Office Ladies” provides sentimental Office fans with a way to reflect on the nine unforgettable seasons that brought them years of laughter and joy. Whether you’ve streamed each episode one time or 10, “Office Ladies” is a lighthearted and informative way to relive each episode.

A&E

Animated Version Re-do Worth the Time ‘The Addams Family’ reboot proves to be funny and slightly frightening while delivering a positive message for viewers.

BY PAULA SWEENY REPORTER

Released Oct. 11, “The Addams Family” provides big laughs and a little spookiness for everyone. The movie is a take on the original 1938 cartoon by Charles Addams and the many different shows and movies that have been produced since then. Though the plot is different and incorporates new characters, it still includes all your favorite characters. Newlyweds, Gomez and Morticia move into a creepy, abandoned mansion where they raise their kids, Wednesday and Pugsly, so they won’t be bullied for their oddness by the outside world.

Years later, flamboyant interior designer and popular TV personality, Margeaux Needly, moves into the town, Assimilation, just down from their mansion. All the residents have the same, basic personalities and Margeaux fixes up the houses to look exactly the same. The Addams family struggles with Margeaux as she tries to push them out of the neighborhood so she can sell all the houses in Assimilation. But Margeaux’s daughter, Parker becomes fast friends with Wednesday. Each are deemed bad influences for each other according to their mothers. Meanwhile, Pugsly is practicing for his Mazurka, a right of passage for all Addams family members. If he fails, he will be disowned from his family. Between the unlikely friendship of Wednesday and Parker, and Pugsly’s pressure to honor his family, this story proves to promote a

positive message of acceptance. Directed and produced by Conrad Vernon, from “Shrek”, “Shrek 2” and “Boss Baby,” the animation was pretty and welldetailed. Also, the characters’ images fit their personas perfectly. Their differences stuck out juxtaposed with the normal townies.

With a star-studded cast, including Finn Wolfhard, Snoop Dog and Nick Kroll, the iconic theme song and sarcastic humor will draw you in and keep you laughing. This PG movie is the perfect mix of humor for all ages and is the perfect way to embrace the Halloween season.

Photo used with permission from EPK.TV/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.

Maleficent: Mistress of Unnecessary Sequels “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a fun movie, but lazy writing and excessive plot holes make it hard to enjoy. BY JENNA BARACKMAN MANAGING WEB EDITOR

Like every other Disney movie, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” left viewers satisfied with a cliché, happy ending. Princess Aurora, played by Elle Fanning, was crowned the queen of the Moors, unifying the human and mythical kingdoms. She was set to marry Prince Phillip, played by Brenton Thwaites, to further unify the two. But Malificent’s angry opposition to the marriage seemed unfounded. With nothing left to expand on from the first movie, a sequel was frankly unnecessary. The original “Maleficent” film at least had purpose and explained the backstory of the Disney classic “Sleeping Beauty.”

Nevertheless, a movie with three female leads, beautiful cinematography and a generally enjoyable plot seemed promising. But in the end, it turned out sorely disappointing. The main conflict is Maleficent is framed for cursing the king, Phillip’s father, played by Robert Lindsay, when it was actually Phillip’s mother, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who poisoned him. The conflict of the movie could have easily been avoided with one conversation. When asked if she was behind the mysterious curse of the king, Maleficent bluntly replies only the word “no” and then flies away without saying or doing anything else to defend herself. Then, out of nowhere Aurora and Maleficent immediately hate and disown each other. The conflict is similar to that of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” where the conflict could have been completely avoided by a 10-word conversation. Additionally, the villain, Prince Phillip’s mother Queen Ingris, was a very minor character in the first film. However, in the sequel, she is

suddenly the main villain. Yet her backstory is underdeveloped. Due to her minor role in the original film, audiences had a difficult time making a connection and her role seemed forced. The climax of the movie, a battle scene between fairies and humans, was especially weak since audiences had no loyalty to either side. In addition, no dynamic characters were developed on either side, making it increasingly difficult to root for one side over the other. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is yet another lazy film from Disney this year. From the liveaction version of “The Lion King” to “Toy Story 4,” every Disney movie this year has either been a bad remake or an unnecessary sequel. This streak seems to mark an end to the shining, golden age of Disney, and appears to only do fan-fare as opposed to the meaningful and emotional movies Disney has produced in the past. Though on the surface level it’s enjoyable, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is just another reminder of Disney’s corporate greed and loss of creativity. (Photo used with permission from EPK.TV)

OCTOBER 2019

A&E

FALLTREATS From homemade treats to quick snacks, find a fall food that speaks to you and your taste buds. Le Journal spotlights three staff favorites. For mixing and baking directions, visit Le Journal Live BY KAMRYN ROGERS PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mini Apple Pies *Staff tip: add lemon juice Prep & Bake Time: 55 mins Serving Size: 12 4 pie crusts homemade or store-bought 2 1/2 cups chopped and peeled apples 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1 tbsp lemon juice

Pumpkin Bread *Staff tip: add chocolate chips *Staff tip: if you don’t have eggs, 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce can be a replacement for one egg Prep & Bake Time: 90 minutes Serving Size: 24

Pillsbury™ Halloween Cookies

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Prep & Bake Time: 70 mins Serving Size: varies 1 1/2 tbsp melted margarine 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp garlic salt 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds

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Prep & Bake Time: 10 mins Serving Size: 24 in each package 1 package of Pillsbury™ Ready to Bake!™ pumpkin and/or ghost shape sugar cookies Heat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies as directed on package.

2 cups granulated sugar 3/4 cup butter, softened 2 large eggs 15 oz canned pumpkin 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 cup chocolate chips

Italian Made

A&E

Junior Cirese Mendolia, senior Alessia Serra and freshman Adaline Huhmann share their experiences of Italian Heritage Month. BY SELA KINCAID VIDEO EDITOR (Illustrations by Vecteezy) (Photos by Sela Kincaid)

Junior

Senior

Freshman

Cirese Mendolia

Alessia Serra

Adaline Huhmann

Junior Cirese Mendolia has a big family, like her grandparents and cousins and embraces it. She loves how she can be herself around her family on their traditional family Sunday dinners. “It is a celebration of big families.” Mendolia said. “When I think about Italians, I just think of big families who love each other so much, and that’s what it is. I love it.” Mendolia and her family always vacation together, and they always fly together, to experience new places around Italy as a family. Staying connected to their heritage makes it easy for Mendolia to love her family. “‘Every two years we go on a trip to Italy and all around Europe,” Mendolia said. “It’s a really big bonding experience because I have done it since I was little.” Mendollia said she is 100 percent Italian, since her grandparents on both sides grew up there. With everyone in her family together cooking and with her mother making amazing food for her family dinners, Mendolia finds it hard to pick a favorite dish. “It’s an impossible question, but I would have to say my mom’s breaded chicken with lemon sauce,” Mendolia said. “She makes it for all of our birthdays. It’s the best thing ever.” Mendolia said she celebrates her Italian Heritage every single day and expresses great love for her family and how close she is to them. “I am completely and solely Italian,” Mendolia said. “And I definitely take all the traits of it and my family.”

With flour everywhere, senior Alessia Serra rolls out homemade pasta dough to help her grandmother and family prepare their family dinner. “Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, we help my grandma make homemade pasta,” Serra said. “We have done this since I was really young.” Making dishes like pasta, and celebrating with her family, Serra is able to connect to her family’s past and how she has been brought up in its culture. Serra has always lived in the United States, but everyone in her family, including herself, has a dual citizenship for both Italy and America. “I’m Italian on my dad’s side. Both his parents were born in Italy and came over as teenagers,” Serra said. “My parents used to live there before I was born.” Serra said she is able to have a stronger bond with her big family by knowing her heritage and embracing who she is. She learns about her culture so she can understand and focus on personal aspects of her choosing. “It helps me connect with my Italian roots and think about my ancestors, who all came from there,” Serra said.“It helps me feel more connected.” While celebrating her heritage and cooking with her family, Serra realizes that celebrating who she is is not just a month, that she is always Italian and embraces that fact. “We don’t really celebrate this month,” Serra said. “It’s more like a yearround celebration.”

JUNIOR CIRESE MENDOLIA holds her homemade biscotti

SENIOR ALESSIA SERRA shows her pasta al cavolfiore made from a family recipe.

Taking out the cookie cutters and rolling pin, freshman Adaline Huhmann begins to prepare her cookie dough with the help of her Nana, Jenny Lou De’Luna. They ice “wedding cookies,” with cousins, aunts and uncles, enjoying their family time together. This event happens on one Saturday in October to celebrate their Italian Heritage, during Italian Heritage Month. “It’s a lot of Italian cookies and family,” Huhmann said. “My Nana makes these wedding cookies. I love them.” Being rooted in family and the food made with her family, Huhmann has stayed close and involved with her heritage. Both of her grandparents on her mother’s side came from Sicily, allowing her to see and experience being Italian with them. “I’m only 47 percent Italian,” Huhmann said. “My mom is 80 percent, and my dad is not Italian.” Huhmann said she has learned from her Nana about how to cook her favorite foods and how to do it with love. She said that her family is “stuck together” by the glue of their Italian food. She lives her cultural heritage in everything she does, especially food. “I like all Italian food, but I’d have to say chicken spiedini is my favorite,” Huhmann said. “I don’t know what it is. It’s just so good. FRESHMAN ADALINE HUHMANN holds her homemade biscotti

OCTOBER 2019

FALL BREAK

FUN

Students participated in seasonal activities over Fall Break, Oct. 11-14.

1. 1. ROAST SESSION Seniors Rose Orrick, Paula Sweeny, Avery Kuhls and Lily Henkle gathered together for a night of marshmallow toasting. “It made me feel like a little kid again,” Kuhls said. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers) 2. HOW ‘BOUT THEM APPLES Seniors Lauren Mead and Anna Switzer work together to pick apples at Johnson Farms. “The good apples were up top so I had to get on Anna’s back,” Mead said. (Photo by Emma Hutchin)

2. LIGHT ‘ER UP After running out of marshmallow roasting sticks, senior Helen Willis makes do with a knife. “It was dark outside and I didn’t feel like going into the woods,” Willis said. (Photo by Kamryn Rogers) 4. PUMPKIN PICASSO Jamming out to a Halloween playlist, seniors Katie Fitzgerald and Anna Switzer paint miniature pumpkins. “It really put me in the spirit of Halloween,” Fitzgerald said. (Photo by Kaitlin Lyman)

4. 28 OCTOBER 2019

5. SAY “BOO”! Senior Elyse Makar shows off her pumpkin mask after cutting it off a cookie box. “I’m allergic to pumpkins, so this was the closest I could get,” Makar said. (Photo by Jenna Barackman)