The Express - April Issue

Underage gambling is an activity that can lead to a variety of consequences

RISK AND RUIN

Risk and Ruin

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Some students are spending their time betting and gambling while underage. Senior Thomas Mitchell said he used to bet money irresponsibly, and the consequences helped him change his habits.

“There are times when I lost a lot of money so I had to make some rules for myself, but once I made those rules I started becoming a lot smarter with my money and gambling and [now] it’s more like a fun hobby and not like a job,” Mitchell said.

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SPORTS:

Sports Design Editor Prajwal

Adhikari discusses spring athletic performances.

ASPIRING INFLUENCERS:

A look into the lives of students who want to grow their social media presence.

CONNECTIONS:

Turn to page 27 to complete a version of the New York Times Connections.

THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS

We, as the younger generation, do not feel seen. Older generations constantly dismiss our ideas, and there is a lack of respect for our outlook on life. We are not represented in government, our attempts to enact change are not taken seriously, and it is all just because we are young.

According to the Pew Research Center, the median age for all presidents on their first inauguration is 55, and the median age of our current Congress members is 58. Our country’s leaders are more than twice our age, meaning the younger generation has less of a voice in government.

Because there are so few young people in positions responsible for enacting change in our country, the priorities of the younger generation can be cut out of legislation. In attempts to combat this, we turn to protesting to make our voices heard; however, even that does not work. On issues relating to gun regulations, healthcare and abortion rights, we work tirelessly to express our opinions, but still, we are undermined by the older generation holding power in our so-called representative government.

As much as we would like to say we know everything, we must admit there is still more to learn. Generations before us have lived through situations we cannot even fathom. As we are given the advantage of learning from the past, we see how it impacts the present and can brainstorm aspirations for the future. History has struggled with the dynamic of youthful rebellion and disrespect toward parents and grandparents, but

to enact meaningful change, we must break the cycle.

We propose a solution: to gain respect from the older generations, we should initiate peace by showing our respect for them. In return, the older generations should hear us out and listen with an open mind. Moving forward, young and old alike must learn to listen to each other and work together to cultivate a nation that is representative of our country.

Even though we must live symbiotically with the older generations, the state of the world cannot remain stagnant. We must strongly and respectfully demand the power to enact the progress of which we know we are capable. Generation Z is already predicted to be revolutionary. We are considered to be the most open-minded generation. We are not fixated on standards or social norms — we are accepting of all and open to change. We are eagerly waiting for our time to do great things and contribute to society. That time is now, the future is in our hands.

Age-based dismissal has no place in our society. By collaborating and overcoming the age stigma between generations, we can prioritize change and implement solutions. By listening to the wisdom and experience of past generations and listening to the progressive and visionary ideas of younger generations, we can finally work together to solve the problems that plague our country.

America needs problem solvers, not problem makers. The 2024 presidential election is the first election I will be voting in, however, I wish there were different candidates to choose from. America is a diverse country with a variety of races, religions, ages, etc. but unfortunately, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden do not represent this diversity. However, it is important to differentiate the two candidates and recognize both have extremely different beliefs and political views regardless of their old age.

One issue these two candidates disagree on is climate change. In 2016, the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change, was signed. The U.S. was one of the 196 nations that adopted this agreement, however, in 2019, the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement, moving America backwards in the fight against climate change. In contrast, on Biden’s first day in office, he signed an executive order that formally rejoined the Paris Agreement. Although both presidents are a part of an older generation, at least Biden is trying to protect our future, I don’t know if I could say the same about Trump.

Additionally, Biden and Trump have sharply contrasting views on immigration policies. Trump is clear that he wants immigration restricted. In May 2023, he said he wanted to end automatic citizenship for children born in

THE PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEM

Written by Alyssa Gagnon, Designed by Bridget Hamlin

the U.S. to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. These children don’t know any other home besides America. Their family, friends and everything else they know and love are here. How would that be fair?

Like Trump, Biden wants to work toward a better immigration system. However, instead of splitting up families and taking away citizenship of children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants, he wants his focus to be on improving border security. By doing this, his goal is to reduce the number of people who unlawfully cross into the U.S.

At this point, I just have to choose the better of the two options.

In addition to their different political views, I believe it is also important to consider whether or not they have good morals.

Trump is a formally impeached president with 91 pending criminal charges against him. I do not believe it is acceptable for him, or anyone else, to say immigrants are “poisoning” America. Another time, he called Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who is Black, “a Soros-backed animal.” He also tweeted, ‘It’s freezing and snowing in New York – we need global warming!’ Trump has proven to be disrespectful and ignorant time and time again. Is this really who America wants as its president?

It is also important to consider that a president doesn’t rule a

country on their own; they have a cabinet full of people to help them make decisions. During Trump’s presidential term, he had four women in his cabinet, all over the age of 65, leaving the remaining 19 to be men. Additionally, there were only two people of color. In contrast, Biden’s cabinet of 25 people consists of 13 women, eight of those 13 being women of color. Although both candidates are old, white men, Biden’s cabinet has a larger variety of genders, ages and ethnicities that causes his decisions to reflect the diversity of our country more accurately.

Our country is so divided today that no presidential candidate can appease all of us. However, I believe a younger candidate who represents our diverse and always-changing country would be better than the two options at hand. Despite this not being the case, I will still be exercising my right to vote in the 2024 presidential election by voting for Biden. If I chose not to vote, I would essentially be disposing of my right to express my opinion. At this point, I just have to choose the better of the two options.

OPINION

HTHE CYCLE ENDS NOW

Written by Adria Heinauer, Designed by Bridget Hamlin

ate-filled, outdated words and harmful TikTok trends directed toward people with disabilities have no place at Northwest, or anywhere for that matter. Although Northwest is full of kind and caring people there are still many of us who do not understand the power of cruel words directed toward students with disabilities. A disability should never be viewed as a joke or a trend.

At lunch, I see all different types of people sitting together; people are excited to be peer tutors and always wave hi to the special education students.

Because of this, we can assume Northwest is a fairly accepting school.

Despite these amazing things, there is still a problem at Northwest. Once those students with disabilities turn their backs, the terrible words said about them are the complete opposite of nice and accepting.

they look bad in a picture and see the ‘me and my friends passed the autistic test’ trend on TikTok.

Let’s not make fun of each other’s weaknesses but instead celebrate our strengths, accomplishments and differences.

In chemistry, I should not hear the word retarded when talking about an assignment. When I am playing pickup basketball with friends, I should not hear the word acoustic, which is now slang for autistic, when someone airballs a shot. I should not hear people say they look SpEd when

I believe all people are guilty of laughing at these jokes; sadly, including myself in the past. However, after spending time with people who have disabilities I changed and realized the hurt behind these jokes. Some of our students have fought off cancer, have had abusive parents and have never been able to participate in ‘normal’ activities. Despite their disabilities, all of them have persevered and have a positive outlook on life. The word retard and these jokes not only directly offend and belittle them, but also has effects on their parents, siblings and friends who have supported and helped them in their success. Some might not understand the meaning behind the joke, but for too many, it’s easier to go with the crowd and laugh. Although calling someone these names can be seen as a harmless joke, it’s time for our society to see past it and recognize the continued ridicule of disabled people.

These jokes are so common that even political leaders say them. Former president Donald Trump is guilty of mocking a reporter with disabilities. Since political leaders can’t see what is unnecessary, cruel

and outright disrespectful we must choose to take a step back and see the harm in these jokes. It’s our generation’s job to retire these hateful words and cruel jokes. Rather than going with the crowd, we need to hold people accountable.

According to an article by the Arc, the word retard was first a medical diagnosis for people who have disabilities dating back to the 1960s. Nowadays, retard replaces words such as idiot and moron. This sickening word is considered a slur but many people still use it in everyday conversation.

When I hear the words retard and autistic tossed around and being laughed about I feel irritated and disgusted. If people would take the time to meet them, the students with disabilities are some of the most kind and accepting people at Northwest. So why do we feel the need to belittle them and treat them the complete opposite of how they treat us? I hope that BVNW can end this cycle, join together in cheering this community on and have an understanding of the hurt a single word can cause.

April is Autism Acceptance Month and I’d love to see BVNW be more accepting. Next time you hear those terrible words, stop and really think about the impact that words can have. Before liking the TikTok, think of the kids at school who have to live with their disability every day. Let’s not go with the crowd by laughing, but instead, become better people and not define an individual with one hurtful word. Let’s not make fun of each other’s weaknesses but instead celebrate our strengths, accomplishments and differences.

As I open my Instagram feed, I am greeted with the usual barrage of photos of friends enjoying life, celebrities, and DMs full of light-hearted reels that I share with my friends. But amidst the usual scroll, there it is: a brutal video depicting someone’s final moments, shared and circulated with alarming ease. My initial reaction is one of disbelief, a jarring reminder of the harsh reality of our world. But what is even more unsettling is the fact that, upon closer inspection, I notice that several of my peers have nonchalantly liked the post, as if it were just another piece of entertainment.

This everyday occurrence has left me with one persisting question: How did we, as a society, reach a point where such graphic content is not only tolerated but normalized? No longer is empathy and compassion a first response to tragedy and suffering; instead, it’s more common to laugh in the face of these moments.

The reality is that desensitization has consumed every aspect of our lives, from online interactions to real-world experiences. We have become conditioned to accept the unacceptable, to scroll past the unspeakable without batting an eye. And therein lies the tragedy— acceptance of all the darkness and suffering in our world is the new normal.

It may not even be intentional, but as a collective society, we have learned to move on from horrific events within days, if not hours. I

OUR EMPATHY CRISIS

Written by Hannah Rakolta, Designed by Bridget Hamlin

used to think a tragedy would have to be close to home for a community to stop and empathize with those who suffered. But, after I directly experienced my community’s reaction to a shooting that resulted in more than 20 people harmed and one dead, I can say that no matter how big of a tragedy, nowadays people move on, and fast. It took my peers less than three hours to make a joke of the situation. Some did not even wait a day to post the pictures they took at the Super Bowl rally of them smiling and having the time of their lives, while at the same place, Lisa LopezGalvan brutally lost her life.

thing is clear: fostering empathy requires effort on both an individual and a societal level. It begins with acknowledging the humanity in each other—recognizing that behind every statistic, every headline, there are real people with real lives and real pain.

The reality is that desensitization has consumed every aspect of our lives, from online interactions to realworld experiences.

However, I do not think our society was always like this. When I think back to previous tragedies, such as 9/11, I would hear stories about how the world stood still and people collectively grieved and cared for those who suffered. Whether the difference is because of social media or just the frequency of tragedies in today’s world, our generation’s empathy level is concerningly low.

But how do we begin to unravel this cycle of desensitization? It seems like a daunting task with no easy solutions. Yet, it is a necessary journey we must take on. One

But fostering empathy also requires a fundamental shift in our cultural norms and values. It means challenging the violence seen on social media. It means holding ourselves and others accountable for the content we consume. The reality, however, is that desensitization runs deep; it is ingrained in the very fabric of our society. It cannot be undone overnight, but that does not mean we should do nothing. We must approach the challenge with humility and determination, recognizing that even the smallest acts of empathy can have a ripple effect. Whether it is reaching out to support a friend in need or speaking out against injustice, every act of empathy can make a difference. Do not sit back and watch our world crumble into darkness. Help push it toward a place where compassion and empathy are basic human traits once again.

ONE CHANCE ONE PLANET ONE CHANCE ONE PLANET

Local community and Northwest come together to improve environmental preservation

Written by Reagan Wald and Lindsay Maresh, Photographed by Paige Mailliard, Designed by Avery Sigg

Every other week during the school year, a group of students at Northwest meet up and spend their Wednesday afternoons pulling weeds, planting seeds and planning for the future of their outdoor project. These students are part of the Environmental Club, and they are working toward the restoration and improvement of the prairie located on school property.

Junior Juliet Nguyen, president of the Environmental Club, said that they attempted to start the project before the pandemic and have been working on it consistently since 2021. The native plants that inhabit the prairie will utilize extra water that has collected pollutants and chemicals and filter it through their roots. This prevents the wastewater from being sent into storm drains and promotes pollination in the prairie.

organizations such as The Overland Park Arboretum and the Blue Valley Wilderness Science Center.

When describing the group’s goals with these projects, Nguyen said they are trying to raise awareness about mindful consumption and preservation of the planet. She said climate change is a massive problem facing the younger generations.

“It is a pressing issue, and I think that a lot of people undermine it,” Nguyen said. “The Earth is in our hands and we kind of have a responsibility to keep it safe.”

I just wish people knew how bad it’s getting and the dire status of climate change.

-DIVYA SUBRAMONI

“On a community level, [it’s] helping with the environment,” Nguyen said. “Wastewater trails down to the prairie and all the native plants there absorb it.

Outside of the prairie, the club is involved in volunteer work at various

According to an unscientific poll conducted by The Express over Instagram, 84% of the 167 participating Northwest students believe that climate change is a problem. Despite this consensus, junior Divya Subramoni said she still sees a lot of waste happening in the community and doesn’t think teenagers understand the severity of the issue.

“I just wish people knew how bad it’s getting and the dire status of climate change,” Subramoni said. “The first part of combating is understanding it’s an issue.”

Linda Streiby, a science teacher at Northwest said it is important that students are educated about the definition of climate change when discussing it, specifically how climate is different from weather.

“People sometimes confuse weather and climate,” Streiby said. “Weather is the day-to-day conditions in a certain area where climate is an average of the day-today weather.”

Strieby also said that climate change presents threats to the planet and increases the likelihood of disastrous weather events.

“Hurricanes become more intense because the temperature of the oceans is higher. Some places are getting too much precipitation and there’s flooding, other places that are not getting enough and there’s droughts,” Strieby said. “It changes the weather patterns to more extreme limits.”

In attempts to combat these threats, Subramoni said she does her best to live a sustainable lifestyle. To achieve this, she said she is mindful of her consumption and is a vegetarian.

“I use reusable water bottles and I try to recycle plastic,” Subramoni said. “I try not to waste water because it pains me when people waste water.”

Like Subramoni, Nguyen said she tries to eco-conscious decisions daily, especially when it comes to

President of the Environmental Club junior Juliet Nguyen pulls weeds from the prairie on the south side of the school on March 27. “The wastewater trails down to the prairie basically, and all the native plants there absorb it,” Nguyen said. “Also, it’s really good for pollinators.”

what she purchases.

“I shop sustainably whenever I can, I try not to overconsume things,” Nguyen said. “It’s the smaller things, especially just reusing the things that you already own is a really big part of it.”

Even though Subramoni still makes individual efforts, she said it is difficult to combat such massive challenges on a small scale and corporations need to change for progress to be made.

“I think it’s really in the big companies,” Subramoni said. “My personal changes can help but it really has to happen on a larger scale than just individuals making daily lifestyle changes.”

Similarly, Nguyen said that big companies are largely at fault for climate change, but individuals still have a responsibility to educate themselves on the topic.

“It’s not in our hands to fix

massive corporations and stuff, but I do think we have to have a sense of empathy and community when it comes to the environment,” Nguyen said.

As a district, Blue Valley has been making efforts to become collectively more sustainable. According to Jake Slobodnik, the executive director of operations for the Blue Valley School District, it was one of the first K-12 districts in the nation to receive a first-place Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities in 2014. He said this is based on construction materials, cleaning materials and the district’s practices. Additionally, Slobodnik said the district was the first in the United States to receive the Model of Sustained Excellence award in 2006 for indoor air quality sustainability practices.

In order to receive these awards, Slobodnik said the district uses

many sustainable materials for cleaning. He said this includes Tersano water—a cleaning solution made entirely from water and oxygen— recycled paper products, biodegradable gloves and a floor cleaner consisting of a 99 percent dry solution and recycled paper compound.

Additionally, Slobodnik said the school buildings are built using environmentally friendly materials.

“If you walk around your building, the flooring that you’ll see primarily is polished concrete. That’s very intentional,” Slobodnik said. “It’ll last as long as the building will last and it’s cleaned as sustainably as we can.”

Furthermore, Slobodnik said the roofs of the buildings are a lightcolored material to reduce heat island effect. Heat island effect is when urbanized areas have higher temperatures due to buildings,

it’s good that [KAY Club] gathers a bunch of people together to do that.”

Despite community efforts, Nguyen said there is still room for improvement at Northwest.

The Earth is in our hands and we kind of have a responsibility to keep it safe.

-JULIET NGUYEN

“I think we can make a higher effort to promote recycling,” Nguyen said. “[Recycling is] not in our lunch rooms, and like the commons, the atrium where [it] could definitely

communication with students about issues regarding climate change

“I don’t know if we talk so much about like, current issues that could

Similarly, Strieby said that the school could do a better job at incorporating environmental education into subjects besides science courses. Expanding on this, she said that English and social studies classes could benefit from research projects about the climate or what is being done in their

“I think there’s just a lot of opportunity for environmental club to, you know, educate students and like I said, people in the community,” Strieby said.

The Blue Valley School District as a whole is working on community improvements still moving forward. Slobodnik said the district is looking into new ways to help the environment including charging stations for electric cars and solar power for schools.

“We’re designing our new middle school and we’re looking at the opportunity to put solar on that building that will power at least 50 percent of the building if not 100 percent of the building,” Slobodnik said. “That would be our first project that is solar powered and it would be the model for implementing that at other schools as well.”

Slobodnik said that in order to improve the environment, the community must collectively practice sustainability.

“We only get one chance at sustaining the Earth that we live on,” Slobodnik said. “It’s something we should all be doing and something that we should all practice in our every day.”

Sports Design Editor Prajwal Adhikari shares his favorite athletic performances at the start of the Spring season

Written and Designed by Prajwal Adhikari, Photographed by Corey Jones and Remi Nuss

Players on the soccer team celebrate with senior Kate Rooney, right, after she scores the first goal during their game against Olathe South on March 21. “I think we were all waiting for the first goal to realize we can score and we can do this,” Rooney said. The Huskies went on to win against the Falcons, 3-0.

girls SOCCER

The girls varsity soccer team defeated the Olathe South Falcons on March 21, 3-0. The Huskies struggled early, having difficulties with ball movement and executing plays offensively. After finding a rhythm, however, the team began building momentum when senior Kate Rooney scored a crucial goal that allowed Northwest to take the lead over the Falcons. Rooney’s offensive performance was a major contributor to the team’s success with multiple shots on goal and an assist, as well as one goal. Coach Michelle Pothoven emphasized Rooney’s energy and its impact on the team’s victory.

“Kate is our energizer bunny, she’s our playmaker,” Pothoven said. “The fact that she had an assist and a goal just summed it up, that’s her impact on the team, she does that for us.”

Rooney understands that communication with her teammates is essential at all times.

“Communication is key, especially in soccer. It’s a big game, there’s a lot of people on the field, it’s really chaotic…telling them what side to turn on, what foot you can pass to, is really helpful, especially in that fast of a game,” Rooney said.

BOYS TENNIS

The boys varsity tennis opened their season with a dominating performance against Shawnee Mission Northwest with a full sweep against every opponent in both their doubles and singles matches on March 19. Senior Nikhil Aedma displayed impressive performances in his singles and doubles matches, defeating his opponents 8-3 in both games. Coach Jared Fluis acknowledged Aedma’s dedication to the sport and praised him for his hard work prior to the start of the season.

“He’s always staying after practice playing matches or hitting with teammates, so that’s definitely helped him prepare,” Fluis said. “I think mentally, too, the more you play, get more reps in, you’re going to be more consistent.”

Coach Fluis also emphasized Aedma’s role as a team captain and the importance of his leadership to other players.

“He’s always helping out other players if they need it, reminding people what they need to be doing [and] he’s very positive. He’s just

been one of those guys that any coach is lucky to have,” Fluis said.

Aedma mentioned that he still has ways to improve moving forward, regardless of his victories.

“I didn’t play as good as I thought I would…I need to work on returns and serves,” Aedma said. “I just need to take it one point at a time…and get in the right mindset, and then get out on the court and perform.”

Senior Nikhil Aedma serves the ball to start off his first match of the season against Shawnee Mission Northwest on March 19. “I was excited for the first matches of the year against SMNW,” he said. “We had been preparing for weeks before spring break and were ready.” Aedma won singles 8-3.

The recent increase in underage gambling can lead to psychological and financial issues

Written by Sri Trikona and Addie Aadland, Photographed by Remi Nuss, Designed by Prajwal Adhikari

Anxiously pulling out his hair, senior Jordan Ouyang loses a blackjack hand while playing during his ELA class. The anticipation was rising, but suddenly he won a hand. Ouyang slams his hands on the table and stands up, victorious. He said he won around $3,000 during class.

Ouyang said in the majority of gambling, the odds are against the player, and winning is extremely rare.

“You’re most likely never going to win, but there are certain ways to prevent [losing] or help you succeed,” Ouyang said.

Valerie Escobar, Senior Wealth Advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors in Kansas City, said gambling is not limited to money, but can also be done with a variety of valuables, or even being indebted to a favor.

She said gambling can be done responsibly if individuals set restrictions for themselves. She

recommends people set aside a small amount of money that is their casino money or betting money. She said losing 100% of this money should not affect the financial life of an individual.

Escobar said gambling is most likely exposed to teenagers by adults and social media, especially when it comes to sports betting.

“I would imagine it’s a lot to do with sort of that mystique involved with what sports brings and what athletes are doing,” Escobar said. “I think it’s just another step toward embracing sort of this cult of sports in general.”

Cory Thone, public information officer at the Kansas Lottery, said sports wagering has only been legal for one fiscal year, Sept. 1 2022 to June 30 2023. During that year, $1.6 billion in bets were made in Kansas with about $1.5 billion paid back in prizes.

Senior Thomas Mitchell said a few of his friends introduced

him to sports betting, about nine months ago. He said he first started gambling by betting on the NBA playoffs. Mitchell said he began making money from it, and since he did not have a job at the time, it was his main source of income.

Getting her start with a more traditional form of gambling, senior Danni Waller said that her older brother introduced her to poker and taught her how to play. When Waller first learned to play, both she and her friend got together with her brother and his friends and played poker. Waller said that game was memorable to her, as she and her friend, who were the only girls, ended up winning against everyone else while betting all of their chips.

On the other hand, Ouyang said gambling and betting are something he has done since he was younger. Beginning with simply betting one or two dollars with his parents and messing around, Ouyang said as he got into high school, many of

his peers began sports betting or gambling, although he mostly plays blackjack online.

The Express reached out to Ouyang’s parents repeatedly for comment on their son’s gambling habits but received no response.

In the state of Kansas, the legal age for gambling is 21, specifically for sports betting and casino betting. At the age of 18, purchasing lottery tickets and online horse betting, which is placing bets on horse races, is allowed.

to keep underage individuals out. For sports wagering apps, it is required to scan a picture of a driver’s license, which includes the date of birth and other personal information.

To get around this law, Ouyang said he gambles on a website from Europe and plays blackjack.

You’re most likely never going to win, but there are certain ways to prevent [losing] or help you succeed.

Northwest para and assistant boys basketball coach Liam Woulfe, who is above the legal gambling age, said his most memorable sports betting moment was one he experienced with his friends.

- JORDAN OUYANG

“I think the most memorable experience for me was when me and my buddy placed a ten-leg parlay earlier this year on a bunch of random small school basketball teams,” Woulfe said. “We were up on a Wednesday night until 11:30 pm watching Colorado State for the last leg to hit.”

Junior Krrish Sanjanwala said he typically plays games such as poker with only poker chips instead of using money; however, his friends who are over 18 years old will play with money. If he has to play with money, Sanjanwala said his older brother pays for him since his brother is over 18.

Thone said to prevent underage gambling there are kill switches on Kansas lottery machines. He said employees are directed to use them if they notice suspicious behavior.

Along with this, Randy Evans, law enforcement officer and government relations manager at the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission said casinos have security, who ask for identification from each person who enters

“When I bet online, when I do want to play [blackjack], I only deposit $100 and sometimes I’ll lose that $100 in 25 minutes, 30 minutes, or [the] $100 will become a return of like 2,000 bucks,” Ouyang said.

Ami Sanjanwala, mother of Sanjanwala said she believes 21 is a fair age for individuals to begin gambling, but said she would not mind if the age was 25 instead. Even though people are legally adults at 21, she believes that they are not mature enough.

Mitchell’s mother, Chanie Mitchell, discussed the gambling age restriction and said she recognizes

why the legal gambling age is 21 in Kansas but also believes it could be lowered.

“I understand why they want to keep it at a reasonable age because people do get addicted to gambling, and grown adults lose their livelihood being addicted to gambling,” Chanie said. “But I think if you are old enough to go off to war you should be able to bet.”

Escobar said the thrill of gambling is the most enticing part.

“It’s kind of like this dopamine hit that people get from alcohol or drugs or anytime that somebody is doing something [where] they get an instantaneous reward, like an emotional reward,” Escobar said. “The reward is so great that people continue to go back for it, even though it’s not necessarily going to result in that same reward every single time.”

Sanjanwala said he enjoys the competitive aspect of betting. Throughout his childhood, he said he would make bets with his close friends, typically on low-stake things such as spike ball. He said placing bets would encourage people to try harder and put more effort into whatever they are doing.

Waller’s father, Chris Waller, said

Some students use apps such as FanDuel to gamble. (Photo Illustration)

gambling, specifically the game of poker, can be beneficial in some aspects.

“I don’t know that if I were sitting there talking to my grandmother that I would be bragging on the fact that I’ve got an 18-yearold senior in high school that’s gambling a little bit, but I do think that particularly the game of poker, develops some mental skills,” Chris said. “I wouldn’t want either of my children to go to be professional poker players, but I think it’s a good thing to do.”

thoughts, which is more important than actually gambling. He described the risk factor of the game as an analogy to life, as risk is an important component of decisionmaking.

The reward is so great that people continue to go back for it, even though it’s not necessarily going to result in that same reward every single time.

- VALERIE ESCOBAR

Chris said that poker teaches people how to read others’ expressions and understand their

In contrast, Escobar said gambling can often negatively impact people from a financial standpoint. She said financial planning is about understanding the balance of inflows and outflows, meaning they must be predictable. This includes having a stable job, and with the element of gambling, debts increase and income flows are not dependable.

“If you win big and you’re like, ‘Man, I am really good at this and

this is the way it’s supposed to be and then I’m supposed to have huge cash inflows all at once,’ that could be your expectation, you know, going forward,” Escobar said. “With a successful financial future, it’s really about being slow and methodical.”

Evans said it is difficult for underage people to understand how challenging it is to win. He said the marketing and advertisements that companies have make gambling seem much simpler to learn. By participating in gambling, people of all ages will be affected financially.

AP Statistics teacher Michele Ratigan said she has caught students gambling during class and strongly disapproves of this practice since all of her students are not of legal age.

“I always tell them, because we do a probability unit in statistics, that there is no way that individuals are winning more than the companies who are providing the gambling opportunities or they wouldn’t be in business,” Ratigan said.

Ouyang admitted he has a

Senior Jordan Ouyang said he has gambled in classes when he was bored. (Photo Illustration)

problem with gambling, but still finds ways to be, what he considers, responsible while participating in this hobby so he does not go into debt.

“I’ve only really just started gambling and I would say I have a pretty, pretty severe gambling addiction,” Ouyang said. “But I am personally financially literate enough where I know I won’t put myself into a bad situation, but I just know my limits and my boundaries.”

In comparison, Woulfe said he enjoys the experiences sports betting gives him.

“I only bet on college football and basketball,” Woulfe said. “It is more of something that is just fun for me and my buddies to connect on and it is not so much about the money.”

Mitchell said he used to be irresponsible while gambling, but now he can stop gambling and betting whenever he wants to because he does not bet a large sum of money.

“There are times when I lost a lot of money so I had to make some rules for myself, but once I made those rules I started becoming a lot smarter with my money and [now] it more like a fun hobby and not like a job,” Mitchell said.

DID YOU KNOW?

10% A A OF TEENS GAMBLE TWICE A WEEK

Editor’s note:

The Express contacted the Kansas Gambling Hotline and was told to speak to a representative but received no response after multiple messages. The Express also reached out to Keystone Treatment Center to speak with a gambling addiction officer but received no communication in return. It is disappointing that every organization related to gambling addiction never returned our calls or never followed up with our requests.

PROBLEMS WITH GAMBLING CAN LEAD TO:

- FEELINGS OF GUILT, STRESS AND SADNESS

- LOSS OF FRIENDSHIPS

- LOW GRADES IN SCHOOL

- ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG USE

- LEGAL DIFFICULTIES

NAVIGATING PORTAL

The NCAA Transfer Portal changes have impacted aspiring high school players and current collegiate players in their athletic careers

Written by Harper Latta and Sara Scheibel, Photographed by Miles Thomas, Designed by Sri Trikona

Senior Carter Beach was told at a K-State baseball camp that his graduating class was “screwed” due to competing against experienced community college athletes for a spot on an NCAA roster. His coaches said athletes who attend community colleges before trying to play at a university level are almost always going to be picked over those who are fresh out of high school.

Transferring colleges has always been a possibility for athletes; however, up until 2018, the rules around transferring were not clear. After 2018, the NCAA Transfer Portal was created as a way to make the transfer process more straightforward. In the past, preportal athletes would have to ask for their coach’s approval before transferring. Then, they had to find ways to publicize their availability. Now, athletes fill out a form during specific periods and have their names added to the

portal database by their school’s compliance officer, making it easier to show their availability to coaches.

Transferring between schools has become a much shorter process than about ten years ago. As a result, there’s been debate over whether or not the leniency of the portal is justified.

After playing baseball for 12 years, Beach committed to Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) in November. Attending a community college, according to Beach, means that he can only play for two years before having to decide between continuing playing at a four-year university or choosing to enter the workforce.

He said the portal allows him to easily transfer to a Division I, Division II or Division III school and show up better prepared when it comes time to play.

“For Division I programs, Division II and Division III, if you’re an incoming freshman and they pull a kid out from a [junior college] that’s

been playing for two years that’s seen pitching and has been playing at a collegiate level, pretty much 99 percent of the time they’re going to take that kid over a freshman that’s only seen high school pitching,” Beach said.

The portal is considered to have drastically affected college and high school sports. According to SportSource Analytic, in the 2019 season, the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters had 6.4 percent of transfers. That number grew to 20.5 percent in 2023. The rise in numbers due to the easier process has continually increased over the years. As a result, there’s been debate over whether or not the leniency of the portal is justified.

2014 Northwest graduate and current Oklahoma men’s basketball assistant coach Clayton Custer has a different viewpoint, as he has found that the junior college is a less likely pick in the transfer portal.

“There might be, you know, four or five [junior college] kids every

Senior Carter Beach has played baseball at Northwest for four years and will continue playing baseball next year at Kansas City Community College. “Northwest has been a great experience for me, just the people that I have [met] because of friendships and sports that will stick with me my whole life,” Beach said.

year, but for the most part nowadays 95 percent of kids that [Oklahoma] is recruiting are coming from other schools,” Custer said. “For the most part, it’s either kids that are at the mid-major division level that are killing it and are ready to make the jump up to our level or kids that are already at… the power five level who are just looking to make a move.”

far. Once he arrives at his college of choice after attending KCKCC, he plans to stay there.

It’s kind of like signing a contract. You can’t just immediately break it. You need to learn how to fight through adversity and stick with it.

-DAYTON VALENTINE

According to Beach, the lack of rules around the portal means that you are capable of transferring with more freedom than before. Beach said the lack of strictness is the only part of the transfer portal that has done damage.

it’s crazy that you can pretty much transfer wherever and whenever you want.”

For Custer, he said the flexibility of the portal has made his job as an assistant coach difficult.

“I think you should be able to transfer once with no penalty but I don’t think you should be able to transfer twice with no penalty,” Custer said. “Some of that is because now that I’m in the coaching world it’s our livelihood, to put together a good team every year. And the way the system has kind of gone now, it makes it so you almost have to reconstruct a new team every single year.”

Despite the transfer portal potentially benefiting him, Beach said he has found that the overall leniency of the portal has gone too

“I think [the transfer portal] is a very good tool for schools, but I think it’s a little too loose right now,” Beach said. “I think there needs to be stricter guidelines on how many times you can transfer because

Former Kansas State University tight end and Northwest Social Studies teacher Dayton Valentine said that the flexibility has changed dramatically since he has been in school. Despite graduating from K-State in 2016, Valentine stayed

and played until 2018. At that time the only way athletes could transfer was if they were graduates or if they were willing to sit out a whole year. Nowadays, he said, the ease and accessibility of the transfer portal have created numerous problems, such as taking away the adversity aspect that he experienced while playing.

Valentine expressed how signing and playing for a college is a commitment, and it should be a harder process to break that commitment.

“It’s kind of like signing a contract. You can’t just immediately break it. You need to learn how to fight through adversity and stick with it,” Valentine said.

Northwest Alumni and North Dakota University freshman Aidan Behymer has found that the portal’s flexibility has proven to hurt college athletes because of how often it leaves players displaced and unable to attend college. Behymer was able to transfer from the Air Force Academy to North Dakota University seamlessly because he already knew that he had a position on North Dakota’s football team.

“North Dakota [wanted to recruit] me out of high school and I could tell from there that they were a solid group of coaches. When I hit the transfer portal, they were one of the first schools that called,” Behymer said. “Their coach wanted me in high school, so when he got a second chance to be able to recruit me, he was on it.”

He said many athletes have not been as lucky when going through the portal. According to Behymer, the influx in using the portal is because a majority of athletes think they are better than they are or feel they should be on a higher team. However, from his perspective, many players enter but end up not getting anywhere and thus no longer have a spot at their original school.

“There’s a lot of guys that go to the portal and they end up not even finding a spot and so that’s sad to see because, you know, ultimately you want to see all

the guys finding a perfect fit for themselves,” Behymer said. “But at the end of the day, that’s not gonna always happen.”

Additionally, Behymer said that college football is starting to turn into the NFL with how players are going whenever they want.

“At this rate college football has just become almost like the NFL where guys are just going to the highest bidder or guys are being left on the side,” Behymer said.

Another reason for transferring, according to Custer, is if a player felt they could get a NIL (name, image, likeness) collective contract that would pay them more.

“The collective is one way that kids get paid in NIL. [Your school]

has to have a collective that is competitive with other schools at your level to compete in the recruiting space,” Custer said. “So if you have a collective that has been funded in a way that can be competitive with your competitor, then at least you’re playing on an even playing field with other schools and the recruiting process.”

Despite efforts to make an impact on college athletes, Custer said the importance of money has created a difficult situation for players and coaches to find a bond than when they played.

“In today’s world, it’s harder because, in the NIL space it sometimes feels like relations are

a little bit more transactional than relationship-based. [However,] I do still think that [coaches] can have a strong impact on young people’s lives,” Custer said. When it comes to recruiting, Valentine said the issues of COVID-19 have had a large impact on the incoming college class of 2024. According to him, colleges can extend eligibility for student-athletes impacted by COVID-19. This means that schools can authorize an additional season of competition.

Custer said the class of 2024 will be the last class to suffer from the NCAA rule that allowed colleges to extend eligibility for studentathletes impacted by COVID-19.

This means that schools can authorize an additional season of competition.

Additionally, Custer said that after the class of 2024 leaves, coaches will look at the class of 2025 high school athletes more than they did to the athletes during the COVID-19 years.

“[Oklahoma] signed two kids in the 2024 class. But you know, it wasn’t uncommon, back in the day, to have three or four kids in every class. We signed two players, but some schools are probably only going to sign one high school kid,” Custer said. “Moving forward into the class of 2025 we might sign three or four kids in that class. The 2024 class is the last class

that will suffer from the effects of [COVID-19].”

With this upcoming change, Custer said the whole Oklahoma staff has now been put in the difficult position of deciding who to recruit due to the extra year.

“Adding new players means it affects the players because the guys who do decide to stay have to welcome in newbies every year and kind of start building new relationships from the ground up,” Custer said. “Then for the staff, it puts a lot of pressure [on them] to sign a whole new team because you have to win to keep your job at this level.”

Valentine said what is often overlooked is the short amount of time college coaches have since coaching changes usually happen every three years or less.

“A lot of times, college coaches are on a three-year timeframe, if not less and so with that pressure, a coach comes in and he’s like, ‘I have to win now,’” Valentine said. “

So, would you rather take the guy who’s 22 or the 18-year-old who just graduated high school to complete your team?”

Behymer expressed that eligible athletes, no matter their age, deserve to have an additional year.

“You [might] have 18-year-olds going up against…in some cases, 24-year-olds, but at the same time, it’s all about eligibility. If you have the years to play, I think you should play no matter how old you are,” Behymer said.

While the transfer portal has proven to have its flaws, Valentine said that given a situation where a coach leaves, it is beneficial that athletes have the option of transferring, especially if the reason they committed to that school was for the coach.

“I think it’s good that if your coach leaves, you can transfer. Somebody might have chosen a school because they trusted and committed to a coach,” Valentine said. “So the fact [is] a coach can leave whenever, and then the players can leave [with them now].”

Q&A:

ASPIRING INFLUENCERS

A look into the lives of students who are starting their influencing journey

Written by Danielle Croom, Photographed by Allison Leese, Designed by Alex Cowdrey

SAYLOR SCHULTZ (SENIOR)

Q: HAS BEING IN DAWG HOUSE AT BVNW HELPED YOU WITH MARKETING ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

A: “I would say Dawg House has helped me a lot because I work on the promo line so I do a lot of the Instagram posts. I make a lot of ads for the school and just decide all the promotions and sales we’re going to have. I think doing that has helped me a lot and it’s given me a lot of creativity, especially during school.”

Q: WHAT SKILLS HAVE BEING AN INFLUENCER TAUGHT YOU?

A: “I have learned just not to care what people think. I kind of just post whatever now and people are going to say stuff and it doesn’t really matter as long as you enjoy it and you’re having fun with it. You kind of just have to stop caring what other people say about you.”

Q: HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BEING AN INFLUENCER LATER IN LIFE?

A: “I have thought about doing it. I definitely want to do something with marketing in my career no matter what, but if I was an influencer that would be awesome too.”

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE AN INFLUENCER?

A: “I’ve kind of always wanted to be famous, and just have a platform. I think I’ve kind of pushed myself to put myself out there and I’ve seen people get so many opportunities from being an influencer [which has] constantly inspired me to keep posting and to just keep working hard.”

Q: CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU GOT STARTED AS AN INFLUENCER?

A: “I always loved posting on social media and I’ve always had different accounts where I would just post stuff and try to sell stuff. I’ve always loved being an entrepreneur and just working on social media. It really started two years ago when me and my friend Caroline White made an account on TikTok and it kinda of blew up and we gained like 20,000 followers from it which kind of helped.”

Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE AND POST?

A: “I like to post preppy things, like hauls, get ready with me, and I really like the little slideshow trend.”

A FEW BRANDS SAYLOR WORKS WITH:

Tik Tok: @saylorschultzz

(Photo Courtesy of Saylor Schultz)

MICHELLE YANG (JUNIOR)

Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS AN INFLUENCER?

A: “I started on TikTok. I would just post videos for fun and then one of my videos blew up. It has 1.3 million views. It was a dancing TikTok [from] Jan. 21, 2023. That is what grew my following and [now] I just post constantly.”

Q:HOW DO YOU PROMOTE THINGS WHEN YOU WORK WITH BRANDS?

A: “Usually they just ask me to wear it and then promote it if it’s clothing wise. I can just say like ‘oh it’s a really nice body suit or workout outfit.’ Or, I could honestly just wear it and then post videos, dancing videos or like photos and then tag them.”

Q: WHAT DO YOU POST?

A: “Honestly, at first, I just did dancing and lip syncing. As time went on, I got messages from brand deals like small companies, who would message me on TikTok, so I kind of promote clothing and then sometimes makeup.”

Q:HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE AN INFLUENCER?

A: “I think influencers are kind of like a lower celebrity. It’s like everyone knows you, [and] you’re famous in your community. I would honestly say 100k above, counts as an influencer, and if every video has a constant [amount of] good views.”

Q: WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA DO YOU HAVE?

A: “I have Instagram [but] I only have 2,000 followers. I think TikTok is my main platform.”

Q:HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHAT BRANDS TO WORK WITH AND DENY?

A: “I typically choose workout brands, like workout clothes because I like to workout. I think for me it’s easier to showcase clothing in general and makeup because that’s what I like and what I’m interested in. But then there’s also perfume and just random accessories that I just don’t choose to work with.”

A COUPLE OF BRANDS MICHELLE WORKS WITH:

4. “I don’t think I would consider myself an influencer,” Yang said. “For me it’s just an interesting hobby.”

Tik Tok: @michelleisa.goddess

Issues affiliated with the fast fashion industry raise concerns regarding its use

Written by Sydney Barnett and Blen Belachew, Photographed by Rachel King, Designed by Sanaee Joshi

After observing her peers shop on fast fashion websites during her freshman year, junior Alayna Brazeal began doing the same. She said she spent a total of $2,500 on clothing items from fast fashion companies since her freshman year.

Brazeal said she originally used fast fashion sites to buy a few clothes and swimsuits but eventually bought a lot more.

“I would get these coupons that would take off a ton of money, which would make me feel better about it,” Brazeal said. “After I look back at it, I realized that I’ve gotten rid of probably half of my Shein clothes because I’m not going to wear them again.”

Addressing the rising demand in the fashion industry, senior Lillian Flood said fast fashion is the idea of producing more clothes to keep up with the latest trends. However, she said most of the clothes end up going to waste.

“When trends we know are so fleeting, [businesses] put all this energy into making all these clothes. [In] about two months, people don’t even want them anymore,” Flood said. “I’m super against fast fashion because it’s not ethical or environmentally friendly in the long run.”

Fashion and apparel teacher Amanda Sandt also said the quick

changes in fashion trends lead to an increase in product waste.

“It’s all about the fashion cycle. [It] goes through the celebrities, then it goes down to the influencers and then eventually it gets to us,” Sandt said. “By the time fashion reaches our level, it’s kind of already going out of fashion.”

Additionally, ELA teacher Hannah Haworth said she has avoided fast fashion ever since she learned of the problems within the industry. Haworth said when she was in high school, she did not know of these issues, but after she became aware of them she stopped using fast fashion.

fashion brands either pay very little to people in third-world countries or use forced slavery.

“Just because we don’t see them doesn’t mean our choices aren’t affecting them,” Haworth said.

“When you’re buying cheap clothing, there’s a reason it’s cheap.”

However, Brazeal said although many people know of the problems within the fast fashion industry, she does not believe that this will stop them from continuing to purchase their items.

It’s all about the fashion cycle. [It] goes through the celebrities, then it goes down to the influencers and then eventually it gets to us.

Haworth said there are two main problems in the fast fashion industry, the first of which is excessive waste and environmental harm. According to Haworth, the unused fabric sits in landfills and does not break down for many years.

-AMANDA SANDT

“I don’t think people are going to care because it’s cheap clothes,” Brazeal said. “As long as they can get clothes and not spend a lot of money, they don’t care where it comes from.” Brazeal said fast fashion is not only a great alternative to shopping at higher priced brands, but it also can be more readily available.

The second problem, according to Haworth, has to do with the people producing the clothing. She said fast

“Sometimes it can’t be the best quality compared to the higher brands, but if you need something quick or something for a party [and] you don’t want to spend a ton of

money on it, it’s great,” Brazeal said.

Over the years, Brazeal said she has been using fast fashion less because of its negative impact but still chooses to use these sites whenever she needs to get something fast and cheap.

“I choose to use it because it’s affordable. A lot of the time, it can be quicker just to buy a cheap top than to buy an expensive one which you’re only [going] to wear one time,” Brazeal said. “It’s just better to buy it there than to buy on other sites where there would be shipping [charges] and not huge discounts.”

Flood said she recognizes people think buying from fast fashion sites has no consequences and is the best and cheapest way to get cute clothes, but does not believe this is true. She said people look at the price of one top from a local boutique and realize they could get three tops from Shein for the same price, which leads them to choose the cheaper option.

“People don’t take in the consequences of [their] actions, and while I understand that, the enticement of the price is not a valid reason to keep on supporting it,”

Flood said.

While Flood said she is against fast fashion, she said there are some benefits regarding the cheaper prices for clothes and applauds fast fashion sites, such as Shein and Temu, for their ability to keep up with newer trends.

“Especially nowadays with TikTok and Instagram, I feel like every trend gets a little bit cuter than the last,” Flood said. “I think there are definitely pros, I just don’t believe they outweigh the cons.”

Flood said she acknowledges that fast fashion businesses target the younger generation by having lower prices.

“It’s hard to hold kids accountable for their actions,” Flood said. “They’re the ones that are going to buy these outfits because they’re the ones that don’t have the money to buy the higher-end dresses, heels or skirts.”

Brazeal said she witnesses fast fashion’s influence on students at Northwest the most during school spirit weeks. She said with the daily dress-up themes, students are more likely to buy off of fast fashion sites

because it’s easier for them to get their hands on it and it’s affordable for a single-time use.

Haworth attributed the popularity of the fast fashion industry to not only the cheap prices but also the popularization of social media.

“More people [are] wanting to look like the people on social media,” Haworth said. “The only way for a normal person to achieve that is to go on these fast fashion websites and buy those products that look like the real thing.”

Despite this, Haworth said once people become aware of how cheaply the clothing sold in the fast fashion industry is made, they realize it would be better to invest in higher quality brands.

Sandt said it is important for people to buy clothes that they know they will want for more than just a year. She said people need to get clothes they know they will take care of and will last.

“Be more aware of what your materials are made out of, rather than just going with the cheapest option that is not going to be super trendy six months later,” Sandt said.

While she says thrifting can be overwhelming, senior Lillian Flood says having inspiration before you start can help. “I would recommend making Pinterest boards or saving images of pieces you’re looking for,” she said.

1.92 million tons of textile waste is produced every year

The average US consumer throws away 81.5 lbs of clothes per year

Fast fashion brands are producing twice the amount of clothes today than in 2000

The number of times a garment is worn has declined by 36% in 15 years

Information from “10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics” on Earth.org

Flood said there are alternatives to fast fashion to get clothes sustainably. She said she uses thrift stores to find cute clothes while also spending less money.

“If you find a good thrift store, you can find pieces and put them together and make [them] just as cute as you would find on Shein,” Flood said.

At the same time, it is possible to find clothes from sites like Shein at second-hand stores, according to Plato’s Closet Sales Representative Kennedy Volmer.

Volmer said Plato’s Closet buys and sells gently used name-brand clothes, shoes and accessories, including items from fast fashion brands such as Shein. However, the material composition of the clothing from some fast fashion brands prevents the store from accepting the offers.

“As much as I do say Shein is one of our top sellers, it is also one of the pieces of clothing that we turn

away a lot because of the quality of the clothing,” Volmer said.

Haworth encouraged people to look at reusable fashion rather than fast fashion. She said she enjoys finding unique pieces of clothing and exploring when shopping at thrift stores.

“I think it’s really fun to invest yourself in reusable fashion like thrift stores so you’re not contributing anything to the landfills with a whole bunch of clothing that goes to waste,” Haworth said.

Haworth recommended stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army and Plato’s Closet to those interested in thrifting. She also said Poshmark and ThredUp are good websites to use when shopping for secondhand clothes.

However, Haworth said if people are going to be a part of the reusable fashion industry, they also have to give back to that community’s cycle by donating

used clothes.

“A lot of us are from privileged positions where spending $5 on a t-shirt at Goodwill is nothing. A lot of people need Goodwill [and] go there because that’s all they can afford,” Haworth said. “If you’re going to benefit from those stores, then you also have to give back to them.”

Similarly, Volmer said it is important to both give and receive when it comes to the used clothing industry. She said giving back is not only better for the environment, but also makes people feel better about themselves.

In general, Flood said people need to try their best to balance their consumption of products from fast fashion and reusable fashion. She said she understands no one is perfect, but it is important to work on getting better.

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EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT

BVNW Publications is committed to amplifying the voices of our student body and community, no matter the color of skin, religious belief, financial status, gender or sexuality. We are an independent platform that by practice, and by law, is not a mouthpiece of the school district. We promise to cover all stories with fact and integrity. We stand in solidarity with all people who are fighting for equality. We promise to educate ourselves and represent our entire community to our audience to the best of our ability. For our students, teachers, readers, viewers and families who are struggling for equality, we deplore the injustices you face. We strive to be a unifying platform that celebrates diversity and shares your stories, and we will continue to work toward increasing minority voices internally, as well as externally. We may not always get it right, but we will try, and we will listen and be open to suggestions on how to better tell your stories.