EXPRESSTHE VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 1 • BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST Individuals in pursuit of a greater passion push through self doubt FINDINGRIGHTTHEFITPAGE 10
CONTENTS CONTENTS FEATURESA&EStudentsinvolved in aspects of Indian culture express their contempt with the lack of representation within the Northwest community. A collection of photos of student activities and sports from summer Principalbreak.David Sharp establishes his hopes for the upcoming school year in a letter to the student body. Returning Northwest students offer advice to incoming freshmen. Indian Culture Husky AdviceSharp’sHighlightsIntroductiontoFreshman 8 13 5 15 EDITORIAL A Step Backward4 OPINION The Disgusting Truth7OPINION Rainbow Capitalism6
MAY 2022 | 03CONTENTS ON THE COVER THE EXPRESS STAFF Editors in Chief Julia Moser Lucy Halverson Print Editor Anna Bailey Online Editor Liz LaHood Copy Editor Ashley Adams Design Editor Sabrina San Agustin Photo Editors Norah Alasmar Lila Vancrum Sports Editor Alyssa Gagnon Opinion Editor Lizzie Lively Adviser Jim McCrossen AdviserAssistant Amanda FordPhotographerChief Bailey Thompson Designers Avery PrajwalSiggAdhikari Photographers Remi GeorgeArpaShahdNussAbdeljalilDasBuckley Writers Alex JenySydneySaraphinaHannahThomasReaganReaganQuinnLindsayLibbyCowdreyAddisonMareshBrownKauthKingRoseRakoltaWambiBarnettJithesh Social Media Editor Regan Simeon Lexi RachelBridgetNafsiyaHarperAddieJonesAadlandLattaHafizHamlinKing Kendall Dickerson Alivia Ozbun Although many individuals may feel pressure to continue an activity even when they are experiencing burnout, students recommend overlooking outside influences and focusing on personal priorities. Finding the Right Fit10
We have entered a new stage of violence and political division in the United States. Recent mass shootings like the one in Uvalde, Texas and the overturning of Roe v Wade not only enraged a huge number of citizens, it stoked the longrunning split in political beliefs and ideology among Americans. Problems such as this have spread further, alienating our social climate and setting the country decades back in terms of civil and political rights.
A STEP BACKWARD
04 | THE EXPRESS EDITORIAL
The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as having a minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including the shooter. According to GVA, there were 611 mass shootings in America in 2020. This number is a large increase compared to the 417 and 336 mass shootings in 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of Aug. 20, there have been 424 mass shootings in 2022. To call this a problem would be a gross understatement; this is unacceptable and frankly disturbing. In respect to these numbers, believes that this issue deserves more attention. The overturning of Roe v Wade had many people in an uproar and sparked nationwide protests, some of which are still continuing. Although we agree with the amount of concern people bestow onto this issue, we feel gun violence deserves the same level of recognition. Like abortion access, gun violence can affect anyone, including you and your loved ones. You just don’t know when. The current regulations for firearm ownership in America are relaxed compared to many similar countries. Under the Gun Control Act, individuals as young as 18 can buy shotguns, rifles and ammunition, and individuals over the age of 21 are able to purchase all firearm and ammunition types. In contrast, there are currently 14 states with at least a six week ban on abortion procedures, despite the fact that most people do not learn they are pregnant until about five to six weeks, according to Crystal Newby, a local OB-GYN. From where we stand, it seems this country is more accepting of violence and domestic terrorism than individuals having basic reproductive rights. Regardless of this, the numbers should not matter. We should not need statistics to convince our lawmakers and peers that this is a problem.
America is moving backward, putting us decades behind where we once were, in a society that many of us have only heard about from our parents and grandparents. Our generation needs to do better. A change is necessary, and we are the people with the best tools to enact it. Stay informed, use your platform to spread awareness on all issues, not just ones you know will affect you. Fight not only for yourself, but for the rights and safety of others.
There has not been a full week in 2022 without at least one mass shooting in the U.S. According to the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, America has 22 times the amount of age-adjusted firearm homicides as the entirety of the European Union. (Age-adjusted statistics mean the surveyed group uses the same age distribution as the standard population in order to eliminate bias.) The numbers prove our country is an obvious outlier for gun violence compared to other highly developed countries, even surpassing some low income countries.
With Husky Pride, David Sharp, Ed.D Principal, Blue Valley Northwest High School
INTRODUCTION
Dear Husky Scholars, Happy August! The 2022-2023 school year is going to be a fantastic year. First and foremost, I am excited to have the privilege to serve you as your principal of Blue Valley Northwest High School, and I can’t wait to see each of you on Aug. 17! Keeping with the great traditions of success at BVNW, my goals are to champion for you to learn in a safe, equitable, and inclusive space where we offer a wide range of curricular and co-curricular opportunities to support your academic and social learning endeavors. I encourage you to make the most of your high school career and get involved in one of the many clubs, multiple academic divisions, and pathways our school offers to recognize you as a valued individual. I come to you with nearly 30 years of experience in public education. I have been a science teacher, football, basketball, track coach, and longtime administrator throughout my career. Each opportunity has strengthened my desire to help you discover your Passion, develop a strong sense of Purpose, and work with you to instill a great deal of Pride in our school and community. My passion for this work is driven by my conviction that we will deliver on the promise of providing a high-quality education that positions you to pursue your lifelong goals and to become the best version of yourselves. Furthermore, I firmly believe in putting you, our students, at the center of all we do at Blue Valley Northwest.Isincerely want you to value and cherish your time here as we embark on this collaborative journey. Your achievement, connectedness to BVNW, and success beyond graduation are vital as I want you to be future-ready. There is an excellent opportunity for greatness at Blue Valley Northwest High School; therefore, I challenge you to commit to yourself, others, and your learning. Do your best each day to help build a strong positive culture at our school, as it is a great place to learn. I look forward to connecting with our various student groups soon to begin this pivotal endeavor. Please know that my door is always open, and I wish each of you the best and a great school year! Finally, I will close with a quote from Husky Class of 2011 “Because we will walk this path only once, how important it is then that we should walk with some purpose that we can call our own”.
AUGUST 2022 | 05GUEST LETTER
SHARP’S
Last year in their pride line, Target released a shirt called “Pride Gender Inclusive Adult Patches Print Button-down Camp Shirt.” The shirt featured a lot of colorful patches and pride flags with some reading “Human” and “Love is Love.”
Some of the other patches read “Yasss” and “Omg,” both of which have nothing to do with pride. “Yasss” and “Camp” actually originated from African American Vernacular English, not the language of the queer community. In trying to market to queer people, Target actually contributed to the erasure of Black culture.
06 | THE EXPRESS OPINION RAINBOW CAPITALISM
As a 12-year-old stuck in a storm of internalized homophobia, I was ecstatic to see corporations like Walmart change their profile pictures to rainbows and release pride lines of everything from shot glasses to home decor. I felt like I was being accepted, which was brand new to me. What I did not know is that these corporations did not care about who I was, my past or who I loved. They never showed true support for the community, and all of their colorful products that advertised acceptance disappeared on JulyAccording1.
In 2021, the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index found that only 78 percent of companies investigated had “inclusive benefits,” which considers things such as spousal benefits, healthcare for transgender and non-binary employees, and equal compensation for work. In addition to this, the CEI found that only 64 percent of companies provided philanthropic support to queer organizations.
The use of a marginalized group to profit without actually helping the group is disgusting and unethical. It shows that major corporations will stop at nothing to gain more and more money. These companies and people are greedy and you should not support them.
IS NOT VERY QUEER
Reboot, the aforementioned search engine optimization company, also surveyed 250 queer people on their stance concerning corporate pride. Of the participants surveyed, 87 percent thought that Pride campaigns should donate to queer causes and 96 percent of participants thought companies should be supportive of the queer community outside of pride month as well.
Despite the positive effects this type of marketing can have on the general public, many companies ruin this by representing queer people as harmful stereotypes.
The real problem with rainbow capitalism is that these companies do not care about the struggles the communities they market to go through. This is clearly evident in the way they treat their queer employees.
Written by Lizzie Lively, Design by Lindsay Maresh
Additionally, none of the proceeds from Target’s pride line goes to any queer organizations. This year, Target collaborated with queer designers and organizations like the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network but nowhere on Target’s website is a statement saying they are donating even a fraction of the sales to any organizations. I contacted Target’s press department to ask the company’s opinions on their support for the community but they did not respond.
to writer Claire McCafferty, who writes for a search engine optimization company called Reboot, the practice of marketing toward queer communities in order to get their money is called “rainbow capitalism” and “rainbow washing.”MediaSmarts, a Canadian center for media literacy, said the money that comes from queer audiences is called the “Pink Dollar.” This audience is estimated to be worth $835 billion. Big corporations want that money. On the surface, many queer people view the specific marketing toward the queer community as a way to legitimize the community and demonstrate how valuable it can be to mainstream companies like Target, Walmart and even pharmacies like CVS.
OPINION
Ifirst realized I was queer in seventh grade. It was 2017, two years after same-sex marriage had been legalized and I was terrified. I had been raised in a homophobic church and taught that who I was, was not OK.
Corporate pride is controversial because it looks so good on the surface. As a queer person, I find it damaging to what the community is fighting for, and I am not the only one.
Instead, support companies owned by queer people or that are fully supportive of queer people. Buy from small businesses that care about making a difference. The CEI also has a list of corporations that support their LGBTQ+ employees.Ifyouare not sure whether the company you are buying from actually supports pride, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation created an online resource on adrespect. org that tracks whether or not companies are supportive of you or are targeting you for your money. Unfortunately, we live in a world that takes advantage of the very people it oppresses for monetary gain. It is now up to the consumer to make sure the companies they are buying from support marginalized communities. Consume ethically.
This issue runs deep across society, impacting not only the environment, but disrespecting our staff who work hard to make our school safe and clean. It may not seem like a big deal if you are one person leaving behind one apple core. But, it is one of 1600 apple cores that are left behind. Picking up after 1600 students’ trash is not custodial staff’s job. Their job is to keep the building clean and safe for us to attend school. It is time for us all to take responsibility for ourselves and not expect our custodial staff to pick up our half-chewed food and sticky wrappers off the tile floor. Every time we decide to leave our trash where it doesn’t belong, more work is created for the already underappreciated and hardworking staff.Any idea can lead to positive change. For example, we not only could reduce waste and trash in our school, but also offer an eco-friendly approach and helpful alternative. We can set up a compost program, allowing for year-round food donations. Or, simply educate more students on the dangers of food litter to reduce it and have better food choices. The more responsive and receptive to change we are, the more improved our school and lifestyles become. The start of a new school year is the start of new change. We have a new opportunity to be different than last year. Let’s set an example for incoming freshmen so the litter cycle does not repeat. Let’s take responsibility for ourselves as adults. Let’s show some Husky Pride. And let’s leave this place a little better than we found it.
ast year, when I made the long trek across the Com mons after lunch, I vividly remember stepping on half-used ketchup packets and ruining my converse. I looked down and saw other condiments, bread, uten sils, wrappers and fruit strewn across the tile floor. The Atrium was no better. Its tables partially concealed the litter, but it was nonetheless scattered with trash as well. Do we want to represent ourselves as a school like this? We need to do a better job of cleaning up after ourselves. We do not want to burden our custodial staff with picking up our messes.Ifwewant privileges to be considered by the new administration, we need to take responsibility for the state in which we leave our lunchrooms. This includes the Commons, the Atrium, hallways and classrooms where we can eat or drink. Along with the food, styrofoam trays are torn up, thrown around and often left sitting on the cafeteria floor.
L
OPINION
AUGUST 2022 | 07OPINION THE DISGUSTING TRUTH
Written by Quinn Brown, Design by Lindsay Maresh
We are taught in elementary school not to litter, yet somehow we forget this lesson as we get older. School is supposed to prepare students for the responsibilities of adulthood. Is appropriately cleaning up after ourselves not a part of this responsibility checklist? As if the moral responsibility was not enough, littering is a crime. In the state of Kansas, littering can result in a fine of up to $2,000. Aside from the fine, food and litter waste can do terrible things to the environment, like allowing animal populations to digest toxic chemicals from the landfills they end up at, or in some cases cause tremendous amounts of suffering or death.Change can be made when people care about a cause. In 2015, an 8-minute video of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose and blood streaming down its face went viral and sparked cries for plastic straw bans. How many more heartbreaking videos of animals—or people—suffering do we need to see before we make active changes? We do not need the constant cycle of feeling bad, donating money, changing minimal habits, and then forgetting about the cause after a few months. We need an increased awareness of societal responsibilities. Most of all, we should be decent human beings. Failing to realize the harm of littering allows for trash to end up in inappropriate places, requires our custodial staff to spend extra time cleaning up easily preventable messes, and overall sets a bad example of the “Husky Pride” we display so much.
“There are over 100 different gods and goddesses [within Hinduism] and each one stands for a certain aspect,” AnandMamalayansaid. mentioned there are various practices of Indian culture, including different types of dancing and singing found in different regions.
08 | THE EXPRESS FEATURE
“Our school itself doesn’t do anything to represent it,” Mamalayan said. “It would be nice if people were more educated overall. I don’t think there’s any disrespect, but I don’t think there’s the maximum level of education.”Mamalayan suggested the school could host a culture day or fair to allow people to better represent and be educated about Indian culture, as well as its many Mamalayanaspects.saidthat each part of Indian culture is unique and it is not only one monoculture. She would describe the parts as “unity in diversity.”“[Indian culture is] kind of all merged into one in western media, but in different parts [of India] you can see different things that each represent the types of people living there,” Mamalayan said.
Senior Nithya Mamalayan has practiced singing Carnatic music for 11 years. Carnatic music is a traditional Indian music style, that she said she is hesitant to share with her non-South Asian friends.“It'snot something I purposely keep private, but I also don't make a point to tell everyone I'm friends with,” Mamalayan said. Most of Mamalayan’s peers do not know she sings in this traditional IndianJuniorstyle.Dyani Anand said although Indian culture is well recognized at BVNW, many people do not know the specifics that play a part in the culture overall.
While southern Indians often practice Bharatanatyam, the oldest classical dance tradition in India, northern and western Indians practice Garba, a form of community circle dance. Similar to Anand, Mamalayan said she senses an overall respect for Indian culture but no real sense of representation at BVNW.
UNITY DIVERSITYIN
A deeper look into how people celebrate, participate in and recognize Indian culture
Written By Alex Cowdrey and Sydney Barnett, Photos by Arpa Das, Design By Avery Sigg Senior Nithya Mamalayan and junior Dyani Anand stand outside the Swaminarayan Mandir temple. “I would say that being part of the Indian community has helped me find my identity and become comfortable with myself because I'm more aware of our cultural significance and how it plays a role in my life today,” Mamalayan said. (Photo by Arpa Das)
AnandWhilesaid.she has encountered discrimination in the past and has seen a few of her family members experience it, Anand does not think there is a lack of respect for Indian culture at BVNW. Mamalayan said this may be due to the large volume of Indian students at Northwest, preventing her from feeling like an outcast.BothMamalayan and Anand describe Indian culture as unique. In the sense of valuing this diversity, Anand said it is important to always value others and where they come from.
“Respect other people's religions and cultures even though they are different,” said Anand.
Along with Mamalayan, Anand said there are many religions within the culture, but she practices Hinduism. Anand said her family goes to the Temple or festivals for certain holidays and to pray as a part of her religion.
FEATURE Junior Dyani Anand is pictured at the local Hindu temple wearing a traditional lehenga. She said feels the Indian community impacted her by “participating in different traditions and celebrating [their] culture together,” Anand said. (Photo by Arpa Das)
Anand also mentioned her favorite celebration is Diwali, which is widely known as the festival of lights. Diwali is a festival that usually lasts for five days and celebrates the victory of light over darkness.“It'sthe most colorful and the most to get dressed up for. It is [also] fun to cook with family and stuff like that,” AnandAnothersaid.celebration that is a part of Indian culture is Holi, the festival of colors, which Mamalayan said is her favorite. Holi is a religious holiday that is celebrated in the spring. It celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring, symbolizing love and new life.
MAY 2022 | 09
“You throw different colored powders at each other to celebrate,” MamalayanDependingsaid.on the holiday, Anand said there are also many different types of food within Indian culture. She said the most well-known dish is ‘butter chicken’ which is a mixture of orange curry and rice. In terms of desserts, Anand said her favorite is ‘Gulab Jamun,’ which she described as “kind of like donuts that are submerged in really sweet syrup.” Anand said that she would get made fun of while growing up since she ate foods other kids didn’t know.“[Iexperienced discrimination] when I was little due to the fact that not a lot of little kids would know what food I was eating. Even my little cousins still get questioned on what they are eating, or why their food looks like ‘that,’”
Written by Lindsay Maresh and Reagan King, Photos by Norah Alasmar and Lila Vancrum, Design by Sabrina San Agustin
nsecurity and the fear of failing can be enough for someone to quit doing something they love.
“I got kind of bored of it, so I just didn’t really go all the time, and I made myself busy with other things,” Schlueter said. “I started getting more involved in choir and voice lessons, so on Saturdays I had contests or all-state choir [and I started] working more.”
Students share stories of quitting their former passions due to insecurities and newfound interests
10 | THE EXPRESS COVER
“Since I started so late, and I was not doing it competitively, I wasn’t really taking it that seriously at shows and stuff,” Schlueter said. “There would be people younger than me that were way more skilled than I was [and] that was kind of weird.”
FINDINGTHERIGHTFIT
I
Sophomore Addison Novak said she experienced this with basketball.“I’vealways been getting down on myself about not feeling good enough,” Novak said. “It doesn’t matter what team I’m on, even if I was on the best team, I would still get down on myself about a lot of things.” This feeling, Novak said, along with other stress in her life, led her to quit basketball.“Iwasstruggling with the pressure of an online class, things in my personal life and basketball especially,” Novak said. “[Basketball] was the number one stressor. Everything was boiling up, and I had to make the decision to give something up, so I decided that it was time to quit basketball.”
Although quitting activities due to fear or insecurity is a common occurrence, junior Hannah Hatton posed the idea to push through those doubts and quit only if there is a chance to find something you are more passionate about. Hatton’s decision to quit dance, after 10 years of participation, subscribes to this idea. “I quit dance to join theater, and I think if I didn’t have to spend so much time on theater, I would have been able to stick with it,” Hatton said. “I became so in love with theater I realized that was what I needed to spend my time doing.”Similarly, junior Grace Schlueter left figure skating in order to make time for activities she is more passionate about, such as choir.
Although time and motivation were her main deciding factors, Schlueter said she did face insecurity when figure skating, due to her age and late start.
Though she knew it was time to move on, Novak said this decision was not“I’veeasy.been doing it since second grade, and I’ve always loved watching and playing basketball,” Novak said. “It’s a sport that I loved, and it was really tough to give it up.”
“You are going to find something that is really your life’s purpose and something that you want to be doing forever.”Similarly to Hatton, Novak said the months following her decision were difficult but she still felt certain in leaving the sport.
“She saw the girls her age doing a lot more, and because Grace wasn’t able to dedicate the long hours and intense practice times, she wasn’t able to be at the same level as her peers,” Paris said. “So [skating] didn’t give her the drive to continue on.”Like Schlueter, Hatton said she did experience some insecurity that pushed her away from dance, however for her it was related to body image and mental health.
“In some ways there were some negative changes [in my life] because for a couple years I had that fear of missing out,” Hatton said. “I would see, on social media, all my friends from dance doing all these cool things and hanging out together and having Althoughfun.”shedid encounter some initial regret, Hatton said she now feels secure with her decision and would tell her past self to take the leap, as it ended up benefiting her“Igreatly.wouldtell myself that even though it might seem like a huge step, it is absolutely worth it,” Hatton said.
COVER Junior Hannah Hatton gave up dance in order to focus on her passion of theater. “Even though it is scary to change your whole life to pursue something new, it can be so worth it,” Hatton said.
“It was hard in the coming months when my friends were telling me about how I should have stayed on the team and [saying] ‘it’s so fun,’” Novak said. “But overall, I’m good with my decision. It was just difficult hearing my friends talk about it.”
“A lot of the girls on my team were just naturally very skinny,” Hatton said. “Having to hang out in a room of 20 girls and be required to wear tight leotards, it really was just hurting my mental health. I realized it was not a good space for me.”
Schlueter’s mom, Susan Paris, also noticed this insecurity and how it affected her daughter.
Looking back, Hatton said she does not regret leaving dance because she found theater. While she said she is more passionate about theater, she did face challenges directly after her decision to quit.
Unlike Hatton and Novak, Schlueter said she did not feel regret at any point about her decision.
AUGUST 2022 | 11
“If anything, I feel like I have more time to balance everything that I am doing because it’s one less thing to worry about,” Schlueter said.
Although Schlueter did not experience regret, she said her parents initially influenced her to continue skating.“Mymom wanted me to keep doing it, so I explained to her that I don’t Sometimes it’s OK to choose yourself and to be confident in that decision, even if it’s a hard one to make.”
-ADDISON NOVAK
12 | THE EXPRESS COVER have time or any motivation to do it,” Schlueter said. “My dad really wanted me to do it too. It was harder to convince him that I wanted to quit at first.”
“[My teachers] were people who I could confide in and they really helped me through it,” Novak said. “Of course they were encouraging me to stick with it, but they also always heard me out and they were there for me when I decided to quit.”
“I put a lot of extra pressure on myself in activities and I always have higher standards for myself,” Novak said. (Photo by Lila Vancrum)
“If being there makes you feel bad about yourself, then you should find something that makes you feel good about yourself,” Hatton said.
Paris said she recommends weighing your options of whether to stay with your sport or move on. Along with making this choice, Paris said that it is important to have the courage to make the decision that is truly right for your life.
However, Paris said she just wanted Schlueter to do what makes her happy. Hatton said her family also influenced her to continue dancing, but she decided to follow through with her decision to quit regardless. “My family always talked about how much they loved watching me dance,” Hatton said. “But then I realized that I needed to be doing it for myself and I would rather just do theater.”
“Be brave enough to try different things and be brave enough to be able to say ‘OK, this sport is not for me. It’s not mentally healthy for me. It causes more distress than happiness and pleasure,” Paris said.
“I would say don’t care about what other people think, I know that’s really difficult because every single teenager thinks that, but if you’re passionate about it, just keep pushing through and doing what you love,” Schlueter said. “If you love it, why should you quit?”
If you are thinking about giving something up, purely because of insecurity or fear, Hatton said, you should try to push through. But sometimes, leaving behind whatever is negatively impacting you, can lead to the discovery of something better.
Novak added to this, emphasizing the importance of doing whatever is right for you instead of trying to stick with every“Noactivity.person can be successful at everything, and it’s OK to say no,” Novak said. “Sometimes it’s OK to choose yourself and to be confident in that decision, even if it’s a hard one to make.”Similarly, Schlueter said if you love what you are doing, you should not take others’ opinions to heart.
Sophomore Addison Novak quit basketball due to the stress the sport added to her life.
Novak said not only was her family supportive of her decision, but her teachers assisted her through the process of leaving basketball as well.
Freshman Harrison Case plays the trumpet during the marching band’s summer camp, Aug. 4.“My favorite part about band is hearing the band play all together,” Case said. (Photo by Alivia Ozbun)
HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS
Sophomore Sumaya Edwards dribbles down the court during a 3v3 drill at the girls bas ketball summer camp, June 7. “Coach Dirks keeps us constantly active and constantly moving and makes sure that we never stop working hard,” Edwards said. (Photo by Lila Vancrum)
AUGUST 2022 | 13
Senior Andryko Bondar practices hitting with a teammate during the summer football camp, July 11. “During boot camp we only finish when the last man is done,” Bondar said. “Days like that are crucial because they let the players and coaches know who they can rely on.” (Photo by Bailey Thompson)
HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS
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DEAR FRESHMEN Current BVNW sophomores, juniors and seniors draw on their past experiences and give their advice to this year’s incoming freshmen. Design by Regan Simeon “Buy a Hawaiianhatcowboyandashirt.”-HibaIssawi “Try to always be the best person you can -Aedanandacademicallybe,socially.”Smith “Your grades freshman year matter.” -Landon Shin “If you’re looking to make friends, get involved in things you love.” -Brooke Zimmer “Get out of your comfort zone and try to make new -Reaganfriends.” Priest “Take the timeto connect withall -Elisepeople.”kindsdifferentofGrosdidier “Don’t use the mainFarrington-Hannahstaircase.”
CONTACT INFORMATION Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213 Phone: 913-239-3544 Email: BVNWnewspaper@bluevalleyk12.org RESPONDING TO THE PUBLICATION Letters to the editor may be submitted electronically on our website at BVNWnews.com under the “Contact Us” tab. Letters may be published either on BVNWnews.com or in our print edition. Letters may be edited. ABOUT US The Express is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the August Issue of Volume 30. DISCLAIMER This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication. ABOUT THE EXPRESS Blue Valley School District #229 Blue Valley Northwest H.S. 15020 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66223 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Stilwell,Stilwell,KsPAIDPostageKS66085PermitNo.38 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.