The Tiger Print — September 2020

THE TIGER PRINT

blue valley high school | vol. 51 | issue 1 | september 2020 | bvtigernews.com | overland park, kansas

prejudice is Personal

Blue Valley students speak out against maltreatment.

Read on to page 9 for the full story.

2

contents

Contents NEWS

6

Presidential Election With the presidential election coming up in November, it is time to learn about the policies of the nominees.

FEATURE

14

Public Protesting The Blue Valley community gathered to protest multiple causes. Read on to learn more.

ENTERTAINMENT

16

Periodic Pandemics Pandemics have been occurring long before the corona virus arrived early in the year. Read about the various pandemics that have happened in the past.

OPINION

18

Don’t Hide Your Feelings Frannie Lamberti explains why you shouldn’t conceal relationships from others.

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

THE

TIGER PRINT editor-in-chief Claire Powell

story editors Chloe Browning Olivia Sherlock

assistant editor Charlie Trent adviser Michelle Huss web editors Stephanie Kontopanos Tymber Moody

staff members Rylee Bergmann Isabelle Fletcher Brynn Friesen Kaitlin Green Ayesha Khan Erika Kolseth Ani Kreegar Frannie Lamberti

Harrison Melton Claire Middleton Spencer Norman Liya Patel Mia Rice Claire Stein Charley Thomas Eleanor Warren

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy.

Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content.

Letters should be submitted to Room 450, emailed to thetigerprint@gmail.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Overland Park, KS 66085

news

3

OFF the RADAR Football is Back

Last night marked the first game for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Superbowl champions played at home against the Houston Texans. Despite the Texans scoring a touchdown in the first quarter, it did not stop the Chiefs from gaining a quick lead. By halftime the Kansas City football team led 17-7, and the game ended 34-20. The limited crowd of around 17,000 fans cheered for the team’s first win.

According to ESPN, quarterback Patrick Mahomes made NFL history to throw three touchdown passes with no interceptions in a third-straight season opener. However it was rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire who stole the show, rushing 138 yards and made a two touchdowns in the game.

The Chiefs will play next Sunday, Sept. 20 at Los Angeles against the Chargers.

Released Tapes On Wednesday, Sept. 9, The Washington Post published portions of president Donald Trump’s on-the-record interviews for veteran journalist Bob Woodrow’s upcoming book “Rage,” in which the president said “[the coronavirus is] more deadly than even your strenuous flus” and “wanted to play it down.”

Trump later held a White House press conference stating that he didn’t want to invoke panic. However, that did not stop the criticism he’s recently faced. According to Politico, Biden’s campaign argued that Trump’s panic excuse does not justify his in-person presidential rallies.

Yesterday, Trump retaliated to latest backlash by claiming Woodrow would have released the tapes if he felt it was a true threat.

Protest at KU On Sept. 7, several students at the University of Kansas (KU) skipped their classes as protest against the campus opening despite the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Lawrence JournalWorld, KU held classes this Labor Day due to their modified calendar. A statement released by the student organization, Jayhawker Liberation Front calls for the closure of the campus due to the spread of COVID-19. As of Monday, there had been 46,914 cases of the virus and 485 deaths in Kansas.

“Our basic right to a safe and healthy environment must be provided by [colleges],” Jayhawk Liberation Front stated. “In turn we must build and support our communities in a global pandemic that threatens everyone around us.” | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE | WORDS BY CLAIRE POWELL

4

news

“Let Them Play” Students protest after suspension of fall activities claire powell editor-in-chief On Aug. 27, hundreds of students, parents and teachers stood outside the Blue Valley School District Office after the announcement of fall activities being remote.

The decision came after the Blue Valley Board of Education’s meeting, where they voted to follow the Kansas Department of Education’s gating criteria for the coronavirus rather than Johnson County’s.

Senior football player Ben Brown attended the protest after his teammates brought it to his attention.

“I attended the rally because it’s important to me that we have a football season,” Brown said. “I went to support our team and other sports that take place in the fall.”

Junior tennis player Allison Day also joined the mass meeting, hoping the district will want to create a better plan for extracurricular activities.

| PHOTO BY CLAIRE POWELL Senior Ishar Venkatesh.

| DESIGN BY CLAIRE POWELL

“It amazed me how every team put aside rivalries and truly respected each sport and activity that was there being represented.”

– Allison Day, 11

news

5

“Knowing it was in jeopardy for so long really forced a lot of us, seniors especially, to lose hope.”

– Ben Brown, 12 “They’re a choice to participate in just like they’ve always been — no one is forcing someone to participate or be around the people who do,” Day said. “I’d just like an explanation from a board member on why two people can’t social distance on a 78-feet tennis court and play.”

Despite around 8,500 Johnson County residents infected with COVID-19 and 118 deaths, Day and Brown were not apprehensive in attending the protest.

“Being in a crowd and potentially being exposed to [the] corona[virus] wasn’t even on my mind while I was at the rally,” Day said. “I’m not worried about getting it, and I know people will call me selfish, but I have multiple high risk family members that have supported me throughout the past six months and everything has been fine because we’ve been smart about it.”

The group chanted “Let them play,” with support from students across the entire district.

“It amazed me how every team put aside rivalries and truly respected each sport and activity that was there being represented,” Day said. “It didn’t matter what school you were from.”

On Friday, Sept. 4, the district opened up all fall activities due being in the yellow zone for the gating criteria. Activities will be re-evaluated Oct. 2; however, competitions will be restricted from the Kansas City area, and safety measures will be put in place throughout practices.

“It’s rejuvenating to find out the district approved the football season this fall. Knowing it was in jeopardy for so long really forced a lot of us, seniors especially, to lose hope,” Brown said. “This is probably the most we’ve ever needed football in our lives, and we’re all glad that it’s going to officially happen.”

| PHOTO BY CLAIRE POWELL Head football coach Allen Terrell with junior Greyson Holbert.

Are you in favor of the Blue Valley district allowing students to participate in fall activities?

36% No 64% Yes 193 students surveyed

6

news

WHO’S GOT YOUR

VOTE? current president

DONALD TRUMP republican canidate

running mate: Mike Pence

POLICIES : end the ‘reliance’ on China proposes tariffs on steel and aluminum outside of the U.S. make american economy self-reliant reduce illegal immigration, reform legal immigration system

former vice president

JOE BIDEN

democratic canidate

running mate: Kamala Harris

POLICIES : bring back jobs and provide economic reovery for working families provide racial equity across the economy create sustainable infrastructure and clean energy future reopen schools safely

lower individual and corporate taxes, cut regulations, end trade deficits

set up support for deserving small businesses

rescind obamacare, cut drug prices, reform medicaid

put an end to gun violence and violence against women

limit access to abortion, ban on transgender troops in the military *according to BBC and PBS

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

plan for bankruptcy reform

reform criminal justice system introduce accessible healthcare plan *according to joebiden.com

on the cover

7

blue valley bigotry written by: stephanie Kontopanos, tymber moody, claire powell, charlie trent

a blue valley movement begins After the recent reviving of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Blue Valley School District posted a message on Instagram, stating “racism or discrimination of any kind has no place in Blue Valley and will not be tolerated.”

The post sparked more than 1,000 comments of former and current Blue Valley teachers, parents and students, exclaiming the prejudice the school district has allowed. The following are students’ experiences with racism and teachers’ thoughts on ignorance in the classroom.

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

8

on the cover

Kevin Leach In third grade at Stanley Elementary while working on a history assignment about slavery, junior Kevin Leach experienced racism for the first time. “[My partner] didn’t like how I wasn’t following ‘his’ instructions,” Leach said. “He said ‘God, why can’t you just listen to me? If it wasn’t for Abraham Lincoln you’d be my slave, and I would’ve whipped you already.”

Being so young, Leach was surprised and confused by the remark.

“I looked back at him in shock,” Leach said. “I genuinely didn’t know what to think about it because I didn’t know what it meant at the time.”

After a teacher overheard, the other student was sent to the principal’s office. When Leach came home from school, he mentioned the incident to his mom.

“I have never seen her walk out of the house with such anger,” Leach said. “I looked out of the window and saw steam coming from her head.”

As he grew older, that encounter became more vividly important to Leach.

“Being 16 now, I understand it,” Leach said. “That incident opened my eyes.”

Another racist encounter occurred the day after president Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Leach was in seventh grade and walking to class with one of his friends, when they heard two teachers talking about the president’s victory. In response to one teacher’s mention of the election results, the other replied with “It’s a good thing I’m white.”

“He just gave me this look like he didn’t know we were there — he didn’t even apologize,” Leach said. “Back then I barely knew

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

anything about politics, but it was enough to know what he meant by that.”

Leach spent a lot of time ruminating over the comment made that day.

“When I went home, I constantly thought about it for the rest of the night to the point where I couldn’t sleep,” Leach said. “I was too young to understand what happened, and it broke me down.”

Now that he’s older and more mature, Leach tries to maintain a positive outlook.

“When I experience that sort of stuff now, I use it as motivation,” Leach said. “It drives me forward and keeps me going.”

Leach advises other people who have dealt or continue to deal with racism to reach out and talk to someone they trust.

“It’s helped me grow mentally and teaches me how racism is still very present,” Leach said.

In his opinion, the district hasn’t done it’s part to combat racism, yet they are making progress. One of the biggest issues, Leach believes, is the way Blue Valley approaches Black History Month.

“Most young kids in elementary and middle school only know about Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman,” Leach said. “All of these people shaped our history incredibly, but there are so many more who did the same and don’t get recognized as much.”

Leach suggests the district teach students about the less famous figures in the civil rights movement and supplement the learning with more resources.

“Teach them about how Lynden B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, gave African Americans their civil rights, [and] how he helped so many poor families, black or white, to rise above the poverty line,” Leach said. “They should bring guest speakers so everyone can learn about our history.”

Leach hopes treatment of minorities will change for the better in the future.

“One day, I do hope it’s all gone, that we can start judging each other off our character instead of bringing race into it,” Leach said. “Go out and learn about other races and cultures. Who knows, you might find something interesting.”

on the cover

9

ethnic makeup of blue valley school district hawaiian/pacific islander (0.04%) american indian/alaskan native american (0.28%) african-american Black (70.41%) multi-racial (5%) hispanic (6.38%) asain (14.45%) *information courtesy of the Blue white (70.41%) Valley School District Website

Ariana siddique For junior Ariana Siddique, microaggressions related to her race and ethnicity have persisted since she was in elementary school.

“After vacations everyone would be like ‘Oh my God! I’m finally darker than you,’ which was just awkward,” Siddique said.

Ignorance about Siddique’s cultural identity led to remarks regarding Indian culture despite her nationality being Bengali.

“People asking me ‘Why don’t you smell like curry if you’re Indian?’ is weird,” Siddique said.

When she was younger, Siddique would be told to eat pork because “no one would know,” despite it being against the Islamic Law, the rules of her Muslim religion.

“There’s a difference between asking for a reason and pressuring someone into caving because whatever they’re abstaining from is ‘normal’,” Siddique said.

“It makes me feel like a drag since I’m not eating the food they’re eating, and I have to ask before ordering.

There’s always people who are slightly annoyed.”

Siddique receives questions based on stereotypes and will even receive backhanded compliments based on her ethnic background.

“There’s some lighthearted stuff that isn’t necessarily a compliment like ‘You’re pretty for a brown girl,’” Siddique said.

Peers also have unrealistic expectations of Siddique due to her race.

“Just because there are many successful Asians, everyone expects us to get straight As and become doctors or engineers,” Siddique said. “In class, a few

people assume I know what I’m doing because I’m brown, and apparently that means I’m smart.”

Despite the normalcy of these microaggressions, they still hold a significant impact on Siddique.

“I usually just shrug it off, but it makes me uncomfortable— it ruins any [desire] to talk to the person,” Siddique said. “It seems like they don’t care about me as a person.”

Siddique believes the current Black Lives Matter Movement will spark change in the community.

“I think it [will] raise awareness in BV since there’s so much casual racism,” Siddique said. “BLM is really important because it [raises awareness for a] serious issue that’s been around for a while. It’s time for reform.”

10

on the cover

Ubaid Malek Senior Ubaid Malek began experiencing racism in middle school, and it has followed him ever since, whether it be from his classmates or a teacher.

“Being a minority in America, it is almost impossible to avoid any sort of racism,” Malek said.

He faces racism inside and outside of class and cannot escape it. Even a beeping from a computer provokes his classmates to ask if he has a bomb on him.

“Being brown-skinned and Muslim, I would always get called a terrorist, [asked] if I was related to Bin Ladin and [told] the typical ‘curry’ joke,” Malek said.

Those are only a few of the racist comments that Malek continues to receive. After Trump was elected, Malek was told by his classmates that he would get deported and needed to ‘go back to his country.’

“These comments weren’t from random people, but classmates I have gone to school with for a long time,” Malek said. “[They] use slurs to make fun of me and defend it by saying they are only joking.”

The worst experience Malek has had was in middle school when a teacher was showing a CNN news video.

“The news was about terrorist attacks and my classmates proceeded to ask me if I was related to the terrorist and said ‘look it’s Ubaid’s uncle’,” Malek said.

“The teacher was there in class but didn’t do anything about the comments I was getting.”

Malek then told his parents and reported the issue to the administration, but nothing ever happened. The teacher continued to show CNN news about terrorist attacks and other sensitive topics.

With the school’s lack of help, Malek had to figure out how to deal with the racism on his own.

“I just ignored the comments, and now they just go over my head like it’s normal,” Malek said.

Although it may feel typical for Malek, the racism and bullying got so bad that he wanted to transfer schools to escape it.

“All these hurtful comments were degrading and made me feel like I didn’t belong,” Malek said. “It made me feel [as if] American culture was the law of the land, and my culture and customs were not welcome and inferior to others.”

While the school district holds one diversity assembly a year in order to celebrate other cultures, Malek said most students simply mock or laugh at it.

He believes it is difficult to learn and appreciate other

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

customs in that one short hour each year.

“The racism and unawareness of other cultures shown by classmates show how the district was failing to educate the students,” Malek said. “The district needs to do a better job at teaching about other cultures and their histories. This needs to start at a younger age so these kids become more open-minded towards other minorities and cultures.”

Because the majority of Blue Valley’s teachers are white, Malek believes the district could benefit from having more teachers and staff with different backgrounds, as well as teaching about other cultures’ history.

“It seems like the only history I learn in school is European and American history — it’s very Eurocentric, showing how Americans are the best,” Malek said.

“There needs to be more history of other races and how they came to America since Europeans weren’t the only ones who settled here and built it.”

Although there are many obstacles that need to be overcome for racism, Malek is optimistic that the recent movement will help bring awareness to this issue.

“I believe the recent Black Lives Matter movement and protests will bring more attention to the problems in the district,” Malek said.

“But it is up to the people in charge to take this seriously and make changes.”

on the cover

59.6% Black girls are suspended at higher rates than all other girls and most boys Black and Latino students accounted for 40 percent of enrollment at schools with gifted programs, but only represented 26 percent of students in such programs.

of hate crimes are based on race/ ethnicity/ ancestry/ * from 2018 United States bias Justice Department data Have blue valley students experienced racism?

30.6% said yes

69.4% said no

*193 students surveyed

* from the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights

do blue valley students think the school does a good job of educating their students about diversity?

60.6% said no 39.4% said yes

11

*193 students surveyed

12

on the cover

Ann Vasa As a half-Indian half-Filipino child of two immigrants, senior Ann Vasa was acutely aware of the injustices that minorities face in America. However, she was not cognizant of the amount of discrimination that is prevalent in the Blue Valley school district until nationwide demands for racial justice began in June.

“I began to realize that a lot of the things I had experienced since elementary school had to deal with matters of race,” Vasa said. “Those issues often stemmed from BV not fully educating its students on diversity, equity and inclusion,” Vasa said she faced being criticized for the food that she packed for lunch at an early age and was often confused with the only other Indian girl in her class in elementary school.

“When I reflected this summer on my years in school, I recognized it was those small moments of injustice that hurt the most,” Vasa said. “[They] ultimately culminated into the largerscale racial issues within the district.”

In order to avoid this repetition of microaggressions Vasa herself experienced, she recommends Blue Valley begins teaching equity in elementary school.

“I think as high school students, we often find ourselves answering bigger questions than we ever have before and can find it overwhelming to talk about racial issues,” Vasa said. “I feel if we started these conversations in kindergarten, we would be a lot more comfortable talking about issues often seen as controversial.”

In addition, she considers

it vital for this education view to include other sensitive topics. wethez on “We should simply instagram normalize having conversations about how to be respectful to marginalized groups, including students of color, LGBTQ+ students and more,” Vasa said. “No one wants to be mistreated because of their identity, so it’s absolutely imperative that we begin normalizing these seemingly uncomfortable discussions.”

When Vasa viewed the Instagram post released by the district concerning the intolerance to discrimination, she noted the message appeared to be disingenuous given the history of unjust behavior students of color have faced in the district.

“For the district to say that it has been a leader in fighting racial injustice really brought out the pain and anger that students of color had held in for so long,” Vasa said.

After reading the countless student experiences with racism, prejudice and xenophobia in their learning environment, she felt inspired to share them on an Instagram account dedicated to this cause, titled “@wethez”.

“My [Instagram] account is still pretty small with only about 150 followers, but I think it’s already starting to make a difference by highlighting the struggles that BV students have faced — struggles that their peers may not even have realized that their friends of color have faced,” Vasa said.

In early August, superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan created the Blue Valley Board of Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. The committee is made up of parents, staff and administrators, as well as a student representative from each high school, and Vasa was chosen to represent Blue Valley High because of her history of being outspoken on these issues.

“I got involved with the committee after attending two of the district-wide meetings that Dr. Merrigan

on the cover set up to talk about racial injustice in the district with students and parents,” Vasa said. “I’m really excited for the future of the committee and the new changes that will be made to create a more inclusive education for all students.”

Vasa advised other young people wanting to fight for progress to begin on a smaller scale by speaking to their family members or friends who may be ignorant about the topic.

“Speaking to the people who are closest to you is one of the more intimidating aspects of fighting for racial justice,” Vasa said. “You don’t want to get in an argument with those that are closest to you, but you also want them to understand these really complex

13

issues that are harmful to people of color.”

Vasa believes that from these conversations as a whole, America can evolve past these racial disparities.

“While creating structural change is important, the only way we can really achieve that is making people understand why we need structural change,” Vasa said. “It’s imperative to create this understanding with the people that you surround yourself with, because oftentimes, you are the one that they will listen to most.”

Teachers' Perspective Though biology teacher Darcie Badger has witnessed racism in the classroom, she believes that most racist remarks are accidental.

“Many times I feel the individual does not even realize the hurt they are inflicting when they make [racist and biased remarks],” Badger said. “It definitely hurts my heart and saddens me, but I do try to confront those comments and make it a learning experience for the individual.”

Chemistry teacher Neerav Shah has also seen prejudice behavior in school, such as when a student of color was teased with a racially charged joke.

“It was disgusting and completely inappropriate,” Shah said.

For Badger, there are four steps the BV community should take in order to reduce racism.

“The first step would be for everyone to recognize and confront their own biases,” Badger said. “The next step would be to listen to others with an open heart and ears. [The] third step [is] be contemplative about what you hear. [The] last step [is to] take action in a way that positively improves the community and helps to eliminate racism.”

Shah notes teachers could celebrate diversity in the

classroom as part of the curriculum.

“For example, in science, I [could] ask students to research a scientist of ethnic background that was influential in shaping what chemistry looks like today,” Shah said.

Badger believes the ability to spread information widely and quickly has improved measures against racism.

“Social media has brought about more awareness and recognition that racism is a problem compared to when I was a student,” Badger said.

In order to combat racism within schools, Shah said the best way is to educate students and appreciate differences.

“We need to make students more aware of the stigmas and ugliness of racism and teach them ways to alleviate the backward thinking we so often see in the BV community,” Shah said.

Similar to Shah, Badger believes empathy is key to inspiring progress.

“Have the emotional capacity to put yourself in other people’s shoes and realize the obstacles and challenges that others have, or will, face,” Badger said. “It’s important to be kind, listen with an open heart and do your best every day to be better and be the change.”

| DESIGN BY CHARLIE TRENT

14

feature

Downtown Protest Students attend BLM rally

“No lives matter, until black lives matter.”

“No justice, no peace, prosecute the police.”

“Stop killing us.”

“Black lives matter today, tomorrow, and forever.”

These were only a few of the phrases senior Noah Clayman and junior Sofia Ortiz heard during the Black Lives Matter protest at the former JC Nichols Memorial fountain in Downtown Kansas City.

Clayman and Ortiz attended one of the many nationwide rallies with a couple of friends May 29, – Noah Clayman, 12 which were sparked by the passing of George Floyd, who was choked to death by a police officer in Minneapolis.

“I chose to go because [what] keeps happening to people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor [is] absolutely awful and completely wrong,” Clayman said. “I need to do more than signing petitions to help fight for that cause.”

Ortiz and Clayman joined the crowd about an hour into the protest amid people who held signs

with the names and faces of those who were lost to police brutality.

Although Ortiz was not worried about the protesters becoming violent, she was still mindful of what could happen.

“I was scared to [go to] the protest [because] a white supremacist or anti-protester might be in the crowd and could harm people,” Ortiz said.

“Especially in the United States [because] it is so easy for someone to get a gun.”

Going into the protest, Clayman was focused on the injustices and the hardships that minorities face.

“I am angry that people of color still have to fight for their right to live, and a lot of those thoughts were in my head as I was there,” Clayman said.

While some protests have ended in violence, Ortiz and Clayman said the rally they attended was peaceful and supportive.

“There were a few people that seemed to just be there to stir things up,” Ortiz said. “But they were overpowered by the sense of love and care from the rest of the people there.”

The police followed suit and were also peaceful while handling the protesters.

“I am angry that people of color still have to fight for their right to live...”

BLACK LIVES MATTER

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE

UTE PROSEC THE POLICE

feature However later that weekend, the attitude of the police officers and protesters changed.

“My friend was hurt by a police officer [and had] bruises all over his body when he was trying to help someone up off the ground,” Ortiz said.

Both Clayman and Ortiz believe a lot can be accomplished with peaceful protests, but if steps toward progression are not apparent, then other methods might have to come into play.

“If [protesters’] voices aren’t being heard peacefully, which they aren’t, then they’re going to be violent,” Clayman said.

“The basis of what our country was built on is revolution.”

Clayman thinks that those who are against the message of Black Lives Matter, sometimes misconstrue its meaning.

“The whole movement is advocating for equality,” Clayman said. “It’s not saying that only black lives matter — it’s saying that right now we need to focus on protecting the lives of black people who are killed by police brutality and other acts of violence that are racially biased.”

Both Ortiz and Clayman strongly believe in using their voices and doing what they can to make a change in the world.

“I don’t think everything is accomplished by going to a protest, but using my voice, even though [it’s] small, adds to a larger revolution,” Ortiz said.

“We are the generation of the future and my voice makes the roar of change – Sofia Ortiz, 11 louder.”

“...using my voice, even though [it’s] small, adds to a larger revolution.”

BLACK LIVES MATTER TODAY, TOMORROW, AND FOREVER

15

BLM Protests Nationwide More than 2,000 protests across all 50 states in the two weeks after the killing of George Floyd Largest age group of protestors is people under 35

More than 40% of U.S. counties have had a protest

Thousands protetested for racial equality in Washington D.C. Aug. 28, the 57th anniversary of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington

Information from the New York Times & the Washington Post

| DESIGN & WORDS BY CLAIRE POWELL

STOP KILLING US

16

a&e

Pandemics: A Historical Review Take a look at the large-scale illnesses throughout the years Bubonic Plague Also known as the Black Death or Black Plague, this pandemic reached its peak in the mid-1400s and killed about 200 million people. It is currently the deadliest pandemic in history. The disease was believed to have originated in Asia, where it was brought to Europe through traders on the Silk Road. It was spread by rats and fleas that carried the disease. Symptoms included fevers, severe flu symptoms and purple or black swellings called “buboes.” In the medieval ages, they made efforts to treat it by only opening windows to the north, not sleeping during the day, bloodletting and avoiding work. It now affects less than 1,000 people a year and can be cured with antibiotics

Smallpox Smallpox, or Variola, has 300 to 500 million deaths in the 20th century alone. The disease possibly spread to humans in 10,000 BCE, although there have been multiple Smallpox pandemics since then. Smallpox is known for killing many indigenous/native people during the European’s travels to the new world. Symptoms of smallpox include flu-like symptoms, rashes and muscle pain. The disease was mostly destroyed around the world by 1980, and while there is no treatment for it, there is a preventative vaccine.

Spanish Flu The Spanish Flu was a particularly fatal influenza pandemic, killing 40 to 50 million people from 1918 to 1920. The pandemic got its name from the incorrect idea that Spain suffered the most as a result of the disease. The flu typically kills people with weak immune systems, such as young children and the elderly, but this outbreak killed healthy young adults as well. The reason is because a bodily function, known as a “cytokine storm,” causes the body’s strong immune system to overreact.

| DESIGN BY STEPHANIE KONTOPANOS

a&e

HIV/AIDS AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the disease acquired by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). It was spread to humans from chimpanzees in 1981, and has killed up to 35 million people so far. HIV is a blood-borne disease, but can also be spread through sex and breastfeeding. Flu-like symptoms begin a few weeks after an HIV infection, then symptoms stop until it progresses to AIDS. Symptoms of AIDS include weight loss, tiredness, fever and recurring infections.

Antiviral medications can hinder the disease’s progress, but a cure is yet to be found.

COVID-19 COVID-19 began as early as November 2019. It is said to have originated in a live seafood and animal market in Wuhan, China, where it was spread from bats to humans, although the origin is still being debated. As of Sept. 11, 2020, it has killed 910,000 people worldwide, which is small compared to other global pandemics.

However, the virus’ danger lies in the fact that it spreads quickly and is fatal to people who have immune, lung or heart issues. According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus include fever, muscle pain, fatigue and a loss of taste or smell. People infected with the virus may be asymptomatic for up to two weeks. There is currently no cure for the virus, although scientists are working to find one.

Bats and rats are two animals that are infamous for transmitting disease: Rats •Black Plague •Salmonella •Lyme’s Disease •Typhus Bats •Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) •Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) •COVID-19 (allegedly) •Rabies

17

18

opinion

Don’t be Afraid to Show It you should let others know you are in a relationship frannie lamberti staff writer

In high school, you fall in and out of relationships all the time. Whether casual or serious, you shouldn’t be afraid to tell your friends and family.

Having feelings for someone can be confusing and exciting at the same time. At first you may not want to tell everyone because you don’t want to be let down or embarrassed, but once you are in a relationship, other people should know.

Trying to hide the person you like from your peers can make your partner feel insecure or unwanted. The couple won’t last if there are secrets or insecurities. You can’t tell someone how much you like them and then not treat them the way they want to be.

Hiding something from your friends in general is not good. It causes bonds and trust to break. If they are your true friends, they should support you when you tell them you are interested in someone.

In all honesty, no one really cares who you are dating and the only person over-thinking it is you. If you really like someone and want to make an effort to date them, you shouldn’t try and hide them from other important people in your life.

Sneaking around trying to find time to hangout with your partner and your friends can be tricky and difficult. Picking between the two and lying about what you’re doing never works out.

When the time comes to tell your friends, won’t they be upset that you hid something from them? Not only are friends feeling betrayed, but so is the person you are hiding.

Like everyone says, “You only live once,” so why not be happy with someone you actually like?

If someone is concealing a relationship with you, end it until you are both ready to tell other people involved in your life. Being open and honest in a relationship helps make you stronger and helps your love grow over time.

| DESIGN BY CLAIRE POWELL

on the cover

19

| CARTOON BY LIAM DALE

Education needs to be the cause of tolerance This summer, president Donald Trump planned a rally on June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and immediately faced backlash due the date and location.

It was June 19, 1865 when slaves were fully emancipated in America.

The day was later known as the national holiday, Juneteenth.

It was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921 when white citizens destroyed what was called the Black Wall Street, a self-sufficient and once thriving business district created by African Americans — the death toll was estimated as high as 300.

Americans were shocked by this information, as many have never heard of Juneteenth and the event named the Tulsa Race Massacre. This brought attention to how the U.S. educational system tends to dismiss the racial oppression minorities in America have faced and how dangerous it can be.

When we overlook racism in the U.S. we are not only miseducated but we can’t progress as a country.

Though former president Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it wasn’t until two years later that slavery was abolished in all 50 states.

Though Brown v. Board of Education, a Supreme Court ruling that racial segregation in public schools is uncon-

stitutional, was established in 1954, a federal judge ordered a Mississippi school district to desegregate its schools in 2016.

When we are taught that one moment ended slavery, segregation, or even racism as a whole, we believe racial issues no longer exist in America.

CBS stated more than 2,000 reported anti-Asian hate incidents in reference to China and COVID-19 have occurred between March and June.

After the hate-filled El Paso shooting, author of “The Injustice Never Leaves You: Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas” Monica Muñoz Martinez noted violence against Hispanic people is motivated by the continuous rhetoric that anyone who looks Mexican doesn’t belong in America, often used by politicians and local Anglo residents.

The Washington Post recorded that while Black people make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they constitute 36 percent of unarmed people shot and killed by the police.

Racism still fully exists in America. and the more we ignore this, the less we advance as a country. Understanding our nation’s history will help solve current issues today.

According to a 2015 national poll, 41 percent of Americans believe the Civil War’s primary cause was not due

to slavery. This is ultimately because we gloss over slavery in America, treating it like a small mistake in history rather than what it was — the brutality and well-aware exploitation of African Americans.

This ignorance stems from textbooks, nationwide curriculum and the idea of ‘America’s perfection’ ingrained in our society.

Not only should the education system better focus on the racial injustices America has committed, but they should also teach students about cultural diversity, starting at a young age. When exposing children to races, cultures and traditions other than their own, it normalizes those differences and allows them to grow as more open-minded individuals.

It is by 7 years old that a child’s morals begin to fully form. We cannot raise the next generation to be tolerant of the blatant racism in America.

We cannot raise the country’s next historians, police officers, teachers and lawmakers to hold the same bigotry we allow today.

Raising awareness about varying backgrounds as well as the prejudice and racism that has been deeply rooted in American culture will enable us as a country to diminish the racial disparities that still exist in our world today.

This staff editorial is the representation of the opinion of The Tiger Print staff.