Spotlight Oct. 31, 2019 by Spotlight

spotlight Blue Valley West 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kan. Volume 19 Issue 3 Oct. 31, 2019

INSIDE Spider Infestation........05 The Body Issue..............07 Horror Stories...............14 BV West Fashion..........28

Masthead Letter from the editors

ne impressive quarter of this school year has already flown by. The Repertory Theatre performed the Women of Lockerbie and received great reviews from staff and critics. Color Guard won the Olathe Marching Invitational. Boys soccer was chosen as the Fox 4 team of the week. Sophomore Julia Misemer was chosen as the KMBC athlete of the week. All across the school, students are raising the bar of excellence and pushing themselves harder than ever before through the mid-semester slump. In this edition we have tackled

everything from the development of the body-positivity movement and Catholic school recruitment to the best of fashion and two foreign exchange students. To celebrate this edition coming out on Halloween, we’ve even included horrors stories, a Halloween “Best of” list and even a spooky comic. Stay safe this Halloween, Jags.

contact us Blue Valley West High School 16200 Antioch Road Overland Park, Kan. 66085 Phone: 913-239-3700 Email: bvwspotlight@gmail.com Web: www.bvwnews.com All Social Media: @bvwspotlight

19-20 Staff editors-in-chief

Your E.I.C.’s Hannah Cole Rae Zimmerli

On the cover

Hannah Cole Rae Zimmerli

managing editor Natalie Fiorella

web editor

Jaden Webster

n the spirit of Halloween, the Spotlight staff decided to create a Halloween inspired edition. Our cover features staff member Ally Madden who holds a voodoo doll. This picture reflects the content of our paper and teases our special Halloween section. The section includes horror stories, both real and fictional, and a “Best of” list with all of our spooky favorites. Photo by Rae Zimmerli.

Spotlight is printed at least six times per school year for BV West students and the community. Its goals are to inform, entertain and interpret through bylined articles, opinions and editorials, while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population. Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate and impartial. The content of the print publication, online news site and social media accounts is determined by its student editors as determined by the Kansas Scholastic Press Act and may contain controversial subject matter as the staff exercises their First Amendment rights. Spotlight does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty adviser, the administration of BV West or USD 229.

reporters

Kolbie Christensen Jillian Dunlay Kevin Glenn Natalie Lindmark Ally Madden Kyler Murphy Lucas Park Kiley Peterson Evan Schmidt Aminah Syed

in this issue News

04.............Counselor Shake Up 05.................Spider Infestation 07........................The Body Issue

Sports

10.............Fall Sports Wrap Up 11......................Riley Cummings 12...........Catholic Recruitment

Halloween

Photophoto by Libby Schawabauer by Evan Schmidt

14.........................Horror Stories 16..................Best of Halloween

Features

18..................Foreign Exchange 20.........................Political Clubs

A&E

22....Late Start Coffee Review 24........................Rise of Tik Tok

photo courtesy of Keely Sabrina Ross Photo by Woods

Opinion

26..........................ACT Changes

Photo essay

28....................BV West Fashion

Photo photobyby Rae Ella Zimmerli Gordon

04 news

COUNSELOR

S H A K E UP

Natalie LindmaRk reporter Counselor turnover rate causes issues for students

he counseling department provides support, guidance and advice for students. However, during the last three years, students with last names starting with D-H, found it increasingly difficult to form a relationship with their counselor due to the repeated turnover. “It’s been hard for me to go talk to my counselor because there have been so many different ones throughout my years at West,” junior David Hudler said. “I feel like its been a little difficult to build relationships with them because of this.” Over the past three years, three new counselors have walked in then out the counseling office doors. “There is still a major concern with connection to the students when all is said and done,” Glotzbach said. “Sometimes, they’re like, ‘Oh, here’s a new one,’ but what they don’t realize is, I’m not new. I’m just new to the building.” Glotzbach does not feel the changes should be cause for concern. “This is my seventeenth year in education,” new counselor Mary Glotzbach said. “I started as an elementary teacher, then I went to get my master’s degree in school counseling.” Glotzbach is familiar with the Blue Valley District because she has worked at all three levels of Blue Valley schools. “I feel like as far as knowing what’s expected of a school counselor in Blue Valley, I’ve got that down,” Glotzbach said. While Glotzbach feels confident, she recognizes that some students may be concerned with the change. “Especially when you’re an upper-classman and all our college

stuff is going on, you need someone who has known you for a while to help you decide what you’re going to do for the rest of your life,” senior Anushka Ganesh said. “That person has changed every year for me, so honestly, it sucks.” Counseling department John Stone, recognized the turnover impact might have on students. “I feel really bad for the students who develop a relationship with a counselor over many years. In some cases, it’s up to three, and then they end up having to have a new counselor,” Stone said. “That’s been an issue here in the last several years.” Stone says the new additions have also benefited the school. “I feel like we’ve always replaced the people that have left with good quality counselors,” Stone said. “There’s always that opportunity to develop new relationships, I just wish that we didn’t have to do it so often.” Stone said that the group works together well, they’re willing to help each other out and feels it’s been a good start to the year. “I do think there are advantages to bringing in new ideas and fresh faces,” Stone said. “We’ve brought in good people that are knowledgeable and they care about students and they’re willing to develop relationships.” While recognizing the concerns created by the turnover, Stone looks toward a positive future. “I hope this team stays together for a long time and I hope it stays together for the sake of the students because I think the longer we can stay together and work together as a team, the better we’re going to be and that will be a benefit to students,” Stone said.

Mary Glotz ba 2019-2020 ch D-H

tark Janice S D-H 19 2018-20

Jennifer F reestone 2016-2018 D-H

news

Eight-Legged Infiltration Wolf spiders creep into the band room to escape the cold Jaden Webster

t’s that time of year again and it’s almost as if they know it’s Halloween. The spiders have returned to haunt the band room and the performing arts hall. For the past few years, around the start of autumn, wolf spiders crawl their way into the band room for shelter from the cold. “This year, it’s like crazy,” Mary Orzchowski said. “We have [about] three spiders per day and they’re huge wolf spiders that just chill in the hallway. It scares me.” Unlike the typical spider that may wander inside the school, wolf spiders are relatively large. The body of a wolf spider alone can reach around an inch and a half. These spiders can frighten the unfortunate students who discover them, especially when the spiders travel in groups. “We found five in the hallway together,” Orzchowski said. “Two were sitting together and one was smaller. There were two more on either end of the hallway, and everyone just screamed and ran back into the band room.” Fortunately, steps have already

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been taken to help get rid of the spiders. The entrances to the band room and the performing arts hall have been sprayed, and students are already seeing the results. “They spray for [the spiders] and it’s already gone away,” Band Director Cheryl Lee said. “I haven’t seen one in a couple weeks now, so un-

fortunately, I don’t know if they’ll be around for Halloween but that would sure be fun.” Although the spiders have mostly fled, students should know what to do if they find one. First, students should not provoke them. Wolf spiders are not aggressive by nature, so they will try to stay away from people. Wolf spiders do not spin

webs, because of this, these spiders are constantly on the move. Finally, the most important thing to remember is that wolf spiders are venomous, but not lethal. Symptoms of a bite can include swelling, mild pain, itching and a possible fever. If a student is bitten by one of these spiders, they should visit the nurse immediately. “One of my friends went into the hallway and there was a spider,” Orzchowski said. “Most everyone walked away, but some of them stayed and were poking at it. I don’t know why, but a girl picked it up and it bit her finger. We had to walk her down to the nurse. It was burning her finger.” The worst of the eight-legged infiltration is over, and there are fewer and fewer spider found with each passing day. “It’s under control,” Lee said. “They’re really not that bad of a thing. They’re just big and scary, but they definitely keep things interesting [near the band room].”

One of the wolf spiders found on the wall of BV West near the band room entrance. Photo by Jaden Webster.

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The body issue Faculty and students give their opinions on the rise of the Body-positivity movement

08 news Hannah Cole

editor-in-chief

efore senior Katie Vanbeber entered high school, she remained unaware of the eating disorders and body-image issues that plague many individuals. However, as the pressures of perfection ensued, she witnessed her friends starve themselves to lose weight. “As we progressed in high school, a lot of my friends didn’t eat constantly or would go full days without eating, and they all got skinny,” Vanbeber said. Teenagers face pressure to conform to conventional beauty standards portrayed in the media, developing a damaging relationship with their body as a result. Meanwhile, body-positive activists attempt to destroy body shaming and the false idea that both boys and girls must conform to the idealized shape. From the Renaissance to modern times, people have manipulated paintings and pictures to represent the ideal body type of that era. In the 1500s, Hans Holbein allegedly exaggerated the beautiful features of Anne of Cleves, making her more appealing to men. In the 1930s, photographer George Hurrell and retoucher James Sharp spent six hours removing the wrinkles and erasing the spots from the actress Joan Crawford’s face. Cosmo Philippines slimmed the figures of “Riverdale” stars Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes in 2018. People continue to perpetuate the myth of perfection through photo-retouching apps like Facetune, which allows users to correct their imperfections. Since its initial release in March 2013, consumers have purchased and downloaded the app over 50 million times. Falsified beauty on social media, aided by photoshopping, and the pressure

to conform all lead to strained or disappearing self-confidence. Teacher Paige Mulvihill, a former club sponsor for REbeL, detailed her concern over the increasing emphasis placed on image. REbeL is a club designed to address eating and body-image concerns.

“They’re comparing themselves to the airbrushed photos, supermodels and people in photographs, which are unrealistic and it gets to a point where it’s unhealthy,” Mulvihill said. “There are so many people that struggle with eating disorders and body dysmorphia,” Mulvihill said. People, especially young and susceptible teens, are exposed to unrealistic standards early on. In an informal survey with 174 BV West students, the Spotlight found that 54 percent of teens feel more insecure about their physical appearance after spending time on social media, and 53 percent have or know someone who suffers from an

eating disorder. “Aside from those physically dangerous iterations of their feelings, there is a general depression and self-hatred that goes along with [body-image issues],” Mulvihill said. “It ruins your life and keeps you from certain opportunities.” According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, young people exposed to these misleading depictions of beauty are then more likely to seek cosmetic surgery later in life. The study revealed that teens who apply Snapchat filters or regularly use Instagram are more likely to undergo cosmetic surgery compared to nonusers. Young people do not always hear rhetoric from society or their peers that emphasizes natural beauty and self-confidence. Some students might even encourage insecurities through crude comments. “People fat-shame girls a lot,” Vanbeber said. “I hear girls being called ‘whales’ and ‘cows.’ That’s only some people, but the majority are nice.” This rise in photo-editing and low self-confidence among individuals then spurred a new body-positive movement that stems from activists reclaiming social media platforms. Body-positive models received a slew of support for their body acceptance and appreciation for all sizes. Vanbeber became inspired as well, starting her own website called Love Your Body KC, to raise awareness about body-image issues and eating disorders. After the body issue gained prevalence, the pioneers of the movement continued to spread the idea of size-inclusivity and self-love.

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The body-positivity campaign later encouraged new marketing methods in both the clothing and beauty industries. For example, apparel brands like Aerie and Savage X Fenty feature models of different weights and waistlines. The beauty industry attributes this shift to the Fenty effect, which denotes the breakthrough in product offerings that occurred in September 2017 when Rihanna launched 50 new shades of the Fenty Beauty foundation. The release inspired other companies to create a broader makeup selection for people of color. Both drugstore and high-end brands are now pushing for inclusive marketing, targeting wider audiences with diverse body and skin types. “I think [brands] are moving in the right direction to be more inclusive,” said Revlon Assistant Brand Manager, Erica Mackenzie.

“I think it’s part of the larger trend of inclusivity, and from my marketing perspective, we see that with skin tone ringing ranges,” Mackenzie said.

The beauty industry is not only emphasizing a broader range of makeup tones, but they are also featuring a diverse group of skin colors and body types in their campaigns. Revlon recently hired plus-size model Ashley Graham, actress Gal Gadot and other body-positive activists for its Live Boldly campaign. The slogan inspires customers, regardless of size, race and gender, to be confident in every aspect of their lives. While these campaigns represent an effort in the beauty community to encourage self-love, some people might view it as a money-motivated, but still positive, marketing technique. “I’m always pleased when companies are using something like [body positivity] to market,” Mulvihill said. “For a long time, there weren’t all of these different shades for all these different people. How frustrating to go somewhere looking at a magazine and the colors don’t match you, or nobody looks like you. That feels like people don’t think I’m beautiful.” Many trends and campaigns attempt to solve the issues people encounter on their journey to body positivity. Eating disorders and rampant photoshopping experienced pushback from body-positive activists and beauty or fashion brands, all encouraging confidence and self-love instead. However, body positivity may remain unattainable, at the moment, for many people. To compensate for the struggle to love one’s body, individuals turn to the upcoming body-neutrality movement, which emphasizes the mind and health rather than physical appearance. “I think that people over think

Use this QR code to visit Katie’s website, Love Your Body KC! [body positivity],” Vanbeber said. “If people said ‘OK, this is my body, and I’m doing my best to keep it healthy,’ then that’s the best they can do.” Vanbeber wants to normalize all body types and emphasize wellness rather than societal beauty standards. After witnessing the painful effects of social media and impossible body goals, she said she felt that as a school and community, we should work to educate each other and destigmatize body-image issues. According to the Spotlight survey, 81 percent of BV West students agree with Vanbeber and think that the lack of confidence among young guys and girls needs a broader discussion in schools and among peers. “You’re not alone,” Vanbeber said. “I’ve realized that so many people close to me are either insecure about being too fat or too skinny. They don’t have regular eating patterns or starve themselves. It’s a lot more common than you think, and it’s not as taboo to talk about as people make it seem.”

sports

FALL SPORTS

WRAP-UP XC

FT BL

Boy & Girls Statebound Nov. 2-Rim Rock Lawrence, KS Photo by Tristyn Kaeb

Regionals Girls 2nd / Boys 3rd East Kansas League Girls 2nd / Boys 5th

Photo by Avery Peterson

Regular Season 5-3 Play Off Game 1 SMW Fri., Nov. 1 @ 7 p.m.

TNS

GLF Julia Misemer State Champ Oct. 15-KMBC Athlete o/t Week

Wichita Collegiate Tournament Champs Photo by Libby Schwabauer

State Gwyn Gifford - 7th

VBL

Photo by Ally Townsend

State Molly Foster & Julia Misemer Regionals 4th

SCR

Manhattan Tournament Champs Photo by Avery Peterson

Regular Season 21-14 Sub-State Runner-Up

Information gathered from KSHSAA.com and team Twitter accounts.

Fat Cat Champs Big Cat Champs Belton ShootOut Champs Sept. 15-Fox4 Photo by Austen Nordstrom Team o/t Week Regular Season 11-4-1 Regional Game 1 vs. Mill Valley Oct. 28, 4:30 p.m. Antioch DAC

sports

CUMMINGS’ COMEBACK evan schmidt

reporter

Senior Riley Cummings scores a touchdown on Sept. 26 against BV North. The Jags beat BV North 25-18. Photo by Reese Wheeler

Senior remains confident after injuries and posts record-breaking stats

or many students, a single injury would knock them out for a sports season. Two season-ending injuries in backto-back years would end their careers. Senior football player Riley Cummings was an exception to the norm. Cummings recovered from his injuries and is starting his final year of high school with unprecedented success. In 2017, Cummings’ sophomore season ended prematurely when he separated his shoulder in a game against St. Thomas Aquinas High School. In 2018, during the first game of the season against Mill Valley High School, Cummings tore his meniscus. His junior season ended before it had gotten started.

“It wasn’t fun. It kind of sucked but I supported my team the whole year,” Cummings said. “I went to physical therapy to just try to bend my knee. Once I could put weight on it, I did physical therapy for around five months.” Despite the difficulties of his injuries, Cummings chose to not let them bring him down. He continued to attend his team’s practices and games, cheering them on from his wheelchair. Coach Josh Koerkenmeier noted Cummings’ perseverance. “There’s a sense of feeling sorry for yourself. There’s a sense of anger,” Koerkenmeier said. “All of the players have to deal with that mentally and he did a really good job of working through that, overcoming it and having a really

positive energy for our team even though he wasn’t able to play.” Cummings wanted to play his senior season to set a foundation for a potential college career. “He did a really good job trying to rehab his knee but also trying to be there,” Koerkenmeier said. “He worked hard to come back from those injuries and having the success he’s having this year, it’s just awesome watching him play.” The team is having success with five wins and three losses. Cummings scored 12 touchdowns in the last eight games and has scored 67 points. Cummings is proud of the team and their hard work. “It feels good to be back.” Cummings said.

sports

RECRUITMENT NIGHTMARE NIGHTMARE Perception of athlete recruitment creates conflict between public and private schools Kolbie Christensen

reporter

ports are a large part of high school culture. Friday night lights, team dinners, volleyball spikes, wrestlers making weight, swimmer’s early morning practice; each tradition impacts the feel and rhythm of a school. The feeling of competing with childhood friends for a league or State championship cannot be replicated. The traditional high school athletic experience is disrupted when winning takes precedence over friendship or school loyalty. Athletes looking for winning programs are lured away from their home public schools by dreams of scholarships and winning seasons by area private schools like Bishop Miege High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Excitement under the bright Friday night lights, with the student section filled to the brim, is only real in the movies and television series. Although the action in the stands might be fun, the action on the field represents controversy for teams in the East Kansas League and within the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Some schools have petitioned to change leagues. The KSHSAA minutes from Sept. 18, 2019 show a proposal was made to create separate postseason tournaments for public and private schools for football. Private schools can exist only if

they recruit public school students. Local private schools, along with others across the state, have been rumored to expand their recruiting practices to seek out players from a variety of sports and offer them scholarships.

“I don’t think its fair because schools who don’t have the ability to recruit have to be matched up against teams who are significantly bigger, faster and stronger,”

Olthoff said Recruitment is not a new phenomenon in the sports world, but it’s not something expected to happen on the high school level. Player recruitment is a practice borrowed from college athletics. Senior football player Luke Olthoff believes that recruitment

happens in a variety of sports. “I don’t think it’s fair because schools who do not have the ability to recruit have to be matched up against teams who are sometimes significantly bigger, faster and stronger.” Olthoff said. Bishop Miege High School has a reputation for recruiting. Spotlight reached out to their head football coach, Jon Holmes, he declined to comment. “Thanks for reaching out,” Holmes said. “All of these types of questions are handled by our administrators. ” Spotlight attempted to reach the Miege athletics director and principal as well. Neither returned emails or phone calls. While a lack of communication does not equate to an admission of recruiting athletes, in July 2019 Holmes shared a picture of their summer recruitment camp on Twitter. That post included photos of boys working, enjoying a picnic and watching a firework show. As the topic of recruitment accelerates, coaches, fans and players are asking more questions about what can be done. Mark Lentz, the assistant executive director of KSHSAA, is in charge of and oversees the football leagues for the high schools. “[We are] an association of the schools that are members [of the

KSHSAA],” Lentz said. “Each school who chooses to be a member of the association has a direct voice in governing the association. The association was developed to serve students by providing leadership for the administration of education based interscholastic activities.” The KSHSAA plays a role in all sports and many activities. The issue of unprecedented success, like that enjoyed by Bishop Miege who has won more than 100 4A State Championships, means other schools will continue to petition for a more fair playing field for their students. The idea of adding a “multiplier” was discussed in the Kansas City Star in 2017 when the athletic director for Paola High School addressed the problem. School classifications are determined by enrollment. A multiplier would add an assigned percentage to private schools placing them in a higher classification. The multiplier rule was never implemented. The latest plan brought into consideration is the separation of private and public schools which caused campaigning for and against the proposal. “Representatives of the private schools spoke against the proposal, just as some representatives from public schools spoke in favor of the proposal,” Lentz said. Both sides vied for what they wanted and what they thought was in the best interest for the schools. The Blue Valley School District petitioned to join the Sunflower League that has no private schools. The district was rejected. Although Miege coaches and administrators passed on an interview, St. Thomas Aquinas administrator, Sarah Burgess, agreed to a discussion. Burgess has worked at Aquinas for twenty one years as the athletics director and is in charge of organizing games and transportation for STA. Burgess acknowledged that Aquinas was aware of the possibility

of the new rules separating the public and private schools but questioned the fairness. “I didn’t think it was a realistic idea,” Burgess said. Despite the rumors, speculation, and huge turnarounds in their football and cross country programs, STA holds that they do not recruit athletes away from other schools. Burgess noted that their school does not offer scholarships and does not actively recruit students from other schools in the area. “It couldn’t be further from the truth,” Burgess said. “We market to our school and recruit our students. Saint Thomas Aquinas is no different than any other school in the sense that each school has a speciality for their sports, and ours is football. Our coaching staff is what draws the student athletes to the school, no one is recruited or asked to join the team.” In order to inspire future students to enroll or join their teams, STA, like Miege, holds open houses where eighth graders can shadow enrolled students. The goal is to show what the school is like and hopefully persuade them to come to attend. “I don’t know why nothing has been done, but I hope they do something soon.” Olthoff said. The mission statement of KSHSAA states that they “serve students by providing leadership for the administration of education based interscholastic activities.” Leadership implies an assurance of fairness for all schools, students and athletes. The Sept. 2019 minutes recorded the rejection of the separation of the public and private schools. Yet, the amount of time a transfer student would have to refrain from participation was increased to one year from 18 weeks. More then 282 students were denied eligibility under transfers rules, yet there are individuals wondering why reality and the rules contradict.

Information gathered from KSHSAA.com

sports

CATHOLIC CHAMPS

Excellence or Unethical? Miege 2019 4A Girls Basketball 2018 4A Volleyball 4A Boys Soccer 4A Girls Soccer 4A Boys Basketball 4A Football 2017 5-1A Girls Swim 4A Boys Soccer 4A Girls Soccer 4A Boys Basketball 4a Girls Basketball 4A Football 2016 4a Boys Soccer 4a girls soccer 4A Girls Basketball 4A Boys Basketball 4A Football STA 2019 5-1A Girls Swim 5A Girls basketball 2018 5A Football 5a Girls XC 5A Boys XC 5A girls Basketball 2017 5A Boys XC 5A Boys Track 5A Girls Basketball 2016 5A Boys XC 5A Girls XC 5A Boys Track 5A Girls baskeetball 5A Baseball

halloween

Halloween Horror Stories

Aminah Syed

reporter

Lucas park reporter These spooky horror stories, both real and fictional, will have you shaking in your boots

he first fictional story is by editor-in-chief Hannah Cole. Inspired by the book In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, Cole details the story of a little girl who wanders in the dark on Halloween. The little girl walked through the woods at night. The fall breeze whistled and rustled the leaves as the sound of children floated in the air. It was Halloween night and people everywhere celebrated. As the girl walked deeper and deeper into the trees, the laughter and “trick or treats!” slowly disappeared. While wandering mindlessly, the girl stumbled into a dark house. Intrigued by the eerie building, she decided to proceed inside. The floors

creaked but no one stirred within the home. Still entranced by the house’s creepy aura, she roamed further and further down the hallways. She opened and closed the doors, curious as to what objects sat upon the shelves until she paused before a dark room. She gripped t h e handle a n d entered, only to notice a mysterious closet. Unable to halt her naive wonder and affinity for mystery, she opened the closet to reveal a secret cupboard.

The girl had not experienced any consequences to her childish exploration. Though she walked into a stranger’s house and opened numerous rooms and closets without any consideration for the owner, she remained fascinated by the suspense and oblivious to the risk. As she reached for the cupboard, her hands shook and her breathing quickened. She began to question whether her actions were dangerous but ultimately decided that the mystery remained more important. The cupboard creaked ajar and the girl peered inside. Boo! A ghost.

The children woke with a cry when they laid their eyes upon the beast that stared back at them. As they were screaming, they fled the bedroom in pure fright of the monstrous creature. But, after the children left the bedroom, the monster breaks the 4th wall and looks at everyone reading this story. He proceeds to exclaim that he isn’t the true monster. The true beast lies in the world and in evils that can be committed from ignorance or pure hate. To combat these evils, he says, one must ‘join clubs like Diversity or So-

cial Justice to take a stand against inequity.’ Though the story isn’t a traditional horror story, it certainly has a twist that would arguably catch most people off g u a r d . Senior Michael Liu both hopes to entertain and inform students w h o read his “horrific” tale.

he second fictional story, told by senior Michael Liu, holds an unexpected twist. Liu’s story is inspired by his childhood imagination as well as his current high school humor. The story begins in a bedroom with two children asleep, but little do they know, beneath their beds lay a monster. The monster crept and crawled underneath the children as they slept, filled with hunger. The monster saw its chance to jump out from underneath the bed and reach one of its claw-tipped hands at the children.

halloween

hese next stories are written about real events. In popular culture, children are often portrayed with special gifts, such as seeing the dead. This is seen everywhere in movies and novels like The Shining or The Sixth Sense. Their eerie abilities inspired Anna Dunn’s chilling story about her youngest daughter that possibly proves these supernatural baby phenomenons to be true.

“When she was a baby, every day, I would go into her room and get her up in the morning,” Dunn said. “I would change her diaper on her changing table and while I was changing her diaper, she would always look behind me and point up in the corner where the ceiling and the wall met.” Dunn’s baby continued this every day but every time she looked, there was never anything in the

corner. “There were no pictures, nothing,” Dunn said. “It was a completely blank space and then one day, I was carrying her out of the room. She was looking at the same spot and she smiled and said, ‘bye.’” Though Dunn’s baby might have been talking to an imaginary friend or was simply babbling, her actions spooked Dunn. The baby’s actions suggest something otherworldly.

scavenge for objects to sell at his booth, merely to make ends meet. One night, in the late 1980s, Vanbeber’s mother decided to come to the store with her friend. Her mother and her friend walked in. The recent news in the town was that a “satanist man” was terrorizing the area. When the two women talked about the subject, the cashier, Berdella, overheard the conversation. He argued with the women, suggesting that they told the story all wrong and that the killer was just trying to have a good time. The man asserted that the satanist accusations were incorrect as well. The women left the store and the next day, the news reported another kidnapping by the “Butcher.” It’s now known that Bob Berdella, the own-

er of and cashier at the store, was the Kansas City Butcher. In subsequent years, Berdella befriended his fellow merchant Paul Howell. His son, Jerry Howell, would be Berdella’s first victim who he kidnapped after promising to drive him to a dance competition. Berdella eventually murdered him. Berdella had five more victims before the last one escaped and told the police. He received life in prison with no parole after pleading guilty to first and second-degree murder. He then died, still imprisoned, from a heart attack in 1992.

enior Katie Vanbeber told the haunting story about her mother’s encounter with the Kansas City Butcher in the 1980s. As a kid, Bob Berdella had a speech impediment, extremely thick glasses and high blood pressure which caused him to be on many medications. His father felt very passionate about sports, but Berdella was very unathletic due to the many health problems that he suffered from. His father constantly abused Berdella physically and mentally, which drove him to bully other kids at school. Berdella later owned and maintained his own store called “Bob’s Bazaar Bizarre”, which had mediocre success through the trading and selling of primitive art, antiques and jewelry. He often had to steal and

18 feature

MEETING in the

MIDDLE

Kevin Glenn reporter

Foreign Exchange students Rike Röpken, Germany, and Miyu Shimabukuro, Japan, traveled across the world to attend high school here

Miyu shimabukuro

rike ropken

Okinawa, Japan

Kiel, Germany

7,152 mi.

4, 607 mi.

“We don’t have basements in Japan. We take off our shoes when we enter the house. We don’t have a fireplace.”

Not in Kansas

“I feel like everything here is different compared to my home country. The people, the school, the food and a lot more.”

FOOD FAVS pancakes

sushi pizza

home favs kazoku tomodachi

familie freundinnen

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ODA Y T L W O B R O O IT R R U B A IN T R Y IT

20 feature

We the Students New and old clubs encourage students to get involved in politics Jillian Dunlay

hroughout the large variety of extracurricular activities at BV West, one prominent passion among students is politics. There are multiple opportunities for those students who are interested in politics to educate themselves and to broaden their political perspectives.

Junior State of America Junior State of America (JSA) is a club that was just established in the 2019-2020 school year. The club encourages political awareness and participation among young Americans. “JSA is a national organization,” senior JSA President Payton Lujin said. “We debate and discuss political topics, have speakers from the local government and promote civic engagement.” Lujin felt motivated to create a BV West chapter of JSA because of her own interest in politics, and she hopes to share this with her peers. “CJ Pfanstiel and I established the club because we both have a passion for politics,” Lujin said. “[We] wanted to create a club that would provide an opportunity for others to discover their passion as well.” According to the organization’s website, the JSA values consist of leadership, empowerment, accountability, diversity and inclusion. As a club member, students exhibit these values through fun and engaging political activities. “Club members get to participate in informal debates [and] hear from speakers,” Lujin said. “[You also]

reporter

grow your overall understanding of politics and the government.”

“We debate and discuss political topics, have speakers from the local government, and promote civic engagement,”

Lujin said. While the club is new, Lujin hopes to see its membership grow in the years to come and urges students to get involved in JSA. “Students should join because it’s important that everyone has an understanding of politics and government in order to be informed voters, which is essential in a democracy,” Lujin said. “It’s also a great way to hear different perspectives on issues and voice your opinion.” JSA meets twice a month in room 370 during JAG session A. Students of all grade levels are welcome.

Rho Kappa Rho Kappa is the National Social Studies Honor Society. The club provides high-achieving students with a platform to pursue academic excellence in areas such as history, government and politics. “Rho Kappa helps to get students involved in social studies related

activities, which in turn can increase their political involvement,” Rho Kappa Historian Brian Balquist said. “By better understanding history and the social studies in general, Rho Kappa hopes to create well-rounded students, which also creates more educated students who hopefully vote.” Rho Kappa has specific requirements that students must meet in order to become a member. Once a student is accepted into the society, they must earn a total of 15 points by completing Rho Kappa activities to maintain membership. “You must be an upperclassmen with good grades both overall and in your social studies courses,” Rho Kappa President CJ Pfanstiel said. “Once admitted into the society, members have the opportunity to come to meetings to learn more about history and to get involved with political campaigns, speaker visits, and other events Rho Kappa makes available.” Although politics is not its sole focus, Rho Kappa makes a significant effort to foster political involvement in its members. “Rho Kappa has slated significant political figures to come speak for Rho Kappa’s members, from Mr. Tenpenny, a Senator Roberts staff person, to Congressional representative Sharice Davids,” Pfanstiel said. “We also move to promote political presented campaign activities, including a campaign for Congressional hopeful Amanda Adkins.”

feature With its many different activities to develop a knowledge of social studies, Rho Kappa helps its members hone a love of learning about history and government while making memories with their peers. “Other students should join Rho Kappa because it’s fun,” Balquist said. “The meetings are lighthearted, the executive board is hardworking and Rho Kappa can provide valuable experiences for anyone interested in social studies and politics.” Rho Kappa meets frequently throughout the school year. Applications to join are closed for this school year, but interested sophomores and juniors may apply next year.

The Stats According to a survey of 16,000 high school students from the National Society of High School Scholars, Generation Z plans to take politics by storm.

83% Plan to be involved in politics

97% Plan to vote in the 2020 election

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Late Start Coffee Review

The definitive guide to help caffienate BV West students and faculty. Rae Zimmerli

editor-in-chief

McDonald’s

he caramel mocha from McDonald’s is rich yet not overly sweet. The caramel was well balanced in its ratio with the coffee. It was hard to initially taste it due to the temperature of the coffee, though after the drink cooled off, it was enjoyable. There is a very small menu of

Kyler Murphy

reporter

caffeinated drinks at McDonald’s with mostly the same flavors present in all of them, but that common flavor is tasty. The wait time in the drive through was not bad and only took around three to five minutes. It was one of the cheapest coffees tested and customers get what they

paid for, with the coffee being a lower quality compared to the other options. It’s a decent place to get coffee on a late start morning.

Time spent in line: 3 min Distance from school: 10 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

Revocup

he milky way specialty drink at Revocup was the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. The drink is comprised of coffee mixed with dark chocolate and caramel. It maintains the little kick of bitterness while not becoming too sweet. Though Revocup does not have a

drive through, the overall experience was enhanced by going inside. The atmosphere was surprisingly friendly and warm, with lots of comfortable places to sit and customers chatting while they waited. However, students may notice that they are the youngest ones in the coffee

shop by a couple of decades. Revocup is the perfect place for late start coffee, however it is the furthest away so student should leave plenty of time if they plan on visiting.

Time spent in line: 5 min Distance from school: 15 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

Starbucks

he hot caramel macchiato from Starbucks was very bitter and the mixin options were not made clear on the menu. Customers need to know that they can add sweetness or flavor. This works well for coffee connoisseurs but not for the average person. The gigantic

menu can be daunting for them as well. The wait time in the drive through was five minutes, however, customers can reduce that if they download the app and order ahead. If students wish to study in the morning, Starbucks is a great space for that. The only downside is the ridiculous

price of the coffee compared to the other places tested in the review. Starbucks is well worth the money if the customer knows they will like the drink but with the huge menu, individuals can be hard pressed to find their favorite.

Time spent in line: 7 min Distance from school: 5 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

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Caribou Coffee

aribou Coffee’s drinks are overwhelmingly sweet, especially the dark chocolate campfire mocha. While there is nothing wrong with a sweet drink, it’s important to know beforehand. Caribou does offer a choice of different chocolates that its customers can

choose from to change the level of sweetness in their drinks. The drink prices were not necessarily modest, but certainly not the most expensive. The closest Caribou Coffee to BV West is located on 135th street, so students should allot more time if they plan on visiting the store

and going in the drive thru.. However, the wait was incredibly short. If customers wish to sit inside the store to enjoy their drink, the environment is comfortable but almost too quiet. Overall, Caribou makes a decent stop for late start coffee.

Time spent in line: 3 min Distance from school: 10 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

Dunkin’

here Caribou Coffee was particularly sweet, Dunkin’ was the opposite. The hot caramel macchiato was especially bitter. If the coffee did not contain caramel, it would be very difficult to drink. The coffee certainly did not taste bad, but it was a stiff punch to

the face for a calm, late start morning. Overall, the drinks were moderately priced and customers get what they pay for. The inside of the restaurant was busy and loud, so students probably should not plan on studying or chatting with friends there. Instead, the drive through is the bet-

ter choice. The line moves on the slow side but Dunkin’ is fairly close to school so students should not have to get up early to get their coffee. Dunkin’ is not a bad place to stop for coffee before school, especially because of the app that provides deals and the chance to order ahead.

Time spent in line: 10 min Distance from school: 5 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

Roasterie

he school store, The Spot, sells Roasterie coffee for teachers and students alike to get a caffeine boost on late start mornings. The drink is selfserve and it only has one kind of coffee for individuals to purchase. The customers tailor their drinks them-

selves with the different mix -ins provided by The Spot for free. This is fantastic for customers who know what they in their coffee, but for those who aren’t sure of what they like, it can be overwhelming. It’s a nice idea for customers to put their drink together, however, the table of mix-ins

becomes picked over as the morning goes on. The coffee itself was particularly bitter which diminished the experience. If customers don’t arrive early to get all the mixins, the coffee itself is not worth the money.

Time spent in line: 0 min Distance from school: 0 min Price: $$$ Drive Thru:

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Rise of Students find notoriety on popular Social Media app Ally Madden reporter reporter Kiley Peterson

ikTok has officially taken the world by storm. As a combination of two popular apps, Musical.ly and Vine, TikTok’s 15 to 60 second videos range from dance trends and acting, to magic tricks and comedy. Students across grades create these videos for a laugh with friends, but others strive to get on the “for you” page, a special section for the most popular videos. BV West hosts students with diverse talents, including some popular “TikTokers.” Among the famous are junior Berit Jones with 28.5K followers, senior Chase Clausius with 21.7K followers and junior Bettye Igbenebor with 27.1K followers. During its early years, Musical.ly was an app mostly used for lip-syncing to songs. Yet, with only a single type of content, Musical.ly’s popularity began to falter. However, people realized that Vine, a similar app for creating funny six-second videos, had much success for a short period of time before it folded. Musical.ly was then purchased by a Beijing-based tech company called ByteDance, creating a unique combination of the comical and artistic qualities. This was the birth of TikTok. The app became and continues to be popular because of its diverse content. Both girls and boys enjoy learning fast-paced dances with their friends, replicating them and posting the videos in hopes of getting likes. Others prefer relatable memes about failing grades or difficult classes. Once something finds popularity on the app, many others take the idea of one TikTok and

turn the concept into a trend. TikTok offers a great outlet for students, as school causes stress. When opening TikTok, there will be a guaranteed laugh on the other side, which can instantly brighten someone’s day. Trends and viral videos will come and go, but based on its current success rate, TikTok appears to be here for the long run.

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ous, ecome fam b to g n lo take it doesn’t . For some, one video s that ly n w TikTok take o fe n a a c g it in t, k c ma video in fa posted [a famous by “I e . m id a a c s e r b “I well ebo times, as ds,” Igben le n p e u tr o c d e a w ilish a lot.” follo ng Billie E y all blew up quite ti e e m e varithe of] m tform, the haul and g la p in s u th o lo c m nor as a ok is an e Since TikT ou see can differ. funny nt y pp is how a te e n o th c t f u o abo ety for eneally like o-to app r g I a t a e h k li “W It’s watch on there. ideos and v is e k e a n o m y r n to eve e thing t and it’s fu r said. “My favorit ause n e m in ta ter ebo ideos] bec up,” Igben of-view [v tin them blow o p e Tok is th nny.” about Tik ys really fu a lw a e ’r y the

Berit Jon es “I have h is no stranger to a TikTok. d it sinc said. “I b ecame fa e December of la m st year,” videos a Jones bout my ous because of o ne of m Lululem famous y viral on colle people u ctio sed my id trend.” ea so I k n, and other ind of sta Jones sa rted a id that T people to ikTok is a platfor enhance m their cre “My favo ativity th that inspires r it e th r in ough vid friends eos. and watc g is making fun v h id ing othe how it’s eos with r people kind of my ’s TikTo eas makes it ks, and more fun y to get famou s, becau .” Jone Jones als se that o said th s said. because a t s h e likes th you can see so m e for yo u any diffe rent vide page, os.

opinion

New

Natalie Fiorella managing editor The ACT announced three new changes to their test starting next September

he ACT is one of the two national tests that students take for college admittance. The two hour and 55 minute test covers four subject areas: Reading, English, Math and Science. Students are scored in each section on a scale from one to 36, which are then averaged together to reach a final score following the same scale. In early October, the ACT announced that starting in September 2020, they will provide students with the option to retake specific sections, rather than retake the entire test. This announcement comes after the other standardized test, the SAT, dethroned the ACT as the most widely taken exam in the nation in 2018. However, the ACT is still the more popular of the two in the Midwest, according to Study Point. Many colleges are now choosing to be test-optional, which might hurt both the ACT and SAT. Over 1,050 accredited colleges that award bachelor’s degrees have now become testoptional, according to the Washington Post. While most of these colleges do not have competitive admissions, top-ranked institutions such as the University of Chicago and American University changed their requirements so that applicants can choose whether sending testing scores will help or hurt them. Regardless of the reason for this change, it is revolutionary in college admissions, given how many high school students take the ACT for college. However, many students still work rigorously to achieve their desired score and hopefully gain admission to their dream school. Not many people are strong in all

subjects, meaning their total composite score might suffer because of that. Now that students can retake specific sections, those that are weaker in certain subjects have a chance to raise their composite score. Senior Tarini Talagadadeevi took the ACT six times, first getting a 26 but finishing with a 35. Similar to many students who retake the ACT, she was motivated to get more scholarships to help pay for college. As someone who took the full test several times, Talagadadeevi knows firsthand how stressful the test can be and how beneficial section retesting will be. “I think it’ll help decrease stress levels a lot because I know that I struggled with knowing what to study for,” Talagadadeevi said. “They only need to study for one subject at a time instead of having to study for four.” Talagadadeevi predicts this change will alter how people view the test as well. “People won’t be as intimidated by [the ACT], because there’s always the possibility of redoing sections,” Talagadadeevi said. “Which isn’t as much work as retaking the entire test.” Talagadadeevi, like anyone else who has taken the ACT, is somewhat frustrated about this new change. Without section retesting, the ACT presents a huge challenge and every time students fall short of their goal, they must restart all over again. “I just feel like it’s somewhat unfair to people who have taken it as full test in the years before,” Talagadadeevi said. “But overall it’s a great new change.” Talagadadeevi is not the only student who took the ACT several times.

Reading 35 minutes 40 questions Average national score: 21.3

english 45 minutes 75 questions Average national score: 20.3

opinion

Changes math 60 minutes 60 questions Average national score: 20.8

Science 35 minutes 40 questions Average national score: 20.8

Senior Riley England took the test five times and agrees that these new changes will have many advantages. “I think the stress levels could decrease, people wouldn’t have to waste practically a whole Saturday,” England said. “Mental fatigue from testing for hours straight could lower overall focus and score improvement.” However, England anticipates the ability to retake sections will have a few disadvantages as well. “The tests could become harder because it will get easier for students to score higher on each section, then raising the average score.” England said. In addition, as the test becomes easier, it might also decrease in prestige and look less impressive to colleges. The modification certainly has more advantages than disadvantages. The debate and ACT test prep teacher, Ann Goodson, weighed in on the benefits of this modification. “I think it’s great to allow kids to isolate the areas where they struggle and retake just those sections,” Goodson said. “It should allow kids to strategize and spend their time studying more meaningfully rather than needing to retake the entire test, and therefore study for the entire test, each time.” As for the changes being unfair to past testers, Goodson understands where they are coming from but sees this new alteration as a good policy overall. “I think this change is what is best for students,” Goodson said. “It might be a little frustrating to those who haven’t enjoyed the new policy yet, but overall we’re moving in the right direction and that’s good!” Goodson has high hopes for the future of standardized tests now that

the ACT has made these changes. “I hope it will make kids less stressed because it will allow them to focus just on areas of the test where they need improvement,” Goodson said, “and not feel overwhelmed at needing to retake the whole thing.” Goodson believes this will benefit every student who takes the ACT. This includes first-generation college students, kids living in poverty and others. A primary reason colleges initially changed to test-optional, stemmed from kids who could not afford tutors or multiple retakes. Hopefully, this modification will allow the playing field to level. “Any time you make the college admissions process easier and more accessible, it will help vulnerable populations the most, but overall I see this policy shift being good for all kids.” Goodson said. Along with the section retesting, the ACT announced two other new options starting next Sept. First, students can send Superscores to colleges. Superscoring is accepted by some colleges, but next year, the ACT will be calculating the score for students. The practice helps by allowing students to pick their best sections and add them together to create a higher composite score. The ACT is also offering an online test. The ACT promises that students will receive their multiple-choice test results and the composite score as early as two business days after the test date. This will help students make more timely decisions about whether they want to test again. All of these changes will make the ACT testing experience less stressful for individuals and ultimately prove helpful for many people.

28 photo essay

FASHION F

Kiley Peterson reporter These BV West students aren’t afraid to show off their style and be themselves at school Photos by Rae Zimmerli Sophomore Mimi Vanbeber

Junior Sarah

Senior Avery McLaughlin

Habib

Freshman Deven Cooper

“Fashion is one of the best ways to express yourself. it gives people their first impression of you,” Vanbeber said. Senior Jack Legate

Junior Darreyln Dollar

photo essay Sophomore Zach Younes

Sophomore Morgan Winner

Junior Ella Burke

Senior Kate Neil

These students dress for success as they come to school expressing their own style. Fashion can be a way to show who you are. Junior Leah Brokaw

30 interactive

The perfect halloween party Kolbie Christensen

1. Verb 2. Plural Noun 3. Plural Noun 4. Verb Ending in -ing 5. Adjective 6. Adjective 7. Adjective 8. Noun 9. Verb 10. Adverb 11. Adjective 12. Noun 13. Plural Noun 14. Adjective 15. Adjective 16. Part of the Body 17. Adjective 18. Adjective

h yes, Fall. Who doesn’t 1._____that time of year when the weather gets chilly and the 2._____ starts to change. Halloween is a time for carving 3._____, 4._____ candy, and most importantly throwing a/ an 5.______ Halloween party. Halloween parties are definitely 6._____, but getting ready for them can be stressful. However, as long as you remain cool and 7._____, your 8._____ will be something everyone will 9._____. First of all, you must dress 10._____. Your costume must be 11._____ enough to ensure you are

reporter

19. Celebrity 20. Verb 21. Verb Ending in -ing 22. Person in the Room 23. Verb 24. Number 25. Plural Noun 26. Part of the Body 27. Verb 28. Noun 29. Plural Noun 30. Noun 31. Adjective 32. Adjective 33. Noun 34. Verb 35. Plural Noun 36. Adverb 37. Noun the 12._____ of the party. Classic costumes such as vampires and 13._____ are always a hit, and keep in mind that comfort is 14._____. This will be an 15._____ evening, and you don’t want your 16._____ to be sore later. The invite list is also an 17._____ part. Ideally, you probably would want someone 18._____ like 19_____. If that person can’t 20._____, 21._____ someone like 22._____ in the room would also work, but just make sure they don’t 23._____ too much and a have a repeat of last year. Make sure they don’t have 24._____ 25._____

so you don’t wind up spending the entire party holding their 26._____ back as they 27._____ all over the 28._____. Remember that you’re the host and other 29._____ need your 30._____too. Just keep being friendly and 31._____, and you provide plenty of 32._____ music and some delicious 33._____, your guests will 34._____ you. If you follow these tips, your 35._____ will 36._____ come back in December for your 37._____ party.

Hannah Cole

editor-in-chief

reporter

Stargazing

Aminah Syed

In a dark, dark house

comic

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