Feb Spotlight 2016

SPOTLIGHT Feb. 3, 2016

Blue Valley West High School, 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kansas, Vol. 15, Issue 4

REFLECTION pg. 14 SUPER BOWL ADS-LOCAL CONNECTION pg. 16 2006-A LOOK BACK PG. 18 PLASTIC SURGERY Pg. 19 BeAUTY STANDARDS AROUND THE WORLD Pg. 20 WAIT TO DATE Pg. 21 HOOKUP CULTURE Pg. 22 DATING VIOLENCE Pg. 23 SWEETHEART FLASHBACK pg. 29 AWARDS SEASON

Photo by Ryan Barrett

2 Contents 4 Editor’s Note 5 Beyond the Bubble 6 Citizenship Test 7 Ted Reinhardt 8 Tribute to Marty 10 Chinese New Year 11 Sports Briefs 14 Superbowl Ads 16 2006

24-25

CONTENTS 22

Dating violence is a reality most do not care to visit when it is close to Valentine’s Day but it is a problem some face on a continuing basis.

A Night at Hogwarts was a huge success as the culmination of Sweetheart Week. Spirit days were fun for many and led up to a well-received spirit assembly.

Photo by Spotlight staff

11-13

Winter sports are heading into their championship seasons. Find out how they’ve been doing and what their hopes are for the future. Photo by Julia Huebert

Contents 3

7

Spotlight’s Random Student Profile this month is of sophomore Ted Reinhardt.

Reinhardt’s story includes his love of golf, Catholic faith and good friend.

Photo courtesy Peyton Holland

26

With more than 3000 followers on Instagram, junior Payton Holland serves as a fashion icon and photographer’s inspiration.

Find out more and see her work in this issue.

Photo by Mikaela Schmitt

Photo courtesy Bella Mangan

14

BV West has a special connection to the Super Bowl (Feb. 7) through senior Bella Mangan.

Mangan’s father, Bryan, worked on the popular, Puppy Love commercial.

Budweiser promises an equally compelling commercial for this year’s game.

Plastic Surgery 18 Beauty Standards 19 Wait to Date 20 Hook-Up Culture 21 Dating Violence 22 Night at Hogwarts 23 Payton Holland 26 Awards Season 29 Comics 30 February Calendar 31

4 Editor’s Note

Spotlight Staff Carly McDonald

Editor’s Photo courtesy of Payton Holland

Note

Editor in Chief

Grace Lamar Leah Zimmerli

Managing Editors

Rebecca Abraham Ryan Barrett John Byrket Beth Gasser Shaye Herman Editorial Board

Reflections

T

he new year is a time for reflection at the past.

Traditionally, February is the month of love, heartache, passion, and crushes. Yet this month is more than Valentine’s day. From awards season, to the Super Bowl, to hookup culture and dating violence. February is a reflection of our culture and our values, seen and unseen.

Professor Margaret J. Wheatley once said “Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” Without reflection, the future can not hope to be better than the past. Thus the Spotlight decided to base this issue on the theme of Reflections, to avoid the pitfalls of going blindly into the new year.

Looking back may not always be easy, but it’s almost always necessary.

Until next issue, Carly McDonald, Editor-in-Chief

Jaden Dudrey Melissa Franano Mara Hennessy Stephen Kinder Madeleine C. Lewis Chloe Maher Alexis Melson Dana Nasr Jonah Park Mikaela Schmitt Alexa Turiello Contributors

Spotlight is printed six times a year for the BV West students and community. Its goals are to inform, entertain and interpret through editorials and bylined articles while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population and faculty members.

Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate and impartial. The content of the publication 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 opinion of the faculty adviser, the administration of Blue Valley West or USD 229.

European Union European Union (EU) Chief of Staff Brian Donald said to news outlets

Beyond the Bubble 5

that there are roughly 10,000 migrant children who are currently missing. Not all missing children are necessarily exploited, but it is clear that a criminal infrastructure has developed to exploit the flow of migrants into the EU. There are 26,000 unaccompanied minors coming from areas of conflict, and they are by far the group at most risk from criminal activity. Though the British Prime Minister has refused to take in 3,000 refugee children, the British government said they will take children from camps near Syria.

Bey nd the Bubble Carly McDonald Editor in Chief

Informing students about issues that take place beyond Johnson County’s borders

Damascus, Syria

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for bombings near a holy Islamic shrine that had special importance to Shiite Muslims.

At least 45 have been reported dead. The bombings come two days after Syrian peace talks in Geneva began between the Syrian government and several opposition parties; the Islamic State is not a part of the peace talks.

BRAZIL The Zika virus was first noticed in Brazil in 2015 and

has since spread to 22 countries.

Though not typically fatal, the Zika virus has caused concerns for its link with “microcephaly” , a birth defect where babies are born with underdeveloped brains and small heads. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) fears Zika’s impact on a global scale, with an estimated 4 million infected by the end of the year, it is unlikely to have a severe impact in the United States. Many young couples who live in a Zika infected area are now delaying becoming parents due to the outbreak and the fear of microcephaly, which is stressing abortion debates in countries like Brazil, that are especially antiabortion.

JAPAN In an attempt to stimulate their moderately stagnant economy, Japan

is introducing a negative interest rate, which will not directly affect ordinary customers, but will encourage commercial banks to invest and spend. This move is unprecedented for the world’s third largest economy, and some are unsure of how well the new policy will work.

6 Profile

The path to Citizenship Could students pass the same test that immigrants must master to become citizins?

Stephen Kinder Contributor

A

s this new year begins, one of the oldest problems in the United States is still hanging around to challenge the government and the people of the United States; immigration and citizenship.

Over the years, this problem has taken many forms in the country. Today, immigration is often seen on political ads, which refer to it as “broken.” Why is it always reappearing in history, and will it always be an issue?

The Immigration problem in the United States is a different than the other problems that appeared back in time. The United States’ status as a “nation of immigrants” is changing.

Because of the long lines of people waiting to get into the country, some people even say that it is too tedious or costly to get a citizenship.

When most people think of immigration costs, everybody always imagines a small feel to get in, and that will be the end of it.

The truth is, immigration has a lot of unexpected fees. Many people will need an immigration lawyer, which costs between $5000 to $7500; and with only 140,000 of these lawyers in the United States, the price they charge will only go up.

Thus, the qualifications are only getting higher for the coveted United States citizenship. This is because there is rigorous security screening, for terrorists and criminals. Before 9/11, the United States had some of the easiest requirements for citizenship. Now

in the post 9/11 United States, and the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Syrian refugees are no longer being accepted in 31 states; one of them being Kansas.

Before the San Bernardino attack, Overland Park used 1) Why does the US flag have 13 to be one of the cities in the stripes?

United States that accepted Syrian refugees. After the attack, 2) What are the two parts of the Governor Brownback decided US Congress? that no more refugees would be accepted into Kansas.

3) How many Supreme Court “We must take immediate action to ensure terrorists do not Justices are there? enter the nation or our state under the guise of refugee resettlement,” 4) If both the president and Brownback said in a statement vice-president can no longer on the issue. “We cannot allow serve, then who becomes an influx of Syrian refugees, president? without any meaningful security checks, while ISIS is promising to infiltrate the refugee process.”

5) What are two ways US While nobody knows where citizens can participate in their the path of immigration will go; democracy? there is no denying that it is a very grueling process to get into 6) What happened at the the country. Many speculate that Constitutional Convention? there many be more obstacles in the future for immigration, but in the end; the matter will be in the hands of the new president.

Could you pass a citizenship test? 1/3 Born Americans will not pass.

Feature 7

Photo by Mikaela Schmitt

Humans of Bv West Every student has a story

“I

WANT PEOPLE TO THINK OF ME as the guy that you can talk to, the guy that you can trust stuff with.” said Sophomore Ted Reinhardt, a dedicated student, golfer, Catholic, and friend.

The first thing people notice about Reinhardt is his hight. Standing tall at 6 feet 5 inches, he can seem intimidating, but he is really an exceptionally compassionate person.

“I’m pretty tall, and people see that as threatening, and they don’t really like to come up to me, but I am very open-minded and caring,” Reinhardt said. “I help my friends through a lot of problems. I hate how many times I’ve heard people dealing with really messed up situations.”

In school, Reinhardt is a focused and organized student.

“Routine kind of reflects organization on my part. I like being very organized.” Reinhardt said. “I’m taking AVID and my life really reflects my time there. AVID helps me organize my work and I’m thinking more strategically about my time.”

His focus also extends to other aspects of his life, including his love for sports.

“I am really passionate about sports, lately I’ve been focusing on golf. When I’m on the course I am totally in the zone. I go into this deep concentration,” Reinhardt said. “I swung my first club when I was nine, and my

Leah Zimmerli Managing Editor

dad helped me form my swing. I found out freshman year that golf is a great stress reliever. Whenever I get frustrated, I take a club and I go out in my backyard and I just swing as hard as I can because it feels really good. The golf course is one of my favorite places to be because it can be peaceful and it can be fun.”

Major influences on Reinhardt’s life include his family and friends.

“I have a really strong family life. My family is a really positive influence on me,” Reinhardt said. “I look up to some of my friends, I wish I could be like them more in how they are nice to everyone because, everyone has the moments where they just snap and become a different person. I wish I could keep a cool head all the time. My family has been a key factor in helping me to let some of that stuff go.”

Reinhardt’s faith plays a big part in shaping his values and outlook on life.

“My faith is a great outline for my morals.”

Reinhardt said. “My faith has taught me that you don’t have to show people a fake outside in order to fit in, because there are other people in your life who will greatly accept you for who you are. I have been blessed in my life to have those kind of people, like definitely my parents, youth pastors, and seminarians are there for me.”

8 Feature

Unsung heroes of bv west

Beth Gasser Editorial Board

Marty Oster is one of the many people that helps keep the school clean

A

fter most of the students leave school to continue their lives, some people are just beginning to arrive. They ensure that the school stays clean by waxing the floors, vacuuming the carpets, among a laundry list of other tasks.

These are the silent soldiers, who stay at the school until the wee hours of the morning. They are the custodians, one of them has made a special impact on the students in the Performing Arts hallway, his name is Marty Oster. Three years ago Oster was nominated by alum Erin Walker, who was a sophomore at the time, and was chosen to be the 2013 Sunflower Ambassador.

“It was a very odd day. I was given small tasks to do, which I did them, but just things that were meant to take time,” Oster said. “In the gym I was asked if I could turn off the lights. Then all of a sudden they called me up and I did not know what to do. I was very awkward; I did not know what to do. “ Oster did not have any custodial experience before coming to BV West.

“I was unemployed at the time and I just thought I’d give it a try. I had a job loading up trucks at the time and they called me up, and I thought ‘Well loading up trucks, I’m outside all the time, freezing.

So school’s inside, so I said, let’s go to school’. That’s the way I did it, I just told them ‘Bye, I got a job.”

Now Oster is the Night Assistant Lead and he has many jobs, one of which includes filling in for others when they are sick or just gone.

“Right now I clean up rooms, going from room to room. Dusting, high dusting, low dusting, changing light bulbs, vacuuming the floors, getting all the dust bunnies. My regular job is mostly doing the hallways, doing the floor machines up and down the hallway, but since people are gone I have to do their job, which would be dusting, vacuuming, sweeping.”

It is not all fun and games. The most challenging part of custodial work, especially for Oster, is trying to retain all of the information about the set up of the school.

“There’s just a lot of little things, like setting up things and trying to remember where everything goes, and stuff like that. When an alarm goes off, ‘What do I do?’ ‘How do I shut it off?’ or where it’s at. Not major stuff, but stuff that may happen one time and may not happen for another two years, and I’m supposed to retain that and I just think ‘Oh, darn’. That’s the challenging part, trying to memorize this, and where this is at, how this is set up, and all that.”

Another challenging part of the job for some might be the odd hours, but Oster is used to them.

“During the daytime I sleep. If I have a doctor’s appointment, I can go see the doctor, so that works out well. I have worked nights all my life so I’m used to it. It never bothered me, I’ve usually been on second or third shift my whole life. Very seldom do I ever get a day shift. I work from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., sometimes overtime, but not too much anymore.”

Feature 9

With freedom in the mornings and most of the weekend, unless there is an event going on, Oster has time for hobbies.

“That’s the bad thing, I don’t have any hobbies. Well I like auto racing, Nascar, watching it and going to races, but that’s about it. I don’t live an exciting life, I just like to keep it under the radar.”

Despite trying to keep everything under the radar, Oster enjoys many parts of the job, from the students to the teachers, and especially his boss.

“Whatever Albert tells me to do I do it. Since he’s my boss, whatever he tells me to do, I have to do it. He is a very good boss. He’s been in the district forever. I don’t know the exact time, but it’s been a while.”

Being a custodian is more than just cleaning and odd hours. His favorite part of his job is the social aspect.

“I like hanging around with the kids. Talking to them sometimes, or try to talk to them, the ones that I know real well. Some of the other kids and I can talk back and forth. I enjoy that, the communication part of it. I am not that good of a communicator or an articulator, or whatever you want to call it, but I try. But some of the kids I get along good with.”

“I like doing things for kids, I’m not a kid person, or at least I wasn’t but I am now. Before I started I didn’t have any kids, I wasn’t married. So when I first started here it was a scary experience. You have all of these kids that I don’t have any idea who they are or what they do. It was different, but slowly I got used to it, now they’re all like my little sons and daughters. I have my own little family of thousands of kids. I have a big family.”

Marty Oster and Albert Woods posing for a photo in the middle of the commons. Photo by Ryan Barrett

Chinese New Year

John Byrket Editorial Board

N

obody’s exactly sure when this tradtion started but historians estimate it happened some period B.C. There are many reasons why people celebrate it. One reason is because by celebrating you are giving yourself good luck for the whole year and you will have a prosperous year in whatever type of labor you do. This was a big reason because back in the day because many people were farmers so they wanted to celebrate the new year because they wanted to be promised a good harvest for the rest of the year.

The Chinese New Year is full rich traditions. One tradition that is very common is the decoration of doors. Doors are decorated extravagantly. Another tradition is people fire off fireworks the night of the Chinese New Year. Finally probably one of the most famous traditions is parents giving their kids red envelopes with money in it.

Student Experiences Elizabeth Liu 伊麗莎白·劉

Q: A: Photo by Mikaela Schmitt

Photo by Kylie Kuska

Weston Chan 韋斯頓贊

Q: A:

“What kind of traditions does your family do for the Chinese New Year?”

“Usually on chinese new year, we invite friends over for potluck and then the adults give the children red envelopes of a few dollars.”

Q: A:

“How important is the history behind the Chinese New Year and Why?”

“The history of chinese new year is not that important to our family because we do not celebrate it for the same reason, and it is now just an excuse to be with friends.”

“What is something about the Chinese New Year that not a lot of people know?”

“A lot of festivities orignate from a legend about a monster called Nian Shou.

He would go to villages, scaring villagers and destroying their crops and their homes. Thus, traditions such as setting off fireworks and putting up red decorations outside apartments are meant to dispel Nian Shou away and ensure a peaceful New Year.”

Q: A:

“Why is the Chinese New Year important?”

“The Chinese New Year is important because it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year. Much like New Years here, it can represent a new start but it also symbolizes inviting good luck, prosperity, and health into your life for the coming year.”

Q: A:

“What is some of your favorite traditions for the Chinese New Year?”

“One of my favorite Chinese New Year traditions is making jiaozi(dumplings) with my family, which we’ve been doing for as long as i can remember. We make everything from scratch, from the dough to the filling to actually forming the jiaozi.”

Sports Briefs

Winter sports

11

By Jonah Park Contributor

Entering the final stretches of each sports’ season, the excitement of post-season is building

Boys’ Basketball

T

here is nothing quite like the fast-paced, heart-racing back and forth game of basketball. Whether a player drains a three, charges down the lane for a daring lay-up, or miraculously makes a half court shot, the adrenaline and thrill is all the same. With Substate and State jus weeks away, the boys’ basketball team still has time to improve and prepare. After all, the team has improved immensely since the beginning of the season.

“The team has taken big steps from the beginning of the season which is what Coach Campbell is best at,” junior point guard Mikey Chalupa said.

“Our defense has improved and so has our sense of urgency in practice.”

Coach Campbell has shaped the team into what they are now and he is a role model for the players he coaches.

“Our culture, if you will, has always been ‘Everything starts with a stop.’ DEFENSE-DEFENSE-DEFENSE. We are improving in that area I feel every practice and every game.” Campbell said.

The Jaguars recently knocked off #1 team in the state, BV Northwest ,and snapped their undefeated season with a score of 58-50. After a slow season start, the team is looking better with every game.

“The goal as a team is to make a deep run in Sub-state and then State.” said Chalupa.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 26, when the Jags take on the Tigers at home for Senior Night.

Photo by Caleigh Quinn

12 Sports Briefs

Girls’ Basketball “We want to get better each day mentally and physically so we just have to support each other and push each other.” senior shooting guard Nikki Reyes said.

Led by Coach Schmekel, the girls’ basketball team has been striving to improve as a team since the season began in December.

“The team has better chemistry and has a lot more communication than at the beginning of the season.

We will continue to work hard at practices and learn from our mistakes,” Reyes said. “This season has been a lot more promising than previous years because we have a lot of young talent and a new coaching staff.”

The team hopes to win more of their games and continue to become more of a unit by the end of the season, which should not be a problem if they keep pushing each other in practice.

For those hoping to get to some of the final games this season, BV West still has home games against BV Southwest (Feb. 12), Bishop Miege (Feb. 22), and Blue Valley (Feb. 26). The latter of these games will be the last home game for the seniors on the team.

Photo by Jessie Jacobsen

Wrestling There is a certain rush of excitement only wrestling can provide. Two men are put against each other, and each of their wits are tested. There is no turning back, there are no substitutions. The wrestling room of BV West reeks of the smell of hard work, determination, and constant exertion. The wrestling team prides itself on their relentless efforts to improve, on and off the mat.

“We have really come a long way this season considering how young our team is and our core group of seniors have been doing great.” junior Aaron Davis said.

The team has been practicing non-stop, treating every day as a new opportunity to improve.

“The team has matured a lot and the more mat time we get, the better we will be in the future.” Davis said.

As the team strives to qualify a full lineup for State, which is a very attainable goal if the team keeps working hard.

Photo by Divya Jain

Sports Briefs

13

Boys’ Swim & Dive

Photo by Julia Huebert

Grinding out thousands of yards and practicing twice a day is simply a way of life for the competitive swimmer. The boys’ swim and dive team has been at it since Dec., perfecting their strokes and turns.

“I would say that we have improved a lot as a team,” junior Chad Coates said. “I’ve noticed it especially in the younger guys who are getting those times down.

For most of them, it’s their first year swimming, and I’m proud to see them stick with it.”

Although swimming is an individual sport, a full determination from the team is required to set the tone for practices and meets.

“We’ve had some struggles with everyone being motivated in and out of the water but everyone continues to improve their attitudes and times alike and we’re becoming a closer knit team,” senior Jordan Cowen said.

The season is far from over. EKL is Feb. 5 and 6 at home, although the meet is hosted by St. Aquinas.

Soon after that is State, in Topeka, and the team has high hopes for these two meets.

“Collectively we would like to get 2nd at EKL and top 15 at state as well as continue to have a fun season,” Cowen said.

Girls’ Bowling The bowling alley is a common place for fun times with friends and, of course, snacks. The girls’ bowling team is no exception, although they take the sport seriously. Coach Denise Young, who has bowled since she was in grade school, is thrilled for this season.

She has several goals.

“First and foremost is to have fun, after that, it’s to do our best, encourage each other, recognize great play by our competitors, and keep trying to improve.”

Young said.

Most of the girls on the team are fairly new to competitive bowling but this only means they can improve drastically.

“I am doing a lot of actual ‘teaching’ of the sport, compared to the girls already having a foundation from having played club ball for several years,” Young.

“I love seeing the girls improve in seven short weeks of the season.”

Photo by Sabrina Cline

14 Feature

What Makes A Good 1. Tells a story

Looking back on 50 years of Super

Photo courtesy of Bella Mangan

C

ONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, SEX does not always sell. According to Johns Hopkins University communications professor Keith A. Quesenberry’s two-year study of 108 Super Bowl commercials, “What Makes a Super Bowl Ad Super for Word-of-Mouth Buzz?

Five-Act Dramatic Form Impacts Super Bowl Ad Ratings,” viewers favored commercials that told a complete story.

A prime example is Budweiser’s “Puppy Love” ad that aired during Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. The ad follows a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy who makes fast friends with a Clydesdale from the neighboring farm, only to be separated by the puppy’s adoption. “Puppy Love” was ranked the top Super Bowl ad

of all time, according to a study by TiVo. BV West has its own local connection to this famous ad: Bryan Mangan, father of senior Bella Mangan, was the Art Director for the portion of the ad that was shot in Kansas City. While in production, Bella had an insider peek into the ad’s potential.

“My dad talked about it a lot before, as he does about most of the shoots he’s on, but this one in particular.” Bella said. “It could be in part because of his obsession with thoroughbred horses and the fact [that] he got to work with them everyday, but I do think he was excited about what this project would turn into. It’s hard to know exactly what it’ll look like at the end of production but I remember

him telling us about some of the powerful scenes as they were happening that were later shown in the commercial.”

Bryan Mangan did have an inkling of the ad’s potential; however, the extent of the ad’s success surprised even him.

“While working on this ad I had the privilege in knowing the story so I had an idea that it would be good but to be number one, probably not,” Bryan said. “…This story is so much like our own babies growing up, even if it was a horse, we humans put it into our own text of life and that hits home. I thought of my own daughter growing up from a baby and leaving home and then seeing me from a distance and running to see me after being away for some time.”

super bowl ad?

Feature 15 Grace Lamar Managing Editor

Bowl ads, shared qualities emerge.

2. An adorable element

Whether it be children, puppies, or humanoid animations.

Dove’s “Real Strength,” 2015

Budweiser “Lost Puppy,” 2015

3. Unexpected or ironic celebrity cameo The face seems familiar, but you cannot quite place the surroundings...

Snickers’ ‘Betty White,” 2011

Snickers’ “Very Brady,” 2015

4. reprised roles

Throwin’ it back to the good ol’ days.

BMW’s “Newfangled Idea,” 2015

5. The Gut Factor

Oikos’ “The Spill,” 2014

It has to hit you in the gut, either gut-wrenching, or so hysterical your gut hurts from laughing.

Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” 2011

NO MORE’s PSA, 2015

16 2006

A glance back in time

How well do BV West students know 2006?

Popular culture and events 10 years ago, 2006.

T

hinking back on childhood, the days of watching Hannah Montana and playing outside every day after school does not seem too long ago.

Wh at w However it was 10 years ago when we were Twe a s listening to the Cheetah Girls and Bad Day by et @ you BVW r fav Daniel Powter. 2006 was just beginning our Spo orite elementary school education; days filled with 2 tlig ht y 006 s fun classes and play dates with friends. ong our In an ode to 2006, we tested BV ans ? we West’s students to see how rs!

Pump it, well they remember Black Eyed Peas 10 years ago.

Mikaela Schmitt Contributor

2006 Music

How to Save a Life, Fray Life is a Highway, Rascal Flatts SOS, Rihanna

Where were you 10 years ago?

New Moon, Stephenie Meyer An Abundance of Katherines, John Green A Boy in the Striped Pajamas, John Boyne

Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year was “You”, the users of Internet and technology.

responded correctly.

Freshman: Graduating Preschool, entering Kindergarten.

4 or 5 years old.

Where will Sophomores: Graduating Kindergarten, entering 1st Grade. you be in 10 5 or 6 years old. years?

Juniors: “Teaching at BVW” Graduating 1st Grade, entering 2nd Grade. “Finished or finishing my schooling for 6 or 7 years old. a profession with my new husband!”

Seniors: “A senator of the United States” Graduating 2nd Grade, entering 3rd Grade.

“Married and traveling” 7 or 8 years old.

“Working for NASA”

premiered in 2006, starring Owen Wilson and Paul Newman. 71% answered correctly.

11%

knew that Psych premiered in 2006.

15/35

2006 Books

The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson

Cars

17% knew that Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2),

by Rick Riordan, premiered in 2006.

Cars

2006 Movies

Step Up

High School Musical.

The cast recently reunited on January 20th for the 10 year anniversary.

Night at the Museum

The 2006 Census calculated

Charlotte’s Web The Pink Panther Fast Food Nation RV

the world population to be 6.5 billion.

What version of the iPhone will be the most current model “iPhone 11” in 2026?

Will gas power cars be used in 2026?

43% answered Yes, 57% answered No.

“iPhone 23+” “iPhone Future” “Apple will go bankrupt.”

“There won’t be a new iPhone model; Apple will launch a new device.”

red P re

u

ut F s ’ st

We V B

s

on icti

Happy Feet

What new technology will be created in 2026?

“Actual Hoverboards” “Renewable Energy” “Teleportation” “The ability to manipulate dark matter” “Hydrogen powered vehicles”

What will life be like in 10 years?

Tweet @BVWSpotlight with your predictions!

18 Work

Dana Nasr Contributor

O

Plastic Surgery And the American Beauty Standards

ften times people associate the term ‘plastic surgery’ with mostly cosmetic surgery instead of a medical procedure. That is because most doctors that go into the plastic surgery field lean towards the cosmetic side of the profession rather than the medical. These two fields are similar but not the same.

Plastic surgery deals with reconstruction, disorders, and birth defects that may distort a person’s appearance. Some usual procedures in this field include burn repair, congenital defect repair, hand surgery, and breast reconstruction. Many people that get procedures done in this field don’t even consider it to be plastic surgery because of prior misconceptions of the term being only used for cosmetic procedures.

One of these people is Natalie Mullen, a student at BVWest.

“I was expecting to see a plastic surgeon for my condition because my nose was crooked and I needed to get it straightened but I would have been fine with it because in general I don’t really have a huge problem with plastic surgery because I think its your decision and what you want and that’s fine if that’s what you believe in”.

Mullen had a deviated septum that required her to have a septoplasty done. Mullen claims that people would give her looks when she had her nose wrapped and had to go back to school. She claims that for the person she is she didn’t mind people thinking she had a cosmetic procedure done because she doesn’t find them to be something to be shamed for.

Cosmetic surgery is mainly focused on making the patient as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

Procedures in this field include rhinoplast, breast augmentation, Botox, tummy tuck, and face lifts.

Although the U.S. is a top contributor to most cosmetic surgery procedures done, Brazil is actually the leading country at 1.5 million procedures done yearly which is about 13 percent of all procedures done worldwide. It is quite the norm in Brazil to have work done for the reason that Brazilian people look at this situation as an investment into their well being. While cosmetic surgery is mostly known to boost self confidence, in

Brazil people are more likely to get hired or have a life partner if they look a certain way or attribute to the Brazilian beauty standards. In the U.S. people tend to shame plastic surgery as a procedure done by those who are shallow and superficial, in Brazil people praise others for their procedures and see it as a way of taking care of their bodies.

“I think in the US we see celebrities and they are so beautiful and people obviously want to look like that but I think that we have more of an understanding of that’s them (celebrities) and were us so I do think people here feel like they have to look like that but maybe there (Brazil) its like your close friend and everyone around you all have cosmetic surgery then its easier for you to be pressured into doing it just because your not reaching for a celebrity your just kind of trying to be like everyone around you” , says Mullen.

Mullen explains the pressure in the U.S. to commit to having cosmetic surgery done seems to be a lot less.

The U.S. has a much larger occupancy than Brazil but Brazil is the one leading in the cosmetic surgery field.

This means that Brazil is more concentrated with people who have cosmetic surgery done.

Usually when others hear that someone has had plastic surgery, their perception of that person can often become negative. Words coming to mind are “superficial” or “insecure”. This is related to the ingrained ideas in the American society with impossible standards of perfection, but at the same time, yourself. Both are contradictory but seen as necessary. Interestingly, this may be why many are inclined to wear makeup every day or do their hair a certain way while also considering cosmetic surgery an extremity that isn’t necessary. Mullen has a different outlook on the subject.

“If you ever wanted to get cosmetic surgery you should do it if it makes you happy but you shouldn’t feel like you have to because you’re made the way you’re supposed to look and I think every person is beautiful in their own way as cheesy as that sounds.”

Mullen said.

Beauty Standards Around The World

19

Grace Lamar Managing Editor

S

TANDARDS OF BEAUTY DIFFER ON both the microcosmic and global level. As demonstrated below, some Asian cultures have morphed to include aspects of Western culture. This trend has developed significantly as cultures collide and consolidate in the modern age of globalization.

Inuit & Eskimo Culture

Mauritania

Overweight body

South Korea

Overweight body

United States & Western Culture

Angular jawlines Long legs Hourglass figure Full, arched Eyebrows

“V” jawline Straight eyebrows

Asian & African Culture

Popular procedures:

Lighter skin tones

Asian Culture

Double eyelids

Liposuction Nose jobs Blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery)

Graphic courtesy of vectorworldmap.com Brazil

Toned muscles Tanned skin “Guitar” shape (hips, smaller chest, rounder backside) Popular procedures:

Liposuction Breast implants

Chile

Tall stature Light, straight hair Blue or green eyes

Greece Popular procedures:

Breast implants

India

Decorative dress (colorful saris, nose rings, bindis, henna)

Japan

Large, “doe” eyes High nose Petite body

The Atlas of Beauty

Photographer Mihaela Noroc travels the world, from Western Europe to African tribes, to capture beautiful, natural and diverse faces. Her project, “The Atlas of Beauty,” pays witness to this era’s cultures and traditions before they disappear. Follow Noroc on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for updates on her project. @mihaelanoroc

@mihaelanoroc

The Atlas of Beauty

theatlasofbeauty.com

why you should wait to date Step aside, 16 Candles.

A

Shaye Herman Editorial Board

MONGST THE SEA OF HORMONES that hang as an oppressive cloud over every student, it is nearly impossible to escape the notion of romance in high school. There seems to be a certain mindset in our culture surrounding high school that leads students to believe that it is the time for hooking up or falling in love, and that may be due to the portrayal of high school in media, where romance is the prime focus.

Maybe that’s why many students consider it a goal to successfully find and keep a significant other all while juggling other responsibilities like school, work, and friends. Sure, it may be nice to have a warm body to kiss and hold hands with in the hallway, but in the long run, it may be a good idea to wait until after high school to start dating. Here are a few key points to consider when making the decision to have a “high school sweetheart.”

First and foremost, high school is a tremulous era for most, and relationships during this time can be shaky, uncertain, and are not usually well thought out. High school is when many teenagers find their true selves and mature into adulthood. Relationships that are thrown into the mix might affect an individual in ways that can be undesirable, especially if the relationship gets physical. Some actions may be regretted later, and impact a person for the rest of their lives.

Then, of course, there’s the fact that high school brings more responsibilities, and having a significant other only adds to the list of duties for a teenager.

There’s homework and studying to do, friendships to maintain, plus work, extracurricular activities, and free time to devote to hobbies and passions. Adding relationships to the mix can mean one or more

important jobs are pushed aside. Which should be a priority: a girlfriend or boyfriend, or grades? A date to the dance, or friends? A cute face, or mental and physical health?

Now, certainly there are plenty of high school relationships that last, but unfortunately, most do not. Only 2% of all marriages are to a high school sweethearts. High school students date knowing in the back of their minds that their relationship is destined to fail eventually, whether that be to the short attention spans of adolescence, other responsibilities needing more time, or the inevitable separation of senior year when most cut ties for a fresh start at college. Finding a meaningful connection with another high school student that lasts is undoubtedly rare.

Dating in high school seems fun and exciting at first glance, with a new horizon of freedoms and experiences opened for exploration. It also may seem completely harmless, and indeed a safe, responsible relationship with two people that respect each other’s boundaries does not deserve ridicule.

However, there is one more point that is important to consider when deciding whether or not to date in high school: nobody needs to date. I promise that even if it may feel like you absolutely have to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, you will live without one. In fact, it may even be healthier to not have one. Use high school as a time to discover yourself, mature into an adult, make healthy friendships, make plans for a future career, and, of course, work hard in school. You might find that being single has some hidden benefits.

For example, the discount candy on the day after Valentine’s Day.

Feature 21

behind hookup culture The circumstances that lead to short term relationships

I

N HIGH SCHOOL MANY STUDENTS FEEL the pressure to date. This pressure comes from different places, including how high school relationships are presented in mainstream media, pressure from peers, and a sense that having a significant other is indicative of social success.

Relationships in high school can be a valuable experience while they last. They help shape ideas of what to expect from relationships in the future.

They are also great ways to get to know other people and connect with others in a unique way.

It is understood that most high school relationships are not meant to last forever. This in turn creates a culture of short term relationships that are meant to just be fun. Older generations have branded this as “hookup culture”, or a culture that promotes casual encounters between people without the promise of a long term relationship.

Hookup culture has been increasingly prevalent in our generation as apps such as Tinder make it easier for like-minded people to meet. It also makes hookup culture more accessible to younger and younger people. The apps also add an element of anonymity to the culture that encourages more

Leah Zimmerli Managing Editor

private people to participate.

There are also deeper influences involved, specifically the pressure on teens to get involved in relationships. Movies and television shows often portray high school relationships as a main goal for students, and portray those who do not have a significant other as socially inept. For example, many boys feel pressured by their peers to become involved with girls and many girls feel pressured to act and dress a certain way to get a boy’s attention due to the pressure placed upon them by societal expectations of teenagers.

Aside from social implications, the rise of hookup culture could be cited as a cause for the recent increase in STD diagnosis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young people between the ages of 15 and 25 in the United States account for nearly two thirds of all reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Ultimately, the decision to participate in hookup culture comes down to the individual. The most important thing is to make informed and careful decisions about your participation.

Dating Violence V

alentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and with the influx of love in the air also comes the darker side of romance. Every year, people around the world struggle with dating violence, and the problem is especially prevalent for teenagers.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and teenagers experience a higher rate of intimate partner violence than adults. Though this issue normally sits in the shadows, it is evident that silence does not drive the problem away.

Unfortunately, many victims are reluctant to reach out for help. Hopefully, by educating students today, we create an environment supporive for victims of dating violence.

one in Four 14-17 year-olds know of at least one student who was a victim of dating violence

45% of girls know a friend or peer who has been pressured into either intercourse or oral sex

February welcomes not just Valentine’s Day, but also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Carly McDonald Editor-in-Chief

83% of 10th graders surveyed reported that they would sooner turn to a friend for help with dating abuse than to a teacher, counselor, parent or other caring adult.

physical violence is more than

3x as likely on days that alcohol is consumed compared to days with no drinking

Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse

Data collected from apa.org, ClotheslineProject.org, LoveisRespect, cdc.org.

Resources If you or a friend is concerned about an abusive relationship, these resources can provide support or information.

Text Love Is to 22522 Call 1.866.331.8453 Chat loveisrespect.org

off to hogwarts...finally!

Comic 23

Art by Mara Hennessy

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Mikaela Schmitt Contributor

Sweetheart 25

A Night at

Hogwarts

Carter Bryant, crowned Sweetheart King, dances with Sweetheart Queen Paige Becker.

Students have fun dancing with their friends and dates.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

Payton Holland Photography Prodigy

Photos courtesy of Payton Holland

Angelique Allen, junior, posing for Holland

artistic aspect of it as she got older.

“I have always been friends with people in the music industry,” Holland said, “I even tried dipping my toes in the industry through playing music but it wasn’t for me.”

Although her pursuit of a career in music was temporary, her passion for art seems to have always been there.

“On my dad’s side we are all artists for four generations down, so painting and drawing has always felt natural for me from the time I could pick up a pencil,” Holland said. “I remember my grandma giving me her 1970 Pentax film camera when I was eightyears-old. She taught me how to use it, and that camera was where I learned the concept of photography. I think I was 12 when I got my first Nikon DSLR camera of which I immediately started taking pictures of my sister who was my first ever model. After that, it all just went from there.”

Despite no longer looking to music as a career, it remains the subject of her photography as well as being the inspiration behind her artistic process.

Friend of Holland’s posing

Holland photographs concert gigs up to three nights a week

“I

believe that art is like an x-ray of a person, it is your soul, it’s the only way to let out what is going on inside of your brain.” Junior Payton Holland explains, sitting cross-legged in frayed jeans and skyhigh platforms at the back of the newspaper room.

Upon meeting her, Holland immediately recounts the strange events that had occurred throughout the day, finally coming to the conclusion that these concurrent happenings were due to Mercury being in retrograde.

She quickly brushes off the astrological chatter nonchalantly and we recommence.

Payton Holland embodies the confluence of art and music in her self-described surrealist aesthetic through band photography and portraiture. Holland’s quiet confidence in her work and style radiates, in what art teacher Deb Waldorf can only describe as “Hollandesque.” Subsequently, she seems to revel in the artsy vibes that her work has come to be known.

“I think my art shows nostalgia, wistfulness, and a sort of wanderlust feeling,” Holland said, “I will see old videos of myself and it inspires my art because I hope when people look at my photos they can relate and be like there was time in my life that was similar to this moment.”

While Holland counts painting and drawing as some of her passions, her band photography currently has taken center stage. Holland photographs concert gigs up to three nights a week, racing to get the photos edited in the early hours of the morning so that the bands will be able to use her work immediately.

Unfortunately, her busy schedule means that she is constantly sleep deprived. Yet, as she endlessly lists the bands she has come to know personally through these experiences, from The 1975 to the Griswolds, her passion for the pursuit of photography is palpable.

“I think music is my passion in its simplistic form and photography lets me capture the amazing moments of musicians in their true bliss, which is what I live for.”

Holland said.

Her origins started with her involvement in the music industry before slowly transitioning towards the

27

28 Artist Profile

“Music doesn’t only play into my photography but it also plays into my art,” Holland said, “I will start with a vague idea of what I want to do, whether it’s a portrait of some ‘80s looking teenagers, then I will find music that fits that concept, such as the Rolling Stones. If I want to do a more surrealist painting then I will put on some M83 and just let creativity pour out.”

Holland has found that solely producing quality work is not enough in the business of music photography. She came to realize that her social media presence was just as important for bands and people in the industry to discover Above, local band Tall Tales, featuring senior Jack Ingram and her work. junior Rylan Fisher, is photographed by Holland “As a photographer you have to have social media, with any digital aspect of art there has to be a way for people to find, contact, and connect with you,” Holland said. “That side of it sucks as much as it is important because I do not want social media to run my art yet it is integral to my career.”

While her photography has become her main business, she always turns back to her roots in painting to reconnect with what she believes draws out her purest sense of self.

“Painting is more treasured to me, which is why I don’t put any of my works online,” Holland said. “When I just want inner peace, I will go and pick up a paintbrush because it is a way to express myself that is just for me, not for social media.”

Holland believes that this current social media craze has had negatives effects on her individual outlook on what it means to be a photographer.

“I bet about ninety percent of the school has some kind of Nikon or digital Canon camera, and the amount of people that mislabel themselves as photographers degrades the art a little bit,” Holland said. “I think you can call yourself a photographer when it’s your passion, when it’s everything that you are. The amount of people that just throw it around because they take pictures for social media is insane.”

Holland’s plans to pursue her goals full throttle once she finishes high school to set herself apart in an industry where the number of people going after your goals far surpasses the amount of opportunities readily available.

“I am planning on moving to the west coast right after high school probably to West Hollywood. The end goal for me is to be a tour photographer because I want to be with one band and dedicate myself to them,” Holland said. “I would say being a tour photographer that’s involved in the actual band dynamic ends when you are about thirty years old, especially photographing for indie bands. What’s most important, though, is to find a band that fits your photo dynamic and the vibes your photography gives.”

For now, Holland continues to push her boundaries through her art. She is preparing to take her work to greater heights with opportunities such as photographing for music festivals in the summer and possibly touring with bands in the upcoming year.

Holland posing with her sister

Holland plans to become a tour photographer

oscars 2016

maDDY lewis REPORTER

15

on feB 28, the 88th annual academy awards will be held in los angeles, recognizing hollywood’s best and brightest of 2015. see which movies are in the running this awards season.

BEST picture THE MARTAIN BRIDGE OF SPIES

THE REVENANT BROOKLYN ROOM

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BESTACTOR BRYan

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