a o l C n l i umns d r a C April 2 01 6
Featuring:
Homelessness in High School
Fond du Lac's struggle to identify homeless students. Page. 19
The Fruth Files
Breaking down the upgrade proposal. Page. 15
Constructing The Cover Before
After
Digging Design The idea of our cover was to showcase our two feature stories in an impactful, and meaningful way. That is when the idea came up to have a homeless looking person laying in front of all of the construction to show the financial differences. Front Cover designed by Madison Supple
Connections With no construction happening to Fruth Field, it began to feel like we wouldn’t be able to set the right scene but, Terry Leasa from W.J. Leasa Electric stepped in and helped us out by offering us their warehouse to collect as many tools as we needed. Having the real tools made the construction feel much more realistic and eye catching. Back Cover designed by Robert Brown 1
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C ardinal Columns Fond du Lac High School 801 Campus Drive Fond du Lac, WI 54935 920-929-2740
AROUND FONDY p3-8
www.cardinalcolumns.org
Editorial Board
THE COST OF LIVING p9-10
Editors-in-Chief
THE COST OF COLLEGE p11-13
Madison Supple Kay Sacasa
FRUTH FIELD p15-18
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Art Directors
Zach Renderman Anna Leasa
HOMELESSNESS p19-21
Internet Director Evan McEssey
GROWING APART OR GROWING UP p23-24 LETTER TO THE EDITOR p26
Staff Writers
Jordan Kavage Tanner Nelson Hunter Anderson Carley Higgins Alyssa Lawrence Andres Christian Noah Burdett
ROCK USA VS COUNTRY USA p27
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Desk Editors
Robert Brown Regan Le Doux Morgan Tollard
GRADUATION CAPS p28 ADULT FILM p29-30
Advisor
Matthew Smith
13 Ye a
rs of
Ex pe ri en ce
Bring this Page in for $10 off any color, partial or full highlight, mens or womens haircut, style, updo, or pedicure. **Only good with Jenni Luecking on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays**
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Capture the Moment 2015-2016 yearbook staff works to get yearbook out on time Morgan Tollard // Desk Editor
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he deadlines have fast approached. Orders for the yearbook concluded on February 26 with the purchase price of $65. “Our sales have been really good [this year]! We offer online purchasing of the yearbook now and our sales online have skyrocketed since last year,” Editor-inChief Sydney Loomans said. Students who have missed the deadline for yearbook purchases may also have the opportunity to purchase for a reduced price at the end of the year. “We get damaged yearbooks every year, and we sell those yearbooks to any teachers or students for a reduced price on the last day of school,” Loomans said. “Those [yearbooks] go really fast!” Talk to either Bonnie Williams in the office or Mrs. Daleiden for any possible extended purchases. Extended purchases can also be made online at JostensYearbooks.com.
The 2015-2016 Yearbook staff, concluding around 18 members, have been dedicating long hours to making this years’ yearbook appeal differently than previous years. “As a staff, we collaborated on the cover,” Loomans said. “Usually, this is decided and designed by only the editor in chief, but I wanted help. I'm not that creative and knew that we could come up with something great. During our 3
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training at Marquette, the people who came helped and met with the cover artist there. That's how we did our cover!” A creative front cover isn’t the only thing that the dedicated staff has been working on. Meeting deadlines to fill the pages inside the yearbook have also been a focus on this year’s staff. “Because Yearbook is a club, the staff doesn't always prioritize it as much as I would like them to,” advisor Mrs. Daleiden said. “As a result, I sometimes get frustrated when pages aren't completed in a timely fashion. However, as a whole, the staff is one of the best I've ever worked with. They are fun, creative, responsible, great people!” “It's been diff i c u l t meeting deadlines,” senior staff member Jacob Kroll said. “I put so much time into my pages, and I pay really close attention to detail. It's hard sometimes, but the deadlines are certainly there for good reason.” Overall, the Yearbook staff is pumping their pages and hitting all their deadlines, maintaining their goal of completely completing the yearbook at the end of April. “We have to have our whole entire yearbook right at the beginning of April,” Loomans said. “All of our pages need to be in by then, [including] all the spring sports ones too. We have to adjust to that deadline the company sets for us.” “[The yearbook is] going really well,” commented senior staff member Sydney Jurgensmier. “We have a really good staff this year and everyone is working really hard. We have a lot of new ideas from each staff member.” Students are able to join Yearbook club for a variety of reasons. “I decided to join the Yearbook because I wanted my picture in it a lot -just kidding!” Kroll said. “But seriously, I joined because I thought it would be a good way to know more people in various clubs and activities. Being in the
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Yearbook gives me a good reason to go to various sporting events and extracurriculars to take pictures, learn about their activity, etcetera.” Yearbook club has not only has not only given the staff more of an opportunity to be involved in school activities or events but gives the staff an opportunity to improve on some skills. “[I’ve improved on] picture taking for sure. We had a professional come in and help us out for a day, we all learned a lot,” senior staff member Kyrstin Kuehl said. “Being in Yearbook has allowed me to meet and become friends with so many new people. I'm not the most creative person, but being in Yearbook has helped me become more creative,” Kroll said. “I really enjoy creating layouts for the pages and taking pictures of people, and the other staff members are awesome to work with!” senior staff member Hannah Rasner said. “It's a really great opportunity to be a part of the Yearbook staff, you should definitely join next year!” Any students looking to join Yearbook club next year can talk to Mrs. Daleiden, in Room 2690. “Yearbook is a great opportunity to express yourself,” senior staff member Adeja Shannon said. “Each spread you create has a little bit of your personality and Yearbook soon becomes a second family to you. Everyone is so open to new and different ideas and they are always willing to help.”
Photos shown above are featuring yearbook staff working hard and having fun. All photos credited to the yearbook staff.
Getting Your ACT Together
ACT Test Brings Stress to Students Everywhere
Andres Christian// Staff Writer
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tandardized testing is already a lot to handle to some students in high school, from WKCE to STAR testing. But adding a very important test into the mix can put a significant amount of pressure on individuals. The American College Test (ACT) is a standardized test that admission officers use to compare applicants from different schools and different states. According to gocollege.com, for individuals who do not necessarily know what the ACT test is about, it is merely a test concerning the areas in which an individual needs help in, and also highlights the areas in which an individual areas are stronger than others. The ACT test also helps determine the best career path fit individuals needs and scoring. “There is so much more to a person than a number.” English teacher, Sandra Berka, said. Thirty percent of students get stress and anxiety when taking standardized testing such as the ACT test. From lohud.com, there are three 4
types of symptoms behind the stress and anxiety of testing; physical, emotional and behavioral. Individuals can experience headaches, stomachaches, and nausea. They may also witness crying irritability, difficulty focusing and difficulty paying attention. “It was very overwhelming.” Junior Kevin Fosado said about taking the test March, 1st. Ways to lower the stress and anxiety of testing could be: self relaxation, meaning that an individual should lower their heart beat; slow breathing rate; low the blood sugar; and more calming techniques. Another treatment is, positive self talk, yoga, exercise, good nutrition, good sleeping habits, and in severe cases, therapy. “There was so little time but so many questions.” Junior Amber Diedrichs ~Sandra Berka says, “ I felt completely exhausted, a sense of failure, and doom for failure.” She states about her experience on the ACTs. It is normal for students to automatically believe that they did a bad job on the test. Mainly because of the stress and anxiety from before
“There is so much more to a person than a number”
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and while taking the test. While other students, like Fosado can feel a sense of relief and can feel for the most part well about the test taking. “I felt pretty good after the test.” Fosado said. “It is a fair test, everyone takes the same test, and there is no special treatment.” Spanish teacher Jennifer Haase says, “Students start at the same level, and it makes it easier to track other high school placements.” There are positives as much as there are negatives in taking the ACT test. “This test is no charge, and students who are college bound should consider taking this test, and taking it seriously.” Haase said. “It is a lot of test taking in one day and may overwhelm the students. The national score has the possibility of going down if and when everyone takes it.” “It can show the strengths and weaknesses of a student,” Berka said, “along with showing them what they need to
work on more to succeed in the certain career path they want to go into.” “The test can be discouraging, along with students not testing well. Students take the score literal.” Berka added. “For the most part, yes, I believe that this test is useful,” Diedrichs gave her thought on the ACT, “I mean, it tests four core areas that are important. Still, it’s a lot of unneeded effort to try to get a whole grade to take it when lots of them probably aren’t going to college.” “It is very useful since it is a gateway into scholarships and colleges.” Fosado stated. The ACT test can be very overwhelming, and very stressful, but for the most part, this is ~Kevin Fosado a test staff and students said can help determine an individual’s future and career path. Students should take this test seriously if they are looking into attending college.
“It is very
useful since it is a gateway
into scholarships and colleges”
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Passing the Ball to the Right Player Junior Emma Conrad chosen to represent girls rugby around America Alyssa Lawrence // Staff writer
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ith Spring comes chirping birds, blossoming trees and beautiful flowers. For the rugby players, Spring comes with intense training, body aches, bruises and sweat. Playing the unique and challenging sport of rugby for the past two years, Emma Conrad has devoted most of her time to rugby. Between working out, traveling out of state, and attending camps throughout her summer, rugby has became more than just an activity in her free time. This Summer, Conrad was chosen out of 80 girls from all around the country to play for the All American Rugby Team in Clermont, Florida. Tournaments that the All Americans play are located all over the World. The team is representing high school girls playing rugby in the U.S. “It’s physically exhausting,” Conrad said, “But overall I’ve enjoyed making friends and traveling places.” Currently, Conrad plays for the Fond Du Lac rugby team, which is made up of 17 girls, the Thunderbirds, a team that
plays in locations all around the US, and the All American Team w h i c h plays in tournaments all
Photo Courtesy of: Emma Conrad around the World. Conrad said she is hoping to bring more to the team this season, passing down advice to the other girls she has learned, and becoming a better captain. “No matter what, Emma is always ready to go and excited to get out onto the pitch and play the game that she loves. The best part is that her attitude is infectious, she gets others jacked up and energized to play as well,” Fond du Lac rugby Photo Courtesy of: Emma Conrad coach Amanda Pohle said.
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Fond du Lac’s Favorite Frozen Past Time
Sturgeon Spearing on Lake Winnebago is a Tradition for Many Local Families.
Hunter Anderson // Staff Writer
hile winter in Wisconsin W may be uncomfortably cold, and seemingly never end-
ing, there are still endless opportunities of outdoor activities. Because Fond du Lac is located on Lake Winnebago, which is one of two places in the country where the activity is legal, sturgeon spearing is a wildly popular winter sport. Sturgeon spearing in Fond du Lac starts on the second Saturday in February and lasts 16 days, or until the pre-set cap is met. Jacob Thome has been sturgeon spearing with his father and his grandfather since he was a little kid. When Thome was 15 years old, he speared his first sturgeon, which weighed 70 pounds. “My knees were shaking [and] my hands were sweating,” Thome said. “When I speared the sturgeon it was like shooting your first buck; or any buck. You get buck fever and you keep jumping with joy.” According to fdl.com in the early 1990’s, Lake Winnebago’s sturgeon population were dangerously close to extinction, which is hard to imagine because it is believed that there are apporxiamtely 15,000 adult female sturgeon and 30,000 adult male sturgeon in the lake today. And even though it may have just ended less than two short months ago, Fond du Lac is already preparing for next season, which starts on February 11, 2017. Thome told us that after he speared his first sturgeon, he had it mounted, and hung on his wall. 7
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Restoring the Voice
fight against censorship continues for journalism students
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robert brown // desk editor
atthew Smith has made the mission of New Voices of Wisconsin clear: to provide the Madison Supple, Editor-in-Chief of Cardinal Columns same rights to student journalists as profesand Executive Producer of Fondy Today, feels concerned for sionals in the industry. Smith, like other student journalists. “As an editorial writer, it is important to advisors, said that “students need to learn to have this kind of legislation,” she said. “It is my job to get use their voices in a democratic society.” my opinion out there. I am allowed to go into such detail . . . According to New Voices USA, there are ten states and sometimes people get mad.” Washington D.C. that have legislation to protect high school “I don’t want such good writers to be held back,” Supple journalists from school censorship in cases not considered added. “libelous, an invasion of privacy or creates a ‘clear and pres“We’re in the beginnings of this law here, and there will ent danger’ or a ‘material and substantial disruption’” of the not be time this session,” Smith said. Smith wants lawmakschool. ers to understand that this not a partisan issue. “I think that “[This bill] is to make sure students control their own it is important, regardless of where they are in the political media, control their own voices,” Smith said. This is not the spectrum,” he said. first time the Fond du Lac High School advisor has advocated Colleague and fellow English instructor Jennifer McClyagainst school censorship. In 2014, the Cardinal Columns man agrees with the legislation. “I trust the discretion of the faced censorship after an article published in the February advisor. . .[he or she] has experience,” she said. “Sometimes edition of the magazine faced scrutiny by administrators in people making those decisions in the district don’t have the the school district. The experience in school district eventually journalism.” backed down, with both Journalism parties agreeing on the students also feel policy currently in place the legislation is -MADISON SUPPLE today that provides needed to uphold school-sponsored media their rights. productions to publish based on the discretion of the staff “Everyone would be scared to write any article or make and the advisor, which has the possibility of being repealed any video,” Zach Renderman, News Director of Fondy at any time. This type of censorship, when a school adminToday and Art Director of Cardinal Columns, said. “Student istrator or school district assumes responsibility for student [journalists] need more protection than they already have,” he expression, can be common within school districts and states said. “It’s a tricky area in a lot of capacities.” recognize the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier standard, concluded Although the bill is gaining traction in Wisconsin, GOP the court ruling in 1988. legislators’ support is needed to pass the bill due to the ReSmith feels it is not enough. “I think students control their publican majority in the state Senate. own media,” he said. “The school policy references guidelines. It can be easily changed.”
I DON’T WANT SUCH GOOD WRITERS TO BE HELD BACK.
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Pulling Up A Chair to the Adult Table Transitioning into the “Real World” Morgan Tollard // Desk Editor Anna Leasa // Art Director
Letter from the Authors: With only 46 full school days left until graduation, as of April 4, we wanted to get some input on what the Fond du Lac High School Class of 2016 had planned on the years to come after they take those final steps across the stage, shaking the hands of all the administrators and waving goodbye to their life as a highschooler as they knew it. We conducted a survey of all of the senior homerooms on February 29 and received 237 responses. From those responses, we calculated the following: 216 students currently plan on going to college, 33 people want to go to college but aren’t sure where they want to go, 151 people plan on moving out within a year of graduating, 17 people are planning on going into some branch of the military and 21 people don’t have any plans on going to college. Through these responses we put together some graphics to show the statistics in a different light.
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you’re going to Iarefcollege or not, you probably thinking about moving out of your parents house right after high school. Still, the biggest question is, what all comes with moving out? Along with freedom and independence, there are a lot of responsibilities and hidden costs that come
along with it as well. According to AreaVibes.com, a livability comparison website, the cost of living in Fond du Lac, WI is six percent lower than the national average. And while the cost of housing in Fond du Lac is 30 percent lower than the national average, there are other factors that go into the expenses of moving out.
Justin Maratik: “I’m going to South Dakota State University. Kinda got the interest of football and athletics. The coaches really got me interested in the univeristy and then once I visted the university, I really enjoyed it and the people there . . . it felt like home.”
Cost of College
Ashley Blain: “When I went to visit [UW Whitewater] . . . I loved how much they had to offer . . .”
Though for some the process is a fun and exciting time, for others the process can be terrifying looking at the cost of getting a higher education. s the end of the 2015-2016 school year comes to a Collegedata.com reports, “According to the College close, the end of a chapter of your life comes to a Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2015– close. 2016 school year was $32,405 at private colleges, $9,410 Whether you are a senior, junior, sophomore or fresh- for state residents at public colleges, and $23,893 for outman; you made it through another year of highschool and of-state residents attending public universities.” a new section begins. While students ultimately make their choice to move For some, it is beginning the plans for college life and away to other schools, other students may choose to stay for others it is the painful process of planning what to do closer to home. post high school.
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Eli Conley: “I’m going to take a year off [before] going to Savanah College of Art and Design . . . to master in culinary and minor in fine arts.” Toronto, Canada
Caleb Tursky: “I was looking at several public and private schools, but Oshkosh just seemed like a good middle ground . . . Oshkosh is small and nearby compared to Madison and Milwaukee, but large enough to provide a lot of the same opportunities.”
Most Popular Picked Colleges 1) UW Fond du Lac (27) 2) UW Oshkosh (24) 3) Moraine Park Technical College (16) 4) UW Madison (13) 5) UW Milwaukee (13)
6) Marian University (7) 7) Fox Valley Technical College (4) 8) UW Green Bay (4) 9) UW La Crosse (3) 10) UW Whitewater (3)
US Military in Fond du LAc High School
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fter high school, there are countless career options that you can choose from. One of those many options is joining the armed forces. The five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are always looking for young men and women to recruit. West Point is a service academy, located in New York notorious for its rich history. Senior Keegan Buros will be attending West Point starting on June 27th, 2016. “The school is Ivy League-level education . . .” Buros said. “I mean, you get paid as a student so it’s easy to say ‘Oh yeah, I’ll do that because it’s free college [and] free money.’ But, if you go for that reason, you’re probably not going to make it through, because you have to have more mind than that.” The process of applying and being considered for West Point is damanding and concludes with only a nine percent acceptance rate. “Just the honor of being able to go
there is really huge . . .” Buros said. “Getting accepted, and getting this whole checklist done was a huge sacrifice . . .” Buros plans of becoming a commissioned officer with a 5-year minimum service commitment. “Think of it as working in a factory,” Buros said. “You have workers on a line who do factory jobs all day. You have supervisors, who are in charge of them. So the factory workers are enlisted men and the supervisors would be senior enlisted men, or called NCOs of military, noncommissioned officers. The executives of the company or the higher ups who run the department are the officers.” Regardless of your past achievements and aspirations, working towards goals makes dreams a possibility. “The grueling, most rewarding paths are seemingly impossible because your mind declares them to be,” Buros said. “Alter your mind, change your perspective, refine your life, and turn your dreams into goals and ultimately into reality.”
Steps Taken By Keagen Buros to Get Into West Point 1. Demonstrate leadership by getting involved in extraciriculars and sports
2. Do well on the ACT’s (need 30+) and
maintain high GPA 3. Pass physical test 4. Pass medical examination 5. Get Congressional Nomination-- you have to apply for each congressmen in your district (for example we live in district 6--congressman Glenn Grothman), apply to state or federal senators. 6. Interview with each Academy 7. Academy sits down with a review board and goes canidate at a time and vote based on your application (canadidate not present) 8. If you pass, you get an offer of appointment, which is basically a scholarship. *Apply to other colleges (in case you don’t get into the academy)*
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THE FRUTH FILES A new proposal promises to enhance Fruth Field. What could these upgrades mean for both Fondy High and the Fond du Lac community?
TS THE FACproject for
of the project will give those in charge of the project the ability renovation to ask for donations and to start Fruth Field, has been fundraising actions. No money has proposed. The project has been spent thus far. been appraised at approximately Among the intentions of the $1.9 million, installing an artificial proposed renovations include givturf that would remove the track ing football players a safer surface to accommodate for a soccer field. to play on, giving a space for The cost is about 700 thousand other sports and activities to use dollars (according to FieldTurf. for their games, competitions and com). The rest of the funding events, and to bring outsiders to would go toward an amphitheater, Fond du Lac for these events. Proscoreboard, sound system, band posed events that could be made seating and a path around the possible by the renovations include property. concerts, band competitions, and Those in charge of the prosoccer matches. posal originally intended that the Though the members of the funds were to be raised in the district school board are those same manner as they were for the who will ultimately decide what entrance. The original funding route is taken with this proposal, included people giving donation a workshop held after a March 17 pledges first, and then taking monschool board meeting showed that ey from the district fund to pay there is somewhat of a divide in for the costs. However, they came their opinions. Many school board up short and currently remain 450 members are still looking for thousand dollars in debt. answers and some are questioning This was changed during a of what the potential benefits and workshop at the school district dangers of this proposal could be. board meeting on March 17, “This is a facility that is about when superintendent Dr. James our community,” board president Sebert stated they would not Julie Nett said at the workshop. fund the new proposed improve“It’s tradition. What about those ments in this manner. The new kids that play soccer and have plan involves receiving pledges of never been able to play a game monetary amounts before going on the historic Fruth Field? And forward with the project. Taxpayer someday, they would be able to do money will not be spent on the that. ” renovations. Mainly, the approval “It’s going to be paid for by
Zach Renderman / Art Director // Noah Burdett / Staff Writer // Carley Higgins / Staff Writer
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donations,” board member Susan Jones said. “Well, who’s going to be the donating people if the economy is so depressed in town? The public is not going to be donating, because, you know, they’re hurting. So to assume that you’re going to receive donations to cover it, I mean, that’s a big assumption.” “I’m not gonna put one dollar on the fund balance,” board member Mark Strand said. At the workshop, Dr. Sebert said that there is a potential for Fruth Field to be eligible for a grant up to 250 thousand dollars through the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program. The website for the program claims that eligibility for a grant is determined in part by the project being sponsored by a high school and being in low to moderate income areas within NFL Target Markets. According to the official request for proposals for the Grassroots Program, Fond du Lac does not fall within the target market of the Green Bay Packers, with the Packers exclusively considering their target market to be locations in Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Racine and Sheboygan. Barring some sort of negotiation with the Grassroots Program, that grant appears to be out of the question. The district would have to look elsewhere.
Pros
THE BENEFITS
Con s
•Pos s •No ible wa ter trac run •Spec k off ial t •Dan ool s •Too ger of f needed l o h od ot •Cos t of to use ing o the pro n hot d ject ays
League] would use it as well. And just the number of band concerts and competitions we could hold he primary benefit that would be great. We could certainly supporters of the proposal host graduation out there.” see as something that may If the proposal is approved, come out of the renovations is the Fruth Field facilities would opportunities for other clubs and have far more opportunities to students to be able to utilize Fruth host special events, not only for Field in their own ways. As Fruth the school but for the city of Field is currently known mostly Fond du Lac. The field would be for football games and a few other used as a public space at times, events that are occasionally held and would have the opportunity there, approval of the renovations to host events unrelated to the could open doors to a variety of high school at a price. Hypothetiother possible events. cally, people would come from all “Some of the stuff that has across the state to Fond du Lac been discussed is using it, obvifor different events held at the ously, for our high school athletes, state-of-the-art facility that Fruth football, soccer,” Athletic DirecField would end up becoming. tor David Michalkiewicz said. Supporters of the proposal expect “We will also be using it for a lot this to be a major “cash cow” for of our youth programs, again the city. football and soccer. We can also “Going outside of the school use it for baseball and softball for realm of it, they also will look at practices.” allowing the facility to be used by “I believe that a majority of the community,” Michalkiewicz students in schools in our confer- said. “They’re looking at putting a ence will have, or will be playing pavilion up there. I know Dr. Seon, artificial turf in the very near bert had mentioned that he’d been future,” Principal Michelle Hagen contacted in the past about having said. “So this would allow our stu- concerts out at Fruth Field, but dents to have the same opportuni- because of the lack of a surface ties as other athletes and students and the lack of, really, an area to in our area.” hold that, they have just denied “We’d be able to play a whole that possibility.” lot more football on it,” footAn improved Fruth Field is ball coach Michael Gnewuch expected to boost school spirit as said. “The JFL [ Junior Football well, giving students yet another
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eating r band s ities •Area fo nd activ a b r o f •Space sports r other •Area fo stem ound sy istrict •Better s er for d ce k a m y e •Mon blic spa ially pu •Potent l spirit e schoo •Increas
reason to go to Fruth Field for a variety of events. “Football has a lot of things going for it that other sports don’t,” Hagen said. “It’s the time of the year that kids are coming back to school, it’s kind of that autumn activity that people can do as a family. I think that football is one of the most recognized. One of the sports the most people are interested in.”
THE DRAWBACKS
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he most difficult aspect of this entire proposal is the overall cost. 2 million dollars is by no means a small amount. “Our community should not be expected to pay for for such an extravagant upgrade to the field,” board member Susan Jones said. “Every year the poverty [sic] rate of the community becomes larger. As a district and a community, I believe expending money on this project is irresponsible.” The location of Fruth Field is another area of concern for many, as the field is positioned in a floodplain near the Fond du Lac River. A field sampling study by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection concluded that the zinc used as a part of the artificial turf poses a significant risk to groundwater
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Zach Renderman / Art Director // Noah Burdett / Staff Writer // Carley Higgins / Staff Writer
or surface waters. In the event of another flooding of the Fond du Lac River, the water could be endangered. Additionally, according to a report by NPR, artificial turf has the potential to reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit while directly exposed to the sun. This could potentially render the field too hot for use on the warmer days of the year.
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THE SUPPORT
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mongst the most ardent supporters of the renovation proposal are two who were closest to the plan, superintendent Sebert and athletic director Michalkiewicz. “I think if it’s something we can do through private donations, I think it’s gonna be a great thing for the school,” Michalkiewicz said. “I think it’ll be a great thing for the community. I think it’s gonna be something that’ll be used, not just for athletics, but will be used by all of our co-curricular activities, and can be used by all levels of the school district.” “With the (new entrance) building on it, I thought it would be a great way for us to start to raise more revenue to pay off the building because we would use it so much |
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significantly more,” Dr. Sebert said. “We’d be able to bring in lots of different groups and have lots of different opportunities to play on it.” Principal Michelle Hagen believes that the overall package of improvements would simultaneously take care of needs and enhance the facility. “When we look at the facilities that other schools have, it would keep us more in line with what other schools are able to provide for their students,” Hagen said. Both students and coaches who are associated with the football team have shown support for the proposal, seeing the ideas as beneficial to more aspects of the school than just their own team. Other members of different sports teams also see many benefits in the proposal that pay off for the entire school. “I actually think, with the football team, they have the least amount of potential to use this field as any other sports,” football player Justin Maratik said. “Now, because of this field, the whole soccer team are getting a whole new facility to use, as well as band and orchestra with the stage, where the
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football student-athletes are just getting artificial field.” “It’s for students as a whole,” Gnewuch said. “It’s not just for the football team. I don’t know if there was a real clear picture that was presented initially, so people have their own misconceptions on how they think it’s going to be used.” “It will bring a better fan base and bring the community together,” said wrestler Josh Adams. “Ultimately, I think there would be a necessity for it,” said boy’s basketball coach Mark Ziebell. “You certainly don’t want to be the last one, the only one not to have something.” “I think if they’re getting the money from outside sources, and it’s not school budget money, then I am all for it,” girl’s basketball coach Jeff Bell said. “It impacts music, it impacts soccer, not just football. It’s impacting a lot of people, so I think it’s a good thing.”
THE OPPOSITION
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here has been a widespread debate about the necessity of the proposal, with many students seeing the improvements as a waste of money that could be used better in other places.
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OUR TAKE
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Cardinal Columns
“I feel like the money could best place to bring a stadium go to something better,” freshwould be right over here.” man Elissa Yarber said. “Not Additionally, athletes from here is not curjust the music department, but other sports have questioned rently a set time at which other sports that need money.” whether the renovations are truly the board will make their “I can understand wanting needed before devoting attention official decision on whether to upgrade our sports facilities, to other areas of the school. or not to go forward with the since you can’t say that Fruth “I think it’s a good idea to proposal. Field is the best sports facilupgrade, but other sports need With 2 million dollars at ity in the state,” senior Haruka more equipment because it’s not stake, it’s imperative for everyYukioka said. “However, that’s a the best,” hockey player William one involved with the Fruth lot of money to be borrowing. I Shober said. “Football’s doing Field project to become incan, as a student, count a numpretty good.” formed about the facts. If ber of things that I would like to anyone, whether it be a school see upgraded, such as the leaky he original Fruth Ath- board member or high school ceilings in the music department, letic Field was dedistudent, wants their voice to be and the bathrooms, some of the cated on November 6, heard, there is no doubt that the 1941, to the recently deceased doors don’t lock. And I feel like time to speak up is now. KnowlEd Fruth. Fruth was the bethat should be a priority.” edge is power, and an issue this loved athletic director at Fond Coaches of other sports big for the school is too impordu Lac High School, and within the school have also tant to not take a side on. If shortly spoken about the proposal and you’d like to show your support are unsure if the time is right for after his or concern, there are plenty of death another upgrade. outlets to do so, but there are the “It’s gonna be an attraction few as direct as a school board stadium for the community,” golf coach meeting. At each meeting the was reJim Flasch said. “But if that public is given an opportunity to named comes at the cost of risking the come up and speak directly to in his financial stability, I don’t know the school board. If anyone is at honor. if it’s worth it. Fruth Field has all invested in either the approval Fruth history, there’s just something or denial of this proposal, go to about a grass field that I think is Field a school board meeting and let still was in existence prior to just kind of nostalgic and tradithose who will eventually vote Fruth’s death, however until tional.” upon the proposal hear your his death the field had no “If it’s coming from private voice. No matter who you are, name. Commemorating his donations, it doesn’t matter to if you have any relation to this legacy for over 75 years, Fruth me as far as that goes,” tennis issue or not, your voice matters. Field has hosted a plethora coach Joe Sagen said. “But if The support or opposition of of football games and other you were to ask me, I’d say to the public to the proposal will events in its time as a maininvest here at the high school, have an immeasurable effect on stay of the city of Fond du because I think that eventually the passage of the proposal. Lac. everything should come here. The next school board meetAnd I understand there’s a long ing is April 25. tradition of Fruth Field, and I The district cares about you. like that, but when it comes to Wrestler Daniel Wyant beIt’s time to show that you care business you’ve got to take the lieves that the school “glorifies about the district. emotion out of it. Look at the football,” putting more focus on practicality of things. I think the the sport than any other sport.
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Homelessness in Highschool The unique struggles that homeless teens face Madison Supple // Editor-In-Chief
uring junior year of high school, Leighton spent part of high school living with a friend while his or her mother was sent to live in a shelter. “We were evicted from our home,” Leighton said. “Then this year, in the beginning of the year and part of the summer I lived with my other friend and her family, my mom had to go to a shelter in Oshkosh, but even when I had a home, there were a lot of struggles.” This isn’t just Leighton’s story, this is their life. “When you’re young you think it’s cool to live with your best friend” Leighton said. Due to the confidentiality of all homeless students, Leighton’s name and prefix has been changed to keep his or her identity safe. Every year, the Fond du Lac school district struggles to support homeless students and their families because of the unfamiliarity of the schools programs to getting homeless families, back into homes and back on their feet. The Fond du Lac school district is at an all time high with approximately 101 known homeless students this school year and many still unknown due to feeling embarrassed, dropping out of school or not knowing the homelessness qualifications. “Automatically people think oh I’m not living in the park, I’m not living in my car, I have a place to sleep so I’m not homeless, but that isn’t the case,” school counselor Michele Burns-Johnson said.
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With over two thousand students attending Fond du Lac High School and only 22 identified students, many school officials have said that our numbers should be at least double. “I learned to deal with life a lot sooner than others,” Leighton said. “The school offered me bus passes that I pay twenty dollars a month for, when I worked I made sure my sibling had a phone and Christmas presents under the tree. Because of life I couldn’t really do school, I mostly worked, cleaned, made sure my sibling got help with homework, sometimes I cooked and I was just too tired to do homework. Seven class periods is a lot.” When a student becomes homeless, they will face unique challenges that put them in a stressful position, making coming to school a difficult task. When school is stressful enough, many students are too ashamed to make it known that they are struggling. “If the families don’t come forward it might be an issue of they just don’t want people to know,” BurnsJohnson said. “If it’s like a 17-year-old that literally cannot go home, maybe they’re afraid that social services might be called and they’ll get in trouble. They might even think we’ll make them go back to their home.” “First of all, because we enroll the students, we are, so to speak, the first line of defense to try to identify [them],” Burns-Johnson said. “We do try to get to know the students and the parents, if they don’t say something when they enroll it may come up at a later time. Once they are identified as being homeless, we work as a team as a school to get them resources.” Any student in high school under the age of eighteen is considered homeless if they are living with someone else because of economic hardship, awaiting foster care or if they live in a shelter, car, or motel due to lack of adequate housing and they are eligible for help through the school district. Fond du Lac High School has many programs and special services to help benefit struggling students that many people don’t know about, such as school transportation, help-
ing to meet activity fee costs, medical and dental help, college financial help, and the ability to waive testing fees for students who want to attend secondary schools such as Moraine Park Technical College and UW Fond du Lac. This is made possible by the McKinney Vento Services. The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the troubles that homeless children and youth face while enrolling, attending and succeeding in school. The Fond du Lac School District is required under state law to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices or policies that may act as barriers to the homeless children and youth. “[School counselor] Mrs. Snyder works very closely with the identified homeless students to go through all of their options that are available,” principal Michelle Hagen said. “We also have Linda Tack who works as the homeless coordinator for the en-
helpful and they are, they are SO helpful!” Children experiencing homelessness face many barriers to education, such as transportation, delayed enrollment, lack of school supplies and clothing, poor health, fatigue and hunger, prejudice and finally, misunderstanding but, because of the programs made possible at school, some of these barriers are removed. “The most important thing is to make a student feel safe, comfortable and cared for,” Tack said. “That’s what allows a student to be a student.” “Once the kids are identified we [the counselors] add them to our calendars at least once a week so that we can check in with them and see if they need anything,” Burns-Johnson said. “Last week I had a couple of kids who needed money for a field trip, and I made a couple calls downtown and got them the money. Even if they have housing and the parents get back on their feet, we still consider them homeless so that we can get them benefits: school supplies, clothes, health care counseling, things like that.” Homeless students receive a lot of physical and emotional help, but when education is also of high importance, college is never unachievable. “We need to make sure there are no barriers towards education because education is the way out,” Homeless Coordinator Linda Tack said. Getting your High School degree is very important when applying for colleges and jobs, so when getting that education becomes hard or complicated, students can become frustrated. With all of his or her hardships, Leighton has learned to carry on to try his or her hardest to earn a high school degree. “Right now some kids are struggling with school, but that’s because they are choosing to be that way, and that hurts me because I didn’t choose to struggle with school and go through everything, but I had to,” Leighton said. “Right now Mrs. Schatzinger is helping keeping me updated with scholarships, she helps me apply to as many colleges as possible, but throughout the whole process they have helped me with bus passes,
“Automatically people think oh I’m not living in the park, I’m not living in my car, I have a place to sleep so I’m not homeless but that isn’t the case.” -Michele Burns-Johnson tire district. But we do try to put supports in place, Mrs. Tack and [athletic director] Mr. Michalkiewicz worked on a survey to show all of our extra curriculars and making sure that we can connect them to school to get them extra support. We have financial support, we make sure the counselors are aware so that we can have social and emotional support in place for the identified student and then we do anything we can to make sure we can provide whatever other support that they need.” Counselors and Principals however are not the only ones who can be a help in the education of homeless students. Teachers play a big role in offering support and help. “I always ask my students if they want me to let their teachers know because I think that that is very important,” Burns-Johnson said. “Especially when the student comes to school they’re preoccupied, tired and I think that the teachers should know and they want to know so that they can be understanding and
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Mrs. Snyder helped me out with food because of the food pantry, they helped me with money because of bills and the house I am living in now is through ADVOCAP”. If you or someone you know is struggling with homelessness, school counselors, teachers and principals can point you in the right direction. All conversations between anyone in Student Services is completely confidential and focuses on providing as much help as needed. Counselors have many sources and resources for homeless students to help get them back on their feet. You don’t have to go through this alone. The Fond du Lac District is
here to help you, your family, your education and your future. “If you feel uncomfortable going to someone, you can always write a letter and hopefully that letter can initiate a conversation,” Hagen said. “It is difficult for a person to go to someone and say I need help.” According to Tack, it isn’t just the Fond du Lac district however that needs to look after homeless students, it is a shared responsibility of our state and our country. “I think we need to look at all of the students in Wisconsin and bring in the big picture on how it isn’t the student’s fault and it is our responsibility to take care of them,” Tack
said. “When you have just a little endurance to confide in someone, that is the beauty in how we can help you. Let us help you and let us support you.” The most important thing that homeless students need to hear and understand is it is not their fault and the help they need is here and available. “When a kid has the strength to tell someone where they are and what is going on, that’s what is incredible,” Tack said. “They are showing how they are willing to stand up for themselves and advocate for themselves and that is a very adult thing to do.”
**If you know someone showing warning signs, get in touch with your counselor Marian Sheridan Coordinator of School Health and Safety Program sheridanm@fonddulac.k12.wi.us 920-906-6548
Linda Tack Homeless Grant Coordinator 920-906-6700 Ext. 4703 tackl@fonddulac.k12.wi.us
Prom On A Budget
Prom can be expensive! From the tickets to the dance to dinner, the dress, makeup, hair, nails, corsage and shoes… It’s a long lost that adds up to a lot of money. Here are some tips to cut down the cost for the wonderful night.
Regan Le Doux // Desk Editor Dress:
Autumn, of Autumn’s Closet, is extremely kind and her shop is full of beautiful dresses, that are easier on the wallet. Besides stores, there are buy and sell websites for prom dresses. Easy to use websites include Promdressshop.com, Promagain.com, and Thedresslist.com. Only interested in a new dress? You can split the cost with a friend from a different school and you could both wear the dress. Keep in mind the sizing and the dates of the two dances. Have a knack for sewing? Fix up an older dress. This could be a used one you buy or a dress saved by a friend or family member.
Shoes:
Cute high heels can become expensive, especially when trying to match them to the color of your dress. They are generally uncomfortable and most girls end up taking them off anyway. Just go with a neutral colored pair of flats. You can keep a cute pair of shoes on all night at a better price.
Accessories:
While the goal is to make everything match, there is no need to run out and buy all new jewelry. More than likely, something you already have will coordinate. If not, remember less is more when it comes to jewelry. Find something simplistic to accent the elements of your dress rather than something large and flashy. Using this year’s Roaring Twenties theme, a good accessory would be a long pearl necklace.
Makeup:
Instead of getting your makeup done by a professional, find a friend that knows how to do the look you want. If you don’t wear makeup often, test out the look a few times to make sure it’s what you really want.
With all the money you saved, you can get a beautiful up-do and manicure. BY BRINGING IN THIS ARTICLE AND MENTIONING THE AD WHILE BOOKING, YOU CAN GET 20% OF YOUR APPOINTMENT (FOR AN UPDO, MAKEUP, NAILS AND TANNING) AT CREATE SALON. You can leave the hardest work up to someone else. CARDINAL COLUMNS.ORG
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G R OW I NG
GROW
A PA R T
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Changing Friends and the Impact on Personality Regan Le Doux // Desk Editor
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ocial studies teacher, Brandon Petersen, rotated through friend groups based on the different sport seasons. The people he spent his time with only changed as teammates did. This shaped the way his friendships developed during his high school career. “It was definitely with me that I spent more time with the soccer team,” Petersen said. “The winter was strength training and football players. The spring was tennis. Those are the people you hang out with.” In Fond du Lac High School, friendships changing is not uncommon. Students and staff told stories of why friendships changed and how friendships changed them for the better. “You associate with those who have the same plan,” Petersen said. “I see it in students: they have falling outs for going separate ways. Maybe it’s preparing oneself for ‘oh I’ll never see these people again’”. 23
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He was not the only one to have a group rotation. English teacher, Kristin Miller had a similar experience. Like Petersen, Miller’s rotation led to her being friends with different types of people.
If you lose friends, it’s for a good reason ~Gavin Hambrick “I had the same best friend, but we had the tendency to hop groups a lot,” Miller said. “By the end of high school, we had a very diverse group.”
CARDINAL COLUMNS.ORG
This way of finding friends was not just displayed from Fond du Lac High School’s teachers. Senior Jacob Kroll gained friends from the leadership role he has played throughout high school. He has been a class officer since the beginning of his high school career and generally stayed with the people associated with this responsibility. “I’ve stuck with the same kids that do prom, float building, homecoming,” Kroll said. Especially in the earlier years of high school, students may stick with the same people because of familiarity. “[My friend and I] started out with middle school friends,” Miller said. “But as we were more comfortable, we found people more similar to us.” In addition to specific group-related activities, friendships change from the way an individual’s attitude does. This is a collective feeling among the staff and students at Fond du Lac High School.
“Freshman and sophomore year, you are more influenced to follow or fit in or be like other people,” senior Gavin Hambrick said.“People changed and became people I would rather not associate with.” Petersen felt that you move on from people. “Senior year-- some of it is-- you get sick of the popularity,” Petersen said. “Freshman and sophomore year, you’re so guarded about who you are. Then junior, senior year, you just don’t care. The mindset is you don’t have to see these people ever again.” Why the change in mindset? “Junior year, you make a jump and start realizing more who you are and what you want to do,” social studies teacher, Matt Rukamp, said. This proved to be true for junior Brett Eck. “From freshman to junior year, my values changed from the stuff I thought was more important. They became less important,” Eck said. Eck has kept one of the same friends
though. This is someone he has known since kindergarten and sees himself keeping this person close in years to follow. Individuals, however, are not always the root of their change. As Kroll discovered, others’ choices can influence how an individual matures. “I think it’s natural to move on,” Kroll said. “Friendships change. I had a friend that I was close with, but we stopped talking. We had a lot of good memories together, but I had to move on. I feel guilty about it.”
We mature differently ~Jacob Kroll Despite his guilt, Kroll said it was a positive learning experience. Other students thought of friendships changing in that manner.
“It’s all just a learning experience,” freshman Justin Mueller said. “I see them as a specific person and I know those characteristics. I try to find people that are not like that.” In contrary to Kroll and Mueller, freshman Jenna Roth has not drifted apart from friends. Instead, she has expanded her friend group. “I have gained a lot of friends through many of my new classes and also through the musical,” Roth said. “I don’t think I have changed very much because I don’t let me friends’ choices influence my choices, especially if they are bad ones.” Among the staff and students at Fond du Lac High School, friendships have changed and remained the same. For those who have changed, none said they viewed it as a negative experience. They said it has made them the people they are today. “They may change over time and we may drift apart,” Mueller said. “It could mean they’re growing up and moving onto bigger, better things.”
Inspiration Behind Growing Apart: I wanted to write this story to see if other people have experienced something I noticed in my own life. Having gone to three different high schools, including Fond du Lac High School, I made my friends. Some of those people, I am still very close to. Others only fill up my social media. Reflecting on this, I realized that I am not and they are not the same person. We do not have the same interests like we once did. We are not in the same circle of friends. We are not close with the same type of people anymore. Personally, I see this as natural. The closer we get to the real world, the more we realize what we want to do with our lives. This makes us take direction paths in life. Paths that can lead us to away from or closer to the people in our lives.
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E D I T O R I A L S
Letters to the Editor Written by Senior // Haruka Yukioka
I
am writing in response to the Cardinal Columns “Age Is Just a Number - Madison Supple and Regan Le Doux” article. Each relationship is unique, and in no way is this meant to condemn or support all relationships with an age difference. However, my intention is to provide a point of view that I feel was missing from the published article. First and foremost, the likelihood of an unhealthy power dynamic increases sharply in a relationship with a significant age difference. Unhealthy power dynamics begin to pop up when one has more life experience, is more economically stable, and/or has achieved a higher level of education. These factors are much more likely in relationships with a big age difference. When one person holds most of the power in a relationship, it becomes much easier for abuse to be perpetrated, even without intention. With one in every third teenager experiencing dating abuse already, there is no need to make it easier for abuse to happen. The legal consequences are also paramount. While not all relationships involve a sexual component, many do. In Wisconsin, it is illegal for an eighteen year old to have any form of sexual contact with a minor unless they are married. Anyone having sexual contact with a minor under the age of sixteen is committing a Class C Felony, which incurs a fine of up to $100,000,
editorial policy The Fond du Lac High School Media Editorial Policy applies to all FHS media, including the Cardinal Columns News Magazine, CardinalColumns.org and the daily broadcast of Fondy Today. All student media referenced in this editorial policy are designated public forums written, edited and managed by FHS students as part of journalism classes tought by a certified journalism instructor. 25
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forty years in prison, or both. Anyone having sexual contact with a minor sixteen or over is committing a Class A Misdemeanor, which incurs a fine of up to $10,000, nine months in prison, or both. In All letters to the editor are addition, they are greatly appreciated and subject to statutes welcomed. 948.10 and 948.025, As an editorial board, we which carry conlove to hear your comsequences of a ments and concerns about Class I felony and the Cardinal Colmns, not Class A-C felonies only does it help us grow respectively. as a staff, but it helps us I can attest to show that the harmfulness we are the voice of the students and what you of age gaps. I was have to say matters. deeply in love with If you would like to write my partner and a "Letter to The Editor", adored him complease follow the policy pletely. I ignored and steps below. Thank every word of cauyou. tion, believing that others didn’t know -The Cardinal Columns him like I did and that he would never pressure me or make me feel like less for being younger. However, when I look back, I now see many red flags of manipulation and abuse that I couldn’t see then. When you wear rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like regular flags.
Letters to the Editor
The Cardinal Columns newsmagazine welcomes opinions from students and faculty in the form of letters to the editor. Letters must be signed with a first and last name and be 250 words or less. Letters may be submitted through an E-mail or Google doc to CardinalColumns@Gmail.com.
Advertising
The Cardinal Columns accepts advertising in both its quarterly magazine and through CardinalColumns.org. To inquire about running an aadvertisement complete the form on the “Contact Us” page on CardinalColumns.org, call the school office at 920-929-2740 or e-mail the advisor at smithm@fonddulac.k12.wi.us.
For our full Editorial Policy visit: www.CardinalColumns.org
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Mommy Misunderstandings
The Real Life Struggles of Becoming a Teen Mom Brought to Light. Madison Supple // Editor-in Chief
ecoming a mother is a beautiful experience, but the responsibility that comes with it is extraordinary. Erin Shaw, a junior and teen mother of daughter Emberlynn, comes forward about the truth, the beauty and the complications of being a teenage mom. July 9, 2015, Erin was kept up with anger after hearing about another student talking about wanting to become pregnant, she then wrote the following post as her newborn child lay next to her; “To teens who want to get pregnant, or are actively trying. I am not trying to sound harsh, I am just trying to change your mind. Let me tell you how it goes. You wake up, take care of baby. You eat a few crackers because you don’t have time for a meal. You get your child ready, and attempt to get yourself ready. You get a shower if you’re lucky. You take care of your child the whole day, maybe squeeze in another meal. You put your child and yourself to bed. You wake up and feed them every two hours. And it repeats. Every day. You lose every single one of your friends when you become a teen mother or father. No one wants to hangout with a baby. They might say they’ll stick with you through it, but they won’t. They’ll leave. All of them. You’ll be gone from school a lot because of morning sickness, doctors appointments, backaches, even emergency doctors appointments. Oh and of course there’s maternity leave. Anywhere from 2-10 weeks away from school, depending on labor complications. If you’re thinking, “Yay, no school!” Then think again. Your grades will drop because of this. You’ll fail, or barely
pass, the majority of your classes. Your teachers won’t help you when you’re gone. You’ll email your English teacher, four times, asking her what they’re doing in class. When she finally tells you they’re writing papers, you’ll turn in the paper, and she will claim she never got it. You’ll have to get a school counselor involved because your teachers aren’t helping. If you think all that’s bad, what about money? You’ll have to get a job, and maybe have to drop out of high school because of that job. You’ll have to apply for many types of state assistance, such as insurance, food, and daycare, hoping they will give it to you. All your doctor appointments add up. Especially the labor and delivery bill. It’s huge. You won’t be able to spend money and that cool pair of shoes. You won’t be able to go to taco bell whenever you want. Everything will go to providing for your child. Diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, a crib, changing table, play mat, saucer. The list of things a baby needs goes on and on. Say goodbye to your money, and also your sleep. No more sleeping straight through the night. Newborns wake up every two hours to eat, and infants wake up 2-3 times a night. It’s exhausting. No one will ever know true sleep deprivation, unless you have a child. You’ll fall asleep everywhere because you’re so tired. Right when you fall asleep, your baby will wake up. It’s stressful. Very stressful. There will be times when your baby will cry and cry and cry and you won’t know what to do. They won’t eat, you’ve changed their diaper already, they won’t sleep, they won’t burp. They will just cry. And cry. And cry. And cry. You’ll get frustrated at yourself for not being able to tell what’s wrong. Then you
might get upset with your baby. You’ll have to put the baby in their crib, screaming, and leave the room because you’re so stressed. Your family may never want to speak to you again when they find out you’re pregnant. They might kick you out of the house. “She’s ruined her life,” or, “He ruined our family’s reputation,” or, “Tell her to get an abortion.” They will say things you never thought your loving family would say. And ladies, that guy who said he loves you, will leave. When they say they will be there forever, they are lying. Yes, there are some dad’s who stay, but the chance of it being your guy, are very slim. Please don’t try to have a baby as a teen. It’s not cool, it’s hard. Raising a child this young, is so hard. One of the hardest things someone can do. Next time that person wants to have sex with you, think of the consequences. And if you’re trying to have a baby this young, I hope you read this post and reconsider.” Erin shares this post at least once a month in hopes that it will reach people all around the world. “I think girls try to get pregnant so that their boyfriends will stay and stupid things like that,” Shaw said. “I think we need to educate them more than just having the teen parents come in to talk to just the freshman, I think that they should speak to everyone because it’s the juniors and sophomores that are the ones trying. Being a mother is nothing like what they show on Teen Mom. It’s so much harder than they portray it as. I wouldn’t change anything but it is not the ideal and I don’t understand why girls at this age are wanting to have children.”
Let There Be Rock Why Rock USA is the superior music festival Zach Renderman // Art Director
I
have never been to Rock USA. I have wanted to go just about every year for awhile now, but have never had the means to do so. My love of rock music in just about any capacity is among the defining traits that make me who I am. So it’s no wonder that I would prefer Rock USA over Country USA. There are perhaps a total of two or three total country songs that I would ever willingly listen to, whereas I know a countless number of rock songs by heart. Sometimes I identify with the music and find pieces of the music that I can relate to, and other times the music within the song itself just sounds awesome. Even if you think that Country USA would be worth going to just to see the artists who happen to be performing there, the overall value of tickets to Rock USA compared to Country USA is spectacular. The caliber of artists at Rock USA are a group that most would have to spend hundreds, if not thousands, to see individually, as they mostly play at larger festivals, whereas most Country USA bands can be found in smaller clubs around the country for far less money. Being completely honest, a main reason why I lean toward
Rock USA based solely on the fact that Alice in Chains, my favorite band of all time, is one of the three headliners. Even though I saw them last August they are such a spectacular live band that they would definitely be worth seeing a second time. And I’ve seen Skillet three times already due to my family’s prior treks to Lifest, and I can guarantee that Skillet puts on an awesome live show as well. And there are plenty of opportunities to see bands who do not come around the Wisconsin area too often. From fellow headliners Five Finger Death Punch and Slipknot to other well known bands such as Shinedown, Halestorm, Trivium and Chevelle, Rock USA contains a palette of rock radio staples that are all guaranteed to put on can’t-miss live shows. Why would you ever want to miss out on a great opportunity like Rock USA? Any fan of quality rock music should have a wonderful time at Rock USA, headbanging the night away with a crowd of fellow rock fans. Very few lineups would be able to stack up to the lineup that Rock USA has come up with. Rock USA promises to be an exciting and engaging time for anyone who wishes to go.
Gone Country
Why Country USA is the superior music festival Regan Le Doux // Desk Editor
G
rowing up with a family that loves both country and rock, music festivals with the family are a given. Having a birthday in between two major music festivals, the summer proposes a problem. Country USA or Rock USA? Having been to Country USA before, I know the way it operates. By that I mean, I know the people and the general atmosphere. The event was extremely exciting and fun to attend since I first began going. For my first year of attendance, my mother had surprised me with tickets for my birthday. Because of the lineup for the year, the date fell directly on my birthday. This made me all the more exciting because it felt like the concerts would be just for me (in my egocentric, early teenage brain). The excitement continued all through the night, even as the show came to an end. This led me to easily agree to go again following years. 27
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In addition to my great experiences, I’m also more likely to go to Country USA because of the pricing. Because Rock USA has pricing levels, I will only compare the gate prices. For all five days of Country USA it costs $200, or $40 per day. For the three days Rock USA it costs $159, or $53 per day. This does not include a Pit Pass. It costs an additional $74 a day to for the Pit Pass. The single day price for Country USA is $70, where Rock USA is $89. This year country lovers can look forward to the headliners Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt. Other well known acts include Montgomery Gentry, Dan and Shay, Frankie Ballard, Brothers Osborne, Dustin Lynch, Cam, Chase Rice, and many more. There is five bands/ singers each day for five days. There is hours of great music and fun fit for that whole family.
Illustrating Individuality The Following letter was sent to Michelle Hagen on March 3rd
Dear Mrs. Hagen, Graduation is one of the most important days of any student’s life. It signifies that for the past 12 years we put up with staying up until midnight studying, doing four hours of homework, being stressed to the point of crying, and changing a part of our wardrobe to walk the halls. The day we walk across the stage, we are adults showing that we will work hard to achieve great things. We will all sit down in our cardinal-red robes, with our tassels on the right and our caps pinned in our hair. We will all look insync as our parents watch from the bleachers. Though we all look unified, we are missing a key part of something important to a graduating senior: memories and individuality. For years throughout the country, it has been a tradition for seniors to decorate their graduation caps with their future plans or past memories. In this way we are not only separating ourselves from the other 500 students around us but sharing our story with the families and attendees that gathered to witness all that we have achieved. Many of our students have their next four years planned out, and it is common for them to want to put the name of their college or even military branch on their cap. It shows pride and spirit, two things that you have shown us over the years. We are taught to be ourselves and express our individuality in many ways such as getting involved in clubs, being on a sports team or writing an editorial for the Cardinal Columns to bring awareness to things that are forgotten. Decorating our graduation caps is the last thing we are going to be able to do to show who we are and what we want to leave with people knowing about us as we walk the halls one last time, as the class of 2016. I can understand how one would be worried about allowing us to decorate our caps as there would be students who could abuse that responsibility and put something inappropriate or offensive on their cap, but there
are steps that can be taken to prevent it. Every Monday students meet in their homerooms. On one of those Monday’s before graduation, the homeroom teachers of Seniors could make a list of students interested in decorating their cap. Closer to graduation, the students can bring in their finished cap or a drawing and have it approved by the teacher or Assistant Principal. On the day of graduation, all Seniors have to meet in their homerooms before the ceremony, and that would be the time for the final check of caps to make sure that a student isn’t trying to sneak in any unapproved alterations or changes. If that is the case, that students would either not have a cap, would have to purchase a replacement or wouldn’t be able to walk at graduation. This is just one example of the many precautions that could be put in place to ensure graduation remains respectful, even as students exhibit their pride and future goals.. Graduation isn’t just about getting out of high school and going to college. Graduation is showing that you will go as far as staying up until midnight studying, doing 4 hours of homework, being stressed at LEAST once a week, and wearing tights with our shorts in fear that we will get in trouble. I feel that as young adults we should be able to have this responsibility so we can prove how mature we are and show our creativity, individuality, inspirations and aspirations. It isn’t too late for us to have this opportunity, and I hope it becomes a possibility. Please let me know your thoughts and if we can make this happen. I would love to talk about this more if you have any questions or concerns, this would mean everything to myself and to my fellow class of 2016. Sincerely, Editor-In-Chief of the Cardinal Columns Madison Supple
Not long after sending Mrs. Hagen this letter, she met with me in person and we talked about the possibilities of decorating graduation caps. Mrs. Hagen agreed that decorating caps would be a nice thing for seniors and that seperating yourself from others is important. Hagen is currently getting in contact with other schools that allow cap decorating and other higher authorities to see if it can be possible. Although she says it might be hard to make it happen this year, she is hoping for the future class of 2017. CARDINAL COLUMNS.ORG
APRIL 2016
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Selling Innocence
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The models pictured are not affiliated with the story.
My take on the polarized debate of the porn industry
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Madison Supple // Editor-in-Chief
s graduation is right around the corn e r , many students are hastily trying to decide what to do after high school. While some kids decide to go to college or into the military, many students will be trying to find jobs to support themselves for the future. The amateur porn and adult film industry is growing year by year with many graduating seniors looking to make some fast cash. Many students agreed that they would do adult films if paid a decent amount of money, but what they don’t understand is that with big money, comes big responsibility, possibly leading to losing yourself. After doing one shoot, many young adults will stay in the industry because of how easily and how much money can be made, though some may not like the business, they can become addicted to the income and that makes it hard to say no. A common myth about porn is that every girl and boy in it enjoys it but, most times that is far from the truth. April Garris, in an interview with Matt Fradd, a Catholic Apologist and Speaker, exposes the five most common myths about the adult film industry. “Having been in the industry, I can tell you that it is not a pleasurable experience,” April said. “The sex itself is painful, and the girls are exposed to all kinds of abuse, both by the pornographers and the people on set. It is beyond degrading, and for many of us, the only way we could endure the shoots was by numbing ourselves with drugs or alcohol, telling ourselves that it will all be over in a couple of hours, and completely zon-
ing out, sort of disconnecting ourselves from the whole experience.” Getting into the adult film industry isn’t always expected, some people get into it unexpectedly by doing jobs that are completely unrelated or closely related. Being comfortable naked isn’t always the first step to getting into the industry, most times it’s about having a pretty face and knowing how to present yourself on camera. In high school, there are many people who are all about attention and will get that attention through many ways whether it is their attire, dramatic over reacting, the way they talk, or even posing naked for a magazine. If you look at social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Tumblr, many teens are already halfway there by posting their bikini shots or bathtub pictures. The escalating problem is now there are people who will pay high dollar for the same pictures and can over time pressure you into stripping down a little more each time. Young women and men have bodies that are fragile, naive, pure and innocent, but they would give that all up for five hundred dollars. That is good money, I understand that, it could buy groceries, gas, and pay for a cell phone bill, the point is, getting such a large amount of money to have a few nude pictures taken sounds easy, but you are selling yourself so young for something intended for grown women and men. It’s easy for a person to say the pictures are private, but the next day they could be on your family’s newsfeed, I know you probably have heard this many times, but once it’s on the internet, it’s never coming down, it’s there and everywhere forever. Although at 18 you are legally considered an adult, you are a young adult still learning, experiencing and
developing. Until you reach full maturity, the adult film industry might sound like fun and games, but your brain is not developed enough to show the bigger consequences and missed opportunities. Almost everyone in the adult film industry will experience physical, sexual and emotional abuse many times throughout their career. The big problem is, everyone assumes that all porn and nude modeling is, is being naked, or just having sex and looking good, it’s not, it’s so much more than that and it’s awful. Some people can become very successful being in the adult film industry, but they will hit many many walls and get shot down many times. Sure you might get death threats, be forced to have sex when you’re uncomfortable, be manipulated daily and not want to try something that everyone else suggests you to, but hey, at least you’re getting paid, right? Wrong. In an article written by Mary Rose Somarriba, she shares situations in the porn industry where you will be uninformed of things that will happen in a video shoot, while you think it is supposed to just be a romantic couples scene, when the cameras start rolling, so will the new ideas that you were unaware of. Many former actresses exploit their experiences all over the internet, going into detail on how they were choked and beaten. At 18 and 19-years-old, you are much too young to be exposed to this kind of torture and abuse. High school is not about having sex, getting noticed and being popular so don’t push limits and cross boundaries that could put you in a tough spot. Let your body mature, give yourself time to discover and most importantly, do your reasearch, porn isn’t an industry for children.
CARDINAL COLUMNS.ORG
DECEMBER 2014
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