Craze Issue 6: Empowerment by Craze Magazine

the empowerment issue issue six // volume twenty-nine // april 2017

table of

contents

05-06

making a difference

43-46

kaneko art student

07-16

spring into fashion

47-49

inspirational films

17-18

peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assembly

50-54

omaha fasion week

19-22

how to be alone

55-58

music reviews

23-26

teens being teens

59-62

draw the music

27-31

counter culture fashion

63-66

get fit!

32-36

blackstone district

67-70

beautiful cultures

37-40

project unify

71-72

natural beauty

41-42

educate yourself

73-74

early 2000s playlist

a letter

from

the editor

Finally. After four long, bloody, gruesome years, this is my last time working on Craze magazine. I wish I could say I’ve cherished every minute (right down to redoing the page numbers 200 times), but my staff and I breezed through this issue. For something that has completely dictated my entire high school life, this moment feels pretty unceremonious. I suppose that’s a good thing, it makes it easier to say goodbye. As my editors have done before me, I can finally pass down my baby to the amazing staff we’ve compiled for next year. But enough with all this me-talk, because that’s not what Craze is. I couldn’t have made it through this year without my amazing editorial staff and every member of Craze. Since my freshman year I’ve been surrounded by the best of the best, people that showed me what it means to be empowered. Through them I’ve learned that empowerment can be found in more things than just politics. Empowerment can be found in anything that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world—whether that be designing clothes, performing in plays, or embracing your natural beauty. For me, that’s being on Craze. In the rat race that is high school, we’re all just trying to find a reason to keep going. Sometimes when things are heavy, it feels like life will never get better. In this issue, we show you that empowerment finds you, and makes everything a little bit easier to manage. We hope you enjoy reading through our monthly passion project, it was truly a joy to create.

Bye Forever Westside.

— Grace Wolfe, Editor-in-Chief

contributors to the issue

Copy Editor Editor-in-Chief Erin Kruger Grace Wolfe

StaffEditor Design Richie Porras Lilli Marvin

Copy Editor Copy Editor Erin Kruger Erin Kruger

Staff Staff Richie Porras

StaffEditor Copy Erin Kruger Bailey Kocheiser

Staff Richie Porras Anna Greene

Richie Porras

Staff Editor Managing Ivan Reyes Kati Stanzel

Staff Staff Ivan Reyes

Photo Editor Kyndall Goodwin

Ivan Reyes

Staff Megan Murray

Staff Samantha Chesire

Staff Anastasiya Petrosyan

Copy Editor Staff Erin Kruger

Julia Steiner

Copy StaffEditor Erin Kruger

Staff Staff Richie Porras

Staff Staff Ivan Reyes

Staff Nick Protzman

Staff Staff Richie Porras

Staff Staff Ivan Reyes

Biruk Tewodros

Isabella Tyler

Ella Paulson

Kaylee Naverette

Kaelyn Mettler

Staff Kendall Brekke

StaffEditor Copy Erin Kruger Anne Stepenak

Staff Staff Richie VinnyPorras Nelson

Staff Emma Kopplin

Staff Lydia Kasem

HannahKate Kinney: Performer storytelling and making a difference story and design by julia steiner, photo by kyndall goodwin

very time freshman Hannah-Kate Kinney steps on stage, she’s diving into a new world. It’s like a lucid dream—she’s taking on a new persona, living another life. She is no longer Hannah-Kate, but whatever character she is meant to be. Theater is a rush for Kinney. She’s exhilarated on stage, filled with energy while going through

the motions she’s practiced countless times. By the time she goes off, everything is still running through her head. Did she say her lines correctly? Did she take that prop off stage? Her eyes scan through her script and notes before she’s called back on, venturing through the portal yet again. Kinney’s experience with theater began

feature // making a difference in second grade when she auditioned for “A Christmas Carol” at the Omaha Community Playhouse. She made it, and continued with that show for seven years. The freshman has performed in many shows, including the “Wizard of Oz,” “Annie,” “Ramona Quimby,” “Oklahoma,” and “Mama’s Girls.” She has performed all over Omaha at the Rose Theater, the Omaha Community Playhouse, Snap Productions, Bellevue Little Theater, and Westside Middle School where she was in “Footloose” and “The Adams Family”. This year she was in “Little Women” and “Zombie Prom” at WHS. One of Kinney’s favorite shows was “Little Women”. It was her first performance at the high school, and it introduced her to new theater skills she had never done before. She also enjoyed working with other students in the cast. “Everyone in theater is accepting of you, no one judges you for who you are,” Kinney said. “[The “Little Women” cast] all helped me kind of get the lay of the land and they took me under their wing and told me their secret traditions, and it was just really fun to be with all of the upperclassmen.” The freshman’s personality allows her to thrive in the environment. She’s fearless in front of strangers—outgoing and energetic. Despite Kinney’s positivity and confidence, she’s not immune to butterflies in her stomach. Around her peers, she tends to be more nervous. That’s what made “Little Women” a little scarier to do. She was in front of the judgmental eye of her classmates. Nevertheless, Kinney found her time on stage elating. “Mama’s Girls” was another one of her favorite productions, but for a different reason. The show was about twins, a boy and a girl, and it illustrated the male child’s difficult

transition to a female, and how the family dealt with the change. Kinney played the twin to the transgender child. The play seemed to be meaningful to transgender members in the audience. At every show, Kinney noticed someone crying. This reaction was different from the responses Kinney gets from her typical cheerful song-and-dance productions. “This play actually had an effect on the people watching, which was a real eye opener for me to see that acting and telling a story can truly be magical,” Kinney said. At the end of the show, the cast did talkbacks with the spectators to see how they felt about the play and how it impacted them. It was this response that made Kinney realize the potential importance of plays and the stories they tell. “Mama’s Girls” was also a significant production for Kinney because of her role. “I had to go totally out of my element, and I had to play this tomboy and I’m really girly. It was cool to play someone I’m generally not, and to see how much of an impact it had on our audience,” Kinney said. The most challenging aspect of theater for Kinney is balancing her activities and schoolwork, because rehearsals can be extremely time consuming. In the midst of all the stress, she sometimes questions why she puts herself through the endless ours of practice and preparation. However, the end result is rewarding. “When you get out on stage, all the stress of rehearsals is worth it,” Kinney said. With the final curtain call, Kinney feels a rush of relief, excitement, and pride. She’s stepping back into reality, and when she peers out into the audience, she spots her friends there supporting her. With the applause ringing in her ears as she bows, she flashes a smile, and knows all of the effort was worth her while.

“When you get out on stage, all the stress of rehearsals is worth it”

Springing Into 07

feature // spring fashion

ow that the godforsaken winter has retreated back into its cave, we can finally peel off the thick layers of fat and fuzz. With temperatures at record highs of 45 degrees, you can finally pull out the crop tops, daisy dukes, and sandals. It’s the first time in ages that our toes and scandalous shoulders have seen the light of day. It’s almost the

New Style

end of the school year, so why not be a rebel and wear a bikini? But, don’t forget an umbrella or raincoat because we all know Nebraska is indecisive and likes to throw snow or a tornado at us at any moment. Whether it’s a sweatshirt and Nike shorts or a dress and sandals, Craze is here to help you bring out the best in your spring wardrobe.

story by kyndall goodwin, design by isabella tyler, photos by ivan reyes

cute outfits for an unpredictable nebraska spring

Zuri Andrews 09

senior

feature // spring fashion

Sabrina Jansa

senior 14

Hannah Schremmer 15

senior

feature // spring fashion

The People’s Assembly local group promotes revolution

story by nick protzman, design by kaylee navarrette

he Bernie Sanders campaign in the 2016 small groups of people that shared the same views Presidential Election sparked a revolution and concerns came together for various causes. within politics—attracting a new group of These groups created a name for themselves and people that wanted to be involved. With established a presence on social media. progressive views that a younger crowd could “Basically we all started talking, and decided it relate to and the image of a humble man that lacks would be a good idea to put everyone in the same the corruption of the typical politician, Bernie room,” Miles Shannon, member of a nationallywas the ideal candidate that people had been known group called the General Defense looking for. Branding his politics as democratic Committee, a group that was originally founded to socialism, Bernie harshly opposed corruption of protect the working class and their rights, said. Wall Street and had policies At the Trump protest on that were in favor of the Inauguration Day, various “ The freedom to working class. However, groups created flyers and he received backlash from starve is not freedom. handed them out—inviting many Americans who could others to a gathering called Spending the majority not come to terms with the “People’s Assembly” at the concept of socialism the downtown library. The of one’s waking or support someone who groups involved included a went beyond the two-party chapter of the Democratic life toiling away for system. According to a poll Socialists of America, a capitalist is not in May 2016 by Gallup, only General Defense Committee, 35% of Americans have any Nebraska Left Coalition, and freedom.” sort of positive image of other small leftist/working socialism. By the end of the class-focused groups. election, it was made clear what Americans felt After conversing for a while and recognizing the comfortable with. potential of working together, it was decided that Socialism is an acknowledgment that capitalism it would be a good idea to continue meeting. Since can’t solve everything. Socialist policies address then it has become a recurring event every two issues where supply and demand don’t match up weeks at the same location. for goods and services that are vital to human One of the two main goals of the group is to survival, such as housing, health care, food, etc. reach out and educate others. They want to help Democratic socialism emphasizes the need for reach others class consciousness—the awareness of citizen participation, as it is not a dictatorship. one’s economic and social level. The working class When Donald Trump won the election, many knowing what is going on around them and being were shocked and disappointed that our country aware of their ability is key to making to change. allowed this to happen. It didn’t take long for Cooperation The other goal is planning and people to take to the streets all around the country participating in direct action, which is putting your to protest his election. Within Omaha, many body in the streets for political purposes, otherwise

feature // people's assembly

known as protesting. “Direct action is there to rip you out of your typical daily life, and make you uncomfortable and therefore make you think of the reasons why these people are blocking traffic,” Shannon said. Shannon has a degree in political science and geography from University of Nebraska-Omaha. Raised in a heavily conservative family in Texas, his first foray into politics was through the Republican party. “I loved the rhetoric of freedom and liberty,” Shannon said. “I was always a free-spirited person.” Shannon ended up working for the Nebraska Republican Party. Through doing that, he began to realize that the party was not what he had been led to believe it was. “Republicans want freedom and liberty for capitalists, not working people,” Shannon said. “The freedom to starve is not freedom. Spending the majority of ones waking life toiling away for a capitalist is not freedom.” He claims that the nail in the coffin for his exit of the Republican Party was in 2010, when the Supreme Court approved the Citizens United decision, which allowed corporations and billionaires to donate unlimited amounts of money from an anonymous source to campaigns. This decision, which would give increased control of the electoral system to corporations, was celebrated by the Republican party. “Listening to them insisting corporations were people lifted the veil of what the party

really was to me,” Shannon said. “That this was the party for the rich.” Shannon began participating in democratic politics. After a while of this, he began to see the party as being “all—talk”, as he did not see any major changes being made. He and democratic socialists as a whole do not believe that there is any difference between the two parties in a meaningful way for working people. “The levers of power need to be rested from the rich,” Shannon said. “The question is how we are going to do that and whether it needs to be done through the ballot box or pitchforks is up for debate right now.” Even though they group has existed for a short period of time, the Omaha Police Department has already attempted to intervene and shut down the meetings. The People’s Assembly has been collecting and setting aside money to create a community center where they could possibly hold their meetings. “The Bernie Sanders campaign is one of the reasons why we’re doing this,” said Shannon. “What the Bernie Sanders campaign did is show people what’s possible.” Bringing these groups together makes the voice of the people louder in Omaha. It is important to do this because a community of like-minded people that want to see a change will be established. This is what the People’s Assembly is trying to achieve. Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings, and more information on their events can be found on their Facebook page.

How to be Alone getting comfortable with yourself story and photos by kati stanzel, design by kyndall goodwin

s I write this, I’m completely surrounded in the darkness of the night, curled up in my heated blanket, wondering how I’m going to finish all of my homework at a decent hour. And, most importantly, I am alone. I used to think just because I spent most of my time alone, I was lonely. Didn’t people usually go out and party on Friday nights? Something must have been wrong with me. High school gave me this idea that I had to be with a friend at all times or receiving a million texts every hour, or else I was “weird.” My social anxiety at school made me feel like my brain was running at a hundred miles per hour every second I was alone. I used to be that girl who would never want to sit alone at the

lunch table, go to the bathroom by myself, or even sit in an IMC alone just because I didn’t want people to think I was a social outcast. Sophomore year, something clicked. I was tired of relying on others and feeling like I wasn’t good enough simply because I didn’t have 20 friends in my “friend group.” My true friends would be there for me no matter the circumstances. No matter how many wikiHow articles (with pictures) I read, nothing worked more than just cutting out the negative people in my life. This was hard for me, but once I did it, a weight lifted off my shoulders. Suddenly I was okay with not having a million friends. I was okay sitting by myself at the lunch table. And I was definitely okay with being alone.

opinion // how to be alone

step 1: be content with a few close friends Don’t get swept up into the high school stereotype where it’s weird if you don’t have at least 50 friends. Find those two or three people that will stick by your side through thick and thin. Don’t fret if you don’t know who these people are yet—it takes time for people to show their true

colors. Sit back, be patient, and support your friends until they no longer want to support you. Also, don’t be worried if your best friend isn’t human! Dogs, cats, birds, and all pets are great listeners and will always be there for you when you need it.

step 2: pick up a few hobbies Doing what makes you happy is the best solution to cure loneliness. When you’re bored is when you feel lonely the most. Trying a new sport is fun, can help you meet more people, and potentially make more friends. It’s definitely hard

to try new things, but putting yourself out there will help you be more social in general. Here are some ideas for some hobbies to pick up besides sports: books, writing, drawing, baking, crafts, music, vinyl.

step 3: relax! Turn that free Friday night into a night of relaxation! Taking time to relax and simply be will help you feel more comfortable with yourself and being alone. Pile up the blankets,

pop some popcorn, and get ready to take a night for yourself. Take a bubble bath, binge watch Netflix, or sit down and read a good book.

step 4: don't stick to the status quo Even when you feel lonely, don’t get swept up in the social “status quo” of high school. Don’t be friends with someone who spreads negativity everywhere they go–they will eventually drag you down with them. Even if they aren’t mean around you but are mean to others, it doesn’t matter. Negativity is negativity, and you don’t need that in your life! Be patient with others and don’t be worried

about what others think of you in public. You will attract more people who compliment who you truly are if you just be yourself in public. Making genuine friends starts with being comfortable with who you are! Don’t let flaky friends bring you down with their negativity—instead, take some time to reflect and find out who you really want to be.

opinion // how to be alone

Big Bad Lone Wolf Playlist loner // kali uchis amsterdam // peter bjorn and john glass eyes // radiohead hand in glove // the smiths hey you // pink floyd my doorbell // the white stripes tea for one // led zeppelin sun's coming up // tame impala mistaken for strangers // the national

Teens Being

t any moment I could be playing Just Dance on the tables at school during an open mod. Dancing is a way for me to avoid my homework and relieve stress, but once I enter the adult world I won’t be able to dance on tables in the break room at work. Today, our life may not seem significant, but in a couple years we will look back on our teenage years and wish we could relive them. Each of us have relatable moments¬—like going to Taco Bell for some midnight grub because nothing else is open, or cruising around town with

music on full blast. Some of us may enjoy the thrill of sneaking into haunted parks, or flying down an empty, narrow road to see how fast you can get Old Sally the Subaru to go. Since we may never live up to society’s expectations, we might as well binge watch television all night and pile food into out mouths. With greasy, acne filled faces and body odor, teens are beautiful disasters. Our glory days will soon come to an end, so we have to value our awkward teen moments as long as we can.

Teens

photo essay // teens being teens

high schoolers know best story by kyndall goodwin, design by william larson, photos by kyndall goodwin and kendall brekke

photo essay // teens being teens

fashion // counter-culture style

Counter Culture

Fashion

making the movements modern story by julia steiner, design by emma kopplin, photos by kendall brekke

e’re all familiar with the Halloween costume version of each decade. Poodle skirts of the ‘50s, London mod style of the ‘60s, and anything Madonna would’ve worn in the ‘80s. But what about the alternative style of those times? Craze is about giving voices to the voiceless, and shining light on the underrepresented. The same

rule applies to fashion. In this photo essay, we’re going to stray from the iconic, and show you a modern take on alternative fashion from the past. We’re taking old-fashioned style and adding an updated twist in hopes that this glimpse back through time will inspire your next thrift shopping venture or trip through your parents’ closet.

1920s

Abby Geise, Junior

1950s

fashion // counter-culture style

John Simmons, Junior

1960s

Vyanna Maclntosh, Senior

1980s

fashion // counter-culture style

Elena Pepitone, Junior

parts of town // blackstone district

explore a new part of omaha story by isbella tyler, design by grace wolfe, photos by emma kopplin and anastasiya petrosyan

ess than a decade ago, the Blackstone district was nothing. Most people had no reason to go there unless they were passing through on their way to Downtown. But, within the past few years or so, Blackstone has become one of the hippest parts of Omaha. Located right next to University of Nebraska Medical Cener, Blackstone is filled with restaurants, bars, and unique shops that

you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to find anywhere else in Omaha. By shopping and eating in the area, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supporting locally-owned businesses in our city. Appealing to high school students and college students, Blackstone is the perfect place to spend an affordable night out. Naturally, Craze was drawn to this part of town so we decided to feature some of our favorite places in the area.

Noli’s Pizza Traditional New York-style pizza is hard to come by when you live in the Midwest, but residents of Omaha don’t need to look any farther than Noli’s—Blackstone’s pizza joint. The restaurant is extremely small, which makes visiting Noli’s difficult. But aside from the size, Noli’s has gained immense popularity since their opening almost two years ago. “You know, I think in the beginning there was a love for Noli’s,” Sarah, an employee at the pizzeria, said. “Our numbers have grown consistently since last year, and we continue to grow each day.” The small staff and space combined with their many customers has resulted in the restaurant deciding to move to a bigger location just a few

doors down. The new restaurant opened during the week of March 20. Coming in for lunch normally isn’t too busy but dinner-time is when people really start to crave a slice of pizza and everybody piles into the restaurant. While at Noli’s, I enjoyed a build-your-own slice of pizza complete with black olives and sausage. With many toppings to choose from, it was a hard decision to make. Sarah recommends the spicy chicken with goat cheese, while Dave, the general manager, recommends the ‘dimanzo’, a slice with filet mignon and cream sauce. If you’re looking for some great New York-style pizza that doesn’t cost a fortune, pay a visit to Noli’s. You won’t be disappointed.

parts of town // blackstone district

Almost Music Connected to a small, used bookstore, Almost Music is easy to miss. The exterior appears worn down and older, even though the store has only been in Blackstone for about a year. The inside, however, is full of treasures you won’t want to miss. Originally located in Benson, the small record store is home to mostly used vinyl, along with some new stuff as well. The walls are covered in band posters—reminding me of the typical bedroom of a high school student. Though there are a few other record stores in town, owner Brad Smith believes that there is something special about Almost Music. “We try to focus on smaller, more independent labels and bands, and we do shows and poetry readings,” Smith said.

Smith also believes that it’s important to support locally-owned business around town and that’s part of why he loves being located in the Blackstone district. “[Almost Music] just moved over a year ago this month,” Smith said. “These are locally-owned businesses which is great. There’s not a Taco Bell in the neighborhood or anything like that.” Almost Music strikes me as the perfect place to go record hunting on a Friday night with your friends. Though the store does have a lot of cheap records people would normally push aside, it’s still just fun to sort through everything. Whether you’re a music snob or you just want a cool place to hang out with friends, Almost Music is Omaha’s best kept secret.

parts of town // blackstone district

Ground Floor Guitars Most of us have probably never been to a guitar store before. Speaking as someone who does play guitar, they’re usually not too exciting. However, Ground Floor Guitar is much different. Even if you don’t play or have any use for guitar equipment, the store is extremely pleasing to the eye. Colorful guitars hang on the wall in a minimalist fashion—a perfect photo-op for a night on the town with friends. Ground Floor acquires their new and used guitars from a number of different places, according to owner Josh Soto. “I’ve been in the music retail industry for a long time,” Soto said. “I intentionally carry my new gear, like instruments that you really can’t find other

places—stuff that I’ve played that I know is quality and that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.” Ground Floor has a small staff of only three people, and all of them have been in bands. Soto likes that they’re all passionate about music since most of their customers are extremely passionate about it as well. “I just love talking with people who are passionate about music, whether they’re just kind of getting started or they’ve been playing for 60 years,” Soto said. Whether you actually play guitar or you’re just looking for somewhere new to visit, I would highly recommend stopping by Ground Floor. The extremely helpful staff and their hand-picked merchandise will definitely make for a fun outing.

Project Unify an inclusive club for incredible students story by andphotos kendall brekke, design by anne stepanek

ne of the most unheard of clubs at Westside is also one of the most inclusive. Project Unify brings both special education and general education kids together to try to show that these kids are just like everyone

elseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they just have different things to offer. Sady society has a habit of sectioning off children because of their disabilities. Project Unifyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main goal is to get everyone involved and create a better, more involved environment.

photo essay // project unify

opinion // educate yourself

Educate Yourself steps to staying informed story, design, and graphic by emma kopplin

he truth is something we tend to take for granted. It’s expected that even when you can’t see the truth, it exists. But in today’s media climate the truth tends to be either hidden under layers of distracting facts, or worse, completely lied about. With all of this new technology we are seeing more of the world than we’ve ever seen before and we’re hearing all sorts of different sides to the same story. This dizzying cloud of information can be overwhelming. With all the media hype, reoccurring stories, and dramatized news, many Americans don’t even want to watch the news anymore. This is a dangerous because being as well informed as you can is vital to our society. Looking at the same story from many different perspectives and news sites can help you get as close to the “truth” as possible. One thing people fail to understand is that in an argument, being louder is not being smarter. Instead of escalating the situation by yelling, introduce facts to backup your argument. The reason politics are such a touchy subject is because when someone has a different view, people get defensive and feel personally attacked. If you take the time to educate yourself as much as you can with unbiased news, or news that shows no prejudice to either side of a story, then you can understand and sympathize with those who believe differently than you. When you’re sharing your opinion, you want to be credible. Having solid facts can help make

your point stronger and less refutable. People who just share their opinions with no background or evidence aren’t adding anything to the conversation and are rarely listened to. If you’re not properly informed and exposed to all kinds of opinions and news, the few things you do learn could lead you to make a conclusion that you wouldn’t have chosen if you’d known all of the information. There many fake news sites, headlines blown out of proportion, rumors, and gossip that circle the media. According to Politifact, social media sites like Facebook expose over 1.6 billion people to fake news, making it even harder to decipher the difference between the truth and lies. Also, things like alternative facts may be true, but also distracting you from the real meaning and importance of the topic. Fake news, officially, is false information created and publicized for the simple purpose of negatively targeting a specific person or group. All in all, learning as much as you can from reliable sources is the best way to understand politics and the opinionated world around you. In the world we live in, ignorance isn’t always bliss. Ignorance is how bad things happen; misinformed citizens make decisions simply based on their opinion and without a full understanding of the facts. Fake news creates even bigger problems and more confusion. Instead of getting overwhelmed, accept that information is power. The more you know, the safer you are.

‘‘Being louder is not being smarter’’

In The Process

senior gains opportunities through kaneko story by bailey kochheiser, design by anne stepanek, photo by kati stanzel

feature // mia fischer

towering glass figure is centered in the middle of the room. Layers of red, white, and blue melt into one body. The piece represents the coming together of separate components. Each panel of colored glass lays on top of the other, and is pressed together to become one work of art. This figure was made by Jun Kaneko— owner of the art gallery KANEKO. KANEKO is a nonprofit art gallery located in the heart of downtown Omaha. The gallery not only features different artists, but it also provides summer camps that cover topics such as architecture and computer design. KANEKO has different art exhibits that change around every six months, and features art relating to a theme. The current exhibit is Passion and Obsession, dedicated to exploring the things deep down that make people tick. Previous exhibits include Water, Movement, and Storytelling. Volunteers from KANEKO came to Westside at the beginning of second semester, and talked to students in AP art classes about the volunteer opportunities at the gallery. Senior Mia Fisher— who is currently a part of the AP art program at Westside— now volunteers at KANEKO two days a week. As a volunteer, Fisher and other Westside art students monitor the gallery and assist guests if they have any questions. Most of the pieces featured in the art gallery are made by Kaneko himself, but there are pieces by other artists as well like Goro Suzuki, Therman Statam, and Viola Frey. Mia believes the gallery can be inspirational to both artists and non-artists because it’s a chance to have a creative experience. “KANEKO has inspired me because it’s really cool to see how other artists use different mediums such as ceramics and glass pieces,” Fisher said.

Ever since Fisher was a kid, she loved art. It’s an escape for her to turn to— when someone makes her mad or the day is stressful, she will draw or paint to forget about what was bothering her. “High school art classes have helped me strengthen my passion,” she said. “It’s like a competition with yourself to get better.” Earlier this year, Fisher had entered her portfolio into the Scholastics Art Competition. Her portfolio consisted of eight different acrylic portraits that she had painted. All of the portraits were of subjects in or by the water at her grandfather’s lake, Villa Springs. Fisher chose the lake as her theme because it was a big part of her childhood. She spent many summer days with her family at the lake, and they continue the tradition today. Some of the paintings in her portfolio were recreations of memories she had as a child. Her portfolio as a whole won a Gold Key– the equivalent of first place— and two of her individual pieces won a Gold and Silver Key. Although Fisher does not currently plan to pursue a career in art, she says she will continue making art no matter what. “My art is more for myself and my sanity,” she said. “If I’m stressed or angry, I turn to art.” KANEKO has been an opportunity for Fisher, along with other students, to be highly involved in their passion. It’s a chance to be inspired by the different types of artwork, to meet other people who share a love for art, and to have time for self-reflection. There is something for everyone at KANEKO and even if you aren’t an art junkie, you will surely be amazed at the unexpected treasures that lie within the walls of the small downtown art gallery.

feature // mia fischer

review // inspirational films

Pumped Up inspirational films

story by richie porras, design by grace wolfe

ilms are a gateway to tales that change your mood. When the director's main objective is to alter the spirit of the audience, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bound to experience a spectrum of feelings. Watching characters on screen cry for their passions,

struggle to the finish line, or train for an upcoming fightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a well made film will make you want to go out and do something productive. These are a few choices of the most inspiring movies that have an overflowing sense of empowerment.

Wiplash 2014 This modern classic revolves around college student Andrew Nieman (Miles Teller), who has big dreams of becoming a drumming legend. Once given the opportunity to be transferred into New York’s top jazz band by Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), he immediately gets a slap to the face. As the jazz instructor psychologically and physically pushes

Neyman to the limit, his dream slowly becomes an unhealthy obsession. He ultimately dumps his girlfriend for more practice time, closes everyone out of his life, and practices till his hands bleed. This college student isn’t stopping until he’s a jazz legend.

Rocky III 1982 Although every “Rocky” movie is inspirational in their own way, the one with overwhelming sense of empowerment is “Rocky III”. After tying with Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in “Rocky”, then beating him up in “Rocky II”, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is then introduced to the big-meanfighting-machine Clubber Lang (Mr. T). After

being severely beaten by Clubber Lang and present for the death of his long-time trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) all in the same night, Rocky finds himself in a deep hole. It’s up to Apollo to train him and himself to find the hunger he had when he first started in the ring.

review // inspirational films

The Pursuit of Happyness 2006 His wife left him and his son right after they got the news of eviction. He’s an impressive salesman, but nobody needs to buy his product. Yet all Christopher Gardner wants is a better life for his son. This heartfelt film that has actual father-son

duo Will and Jaden Smith going through various obstacles, living in New York, and trying to find a stable job and home. The most inspiring aspect of the film is how much love and sacrifice is seen between a father and his son.

La Bamba 1987 “La Bamba” portrays the short-lived life of musician Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips). His life as a Chicano (a Mexican born in America) was displayed perfectly because of the way his own family thinks he’s “less Mexican” for not speaking

Spanish and how white people think he’s “too Mexican” because of his appearance. But through this adversity, all Ritchie wants is to be a great musician. He thrives to live his fantasy, support his family, and get the girl of his dreams.

Fresh Looks

feature // omaha fashion week

upperclassmen design for omaha fashion week story by kaelyn mettler, design by grace wolfe, photos by ivan reyes and omaha fashion week

ashion is something all of us can relate to in one way or another. The way we dress is just another way of expressing ourselves. Empowerment means becoming stronger and more confident in yourself, whether that be through sports, art, or journalism. Fashion is just another creative outlet for

people, and students are in need of as much creativity as possible with the stressful lives they live. Two Westside students took part in Omaha Fashion Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Night on Feb 23rd. This unique opportunity allowed them to build their own portfolio while taking them on a creative journey.

student featured: junior sydney barton

feature // omaha fashion week

paige modlin

Senior Paige Modlin has been involved in Kent Bellows’ fashion program since 2015. Her mentor designer Buf Reynolds works with her while she designs clothing. The studio offers a mentoring program where high school students in Omaha can collaborate and work together. She designed her

senior

feature clothing at Kent Bellows as well. At OFW’s Student Night, they let the students show three pieces of clothing to the judges. Modlin’s pieces and looks are mainly based on the trend of colorblocking, which is the use of contrasting blocks of solid panels.

maggie larson

At a young age, junior Maggie Larson began sewing—a talent she learned from her mother. At first, she did it for fun, until last Autumn when her mom brought her to Omaha Fashion Week. After this, she was hooked on the design aspect of clothing. When

junior

Maggie applied to be in the show, she brought a mood board, which is something that displays the “theme” of the outfit, and some garments where they judged her designs to be in the show.

feature // omaha fashion week

music review // soundpunch

SOUNDPUNCH

the good, bad, and the ugly album reviews story by lilli marvin, vinnie nelson, and hannah heim

n our cutthroat society of opinions and politics, the polarizing tension extends onto our playlists. Music, while it can be unifying, causes divides in even the closest of friends. Who is the best? Who reigns supreme king of the charts? In an epic battle of soulful jams versus electronic

dance, a dual of fangirls versus haters, our journalism staff brings to the ring their favorite tunes. Will the 1975 be victorious or fall to the heat of the opposition? Will Galantis destroy the melancholic band the National? Find out on this installment of Sound Punch!

Avert your eyes, Tumblr “grunge" girls and fanfind unique sound and truly good music becomes ever bloggers alike— this review isn’t for you. Listen, I get the more difficult. Matt Healy’s boy band is nothing it, the 1975 “saved your life” with their monotonous, but an over-priced and underwhelming attempt at substandard sound and hollow lyrics; if only all of artistry in the indie-rock genre. No risks are taken us could be rescued by a pitiful mockery of late 70’s on their newest release, “I like it when you sleep… David Bowie. The fact that the 1975 for you are so beautiful yet so unaware “overpriced and of it,” you can add it to the heap of has such a cult following is proof of the demise of music via social disappointing indie rock EPs that all underwhelming media. With the introduction suspiciously sound the same. attempt at of “aesthetic” into our social Maxing out at a painstaking media feeds, all value for musical hour and 13-minute playtime, the artistry” substance, intricate lyricism, and only thing the new release is good complex mixing fell by the wayside to what was at the for it to be true to its title—and put us all to sleep. top of Twitter’s trending list. Some suggested better uses of your hour: do your The 1975 encapsulates the new cheaply produced, homework (this is coming from a second semester tacky, lackluster sphere of music that caters to the senior), listen to some real music (I recommend a obsessive preteens who are dying to be “edgy.” In an similar, but far better alternative, HONNE), or frankly oversaturated industry where anyone with a mic in just go to sleep, the outcomes are the same regardless. their bedroom can be called a producer, the quest to

the1975

lilli marvin vs. hannah heim

Hailing from Manchester, The1975 is one of and be understanding. This song is about all those the most innovative and long lasting bands there things”. He then played “Loving Someone” off of their is. Unlike most bands, The1975 experiments with sophomore album “I Like It When You Sleep for You synthetic sounds and indie rock hits, creating their Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It”. The song is own genre for the world to see. From their debut about the struggle with society and their struggle album to their sophomore, it is clear that they are able of acceptance of others. That is what makes this to contrast their past sounds to make band so jarring. The 1975’s electrifying “feeling of performances and platform are something an even better product of music. The 1975 is also unique in the sense where rarely seen by mainstream media as they nostalgia they do not shy away from political continue to carve a legacy in music. The and bountiful band’s intellectual connections and their standpoints. The band toured the United States during election time in own crazy, unique sounds in their music teenage 2016. Matty Healy, the lead singer, did is what I personally believe that drives rebellion” not fail to bring up the outcome of the their success. Many of their songs have election during one of their concerts saying, “A lot the feeling of nostalgia and the bountiful feeling of of these people who voted against what I believe the teenage rebellion. There is no other band that gives majority of us stand for, most of those people are so me the feeling that they do and that’s why I they are disenfranchised by political systems that they wanted the first band I recommend when people ask me for a change and it’s our responsibility, yes to be pissed any song recommendations. The 1975’s music and off, but to be not patronizing and be compassionate atmosphere is like no other.

music review // soundpunch

The National produces the type of sound that the audience. While, compared to the rest of their makes you feel like you’re submerged in a bottle discography, “High Violet” seems almost jubilant, beneath a churning, calm sea, yet you’re perfectly lyrics charged with frustration, discontent, and content with it. The melancholic lyrics reverberate apathetic reflection stay true to lead singer Matt across your skull, a sultry love affair with sadness Beringer’s poetic persona. Beringer’s constant war manifests in your eardrums as waged with himself is reflected through “a sultry love affair you listen to their fifth release anxious lyrics such as “I’m a confident High Violet. Accompanying liar; Have my head in the oven so you’ll with sadness me throughout the emotional know where I’ll be.” This inner war, manifests your expedition of high school, this this deep reflection upon the human album, accumulating over condition exists as a key pillar of the eardrums” 600 plays in my library, is the Nationals emotional appeal to its perfect companion for any emotional turmoil. The audience. closer of the album, “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” will Despite my inept ability to express the masterpiece instantly demand the tears and pangs of past loves of “High Violet” I urge—nay plea—for those reading gone awry. to listen, to discover, to submerse themselves into With a lengthy track record of chords plucked the melancholic masterpiece crafted by the kings of from your very heartstrings, “High Violet” further melancholy. builds upon their reputation while still surprising

take it slow...

High Violet by the National reviewed by lilli marvin

Pharmacy by Galantis reviewed by vinny nelson

What exactly is the opposite of a chill, soulful, acoustic album? Well, the answer is an all out computerized EDM banger. Complete with pulsing beats, heavy synthesizers, and distorted voices. To represent the party genre, I choose Pharmacy by Galantis, their debut album released in 2015. The album opens up with a soft synth in “Forever Tonight”. Even though the song gets faster, and picks up, the album takes a turn and slows down in “Gold Dust”, but even the ballads are face paced. One of my favorite tracks on this album, “In My Head” has a huge, explosive chorus, and have to musical power to motivate anyone. The lead single off this album, “Runaway (U & I)” is, by definition, a hardcore party track that was probably inspired by a rave. “Dancin’ To The Sound of a Broken Heart” is definitely the breakup song of the album, but if you learn anything, learn this: The song still has the power to make you

...or turn it up

get up and dance. All albums have that one song that is mediocre, and if I had to choose one, it’d be “Louder, Harder Better”. But don’t worry, the EDM duo continues to keep it alive in the second half of the album with “Kill ‘Em With the Love”, a song all about destroying your demons. Another favorite, “Call Me If You Need Me”. Is a tropical song best explained by the lyrics, “Living ain’t easy / Call if you need me”. Not to be confused with the Buckwheat Boyz song, “Peanut Butter Jelly” samples an old Bettye Swann song and the duo pulls it off with confetti. I’ve certainly named off my favorite tracks, but “Firebird” is fantastic. I guarantee it’ll get you moving. I’ll admit it, “Don’t Care” sucks, it sounds like every other song on this album so, give it a try. Galantis brings the originality back with “You”, a fast-paced sad song. Finally, the album closes out with “Water”, a great song to end a party album.

entertainment interactive // // draw draw thatthe song music

Draw That Song art students illustrate music

story by ella paulson, design by kati stanzel, sketches by art club members

hen we listen to music, sometimes we let our minds stray from the notes filling the room. When our consciousness wanders back to reality the music helps us to create an image of a story being told. These stories always change depending on the audience and how the listener interprets the music. Because of this, countless pictures are painted and one story becomes many.

Capturing this visual sound, members of Westsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chapter of National Art Honors Society were asked to paint a picture based on how the song made them feel. This gives us a glimpse at the thoughts that can be provoked by music. This can also inspire other artists not to simply hear the music but allow their colorful visions to swirl through their thoughts and to be captured on paper forever.

Nicole Winters, 11

Ana Carissimo, 11

entertainment // draw the music

Nicole Winters, 11

Ana Carissimo, 11

Jacque Platt, 11

Lauren Mott, 12

Janna Johnson, 10

how to // get fit

Get Fit!

how to get your summer body back story and photos anna greene, design samanatha chesire

ith summer coming up, I have one thing in mind: my bikini body. The issue is, I don’t have it yet. I know that if I want to have a toned body by summer, I have to start working for it now. I’ve spent a lot of time on Pinterest and fitness websites trying to figure out how to achieve the body I want. It took a lot of trial and error, but I created the perfect plan for myself to get in shape. The process of burning fat getting toned muscles takes a long time, and staying motivated throughout has always been a struggle. What I’ve found is that making goals for yourself and having a plan can help you stay motivated.

Getting fit isn’t just about working out all the time; it’s also about the foods you eat and how you generally treat your body. Drinking plenty of water and sleeping are very important. What’s also important is making it seem fun. If music motivates you, try making a workout playlist. Try syncopating your steps to the beat. Another thing that motivates a lot of people is having a close friend do the same workouts as you. You can push each other, but also have fun and talk while you’re at it. Without further ado, here are some foods to eat and workouts to try out before summer comes.

Eggs Eggs are a great great source of protein. They give you lots of energy and brain power. Plus, there are so many ways to make them.

Apples Low in calories, apples are perfect for when you are craving something sweet but healthy. They are also packed with antioxidants.

Potatoes Potatoes can be made countless different ways. If you want something super quick, you can pop one in the microwave for four minutes, let it sit for another four minutes, and put some cheese on it. They are super filling and nutrient-rich.

Bananas

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. They also easy to pack as a snack and fill you up. If you don not necessarily like the consistency of bananas, adding them into a protein shake or smoothie will help you get your banana fix.

Dark Chocolate When eaten in small portions, dark chocolate is actually really good for you. It contains a lot of fiber and magnesium, and it is sweet! If you are trying to cut down on sugary candy, dark chocolate is the perfect substitute.

Almonds

Almonds are considered to be one of the healthiest types of nuts. They are great or your metabolism, packed with vitamins, and lower in fat that most nuts. Plus, they are easy to snack on anywhere.

Avocados Even though it doesn not seem like you need fats, you do. Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and vitamins. It can be eaten plain, in a salad, or on a sandwich. They are also very filling.

how to // get fit

Warm Up

If you have a treadmill at home, walk for five minutes and jog for three. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a treadmill, try jumping jacks. The point of a warm-up is to increase your heart rate and loosen up your muscles. When you feel loose, move on to the rest of your workout.

Leg Planks

a. Scissor Legs Planks: For this, you will need two hand towels. Place a towel under each foot and get into plank position. Push your legs outward, then squeeze them back into plank position. Repeat this until your inner thighs start burning. Take a rest, then do two more sets. This exercise works best on a slippery surface (such as wood), so avoid doing it on carpet.

Squeeze + Lift

Thigh Circles

Wall Sits

b. Squeeze and Lift: For this, you will need a pillow or a small yoga ball. Lay on your side and place your ball or pillow between your legs close to your ankles. Place your hand on the floor in front of you for support. Lift both of your legs off of the floor, hold for a few seconds, then lower them to the floor. Make sure that both legs stay together and move at the same time. Repeat until your inner thighs are burning, do the other side, rest, then do one more set.

c. Inner-Thigh Circles: Lay on your side and bring your outer leg to the front of your body. Hold it with your outer hand. Lift the leg closest to the floor and move it in circular motions. When your leg starts burning, switch to the other leg, rest, and do another set.

d. Wall Sits: Pretend like you are sitting in a chair with your back against the wall. Make sure to keep your knees at 90 degrees. Hold this position for as long as you can. When your legs start shaking, rest, then do another set.

Alligator Drags

V-Ups

a. Alligator Drags: For this, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a towel. Place both of your feet onto the towel and go into plank position with both arms extended. Walk your hands forward for about 20 feet, or however long your workout room allows you to go, then go the other direction. Make sure to keep your back and your legs straight. Repeat each side about five times.

b. V-Ups: Lay on your back with your arms straight above your head. Bring your upper body and your legs together, and hold for a few seconds. Come back down to the original position, but keep your heels a few inches off of the floor. Repeat until your abs are burning, rest, then do two more sets.

Side Planks

c. Side Planks: Go into plank position, then shift onto one arm. Hold your free arm at your hip. You can either keep your supporting arm at 90 degrees or straight. Hold for as long as you can, switch to the other side, rest, then do two more sets.

Cardio Choice

Choose one cardio exercise. a. Jump-Rope: Jump-roping can improve stamina and help build calf muscles. b. Stairs: Running up and down the stairs at home or at a park improves coordination and stamina. c. Treadmill: If you have a treadmill, jogging with an incline can help build half muscles and improve stamina.

Cool Down

Stretch: Make sure to stretch out the muscles that you worked hard. If you worked out your abs, do the cobra pose. If you worked out your hamstrings or calves, bend and touch your toes, or try to get as close as you can. Experiment with what feels best, then stick it to your workout routine.

Embracing Heritage the beautiful side of our cultures

story by anastasiya petrosyan, photos and design by lilli marvin

rowing up surrounded by Russian culture and transitioning into American culture was probably one of the strangest things I’ve ever had to go through. One day I’d be eating borscht, a Ukrainian beet soup, and another I would find myself enjoying a cheeseburger with my American friends. It seemed surreal at first, but after a while, I adjusted and became part of American society. However, my transition from one culture to another didn’t stop my family and I from keeping our customs alive in our household. We still celebrate Russian holidays, stay true to what we believe, and cherish our traditions. Just like any human being, I love my culture, and learning about other peoples’ experiences

with theirs is extremely rewarding. We are all connected by one dominant trait—we’re all human. No matter how true this is, recognizing each other’s differences and approaching everyone with an open mind provides tolerance. We speak different languages, believe in different things, come from different places, and have different backgrounds. Our heritage and ancestry shape who we are and influence our futures. However, it is still important to embrace the differences in cultures of people around us. Simply listening to one’s cultural values and stories can do more than people think. From preferences for spices to family traditions, here are the things these Westside students find most beautiful about their cultures.

feature // beautiful culture

angela li // china Li was born in Voorhees, New Jersey. However, her parents were both born in China— her father was from the countryside, a town called Chang Sha, and her mother closer to the city from Nan Tong. Her mother moved to America twenty years ago and her father came earlier, for school. A big part of who Li is now rooted in her rich culture and heritage. Even though Li herself wasn’t born in China, she and her family keep customs alive in their household. “We celebrate Chinese New Year. Since my grandparents live

with me, they like to bring Chinese cuisine to dinners and family events,” Li said. “We do a lot of traditional holidays and have a lot of Chinese superstitions. For Chinese New Year, you aren’t allowed to clean the house on New Year’s Day because it’s bad luck, because you’re sweeping all of your fortune out of your house.” Li not only celebrates the holidays but also communicates with her family by speaking fluent Mandarin. For her, speaking her family’s native language is important. “It’s always nice to keep in touch with your culture every day; to be able to discuss things going on here and situations in China,” Li said. Li discusses this with her family and considers it an important part of her life. “A big part of Chinese culture is the concept of family, and always being together, which is a little different than American culture. In American culture, your grandparents don’t live with you and in Chinese culture, they do. It’s nice to have the concept of family always behind you. It’s a very supportive culture,” Li said. Other than family values, Li considers the most beautiful part of her culture to be the arts. “I love the arts behind Chinese culture, especially the opera, water paintings and the clothing from the dynasties. They’re very interesting to look at and they have a lot of stories behind them. It’s not just beautiful to look at, it’s also a beautiful story that goes behind it,” Li said.

neha khalid // pakistan Neha Khalid was born in Omaha, but her parents are immigrants from Pakistan. Her father came here because of a job offer at a university and her mother came after they were married. Khalid is fluent in Urdu, the main language spoken in Pakistan. She can read some of the modern language, but not the old traditional books. Despite the fact that she is so far away from her parents’ homeland, she keeps their culture alive. “With my dad, I speak English because he’s more of a fluent English speaker and he’s been here longer,” Khalid said. “My mom has been here three years less than him, she never picked up on the language so I speak our native language with her all the time. It would feel weird to speak English with her.” Because of the multiple things that differ between American and Pakistan life, Khalid lives the best of both worlds. “[The culture] is very present in everything I do. At home, there’s different expectations— at school there’s different expectations. You kind of have to juggle both,” Khalid said. Some differences that Khalid noticed when traveling back to Pakistan is the clothing. In the US, it is less traditional than the modest way of dressing there. “Pakistan is a Muslim country and everyone is very conservative and you’re always wearing head coverings,” Khalid said. Something that’s different in Pakistan is their birthday present ritual. In a typical American household, the person always opened the presents in front of whoever gave them it.

“In Pakistan, doing that is considered being greedy and shows that you only invited them because you wanted their present. So you wait until your guest is gone, and then open it,” Khalid said. Another thing that Khalid loves a lot about her heritage is the cuisine. “I love the food, it’s very spicy. I really love the rice we have. Here, the rice is really bland, just white rice, but over there, you put chicken in the rice and seasoning. It’s very different,” Khalid said. There are not many holidays in Pakistan, other than Independence Day and the Muslim holidays, but one holiday that Khalid enjoys the most is Eid Al-Adha. “Because we’re Muslim, we celebrate Eid Al-Adha. When I think of my culture, I think of Eid and how everyone dresses up. It’s very elaborate. You have these long dresses with tons of embroidery on them, gems, and big jewelry,” Khalid said. Beautiful clothing and food aren’t the only things that truly matter to Khalid. Things such as the general aura of Pakistan excites her. “I think the most beautiful part to me is the environment. It’s a very welcoming environment,” Khalid said. “When we went over there a couple years ago, you had people who had just moved in next door, and you were constantly going over there and bringing them rice and talking to them. People are constantly coming in and out of your house. It’s a very open feeling.”

feature // beautiful culture

miriam marcus // egypt Miriam Marcus was born in Omaha but her parents came from El Minya, Egypt. They moved in 2000, a little before Marcus was born. Her brother, senior Abanoub Marcus was born in Egypt. She is not entirely fluent in Arabic, but knows enough to hold a conversation with someone and understand them. Marcus still incorporates her culture in her day to day life even though she was born far away from where her parents were born. “We eat Egyptian food almost every day. I love the food,” Marcus said. “We have this desert called the basboosa and another food called koshary. Koshary is rice and lentils, fried onions, chickpeas and elbow

macaroni. You also put tomato sauce on top of it.” Other than food, religion is also something that is a part of her life. Marcus and her family are Coptic Orthodox Christian, which only makes up 10% of the population in Egypt. They celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7th and the date for Easter varies. Her family speaks Coptic in church which is the ancient Egyptian language mixed with Greek. There are also some dissimilarities between American culture and Egyptian culture that Marcus believes differentiates her from the rest of her peers. “Our culture is a lot stricter than American culture. There’s a lot of things that I can’t do that a lot of people here can. I’m not really allowed to wear certain things. Everybody dresses very conservatively in Egypt,” Marcus said. Nevertheless, Marcus still embraces her true identity and is proud to be part of the nationality that she is. There are lots of things that could be possibilities for what one’s favorite part of their existence in the cultural society. For Marcus, it is the history. “Just the fact that I’m Egyptian. It’s so cool. The history of Egypt and ancient Egyptians. It’s such a rich civilization,” Marcus said.

photo essay // natural beauty

Natural Beauty bare-faced students shine

story by kaelyn mettler, photos by kyndall goodwin, design by lydia kasem

n a normal day, I wake up around 6:30 a.m. to guarantee that I have enough time to do my makeup. For my average look, I’ll throw on some mascara and fill in my eyebrows, and on a good day I’ll add eyeliner to make my eyes more dramatic. It’s radical to express yourself through a different color on your eyelid or by enhancing in your features a little more, but wish that I had the confidence to come to school fresh-faced everyday. It

would be nice to rub my eyes and not look like the grudge. However, everyone has the choice to completely change their features with makeup or to not wear any at all. Although it’s fun to switch up your look, it’s also extremely empowering to show off your natural beauty. Craze asked our readers who the most empowering natural beauties at our school are. Here are some of our favorites.

campbell mooney, sophomore mary-kate bessmer, sophomore

destiny navarro, sophomore

playlist // early 2000s

That’s Hot

a playlist to understand the 2000s story by vinny nelson, design by william larson, graphic by emma kopplin

, for one, am completely unaware of what went down in the decade of the 2000s. Sure, I lived it, but everything was totally absurd; it’s difficult to completely understand— almost like it was a fever dream. Craze decided to help you rewind by picking out our favorite 2000s hits, and updating you on what went down. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake went to the American Music Awards with matching denim outfits, only to break up a year later. Oops, she did it again. The next year, Aaron Carter was the the teen heartthrob of many young girls across the country. Avril Lavigne dropped her debut album, Let Go, in 2002, which contained, “Complicated”, a Grammy nominee for 2003’s Song of the Year. That same year, Americans played Sims, creating characters for their friends, siblings,

or even “Stacy’s Mom”. The rock band No Doubt took a hiatus in 2004, allowing for Gwen Stefani to release a successful solo album titled Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Fast forward to 2005: Crazy Frog was blasting on Americans’ iPods along with Plain White Tee’s “Hey There Delilah”. As 2006 rolled around, people were going “Crazy” for Razr phones and high Blockbuster fees. Britney Spears had her infamous breakdown in 2007, where she shaved her head with paparazzi inches away. Maybe she’s “Stronger” now. BuzzFeed recently gave Flo Rida’s “Low” a 5 out of 5 grind factor—2008 middle schoolers agree. To close out the wild decade, there was a massive outbreak of the “Swine” flu in 2009. It spread as quickly as Owl City’s first number 1 hit, “Fireflies”. As wild as this decade was, I survived Swine ‘09, did you?

Oops!...I Did It Again // Britney Spears (2000) Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) // Aaron Carter (2001) Complicated // Avril Lavigne (2002) Stacy’s Mom // Fountains of Wayne (2003) Hollaback Girl // Gwen Stefani (2004) Hey There Delilah // Plain White Tee’s (2005) Crazy // Gnarls Barkley (2006) Stronger // Kanye West (2007) Low (feat. T-Pain) // Flo Rida (2008) Fireflies // Owl City (2009) Swine // Lady Gaga (2013) (A tribute to the 2009 swine flu)

Here at Craze, we pledge allegiance to keeping it real, To giving a voice to the unheard students To expressing emotions through art To being too loud To avoiding clichés like the plague To finding a reason to celebrate at all times

Craze Manifesto

To gaining life long friends Because what makes Craze unique is the family that forms with it, Making each issue the product of a lot of love. We hope after reading you: Want to explore the restaurants and shops of your town Have gained solace from a personal story that hits close to home Begin to look at the world around you differently Or maybe feel like maybe your school isn’t so bad after all And that’s just why we’re here, us cool and relatable teens. Because Craze helps you not care what others think But encourages you to think for yourself.