Volume 59
Issue 8
20 May 2016
Wash’s AP Culture (Pages 26-27)
Copying Cost Hypocrisy (Page 23) Germany vs. America (Page 25) FDIC Founders Say Goodbye (Page 29)
Matthew Andersland
Sarah Altemeier
Gunnar Bosking
Emily Burke
Brandon Cullen
Riley DeWolf
Jillian Gannon
Molly Hunter
Ben Janssen
Rielle Jones-Teske
Seth Keppler
Grace Kline
Emily LaGrange
Billy Lemos
Tyler McGuire
Claire McKinstry
Jonathan Melander
Anna Rizer
Hannah Sherman
Betsy Smith
Jake Truemper
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Staff box
Becca Turnis
Addi Westpheling
Weren’t we such cute children? Editor-in-Chief
Molly Hunter
WHAT’S INSIDE: Senior Columns
News
Emily Burke - 4 Grace Kline - 4 Molly Hunter - 5 Jonathan Melander - 5 Jake Truemper - 6 Anna Rizer - 6
Acts of Terrorism Throughout the World - 20 R-Rated Movies - 21 Mo Got Fo(urth) - 21 Emergency Drills - 22 Copying Cost Hypocrisy - 22
Senior Survey - 7
Opinions
Senior Superlatives
Most likely to become president - 8 Best hair - 8 Most likely to go pro - 8 Biggest class clowns - 8 Most likely to win an Oscar- 9 Most liberal - 9 Most conservative - 9 Most likely to win a Grammy - 9 Best BFF’s - 10 Most likely to get married - 10 Worst senioritis - 10 Most likely to cry at graduation - 11 Best style - 11 Most likely to end up living with 30 cats - 11 Biggest flirt - 11
Striving Awards - 12 “Where Are They Now?” 13, 14 Senior Backpage Roses + Thorns - 15 Senior Playlist - 15 Faculty Farewells - 15 MOM - 15
Feature
Wash’s AP Culture - 26, 27
Profiles
FDIC Founders Say Goodbye - 29 Hard-to-Pronounce Names - 29 Staff Who Deserve More Appreciation- 30 Grace Goes to Paraguay - 31 Gay Bachelor of the Month - 31
Sports
Q&A with John Gianforte - 32 JV Soccer’s Popularity Jumps - 33 Track Check-In - 33 Baseball and Softball Q&A’s - 34
A&E
“Bacon: Will it Ice Cream Sandwich?” - 35 NewBo Sushi - 36 Review: Daniel Caesar, “Pilgrim’s Paradise” - 37
Backpage
Year in Review - 19
Molly Hunter Emily LaGrange
Editorial: Is AP Worth It? - 23 No Snow For the Children - 24 Annoying Construction - 24 Germany versus America - 25
Roses + Thorns - 39 Summer Playlist - 39 Faculty Funnies - 39 Student Comic - 39
Editor-in-Chief
PHOTOS
Pages 1, 8-11, 16, 17, 40: Jonathan Melander
CORRECTIONS
Senquez Jackson (9/27/2000-3/19/2016) We regret this error in the previous issue
Mission
The Surveyor is established as a schoolsponsored designated forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers. The staff will report as fairly and well-balanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff ’s ability. The Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalism. Readers are encouraged to express their viewpoints through guest editorial. The Surveyor also welcomes letters to the editor, with these guidelines: it is no libelous or obscene, it explains the material clearly, it is not longer than 500 words, and that it is signed.
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. District employ ees with questions or a grievance related to this policy should contact Jill Cirivello, Director of Human Resources, 319-5582421; jcirivello@cr.k12.ia.us. Students and others should contact Rhoda Shepard, Director of Student Services, 319-558-2964; rshephard@cr.k12.ia.us. The District mailing address is 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1015
Affiliations
Iowa High School Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, Quill and Scroll. Table of Contents
3
Sorry I Didn’t Tell You But...
Grace Kline Staff Writer As my senior year comes to a close, I find that there are a lot of things that I haven’t told a lot of people, maybe not even my friends, so I have decided to come clean. 1. I love animals a lot, and by a lot I mean that the highlight of my college visits was getting to hold a snake and feel its muscles expand and contract as it moved.
2. I climbed a mountain and ate snow off the top of said mountain in July. 3. I like soda flat. Sometimes I purposely leave a soda can open in the fridge so that it goes flat before I drink it. Try it – it will be the best, most syrupy sweet drink you will ever have. 4. I can touch my tongue to my nose. (Shoutout to Bronwyn May. We can both do this and that is why we are best friends.) 5. When I was three I wanted to be a turtle when I grew up, but now I have more realistic dreams of becoming a vet. 6. I do not like honey. I don’t know why, is there such a thing as being too sweet? Anyway, I eat my cornbread plain. 7. One of the sounds I hate most is dogs licking things. That sounds really stupid now that I write it down, but to me dog licking is akin to fingernails being scraped against a chalkboard.
8. My car, The Soul Savin’ Suburban, is a 15-year-old rust pot, which is under the illusion that it can become Chitty-ChittyBang-Bang. Every once in awhile, my car will start making weird propeller-like noises as though it wants to take off and fly so that I can go save children from the Child-Catcher. 9. My favorite show to watch if I am feeling stressed is the video adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Mrs. TiggyWinkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher”. 10. I am afraid of antique stores. They smell old and all the little dolls they sell stare, unblinking, deep into your soul with their demonic eyes. So that’s me, in a nutshell. Oh, I almost forgot, did I ever tell you I have a dog named Wookie?
Milk Chocolate and R&B
Emily Burke Profiles Editor & Business Manager After years of reading the senior columns in each end-of-the-year issue of the Surveyor, I still don’t know how I should go about summarizing my high school career. How can I put into words the experience I have had over the past four years? There is no possible way that I could adequately describe the last 1,400 days in 350 words. But if I must, I will start by saying that grades are important, 4
Senior Columns
but it is more important to procrastinate every writing assignment that you ever get in your LA classes, including the last piece that you will write for the Surveyor, because it is so much fun staring at your computer screen for hours the night before. It is important to take AP Psychology because Doc Jones will never fail to make you look like a fool when you don’t turn in your notes on time. It is important to take your dad’s class and have 80 percent of his students ask you for answers even though you still haven’t turned in the way-too-thick preterite packet that was due weeks ago (I’LL DO IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR I PROMISE). It is important to go out for sports that you are subpar at because you will meet some of the goofiest people you will ever know (shout out super sophs). It is important that you don’t come home the night of your junior homecoming even if
your parents will go out looking for you the next morning at your friend’s house, enraged. It is important that you know what marijuana smells and looks like (ONLY to know what to stay away from in college, of course). Finally, it is important to take senioritis as a serious illness and take advantage of the school days that you can get out of because of it. All jokes aside though, it is important to be thankful that you have the privilege to go to a school like Wash. I know that I am thankful that I have been surrounded with teachers, counselors, administration members, coaches, secretaries, techguys and peers that have encouraged me and taught me things that I know have prepared me for success in whatever endeavors I decide to pursue in my future. #WARRIORNATIONORDIE. Peace out and enjoy your years of high school. News Editor
Sarah Altemeier Emily LaGrange
So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish!
Molly Hunter Editor-In-Chief If you know me at all, you know that I’m not a very sentimental person. If you don’t know me and you’re reading this in the hopes of finding a bittersweet goodbye filled with sappy memories, then look elsewhere: I’m fresh out. What I do have a lot of, is advice. Please learn from my mistakes: Every problem is more manageable after a good night’s sleep. Don’t let other people form your first impressions for you. Also don’t let your own assumptions or predispositions cloud your judgement. Apologize. STAY HYDRATED.
Jonathon Melander Staff Writer Four years ago I walked towards the doors of Washington High School for the first time with the preconceived notion that it was going to be the best four years of my life. All my life I’d heard tales about high school, either from friends who had older siblings, high school themed movies, etc. After going through middle school, high school seemed like it was Sarah Altemeier Emily LaGrange News Editor
Don’t try to be everyone’s hero - you’ll drive yourself insane. Use a planner. If you’re sick and you can stay home, then stay home. Take an art class. You don’t have to like someone to be polite to them. Always be open to changing your mind. Hungry people are angry people. Don’t let yourself get hangry. Respect your teachers. If you think you’re depressed, tell someone. Learn to identify the things that don’t matter, and learn to laugh about them. Be unapologetic about your interests: “Yeah, I like anime. One Piece is my jam. What are you going to do about it?” Come out on your own terms. If something offends you, you don’t have to laugh it off. Let the people you love make their own mistakes. Try new things. Try SURVEYOR. Kindness and integrity are always cooler than petty disdain. Try AP classes - but don’t feel bad if it’s too
much for you to handle. Listen to all kinds of music. You’re allowed to be proud of yourself, and doing so doesn’t make you a pretentious jerk. Everybody makes mistakes. (Everybody has those days.) Apathy is not cool. Apathy is ruining America. And that’s all I’ve got. I’m sorry I don’t have anything more profound to share. I wish I could tell you that as you prepare to leave high school you’ll find yourself having some kind of butterfly-esque-metamorphosisepiphany moment. But from what I’ve seen and experienced, that doesn’t happen (and if it does, you should probably call a doctor). This is not an ending or a beginning; it’s just the next step. The uncertain future lies ahead of us - but that’s always been true. Tomorrow is not any more or less foreboding than it’s ever been. Yes, the unknown is terrifying - but it’s also exciting. Every new day is an opportunity to be better, and that doesn’t stop when you graduate. High school isn’t everything. The years we spend here do not define us. All we can hope for is that our character will be malleable, and our experiences will shape us into better people. All we can really hope for is growth.
going to be the Holy Grail and the answer to all my problems. These expectations died the second I walked into the hallway and witnessed what looked more like a prison than what I’d seen in the movies for so long. Hundreds of kids walking down the hallways in one mass, earbuds in, faces glum, sleep-deprived expressions, overall melancholy attitudes. This isn’t what I had expected. Four years later looking back I realize that I am now those people I saw walking down the hallways. I have manifested into the exact image that once destroyed my expectations of something I had waited for in anticipation for so long. I didn’t really enjoy high school looking back on it, maybe because I don’t really like being told what to do or I found a lot of the classes that I took pointless, but I think that’s where I made my mistake. I would sit through my
classes everyday and think about how much I hated them and when I would be done with them, when I could’ve just been thankful that I had been given essentially a pass to enjoy the freedom of youth. The point being, take a minute and enjoy high school, don’t rush through it and think about how pointless you think your classes are, or how excited you are to be done with it like I did. High school is the time to just enjoy having minimal responsibility, hang out with your friends and enjoy not being an adult. Here I am now worrying about matters like what I’m going to do for the entire rest of my life, taxes, bills, and a lot more than that. Don’t be in a hurry to finish high school, trust me, in the end when you’re almost done and you realize you spent most of your high school career focusing on graduating, you’ll regret it.
High School
Senior Columns
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I’ve Got a Package... Of Knowledge
Jake Truemper Staff Writer No matter how hard life seems just remember: people suck and will let you down. Don’t let others’ short comings make you feel like less of a human being. I have hurt people before and I have let people down before, we all have, so we also need to realize that we, as humans, suck. The
sooner we realize that nothing will ever be perfect the sooner life will start being easier. Life is going to get you down, a lot. You’re going to gain friends and family and lose friends and family, but you are still you. No matter how hard life gets you are still an amazing person, and while everyone sucks they are amazing in their own special way as well. We need to realize that while people are going to fail, people will succeed as well and the sooner we accept our shortcomings and our specialties, the sooner we can join together and be closer as a school. Instead of talking behind each others backs about our failures, let’s tell people about their successes, and then tell them about their failures. Don’t be ruthless to people, but don’t sugarcoat the truth. In the end we all end up in the same place, so why spend your time causing problems and making your environment bad, why
not just spread love, kindness and truth with your fellow man? I’m just some senior giving his final thoughts on high school. I wouldn’t change a thing about it, because I can’t, but I just wish I knew that I could have solved problems with positivity and not negativity. So before you act with anger and speak before you think, remember life is easier with a little bit of love. P.S. Thank you to all the amazing people who have made my high school life so amazing. I wish I could give you all shout outs like you deserve, but to you teachers, students, and other members of my life all I can say is thank you so much. P.P.S I counted the Senior Superlatives... Why was I second biggest flirt? I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or bad.
You Do You, Fam
Anna Rizer Opinions Editor OK, look. Fake people suck. If there is literally any advice that I can give you, it’s you do you, fam. You will come across so many different kinds of people in your time at Wash, or any high school for that matter. The social butterflies, musically talented, star athletes, 6
Senior Columns
Pokemon enthusiasts, trend setters, the shy kid in the corner, the future Picasso, that one kid in your Econ class, and literally so many more. Sure enough, quite a few of them are going to be fake. You do you, fam. It’s so much less drama and work to just be yourself and not try to put on an act for all those around you. I get that some people may feel judged for being themselves or feel like they need to be a certain way to fit in, but you don’t need to fit in, just like you don’t need to stand out, you need to be you. If people can’t accept you for you, then screw ‘em, you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life anyway. It can be easier said than done to put yourself out there and just be straight up and real with people, but it can also be so liberating. (Also, sidenote, support your school,
fam! You don’t have to be involved in things to get the full experience. Go to the improv shows, musicals, plays, sporting events, show choir competitions, PAM Slam, Jamnesty, everything. Have so much stupid school pride that you bleed red and blue, and just enjoy everything while it lasts, cause those four years really do go by fast.) Huge thank you to everyone who has made my time at Wash a very memorable one. S/o to Josiah and Sierra, Three Musketeers fo lyfe. S/o to Donald, you’re an amazing human being. S/o to Austin, Ross and Peter, #AARP. S/o to all my teachers ever, you guys put up with a lot of crap. S/o to every single one of my friends, you guys are the best people I know, and thanks for letting me be me. It’s been real Wash. Peace. News Editor
Sarah Altemeier Emily LaGrange
56% have smoked weed 35% have come to school under the influence 95% are going to college 73% have taken an AP test 52% have been out of the country 56% have had sex 85% have skipped a class 48% are religious 24% have taken an Uber Graphic by Addi Westpheling and Claire McKinstry
56% have gotten a parking ticket 35% have sent nudes 80% have been to a concert 57% have gotten drunk 35% have failed a class 26% have broken the bro code
Addi Westpheling
A&E Editor
Senior Survey
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MOST LIKELY TO BECOME PRESIDENT Finbar Berry Jacqui Fashimpaur
BEST HAIR
Jabe Gonder Melissa Tormene
MOST LIKELY TO GO PRO Isaiah Nimmers Joniqua Clark
Maya Altemeier Jovon Johnson
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Superlatives
Profiles Editor
Emily Burke Claire McKinstry
CC by openclipart.org
CLASS CLOWN
MOST LIKELY TO WIN AN OSCAR Melissa Tormene Lincoln Ginsberg
CC by clipartcotttage
CC by Republican Party
MOST CONSERVATIVE Anna Rizer Logan Coppess
MOST LIBERAL Ian Klopfenstein Molly Hunter
CC by Phantom Open Emoji
CC by TheHoosierState89
MOST LIKELY TO WIN A GRAMMY
Melissa Tormene Shawndell Young
Emily Burke Claire McKinstry
Profiles Editor
Superlatives
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BEST BFF’S Melissa Tormene Caleb Woods
MOST LIKELY TO GET MARRIED CC by theodysseyonline, adassoft and Anonymous
Jerri-Dale Temple Dakota Brown
Madeline Knutson Finbar Berry
WORST SENIORITIS Do they even go here...? 10
Superlatives
Myles Hebets Mason Gee
Opinions Editor
Anna Rizer Jillian Gannon
MOST LIKELY TO CRY AT GRADUATION Katie Weston Ian Cavanaugh
BEST STYLE
BIGGEST FLIRT CC by AJ, warszawianka, chatard and freestockphotos.biz
Carson Saylor Darian Thompson
Kiersten Sealy Dane Van-Antwerp
MOST LIKELY TO END UP WITH 30 CATS Grace Cooper Ian Klopfenstein Anna Rizer Jillian Gannon
Opinions Editor
Superlatives
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Striving Awards Most likely to become a UPS man: Jake Truemper
For the people who tried their best
Most likely to get accepted to nearly every ivy league she applied to: Jacqui Fashimpaur Most likely to break a bone: Adam Foarde Most likely to chip her tooth running in track: Sierra Sheets Most likely to perform an impromptu rap on the announcements about recycling: Jovon Johnson Most likely to take the journalism students’ Macs and replace them with crappy Dells: The CRCSD Most likely to draw all the art for everything: Alice Tosi Most likely to wear a pikachu costume to school: Ian Klopfenstein Most likely to idly threaten to murder someone: Molly Hunter Most likely to always be holding a Rubik’s Cube: Tim McCright Most likely to make 20 new friends on the first day of school: Maya Altemeier Most likely to skip school for a week to play “Fallout 4” and still be homecoming king: Kenny Plume Most likely to become a YouTube sensation: Callista Greco Most likely to become a Pokemon trainer: Kiran Kearney Most likely to take an absurd number of AP classes: Skylar Bell Most likely to always get out of taking a test on the day of the test: Jabe Gonder Most likely to be wearing fashion trends no one in CR has ever heard of: Carson Saylor Most likely to run marching band practice while wearing a shark costume: Ryan Miller Most likely to constantly be throwing shade: Cordejha Lewis
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Striving Awards
A&E Editor
Addi Westpheling
Where Are They Going?
Kamal Abdi Madina Abdirahman Matthew Ackerman John Allison Maya Altemeier SammyAlterbal Ronald Arenas Josiah Argo Michael Arkenberg Alyssa Azelton Elijah Bahati Emily Barger Valerie Bartmess Christian Beard Dalton Becker Jaycie Beer Ariana Bell Schyler Bell Carleigh Bellmer Austin Bennett August Bergstrom Michael Berry Emily Bierbaum Bentlee Birchansky Logan Black-Marchand Chantel Blair Myriah Blazicek Aria Boyd Jacob Boyer Karl Bradford Cameron Bramow Casey Brant Benjamin Brecht Clayton Brecht Melissa Brecht Faith Brooks Christopher Brown Dakota Brown Trey Brown Payton Bruner Grace Bryant Samuel Bryant Xavier Bryant Anfernee Buford Pacific Bukura Emily Burke Patiance Butoyi Luke Carey Tabitha Carpenter Jacey Carr Raevyn Carson Dylan Cavanaugh Ian Cavanaugh Angel Cavin Maria Cavin Christine Cejka-Emig Elizabeth Child Shania Christensen Joniqua Clark Alexander Cooper Grace Cooper Cole Cooper Curtis Cooper Logan Coppess Daris Corey Jayden Cummins Noah Dawson Mathew DeCamp Jacob Denn Madison Dennis Maria Devaras Everett DeVaux Siwema Dezire Johnny Dobbs Noah Doyle Jacob Dundee Timothy Earle Samuel Eck Logan Eckhardt Lydia Edmundson Haley Edwards Adel Elessais Thomas Elessais Benjamin Elliott George Elossais Blake Emig Dominique Eniola Kieran Exbom Jacqueline Fashimpaur
Brandon Cullen
U of Minnesota Kirkwood Coe St thomas Iowa Kirkwood Marines Iowa Iowa Kirkwood Working Wartburg Iowa Kirkwood Southern IL Univ Kirkwood Kirkwood U of Michigan Notre Dame Kirkwood Florida Atlantic Uni Marines Iowa Military Kirkwood Kirkwood
Working Working UNI Kirkwood U of Arizona Iowa Iowa Mt Mercy Kirkwood McNally Smith College of Music U of Dubuque MTI U of Portland MTI ISU Iowa Iowa Iowa ISU National Guard Kirkwood Kirkwood Ellsworth CC DMACC Iowa ISU ISU Kirkwood National Guard Ellsworth Kirkwood ISU Loras ISU Kirkwood Working Iowa Loras Kirkwood Iowa Iowa Iowa Iowa Kirkwood UNI Kirkwood Carnegie Mellon
Sports Editor
Alex Felter Grant Ferguson Jack Ferring Working Samantha Flood Northwestern Univ Adam Foarde Kirkwood Andrienne Fondren Working Lucinda Forster Working Molly Fox ISU Sara Frieden Kirkwood Vanessa Frieden Kirkwood Adrian Garrett Mason Gee Working Connor Geuder Mt Mercy Zachary Gilbert Army US Military Academy Rielly Gillaspie Iowa Lincoln Ginsberg NcNally Smith Jabe Gonder Wheaton College Jennifer Goranson Kirkwood Matevsz Gosiewski AlexanderGray Kirkwood Julia Gray Iowa Callista Greco Kirkwood Miranda Hammel Kirkwood Ethan Hammer Utah State Univ Nicholas Hand Kirkwood Austin Hanover Kirkwood Sydney Hanson Kirkwood Emma Harker Kirkwood Kemp Harriel Kirkwood Chloe Harrington Coe Cierra Harrington Kirkwood Arthur Harris Ciara Harrison Francis Marion Univ Dannica Hartman Logan Hatfield Iowa Sade Head Iowa Morgan Heaton Kirkwood Myles Hebets Austin Hebrink Iowa DeJare’ Heidelberg Emily Heinrich Working Regan Helms Iowa Jordan Henderson Working Zak Herman Alex Herzog Wartburg College Simone Hickok Kirkwood Dylan Hines Working Dallas Hobbs DeerField Academy MaLon Hodges Univ of N Carolina Willington Paris Hollingshed Isaiah Holtz Iowa Ian Hoover-Grinde ISU Brandie Horton Dakota Hotz Jackson Hoyt U of Arizona Noah Hummel Kirkwood Molly Hunter Iowa Malcolm Irwin Working Matthew Jackson Truman State William Jackson U of Notre Dame Davonte Jackson-Frazier Mt Mercy Connor Jacobmeyer Iowa Cameron Jacobs Iowa Leah James ISU Tian Yin Jiang Kirkwood Khloe Jiron Kirkwood Gwendolyn Johnson Brigham Young Univ Jovon Johnson Kirkwood Luke Johnson ISU Tya Johnson Kirkwood Gabriella Jordon Kirkwood Kiran Kearney Iowa Morgan Kehoe Kirkwood Noah Kelley Ross Kennedy Drake Nathan Keppler Air Force Cameron Kittredge Cornell College Grace Kline ISU Ian Klopfenstein Iowa Melinda Knowling Iowa Madeline Knutson Barnard College Matthew Kopernik Kirkwood Jazmynn Kroon Kirkwood Alexis Lacayo Kirkwood Beth Lanfier Kirkwood Leo Lanham Kirkwood Andrew Larson Iowa Emily Laverty Iowa Amandine Leclerc Iowa
College Plans
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Mitchell Leonard Perisa Levy Cordejha Lewis Emma Lindley Michael Linville Hannah Madsen Blaze Mason Jade Mass Mt Mercy Bronwyn May Tristan Maynard ShaCorrie McBride Alexa McClellan Timothy McCright Skyler McDowell Hugh McGing Heaven McIntosh Caroline McLaughlin Stone McNamara Jonathan Melander Ryan Miller Troy Mims Cecilia Miranda Hunter Moore Cameron Morrison Jordan Henderson Zak Herman Alex Herzog Simone Hickok Dylan Hines Dallas Hobbs MaLon Hodges Paris Hollingshed Isaiah Holtz Ian Hoover-Grinde Brandie Horton Dakota Hotz Jackson Hoyt Noah Hummel Molly Hunter Malcolm Irwin Matthew Jackson William Jackson Davonte Jackson-Frazier Connor Jacobmeyer Cameron Jacobs Leah James Tian Yin Jiang Khloe Jiron Gwendolyn Johnson Jovon Johnson Luke Johnson Tya Johnson Gabriella Jordon Kiran Kearney Morgan Kehoe Noah Kelley Ross Kennedy Nathan Keppler Cameron Kittredge Grace Kline Ian Klopfenstein Melinda Knowling Madeline Knutson Matthew Kopernik Jazmynn Kroon Alexis Lacayo Beth Lanfier Leo Lanham Andrew Larson Emily Laverty Amandine Leclerc Mitchell Leonard Perisa Levy Cordejha Lewis Emma Lindley Michael Linville Hannah Madsen Blaze Mason Jade Mass Bronwyn May Tristan Maynard ShaCorrie McBride Alexa McClellan Timothy McCright Skyler McDowell Hugh McGing Heaven McIntosh Caroline McLaughlin Stone McNamara Jonathan Melander Ryan Miller Troy Mims Cecilia Miranda Hunter Moore Cameron Morrison Blake Mosely
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College Plans
Grandview Kirkwood Kirkwood ISU ISU Working UNI Kirkwood Kirkwood ISU UNI Working Western Michigan Kirkwood U of Minnesota Twin Cities Iowa Iowa UNI Kirkwood UNI Luther Working Working Wartburg College Kirkwood Working DeerField Academy Univ of N Carolina Willington Iowa ISU U of Arizona Kirkwood Iowa Working Truman State U of Notre Dame Mt Mercy Iowa Iowa ISU Kirkwood Kirkwood Brigham Young Univ Kirkwood ISU Kirkwood Kirkwood Iowa Kirkwood Drake Air Force Cornell College ISU Iowa Iowa Barnard College Kirkwood Kirkwood Kirkwood Kirkwood Kirkwood Iowa Iowa Iowa Grandview Kirkwood Kirkwood ISU ISU Working Mt Mercy UNI Kirkwood Kirkwood ISU UNI Working Western Michigan Kirkwood U of Minnesota Twin Cities Iowa Iowa UNI Kirkwood UNI Luther Working Iowa
Madeline Mudd Iowa Ashley Munoz Mt Mercy Dakota Murray Kirkwood Zachary Nading Emma Nassif Nicholas Nassif Iowa Kaitlyn Nemickas U of St. Thomas Maya Nevitt St. Ambrose Hassan Nichols Justice Niehaus Isaiah Nimmers UNI Viola Niyizigama Central College/Luther Aleni Nshimilimana Kirkwood Rachael Oelrich Luther Lonnie Oliver Kirkwood Lindsey Orme DePaul John Parks Iowa John Parmley Iowa Ricardo Parra National Guard Tavian Patrick Wartburg Haylee Peterman Graceland Univ Taylor Petersen Kirkwood Dylan Pettit Working Rachael Pfeifer Kirkwood Connor Pint Kenneth Plume Iowa Julia Pohlman St. Thomas Nathaniel Posekany Kirkwood Peter Reilly Iowa Donald Riedesel Kirkwood Faith Riedesel Coe College Anne Riley Iowa Anna Rizer UNI Amelia Rodriguez Iowa Marcela Rosales Kirkwood Darren Ross Iowa Central Rebekah Ruley Iowa Nicholas Saulnier U of Minnesota Carson Saylor San Francisco Art Institute Kiersten Sealy Kirkwood Brenna Servin Iowa Harrison Shaffer Rinslins Sierra Sheets Navy Caroline Shey U of Missouri Jacques Simpson Anisha Sirlona Kirkwood Thomas Slattery ISU Hunter Smith Avery Smith Kirkwood Chase Spahn Samuel Sternschein Darthmoth Mackenzie Stevenson Kirkwood Tavion Stewart Wartburg Alexander Stockmaster ISU Alexis Strait Carrie Sturges Mt Mercy Alec Joseph Taylor CheLynn Taylor UNI John Taylor ISU Spencer Taylor Jessica Tecuapetla Working Jerri Temple Kirkwood Gabriella Thalblum Hawaii Pacific Univ Damecia Thomas Darian Thompson Iowa Shawni Tinnes Joseph Todtz Kirkwood Melissa Tormene Belmont Univ Alice Tosi ISU Reed Tovey Donovan Trimble Kirkwood Arianna Triplett Iowa Jacob Truemper Kirkwood Jacob Unangst ISU Anthony Valenti Dane Van Antwerp Butler Univ Thomas Vesey ICC Tech Anne Visser Cornell College Brett Visser UNI Thomas Vogel Univ Tampa Elliott Vogel Ella Wake Iowa Ebony Watkins UNI David Watt Kirkwood Gabrielle Wauqua Gabriel Wedel Kirkwood LeCharles Welch Katherine Weston Luther Samuel Wicke Iowa Mark Williams Laveechie Williams Ellsworth Keion Wills Parkland College Caleb Woods ISU Shawndell Young Elmhurst Trevor Zins
Sports Editor
Brandon Cullen
SENIOR PLAYLIST
School’s Out - Alice Cooper So Long, Farewell - The Sound of Music The Graduation Song - Rhett and Link Fanfare and Processional Graduation (Friends Forever) - Vitamin C I Want to Break Free - Queen Forever Young - Rod Stewart Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
Faculty Farewells “Make good choices.” -Mr. Clancy “Watch out for deer.” -Mr. Howell “Every day’s a great day to be a Warrior!” -DP “Goodbye children.” -Doc Jones “A frowny face means I’m sad you’re going to be gone, and a smiley face means I’m happy about it!” -Mr. Cruise
Student Comic
Molly Hunter
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney High School Never Ends - Bowling for Soup Baba O’Riley - The Who Another Brick in the Wall (Pt. 2) - Pink Floyd Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day Good As Gone - Little Big Town Letter To Me - Brad Paisley Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Roses &
Grad parties High school’s over Senior letters Senior skip day Class prank Prom Classes with no finals Getting your yearbook New place = fresh start Pursuing your interests Leaving home FREEDOM
Thorns
Long grad ceremonies Crying adults Senioritis Not top dog anymore Classes with finals Bittersweet goodbyes Leaving my pets “I remember when you were this tall!” Student loan debt Questions about future Packing
CC by Barbara Williams2010 and Greg Hume by Alice Tosi
Editor-in-Chief
Backpage
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The Year in Review
18
Year in Review
Sports Editor
Brandon Cullen
Addi Westpheling
A&E Editor
Year in Review
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Acts of Terrorism Throughout the World Gunnar Bosking Sports Editor
Brussels, Iraq, and Pakistan CC by Zscout370
On March 22, explosions rocked the city of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. The blasts occurred at the bustling Brussels International airport and on a train that was parked at the crowded Maalbeek station during rush hour. The extremist terror group known as Islamic State later took responsibility for the bombings, which were discovered to have been carried out by suicide bombers. Thirty five people, including the bombers, were killed in the attacks and over 300 were injured. Four Americans were also among the dead, including an Air Force veteran. Then on Easter Sunday morning, a bomb rocked a public park in Lahore, Pakistan where Christians were gathering to celebrate the holiest day of the Christian religion. That attack killed 74 people, including countless women and children. A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. Islamic State, the terrorist group also known as ISIS or ISIL, has had a presence in Europe ever since their rise in 2014. They are not in any way a representative of the billion Muslims in the world currently. However, there has been a rise of the outlier radical ideology. The countries of Belgium and France have been hotbeds for these Islamic radicals, and police have had a very hard time keeping them and their influence contained. They have, however had a presence in the Pakistan area much longer and the Pakistani military has. These similar attacks reopened the wound about national security here at home, with each of the remaining presidential candidates weighing in on the issue, with some reactions being more extreme than others. Republican
Senator Ted Cruz calling on police forces across the United States to “patrol Muslim neighborhoods.” Donald Trump repeated his earlier calls to “close the borders and bring back enhanced interrogation like waterboarding.” Some of the responses were on the softer side, as Republican candidate John Kasich pushed for our leaders to “redouble our efforts with our
Molenbeek, a section of Brussels, is sometimes known as the “jihadi capital of Europe” due to it’s alarming number of radical residents, including at least three of the Paris attackers. Immediately following the bombings in Brussels, security camera footage emerged of three men pushing suitcases believed to be filled with explosives on luggage carts. Two of them were later discovered to have been brothers that had been directly involved in the Paris attacks, including the bombmaker named Mohamed Abrini, who was apprehended in a raid by police on April 9. Belgian authorities now believe that all direct perpetrators are either dead or in police custody. There are well over a billion Muslims in the world. 1.6 billion as a matter of fact, according to the Pew Research Center. Both major attacks were met with condemnation from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Muqtedar Khan, a professor of global affairs at the University of Delaware had his own moving response. “This is the time to unite, share comfort and security and remind ourselves that it is our values of tolerance, pluralism, love for humanity and the desire to do good that make us human and not hate, anger and violence,” Khan said in an official statement. People here at Wash also had responses to how these savage attacks, including AP US History teacher, Dr. Amy Jones. “People who don’t fall victim to stereotypes won’t fall victim to believing them,” Jones said, “they’ll recognize that these [attacks] aren’t a representation of the Muslim community at all.”
“[ISIS is] not in any way a representative of the billion Muslims in the world currently. However, there has been a rise of the outlier radical ideology.”
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allies to root out and destroy such acts of evil.” Bernie Sanders echoed Kasich’s response, saying that “the international community must come together to destroy ISIS.” After the November attacks in Paris, France, the police went on a manhunt searching for Saleh Abdeslam, a Belgian national who had become radicalized and was one of the perpetrators of the savage attacks. He managed to evade capture for four months until he was finally apprehended on March 18 by Belgian police in the neighborhood of Molenbeek.
News Editor & Editor-in-Chief
Emily LaGrange
-Rated Movies The Ethicality of Explicit Motion Picture
Becca Turnis Staff Writer
When a movie breaks 22 box office records, rakes in $700 million at the box office, and gets a sequel green lit, people think it’s a success. But what does Deadpool’s success say about the future of the movie industry? Fans and critics of February’s “Deadpool” have been asking if we’re going to see anymore R-rated heroes in our future.” I think there’s certain audiences that would enjoy [R-rated hero movies] more,” said Austin Hebrink, ’16. Well, the answer’s pretty simple: yes and no. “Deadpool 2” has already been announced, and will likely carry the same
Anna Rizer Opinions Editor
rating as it’s predecessor. Meanwhile, there is talk of giving fellow X-Men film. “Wolverine 3”, and a sequel to DC’s “Suicide Squad” R-ratings as well. DC Animation’s “Batman: The Killing Joke” has already received an R-rating and the home release of DC’s “Batman V Superman” will include an extended R-rated cut. On the flip side, CEO Bob Iger of Marvel’s parent company Disney, reportedly told shareholders shortly after “Deadpool’s” release, “We don’t have any plans to make R-rated Marvel movies,” which means Marvel’s cinematic universe will remain
family friendly. This is good news for some younger viewers. “I think it’s unnecessary for films to be so crass, ‘cause they can still be funny even if they’re not rated R,” said Audrey Fashimpaur, ’19. No matter the case there are definitely some heroes that are meant for kids. “There’s Superman movies that are more for kids,” said Hebrink. “Maybe [there could be] a more violent Batman or maybe Aquaman.” CC by Vargklo
Mo Got Fo(urth)
Beginning as Grand Champions at Prairie and going on to have another amazing season, Cedar Rapids Washington varsity show choir, Momentum, has finished fourth at Show Choir Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee. After placing fourth in the first rounds, Momentum made it to finals, where they proceeded to have another amazing performance. “I think we performed, probably, the best we’ve ever done and I think our placement is indicative of that,” said Harrison Shaffer, ’16. Momentum held on to fourth place in the finals, tying for the best in Wash’s history, coming behind Los Alamitos from Los Alamitos, California, Totino-Grace from Fridley, Minnesota, and Westside from Omaha, Nebraska, while beating Emily LaGrange
Auburn from Auburn, Alabama and Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Nationals marks the end of this years show choir season, and for the seniors, it was their last time competing for Wash. “I don’t think that it’s really set in for any of us yet, that we believe somewhere out there we have another performance,” said Momentum director Peter Westphalen. For some, the best part about Nationals was the hotel, the sights, or the performance itself. “I can’t think of a better way to end the year and these kids senior year...It’s just an unbelievable experience to stand on the Grand Ole Opry and think of who else has performed there,” said Westphalen. The show choirs at Wash are a very tightknit community and describe themself “...a show choir program. We’re not Vivace,
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Cele, and Mo,” said Westphalen, not divided by each choirs ability level, but united. Being so close can take its toll on everyone when it comes to the end. “The best part is that a lot of the seniors and juniors are all friends...but that makes it hard to leave and there is so much talent in the senior class that once they go, it’ll be adapting to the underclassmen that we haven’t worked with yet,” said Allie Klinsky, ’17. While the seniors move on and the underclassmen move up, Momentum is in good hands, as this year Wash’s freshman show choir Vivace had an undefeated season, and the prep show choir Celebration finished the year with two first places and two second places. News
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Seth Keppler Staff Writer
Emergency Drill
This year Washington High School has had only one fire drill, one tornado drill, and one lockdown drill. Although it may seem like Wash hasn’t had any, we still haven’t had enough to be at or above the legal limit. According to Iowa Code 100.31, a public school, and all the teachers and officials inside of it, must “conduct not less than four fire drills and not less than four tornado drills in all school buildings during each school year when school is in session.” All other tornado, fire, or any sort of other drills performed beyond those four, are not required. “I feel like fire drills are a waste of time, and we would know what to do if a fire actually happened,” said Devin Thiltgen, ’19. The number of drills Wash has actually done over the years is not certain, but Wash’s school officials aren’t to blame.
Rielle Jones-Teske Photos Editor
Code 100.31 also states that, “It shall be the duty of the state fire marshal and the fire marshal’s designated subordinates to require [two to four drills per year].” In order to enforce fire, tornado, and other emergency drills the Cedar Rapids Fire Department Fire Marshal’s office conducts ‘annual inspections’ checking the school’s records to see if they have done the required amount. “We [the Fire Marshal’s Department] usually go around during winter break to the high schools to check the conducted amount of drills. Sometimes we don’t get everyone’s records checked. We start with the elementary schools in September, and then move on to the other schools,” said Pete Schmit, a fire inspector at the fire marshal’s office. However, Valerie Nyberg, associate principal at Wash, said, “I have never been
asked to record the dates or times of our drills.” So, while the fire marshal’s office is checking records, there might not be any records to check. Some schools in Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, have exemptions “States with certain climates” have exemptions due to the weather during winter, because no one wants to stand out in the cold. Other schools have exemptions because of disruptions it could cause during the school day, like Polk Alternative School. In Polk’s case, they have teachers perform the fire drills, rather than the students. If a school does not conduct the required amount of drills they are given a fine or fee. However, if the school refuses to do the drills the fire department can take them to court concerning the issue.
Copying Cost Hypocrisy
This year, the administration asked teachers to cut way down on how many copies they print, as reported in a previous Surveyor story. This has had a significant negative impact on teacher’s ability to instruct their students. “I’ve had to rely more on Canvas as far as posting articles and reading guides for students to print out themselves rather than print copies out for them. I’ve also had to resort to having students share documents rather than print out copies for every student in each class,” said Jennifer Fishwild, AP World History and AP US History teacher. When students have to share documents or teachers are simply unable to give out papers, the quality of the education is seriously downgraded. “They are less likely to print some review activities or packets, so that hurts us when we’re reviewing for AP tests,” said Emily Laverty, ’16. Not only does it hurt the students’ ability to review coursework, but many are major 22 News
Photo by Emily LaGrange
visual learners, so not having packets and needs,” said Dr. Valerie Nyberg, associate handouts in the first place makes studying principal. much more difficult for them. When asked how she believes the When the responsibility of printing administration could best make cuts to out class materials falls on the students, their copying, she said, they “...have not it just doesn’t get done. This is because specifically focused on cutting copies as many students either don’t have access to much as making sure teachers are aware of a computer, a printer, or are just too busy their own copy habits/numbers.” to print out all of the class materials that their teachers can’t print for them. In the end, students’ grades are suffering because of the request put to teachers that prevent them from providing the best education they can to their students. All of this begs the question: If teachers have copying restrictions, why doesn’t the office? For school assemblies, the office prints out excessive amounts of programs, many of which end up on the floor anyway. “Dr. Plagman and others typically prepare for the assemblies. He determines how many programs are printed based on previous year’s numbers and current News Editor & Editor-in-Chief Emily LaGrange
Staff Editorial ~Is AP Worth It?~
At 92 dollars for one Advanced Placement (AP) exam, many question the significance of AP tests and classes during their high school career. Washington High School is famous for its success in AP exam attendance of the students, as proclaimed on crwash.org, “CWR is #1 Iowa High School on University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center’s 2015 List of Iowa’s Top AP High Schools (measures Advanced Placement participation)”. Many colleges and universities accept AP exams as credit for general education classes. Some Wash alumni have been able to enter their first year of college as sophomores or juniors due to the credit build up from their success in AP exams. Unfortunately, the requirements that many colleges have are often unattainable for the regular over-achieving student. While 63 percent of Wash’s students scored at least one three or higher in 2015, this is often not enough for more prestigious schools. The top three AP tests taken by high school stu-
dents are English Language and Composition, United States History, and English Literature and Composition, respectively. The University of Iowa will accept an AP score of 3 on United States History, replacing a general education class and three college credits. They will accept an AP score of four on both English Language and Composition and English Literature and Composition, replacing an elective or general education class and three and four college credits, respectively. The University of Northern Iowa will accept an AP score of three on United States History, English Language and Composition, and English Literature and Composition all earning three college credits and replacing one general education class. If one were to score a four on the U.S. History exam, they would be able to earn six college credits and would replace two general education classes. Iowa State University will accept an AP score of three on English Language and Composition, replac-
ing three college credits and a general education class, while they will accept an AP score of four on English Literature and Composition and United States History. Scoring this high will replace three and six college credits, respectively. We believe that although it’s difficult to gauge whether one would earn credit at the college of their choosing, taking an AP exam and the preparation it demands is often quite helpful to propel an advanced way of thinking and analyzing. AP classes often require a much deeper understanding and demonstration of that understanding which we believe could benefit our futures in furthering our education. If unable to afford the expenses of an AP exam, we think that one could still benefit from the rigor of an AP class. Of course, it takes a rather ambitious student to complete an AP course, but a little bit of confidence and dedication can result in a higher level of education and understanding, discipline in one’s education, and readiness for a successful college career.
AP Classes/Exams offered at Washington High School:
Art History Biology Calculus (AB & BC) Chemistry Chinese Language and Culture Comparative Government & Politics Computer Science A Computer Science Principles English Language & Composition English Literature & Composition Environmental Science European History French Language German Language Human Geography Italian Language and Culture Japanese Language and Culture Latin Macroeconomics Microeconomics Music Theory Physics 1: Algebra-based Physics 2: Algebra-based Physics C: Mechanics Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Psychology Research (Second part of AP Capstone program) Seminar (First part of AP Capstone program) Spanish Language Spanish Literature Statistics Studio Art (2-D, 3-D, & Drawing) U.S. History U.S. Government & Politics World History
8 of out 10 Editors agree with this editorial Anna Rizer
Opinions Editor
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No Snow For the Children Jake Truemper Staff Writer As a kid, a real highlight of my life was chilling at home and playing in the snow on an Iowa snow day. While snow does get annoying, one or two or even five snow days were always a great time. It’s always so nice waking up at six a.m. to see a text or update saying ‘Cedar Rapids school Districts: Canceled.’ When I was a freshman I watched many seniors leave Washington High School a week early. As a sophomore and junior, I watched seniors leave almost two weeks early. I just imagined the joy those seniors f e l t leaving us young kids behind to start off break early, to start adulthood and start hanging with friends weeks be-
fore us. Some Washington high schoolers may feel left out on days of freedom to catch up o n homework or sled with friends in sledding club, that’s because you have. Kiran Kearney, ’16, does not feel as patient about the lack of snow days, as she was “indifferent.” Anne Riley, ’16, while still upset at the lack of snow days, but she too was fine with how few there were. Finally When Connor Geuder, ’16, was asked what his view on the lack of snow days was, he said, “I’m pissed, we needed more.” Peter Reilly, ’16, agreed with Geuder about the no snow days by saying “It’s terrible.” Now that I’m senior, I am not a fan of this no-snow-day thing. I wish I would have had more days where
Annoying Construction Most Citizens of Cedar Rapids can probably agree that First Avenue is a critical road in our city and key for getting around and I would guess that we ALL agree that the construction MUST stop. Every single day I’m constantly on the move and use First Avenue to get across town at least twice a day. First Avenue seems like an ideal street for quickly zipping up to Marion, grabbing a bite to eat at The Irish Democrat, Starlight, or any other popular restaurants in that area, or getting downtown. Think again. The construction on First Avenue is constantly popping up in your face, slowing you down, and ruining any chances of getting anywhere even mod24
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I could have woken up and saw that school was canceled and bury my face into my pillow and go back to sleep. The anger Geuder feels about these no snow days just scratches the surface of anger many seniors feel about only getting out six days before these underclassmen. But we shouldn’t let this anger get to us about no snow, as Jack Foarde, ’15, once tweeted, ‘we forget that there is a Super Volcano located at Yellowstone National park that is decades overdue to erupt causing mass destruction and cover the United States not in snow, but ash, good news is school will probably be canceled.’ CC by Arvin61r58
Hannah Sherman Staff Writer
erately fast. I find myself having to leave a solid 10 to 15 minutes early whenever I need to get to said location on First Avenue. It seems as if one lane of traffic is always blocked off preventing me from quick lane changes. If I had to guess it would seem as if the construction has been going on for OVER a year, and to be completely honest, I’m confused as to what the city even has planned because honestly I haven’t seen much changes besides more detour signs and clutter on the roads contributing to my high level of annoyance. Don’t let me forget to mention obnoxious drivers alongside the construction. The luxury of being allowed two lane
gives you the chance to pass annoyingly slow drivers yet with one lane constantly blocked off I seem to find myself stuck going 25 on a 35 behind a 14-year-old girl learning to drive with no hope of being on time to my soccer practice that started 20 minutes ago. The city has broken up the construction on First Avenue into different projects, such as: utilities relocations, pavement rehab, and reconstructions. But I haven’t seen any visible changes. I think we’re all fed up and hoping this construction ends soon because I sure am.
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Anna Rizer
Germany v. America From a Small Town to a City like Cedar Rapids Annika Danneman Guest Columist You may be wondering why I’m writing this article about the differences between Germany and America and about being an exchange student. I just want to show you guys some simple differences because many of you never had the chance to leave this big country. For me every single country in Europe feels like the different states do for Americans. How would you feel if a class is 90 minutes long and you only have three different classes a day? That is just one difference between German and American schools. My normal school day starts at 7:40 a.m. and ends either at 12:50 p.m. or 3:20 p.m. After each 90 minute long class you have a 20 minute break. Then at 12:50 p.m. school is over if you don’t have an afternoon class. If so, you will have an hour lunch break and everyone goes downtown to get food. In Germany we have three different kinds of school. It is very important how your grades are in elementary school because they will decide which kind of school you will go. If you are non-academic, you will go to a school called Hauptschule, where you will attend from fifth to ninth grade. If you are an average student, you will go to a school called Realschule, which goes from fifth to tenth grade. If you are a university-bound student, you will attend an eight year-long school called Gymnasium. When you have a test in a German school you will receive grades with the
numbers one to six. A one is an A and a six is an F. German schools also have inbetween grades like 1-2 or 2-3. In Germany, graduation is completely different from America. When you graduate after 12th grade you are able to study and to attend universities, which are free. When you graduate before 12th grade you need to attend another school until you have your 12 years of high school. The size of a class in a German High School is about 25 to 31 students. The students are most of the time together in their classroom while the teachers will come to the different classrooms. This is for every class except music, biology, physics, chemistry, P.E., and arts classes. German students have about 15 different classes a week. Some are important classes which you will have twice a week, some are not that important, and you will only have them once a week. Many German schools don’t have extracurricular activities. If you want to do a sport you have to find a club near where you live and you have to do it after school. I think I talked enough about German school, but there are still some differences. For example in Germany you cannot drive on your own if you’re under 18 years old. Even before that, you need to attend a yearlong class. Besides, when you turn finally 16, you can start drinking beer, sparkling wine, and wine. When you turn 18 you are considered an adult and you can do everything you want to do. The reason I became an exchange students is because I think it’s the best way
to improve your English skills. When you live in another country without your family, you will be forced to talk in English to communicate with others. Furthermore, it is the best way to gain a lot of experiences and to know more about the culture of a particular country. Also it is an awesome way to travel around the world. You will make friendships, which will hold for a lifetime. In this short time you will grow up a lot and learn many new things every single day. Living without your parents will show you a completely different way of life. I went to the United States twice to visit a part of my family in Arizona and Florida. During these few weeks I started to love this country. When I got the opportunity to be an exchange student I was more than happy to use it. First I was really shocked, when I heard that I will go to the corn and soybean state of Iowa, but now I can only say that I like Iowa a lot. It is a beautiful state, even when it is really boring. The people I met during my exchange year are so nice and I made a lot of awesome and funny memories. I can only say use the opportunity in learning another language and being an exchange student. Many people think this exchange year is just a year of your life, but to be honest the exchange is like living a whole life in one year. Try to be an exchange student and you will make many awesome memories and experiences which you will remember for a lifetime.
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Anna Rizer
Opinions Editor
Opinions
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Wash’s AP Culture
What’s it like to attend Iowa’s AP Leader? Molly Hunter Editor-in-Chief
I
s the pressure to do AP too much at Wash? Are the expectations unrealistic and harmful? Or, is AP really the greatest thing since sliced bread? First, let’s take a step back: how rampant is this AP epidemic anyway? Based on the random sampling of students I selected to interview for this article, it’s not really an epidemic at all. Most of the kids I spoke to had avoided taking AP classes right off the bat, because they didn’t feel comfortable at first. Take Marjuel Wiggley, ’19, for example: “I decided not to [take an AP class my freshman year] because I figured it was gonna be too much stress, so I just stuck with the regular core classes.” Wiggley didn’t sign up for any AP classes for next year for the same reason: to avoid the inevitable stress. Rielly Gillaspie, ’16, had similar reasons for avoiding AP classes during her freshmen and sophomore years at Washington. “I did not [take AP’s], but I took a lot of classes...I was kind of experimenting. You know, like interior design and...an acting class. ...I thought that AP classes would be too much stress.” By her junior year, however, Gillaspie was ready to give AP a shot. “In my junior year I took AP Lang and Comp...and AP Psych,” Gillaspie explains, adding that she also took the AP exams for those courses. Many students make this choice, deciding to wait until their junior year to try out an AP class. Connor Adams, ’17, for example, waited until this year to try APES out. He adds, “I’m taking another one next year. I’m not taking a lot - only one more,” and even admits to wishing he’d checked it out sooner. “Not my freshman year, but definitely my sophomore year, I wish I’d taken one.” Of course, not everyone avoids taking AP classes because they think they’ll fail them. There are other reasons students may leave AP out of their lives. Ronnie Arenas, ’16, is an example of one such student. “I’m going to join the marines; I’m gonna be shipping off Au26
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gust 12,” says Arenas. “I was still thinking about the military [my junior year], but I didn’t know what branch I was going to do. ...That’s one of the main reasons...I didn’t take any AP classes... Since [the militarily is] going to help pay for college, it’s not really necessary.” Even so, Arenas has still taken and completed an AP course. “I took one [AP class] my sophomore year… It was environmental science - APES. ...I knew Coach Graham and he was a really cool dude, so that’s why I took it.” Many other students decide to take an AP class for similar reasons - either because the course simply sounds interesting, or because they’ve heard from others that it’s fun. This was, in fact, Gillaspie’s reasoning for enrolling in AP English Literature and Composition, a class for which she opted out of the AP test. “I didn’t take the class thinking ‘I’m gonna get college credit for it’. I was just thinking, ‘Oh, this’ll be a really cool class!’” However, Gillaspie says, “I think more people join AP classes to take the tests, and then they’ve got the first year out of the way...for college.” This is a common opinion, and the numbers seem to support it. Since the 2008-2009 school year, about 70 percent of the possible AP exams which can be taken, based on winter term AP course enrollment, are taken. In other words, for every 100 AP classes being taken at Wash, there are around 70 exams being taken. Gillaspie adds, however, that this sometimes leads to a discouraging ‘teach to the test’ mentality. “Taking an AP class, they just prepare you for the test, which is kind of frustrating. … Sometimes it’s like, ‘Why am I even here?’” On the flip side, of course, it’s also disheartening to have signed up for a class with the intention of earning college credit, and to then end the year feeling underprepared for the test. However, Dr. Ralph Plagman, principal of Washington High School, would argue that the course objectives and the AP test
material are one and the same. “In AP,” he says, “the test covers the objectives [of the course]. …And those objectives were written by college professors to replicate what that college course is.” David Duer, Washington Language Arts teacher, feels largely the same way. “I would make the argument that AP Language and Composition is maybe the best of the AP courses in terms of its ability to prepare them for all sorts of other classes that will involve the writing of essays and the reading of nonfiction.” So it would seem that students will learn applicable, real-world skills in their AP classes, even if they aren’t planning on taking the tests. “I think I tripped to the value of [AP] pretty early,” Plagman says. “Were we ahead of the curve. I think we were always ahead of the curve. … We just saw the value of it from what we heard.” “I have to give a lot of credit to teachers,” Plagman adds. “Of the course initiations, probably three-fourths were from teachers, and only one-fourth were from me.” An AP class is nothing without students to benefit from it, though - and the staff here knows that. At a recent staff meeting, faculty members were given a list of every student currently in grades nine, 10, and 11. They then searched for students not yet enrolled in an AP course, whose GPA suggested they could handle it. “We’re not stupid enough that we’re going to go after a student with a 1.18 - that wouldn’t serve anybody,” Plagman says. As Gillaspie also observes, however, “I don’t think the classes are pushed on people - I think the tests are once you’re in the classes.” Gillaspie makes a good point what if, once you’re in it, the AP program here is too aggressive, and its expectations too unrealistic? After hearing me voice the same concern during his interview, Plagman explained his strategy for targeting which students to push to take the AP tests they haven’t yet signed up for.
Editor-in-Chief
Molly Hunter
“[Recently] I was trying to recruit some kids to take AP tests, but I asked the teachers to give me a list of any kids that they thought were capable of three or better and weren’t signed up. Those were the only kids I talked to,” Plagman says. “Most of the teachers have a pretty good idea of what their students will get, and I don’t try to talk anyone into spending $92 on getting a one or two. Now, we also don’t try to talk them out of it - we don’t go through the list and say, ‘Well, here’s your money back, we don’t think you should.’” This means that, if someone is trying to talk you into taking the test, it isn’t because they like being a nag, or because they want to pressure you into a stressful situation. They’re doing it because they believe in your ability to succeed, and because they want you to reach your potential. Moreover, most of the kids who are taking lots of AP classes and tests are doing so because they really want to. For example Schyler Bell, ’16, is taking seven - yes, seven - AP classes. “I just really chose what I was interested in, and it just so happened that those were AP classes,” he says. “Most of [the other classes I’ve taken] were on a similar track. For example, US Humanities was recommended for people who would normally take the AP Language Arts classes. And Advanced PreCalculus, although it’s not an AP class, is still on that track.” Alyssa Comer, ’18, is another student enrolled in an unusually high number of AP courses. “[This year] I’m in AP Lang and Comp, AP World, AP Psych, and then AP Environmental Science,” Comer says. “I took the AP Psych [exam], and I’m taking the AP Lang and Comp one.” About benefits of AP, Comer, says, “I feel like you get to learn more. The curriculum that’s covered is more than it would be if it was just like a regular class. … I think it’s worth it, it’s just a lot of work sometimes, and it’s harder.” Meanwhile, in regards to the AP push at Wash, Comer says, “I think it’s good because it encourages kids that wouldn’t normally take an AP class to take it, and the teachers are always willing to help you.” Bell agrees: “I do understand why people from administration encourage that, because maybe they [as student was] on the fence about a certain class and that little push helped them take the class and they found out that they liked it.” Molly Hunter
However, don’t assume that just because Wash is so AP positive, the faculty is blind to the extra, unnecessary pressure students sometimes put themselves under - in fact, they worry about it. “I certainly support the idea that it’s good to have AP for all sorts of students and I admire the effort that we make in including as many possible students in the AP program as possible,” Duer says. “But I do have some concerns that some students over-extend themselves in terms of the number of AP classes that they take. And because of that, they add a level of stress to their everyday life that they probably don’t need.” Duer is right that some students take AP too far. One huge difference between Wash and many other high schools, in fact, is that there is no enforced or suggested maximum number of AP courses one can take. Wash’s AP program is also without many of the entrance exams and GPA requirements which are typical standards for acceptance into AP classes elsewhere. In the beginning, however, there were teachers at Wash who wanted to put such restrictions and standards in place. Some, Plagman says, told him, “‘Maybe taking…two [AP classes] is enough - or three.’ And I said, ‘No, we’re not going to decide that for them. We’re going to let them decide that for themselves.’” Plagman adds, “When I first came here…one student didn’t get into AP Calculus because the calculus teacher had an entrance test, and [this student] missed it by a couple points. And I said, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not going to do that anymore,’” Plagman explains. “Students have a right to fail.” However, having the right to fail doesn’t mean that anyone at Wash - even DP, the face of Wash AP - is expecting students to burn themselves out in the name of Advanced Placement achievement. “We have kids taking a ridiculous number [of AP courses]. …I would never recommend that, but I’m also not going to stop them,” says Plagman. “It’s their choice. … If they get in too deep, if they take on more than they can handle, we’ll do our best to soften the landing. We try and have all kinds of safety nets, but we are not going to say no to anybody.” Plagman is confident that more students take AP classes here as a result of the program’s accessibility. “In fact, we do exactly the opposite of keeping kids out. We do
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whatever we can to get kids in. …Not only do we not discourage kids from getting in, we actually find ways to recruit kids to get in who we think should be, especially in target groups like low-income and minority.” And by all accounts, we succeed in doing just that. To put it bluntly, 43 percent of Washington’s student body comes from lowincome households. The fact that we are also ranked as one of the top high schools in the state of Iowa - and in the nation means that our student body is constantly, consistently working to go above and beyond, overcoming obstacles not faced by many other students around the state and throughout the nation. “We’re as close to an inner-city school as you can get in Eastern Iowa,” says Plagman. “And that’s an image we could have if we wanted it. We could be the inner-city school, we could be the school that’s mostly interested in sports, but I never wanted that image for this school. …I wanted to counter that by being a high-octane academic school. So…it would mess with [people’s] stereotypes. Because we’ve got all these low-income kids...but also we’re the most powerful academic school. … And, I think that’s important for our school spirit and… for our pride in the school. And I have fostered that image, and I pay careful attention to those kinds of ratings, and I want us up there. And if somebody can show me some time that somebody is hurt by it, maybe I’ll rethink it. But so far nobody has shown me that there’s been any negative side effects. … The only things I hear are success stories. And once in awhile I’ll hear, ‘I wish I would’ve taken another test.’” Every year in the past, Washington’s graduating class has surpassed theirs predecessors, and this year’s graduates are no exception. “79 percent of this year’s graduates have completed at least one year-long AP course,” says Plagman. “That’s 222 of the 297 graduates. And...the 222 have taken 1,282 year-long AP courses for an average of 5.77 AP courses per student. That just blows me away! I mean, obviously, I promote it and I encourage it, but…if there weren’t results that wouldn’t happen. People wouldn’t put all the effort and work in if they didn’t see or hear from brothers and sisters and friends, and if they didn’t believe, that it was worth it.” Feature
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Uugggggggh! Think like
Profess your
Be humble
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Brand® Be risky
Your culture is your
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idea?
Phrasing!
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Day irt
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The Surveyor staff congratulates all graduates. Good luck on your future endeavors! 28
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Emily Burke Matthew Andersland
Matthew Andersland Staff Writer
FDIC Founders Say Goodbye
Forest Drive Improv Company (FDIC) was first created during the 2013-2014 school year. Some founding members were Elijah Wolter, ’14, Denzel Hayes, ’14, Charles Krebs, ’14, Seth Engen, ’15, Jacob Spurrell, ’15, Morgan Frederick, ’15, Anne Riley, ’16, Harrison Shaffer, ’16, Jake Truemper, ’16 and Cameron Jones, ’14. Bill Krebs, father of Charles, helped start off the group by arranging actual improv shows and practices.
I talked to Truemper and Shaffer, the last two remaining founding members of FDIC, who will be graduating this year. They have both assumed leadership positions in the group for the current
Courtesy of Donald Reidesel
school year. For the most part though, all of the founding members have equally shared leadership positions throughout the years. The original members would take leadership positions when they got to their senior year.
They have high hopes for the future, as there is a junior who shows a lot of promise for future leadership. They practice Friday’s after school and are always open to new members. “I hope to see FDIC still alive when I return for my 10 year reunion,” said Truemper.
Hard-to-Pronounce Names
Ben Janssen Staff Writer
Mirjana (Mih-rih-ahn-ah). No, not the illegal drug, the sophomore, Mirjana Mindolovich, ’18, one of the students at Wash with a nearly unpronounceable name. Mirjana has gone through high school being called names based on what Mirjana’s name looks like. She is often called Marijuana, pot, cocaine, weed, Mary Jane, and more. “It’s kind of fun to see what new names people can come up with,” Mirjana ‘18 said. Sometimes, when someone is talking about marijuana, she will ask why they want her, because she now identifies with the drug. “It’s kind of funny when a sub does a double take before asking, ‘Is Marijuana here?’” Emily Burke
Mindolovich said. Mirjana isn’t the only student with an unpronounceable name. Many people know sophomore Rahel Nshimirimana, ’18, (Ni-shee-meer-ee-mah-nah). Lots of people know Rahel but only a fraction of those people can pronounce her name. Rahel has gotten so used to people mispronouncing her name that she says to call her, Rahel or Rahel N. so you don’t have to try to pronounce her name. Rahel often gets asked how to pronounce her name, so she understands that it is hard to pronounce. You’re not the first person to mess it up, and you won’t be the last. “People look at my name, then look at me, and just don’t know what to say and I feel
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sorry for them. They try their best and I don’t mind if you say N, don’t pressure yourself into saying it, it’s totally fine with me if you try, but if you have no idea say N. please,” Nshimirimana said. Students and substitutes aren’t the only one that struggle with pronouncing their names. Sometimes Dr. Plagman screws up names while he tries to learn every student’s name. “During freshman year DP talked to me about how to pronounce my name because he had to say it correctly,” Mindolovich said. Their names will never be easy to pronounce but please, stop embarrassing yourself-- abbreviate. CC by SeriousTux
Profiles
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Staff Who Deserve More Appreciation
Riley Dewolf Staff Writer
There are over 220 staff members at Washington High School. During their high school career, students at Wash will probably encounter and recognize the majority (if not, at least a few) of the teachers and administrators at our school. However, there are some staff members that may not get the credit they deserve. There are also many qualities about the staff members or aspects of their jobs that students do not often know or understand.
Brenda Carter
Amanda Schumacher
Sandy Byard
Brenda Carter is the activities secretary or activities coordinator at Wash, but what does that mean? Yes she organizes, assists, and attends many school events and Warrior sporting events, but there are other parts to her job many students may not know about. “I order all of the transportation for the school as far as extra curricular activities, like field trips and sporting events,” she says. Also, even though it is not technically her job, she is also responsible for ordering graduation caps and gowns and distributing them to the seniors.
Everyday, students will likely hear Schumacher’s voice on the intercom, or see her as they pass in and out of the main office, but probably never have a clear idea of what she does everyday for her job. “I do all the vending machine refunds, which is unpopular with the kids… and parking tickets, which are unpopular with the kids,” she laughs. She also feels lucky that as far as work goes most, if not all of the work she has to do happens at school and she doesn’t have to spend much time outside of school working.
Now, unless students would have been in need of any sort of medical assistance, one may not have ever met, or will ever meet Byard, one of the school nurses. While some students may think that her job only consists of doing things like giving out bandages or helping people feel better, there is actually much more to her job. “I do a lot of management types of things,” Byard explains, “where I help families get insurance, set up doctor’s appointments, get any medications they may need, get tests for diabetes, and get transportation to the appointments.”
Pictured (from left to right): Gail Barry- Bookeeper Kerry Barnes- Media Secretary Amanda Schumacher- Receptionist Maggie Crosby- Nurse Lori Johnson- Student Center Secretary Marilyn Bettmeng- Attendance Secretary Brenda Carter- Activities Secretary Cara Tower- Attendance Secretary Melissa Jaynes- Associate Principals’ Secretary
Photos by Emily Burke
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Profiles
Not Pictured: Kim Weiland- Counseling Secretary Dana Hartman- Principal’s Secretary
Profiles Editor & Business Manager
Emily Burke
Grace Goes to Paraguay
Sarah Altemeier Staff Writer
¡Oye! Imagínate viviendo en un país exranjero, donde no se habla inglés, lejos de tu familia y tus amigos, por un año completo. ¿Te interesa? Grace Bryant, ’18, va a Paraguay después de graduarse y empezara un capítulo nuevo en su vida fuera de los Estados Unidos. (Hey! Just imagine living in a foreign country, where they don’t Photo Courtesy of Grace Bryant speak english, away from your family and your friends for a whole year. Sound interesting? Grace Bryant, ’18, is going to Paraguay after she graduates and will begin a new chapter Bryant is in AP Spanish and has also of her life outside the United States. taken French. “I’ve always wanted to be Bryant will be living with between one a foreign exchange student because I to five host families over the course of the like studying different languages. Most year, “The first three months I’m there is exchange programs are really expensive, the end of their school year since it’s the but I heard about this one through a southern hemisphere and the seasons family friend who thought I would be a are switched around. But, I’ll be staying good fit,” said Bryant. for a American school year. The second After returning to the US, Bryant is three months is their summer break and planning to go to college and major during that time I’m going to try and get in business. “I have applied to colleges involved in their service projects. I’ve and everything and I am deferring my done a lot of research about the rotary admission to my scholarships. I’m hoping district that I am going to and they do a I can get even better scholarships after lot with preventing infant child mortality.” the youth exchange because I’ve heard The term of the exchange program you can get into almost any college Bryant will be traveling through is Rotary after coming back. The University of International, a service organization. She Minnesota is probably my first choice.” had to apply to get the Iowa scholarship in When I asked if she would which she had to get recommendations, miss high school, Bryant one of which was from Spanish teacher responded with a Señora Niffenegger. “She’s a good smile, “I’m just candidate because of her work ethic really excited and and she speaks and participates in ready to start class; there is an interest level in what something Ph goes on in the world and a willingness new.” oto by to experience new things that will be op en clit uncomfortable. That’s a huge part of it art .or because when you go to some place else, g some place new, it is very different and you have to have an ability to adapt to other things,” said Niffenegger. Emily Burke
Profiles Editor & Business Manager
Gay Bachelor of the Month Emily Burke Profiles Editor & Business Manager
Photo by Emily Burke
Earlier this year, Carrington Moore, ’18, could’ve been seen on the sidelines cheering for the football players, singing and dancing on the stage both as a performer in show choir and the school’s musical, and at his job, serving customers at Capriotti’s. This month’s bachelor is not a freshman, nor is he your typical young man. Moore is 5’2, has brown eyes, black hair and is gay. He tells me that his ideal date would be, “just having fun, either going to a park or a movie - it doesn’t matter, as long as the other person and I are connecting on the same level. Channing Tatum would be nice, too.” When in searching for his perfect guy, Moore looks past physical qualities and instead “focuses on their personality and if they are accepting of other people.” Moore is currently single and open to beginning a new relationship, so if such a vibrant personality appeals to you, Moore may be the perfect guy for you. Profiles
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Q&A with John Gianforte Tyler McGuire Staff Writer Surveyor: Is this your first year coaching girls tennis?
S: Who is your favorite professional player?
Gianforte: Yes it is.
G: I’d say John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. They were two incredibly competitive guys and they would just go at each other tooth and nail, even exchanging verbal barbs. It was great to watch.
S: When were you offered the job? G: Well, the opportunity came up pretty late in the spring season. I was offered the job just a couple weeks before the start of the actual season.
returned. We have to find three more players to build our roster up again. It will be hard to get a state title this year, but next year, we are going to try and step it up another level.
S: How many players are on your team?
S: Are you happy with your decision?
G: We have 18 on varsity and JV, then another 18 on fresh/soph.
G: Oh yes, I’m very pleased.
S: What are your goals for this season?
S: Do you have any background in tennis?
G: To be the best we can be.
G: Nothing formal, but my aunt in New Jersey was a teaching professional and I would spend a lot of time watching her teach. I never received any actual lessons, but I’ve always been around the game. I actually really love tennis.
S: Do you see a state title coming this season? G: We won a state title two years ago. Our roster was loaded. Last year we lost a lot of players, but three really good players
S: What other sports have you coached? G: I’ve coached football, basketball, and mock trial here at Wash for the last six years. I want to do well, but I want to learn more about the Iowa tennis game so that I can make my players be the best they can be. S: How has your past coaching experience helped you coach the tennis team? G: It has been relatively seamless. I’ve coached varsity level all the way down to flag football level. I take tremendous pride in my girls team and I want to be known as a tennis coach after my career at Washington is over.
Photo by Beth Lanfier
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Sports
Sports Editor
Brandon Cullen
JV Soccer’s Popularity Jumps Hannah Sherman Staff Writer
Photo by Scott McWherter
Recently many people have been noticing the increasingly popular JV boys soccer team, coached by Jacob Johnson. With a total of 45 boys on the roster it is one of Wash’s largest teams and has almost double the amount of players on the varsity team. Johnson enjoys coaching because it gives him a chance to get to know boys who he normally wouldn’t be able to work with. Also, soccer isn’t huge in Iowa so he appreciates the fact that he can “show the culture of the sport even if the guys haven’t played before.” Most of the boys love the laid back, yet simultaneously intense, atmosphere as a way to compete, socialize, and have a great time on the field. Thomas Elesais, ’16, states, “My favorite thing about playing JV soccer is probably being able to play a sport you love without having to take it too seriously.”
Joe Slattery, ’16, decided to play because he “wanted to go out to spend time with friends playing a non-intense team sport for fun, while competing against others.” Not only do the boys love the game, but so do the spectators. You can always expect to see the student section attending the games supporting the team. Bailey Engledow, ’18, explains, “JV soccer is my favorite sport to watch because you can tell the players are putting in work and having a lot of fun at the same time.” Make sure to go support the men’s JV Soccer Team this year you won’t regret it.
Track Check-in
Brandon Cullen Sports Editor
“The guys have done everything good this season and have had a good attitude while doing so” Brandon Cullen
Sports Editor
It had seemed that the mens track and field team hadn’t shown up to the 2015 state track meet with only two runners finishing in the top five in the events. Looking to improve from last year the track team is looking to qualify as many events in state and win as many as they can. Billy Faulkner, ’17, throws disc on varsity and he had broke his previous personal record by throwing 127.7 feet. Faulkner has almost beat his personal record every meet this year. Faulkner said that he needs to improve his form and work on the basics. “The time I threw 127.7 at Hempstead, and I thought I dabbed a couple times,”
said Faulkner in response about his favorite part of the season. Track coach Maurice Blue’s goal for the rest of the season is to work to qualify in as many events at state as possible. Blue has seen runners like Trey Leonard and Drew Dostal improve the most and a lot of other guys have improved since last year. The improvement in the throwing area has been the greatest. Blue would like the see guys to continue to improve and get into the top ten for state for the remainder of the season. “The guys have done everything good this season and have had a good attitude while doing so,” said Blue. Sports
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Baseball and Softball Q&A’s Rielle Jones-Teske Photos Editor
Baseball Andy O’Neill, Junior, Outfielder/Designated Hitter Surveyor: What positions do you play? O’Neill: I play as an outfielder and I’m a designated hitter. S: Who will some of the impact players be? Who are the returning players? O: Johnny Dobbs, ’16, John Taylor, ’16, Blake Mosely, ’16, and Drew Dostal, ’17, are some returning players. Mosely didn’t get to play much last year, because he was coming off of an injury. I think anyone from our sophomore team last year will make a large impact on our varsity team this year. S: How does the overall outlook for this year seem? O: We have a lot of talented players this year along with a good amount of experience. We all have worked extremely hard this off season to make a successful varsity team. We should be able to make a good run in the playoffs, but I think most of us are aiming for that state title. Why wouldn’t we? Scott Brune, Head Varsity Coach S: Can you give a quick recap of last year? Brune: I thought last year we underachieved. There were many returning varsity players with experience coming back. The feeling was this team would build on the previous season and be competitive in the Mississippi Valley Conference. Due to a lack of pitching and timely hitting, we didn’t reach our goals for the season. 34
Sports
S: How will this year be different? B: This upcoming season, we have a great group of senior leaders and an abundance of talent from the junior class down through the freshman. We finally have solid numbers throughout the entire baseball program which will lead to internal competition between guys for spots and playing time. Having internal competition is critical to developing a great team and pushing players to come to practice every day to get better. Many players have also dedicated a large number of hours in off-season workouts in the winter and are playing high level spring ball, which will help us hit the ground running when we are able to start practice on May 2nd. S: What are you looking forward to this year? B. I am looking forward to a group of guys that will be accountable, hustle, and compete every day. I am looking forward to the increased numbers of players in the program and the abundance of pitchers we have will allow us to play more games and be more competitive. The baseball season opens on May 2 with the annual Bob Vyrek Metro Tournament. The games will take place at Jefferson High School.
Softball Anne Riley, Senior, Shortstop/Catcher S: Can you give a quick recap of last year? Riley: We did okay, we didn’t quite live up to our potential but we did better than we
have in previous years. S: How will this year be different? R: We have a lot of younger girls coming up this year from both of the middle schools and some freshman as well. The first five of our batting lineup are returning so that’s a positive looking into this season. S: What are you looking forward to this year? R: I think the girls on our team mesh really well this year so I think it will fun and we will be able to work well together hopefully that transfers into our games! S: Who will some of the impact players be? Who are the returning players? R: The returning players are me, my sister Dana Riley, ’17, Jessi Puk, ’17, Payton Bruner, ’16, Perisa Levy, ’16, Ashley Packingham, Jurnee Carr, ’19, Grace Stockmaster, ’19, Natasha Nichols, ’17, Corri Peterson, ’18, and Megan Bartels, ’18. I think we have a lot of key players this year. Puk and I are the two catchers and we will have four pitchers: Bruner, Isa Truemper, ’20, my sister, and Stockmaster. I think we have a lot of potential on the team since we are all versatile and can play multiple positions. S: How does the overall outlook for this year seem? R: I have a positive outlook on this year because there are a lot of new faces that will be playing, but also have strong players returning. Mostly everybody has previously known each other, so the team bond is kind of already there. We are playing much better early in the season than we have in the past, so I am excited to see what we will be able to do late in the season.
Sports Editor
Photos by Scott McWherter
Gunnar Bosking
“Bacon: Will it Ice Cream Sandwich?” Grace Kline Staff Writer
Good Mythical Morning 10:42 p.m. Squinting under the glare of my iPhone screen, I click another video to watch. Just one more, I think, then I’ll go to bed. I laugh, but not too loudly, at a funny joke because everyone in my house is asleep except for me. Who wants to go to bed when they can watch their favorite YouTube channels all night? “Good Mythical Morning” is a weekday show with hosts Rhett and Link. Each show is 10-15 minutes, and always starts with a thought provoking question or statement, followed by “Let’s talk about that.” And the topics covered couldn’t be more random: one of their more popular segments is “Will it?” episodes where Rhett and Link add unexpected ingredients to a well-known food and then taste it, for example “Bacon: will it ice cream sandwich?” And yes, it most definitely does. Every Thursday they answer questions people have asked
them on social media in creative ways during the episode, and then during “Good Mythical More” (the show after the show), they open fan mail. The main reason I like watching “Good Mythical Morning” is that it puts me in a good mood each morning (and may be the reason I’m late for second hour every day). If you are looking for a way to brighten up your morning routine, search “Trailer: Good Mythical Morning with Rhett and Link” to watch a trailer for “Good Mythical Morning”. (There is also a link on the digital version of this story, found on the Surveyor Website.)
CC by Cyclonebill
Studio C “Studio C” is a sketch comedy group made up of nine young adults. Their sketches are short and often make fun of everyday things in very ingenious ways. One of my friends introduced me to “Studio C” several years ago; the first sketches I watched were “The Doorstep: Part 1” and “The Doorstop: Part 2”, and I have never looked back. “Studio C” is currently in their sixth season, and I look forward to watching a new sketch every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My favorite episode of their new season is “The Restaurant of Life”, which takes a very interesting look on how people choose to live their lives. The “Couchville” episodes are also among my favorites. The thing I like most about “Studio C” is that their humor is clean; they don’t need is use profanity or crude jokes to make their
audience laugh. “Studio C” has such a wide range of sketches (“Star Wars”, History, Politics, Superheroes…) that everyone should be able to find something that “tickles them pink”.
Photos by Addi Westpheling
Addi Westpheling
A&E Editor
A&E
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NewBo Sushi
Good sushi restaurants are like boyfriends. They’re hard to find, but when you do come across them, they’re lifechanging. Cedar Rapids definitely isn’t known for its sushi, especially being that it is in the middle of the country, but it’s come a long way. Newbo Sushi is one of the newest sushi restaurants, and it’s actually quite good. I’ve heard mixed reviews about it, but the more I go, the better it gets. It’s clear that the employees and owners are concerned with customer feedback and constantly strive to improve. First of all, the location couldn’t be better. A sushi restaurant in the heart of the Newbo District is a dream. Second, the service, at least when I’ve been there, is very attentive and friendly. Nothing’s
worse than terrible service. Finally, not only does the sushi taste great, but the presentation is aesthetically pleasing, even for the simplest rolls. One drawback may be the menu. It’s not extensive, so you have to choose wisely. My personal favorite, although it may sound bland, is the shrimp tempura roll. It may sound sub-par, but the sushi chefs give a unique spin to a regular shrimp tempura roll, making it all the better. Unique twists don’t stop there. Every roll I’ve seen and/or ordered has had an impressive presentation, and has been at least a seven out of ten, taste-wise. So, if you have yet to find the perfect boy, there’s no need to fear; Newbo Sushi is here for you when true love is not.
Graphic by Addie Westpheling
Claire McKinstry Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of NewBo Sushi
Address: 1201 Third St. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Phone: (319) 535-2707
Photos by Claire McKinstry
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A&E
A&E Editor
Addi Westpheling
Pilgrim’s Paradise
Billy Lemos Staff Writer
Daniel Caesar is one of the most slepton artists releasing projects right now. Caesar’s “Pilgrim’s Paradise” is a fusion between the sounds of Sam Smith and Frank Ocean. Despite these influences, originality shines through this album with Caesar’s unique vocal range and diverse instrumentation. The album begins with “Trinity Bellwoods”, which is merely a recording of the ambience and environment of the TrinityBellwoods neighborhood park, complete with birds, bikes, and other animals. The next song, “Death & Taxes”, is the real opening to the album’s deep and soulful sound. Caesar reflects on his struggles with the certain pains of life, spouting biblical references over the deep, blues guitar based production of Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans. On the third track, “Paradise”, Caesar discusses his broken relationship with his father, referencing various fights about faith he has had with him and
the religious choices that Caesar has been making. This track has a definite Frank Ocean vibe, complemented by the rich drums and instrumental provided by BBNG (BadBadNotGood). One downside to the song is the lackluster guest verse from Sean Leon, ruined by lazy delivery and boring flow. The fourth track, “Acapella”, is one of the more interesting tracks on the album. As the title would imply, there’s no instrumental, but instead a combination of various layered vocal tracks harmonizing in the background whilst Caesar beckons that religion and faith are the only ways he can escape and overcome the problems of the world. The fifth song, “Streetcar”, is a slowed, haunting rendition of Kanye’s Street Lights from “808’s and Heartbreak”. It’s not a simple cover but more a reimagining of the track with somber synths sidechained to an elaborately connected piano and guitar arrangement.
The penultimate track, “Show No Regret”, expresses Caesar’s confrontation with decisions he must make as he focuses more on his music and balances family and religion with his success. The first half of the track has a calming, percussive instrumental with light piano chords but this flow is thrown off by the overly-aggressive, unnecessary guitar sequence introduced later in the song. The final track, “Little Rowboat”, has a Sam Smith feel to it but also has clear folk influences with the simplistic, mellow guitar instrumental. Caesar addresses the troubles his has with society and people’s objections to do what they are supposed to do (falling out of love, forgetting to talk to family members, et cetera). Though it serves as depressing note for the album to end on, as a whole, Daniel Caesar’s “Pilgrim’s Paradise” is a bold entry into the Soul genre, setting Caesar up for a successful and prosperous future.
Photo from Daniel Caesar
Addi Westpheling
A&E Editor
A&E
37
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Summer’s here, which means it’s time to return to storage... Graphic by Molly Hunter
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“Justin Bieber is like a genital wart. He just keeps coming back.” -Doc Jones “Stop dropping my books, you hoodlums.” -Mr. Cruise “You’re the reason I’m going to Hell.” -Ms. Ali
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“It’s a good thing Clorox can wipe away racism.” - Mr. Phillips “Put everything away - the house elves aren’t coming today!” -Dr. Kahler “The note is your life, and you don’t want to let go of it! ‘No, it can’t end, I’m too young to die!’” -Mr. Miller
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